#aas 55

[zaman-lordu]

Sonunda kitap ve manga siparis ettim cok mutluyum

[illnessfaker]

if you legitimately believe in the concept of porn addiction you're a reactionary btw.

edit: i'm turning reblogs off on this post because the people taking umbrage with it are either 1. reactionaries proving my point 2. people who refuse to read any of the sources provided in the relevant reblog 3. people who don't understand what actually defines addiction vs. compulsive behavior or 4. people who don't understand that what society dictates is abnormal sexual behavior isn't an objective measure of fucking anything anyway and that should be obvious because being gay used to be in the dsm!

read this and fuck off:

Another consequence of medicalizing addiction is that addiction as a medical condition can expand in scope to include an ever-larger number of cases (e.g., Reith 2004; Barker and Galardi 2015). Though early US sexologists, such as William Masters and Virginia Johnson, studied what they labeled “sexual disorders,” they did not use an addiction framework (Irvine 2005 [1990]). Instead, the emphasis on sexual addictions, including addiction to pornography, stems from the addiction movements related to substance abuse (Reay, Attwood, and Gooder 2015). In the last half century, this movement has begun to identify and treat a wide range of addictions related to various behavioral pleasures, such as eating, gambling, and sex (Travis 2010; Netherland 2012). Founded in 1977 by a longtime Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) member, Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA) was the first established sex addiction support group. In the 1990s, the addiction movement began targeting pornography addiction, which they connected to both sex and Internet addictions (Irvine 2005 [1990]; Voros 2009). Conservative Christian leaders and organizations, which have long opposed pornography on moral grounds, championed the addiction framework in late twentieth-century messages about pornography’s harms (Thomas 2013; Perry 2019; Burke and Haltom 2020). Radical feminists, who have maintained their opposition to pornography since the 1970s (Whittier 2018), remain in coalition with religious anti-pornography groups but have not taken up the language of addiction like their conservative Christian counterparts. Instead, evangelicals and feminists find common motivation on the basis of freedom from so-called sexual exploitation, language that, according to Bernstein (2018), reflects the rise of the neoliberal state and militarized humanitarian efforts.

[...]

Compared to newspaper articles and state resolutions, scientific articles were the least likely to support an addiction framework, and we found less support among neuro-physiological research than psycho-social studies. Seventy-six percent of psycho-social articles that referenced pornography addiction supported an addiction framework, compared to 55 percent of neuro-physiological articles. Psycho-social articles outnumbered neuro-physiological articles by nearly seven to one and were better positioned to support an addiction framework by using self-reports of perceived addiction or addiction-like behavior. Neurophysiological articles that did not include self-reported measures used criteria to define and measure addiction neuro-physiologically, and these noted common limitations. First, for those using cross-sectional designs, researchers could not determine whether the differences they observed preceded or followed pornography consumption. Second, as an article published in 2015 in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience describes, neurological researchers who work under the assumption that the brain responds to cue and reward differently when studying addiction (i.e., what triggers the addictive behavior and to what effect) test pornography itself as a reward behavior rather than as a cue for future reward. In other words, in the lab, participants are typically instructed that they should not masturbate while being exposed to visual sexual stimuli or pornographic material. These studies may lack construct validity measuring pornography as a reward, whereas in real-life pornography, it is most often a “cue” for some other rewards (i.e., masturbation or partnered sex).

[...]

Within our sample of neuro-physiological studies, 81.8 percent (9 of 11) included all-male samples. Though psycho-social studies that analyze gender do find differences in pornography consumption and perceived addiction for men and women, neuro-physiological studies that use all-male samples reinforce the assumption that men experience unique physiological harm as a result of pornography consumption. Neurophysiological articles are more similar than psycho-social articles to newspaper articles and state resolutions in the likelihood of exclusively emphasizing men as the consumers of pornography. This serves to reinforce a medicalized model of men’s biological predisposition to become addicted to pornography and thus perpetuates the stereotype that men have innate and uncontrollable sexual urges. Women, who may be literally excluded from a neuro-physiological study’s sample, are then figuratively understood to lack these same sexual desires.

[...]

Our findings reveal that references to pornography as addictive emerged in scientific articles, newspapers, and political documents in the twenty-first century and grew most substantially in the last decade. Most of these sources implicitly or explicitly reproduce the pornography addiction framework that they reference, but scientific studies are more likely than newspaper articles or state resolutions to explicitly challenge or critique a pornography addiction framework. Broad cultural understandings of addiction position neuro-physiological studies as the best equipped to validate pornography addiction since addiction is understood as a “brain disease” (Vrecko 2010a; Netherland 2011), yet these studies are the least likely in our sample to make broad conclusions that pornography is addictive in ways that are similar to drugs, alcohol, or gambling. Most newspaper articles that reference pornography addiction take for granted the concept and therefore implicitly support it, yet the articles most often mention public figures who are not neuroscientists of addiction and are instead activists, politicians, religious figures, and therapists. All state resolutions in our sample explicitly support pornography addiction as a concept and rely on biomedical language to construct pornography as a threat not only to individual consumers but also to broader groups and communities. This reliance on biomedical language allows political actors to present a seemingly objective and factual account of the harms of pornography that are more convincing than claims about morality that may seem outdated or out of place in the political sphere (Thomas 2013; Strub 2010).

Our analysis of how arenas of public discourse construct harms associated with pornography addiction illustrates the social and political stakes of biomedicalized concepts related to sexuality. Just as sociologists of other addictions argue that the shared understanding of addiction as “biological” is made meaningful only through social situations (Keane 2002; Weinberg 2002), we find that public discourses construct pornography addiction as a social problem by articulating a wide range of harms, including direct harms to consumers and indirect harms to broader society. These discourses do more than pathologize pornography itself but also pathologize individuals and relationships that fall outside of normative definitions of gender and sexuality.

[raina-at]

Eavesdropping

Bakers, again. This takes place right after Sherlock won Bake Off.

------

John Watson’s Blog Entry, December 9th 2010, 2:55 am

Congratulations on winning Bake Off, Sherlock! I’m thrilled to have been in the final three with you and Molly. Recipes for all my bakes will follow, but for now let me just say: I couldn’t be happier!

Comments:

@ janinelawyered agreed! What a night?

@ thenakedbaker where did you two go off to so suddenly? One minute we were all drinking champagne, the next minute you two were gone.

@ marym come on, you know where they went.

@ thenakedbaker shagging each others’ brains out probably

@ mollyhoopersblog Irene! That’s private!

@ thenakedbaker oh come on, with the amount of eye sex these two were having in front of the entire British public…

@ mollyhoopersblog Still. 

@ janinelawyered let’s just say I had a room next to them once and they didn’t leave much to the imagination.

@ thenakedbaker Do tell!

@ janinelawyered I really shouldn’t. But since you asked, let’s just say I got the distinct impression that a very good time was had by all.

@ thenakedbaker Details, Janine. I want details. 

@ johnwatsonsblog YOU REALISE I CAN READ EVERYTHING YOU’RE WRITING HERE, RIGHT?

@ janinelawyered Stop eavesdropping!

@ johnwatsonsblog I’m not eavesdropping, it’s MY FUCKING BLOG! I GET A FUCKING NOTIFICATION FOR EVERY ONE OF YOUR COMMENTS!

@ mollyhoopersblog how did it go? You know. The thing.

@ johnwatsonsblog Molly. He reads my blog. I’m not going to tell you anything.

@ mollyhoopersblog Just one word. Good? Bad? Middling?

@ johnwatsonsblog … good. Very, very good.

@ mollyhoopersblog I’m so happy for you!!!!!!!!!! 

@ johnwatsonsblog Don’t jinx it, though, all right? Leave him alone, I don’t want to scare him off again.

@ thescienceofbaking I’m not so easily deterred, thank you very much.

@ johnwatsonsblog I beg you, ignore all of them!

@ janinelawyered Oi, Baker of the Year, heard you had an interesting night!

@ johnwatsonsblog I want to stress that nobody heard anything from me! 

@ thescienceofbaking John.

