#Harris’s responsibilities and lack of coverage

[in-sightpublishing]

Ask A Genius 996: Amount, Degree, and Styles, of Lying in Politicians and Tech Titans

Author(s): Rick Rosner and Scott Douglas Jacobsen Publication (Outlet/Website): Ask A Genius Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2024/07/02 Rick Rosner, American Television Writer, www.rickrosner.org Scott Douglas Jacobsen, Independent Journalist, www.in-sightpublishing.com Rick Rosner: It is four or five days since the debate between Trump and Biden, in which Biden did poorly. He looked old, his…

[grits-galraisedinthesouth]

Polishing a Markled Turd 💩

"...the British Press Said that..." Puff Piece written by "Forbes" reporter who covers ENTERTAINMENT trends. Conor Murray was tasked to submit a puff piece using a "Forbes" byline: Markle’s ‘With Love, Meghan’ Renewed For Another Season—Despite Low Review Ranking

Meghan Markle and her Spare blame the United Kingdom their disastrous Netflix performance.

Mar 7, 2025 Meghan Markle’s new lifestyle Netflix series, “With Love, Meghan,” will return for a second season despite a dismal response from critics, as the series places in the top 10 of Netflix shows on the streaming platform Friday.

With Love, Meghan," a lifestyle series for Netflix, has been met with a negative critical reception. “With Love, Meghan” premiered Tuesday on Netflix, featuring eight episodes of the Duchess of Sussex inviting guests to her California home, where she cooks and engages with guests in homemaking projects. The series will return for a second season, both Netflix and Markle confirmed in Instagram posts on Friday. The renewal comes as Markle’s show has been roasted by critics, particularly in the United Kingdom, leaving it with just a 28% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and an even worse 18% audience score (though the latter system is notoriously easy to game). “With Love, Meghan” ranks as Netflix’s No. 7 show in the United States on Friday, according to the streaming service’s daily charts.

Chief Critics: Markle’s show has been torched by critics since its debut, especially in England—where Markle remains a divisive figure after she decamped the country with her husband, Prince Harry, stepping away from their royal duties—with British newspapers:

The Guardian (1 of her Meghan Markle's favorite sources)

The Independent both giving the series a one-star rating. The Independent called the series “queasy and exhausting” and like a “millennial blog come to life.”

Variety (since when is Variety British) said Markle appears “unwilling to step outside the role of perpetual A student” and “lacks similar competence” to lifestyle gurus Martha Stewart and Ina Garten.

Key Background: On “With Love, Meghan,” Markle invites guests to her home that include actress-writer Mindy Kaling, her former “Suits” co-star Abigail Spencer and celebrity chefs Roy Choi and Alice Waters. The series is one of many media ventures she and her husband have undertaken since leaving their royal duties in 2020. Harry’s blockbuster memoir, “Spare,” became the fastest-selling nonfiction book ever. The couple signed a deal with Netflix (Megafestingly) reportedly worth $100 million, for which they have produced five shows, including the 2022 “Harry & Meghan” docuseries, which was a ratings hit but prompted a mixed response from critics. Markle also hosted a short-lived podcast for Spotify, “Archetypes,” which lasted for 12 episodes before she parted ways with the streaming platform. Spotify’s head of podcasts Bill Simmons slammed Harry and Markle after her podcast ended, calling them “grifters.” actually he called them "fu-ing GRIFTERS"

Further Reading: Meghan Markle’s ‘With Love, Meghan’ Roasted By Critics—The Royal Couple’s Latest Media Venture Struggle (Forbes)

Conor Murray is a reporter covering trends in entertainment and culture. He is based in Jersey City and joined Forbes in 2022. Murray has covered the messy rollout for Kanye West's latest album, the Stanley water bottle craze and right-wing backlash against companies deemed "woke." He previously covered billionaires with the Forbes wealth team and covered pop culture and TikTok trends for NBC News. He graduated with a degree in political science from the University of Pennsylvania in 2022. Follow Murray for continued coverage of social media trends, celebrity controversies and the movie and music industries. 

[justinspoliticalcorner]

David Badash at NCRM:

As the devastation from Hurricane Helene became increasingly apparent over the weekend, MAGA loyalists were falsely blaming the U.S. federal government, Vice President Kamala Harris, and President Joe Biden of ignoring the victims and refusing to provide critical resources. As critics called out their lies, one fascism and authoritarianism expert accused pro-Trump social media accounts linking Ukraine aid to Helene assistance of spreading Russian propaganda.

‘We’re not leaving until the job is done,” President Biden vowed Monday morning in a White House address (video below), saying he expects to tour the areas devastated by Helene this week, likely Wednesday or Thursday—but not until first responders are able to do their work without his presence being “disruptive.” “I’ve been told that if we disrupt, if I did it right now, we will not do that at the risk of diverting or delaying any response assets needed to deal with this crisis.” The President then detailed the scope of the federal government’s response. “I and my team are in constant contact with governors, mayors and local members. Head of FEMA, Ann Griswold, is on the ground now in North Carolina. She’s going to stay in Asheville, and that place of reason for the foreseeable future, there’s been reports of over 100 dead and the consequence of the storm, and there are reports about 600 people unaccounted for because they can’t be contacted. God willing they’re alive, but there’s no way to contact them again because of the lack of cell phone coverage.”

“I directed my team to provide every available resource as fast as possible to their communities, to rescue, recover and to begin rebuilding,” Biden said. He noted that FEMA, the Federal Communications Commission, the National Guard, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Department of Defense are on the ground.

“So far, that’s over 3600 personnel deployed. That number is growing by the day.”

“I quickly approved requests from governors of Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and Virginia and Alabama for an emergency declaration. And I approved additional requests for the governors of North Carolina, Florida, South Carolina, and for disaster declaration to pay for debris removal, provide financial assistance directly to survivors. FEMA and Small Business Administration are there to help the residents whose homes and businesses were literally destroyed, washed away or blown away, and the federal search and rescue teams have been working side by side with state and local officials and partners in very treacherous conditions to find those who are missing and they’ll not rest until everyone’s accounted for.” “Your nation has your back, and the Biden Harris administration will be there until the job is done,” the President promised. He also suggested he may ask Congress to return from its extended recess to approve additional funding for the areas devastated by Hurricane Helene.

MAGA propagandists repeat Kremlin talking points to falsely insinuate that President Joe Biden and VP Kamala Harris are “ignoring” Hurricane Helene and that Ukrainian aid is getting priority over American citizens.

The fact is that President Biden and VP Harris are doing everything possible to help out those affected in Helene’s path, including by immediately declaring disaster areas that were impacted.

Both Harris and Biden are expected to tour storm-damaged areas later this week, but not until first responders are able to help without draining critical resources.

[evidence-based-activism]

US Election 2024

I was going to answer each of the asks I received about this topic individually, but they rapidly multiplied. As such, I will simply address the main points of the asks in this post.

Why did Trump win the election?

The answer to this is multi-factorial and complicated. I have seen many posts suggest that Harris "had just done/not done X" then she would have won. It's very appealing to many of us, to think that this loss was the result of some specific misstep, that it will be simple and easy to correct this mistake in the future. It's comforting and easy and wrong.

There is no single factor we can point to that will explain Trump's win or Harris' loss. Many people have tried to enumerate the many contributing issues that contributed to this result, although, frankly, I find even these more complex discussions to be overly simplistic. These factors include anti-immigration sentiments, economic dissatisfaction, and a widespread desire for disruptive change to political processes [1]. Sexism and racism also played a significant role [2].

