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magpiemagica · 4 months ago

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Disability in the US: A Masterpost

DISABLED AMERICANS CAN’T EVER CATCH A F*CKING BREAK?!

Sorry for yelling; just very scared and upset at the state of my nation right now. And the fact that the only people I see standing up for the disabled community right now is teachers, doctors, and adults of disabled children! I will be using this post to document and educate on disabled issues.

Note from March 25, 2025: Some stuff near the top might be out of date, specifically regarding the state of The Department of Education. I will however still keep those (pre-closure) links up as they are still relevant. Just be aware of the timeline while reading; I started dating my updates around Early March.

(Note: In this post, I will be going over a bunch of stuff concerning the disabled community. I am an adult diagnosed with autism (and some other stuff) who although being Lv1, needs support. These issues will obviously affect more than just Americans with developmental disabilities (autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, etc.) and I will try to be as inclusive as I can to ALL disabilities in this post. This is just the personal experience I am bringing in.)

RFK JR. (he is a whole pile of worms, no pun intended)

17 states are in a lawsuit to eliminate section 504 of of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, this would allow public schools to discriminate education against disabled students. This includes removable of disability accommodations. 504 applies to other government assisted services as well such as hospitals and doctor's offices. This possible removable is a big civil rights issue.

Below are Section 504 itself and the lawsuit.

Speaking of disability and education, the dismantlement of the Department of Education. Just like stated in GOP plan Project 2025, Donald Trump plans to eliminate the Department of Education. This is a horrible idea for so many reasons but especially for disabled students and their parents. The DOE funds special education or "SPED" programs in schools. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, (in 2022-23) 7.5 million students in America receive special education or related services.

Obviously, the pulling back and demonization of DEI will be a big negative for the disabled community, one that already struggles with finding employment, belonging, and support. But most people are already aware of it.

Problem Presidential Actions/Executive Orders. There are many; some linked below. These are specifically ones that impact disabled Americans; lots of ones not mentioned are just as if not more concerning for other reasons.

KEEPING EDUCATION ACCESSIBLE AND ENDING COVID-19 VACCINE MANDATES IN SCHOOLS: will endanger communal health, especially that of the immunocompromised

AMERICAN HEART MONTH, 2025: Magpie, wanting to raise awareness for heart disease is obviously a good thing! Why put this in here? "And we will fulfill our pledge to investigate what has caused the decades-long increase in health problems and childhood diseases — including obesity, autoimmune disorders, infertility, and autism." Yes and, my main concern is their inclusion of "autism". Ignoring the fact that they referred to it as a heath problem or childhood disease, I am autistic adult who has lived on this earth for around 20 years now. For me, this screams Autism Speaks. Autism is a genetic disorder and there have been many studies about its potential causes. This administration has rejected and censored the medical world; this will only result in misinformation being spread.

Update: April 6, 2025: more autism stuff.

WITHDRAWING THE UNITED STATES FROM THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION: This one should be self explanatory.

There is more.

There's more concerns I have but I'm tired :/. So tired. Just wanted to raise awareness. I'll post something fun next.

UPDATE: MARCH 11, 2025

Soo...it gets worse, like it always seems to do nowadays.

CDC is planning on doing a nation wide study, studying "the link" between autism and vaccines. The link that seems from the debunked and medically controversial 1998 Wakefield study. Anyone who has a valid medical degree, did basic research on the topic, or is educated on autism can tell you that you cannot "get" autism from vaccines. It is important to note that developmental, neurological, and mental delays due to things like lead poisoning, injuries to the brain, and medical issues like diseases or strokes. However, this is not the case for autism. Autism is a condition you are born with, similar to other developmental disabilities. It seems to be only really questioned because unlike other disorders like down syndrome and fragile X syndrome, autism does not display any physical deformities or traits. You cannot tell if a baby is autistic at birth, only later on as it goes through stages of development. Autism is a genetic disorder with some suspected environmental risks.

So, why is the CDC spending this amount of energy on a theory from a disgraced man who got his medical license revoked and has been fact checked by the medical community multiple times? Short answer, money. I talked on this weeks ago in the American Heart Month section. This is plan to transfer money away from important services and spend it on something meaningless. I don't want to call it embezzlement but that is what it is currently looking like to me :/.

I would be incredibly upset if this happened anytime but now?? The worst time. Antivaxx has been gaining more and more popularity over the years and I have seen a sharp increase of medical misinformation since the confirmation of RJK Jr. The United States government themselves pursuing this theory only validates medical denialism. And with the very real threat of a nationwide Measles outbreak; people need to be vaccinated against MMR more than ever. No more kids need to die because their parents didn't give them the proper vaccines.

Oh and also big Medicaid cuts.

Ugh. Signing out for now <3

UPDATE (March 31st)

UPDATE: MARCH 21, 2025

So, it’s happened. The Department of Education I mean. Not surprised, I’m one of the few who sat down and read Project 2025 (Section 11 linked). But God.. it doesn’t feel real. I’m scared, especially for disabled kids, especially in poorer areas. These families. I don’t know what else to say. I don’t know what to do. God bless the teachers of America.

UPDATE: MARCH 25, 2025

Back to bullshit. Sorry if that's too harsh; I'm just not really in the mood for pleasant formalities. Due to the Department of Education being destroyed (including OSERS), as mentioned above, the responsibility of Special Education will be transferred to Robert F. Kennedy in The Department of Health and Human Services. He and his department not qualified to handle SPED at all. In fact, looking back at when I originally wrote this post, he was one of the leading threats I identified in this administration relating to disability justice.

UPDATE: MARCH 28, 2025

So, about the The Department of Health and Human Services...

Another link. And another link, more specifically about disability and these cuts (from Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund).

Sorry that there is no description on this update; hopefully I will fix that in the future. I am writing this in a hurry.

UPDATE: APRIL 17, 2025

RFK Jr. Another link. This shit is really bad. I'll add more details when I have the energy.

UPDATE: APRIL 24, 2025

Fuck.

Update: April 26, 2025: It’s been refused

Update: April 28, 2025: The Section 504 lawsuit threat seems to be dropped for the time being, at least the argument in it that 504 is unconstitutional and should be removed from 17 states. Instead they are going to just argue to remove gender dysphoria from the list of protected conditions. Here's the updated case.

Update: May 23, 2025: So the "The One, Big, Beautiful Bill" (that is the bill's legit name; I am not calling it beautiful myself) passed the house. Now it goes on to Senate. The biggest threat to disability is the cutting down Medicaid, something so many disabled people rely on. Although I did read the whole bill myself, I am not the most lawfully literate so I recommend doing your own research. The bill itself is linked at the top of the post.

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mariacallous · 25 days ago

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U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration have moved so fast since retaking office that it is easy for observers to lose sight of the forest for the trees. The wide-ranging scope of the administration’s actions, along with the frequent inconsistencies, norm-breaking methods, and apparent rush, can give the impression that there’s no overarching plan.

Yet those who see the administration’s doings as just an incoherent jumble of actions reflecting the personalistic whims of an impulsive, mercurial president are missing the larger picture.

Trump and his team are pursuing a relatively cohesive vision, one best understood as a combination of four major interrelated endeavors: a sociocultural project, an economic project, a political project, and a foreign-policy project. To understand where Trump is trying to take the United States, it is necessary to understand each of these projects on its own terms. Added together, they aim to rewrite the values, norms, and goals central to the United States’ national identity, redirecting the country onto a fundamentally more conservative, inward-looking, and less democratic trajectory.

1. A conservative society

Trump’s first project is a sociocultural transformation of American society, seeking to make it fundamentally more conservative across many dimensions.

The Trump administration defines “conservative” in both familiar and new ways. It embraces long-standing culture-war priorities, including law and order, so-called traditional social values, and a greater place for religion in public life. But it layers onto this a pointed anti-elitism, manifested most sharply in its attacks on elite universities, that contrasts with the economic and cultural elitism traditionally associated with American conservatism.

These values have shaped the issues at the forefront of the Trump administration’s sociocultural agenda. Scorched-earth immigration policies are intended to foster law and order, reduce white status anxiety, and decrease job competition for working-class Americans, while the strenuous attempts to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in both public and private institutions reflect the administration’s desire to undo what it regards as a decades-long progressive reengineering of society.

Alongside these two major thrusts, the administration is pursuing an array of additional social policy changes, drawing from either traditional culture-war views or the new MAGA populism. These include loosening gun control regulations, restricting access to abortion and birth control, prioritizing Christian values in public life, increasing school choice, decimating the Department of Education, reshaping policies related to transgender people, attacking the medical consensus on childhood vaccines, among other policies.

2. A remade economy

As they reshape society, Trump and his team also seek to remake the U.S. economy. They emphasize major elements of the orthodox conservative economic agenda of recent decades: lower taxes, reduced regulations, and higher energy production, especially using fossil fuels. Although these echo previous Republican administrations, the Trump team is taking them much further—not just trimming regulations, for example, but attempting to deconstruct the regulatory state root and branch, and not just ignoring the climate crisis but actively reversing efforts to address it.

To these familiar conservative economic priorities, the administration has added a more Trumpian goal: reconfiguring the U.S. economy toward greater domestic manufacturing. The flamethrower-like imposition of tariffs serves this goal, though it also reflects the president’s love of tariffs as a means of punishing other countries for what he believes are hostile trade policies toward the United States and for giving him leverage to use elsewhere.

Alongside Trump’s conventional economic policies are actions that involve financial self-dealing for the president and his family, advisors, and supporters. These include eliminating accountability guardrails, such as firing inspectors general of federal agencies; rewarding contributors in unprecedented ways, like pardoning a convicted felon who donated to Trump’s 2024 campaign; allowing Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team to attack federal entities responsible for legal and regulatory oversight of Musk’s business endeavors; creating a personal Trump meme coin and then rewarding its investors with a special presidential dinner; and much else. For some observers, self-dealing “is such a defining theme of this administration” and best understood as an economic goal of equal or even greater importance than any of its stated national economic aims.

3. A new political system

Trump and his team are also seeking to restructure the U.S. political system so that executive authority is controlled by a president who reigns supreme over all other parts of the executive branch, is fully dominant vis-à-vis all other parts of the government, and is able to suppress or at least greatly limit domestic criticism and challenges.

In pursuit of this super-presidentialist vision of the executive branch, Trump has asserted expanded power over independent agencies, taken steps to gain greater political control over the civil service, and empowered DOGE to lead a weakening and depletion of federal bureaucracy. Trump is injecting greater partisanship into civil-military relations. He seeks even tighter control over the heads of federal agencies, appointing poorly qualified people who lack the professional authority for the positions they occupy and placing political “minders” around agency heads to ensure they do his bidding.

With the rest of the government, Trump has foremost sought to limit the ability of the courts and Congress to constrain his power. The president and his team excoriate judges who rule against administration policies, question courts’ authority to limit executive power, and ignore or only partially and slowly obey judicial rulings they dislike. The administration is challenging Congress’s budgetary role by impounding appropriated funds, dismantling federal agencies and other institutions without congressional permission, and seeking to reduce or ignore congressional oversight generally.