@ johnwatsonsblog Yes.

@ thescienceofbaking I don’t care. 

@ johnwatsonsblog Really? 

@ thescienceofbaking John. Come back to bed. 

@ johnwatsonsblog All right. I’m deleting this entire thread, just so you all know. And mind your own business. 

@ thescienceofbaking John. Now.

@ johnwatsonsblog Coming. 

@ thenakedbaker I bet you are.

@ mollyhoopersblog IRENE!

Comment thread deleted December 9th, 3:34 am

-------

Tags under the cut aa always, please let me know if you want to be tagged or untagged.

@calaisreno @totallysilvergirl @jrow @peanitbear @jolieblack @meetinginsamarra @helloliriels @keirgreeneyes @lisbeth-kk @friday411 @givemesherbet-blog-blog @salmonsown @weeesi @thalialunacy @thegildedbee @dapetty

[canonicallyobserving911]

Bathena: First argument from season 4 resurfaces in season 7

Unpopular opinion: Bathena's arc in season 7 seems to be related to their future as retirees and it's a repeat of the argument they had in season 4.

Please understand, I'm not saying they will retire at the end of season 7 but I am saying it's possible they're being setup to start thinking about it so they can prepare in advance. If they are then Bobby will have to pick someone to train to be the next captain of the 118 and Athena may have to train someone to take over the region/territory she covers as a field sergeant.

Based solely on the conversation they had with Norman and Lola during their first dinner on the ship, along with Athena's fear of being alone with Bobby because she's not sure what they'll have to discuss when there's "no chaos" (her words to Frank), it appears their first argument that began in 4x12 and carried over into 4x13 and 4x14 has resurfaced in 7x1.

In 4x12, when Bobby was hyped about finding the treasure, Athena asked him where his interest in it came from and the last answer that he gave her was "We can even decide to retire". She looked at him and replied, "Retire? I thought you loved your job." He said, "I do but jobs like ours... nobody does them forever." He was correct because their jobs as a captain and a sergeant are demanding and they won't last forever. People can age out of them and sometimes employees are forced out for ReAsOnS.

To make a long story short, she said she planned to be on those streets (being a sergeant) until they forced her off them and Bobby was taken aback by her response then replied, "Somebody almost did" and he was talking about Jeffrey. They continued to talk but Bobby learned from the things she said that she had been offered retirement after 3x17 but she turned it down. He went on to explain that he didn't know about it and well... their communications or lack thereof, continued until it turned into a huge argument in 4x13 that went into 4x14. The only thing that stopped them from continuing was Hen's call to Bobby about Eddie getting shot.

They made up in 4x14 and they didn't discuss it again.

Fast forward three years and here they are again, faced with the real possibility that the day is coming when they'll have to retire. This is NOT about ageism or anything like that but it is about them being realistic. Everyone at the 118, Maddie and Athena are all seven years older than they were back in season 1 (Eddie and Maddie didn't join the cast until a year later but they're all older than they were) and Bobby had a point when he told his wife that jobs like theirs don't go on forever. Most LAFD and LAPD civil servants have the option to retire and collect their pensions at the age of 55 so it's an option.

Athena's explanation to Frank illustrated how she's afraid of the way their communications will be after they don't have their jobs to discuss anymore and she also mentioned how she's afraid to talk to Bobby about it.

Bobby believes she's avoiding him (she was) and it affected him so much he went to an AA meeting.

IMO, Norman and Lola are on the ship too as a way to show Bobby and Athena that retirement can be a good thing but they'll have to plan for it like Norman and Lola did. Reminder, they just kept popping up everywhere they went and Athena said she didn't like them. It could be because they remind her of their future. (TM is a genius for establishing their retirement arc this way.) Norman and Lola are happy and enjoying their lives while living on a cruise ship. While Bobby and Athena don't have to do what they did, their storylines do parallel especially since Norman specifically said he was a retired dry cleaner from Encino, CA and he wasn't a rich guy who had lots of bitcoin and he doesn't have a dongle. That was a direct callback to 4x12 when Bobby wanted to find the treasure so they could setup trusts for the kids, remodel their kitchen and guess what else? Retire!

After Lola finally got Norman's attention in 2x8, they've been inseparable. Also, don't forget Lola said she spent 18 years raising their kids and then Norman stopped seeing her. He really didn't because he was just going on with life but she thought he did. She explained that he came to see her everyday while she was in jail and they've continued to communicate ever since and now they can't stay away from each other.

Bobby and Athena spent most of 7x1 not communicating but when they got into their "crime fighting mode" after assuming Norman had killed Lola, like they've done before when they were investigating the owner who burned down his restaurant in season 2 and the casino heist in season 5, they were unstoppable. He's a fire captain so he knows fires and she's a field sergeant which means she knows crime and investigations, therefore, they're an awesome duo who could combine their skillsets and build an empire. IMO, they would make an awesome private investigations team but I digress.

Reminder, they're empty nesters now and when they're not at work, they spend most of their time talking about it. All of their friends are at work too and we never see them hanging out with other couples like Norman and Lola so maybe this is a good thing. Also, if they don't plan now, what are they going to do when they actually do retire?

Only they can answer that question or they'll end up like the first couple in the episode who had the fighter jet land inside of their home, onery, frustrated and angry.

Disclaimer: facing retirement is a real fear for some people because they didn't/don't prepare or discuss what they want to do after their jobs end. Some people make their jobs their life and when it's over, they don't know what to do with themselves. That's why work/life balance is important along with setting boundaries with an employer.

There's an old saying, "I work to live, I don't live to work" and it's true.

[uma1ra]

SUBHAN'ALLAH, THIS TEXT CONTAINS VERY INFORMATIVE KNOWLEDGE FOR ALL!! READ & SPREAD IT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, IT WILL BE SADQA-E-JARIAH FOR YOU AND ME.

1-Akhi - Brother

2-Ukhti - Sister

3-JazakAllah khair - May Allah give you Ajar/Sawab for your deed.

4-Ma'Shaa'Allah - As God has willed.

5-HayakAllah - May Allah give you life.

6-BarakAllahu Feek - May Allah put baraka in what you are doing.

7-Wa feeka barakallahu - and May Allah bless you. (in response to Barakallahu Feek)

8-Wa iyyakum - And to you

9-Alhamdulillah - Praise be to Allah

10-Allah - God

11-Allahu Akbar - Allah is Most Great

12-Amanah - Trust

13-Assalamu Alaikum - Peace be upon you--the "official" Islamic greeting.

14-Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh - "Peace and the Mercy and Blessings of God be upon you" Extended form of the above.

16-Astaghfir Allah - I seek forgiveness from Allah (used when mentioning something that goes against the standards of Islam)

17-Ayah/Ayat - Qur'anic verse

18-Bid`ah - Innovation, addition to the religion's essentials

19-Bukhari - One of the most noted compilers of hadith. His collection is 20-known as Sahih Bukhari

21-Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim - In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful

23-Da'wa - Invitation (for humankind to Islam)

24-Du`aa - Supplication

25-Eid - Islamic holiday

26-Fatwa - Islamic legal ruling

27-Fiqh - Islamic law as interpreted by scholars

28-Fitnah - Corruption and disorder, also temptation

29-Hadith - A report of a saying or deed of the Prophet

30-Haj - Pilgrimage

31-Halal - Allowed (per Islamic law)

32-Haram - Forbidden (per Islamic law)

33-Hazrat/Hadrat - Honorable

34-Hijab - Modest way of behavior and dress (including head scarf for women)

35-Imam - Leader

36-Iman - Faith

37-In Shaa Allah - If God wills. (Used when talking about a future event)

38-Injeel - The scripture sent down to Prophet Issa (Jesus)

39-Isnad - Chain of transmitters, the list of people who successively narrated a given hadith

40-Jannah - Paradise

41-JazakAllah Khair - May God grant you what is good. (Often used instead of "Thank you")

42-Jihad - Striving for Islam, whether by peaceful or violent means

43-Jinn - Unseen beings, who, like humans, are given the power to choose between right and wrong

44-Kafir - One who denies the truth. Literally, one who "covers" the truth (sometimes applied to non-Muslims).

