#seriously RULE OF LAW and the ROLE OF POLICE and

[horizoneffect]

2d6 table for law enforcement methods in D&D

So recently I've been thinking about how to portray dystopias in D&D, which is something that's harder for me to do well than it sounds. Most of the cruelly authoritarian governments I'm familiar with existed post-1900, which doesn't vibe with D&D's fantasy setting... So I've been dredging up my historical knowledge of awful governments, and as someone working on a thievery campaign, this has made me think of different methods of law enforcement.

Feel free to use the table below either as a 2d6 table, or simply as a list of ideas. Something I realized while making this is that methods of law enforcement are intricately connected with details about the town in question: who lives there? What kind of life do they live? Urban or pastoral setting? Large town or small town? What is the town like, socially -- do people put a lot of credence in religion, their neighbors, their in-group or family, the law, reason, or technology? For this reason the table below is intentionally generic.

If anyone has recommendations for other possible methods of fantastical law enforcement (trial by ordeal involving a dark cave and a dragon?), please add them below. Also please share if you have historical inspiration for awful governments (1700s Britain, 1500s Italy, the entire history of colonialism -- seriously, the concept of the existence of a company given monarchical and therefore divine right to rule over an entire nation is ripe for inspiration imo.)

In this town, lawbreakers are detected and apprehended in the following way (roll 2d6):

2 - Everybody knows and likes everybody. There's no need for any sort of law enforcement.

3 - When a crime is committed, the members of the victim's family are honor-bound to discover the perpetrator.

4 - A religious order divines information about criminals in cases of particularly heinous or sacrilegious crime. Then, the order's knights are sent to apprehend the suspects.

5 - Wealthy noble families, who have taken on the role of steward of the town, court mercenary groups to provide security as a favor to the public.

6 - The town is policed by members of the military, who are taken from the ranks of the imperial army, or the army of an occupying power.

7 - Town guards patrol the city. In smaller towns they simply keep an eye out for trouble; in larger towns they are given a set beat; in still larger cities they are assigned to separate locations and perhaps assisted with magical defense systems.

8 - Any citizen who has been wronged can submit an appeal for aid to their lord, who, in exchange for fealty, is in charge of marshaling forces to catch the perpetrator.

9 - Roll again, ignoring other rolls of 9. One of the other systems here is in place, but has gone wrong. Citizens often rely on hiring adventurers to solve crimes, and they must contend with the danger that a corrupt form of justice poses.

10 - Vigilante organizations have formed, which keep order in return for the citizens' respect. Whether or not those organizations themselves are legal is an open question.

11 - There is no real law enforcement to speak of, because no one follows the laws. Citizens pay protection money to the city's emboldened crime syndicates, which compete for territory, subjects, and power.

12 - Crime? What crime? Under the Dread-queen, all is peace.

[argyrocratie]

Hein:

Also, let’s talk about your self-styled anarchism. How did you become an anarchist? Let’s say, for me, an incident was pivotal. For example, I fell in love with my childhood best friend, who is a devot Buddhist girl, whereas I’m just an average teenager who doesn’t take religions seriously. The majority of Buddhist society thought of my Muslim bloodline as something they could use to discriminate against me. At the same time, the so-called minority Muslim family members of mine are forcing me to convert my lover of that time by any means if I want to marry her. They said marrying an idolatry worshipper (Buddhist) is not legal under Islamic Sharia law, and it is sinful for me to do so. That’s when I started to question everything around me: the whole mainstream politics of victimhood and oppressors and the whole narratives of religions as lovingly and peaceful. Is there a similar kind of incident for you? Not necessarily a love affair like mine, but some sort of tragic moment in life where you became too angry at society.

Thiha:

I will have to explain my life to explain that. You will have to understand my socio-economic background. I came from a lower middle-class family in terms of social class. I’m the only son in the family, and my father is the sole source of income in the family, with my mom being a housewife. And the income was not too stable for him. So, this socio-economic burden came to me as well. After that GTI student movement, some friends of mine managed to get a bachelor's degree and entered the workforce. However, I didn’t have that chance. With the qualifications offered by GTI, I tried to seek job opportunities. Since we had to express religion and ethnicity in our CVs and resumes, along with the reference letter from the local police department, most employers used my religion as something they could use to discriminate against me with prejudice. Even the police from the police station asked me if I still could not secure a job, even though I had requested several reference letters from them. Those discriminations I suffered at my lowest time when my family needed me to support them play a role too. Also, at that time, Yangon University of Distance Education had opened, and law degrees were offered. I am enrolled in a law degree. I managed to graduate around 2005. The more I learned about laws, the more confident I’m to conclude that laws are being written to serve the interests of the ruling class. Laws are attempts to confuse the average population with the words and sentences to be cherrypicked by a “class of people” who are educated enough to use them. So, technically, laws are more or less similar to religion. Just as the clerical class has this kind of cherry-picking power over the average religious person, the laws also have similar features. So, even though I graduated with a law degree and was doing my internship chamber at the local state courts, I chose not to become a licensed lawyer.

-Hein Htet Kyaw, "Interview with Thiha, a lifelong anarchist thinker from Burma"

[dailyanarchistposts]

Reflections

The suffocating and oppressive demonstration of May Day 2019 is now behind us. However, we should not simply move forward to the next day of action without analyzing what happened in the streets that day. If the leading procession is to reinvent itself and stay unpredictable, we must reflect on the events of the day and study the strategies and decisions made on the field. Otherwise, we will remain trapped in the role assigned by authorities, as well as of our own self-satisfied and ritualized form of superficial radicalism. As there is always room for improvement, we present several thoughts that we hope will contribute to refining our strategies for actions and riots to come.

The law enforcement strategy used by authorities during May Day 2019 made quite an impression. The massive—and almost unprecedented—police presence deployed all around the course of the traditional afternoon demonstration put the most terrifying dystopian novels to shame. All day long, numerous police checkpoints, searches, patrols, frontal attacks and incursions, and gratuitously brutal arrests confirmed the ruthlessness of the new law enforcement strategy. From now on, the authorities aim to crush social movements and political unrest by any means necessary, even if this means injuring even more demonstrators than they have already. They aim to establish a state of fear through intentional police brutality and intense legal repression, including new legislation to give law enforcement a free hand during demonstrations, such as the Loi “anti-casseurs”. All this already started before the yellow vest movement. The authoritarian shift of the French government is well under way and undeniable.

The authorities are willing to crush any form of rebellion and unrest—but to do so, they have had to adapt their modus operandi in accordance with the tactics and strategies of the cortège de tête. The intensification of police checkpoints and searches before demonstrations enables them to arrest potential rioters and to seize equipment of all kinds. They hope that, if they do this, these people won’t participate in street confrontations—which, if we follow their logic, should weaken the leading procession. Another aspect of the cortège de tête that the authorities have clearly understood is that one of its major assets is its mobility and speed. Therefore, what better way to control the offensive crowd than to lead it into a trap in which every single exit is blocked by police lines? Then the authorities will know our route and our potential objectives precisely. They can decide to kettle everyone whenever they choose, then engage in hand-to-hand combat and arrest more people. And if some people succeed in escaping from the kettle to start wildcat actions—as we saw during May Day 2019—the authorities can send their motorcycle brigades to disperse everyone.

All this confirms that we need to reconsider our tactics and strategies. Willingly entering the trap set by the authorities has prevented us from opening new breaches and unleashing our destructive creativity in joyful and spontaneous actions. In the end, on May Day, we were exactly where the police wanted us to be, inside their perimeter, and this enabled them to contain and brutally repress us.

The difficulty in preparing for events like May Day in Paris is that, as they attract thousands and thousands of individuals, it is not easy to plan secretly in a way that will reach most people. Once a crowd decides to play by the rules set by authorities, it faces tremendous disadvantages. Considering that authorities are willing to injure even more demonstrators if they have to, we should take this issue seriously.

On numerous occasions, participants in the yellow vest movement have demonstrated their capacity and determination by remaining outside police perimeters. This enabled everyone to engage in intense street confrontations and property destruction, sometimes without even seeing police for minutes or hours. Obviously, with the new Police Prefect and the new strategy of repression, the situation has evolved. However, we continue to believe that a strategy of decentralization is the most efficient solution, as police can’t hope to control many wildcat demonstrations of hundreds of demonstrators if they take place at the same time in many different locations. The question is—how do we deal with the new extremely mobile police units? So far, they are the ones that threaten spontaneous marches and actions.

As in any strategy, there is a weak point. The objective now must be to find this weak point in order to thwart the government’s new strategy of repression.

