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aishangotome · 3 months

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Azel Radwan: Unless You Know Love

From A Hidden Oath: King of the BEAST (2024 Election) - Collection Event

---

(Ah, as I thought... I was right to come and see.)

A crowd had gathered on the desert sea trade route - the caravan's path connecting towns and cities.

Judging by the way they were pitching tents and making a fuss, it seemed like an unwelcome problem had arisen.

I pasted a smile on my expressionless face. As I stepped closer through the sand, people noticed the god and bowed their heads.

Azel: Is something troubling you?

Caravan Member: Oh, Living God! Please save this woman.

Caravan Member: She collapsed in the middle of the trade route. She seems to be barely conscious.

(That's not good.)

I made my way through the crowd and entered the tent.

Lying on a cloth was the foreign woman I had been meeting frequently lately.

She was a woman brought in as an assistant by the merchant I had been working with, and also a slave of the god, burdened with debt and forced to work.

(It's fortunate she was picked up by the caravan.)

Azel: Could you give me some water?

Caravan Member: Yes! I'll bring it right away.

I lifted her body, loosened her clothes, and forced her to drink the water that was handed to me.

Fortunately, she seemed to have the energy to drink, and her throat moved up and down slowly.

I wiped the water that dripped from the corner of her mouth with my sleeve, and her eyes gradually came into focus.

Emma: ...Huh... Azel...sama?

Azel: You've come to. How are you feeling?

Emma: ...Bad...

Azel: I thought so. It seems you're suffering from the heat.

I placed my hand on her forehead, and her body temperature hadn't cooled down yet.

(It's too hot here... This is troublesome, but should we change locations?)

The surrounding caravan members gasped as I lifted the woman, who seemed unable to walk on her own, with one arm.

Caravan Member: Living God! We will--

Azel: No, don't worry about it. You were about to head out for business, weren't you?

(I'll thank them for picking her up, but I don't want them to follow me because they're annoying.)

I flicked a gold coin from my pocket and handed it to the caravan man.

Azel: Here's some money for the water. May your journey be blessed, you kind and devout people.

As I left the tent, saying whatever came to mind, I heard the cheers of the foolishly grateful people behind me.

Emma: It's cold! It's strange, even though it's a desert.

Azel: ...It's nice to be a carefree child, isn't it?

The woman, who had been on the verge of death just a few minutes ago, was frolicking in an oasis rarely visited by people. I sat in the shade of a tree and watched her lift the hem of her skirt and enter the lake, for no particular reason.

(Despite almost dying, this carefree attitude is a kind of talent.)

Emma: Would you like to join me, Azel-sama?

Azel: Unlike you, I'm a sensible adult.

Emma: But it feels good.

(...It would be creepy if I frolicked around.)

The woman turned around, stepping through the water, seemingly unconcerned.

Emma: Oh, right. Thank you for saving me.

Azel: Indeed. If you're going to collapse, at least give me a warning first.

Emma: That's impossible...

Azel: It's not impossible. You didn't get enough sleep today, did you?

Emma: H-How did you know...?

Azel: Because I'm a god.

(Who was it that was so excited about finding an interesting book yesterday?)

Azel: Don't come when you're not feeling well, it's a nuisance.

Emma: ...I'll keep that in mind.

Emma: But I was surprised. That you, Azel-sama, saved me.

Azel: Don't make me sound like a cold-hearted person.

Emma: But you actually are, aren't you? Oh, could it be, an exorbitant fee--

(Ah, I forgot.)

(It's troublesome to ask for money every single time, but...)

Azel: If you insist, then fine, show me your sincerity.

Azel: We have to rewrite the loan agreement, don't we?

Emma: That's all you ever talk about, Azel-sama.

Azel: I'm apparently a cold-hearted man in your mind.

Emma: ... And on top of that, persistent.

Azel: I see. I understand. I'll add on compensation for emotional distress due to the insults.

Emma: Th-That was a compliment!

Azel: How? You idiot.

Emma: ... Ugh... Why are you so obsessed with money even though you're a prince and a god?

(I've never said I'm obsessed with money, though...)

(... I suppose it's okay if she misunderstands.)

Azel: Want to know?

Emma: ... If I say I want to know, you'll probably charge me, so I'll hold back.

Azel: That's too bad.

(Rather than needing money, I need you to keep hating me.)

Women are valuable as slaves because they are a kind of atheist who don't see god as god.

I'd love to have such a person around, but my only concern is that she's a "woman."

Most of the time, women start talking about love and romance, which becomes troublesome.

However, at least, the woman innocently frolicking in the oasis shows no signs of such clinginess.

It seems she's come to recognize me as a greedy, scheming god, which is a promising start.

Emma: Ah, w-whoa…!

The woman fell on her backside into the lake, having tripped over something.

A violent splash of water flew up, soaking her completely.

Azel: ...I've never seen a woman look so unappealing even when wet.

Emma: That's just because you have no taste, Azel-sama!

Azel: Insulting me again---

Emma: Achoo...

(...)

With a sigh, I tossed the cloth I was holding to her.

Emma: I'm sorry... Thank you.

Azel: My kindness comes at a price.

Emma: ...I know.

Azel: Work hard. At least enough to repay the help I gave you.

(As long as you don't know love, I might keep you by my side and help you sometimes.)

(But...)

(If I sense even a hint of "that," I'll get rid of you immediately.)

