#especially Kelly and Carter

[youremyheaven]

Astrology & Voice : A Quick Study

1. Prominent 3h placements can give you a very distinct voice

2. People who have a deeper/huskier voice often have Mercury aspecting Pluto. Ex: Miley Cyrus & Whitney Houston (both have mercury conjunct pluto)

3. Mercury in a water sign can give the native a very sultry voice. They probably sound a lil intimidating and their voices will always be slightly low pitched (Zoe Saldana, Lana Del Rey, Pamela Anderson, Adriana Lima, Gisele Bundchen)

if Mercury is in Cancer, the voice tends to be soft and calming to hear. Ex: Margot Robbie, Elsa Pataky, Kate Beckinsale etc

Mercury in Scorpio gives the native a certain, almost nasally twang to their voice, it's not exactly nasally but i cant think of a good way to describe it, its deeper and fuller sounding but there's a certain twang to it.

Ex: Kim Kardashian, Katy Perry, Julia Roberts, Madonna, Kris Jenner, Demi Moore, Gabrielle Union & Miley Cyrus

especially Miley & Demi have this very gravelly cigar smoking kinda voice

Mercury in Pisces gives a very intimidating, richer or fuller vocal timbre

Ex: Mariah Carey (her speaking voice), Sharon Stone, Liz Taylor, Alan Rickman, Lucy Lawless, Juliette Binoche, Fergie (her speaking voice)

4. Mercury in Fire signs gives a rather shrill voice, unless there are other aspects involved

Others may find their voice/talking irritating; they often have "vocal fry" esque tendencies

Mercury in Leo: Jennifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz, Demi Lovato, Lindsay Lohan

Mercury in Sagittarius can give you either a very husky, sensuous voice or a very "loud" one, there's no in between

Ex: Scarlett Johansson, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Vanessa Paradis, Carla Bruni, Bjork etc

Mercury in Aries natives have a very tonal pitch, their voices have a very "radio announcer" quality, idk how to describe it 😭😭

Ex: Diana Ross, Jessica Chastain, Madison Beer, Carmen Electra, Jennifer Garner etc

5. Mercury in Earth signs

Mercury in Taurus also gives natives a very soulful, deep-ish husky voice. They're very sexy sounding

Ex: Gigi Hadid, Uma Thurman, Brooke Shields, Selena Quintanilla, Renee Zellwegger etc

Mercury in Virgo: these natives have a very "sing song-y" voice, they speak in a very rhythmic way and modulate their voice very well. if you listen to any of their interviews, they always speak like they're telling a story, if you know what I mean.

Ex: Madonna, Kylie Jenner, Hugh Grant, Monica Bellucci, Amy Winehouse, Salma Hayek, Dakota Johnson etc

Mercury in Capricorn gives natives a raspy voice, their voices tend to be very low pitched and some of them kind of sound like they have a perpetual cold

Ex: Taehyung, Zayn Malik, Shakira, Alex Turner, R Kelly, Alexa Demie

Sometimes however it can give the native a very "sugary girly" voice

Ex: Milla Jovovich, Taylor Swift, Zooey Deschanel, Ellen Degeneres

6. Mercury in Air signs

Mercury in Gemini natives are very verbose; they're articulate but they're very wordy; they also speak in a rather expressive manner; usually they're very well spoken

Ex: Angelina Jolie, Elizabeth Hurley, Helena Bonham Carter, Courteney Cox, Stevie Nicks, Cate Blanchett etc

Mercury in Libra natives often speak in a very expressive and animated way, its so cutee🥰

Ex: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Zendaya, Brigitte Bardot, Bella Hadid, Kate Winslet, Emma Stone, Gwen Stefani, Sophia Loren etc

Mercury in Aquarius: ive often noticed that these natives can sound a bit clueless or zoned out when they're speaking 🤭

Ex: Harry Styles, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Aniston, Paris Hilton (in the 2000s at least)

[odinsblog]

Lynda Carter, the original Wonder Woman actor, denounced her sister’s campaign for a competitive seat in the Arizona House, telling Mother Jones on Friday that she wouldn’t support her for any elected position.

The actor’s statement was included as part of Mother Jones’ exposé on her sister, Pamela Carter, the far-right Republican running to represent part of Maricopa County in the Arizona House of Representatives.

“On her website, Pam claims to have her ‘family’s full support,’” Lynda Carter told Mother Jones. “I have known Pam my entire life, which is why I sadly cannot endorse her for this or any public office.”

Pamela Carter did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment. Her platform includes being opposed to same-sex marriage, abortion in nearly all cases and transgender inclusion in sports. She supports arming teachers.

Lynda Carter, a vocal supporter of reproductive rights, also offered her support to the Democrats running against her sister in Arizona’s Legislative District 4.

“As a native Arizonan, I am proud to endorse Kelli Butler and Karen Gresham to represent LD4 in Arizona’s State House,” she told Mother Jones. “Kelli and Karen are both strong, experienced candidates, born and raised in Arizona. They are working mothers fighting for the rights that matter most to Arizonans, especially every child’s right to a quality education.”

(continue reading)

[hallmark-movie-fanatics]

Hallmark’s ‘Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story’ Casts Holland Roden, Matthew Daddario, Tony Danza and More (Variety Exclusive)

Hallmark has set its starting lineup for “Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story,” their second time teaming up with the NFL. 

Holland Roden, Matthew Daddario, Tony Danza, Tracy Pollan, Caroline Aaron and Steve Schirripa will star in the film, set to premiere during Hallmark Channel’s 16th annual Countdown to Christmas. Head coach Sean McDermott, running back Ray Davis, safety Damar Hamlin, offensive tackle Dion Dawkins, tight end Dawson Knox, long snapper Reid Ferguson, defensive tackle DeWayne Carter and wide receiver Joshua Palmer will also appear in the movie.

Bills legend Jim Kelly, former players Steve Tasker, Thurman Thomas, Scott Norwood and Andre Reed, and Bills announcer Chris Brown are set to make cameos, as is Luke Russert, the son of the late broadcast journalist and die-hard Bills fan Tim Russert.

Production kicks off on Monday in Buffalo, NY, both around the city and inside Highmark Stadium and Oishei Children’s Hospital. 

The Quinns and DeLucas have lived next door to each other for decades in the shadow of Highmark Stadium – the home of their beloved Buffalo Bills. With their longtime friendship rooted in being proud members of Bills Mafia, the two clans have enjoyed cherished traditions that revolve around cheering for their favorite team – especially at the holidays when they celebrate the last home game before Christmas. Pediatric doctor Morgan Quinn (Roden) and the Bills’ VP of Stadium Development Gabe DeLuca (Daddario) have always been close friends, but Gabe has always held a torch for her – a fact obvious to their families (Pollan, Aaron, Schirripa)…and everyone else who crosses their path. When Morgan learns from her Uncle Tommy (Danza) that someone anonymously helped her family get by after he was drafted more than 60 years ago – and that he continues to receive a Christmas gift each year to this day –she decides to find his benefactor and give her uncle a Christmas he’ll always remember. Aided by Bills Mafia friends of theirs, Morgan and Gabe work together to unwrap the gifter’s identity. Along the way, Gabe’s love for Morgan deepens and in turn, she begins to see him in a new light though neither is daring enough to admit their feelings. Meanwhile, Morgan’s hopes of pulling off her surprise for Uncle Tommy get sacked. That is, until Gabe takes matters into his own hands and uses his connections with the Bills to pull off the surprise of a lifetime for Morgan and both their families that will make this a Christmas they’ll never forget.

Click HERE to read the full article at Variety.

[f0point5]

I think it's such an ick when people assume that distance means a strained relationship. It's perfectly healthy to be able to live your life when your partner is not there.

