#independence day 2023 live

[dreamzandexperiences]

Happy Independence Day 2023: The Beautiful Indian Flag.

India’s 77th Independence Day 2023 As the vibrant tapestry of India readies itself for the grand spectacle of the 77th Independence Day on August 15, 2023, we stand at a crossroads of reflection and revelry. This momentous occasion is not merely a date on the calendar; it’s a tribute to the resilience, courage, and unity that have woven together the rich fabric of our nation. Together, let’s…

[josephinekhawaja]

Lyrically has not much to do with our ship unless we AUed them into a love triangle and I care not to think of those😶🙄...

...unless, unless💡💡💡💡the other woman in the song was just functionally a stand-in for any unreasonable devotion Din has to his cult. Then it all falls into place. Makes sense to me. (Though I gotta say as of Chapter 20, I am actually willing to give the covert the benefit of a doubt. And would be happy to see Bo grow in her faith. I just want her and Din to grow together.)

Mostly though just basking in Ashley Frangipane being all domestic with their (moustachioed) partner, and their baby boy, giving me Clan of Three feels. That and Halsey's blue wig being about the length Bo has grown her hair to this season. Just let me squint and have this.

When you left, I thought you held her body closer I never knew that you would tell her it was over 'Cause I'm all you think about and everywhere you look I know it's bad, but we could be so good

[sidras-tak]

Accessibility takes too goddamn fucking long.

My brother was paralyzed in October 2023. We got him home from the hospital (in Texas, when we live in Iowa) in a clunky old hospital chair. He hated it. He was scared and angry and in pain and his life had just changed forever and he couldn’t do anything for himself in that wheelchair. His first goal (aside from learning how to transfer) was to get a wheelchair. My family was lucky enough to afford one so we thought it would be easy enough. Nope.

We couldn’t buy him a wheelchair. He needed a prescription. For a wheelchair. A doctor had to examine him and declare him in need of a wheelchair. It wasn’t good enough that he had scans and tests showing tumors cutting off his spinal cord. He needed his primary care doctor to examine him during a physical and write a prescription. He was making 2-4 transfers a day, tops. He had no energy to get to a doctor. Home health was in and out every day. He had no time to get to a doctor. He didn’t get a prescription for almost a month. Then it had to go through insurance.

We asked if we could skip insurance and just buy a wheelchair for him. Nope. They wouldn’t sell us one, not even at full sticker price. It needed to be approved by Medicare. We ordered a wheelchair, a nice one, a good shade of green, sporty, small. It would let him move around the house. He would be able to cook, to reach drawers and get stuff from the fridge and brush his teeth and put his contacts in at a sink. We were told it would take awhile, maybe two months. Silently we all hoped he would be around to see two more months.

He went on hospice care on a Saturday in March. On Monday, I was calling his friends to come see him before he died. I got a call on his phone. It was the wheelchair company. They were about to order his wheelchair, she said, but there was an issue with insurance— had he stopped being covered by Medicare? Well, yes. When he started hospice care, he got kicked off Medicare. The very nice woman I talked to told me to call her if he resumed Medicare coverage so she could order his wheelchair. He died less than 12 hours later.

We ordered that chair for him in early December. Medicare didn’t approve the order until March. He was dead before they got around to it. He wanted that fucking wheelchair so badly. The only reason he had any semblance of independence and any quality of life for the last five months of his life was because the wheelchair company lent him an old beater chair, a very used model of the chair he ordered. If I could go back and change one thing about his end-of-life, I would get him his dream wheelchair. He told me again and again he couldn’t wait to get it, so that he could feel like a person again. He made the best of what he had with that old beater chair, but it still makes me mad to this day. He was paralyzed. He needed a chair that afforded him dignity. We had the money for it. And yet, we were left waiting for five months, for a chair that wouldn’t even get ordered until the day he died.

[midwestphotography]

Josie Sanken live at Oak Leaf Park in Glencoe, MN- 6/24/23

[meteorologistaustenlonek]

#IndependenceDay2023 is next week Tuesday. If you see these signs around your area/neighborhood, please consider another location to set off your fireworks to show your courtesy for your neighbors who are #combatveterans.

[moneymaker250]

Earn $175-575 a day from the comfort of your home as a Live Chat Agent. Click The Link Below To Apply Now.

[artfully13]

I Paused My Game To Celebrate Juneteent T-Shirt

[meazalykov]

soft spot

esmee brugts x uswnt x sensitive!reader

summary: a hurt reader starts to feel a soft spot for a girl, even if she tries to fight it.

part one (part two here)

warnings: angst, mentions of betrayal, reader being an Ahole for the first part.

Y/n had spent months preparing for the World Cup 2023 in Australia. As a player for Chelsea, she was no stranger to pressure. But nothing could have prepared y/n for the emotional whirlwind that will hit her. 

Jane, her girlfriend of three years, had called her to talk. Y/n, despite ignoring her girlfriend due to latest rumors, had expected a heartfelt farewell, some last-minute words of encouragement, maybe even a promise to watch every game and cheer her on from afar. Any reassurance that their relationship was good.

Instead, Jane dropped a bombshell. 

"I don't think things are working out between us," she said, her voice devoid of the warmth Y/n had grown to love. 

“Wait what?” Y/n’s mumbled as she processed her girlfriend's words. 

"It's hard with you being away all the time, playing for Chelsea.” 

“You said that wasn’t a problem?” Y/n was confused at her girlfriend's words. At the age of 17, y/n forfeited her college eligibility in the United States to play for the youth academy at Chelsea. She had to leave her new girlfriend in the process, but Jane encouraged her to go live her dreams. Why did she change? 

“Yeah but-” 

“Jane, I feel like you’re lying to me.” Y/n admitted. Over the last few weeks, the footballer had friends questioning Jane’s loyalty in their relationship. The twenty year old woman had a feeling that Jane was emotionally cheating on her with another mutual friend of theirs, Ashlyn.

“I-I’m not.” 

“Sure–whatever.” 

“Ever since you’ve moved away to London, we’ve barely had time to see each other. I’m sorry— I still love you–but this isn’t working out.” Jane spoke softly. 

“Okay, fine.” Y/n hung up the phone as she noticed the tears coming down her bright (color) eyes. She knew Jane was lying which made the pain more excruciating. 