FIN

#イケプリ #King_of_the_BEAST #azel radwan collection story event #azel radwan translation #azel radwan ikemen prince translation #ikemen prince 2024 election #ikemen prince kind of the beast event

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the-bjd-community-confess · 2 years

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Hello, Oldie Chinese Diaspora Anon™️ here. Where is the “loudest anti-recast voice” from? This confession reminded me of something interesting (and makes me feel very old at the same time). There are a lot of aspects to the recast market (and yes, Econ Anon, I hear you! It’s a market thing! 👍 ) and part of it is geopolitical. I guess that’s where I come in.

Let me walk you back to the late 80’s when China first opened its doors to the world. At that time, because of Chairman Deng’s policy of “letting a small group of people get rich sooner”, the Eastern seaboard opened itself up to foreign investment. However, one should never forget that China is a totalitarian, Communist state. It meant that “the law” is prone to changing, the government owns most large industries and through the ways of loans, the government also has a backdoor to most businesses. I still remember the blatant accusations of what we used to call the “Chinese honeypot” scheme. The government (or some government-funded businesses) entice foreign investors to set up factories along the Eastern seaboard.

Part of the agreement to receive government subsidized benefits was to hire more than 50% local labour, and this included the managerial staff as well. In the beginning, a lot of the early investors reported that they were earning hand over fist because of the cheap labour. But after the first wave, investors were being expelled out of the country one way or another, after being stripped of their assets and their trade secrets. I still remember multiple family members (and business friends of these said family members) recounting stories of foreign bosses catching their Chinese managers stealing trade secrets and deliberately sabotaging equipment when their aims have been fulfilled. In some cases, actual honeypot traps were set up so the bosses would be set up with adultery (which was a severely punishable crime at the time) or saddled up with a Chinese wife. To cut the horror story down, China found itself where it is today through alleged systematic and government-sanctioned intellectual theft. It is no wonder that the Chinese boomers are not known as big sticklers to copyright law. In many ways, they are still the ones in charge. Folks like Luo, for example.

However, just as a coin has two sides, the closed-in totalitarian state also fostered an “ever-inward” culture. Children born to these boomers were taught on a steady diet of nationalism and extreme self-centredness. These are considered to be virtues. Their children, the Gen Z, have even more of the same cultural upbringing, bolstered by being the “only child” of “only child” parents. As a consequence, there is a lot of internal cohesion based off of nationalism, which translated into a specific type of cronyism that is hard to fathom. Most of us have heard of the term “rabid fans” – for an old fogey like me, I think of Deadheads caravanning across the country to catch the next concert. Folks these days are probably more familiar with the fans of famous singers such as BTS and BlackPink and the hijinks they were up to from time to time. In today’s China, on the other hand, pretty much every fandom can boast their own “rabid fans” – from Apple Fanatics to a self-professed fan groups for an actor/singer/artist to… well, BJDs. When I say “rabid fans”, it’s because I cannot come up with any other word for this behaviour. If you can think of a better descriptor, please let me know.

I lurk in Chinese “BJD Circle.” And this fanaticism has its highs and lows. The lows are plenty and serious – people will refuse to sell second-hand dolls to newbies because “they don’t speak the lingo”, for example. The faceup artists are known to smash heads if they are found to be recasts. Scammers and questionable behaviours are “hung” out in the Tucao bar for a public lynching - and because most people in the circle frequent this Tieba, it’s basically a court of public opinion. Thanks to the social credit system, if you are lynched through a virtual struggle session, your ability to be a part of this circle becomes so diminished that you are shunned. And due to the fact that you need your real name and information to set up an account for all transactional platforms, it’s easy to get doxed and cyberbullied. This self-righteous fervor expanded outside of China and was brought under the spotlight for the first time in 2020, during the “Milk Tea Alliance” incident (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milk_Tea_Alliance Note: in the spirit of full disclosure, I came from one of the Milk Tea Alliance countries. )

What about the highs? The “high” point in this self-contained lynching culture is internal self-policing. The Circle acknowledges that people who are just entering the hobby may accidentally buy a recast. But in order to be accepted into the circle, you have to prove that you have completely given up your recast dolls by “whitewashing” yourself here: http://c.tieba.baidu.com/p/6882408381 (Content Warning: very broken dolls, hammer, fire) If you get caught having a recast doll, you will be shunned. Your businesses (as a faceup artist, seamstress, wig maker, etc) will also be boycotted. In short, the self-policing is slowly squeezing Luo’s business out of China, for better or worse.

Which is why on Luo’s business website (https://chinabjd.en.alibaba.com/company_profile.html) China is no longer its biggest market, which we alluded to here: It took me a long time to try to hunt down why would North America be the second largest market while China itself makes up a small portion. It wasn’t until I came across this post http://c.tieba.baidu.com/p/7792470874?pn=1 that it made sense. It was first posted in the April of 2022, from a Chinese national studying abroad in Japan. This person was surprised that the international market was flooded with Shuga Fairy dolls while another person chimed in stating that a lot of “Westerners” asked if Shuga Fairy dolls were any good. Other folks chimed in that Shuga Fairy dolls were found in a lot of international platforms while another one mentioned that the same doll sold for a higher price overseas.

Then it made sense. For what it’s worth, the Chinese’s closed, cronyism “Circles” have managed to keep most of the recasts out of the hobby. Sure, recast-friendly/neutral circles still exist, but they are in the fringes and having some difficulty interacting with the rest of the hobby as a whole (to the point having difficulty buying doll items from Xianyu stores. Store owners will refuse to sell their wares to recast owners). But that’s not the same with North America. It’s a land where information is scarce(r ), the market is not nearly as saturated and there are a lot more folks who have simply never heard of a BJD before. It’s much easier to con a largely unsuspecting crowd (which explains why recast dealers really work hard on that SEO) into buying something that they thought was “just an expensive toy”.

