#AND he got the approval from the whole roundtable and that's all we know on the topic bc it's all we needed to know

[dmclemblems]

“Claude in Hopes is exactly the same way he is in Houses! He’s always been like that and has the same feelings/morals!”

Claude in GW/Hopes:

Claude, literally, in Houses:

Let that speak for the fact that Claude was written with a 180 characterization in Hopes.

Claude wants peace and to bring everyone together; not to tear them further apart. That is his character.

[supremehavok]

Voyager

My season one fic for the KYA series. This is a prologue on the earliest memories of the reader and Spencer. And I promise it will get way more fluffy and romantic this one was just like a build up to their actually courtship. And also I love Spencer’s purple scarf so much so I will continue to include it in my fics☺️

____

“Look all I’m saying is there’s no way Gideon will agree to it”.

“And all I’m saying is we shouldn’t be going into this without consulting our unit chief, Morgan” (Y/n) jeered on the way up the stairs.

“Consulting is one thing, but they want him up and at ‘em. Out in the field with us” Morgan said, fixing the cuffs of his jacket.

“You’re that worried about him?” (Y/n) asked as they turned a corner right before Gideon’s office.

“You’re not?”.

Morgan opened the door and let (Y/n) pass. When he looked over his shoulder he could see Hotch walking around the same corner and kept the door held open. (Y/n) felt the freezing air in Gideon’s office slap her across the face once she planted herself near his sloppy stacks of books just outside his archway computer station.

It was never out of the question to argue with Morgan, a few petty debates or the occasional jab was all fun and games, but there was always the nagging question at the back of (Y/n)’s mind.

Am I part of the team?

Surely a year of solid work would be enough to prove that, at least on paper, but for the general consensus it all felt off. Morgan was always nice, his playful flirting sometimes gave her a little pep in her step. Hotch gave her credit when credit was due and Gideon had personally talked her down on a few occasions when she first began working with the group of profilers. But Dr. Reid was a completely different story. Never really opening up, lots of side glances, and even right now as he stood in the corner with (Y/n) beside him as their unit chief rummaged through papers, he didn’t speak. Just a lot of side glances, he looked at her shoes momentarily and then back up to her ears which were being concealed by a drape of long hair.

Reid kinda liked her hair.

“I looked the case file over. I’ll get some thoughts to you ASAP”, Gideon said from his computer, just as he let out his last syllable (Y/n) watched as Hotch interjected.

“You’re coming with us to Seattle ASAP”.

____

In the team (Y/n) was their “expert on child offense crimes”, she first consulted with the BAU on a child abduction case months prior to her instatement. She sat at their roundtable and surveyed the crime scene photos and the whole time she wouldn’t have even suspected that Dr. Reid was profiling her. After all, she wasn’t a part of the team yet, no rules broken.

She wore her wristwatch facing inward. Military, maybe special forces, she also stood in the doorway with her arms placed stiffly behind her back at parade rest until Gideon and Hotch greeted her. Reid suspected newly ex-Army. The constant scratching of her index nail against the table is a clear indicator of a nervous tick that’s being aggravated as we speak. Her staggeringly long hair that appears to be covered in split ends means she never touches her hair, she never thinks of it much; in fact a lot of her physical appearance suggests the same thing.

For an ex soldier she didn’t have much discipline in her attire. Before Reid could look deeper (Y/n) quickly stood up and began gesturing at the photos for the profilers to see. Dr Reid shifted his eyes between the presentation in front of him and the presenter herself. Her lips were pink like pale roses, they were chapped and it appeared that she probably bit them periodically-favoring the left side more than the right.

As if in an instant she was gone and dismissed with a firm handshake from Hotch. Reid never spoke to her nor did he ever try to make himself known to her; in his mind (Y/n) (Y/l/n) was an agent he’d bet on never seeing again.

Four months later an opening at the BAU presented itself. Gideon approved (Y/n)’s request and Hotch took a leap of faith on (Y/n) after her rather stiff interview, the backbone of her previous experience with the team and stellar academy scores pushed her name straight to the top of their list. A few weeks into being on the team (Y/n) was woken up at three in the morning on a Saturday to be briefed on a case in Tempe Arizona. A few days into the case (Y/n) and Reid found themselves in a spontaneous crossfire. When Spencer told Morgan that (Y/n) had seen the unsubs gun a few feet away and tackled him to block him from harm's way Morgan just laughed.

“Guess you’ve got yourself a little protector” he had said with a beaming smile.

Reid just furrowed his brows and decided to brush it off, it was Morgan being Morgan.

Then when (Y/n) yelled at a deputy in Kansas when he told Reid to shove it as he rambled he thought about it for the rest of the day.

I don’t need a protector, he kept saying.

It wasn’t until they all were flying back to Virginia that Reid even brought the subject up to her.

“(Y/n)?” Reid cleared his throat.

“Yeah?” (Y/n) lifted her headphones up from her ears and let them hang around her neck.

It was quiet, everyone dozed off in their sectors the only sounds were the vibrations of Morgan’s snores. It made the entire encounter that much more awkward.

“I just-well I…” Reid struggles through even getting past the first sentence, “Well I just don’t want for you to think that I don’t appreciate you helping me but I just-“.

“Reid what’re you talking about?” (Y/n) laughed.

“I just don’t need you coddling me out in the field”.

(Y/n) left her mouth to hang open a bit, she was surprised that Spencer would be so blunt all of the sudden. Months of dancing around her, sharing a few conversations every now and then-full and clear sentences were a bit hard to come by and at this point (Y/n) had come to expect very little.

“I’m sorry, Reid. I didn’t know I was making you uncomfortable”.

“No, I wasn’t uncomfortable. I just don’t need someone to take care of me” he averted his eyes to his lap.

“Reid I’m not trying to take care of you. If someone points a gun at you I’m gonna push you out of the way, especially when you’re busy looking through your bag. You’re my partner, we look out for each other. When I was in special forces your team was your family, you protect the people you care about”.

Reid felt a bit embarrassed, his cheeks felt warm. His gaze was moving from left to right as he tucked a loose strand of hair behind his ear. He felt stupid and insensitive. He never really talked to her and she considered him her partner, they worked well together and she always had his back no matter what, but in the back of his mind Spencer knew why he couldn’t allow himself to even invite her to play chess with him. What if she laughed at him?

“I’m sorry, I didn’t ever think of it like that,” Spencer said softly.

“I didn’t expect you to. We’re not even that close anyways” (Y/n) places her headphones back over her ears, snuggling back into the corner of her seat.

“We could be” Reid blurred out a little too loudly, but (Y/n) heard it over her headphones.

Quickly dragging the headphones back to her neck (Y/n) looked straight at Reid with her eyebrows creased, “What?”.

“We could be friends. Gideon said you’re a good chess player, do you wanna play...with me?”.

Yeah I’d love to,” (Y/n) beamed. Reid began rearranging the pieces on either side of the board quickly. “Did you see the last episode of Voyager?”

Reid looked up from the board and grinned from ear to ear, “I’m waiting till we get back home, so don’t spoil anything”.

“Fine then I won’t even tell you about when Janeway flies the Vo-“

“Shhhhh” Spencer cupped his hands over his ears and he tried to hold in his giggles.

“I’m kidding. I won’t say a word”.

“Thank you. Now let’s play”.

____

When the plane landed Spencer and (Y/n) were red in face from holding in their laughter for hours. They let their groggy team members file out as they collected the chess pieces, when (Y/n) looked up Spencer was still beaming. They stayed attached at the hip as they stepped off the jet into the freezing night air. While they talked (Y/n) tucked her hands underneath her arms for warmth, the air was already starting to feel sharp against her cheeks and she wanted nothing more than to shuffle into the office and hop into a humid cab.

“Are you cold?” Reid asked.

“No I just really want to get home, my feet are killing me” (Y/n) held the bridge of her nose as she succumbed to a few sniffles.

Without a word Spencer took his purple cotton scarf he had tucked inside his coat off his neck; he walked in front of (Y/n) to stop her in her tracks halfway down the landingstrip.

“Reid what’re you doing?”.

Spencer kept his mouth shut as he wrapped the scarf around (Y/n)’s neck. He tucked it close to her body, his thumb accidentally brushing across her soft jawline. Spencer avoided her gaze at all costs, the way her big brown eyes burned holes in him would send blood right to his cheeks.

“Thank you” (Y/n) said almost inaudibly.

Reid just nodded, what he was doing didn’t feel real at that moment. He quickly untucked her hair from the folds of the cotton.

Reid really liked her hair.

(Y/n) kept the scarf close to her cheeks as they walked down the landingstrip, when Spencer opened the door to the office she reached around to take it off just before Spencer stopped her.

“It’s fine it’ll be pretty cold tonight you should hold on to it” Spencer felt his voice tremble as he spoke.

(Y/n) knew there was no point in interjecting. She knew she was blushing at Reid’s kindness, she couldn’t help it, the way his warm hands had felt against his freezing skin and the gentleness of his touch.

“Goodnight, Reid” (Y/n) said softly, “I’ll get this back to you ASAP”, she held out her hand and gave Spencer’s arm a quick squeeze.

