#Babylon Drones

[stonecreationslongisland]

Fire Island Lighthouse - Robert Moses State Park by Paul Saladino Via Flickr: Fire Island Lighthouse was an important landmark for transatlantic ships coming into New York Harbor at the turn of the last century. For many European immigrants, the Fire Island Light was their first sight of land upon arrival in America. The first lighthouse built on Fire Island was completed in 1826. It was a 74-foot high, cream-colored, octagonal pyramid made of Connecticut River blue split stone. The tower was built at the end of the island, adjacent to the inlet. This tower was not effective due to its lack of height. It was almost entirely removed and the stone reused to build the terrace for the present lighthouse. Today a circular ring of bricks and stone are all that remain of the original lighthouse. Due to the westward migration of sand along the beach, known as littoral drift, the inlet is now approximately six miles westward of this site. In 1857 Congress appropriated $40,000 for the construction of a new tower, 168 feet tall. It was lit for the first time on November 1, 1858. This tower was made of red brick, painted a creamy yellow color. The tower was changed to the present day-mark of alternating black and white bands in August 1891.

[thatshowthingstarted]

Aerial Photo of the Ancient City of Babylon, Hillah, Iraq,

Photo by Joe Hattab

[justacynicalromantic]

The sun is rising behind the spoil tips.(2) The world is allowing those with strong beliefs to claim what is rightfully theirs. Babylon is burning, but we are already holding the line with swords in our hands. For fire cannot touch those who were forged in flames. (3)

Listen to the latest song from the authors of the now famous Ukrainain track "Wild Field"

We human beings have been blessed with a beautiful garden and a myriad of pathways to explore. Each atom is a work of art, a haven of emerald waters. But there are some who get a kick of launching drones into children's rooms. They are just God's mistake, a badly written machine code. Having received the most remarkable creation - human body - In the world of violins and scripts, they want to pull the Soviet oar, Half a world away from home. Cruel beasts from birth, They thirstily feed on blood. True evil, in short. Endowed with gifts to weave love and musical chords, I dive instead into this surreal reality, when I could be building life instead. Because if we do not, all of us will be killed by this horde. Our world is broken again. We have to be the engineers of new Existence.

The sun is rising behind the spoil tips. The world is allowing those with strong beliefs to claim what is rightfully theirs. Babylon is burning, but we are already holding the line with swords in our hands. For fire cannot touch those who were forged in flames.

The uranium of the nation is here, where the spirit of the people is stronger than the everlasting ores. In the cities, there are cobblestones and animal waste. If you are a pound of slag, no money will get you rich. We are the pillars that provide the world with a continuous and influential impetus. The courageous and resolute do not fear death. It would be awful if the two shores were to be torn apart once more, The actions of the heroes - erased, the children - colonized.(4) It's better to go into battle with a pack of wolves than a herd of deer. Destitute slaves dive into the Tisza River. But we emerge from lava, from soot, and fog. Demons are constantly climbing out of the underground mines. With the bodies of the best of us, we are sewing up the cracks of the Earth.

The sun is rising behind the spoil tips. The world is allowing those with strong beliefs to claim what is rightfully theirs. Babylon is burning, but we are already holding the line with swords in our hands. For fire cannot touch those who were forged in flames.

Behind the tericons Babylon is burning, and we are Under the crown of the sky We stand in legions

The video clip shows war-torn Donbas. Especially in the second half of the video, you can see what used to be asphalt roads lined with rubble that used to be houses - all that's left of the city of Mariinka. The landscape of Donbas - endless fields of wheat, sunflowers and wildflowers - burned and scarred with craters left by missiles. For reference, this is how Donbas looked before:

2. Spoil tips, or terricones as we call them, are waste from mines, the size of mountains - a very common sight in Donbas.

