I am not the OOP. The OOP is u/Throwra_JessComeOn posting in AITAH
Concluded as per OOP
2 updates - Long
Original - 17th April 2024
Update1 - 19th April 2024
Update2 - 13th May 2024
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AITAH For breaking my Number 1 sex rule with a handicapped guy?
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Obviously throwaway, I don’t need anyone here seeing my regular account. Also I’m in the US and English is my first language, any discrepancies are because I suck at typing on my phone.
So TL/DR for the “give me the bare bones, I don’t have all day to read on the shitter” crew: My #1 sex rule since high school has been no sex before the third date. I recently broke that rule with a handicapped guy, and now my childhood best friend is pissed and grossed out because she thinks I have some weird kind of fetish.
Context/full story: I’m a 28f. My childhood best friend we’ll call Jess is also 28f. To put it simply, I don’t think I’m any kind of prude, I just don’t really feel comfortable with casual sex, never have. My best friend knows this and has teased me about it lightly in the past. She’s been in a long term relationship for the last 3 years, I’ve mostly been single while working on my degree and starting my career. Jess lives in another state with her boyfriend, so we don’t hang out much anymore.
So about a month ago I had a first date with a guy I’d been talking to for a bit, thought it was going places, but he gave a WEIRD vibe on the date and I cut and ran early. On my way home I stopped at a local pub, figured I’d have a drink to unwind and people watch till it wore off. (Tipsy driving is still drunk driving IMO.) I get there and it’s pretty packed, Friday night and all, and there was no seating room at the bar. Took my drink and looked around, most of the “restaurant” side of the pub was someone’s birthday party, but there was a small table with a seat open off to the side, with a guy reading a book there. So I say eff it, I’m a social person and what’s the worst thing that happens, he says no? So I ask if I can sit there for a bit, I promise we don’t have to talk or anything.
At this point I feel like I’ve fucked up because this guy up close is the hottest man I have ever seen. But he just smiled at me and gave an enthusiastic “Sure!” A few minutes later of me sipping in silence and he says “I don’t mind talking, if you want to.” (Yeah I want to are you kidding me right now?) We talk for a bit and it turns out Mike (fake name) is 29, just finished his master’s degree in some kind of computer learning field (“I program computers to program computers”) and he’s living on his own for the first time. He apparently stops by the pub after work because he’s right around the corner, and he’s not used to the silence yet after living so long with a half dozen siblings.
We talked for a good two hours, about everything from dating (which he said he’s basically given up on) to hobbies and tastes, and we have a near total eclipse of a venn diagram on this stuff. I eventually sort of blurted out that I don’t know why he’d give up on dating, this is the closest thing I’ve had to a good date in forever. (Shooting my shot obliquely here lol.) He gets kind of an odd look on his face and says “Tell you what, I have to go to the bathroom, but when I come back I’ll ask you out for real.” Weird, but okay?
Then it all clicks, because he doesn’t get up to walk away, he just rolls. In his wheelchair. And I’m thinking “oh my God he wanted to give me a chance to back out of this without making it awkward how cute can this guy BE.” He grinned like crazy when he got back and saw I was still there, and I basically tripped over myself saying something to the effect of “So I’m free all weekend, what did you have in mind?”
Another hour later, we’ve got plans for Saturday, and he told me he has a neuromuscular disorder I can’t remember the name of (my degree isn’t in STEM lol) so his legs work, but the signals from his brain get misinterpreted so he doesn’t have the balance or coordination for walking or standing. The pub starts switching over to the youngerowdier crowd and he asks if I’d like to go back to his place for coffee to continue our conversation.
As you have probably long since realized, I did not get any coffee or conversation till the next morning and I have ZERO regrets. We’ve been dating since and I know it’s still early but I really feel like this might be the one.
Onward to yesterday afternoon, my friend Jess (remember Jess?) is in town, and we go out for coffee to catch up on things. I’m gushing about Mike, but when I get to how we met she just sort of got weird and edgy. I don’t remember any exact words but she essentially said that I must have a fetish for the handicapped since I broke my #1 rule and it’s the best physical relationship I’ve ever been in. Like it’s good for me because he uses a wheelchair, not because the guy puts in effort in bed??? She said I’ve “changed” as a person and left without even saying goodbye. 15 years of friendship and I’ve never seen her like that.
So here I am, asking the most objective people online (haha) if I’m an asshole or weird for being super attracted to a guy who uses a wheelchair and basically putting out immediately.
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Comments
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RefrigeratorHot3859
Firstly, you are allowed to change the rules that you made for yourself. Secondly, I do not get from anything you wrote that you have a “fetish” for the handicapped. Her comments are weird.
Sounds like you need to keep Mike and drop Jess. Good friends will be happy for you, and from what I can gather, that ain’t her.
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dubh_righ
She's got a weird fetish - for super hot guys who are kind, and well spoken, and fuck like a hero. What a weirdo. (sarcasm, in case it's not obvious)

OOP: Okay, yeah this made me laugh for real. Seriously, what a weeeeird fetish I have!

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brelywi
Hey that’s my fetish too! Here I was thinking I was the only one.
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ShottsSeastone
oh fuck that friend. i read this whole thing.

• you have 0 fetish.
• the guy is hot
• the guy is intelligent
• the guy lives on his own
• the guy has his shit together
• THE MAN GAVE YOU THE DOOR TO LEAVE
• Love comes in all shapes and sizes.

OOP: That shit floored me. He's so considerate in so many ways. His stories about his sibs are also hilarious, I can't wait to meet them. We're trying not to rush things just because it all seems so great, but they have a BBQ in May that he'd like me to come to and I am so there. He was raised around a lot of love and it shows.

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Update - 2 days later
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My first ever update! Yay! Uh, so if you were hoping for some terrible drama, I hate to break it to you that I don’t roll like that. No pun intended. So I do have an update on Jess and shit finally makes perfect sense. And I have a slightly NSFW but funny story about Mike, because this guy is just the best, y’all.
Okay, so first, I finally messaged Jess yesterday and said basically “I’m still hurt by what you said, but after 15 years of friendship I’d never forgive musif I didn’t at least ask why you snapped at me like that.” She replied immediately, “I’m so fucking sorry, I didn’t mean any of that, can we have a do over on lunch?” So I agreed cautiously and took a half day to meet with her today.
Turns out that those of you who said she was jealous, and that she might have something else going on, and especially the person who said something might be going on in HER relationship….. gold stars. She’s in town because she’s job hunting, because she’s moving back in with her parents for a while since her relationship ended. Apparently they have been having a ton of small problems adding up, but the biggest one? Sex. The guy she’s been with was apparently never great but it’s gotten to the point where he makes no effort at all for her to enjoy herself and then gets pissed when she isn’t in the mood.
She tried talking with him about it, making suggestions but he told her recently that it’s “emasculating” being given sex advice by a woman. The straw that broke the metaphorical camel’s back, however, was that her boyfriend has always had a thing for Asian women. She’s caucasian, but she does have long black hair. After weeks of fighting over their sex life, he suggested that they spice things up….by her dressing in a kimono and pretending to be Asian. She lost it on him and is absolutely disgusted by the racist fetishism and ended it right then.
So she had allllll of this bottled up and was hoping to talk to me and finally be able to put it down….. and I missed every hint that she had something big to discuss because I was gushing about Mike. So to her it felt like I was just twisting the knife by bragging about how great our sex was. She snapped, and somewhere between what I was saying and what she wanted to talk about some wires got crossed and she said something incredibly dumb.
She left without saying goodbye because she was mortified and ashamed as well as irrationally mad at me. Something to know about Jess, she’s an awful liar and she and I were the co-founders of our high school’s “foot-in-mouth” society, so I do believe her. I told her I forgive her and I’m sorry I didn’t realize she wanted to talk about something bothering her, and she said I was too stupidly nice and have nothing to apologize for, so I think we’ll be okay. For the time being I’m not ready for her and Mike to meet, because I don’t want to make things feel worse, and she agrees. But she’s really really happy for me. Hopefully this is just a funny story we can look back on someday.
So, on to how Mike almost killed me, lol. Last night we were talking about the reddit post and he gets this funny expression that I’m starting to recognize. And he goes “How do we know you don’t have a fetish if we haven’t at least tried it in the chair?” And I’m like “are you serious lol”. He said he’s never attempted it, because (cue tears) he’s never felt so comfortable with a partner before. Well.
His chair has what is essentially like a parking break thing. Or it should, it’s unfortunately broken and apparently getting them fixed is an expensive pain in the ass. He doesn’t use it that often so he hasn’t made it a priority. And there’s this thing called Newton’s third law, you know how every action has an equal and opposite reaction? As it happens, when you’re trying to, ah, get the motion of the ocean going, in a chair with wheels that aren’t locked, there’s a sort of counter motion that starts and fucks it all up. So we were going nowhere fast except for inching along the floor in his bedroom. And laughing at the silliness, which isn’t helping. Eventually he just stops and says “Maybe we can get some of those wooden block things they use to keep little planes from rolling away, like in Indiana Jones you know?”
I absolutely lost it. Like laughing so hard I’m in tears, he’s giggling half at the situation and half at my reaction, and everything just keeps setting me off again. FINALLY I get it under control, doing some deep breathing exercises and shit, and I look at him again. And he pulls the straightest face he can, and says, for the love of god, “Golly. This sure is uncomfortable.” Folks if I had asthma I would have fucking died right there. I laughed so hard I think I pulled a rib. Like wheezing and not even laughing anymore so much as weeping and making this awful “heeeeee” noise when I could catch my breath. While he’s laughing and rubbing my back and saying he’s sorry, he couldn’t resist.
So yeah, confirmed, no fetish here, and this magnificent bastard’s comedic timing might actually kill me.
I doubt I’ll update again, because there’s really nothing I can see needing to share given everything sort of worked out. And in the end, the real assholes were the….friends we made along the way? Idk. Thanks for all the lovely comments on my last post and for coming along with me on this absurd but brief drama in my life, lol.
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Comments
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Rustymarble
Obviously, Jess needs to have a twin with a mother-in-law invade her home with ummm....dog poo...and somehow there's a tree dropping leaves and and a 7 year old brat threw an ummm...apple? And then the cops came and everyone clapps!

OOP: And everyone's phones blow up! Genius, I'll finally go viral and get all those internet dollars I assume people are raking in, LOL
I probably will post an update on this account, but I don't necessarily want to bog down AITAH with my silly shit. I'm so excited and nervous. It's apparently a Mother's Day BBQ! which I didn't know because my parents and I are estranged and I never even seriously thought about having kids before meeting Mike. But apparently it's a lot of people and a lot of food and apparently everyone knows he's bringing me. Also, can I just say FUCK YES about his mom? They apparently have a huge one floor rancher and she just assumed we'd be sleeping together in his old room. Like none of that weird "you aren't married so you get separate rooms" shit. I already adore them and we haven't even met yet.

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Forward-Two3846
I think Mike updates are essential to AITAH 😆. I am so excited for you and I hope you have the time of your life.

OOP: Oh there is one coming. Oh my God his family, lol. I am exhausted already and it's only 1 here, and we have another day of this ahead! They are amazing and he is glowing like a fireball, the side of him when he's with family is so bright I need sunglasses to look at him.

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Update - 1 month later
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Hello again! I was going to post this on my own page but a few people mentioned that they think it’s nice to read on AITAH, so fuck it, here’s the “met Mikes family” update. And it's a doozy, or at least felt like it at the time for a girl who grew up with a small, dysfunctional family.
So first up, you know what people (at least me) don’t think about when dating a guy who’s always sitting? Height. I know he’s taller than me because we cuddle a lot, and he’s taller sitting on the couch, but I didn’t reeeeeeally get it. So we drive up Friday night after work (actually south and west, lol, but to my brain it’s always up) in his vehicle, which is modified to be driven entirely using his hands. Neat, right? He’s a really good driver too. One more green flag. We get to the house, and it’s…. It’s huge you guys, LOL like not a mansion, just kind of a sprawling one floor rancher. Real estate was wild back in the day.
Anyway we get out, and I meet his mom. I’d like to point out I am no slouch, I’m 5’-friggin-7. His mom is TOWERING over me. But she was the nicest lady ever. We go inside and I meet his dad (who funny enough is apparently the only short one in this family) and his youngest sister, who is living there with his one year old niece. She gets up to hug me and SHE IS ALSO REALLY TALL. It’s already a bit late then, so we eat and head to bed, I get to see his cute as shit room from when he was a teenager, and I casually ask “hey, so uh, I don’t know how this works and stuff, but how tall are you?” and Mike is all “I dunno, like a bit over 6’4? Been a while since I checked.” A BIT OVER 6’4. “So, is everyone in your family tall?” “…..kinda?”
We met the Nordic Basketball team he calls a family properly the next day. (Actually they’re Irish, but they’re blond and tall so it conveys the idea better.) The ONLY one of reasonable height, and still taller than me, was his oldest sister, lol.
They are also LOUD. Like not really shouting or anything usually, just, PRESENT. Mike is a lot different around them, but in the cutest way, like he just beams all the time and you can see how happy he is to be home. One of his brothers put him in a headlock and gave him a dang NOOGIE as a greeting, and got elbowed in the side for it, and all of them laughing. And his mom smacked one of his brothers with a rolled up magazine for putting his feet on the table. More laughing. Just… intimidating but in the happiest way imaginable. I’ll admit I was a little shut down for a bit, but Mike kept checking in with me to make sure I was okay, and they were all really nice, so I got into the spirit after a bit.
I mentioned this in another comment, but Mike has a special sports wheelchair he uses for, well, sports. And he and his siblings play basketball. And he is GOOD. Apart from just having a hell of an arm, he’s quick as hell. And this magnificent bastard that I love will absolutely, purposefully, GLEEFULLY run someone’s toes over. He AIMS for it. They all have this yank-back-the-foot maneuver that’s hysterical to watch.
So it was this crazy day of loud people playing and having a blast, nieces and nephews running around, and just noise. My ears are still ringing. The food was catered in advance because his mom “had seven babies, all I make on mother’s day is margaritas.” They also have a pool, it’s a bit chilly still but the pool is HEATED so we actually all got to swim, which was a lot of fun because I got to show off that I too am athletic…. I can do a backwards somersault off a diving board! Yeah. I’m a real catch lol. They at least pretended to be impressed.
We all stayed up late drinking and bitching that it was too overcast to see the aurora (boo) and I had the worst hangover I’ve had in a while on Sunday. We slept in a bit late, and then joined Mike’s family for the BBQ part of the BBQ weekend. His dad can GRILL, people. And he’s fast, food coming off the grill at lightning speed. I asked Mike about it and he laughed and said “there was seven of us to feed. Ever see a nest of baby birds? He had practice.” Which, fair enough.
I don’t have much experience with babies, but I got to hold his youngest niece (the one living at home with his sis until her husband gets back from deployment) and we had a light talk about kids in the future. I told him that I never put much thought into it but if they were going to grow up in a happy home like his and not how I grew up, I’m pretty sure I’d be open to having them with him someday. But later. I need him all to myself for a while first. He seemed really really happy about that, which makes ME feel all goofy and happy. I’m sappy.
We had to drive home Sunday night, but before we went his mom hugged me and said she’s NEVER seen her son like this, and thanked me for taking good care of her baby. And asked if we’d be back for the 4th of July or if we were doing something with my family. And I tried to be all “haaaa no we’ll be here if you don’t mind, I don’t see them much” and I think she caught on that there’s more to the story so she just hugged the shit out of me (vikings, all of them I swear) and told me she can’t wait to see me again.
My ears are still ringing from all the noise and chaos, but it was an absolute blast and I can’t wait to see them again in July. Also, pretty much sure Mike is the man I’m going to marry. I literally can’t think of a single reason why I would ever let him get away.
Anyway thanks for reading, hope you all had a lovely weekend, and those of you who got to see the aurora I’m happy for you but you suck, lol.
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Comments
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ERVetSurgeon
NTA. sounds like you have found a happy family to join. Good for you and good for Mike.

OOP: It's still pretty surreal. The other in laws that were there were all like that smiling hanging guy meme, "First time?" It was a great weekend.

Stormy8888
This story is so heart warming it belongs on BestofRedditorUpdates.
Congratulations, at some parts I felt like I was reading about the Roarke Family's dynamics in one of Nora Robert's JD Robb's Eve Dallas Novels, the whole Irish family vibes were just there. So lovely.

OOP: Ahahaha I don't think it's interesting enough for that, but I am glad people are enjoying it.

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I am not the OOP. Please do not harass the OOP. Please remember the No Brigading Rule and to be civil in the comments

So we have a small korean mart that my brother and I invested para magkaron ng own business si mama kahit small time lang. Our mom is a cancer survivor but still her maintenance and meds are too expensive. And during the time nung nalaman namin na may cancer sya hindi nya alam kung paano sya mag papa opera since hinaharang ng kabet ng tatay namin yung pera. And during that time hindi malaki sweldo ko since sa BPO lang ako nag wowork and yung brother ko 3 years pa lang sya nag wowork. Yung only way namin is yung HMO. And ayun yung nag push samin na ipunan si mama ng pang start nya ng business.
Sobrang liit lang ng korean mart namin halos parang sarisari store lang. Originally pamangkin namin yung bantay. Then dumating yung tita namin, sister ni mama, naging bantay din sya pag wala pamangkin namin.
Recently our cousin decided na makipag live in sa jowa nya na tiga samin. May 2 anak walang trabaho. Yung lalake lang yung may work. So inofferan sya ni mama na mag bantay. I know hindi malaki pa sweldo ni mama pero compare sa ibang tindahan I think justifiable naman yung ₱300 per day. And nag bibigay si mama ng ₱200 each na bonus sakanila if maka 10k sila per day. Plus may libre silang samgy meat.
Our cousin has a history ng pag nanakaw pero sa nanay nya lang at ate nya. Tho if I remember correctly, may isa kaming tita na ninakaw nya yung boundary ng jeep sabi nya wala daw inabot yung driver 😂 but despite her history binigiyan sya ni mama ng chance. Tulong na din since wala nga syang trabaho.
At first maayos pa syang nag tatrabaho sa kmart. May alkansya kasi si mama yung glass na ipunan nya ng pang 13th month nya sa mga nag babantay plus ayun na pinaka sweldo nya sa sarili nya. Mga bagong 1k, 500/week and 100/day laman nun and naka logged sa notebook nila palagi yung hulog. Andun kasi sa kmart lang yun so sobrang takaw mata na sya sa customers plus nanakawan yung tita ko ng cellphone ng isang customer, kaya nag decide si mama na ipasok na lang sa room ko (wala na kasi ako sa house kung asan yung kmart) at peace si mama na magiging safe yung money dun.
Then April came, ioopen na dapat ni mama yung alkansya nya para bilangin kung mag kano ipon sa 1st quarter ng 2024 para idedeposit na sa bank. Pero pag check ni mama less than 3k na lang yung laman (isang 1k and the rest 100’s na lang)
So bakit pinsan namin main suspect namin? Bukod sa may history sya ito mga reasons:

• walang history ng nakawan sa bahay ni lola nung dumating lang sya nag karon ng ganon.
• 3 lang silang bantay. Pero sya at tita ko lang may access sa ipon, yung pamangkin ko binibigay nya sa tita ko lahat ng sales at pang hulog
• may nirerentahan silang apartment pero halos every night dun sya natutulog sa kwarto ko ng walang paalam pero ang paalam nya sa mga tita ko dun is nag sabi na sya 🙄
• March 30 nag hulog tita ko ng 2 1k sa ipon, Tuesday after March 30 natulog sya dun and weekends that week umuwi sya sa bahay ng nanay nya nag pa easter egg hunting sa mga bata at nan libre for eat out.
• last year sya lang yung tumulong kay mama kumuha dun. So meaning sya lang may alam paano kumuha ng pera na hindi babasagin yung alkansya (Lagay ko picture para mapicture out nyo) alkansya
• wala syang work pero naka bili ng aso na worth 9k and tablet ng mga anak nya
• mga chat nya kay mama after the incident sobrang HAHAHAHA not sure what’s the right term to use pero PUTANGINA SYA!