Those words from Jane repeated in Y/n’s mind for days. She had known Jane found the distance challenging, but she never thought it would come to this. She felt her heart shatter into a thousand pieces, the betrayal amplified since Jane had found solace in Ashlyn, someone Y/n had never suspected could be a threat to their relationship. Ashlyn was a college BIOMED student who spent her time in her books— just like Jane. oh. 

Two days later, Y/n boarded the flight to Australia, her mind a storm of emotions. She tried to focus on the upcoming matches, the strategies, the training sessions, but Jane's words echoed in her head. 

“Hey, what's the matter?” Y/n took her airpod out of her left ear when she noticed her team captain, Alex Morgan, sitting beside her in the business class seat. 

Originally, Emily Fox was supposed to sit beside Y/n, but Emily figured that Alex would’ve been better at figuring out what was wrong with the American right winger. 

“Nothing.” Y/n mumbled, giving a light smile, hoping that Alex would be reassured by that. 

“Well– the dry tears on your cheeks doesn’t make your situation sound like nothing.” Alex said. Y/n always had the strength to speak up about her emotions when she needed to, what could’ve happened? Why is she secretive and independent now? 

The image of Jane and Ashlyn together gnawed at Y/n as she looked at Alex. This filled her with a cold, bitter resolve. If Jane had left her for someone else, Y/n would channel that pain into her performance on the field. However, she didn’t want to open up about it yet. 

“Once I process this, I’ll tell you what's wrong– okay?” Y/n smiled as her eyes began to gain moisture. Alex frowned before hugging the girl fourteen years her senior. Alex knew she couldn't force Y/n to speak up, unless her emotions started to affect the team chemistry.

 

As the World Cup kicked off, Y/n's teammates noticed a stark change in her demeanor. Gone was the cheerful, happy, approachable player they knew; in her place was someone with a steely gaze and an edge to her play that could’ve been described as ruthless. 

In their opening match against Vietnam, this new Y/n was on full display. In the tenth minute, she already side tackled two vietnamese players. This was not her playstyle. Usually, she will take the ball with her feet without needing to take extreme measures. As the game continued on, the number 17 player played with an intensity that was both impressive and alarming, her tackles hard and her determination fierce. Fans were impressed by the forward having defensive approaches, but were concerned once her aggressiveness showed. 

Midway through the second half. Y/n was tackled onto the ground by the Vietnamese left back. Jane couldn't get out of her head during the match, which pissed Y/n off.  During her goal in the 45 + 7’ minute, y/n’s heart fell into her stomach when she realized that she couldn’t do her usual “J” symbol as her celebration anymore. Jane was another girl’s girlfriend now. 

Seeing Jane and Ashlyn in her mind, Y/n stood up at the left-back who didn’t back up from the challenge. Normally composed, Y/n lost her cool and pushed the player to the ground. Y/n had no emotion when the ref flashed her a yellow card. The Vietnamese player, who looked up at the star player, was visibly confused. She stared at y/n in shock as the referee intervened.

The crowd murmured, “What is going on with Y/n L/n in this match? 

The commentators speculated, “It looks like Y/n L/n is playing with her emotions tonight, which is shocking since she's known as one of the more “contained” and “emotionally mature” players on the team at just the age of twenty.” 

Her USWNT teammates exchanged worried glances on the pitch and the bench. Lynn Williams, y/n’s older friend, pulled her to the side and asked “What were you thinking?” to which Y/n shrugged. 

Y/n didn't care about her actions. Her heart was cold, and all she could think about was proving to herself, to Jane, and to everyone watching that she didn't need anyone's pity or concern. Even if they weren't aware of the problem. 

As the match ended, Y/n walked off the pitch with her head held high since she scored and won against Vietnam, but inside, the turmoil raged on. She knew that she had to keep her emotions in check if she wanted to help her team get the World Cup for the third time in a row, but the betrayal by her Ex wasn’t forgotten. 

Lindsey did confront Y/n on her actions, considering that this is Y/n’s first ever yellow card in an International competition. However, y/n brushed it off as being mad about being tackled to the ground. The blonde debuted her reasoning but proceeded to focus on the next group stage match, 

The Netherlands. 

Despite her best efforts to calm her stormy emotions by meditating, going on walks in the Australian weather, and listening to motivational podcasts— the betrayal Y/n felt from Jane's infidelity still burned hot within her.

When the game against the Netherlands started Y/n's aggression was palpable. In the third minute, Y/n pushed Danielle Van, but was excused since it looked as if she was getting the ball. Alex, Lindsey, and Vlatko were nervous each time they saw their star forward clash with an Oranje player.  

Everyone noticed the increased speed that y/n gained when she gained possession of the ball. Y/n ran the ball up the pitch before passing to Alex Morgan, who failed to shoot the ball since the Dutch goalkeeper grabbed it inside the box on time. 

Five minutes later, the same thing happened again. Y/n gained possession of the ball and dribbled her way up the field. 

It wasn't long before her path crossed with Esmee Brugts, #22 on the Dutch National team. Y/n had known of Esmee through social media; they'd followed each other for a while, a year to be exact. The girl didn’t remember how or why but everyone seems to know of each other in this community. 

Y/n would’ve been lying if she said that she didn’t find Esmee attractive currently. The way Esmee effortlessly moved the ball made y/n concentrated on getting the ball from her. However, y/n’s current emotional state made it hard to think of anything beyond the match at hand—and her ex.

During a particularly intense moment in the game, Esmee and Y/n collided. Esmee's shove sent Y/n sprawling to the ground, her face painfully meeting the grass. At first y/n was shocked, looking up to see a standing Esmee who looked forward at the ball who Lindsey Horan gained possession of.

The sudden flare of pain in y/n’s jaw triggered a surge of anger as she was still on the ground– Jane's betrayal flashed through Y/n's mind as the pain got worse. Y/n, not thinking rationally, sprang to her feet, her emotions boiling over as she ran to confront Esmee.

"What is wrong with you?" Y/n shouted, her voice trembling with rage. "She can't do that?!!! That should’ve been a yellow??” Y/n looked over at the assistant referee who didn’t have much to say.

