So I (20f) met my ex fiance(22m) when I was living in TN and met him off of bumble and just before a year after dating we got engaged and shortly later we were getting kick out of my aunts house (very long story) so I was moving back to Utah to live with my mom while getting back on my feet. He followed with me to Utah. Shortly after we moved I ended up pregnant, we didn't think I could because we had went MONTHS with nothing but it turned out to be stress preventing my body from allowing pregnancy.
Everything was wonderful. Great sweet guy caring and thoughtful, not the best at communicating especially with his emotions. He was better than any person on social media as a support person during labor and shortly after, our som was in the nicu and I had a c section so it was rough. But he was amazing with it all! And a great dad and very involved and caring.
Then 4 months post partum I find out all this stupid shit.
This is our first son and there was complications and he's a little extra needy when it comes to food and gaining weight, he had a iugr and was 1 month premature. I was going to be staying at home to take care of our kiddo cause that was my dream and at the time he said he wouldn't be able to take care of kiddo by himself.
Well about 2.5 months into post partum he stopped being fully present, I was doing everything with the rare times he would do stuff. I thought everything was okay and he was struggling with post partum depression because he was still sweet, caring, loving and still seemed like he wanted to be apart of the family. Arguments started about him not helping around the house, him hardly helping with kiddo, and when I would try to wake him up he would lay there pretending to be asleep or yelling at me that he's not gonna wake up.
He started to live in his truck as I started to speculate cheating but couldn't figure out how to pin point it, and the engagement ring came off.
Small background when we were engaged and he pretty much was getting screwed over with a car his parents pulled a loan for when he was 16 but he was paying for it. He couldn't purchase a car and needed one asap so I helped by putting the loan in my name. Well shortly after kicking him out I told him if he couldn't get the loan in his name I'll have to get rid of the car cause of the dept to income for an apartment even if he pays on it as well as me being scared that he'd just screw me over.
One other back story i saw him texting a women on snapchat and I asked who she was (because previously there was multiple arguments about him needing to stop talking and unadd the same ex of his an another about him liking half naked women on instagram). He says that it's one of the people from his gaming group and she lived in a neighboring state, which turned out as a lie. One day when doing laundry at a mat I was loading up in the back of the car and saw him open a snap of hers and respond, both of them putting in a lot of effort in the photos (which he doesn't do for me). I get in and tell him that's not her being friendly she's trying to fuck you and be a home wrecker, hah I was right... but he tried to convince me she was a friend, I never believed it.
One day, the day before mother's day, before he got his vehicle he was needing a ride with the car to put stuff in his storage unit from the car. I was going to get a breather because things were getting emotional and he stole my car. Cops were called and some women had picked him up. It was the girl he said months ago is a gaming buddy. Later we talked and he said he wanted to work on us and he'd remove her, she knows he has a family and us just a friend and stuff like that. I didn't really believe him. Well he removed her then said he's gonna go for a drive to get fresh air and think, turns out he re added her then went to her work event.
Shitty part of mothers day, my first mind you, finding out I'm being cheated on, and then goes "she said happy mothers day btw" like why the hell are you talking to her when your "trying to make it up to me for the damage so my first mothers day ain't ruined." He admits "She's a friend" that he had went to a concert with, goes to the bar with and visits her on lunch. There was arguments of how that's not what friends do and beginning to ask him how many times did he fuck her. He kept trying to convince me she's just a friend.
Some time when buy with arguing about that and him going "I blocked her I'll follow your boundaries to fix this" then couple hours later re add her. I began talking to men and an old ex because having people to talk to even when it's not about the drama is how I cope and it kept me above water.
Mind you at this time he really hasn't asked to see his kid and hasn't really acknowledged him unless I say something. We also were broken up before I started talking to other people.
He got pissed that I was talking to other people and started yelling at me about it.
Well I was tired of "she's just a friend" arguments cause I knew something was off. One morning I left work early (my shift starts way early) I went home took his phone while he was sleeping and went through it. Yup confirmed that I was right the past couple months and shit. So I woke him up and was like I know now tell me.
His pitty excuse that I don't believe anymore but at the time did is: I had an ex back when I was dealing drugs in Florida ask if she can move with me to my home state on one run but I told her I couldn't cause I was still under age and living with my parents and she killed herself when I left because I didn't take her with me and her dad is abusive. Well he said one time when he went to the bar he saw her looking at him and then he went to smoke and then came back in the bar and she was still staring so he went to talk to her because he "didn't feel loved so why the fuck not"
Side note he was jealous of our infant son because (starting at less than 1 month old of feeling jelous) that I was giving kiddo all move attention and loving on kiddo and my cats. Because I was suffering PPD PPA and Post partum anger, he wasn't there for me and even yelled saying things like "you shouldn't feel that way, things happen and it's fine there's alternatives" when I would cry about things that were struggling with kiddo like breast feeding and things like that. Fucking jealous of an infant dude.
Then said that they only fucked twice and it started when he saw her at the concert and gave her a ride home because she was drunk and her friends left her. That was brought up because I saw her tiktok with her post him with them in the car. I said you could have bought her an Uber and I don't believe her friends left her. The truth later be told 1 month after I found out about him full on cheating was he got on tinder, met her, picked her up and took her to the concert, fucked her then came home.
He was constantly gone while I was taking care of our kid so he can fuck around many times.
Well I forgot most stuff because of my ptsd response and blockage but recently he had kept seeing her and I said I was done. One day he's begging to work on things and the next day he blocks my number saying he never wants to hear from me again.
This past week has been fucked. To put it short. He refused to see his son when I was available in between work and doctors appointments because he didn't want to move his date and he already has went over a week without seeing the little guy. He did this twice.
He kept trying to say I think we will work out and come back to each other in the future. Saying things like I wanna see where things go with Jessica, if they work out great if not great and then we can try on us. Saying he will wait for me and that he will compete with the other men that I talk to or date. And stupid shit like that.
I told him I was first I should have never been second. Told him if he continues to pursue her I will never be willing to wrap back around to this even years from now when he's done with his stupid manic episode. He's showing heavy heavy traits of bipolar.
Well anyways
When he was in kiddos life and I went back to work I would tap in on the Alex to check in since he would never answer me and I would hear kiddo awake for hours or crying for so long wanting food that I would constantly have to leave work. I have gotten a video of him saying he won't wake up to feed our kid from a recent event. Kiddo has torticolis in his neck causing flat head and he needs off of it as much as possible but he hardly ever was up so kiddo would be on his head from bed time at 8 to 9 pm all the way till he woke up at 12 pm on later days but no earlier than 10 am when kiddos wake up time that he actually wakes up at is 7 am. He's constantly drinking and admitted to drinking and driving on the way home from work. The first thing in his fridge at his apartment was beer and constantly going to the bars.
Even when I was around with kiddo he would almost never acknowledge him.
He's always threatened since kid was 1.5 months old (way before I knew about anything) he would just sign his rights away. Well just this past Friday he said he wanted to so I said I can print off the papers to fill out and sign so I did and Saturday after he slept on it, had a calm conversation about it, the papers were notarized and emailed to the courts.
He blocked my number even though he technically can't and doesn't give a shit.
I feel like I failed my kid. I promised I would never find someone that was going to be a father to my kid the same way my dad was to me and I failed. No one saw this everyone was like it was a flip of a switch cause he was over the moon for me and was so excited to be a dad and now he's saying things like she's worth loosing my family and never seeing the family again. I hurt for my son the most.
:((

https://jonathanturley.org/2024/06/07/laptop-deniers-in-delaware-the-media-shrugs-as-the-biden-laptop-is-authenticated-in-federal-court/
"Houdini used to make his elephant Jennifer disappear on stage every night because he knew that the audience wanted her to disappear. They were part of the act. The Bidens made the media part of the act, and these reporters have to back the illusion or admit that they were part of the deception."
The FBI declared the laptop to be “real” and “authentic” and the court agreed. It was introduced as evidence before many reporters who previously embraced the debunked “conspiracy theory.”
Yet, what followed the testimony of FBI agent Erika Jensen was absolute crickets. There was no effort to track down the signatories of the now-debunked letter from former intelligence officials just before the election. In the letter, figures such as Leon Panetta, former CIA director in the Obama administration, claimed that the laptop had all the markings of a Russian disinformation effort by intelligence services. (Panetta continued to make the assertion even in late 2023 in pushing what the federal government is now calling a “conspiracy theory.”)
There was no attempt by the media to confront associates of the Biden campaign (including now Secretary of State Antony Blinken) who pushed a long effort to get former intelligence officials to sign a letter.
There was no attempt to question President Joe Biden, who made this false claim in the presidential election to deflect any questions about the evidence of corrupt influence peddling on the laptop.
They are all laptop deniers, but they know that there are few who will call them to account for their conspiracy theory. Rather, it is social media where readers can see videos of leading media claiming that the laptop is the work of Russian intelligence.
In 2020, CBS News’ Lesley Stahl literally laughed mockingly at then-President Donald Trump when he raised the Hunter Biden laptop and what it revealed about the Bidens.
Figures like former Chief of Staff at the CIA and Department of Defense Jeremy Bash, who told MSNBC that the laptop “looked like Russian intelligence” and “walked like Russian intelligence.” He dismissed the relevance of the laptop before the election by declaring that “this effort by Rudy Giuliani and the New York Post and Steve Bannon to cook up supposed dirt on Joe Biden looks like a classic, Russian playbook disinformation campaign.”
Bash added that it made Trump an effective agent of Russian intelligence since he kept referencing the laptop: “[when] Rudy Giuliani suddenly comes forward with these mysteriously created emails, probably hacked through a Russian intelligence operation, we have to acknowledge the fact that the President of the United States is supporting, is condoning, is welcoming a Russian intelligence operation in 2020. … This is collusion in plain sight.”
Bash, like others behind the conspiracy theory, was later given an intelligence position by Biden.
Most corrupt government in the world
Are you paying attention yet?

Twitter post by Caitlin Johnstone
https://x.com/caitoz/status/1799411441193435525
"Everything about Israel is fake. It’s a completely synthetic nation created without any regard for the organic sociopolitical movements of the land and its people, slapped rootless atop an ancient pre-existing civilization with deep roots. That’s why it cannot exist without being artificially propped up by nonstop propaganda, lobbying, online influence operations, and mass military violence.
Israel is so fake that its far right minister of national security Itamar Ben-Gvir has been stoking religious tensions by encouraging militant Zionists to pray on the Temple Mount — known to Muslims as Al-Aqsa. This is an illustration of how phony Israel and its political ideology are because Jews were historically prohibited from praying at the Temple Mount under Jewish law; a sign placed there in 1967 and still upheld by Israel’s Chief Rabbinate reads, “According to Torah Law, entering the Temple Mount area is strictly forbidden due to the holiness of the site.” It’s just this weird, evangelical Christian-like thing that Zionists have started doing in contravention of their own traditions and religious texts to advance their nationalist agendas.
Journalist Dan Cohen explains on Twitter:
“ ‘Prayer’ on the Temple Mount is 100% a Zionist invention in total contravention of Jewish law. Jews don’t step foot onto the Temple Mount, let alone 'pray' there. That’s why the sign below is posted at the entrance non-Muslims use.
“Ben Gvir publicly announced this in order to provoke a reaction to use as a pretext to restrict and expel Muslims from the site, explode Jerusalem and the West Bank, and expand the regional war.
“Ben Gvir holds Netanyahu hostage. Together, they’re leading Israel to self-destruction.”
There’s no authentic spirituality in such behavior. It has no roots. No depth. No connection. It’s the product of busy minds with modern agendas, with nothing more to it than that.
Israel is so fake that Zionists artificially resurrected a dead language in order for its people to have a common “native” tongue for them to speak, so that they could all LARP as indigenous middle easterners together in their phony, synthetic country.
Israel has no real culture of its own; it’s all a mixture of organic Jewish culture brought in from other parts of the world by the Jewish diaspora, culture that was stolen from Palestinians (see “Israeli food”), and the culture of indoctrinated genocidal hatred that is interwoven with the fabric of modern Zionism. The way Israel has become a Mecca of electronic dance music points clearly to an aching cultural void that its people are trying desperately to fill with empty synthetic pop fluff.
Even international support for Israel is fake, manufactured astroturf that has to be enforced from the top down, because it would never organically occur to anyone that Israel is something that should be supported.
The phenomenally influential Israel lobby is used to push pro-Israel foreign policy in powerful western governments like Washington and London. Just yesterday US Representative Thomas Massie told Tucker Carlson that every Republican in Congress besides himself “has an AIPAC person” assigned to them with whom they are in constant communication, who he describes as functioning “like your babysitter” with regard to lawmaking on the subject of Israel.
The Israel lobby exists with the full consent of the western imperial war machine and its secretive intelligence cartel, because western military support for Israel is also phony and fraudulent. The western empire whose strategic interests directly benefit from violence and radicalism in the middle east pretends it’s constantly expanding its military presence in the region in order to promote stability and protect an important ally, but in reality this military presence simply allows for greater control over crucial resource-rich territories whose populations would otherwise unite to form a powerful bloc acting in their own interests. The Israel lobby is a self-funding consent manufacturer which helps the empire do what it already wants to do.
Support for Israel in the media is also phony and imposed from the top down. Since October outlets like The New York Times, CNN and CBC have been finding themselves fighting off scandals due to staff leaks about demands from their executives that they slant their Gaza coverage to benefit the information interests of Israel. Briahna Joy Gray was just fired by The Hill for being critical of Israel as co-host of the show “Rising”, a fate that all mass media employees understand they will share if they are insufficiently supportive of the empire’s favorite ethnostate.
Israel’s support from celebrities is similarly forced. A newly leaked email from influential Hollywood marketing and branding guru Ashlee Margolis instructs her firm’s employees to “pause on working with any celebrity or influencer or tastemaker posting against Israel.” As we discussed recently, celebrities are also naturally disincentivized from criticizing any aspect of the western empire by the fact that their status is dependent on wealthy people whose wealth is premised upon the imperial status quo.
Support for Israel on social media is likewise notoriously phony. For years Israel has been pioneering the use of social media trolls to swarm Israel’s critics and promote agendas like undermining the BDS movement. After the beginning of the Gaza onslaught Israel spent millions on PR spin via advertising on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook, and The New York Times has just confirmed earlier reports that Israel has been targeting US lawmakers with fake social media accounts to influence their policymaking on Israel.
In truth, nobody really organically supports Israel. If they’re not supporting it because their lobbyists and employers told them to, they’re supporting it because that’s what they were told to support by the leaders of their dopey political ideologies like Zionism, liberalism and conservatism, or by the leaders of their dopey religions like Christian fundamentalism. It’s always something that’s pushed on people from the top down, rather than arising from within themselves due to their own natural interests and ideals.
Israel is not a country, it’s like a fake movie set version of a country. A movie set where the set pieces won’t even stand up on their own, so people are always running around in a constant state of construction trying to prop things up and nail things down, and scrambling to pick up things that are falling over, and rotating the set pieces so that they look like real buildings in front of the camera. Without this constant hustle and bustle of propagandizing, lobbying, online influence ops, and nonstop mass military violence, the whole movie set would fall over, and people would see all the film crew members and actors and cameras for what they are.
Clearly, no part of this is sustainable. Clearly, something’s going to have to give. Those set pieces are going to come toppling down sooner or later; it’s just a question of when, and of how high the pile of human corpses needs to be before it happens."

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**Trigger warning for in-depth discussion of the deaths and bodies of children*\*
Many of you probably know the story of the Unknown Child, or Body #4 – the body of a baby boy recovered from the sea shortly after the sinking of the Titanic and buried in Halifax’s Fairview Cemetery. Unidentified for years, he was speculated to be either Gosta Palsson or Eugene Rice, tentatively identified with DNA analysis as Eino Panula in 2002, and definitively identified through improved DNA testing in 2007 as Sidney Goodwin. The Unknown Child has come to represent all the young lives who were lost in the disaster.
However, much less well-known is the mystery of Body #1. Pulled from the icy Atlantic on April 21^st 1912 by the cable ship Mackay Bennett, the body of an approximately 10-12-year-old boy was the first of 337 Titanic victims to be recovered. Officially, Body #1 was identified as Walter John van Billiard, a 9-year-old third-class boy who perished along with his father Austin and 10-year-old brother James William. He was buried next to his father, whose body was also recovered, in the Whitemarsh Union Cemetery of Zion Lutheran Church, Flourtown, Pennsylvania. However, doubt has always lingered among Titanic researchers and enthusiasts over the true identity of the body. In this post, I’ll examine the case for and against the body’s identification as Walter Van Billiard, investigate some other possibilities for its identity, and summarize my findings.
A few disclaimers: firstly, I’m not a professional, just someone who’s been interested in the Titanic (and specifically its child/teen passengers) for a long time.
Secondly, although I’ve never seen a detailed write-up on Body #1 before, others have discussed this topic and arrived at similar conclusions as mine, so I’m not breaking any entirely new ground here.
Finally, this post isn’t meant to disrespect or offend any of the Van Billiard family or to shatter the idea of a father and son resting beside each other. I’m just trying to take a critical look at the identification of Body #1 and suggest some alternate possibilities.
Approximately 115 Titanic passengers and crew under the age of 18 were lost, and very few of their bodies were ever found. In attempting to identify one of them, I hope to honour them all.