“Goodnight (Y/n)”.

[thethespacecoyote]

Did someone order more sad modern AU BenArmie? No? Too bad. 

Done for more Bad Things Happen Bingo! For “Hidden Scar” because that’s a whole load of angst fodder. Warning because this references some past and current abuse Armitage’s suffered thanks to his dad. 

Ben walks out of the bathroom, fresh from the shower with a towel wrapped around his waist, just in time to hear his phone vibrate against his desk. Puzzled, he steps over the backpack strewn across the floor and snatches it up, checking the illuminated screen to find a text from Armie.

>>> 10:47pm

are you awake?

It’s not too weird to hear from him this late at night, especially on a weekend. He and Armie text all the time, chatting about school or movies or nonsense, really. But it’s better than nothing, and Ben has few other friends he can talk with outside of classes and extracurriculars.

>>>10:48pm

sure am whats up

Ben cradles his phone in his palm as he sits on the bed, towel still draped over his thighs. The rain that’s been lashing his neighborhood all evening seems to have lessened to a trickle in the past hour, though the night outside still looks pretty cold and miserable.

His phone buzzes once more.

>>>10:48pm

would it be alright if i came over?

It’s not necessarily unusual for Armie to come over, even so late in the evening. Considering it’s the weekend, it’s even less strange, though usually they plan it out beforehand. Ben has nothing better to do, however, and having Armie over would certainly brighten a fairly dully and rainy night.

>>> 10:49pm

yeah sure lemme know when ur here

Ben tosses the phone back on the bed and rises, figuring he has a moment to get ready. He rummages through his chest of drawers for a pair of sweatpants, tying them low about his hips. His phone lights up with another notification, and he picks it back up.

>>>10:52pm

im outside. can i come up?

Outside? Already? Their houses were at least twenty minutes apart, and Armie didn’t even own a car. He had a bike but that wouldn’t shave off that much time. So how was he here?

Ben glances to his window, where droplets of water still cling and glimmer in the moonlight. At least it’d stopped raining. He hopes Armie hasn’t been waiting that long.

>>>10:53pm

one sec

Ben looks around his room, suddenly conscious of the mess. If he leaves things like this he won’t hear the end of it, so he scurries about, trying to do some last minute clean-up. He scrapes loose shirts and jeans and socks off the floor and stuffs them into the closet, before tossing couple old receipts and empty snack wrappers that’ve accumulated onto his desk into the garbage. He rolls his free weights towards the walls, getting them out of the way so Armie won’t trip on them.

Finally he pulls on a tank and hoodie, tousling his still wet hair as he heads out of his room and downstairs. He pads quietly through the house, knowing which floorboards to avoid, which doors to treat especially gently lest they creak. Both his parents should be sound asleep but it’s best not to take chances. He doesn’t want them sending Armie home if he’s already made the trip here.

He prowls to the front door and unlocks it as quietly as he can, peeking out onto the porch. The dim orange light just barely illuminates where Armie paces dully on the bottom steps with his arms wrapped tightly around his chest. He stops in his tracks and looks up when the door opens, hopping up onto the porch like a lost animal waiting for food.  

Ben thinks it’s weird he isn’t wearing a jacket, or really anything to protect him from the cold apart from a dark grey turtleneck. He can see Armie shivering, hair lightly dusted with dew, and wishes he’d brought one of his hoodies down to wrap around him. Good thing it’s warm inside the house.

“Hey.” Ben waves awkwardly, not sure what else to do with his hand. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to take so long.”

“S’okay,” Armie mumbles, arms squeezing tighter around himself. Ben stands aside to let him in, quickly closing the door behind them. His eyes fall to Armie’s back and thinks it might be good to put his hand there so he can guide his friend through the dark inside the house, but he stops himself and instead rubs the back of his neck.

“You alright?”

“Yeah. Just wanted to see you,” Armie admits, hunching his shoulders inwards as he adapts to the sudden warmth. “That’s fine, right?”

“Oh yeah. Just gonna have to explain to mom and dad in the morning.” Ben leads the way back to the staircase, stopping only briefly to nod towards the kitchen.

“You hungry or anything? We probably can’t turn on the stove or microwave without waking the parents but there’s probably some snacks or something. If you want.”

Armie shakes his head.

“No…can we just go up to your room?”

“Sure.” Ben’s still full from dinner anyway, he just wants to make sure Armie actually eats. He knows he has a tendency to skip meals for studying, or just because he forgets.

He hopes Armie won’t notice how messy his room is, as despite the earlier manic cleanup Ben knows it’s really not up to his friend’s standards. Armie’s space back at his house looks crisp and tidy, almost barely lived-in—a real contrast to Ben’s chaotic den, walled in by music posters and lit by only one lamp.

“You want me to turn something on? It’ll be fine as long as I keep the volume low.” Ben gropes for the remote on the desk when Armie hums in vague agreement, sinking down besides the other boy as he flicks on the television. Ben flips around until finding some older-looking movie he feels Armie might like. From the amount of gray men in suits that walk into frame it’s probably one of those political thriller films from the forties he’s always trying to get Ben to watch.

Well. No time like the present. Armie seems a little off, so hopefully this will cheer him up.

But when Ben looks over to him, he finds Armie’s not looking at the screen, eyes instead downcast upon where his hands fold in his lap. He hasn’t really reacted at all since sitting down, not to the television or Ben’s presence.

Concern worries in his stomach but Ben knows better not to pry when Armie’s shut off like this. They’ve been friends for years but he’s still pretty private, and tends to react fairly negatively when Ben tries to get past his walls. The only real fights they’ve ever had stemmed from that, so Ben’s learned to back off whenever Armie’s sending out serious “don’t talk to me” vibes.

Still, he can’t help but wonder where this all comes from. They’ve been friends for years but Ben doesn’t know all that much about his home life or what happened before he moved to town. Hell, Ben’s been to his house a handful of times and he’s still never met Armie’s stepmom nor any other member of his family apart from his dad

Ben’s not a fan of Brendol Hux, so he’s not quite complaining that he hardly gets a chance to visit Armie at home.

He leans back, propping himself up as he half-watches the roundtable of suits arguing on the television, wondering if he should say something but not sure what. Armie remains still, sitting on the edge of the bed with his fingers rubbing the hem of his sweater. But just as Ben opens his lips to break the silence Armie suddenly leans back and turns to rest his head against his shoulder.

Ben’s heart jumps in surprise at the sudden contact, expecting Armie to excuse this kind of intimacy like he usually does, but he stays quiet and only turns his nose against Ben’s shoulder, inhales like minute kisses against the fabric of his hoodie.

Ben watches, a little stunned. He’s never seen Armie this openly affectionate before. He’s pretty aloof about physical contact, though Ben’s got him to open up a little more in recent years. But definitely not enough for this degree of friendly cuddling. Or so he thought.

Ben wonders if something’s caused this change of heart—as well as the unexpected late night visit.

But he’s not exactly in the mood to rebuke it. Really Ben’s long pined for this kind of closeness with Armie, to fill in the last space missing in their friendship He tilts his chin down, watching the reflection of the television play across Armie’s pale skin. He can tell he’s still not watching the movie all that closely, but that hardly matters when they’re cuddled up like this.

Ben inhales slowly, careful not to disturb his resting friend too much, though the pounding of his heart might’ve already done so.

Wow. Armie’s hair smells nice. Ben hopes that’s not too weird to think that, as it’s just hard not to notice when he’s leaning against him. He turns his head slightly, inhaling the sweet scent and trying to figure out what exactly it is. Lemon, and maybe a hint of something more herbaceous.  

He doesn’t ask, honestly a little afraid to hear what Armie might say if he did. Instead, he just starts combing through his hair—at first just barely, his fingertips dipping through the feathery ginger locks like he’s afraid he might spook him. But Armie doesn’t pull away, or even comment on how Ben’s touching him. He doesn’t stiffen or twitch, only relaxing against him as Ben lightly skates his fingers against his scalp.

Soon he’s stroking through Armie’s hair properly, loving how soft it feels against his palm, how his friend almost melts against him. Just like a cat, Ben thinks with a smile, remembering the time they’d encountered a stray while walking home from school. It’d happened way back in middle school. Armie had convinced him to use his jacket to wrap up the poor thing once they’d coaxed her out from beneath a rain-soaked bush, insisting he couldn’t use his own blazer to keep the cat warm. Ben hadn’t complained, more amused by the stray’s orange coat and how closely it matched Armie’s fiery hair than upset about his sodden jacket.

He remembers they gave the cat away once she was nursed back to health. Armie had grown quite fond of her, but argued his father would never approve of a pet. Ben would’ve taken her if not for the fact that his dad already owned a dog that didn’t exactly get along well with other animals.

He knows Armie still wants a cat. Maybe someday when he moves out of his dad’s house he can have one.

Ben almost loses himself in the soothing brush of Armie’s hair. His fingers now thread at the locks close to the top of his head, properly petting him. Armie feels so loose and weightless against him, completely relaxed and trusting Ben as he touches him.