"I wasn't trying to hurt you-"

"Shut up!-- What were you trying to do to me then?" Y/n cuts the dutch #22 player off.

Esmee, taken aback by the loudness of Y/n's outburst, tried to explain more, but Y/n's anger was already spiraling out of control. The Dutch girl knew of Y/n through social media, they’ve had a few mutual friends who described Y/n as a sweet and matured girl. Y/n was someone different here. 

The confrontation quickly drew the attention of players and officials alike, and it took several of Y/n's teammates to pull her away from Esmee as she continued to misplace her anger on the girl with braids. 

The referee, seeing the situation escalating, issued a warning. At the same time Vlatko made the swift decision to substitute Y/n L/n out for Trinity Rodman, before she got a second yellow.

As Y/n sat on the bench, her mind raced. In another place, American commentators speculated on her uncharacteristic aggression, 

“Looks like an altercation happened on the pitch between United States star Y/n L/n and Dutch star Esmee Brugts.” 

“Well– I wouldn't consider that a full altercation. Y/n was the one who had a problem with Esmee’s challenge.” 

“Yeah, for sure, it looked one sided. I wonder if something is wrong with Y/n that the team is starting to notice. She’s played in 23 international matches so far in her career and it seems like the World Cup brought out some new emotions for the young star.” 

After the game, the team captains, Alex Morgan and Lindsey Horan, pulled Y/n aside into a private room. Y/n was intimidated by their strict demeanors as they sat her on a blue bench in an all white room. The captains saw enough to know that something deeper was troubling their teammate.

"Y/n, we need to talk," Alex said gently. 

"We do. We know that there’s something wrong— What's going on with you?" Lindsey said. 

Y/n hesitated, the idea of vulnerability after being cheated on caused genuine fear in the girl’s eyes. 

Lindsey noticed this, but as the captain she needed to know how to fix her teammate. “We aren’t leaving this room until we have an idea on what's wrong. We are here for you and want to help you– so please tell us what’s wrong.” 

The concern in her captain's eyes broke through y/n’s emotional shields. 

“S-Sh-um–She cheated.” Y/n mumbled out as tears poured down her dimpled cheeks. 

“What?” Alex questioned. She looked over at her fellow captain, Lindsey, who was just as confused. 

“Jane lef-lef-left me for her.” The floodgates poured down Y/n’s eyes at this point. 

“Jane left you for who, sweetheart?” Alex said as she went to hug Y/n. Lindsey got on her knees in front of y/n, comforting her as she felt pain from seeing her favorite young forward hurt. They knew who Jane was, but never met her throughout Y/n’s three year relationship. 

“Jane left me for Ashlyn. She said she was tired of me being away in England and that we weren’t working out.” Y/n sobbed on Alex’s shoulder. 

“Honey, I am so sorry. Why didn’t you tell us this before, we could’ve helped you.” Alex’s maternal instincts kick in as she sees y/n so broken, so hurt. Y/n was known to be the happiest, most emotionally mature, and a bright light on the team. Everyone seeing her so aggressive last week caused shock among the captains. They understand what’s wrong now. 

“It happened before we left to come here. Wh-What did I do wrong?” Y/n continued to sob. 

“Nothing, you did nothing wrong. You didn’t deserve that.” Lindsey said. 

Y/n confessed everything about Jane's betrayal, the pain that had consumed her, and how it had affected her gameplay. 

“Why did I lash out at Esmee like that too? Her of all people?? What the fuck?? I feel like I am a piece of shit!” Y/n says five minutes later as she processed the moments of today’s game. Tears continued to stream down her puffy face as she admitted how guilty she felt about lashing out at Esmee Brugts.

“She will be okay, y/n. You can apologize later, but we still need to help you with your problems about your ex.” Lindsey softly says. 

"You can't let Jane or that situation destroy you. We're here for you, and we'll help you through this." Alex whispered in Y/n’s ear, which warmed the cold heart in her body.

The tournament continued, but the USWNT's journey ended in the round of 16 with a loss to Sweden. Y/n's performance had improved, but her heart wasn't fully in the game. She made one of the penalties against Sweden, but it wasn’t enough. 

The World Cup ended in disappointment but y/n’s advanced technical skills and goal scoring abilities gained her a new opportunity– Barcelona Femení contacted her and approached her with an offer. Eager for a fresh start, Y/n accepted and moved away from London, hoping that the new memories will help her healing journey. 

(pretend you're sam kerr below)

wosonews

BREAKING 🚨 | FC Barcelona Femeni have completed the signing of Y/n L/n from Chelsea on a 4-year deal 💙❤️

comments

wosowbbfan she's a striker that barcelona needs 🥲 I will miss her ❤️

y/nl/n17_ seeing her and alexia putellas talking after the champions league semi game last season, I suspected this might've happened 😧

indigoblue578 isn't Esmee Brugts almost ready to sign for barcelona too? 👀😬

kerrfan yes esmee will if she doesn't go to arsenal. I'm positive y/n apologized to esmee for what happened at the World Cup ☺️

Indigoblue578 @/kerrfan yeah y/n is a sweetheart, I'm positive the thing with Jane Holland is what caused her to be so emotional during the world cup 🙁

kerrfan @/indigoblue578 I agree

Portthorns9378 She's never going to the NWSL is she? 😭

Barcahive the first American in Barcelona lets goooo 🙌

--

On the first day at training with Barcelona, days before they’re supposed to go to Mexico for a friendly game, Y/n's past summer collided with her present. As she walked into the dressing room, she saw Esmee Brugts, now a teammate. Y/n's heart sank with guilt as she recalled their confrontation back in Australia. 

Meeting most of the team days prior, y/n knew that she was in a comfortable spot and didn’t want to make things awkward or tense. That is not a good look for your first season at the catalan club where most of the girls consider each other a family.

Thankfully, Ingrid Engen noticed the tense look on y/n’s face as she tied her ivory colored cleats. Ingrid had always been perceptive, and she could tell something was bothering someone. Even with y/n who is new to the club. Ingrid walked over and sat beside the younger girl.