Importantly, these factors diverted support from swing voters and some people who were expected to vote democrat, which was crucial – particularly in the vital swing states. The fact that a republican administration will not truly benefit many of these individuals is irrelevant to this analysis. When people are dissatisfied with political, social, or economic conditions they blame the people who are currently "in charge" whether or not they are truly responsible for the conditions or not.

This trend has been seen worldwide this year, with incumbents everywhere losing elections or suffering setbacks [3]. Notably, this was not isolated to either side of the political spectrum; both left-wing and right-wing incumbents lost to challenging parties. This all takes place against a background of widespread distrust and dissatisfaction in democratic institutions, substantial economic difficulties, and widening political polarization.

Biden took control of the White House in the middle of a pandemic, during a time of rapid and significant inflation. I personally believe his office has handled these crises reasonably well. (I also think the lack of publicity on the positive policy changes made by his administration played into this year's result. I mention this in my post urging people to vote democrat.) But for many voters, all that concerns them is the fact they personally are worse off than they were before. (Never mind the fact that they would likely be similarly or even more worse off had Trump won in 2020.)

They want change and believe that Trump will deliver that to them. Simultaneously, many republican voters want to resist change in the institutions that benefit them (e.g., racial and gender hierarchies, organized religion, etc.). This is also underlied by a desire to maintain or improve their personal circumstances.

To be very clear though, this is still only a surface analysis of the factors that culminated in this result. I could write a book on how this came about; I would not be surprised if someone out there is writing a book on how this came about.

So, no, I don't believe that if Harris "had just done/not done X" she would have won. I also don't think this means that she personally was a bad choice for the democratic candidate.

Are young men more conservative?

The other topic I've been asked a lot about is the data showing young men are swinging right and if/how women have played role in this shift.

First, there is definitely a political gap between men and women, with men voting more right wing than left wing [4]. However, this gap is not limited to young men and women; there was an approximately 10 percentage point gap between the proportion of men and women who voted for Trump or Harris for each age groups.

This is based on data from AP Vote Cast, which extends the limited exit poll methodology (e.g., lack of coverage for early/mail in voters, limited state coverage, etc.). That being said, these results are also generally true for the widely referenced exit polls [5]. There was one difference that was larger – 13% – for votes for Harris in the youngest age. Notably, this was not accompanied by larger difference in support for Trump in this age group; instead more men in this age group voted for another candidate. That being said, it's possible – even likely – that this difference is an artifact of the methodological limitations of exit polls.

All of this is to indicate that young men are not uniquely more conservative than young women in America. Instead, men are consistently more conservative than women, across age groups. And this is by no means a new phenomenon; sex differences in political affiliation has been fairly consistent since at least 1994 [6].

There has been a rightward shift in men's – and not women's – political affiliation if we look back to the 1950s [7]. This data demonstrates that women have maintained a fairly consistent split between democrats/republicans over time. In contrast, men's affiliation with the republican party has risen and their affiliation with the democrat part has fallen since between 10 to 20 percentage points over the past 70 years.

However, we should note here that these differences do not account for rightward/leftward shifts in party policy. And there is evidence that – at least the politicians representing – the parties have become more liberal and more conservative over time [8]. But this is, again, a shift that has been taking place over decades.

All of this is to indicate that the current popular belief that young men in America are "suddenly" becoming more conservative or being radicalized is not substantiated by representative data. There is evidence of a gradual rightward policy shift in the republican party and in men's political affiliation, but this has been occurring gradually over many decades. In particular, the gender gap in party affiliation has been stable now for several decades.

Women are not responsible for men's (voting) choices.

And here I should make note of the fact that, even if men had suddenly started voting conservative, it would still not be women's responsibility.

The most common talking point I see is that men are somehow "being radicalized" as a result of "the male loneliness epidemic", so allow me to reiterate that there is no uniquely male loneliness crisis. There is a general loneliness epidemic; that is, one that affects women and men equally.

Somehow, despite this, women have managed to avoid "being radicalized" en masse to conservative ideology.

Somehow, women have avoided "being radicalized" en masse despite millennia of often violent oppression, isolation, and rejection.

If women have managed this, without any great social movement oriented towards coddling their sense of isolation or devoted to "loving femaleness", then men can, should, and must do the same. This over-emphasis on men's feelings, the infantilizing suggestion that they "just can't help" their beliefs and actions, is not doing them any favors. Instead it is contributing to very culture of entitlement and privilege that instigated and underlie these beliefs in the first place.

And finally, even if men truly were being radicalized out of a sense of loneliness or social rejection, women should no more be held responsible for "de-radicalizing" them than black people should be held responsible for "de-radicalizing" white supremacists.

Conclusion

To sum up:

The 2024 US election results were borne of many factors.

Men have been more conservative than women for decades. The gender gap in politics is not a new phenomenon.

Women are still not responsible for men's choices, including their voting choices.

I hope this answers everyone who's sent me an ask about these topics!

References below the cut:

Potts, M. (2024, November 14). Why voters chose Trump. ABC News; ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/538/voters-chose-trump/story?id=115827243

Geiger, J. R., & Reny, T. T. (2024). Embracing the Status Hierarchy: How Immigration Attitudes, Prejudice, and Sexism Shaped Non-White Support for Trump. Perspectives on Politics, 1-16.

Clancy, R. W., Moira Fagan and Laura. (2024, December 11). Global elections in 2024: What we learned in a year of political disruption. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2024/12/11/global-elections-in-2024-what-we-learned-in-a-year-of-political-disruption/

Interactive: How key groups of Americans voted in 2024. (2024, November 7). PBS News. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/interactive-how-key-groups-of-americans-voted-in-2024-according-to-ap-votecast

National exit polls: Election 2024 results. (2024, December 4). https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/exit-polls

Nadeem, R. (2024, April 9). 3. Partisanship by gender, sexual orientation, marital and parental status. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2024/04/09/partisanship-by-gender-sexual-orientation-marital-and-parental-status/

Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP). 2024. “Gender Differences in Partisan Identification and Presidential Performance Ratings.” New Brunswick, NJ: Center for American Women and Politics, Eagleton Institute of Politics, Rutgers University-New Brunswick. https://cawp.rutgers.edu/gender-differences-partisan-identification-and-presidential-performance-ratings

DeSilver, D. (2022, March 10). The polarization in today’s Congress has roots that go back decades. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/03/10/the-polarization-in-todays-congress-has-roots-that-go-back-decades/

[darksidenews]

The future of Medicare Part D healthcare system is being destroyed. This is not leadership; this is cowardice!

The Biden-Harris administration has chosen to betray the very people they claim to represent. With the election looming, they have shamelessly forced hardworking taxpayers to bail out the Medicare program that they themselves have destroyed. This is a blatant disregard for the trust placed in them by the American people.

Medicare is a lifeline for millions of Americans, particularly senior citizens who rely on it for their healthcare needs. Yet, instead of taking responsibility for their actions and rectifying the situation, Biden and Harris have chosen to throw taxpayer dollars at the problem in an attempt to hide their incompetence. It is a slap in the face to those who have worked tirelessly and paid their taxes faithfully.

It is truly astonishing how these politicians can turn on the very people who put them in power. The Medicare program, which once provided essential healthcare coverage to 67.3 million Americans, has now been left in shambles by the very individuals who were supposed to protect it. Senior citizens, who make up 80 percent of those enrolled in Medicare Part D, are left feeling betrayed and abandoned.