45-Khalifah - Caliph: Leader of Muslim nation

46-Khilafah - Caliphate

47-Khutba - Sermon

48-Kufr - Denial of the Truth, rebellion against God

49-La Ilaha Illa Allah - There is no deity but God

50-Ma Shaa Allah - What God has willed! (Usually used to express wonder at Allah's creation)

51-Madhhab - School of jurisprudential thought

52-Makruh - Detested, but not forbidden (per Islamic law)

53-Mandoub - Recommended, but not required (per Islamic law)

54-Mubah - Neither forbidden nor commended. Neutral (per Islamic law)

55-Mushrik - One who commits Shirk

56-Muslim - One who submits to Allah and is a follower of Islam; also, name of one of the most notable hadith scholars. His collection is known as Sahih Muslim

57-Nabi - Prophet

58-Qur'an - The Words of Allah conveyed to us by the Prophet

PBUH - Peace Be Upon Him. Same as SAW

59-RAA - (Radia Allahu Anhu/Anha.) May Allah be please with him/her

60-Ra-sool - Messenger (Prophet to whom a scripture is revealed)

61-Rasool Allah - Messenger of God (used to refer to Prophet Muhammad)

62-Sahaba - Companions of Prophet. Singular is "Sahabi"

63-Sahih - "Sound in isnad." A technical attribute applied to the "isnad" of a hadith

64-Salaam - Peace. An abbreviated version of the Islamic greeting

65-Salaat - Prayer

66-SAW - (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam.) Peace Be Upon Him

67-Sawm/Siyam - Fasting

68-Seerah/Sirah - History of the Prophet's life

69-Shahadah - Bearing witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger.

70-Shari'ah - Divine Law

71-Sheikh - Scholar (or any elder and/or respected man)

72-Shirk - Associating partners (e.g. helpers, other gods) with Allah

73-Shura - Consultation among Muslims

74-Subhan Allah - "Glory be to God"

75-Sunna/Sunnah - Tradition of the Prophet

76-Surah/Sura - A Chapter in the Qur'an

78-Tafsir - Interpretation

79-Tawraat - The scripture sent down to Prophet Musa (Moses).

80-Ulama - Religious scholars

81-Umma - Nation, community.

82-Ustadh - Teacher

83-Wassalaam - And peace. It means "goodbye"

84-Zakat - Required charity

[mostlysignssomeportents]

2023's public domain is a banger

40 years ago, giant entertainment companies embarked on a slow-moving act of arson. The fuel for this arson was copyright term extension (making copyrights last longer), including retrospective copyright term extensions that took works out of the public domain and put them back into copyright for decades. Vast swathes of culture became off-limits, pseudo-property with absentee landlords, with much of it crumbling into dust.

After 55-75 years, only 2% of works have any commercial value. After 75 years, it declines further. No wonder that so much of our cultural heritage is now orphan works, with no known proprietor. Extending copyright on all works – not just those whose proprietors sought out extensions – incinerated whole libraries full of works, permanently.

But on January 1, 2019, the bonfire was extinguished. That was the day that items created in 1923 entered the US public domain: DeMille's Ten Commandments, Chaplain's Pilgrim, Burroughs' Tarzan and the Golden Lion, Woolf's Jacob's Room, Coward's London Calling and 1,000+ more works:

https://web.law.duke.edu/cspd/publicdomainday/2019/

Many of those newly liberated works were forgotten, partly due to their great age, but also because no one knew who they belonged to (Congress abolished the requirement to register copyrights in 1976), so no one could revive or reissue them while they were still in the popular imagination, depriving them of new leases on life.

2019 was the starting gun on a new public domain, giving the public new treasures to share and enjoy, and giving the long-dead creators of the Roaring Twenties a new chance at posterity. Each new year since has seen  a richer, more full public domain. 2021 was a great year, featuring some DuBois, Dos Pasos, Huxley, Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, Bessie Smith and Sydney Bechet:

https://pluralistic.net/2020/12/16/fraught-superpowers/#public-domain-day

In just 12 days, the public domain will welcome another year's worth of works back into our shared commons. As ever, Jennifer Jenkins of Duke's Center for the Public Domain have painstaking researched highlights from the coming year's entrants:

https://web.law.duke.edu/cspd/publicdomainday/2023/

On the literary front, we have Virginia Woolf's To The Lighthouse, AA Milne's Now We Are Six, Hemingway's Men Without Women, Faulkner's Mosquitoes, Christie's The Big Four, Wharton's Twilight Sleep, Hesse's Steppenwolf (in German), Kafka's Amerika (in German), and Proust's Le Temps retrouvé (in French).

We also get all of Sherlock Holmes, finally wrestling control back from the copyright trolls who control the Arthur Conan Doyle estate. This is a firm of rent-seeking bullies who have abused the court process to extract menaces money from living creators, including rent on works that were unambiguously in the public domain.

The estate's sleaziest trick is claiming that while many Sherlock Holmes stories were in the public domain, certain elements of Holmes's personality were developed in later stories that were still in copyright, and therefore any Sherlock story that contained those elements was a copyright violation. Infamously, the Doyle Estate went after the creators of the Enola Holmes series, claiming a copyright over Sherlock stories in which Holmes was "capable of friendship," "expressed emotion," or "respected women." This is a nonsensical theory, based on the idea that these character traits are copyrightable. They are not:

https://web.law.duke.edu/cspd/publicdomainday/2023/#fn6text

The Doyle Estate's shakedown racket took a serious body-blow in 2013, when Les Klinger – a lawyer, author and prominent Sherlockian – prevailed in court, with the judge ruling that new works based on public domain Sherlock stories were not infringing, even if some Sherlock stories remained in copyright. The estate appealed and lost again, and Klinger was awarded costs. They tried to take the case to the Supreme Court and got laughed out of the building.

But as the Enola Holmes example shows, you can't keep a copyright troll down: the Doyle estate kept making up imaginary copyright laws in a desperate, grasping bid to wring more money out of living, working creators. That's gonna be a lot harder after Jan 1, when The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes enters the public domain, meaning that every Sherlock story will be out of copyright.

One fun note about Klinger's landmark win over the Doyle estate: he took an amazing victory lap, commissioning an anthology of new unauthorized Holmes stories in 2016 called "Echoes of Sherlock Holmes":

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Echoes-of-Sherlock-Holmes/Laurie-R-King/Sherlock-Holmes/9781681775463

I wrote a short story for it, "Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Extraordinary Rendition," which was based on previously unpublished Snowden leaks.

https://esl-bits.net/ESL.English.Listening.Short.Stories/Rendition/01/default.html

I got access to the full Snowden trove thanks to Laura Poitras, who jointly commissioned the story from me for inclusion in the companion book for "Astro noise : a survival guide for living under total surveillance," her show at the Whitney:

https://www.si.edu/object/siris_sil_1060502

I also reported out the leaks the story was based on in a companion piece:

https://memex.craphound.com/2016/02/02/exclusive-snowden-intelligence-docs-reveal-uk-spooks-malware-checklist/

Jan 1, 2023 will also be a fine day for film in the public domain, with Metropolis, The Jazz Singer, and Laurel and Hardy's Battle of the Century entering the commons. Also notable: Wings, winner of the first-ever best picture Academy Award; The Lodger, Hitchcock's first thriller; and FW "Nosferatu" Mirnau's Sunrise.

However most of the movies that enter the public domain next week will never be seen again. They are "lost pictures," and every known copy of them expired before their copyrights did. 1927 saw the first synchronized dialog film (The Jazz Singer). As talkies took over the big screen, studios all but gave up on preserving silent films, which were printed on delicate stock that needed careful tending. Today, 75% of all silent films are lost to history.

But some films from this era do survive, and they are now in the public domain. This is true irrespective of whether they were restored at a later date. Restoration does not create a new copyright. "The Supreme Court has made clear that 'the sine qua non of copyright is originality.'"

https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/499/340

There's some great music entering the public domain next year! "The Best Things In Life Are Free"; "I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice-Cream"; "Puttin' On the Ritz"; "'S Wonderful"; "Ol' Man River"; "My Blue Heaven" and "Mississippi Mud."