Part I: The Van Billiards

Walter and James van Billiard (photo here) were the two eldest sons of Austin Blyler van Billiard and Maude Murray. One or both boys had been born in Paris, France, but spent most of their lives in Africa, where the family was engaged in diamond mining. By April 1912, the Van Billiards had had four more children and wanted to return to Austin’s family in North Wales, Pennsylvania. They travelled to London, where Maude fell ill. It was decided that she would stay there with her parents and her four youngest children to recuperate, while Austin would take James and Walter ahead to America. Austin’s parents had never met any of their grandchildren before, and he wanted them to spend Easter together. Tragically, they booked third-class on the RMS Titanic, and the rest is history. No survivor accounts mention the Van Billiards by name, so it is unknown how they passed their time on the ship or how exactly they met their ends. A newspaper article (Daily Home News, April 23rd 1912) suggests the boys may have refused to leave their father, but it’s equally likely they simply arrived on deck too late to have the option of boarding a lifeboat.
What is known is that two bodies purported to be members of the Van Billiard family were later recovered and sent to Austin’s relatives in Pennsylvania for burial. Body #255, that of an approximately 40-year-old man with a dark red beard and moustache, was identified as Austin. Body #1, allegedly young Walter, was described as such:
No. 1 – MALE – ESTIMATED AGE. – 10-12. – HAIR. LIGHT.
CLOTHING – Overcoat, grey; one grey coat; one blue coat; grey woolen jersey; white shirt; grey knickers; black stockings; black boots
EFFECTS – Purse containing few Danish coins and ring; two handkerchiefs marked “A”.
Probably Third Class.
Furthermore, the “Inventory of the property found on the body of the late W. VanBilliard” adds that the purse also contained one United States cent and “three wooden disks.” This document can be viewed online at the Nova Scotia Archives website. Interestingly, “Unable to identify from clothing or effects” has been written across the middle of the page in pencil. Further down, it says “Remains shipped. See #255.”
Right off the bat, it's unclear why Body #1 was identified as that of 9-year-old Walter, as opposed to 10-year-old James – or, in fact, why a connection with the Van Billiards was made at all. The Philadelphia Inquirer of May 8^th 1912, reporting on the arrival of the bodies in Pennsylvania, states that identification was made “through the Red Cross Society and papers found on their persons.” However, no such papers are mentioned among the effects found on either body, despite this being common practice for the descriptions of Titanic victims’ bodies.
It is also noteworthy that no member of the Van Billiard family was reported as having identified or even viewed the bodies. Identification would, of course, have taken place at Halifax, where the recovered bodies were brought before being buried there or forwarded elsewhere, and I could find absolutely nothing to suggest that any Van Billiard travelled to Halifax to view them. The North American newspaper of May 8th 1912 states quite clearly that Austin’s father, Burgess James van Billiard, was in Pennsylvania when the bodies arrived. Maude and the other children were still in England, and in fact would not make the trip to America until February 1913, almost a full year after the disaster.
Moreover, it must be remembered that none of the Van Billiard family members in America had ever seen their grandsons. They may have seen photographs of them, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that they’d be able to identify a body which had spent six days floating in the freezing ocean. There are stories from other maritime disasters of the era, such as the General Slocum (1904), the Eastland (1915), and the Princess Sophia (1918) of children’s bodies being misidentified (or dubiously identified), even by close relatives. Therefore, even if Burgess van Billiard or another family member had seen Body #1, would that have conclusively proven that it was Walter (or James)? Or would it simply be a case of a grief-stricken human being clinging to the belief that their loved one was one of the few recovered from an icy grave?
According to Judith Geller’s Titanic: Women and Children First, “popular reports” of the time stated that Austin’s body was found with Walter’s clasped to his chest. However, as she goes on to state, this was not the case. This can be seen plainly from the numbers of the bodies, which were assigned in the order that they were retrieved. Body #1 was recovered on April 21^st, while Body #255 would not have been picked up until April 25^th, according to the diary of Mackay Bennett crewman Clifford Crease. Therefore, identification of Body #1 cannot have been made by its proximity to Austin Van Billiard.
The effects found upon Body #1 also do nothing to prove, or even suggest, that the body was that of Walter Van Billiard. It is true that the handkerchiefs marked “A” could have belonged to Austin, but “A” could stand for many other names of those on board the Titanic. The Danish coins are a tantalizing clue, but none of the Van Billiard family was known to have lived in or visited Denmark. (Of course, it’s possible that the coins could have been misidentified – perhaps they were actually Belgian or Boer, as the Van Billiards lived in both the Belgian Congo and South Africa; or Dutch, as Austin Van Billiard is known to have visited Amsterdam shortly before embarking on the Titanic. (Perhaps the “A” handkerchief was a souvenir from the city?) However, these are only theories.)
It has never been conclusively accepted by Titanic researchers and enthusiasts that Body #1 is that of Walter Van Billiard. Walter’s entry on Encyclopedia Titanica contains the footnote: “Because of the effects recovered with the body there has to be some doubt over the authenticity of the identification.” Similarly, Women and Children First states that “the body might in fact have easily been that of another Third Class boy.” That book’s section on the Van Billiards ends with the somber observation that “a monument to [the] husband and two sons … stands in the Whitemarsh Union Cemetery, but only two (and perhaps one) of them lie beneath it.” Whether or not Walter van Billiard was truly Body #1, one hopes that this (mis?)identification brought some solace to his surviving family members.

Part II: Other Possibilities

With it being established that there is no conclusive proof that body #1 belonged to either of the Van Billiard boys, let us examine other possibilities. I have assembled a list of all male Titanic victims between the ages of 8 and 14 whose bodies were never found. The reason for extending this range is that the estimated ages given to bodies were not always entirely accurate. For example, the body of 12-year-old William Sage was estimated to be 14, the body of 16-year-old Rossmore Abbott was estimated as 22, and the body of 17-year-old Ernest Price was estimated as 26.
Our candidates are:

1. Eugene Joseph Abbott, 13
2. Filip Oscar Asplund, 13
3. Clarence Gustaf Hugo Asplund, 9
4. William Neal Thomas Ford, 14
5. Charles Edward Goodwin, 14
6. William Frederick Goodwin, 13
7. Harold Victor Goodwin, 10
8. Frederick William Hopkins, 14
9. Husayn Mahmud Husayn Ibrahim, 11
10. William Andrew Johnston, 8
11. Albert Rice, 10
12. George Rice, 8
13. Betros Seman, 10
14. Karl Thorsten Skoog, 11
15. George Frederick Sweet, 14
16. William Albert Watson, 14

A few possibilities can be easily excluded from this list:

• Karl Skoog had been involved in a railway accident at the age of 7 and had to have his left leg and the toes on his right foot amputated. He used crutches for mobility. It is impossible that such an obvious feature as a missing or prosthetic leg would not have been noted in the descriptions of the bodies.
• Husayn Ibrahim and Betros Seman were from Lebanon. It is unlikely (though not impossible) that a Middle Eastern boy would have had blonde hair or carried Danish coins. Accounts from the era almost invariably describe Middle Eastern passengers as “dark-complexioned,” “foreign-looking,” or “Italian types” – a detail which does not appear in the body’s description.

Several more possibilities can be marked as unlikely, if not ruled out entirely:

• In the only known photo of the Goodwin family, the boys all seem to have had dark hair. The eldest boy, Charles, was also only 2 months away from his 15^th birthday, putting him at the very edge of our age range and making it relatively unlikely that he would be mistaken for a 10-12-year-old (let alone one who could feasibly be 9 years old).
  • However, one point in the Goodwins’ favour is that the body of their youngest brother, Sidney Leslie (the ‘Unknown Child’) was found, meaning at least one member of the family was above decks at the moment of the sinking.
• George Frederick Sweet was one day away from turning 15, and was not permitted (or did not want) to board a lifeboat along with his adoptive mother and sisters, implying that he looked his age and could not have been mistaken for a preteen. A purported* photograph of him circa 1912 also shows him as dark-haired. Finally, he was in second class, while the body was described as “probably third class” (although this is hardly conclusive).
• Frederick Hopkins and William Watson were members of the crew, Hopkins being a plate steward and Watson a bellboy. It is therefore possible, if not certain, that they would have been wearing some sort of uniform rather than the clothing the body was described as wearing. Furthermore, like Charles Goodwin and George Sweet, both were within several months of turning 15.

Our list is thus reduced to:

1. Eugene Joseph Abbott, 13
2. Filip Oscar Asplund, 13
3. Clarence Gustaf Hugo Asplund, 9
4. William Neal Thomas Ford, 14
5. William Andrew Johnston, 8
6. Albert Rice, 10
7. George Rice, 8

Now, let us look at each of these boys in turn and examine the evidence for and against them being Body #1.
Eugene Joseph Abbott:

• His last name starts with A, meaning the handkerchief could be his.
• He was originally from (and was returning to) the U.S., so may have carried American money.
• He was just 2 weeks past his 13^th birthday, meaning he could likely have passed for 12 (within the estimated age range for the body).
• He and his family were known to have been on deck right at the time of the sinking, rather than belowdecks in the steerage areas. His mother, Rhoda, was the only woman to be rescued alive from the water, and his older brother Rossmore’s body was found (#190).
• He may have had fair hair – his brother’s body is described as being “very fair,” though it’s unknown if this refers to skin or hair. An alleged* photo of him from the Pigeon Forge Titanic Museum shows a light-haired boy. However, both his mother and brother appear to have dark hair in photos taken of them.
• There is nothing to suggest he would have had Danish coins.

William Neal Thomas Ford:
Little is known about Ford, an English youth emigrating to the USA with his extended family and a family friend. None of their bodies are known to have been recovered (although they may be among the unidentified). He has no known connection to the letter A or to the nation of Denmark. Therefore, I see him as among the most unlikely of these boys to be Body #1.
William Andrew Johnston:
William Johnston, a cousin of William Ford, is a slightly more likely candidate for two reasons. Firstly, his father’s name (and his own middle name) was Andrew, providing a connection to the letter A. Secondly, in the one photo of him provided by the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge,* he appears to have had light hair.
Albert and George Rice:

• The Rice family is known to have been on either the boat deck or A-Deck on the night of the sinking (reported by family friend Bridget Mulvihill, who survived), and their mother Margaret’s body was recovered. In fact, her body was #12, meaning her body was presumably located far closer to #1 than Austin Van Billiard’s was. (Though this doesn’t necessarily mean much given how far apart the bodies might have drifted, how they might have been flung around by the ship’s foundering, etc.)
• They were originally from the U.S., having only lived in Ireland for about a year following the death of their father.
• Albert’s first name, of course, starts with “A.” One may imagine that, perhaps, Margaret Rice might have given handkerchiefs to all her sons with their own first initials embroidered on them.
• Their hair colour is difficult to determine from photographs – it looks on the darker side to me, but this may simply be due to poor lighting.

Filip and Clarence Asplund:
I believe the Asplund boys are the strongest possible candidates for body #1, due to the following evidence:

• They have, by far, the strongest association with Danish coins out of all the boys I have examined. The Asplund family was of Swedish descent; most of their 5 children had been born in the U.S., but they later returned to Sweden and had been living there about 4 years before deciding to return once again to America in 1912. Their home in Sweden was Alseda Village, Småland, located relatively far south in the country; they certainly lived closer to Denmark than anyone else on this list, and very likely passed through it on their way to England to board the Titanic. It is even possible that the coins were not Danish but Swedish – someone more knowledgeable about early 20^th-century Scandinavian currency would have to tell me how similar they looked.
• Furthermore, as they had once lived in the U.S. and were travelling back there, it makes sense for them to have been carrying American money as well.
• Obviously, the “A” on the handkerchief could be for Asplund.
• As Swedes, the boys could very well have had light hair. It’s hard to make out their hair colour in the only known photos of them (Filip, Clarence), but surviving siblings Lillian and Felix appear to have had light hair in some photos (1, 2)
• The entire family was known to have been on one of the upper decks (Boat or A) at the end. As third-class passengers, they arrived there quite late in the sinking. Mother Selma managed to board one of the later lifeboats (I have seen boats 10, 15, 4, and Collapsible C all suggested) along with children Felix (3) and Lillian (5), but somehow the three other children – Filip, Clarence, and Lillian’s twin Carl – were left on board with their father, also named Carl. Furthermore, Carl Sr.’s body was recovered (No. 142), further proving that the Asplunds were up on deck during the final plunge.

If I had to choose between the two Asplund boys for the true identity of body #1, I would suggest that it was 9½ year old Clarence, rather than 13-year-old Filip, due to the fact that those identifying the body clearly deemed it likely to belong to a 9-year-old. However, I think either boy is a likely option.

Part III: Conclusion

None of this is to say that I think the body couldn’t have been one of the Van Billiard boys. After all, there had to be *something* that caused Walter Van Billiard to be singled out amongst all the other possible candidates. Any of the clues I pointed out in this post may have been red herrings.
Maybe the “A” handkerchiefs were a parting gift from a friend whose first or last name started with that letter, or a souvenir of some city the boy had visited. Maybe the Danish coins were simply picked up off the deck, or given to this boy by a Danish passenger for whom he had done a favor. Maybe the age estimate was far off, and the boy was actually a tall 7-year-old or a very young-looking 15-year-old. Maybe Walter really is resting alongside his father in Union Cemetery, Flourtown, Pennsylvania. In the end, unless DNA analysis is ever done, we will never know the true identity of body #1.
My personal ranking of likelihood, out of all the boys examined, is:

1. Clarence or Filip Asplund (in that order), aged 9 and 13
2. Walter or James Van Billiard, aged 9 and 10
3. Eugene Abbott, aged 13
4. Albert or George Rice (in that order), aged 10 and 8
5. William Andrew Johnston, aged 8
6. William Neal Thomas Ford, aged 14
7. Harold, William, or Charles Goodwin (in that order), aged 10, 13, and 14 – I might even bump Harold (and possibly William) up higher than William Ford due to their younger age.
8. Frederick Hopkins or William Watson, aged 14
9. George Frederick Sweet, aged 14 (almost 15)
10. Husayn Ibrahim, aged 11, or Betros Seman, aged 10
11. Anthony William Sage, aged 12 – borderline impossible as Will Sage’s ticket was found on body #67, meaning that was almost certainly him. Perhaps an onboard friend of his had stolen his ticket as a prank, or they had switched tickets to keep as mementoes of each other, but I find this quite unlikely.
12. Karl Thorsten Skoog, aged 11 – impossible; his missing or prosthetic leg would certainly have been noted.

The true tragedy of Body #1 is the fact that there are so many possible candidates for its identification. In memory of all these boys and their families who were lost on the morning of April 15^th 1912.
^\I have some doubts about the veracity of some photographs from the Titanic Pigeon Forge Museum, but the vast majority of the photos I've seen from there are genuine. I can elaborate further in the comments if anyone is interested.)