3. "For fire cannot burn those who were forged in flames" is a very famous quote from Taras Shevchenko's epic poem "Hamalia"

4. In these 2 lines the song is referencing Ukrainian history in the beginning of the 20th century. The Dnipro River divides all of Ukraine almost cleanly in half, and by this separation line Ukraine had been divided for many years - the Left Bank under the rule of Russian Empire, the Right Bank - under Poland's rule. But after WWI and after Russian Empire fell, Ukrainians were able to first establish two Ukrainian states (people of the Left Bank established Ukraine's People Rebublic and people of the Right Bank established West Ukrainian People Republic) and then, on January 22, 1919 - to unite again into one singular state. This date of signing the Treaty of Unity is a national holiday in modern Ukraine. Alas, soon the whole country was again occupied by Russia and forced into the Soviet Union.

PS: link to the Wild Field, for those who has not heard it yet

I also highly recommend Ragnarok

[spicymotte]

New Babylon Hellhound - Volume 01 Teaser

(I thought you might like another teaser for NBH :') I'm working almost every day on it!)

***

"You again!" Fenia scowls at the investigator as if he just ruined her whole evening - and he probably did.

"Me again," Anton confirms and glances down the street for a moment: the clubs are slowly filling up, the first good customers are already staggering into the side streets to piss on the walls of the buildings or to empty their stomach into the gutter. The lights in the windows advertise fun and a good time - in so many colors it makes you dizzy. The Silver Linings, on the other hand, has only white lettering illuminated by two spotlights. The club looks much more upscale than the surrounding businesses, but that's more of a pretense than anything else.

"Told you I'd be back," he finally grunts, lighting a cigarette. Fenia chews her bottom lip, unsure if she should let him in.

"Miss LaLune doesn't like snoopers," she finally says.

He tilts his head slightly. "How do you know I'm a snoop?"

"Hellhound," the fairy snorts, crossing her arms over her chest so that the muscles in her upper arms stand out clearly in the colorful light of the street. "Sniffing is all you can do. That and... killing." She spits the last word in his face.

She's not wrong though. Is the blood on his hands really that obvious?

"I just want to ask your boss a few questions," Anton finally says. "Nothing about her business or what's behind it. I just need to know about one of her clients."

"Uh-huh." Fenia wrinkles her nose and it's obvious that her brain is working overtime. He has to hand it to her, she takes her job very seriously. Finally, after a few silent seconds, she steps aside and opens the red cord blocking the entrance. She waves one of the fairies out. "Watch the door for me for a moment. I'll escort our guest," the way she emphasizes the word, it sounds like a threat, "to the madam.”

A dark hallway leads into the club itself: a large room with a well-appointed glass bar to the right and a stage that takes up almost a third of the room. There is a second floor, and the railings of the upper level are vaguely visible in the darkness. Muffled conversations can be heard from above, swallowed by all the dark blue velvet used as stage curtains and wall decorations. The club looks elegant, decorated with cold tones and piercing flashes of silver. Expensive.

The sweet smell of fairies hits him immediately, that tantalizing scent that attracts a crowd of customers every day of the week. Together with the pungent note of cigarette smoke and alcohol, it definitely makes you want to relax and enjoy yourself. Take a load off. Have some fun…

Anton wrinkles his nose. Focus.

"This way. Don't fall asleep, old man." Fenia leads him upstairs, past a lounge to a hallway hidden by a heavy blue curtain. She pushes the fabric aside, revealing a door at the end of the corridor, slightly ajar but casting a glimmer of light into the darkness. "Miss LaLune is in her office. And I'm right here." Her gray eyes narrow slightly, with a dangerous fire in them that speaks more clearly than words ever could. "So behave yourself, eh, old man?"

Anton is starting to like her. "Got it."

The hallway to the office is carpeted, as is every floor in Silver Linings. It muffles his footsteps, as if they weren't already soft and attentive. He slows to a crawl at the ajar door, listening to the silence, broken only by the soft drone of the club's music. Something clicks in the room - a glass being filled with ice cubes. Hmm. Someone making a drink?

"Come in, hellhound."

The faint chant in the voice of Maude LaLune hits Anton's brain like a knockout blow. For a split second, the world spins around him, things blur together and the light from the crack in the door becomes a bright spot in his field of vision. His thoughts are drawn into a swirl of warm promises and the sweet song of the fairy behind the door. So tempting to just let go and give in to her completely... Why not sit down at the bar, order a drink and watch the charming women in short dresses entertaining the people…

Sure, why not…

Then the instinct kicks in to resist the siren song. Anton bites his tongue and the pain immediately tears a hole in the dizzy curtain of his head: the taste of blood strikes like lightning and the infernal chain that still binds him to the hells shatters every trace of fairy magic. Hellfire burns through the sweet and delicate magic of Maude LaLune, leaves nothing behind but simple clarity.