So, for the folks who think “the US has the loudest anti-recast voice”… I am really, really sorry. You can’t argue with the numbers (or Econ Anon, for that matter). The US is the second largest mark for the recast market. And there are some really compelling reasons why this is so.

P.S. I am not familiar with the Russian market at all. So please, don’t ask me why Russia is the largest market for Luo and his company. Thanks in advance.

~Anonymous

#BJD #ABJD #BJD Confessions #Community Counterfeits #Recasters

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webziine · 4 months

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Vote Trump 2024

Being gay does not require you to vote Democrat.

What has Biden done for gay men? I'm referring to the men... not the clowns that think they are women, or who support those types, or think that "Pride" is a rainbow excuse to flaunt themselves half naked down a street, or in front of kids.

Really, what has Biden done?

From what I've seen since day one, he has killed projects (remember the pipeline and all those jobs people lost), has left billions in military equipment, including USA military members, has wasted billions on Ukraine, has lost tax payer funds to pay off college loans for uneducated people who cheated their way through school and don't know shit, and has completely ruined the great economy we had. Remember low gas prices, and filling up your grocery cart so that you could eat for a week?

How about the border situation? As a Veteran, I believe in LEGAL IMMIGRATION. I think there may be some smart people out there who could be of benefit to our country, as long as they come to our country the right way, with the right credentials, and do what it takes to become a citizen of our country. I don't believe in allowing entire caravans of undocumented, disease carrying, NON-ENGLISH-SPEAKING people to randomly invade our border. Don't even get me started on the language things because English is our primary language.

Voting for Trump is going to be the only way to get a lot of things fixed that Biden has completely screwed up.

Vote for Trump in 2024.

By the way, this post is not permission for bashing Trump. If you have something beneficial to say, stick with that. Outside of that ratchetness will be deleted and blocked. Remember we do not play woke at Night Watch.

#Trump #trump 2024

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kylosbreedingkink · 6 months

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HAN SELLS BEN???????????? PLEASE

You're not the only one to ask! Han sells Ben is a modern AU where Han is a single father struggling to raise Ben. He goes into a lot of debt. And that debt starts being owed to worse and worse people. To settle is debts, one suggests they can take his son and put him to good use. Han goes along with this, rationalising it as Han being unable to provide, and thinks Ben will be put to work in the boxing rings that this gang run. He's wrong, Ren has other plans for the son of Leia Organa, the politician who is trying to shut him down. And who better to share the message back to her, than the ex husband she entrusted the kid to?

She needn't worry though, Ren will look after Ben much better than Han ever did.

--Essentially, RenBen noncon from the PoV of Han. It's not pleasant, here's a bit of the first draft of how it starts

Han tried his best. He really did. He just was never cut out to be a single father, and he should have admitted that 9 years ago. It had been 10 years since his and Leia's divorce, and all Han kept was their son, Ben.

He had been given the option to go with whatever parent he chose. Of course, a seven year-old isn’t going to make the best decisions, and was currently hero-worshiping his dad, so straight off with Han he went.

In hindsight, letting a 7 year old make major life decisions is not a good idea.

(In hindsight, Han thinks that perhaps Leia knew Ben would choose him, she was always career driven and knew childcare would hold her back.)

The first few years were great, him and Ben, father and son versus the world. And then it all went downhill. First, Han lost his job, and then they lost their flat, and then the lack of money meant they had to give up their dog, Chewie (Ben never forgave him for that). They spent a short while living out of Han’s car, but that’s no way to raise a child.

That’s when Han started borrowing money. It was never loads, just enough to get by each month. Managed to get them a caravan on the edge of the city, still close enough so that Ben could cycle to school. He was a good student, not quite top of his class, but close. Han tries not to dwell on that though - maybe if Ben had a more stable home life, he would be the best student. Either way, Ben had his whole future ahead of him, and Han was not going to let that be ruined.

He continues borrowing money - it just makes sense. Live on the brink of starvation without any sort of roof over their head, or borrow a bit here and there to help make ends meet. He never fails to pay it back, and it’s only ever small amounts, to cover food and fuel. Just enough that he can get to his next job and never too much that he can’t pay it back before the loan sharks come knocking.

—--

“Yeah.. Ok. Ok.”

The decision doesn’t take as long as Han would have liked it to, and he hates himself for it.

He’s never been good at them. It’s how he ended up in this mess. From agreeing to take Ben in 10 years ago as a single father right up to now, destitute and owing money. The large man grins. His teeth glint in the dark.

Han feels sick to his stomach.

“Well you heard the man, boys. Go get him.”

Han’s heart is hammering in his chest and he feels like he might throw up. He almost stops and rescinds his side, ready to argue for his son, happy to offer himself up instead. Almost, but then something stops him. He doesn’t know what Ren wants Ben for, but Ben is a big lad and can hold his own in a fight. Ren probably wants him as a guard, indoctrinate the youth into the gang culture and he’ll have a loyal follower for years. That, or perhaps the underground boxing rings. Han is sure Ben could make some big money there. He’s gotten into enough fights at school that he could hold his own in a ring, Han is sure. With a bit of training, he could make a man like Ren a fortune. Either way, it’s a future for Ben, one which Han is unable to provide. And if he wins big in the rings, maybe he will remember Han and help him out?

He turns to leave, finally a free man after years of debt had plagued him. (And free from the burdens of raising a teenager alone).

“I wouldn’t leave so soon, Han… Don’t you want to say goodbye to your son?”

He doesn’t. He really doesn’t. He doesn’t think he could look in those brown eyes (so much like his mothers) and admit he sold him. Admit that he has hit rock bottom so many times that the only way to claw himself out is to exchange his own flesh and blood.

