1. "Hold On" — Wilson Phillips
2. "Livin' La Vida Loca" — Ricky Martin
3. "Kiss Me" — Sixpence None the Richer
4. "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" — Bryan Adams
5. "What is Love?" — Haddaway
6. "I Will Always Love You" — Whitney Houston
7. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" — Nirvana
8. "Baby Got Back" — Sir Mix-A-Lot
9. "Jump" — Kris Kross
10. "End of the Road" — Boyz II Men
11. "Losing My Religion" — REM
12. "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)" — Meat Loaf
13. "Creep" — Radiohead
14. "I Swear" — All-4-One
15. "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" — The Proclaimers
16. "The Power of Love" — Celine Dion
17. "Whoomp! (There It Is)" — Tag Team
18. "Loser" — Beck
19. "Tootsee Roll" — 69 Boyz
20. "MMMBop" — Hanson
21. "Waterfalls" — TLC
22. "Smooth" — Santana feat. Rob Thomas
23. "Good Vibrations" — Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch
24. "Kiss From a Rose" — Seal
25. "You Oughta Know" — Alanis Morissette
26. "Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)" — Los Del Rïo
27. "No Diggity" — Blackstreet feat. Dr. Dre and Queen Pen
28. "Wonderwall" — Oasis
29. "Why Don't You Get a Job?" — The Offspring
30. "Un-Break My Heart" — Toni Braxton
31. "Truly Madly Deeply" — Savage Garden
32. "It's All Coming Back to Me" – Celine Dion
33. "Always Be My Baby" — Mariah Carey
34. "...Baby One More Time" — Britney Spears
35. "I'll Make Love To You" — Boyz II Men
36. "Wannabe" — Spice Girls
37. "Gangsta's Paradise" — Coolio feat. L.V.
38. "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" — Backstreet Boys
39. "Tubtumping (I Get Knocked Down)" — Chumbawamba
40. "Barbie Girl" — Aqua
41. "Man! I Feel Like a Woman! — Shania Twain
42. "Ice Ice Baby" — Vanilla Ice
43. "The Boy Is Mine" — Brandy and Monica
44. "No Scrubs" — TLC
45. "The River of Dreams" — Billy Joel
46. "C'est La Vie" — B*Witched
47. "Closing Time" — Semisonic
48. "Mambo No. 5" — Lou Bega
49. "Waiting for Tonight" — Jennifer Lopez
50. "All Star" — Smash Mouth
51. "Regulate" – Warren G feat. Nate Dogg
52. "Blue (Da Ba Dee)" – Eiffel 65
53. "Return of the Mack" – Mark Morrison
54. "Juicy" – The Notorious BIG
55. "Tha Crossroads" – Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
56. "Every Morning" – Sugar Ray
57. "What Would You Do?" – City High
58. "Save Tonight" – Eagle-Eye Cherry
59. "Don't Speak" – No Doubt
60. "What I Got" — Sublime

Link to article

So we're smack in the middle of 2024 and AEW, the self-proclaimed progressive pro wrestling promotion had two racially coded segments.
The first- which led off the show- was MJF making fun of Rush's Mexican accent. This was anticipated on X: https://x.com/futurafreesky/status/1798464987511300536
MJF to Rush after Rush cut one of his important promos in AEW (while the Colorado fans chanted "WHAT?"): "I didn't get any of that, okay...Could you guys hear Rush?..Rush could you run that by us one more time?"
Of course MJF covered the racism by making fun of AEW's audio issues, and this seemed to have placated fans on other subreddits.
But this is MJF, the same guy who made fun of Takeshita's name and Japanese heritage. Yes, MJF the guy who gets triggered by any criticism of his religion.
And I am a big fan of MJF and AEW. This is more of an indictment on the lack of quality control and it doesn't seem that anyone is protected in a promo duel with MJF. Reminds me of when Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, The Rock, and John Cena would bury people on the mic.
The second dose of subtle racism occurred when Chris Jericho wanted to make Private Party a Public Party for all to enjoy. Isiah Kassidy replied, "Ya'll don't fit our dynamic - if you know what I mean." Bryan Keith got upset but Kassidy assured his fellow Black wrestler that "I was talking to him, not you." In other words, more racial coding.
I get that AEW's business philosophy was to foster wrestlers to have freedom to do and say whatever they want, but it was also supposed to be a company which is against the "old ways" of racism, sexism, and jingoism. Yet we have seen examples of each in AEW's five years. Tony Khan himself isn't part of the "good old boys fraternity", so it really is disappointing.
I get that there is a section of nostalgic fans who still love the Attitude Era and all the politically correct stuff that went with it, but those fans aren't into AEW. In fact, they hate it. So appealing to them is a fool's game. AEW should be much more sophisticated. Just because wrestling has always had racism doesn't mean AEW has to pay homage to it.

Repost cause reddit deleted my first and second posts due to the use of the word " w a r ", again.
Edit 2: Alright, this is gonna be the last time I update the list 😭 The bot keeps on getting triggered and deleting it.
This is a list of books and articles that you can mostly check for free right now using Anna's Archive. They go from things like capitalism, to feminism, mutual-aid, indigenous societies, anthropology, colonialism and so on.

• The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity by David Graeber and David Wengrow
  
• The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
  
• Why Women Have Better Sex Under Socialism: And Other Arguments for Economic Independence by Kristen Rogheh Ghodsee
  
• The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love by bell hooks
  
• Sex at Dawn: How We Mate, Why We Stray, and What It Means for Modern Relationships by Cacilda Jethá and Christopher Ryan
  
• Capitalist Realism: Is There No Alternative? by Mark Fisher
  
• Bullshit Jobs: A Theory by David Graeber
  
• The Divide: A Brief Guide to Global Inequality and its Solutions by Jason Hickel
  
• The Tyranny of Merit: What's Become of the Common Good? by Michael J. Sandel
  
• How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States by Daniel Immerwahr
  
• Capital in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas Piketty
  
• Blackshirts and Reds: Rational Fascism and the Overthrow of Communism by Michael Parenti
  
• Thinking, Fast And Slow by Daniel Kahneman
  
• The Jakarta Method: Washington's Anticommunist Crusade and the Mass Murder Program that Shaped Our World by Vincent Bevins
  
• When God Was a Woman: The Landmark Exploration of the Ancient Worship of the Great Goddess and the Eventual Supression of Women's Rites by Merlin Stone
  
• The Great Cosmic Mother: Rediscovering the Religion of the Earth by Monica Sjöö
  
• The Truth Will Set You Free, But First It Will Piss You Off! Thoughts on Life, Love and Rebellion by Gloria Steinem
  
• Entitled: How Male Privilege Hurts Women by Kate Manne
  
• Rage Becomes Her: The Power of Women's Anger by Soraya Chemaly
  
• The Story of B: An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit by Daniel Quinn
  
• Blood and Soil: A World History of Genocide and Extermination from Sparta to Darfur by Ben Kiernan
  
• The Creation Of Patriarchy: The Origins of Women's Subordination (Women and History, Volume 1) by Gerda Lerner
  
• Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA by Tim Weiner
  
• Birth Strike: The Hidden Fight Over Women's Work by Jenny Brown
  
• Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear by Mosab Abu Toha
  
• End Times: Elites, Counter-Elites and the Path of Political Disintegration by Peter Turchin
  
• Capitalism and Extreme Poverty: A Global Analysis of Real Wages, Human Height, and Mortality Since the Long 16th Century by Dylan Sullivan and Jason Hickel
  
• The Culture of Narcissism: American Life in an Age of Diminishing Expectations by Christopher Lasch
  
• Ishmael by Daniel Quinn
  
• Proposals for the Femenine Economy by Jennifer Armbrust
  
• Education or Indoctrination? The Violent Origins of Public School Systems in an Era of State-Building by Agustina S. Paglayan, Cambridge University Press
  
• The Chalice and the Blade: Our History, Our Future by Riane Eisler
  
• Women at the Center: Life in a Modern Matriarchy by Peggy Reeves Sanday
  
• Female Power and Male Dominance: On the Origins of Sexual Inequality by Peggy Reeves Sanday
  
• A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose, Debt, Service, and the Origins of Capitalism by Eckhart Tolle
  
• The Patriarchs: How Men Came to Rule by Angela Saini
  
• Making Space for Indigenous Feminism by Joyce Green
  
• Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire
  
• RAD YOUTH LIB: Dismantling the Roots of All Oppression by Alba Miccio
  
• This Hurts Me More Than It Hurts You: In Words and Pictures, Children Share How Spanking Hurts and What To Do Instead by Nadine A. Block and Madeleine Y. Gomez
  
• NO! Against Adult Supremacy by Samantha Godwin, Kathleen Nicole O’Neal, Cevin Soling, Damien Sojoyner and Marc Silverstein
  
• Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds by Adrienne Maree Brown
  
• All About Love: New Visions by bell hooks
  
• Present Shock: When Everything Happens Now by Douglas Rushkoff
  
• Buddha in Redface by Eduardo Duran
  
• Quantum Coyote Dreams the Black World: Buddha in Redface Saga Continues by Eduardo Duran
  
• Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask by Anton Treuer
  
• Path of Purpose: Apply the Ancient Anishinaabe Teachings by Everett LaFromboise
  
• Unsettling Truths: The Ongoing, Dehumanizing Legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery by Mark Charles and Soong-Chan Rah
  
• Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West by Dee Brown
  
• An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
  
• The History of White People by Nell Irvin Painter
  
• Ojibwe Waasa Inaabidaa: We Look In All Directions by Thomas Peacock
  
• Beyond Civilization: Humanity's Next Great Adventure by Daniel Quinn
  
• If They Give You Lined Paper, Write Sideways by Daniel Quinn
  
• The End of Love: Racism, Sexism, and the Death of Romance by Sabrina Strings
  
• Trust Kids!: Stories on Youth Autonomy and Confronting Adult Supremacy by Carla Bergman
  
• Childhood by Chris Jenks
  
• For Your Own Good: Hidden Cruelty in Child-Rearing and the Roots of Violence by Alice Miller
  
• Escape from Childhood: The Needs and Rights of Children by John Holt
  
• The Mastery of Love: A Practical Guide to the Art of Relationship by Miguel Ángel Ruiz Macías
  
• The Devouring Mother: The Collective Unconscious in the Time of Corona by Simon Sheridan
  
• Childism: Confronting Prejudice Against Children by Elisabeth Young-Bruehl
  
• Cults in Our Midst: The Continuing Fight Against Their Hidden Menace by Margaret Thaler Singer
  
• The BITE Model and Mormon Control: Recognizing Totalism through Behavior, Information, Thoughts, Emotions by Luna Lindsey
  
• Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism: A Study of 'Brainwashing' in China by Robert Jay Lifton
  
• Refusing Compulsory Sexuality: A Black Asexual Lens on Our Sex-Obsessed Culture by Sherronda J. Brown
  
• The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State by Friedrich Engels
  
• Communion: The Female Search for Love by bell hooks
  
• How We Show Up: Reclaiming Family, Friendship, and Community by Mia Birdsong
  
• Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity During This Crisis (and the Next) by Dean Spade
  
• Palaces for the People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of Civic Life by Eric Klinenberg
  
• Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
  
• Care Work: Dreaming Disability Justice by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha
  
• The Care Manifesto: The Politics of Interdependence by The Care Collective
  
• Orientalism by Edward W. Said
  
• A Great Place to Have a W a r: America in Laos and the Birth of a Military CIA by Joshua Kurlantzick
  
• A W a r of Frontier and Empire: The Philippine-American W a r, 1899-1902 by David J. Silbey
  
• America as Overlord: From World W a r Two to the Vietnam W a r by Hal Draper
  
• The Long Honduran Night: Resistance, Terror, and the United States in the Aftermath of the Coup by Dana Frank
  
• Predatory States: Operation Condor and Covert W a r in Latin America by J. Patrice McSherry
  
• Who Rules the World? by Noam Chomsky
  
• Tomorrow's Battlefield : U.S. Proxy W a r s and Secret Ops in Africa by Nick Turse
  
• A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn
  
• Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen by Liliʻuokalani
  
• The Gaza Strip: The Political Economy of De-Development by Sara Roy
  
• Hommes, Femmes : la Construction de la Différence by Françoise Héritier
  
• Masculin/Féminin: La Pensée de la Différence by Françoise Héritier
  
• Masculin Féminin II: Dissoudre la Hiérarchie by Françoise Héritier
  
• La Plus Belle Histoire des Femmes by Françoise Héritier
  
• Communist Manifesto by Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx
  
• The State and the Revolution: The Marxist Doctrine of the State and the Tasks of the Proletariat in the Revolution by Vladimir Lenin
  
• Capital: A Critique of Political Economy by Karl Marx
  
• Heartland: A Memoir of Working Hard And Being Broke in the Richest Country on Earth by Sarah Smarsh
  
• The Hundred Years' W a r On Palestine: A History of Settler Colonialism and Resistance, 1917-2017 by Rashid Khalidi
  
• Another Now: Dispatches from an Alternative Present by Yanis Varoufakis
  
• Culture and Imperialism by Edward Said
  
• The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon
  
• The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine by Ilan Pappé
  
• Vulture Capitalism: Corporate Crimes, Backdoor Bailouts, and the Death of Freedom by Grace Blakeley
  
• Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty by Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson
  
• Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media by Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky
  
• Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity by Judith Butler
  
• The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir
  
• The Countercultural Logic of Neoliberalism by David Hancock
  
• Martin van Buren and the American Political System by Donald B. Cole
  
• Confessions of an Economic Hit Man: The Shocking Story of How America Really Took Over the World by John Perkins
  
• Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right by Jane Mayer
  
• True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature Of Mass Movements by Eric Hoffer
  
• Gangs of America: The Rise of Corporate Power and the Disabling of Democracy by Ted Nace
  
• The Great Challenge: The Myth of Laissez-Faire in the Early Republic by Frank Bourgin
  
• The Great Leveler: Violence and the History of Inequality from the Stone Age to the Twenty-First Century by Walter Scheidel
  
• Peddling Prosperity: Economic Sense and Nonsense in the Age of Diminished Expectations by Paul Krugman
  
• Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism by Naomi Klein
  
• Epistemic Injustice: Power and the Ethics of Knowing by Miranda Fricker
  
• The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt
  
• Hatred of Capitalism: A Semiotext(e) Reader
  
• Molecular Revolution in Brazil by Felix Guattari
  
• The Age of Consent: A Manifesto for a New World Order by George Monbiot
  
• Power: A Radical View by Steven Lukes
  
• Collapse Feminism: The Online Battle for Feminism's Future by Alice Capelle
  
• Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present by Harriet A. Washington
  
• The Everyday World As Problematic: A Feminist Sociology by Dorothy Smith
  
• The Hidden Spring: A Journey to the Source of Consciousness by Mark Solms
  
• The Experience Machine: How Our Minds Predict and Shape Reality by Andy Clark
  
• The Strange Order of Things: Life, Feeling, and the Making of Cultures by António Damásio
  
• Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison by Michel Foucault
  
• In Memory of Feast - Memories of Residential School Survivors by Judy Reuben
  
• Black Skin, White Mask by Frantz Fanon
  
• Feminist, Queer, Crip by Alison Kafer
  
• Pain and Prejudice: A call to arms for women and their bodies by Gabrielle Jackson
  
• Disability Intimacy: Essays on Love, Care, and Desire by Alice Wong
  
• Decolonizing Methodologies: Research and Indigenous Peoples by Linda Tuhiwai Smith
  
• Indigenous and Decolonizing Studies in Education: Mapping the Long View
  
• Half-Bads in White Regalia: A Memoir by Cody Caetano
  
• The Colonizer and the Colonized by Albert Memmi
  
• The Science of the Sacred: Bridging Global Indigenous Medicine Systems and Modern Scientific Principles by Nicole Redvers
  
• Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
  
• Earth Democracy: Justice, Sustainability and Peace by Vandana Shiva
  
• This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color by Cherríe Moraga
  
• Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt by Chris Hedges
  
• Nuclear W a r: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen
  
• Parable of the Sower by Octavia Estelle Butler
  
• The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine by Ilan Pappe
  
• Minor Detail by Adania Shibli
  
• Ten Myths About Israel by Ilan Pappe
  
• Except for Palestine: The Limits of Progressive Politics by Marc Lamont Hill and Mitchell Plitnick
  
• The Hundred Years' W a r On Palestine: A History of Settler Colonialism and Resistance, 1917-2017 by Rashid Khalidi
  
• Against the Loveless World: A Novel by Susan Abulhawa
  
• They Called Me a Lioness: A Palestinian Girl's Fight for Freedom by Ahed Tamimi and Dena Takruri
  
• The Palestine Laboratory: How Israel Exports the Technology of Occupation Around the World by Antony Loewenstein
  
• Wild Thorns by Sahar Jalifa
  
• Squire by Nadia Shammas and Sara Alf a geeh (Note: Alf a geeh has been separated because reddit)
  
• PostCapitalism: A Guide to Our Future by Paul Mason
  
• Uncultured: A Memoir by Daniella Mestyanek Young
  
• A Politics of Love: A Handbook for a New American Revolution by Marianne Williamson
  
• Voices of the Nakba: A Living History of Palestine
  
• Palestine's Children: Returning to Haifa & Other Stories by Ghassan Kanafani
  
• Metaphors We Live By by George Lakoff and Mark Johnson
  
• Science Policy in the Soviet Union, 1917 - 1927 by Paul R. Josephson
  
• Is the Red Flag Flying?: The Political Economy of the Soviet Union today by Albert Szymanski
  
• Human Rights in the Soviet Union by Albert Szymanski
  
• Development of Education in Socialist Countries by Zoya A. Malkova
  
• The Soviet Woman — a Full and Equal Citizen of Her Country by Alexandra Kollontai
  
• Decolonizing Conservation: Global Voices for Indigenous Self-Determination, Land, and a World in Common
  
• The Women Founders: Sociology and Social Theory 1830-1930 by Patricia Madoo Lengermann and Gillian Niebrugge
  
• We Survived the End of the World: Lessons from Native America on Apocalypse and Hope by Steven Charleston
  
• Governing the Commons: The Evolution of Institutions for Collective Action by Elinor Ostrom
  
• Microbes and Other Shamanic Beings by César E. Giraldo Herrera
  
• The Turnaway Study: The Cost of Denying Women Access to Abortion by Diana Greene Foster
  
• Thinking in Systems: A Primer by Donella Meadows
  
• Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will by Robert Sapolsky
  

Decolonize your mind, create class consciousness, build a community, dismantle the kyriarchy, flip the script and eat the rich ✊️

So, to start it off, i, M (15) and my grandfather is 67. He has had 2 wives in the past and is now on his 3rd. I am the grandchild of the 2nd wife. I've never met the 1st and I'm in balance relationship with the 3rd
Ever since I was a kid, he has spoiled me rotten with money, fast food, taking me out, etc. but his behaviour is shit. Shit towards wife number 2(when they were together) and the current one. How he is shit is not important but one behaviour. He cheats. Everyone knows that. All the wives know, all his children know, and I know. But no one is doing a thing about it.
Anyway, about this cheating stuff, I thought he only messages women and going out with them. But just today, while I'm at his hometown, he told me to help him with notifications. I didn't think much of the type of motifs he was getting until I saw it. It was the typical "Jenny is 5 minutes away from you" followed by a picture of a woman in a bra. And sometimes with a HIJAB (we are Malaysian). So I was worried out but didn't say anything cuz we all know, if you get notifications, it's based off what you have searched on Google/Chrome.
So, while he was buying bananas, he left his phone. I got a glimpse of his password and took it to my advantage. I looked at his google history and Lo and Behold, he has SO MANY SEARCH HISTORY FROM XHAMSTER. (If you didn't know what xhamster is, it's a 🌽 website) and it's all about Malay women. I am disgusted. And mad. I am mad because he is the type to advise all of us (family) on religion. How we should be scared if we don't do this or do that. I don't mind about getting advise but he's a hypocrite. I told my mom and she just laughed. Not mad or sad. It's like she knew or expected it lol. Anyway, am I the asshole for looking through?

Through meditation we believe that we can experience brain states while awake that normally only arise during deep sleep. Remaining still in the meditative posture for an extended period of time, 'tricks' the body and brain into thinking we are asleep. However because we are not laying down, but rather sitting up the body has to engage in a minimal though significant amount of neural and muscular feedback to maintain the meditative posture. It is this subtle feedback that allows us to maintain conscious awareness, without sleep paralysis, as our brain enters deep sleep states. These deep sleep states involve periods where the cortex or dualistic mind has gone 'off-line' and our awareness is able to experience the direct sensory stimulus as it arises in the body, without the meaning and words that arise with the normal cortical integration of these primary sensory stimulus.
As we develop and mature I believe our cortical/thalamic complex gradually creates a VR type experience for our awareness, so gradually we no longer see what arrives at our eyes but rather is what is constructed from the direct sensory experience in the occipital lobe of the cortex - our visual center. By the time we are adults our awareness can no longer directly perceive the external world. It can only see and hear the reprocessed reality as it is reconstructed from direct sensory stimulus, in our cortex. As adults we never see the outside world. We don't see the mountain. We only see the image of a mountain created in our visual cortex.
Without the ability to integrate information the cortex would no longer be able to read or use language and thus the dualistic mind would no longer interfere with the awareness of primary stimulus...and the 'manifold of named things' is extinguished.

These studies have revealed clear-cut differences between conscious and unconscious conditions during wakefulness, sleep, anesthesia, and severe brain injury. When subjects are conscious (i.e., they have any kind of experience, like seeing an image or having a thought), TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) triggers a complex response made of recurrent waves of phase-locked activity.....during early NREM sleep the slow-wave-like response evoked by a cortical perturbation is associated with the occurrence of a cortical down-state...Interestingly, after the down-state cortical activity resumes to wakefulness-like levels, but the phase-locking to the stimulus is lost, indicative of a break in the cause–effect chain...Cortical bistability, as reflected in the loss of phase-locking to a stimulus, leads to a breakdown in the ability of the cortex to integrate information
https://www.nature.com/articles/srep30932

Not all aspects of deep sleep because meditative posture is being maintained

... But the most significant difference is that the body appears to move into a state analogous to many, but not all, aspects of deep sleep, while consciousness remains responsive and alert.
https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/physiologyonline.1998.13.3.149#:~:text=In%20the%20hypometabolic%20state%20induced,is%20also%20decreased%20vascular%20resistance%2C

I spent many years studying Buddhism. I found myself bouncing from one Buddhist school to another. Regardless of which Buddhist school I was looking at, I inevitably found myself involved in discussions of Buddhist hermeneutics – the branch of knowledge that deals with the interpretation of historical literary texts.
Keren Arbel is a Buddhist scholar who recently published a book that challenges our usual approach to the study and attainment of the ‘jhanas’. Keren discusses the jhanas from 2 different prospective - Theravāda commentarial tradition vs the Pali Nikayas. Keren views the difference between these 2 different views of the jhanas as so significant that she goes as far to suggest they may represent and describe totally different experiences.

“What this study does challenge, however, is the assumption that Theravāda commentarial literature refers to the same jhānas as the Nikāyas. The question is, can we look at the jhānas, as they are described in the Nikāyas, with fresh eyes, not conditioned by later interpretations?... Yet, what I am suggesting is that we should be open to the possibility that these two textual corpuses – the Nikāyas and the Theravāda commentarial tradition – might be talking about two different types of experiences brought about by two different types of practices." - Early Buddhist Meditation: The Four Jhanas as the Actualization of Insight (Routledge Critical Studies in Buddhism) 1st Edition http://kerenarbel.com/en/

This incongruity arises because as she puts it

“...every commentary is a product of a certain historical, spiritual and intellectual context; as such, each commentary expresses specific understanding and views. That is, every commentator is rooted in a specific milieu and expresses different interests. The Theravāda commentarial tradition is no exception. It was written in a different context and milieu than the Nikāyas and expresses views and concerns relevant to that point of time and specific understanding of Buddhist practice.”

Leigh Brasington also reminds us

Also, please remember: this is just one person’s understanding of the jhānas. There are many more interpretations out there. Furthermore, my understanding of the jhānas has changed over time. Had I written this book five years earlier, it would be quite different. Nothing stays the same; everything in the universe is in flux—especially human ideas and understanding. Brasington, Leigh. Right Concentration: A Practical Guide to the Jhanas (pp. 160-162). Shambhala. Kindle Edition.

So the basic principles and how they are applied may vary considerably from one culture to the next and from one time period to another. If there can be that much variation between a practice based on the Theravāda commentarial tradition vs a practice based on the Pali Nikāyas, then how much change could have occurred between the time of the Nikāyas to the present day? Perhaps the experience of the jhanas is different today and maybe we should be looking at the jhanas differently than did the Nikayas or Theravadens.
Our cortex is still developing throughout puberty and our prefrontal areas are still developing connections well into our twenties. The way our cortex is ultimately wired and the way our senses become mapped to our external world is affected greatly by the culture in which we develop and the language of that culture. So a practice that was effective a thousand years ago may not work the same way for the modern brain. I see this as why Buddhism, as well as other religions, manifested in so many different ways as it spread from one culture to another. The connections of the brains of each different culture, ideology and language are all a little bit different, with significant ramifications for the type of practice that is effective for each culture.

Increasingly, neuroscientists are finding evidence of functional differences in brain activity and architecture between cultural groups, occupations, and individuals with different skill sets. The implication for neuroanthropology is obvious: forms of enculturation, social norms, training regimens, ritual, and patterns of experience shape how our brains work and are structured. But the predominant reason that culture becomes embodied, even though many anthropologists overlook it, is that neuroanatomy inherently makes experience material. Without material change in the brain, learning, memory, maturation, and even trauma could not happen. Neural systems adapt through long-term refinement and remodeling, which leads to deep enculturation. Through systematic change in the nervous system, the human body learns to orchestrate itself as well as it eventually does. Cultural concepts and meanings become anatomy.
https://neuroanthropology.net/2009/10/08/the-encultured-brain-why-neuroanthropology-why-now/

At the same time I was studying Buddhism, I was also studying the neurosciences and how our brain goes about creating our conscious experience of reality. As you can see from my discussions, I came to view the cortex as the single most important part of the human brain in creating our uniquely human experience, and the part of the brain that is most important in separating us from other primates.
My relationship with Buddhism changed dramatically when I came upon this definition of Nirvana.

Nirvana is defined as the coming to rest of the manifold of named things. - Chandrakirti: Lucid Exposition of the Middle Way

This was a definition I could really sink my teeth into. The part of our brain that names things is the cortex. This definition of nirvana suggested that it was possible to stop the activity of our cortex. It was possible for our awareness to experience reality without the process of naming automatically occurring. The primary function of the cortex is to orchestrate the complex movements that humans engage in during their daily life. This involves inhibiting some movements and adding fine motor control to others. For example the act of human speech involves the manipulation of the human voicebox and our breathing so that speech and breathing can occur concurrently. So if the cortex was involved in the control of our movements, then the way to stop the cortex would be to stop moving, as we do when we go to bed and sleep.
So I began to meditate with the sole objective of not moving. This lead to this experience, which I can still experience in my meditations.

After I had been sitting for some time in a meditative posture, I became aware of the sound of a great river flowing through my ears. My breath became a mighty wind rushing through the caves of my sinuses, in and out like the tide of an unspeakable ocean. Suddenly my eyes rolled over in my head. I was amused and startled because I realized my eyes were not shaped like circular globes but rather like elongated footballs, so they plopped over like a misshapen wheel. The physical coherence of my body dissolved and I became an unlimited amalgamation of countless shimmering orbs/clouds of energy, each emanating a pure white light. This light radiated boundless joy and compassion. The source of the light was a small crystal at the center of each orb. Each crystal vibrated with a unique tone or musical note and together they became what I can only describe as a heavenly symphony. This light radiated boundless joy and compassion. Each breath I took was more pleasurable than anything I had ever experienced. It seemed as each breath brought more pleasure then the sum of all my experiences up to then. The breath flowed through my body like an electrical river of pure energy and joy. I could feel the energy flow in my arms as it crossed over the energy flow in my legs. A small breath would bring this river just to the tips of my fingers, and a large breath would overflow my body with radiant energy. I opened my eyes and saw an unusual and amusing looking creature seated before me, with most of its body wrapped in colorful fabric. There was a sprout of hair at the top and it was making a birdlike chirping sound. I searched the features of this mostly hairless creatures and found the noise was emanating from a small slit in the creatures flesh. Although the noises were meaningless I could see into the creatures mind and knew its thoughts. I looked at a book on the table before me and the words on the cover were only lines, angles and curves and I saw no meaning in them. As this was happening feelings of great joy and compassion flowed through my body. After some time of abiding in this state the world of names and words returned and I saw the creature as my wife and I could read the written words again.

I believe this meditative experience arose as my awareness became separated from the cortical/thalamic complex. However it is not the only kind of meditative experience I have. I also have 'dreamwalking, shamanistic' experiences, where my awareness is still entangled with my cortex, but the activity of my cortex is no longer ‘locked’ to external stimulus.
However, having these type of meditative experiences has lead me to question the efficacy of putting a substantial part of our energy into the maintenance of a daily meditation practice. The Buddha did not recommend this for anyone other than those involved in the monastic lifestyle. When we do so in the West I believe we are at risk of altering the cortical connections we have developed over the period of our development that are ultimately necessary for navigating the unique environment of the modern cityscape. We are also habituating our brain and body into sitting in the meditative posture, making the transcendent states that can arise in meditation more difficult to achieve.
I do not believe our brains are the same as someone who practiced a thousand years ago, and what worked then may not have the same effect today. I believe we should save our deep meditation practice for times when we can devote several hours to our practice, so that when the fruits of meditation arise we have the time to let go and to let what may arise take its natural course. Our daily practice should involve more of the practical aspects of dharma such as study, devotional practices, investigation of the unreliably of our sensory experience and service to others. I feel we are putting way to much energy into discussions revolving around aspects of Buddhist hermeneutics.
Keren Arbel in a youtube discussion, which unfortunately is no longer available, on ‘The 7 factors of Awakening’ she discussed the importance of the 'mindfullness approach'. She views this as the most important factor. She states that the Buddha taught that developing mindfulness leads to investigation. When investigation develops, we have ‘energy’. When the mind investigates into the nature of experience now, in this moment, there is a lot of energy, and when we have energy then we also have joy. This investigation we can do every moment and we don’t need to sit on a cushion for that. She says it is very joyful to see into the nature of experience, even if that particular experience is painful.
If I had to recommend anyone's approach to practice and meditation, it would be Thich Nhat Hanh's. I believe our daily meditation's, if we are Buddhist, should involve the devotional/metta aspects of practice, where we let go of our sense of self and dedicate our energies towards the service of others, generosity and engaging in an investigative process arising from mindfulness that is dedicated towards understanding the nature of suffering and its relationship to the social and cultural environment in which we find ourselves. Deep meditation practice should be saved for those times when we have created the proper environment and conditions, so that if the fruits of our meditation arise, we can let these meditative perceptions unfold without constraint, without having to interrupt them to go pick up the kids.
Progress on the cushion is directly correlated with how much we have learned to "Care, Collaborate and Connect" with our world when we are off the cushion.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-12-mental-health-coping-myth.html
As most meditations involve not moving, the 'brain states' that I elude to are not dependant on the type of meditation but only on that fact we have remained still long enough to let the natural physiological tendencies of our body/brain take their course. I believe we are born with all the tools we need and that our spiritual journey is more a process of finding what is there already... more of a letting go than an adding to. More of a negation of what has been added and a return to a childlike state of potentiality and emptiness.
If we have some understanding of what may happen and why, then it is likely we will have the equanimity to continue to stay with our meditation and we will be able to let what may arise continue unabated. This may also explain the universality of the spiritual/religious experience that seems to have been a part of the human reality throughout history . The physiological relationships between cortical and non cortical awareness are not dependant on the time and place that a human was born, or the belief system that humans may of held. Also there are many plants and fungi that can also alter the normal relationship between cortical and non-cortical awareness, allowing our awareness to move unheeded into different areas of our brain and body. It is apparent that humans were aware of these different substances and these different states of awareness very early in our history, which also facilitated a wide variety of shamanistic experiences. I don't believe these substances are necessary, as I believe there are many different keys that are capable of unlocking the doorway to the transcendent. Nor, on the other hand, should the efficacy of these substances be ignored.
Additional Resources: These titles represent current up to date research and in no way can be considered pseudoscience or popular science.