The administration is also attempting to circumscribe the power of state and local governments, threatening to withhold funding to specific states and localities to make them conform to federal policy dictates, such as the enforcement of immigration policy.

The administration is working to curtail opposition through legal challenges, financial threats, and rhetorical attacks on political and civic actors. This includes retribution against lawyers associated with past legal actions against Trump, attacks on independent media, Justice Department investigations of political groups that oppose the administration, and attacks on universities and other civic institutions that are seen as not following the administration’s wishes relating to DEI and other issues.

4. A changed role in the world

Finally, Trump and his team are transforming U.S. foreign policy under the general banner of “America First.” They operate from Trump’s conviction that the United States has long put other countries’ interests ahead of its own and suffered from freeloading and mistreatment by others.

Central to this project is withdrawing the United States from its role as a guarantor of the international rules-based security and economic order and instead pursuing transactional deals that directly benefit the United States, emphasizing coercion more than cooperation and immediate national interests rather than broader international values.

On the security side, this means reducing U.S. security guarantees and commitments and shifting defense burdens onto partner countries. The administration’s pursuit of a negotiated peace between Russia and Ukraine and of a nuclear deal with Iran is a major element of this intended reduction—as well as a way to fulfill Trump’s aspiration of being a global peacemaker. Another part of the “America First” outlook is reducing U.S. participation in international institutions and ending or avoiding legal commitments that may constrain U.S. power. Somewhat unexpectedly, Trump has added territorial expansionism to this outlook—in Canada, Gaza, Greenland, and the Panama Canal.

On the economic side, the Trump administration is using tariffs and other forms of economic or diplomatic pressure to compel other countries to reduce tariffs on U.S. goods and to buy more goods from the United States, especially natural gas and oil. The “America First” economic agenda also entails maximizing U.S. access to global reserves of strategic minerals and largely ceasing to provide economic development aid to other countries.

One additional dimension of the United States’ foreign-policy transformation does not fit with this transactionalist outlook but instead has a more ideological cast. Trump is building a network of right-wing populist friends and seeks to advance their political fortunes. This includes leaders such as Viktor Orban of Hungary, Nayib Bukele of El Salvador, and Javier Milei of Argentina, and far-right parties or politicians in opposition to incumbent democratic governments, such as the Alternative for Germany party and former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. Related to this effort has been the dismantling of most of the United States’ international democracy aid, which the Trump administration has claimed was often being used against these populist leaders and parties.

A unified vision

One can identify plenty of tensions among these four projects. It is difficult, for example, to square the appeals for a reduced role of the federal government with the administration’s intrusive assertion of federal power in certain domains.

But overall, the Trump administration views these projects as mutually reinforcing. Transforming the U.S. economy goes hand in hand with resetting the U.S. international economic posture. Establishing an all-powerful, unconstrained executive is not just a personal goal for Trump but also essential to imposing heavy-handed sociocultural changes and pursuing a highly personalistic foreign policy in which he believes he can “run the country and the world.”

Inconsistencies and tensions are certainly visible within each of the projects. On the economic front, for example, there are sharp conflicts between the goal of creating a business-friendly economy and the aggressive use of tariffs. In the foreign-policy domain, the desire to reduce U.S. security commitments is at odds with Trump’s desire for territorial expansion.

One can trace these inconsistencies to the fact that Trump’s team is comprised of very different political forces and figures. Yet within this group there exists enough basic agreement on the overall vision represented in these four projects to keep moving ahead, inconsistencies and all.

Each project represents a radical break from the past. The sociocultural project foresees a sharp turn away from the core elements of the progressive agenda that has shaped U.S. life in recent decades. The economic project envisages a major restructuring toward greater domestic manufacturing, revised relations with top U.S. trade partners, and a drastically reduced regulatory role for the government. The political project aims for soft authoritarianism defined by super-presidentialist predominance within the executive, primacy of the executive over the judiciary and Congress, and a constrained and compliant civil society. The foreign-policy project wants to eschew the United States’ role as the linchpin of the rules-based international order into an unashamedly self-interested power pursuing narrowly defined economic and security interests.

Taken together, they represent the most profound attempt to reshape the United States and its international identity in living memory. Those who oppose the administration have focused primarily on its methods, which is understandable given how unprecedented, lawless, and reckless many of them are. Yet gaining wider traction requires conveying to Americans the larger trajectory that Trump is pursuing and articulating a counter vision of equal sweep and ambition.

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darkmaga-returns · 6 months ago

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I have no quarrel with anything that Shipwrecked says here, as far as recommendations go. Essentially he’s talking about reverting the Bureau to something like what it was when I joined in 1978. Obviously the tech revolution has changed a lot in how investigations run, but not as much as many want you to think. My one caveat is that reversing the flow of DEI/Woke at the FBI would be a first at ANY federal agency. Make that: at any governmental agency. It won’t be easy because there are a lot of entrenched interests.

My long expressed view is that cleaning house in the legal program has to be the top priority, because law drives the way any agency is run, whether we’re talking about investigations or personnel policy. Anyone who cares to look back through what was discovered about the Russia Hoax will quickly realize that. While there were undoubtedly bad apples among the Agent population, especially in management ranks (McCabe, Sztrok, etc.), none of the Russia Hoax would have happened without the revolving door between the FBI and DoJ. Starting with Mueller, continuing with Comey and Wray, and with many other subordinates (Lisa Page and etc.). It doesn’t matter that there was a hiatus between their time at DoJ and moving to the Bureau—it was the culture that they brought with them—with supporting cast—from DoJ. And, of course, the Russia Hoax is the tip of the iceberg. There’s lots more to be said. It’s a big job, but if you’re gonna make a start, that’s where to do it. Changing culture overnight is never easy, but decapitation strikes in a bureaucracy is definitely the way to start.

Shipwreckedcrew @shipwreckedcrew The tricky part of Patel’s confirmation is there are 3 votes who are impervious to pressure - Collins, Murkowski and McConnell. The difference with Patel is a case can be made that he is qualified for the position, and Trump is entitled to an FBI Director he trusts given history. I think that will likely carry the day with McConnell and possibly Collins. Murkowski is harder because she just hate Trump. 1:16 AM · Dec 1, 2024

As I said briefly last night, Patel has had exposure—important parts of a significant nature (NatSec law, interface with Congress and other Deep State agencies, criminal prosecution and defense)—to most areas of law and investigation in which the Bureau is involved.

Before you read what Shipwrecked says Patel will do, understand this. The big culture shift began with Judge Webster, well before the Woke Revolution. Webster’s brainstorm—or brainfever—was to pattern FBI management on the corporate model, specifically, on the IBM model of the time, c. 1980. Managers (supervisors SSA, Ass’t Special Agent in Charge ASAC, Special Agent in Charge SAC, Assistant Director in Charge ADIC in very large offices) were to be professional managers, on the theory that anyone can manage any program regardless of past experience. The main qualification was a willingness to relocate regularly, at every career step up the ladder—or every squiggle up the greasy pole. They were looking for climbers, careerists, not subject area experts with experience and minds informed by experience. As the years went by, the revolving door of career moves whirled faster and faster. Younger and younger. Less and less experienced in their subject areas or in evaluating human nature. More and more informed by the dominant culture.

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justinspoliticalcorner · 1 month ago

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Stephanie Kirchgaessner at The Guardian:

Rightwing Catholic Americans in positions of power – from the vice-president, JD Vance, to Leonardo Leo – may have breathed a brief sigh of relief when, after the white smoke cleared, Pope Leo XIV emerged on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica donning a traditional red mozzetta with a papal stole. It was, observers pointed out, a starkly different choice than his predecessor Pope Francis, a reviled figure among many staunch conservatives, who had worn all white on the same occasion in 2013 to symbolize his desire for simplicity and humility. In another nod to tradition, the American pope opted to sing – not recite – the Regina Caeli prayer in his first Sunday blessing, and dedicated one of his first audiences to the head of Opus Dei, the ultra-conservative religious order whose secret member list is believed to include prominent Catholics in Washington. And yet, it seems widely understood that Leo, given his background, temperament and values, will largely adhere to the vision of the church set out by Pope Francis, and not rebuke or deviate from it, says Massimo Faggioli, a professor at Villanova. While he might like traditionalist things more than his late Argentinean predecessor, Leo cannot be called a traditionalist, Faggioli adds.

The deeper question for now is how the new pope will position himself vis-a-vis rightwing Catholics who hold significant power in the US church and in Washington, through their wealth and political influence. That includes men like Leonard Leo, a conservative Catholic activist who led the Republican mission to install a rightwing majority in the US supreme court, which is today mostly composed of ultra-conservative Catholics. The schism within the American Catholic church – between conservatives who rejected the legitimacy of Francis’s papacy and more progressive-leaning Catholics who embraced it – is not dissimilar to the schism within the US itself. On one side, says Cathleen Kaveny, a professor of law and theology at Boston College, are conservatives who want to “lock down” church teachings and reject changes they see as illicit, and liberals who want church teachings to develop in line with societal changes. Many experts agree that – unlike Francis – Leo won’t necessarily seek out to offend or chastise the American right for the sake of it. “I don’t think he will try to upset people unnecessarily. Francis was more comfortable taking a unique stand. But Leo won’t give up his own commitments, especially to the poor, just to appease his critics,” says Kaveny. Leo’s history before becoming pope – serving as bishop of the poor diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, from 2014 to 2023, and leading the Augustine order from Rome – shows the new pope has the steel in his spine and strong sense of himself not to wilt under pressure, observers say. “As pope, I don’t think he’ll go out of his way looking for a fight, but his gentle demeanor shouldn’t fool anyone. He’s got a backbone and will speak out when necessary,” says Christopher White, Vatican correspondent for National Catholic Reporter and author behind the forthcoming book Pope Leo XIV: Inside the Conclave and the Dawn of a New Papacy. “Unlike Francis, who was not from the United States, Leo already knows where the fault lines are and he’ll be clever not getting himself tangled up with individuals or special-interest factions in the church who will seek to use him.”

The hard right hated Pope Francis. With American-Peruvian Pope Leo XIV at the helm, he is facing a potential schism crisis in the American Catholic Church.

#Pope Leo XIV #Pope Francis #The Vatican #Catholicism

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ravagedromance · 1 year ago

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Analyzing the Larger Significance of Muldrow v. City of St. Louis: Considering White Employees and Workplace Dynamics

Sergeant Jatonya Muldrow filed a lawsuit against her employer after being transferred from an intelligence position to an administrative one, arguing that the decision reflected discriminatory intent. She claimed that while there were no immediate financial or rank-related consequences following this move, it represented a major negative change in her professional life and career trajectory. The Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of Muldrow constitutes a reinterpretation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which states that even without demotion or pay cut backs discrimination can still occur under traditional views where those acts manifest themselves; thereby extending its broader implications throughout various social, psychological, economic and political spheres.

Detailed Case Analysis

This case brings attention to how difficult workplace discrimination can be understood especially what qualifies as an adverse action. Before this judgement courts required employees seeking relief from employment discrimination claims to show that their working conditions had changed for the worse in some tangible way or there was “severe alteration” said Justice Kennedy writing on behalf of himself along with Justices O’Connor, Souter and Ginsburg. But the supreme court has now recognized that subtle alterations may also amount to unlawful treatment if they could hurt employee’s status quo negatively affects feelings about inclusion fairness equity among other things.