But Ren doesn’t give him a choice, as two of his ‘knights’ move to stand in his way. “I don’t need to see him, Ren. You’ve got what you want, and I’m sure he will make a great boxer, but you’ve already taken him from me. Don’t make me have to say goodbye to him too” With that he hears the larger man chuckle from his seat. “Boxing? Who said anything about boxing?”

“You can’t send him out doing drug runs, Ren. He’s seventeen, he has no street smarts, he’ll get caught” Han looks back up at the gang lord, eyebrows furrowed

“Don’t you worry your little head about it Han, I won’t let your precious boy out of my sight. Someone grab him a seat, he’ll want to see this”

#ben solo #kylo ren #renben #original ren #han solo #kylo fic #asks and replies #my fic #truly a work in progress this one has been sitting with small bits done to it for at least a year now #star wars

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butternuggets-blog · 7 months

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FOR WANT OF A NAIL

@baldwin-montclair @adowobsessed @sylverdeclermont @nicki-mac-me @thereadersmuse @kynthiamoon @wheresthesunshinesblog @adowbaldwin @beautifulsoulsublime @lady-lazarus-declermont @adarafaelbarba @dogblessyoutascha

Part Fourty-Three

Summary: Baldwin Montclair had a string of ex girlfriends, a single child, and a lifetime longer than most people could dream of to make all kinds of mistakes. His family knew one which kept coming out of the woodwork to irritate him every other century

Also on AO3

Merula bowed low. Queen Inari Konte returned the gesture, and motioned for her to join her.

‘Cairo suits you, your Majesty.’

‘Of course!’ Queen Inari smiled. ‘I am at home wherever I go.’

Her servants laughed around them. The Malian ruler had brought a retinue of five hundred serving women with her; they had moved into an adjoining section of the Qarafa district to her husband Mansa Musa, and had wasted no time in turning it into their own private paradise.

Merula leant back on the gilded lounge she had been directed to, and accepted a cup of wine from one serving girl as another began massaging her feet. Merula flinched inwardly, but allowed it.

‘You disapprove of slaves?’

Perceptive. ‘I am in the minority,’ Merula said.

‘And I thought perhaps the rumours were untrue. A rich woman who employs servants and eschews slaves.’ Queen Inari leaned closer and whispered conspiratorially. ‘I look forward to seeing all the other contradictions in the secret ruler of this land.’

________________________________________________________________

When the caravan eventually left two months later – all 60,000 of them – they left catastrophe in their wake.

'Say that again.' Merula said, slowly.

'His majesty gave away 71,000 pounds of gold.' Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn Amir Hajib was almost in tears. 'Children, soldiers, citizens. He was handing it over to beggars in the street!'

'The gold is worthless now,' Merula muttered to herself. Then she straightened.

'Is there nothing we can do?'

'Short of burying it in a hole in the ground, no, nothing.' The govenor of Cairo shook his head forcefully.

'..how long will this affect us?' Merula asked, turning towards her wife. She watched Ishtar's expression grow more and more grim as she pronounced sums to herself.

'Years.' Ishtar said, firmly. 'And we will not be the only ones affected. This will ripple out and spill across the world.'

Merula felt a knot forming between her shoulder blades. She resisted the urge to sigh and drew herself up straighter.

'We will go together to tell the sultan that his economy is ruined.'

Abu relaxed a little.

'In the meantime..pray for a miracle.'

________________________________________________________________

'Bless you for your assistance.' Pain flickered briefly across Queen Inari's face. 'We have been much troubled by recent events.'

The caravan that returned to Cairo from Mecca was quite different. Tales of starvation and bandit raids passed around, and Mansa Musa had humbly admitted to Sultan Al-Nasir that he had run out of money.

'You have been generous beyond measure to Cairo and her people,' Merula said, 'It was my pleasure to assist.'

And ease the burden on the economy.

Merula had made a point to gently corral the visiting monarchs into loans with a lower rate of interest than they perhaps would have found on their own. It was going to come back to bite her when they repaid, but in the meantime she had breathing room.

'The sultan has passed along many gifts also. Between the two of you I feel confident our journey home will be a comfortable one.'

Queen Inari smiled warmly.

'You must visit us soon. To share the splendour of our country with your family; it would be a memory I would treasure.'

'I hope you will treasure your memories of your visit to Cairo!'

'Of course!' Queen Inari took Merula by the hands and gently squeezed them. 'I have always valued the moments when I make a new friend.'

________________________________________________________________

'...the gold has arrived.'

Merula sighed.

'Do you suppose he knows that he has hurt us?' Ishtar linked arms with her as they made their way through the palace complex.

'Almost certainly. He is a smart man, and Mali has riches to share and then some. This has been a calculated attempt to upset everyone else and let his people thrive.'

'And if it was not?'

'Then Mansa Musa is the most generous rich man I have ever met.'

They stopped in front of a baggage train of armed guards and camels; Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn Amir Hajib stopped loudly directing the men this way and that and turned to look at them.

'Try to convince His Majesty to keep the gold deep in a vault, as cushioning for lean times.'

'Is there a backup plan?' Abu asked.

Merula nodded.

'Start digging.'

Author's Notes

Mansa Musa and Inari Konte were the rulers of the Mali Empire, circa 1312 to 1337. In 1324 they went on Hajj (pilgrimage) to Mecca, stopping in Cairo on their way. Mansa Musa is considered to be the wealthiest person in history, with an estimated net worth of 900 billion US. Puppet History did a special on his Haj to Mecca:

youtube

"...Musa and his entourage lingered in Mecca after the last day of the Hajj. Traveling separately from the main caravan, their return journey to Cairo was struck by catastrophe. By the time they reached Suez, many of the Malian pilgrims had died of cold, starvation, or bandit raids, and they had lost many of their supplies."