It's a banger of a year for jazz and blues, too. We get Bessie Smith's "Back Water Blues," "Preaching the Blues," and "Foolish Man Blues." We get Louis Armstrong's "Potato Head Blues" and "Gully Low Blues." We get Jelly Roll Morton's "Billy Goat Stomp," "Hyena Stomp," and "Jungle Blues." And we get Duke Ellington's "Black and Tan Fantasy" and "East St. Louis Toodle-O."

Note that these are just the compositions. No new sound recordings come into the public domain in 2023, but on January 1, 2024, all of 1923's recordings will enter the public domain, with more recordings coming in every year thereafter.

We're only a few years into the newly reopened public domain, but it's already bearing fruit. The Great Gatsby entered the public domain in 2021, triggering a rush of beautiful new editions and fresh scholarship:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/14/books/the-great-gatsby-public-domain.html

These new editions were varied and wonderful. Beehive Books produced a stunning edition, illustrated by the Balbusso Twins, with a new introduction by Wellesley's Prof William Cain:

https://beehivebooks.com/shop/gatsby

And Planet Money released a fabulous, free audiobook edition:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/01/18/peak-indifference/#gatsby

Last year saw the liberation of Winnie the Pooh, unleashing a wild and wonderful array of remixes, including a horror film ("Blood and Honey") and also innumerable, lovely illustrations and poems, created by living, working creators for contemporary audiences.

As Jenkins notes, many of the works that enter the public domain next week display and promote "racial slurs and demeaning stereotypes." The fact that these works are now in the public domain means that creators can "grapple with and reimagine them, including in a corrective way." They can do this without having to go to the Supreme Court, unlike the Alice Randall, whose "Wind Done Gone" retold "Gone With the Wind" from the enslaved characters' perspective:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wind_Done_Gone

After all this, you'd think that countries around the world would have learned their lesson on copyright term extension, but you'd be wrong. In Canada, Justin Trudeau caved to Donald Trump and retroactively expanded copyright terms by 20 years, as part of USMCA, the successor to NAFTA. Trudeau ignored teachers, professors, librarians and the Minister of Justice, who said that copyright extension should require "a modest registration requirement" – so 20 years of copyright will be tacked onto all works, including those with no owners:

https://www.michaelgeist.ca/2022/04/the-canadian-government-makes-its-choice-implementation-of-copyright-term-extension-without-mitigating-against-the-harms/

Other countries followed Canada's disastrous lead: New Zealand "agreed to extend its copyright term as a concession in trade agreements, even though this would cost around $55m [NZ dollars] annually without any compelling evidence that it would provide a public benefit":

https://www.newsroom.co.nz/nz-agrees-to-mickey-mouse-copyright-law

Wrapping up her annual post, Jenkins writes of a "melancholy" that "comes from the unnecessary losses that our current system causes—the vast majority of works that no longer retain commercial value and are not otherwise available, yet we lock them all up to provide exclusivity to a tiny minority.

"Those works which, remember, constitute part of our collective culture, are simply off limits for use without fear of legal liability. Since most of them are 'orphan works' (where the copyright owner cannot be found) we could not get permission from a rights holder even if we wanted to. And many of those works do not survive that long cultural winter."

[Image ID: A montage of works that enter the public domain on Jan 1, 2023.]

[captain-price-unofficially]

TDT-55 log skidder with S-60 57 mm AA gun

[maximumwobblerbanditdonut]

The Scottish winter scuppered plans for a second domestic series of Men in Kilts.

Sam Heughan revealed he had hoped to make a follow-up to the 2021 Starz TV show and Clanlands book which was set in Scotland.

But the 43-year-old Outlander star has revealed the follow-up, which was filmed in New Zealand, was moved down under due to a combination of short days and the schedule of his and co-star Graham McTavish, 63.

He said: “We initially looked at options in Scotland, doing another season of the show exploring the north of Scotland, Shetland, its ties to Scandinavia, Ireland etc.

“I am very much interested in the Viking influence (growing up in Galloway near Whithorn and the Viking settlement there).

“My initial idea was to do ‘Men in Kilts - in boats!’, have us in Viking longship, speed boats, kayaks, swimming/scuba, however challenges with our schedules meant our window for filming would fall in the winter months, not ideal for daylight in the UK.”

Mr McTavish added: “We’d really enjoyed the first experience and hopefully will do another. We did New Zealand because I live there and New Zealand has a very strong connection with Scotland.

“One in five have Scottish ancestry, and it’s a mirror of Scotland in many ways - the people, the landscape, you can see why the Scots settled so easily.”

And the pair are set to reunite for a third chapter.

Mr McTavish added: “Our sights are set on North America particularly the eastern seaboard, from Nova Scotia down through Maine, New York, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, places with a strong connection to Scotland.

"There are bears and moose. I’m sure Sam is drawing up a list.”

It is unclear when SH and GMcT were selected and interviewed by the Scottish Sun to reveal their plans 🤔 Whether there are any projects underway at commitment level for a third chapter.

In fact, excavations showed a Norse trading settlement around the Galloway coast. SH was born in New Galloway, which is 34.7 miles (about 55 km) from the Viking settlement of Whithorn; I don't think he went very far to play every day when he was a kid. I don't remember him being interested in Viking Ages, maybe he likes watching Vikings: Valhalla drama series 🤷‍♀️

Filming has never been easy, but filming in the middle of a Scottish winter, in the Shetland islands, during the dark British winters, means that the goal was not clearly defined, unless his idea was to go to Lerwick to the Up Helly Aa parade with torches marching a Viking longship through Lerwick, during the "Shetland Fire Festival", and the idea didn't work. Lerwick Up Helly Aa is a superb spectacle, a celebration of Shetland's history, from the Norse sagas.

But there is something interesting that SH always forgets to mention: in winter 2021 he had a motorcycle accident 🏍️ which would also have prevented him from filming. So the hours of darkness and his demanding schedule led him to an unforeseen change of location for MiK2: he tries to tell a different story and that doesn't convince. He went to New Zealand to have fun and to recover physically from the motorbike accident. MiK2 was filmed when the country was on “Red alert level” 🚩 of the Omicron virus new variant and was closed to foreigners.

There is no doubt they really enjoyed the New Zealand experience because GMcT lives there, and GMcT confirmed that Sam's trip to New Zealand was a "well-deserved" holiday. However the strong connection to Scotland was not present and indeed the mirror of Scotland in New Zealand was not shown in MiK2. A trip dedicated to enjoying adventure adrenaline activities, it was a fantastic holiday.

If he misses Scotland and is looking forward to seeing it on screen with Men in Kilts: why a Roadtrip in North America, why not take up the original idea of doing it in Shetland? Or it will continue with an American romance novel construction about Scotland.

So what is the goal of MiK3, or are these two trying to turn MiK3 into something more than a business? 🤷‍♀️ while SH makes a list?

@dlansing53 His mishap was in Scotland, after a training. On that occasion, he didn't mention anything and tried to cover it up. The accident was mentioned months later in an interview in the U.S. he confirmed that he fractured his knee and tore his MCL, as you can seen in the New Zealand’s photos he received stitches and has a large scar on his left leg after the mishap.

Here at Pharos Athletic Club with Pieter Vodden (He’s not in the picture) trainer in the U.S. he’s not his physio. This photo is from before his trip to New Zealand 🇳🇿

@ajrajraj In Britain Motorcycle is a Motorbike or "Bike" 🏍️ and motorcyclists are called "bikers". When SH says "bike" he fell off a motorbike, not a bicycle. The mishap occurred when he was supposedly on his way home from the gym. SH doesn't go to the gym on a bicycle, he goes on a motorbike 🏍️

After his trip to New Zealand 🇳🇿 He mentioned his accident on the GMA show it was posted by @imahalfemptykindofgirl I reblogged her post

and days later he confirmed it in a talk in Men's Journal. if you are interested you can see both published on my blog.