Gone is the fluffy feeling of absorbent cotton in his head, the soothing warmth in his old, tired bones.

"Nice try." Anton enters the office and is greeted by a huge solid wood desk - acacia? - at which the madam herself sits. She smiles. "Is this how you treat your guests?"

"It's good for business when customers feel well cared for and comfortable." She looks him up and down, making sure he gets that look clearly. Power and control surround her like an aura, as well as the never fading beauty of a high caliber fairy. She lives up to her reputation. "Even if you can hardly be called a guest."

Miss LaLune nods at the chair in front of the desk. A pitiful wooden chair, so small in comparison to the massive table that holds nothing but a lamp, a few documents and two half-filled glasses. Oh? So his visit was expected.

"You have good staff." He sits in the chair, which creaks precariously. Miss LaLune smiles. Her golden eyes remember Anton of a hawk, ready to pounce when she sees fit - ready at any moment to draw blood and feast on the victim's bare flesh. "Your bouncer is very loyal."

"Fenia is harmless." Miss LaLune waves it off and pushes one of the glasses toward Anton. Bourbon. Smells not too bad. "Like a kitten you catch at the door with a bowl of milk. Always comes back if you just feed it."

Her dark voice is distant, but there is warmth in the undertone, goodwill for those who are struggling on the streets of New Babylon. Maude LaLune obviously knows what it's like to have nothing and want everything. An open wound that continues to bleed into her daily life.

...

[usafphantom2]

USAF launches retaliatory airstrikes against Hezbollah military bases in Iraq 🇮🇶

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 01/25/2024 - 15:00 in Military, War Zones

On January 24, 2024, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that it had conducted air strikes against facilities used by the Kataib Hezbollah (KH) militia group in Iraq.

This action was a response to previous attacks attributed to the KH, including one at the al-Asad air base in western Iraq on January 20.

The attacks were initiated after a series of incidents involving Kataib Hezbollah (KH), including a missile attack on U.S. military bases. In retaliation, the U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles targeted several locations in eastern Syria and western Iraq. The U.S. attacks focused on three specific locations associated with KH and other groups affiliated with Iran, including its headquarters, storage facilities and training centers for rocket, missile and UAV capabilities.

One of the targeted sites was a KH military base in Jurf Al-Nasr, Iraq, known for storing a large hiding place of rockets and ballistic missiles, leading to several secondary explosions. Other attacks targeted at least six bases in the Iraqi provinces of Al-Anbar and Babylon, which were linked to the IRGC's Kataib Hezbollah, with the aim of degrading their operational capabilities.

In response to U.S. military actions, Abu Ala al-Walai, secretary general of Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, an Iraqi Shiite radical militia affiliated with Hezbollah, criticized the attacks. He called for increased actions against U.S. and Israeli targets, including a blockade of Israeli navigation in the Mediterranean Sea and attacks on Israeli ports, indicating a potential escalation in hostilities.

The Pentagon, represented by Secretary Lloyd Austin, described U.S. military attacks as "necessary and proportional", intended to prevent further attacks against U.S. troops and ensure their safety. These operations took place in the context of the increase in attacks on American bases in Iraq and Syria, marking an increase in hostilities that were relatively infrequent before the recent escalation in the Gaza Strip.

Simultaneously, tensions increased when Hezbollah recently launched an attack on an air traffic control base of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in Meron, northern Israel. This attack resulted in minor damage, but without victims, and was claimed by Hezbollah as retaliation against alleged Israeli actions in Lebanon and Syria. After that, the Israel Defense Forces strengthened their defensive measures in sensitive locations and conducted retaliatory attacks against Hezbollah and Iranian positions in Lebanon.