"Having run out of money, Musa and his entourage were forced to borrow money and resell much of what they had purchased while in Cairo before the Hajj, and Musa went into debt to several merchants such as Siraj al-Din. However, Al-Nasir Muhammad returned Musa's earlier show of generosity with gifts of his own." (Wikipedia).

Allegedly Mansa Musa didn't know what his generosity had done to Cairo's economy and the world's. But it could also have been a deliberate attempt to undermine the world gold market so that Mali would rise to the top of the global economy.

#baldwin montclair #baldwin de clermont #bibaldwin #baldwin de clermont/male oc #a discovery of witches #adow #all souls trilogy #all souls series #all souls tv series #a discovery of witches season 1 #a discovery of witches season 2 #a discovery of witches season 3

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nysocboy · 8 months

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Gemstones Episode 2.1 Review: Junior likes dicks, Kelvin likes pecs, and f*k yeah, we got both

Season 2 of The Righteous Gemstones began over two years after the Season 1 finale, and the back stories, personalities, and even the genre has changed. Remember, Danny McBride likes his seasons to be complete stories, with no or few call-backs, so new viewers easily understand what's going on. In fact, it may be fun for us to start afresh, watch as if we have never seen or heard of these people before.

Memphis Soul Stew: Memphis, 1968. Teenage Eli Gemstone, the Maniac Kid (Jake Kelley), is playing a heel, a pro wrestling villain: "from the wrong side of the tracks, a newcomer to the League, all muscle, all attitude." He fights dirty, pretending to reconcile with opponent Kyle Hawk, then throwing him out of the ring.

As he fights, his manager Glendon Marsh (Wayne Duvall) cheers. Glendon's teenage son Junior (Tommy Nelson) watches, sometimes happy but usually disturbed. Is he jealous of the attention Eli is getting? Is he a rebellious teenager during the era of the Generation Gap?.

Nice Cock: In the locker room, Glendon offers Eli "some bonus pay on the South Side," while Junior looks on, smoking a cigarette, still either jealous or angry. As they leave, they pass a naked guy. "That's a nice cock, Ernie," Glendon says. Junior is so busy looking that he trips, and then looks back again. The boy is definitely into cocks and butts.

The Loan Enforcer: Glendon is a loan shark as well as a wrestling manager: the job involves beating up a deadbeat. Eli and Junior both go, squabbling over who's the boss.

"Kill 'em!" we hear. Psych! It's the tv. We meet a slovenly, drunken, foul-mouthed, abusive jackass of a husband. While Junor subdues his wife and baby, Eli punches him a few times and asks for the money, and when he doesn't have it, breaks his thumbs. Junior laughs "derangedly" (according to the subtitles).

Afterwards Glendon drops Eli off, hands him some money, and tells him, "Buy yourself something nice." This is a feminizing statement.

As Eli drives off on his motorcycle, we hear Buck Owens' "Tall Dark Stranger":

They say a tall dark stranger is a demon, and that a devil rides closely by his side.

So if Junior is the demon, Eli must be the devil riding beside him. How long will they ride together?

We're fine with the faggots: In 2022, elderly Eli Gemstone is a megachurch pastor and televangelist. He and the satellite church ministers are discussing the case of Pastor Butterfield (Victor Williams), caught videotaping his wife and another woman having sex in a dance club restroom, while they were all high on Molly ("we thought they were Sweetarts"). The story made the front page of The New York Times, thanks to reporter Thaniel Block (Jason Schwartzman), who has made a career of publicizing ministerial sex scandals. Eli wants to be lenient, but the others object. (Left: random pecs)

A Spanish speaking pastor explains: "My church is ok with the maricones (roughly faggots), but we're not ready for swinging and tropus." Pastor Diane translates: "His church is really cool with the gays and the queers, but not so much about the swingers and the thruples." They fire Pastor Butterfield; he tries to commit suicide.

Why did Pastor Diane translate maricones with two words, gays and queers? Why queers, doubtless with the old pejorative meaning rather than the contemporary reclamation? I get the impression that the pastors are not really ok with maricones, so any gay ministers might want to stay in the closet, especially with the reporter snooping around. Since this is the first scene in the present day, it is doubtless setting up one of the main conflicts of the season. But who is the gay minister Eli, Junior, or someone not yet introduced?

F*ck, yeah: After the morning service, the family drives in a caravan to Jason's Steak House. They get out of their cars in slow motion and walk past the al fresco area, heterosexual couples reveling in their nuclear family conformity, the "job, house, wife, kids" litany of my youth made visible. The background song brags about their heteronormative success:

Turn your head when I walk by -- I got the world at my feet.

All I want out of every day, is to wake up every morning

Sun is shining, smiling, and we've covered every room

Wait -- where's Kelvin?

Suddenly the record scratches off. Two vans pull up with a flexing muscle Christ and the logo "Strength above All Else." Twelve muscle men emerge, wearing identical canvas gis: the God Squad! Closeups of biceps and pecs and abs,bulging, flexing, intruding on the smug primness of the nuclear families. There is no romance here. There is no heterosexual desire. It is raw homoerotic power.

We see their leader from the back of his tiger-splashed leather jacket. Who is this Messiah of Muscle, this Pope of the Phallus, demolishing the iron cage of heteronormativity, leading us to the bright, clear love of men for men?

He turns around for the big reveal.

Kelvin! The prissy little femme boy from church earlier? I thought it would be Junior.