Psychological and Cultural Impacts

The ruling deals directly with mental health issues brought by perceived unfairness at work places; for instance had it been another person such as Muldrow might have felt demoted her sense worth affecting morale creating hostile environment thus leading us into understanding ‘hostile work environment’ more clearly than before through those softer forms shown above Even though these changes did not affect pay rate official status within company itself could still decrease self esteem regarding professionality which may have influenced growth perception due to any institution refusing equal treatment rights towards them because she is a woman of African American descent.

On another level, this decision could have widespread effects on corporate cultures. Organizations may have to become more self-aware and take active steps towards identifying and eliminating not only overt but also subtle forms of discrimination which might require them to be reevaluating how they assign roles or handle promotions so as ensure such processes are objective free from biasness while fostering inclusivity respect among all staff members regardless their race gender age etcetera.

Socio-Economic and Political Implications

In terms of economy, businesses will now need to invest heavily in training programs for their employees perhaps even beef up HR departments charged with ensuring compliance at workplace; this is aimed at creating an environment where every worker can realize his full potential thereby leading higher job satisfaction levels staff retention rates well being productivity growth.

Amongst other things, this ruling also affects white workers as well as the political setting of employment law. For white employees, this case reinforces the importance of comprehending DEI initiatives and working with them too; fair treatment helps in creating a just working environment for all people. Politically speaking, this verdict could have an impact on future legislative or judiciary steps concerning work and discrimination laws. It establishes a precedent that validates subtle forms of prejudice which can be experienced by anyone thereby opening doors to wider protection against various kinds of bias based not only on gender and race but also possibly other factors. The Supreme Court’s decision in Muldrow v City of St Louis redefines interpretation under Title VII Civil Rights Act thereby expanding what is considered as workplace discrimination. The judgement highlights that it is not necessary for bias to show up through explicit demotions or pay cuts but may include less noticeable yet significant changes in duties performed at work or status within the company due to discriminatory intentions.

To encourage deeper involvement with workplace diversity equity & inclusion programs among white staffs; this means they should take time reflecting over their own hidden biases while also considering structural inequalities present in organizations where they are employed. This can be achieved through offering more advanced trainings targeting reduction of unconscious prejudices among employees who are racially different from each other hence realizing those many subtle types which colleagues might face even without knowing about them thus fostering empathy within such places leading to better relations among members irrespective of rank held.

Additionally, the decision challenges existing norms within organisations by fostering a cultural shift towards fairness. When all members feel respected & valued because new standards were set after this ruling was made; there will likely be higher levels of collaboration between teams thus making them work closely together than before since every person’s ideas count equally now more so than ever before due to diverse backgrounds being recognized equally within these institutions post the court’s pronouncement regarding what constitutes unlawful differentiation grounded upon race and sex etcetera. What is more, it may also influence professional growth opportunities so that promotions are done based on merit and free from favouritism or discrimination against any particular group of people; this could result into creation of an environment where everyone’s abilities can be fully utilized thus optimizing work performance.

Even further, the decision sets forth a broad legal as well as ethical awareness which in turn underscores every employee’s duty to engage only with legally compliant & morally upright practices. This creates not only compliance-driven workplaces but also moral-intensive corporate cultures too; both being essential for sustained success within any organization regardless of its nature.

The supreme court has just made a decision that makes it easier for employees to sue their employers over discrimination. Before this ruling, people had to prove that something really bad happened as a result of their boss being biased against them — like getting paid less or demoted. Now if you can show even small changes in your work duties were because someone didn’t like who you are (and they have a reason), then that’s enough. This means lots more lawsuits will probably be filed claiming company X discriminated against staff member Y on basis Z when transferring them between jobs because now any complaint could count.

Effects on DEI Initiatives and Broader Societal Impacts

DEI initiatives within organizations may need to be reworked after the Supreme Court extended their interpretation of Title VII. Now all businesses are required not only avoid doing anything prejudiced but also make sure it doesn’t look that way too when moving employees around different roles. This might mean having longer courses or changing policies so everyone knows what is fair treatment under various circumstances.

For Caucasian workers and other groups affected by this judgement, it emphasizes the importance of workplaces where decisions about promotions etc happen fairly based on who deserves them most not race/sex etc factors . They should also consider how they implement diversity programs so as not create hidden biases which could be seen as unfair under new “lower” standard set by Title Seven less strictness.

Conclusion

This case sets new standards for job transfers under title seven of civil rights act 1964 effectively written by Muldrow v City Of St Louis law suit . By taking into account even slight alterations in duties performed at work place coupled with reasons which can be connected with such changes , court has lowered bar discrimination claims level hence giving more teeth to the protection offered under seventh chapter litigatorship. The broader effect therefore is that many employers will now find themselves facing increased numbers 0f complaints alleging employee X was moved from position Y because organization Z did not like A’s B.

The decision in Muldrow v. City of St Louis has far reaching implications not only for employment law but across multiple disciplines including psychology, sociology, and political science among others. In what could be described as a landmark ruling by the highest court of the land on matters related to Title VII discrimination cases arising from transfers workers make between jobs; this judgement expands our understanding about what actually constitutes acts or omissions amounting to unfair treatment at workplace which can easily fall within purview 0f anti-discrimination legislations such as those provided under civil rights act 1964 especially section seven thereof. It does so by emphasizing that besides looking at overt acts indicative of bias against an individual based on his or her protected characteristic/s one must also take into account covert actions indicative of animus towards same persons because such steps create equitable environment where everybody feels safe guarded against prejudice regardless their gender identity expression sexual orientation race color religion age national origin disability status etcetera.

The recent Supreme Court decision in Muldrow v. City Of St Louis represents a significant shift in the interpretation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, particularly concerning the standards required to prove discrimination in the context of job transfers. This analysis explores the judicial reasoning behind the decision, its implications for employment law, and its broader effects on society, including impacts on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and specific demographic groups such as white employees.

Reference List

Supreme Court of the United States. (2024). Muldrow v. City of St. Louis, Missouri, et al. No. 22-193. Retrieved from https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/23pdf/22-193_q86b.pdf

Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP. (2024, April 17). Supreme Court Holds That A Title VII Plaintiff Challenging A Work Transfer Need Not Show “Significant” Harm. Retrieved from https://www.gibsondunn.com/supreme-court-holds-that-a-title-vii-plaintiff-challenging-a-work-transfer-need-not-show-significant-harm/

#MuldrowvStLouis #SupremeCourtDecision #TitleVII #GenderDiscrimination #LegalNews #CivilRights #USLaw #JusticeSystem #WorkplaceEquality #SCOTUS2024

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life-in-oxford-ms · 10 days ago

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Comfort, Convenience, and a Place for Your Pet

Finding pet-friendly homes that also feel modern and spacious can be tricky, but this place checks a lot of boxes. The Heritage Collection’s West 100 community offers 4-bedroom, 4½-bath townhomes with room to spread out and relax. You’ve got walk-in closets, 9-foot ceilings, and hardwood-style floors that give everything a clean, polished look. Each living room comes with a TV already in place, and the kitchens have granite counters and stainless steel appliances. You’ll also get in-unit laundry, Wi-Fi, and even a balcony or courtyard—perfect for hanging out. Being just a half-mile from campus and a quick five-minute drive to The Square makes life easier. If you’re looking for student housing near the square Oxford MS, this setup brings a lot to the table.

Job Market and Economy in Oxford, Mississippi

The job scene in Oxford kind of revolves around the university, which isn’t too surprising. If you’re in education, healthcare, or anything related to Ole Miss, you’ll probably find some decent opportunities. There’s also a growing number of local businesses, restaurants, and startups around town, especially near the square. Jobs in retail and service are common, but they might not pay as much as you’d like. Remote work is catching on here, too, which gives you more flexibility. The cost of living isn’t too crazy compared to bigger cities, so your money can stretch a bit further. It’s not the kind of place where you see huge corporations, but if you’re into a slower pace with a supportive community, it works.

Swayze Field in Oxford, MS

Catching a game at Swayze Field is something you’ve got to try if you’re around during baseball season. It’s where Ole Miss plays, and the whole setup is pretty relaxed but still exciting. The fans show up ready to cheer, especially in right field where students get loud and rowdy in the best way. You’ll see people bringing lawn chairs, grabbing snacks, and just enjoying the weather. Whether you’re a baseball fan or just want to hang out with friends, the atmosphere is super welcoming. It’s one of those spots where you can kick back and have a good time without needing to know every rule of the game. Even if the Rebels aren’t winning, you’re still in for a fun evening.

Ole Miss Pulls Support of Oxford Pride Parade Citing New DEI Law

News like this definitely stirs up some mixed feelings. When a school decides to step back from something like a Pride parade, it sends a message—whether they meant it that way or not. You start to wonder how much of the decision came from real concern and how much was just about trying to follow the new rules. It’s tough because these events mean a lot to people who want to feel seen and supported. At the same time, it shows how laws can change what’s possible in a community, even when folks don’t all agree with those changes. You might not always feel the impact right away, but moments like this make it clear how connected everything is—schools, laws, and the people who live here.

Link to Map Driving Direction

Swayze Field Oxford, MS 38655, United States

Head northwest toward Taylor Rd/University Pl 148 ft

Turn right onto Taylor Rd/University Pl 0.2 mi

Turn right onto University Ave  Pass by Newk's Eatery (on the left in 0.7 mi) 0.9 mi

Turn right onto S 16th St 499 ft

Turn left  Destination will be on the left 148 ft

The Heritage Collection 607 S 16th St, Oxford, MS 38655, United States

#new student apartments oxford ms #2-bedroom student apartments oxford ms #furnished student housing oxford ms

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ragingasian88 · 12 days ago

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Wake-Up Call for Nonprofits

Waverly Place, San Francisco Chinatown. (Photo by Doug Chan)

Tax-Exempt Status Under Pressure: Lessons from the Harvard Investigation

Tax-exempt organizations, especially those engaged in education, advocacy, or cultural programming, must closely examine recent developments involving Harvard University. These events underscore that the legal and political boundaries which once appeared stable are now vulnerable to reinterpretation—and that the risks to nonprofit status may be greater than previously assumed.

The Harvard Controversy: A Wake-Up Call

On March 31, 2025, the U.S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and the General Services Administration announced a sweeping review of federal contracts and grants at Harvard University and its affiliates. This action forms part of the Biden–Trump transition-era Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism. Shortly after, on April 3 and April 11, 2025, the Trump administration formally notified Harvard that it was subject to a federal funding review. The administration demanded several institutional changes: restructuring Harvard’s governance, eliminating or reforming programs alleged to harbor antisemitic bias, dismantling its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, and revising disciplinary systems to suppress perceived classroom disruptions.

Harvard refused. In response, President Trump publicly stated that Harvard should lose its tax-exempt status for allegedly promoting ideological and political agendas.

If such a revocation occurred, Harvard would not only face the loss of substantial federal funding but also risk the removal of its exemption from federal income tax—a potentially existential threat. This raises a pressing question for nonprofit leaders everywhere: can mission-based cultural or advocacy initiatives now endanger an organization’s standing under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code?