Content Warning: This story contains themes of mental health issues, suicide and physical violence.
Prosopagnosia v. Cotard's Syndrome
My new doctor - a bright and friendly guy named Sarbjit - took the time to explain his diagnosis to me. He told me my condition was mental, not physical, but it was hard to pay attention to everything he said because my left arm was numb and rotting from the inside out. I smiled and nodded and then when I got home I looked up Cotard’s Syndrome online. Here is what Wikipedia had to say on it.
“Cotard's syndrome, also known as ‘Cotard's delusion’ or ‘Walking Corpse Syndrome’, is a rare mental disorder in which the affected person holds the delusional belief that they are dead, do not exist, are putrefying, or have lost their blood or internal organs.”
I don’t know. Sounded extremely strange to me. I just knew my left arm was dying. Maybe my liver too. I used my right arm, the good one, to open my mail. Most of it was just the normal stuff but when I saw the letter from the Supreme Court of the State of New York I got a little worried. I was here legally - a citizen for almost ten years now - and I knew my rights but being summoned to testify at this criminal trial was a bit unnerving. I didn’t like it. I just try to do my best in this life and mind my own business and not cause problems for others.
When my trial appearance date arrived two months later I took the subway downtown and left my assistant, Stavvy, in charge of the office that day. I sat there on a hard wooden bench in the courtroom all morning listening to the testimony of other witnesses but I wasn’t called to the stand until sometime after we returned from lunch. Eventually, the lawyer for the defense called my name.
She mispronounced it of course - people here always mispronounce Albanian names - so I wasn’t surprised when she called me Mister Shka-Rell-Eee. My surname is Shkreli, after the place where my family comes from, and the proper pronunciation contains only two syllables - Shkrell-Eee. I was trying to hold my left arm in place when she asked her opening question.
Where was I at the time of the murder?
“Well, Miss Anderson” - I pronounced it Ahnd-REE-Sawn, drawing out the first and last syllables while placing too much emphasis on the middle one, intentionally - “I am not entirely certain. That was over a year ago and I travel all around this city on a daily basis for my job. I work in computer repair and IT support and I have customers in all five boroughs.” (This wasn’t exactly true. I wasn’t really willing to travel to Staten Island.) We had spoken four months earlier when she informed me of the questions she intended to ask at trial but I was fairly oblique then and I intended to remain so now. I had bigger problems. Could these people not see that my left arm was rotting away?
She looked at me with a furrowed brow and briskly walked back to the defense table, picked up a leather-bound notepad and opened it.
“Mister Shkreli, when you and I spoke on June 18th you confirmed that you were just leaving a client’s office, TRG Commercial Realty, located at 223 Broome Street here in lower Manhattan at approximately 3:30pm that day, shortly before the incident at issue took place less than one block away. Is that not correct?”
I turned up my native eastern European accent a bit and repositioned my left arm in my lap. I could barely feel it at that point. What was wrong with these people?
“If you say so. Like I said, that was over a year ago and it was just another workday for me.”
She stared at me for a beat or two longer than necessary and then flashed a quick look towards the jurors before continuing.
“Well yes, Mister Shkreli” - again it was Shka-Rell-Eee - “You did tell me that and I do have a recording of our conversation, which you consented to before we began, if the court would like this to be entered into evidence?”
She looked at the judge and the judge looked at me.
“Mister Shkreli,” - he too pronounced it Shka-Rell-Eee - ‘Are you refuting the testimony that Miss Anderson is referencing during your preliminary deposition or can we just move on at this point? If counsel for the defense claims to have this recording I am fairly certain this is true. Will it be necessary to enter this recording into evidence at this time or are you willing to acknowledge Miss Anderson’s claim?”
I repositioned my left arm in my lap and nodded.
“That’s fine, Your Honor. As I said, it was just another workday for me but if Miss Anderson says that is what we discussed I am sure she is probably right.”
The judge nodded back at me. “Very good. Let’s proceed then.”
Miss Anderson walked back to the defense table and dropped the leather-bound notepad before continuing with her final question for me, looking annoyed.
“Picking up where we left off, Mister Shkreli, can you please describe for the court what happened immediately after you left the offices of TRG Commercial Realty at 223 Broome Street on the date in question, October 22nd of last year?”
I didn’t like the way that she was trying to fence me in but I wasn't particularly concerned. I had bigger problems.
“Well, like I said, I don’t really remember that day. There was nothing memorable about it. It was just another day.”
She stared at me for a few seconds then flashed a quick look at the jury box with her eyebrows raised before returning her attention to the judge. “No more questions, Your Honor.”
I was dismissed from the stand but asked to remain in the courtroom as she called her next witness; a small, frail woman from Queens about my same age named Maureen Stewart. She had an odd, twitchy nature about her. I wanted to get home. I wanted to relax.
“Miss Stewart, can you please tell the court where you were on October 22nd of last year at approximately 3:30 in the afternoon?”
The witness looked down for a moment and then glanced towards the judge before removing the slightly confused look from her face and responding in a semi-automated tone.
“Yes, Miss Anderson. At that time, I was just leaving my day shift at the FedEx Office Store (she pronounced it ‘Staw’ in her thick New York accent) on Broome Street and I was walking towards the station for the Six Train to begin my ride back home.”
The attorney for the defense took a momentary pause and then asked her next question.
“And can you please tell us what happened then?”
The witness looked down again and then looked back at the judge, then the jury and, finally, at me. I didn’t like the way she looked at me.
“Yes, as I was leaving my workplace I crossed the street and I remember walking past the entrance to a narrow alleyway where I heard a commotion taking place. It made me stop and look for a second or two but I didn’t want to get involved so I just kept on walking towards the subway and I didn’t think too much about the whole thing until the Homicide detectives contacted me a few days later after they pulled the security camera videos. I came down to the police station the day after that and gave my statement. That was just over a year ago.”
Miss Anderson took a moment to stare at me. I didn’t like that either. I adjusted my left arm in my lap. It was completely numb.
“Thank you, Miss Stewart. Can you please be a bit more specific about what you saw occurring in that alleyway?”
Again, the witness looked down at the floor and then her eyes shot all around the courtroom before she responded.
“Well,” she said, before taking a brief pause. “At first I thought it was just a little scuffle but when I saw the shorter man in the black jacket punch the tall man in the belly a few times I saw some blood starting to spread on the side of his white button-down shirt and I saw what looked like a small knife or something in the shorter man’s hand. The tall thin man looked like he was starting to fall. I remember looking around for a police officer but I certainly wasn’t gonna do anything about it by myself. I mean, what could I do? When I didn’t see no one who could help I just kept on walking towards the subway. I guess I should have done more but I was scared and I just wanted to get back to Forest Hills to pick up my daughter from daycare before five o’clock.”
I glanced at the defendant seated at the table on the left. He looked both hopeful and nervous at the same time, but in a subtle way, like he didn’t want to appear to be either. He kept his head down and never once glanced towards the jury box. Miss Anderson asked her final question.
“Thank you, Miss Stewart. And do you see the man in the black jacket who stabbed the victim, Mister Baronston, on that day last October here in the courtroom now?”
Again the witness looked down at the floor between her feet for a moment and then looked back up, right at me. I felt my blood stop flowing through my veins, or at least through my left arm and the top of my right leg, when she raised up her hand and pointed her index finger at me.
“It was that man, there,” she said.
Miss Anderson nodded and paused for a moment, satisfied, letting it sink in for the jury members. I was stunned. The stylish defense attorney in the toney, expensive clothing began walking back in my direction and she too pointed an accusatory finger.
“If it pleases the court, let the record show that Miss Stewart has identified Mister Jack Shkreli as the attacker who she witnessed in the-”
Just then the witness on the stand, Miss Stewart, pointed her finger at the judge without really looking at him and suddenly blurted out, “Or him. It might have been him too. I’m not 100% sure...”
Miss Anderson paused, clearly nonplussed, and just stared at her witness. The judge also looked baffled for a second or two and then leaned over and whispered something to his court assistant and the two of them shared a quiet smirk.
Then the witness pointed at one of the jurors, a man in the front row about my size.
“Or him. It could have been him. I’m just not sure...” Then she went silent, as did the rest of the courtroom for a few moments. The State’s Attorney, a heavy-set bald man, broke the silence pretty quickly as he rose to his feet.
“Your Honor, the State would like to move to dismiss this witness along with all previous testimony.” He paused briefly and took a deep breath, choosing his next words.
“While we appreciate Miss Stewart’s willingness to appear at trial today, I think it’s clear that her recollection of events is…uncertain at best.” He glared at the defense table for a moment, then added “I’d just like to remind the court that Mister Shkreli” - and God bless him, he pronounced my two-syllable surname correctly - “is not on trial here and if this witness cannot distinguish the man she saw that day from yourself or a random member of our jury panel I don’t think we can accept this testimony or any further testimony from this witness.”
He hung his head respectfully, with the tiniest little smile on his face. He already knew he had won this argument and the judge quickly agreed, telling the jury to disregard what they just heard. Miss Stewart was dismissed from the stand and the defense had no other witnesses left to call. Less than two hours later the jury returned a guilty verdict against the defendant on all counts and the courtroom was cleared. The sentencing hearing would take place at a later date and I was not required to be there. My right leg was starting to feel numb by then but I still managed to get back to the office in time for Stavvy to head home at the end of his shift to make dinner for his kids. His wife was killed in a car accident two years earlier. He was a hard worker and I really liked him.
That night, back at my apartment, I did some research online and learned about a rare mental disorder known as Prosopagnosia. Here is what Wikipedia had to say.
Prosopagnosia, also known as face blindness, is a cognitive disorder of face perception in which the ability to recognize familiar faces, including one's own face (self-recognition), is impaired, while other aspects of visual processing (e.g. object discrimination) and intellectual functioning remain intact.
It all sounded pretty strange to me but if the doctors say it’s real who am I to argue? Apparently it is well documented in the DSM-5. I don’t know if this is the reason why I was able to walk away from the courtroom without consequence at first but I think it is the most likely explanation. I only know that when I left my client’s offices at TRG Commercial Realty on that day just over a year ago and hailed a cab I was stunned and confused when Mister Baronston, a complete stranger with a hostile face, suddenly attacked me, claiming that it was his cab and not mine.
He was bigger than me, tall and thin but strong, and I would have just given up the cab and caught the next one but he was clearly already very angry about something. When he backed me towards the alley, shoving me and then punching me around my head and neck, my backpack tumbled open and I saw my wallet and phone and some other items come crashing out onto the pavement. It was just a stupid and unnecessary altercation, the kind of thing that probably happens on the streets of this city every day, sadly. Too many people, not enough space. I did my best to fight back and protect myself but he was a good deal bigger than me.
Then I was getting punched some more and thrown against the alley wall as people passed by, disinterested, and I just instinctively reached into my jacket pocket and pulled out the pen knife that has been attached to my keychain for years. Before I really knew what was happening it was open and then my right hand was growing warm and red and slick with his blood. Then I was moving again, not looking back.
What an odd thing. I remember seeing Miss Stewart stopping there on the sidewalk to look from the mouth of the alley that day. Of all the passers-by, she was the only one who paused to look at us, at me, right as I desperately punctured Mister Baronston’s rib cage for the fifth or sixth time with my little penknife and he began to drop, but she averted her gaze after a few seconds and moved on and then I was rapidly heading in the opposite direction. This is a huge city and I never expected to see her face again. Fortunately, she was apparently never really able to see mine.
Anyway, I have more important problems to worry about at this time. Stavvy received a letter from the Manhattan DA’s office yesterday ordering him to appear at a grand jury hearing next month related to my involvement in Mister Baronston’s death. He showed it to me. More importantly, my left arm is just about gone now, my right leg is quickly starting to feel the same way and in just the last day or two I have begun feeling that strange tingling sensation in the tips of the fingers on my right hand. I know my liver is failing. It won’t be long now.
I scheduled a meeting with my lawyer in the morning to legally put the business and the rest of my assets in Stavvy’s name in my will. I have no family here anyway and almost no relatives who I remain close with back in Albania or Montenegro anymore. Stavvy is a good man and he has kids to feed and I have already lived a full life.
So yes, I will just leave it all to him and after that’s done I think I will get the old Ford minivan that we sometimes still use for the business and drive it out to the George Washington Bridge while I am still able. I know that when I stop it and get out and leave it there on the center-span I will screw up traffic badly and inconvenience a lot of people but I can’t worry about that. I have to do what I have to do. There’s no point in waiting for this to get worse. I can barely feel the fingers on my right hand and I don’t have much time left.
Maybe I should have told the truth at the trial. I don’t know. I think I was just too distracted by all of my health problems. I didn’t really have any choice at the time. I don’t have any choice now. I’m actually surprised that I lasted this long. I was certain that I would already be gone a few months ago but I feel I have done my best with this life.
As my people back in Albania say, Mos pyet si vdiq, por si rrojti!
“Do not ask how he died, but how he lived!”
THE END

Hey Bangalore Tenants Community,
I wanted to share an experience that my sister and I had with a fraud landlord in Green Glenn Layout, Belandur, Bangalore. This is especially important for all newcomers and tenants who might find themselves in similar situations.
The Background: My sister rented a flat in Green Glenn Layout last year. A significant red flag was that a single owner owned all 15 apartments in the building, managed through an agent. Tenants had no direct contact with the owner, only a bank account number for rent deposits. The rental agreement was dropped off at the doorstep after being signed by the owner, and all communication went through the agent.
The Issue: From January, the entire apartment faced water problems, with water available only for 2 hours a day. My sister discovered this was a tactic to force tenants out so the flats could be rented at higher prices. On the day my sister gave her one-month notice to move out, the water problem was miraculously fixed, and the agent finalized a new tenant at a 30% higher rent. The real harassment began when my sister asked about the return of her deposit. The agent stated that it would start "processing" one week after returning the key, with no committed return date.
The Plan: Sensing trouble, my sister contacted the previous tenant, who revealed that the landlord was a habitual fraudster. The previous tenant was harassed for two months before getting back only 60% of her deposit, with 40% deducted for unknown reasons. Determined to avoid this fate, we took action.
Steps Taken:

1. Written Notice: We sent a letter to the owner (address found in the agreement), clearly stating the notice period and highlighting the clause that the deposit should be returned upon leaving the flat. We emphasized that withholding the money would be illegal and a breach of contract.
2. Legal Threat: We hinted to the agent that we were collecting evidence for the police or civil court, mentioning our prior experience with legal proceedings.
3. Tenant Alliance: We spoke with other tenants and discovered similar issues with the landlord. We formed a WhatsApp group to gather evidence and present a united front.
4. Securing the Flat: When moving out, we locked the flat with two big chains and attached a notice stating that any attempt to break the lock or trespass would result in criminal charges (IPC 441 and 447) until the deposit was returned. We made it clear the flat legally remained with my sister.

The Outcome: The next day, the agent called with a much softer tone, claiming they had never cheated any tenants. Eventually, the owner agreed to a joint visit to the flat, and my sister received her full deposit back.
Key Points to Remember:

1. Agreement Clause: Ensure your rental agreement states that the security deposit will be returned at the time of leaving the flat and handing over the key.
2. Gather Proof: Work together with other tenants and collect evidence.
3. Secure the Apartment: Don't hand over the key until the deposit is returned. Secure the flat to prevent unauthorized entry.
4. Legal Options: Consider legal action if necessary. Civil court costs include notice (₹5k), filing (₹20k), and per appearance (₹3k).

Lastly, use resources like ChatGPT to draft your notices and letters. Don’t be afraid to stand up for your rights; not every owner is politically connected, and not every police officer is biased against outsiders.
Stay vigilant and protect your rights!

A group of Republican lawmakers have just denounced that Chinese battery companies CATL and Gotion High Tech, which are important partners of VinFast, should be placed on the import ban list immediately, by the supply chains of companies with evidence of using forced labor, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The article on Thursday, June 6, said lawmakers named CATL and Gotion, two companies that have partnerships with VinFast along with Ford and Volkswagen, that need to be included in the so-called real list. possible, under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. Entity list restricts imports of goods deemed by the U.S. government to be linked to what it says is a long-standing ongoing genocide against minority groups in China's Xinjiang region Beijing still denies all accusations of abuse.
Any allegation that Gotion 'uses or is involved in forced labor is baseless and completely false,' the company wrote in an emailed statement to Reuters, saying adding that Gotion's selection of partners is based on 'a review mechanism, and strict evaluation criteria.'”
A Volkswagen Group China spokesman told Reuters in an emailed statement on Friday that Volkswagen Group China has no evidence of human rights abuses related to its business activities in China, and “Volkswagen is also investigating these allegations immediately, as we have done in the past.”
Volkswagen also added that CATL denies all allegations that the company uses forced labor, or has any connection to forced labor.
Currently, VinFast's electric vehicles use battery cells from CATL, Gotion and Samsung SDI. Gotion is also a construction and technology transfer partner for the VinES battery factory in Ha Tinh.
Gotion battery company suffered a lot of damage because of VinFast's VFS shares. According to Nikkei Asia, Gotion had to record an investment loss of 187.3 million yuan ($26.4 million) due to the continuous decline of VinFast shares as of the end of last year when the company was able to buy 15 million VFS shares for price $10. This year, VinFast shares fell even deeper, at one point reaching $2.52. Calculations show that Gotion's paper losses have increased to $112 million.
Gotion said in its latest annual report Saturday that it classified VinFast shares as a “non-tradable strategic investment.” That means any accumulated losses or gains will only be reflected in the “other comprehensive income” section of the company's income statement. The total net loss after tax of other comprehensive income amounted to 314 million yuan in 2023.
VinFast's ambitions in the US are seriously threatened
New news says that VinFast is also being investigated by the US International Trade Commission (US ITC) against ArcelorMittal's complaint that Vietnamese car manufacturer VinFast infringes on patents related to high-strength aluminum. high and aluminum alloy-coated steel on imported vehicles.
Previously, ArcelorMittal also filed a lawsuit against VinFast in the US District Court in California for the same reason, and said that VinFast had not applied for a production license. ArcelorMittal asked the court to issue an order prohibiting VinFast from using patent-infringing steel on all Vinfast vehicles.
It is known that the partner supplying the sued steel to VinFast is China's Shanghai Bao Vu Steel Group, also known as Baosteel. Baosteel is also facing a lawsuit of up to 20 billion yen with Japan's leading steel company Nippon Steel (NSC) over similar patent infringement. Both ArcelorMittal, Nippon Steel and Baosteel were also Baosteel-NSC/Arcelor joint venture partners in the Chinese market.
If the ban on importing batteries from CATL and Gotion into the US takes effect, or the lawsuit against VinFast for steel copyright infringement is won by ArcelorMittal, it will be a fatal blow to its ambition to expand the US market. VinFast, because the company will not be able to continue selling cars in the US.
VinFast's factory construction situation is not any better as it continues to stall when it delays the $4 billion factory construction plan to 2025 for the reason of wanting to change the factory size, and waiting for government approval. North Carolina state authority to review. But according to some experts, the main reason is that VinFast no longer has enough money. In the first quarter of 2024, the company only has $123 million in cash left on the balance sheet, while accumulated losses have reached more than $8.55 billion.
VinFast has so far been officially sued by three US law firms for "falsely declaring" its production and financial capacity, leading to insufficient capacity to meet the target of selling 50,000 cars by 2023, causing "confusion". ” and losses to investors. These things have contributed to the higher Litigation Risk of VinFast, making institutional investors afraid and making it more difficult for Mr. Pham Nhat Vuong to sell VFS shares to raise money.
Source: https://www.nguoi-viet.com/sai-gon-nho/vinfast-co-the-bi-cam-nhap-khau-pin-theo-xe-vao-my/ (May need VPN if you try to access in VN)

D Tier - THE HORRIBLE KINGS

17. Aegon IV the Unworthy:
Pros: N/A
Cons:

• Legitimized bastards, causing 5 different rebellions over the course of 120 years, indirectly killing 10s of thousands.
• Gave away dragon eggs
• Filled his small council, court, and the city watch with incompetent, corrupt opportunists
• Entire fleet was destroyed by storms whilst trying to invade Dorne
• Accidently burned down 1/4 of the King's wood and killed hundreds in a horrible plan to invade Dorne with fake dragons
• Attempted to accuse his wife and brother of adultery and spread rumors about his son being bastard of them, weakening his son's legitimacy and claim to the throne.