The audacity of Biden and Harris to prioritize their own political survival over the well-being of the American people is nothing short of disgraceful. It is a clear indication of their lack of leadership and their willingness to sacrifice the needs of the many for their own personal gain. The fallout from this betrayal will not be forgotten, and come election time, the American people will not be fooled by their deceitful tactics.

Paul T., Opinion Journalist and Editor of Bad Bird News

[fadingprincepeace]

The Evolution of Patient Safety Protocols in Response to Medical Malpractice

Introduction

The issue of medical malpractice is a critical concern in the healthcare industry, continuously impacting patient safety and the trust between patients and medical Nursing negligence lawyer professionals. As the landscape of medical practice evolves, so too do the protocols aimed at ensuring patient safety and minimizing the risk of malpractice. This article delves into the evolution of patient safety protocols in response to medical malpractice cases, exploring historical contexts, current practices, and future trends.

Understanding Medical Malpractice

Before discussing the evolution of patient safety protocols, it is essential to define what constitutes medical malpractice. Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare professional fails to provide the standard of care expected in their field, leading to patient injury or harm. Common scenarios include misdiagnosis, surgical errors, or improper treatment procedures.

To illustrate, consider a case where a patient suffers from a heart condition that goes undiagnosed due to an error made by a physician. This failure not only affects the patient's immediate health outcomes but can also lead to long-term consequences, amplifying the importance of strict safety protocols.

Key Components of Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice cases generally hinge on four critical elements:

Duty: The healthcare provider owed a duty to the patient.Breach: The provider breached that duty through negligence or omission.Injury: The patient suffered an injury as a direct result of that breach.Caused Damage: The patient incurred damages, such as pain and suffering, medical expenses, and lost income, due to the injury.

The Historical Context of Medical Malpractice

The concept of medical malpractice has evolved significantly since it was first recognized in the legal system. In the early 20th century, patients often lacked the knowledge and resources to challenge the medical community, which resulted in minimal accountability for healthcare providers.

The Early 1900s

During this period, malpractice was often associated with heinous acts or egregious errors. Legal standards were lax, and patients rarely received compensation for injuries sustained from medical negligence. It wasn’t until cases like Hoffman v. Board of Education in 1928 and Harris v. McAlister in 1931 that courts began to recognize patterns of negligence.

The Growth of Malpractice Insurance

As awareness best practices for malpractice lawsuits of medical malpractice grew, so did the necessity for malpractice insurance. By the mid-20th century, the demand for insurance coverage surged as more practitioners faced lawsuits. This development acted as a dual-edged sword: While it protected healthcare providers, it also unintentionally fueled defensive medicine practices, where doctors performed extra tests and procedures to protect themselves from litigation.

The Rise of Patient Safety Protocols

The increase in medical malpractice litigation and growing patient awareness prompted healthcare providers to implement robust patient safety protocols. The evolution of these protocols reflects shifts in societal expectations, medical knowledge, and legal imperatives.

The 1990s: A Turning Point

The 1990s marked a signi

[nationalpolitic]

What to Expect from the 2024 VP Debate Between Walz and Vance

The highly anticipated VP debate between Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Ohio Senator JD Vance is set for tomorrow, marking a significant moment in the lead-up to the November election. This event serves as the only scheduled vice-presidential debate, providing both candidates a crucial platform to present their visions to the nation.

Debate Details

The debate will begin at 9 p.m. ET and last for 90 minutes, mirroring the duration of the previous presidential debates. It takes place just three weeks after former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris faced off in their own debate, highlighting the increasing importance of vice-presidential candidates in shaping electoral outcomes.

Candidates’ Backgrounds

While Walz has an extensive political background, many voters outside Minnesota may still be unfamiliar with him. His partnership with Harris aims to boost their appeal among a wider electorate. Before joining the Democratic ticket, Walz had a long career in politics, serving as a U.S. Representative. In contrast, Vance, the author of the bestselling memoir Hillbilly Elegy, was first elected to office in 2022 and has quickly risen in prominence, especially after being chosen by Trump as his running mate. Vance’s relatively new presence on the national stage makes this debate particularly pivotal for him.

Moderation and Format

This evening’s debate will be moderated by CBS Evening News anchor Norah O’Donnell and Face the Nation’s Margaret Brennan, ensuring a balanced discussion. It will occur at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City, a location that has significance given Trump’s historical ties to the area. Both campaigns have agreed to strict debate rules, which include two four-minute commercial breaks and no audience present to create a more focused environment. Each candidate will have two minutes to respond to questions, with an option for a one-minute rebuttal. Unlike presidential debates, candidates’ microphones will remain active during their opponent’s responses, allowing for more direct engagement.

Candidate Preparation and Strategy

Candidates must refrain from bringing pre-written notes or props. They will begin the debate in the order of their party’s incumbency, with Walz taking the stage first. Vance secured the opportunity to deliver his closing statement second after winning a virtual coin toss. The lack of audience involvement and the absence of pre-shared questions aim to foster a more authentic dialogue between the candidates.

How to Watch

For those wishing to watch, CBS will air the debate live on its broadcast stations starting at 8 p.m. ET. Additionally, viewers can stream the event on the CBS News app, Paramount+, and YouTube, ensuring easy access for a wider audience. Debate coverage on CBS News 24/7 will begin at 4 p.m. ET, providing viewers with insights and analysis leading up to the main event. As the 2024 election approaches, this VP debate represents a critical moment for both candidates to define their stances and connect with potential voters. The outcome could significantly influence their campaigns, setting the tone for the final stretch before the election. With both candidates eager to present their perspectives, tomorrow’s debate will be essential viewing for anyone interested in the upcoming electoral landscape. This expanded version includes subheadings and additional context, making it more informative while still adhering to your specified guidelines. Let me know if you need further adjustments! Read the full article

[ellieauthor]

As her charity event draws to a close, Hermione is tired, but pleased. 

The crowd is larger than she’d dared to hope for, and heavily engaged, friends and admirers cheering and whistling with each new announcement. The night has gone smoothly, no hitches or scandals. And with one bachelor left, the rest should be easy.

She smiles to herself from where she stands just off-stage as the inevitable crowd favorite is announced.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our final lot for tonight...Draco Malfoy!”

He walks onstage with faltering steps, handsome as ever but lacking his usual cock-sure attitude. The man is nervous.

She feels a flash of something. Is it…pity?

They’d come up with a strategy for tonight, and it’d gone almost exactly according to plan.

Almost.

Ginny had won Blaise easily, avoiding any need to share her boyfriend. 

Theo had (dramatically) over-bid on Harry, happy to publicly embarrass his husband for a good cause. Plus, he knew the large sum would be good publicity for his firm.

But then Pansy, meant to protect Draco from misguided witches with delusions of betrothal contracts, had gotten…distracted.

Viktor Krum offering to participate had been a boon for Hermione’s Charity Bachelor Auction. The addition of such a high-profile celebrity brought in significant interest and advanced press coverage, and Hermione had known Viktor would be a good sport about the whole thing. It had been an easy decision with no foreseeable downside.

Until a glassy-eyed Pansy Parkinson had used all the galleons she’d brought to bid on Malfoy to secure a date with the international Quidditch star, leaving the tall, sought-after blonde on stage looking vulnerable and unsure. 

Hermione offers him an encouraging smile. 

He grimaces in return.

It’ll be fine, though. Right?

It has to be.

Her event can’t be the thing that forces him back into marriage dates after years of successful avoidance. Narcissa would be over the moon, of course. But Hermione would feel terrible.