The Legal Structure of 501(c)(3) Status

Under Internal Revenue Code § 501(c)(3), an organization must be both organized and operated exclusively for exempt purposes—such as educational, charitable, or religious aims. The statute imposes key limitations:

No political campaign activity: 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely barred from participating in or intervening in any campaign for or against a candidate for public office.

Limited lobbying: Organizations may engage in only insubstantial lobbying or legislative advocacy.

No private inurement: They may not distribute profits or assets to insiders.

Adherence to exempt purposes: Activities must further the stated tax-exempt mission.

These limitations reflect long-standing policy principles dating to the Revenue Act of 1913, which first codified tax-exemption for organizations “organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, or educational purposes.” The modern version of § 501(c)(3) was created in 1954, and further tightened under the Tax Reform Act of 1969, especially in regard to private foundations.

While 501(c)(3) rules allow policy-oriented speech, such advocacy must steer clear of direct or implied electoral involvement. Leadership may express personal political opinions but must clearly separate such views from their role within the nonprofit.

Risk of Losing Tax-Exempt Status: Legal Precedents

The IRS rarely revokes an organization’s exempt status—but it has the legal authority to do so when the organization violates fundamental public policy or the law. This authority was upheld in the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision Bob Jones University v. United States, 461 U.S. 574 (1983). There, the Court ruled that the IRS could deny tax-exempt status to an educational institution whose admissions policies engaged in racial discrimination, finding that tax exemption is implicitly conditioned on compliance with fundamental public policy, including civil rights laws.

The Trump administration now argues that Harvard’s alleged failure to prevent antisemitism similarly violates civil rights law—particularly Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in any program receiving federal financial assistance. On this basis, the administration suggests that Harvard’s tax exemption is incompatible with public policy and that IRS enforcement is warranted.

Historical and Policy Context for Exemption

The principle of tax exemption for public-serving institutions is deeply rooted. Drawing from English common law and early colonial American practice, tax exemptions were historically granted to churches and community institutions. When the federal income tax was introduced in 1913, these traditions were codified, recognizing that some private organizations deliver public benefits—education, health, arts, disaster relief, and more—that otherwise might be left to the government.

However, this subsidy is not unconditional. Nonprofits can lose their exemption if they:

Permit private inurement (e.g., paying excessive compensation or conferring financial benefits on insiders);

Stray from their mission or engage in too much unrelated business activity without appropriate tax treatment;

Violate political activity rules under 501(c)(3), including endorsing or opposing candidates;

Fail to file IRS Form 990 for three consecutive years (automatic revocation under IRS rules);

Commit fraud or misrepresentation in filings or operations.

For private foundations, which often involve a single donor or family, the Tax Reform Act of 1969 imposes additional rules on self-dealing, minimum distribution, and insider transactions (with "disqualified persons").

Strategic Takeaways for Nonprofits

Whether or not the IRS acts against Harvard, nonprofit leaders should take the episode as a warning. The combined legal, financial, and reputational stakes require proactive governance and careful compliance. If your organization becomes the subject of a regulatory or political challenge, the burden will be on you to prove your alignment with legal requirements and public policy.

Action items include:

Review governance documents and ensure mission fidelity;

Audit public communications to confirm policy advocacy avoids political entanglements;

Train staff and leadership to distinguish clearly between personal views and official statements;

Consult legal counsel when navigating politically sensitive topics or public controversies.

A New Era of Compliance Risk

The Harvard investigation signals that the historic “guardrails” surrounding nonprofit political neutrality are being tested—and perhaps redrawn. While tax-exempt status remains a powerful policy tool to encourage public-serving activity, the federal government appears willing to challenge that status when ideological conflicts arise. For nonprofit executives, staying within the bounds of 501(c)(3) is no longer just a compliance issue—it’s a matter of institutional survival.

#nonprofits #tax exempt status #nonprofit political activity #risks to tax exempt status

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sublimeobservationarcade · 23 days ago

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The More Intelligent Path Forward

Do you know why more people who go to universities, like Harvard and other higher education institutions, support things like diversity and human rights? It is because it is the more intelligent path forward for human beings. It is not smart to hang onto old enmities related to skin colour and religious differences. The consensus among academics and the majority of students at these places of learning is that the progressive political camp has the better ideas for humanity. Nationalism and starting trade wars are not going to be better for the planet. In fact, historically, they increase the likelihood of actual war breaking out, as it did following the introduction of US tariffs in the 1930s. People take stuff being done to them around money personally. It grates on them a great deal. Tariffs are an insult to the nation they are imposed upon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7XGa-kDcC4 “In the decade after the end of the First World War, the United States continued to embrace the high tariffs that had characterized its trade policy since the Civil War. These were enacted, in part, to appease domestic constituencies, but ultimately they served to hinder international economic cooperation and trade in the late 1920s and early 1930s.” - (https://history.state.gov/milestones/1921-1936/protectionism)

Trump’s Culture Wars & Executive Actions

Trump and his authoritarian regime in America are taking the US backwards to a darker time in terms of human progressiveness. Attacking universities, like Harvard and Colombia, on the basis of student protests about the genocide occurring in Gaza by Israel and labelling it an antisemitism problem is a diversionary tactic. The list of demands being made by the Trump regime upon these universities is way beyond their remit under the Constitution. Presidents cannot, by executive decree, go around destroying century old institutions because they don’t agree with how they run things. The Trump culture wars against multiculturalism, diversity, equity and inclusion are not going to be won via executive actions. The courts in the US are having their say about this Trump 2.0 means of going about things. It is illegal and they don’t like it. Change Takes Time, Not Trump Decrees Changing things does not happen overnight. Cultural shifts take time and you cannot truly change societies by executive decree. The Trump executive actions are, already, proving expensive ways of going about things. Much of it is, and will prove to be, exercises in futility. The old white guy, in an increasingly kitsch looking White House oval office, with the big fat black markers, is not going to change the world by decree. No matter how pretty he gets his performative signature to appear. Hundreds of millions of Americans are not going to just sit back and take it. This is the reactionary epicentre of the world. Women are not going to take being redefined, as second class citizens in America. This minority government of white, Christian Nationalists is not going to get away with imposing draconian laws upon the greater population of the United States. Push is going to come to shove and the shit is going to hit the fan. We have only just passed the first 100 days of Trump 2.0.

The Unenlightened Donald The more intelligent way forward has been via The Enlightenment, initially. Universities had a big role to play in that all over Europe and then, in the New World too. This progress has not been perfect by any means, especially if you were born as an Indigenous person in the non-European sense. America and Australia are built on invasion, theft, and massacres of the original populations. However, the one place that ownership of these truths have flourished is within universities, like Harvard, but there is still a long way to go. The Trump pushback on DEI in the US is a direct attack on the progress made in this area across America. This white supremacist backlash promotes revisionist history, as a way of denying and removing responsibility for the current imbalance of wealth so prevalent by race in the US today. They want to forget about the crimes against humanity, which directly produced the wealth of many families and institutions in America. It isn’t an even playing field and never has been. Every one knows this but the ugliest American, Trump, ugly on the inside too, his vision is a moral wasteland. “The Trump 2.0 regime is attacking education in America, along with a host of other things which have made America great over decades and centuries. Right wing extremists have been marshalled into a force for disassembling stuff. Trump and the rise of righteous fools. Harvard University, an institution of higher education which is much older than the United States itself, is being threatened and attacked by the Trump regime. One of Donald Trump’s sons couldn’t get into Harvard. I mention this in passing because with Trump this sort of thing is usually personal.” - (https://wordsforweb.com.au/trump-the-rise-of-righteous-fools/) Robert Sudha Hamilton is the author of America Matters: Pre-apocalyptic Posts & Essays in the Shadow of Trump. ©WordsForWeb

Read the full article

#American #DEI #economics #Harvard #humanrights #moralfailure #politics #power #tariffs #tradewars #Trump #universities #US

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johnhmcintosh · 4 months ago

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THE GREAT SHIFT - UPDATE - PART 3

JOHN MCINTOSH

Remember, the SHIFT now occurring is within the Grand Dream that most call reality. It ‘is’ a massive SHIFT into the way the dream will play out for the next 2,000 years … but it ‘is’ still just a dream. As Always, everything that is occurring is totally oriented to bring each one back to the full Awareness of WHO They Really Are – the ONE SELF.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

‘Cognitive dissonance’ is rampant throughout humanity at the moment as the Great SHIFT into an Era of Light and Peace unfolds. The SHIFT is most evident ‘overtly’ though the massive changes that are occurring at record speeds daily in the new US administration.

Cognitive dissonance’ is a state of consciousness where many ‘conflicting mind-sets’ are happening at the same moment. For example, many people around the world have ‘issues’ with Trump. It matters not that most of their beliefs about him have been completely fabricated by the dying dysfunctional system [Deep State (DS)] that he and his global Alliance are now dismantling. Nevertheless, the beliefs are still ‘effecting’ many people’s internal processing mechanism [the mind], and for many are the cause of deep ‘unrest’ and even ‘distress’ … that however, will soon dissolve as the Light of a bright and beautiful Golden Age unfolds.

GREAT CHANGE brings with it ‘great disruption’ as beliefs are challenged and torn apart. However, in order for the global Alliance [of which Trump is the leader – (still unknown to most)] to ‘take down’ this DS – massive disruption IS necessary. The balance of what was until now, a global IMBALANCED world control, must be torn apart for Real Balance to come about.

Trump and his Alliance-Team have been preparing for this since ‘before’ he was even looked upon as a contender for President 8+ years ago. Every step along the way [even what looked like ‘mis-steps’ such as choices for key positions in his first administration] … were ‘part’ of the Grand ‘take-down’ plan. The plan involved ‘exposing’ the players [many of them deeply embedded and hidden from public view] so that they could be swept from the stage … and ALL done within the strict letter of the law [the actual Constitution … not what the DS had put in place]. The take-down could NOT be a ‘coup d'etat’, which would have brought about massive collateral damage worldwide.

For example, the 2020 election, which was won by Trump in a landslide similar to the 2024 election, was ALLOWED to ‘appear’ to be stolen [or won in the eyes of many deep sleepers] so that this fake administration would ‘feel’ SAFE’ to enact ‘in total OPEN-NESS’ their nefarious 2030 ONE WORLD ORDER agenda. That would have included the mass genocide of all but 500 million people who would then be slaves to the tiny DS elites behind the curtain. In reality Trump had handed over the reigns of his second win [totally provable through water marked ballots (that will eventually be shown to the world)] … to the military who ran the country from behind the scenes (with Trump as the CIC) as the fake facades of Hollywood sets, green screen and silicon masks worn by thousands of DS players worldwide ‘seemed’ to be in control.