“Hey, (reader’s nickname)... is everything alright?” Ingrid placed a hand on the twenty year old’s shoulder. Y/n sighed as she looked around the dressing room, wondering if it was the right time to speak to her mind. Noticing that some people already left to head out on the pitch for training, including Esmee, y/n didn’t see the harm in telling Ingrid what's wrong. She hoped that speaking up would bring some peace to the situation. 

“It’s about Esmee– At the world cup I went off on Esmee over a challenge we had together on the pitch. This was after my ex cheated on me so I misplaced my anger on some people, including Esmee.” y/n sighed. 

“After finding out that Esmee was joining Barcelona this season I felt more guilt than before— I wanted to reach out on instagram to apologize but I didn’t– I don’t know— I – I just feel so bad.” Y/n continued as she whispered to Ingrid. 

Y/n sat in the dressing room, her mind racing. She knew she had to apologize to Esmee for the sake of team chemistry. Luckily, not many on the team knew about what happened during the Netherlands vs United States match, but still— y/n didn't know how to approach Esmee without the other girls around. The memory of her outburst still haunted her, and despite Esmee's seemingly friendly demeanor, Y/n couldn't shake the feeling of guilt that was on her.

As she sat there, lost in thought, Ingrid wraps her arms around y/n shoulders which she relaxes into after a few seconds. Y/n is still getting used to the physical affection that europeans show to each other on a normal basis. 

"I remember that. You were going through a tough time, and it got the best of you. Have you thought about when you want to talk to her?" Ingrid nodded, understanding.

"I have, but every time I try to find the right moment, I just freeze up," Y/n confessed. "I feel like it would be more genuine if I did it myself, but I don't know how she'll react."

Ingrid offered a reassuring smile. "Esmee doesn't hate you, Y/n. She's not the type to hold grudges. Besides, she probably doesn't even think about it anymore. The World Cup ended in a Spanish victory anyways, and everyone's moved on."

"Maybe," Y/n said, uncertainty still clouding her voice. "But I can't move on until I make things right with her."

"Do you want Ale and I to help you?" Ingrid offered. "We can be there for support or even help you set up a time to talk."

Y/n shook her head, a small smile forming. "Thanks, Ingrid, but I think I need to do this on my own. It needs to come from me, and it needs to be genuine."

Ingrid squeezed Y/n's shoulder. "I get it. Just remember, Esmee is a kind person. She won’t brush you off or hold what you did against you. She'll understand. You've got this, Y/n. And if you need to talk afterward, I’m here."

Y/n took a deep breath, feeling a bit more confident with Ingrid's reassurance. "Thanks, Ingrid. I appreciate you."

"Anytime," Ingrid said, standing up. "Now, let's go train and see if you can talk to her after– okay?” The Norwegian took the American's hands and pulled her up from the dressing room bench.

Y/n nodded, determination filling her. She stood up and headed out of the dressing room, ready to go train before going to Mexico with the team tomorrow morning. 

As she headed closer to the door, she spots Esmee in the hallway talking to Bruna and Jana. Y/n felt herself freeze up at first, but fought against herself and approached the group of girls.

"Esmee, can I talk to you for a minute?" Y/n asked, her voice steady despite her nerves. Jana and Bruna smiled at Y/n in understanding before heading outside to the pitch. Training isn’t supposed to start for another five minutes so she hopes she can fit her apology in this time. 

Esmee turned, her expression curious. "Of course, Y/n. What's up?"

Y/n gestured to a quieter corner of the hallway. She didn’t want anyone eavesdropping, as she understood that some of the young La Masia girls loved to do that sometimes. 

"I need to talk to you about what happened during the World Cup---um--- I need to apologize."

Esmee's eyes softened as she followed Y/n. "You don't have to apologize about that, Y/n. I understand you were going through a tough time."

"No, I do need to," Y/n insisted. "I was out of line, and I took my anger out on you. You were playing the game and I couldn’t handle my emotions. It wasn't fair to you, and I'm really sorry."

Esmee smiled warmly. "Thank you, Y/n. It means a lot that you came to talk to me. But really, it's in the past.” 

“I know but I just couldn’t move on until I told you how sorry I am. I’ve moved on from my ex, who caused the outburst, and the World Cup itself– but I just had to apologize to you.” Y/n gave a light smile.  

“I appreciate that a lot. But let's just start over, okay?" 

Y/n felt a wave of relief wash over her. "Okay. "

---

part two here

<3

[mariacallous]

Six months into the Russian occupation of the Ukrainian city of Kherson, in September 2022, the director of Liza Batsura’s college arrived at the dormitory where Batsura lived and told the students to pack up their things: They were going to Crimea. If the students refused, they would be put in the basement, Batsura said, speaking through a translator. The director gave no further explanation.

The next evening, they were taken to a camp called “Friendship” in Crimea, which was occupied by Russia in 2014. Although she couldn’t have known it at the time, Batsura—now 16 years old—was one of almost 20,000 children the Ukrainian government estimates have been deported or forcibly displaced to Russia. Only 388 have been returned.

Initially, the prospect of a couple of weeks by the sea didn’t sound so bad. But Batsura quickly began to realize that that wouldn’t be the case. The food was terrible, the days were long, and the children were pressured to sing Russian songs, including the national anthem, which made her very uncomfortable.

Foreign Policy is unable to independently verify Batsura’s account, but her experience closely tracks with the findings of investigations by the United Nations as well as researchers at Yale School of Public Health and other human rights groups who have documented a “systematic” effort to relocate and reeducate thousands of Ukrainian children over the course of the war. She also recounted her story to Reuters as part of an extensive investigation into the deportations.

Batsura was one of five Ukrainian teenagers who visited Washington last month with representatives of Save Ukraine, a Ukraine-based nonprofit that helps to rescue Ukrainian children from Russia and the territories it occupies. They stoically recounted the stories of their abductions again and again for journalists, members of Congress, and attendees at public events.

It was the group’s first visit to Washington. Batsura felt like she was in a movie, she said.

With long limbs and round cheeks, the teenagers filed into the conference room of a Washington-based nonprofit with their minders from Save Ukraine for an interview with Foreign Policy. Once the Wi-Fi password had been secured and the bathroom located, they began to tell their stories.

They were teenagers like any other you’d see hanging out with friends at a cafe or shopping mall. Yet they were also victims of Moscow’s large-scale deportation of Ukrainian children—a potential war crime and the reason that the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and the country’s children’s rights commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova, in March 2023.