If nothing else, the sheer number of people in the streets for May Day proves that Macron’s political announcements did not pacify anyone or resolve the ongoing political crisis. Far from it. Despite the massive police presence, the trap set by authorities, and the clear warnings that the government broadcast before May Day, people’s determination and rage remains unbreakable. Thousands and thousands of yellow vesters answered the invitation sent by radicals to join a leading procession that comprised considerably more than half of the entire afternoon demonstration—confirming the decline of trade unions as a tool of political pacification. The trap set by authorities didn’t stop demonstrators from engaging in impressive and courageous street confrontations with police, nor from starting wildcat actions outside of the perimeter.

In the end, despite the fierce repression, anarchists and other autonomous rebels succeeded in putting their personal touch on this May Day. The fact that the French government claimed victory on May Day even as images of massive confrontations and property destruction circulated is itself revealing. It shows how desperately the current government needs to preserve the image that it maintains hegemony, as the political context remains explosive and all efforts to construct a new social peace have utterly failed.

Alongside the indomitable solidarity participants in the cortège de tête expressed in response to the cowardly attacks of the police, all this confirms that, against the odds, we can still remain ungovernable and open up new horizons.

[maximumwobblerbanditdonut]

Did PCJ and SH take COVID-19 protocols seriously? Because their behaviours showed the opposite.

PCJ and SH in People’s chat have pointed out how Covid protocols were followed, during the filming of Love Again (previous title Text for You) when PCJ was stranded in London with her husband to shoot the film in 2020.

In reality, there are some deviations from how PCJ and SH understood following the COVID-19 protocols, infringing the Covid restrictions. It's not the fault of the pandemic 😷 or the Government, and don't blame the virus for having irresponsible behaviour with actions that broke the UK COVID-19 rules and British Film Commission coronavirus guidance.

PCJ was reportedly in violation of the strict UK lockdown rules, to curb the rising number of Covid-19 cases. She was photographed visiting the salon alongside her mother and dog open privately to colouring her hair, saying it was for a film role. PCJ didn't say which film her mom would be in, to allow enter the salon with her.

The Met Police were alerted to reports of a Covid breach taking place within hairdressers. The regulations stated that ‘personal care services’, including salons and spas, should close. Hairdressers by law shouldn't have been opened, she should have been fined with the hairdressers. There are no excuses for her actions. No one is above the law— They thought they didn’t have to do the lockdown like the rest of us?

On the other hand, her co-protagonist SH has a history of breaking the law during the Covid-19 pandemic. At that time the reality regarding the COVID-19 pandemic was true and it was surprising to see SH and some cast of the film not knowing how to behave during this period and acting confused thinking that they were schoolmates in the playground at Lunch time. Why would the rules be any different for them?

Social distancing cost every production a fortune during the pandemic. Which was the result? You can't control what an actor (Covidiot) does at all times? Face covering and social distancing was required by COVID-19 Guidance: British Film Commission (BFC), especially in enclosed areas without adequate ventilation or where cast and crew are working closely. In a lockdown, Quarantining the cast and crew of a film or series was a key part of the plan.

His quarantine with loopholes. Outside the bubble, It was prohibited him from mixing with anyone from outside during filming or training.👇He broke the rules by not covering his mouth and nose without a face mask and taking photos with strangers 😷 “The rules applied to everyone and were put in place to keep people safe.” But, SH was not very careful. That sounds like he was determined to do as He, pleased. Was that one rule for him and another rule for everyone else?

SH’s actions were “totally indefensible” as people across the country made great sacrifices every day to help beat Covid. He openly branded himself a 'COVIDIOT' after regularly flouted government guidance during the coronavirus pandemic. So we could define it in another way: he was the perfect buffoon. SH never apologised for his mistakes and selfish behaviours.

This proves PCJ and SH things that they adopted to do for fun don't really seem fun anymore. Tired of them complaining about self-distancing in their sprawling jobs while a record number of Brits file for unemployment help. They are trying to save their skins to clean up actions and behaviours in their backyard and have used their platforms to do more than complaint about how hard it is to be rich in a plague, showing a different understanding of accepting Covid-19 protocols than the rest of us. His mask slipped, and his ugly truth was revealed. People’s chat, however well-intentioned, will not change that grim reality.

Either way, we must never forget the changes that the COVID-19 pandemic, an international public health emergency, brought to our society. They could not handle the pandemic like the rest of us, showing a selfish response when no one else could do such a thing. They will be remembered, and they will live with it, forgetting the essential…… Weren't We All In This Together?

COVIDIOT... (during the Covid-19 pandemic) a person failing to observe regulations or guidelines designed to prevent the spread of disease. 😷

"of course, some covidiots used this as an excuse to breach the rules"...👆

[dorokora]

Chapter 14 Prologue Part 4

We start with Barong inching closer and closer to the screen. Saying welcome to the city of Entertainment and they want to give their all to the audience. For this occasion they will wear a mask, what kind of role should they play. The next morning, MC wakes up in their hotel room. He tells them that it’s morning room service. He tells MC that Entertainers are good at invading people’s hearts. He can’t follow MC around all the time while he’s working. If he were to describe the Entertainers, he would say they are pleasant criminals. While they were talking, Christine was right behind Barguest the whole time. She made herself know saying they will do whatever for the audience. She tells them not to worry about her mask, hiding her face is part of her role and she thanks MC for accepting their invitation.

Outside, we see Bael. He said even if the Entertainer do whatever for the audience even if it mean breaking the law. The law is the law. As a prosecutor he can’t let them slide, even if they’re allies or family. It’s time he do his job as the first order of the law of Solomon. Back inside, Christine asked MC what they think of their base. All kinds of entertainment gather here. MC still doesn’t trust them (rightfully so). Christine ask them not to make such a scary face and that they just want to make a game in Tokyo. The current game has continuity and entertainment. The Game Masters are responsible for the continuity part and the Entertainers are responsible for providing entertainment. Christine wants to show the audience something never seen before. Christine starts talking about King Solomon and what does the world look like from their perspective. People with selfish faiths can never understand King Solomon but people are always drawn to those they can’t understand. There isn’t enough drama to show him so they want to do something new. Christine tells MC they are a important actor and to take care of themselves until it’s their turn. Bigfoot returns to take MC around where ever they want.

Outside, we see Nobumichi setting up police blockades around the area. He asked Horus what to do next. Horus tells him to send the remains to forensic. And after that, they will talk to any eye witnesses. If you find any suspicious people, bring them to me. Horus tells Nobumuchi to be careful not to get his body parts chopped off. This Ripper Case is dangerous. Horus sacred artifact can revive all body parts connected and put inside the coffin even if they’re dismembered. This is how his father, Osiris, was revived. After then Horus can use the reanimated person any way he wants. Nobumichi tells him to leave it to him. He’s strong, stronger than his brother Yasuyori. Horus tells that right, only the strong can bring peace. They will create a Utopia that no one has ever created before. After he left, Bael showed up to talk to Horus. Horus thanks Bael for coming. Bael said that Horus is the only world rep in the Rule Makers who treats him seriously. Bael ask him how does the Judicial Police view this incident. There has always been nasty rumor surrounding the Entertainers, including the selling of human body parts. And then there’s the Ripper Case. This is also similar to what happen in Shinjuku. Come to think of it, the body part found then was physically matched with MC’s. Back then the World Reps were in a hurry thinking the trophy was targeted. Even the pillars still don’t know who the culprit or victim is. Mononobe seems to be the only one who knows the truth. Horus said that they still don’t know anything but the Entertainers are hiding something. Bael brings up that Horus was against the Rule Makers forming an alliance with the Entertainers. Horus said him and a few other World Reps were against the idea. But they had to follow the majority vote. If the Entertainers are involved then Horus won’t slow down in his pursuit. Bael thinks that the fact that the World Reps are showing up here could mean this incident may have something to do with the game. After they left we see two new characters.

We cut to the slums, where Rule Makers are arresting anyone related to the Wanderers. A valiant angel is ordering around the new recruits, mobs who are former members of the Missionaries and Tycoons. Another of the new recruits is Kirito. The angel ask Kirito for his background. Kirito just list the guilds he was a part of at one point. The angel ask why Kirito left them, he must’ve done something bad. Kirito said he won’t do anything or rather he can’t do anything in the first place. He a guy that doesn’t have much power anyway, those other guilds destroyed themselves. The recruits are then suddenly attacked by chains, it’s Arc from the Genociders. Arc swore to never stand on the battlefield again. Kirito says “Arc, huh? You’re still alive”. Flashback to CH8 where Arc died. After that flashback, Arc said they heard about Kirito from MC. Kirito ask does that mean Arc joined the Summoners. Arc said no, they are still the Guildmaster of the Genociders. Arc ask Kirito to come back and be a family. Kirito said no they’re not related anymore. Kirito ask why are they so desperate. Kirito says you know about the loops from Babalon. Kirito thinks it would better if they could just quickly get out of Tokyo. Arc tells him that Azathoth and the others still think of you as family. Kirito says it’s admirable but all this entrustment makes him want to vomit. He says doesn’t need a relationship and to never show your face again and he’s sorry for forcing his affection on them. Before Arc can say anything, the Drone fighters mobs appeared. Some time later, Arc is still fighting them but more keep coming. Kursha appeared and tells Arc it’s time to escape. After they left, Kirito is left alone until Isafril shows up. He introduce himself as a employer for the Rule Makers. He tells Kirito he has a job for him involving the Entertainers

[imperiuswrecked]

Do you ever think about how Namor possibly rules one of the most diverse earth-bound empires in the Marvel universe? Between Atlantis, Lemuria, and other various settlements, Namor's realm has human-descended Atlanteans, Inhuman-descended Atlanteans, Deviants, and alien-descended Atlanteans. How do you think he keeps peace among them?