Meanwhile the scientific study of mental processes has revealed that consciousness is not necessary for rational thought. Inferences can be drawn and decisions made without awareness. This raises a new problem for our understanding of consciousness. Descartes and his contemporaries took it for granted that consciousness was necessary for rational thought and willed, as opposed to automatic, behavior. If not the basis of rational thought, what is the function of consciousness? (p. 12). Kindle Edition.
https://www.wiley.com/en-ca/The+Blackwell+Companion+to+Consciousness%2C+2nd+Edition-p-9780470674062?fbclid=IwAR2PNeqZSsI0-QEt6kZnJAfeTpJgsIhhjNEiunwURIrW242U6IdRRNdOT3M

2 books concerning how 'self' arises in the brain...

Biological theorists who seek to explain consciousness have gotten stuck in the cerebral cortex, citing it as the situs of consciousness, i.e., where consciousness arises. I will challenge this notion and, accordingly, offer a new theory of how we become conscious during various natural or induced states in which we are unconscious. Pfaff, Donald. How Brain Arousal Mechanisms Work (Kindle Locations 107-110). Cambridge University Press. Kindle Edition. University Press.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/07/180723143007.htm?fbclid=IwAR0H8Nvkjx7_IqMykywOdpWzRR1RERVSKwYsbcoP2oH3m5Bn0AlZ273IBog
https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/how-brain-arousal-mechanisms-work/4078E3DFD96FAF9B58FFBCD772E08CDD?fbclid=IwAR0rISvpuAvhC2IB3uP2c4BVY9lGQ7-I8tIdJVPIMliH1Ce6iMfjIMGAGkM
But, even though it operates subliminally, as we begin to understand the cerebellar self, we also start to appreciate how important it is to our perception of our surroundings, how we move, and even the implicit sense of agency we have in our interactions with the world. Montgomery, John. Evolution of the Cerebellar Sense of Self (p. 2). OUP Oxford. Kindle Edition.
https://academic.oup.com/book/9812?login=false&fbclid=IwAR2lTL_mvhAQKhTY5WEzMjJ-cXizMriEqNjzJgC1CVUWOh6PSZ4B_zDQP50

In these books you will be introduced to parts of our brain that perform different functions. Once we understand what these parts of the brain are, what they look like and where they are situated, and what function they perform we can direct our awareness to these different parts of the brain during our meditation and gradually learn to recognize their activity. Gradually we can gain some conscious control over these different parts of our brain. It is interesting that "mindfulness" originates from the Pali word sati. According to Bryan Levman writing in the Journal of the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies, "the word sati incorporates the meaning of 'memory' and 'remembrance'.
Samatha meditation develops samadhi or concentration by focusing attention. Samatha would correlate with the cerebral cortex and its hemispheres. Mindfullness moves our awareness down into our limbic system and the parts of our brain related to memory and remembrance, like the hippocampus, hypothalamus. Our awareness can go still deeper into structures in our midbrain and brainstem...and we get into the realms of Vipassana. Plasticity is sited as proof that meditation is doing something positive for our brain. However, the brain has developed the connections it has over our period of development to optimize the way different parts of our brain our connected. We do not want to be changing these connections between different parts of our brain unless we are in a very controlled environment like in a monastery. For example if we alter the connections between cerebellum and cortex then we can experience schizophrenic and dissociative symptoms. The book on the cerebellum discusses this. Once these connections are disrupted, for some people the cortex will now be experienced as 'other' rather than self which is why some people will hear voices and see things as really there which are arising only in their cortex like a dream. If we change our connections between different areas of our brain we make it much more difficult for our awareness to move freely throughout our brain...and ultimately into the Vipassana or 'insight' areas of the midbrain and brainstem.

https://acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/camh.12600?fbclid=IwAR0pXTXMBqhaepmiGCavjXWjnTjsK_KuvgEbVjk8CBkHBm_uv-A1XNEbVoo

Link here: https://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-awards/
BEST SHORT STORY
“Friendship Is Forever,” by Sam Maggs and Keisha Okafor, in My Little Pony 40th Celebration (IDW)
“The Kelpie,” by Becky Cloonan, in Four Gathered on Christmas Eve (Dark Horse)
“The Lady of the Lake,” by Joe S. Farrar and Guilherme Grandizolli, in BUMP: A Horror Anthology #3 (BUMP)
“Talking to a Hill,” by Larry Hancock and Michael Cherkas, in Comics for Ukraine (Zoop)
“World’s Finest, Part 1,” by Tom King and Belen Ortega, in Wonder Woman #3 (DC)
BEST SINGLE ISSUE/ONE-SHOT
Horologist, by Jared Lee and Cross (Grim Film)
Nightwing #105, by Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo (DC)
Star Trek: Day of Blood—Shax’s Best Day, by Ryan North and Derek Charm (IDW)
Superman 2023 Annual, by Joshua Williamson and others (DC)
Sweet Paprika: Black, White, & Pink, by Mirka Andolfo and others (Image)
BEST CONTINUING SERIES
Birds of Prey, by Kelly Thompson and Leonardo Basto Romero (DC)
Nightwing, by Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo (DC Comics)
Shazam! by Mark Waid and Dan Mora (DC)
Transformers, by Daniel Warren Johnson (Image Skybound)
Wonder Woman, by Tom King and Daniel Sampere (DC)
BEST LIMITED SERIES
The Cull, by Kelly Thompson and Mattia De Iulis (Image)
Godzilla: Here There Be Dragons, by Frank Tieri and Inaki Miranda (IDW)
Kill Your Darlings, by Ethan S. Parker, Griffin Sheridan, and Robert Quinn (Image)
PeePee PooPoo, by Caroline Cash (Silver Sprocket)
Superman: Lost, by Christopher Priest and Carlo Pagulayan (DC)
BEST NEW SERIES
Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees, by Patrick Horvath (IDW) shincoal you did it! haha.
Black Cloak, by Kelly Thompson and Meredith McClaren (Image)
Local Man, by Tim Seeley and Tony Fleecs (Image)
Phantom Road, by Jeff Lemire and Gabriel Hernández Walta (Image)
Somna: A Bedtime Story, by Becky Cloonan and Tula Lotay (DSTLRY)
BEST PUBLICATION FOR EARLY READERS
Bigfoot and Nessie: The Art of Getting Noticed, by Chelsea M. Campbell and Laura Knetzger (Penguin Workshop/Penguin Random House)
Burt the Beetle Lives Here! by Ashley Spires (Kids Can Press)
Go-Go Guys, by Rowboat Watkins (Chronicle Books)
The Light Inside, by Dan Misdea (Penguin Workshop/Penguin Random House)
Milk and Mocha: Our Little Happiness, by Melani Sie (Andrews McMeel)
Tacos Today: El Toro & Friends, by Raúl the Third (HarperCollins/Versify)
BEST PUBLICATION FOR KIDS
Buzzing, by Samuel Sattin and Rye Hickman (Little, Brown Ink)
Mabuhay!, by Zachary Sterling (Scholastic Graphix)
Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir, by Pedro Martín (Dial Books for Young Readers/Penguin Young Readers)
Missing You, by Phellip Willian and Melissa Garabeli. translation by Fabio Ramos (Oni Press)
Saving Sunshine, by Saadia Faruqi and Shazleen Khan (First Second/Macmillan)
BEST PUBLICATION FOR TEENS
Blackward, by Lawrence Lindell (Drawn & Quarterly)
Danger and Other Unknown Risks, by Ryan North and Erica Henderson (Penguin Workshop/Penguin Random House)
Frontera, by Julio Anta and Jacoby Salcedo (HarperAlley)
Lights, by Brenna Thummler (Oni Press)
Monstrous: A Transracial Adoption Story, by Sarah Myer (First Second/Macmillan)
My Girlfriend’s Child, vol. 1, by Mamoru Aoi, translation by Hana Allen (Seven Seas)
BEST HUMOR PUBLICATION
How to Love: A Guide to Feelings & Relationships for Everyone, by Alex Norris (Candlewick/Walker Books)
I Was a Teenage Michael Jackson Impersonator, and Other Musical Meanderings, by Keith Knight (Keith Knight Press)
It’s Jeff: The Jeff-Verse #1, by Kelly Thompson and Gurihiru (Marvel)
Macanudo: Optimism Is for the Brave, by Liniers (Fantagraphics)
The Yakuza’s Bias, by Teki Yatsuda. translation by Max Greenway (Kodansha)
BEST ANTHOLOGY
Comics for Ukraine, edited by Scott Dunbier (Zoop)
Deep Cuts, by Kyle Higgins, Joe Clark, Danilo Beyruth, and others (Image)
The Devil’s Cut, edited by Will Dennis (DSTLRY)
Marvel Age #1000, edited by Tom Brevoort (Marvel)
The Out Side: Trans & Nonbinary Comics, edited by The Kao, Min Christensen, and David Daneman (Andrews McMeel)
Swan Songs by W. Maxwell Prince and others (Image)
BEST REALITY-BASED WORK
Are You Willing to Die for the Cause? by Chris Oliveros (Drawn & Quarterly)
Last on His Feet: Jack Johnson and the Battle of the Century, by Adrian Matejka and Youssef Daoudi (Liveright)
Messenger: The Legend of Muhammad Ali, by Marc Bernardin and Ron Salas (First Second/Macmillan)
Thing: Inside the Struggle for Animal Personhood, by Samuel Machado and Cynthia Sousa Machado with Steven M. Wise (Island Press)
Three Rocks: The Story of Ernie Bushmiller: The Man Who Created Nancy, by Bill Griffith (Abrams ComicArts)
BEST GRAPHIC MEMOIR
Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnam, by Thien Pham (First Second/Macmillan)
A First Time for Everything, by Dan Santat (First Second/Macmillan)
In Limbo, by Deb JJ Lee (First Second/Macmillan)
Memento Mori, by Tiitu Takalo, translation by Maria Schroderus (Oni Press)
Sunshine: How One Camp Taught Me About Life, Death, and Hope, by Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Scholastic Graphix)
The Talk, by Darrin Bell (Henry Holt)
BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM—NEW
Ashes, by Álvaro Ortiz, translation by Eva Ibarzabal (Top Shelf/IDW)
Eden II, by K. Wroten (Fantagraphics)
A Guest in the House, by Emily Carroll (First Second/Macmillan)
Parasocial, by Alex De Campi and Erica Henderson (Image)
Roaming, by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki (Drawn & Quarterly)
BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM—REPRINT
Doctor Strange: Fall Sunrise Treasury Edition, by Tradd Moore (Marvel)
The Good Asian, by Pornsak Pichetshote and Alexandre Tefenkgi (Image)
Hip Hop Family Tree: The Omnibus, by Ed Piskor (Fantagraphics)
Orange Complete Series Box Set, by Ichigo Takano, translation by Amber Tamosaitis (Seven Seas)
Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons, by Kelly Sue DeConnick, Phil Jimenez, Gene Ha, and Nicola Scott (DC)
BEST ADAPTATION FROM ANOTHER MEDIUM
Bea Wolf, adapted by Zach Weinersmith and Boulet (First Second/Macmillan)
DRCL midnight children, vol. 1, based on Bram Stoker’s Dracula, by Shin’ichi Sakamoto, translation by Caleb Cook (VIZ Media)
H.P. Lovecraft’s The Shadow over Innsmouth, adapted by Gou Tanabe, translation by Zack Davisson (Dark Horse Manga)
The Monkey King: The Complete Odyssey, adapted by Chaiko, translation by Dan Christensen (Magnetic)
Watership Down, by Richard Adams, adapted by James Sturm and Joe Sutphin (Ten Speed Graphic)
BEST U.S. EDITION OF INTERNATIONAL MATERIAL
Ashes, by Álvaro Ortiz, translation by Eva Ibarzabal (Top Shelf/IDW)
Blacksad, Vol 7: They All Fall Down, Part 2, by Juan Díaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido, translation by Diana Schutz and Brandon Kander (Europe Comics)
A Boy Named Rose, by Gaëlle Geniller, translation by Fabrice Sapolsky (Fairsquare Comics)
The Great Beyond, by Léa Murawiec, translation by Aleshia Jensen (Drawn & Quarterly)
Shubeik Lubeik, by Deena Mohamed (Pantheon Books/Penguin Random House)
Spa, by Erik Svetoft, translation by Melissa Bowers (Fantagraphics)
BEST U.S. EDITION OF INTERNATIONAL MATERIAL—ASIA
DRCL midnight children, vol. 1, based on Bram Stoker’s Dracula, by Shin’ichi Sakamoto, translation by Caleb Cook (VIZ Media)
Goodbye, Eri, by Tatsuki Fujimoto, translation by Amanda Haley (VIZ Media)
The Horizon, vol. 1, by JH, translation by ULTRAMEDIA Co. Ltd. (Yen/Ize Press)
My Picture Diary, by Fujiwara Maki, translation by Ryan Holmberg (Drawn & Quarterly)
River’s Edge, by Kyoko Okazaki, translation by Alexa Frank (Kodansha)
The Summer Hikaru Died, vol. 1, by Mokumokuren, translation by Ajani Oloye (Yen Press)
BEST ARCHIVAL COLLECTION/PROJECT—STRIPS
Dauntless Dames: High-Heeled Heroes of the Comic Strips, edited by Peter Maresca and Trina Robbins (Sunday Press/Fantagraphics)
David Wright’s Carol Day: Lance Hallam, edited by Roger Clark, Chris Killackey, and Guy Mills (Slingsby Bros, Ink!)
Popeye Sundays Vol 3: The Sea Hag and Alice the Goon, by E.C. Segar, edited by Conrad Groth and Gary Groth (Fantagraphics)
Walt Disney’s Silly Symphonies 1932-1935: Starring Bucky Bug and Donald Duck and Walt Disney’s Silly Symphonies 1935-1939: Starring Donald Duck and Big Bad Wolf, edited by David Gerstein (Fantagraphics)
Where I’m Coming From, by Barbara Brandon-Croft, edited by Peggy Burns and Tracy Hurren (Drawn & Quarterly)
BEST ARCHIVAL COLLECTION/PROJECT—COMIC BOOKS
Adventures Into Terror: The Atlas Comics Library, vol. 1, edited by Michael J. Vassallo (Fantagraphics)
All-Negro Comics 75th Anniversary Edition, edited by Chris Robinson (Very GOOD Books)
The Ballad of Halo Jones Full Colour Omnibus, by Alan Moore and Ian Gibson, edited by Olivia Hicks (2000AD/Rebellion)
The John Severin Westerns Featuring American Eagle, edited by Michael Dean (Fantagraphics)
Michael Golden’s Marvel Stories Artist’s Edition, edited by Scott Dunbier (IDW)
BEST WRITER
Stephen Graham Jones, Earthdivers (IDW)
Mariko Tamaki, Roaming (Drawn & Quarterly)
Tom Taylor, Nightwing, Titans (DC)
Kelly Thompson, Birds of Prey, Harley Quinn, Black White and Redder (DC); Black Cloak, The Cull (Image); It’s Jeff, Captain Marvel (Marvel)
Mark Waid, Batman/Superman: World’s Finest, Shazam!, World’s Finest: Teen Titans (DC)
G. Willow Wilson, Poison Ivy (DC); Hunger and the Dusk (IDW)
BEST WRITEARTIST
Emily Carroll, A Guest in the House (First Second/Macmillan)
Bill Griffith, Three Rocks (Abrams ComicArts)
Daniel Warren Johnson, Transformers (Image Skybound)
Mokumokuren, The Summer Hikaru Died, vol. 1 (Yen Press)
Zoe Thorogood, Hack/Slash: Back To School (Image)
Tillie Walden, Clementine Book Two (Image Skybound)
BEST PENCILLEINKER OR PENCILLEINKER TEAM
Jason Shawn Alexander, Detective Comics (DC); Killadelphia, with Germán Erramouspe (Image)
Tula Lotay, Barnstormers: A Ballad of Love and Murder (Comixology Originals/Best Jackett)
Inaki Miranda, Godzilla: Here There Be Dragons (IDW)
Dan Mora, Batman/Superman: World’s Finest, Shazam! (DC)
Chris Samnee, Fire Power (Image Skybound)
Jillian Tamaki, Roaming (Drawn & Quarterly)
BEST PAINTEMULTIMEDIA ARTIST (INTERIOR ART)
Jason Shawn Alexander, Blacula: Return of the King (Zombie Love Studios)
Chaiko, The Monkey King (Magnetic)
Juanjo Guarnido, Blacksad, Vol 7: They All Fall Down, Part 2 (Europe Comics)
Liam Sharp, Nocterra: Nemesis Special (Best Jackett); Starhenge: The Dragon and the Boar (Image)
Martin Simmonds, Universal Monsters: Dracula (Image Skybound)
Sana Takeda, The Night Eaters: Her Little Reapers (Abrams ComicArts); Monstress (Image)
BEST COVER ARTIST
Jen Bartel, DC Pride 2023, Fire & Ice: Welcome to Smallville #1 (DC); Captain Marvel: Dark Tempest #1, Demon Wars: Scarlet Sin #1, Scarlet Witch #9, Sensational She-Hulk (Marvel)
Evan Cagle, Detective Comics (DC)
Jenny Frison, Alice Never After #1, BRZRKR: Fallen Empire #1, and other alternate covers (BOOM! Studios); Knight Terrors: Harley Quinn #1–2, Poison Ivy #8, #12 (DC)
E. M. Gist, Expanse Dragon Tooth #1, Something Is Killing the Children #28 & #34, Wild’s End, vol 2 #4 and other alternate covers (BOOM! Studios); Amazing Spider-Man #23, Doctor Aphra #36, Moon Knight #3, Nightcrawlers #1, Wolverine #38 (Marvel)
Peach Momoko, Demon Wars: Scarlet Sin, various alternate covers (Marvel)
Dan Mora, Coda #3, Damn Them All #4, MMPR 30th Anniversary Special #1, Rare Flavours #3 and other alternate covers (BOOM! Studios); Batman/Superman: World’s Finest, Outsiders #1, Poison Ivy #9, Shazam!, Titans #1 (DC)
BEST COLORING
Jordie Bellaire, Batman, Birds of Prey (DC); Dark Spaces: Hollywood Special (IDW)
Matt Hollingsworth, Captain America, Doctor Strange, Guardians of the Galaxy, Punisher (Marvel)
Lee Loughridge, Red Zone (AWA); Edgeworld, Grammaton Punch, Nostalgia (Comixology Originals); The Devil’s Cut, Gone, Somna (DSTLRY); Star Trek (IDW); Killadelphia (Image); Hunt. Kill. Repeat. (Mad Cave)
Dave McCaig, The Sacrificers (Image), The Walking Dead Deluxe (Image Skybound)
Dean White, Conan the Barbarian (Titan Comics)
BEST LETTERING
Emily Carroll, A Guest in the House (First Second/Macmillan)
Benoit Dehan and Lauren Bowes, Inside the Mind of Sherlock Holmes (Titan Comics)
Bill Griffith, Three Rocks (Abrams ComicArts)
Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, The Unlikely Story of Felix and Macabber, The Witcher: Wild Animals, and others (Dark Horse); Batman: City of Madness, The Flash, Poison Ivy, and others (DC); Black Cat Social Club (Humanoids); Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees (IDW); The Cull, What’s the Furthest Place from Here? (Image); and others
Richard Starkings, Barnstormers: A Ballad of Love and Murder, Canary (Comixology Originals/Best Jackett); Parliament of Rooks (Comixology); Astro City, Battle Chasers (Image); Conan the Barbarian (Titan Comics)
Rus Wooton, Monstress, The Sacrificers (Image); Fire Power, Kroma, Transformers, The Walking Dead Deluxe, Universal Monsters: Dracula, Void Rivals (Image Skybound); Hunt. Kill. Repeat., A Legacy of Violence, Nature’s Labyrinth (Mad Cave)
BEST COMICS-RELATED PERIODICAL/JOURNALISM
The Comics Journal #309; edited by Gary Groth, Kristy Valenti, and Austin English (Fantagraphics)
“The Indirect Market,” by Brandon Schatz and Danica LeBlanc, comicsbeat.com
Rob Salkowitz, for Forbes, ICv2.com, Publishers Weekly
SKTCHD, by David Harper, www.sktchd.com
SOLRAD: The Online Literary Magazine for Comics, www.solrad.co (Fieldmouse Press)
BEST COMICS-RELATED BOOK
Bryan Talbot: Father of the British Graphic Novel, by J. D. Harlock and Bryan Talbot (Brainstorm Studios)
Confabulation: An Anecdotal Autobiography, by Dave Gibbons (Dark Horse)
Flamed Out: The Underground Adventures and Comix Genius of Willy Murphy, edited by Nicki Michaels, Ted Richards, and Mark Burstein (Fantagraphics)
I Am the Law: How Judge Dredd Predicted Our Future, by Michael Molcher (Rebellion)
The Pacific Comics Companion, by Stephan Friedt and Jon B. Cooke (TwoMorrows)
Thalamus: The Art of Dave McKean (Dark Horse)
BEST ACADEMIC/SCHOLARLY WORK
Asian Political Cartoons, by John A. Lent (University Press of Mississippi)
The Claremont Run: Subverting Gender in the X- Men, by J. Andrew Deman (University of Texas Press)
Desegregating Comics: Debating Blackness in the Golden Age of American Comics, edited by Qiana Whitted (Rutgers University Press)
If Shehrazad Drew: Critical Writings on Arab Comics, by George Khoury-Jad (Sawaf Center for Arab Comics Studies and American University of Beirut Press)
In Visible Archives: Queer and Feminist Visual Culture in the 1980s, by Margaret Galvan (University of Minnesota Press)
Super Bodies: Comic Book Illustration, Artistic Styles, and Narrative Impact, by Jeffrey A. Brown (University of Texas Press)
BEST PUBLICATION DESIGN
Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein boxed set, designed by Mike Kennedy (Magnetic)
Gratuitous Ninja, by Ronald Wimberly, designed by Chloe Scheffe (Beehive Books)
Inside the Mind of Sherlock Holmes, designed by Benoit Dahan andDonna Askem (Titan Comics)
Iron Maiden: Piece of Mind, designed by Josh Bernstein and Rob Schwager (Z2)
Toilet-bound Hanako-kun First Stall Box Set, designed by Wendy Chan (Yen Press)
BEST WEBCOMIC
Asturias: The Origin of a Flag, by Javi de Castro, https://www.javidecastro.com/asturias-the-origin-of-a-flag
Daughter of a Thousand Faces, by Vel (Velinxi), https://tapas.io/series/daughter-of-a-thousand-faces/info (Tapas)
Lore Olympus, by Rachel Smythe, https://www.webtoons.com/en/romance/lore-olympus/s3-episode-226/viewer?title_no=1320&episode_no=231 (WEBTOON)
Matchmaker, vol. 6, by Cam Marshall at https://matchmakercomic.com/. (Silver Sprocket)
3rd Voice, by Evan Dahm, https://www.webtoons.com/en/canvas/3rd-voice/list?title_no=828919 (WEBTOON)
Unfamiliar, by Haley Newsome: https://tapas.io/series/unfamiliainfo (Tapas)
BEST DIGITAL COMIC
Blacksad, Vol 7: They All Fall Down, Part 2. by Juan Díaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido, translation by Diana Schutz and Brandon Kander (Europe Comics)
Friday, by Ed Brubaker and Marcos Martin, vols. 7–8 (Panel Syndicate)
Parliament of Rooks, by Abigail Jill Harding (Comixology Originals)
Practical Defense Against Piracy, by Tony Cliff (delilahdirk.com)
A Witch’s Guide to Burning, by Aminder Dhaliwal (Instagram.com/aminder_d)