Policies like: So-called ‘wok-ism’ through DEI [Diversity, Equity & Inclusion], an insane transgender movement, enormous illegal aliens crossing the borders [globally – not just in the US], clandestine spending of taxpayer dollars on a scale never before perpetrated, fraud, theft and payoffs of DS players in the Trillion of dollars, human trafficking [especially with children … as many as 8 million a year)] taking on levels of depravity the world has never seen, chemtrails poisoning our atmosphere, and perhaps the most insidious of all – the covid/vaccine scam designed to murder billions globally … were a few of the ‘out-in-the-open’ activities the DS flagrantly thrust upon an ‘often’ totally oblivious global consciousness who were systematically indoctrinated through the DS communication partner – MSM [mainstream media], to believe they would “own nothing and be happy”

In the opening days and weeks of Trump’s third term as President the action taken to obliterate these and other world-dominating-activities began in earnest. The first and most important way to stop the movement of any vehicle is to drain it of its fuel … in this case – pull the rug out from beneath the DS’s financial web of global control [through the FED] . This began with the SHIFT away from the ‘printed-out-of-thin-air’ fiat currency and toward a gold backed [or asset backed] currency. This is now in full swing globally.

Literally within hours of taking office January 20, 2025, the Trump administration began dismantling the US AID system that had mis-directed billions of dollars to outright ‘money laundering’ concepts, up-until-then hidden but uncovered through the tech-genius team at D.O.G.E. [Department of Government Efficiency']. Then, almost immediately the forgotten victims of the geo-engineered hurricanes in North Carolina and other places], were rescued from the clutches of the treacherous DS weapon of enslavement – FEMA.

Through the systematic destruction of cities like Lahaina/Maui and Los Angeles, CA using DEW [Direct Energy Weapons] to create prison camps called 15 minutes cities, the DS used FEMA and other arms of its nefarious octopus of global control, seeking to imprison the tiny remaining global population its ONE WORLD ORDER had planned.

Investigations into high profile government officials with incomes of a few hundred thousand dollars a year … but with net worths in the tens of millions is now under way, as is auditing the books of the IRS, CIA and FBI and many other agencies. No doubt more fraud and thieves will be discovered with massive high-profile arrests to soon follow.

Now that Robert Kennedy Jr. has been ensconced as Health Secretary, Big Pharma’s collusion with the many arms of the medical professions will unravel and the billions [perhaps trillions] that have been used to manipulate the so-called ‘Health’ industry [actually ‘sickness industry], will be exposed. Food ingredients will also uncover mass poisoning of humanity as will poison filled drug therapies. New and healthy food growing systems will quickly evolve and medicine will SHIFT back to the ancient preventative methods that Big Pharma has suppressed. Soon it will be NORMAL to live much longer and in PERFECT Health.

The educational system is being dismantled and will soon be replaced with holistic methods of educating that encourage one’s natural inclinations toward Joy. This will include a focus on fostering the innate ‘Intuitive’ nature.

Transparency is already becoming a daily practice as each giant step now being taken to ‘Make the World Great Again’ rapidly unfolds for ALL to see … no matter how deep their ‘cognitive dissonance’ may have sunk. There is far more happening and on the very near horizon that will bring a Huge Transfer of Wealth to the mass of humanity, which will level the playing field in ways that everyone will be able to FEEL in a tangible way through the heightened lifestyles that everyone will begin to experience in the very near future.

Those who still resist what is happening in plain sight have either NOT investigated beyond the incessant lies of the MSM … OR … are in some way complicit with the horrendous manipulation of the world and all of humanity for more than 100 years. Those that still protest the loudest will [in most cases] be found to be key players in the destruction and chaos that has been perpetrated upon the world.

Remember, these winds of change are the instruments through which the dysfunctional era now fading will SHIFT into a balanced Era of Peace and Light … actually … almost balanced since total balance is NOT possible within the Grand Dream since it manifests out of the play of opposites like a teeter-totter.

Real balance is PEACE … the Peace that YOU Are and, in the months, and years to follow from this Great SHIFT an environment ripe for the Real Inner Work is available for those who choose to remember WHO THEY REALLY ARE.

-image by Solveig Larsen

THE GREAT SHIFT UPDATE - PART 2

https://www.johnmcintosh.info/post/the-great-shift-update-part-2

THE GREAT SHIFT UPDATE - PART 1

https://www.johnmcintosh.info/post/the-great-shift-update

#THEGREATSHIFT #JOHMCINTOSH

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yourtoradorasextendedwarranty · 9 days ago

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See the problem is You take issue with the current administration because you're under the convictions that it is hurting a metric craps on a people while ignoring the harm that comes from the policies that the Democrats have put forward and have for years. Consider California for a moment and New York. Both of these states have asinine laws and rules where they claim to care about people and then we'll go out of their way to destroy people's lives.

Like the homeless population in both states. You probably think the Democrats have this amazing view on homeless people except they don't They never have they use homelessness as a racket. They used disabled people as a racket. Every position they claim to care about, not only do they not actually care about they literally profit off of it and use you all as a bludgeoned to keep themselves in power by pretending the other side is doing infinite amounts of damage regardless of whether they are.

You say that this current administration is hurting people I say that the previous administration was literally drowning this country in so much debt that we would have imploded had we gotten another Democrat into office. Because purity testing while it does exist to some relative extent on the right, which I admitted to in my last post, exist significantly less than it does on the left especially in modern day. So while I can concede your concern based on your political biases I have to explain to you very clearly that your biases in wanting to say "sure but", is based on this idea that Trump is a radical. Rather than a normie moderate American who was Democrat for his entire life until he ran for president because the Democrats would never have let him near the office. And that wasn't because they didn't like him. That was because they were using war as a racket and he came out anti-war.

Which is why, that the entirety of the news media who is ideologically captured by the Democrats in most cases, said that the only real presidential act that Trump did during his first administration was bomb another country. Both sides have issues. I'm not arguing that. However, the sitting Democrats are a party catering to Marxists. If you don't see how that's a problem, and how the left's collectivization and direction towards Marxism; This not really broke surprising considering that ideology is premised on ideological purity. With no room for out think.

You probably believe Trump to be a dictator while ignoring what he's actually found in favor what the media tells you he's doing. Which of that's the case, I still didn't fully blame you considering the people who SHOULD be reporting news, aren't reporting the truth. What's the phrase that's the case? Factual not truthful. "He's making cuts~" he's actually taking people fraudulently on stuff, off of it. That's by proxy going to look like cuts.

I get what you're trying to say. But what it sounds like you're saying, at least to me, is that you want a return to Republicans being neo cons and RINOs. Because under the current norms even Obama would be considered far right. With the only exception being his affordable Care act which was an attempt to socialize healthcare. Everything outside of that for the most part would be considered far right by modern norms. So I don't think that there's a concern, or a necessary concern, when it comes to how the right and the moderates are going to react towards this considering that most of the people that are considered right-wing by today's metrics are moderate.

And they've been effectively chased off from being Democrats because of open borders, men and women's sports, child sex change surgeries, sending all of our jobs overseas, and flooding our country with illegals to pad census numbers. Oh and let's not forget DEI. If the right decided to go extreme I would actually sound the alarms. Because I've grown up around conservatives and Republicans for my entire life. I know with the furthest sides of them look like. And most of them over the years have gone straight libertarian. With only a few deciding they are going to become more radical because of what the left has become. The right as it gets further right is quite literally a response to how far the left is willing to go. 9.9/10 times. I've watched it happen.

I'll take, "Things we already knew" for 300-

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redlightningart · 2 years ago

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see this color?

this is vermilion pigment, which is made of ground cinnabar ore. it was such a bright red that it may or may not have changed the course of art pigments as a whole, and both ancient and medieval artists loved it. i did a write up for class about it which i'm going to stick under the read more in case you're interested because, as my friend put it, tumblr loves weirdly specific information:

Vermilion is a brilliant, warm red pigment extensively used in ancient times through the 20th century. Especially coveted during the time of the Romans, the word derives from the Latin word vermes. This root refers to the scale insect kermes found on oak trees that, when dried and crushed, produced a rich red dye now known as crimson. True vermilion, however, comes from a very different source: cinnabar, the most common source ore of oxidized mercury (named for the Roman god of war: Mars). This toxic mineral forms in crusts and veins near volcanic activity and hot springs. The first documented use of vermilion predates even the Romans; evidence of ground cinnabar dating back to 8000-7000 BCE has been discovered in the neolithic village Catalhoyuk in modern day Turkey. Vitruvius describes cinnabar’s appearance in book 7 of his series The Ten Books on Architecture: “First, before getting to the vermilion itself by methods of treatment, they dig out what is called the clod, an ore like iron, but rather of a reddish colour and covered with a red dust.” This ore (pictured below) only needed to be finely ground to create a brilliant red pigment.

The Romans adored this pigment despite its scarcity and price. According to Pliny in Natural Histories, the best cinnabar was sourced from the Almaden mine in Sisapu. He wrote also that the best mines were property of the state, and “nothing is more carefully guarded. It is forbidden to break up or refine the cinnabar on the spot. They send it to Rome in its natural condition, under seal, to the extent of some ten thousand pounds a year. The sales price is fixed by law to keep it from becoming impossibly expensive, and the price is fixed to seventy sesterces a pound.” This price (10 times that of red ochre) was for the highest quality of vermilion (which was usually liver-colored) and the only truly vibrant red known to the ancients.

Powdered vermilion was used in a variety of ways during ancient times. Many frescoes uncovered in Pompeii feature vibrant red made from vermilion, despite its price. It was known as the most expensive pigment used by the Romans for wall painting. Numerous walls from the Villa dei Misteri (Villa of Mysteries) are painted with vermilion (pictured below), and a jar of powdered pigment was excavated in the shop below the villa. It had its uses beyond decorations, too: Pliny wrote that worshipers ritualistically applied it to their bodies and on the faces of statues of Jupiter (Zeus) during holidays and festivals, as vermilion carried great importance and sacred associations. Outside of Rome, the pigment would be applied to skulls and other bones as part of burial rituals in neolithic cultures in Anatolia, China, Galilee (Judaea), Spain, and Syria, and some ancient Native American cultures. It was also used in jewelry-making during the Iron Age by Iberian cultures, and the Achaemenid (Persian) Empire used the paint as a bedding for gemstones to enhance the red vibrancy of translucent carnelian stone inlays.

As time passed, the need for larger and finer quantities of vermilion increased, and alternative methods of creating the red pigment arose. It is unknown who discovered how to make mercury from cinnabar via removing the sulfur and vice versa to create vermilion, although it was likely done by an alchemist trying to produce gold (which ancient alchemists believed to be red-based and thus linked to this pigment). The Greek alchemist Zosimus of Panopolis in Southern Egypt insinuated that he had a secret recipe for artificial vermilion sometime around 300 CE, but the first description was found in Compositiones ad Tigenda (Recipes for Coloring), a Latin manuscript from the 8th century. Some of the manuscript is in Greek, so it is possible that the scribe copied it from a Hellenistic dictation, therefore indicating that the manufacture of vermilion had been known beforehand. By the 12th century, there was a clear recipe and process outlined by the Benedictine monk Theophilus, who wrote down what would become known as dry method vermilion.