Tags: Military AviationF-15E Strike EagleUSAF - United States Air Force / U.S. Air ForceWar Zones - Iran/Iraq

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Fernando Valduga

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. He uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

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[grits-galraisedinthesouth]

After Lackluster Showing, Nikki Haley Orders Bombing Of Iowa | Babylon Bee

DES MOINES, IA — "Motivated by a lackluster showing in Monday evening's caucus, presidential candidate Nikki Haley has ordered the bombing of Iowa. Reports coming in from the ground indicate hundreds of eligible voters have lost their lives as a result of attacks on key polling locations throughout the state. Nikki Haley has officially claimed responsibility for the attacks.

"There's only one solution to this problem, which is the same solution to every problem, and that is bombing things," Nikki Haley reportedly said as she gave the official go-ahead to her personal drone-strike team. "Ooo! Look at the explosions!"

Final polling data ahead of the official caucus shows Nikki Haley losing to Trump, which the presidential candidate has emphatically said is "unacceptable." According to sources, polling data motivated her to launch retaliatory attacks against a voter base that despises her.

Support by defense contractors for Haley's presidential campaign has since quadrupled.

"We're all in for Team Haley," said Lockheed Martin CEO David Rumsfeld. "It's so inspiring the way she wants to give us money to bomb people. Boy, do I love bombing people."

Iowans have responded unfavorably to the bombings, but Fox News reporters confirm that the diminished Iowan population is likely to give her an edge should her candidacy survive to the general election. "The lack of Iowa voters will undoubtedly turn the tide," related Fox News' chief political anchor Bret Baier. "Some Haley voters may be collateral damage, but most of those who hate Haley will no longer be able to vote against her. This is a big win for Team Haley."

At publishing time, Nikki Haley's polling numbers surged in New Hampshire with voters indicating they were planning to vote for Haley out of fear.

As the country slowly increases in racism and right-wing bigotry, it’s important to ensure you don’t get caught up in their evil MAGA ways."

[actualmermaid]

I posted ages ago about how "ibn Fadlan among the Rus" would make an excellent historical comedy movie/series, but I think there's an equally excellent movie/series to be made about the "conversion of the barbarians" circa 500 CE

Our main character is this dude Gregorios, a priest who was educated in like Alexandria or Constantinople or some shit, and he's just the worst. Supercilious, condescending, arrogant, and he has ambitions of going down in history as the "apostle to the barbarians"

His bishop sends him to bring the Good News to a barbarian warlord named BEORTHOGOTH THE SKULL-DRINKER (or whatever), and Gregorios is READY. He's studied all the proofs, he knows all the biblical languages, he can do rhetoric and oratory with the best of them and he is going to convert this barbarian warlord and become a SAINT or else a MARTYR.

So Gregorios sets out on his mission and locates the mead-hall of Beorthogoth the Skull-Drinker. He is received and "enjoys" their rough hospitality.

We get a "comedy of conflicting manners" sequence here, just like in the ibn Fadlan story. Gregorios is scandalized by their pagan debauchery, and the barbarians have already decided that he's some useless imperial eunuch.

Nevertheless, Beorthogoth decides to hear him out. "TELL US ABOUT THIS SUPREME GOD OF YOURS," he says (all of his dialogue is in all caps).

Gregorios, out of his element, starts droning on about homoousious and shit, and the barbarians are like

One of the young barbarian warriors pipes up with "do you know the one about the beast with seven heads?"

Gregorios, eager for the humiliation to end, is like "whatever" and launches into some nonsensical fire-and-brimstone preaching out of the book of Revelation. Beasts with seven heads, dragons, the whore of Babylon, cities with golden streets and gemstone towers, etc

The barbarians fucking love it

Beorthogoth is still not convinced, and he's like "VERY WELL, YOU HAVE ENTERTAINED MY COURT, I HAVE ONE FINAL TASK FOR YOU BEFORE I BOW TO YOUR GOD"

He sends Gregorios on a snipe hunt in the woods. There's no way for him to complete the task, and Beorthogoth is very much just trying to get rid of him. Gregorios is still determined, and he sets off.

He's a city boy. It's a shitshow. He gets attacked by bugs/wild animals/bandits/bad weather/whatever.