I get that they're already apart a lot, but we don't know their relationship. I actually really loved the idea when I heard that Helena Bonham Carter and Tim Burton both had their own rooms and beds and sometimes they didn't wanna sleep together and wanted a quiet night alone. That sounded sooo healthy to me. Most people think that just because you're in a relationship with someone you have to want to always be with them at home, and in front of the public.

Just because there aren't pictures of them also doesn't mean that they weren't together at all anyways. People need to get a grip. It's a relationship not a symbiosis.

Iirc Helena BC and Tim Burton actually had neighbouring houses with an interconnecting door (they used to live near my school and people always saw her when we’d take our lunch breaks lol).

I think with Max and Kelly, people have got used to seeing them together so much because she was at so many races last year and the second half of 2022. But for me that even more indicative of the fact that she is probably around more when Max needs to focus “less” at work.

But honestly wags can never win. If they go to every race they’re following their bf for clout. If they don’t follow him enough then “why are you even with him? Are they breaking up?” It’s bizarre. Especially when you think that they’re people with their own friends, families, and lives.

Again, it’s normal to go through periods when you need a bit of space. It’s also normal to go through times when your every move is not accounted for and randoms don’t know how much time you’re spending together/talking to each other while apart.

All evidence points to them having a solid relationship so it’s funny that people want to make the fact that they are spending time with their respective people such a massive thing

[samuelturn]

Aight so now that I have finished Brothersong I have THOUGHTS on further logistical breakdowns of how Green Creek could be adapted to a GLAAD Award-Winning HBO TV show. Spoilers so here is a cut for anyone who wants to be fresh to the series.

PRE-PRODUCTION

OKAY SO! The filming block for Season 1/Wolfsong would MOST LIKELY be the biggest, especially for scenes involving younger versions of the actors. As these are spread out across, like, all four books, some are just “scene we’ve seen but from a different perspective or with ‘Dream Seauence VFX’ so we just need more blocking/extra takes to make it all seem believeable using B-roll” to “yeah this requires Young Thomas and various child actors so we’re filming this beforehand so that everyone looks the same when these scenes come up later” to “ah hell we gotta shave their heads anyways might as well film the revenge road trip.” Thus, basically everyone but, like, Dominique would have to be cast by Season 1, and probably all of Season 1 and half of season 2 would need to be written and finalized and drafts/outlines of Season 3 and 4 would need to be made before casting would begin. Writer’s room would include TJ and a racially-diverse LGBT staff.

Caswell wouldn’t need to be fully built but enough of a location would be needed to film individual scenes with the younger actors and scenes set in the big house at Caswell (ie arguments between Mark and Thomas, Joe being taken, Thomas in the woods with the kids, Thomas writing the letters)

Title sequence would be based on the lovely new covers for the hardcover editions from Tor. They’d get longer with each season and by the end we see the whole pack in the papercraft style of the covers.

CASTING

Yeah we’d need a big ass cast. With multiple actors to play different characters at different ages.

Babies:

Carter, Kelly, Joe, maybe also Gavin depending on things

Children:

Gordo, Gavin, Mark, Rico, Chris, Tanner, Carter, Kelly, Joe, Robbie

Young Adult (ie Teen to Mid 20s) and Adult (ie by the Rough Present of when Ox first discoveres the secret of the Bennetts)

Basically everyone else

The tricky part will be that, yeah, there will probably need to be different actors for 20s Thomas, Elizabeth, Mark, and Gordo because while a 20-something can play 16 or so, its harder for 30-40 year olds to play 20-something. The upside being that an older actor CAN play Gordo for the scenes after Ox’s dad leaves (also Ox’s dad will need a name lol). You would need to switch to older actors for the Bennett kids and Ox basically once Ox graduates high school. But then you can keep all the same actors for the rest of the “present” set scenes. Osmond, and Robert Livingstone would also need younger actors. Richard Collins would only need one actor he’s barely in the flashbacks as it is.

STRUCTURE/PLOT RAMBLINGS

There are a few things that would need to be done in order to improve the pacing for TV, imo. Mainly, that the handing off of Alpha of All to the Fairbanks pack needs to feel more earned and less semi-random. Like, show them taking in Omegas at the end of Season 2, have them be allies at Caswell in Season 3 and the final battle in Season 4. Flesh them out a bit more. Also some continuity smoothing would be needed (ie clarifying that Gordo refused Mark’s MATE bite not Thomas’s BECOME WOLF bite).

Some more forshadowing of Robert’s failsafe in Season 2 would help. Obviously SHOW Gavin’s timber wolf in the attack on Jessie (and ideally have the actor be the body actor wearing the CGI ball suit moving all wolf-like in the scene) in Season 1.

I’d personally add in more of a wrap-up in Caswell at the end of Season 4. And also an extended aftermath scene or episode after Ox’s resurrection. Joe’s wolf is still bigger than almost everyone else, but not as big as it was when he was Alpha. One thing that I’d ask to be added is, maybe with the death of Robert and the ressurrection of Ox there’s a big ass magic pulse and we get a follow-up with the new Alpha of All from Alaska training Betas who have become Alphas thanks to Mystical Moon Magic as they rebuild packs across the continent. Idk the story needs more of a denumont. Alpha of All making more of an effort to try and bring Omegas back from the brink before just automatically deciding to kill them.

Dominique could have human bite marks on her to show thar Jessie tried to “Mate Bite” too even as a human. Bambi and Rico too.

He/They Gavin? Maybe? Gavin feels very he/they. Also Elizabeth showing affection to Maggie (hey if we’re gonna imply that Thomas and Richard had a kind of romantic love for each other in Brothersong before he went Omega Lizzie can make side-eye at Maggie).

Show more of the three year gap between Ravensong and Heartsong (not a lot but more than just one bit when Robbie is kidnapped). And the new story in the deluxe hardcover books too. The myth or whatever. That can be animated in a sketchy style (think Princess Kaguya or Wolfwalkers) with VO from Elizabeth.

Anyway rambling over I love these books so much. TJ I woudn’t say no to a LIGHT DRAMA/mostly fluff 5th book or short story. Maybe from Chris or Tanner’s perspective? Or Jessie’s?

[graceofgondor]

For character ask game: Charlie for #24, and Ginny for #13 !! 🫶

hi hi!! ty for the ask lovely <33

24. What other character from another fandom of yours that reminds you of them?

ahhh this one is so hard, he's such a unique character!! i've heard people say ferris bueller, which on the surface i agree, only that i feel like charlie is much more considerate and complex than ferris, but as far as humor/likeness i can see that. otherwise i would say maybe a tiny bit of jack kelly (original 1992 newsies) but again, mostly just demeanor. honestly ever since i watched a walk to remember the character that reminds me of him the most is landon carter (ty to the anon who recommended that i haven't been the same since) because along with the nonchalant tendencies i think he tends to hit the harder parts of charlie's character, especially in relation to falling in love and all of that.

13. What's an emoji, an emoticon and/or any symbol that reminds you of this character or you think the character would use a lot?

ahh for ginny on this one... hmm... i want to say the crown (👑) but that is largely because of my lady ginny and i feel like that's biased lolll. but otherwise maybe the sparkle emoji?? (✨) idk she's just thought daughter princess vibes, without being too over the top so something cute like that imo.

[anonymousrobinhoodqueer]

I’m distilling my thoughts about ravensong into one post.

I listened to the 20 hour audiobook in 14.5 hours, because I listen on 1.5x speed, I hate how slow normal speed is.

I really like the character development of Gordo.

I am glad that we got to see why the Bennett pack was so small, and why Gordo hated them in Wolfsong.