To create the pigment, one needed to combine mercury and sulfur, then heat the two together. When simply mixed, the two elements create a black mercury sulfide known as aethiops mineralis. However, upon heating at the proper temperature, the mixture vaporizes and re-condenses in the top of the flask in which it was combined. Upon breaking the jar, the black mixture could be collected and then ground down. The powder then turns red as the color develops, becoming brighter and brighter as it is pulverized. This process was a source of great interest to medieval alchemists, as a transformation and combination of mercury and sulfur, and a possible gateway to gold. Mercury’s appearance and chemical behavior were the basis of a large section of alchemical theory and practice, and it and sulfur were seen as the parents of all metals. To combine the two into a likeness of cinnabar was greatly respected and devoutly practiced. However, this method could be incredibly dangerous if not done carefully, as the mercury fumes from improperly sealed vessels was extremely poisonous. In an effort to prevent harm, the Venice government banned this practice in 1294.

Undeterred by the danger, medieval artists greatly favored this pigment and used it excessively. Vermilion was used alongside gold leaf and ultramarine for manuscript capitals and on tempera panels. The pigment would be mixed with egg yolk to product a brilliant red paint that ranged from an orange toned scarlet or a violet hue with high intensity and pigment quality. In the 14th and 15th centuries, vermilion that had been tempered and become dingy would sometimes be mixed with saffron or walnut bark to produce a warmer tone. The paint was normally paired with vivid blues, greens, and yellows, as medieval artists believed it should be used alongside other beautiful and precious colors. Vermilion’s importance in art history cannot be understated: without it, it is likely that the middle ages would not have developed the high standards of coloring upheld in their works, and would have had less use for other bold colors invented after the 12th century.

However, this pigment had one fatal flaw: it inexplicably and unpredictably turned black. This process did not occur due to chemical changes or by direct sunlight, but rather a rearrangement in the structure of the mercury sulfide. The causes for this change are still not fully understood, but it seems to be less likely to occur in tempera or oil paintings under reasonable conditions, but seemed to affect lime paintings enough that it was not recommended for wall painting. Small amounts of blackening have been observed in some medieval manuscripts, but it is unknown if that was due to the vermilion or because of what it was mixed with, like white or orange lead. Luckily, most medieval paintings have survived and still shine a bright red today.

^ You can see the darkening of the horse's bridle in The Battle of San Romano (1435) by Paolo Uccello.

This pigment became less common after oil paint became the art medium of choice in the 15th century onwards, as the pigment presented as quite transparent in an oil base and other vibrant red pigments became available. It still had its uses, however: it was used as a glazing layer for oils and continued to be widely utilized in tempera and lacquer work. Da Vinci used vermilion in another application: as a grounding layer for his paintings.

Despite its translucence in oil, vermilion was still the most vibrant red and retained its popularity enough that alchemists still experimented with other methods of synthesis. A new technique for the manufacture of vermilion was discovered in 1687 by German chemist Gottfried Schulz, who created the Dutch method or wet method. In this process, mercury and melted sulfur were mashed together to create black mercury sulfide, then heated in a distiller to produce vapors that condensed into bright red crystals. The sulfur was then removed by treated the crystals with a strong alkali, then washed and ground under water to yield pigment powder. This process is still used today.

Cost and toxicity notwithstanding, vermilion still held the position of the primary red pigment used by European painters from the Renaissance through the 20th century, when it was almost entirely replaced by cadmium red. Today, genuine vermilion pigment is mainly manufactured in China, where it is still widely used in lacquerware and other art.

^ a lacquerware dish from the Ming Dynasty, 15th-16th cen CE

Thanks for reading this far! Images are from wikipedia. DM me if you'd like my sources :)

#art history #colors #pigment #archaeology #red #rambles

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simpingforthisonedeer · 4 years ago

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Chapter 11: Sons & Daughters

SFW version here

Summary: Holly is involving herself in things she shouldn't be, like telling the Wizard King he is doing necromancy. Aika plays matchmaker and then has tea with Lord Silva. The Captain of the Royal Guards "greets" Aika and the faceless assassin from the final battle returns. 6563 words

Notes: Heyo folks! Im back 😎 I stopped waiting for the Spade arc to finish so I’m posting now. It’s gonna be really fun from here on out cus we’re slowly easing into the plot so I can’t wait😋

Tagging: @ckjwnnbc @thoughtfullyrainynightmare @lyranova @elysianluv

“Good Morning, Julius!” She chirped from where she was seated on her mother’s lap, completely unaware of tension.

A smile lit up his face. He was truly happy to see her again. He faintly wondered if he would get an opportunity to ask about her magic.

"Good morning, Holly! How wonderful to see you again! Are you here to spend the day with your mother?"

"No, I'm about to go to the CLK headquarters to go see Uncle Fueggy, and Leo!" He raised a brow at the name. Uncle Fueggy?

"Good morning, Julius," Aika greeted as casually as she could as her arms tightened around Holly.

His face softened when he looked up at her. She felt her face heat up under his gaze. It always seemed like he was looking through her.

"Good morning, Aika." His low voice raised goosebumps on the nape of her neck. "I just wanted to inform you that I will be touring the bases and will hold a conference with the Captains. I was wondering if you would like to accompany me? It would be a simple way to come out of the shadows as well, now that your amulet is gone," he explained, his voice the epitome of neutral.

She ushered Holly off of her lap and stood up as she clasped her cloak pin, slight regret crossing her face,

"I’m sorry, Julius. I have to go settle a territorial dispute between the city-states Roma and Amor." While it wasn't necessary to provide details, her Uncle recommended that she tell him minor details of her company to encourage Julius to trust her more about his own work.

She had only noticed after Master Raymond pointed it out but Julius may tend to seem casual and open but that was just part of his charm. He asked a lot of questions but rarely ever revealed any details about himself but most people don't notice it because he was so charismatic.

"What does that territorial dispute have to do with you?" Holly grumbled as she crossed her arms. She wanted her mom to come visit Fuegoleon instead. It’s a big achievement becoming captain! It’s like becoming a general.

Aika layed a gloved hand on her head as a small smile crept up her face.

"My company owns a big part of the land they're fighting over so it's a matter of who I will be paying the taxes to." Holly was always very aware of her mother's work and it was all so fascinating. She was glad she explained this stuff to her in a way she could understand. She hated not knowing things.

Aika looked up and addressed Julius again who was listening in interest.

"Then, I would have to have tea with Lord Silva, and hopefully finish that before I have to go introduce myself again to the Royal Guard who take lessons from me once a week. They don't remember me because of the amulet I used to have."

"Oh! I've heard about some faceless teacher giving lessons to the Royal Guard from Master Raymond." Julius touched his chin thoughtfully. "He told me it was you...It was the amulet you were wearing right? Would they even remember your lessons if they couldn't remember your face?"

"Yes, and of course. They only don't remember the identity of their teacher." She tilted her head when she noticed the time. "I must be going now," she announced as she pulled out her communicator. “I will talk to you more when I return.” Aika brought the device up to her mouth. "Ellie, to Roma please." A portal opened up next to her. "I'll see you later, Julius. And Holly," she gave her a stern look. "Behave yourself. Don't bother Fuegoleon too much, okay?” She sighed. It was his first day as Captain but he permitted Holly to come visit him anyway. She worries how much he showed favoritism towards Holly. “And no mischief,” she added.

Holly nodded somberly, suppressing a grin. It was perfect that Julius had walked in when he did. While it wasn't necessarily mischief, she needed to inform him of something that may be considered a bother in her mom's books. She may not exactly like him yet, but this was important. It was her very first, very real mission.

"Yes, mom. I love you!" She blushed when her mom gave her one of her infamous headpats. "Be safe!"

Aika smiled down at her daughter. "Of course." She nodded at Julius who winked at her in response. She blushed as she shook her head and ported away.

"Julius?" Holly called seriously, her face turned away from him. He briefly feared that that wink may have been too much in front of her.

"Yes, Holly?"

"Are you going to the Crimson Lions Headquarters first?"

He raised a brow.

"Yes. How did you know that?"

She turned around with a mischievous grin.

"It's the closest base to the capital, so logically you would go there first."

"Wow!" He didn't expect deductive reasoning from a 10-year-old.

She smiled proudly.

"So, could I come with you? I'm going there too and I want to tell you something."

That piqued his curiosity. She had something to tell him?

"That mark you and mom are wearing on your forehead." She tapped her forehead. "Do you know what that is?"

Julius stilled at her words. Should he even be talking about this?

"It's a mark from a magic item," he answered cautiously.

"Yeah, I overheard. But do you know what the rune actually means or represents?"

"Er, no?" Where was she going with this?

"Well, the Nordic runes, the Hebrew alphabet and the Star of David are derived from the six-rayed star."

He quirked his brow again. He never knew that and it was fascinating information that he could delve into. But why did she sound so serious?

"The top part of the Tree of Life, also known as the Tree of Sephiroth or Sephirah is also derived from the same rune."

Julius's eyes widened. The elves who used to live near Hage worshipped the emanations in the Tree of Sephirah. Was the Swallowtail their relic? But the first Wizard King had a log of how he invented it so was it inspired by the elves?

"Any magic related to the Sephirah is life magic, used in resurrection, necromancy, reincarnation etcetera etcetera. It's forbidden magic."

Chills swept through him. Oh. Now that she put it that way, that was exactly what he was doing wasn't he? He reasoned that it was so that he could revive himself but that was technically necromancy, wasn't it?

"Mana and life essence are one and the same and you are storing your mana in it right? So that means you are storing your life energy," Holly narrowed her eyes at him in suspicion. "And also, there are elves in other countries who might find it a great offence that you are wearing Sephira's mark, especially when you don't worship it." She looked pointedly at the cross he wore.

"How do you know all of this?" He asked as he mirrored her suspicious gaze.

"My mom's old teacher, who is now my teacher, is an elf and a High Priest of Sephirah. He told me. He knows a lot about the divinity part of forbidden magic. And in order to learn about the light, you need to know the dark so yeah, he knows about all of this." She walked past him towards the door leading to his office. "But please don't tell my mom I know because she doesn't want me learning about the darker parts of forbidden magic yet."

He followed Holly into his office, thinking about how surreal this all was. A ten-year-old was just casually telling him off about necromancy and religion.

"Then why are you telling me this?"

"Because the Triad in the Spade kingdom and their Devils would target this kingdom more aggressively if they knew that someone was bearing the mark that represented the antithe—" She wrestled with the word. "Antithesis to them." She raised her arms defensively. "I'm just telling you what my teacher told me." He was a prophet for Sephirah. Someone who had also achieved Enlightenment, which granted him the ability to bear the Image of God, Imago Dei, and not go blind or insane. He and the other Enlightened Ones would receive direct orders or visions from God that they must carry out. He told her that she needed to tell Julius Novachrono that he must be wary of the mark on his head. When she asked him why, he told her it was more for her sake than him but the message must be relayed nevertheless.

His words worried Holly because did that mean she must be wary of the mark too? She worshipped the sun gods which were emanations of The God so they will be merciful towards her if she made a mistake. Right? Holly wasn’t so sure.

After all, there was no law dictating that God must be fair.

Julius stared long and hard at her. That was very heavy information for a child to bear. And how did her teacher know all that information about the Spade Kingdom? Why did he want to relay it to him? He needed to think on this because there is a very real threat from Spade that could kill him and if he had no way to come back, who was going to protect Clover Kingdom? He needed to keep the mark.

"Alright." He said simply. He would think about this later. "Who's Uncle Fueggy?" He asked with a bright smile, changing the topic. A child shouldn't dwell on such things.