Like Batsura, they all hail from regions of eastern Ukraine that were quickly occupied by Russian forces in the early days of the war. They recount being coerced or forced, sometimes at gunpoint, to go with Russian forces, and they were taken to schools and summer camps where they were held for several months and faced pressure to accept Russian citizenship.

In many instances, Ukraine’s most vulnerable children have borne the brunt of Russian deportation. Before the war, Ukraine had one of the highest rates of child institutionalization in Europe, with more than 100,000 children living in residential institutions. The vast majority have living parents but were placed in institutions because of poverty, difficult family circumstances, or because the child had a disability, according to Human Rights Watch.

The deportations have been carried out in plain sight. Early in the war, Putin signed a decree making it easier for Ukrainian children to be adopted and to be given Russian citizenship. Lvova-Belova herself claims to have adopted a teenager from the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol, and she has spoken publicly about her efforts to Russify him. In November, a BBC investigation found that a 2-year old girl who went missing from a children’s home in Kherson when she was just 10 months old had been adopted by 70-year-old member of the Russian parliament, Sergey Mironov.

Lvova-Belova has made a number of visits to institutions holding Ukrainian children, including to a college in the occupied Ukrainian city of Henichesk, where Batsura had been transferred from Crimea and placed in a culinary arts program.

The dormitory where Batsura was placed was freezing cold at night, she said, and the teenagers were forbidden to close the doors to their rooms. Russian troops patrolled the halls.

Lvova-Belova offered the children 100,000 rubles, roughly $1,000, and the opportunity to study at a college in Russia on the condition that they remain there. Batsura refused. Officials tried to find her a foster family, and she feared she would be sent to a remote region of Russia and would never be able to return to Ukraine.

For eight months while she was in Russian custody, Batsura had been unable to contact her mother, but she learned through a friend that her mother was working with Save Ukraine and applying for a passport so that she could travel to Russia and collect her.

With the border to Russia closed since the invasion, families face a daunting overland journey through wartime Ukraine, traveling into Poland, Belarus, and then Russia and—in Batsura’s case—down into occupied Ukrainian territory.

In some instances, children are turned over to their relatives without too much difficulty once the family members arrive to collect them, but the Russian authorities have also been known to present obstacles, said Olha Yerokhina, a spokesperson for Save Ukraine. The organization has helped families retrieve 240 children to date.

Officials at the school told Batsura that the journey was too arduous and that her friend was giving her false hope that her mother would ever arrive. “I didn’t believe them, and I kept telling myself that ‘No, my mom can do it, my mom will come,’” she said.

In May 2023, Batsura was rescued by her mother and now lives with her in Kyiv, where she is working with psychologists to process her experience. She is back in school and describes her hobbies as writing poems and making TikTok videos.

I asked her, given the atrocities that Putin has been accused of committing in Ukraine and during his presidency, how she felt about the fact that it was experiences like hers that had led the ICC to issue an arrest warrant for the Russian leader.

Yerokhina, who acted as our translator, interrupted to say that because she was rescued after the court order was issued, Batsura had likely missed the news about the ICC arrest warrant.

After Yerokhina explained the court’s decision, Batsura said, “It’s just.”

[nitrosplicer]

The bullying had started in earnest at the beginning of the 2023 school year, a few months after Oklahoma governor Kevin Stitt signed a bill that required public school students to use bathrooms that matched the sex listed on their birth certificates.

A few weeks ago, on 7 February, the bullying allegedly erupted in violence when Nex suffered severe head injuries during a “physical altercation” at Owasso High School, according to the Owasso Police Department.

Sue Benedict told The Independent she was called to the school that day to find Nex badly beaten with bruises over their face and eyes, and with scratches on the back of their head.

Nex told her that they and another transgender student at Owasso High School had been in a fight with three older girls in a girls bathroom. Nex was knocked to the ground during the fight and hit their head on the floor, according to their mother.

Ms Benedict said she was furious that the school had failed to call an ambulance or the police. She said the school then informed her Nex was being suspended for two weeks.

She took Nex to the Bailey Medical Center in Owasso for treatment. They spoke to a police school resource officer at the medical facility and were discharged. That night, Nex went to bed with a sore head and eventually fell asleep while listening to music, Ms Benedict said.

On 8 February, Nex was getting ready to go to Tulsa with Ms Benedict for an appointment when they collapsed in the family living room. Ms Benedict called an ambulance, and EMT officers arrived to find Nex had stopped breathing. Nex was declared dead that evening in hospital.

[scuderiasundays]

the way i do

summary: holiday traditions lead to flashbacks of the right person he met at the wrong time 💌

words: 706

a/n: haven't written in ages but something compelled me to write this short piece (slightly inspired by "long live"). timely considering it’s taylor’s birthday! tagging @vamossainz55, @sainzcaleruega, @monzabee, and @silverstonesainz just because. any and all feedback much appreciated as always! hugs and kisses 🫶🏼

"Papa, who's this? The lady standing beside you?"

Isla, the spitting image of her father, looked up at Lando with those piercing blue-green eyes. With Christmas just around the corner, the Norris family honored their long-standing tradition of leafing through old photos together. A storied career and a blissful family life had amassed into a pile of scrapbooks as tall as young Isla herself.

Yet, Lando found himself taken aback as Isla's chubby pointer finger rested on a particular figure in the photo. This image, long tucked away in a box of sentimental keepsakes, hadn't seen the light of day in ages. He was captivated by the scene of pure elation, his champagne-soaked figure, and the look of admiration in her eyes. This was São Paulo 2023, his last podium in a tumultuous season. Coincidentally, it was the last time he laid eyes on her, though not by his own choosing.

-

The stakes were palpably high as the Formula 1 season drew to a close. Despite the heightened cheers from the crowd, the pressure bore down on Lando, almost devouring him whole. The two were similar in that way, devout believers in what Lando playfully termed a "don’t let them in, don’t let them see" mentality.