I am not really fond of the way wolves mark their mates (it’s not imprinting like twilight, but it’s not not that) because it really puts a lot of pressure on these children. Gordo spent his whole life around the Bennetts which meant that he never really got a chance to develop who he was outside of them. And even after they abandoned him, his actions were all driven by that abandonment.

I do believe that the pack abandoned Gordo, he was an orphan that they were not only physically responsible for but also emotionally, and if Thomas really wanted to, he could have taken Gordo with him, not only for legal reasons, but also Thomas was the alpha of all and Gordo was his witch. Not to mention he was like 15 years old.

They did not even write. Let alone call him. Phones existed.

So then after he finally moves on, and builds his own family, the Bennetts return. They basically steal his surrogate son (and anchor) and then expect him to be all good.

Obviously he’s not, but he does get over it much quicker than I think he should have.

And Mark, I don’t really like at all? It sucks that he got magically turned into an omega, and I know that he technically went with the Bennetts against his will, but at the same time, he was around 18. He could have written letters or called. He followed Gordo around so much as children, that the whole town noticed. I do not think that Gordo and Mark should have gotten back together. I think that maybe Gordo still could have been his anchor, but I think that the betrayal was much deeper than what was healed.

I still think that Robbie and Gordo should get together, I know that the next book is about Robbie and that he will be getting with Kelly, but I just think Robbie and Gordo should fuck at least once. (If I am ever motivated to write fanfiction, this would probably be it)

I really hate how Gordo got his hand cut off and no one thought “hey it right there, let’s just magic it back on” maybe it has something to do with it having been a silver blade, but Gordo can touch and use silver so it probably was not that.

Limbs can be reattached in some cases, especially a clean cut where the limb is immediately placed in ice.

I’m excited to learn more about Gavin, which based on my research is the feral wolf that’s courting Carter and is Gordo’s half brother from his dad and anchor.

Overall, fuck mark, fuck Thomas, and most importantly fuck Abel and Robert.

[sparklelicious84]

Bonjour, internet!

My name is Samantha but you can call me Samantha, sparklelicious or Princess Samantha.

I love taking about and sharing my hyperfixations with the internet!

I'm around 16-18 years old, Aquarius, she/her pronouns and autistic.

autism speaks supporters dni!!

My likes

Magical Girl anime

Anything from the 80s and 2000s

Singing

Writing

Reading

Fairies!

Motorcycles

Leather clothing

The color pink

Hanna Barbera cartoons

Vinyl records

Joan Jett!!!

Flared pants

Any Nickelodeon cartoon pretty much.

Drawing

Punk rock music

Juicy Couture anything

The taste and smell of homemade spaghetti

Stomach growling (especially hunger)

Playing with toys and stuffed animals

My favorite characters:

Judy Jetson - The Jetsons

Elmyra Duff - Tiny Toon Adventures

Angelica Pickles - Rugrats

Peggy Bundy - Married... With Children

Cussly - ChuChuTV

SpongeBob SquarePants

Vicky- Fairly Oddparents

Theresa McQueen - Hollyoaks

D.W- Arthur

Helga Pataki- Hey Arnold!

Aisha- Winx Club

Chelsea- My Scene

Wilma Flintstone- The Flintstones

Roxy- Winx Club

Wanda- Fairly Oddparents

Kelly Bundy- Married... With Children

Jane Jetson- The Jetsons

Betty Rubble- The Flintstones

Babs Bunny - Tiny Toon Adventures

Francine - Arthur

Corki Chang - Make It Pop

Yasmin- Bratz

Chatta- Winx Club/PopPixie

Dot Warner- Animaniacs

Rosie- Caillou

Vanessa Carter- Camp Candy

My dislikes:

Sweatpants that aren't flared

Being told what to do

Power outages

Joan Jett haters

Choking on food

Autism Speaks

Homophobes, pedos, sexists, etc.

My favorite singers and bands:

Joan Jett and The Blackhearts

Donna Summer

Pat Benatar

Blondie

Siouxsie and The Banshees

Lita Ford

Beyoncé

Strawberry Switchblade

The B-52's

Janet Jackson

The Runaways

Cyndi Lauper

Bananarama

Paula Abdul

Fun Boy Three

Madonna

MC Skat Kat and The Stray Mob

Bikini Kill

Debbie Harry

Laura Branigan

Nicki Minaj

Nina Hagen

My favorite shows:

The Jetsons

Fairly Oddparents (2001)

My Scene web series

SpongeBob SquarePants

Winx Club

Married... With Children

Pinky and The Brain

The Simple Life

Rugrats (1991)

Tiny Toon Adventures/Looniversity

Rocket Power

The Flintstones

Bluey

Miraculous Ladybug

Pinky, Elmyra and The Brain

Hollyoaks

Old Tom and Jerry cartoons

The Nanny

Hey Arnold!

The Honeymooners

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!

Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius

The Powerpuff Girls (1998)

Atomic Betty

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Team Umizoomi

Arthur

Malcolm In The Middle

Garfield and Friends

Favorite movies:

Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)

Jetsons: The Movie (1990)

Vibes (1988)

Light Of Day (1987)

The Jetsons Meet The Flintstones (1987)

Charlotte's Web (1977)

Bad Reputation (2018)

Hairspray (1988)

Rockin With Judy Jetson (1988)

Tiny Toons: How I Spent My Summer Vacation (1992)

Big Driver (2014)

Space Jam (1996)

Mean Girls (2004)

Diary Of a Wimpy Kid (2010)

Diary Of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2011)

Diary Of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (2012)

The Runaways (2010)

Garfield: The Movie (2004)

Bratz Fashion Pixiez (2007)

Bratz Starrin & Stylin (2004)

Let The Canary Sing (2023)

Bratz Genie Magic (2006)

Favorite albums:

Joan Jett and The Blackhearts- Glorious Results Of A Misspent Youth (1984)

Cyndi Lauper- She's So Unusual (1983)

Pat Benatar- Crimes Of Passion (1980)

Blondie- Eat To The Beat (1979)

Siouxsie and The Banshees- Juju (1981)

The B-52's- Wild Planet (1980)

Joan Jett and The Blackhearts- I Love Rock 'N' Roll (1981)

Paula Abdul- Forever Your Girl (1988)

Bananarama- Deep Sea Skiving (1983)

Pat Benatar- Get Nervous (1982)

Madonna- Like A Virgin (1984)

Beyoncé- B'Day (2007)

Laura Branigan - Self Control (1984)

Joan Jett and The Blackhearts- Album (1983)

Bananarama- Bananarama (1984)

Joan Jett and The Blackhearts- Up Your Alley (1988)

Blondie- Plastic Letters (1977)

Madonna- Madonna (1983)

Paula Abdul - Spellbound (1991)

Beyoncé - Dangerously In Love- (2003)

The Runaways- Queens Of Noise (1977)

Bananarama- Wow! (1987)

Cyndi Lauper- True Colors (1986)

Pat Benatar- In The Heat Of The Night (1979)

Beyoncé- 4 (2011)

Cyndi Lauper- A Night To Remember- (1989)

Bananarama- True Confessions (1986)

The B-52's - Cosmic Thing (1989)

Joan Jett - The Hit List (1990)

Lita Ford- Lita (1988)

Janet Jackson- Control (1986)

Blondie- Autoamerican (1980)

Lita Ford- Out For Blood (1983)

Laura Branigan - Hold Me (1985)

Nina Hagen- NunSexMonkRock (1982)

Beyoncé- Beyoncé (2013)

Mariah Carey- Daydream (1995)

Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation (1989)

Laura Branigan- Branigan (1982)

Madonna- Ray Of Light (1998)

The B-52's - Good Stuff (1992)

Siouxsie and The Banshees- The Scream (1978)