Holly blushed at that question, ignoring the bizarre way his mood quickly switched up for now.

"Fuegoleon played with me a lot when I was a kid so it's a habit," she explained sheepishly.

"Oh, is your family close to the Vermillions?"

"Well—" Her mom did not want her to tell anyone about her and Mereoleona unless she said so, so she couldn't say anything. "You have to ask my mom about that."

"I see..." Julius did remember the tense looks former Captain Leonardo and Aika shared. There seemed to be some history. Well, he could ask Fuegoleon himself when he goes to their base. If Holly wanted to accompany him, he doesn’t see a reason why she shouldn’t.

He proffered his elbow to her with a dashing smile. "Shall we go?"

Aika landed unsteadily on the study floor as she tossed her cloak and folders on the desk. Ellie followed behind her, eyes blank and wide as she just tried to process what she just witnessed.

"Are they going to be fine...?" She asked, pointing shakily at the shrinking portal behind her.

Aika leaned on her desk as she pinched the bridge of her nose, staving off an oncoming headache.

"Of course they're going to be fine. The two kings are in love with each other despite how much they fight."

"What?!”

“Yes. It is obvious to most of the officials in the room, myself included.”

“I—” Ellie sputtered in shock as Aika continued.

“Usually, I don’t play cupid but in a show of unity they were trying to impose both their taxes on me and I can’t have that. Our branch on the disputed land is a small one and it would go bankrupt if they did that. So I did the next best thing. I paid the wait staff and guards off so that they would direct the two kings to the same private lounge when they adjourned for recess and lock them for the entirety of the break.”

Ellie gaped at Aika and her crazy idea.

“They’ll either talk it out or kiss and make up.”

“...But how would that help us?”

“This plan could only work because I have a good rapport with both the kings. I proposed a plan where they could split the money from one single tax evenly between themselves. If they talked it out calmly and away from prying eyes, they would go with my plan. If they kissed and made up, their first compromise together as partners would be to go with my plan as well because they are both favorable towards me. They were only being unfair because of the tension between each other, not with me.” It was guaranteed that it would go either way. She didn’t play fair and not use her Time Magic with her own company. She could see what choices she could make that could lead to a favorable outcome for her and her company.

She knew what investments to make, where to take risks and where to back down, but only if she could think up various solutions to her problems. If she couldn’t think of any plan, then her foresight would offer her nothing.

She could only see if the plan that she thought up works or not but her foresight couldn’t offer her a plan itself because there technically would be thousands, if not millions, of ways any situation could play out. If she had visions of all of them at once, with the information overload, she would be dead instantly. She has to come up with a plan herself and confirm its success. It was better that way because it kept her sharp.

“What if the—er, tension between the two escalated to a physical fight?”

Aika plopped down in her armchair with a sigh. She had thought of that as well but she didn’t need to worry about that.

“Even if they did have a fist fight, I’m not worried because those two would not go to war over personal vendettas. I think it would relieve some stress between them actually. In the end, they will calm down and end up compromising on my idea. So either way, whatever manifests in that room, hate or love, I’ve no doubt they will be coming out of it a little bruised,” she smirked as she crossed her legs.

Ellie let out a laugh at her boss’s suggestive look. Aika was relieved she could reassure her. She tended to worry too much about such things. Evan, Jayce and Ellie do not know that she used Time Magic. So they sometimes wondered how she was so sure about her decisions. After years of wondering, they just chalked it up to forbidden magic.

"Ready for round two?" She asked, referring to the tea they were about to have with Lord Silva. Ellie hummed affirmatively as she shook her head in amusement.

"I have only been as far as the gates to the Silva Mansion. Is that alright, ma'am?"

"Yes, Ellie. That is perfect." They quickly freshened up and stepped into the portal and the grand gates of a white, picturesque mansion came into view. With it's steeples, domes, and solid, white brick walls, it would be more appropriate to call it a castle. Daunting gates made of black metal framed tastefully by green vines slowly swung open when their feet touched the cobblestone.

Aika and Ellie shared a cautious look and took the first step forward together.

When they reached the burnt, spruce wood doors, Aika stared at the tacky gold eagle door knockers in exasperation. Ellie reached for them without a second thought and knocked twice, the loud noise startling Aika. The spatial mage looked at her apologetically as the doors seemingly opened by themselves to reveal the Lord of the house standing in the middle of the foyer, his back ramrod straight, hands linked behind him as an ever-present scowl eased into a bored expression in some resemblance of courtesy.

"Welcome to my home, Madam Tolliver and..." His gaze landed on Ellie. "And uninvited guest," he sneered as he took in her appearance. It was obvious that she was a commoner and even worse, a foreigner. Her big, red eyes, soft nose, and plump lips all encompassed by skin as dark as the sea stood in direct contrast to his features. The only trait they seemed to share was the snow white hair that seemed to shine with an otherworldly glow.

Aika cleared her throat when Ellie's brows furrowed to glare back at the older man.

"I hope you don't mind my maid accompanying me. She's a close associate of mine that assists me in anything I need."

Lord Silva's eyes snapped back to hers as he pursed his lips.

"She may wait in the gardens. The matters we are going to discuss are rather... delicate."

Aika turned to her and nodded permissively. There was no reason for her to stay. She could simply go back to the headquarters but the more area a spatial mage covers, the more places they could travel to, and the more valuable they would be. It would be...advantageous for her to be able to travel directly onto the Silva property if she needed to for any reason.

A servant led Ellie away while Lord Silva motioned her to follow him. She side-eyed the paintings she passed by, but one in particular made her pause mid-step. It was undoubtedly the painting of Acier Silva. It was gigantic as if to immortalize every detail on her beautiful face and the frame was grand and ornate. Lord Silva stood stock still next to her, looking up at his former wife with eyes full of utter adoration and heartache.

Aika looked away, allowing him to have his moment.

When she noticed his feet move away, she followed him, putting that little moment of vulnerability behind them.

He led her to a well-lit sitting room with big windows and a view to the gardens that was breathtaking in the afternoon sun.

Aika faintly wondered how Holly was doing.

Another servant poured them tea and quickly left the room, leaving them in tense silence. She looked out into the garden, clearing her mind and bringing the tea to a much more lukewarm temperature with her magic.

"I apologize for my behaviour on that day," Lord Silva said evenly. She turned to him with slightly raised brows as if she had just noticed his presence. "Whether it was wanted or not, you saved me and I should be grateful to you for that."

"Should be," meaning he wasn't.

Aika looked pensively into her cup.

"Tell me, sir," She peered up at him through her lashes. "How many children do you have?"

He stared at her for a moment, lips parted, before he finally answered,

"Four."

"Have any of them struck your mind before the earth struck you?"

"Excuse me?"

She took a sip.

"I'm sure you need no repeating."

"How dare you ask me such a personal thing?!"

Lord Silva's voice raised several notches, immediately setting Aika on the edge but she restrained her tone and body language.

She quietly stared at him straight in his eyes and he scowled back, refusing to back down for a minute. When he realized she wasn't either, he wrenched his gaze away with a derisive scoff.

"You still haven't answered my question. I'm sure that's not very polite in Clover society," she added lightly. He huffed as a sneer crawled up his face.

"Neither is asking such questions."

"Think of it as payment for saving your life."

"The debt can only be fulfilled when I save you in return."

"You will never save me." Lord Silva's gaze snapped up to her's with a jolt. Blank eyes were downcast at her cup as her left cheek twitched in annoyance.

It seemed like she slipped up once more. It has been happening a lot recently. What was wrong with her?

"What?"

"I meant that you would not have an opportunity to save me." She cleared her throat. "Answer the question for me at least, as your saviour and as a mother."

He was taken aback by that.

"You are a mother?" He asked incredulously.

Aika smiled internally. Information must always be timed perfectly. She had used the truth to both change the subject and reveal a detail about her in a show of false vulnerability that would no doubt encourage him to open up a bit more.

"I am." She smiled lightly. "I have a daughter. Nearly ten."

"So do I..." Lord Silva's shoulders relaxed slightly. He wrapped his hands around the cup comfortingly as he sighed. He caved under her persistence and answered,

"No, I haven't. I haven't thought of them at all."

Aika let the silence envelop them for a moment.

“If you abandoned your children and died, how do you think Lady Acier is going to react?"

He stared at her in shock. How dare she be so casual with him?

"Whether you go to the Underworld or the After, it would be hell either way. If the father of my child died to follow me into the After, leaving our daughter, believe me, I would raise hell."

He looked away pensively when her words struck him.

“I suppose you’re right...”

And with that, Aika was done with what she came for. She gave him something to think about and hopefully it would snowball into something better for him.

She stood up as she set her cup down.

“I’m glad we agree. I don’t believe there is much to discuss.” She clasped her hands in front of her. “I pray that your retirement is as peaceful as today’s afternoon.

“We are not done yet.”

Aika looked up with a raised brow.

“Your Uncle.” she twitched at the mention. Silva senior smirked at her as she sat down in interest.

He knew.

“Yes, Raymond told me you were his niece. He also told me about your company.”

She picked her cup up with a sigh.

“You two fooled the rest of the world into thinking that you were enemies.” She took a sip. “It seems like that is not the case.”

“We were rivals, but we are also comrades,” he retorted defensively. “But back to the point. He told me about your company, Eidolon.”

She tensed at the name. It was very rare to hear the name of her company. It was both a secret and not. It was vast and well-known but it was strange hearing a Clover citizen discuss it.

“He told me that he was allowed to recommend one person if he wished, to work for your company,” he conjured a sheet of water that materialised into a thick binder of papers. “And he recommended me to your company.” He placed it on the table in front of her. “This was the paperwork and possible contracts I could sign that he gave to me. I have no plans to sit around during my retirement. I want to join the dungeon raiders.”

Aika threw a perplexed look between the papers and the man who stared intently at her for her response.

She opened her mouth open, and snapped it shut when nothing came out. She was at loss for words.

When she asked her Uncle to maybe recommend someone in the future, she meant someone young, adaptable and full of potential. Not a recently retired Magic Knight Captain who is well known to be classist and most likely racist, and too old to learn anything new like a language or a culture.

She was so close to blurting out a rejection but she stilled her tongue. She threw up a polite smile and pretended to sift through the papers in interest.

“I will...consider it,” she finally answered tightly. Silva Senior seemed to be oblivious to her annoyance as he clapped his hands together.

“Well, that’s settled then!” He stood up with her and led her to the door with a wave of his arm.

Aika pursed her lips as he allowed her to pass him. He threw a cold look at her back. He didn’t want to spend any more time in her presence than he had to. He was stubborn but he knew how to pick and choose his battles.

“I must go pick up my maid,” she informed him as they walked in long strides, both eager to relieve themselves of each other’s company.

“Ah, yes of course. I shall show you around the gardens on the way if you don’t mind.” He really didn’t have to but he was just playing the role of a polite lord. And he played it well too. Any sign that they had a heart-to-heart was gone, replaced with brittle formality.

“Thank you, but I have another appointment and I must get to it soon.”

Aika must introduce herself to the Royal Guard, but this time, they will not forget her.