1. Aerys II the Mad King

Pros: N/A
Cons:

• Killing Brandon and Rickon Stark
• Demanding the lives of Ned and Robert
• Pissing/offending the Dornish
• Filled his small council and court with incompetent, corrupt opportunists
• His handling of Robert's Rebellion
• Pissing off Tywin Lannister with his remarks about Joanna and naming Jamie to the kingsguard.
• Deciding to meet in person with the Lord of Duskendale, causing his kidnapping and "The Defiance of Duskendale", which plunged him further into insanity
• Threatening/making an enemy of Rhaegar
• Abusing Rhaella
• Refusing betrothal of Rhaegar to Cersei
• Bringing Varys to court
• Plot to burn King's Landing with wildfire
• Opening his gates to Tywin during "The Sack of King's Landing"

1. Aenys I the Abomination

Pros: N/A
Cons:

• His indecision and weakness led to rebellions, refused/was unable to deal with these rebellions, forcing his bannerman to stop these rebellions, causing a loss of authority, respect, and power for Aenys.
• Expelled the Faith of the Seven from the Iron Islands, angering the High Septon
• Wed his children together, offending the Faith, causing the Faith Uprising
• Gifting Blackfyre to Maegor

1. Aerys I

Pros:

• Handled 2nd and 3rd Blackfyre Rebellions very well thanks to Bloodraven

Cons:

• Bandits and outlaws roamed the roads, i.e. less safe travel
• Named Bloodraven as hand, who was too focused on the Blackfyre threat to actually rule
• Let Bittersteel take the black, which led to his escape, which led to two more Blackfyre rebellions
• Did nothing to stop the Ironborn from raiding the Westerlands and North, causing the lords of these respective regions to take matters into their own hands
• Didn't care fodidn't rule
• Allowed Bloodraven to run a brutal surveillance-state of Westeros, where anyone remotely criticizing the government was brutally executed, causing mass unrest and dissatisfaction
• Poor handling of a year-long drought
• Burned down 1/4 of King's Landing with wildfire whilst attempting to burn bodies to stop the spread of a plague

1. Aegon II the Elder

Pros: N/A
Cons:

• Refused to issue pardons to rebel lords
• Lost the Dance of the Dragons

C Tier - THE BAD KINGS

12. Daeron I the Young Dragon
Pros:

• Good commandewarrior
• Named Viserys as his hand

Cons:

• Got 60,000 killed in a war that didn't accomplish anything

1. Maegor I the Cruel

Pros:

• Good commandewarrior
• Paved the way (with blood) for a peaceful Jaeherys reign

Cons:

• Too brutal in handling rebellions
• Alienated nobility
• Offended the Faith
• Committed horrible acts of tyranny that angered the nobility
• Killing Viserys
• Raising taxes and demanding gold tributes, angering the nobility

1. Viserys I the Peaceful (show version)

Pros:

• Reigned over 26 years of (relative) peace
• Loved by smallfolk and lords alike

Cons:

• Not securing Rhaenyra's succession by not wedding her to Aegon, not naming her regent/hand, not making her go on tours of Westeros (securing love of the nobility), etc.
• Blindness to people's faults/true nature (Otto Hightower, Daemon, Alicent Hightower, Rhaenyra's bastards, etc.)
• His failure to stop the Dance of the Dragons because of his need to be loved by all (he could've stopped the green and black factions from forming with some strong action)

1. Baelor I the Blessed

Pros:

• Died before he could invade the North or Iron Islands to spread his faith
• Peace with Dorne
• Love of the smallfolk
• Created the Great Sept, bringing the Faith to King's Landing
• 10 years of peace

Cons:

• Nobility despised him
• Outlawed prostitution, hurting the economy
• Maiden vault/treatment of sisters/women in general
• Fast to the point of fainting
• Chose a child and stonemason as High Septons
• Plagued with "visions from gods", causing him to do crazy stuff.
• Granted tax exemptions to lords who put chastity belts on their daughters and sisters
• Didn't wed/have children
• Constantly emptied the treasury to help the smallfolk, resulting in a poor economic situation for the crown.
• Burned books, resulting in lost history

B Tier - THE AVERAGE KINGS

8. Aegon V the Unlikely
Pros:

• Provided rights and privileges to the smallfolk
• Arrest of Bloodraven (causing people to trust the crown again)
• Aided the North during a harsh winter
• Ended the 4th Blackfyre Rebellion very quickly and efficiently
• Restored order to the Westerlands 3 times due to the inept leadership of Tytos Lannister
• Crushing the Rat, Hawk, and Pig Rebellion
• Ended the Baratheon Rebellion whilst repairing his friendship with Lyonel Baratheon and providing a betrothal
• Drew up plans to stop the 5th Blackfyre Rebellion (which Jaeherys II used)

Cons:

• Summerhall
• Alienation and caused hatred from the nobility through the rights given to the smallfolk
• Failure to control his kids, causing more hatred from the nobility and broken marriage alliances

1. Jaeherys II

Pros:

• Dealt with the 5th Blackfyre Rebellion well
• Reconciled with the nobility that his father, Aegon V alienated, whilst keeping all of the policies/rights that Aegon gave the smallfolk.

Cons:

• Forced Rhaella and Aerys to wed
• Broke his betrothal with House Tully for love

1. Aegon III the Dragonbane

Pros:

• Named Viserys as his hand
• Reigned over 26 years of peace
• Good to the smallfolk

Cons:

• Callous and gloomy nature caused him to shun and offend his lords

1. Maekar I the Anvil

Pros:

• Good commandewarrior
• 12 years of peace until the Peake Uprising
• Ended the Peake Uprising
• Important general in 1st and 3rd Blackfyre Rebellions

Cons:

• Callous nature caused him to shun and offend his lords

A Tier - The Good Kings

4. Viserys II
Pros:

• Issued reforms of the royal household and its functions
• Established a new royal mint, saving the Crown gold
• Made efforts to increase trade across the narrow sea
• Made positive revisions to the already progressive code of laws established by the Old King, Jaehaerys I

Cons:

• Forced Aegon IV and Naerys to wed
• Only ruled for a year

1. Daeron II the Good

Pros:

• Crowned himself with his father's crown to quell rumors
• Replaced small council with wise, capable men instead of the incompetent lickspittles his father had
• Replaced the corrupt city watch with capable men
• United Westeros by vassalizing Dorne
• Safe roads; rid the realm of bandits and outlaws
• Ended the First Blackfyre Rebellion
• Beloved by the smallfolk

Cons:

• Disputed heritage
• Alienated nobles by giving the Dornish too many rights, filling councils and court positions with Dornish people, angering those who had spent years attacking and defending from Dornish raids and wars
• Failed to capture Daemon Blackfyre when he learnt of his plans to declare himself king

S Tier - The Great Kings

2. Aegon I the Conqueror
Pros:

• Conquered the Seven Kingdoms
• Built King's Landing
• Ended the Sistermen Rebellion
• Established order to the Iron Islands during a 2-year civil war
• Dragon's Peace (Aegon's 24 years of peace after the end of the First Dornish War)
• Made royal progresses every year to establish love and respect from his nobles, as well as hear out any concerns or disputes
• Established a good relationship with the Faith by building a grand sept, being anointed by the High Septon, and refusing to make any traditional incestuous marriages
• Good commandewarrior
• Began construction on the Red Keep
• Encouraged marriage alliances between lords in his realm to keep the peace
• Took in wards from various lords to establish relations between different houses
• Established, "The King's Peace", a law which forbade conflict in the realm without the leave of the Iron Throne
• Sponsored singers and musicians that spread tales of the Targaryen's generosity

Cons:

• Failed to conquer Dorne

1. Jaeherys I the Conciliator

Pros:

• A lot.

Cons:

• Not a lot.

In an alternate history where Joseph Smith survived and continued to lead the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), the trajectory of Mormon history diverged dramatically, leading to a series of events that culminated in a dystopian society influenced by both Japanese and German occupation.
Continued Leadership and Doctrinal Development
After narrowly escaping death, Joseph Smith doubled down on his efforts to consolidate power and expand his influence. While he preached a vision of Zion, a utopian society, his actions often contradicted his teachings. Smith's revelations became increasingly erratic, and his authoritarian leadership style led to growing dissent within the church.
Confrontation with Brigham Young and Splintering Factions
Brigham Young, initially one of Smith's loyal followers, grew disillusioned with Smith's leadership. Young's desire for a more militant and isolationist approach clashed with Smith's increasingly autocratic rule. The ideological rift led to a significant confrontation between Smith and Young, resulting in a schism.
Young and his followers, the "Youngites," splintered from the main body of the church, establishing separate settlements. These settlements adopted a more aggressive stance, often engaging in violent confrontations with local populations and federal authorities. The schism exposed the deep flaws within Smith's leadership and the instability of his utopian vision.
Polygamy and Social Structure
Smith's practice of polygamy became more controversial as he continued to marry multiple women, including young girls and already-married women. His actions, justified by his revelations, created significant internal conflict and public outrage. Despite efforts to regulate the practice, polygamy became a source of exploitation and abuse, further undermining Smith's credibility.
In contrast, Young and his followers continued to practice polygamy with even less restraint, leading to increased tension and conflict both within their communities and with outside authorities.
Race and Gender Relations
Smith's later revelations addressed race and gender relations, but his actions often fell short of his teachings. While he declared the equality of all races, racial restrictions persisted within the church. His progressive stance on gender roles also faced resistance, and women continued to struggle for meaningful participation in church leadership.
Young's faction maintained more traditional views on race and gender, contributing to their increasing isolation and the eventual decline of their influence.
War Between Factions
The tension between Smith's followers and the Youngites escalated into open conflict. The struggle for control over key territories in Utah and neighboring regions erupted into a full-scale war. Both factions mobilized their followers, leading to violent skirmishes and battles that devastated communities on both sides.
The internal Mormon war reached its peak in a brutal, decisive battle that saw the annihilation of Young's forces. Nearly a century passes with uneasy peace, However, the victory for Smith's followers was short-lived as a new, external threat emerged.
Invasion by Japanese and German Forces
Amid the chaos of the factional war, Japanese forces, seeking to expand their empire during the height of World War II, saw an opportunity in the fractured and vulnerable Mormon territories. Launching a surprise invasion, the Japanese army quickly overwhelmed the war-weary Mormon factions, bringing the entire region under their control.
Simultaneously, the Eastern half of the United States fell under the control of Nazi Germany. The Germans, having conquered Europe, set their sights on the Americas. By forming a pact with Japan, they divided the United States between them, with the Germans controlling the East and the Japanese the West.
The Japanese occupation was brutal. The invading forces suppressed all resistance with ruthless efficiency, executing leaders from both Mormon factions and imposing harsh martial law. The population was subjected to severe restrictions, forced labor, and cultural reprogramming.
Dystopian Society
Under Japanese rule, the remnants of the Mormon community were forced to adapt to a new, dystopian reality. The occupiers exploited the religious divisions, merging aspects of Smith's and Young's doctrines with elements of Shinto and Bushido to create a syncretic, oppressive state religion. This new religion, characterized by a rigid hierarchy and strict social control, became the foundation of the dystopian society.
Polygamy was strictly regulated by the state, used as a tool to control the population and reward loyalty. Racial equality, once a cornerstone of Smith's vision, was distorted to serve the occupiers' purposes, while gender roles became even more rigidly defined, with women relegated to subservient positions.
Education and independent thought were suppressed, with propaganda promoting the state's version of history and religion. Resistance was met with brutal repression, and the once vibrant and hopeful vision of Zion was replaced by a bleak, authoritarian regime.
German Influence and High Command
In the Eastern half of the United States, the German influence created a society based on Aryan supremacy and strict adherence to Nazi ideology. The German High Command established puppet governments and enforced their racial and social policies with brutal efficiency. The Eastern states became a mirror of occupied Europe, with concentration camps, forced labor, and pervasive surveillance.
Cultural Examples of German Influence
The German occupation brought a wave of cultural changes that deeply impacted the Mormon society in the East. German language and customs were imposed, with all public and private schools teaching in German. Traditional American holidays were replaced with Nazi celebrations, and Mormon religious practices were co-opted to fit the Nazi agenda.
Mormon doctrines were twisted to support Aryan supremacy, with scriptures selectively interpreted to justify racial hierarchy. The concept of "pure blood" became intertwined with religious purity, creating a hybrid ideology that combined the worst aspects of both belief systems.
Art and literature were strictly controlled, with only state-approved works allowed. German propaganda filled the airwaves, extolling the virtues of the Aryan race and the infallibility of the Führer. Monuments to Nazi leaders were erected alongside Mormon temples, symbolizing the forced union of the two ideologies.
International Isolation and Legacy
The dystopian Mormon state remained isolated from the rest of the world, its society a dark combination of religious dogma, military discipline, and authoritarian control. The legacy of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young was twisted beyond recognition, their teachings used to justify the harsh rule of the occupiers.
In the East, the German-controlled states fostered a climate of fear and repression, with a society rigidly divided along racial lines. The once united United States was a land of division and suffering, controlled by two of the most oppressive regimes in history.
The Second Coming of Jesus Christ
In the midst of this dystopian nightmare, a cosmic event occurred that changed everything. One day, a blinding light filled the sky, and a figure descended from the heavens. It was Jesus Christ, returning to Earth.
Jesus walked among the people, witnessing the twisted remnants of his teachings and the horrors inflicted by both the Japanese and German occupiers. He saw the suffering, the oppression, and the corruption that had taken root in the hearts of men.
But instead of bringing peace and redemption, Jesus' return heralded a new era of terror. His teachings, already distorted, were now used to justify even more extreme measures. Jesus demanded absolute obedience and loyalty, enforcing his rule with an iron fist. Those who opposed him were met with swift and brutal punishment.
A New Dark Age
Under Jesus' rule, the dystopian society plunged into an even deeper darkness. Theocratic laws were imposed with ruthless precision. Any dissent was crushed, and the people lived in constant fear of divine retribution. The occupiers, both Japanese and German, found in Jesus a powerful ally who amplified their control and oppression.
The population, once hopeful for salvation, found themselves yearning for the days of Joseph Smith. Smith, with all his flaws and contradictions, seemed almost benevolent in comparison to the tyrannical Jesus. The memories of Smith's teachings, though imperfect, became a source of nostalgia for a time when hope and reform seemed possible.
The Rebellion
In the shadows, a resistance movement began to form. Comprising disillusioned followers of Smith, Young, and other oppressed groups, the rebels sought to overthrow the tyrannical Jesus and his allied occupiers. The resistance was united by a common goal: to restore some semblance of the original vision of Zion, flawed as it was.
The rebellion was marked by fierce battles and acts of sabotage. The people, driven by their longing for a better past, fought with desperation. They reclaimed territories, freed prisoners, and slowly began to turn the tide against the oppressive regime.
Final Confrontation
The final confrontation took place in the heart of the dystopian capital, a city where monuments to Jesus, Japanese, and German rulers stood as symbols of oppression. The rebels, bolstered by their growing numbers and determination, launched an all-out assault.
As the city burned, Jesus himself confronted the leaders of the rebellion. The ensuing battle was epic, with divine power clashing against human will. In the end, the rebels managed to overpower Jesus, his defeat symbolizing the end of an era of tyranny.
A New Beginning
With the fall of Jesus and the withdrawal of Japanese and German forces, the survivors emerged from the ruins to rebuild their shattered society. The memory of Joseph Smith, once marred by his flaws, became a symbol of hope and resilience. His vision of Zion, though never perfect, provided a foundation upon which the people could rebuild.
The new society, born from the ashes of dystopia, embraced the lessons of the past. Equality, justice, and compassion became the guiding principles. The people worked together to create a world where the mistakes of history would not be repeated.
In this alternate history, the return of Jesus brought not peace, but further oppression, revealing the deep flaws in human interpretations of divine will. The eventual rebellion and overthrow of the tyrannical regime marked a new beginning, where the lessons of the past were used to build a better future.