He has changed his jacket: more shiny buttons, a gold bracelet. And his pants: a porn-star bulge and a bright gold zipper to help guide us to the Promised Land. Obviously gay, but hardly closeted. His life, career, and religion all center on masculine beauty.

A man we haven't met before stands beside him, identified as Keefe. His relationship to Kelvin is unclear. Assistant or boyfriend? Acolyte or lover?

Kelvin gives his God Squad some micromanaging instructions about "eating light," and starts to walk toward the steakhouse. Keefe stops him. "Excuse me, sir. Will you be dining with the men and I?" Sir? Assistant.

Kelvin says no, he'll be dining "above you" with the family.

Keefe: "Shall I join you?" Boyfriend.

Kelvin: No. "Upstairs church lunch is only for family...and Daddy's closest work associates."

This upsets Keefe. He looks like he's about to cry. Apparently they have enjoyed intimacy before, so he thinks he should be treated as a boyfriend. Never hook up with your boss, Dude: it only leads to trouble.

Kelvin: "Do not take this personal. No matter how many disciples we gather, you're still my Number One." So Kelvin is Jesus, and Keefe is the Beloved Disciple. Assistant

Keefe still looks upset, so Kelvin says "Let me tickle them titty meats" and reaches out to squeeze his nipple through his shirt. Hey, that's inappropriate with an employee. Boyfriend..

Then he swishes off with a jaunty over-the-shoulder smile, pushing up the gay stereotypic behavior Boyfriend.

Now we see Kelvin's central conflict: he is closeted after all. He imagines that being gay is incompatible with the cozy families sitting upstairs in Jason's Steakhouse, so if he wants a career and a family, he must deny Keefe like Peter denied Christ: "Him? Oh, he's my...um...assistant." During this season, Keefe will be pushing for a place at the table, recognition as a romantic partner. Will Kelvin find a way to admit him?

The full review, with nude photos is on RG Beefcake and Boyfriends

#the righteous gemstones #kelvin gemstone #keefe chambers #kelvin x keefe #tony cavalero #adam devine #Junior Marsh #Eli Gemstone

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dealify · 5 months

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BEST OFF ROAD CARAVANS AUSTRALIA – 2023

We all know that travelling in your caravan, on your time and your terms, is a wonderful way to explore Australia. The freedom of a good ol’ road trip!

However, if you’re a true Aussie adventurer, searching for the hidden gems and majestic, postcard-worthy views that others can’t find… then it is time to push out from the beaten track and go off-road.

Tackling Australia’s toughest terrain is not for amateurs, and not for the un-prepared. That’s why we’ve prepared (haha) our list of the Best Off-road Caravans for 2023! Let’s get you moving wherever your heart desires via the bitumen, dirt, gravel, mud, or anything else.

These ruggedly versatile, off-road caravans are designed to go where no tiny toyota corolla will go, thanks to additional ground clearance, upgraded suspension systems, heavy duty chassis, all-terrain tires, complete off-the-grid amenities and resilient exterior finishes. Throw in some top-notch safety features and customizable interior layouts, and you’re set up to travel here, there, and everywhere.

Here’s our pick of the Best Off-Road Caravans of 2023 so you can pack up your things, clear your calendar, and head toward the horizon while singing along to “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” at max volume.

SENATOR PROVINCIAL CARAVAN The Senator is completely off-grid ready with complete facilities which are customizable according to your needs and preferences. From a fully-furnished kitchen, to spacious living area with a lounge converting into an extra bed space. The master bedroom houses a queen bed to stretch out and relax at the end of the day. The Senator has a central ensuite. two 95L water tanks plus another 95L gray water tank, external hot/cold shower, washing machine, 2 x 120Ah lithium batteries, and a 600W solar power system. Of course, there’s ample lighting and storage throughout. A reverse cycle air conditioning system maintains the temperature inside regardless of where you go outside.

Elegantly designed and constructed from lightweight aluminum composite, with tough SupaGal boxed steel chassis. You’ll glide over the bumpy stuff thanks to Level 4 Tuff Ride Airbag Suspension of dual axle configuration, 16” all-terrain tires, DO35 tow hitch, electronic sway control, and a break-safe breakaway system. All of these are designed to smoothen your ride while keeping you safe if things get a little hairy. It’s a total winner for a luxuriously comfortable off-road adventure for three people.

OFF GRID LOTUS CARAVAN The Lotus looks mean, dark and serious on the outside, with a clean, bright interior that welcomes a long-term stay. Available in 11 customizable floor plans ranging from 19′ to 24’8” to fit a family of seven (SEVEN!), the Off Grid Caravan from Lotus Caravans is built to withstand the harshest uneven terrains. They don’t compromise on safety or convenience either. Its robust chassis features a G&S Control Rider TwinShock independent suspension with a DO45 coupling & Kojack, 12” off-road brakes and all-terrain Cooper Tires on custom 17″ wheels.

The super-stylish interior boasts modern furniture, matte & gloss laminate benchtops, soft-close drawers, and Italian leather seating. You’ll feel so special sitting in this interior that going back to your normal home will be considered a downgrade. Its REDARC Battery Management System, 200Ah of lithium battery, 800W of solar power, and low-power LED lighting will ensure you’ve got power wherever you go. Two 95L water tanks plus one gray water tank, 2 gas bottles, ceramic toilet, external shower, and a dust reduction system make it ideal for longer off-road explorations. The Lotus Off-Grid Caravan lives up to its name of being the epitome of rugged luxury for your toughest family outback adventures.