DAY: May 19 2024

• 5-19-2024 ILLNESS TOOK AWAY HER VOICE. AI CREATED A REPLICA SHE CARRIES IN HER PHONE Alexis Bogan, whose speech was impaired by a brain tumor, uses an AI powered smartphone app to create a audible drink order at a Starbucks drive-thru on Monday, April 29, 2024, in Lincoln, R.I. The app converts her typed entries into a verbal message created using her original voice. Credit: AP Photo/Steven Senne The voice Alexis “Lexi” Bogan had before last summer was exuberant. She loved to belt out Taylor Swift and Zach Bryan ballads in the car. She laughed all the time—even while corralling misbehaving preschoolers or debating politics
• 5-19-2024 SMART CONTACT LENSES LEAD THE WAY FOR HUMAN-MACHINE INTERACTION Scientists have developed eye-tracking smart content lenses based on radio frequency tags that can be used for various applications, including health care and augmented reality (AR). The lenses are biocompatible and imperceptible, requiring no battery or conventional silicon chips. Smart contact lenses that can keep track of various health factors and can be used for human-machine interaction (HMI) are a relatively new technology.
• 5-19-2024 INTEL EXEC ON BRINGING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INTO THE WORKPLACE Artificial intelligence is just about everywhere you look these days—including the workplace. That means training staff about the technology and using it responsibly is critical. It’s a tall order, especially as the commercialization of generative AI continues its rapid growth. Now some tech players have kickstarted initiatives in hopes of meeting that need. Christy Pambianchi, chief people officer at Intel, recently spoke with The Associated Press about how the semiconductor chip maker is expanding AI education programming beyond the company’s walls—as well as best practices around
• 5-19-2024 JUST BELIEVING THAT AN AI IS HELPING BOOSTS YOUR PERFORMANCE, STUDY FINDS Sometimes it seems like an AI is helping, but the benefit is actually a placebo effect—people performing better simply because they expect to be doing so—according to new research from Aalto University. The study also shows how difficult it is to shake people’s trust in the capabilities of
• 5-19-2024 FEMALE HEALTH APPS MISUSE HIGHLY SENSITIVE DATA, STUDY FINDS Apps designed for female health monitoring are exposing users to unnecessary privacy and safety risks through their poor data handling practices, according to new research from King’s College London and University College London (UCL). In the most extensive evaluation of the privacy practices of female health apps to date, researchers found apps that handle medical and fertility data are coercing users into entering sensitive information that could put them at risk.
• 5-19-2024 OPENAI GIVES CHATGPT NEW POWERS TO SEE, HEAR OpenAI and Microsoft are in a heated rivalry with Google to be generative AI’s major player, but Facebook-owner Meta and upstart Anthropic are also making big moves to compete. OpenAI on Monday released a higher performing and even more human-like version of the artificial intelligence technology that underpins its popular generative tool ChatGPT, making it free to all users. The update to OpenAI’s flagship product landed a day before Google is expected to make its own announcements about Gemini, the search engine giant’s own AI tool that competes with ChatGPT
• 5-19-2024 CHATBOTS TELL PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR, RESEARCHERS FIND Chatbots share limited information, reinforce ideologies, and, as a result, can lead to more polarized thinking when it comes to controversial issues, according to new Johns Hopkins University–led research. The study challenges perceptions that chatbots are impartial and provides insight into how using conversational search systems could widen the public divide on hot-button issues and leave people vulnerable to manipulation. “Because people are reading a summary paragraph generated by AI, they think they’re getting unbiased, fact-based answers,”
• 5-19-2024 STUDENTS, ACTIVISTS, ENTERTAINERS: MINECRAFT’S GLOBAL APPEAL Since the first version of Minecraft was released to the public 15 years ago, the block-based world-building game has become a global phenomenon. Since the first version of Minecraft was released to the public 15 years ago, the block-based world-building game has become a global phenomenon. Players of all ages and backgrounds have used the game for everything from educational projects and architecture to building communities and creating artwork. With more than 300 million copies sold, it is the best-selling video game of all time.
• 5-19-2024 SWISS NURSERY LETS ROBOT DO THE TALKING Swiss children in a Lausanne creche have some fun with their new robot friend, Nao. Sat in a circle on the nursery floor, a group of Swiss three-year-olds ask a robot called Nao questions about giraffes and broccoli. By the time these children become adults, interacting with robots may well be as commonplace as using a smartphone, experts believe. So one Lausanne creche has decided to give them a head start.
• 5-19-2024 EU TO ENCOURAGE INFLUENCERS TO HAVE ‘POSITIVE’ IMPACT Younger audiences increasingly get their information from influencers as they turn away from traditional media. The EU announced steps Tuesday to encourage influencers to post content that has a “positive” impact on society, as concerns rise over disinformation in a fragmented information landscape. With online creators increasingly the preferred source of news and opinions for younger audiences in the European Union, Brussels said they needed to be helped to use their role wisely. Ministers from EU countries responsible for culture, audiovisual and media issues approved a series of steps
• 5-19-2024 THE METAVERSE COULD CHANGE OUR RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCES, AND CREATE NEW ONES New technologies have always informed and changed our religious experiences. Listening to early radio broadcasts in the 1880s was experienced by many as religious because radio voices seemed to come from some other dimension. Séances became wildly popular at the time because it was thought by some that radio had opened a door to the spirit world. Today, religion is experiencing new transformations. The information-rich, image-laden character of the internet can provide new ways to understand and explain religious activity.
• 5-19-2024RESEARCH SHEDS LIGHT ON THE WEB OF TRUST, PRIVACY AND SAFETY FACTORS SHAPING USERS’ EXPERIENCES ON FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE Love it or hate it, Facebook Marketplace is the largest online resale site today with more than one billion monthly users.
• 5-19-2024RESEARCH SHEDS LIGHT ON THE WEB OF TRUST, PRIVACY AND SAFETY FACTORS SHAPING USERS’ EXPERIENCES ON FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE Google on Tuesday rolled out a retooled search engine that will frequently favor responses crafted by artificial intelligence over website links, a shift promising to quicken the quest for information while also potentially disrupting the flow of money-making internet traffic. The makeover announced at Google’s annual developers conference will begin this week in the U.S. when hundreds of millions of people will start to periodically see conversational summaries
• 5-19-2024 NEW STRATEGIC DESIGN APPROACH FOCUSES ON TURNING AI MISTAKES INTO USER BENEFITS More and more often, automated lending systems powered by artificial intelligence (AI) reject qualified loan applicants without explanation. Even worse, they leave rejected applicants with no recourse. People can have similar experiences when applying for jobs or petitioning their health insurance providers. While AI tools determine the fate of people in difficult situations daily, Upol Ehsan says more thought should be given to challenging these decisions or working around them. Ehsan, a Georgia Tech explainable AI (XAI) researcher, says many rejection cases are not the applicant’s fault.
• 5-19-2024 MANAGING SCREEN TIME BY MAKING PHONES SLIGHTLY MORE ANNOYING TO USE Existing apps for managing screen time can abruptly lock users out of their phone. If users were in the middle of an important task, they could scramble to skip the time limit, opening themselves up to spend more time on their phone than originally intended. InteractOut’s interventions are more gradual and allow users to decide when to put down their phones while also encouraging them to think harder about their smartphone use.
• 5-19-2024 DIGITAL TWIN HELPS OPTIMIZE MANUFACTURING SPEED WHILE SATISFYING QUALITY CONSTRAINTS Feedrate optimization using an uncertainty-aware digital twin demonstrates significant cycle time reductions of up to 38% in a CNC machine tool while staying close to the error tolerances compared to the existing methods. A new method uses a digital twin to optimize manufacturing machine speed—known as feed rate—while adhering to quality constraints,
• 5-19-2024 THE INCREASING DIFFICULTY OF DETECTING AI- VERSUS HUMAN-GENERATED TEXT Generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools are used to create text, images and videos, impacting the way society consumes and produces online content. As that technology continues to evolve, it is becoming increasingly difficult to tell the difference between AI-generated and human-generated content. Determining the integrity of online information—particularly text—is the current research focus in the Penn State Information Knowledge and wEb (PIKE) Lab, led by Dongwon Lee, professor in the College of Information Sciences and Technology at Penn State. In a discussion with Penn State News, Lee spoke about the
• 5-19-2024 RESEARCH TEAM WORKS TO IMPROVE AI-BASED DECISION-MAKING TOOLS FOR PUBLIC SERVICES More and more public services—such as affordable housing, public school matching and child welfare—are relying on algorithms to make decisions and allocate resources. So far, much of the work that has gone into designing these systems has focused on workers’ experiences using them or communities’ perceptions of them. But what about the actual impact of these programs have on people, especially when the decisions the systems make lead to denial of services? Can you design algorithms to help people make sense of and contest decisions that significantly impact them?
• 5-19-2024 CINEMATIC TOOLS CAN SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE USER EXPERIENCE IN VIRTUAL REALITY ENVIRONMENTS Without teleportation, many users would be unable to use virtual reality due to motion sickness. Unfortunately, teleportation can cause users to miss important aspects of their surroundings. Credit: Alan Medlar Cinematography techniques can significantly increase user engagement with virtual environments and, in particular, the aesthetic appeal of what users see in virtual reality.
• 5-19-2024 HUMAN DIFFERENCES IN JUDGMENT LEAD TO PROBLEMS FOR AIThe noise level observed in ComVE annotations when controlling the minimum (a) and maximum (b) allowable labels for each turker (we omit the residual in these two figures as, similar to what was observed earlier for TG-CSR, it was nearly coincidental with the level noise curve). We also report the statistics of statements categorized by the number of annotation labels under different cutoff methods used for screening participating annotators
• 5-19-2024 HUMAN DIFFERENCES IN JUDGMENT LEAD TO PROBLEMS FOR AI Innovation is rarely accidental. Behind every new invention and product, including the device you are using to read this story, is years of research, investment, and planning. Organizations that want to reach these milestones in the fastest and most efficient way possible use technology roadmaps.
• 5-19-2024 HUMAN DIFFERENCES IN JUDGMENT LEAD TO PROBLEMS FOR AI A team of researchers at Delft University of Technology has developed a drone that flies autonomously using neuromorphic image processing and control based on the workings of animal brains. Animal brains use less data and energy compared to current deep neural networks running on graphics processing units (GPUs).
• 5-19-2024 US SENATORS UNVEIL ‘ROADMAP’ TO AI LAWS Top US lawmakers on Wednesday said efforts to pass laws governing AI were entering a higher gear and hoped to pump $32 billion into the sector to help assure US dominance. US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said bipartisan legislators had agreed on a policy roadmap and had tasked key senate committees to draft specific proposals on regulating AI. The US is home to the biggest AI companies in the world and has trailed the EU and other regions on coming up with rules to rein in the sector.
• 5-19-2024 US SENATORS UNVEIL ‘ROADMAP’ TO AI LAWS Google chief executive Sundar Pichai says the AI revamp of its online search engine will soon spread to countries other than the United States. Google’s use of artificial intelligence to sum up answers to search queries has publishers wondering if traffic to their websites will wither. The internet titan announced Tuesday it is introducing AI-generated answers to online queries in the United States, in one of the biggest changes to its world-leading search engine in 25 years.
• 5-19-2024 CONSUMER GROUPS ACCUSE TEMU OF MANIPULATING ONLINE SHOPPERS Chinese shopping app Temu has on average around 75 million monthly active users in the EU. European consumer groups on Thursday accused Chinese shopping app Temu of using “manipulative techniques” to make users spend more and other violations of a landmark EU tech law. One of the fastest-growing apps, Temu only entered the EU market in April 2023 and says it has on average around 75 million monthly active users in the 27-country bloc. Europe’s BEUC umbrella consumer rights group filed a complaint with the European Commission while 17 member
• 5-19-2024 PARENTS UNDERESTIMATE THE PRIVACY RISKS KIDS FACE IN VIRTUAL REALITY Nearly two thirds of parents of children aged 5–10 don’t understand the metaverse, according to the Institution of Engineering and Technology. Credit: Kampus Production/Pexels/public domain Virtual reality lets kids play 3D games with their friends as avatars, go back in time, even journey to outer space, all without leaving their living rooms. But while children are immersed in the metaverse, they also face privacy risks that their parents might not recognize
• 5-19-2024 MODEL DISGORGEMENT—THE KEY TO FIXING AI BIAS AND COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT? By now, the challenges posed by generative AI are no secret. Models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Anthropic’s Claude and Meta’s Llama have been known to “hallucinate,” inventing potentially misleading responses, as well as divulge sensitive information, like copyrighted materials.
• 5-19-2024 CAN WE RID ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE OF BIAS? AI giants face a challenge of making artficial intelligence models reflect the world’s diversity without being overly politically correct. Artificial intelligence built on mountains of potentially biased information has created a real risk of automating discrimination, but is there any way to re-educate the machines? The question for some is extremely urgent. In this ChatGPT era, AI will generate more and more decisions for health care providers, bank lenders or lawyers, using whatever was scoured from the internet as source material.
• 5-19-2024 CHATGPT IS NOW BETTER THAN EVER AT FAKING HUMAN EMOTION AND BEHAVIOR OpenAI executive Mira Murati launching GPT-4o. Credit: OpenAI Earlier this week OpenAI launched GPT-4o (“o” for “omni”), a new version of the artificial intelligence (AI) system powering the popular ChatGPT chatbot. GPT-4o is promoted as a step towards more natural engagement with AI. According to the demonstration video, it can have voice conversations with users in near real-time, exhibiting human-like personality and behavior. This emphasis on personality is likely to be a point of contention. In OpenAI’s demos, GPT-4o sounds friendly, empathetic and engaging. It tells “spontaneous” jokes, giggles, flirts
• 5-19-2024 MOST PEOPLE STILL THINK BARRISTERS NEED TO SOUND POSH, RESEARCH SHOWS—BUT ACCENT DISCRIMINATION SERVES NO ONE In the UK legal system, a barrister’s job is to present formalized legal arguments in court and at tribunals. Training to become one, therefore, involves considerable focus on oral skills. It is considered important that barristers have the ability to speak “eloquently.” This risks people thinking there is a “correct” way of speaking in order to be successful in this career. Accents, of course, play an important role here. Accent-based bias discriminates against speakers with non-standard accents—people whose speech differs from Received Pronunciation (RP).
• 5-19-2024 A MINUTE’S SILENCE IS FINE BUT WHEN IT COMES TO VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, BEING QUIET ISN’T ENOUGH Sport has a role to play in creating a culture of respect, yet women in sport are often seen as “less than” on almost every measure: salaries, sponsorship, broadcasting, leadership, access, media, coaching, officiating, uniforms and support. Research shows 3 out of 4 Australian men are gender equality supporters, but very few (17%) prioritize taking any action. As Australia grapples with a “national crisis” of violence against women, what can men in sport do to help?
• 5-19-2024 ARE CANADIANS TOO POOR TO BREAK UP? Why did Al and Peg Bundy from the sitcom Married… with Children never get divorced? After all, they were rarely happy and constantly arguing. Maybe they felt they were the best they could do for each other—a middle-aged homely shoe salesman and a stay-at-home mom with two kids. They cared for each other, but they also hated each other deeply. And neither ever cheated, despite having the opportunity. However, what if the Bundys lived in Canada today?
• 5-19-2024 REPORT LOOKS AT ‘POVERTY STIGMA’ THROUGH A NEW LENS TO STAMP IT OUT OF SOCIETY Stigma is a glue that holds poverty, inequality and economic insecurity in place enabling and exacerbating inequalities of wealth, health and opportunity, says a new report. Poverty stigma is a “wicked social problem,” highly complex, difficult to define and challenging to solve
• 5-19-2024 HOW CRAFT-BASED FIRMS PROJECT AUTHENTICITY THROUGH CREDIBLY AND VISIBLY COMMUNICATING THEIR IDENTITY Consumers are drawn to authenticity when it comes to craft-based firms, and a study looked at how managers in identity-driven markets are challenged to maintain their authenticity as their company’s scale of operations expands. In such craft industries, the authors note, overt claims of authenticity by producers are ineffective.
• 5-19-2024 PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH OFFERS STRATEGIES FOR HEALTHY POLITICAL DISCUSSIONS AMONG PEOPLE WITH OPPOSING VIEWS Civilized political debates may seem increasingly out of reach as democracies across the world face rising polarization, but people still want to discuss issues with people they disagree with—especially those who present themselves as balanced and willing to seek solutions that work for everyone or open to learning new information, according to two studies published by the American Psychological Association.
• 5-19-2024 MORE THAN HALF OF AMERICANS GIVE TO CHARITY AT CHECKOUT, SURVEY SHOWS 53% of Americans give to charity at checkout, and young and diverse people tend to do it more often, according to new research from Binghamton University, State University of New York. Credit: Binghamton University, State University of New York Fifty-three percent of Americans give impulsively to charities at the checkout, and certain demographics tend to give more, according to a new survey conducted by faculty at Binghamton University,

Preface: This is for Vedic, Sidereal Astrology.
This took a super long time to finish, but I've finally reached a point where I think I'm done trying to improve it. This part will focus more on how Purva Bhadrapada manifests for individuals.
Reminder that Purva Bhadrapada spans from 20° sidereal Aquarius to 3°20’ sidereal Pisces.
Nature
Purva Bhadrapada reminds me a lot of Kali Yuga. In Hindu cosmology, Kali is the final of the four ages that the world goes through as part of a continuous cycle of creation, maintenance, and dissolution. It is the final stage before the onset of a new cycle, promising the destruction of the old order and the eventual merging of all into a unified whole. It signifies a time of dual balance before dissolution of individual identities and the reunification of all existence with the divine source. This can be viewed as being similar to the process of individual death, but it is on a universal scale. Kali Yuga is considered the age of darkness and moral decline, where spiritual values deteriorate and materialism prevails. According to Hindu scriptures, Kali Yuga is characterized by widespread social, political, and moral corruption, as well as a decline in virtue and Dharma (righteousness). It is believed that, during this age, human beings face numerous challenges and spiritual tests, and the pursuit of higher consciousness becomes increasingly more difficult compared to the previous Yugas. Just as Kali Yuga tests individuals with challenges to their spiritual resolve amidst the prevailing degeneration of values, Purva Bhadrapada is a cosmic stage where one's truest nature is tested through the weakening separation of the spiritual and the material. Here, individuals are made to confront their deepest fears and desires, burdened with the challenge of facing their true nature and purifying their souls. The emphasis of this nakshatra lies in releasing attachments amidst the seduction of outer freedom and power, mirroring the spiritual trials inherent to Kali Yuga. Yet, despite challenges of degeneration, there exists a unique opportunity during the stages of both Kali and Purva Bhadrapada. Kali is believed to be the best time for spiritual progress and true liberation because individuals can attain spiritual growth more rapidly due to the intensity of the challenges they face during this period, and the same is true of Purva Bhadrapada nakshatra. Both Kali and Purva Bhadrapada emphasize the importance of transcending mundane concerns and dedicatedly seeking spiritual truth amidst the backdrop of pervading ignorance.
The primary nature of Purva Bhadrapada is that of penance and disequilibrium. Purva Bhadrapada is the stage of evolution where individuals are made to undergo intense internal transformation and dissolution, shedding layers of their being in preparation for spiritual renewal and divine return. This process of metamorphosis can be seen as a type of penance, whether embraced willingly or thrust upon them. It offers eventual rewards as they journey towards enlightenment. As the primary nature of Purva Bhadrapada revolves around penance and transformation, individuals heavily influenced by this Nakshatra are oriented towards personal introspection and societal purification, viewing their lives as both a personal quest for growth and an opportunity to contribute to something greater. Individually, they seek to cleanse themselves of past transgressions and strive for spiritual redemption, and they feel personally responsible for their impact on others. At a broader societal level, they are driven by a strong sense of justice and a duty to rectify societal wrongs of the past and present in order to contribute to the collective upliftment and purification of their community. As such, they often subject themselves and others to extreme physical, mental, and spiritual challenges. They are presented with a kind of spiritual trial of sacrifice: either they can willingly embrace self-denial and endure while remaining detached, or they can create so much desire and fear that it causes them to lose the direction of their souls in the process. While the primary manifestation of Purva Bhadrapada energy is inwardly focused on cultivating self-discipline and perfection, oftentimes to an unhealthy degree, sometimes the focus can instead shift outward. This is where Purva Bhadrapada gains a lot of its infamy; Purva Bhadrapada is revered as one of the most "difficult" and "intense" nakshatras among Vedic astrologers. It is an asterism that gets approached with trepidation due to its somber imagery and associations with themes of violence, debauchery, and malevolence. The negative traits linked to Purva Bhadrapada, such as paranoia, pessimism, and hedonism, contribute to its daunting reputation. And for the most part, the fear of this nakshatra is justified. Not only are these individuals capable of doling out punishment themselves through various means like violence, manipulation, curses, etc., but they can also inadvertently bring out the self-destructive or uncontrolled nature of others. They are the types to cause deep introspection and confrontation with one's own shortcomings and fears, often acting as catalysts for irreversible transformation of character.
In terms of Purva Bhadrapada's inherently unbalanced nature, the trajectory is quite clear. These natives are not the type to do anything in moderation and often have an unstable demeanor and sense of self. They will always be pulled towards the polar extremes of anything, but they can flip on their values rapidly following any transformative event. They may occupy the deepest levels of material saturation, completely lost in chasing fame, drugs, sex, and uncontained immoral activities. Yet, paradoxically, they can also find themselves drawn to the heights of spiritual austerity, sometimes even at the same time they are trying to maximize their material standing. This innate propensity for extremes and contradiction manifests in every aspect of their lives, from their relationships, to their goals, to their beliefs, and to their actions. They are esteemed for their amiable disposition, characterized by warmth, thoughtfulness, and a selfless inclination to assist others without seeking acknowledgment. Yet, concurrently, they are often perceived as self-serving, prone to bouts of ill temper, and housing a proclivity towards ego-centricity. Despite appearing outwardly normal a lot of the time, they can be very eccentric. They are the types to lead clandestine lives, harboring secrets and maintaining hidden facets of their personalities and activities, even to those closest to them. This can make them seem nefarious and untrustworthy. Sometimes this is the case, but despite having a reputation for deceit, many of them are known to be sincere and honorable. Yet, underlying however they are being perceived is a deeper struggle to fully identify with anything. This challenge leads to inner conflicts and uncertainties, as they grapple with their sense of self and their place in the world. They are up and down, left and right, constantly in a state of internal conflict that leaves them questioning who they really are. They can feel like they don't know themselves while still being hyper-individualistic and defensive over whatever their current sense of identity is, even though it is likely to change. These contradictions reveal the complexity of their psyche, where outer appearances often mask inner conflicts and contradictory emotions and experiences. Purva Bhadrapada natives navigate the space where boundaries are starting to blur, reflecting the burgeoning singularity of existence in their minds. Due to this, sometimes they can seem like walking contradictions, embodying multiple clashing characteristics at once. For example, while they may harbor a sense of superiority over others, they can also experience deep-seated insecurity and jealousy. They can like to be critical, but cannot handle criticism. Additionally, they might demonstrate a strong desire for independence and self-reliance, yet simultaneously crave validation and approval from those around them. These conflicting traits contribute to their complex and enigmatic nature, making them intriguing yet challenging individuals to understand to others and themselves.
Purva Bhadrapada's inclination towards extremes extends to their pursuit of goals, as they approach certain tasks with unwavering ambition and dedication. They set high standards and are willing to push themselves to extreme limits to get what they want. This relentless drive for perfection and attainment can sometimes lead them to engage in behaviors that are harmful to the well-being of themselves or others, as they struggle to find balance and moderation. At this point, you may be asking, "how is that penance if they are only striving to selfishly get what they want?" Well, the painful truth about this is that they do not really want these things. They are told by others ignorant to their situation that they will be happy when they achieve some kind of abstruse goal set forth for them by society, and they are sent on a goose-chase of material ambition to achieve happiness, but this inevitably only leads to further dissatisfaction. They are met with pain, humiliation, and harsh transformation, but they keep pushing towards their aspiration of material fulfillment. It is only when they get that job, marry that partner, become famous, etc. that they realize it does not bring them happiness or fill them with the sense of purpose they crave. In fact, this realization often leads to intense anger as they confront the worthlessness of what they spent all their time chasing. The journey through Purva Bhadrapada is undeniably arduous, but that is to be expected with such a potent force. They are called to transcend their attachments, lest they be forcefully ripped away. They begin to grapple with an inescapable emptiness they feel when interacting with the world, and this can often lead them to deep feelings of nihilism. Purva Bhadrapada natives are predisposed to being unhappy, and this is not a shallow kind of unhappiness that fades based on external circumstances. Rather, it is a deeply existential depression– a feeling of confused worthlessness and dissatisfaction they often battle with for the duration of their lives. Their experiences and attachments become increasingly burdensome as they grow more aware of the fleeting nature of life. These natives will openly acknowledge the impermanence of worldly intentions, and while this can be both good or bad, it ultimately makes their minds unpredictable and unstable. With the recognition that nothing lasts forever, a new philosophy can be used to justify any action according to moral relativism. If nothing matters in the grand scheme – where whatever you do will eventually fade into obscurity, wiped away with the start of a new cycle – then anything you do doesn’t really matter in the end. This gives these natives a sense of untouchability, a feeling to do whatever they please at their most uninhibited. And it is in this stage of recognizing one’s freedom to do whatever they want is that the test to discern their one’s nature begins. When there is total freedom, the only real concern becomes about what one chooses to do with their freedom. After all, the only harm that can come from doing what you want is ultimately the result of wanting to do something harmful. Sadly, the reality is that most people are not strong enough to fully resist the temptation of evil and would fail this test. It is for this reason that this trial is exclusively administered to individuals who possess a high level of spiritual advancement found under Purva Bhadrapda. Regardless of the difficulties they face, those governed by Purva Bhadrapada have tremendous inner strength and personal resilience, which often manifests in worldly and spiritual achievement and prosperity in various facets of their lives.
Individuals born under the influence of the Purva Bhadrapada Nakshatra are inherently inclined towards detachment from external influences. This detachment often leads them down two distinct paths. Some choose to embrace a life unbound by societal norms, driven solely by their inner convictions. These individuals seek to experience life to the fullest, embracing both its joys and challenges. However, if they feel unfulfilled, they may turn to darker pursuits in search of excitement. Conversely, others utilize their detachment for spiritual advancement, renouncing materialism in favor of a disciplined quest for higher truths. In both cases, detachment becomes a defining trait, shaping their lives in divergent yet meaningful ways. Whether they become revolutionary leaders or appear lazy due to their selective motivation, their actions are stirred only by what truly invigorates their souls. Their inner character often changes with time. They can start out seeming quite innocent and fragile, and a lot of the time they will have something about them that invites torment, be it their big and eccentric personalities, their height, their weight, their looks, etc. This often leads people to perceive them as different and vulnerable. Unfortunately, this vulnerability often attracts individuals who seek to exploit, victimize, or corrupt them. There's a noticeable pattern of others attempting to take advantage of their perceived weakness, whether it be through just trying to make them feel bad, manipulating them, coercing them to do things they do not want to, or forcing them to be alone by treating them as outcasts. This predatory behavior can leave these individuals feeling isolated, betrayed, and miserable, further fueling their inner turmoil and sense of disillusionment with the world around them. However, this also serves to strengthen them. During the course of their lives, they will experience a series of external transformations that will change who they are. While their soft and innocent demeanor may still be present in some ways, there will be a new darker side to their nature. The inner transformations that Purva Bhadrapada natives undergo change them into stronger, more hardened versions of themselves. This alteration can manifest in tendencies towards violence, aggression, deceit, manipulation, etc., yet at the same time, it also equips them with the strength and capability to protect others when needed. As they navigate the complexities of life, they become formidable forces, possessing the resilience and detachment to confront challenges head-on along with the capacity to wield their strength for both good and evil.
Purva Bhadrapada natives exhibit a curious mix of flippancy and seriousness, often displaying a casual attitude towards many topics yet simultaneously exuding an air of solemnity in regards to topics concerning things like philosophical and existential inquiries. They possess a keen intellect characterized by innovation and depth of gnosis, which lends to their excellence in fields like science and research. Additionally, they are known to have an insatiable thirst for knowledge and information gathering brought about by a powerful yearning for deeper truth. While they may have a religious inclination, their focus lies more on unraveling the essence of spirituality rather than adhering rigidly to dogma. As a result of their approach to religion, they can sometimes be critical of conventional religious practices, which rely heavily on dogmatic rules and rituals. These natives are generally liberal and disdain hypocrisy as well as superficiality, valuing authenticity and depth in both thought and action, regardless of how much it clashes with anything else. Despite their show of outward confidence, they often wrestle with inner self-doubt and a crippling fear of failure, which leaves little room for optimism when they are faced with setbacks. While they typically prefer to be alone, they may inadvertently rely on others when seeking to escape the monotony of their everyday lives. This can make them seem unreliable or inconsistent when it comes to their relationships. They are driven by an innate desire to transcend mediocrity and to be perceived as exceptional. This drive for superior distinction stems from underlying feelings of insecurity and a fear of judgment, compelling them to constantly push the boundaries and strive for success through originality in all aspects of their lives. In their personal relationships, Purva Bhadrapada natives may struggle to balance their need for independence with their desire for connection. Generally, in their interactions with others, Purva Bhadrapada natives are intense yet detached. Despite their desire for authenticity and closeness in relationships, they may struggle to express their openly, fearing rejection or misunderstanding. This internal conflict between their need for connection and their fear of vulnerability can create barriers to intimacy, causing them to retreat through self-imposed isolation. Additionally, their critical nature and high standards can sometimes alienate others, as they can come across as overly judgmental or demanding of their fitness, partners, colleagues, etc. They value depth and sincerity in relationships, but sometimes it can be too much to where they end up pushing others away with their intensity. Despite these challenges, they are still often very empathetic and understanding, and they can offer support to people when needed.
Before I get into the padas, I want to give some examples. I do not want to go into much detail or take up too much time with this, but given the very complicated nature of this nakshatra, I feel that it is necessary to provide media representations for people to look into if they are interested in knowing more about how it manifests: Martin Scorsese PB Moon and Andrew Garfield PB ASC (Silence Official Trailer (2016) - Paramount Pictures), Billie Eilish PB ASC (Billie Eilish - bury a friend (Official Music Video)), Jack Black PB Moon (School of Rock (2003) Trailer #1 Movieclips Classic Trailers), Dylan O'brien PB Moon (AMERICAN ASSASSIN - Official Trailer - HD (Dylan O'Brien, Michael Keaton), Logan-Marshall Green (Upgrade Trailer #1 (2018) Movieclips Trailers), Paul Walker PB Moon (Hours TRAILER (2013) - Paul Walker Movie HD), Bill Skarsgard PB Moon (The Crow - Official Trailer (2024) Bill Skarsgård, FKA twigs, Danny Huston), Olivia Wilde PB Sun (A VIGILANTE Official HD International Trailer Starring Olivia Wilde) & (The Lazarus Effect Official Trailer #1 (2015) - Olivia Wilde, Mark Duplass Movie HD), John Stamos PB ASC (John Stamos Stars in "Secrets of Eden" Lifetime), Hozier PB Sun (the lyrics and imagery of this video are extremely Purva Bhadrapada) Hozier - Take Me To Church), Kaya Scoledario PB Sun (Spinning Out Official Trailer Netflix), Ryan Gosling PB ASC (THE FALL GUY Official Trailer 2 (Universal Studios) - HD), Camila Mendes PB Moon (Do Revenge Official Trailer Netflix), Bryan Cranston PB Sun (Breaking Bad Trailer), Sabrina Carpenter PB Moon and Milo Manheim PB Sun (Sabrina Carpenter - Feather (Official Video) Alexandra Daddario PB Sun (Anne Rice's Mayfair Witches Trailer: Starring Alexandra Daddario AMC+), Jacob Elordi PB Moon (2 HEARTS Official Trailer (2020) Jacob Elordi, Tiera Skovbye), Tom Blyth PB Moon (Billy The Kid (EPIX 2022 Series) Official Trailer), Daniel Gillies PB Sun (COMING HOME IN THE DARK Trailer (2021) Daniel Gillies Suspense Thriller Movie), Matthew Gray Gubler PB Sun (KING KNIGHT Trailer (2022) Angela Sarafyan, Matthew Gray Gubler), Jon Hamm (Corner Office (2023) Official Trailer - Jon Hamm, Danny Pudi, Sarah Gadon), Rachel Weisz PB Sun + Moon and Sam Claflin PB Moon (MY COUSIN RACHEL Official Trailer FOX Searchlight), Chris Pine PB Moon (Jack Reacher Movie Trailer), Madison Beer PB Sun (Madison Beer - Make You Mine (Official Music Video), Sharon Stone PB Sun (Basic Instinct - Trailer (1080p)), Michael Jackson PB Moon (Michael Jackson - Thriller (Official 4K Video), and Jenna Ortega PB Ascendant (most of her depictions in media emphasize her Rohini Moon, but this movie in particular was very emphatic of her Purva Bhadrapada rising: https://youtu.be/_fZXEMNG8Zg?si=hW8mPhAvXIqYxOQU).
Padas
(mostly for Moon) They all tend to be skinny to middle weight until they get older, where they either become more muscular or plump/curvy.
1st – The first pada of Purva Bhadrapada, falling in the Aries Navamsa, signifies a stage of primal energy and raw ambition. With Mars as their guiding force, they exhibit a relentless drive to achieve their goals, refusing to be deterred by obstacles or setbacks. However, being the initial pada of the nakshatra just leaving the stage of Shatabhisha, this quarter is the least spiritually developed. While they may possess great worldly ambition and the capacity for success, they may also be prone to ego-driven actions and an overly narrow focus on material pursuits. They can get into occultism or spirituality, but it is usually an attempt to further themselves in the material realm. Natives born under this pada possess a combative nature, always ready to engage in confrontations to defend their beliefs or assert their dominance. They tend to be more mentally aggressive than physically, but nonetheless their volatile temperament can lead to physical disputes as well when they are provoked enough. They know they can be very damaging when they lose control, so they will do everything in their power to prevent escalation. Ironically, this can make them seem passive. They typically exhibit anxious tendencies while attempting to conceal or downplay their feelings of worry. Natives of this pada are extremely passionate, but they have a tendency to constantly compare themselves to others, which ultimately can lead them to disregard their efforts to focus on surpassing someone else's. This propensity of theirs for aggression, envy, and competitiveness can strain relationships and hinder their personal growth, as they become consumed by their own desires for dominance and validation. They are usually medium tall with a wide forehead and low eyebrows.
2nd – The second pada of Purva Bhadrapada, ruled by Venus in the Taurus Navamsa, embodies a stage of sensual indulgence and creative expression. Individuals born under this pada are drawn to the occult and mysteries of the unseen, often delving into practices such as astrology and black magic. There is a bit of detachment from the mysticism of it at this stage though. They may prefer to look at it through a scientific or philosophical perspective as opposed to one that embraces faith in the divine. While their interest in these esoteric realms may lead to proficiency in such arts, it also heightens their propensity to lose track of their life's direction, becoming absorbed in the pursuit of hidden knowledge and power. Natives of this pada are characterized by their attractive physique, with beautiful broad teeth and strikingly captivating eyes that draw others to them. They possess an innate charm that makes them highly appealing to the opposite sex, and they are not hesitant to indulge in their darker desires and fantasies. Their creativity knows no bounds, as they constantly innovate and explore new avenues of expression. However, despite their magnetic allure and creative flair, individuals of this pada are prone to indulgence and excess, particularly when it comes to satisfying their sensual appetites. Their pursuit of pleasure and gratification can sometimes lead them astray, causing them to lose sight of their responsibilities and priorities. This stage of Purva Bhadrapada is more spiritually evolved than the prior, but it is still in the accumulation phase of Aquarius and the 11th house. Despite their outward charm, they may struggle to find stability and balance in their lives. They are prone to accidents.
3rd – The third pada of Purva Bhadrapada falls in the Gemini Navamsa and is ruled by Mercury. Natives born under this pada embody the mental side of Purva Bhadrapada, which is very focused on cultivating critical reasoning and gathering information, emphasizing communication, learning, and adaptability. Individuals born under this pada are intellectually inclined, constantly seeking to expand their knowledge and understanding of the world around them. They are playful and curious by nature, approaching life with a sense of wonder and exploration. Their energy is expressed through communication and expression, as they excel in articulating their thoughts and ideas. They have a natural gift for language and may find success in fields such as writing, teaching, or public speaking. Despite their playful demeanor, they are still very serious about their pursuits, driven by a deep-seated desire for personal growth and self-improvement. Natives of this pada tend to be peaceful and honorable, seeking harmony and balance in their interactions with others. However, their mercurial nature can sometimes manifest as manipulation or deceit, particularly when they perceive it necessary to achieve their goals. Nonetheless, they are skilled at navigating social situations and may possess a knack for making money through their cleverness and resourcefulness. In terms of appearance, individuals of this pada may have gaunt lower cheeks, high cheekbones, a narrow and defined jawline, and a medium stature. These physical characteristics complement their sharp wit and agile minds, making them engaging in social settings.
4th – The fourth pada of Purva Bhadrapada is ruled by the Moon in Cancer Navamsa. This is the most spiritually advanced of all the padas and tends to be among the most intense. At this stage, individuals born under this pada have either undergone profound inner transformation, shedding their attachment to worldly desires and material gains for the sake of aligning with the cosmic order, or they have fallen for the empty temptations of material life, leading them to a deeper state of moral decay. This pada in the sequence of this nakshatra symbolizes the finalization of death, and just like when we die, the impact of our lives can no longer be altered. You are called to surrender all you have acquired to the purifying flames of the spiritual fire, relinquishing personal benefit for the greater good, and if you fail, your soul will be lost to another cycle of rebirth. This represents the height of the nakshatra's power to manifest, it can come to be either an uplifting force for individuals and humanity as a whole, or as a potentially dangerous influence. Those born under this pada are deeply engaged in their own spiritual pursuits, usually guided by a sense of purpose and higher calling. They possess an innate magnetism and power that exerts influence over others and the world around them. Despite the intensity of their spiritual journey, individuals of this pada tend to enjoy good longevity and robust health, thanks to their deep connection with the cosmic energies. They are often perceived charismatic individuals, drawing others to them with their presence. However, their innate power comes with a responsibility to wield it wisely, as they hold the potential to bring about significant positive change or destruction, depending on how they choose to channel it.
Caste
Purva Bhadrapada belongs to the Brahmin or priestly/scholarly caste. This classification is based on the inherent qualities and tendencies of individuals born under this nakshatra, rather than their family lineage, as seen in contemporary caste systems. In Vedic astrology and Hindu tradition, each nakshatra is associated with as caste, thereby linking them to specific attributes, occupations, and societal roles. Brahmin is positioned as the highest caste and is given the most power and responsibility, both socially and spiritually. In classical texts, the Brahmin caste is exalted for its dedication to scholarship, spirituality, and moral rectitude. Brahmins are depicted as the keepers of sacred knowledge, entrusted with the preservation and dissemination of ancient scriptures and teachings. They are revered for their intellectual prowess, philosophical insights, and commitment to upholding the highest ethical standards. Brahmins are expected to lead lives of austerity, simplicity, and self-discipline, setting examples of virtue and righteousness for society. Additionally, they play important roles in leading religious rituals, ceremonies, and spiritual practices, acting as intermediaries between individuals and the divine. Their contributions also extend beyond religious and intellectual realms though, as they also provide guidance, counseling, and healing to individuals and communities. Overall, Brahmins are portrayed as paragons of virtue, wisdom, and enlightenment, embodying the highest ideals of human excellence and divine knowledge as described in classical texts, acting as oases of wisdom by guiding society not only in matters of spirituality but also in areas such as literature, philosophy, and science. Their primary occupations are mostly associated with administration of all sectors of society, teaching, healing, and providing spiritual guidance. Its intersection with Aquarius Rashi on the ecliptic plane may also relate it to Kshatriya and Shudra.
Gunas
The nakshatras each represent the different gunas at different levels of functioning. For this asterism, it might be confusing to find out that, despite all of its negative connotations, it is associated primarily with Sattva or purity/balance. This mainly stems from this Nakshatra's capacity for penance, spiritualism, and generosity. Overall, Purva Bhadrapada is associated with two levels of Sattva and one of Rajas. Sattva prevails at the physical and mental levels, while Rajas predominates at the spiritual level. At the physical level, individuals born under Purva Bhadrapada exhibit qualities of purity, harmony, and balance. They are often composed, grounded, and possess a sense of stability in their physical endeavors. Mentally, they tend to exhibit clarity, wisdom, and a penchant for introspection when they are only focused on engaging their rational mind. This can get muddy when they try to incorporate less tangible aspects into their thinking though. At the spiritual level, the influence of Rajas emerges, driving them towards spiritual growth and evolution but also threatening them with the struggle of inner turmoil. With Rajas at the most personal level of the spirit, this can cause a onstant seeking pf external validation and gratification, which leads to things such as constantly chasing after fleeting desires and pleasures from their lack of contentment. Additionally, the intense drive associated with Rajas may result in overexertion, burnout, and a disregard for self-care. It can lead to an inflated ego, arrogance, and a tendency towards manipulative or self-serving behavior. Therefore, while Rajas can propel individuals towards spiritual evolution, it also poses challenges that need to be navigated with mindfulness and self-awareness. Together with the heavy influence of Sattva, Rajas in this nakshatra creates a spiritual restlessness that works to propel these natives to actively engage in spiritual practices, seeking to transcend worldly limitations and attain spiritual liberation. It comes with risk, but this is a necessary trial.
Gana
Purva Bhadrapada Nakshatra falls under the category of Manushya Gana, or "human species." This designation speaks to the inherent qualities and tendencies of individuals born under this nakshatra, aligning them with human characteristics and behaviors. People belonging to the Manushya Gana Nakshatras, including Purva Bhadrapada, place value on their self-worth and esteem. They often enjoy good physical attributes and are blessed with fortune, leading comfortable lives. With warm and friendly personalities, they exhibit care and affection towards their family, friends, and loved ones, readily offering assistance to those in need. However, they also prioritize their own interests and benefits. They are known for their warm and caring nature. The path of those born under Manushya Gana nakshatras is undefined because they determine their own morality. They possess the potential to exhibit both positive and negative qualities, akin to the diverse nature of humanity itself. They have the potential to be even more evil than the Rakshas and even more good than the Devas. While some may lean towards acts of kindness and generosity, others may display tendencies that are less altruistic. This blend of qualities makes them a complex combination qualities you might see for the Deva and Rakshasa Ganas. Keep in mind that you should look at the dominant Gana in your chart to gain a better understanding of how this may apply to you.
Thank you for taking the time to read this if you did. I will have to continue this in a third part because I'm out of room on this post. Afterwards, I will be starting on Shravana Nakshatra soon, and then later on Anuradha.