Grabe iyak ni mama that day. Hindi kami mayaman pero sobrang generous ni mama sa mga kapatid nya at sa lahat. Every emergency na need ng pera ng family yung pondo ng kmart inooffer nya. Kaya sobrang sama ng loob nya nun and hindi nya ma confront pinsan ko dahil nahihiya sya sa ate nya. Sa nanay ng magnanakaw kong pinsan 😏😏😏😏😏😏
Then nung mother’s day nag swimming kami andun sya si klepto hindi maka harap at tingin at lapit samin. Pinandidirihan namin syang lahat. Then nakita ko pumasok sila sa ng jowa nya sa room kung san kami natulog ni mama ay ang bilis ko pumasok din baka makuha yung natitirang 500 sa bag ko 😂 oh may isa pa, ninakaw nya cellphone ng pamangin nya nung last weekends lang 😂😂😂
BAGO KA NA SIS! 2024 NA MAG NANAKAW KA PARIN 🤭🤭🤭 NAKAKAHIYA KANG PUTANGINA KA!

Part 1
Part 2
Hello again! I was going to post this on my own page but a few people mentioned that they think it’s nice to read on AITAH, so fuck it, here’s the “met Mikes family” update. And it's a doozy, or at least felt like it at the time for a girl who grew up with a small, dysfunctional family.
So first up, you know what people (at least me) don’t think about when dating a guy who’s always sitting? Height. I know he’s taller than me because we cuddle a lot, and he’s taller sitting on the couch, but I didn’t reeeeeeally get it. So we drive up Friday night after work (actually south and west, lol, but to my brain it’s always up) in his vehicle, which is modified to be driven entirely using his hands. Neat, right? He’s a really good driver too. One more green flag. We get to the house, and it’s…. It’s huge you guys, LOL like not a mansion, just kind of a sprawling one floor rancher. Real estate was wild back in the day.
Anyway we get out, and I meet his mom. I’d like to point out I am no slouch, I’m 5’-friggin-7. His mom is TOWERING over me. But she was the nicest lady ever. We go inside and I meet his dad (who funny enough is apparently the only short one in this family) and his youngest sister, who is living there with his one year old niece. She gets up to hug me and SHE IS ALSO REALLY TALL. It’s already a bit late then, so we eat and head to bed, I get to see his cute as shit room from when he was a teenager, and I casually ask “hey, so uh, I don’t know how this works and stuff, but how tall are you?” and Mike is all “I dunno, like a bit over 6’4? Been a while since I checked.” A BIT OVER 6’4. “So, is everyone in your family tall?” “…..kinda?”
We met the Nordic Basketball team he calls a family properly the next day. (Actually they’re Irish, but they’re blond and tall so it conveys the idea better.) The ONLY one of reasonable height, and still taller than me, was his oldest sister, lol.
They are also LOUD. Like not really shouting or anything usually, just, PRESENT. Mike is a lot different around them, but in the cutest way, like he just beams all the time and you can see how happy he is to be home. One of his brothers put him in a headlock and gave him a dang NOOGIE as a greeting, and got elbowed in the side for it, and all of them laughing. And his mom smacked one of his brothers with a rolled up magazine for putting his feet on the table. More laughing. Just… intimidating but in the happiest way imaginable. I’ll admit I was a little shut down for a bit, but Mike kept checking in with me to make sure I was okay, and they were all really nice, so I got into the spirit after a bit.
I mentioned this in another comment, but Mike has a special sports wheelchair he uses for, well, sports. And he and his siblings play basketball. And he is GOOD. Apart from just having a hell of an arm, he’s quick as hell. And this magnificent bastard that I love will absolutely, purposefully, GLEEFULLY run someone’s toes over. He AIMS for it. They all have this yank-back-the-foot maneuver that’s hysterical to watch.
So it was this crazy day of loud people playing and having a blast, nieces and nephews running around, and just noise. My ears are still ringing. The food was catered in advance because his mom “had seven babies, all I make on mother’s day is margaritas.” They also have a pool, it’s a bit chilly still but the pool is HEATED so we actually all got to swim, which was a lot of fun because I got to show off that I too am athletic…. I can do a backwards somersault off a diving board! Yeah. I’m a real catch lol. They at least pretended to be impressed.
We all stayed up late drinking and bitching that it was too overcast to see the aurora (boo) and I had the worst hangover I’ve had in a while on Sunday. We slept in a bit late, and then joined Mike’s family for the BBQ part of the BBQ weekend. His dad can GRILL, people. And he’s fast, food coming off the grill at lightning speed. I asked Mike about it and he laughed and said “there was seven of us to feed. Ever see a nest of baby birds? He had practice.” Which, fair enough.
I don’t have much experience with babies, but I got to hold his youngest niece (the one living at home with his sis until her husband gets back from deployment) and we had a light talk about kids in the future. I told him that I never put much thought into it but if they were going to grow up in a happy home like his and not how I grew up, I’m pretty sure I’d be open to having them with him someday. But later. I need him all to myself for a while first. He seemed really really happy about that, which makes ME feel all goofy and happy. I’m sappy.
We had to drive home Sunday night, but before we went his mom hugged me and said she’s NEVER seen her son like this, and thanked me for taking good care of her baby. And asked if we’d be back for the 4th of July or if we were doing something with my family. And I tried to be all “haaaa no we’ll be here if you don’t mind, I don’t see them much” and I think she caught on that there’s more to the story so she just hugged the shit out of me (vikings, all of them I swear) and told me she can’t wait to see me again.
My ears are still ringing from all the noise and chaos, but it was an absolute blast and I can’t wait to see them again in July. Also, pretty much sure Mike is the man I’m going to marry. I literally can’t think of a single reason why I would ever let him get away.
Anyway thanks for reading, hope you all had a lovely weekend, and those of you who got to see the aurora I’m happy for you but you suck, lol.

We all know APs can be batshit insane so let's have a laugh for once. The crazier, the merrier!
Some pearls from my mom (TW she's extra racist, even by Asian standards):
• You don't catch lice from other people, they spontaneously spawn when you sleep with wet hair.
• You will die if you play sports after eating. You will also die if you play sports before eating.
• You will die if you lie down after eating. You will also die if you sit down after eating. But wait, you will also die if you stand up after eating.
• Using one of those gimmicky shower nozzles with black/brown beads in them will turn you into a black people lover.
• Dark animals are digusting. She legit got racist towards a black pigeon once lmao
• Sis is a whore because every time she orders something, the delivery drivers are brown or black. (I'm fairly certain that sis is a lesbian lmao.)
• Sis is a whore because she prefers brown people food like Lebanese, Indian or Mexican to Chinese or Vietnamese food. (She also likes American and British food but I don't think it makes her a whore, just someone with no tastebuds.)
• White people are pure innocent angels who don't know sex unless they get tricked by an Asian whore or an evil black man. (Everyone knows they reproduce asexually.)
• White people hate alcohol, only Chinese thugs drink. (That's why the wine capital, Bordeaux, is famously located in China.)

My sister (18) got into her first car crash on mother's day and totaled her car. Thankfully she and the other driver are ok. But since she's never been in this situation before she called my mom to ask what she should do (call insurance, cops) My mother, living for drama as always drives down to the scene and makes an even bigger one! She gets out of her car yelling at my sister to "make sure you get his plate, if he refuses to give you his information you can call the cops on him" generally being super aggressive for no reason. My sister and the guy stare at eachother, awkward. My sisters coworkers show up as she was on lunch from work right down the street when she crashed, they made sure she was OK and upon seeing my moms actions, they begin to comfort her not over the loss of her car but the embarrassment of my mother! "It's ok don't worry, we know how your mom is, don't be embarrassed, we know it's not you" Some nice people offered to help my sister move the car out if the road and WHILE they're doing it my mom runs in front of the car and yells to put it back because we need it towed, then they're freaked out and start putting it back (I cringe) so my sister has to go in front of the car and push my mom away and tell the people "now let's keep moving it"
My mom was 100% volume the whole time, and while driving my sister back home she yelled on the phone to my dad conveying the whole situation. Practically frothing at the mouth over the drama.
But the cherry on top? She said " next year I'm just gonna get out of town for mother's day, they're always ruined" and BLAMES my sister for "ruining" mother's day!!! Meanwhile my sis has just lost her car, her way to work, she is freaked out from T-boning someone at a pretty decent speed. Yet somehow the narcissist gift at always being the victim somehow makes it way through.
It was 10am, my mom was home alone doing nothing (dad wasn't home yet). She ALWAYS makes a scene on mother's day and give everyone severe anxiety because we know we can't win no matter what we do lol she still went out to dinner with my dad and all anyways.
I was so pissed when I heard she blamed my sisters accident for "ruining" her mother's day. My sister doesn't feel guilt as she knows moms off her rocker lol but still! What a sick response.
This just reiterates what a bad mother she is and why I'm NC lol I told my sister if anything you made her day because she LIVES for drama.

~Styrenic block copolymers market~ is anticipated to grow at a considerable CAGR of 5.1% during the forecast period (2024-2031).Styrenic Block Copolymers (SBCs) are a unique class of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) materials that bridge the gap between rubber and plastic. They consist of hard styrene blocks providing strength and rigidity, and soft elastomeric blocks offering elasticity and flexibility.
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The primary driver is the rising demand from end-user sectors of SBC such as footwear, construction (asphalt modification), adhesives & sealants, and medical devices. This is fueled by factors like increasing disposable income, infrastructure development, and growing urbanization, particularly in developing economies. Thus, in order to meet the growing demand, in September 2022, Kraton Corp. has announced an expansion project for high flow hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer (HSBC) products at its joint venture manufacturing facility in Mailiao, Taiwan.
full report of Styrenic Block Copolymer Market available @ https://www.omrglobal.com/industry-reports/styrenic-block-copolymers-market
· Market Coverage
· Market number available for – 2024-2031
· Base year- 2023
· Forecast period- 2024-2031
· Segment Covered- By Source, By Product Type, By Applications
· Competitive Landscape- Archer Daniels Midland Co., Ingredion Inc., Kerry Group Plc, Cargill
· Inc., and others
Market Segmentation
Global Styrenic Block Copolymer Market by Product
o Hydrogenated Styrenic Block Copolymers (HSBC)
o Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene (SBS)
o Styrene-Isoprene-Styrene (SIS)
Global Styrenic Block Copolymer Market by Application
o Asphalt Modification
o Footwear
o Polymer Modification
o Adhesives and Sealants
o Other Applications
Regional Analysis
o North America
o United States
o Canada
o Europe
o UK
o Germany
o Italy
o Spain
o France
o Rest of Europe
o Asia-Pacific
o China
o India
o Japan
o South Korea
o Rest of Asia-Pacific
o Rest of the World
o Latin America
o The Middle East & Africa
Company Profiles
o CHIMEI H
o China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec)
o Denka Company Ltd.
o Dynasol Group
o En Chuan Chemical Industries Co., Ltd.
o Fujian Gulei Petrochemical Co.
o INEOS Styrolution Group GmbH
o JSR Corp.
o Korea Kumho Petrochemical Co., Ltd.
o KRATON CORP.
o Kuraray Co., Ltd.
o LG Chem
o SIBUR
o TSRC
o Versalis S.p.A.
o Zhejiang Zhongli Synthetic Material Technology Co., Ltd.
The Report Covers

• Market value data analysis of 2023and forecast to 2031.
• Annualized market revenues ($ million) for each market segment.
• Country-wise analysis of major geographical regions.
• Key companies operating in the global SBC market. Based on the availability of data, information related to new product launches, and relevant news is also available in the report.
• Analysis of business strategies by identifying the key market segments positioned for strong growth in the future.
• Analysis of market-entry and market expansion strategies.
• Competitive strategies by identifying ‘who-stands-where’ in the market.

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Overview and Scope Compression sleeves are garments made of stretchy and elastic materials worn on various body parts to provide graduated compression. These sleeves are designed to exert pressure on the limbs or joints, promoting better circulation, reducing swelling, and supporting muscles and joints during physical activity.
Sizing and Forecast The compression sleeves market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $1.22 billion in 2023 to $1.29 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.4%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to injury prevention, medical rehabilitation, athletic performance enhancement, fashion and style.
The compression sleeves market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $1.68 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growing awareness, rising fitness consciousness, aging population. Major trends in the forecast period include customization and personalization, integration of smart technologies, sustainability, expansion into new markets.
To access more details regarding this report, visit the link: https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/compression-sleeves-global-market-report
Segmentation & Regional Insights The compression sleeves market covered in this report is segmented –
1) By Product: Arm Compression Sleeves, Bandages, Leg Compression Sleeves, Other Products 2) By Technique: Static, Dynamic 3) By Distribution Channel: Hospital Pharmacies, Retail Pharmacies, Online Sales, Hypermarkets 4) By Application: Varicose Veins, Wound Care, Burns, Oncology, Oher Applications
North America was the largest region in the compression sleeves market in 2023. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the compression sleeves market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa.
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Major Driver Impacting Market Growth The increased prevalence of deep vein thrombosis is driving the growth of the compression sleeves market going forward. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a condition where a blood clot forms in one or more deep veins in the body, commonly in the legs. The prevalence of deep vein thrombosis is increasing due to lifestyle factors, medical conditions, genetic predispositions, and environmental factors. Compression sleeves are beneficial for managing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) by improving blood flow, reducing pain and swelling in the legs, and lowering the risk of developing blood clots. For instance, in August 2023, Nuffield Trust Limited, a UK-based government organization, recorded the highest incidence of DVT in 2021, with 352 cases per 100,000 hospital discharges, which increased to 377 per 100,000 hospital discharges in 2022. Further, in Australia, DVT alone (without concomitant PE) affects 52 people per 100,000 annually. Therefore, the increased prevalence of deep vein thrombosis drives the compression sleeves market.
Key Industry Players Major companies operating in the compression sleeves market are Nike Inc., Adidas AG, Medi USA, Zensah, 2XU Pty. Ltd., Mueller Sports Medicine, Vive Health, Sigvaris Group, CEP Compression, Rehband, Copper Fit, Mava Sports, Zamst, Vitalsox, Under Armour, Tommie Copper, Therafirm, SKINS Compression, Shock Doctor Inc., Run Forever Sports, Pro-Tec Athletics, OS1st, Orthosleeve, Mojo Compression, McDavid, EvoShield, CW-X
The compression sleeves market report table of contents includes:

1. Executive Summary
2. Market Characteristics
3. Market Trends And Strategies
4. Impact Of COVID-19
5. Market Size And Growth
6. Segmentation
7. Regional And Country Analysis . . .
8. Competitive Landscape And Company Profiles
9. Key Mergers And Acquisitions
10. Future Outlook and Potential Analysis

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Overview and Scope Chatbots for mental health and therapy refer to software applications powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing (NLP) technologies, designed to provide mental health support and therapy services through text- or voice-based interactions. These chatbots aim to democratize access to mental health services, increase self-awareness and emotional resilience, and build a proactive mental health care culture.
Sizing and Forecast The chatbots for mental health and therapy market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $1.17 billion in 2023 to $1.27 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.5%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to rise in the demand for accessible mental health services, growth in awareness of mental health, increased mental health awareness, increased prevalence of mental health disorders, advancements in natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning algorithms.
The chatbots for mental health and therapy market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $1.79 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.0%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to the growing need for scalable therapy solutions, growing acceptance and adoption of digital health technologies, rising awareness about mental health issues, rising awareness towards the benefits of chatbots for mental health, growing need for scalable therapy solutions. Major trends in the forecast period include technological advancements, expansion of teletherapy capabilities, integration of virtual reality for immersive experiences, integration with wearable devices and other digital health tools, and expansion of crisis intervention features.
To access more details regarding this report, visit the link: https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/chatbots-for-mental-health-and-therapy-global-market-report
Segmentation & Regional Insights The chatbots for mental health and therapy market covered in this report is segmented –
1) By Component: Software As A Service (SaaS), Other Components 2) By Technology: Machine Learning And Deep Learning, Natural Language Processing, Other Technologies 3) By Application: Conversational Interfaces, Behavioral Pattern Recognition, Other Applications
North America was the largest region in the chatbots for mental health and therapy market in 2023. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the chatbots for mental health and therapy market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa.
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Major Driver Impacting Market Growth The rise in mental health demand is expected to propel the growth of chatbots in the mental health and therapy markets going forward. Mental health demand refers to the increasing need for mental health services, resources, and support systems to address the growing prevalence of mental health disorders and related challenges within a population. The demand for mental health is rising due to increased awareness about mental health issues, accessibility and availability, trauma and adverse experiences, and workplace stress. Chatbots provide psychoeducational resources, self-help tools, and evidence-based treatments to assist users in gaining knowledge and skills for managing their mental health efficiently. It also provides round-the-clock availability, allowing anyone to seek help at any time, regardless of their location or time zone. For instance, in May 2022, according to the NHS Confederation, a UK-based organization that represents and supports the entire healthcare system, there were 2,234,856 million contacts with mental health services of all ages, an increase of 4.9% from February 2020 prior to the pandemic (2,131,113). Therefore, the rise in mental health demand is driving the growth of chatbots in the mental health and therapy market.
Key Industry Players Major companies operating in the chatbots for mental health and therapy market are Talkspace Online Therapy Inc., International Business Machines Corporation, Cisco Systems Inc., Oracle Corporation, Twilio Inc., Teladoc Health Inc., BetterHelp, Calm.com Inc., American Well Corp., Headspace Inc., Doctor On Demand Inc., MDLIVE, HelloSelf Limited, Mindstrong Inc., Lyra Health Inc., Valant, Welligent, Sensely Inc. , LISSUN, Wysa Ltd., Happify Inc.
The chatbots for mental health and therapy market report table of contents includes:

1. Executive Summary
2. Market Characteristics
3. Market Trends And Strategies
4. Impact Of COVID-19
5. Market Size And Growth
6. Segmentation
7. Regional And Country Analysis . . .
8. Competitive Landscape And Company Profiles
9. Key Mergers And Acquisitions
10. Future Outlook and Potential Analysis