Elation fills his chest, and Ben can’t stop himself from smiling. It feels right to keep close to Armie like this, to comfort him through whatever’s going on, because something always seems to be going on with him. He wishes Armie would open up a little more sometimes and let Ben know what he’s feeling but this—this is good. This is a start.

Then his finger brushes against something strange on his friend’s scalp.

Ben pauses for a moment, fingertips feeling out the edge of something firm and raised out of Armie’s skin. But as he tries to touch more of it, lips parting in confusion, Armie tenses and jerks away from his shoulder. Ben catches a glimpse of his friend’s wide eyes and trembling lip before Armie pushes himself up off the bed. He clenches both his fists, voice hurried and wavering as he speaks.  

“I—I have to go, this was a mistake—“

Ben’s up in a flash, longer stride quickly putting him right up behind Armie, who’s trying to grasp the doorknob with shaky hands. He doesn’t quite get it turned before he’s pulling on it, jolting the door against the jamb andsending a shudder through the house that might wake up Ben’s parents. Fear jolts through the teen’s chest, and he reaches out.

“No, Armie, wait—“

Ben grabs his wrist and pulls without thinking. To his horror Armie reacts instantly, a muted cry ringing from his throat, like it’s hurt him. Ben instantly lets him go but instead of running away Armie shrinks down, arms wrapping back around his chest.

There’s some kind of shootout scene ringing on the television, the beginnings of climactic showdown between the enemy spy and the hero flashing across the carpet as Ben quickly kneels at Armie’s side, hands floating above his shoulders. He doesn’t know what to do, or whether the labored breathing wracking his friend’s body is all his fault.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” Ben stammers out the apology, struggling to find the right words. “Did I hurt you? I didn’t mean to hurt you, I’m so s—“

“N-No, no. You didn’t. You don’t have to be…” Armie clears his throat, voice returning with just a shred more composure. “I’m sorry. That…that was uncalled for.”

He tries to sit up straight, expression sudden fallen with shame at the outburst. Ben can see the wear on his face with alarming clarity now. The sallow cheeks, the bruises under his eyes and—most alarming of all—a puffy  little cut on the slope below his chin.

“I really should leave. You’re not—you don’t have to deal with me.” Armie babbles as he turns away from Ben’s gaze. His fingers anxiously stroke through his hair, trying to push the mussed locks back into their usual place.

“Don’t, please.” Ben still hesitates placing his hand on Armie’s shoulder, or anywhere else, no matter how much he wants to.

“I shouldn’t have touched you there. I’m really sorry. I didn’t know…whatever it was…I didn’t know it would freak you out so much.” He doesn’t know if any of his apologies will help get Armie to believe him, but he doesn’t know what else to do.

Gradually, Armie sits back off his knees, though his arms stay guarded around his body. He rubs his hands along the bend of his elbows, like he’s still cold despite sitting in the musty warmth of the bedroom. Ben’s heart pangs as the fabric of Armie’s sweater pulls along the thinness of his limbs.  

“It’s okay…I didn’t even think about it…It felt so nice for you to…” Armie trails off into silence, letting his eyes flutter shut. Outside the rain has started, beating a soft tattoo against the house. The movie too has reached a lulling denouement, the sounds of polished professional voices fading as Ben focuses his full attention on Armie.

He doesn’t know what’ll happen now, what he should say or do. He realizes Armie probably wants to let it go, bury it away like he always does and never speak of it again. But Ben can’t stop thinking about that thing—that scar on his head, hidden under the beguiling locks of hair.

How long has it been there?

“I just—,“ he swallows past the tightness in his throat that’s grown in the silence, “—want to help you if I can. If you need to—I mean—”

“Ben.” Armie shakes his head with a dead chuckle. “You don’t want to know about what happens.”

“But I do. If you want to tell me I—I’ll listen.” Ben finally pushes past his own hangups and reaches out, resting his hand on his friend’s knee. “I promise.”

Armie leans back against the bedroom door, shoulders rising with a weighty breath. His lips tighten together, a last ditch effort to hold back what threatens to spill out of him. Ben scoots a little closer, palm rubbing down Armie’s thigh, hoping his presence is helpful.

“My—my father has this damned ring. From his military days. Big old gaudy thing.” Armie emphasizes the shape with his hand. “Engraved and solid. He likes to wear it on his forefinger, fidget it over the knuckle.”

Ben vaguely remembers something like that from the few times he’s encountered Brendol, though he never took much notice of the specifics. The man’s a arrogant windbag, dressed with like he thinks he’s some the last beacon of aristocracy in the modern day. Always looking down his nose at those around him, even his own son—like gaudy jewelry and a pompous attitude makes him the better man.

“Things weren’t great when I was younger,” Armie continues, voice just above a drone. “I mean, they’re not great n—well, they were worse back then, right after he married my stepmother. They fought a lot. Sometimes I got in the way.”

Ben’s stomach sinks, but he dare not stop Armie, even though he dreads where this is leading. He watches as his friend swallows harshly, expression trembling.  

“I don’t remember much of it, but I know that he hit me when I tried to get them to stop once. He got so angry he…punched me in the head.” Armie mimes the action with a numb fist. “Just…like he didn’t care what might happen to me after.”

Anger flares up inside Ben at the confirmation of his worst fears, calling all sorts of terrible images to the forefront of his mind. His Armie, just a kid, indifferently assaulted by his own father. He’s always found Brendol Hux unpleasant, the tension Ben senses between him and his son all but confirmed whenever Armie complains about him. But he would’ve never guessed that the animosity ran that horribly deep.  

Armie lifts his hand to the side of his head, where Ben had found the scar, fingers twitching as if afraid to touch it, as if it still hurts him.

“I needed stitches. I was only five, and I needed thirteen stitches for what he did to me,” Armie spits.

Ben feels sick with rage. He’d only felt the edge of the ragged skin, the healed-over evidence of Armie’s pain. It must extend even further along his scalp, an inescapable reminder of what his father did to him.

“And that wasn’t the first time he did it. Or—“ Armie’s chest hitches, fists clenching in his lap. “—or the last.”

He leans his head back against the bedroom door, finally looking Ben’s in the eyes. Despite his efforts to come his hair back earlier it’s fallen across his forehead once more, looking thin and lifeless.

“Ben, it’s—it’s never going to stop, is it?” Armies voice cracks out of the dull monotone, pain and frustration finally bleeding out as tears start to collect in his already reddened eyes. “If it hasn’t stopped by now, it’s not ever going to. Not until one us of dies.”

He palms his forehead, teeth gritting around his weak sobbing.

“I wish he was dead, why can’t he just die and leave me alone?” Armie gasps, his entire body shaking as tears crawl down his cheeks.

Ben’s never seen him cry, and it hurts. It’s not like that kind of healing crying, nor tears brought about by moments of great joy. It’s frustrated and crumbling Armie down right in front of him. It’s a cry for help.

In that moment Ben’s hands itch for a fight, for anything to help him deal with the sudden furious energy rolling through his body. He feels like he could scream and throw things, maybe even march to the Hux household through the rain and beat Brendol’s face in until the storm gutters ran with blood—

—but Armie needs him. He needs Ben’s comforting presence. Not his boundless anger, or his need for vengeance.

Those will come later, when they’re rested and clear-thinking and ready to make a plan.

“Hey, shh. C’mon, don’t cry.” Ben tries to keep his voice even, to push away the rage that bubbles up for his friend’s sake. “You’re going to be alright.”

Armie snorts through his tears, disbelieving, but Ben leans in and wraps his arms around him before he can protest. He holds him close, one hand around Armie’s waist with the other pressed against the back of his head, pulling him away from the door and letting him rest against his shoulder. Ben feels him sniffle, body shivering as it slowly relaxes in his grasp.

Armie’s so much slighter than him, less bulked out with brawn—but Ben suddenly feels he’s the strongest person he’s ever met.

“I…” Ben starts, his own voice feeling roughed and hard to command as it brushes against the side of Armie’s head. “…I’m really glad you. Y’know. Came here tonight.”

It feels like a lame, inadequate thing to say after Armie’s spilled his guts out to him, but Ben can’t think of anything else. He really is grateful that his friend is here, somewhere safe and away from the monster who calls himself his father. If Ben could, he’d keep Armie here for as long as he wanted to stay. He’d never have to go back to that house where Brendol could keep hurting him.

Armie sniffs, rubbing his face against Ben’s hoodie, before carefully pulling away. Despite the tears, he looks a little better now, even managing a weak smile that goes right to Ben’s heart. He wipes at his nose with his sleeve, letting out a soft sigh.

“I probably look a mess…sorry.”

“You really, really don’t have to apologize,” Ben stresses. “It’s late. And you look real good anyway.” Armie gives him a strange glance at the admission, but Ben quickly changes the subject.

“You wanna sleep in that,” he whispers as he rubs the shoulder of Armie’s sweater, “or do you need something else to change into?”

“Uh…I’m not sure any of your clothes would fit me…” Armie sniffs, even mustering a small laugh as he presumably envisions what Ben’s closet full of hoodies and baggy jeans might look like on him.