She breathes a sigh of relief when Padma, a mutual friend with a known preference for witches, bids. A platonic date would solve all of their problems.

Her relief is short-lived.

The crowd parts to reveal a determined-looking Astoria Greengrass raising a paddle in response.

Malfoy’s panicked eyes find Hermione’s.

Please, he mouths. Desperate.

Her heart aches for him.

He’s a good friend, has been since eighth year.

He’s also a great backup date for functions, far more attentive than any of her exes. He has impeccable manners, grabbing her drinks and anticipating her needs before she has a chance to ask for anything. And he’s particularly great at subverting awkward conversations.

He’s gone to dozens of stuffy affairs, and he’s never asked for anything in return. 

Until now.

Ron, who’d volunteered to MC when Lav refused to let him participate as a bachelor, calls for final bids.

Hermione sighs.

It’s not smart. Instead of the cause, this will be the story in tomorrow’s Prophet. 

But he’s begging her with those sad, puppy-dog eyes.

Resigned, she steps onto the stage and raises her paddle.

A hush falls over the auditorium, a sudden blanket of near-silence. 

Through the quiet, someone in the crowd actually gasps. Which is ridiculous; their friendship has been well-documented. Hermione suppresses the urge to roll her eyes.

Astoria keeps bidding, and so does Hermione. In minutes they’ve promised more than the event had previously earned twice over.

Hermione is going to murder Pansy.

When they hit a landmark sum, Astoria finally backs off, and Hermione is pronounced the winner to a tittering crowd.

She walks on stage, giving Malfoy a perfunctory embrace.

“You’re paying me back,” she whispers.

He returns it, gripping tightly, wrapping her in a warm embrace. A warm, friendly embrace. “Every knut,” he agrees, his voice a low growl. Not gratitude, but something else.

A shiver travels up her spine. Which is silly, of course. This is Draco Malfoy. Her friend.

“We don’t have to go on the date,” she says as they’re engulfed by the din of the applauding crowd. “I know the organizer, she’ll let it slide.” See? It’s funny. One big joke, nothing more.

“Granger.” It sounds like a warning, but he won’t let her pull back. “I’m taking you on the best date of your life.”

He kisses her then, swallowing her confusion, and it’s even better than she remembers.

Before they were friends, there’d been that one kiss that one night that neither of them had talked about after.

The one she thinks of sometimes after a bad day, or a bad date, or a particularly long dry spell.

Blood pounds in her ears as the crowd responds enthusiastically to the new development. Hermione looks around wildly–at Ron, in the announcer’s stand. Out at the crowd. Anywhere but Draco’s intense eyes, trained on her.

From the back of the room, Pansy gives her the kind of encouraging glare only she is capable of.

In fact, all of their friends are watching them, rather expectantly.

She finally meets his gaze, and finds him grinning. “I don’t understand.”

“Parks’s been hot for Krum for ages. She begged me to let her out of our deal,” he says, with a carefully practiced shrug. “Seemed like a good time to try something I’ve wanted for ages, too.”

“...And you just left it up to chance?” she asks, suspiciously.

“Of course not,” he scoffs, leading her from the spotlight as though she’d already agreed to the date. “Who do you think talked Astoria into bidding?”

A Malfoy always gets what he wants.

[sleep-i-ness]

Unwelcome Intruders (James Potter x reader)

Synopsis: A quiet wake-up of morning bliss with your boyfriend is rudely interrupted.

Content warnings: none

HARRY POTTER MASTERLIST | GENERAL MASTERLIST

“Love?” James brushed his lips against your forehead as you lay against his warm chest. You hummed in response, running your fingers over his ribs. You could never imagine not loving the man who lay underneath you, the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled just at you, his laughter and soft yet almost raspy morning voice.

He pressed another tender kiss to your hairline, morning light breaking through the crack in your living room curtains and illuminating his soft curls. The sofa was tight for the two of you, his arm wrapped securely around your waist as you curled into him.

“I was thinking of making breakfast-”

You cut him off with a shake of your head as you buried your face in his chest, refusing to get up quite yet.

“We have to get up at some point.”

You groaned, looking up at him as pounding filled your head. “Jamie, if you wanted me up at a decent time and in a good mood, you shouldn’t have encouraged me to do 20 shots of Firewhisky last night.”

He laughed, the sound vibrating in his chest and through you as you nestled closer. “I’ll make you breakfast.”

You pursed your lips. “Pancakes?”

“Anything for you.”

“Okay, but stay for a bit. I just want to cuddle.”

James chuckled, tightening his arms as you began to slip over the edge of the sofa. You hooked a leg between his, pressing your lips to his chest. He rested his chin on the top of your head and you huffed a sigh, wriggling your way up his body just to resolve the height difference issue.

You had a clatter in the corridor outside your apartment and rolled your eyes. Your neighbours did not know how to be quiet. James had suggested giving them a taste of their own medicine when you had discovered that your bed liked to bang against the wall, but you had just decided to ignore it in the end.

Returning your head to his shoulder, you murmured something about your love for him, eyes already drifting shut again. James brushed a strand of hair out of your face, and you could picture the soppy look on his face without even looking at him.

The door burst open with a bang, and you jolted out of James’ arms. Remus, Sirius, and Peter strode in as if they owned the place, settling down on your other sofa. You groaned.

“Oi, could you give us a moment?” James sat up, yanking on his trousers with a scowl.

You wrapped the blanket tightly around you, using it as a coverage as Sirius dragged his fingers across your mantlepiece, fiddling with the trinkets there.

Remus turned to you with a soft smile, completely ignoring your very uncomfortable lack of clothing. “How are you, Y/N? How are your parents?”

“Good, they’re good, thank you.” Your returning smile ended up coming out as more of a grimace as you shifted the blanket around to completely cover you. You had never felt quite so exposed in front of James’ friends before.

“Can you give us a moment?” James interrupted, having managed to pull his trousers on with one final huff.

Sirius scoffed, running a hand through his hair. “Well, if you had looked at the mirror at all this morning, we wouldn’t be here.”

Oh, so that’s what the muffled yelling from the other room had been.

“We’ve got news.” Peter chipped in from his seat next to Remus, fiddling with the tassels on one of your cushions. “Kingsley’s got us job interviews at the Ministry. Says it will get us straight into the field if we do well.”

“No fucking way.” James yanked a shirt over his head, arms tangling in the fabric. You laughed at your boyfriend, tucking the blanket under your arms as you got up to help him pull it on. He struggled as you tugged the fabric over his head, and you were tempted to just leave him there, completely bound and sightless. But you couldn’t bring yourself to damper his excitement like that.

“Jamie, how do you still not know how to dress yourself-”

He hushed you, tapping you lightly on the nose and laughing at your pout. You furrowed your brows, jutting out your bottom lip and he pressed a brief kiss to your lips to brush away the expression.

“Prongs, the interview’s at 10.” Sirius interrupted, and you wrinkled your nose. Was there no privacy even within your home?

James glanced at the clock, eyes widening almost comically as he caught sight of the time.

“Shit, let’s go.” He hopped around, laces in hand as he attempted to tie his shoe whilst balancing on one foot. “Y/N, love, I’ll see you later.”

You waved him off with a little laugh, leaning your head back against the sofa as your front door shut.

So much for quiet morning domesticity.

-

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join my taglist

[berlinini]

Some Final Thoughts About Larries

I started drafting this as a big response to previous asks about Larries, which I have finally answered individually here and here and here (or simply peruse my larries tag for more discourse).