I think about the undersea world of Marvel far too much for it to be healthy, lol. Imo this is Namor trying to wrangle the Undersea Nations.

But seriously as close to that as possible because the oceans are vast, not every part of the ocean is survivable to live in even for the most hardy of Sea People, and Namor is one person, he can't be everywhere at once and many people do not follow his rule because they don't like him or think he's unfit for the role of ruler and that's without getting into the wars between Atlanteans, Lemurians, Sireanas, etc. However the best set of pages that describe Namor's policy is from Defenders (2012) #5, "You simply allow their egress, Namor?" "And why not? They are my subjects, and are free to do as they will. Save harm any of my other subjects. Do not forget where you are, Surfer. The below is bigger than the above. Our ways are by necessity more... hands off. One cannot police the entire world."

Namor has a set of Laws that he expects his subject's to follow, and for the Surface world to obey when they are in his waters. Namor enacts his Justice according to the crime committed. Which is why he kills poachers on sight but also is willing to have a Court for other issues among his people or hear out surface people if they cross him, like he can be talked to, Namor can be reasoned with. Like many fans and creators at Marvel think Namor is just "bleearrgghh mad! im angry! gonna fight with fists!" when he actually spends a lot of time trying to stop wars from both the surface and other undersea threats. Namor is a hot head and def jumps into many situations without all the information but misinformation is a common comic trope so the heroes can fight each other, etc.

So Namor keeps the peace among the Undersea Nations by not micro managing them, and there are most likely treaties, and promises between the different people they uphold. He would have ambassadors all over the seas and only step in if something really needed his direct attention.

I just have an issue with Marvel trying to constantly tie Atlantis/Atlanteans to the Cosmic side and the "Alien" Atlanteans such as the Vodans but I should save those thoughts for a longer post talking about the different origins and people of the undersea empire. However there are also other non Vodan aquatic aliens that make their home in the seas of Earth, and other origins of the Atlanteans being evolved of the Sea and not from the Land.

[be4tdown-a]

# 𝐁 𝐄 𝟒 𝐓 𝐃 𝐎 𝐖 𝐍. a highly private and selective original fandomless musician based character. this blog will contain sensitive and triggering content —— follow at your own discretion. minors and personal blogs: do not interact. this is a sideblog , follows back from / rules can be found at @daevilhorns. under major construction: basic information is below the cut. ᴱˢᵀᴬᴮᴸᴵˢᴴᴱᴰ ⁰⁶ / ⁰¹ / ²⁰²³ ﹙ 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣𝗘𝗗 𝗕𝗬 ﹚ 𝑎𝑙𝑦𝑠𝑠𝑎. ˢʰᵉ  /  ʰᵉʳ ,   ²⁵

brief stats.

name: victor ángel hernández.

nicknames: vic , ángel / angel.

sex: cismale. ( he / him )

ethnicity: hispanic.

birthdate: june 19 , 1997.

age: mid - twenties.

place of birth: san diego , california.

languages spoken: english , spanish.

orientation: bisexual / biromantic.

religion: raised roman catholic. considers himself agnostic.

parents: elizabeth "betty" maria hernández ( mother , alive. ) luis victor hernández ( father , estranged. presumed alive. )

siblings: katherine "katie" sofía hernández ( younger sister , alive. )

occupation: founder and vocalist for hardcore / metalcore band betty beatdown. self employed mechanic.

criminal record: disorderly conduct , simple assault , aggravated assault , assaulting a police officer , resisting arrest.

hair: dark brown , almost black. reaches shoulders in length. typically cut and styled into a mullet.

eyes: dark brown.

height: six foot two inches.

weight: two hundred lbs.

piercings: both ears pierced.

tattoos: full sleeves cover both arms from shoulders to fingers. both calves. a small (idk what yet) on his upper cheek beneath his left eye.

other: various scars , including an obvious slit in his right eyebrow. his nose has been broken twice.

important notes.

seventeen year old elizabeth married eighteen year old luis in a shotgun wedding wearing a white dress that was noticeably too tight and almost didn't fit. the unprepared teen parents welcomed their newborn son on a scorching hot summer day four and a half months later. victor , given his father's middle name , arrived on his expected due date and born healthy after 14 hours of labor. his sister would follow two years later.

( alexa play daddy issues. ) luis was an abusive piece of shit and betty left him with her children in clutch when vic was nine. she struggled as a single mom but with the help of her parents , they managed to get by. luis' parents sided with their daughter-in-law and were also prominent figures in the lives of their grandchildren.

vic began picking up petty jobs wherever he could as a young teen in order to financially help his mom. the role of " the man of the house " was one he took seriously and he couldn't stand to see his mother struggling. he took an interest in cars and upon helping out at a nearby repair shop , he realized he had a knack for them.

something something where do you put the anger something something. the boy is full of rage and struggled to find where to put it. so he got into a lot of fights in school , and now takes it out in his lyrics or on stage or in the pit. but it still isn't something he's managed to fully master and has caught a few charges for mainly , you guessed it , assault.

most of his arrests have been for public fighting and disorderly conduct misdemeanors that resulted in a fine , or spending the night in jail. but one particular fight when he was twenty two resulted in an aggravated assault charge , as well as resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer. he served eighteen months in prison.

betty beatdown is an american hardcore / metalcore band from san diego , california. it was formed in 2014 and founded by vic. the band makes great use of heavy , slow breakdowns , heavily downtuned guitars , and raspy vocals. their lyrical content often focuses on human rights , mental illness , religion , relationships , and violence against women.

the name is an homage to his mother , and while it may sound morbid and insulting ( as she had originally took it ) , it's his way of calling her a badass. a way to immortalize the fact that she came out on top after all the shit she's been through. if it isn't obvious , he's a mama's boy. and being raised predominantly around and by women , the struggles he's seen them and know so many other go through , is why it's a very large theme in his music.

PSD. PLAYLIST.

[heartfullofpony]

THE HITCH PROBLEM

In My Little Pony: A New Generation, Hitch is a sheriff who comically keeps to the letter of the law - generally characterized by enforcing litter ordinances that he can recite from the town charter from memory. Over the course of the film, however, Hitch gets to know Izzy and Zipp and Pipp, and grows to see that he was wrong. Not about litter, of course, but rather, about unicorns and pegasi, and the unjust laws, superstitions, and economic power structures that caused Maretime Bay to fear them and systematically "other" any foreigners.

That pivot is what made Hitch a compelling character.

He was a well-meaning pony who took his social responsibility seriously, but was also strong enough to admit that he was wrong, and actually causing social harm in the process. His arc is a morality play of sorts - an example of how rigid, dogmatic thinking can put a good-hearted person on the wrong side of history if they're not careful, but also how they can become a genuine force for good if they are receptive to earnest critique, and open to change.

Sadly, all that goes away in Make Your Mark. The writers don't seem to know what to do with Hitch, so he ends up inserted weirdly as an authority figure where authority figures simply do not belong.

SPOILERS BELOW

In Episode 2, Growing Pains, the pony who once adhered religiously to town ordinances, is now a despot who rules by decree, (simply because the plot required the story to explore the question of earth ponies and whether or not they could control their new found fauna magic). He makes up laws on the fly that go against everything he came to believe in in MLP: A New Generation.

In Episode 5, The Cutie Mark Mix-Up, Hitch is depicted as overseeing a community garden with an iron fist, er...iron hoof. The very idea is ridiculous as it negates everything that a community garden is supposed to be, and what it is supposed to represent.

In Episode 8, Have You Seen This Dragon?, Sparky goes missing, and Hitch does not take it well, (nor should he). In this episode, we see Hitch's softer side as he gets (rightfully) worried sick about Sparky. However, rather than simply being scared, or vulnerable, Hitch hardens and turns into a gritty masked vigilante both above and outside the law.

That's not funny.