“Well you’ll just be sleeping in them, not going to meet the Queen for tea.” Ben affects a weak impression of Armie’s accent, hoping it’ll earn him more of that smile. It does get Ben a slight, amused eye-roll which is—all things considered—close enough.

“C’mon.” He helps Armie up off the floor, guiding him back to the bed to sit. “I’ll grab you something.”

Ben scrounges in his closet, finding a pair of pajama pants he’d gotten for one Christmas and never tried on, as well as the least worn of his collection of black graphic shirts. He gives it a quick sniff, before deciding it’s clean enough for Armie to wear and holds it out to him.

“Here.”

Armie takes the clothes with only a little bit of skepticism. Ben shrugs sheepishly, smoothing his hair back.

“They’re not that bad, right?”

“Someone needs to teach you how to do laundry one of these days,” Armie tsks, even as his fingers brush affectionately over the clothing. “It’s better than nothing,” he adds after a moment.

“That’s practically a compliment from you. Now go get changed before you fall asleep in your slacks.” Ben sends him off to the adjoining bathroom, before deciding to clean up the bed a little bit more. He pulls out a pillow wedged between the mattress and the wall, fluffing it up along with the rest before brushing the covers flat and grabbing an extra blanket folded up under the bed.  

By the time he’s finished things up the bathroom light clicks off behind him. Ben turns around to see Armie crouching in the doorway, gingerly setting his old clothes and damp loafers upon the floor before shuffling towards him.

Both the shirt and pajama pants hang off his skinny frame, making Armie look a lot smaller than he actually is and—honestly?—pretty adorable. Ben’s almost thankful for the dim light in his room, because otherwise Armie might see him blushing.

“Not half bad.” Ben nods his approval, patting the covers beside him. “This could be a new look for you. We could match.”

Armie rolls his eyes and comes to sit on the bed, the cuffs of the pants pooling over his bare feet.

“I wouldn’t dare. The world doesn’t need two Ben Solos on its hands.” He smirks, before reclining back against the bed. Armie stays that way for a couple moments, chest rising and falling gently with his breath, before pulling his legs up onto the bed and curling onto his side. His hair splays out slightly over Ben’s dark bedcovers, contrast making it more vibrant. He looks so soft, so vulnerable lying in Ben’s bed, and when Armie’s eyes lift up and lock with his he’s sure his blush could glow through even the deepest darkness.

Ben shuts off the television, now playing the end of the movie’s credits, before lying down besides the other boy. Ben faces him, only a moment of doubt flickering between them before he reaches out and pulls Armie in close. Ben would’ve never dared to hold him like this before tonight, too afraid of how his friend might respond—but it feels like their relationship has shifted a little bit, at least to warrant a deeper sort of intimacy. A crack in Armie’s hardened armor has opened, and Ben fits into it perfectly.

The rain continues outside, drawing glistening patterns against the window. It looks and sounds cold, and Ben wonders if it’ll continue into the next day or break once morning dawns, showing the sun through the clouds.

He nudges his nose into Armie’s hair, hand brushing over his back and feeling the slope of his body beneath his palm. He still smells of citrus and herbs, a bright aromatic spot in the dark musk of the bedroom. Even half-sleep and clad in Ben’s spare clothing, he brightens up the space between them.

Ben curls around his best friend, the person he cares most for in his life, slipping their legs together beneath the blankets. He feels he might be pushing his luck but he wants to be as close to Armie as possible, keeping him shielded and safe from everything out there that wants to hurt him.

It’s all Ben can do for now.

[un-enfant-immature]

Flume Health is an insurance administrator cutting costs by pre-approving prices and paying on-demand

Cedric Kovacs-Johnson launched Flume Health after watching his own family struggle with payments for his sister’s surgery.

“When we looked at who was calling the shots [on prices] it was this litany of service providers that was unknown to us and the cost was unknown to us until we got the bill weeks later,” says Kovacs-Johnson. 

The family had thought that their medical bills would be covered by one insurance provider, but as bills kept rolling in, they realized that what had been promised as one insurance company was actually an insurance plan managed by a benefits manager whose plan was not as extensive — and that the insurer was only managing the relationship with the benefits manager.

So the former Makerbot employee launched Flume in February 2017 to make the payment process more transparent for the hundreds of companies that are self-insuring their employees to cope with rising healthcare premiums.

Roughly 80% of companies with over 500 employees are providing their own insurance plans, or outsourcing the administration of insurance coverage to plan administrators and startups, seeing the woefully poor service these companies provide, are jumping into the fray.

Collective Health is one of the best funded, with $300 million in capital committed to the company, including a $110 million round last year. Another startup, Limelight Health has raised $40 million in financing as it tries to grab market share by providing tools to make the self-insured health management process easier for companies.

Those companies and upstarts like Flume, Apostrophe and Eden Health are all tackling services and support for companies providing self-insurance.

Collective Health nabs $110 million in funding

“We become the independent administrator [and] instead of buying a whole bundle of services from a carrier we let them buy it from independent providers.”

Flume is able to offer lower prices for procedures than competitors by offering payment on the day of an operation or within three days of a visit.

“Our difference is that you have an ability to change the fundamental relationship between payer and provider,” said Kovacs-Johnson. “We pay for a bundle. We know ahead of time that a procedure is pre-authorized… when we give them the approval on this estimated date of service… now that we know we’ve authorized the service we are going to pay that before or at the time of service. So we get discounts because providers hate the billing process.”

Traditional insurance administrators usually offer a bundled package of services that companies just pay for. Instead, Flume offers companies transparent pricing for independent services that allows patients and providers to pick and choose — cutting out much of the claims processing that creates additional administrative overhead for care providers, according to the company.

To navigate the world of third party administrators, Flume hired one. The company’s chief operating officer was the chairman of the board of third party administrators, Kevin Schlotman.

“As SPBA chairman, I am constantly looking at the future of our industry and have been frustrated by the lack of transparency in the cost and quality of healthcare, and the structural barriers in place that restrict flexibility in plan design and reimbursement methods that our clients are demanding,” Schlotman said in a statement when he joined the company in September.

So far, Flume has eight customers who’ve signed on to its digital health plan administration service pulling its first clients from unions and school districts across five states.

The New York-based company has also managed to attract a few investors, raising $4 million from New York investors including Primary Venture Partners, Accomplice, Founder Collective, and Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator.

By working directly with providers to get cash prices for services, patients avoid surprise bills and know what they’re paying before an appointment, according to the company.

“Cedric and team have created a solution to one of the most crippling problems facing America right now, and their early success is strong evidence that employers are desperate for change. What they’re doing has huge implications for the future of healthcare in our country,” said TJ Mahoney, partner at Accomplice .

[thisdaynews]

‘They are riding a rubber ducky into alligator-infested waters’

New Post has been published on https://thebiafrastar.com/they-are-riding-a-rubber-ducky-into-alligator-infested-waters/

‘They are riding a rubber ducky into alligator-infested waters’

President Donald Trump. | Alex Wong/Getty Images

white house

Trump faces a contracting U.S. factory sector, a narrow path to trade victories and investors spooked by recession risks — all before an election year.

President Donald Trump is staring down a series of trigger points that will determine whether he enters the 2020 campaign backed by his most valuable asset — a healthy U.S. economy — or empty-handed and further on the defensive.

The White House faces a time crunch on several major policy fronts this fall. The president will need to appease farmers and factory workers about his ongoing trade standoff with China, in which he shows no sign of backing down. His administration is trying to cajole the Democratic-controlled House to approve a renegotiated trade deal covering the U.S., Mexico and Canada. And the Trump team must find a way to calm Wall Street to prevent investors from denting one of his proudest achievements — a surge in the stock market since his election.

Story Continued Below

Trump’s economic record took another turn into dangerous territory Tuesday with a widely tracked gauge of the U.S. manufacturing sector contracting for the first time in more than three years, walloping the stock market and reigniting fears of a recession. It added to mounting concerns about a global economic slowdown under the weight of Trump’s trade war.

More than at any point in his presidency, Trump’s biggest asset looks like it could become a liability.

“The state of the economy is the single biggest factor in determining whether the president is reelected, and right now, it feels like they are riding a rubber ducky into alligator-infested waters,” said Michael Steel, a partner at Hamilton Place Strategies and former top aide to Republican House Speaker John Boehner.

It all adds up to a make-or-break stretch for the Trump economy, which aides and advisers believe should play the starring role in the president’s pitch for reelection. On Tuesday, the Trump campaign hosted two economic roundtables at local small businesses in North Carolina to “showcase how President Trump’s economy continues to work for North Carolina’s business community and families alike,” the campaign said.

Beyond winning concessions from China, the biggest political objective for 2019 remains getting the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, through Congress. A victory for the deal, which still faces heavy skepticism from progressive Democrats in the House, would remove one big piece of uncertainty for businesses with supply chains that run throughout North America. And it would give Trump a huge talking point for the campaign trail to show he was able to replace the prior North American Free Trade Agreement, known as NAFTA.