@ajrajraj On 14 December 2021, on Twitter (X) SH posted that he had been in an accident "on a bike". In a conversation with Charles Thorp of Men's Journal, in the article SH says: he was on a bike, not on a bicycle. If you have the interview where he clarifies that he was on a bicycle, I would like to know more about it, because his injuries did not correspond to this situation.

He limps to the gym to pose for a photo to his fans. He plays stupid games and wins stupid prizes.

[lonestarbattleship]

The AA crews of USS NORTH CAROLINA (BB-55) taking down a couple of Japanese airplanes.

Filmed on June 13, 1944.

NARA: 77245

[magicaltear]

How many have you read?

The BBC estimates that most people will only read 6 books out of the 100 listed below. Bold the titles you’ve read.

1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen 2 Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkein 3 Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte 4 Harry Potter series 5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee 6 The Bible 7 Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte 8 Nineteen Eighty Four – George Orwell 9 His Dark Materials – Philip Pullman 10 Great Expectations – Charles Dickens 11 Little Women – Louisa M Alcott 12 Tess of the D’Urbervilles – Thomas Hardy 13 Catch 22 – Joseph Heller 14 Complete Works of Shakespeare 15 Rebecca – Daphne Du Maurier 16 The Hobbit – JRR Tolkien 17 Birdsong – Sebastian Faulks 18 Catcher in the Rye - J. D. Salinger 19 The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffeneger 20 Middlemarch – George Eliot 21 Gone With The Wind – Margaret Mitchell 22 The Great Gatsby – F Scott Fitzgerald 23 Bleak House – Charles Dickens 24 War and Peace – Leo Tolstoy 25 The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams 26 Brideshead Revisited – Evelyn Waugh 27 Crime and Punishment – Fyodor Dostoyevsky 28 Grapes of Wrath – John Steinbeck 29 Alice in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll 30 The Wind in the Willows – Kenneth Grahame 31 Anna Karenina – Leo Tolstoy 32 David Copperfield – Charles Dickens 33 Chronicles of Narnia – CS Lewis 34 Emma – Jane Austen 35 Persuasion – Jane Austen 36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe – CS Lewis 37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini 38 Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres 39 Memoirs of a Geisha – Arthur Golden 40 Winnie the Pooh – AA Milne 41 Animal Farm – George Orwell 42 The Da Vinci Code – Dan Brown 43 One Hundred Years of Solitude – Gabriel Garcia Marquez 44 A Prayer for Owen Meaney – John Irving 45 The Woman in White – Wilkie Collins 46 Anne of Green Gables – LM Montgomery 47 Far From The Madding Crowd – Thomas Hardy 48 The Handmaid’s Tale – Margaret Atwood 49 Lord of the Flies – William Golding 50 Atonement – Ian McEwan

51 Life of Pi – Yann Martel 52 Dune – Frank Herbert 53 Cold Comfort Farm – Stella Gibbons 54 Sense and Sensibility – Jane Austen 55 A Suitable Boy – Vikram Seth 56 The Shadow of the Wind – Carlos Ruiz Zafon 57 A Tale Of Two Cities – Charles Dickens 58 Brave New World – Aldous Huxley 59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time – Mark Haddon 60 Love In The Time Of Cholera – Gabriel Garcia Marquez 61 Of Mice and Men – John Steinbeck 62 Lolita – Vladimir Nabokov 63 The Secret History – Donna Tartt 64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold 65 Count of Monte Cristo – Alexandre Dumas 66 On The Road – Jack Kerouac 67 Jude the Obscure – Thomas Hardy 68 Bridget Jones’s Diary – Helen Fielding 69 Midnight’s Children – Salman Rushdie 70 Moby Dick – Herman Melville 71 Oliver Twist – Charles Dickens 72 Dracula – Bram Stoker 73 The Secret Garden – Frances Hodgson Burnett 74 Notes From A Small Island – Bill Bryson 75 Ulysses – James Joyce 76 The Bell Jar – Sylvia Plath 77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome 78 Germinal – Emile Zola 79 Vanity Fair – William Makepeace Thackeray 80 Possession – AS Byatt 81 A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens 82 Cloud Atlas – David Mitchel 83 The Color Purple – Alice Walker 84 The Remains of the Day – Kazuo Ishiguro 85 Madame Bovary – Gustave Flaubert 86 A Fine Balance – Rohinton Mistry 87 Charlotte’s Web – EB White 88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven – Mitch Albom 89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 90 The Faraway Tree Collection – Enid Blyton 91 Heart of Darkness – Joseph Conrad 92 The Little Prince – Antoine De Saint-Exupery 93 The Wasp Factory – Iain Banks 94 Watership Down – Richard Adams 95 A Confederacy of Dunces – John Kennedy Toole 96 A Town Like Alice – Nevil Shute 97 The Three Musketeers – Alexandre Dumas 98 Hamlet – William Shakespeare 99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Roald Dahl 100 Les Miserables – Victor Hugo

As found in the original post I saw by @macrolit

My total: 43/100

[hackercentral]

AA: thank y0u all f0r helping us reach 0ur g0al 0f 55 f0ll0wers, i will have him dressed up and ready t0 answer y0ur asks in n0 time

[c-rowlesdraws]

Truck or Treat!

2023 Police Truck & Cruiser The Hess Truck’s back and it’s better than ever this holiday season!

Police Truck

4 buttons activate:

 4 realistic sound effects: horn, engine start, and U.S. traditional and European emergency sirens

 Advanced multi-patterned LED lights, which animate in 4 different flashing patterns in tandem with each unique sound effect

Total of 55 red, white, and blue lights that work in flashing or steady mode

Sparkling chrome details including front grill, bumpers, visor, exhausts, steps, hubcaps, and more

Internally illuminated view through cargo compartment

Button release fold-down rear door/ramp

6 free rolling wheels

Police and Hess emblems

3 Energizer® ‘AA’ batteries (pre-installed)

Approximate dimensions: L: 11" x W: 4⅜" x H: 4½”

Cruiser

19 steady-on red, white, and blue lights

Slide-out battering ram

270˚ rotating roof turret with spotlights

Pull back motor to propel vehicle in flat or wheelie position

Chrome embellishments

3 Energizer® ‘A76 batteries (pre-installed)

Approximate dimensions: L: 5½” x W: 2¾” x H: 2½”

[muzumi-san]

Ace Attorney: 100Q Ask Meme

(If anyone sees the similar Ask Meme for DR, I did not rip them off, they were literally created by me too.)

1. Favourite Attorney?

2. Favourite Prosecutor?

3. Favourite Assistant?

4. Favourite Witness?

5. Favourite Culprit? 

6. Favourite Antagonist (in the role of the antagonist! e.g Edgeworth in AA1 counts but only in AA1.)

7. Favourite Design?

8. All time favorite character?

9. Least favourite character?

10. Favourite trial from all the games?

11. Least favorite trial?

12. Who would you want to defend you in court? (assuming everyone had a badge)

13. Favourite minor character?

14. Character you have the most headcanons about?

15. Random headcanon you can share?

16. Which culprit would you trust to help you break out of prison?

17. Case with the best cast?

18. Game with the best cast?

19. What do you think about the Ace Attorney Anime?

20. Did you ever write fanfiction for Ace Attorney? If so, which one is your best piece

21. Did you ever read fanfictions? Which one is your personal recommendation?

22. Your OTP?

23. Your BROTP?

24. Your OT3?

25. Favourite rare pair?

26. What character do you think is underrated?

27. What character do you think is overrated?

28. Prettiest character?

29. Cutest character?

30. Character you’d push off a cliff with no hesitation?

31. Character you wish was playable?

32. Character you wish to see return?

33. Favourite sibling dynamic?

34. Favourite biological sibling dynamic?

35. Smartest murder plan?

36. Prettiest eyes?

37. Culprit that came as the biggest surprise to you?

38. Plottwist that came as the biggest surprise to you?

39. Honest opinion on Larry Butz?

40. Honest opinion on Phoenix Wright?

41. Honest opinion on Athena Cykes?

42. Unpopular opinion?

43. Favourite OST?

44. Did you play Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright? What do you think about it?

45. Someone who would’ve made a fun prosecutor but isn’t?

46. Character you thought you were gonna dislike but loved in the end?

47. Character you thought you would like but disliked in the end?

48. Random fact people tend to forget that you wanna remind us of?

49. Victim you would’ve liked to see more of? (Not e.g. victim of the second case of the first game. A victim we haven’t seen basically anything of!)