However there is one point that I would like to emphasize and that I did not have the opportunity to discuss in replying the asks, which I could title "My Main Beef With Larries" and it's the following: How Larries downplay Louis' musical ambitions and blindly ignore his career sabotage.

(putting a cut because this is proper ~discourse~)

Based on the obvious disparities between Louis and Harry's situations, and looking at the abnormalities of Louis' current professional situation, it's pretty clear that Louis' career has been sabotaged, but to come to that conclusion there is a big question mark as for why... why would there be only one member of 1D allowed to have a post-"hiatus" success (hello halo!!!), why was Louis the obvious competition to Harry (hello, Louis being the fans' favourite), why was Louis signed to Sony while Liam and Niall were let go, why was Larry still something that had to be controlled by Sony - to both shape the narrative to milk the fans' money while at the same time making sure that it does not threaten's Harry career -, why was Louis' "first" album scrapped, why did he agree to do the X-Factor, why was Walls' promo so different from Fine Line's, why is Louis still not allowed proper promo after having left Syco, why is there no press coverage of the Away From Home Festival...

All these questions kinda bring us to Harry Styles and so how does one reconcile these facts with the idea that H&L are in a relationship? Well pretty easy!!! You simply accept the "fact" that Louis doesn't actually want a solo career, that he's more comfortable working behind the scenes. That's why he's launching a management company! He's not interested in having his songs played on the radio! He just wants to stay home and watch Harry win a Grammy on television! He simply wants to travel the world for HSLOT mere days after his biggest professional event of the year!

All of this is so far from the truth... Louis was excited about the "first" album back in 2018, Louis has talked in details about the making off of Walls (album), Louis said many times he couldn't wait to go on tour, it had been years and performing live is one of his favourite part of being a musician... Louis crafted an amazing, coherent album, an MV trilogy, a fine-tuned livestream and an amazing festival. Louis has persisted ALL THIS TIME against all the roadblocks he's encountered, all these "high walls that never broke his soul". He literally said "Too many times in my career have I had to pick myself up and go “right let’s go again”" in the AFH doc. A documentary about how he created from the ground up a free festival for fans - because he loves live music so much. A Festival with 8,5K attendees, that he recorded so thousands of fans could watch his performance from all over the world.

Yet this idea that he doesn't want a solo career is SO INGRAINED in fandom and it's actually tragic because it's the complete opposite. And it makes me so mad. I would simply ask that Larries understand how, in adhering to this idea, they are doing Sony's job of burying Louis as a serious solo artist. How accepting the messed up situation of how of his career is handled without asking any questions and how focusing on Louis' personal life is doing him the greatest disservice.

Louis is here to be a solo artist, his love and commitment towards music is evident and he's been fighting for a fair chance at a solo career in less than ideals conditions. If you're not here to focus on that, if you're only "supporting" him for being half of Larry Stylinson, for being Harry Style's loving partner and secret stay-at-home-husband, then at least admit it - stop spreading false information about his lack of musical ambitions. Also kindly fuck off.

Thank you for coming to my TedTalk.

[megandzane]

"Her former friend claimed Meghan had Diana’s biography" I'm Meghan's age, and I went through a Diana phase that lasted about 1.5 - 2 years, and then I ignored the royals completely for 20-plus years. If she did have a Diana phase, it was probably something similar. After 20 years, I didn't know anything about them until Meghan, and I assumed they'd fixed their problems like the queen said they would in that speech. If you don't pay attention for that long, you're starting from scratch IMO.

Seriously. The lack of comprehension is astounding. I know a lot of people who loved Diana but never payed attention to the others ( I’m that way with Harry and Meghan). And many people checked out and forgot about that family all together after Diana. Especially Americans because we don’t see coverage of the royals. Aside from weddings and baby announcements, we don’t see or hear about them.

Meghan was only like ...15 when Diana died. Even if she said “ I want to be like her” “ or “ I adore her” she could easily have beem talking about the humanitarian side and the way Diana helped others. Meghan had a social conscious very early on. And Idk if it’s an American thing , but I’ve often heard humanitarian figures being used as euphemisms for someone who does good. Hell people often disparagingly call women who want to do good “ mother Theresa”

My mom adored Diana, she said she sobbed when the news came out that princess Diana had died. She’s always said the royal family’s coldness in response to Diana’s death is what did it for her. But My mom said she thought the rf had at least tried to learn from their mistakes, as it had been 24 years, but Meghan is proof that the’ve learned absolutely nothing.

I don’t know what Meghan was thinking getting involved in that family. But I do know that there was a lot of money spent to rehab the royal’s image and clean up their misdeeds. For someone who doesn’t closely follow the brf, they could’ve appeared to have changed.

[adashofniallandasprinkleoflunacy]

harry walking around in nothing but the fishnets and pearl necklace🥴

He’d catch you gawking and just stand there with his arms folded across his thick chest, one set of fingers toying with the pearls as the other rests against the inside of his elbow, tapping nonchalantly. The ends of his plump lips jump upwards, the matte, dull brick red lipstick absorbing the faint lighting of the room. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you that staring’s rude?”

You swallow heavily, fidgeting with the hem of your hoodie, voice soft and timid. “You really expect me not to stare when you look that good? You could’ve warned me that the outfit is barely an outfit before you offered to show me.”

“That would’ve ruined the surprise.”

Harry shifts his stance and you immediately glue your sight to the ground, feeling too embarrassed due to his lack of proper coverage. You’d seen him bare plenty of times before, but there was something way more erotic about this specific instance— the concept that the fishnet stockings are supposed to be clothes but in reality do nothing to cover up his groin makes the whole situation feel so much dirtier.

Your response to his quip is a gentle mumble under your breath. “Yeah, but at least it would’ve saved my underwear.”

“What was that, sweetheart?”

“Nothing.”

Harry has drifted closer now, his body a foot away from yours, the buttery hue of the lamp making his lightly tanned skin glow warmly. He looks so beautiful in the unorthodox piece, the fern tattoos on his lower abdomen and the tiger inking on his thigh peeking through the holes of the stockings, making your mouth water.

You suddenly feel his touch tickling at the underside of your face, his index finger snuggling below the curve of your chin and tilting your eyes upwards to level his. The emerald hue is deep and complex, electric with a certain type of self-aware confidence that makes your stomach lurch. He looks incredible and he fucking knows it.

“Y’like it, then? Think it’ll look good on the cover?” His thumb plays with your slightly quivering bottom lip, the tip of his dark pink tongue lulling over his Cupid’s Bow almost hungrily.

“I think you’re gonna look fucking perfect.”

His tongue halts it’s lazy movement, eyes going half-lidded at the stroke to his ego. “Mean it?”

Your jaw clenches at the way his irises are flirting over your tense body. “Of course I do— you know I do, you dick.”

One of his thick brows jerks up at your dig. “That was kinda rude. Hurt me a little.”

You snort at his expense, trying to ignore the way his skin feels searing hot against your own. “S’what you get for being such a narcissist.”

“A little narcissism never hurt anybody.”

The hand that is rubbing at the pearls falls away out of sight and a force suddenly yanks you forward into his nearly naked body, your center pressing again his own. You can feel him starting the bulge within the fishnet stockings.

Harry hovers his lips over yours teasingly, nose brushing across your cheek temptingly. The tension between your bodies is so heavy you can feel its weight in your lungs.

His voice melts into your ears, deep and syrupy like molasses.

“Get on your knees. We’re gonna put this skimpy outfit to good use.”

[causeiwanttoandican]

Thank you Spiked!

Megxit was not driven by racism

Why are liberals so determined to turn the princess into a victim?