But the legislative calendar is growing very short for the year and the White House knows Democrats will be even less interested in handing Trump a victory ahead of an election.

“Once you get into the 2020 campaign, it is pretty hard to see Democrats passing the USMCA in an election year. I do think there is more optimism now about it passing this fall,” a senior administration official said.

Added to the pressure is the fact that three out of four economists believe a recession will hit in the next two years, according to a recent survey by the National Association for Business Economics — with 38 percent of economists predicting a downturn will arrive during the 2020 election year. Seventy-four percent of the economists surveyed say the next recession will hit by the end of 2021.

Moody’s Analytics chief economist Mark Zandi said the U.S. will fall into a recession if the president keeps escalating the trade standoff with China, including another round of tariff hikes in December. “The president has until the end of the year to turn it around with China,” Zandi said.

The president and the White House are on the offensive to fend off any growing narrative about a potential recession — blaming worrying economic data points on the media, Democrats and the Federal Reserve.

“We don’t anticipate anything but a solid, strong economy. That is a key point. That is our view,” National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow said last month, just ahead of the G-7 summit. During the same conversation with reporters, Kudlow cited August’s low unemployment claims as a piece of positive economic news out of the federal government.

Trump internal and external advisers know one of their biggest vulnerabilities is weakness in American manufacturing, a sector the president promised to revive with his aggressive trade policy. The pledges helped Trump secure surprising — and quite narrow — wins in key states such as Michigan and Pennsylvania.

But the manufacturing numbers are moving in the wrong direction for the president. The Institute for Supply Management, a group of purchasing managers, on Tuesday said manufacturing contracted in August and a gauge of export orders, slammed by the trade war, crashed to the lowest level since April 2009 — when the economy was in a severe recession. The ISM’s employment gauge declined, suggesting manufacturers are shedding workers.

Even a surprise detente with China on trade in the coming months — a prospect that seems increasingly unlikely given escalating rhetoric — may not be enough to reverse the sector’s decline. “The primary slowdown in the economy is driven by the trade issue and it’s not really clear how manufacturing would respond if all that somehow got eliminated,” said Timothy R. Fiore, chair of the ISM’s Business Survey Committee. “It’s not like Trump and the Chinese could shake hands tomorrow and everyone could go back to business as usual.”

Trump himself frequently touts the low unemployment rate, Republican tax cuts and the rollback of regulations as major selling points for a second term — even as Republican lawmakers and business leaders grow ever more concerned about the effects of the trade war.

The trade standoff with China remains the most contentious economic challenge for the White House this fall, said another senior administration official. A Republican operative, who works with several U.S. companies, said he worried the trade standoff with China will end up canceling out, in the long run, the economic stimulus from the 2017 GOP tax cuts.

Privately, businesses are doing everything they can to convey directly to the president and his staff the uncertainty that the trade war with China is causing for businesses eager to map out costs as well as supply chains. A new round of tariffs just took effect at the start of this week.

“The trade war with China is like following the bouncing ball. It changes one week to the next,” said Stephen Moore, an informal economic adviser to the White House and distinguished visiting fellow at The Heritage Foundation. “My attitude is, once he gets the trade deal done, he is home free politically. You cannot understate the importance of it.”

Current and former administration officials acknowledge the ultimate fate of the tariffs against China lie solely with the president, who has not been swayed by the pleas of business leaders, or even his own advisers, to cut a deal with China.

A former senior White House official said Trump does not view a protracted trade war with China — even if it means reduced manufacturing and another summer of farmers slammed by retaliatory tariffs — as a political negative.

“Frankly I don’t think he really understands any of this,” the former official said of the economic impact of the trade fights. “The manufacturing slowdown, the lack of corporate investment, what’s happening to confidence — all of this was totally predictable based on what he’s done. But he sees it as a political advantage, that he can tell people he got tough on China and needs to finish the job.”

The official added that there are few senior advisers left in the White House who will push back strongly on Trump’s pugnacious approach to trade. “The sad reality is that in the first 1,000 days of his presidency he managed to get rid of everybody who would tell him the truth or anything he didn’t want to hear.”

Instead, the president has frequently tried to cast the tariffs — incorrectly — as a financial windfall for the U.S., even as they smack American consumers, small business owners and farmers.

“We’re taking in tens of billions of dollars. We’re giving some of the money to the farmers,” Trump told reporters Sunday at the White House about the tariffs. “I’m making the farmers more than whole. The farmers are doing better than if China, frankly, were buying. I’m taking a piece of the massive amount of tariffs, and we’re giving them to the farmers who have been targeted unfairly by China.”

The one note of optimism from the White House is that they are hopeful the trade deal between the U.S., Mexico and Canada will pass Congress. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has been working closely with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to address Democrats’ concerns, and if he fails, the administration is likely to try to blame Pelosi and the Democrats — much as the president is set to blame others for any downturn in the broader economy.

“The economy is going from a political tailwind for the administration to being a headwind,” said Zandi, the Moody’s Analytics chief economist. “Unless the president finds a way to stand down on the trade war, he will have an economic hurricane to overcome as he runs for reelection.”

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[bharatiyamedia-blog]