50. Favourite moment?

51. Saddest moment?

52. Funniest moment?

53. Your personal dumbest moment while playing?

54. The moment you felt the smartest while playing?

55. Two characters you’d like to meet?

56. Two characters you’d like to meet with one from AA one from another verse?

57. Which character would you never want to meet in real life?

58. Which character would you like to meet in real life?

59. Choose one character you would take on a trip.

60. Character you relate to?

61. Character who is a little too similar to you for comfort?

62. Character you relate to but dislike?

63. Favourite quote?

64. Character who deserved better?

65. Outfit you’d like to wear?

66. What do you think of the fandom?

67. A character everyone else hates but you like even though you understand the hate that they get?

68. Describe Apollo Justice in 3 words!

69. Describe Klavier Gavin in 3 words!

70. Describe Dahlia Hawthorne in 3 words!

71. New Games or OG trilogy? Which do you prefer?

72. Do you like the Investigations games?

73. Do you like the Great Ace Attorney games?

74. Character you would hug?

75. Character you would kiss?

76. Describe every game you’ve played in one word!

77. What was the game you’ve played first?

78. Who or what got you into AA?

79. How long have you been in the fandom?

80. What case was the one that got you actually hooked?

81. Recommendations you have for others who also enjoy AA?

82. Was there a point in your life where AA made you want to choose a certain profession?

83. Character that you keep forgetting exists?

84. Character you’d like to buy ice cream for?

85. Which character would you introduce to your parents?

86. Which character would you introduce to your therapist?

87. 3 characters you would have a sleepover with?

88. You have to rob a bank. Which 2 characters do you choose as your partners in crime?

89. Which character do you think could win a talent show? Which one? Elaborate all you want on why, too.

90. Your NOTP?

91. Who would you trust to cook the menu for your wedding?

92. Was any character ever your icon, lock screen etc.?

93. Ship you feel like deserves more attention even though your not into it that much?

94. Your first ship?

95. Which character would you redesign?

96. Which case would you like to experience first hand?

97. Best non-human character? (Bobby Badger, Steel Samurai etc.)

98. Which character do you trust the least to pick out a movie for a movie’s night?

99. Which character would you not want on your wedding even though you like them?

100. Phoenix Wright or Miles Edgeworth? Who do you like better?

[bratshaws]

through the hourglass 74. brb x oc

a/n: me @ me: stop creating more characters for this fic, you dumbass.

pairing: plus size!oc x rooster

warnings: fluff, IM SORRY IM JUST HAPPY OK

goodness gracious (pls read this one to know more what this fic is about!!)

chapter

1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10/11/12/13/14/15/16/17/18/19/20/21/22/23/24/

25/26/27/28/29/30/31/32/33/34/35/36/37/38/39/40/41/42/43/44

45/46/47/48/49/50/51/52/53/54/55/56/57/58/59/60/61/62/63/64

/65/66/67/68/69/70/71/72/73

(pls let me know if you want to be added to the taglist!! )

taglist: @mirandastuckinthe80s @roosterschanelslut @wiipes @lcahwriter @shrimping-for-all @gretagerwigsmuse @frenchtoastix

@lizzie-rdj @fanboyluvr @atarmychick007 @comebacktoearthpls

@peachiicherries @mak-32 @lizziespidiepridie @roosterswifey @ollyoxenfrees @piceous21 @sqrlgrl22 @hofficoffi @lexhalstead3 @lorilane33 @legendarydreamersharkparty @luckyladycreator2

@emilybradshaw @j-6o @louisahale @leobabbyyy @kulicny @winter-run @ktjmac @graciereads @bigpoppajes @taytaylala12

@caitsymichelle13 @becks-things @caatheeriinee07 @dhwanishah09 @jesfreedark @katiemcrae @lilmonstrjedi @hobiismyhopeu @teacupsandtopgun @insominac23

-

“And we’re home!” Rooster’s usually deep voice came out higher as he opened the passenger door to pick up Nikki, “Home,we’re home! Isn’t that fun?” Nicole wriggles her legs when he picks her up, kissing her cheek and closing the door with his hip.

The dogs were already alert by their presence, Eleanor’s deep bark being the loudest of the three followed by Jolene’s claws scratching on the door so they’d come in quickly, “We are all going out tonight, honey, isn’t that fun?” Rooster unlocks the garage door and the dogs go wild. Eleanor and Jack have the zoomies while Jolene sits patiently next to Rooster with her tail wagging on the tiled floor, “Hey,Jojo. Is Bea home?”

The pittie licks his hand after he pets her, then trots away to the hallway where she lies down, “Ah,not yet huh? That’s fine.” he places the baby bag on the kitchen counter, moving Nicole to his opposite arm, “She’ll be home soon.”

“Aa!” 

“Yes,Birdie,mommy will be home soon.”

Nicole smacks her lips a few times, giggling when she sees Eleanor and Jack still zooming around the house, just a blur of white and brown running from one side to the other - Eleanor sometimes slamming onto something along the way as she usually did. Rooster smiled down at his daughter, fixing some of the strands that covered her forehead, “You know, maybe it’s better if we give you a bath, huh? Get all cleaned up when mommy gets here?”

She ‘aa’ed again, pressing her open mouth on his chin to ‘kiss’ him again, which makes him laugh softly, “Okay,silly girl, you wanna wait for mommy?” another kiss on his cheek followed by Nicole looking towards the front door, “Okay, let’s stay in the living room then.”

Today was…pretty nice, he had to admit.

It’s been some time since he spent time with Mav and now he had Nicole to add to the mix! There was nothing better than spending time with family…and Mav was his family. As he sits down on the couch, he leans back against it to keep his eyes on Nicole as she babbles happily, tapping her tiny hands on the seat and staring at it after the dull thud reached her ears.

So she did it again, slapping her palms against the top of the couch and gurgling a laugh because she was making noise. Bradley just smiled, tilting his head to have a better look as she had her fun…she was so big already. She was still four months old but he remembered how Claudia said that Nicole was ‘stretched up’ already for her age, she said that some of the boys were the same and he also recalled his own baby pictures.

“You are going to be kinda tall,huh?” he smiles, watching the pigtails bounce as she continues her rhythm creation, “...just don’t grow up too fast, okay?”

He was excited to see what his daughter was going to look like when older, that was something every parent goes through…but he didn’t want to miss her younger years either. There was always something he wanted her to experience, he wanted her to enjoy her young life the best she could and maybe that was why they were going out tonight.

While feeding Nicole back at Mav’s he was hit with a thought that this was special…and unique, this was an experience that was going to mold Nicole when she’s older. She’d grow with a fuckton of uncles and aunts, cousins, she’d have people to run to when she needs…maybe it was his own trauma speaking, because while he had a wonderful childhood - within his mother’s grasp that is - he missed having more moments with people around them.

His mother’s siblings were…alright, he wasn’t close to them. From what he remembers, his mother rarely spoke about them either and the few times they showed up was for a brief time and never again. They did show up to her funeral but after that they disappeared like dust in the wind. 

Maybe he should’ve reached out then, maybe he should’ve vocalized his feelings more…but he was too angry to.

He tried finding their addresses to invite them for the wedding, but there was no such luck. Hell he couldn’t even find them online. It wasn’t bad, the people he cared about were at the wedding but it was strange not having part of his family there, especially on his mother’s side. His dad was an only child and his paternal grandparents passed away already…he wondered if there was any way to contact them?