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Overview and Scope BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) chips are semiconductor components designed to receive signals from the BeiDou satellite constellation (a global navigation system). These chips are integrated into various devices such as smartphones, tablets, and navigation systems to enable precise positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) capabilities. They are used to determine the user's location, velocity, and precise timing information, offering a reliable and accurate navigation solution.
Sizing and Forecast The BeiDou navigation satellite system chips market size has grown exponentially in recent years. It will grow from $0.47 billion in 2023 to $0.61 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 28.6%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to robust demand from defense sector, growing demand for navigation systems, rising demand for precision agriculture, increasing use in maritime navigation, expanding geospatial industry.
The BeiDou navigation satellite system chips market size is expected to see exponential growth in the next few years. It will grow to $1.67 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 28.7%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to rising adoption of the navigation system in smartphones, expansion of beidou system, growth in autonomous vehicles, growth in consumer electronics, rise in wearable technology. Major trends in the forecast period include 5G infrastructure, integration with smart infrastructure, integration of BDS chips, integration into UAVs and drones, integration of smartphones and wearables.
To access more details regarding this report, visit the link: https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/beidou-navigation-satellite-system-chips-global-market-report
Segmentation & Regional Insights The beidou navigation satellite system chips market covered in this report is segmented –
1) By Type: High Precision, Ordinary Precision 2) By Application: Special (Security) Applications, Civil Industrial, Mass Consumption 3) By End-User Industry: Automotive, Consumer Electronics
Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the BeiDou navigation satellite system chips market in 2023. The regions covered in the beidou navigation satellite system chips market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa.
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Major Driver Impacting Market Growth The rising demand for autonomous vehicles is expected to propel the growth of the BeiDou navigation satellite system chips market going forward. Autonomous vehicles are vehicles equipped with advanced sensors, control systems, and artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms that enable them to navigate and operate without human intervention. The demand for autonomous vehicles is increasing due to safety concerns, convenience, efficiency, accessibility, and environmental benefits. BeiDou navigation satellite system chips enable autonomous vehicles to navigate precisely and efficiently by receiving signals from BeiDou satellites, providing crucial positioning and timing information. For instance, in December 2022, according to a report published by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a US-based non-profit organization, it is expected to have 3.5 million autonomous vehicles or self-driving cars on American roads by 2025 and 4.5 million autonomous vehicles by 2030. Therefore, the rising demand for autonomous vehicles is driving the growth of the BeiDou navigation satellite system chips market.
Key Industry Players Major companies operating in the beidou navigation satellite system chips market are RTX Corporation, China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC), Thales Group, Beijing Enterprises Holdings , Trimble Inc, Kongsberg Gruppen, Topcon Corporation, Furuno Electric Co Ltd, U-blox Holding AG, BDStar Navigation Co Ltd, Shanghai Huace Navigation Technology Ltd, NovAtel Inc, South China University of Technology (SCUT), GNSS Technologies Inc, Unicore Communications Inc, SST Technology Corporation Limited, Wintec Industries Inc, RunXin Information Technology Co Ltd, Huatek Technology Corporation, Navisys Technology Corp., Raco Wireless LLC, NavtechGPS, Nevco Technology Co Ltd, Techtotop Co Ltd, Hwa Create Corporation Limited, ComNav Technology Ltd, Nanjing Veritas Electronic Technology Co Ltd, Changsha Zhongke Electric Co. Ltd.
The beidou navigation satellite system chips market report table of contents includes:

1. Executive Summary
2. Market Characteristics
3. Market Trends And Strategies
4. Impact Of COVID-19
5. Market Size And Growth
6. Segmentation
7. Regional And Country Analysis . . .
8. Competitive Landscape And Company Profiles
9. Key Mergers And Acquisitions
10. Future Outlook and Potential Analysis

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Overview and Scope Augmented and virtual reality in manufacturing refers to the process of using digital technology to enhance various aspects of the manufacturing process by providing workers with enhanced information, training, and visualization tools. Augmented reality (AR) technology offers workers real-time information, instructions, or visualizations while performing tasks on the factory floor. Virtual reality (VR) is often used for training, allowing workers to simulate complex procedures, operate machinery, or practice assembly tasks in a virtual environment before performing them in the real world. Integrating AR and VR within manufacturing yields substantial efficiency, safety, quality, and collaboration enhancements.
Sizing and Forecast The augmented and virtual reality in manufacturing market size has grown exponentially in recent years. It will grow from $10.09 billion in 2023 to $13.14 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30.2%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growing demand for better hardware and software technologies, rise in digitalization in the manufacturing industry, rise in applications of AR VR for manufacturing plant improvisation, and workforce training, rise in demand among manufacturers for AR VR devices for simulative applications, surge in penetration of Industrial Revolution 4.0.
The augmented and virtual reality in manufacturing market size is expected to see exponential growth in the next few years. It will grow to $38.19 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30.6%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growing adoption of smartphones, availability of compatible electronic products such as headsets, rise in government initiatives, simplified repair process, improved quality management. Major trends in the forecast period include growing adoption of smartphones, availability of compatible electronic products such as headsets, rise in government initiatives, simplified repair process, improved quality management.
To access more details regarding this report, visit the link: https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/augmented-and-virtual-reality-in-manufacturing-global-market-report
Segmentation & Regional Insights The augmented and virtual reality in manufacturing market covered in this report is segmented –
1) By Component: Hardware, Software, Services 2) By Technology: Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality 3) By Device Type: Head-Mounted Display, Head-Up Display, Handheld Devices 4) By Organization Size: Large Enterprises, Small And Medium-Sized Enterprises 5) By Application: Product Design And Development, Safety And Training, Maintenance And Repair
North America was the largest region in the augmented and virtual reality in manufacturing market in 2023. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the augmented and virtual reality in manufacturing market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa.
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Major Driver Impacting Market Growth Increasing industrial automation is expected to propel the growth of augmented and virtual reality in the manufacturing market going forward. Industrial automation uses control systems, machinery, and technologies to automate industrial processes and tasks, typically in manufacturing and production environments. The increasing adoption of industrial automation is driven by economic, technological, and market forces that compel manufacturers to embrace automation as a strategic imperative for achieving operational excellence, competitiveness, and sustainability in a rapidly changing business landscape. Augmented and virtual reality overlays real-time performance data onto physical equipment, providing operators valuable insights into robot performance, production metrics, and maintenance schedules. This enables proactive decision-making and optimization of manufacturing processes. For instance, in October 2022, according to the International Federation of Robotics, a Germany-based non-profit organization, around 517,385 new industrial robots were installed in industries worldwide in 2021, indicating a 31% growth rate year over year. Therefore, increasing industrial automation drives augmented and virtual reality in the manufacturing market.
Key Industry Players Major companies operating in the augmented and virtual reality in manufacturing market are Apple Inc., Google LLC, Panasonic Holdings Corporation, Samsung Group, Microsoft Corporation, Sony Group Corporation, Novac Technology Solutions, Intel Corporation, Lenovo Group Limited, Continental AG, Xiaomi Corporation, Seiko Epson Corporation, HTC Corporation, PTC Inc., Magic Leap Inc., ESI Group, WayRay AG, EON Realty Inc., Ultraleap, SoluLab Inc., Kaon Interactive Inc., Vuzix Corporation, Blippar Group Limited, Scope AR, SkillReal, Atheer Inc., Worldviz Inc.
The augmented and virtual reality in manufacturing market report table of contents includes:

1. Executive Summary
2. Market Characteristics
3. Market Trends And Strategies
4. Impact Of COVID-19
5. Market Size And Growth
6. Segmentation
7. Regional And Country Analysis . . .
8. Competitive Landscape And Company Profiles
9. Key Mergers And Acquisitions
10. Future Outlook and Potential Analysis

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Megapost: A list of statements, press releases, and other sources reporting and expressing concern and criticism about Israel's war in Gaza and related aspects of the war. (Part 2)