Stranger Issues season 3: How and when to look at and plot rumors

http://tinyurl.com/yxmuzwlu Stranger Issues Netflix Welcome again to Stranger Things, welcome again to the Upside Down.  Stranger Issues is again! Time to begin binging. If you should play catch-up, we have a recap of seasons 1 and 2 here. For our full review, head here. When can I watch? Netflix As of proper now Stranger Issues season Three has been unlocked on Netflix globally. You may watch the present proper now. It was unlocked on the following instances… 12:01 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) 3:01 a.m. Jap Daylight Time (EDT) 4:01 a.m. Brasilia Time (BRT)  7:01 a.m. Coordinated Common Time (UTC)  8:01 a.m. British Summer season Time (BST)  12:31 p.m. India Commonplace Time (IST)  3:01 p.m. Central Commonplace Time (CST)  4:01 p.m. Korea Commonplace Time (KST) 3:01 p.m. Australian Western Commonplace Time (AWST) 4:31 p.m. Australian Central Commonplace Time (ACST) 5:01 p.m. Australian Jap Commonplace Time (AEST) Methods to watch Get your self a Netflix subscription. Stranger Issues is a jewel within the service’s crown of authentic sequence, and it is one of the best ways to make sure you get all the brand new episodes plus entry to the primary two seasons. Undecided Netflix is price it to you? The service presents a free one-month trial, so when you join near the brand new season’s premiere you may absorb the brand new season and each earlier years, then cancel your membership with out value. However we’re anticipating two extra seasons of the present, so that you may need to enroll once more afterward (or discover a Netflix-subscribing good friend who’ll invite you over) Opinions are promising And in accordance those that’ve lucked out and seen it early, you may wish to overlook the native gathering and keep house and watch a distinct form of fireworks from your personal TV. CNET’s own Jennifer Bisset provided excessive reward for season 3, dubbing it, “a tighter, faster-paced barely shorter run of eight episodes that manages to faucet each emotional vein of childhood (even for individuals who did not develop up within the ’80s).” Bisset is not alone. MTVNews tradition director Crystal Bell tweeted that season Three is the present’s “greatest season but.” CNET sister web site ComicBook.com also approves, noting that the brand new season works to “not solely ship followers all the things they liked about earlier seasons, but in addition elevate components to new heights.” Trailers and teases When you await the total episodes, Netflix dropped a final trailer. Issues in Hawkins look fairly grim this summer time — er, we imply, in the summertime of 1985. Try the present’s newest poster, too. Sure, Eleven is carrying a scrunchie, and yikes, these are a number of useless rats. And is {that a} new hideous monster rising up from the Upside Down? In Could, the present teased a bit concerning the sizzling instances coming to the Hawkins, Indiana, Group Pool. Trace: The center-aged mothers love them some bad-boy Billy the lifeguard. Again in March, the present delivered a preview dripping with 1980s nostalgia. Now enjoying: Watch this: Netflix teases Stranger Issues season Three in new trailer 2:50 The trailer has its enjoyable retro moments — Dustin sprays Lucas within the face with Farrah Fawcett hair spray when the chums sneak up on him — but it surely’s apparent that hazard nonetheless dwells in Hawkins. Hopper tries to reassure Joyce he desires her to really feel secure, however who can when there is a new horrific monster lurking, plus a man with a gun? And it is actually a disgrace that Mews, Dustin’s household cat, met such a tragic finish, as a result of it seems rats have invaded the town. (Learn: Stranger Things temporada 3 en español.) What’s all of it about? Why is Stranger Issues so unusually compelling? The present seemingly got here out of nowhere in July 2016, with a 1980s setting and wealthy popular culture particulars. Younger Will Byers disappears one night time after enjoying D&D together with his buddies in Hawkins, Indiana. The unfolding plot features a secret authorities laboratory, a younger woman known as Eleven, with psychokinetic powers, a creepy Upside Down dimension crammed with monsters and goo, and Christmas lights that blink an unnerving message. It boosted the sales of Eggo waffles, Eleven’s favourite snack, and created a whole motion, Justice for Barb, after a beloved character disappeared from a pool and despatched followers off the deep finish. The third season is about to blow up, and co-creators Matt and Ross Duffer say a fourth and fifth season are seemingly.  And in an interview with CNET Journal , David Harbour (Hopper himself) additionally confirmed that tidbit concerning the present: We will expect Stranger Things to stick around for an additional few years and push into 5 seasons. He additionally stated he is aware of “considerably a number of Hopper’s place in that story as a result of the extra you may know concerning the finish of your story, the extra you may arrange,” and that followers should not worry unfastened ends (cough — Game of Thrones — cough) irrespective of when the present lastly ends. “I really feel very pleased with that … we’re not going to get form of misplaced in our story and depart these strands,” he stated. “We will tie issues up.” Meet the solid Returning faces Who will we add to the core group in season 3? Courtesy Netflix New faces Maya Hawke: Hawke, daughter of actors Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, will be part of the solid as Robin, Variety reports. Robin is described as “an ‘various woman’ bored along with her mundane day job. She seeks pleasure in her life and will get greater than she bargained for when she uncovers a darkish secret.” Cary Elwes: Elwes, perpetually recognized to many as Westley in The Princess Bride, is coming to Hawkins, the place he’ll play the city’s mayor. “Good-looking, slick and sleazy, Mayor Kline is your basic ’80s politician — extra involved together with his personal picture than with the individuals of the small city he governs,” Netflix says.  Jake Busey: Busey, son of acclaimed actor Gary Busey, will play Bruce, described by Netflix as “a journalist for The Hawkins Put up with questionable morals and a sick humorousness.” What we all know concerning the plot Bros perpetually: Probably the most endearing options of the present to date got here when Dustin and Steve developed a likable little bro-big bro relationship. “You undoubtedly see extra of that,” actor Gaten Matarazzo, who performs Dustin, told Entertainment Weekly. “That is what I actually like about (showrunners) Matt and Ross (Duffer): They know what followers like and so they roll with it.” Millie and Eleven: Millie Bobby Brown recently revealed that she and her character are melding much more this season. “Eleven undoubtedly turns into extra like me this season,” Brown stated in a press roundtable. “She’s very weak, very highly effective and robust. I can relate to her power principally.” The actress additionally stated she had a hand in her character changing into extra fashionable, even “(displaying) somewhat leg.” Billy, do not be a hero: The ultimate trailer suggests Max’s bullying brother Billy will probably be possessed by no matter evil remains to be lurking outdoors the Upside Down. The mothers of Hawkins might imagine he is sizzling stuff on the native pool, however the summer time appears unhealthy for ol’ Invoice. Freeze, police! In October 2018 a casting notice looked for extras with military and police experience to movie with the present in Atlanta. Each women and men, aged 18-50, of any ethnicity, are wanted. Hmm, what Stranger Issues plot might name for a big army or police presence? May Chief Hopper be calling in a bigger pressure to assist management the supernatural facet of Hawkins? Strike up the band: In September 2018, casting notices had been posted seeking people with marching band experience to seem in a Stranger Issues episode. As with the police/army casting discover above, there is not a ton of information to go along with this information: Will or not it’s a faculty band? A neighborhood group? Are they to seem in a parade? And, in fact, we do not know if any of the principle solid members will probably be a part of the band, which would appear to imply it might play a bigger function in an episode, or if the band is simply background noise. Life’s a seashore: Celeb web site Simply Jared published a photo of Millie Bobby Brown filming what seems to be a fairly dramatic scene on the seashore in Malibu, California. Stranger Issues, in fact, is ready in landlocked Indiana, so perhaps the Pacific Ocean is standing in for an Indiana lake or river. Or maybe Eleven is taking a West Coast journey within the new season. A couple of week later, extra snaps of the solid taken in Georgia had been revealed, this time, that includes most of Eleven’s buddies, however she wasn’t seen. It is unclear what scene the children had been filming, and most of them had been wrapped in robes, both to maintain heat or to cover no matter they had been carrying.  Eleven’s backstory revealed: Viewers have already met Eleven’s mother, troubled Terry Ives, however a brand new young-adult novel printed in February 2019 will dig into her mom’s previous much more. Entertainment Weekly published an excerpt from Gwenda Bond’s guide, known as Suspicious Minds, and it follows Dr. Brenner (Matthew Modine on the present) as he tries to assemble a gaggle of younger check topics, presumably together with Terry. 5-year-old Eight, who Eleven meets when she’s fairly a bit older, additionally seems. Netflix Love is within the air: The romantic duos of Eleven/Mike and Max/Lucas are nonetheless collectively in Season 3, however for the way lengthy? “They’re like 13- or 14-year-old children, so what does romance imply at that stage of life?” executive producer Shawn Levy said.  However in July 2018, Finn Wolfhard, who performs Mike, famous that the present will probably be set in the summertime of 1985, and known as it “the summer time of affection.” Wolfhard wasn’t round for the primary summer time of affection in 1967, and he wasn’t born till after the summer time of 1985. However his quote appears to trace that love and relationships will probably be part of season 3, for good or for unwell. Not everybody’s romance will probably be all hearts and flowers, although. David Harbour, who performs police chief Jim Hopper, stated his character will “take extra dangers with these new languages of intimacy and vulnerability,” however is “going to flail and be horrible at it.”  Father determine as martyr: Additionally in summer time 2018, Harbour told the Tampa Bay Comic-Con audience that he is aware of how he’d like his character to bow out. “I wish to take a bullet for Eleven,” he stated. And when followers cheered the selfless response, he replied, “Now you are all completely happy about me dying!” No fears, although. I believe Hopper will stick round till the present’s eventual finish. We’ll have to attend and see whether or not he lives fortunately ever after (with Joyce?) or heroically exchanges his life for Eleven’s. New faces: Finn Wolfhard appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in August 2018 and hinted at some new additions. “We’re in the course of (filming the season),” Wolfhard stated. “We acquired some new solid members, some unimaginable individuals.” However that was about all he would spill, and Fallon shortly modified the topic to joke about how he ought to seem on the present as a “bizarre uncle or one thing.” New characters are not any shock, and in the event that they play main roles, as Max and Billy did in season 2, absolutely particulars will leak out quickly. Extra D&D: The primary season began with the principle boys enjoying Dungeons & Dragons, which definitely helped endear the present to all of us nerds on the market. Count on extra of the fantasy role-playing sport in Season 3.  As Comicbook.com identified, artist Jared Flaming shared on Instagram in April that he is educating the present’s prop grasp concerning the sport. Jackson Davis/Netflix Dad Steve is again: Older teen character Steve Harrington (Joe Keery), who turned out to be an enormous brother determine for Dustin in season 2, will sustain that function. “I will simply say we cannot be abandoning the Dad-Steve magic,” Levy told THR. Again in time: Ghostbusters was an necessary theme in season 2, and Michael J. Fox’s 1985 film Back to the Future will probably be a key factor this season. Chasing Chase: Again to the Future is not the one 1980s film that can play a job. David Harbour instructed Selection that Chevy Chase’s 1985 motion comedy Fletch will also inspire season 3. “Fletch is one film we get to mess around and have some enjoyable with this season, which you would not count on from Stranger Issues. and also you would not count on from the Spielberg universe and also you definitely would not count on from a darker season,” he stated. Hopper’s historical past: Harbour also told Variety that he hopes the present investigates his character’s historical past as each a New York cop and a Vietnam vet. “I am curious as to how his excursions in Vietnam may need formed him to be who he’s and if a few of that stuff would not nonetheless linger or hang-out him in varied methods,” Harbour stated. Sing it, sister: Lucas’ vigorous youthful sister Erica (Priah Ferguson) can have an expanded function this season, and deservedly so. “There will certainly be extra Erica in season 3,” present co-creator Ross Duffer instructed Yahoo Entertainment. “http://www.cnet.com/”We acquired to make use of extra Erica’ — that was one of many first issues we stated within the writers’ room.” Maintaining with the Byerses: Millie Bobby Brown, who performs Eleven, did her greatest to begin a loopy rumor concerning the new season. While being interviewed by E! in mid-Could, Brown requested co-star Noah Schnapp (Will Byers) if he’d like to see reality-show star Kim Kardashian on Stranger Issues. A confused Schnapp thought the casting was actuality, and Brown led him on by claiming Kardashian was set to play a personality named 10. Kardashian herself appeared to be onboard, tweeting an enthused response. (Fan opinion: NOOOOO PLEASE NOOOO!)  Source link

[rabicanjusticenk-blog]