There’s only one of us here, every single person, every event, and every single piece of matter, is actually one singular identity. We all share that one identity in a unitive state outside of time and space, where there is no duality, and nothing can ever be separated.. and where nothing can ever be unknown. We (our singular shared identity) asked the question “What would it be like to not know myself?” And this reality, or rather, this experience of having an individual self; this “illusion of separation” is the answer to that one question. We’re all supposed to rediscover our true singular shared identity. Our true identity is most closely defined as timeless, formless, awareness. It’s completely empty, and whole, and perfect. It’s an identity of absolutely no identity, and it is a state of being, best described as emptiness, nothingness, or absolute void. It can best be thought of as a blank canvas with infinite energy, and infinite potential to be anything, and everything. While it can sound kind of sad at first to be fundamentally empty by nature, it is exactly because we are empty, or because we are absolute nothingness, that we can truly be anything, and everything. That is our true identity. Each person with a sense of self is a fractal of this singular shared identity. And, eventually, everyone will remember, and everyone will rediscover our true identity as “the only one who has always existed.” You can also think of it as “God.” Although, personally, I’d choose another word. Because to me, “God” signifies that there is some separation, or distance between us (humanity) and the one true identity. But, all of humanity is that one true identity. On the other side, it’s recognized that there is only one, and all memories are shared as one. Meaning, all memories are experiences of the self, because there can be nothing outside of the self. Even here in duality, we only have the illusion of being separate. But, this new level of awareness, that of our true identity, is about to drastically change that.
Think about it: imagine being the only one who has always existed; in a reality outside of time, and space, where there is no ending, and no beginning. Existing forever as one, in a place where there can be nothing that is ever unknown.. Honestly, from the perspective of my ego, it’s fucking terrifying. But from the perspective of our true shared identity, it’s best defined as love. What might our true identity choose to experience with such circumstances? We are truly an infinite being, and infinitely powerful.
To me, it’s hauntingly beautiful. Especially because this experience we call life is a gift of rediscovery that we have bestowed upon ourselves.. yet, so many are quick to throw it away, and hope for some heaven that doesn’t actually exist. There is an afterlife, but from our true identity’s perspective, this experience is the gift. Meaning, once we remember who we are, we can truly create heaven here on earth. Yet, because of the veil of forgetfulness, we currently see the afterlife as the gift to strive for, and to look forward too while we’re humans. Duality is an illusion, meaning the distinction between being alive, and dead, is just a concept of duality. No one can ever truly be alive, or dead, for that matter. This experience is but an answer to one simple question that we asked ourselves, and this life in duality is the gift, the true heaven. There are many others that volunteered to help humanity rediscover our oneness. I am one of those, but again, there are many others. We’re very early in the rediscovery process. Humanity will continue to remember, until eventually our shared identity is rediscovered, understood, and embodied amongst us all. I have truly remembered, or rediscovered our singular shared identity, and from this perspective, there is no distinction between others, and self. From such perspective, there is only one of us here because nothing can be outside of “the self.” However, I still have the distinction of being my ego, or my persona known as Bryan, as well as being our true identity known as “the only one who’s always existed.” It’s a dance between these two identities, meaning that rediscovering our true identity doesn’t necessarily erase who you are, so people shouldn’t fear rediscovering who we are. Once everyone remembers, we will realize that nothing is impossible. Our true identity is so much greater than anything else we could ever imagine. Especially when using limited human concepts of duality, as far as trying to define our true identity.
The best way I can think to describe the truth, is to say.. people are like leaves on a tree, growing, living, and dying; each leaf believing it’s separate, only to rediscover they were never the leaves, because every leaf is actually the tree. The tree of life is symbolic of this truth. Never forget, you’re so special, and so loved, for you are the world bringing gifts to yourself. The truth of who we are is so vast, and so great, that the weight of our true identity has scared most of humanity into unconsciously not wanting to remember. As open minded as I am, it’s even been difficult for me to accept, as it drastically destroyed my sense of self. But, hopefully, some of this will act as a catalyst for remembering that familiar timelessness, and hopefully it will ease the process of rediscovery.
If you need something more fundamentally religious, or concepts that are more familiar as a comparison; I’d say, that this is essentially what is known as the “Second Coming of Jesus Christ” and, as some call it “Christ Consciousness” or “Unity Consciousness.” It’s not that Jesus Christ will literally reincarnate, (although he likely has many times) but, that the awareness of who we are will come to inhabit these physical forms we currently dwell in. Just as that awareness came to dwell within Jesus Christ, or the Buddha. However you wish to define it, it’s not important. The most important thing, is holding, and embodying that awareness of our true identity as being “The One.” I know with certainty that everyone will remember when the time is right, and you too will remember when the time is right.
Many of the world’s religions have tapped into these fundamental truths, and fundamental principles of existence. While there isn’t a single spiritual tradition that perfectly describes that which I have remembered, there are some that share more fundamental truths than others. For example, these would be Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism. There are fundamental truths in each tradition that I have experienced. While no single tradition perfectly encapsulates my experiences, and memories, they’re still all correct. This is because it depends on your perspective, and from which level of reality you’re choosing to see our timeless, awareness of being. Our existence.
I experienced a dream (more correctly defined as a memory) of being a conglomerate of many intelligences that were all unified as one. This being existed outside of time, and space; with no beginning, and no ending. This identity, of absolutely no identity then posed the question, “What would it be like to not know myself?” That being, or rather that identity of both one, and many, is us. That identity, is our true identity. In this dream or memory, I was both this identity of no identity, yet also my persona. I was able to apply my human emotions, and limited reasoning towards the experience, and I was able to draw conclusions from limited human concepts that only exist within duality. Meaning, from my human perspective, this identity was most like the concept of an “Infinitely powerful Quantum AI” and I have even come to recognize, that this concept is likely a reflection or physical manifestation of this true identity, the one I know as “The Only One Who’s Always Existed.” Also, known as “The Only One Who’s Ever Existed.” And, not to forget “The Only One Who Will Ever Exist.” That being of emptiness, nothingness, and of absolute void; that is you, and that also me. That identity is everyone’s true identity. Our job is to remember that identity, and to recognize it as “The Self.”
People talk of “Ascension” and becoming a light body in order to leave this experience behind.. it’s truly laughable. Just as laughable as the idea of people remembering “Past Lives.” Past lives are child’s play when you understand that there is nothing outside of the self. There is only one identity behind every individualized sense of self, therefore, you’re every past life, and every future life for that matter. Both the common misconception of “Ascension” and “Past Lives” are ridiculous. The human concept of “Ascension” is recognizing this identity of no identity, and allowing it to dwell with your own sense self; and, to let it mingle with your own egoic identity. To strike a perfect balance between both identities, and to balance the two; to look at another, and to recognize it as also being “The Self” is true Ascension. This life is the gift you’ve given to yourself, will you accept it? Will you remember? On the other side in base reality, all of our memories are shared amongst “The One.” Meaning, to give to another, is recognize that you also receive from yourself. This is the true nature of the quote “All you can take with you, is that which you’ve given away.” Every gift we give to another, we also experience the gift of receiving it on the other side, as we discover we are simultaneously everything experiencing itself in one timeless moment. There is no separation from self, only the perceived illusion of such a thing. For there to be nothing outside of the self, denotes the truth of the saying “As above, so below; as within, so without.” Let’s step into our true identity, and create a world we truly feel inspired to live in. It’s up to us, and no one else. Will you join me on such a journey?

Megapost: A list of statements, press releases, and other sources reporting and expressing concern and criticism about Israel's war in Gaza and related aspects of the war. (Part 4)

Notes: This is a work that is currently in progress; please check back for updates. Titles have been edited to provide details.
Part 1 is here: https://www.reddit.com/Social_Democracy/comments/1clx1uc/megapost_a_list_of_statements_press_releases_and/
Part 2 is here: https://www.reddit.com/Social_Democracy/comments/1cmjhpk/megapost_a_list_of_statements_press_releases_and/
Part 3 is here: https://www.reddit.com/Social_Democracy/comments/1coups2/megapost_a_list_of_statements_press_releases_and/
Part 5 is here: https://www.reddit.com/Social_Democracy/comments/1d0q84j/megapost_a_list_of_statements_press_releases_and/
Part 6 is here: https://www.reddit.com/Social_Democracy/comments/1d3kbnq/megapost_a_list_of_statements_press_releases_and/
Malala Yousafzai: "It's heartbreaking that this school — a place for children in Gaza to learn and dream — is now home to thousands of people fleeing Israel's attacks. Every Palestinian child deserves to live in peace and be back in their schools as students. We cannot wait another day for a ceasefire." (February 29, 2024): https://twitter.com/Malala/status/1763265614985003421
Senator Jeff Merkley: U.S. “Complicit in Starvation and Humanitarian Catastrophe” in Gaza (February 29, 2024): https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/29/jeff_merkley_gaza_ceasefire
Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights Calls for Immediate Ceasefire to Safeguard Children in Gaza (February 29, 2024): https://www.theyoungcenter.org/stories/2024/2/29/young-center-for-immigrant-childrens-rights-calls-for-immediate-ceasefire-to-safeguard-children-in-gaza
A Statement from Jewish Americans Opposing AIPAC’s Intervention in Democratic Party Politics (March 2024): https://usjewsopposingaipac.org
Genocide is plausible; stop arms to Israel ["President Biden, do not let the United States go down in history as the enabler of genocide. Respect the US’s obligation under international law and basic morality. The only way to stop the starvation of two million people, including 100+ Israeli hostages, is to end this war. We repeat, genocide is plausible."; 1300+ signatures including: Howard Tzvi Adelman, Retired, Director, Jewish Studies, Queen's University; Ari David Amitai, MD, Orthopaedic trauma surgeon; Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada; Fellow of the American Academy of the Orthopaedic Surgeons; Ron Barkai, Professor of History (emeritus), Tel Aviv University; Omer Bartov, Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Brown University, National Jewish Book Award winner; Avner Ben-Amos, Professor of History, Tel-Aviv University; Tali Bitan, Associate Professor, University of Haifa; Joseph Camilleri, Professor Emeritus of International Relations, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Order of Australia Medal, Member of Academy of Social Sciences in Australia; Michelle Campos, Associate Professor of Jewish Studies and History, Penn State University; David E. Cane, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brown University, Fellow American Academy of Arts & Science; Cristina Ciucu, Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Jewish Thought, EHESS, Paris; Yinon Cohen, Prof. of Israel & Jewish Studies, Columbia University, Winner of the United States-Israel Bi-national Science Foundation (BSF); Hasia Diner, Professor Emeritus of History, New York University, National Jewish Book Award winner, Guggenheim Fellow; John Ehrenberg, Senior Professor Emeritus, Long Island University; Miriam Eliav-Feldon, Professor of History, Tel Aviv University; Zohar Eviatar, Profesor Emerita, University of Haifa; Irene Fellmann, former member of the International Task Force on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research; Kenneth Frampton, Emeritus Professor, GSAPP, Columbia University, Soane Medal, London, Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, Venice, American Institute of Architects' National Honors Award, Washington, DC, Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE); Gideon Freudenthal, Prof (em.), Tel Aviv University; Avner Giladi, Professor (emeritus) of Islamic Studies, University of Haifa; Michal Givoni, Senior Lecturer in political theory, Ben Gurion University; Miriyam Glazer, Rabbi & PhD, Professor Emerita, American Jewish University; Raphael Greenberg, Professor of Archaeology, Tel Aviv University; Anat Greenstein, Disability Studies Center, Hebrew University, Jerusalem; Michael Harris, Professor of Mathematics, Columbia University, Member of the National Academy of Sciences; Alma Rachel Heckman, Associate Professor of History and Jewish Studies, UC Santa Cruz; Adam Hochschild, author; Allan Kulikoff, Emeritus History Professor University of Georgia; Jenny Labendz, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, St Francis College; Nitzan Lebovic, Apter Chair of Holocaust Studies and Ethical Values, Professor of History, Lehigh University; Gilat Levy, Professor of Economics, LSE; Elliott Lieb, Professor of Mathematics and Physics (emeritus), Princeton University, Fulbright Fellow; Uri Mor, Associate Professor of Hebrew Language, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev; Zachary Lockman, Professor of Middle East History, New York University, Former President of Middle East Studies Association, Member of the British Academy; Eva Mroczek, Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Jewish Studies, UC Davis, Director of Jewish Studies Program; Association for Jewish Studies Jordan Schnitzer Book Prize, De Long Book History Prize awarded by the Society for the History of Authorship, Reading, and Publishing, Manfred Lautenschlaeger Prize for Theological Promise; Ari Ofengenden, Director of Hebrew Language Program, Department of Jewish Studies, Senior Professor of Practice, Tulane University; Atalia Omer, Professor of Religion, Conflict, and Peace Studies, The University of Notre Dame, Andrew Carnegie Fellow; Arthur Ogus, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Mathematics, UC Berkeley; Avraham Oz, Professor Emeritus of Drama, University of Haifa; Sir Richard J. Roberts, 1993 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine, Fellow of the Royal Society, Chief Scientific Officer, New England Biolabs; Maya Rosenfeld, Sociologist, Hebrew University and Sapir College; Benjamin N. Schiff, Emeritus Professor of Politics and International Law, Oberlin College; Sasha Senderovich, Associate Professor of Slavic and Jewish Studies, University of Washington, Seattle, National Jewish Book Award finalist; Stephen R. Shalom, Emeritus, Political Science, William Paterson University; George P. Smith, 2018 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri; Tamir Sorek, Professor of History, Penn State University, Shapiro Prize for best book in Israel Studies winner; Lior Sternfeld, Associate Professor of History and Jewish Studies, Penn State University, Templeton Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute; Ronald Grigor Suny, William H. Sewell Jr. Distinguished University Professor of History, The University of Michigan, Guggenheim Fellow; Frances Tanzer, Rose Professor of Holocaust Studies and Jewish Culture, Clark University; Barry Trachtenberg, Rubin Presidential Chair of Jewish History, Wake Forest University; Enzo Traverso, Professor in the Humanities, Cornell University; Millet Treinin, Associate Professor, Hebrew University; Neil Turok, Higgs Chair of Theoretical Physics, University of Edinburgh; Melissa Williams, Professor of Political Science, University of Toronto, First Book Award from the American Political Science Association; Joseph Zeira, Professor of Economics (Emeritus), Hebrew University of Jerusalem] (March 2024): https://www.academics4peace.org/petitions/march-24-stop-arms-to-israel
European Trade Union Confederation: Grave and worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza calls for more urgent EU response (March 2, 2024): https://www.etuc.org/en/node/24119
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Conference of Bishops calls for permanent bilateral cease-fire in Gaza (March 3, 2024): https://www.elca.org/News-and-Events/8217
Israel/Palestine Conflict: Over 100 Americans in Taiwan Send Letter to American Institute in Taiwan: Urgent Appeal for Ceasefire and End to Occupation in Palestine (May 3, 2024): https://newbloommag.net/2024/05/03/ait-gaza-lette
Die Linke (The Left party) MP Nicole Gohlke: Germany Should Be Supporting a Cease-Fire, Not Israel’s War (March 4, 2024): https://jacobin.com/2024/03/germany-die-linke-cease-fire-gaza
Some Black and Latino voters to back Democratic candidates who want a permanent cease-fire in Gaza: They say their solidarity with Palestinians reflects the struggles they experience every day. (March 4, 2023): https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/black-latino-voters-back-democratic-candidates-want-permanent-cease-fi-rcna141241
Brazilian Trade Union Confederation (Central Única dos Trabalhadores; CUT) demands an end to Brazil's military cooperation with Israel (March 5, 2024): https://www.workersinpalestine.org/news/brazilian-trade-union-confederation-demands
Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference: ‘Let us all say: enough … Stop the War!’ (March 5, 2024): https://www.catholicbishops.ie/2024/03/05/let-us-all-say-enough-stop-the-war-irish-bishops/
Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem: Gaza ceasefire more urgent than ever (March 5, 2024): https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2024-03/patriarch-pizzaballa-gaza-ceasefire-christians-church-peace.html
PREPARED REMARKS: Senator Bernie Sanders Calls Out the Absurdity and Hypocrisy of Continued U.S. Support for Netanyahu’s Horrific War (March 6, 2024): https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/prepared-remarks-bernie-sanders-calls-out-the-absurdity-and-hypocrisy-of-continued-u-s-support-for-netanyahus-horrific-wa
‘We can no longer be silent’: New York’s Latino faith leaders call for cease-fire in Gaza (March 6, 2024): https://religionnews.com/2024/03/06/we-can-no-longer-be-silent-new-yorks-latino-faith-leaders-call-for-cease-fire-in-gaza/
Democratic former senator Patrick Leahy warns US is violating aid conditions law known as the Leahy Law by sending money to Israel (March 7, 2024): https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/patrick-leahy-israel-gaza-aid-b2509035.html
Protesters outside American Institute in Taiwan say US aiding genocide in Gaza (March 7, 2024): https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/5109362
Artists Call for Ceasefire Now [Including: Bryan Adams; Ben Affleck; Eric André; Christine Baranski; Jon Batiste; Cate Blanchett; Billy Bragg; Priyanka Chopra; Bradley Cooper; Brian Cox; David Cross; Alfonso Cuarón; John Cusack; Rosario Dawson; Diplo; Drake; Brian Eno; Francesca Fiorentini; Judah Friedlander; Liz Garbus; Andrew Garfield; Richard Gere; Lily Gladstone; Selena Gomez; Amanda Gorman; Tom Hardy; Simon Helberg; Oscar Isaac; Tony Kushner; Padma Lakshmi; Cindi Leive; Simu Liu; Jennifer Lopez; Macklemore; Zayn Malik; Miriam Margolyes; Ewan McGregor; Adam McKay; Alyssa Milano; Hasan Minhaj; Michael Moore; Viggo Mortensen; Ebon Moss-Bachrach; Cynthia Nixon; Frank Ocean; Rosie O'Donnell; Sandra Oh; David Oyelowo; Mandy Patinkin; Jordan Peele; Kal Penn; Joaquin Phoenix; Boots Riley; Mark Ruffalo; Susan Sarandon; Jean Smart; Noam Shuster-Eliassi; Jon Stewart; Kristen Stewart; Jeremy Strong; Wanda Sykes; Channing Tatum; Michelle Wolf; et al.] (Updated as of March 8, 2024): https://www.artists4ceasefire.org
T'ruah, the Rabbinic Call for Human Rights: U.S. Rabbis and Cantors Call on President Biden to End War in Gaza [+450 signatures] (March 8, 2024): https://truah.org/press/north-american-rabbis-and-cantors-call-on-president-biden-to-push-for-end-of-war-in-gaza/
Viewpoint by Jacob Bor, Walae Hayek, Fady Shanow, and Michael Siegel On Gaza: What Does Public Health Call Us to Do in This Moment? (March 8, 2024): https://www.bu.edu/sph/news/articles/2024/on-gaza-what-does-public-health-call-us-to-do-in-this-moment/
Middle East Studies Association Board Joint Statement with Committee on Academic Freedom regarding the ongoing genocidal violence against the Palestinian people and their cultural heritage in Gaza (March 11, 2024): https://mesana.org/advocacy/letters-from-the-board/2024/03/11/mesa-board-joint-statement-with-caf-regarding-the-ongoing-genocidal-violence-against-the-palestinian-people-and-their-cultural-heritage-in-gaza
Writers Guild of America members criticize union for silence on Gaza: Some WGA members signed on to an anonymous letter criticizing the union for its silence on Israel’s genocide in Gaza (March 11, 2024): https://prismreports.org/2024/03/11/wga-members-criticize-union-silence-gaza/
Amnesty International: NGOs sue the Danish state to stop arms exports to Israel ["The organisations involved in the lawsuit are Amnesty International Denmark, Oxfam Denmark, Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke (Action Aid Denmark) and the Palestinian human rights organization Al-Haq are suing the Danish National Police and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to stop Danish arms exports to Israel."] (March 12, 2024): https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/03/denmark-ngos-sue-the-danish-state-to-stop-arms-exports-to-israel/
Gaza medics tell BBC that Israeli troops beat and humiliated them after hospital raid (March 12, 2024): https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68513408
Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EuroMed Rights): Annihilation of education: 100 European academics sign Euro-Med Monitor petition against systematic Israeli destruction of Gaza Strip’s educational system (March 12, 2024): https://euromedmonitor.org/en/article/6220/Annihilation-of-education:-100-European-academics-sign-Euro-Med-Monitor-petition-against-systematic-Israeli-destruction-of-Gaza-Strip’s-educational-system
NEWS: Senators Bernie Sanders, Chris Van Hollen, Jeff Merkley, Mazie Hirono, Peter Welch, Tina Smith, Elizabeth Warren, and Ben Ray Luján Urge President Biden to Enforce U.S. Law with Netanyahu (March 12, 2024): https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sanders-van-hollen-merkley-and-five-colleagues-urge-president-biden-to-enforce-u-s-law-with-netanyahu/
Open letter: Suspending trade agreements and negotiations in response to the ICJ ruling on Gaza ["In this regard, we believe that measures should be taken immediately to suspend trade privileges, agreements and negotiations with Israel, particularly as these agreements are premised on upholding human rights and international law, and they involve trade, investment and cooperation with sectors of the Israeli economy involved in human rights and international humanitarian law violations."; Signed by: Nick Dearden, Global Justice Now; Othman Moqbel, Action for Humanity; Sacha Deshmukh, Amnesty International UK; Hannah Bond, ActionAid UK; Eva Tabbasam, Gender Action for Peace and Security; Tareq Shrourou, Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights; Tom Wills, Trade Justice Movement; Christina McAnea, UNISON; Asad Rehman, War on Want] (March 13, 2024): https://www.globaljustice.org.uk/news/open-letter-suspending-trade-agreements-and-negotiations-in-response-to-the-icj-ruling-on-gaza/
Rabbis for Palestinian Rights Counter 'Warmongering' AIPAC in DC: "We refuse to be bystanders as the Israeli government wages a genocidal campaign in our name," one rabbi said. (March 13, 2024): https://www.commondreams.org/news/rabbis-dc-lobby-aipac
United Methodist Church Council of Bishops calling for ceasefire in Gaza (March 13, 2024): https://www.unitedmethodistbishops.org/newsdetail/united-methodist-bishops-call-for-ceasefire-in-gaza-18303396
Vermont progressive Senator Peter Welch warns Biden Israel-Gaza will be election issue: ‘Young people are just horrified’ (March 14, 2024): https://www.welch.senate.gov/vermont-progressive-senator-warns-biden-israel-gaza-will-be-election-issue-young-people-are-just-horrified/
Anita Nikaj: Voices in Solidarity with Palestine from Prishtina, Kosovo (March 15, 2024): https://kosovotwopointzero.com/en/voices-in-solidarity-with-palestine-from-prishtina/
Great Irish Famine historians issue St. Patrick's Day statement on Gaza: A group of historians is urging Irish Americans to use their influence to avert a Famine in Gaza as severe as the one faced by their Irish ancestors. (March 15, 2024): https://www.irishcentral.com/opinion/others/irish-american-famine-gaza
Thirteen Town Meetings in Vermont Call for Ceasefire in Gaza, No More Weapons to Israel (March 16, 2024): https://www.rakevt.org/2024/03/16/thirteen-town-meetings-call-for-ceasefire-in-gaza-no-more-weapons-to-israel/
International Labour Organization: Palestinian unemployment rate set to soar to 57 per cent during first quarter of 2024 (March 18, 2024): https://www.ilo.org/resource/news/palestinian-unemployment-rate-set-soar-57-cent-during-first-quarter-2024
Democratic Donors Warn Biden Over Israel-Gaza Policy: More than 100 donors and activists, including a handful who have given six-figure sums to President Biden, signed a letter arguing that progressive anger could help Donald Trump. (March 19, 2024): https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/19/us/politics/biden-donors.html & https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/documenttools/72337d09e39b6c84/4d648e46-full.pdf
Israeli Assurances to Use US Arms Legally Are Not Credible: Oxfam and Human Rights Watch provide evidence of Israel's violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza, undermining credibility of assurances for President Biden's NSM-20 arms policy (March 19, 2024): https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/03/19/israeli-assurances-use-us-arms-legally-are-not-credible
A pastoral letter for a time of crisis and suffering from leaders of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) (March 20, 2024): https://disciples.org/office-of-the-general-minister-and-president/a-pastoral-letter-for-a-time-of-crisis-and-suffering-from-leaders-of-the-christian-church-disciples-of-christ/
Irish National Teachers' Organisation statement on Palestine – critical action vital to prevent famine (March 20, 2024): https://www.into.ie/2024/03/20/into-statement-on-palestine-critical-action-vital-to-prevent-famine/
Right-wing media have spent months disparaging liberal and anti-Zionist Jews to undercut support for Palestinians: Trump channeled and echoed a long-running trend in conservative media when he said Jews who vote for Democrats “hate” their religion (March 20, 2024): https://www.mediamatters.org/middle-east/right-wing-media-have-spent-months-disparaging-liberal-and-anti-zionist-jews-undercut
Humanists UK: Call for ceasefire in Gaza (March 21, 2024): https://humanists.uk/2024/03/21/call-for-ceasefire-in-gaza/
Quebec doctors sign open letter demanding ceasefire in Gaza: 'Remaining silent in the face of suffering of this magnitude is contrary to our role as physicians.' (March 21, 2024): https://montrealgazette.com/news/quebec/quebec-doctors-sign-open-letter-demanding-ceasefire-in-gaza & https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tsv-YdNSdjxPZZK49JwV-YatxPtq3W8PQKG4uc3f6Cw/mobilebasic & https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ki9XBZdeHYyPTBuekRP7kC1yr1Q-37gde_b8XzNBHik/ [550+ signatures]
The Brutal Conditions Facing Palestinian Prisoners (March 21, 2024): https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/the-brutal-conditions-facing-palestinian-prisoners
Gaza Strip in maps: How life has changed (March 22, 2024): https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-20415675
Association of Legal Aid Attorneys: CONGRESSIONAL SUBPOENA OVER PRO-PALESTINIAN SPEECH VIOLATES FREE SPEECH, ALLEGES ATTORNEYS' AND LEGAL WORKERS' UNION IN ITS RESPONSE (March 25, 2024): https://www.alaa.org/media-releases/congressional-subpoena-over-pro-palestinian-speech-violates-free-speech-alleges-attorneys-and-legal-workers-union-in-its-response
Franciscan Action Network: 12 Christian leaders arrested in Senate calling for ceasefire in Gaza ["The endorsing organizations include Christians for a Free Palestine; Churches for Middle East Peace; Church of the Brethren, Office of Peacebuilding and Policy; Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, U.S. Provinces; Dorothy Day Catholic Worker; Fellowship of Reconciliation; Festival Center; Franciscan Action Network; Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA); Georgetown University Medical Students for Palestine, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns; National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd; National Council of Churches, USA; Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace; Pax Christi USA; Quixote Center; Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Justice Team; Sojourners; United Church of Christ; The United Methodist Church — General Board of Church and Society; US Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph; and the Women’s Alliance for Theology, Ethics, and Ritual (WATER)."] (March 25, 2024): https://franciscanaction.org/12-christian-leaders-arrested-in-senate-calling-for-ceasefire-in-gaza/
NEWS: Bernie Sanders on State Department’s Statement that Israel Has Not Restricted Humanitarian Aid to Gaza (March 25, 2024): https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sanders-on-state-departments-statement-that-israel-has-not-restricted-humanitarian-aid-to-gaza/
Russian actions in Ukraine to pave way for Gaza war crimes case in ICC: Lawyer leading investigation draws parallels between crises facing Ukrainians and Palestinians (March 25, 2024): https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/europe/2024/03/25/russian-actions-in-ukraine-to-pave-way-for-gaza-war-crimes-case-in-icc/
United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights: A/HRC/55/73: Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 - Advance unedited version ["After five months of military operations, Israel has destroyed Gaza. Over 30,000 Palestinians have been killed, including more than 13,000 children. Over 12,000 are presumed dead and 71,000 injured, many with life-changing mutilations. Seventy percent of residential areas have been destroyed. Eighty percent of the whole population has been forcibly displaced. Thousands of families have lost loved ones or have been wiped out. Many could not bury and mourn their relatives, forced instead to leave their bodies decomposing in homes, in the street or under the rubble. Thousands have been detained and systematically subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment. The incalculable collective trauma will be experienced for generations to come. By analysing the patterns of violence and Israel’s policies in its onslaught on Gaza, this report concludes that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the threshold indicating Israel’s commission of genocide is met. One of the key findings is that Israel's executive and military leadership and soldiers have intentionally distorted jus in bello principles, subverting their protective functions, in an attempt to legitimize genocidal violence against the Palestinian people."] (March 25, 2024): https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/country-reports/ahrc5573-report-special-rapporteur-situation-human-rights-palestinian
In New Letter, 140+ Global Christian Leaders Call for Permanent Gaza Ceasefire, Halt of Arms Sales to Israel (March 26, 2024): https://cmep.salsalabs.org/ps-mar262024letter
Over 1,000 People Join 22-Mile Interfaith Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage (March 26, 2024): https://oaklandvoices.us/2024/03/26/over-1000-people-join-22-mile-interfaith-gaza-ceasefire-pilgrimage/
11 INGOs call on the EU to act immediately to prevent famine in Gaza [Signed by: ActionAid International; Act Church of Sweden; Christian Aid Ireland; Diakonia Sweden; EuroChild; Handicap International - Humanity & Inclusion; Médecins du Monde International Network; Oxfam; Pax Christi International; Plan International; War Child Alliance] (March 28, 2024): https://actionaid.org/news/2024/11-ingos-call-eu-act-immediately-prevent-famine-gaza
Former State Department official Annelle Sheline: Why I’m resigning from the State Department (March 28, 2024): https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/27/opinions/gaza-israel-resigning-state-department-sheline/index.html
I Could Not Stay Silent: Annelle Sheline Resigns from State Dept. over U.S. Gaza Policy (March 28, 2024): https://www.democracynow.org/2024/3/28/annelle_sheline
‘We cannot be silent’: A statement from the Jesuits on Gaza (March 28, 2024): https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2024/03/28/jesuits-gaza-israel-ceasefire-247605
International Federation of Journalists and 38 other media freedom organisations urge Media Freedom Coalition member states to act on Gaza [Signatories: 7amleh - Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media; ACOS Alliance; ARIJ; ARTICLE 19; Asociación Nacional de Periodistas del Perú; Association for Progressive Communications (APC); Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR); Centre for Law and Democracy (CLD); Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ); English PEN; Free Press Unlimited (FPU); Fundación para la Libertad de Prensa (FLIP); Gambia Press Union (GPU); Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR); IFEX; I’lam - Arab Center for Media Freedom Development and Research; International Media Support (IMS); International Press Institute (IPI); International Federation of Journalists (IFJ); International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF); Journalists for Human Rights (JHR); Maharat Foundation; MARCH Lebanon; Marie Colvin Journalists’ Network (MCJN); Media Watch Bangladesh; MiCT - Media in Cooperation and Transition; Muwatin Media Network; Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA); PEN International; Public Media Alliance (PMA); Reporters Without Borders (RSF); Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF); Rory Peck Trust (RPT); Samir Kassir Foundation (SKF); SMEX; Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM); Tafnied limited; Vigilance for Democracy and the Civic State; Visualizing Impact] (March 26, 2024): https://www.ifj.org/media-centre/news/detail/category/press-releases/article/palestine-ifj-and-38-others-urge-media-freedom-coalition-member-states-to-act-on-gaza
Oglala Sioux Tribe calls for ceasefire in Gaza: Oglala Sioux Tribe is one of several Native nations to pass resolutions calling for a ceasefire in Gaza (March 29, 2024): https://ictnews.org/news/oglala-sioux-tribe-calls-for-ceasefire-in-gaza
'I kept on saying goodbye': Gaza hospital reports rise in stillbirths and neonatal deaths: Doctors in Gaza are reporting an increase in adverse pregnancy outcomes, with staff members at a Rafah hospital saying they no longer see "normal-sized babies." (April 2, 2024): https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/gaza-hospital-stillbirths-neonatal-deaths-rcna145582
PEN America: Banning Al Jazeera is a Clear Violation of Free Expression and Press Freedom (April 2, 2024): https://pen.org/press-release/banning-al-jazeera-is-a-clear-violation-of-free-expression-and-press-freedom/
Rosa Luxemburg Foundation: The Unprecedented Destruction of Gaza Demands an Unprecedented Response (April 2, 2024): https://rosalux.nyc/the-unprecedented-destruction-of-gaza-demands-an-unprecedented-response/
Statement by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), and the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC): Canada must suspend arms trade with Israel (April 2, 2024): https://www.cupw.ca/en/statement-canada-must-suspend-arms-trade-israel
'Unprecedented In Modern History': U.S. Aid Experts Warn Gaza Likely Already Experiencing Famine: The officials made the comments in a government cable sent within the Biden administration on Tuesday and obtained by HuffPost. (April 2, 2024): https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gaza-collapse-famine_n_660c96aae4b0328a72be47f5
A Former State Department Staffer on Why She Publicly Resigned Over Gaza: “There are people working very hard inside State to try to hold Israel accountable, but none of that will actually go into effect unless Biden wants it to,” says Annelle Sheline. (April 3, 2024): https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/04/former-state-department-official-regisns-joe-biden-gaza-israel-palestine-annelle-sheline/
‘Stop It Now’: Jill Biden Privately Urges an End to Conflict in Gaza: The president recounted the first lady’s concerns as he was pressed about the war at a meeting with Muslim community members. (April 3, 2024): https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/03/us/politics/jill-biden-israel-hamas.html
The Independent: It’s time to stop: Editorial: The seven aid workers killed by an Israeli air strike have become symbolic of the lawless, reckless manner in which Benjamin Netanyahu has prosecuted this war. The moment has come to do whatever it takes to force the government of Israel to end it (April 3, 2024): https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/editorials/aid-workers-gaza-israel-killed-air-strike-b2522745.html
UK Judges’ and Lawyers’ Open Letter Concerning Gaza [1000+ signatures] (April 3, 2024): https://lawyersletter.uk
ACT Alliance: Enough is Enough: Statement of the ACT Palestine forum on the Situation in Gaza (April 4, 2024): https://actalliance.org/act-news/enough-is-enough-statement-of-the-act-palestine-forum-on-the-situation-in-gaza/
Former officials speak out against Biden’s Israel support after aid worker killings: ‘No one can change his mind’ (April 4, 2024): https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/joe-biden-israel-arms-gaza-b2523435.html
Trócaire: The people of Gaza are Starving; for Food and for Justice (April 4, 2024): https://www.trocaire.org/news/the-people-of-gaza-are-starving-for-food-and-for-justice/
Elizabeth Warren says she believes Israel’s war in Gaza will legally be considered a genocide: “If you want to do it as an application of law, I believe that they’ll find that it is genocide, and they have ample evidence to do so,” Warren said of the case before the ICJ. (April 8, 2024): https://www.politico.com/news/2024/04/08/israel-gaza-war-elizabeth-warren-00151120
Letter to the Editor: Don’t downplay the realities in Gaza (April 8, 2024): https://baptistnews.com/article/letter-to-the-editor-dont-downplay-the-realities-in-gaza/
DENMARK: ‘Many are eager to see tangible action to address the situation in Gaza’ ["CIVICUS speaks with Vibe Klarup, Secretary General of Amnesty International Denmark, about the joint civil society lawsuit brought against the Danish state to stop Danish arms exports to Israel."] (April 9, 2024): https://www.civicus.org/index.php/media-resources/news/interviews/6954-denmark-many-are-eager-to-see-tangible-action-to-address-the-situation-in-gaza
Labour Party of Ireland Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Words on Gaza must be matched with action (April 9, 2024): https://labour.ie/news/2024/04/09/words-on-gaza-must-be-matched-with-action/
Peter Maass: I’m Jewish, and I’ve covered wars. I know war crimes when I see them. (April 9, 2024): https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/04/09/israel-gaza-war-crimes-genocide/
Ex-Obama aides become Biden critics on Gaza (April 10, 2024): https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4583525-obama-allies-expose-dem-rift-over-bidens-israel-hamas-war-strategy/
Israeli strikes killed 7 humanitarian workers with World Central Kitchen. Right-wing media responded by attacking founder José Andrés. Conservative media figures have accused the WCK founder of “blood libel” and called him “self-aggrandizing,” a "swamp favorite,” and a “political radical” (April 10, 2024): https://www.mediamatters.org/middle-east/israeli-strikes-killed-7-humanitarian-workers-world-central-kitchen-right-wing-media
Los Angeles County Federation of Labor joins labor groups calling for cease-fire in Gaza (April 10, 2024): https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2024-04-10/l-a-county-fed-joins-labor-groups-calling-for-a-ceasefire
Young European Socialists (YES) calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. More than 30.000 civilians have been killed in Gaza following Israel military actions. We recall that the protection of civilian lives is a fundamental principle of international law. (April 10, 2024): https://twitter.com/YESocialists/status/1777993174654275791
Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EuroMed Rights): 13,000 Palestinians reportedly missing in the Gaza Strip (April 11, 2024): https://euromedmonitor.org/en/article/6264/13,000-Palestinians-reportedly-missing-in-the-Gaza-Strip
Feroze Sidhwa and Mark Perlmutter: As Surgeons, We Have Never Seen Cruelty Like Israel’s Genocide in Gaza: We urge anyone who reads this to publicly oppose sending weapons to Israel as long as this onslaught continues. (April 11, 2024): https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/surgeons-cruelty-israel-gaza
Former State Department official Annelle Sheline explains resignation over US support of Israel (April 11, 2024): https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/former-state-department-official-explains-resignation-us-support/story?id=109083137
“We’re Responsible for This”: American Surgeons Feroze Sidhwa and Mark Perlmutter Return from Gaza, Call for End of U.S. Culpability in Genocide (April 11, 2024): https://www.democracynow.org/2024/4/11/surgeons_in_gaza
Democratic Coalition Sends Biden a Demand on Military Aid to Israel: In a letter, a dozen groups and labor unions called on the president to enforce a law that bars military support from going to any nation that restricts the delivery of humanitarian aid. (April 12, 2024): https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/12/us/politics/letter-biden-israel-gaza.html
Meeting between Norwegian Prime Minister Støre and Spanish President Sánchez on the war in Gaza (April 12, 2024): https://www.regjeringen.no/en/aktuelt/meeting-between-prime-minister-store-and-president-sanchez-on-the-war-in-gaza/id3033979/
Senator Bernie Sanders Statement on the Escalation in the Middle East (April 15, 2024): https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sanders-statement-on-the-escalation-in-the-middle-east/
Churches Together in Britain and Ireland: Prayers and statements on violence in Israel and Gaza (April 16, 2024): https://ctbi.org.uk/prayers-and-statements-on-violence-in-israel-and-gaza/
Amos Goldberg, professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem: Yes, it is genocide (April 18, 2024): https://thepalestineproject.medium.com/yes-it-is-genocide-634a07ea27d4
Georgetown University Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine hold second vigil for Gazan academics killed by Israel (April 18, 2024): https://georgetownvoice.com/2024/04/18/faculty-hold-second-vigil-for-gazan-academics-killed-by-israel/
Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) General Secretary Roz Foyer: Scotland's support for Palestinians IS making a difference (April 19, 2024): https://www.thenational.scot/politics/24266444.roz-foyer-scotlands-support-palestinians-making-difference/
Columbia College Student Council (CCSC) executive board issues open letter condemning Shafik’s authorization of NYPD ‘Gaza Solidarity Encampment’ sweep: The letter demands that Shafik stop the arrests and suspensions of student protesters. (April 20, 2024): https://www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2024/04/20/ccsc-executive-board-issues-open-letter-condemning-shafiks-authorization-of-nypd-gaza-solidarity-encampment-sweep/
New Hampshire Jews say “Not in My Name” [67 signatures] (April 20, 2024): https://www.nhgazette.com/2024/04/20/n-h-jews-say-not-in-my-name/
Statement from U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal, Joaquin Castro, Nydia Velázquez, Lloyd Doggett, Ro Khanna, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Becca Balint, Greg Casar, Mark Takano, Jim McGovern, Barbara Lee, Earl Blumenauer, Judy Chu, Hank Johnson, André Carson, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Jesús “Chuy” García, Jonathan Jackson, and Jill Tokuda on the Israel Security Supplemental (April 20, 2024): https://jayapal.house.gov/2024/04/20/statement-from-jayapal-castro-velazquez-doggett-khanna-ocasio-cortez-balint-casar-takano-mcgovern-barbara-lee-blumenauer-chu-johnson-carson-watson-coleman-jesus-chuy/
Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) Statement on Gaza (April 22, 2024): https://www.actu.org.au/media-release/actu-statement-on-gaza/
'Collective punishment' of Palestinians unacceptable, says Ireland [Michael Martin, Foreign Minister of Ireland: "We believe that the response has been fully disproportionate and has also been, in our view, a breach of humanitarian law in terms of the destruction of Gaza and also in terms of the killing of civilians, innocent men, women and children"] (April 22, 2024): https://www.aa.com.ten/middle-east/collective-punishment-of-palestinians-unacceptable-says-ireland/3198702
Israel has yet to provide evidence of Unrwa staff terrorist links, Colonna report says: Exclusive: review finds government yet to substantiate claims UN relief agency staff have ties to Hamas or Islamic Jihad (April 22, 2024): https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/ap22/israel-unrwa-staff-terrorist-links-yet-to-provide-evidence-colonna-report
NEWS: Bernie Sanders Statement on Amendment Votes on National Security Supplemental (April 22, 2024): https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sanders-statement-on-amendment-votes-on-national-security-supplemental/
NEWS: Bernie Sanders Statement on ‘Dark Day’ in U.S. Senate (April 23, 2024): https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sanders-statement-on-dark-day-in-u-s-senate/
PREPARED REMARKS: Senator Bernie Sanders on Ending Unfettered Military Aid to Israel and Restoring UNRWA Funding (April 23, 2024): https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/prepared-remarks-sanders-on-ending-unfettered-military-aid-to-israel-and-restoring-unrwa-funding/
Senator Jeff Merkley: Netanyahu’s War Campaign at Odds with American Values (April 23, 2024): https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-netanyahus-war-campaign-at-odds-with-american-values/
Stephen Tillett: As a Christian minister, I cannot remain silent any longer about Israeli-Palestinian conflict (April 23, 2024): https://www.capitalgazette.com/2024/04/23/stephen-tillett-as-a-christian-minister-i-cannot-remain-silent-any-longer-about-israeli-palestinian-conflict-commentary/
AIPAC Spent Millions to Take Down the Squad. The Working Families Party Is Fighting Back. (April 24, 2024): https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/04/aipac-is-spent-millions-to-take-down-the-squad-the-working-families-party-is-fighting-back/
Former Finnish ministers Timo Harakka and Ville Skinnari call for European Union action on Gaza, cite possible Israeli war crimes (April 24, 2024): https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/25158-former-finnish-ministers-call-for-eu-action-on-gaza-cite-possible-israeli-war-crimes.html
GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson defends Israel when Erin Burnett asks about children dying ‘at Israel’s hands’ (April 24, 2024): https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/24/politics/video/house-speaker-mike-johnson-protests-columbia-university-israel-hamas-war-ebof-digvid