He's the saddest, wettest rat in the whole forest. At some point he's taken in by peasants from an idyllic little village, and when he recovers, he walks around and realizes that the community is set up around a humble monastery, and the village is already Christian. However, they're doing everything WRONG and venerating UNAPPROVED SAINTS, and it upsets Gregorios more than the pagan barbarians did.

The abbot receives him. He's a really casual, earthy sort of guy with a wild animal for a pet.

Gregorios launches into a speech about heresy and the authority of the Church, blah blah blah, and the abbot is just sitting there like "go on :)" while he pets his tame fox

The abbot takes Gregorios for a tour of the monastery and village. They've been there for like 300 years already. They're taking in widows and orphans and providing for everyone's needs. Gregorios, eventually, is surprised and humbled by their story.

At this point he admits that he was sent to convert Beorthogoth the Skull-Drinker, and Beorthogoth sent him on an errand which he is starting to suspect might be impossible. The abbot is like "oh yeah, he's done that to a few other Romans before. He doesn't bother us, we just send tribute every once in a while." He offers to return Gregorios to Beorthogoth and to mediate between them so that Gregorios can get back home safely.

Gregorios and the abbot (let's call him Mikael) go back to Beorthogoth's mead hall, only to find that Beorthogoth is preparing for war against the neighboring warlord, FJALBJORG THE KNEE-SMASHER!

Fjalbjorg has sent emissaries with a surprising demand: convert to Christianity, or be subjugated! It turns out that he's a newly-converted Christian zealot, and one of the emissaries is some bitch that reminds Gregorios of his old self: another slimy, intolerant, aspiring Apostle to the Barbarians

Fjalbjorg is more powerful than Beorthogoth, AND he has the backing of the Roman Church. Mikael is concerned for his monastery village, and Gregorios is disillusioned with the whole thing, and dislikes the other Roman priest. Mikael and Gregorios work together to present a version of the Gospel that speaks to Beorthogoth's position as a tribal warlord, while staying true to orthodox doctrine (Gregorios ends up going "😬 I GUESS" a lot during this process")

The main plot resolves with Gregorios baptizing Beorthogoth, as he set out to do. However, he's lost interest in becoming the missionary-saint that he set out to be. Mikael is like "why don't you come home with me instead?" And Gregorios is like "okay 🥺👉👈"

The movie ends bittersweetly. Gregorios was forgotten by history. The monastery village was eventually subsumed by the Roman Church, and then destroyed in the Reformation.

The final shots are of the ruins of the monastery, which have been reclaimed by the forest, and charming little creatures are building nests in the old church. In the cemetery, Gregorios and Mikael are buried side-by-side.

[typingtess]

Tiptoeing through the “Flesh & Blood” guest cast

Pamela Reed as Roberta Deeks Bertie’s back!  Pamela Reed last appeared in “High Society” in season 11.  

Bar Paly as Anastasia "Anna" Kolcheck Back from “Of Value” week before last.

Natalia Del Riego as Rosa Reyes Back from “Game of Drones”, the season 14 premiere.

Kavi Ramachandran Ladnier as NCIS Reserve Agent Shyla Dahr Back from last week’s “Dead Stick”.

Marnee Carpenter as Alice Morgan Was Catherine Martin in CBS’s Clarice series.  Had guest roles in Good Girls, Criminal Minds, The Resident and The Rookie.

Lauren "Lolo" Spencer as Ella Plays Jocelyn in The Sex Lives of College Girls.

Rif Hutton as Navy Commander Albert Burns Longtime working actor.  Was JAG officer Lt. Commander Alan Mattoni in JAG.  Played Gordon in Tribes, Dr. Ron Welch in Doogie Howser MD and recently Lenny Caufield in General Hospital.  

Played Marine General Phillip Braxton in the season 16 “Friendly Fire” episode of NCIS and the season 19 episode of “Face the Strange”.

Recently appeared in episodes of American Horror Story and Grace and Frankie.  In the 2010’s, was in episodes of The First Family, Criminal Minds, Bosch, SEAL Team, Alone Together, Shameless and How to Get Away with Murder.

2000’s guest roles include The Mentalist, Jonas, Caprica, Ghost Whisperer, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, The Shield, Century City, Rock Me Baby, House, Listen Up, That’s So Raven, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, CSI: Miami, Cold Case, Monk, ER, Presidio Med, Philly, The Bernie Mac Show, The Agency and Get Real (with a young Eric Christian Olsen).