Notes: This is a work that is currently in progress; please check back for updates. Titles have been edited to provide details.
Part 1 is here: https://www.reddit.com/Social_Democracy/comments/1clx1uc/megapost_a_list_of_statements_press_releases_and/
Part 3 is here: https://www.reddit.com/Social_Democracy/comments/1coups2/megapost_a_list_of_statements_press_releases_and/
Part 4 is here: https://www.reddit.com/Social_Democracy/comments/1crvrde/megapost_a_list_of_statements_press_releases_and/
British Association of Social Workers (BASW) and the Social Workers Union (SWU) statement on situation in Israel and Palestine/Gaza (November 15, 2023): https://swu-union.org.uk/2023/11/basw-swu-statement-on-situation-in-israel-and-palestine-gaza/
More than 50 UK Labour Party lawmakers defy leader to back Gaza ceasefire (November 15, 2023): https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/more-than-50-uk-labour-lawmakers-defy-leader-back-gaza-ceasefire-2023-11-15/
RESOLUTION: THE VERMONT PROGRESSIVE PARTY CALLS FOR A CEASEFIRE IN GAZA (November 15, 2023): https://www.progressiveparty.org/progressive-news-and-updates/resolution-the-vermont-progressive-party-calls-for-a-ceasefire-in-gaza
Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors (JHL) condemns all strikes targeting civilians: Trade Union JHL appeals to the Government of Finland: Demand a ceasefire in the Gaza war. JHL will donate EUR 5,000 to Doctors Without Borders. (November 15, 2023): https://www.jhl.fi/en/news/trade-union-jhl-condemns-all-strikes-targeting-civilians/
Humanist Society Scotland calls for ceasefire in Gaza (November 16, 2023): https://www.humanism.scot/2023/11/16/humanist-society-scotland-calls-for-ceasefire-in-gaza/
Irish Congress of Trade Unions calls for humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza (November 16, 2023): https://www.ictu.ie/news/congress-calls-humanitarian-ceasefire-gaza
Longtime Israeli policy foes are leading US protests against Israel’s action in Gaza. Who are they? (November 16, 2023): https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-college-protests-c94bb0cd246bcc692de86b76b9b2a8cf
Cori Bush: Calls for Ceasefire Grow in Month Following Introduction of Ceasefire Now Resolution ["A growing coalition of over 100 organizations has also endorsed H.Res 786, the Ceasefire Now Resolution. Endorsing organizations include: 350.org, About Face: Veterans Against the War, ActionAid USA, Action Center on Race & the Economy, Adalah Justice Project, American Center for Justice, American Federation of Ramallah, Palestine (AFRP), American Muslims for Palestine, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), Americans for Justice in Palestine Action, Amnesty International, Arab American Civil Rights League (ACRL), Arab American Institute, Arab Resource & Organizing Center (AROC), Avaaz, Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC), Center for Constitutional Rights, Center for Jewish Nonviolence, Center for Popular Democracy Action, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Churches for Middle East Peace, Common Defense, Communities United for Status & Protection (CUSP), Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), Defense for Children International - Palestine, Demand Progress Action, Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), Democratic Socialists of America, Detroit Action, Dream Defenders, Emgage Action, Freedom Forward, Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), Gen Z For Change, Grassroots Global Justice Alliance, Highlander Research & Education, Hindus for Human Rights, The House of the Lord Churches, IfNotNow, Institute for Middle Eastern Understanding (IMEU), International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), IRAP Osgoode Hall Law School, IRAP Rutgers, IRAP UVA Law, IRAP University of Virginia School of Law Chapter, IRAP The George Washington Law School Chapter, Institute for Policy Studies New Internationalism Project, International Refugee Assistance Project at Berkeley Law, Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis, The Jerusalem Fund for Education and Community Development, Jewish Voice for Peace Action, Just Foreign Policy, Justice Is Global, Leadership Conference of Women Religious, MADRE, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, Michigan United, Migrant Roots Media, Movement for Black Lives, Movement Law Lab, Movement Generation, MoveOn, MPower Change Action Fund, Muslim Advocates, Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), Muslims for Progress, National Campaign for Human Dignity, National Domestic Workers Alliance, National Iranian American Council Action, National Lawyers Guild, Detroit & Michigan Chapter, National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC), NYC-DSA, Pax Christi USA, Peace Action, Peace Action Montgomery, Peace, Justice Sustainability NOW!, Progressive Democrats of America, Progressive Jews of St. Louis (ProJoSTL), Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED), Project48, Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Refugee Council USA, ReThinking Foreign Policy, Rising Majority, RootsAction.org, Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Institute Justice Team, Southeast Asian Freedom Network, Sunrise Movement, Transgender Law Center, UndocuBlack Network, Union of Palestinian American Women, Unitarian Universalist Association, United Church of Christ, United We Dream Network, Until Freedom, US Campaign for Palestinian Rights (USCPR), US Council for Muslim Organizations, Vietlead, Women Cross DMZ, Women for Weapons Trade Transparency, Working Families Party, Zero Hour."] (November 17, 2023): https://bush.house.gov/media/press-releases/calls-for-ceasefire-grow-in-month-following-introduction-of-ceasefire-now-resolution
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and Anglican Church of Canada: Church leaders urge Prime Minister Trudeau to call for a ceasefire and open corridor for humanitarian aid (November 17, 2023): https://www.anglicanlutheran.ca/statements/church-leaders-urge-prime-minister-trudeau-to-call-for-a-ceasefire-and-open-corridor-for-humanitarian-aid/
Jewish American Calls for a Ceasefire Highlight Divisions in the Community (November 17, 2023): https://time.com/6335528/jewish-american-ceasefire-progressive-jews/
Jews for Ceasefire holds demonstration outside Schwarzman, demands Yale divest from weapons manufacturing (November 17, 2023): https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2023/11/17/jews-for-ceasefire-holds-demonstration-outside-schwarzman-demands-yale-divest-from-weapons-manufacturing/
Josh Ruebner, adjunct professor in Justice and Peace Studies at Georgetown University: Israel is threatening a second Nakba — but it’s already happening (November 17, 2023): https://thehill.com/opinion/international/4313276-israel-is-threatening-a-second-nakba-but-its-already-happening/
I Am the Grandchild of Holocaust Survivors, and I Am Calling for Ceasefire Now (November 18, 2023): https://truthout.org/articles/i-am-the-grandchild-of-holocaust-survivors-and-i-am-calling-for-ceasefire-now/
Diseases spread in Gaza amid water and sewage crisis, cholera feared (November 19, 2023): https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/19/diseases-spread-in-gaza-amid-water-and-sewage-crisis-cholera-feared
Association of Black Anthropologists Statement on Solidarity with Palestine (November 20, 2023): https://aba.americananthro.org/aba-statement-on-solidarity-with-palestine/
With the world’s eyes on Gaza, attacks are on the rise in the West Bank, which faces its own war (November 20, 2023): https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-israel-west-bank-war-gaza-hamas-settlers-army-raid-militants-c1386ab6a633971cc18b2497169210d3
Derek Duba: Army veterans like me know that 'war is hell.' Let's push for a ceasefire in Gaza (November 21, 2023): https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/2023/11/21/gaza-ceasefire-only-way-forward-israel-palestine-veterans/71660423007/
Middle East Studies Association Board Letter to Biden Administration on Ceasefire in Gaza (November 21, 2023): https://mesana.org/advocacy/letters-from-the-board/2023/11/21/mesa-board-letter-to-biden-administration-on-ceasefire-in-gaza
This Union Is Famous for Opposing South African Apartheid. Now It’s Standing With Gaza. In 1984, ILWU Local 10 refused to unload goods shipped from South Africa. Today, it’s demanding a cease-fire. (November 21, 2023): https://www.thenation.com/article/activism/ilwu-unions-ceasefire-israel-gaza/
‘Not in my name’: Jews in UK take a stand against Israel’s Gaza assault (November 24, 2023): https://www.aa.com.ten/europe/-not-in-my-name-jews-in-uk-take-a-stand-against-israel-s-gaza-assault/3063568
British Sociological Association: Sociologists’ Letter on Gaza (November 27, 2023): https://es.britsoc.co.uk/sociologists-letter-on-gaza/
Opinion by Ermina Mustafic-Harambasic: As the daughter of Bosnian genocide survivors, I stand with Palestine: There are many parallels between the denial of the Srebrenica genocide and the denial of the Palestinian genocide (November 27, 2023): https://www.sltrib.com/opinion/commentary/2023/11/27/opinion-daughter-bosnian-genocide/
Changing course, Senator Peter Welch calls for ‘indefinite’ cease-fire in Gaza (November 28, 2023): https://vtdigger.org/2023/11/28/changing-course-peter-welch-calls-for-indefinite-ceasefire-in-gaza/
National Council of Churches in the Philippines: An Urgent Statement on the Situation in Gaza, Pray for Peace and Justice in Palestine and Israel (November 29, 2023): https://nccphilippines.org/2023/11/29/an-urgent-statement-on-the-situation-in-gaza-pray-for-peace-and-justice-in-palestine-and-israel/
Rae Abileah: Never Again means Never Again for Anyone, including Gazans (November 9, 2023): https://www.hmbreview.com/opinion/matters_of_opinion/never-again-means-never-again-for-anyone-including-gazans/article_a8447418-8ecb-11ee-8df5-4bb3d40e681a.html
Public Services International: International Trade Unions Urgently call for Ceasefire in Gaza amidst Ongoing Human Rights Violations (November 30, 2023): https://publicservices.international/resources/news/international-trade-unions-urgently-call-for-ceasefire-in-gaza-amidst-ongoing-human-rights-violations?id=14308⟨%3Den
Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez says he doubts Israel is respecting international law (November 30, 2023): https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/30/spain-pm-pedro-sanchez-israel-hamas-terror-attacks-gaza
Open Letter from Professionals at Jewish Organizations to President Biden and Congress [850+ signatures] (December 2023): https://docs.google.com/document1/d/e/2PACX-1vQ1EFVMTDvaxvWXldzbZvr60BE5o3UQeU_WfiXX3ivcUVU1SAYU13wZsBhDVbmtbXmKejMNajY1xSQ1/pub
Bubba Fish, Culver County Democratic Club: A Jewish Case for an End to the War (December 1, 2023): https://www.c-c-d-c.com/a-jewish-case-for-an-end-to-the-wa
United Auto Workers Statement on Israel and Palestine (December 1, 2023): https://uaw.org/uaw-statement-israel-palestine/
Jane Fonda: "I join with millions of others in calling for —in the words of the UN Secretary General —‘a true humanitarian ceasefire’ in Gaza." (December 2, 2023): https://www.instagram.com/janefonda/p/C0XIXkUJhI1/
Daanish Faruqi: Israel is using the same tactics in Gaza that al-Assad employed in Syria (December 3, 2023): https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2023/12/3/israel-is-using-the-same-tactics-in-gaza-that-al-assad-employed-in-syria
Catholic Workers Speak Out for Ceasefire, Peace (December 4, 2023): https://catholicworker.org/cws-speak-out-for-ceasefire-peace/
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières: The US must call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza: An open letter to President Biden from MSF-USA executive director Avril Benoît (December 4, 2023): https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/us-must-call-immediate-ceasefire-gaza
Greta Thunberg and Fridays for Future Sweden activists Alde Nilsson, Jamie Mater, and Raquel Frescia: We won’t stop speaking out about Gaza’s suffering – there is no climate justice without human rights: Young climate activists haven’t ‘been radicalised’ – solidarity with marginalised people has always been at the heart of our message (December 5, 2023): https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/dec/05/gaza-climate-justice-human-rights-greta-thunberg
National Union of Journalists condemns unprecedented death toll of journalists in Gaza (December 5, 2023): https://www.nuj.org.uk/resource/nuj-condemns-unprecedented-death-toll-of-journalists-in-gaza.html
‘These are very hard times’: Pastor of Gaza Catholic church gives update on Christians’ plight (December 6, 2023): https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256192/these-are-very-hard-times-pastor-of-gaza-catholic-church-gives-update-on-christian-s-plight
Catholic progressives in Brazil call Gaza war a ‘true genocide’ (December 7, 2023): https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-americas/2023/12/catholic-progressives-in-brazil-call-gaza-war-a-true-genocide
Corporate Europe Observatory: Gaza: Ceasefire now (December 7, 2023): https://corporateeurope.org/en/2023/12/gaza-ceasefire-now
Faculty and staff members in American University’s School of International Service call for ceasefire in Gaza: “We now call on our governments and campuses to bravely Wage Peace instead.” (December 8, 2023): https://www.theeagleonline.com/article/2023/12/sis-staff-and-faculty-call-for-ceasefire-in-gaza & https://sites.google.com/student.american.edu/american-university/home
International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group statement: Canada Must Oppose Genocide in Gaza and Defend Free Expression at Home (December 8, 2023): https://iclmg.ca/canada-must-oppose-genocide/
Senator Bernie Sanders: AIPAC is a right-wing organization that supports extremist Republican election-denier candidates. Now, they want to spend $100 million to defeat Progressives. Whether AIPAC likes it or not, the U.S. must not give a blank check to Netanyahu’s horrific war policies. (December 10, 2023): https://twitter.com/BernieSanders/status/1733932123357085759
Ahead of White House Hanukkah celebration, a wave of faith-led cease-fire demonstrations (December 11, 2023): https://religionnews.com/2023/12/11/jewish-christian-activists-head-up-another-wave-of-faith-led-cease-fire-demonstrations/
Edward P. Djerejian Center for the Middle East, James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy: Israel’s Mass Displacement of Gazans Fits Strategy of Using Migration as a Tool of War (December 11, 2023): https://www.bakerinstitute.org/research/israels-mass-displacement-gazans-fits-strategy-using-migration-tool-war
Letter: What 'pro-life' justification can Hoeven, Cramer and Armstrong offer for opposing a ceasefire? "Thousands of dead children in a few weeks seems like an obvious pro-life issue," writes Mercedes Saylor. (December 11, 2023): https://www.inforum.com/opinion/letters/letter-what-pro-life-justification-can-hoeven-cramer-and-armstrong-offer-for-opposing-a-ceasefire
International Federation for Human Rights (Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l'homme): The unfolding genocide against the Palestinians must stop immediately (December 12, 2023): https://www.fidh.org/en/region/north-africa-middle-east/israel-palestine/the-unfolding-genocide-against-the-palestinians-must-stop-immediately
Unitarian Universalist Women's Federation: Statement on Gaza/Israeli conflict (December 13, 2023): https://www.uuwf.org/blog/13290680
Exclusive: Nearly half of the Israeli munitions dropped on Gaza are imprecise ‘dumb bombs,’ US intelligence assessment finds (December 14, 2023): https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/13/politics/intelligence-assessment-dumb-bombs-israel-gaza/index.html
Los Angeles Times Editorial Board: U.S. should join the world’s nations in demanding a Gaza cease-fire (December 14, 2024): https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2023-12-14/gaza-ceasefire-israel-united-states-civilian-deaths
1199SEIU, nation’s largest healthcare union, calls for Gaza ceasefire (December 15, 2023): https://www.1199seiu.org/media-cente1199seiu-nations-largest-healthcare-union-calls-gaza-ceasefire
A Long History of Antifascism Is Driving the Jewish Demand for Gaza Cease-Fire (December 15, 2023): https://inthesetimes.com/article/chanukah-jewish-antifascism-israel-palestine-jvp-ifnotnow-gaza-ceasefire
Senator Bernie Sanders Introduces Resolution to Investigate Israel’s Indiscriminate Bombing Campaign in Gaza (December 15, 2023): https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sanders-introduces-resolution-to-investigate-israels-indiscriminate-bombing-campaign-in-gaza/
Union for Reform Judaism Alumni and Current Members for Ceasefire (December 16, 2023): https://urjceasefirenow.wordpress.com/2023/12/16/urj-alumni-and-current-members-for-ceasefire/
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ President Pleads for Peace as Innocent People are Killed in the Land of Jesus' Birth (December 16, 2023): https://www.usccb.org/news/2023/us-bishops-president-pleads-peace-innocent-people-are-killed-land-jesus-birth
Auschwitz Museum Decries Israeli Mayor's 'Sick' Call to 'Empty' Gaza: "We do hope that Israeli authorities will react to such shameful abuse, as terrorism can never be a response to terrorism." (December 18, 2023): https://www.commondreams.org/news/israel-genocidal-statements
Jews for Racial and Economic Justice: Stop the Bombs! Ceasefire Now! (December 18, 2023): https://www.jfrej.org/events/2023/12/stop-the-bombs-ceasefire-now
Nontombi Naomi Tutu and Nompumelelo (Mungi) Ngomane, respectively the daughter and granddaughter of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu: We have failed in the fight for justice — we need ceasefire in Gaza now (December 18, 2023): https://thehill.com/opinion/international/4365307-we-have-failed-in-the-fight-for-justice-we-need-ceasefire-in-gaza-now/
Representative Betty McCollum: AIPAC Dangerously Trafficking in Hate Speech Amid Israel-Gaza War (December 18, 2023): https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-aipac-dangerously-trafficking-hate-speech-amid-israel-gaza-war
Association of Legal Aid Attorneys, United Auto Workers Local 2325: Resolution Calling for a Ceasefire in Gaza, an End to the Israeli Occupation of Palestine, and Support for Workers’ Political Speech (December 19, 2023): https://www.alaa.org/media-releases/resolution-calling-for-a-ceasefire-in-gaza-an-end-to-the-israeli-occupation-of-palestine-and-support-for-workers-political-speech
Joint Statement by Current and Former Australian Elected Representatives on the Situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories [300+ signatures] (December 19, 2023): https://apan.org.au/joint-statement/ & https://docs.google.com/document/d/182u4eJnJUZ_Uruf1GlchLnF8XotnpnAX/
Liberal International bureau supports humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza (December 19, 2023): https://liberal-international.org/news-articles/li-bureau-supports-humanitarian-ceasefire-in-gaza/
Fox News host Mark Levin's hateful defenses of civilian casualties, calls for war crimes, and xenophobic attacks on Palestinians (December 20, 2023): https://www.mediamatters.org/mark-levin/mark-levins-hateful-defenses-civilian-casualties-calls-war-crimes-and-xenophobic-attacks
I’m a Palestinian Christian in Gaza. I want peace—for my homeland and my family. (December 20, 2023): https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2023/12/20/christian-gaza-wartime-church-community-246754
Israel Defense Forces and Yom Kippur War veteran from Woodstock urges ceasefire in Gaza [Israeli veteran Mark Hammel on Israel's war in Gaza: “It's an unmitigated horror story ... It's literally on the cusp of genocide."] (December 21, 2023): https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/news/2023/12/21/israel-defense-forces-veteran-from-woodstock-urges-ceasefire-in-gaza
Public Citizen Statement on the Violence in Gaza and Israel (December 21, 2023): https://www.citizen.org/news/statement-on-the-violence-in-gaza-and-israel/
Franciscans International: Amid rising death toll, Security Council must call for a ceasefire in Gaza (December 22, 2023): https://franciscansinternational.org/blog/amid-rising-death-toll-security-council-must-call-for-a-ceasefire-in-gaza/
Holy Land: Caritas Internationalis joins today’s Global Day of Action calling for a Ceasefire Now (December 22, 2023): https://www.caritas.org/2023/12/holy-land-caritas-internationalis-joins-todays-global-day-of-action-calling-for-a-ceasefire-now/ & https://www.change.org/p/sign-and-share-this-urgent-petition-calling-for-a-ceasefirenow-in-gaza-and-israel
Marianne Williamson on her US presidential campaign, the economy and Gaza: ‘The death of a Palestinian child is no less horrifying than the death of an Israeli child,’ author tells Al Jazeera. (December 22, 2023): https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/22/marianne-williamson-on-her-us-presidential-campaign-the-economy-and-gaza
The Human Rights Institute of the International Bar Association condemns the indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks on Gaza and reiterates the call for an immediate ceasefire (December 22, 2023): https://www.ibanet.org/The-Human-Rights-Institute-of-the-IBA-condemns-the-indiscriminate-and-disproportionate-attacks-on-Gaza-and-reiterates-the-call-for-an-immediate-ceasefire
Who Is Funding Canary Mission? Inside the Doxxing Operation Targeting Anti-Zionist Students and Professors (December 22, 2023): https://www.thenation.com/article/world/canary-mission-israel-covert-operations/
Rebecca Alpert, Reconstructionist Rabbi and Professor Emerita of Religion at Temple University: “Ceasefire Now!” Means Peace for All and Justice for Palestinians (December 28, 2023): https://truthout.org/articles/ceasefire-now-means-peace-for-all-and-justice-for-palestinians/
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov appears to liken Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine: FM Labrov praises Netanyahu since ‘he never dared’ to criticize Russia, says Israel’s campaign against Hamas ‘sounds like denazification,’ echoing Moscow’s justification for its war (December 28, 2023): https://www.timesofisrael.com/lavrov-appears-to-liken-israels-war-on-hamas-in-gaza-to-russias-invasion-of-ukraine/
Palestine: Intersectional Solidarity: Statements from Afghans, Iranians, Hongkongers, Tibetans, Kurds, Syrians, Taiwanese, Uyghurs, and Ukrainians (December 28, 2023): https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/anonymous-palestine-intersectional-solidarity
Physicians for Social Responsibility: Urgent Call for Ceasefire and Humanitarian Aid in Gaza (December 28, 2023): https://psr.org/urgent-call-for-ceasefire-and-humanitarian-aid-in-gaza/
World Council of Churches calls for immediate end to brutal violence in Gaza (December 30, 2023): https://www.oikoumene.org/news/wcc-calls-for-immediate-end-to-brutal-violence-in-gaza
Database of Israeli Incitement to Genocide (January-February 2023): https://law4palestine.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Database-of-Israeli-Incitement-to-Genocide-including-after-ICJ-order-27th-February-2024-.pdf
Muslims for Progressive Values: Never Again? (January 4, 2024): https://www.mpvusa.org/blog/never-again
Social workers send letters from Gaza (January 4, 2024): https://reimaginingsocialwork.nz/2024/01/04/social-workers-send-letters-from-gaza/
Anti-Defamation League staff decry ‘dishonest’ campaign against Israel critics (January 5, 2024): https://www.theguardian.com/news/2024/jan/05/adl-pro-israel-advocacy-zionism-antisemitism
"We Support South Africa's Genocide Convention Case Against Israel": Over 1,000 popular movements, political parties, unions, and other organizations call on states around the world to support South Africa's genocide case against Israel. [Including: Amazon Labor Union, USA; American Friends Service Committee - AFSC, USA; AFSCME Local 526, USA; Antipoverty Centre, Australia; Australian Unemployed Workers' Union; Black Workers for Justice (BWFJ), USA; Boycott from Within (Israeli citizens for BDS); Canadian Friends Service Committee, Canada; CGT - Confederación General del Trabajo, Spain; Church Women United in New York State, USA; Civil Engagement Group of Seanad Éireann (Senate of Ireland), Ireland; Coalition Against Fascism in India (International); CODEPINK, USA; Columbia Law Students for Palestine (CLSP), USA; Community Peacemaker Teams; Confederación Intersindical, Spain; CUNY for Palestine, USA; Defence for Children International; Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN); Democratic Socialists of America, USA; Egyptian Social Democratic Party, Egypt; Faculty for Justice in Palestine at Syracuse University, USA; GEO-UAW Local 2322, USA; GSOC-UAW Local 2110, USA; Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers, London; Harvard Jews for Palestine, USA; Hindus for Human Rights, USA; International Peace Bureau (IPB), International; Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions USA; Jewish Voice for Labour (UK); La France Insoumise, France; Labour For Palestine - Canada; Labour International, UK; Landless Workers Movement MST, Brazil; Medical Association for Prevention of War, Australia; Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC), USA; Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance (MIRA), USA; National Lawyers Guild, USA; National Single Payer, USA; Nonviolence International; NYC City Workers for Palestine, USA; NYU Alumni for Palestine, USA; Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace, USA; Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions, PGFTU, Palestine; Pax Christi Canada; Pax Christi USA; Physicians for Social Responsibility Kansas City (PSR-KC), USA; Physicians for Social Responsibility/Sacramento, USA; Progressive Democrats of America, Oregon Chapter, USA; Progressive International; Sarah Lawrence Faculty for Justice in Palestine; Scholars Against the War on Palestine, Canada/International; Science for the People - Canada; Science for the People, USA; Secours Catholique, France; Servicio Internacional Cristiano de Solidaridad con America Latina (SICSAL Mexico); Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Enseñanza de Cantabria (STEC), Spain; Sínodo Luterano Salvadoreño, El Salvador; Transnational Institute; Trinity Lutheran Church, Brooklyn NY, USA; Tunisian General Labor Union UGTT; UMass Amherst Faculty for Justice in Palestine, USA; UMKC Students for Justice in Palestine, USA; Union Juive Française pour la Paix (UJFP - French Jewish Peace Union); Unionists for Palestine, Australia; United Church of Christ Palestine Israel Network, USA; United Jewish People's Order, Canada; United Methodists for Kairos Response (UMKR); US Committee to End Political Repression in Egypt] (January 8, 2024): https://progressive.international/wire/2024-01-08-we-support-south-africas-genocide-convention-case-against-israel/en
Etan Nechin: The far right infiltration of Israel’s media is blinding the public to the truth about Gaza (January 9, 2024): https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/jan/09/israel-media-gaza-benjamin-netanyahu-settler-movement
Michelle Goldberg in the New York Times via U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett: America Must Face Up to Israel’s Extremism (January 9, 2024): https://doggett.house.gov/media/in-the-news/new-york-times-america-must-face-israels-extremism
Q&A: Former Biden appointee Tariq Habash says US policy is ‘dehumanising’ Palestinians (January 9, 2024): https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/9/qa-former-biden-appointee-says-us-policy-is-dehumanising-palestinians
State and Local Elected Officials Open Letter to President Biden Calling for a Ceasefire [350+ signatures] (January 9, 2024): https://www.jvpaction.org/state-and-local-elected-officials-open-letter-to-president-biden-calling-for-a-ceasefire/
I led strike cells against ISIS — Israel’s strike campaign in Gaza is unacceptable (January 10, 2024): https://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/4397982-i-led-strike-cells-against-isis-israels-strike-campaign-in-gaza-is-unacceptable/
Naomi Klein: We have a tool to stop Israel’s war crimes: BDS (January 10, 2024): https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/jan/10/only-outside-pressure-can-stop-israels-war-crimes
Revealed: Congress backers of Gaza war received most from pro-Israel donors: Guardian analysis finds top recipients of pro-Israel contributions in last elections were centrist Democrats who defeated progressives in primaries (January 10, 2024): https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/jan/10/congress-member-pro-israel-donations-military-support
Why I Resigned: Meet Tariq Habash, First Biden Appointee to Quit over U.S.-Backed Israeli War on Gaza (January 10, 2024): https://www.democracynow.org/2024/1/10/tariq_habash
Robert C. Koehler: The Cry of the Wounded and the Dead: End the War! End the War! (January 13, 2024): https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/when-will-the-war-in-gaza-end
On MLK Day, Representative Ayanna Pressley and Interfaith Coalition Call for Ceasefire in Gaza ["Rep. Pressley joined over 90 leaders from the Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist and other faith traditions in signing the statement, including Rev. Nikira Hernandez, Brighton Allston Congregational Church, Rev. Darrell R. Hamilton II, The First Baptist Church in, Jamaica Plain, Imam Ahmad Barry, Rev. Aisha Ansano. Rev. Otto Concannon, First Parish in Malden, Rev. Ashlee Wiest-Laird, First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain, Imam Abdullah Faaruuq, Mosque for Praising Allah, Rev. Elizabeth Nguyen, Community Justice Exchange, Chaplain Ylisse C. Bess, Rev. Jo Murphy, Rev. Shea Thompson, Rev. Rob Mark, Rev. Erica Rose Long, Rabbi Rebecca Zimmerman Hornstein, Boston Workers Circle, Imam Taalib Mahdee, Masjid Al Qur’an, Rev. Art J. Gordon, St. John Missionary Baptist Church, Rev. Fred Small, Rev. Heather Concannon, Rev. Miniard Culpepper, Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church, Rabbi Leora Abelson, Rabbi Leah Nussbaum, Rev. Willie Bodrick, II J.D., M.Div., Twelfth Baptist Church, The Very Rev. Amy McCreath, Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston (Episcopal), Rev. James Harrison Jr., Southern Baptist Church, Rev. Bernadette Hickman-Maynard, Rev. Erica F Richmond, Arlington, MA, Rev. Arrington Chambliss, St Mary’s Dorchester, Rev. Dr. Michelle A. Walsh, Tuckerman Creative Ministries for Justice & Healing, Rev. Dr. Clyde Grubbs, Tuckerman Creative Ministries, Muslims for Justice, Rev. Isaac P. Martinez, The Allston Abbey, Rev. Ashley Popperson, Rev. Lindsay Popperson, Old North Church, Marblehead, Rev. Myozen Joan Amaral, Zen Center North Shore, Rev. Dr. Andre K. Bennett, Marc Fredette, UU Minister, Rev. Edmund Robinson, First Parish in Hingham/Old Ship, Chaplain Christie Towers, Rev. Kenneth Read-Brown, Rev. Martha Schick, Cassandra Montenegro, Esq., First Parish in Cambridge, Unitarian Universalist, Rev. Dr. William J. Gardiner, Rev. Wendy Page, Rev. Elizabeth Bukey Saunter, Rev. Mel Pace, Rabbi Becky Silverstein, Rev. Katie Omberg, Rev. Rali M Weaver, First Church and Parish Dedham, Rev. Anne M. Rousseau, Rev. Brett R. Johnson, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Wakefield, MA, Rev. James Leavitt, Rev. Daryn Bunce Stylianopoulos, Mohanad Mossalam, Khateeb, Malden Islamic Center, Daniela Harrigan, Movement Chaplain, MC Miller, Candidate for Ordination in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, University Lutheran Church, Cambridge, MA, Allison N Brown, Pastoral Candidate for Ordination , The Episcopal Church, India Wood, Seminarian, Boston University Theological School, Rhea Brown-Bright, Director of Faith Formation, First Parish Dorchester, Boston University School of Theology, Linden Jenkins, St Cecilia Parish Social & Racial Justice Ministry, Vincent Ware, Director of Public Affairs & Civic Engagement, MAS Boston (Muslim American Society), Becca Heisler, Rabbinical Student, Jayce Koester, Rabbinical Student, Hadar Ahuvia, Rabbinical Student, Sam Tygiel, Rabbinical Student, Alex Bailey Dillon, Rabbinical Student, Hannah Limov, Rabbinical Student, Chaim Spaulding, Rabbinical Student, Aaron Berc, Rabbinical Student, Rivka Nechemya Thrope, Rabbinical Student, Max Davis, Rabbinical Student, Sivan Piatigorsky, Rabbinical Student, Rayden Marcum, Rabbinical Student, Rumni Saha (MDiv, MEd), Ian Evans, Clergy in training, McKayla Hoffman, Ministerial Intern, Nichole Mossalam, Muslim Activist, Elizabeth Claggett-Borne, Friends (Quakers) for Racial Justice, Carole Rein, Quaker, North Shore Friends (Quakers), Polly Attwood, Quaker, Friends Meeting Cambridge, Isabella Bates, Quaker, North Shore Quaker Meeting, Dr. Esther Ngotho, Zen Center North Shore, Nora Williams, Zen Center North Shore, Michael Carey, Peace and Social Justice Committee, Friends Meeting Cambridge, Don Gianniny, Peace and Social Justice Committee, Friends Meeting Cambridge, Holly Aloha Jaynes, Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead, Ehab Hilali, Community Organizer, Independent Drivers Guild, Nicole Moore, UU Church of Marblehead & Zen Center North Shore, Sarah Manasrah, Community Organizer, Salimah Adawiya, Educator, Rabbi Victor Reinstein, Dr. Jamal Carlos Saeh, Palestinian Catholic, Friend Kristina Keefe-Perry, Three Rivers Worship Group, Rev. Carrie Ballenger, University Lutheran Church, Rev. Tricia Brennan, and Rev. Dr. Christopher Ney, United Church of Christ."] (January 15, 2024): https://pressley.house.gov/2024/01/15/on-mlk-day-pressley-and-interfaith-coalition-call-for-ceasefire-in-gaza-2/
Canadian Labour Congress Executive Committee reiterates its support for International Trade Union Confederation's call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza (January 16, 2024): https://canadianlabour.ca/clc-executive-committee-reiterates-its-support-for-itucs-call-for-an-immediate-ceasefire-in-gaza/
Bosnia war, genocide survivors back ICJ Gaza genocide case against Israel (January 18, 2024): https://www.newarab.com/news/bosnia-war-genocide-survivors-back-icj-gaza-genocide-case / https://docs.google.com/document/d/1M5J0MK5LlKjlAZX4cPNNiEGMJZHLM8Qa/
Unions tell Starmer of members’ anger over Gaza ceasefire position (Members of Britain’s biggest unions used a regular meeting with Starmer this week to urge him to be more critical of Israel, following weeks of tension within the Labour party over the issue. [...] “Several people at the meeting were pretty clear with Starmer,” said one person with knowledge of what happened at the meeting. “They told him, ‘Your position on Gaza is alienating working people, you are out of step with the majority’.”] (January 18, 2024): https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/jan/18/unions-keir-starmer-gaza-ceasefire
Anglican Bishop Christopher calls for ceasefire ‘to end appalling suffering’ in Gaza (January 19, 2024): https://southwark.anglican.org/news-events/news/latest-news/bishop-christopher-calls-for-ceasefire-to-end-appalling-suffering-in-gaza/
Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor: Israel kills dozens of academics, destroys every university in the Gaza Strip (January 20, 2024): https://euromedmonitor.org/en/article/6108/Israel-kills-dozens-of-academics,-destroys-every-university-in-the-Gaza-Strip
Gaza activist tells of beating and abuse in Israeli detention: Human rights worker Ayman Lubbad is among the Palestinian prisoners claiming abuse in Israeli custody, where six have died (January 21, 2024): https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/21/gaza-activist-tells-of-beating-and-abuse-in-israeli-detention
Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) calls for ceasefire in Gaza (January 22, 2024): https://www.sak.fi/en/whats-new/news/sak-calls-ceasefire-gaza
Service Employees International Union (SEIU) President Mary Kay Henry's Statement on War in Gaza (January 22, 2024): https://www.seiu.org/2024/01/seius-mary-kay-henry-statement-on-war-in-gaza
‘I just want to run’: Mental health care yet another casualty of Gaza war (January 23, 2024): https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2024-01-23/i-just-want-to-run-mental-health-care-yet-another-casualty-of-gaza-war
Progressive Baptists Call for Gaza Ceasefire (January 23, 2024): https://wordandway.org/2024/01/23/progressive-baptists-call-for-gaza-ceasefire/
Israeli police repressing anti-war protests with ‘iron fist,’ say activists: Since October 7, Israel's police have systematically banned, restricted, and attacked protests against the army's assault on Gaza, instilling a sense of fear among Jewish and Palestinian citizens alike. (January 24, 2024): https://www.972mag.com/israel-police-repression-protests-gaza/
More than 250 humanitarian and human rights organisations call to stop arms transfers to Israel and Palestinian armed groups: An open call to all UN Member States to stop fueling the crisis in Gaza and avert further humanitarian catastrophe and loss of civilian life. [Including: ActionAid France; American Baptist Churches USA; American Friends Service Committee (AFSC); Amnesty International; Anglican Church of Canada; Anglican Church of Mexico; Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development; BDS Berlin; Belgian Academics and Artists for Palestine; Cameroon Youths and Students Forum for Peace (CAMYOSFOP); Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD); Center for Jewish Nonviolence; Christian Aid; Christian Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament; Christian Jewish Allies for a Just Peace in Israel/Palestine; Church and Peace – Ecumenical Peace Church Network in Europe; Colombian Campaign to Ban Landmines; Community of Christ; Danish Refugee Council; Doctors Against Genocide; Episcopal Peace Fellowship-Palestine Israel Network; Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada; Federation Handicap International – Humanity & Inclusion; Finnish-Arab Friendship Society; France Palestine Mental Health Network; International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH); Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions – UK; Japan International Volunteer Center; Jewish Network for Palestine; Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns; Mercy Corps; Muslim Delegates and Allies Coalition; Muslim Peace Fellowship; National Organization of Yemeni Reporters SADA; Norwegian Refugee Council; Oxfam; Palestinian Farmers Union; Pax Christi England and Wales; Pax Christi International; Pax Christi Italia; Pax Christi Scotland; Pax Christi USA; Presbyterian Church in Canada; Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.); Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft; Salam For Yemen; Save the Children; Socialist Movement of Ghana; Syrian Network for Human Rights; United Church of Canada; United Church of Christ; United Methodist Church – General Board of Church and Society; War on Want; Women for Peace and Democracy Nepal; Young Christian Students Movement South Africa] (January 24, 2024): https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/01/more-than-250-humanitarian-and-human-rights-organisations-call-to-stop-arms-transfers-to-israel-palestinian-armed-groups/