I’m DESPERATE for help. I’ve posted to both the UK MH sub and the DV sub - and both have simply removed my posts. This is very long, very rambling, very surreal, and contains mentions of r*pe, so please be aware if you’ll find that triggering.
Both my parents are narcissists, but this concerns my mother (though I have no relationship with my father, either). My MINO (mother in name only) has sabotaged my life at every turn, whatever I’ve tried to do she’s destroyed. It didn’t help that I didn’t attend a conventional school (it had nuns - of the Irish Catholic ‘spare the rod and spoil the child’ variety). She absolutely HATED me me being good at anything; I could read and write before I started in reception - but the head put the idea into her head that I was dyslexic (she hated me for some reason, she called me ‘satanic’ and ‘the devil’s daughter’). I finished the school reading scheme, such as it was, before I’d been in Reception a half-term, my classmates always used to ask me how to spell words, etc., basically I found pre-prep incredibly boring, because I was so far ahead of my peers (that sounds really arrogant and conceited, doesn’t it…?), so I used to take myself off and do my own thing. MINO arranged for me to have extra lessons in literacy which, obviously, I never went to (because I didn’t need them). They were taught by Sister Mary Candida, who taught nursery (and once LOCKED me in a cupboard).
So determined was I to get out of her stupid lessons that I came up with a plan; I had a book I was reading at home (I forget what it was now, but that’s not really relevant). It had my name and an address label inside the front cover and I thought that, if I took it to school and showed it to her, she would demand I read to her from it and that would be that. Of course that didn’t happen.
So I took my book into school and I showed it to her. The resulting conversation went something like this:
SMC: “Did you find that…? Give it to me and I’ll find out who it belongs to:
Me: “No, Sister, it’s mine. I’m reading it at home”
SMC: “Don’t be silly, that’s a grown-up book” (it wasn’t really, but far more advanced than what your average 5-year-old would be reading) Me: “I’m not being silly, it’s my book - look it has my name in it”
She obviously decided that I’d written my name in someone else’s book, because she whacked my hands with her ruler (standard nun-issue weapon) and I was forced to write ‘little girls who tell lies will burn in hell’ 1,000 times (yes, really)
She gave the book to Sister Kevin (head) who called my mother; MINO denied ever seeing me with the book (she LIED to a nun). MINO then arranged for me to have lessons with s SaLT from the Dyslexia Institute - they obviously ‘loved’ me because they were spending all this extra money on me.
Again, I went twice and then stopped turning up. I took my book and went and hid behind the pre-prep where I thought nobody would find me. The deputy head did (she wasn’t a nun, but she might as well have been). My mother was obviously called into school again.
That night, they removed all the furniture from my room - including the carpet tiles (under which there was concrete) and as punishment for wasting their money, I was forced to sleep on the bare floor (if you were to ask MINO about this, she would deny it ever happened). I used to write a kind of diary/journal - she found it, and I was forced to watch as she ripped out the pages and BURNT them.
I spent my entire childhood being dragged round child shrinks - she even considered having me enrolled in a residential school.
I wanted to die aged 5. I tried to kill myself aged 6.
She sent me to Sunday school (they rarely attended church) where I was r*ped by the curate. I do remember one incident where she literally frogmarched me up to the altar to get her some flowers one Mothering Sunday. I also remember her taking me to WHSmith’s and choosing a mother’s day card, making me pay for it out of my pocket money, then dictating to me what I should write in it when we got home.
I left school at 16 with no GCSEs I desperately tried to leave, but my parents live in a small town with not much in the way of public transport (and, obviously, I had very little money).
She has ensured that I’m completely dysfunctional.
Because I was so desperate to get away, I made the mistake which has led to the situation I now find myself in. I moved in with someone I met on a forum; he seemed charming enough - but what really attracted me to him was the fact that he lived at the other end of the country. In his forum bio he said he was a “former alcoholic” and divorced. If I’d had my wits about me and wasn’t so desperate to get away from my PINO (parents in name only) that should’ve been a massive red flag but, obviously, I wasn’t thinking straight.
He lived in the middle of the arse-end of nowhere in County Durham (and I mean that, where he lived was just a row of houses surrounded by fields). It was okay for a while, then he became controlling. Then violent. Obviously the “former alcoholic” was a lie - he was drinking at least a bottle of gin a night. I wasn’t allowed to use the computer, unless he was there to supervise. He took my phone and chucked it over the wall into the adjacent field where it was promptly trampled to bits by cows. He worked for BT as an engineer, so it was trivially easy for him to bug the landline (he used to explain the delay in call connection by the fact we were so remote). He r*ped me. More than once. He controlled what I ate - and when. He changed the locks on the front and back doors, and refused to give me the keys. He forced me to pay my benefits into a joint account. I wasn’t allowed to leave the house unless he was with me.
I attempted to escape; he’d made the mistake of giving me a credit card and I thought that, if I could just get a bus into Darlington I’d be able to get a train - and I’d be free (of course I had no fucking idea where I was going to go). He got absolutely shit-faced one evening and passed out on the sofa. I found the front door key in his pocket, packed up what I could, and left. I had about 8 hours to wait out before the bus arrived. Thankfully, it was June so it was warm.
Unfortunately, he woke up and went looking for me; he found me and dragged me back. He then decided he’d had enough of me, downed most of a bottle of rum, forced me into his van and locked the doors. Once we got onto the A1(M) he floored it, I can’t remember where he decided to dump me - somewhere in the Midlands, I have a feeling it was either Stoke or Stafford. I do remember he was doing around 100 - I honestly thought he was going to kill me.
I didn’t know wherever-it-was, anyway. So there I was, with no phone, obviously I was a complete mess and, even though it was the last place I wanted to go, I had no choice but to return to my parents.
As you can imagine, I had a complete breakdown, which mutated into PTSD. I was trapped; obviously, they weren’t going to do anything to help me and there was nothing I could do to help myself - at least not while they were in the house (because, obviously, I couldn’t use their landline while they were there).
Eventually, they fucked off on holiday for a fortnight, so I took the opportunity to attempt to escape; because I’d escaped a violent relationship, I called Women’s Aid, thinking I’d be able to get myself into a refuge at least.
(This next bit won’t mean anything to anyone outside the UK/Ireland, and I’m really posting here because I need help from people in the UK)
What actually happened was they contacted social services and I had two social workers at the door. They made assumptions that, because I was basically living in a dump (for reasons I would hope were obvious) and that I was basically stuck in bed, that I didn’t understand the health risks of living in such a state - NOT because I’d escaped a violent relationship and had a complete breakdown.
I was sectioned. Spent almost 18 months in an ATU (assessment and treatment unit). From there, I was moved to a care home for people with learning disabilities and complex needs about 100 miles away. It was only when I was there - and quite by chance - that I learnt that I was now being held hostage by the Court of Protection under the Mental Capacity Act and DoLS (denial of liberty safeguarding).
My detention under both is unlawful because, in order for the court orders to be valid, the person to whom they’re being applied has to have undergone an assessment and, had I undergone assessment, I’d have known I was detained. I do not lack capacity.
I was there for another 18 months, where I had to contend with another resident constantly slamming his bedroom door (staff were meant to be posted outside his room to prevent him doing so, but he was extremely obese, prone to violent outbursts and they were scared of him, so there was rarely anyone there).
I was then moved to a poky little flat back in my parents’ home county; the flat was up a steep flight of stairs and I was struggling with my mobility. Due to the court orders, I am essentially gagged and nobody has to take a blind bit of notice of anything I say. When I bought food, I had to struggle with it up four flights of very steep stairs myself. Eventually the flat manager told staff to bring it up and I’d put it away. Then I had to contend with the flat manager binning it less than 2 days after I’d bought it, claiming it was all out of date. So, eventually, I just stopped eating. If I left the flat, she would ‘stalk’ me, following me about 10 paces behind.
I managed to escape from there early one morning, after lying to her manager that I needed to take my MBP to the Apple Store. I got on the first bus to the nearest station, and got on the first train and ended up in Birmingham. I then got the next train out of there and ended up where I am now. I spent 3 months in hospital (where I couldn’t get taken seriously so I am now severely chronically ill), where I saw 2 psychiatrists who stated that I was completely lucid, that I didn’t have any mental illness (how they couldn’t see how traumatised I was, I’ve no idea) and that I wasn’t suicidal. I was then dumped where I am now - and this is by far the worst place I’ve been - and this is what prompted this post because I need help, it’s not hyperbole to say my life is in danger.
I am trapped - both legally and physically. This is WORSE than being in a violent relationship because I can’t escape; if I was to do so, the police would simply bring me back here.
Staff control my food. Just like my ex
Staff have taken my phone. Just like my ex
Staff are physically abusive if I don’t do what they want, when they want. Just like my ex.
Staff have full control over my finances. Just like my ex.
Staff control who I see - and when. Just like my ex.
Staff won’t allow me to keep the flat front door locked, just as my ex changed the locks on the front door of his house - and refused me a key - so he always had access.
Staff control my internet access. Just like my ex (they have removed the router from the flat, so they can now cut me off whenever they feel like it, this is a connection that I am paying for, but they control my finances, so they can claim they are)
Staff open my post. Just like my ex
There is an alarm on the front door of the flat (100dB, which is well above the threshold which damages hearing), so I am literally trapped. I can’t leave. I have been informed by staff that they are legally allowed to enter the flat at any time and for any length of time. They have told me that this is “written down”, but that they “don’t have to show it” to me. I am now severely chronically ill, due to the abuse, the stress and the fact that I am being denied anything remotely resembling proper meals (a ‘meal’ often amounts to nothing more than cheap processed meat dumped on a - very often paper - plate).
The door alarm (cheap Chinese junk, you can buy a pack of 10 for around £12). I have severe tinnitus and hyperacusis (pathological hypersensitivity to noise).
Link to photo of the door alarm - I have removed several of these, but they keep replacing them

This is really long, sorry/thanks in advance
tldr: my dads a drug addict, possibly a narc, who has fucked me over one too many times and now i dont know what to do.
Me (18F) and my dad (44M) have always had a good relationship, until now. My dads been a drug addict, specifically crack, for about ten years now. When my parents were still together, he had gone to inpatient rehab twice because my mom has really good insurance through her work. At the time he was doing a lot of freelance construction work so me and my younger sisters (13 yo twins) were told that he was on a job in a neighboring state. When i was ten, my parents say me and my sisters down and told us about my dads addiction and how they were getting a divorce. I didnt really know anything at the time about drugs, but i knew they were bad and i remember being confused and scared. In 2016 my parents divorced and my dad went to live about 40- 60 mins away from us and we saw him on the weekends. He was working as a handyman at an apartment complex in exchange for no rent and low pay. His girlfriend (43F), we'll call her M, very quickly moved in with him (my parents divorced in april, him and his gfs "anniversary" is in may) and brought two kids with her, one boy, we'll call him i, who is now 10 y/o and lived with her fulltime, and one girl, a, who is now 16 who has split custody with her and M's ex-husband. I didn;t see much of this happen, but i learned about two years ago that my dad was using a lot during the weekdays when me and my sisters werent there, and was also using his work credit card for food. This leads us to may 2022 when he was arrested. I still dont have a clear reason of why he was arrested, but a few likely causes are a hotel room he had destroyed during a crack binge, the employer mentioned above that he was stealing from, and another job that he did in which he was paid before he had finsihed the job and then didnt finish the job. He got three months for whatever his original arrest was for, and it was very very hard on myself, my sisters, his gf, and her kids both mentally and financially, as my dad was the breadwinner. In between 2016 and 2022, my dad had done a dozen shitty things to myself, my sisters, his gf, and her kids, including but not limited to dumping myself and my sisters at our aunts house so he could go get high while he claimed that his car broke down, dissapeared at least a dozen times on 1-3 day crack binges, and having massive anger issues that made us all scared of him. I've learned in the last few years that my dad is very very VERY good at making everything seem like someone elses fault, and making himself appear innocent. anyways, my dad was released in august of 2022 and had 1-2 years of probation. I made the decision to move in with my dad in december of 2022 bc me and my mom had a very strained relationship at the time, mostly bc she doesnt show love very well, at least not the way i want to be shown love, and that she had access to my bank account bc i was a minor and was using the money from my job to pay for food, gas, etc. this was both my [arents fault, bc my dad wasnt contributing to child support at all, and my mom was really drowning in debt and money issues. presently, me and my mom are doing a little better, partly bc shes in a slightly better place financially and partly bc shes been supportive of everything ive gone thru w my dad in the last 2-3 years. Last summer, april/may of 2023, he violated his probation by "mixing up the dates" and going to his appt with his PO a week late. While he claims that he just forgot what day it was on, its more likely that he was just using again and knew that he wouldnt test clean, and decided to wait since crack is out of your system, at least in terms of urine, in about three days. He got a sentence of thirty days, accounting for time served, and he was released in late may. I was still living with him and his gf at the time and it was horrible to see his gf struggle so badly without him there as the breadwinner. I used every one of my paychecks during this period to pay for food or give her money for bills or gas during this time. one thing about loving an addict is that there is always some doubt that they are lying to you about what they're doing, where they're going, what they're spending money on, and if they're even sober. while i believed him for the most part, a small part of me doubted that he really just mixed up the dates of his PO meeting. my dad and his gf also had issues within their relation ship that caused a lot of fighting and just a weird and tense environment. I knew this, but it was way worse than I thought before I actually lived with them. About six months ago, it got to the point where his gf broke up with him and he went on a crack binge and dissapeared for three days. I was still living with him then, and it really messed me up and i was so angry and hurt. this was when I decided to move back in with my mom, as he was just too unstable especially without his gf, and i was trying to focus on college stuff and graduating. I moved back in with my mom almost a year after i had moved out, this past february. I went back to staying with him during the weekends, and he actually moved into the basement of the house we were renting. It's kind of a weird situation, but the landlords live in another state, but their daughter and her young kid still live in this state, so when the landlords visited they would stay in the basement. the landlord was also kind of my dads confidant/ sponsor, as he was a religious man and him and my dad had an odd relationship of part landlord part friend. the landlord agreed to let my dad move into the basement and have someone else rent upstairs, as the landlords also wanted to up the rent from 1700 to 2000 a month. I learned at this time that my dad owed the landlords 16,000 dollars in rent/ loaned money. he told me that the landlords had given him a year to pay this money back, or at least a good chunk of it, or they would completely evict him. this was february/march of 2024. around this time, about a month after him and his gf/M had broken up, he started talking to/dating another women that he had went to highschool/ troubled kid school with (red flag number one). in short, they dated for about a month and a half and for about a month she was moved in and living with him until my dad found out she was a crazy bitch and a methhead. she moved out in early may, and he was arrested the same week for, ONCE AGAIN, missing his damn probation meeting BY A WEEK. Yes, he did the same thing he had done almost exactly a year prior. while he was living in the basement of this house, he was also fixing up the upstairs for someone else to rent, which the landlord was paying him for. the really great part was that he was arrested on monday, and the landlord was coming down that thursday/ friday to come get it ready to rent and meet the new potential renters. the saturday after he was arrested, my aunt picked me up after one of the worst eight hour shifts i'd ever had at my job, and told me that my dad had no house, no job, no car, and basically nowhere to go when he eventually got out of jail. that afternoon/night i met the landlord for the first time. It was humiliating listenign to the landlord tell me, my aunt, and my uncle that my dad actually owed him about 50,000 dollars in rent/ loaned money/ work he didnt do but was payed fo tools/ etc. this man is truly a saint, bc the first thing he asked me is if i have a place to stay, as he didnt know that i was living with my mom and wanted to make sure that i had a place to live despite everything with my dad. he even paid for three months of a storage unit for my dads stuff and gave us a week and a u haul to move everything out. i also learned that my dads boss, who owned his own kind of freelancing construction company, found about twnety tools in my dads garage that he thought he had lost which led him to fire my dad. backtracking a bit, about a week before he was arrested my dad got back with his gf/M, so she was involved in some of this too. she got her a different lawyer than the one he had previously and my aunt worked with the lawyer to try and make a case for the judge for my dad to go to a sober living facility instead of jail. we all wrote letters to the judge, including my dads ex-landlord and ex-boss, advocating for him to go to court mandated inpatient rehab/ sober living. I'll admit, my letter was short and shitty because i knew that my dad didnt want help and that any amount of time in rehab or a half-way house wouldnt change his mind. the letters didnt really work, and my dad was sentneced to another thirty days with time served. thankfully, the judge was considerate and allowed him to leave for one day so he could go to my graduation ceremony. honestly, i don't even think i wanted him to be there. i wasn't happy that he was, even when i saw him, i was just apathetic. this leads to now, in which he gets out on tuesday (6/11) and i dont know what to do. i want to tell him that he's a piece of shit and that he doesnt deserve to even be in my life and that i dont really ever want to talk to him again bc im really convinced that he will never be sober or take accountability for his actions, the way he has hurt everyone that loves him over and over again, not to mention the egregious amount of money he owes to multiple people. but he's also my dad and in between all the bad stuff i've mentioned, hes an amazing dad and person. one of my coworkers, whos really one of my bestfriends and who i tell almost everything to, has even said that she cant imagine how hard it must be to see both sides of him and have to choose whether to have faith in the part of him that i know loves me to death and is an amazingly strong, funny, kind, accepting man or the part of him that is ruled by addiction and cant take accountability for his actions and thinks that his family holding him accountable is "being negative" and trying to stop him from being happy (both things he said to me). i dont want to lose my dad, but i dont think i can keep putting myself through this. especially considering i'll be three hours away at college in three months. the really funny part is that he'll be back in jail, either for 30 days or 60, bc the state is suing him for not paying child support, and his hearing is in july. some part of me wants to just avoid him for the next month until hes back in jail and then run away to college in august and not have to deal with him, and the other part of me wants him to know every time that he has let me down, fucked me over, upset me, caused me to lose sleep, and what will probably happen to him if he keeps doing this shit. what do i say to him? do i avoid him? do i confront him and confront years of anxiety and cowardliness from me as i always kept the peace and stayed quiet with him? i know this isnt really narc parent material, but theres not really a sub for addict parents. i appreciate any adivce or words you have. (also thanks for reading this took an insanely long time to type out)