He even forgets about Sparky altogether in a way, and vows vengeance against whomever "crossed Hitch."

Right now, this toxic mindset has permeated rather a lot of actual police training, and it has caused rather a lot of actual police brutality, as mentally unwell police officers enact their Punisher fantasies.

I'm not going to do a deep dive on the politics of police work, as that's well outside of the scope of what Heart Full of Pony is about, but I do feel a need to point out that Make Your Mark's approach to the subject has been deeply unsettling.

The show creators never stopped to question what the role of policing in Maretime Bay could or should be, and in their lack of awareness or planning for how to integrate Hitch into the action, they ended up making a lot of unintentional statements that mirror very real problems in our society.

There's rather a lot I enjoyed about Make Your Mark, despite its clumsy beginnings, (and I will be writing about that as well, so don't mistake me for a neigh-sayer), but I would be ignoring my conscience to refrain from pointing out that there's something inherently cynical and deeply unpony about the idea that police oversight needs to be integrated into *gardening*... and every other aspect of public life. It's equally wrong to treat a vigilante mindset as something normal for a cop to have under the surface.

When Chapter 3 rolls out, I do hope to see more of the Hitch that likes to listen to beat jazz, and doesn't flip out every time he feels vulnerable. He's still in there.

In the meantime, follow me on FEEDBAG for more pony analysis.

-Sprocket

If you enjoy essays like these, please consider supporting my work on Patreon. You can also Follow me on FimFic.

[savefilescomng12]

Employer Can’t Deny Comp Claim in Shooting Then Argue Immunity, Court Says

An employer cannot deny a workers’ compensation claim on the grounds that a shooting injury was not work-related then turn around and argue it has immunity from a tort lawsuit because the incident happened at work, a Florida appeals court decided this week. The opinion by the 3rd District Court of Appeals upheld a Miami-Dade Circuit Court decision and followed previous appeal court decisions on the same issue. And as workplace shootings appear to be on the rise around the country, the ruling could further put employers and their insurers in a tough position – having to choose between higher workers’ comp costs or potentially costly tort litigation from victims. The Bottling Group vs. Bastien case stemmed from a 2020 incident at a Pepsi bottling company in Medley, Florida, near the Miami International Airport. Giovanni Bastien was seriously injured when an “aggressive” co-worker, apparently disgruntled over Bastien’s union membership, shot him three times while Bastien was on break, in his vehicle on a nearby roadway. A Miami TV news report quoted police as saying the two men had left the work site to find a place to fight out their differences over the union issues. While recovering, Bastien filed a workers’ comp claim, but Bottling Group instructed Sedgwick, the claims management firm, to deny the claim. “Injury did not occur in the course or scope of employment. Accident/Injury occurred off premises,” the employer noted, the court explained. Bastien then filed a tort lawsuit against PepsiCo, arguing that the bottling company and the parent company failed to discipline or terminate the aggressive employee, despite numerous complaints from co-workers. In response, Pepsi asked the trial court to dismiss the lawsuit, contending that the company was protected from tort actions by the exclusive remedy and the grand bargain of the workers’ comp system. Bastien’s attorneys moved for “estoppel,” to stop the employer from claiming workers’ comp immunity. The trial court sided with the shooting victim, denying the bottling company’s defense. Related: Insurers Face Bigger Role in Curbing Workplace Violence with New California Law On appeal, the 3rd DCA agreed. The opinion is here. The three-judge panel cited Florida appeals court rulings from 1999, 2010 and 2012, all of which underscored the inconsistency of employers/insurers who ask for immunity after already denying a claim. In the 2012 opinion by the 3rd DCA, Ocean Reef Club vs. Wilczewski, the 2012 court wrote: “Where, as here, the carrier’s denial is absolutely clear on its face that the reason for denial is ‘no accident in the course and scope of employment,’ it is ‘clearly irreconcilable’ with the defense of tort immunity asserted by Ocean Reef.” Ocean Reef could not then contend that the injuries were related to work and therefore covered by workers’ compensation “when it has clearly denied coverage on inconsistent grounds earlier.” The same court, 12 years later, did not deviate. “…We impute no error to the decision to preclude the presentation of a workers’ compensation immunity defense,” appeals court Judge Bronwyn Miller wrote for the panel this week. The case now goes back to the Miami Dade Circuit Court for continued trial proceedings. The attorneys in the case could not be reached Thursday. Michael Winer, of Tampa, a claimants’ lawyer involved in another workplace shooting case now on appeal, said the decision upholds a “pretty solid feature” of Florida law, laid down by most district courts of appeals for the past two decades. The Bastien case or others like it could ultimately be impacted by Winer’s case. In Normandy Insurance vs. Mohammed Bouayad, Winer’s client was shot seven times while working at a car rental place. The assailant was never apprehended, and questions remain about his motive and relationship to Bouayad. The 1st DCA held last August that while the shooting happened at the workplace, the employee did not prove that it was work-related. But the appellate judges agreed that the case raised some thorny issues and they asked the Florida Supreme Court answer the question: “When an act of a third-party tortfeasor is the sole cause of an injury to an employee who is in the course and scope of employment, can the tortfeasor’s act satisfy the occupational causation element necessary for compensability?” The Supreme Court has yet to decide if it will answer the question. The defense attorney in the Bouayad case has said workplace injuries resulting from non-work actions, such as anger from a disgruntled lover, have consistently been deemed to be non-compensable. But Winer has argued that if the high court declines to answer or agrees with the 1st DCA in Bouayad it could create two standards for injury compensability – one for accidents and one for shootings. Without a remedy under workers’ compensation, it could also lead other workplace shooting victims to file tort suits against employers. Workers’ comp insurers may benefit, but employers could face expensive negligence lawsuits. Topics Florida Commercial Lines Business Insurance Interested in Business Insurance? Get automatic alerts for this topic. Source link Read the full article

[ledenews]

EORH’s Elerick: ‘Industry’s Opioid Experience Now Protects People’

He was a young man and a brand new pharmacist working at a CVS when his mentor warned him about a trend in prescriptions he noticed. Opioids. People were dying and addiction was skyrocketing. Pill mills were counterfeiting opiates like OxyContin, methadone, and Vicodin at a rapid pace, pain centers serving those suffering chronic pain were ultra-active, and the supply always was meeting the demand. “When I first experienced opioids, I was a staff pharmacist in Pennsylvania, and the man I worked for told me when he started noticing that something was wrong. He told me the amount (of opiates) being prescribed was really bad,” recalled Zack Elerick, pharmacy director at East Ohio Regional Hospital in Martins Ferry. “Now that the facts from a lot of the court cases are coming out, we know much more about what was taking place. “As I’ve progressed in my career and now in this director’s role, I have more responsibilities to make sure I’m helping to control the amount of opioids I see prescribed, and that’s why I put some rules in place in the hospital to help with that limitation,” he explained. “No one wants to feel pain and we understand that. BUt no one wants to get addicted either." Zack Elerick has been the director of pharmacy at East Ohio Regional Hospital since the Martins Ferry medical center reopened just over three years ago. Elerick, who was a staff pharmacist at the Ohio Valley Medical Center in September 2019 when it closed, also has managed the Hometown Pharmacy at EORH since the medical center’s reopening three years ago. “And there are policies in place at the retail pharmacy, too, that really help with limiting opioid abuse and potential abuse,” he said. “Plus, the rules and laws that have been put into place have really helped pharmacists police it because a doctor is limited on how much they can prescribe when a patient is discharged. “The whole industry has evolved since the issues with opioids were exposed and the industry’s opioid experience now protects people.” The drug epidemic in the United States unfortunately remains active, and last week alone in the Wheeling area, “bad batch” warnings were distributed by public safety agencies three times in one week for heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. “We have seen the opiate problem spread with heroin abuse instead of the prescription pills because heroin is cheaper and easier to get these days. Add the fentanyl, and that’s why we’ve had so many overdoses,” the pharmacist said. “That’s why I believe educating the public about Narcan is so important right now. “Narcan is very available because of the overdoses and the amount of deaths we’ve seen in the valley,” Elerick insisted. “We’re to the point now that if you don’t know someone who has been impacted by all of this, you might be the only one in the room because it’s been so widespread. Narcan has saved so many lives.” The Hometown Pharmacy is located near the main entrance to East Ohio Regional Hospital on South 4th Street in Martins Ferry. Down the Street The Hometown Pharmacy is so local it operates a walk-up window. The drugstore is open from 8 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday. Delivery service is available, and most insurances are accepted. “The best part,” said Elerick, “is that you’re going to know the person behind the counter because we have a small crew that works here and we take what we do seriously. “We did start delivering and we have a few customers on that weekly list right now and we’re hoping it will grow. Right now, we’re limiting it to three days per week, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays,” he outlined. “And we’ve established a 10-to-15-mile radius for those deliveries.” There are additional items available for sale at the Hometown Pharmacy, including shampoos, aspirin and Ibuprofen, paper towels, and several other household needs. The Hometown Pharmacy does sell many toiletry items inside the retail shop. “By having those other items on our shelves, we’re just trying to make it as convenient as we can for the folks who come in for their prescriptions each month,” the pharmacy director said. “And we have sales on certain items from time to time, and we do advertise those specials on our Facebook page. “It’s just part of that personal touch we offer,” Elerick said. “And that’s why we hope people realize they can transfer their prescriptions to us just by asking their doctors to send them to us instead of to another pharmacy.” Maybe his most important duty while operating the retail shop and the medications for the patients in all departments at EORH is monitoring the ever-changing pharmaceutical industry as it pertains to medication availability, the cost, and which drugs are permissible under individual insurance coverages. “The pharmaceutical industry is constantly changing and so are the reimbursement rates from insurance companies,” he said. “Those rates are shrinking more and more for hospitals and retail pharmacies. So, it really affects everyone. But there are some cases where we actually lose money on prescriptions. That’s the sad reality of the pharmacy industry right now. “I do love the job and everything that goes with it because in this position you’re able to have a positive impact on the patients you’re helping to take care of. There’s a lot that takes place behind the scenes,” Elerick said. “We have a great team here at East Ohio and it’s been great to watch it grow.” Read the full article