Ellie’s portal directly landed them on the training fields in Clover Castle. Aika adjusted the shoulder brace that clung to her crimson half-cloak that covered her left shoulder. Her longsword hung from her waist, ready to be drawn at a moment’s notice. She appreciated how time magic always helped her get ready quicker.

“And who might you be, porting into Clover Castle without permission?”

Aika looked up and a finger crystallizing with ice was pointed between her eyes, threatening to engulf her any second. She tilted her head to the side to stare at the owner of said finger.

It was the Captain of the Royal Guards, Sal. The rest of the guards were in various groups, exercising or sparring but they all paused to stare at her.

“Hello there, Captain,” she greeted. “You wouldn’t remember but I was the one helping you train your men and I came to reveal my face today.”

Sal raised a brow.

“Is that so?”

He brought his sword up and down in an axe cut where her exposed shoulder was at an unprecedented speed. But Aike blocked it with a dagger she reflexively drew from her forearm where it was strapped.

“Attacking without a warning,” she drawled. “How rude.”

Sal grinned at her.

“No real fight has a countdown.”

She pushed his sword away from her face as he slackened. She took this moment to tie her hair at the nape with a ribbon and drew her sword.

“I see that you wish to test me.”

“Well, Master Raymond did say something about forgetting someone before he left, but I didn’t forget the way they fought.” He rolled his shoulders as his smile fell away and a sharp glint in his eyes surfaced. “Would you mind a spar?”

Aika sighed heavily. Sal wasn’t the one for chit chat, always got to the point in an almost rude fashion. She will make this quick, just as he would prefer it.

“On your mark.”

He threw himself forward with his ice magic propelling his feet and clanged his sword against hers. While Aika pushed with her sword hand and shoulder, she wrapped her other hand around the hilt of his sword where he attached his hand to it with ice so it wouldn’t slip off and she crushed it so the ice encasing it broke.

Sal’s eyes went wide and with the element of surprise, she twisted the sword out of his slippery hand and threw it to the side, far from his reach.

He launched himself upwards with a tall pillar of ice before she could attack him but she laid a hand on it and melted the pillar with her time magic and it instantaneously turned to water. She pretended she had water magic and this just helped solidify that lie.

When he dropped and rolled, Aika quickly moved to kick him to the side mid-roll but he grabbed her ankle and knee and tripped her onto her side. She threw her sword away as she fell and waited for Sal to come close. He tried to pick her up by the leg but she used the momentum to wrap her legs around his thick neck and she squeezed hard .

She rocked forward and backwards as he choked and he toppled face first but he braced himself with his arms. Aika used this opportunity to reach back and grab his ankles and wrenched them backwards so he couldn’t use his legs.

The leg lock around Sal’s neck slackened and so he inserted his hand between her calves and made a tube of ice that forced her legs apart, freeing him from the chokehold. Aika broke away from the ice clinging to her pants and shifted her hips to straddle his back and grabbed his arm and forced it behind him.

“Give up,” she finally said. Sal struggled in her grip and tried to use his musculature to overpower her strength but it was no use. Aika had always had an abnormal amount of physical strength.

He stopped struggling and tapped the ground twice with his free hand.

“I surrender!” His voice strained.

And just like that, she rolled off of his back and offered a hand to him. Sal took the proffered hand and stood up as he rolled his neck with a grimace.

“That grip was not expected at all. What do they even feed you?” He asked as he scratched his beard.

“Same thing as they feed you. I just don’t have a tendency to flex my muscles like you men,” she said lightly as she covered her smile with her hand. Sal was often funny when he wasn’t terrifying his guards to do their job right. Talking to him was always fun and she would be lying if she said she wasn’t happy that she finally got to talk to him as herself and not some faceless cryptid who whooped the guards asses once a week.

“No shit.” The gathered crowd moved closer to listen to the exchange. “You’re covered from head to toe like a nun!”

Aika let out a laugh.

“Far from it actually!”

He leaned in as if to tell her a secret but whispered loudly, “But I would be lying if I said anyone in this castle is a saint.” He thought for a moment. “Well, except maybe the new Wizard King. Met him earlier today. He was really nice and young. Didn’t seem to be ruffled by too much and was full of boundless energy like a puppy.”

Her mind couldn’t help but conjure up images and memories. A wide smile framed by little dimples that kept her distracted. The passionate way he discussed magic without an end. A soft, content look that he would give her when she added onto his rants.

Aika felt her ears burn up. This infatuation was too much. She was not a schoolgirl yet there she was blushing like one.

“Yes, he is like that a lot.”

“Oh, you know him personally?”

She sighed as she let a smile take over her.

“Something like that.”

“Oh.” Sal smirked. “I see.” He cleared his throat. “Well, Madam Tolliver, wasn’t it? My name is Sal, Captain Sal.” He offered a hand for her to shake. “But I’m sure you knew that.”

“I did, and you seem to know mine as well.”

“Master Raymond made sure to brief the entirety of the Castle staff on many things after the final battle.” She nodded in understanding. Sal motioned at the crowd of guards who were speaking in low voices.

“Well, do you have anything to teach or train us for today? We can catch up over drinks later.”

Aika crossed her arms and scanned her surroundings. She recognized some of the faces among the crowd and Evan and Jayce gave her a thumbs up when she spotted them. Ellie moved to lean on the castle wall where the shadows provided reprieve from the afternoon sun. Sal had a mischievous smile that only served to increase the dread among the guards. The rooms overlooking the training grounds were some libraries, conference rooms and some lounges for the Wizard King to use.

Aika took a deep breath. It was hard not being anonymous. She couldn’t just rely on people to forget the things she will say or do in the future now. She had to watch herself in the future or consequences will follow her.

“Last time, some of them mentioned wanting to practice offense and defense because we practiced intelligence gathering last time so I suppose that?”

She looked to Sal for approval.

“Yes, that sounds good. I’ll keep watch.”

He still had that smile on his face and she wasn’t sure why.

“Okay, everyone!” She raised her voice to catch people’s attention. “My name is Aika. You may call me Miss Aika. I was the teacher who had been training you all alongside Captain Sal when Master Raymond was still Wizard King.” The crowd began to murmur amongst themselves at her words. “That being said, we’re going to be practicing offense and defense today.”

Aika drew a circle around her with a sword, a meter wide, as Sal moved away to stand next to Ellie in the shade.

“Your task is very simple. You have to push me out of the circle in any way you see fit. All of you have to do this at the same time. But of course you can’t all crowd me at once because you might hurt your allies so this tests your teamwork too if you wish to work with other people.”

Someone raised their hand.

“Yes?”

“Will you be attacking us too?”

“I will attack if someone attacks me inside the circle but I will not initiate any offense yet. I will also be defending myself. Blocking, deflecting, and cutting down attacks. I may even send back one of your spells back towards you. You are all allowed to attack me however you please. But think of this exercise as a way to coordinate against one enemy so don’t all rush in at once.”

As Aika spoke, they all slowly moved to surround her at a good distance. She could see the gears shifting in their minds as a strategy formed in their heads. Unlike the Magic Knights, who can go on solo missions or in small teams, the Royal Guards must protect the castle as a one big team. These training exercises have been especially frequent the past few years because of the constant wars with Diamond and Spade kingdoms. And since King Augustus had been crowned, he had been especially insistent on everyone being able to protect him.

“I am ready when you are.”

They didn’t even give her a moment to breathe. Everyone on the front line shot their long-ranged spells at her. All the trajectories were different. Some were straight and some were arching over her so it was difficult to simply just jump and let them collide but she had no other option.

Aika jumped high and tried to make it seem natural when she weaved through the ones still in the air and took this moment to see where the next attack was coming from. Close-range fighters readied themselves to ambush her, no doubt going to use the smoke of the spells that exploded below her to their advantage. Her position is set in that little circle so there’s no uncertainty as to where she will be.

When she landed on her feet, amidst the dense smoke, three people leapt towards her, wielding various weapons. Her objective was not only to push them aside but to knock them out or else they will keep coming back. One woman with a spike-less morningstar swung at her but Aika subtly slowed down the force and when another attacker lunged at her back, she sidestepped and sped up his speed and he was smacked right in the shoulder by the woman. She froze in shock at how she accidentally injured her ally.

Aika’s circle was getting cramped so she kicked them both away and used the momentum to kick the next man right in the side of the neck. She studied enough anatomy during her college years to know that she kicked him perfectly in the vagus nerve and he was knocked out cold as his daggers slipped out of his hands.

The smoke dissipated as she rolled him out of the circle with her foot.

She tied her hair up tighter as she taunted,

“Who’s next?”

There was an immediate response.

Golems rose out of the ground, their bodies burning with the enchantments of different elements. She was briefly impressed with how quickly they infused the mana of multiple mages into them.

They all tried to swarm her but she finally drew her sword and swung in a wide arc. As they were all cut in half and the mana escaped, she drew it all to her.

Her head whipped towards a loud cheer that came somewhere from above. The distraction was dangerous but if she was being honest, she had nothing to worry about. What was the worst that could possibly happen?

Aika’s heart jumped when she saw Julius who was waving enthusiastically from a window. He must be using one of the conference rooms that was overlooking the training grounds. A familiar ginger headed man also leaned forward behind the Wizard King in confusion and was surprised to see her when he spotted her. Her heart warmed at the familiar face. It had been weeks since she had seen Fuegoleon and now he was Captain.

She waved at the both of them with her sword hand as she held the other hand up to hold the growing ball of mana. She should go congratulate him as well.

Just as she refocused her attention back to the fight on hand, a figure came lunging at her with a sword but she quickly blocked. Aika couldn’t help but feel surprised when she strained against his strength. She couldn’t see the entirety of the man’s face except for his growing grin. All her instincts seemed to awaken at once, screaming at her to move, but her skepticism and curiosity kept her still.

Then in a strange turn of events, he let the sword slip out of his hand and his other hand seemed to reach for her stomach, but curled into a tight fist and punched her right under her ribs.

For the first time in years, Aika went flying. She was slammed against the castle walls, creating a sizable crater. Her breath was knocked out of her and her head spun but a brief surge of rage quickly sobered her. She thrust her arm out as she whispered,

“Mana Zone: Mana Hands.”

A swarm of invisible hands materialized all around her and one of them quickly brought her sword to her as she picked herself off of the wall.

Aika took in the sight of her opponent who wielded enough strength to punch her that hard.

A young man whose hood covered half of his face, smirked at her as a slight young woman stood next him, wearing a familiar mask framed by flowing blonde hair that spilled out from either side of her, swaying in the wind as she held up a bow, ready to shoot.

Aika had to look twice as her eyes went wide. It seemed like a bizarre dream when the mask stared back at her. It was the same archer who broke her amulet.

Her hand curled around the hilt of her sword.

And they had some nerve coming back to face her head-on.

Notes: There's a fight scene the next chapter and we see Fuegoleon!! WOOO so I'm excited for that🥰 Also, yes, Sal already knew her because the previous Wizard King refreshed his memory in detail but he was just messing around with Aika LMAO

#black clover #julius novachrono #oc: aika tolliver #julius novachrono x reader #julius novachrono x oc #black clover julius #julius & aika #demons run #demons run fic stuff #demons run chapter 11

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