Beyoncé- Lemonade (2016)

The B-52's- The B-52's (1979)

Mariah Carey- Butterfly (1997)

The Runaways- The Runaways (1976)

Cyndi Lauper - Bring Ya To The Brink (2008)

Blondie - The Curse Of Blondie (2003)

The B-52's - Whammy! (1983)

Laura Branigan - Branigan 2 (1983)

The B-52's - Funplex (2008)

Lita Ford - Stiletto (1990)

Bikini Kill - Pussy Whipped (1993)

Debbie Harry - Rockbird (1986)

Bratz - Genie Magic soundtrack (2006)

Favorite books:

Diary Of a Wimpy Kid series

Dork Diaries series

Face It

The Berenstain Bears first time books series

You Are A Wildlife Warrior

The Amazing Book Of My Little Pony

Todd Oldham Joan Jett biography

Garfield comics

Big Nate series

I have a fetish for stomach growling. Especially hunger. I've had it since I was nine. I really like it when a character's stomach growls in a movie, television show, video game, book or any other type of media Even when someone says they're stomach is growling when we don't hear it or when they say they are hungry, it turns me on. I also love to read stomach growling fanfiction and listen to videos of other's stomachs growling. I even make my own videos of my stomach growling (both hunger and digestion!)

and this is one of my favorite characters of all time, Judy Jetson!

Well, that's my introduction. See you on my next blog post!

xoxo,

sparklelicious

[cookies-sports]

England 3 - 4 Germany

Well that match was...something.

Definitely interesting for a neutral observer, probably...more nerve wracking for fans of either team. Chaotic football at its finest.

I don't think anyone from the England team came out of that game looking super impressive, though there were definitely different levels of chaos for each player.

Hampton was nervy and appeared quite shaken as the game went on; the confidence she regained at the start of the second half did not last long. You can debate all day how much of the open play goals were defenders failures vs goalkeeper failures, but I wouldn't say any of them came out looking great. Defenders get more of the blame, for me, but Hampton did not look confident at all and I think that affected her performance a lot. Bright and Williamson were all over the shop (I genuinely think Bright only stayed on for her height defending set pieces). Carter and Bronze were doing some very weird things positionally in the opening 30 minutes, though I think they levelled out and did much better after that, certainly moreso than the centre backs. Also Bronze got that dropped ball from Berger to get the third goal to make the scoreline more respectable. Overall, the entire defence just seemed to struggle to work together at times.

Walsh was quiet and locked out of the game; opponents know England try to play through her and do their best to keep her out of the game. Toone, I thought, was one of the better players in the first half, but towards the end you could see that frustrations and emotions were getting to her (completely understandable, wasn't the last time she played at Wembley the FA Cup win with her dad watching? It's only been just over a month since he died, of course that's going to be tough). Stanway obviously got two of the goals, but there were long periods where she was losing the ball in midfield or struggling to get a hold in the game as well, though less so than some other players.

The front three were probably the best as a unit of the team. Mead seemed to struggle the most of the three, but she got in some good passes and an assist. Russo apparently is doomed to hit the woodwork forever more, but she looked lively and pressed hard. Hemp was probably the best player for England yesterday and there were times when she was ahead of the pack and had to resort to passing back to avoid losing the ball, which was frustrating.

Subs-wise, Park struggled to make an impact because of how much the entire midfield struggled. She pressed forward a few times, but seemed to get dragged into firefighting the panic and mayhem like everyone else. Greenwood seemed to bring a bit more calm to the backline and direction, but probably would have had a better impact starting rather than being subbed in. Kelly couldn't really get into the game either and her coming in for Russo was an unusual choice. Le Tissier and Naz didn't have much time to make an impact, so it doesn't seem fair to assess their performance much. I will say, though, Naz doesn't only keep up with Hemp pace-wise, but also reads the game well so makes clever runs at the right time. She could very well solve some of that frustration of Hemp finding herself missing an attacking partner when she runs on ahead.

And Germany were also chaotic in their own way, too. Truly a bizarre game of football that did not seem like a friendly at times.

The reaction to the game has also reminded me of some more thoughts I have about WoSo journalism, the quality, the misinformation, and how it feeds into the nastiness online and directed at the players, especially with this rivalry they're trying to get clicks off of in the fight for the #1 Jersey in goal (it's not a coincidence that Earps has clearly taken a step back from social media in the last month or so, or that Hampton has turned her comments off on her recent social media post). However, that's a much more winding and rambling sort of thought process, so I'll leave that for another post.

Lionesses...Wiegman...less chaos on Tuesday please.

[hillzhqs]

'𝚝𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚘𝚗

hear those silver bells? it's christmas time in los angeles. some families actually do make the yuletide gay, managing to leave their troubles far away. other families have a merry little christmas even when their troubles aren't so far away. some presents might end up returned but some gifts are for keeps. other presents come when you least expect them and everyone knows the biggest present comes in the smallest box. then there are those boxes you wish you had never opened. have a holly jolly christmas, xoxo.

‹   ⅰ.   › you have been cordially invited to celebrate christmas eve at the kennedy estate in hidden hills, california. this year's theme is 'the colors of the season.' there will be different themed rooms throughout the home that will be color coordinated - red, green, white, silver, gold and black. the dress code is to wear one of these colors. admission to the party will not be granted if you are not following dress code. this is not a casual event by any means, so please do dress your best.

‹   ⅱ.   ›  the party will be taking place on discord. please keep an eye out for the link. while the event will be taking place over the span of one night rp time (december 24th, 2023), you can start writing on sunday, december 10th, 2023. threads can continue until everyone completes their writing.

‹   ⅲ.   ›  in the spirit of the season, kathy kennedy hosts an annual 'kathy kringle' where she pairs up people from the party to exchange gifts with one another. under the cut, please find your partner. there will be a channel in the event server where you can drop pictures and edits of the gifts called 'kathy kringle' and you can write out your characters exchanging gifts in the 'grand foyer' channel

‹   ⅳ.   › gossip girl has eyes everywhere, especially in an event as star studded as this one. if there's anything specific that you don't want leaked, please be sure to come to me before hand. if not, everything is up for grabs and can potentially be blasted for everyone to see.

‹   ⅴ.   ›  be inclusive! make sure you're writing/plotting with everyone and most importantly, have fun!!

✳    𝐤𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝐤𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬   ﹕please see under the cut!

LEX -adrian fitzgerald . - DEE - julian calvary

SOPHIE -mallory wells - T - travis buckley .

KELLY - tyler cobb - SOPHIE -kaya khalid

KELLY - drew monroe - CANDICE -bentley hart

CANDICE -sienna spencer - T - vincent hart .

KELLY - madeline kennedy - CANDICE -genevieve evans

DEE - lilian hawker - CANDICE -sebastian davis

KELLY - roman barlowe - LEX -teddy taylor .

LEX -camryn kennedy . - T - hunter valmont .

BECCA - juliette hart . - KELLY - matteo rossi

SARA- oliver van horn - LEX -madden kennedy .

BECCA - stacey ortiz . - KELLY - franz wanger

SOPHIE -angel griffin - CANDICE - felicity dupont

SARA- avett marie - LEX -keanu carter .

SOPHIE -ford anderson - LEX -jade santos .

LEX -beau calvary - SOPHIE -archie sinclair

DEE - ezra basel - T - james vanderbilt .

SOPHIE -everly blackwell - CANDICE -jackson blackwell

SOPHIE -zion davis - FREY - na-eun seo

T - austen sinclair . - CANDICE -johnny kennedy

KELLY - charlotte windsor - SOPHIE -maddox mckelvie

CANDICE -adelaide windsor - BECCA - erin halliday .