Tom Slater

First they said Brexit was caused by racism. Now they’re saying Megxit was caused by racism.

By ‘they’, I mean the liberal-left commentariat, the people who hate Brexit, hate ordinary people, and have for some reason grown to love our departing royals, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

This past 24 hours they have closed ranks around the couple – who announced yesterday that they plan to keep their royal titles (and most of their royal income) but leave behind their royal duties – like some woke version of the Queen’s Guard.

They have chastised anyone outraged by the staggering entitlement shown by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who have essentially said that they want the status but none of the responsibilities of monarchy. They insist that the poor couple have been driven out by racism.

British author Afua Hirsch, writing in the New York Times, decries the ‘racist treatment of Meghan’ in the press. She says it is hardly a surprise that Markle has walked away from a nation with a prime minister ‘whose track record includes overtly racist statements’ and a ‘Brexit project linked to native nationalism’.

Of course, Boris Johnson has no such track record and the only people linking Brexit to native nationalism are elitist upper-crust Remainers like Hirsch. But no matter. Why let reality spoil the narrative?

These claims made about the ‘racist’ treatment of Meghan at the hands of the British press are incredibly thin. The same non-examples are just recycled over and over again. You’ve probably seen them quoted (out of context) a thousand times.

There’s that Mail piece from 2016, when Harry and Meghan were first dating, that said she was ‘(almost) straight outta Compton’ – at the time Markle’s mother lived in nearby Crenshaw, LA. Hirsch says this was an attempt to link Meghan with ‘racialised forms of crime’, ie gangs.

That’s one hell of a reach. The piece was clearly just playing on the difference in Harry and Meghan’s social backgrounds. If Harry had been dating a white working-class woman from Moss Side, I dare say the Mail would have done something similarly silly.

Another favourite is that weird throwaway line Rachel Johnson wrote, in a laudatory piece on Markle, about the mixed-race American actress bringing some ‘rich and exotic DNA’ to the pale Windsor bloodline. That’s more cringey than racist.

Several pieces have even cited a single phrase in a Sarah Vine column – she said she had a ‘niggling worry’ about the royal couple’s engagement photo – as a bigoted dog whistle. Which is, quite frankly, mental. Such is the lack of actual examples of the press being racist about Meghan.

The only leg this argument has left to stand on is that the sheer volume of criticism sent Meghan’s way was disproportionate. Racism is the only explanation for it. It’s an argument that has the advantage of being based purely on unverifiable speculation and imputing motives. But it’s also, obviously, bollocks.

When the couple first got together the coverage was pretty much gushing across the board. It was only when Meghan and Harry started on their various virtue-signalling crusades – like jetting around to lecture on climate change – that people’s backs went up.

That the couple had already been beefing with the press probably didn’t help either. In 2016, way before Meghan became such a key figure in our culture wars, Harry issued a remarkable statement rebuking journalists for the ‘racial undertones’ of their pieces.

That these privileged royals, kept in the lap of luxury at taxpayers’ expense, began to develop a deep-seated victim complex only deepened the resentment towards them. Last year, Meghan told ITV that public life was a ‘struggle’, and that she was shocked that ‘not many people have asked if I’m okay’. Poor princess.

This picture of privilege is who the liberal-left has spent the best part of three years defending. Even supposed republicans have – after a bit of anti-royal throat-clearing – defended Harry and Meghan to the hilt and helped construct this absurd narrative that they are the victims of establishment racism.

But this says far more about the prejudices of liberal-left commentators than it does about the tabloid press. That they routinely situate Meghan’s supposed mistreatment in Brexit Britain is no coincidence. They think of Britain as a foul place, full of foul people, brainwashed by foul newspapers to hate the wonderful Duchess of Sussex and the obviously brilliant European Union.

What the liberal elite’s severe case of Meghan-mania has shown us is that, for all their posturing against right-wingers, monarchy and the old aristocracy, they’re completely comfortable with the plebs being led and instructed and hectored by our betters.

They would just rather it was woke people doing it, like Harry and Meghan.

Tom Slater is deputy editor at spiked. Follow him on Twitter: @Tom_Slater_

[newstfionline]

Saturday, January 9, 2021

Canada's Ontario says 'more extreme measures' on the table as COVID-19 cases rise (Reuters) Ontario is considering “more extreme measures” on top of the widespread lockdowns in place, the premier said on Friday, after the Canadian province reported a second straight day of record-breaking COVID-19 cases. “I’ve never stressed this so much, all the way going back to March, as I am now: We are in a crisis,” Premier Doug Ford told reporters, begging people to wear masks, wash their hands and stop gathering in groups. The warning from Canada’s most populous province comes as Quebec, the worst affected province from the pandemic, is set to start a nightly curfew on Saturday. Ford said if people did not better follow public health guidelines “we will have to look at more extreme measures. … Everything is on the table right now.”

Capitol Attack Leads Democrats to Demand That Trump Leave Office (NYT) President Trump’s administration plunged deeper into crisis on Thursday as more officials resigned in protest, prominent Republicans broke with him and Democratic congressional leaders threatened to impeach him for encouraging a mob that stormed the Capitol a day earlier. What was already shaping up as a volatile final stretch to the Trump presidency took on an air of national emergency as the White House emptied out and some Republicans joined Speaker Nancy Pelosi and a cascade of Democrats calling for Mr. Trump to be removed from office without waiting the 13 days until the inauguration of President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. The prospect of actually short-circuiting Mr. Trump’s tenure in its last days appeared remote. But the highly charged debate about Mr. Trump’s capacity to govern even for less than two weeks underscored the depth of anger and anxiety after the invasion of the Capitol that forced lawmakers to evacuate, halted the counting of the Electoral College votes for several hours and left people dead, including a Capitol Hill police officer who died Thursday night.

With Democrats in Control, Biden Moves to Advance Agenda (NYT) With his victory recognized by Congress and his party set to control both the House and Senate, President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. moved on Thursday to fill out his cabinet, while his aides and allies drafted plans for an ambitious legislative agenda headlined by $2,000 stimulus checks to individual Americans. The president-elect’s ability to push through key parts of his agenda and win confirmation of his cabinet selections received a significant lift this week, as Democrats picked up two Senate seats in Georgia, resulting in a 50-50 split. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris has the power to cast the tiebreaking vote, which would give Democrats control of the chamber. As part of what he has pledged will be a next round of economic assistance, Mr. Biden is expected to move quickly to gain passage of $2,000 stimulus checks—which were a big focus in the Georgia elections—along with expanded unemployment benefits, aid to state and local governments and additional relief for small businesses.

Police Failures Spur Resignations and Complaints (NYT) Six days before a raucous rally of President Trump’s supporters in Washington, Representative Maxine Waters anxiously grilled the chief of the Capitol Police about his preparations for various scenarios. Ms. Waters, a California Democrat, said each of her concerns was met with a similar response from Chief Steven Sund during their hourlong call: “He assured me that they have everything under control, that they were on top of everything.” They weren’t. Instead an angry mob of pro-Trump extremists swarmed the barricades around the Capitol on Wednesday, spraying chemical irritants and wielding lead pipes, injuring more than 50 officers. They battered doors, broke windows and scaled the walls, rampaging through the building as congressional leaders made desperate calls for help. The Capitol Police seemed to offer little resistance and arrested only 14 people. Chief Sund handed in his resignation on Thursday after pressure from congressional leaders.      Policing experts noted the absence of crowd-control tools such as mounted officers, police dogs or a heavily manned perimeter. Pentagon officials said Thursday that the Capitol Police had turned down an offer for additional National Guard troops before Wednesday’s storming of the Capitol, and two law enforcement officials said they had initially rebuffed help from the F.B.I. as the mob descended. But others in law enforcement insisted that the president’s encouragement of the mob could not have been anticipated. “No one expected the president to say, ‘Hey guys, let’s all go down to the Capitol and show them who’s boss,’” said Jose Cervino, who worked for the department for 14 years and helped plan security for large events and protests. Mr. Cervino defended the hesitancy to use weapons, saying the department’s primary mandate was to protect the lawmakers, not the building. “We have the members and we have the leadership secured. Is it correct to start shooting people?” Mr. Cervino asked. “I can’t imagine that I would be happier today if we found out we kept the crowd out, but wound up shooting 40 people.”