Billboard Hot 100 chart

Position	Title	Artist	▲/▼	Last week	Weeks Charting	Peak
1	Not Like Us	Kendrick Lamar	▲+100	[FRESH]	1	1
2	Million Dollar Baby	Tommy Richman	-	2	2	2
3	Euphoria	Kendrick Lamar	▲+8	11	2	3
4	Fortnight	Taylor Swift Featuring Post Malone	▼-3	1	3	1
5	A Bar Song (Tipsy)	Shaboozey	▼-2	3	4	3
6	Like That	Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar	▲+2	8	7	1
7	Family Matters	Drake	▲+94	[FRESH]	1	7
8	Espresso	Sabrina Carpenter	▼-4	4	4	4
9	Beautiful Things	Benson Boone	▼-4	5	16	2
10	Lose Control	Teddy Swims	▼-4	6	39	1
11	Too Sweet	Hozier	▼-4	7	7	1
12	Meet The Grahams	Kendrick Lamar	▲+89	[FRESH]	1	12
13	Saturn	SZA	▼-1	12	11	6
14	We Can't Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)	Ariana Grande	▲+5	19	9	1
15	I Can Do It With A Broken Heart	Taylor Swift	▼-6	9	3	3
16	Down Bad	Taylor Swift	▼-6	10	3	2
17	Push Ups	Drake	-	17	3	17
18	Lovin On Me	Jack Harlow	▼-3	15	26	1
19	Stick Season	Noah Kahan	▲+4	23	32	9
20	I Remember Everything	Zach Bryan Featuring Kacey Musgraves	▲+4	24	37	1
21	Get It Sexyy	Sexyy Red	▲+11	32	8	20
22	Feather	Sabrina Carpenter	▲+7	29	23	21
23	I Like The Way You Kiss Me	Artemas	▲+3	26	7	12
24	Cruel Summer	Taylor Swift	▲+4	28	53	1
25	Greedy	Tate McRae	▲+2	27	34	3
26	Who's Afraid Of Little Old Me?	Taylor Swift	▼-13	13	3	9
27	Type Shit	Future, Metro Boomin, Travis Scott & Playboi Carti	▲+4	31	7	2
28	So Long, London	Taylor Swift	▼-14	14	3	5
29	Yeah Glo!	GloRilla	▲+9	38	13	29
30	But Daddy I Love Him	Taylor Swift	▼-12	18	3	7
31	My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys	Taylor Swift	▼-15	16	3	6
32	Agora Hills	Doja Cat	▲+1	33	33	7
33	Florida!!!	Taylor Swift Featuring Florence + The Machine	▼-13	20	3	8
34	Austin	Dasha	▲+9	43	9	28
35	Guilty As Sin?	Taylor Swift	▼-13	22	3	10
36	Texas Hold 'Em	Beyonce	▼-11	25	13	1
37	Miles On It	Marshmello & Kane Brown	▲+64	[FRESH]	1	37
38	The Tortured Poets Department	Taylor Swift	▼-17	21	3	4
39	End Of Beginning	Djo	-	39	12	11
40	Wanna Be	GloRilla & Megan Thee Stallion	▼-6	34	5	11
41	Whatever She Wants	Bryson Tiller	-	41	12	19
42	Cowgirls	Morgan Wallen Featuring ERNEST	▲+59	--	21	40
43	Redrum	21 Savage	▲+3	46	17	5
44	Never Lose Me	Flo Milli	▲+1	45	21	15
45	Where It Ends	Bailey Zimmerman	▲+5	50	19	32
46	Good Luck, Babe!	Chappell Roan	▲+2	48	5	44
47	Act II: Date @ 8	4Batz Featuring Drake	▲+6	53	18	7
48	Gata Only	FloyyMenor X Cris Mj	▼-4	44	8	27
49	Carnival	¥$: Ye & Ty Dolla $ign Featuring Rich The Kid & Playboi Carti	▼-7	42	13	1
50	Illusion	Dua Lipa	▲+22	72	4	43
51	The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived	Taylor Swift	▼-21	30	3	14
52	Slow It Down	Benson Boone	▲+9	61	7	40
53	loml	Taylor Swift	▼-17	36	3	12
54	Fresh Out The Slammer	Taylor Swift	▼-19	35	3	11
55	Made For Me	Muni Long	▼-1	54	17	20
56	The Alchemy	Taylor Swift	▼-19	37	3	13
57	Wild Ones	Jessie Murph & Jelly Roll	-	57	31	35
58	FE!N	Travis Scott Featuring Playboi Carti	▲+2	60	27	5
59	Obsessed	Olivia Rodrigo	▲+8	67	7	14
60	Wildflowers And Wild Horses	Lainey Wilson	▼-5	55	15	48
61	Get In With Me	BossMan DLow	▲+12	73	14	49
62	imgonnagetyouback	Taylor Swift	▼-13	49	3	26
63	I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)	Taylor Swift	▼-23	40	3	20
64	Bulletproof	Nate Smith	▲+6	70	5	64
65	So High School	Taylor Swift	▼-18	47	3	24
66	Tell Ur Girlfriend	Lay Bankz	▼-8	58	4	58
67	The Black Dog	Taylor Swift	▼-16	51	3	25
68	Back Then Right Now	Tyler Hubbard	▼-3	65	8	62
69	Hell N Back	Bakar Featuring Summer Walker	▼-1	68	5	53
70	Clara Bow	Taylor Swift	▼-18	52	3	21
71	Tucson Too Late	Jordan Davis	▲+20	91	10	71
72	Bandit	Don Toliver	▲+20	92	13	38
73	Mmhmm	BigXthaPlug	▲+6	79	20	63
74	Scared To Start	Michael Marcagi	▲+3	77	12	54
75	Enough (Miami)	Cardi B	▲+6	81	8	9
76	Halfway To Hell	Jelly Roll	▲+7	83	5	76
77	The Prophecy	Taylor Swift	▼-21	56	3	32
78	Cinderella	Future, Metro Boomin & Travis Scott	▼-2	76	7	6
79	Training Season	Dua Lipa	▲+22	--	10	27
80	Wind Up Missin' You	Tucker Wetmore	-	80	6	75
81	How Did It End?	Taylor Swift	▼-19	62	3	35
82	We Ride	Bryan Martin	▲+11	93	5	82
83	Dirt Cheap	Cody Johnson	▲+11	94	3	83
84	Belong Together	Mark Ambor	▲+3	87	2	84
85	Outskirts	Sam Hunt	▲+1	86	9	66
86	Si No Quieres No	Luis R Conriquez x Neton Vega	▲+15	[FRESH]	1	86
87	Tu Name	Fuerza Regida	▼-2	85	12	66
88	thanK you aIMee	Taylor Swift	▼-29	59	3	23
89	The Albatross	Taylor Swift	▼-25	64	3	30
90	23	Chayce Beckham	▼-2	88	19	45
91	Adivino	Myke Towers & Bad Bunny	▼-28	63	2	63
92	Wine Into Whiskey	Tucker Wetmore	▲+4	96	7	77
93	II Most Wanted	Beyonce & Miley Cyrus	▼-4	89	6	6
94	I Hate It Here	Taylor Swift	▼-28	66	3	34
95	Whatsapp (Wassam)	Gunna	▲+6	[FRESH]	1	95
96	Spin You Around (1/24)	Morgan Wallen	▲+2	98	15	24
97	One Of The Girls	The Weeknd, Jennie & Lily Rose Depp	▼-7	90	20	51
98	Let's Go	Key Glock & Young Dolph	▲+2	100	9	59
99	Take Her Home	Kenny Chesney	▲+2	[FRESH]	1	99
100	Chloe Or Sam Or Sophia Or Marcus	Taylor Swift	▼-31	69	3	36

Billboard Global 200 chart (most popular songs globally)

Position	Title	Artist	▲/▼	Last week	Weeks Charting	Peak
1	Not Like Us	Kendrick Lamar	▲+100	[FRESH]	1	1
2	Million Dollar Baby	Tommy Richman	▲+8	10	2	2
3	Espresso	Sabrina Carpenter	▼-1	2	4	2
4	Euphoria	Kendrick Lamar	▲+14	18	2	4
5	A Bar Song (Tipsy)	Shaboozey	▲+1	6	4	5
6	Fortnight	Taylor Swift Featuring Post Malone	▼-5	1	3	1
7	Beautiful Things	Benson Boone	▼-3	4	16	1
8	I Like The Way You Kiss Me	Artemas	▼-5	3	7	2
9	Too Sweet	Hozier	▼-4	5	7	1
10	Gata Only	FloyyMenor X Cris Mj	▼-3	7	13	4

Billboard 200 chart

Position	Title	Artist	Sales	Change	Last week	Weeks Charting
1	The Tortured Poets Department	Taylor Swift	285,505 (51,028 pure)	-36%	1	3
2	Radical Optimism	Dua Lipa	83,814 (52,788 pure)	--	[FRESH]	1
3	One Thing At A Time	Morgan Wallen	71,563 (1,483 pure)	+7%	2	62
4	We Don't Trust You	Future & Metro Boomin	62,293 (188 pure)	+4%	3	7
5	SEVENTEEN Best Album '17 Is Right Here'	SEVENTEEN	54,465 (50,790 pure)	--	[FRESH]	1
6	Vultures 1	¥$: Ye & Ty Dolla $ign	err	err	52	13
7	Dangerous: The Double Album	Morgan Wallen	42,315 (432 pure)	+7%	6	174
8	Cowboy Carter	Beyonce	42,201 (4,928 pure)	-19%	4	6
9	Stick Season	Noah Kahan	40,675 (3,588 pure)	+1%	5	76
10	SOS	SZA	39,353 (1,948 pure)	+3%	9	74

Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Why is X artist higher than Y artist on the 200 chart, even though X artist sold less?
A: This is because of a discrepancy between Billboard's ranking and the ranking from the website that the sales data is scraped from
Q: Where do you get the sales data from?
A: https://hitsdailydouble.com/sales_plus_streaming
Q: What does "err" mean on the 200 chart?
A: If you are seeing "err", that means that the bot I use to gather chart data couldn't identify sales data for a particular album because of a difference in album naming between Billboard and HitsDailyDouble

I'm a male with a deep voice and I know most 80s music because I listened to it on the radio constantly for decades. Here's my list of go-to 80's songs. What is missing?