SUNLAND LONGREACH Sunland Caravans are known for high-quality, and their Longreach Caravan is no exception. An exterior which is more traditionally styled than the Lotus, and a worthy competitor that has to be on the list of our Best Off-Road Caravans for 2023. Its sturdy construction using composite fiberglass with independent suspension and aluminum chassis are marks of a serious off-the-grid caravan.

It has ample amenities for an off-road adventure, including an external kitchen, fridge, 190L & 60L water tanks, a shower, two 200Ah lithium batteries, four 180W solar panels and sufficient storage. A well-designed, spacious interior with genuine leather seating will keep you comfortable, and soft close drawers will avoid any unnecessary banging or clanging when you’re trying to rest. You even have the option for triple bunk beds, making it perfect for a family of five!

TRAKMASTER PILBARA S The Trakmaster Pilbara S is a beacon of excellence in the realm of off-road caravaning. With twin shock independent coil suspension, hot-dipped galvanized chassis cut for higher ground clearance and better departure angle, and a DO35 off-road coupling, conquering Australia’s roughest roads and trickier terrain will be as easy as walk in the park.

Its features include dual 150W solar panels, AGM deep cycle batteries with a battery management system, two 82L water tanks with monitors, a full ensuite, deluxe kitchen, and innerspring mattress providing cosy comfort while exploring the remote wilderness. Its unyielding durability, capable off-grid features, and rugged design with four choices of floor plans make it a standout choice for couple adventurers seeking the perfect off road caravan for their next holiday into arenas less-travelled.

ORIGINALLY FOUND ON- Source: Dealify(https://dealify.au/best-off-road-caravans-australia-2023/)

#boat finance #car finance australia #truck finance #caravan loans australia #caravan finance australia

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goneahead · 10 months

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This is Delhi

A mega urban forest

abode of two billion

amused

mesmerised

restless

ruthless

insensitive, impatient people

a hapless metropolis

where everything is purchased

-air, water, relationship

a city -unintelligently expanding

where forcefully pasted

artificially prepared

green patches create awe

where no one hears

alhaa, birhaa, holee

or chirpy birds

music and dance are on rent in discos

where whispering

scheming

slowly moving necks

cooing pigeons

millions of pigeons

looking like animated corpse-zombies

holding chains

in bus

metro trains

-an endless caravan of zombies

living on credit cards

and the city thriving on loans

-heat wave from Rajasthan

cold wave from Himachal

and much more-

refugees from Pakistan

Labourers from Bihar and UP

standing crop of agents and brokers

this is the city

which is called Delhi.

~~Pankaj Prasoon

#Pankaj Prasoon #indian poetry

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ausetkmt · 2 years

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Young Black Voters Motivated By Issues, Not Candidates - Capital B Atlanta

It’s a late Saturday morning at Fort Valley State University, and Jayden Williams is sounding the alarm like Dap Dunlap in “School Daze.”

“Knock knock! It’s time to vote!” the 19-year-old shouted inside a residence hall just before noon in mid-September. Williams serves as the youth and college division president for the Georgia NAACP. He and his team members spent about 20 minutes venturing through the building’s third-floor corridor, knocking on every door.

Several drowsy students wearing scarfs, bonnets, and du rags cracked open their doors and poked their heads out. FVSU freshman class president Kennedy McIntyre was there to greet some of them. Moments later, dozens of students flooded a first-floor common area before making their way outside and across the lush, freshly landscaped campus during the hot and sunny day. Williams, McIntyre, and campus NAACP president Aniya Warfield led the way.

Their destination was a grassy field across the street from Wildcat Stadium where voter engagement activists from the Black Voters Matter Fund, the NAACP, the ACLU, Represent Georgia and Georgia Stand-Up, among other groups, had set up tents and tables to catch the attention of people who came to watch the school’s undefeated football team take on the Allen University Yellow Jackets.

A DJ blasted southern rap music while some students stood in line for Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Others couldn’t resist snapping selfies in front of the eye-catching Black Voters Matter charter bus parked nearby. FVSU’s Blue Machine Marching Band and drill team members strolled down a nearby street as volunteers passed out Black Voters Matter T-shirts, drawstring backpacks, bracelets, and other swag to students and alumni.

This was day two of the Black Youth Renaissance Tour, a collaborative, nonpartisan, get-out-the-vote effort organized by Black Voters Matter and several of its local grassroots partners.

The goal of the five-day caravan and charter bus trek to six HBCU campuses across the state — beginning a day prior at Albany State University on Sept. 16 and ending at the Atlanta University Center on Sept. 20 — was to register and energize as many Black students as possible before Nov. 8.

All of the fanfare — the fancy bus, the music, the ice cream, and the free apparel — is designed to attract crowds, particularly young, Black potential voters.

Georgia’s last gubernatorial matchup in 2018 was decided by fewer than 55,000 votes. Since then, at least 1.6 million more people have registered to vote across the state. An additional crop of potential new voters resides at the state’s HBCU campuses. FVSU alone has a population of more than 3,000 students, most of whom are adults between the ages of 18 and 34.

That demographic group of young voters cast ballots in record numbers in 2020 and last year, helping Democrats in Georgia secure landmark victories in the process. Young and rural Black voters are expected to play pivotal roles in the outcome of this year’s midterm contests as well, despite being among the least motivated groups.

Violent crime, COVID, monkeypox, lack of affordable housing, low-wage employment, hospital closures, student loans, higher utility bills, and overall inflation are some of the major issues disproportionately impacting Black Georgians this midterm election season.

BVM’s Georgia state organizing manager Melinee Calhoun is one of the activists who’ve worked tirelessly in recent years to mobilize the state’s rural Black population. She acknowledged that Black voters she’s encountered this year aren’t as energized as they were during the past two election cycles.