Prosecutors said someone unlawfully disclosed the name of at least one witness in a murder case that's scheduled to begin Tuesday in Albany.
ALBANY — Jasper Mills, a longtime criminal defense attorney in Albany, was warned by a judge Friday that he could be subject to a criminal contempt charge if he disclosed — even inadvertently — the identity of at least one witness in a pending murder case who received death threats after the confidential document identifying him was shared with the defendants and others.
The case, which is set for trial next week, involves four men who are charged with murder in the January 2021 shooting of Shanita Thomas, who was pregnant with her third child when she was gunned down at a Central Avenue party. Four others were wounded in the shooting.
Mills, a candidate for Albany County Family Court judge, represents 35-year-old Vramir Branch, who with three other defendants is facing charges of murder, attempted murder, weapons possession and evidence tampering in connection with Thomas' death.
At a hearing Friday in Albany County Court, Judge Andra Ackerman heard arguments from prosecutors on their motion for an order to have the court review boxes of documents that were seized from at least three of the defendants' jail cells at Albany County Jail this week. Prosecutors filed the motion after a witness in the case, who is in federal prison, learned that he had become the target of a death threat and was placed in protective custody.
Prosecutors are asking the court to review the materials to see if there are documents among those found in the cells that were subject to a protective order, and should not have been provided to the men.
As the hearing began, Mills stepped forward and appeared to take responsibility for what he described to the judge as an inadvertent disclosure of the witness information. He said that he had been discussing the witness with another client on Tuesday, a day after he received the information from prosecutors, and then placed the document on a conference table in his office as he juggled a meeting with three other clients who were in his office that day.
“Just so I can be clear here: Did you have documents that were subject to the protective order out on display when you had other individuals that have charges that you’re dealing with and speaking with others on that case … ?,” Ackerman asked Mills. “Who else was in that conference room? Who else had access to that document?”
Mills confirmed that he showed another client — who is not involved in the case — a copy of the document and asked that person what they knew about the witness in the murder case.
“There was a lot going on,” Mills told the judge. “I showed the individual the document. There was nothing in the protective order that said you can’t show it, it just said that you can’t distribute or disseminate it.”
Mills said the next day — Wednesday — an ex-girlfriend of his client in the murder case texted him an image of the document and asked him about the witness listed in the record, and whether that person had given a statement.
But that image, according to prosecutors, is different than another image of the document that was being distributed on social media websites this week.
Assistant District Attorney Jessica Blain-Lewis, one of the prosecutors in the case, told the judge that meant that someone had apparently distributed a second image of the document — and that it was not the image in the photograph that Mills claimed had been taken in his office.
As Mills confirmed to the judge that the image of the document the woman had texted to him had markings on it that he had made, she interrupted him and asked, “(Do) you think it is advisable for you to receive counsel before you continue talking? Because it appears to me that it’s going in a direction, and whether it’s negligence or whatever, but this could be … a severe violation of the protective order which could subject you to a criminal contempt (charge).”
Mills responded that he “didn’t disseminate or give anyone anything.”
“Don’t you think you have an obligation, pursuant to the protective order, to protect those documents?" the judge said. "And you’re telling me that you’re leaving them lying on a conference table in the open and going to another office for about an hour, meeting with other clients, that there won’t be an issue here?”
As Mills began to respond, he was interrupted by Daniel Smalls, another defense attorney in the case, who whispered in Mills' ear for about 20 seconds.
Mills then asked to approach the bench, and moments later he said in open court that he would not say anything more until consulting with an attorney.
As the hearing unfolded, the four defendants — Branch as well as Raa’jiem Coleman, Terrence Anthony and Marcelle Perry — looked on and said nothing. They were clad in jail clothing, and at least one of them had a few supporters in the courtroom.
Blain-Lewis, one of the prosecutors, then asked the judge if she could clarify some of the admissions that had just been made by Mills.
She noted that a thumb was visible in the image of the document that Mills said was photographed, apparently without his knowledge, while it was on a table in his office. But Blain-Lewis said the photo of the document that has been disseminated on social media sites “is not the same photo,” although the markings on the document that were made by Mills are the same.
The document, known as a “witness disclosure,” is often turned over by prosecutors to defense attorneys shortly before a trial begins. They generally list the names of witnesses and summarize their testimony. In this case, that document was subject to a protective order, which meant Mills could discuss it with his client beginning one week prior to the trial that is scheduled to begin Tuesday.
Prosecutors in Albany routinely seek protective orders in cases involving murders, gangs and gun violence. Through the years, the district attorney's office has said that incidents of witness intimidation and death threats have caused many individuals to decline to testify in cases like this one.
The protective order prohibited Mills or any of the other defense attorneys from sharing a copy of the witness disclosure document with anyone, including their clients. Blain-Lewis said it also prohibited them from discussing the contents of that document with anyone but their client, although Mills admitted during Friday’s hearing that he had talked to someone else about one of the witnesses.
“What that means, your honor, is that someone has an actual copy of this document,” Blain-Lewis told the judge as she explained that there are two images of it. “I do believe that this court understands the length at which defendants will go to stop people from testifying, and in this case we had a legitimate, real death threat, and the effect that this is going to have not only on that witness but (the) trial itself concerns … my entire office.”
The case is assigned to acting state Supreme Court Justice Roger D. McDonough; Ackerman presided over Friday’s hearing because he was not available. Ackerman granted the order allowing the court to review the materials that were seized from the defendants' jail cells.
If there are documents in those materials that were subject to the protective order, it could lead to further investigation of how they were disclosed and by whom.
A violation of a protective order could lead to a criminal contempt charge, which is a misdemeanor crime. It may also be subject to review by the Attorney Grievance Committee for the Appellate Division, Third Department in Albany, which investigates allegations of misconduct by attorneys.
Thomas, 35, was an aspiring nurse and a promoter of her friends’ businesses who grew up in Albany. The father of her oldest son, Elijah Jr., was Elijah Cancer. Cancer was a former gang member turned anti-violence advocate for 518 SNUG. He was shot and killed breaking up a dispute at a party in July 2018. No one has ever been charged in connection with his death.
Court records indicate all four defendants charged with killing Thomas have lengthy criminal records, including convictions for violent crimes and weapons charges.
Anthony and Perry previously served time in federal prison after being convicted in a racketeering case against a South End gang known as the Original Gangsta Killas. They pleaded guilty in 2010.
Branch previously served time in state prison for attempted murder, weapon charges and promoting prison contraband.
June 7, 2024 Photo of Brendan J. Lyons Brendan J. Lyons MANAGING EDITOR
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/attorney-scrutinized-murder-witness-receives-19501061.php

DAY JUNE 8 2024
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6-8-2024

OTHERS’ WORDS, NOT FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE, SHAPE SCIENTIFIC AND RELIGIOUS BELIEF FORMATION, STUDY FINDS

Three proposals explaining the differential confidence. (A) Intuitively, one might assume that confidence in scientific entities (e.g., germs) is higher than confidence in religious entities (e.g., angels) because scientific entities are observable in principle whereas religious entities are not. (B) The Dual- Pathway Model proposes separate information pathways for scientific versus religious beliefs; belief in scientific entities is primarily driven by direct experience of causal outcomes whereas belief in religious entities is primarily driven by testimony. (C) Contrary to these two models, the Unified Model proposes that belief in both
6-8-2024

TRYING TO SAVE MONEY? RESEARCH SUGGESTS PAYING IN CASH—WHILE YOU STILL CAN

Cash is in crisis. In Australia, it’s now only used for 16% of in-person transactions, down from about 70% in 2007. The situation is so dire that on Monday, independent federal MP Andrew Gee introduced a private member’s bill that would force businesses to accept cash or else face big fines. The reality is that over the past decade, technological advancements have utterly transformed the way we pay for goods and services. Phones and smartwatches can now easily be used to pay by card, and buy-now-pay-later
6-8-2024

MESSAGES CAN TRIGGER THE OPPOSITE OF THEIR DESIRED EFFECT—BUT YOU CAN AVOID COMMUNICATION THAT BACKFIRES

The best graduation speeches dispense wisdom you find yourself returning to long after the graduation tassels are turned. Take the feel-good life advice in Baz Luhrmann’s song to a class that graduated 25 years ago. Only on a recent relisten did I realize it also captures one of the research-based strategies I teach for avoiding communication that backfires. The tip is hiding in plain sight in the song’s title, “Everybody’s Free (to Wear Sunscreen).” Communication aimed at promoting a certain behavior can have the opposite
6-8-2024

DIFFERENCES IN EDUCATION, VALUES BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN CAUSE MISMATCHES WHEN SEEKING A PARTNER, FINDS SPANISH STUDY

The educational expansion of women has led to changes in the differences in educational level of men and women when looking for a partner. Research conducted by the UAB Center for Demographic Studies (CED-CERCA) has examined for the first time the role of discrepancies in gender role values and education among potential spouses. According to the study, about a third of women in favor of gender equality and with a higher education would not be able to find a homogamous male partner. The work is published in the journal Perspectives
6-8-2024

‘FUZZY’ MAPS OFFER INSIGHT INTO LOCAL PERCEPTIONS OF THE VALUE OF VOLUNTEERING

In the global South, volunteer programs are framed by policymakers and scholars as an effective vehicle for empowering women living in poverty. But this narrative often rests on scant knowledge of the perspectives and experiences of a key set of local stakeholders: the volunteers. A new study co-authored by Yale anthropologist Catherine Panter-Brick addresses this knowledge gap by engaging with Syrian refugees and Jordanian women from poor households in Amman, Jordan,
6-8-2024

EXPERTS SAY USE OF POLITICAL MEMES ARE A PREDICTOR OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE

In a study of social media activity prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, researchers at the University of Notre Dame say a sharp increase in politically salient imagery online—visual content designed to influence, dehumanize, manipulate and motivate audiences—was a predictor of the conflict. With collaborators at Colby College and Kennesaw State University, the researchers collected post history from a select group of 989 Russian milbloggers—a term used for “military bloggers”
6-8-2024

PROGRAMS TO PREVENT SEXUAL VIOLENCE SHOW NO EVIDENCE OF CURBING ASSAULTS, ANALYSIS FINDS

Sexual violence prevention programs effectively change ideas and beliefs that underscore assaults, but show no evidence of reducing their actual occurrence, a new comprehensive analysis shows. The findings are published in Psychological Science in the Public Interest. Researchers led by behavioral scientist Roni Porat of Hebrew University challenge the assumption that changing people’s thoughts about sexual violence will change their actual behavior. They call on scientists to study more behavior-centered approaches to reducing sexual
6-8-2024

DIVERSE FRIEND GROUPS PROMOTE BETTER SOCIAL COHESION AND WELL-BEING, STUDY FINDS

New research featuring more than 24,000 people has found that having diverse groups of friends improves well-being and social cohesion, despite people’s tendency to gravitate towards people more similar to them. Led by researchers at the University of Birmingham and published in Psychological Science, the study used data from 24,726 adults from over 10,000 English neighborhoods to examine the composition of people’s social networks according to age, ethnicity, income, and education to understand the implications of homophily (preference for similar people) on social cohesion subjective well-being. Dr. Miguel Ramos, lead
6-8-2024

STUDY SHOWS JUSTICE FACILITY DOGS BENEFIT WELL-BEING FOR CHILDREN FACING COURT

A new Edith Cowan University (ECU) study has revealed that having a four-legged friend at Children’s Court significantly reduces stress and anxiety for young victims, witnesses, and their caregivers. ECU criminology researchers Dr. Suz Rock and Associate Professor Natalie Gately have published the first Australian study to evaluate the impact of introducing a justice facility dog to a Children’s Court. The study “Kids, Courts and Canines: Evaluating the Justice Facility Dog Program through a Therapeutic Lens
6-8-2024

SEXUAL MINORITIES EXPERIENCE MORE EXCLUSION IN EVERYDAY SITUATIONS, FINDS STUDY

Lesbian, gay and bisexual people experience exclusion more frequently than heterosexual people. This is the finding of a recent study published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin by researchers from the University of Basel and the RPTU University of Kaiserslautern-Landau. According to the study, people who are perceived as less gender-conforming are more frequently socially excluded. This could also affect heterosexual people if they deviate from traditional
6-8-2024

STILL RIDING LA’S METRO AFTER THE PANDEMIC? YOU PROBABLY THINK IT’S SAFER THAN THOSE WHO DON’T ANYMORE

As Jon Regardie wrote last year in Los Angeles Magazine, “Metro’s raison d’etre is to get hundreds of thousands of people each day across Southern California.” But the COVID-19 pandemic sent the numbers of riders plummeting to a low of 13%, and ridership still hasn’t fully rebounded. The reason may now be clear, thanks to the latest USC Dornsife LABarometer survey, conducted by the Center for Economic and Social Research (CESR) at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. The survey found that although public transportation ridership in
6-8-2024

CAN VAGUE GO VIRAL FOR GEN Y?

Generation Y, Gen Y, is commonly referred to as the millennial generation. It usually includes individuals born between the early 1980s and the mid-to-late 1990s or early 2000s. This generation follows Generation X and precedes Generation Z. The millennials, it is said, grew up during the transition to digital technology and the rise of the internet, and this has shaped their perspectives, behavior, and the way they use technology and media. They are often characterized as tech-savvy, adaptable, and socially conscious, with a strong affinity for social media and digital
6-8-2024

ITALIAN MOMS WITH 3+ KIDS WORK FAR FEWER YEARS THAN DADS, WHILE FINLAND SHOWS EQUALITY

Over the past century, the number of working women in Western countries has steadily increased. However, numerous studies show that it is still primarily women who have to manage the balancing act between parenthood and working life. Compared to fathers and childless women, mothers often have a less straightforward career path and face greater hurdles to career advancement. Little research has been done on what happens to women’s employment trajectories from midlife when childrearing efforts are
6-8-2024

TOP IT INDUSTRY MANAGERS ARE DIVIDED ON THE NEED FOR FACE-TO-FACE COMMUNICATION IN THE WORKPLACE

Many managers are currently seeking a balance between digital and face-to-face communication. A recent study from the University of Eastern Finland published in Information Technology & People shows that top IT industry managers have different views on when and for what purposes face-to-face communication in the workplace is needed. “Some top managers felt that all work tasks can be performed remotely with the help of digital communication. According to them, face-to-face communication is only necessary for maintaining interpersonal relationships and a sense of community,” says Doctoral Researcher Lotta Salin of
6-8-2024

STUDY FINDS SIMPLE HEADLINES ATTRACT MORE ONLINE NEWS READERS

The competition for online attention in today’s news environment is fierce. High-quality news from credible sources must compete for attention with misinformation and a rapidly increasing amount of partisan content. How can a news organization stand out as a reputable and trustworthy outlet while driving readers to its site? The answer is simple: literally. According to research from Michigan State University, news readers engage more with simple writing, suggesting journalists should write simply—clearly and without ambiguity—to attract attention online. The study was published in the journal Science Advances. “Newsrooms want
6-8-2024

STUDY SHOWS BANNING FALSE INFORMATION TRAFFICKERS ONLINE CAN IMPROVE PUBLIC DISCOURSE

When Twitter banned more than 70,000 traffickers of false information from its platform in the wake of the violence at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, the impact went beyond the silencing of those users. A study co-authored by UC Riverside public policy and political science scholars published in the journal Nature on June 5, found that the crackdown by Twitter (now called X after it was acquired by billionaire Elon Musk in late 2022) also significantly reduced the number of misinformation posts by users who stayed on the
6-8-2024

YOUNG ADULTS SAY STEADY SUPPORT FROM CARING ADULTS MADE DIFFERENCE IN TRANSITIONING FROM CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM

Young people who have exited foster care generally fare better—in work, school and relationships—if they get consistent support from adults who care about them during their teen years. My research team reached these findings by interviewing 21 people, now in their late 20s, who had aged out of foster care when they turned 18, had spent time in foster care as children or grew up in families that had active child welfare cases. These young adults relayed the degree to which they received support from
6-8-2024

HOW THE 1901 DISCOVERY EXPEDITION’S POLAR EXPLORERS STAYED HEALTHY DURING THEIR ANTARCTIC JOURNEY

Antarctica is the most inhospitable continent on earth. It’s dry, cold, and completely dark for months of the year. Edwardian explorers were some of the first to brave the Antarctic winter, developing new knowledge still drawn upon by scientists today. The Discovery expedition (1901–4) played a key role in the history of polar exploration. It was led by the Royal Navy commander Robert Falcon Scott, a pioneering polar explorer who died in 1912 after attempting to reach the south pole. The expedition’s third lieutenant was Ernest Shackleton, who led three
6-8-2024

SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MODELS INFUSED WITH AGRI-INNOVATION SYSTEMS CAN REDUCE POST-HARVEST FOOD LOSS AND WASTE

developing sustainable business models that are multi-actor networked for integrating them with agricultural innovation systems initiatives can enable a systemic approach for reducing food loss and value loss at the post-harvest
6-8-2024

WILL THE 2024 OLYMPIC GAMES BECOME THE PLAYING FIELD FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE PROTESTS?