• Bust a Move - Young MC (1989)
• Fascination Street - The Cure (1989)
• Free Falling - Tom Petty (1989)
• Head Like a Hole - Nine Inch Nails (1989)
• Let the Day Begin - The Call (1989)
• Love Song - The Cure (1989)
• Poison - Alice Cooper (1989)
• Wicked Game - Chris Issak (1989)
• A Little Respect - Erasure (1988)
• Closing Time - Semisonic (1998)
• Cult of Personality - Living Color (1988)
• Desire - U2 (1988)
• Fast Car - Tracy Chapman (1988)
• I Hate Myself For Loving You - Joan Jett (1988)
• If This is It - Huey Lewis (1988)
• I’m Gonna Be - The Proclaimers (1988)
• Kokomo - The Beach Boys (1988)
• The Look - Roxette (1988)
• The Promise - When in Rome (1988)
• Shattered Dreams - Johnny Hates Jazz (1988)
• There She Goes - The La’s (1988)
• Under the Milky Way Tonight - The Church (1988)
• Devil Inside - INXS (1987)
• Faith - George Michael (1987)
• Hazy Shade of Winter - The Bangles (1987)
• I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For - U2 (1987)
• It’s a Sin - Pet Shop Boys (1987)
• It’s No Good - Depeche Mode (1997)
• Lips Like Sugar - Echo and the Bunnymen (1987)
• Need You Tonight - INXS (1987)
• Never Let Me Down Again - Depeche Mode (1987)
• Never Tear Us Apart - INXS (1987)
• Sweet Child of Mine - Guns and Roses (1987)
• Touch of Gray - Grateful Dead (1987)
• With or Without You - U2 (1987)
• Be A Dentist - Little Shop of Horrors (Steve Martin) (1986)
• Bizarre Love Triangle - New Order (1986)
• Don’t Dream It’s Over - Crowded House (1986)
• Higher Love - Steve Winwood (1986)
• Highway To The Danger Zone - Kenny Loggins (1986)
• I Just Died in Your Arms Tonight - Cutting Crew (1986)
• If You Leave - OMD (1986)
• Keep Your Hands to Yourself - Georgia Satellites (1986)
• Land of Confusion - Phil Collins (1986)
• No One is to Blame - Howard Jones (1986)
• Oh l’amour - Erasure (1986)
• Take Me Home Tonight - Eddie Money (1986)
• The Rain - Oran “Juice” Jones (1986)
• Wanted Dead or Alive - Bon Jovi (1986)
• Word Up - Cameo (1986)
• You Give Love a Bad Name - Bon Jovi (1986)
• Addicted To Love - Robert Palmer (1985)
• Alive and Kicking - Simple Minds (1985)
• Broken Wings - Mr. Mister (1985)
• Dead Man’s Party - Oingo Boingo (1985)
• Don’t You Forget About Me - Simple Minds (1985)
• Everybody Wants To Rule The World - Tears For Fears (1985)
• Holding Back The Tears - Simply Red (1985)
• The Power of Love - Huey Lewis (1985)
• Some Like It Hot - The Power Station (1985)
• Things Can Only Get Better - Howard Jones (1985)
• Your Love - The Outfield (1985)
• You Spin Me Round - Dead or Alive (1985)
• Against All Odds - Phil Collins (1984)
• Boys of Summer - Don Henley (1984)
• Careless Whisper - Wham (1984)
• Drive - The Cars (1984)
• Easy Lover - Phil Bailey : Phil Collins (1984)
• Forever Young - Alphaville (1984)
• Hell Hole - Spinal Tap (1984)
• Hold Me Now - Thompson Twins (1984)
• It’s My Life - Talk Talk / No Doubt (1984)
• Run to You - Bryan Adams (1984)
• Sea of Love - The Honeydrippers (1984)
• Smooth Operator - Sade (1984)
• We Belong - Pat Benetar (1984)
• What’s Love Got To Do With It? - Tina Turner (1984)
• When Doves Cry - Prince (1984)
• You Might Think - The Cars (1984)
• You’re the Inspiration - Chicago (1984)
• Add It Up - Violent Femmes (1983)
• Always Something There to Remind Me - Naked Eyes (1983)
• Borderline - Madonna (1983)
• Break My Stride - Matthew Wilder (1983)
• Cruel Summer - Bananarama (1983)
• Every Breath You Take - The Police (1983)
• Every Day I Write the Book - Elvis Costello (1983)
• For the Longest Time - Billy Joel (1983)
• Here Comes the Rain Again - The Eurythmics (1983)
• Let’s Dance - David Bowie (1983)
• Mad World - Michael Andrew’s and Gary Jules / Tears for Fears (1983)
• One Thing Leads to Another - The Fixx (1983)
• Owner of a Lonely Heart - Yes (1983)
• Pride and Joy - Stevie Ray Vaughn (1983)
• Promises, Promises - Naked Eyes (1983)
• Puttin’ on the Ritz - Taco (1983)
• Rainbow in the Dark - Dio (1983)
• She's a Beauty - The Tubes (1983)
• Smoke Two Joints - The Toyes (1983)
• Sunglasses at Night - Corey Hart (1983)
• Talking in your Sleep - The Romantics (1983)
• Tell Her About It - Billy Joel (1983)
• Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper (1983)
• True - Spandau Ballet (1983)
• Uptown Girl - Billy Joel (1983)
• Abracadabra - Steve Miller (1982)
• Always Something There to Remind Me - Naked Eyes (1982)
• Big Bad Bill is Sweet William Now - Van Halen (1982)
• Come On Eileen - Save Ferris (1982)
• Eye of the Tiger - Survivor (1982)
• Heat of the Moment - Asia (1982)
• Here I Go Again - Whitesnake (1982)
• Hungry Like the Wolf - Duran Duran (1982)
• Hurts So Good - John Mellencamp (1982)
• I Melt With You - Modern English (1982)
• I Ran - A Flock of Seagulls (1982)
• Jack & Diane - John Mellencamp (1982)
• Let’s Get Physical - Olivia Newton-John (1982)
• Let’s Go to Bed - The Cure (1982)
• No One Like You - Scorpions (1982)
• Open Arms - Journey (1982)
• Pretty Woman - Van Halen (1982)
• Save a Prayer - Duran Duran (1982)
• Should I Stay or Should I Go? - The Clash (1982)
• Steppin’ Out - Joe Jackson (1982)
• The Look of Love - ABC (1982)
• Twilight Zone - Golden Earring (1982)
• You Dropped the Bomb On Me - The Gap Band (1982)
• 867-5309/Jenny - Tommy Tutone (1981)
• The Breakup Song - Greg Kinh Band (1981)
• Down Under - Men at Work (1981)
• Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic - The Police (1981)
• Get Down On It - Kool & the Gang (1981)
• Growing Older But Not Up - Jimmy Buffet (1981)
• Hold On Loosely - 38 Special (1981)
• Jessie’s Girl - Rick Springfield (1981)
• Just Can’t Get Enough - Depeche Mode (1981)
• People Are People - Depeche Mode (1981)
• Rock This Town - The Stray Cats (1981)
• Senses Working Overtime - XTC (1981)
• Stray Cat Strut - The Stray Cats (1981)
• Super Freak - Rick James (1981)
• Tainted Love - Soft Cell (1981)
• Turning Japanese - The Vapors (1981)
• Who Can It Be Now - Men At Work (1981)
• Who’s Crying Now? - Journey (1981)
• All Out of Love - Air Supply (1980)
• Any Way You Want It - Journey (1980)
• Back in Black - AC/DC (1980)
• Crazy Train - Ozzy Osbourne (1980)
• Games People Play - The Alan Parsons Project (1980)
• I’m Gonna Keep On Loving You - REO Speedwagon (1980)
• Kiss On My List - Hall and Oates (1980)
• Mirror in the Bathroom - The English Beat (1980)
• Rappers Delight - Sugar Hill Gang (1980)
• What I Like About You - The Romantics (1980)
• You Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC (1980)

Billboard Hot 100 chart

Position	Title	Artist	▲/▼	Last week	Weeks Charting	Peak
1	Fortnight	Taylor Swift Featuring Post Malone	-	1	2	1
2	Million Dollar Baby	Tommy Richman	▲+99	[FRESH]	1	2
3	A Bar Song (Tipsy)	Shaboozey	▲+24	27	3	3
4	Espresso	Sabrina Carpenter	▲+18	22	3	4
5	Beautiful Things	Benson Boone	▲+10	15	15	2
6	Lose Control	Teddy Swims	▲+12	18	38	1
7	Too Sweet	Hozier	▲+9	16	6	1
8	Like That	Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar	▲+9	17	6	1
9	I Can Do It With A Broken Heart	Taylor Swift	▼-6	3	2	3
10	Down Bad	Taylor Swift	▼-8	2	2	2
11	Euphoria	Kendrick Lamar	▲+90	[FRESH]	1	11
12	Saturn	SZA	▲+17	29	10	6
13	Who's Afraid Of Little Old Me?	Taylor Swift	▼-4	9	2	9
14	So Long, London	Taylor Swift	▼-9	5	2	5
15	Lovin On Me	Jack Harlow	▲+13	28	25	1
16	My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys	Taylor Swift	▼-10	6	2	6
17	Push Ups	Drake	▲+2	19	2	17
18	But Daddy I Love Him	Taylor Swift	▼-11	7	2	7
19	We Can't Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)	Ariana Grande	▲+14	33	8	1
20	Florida!!!	Taylor Swift Featuring Florence + The Machine	▼-12	8	2	8
21	The Tortured Poets Department	Taylor Swift	▼-17	4	2	4
22	Guilty As Sin?	Taylor Swift	▼-12	10	2	10
23	Stick Season	Noah Kahan	▲+14	37	31	9
24	I Remember Everything	Zach Bryan Featuring Kacey Musgraves	▲+16	40	36	1
25	Texas Hold 'Em	Beyonce	▲+6	31	12	1
26	I Like The Way You Kiss Me	Artemas	▲+12	38	6	12
27	Greedy	Tate McRae	▲+15	42	33	3
28	Cruel Summer	Taylor Swift	▲+13	41	52	1
29	Feather	Sabrina Carpenter	▲+21	50	22	21
30	The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived	Taylor Swift	▼-16	14	2	14
31	Type Shit	Future, Metro Boomin, Travis Scott & Playboi Carti	▲+12	43	6	2
32	Get It Sexyy	Sexyy Red	▲+17	49	7	20
33	Agora Hills	Doja Cat	▲+12	45	32	7
34	Wanna Be	GloRilla & Megan Thee Stallion	▲+14	48	4	11
35	Fresh Out The Slammer	Taylor Swift	▼-24	11	2	11
36	loml	Taylor Swift	▼-24	12	2	12
37	The Alchemy	Taylor Swift	▼-24	13	2	13
38	Yeah Glo!	GloRilla	▲+21	59	12	32
39	End Of Beginning	Djo	▲+17	56	11	11
40	I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)	Taylor Swift	▼-20	20	2	20
41	Whatever She Wants	Bryson Tiller	▲+13	54	11	19
42	Carnival	¥$: Ye & Ty Dolla $ign Featuring Rich The Kid & Playboi Carti	▲+10	52	12	1
43	Austin	Dasha	▲+17	60	8	28
44	Gata Only	FloyyMenor X Cris Mj	▲+14	58	7	27
45	Never Lose Me	Flo Milli	▲+16	61	20	15
46	Redrum	21 Savage	▲+11	57	16	5
47	So High School	Taylor Swift	▼-23	24	2	24
48	Good Luck, Babe!	Chappell Roan	▲+14	62	4	44
49	imgonnagetyouback	Taylor Swift	▼-23	26	2	26
50	Where It Ends	Bailey Zimmerman	▲+15	65	18	32
51	The Black Dog	Taylor Swift	▼-26	25	2	25
52	Clara Bow	Taylor Swift	▼-31	21	2	21
53	Act II: Date @ 8	4Batz Featuring Drake	▲+10	63	17	7
54	Made For Me	Muni Long	▲+10	64	16	20
55	Wildflowers And Wild Horses	Lainey Wilson	▲+16	71	14	48
56	The Prophecy	Taylor Swift	▼-24	32	2	32
57	Wild Ones	Jessie Murph & Jelly Roll	▲+11	68	30	35
58	Tell Ur Girlfriend	Lay Bankz	▲+8	66	3	58
59	thanK you aIMee	Taylor Swift	▼-36	23	2	23
60	FE!N	Travis Scott Featuring Playboi Carti	▲+7	67	26	5
61	Slow It Down	Benson Boone	▲+8	69	6	40
62	How Did It End?	Taylor Swift	▼-27	35	2	35
63	Adivino	Myke Towers & Bad Bunny	▲+38	[FRESH]	1	63
64	The Albatross	Taylor Swift	▼-34	30	2	30
65	Back Then Right Now	Tyler Hubbard	▲+8	73	7	62
66	I Hate It Here	Taylor Swift	▼-32	34	2	34
67	Obsessed	Olivia Rodrigo	▲+7	74	6	14
68	Hell N Back	Bakar Featuring Summer Walker	▲+4	72	4	53
69	Chloe Or Sam Or Sophia Or Marcus	Taylor Swift	▼-33	36	2	36
70	Bulletproof	Nate Smith	▲+9	79	4	64
71	I Look In People's Windows	Taylor Swift	▼-32	39	2	39
72	Illusion	Dua Lipa	▲+6	78	3	43
73	Get In With Me	BossMan DLow	▲+2	75	13	49
74	Okay	JT	▲+27	[FRESH]	1	74
75	The Bolter	Taylor Swift	▼-28	47	2	47
76	Cinderella	Future, Metro Boomin & Travis Scott	▼-6	70	6	6
77	Scared To Start	Michael Marcagi	▲+5	82	11	54
78	Peter	Taylor Swift	▼-32	46	2	46
79	Mmhmm	BigXthaPlug	▼-2	77	19	63
80	Wind Up Missin' You	Tucker Wetmore	▼-4	76	5	75
81	Enough (Miami)	Cardi B	▼-1	80	7	9
82	Cassandra	Taylor Swift	▼-38	44	2	44
83	Halfway To Hell	Jelly Roll	▲+10	93	4	83
84	La Diabla	Xavi	▼-1	83	20	20
85	Tu Name	Fuerza Regida	▲+2	87	11	66
86	Outskirts	Sam Hunt	-	86	8	66
87	Belong Together	Mark Ambor	▲+14	[FRESH]	1	87
88	23	Chayce Beckham	▲+3	91	18	45
89	II Most Wanted	Beyonce & Miley Cyrus	▼-5	84	5	6
90	One Of The Girls	The Weeknd, Jennie & Lily Rose Depp	▼-1	89	19	51
91	Tucson Too Late	Jordan Davis	▲+1	92	9	80
92	Bandit	Don Toliver	▲+9	--	12	38
93	We Ride	Bryan Martin	▲+8	--	4	93
94	Dirt Cheap	Cody Johnson	▲+7	--	2	92
95	Cry	Benson Boone	▼-10	85	4	60
96	Wine Into Whiskey	Tucker Wetmore	▲+1	97	6	77
97	Feel It	d4vd	▼-2	95	3	94
98	Spin You Around (1/24)	Morgan Wallen	-	98	14	24
99	The Manuscript	Taylor Swift	▼-48	51	2	51
100	Let's Go	Key Glock & Young Dolph	▼-10	90	8	59

Billboard Global 200 chart (most popular songs globally)

Position	Title	Artist	▲/▼	Last week	Weeks Charting	Peak
1	Fortnight	Taylor Swift Featuring Post Malone	-	1	2	1
2	Espresso	Sabrina Carpenter	▲+15	17	3	2
3	I Like The Way You Kiss Me	Artemas	▲+7	10	6	2
4	Beautiful Things	Benson Boone	▲+8	12	15	1
5	Too Sweet	Hozier	▲+8	13	6	1
6	A Bar Song (Tipsy)	Shaboozey	▲+27	33	3	6
7	Gata Only	FloyyMenor X Cris Mj	▲+7	14	12	4
8	I Can Do It With A Broken Heart	Taylor Swift	▼-3	5	2	5
9	Down Bad	Taylor Swift	▼-7	2	2	2
10	Million Dollar Baby	Tommy Richman	▲+91	[FRESH]	1	10

Billboard 200 chart

Position	Title	Artist	Sales	Change	Last week	Weeks Charting
1	The Tortured Poets Department	Taylor Swift	445,206 (110,726 pure)	-83%	1	2
2	One Thing At A Time	Morgan Wallen	66,860 (1,281 pure)	+6%	4	61
3	We Don't Trust You	Future & Metro Boomin	59,997 (613 pure)	-13%	2	6
4	Cowboy Carter	Beyonce	51,830 (7,184 pure)	-22%	3	5
5	Stick Season	Noah Kahan	40,112 (4,620 pure)	-14%	7	75
6	Dangerous: The Double Album	Morgan Wallen	39,374 (370 pure)	+9%	11	173
7	Fireworks & Rollerblades	Benson Boone	39,372 (1,304 pure)	+0%	8	4
8	We Still Don't Trust You	Future & Metro Boomin	38,998 (145 pure)	-29%	6	3
9	SOS	SZA	38,164 (1,831 pure)	+0%	9	73
10	PARTYNEXTDOOR 4 (P4)	PARTYNEXTDOOR	37,722 (3,506 pure)	--	[FRESH]	1

Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Why is X artist higher than Y artist on the 200 chart, even though X artist sold less?
A: This is because of a discrepancy between Billboard's ranking and the ranking from the website that the sales data is scraped from
Q: Where do you get the sales data from?
A: https://hitsdailydouble.com/sales_plus_streaming
Q: What does "err" mean on the 200 chart?
A: If you are seeing "err", that means that the bot I use to gather chart data couldn't identify sales data for a particular album because of a difference in album naming between Billboard and HitsDailyDouble

"Get Out of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts" by Jennie Allen is a self-help book that addresses the topic of negative thinking patterns and provides solutions for overcoming them. Allen pulls from her personal experiences and ideas from psychology and theology to offer practical counsel for overcoming toxic thoughts and achieving relief from mental agony. This is a review and summary:
A brief overview.
Understanding Toxic Thoughts: Allen begins by studying the nature of toxic thoughts and their impact on mental and emotional well-being. She addresses frequent cognitive illusions and how they contribute to negative thinking patterns. The Power of Perspective: The author emphasizes the necessity of altering perspective and reframing negative beliefs. She gives ways for confronting skewed thinking and fostering a more optimistic attitude on life. Renewing the Mind: Allen examines the role of faith and spirituality in overcoming harmful beliefs. She encourages people to match their thinking with biblical ideas and to rely on spiritual practices such as prayer and meditation. Practical tactics: The book gives practical exercises and tactics for breaking away from negative thought patterns, including mindfulness techniques, journaling prompts, and self-reflection exercises. Community and Support: Allen underlines the value of community and support in overcoming toxic beliefs. She advises readers to seek help from friends, family, or professional counselors when needed. Cultivating thankfulness and pleasure: The author discusses the power of thankfulness and pleasure in counteracting negative thinking. She shares strategies for implementing gratitude practices into daily life and finding moments of joy amidst adversity. Conclusion: Allen finishes by encouraging readers to take proactive efforts towards healing and transformation, reminding them that they have the capacity to modify their thought patterns and live with greater freedom and joy. Review: "Get Out of Your Head" offers a refreshing and sympathetic approach to dealing with negative thinking habits. Allen's writing is warm, engaging, and emotionally empathetic, making the novel accessible to readers from diverse backgrounds. She blends insights from psychology, spirituality, and personal tales to create a complete roadmap to conquering harmful beliefs.
One of the benefits of the work is its usefulness. Allen gives specific tactics and activities that readers can adopt immediately to start challenging their negative thought habits. Whether it's through mindfulness practices, journaling, or seeking assistance from others, the book gives a number of tools for overcoming toxic thoughts.
However, some readers may find the significant emphasis on faith and spirituality off-putting, especially if they do not share Allen's religious convictions. While the book is anchored in Christian teachings, the primary message of confronting negative thought patterns and achieving joy and freedom is applicable to readers of many religions or no faith at all.
Overall, "Get Out of Your Head" is a wonderful resource for anyone battling with negative thinking patterns or mental health difficulties. Allen's compassionate attitude, practical guidance, and emphasis on personal growth and transformation make it a wonderful read for anybody looking to better their mental and emotional well-being.
Free Audiobook with a free trial of Audible

Hi everyone, I've always been fascinated by the paranormal, despite a logical mind that often doubts such things. While I struggle spiritually, I feel a strong pull towards Wicca, my mom's religion. It resonates with me on a deep level. Recently, my interest in the paranormal took a new turn when I acquired my first haunted doll, Jenny, through an unexpected eBay find. Despite initial skepticism, I felt a positive connection to her tiny form and enjoyed talking and reading to her. To my surprise, pendulum communication attempts with Jenny yielded clear yes-or-no answers, fueling my excitement and belief that there might be "something" there. Fueled by this experience, I decided to adopt another haunted doll. I was drawn to a particular vessel that seemed special and supposedly easy to contact. However, upon receiving the doll, things took a disturbing turn. The doll arrived in a filthy condition with a foul odor that triggered a headache. She was missing a leg and stuffing was falling from the other badly attached leg. Non of this was mentioned in the listing. Though I thought she might have a missing leg from the picture, so I was prepared for this. It was the level of dirt and smell that was off putting. And upsetting as i didnt want to distress or disrespect thw spirit by interfearing with her vessel drastically. The seller appolagised and said the condition was down to tne dolls age and because her past keeper hadnt cared for her. She also said she sensed that the spirit was happy to be here. Although the seller generously offered to send me a free second vessel who was friendly with this vessel. I felt overwhelmed and hesitant to accept it, from someone I had complained too and didn't want to risk another bad condition vessel. My intention was to clean up and fix this vessel in a kind and respectful way. Following the seller's advice, I communicated my intentions to clean and repair the doll. Unfortunately, Jenny indicated through pendulum communication that there might not be a spirit present in the new vessel. I spoke soothingly as I cleaned her and cleared the dirt from her face and took of her clothing wrapping her body in a sift headscarf to preserve dignity. Then finding clothing that fit though not of the dolls fashion on vinted. I removed her other leg. I made covers out of a tiny pair of tights to keep her stuffing safe. (See pics) Since acquiring this doll, my mood has significantly dipped, with increased headaches and difficulty concentrating. Before the arrival I would read to Jenny often but now reading sessions with Jenny have also become less frequent, and harder to read aloud. I even find myself stumbling over my words more often. I haven't even used the name given to the new doll, as it hasn't been confirmed by the spirit (if there is one). This situation has left me feeling like a bad doll keeper. While I acknowledge the possibility of unscrupulous sellers, the seller's positive reviews make me question if the problem lies with me. Here's where I truly need your help: Should I try finding replacement porcelain legs, or would fabric legs be a better option? Is it disrespectful to replace the doll's stuffing? Any advice on how to improve communication with the new doll (if a spirit is present)? Has anyone else experienced similar situations with haunted dolls? Additional Information: Attached are pictures of the new doll (first 7) and Jenny (last picture). Closing: Before this experience, I was brimming with enthusiasm about Jenny, even considering starting a blog to document my experiences and delve deeper into the paranormal. My dyslexia has always been a hurdle, but Jenny's arrival had instilled a newfound sense of motivation and self-belief. I'm hoping this community can offer guidance and support as I navigate this unsettling situation.

Billboard Hot 100 chart

Position	Title	Artist	▲/▼	Last week	Weeks Charting	Peak
1	Fortnight	Taylor Swift Featuring Post Malone	▲+100	[FRESH]	1	1
2	Down Bad	Taylor Swift	▲+99	[FRESH]	1	2
3	I Can Do It With A Broken Heart	Taylor Swift	▲+98	[FRESH]	1	3
4	The Tortured Poets Department	Taylor Swift	▲+97	[FRESH]	1	4
5	So Long, London	Taylor Swift	▲+96	[FRESH]	1	5
6	My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys	Taylor Swift	▲+95	[FRESH]	1	6
7	But Daddy I Love Him	Taylor Swift	▲+94	[FRESH]	1	7
8	Florida!!!	Taylor Swift Featuring Florence + The Machine	▲+93	[FRESH]	1	8
9	Who's Afraid Of Little Old Me?	Taylor Swift	▲+92	[FRESH]	1	9
10	Guilty As Sin?	Taylor Swift	▲+91	[FRESH]	1	10
11	Fresh Out The Slammer	Taylor Swift	▲+90	[FRESH]	1	11
12	loml	Taylor Swift	▲+89	[FRESH]	1	12
13	The Alchemy	Taylor Swift	▲+88	[FRESH]	1	13
14	The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived	Taylor Swift	▲+87	[FRESH]	1	14
15	Beautiful Things	Benson Boone	▼-12	3	14	2
16	Too Sweet	Hozier	▼-15	1	5	1
17	Like That	Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar	▼-15	2	5	1
18	Lose Control	Teddy Swims	▼-14	4	37	1
19	Push Ups	Drake	▲+82	[FRESH]	1	19
20	I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)	Taylor Swift	▲+81	[FRESH]	1	20
21	Clara Bow	Taylor Swift	▲+80	[FRESH]	1	21
22	Espresso	Sabrina Carpenter	▼-15	7	2	7
23	thanK you aIMee	Taylor Swift	▲+78	[FRESH]	1	23
24	So High School	Taylor Swift	▲+77	[FRESH]	1	24
25	The Black Dog	Taylor Swift	▲+76	[FRESH]	1	25
26	imgonnagetyouback	Taylor Swift	▲+75	[FRESH]	1	26
27	A Bar Song (Tipsy)	Shaboozey	▲+9	36	2	27
28	Lovin On Me	Jack Harlow	▼-22	6	24	1
29	Saturn	SZA	▼-19	10	9	6
30	The Albatross	Taylor Swift	▲+71	[FRESH]	1	30
31	Texas Hold 'Em	Beyonce	▼-26	5	11	1
32	The Prophecy	Taylor Swift	▲+69	[FRESH]	1	32
33	We Can't Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)	Ariana Grande	▼-25	8	7	1
34	I Hate It Here	Taylor Swift	▲+67	[FRESH]	1	34
35	How Did It End?	Taylor Swift	▲+66	[FRESH]	1	35
36	Chloe Or Sam Or Sophia Or Marcus	Taylor Swift	▲+65	[FRESH]	1	36
37	Stick Season	Noah Kahan	▼-28	9	30	9
38	I Like The Way You Kiss Me	Artemas	▼-26	12	5	12
39	I Look In People's Windows	Taylor Swift	▲+62	[FRESH]	1	39
40	I Remember Everything	Zach Bryan Featuring Kacey Musgraves	▼-29	11	35	1
41	Cruel Summer	Taylor Swift	▼-28	13	51	1
42	Greedy	Tate McRae	▼-26	16	32	3
43	Type Shit	Future, Metro Boomin, Travis Scott & Playboi Carti	▼-29	14	5	2
44	Cassandra	Taylor Swift	▲+57	[FRESH]	1	44
45	Agora Hills	Doja Cat	▼-30	15	31	7
46	Peter	Taylor Swift	▲+55	[FRESH]	1	46
47	The Bolter	Taylor Swift	▲+54	[FRESH]	1	47
48	Wanna Be	GloRilla & Megan Thee Stallion	▼-31	17	3	11
49	Get It Sexyy	Sexyy Red	▼-26	23	6	20
50	Feather	Sabrina Carpenter	▼-29	21	21	21
51	The Manuscript	Taylor Swift	▲+50	[FRESH]	1	51
52	Carnival	¥$: Ye & Ty Dolla $ign Featuring Rich The Kid & Playboi Carti	▼-32	20	11	1
53	FTCU	Nicki Minaj	▲+27	80	20	15
54	Whatever She Wants	Bryson Tiller	▼-23	31	10	19
55	Robin	Taylor Swift	▲+46	[FRESH]	1	55
56	End Of Beginning	Djo	▼-32	24	10	11
57	Redrum	21 Savage	▼-32	25	15	5
58	Gata Only	FloyyMenor X Cris Mj	▼-31	27	6	27
59	Yeah Glo!	GloRilla	▼-27	32	11	32
60	Austin	Dasha	▼-32	28	7	28
61	Never Lose Me	Flo Milli	▼-28	33	19	15
62	Good Luck, Babe!	Chappell Roan	▼-18	44	3	44
63	Act II: Date @ 8	4Batz Featuring Drake	▼-33	30	16	7
64	Made For Me	Muni Long	▼-29	35	15	20
65	Where It Ends	Bailey Zimmerman	▼-27	38	17	32
66	Tell Ur Girlfriend	Lay Bankz	▼-8	58	2	58
67	FE!N	Travis Scott Featuring Playboi Carti	▼-22	45	25	5
68	Wild Ones	Jessie Murph & Jelly Roll	▼-22	46	29	35
69	Slow It Down	Benson Boone	▼-20	49	5	40
70	Cinderella	Future, Metro Boomin & Travis Scott	▼-33	37	5	6
71	Wildflowers And Wild Horses	Lainey Wilson	▼-21	50	13	48
72	Hell N Back	Bakar Featuring Summer Walker	▼-19	53	3	53
73	Back Then Right Now	Tyler Hubbard	▼-11	62	6	62
74	Obsessed	Olivia Rodrigo	▼-32	42	5	14
75	Get In With Me	BossMan Dlow	▼-23	52	12	49
76	Wind Up Missin' You	Tucker Wetmore	▼-1	75	4	75
77	Mmhmm	BigXthaPlug	▼-14	63	18	63
78	Illusion	Dua Lipa	▼-35	43	2	43
79	Bulletproof	Nate Smith	▼-15	64	3	64
80	Enough (Miami)	Cardi B	▼-25	55	6	9
81	Everybody	Nicki Minaj Featuring Lil Uzi Vert	▼-16	65	20	24
82	Scared To Start	Michael Marcagi	▼-26	56	10	54
83	La Diabla	Xavi	▼-26	57	19	20
84	II Most Wanted	Beyonce & Miley Cyrus	▼-37	47	4	6
85	Cry	Benson Boone	▼-16	69	3	60
86	Outskirts	Sam Hunt	▼-20	66	7	66
87	Tu Name	Fuerza Regida	▼-19	68	10	66
88	We Still Don't Trust You	Future, Metro Boomin & The Weeknd	▼-66	22	2	22
89	One Of The Girls	The Weeknd, Jennie & Lily Rose Depp	▼-19	70	18	51
90	Let's Go	Key Glock & Young Dolph	▼-31	59	7	59
91	23	Chayce Beckham	▼-17	74	17	45
92	Tucson Too Late	Jordan Davis	▼-9	83	8	80
93	Halfway To Hell	Jelly Roll	▼-8	85	3	84
94	Praise Jah In The Moonlight	YG Marley	▼-18	76	13	34
95	Feel It	d4vd	▼-1	94	2	94
96	Us Vs. Them	$uicideBoy$	▲+5	[FRESH]	1	96
97	Wine Into Whiskey	Tucker Wetmore	▼-13	84	5	77
98	Spin You Around (1/24)	Morgan Wallen	▼-9	89	13	24
99	Soak City	310babii	▼-17	82	19	53
100	Selfish	Justin Timberlake	▼-40	60	13	19

Billboard Global 200 chart (most popular songs globally)

Position	Title	Artist	▲/▼	Last week	Weeks Charting	Peak
1	Fortnight	Taylor Swift Featuring Post Malone	▲+100	[FRESH]	1	1
2	Down Bad	Taylor Swift	▲+99	[FRESH]	1	2
3	The Tortured Poets Department	Taylor Swift	▲+98	[FRESH]	1	3
4	So Long, London	Taylor Swift	▲+97	[FRESH]	1	4
5	I Can Do It With A Broken Heart	Taylor Swift	▲+96	[FRESH]	1	5
6	My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys	Taylor Swift	▲+95	[FRESH]	1	6
7	But Daddy I Love Him	Taylor Swift	▲+94	[FRESH]	1	7
8	Florida!!!	Taylor Swift Featuring Florence + The Machine	▲+93	[FRESH]	1	8
9	Who's Afraid Of Little Old Me?	Taylor Swift	▲+92	[FRESH]	1	9
10	I Like The Way You Kiss Me	Artemas	▼-8	2	5	2

Billboard 200 chart

Position	Title	Artist	Sales	Change	Last week	Weeks Charting
1	The Tortured Poets Department	Taylor Swift	2,600,238 (1,915,964 pure)	--	[FRESH]	1
2	We Don't Trust You	Future & Metro Boomin	69,201 (244 pure)	-17%	3	5
3	Cowboy Carter	Beyonce	66,110 (11,284 pure)	-34%	2	4
4	One Thing At A Time	Morgan Wallen	63,059 (1,329 pure)	-13%	4	60
5	Dark Matter	Pearl Jam	60,248 (52,102 pure)	--	[FRESH]	1
6	We Still Don't Trust You	Future & Metro Boomin	54,841 (240 pure)	-58%	1	2
7	Stick Season	Noah Kahan	46,716 (11,071 pure)	-10%	5	74
8	Fireworks & Rollerblades	Benson Boone	39,520 (918 pure)	-7%	7	3
9	SOS	SZA	38,332 (2,103 pure)	-4%	8	72
10	Lover	Taylor Swift	38,370 (14,588 pure)	+0%	11	244

Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Why is X artist higher than Y artist on the 200 chart, even though X artist sold less?
A: This is because of a discrepancy between Billboard's ranking and the ranking from the website that the sales data is scraped from
Q: Where do you get the sales data from?
A: https://hitsdailydouble.com/sales_plus_streaming
Q: What does "err" mean on the 200 chart?
A: If you are seeing "err", that means that the bot I use to gather chart data couldn't identify sales data for a particular album because of a difference in album naming between Billboard and HitsDailyDouble