KELLY - ayaz demiric- SARA- caleb khan

DEE - dominic law - FREY - penelope kennedy

DEE - gigi majok - SARA- finley kennedy

T - jordana kennedy . - CANDICE -brooke hawker

KELLY - ethan briggs - T - hana hershey ratanavadi .

SOPHIE -kacey king - DEE - carter talbot

KELLY - afia amoabeng - T - caiden sharpe .

FREY - kwame amoabeng - KELLY - seo sieun

KELLY - merve baysel - CANDICE -persephone sinclair

SOPHIE - ophelia evans - BECCA - farrah osmond

LEX -selene sinclair . - T - alabama messi .

DEE - derek taylor - CANDICE -bianca sinclair

T - bristol decker . - SOPHIE -mackenzie kennedy

[the-navistar-carol]

Chapter 16 of "Aftershocks," up now!

Kelly "Vacay" Savannah, Weapons Systems Officer, has been called back to Top Gun years after her graduation, about a mission she knows nothing whatsoever of. Luckily, she's not alone. Her frontseater Marisol "Floodgate" Carter, has been called back, too. OR: Two more people join the Dagger Squad. Not a lot changes, but nothing is the same.

If this doesn't happen, the apocalypse has, for this chapter has been lovingly edited by @zee-has-commitment-issues. Send them patience, because if you give them strength, she will fistfight a room of ten-year-olds.

His voice, low in her ear, started up again. “When you went down,” he murmured, voice rasping at the corners as the precursor to some kind of sob, “all I could think of was that I couldn’t lose you, too.” It was a bold statement to make. Especially for the military, where death’s ironclad injustice always loomed over each and every hill, storm-cloud, and cresting wave. If his hold on her tightened – which it did – she didn’t mention it. But she didn’t ignore it, either. 

After a supremely long wait (I am SO SORRY), here it is! Chapter 16! May the juicy content make up for my absence.

Read now on Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/41581620/chapters/122574775

Taglist (open): @isieoop @missezri

[sounds-of-some-day]

Okay I finally finished Ravensong. It was good. I really really enjoyed a lot of it. I did really miss Ox and Joe though. Joe especially felt really sidelined in the back half of the book. And I'm not really expecting that to change much in the third book. 😔 Maybe book four.

I'm about to start Heartsong, which, I'm maybe more iffy on as I have no particular feelings about Robbie and Kelly.

I think I'm most curious to find out about the timber wolf. I had guessed early on who it was since I read the back of all of the books, but while his identity was answered in this book, I feel like a lot of questions were still left up in the air.

Mostly how Gordo and Elizabeth knew who it was. While I can see them knowing about his existence at all, how did they know he got bit by a wolf? Why is he still (only) a wolf? Also what's the connection to Carter. Presumably they were close as kids, I guess, but Carter was pretty dang young when they left I think.

Anyway I will try to blog my journey more as I go through book 3 if you want to follow along with me I'll tag it.

[readingrobin]

The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories by Angela Carter

Angela Carter was a storytelling sorceress, the literary godmother of Neil Gaiman, David Mitchell, Audrey Niffenegger, Kelly Link, and other contemporary masters of supernatural fiction. In her masterpiece, The Bloody Chamber--which includes the story that is the basis of Neil Jordan's 1984 movie The Company of Wolves--she spins subversively dark and sensual versions of familiar fairy tales and legends like "Little Red Riding Hood," "Bluebeard," "Puss in Boots," and "Beauty and the Beast," giving them exhilarating new life in a style steeped in the romantic trappings of the gothic tradition. -Storygraph

Angela Carter is somehow on another plane when it comes to storytelling. She weaves her words so elegantly, and yet there is some kind of beautiful danger to them. With all of her talks of wolves and beasts, her stories also have the edge of a predator to them, alluring and graceful, yet will also devour you whole if you're not too careful. This was my first time reading any of Carter's work, knowing that many of my favorite authors drew inspiration from her and, upon finishing the book, it's so clear how her influence survives in the horror written today. I know Neil Gaiman has listed her as one of his influences, which makes sense given the way both tend to incorporate some sort of vagueness into their works.

This collection of stories has so much depth within it that you almost need to take notes to get the full experience. That's not a bad thing for me personally, as I'm one to dissect stories that interest me, and Carter makes her writing rich with allegories and symbolism hidden within retellings of fairy tales we all know so well. Even as I'm writing a review, I'm still trying to figure out what some of them mean. It's not a collection meant for a bit of light reading, as Carter goes to great lengths to rework the familiar into something disturbing, yet truthful.

"The Snow Child" in particular was a short, yet provocative story, showing that Carter is more than willing to include a taboo or two to get a message across. Here, we see a rich man of status riding with his wife, wishing for a beautiful girl. This story, through its dreamlike atmosphere and imagery, deals with the discarding nature of the upper class, of how a man of rank can seek mistresses, young girls, when it pleases him, only to cast them aside when they have outlived their use and before they cast too much attention away from their wives.

Several of Carter's stories take on a feminist slant, dealing with themes of agency, maturity, sexual exploration, and the damaging effect of the patriarchy. The latter is an interesting one, especially as it's framed in "The Erl-King." We see a woman fall in love with a man of the woods, only to feel herself ensnared and trapped by him. She feels excited yet also terrified by his presence, which can be both intimidating and sensual. He keeps a flock of birds in cages within his hut, and the woman fears that she will become much the same. Yet, though the man treats his birds well and cares for them, they are still trapped within gilded cages. The story deals mainly in gender roles, how both men and women suffer from the patriarchy and what is typically expected of each of them.

I could go on and on about what each story means, how "The Courtship of Mr. Lyon" gives the Beauty of this Beauty and the Beast retelling a great deal of agency, predating the Disney version by a good decade, or how "Wolf-Alice" reflects the process of self-actualization and the effect of isolation in that process. I'm sure it's been the work of several dissertations in the past. But for now, I'm comfortable saying that if you're in the mood for something darker, a little more subversive, this is a collection you don't want to miss.

(4.5/5)

[bllsbailey]

The Obamas Just Made Their Biggest Cover-Up Mistake Yet

Last week, Michelle Obama offered the most ridiculous excuse for skipping Donald Trump’s inauguration, and let’s just say it didn’t do her any favors. On a podcast few people listen to—the one she does with her brother—she claimed she didn’t attend because she “had nothing to wear.” 

And the media ate it up as if that explanation made sense, completely ignoring the fact that a former first lady with unlimited resources couldn’t find a dress would be like Donald Trump claiming he doesn’t have enough ties. 

I’ve been saying for a while now that despite the media’s portrayal that she has been publicly refuting rumors of marital problems with Barack, that she’s actually been evasive whenever asked about those rumors, dodging direct questions with vague empowerment-speak instead of a clear denial.

And she’s done it again!

What's especially telling about Michelle Obama's latest attempt to address those persistent divorce rumors isn't what she says — it's what she carefully avoids saying. In a recent appearance on "The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett," with her brother, we got the same kind of non-denial denial we’ve been getting for weeks.

Michelle Obama publicly pushed back against ongoing speculation surrounding her marriage to former President Barack Obama, stating during a podcast appearance that "everybody would know" if the couple were facing serious issues. The comments came during her interview on "The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett," where she was joined by her brother, Craig Robinson. "He would know it," Michelle said, referring to Robinson. "And everybody would know it." She added, "I'm not a martyr. I would be problem solving in public. 'Let me tell you what he did.'" Her brother quipped in response, "If they were having a problem, I would be doing a podcast with him."

It was her brother’s comment that really raised the red flags. I’m not even sure what 

"If they were having a problem, I would be doing a podcast with him." Really? Because family members never cover for each other? Having Michelle's brother vouch for them only makes it look worse—like they knew Michelle's explanations weren't cutting it.