In the 1990’s, appeared in episodes of Silk Stalkings, The Wayan Bros., Any Day Now, Odd Man Out, Arli$$, Seinfeld, Pensacola: Wings of Gold, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Family Matters, Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper, The Gregory Hines Show, The Jamie Foxx Show, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Home Improvement, Babylon 5, Fudge, Sisters, The Secret Life of Alex Mack, Step by Step, The Sinbad Show, Getting By, Sister Sister, Diagnosis Murder, On Our Own, Stand By Your Man, Murphy Brown (1992), The Bold and the Beautiful, The Larry Sanders Show, Dragnet (1991), Dark Shadows (1991), Hunter, Wings, FBI: The Untold Stories, Alien Nation, Working Girl, Full House, Days of Our Lives, Valerie, Married with Children, Empty Nest and LA Law.

In the 1980’s, was in episodes of Living Dolls, Knots Landing, A Different World, Webster, Beverly Hills Buntz, Once a Hero, Night Court, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, The New Gidget, Remington Steele and The Jeffersons.

Written by:  Chad Mazero co-wrote “Internal Affairs”, “Revenge Deferred” and “Where Everybody Knows Your Name”, “The Noble Maidens” and “Pandora’s Box”.  Wrote “Tidings We Bring”, “Can I Get a Witness”, “All Is Bright”, “Diamond in the Rough”, “High Society”, “Murder of Crows”, "Overdue" and "Sorry for Your Loss".

Directed by:  Daniela Ruah directed “Russia, Russia, Russia”, “Lost Sailor Down”, “Pandora’s Box” (co-written by Chad Mazero) and “Live Free or Die Standing”. Directing announcement. Writer/director.

[pc-reki-jo]

Star Control II - Blind Playthrough First Impressions

Alright, finally decided to bite my teeth into this game today. Also, as a warning, this blog is extremely stream of consciousness, and highly scattered. I apologize for that. I have no clue how to structure a post.

I’m afraid to say it, but this is my first real foray into older DOS games. I mean yeah I played like... Doom, Wolf 3d, and junk, but that was all source ports. Granted, I’m not playing the DOS version of SC2 either (I think? It’s the Ur-Quan Masters release), but, this is my first experience with a proper, older DOS RPG. I don’t believe I’ve played through any PC titles prior to 1992, so, hopefully I can start moving backward into games from that period. Anyway...

Initial thoughts: The way movement works almost reminds me of Spacewar! which is fun enough, I suppose. The music fucking hits, though I think it’s improved by the release I’m playing. The fans of this game have compiled both the DOS and 3DO versions of the game into one unified project, making for a really nice and oddly cohesive experience - good ole CD-ROM allows for all sorts of voicework and music, something that makes this game really pop. I started up, and at the urging of the person who recommended the game to me, went directly to Pluto -.- . I did manage to get Fwiffo and his fellow crew on board, before going into hyperspace and getting properly obliterated by those damn Von Neumann aliens. Restarted, and actually realized I could reach Earth (the Hierarchy Drone scared me off, thought the station was a defense platform lol). Got Fwiffo again, fought off the Ilwrathi Avenger, and actually set up the home base. So... I’m just gonna run around, do all the starter quests, and so forth. So far, fun, though the combat takes time to get used too.

It’s whacky to see all the influence this game has had on media. Obviously there’s Mass Effect, which if you squint can be called a spiritual successor to this; but even stuff like Babylon 5 with the redshifted hyperspace. Quite entertaining

This is also my first attempt at tumblring. Please let me know if I’m doing it wrong.