Best use for your WordPress Developer Outsourcing to the Philippines

There are many|There are lots of|There are numerous|There are various|There are a lot of} corporations on the market that outsource. Brian focuses on our inbound advertising and marketing efforts; the whole lot from growing new online development strategies, content creation, technical SEARCH ENGINE MARKETING, and outreach inside the WordPress community. He has an enormous passion for WordPress, has been using it for 8+ years, and even develops a couple premium plugins. Brian enjoys blogging, motion pictures, bike rides, and flipping web sites. If you are paying a less quantity for the outsourcing process, the job may transform of a poor quality. If you happen to yourself do not have a lot knowledge relating to programming, chances are you'll find yourself getting a sub-normal output product. In such a case, try to go for a trusted firm who could have supplied service to you earlier. There is no probability of experimenting in any respect. You may ask the reference of other persons who have availed the service of some dependable company. If a low high quality product is received, it could ultimately result in greater bills. Carla and Emma Papas (higher referred to as the Merrymaker Sisters) assist over 1.5 million folks yearly live healthier and happier lives with books, their weekly #GetMerry podcast, actual food recipes, their fashionable weblog, and talking gigs. With over seventy one thousand followers on Instagram, these sisters know their manner around social media and blogging. Gin chats with them at present about their marketing methods and the way we are able to use them in our WordPress businesses. Misunderstanding and communication hole between outsourced developers and a buyer brought on by cultural differences, technical reasons, and completely different time zones. Studying Paths are big commitments. Maintain your aim in focus by taking separately. Starting Turn into a Full-Stack Net Developer will pause your previous path and save your progress. In India, we used an outsourcing heart that allotted folks to work on our challenge. At first, we had some good developers, but they had been switched to different tasks. They have been by no means our group. I noticed that people who work for an impersonal outsource shop the place they shift from challenge to undertaking every month were not the people I needed to make use of. They were not passionate or pushed; they only needed the pay.|We're searching for talented mid-level to senior developers specializing in WordPress and entrance-end projects. A centralized WordPress administration dashboard permits you to handle several WordPress websites from a single, central interface. 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WATCH: Democratic strategist: 'Multiple other reasons' beyond dossier for Russia interference investigation

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WATCH: Democratic strategist: 'Multiple other reasons' beyond dossier for Russia interference investigation

Transcript for Democratic strategist: ‘Multiple other reasons’ beyond dossier for Russia interference investigation

We’re back with “The roundtable.” Joined by Matthew dowd. Katie Walsh shields. Deputy chief of staff in the trump white house. Roland martin, host and managing editor of news one now. Former campaign adviser Karen finney. And Brian kilmeade. A new book out. Andrew yakson and the miracle of New Orleans. Let me begin with you, Matthew. It’s pretty clear it’s real now. Yeah, another boring week in politics, as it unfolds. I think the whole thing is totally department on who the person is, right? We have no idea. It could go in any different direction. It could be big. Little. The start of baiting somebody bigger. We have no idea what his game plan is in the course of this. And whether it finally reaches Donald Trump. It’s not a good thing for any white house to have to deal with this kind of thing. Anything like this takes them off their game. Off where they want to go. Off any message they want on tax cuts or tax reform or anything like that. We’ll see it unfold. It does guarantee one thing. This is going far into 2018. Which is a problem for the Republicans to have an investigation on. And Kate, you left the white house before this investigation heated up. Sit your sense they have figured out way to compartmentalize the investigation? As the Clinton campaign did? Yes. They’re focused on tax cuts. They’re going to make sure they get tax cuts for the American public. The president hasn’t spoken about this in the last 48 hours since this leak came out. I think you’ll see the white house continue to talk about hole. ING the American public. We have seen the discipline from the president. He just tweeted about Obamacare. Not the Russian investigation. Earlier in the week, Karen finney, you saw the tweets saying collusion now between the Clintons and the Russians. And also, we did learn that the Clintons’ lawyer, mark Elias did fund dossier. It came from an American company. That we had — had originally been funded by Republicans. As you mentioned earlier. I think what’s important, though, is less who founded it and what was in the dossier. And as you heard Adam Schiff talk about, a number of the things in the dossier have been V verified. I think regardless, with the announcement about Mueller, what’s important is we know there are multiple other reasons there is an investigation. There is a question of obstruction of justice in the firing of Jim Comey. The questions about Carter page. Michael Flynn. Paul manafort. Their communications and meetings with the Russians. Cambridge analytica. They reached out to Julian assange this week. The more it goes on, we learn — it keeps xwroeing. That is part of the problem. As we also learn that, some folks at the Kremlin actually weighed in on the memo that was part of the June 16 memo. “The New York Times” report. According to Democrats, it’s not fake news. There’s a lot there. To your question, if someone is marched in Monday, tomorrow, and it is something to do directly with the campaign, I think it’s one thing. If it’s something about Paul manafor the T and what he did before becoming part of the trump campaign. So, I would — to the gps situation. We found out it’s not a candidate. It was Paul sirng and his free baeken. We found out he was looking at two candidates in particular. He stopped the investigation as soon as Donald Trump locked up the nomination. As soon as he did that, he goes, okay, let’s see what happens from the Republican perspective. Then we find out that somebody else picks up the investigation, makes it international. There’s a Russian element. There was no Russian element to the free beacon-financed research. Then we’re supposed to think that John podesta has no idea that $6 million to $9 million is going out of the campaign, his lawyer says, oh, yeah, I approved that. You’re the lawyer sitting next to a client pretending he doesn’t know. As Karen knows. Roland knows. I’ve been highly critical for Hillary Clinton for a long period of time. I think all of us know that. I have to say, we need to give up the David copperfield or Harry houdini award for misdirection in this thing. This reminds me of the uranium deal that’s been debunked all along the way. There is no similarity between what Robert Mueller and what the Russians wanted to do and a dossier paid for in part by the Democrats in order to — Matt, why would you think that? There’s no Russian Yan relationship between the dossier and the Democrats. Here is what is laughable. We literally watch a campaign, of folks chant lock her up, that we can have a president under investigation, and hewe’re here right now. Will Republicans put patriotism above partisanship. Will conservative media folks speak truth or defend trump at any and all costs. I love how people are complaining about players taking a knee and the flag and excusing what was done. Get to the truth. Whitewater started with one thing and end with another. This is what happens when you go through a federal investigation. Why does patriotism have smz too with trump admitting he’s wrong? In is a guy who will knowingly lie and not admit the truth. So what whether he says it, it’s relevant to me. The bottom line is this, when you have a foreign country that is clearly, undeniably involved in our election. No, no, no. One second. Excuse me. Excuse me. I’m not talking about that. I’m speaking of Facebook ads. Bots. All of that. We all — Brian, all Americans should — all Americans should want the answer and not failing partisanship. Brian lp let Karen get in here. There’s a pattern that we have seen time and time again in this administration. You start, you know, you’ll see the president tweet about or say something, this week, it was, we need to release all of Hillary’s e-mails. Throwing the the smoke screen back on Hillary. By the way, at some point, Donald Trump is going to have to be accountable for Donald Trump the president. Just before the news broke on Friday that Mueller was — is close to actually bringing charges, I thought, what is it that’s about to come out? This pattern we have seen before. Every time there is about to be a new revelation in this investigation, leading right into that, we’ve got all this blowing of smoke and oh, it’s about Hillary. Or, oh, Obama wire-tapped me in trump tower. You saw it coming? Of course. You visit absolutely reversed. What happened over the last three days. Revelations are out, thanks to fusion gps coming forward, prior to releasing their tax records, saying — It’s been over a year. No, they haven’t. It was denied by John podesta. The DNC. Two shows in Vegas. Misdirection. Hold on. I’m sorry if you’re frustrated. I’m not frustrate FPD truth is imprtant, Brian. Let me finish. I’ll tell you the facts. Tuesday, Wednesday, we get the revelations because gps did not want to hand over their records about who financed their international probe into Russia. Tuesday, Wednesday, $3.6 million from the Democrats. And $6 million from Hillary Clinton’s campaign. I want to get two facts. So this happens. I love this filibustering scam. He’s petty cute, Brian. I do consider myself cute. Brian, hold on a second. I’m stopping this. There are two facts. Two facts at the dossier that we know. We know that it had nothing to do with the intelligence community’s findings that Russia interfered with the election. Absolutely nothing to do with that. Number two, we know that nothing in the dossier came out during the campaign. So it had no effect on the campaign. Every intelligence agency said not only did the Russians interveer, they were intersphering to get trump elected and Hillary Clinton defeated. The argument mat that has to be made is that somehow Hillary Clinton and the Democrats contributed to her own defeat. Millions have taken to

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The appalling process of GOPcare

We’ve written extensively (e.g., here, here, here, and here) about the problems with Congressional Republicans’ healthcare legislation, which would gut Medicaid and make it far harder for older people to afford individual health insurance plans, all in order to fund tax cuts that benefit the wealthiest. But the process by which Republicans are trying to pass their bill is equally alarming, and potentially disastrous for the future of the US legislative process.

An imperfect but useful status quo

Passing major legislation should involve extensive consideration of proposals’ likely impacts. Hearings allow members of Congress to hear from and question people with relevant knowledge and experience; this input can shape both the initial bill and later amendments. Once a bill is introduced, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office crunches the numbers and provides a score summarizing anticipated outcomes for the legislation’s first decade, while researchers and advocates calculate the likely impacts on the groups or industries they’re most concerned about. Members’ constituents and other stakeholders can weigh in with calls, letters, emails, and in-person attendance at town halls or office meetings. Marches, rallies, and protests might occur.