October 14th, Post-Y2K Era.
Not too much happens in the suburbs of Lamblet Harbor. In an area that used to be a hotspot for seagowers had been transformed into a very small, niche community of only a few hundred people. One new neighbor could move in at any time and be met with nearly the whole town recognizing your name in ~2 weeks if you stepped outside long enough.
Being the suburbs, it has nearly everything you need just a few blocks from your living quarters. A corner store, a recognized restort for those with enough cash in their wallets, an ice cream parlor, a gas station just 15 cents too much per gallon to be worth it, a library with some graffiti art on the wall that's just too timeless to get rid of, etc.
Whenever it gets to be this time of year, the children and adults start to dress for chilly weather in jackets when they go outside, and in the house of the Makie family, that's no different.
Mr. Makie: "See you later, love ya!"
Ms. Makie: "Be careful at the game, honey! I know Serenity loves football, too, but she better not grow up to be screaming at every game on the TV!"
Mr. Makie: "Bah, you worry too much! And is Ollie in the car already?"
Ms. Makie: "Yep, he just scurried over with his granolah bars."
Mr. Makie: "Alright. Serenity! Let's get going to the game, don't wanna miss it!"
Serenity: "Lets go Rangers! And Cracker Jaaaaacks!!"
Down from the stairs appears Serenity Makie, a small 7 year old with a bit of dull blonde hair with a cap on holding the insignia of the "Cypress Rangers" on the top to show support for their team. Her father was also a fan that got his daughter involved in the hype of the game at an early age, so he's taking one of his paid vacation days to take her to a game nearby in his car.
Serenity and her father get in the car, the father taking the driver seat and Serenity sitting in the back, barely containing her excitment in that seat belt. In the front was "Ollie," the older brother to Serenity. The families magnet for teasing because it always seems like he's made of thin skin. Wanting no more than to get in and out of places as fast as possible, especially in school with how many people are there that he can barely remember anybodies name, much less good things to remember that doesn't cause anxiety.
Mr. Makie: "Alright, before we head to the game, let's quickly get Oliver dropped off at the school across the bridge, then we go watch the Rangers!"
Jackie (throwing her fists in the air): "YEAH!!"
Ollie: ^"'Kay."
The car starts up as Mr. Makie takes the two out of the neighborhood and onto the main road towards a bridge, scaling over a body of water that goes out towards the open Gulf. Their family didn't live too far from Ollie's school, but with how school zones worked, their family was just slightly too close for a bus without some complications in schedules and too far to walk there without a bike... but he's too afraid for either of those options. So, taking the car when it lines up with his parents was his best option.
Unlike his father and little sister, Ollie had to attend public school today. Which sadly meant that he couldn't just stay inside in the comfort of his own home or with family at the game despite his disinterest with sports, because it would at least give him an excuse to not be there.
His father and little sister are jamming out to the radio station's latest hits from popular artists to put on loop for the day. Ollie takes one of his chocolate chip granola bars to munch on as he looks out the window of the seat during the whole ride, trying to block out the noise.
Before he knows it, one blink, and the school is already in front of him at the car circle to get dropped off.
Ollie: "Huh? We're here already?"
Mr. Makie: "Yep, we'll come pick you up later okay?"
Ollie: "Okay..."
Mr. Makie: "Alright, learn something ya'hear?"
Serenity: "Bye bye bro, we're getting Cracker Jacks!!"
Mr. Makie: "In a bit when we get there!"
Ollie: "Yeah... bye Dad, bye sis."
Ollie gets out of the car and closes the door. The pair drives off with some embarrassingly loud music they clearly turned up when Ollie exited the vehicle... and he isn't sure how to feel about that.
Ollie, with his backpack on and confidence at a low, exits the car circle as he goes deeper towards the dark abyss of a slightly dim hallway. His looks are... plain and uninterested. His build was skinny, only around 5'8, short but unkempt brown hair, skin that could be mistaken snow, along jeans and a skinny jacket with the only notable part about it is the fur inside and a white line across the middle. The signature look of "one shoulder push and I'm running to cry at the stairs."
However, while Ollie's very shatterable self esteam was on full display, most of these worries are in his head as not much of anybody has a problem with him. All except...
???: "OH! Hey dude, "wet blanket" is here!"
Oh god. Why now?
???: "Hey, wet blanket! What you got for snacks today?!"
Ollie: "..."
At that moment, Ollie couldn't help but feel trapped in a corner despite not literally being in one. His biggest weakness on full display, all from the fact he was too spineless to resist the bullies demands. One bully names Max and the other being Andy, with his famous height and gap tooth.
Max: "Come on now, pay up! I'm hoping for fruit snacks like last week!"
Andy: "Yeah, you know the rules wet blanket!"
Ollie: "I-i.... okay..."
Ollie crumbles under the pressure and ends up bringing out the saved up granola bars in his pocket that were supposed to be a stand-in for his breakfast today. The bullies swipe them with no hesitation... but a deal is a deal as they guffaw at the amount of Granola bars they got, acting as if they had just gotten the lottery as they start wolfing them down in front of Ollie.
Max: "Ohohoho yeah!! Mmph, you better be bringing the good shit like this more often!"
The duo leave Ollie standing there, hungry and defeated as he hasn't even gotten the chance to eat more than a single bar today before it got forced out his hand. All by the bullies everyone knows but lack the strength to confront or tell on, especially Ollie.
All Ollie does to try and save this god awful start to the day is speed walk over to his class early to sit down.
However, his teacher was not at the class room earlier than he was, meaning the room was closed with nobody in it or nearby to let him in. The school he went to was one for young adults that are barely cracking to be legal adults or barely over 18 like himself. All that was left to do was curl up in a ball on a seat nearby, which Ollie figures to be the right course of action as he does exactly that.
Minutes pass with silence and the occasional walking, idle talking, or door opening goes by. But none of them are for his classroom. His day is already going wrong. He's not strong, he's not brave, he's not smart, he's not....
All of these thoughts are interrupted by a tap on his shoulders.
???: "Dude... it's early, you okay?"
Ollie: "H-huh...?"
The defeated boy looks up, seeing a girl with short black hair, freckles, a big hand-me-down jacket looks down at him. One he recognized.
Ollie: "Hey Emma..."
Emma: "Woah, you look like your about to cry. Something happen?"
Ollie: "Its... no, it's nothing..."
Emma: "Hmm."
Emma sets her stuff aside and sits on a set a bit over to Ollie's right.
To Ollie, Emma was someone he saw as someone that was everything he tried to be but couldn't aside from gender. Socially outgoing, capable, looking like she barely ages with her growth spurts, reliable in just about everything, everything that Ollie couldn't be like in a million years. But surprisingly, she knew him for quite a few school years even before this to know that Ollie being this vulnerable... surely meant something happened while she wasn't around.
Emma being around made things just a bit better for Ollie as much as he doesn't feel he does a good job at expressing it. She's the only person that he can let his guard down and not feel like he needs to run away from.
Emma: "You're early, I'm usually here before ya, what's up with that?"
Ollie: "...Dad and sis wanted to watch the Rangers play today."
Emma: "Ohhh, right. I almost forgot that's happening today, heh... Hey, just so you know, you did remember something's gonna happen today, right?"
Ollie fell silent and eyes widened.
Emma: "And it's not like a project or anything!"
Ollie's expression lightened up a little, but the fear didn't entirely leave.
Emma: "I mean, that there's gonna be some people coming in today. A guest speaker! I heard some chatter in one of the side offices with one of the teachers, so i don't think we'll be doing much work today... if that makes you feel better."
Ollie: "It does a little..."
Emma: "Even if it was a project, you still have my email if you wanted to pair up....Actually, I think I see them coming now."
Ollie looks down the hall as their teacher and some other students come to the classroom to open it up for them to go in.
The class subject was math, a subject that Ollie wasn't exactly interested in but doesn't do too bad in to be too miserable. Emma and Ollie sit next to each other as they put their stuff down and wait for a guest speaker to arrive. Seemingly a little late, the regular teacher talked at the front of the room about what the guest speaker may potentially cover when they eventually arrive.
Minutes later, the guest speaker does show up. A bit short statured man with a large bald spot and a suit comes to the front of the room.
Mr. Eren: "Good morning, everybody! My name is Mr. Eren! I am a technological expert in all things robotics and biology to give you a lecture on your future and how... math will be a big thing in your careers!"
This doesn't align with Ollie's interest as much. His future career isn't going to be using anything like the quadratic formula. At least, he hopes in his head as he drowns out a good portion of the lecture to look at his surroundings. To his right, Emma seems to be half paying attention at times to the lecture but only at certain buzzwords like "profit" or "cells" or "technological breakthrough." To his left and behind him, Ollie can see that Mr Eren wasn't the only person in a suit as other people outside his classroom are taking looks inside using the small window in the door. The suits in particular seem to be looking around where he's been sitting in his row.
He ultimately tries not to think about it too much as he spaces out and tries to avoid eye contact when he notices that one of the suits looked almost right at him.
The lecture seemed so boring, it came in one ear and out the other as Mr Eren talked everyone's ear off. So much so that some people fell asleep during the whole ordeal. No math equations or nothing, just trying to convince everyone about being better at math for something nobody cared about... besides Emma somehow.
Eyeing the clock, everyone starts getting up to pack and leave to whatever their next classes would be. As they all leave, Emma was about to leave right behind Ollie...
Mr. Eren: "Excuse me, young lady!"
Emma: "Huh?"
Mr. Eren: "I'd actually like to discuss something with you personally if that's alright."
Emma: "Oh, uh, sure?"
Ollie: "Huh... but-..."
Emma: "Hey, I'll be right behind you. Do what you need to do, okay?"
Ollie: ".... ^okay..."
Ollie, hesitantly, leaves the room but can't help but shake the feeling something is off. Especially about these suits. Why were there so many that looked in at the class, he wondered. And what offices did Emma say she heard them talking in?
Getting a bad feeling, he'd normally just run away or take it as is like he always does. But this just... wasn't any normal bad feeling. One that overtook his cowardice... he needed answers.
Just by his luck, he goes down one of the hallways to the closest teacher office that doubles as a walkway to the break room that he spots a suit leaving, instinctively hiding behind the corner of a wall as they walk away none the wiser.
Fearing that he's risking way too much on a hunch, Ollie tries to force himself to just... doing it. Huffing and trying to walk back and forth as if he's trying to get himself to run in an unwilling dare he accepted for himself. Ultimately swallowing his fear...
Ollie: ^{"Here goes... everything.....!"}
... He finds the energy to haphazardly but quickly tiptoes over to the open door to the offices that the suit came out of, peaking in to see that nobody is there. On a table, he can see a message that was still open on a pretty advanced looking laptop for what he sees. It must've been important for some of the text to be highlighted in several areas. Taking this opportunity to see if his gut feeling was right, he snoops at this laptop.
Ollie: "...."
Huh.
No, what.
That can't be right.
What are they talking about-
How many years?
They're joking, right?
Why do they have files on Emma?
What is a "Life-Android?"
Is this what they were trying to trick us into?
All of these sudden thoughts flooded into Ollie's brain as he looked further into these agents' whereabouts and plans. Plans about Emma as a sort of patient zero, plans about long term program with the school hidden under the rug, plans with having this do with some "Super cells" from something he hasn't had the slightest clue of.
All of this coming back to one question in his mind...
Ollie: "Emma's a robot? Does she know she is?!"
Ollie decides that no, she needs to see this and decides to take the computer himself and sneak ou-
Suit: "HEY! What are you doing in here?!"
The world really couldn't let the "wet blanket" have one good thing happen today, could it?
To be continued

I (32f) love my family, but as a black sheep family, I’m the outcast among outcasts. Whereas my family is outgoing, I am an introvert. Where they like to party, I prefer the comfort of a quiet room to game or read.
Back in February, my mom asked if I wanted to go on a family trip to Disneyland. I was a little surprised because, while I enjoy Disneyland, I’ve only been on two occasions, and only when I was much younger. We had planned to go to Disney world a few years ago but those plans fell through.
I asked for details about who/what/when. That’s when my mom told me the idea: my sister (39f) wanted to take her husband and 3 children (all under 10) kids with my mom to Disneyland for a week at Christmas.
I laughed and said that was the absolute worst time to go to Disneyland. While my mom seemed annoyed, she said nothing was settled and it was just an idea my sister had.
I am not opposed to going to Disneyland. I have wanted to go check out the Star Wars expansion they’ve added and shop around. But I have a few concerns, which I did voice to my mom: 1) Disney at Christmas is ridiculously busy and doesn’t sound like it would be fun 2) Disney is expensive as all hell, and if I go, I have to be saving for a while (I’m still paying student loans) 3) I would not be willing to babysit the kids (including the adult children, aka my sis and BiL) and 4) I did not want to drive in the same car as my BIL or the kids, and knew that if I did go, my sharing a room with my mom really meant I’d be sharing a room with mom and the “grand babies.”
All in all, it sounded like putting myself through torture and I said I didn’t want to do it.
Flash forward to tonight, where my mom drops the comment that my coworkers will have to do without me at Christmas because my room was “already bought and paid for.” I asked what she was talking about and she said they already got a place to stay while we were in Cali. I asked when I’d agree to go, and my mom didn’t answer me. She refuses to acknowledge my rejection of the trip.
So, WIBTA if I didn’t go to Disneyland with the family?
Additional notes for context: my sister’s kids are undisciplined. I love my family but going to family events is torture, not just because other people are there but because there is always screaming and “reactive” parenting rather than putting an end to certain behaviors. I grew up in a household that was screaming all the time. I enjoy my quiet time and quiet life. Paying to be tortured, and no small sum either, sounds like my own personal hell. I would love to go back to Disney sometime and check out all the differences since I was a kid but I just can’t really justify the price of going any time soon. My refusal to drive with my BIL derives not only from being stuck in a car for hours to get to Cali with children, but because my BIL is an AH driver who, knowing I get carsick, likes to pump on the breaks for “fun”.