[stonecreationslongisland]

Robert Moses Looking Towards Fire Island Lighthouse by Paul Saladino Via Flickr: Fire Island Lighthouse was an important landmark for transatlantic ships coming into New York Harbor at the turn of the last century. For many European immigrants, the Fire Island Light was their first sight of land upon arrival in America. The first lighthouse built on Fire Island was completed in 1826. It was a 74-foot high, cream-colored, octagonal pyramid made of Connecticut River blue split stone. The tower was built at the end of the island, adjacent to the inlet. This tower was not effective due to its lack of height. It was almost entirely removed and the stone reused to build the terrace for the present lighthouse. Today a circular ring of bricks and stone are all that remain of the original lighthouse. Due to the westward migration of sand along the beach, known as littoral drift, the inlet is now approximately six miles westward of this site. In 1857 Congress appropriated $40,000 for the construction of a new tower, 168 feet tall. It was lit for the first time on November 1, 1858. This tower was made of red brick, painted a creamy yellow color. The tower was changed to the present day-mark of alternating black and white bands in August 1891.

[andrewtheprophet]

Babylon the Great Attacks Iraq: Daniel

The US has reportedly launched a strike on Iraq, killing four people.  © 123RF/alekstaurus US STRIKE KILLS FOUR IN IRAQ AS BAGHDAD CONDEMNS “HEINOUS CRIME” Baghdad, Iraq – US forces carried out a “defensive” air strike on combatants in Iraq who were attempting to launch drones that were deemed a threat to American and allied troops, a US official said. Iraq condemned the air strike, describing…

[jasminelopez1995]

A lot of things are going to happen soon. No one can prepare enough for it. I don’t know in which order what will happen. But I know.

The $ will crash, this was intentional from the start.

World War III will break out (As if it hasn’t.) We will be invaded by China & Russia along with others along the way.

We, the USA, WILL be attacked from all angles. I’m talking EMP, nukes, drones, by air, by sea and land. They’re already here chillen on the soil with UN top up cards and cell phones, just waiting for the call, (sleeper cells.)

This is the coming punishment to America. Babylon will fall. This nation thrives on hating God. And it’s almost time to feel His wrath.

In the long haul,

Obama will rise to power- YES AS THE ANTICHRIST. He will force everyone to take a damn mark in which you cannot buy or sell without it!

Do not take this mark!!!!! You will be changed from the inside out and sold to satan, you cannot go to heaven if you take this mark!

Many people who do not obey will be placed in concentration camps worldwide.

Trump cannot save you nor would he try to he’s an actor and probably snorts coke and plays golf with his “opponents.”

Your prepping won’t save you, your guns won’t save you, your bunker won’t save you, your money won’t save you, your votes won’t save you.

No official will save you.

And Obama sure as hell will not save you. But everyone will worship him, praise him. I mean come on there were literal t shirts sold out at Zumiez with his red, white & blue campaign face on it. No other president did they praise, like they praise him.

This is NOT my opinion. This is what God has shown me and others for a long time.

Yes I am aware I am “weird” and so was Noah. No one else listened to him but he warned people constantly. Then the flood came. Now the world will be punished by fire. By war. And this is all to say repent and ask God to save you because our only hope should be placed in Jesus the Christ.

He can save you.

[drama-glob]

can uzi, N, and J from murder drones play as jet, wave, and storm who are the babylon rouges from the sonic riders series and would use their wings to fly?

I don't see why not and it sounds cool. :)

[sutrala]

U.S. — The Babylon Bee is proud to officially endorse Nikki Haley for president, and it has nothing to do with her threatening to drone strike our offices this morning, hahaha.

[lastinfur]

B18 BSCD Test

[calpops]

wake up | c.h.

Ever since this picture came out I’ve had this thought in my head that I needed to write in the dates with cal universe. Hope you enjoy <3

Word count: 1k

***

Calum has been at tour rehearsal all day, and all the night previous you two had been working on the new house. Unpacking odds and ends, deciding which curtains looked best in which window, lining shelves with trinkets and mementoes of your relationship. A book that wore watered down pages with pride, given on a night an apology shattered silence but was as delicate as a single raindrop hitting the earth. A flower to replicate the botanical garden your first date had taken place in. Art in the park tickets framed to commemorate the day of your first kiss. They’d all been Calum’s doing; he unpacked the book from the depths of the boxes, had framed the tickets and purchased vase and flower. It made your heart swell to realize he had already begun keeping his promise. He’d started to accumulate things he loved in the new home.