Related: The Obama Brand Is Dead

In any case, I’m still waiting for the explicit denial. And there hasn’t been one. But the hints of problems have been there for months. Look, if she had simply insisted she was protesting Trump by not attending his inauguration, I’d have been sold. But the dress thing was ridiculous. Also, that doesn’t explain her conspicuous absence from President Jimmy Carter's funeral.

Meanwhile, conservative commentator Tucker Carlson fueled further speculation in an interview on "The Megyn Kelly Show," where he claimed Michelle Obama "really dislikes her husband" and appeared "miserable." He added, "Her hostility toward the guy is unbelievable." Kelly echoed that view, stating, "Everything she says is negative." Carlson, who has been married for 33 years, argued the Obamas have been pulled in different directions since leaving the White House. "They sort of miss the point, which is in a normal life, your marriage is the core of everything," he said. In a separate interview last month with Hamilton College President Steven Tepper, Barack Obama acknowledged that his presidency strained the marriage. "I was in a deep deficit with my wife. So I have been trying to dig myself out of that hole by doing occasionally fun things," he said.

Let's be honest here — when couples are truly happy, they don't need elaborate explanations about why they're rarely seen together. They don't need their brothers to vouch for their marriage. And they certainly don't need to keep addressing "rumors" with non-denial denials.

Make no mistake about it — if the Obamas want to put these rumors to rest, they could do so with a simple, straightforward statement. Instead, we get carefully crafted responses that sound more like they came from a PR firm than a happily married couple. 

And that speaks volumes more than their actual words.

While other outlets parrot Michelle Obama's non-denial denials, PJ Media is connecting the dots. We'll always tell you what the mainstream media won't. Don't miss out—become a VIP member now and save 60% with code FIGHT.

[thebandcampdiaries]

Disintegration C. E. is an artist with a story that stretches back 25 years, long before he started producing his own tracks. Originally a DJ and collector of house, techno, and electronic music for friends, he is now focusing on creating his own material, and We Are the Push People is a perfect example of his vision.

This release captures the energy of classic electronic dance music while also offering a deeper commentary on personal struggles and the modern world’s tendency to push one another away. Despite only beginning to produce in the past year, Disintegration C. E. has gathered a lifetime’s worth of musical knowledge, as he has many years of connection with the world of music, dating back to the very early 2000s. His inspirations as a DJ are very diverse, from Danny Tenaglia, Donald Glaude, and Derrick Carter to more breakbeat-oriented names like DJ Icey and John Kelly, as well as MJ Cole and Artful Dodger from the UK garage scene. This broad palette of tastes is reflected in his new EP, which blends everything from deep house rhythms to tech house grooves and beyond.

The title track, “We Are the Push People,” offers a strong introduction to Disintegration C. E.’s style. The kick drum is bold and anchors the beat, drawing inspiration from the heyday of Chicago or Detroit house music. There is an old-school bounce to the arrangement, giving it a warm, familiar feel that still manages to sound fresh. The production is crisp, with plenty of attention to detail in every layer. Taking a more personal turn, the second song, "Keep It On Me," focuses on self-preservation in the face of disappointment. It hints at saying “enough is enough” and deciding to protect yourself by shutting others out. The track’s energy retains the old-school house flow but pushes percussion and vocal samples even further. The metallic tones and delays in the intro play off each other in sharp bursts, backed by a punchy four-on-the-floor kick. The arrangement balances quiet, sparse moments with heavier, intense sections, reflecting the ups and downs of emotional defense. Vocal samples weave in perfectly, adding an even more interesting twist. This song has some huge dynamic, with sparse moment alternating more powerful sections. The vocal samples are really expertly laid out and create an amazing melodic pattern that works well with the keys and synths.

Rounding out the EP, “Cosmic Mouth” leans into darker melodies and a more hypnotic groove. It explores themes of intimacy, power dynamics, and the curious blend of shame and desire that so many people feel about sex. For Disintegration C. E., the track also represents the ongoing fight to embrace all aspects of oneself without apology. It brings a mid-90s flavor with sparse melodic ideas that make the vocal cuts shine through. Minimal, techno, and even early hip-hop influences appear in the production. The sound is an amazing curtain closer, with a darker, edgier vibe, especially in the intro section. This is a hypnotic, hybrid groove that adds so many influences, adding a unique finishing touch to this entire EP.

In conclusion, these 3 tracks are an extremely well-conceived introduction to what Disintegration C. E. is all about as a producer, and although he is relatively new to producing, these songs show that he has a lifetime of being a music connoisseur under his belt.

While the EP has a distinct, energetic spirit, it’s the production value that truly elevates it. Disintegration C. E. layers sounds with care, ensuring that no frequency range overwhelms another. The low end stays tight and heavy, giving each track a strong foundation. The top end is clean and crisp, keeping the music clear and allowing every subtle detail to shine. Even the sampling stands out, as bits of vocal and melodic phrases are carefully arranged to endow the songs with just the right personality and flow! This release ultimately feels like a love letter to real electronica and a willingness to celebrate the roots of some of its main sub-genres while staying attuned to the latest innovations. Instead of boxing himself into techno or house music, he really managed to cross over between those styles, showcasing his varied taste and ability to be versatile in the process.

Variety is indeed one of the fundamental building blocks of this release. Each of the three songs has something unique to offer, yet there’s also a consistent thread that ties them all together. This synergy makes for a captivating listening experience, particularly if you’re the kind of listener who enjoys listening to albums or EPs like this one from start to finish. Each track stands out on its own as well, but there is something special about the flow of this work as a whole too. Through the use of sampling, synthesizers, pads, and other electronic instruments, this style of music empowers producers to stretch their creativity in ways a conventional band—relying on guitar, bass, or acoustic drums—often cannot. This isn’t meant to diminish traditional musicianship, which remains invaluable and has its own place. Instead, it goes to show that electronic music producers and DJs have a different and just as artistically valuable approach to making music and connecting thoughts, sounds, and ideas!

[yourreddancer]

Today in Politics, Bulletin 47. 1/14/25

Ron Filipkowski Jan 15 ∙

… Trump announced the performers for his inauguration: Kid Rock, The Village People, Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean, Billy Ray Cyrus, Lee Greenwood and Rascal Flats.  (ALL FUCKING LOSERS !!)

… Mike Johnson announced that flags will be raised to full staff over the Capitol this Monday for Trump’s inauguration. Flying flags half-staff for 30 days after the death of a former president was put in place by President Dwight Eisenhower 70 years ago in 1954. It has been done for every president since that time until this Monday, when Mike Johnson will end that tradition after Donald Trump demanded to have the flags raised for him despite the death of former President Jimmy Carter.

(HE HASN'T THE AUTHORITY TO DO THAT, SO HE CAN PISS UP A ROPE!!)

… Pete Hegseth had his confirmation hearing today before the Senate Armed Services Committee. It seems pretty clear that he is going to be voted out of committee on largely party-line vote. The only Democrat on the committee who was rumored to be considering a vote for Hegseth was Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) since he is from a swing state, but he made it pretty clear today that he didn’t think Hegseth had the qualifications.   (I JUST EMAILED PETERS TO NOT VOTE FOR HIM OR ANY OF THE TANGERINE TRAITOR'S NOMINEES)

… There were consistent themes during the hearing based on things Hegseth has written and said in the recent past, as well as things he has done in his personal and professional life. One consistent theme coming from Hegseth was constant and effusive praise for Trump. He mentioned Trump’s name while praising him well over 100 times, knowing full well that Dear Leader was watching.