Yannick Kluch, a professor of recreation, sport and tourism at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, studies sport as a platform for promoting social justice. Kluch has worked with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, U.S. Diving and the National Collegiate Athletic Association. He spoke with research editor Sharita Forrest about the history of Olympic athletes’ social justice protests and governing organizations’ efforts to avert them with Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter.
6-8-2024

STUDY FINDS WE SPEND MORE WITH CASHLESS PAYMENTS

A study found support for the existence of a positive “cashless effect,” which is when consumers spend more when using cashless payment methods in comparison to cash. The study suggests the cashless effect leads people to spend more when purchasing products that are typically used to signal status, such as jewelry. However, the
6-8-2024

LAWS MEANT TO KEEP DIFFERENT RACES APART STILL INFLUENCE DATING PATTERNS, DECADES AFTER BEING INVALIDATED

If you are single and looking for a romantic partner, chances are that you have used a dating app. But the likelihood that others will like, or even see, your profile may depend on your race. Studies have found that all people on dating apps, regardless of their own race, are more likely to contact white people using the app. And all people using dating apps are least likely to contact African American women and Asian American men. Until recently, some popular apps, including OkCupid, Match, Hinge and Grindr, provided
6-8-2024

VIRTUAL LABS IN PSYCHOLOGY RESEARCH BOOST DIVERSITY

University of Oregon psychologists are breaking down barriers to include underrepresented populations in research by bringing laboratories online. The researchers are trying to address a longstanding issue in psychology studies, which often rely on undergraduate students to volunteer as research subjects.
6-8-2024

ATTENDING LOCAL EVENTS STRENGTHENS NEIGHBORHOOD BONDS, SURVEY REVEALS

how often people visit and actively participate in local events and how this affects their sense of place or their connection to their community. A survey of almost 400 households in the state’s coastal council area of the City of Holdfast Bay found that people who frequently attend local events or participate as volunteers, organizers or exhibitors, have a stronger
6-8-2024

STUDY SHOWS ONLINE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION WORKS FOR COMPLEX TOPICS

“COVID-19 forced educators to adjust their educational best practices to an unfamiliar virtual classroom, and professional development was no different,” said Karen Jo Matsler, assistant professor in practice for UTeach at UTA
6-8-2024

EYE-TRACKING STUDY REVEALS THAT SIMPLY LOOKING AT THE NATURAL WORLD IN URBAN AREAS CAN REAP WELL-BEING BENEFITS

Integrating more natural features into city landscapes can play a crucial role in enhancing the mental well-being of residents. A study by Bangor University and Technion- Israel Institute of Technology, published in the scientific journal People and Nature, involved city dwellers and showed how paying visual attention to greenery, rather than human-made structures, can alleviate anxiety and enhance restorative feelings. The 117 urban residents who took part in the study, were guided on a
6-8-2024

ADVERTISERS MAY BE INADVERTENTLY FUNDING MISINFORMATION

Companies in industries such as health care, technology and insurance have been found to advertise on misinformation websites, according to an analysis published in Nature. In a related experiment, consumers who were made aware that a company advertised on a misinformation website were likely to reject an offer of a gift voucher to spend with that company. The majority of digital advertisement placement on the internet is done via an algorithm-based distribution
6-8-2024

STUDY SUGGESTS EVOLUTIONARY BASIS FOR MALE RISK-TAKING BEHAVIORS

why we associate risk-taking with males rather than females, from an evolutionary standpoint. Study author Hannah Goodman, from UWA’s School of Human Sciences, said researchers found men engaged in riskier behaviors when crossing a busy traffic intersection, supporting growing evidence that risk-taking is predominantly an androcentric behavior. “Males

If I were to show off my shallow knowledge , Selesh would be like Davenport. But I don't know much about Selesh, Davenport knows why. I don't even know why. I 'm the person who was watching on the computer. I was a men's specialist , so girls only know Serena. Selina's sister is a very nice person, and just standing on the court makes me cry. A very good person. That's why there are both black people and gentle and good people. But when I learn about black violence, my heart hurts terribly. I 'm terribly shocked to see the reality of America. I've become a little scared. My body is cute and light , so if I get hit, I'll fly to the other side of the world. Everyone in Brazil, can you hear me? The back of Japan is Brazil. It seems to be very far away. It's quite far because it's going to the other side of the world. It seems that Mexico is also not safe. There is a Brazilian village in Japan , but Brazilians in Japan are good people. Don't look at things with preconception or be prejudiced.
This is something you can understand if you think about what will happen if you see Asians with prejudiced eyes. There are good people for Asians. They're all crazy. Every day is madness. I want to tell Netanyahu and Zelensky that killing cruelly is not a war.
And American violence,
Why does the thread break like that?
I'm also a cute object , so I'm too scared to walk in America.
It looks a little far from white people , so it might be okay.
To solve the problem of violence and war, let's eliminate war and violence in the future with what we can do
Seriously, the war must never be repeated again.
If were the lives of Asians, I would give you everything.
What is the psychology of a person who can't be targeted for this ugly person ?
if the United States bans meat , the violence will disappear.Even if you slaughter a terrorixx
, you can't escape the fear of violence.
The strong black population continue to grow. In japan , the reality is that the population is exploding , and 15 people live in one room. Scary country. In fact, there are many Koreans and Chinese. A lot is born in a small room. The fertility is disgustingly strong. In a few decade s, the Japanese will become extinct.
Territory takeover from a bloodless war