Capitol siege raises security concerns for Biden inaugural (AP) The violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol is intensifying scrutiny over security at an inauguration ceremony for President-elect Joe Biden already reshaped by a pandemic and the prospect that his predecessor may not attend. Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will take the oath of office from the Capitol’s West Front, one of the very locations where a violent mob overpowered police and stormed the building. They also scaled and occupied the scaffolding and bleachers in place for the ceremonies. The congressional leaders responsible for coordinating the inauguration insisted Thursday night that events will move forward. Security forces have already begun taking extra precautions in the wake of Wednesday’s mayhem. Roughly 6,200 members of the National Guard from six states—Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland—will help support the Capitol Police and other law enforcement in Washington for the next 30 days. Crews also erected on the Capitol grounds tall, black metal fences designed to be impossible to climb. Those who have worked on previous inaugurations said that while this year’s events will look different, the tradition of passing power from one administration to another will continue. President Trump, however, has confirmed that he will not attend the inauguration.

Some U.S. Capitol rioters fired after internet detectives identify them (Reuters) Some of the rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol were fired from their jobs on Thursday after internet sleuths publicized their identities. The District of Columbia police department released photos of people in Wednesday's melee and potential charges against them. Some 68 people were arrested after angry protesters stormed the building, breaking windows, damaging fixtures and stealing furnishings. The FBI also asked the public to help it identify rioters, a call that drew ribbing on social media in light of the prolific coverage of the event. This included selfies posted by participants and videos of President Donald Trump's supporters at area hotels before the attack. Some individuals who had previously been photographed at Trump rallies and supporters of the QAnon conspiracy-theory movement were quickly identified. Online detectives focused their efforts on others. "Let's name and shame them!," read one Twitter thread here devoted to outing participants.

Vaccine rollout hits snag as health workers balk at shots (AP) The desperately awaited vaccination drive against the coronavirus in the U.S. is running into resistance from an unlikely quarter: Surprising numbers of health care workers who have seen firsthand the death and misery inflicted by COVID-19 are refusing shots. It is happening in nursing homes and, to a lesser degree, in hospitals, with employees expressing fears of side effects from vaccines that were developed at record speed. More than three weeks into the campaign, some places are seeing as much as 80% of the staff holding back. “I don’t think anyone wants to be a guinea pig,” said Dr. Stephen Noble, a 42-year-old cardiothoracic surgeon in Portland, Oregon, who is postponing getting vaccinated. “At the end of the day, as a man of science, I just want to see what the data show. And give me the full data.” Stormy Tatom, 30, a hospital ICU nurse in Beaumont, Texas, said she decided against getting vaccinated for now “because of the unknown long-term side effects.” “I would say at least half of my coworkers feel the same way,” Tatom said.

Freezing Madrid braces for heaviest snowfall in decades (Reuters) Spain’s capital Madrid and much of the neighbouring region of Castilla-La Mancha were on high alert on Friday for what meteorologists expect to be the heaviest snowfall in decades, brought by the Storm Filomena. Such events are rare in the region and tend to be disruptive to daily life and mobility, coming at a time when people are returning home after Christmas and New Year holidays. This year, however, there is less traffic than usual due to restrictions to curb the coronavirus pandemic. With up to 20 cm (nearly 8 inches) of snow forecast in 24 hours and temperatures expected to hover around zero centigrade for much of the day, the south of the Madrid region, including the capital, is on its highest level of alert for the first time since the system was created in 2007.

The Pandemic Helped Reverse Italy’s Brain Drain. (NYT) When Elena Parisi, an engineer, left Italy at age 22 to pursue a career in London five years ago, she joined the vast ranks of talented Italians escaping a sluggish job market and lack of opportunities at home to find work abroad. But in the past year, as the coronavirus pandemic forced employees around the world to work from home, Ms. Parisi, like many of her compatriots, seized on the opportunity to really go home, to Italy. In between Zoom meetings and her other work for a recycling company in London, she took long strolls on the beach near her family’s home in Palermo, Sicily, and talked recipes at dawn with vendors in the local market. “The quality of life is a thousand, thousand times better here,” said Ms. Parisi, who is now in Rome. As with so many things, the virus has upended a familiar phenomenon—this time Italy’s longstanding brain drain. Italy, along with Romania and Poland, is among the European countries that send the most workers abroad, according to figures from the European Commission. Taking into account the money the country spends on their education, Italy’s brain drain costs the country an estimated 14 billion euro (about $17 billion) every year. The Italian government has welcomed the return of some of the country’s best and brightest as a silver lining to what has been a brutal pandemic for Italy, calling the shift a “great opportunity.”

Kyrgyzstan votes (Foreign Policy) Voters in Kyrgyzstan go to the polls on Sunday to vote for a new president and decide a referendum on constitutional reforms. Acting Prime Minister Sadyr Japarov has been touted as the likely winner, if he can pass the 50 percent threshold necessary to avoid a runoff. Victory would cap an unlikely rise for Japarov after he was sprung from jail in October during unrest over disputed legislative elections. Japarov had been serving an 11-year sentence for kidnapping.

Gold in India (Rest of World) India is one of the largest global consumers of gold, buying 700 tons annually, with an estimated 25,000 tons of gold stockpiled by Indian citizens, a value three times the reserves of gold held by the U.S. government. Gold is frequently given to female babies as a gift and included later as part of their dowries, but it’s also an incredibly useful asset in terms of gaining access to credit by using it as collateral. Manappuram Finance, a large lender, offers gold-backed loans, and customers such as independent business owners and farmers on average borrow $612 several times per year, with under 1 percent defaulting. The two largest gold lenders in India hold 248 tons of it, which is more than Australia has in reserve.

China city offers cash for tip on test evaders (AP) A city in northern China is offering rewards of 500 yuan ($77) for anyone who reports on a resident who has not taken a recent coronavirus test. The offer from the government of Nangong comes as millions in the city and its surrounding province of Hebei are being tested as part of efforts to control China’s most serious recent outbreak of COVID-19. The offering of cash or other rewards for information on political or social nonconformists has a long history in China, but the pandemic is putting a new face on the practice. Those found noncompliant will be forced to undergo testing and a two-week quarantine at their own expense.

Can’t go to ski resort? South Koreans rush to buy sledges, enjoy sledding near home (Reuters) With South Korea’s ski resorts closed in recent weeks to help combat COVID-19, heavy snowfalls have led to a surge in sales of sledges as winter sports lovers look for family friendly snow slopes close to home. Major retailers have run out of stocks of plastic sledges, with E-Mart, the country’s biggest supermarket chain, selling nearly 2,200 sledges in six days, more than three times its total 2020 sales. After heavy snowfalls earlier in the week, children played outdoors even as the temperature in Seoul plummeted to -18.6 Celsius (-1.5 Fahrenheit) on Friday, the coldest in 35 years.