You had known for months that Lando wasn’t being upfront with you. You hadn’t been there as much as he desired in a season that had tested his belief in McLaren and, more importantly, his self-confidence. It resonated in his voice and his wandering gaze when he spoke of other drivers’ partners following them from race to race. Lando had always made it a point to acknowledge and champion your genuine passion for clinical genetics. You had been the one to introduce Lando to Girlstart, a nonprofit dedicated to exposing young girls to high-quality STEM experiences. Your heart grew twice its size as you watched him interact with the girls throughout the race weekend. However, it wasn't lost on you that, despite honoring your independence, half of his being yearned for the simplicity of going to bed and waking up beside you every day.

As the team gathered for a celebratory group photo, you entwined your fingers with his as you lined up in front of Lando's garage. Three reassuring squeezes, a habit from their early dating days when privacy was paramount. He squeezed right back. Mentally, you pledged to open up to him later, fully aware that you risked losing the person who mattered most.

-

You sat with him by the hotel pool, a glass of rosé in hand. You needed all the liquid courage you could get for what was about to ensue.

"What’s the matter?" Lando gently brushed a strand of hair out of your face.

"I need you to be honest with me, not just because I’m asking, but because you love me. Do you think this is working?"

"What kind of question is that, love?"

"I know this might seem out of the blue, but I’ve been contemplating this deeply, and I-." A single tear fell as you struggled to gather your thoughts.

"Hey, hey, hey. I already know what you’re about to say. It’s alright."

"You do?"

"I’ve had this strange feeling all weekend. Something about our connection and all." Your heart shattered as his eyes fell.

"I wonder if I’ll ever find a love like ours again," he said, his voice shaking.

"Oh, but you will, Lando. I just know it."

"Feels far-fetched at the moment."

He leaned into the crook of your neck, the cold metal of his necklaces laying against your skin.

"Are we consciously uncoupling right now?" you asked, seeing the faintest smile emerging on his lips.

"An amicable separation in every sense. None of that Hollywood bullshit."

-

Just one glance at that photo had transported Lando to that night so many years back. The years that had gone by allowed him to really take her image in. The way her eyes crinkled, the dimples he so loved, and the evident pride emanating as she cupped his face.

She must’ve really loved me, he thought to himself.

"That’s Y/N, darling. Someone special who made daddy smile like no other."

"The way I do?"

"The way you do, sweet Isla."

[afeelgoodblog]

The Best News of Last Year

1. Belgium approves four-day week and gives employees the right to ignore their bosses after work

Workers in Belgium will soon be able to choose a four-day week under a series of labour market reforms announced on Tuesday.

The reform package agreed by the country's multi-party coalition government will also give workers the right to turn off work devices and ignore work-related messages after hours without fear of reprisal.

"We have experienced two difficult years. With this agreement, we set a beacon for an economy that is more innovative, sustainable and digital. The aim is to be able to make people and businesses stronger," Belgian prime minister Alexander de Croo told a press conference announcing the reform package.

2. Spain makes it a crime for pro-lifers to harass people outside abortion clinics

Spain has criminalized the harassment or intimidation of women going for an abortion under new legislation approved on Wednesday by the Senate. The move, which involved changes to the penal code, means anti-abortion activists who try to convince women not to terminate their pregnancies could face up to a year behind bars.

3. House passes bill to federally decriminalize marijuana

The House has voted with a slim bipartisan majority to federally decriminalize marijuana. The vote was 220 to 204.

The bill, sponsored by Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York, will prevent federal agencies from denying federal workers security clearances for cannabis use, and will allow the Veterans’ Administration to recommend medical marijuana to veterans living with posttraumatic stress disorder.

The bill also expunges the record of people convicted of non-violent cannabis offenses, which House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said, “can haunt people of color and impact the trajectory of their lives and career indefinitely.”

4. France makes birth control free for all women under 25

The scheme, which could benefit three million women, covers the pill, IUDs, contraceptive patches and other methods composed of steroid hormones.

Contraception for minors was already free in France. Several European countries, including Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Norway, make contraception free for teens.

5. The 1st fully hydrogen-powered passenger train service is now running in Germany. The only emissions are steam & condensed water.

Five of the trains started running in August. Another nine will be added in the coming months to replace 15 diesel trains on the regional route. Alstom says the Coradia iLint has a range of 1,000 kilometers, meaning that it can run all day on the line using a single tank of hydrogen. A hydrogen filling station has been set up on the route between Cuxhaven, Bremerhaven, Bremervörde and Buxtehude.

6. Princeton will cover all tuition costs for most families making under $100,000 a year, after getting rid of student loans

In September, the New Jersey Ivy League school announced it would be expanding its financial aid program to offer free tuition, including room and board, for most families whose annual income is under $100,000 a year. Previously, the same benefit was offered to families making under $65,000 a year. This new income limit will take effect for all undergraduates starting in the fall of 2023.

Princeton was also the first school in the US to eliminate student loans from its financial aid packages.

7. Humpback whales no longer listed as endangered after major recovery

Humpback whales will be removed from Australia's threatened-species list, after the government's independent scientific panel on threatened species deemed the mammals had made a major recovery. Humpback whales will no longer be considered an endangered or vulnerable species.

Climate change and fishing still pose threats to their long-term health.

Some other uplifting news from last year:

A Cancer Trial’s Unexpected Result: Remission in Every Patient

California 100 percent powered by renewables for first time

Israel formally bans LGBTQ conversion therapy

Tokyo Passes Law to Recognize Same-Sex Partnerships

First 100,000 KG Removed From the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

As we ring in the New Year let’s remember to focus on the good news. May this be a year of even more kindness and generosity. Wishing everyone a happy and healthy 2023!

Thank you for following and supporting this g this newsletter

Buy me a coffee ❤️

[thelaurenshippen]

*trips and another fiction podcast falls out of my pocket*

hello, it is I, Lauren Shippen, maker of many audio dramas, including the daily @breakerwhiskey. after having so much fun doing that podcast every weekday, I thought "what would be the opposite of doing a daily podcast?" and here we are, with a yearly one. New Year's Day is a yearly podcast about what to make of your life when you live forever and is a collaboration between me and my dear friends Andrew Nowak and Briggon Snow (who you may know from @thebrightsessions). here's the elevator pitch:

Every thirteen years, two old rivals meet on New Year’s Day to discuss their lives in the intervening decade. They lead separate lives but share one earth-shattering secret: they’re both immortal.

new episodes will come out every january 1st - for this first jan 1, we released 3 episodes, so that the main story could get underway, but moving forward it will be only one a year! which is a real change for me obviously! and will certainly be an interesting challenge from a storytelling and audience building standpoint.

on a personal note, this show is a continuation of what I've been trying to do with @breakerwhiskey and what I hope to do with @maxinemilespod later this year, which is to independently produce fiction podcasts. I could go on and on about how tough 2023 was on audio drama - and independent art in general - but suffice to say, having a career as an independent artist is hard. we're making this show - as with @breakerwhiskey - for the sheer love of it, and we hope you love it too.

happy new year!

[anim-ttrpgs]

Some History of Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy

Brandon and I have played a lot of TTRPGs, from nearly every edition of Dungeons & Dragons to half-finished playtests of things you’ve never heard of. Our history with TTRPGs is a love story, but one pockmarked with frustration. We found ourselves enjoying D&D 3.5’s vast character creation options, but wishing it focused more on  grounded characters and historically informed combat; being drawn in by Call of Cthulhu’s horror and existential dread, but disappointed in its investigation mechanics for actually getting the investigators to those moments of horrifying revelation; being intrigued by Monster of the Week’s juxtaposition of both normal and supernatural PCs (for horror and/or comedy), but finding its lack of character options and reliance on genre tropes a hindrance; being unable to find anything that would be good for a S.T.A.L.K.E.R. inspired TTRPG campaign. We eventually found the OSR movement and AD&D1e and 2e to be far closer to what we wanted on the medieval fantasy front, but we still had nothing on the modern horror or urban fantasy front, and Shadowrun is… Shadowrun.

So, with around 20 years of TTRPG experience between us, we set out to make the game we wanted a reality.

The story of Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy’s creation really starts in late 2021, when Brandon asked me to help playtest a very early rough draft of an investigative horror game he thought up. Living isolated, impoverished, and unable to find work in England at the time, I readily agreed. Noticing that the game didn’t have a combat system and desperate to set my mind to something constructive in between tedious job applications, I offered to write a combat system for it. I soon had to use the last of my money to move back home to Louisiana where I eventually did find work despite a variety of health issues, and continued to work on Eureka as a system for our personal use.

As 2023 drew near, it became clear that my current job wasn’t going to be a permanent career, and I needed a fall back plan. Work towards making Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy a professional release began in earnest, with Brandon and I founding A.N.I.M. a few months later. It was initially set to go to Kickstarter in April of 2023, then May, then June, but each time we realized it just wasn’t ready. No one had ever heard of us, and we wanted to break into an industry and customer base increasingly financially hostile to any TTRPG that wasn’t D&D5e compatible. We needed to build an audience, and build a greater appreciation for independent and small-budget TTRPGs within the community at large.

Thanks to some assistance from one of the team members from Tuesday Knight Games (makers of Motherhship), the first beta copies went public in September of 2023 to a splash of instant (relative) success, and the A.N.I.M. TTRPG Book Club was founded on Discord two months later, a community dedicated to buying, playing, and analyzing less well-known TTRPGs - which includes almost everything except Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition.

Ash became friends with us through the book club, and after offering an increasing amount of assistance, joined the team proper in January of 2024, adding much needed copy-editing skills as well as another 15 years cumulative TTRPG experience.

The Kickstarter campaign for Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy launched on April 10th, 2024, was fully funded within 3 hours, and by the end of the campaign had reached a total of $15,455, 486% of the goal. That is where we are at now, working every day to put the finishing touches on the game and complete the stretch goals to the best of our ability before our tentative deadline of January 2025.

This is a far more ambitious project than a super-small team like ours should have attempted for our debut game, but with a mix of talent, luck, skill, and a whole lot of help, we have somehow managed to pull it off. We think the resulting game is a deep, robust, professional-quality TTRPG that provides a one-stop shop and extensive toolbox for any investigative or mystery game you’d like to run. A dark and moody noir, a classical British whodunnit, the lighthearted sleuthing hijinks of Scooby-Doo, Eureka does it all.  (You can also get the latest PDF for FREE for a limited time by joining the A.N.I.M. TTRPG Book Club!)

Elegantly designed and thoroughly playtested, Eureka represents the culmination of three years of near-daily work from our team, as well as a lot of our own money. If you’re just now reading this and learning about Eureka for the first time, you missed the crowdfunding window unfortunately, but our Kickstarter page is still the best place to learn more about what Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy actually is, as that is where we have all the fancy art assets, the animated trailer, links to video reviews by podcasts and youtubers, and where we post regular updates on the status of our progress finishing the game and getting it ready for final release.

Beta Copies through the Patreon

If you want more than just status updates, going forward you can download regularly updated playable beta versions of Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy and it’s adventure modules by subscribing to our Patreon at the $5 tier or higher. Subscribing to our patreon also grants you access to our patreon discord server where you can talk to us directly and offer valuable feedback on our progress and projects.

The A.N.I.M. TTRPG Book Club

If you would like to meet the A.N.I.M. team and even have a chance to play Eureka with us, you can join the A.N.I.M. TTRPG Book Club discord server. It’s also just a great place to talk and discuss TTRPGs, so there is no schedule obligation, but the main purpose of it is to nominate, vote on, then read, discuss, and play different indie TTRPGs. We put playgroups together based on scheduling compatibility, so it’s all extremely flexible. This is a free discord server, separate from our patreon exclusive one. https://discord.gg/7jdP8FBPes

Other Stuff

We also have a ko-fi and merchandise if you just wanna give us more money for any reason.

[matan4il]

Daily update post:

Yesterday, the IDF managed to prevent an independent Palestinian terrorist attack, by killing the would be terrorist on his way to execute his plan. Based on the type of weapons that were found on him, had he managed to carry out the attack, there probably would have been a lot of fatalities.

Also yesterday, the UN Security Council had an emergency session to discuss the UN report on the sexual violence of Hamas on Oct 7 and since (with the hostages). This was thanks to Israel asking several countries to request this session, and the US, the UK and France obliged. Believe it or not, more than 5 months after the biggest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust and the single bloodiest day in the Israeli-Arab conflict, that was the FIRST time that the UN has met to discuss what happened to people in Israel on that day. Let it sink in that the UN has discussed earlier and more frequently the situation in Gaza, than the massacre that started it. And that the UN still doesn't consider Hamas a terrorist organization. Israel again asked for this to change during yesterday's session.

Remember how I wrote about Yussuf and Hamza al-Ziadna, 2 of the 3 Muslim Israeli hostages, still held in Gaza after more than 5 months? Well, yesterday at the UN, Ali al-Ziadna, Yussuf's brother and Hamza's uncle, confronted the Palestinian ambassador, demanding to know why the Muslim Israeli hostages have not been released to fast and pray during Ramadan, as all Muslims should get to, and how could Hamas call themselves Muslims... (I'll just correct one thing he said: while Hamas released 23 of its 32 Thai hostages without asking for anything in return, but as part of the November 2023 deal to release the Israeli hostages, 9 Thai citizens are still in captivity. I do not want anyone to forget these men, they must be released and reunited with their loved ones, too)

The BBC has already been accused by members of the British Parliament of being institutionally antisemitic. Now, it seems like the British broadcaster is insisting on further proving those accusations right, as its head chooses to defend the BBC's use of an unsubstantiated witness account from a "journalist" known to be working for Iran, and who has in the past praised terrorists killing Israelis (his testament matches Hamas' narrative) regarding the stampede incident in northern Gaza. But, you know. Good on the Jews and the Jewish state for controlling the media. *eyeroll*

This is 58 years old Rami Davidian.

He's a farmer from moshav Patish. On Oct 7, he got a message from a friend, asking Rami to save his kid, who was at the Nova music festival, where today we know was the single deadliest scene of all the place Hamas attacked during the massacre. Rami went in, and saved the kid and 12 others in his vehicle, while also directing others to moshav Patish. This led to more people hearing about it, and calling Rami as well, giving him details about their loved ones, and asking for his help in rescuing them. Rami went back in, again and again, to an active shooting scene controlled by murderous terrorists, for hours, and he kept getting people out. Once, to save the life of a young girl, he approached the terrorists, and speaking Arabic to them, he lied that he's a Muslim Arab like them who came to warn them of nearing soldiers, and that they must flee, leaving their victim behind. Rami didn't know this, but on that day, many actual Israeli Muslim Arabs were murdered by Hamas for "working for the Jews," which the terrorists claimed made these Arabs even worse than the Jews. But miraculously, the lie worked for Rami. Once the IDF arrived and Rami was no longer needed to save the living, he helped with the identification and bringing to burial of the dead. After everything he had done for others on that day, risking his own life repeatedly, 2 days ago Rami gave an interview, and said that it's the survivors of Hamas' sexual violence who are the real heroes. Thank you for everything you did and who you are, Rami. Together with other people who risked themselves to save others, whether Jewish or not, you are gibor Yisrael (hero of Israel).

This is 19 years old Itay Chen.

He's one of the Israeli hostages that in the past 5 months, I have heard his parents speaking about their fears over not having gotten a sign of life, and hopes for his release countless times. As Itay has an American citizenship, they even personally met with Biden to plea for their son's life. Today we got the announcement that he had in fact been murdered on Oct 7, and it's his body that's being held captive by Hamas. I have no doubt that Israel will still do whatever it can to get it back, and allow him to be brought to kever Yisrael (Hebrew term for Jewish burial. Literally: Israel grave), and it would even release convicted terrorists to make that happen (it has done this before), but obviously the "price" for a living hostage is higher, not to mention that the thought of someone alive and suffering in captivity comes with a greater psychological pressure and urgency, so Hamas intentionally and cruelly let his parents spend months not knowing, hoping for what Hamas already know was impossible, fly all over the world, and beg for something that no one could give them. I just have no words for this type of ruthlessness.

May his memory be a blessing.

(for all of my updates and ask replies regarding Israel, click here)

[yuurei20]

hi! i haven’t really been paying attention to the fandom for awhile, are there any upcoming events with Yana and twst voice actors like the one that was held last summer? or even any fan events at all?

thanks for always being helpful!

Hello hello! ^^ Thank you for this question!

There is something interesting happening with two certain seiyuu at an upcoming anime event !

Back in July the official Twst account announced that the voice actors for Ace and Deuce will be appearing at the Kyoto International Manga Anime Fair 2024 in September to represent Twisted Wonderland, and I have been wondering about it ever since 👀

Of what else has been announced at the moment I believe there are two events(?) that are overlapping, but they can maybe be considered more independent of Yana/the voice actors and more closely aligned with food! ^^

The first is the "Special Course Meal at Empire Grill," which has been running since April of this year! The Heartslabyul, Savanaclaw and Octavinelle courses are completed as of this post, with the Scarabia menu scheduled for the end of October! ^^

Ruggie and Jack's VAs have done two different video reports on this ongoing event at the Empire Grill, available on YouTube!

Report 1 - Report 2

More information available on the official website, and below!

The second is the return of the Twst Cafes! 🥳

Officially announced just last week, the cafes will be available in three different cities in Japan with dates depending on where you go!

The cafes will be mixing the two themes of "Glorious Masquerade" and "Stage in Playfulland," with a croissant set for one and a fried tuna set for the other.

Also offered will be a grape yogurt dessert for Glorious Masquerade, a rose-colored yogurt dessert for Playfulland and various themed drinks! ^^

Information and reports from two of the cafes of 2022: ・General summary with official photos ・Example of Octavinelle "glass set" ・The soy-cream pasta set with Scarabia "bottle set" ・The pancake set ・Octavinelle "bottle set" with tofu-keema curry ・The tartar sauce hamburger set ・Final day (cafe from outside)

Concerning the "Twst Fes" event of last summer, there has been no announcement as of this post!

The Twst Fes event of 2023 was first announced in April and then held in August, so it is possible that an event of a similar size might need to be announced a few months in advance, possibly? No news as of yet!

Instead of an in-person stage event with live streaming and full cast attendance, 2024 saw a radio-show style talk show hosted by the VAs for Lilia and Malleus, where they discussed the plot and various happenings connected to Book 7 ^^

Available now on YouTube, here!

Up to 7-4 summarized here!