​

Berfenw / Verb-noun	Ystyr / Meaning	Bôn y ferf / Verb stem
acennu	to accentuate, to stress	acenn-
achredu	to accredit; accreditation	achred-
adalw	to recall, to summon back, to revoke, to repeal	adalw-
ad-dalu	to repay	ad-dal-
ad-drefnu	to reorganise, to rearrange	ad-drefn-
adfeddiannu	to repossess, to regain	afeddiann-
adleoli	to relocate	adleol-
adlynu	to adhere	adlyn-
adsefydlu	to rehabilitate; to re-establish, to reinstate	adsefydl-
aduno	to reunite	adun-
adwerthu	to retail, to resell	adwerth-
afradloni	to waste, to squander, to spend extravagantly	afradlon-
angori	to anchor	angor-
ailadeiladu	to rebuild	ailadeilad-
aildrefnu	to rearrange, to reorganise, to restore	aildrefn-
ailddarganfod	to rediscover	ailddarganfydd-
ailddatblygu	to redevelop	ailddatblyg-
ailddefnyddio	to reuse	ailddefnyddi-
ailddosbarthu	to reclassify; to redistribute	ailddosbarth-
ailenwi	to rename	ailenw-
ailethol	to re-elect	ailethol-
ailfeddwl	to rethink, to change one's mind, to reconsider	ailfeddyli-
ailgartrefu	to rehouse, to rehome	ailgartref-
ail-greu	to recreate	ailgre-
ailsefydlu	to re-establish, to rehabilitate	ailsefydl-
ailstrwythuro	to restructure	ailstrwythur-
ailwampio	to revamp	ailwampi-
allbynnu	to output (in computing)	allbynn-
allforio	to export	allfori-
alltudio	to deport, to exile	alltudi-
allyrru	to emit, to give off	allyrr-
amaethu	to cultivate	amaeth-
amgodio	to encode (computing)	amgodi-
amgryptio	to encrypt	amgrypti-
amgylchynu	to surround, to encircle, to encompass	amgylchyn-
amharchu	to disrespect	amharch-
amlinellu	to outline, to sketch	amlinell-
amseru	to time, to date, to take your time	amser-
andwyo	to spoil, to ruin	andwy-
anesmwytho	to become or make uneasy, anxious or restless, to disturb, to disquiet	anesmwyth-
anfarwoli	to immortalize	anfarwol-
animeiddio	to animate (make an animation)	animeiddi-
anweddu	to evaporate, to vaporize, to produce steam	anwedd-
anwylo	to cuddle, to caress, to cherish, to endear	anwyl-
apwyntio	to appoint	apwynti-
aralleirio	to paraphrase, to reword	aralleiri-
arallu	to make changes, to alter; to alienate, to estrange	arall-
arddweud	to dictate (for transcription)	arddywed-
aredig	to plough	ardd-
arolygu	to survey, to inspect	arolyg-
asesu	to assess	ases-
atafaelu	to confiscate, to seize, to distrain	atafael-
atalnodi	to punctuate	atalnod
atgyfodi	to resurrect, to revive	atgyfod-
atodi	to append, to attach (document etc.), to add to	atod-
awdurdodi	to authorise, to empower	awdurdod-
awyru	to air, to ventilate, to aerate	awyr-
baldorddi	to talk nonsense, to babble, to prattle	baldordd-
beichio crio	to sob	beichi-
betio	to bet (money)	beti-
bigit[i]an	to provoke, to annoy, to pick a quarrel, to nag (De Cymru)
bipian	to bleep, to beep	bipi-
blaguro	to form buds, to put out shoots, to sprout	blagur-
blaseiddio	to flavour, to season	blaseiddi-
blingo	to skin, to flay	bling-
blysio	to crave	blysi-
bod gan rywun	to have, to possess
bod wrth eich bodd yn / gyda	to love, to be in one's element (doing / with)
bod yn edifar gan rywun	to regret
bod yn well gan rywun	to prefer
boddhau	to please	boddha-
boneddigeiddio	to gentrify; to ennoble	boneddigeiddi-
botymu	to button	botym-
braenaru	to fallow, to prepare for cultivation	braenar-
bragu	to brew (with malt)	brag-
brechu	to vaccinate, to inoculate	brech-
bridio	to breed	bridi-
britho	to go grey (of hair or beard), to dapple, to speckle, to fleck, to mottle	brith-
brodio	to embroider	brodi-
bronfwydo	to breastfeed
buddioli	to benefit, to profit	buddiol-
bwrw cenllysg	to hail (weather) (Gogledd Cymru)	bwri-
bwrw cesair	to hail (weather) (De Cymru)	bwri-
bwydo ar y fron	to breastfeed
byddaru	to deafen, to become deaf	byddar-
byrddio	to board	byrddi-
byrhau	to shorten, to abbreviate
byseddu	to finger	bysedd-
bywhau	to animate	bywha-
bywiocáu	to enliven
cadwyno (wrth)	to chain (to)	cadwyn-
caethiwo	to enslave, to addict	caethiw-
cafflo	to cheat (De Cymru)	caffl-
calchu	to lime	calch-
camdreiglo	to mutate incorrectly (grammar)	camdreigl-
camgymryd	to mistake	camgymer-
camsefyll	to be offside (in football, rugby etc.)
camymddwyn	to misbehave, to commit misconduct	camymddyg-
canlyn	to follow; to court	canlyn-
canoli	to centralize, to focus, to mediate	canol-
carco	to care, to take care of, to mind; to be thrifty (De Cymru)	carc-
cardota	to beg (for alms)	cardot-
carthu	to purge, to clean, to muck out animal dwelling	carth-
castio	to cast (especially in an acting part); to play tricks	casti-
catalyddu	to catalyse	catalydd-
cefnu ar	to turn one's back on, to forsake	cefn-
cenhadu	to propagate (message / faith), to conduct a mission, to proselytise	cenhad-
cenhedlu	to reproduce (offspring); to conceive (offspring)	cenhedl-
ceulo	to clot, to coagulate, to congeal	ceul-
ciwio	to queue	ciwi-
clatsio	to strike, to hit (De Cymru)	clastsi-
clatsio ymlaen	to crack on, to persevere (De Cymru)
clau	to clean (De Cymru)
clocsio	to clog dance; to make or repair clogs	clocsi-
clochdar	to cluck, to cackle, to boast
clodfori	to praise	clodfor-
cloffi	to become lame	cloff-
cloncan	to chat, to natter, to gossip, to prattle (De Cymru)	clonc-
clustnodi	to ear-mark	clustnod-
clwydo	to roost	clwyd-
clytio	to patch	clyti-
cnoi cil	to ruminate (chew cud, also figurative), to think over	cno-
coethi	to refine, to purify	coeth-
colledu	to cause loss to, to damage	colled-
conan	to grumble, to complain (De Cymru)
condemnio	to condemn	condemni-
costrelu	to bottle	costrel-
creithio	to scar	creithi-
cribddeilio	to extort, to plunder, to take by force	cribddeili-
cribinio	to rake (Gogledd Cymru)	cribini-
crisialu	to crystalize	crisial-
croeshoelio	to crucify	croeshoeli-
croesholi	to cross-examine, to cross-question	croeshol-
cronni	to amass, to collect, to gather (together), to accumulate; to dam up	cronn-
crosio	to crochet	crosi-
crychu	to wrinkle, to crimp	crych-
crygu	to stammer, to grow hoarse	cryg-
cuddio rhag	to hide from
cwmpasu	to encompass, to circumscribe	cwmpas-
cwnnu	to raise, to put up, to rise (= codi, o cychwynnu) (De-ddwyrain Cymru)
cwrcwd	to squat, to crouch	cwrcyd-, cyrcyd-
cydlynu	to cohere, to stick or cling together, to form a whole	cydlyn-
cydweithredu	to co-operate	cydweithred-
cydymffurfio	to conform	cydymffurfi-
cyfannu	to make whole or entire, to unite, to integrate	cyfann-
cyfanwerthu	to sell wholesale	cyfanwerth-
cyfeddach	to carouse (b) [unusually, this verbnoun is feminine]; carousal
cyfeilio	to accompany (with music)	cyfeili-
cyflyru	to condition	cyflyr-
cyfodi	(form of codi) to lift, to rise, to raise	cyfod-
cyfosod	to place together, to juxtapose, to combine	cyfosod-
cyfrodeddu	to intertwine, to twist together	cyfrodedd-
cyfrwyo	to saddle (horse)	cyfrwy-
cyffesu	to confess (especially religiously)	cyffes-
cyhwfan	to wave, to flutter, to heave	cyhwfan-
cylchdroi	to rotate, to revolve	cylchdro-
cymedroli	to moderate, to temper	cymedrol-
cymodi â	to reconcile with	cymod-
Cymreigio	to make (more) Welsh	Cymreigi-
cymudo	to commute (travel)	cymud-
cymynnu	to bequeath	cymynn-
cynllwynio	to conspire	cynllwyni-
cyplysu	to couple	cyplys-
cysegru	to consecrate	cysegr-
cysodi	to type-set	cysod-
cysoni	to regularize, to harmonize	cyson-
cystuddio	to afflict	cystuddi-
cywasgu	to compress	cywasg-
c[y]weirio (S)	to mend, to put in order	cweiri-
chwerwi	to become bitter	chwerw-
chwilfriwio	to smash to pieces, to shatter	chwilfriwi-
chwyldroi	to revolutionize	chwyldro-
chwyrlïo	to whirl	chwyrlï-
dadbacio	to unpack	dadbaci-
dadlaith	to thaw [out] (De Cymru)	dadleithi-
dadlennu	to uncover, to unveil, to reveal, to expose	dadlenn-
dadrithio	to disillusion, to disenchant, to restore to original shape or form	dadrithi-
dallu	to blind, to become blind	dall-
damsang (ar)	to trample (on) (De Cymru)	damsang-
darfudo	to convect (heat in physics)	darfud-
dargludo	to conduct (electricity, heat in physics)	darglud-
dargyfeirio	to divert, to redirect, to diverge	dargyfeiri-
datganoli	to decentralize, to devolve	datganol-
datgarboneiddio	to decarbonize	datgarboneiddi-
datglymu	to untie	datglym-
datgoedwigo	to deforest	datgoedwig-
datgomisiynu	to decommission	datgomisiyn-
datgymalu	to dislocate, to disjoint, to take to pieces, to disassemble	datgymal-
datsgriwio	to unscrew	datsgriwi-
dedfrydu	to sentence (in court)	dedfryd-
deddfu	to legislate, to enact, to decree	deddf-
dengid	(= dianc) to escape (Gogledd Cymru)	dihang-
deigrynnu	to shed tears	deigrynn-
delfrydu	to idealize	delfryd-
deor	to hatch (egg etc.), to hatch out; to brood, to incubate	deor-
deud	(= dweud) to say (Gogledd Cymru)
diarddel	to expell, to excommunicate, to disown	diarddel-
diarfogi	to disarm	diarfog-
diasbedain	to resound	diasbed-
dichon	(= gallu) to be able (formal)	dichon-
diddyfnu	to wean	diddyfnu-
diengyd	(= dianc) to escape (Gogledd Cymru)	dihang-
difrïo	to revile, to denigrate, to disparage	difrï-
difwyno	to spoil, to mar, to defile, to pollute	difwyn-
differu	to differentiate (calculus)	differ-
diffygdalu	to default (on debt repayment)	diffygdal-
digolledu	to recompense, to indemnify, to compensate	digolled-
diheintio	to disinfect	diheinti-
dihoeni	to languish, to pine, to fade away, to wither	dihoen-
dihysbyddu	to drain (liquid from), to empty, to exhaust	dihysbydd-
dinoethi	to strip, to make bare	dinoeth-
diosg	to take off (clothes / shoes), to undress, to strip; to divest, to cast off	diosg-
diota	to imbibe, to booze, to tipple
diraddio	to degrade; to dismiss	diraddi-
dirprwyo	to deputize, to appoint a deputy; to act as a delegate, deputy or representative	dirprwy-
distewi	to be, keep or become silent, to silence, to hush	distaw-
distrywio	to destroy	distrywi-
distyllu	to distil, to drip, to fall in drops	distyll-
diweddu	to end, to conclude, to finish	diwedd-
diwydianeiddio	to industrialize	diwydianeiddi-
dodwy	to lay eggs	dodw-
dogfennu	to document	dogfenn-
dreifio	to drive	dreifi-
dryllio	to break to pieces, to shatter, to wreck	drylli-
dweud y drefn wrth rywun	to tell someone off
dyddodi	to deposit (layer of sediment, fat), to precipitate	dyddod-
dyfeisio	to invent, to devise	dyfeisi-
dyfnhau	to deepen	dyfnha-
dyfrio	to water, to irrigate	dyfri-
dylunio	to design	dyluni-
dylynu wrth	to adhere to, to cling to	dylyn-
dynesu	to approach, to draw near, to come nearer	dynes-
echdynnu	to extract	echdynn-
eilio	to plait, to braid, to interweave; to compose (song or poetry)	eili-
eilio	to second	eili-
eilunaddoli	to idolise	eilunaddol-
eneinio	to anoint	eneini-
enllibio	to slander, to malign	enllibi-
eplesu	to ferment	eples-
euogfarnu	to convict, to find guilty	euogfarn-
euro	to gild	eur-
ewyllysio (i)	to will	ewyllysi-
ewynnu	to foam	ewynn-
ffansïo	to fancy	ffansï-
ffieiddio	to abhor, to detest, to loathe, to hate; to be digusted at, to be revolted by	ffieiddi-
ffromi	to be angry, to rage, to fume	ffrom-
ffrwtian	to splutter (also of engine)	ffrwti-
ffrwythloni	to fertilize (impregnate), to become or be fruitful	ffrwythlon-
ffyrnigo	to become angry or enraged, to grow fierce	ffyrnig-
gaeafgysgu	to hibernate	gaeafgysg-
galarnadu	to lament	galarnad-
gefeillio	to twin	gefeilli-
geirio	to express in words, to word	geiri-
gellwng	to allow to go, to let, to permit, to leave to, to release	gellyng-
glasu	to turn blue	glas-
gloddesta	to revel, to carouse, to feast; (g) revelry, carousal, feasting
glynu (at)	to stick (to), to glue	glyn-
godinebu	to commit adultery, to fornicate	godineb-
goddiweddyd	to catch up with, to catch fugitive, to overtake	goddiwedd-
gogoneddu	to glorify, to extol	gogonedd-
gohebu	to report, to correspond	goheb-
goleddfu	to slope, to slant; to modify (in grammar)	goleddf-
goresgyn	to gain possession of; to overcome, to defeat	goresgyn-
gori	to brood, to sit on eggs	gor-
gorlenwi	to overfill	gorlanw-, gorlenw-
gorweithio	to overwork, to cause to overwork	gorweithi-
gorwneud	to overdo, to exaggerate
graeanu	to grit (road etc.), to spread gravel over	graean-
grilio	to grill (food)	grili-
grymuso	to strengthen	grymus-
gwamalu	to be frivolous, to waver	gwamal-
gwangalonni	to lose heart, to become discouraged; to discourage	gwangalonn-
gwarafun (i)	to forbid, to prohibit; to prevent, to hinder, to deny; to begrudge, to resent	gwarafun-
gwarantu	to guarantee (a product etc. by agreement)	gwarant-
gwastatu	to level, to make level or even	gwastat-
gwawrio	to dawn	gwawri-
gwelwi	to grow pale	gwelw-
gwersylla	to camp	gwersyll-
gweu	to weave, to knit	gwe-
gweud	to say (= dweud) (De Cymru)	gwed-
gwledda	to feast, to revel	gwledd-
gwreichioni	to spark, to emit sparks	gwreichion-
gwrteithio	to fertilize (with manure, compost etc.)	gwrteithi-
gwrthdystio	to protest, to remonstrate; to give counter-evidence	gwrthdysti-
gwrthryfela	to rebel, to revolt	gwrthryfel-
gwrychio	to bristle	gwrychi-
gwyngalchu	to whitewash	gwyngalch-
hadu	to sow, to produce seed	had-
haeru	to insist, to assert, to allege	haer-
halltu	to salt	hallt-
hamddena	to spend time at leisure, to relax, to take respite	hamdden-
haneru	to halve	haner-
hunanasesu	to self-assess; self-assessment	hunanases-
imiwneiddio	to immunize	imiwneiddi-
impio	to graft; to implant; to (cause to) bud / sprout	impi-
inswleiddio	to insulate (in a technical sense)	inswleiddi-
integru	to integrate (calculus)	integr-
israddio	to downgrade, to demote	israddi-
labelu	to label	label-
llabyddio	to stone (cast stones at)	llabyddi-
llaesu	to slacken	llaes-
llafnrolio	to rollerblade	llafnroli-
llafurio	to toil, to labour, to strive	llafuri-
llanw	(=llenwi) to fill (De Cymru)	llanw-
llawenhau	to gladden, to make cheerful; to rejoice, to be cheerful	llawenha-
lleisio	to voice	lleisi-
llên-ladrata	to plagiarize	llên-ladrata-
llesgáu	to languish, to become feeble, to feel faint	llesga-
llethu	to overwhelm, to swamp, to stifle, to crush, to overpower	lleth-
llewyrchu	to shine, to give light, to gleam; to be successful	llewyrchu
llochesu	to harbour, to shelter	lloches-
lloffa	to glean	lloff-
lluniadu	to draw (in a technical sense)	lluniad-
llurgunio	to distort (facts, the truth), to mangle, to disfigure, to corrupt	llurguni-
llwydo	to turn grey, to go mouldy	llwyd-
llwyfannu	to stage (theatrical or musical performance); to appear on stage	llwyfann-
llwyo	to spoon out, to ladle out	llwy-
llyfnhau	to make smooth, to level, to polish	llyfnha-
llyfnu	to harrow; to smooth	llyfn-
llythyru	to correspond by letter, to write letters	llythyr-
maglu	to snare, to trap	magl-
magu pwysau	to put on weight
malurio	to smash (to bits), to pulverize	maluri-
manwerthu	to retail	manwerth-
marchogaeth	to ride a horse	marchog-
martsio	to march (to make a marching movement)	martsi-
masnachu	to trade	masnach-
medi	to reap, to harvest	med-
meddalu	to soften, to become soft	meddal-
meddyginiaethu	to medicate, to treat medically	meddyginiaeth-
meiddio	to dare, to venture, to presume	meiddi-
meindio	to mind, to care	meindi-
meintoli	to quantify	meintol-
meiriol	to thaw, to melt	meiriol-
melynu	to become yellow; to make yellow or golden	melyn-
melysu	to sweeten	melys-
melltithio	to put a curse on, to curse	melltithi-
mercheta	to chase wowen, to womanise, to flirt	merchet-
merlota	to go pony trekking
methdalu	to be bankrupt, to be insolvent; bankruptcy	methdal-
mewnfudo	to immigrate	mewnfud-
moduro	to motor, to drive	modur-
modylu	to modulate (in physics)	modyl-
moelyd	to overturn (turn vehicle etc. upside down), to topple (De Cymru) (from "ymhoelyd")	moel-
moli	to praise (in worship / adulation)	mol-
morgeisio	to mortgage	morgeisi-
morio	to voyage by sea, to sail	mori-
morthwylio	to hammer	morthwyli-
mudferwi	to simmer	mudferw-
mudo	to move, to migrate, to move something from one place to another	mud-
nadu	to prevent, to hinder, not to allow	nad-
naddu	to shape with a sharp tool, to chip (at), to hew, to whittle, to trim, to carve	nadd-
negyddu	to negate	negydd-
nodweddu	to characterize, to be characteristic of, to distinguish	nodwedd-
nychu	to become weak or feeble, to waste away, to pine; to make weak, to enfeeble	nych-
nyddu	to spin (wool, yarn), to wind, to twist	nydd-
odi	to snow (Gogledd-ddwyrain Cymru)	od-
odli	to rhyme	odl-
olynu	to succeed, to follow (in succession)	olyn-
optimeiddio	to optimize	optimeiddi-
paldaruo	to talk nonsense, to blather (Gogledd Cymru)	paldaru-
parablu	to utter, to say, to speak, to babble	parabl-
parlysu	to paralyse	parlys-
paru	to pair	par-
pasteureiddio	to pasturize	pasteureiddi-
peillio	to pollinate	peilli-
perffeithio	to perfect	perffeithi-
picedu	to picket	piced-
pilio	to peel	pili-
piltran	to potter about, to fiddle (Gogledd Cymru)	piltr-
pistyllio ['r glaw]	to pour with rain	pistilli-
plagio	to plague, to afflict, to annoy, to pester	plagi-
pledio	to plead (in law), to offer as excuse or justification	pledi-
plicio	to peel, to pluck (feathers), pluck stringed instrument	plici-
plisgo	to shell, to peel, to exfoliate	plisg-
plismona	to police, policing
plymio	to dive, to dip, to sound (for depth), to plunge (into); to plumb	plymi-
poblogeiddio	to popularize	poblogeiddi-
pontio	to bridge, to span	ponti-
portreadu	to portray, to represent	portread-
prinhau	to become scarce, to diminish; to make scarce, to restrict, to curtail	prinha-
priodoli	to attribute, to ascribe	priodol-
prisio	to price; pricing	prisi-
puro	to purify, to refine	pur-
pwrcasu	to purchase	pwrcas-
pwyllgora	to hold, frequent or attend committees
recriwtio	to recruit	recriwti-
rhacanu	to rake (De Cymru)	rhacan-
rhagdalu	to prepay	rhagdal-
rhagfynegi	to predict (in a technical sense)	rhagfyneg-
rhaglennu	to program; programming	rhaglenn-
rhamantu	to romance; to romanticize	rhamant-
rhechain	to fart	rhech-
rhefru	to babble, to rant, to scold, to complain	rhefr-
rheibio	to seize by force, to ravage, to plunder; to bewitch, to cast a spell on	rheibi-
rheoleiddio	to regulate (control indirectly through rules, processes or effects)	rheoleiddi-
rhicio	to score (a scratch or notch), to notch, to groove	rhici-
rhincian dannedd	to gnash / to grind teeth (especially from rage)	rhinci-
rhoid	(= rhoi) to give, to put, to place (Gogledd Cymru)	rhodd-, rhoi-
rhwydo	to net	rhwyd-
rhychu	to crumple, to crease, to wrinkle, to become rumpled; to cut trenches / furrows / grooves	rhych-
rhyfela	to wage war, to war	rhyfel-
rhynnu	to suffer from cold, to freeze; to cause to be freezing cold	rhynn-
saernïo	to fashion, to construct, to build (as an artisan; also figuratively)	saernï-
samplu	to select or capture samples (in a technical sense)	sampl-
sarnu	to trample on, to spoil, to spill	sarn-
sboncio	to bounce, to spring	sbonci-
sbrotian	to rummage, to nose about	sbroti-
seboni	to soap, to lather; to soft-soap, to flatter	sebon-
segura	to idle, to laze	segur-
sengi (ar)	to tread (on), to trample on	sang-
Seisnigo	to Anglicize	Seisnig-
selio	to seal	seli-
serennu	to shine like a star, to sparkle, to twinkle, to shine brilliantly, to dazzle	serenn-
sganio	to scan (in a technical sense e.g. with a machine)	scani-
sglefrfyrddio	to skateboard	sglefrfyrddi-
sglefrolio	to roller skate, to rollerblade	sglefroli-
sgleinio	to gleam, to shine (be or make shiny), to polish	sgleini-
sgrinio	to screen (for disease etc.)	sgrini-
sgriwio	to screw	sgriwi-
sgwrio	to scour (clean / polish by rubbing), to purge	sgwri-
siffrwd	to make a rustling sound, to shuffle (cards etc.)	siffryd-
sleifio	to wriggle, to steal past, to slink, to creep	sleifi-
sleisio	to slice	sleisi-
smentio	to cement	smenti-
snorclo	to snorkel	snorcl-
sodro	to solder, to fix firmly in place, to place firmly	sodr-
steilio	to style	steili-
stelcian	to skulk, to stalk, to prowl, to lurk	stelci-
stido bwrw glaw	to pour with rain (Gogledd Cymru)
stilo	to iron (De Cymru)	stil-
straffaglio	to struggle	straffagli-
stryffaglio	to struggle	stryffagli-
stwna	to potter about, to fiddle about
suro	to sour	sur-
swatio	to crouch, to squat; to cuddle, to snuggle (up) in bed	swati-
sychlanhau	to dry clean	sychlanheu-, sychlanha-
syflyd	to budge, to move, to stir	syfl-
syfrdanu	to stun, to stupefy, to amaze, to astound	syfrdan-
syrffedu	to suffer from a surfeit, to feel fed up, to overindulge, to be bored stiff	syrffed-
taeru	to insist, to assert, to argue, to disagree	taer-
taflunio	to project (an image)	tafluni-
taranu	to thunder, to sound with thunder	taran-
teilwra	to tailor	teilwr-
teneuo	to thin (out), to dwindle	teneu-
tirlenwi	to landfill	tirlenw-
tonni	to undulate, to form waves, to oscillate, to surge up, to fall in waves (of hair)	tonn-
traddodi	to deliver (verdict, speech, sermon); to hand down, to hand over, to transfer	traddod-
traethu	to talk, to narrate, to relate, to speak (publicly)	traeth-
trafaelio	to travel; to labour	trafaeli-
traflyncu	to guzzle, to gobble up, to devour	traflync-
trawsgyweirio	to change key, to transpose, to modulate (in music)	trawsgyweiri-
treiglo	to mutate (grammar); to roll	treigl-
treio	to ebb, to drain away	trei-
tresio bwrw glaw	to pour (thrash) with rain
tresmasu	to trespass, to encroach, to infringe	tresmas-
troedio	to tread, to step	troedi-
trosleisio	to dub, to do a voice-over	trosleisi-
trydaneiddio	to electrify	trydaneiddi-
trydar	to tweet, to chirp, to twitter	trydar-
tryledu	to diffuse (in physics and chemistry)	tryled-
trysori	to treasure	trysor-
twrio	to rummage, to burrow (= tyrchu, turio)	twri-
tyllu	to make a hole or holes [in], to dig, to bore, to drill, to perforate	tyll-
tyrru	to pile up, to amass, to throng	tyrr-
tystio	to testify, to witness	tysti-
unioni	to straighten, to put right, to redress	union-
wado	to beat, to strike (De Cymru)	wad-
wyna	to give birth to lamb, to lamb
ymbarchuso	to make oneself respectable, to become respectable	ymbarchus-
ymbellhau (oddi wrth)	to distance oneself (from), to go further away	ymbellha-
ymdoddi	to integrate (into society); to melt, to dissolve, to merge	ymdodd-
ymdrochi	to immerse oneself (in water, or figuratively), to bathe	ymdroch-
ymdynghedu	to swear an oath, to vow, to pledge	ymdynghed-
ymddiddan	to converse, to chat, to speak	ymddiddan-
ymfudo	to emigrate, to migrate, to move (house)	ymfud-
ymgeleddu	to care for; to cherish, to succour, to provide shelter / comfort / food	ymgeledd-
ymgodymu	to wrestle, to grapple	ymgodym-
ymgolli	to lose oneself	ymgoll-
ymgreinio	to grovel, to prostrate oneself, to wallow	ymgreini-
ymgrymu	to bow, to stoop	ymgrym-
ymgyfarwyddo	to get acquainted with, to familiarise oneself with, to get used to	ymgyfarwydd-
ymgynnull	to assemble, to congregate, to gather together	ymgynull-
ymhél â rhywbeth	to be involved with something	ymheli-
ymhelaethu	to elaborate, to expand on	ymhelaeth-
ymlwybro	to make one's way, to wander	ymlwybr-
ymofyn	to seek, to desire, to want	ymofynn-
ymrafael	to differ; to disagree, to quarrel, to wrangle	ymrafael-
ymresymu	to reason, to think logically, to argue	ymresym-
ymryson	to compete, to contend, to quarrel	ymryson-
ymsefydlu	to establish oneself	ymsefydl-
ymsuddo	to sink, to submerge, to immerse oneself	ymsudd-
ymwrthod	to abstain (from), to refuse, to reject, to forsake	ymwrthod-
ysgafnhau	to lighten (load, weight)	ysgafnha-
ysglyfaethu	to prey upon, to plunder	ysglyfaeth-
ysgwyddo	to shoulder	ysgwydd-
ysigo	to sprain, to buckle (distort)	ysig-
ystreulio	to rinse	ystreuli-
ystwytho	to make or become supple	ystwyth-

Background

• State: California
• Ethnicity: South Asian
• Undergraduate: UC Davis
• Major: Biological Sciences, Psychology
• First Member of family to go to college and obtain bachelors
• Grew up in small town - Rural
• No family members in medicine

Stats

• cGPA: 3.77
  • UC GPA: 3.93, All As last 94 units
• sGPA: 3.71
• MCAT: 507 (129/123/129/126), 1 attempt

Extracurriculars

• Research Experience:
  • 3 years, 2500 hours in Epigenetics Asthma Lab
• Publications/Abstracts/Posters:
  • 1 Co-author graduate level textbook chapter publication.
  • 1 Co-author publication that has not yet been submitted
• Clinical Experience (paid or volunteer):
  • 1500 Hours Scribing in the ER, new scribe job in April working in the ER,
  • 750 hours COVID Testing and Vaccine Clinic Volunteer at a private practice
  • 1000 hours volunteering with assigned patients at a hospice
  • 50 hours volunteering for student run vaccine clinic during pandemic
• Shadowing:
  • 20 hours with Orthopedic Surgeon,
  • 48 hours with OMM DO Physician
  • 8 hours with Pediatrician
• Non-Clinical Volunteering
  • 2000 hours Volunteering as a driver for Meals on Wheels
  • 100 hours volunteering in Pre-Med AMSA Club
  • 100 hours as Orientation Leader at my university
  • 100 hours as a mentor for 1st year undergraduates through program
• Hobbies
  • Basketball
  • Building Legos
• Employment - Non Clinical
  • Walmart
  • Kumon Classroom Assistant
• Honors/Awards
  • Dean's List x 4
  • Summa Cum Laude

School List (MD) - 39 Schools

• UC Davis
• UCLA
• UCSF
• UCSD
• California University
• Cal Northstate
• Tulane
• Creighton
• Rosalind Franklin
• Loyola
• Rush
• Medical College of Wisconsin
• Oakland Beaumont
• Wayne State
• Wright State
• NOVA MD
• Belmont
• Wake Forest
• Virginia Commonwealth
• Eastern Virginia
• Western Virginia
• George Washington
• Georgetown
• Drexel
• Temple
• Jefferson
• Penn State
• Hackensack
• Albany
• Vermont
• Quinnipiac
• University of Illinois
• University of Toledo
• Carver College of Medicine
• Cooper
• SLU
• Geisinger
• SUNY Upsate
• SUNY Downstate

School List (DO) - 28 Schools

• Western University of Health Sciences
• Touro CA
• Touro Nevada
• Touro NY
• MSU-COM
• Marian
• Des Moines
• MidWestern Arizona
• MidWestern Chicago
• Kansas City University
• ATSU Kirksville
• Campbell University
• Philadelphia College
• NYIT COM
• Alabama College of Medicine
• University of Incarnate World Texas
• Rowan
• University of North Texas
• Ohio University Heritage
• Oklahoma State University
• LECOM
• William Carey
• Rocky Vista
• Idaho College
• Burell
• Liberty University
• Edward College of Medicine (VCOM)
• Western Virginia