You walk quickly into the building the rehearsal is taking place, having agreed to meet Calum after for a dinner date. It’s quieter than you would have expected, used to the drone of guitars and drums or yelling accompanied by laughter. The lights in the hallway are dimmed and your steps echo around white walls and tiled floors. You push past the heavy door to the rehearsal room to be met with a surprise. Ashton lingers still, back pressed to a corner wall and phone in hand. He looks up to greet you and his eyes skirt over to the other side of the room. You follow his path and try to suppress a laugh but can’t bite back the grin that forms on your face. Ashton lets a small chuckle slip and you look back at him.

“Didn’t wanna leave him here alone,” Ashton explains and then shrugs. “Didn’t wanna be the one to wake him up either.”

That tugs a small laugh out of you as you gaze back at Calum sprawled out on the floor, somehow sleeping with his back to hardwood and legs straight as a pin. It’s mildly confusing, his usual sleeping position curled up on his side—no bed seemingly soft enough. But it makes sense in a way. So many late nights organizing the house, or staying late in the studio for last minute changes and early mornings rehearsing or walking with Duke. Calum had been running on empty for days. You were surprised it hadn’t hit him sooner. You bit your lip as your eyes stayed on him.

“I can handle it,” you offer and hear Ashton’s breath of relief.

“I was hoping you’d say that,” he replies and you hear his footsteps clashing with yours as you head towards Calum and he heads for the door.

Once reaching Calum you slowly drop to your knees, one hand on the floor as you lean down and the other gently placed on his stomach. You can feel his even breathing. The soft rise and fall. You contemplate how best to wake him, wanting it to be an easy affair; knowing the grumpiness that would follow from an intrusive waking. The only idea you can fathom is the way you wake him at home. For a moment it seems foolish but the peaceful look on his face sways you into the most gentle of measures. You settle down at his side, tucking yourself against him with your head on his chest. You can feel your cheeks heating at the situation but you bypass the embarrassment and tell yourself no one is around; it’s just the two of you, just like usual.

You give him a slight squeeze with the arm sling over him and nuzzle into him; mimicking mornings you woke earlier than him. You feel his response almost immediately, a slight shift underneath you. You can tell he’s starting the cycle of waking peacefully. You give him another squeeze and trail your fingers along his arm.

“Cal, you gotta wake up,” you whisper in an attempt at your usual morning voice.

Only a second passes before a tired moan slips out of him and a plea for five more minutes follows. You laugh and shift, now knowing he’s at least partially awake. You push slightly up and hover above him, fingers finding way to his jawline and ghosting over it as he smiles with his eyes still closed.

“No more minutes, gotta wake up so we can go home and sleep in our bed.”

Calum’s eyes open at that and he finds you hovering over him; his back pressed to the floor and a rehearsal room in the background. You greet him with a soft smile and when he pouts his lip a quick kiss follows. You both move to sit up and you can see the tiredness in Calum’s eyes. His movement is languid and drawn out as he lifts himself up and pulls you back to him.

“We were supposed to go to dinner, weren’t we?” He asks, voice gravelly as he presses his face against the crook of your shoulder.

“Why don’t we just order take out and eat in bed?” You offer while running soothing fingers through his hair.

You can feel his smile pressed against your skin as he gives your shoulder a small kiss as a sign of appreciation and agreement.

A throat clears and has you both turning towards the doors; Ashton stood with his arms crossed and a smirk painted on his face. “If I knew all it took to wake him without a fight was a little snuggle I would’ve been doing that years ago.”

You blush profusely and turn back to bury your face against Calum. “I thought he left,” you mumble.

“I came back to see if you needed help,” Ashton laughs as he heard your quiet words—because of course he did. “But I think you’ve got it handled.”

Ashton leaves after that, embarrassment still heating you from the inside out and Calum slightly chuckling.

“It’s not funny,” you grumble as you both stand. “You’re impossible to wake up any other way.”

Calum offers you his hand and his understanding. “I know I am. Now let’s get home and to bed so I can wake up like that tomorrow.”

He grins and you roll your eyes.

“It’s one of my favorite parts of the day,” he defends. And you know he means it. Always chasing extra time in bed with you, sometimes pretending to stay asleep to get another squeeze from you. 

You’re the only one he wants to wake up to.

***

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