Maybe there was one, maybe he should look deeper. Maybe they were just hidden in plain sight…he better talk to Bea about it, because while she knew how much he’d want to, he didn't want to take an emotional jump in trying to talk to them.

Or maybe it was better to likely let them go. They weren’t there for him when he needed, “...I just don't want to get upset about it.” he answers his own upset thoughts, “Not now, not when I have everything I never thought I’d have.” he turns to face Nicole, who was now running her palms back and forth on the couch’s fabric, watching how the tiny furs turned lighter every time she ran her hands over them “You know, your mother is a great listener.”

Nicole looks up at him, still running her hands on the couch, “She doesn’t have to be, but she is. And I appreciate it, but I don’t want to weigh her too much you know?” Nicole just blinked at him, “...or you because you are a four months old baby and certain feelings may cause stress when you are older- right. I better not talk about this then.”

Not to Nicole at least.

“Hey Nikki, look,” changing the subject was a great idea. He holds up his index finger, his daughter’s eyes immediately following it as he moves down until the tip touches the fabric. And he made a circle, the movement causing the furs to move and create a lighter shape on the couch.

Nicole gasped, slapping her hand on top of it and sliding down, blinking when there was only one broad line of pressed down furs instead of her father’s drawing on top, “Aah!” a few more slaps but the circle is gone, her little brows furrowed and she looked up at Rooster.

He grabs her much smaller hand, it almost disappears under his own, and holds her index finger up. He’s more delicate when touching the fabric because Nicole’s skin wasn’t like his, but he added enough pressure to draw something on the couch.

Now, he wasn’t Beatrice. He was shit at art, always was, but he could draw simple shapes and maybe a smiley face if he was lucky. And he could draw hearts, which was what he did just now, “This is a heart Nikki.” his daughter just kept looking at the new shape, amazement all over her face “See?” and he rubs her finger over the line as well, “A heart.”

He didn’t know why but this was weirdly entertaining, it was a lot better than to think about the relatives he hadn’t seen in years and yet wondered how they were. As he let Nicole’s hand go, he was happy to see that she tried to mimic his own movements, albeit not exactly but very close.

“Very good,Birdie.” he coos, making Nicole smile and drop the other hand to mirror its twin the best way it could, “Hmhm, very nice. You are a natural.” more tapping on the fabric, more quick movements of her hand that just added more lines to the drawing.

Rooster, however, looked up when he heard the garage door opening. Jolene immediately rose to her paws and ‘boofed’,tail wagging with her pups right behind her. “Look,Nikki. Mama is home!” and Nicole immediately stopped drawing, turning her head to the door Beatrice walked through every time she got home from work with her little fists shaking with excitement.

He hears the lock turn and Beatrice’s face peeks from behind the door, “Hi guys! Hi! Oh, God,Ellie!” she tries to push Eleanor back a bit so she could walk inside, laughing while avoiding a mean fall because she tripped on the dogs. She leans down to greet them, kissing their snouts and heads. Rooster just smiles, hearing her baby talking and footsteps approaching the living room, Nicole letting out little noises of excitement, “I think I hear someone!”

“She’s very excited to see you!”

The faucet opens as Bea washes her hands, “Only her?”

“I mean…when aren’t I excited to see you?” he quips back, smirking when he was met with silence. He was sure her face was bright red, “We are just chilling on the couch.”

“I’m on my way.” the faucet shuts off, followed by the dogs nails clicking on the floorboards and walking out of the kitchen past the couch, the twins about to have the zoomies again as soon as Beatrice stepped in.

Nicole squealed happily, bouncing a bit on the couch and in her excitement, she lost her balance and almost toppled forward onto the futon only for Rooster to quickly hold her up, “Nikki! God, are you okay,Birdie?” but his daughter just giggled, lifting her head to keep her mother within her vision, “Dumb question,huh? Course you are.”

“Hi sweetie!” Beatrice’s high pitched tone greeted their ears, the brunette made grabby hands towards Nicole then picked her up from Rooster’s hands, the little girl was still giggling and gurgling happily, her arms hugging her mother’s neck the best she could “Oh my God, hi sweetie!” Nicole squeals again when Beatrice kisses her cheek, burying her nose in her daughter’s hair, “God,I love the way baby shampoo smells.”

“I know right?” Rooster spreads his legs a bit, to get comfortable, “It’s great.”

Nicole babbles a bit more, holding onto the necklace that Rooster gave Beatrice, lifting the pendant close to her eyes just to see it shine a bit more under the light, “Everything okay?” Bea asked and Rooster has to hold back the amused chuckle, because of course she’d know if something was off with him from the second she walked in. He leans further into the couch, then pats his thighs so Beatrice could sit down.

She does, all the while still keeping Nicole in her grasp, the baby kept on babbling but dropped the necklace to hold onto her father’s shirt instead, “Just thinking about some things.”

“Such as?”

Rooster purses his lips, rubbing his knuckle on the edge of Nicole’s chubby cheeks, “...my aunt. My uncle.” he mutters, “My mother’s siblings.”

“What about them?”

“...I don’t know, I had a moment a few minutes back…thinking about all the things they ended up no doing for me.” he mutters, “I guess I’m a bit conflicted, because I’d want Nikki to have a connection with my mom’s family, she already has one with my dad because of Mav…so,I don’t know.”

Beatrice hums, gently shaking Nicole’s hand as her daughter latches her fingers around her own, “It’s not wrong to want that.” she smiles, “Because I’m sure your mother would be happy to see it too…but–”

‘I couldn’t even find them for our wedding.”

“Well,yeah…”

He sighs, frowning a bit, “I don’t know why I’m thinking about this now. I have my family in the Navy, those jerks are my family even if I shook them off,you know?”

“I know,honey.” Bea’s smile softens, “We can look for them, if you want?”

Bradley rolls his lips into his mouth, huffing quietly through his nose as he sinks into the couch bringing Beatrice and Nicole with him, “I dunno.” he mutters, “It’s…complicated I guess. They could’ve found me if they wanted too.”

“Well,yes.”

“...I don’t know,I really need to think about it. I really need to think about it.”

Beatrice furrows her brows, then rubs her thumb between his, “Are you going to be okay?” he nods, feeling the repetitive touch against his forehead, “I know you, Roos.”

“I’ll be fine,gorgeous…I promise…now, let’s get ready for dinner yeah?”

-

Nicole had never seen so many colors in her life, she was just four months old after all. That’s why when they went to the taco truck she just stared up at the bright colors, head tilted and all as she looked at them swinging above her head. Beatrice smiled, leaning against her palm with her eyes focused on Nicole as she pointed upwards to where the lights were, “Yes,Nikki, those are lights, aren’t they pretty?” and they were pumpkin shaped, she had to get some of those for Halloween.

Nicole just waves the chicken, the anguished cries echoing through the night as she shakes it in her grasp, excited to her new surroundings. Beatrice looks up to check on Rooster, seeing he was leaning against the truck with his hip cocked to the side…which made his ass appear even better than normal. She didn’t want to stare, after all this was a public place, but she did sneak a peek.

One that her husband caught by looking over his shoulder at her, his eyebrow arching with amusement as he mouthed a ‘excuse me?’ towards her. Beatrice blushed but shrugged, throwing her hands up in the air as if to say she had no idea what was happening, only for Rooster to playfully roll his eyes and look back to the cook inside.

And soon enough he returned with their food, steaming hot and smelling delicious.

‘Alright.” he places the tacos down, “I got the usual for us and we also got extra salsa because of it.”

“We never deny free salsa, do we?”

“Nope, never.’

Beatrice laughed as she popped her soda open, looking down at Nicole who was staring at the new object with wide eyes, “This is a lot of information for her…I hope it’s not too much.”

“I don’t think so.” he says while pouring the soda inside the plastic cup, “She seems to be having a lot of fun.”

Nicole furrowed her brows because what was that thing they were drinking and could she have some? “No,Nikki, this is for mommy and daddy only.” Bea says when her daughter just reaches for the colorful can, whining a bit but settling down when her mother started caressing her hand.

“So, how was the training today? Any good?”