Hi everyone, I made a post about a month ago about my gpu failing here. Since then, I've tried everything i could (reinstalling the drivers with DDU, tried drivers from the past 6 months, cleaned and reseated the card etc).
While thinkering with Adrenaline software I have set GPU Power Limit to -30%, and suprisingly no crashing for 2 hours until my little sis tried playing PUBG on my PC. Set PUBG to -30% and no crashing since.
Now that I've found the solution. What could be the cause? Is it the PSU? To be clear I am using the Seasonic S12III 550W, which I foolishly bought when I was told that the Seasonic was one of the good brands.
Thanks in advance guys!

“Deadly Attractor” (TOC)
by P. Orin Zack
[2003]
 
Chapter Twelve
 
… Los Angeles …
Peter was getting depressed. For the second day in a row, he found himself with nothing to do but worry about the trouble he was getting himself into. Once again, court had been adjourned early, and once again, he’d ended up staring bleakly into his building’s lobby.
“The way things are going,” he told himself, “either I’ll start abusing HealthTech’s Interactives myself, or I’m going to quit LAMM and look for another job, preferably in another city, maybe even on another planet.”
Resigned for the moment to his doom, he went inside and rode the elevator up to his office. Thankfully, Nola wasn’t around this time, so he didn’t have to put up with her permanently pleasant personality. On the other hand, two other employees were there, which meant that anything he might accidentally say to them in passing would soon sprout into some malignant form of office ivy, spreading and mutating until it threatened to suffocate him in a disturbing reflection of his publicly inadequate life. In self-protection, he held his tongue rather than answer any of their trick questions. No wonder he preferred holodramas to reality.
Burying himself in the symbolic flux of his MedNet display, he tuned out the world and fell to randomly applying filters, changing his orientation and generally zooming aimlessly around the dataverse in search of the meaning of life. He was happily lost in that realm when a familiar but indistinct voice intruded.
“Stop screaming at me!” the voice pleaded.
Judging from the muffled echo, it wasn’t anyone nearby, so it couldn’t have been intended for him. Besides, he hadn’t said anything to anyone since he’d walked in. Still, there was something uncomfortably familiar about that voice, and he was certain that it wasn’t owned by anyone at LAMM.
Curious, he sat back, blinked a few times and adjusted to the light beyond the display. Since whoever was yelling still hadn’t stopped and gone away, he stood up and started walking towards the main entrance.
“I said, shut up!” it snapped.
The voice was much clearer and stronger now, so someone was evidently loose in the lobby. As Peter approached the door, it struck him that the fact that this could even happen ought to disprove Lenny’s theory about subliminals in the feeds. He was just beginning to enjoy the potential freedom from paranoia when he opened the door and saw a rumpled man shaking the convenience newsreader in the air. When he turned towards him, Peter snarled and stomped angrily across the lobby.
“What the hell are you doing here, Lenny?” he said. “Are you stalking me or something? And why are you screaming at the newsreader?”
Lenny tossed the thing disgustedly onto a nearby chair and looked Peter in the eye. “Well, for one thing, it won’t turn off.”
Peter shook his head in dark amusement. “It’s not supposed to, you idiot. It’s advertising. But that doesn’t explain why you’re here, or why you’re making a scene.”
Lenny glanced around the room. “I told you yesterday, I’m looking for the source of the subliminals.”
Peter frowned. “And that brought you here?”
“Yeah,” Lenny said. “And the ones on this floor are particularly annoying.”
Peter looked around. “Well I don’t hear anything.”
“That is the point, Peter, or do I need to get you a dictionary?”
“All right, all right. But how do you know? Do you have some tech with you?”
Lenny shook his head. “Don’t need any. I can hear them myself. In any case, I need to talk with you about this.”
“Sure you do,” Peter said, trying to calm him down. “Just not here. I have enough trouble with my co-workers as it is without you adding to it. I’ll tell you what. Griffith Park worked out okay last night, so how about there?”
Lenny nodded in agreement. “Outside, over by Galileo, at eight.”
“Great,” Peter said sharply. “Now get out of here.”
 
… Halifax …
By the time Alex got back to the hotel, Mara had already told their mother what had happened to Uru G’danic, and was just finishing a spirited exchange with Pegwin about the adventures she’d had that day. He quietly put his gear away and pulled one of the really ugly chairs over, so they could sit across from one another.
Mara looked up at him after completing the call. “Mom’s worried about how G’danic’s death will affect the ANO Summit. Since it starts on Monday, it’s too late for them to do much about what had been planned. Someone will have to take G’danic’s place at the various events he was scheduled to attend, but what about the session he was going to moderate? Without his influence, without his ability to see through the differences among the participants, the momentum that has brought the organization this far will just vanish. There’ll be chaos.”
“Maybe not,” Alex reassured her. “I spoke with one of the building designers at the construction site. She’s convinced that, on another level, in the DreamTime, G’danic agreed to what happened to him, and that doing so means that it was extremely important for him to let others take over at this point.”
Mara looked dubious. “I don’t think so, Alex. What happened to him was more like you falling down in the middle of a fancydance and claiming that it was for the good of the competition. No. I think what G’danic was doing was far too important to him to give it all up, consciously or not, just before finishing both his book and inaugurating the organization’s new home.”
“There is something we can do,” Alex said solemnly. “I was planning to get his book out as soon as he’d finished the final edits. Since that’s not going to happen, I can finish the clean-up myself and get copies to the membership before the Summit ends.”
“Okay. Where is it now?”
He thought for a moment. “I guess it’s in his private data drop. He gave me access, so all we need to do is log in and get a copy. I can work on it from here if I have to. Do you have your pad with you?”
“Sure,” she said, nodding. “Hold on. It’s in my pack.”
A few minutes later, Alex had logged through to G’danic’s data drop, and began scrolling through the contents of his project areas. Since he wasn’t familiar with G’danic’s filing system, he had to open some of the files to see what they were. The longer he spent examining lists and opening files, the more erratic his breathing became. Finally, he set Mara’s pad down and looked at her.
“It’s not there,” he said flatly. “I didn’t find anything related to it either. Not his draft, nor his notes. Even the raw interviews that went into some of the sections are missing. Someone has gotten into G’danic’s supposedly secure data drop, and removed everything related to his book.”
Mara shook her head. “So now what? Who else had access to his drop?”
“This one?” Alex said lightly. “Nobody. Just the two of us.”
She looked down briefly. “Would he have kept a copy on media? Or even at another location for security?”
“Possibly, but that’s not something you leave clues about if you’re concerned about it being found. We’ll have to get into his home and office to know for certain.”
Mara nodded in agreement. “Where’s that?”
“Lambarene, I think, in the Central African Union. Feel like taking a trip?”
 
… Los Angeles …
Peter spotted Lenny leaning against the bust of Galileo when he got off the bus at Griffith Park that night. “All right,” he said as he approached, “what were you screaming at?”
Lenny turned to face him. “The damn building security system. It was trying to deafen me with those so-called subliminals.”
“Yeah, you already said that. So what were you in such a hurry to tell me?”
“I’ve been tracking them for some time now, and I’ve concluded that the subliminals are being layered onto the com system somewhere in your building.”
Peter shook his head. “You’re repeating yourself. You already told me about the ones in the building.”
Lenny looked around before answering. “Not those. I mean the messages they use to control the public.”
“Who is that anyway?” Peter said. “You never told me who they were.”
“The point is,” Lenny said irritably, “that the subliminals in your building are special. Normally, they’re set up to dispel conflict, to keep people calm and orderly. In your building, though, there’s something else. If I make a pest of myself anywhere else, the local system adds some extra messages to get me to leave. In your building, though, it goes into overdrive, especially on your floor. And the only reason to do that is to protect something important.”
“Like what?”
Peter smiled. “Like the gear used to lay them into the public com channels. I think it’s hidden somewhere on your floor.”
 
“Are you sure it’s both of them?” Cynthia yelled over the scream of her flier’s laboring engines.
They’d been airborne for almost twenty minutes, and she was getting pretty annoyed with all of the harebrained maneuvers she’d been forced to make. Flying through the crowded airways in the L.A. smog on manual was challenging enough when you actually had a destination. At least then you could plan your route changes in advance. While the autopilots around them quietly discussed following distances and avoidance maneuvers among themselves, Cynthia had to weave through it all with little more than a sharp eye, quick reflexes, and a finely tuned psychic sense of when to get out of the way.
What they were doing, however, was the closest she’d come to intentional suicide since her life was first trashed. After loudly thrashing out the possibilities back in the Angeles Crest, they finally agreed that in order to spring Apuérto from the MedCenter, they’d need some additional help, but they didn’t know if Peter, the juror with the black book, would be willing to risk having his life trashed as well. Peter was the key to their plan, because he worked at a place with easy access to the MedCenter’s datafeeds.
Finding him, however, was proving to be a problem, because the court’s rules blocked personal information about the jurors. Fortunately, there are some things that psychics can do that aren’t common knowledge. One of them is a variation on psychometry. Since Frank had met with Peter, he could use the feel of his aural signature to locate where he was at the moment.
Well, that was the theory, anyway. In a psychically quiet place, it was possible to lock onto a person’s location and use it like a homing beacon. With all of the psychic noise in L.A., though, the best Frank was able to get was an erratic sense of direction from where they were. So while Cynthia kept them alive amid the aerial chaos, Frank waved his right palm around, searching for their quarry, and calling out directions. It didn’t take too long for him to get a fix on Peter, but as they got closer to his location, Frank became aware that wherever Peter was, Lenny was, too.
“Yeah,” he said, nodding. “And judging from the direction we’re going, I think I know where they are, too.”
“Where’s that?” she said, peeling out of the traffic pattern long enough to avoid the wash from a merging vehicle.
“The observatory; Griffith Park Observatory.”
Rather than following the air lanes to the observatory’s parking field, Cynthia peeled out of line and hovered for a few seconds over the sculpture garden.
Frank pointed at one of the big marble busts below them and motioned for her to land. “That’s them over there. Play the obnoxious tourist and barge right in.”
Amused at his choice of tactic, Cynthia nodded agreeably and adjusted her grip on the controls.
As the flier descended, a number of people from across the grounds looked up, and started drifting over to where it appeared they were going to land. By the time they touched down, a small crowd had accumulated, and all eyes were on the latest addition to the museum.
Peter looked nervously at Lenny, then around at the crowd in preparation for beating a hasty escape.
Frank opened the door. “Peter! Lenny! Both of you, get in!”
Once they were inside and the door was closed, Cynthia revved the fans and lifted back into the air.
“What’s this about, anyway?” Peter asked.
Frank twisted around to look at him. “We need your help.”
Lenny gazed out the window. “Politeness? Well, that’s a switch. Ask your friend at the controls how we met.”
Frank turned to look at Cynthia. “What’s he talking about?”
She stifled a laugh. “So I attacked him in an elevator. Big deal!”
Peter leaned forward. “Are you two crazy? Pulling a stunt like that landing will only draw attention to us. It’s bad enough that we—”
Cynthia cleared her throat loudly. “It’s okay. They won’t remember what you look like.”
Peter looked first at her, and then at Frank.
“Trust me,” Frank said, amused at his reaction, “she can do it.”
By this time, they’d rejoined the traffic pattern, and were headed towards the Angeles Crest. Rather than strain his voice against the intermittent jerk and roar of sudden maneuvers, Peter sat back and waited.
When they finally landed in the Angeles Crest canyon, Cynthia opened her door and got out to stretch, while the others sat in stony silence. Finally, Frank spoke. “Look. I apologize for interrupting your party, but there’s a lot more at stake here than your privacy.” He turned. “Cynthia’s been on the run from these people for a year now, I’ve been branded a psychic mauler by the news; the whole jury’s liable to be discredited for covering for me, my friend Jerry’s in BioStabilization, and who knows what else. We think we have a line of what’s going on, and need your help to prove it. Get out. We need to talk.”
A short time later, after they’d all gathered near the stream, Frank took a deep breath. “If we’re going to get anything done, we’ll have to share what we know and see how it all fits together. Obviously, we’ve each come at this from a different direction, and we each have our reasons for being involved. But none of us knows what we’re really up against.”
Peter shook his head. “Yeah, right. So what do you need me for?”
“We’ll get to that,” Cynthia said calmly. “First things first. We do know some things. For example, from watching the flow of events on the psychic side of things, I know there’s a group out there messing with causality. According to Lenny, they’re using some kind of technology to do it. That means money, and probably a government connection, so the ‘Department of Improbable Events’ conspiracy theory has some traction.”
Lenny nodded. “I told Frank that Apuérto’s seen their operative.”
“And if he has,” said Frank, “then we need to find out who it is. That’ll lead us to whoever’s behind this.”
“Good luck,” Peter said sarcastically. “How are we going to do that? Frank said he needed the guy transferred to Kübler-Ross to probe him, and they’re not planning to do that anytime soon.”
Frank smiled. “No, but we are. That’s why we need your help.”
Lenny looked skyward. “So you’re going to what? Sneak into a high-security area of the MedCenter, make off with the administrator, and ferry him over to the Hospice for a look-see?”
“Not exactly,” Cynthia said lightly. “The MedCenter’s going to transfer him to the hospice, then we bring him here.”
Peter laughed. “Oh, now that’s a much simpler plan. How were you going to do that?”
“With your help,” Frank said. “If you can get us into the medical monitoring facility where you work tonight, and Lenny can get past the MedCenter’s security layer, we’ll write him some transfer orders.”
Lenny groaned. “Won’t someone notice? Like perhaps that agent I told you about?”
“Not,” Cynthia said slyly, “if his data feed stays active. I’ve been around those places enough to know how badly they communicate. There’s no reason for any of the staff to go into BioStabilization unless they’re putting someone in, or taking them out. They just check the data feed. If it says he’s there, then he’s there.”
“Hmmmm,” Lenny said, warming to the ploy. “Okay. How are you going to do that?”
“I’ve got a friend in BioStabilization,” Frank said. “Well, his body is, but I’m not sure where his mind wandered off to. They’ve got his station set up to show a bogus consciousness trace. I found out he’s not really in there when I sneaked in and attempted a scan. That’s when they threw me out. Anyway, we’ll do the same thing for Apuérto, only he won’t be there at all.”
Peter nodded slowly. “That’s doable. I can re-route a data feed from some other patient, and run it through a randomizing filter so they don’t match up exactly. But how does that get him here?”
“Once he’s been delivered to the hospice,” Frank said, “one of the admins, a friend of mine, will do some logistical hanky-panky, and we can take him out for a trip with nobody the wiser. Once we have him here, Cynthia and I can probe his memories and find out who that agent is.”
Lenny thought for a moment. “And then?”
“What do you mean, ‘and then’?” said Frank.
“I mean,” Lenny said dramatically, “what do you do with him after that? Do you bring him back to the hospice? To the MedCenter? Wake him up? What?”
“Well,” Peter said, “once you’ve identified the agent, he’d be expendable to them, wouldn’t he?”
“He certainly would,” Cynthia said flatly. “And if he’s dead, he can’t very well testify, now can he?”
“You’re right,” Peter agreed. “But if we keep him alive, and get him to court, I’m sure the jury could find a way to twist the investigation in the agent’s direction.”
“Sure,” Lenny said offhandedly, “assuming that you could convince him to testify. But why would he do that? After all, you’ve kidnapped him, after a fashion, after attacking him in open court!”
“Not a problem,” Frank said.
They all looked at him.
“Trust me,” he said. “It’s not a problem.”
“Why not,” Peter asked finally.
“Simple, really. If they’ve been manipulating the MedCenter for their own purposes, he’ll be overjoyed to get back at them. Especially after I’ve tweaked his memories a bit.”
“Tweaked his—?” Peter began. “But won’t someone know?”
Frank laughed. “Who’ll know? I’m the jury’s testimony monitor, and I’ll never tell.”
“So, uh,” Lenny said, a bit reluctantly, “when do we do all this?”
Cynthia stood up. “We start right now. Tonight, we go to Peter’s place of work, get into the MedCenter’s system, log the transfer orders, and schedule the deed for Saturday, during the night shift. Then tomorrow night, when they pull him off support, Peter will be waiting at his end, ready to patch in the bogus data feed. Once the transport team leaves him at Kübler-Ross Hospice, Frank and I grab him and bring him up here. Any problems?”
“Yeah,” Peter said. “What do you do with him after you’ve woken him up, assuming you can even do that. You’ll have to keep him under wraps until you spring him on the court.”
Frank looked around before speaking. “We’ll manage.”
 
… Interlude in Los Angeles …
They never told EV, when he took the most amazing job in the world, that he could never tell anyone outside the TPC about it. In the two years since he’d joined, he’d gone through the kind of training that would pass for a paranoid’s dream in the halls where he spent most of his time these days.
Still, there was compensation for that trade-off. It just wasn’t in money, that’s all. Covert operations required secrecy; they required a low profile, and profligate spending was hardly a good way to not be noticed. Of course, it would have been possible to avoid detection by using the tech he now cradled in his right hand, but that same tech made his own actions evident to those he worked for. It was ever so in a paranoid’s dream.
The TPC had recruited him earlier than most. They’d sent him a cryptic invitation to a job interview, instructions, and a flight to Australia. Once there, once he’d seen the tech in action, the choice was simple. It didn’t really matter what the organization actually did, either. The fact that their purpose was benign, that they’d been around for as long as they were, and that they’d been so successful in achieving that purpose, only served to eliminate the need for him to overcome any qualms he might have had in joining. As it was, the choice was simple. They wanted him, and he wanted in.
Unfortunately, even the most spectacular experience, the most amazing job, can get stale over time. And that made the autonomy he had all the more tantalizing. While his colleagues kept a close watch on their charge, while they kept the risk of uncontrolled conflict at an almost imperceptible level, EV preferred to let events ride long enough to see where they were really headed, to let those behind them show their hand and make the kinds of errors that he could use to stop not only them, but anyone stupid enough to emulate them.
One thing did bother him, though. In a way, the game was fixed. Subliminal messages were buried in just about every kind of communication channel. On their own, those assurances that the world was the safest it had ever been, those suggestions to obey the rules and to not make trouble for others, had begun the process that people like him completed. The way he saw it, doing that was like drugging the world into an obedient stupor. It didn’t affect their lives much, but it did keep the level of potential conflict so low that only a sparse force of agents like him could handle the rest.
And that was why this particular project, this knot of impending conflict, was so intriguing. He’d been watching it develop for some time, and it had now, finally, reached that luscious moment when it was about to bear the kind of fruit that his organization found so distasteful. The small group of people he’d been watching so carefully had at last chosen to act. On their own, and for various reasons, they had all minimized their exposure to the subliminals that would have defused their anger and frustration, that would have gentled them into letting it go rather than using it to solve the problem they were faced with. He’d made a conscious choice to keep from looking down the path this group was contemplating until now. In a way, doing that evened the odds, made them more his equal, made the task of handling the situation more exciting.
EV smiled faintly at the people hurrying past his station on their way to saving lives, some of whom he’d placed in peril himself. Then, he pressed his thumb against the bisected sunrise design on the small device he held. It read his print, confirmed his identity, and engaged the combination of psychic shield and destabilizer that made his job possible. As the field winked into existence and surrounded him with a virtual version of the shielding used by Healers in the treatment rooms of a Hospice, he experienced the rush that made it all worthwhile, the indescribable sensation of waking into, and out of a dream at the same time.
When he first felt the tingling hum run up his spine like dozens of icy fingers, he arched his back and welcomed the comfortable feeling of enveloping warmth caused by the synergy of the destabilizeshield combination. Then, in flowing slow motion, he partly dissociated from the world of his senses and gradually became aware of another, less rational environment, a murky fluid that showed patterns in its flow.
He was now perched between two realities.
On the one hand, he was partly phased out of the normal consensual context that we all think of as normal, waking reality. If anyone walking past were to look at him carefully, and if the lighting was right, they’d be able to see through him. He could still see the hallway, still see the oblivious faces filing past, but to him it seemed more like a dream, and less like anything to be concerned about. The psychic shielding prevented even trained psychics, if any were so bold as to be in such a place, from noticing that anything out of the ordinary was happening.
On the other hand, he could also see a short distance into the TimeStream. This was the hypothetical fluid in which events flowed into one another, the place that causality calls home. A good bit of the training had been taken up in learning how to not only experience this realm, but how to read it and manipulate it as well. In a way, it was like water flowing along a streambed. The flow of events past your portion of it, which meant those taking place in close geographical proximity, were like ripples and eddies in a stream. Major events, things that had the potential to change the flow of history, would be like splits in the current. Such things could even create an alternate flow through this medium, but that was purely theoretical, and none had ever been observed. More likely were the kind of events that he was here to deal with, and these would appear as obstructions in the medium, and as the shock waves that were built up before the obstruction, like a standing wave that warned boaters of a boulder in a watercourse.
From here, an agent of the TPC could reach through the TimeStream material with an ethereal imaginary hand, and touch events at a different point in time. In other words, with the tech beneath his thumb, EV could peer into the future, could see what lay on each side of that obstruction, what the results were of choices made by the kind of people the poet Arthur O'Shaughnessy once called movers and shakers. But more importantly, he could also adjust the strength of each branch of the current, and thereby force the outcome of that choice. This could also be done for what others might consider chance occurrences, which meant it was possible to cause improbable events to happen. The feeling of power was intense.
So, when EV saw the standing wave before him in the ethereal current of the hypothetical TimeStream, he knew that its vee-shaped pattern was the signature of an impending choice of events. When he reached toward it, and touched through to the consensual reality on each side, he could see, alternately, the group he was tracking either succeeding or failing. And, of course, their failure was what he was there to ensure. Either way, their small act did not appear to affect the larger flow of events, because no matter what they might do, it could be corrected.
But there was something else, something he hadn’t expected. When he reached through the tip of the vee to see what lay at the core of the split, he saw himself.
 