[thxnews]

California Man Sentenced in Teen Trafficking Case

California Man Faces Justice for Exploiting Minors

In a recent ruling that highlights the seriousness of sex trafficking crimes, a Southern California man was sentenced to 106 months in prison by the U.S. District Court. This decision underscores the relentless efforts of law enforcement agencies in combating human trafficking and protecting vulnerable populations.  

Multiagency Task Force Ensures Accountability

The case, led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Diego and involving a multiagency task force, demonstrates a strong commitment to human trafficking prevention. The collaborative efforts of these agencies play a pivotal role in identifying and prosecuting individuals who exploit others for financial gain, particularly focusing on the protection of minors.   Victim Protection Services: A Key Focus U.S. District Court Judge Cathy Bencivengo's decision to sentence Kenneth Tenorio, 54, of National City, reflects a deep understanding of the impact of such crimes on victims and society. Her remarks during sentencing, acknowledging Tenorio’s exploitation of vulnerable individuals, reinforce the importance of victim protection services and the need for harsh penalties in such cases.  

The Path to Federal Court Sentencing

Tenorio's conduct, spanning multiple states and involving several victims, including juveniles, was brought to light through meticulous investigation. This case not only exemplifies the heinous nature of commercial sex exploitation but also highlights the effectiveness of cross-state cooperation among law enforcement agencies.   Online Solicitation Awareness: A Growing Concern Significantly, Tenorio’s use of online platforms like Megapersonals for solicitation underscores the need for increased online solicitation awareness. This aspect of the case serves as a stark reminder of the evolving nature of sex trafficking and the importance of vigilance in the digital age.  

Juvenile Protection Efforts: At the Forefront

The heart-wrenching details of Tenorio's exploitation of a 15-year-old, identified as JF1, emphasize the necessity of juvenile protection efforts. These efforts are crucial in safeguarding minors from becoming entangled in the dark world of sex trafficking, especially those already vulnerable due to circumstances like foster care placement.   A Multi-Faceted Legal Approach The sentencing, while providing closure to this case, also stands as a testament to the multi-faceted legal approach necessary in dealing with such complex and sensitive issues. It's a clear message that the legal system is capable and determined to tackle sex trafficking head-on.  

Sex Trafficking Awareness: A Community Responsibility

U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath's statement following the sentencing stresses the lasting impact of sex trafficking on victims and the community's role in addressing this issue. Her call to action for increased sex trafficking awareness and community vigilance is a crucial step in ensuring such crimes do not go unnoticed.   The Role of Law Enforcement and Community Partnerships Chula Vista Police Chief Roxana Kennedy’s remarks highlight the importance of the role law enforcement plays in combating sex trafficking. The successful outcome of this case is a result of not only the dedication of law enforcement officers but also the effective partnerships with community organizations.   A United Stand Against Sex Trafficking This case, led by HSI San Diego alongside various partners, represents a united stand against sex trafficking. The sentencing of the California man serves as a reminder of the ongoing battle against this grave violation of human rights. It reinforces the need for continuous efforts in human trafficking prevention, awareness, and support for victims, ensuring that justice prevails and such heinous crimes are met with the full force of the law.   Sources: THX News & US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Read the full article

[ausetkmt]

UPDATE: EMS Worker Who Smothered Black Man To Death Gets Out Of Jail

A judge lowered EMS worker Peggy Finley's bond as she is accused of smothering Earl Moore Jr. to death when strapping him to a gurney while he was hallucinating from alcohol withdrawal. EMS worker Peggy Finley was bailed out of jail after smothering a Black man while on a gurney

Illinois Paramedic Who Was 'Not In the Mood for This Dumb Sh*t' Before Smothering Hallucinating Black Man to Death on Gurney Gets Reduced Bail, Is Out of Jail 

https://atlantablackstar.com/2023/08/07/illinois-court-reduces-bond-for-emergency-medical-worker-accused-of-first-degree-murder-of-black-man/

A judge has significantly lowered the detention bond for an EMS worker who is facing accusations of murdering a Black man in Illinois.  

On Friday, Aug. 4, Peggy Finley appeared in court to determine whether she would need to maintain a bond of $1 million as she defends herself against charges related to the compressional and positional asphyxiation death of Earl Moore Jr. on Dec. 18, 2022, according to ABC 20.

According to Sangamon County state’s attorney Dan Wright, Earl Moore Jr., a 35-year-old resident of Springfield, lost his life while under the care of two EMS workers: Finley and Peter Cadigan.

Moore was hallucinating from alcohol withdrawal as he was being restrained face-down on a gurney, Law and Crime reports.

Both EMS workers have been apprehended and are now charged with first-degree murder after an autopsy found the asphyxiation death of a man in distress that night was caused by the prone restraint.

Finley faces first-degree murder charges.

Prosecutors say she “performed acts which caused the death of Earl Moore, Jr., without legal justification, in that said Defendant and Peter Cadigan, tightened restraints across Earl Moore, Jr.’s back and lower body in the prone position and transported Earl Moore, Jr. to St. John’s Hospital […] thereby causing death by compressional and positional asphyxia, said defendant knowing based upon [her] training, experience, and the surrounding circumstances that such acts would create a strong probability of great bodily harm or death.”

Finley’s legal team requested a reconsideration of the seven-figure bond, aiming to secure a more affordable amount that she could manage. This wasn’t the first occasion that Finley sought a reduction. Her previous two attempts had been unsuccessful.

Despite her past failures, an appellate court has granted a bond reduction to $600,000. According to published rulings, justices said that the circuit court abused its discretion by denying the other motions filed by Finley’s lawyers.

According to the video, Springfield police responded to a call to Moore’s apartment after a woman frantically reported the man’s hallucination.

She leads them inside, directing them to Moore’s bedroom. Officers came into the house and saw the 35-year-old Black man lying in bed, sweating and disoriented. They then called the ambulance after assessing his awareness. After about 15 minutes, Finley and Cadigan enter. Finley seemingly tries to help Moore, grabbing his arm as he’s on the floor.

She is recorded yelling at him, saying, “Quit acting stupid. Sit up, now! I’m not playing with you today!”

“You’re going to have to get up and walk because we ain’t carrying you. I’m seriously not in the mood for this dumb s—t,” Finley continued in the episode before he dies.

The appeals court, recognizing Finley’s role as a mother of four and grandmother of six, overturned the trial court’s decisions that had twice refused to lower the bail for the defendant.

The appeals court determined that she posed no flight risk or danger to the public.

“The charge of first-degree murder is serious, as is the penalty such a charge may bring. However, the facts of the offense show defendant is not a danger to the public should she be released,” the court found. “while there were acts of violence on Moore, none were physically committed by defendant. Defendant did not assist in placing Moore on the gurney or tighten the straps around him, the two events the State alleges caused Moore’s death.”

The court also states that since the accused individual did not engage in any acts of violence and is no longer working as a paramedic, she does not present a risk of committing a similar alleged offense.

After putting up 10 percent of the reduced bond, the former emergency worker has since been released from the Sangamon County Detention Facility.

[peacekeepersday]

Remarks by the U.N. Secretary-General at the Medal Ceremonies - United Nations Peacekeepers Day 2023.

Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen,

Moments ago, I laid a wreath at the Peacekeepers Memorial to honour the women and men who have sacrificed their lives while serving under the UN flag in support of the most important cause of all — peace.