… The topic of Hegseth’s mismanagement of his veteran’s charity, which ultimately led to his removal from it, came up where there was questioned about failing to balance it’s budget as well as behavior at a strip club with employees that led to a lawsuit. He was evasive on all these questions and continued to emphasize how proud he was of his work. He refused to say whether he was removed for cause from the charity or left on his own. … He was asked about his repeated statements, including in his book published last year, that women should not serve in combat. This was a key issue for combat vet Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), who was considered a key vote for Hegseth after her initial reaction to his nomination was not positive. Hegseth just renounced everything he said about that and now claims he fully supports women in combat.

… Hegseth was also asked about his Fox co-workers saying that he was frequently drunk on the job and had a serious drinking problem. That included multiple incidents where he drank to the point where he passed out in public places and had to be carried out by employees. He denied all of it, claimed it was all simply based on anonymous sources (it wasn’t), and said he will quit drinking if he is confirmed as SecDef.

… Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) was especially concerned about the drinking and the fact that Hegseth wasn’t being honest about it. He said he was even more concerned by his lack of candor about it than he was about the drinking itself. … Hegseth denied committing a sexual assault against the woman who sued him where he settled the lawsuit, paid her money, and secured an NDA. He refused to say whether he would release her from her NDA. When asked about his judgment on getting drunk and having sex with a woman at a work-related conference two months after his 3rd wife gave birth (who he impregnated during his 2nd marriage), he refused to even admit they had sex at all.

… Hegseth has also spent years crusading against “warfighters having their hands tied” by Judge Advocate Generals and the Pentagon imposing rules of engagement designed to minimize civilian casualties. He was also asked about lobbying Trump during his first term to pardon convicted war criminals who were outed by their own fellow service members who testified against them. This was one area where Hegseth was defiant and maintained that soldiers should not be second-guessed on the decisions they make in combat: “I default to the warfighters.”

… Another focus was about his lack of experience running any organization with more than 100 employees. This was the issue Sen. Peters focused on. Hegseth conceded that he has never run any organization close to the size of DOD, but said that few people have and his experience as a company commander and running a charity, where he supervised roughly 100 people at each, was sufficient since he will also be surrounded by people at DOD who have a lot of experience who will advise him.

… Hegseth was also asked by Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) about former Trump SecDef Mark Esper saying that Trump wanted to use the 82nd Airborne on DC protesters and that protesters should be shot in the leg, both of which Esper would not do. Hegseth was asked if he agreed with Esper or Trump on those things. He refused to answer, and just kept saying that he didn’t think that Trump would ask him to do anything illegal.

… Slotkin then asked if he opposed using the military to run migrant detention camps, and he said that the border was an issue of national security and would do what Trump asked him to do to stop the “migrant invasion.”

… I thought some Democrats accomplished nothing with their questions, some made at least one good point, some made a few good points, but Elissa Slotkin from start to finish was the best with outstanding questions throughout with the right tone while not letting him filibuster or interrupt despite trying to do so.

… Probably the most bizarre line of questioning came from Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), who went on a lengthy rant about Jesus, how much he loves his wife and how he would probably be in prison right now if it wasn’t for his wife, how his wife has had to forgive him for transgressions multiple times, then finally asked Hegseth this question: “Tell me something about your wife you love.” He didn’t specify which one of Hegseth’s wives he was asking about.

… Naturally, Charlie Kirk thought Mullin’s questions were the best, posting all 7 minutes of Mullins time on social media.

… Meanwhile, Eric Schmitt (R-MO) was railing about DEI resulting in unqualified people in the military getting promotions while the graphic behind him that he brought to the hearing had “military” spelled wrong.

… Democrats also repeatedly complained to Chair Roger Wicker (R-MS) that there was only going to be one round of questions, when every past Secretary nominee from both parties had multiple rounds of questions going back decades. Wicker just said there would be one round and that’s it.

… Democrats on the committee also complained about Hegseth refusing to meet in person with any of them, which no SecDef nominee has ever refused to before from either party.

… Some Republicans on social media were grumbling about Wicker wearing a Ukraine flag on his lapel. Every time a Democratic Rep has done that they complain bitterly that they are unpatriotic and un-American because they say only American flags should be worn or displayed in Congress.

… Hegseth would be taking a pay cut though. His financial disclosure forms indicated that Fox paid him $4 million last year.

… CNN Contributor Scott Jennings after the hearing: “Pete Hegseth kicked their asses today! It wasn’t even close. They didn’t lay a glove on him. The Democrats acted in a bizarre and unprofessional way. Tim Kaine sounded like a sex pervert in his questioning!” Kaine was the one who asked Hegseth about cheating on his 3rd wife two months after she gave birth after she was impregnated by him while he was married to his 2nd wife. More quality content from CNN.

… Ronny Jackson: "They fear him because he's gonna go in there and burn the place down."

… Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD): “He wants to bring lethality back in.”

… Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN): “It’s warmongers v. warfighters.”

… Confirmation hearings tomorrow before different committees are DHS nominee Kristi Noem 9 AM, AG Pam Bondi at 9:30 AM, State Dept Marco Rubio at 10:00 AM, CIA Director John Ratcliffe at 10:00 AM, and Transportation Sean Duffy at 10:00 AM.

… Nancy Mace and Jasmine Crockett got into it today at a committee hearing after Crockett said that Mace’s “campaign coffers must be low because you just keep saying trans, trans, trans over and over.” After they went back and forth Mace at one point said, “You want to take it outside!” I think Mace was very lucky that Crockett was talking at the time because I don’t think she heard Mace issue that challenge. Good thing for Mace that she didn’t. (CROCKETT WOULD'VE WHIPPED HER ASS WITH ONE HAND!)

… Many Republican House members and Senators said that they would not vote for any disaster relief aid for the victims of the CA wildfires unless that state changes their laws and policies to conform to what Republicans think they should be. Many of the Reps opposing aid have entire towns that pay less in taxes to the federal government than a single victim of many of these fires.

… Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) on Newsmax: “California doesn't deserve anything unless they show us they're going to make some changes. They got 40 million people in that state and they vote in these imbeciles in office, and they continue to do it. If you go to CA, you run into a lot of Republicans, a lot of good people. And I hate it for them. But they are just overwhelmed by these inner city woke policies with the people that vote for them." (THE IMBECILES VOTED INTO OFFICE ARE PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND TRUMP, TUBERVILLE!!!)

… Alabama is one of the most federally-dependent states, receiving $2.17 for every $1 in taxes it sends to Washington.

… Mike Johnson: “I think there should be conditions on that aid.” Johnson also suggested that the condition he is looking for is Trump’s demand to lift the debt ceiling for his entire presidency. Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) responded to that: “This confirms the Speaker doesn’t have the votes to raise the debt ceiling without the Democrats.”

… Johnson also told Punchbowl that Trump will be making a trip to CA this week to tour the fire damage.

… Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI): “There's a lot of members that aren't there yet on just exactly what this would look like. I'm sure there is gonna be some things tied to any aid that's gonna make it's way to California."

… Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX): “It's gonna have to be in conjunction with some reforms that CA hasn't been willing to make on the way they regulate their water and things of that nature. They wasted their taxpayer dollars on all kinds of crazy woke agenda items."

… Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) to CNN: “We’ve got to get a pound of flesh on any dollar spent in CA.”

… Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI): "I certainly wouldn't vote for anything unless we see a dramatic change in how they're gonna be handling these things in the future."

… Sean Hannity: “There’s got to be conditions along with rebuilding money. Take the money from the LA ports going green, take the money from wind turbines.”

… Newsmax host Chris Salcedo: “Why should other states be bailing out California for choosing the wrong people to run their state?”

… Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries: “It is unconscionable, unacceptable, and un-American to try to impose a single condition on providing disaster assistance to Americans in need.”