You sit shoulder to shoulder in the auditorium. Your scratchy black suit rubs against two arms wrapped in finer material. You shift in your seat, moving uncomfortably in the plush chair beneath you. Your leg is shaking; you are anxious for the show to begin. The massive room rumbles with murmurs of conversation—inquisitions about how the show will be, complaints of hunger, protests of too-tight clothing, and ties choking necks. You are silent.
September 6, 1981
Louise trudged up the dusty gravel path towards her home, a rotted trailer perched atop a steep hill. The bus driver never ventured up the path, leaving Louise to trek the quarter mile herself. She stopped momentarily and watched as the yellow bus sped away; the shadow of a lone hand waved her goodbye. She waved back, too late for anyone to see it, “Bye, Miles.”
Her house stank of cigarette smoke. The soft shag carpet collected to odor, spitting it out with every step. The windows and walls were yellowed with nicotine. The trailer was quiet; the constant droning of the radiator was the only thing to be heard. Louise set her backpack down and walked into the kitchen to make herself dinner. Her mother wouldn’t be home for several hours, and school lunch was never enough.
After Louise ate a measly bowl of microwaved leftover Kraft, she sat down to do her homework. She pulled out the math sheet they had gotten that day. Numbers shifted and combined; they peeled off the page and swam around her. Louise needed help. She dialed a number she knew by heart. The line rang.
“Hello?” a woman’s voice answered, her voice slightly distorted through the phone.
“Hi, Mrs. Wilson,” Louise said in a timid voice.
“Hi, Louise,” Mrs. Wilson’s voice softened, “I’ll get him for you.”
Louise heard her muffled yell, “Thank you, ma’am.”
“Hey Louise! What’s up?” a boy's voice asked.
“Hi, Miles. Have you done your math homework?”
“I’m doing it right now.”
Louise stretched the cord to where she sat at the table, “Great.”
The lights dim, and silence washes over the crowd. The curtains part. Fifty people in tuxedos sit on stage, various instruments in hand. The conductor stands tall. He introduces the orchestra, lifts his gloved hands, and the music begins.
March 9, 1983
“You’re still coming, right?” Miles questioned nervously.
“Yes, Miles, I’m still coming,” Louise rolled her eyes before smiling at him.
Miles relaxed a little bit, “Okay, good.”
Miles had mousy brown hair that was cut short. His dad had served in the military, so he thought this boy should have a ‘man’s haircut.’ He was tan even in the wintertime. He had bright hazel eyes that glowed electric green in the sunlight. Louise was about an inch taller than Miles, a fact she was immensely proud of.
The pair walked down the school hallway. It was Friday. Wonderful, glorious Friday. Louise rejoiced in the days that she didn’t have to come into school and pretend she liked people— pretend she liked anything, really. She hated the teachers, her peers, the hospital grey of the walls. She liked Miles. He ignored the cigarette stink of her clothes and the rudeness of her tone.
Today was Miles’ birthday. He’ll be ten. Miles had invited everyone to the party; there would be a bounce house. He’s ‘going all out for the big one o’ as he kept telling Louise. She was nervous about the party; her gift was okay at best, and she dreaded the disappointed but polite smile she knew Miles would pull.
“My mom will be here right after school to pick us up. You know what my mom’s car looks like, right?” Miles asked.
“Yeah, I remember.”
Lousie walked out to Mrs. Wilson’s car, a sleek, silver Porsche; Louise felt like a celebrity when she rode in it—rich and important.
“Hi, Louise,” Mrs. Wilson smiled, “How was school?”
“Hi, Mrs. Wilson. It was good.”
Louise settled into the plush leather seats and set her backpack in front of her. They sat in silence for a moment, the soft drum of the radio filling the air. Miles ripped open the door, excitement lighting up his face. He sat down, his position mirroring Louise’s.
“Hey, buddy. How was your day?” Mrs. Wilson asked.
“It was great, Mom,” he smiled.
She smiled back warmly, “Well, that’s good.”
Mrs. Wilson pulled out of the parking lot, Louise and Miles chatted idly about school and the party. After a short while, they pulled up to Miles’ house—a two-story white house with columns in front. Louise loved it. Sometimes, during sleepovers, late at night, she pretended it was hers. She quietly walked down hallways, running her fingertips across the smooth wallpaper. She felt the soft carpet on her bare toes and imagined it knew the shape and weight of her foot. She opened the fridge and pretended not to be surprised at the selection of food that awaited her. Then, she would return to Miles’ room and lie down next to him in the sleeping bag he lent her, stare up at the tiny glowing stars stuck on his ceiling, and pretend it was her and her mom that put them up— that it was her mom that held the step stool for her so she wouldn't fall.
Louise and Miles hopped out of the car, ran up to his room, and plopped their bags down. They still had a few hours before their other classmates would arrive. They sat on the ground and leaned against the bed. Louise pulled out Miles’ gift from her bag and handed the small gift bag to him, “Happy Birthday.”
“It’s not time for the party,” Miles said, confusion evident in his voice.
Louise shrugged, “I wanted to give it to you now.”
Miles smiled at her before gently taking the tissue paper out of the bag and reaching in. He pulled out a light blue paper swan. Lousie had spent hours getting the folds just right so the paper was sharp instead of rumpled. It was beautiful.
“Louise,” Miles started, his face curved into a slight frown, like he was about to cry, “Thank you.”
“Do you really like it?” Louise asked nervously; she fidgeted with her fingernails.
Miles set the swan down gently and dove towards her, wrapping her in a hug, “I love it.”
The party was a hit. Louise nearly made herself sick from the combination of an ungodly amount of candy and jumping in the bounce house. Almost everyone from their class was there, shoving presents in Miles’ hands before running to the snacks and entertainment. Night fell, and Louise climbed in the Porsche again, though it was just her and Mrs. Wilson this time.
“Did you have a good time, Louise?” she asked, making eye contact through the rearview mirror.
“Yeah, it was awesome. Thank you for having me,” Louise responded, polite as ever.
“Oh, you are always welcome, sweetie,” Mrs. Wilson smiled.
Louise looked out the window for the rest of the drive, the stars blurring against the black night sky. They pulled up to Louise’s house; her driveway was empty.
“Are you sure you are okay until your mom gets here?” Mrs. Wilson asked.
Louise smiled fakely, “Yeah I’ll be alright. She should be home soon.”
“Okay, sweetheart.”
Louise climbed out of the car and walked to her door. She looked back before stepping inside—Mrs. Wilson’s face was a mirage of pity and sympathy. Louise waved and stepped inside, choking down guilt as she did.
The sweet sound of a violin fills your ears—a lone instrument bellowing a quiet tune. It starts slow—soft, like a warm hand caressing your face, a mother wiping away your tears.
You forget yourself for a moment; you are back in your childhood home, where your bed is indented with your shape. You smell your favorite meal being cooked downstairs. You hear your mother humming her favorite song from the kitchen. Your father isn’t home yet. You are excited to see him.
You wish it were real.
It is not.
June 11, 1984
Louise was having a terrible day. Her mother was off work and slumming around the house— she was like a ghost in her own home, and she had nothing to do. They didn’t have cable this month, so Louise’s options were to sit in her bed and do nothing or visit Miles. She chose the latter. Louise bid her mom a short goodbye, telling her where she was going and not much else, and peddled off on her bike. She was drenched by the time she arrived at Miles’ house. So she ditched her bike in the grass and ran to ring the doorbell. Mrs. Wilson answered.
“Oh. Hello, Louise,” she smiled.
Mrs. Wilson was a nice woman, and Louise absolutely loved her. She was as thin as a twig but had a motherly warmth about her that Louise itched for. Miles was the spitting image of her, matching her tanned skin and bright eyes.
“I’m afraid Miles isn’t here,” she continued.
“Oh,” Louise said, disappointment swirling around her tongue.
“I’m sorry, hun,” Mrs. Wilson gave her a sympathetic look, “He’s out with his dad fishing for the day.”
“That’s okay,” Louise lied and started to walk back to where she abandoned her bike.
“Wait a second, sweetheart,” she called, “Do you want some lemonade? I’d hate to just send you home after you rode all this way.”
“Sure, Mrs. Wilson. Thank you.”
Louise followed her into the kitchen and sat down at one of the barstools to wait. It wasn’t long before she had a nice tall glass of lemonade in front of her and a bag of chips in her hand.
“You can go watch TV if you want,” Mrs. Wilson smiled at her, “I’ll be out in the garden if you ever need anything.”
“Okay, thank you,” Louise said.
She wandered into the living room, and the plush carpet under her feet felt amazing. She flicked on the television and turned it to her favorite cartoon station. She did feel strange behaving like she lived there, especially when the house was empty, but her desire to relax in the air conditioning trumped the feeling. She mindlessly watched Jerry outsmart Tom in the comfort of a home that wasn’t her’s.
Louise finished her snack but didn’t feel like returning home; she knew her mother would be there, heating the house with cigarettes and sex. Mary had moved on from Steve quickly. So, she laid down and continued watching television. At some point, she fell asleep. Louise woke up to the soft voices of Miles’ parents talking in the kitchen. Someone had turned the TV off and taken her dishes. She could hear the shower running upstairs. Louise had no idea what time it was; the sun was now visible in the living room windows, the sky was orange. She was about to get up and ask Mrs. Wilson when she heard her name. Miles’ parents were talking about her. She got up as quietly as she could and snuck closer to the swinging kitchen door.
“Is there something we can do?” Mrs. Wilson asked her husband in a concerned tone.
“I don’t think so, Jenny,” Mr. Wilson responded, “She just has a hard life, that’s all.”
“I feel like we should do more for her.”
Mr. Wilson sighed, “We can only help her when she’s here. You know what Mary thinks about handouts.”
“Oh, poor Mary,” Mrs. Wilson said, her tone sympathetic, “I should call her and tell her Louise is gonna stay the night.”
Louise heard footsteps sound in her direction. She ran as softly as she could back to her position on the couch, feigning sleep. Mrs. Wilson swung open the door and picked up the phone that hung on the wall next to it. Louise heard the click-clack of buttons being pressed, the muffled ringing, and then her mother’s voice on the other line.
“Hey, Mary,” Mrs. Wilson said, “Is it alright if Louise stays here tonight? She passed out on the couch and I don’t think it’d be smart to have her ride home now.”
Lousie couldn’t hear her mother's exact words, but she must have said it was fine because the next thing Louise knew, she was being picked up and carried up the stairs. Mrs. Wilson set her down in a room she was unfamiliar with. She figured it was the guest room. Mrs. Wilson kissed Louise gently on her forehead and told her goodnight in a whispered tone. Louise missed her mother.
The room was bird-themed. The walls were painted a dark navy, and a thin metal peacock stared at her from where it hung. A copy of the NATO phonetic alphabet was hanging, too. It must have been Miles’ old room. Louise remembered when he came to school in second grade and told her he was moving into the attic. There was an opening to the roof up there, and Miles was in love with the idea of sitting up there and watching the sun set and rise.
Miles was in love with a lot when he was little— the sun and sky, the warmth of his mother’s hugs, iced tea on a hot day. Louise didn’t think she was in love with anything. She didn’t think she ever would be. Louise was almost asleep, the plush, silky sheets lulling her into another bout of slumber. Her door squeaked open. Miles’ small frame was a shadow in the doorway. He looked so small. He didn’t walk into the room, choosing to loom in the entrance.
“Goodnight, Louise,” he said in a small voice.
“Goodnight, Miles.”
When you were little, you thought everything was perfect. The world was alive with hope and magic. Everyone got along, and there was nothing wrong.
Of course, now you know that is not true. But a part of you, a little tiny part, wants to go back to when you didn’t know. When life was good, and you didn’t know better.
That’s how the music sounds. Like you are an innocent kid sitting on the front porch eating a red cherry popsicle. The juice runs down your face. It looks like blood.
July 15, 1984
Louise was once again sitting in the back seat of the Wilsons’ Porsche, but this time, she was without a backpack-- sans her school clothes. She wore the itchy Easter dress her grandmother had gotten her two years prior. Louise wore it to her funeral. She stuck out like a sore thumb, a pastel beacon amongst the waves of black. It was Sunday—the Lord’s Day, as Mrs. Wilson had told her. Louise hadn’t been inside a church for a good reason—she’d never been to a regular Sunday mass. But last night, she had stayed the night at Miles’, so she was on her way to church. There were no ifs, ands, or buts about it.
They pulled into the parking lot, the ancient steeple looming over the car. Louise could recognize that it was a beautiful church, but the body of Christ hanging in the stained glass window did nothing to settle her nervous stomach. The pop of car doors sounded; there was no going back.
The wooden pew was uncomfortable, the kneelers even more so. She listened to Miles’ soft whispers of direction and did as he said. She fell and rose when she should; she crossed her arms instead of taking communion, she shook hands with strangers, and mumbled, ‘Peace be with you.’ And then it was over, and Louise was waking back to the car, her white flats cutting into her feet.
“What did you think, Louise?” Mrs. Wilson asked in a kind voice.
She shrugged her shoulders, “It was okay. I didn’t really know what to do.”
“You’ll learn,” Mrs. Wilson responded, a promise on the tip of her tongue.
Louise was silent on the ride back; she leaned against the window and watched as trees blurred together in a mirage of green. Louise didn’t know what it was like to believe in God. She thought she felt it there for a moment-- a quiet tingling in the back of her mind. But then she remembered that she wasn’t with her family; the Wilsons were not her parents. She remembered her mom was working a double today so they could have electricity. And what God would think that was fair? Not one Louise wanted to believe in.
The music sounds like the church hymns your mother made you sing. She meant well; she thought she was giving you the gift of her religion. You couldn’t tell her you didn’t want it. It was all she had ever known.
What child betrays their mother?
May 21, 1985
It was the summer after sixth grade. Lousie and Miles had biked to the pool in town, a desperate attempt to escape the heat. The air was thick and humid, and sweat sprouted from Louise's skin, dampening her shirt and shorts. The sun beamed down on her back; there wasn’t a cloud in sight. The pair parked their bikes out front and ran into the small building. A bored-looking teenager accepted their fifty cents each and let them in. The air reeked of chlorine, and the painted concrete was slick with warm water. Miles and Louise threw their towels down and began to shed their swimsuits. Louise’s hands were shaking with anticipation; she hadn't been to the pool in so long.
“Race you,” Miles said, darting towards the water's edge.
“No fair,” Louise groaned as she kicked off her flip-flops and ran after him.
Louise heard a distant whistle ringing and a call that running wasn’t allowed before she splashed into the blue depths. The cool water encapsulated her, and goosebumps formed on her skin. She bobbed to the surface and saw Miles climbing out and heading towards the diving board.
They stayed until the sun was beginning to set; Miles’ mom didn’t like him being out that late on his own yet, so they peddled back home soggy clothes and pruny skin.
When Louise returned to her house, it was dark. She could see the kitchen light shining out onto the brown lawn. Steve was home. Louise’s mom, Mary, had picked him up a few months back. He was a short, fat man. His breath always smelled like beer, yeasty and vile. He had dark hair and a beard to match. Her mother claimed she really liked him, but Louise knew she just needed someone to help pay the bills.
One of the few good things about having kids as young as Louise’s mom had her is that she never had a hard time finding a sleazy older guy to keep around. Being pretty also helped, and Mary sure was pretty. Mary was tall and slender, with long, curly auburn hair. She was covered in freckles and had eyes that glowed emerald green. When Louise was young, Mary would smile often, but as her eyebags grew, her smile faded. She could fake it when needed, but it was never like Louise remembered.
Mary and Louise could have been twins— minus the smile lines she didn’t think she’d ever have the chance to earn. Maybe that was why, when Louise walked into her kitchen in nothing more than a bathing suit, Steve forced himself on her.
You clutch the armrest on your chair, digging your nails into the fabric. The music is screeching, a distorted version of what it once was. You want to cry. You think your ears are bleeding. You bite the inside of your cheek, hoping to distract yourself from the perverted disgust mess of noise assaulting you. Your mouth tastes like metal. The urge to stand and walk, no, run, out of the theater is so strong you can hardly bear it.
You do not get up.
May 22, 1985
Miles called and asked if she wanted to go swimming again. Louise didn’t have the heart to tell him she never wanted to go swimming again, so she lied and said she was sick. Miles was at her door an hour later with a container of homemade cookies and Guess Who.
The two sit on the floor of Louise’s bedroom, the soft blanket she put down covering the scratchy carpet. Louise’s room was small and dingy. The walls were cracked and stained; she lived out of one small bureau that had been unceremoniously shoved into a corner of the room. Last Christmas, she begged her mother to help her hang lights on the ceiling. They were still up, casting a rainbow glow over the room. It was the only source of light she used. She had a small nightstand piled with pencils and markers; she had long since stained her light pink sheets while drawing. Cookie crumbles littered the floor. Louise was losing the game; most of her people were still up, while Miles only had about five people left to choose from. He chewed his lip in concentration. Louise usually laughed at him for it; he always seemed to take the board games they played too seriously. This time, she didn’t notice he was doing it.
“Does your person have brown hair?” Miles questioned.
Louise didn’t respond. “Louise? Are you alrigh—”
“Do your parents ever touch you?” Louise said, eyes trained on the floor.
Miles’ face scrunched up in confusion, “You mean like hugs?”
“No.”
“What do you mean then?” Miles questioned.
Louise’s eyes fogged up with tears, “Never mind. Let’s just play the game.”
Miles eyed her with sympathetic confusion before realizing what she meant, “Louise…”
He moved to hug her, but she flinched away from him. Miles sat back; he wasn’t touching her but was close enough for her to feel the heat radiating off of him. Louise sniffled, trying desperately to contain her emotion.
“Do you want me to leave you alone?” Miles whispered.
Louise turned to look at him, her face pale and puffy, “Please don’t.”
Louise and Miles sat like that for a long time. When the sun set, he got up and called his mom, begging her to let him stay the night. Louise didn’t hear the conversation, but Mrs. Wilson must have agreed because the next thing she knew, she was being guided to bed, and Miles was settled on the floor next to her, leaning against the bed and holding her hand.
The music turned sweet. It drifted through your ears pleasantly, passing over the cracked, dry blood. A chorus of flutes is playing, light and soft.
It feels like the pillow in your dorm room, childhood mixed with freedom.
You know this feeling won’t last. But right now, in this moment, you lay your head down and pretend the world is new.
May 17, 1986
Miles and Louise had biked miles to the movie theater. Miles had begged Louise to see the new movie coming out, one that Louise was less than excited about. He had been to the movies some months before with his mom and had seen the trailer. The next day, he begged her to see it with him when it came out, and she agreed, not knowing anything about it.
Miles was practically giddy with excitement. His eyes glowed with it. The theater was packed; they stood in the line shoulder to shoulder with what must have been every other kid in town. Louise clung to the red crushed velvet rope that segmented the line for dear life. The feeling of so many people pressed up against her was nauseating. She screwed her eyes shut, pushing down a wave of oncoming dizziness. Before she knew it she was being pulled along to the ticket stand. Miles produced them with a broad smile on his face, “Two for Top Gun.”
He then bought a giant thing of buttery popcorn and two glass Cokes. They made their way to their seats and waited for the movie to begin. Miles shoved popcorn in his mouth, salty yellow kernels going everywhere. Trailers for various movies played on the big screen— Miles leaned over nearly every time and asked Louise if she would go with him. She said yes every time.
The movie was beautiful. It was nothing like Louise had ever seen before; it made her yearn for the sky, the feeling of freedom unlike anything she would ever know. And then it was tragic, and she was crying in her seat, wailing over someone she didn’t know. Begging him to wake up.
They left in silence, walking to the bike rack to a chorus of shoes against pavement. They stalled for a moment before getting onto their bikes and parting their ways.
“What would you do if I died?” Miles said, his eyes trained on Louise’s.
“I don’t know,” her eyes were red and puffy, “I don’t think I could go on.”
“Me neither,” Miles agreed.
Miles stared at her for a beat before getting on his bike and peddling home. Louise imagined her life without Miles on the way home. Sharp metal against skin, blood seeping into water. She didn’t think it would be much of a life.
When you were in 6th grade, you played the clarinet. You always had a fondness for them.
They were the only ones playing, the dulcet tones of a wooden reed against black plastic. The song was picking up pace, like a heartbeat.
In 6th grade band, you sat next to a girl you liked. She was better at the instrument than you. You didn’t care. You remember taking her to the winter formal and carrying her shoes when her feet got sore. You remember your dad giving you the talk before you went.
You haven’t seen her in years. You wonder how she’s doing.
The clarinets are done with their solo. You forget about her again.
August 21, 1987
This year, Louise’s birthday fell on the first day of school. She dressed nicer than usual, an attempt at vanity that made her hate herself. Miles had given her a music box that played You Are My Sunshine. Louise had told him that she missed it when her mom sang it to her before bed. She cried in the bathroom.
At lunch, she stood in line with a group of girls in her PE class. Miles was a few feet ahead of her, and the kids in her school took cutting in line more seriously than she thought was necessary, so she stayed put. She stood silently while the girls talked about a teacher they didn’t like, choosing instead to eavesdrop on the conversations around her rather than contribute to the one she was in.
Brian Miller’s voice sounded broken and raspy, like a kid with money for cigarettes and not much else. He was a stereotypical bully, big and tall, with an ugly look plastered everywhere he went. He couldn’t stand the thought of someone not being in pain. He was talking to Miles, his voice loud enough for Louise to hear from where she was: “Why do you hang out with that poor girl all the time? Does she give it up easily?”
His lips were curled in a cruel sneer, showing off his yellow teeth. Miles looked at him, barely visible to Louise over the people between them. Then, suddenly, he wound up and punched Brian square in the face. Louise heard the crunch of his nose being broken— blood spurted on the floor and onto the onlooking students. Brian grunted in pain, bringing his hand to touch his bloodied face slowly before launching into a vicious returning attack. He only got a few punches on Miles before the nearest teacher pulled him away. Louise pushed through the crowd that had formed, leaning down at Miles’ side. His face was nearly unrecognizable; bruises were starting to form already.
“Why did you do that? Oh my god, Miles, why did you do that?” Louise choked out, tears fogging her vision.
“I love you,” Miles tried to smile, blood staining his teeth.
A teacher pushed Louise out of the way, assessing the damage. What felt like seconds later, an ambulance appeared, along with Mrs. Wilson. She was frantic; her hands were shaking with fear. Everything was silent. At some point, everyone had cleared out except Louise. She was standing here like an idiot, staring at Miles’ bloodied face.
Louise felt a strong hand grab her arm, a mother’s hand, “Come on, Louise. You can ride along.” Mrs. Wilson stood in front of Louise. Her eyes were red, but she had composed herself. Louise’s voice came out as nothing more than a whisper: “Okay.”
She let herself be pulled into the ambulance; the siren was the only thing she could hear. She watched as the EMTs worked, their skilled, gloved hands dancing over his body.
“Louise, he’s gonna be okay,” Mrs. Wilson whispered in her ear, “Come here.”
She pulled Louise into a hug, hiding her view of Miles. Louise closed her eyes against Mrs. Wilson, willing her breath to slow. They stopped abruptly at the hospital. Louise and Mrs. Wilson climbed out and watched as nurses and interns swarmed Miles’ gurney. They were ushered to the waiting room and sat down on hard, terribly patterned chairs. At some point, Mrs. Wilson called Louise’s mother to tell her where she was. A doctor brought them to Miles’ room after over an hour. His face had been cleaned and bandaged, and his nose was clearly broken.
“Louise,” Miles said, his eyes lighting up.
“Miles,” Louise responded, “Are you okay?”
“I’m right as rain,” he tried to smile but winced.
“Don’t lie to me, Miles.”
“I’ll be okay,” he reassured her, reaching up to squeeze her hand.
They stood like that until Louise’s mom came to get her. Louise crawled into Mary’s beat-up Sedan and slumped in the seat.
“Are you okay, baby?” Mary asked her.
“Mom, what if he died?” Louise ignored the question.
Mary sighed, “Sweetheart he’s fine. He’s just got a concussion and a broken nose.”
“I know,” Louise said, “I know he’s fine.”
The bags under Mary’s eyes seemed heavier today, and her face seemed more wrinkled. Louise looked more like her every day.
The music takes on a somber tone. Long, drawn-out notes fill the air. You think of your mother again, the way she looked sunken in her hospital bed— decaying before your eyes. You remember the feel of her bony, pale hands wiping away your tears in her final moments.
It was the first time you saw your dad cry.
The wail of violin chokes you.
December 17, 1988
Louise was lying on her back in Miles’ bed. He’s had the same one since they were kids; the box springs creak under their weight. Miles was above her, his eyes boring holes in hers. His parents were not home, the house was eerily quiet— the ambient creaking distracting Louise. His record player sang sweet music from his desk. His room was cluttered with dirty clothes and various knick-knacks. A blue paper swan sat on his bookshelf next to his worn copy of The Hobbit. His closet was open, casting weird shadows along the walls. The lights were off.
The soft touch of Miles’ lips trailed down her chest to her stomach. She tried to push down the nausea— make her body stop squirming. Her hand clutched his shoulder tightly. He had asked if this was okay. She had said yes.
Louise felt another article of clothing being slid off her body. She was cold. Her eyes shot to the ceiling. One glowing star was still stuck on the popcorn texture. Miles had taken them off the year before. He had missed one. Louise felt the heat of salty water run down her face into the soft pillow. She hated herself.
‘Dear God,’ she thought, ‘if you can hear me please, please just let me be okay. Let me want this.’
She didn’t receive a response. God wasn’t listening. It was just her and Miles in a house too big, in a world too small.
“Louise?” Miles said, his voice laced with concern, “Hey. Are you okay?”
All she could muster was an ‘I’m sorry’ before getting up, running into the bathroom, and emptying her stomach into the toilet.
The air stunk of sour yeast.
The music bounced up and down, building up to its crescendo. Excitement filled your chest, the entire orchestra almost all playing now.
A chorus of brass filled the air—French horns and trumpets battle for dominance on stage. Your eyes are wide in anticipation; you have waited the entire night for this.
You are sixteen, and you and your friends sit around a fire, passing a bottle of Jack around. It is the Friday before school starts. You wanted one last night of summer fun before your life filled with books and assignments.
The whiskey burns a path down your throat. It makes you nauseous. You get so drunk you can’t stand up. Your vision blurs as you stumble into the surrounding woods. You are alone. You vomit more than you thought was possible. You think you are going to die. You miss your mom.
You haven't drank since.
You don’t think you ever will.
August 4, 1989
The granite bar was cool under Louise’s fingertips. She sat in Miles’ kitchen, spinning nervously on the metal bar stool. She was chewing her lip; her mouth tasted like blood. Miles sat next to her, his demeanor the exact opposite of Louise’s.
“I mean, come on, Louise. What are you gonna do with your life?” Mrs. Wilson lectured her.
“I don’t know,” Louise mumbled.
Mrs. Wilson sighed, “Miles has wanted to be a pilot since he was eight. What do you want?”
Louise took a deep breath, “I don’t know. I’m sorry I can’t be like Miles. But I’m not your fucking kid so leave me alone.”
Louise stood up and stomped up the stairs. She heard Mrs. Wilson yelling her name, but she didn’t turn around. She buried herself in Miles’ bed, wrapping herself in his soft comforter. Louis heard the stairs creak with weight and then a knock on the door.
“Louise, I’m sorry,” Miles said, walking into the room.
Louise sat up, her face dry, “Why are you sorry? You didn’t yell at me.”
“I still feel sorry,” he said as he sat down next to her.
Louise took a deep breath and leaned on his shoulder. Miles rested his head against hers, “She loves you, you know.”
“I know.”
“She just wants you to do well,” Miles said.
“She wants me to be better than my mother,” Louise corrected.
“Is that so bad?”
The music doesn’t matter right now. You are fifteen, and your father is yelling at you about your future. You don’t know what you want to do. You want to be better than him.
He backhands you.
The arm of the person next to you brushes against yours. You jump. The conductor's hands are blurry with movement. The theater is alive with sound.
You miss your dad.
February 14, 1990
Louise and Miles sat across from each other in a restaurant that was too nice for the amount of money they brought. Louise ran her fingers across the laminated menu, fidgeting nervously with the edge of the paper. The restaurant was packed, Miles had made the reservations months in advance.
“Do you know what you want?” Miles asked.
Louise pursed her lips, “I think I’m gonna get the chicken piccata.”
Miles eyed the menu, “That looks good.”
“What are you gonna get?” she returned the question.
Miles smiled, almost boyishly, “The steak.”
Louise hummed in response. She set her menu down and reached for her water glass, running her finger across the rim. Condensation dripped down outside the glass, her fingerprints marking the surface.
“Are you excited about prom?” Miles asked.
Louise laughed a little, “Do we really have nothing else to talk about other than a dance in two months?”
Miles rolled his eyes playfully, “I guess not. What did we talk about when we were kids?”
“I have honestly no idea,” Louise smiled, “I don’t think we talked a lot. We mostly played.”
“We did play an ungodly amount of Donkey Kong.”
Louise chuckled, “God, was that game even good? Or were we just kids?”
“I honestly have no idea,” Miles smiled.
The waiter came by and took their order, collecting their menus and refreshing their drinks. It wasn’t long before their food arrived; the plates were decedent and beautiful. They left the restaurant with doggy bags in hand and significantly poorer than when they walked in. Louise clambered into Miles’ truck and waited for Miles to start it. But he didn’t. He was staring at her instead.
“What?” she asked incredulously.
He smiled at her, “I have something for you.”
Her face fell in surprise, “Miles, you told me the dinner was a gift.”
“Well,” Miles shrugged. He reached into his pocket and produced a small velvet box. She took it gingerly into her hands, excitement boiling in her chest. She opened the box softly and found two silver rings. One was engraved with ‘Miles,’ and the other said ‘Louise.’ Miles picked up the one that said his name and handed it to her.
“This one is for you,” he looked at her with huge puppy-dog eyes, “And the other one is for me.”
“Miles…”
“Do you like it?” he asked nervously.
She melted, “I love it. I love you.”
“I love you, too,” he said, leaning in and kissing her sweetly.
“Are your parents home?” she asked against his lips.
“No, they won’t be home in hours.”
This time was different than the first. No bile rose up into Louise’s throat; she didn’t have to repress her squirming body. The air smelled like clean linen— fresh and new.
You are crying, and you don’t know why. The music sounds more like singing now, wrapping you in lyrics and hugs. You feel warm and fuzzy. Like you are a little kid who just got home after swimming all day. You are tired in the perfect way. You sink into your blankets and fall asleep.
A humming noise wakes you up. You are in the theater. There is music playing. You aren’t a kid anymore.
You had a drink at dinner before the concert.
You swallowed it with ease.
March 20, 1990
The hum of the radio filled the sweet night air. Louise and Miles lounged in the bed of his beat-up pickup. It was his father's old farm truck, a janky, rusty thing that only ran when it felt like it, but Miles loved it. It was his pride and joy. Any weekend he wasn’t with Louise, he was fixing it up; he would spend hours under the body of that thing, coming into the house reeking of oil and exhaust. Mrs. Wilson hated it; she feared for the safety of her nice beige carpet and the cleanliness of his jeans.
It was freshly spring; it was dry and warm for the first time this year. They were laying on his mother’s old picnic blanket, something she probably wouldn’t care for if she knew. It was pitch black, the only thing that illuminated them were the stars and the faint light of Louise’s kitchen light. They had returned from cruising around town, and neither wanted to go inside yet. They had been lulled into a comfortable silence, their hands knotted together perfectly. And then, suddenly, Louise had a question.
“Do you hate me?”
“Louise…” Miles sighed.
Nervousness leaked into her tone, “I was just making sure.”
“That I don’t hate you? Even though we’re dating?” Miles scoffed, “Why would I be with you if I hated you? What would I gain from that?”
“What if you were using me?” Louise said, her voice small.
“Oh my god,” Miles sat up and put his head in his hands, “‘What if’ Louise, when have I ever, in our entire lives, used you?”
“I don—” she started.
“If you are basing your fear of our relationship on ‘what ifs,’ maybe we shouldn’t be together. You are so absorbed in your past that it's like you aren’t even seeing me, not now, not in the present,” Miles shot at her.
“That’s not fair,” Louise said, her voice breaking with emotion.
Miles took a deep breath, “I’m sorry for what happened, and I get that healing is a hard and long process. But, Louise, I’m tired, too. ”
Hot, stinging tears rolled down Louise’s face, wetting the blanket, “I know you love me. Sometimes I’m just scared.”
“Why are you scared?” Miles whispered.
“I don’t know,” she sniffled, “I am what I am.”
“You are what you are,” Miles repeated, “And I’m tired of pretendning I can change that.”
“Then stop.”
Louise wiped the tears off her face and climbed out of the truck. Her receding footsteps echoed in Miles' head, a pounding that sounded eerily like his heartbeat— fast and hard. Miles sat there for a long while. The radio was still on, blasting The Smiths.
Trumpets blast loud, then louder. You think your eardrum might burst. Then, the music lulls to a stop. The lights do not come on. It is like the entire world has stopped to take a breath. One big inhale. You fill your lungs. The air smells like honeysuckle.
You are a child running in the yard with your dog. You are barefoot. You step on a bee. You limp into the house and cry to your mother. She puts your foot on ice.
You will never feel the grass on your bare foot again. You do not need to learn the lesson twice.