Beatrice smiled while chewing her taco, “Oh it was great Roos. Jessie is so good! She said she worked as a waitress on a restaurant a few years ago, when she was in high school. She’s really good. Oh, and…” she looks around surreptitiously, “I kinda prodded her about the guy.”

“The guy?”

“The guy.”

Who was worse: a group of middle aged women gossiping about their enemies…or Beatrice and Rooster, who were almost too excited when talking about Jessie and her bar crush, “Yes, “ Beatrice leans closer even if the music playing made it obvious no one would hear them, “So I asked her a little bit, about what he looked like and such, so he’s about Fanboy’s height.” her husband hums, very interested, “About…I don’t know, maybe twenty five, she said and he has short curly hair, tanned complexion.”

Rooster blinked, wracking his brain in hopes to figure out who it was, “...tanned complexion…”

“She said it was like a surfer tan.”

“Oh.Oh, oh I know him. Jared, yeah he’s one of the new recruits.”

“Did you talk to him?”

“Just in passing.” he shrugs, “Nothing serious, just a ‘good morning’ and nothing more…he also calls me sir which is really weird to hear.”

“Well you are a Lieutenant.”

“I mean,yeah.” he shrugs, “But still, there’s just…I don’t know, I never got used to it before, still not used to it now.” Beatrice furrows her brows at him, a bit confused “You know what I mean.”

“Roos, well,I mean, you told me you were an instructor and you are…of higher rank. Why would you feel weird about it? I mean, what if you get promoted? Do you want them to just go ‘hey bro it’s a nice morning at the base,huh’?” Bradley almost chokes on his drink at Beatrice’s attempt of a male voice, it sounded like she had a sore throat and was relying on medicine to get it clean. He snorts against his hand, trying his best to keep his laughter down. 

Beatrice has to do the same, biting her lips to hold her laughter back and distracting herself with Nicole. After almost choking on air and on his spit at least twice, Rooster coughs up laughing quietly, “You- holy shit- that was funny.”

“It wasn’t that funny,was it?”

“Baby you have no idea how hilarious you can be.” and again her cheeks turned red, her lips curling onto a smile, “Also,the honorific thing…it’s okay,I guess it’s just,well…Jared is like twenty one I think…Bea he was born in,what, the 00’s? Or something? Baby I was in high school when he was born.”

Beatrice chuckled as she dabs a napkin over her lips, wiping some of the sauce, “So you are just…hating it because it makes you feel…old?” he frowns, “...you know you look nothing like your age, right.”

“Hrm.”

“And even if you did, you’d still be so handsome.” Rooster smirked, bringing the soda can to his lips with his eyes still on Beatrice, he could live with that. “Besides, you look better than guys half your age, so…”

“Ah, smooth talking like that.” he tuts, “What’s a guy to think?”

Beatrice smiles at him, then reaches to touch his hand on the table, picking it up to run her thumb on the inside of his fingers, “I mean it,though.” she whispers, still touching his palm, “You are incredibly handsome and you still make my knees weak when you smile at me.” he laughs almost bashfully, licking his lips. Bea brings his hand to her lips, kissing his knuckles before setting his hand back down, “I need to go to the bathroom, Roos. I’ll be right back.”

“Hey, leaving be high and dry here?” he complains, pouting his lips a bit, “You can’t do that.”

Beatrice smiles, walking around the table towards him where she cups his face in her hands and brings their lips together in a gentle - yet amazingly sensual - kiss, “I won’t be long.” she whispers against his lips, letting go of his face with a giggle, looking down at Nicole before she turns on her heel and leaves the table.

Rooster follows the sway of her hips with a smile, tilting his head just enough to see the shape of her ass move inside those tight black jeans she favored so much. Nicole’s gentle noises snapped him out of his reverie, his eyes immediately moving to his daughter who was already staring at him, “How’s the night going,Nikki? Hm? Is it fun?”

“Bahbaah,  buuhh!” and a surprise raspberry that neither of them expected considering the way Nicole jumped after she did that.

“Yeah,I’m having fun too, cutie.”

“Aa!”

“Yes,I know, mommy will come back soon.”

“Sir?”

He stops chewing, hoping he’s imagining things and he hasn’t heard the voice of one of the new recruits behind him. He inhales, choosing to believe it was all in his mind, “Sir, is that you? It is him,guys.”

Guys? Oh no.

[rhythmicgymnasticsnews]

European Championships Budapest 2024 Info

Schedule

Wednesday, May 22nd, 2024

09:00 – 11:00 Set A – Junior individuals qualifications & Team ranking (Hoop, Ball, Clubs, Ribbon)

11:15 – 13:15 Set B – Junior individuals qualifications & Team ranking (Hoop, Ball, Clubs, Ribbon)

14:15– 16:15 Set C – Junior individuals qualifications & Team ranking (Hoop, Ball, Clubs, Ribbon)

16:30 – 18:30 Set D – Junior individuals qualifications & Team ranking (Hoop, Ball, Clubs, Ribbon)

18:30 – 18:45 Award ceremony Junior individuals Team

Thursday, May 23rd, 2024

08:15 – 08:52 OGU Senior Individuals - 4 Gymnasts (Hoop & Ball)

09:00 – 11:00 Set A – Senior Individuals qualifications (Hoop & Ball)

11:15 – 13:15 Set B – Senior Individuals qualifications (Hoop & Ball)

14:15 – 16:15 Set C – Senior Individuals qualifications (Hoop & Ball)

16:30 – 18:30 Set D – Senior Individuals qualifications (Hoop & Ball)

19:55 – 20:55 Junior Individuals Apparatus FINALS (Hoop & Ball)

21:05 – 22:05 Junior Individuals Apparatus FINALS (Clubs & Ribbon)

Friday, May 24th, 2024

08:15 – 08:52 OGU Senior Individuals - 4 Gymnasts (Clubs & Ribbon)

09:00 – 11:00 Set C – Senior Individuals qualifications (Clubs & Ribbon)

11:15 – 13:15 Set D – Senior Individuals qualifications (Clubs & Ribbon)

14:15 – 16:15 Set A – Senior Individuals qualifications (Clubs & Ribbon)

16:15 – 16:45 Opening Ceremony

17:00 – 19:00 Set B – Senior Individuals qualifications (Clubs & Ribbon)

Saturday, May 25th, 2024

10:00 – 10:10 Presentation of the Finalists

10:10 – 13:10 Set B – Senior Individuals AA FINALS (Hoop, Ball, Clubs, Ribbon – rotating)

14:10 – 14:20 Presentation of the Finalists

14:20 – 17:20 Set A – Senior Individuals AA FINALS (Hoop, Ball, Clubs, Ribbon – rotating)

17:20 – 17:35 Award Ceremony AA Seniors Individuals

17:35 – 17:40 OGU Senior Group (5 Hoops)

17:45 – 19:45 Senior Groups (5 Hoops and 3 Ribbons & 2 Balls – rotating)

20:00 – 22:00 Senior Groups (5 Hoops and 3 Ribbons & 2 Balls – rotating)

22:00 – 22:05 OGU Senior Group (3 Ribbons & 2 Balls)

22:00 – 22:15 Award Ceremony AA Senior Groups

22:15 – 22:30 Award Ceremony Team Senior Individuals and Senior Groups

Sunday, May 26th, 2024

10:00 – 10:10 Presentation of the Finalists

10:10 – 11:10 Senior Individuals Apparatus FINALS (Hoop & Ball)

11:10 – 11:20 Presentation of the Finalists

11:20 – 12:20 Senior Individuals Apparatus FINALS (Clubs & Ribbon)

12:20 – 12:35 Award Ceremony Senior Individuals Apparatus finals

13:45 – 14:25 Senior Groups Apparatus FINALS (5 Hoops)

14:25 – 14:35 Presentation of the Finalists

14:35 – 15:15 Senior Groups Apparatus FINALS (3 Ribbons & 2 Balls)

Livestream

Juniors Qualifications - 3 euros full competition

Junior finals and Senior Qualifications

Livescores

Official website