Almost 2.3 million people need aid in Ethiopia’s Tigray: U.N. report (Reuters) Fighting is still going on in several parts of Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region and almost 2.3 million people, or nearly half of the population, need aid, a U.N. report said. The report, the most comprehensive public assessment of the humanitarian situation in Tigray since conflict erupted there on Nov. 4, was posted online late on Thursday. It said food supplies were very limited, looting was widespread and insecurity remained high.

Uganda’s election shapes up as a contest of young vs. old (Washington Post) Uganda is an overwhelmingly young country, led by a 76-year-old seeking a sixth term as president. Two-thirds of registered voters are under the age of 30, which means Yoweri Museveni has led Uganda for their whole lives. His main challenger in next week’s election is a 38-year-old musician who was a toddler when Museveni took power as leader of an armed rebellion. And so the contest between the grandfatherly incumbent and the spindly singer-turned-politician, Bobi Wine, has come to embody the most essential of democratic divides: change vs. stability, idealism vs. wisdom, the frustrated young vs. the fearful old. Who wins may come down to how many young people buy into Museveni’s warnings that a vote against him is a vote for destabilization. But the outcome also hinges on whether Wine and his supporters can withstand the repressive tactics Museveni’s security forces have unleashed in recent months that may escalate as election day nears. Since announcing his candidacy, Wine has been arrested three times, as have at least 600 attendees of his rallies. Police say they violated pandemic protocols against large gatherings. His bodyguard was killed, his lawyer arrested, reporters who cover his campaign have had their accreditation revoked, and after Wine’s second arrest, protests were met with bullets and at least 54 were killed.

Books (Publishers Weekly) Sales of print books were up 8.2 percent in 2020 year-over-year, according to NPD BookScan, with 750.9 million books sold. That’s up from 693.7 million in 2019, and is a solid performance, especially given the tumultuous spring market. Books for children and young adults saw sales explode: in nonfiction—a staple of attempting to learn from a place that is not a school—juvenile sales were up 23.1 percent and young adult nonfiction was up 38.3 percent, and on the fiction side, the juvenile segment was up 11 percent and YA was up 21.4 percent. Adults bought more books too—nonfiction was up 4.8 percent and fiction was up 6 percent.

[anonymoushouseplantfan]

Why do you think Harry and Meghan are self-sabotaging? Are they really that dumb and tone deaf? I don't get it. It does not make sense that the dimwits will sabotage the monarchy because without the royal name attached to her, Meghan would have nothing to go on even after divorce.

They don’t understand that being a royal is not the same as being a Hollywood celebrity. That disconnect has been around since they issued the KP statement. It’s the root of their self-sabotage.

Royals don’t get the private planes, $500k baby showers, and $100k couture gowns. They don’t get to say, “no I don't feel like posing for the baby picture.” They don’t get to keep the godparents secret. They don’t get to clap back at critics on palace stationery. They don’t get free jewelry and clothes. They don’t get vanity cookbooks and fashion lines.

I laugh whenever I see her fans and press claiming, “she’s trying her best.” Meghan is failing at the easy stuff, and she’s not failing for lack of support, resources or guidance. She’s failing because, she wants the private planes, $500k baby showers, and $100k couture gowns and she wants to “clap back” at anyone who criticizes her for it. 

Harry knew that he couldn’t be a celebrity and he sucked up the RyanAir flights and Sainsbury’s shopping trips, but then Meghan showed up and convinced him that it could be done and he could have all that celeb stuff and be a working senior royal too. Now he loves the celeb life with private planes to celebrity camps, red carpet events and leaks about how he’s been George Clooney’s secret bff for years, and he desperately wants to make the Frankenstein royal-celeb lifestyle work.

It doesn’t work. It never has worked. If you are a celebrity with couture gowns and expensive tastes you can be Elizabeth Taylor and become an icon, but if you are a royal with couture gowns and expensive tastes you become Marie Antoinette and you lose your head. Everyone knows this, except apparently Meghan and Harry.

They think they are failing because they aren’t getting enough support, or the press is racist, or they can’t clap back or whatever, but the truth is that what they are trying to do does not work. Everyone is telling them that it doesn't work, but they don’t want to admit it and go back to supermarket shopping trips, church basement engagements and posing for the royal press pack. That’s the root of the self-sabotage.

If you go back to the coverage of her pre-wedding “regional tour,” you’ll be able to identify what the brf thinks works for royals: visits to historic castles, engagements where you watch kids dance or sing, playing ball games with kids, wearing small British brands like Strathberry or Huit Denim, and eating Irish stew in historic pubs. That’s what worked and still works for Will and Kate. People love that stuff.

However, in those articles you’ll also see tons of pics of Meghan with a deer-in-headlights “wtf am I doing here?” look in her face. She hated it, absolutely hated it. As soon as she got her hands on the tiara she said no mas and started hanging out with Amal and George Clooney and ordering couture gowns for her Fashion Awards debut.

They don’t want the royal life which is like a tough marriage with compromises and lots of responsibilities. They want the celeb life with royal benefits, and it’s not going to work.

[blueberi-shop]

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Very much standby with me will be back to you for any new information lindsay dunkel is our senior washington editor bringing a So Good With My Rod I Make Fish Come T-Shirt sad part of our extended special coverage for use morning looking live at the white house we know the us numbers us leave the world ignominiously in terms of the number of people with coded 19 more than 207 000 people have died in these recent months more than 7 million had become infected on the vast majority have recovered but the united states response to cove in 19 frankly bewildered much of the world certainly been criticized by many in the president’s response particularly now all of this coming very close to home with the president and his wife now with a positive diagnosis let’s try to look into this a little bit more deeply from a health perspective doctors in my chakra buying is with disease specialist trillion health partners is a frequent guest on cbc news network and dr were glad to have you on this day of such a stunning that a breaking news and just curious about. In terms of who else is on the ticket with the presidential nominees here is canada’s prime minister sophia sending our best wishes to president trump in the first lady we hope you both get well soon have a full recovery from his virus so very large about herself diagnosed with coded 19 at the beginning of the pond and also we just got from me conservative leader aaron o’toole he himself and his wife diagnosed with coded 19 is just this week returned to parliament hill here is history just moments ago rebecca and I know firsthand the challenges of coded 19 and wish the president and first lady speedy recovery ongoing coverage of president donald trump in the first positive for coded 19 you are watching cbc news the white house this morning it is 923 eastern time just joining us this morning from across the country watching perhaps our social channels or cbc newsca broad coverage this morning because of the breaking news out of the white house at president donald trump has tested positive for coronavirus has. 400 years devastation since I got a Mac and Tony and Steve usually celebrate with their children and their friends this time it’s a dinner for two sitting in the pool telling jokes so that July in American damper on holiday at least there’s something to celebrate they just received word that they’ll get a government loan worth 150 000 it should get their business through the next few months Steve sees that it’s true that trumps America is good for him and others I think that’s one of the things that make me proud about being American as we do help people the world I know we can be conceived as bullies and insights but I think America is the is good for the world I do think there interest in the world that would like to see that change but I hope that America stays the leader of the world and cares about our neighbors the world the package is already talking about election fraud and noise are not surprised it’s just typical Trump one last question before we go what if Trump loses but refuses to leave office See Other Shirt: I Never Dreamed I'd Grow Up To Be A Super Sexy Pontooning Girl But Here I Am Killing It Vintage Retro T Shirt