We mourn their loss and share our deepest sympathies with their families, friends and colleagues.

We will never forget their contributions.

Please join me in a moment of silence in their memory.  

 [PAUSE FOR SILENCE]

Thank you.

 Every year, the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers provides an opportunity to honour the women and men who are pursuing peace on the front lines in some of the world's most dangerous places.

But this year is special, as we commemorate 75 years of UN Peacekeeping. 

What began as a bold experiment with the deployment of a small number of military observers to the Middle East in 1948 is now a flagship enterprise of our Organization.

Today, for civilians caught in the hell of conflict, our Blue Helmets are a beacon of hope and protection.

They support security, stability and the rule of law in host countries. 

They represent the beating heart of the United Nations' commitment to peace.

By bringing peacekeepers together from around the world, peacekeeping has also become an inspiring symbol of multilateralism in action.

Our more than 87,000 peacekeepers hail from 125 countries, and work across 12 operations.

Standing together, they face a daunting array of rising global tensions and divides.

Conflicts are becoming more complex.

Peace processes are stagnating. 

Terrorism, armed groups, gang violence, and transnational crime are poisoning communities, countries and entire regions.

And the digital world has become a frightening frontier of tension, division, hate and mis and disinformation.

Sadly, our peacekeepers are increasingly working in places where there is no peace to keep.

We must seriously reflect on the need for a new generation of peace-enforcement missions and counter-terrorism operations, led by our partners with a UN Security Council mandate under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, with guaranteed funding, namely through assessed contributions.

Despite all obstacles, our personnel persevere, risking their own lives in service of others.

Many have paid the ultimate price — with more than 4,200 killed in the cause of peace.

Sadly, 2022 added 103 more names to that honourable list.

Our fallen military, police and civilian personnel came from 39 different countries, with diverse backgrounds.

But all embodied our duty to peace.

I extend my deepest condolences and gratitude to their families, friends, colleagues and home countries represented here.

I pay tribute to their service and sacrifice, which inspire our work every day. 

And I commit to doing everything we can to support our peacekeepers in their mission, including improving their safety and security and the effectiveness of peacekeeping through the Action for Peacekeeping Plus strategy.

We thank Member States and all partners for their commitment to this effort. 

Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen,

Today, we also mark the critical role that women play in bringing to life our commitment to peace.

Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security is one of the most far-reaching the Council has ever passed.

This landmark resolution reminds us that there can be no lasting peace without involving women at every step.

But even today, many negotiating teams and peace processes are totally dominated by men. 

It's up to all of us — governments, communities and local officials — to ensure that women play their full part, including as leaders, in building and maintaining peace.

Resolution 1325 reminds us that our women peacekeepers are not only supporting global peace and security.

They are leading the way.

By every measure, Captain Cecilia Erzuah of Ghana is one of those leaders.

Each year, we recognize the outstanding contribution of an individual military peacekeeper who goes above and beyond the call of duty to promote the principles of Resolution 1325. 

 Today, I proudly present the Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award to Captain Erzuah for her work in Abyei as the Commander of the Ghana Engagement Platoon since March 2022.

In Abyei, she saw first-hand the enormous toll of armed conflict on entire communities — especially women — and she spared no effort to ensure that their voices were heard and reflected.

The main function of the platoon she commands is to reach out to local communities to hear their concerns, explain the work of peacekeepers, and build trust. 

Her engagement with local leadership, women's groups and young people has been critical to the mission's success. 

She also hosted discussions on domestic violence and gender equality, which resulted in local women enlisting in Community Protection Committees that provide early warning on local security threats.

On every front, Captain Erzuah's work has set the standard for ensuring that the needs and concerns of women are reflected across our peacekeeping operations.

Dear friends,

As I've said many times before — and I will say many times again — the United Nations urgently needs more women peacekeepers and peacebuilders.

And so do the vulnerable people where our missions are deployed.  

It's high time to significantly increase their numbers across every aspect of our work.

I thank Captain Erzuah and all women peacekeepers for their service and leadership.

And I thank you for joining us as we honour all peacekeepers for their vital work in serving humanity and building peace around the world.

Thank you.

[jp-hunsecker]

Prisoners is a carefully constructed labyrinth, deceptively simple and very clever. The material was nothing new even when the film was released, but director Denis Villeneuve (pre-Dune) and screenwriter Aaron Guzikowski work a few unexpected twists and turns into their maze to keep us on our toes. The key element, however, is Hugh Jackman’s career-best performance as Keller Dover, a father whose patience for police work quickly runs thin when Detective Loki (the always effective Jake Gyllenhaal) fails to find Dover’s kidnapped little daughter.

It will surprise no one that Dover decides to take the law into his own hands, recruiting Franklin Birch (Terrence Howard), his best friend whose daughter has also gone missing, to kidnap the only suspect — whom the police has ruled out for the moment –, take him to an abandoned house, and beat a confession out of him. This is par for the course in the movies, but is it realistic? Can a father, however desperate he may be, really go from zero to psycho in no time flat?

The film makes this transition 50% more believable by making the character a committed survivalist, meaning that he was halfway there all along. And even if we still found it hard to believe, Jackman would just browbeat us into believing it with a skin-shedding, raw nerve-baring, sadistic, ballistic, animalistic performance wherein he doesn’t just go berserk; he goes full on Beserker.

In some twisted way, all this makes sense; the antagonist or antagonists are just as crazy as Dover, if not more: making children disappear is their way of “making war with God”. With that in mind, who better than a monster to find a monster? Dover may not in fact be too far off either, or is he? In one of those twists I mentioned, the movie toys with the Law of Economy of Characters by casting Paul Dano as the mentally challenged man on whom Dover’s suspicions (and fists, among other objects) fall.

Gyllenhaal’s work is as strong Jackman’s, but more subtle and nuanced; he gives his Loki an eye tic which lets us know that, although he has solved all his cases, and belying his usual calm and collected demeanor, he has not gotten to where he is without some traumas of his own.

Prisoners - reviewCanadian director Denis Villeneuve is known and admired for his 2010 movie Incendies, a mysterious and involved tale…www.theguardian.com

“Rather as in Kathryn Bigelow’s Zero Dark Thirty (2012), there is a kind of ambiguity about righteous violence in Prisoners and how exactly we are supposed to feel about it.”

I completely failed to see any trace of this supposed ambiguity; in fact, I think only a viewer with a seriously screwed-up set of values would be at a loss as to how to feel about the violence in this film, which is portrayed, and denounced, as “righteous” only insofar as it is self-righteous.

Film Review: 'Prisoners'The wages of sin, guilt, vengeance and redemption weigh heavy on the characters of "Prisoners," a spellbinding…variety.com

“Powered by an unusually rich, twisty script by Aaron Guzikowski (“Contraband”) and career-best performances from Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal.”

100% in agreement, especially in the case of Jackman, who has yet to match the intensity of this role in any of his subsequent work.

“It is a performance void of vanity or the desire to be loved by the audience, and moment to moment it is exhilarating to watch.”

REVIEW: Prisoners (2013)Denis Villeneuve received a lot of attention for his science fiction films Arrival and Blade Runner 2049, and…fictionmachine.com

“[Prisoners] simply tells a bold and emotionally gutting story of kidnapping, revenge, and murder. It does so sensationally, transforming it into arguably the best thriller of its type since David Fincher’s Zodiac (2007).”

Actually, the only thing Fincher’s well-cast and well-acted but thoroughly preposterous Zodiac has in common with Prisoners is Gyllenhaal’s presence; my point is, Prisoners is so much better than “the best thriller since Zodiac.”

“The film showcases a near career-best performance by Jackman, who usually shifts back and forth between his two personas: musical theatre and Wolverine.”

Not “near” but definitely “career-best performance” (sadly, “musical theater and Wolvering” do seem to be his two default modes, Prisoners remaining a bittersweet reminder of Jackman’s true potential).

Buzzy 'Prisoners' good-not-great piece of genre pulp, enhanced by good perfs and sleek visual…" Prisoners," a crime thriller starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal, was one of the early popular hits at last…www.washingtonpost.com

“Jackman and Gyllenhaal bring their A-game (and, in Gyllenhaal’s case, an unexplained eye tic).”

I think it’s a good thing that the reviewer calls the eye tic “unexplained” as opposed to, say, ‘inexplicable,’ since in a way, the tic is self-explanatory; that its underlying cause remains unknown is perhaps because we wouldn’t want to know.

PRISONERSPRISONERS is a riveting, morally complex thriller about the desperate search for two missing girls. The movie stars…www.movieguide.org

“PRISONERS is not an easy movie to watch and will prove difficult for many to handle.”