… Saturday; En Route to Libreville Hub …
Mara was beginning to wonder if her brother’s predilection for disreputable airlines and uncomfortable hotel rooms was some kind of fashion statement. His choice of air carrier for the trip from Halifax to Lambarene was nearly as dreadful as the one that she and Pegwin had flown in on from Los Angeles. At least this one had the saving grace that it was based in one of the member states of the Organization of Aboriginal Nations, which meant they got a discount.
Still, a discount on an uncomfortable seat in a plane bound for the tropics couldn’t be all bad. The warm climate in Los Angeles had been a shock when she first moved there, especially considering the difference in climate from her family’s Mi’qmaq tribal digs up in Newfoundland. But she’d gotten to like the warmth, and was actually looking forward to seeing what it was like at the equator. Well, close, anyway. Libreville — their destination hub — was just north of it, and Lambarene was a tad farther away on the southern side of the line.
They were scheduled to land just after a breakfast of whatever passed for airline food on this plane, and the crew had already started preparations in the galley. Mara was sniffing the air, trying to identify what they’d be having to eat, when the pilot interrupted the background environmental audio.
“Excuse me, folks,” he said, in a heavily accented French-African baritone. “We just received a weather alert. There’s a developing tropical storm ahead. We’ll be skirting it to be on the safe side. If we see any turbulence, we’ll let you know in enough time to get back to your seats and secure them. Enjoy your breakfast.”
Alex peered out the window for a while, and then turned his attention back inside the plane when their synthetic omelets arrived. “That’s strange,” he said.
“What is?” Mara asked while seasoning her yellow mush.
He gestured towards the window. “I don’t see any storm. I wonder where it—”
Suddenly, the plane lurched up, and then dropped onto what felt like wet porridge.
“This is the pilot again. Sorry about that bump. In case you hadn’t guessed, we’ve found some rough air that didn’t show up on the display. Please return to your seats and secure them. Thanks.”
Alex steadied his plate and looked out the window again. “I still don’t see anything, Mara.”
Since the ride smoothed out after that, everyone went back to what they were doing, which in Mara’s case was trying to figure out what was in the omelet. Sniffing didn’t seem to help, and the flavors were too well mixed for her to pick out any she could recognize, so she shrugged and finished what was left.
Shortly after the flight crew reclaimed the plates, the audio feed stopped yet again, only this time there was just silence. After a long moment, there was a sharp crackle, and the pilot said, “Hang on!”
Before his second word had a chance to fade, the plane shuddered loudly and the left wing rose precipitously. The plane seemed to slide off an invisible shelf, twisted right and then shot up without changing its angle. While the passengers clung to their seats, the flight crew struggled to secure whatever loose gear had begun flying about before dealing with their own safety. The turbulence continued like this for several nerve-wracking minutes, then the feel of it abruptly changed. Instead of being tossed about like the empty balls in a bingo machine, the motions of the plane subsided into something more like the controlled chaos of an errant organ under BioStabilization.
The erratic motion of the plane didn’t stop until they were on the ground, and they heard nothing further from the pilot, not even the traditional welcome to their destination. While the rest of the passengers were simply relieved to have landed safely, Alex anxiously waited for the cabin to empty out so he could speak with the pilot.
Finally, as the last of the people behind their seats filed past, Alex and Mara got up to leave. They stopped near the cockpit door and Alex asked one of the flight crew if he could speak with the pilot briefly.
A short while later, the door opened, and a very exhausted man peered out, his uniform soaked with sweat and his hands shaking. One of the flight crew helped him to a nearby passenger seat, and brought him some water. He looked up at Alex.
“Thanks for getting us through that safely,” Alex said. “What happened?”
He shook his head. “I’m not sure. Normally, after laying in the course, there’s only the occasional mode change or update to deal with. Sudden weather might force a change to the flight plan, but for the most part, the flight control systems handle the details. This was weird, though. The display showed weather up ahead, but I couldn’t confirm.”
Alex nodded. “I wondered about that. It looked clear to me, too. So what was it?”
The pilot looked at the cockpit door. “Possibly clear air turbulence. But if it was, we still shouldn’t have had a problem. The emergency autopilot is supposed to be able to counter any kind of turbulence. It kicked in automatically, as it should have, but instead of steadying us, it magnified the problem. But that’s impossible. When I realized what was happening, and decided that the plane would break up if it continued for much longer, I over-rode the safety system and finished the flight on manual.” He rubbed his hands. “It was like that all the way down.”
Mara smiled at him. “However you did it, I’m sure we all owe our lives to you. Thanks.”
“One other thing,” Alex said suddenly. “I thought nobody bothered to learn to fly these things on manual any more. How is it that you knew how?”
He grinned weakly. “Luck, I suppose. I fly manual craft in rallies for a hobby. It’s been a sore spot at home, but I think my wife will forgive the expense, now, though.”
After thanking pilot and crew again, Mara and Alex headed into the comfort of Libreville Hub, and looked for directions to the local transport services. Alex had started walking towards one of the air-limo kiosks when Mara grabbed him by the shoulder.
“Could we use ground transport instead?” she said quietly. “After that flight, I don’t think I want to risk flying right away.”
Alex turned to face her. “You know,” he said solemnly, “it might not have been an accident.”
“What?”
“That turbulence, and the way the safety system worked – or failed to. Remember what Frank told us? If someone arranged G’danic’s accident to stop him from speaking at the Summit, then arranged for his so-called ‘treatment,’ they might not want his book to get out either. If that’s why there weren’t any copies in his secure area, then whoever it is might want to stop us as well. You’ve got to admit, that incident with the emergency autopilot was pretty improbable, maybe even impossible.”
She looked at him. “So what do you want to do?”
“Get there as soon as possible. That means by air. But considering what just happened, let’s see if we can find someone who can fly on manual.”
Mara nodded, and they continued to the row of air transport kiosks. It took them nearly an hour to first find a service that would admit to having a driver who could fly on manual. Then, there was the problem of convincing her to take their fare.
“What do you mean, you don’t want my money?” said Alex in frustration.
The woman smiled broadly and shook her head. “I couldn’t take it from you, really.”
Mara examined her closely, hoping for a clue. They’d started the discussion near her service’s kiosk, but the driver had slowly drifted towards the terminal exit, and she and Alex had followed. Suspecting a reason, she put a hand up in front of her brother’s mouth to silence him. “Would you prefer to discuss this outside?”
The driver nodded, and walked purposefully through the door and into the sunlight. “Now then, she said. Why is it that you would like a trip to Lambarene with the automatics turned off.”
“Well,” Alex said unsteadily, “we just had a rather improbable failure of the aircraft’s automatics on the way here, and the pilot’s ability to fly on manual saved our lives. I’d like to stay with a good thing, that’s all.”
“Is that all?” she said, amused. “That’s not a problem. But I still won’t take your fare.”
Alex threw up his hands. “But why not?”
She looked at him strangely. “Because I’d prefer a ticket.”
“I don’t understand,” Alex said, in hopeless confusion. “A ticket to where?”
She shook her head. “Not to where; to what. To the next fancydance competetion! I know who you are, Mr. LeBlanc. I’ve seen the dancers you’ve sponsored on holo, and I want to see the event in person.”
Both Frank and Mara fell into a fit of relieved laughter.
The driver stepped back slightly. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong,” Frank said, catching his breath. “A ticket’s fine. I can do that. Now, can we go?”
“Sure,” she said. “Follow me.”
Their first stop in Lambarene was Uru G’danic’s office, where he’d done most of the work that went into the writing of his manuscript. Due to their working relationship, G’danic had authorized Alex’s access to every place he had an ID lock, and that included his office in the south end of the Schweitzer Center complex. Alex said his name to the door’s biometric unit, and then whispered something at it too low for even Mara, who stood nearby, to hear, and the door slid aside.
It was a spartan space, and held little more than a workstation, a place to rest, and storage for supplies and extra media. Alex repeated the ID process to unlock the workstation, and asked it to show him several areas, none of which contained what he was looking for.
He looked up at Mara. “Nothing here, sis. Not a copy of the manuscript, not any of his working files. And it doesn’t know about any on offline media either. I guess we check his home, next.”
A short time later, at a quiet complex on a residential street, they entered G’danic’s apartment, and gasped. It had been ransacked. Someone on a mission to prevent the publication of that book had overturned the place. They pored through the debris, but didn’t locate anything useful. After completing his second examination, Alex stood in the middle of the dead man’s bedroom and stared at the wall.
“Now what?” Mara asked gently.
He shrugged weakly. “I don’t know. There’s no book. No manuscript to recover it from. Nothing. We might as well go home.”
 
(TOC)

Hello Reddit
I hate that I even need to come on here and talk about this, but here we are. My 19 year old nephew was walking with his girlfriend and her 2 year old to the store. They were not in the road, but walking adjacent to it. Out of nowhere a car hit him unaliving him instantly. Our lives are fucking ruined. He was the best kid with the biggest heart.
The lady got out of her car smiling because she thought she hit a cone and then freaked out after she'd realized what she had done. She was holding her cell phone so she might have been on it. The cops took some time to give us the report and ruled it not the drivers fault. They didn't even interview the girlfriend. This is a small town in the rural south. The authorities are known for being shady.
What can we do? My sis in law was going to sue the lady, but the lawyer is saying she will have a hard time doing so. They probably aren't even checking the lady's cell phone to see if she was on it. Wouldn't that be manslaughter? They found a video of them walking along side of the road a few hundred feet before he was hit but that was all the evidence they rounded up. PLEASE be kind. This is a very delicate subject. I really can't handle mean people on the internet with this.
Is there anything we can do?
Thank you.

Same person, the one who hasn't had a group of friends since i was 12, i had a whole fat mental breakdown at school of how i am so behind my peers n its basically irreversible. Last month of actual lessons b4 my gcses, feeling shit af cuz i just realized how socially, intlectually and physically undeveloped i am compared to my peers who bully the crap outta me since i was like 6. I have been watching vids on youtube again 4 about 4 hours n i feel like im back to that clueless n rejected 10 yr old i once was. I would do anything to go back to eve atleast 2018, cuz i coulda turned this piece of shitty life im livin in around. The teachers told me 'well u might make frndz in college, plus its not that bad that u haven't had a single frnd since u were 11 n u haven't seen ur cousins since u were 9, you'll be fine', i left the room n i heard them laugh about how im such a pain the neck n that they dgaf bout my fucked up life. NO ONE CARES, NO ONE RELATES...I have been bullied physically from ages 6-12 n then psychologically from ages 12-16, i lost so many frndz back in primary that now in my secondary phase im a complete loner n my heart broke even more when i heard my coach driver tell a primary kid 2 live his life n not focus on studying much otherwise he'll look like his old dad at age 15. 50 percent of my childhood is ruined n my whole youth has been ruined, i feel like im a 12 yr old livin in a 16 yr old's body. I JUST WANNA DIE...I held the knife rlly close 2 my wrist 2day b4 my gran came n stopped me, i don't even feel excited about meeting my relatives after 10 yrs cuz im pretty sure my cousins will chat trash when i vent my shitty life, they will probs say stuff like' cope, welp, lol js kill yoself'. I also have life-crippling health anxiey cuz of ptsd of a asthma attack i had back in may of 2022, as of now, apparenty i have grown out of my asthma, but i still wheeze when im panicked n always have a tight chest, i also get chest pain during anxiety attack. Back in march, i got a chest infection n doc gave me inhalers, but he said to stop using once my virus is gone, mentally unstable me took like 10 puffs of a steroid when i was only supposed to take 2. I have called ambulances in the past 2 yrs n they always say I need 2 stop worryin bout my health cuz im fine n need cbt. My parents r refusing to comfort me about how fucked up my life is, im sick n socially underdeveloped, i have millions of good reasons to cut my life short, rn im crying cuz memories of me n the neighbourhood kids playin together when i was 9, they also betrayed me later on. NO ONE RELATES 2 ME, I JUST WANNA BE NORMAL, I am strting therapy next week n i am getting a diagnosis, i am suspicious that i probs am neurodivergent w autism, ocd, adhd n aspergers. If it turns out i am neurodivergent then my parents will kill me, my younger sis was born w severe autism n when i was 6 she was 4 months old n she got pneumonia, lungs damaged and brain damaged. After all that, I was often given the phone or ipad when they spent months at the hospital, i was suicidal n depressed at the age of 6, ppl just say 'stop tryna gain sympathy', i just want to be heard, i wish i was homeschooled, it woulda been much easier 2 kill myself, bullies will b happy. My life has been wasted, 10 years of my life r gone, pls i need urgent help cuz 2day i accidently cut myself w a knife a lil cuz of self-harm, but its not bad , i had a small bandage over it, but still, is my life rlly ruined, y has everyone always hated me, including my parents. is it 2 far to catch up, i hope i am not a pain the ass but please help me.