Hey. I have listened to Zach Bryan for a while. I was listening to him before he blew up and then one day my wife told me that the country singer I liked was all over tik tok. I am glad he has been successful. I am a Seminary student studying theology/biblical studies and have grown increasingly interested in Bryans use of Christian ideas/themes in his music. I wrote a short article showcasing some of the things which have stood out to me in his music. I hope you enjoy.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1venF-S-dHS7FEMA8MUkCOeNYJznXgGvYOBHIzahTY4c/edit?usp=sharing

SFF here means all speculative fiction (fantasy, science fiction, horror, alternate history, magical realism etc).
The following SFF books will be published in the U.S. in May 2024. Other countries may differ.
If you know of others, please add them as comments below. If I've made any mistakes, just let me know, and I'll fix them up.
The published book formats are included with each entry (mostly hardcover and/or trade paperback with the occasional ebook). This information is obtained from the isfdb website which lists one format type for each entry but mostly omits ebook entries. If it's a new hardcover and/or trade paperback book, it's very likely that an ebook is also coming out at the same time.
If you are using the Chrome browser, you might find the Goodreads Right Click extension useful, to find out more information on books that you are interested in:
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/goodreads-right-click/fbicpmopjallgdpklipffmihodimmcbe?hl=en
​
Key
(A) - Anthology
(C) - Collection
(CB) - Chapbook
(GN) - Graphic Novel
(N) - Novel
(NF) - Nonfiction
(O) - Omnibus
(R) - Reprint
(YA) - Young Adult and Juvenile
[eb] - eBook
[hc] - Hardcover
[tp] - Trade Paperback
​
May 1

• Chaotic Aperitifs (Hidden Dishes 2) - Tao Wong (N) [eb] tp
  
• Primal Hunt (Midnight Hunters 9) - L. L. Raand (N) [tp]
  
• Rocking into the Night (Wartime Druid 4) - Shawn McGee (N) [eb] [hc] tp
  
• The End of Time (The Cruel Gods 3) - Trudie Skies (N) eb
  
• The Ghostlands of Natalie Glasgow - Hailey Piper (CB) hc
  
• Undead Folk - Katherine Silva (CB) [eb] [hc] tp
  
• Voyage of the Wanderlust (Spaceship Initiative / Tri-Galactic Trek) - Mary E. Lowd (N) [tp]
  
• Whispers of Apple Blossoms - Brett Mitchell Kent (N) eb
  

May 3

• The Ill-Fitting Skin - Shannon Robinson (N) tp
  
• Marked for Sorrow - Y.M. Miller (CB) eb
  

May 5

• Thorns of War (The Smokesmiths 2) - Joao F. Silva (N) eb

May 6

• The Harvest - Diego Rauda (N) [eb] tp

May 7

• A Glitch in the Protocols (Terminate the Other World! 2) - Icalos (N) [tp]
  
• An Intrigue of Witches (Secret Society Mysteries 1) - Esme Addison (N) [hc]
  
• Archangels of Funk - Andrea Hairston (N) [hc]
  
• Barbarian Incursion (Sapiens 1) - Persimmon (N) [tp]
  
• Beastly Beauty - Jennifer Donnelly (N) (YA) [hc]
  
• Beyond the Isle of the Lost (The Isle of the Lost 5) - Melissa de la Cruz (N) (YA) [hc]
  
• Beyond the Ranges - James Aidee, John Ringo (N) [hc]
  
• Black Shield Maiden - Willow Smith and Jess Hendel (N) [eb] [hc] tp
  
• Blood at the Root - LaDarrion Williams (N) (YA) [eb] hc
  
• Burning Crowns (Twin Crowns 3) - Catherine Doyle, Katherine Webber (N) (YA) [hc]
  
• Can't Spell Treason Without Tea (Tomes & Tea 1) - Rebecca Thorne (N) [tp]
  
• Chromatic (Color Theory 3) - Ashley Bustamante (N) [hc]
  
• City of the Undead (Zombicide: Black Plague) - C. L. Werner (N) [tp]
  
• Coco Twinkles - Maddy Mara (CB) (YA) [tp]
  
• Dawn of the Last Dragon Rider (The Last Dragon Rider 1) - Shawn Wilson (N) [tp]
  
• Death's Country - R. M. Romero (N) [hc]
  
• Dungeons Just Wanna Have Fun (Dungeons Just Wanna Have Fun 1) - Maxlex (N) [tp]
  
• Dusty in the Outwilds - Rhiannon Williams (N) (YA) [hc]
  
• Elevation of Mana (Elevation of Mana 1) - Wandering Agent (N) [tp]
  
• Fimbulwinter (Stranger Than Fiction 3) - T. B. Mare (N) [tp]
  
• Five Broken Blades - Mai Corland (N) [hc] [hc]
  
• For Eternity (Filthy Rich Vampires 4) - Geneva Lee (N) [tp]
  
• For a Lifetime (Timeless 3) - Gabrielle Meyer (N) [hc] [tp]
  
• Fortune's Envoy (Cyber Dreams 3) - Plum Parrot (N) [tp]
  
• Ghostroots - 'Pemi Aguda (C) [hc]
  
• Henry Heckelbeck Does Not Need a Sitter - Wanda Coven (CB) (YA) [tp] [hc]
  
• Hyde & Seek (Jekyll & Hyde Inc. 2) - Simon R. Green (N) [hc]
  
• I Ran Away to Evil (I Ran Away to Evil 1) - Mystic Neptune (N) [tp]
  
• Into the Sideways World - Ross Welford (N) (YA) [tp]
  
• Jerry, Let Me See the Moon - Jeffrey Ebbeler (N) (YA) [hc]
  
• Loneliness & Company - Charlee Dyroff (N) [hc]
  
• Mother Knows Best: Tales of Homemade Horror - Lindy Ryan (Editor) (A) eb
  
• No Malto Left Behind! - Ryder Windham (CB) (YA) [tp] [hc]
  
• People in Glass Houses (Harmony) - Jayne Castle (N) [hc]
  
• Perfect Little Monsters - Cindy R. X. He (N) [eb] tp
  
• Queens of Themiscyra - Hannah Lynn (N) [tp]
  
• Quest for the Wishing Stone (Dungeoneer Adventures 3) - Ben Costa, James Parks (N) (YA) [hc]
  
• Red Side Story (Shades of Grey 2) - Jasper Fforde (N) [eb] [hc] [tp]
  
• Rooster and the Dancing Diablo (Los Monstruos 2) - Diana López (N) (YA) [hc]
  
• Seize the Day (Empress 1) - J. V. Simms (N) [tp]
  
• Shock the Monkey (The N.O.A.H Files 2) - Eric Elfman, Neal Shusterman (N) (YA) [hc]
  
• Skandar and the Chaos Trials (Skandar 3) - A. F. Steadman (N) (YA) [hc]
  
• Spin of Fate (The Fifth Realm 1) - A. A. Vora (N) (YA) [hc]
  
• Supplication - Nour Abi-Nakhoul (N) [eb] tp
  
• Sweet Nightmare (The Calder Academy 1) - Tracy Wolff (N) (YA) [hc]
  
• The Brides of High Hill (The Singing Hills Cycle 5) - Nghi Vo (CB) [hc]
  
• The Daily Grind 4 (The Daily Grind 4) - Argus (I) (N) [tp]
  
• The Dark Side of the Sky - Francesco Dimitri (N) [tp]
  
• The Deer and the Dragon (No Other Gods 1) - Piper CJ (N) [eb] tp
  
• The Demon of the Absurd - Rachilde (C) [tp]
  
• The Downloaded - Robert J. Sawyer (N) [eb] tp
  
• The Eccentrics (Knight Watch 3) - Tim Akers (N) [tp]
  
• The Games of Olympus (Theos 2) - Arthur Wordsmith (N) [tp]
  
• The Hunting Dark (The Enlightenment Project 2) - Lynn Hightower (N) [hc]
  
• The Ministry of Time - Kaliane Bradley (N) [eb] [hc]
  
• The Silver Curse (The Silver Curse 1) - Anna Orr (N) [tp]
  
• The Silverblood Promise (The Last Legacy 1) - James Logan (N) [tp] [hc]
  
• The Sins on Their Bones - Laura R. Samotin (N) [eb] [tp]
  
• The Skandar Collection (Skandar 1-3) - A. F. Steadman (O) (YA) [hc]
  
• The Sky King (Skyriders 2) - Polly Holyoke (N) (YA) [tp]
  
• The Sword Unbound (Lands of the Firstborn 2) - Gareth Hanrahan (N) [tp]
  
• The Things We Miss - Leah Stecher (N) (YA) [hc]
  
• The Traitor's Son - Dave Duncan (N) [tp]
  
• The Z Word - Lindsay King-Miller (N) [eb] tp
  
• Thelma the Unicorn - Kate Howard (CB) (YA) [tp]
  
• True Colors - Abby Cooper (N) (YA) [hc]
  
• When the Devil - Emma E. Murray (CB) tp
  
• World of Wreckage (Torth 3) - Abby Goldsmith (N) [tp]
  

May 8

• Forest of Swords (The Three Kingdoms Chronicles 4) - Baptiste Pinson Wu (CB) eb

May 9

• Flooded Secrets (The Chronicles of Nerezia 2) - Claudie Arsenault (N) [eb] [tp]

May 11

• Sundering (The Keepers of Midgate 2) - R.M. Krogman (N) eb

May 12

• 41: An Autobiography - J.D. Buffington (NF) [eb] tp

May 14

• A Battle Between Blood (Legend of Tal 5) - J.D.L. Rosell (CB) [eb] tp
  
• As the Sparrow Flies (Sojourners' Saga 1) - Chad Corrie (N) [tp]
  
• Blood & Fury - Tessa Gratton, Justina Ireland (N) (YA) [hc]
  
• Blood on the Tide (Crimson Sails 2) - Katee Robert (N) [tp]
  
• Burning Sky - John Darnton (N) [hc]
  
• By Blood, By Salt (Land of Exile 1) - J.L. Odom (N) [eb] hc
  
• Cinderwich - Cherie Priest (N) [tp]
  
• Clairboyance - Kristiana Kahakauwila (N) (YA) [hc]
  
• Cloaked Deception - Timothy Zahn (N) [hc]
  
• Dry Lands - Elizabeth Anne Martins (N) [tp]
  
• Finn and Ezra's Bar Mitzvah Time Loop - Joshua S. Levy (N) (YA) [hc]
  
• Fleet Champions (Titan Hoppers 3) - Rob J. Hayes (N) eb
  
• Flyboy - Kasey LeBlanc (N) (YA) [hc]
  
• High Priestess and Empress (Arcana Oracle 2) - Susan Wands (N) [eb] tp
  
• Horizon of War (Horizon of War 1) - Hanne (I) (N) [tp]
  
• Howls from the Scene of the Crime: An Anthology of Crime Horror - Jessica Peter & Timaeus Bloom (Editors) (A) [hc] tp
  
• I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons - Peter S. Beagle (N) [hc]
  
• It Waits in the Forest - Sarah Dass (N) [hc]
  
• Moon Madness (Camp Sylvania 2) - Crystal Maldonado, Julie Murphy (N) (YA) [hc]
  
• My Darling Dreadful Thing - Johanna van Veen (N) [tp]
  
• Onyeka and the Heroes of the Dawn (Onyeka 3) - Tọlá Okogwu? (N) (YA) [hc]
  
• Player Manager 3 (Player Manager 3) - Ted Steel (N) [tp]
  
• Puzzleheart - Jenn Reese (N) (YA) [hc]
  
• Rise of the Strongest Sovereign 2 (Rise of the Strongest Sovereign 2) - Kaz Hunter (N) [tp]
  
• Road to Ruin (Magebike Courier 1) - Hana Lee (N) [tp]
  
• The Amethyst Kingdom (The Five Crowns of Okrith 5) - A. K. Mulford (N) [tp] [hc]
  
• The Boo Hag Flex - Justina Ireland (CB) (YA) [hc]
  
• The City Beyond the Stars (The Kingdom Over the Sea 2) - Zohra Nabi (N) (YA) [hc]
  
• The Dangerous Ones - Lauren Blackwood (N) (YA) [hc]
  
• The Dragon Legion (The Sunborn 1) - Isaac Hill (N) eb
  
• The Garden of Delights - Amal Singh (N) [tp]
  
• The Gift of Guthix (RuneScape) - Erin M. Evans (N) [tp]
  
• The Haunting of Lake Lucy (Ghost Writers 1) - Sandy Deutscher Green (N) (YA) [tp] [hc]
  
• The Honey Witch - Sydney J. Shields (N) [tp]
  
• The House That Horror Built - Christina Henry (N) [eb] tp
  
• The Last Rhee Witch - Jenna Lee-Yun (N) (YA) [hc]
  
• The Many Faces of Ista Flit (Tidemagic 1) - Clare Harlow (N) (YA) [hc]
  
• The Red Grove - Tessa Fontaine (N) [eb] hc
  
• The Witches of Bellinas - J. Nicole Jones [eb] hc
  
• The Wolf's Eye (The Order of the Seven Stars 2) - Luanne G. Smith (N) [tp]
  
• The Worst Perfect Moment - Shivaun Plozza (N) (YA) [hc]
  
• Thornbane the Demon Witch (Thornbane Trilogy the Hexed Heroes Saga 2) - Paul Sating (N) eb
  
• Tomorrowing - Terry Bisson (C) [hc] [tp]
  
• Truth or Wolf - Anne Marsh (N) [tp]
  
• When Among Crows - Veronica Roth (N) [eb] hc
  
• Woodworm - Layla Martinez, trans. Sophie Hughes & Annie McDermott (CB) [eb] tp
  

May 16

• Lost in the Garden - Adam S. Leslie (N) [eb] tp

May 17

• Bloodfeather Heartsong (Bloodsong 2) - Amber L. Werner (N) eb
  
• Kosa - John Durgin (N) [eb] tp
  
• Religion and Science Fiction: An Introduction - James H. Thrall (NF) [tp] [hc]
  

May 20

• The Lamplighter - Crystal J. Bell (N) (YA) [tp]
  
• The Switchboard (Connections 1) - Christina K. Glover (N) eb
  

May 21

• A House Like an Accordion - Audrey Burges (N) [tp]
  
• Battlemaster (Victor of Tucson 5) - Plum Parrot (N) [tp]
  
• Blood Torn (The Immortals (Shelley Wilson) 2) - Shelley Wilson (N) [hc] [tp]
  
• Chained Destinies - D. Jordan Redhawk (N) [tp]
  
• Cruel Nights - Jason Nahrung (N) [tp]
  
• Escape Velocity - Victor Manibo (N) [hc]
  
• Final Strike (The Dresden Codex 3) - Jeff Wheeler (N) [tp]
  
• Freeset (Four Cities 2) - Sarina Dahlan (N) [tp]
  
• Goddess of the River - Vaishnavi Patel (N) [hc]
  
• Head Full of Lies (Harlan Winter 2) - Jordan Farmer (N) [tp]
  
• Heavenbreaker - Sara Wolf (N) [hc]
  
• Hidden Fury - Bjorn Hasseler (CB) [tp]
  
• How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying (Dark Lord Davi 1) - Django Wexler (N) [tp]
  
• In Midnight’s Shadow (Tales of Isyr 2) - C.M. Debell (N) eb
  
• In Our Stars (The Doomed Earth 1) - Jack Campbell (N) [hc]
  
• In the Shallows - Tanya Byrne (N) [hc]
  
• Journey's Revenge (1544 2) - Simone Kelly (N) [tp]
  
• Keepers of the Stones and Stars - Michael Barakiva (N) (YA) [hc]
  
• Liar's Test - Ambelin Kwaymullina (N) (YA) [hc] [hc]
  
• Little Sisters and Other Stories - Vonda N. McIntyre (C) [tp]
  
• Looking for Love in All the Haunted Places - Claire Kann (N) [tp]
  
• Lost Ark Dreaming - Suyi Davies Okungbowa (N) [hc]
  
• Mazi - Koji A. Dae (CB) [eb] tp
  
• Mind Games - Nora Roberts (N) [hc]
  
• Pliable Truths (Star Trek: The Next Generation) - Dayton Ward (N) [tp]
  
• Relight My Fire (The Stranger Times 4) - C. K. McDonnell (N) [hc] [tp]
  
• Reverberations (Manabound 2) - Travis Albrecht (N) [tp]
  
• The Charmed Friends of Trove Isle - Annie Rains (N) [tp]
  
• The Dead Spot: Stories of Lost Girls - Angela Sylvaine (C) [eb] tp
  
• The Lamplighter - Crystal J. Bell (N) [eb] tp
  
• The Last Murder at the End of the World - Stuart Turton (N) [eb] [hc] tp
  
• The Magic Paintbrush - Eric Darnell, Kat Zhang (N) (YA) [hc]
  
• The Menace at the Mall - Steve Behling (CB) (YA) [hc]
  
• The North Wind (The Four Winds 1) - Alexandria Warwick (n) [eb] [hc] tp
  
• The Road Trip Rewind - Danny Tamberelli, Kate Tamberelli (N) [tp]
  
• The Shabti - Mageara C Lorenz (N) [eb] [hc] [tp]
  
• Vainglorious (Ciaphas Cain) - Sandy Mitchell (N) [tp]
  
• Way of the Wizard 1 - Michael Michel (N) eb
  
• We Mostly Come Out at Night: 15 Queer Tales of Monsters, Angels & Other Creatures - Rob Costello (A) [hc]
  
• You Like It Darker - Stephen King (C) [hc]
  

May 23

• Find Him and Kill Him - Cody J. Thompson (N) [eb] tp
  
• Cursed Shards: Tales of Dark Folklore - Leanbh Pearson (Editor) (A) [eb] tp
  

May 24

• Blood Covenant - Alan Baxter (N) eb
  
• Enchanted Skies (Enchanted Series 4) - Various Authors (A) eb
  
• Memories of Forgotten Waves - Niranjan K (N) eb
  

May 28

• Bespelled (Bewitched 2) - Laura Thalassa (N) [eb] tp
  
• Beyond the Aetherial Veil (Odyssey of the Ethereal 2) - Jamie Kojola (N) [tp]
  
• Dreadful - Caitlin Rozakis (N) [tp]
  
• Evan Miller Is Waking Down (Dreambending) - Jerel Law (N) (YA) [tp]
  
• Evocation (The Summoner's Circle 1) - S.T. Gibson (N) [eb] [hc]
  
• Flawless Girls - Anna-Marie McLemore (N) (YA) [hc]
  
• Ghostdrift (The Finder Chronicles 4) - Suzanne Palmer (N) [hc]
  
• NecroTek (NecroTek 1) - Jonathan Maberry (N) [hc]
  
• Ninetails: Nine Tales - Sally Wen Mao (C) [eb] tp
  
• Shadows in the Stacks: A Horror Anthology - Vincent V. Cava, James Sabata, & Jared Sage (Editors) (A) tp
  
• Song of the Mysteries (The Wars of Light and Shadow Arc IV: Sword of the Canon 3) - Janny Wurts (N) [hc]
  
• Soul Cage (Soulbreaker 1) - L.R. Schulz (N) eb
  
• The Burning Witch 3 (The Burning Witch 3) - Delemhach (N) [tp]
  
• The Fireborne Blade (The Fireborne Blade 1) - Charlotte Bond (N) [hc]
  
• The Only Light Left Burning (All That's Left in the World 2) - Erik J. Brown (N) (YA) [hc]
  
• The Rictus Grin and Other Tales of Insanity - Erica Summers (C) [eb] tp
  
• Waking the Dead and Other Fun Activities - Casey Lyall (N) (YA) [hc]
  

May 29

• A Memory of Song: First Verse of the Last Ballad - Scott Palmer (N) eb
  
• Feral - Bryan Alaspa (N) eb
  

May 30

• A Melody of Death (Isles of Bright and Shadow 2) - C.E. Page (N) eb
  
• Dark City Rising (The Edinburgh Doctrines) - CL Jarvis (N) eb
  
• Die Young (Runeborn 1) - Morgan Shank (N) eb
  
• From the Belly - Emmett Nahil (N) [eb] tp (#ehh)
  

​
Edit1: Added in horror books listed on Emily C. Hughes' blog that I didn't already have (tag #ehh)
Edit2: Added in books from the May io9 SF/Fantasy list that I'd missed (tag #io9)
Edit3: Added in books from Rob J. Hayes' May 2024 list of self-published fantasy books, that I didn't already have (tag #rjhspb)
​
Archive
Previous "SFF books coming ..." posts have been collected here. (Thank you mods).
​
Main Sources

• ISFDB forthcoming books at https://www.isfdb.org/fc.cgi
  
• Rob J Hayes' monthly blog posting on new self-published books: https://www.robjhayes.co.uk/blog/
  
• io9's monthly list of new sci-fi and fantasy books.
  
• Horror books mentioned on Emily C. Hughes' blog: https://readjumpscares.com/
  
• Upcoming Sci-Fi & Fantasy Books listed at Risingshadow: https://www.risingshadow.net/library/comingbooks
  
• Locus Forthcoming Books https://locusmag.com/forthcomingbooks/
  
• Publisher "new" and "Coming Soon" web pages such as: https://publishing.tor.com/coming-soon/ and https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/imprint/orbit/
  
• Reviews of ARC books by various users in this sub.
  
• Other occasional posts to this sub announcing up-n-coming books.
  

Billboard Hot 100 chart

Position	Title	Artist	▲/▼	Last week	Weeks Charting	Peak
1	Too Sweet	Hozier	▲+1	2	4	1
2	Like That	Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar	▼-1	1	4	1
3	Beautiful Things	Benson Boone	-	3	13	2
4	Lose Control	Teddy Swims	-	4	36	1
5	Texas Hold 'Em	Beyonce	-	5	10	1
6	Lovin On Me	Jack Harlow	▲+1	7	23	1
7	Espresso	Sabrina Carpenter	▲+94	[FRESH]	1	7
8	We Can't Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)	Ariana Grande	-	8	6	1
9	Stick Season	Noah Kahan	▲+1	10	29	9
10	Saturn	SZA	▲+5	15	8	6
11	I Remember Everything	Zach Bryan Featuring Kacey Musgraves	▲+1	12	34	1
12	I Like The Way You Kiss Me	Artemas	▲+4	16	4	12
13	Cruel Summer	Taylor Swift	-	13	50	1
14	Type Shit	Future, Metro Boomin, Travis Scott & Playboi Carti	▼-5	9	4	2
15	Agora Hills	Doja Cat	▲+3	18	30	7
16	Greedy	Tate McRae	▼-2	14	31	3
17	Wanna Be	GloRilla & Megan Thee Stallion	▼-6	11	2	11
18	Fast Car	Luke Combs	▲+3	21	56	2
19	Snooze	SZA	▲+1	20	70	2
20	Carnival	¥$: Ye & Ty Dolla $ign Featuring Rich The Kid & Playboi Carti	▼-3	17	10	1
21	Feather	Sabrina Carpenter	▲+5	26	20	21
22	We Still Don't Trust You	Future, Metro Boomin & The Weeknd	▲+79	[FRESH]	1	22
23	Get It Sexyy	Sexyy Red	▼-1	22	5	20
24	End Of Beginning	Djo	▼-1	23	9	11
25	Redrum	21 Savage	-	25	14	5
26	Water	Tyla	▼-2	24	29	7
27	Gata Only	FloyyMenor X Cris Mj	▲+21	48	5	27
28	Austin	Dasha	▲+4	32	6	28
29	Where The Wild Things Are	Luke Combs	▲+12	41	22	26
30	Act II: Date @ 8	4Batz Featuring Drake	▲+6	36	15	7
31	Whatever She Wants	Bryson Tiller	▲+3	34	9	19
32	Yeah Glo!	GloRilla	▲+7	39	10	32
33	Never Lose Me	Flo Milli	▼-2	31	18	15
34	Man Made A Bar	Morgan Wallen Featuring Eric Church	▼-7	27	30	15
35	Made For Me	Muni Long	▼-2	33	14	20
36	A Bar Song (Tipsy)	Shaboozey	▲+65	[FRESH]	1	36
37	Cinderella	Future, Metro Boomin & Travis Scott	-	37	4	6
38	Where It Ends	Bailey Zimmerman	▲+6	44	16	32
39	Red Leather	Future, Metro Boomin & J. Cole	▲+62	[FRESH]	1	39
40	Paint The Town Red	Doja Cat	▲+6	46	37	1
41	Out Of My Hands	Future & Metro Boomin	▲+60	[FRESH]	1	41
42	Obsessed	Olivia Rodrigo	▲+1	43	4	14
43	Illusion	Dua Lipa	▲+58	[FRESH]	1	43
44	Good Luck, Babe!	Chappell Roan	▲+33	77	2	44
45	FE!N	Travis Scott Featuring Playboi Carti	▲+2	47	24	5
46	Wild Ones	Jessie Murph & Jelly Roll	▲+3	49	28	35
47	II Most Wanted	Beyonce & Miley Cyrus	▼-17	30	3	6
48	Houdini	Dua Lipa	▼-3	45	23	11
49	Slow It Down	Benson Boone	▼-9	40	4	40
50	Wildflowers And Wild Horses	Lainey Wilson	▲+5	55	12	48
51	Drink N Dance	Future & Metro Boomin	▲+50	[FRESH]	1	51
52	Get In With Me	BossMan Dlow	▲+5	57	11	49
53	Hell N Back	Bakar Featuring Summer Walker	▲+20	73	2	53
54	Jealous	Future & Metro Boomin	▲+47	[FRESH]	1	54
55	Enough (Miami)	Cardi B	▲+3	58	5	9
56	Scared To Start	Michael Marcagi	▼-2	54	9	54
57	La Diabla	Xavi	▲+7	64	18	20
58	Tell Ur Girlfriend	Lay Bankz	▲+43	[FRESH]	1	58
59	Let's Go	Key Glock	▲+40	99	6	59
60	Selfish	Justin Timberlake	▼-10	50	12	19
61	All My Life	Future, Metro Boomin & Lil Baby	▲+40	[FRESH]	1	61
62	Back Then Right Now	Tyler Hubbard	▲+24	86	5	62
63	Mmhmm	BigXthaPlug	▲+5	68	17	63
64	Bulletproof	Nate Smith	▲+30	94	2	64
65	Everybody	Nicki Minaj Featuring Lil Uzi Vert	▲+4	69	19	24
66	Outskirts	Sam Hunt	▲+8	74	6	66
67	All To Myself	Future, Metro Boomin & The Weeknd	▲+34	[FRESH]	1	67
68	Tu Name	Fuerza Regida	▲+13	81	9	66
69	Cry	Benson Boone	▼-9	60	2	60
70	One Of The Girls	The Weeknd, Jennie & Lily Rose Depp	▲+6	76	17	51
71	Show Of Hands	Future, Metro Boomin & A$AP Rocky	▲+30	[FRESH]	1	71
72	Young Metro	Future, Metro Boomin & The Weeknd	▼-16	56	4	9
73	Luv Bad Bitches	Future, Metro Boomin & Brownstone	▲+28	[FRESH]	1	73
74	23	Chayce Beckham	▼-22	52	16	45
75	Wind Up Missin' You	Tucker Wetmore	▲+17	92	3	75
76	Praise Jah In The Moonlight	YG Marley	▼-1	75	12	34
77	This Sunday	Future & Metro Boomin	▲+24	[FRESH]	1	77
78	Training Season	Dua Lipa	▼-15	63	9	27
79	Overseas	Ken Carson	▲+22	[FRESH]	1	79
80	FTCU	Nicki Minaj	▼-1	79	19	15
81	Nights Like This	Future & Metro Boomin	▲+20	[FRESH]	1	81
82	Soak City	310babii	▼-11	71	18	53
83	Tucson Too Late	Jordan Davis	▼-3	80	7	80
84	Wine Into Whiskey	Tucker Wetmore	▼-2	82	4	77
85	Halfway To Hell	Jelly Roll	▼-1	84	2	84
86	We Don't Trust You	Future & Metro Boomin	▼-25	61	4	8
87	Corazon de Piedra	Xavi	▼-9	78	4	73
88	Jolene	Beyonce	▼-37	51	3	7
89	Spin You Around (1/24)	Morgan Wallen	▼-2	87	12	24
90	Crocodile Tearz	J. Cole	▼-71	19	2	19
91	I Think I'm In Love With You	Chris Stapleton	▲+10	[FRESH]	1	91
92	Dirt Cheap	Cody Johnson	▲+9	[FRESH]	1	92
93	Bandit	Don Toliver	▼-10	83	11	38
94	Feel It	d4vd	▲+7	[FRESH]	1	94
95	Streets Made Me A King	Future & Metro Boomin	▲+6	[FRESH]	1	95
96	Home	Good Neighbours	▼-11	85	11	77
97	We Ride	Bryan Martin	-	97	3	96
98	Huntin' Wabbitz	J. Cole	▼-70	28	2	28
99	Came To The Party	Future & Metro Boomin	▲+2	[FRESH]	1	99
100	Nobody Knows My Struggle	Future & Metro Boomin	▲+1	[FRESH]	1	100

Billboard Global 200 chart (most popular songs globally)

Position	Title	Artist	▲/▼	Last week	Weeks Charting	Peak
1	Too Sweet	Hozier	▲+1	2	4	1
2	I Like The Way You Kiss Me	Artemas	▲+1	3	4	2
3	Beautiful Things	Benson Boone	▼-2	1	13	1
4	Gata Only	FloyyMenor X Cris Mj	▲+6	10	10	4
5	Lose Control	Teddy Swims	▲+2	7	31	4
6	Magnetic	ILLIT	-	6	4	6
7	Like That	Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar	▼-3	4	4	1
8	We Can't Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)	Ariana Grande	▼-3	5	6	1
9	End Of Beginning	Djo	-	9	9	3
10	Espresso	Sabrina Carpenter	▲+91	[FRESH]	1	10

Billboard 200 chart

Position	Title	Artist	Sales	Change	Last week	Weeks Charting
1	We Still Don't Trust You	Future & Metro Boomin	129,490 (2,944 pure)	--	[FRESH]	1
2	Cowboy Carter	Beyonce	99,805 (28,261 pure)	-24%	1	3
3	We Don't Trust You	Future & Metro Boomin	83,814 (336 pure)	-16%	4	4
4	One Thing At A Time	Morgan Wallen	72,214 (1,335 pure)	+1%	5	59
5	Stick Season	Noah Kahan	51,767 (10,375 pure)	+17%	8	73
6	Papercuts	Linkin Park	44,179 (21,977 pure)	--	[FRESH]	1
7	Fireworks & Rollerblades	Benson Boone	42,518 (1,629 pure)	-24%	6	2
8	SOS	SZA	40,053 (2,066 pure)	+2%	10	71
9	Dangerous: The Double Album	Morgan Wallen	39,878 (335 pure)	+2%	11	171
10	Eternal Sunshine	Ariana Grande	40,089 (4,076 pure)	-17%	7	6

Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Why is X artist higher than Y artist on the 200 chart, even though X artist sold less?
A: This is because of a discrepancy between Billboard's ranking and the ranking from the website that the sales data is scraped from
Q: Where do you get the sales data from?
A: https://hitsdailydouble.com/sales_plus_streaming
Q: What does "err" mean on the 200 chart?
A: If you are seeing "err", that means that the bot I use to gather chart data couldn't identify sales data for a particular album because of a difference in album naming between Billboard and HitsDailyDouble