“People aren’t as motivated right now, but that’s why we’re pushing hard,” Calhoun said.

Represent Georgia Executive Director Kimberlyn Carter also recognized the frustrations that Black voters she’s encountered this year have expressed. Many voters in rural parts of the state voted for the first time ever during previous election cycles, only to have problems plaguing their communities get worse during the pandemic economy.

“Every presidential year, we go, ‘This is the election of the lifetime,’” Carter said. “We have gotten voters to the point where, ‘OK, we’re tired of hearing that.’”

Focused on issues, not candidates

Many students who participated in the voter engagement festivities said they don’t usually follow politics closely. Some were only vaguely familiar with household names like Gov. Brian Kemp, Stacey Abrams, Raphael Warnock, and Herschel Walker.

But most were aware of and concerned about the issues affecting their state and local communities. One major issue was the recent reinstatement of Georgia’s 2019 abortion restriction law following the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturn of Roe v. Wade, which had a galvanizing effect on young voters this summer.

“Once those rights have been taken away from you, it kind of makes it harder on you,” said Albany State University sophomore Chasely Sellers.

Some time before Election Day, BVM will mail those pledge forms back to those who signed them to remind them of their promise and the campaign issues they said they care about the most.

BVM also works with volunteer residence hall captains on campus to ensure students have what they need to vote on or before Election Day.

“If they need a ride to the polls, their hall captain is going to ensure that,” Miller said. “If they need to vote by mail, their hall captain ensures that they get that vote by mail application.”

Freshman BreAnna Mitchell, 18, was one of the FVSU students who registered to vote for the first time. The nursing major said addressing gun violence is her top issue this year following the fatal shooting of her cousin in Atlanta three years ago.

Mitchell recalled Kemp enacting a law earlier this year that made it legal for “lawful weapons carriers” to carry concealed handguns without a permit.

“It should be illegal to carry a gun,” she said. “Even if you have a license, you just shouldn’t have it.”

Addressing gun violence was a recurring desire for students and activists throughout the five-day tour. One of those people was FVSU freshman Tynika Howell, 18, whose family moved from Buffalo, New York, to nearby Warner Robins, Georgia, about five years ago.

Howell recalled a 13-year-old boy being arrested and charged in Warner Robins last year in the fatal shooting of his own mother.

“When I was in high school, there were 15-year-olds with guns,” she said. “There is no reason anybody 13, 14, 15 should have a gun in my opinion.”

‘We have no jobs’

Catholine Walton, 31, was more focused on getting her new podcast idea up and running than who’s running for office when BVM activists did some door-to-door canvassing in her Buena Vista neighborhood on Sept. 18.

The Blessed Crown Beauty Supply store she opened in March 2020 recently closed due to slow business caused by the pandemic, she said. Walton suggested financial literacy and entrepreneurship are better paths to empowering Black folks than politics.

“If we are not out here being a part of the system making money, putting jobs into the community, I mean, what do we really benefit from whoever is in [office]?” she said.

Like many Black residents in Buena Vista, Jade Kendrick sees the poor local job market as a major concern. The 26-year-old is a stay-at-home mother of two who said she’s been unemployed for about a year after dropping out of nursing school at Valdosta Tech to take care of her children amid the pandemic.

“We have no jobs for moms down here who don’t have help,” she said. “We need more babysitting. We need more income, period, for moms who don’t get it.”

An Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll from September showed Abrams receiving about 80% support from Black voters who were surveyed. Black voters tend to favor Democrats by an overwhelming margin in most elections. Abrams received 93% of the Black vote during her first matchup against Kemp in 2018.

Georgia and beyond

The largest crowds on the bus tour occurred at the AUC in Atlanta on Sept. 20, where hundreds of students from Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, and Spelman College participated in National Voter Registration Day festivities.

Members of a local Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. chapter led a step show in front of CAU’s student center during the early afternoon.

Louisiana native Rayven Bryant, 19, is a sophomore at Spelman who said she plans to vote absentee in her home state’s midterm elections this year. She’s most concerned about abortion rights after a Louisiana judge blocked a trigger law from taking effect in July following the Supreme Court’s overturn of Roe v. Wade.

“Just being on campus with women, it’s always very hard to continuously see us be oppressed,” Bryant said. “My heart is still in Louisiana. … I want to be an active part of those politics and changing those issues as well.”

Several of the students who showed up for the fun were already registered to vote in other states, which Miller said is common at HBCU campuses.

“They don’t have to change their voter registration because they still are impacted by issues in their home state, but what we do is we give them a plan and a pledge to vote wherever they are,” she said. “Hopefully, a majority will choose to register here. Most college students stay in the state where they went to school or graduated from college.”

Morehouse senior Jalen Curry is a Rock Hill, South Carolina, native who plans to vote absentee in his home state.

“I think right now it’s very hard just to live,” he said. “It’s hard to go to school. It’s hard to get a job. It’s hard to find somewhere to stay. It’s just hard to exist.”

#Young Black Voters Motivated By Issues #Not Candidates #ATL #Black Voters Matter #Black Votes Matter

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tkfinancegroup · 1 month

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Australian Finance Group

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Some of these insurance companies also offer specialty commercial products. These products can cover financial risk exposures such as agribusiness and manufacturing. They can also cover the costs of business interruption and cyber crime.

Some of these companies have a market capitalization of more than $10 billion, making them one of the world’s top insurance companies. Their market cap can help customers and investors decide whether they’re a safe investment. In addition, their market share can indicate whether the company is financially stable enough to meet its future obligations.

#australian finance group #finance group australia #invoice financing #excavator finance

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