Parts:
Part: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Notes: CW Character death
This part is a little slow to start out with but escalates into some pretty cool Humanity Fuck Yeah action.
You guys get two chapters today because after I wrote Part 30 while initially not being sure where I wanted to go with it next this whole thing just came to me super easy.
…… Part 31
Calypso turned to Belle “You see what I have to put up with sometimes?” Belle had been around enough humans to know that this was not normal adult behaviour. “Cut him some slack, somethings wrong, I’ll talk to him.” Calypso shook her head. “No, if he wants to sulk instead of communicating like an adult that’s his choice. You Missy need to eat, and tell me all about what happened.”
“Ughhh you sound like Ma” Belle complained. Calypso pulled out her main access drive. “That reminds me I need to tell her you’re back.” She began hitting the interface and before Belle could object the message was sent. “CAL! That was too soon!” Calypso scoffed “if I hadn’t you would’ve put it off for weeks!”
Over the next hour the sisters chowed down filling themselves with fruits as Belle told Calypso all that occurred. At the end Calypso asked with a smirk “What was he like?” Belle rolled her eyes “Nope, we’re not about to gossip about what I think you want to gossip about.” Cal teased her “Come oooon you met the most wanted man in the galaxy twice and you won’t even share a little?” Belle gave in. “He was a human, a man, green eyes. First time I saw him he looked weak. Second time he was strong. What more do you need to know?”
Calypso let out a groan. “it doesn’t matter, you ruined it. Trust you to make him sound so boring.” Belle leaned back in her chair. “I thought you’d despise him. You’re in the military he’s your enemy.” She shrugged “My job is to keep this city safe, so long as I can do that I don’t care what he or the other humans do.”
Belle got up gesturing to her empty plate. “Satisfied?” Calypso nodded. “I’m going to see what’s up with our little human.”
Sarwen was in his bed staring at the ceiling when he heard the knock. He did not respond. The knock came again, then “Sarwen, it’s me, Belle, let’s just talk ok?” With slow demotivated movements he got up and turned the lock. When she heard the lock click she opened the door. He lay back in his bed just as before.
“Come on Sar, talk to me. When I last saw you, you were happy, confident, motivated. You helped Cal keep up with things without being asked, not because you were forced or because of slavery but I think because you wanted to show you still had a mind of your own. What changed? I can’t help if you don’t say?”
Sarwen answered with bitterness in his voice. “I don’t know Belle, could it be that I’m trapped in this room whenever Cal is on base for weeks at a time just in case those Velrar fuckers come knocking? Or maybe it’s that I haven’t been outside in months, Or perhaps it’s the food. Fruits or Mush, fruits or mush. Every fucking day. The ‘entertainment system’ shows nothing but shit about Xenthian supremacy ever since Jakathets ‘reforms’. I haven’t seen another human since you both ‘rescued’ me and how about this Belle, I’m fucking lonely!”
Belle answered “It’s ok….we can…” Sarwen cut her off “Shut the fuck up belle, don’t tell me you can help. You can’t. Nobody can. I have two choices, here or The Federation, if I go to the Federation what will my life be? Farming from dusk till dawn just to make a few credits?” Belle looked at him with pity. “Don’t look at me like that.” She answered feeling her heart ache for him “There’s other humans in the Federation you could make friends, maybe you could even find love?” Sarwen shook his head “No chance, Belle, I’m too broken. It’s too late for me.” He rolled over onto his side away from her. She whispered his name gently. He admonished her. “Just leave Belle. It is what it is.”
When she left the room with a glum look on her face Calypso was still at the table. She looked to Belle “I take it that didn’t go well.” Belle sighed out “He’s hurting bad with all the restrictions….its like he’s just waiting to die. He won’t even consider The Federation.” Calypso interrupted “Not to mention we’d both be dead if we were caught smuggling him out. I’d do it if he asked, but it’ll be impossible soon unless the reforms are reversed.” Belle planted her head against the table “So what do we do?” Calypso tilted her head “You’re the vet, this is supposed to be your thing.”
They left Sarwen alone for the next several days. When they did communicate with him all they got were one word answers. Mostly he only came out his room to prepare mush or raid the fridge for fruits. One day Calypso’s access drive pinged with a message. It was from their Ma. The message read:
** To:
Calypsophex Velanu & Belleaxis Velanu
You are cordially invited to A Dinner Aboard The Magalus.
Dress Code: Formal. Military invitees are encouraged to wear their best Uniforms.
You May Bring: One Slave. For security purposes Please ensure they remain with you at all times.
Details on when and where to board to follow.
Regards Lady Velanus
**
She held up the message for Belle to see. Belle reacted negatively “Ughhhh she’s still using our full names like we’re kids. Why can’t she call us what everyone else calls us?” Calypso began in a mocking tone “‘I birthed you both, I named you both with proper names, so I’ll damn well use them. I don’t care what other people call you. You’re my daughters not theirs!’ You know that’s what Ma would say if we were to ask.”
Belle picked up a spoon and chucked it at her. She dodged it then carried on talking. “Besides, that’s what you got from that?! Not that we’re invited to the most expensive restaurant on the planet for free!” Belle whined “Do I have to!?” Calypso sniggered “Yes. If I go without you Ma will chew my ear out about how you never want to visit her. Besides we should take Sarwen, there’ll be other humans there. It’d be good for him to get out.” Belle snorted “I know what you’re trying to do. You’re using him to make me feel obligated to go” Calypso did not deny it “Yes…it’s working isn’t it?” Belle picked up another utensil and threw it at her.
Over the next few days whenever Sarwen deigned to come out his room they attempted to convince him to go. Finally one day he got fed up of their pleading and relented. “Fine, but it won’t make a difference!” Belle considered it a win even if it was with reluctance.
The morning of the event a single delivery was made. A bright-pink gown with strawberry red highlights specked with gold. Calypso accepted the delivery and called over Belle. “It seems like Ma wants you to wear this!” Belle shook her head “Nope! That’s for you” Calypso argued back “nuh uh Sis, I’ve got my ceremonial uniform to wear. This is definitely for you!”
After much cajoling Belle tried it on. “I look terrible! She’s trying to dress me as if I’m twelve” Calypso tried to change her mind despite knowing it’s true. “It’s….unique…you’ll be a trend setter!” Belle wasn’t convinced. Calypso called out to Sarwen in his room who with a huff opened the door, took one look, shook his head then closed it.
Belle felt vindicated “SEE!” Calypso did not relent “It’s just one night…do it for me please? I don’t want Ma lecturing us about appropriate attire.” She gave Belle a doe-eyed look. One she used to give when they were teenagers and she wanted Belle to do something. Belle relented instantly “Fine.”
Evening rolled around and they were ready to go. Just as they were about to leave there was a knock on their door. A human slave-girl with a red flower affixed to her robe informed them “A Luxury Hovercart has been arranged to transport you for tonight’s festivities. It awaits on the road below.” Calypso made a mental note to thank their mother. Now they wouldn’t have to worry about running into any Velrar on the way. “Thank you, We’ll be down in a moment.”
Sarwen was the only one of the three unadorned. He wore a standard grey slave robe, his collar around his neck. On the inside of his slave robe was a hidden pocket in which he carried his own remote. In Calypsos pocket was a decoy non-functional remote just in case anymore ‘performances’ were called for.
They made their way down and got into the back of the hovercart. The Xenthian driver protested “Ain’t nobody tell me a human would be coming, I don’t want it mussing up my seats!” Belle grew annoyed “You were hired to take the invitees. He’s an invitee just like us, it says so on the invite. We can bring one human along.” The driver grimaced but figured it wasn’t worth upsetting someone as rich and influential as Lady Velanu.
The journey was uneventful. The driver pressed a button causing a compartment to open from which they could serve themselves complimentary drinks. The driver made a point of saying “Not for the human though! If it takes I’ll ‘ave ta charge. Company policy.” Next to her Belle saw Sarwens fists clench. She whispered to him. “Trust me, it’ll be better once we’re up there!” She saw him relax slightly.
At last they arrived. A huge queue had formed as people waited for entrance onto the elegant ship. It was completely different to a Warship. Furnished with gold and silver across its bottom. The top half was entirely some form of glass through which one looking could see fancy cushioned chairs and well polished tables ready to seat the richest in all the Empire. A staff member spotted them when they approached. “Lady Velanu has asked we look out for you and allow you boarding priority. Please follow.”
They were lead inside all the way to the front, closest to the stage. They joined their mother on a table with four seats. Their mother got up and greeted her two daughters hugging them and kissing them across both cheeks. Sarwen stood one step behind them, eyes down, exactly as he was once trained. “Really Calypsophex, you’re still keeping this one?” She gestured to Sarwen. Cal opened her mouth to reply but Lady Velanu raised her hand to silence her. “Boy, you are serving my daughters well I hope?” He replied his eyes still gazing downwards. “Yes, My Lady” Belle protested “Ma! Leave him be!”
Lady Velanus tutted “Belleaxis, I thought being on an Imperial Warship would have hardened you up. Your heart is as soft towards these things as ever but I warn you now, do not think it’ll be sitting as an equal, girl. We are in public. We have a reputation to maintain. It can stand or sit on the floor.” Calypso turned to Sarwen. Nodding at him sadly. Sarwen dropped to the floor sitting cross-legged by her chair feeling very much humiliated. I should have stayed in he thought.
One by one guests arrived, and the live music started. When the room was full up Sarwen looked around to see any sign of other humans. In total there were about twenty of them spread across the room Each sitting on the floor as he was. That was not counting the servers who unbeknown to him were pottering about in the kitchens. Anyone who was anyone in Xenthian high society was here. Lord Redav spotted Calypso from a distance waving with a cheeky grin. On another table the minor noble who had stormed out of the War Council also sat. The rest were unfamiliar to her but Lady Velanu droned on to her two daughters giving them a who’s who of high society. When she finished she chastised them “Really, girls you should know all of these by reputation if not by face. When you inherit my title and wealth you will need to maintain such connections else the Velanu name will fade into nothing! All your father’s hard work, wasted.”
The two replied in a chorus of “Yes Ma” The musician on the stage was interrupted by an Announcer with a message “Prepare for take off! Tonight my dear ladies and gentlemen you will be treated to an exquisite three course meal the likes of which you’ve never seen. The theme of tonight’s dishes is ‘Transgression.’ We will take you on a journey where what is considered taboo will be improved and changed by our elite Xenthian chefs showing us all that anything can be made perfect in the hands of noble Xenthians!”
There was ‘ooohs’ and ‘aaahs’ as he spoke. Then the attendees watched enraptured as the ship took off going higher and higher until it left the atmosphere and stopped in orbit. They all gasped in amazement at the sight of the planet below them. Such a sight however was nothing new to either of the Velanu girls both having been acclimatised to space travel. “I’ll never understand it. We have ships that can travel the Cosmos. Half of these people could afford to buy one suitable outright but they choose instead to stay on one planet their whole lives. This is the closest most of them have gotten to going off-world” Calypso ranted. Her mother admonished her “Quiet girl! If they hear they’ll take offence. Has the military beaten decorum out of you?”
She ignored the question. Her mother would have admonished her again for disrespect but at that moment slaves arrived carrying plates. On each plate was a singular round doughy item with a hole in the middle. They placed a plate for each of them, and placed one down in front of the unoccupied seat. The Announcer from earlier interrupted the music again.
“My dearest Xenthian nobility. As explained the theme is ‘Transgression’ thus we start with dessert but not just any dessert this is a foul human invention called ‘The Donut’ our expert chefs worked tirelessly to perfect it replacing much of its toxic ingredients with pure ingredients from our glorious planet! Please taste!”
Just as the three were about to dig in a late-comer strode through the room and took the empty seat on their table. “Lady Velanu and her two beautiful daughters, it is an honour to be seated with you, indeed, indeed, it is.” Lady Velanu flashed him a smile. One both her daughters knew to be fake. “Chief Faraquay, I simply could not leave you out, especially after your promotion to Chief of the Velrar!”
Calypso shot up straight and coughed. Belle caught her reaction and too shifted in discomfort. On the floor Sarwen’s fists clenched. His eyes darted around, he noticed above him a sharp knife was in easy reach. His eyes scanned the room further, he spied signs that read Emergency Escape Pods: This Way. Cogs whirred in his mind delivering unto him fantasies of bloodshed No, if I do it, they might pay the price.
Chief Faraquay stuck his eyes upon Calypso. “Ahh I assume you are a little uncomfortable with me because of that…misunderstanding in your records. Do not worry! When I received the invite I could not help but pull a few strings. Your record is clean” Calypso took a sip of wine “Thank You, as you say…a misunderstanding.” Her mind too whirred Did mother set this whole thing up to keep the Velrar off my back? As annoying as her mother was it was extremely plausible. If not out of genuine care then it would be for their reputation and family name.
Calypso was eating but she did not even pay attention to the flavours as she was lost in her thoughts. Beside her Belle sneakily reached across past Calypso’s lap dropping her donut into Sarwen’s hands. Lady Velanu and Chief Faraquay however sung their compliments over its taste with surprise. “I must say, your theme for the evening would have been shutdown by myself if it wasn’t done so…cleverly. Showing Xenthian superiority by elevating the foul things of the lesser races. Bravo, Lady Velanu, Bravo!” Lady Velanu reached her hand over to his patting it with mock affection “You are too kind Chief, the compliments should be to the chef.”
As Sarwen ate his tastebuds lit up with joy. Such sweetness he had never tasted. Such a warm, chewy texture. To a tongue that had only known mush and Xenthian fruits it was pure bliss distilled. If this was made for Xenthian taste. The original recipe must be far superior.
Chief Faraquay continued conversing “Alas how could humans achieve such mastery of cuisine? Even now the few who consider themselves free do naught but scratch at the dirt in the dark” Belle asked feigning innocence “What do you mean Sir?” The chief tapped his nose, “Forgive me child I forget sometimes some things I am not supposed to share ….but I suppose this information can do no harm. A group of humans discontent with Xenthian rule for reasons most inexplicable have hidden themselves deep underground on a far away planet with no technology to speak of, nor much edible food. It is my view that Humans in the empire are far better off….let us ask your boy down there.”
Chief Faraquay stood and called over to Sarwen. “Come, boy. Stand while I speak to you!” Sarwen stood. “My Lord?” The chief smirked at him. “Tell me, truly, would you rather serve a Master on this glorious planet or rule scrambling in the dark upon the dirt?” Sarwen wanted to defy him, then he looked to Belle and reminded himself to remain calm. “I am content with my position My Lord.” Chief Faraquay clapped “Ha! See I told you!” As an after thought he waved at Sarwen “You may sit again, Good boy.” As he sat he pretended to accidentally jostle himself against the table. The knife he spotted earlier fell from it and before anyone noticed he snatched it up hiding it in the folds of his robe. I’m going to end him. Somehow I’ll end him!. He told himself.
The next course arrived and the head-butler once again took to the stage “We have seen one ‘Transgression’. Now is time for another. In a far corner of the Empire on one of our Water-worlds where ,just like we did humans, we called into our service the Merfolk, rescuing them from their own barbarity. They feasted on raw weeds at the bottom of the oceans. We spent countless hours experimenting with these weeds and now finally we present them to you to show once again how a Xenthian mind can elevate something so grotesque.
When the slaves came with the weeds they also refilled their drinks. Chief Faraquay ordered one of the slaves to come back repeatedly with more drinks so that by the time the four on the table had consumed the weeds he was quite drunk. Belle leaned to whisper to Calypso “It tastes like grass, only covered in fruit juice!” Calypso stifled a laugh “Most of em are probably too drunk by now to really notice it’s bad.”
Chief Faraquay stood up on wobbly feet “Boy! Stand, I have more questions!” Sarwen resisted the urge to scream defiance. He stood, a picture of pure humbleness. The Knife he took now placed in that secret pocket within his robe next to his remote. “Yes, My Lord?” The chief placed his hand upon the table to steady himself. “Tell me how you came to be owned by your Master, it is an odd fixation of mine how people choose their slaves.” Sarwen wasn’t sure. Calypso saw his hesitation and began to explain in his stead “We came across…” The Chief too drunk to care about manners scowled at her “No, let the boy tell me.”
Sarwen began the painful tale, cleverly twisting the story so that the Chief would not have any cause to demand discipline. “I was wilful and disobedient My Lord, my old Master had given up and had decided a public execution would send a good message to his other slaves. My Master and, My Lady Belleaxis made him an offer he couldn’t refuse when they came across the scene.”
The Chief turned to Calypso, “Pray tell, why did you take the trouble, and how did you break one so wild that it was to be executed?” Calypso realised she was being placed under suspicion again. Her mother and Belle watched with bated breath. “I…..We…..we were young and relished a challenge. We thought it’d be fun.” She was lying Belle had hardly enough savings to pay what his owner was asking and begged Calypso to contribute the shortfall. Belle couldn’t stand to see a public execution and Calypso, though she’d never admit it couldn’t stand to see Belle truly upset.
The Chief grinned at her “Ahh the folly of youth, but was it folly if you succeeded. Tell me how?” Calypso told him a partial truth this time. It had taken them time to convince Sarwen they had no intention of hurting him or forcing him into service. For the longest time he was convinced it was a trick. It took both of them sitting him down and asking him to pick a name for himself from a list of Xenthian names for him to understand. “My sister and I worked together, two disciplinarians are much more affective than one, by the time Belle left for her role he was fully trained.”
They were saved from further probing by the Announcer declaring the last dish of the night “For the final course of this evening, and perhaps most in-line with the theme of ‘Transgression’ I present to you an imitation of the roasted meats of the Galarans. A distant evolutionary cousin of the Drelder they were brought into Service too and now serve as beasts of burden on the hottest desert planets in the Empire. Our chef using a mix of science and culinary expertise found a way to alter the common fruits you enjoy everyday to match the texture and flavour of a meat roast. The purpose? To make us grateful for the bountiful food of our kind and to thank the stars we require not carrion flesh to live, such is the superior Xenthian biology.”
This was the most controversial dish of the night. Such that it grabbed the attention of Chief Faraquay who abandoned his line of questioning regarding Sarwen and turned to Lady Velanu “I understand the purpose, for the purpose alone I approve, but must we ruin good fruits for this?” Those who had already received their plates barely ate one piece before retching. Hardly anyone in the room managed to enjoy it. Most of the plates remained completely untouched as what lay upon it was an anathema to Xenthian minds.
Chief Faraquay saw an opportunity for further humiliation. Standing, he shouted aloud drawing the attention of all “My Dear Nobles, If I may make a suggestion to further illustrate the point of this dish, I suggest we feed it to the humans in the room. Should they enjoy it we would know that the Chef indeed has mimicked the dish well!”
Sarwen grew enraged. His face was red and he was breathing heavily. Calypso sensing this was becoming too much stood and instructed Sarwen “Come, stand, attend me” He stood and waited for her to start moving but the chief spotted them as they were about to move away from the table. “Come girl. Don’t let your boy miss out on the fun. Let it display its true nature as a carrion eater for us! A little reminder that they’re still beasts compared to us, no matter if they can talk or walk upright.”
The Chief moved round to him and dropped his plate on the floor. Pointing at Sarwen he sternly said “Eat.” Sarwen knelt picking up the plate. If he had to eat he would not do so like a beast. The Chief grew annoyed when Sarwen rose back up with the plate. He hit the plate out the humans hand so the food on it fell to the floor off the plate, the plate itself smashing leaving shards embedded in the food. Again the Chief commanded “I said EAT!” For Belle it became too much she needed to end this. “NO! He’s ours not yours! He eats what we give him. Not what you tell him to!”
The Chief turned and slapped her harshly across the face “Everyone here is under my authority including you!” For Sarwen that was enough. He did indeed kneel but only to make it easier to pull the concealed knife from his robe. Then he got up again and lunged at The Chief while his back was turned. He stabbed the chief in his neck roaring as he did so. “Fucking Piece of Shit Die! Die! Die!” With each word he stabbed. Blood splattered across the table closest to him. Some of it landed upon Belle, Calypso, and Lady Velanu.
When Sarwen was done he pulled the knife one last time from the Chiefs body leaving it to slump to the ground. There was a moment of silence. Not a single person moved, everyone was frozen. Then the eyes of one of the other humans met his. Some silent message of solidarity passed between them. That human stood grabbed a knife from the table closet to him and too turned it upon their Xenthian Master.
Sarwen raised his fist shouting in triumph. The other humans, seeing how vulnerable their Masters were, dressed in formal attire, unarmed and unarmored took up the knives and began striking at their Masters. Those who did not have human slaves ran for the emergency pods. Those who did who were not cut down fumbled for their remotes. One Xenthian found their slaves remote instantly and pressed a button. The human closest to him dropped to the floor in agony letting go of the knife they had picked up. It did not save the master for from behind another human stabbed him in the back repeatedly until the remote fell from his hands putting an end to the torture.
Lady Velanu too made for the emergency escape pods leaving her two daughters behind who were unsure whether to stick with Sarwen or flee. Calypso watched in front of her as the ships private security finally made it to the room. Holding handheld blasters they fired shot after shot aiming for the humans who took cover behind tables. One security guard saw Sarwen still standing out in the open completely defenceless he aimed, then fired.
There was a scream of “NO!” Belle rushed into him pushing him out the firing line. Belle fell to the floor and was crying out in pain. The security guard lowered his weapon a look of guilt plastered across his face. The humans who had taken cover began falling one by one as the Security Guards manoeuvred around the tables to neutralise them.
Calypso shouted at Sarwen! Pick her up and let’s go! Come on! Sarwen knelt and lifted Belle over her shoulder, he felt the wetness of blood dripping down from her onto him. They made for the Escape Pods. The Security guards assuming that Sarwen had picked up Belle as a hostage dared not pursue. None dared risk being blamed for the death of one of Lady Velanus’ daughters.
The path to the Escape Pods was clearly marked as per the strict regulations regarding civilian ships. They followed the directions running down flights of stairs. Those who saw Sarwen cowered in fear making themselves small until he passed. They got to the bottom most level where the Escape Pods lay in wait. Claypso ran to a lever pulling down on it so it opened then lead Sarwen in, who in turn was carrying Belle.
Calypso hit the big red Eject button, the engines burst to life and the Pod being so close to the home planet immediately began the automatic protocols for planetfall. Calypso cursed to herself Shit, they’re never gonna believe we didn’t have anything to do with this! Running to the console she punched in her own military access code and manually entered the co-ordinates for Raul’s Scar.
It was the only place in this galaxy she knew of that would welcome both fugitive Xenthians and humans together.
When they entered warpspace Sarwen placed Belle down gently and stood back next to Calypso. “She’s hurt!” He said, shakily, desperation leaking from his voice. Calypso examined the wound. The blaster fire had gone straight through her stomach. She cried and wailed as she realised she would not be able to save her beloved sister. Not without a med-bed.
Belle gasped for breath calling to her “Hold…me…Cal….I’m…cold….so cold” Calypso knelt down and gently wrapped her arms around her “Not….his….fault….chiefs…..don’t…blame…” Calypso shook her head “No, no, no, Belle you’re not leaving me. You only just came back! Please Bele! I need you! I need you!” Belles’s breaths were getting weaker. They began to sound like she was drowning “don’t…..blame….Sarwen…..Find Bright-Eyes…..Help. Save.” Wracked by sobs Calypso continued begging her “Belle! Don’t die! You can’t! Please…” The last word came out quiet. Filled with despair. Belle’s eyes fluttered “Love….you…Cal…” then they closed. Never to open again.
Part 32: https://www.reddit.com/HFY/s/NJkklFLMPn