That’s putting it mildly. I would go as far as to add that it’s a difficult film to even listen to, and not precisely because of the “strong foul language.”

PrisonersPrisoners is an effectively moody child-abduction potboiler that spends much of its two and a half hour running time…www.avclub.com

“The villain isn’t obsession or vigilantism (which the movie ends up tacitly condoning).”

Uh, no it doesn’t: without revealing too much, I think Jackman’s character’s ultimate fate leaves no doubt as to whether or not two wrongs make a right.

Prisoners (2013) Movie Review - Tina Dubinsky, WriterWhen a movie has me cringing in my seat with horror, hand over my open mouth and eyes preparing to shut out what comes…tinadubinsky.com

“When a movie has me cringing in my seat with horror, hand over my open mouth and eyes preparing to shut out what comes next, it sure as hell has my attention.”

Really? Shutting your eyes seems to me like a counterproductive way to pay attention to a film, but whatever.

PrisonersInnocents are in danger. Evil is afoot and running wild. An angry "hero" attempts to beat the truth out of his handiest…www.pluggedin.com

“This is a dark, dark pic with some very ugly moments. But it features a man who prays repeatedly, deeply loves his family and readily makes whatever personal sacrifices are necessary to rescue his young daughter.”

Yeah, the problem is the only personal sacrifice this man is ready to make is literally sacrificing a person. In fact, he’s the one providing the ugliest moments. Moreover, his religious fanaticism is the one major thing he has in common with the other villains, who believe in God enough to want to “wage war” on Him.

Prisoners - Movie ReviewMan kidnaps child. Father kidnaps man. Father becomes kidnapper... And Prisoners is just getting going. The new…filmjabber.com

“Prisoners also gives Jackman the juiciest role of his career, though there were times, to no fault of Mr. Wolverine, that I didn’t entirely buy into his continued torture of the prime suspect.”

As I noted in my own review, Jackman’s performance is so authoritative that he actually bullies into belief (let’s put it like this: if he told me that 2+2=5, I’d be like ‘fuck math, whatever you say’s cool with me’).

“Director Denis Villeneuve and writer Aaron Guzikowski are tricky bastards.”

No argument there.

Movie review: 'Prisoners'If you've seen the trailer, you'll probably walk in thinking that you've also seen this movie before. You know, the…www.sj-r.com

“ … this isn’t exactly a vigilante film. It’s more of a cat-and-mouse game in which the players are both good guys, both trying to prove who the bad guy is, albeit working in totally different manners.”

That would be all well and good were it not that the bad guy that one of these two “good guys” uncovers is actually himself. I know there is mo such thing as black-and-white, but what this film deals with is not shades of grey, but shades of evil.

Movie Review: PrisonersPrisoners is a 2013 film directed by Denis Villeneuve. The movie has a stacked cast including Hugh Jackman, Jake…theregional.org

“When watching the movie closely, one can notice Detective Loki blinking quickly whenever he is on screen. This is due to Gyllenhaal believing that Loki was so obsessed with this case that he was rarely sleeping, and could barely stay awake. It demonstrates the tremendous detail that went into the acting and character development.”

I think the tic comes from even before that, and it’s meant to highlight Loki’s general obsession with all of his cases (he has a perfect record, but it has taken a psychological toll on him). It is, nonetheless, a neat display of tremendous attention to detail, as the review does point out.

MOVIE REVIEW | Prisoners (2013)"He's not a person anymore. No, he stopped being a person when he took our daughters." I don't think Jake Gyllenhaal…boredanddangerousblog.wordpress.com

I’m including this review solely on account of the following non sequitur: “I don’t think Jake Gyllenhaal ever had a complete decent into shittyness and rom com world that he needed to be redeemed from. But after a lot of early critical and box office success, he seemed to be in the wilderness for a while.” Huh?

PrisonersIn director Denis Villeneuve's mystery-thriller Prisoners, Hugh Jackman plays Pennsylvania carpenter Keller Dover, a…thedissolve.com

I hesitate to agree with a review that claims “Jackman’s not at his best in Prisoners” (I’m not a fan of Hugh overall, but his performance here is nothing short of flawless), but the fact of the matter is that Gyllenhaal’s character is “the real protagonist” (the hero, if you will), and Gyllenhaal’s “unflashy” performance does “anchor” the film, and does give “the audience someone to want to watch” (or, more to the point, someone to identify with, since what in a more conventional movie would be the most sympathetic character, that is to say the grieving father, turns here into something almost as bad as the de facto villains).

Prisoners (2013) - Movie Review / Film Essaywealth of engrossing ideas populates "Prisoners" as it carefully unravels modicums of information to relate a macabre…gonewiththetwins.com

“The serpentine disappearance case proves intriguing enough; to add a grim test of faith and morality to the tale convolutes [sic] an already heavy narrative.”

This simple-minded assessment is an unwitting proof of the filmmakers’ genius. What this reviewer found to be a counterproductive mishmash is actually a symbiotic coupling; without the “grim test” the “serpentine disappearance” would be nowhere near as “intriguing,” and vice versa. The subplots are indeed “riveting” but not “individually” (in which case we’d have an either/or of all too familiar plots); in fact, it’s their being, as it were, riveted together that allows them to result in more than the sum of their parts.

[TIFF Review] PrisonersPrisoners might be the most shockingly dark studio release since Fight Club , a grim, unsettling, occasionally…thefilmstage.com

“Prisoners might be the most shockingly dark studio release since Fight Club.”

I sincerely don’t get this need to compare Prisoners with David Fincher films. If it’s not the fascist Fight Club it’s the crackpot Zodiac. Even the brilliant but ultimately nihilist Se7en would be an unfit comparison, if only because Prisoners has a more satisfactory conclusion.

Review: PrisonersIt must really suck when you make a good solid movie only for something vaguely similar to get released to mass…moviebastards.com

“Jackman is almost unlikable in his unyielding approach, but you’re constantly reassuring yourself that you’d do the same if some freak took your own kid.”

Scratch the “almost” and you’re right on the money. What’s more, that “almost” detracts from Jackman’s performance, because you’re not meant to like the character one damn bit, nor are you required to match his intensity even in theory. The whole point is that he goes too far; he crosses a line where even if he were to get his daughter back, there would be no going back for him anymore. For what it’s worth, though, at least this reviewer doesn’t make the Fincher comparison just for the sake of making it; he actually uses it to establish a point.

Prisoners Review - IGNA beautiful slog. Prisoners has the sheen of a prestige picture and the guts of Law & Order's best episode. A brooding…www.ign.com

[Prisoners] “feels like Villeneuve’s Insomnia, a display of confidence that could put him on a Christopher Nolan path.”

As it turns out, it put him on a Dune path, which is just as bad, if not the worse.

“Without the eye candy, Prisoners is a shallow exercise in thriller fiction.”

Spoken like someone who can’t or won’t look past the surface (I’m reminded of the above-quoted reviewer who was ready to shut her eyes at any given moment).

Review: 'Prisoners' Is Dumb Thriller Disguised As Prestige DramaThe Box Office: There was a time maybe twenty years ago when Prisoners would be considered a solid star-driven genre…www.forbes.com

“Outside of his role as Wolverine, Hugh Jackman generally isn’t exactly a huge box office draw … Ditto for Jake Gyllenhaal, who is good for a solid $14 million or so when his face is on the poster outside of pre-sold fare like The Day After Tomorrow or Prince of Persia … The good news is that Prisoners cost, depending on who you ask, between $30m and $40m to produce, so unless it completely tanks it should be fine for Warner Bros.”

God, I feel dirty just reading this so-called movie review, picturing the critic’s grubby little fingers as he types numbers in, as if were his own fucking money. I hate it when untold millions are wasted on CGI extravaganzas, but even then I try to limit my thoughts to the movie’s merits (or lack thereof). On the other hand, “between $30m and $40m” is still a lot of money, but at least it went into the type of film they should be making more of. Fuck this review.

'Prisoners' Movie Review - Uncomfortably Numb | Film EqualsThe best movies, in my opinion, make you uncomfortable. They're the movies that actually make you think. Usually they…www.filmequals.com

“All this makes it an uncomfortable movie with a lot of deep questions…that leaves just one unanswered.”

And that question would be…?

Movie Review: Prisoners (2013)I have a thing for crime dramas. I don't know why, I just love them. Whether they are movies or tv shows or books. I…themarckoguy.wordpress.com

“ … the longer the movie goes on, the further you see Keller dive into the pit we call insanity. Detective Loki is not that way really, he is more fucked in the way that he got a short fuse … But that is why I like the characters (maybe like is the wrong word), they are so damn complex and got many layers.”