… George Santos was successful in getting his sentencing set for next month postponed, but not for the 6 months he was asking for. The court moved it to April and said there would be no further continuances for any reason. Santos claims he needs the time to raise money to pay restitution to the victims, but most likely he is stalling for time to lobby Trump for a pardon. … Trump posted at 1:24 AM: “How bad is Seth Myers on NBC - a network run by truly bad people. I got stuck watching Marble Mouth Myers the other night. Every time I watch this dumb moron I feel an obligation to say how dumb and untalented he is, merely a slot filler for the scum that runs Comcast. These guys should be paying a lot of money for the right to give these ‘in kind’ contributions to Democrats. Comcast should pay a BIG price for this!”

… The NYT is reporting that after Meta employees pushed back on Mark Zuckerberg after learning from his interview on Joe Rogan that they were abandoning content moderation. Zuckerberg responded with a notice to all employees that 5% of the entire workforce of the company will be laid off on February 10.

… Trump announced on Truth Social that he is going to create a new government agency called the ‘External Revenue Service’ that will be in charge of collecting “tariffs, duties, and all revenue that comes for foreign sources” after he imposes his new tariffs. Not sure if he cleared this with his Chief of Staff or anyone else before launching this new plan on social media, or if it just came to him in his golf cart on the way to the 15th hole.  (PRESIDENTS CAN'T CREATE DEPARTMENTS - ONLY CONGRESS CAN!!  AND THEY NEED TO NIP THAT SHIT IN THE BUD!!)

… Who was Trump’s golf partner today? Ron Desantis.

… Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC) introduced a bill today to abolish the Department of Education. … Mike Johnson removed Rep. Thomas Massie from his spot on the coveted Rules Committee. Massie was the only Republican to vote against Johnson for Speaker.

… Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) posted: “Removing Thomas Massie from Rules was a mistake.” She deleted that a little while later.

… Rudy Giuliani had another pretrial hearing today for his contempt case. Trump posted: “SAVE RUDY!!!” to show his support. That is interesting since Trump stiffed Rudy on his legal fees for all the work he did running around the country filing lawsuits, appeals, testifying before state legislative committees and election canvasing boards. Three years of work by Rudy on Hunter Biden and election challenges which cost Rudy his lucrative job a big law firm, his bar license, his NY apartment, and everything he owns.  (TOUCH TRUMP AND DIE!!!)

… Trump raised over $200 million right after the 2020 election, which was supposed to go to Rudy and his team to fund the election challenges and audits. But Trump did not pay one penny of Rudy’s $2 million bill. Trump simply kept most of it for the Republican primary in 2023, where he used the money to defeat Desantis and Haley. But the PAC did pay $60,000 to Kim Guilfoyle for a speech and hundreds of thousands of dollars to Melania’s stylist. But not a penny for Rudy. All Rudy got was a “SAVE RUDY!” post on Truth Social.

… Per Inner City Press, Rudy’s lawyer asked that the January 16 trial be postponed until after Trump’s inauguration because he doesn’t want to miss it if it is still going until Monday. That was denied. Rudy’s lawyer Cammarata: “The American public wants to know why this can’t go beyond January 20 …” Judge Liman interrupted: “Stop. I follow the law. Don’t tell me about the American people. Or some of them.”  

… Rudy also claimed that his witness, Monsiegnor Alan Placa, who was accused by multiple boys of sexual molestation but was found not guilty by the Catholic Church to the outrage of the victims, was also not available on the scheduled trial date. Rudy’s lawyer: “Msgr. Placa answers to a higher authority than this court.” Judge Liman: “What do you mean by that?” Lawyer: “He answers to God.” Judge Liman: “Read my jury instructions. They say all witnesses are viewed equally.” Motion denied.

… MSNBC President Rashida Jones announced that she is stepping down after 4 years. Memo to staff from Comcast CEO: “Rashida has expertly navigated MSNBC through a years-long, unrelenting and unprecedented news cycle, all while driving the network to record viewership and making investments in nonlinear businesses. MSNBC is well-positioned for the future.”

… With MSNBC’s ratings in the toilet, the network announces that Rachel Maddow will return to host her show 5 days a week for the first 100 days of the Trump Administration. … After Jack Smith resigned and released his report, Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) had this to say to him: “Hit the gym Quisling, you’re looking at hard time. You, Garland, Wray. You’re all going down for what you’ve done. Betrayer of justice, oppressor of freedom. The wrath of We the People is upon you.” Lovely people.

… Meanwhile, Trump said, “I agree!” while reposting a meme which said that Jack Smith, Alvin Bragg, Letitia James and Fani Willis should be disbarred and criminally prosecuted.

… Jack Smith’s report noted that while Trump was watching the J6 riot on TV, one of the insurrectionists came on the screen and said that Mike Pence was Trump’s last hope to remain president. Trump immediately picked up his phone and sent out the tweet where he said, “Mike Pence didn’t have the courage” to do the right thing for him, which sent the mob into a frenzy hunting him.

… House Oversight Chair James Comer’s new book is out today called, ‘All the President’s Money.’ It is based on Comer’s failed two-year investigation where he wasted millions in taxpayer dollars trying to prove that Joe Biden took bribes between $5-15 million from foreign entities. He failed so miserably that, despite promising a Biden impeachment, he wouldn’t even call for a vote on it in his own committee because he knew even some Republicans were going to humiliate him by voting against it. But that didn’t stop Harper Collins from giving Comer a book deal so he can sell a few thousand copies to lobbyists.

… Because there damn sure isn’t anyone that is going to buy that garbage book. Even MAGA hates Comer because they blame his incompetence for no Biden impeachment.

… But the good news for Comer is that he will finally be free from his nemesis Jared Moskowitz, who announced he is leaving Oversight and put in for a spot on the Judiciary Committee. Moskowitz: “I may have left Oversight, but I’m never leaving James Comer. See you soon, James!”

… Right-wing influencers continue to post the lie, as they do after every single natural disaster, that FEMA under Biden will only give people $770 in aid after their homes were destroyed. This is the maximum amount that can be given under the law in short term immediate aid for things like food and fuel. Money above that must to authorized by Congress, which many Republican congressman currently are pledging to block for CA.

… The ‘Nelk Brothers’ podcast team, which has 8.3 million YouTube subscribers and includes members from the US and Canada, have arrived in Greenland wearing red, white and blue outfits and flying Trump flags while they film themselves handing out cash to Greenlanders to persuade them to become part of the US. Both Donald Trump and Don Jr. appeared separately on the Nelk podcast during the campaign.

… Greenland media Sermitsaig reports that the Nelk Brothers have been handing out cash and MAGA hats to people in Greenland, then filming them.

… Tommy Tuberville: “At the end of the day, they want better leadership in Greenland. They’ve said that. And so I think President Trump will sit down with all the entities.”

… Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR): “Most Americans should be serious about it. Denmark doesn’t have the budget to properly support those Greenlanders. The US does have that.”

… Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) introduced a bill called the Make Greenland Great Again Act which authorizes the government to negotiate with Denmark to buy Greenland.

… But Fox sent a reporter to Greenland to interview people about it: “Most of the people we talked with said they did not support Trump’s comments and they found them offensive.”

… Thank you for all your wonderful replies about my story from yesterday about why I switched parties from Republican to Democrat. I read all of them even though that took quite a while because there were so many great comments. I was pretty nervous about doing that and didn’t know what kind of response I would get. Well, 837 new people subscribed to our Substack from it, so I would say that and the amazing comments was certainly way more than I expected. … Trump loyalist Laura Loomer continues to complain bitterly about Elon Musk winning over Trump’s affection while MAGA activists who campaigned for Trump for the last 8 years have been kicked to the curb: