#maladministration

[eaglesnick]

“A generous basic state pension is the least a civilized society should offer those who have worked hard and saved through their whole lives."  George Osborne

It was Tory Chancellor of the Exchequer Kenneth Clarke in 1993 who first announced plans to raise the pension age of women from 60 to 65 years of age.  The Tories 1995 Pension Act enshrined this in law but the changes were to be phased in between 2010 and 2020. So far so good – lots of warning, giving women plenty of time to financially prepared for the fact the OAP would not be available until they were 65.

Enter David Cameron, George Osborne, Nick Clegg and the Coalition Government of Austerity. In 2011 they decided to accelerate the changes and bring forward the state pension age for women to 65  by November 2018 and then to 66 by 2020.

Displaying typical Tory disregard for the detrimental financial effects this might have on ordinary working women, and displaying a total lack of common decency, some women claimed “they only received 12 months notice of the six-year delay to their pensions." (Guardian: 21/03/24), giving them no time to prepare for their unexpected loss of pension.

What is more The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman found the Department of Work and Pensions “guilty of misadministration in its handling of the changes.”

Meanwhile Jeremy Hunt, in his latest budget has given millions away to the wealthy in pension tax breaks.

“Financial firms have said the changes to pension allowances could let high earners who can afford it build up pension pots worth as much as £9m while enjoying the full tax benefits.”  (Guardian: 16/03/24)

We deserve better.

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

“STAUNCH CONSERVATIVE REEVE BLAMES PARTY FOR PEOPLE'S PLIGHT,” Toronto Star. February 27, 1933. Page 17. ---- Northern Official Charges Inefficiency and Waste in Road Work ---- MUCH DRINKING --- Special to The Star North Bay, Feb. 27 - Elected head of the municipal council of East Ferris by a vote of four to one, vice-president of the Conservative organisation in his district and for years a leading figure in Conservative activities, Reeve Jack Dufresne's charges of maladministration on the northern development road work at North Bay and Corbeil cannot lightly be dismissed. 

The unfortunate plight of many of the families of his district is attributed by Reeve Dufresne to the unfairness and partiality with which road jobs were handed out to favorites and imports from southern Conservative ridings, instead of to northerners along the road construction work who needed the pay cheques to support their large and needy families. Reeve Dufresne also charges drinking by road officials and waste and inefficiency in the road work due to appointment of inexperienced road officials and the apparent indifference of the government to the way. the work was conducted. 

"I am coming to the conclusion that a man should not tie himself to party," he said. "If things go on as they are going on now, I firmly believe that the whole district of Sipissing will turn over to the Liberals. 

"In the district which I serve large families with as many as 13 or 14 children can get absolutely no work," he stated, "while men of position. and with money in the bank get steady employment on the roads. The bulk of the work is done by imported strangers. 

Work Given Well-to-do "One man in my district, and who has money in the bank, has a boy who was employed, and he has a team on the road in his son's name as well. Another man, who is reputed the wealthiest man in East Ferris, had two teams on the road all the winter of 1931-32. He is a well-to-do farmer and does not need such work. Another instance is provided by a well-to-do farmer and one of the best-off in the township. Why should such men be among the few able to get Northern Development work, while those desperately in need are refused it. 

"I have complained of these conditions to Charles Harrison, M.P.P., local member," said Reeve Dufresne. "He said he would at- tend to the matter and that unqualified men would be put off, but that was as far as he got. 

"I also spoke to Oscar Rochefort, road inspector, but that did no good, and then I met Engineer McIvor in North Bay. I gave him the names of six men with teams who were badly in need of work. These were to be called as wanted by the foreman but there was some mix up and we got no real satisfaction. I lastly went over myself to see Charlie Sanderelli, the foreman, but still things did not work out right. 

Foremen Lack Experience. "Further, I know from my own observations that the foremen in many cases cannot handle the road gangs properly. The reason for this is that they have absolutely no experience. 

"My township is heavily behind in Its taxes. If our own residents were allowed to work on the roads. instead of Imported strangers, our taxes would be paid and we would be able to cope in a measure with our municipal problems. The northern development road work should be as much for the men living in the north as for the city men. The city men can make their complaints known through the newspapers but our men here have no one to speak. for them, though they are suffering more. 

"In my opinion, too, the road is badly planned in this district, It is most desirable to get the tourists up and a main attraction here is the holiday facilities of Trout lake, Turtle lake and Talon lake.. The road does not go near these attractive centres. 

Storekeeper Suffers “Then there is the case of a man. who has a store in Corbeil. He has helped the people by giving them goods in advance and he has not been paid yet for his November, December, January and February. relief advances. He too, has not been able to get any work on the roads. Surely there is something wrong here, when a man advances his own money to help the government, he should at least be paid up promptly or given some work to help him out while he is waiting to be paid. 

"One poor man in my district got six days work last year and has not been able to get on since. Last year some 70 local men did get some work, but this year only 15 have had any. This does not include the men with the teams. 

 Tractors Oust Horses  "Another thing, there are 100 tractors on the roads between Cochrane and Serpent river. These are. taking the place of 300 teams of horses, whose employment, together with the necessary purchase of hay and oats from the farmers, would go a long way to help them out. I told the district engineer and others that in this regard they were working against the farmers and the people of the district. 

"My opinion is that the whole northern development work is very badly handled and that the people in my area will express themselves at the polls in such a manner as to leave no room for doubt as to their opinion of the maladministration of the government in this regard."

[pjbcw1ol5pes]

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[carlsdarling]

How to save a cat Part IV

Carl and Y/N experiencing their first time together. Everyone is 18 or over.

WARNINGS: smut, nsfw

You hadn't seen Carl for several days; you missed him and worried about him, but you didn't dare go to his house - your father kept a close eye on you. Then came the day when your mom sent you to the supply store to do some shopping, and you happened to bump into Michonne there. "Y/N," she murmured, "I finally meet you alone. I'm supposed to give you this from Carl." She slipped you a folded sheet of paper. You opened it and read. Carl wrote that he had to stay in bed because of his injury, that he loved you and missed you and hoped you were well.

"Carl is sick?" you asked, horrified.

Michonne nodded, chagrined. "A splenic contusion, Siddiq says. Fortunately, he didn't suffer any serious internal injuries. Rick and I told him so many times not to go out alone, that walker thing almost turned out badly," she scolded.

"I would so love to visit Carl, but my dad..." you said sadly.

"Listen, I'll go see your dad and distract him. There are some.... well, maladministrations in Alexandria that he has to take care of as governor." Michonne winked conspiratorially at you. "I can probably keep him busy for an hour. You go ahead and see Carl. The back door's open." You beamed and took a bag of Carlitos from the shelf to bring to Carl. Michonne also handed you a bar of toffee chocolate. "This is his favorite chocolate. I'm sure Carl will be thrilled to see you."

Hurriedly, not wanting to waste any time, you made your way into the house through the back door. Quietly you went up the stairs and opened the door to Carl's room. Carl was lying in bed asleep, curled up on his right side with his hand tucked under the pillow. Carefully, you sat down on the edge of the bed after placing the gifts on the desk and looked at Carl lovingly. He looked so cute when he sleeps. His mouth was slightly open and his hair was all messed up. He wasn't wearing his bandage, and for the first time you could clearly see his scar, but it didn't shock you. You just thought about how painful it must have been for Carl and how bad he must have felt. Tenderly you brushed the dark hair from his face, then he blinked. When he recognized you, he cracked his eye wide open. "Y/N? Where...where did you come from?" he asked sleepily.

"Through the back door," you replied mischievously. "Michonne is keeping my father busy for a while." Carl became aware that you could see his scar, and he tried to hide it behind his hair. You reached for his hand. "Don't," you said softly. "You don't have to be ashamed in front of me. Or of anyone, for that matter."

"Do you... do you think it's hideous?" asked Carl anxiously. "Do you still like me, now that you know what it looks like?"

"Carl, I love you," you said in a firm voice, leaning over and kissing the scar tissue at the edge of the empty eye socket. "A stupid scar like that doesn't change that. And no, I don't think it's hideous. It's part of you."

Carl relaxed and embraced you. "Is that toffee chocolate there?" he murmured, nibbling on your earlobe.

"Yes. Do you want it?" He nodded happily. You rose to get the chocolate. When you approached the bed again, Carl had thrown back the covers invitingly. He was wearing only a shirt and blue boxers.

"Lie down with me," he asked. You snuggled close to him, you had missed his closeness so much. Together you ate the chocolate, kissing each other over and over.

"How are you feeling?" you asked, concerned.

"Better," Carl said. "I don't have that severe stomach ache anymore. I'll be allowed to get up again in a day or two." Relieved, you hugged him to you. "I got the condoms, by the way," Carl told you, blushing. "They're... regular ones. No nubs or anything. Is that okay for you?" He played sheepishly with the covers.

You had to laugh. "Yes, Carl," you replied, tickling him so that he squirmed to escape your fingers. "That's perfect." Not that you'd had any experience with any condoms. It was hard to get laid during an apocalypse. If your life had continued normally, you wouldn't have been a virgin at 18, you were pretty sure. But nothing like that had happened. You had only met a few guys your age since the fall, and none of them had triggered the feelings Carl now awakened in you. There had been one guy, Jeff, you'd made out with a couple of times, but then you and your family had broken up with the rest of the group, and you hadn't really been in love either. When you looked at Carl, on the other hand, your whole body seemed to be on fire.

That heat between your legs when you thought about him, that desire to have him inside you. The desire to see him naked. You constantly felt wet and aroused, and you longed more and more for sex with Carl.

There was a chocolate smudge on Carl's upper lip, and you kissed it away; this resulted in a very intense kiss that sent hot shivers through your body and heated your blood. The air in the room seemed to also heat up. Carl's hands slipped under your top and he caressed your breasts, pressing himself against you. He had a formidable erection, and he was breathing hard and moaning softly, making you wet completely again. "Want to keep going?" he whispered in your ear, covetously stroking your back as you palmed him through his boxers.

"Want to, but I'm afraid we don't have enough time," you said regretfully, pulling away from him, ignoring the prickling in your nether regions. "My dad won't be stopped forever, and I'm afraid he'll start searching for me soon." You didn't want your first time to be rushed and frantic.

Carl flinched, startled. "Okay, we'd better not take any risks," he decided, "but on Saturday? Should we meet outside after lunch and go to Joyland? We'll be undisturbed there. I'll bring everything we need in my car before then, little by little. Then it won't be so noticeable."

You agreed enthusiastically. The indoor playground was a good place, in your opinion - it was uninteresting for scavengers, and if walkers weren't hanging around there, you would be in privacy. And above all, no one would suspect or look for you there, especially not your father. On Saturday, he would be busy holding the community meeting anyway, and could not control you for once.

                                                 ***

On Saturday, you set out for a secluded spot to climb over the fence. You had heart palpitations thinking about what was about to happen. To your annoyance, you found that it wasn't that easy to climb in fancy clothes. You had made yourself extra pretty for the big event; after all, it was something special. Cursing, you surveyed the stains on your clothes as you stood on the other side of the wall in the woods a little later, then made your way to the road where Carl would pick you up. You didn't like the fact that you were starting to sweat, and soon mosquitoes and wasps were circling around you, probably attracted by your perfume. Between the trees you could see the road, and as a last measure you were arranging your hair when you heard the sound of an motor. You recognized Carl's car and came out from behind the tree.

"Hi, darling," Carl greeted you. He was beaming all over his face and kissed you as you got in. He had also made an effort with his outfit - he was freshly shaved, he smelled of Rick's aftershave, and he was wearing dark blue jeans and a freshly ironed white shirt under one of his usual flannels. You held hands as you drove to the indoor playground; you didn't speak, just kept smiling shyly at each other. You couldn't resist, you reached out your left hand to pet Carl's hip, thigh, and stomach. Carl took a deep breath, then turned his head to look at you, his eye all dark with arousal. "You better not do that," he said in a raspy voice. "I'll get in an accident if you do." He was building a visible tent in his jeans.

A short time later you had reached your destination and first secured the area around the building, but nothing suspicious was heard or seen. Carl opened the trunk to take out a bag, as well as some pillows and blankets. You entered the hall, which lay quietly in the twilight, and Carl headed for the large trampoline. He climbed up first, and you handed him the items. Once you were both up there, you set up a kind of cozy bed with the pillows and blankets, and you had to giggle because the surface was vibrating slightly. But up here you were in relative safety: a narrow ladder had to be climbed to get up there, the sides of the trampoline protected you from view, and it was located in the back of the hall, far from the entrance. Carl unpacked the bag. Besides a box of condoms, he had brought a few other things - wet wipes, drinks, some food, and a battery-powered CD player that looked like it was from the '90s. You were impressed by all the things he had thought of.

Music played quietly as you two got settled on the makeshift bed and began kissing and undressing. You guys were a little awkward. Carl's fair skin shimmered in the grayish daylight streaming in through the dome. One piece of clothing after another was laid aside, and it was kind of strange to see each other completely naked for the first time. You were sitting on the trampoline. Carl had not shaved his pubic hair, but had obviously trimmed it. He cleared his throat. "I see you've shaved," he noted. "I wasn't sure what you'd like, so I, well, just trimmed a little."

You had to chuckle nervously again. "I don't care about that at all, Carl. Really." You looked at each other indecisively. You were very nervous, and apparently Carl was feeling the same way, because he looked down at himself in embarrassment. His cock was resting softly on his thigh.

"Uum, Y/N," he stammered. "It's not you. I think I'm just a little nervous." He laughed. Your nipples straightened in the cool air of the hall, and you shivered. You didn't quite know what to do - now that it was time, you suddenly felt unsure and a little inhibited and not really horny.

Carl must have been able to read your mind somehow, because he said, "Well, we don't have to do it, we can just lie down and cuddle." He pointed his chin at the bed, and you nodded. You crawled under the covers together and just held each other for now, looking at each other and kissing. Feeling Carl's naked, warm skin against yours was a very intimate experience, and you couldn't stop looking at his handsome face. After a while, Carl began to breathe more rapidly, and you felt his erection grinding against your leg. Carefully, you reached out to rub and stroke his cock, whereupon Carl closed his eye and arched his back, moaning softly. His arousal was infectious; your pussy moistened and opened slightly, like a flower.

Carl slid his hand between your legs and let the tip of his index finger slide around your wet hole, making you whimper softly. "You're really wet," Carl noted in fascination.

You spread your legs and looked at him with half-closed eyes. "Please, Carl, finger me," you moaned. Hesitantly, he inserted two of his long fingers into your slick pussy. It tweaked a little, but mostly it was breathtakingly wonderful. "Oh, Carl," you squirmed on the blankets, sighing.

"Shall we... try it now?" whispered Carl uncertainly, peering over at the condoms.

"Yes," you agreed breathlessly. All you could think about was finally feeling Carl inside you.

He peeled one of the condoms out of the wrapper. "I've never done this before," he said apologetically, fumbling with the condom. His cheeks were flushed.

"Give me that," you demanded, placing the condom on his cock and slowly unrolling it. "I think that's it," you then said, and lay down on your back.

It took a moment for both of you to sort out your limbs, and for Carl to place the tip of his dick at your entrance. His breath brushed hotly over your neck. "Are you ready for me, darling?"

Impatiently, you stroked his shoulders and back. "Yes, Carl, please. Please, do it!" It hurt quite a bit as he slowly entered you, and you tensed and clenched your teeth. Carl noticed and paused. "Are you okay, Y/N?" He eyed you worriedly.

"Yes. It just hurts a little," you blurted out. "Is... is he in yet?" It seemed to be tearing you apart.

"Just the tip," Carl replied. "We can stop anytime." He kissed you.

"No, I want it so badly," you panted.

"We'll go real slow," Carl promised, waiting until you got used to him and your muscle tension eased, then he gradually pushed in deeper. "Fuck, that feels wonderful." He had to summon all his self-control not to cum immediately.

Gradually the pain gave way to a thrilling arousal, and you bucked your hips. Carl began to move gently inside you, and you gasped, so he stopped and looked at you inquiringly. "Does it hurt or is it good?" he asked, frowning.

"It's good, oh Carl, please keep going," you moaned, whereupon he resumed his thrusts and intensified them slightly. His skin was slick with sweat as you found a rhythm together. His cock slid in and out, it was going smoothly now and you felt no more pain, just endless pleasure. Having Carl inside you was wonderful.

He whimpered and moved faster. "You're getting wetter and wetter," he wondered.

"I need you so much, Carl," you whined, "keep going, oh please, don't stop!" You burrowed your hands into his hair.

"Are you going to cum?" he asked.

You couldn't answer because at that very moment the orgasm was taking hold of you. You screamed and reared up under Carl, your muscles contracting around him, and that made him cum too; his poundings became erratic, harder and faster, his moans louder. He rode out his orgasm and then lowered himself onto you, heart beating wildly and completely out of breath. Happily, you stroked him. "I love you, Carl," you whispered.

"I love you more," he teased. "I have to pull out of you," he then said regretfully, withdrawing before his dick went all limp. He removed the condom, wrapped it in a tissue, and put it aside before carefully cleaning his dick and hands with wet wipes, then lying back down with you and wrapping you in his arms. "This may not be romantic, but we need to be very careful," he murmured, and of course he was right about that. You absolutely must not get pregnant.

Your head rested against Carl's shoulder, and you were both completely overwhelmed by the shared experience, while music was still playing softly.

I am ready

I am ready

I am ready

I am fine

I am covered in skin

No one gets to come in

Pull me out from inside

I am folded and unfolded and unfolding

I am colorblind.

If it were up to you, time could have stood still - the moment was just perfect, it deserved to be preserved, and you were so glad to have waited for Carl with your first time. Exhausted, you kissed his shoulder. He had closed his eye and pursed his pretty lips into a smile. And then time really stopped.

                                                  ***

When you awoke, you were briefly disoriented; the concrete ceiling high above you irritated you until you remembered where you were. You turned your head. Carl was asleep next to you, breathing in long, even gasps, and you looked at him raptly. Then you noticed that the light in the hall had changed - it must have been several hours since you had fallen asleep following your activities. Alarmed, you sat up and turned off the music. Carl was still fast asleep, and you grabbed him by the shoulder and shook him gently. "Carl, wake up," you hissed.

He growled unwillingly, then slowly regained consciousness and squinted tiredly. "What is it?" He rubbed his eye. "I want to go back to sleep." He sleepily tried to curl himself up again.

"Carl, we have to go," you urged, "I think it's almost evening."

"Oh, no," Carl said, startled, looking toward the hall door. Daylight was already fading. Carl hastily grabbed his clothes. "Let's leave everything here," he chimed in. "We can come back. So, if you want." Blushing, he lowered his gaze.

"You bet," you said, kissing him on the lips.

[todaysdocument]

"A Chicken in Every Pot" political ad and rebuttal article in New York Times

Collection HH-HOOVH: Herbert Hoover PapersSeries: Herbert Hoover Papers: Clippings File

This is the advertisement that caused Herbert Hoover's opponents to state that he had promised voters a chicken in every pot and two cars in every garage during the campaign of 1928. During the campaign of 1932, Democrats sought to embarrass the President by recalling his alleged statement. According to an article in the New York Times (10/30/32), Hoover did not make such a statement. The report was based on this ad placed by a local committee -- which only mentions one car!

A Chicken for Every Pot [handwritten] World[?] 30 October 1928 [/handwritten] The Republican Party isn't a [italics] "Poor Man's Party:" [/italics] Republican prosperity has erased that degrading phrase from our political vocabulary. The Republican Party is [italics] equality's [/italics] party -- [italics] opportunity's [/italics] party -- [italics] democracy's [/italics] party, the party of [italics] national [/italics] development, not [italics] sectional [/italics] interests-- the [italics] impartial [/italics] servant of every State and condition in the Union. Under higher tariff and lower taxation, America has stabilized output, employment and dividend rates. Republican efficiency has filled the workingman's dinner pail -- and his gasoline tank [italics] besides [/italics] -- made telephone, radio and sanitary plumbing [italics] standard [/italics] household equipment. And placed the whole nation in the [italics] silk stocking class. [/italics] During eight years of Republican management, we have built more and better homes, erected more skyscrapers, passed more benefactory laws, and more laws to regulate and purify immigration, inaugurated more conservation measures, more measures to standardize and increase production, expand export markets, and reduce industrial and human junk piles, than in any previous quarter century. Republican prosperity is written on [italics] fuller [/italics] wage envelops, written in factory chimney smoke, written on the walls of new construction, written in savings bank books, written in mercantile balances, and written in the peak value of stocks and bonds. Republican prosperity has [italics] reduced [/italics] hours and [italics] increased [/italics] earning capacity, silenced [italics] discontent, [/italics] put the proverbial "chicken in every pot." And a car in every backyard, to boot. It has[italics] raised [/italics] living standards and [italics] lowered [/italics] living costs. It has restored financial confidence and enthusiasm, changed [italics] credit [/italics] from a [italics] rich [/italics] man's privilege to a [italics] common [/italics] utility, [italics] generalized[/italics] the use of time-saving devices and released women from the thrall of [italics] domestic drudgery. [/italics] It has provided every county in the country with its concrete road and knitted the highways of the nation into a [italics] unified [/italics] traffic system. Thanks to Republican administration, farmer, dairyman and merchant can make deliveries in [italics] less [/italics] time and at [italics] less [/italics] expense, can borrow [italics] cheap [/italics] money to refund exorbitant mortgages, and stock their pastures, ranges and shelves. Democratic management [italics] impoverished [/italics] and [italics] demoralized [/italics] the [italics] railroads,[/italics] led packing plants and tire factories into [italics] receivership, [/italics] squandered billions on [italics] impractical [/italics] programs. Democratic maladministration issued [italics] further [/italics] billions of mere "scraps of paper," then encouraged foreign debtors to believe that their loans would never be called, and bequeathed to the Republican Party the job of [italics] mopping up the mess. [/italics] Republican administration has [italics] restored [/italics] to the railroads solvency, efficiency and par securities. It has brought rubber trades through panic and chaos, brought down the prices of crude rubber by smashing [italics] monopolistic rings,[/italics] put the tanner's books in the [italics] black [/italics] and secured from the European powers formal acknowledgment of their obligations. The Republican Party rests its case on a record of stewardship and performance. [full transcription at link]

[tomorrowusa]

The Trump Organization received millions of dollars from foreign governments during his maladministration. That includes the People's Republic of China which Trump blamed for what he calls the "kung flu".

Donald Trump continued to profit from foreign governments while he was US president, with businesses tied to him receiving at least $US7.8 million ($11.6 million) in foreign payments from 20 countries during his four years in the White House, Democratic congressional investigators say. US House of Representatives Oversight Committee Democrats said the payments detailed in the 156-page report are likely a fraction of the foreign payments made to Mr Trump and his family during his 2017-2021 administration. The report discussed four properties, less than 1 per cent of the 558 corporate entities Mr Trump owned either directly or indirectly as president.  Mr Trump's accounting firm did not provide documents regarding at least 80 per cent of Mr Trump's business entities, congressional investigators said. "These countries spent — often lavishly — on apartments and hotel stays at Donald Trump's properties — personally enriching president Trump while he made foreign policy decisions connected to their policy agendas with far-reaching ramifications for the United States," the report said. The countries included China, Saudi Arabia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malaysia and more.

I'm sure we're all just shocked, SHOCKED, that Trump would make it easy for foreign governments to influence him by stuffing money in his corporate pockets while president. /sarcasm

[meetdheeraj]

Lucknow is a odd place. Go to its restaurants. Big and small. And you'll see a portrait of a king showing off his one nipple. Nawab Wajid Ali Shah - last Nawab of Awadh. I was pleasantly surprised to find his portrait in a Awadhi restaurant in Bangalore recently (Rumi in Indiranagar, there's another on Church Street too - I can't remember it's name). Nawab enjoyed huge support among his subjects. Large emotional appeal that extends even today. Unable to properly understand the popular support Wajid Ali Shah enjoyed, the EIC decided to annex the kingdom in February 1856 under the pretext of maladministration [the British version of events; in reality, the Nawab had tried to reform his administration but was hamstrung by the British; he also wrote a fairly detailed book on administration which they ignored]. This acted as a spark for the 1857 mutiny in Lucknow. People rose in rebellion after their nawab was humiliated.

But Nawab was stripped off his kingdom and taken to Lucknow. In Calcutta, Wajid Ali Shah refused to acknowledge that his reduced circumstances required a change in his behaviour. His spending was not his only pretension to royalty. He carried on with his ‘court’, paying salaries to thousands of people.

He allowed a rich cultural life to flourish around him. He built architecture around him. Oh, the popular Calcutta biryani with aaloo is his gift to the city and world. If for some reason you don't like Calcutta Biryani and frown at aaloo, I'm very sad to tell you, you've not yet tasted the proper Calcutta biryani. A good one would stay with you for long time. Unlike other biryanis, Calcutta biryani like simple foods, strikes and comforts your soul. It's an experience in itself.

[lullabyes22-blog]

Snippet - A Political Wooing - Forward, but Never Forget/XOXO

Silco and Mel trade correspondence. Or insults. Or are they flirting?

Forward, but Never Forget/XOXO on AO3

Esteemed First Chancellor,

Rise and shine. Your last missive took its time in arriving. I dare not accuse someone with your self-assurance of dragging his feet. Instead, I can only assume Zaun's timings and Piltover's are inverted, as is much else. We rise at the crack of dawn; you languish in daylight, and come alive at night.

Certainly, your handwriting is livelier than I anticipated. Instead of rigid typeface, your letters resemble sleek fish swimming in the Pilt, all flowing into each other. It is also a relief to exchange correspondence with someone who can spell 'maladministration' and who can differentiate between contentious vs conscientious. I might be so forward as to request all our missives be handwritten from hereon out.

However, you will be growing impatient with such blandishments (however sincerely meant.) Instead, I must direct your attention to the treaty terms still lagging. The Council anticipates your agreement on Articles 4 and 6. Access to our Hex Gates is contingent on Zaun's diplomatic disarmament. I also seek assurance that you will be dutybound to our terms when hosting our Peacekeeper in your territory. Harm to her would hamper our hard-won truce. I am certain you are as keen as myself to prevent a relapse to more bellicose days.

I await your response. As do the Council, with impatience. Your boldness of action will carry the day—or night.

Meanwhile, I trust you and your citizens are bravely weathering the storm of Zaun's early days. Janna tempers the wind to a shorn lamb, as they say.

My cordial wishes,

Mel Medarda

~

Councilor Medarda,

I'll rise. The shining, I'll leave to you.

Zaun's citizens are strong. They have weathered worse storms. In the meantime, they are much enamored of freedom, quite as if they never tasted it before. If the future is kind, they may someday taste sunlight too. It would do much to sync our schedules, so you are afforded more chances to critique my 'maladministration,' while I admire your script for its elegant use of contentious substance and conscientious style. As for shorn lambs—I can't say we've glimpsed any down below. Unless you count the Kindred, under whose thrall we all succumb.

But one can spend only so much time pondering death before the appetite whets itself for better things.

Articles 4 are 6 are amenable to Zaun. As is your Peacekeeper’s arrival. No harm will come to her. In turn, she must do no harm within Zaun's borders. Otherwise our truce would suffer the fate you have already divined.

In circumvention of bellicose days,

Regards,

—S

[disco-elysium-via-polls]

🎵 Martinaise, Terminal B

5. "Can't promise that. I might attack him again."

KIM KITSURAGI - The lieutenant groans, but doesn't say anything.

VOLITION [Easy: Success] - That's right, you *should* do it again! It's the *last* thing he'll be expecting.

🎵 Instrument of Surrender

There are two ways into the Jam. One is just south of the scabbers.

GRAAD FACTORY OF MAGNETS AND MIRACLES U49 - A lorry stuck in the traffic jam. This big, heavy Graad-made machine is well kept for such an old machine.

Look in the window.

[Leave.]

GRAAD FACTORY OF MAGNETS AND MIRACLES U49 - The windows are clear, they've been recently washed. You can see a lorryman's cabin with personal belongings, stickers, insignia...

+5 XP

What kind of stickers and insignia?

What about the back seat?

[Leave].

GRAAD FACTORY OF MAGNETS AND MIRACLES U49 - The driver has adorned his space with a substantial collection of peculiar paraphernalia. Proclamations about *honour*, *strength*, and *purity* are glued to various panels.

2. What about the back seat?

PERCEPTION (SIGHT) - The back end of the cabin has a small perch to sleep. Large ashtrays. There are several suns and wheels sown into the curtains.

KIM KITSURAGI - "Racist-nationalist paraphernalia." He grits his teeth. "Not unusual in this part of town. This is our guy." The lieutenant nods towards the racist lorry driver.

3. "You think this lorry belongs to our tough guy?"

KIM KITSURAGI - "Likely, yes. This guy's proud of who he is. Drapes it all over his machine."

+5 XP

4. [Leave.]

A foreign car. Kept in good condition.

There's 1.47 in the back of this truck.

Ruins full of snow. No one lives here anymore.

WHITE TANK TOP

+1 Physical Instrument: Work it!

Tank top! Gym vest! Reeking of sweat! This sleeveless shirt is the best choice if you're not afraid to show off your masculine upper body and that hairy chest.

A bold slogan 'HUMANOX' covers the truck.

HORSEBACK MONUMENT - An old monument stands in the middle of the traffic island, pointing toward the sea. It looks as if it's been reassembled piece-by-piece, secured and mounted in the air with the aid of numerous ropes and rods.

Who is this?

[Leave.]

HORSEBACK MONUMENT - A silver plaque on the statue's pedestal reads: 'I am Filippe III, the Squanderer, the Greatest of the Filippian Kings of Revachol; Son of Filippe II, the Opulent; Father of Filippe IV, the Insane.'

VOLITION [Medium: Success] - Not a good track record of mental health in that family.

2. [Encyclopedia - Medium 11] What did this king do?

+1 heard crater story from Rene. +1 Reality lowdown gotten.

ENCYCLOPEDIA [Medium: Success] - Even by the standards of the Filippian kings, Old Sumptuous Filippe was known for his profligacy.

In what way?

ENCYCLOPEDIA - Well, he blew through the whole national treasury, starting the decline of one of the penultimate century's greatest superpowers: the Suzerain of Revachol...

His own maladministration foreshadowed the fall of the monarchy during the Antecentennial Revolution, an end to his family line and the monarchy on the Insulindian isola.

How did he manage to blow through *the entire national treasury*?

Fair enough, I have other questions. (Stop the knowledge from pouring in.)

ENCYCLOPEDIA - Stories have it that he had his bedroom converted into a treasure chamber where he stored unfathomable wealth: *krugerrands*, bars of gold, ornate weaponry, armour, and various chalices.

He called it the *Sol Aurum*. It was obscene. There were whispers he slept on a huge pile of gold-dipped feathers like some obese dragon, instead of a bed like a normal person.

HORRIFIC NECKTIE - The man certainly knew how to live!

[worldofwardcraft]

Suspicious riches.

December 5, 2022

It's not unheard-of for someone like a president's son to lean on his famous name and connections in order to get ahead. Yet Republicans remain obsessed with Hunter Biden's business dealings and income, despite there being no evidence of any illegalities or the president's involvement. Meanwhile, these same Republicans are perfectly content to ignore the pecuniary irregularities of the grifters in their own ranks.

Consider, for example, 27-year-old GOP congressman Madison Cawthorn (pictured above with his new digs), who lost his bid for reelection in the North Carolina Republican primary. Cawthorn recently bought a palatial three-bedroom home in Cape Coral, Florida for $1.12 million that measures a spacious 2,281 square feet and includes a pool and spa.

As a congressman for two years, he was paid $174,000 per. And he's never held any other high-paying job. Cawthorn has apparently owned a real estate investment company called SPQR Holdings since 2019, of which he is the only employee. But the company has no reported income, and its only recorded transaction was purchasing a six-acre property in Georgia for $20,000 in a foreclosure auction. So where did he get the scratch to buy that costly crib?

Or, take his fellow first-termer, recently reelected (just barely) Colorado Representative Lauren Boebert. This high school dropout went from being up to her ears in debt to being worth a reported $41 million in just two years. Her financial disclosure statement says her husband earned $1 million from his energy consulting firm, but that her own restaurant, Shooters Grill, is now closed. Her campaign finance committee has only $300,000 cash on hand, according to FEC data. Plus, her congressional salary is (like Cawthorn's) $174,000 a year. Where did the other $40 million come from?

Then there are the Trumps. When Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington examined the financial disclosures of Ivanka and Jared Kushner covering when they "worked" in the Trump maladministration, CREW found the couple took in between $172 million and $640 million in outside income (the exact amount remains shadowy).

Included in their haul were the millions Ivanka made when the Chinese government granted her dozens of product patents on everything from wedding dresses to voting machines — without any explanation why. Then, after leaving the White House, Jared received a whopping $2 billion from the Saudi Arabian government for his newly established private equity firm to invest. Since when did Jared become a financial genius?

However, after the GOP takes over the House, don't expect them to investigate any of these monetary mysteries. No, siree. Instead, it'll be all Hunter all the time.

[pakkiyick]

Natural Disaster? Man-made Disaster?

Yesterday afternoon I received a phone call from my father who lives in mainland China. I was told that my grandmother, who lived in Guangzhou, had bitten the dust earlier the previous morning. It was the worst news that I have ever heard this year so far. My grandmother was over 90 years old and had suffered from chronic pain for a long period of time. It was definitely a great shock to my father that grandmother passed away one month before Chinese New Year. Owing to covid-19 pandemic, my grandmother has not yet been buried. Both the hospitals and funeral homes are overwhelmed in China, and the Chinese government can do nothing with it.

 It has been three years since the first outbreak of Coronavirus Disease. Quite a few miserable people in the world died from the infection. Many of us may lucky enough to survive from this plague but some of us are still under the torment of the disease. Although some employees who work for the government on grants and contracts may benefit much from the epidemic, most of others have suffered a lot from government incompetence and misrule instead of the pandemic itself.

 As far as I am concerned, the virus itself has never bothered me since the very beginning. Even though I was tested positive for covid-19, I lived my life as usual. Since Omicron is as weak as the common cold, I keep going to work every single day and have never claimed any subsidy from the government. However, numerous laborers from private sector are still enduring the government's epidemic prevention measures. Thousands of workers either lost their jobs or got a deep pay cut. Large amount of enterprises went bankrupt during the lockdown of the city. My income decreased considerably not because of the coronavirus, but because of government’s maladministration.

 My living habits have changed a lot due to the government’s negligence. It is quite uncomfortable for me to do exercise with a mask on, so I do physical exercise indoors instead. Since restaurants, movie houses and barbershops were either shut down or shortened business hours, I am now used to buying takeout for dinners, watching films through the Internet, and cutting hair on my own. In order to reduce going out, online shopping has become more frequent. All those troubles and changes were all caused by the government’s tyranny. It is indubitably a man-made catastrophe rather than a natural one.

[indomitablekushite]

Our modern systems of Government have partly failed and are wholly failing. We have tried various forms, but none has measured up to the Ideal State. Communism was the last attempt, and its most ardent advocates have acknowledged its limitations, shortcomings and impossibility. The reason for all this failure is not far to seek. The sum total of Governmental collapse is traceable to the growing spirit of selfishness, graft and greed within the individual. Naturally, the state cannot govern itself: it finds expression and executes its edicts through individuals, hence the State is human. Its animation is but the reflex of our human characters. As a Nero, Caesar, Alexander, Alfred, William, Louis, Charles, Cromwell, Napoleon, Washington, Lincoln, Roosevelt or Wilson thinks, so expresses the majesty of the State. If we must correct the maladministration of the State and apply the corporate majesty of the people to their own good, then we must reach the source and there reorganize or reform. Under the pressure of our civilization, with its manifold demands, the individual is tempted, beyond measure, to do evil or harm to others; and, if responsible, to the entire State and people, and if by thus acting he himself profits and those around him, there arises corruption in Government, as well as in other branches of the secular and civil life. All other methods of Government having been tried and failed, I suggest a reformation that would place a greater responsibility upon the shoulders of the elect and force them either to be the criminals, that some of us believe they are, or the good and true representatives we desire them to be. Government should be absolute, and the head should be thoroughly responsible for himself and the acts of his subordinates. When we elect a President of a nation, he should be endowed with absolute authority to appoint all his lieutenants from cabinet ministers, governors of States and Territories, administrators and judges to minor officers. He should swear his life as a guarantee to the State and people, and he should be made to pay the price of such a life if he deceives, grafts, bows to special privilege or interest, or in any way undermines the sacred honor and trust imposed upon him by acts of favoritism, injustice or friendly or self interests. He should be the soul of honor, and when he is legally or properly found to the contrary, he should be publicly disgraced, and put to death as an outcast and an unworthy representative of the righteous will of the people. A President should, by proper provisions made by the State, be removed from all pecuniary obligations and desires of a material nature. He should be voted a salary and other accommodations so large and sufficient as to make it reasonably impossible for him, or those dependent upon him, to desire more during his administration. He and his family should be permanently and substantially provided for after the close of his administration, and all this and possibly more should be done for the purpose of removing him from the slightest possible material temptations or want. He, in turn, should devote his entire time to the sovereign needs and desires of the people. He should, for all the period of his administration, remove himself from obligatory, direct and fraternal contact with any and all special friends. His only friends outside of his immediate family should be the State. He should exact by law from all his responsible and administrative appointees a similar obligation, and he should enforce the law by penalty of death. His administrators and judges should be held to strict accountability, and on the committing of any act of injustice, unfairness, favoritism or malfeasance, should be taken before the public, disgraced and then stoned to death. This system would tend to attract to the sacred function of Government and judicial administration, only men and women of the highest and best characters, whom the public would learn to honor and respect with such satisfaction as to obliterate and prevent the factional party fights of Socialism, Communism, Anarchism, etc., for the control of Government, because of the belief that Government is controlled in the interest of classes, and not for the good of all the people. It would also discourage the self-seekers, grafters, demagogues and charlatans from seeking public offices, as the penalty of discovery of crime would be public disgrace and death for them and their families. The State should hold the wife of a President, and the wives of all administrative officials, solely responsible for their domestic households, and they should be required by law to keep a strict and accurate public account of all receipts and disbursements of their husbands during their administrative terms, and if any revenue comes into the household other than provided by law, should be promptly reported to the responsible officer of the State for immediate action, and should the wife conceal or refuse to make such a disclosure, and that it be discovered afterwards, and it was an act of crime against the dignity and high office of the incumbent, she and her husband should be publicly disgraced and put to death, but any child or member of the family who, before discovery, reports the act, should be spared the disgrace and publicly honored by the populace for performing a duty to the State. The State should require that the husband and his consort under the severest penalty for non-performance, report the full amount of his entire wealth to the State before taking office, and that all incomes and salaries legally authorized be reported promptly to the wife to enable her to keep a proper public account. Whenever a President or high official during his term has performed solemnly and truly all his duties to the people and State, and he is about to retire, he should be publicly proclaimed and honored by the populace, and all during his life he and his family should occupy a special place of honor and respect among the people. They should be respected by all with whom they come in contact, and at death they should be granted public funerals and their names added to the niche in the Hall of Fame of the Nation. Their names should be placed on the Honor Roll of the Nation, and their deeds of righteousness should be handed down to the succeeding generations of the race, and their memories sung by the poets of the nation. For those who have abused their trust, images of them should be made and placed in a national hall of criminology and ill fame, and their crimes should be recited and a curse pronounced upon them and their generations. Government left to the free and wanton will and caprice of the individual in an age so corrupt as this, without any vital reprimand or punishment for malfeasance, other than ordinary imprisonment, will continue to produce dissatisfaction, cause counter agitations of a dangerous nature and upheavals destructive to the good of society and baneful to the-higher hopes and desires of the human race. This plan I offer to the race as a means to which we may perfect the establishment of a new system of Government, conducive to the best interest of the people and a blessing to our disorganized society of the twentieth century. Source:Printed in Philosophy and Opinions of Marcus Garvey, edited by Amy Jacques Garvey, vol. 2 (December 1925). Written by Marcus Garvey in Atlanta Federal Penitentiary112 SharesLikeCommentShare