Media outlets also play a role in the process. Journalists report on the bill text, CBO score, and official statements, as well as interviewing constituents and members of groups that would be most affected; editorial boards and commentators weigh in; and pollsters gauge public approval of overall bills and specific provisions. Social media can bring the stories of affected individuals to larger audiences, as well as extending the reach of news and opinion pieces. All of this can make congressional staffers more aware of legislation’s likely impact and inspire more constituents to contact their members of Congress.

Ideally, this process would leave stakeholders and members of Congress with a clear, accurate picture of a bill’s merits and drawbacks and their constituents’ feelings about it. In practice, interest groups and commentators may mischaracterize bills or neglect to mention certain key provisions, and groups with more resources can make more of an impression on their Congressional delegations. Stakeholders often object to the parts of a bill that fund or otherwise allow for the popular provisions, and may or may not suggest appropriate alternatives. But a robust process of public input still gives members of Congress an opportunity to see pitfalls and alternatives that they would otherwise have missed, and respond with amendments. Sometimes it might even result in a member voting differently than originally planned.

The ACA vs the AHCA

There are legitimate criticisms to make of the process of developing and passing the Affordable Care in 2008-2010, but the law’s core provisions resulted from months of hearings and revisions – including Democrats’ extensive efforts to incorporate feedback from their Republican colleagues and make the bill sufficiently palatable to the many stakeholders involved. Topher Spiro summarized the process in a Washington Post op-ed:

In the House, Democrats held a series of public hearings before introducing a public discussion draft in June 2009. The House then held more public hearings before introducing new legislative text in July. All three relevant committees held “markups” — committee work sessions to amend the legislation — and the full House vote on the amended legislation did not take place until November.

In the Senate, the HELP Committee held 14 bipartisan roundtables and 13 public hearings in 2008 and 2009. During the committee’s markup in June 2009, Democrats accepted more than 160 Republican amendments to the bill.

Beginning in May 2008 — 20 months before the Senate vote and six months before Barack Obama, who would later sign the bill into law, was even elected president — the Senate Finance Committee held 17 public roundtables, summits and hearings. In 2009, Democrats met and negotiated with three Republicans for several months before the tea party protests caused the GOP to back away from negotiations. The Finance Committee held its markup in September, and the full Senate vote did not take place until December.

Here’s what happened this time around: House Republicans refused to let anyone outside their conference see the text of the American Health Care Act until they introduced it on a Monday evening (March 6); the Ways and Means and the Energy and Commerce committees cleared it on Thursday (March 9) with party-line votes without waiting for a CBO score. When the CBO did release its score on March 13, it estimated the bill would leave 24 million more people uninsured by 2026. (The March 22 amended version of the AHCA would have similar effects, CBO found.) The prospect of so many millions losing insurance reportedly “rattled” moderate Republicans. On March 24, House Speaker Paul Ryan announced that he was withdrawing the legislation before the House could vote on it. He stated, “Obamacare is the law of the land … for the foreseeable future.”

That assurance didn’t hold for long. On April 20, 2017, House Republicans announced that they had revived their bill and added the MacArthur amendment, which would allow states to adopt looser versions of ACA provisions governing premiums and essential health benefits. (A summary of the amendment was available on April 20; the full text was released April 25.) This time, Speaker Ryan didn’t bother to wait for a CBO score before holding a vote, and on May 4, 2017, the House passed the AHCA with 217 Republican votes. There were no hearings on either bill; many House Republicans faced angry crowds at town hall meetings, and others skipped public appearances. On May 24, the CBO reported that the version of the AHCA passed by the House would leave 23 million more people uninsured by 2026.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell wants to pass the Senate’s version of a healthcare bill by June 30, before the July 4th recess. As Andy Slavitt explains in the Washington Post, speed and secrecy are McConnell’s tools for minimizing pressure on Republican Senators whose constituents might otherwise persuade them to vote against a bill that will likely be very similar to the House’s AHCA. The vote may occur within hours of the CBO score’s release. No hearings are scheduled and, two weeks before the vote, no bill text has been released to the public.

This is a perversion of the democratic process, and it sets a dangerous precedent. Mitch McConnell apparently cares more about getting 51 votes on a healthcare bill than about getting public input that could improve the bill and give Senators a better idea of what they’re voting on. This is not government “of the people, by the people, for the people”; it’s cynical, short-sighted gamesmanship with the health of millions at stake.

What will Senators stand for?

McConnell’s attempted evasion of public debate will only work if Senate Republicans allow it to do so. Vox’s Sarah Kliff quotes three Republican Senators — Bob Corker of Tennessee, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana — who expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of openness in the Senate bill process, but notes that the three of them could get McConnell to agree to release the bill text or hold hearings. All it would take is three Republican Senators threatening to vote no on the bill for McConnell to accede to their demands, or else face the death of a bill he seems determined to pass. Kliff writes:

The health care bill only gets to remain secret if Republican senators allow it to. They could force it into the sunlight if that was their desire. A decision not to do so is tacit consent to a closed process, no matter how much Republican senators criticize that process to the press.

Another important article from Vox is one containing transcripts from interviews of eight Senate Republicans by Tara Golshan, Dylan Scott, and Jeff Stein. They asked these Senators what problems their healthcare bill is trying to solve, and how the bill will actually solve them. The responses were distressingly vague. Several Senators suggested that the Republican bill would lower premiums, though they declined to specify exactly how that would happen — and, notably, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas dodged Dylan Scott’s question about whether it was acceptable for some people to face higher premiums if the average result is lower premiums. The most encouraging response I saw came from Senator Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia:

Dylan Scott: What do you want this bill to achieve, and how do you think it’s going to improve health care in America?

Shelley Moore Capito: First of all, we’ve got to stabilize the market of the places that have no coverage for the individual market, whose premiums are skyrocketing, whose deductibles are through the roof. This is a real phenomenon. Somehow we’ve lost sight of the fact that people are hurting here, and if we don’t act relatively quickly, the whole system could collapse.

Dylan Scott: So how do you evaluate, what metrics do you use to evaluate whether it achieves that or not?

Shelley Moore Capito: It’s simple. It’s the affordability, protect people with preexisting conditions, protect people with Medicaid. Try to figure out the differences between the Medicaid expansion states and the ones that didn’t expand Medicaid. These are the same principles we’ve been talking about because they’re better principles than what the ACA is giving us.

Dylan Scott: Are you confident that the Republican bill would do that in a way Obamacare has not?

Shelley Moore Capito: That’s the goal.

Dylan Scott: Right. But do you feel confident that it actually will?

Shelley Moore Capito: Unless I’m confident we can do that, I don’t know how we can move forward in good conscience.

I see that Capito doesn’t come out and say she would vote against a bill that doesn’t protect people with Medicaid coverage, though she’s apparently concerned about this. In a USA Today column, Andy Slavitt warns that the GOP will offer “fig leaf” deals that let Senators pretend the bill is addressing their concerns, even though the end result of millions of people losing insurance and/or benefits they had under the ACA remains the same. The likely fig leaves include an “opioid fund” that Slavitt explains “restores only a small fraction of the massive Medicaid cuts and does not require insurers to cover related physical and mental health services.” West Virginia, he notes, has the US’s highest opioid overdose death rate and the highest percentage of adults on Medicaid. Unless the Senate bill is a dramatic departure from the AHCA, there’s no way a few million in special opioid dollars can make up for deep cuts to Medicaid that will hit West Virginia especially hard. Will Capito accept a fig leaf, or will she vote against the bill?

The only rationale I can see for the AHCA and a similar Senate bill is that lowering taxes is more important than assuring affordable, high-quality health coverage. If that’s the rationale, its supporters should be willing to stand behind that assertion. The ACA has not allowed everyone to afford healthcare, but it has slashed the uninsurance rate and improved the quality of insurance coverage. Legislators who were most focused on improving these outcomes would probably work to improve the ACA, rather than replacing it with a bill that reduces consumer protections and fundamentally alters the federal role in Medicaid, resulting in billions of dollars in Medicaid dollars for states and fewer services for those most in need. Senators who are serious about improving coverage and quality would have a coherent vision for how their bill would do those things — but the Vox transcripts and other coverage suggest the top priority is creating a bill that can get 51 votes.

For the New York Times’ Upshot blog, Christopher Warshaw and David Brookman used results from eight national polls to estimate the level of support for the AHCA in each state. They note that bills polling poorly on a national level aren’t necessarily unpopular in every state — but in the AHCA’s case, its best performance is in Oklahoma, where only 38% support it. Any Republican Senator who votes for an AHCA-type bill will be voting against the preferences of his or her constituents, and voting for a system that slashes the safety net (which anyone using nursing home care will likely end up needing), disproportionately harms women, and makes it much harder for older and less-healthy people to buy the individual insurance policies they need. They could lose their seats over this bill whether they vote for or against it. Would they rather take that risk in order to stand for a defensible political process, or for a destructive political strategy to push a bill that has no clear rationale except tax cuts and very little public input?

            Article source:Science Blogs