[saifbd2047]

The Crazy LEGO King and the Local Government Ombudsman

The Crazy LEGO King,[1] also known as the Chess King, is a Castle minifigure that was introduced in 1998. He has a dark grey torso printed with chain main armor and bright red arms, and wears a metalized gold crown. He advises the white side in chess games,[2] but is a palette-swapped blue for use with traditional black chess sets.

What is the Local Government Ombudsman?

Local Government Ombudsman offices are independent bodies which investigate complaints about local authorities and adult social care providers. They can also look at complaints about certain other bodies that provide local services (such as housing associations, colleges and universities, prisons, water providers and some health bodies).

If you think that something wrong has happened, you should first make a stage 1 complaint to the authority concerned. The Ombudsman expects you to use the organisation’s own complaints procedure before deciding whether to investigate your complaint.

If the Ombudsman finds that a local authority or adult social care provider has caused you injustice, they will usually recommend how the matter should be put right and may award compensation. The Ombudsman does not have legal power to force organisations to agree to his/her recommendations but they do often comply. If you do not agree with the decision made by the Local Government Ombudsman, you may wish to consider taking legal action in the High Court through judicial review proceedings. Watkins Solicitors are able to advise on your options in this regard.

Who is the Local Government Ombudsman?

Amerdeep Somal is the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) for England. The LGO service investigates complaints about council matters. It is independent, impartial and free. Its work is overseen by the Commission for Local Administration in England. The Parliamentary and Health Services Ombudsman and the Chair of the Commission also serve as ex officio members of the LGSCO board.

The LGO deals with complaints about councils and some other authorities and organisations - such as adult social care providers and education admissions appeal panels. It can also look at schools as part of a wider complaint about the authority.

The LGO assesses each case to decide whether or not it will investigate in more detail. The investigation team then looks into the facts of your complaint and, if appropriate, will recommend a remedy. The LGO cannot force organisations to agree to its recommendations but they usually do. If you disagree with the LGO’s decision you have the right to challenge it in court - subject to strict time limits.

What is the role of the Local Government Ombudsman?

The Ombudsman investigates complaints that people have suffered injustice because of maladministration by a local authority or adult social care provider. He or she can require the council or care provider to remedy the injustice and compensate the complainant. For more details please visit lgoking

Anyone can make a complaint. Usually, people contact the Ombudsman after trying to resolve their problem through the council or care provider's own complaints procedures first. But the Ombudsman can also take up complaints on his or her own initiative.

The Ombudsman's work is independent of the government and Parliament. He or she has the power to propose laws on matters within his or her competence, give opinions to the National Assembly and address the Constitutional Court on issues involving the constitutionality of legislation. The commission that runs the Ombudsman service includes the chair and deputy chairs of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman and the Local Government Ombudsman, as well as members appointed by the National Assembly.

[gidd-blog1]

More worries for Ganduje as Kano anti-corruption agency files fresh charges against APC chair

The Kano State Anti-Corruption and Public Complaints Commission has announced new corruption charges and maladministration against former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje. The commission’s chairman, Muhuyi Magaji, revealed that investigations uncovered the diversion of N51.3 billion from local government funds to unauthorized individuals during Ganduje’s tenure. Magaji alleged that the Ganduje…

[jatuskicommunications]

You Have No Shame To Speak On Failures After 8 years Of Misrule,  Gov Yusuf Counters Ganduje

*Urges EFCC to release forensic report on Ganduje’s dollar saga By; KATO P. LADAN, Kaduna Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf,  has  replied  his predecessor,  Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, over his claims of failure in governance in the current administration, insisting that Ganduje’s eight-year tenure represented failure  and maladministration, following massive records of corruption,…