See, this guy gets it: you don’t have to “like” the character as long you love the performance. In other words, the character can and should be as unlikable as it needs to be, provided we like what the actor is doing with it, and as long as the filmmakers don’t expect the audience to empathize with it (quite the contrary, as a matter of fact, in Prisoners). And now that I think about it, a lot of people who watched this film wonder what they would do were they in Jackman’s place, but so far not one has even mentioned putting themselves in Paul Dano’s shoes, perhaps because the latter’s character is an ambiguous creep; if they did, however, I believe much of what little sympathy Jackman’s character inspires would certainly evaporate.

'Prisoners' is a long sentence with no hope for paroleThe first movie I ever reviewed for a newspaper was a revenge thriller called "Extremities." It starred Farrah Fawcett…www.stltoday.com

“The silence of the lambs who mistake this trash for treasure is deafening.”

The only thing worse than a pretentious film (which Prisoners isn’t by any stretch of the imagination) is a pretentious film critic.

Movie Review: Prisoners (2013)A harrowing and intense child abduction drama, Prisoners ratchets up the tension early and never lets up. A magnificent…www.theaceblackblog.com

“Jackman in particular excels as Keller Dover, humanizing a traumatized father and finding the justification for unjustifiable actions in the face of personal anguish.”

It would be more accurate to say that Jackman dehumanizes his character (a process that is both terrifying and fascinating to behold), and finds the rationalization for unjustifiable actions (remember, the guy is both a Jesus freak and a survivalist nut).

Movie REVIEW - PrisonersIt feels like everyone put their best into this movie. The intensity of the scenes and horror of other scenes is…www.everydaythread.com

“Even after the credits roll you’re left wondering the true difference between right and wrong.”

If that’s what you’re wondering at the end, either the movie failed miserably or you missed the point by a fucking mile, and since the film is rock-solid, that leaves only alternative B.

[atlanticcanada]

Share the road: Cycling advocates react to death of Saint John cyclist

Mike Roy is about as experienced of a cyclist as you'll find in the Greater Moncton area, but even he's afraid to ride on Connaught Avenue.

On Wednesday, a 60-year-old man riding an electric bicycle was killed nearby when he collided with a truck at the intersection of Connaught Avenue and High Street.

The driver of the truck was not injured and police have released few other details about the investigation.

Roy said both motorists and cyclists have a role in avoiding tragedies.

"As somebody who rides a bicycle in the street, I have to recognize that I need to ride predictably,” said Roy. “I need to follow the rules of the road as well. However, in the equation, the balance of the power lays in the hands of the motor vehicle drivers.”

More education and enforcement of rules that are already in place are needed, according to Roy, who said he's had his fair share of close calls.

"I have been struck by motor vehicles twice in my life riding bicycles, most recently in 2020, and I've been suffering the ongoing effects of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) as a result of that injury, or that accident," he said.

Velo N.B., an advocacy group that promotes safe cycling legislation in the province, released a statement Saturday expressing its condolences to the families and friends of the cyclist killed in Moncton and a cyclist killed in Saint John on Oct. 13.

"These are not isolated incidents, accidents and fatalities involving cyclists have been all to frequent on our New Brunswick roads," read the statement. "This does not even take into account the near misses that cyclists are subject to while trying to enjoy our roadways they are entitled to use. Whether it’s print or social media, the lack of understanding of laws governing our roads by the general public is sadly lacking. Improvements are needed both in driver education programs for new drivers and ongoing public education."

Like Roy, the president of Velo N.B. said he's had a few close calls.

"People are driving faster, more aggressive," said Marc Gaudet. "There's almost a daily ‘I own the road’ mentality with certain motorists. On the flip side, there are some great motorists that are very cognizant that a bike is allowed on the road and to share the road, and you can see that when they overtake you."

Gaudet thinks it's crucial for motorists and cyclists to abide by the laws of the road.

"When Ellen's Law was passed six years ago, there was initially an educational campaign on how to pass a cyclist with the one-metre law. That lost its momentum quickly. About a year-and-a-half in, we started to see less and less, and within a six month period, it stopped. We have to continue educating," said Gaudet.

City of Moncton council unanimously approved an Active Transportation Plan in June and is currently working on implementing both short and long-term improvements to its cycling network.

"The City of Moncton takes cycling safety very seriously and we are working towards improving our network as well as developing plans for increased education for both cyclists and motor vehicle operators," said Isabelle LeBlanc, a spokesperson for the city.

LeBlanc said it will take a sustained and significant capital investment to accomplish the plan's cycling network which includes physically separated facilities on several streets.

"Adding these bike facilities, in many cases, will require land acquisition, and the relocation of several infrastructure such as concrete curbs, utility poles [and] fire hydrants," said LeBlanc. "The City of Moncton is committed to take on this challenging endeavour, which will include major reconfiguration of certain roadways."

from CTV News - Atlantic https://ift.tt/Gv60Dp8

[c-is-for-circinate]

So somebody reblogged the last 'yes I need to talk about Jrusar's Secret Government' post with thoughts/questions about the Tal'dorei council, and it made me want to get in here and actually write the damn holy shit Matthew Mercer your city is run entirely by a SECRET SHADOW GOVERNMENT WHAT THE FUCK post, so here we go.

(I wrote a whole essay, and somehow I didn't even get into the rampant corruption, because there's so much to say even outside of that, but: minor spoilers for general worldbuilding throughout C1, C2, and C3, extremely minor plot spoilers I think for C1 and maybe C3 before episode 3.09? Mostly this is about worldbuilding.)

The thing is that, right, "who's on the Tal'dorei council?" was a long-running joke during Campaign 2, but, aside from some suggestion during EXU that there may be secret council members (and EXU is canon, but that doesn't mean it's explored canon), the Tal'dorei council isn't actually a secret. The Mighty Nein don't know who they are, and have absolutely zero in-universe reason to know who they are, because it's like knowing the entire slate of cabinet members of a foreign country where you've never been and also TV and airplanes don't exist, and like, I don't know about you but I can't even remember the new Chancellor of Germany who literally just got elected a few months ago. This is why Matt keeps giving the players shit for asking. Not because nobody knows.

The Tal'dorei Republic is the sort of confused confederacy you get when you start building a fictional government in bits and pieces without a big overarching plan, because this is a D&D game you play with your friends over brunch. It's also the sort of confused confederacy you get when there was an empire, except its borders had sort of stopped expanding a while back more or less, and then the king stepped down and then five minutes later there were dragons, and everyone's still sort of trying to figure out exactly how politics work again. Politics, on that level, were never really the point of Campaign 1, and they didn't get a ton of focus. There are probably really interesting things to explore there, but thematically, politics really started being a thing in Campaign 2, and oh boy howdy did they.

Campaign 2 is about fascist nationalism. Like, it is! It just is! That's it, that's -- well, not the whole thing, but a pretty central piece of the thing. The Somnovem are the Somnovem (and actually, hmm, I want to think about how Cognouza's backstory relates to C2's political themes), and they were important at the end, but the entire campaign held the running thread of Dwendalian Empire and Cerberus Assembly, and their manufactured war against the Krynn.

And we see a lot of what fascist nationalism looks like, in C2. We see intense propaganda machines full of fear of the Other, particularly aimed at riling people up against this very convenient scary enemy of ~dark elves~ and their ~strange dark magic~ and ~oooh, monsters~. We see tight governmental control over even personal aspects of everyday life. Certain religions are banned. Magic is highly regulated. Government is present everywhere -- even small towns have magistrates and Starostas and Crownsguard, generally according to the same system throughout the empire.

There's a strong central government that's generally not split between factions. No, really! The Cobalt Soul is a respected institution, but they're not so much a faction of government as they are an independent body with a lot of weight and respect. King Dwendal is relatively ineffective, but he's managed by the Cerberus Assembly, not in opposition to them. The Assembly itself is full of politics and backbiting and infighting, but by and large, to the country itself the Assembly presents a united front, and that front is united behind the crown. The horrifying back-alley secret spy work, torture, and assassinations are all run by the same people who run the government at large, who everyone knows run the government at large, in service to furthering the power of the government at large (and therefore their own power, of course, because one thing feeds the other.)

It's a power struggle, but it's not a class struggle, not really. The average citizens of the Dwendalian empire generally do pretty well, when they're not being targeted or scapegoated by some machination of the government itself. It's easy to be middle-class in the Empire, or to convince yourself that you're middle-class, to be a farmer who never has trouble putting food on the table, to be a merchant or a blacksmith or a winemaker or an artisan. It's easy to enjoy a fine standard of living even if you're not one of the people with power. So long as none of the people in power decide you're more useful in misery.

Jrusar is different.

The government of Jrusar is secret. Nobody knows who runs the city. People take it on faith, generally, that somebody runs the city -- infrastructure is maintained, cops get paid, there's no open warfare in the streets most days -- but this city is fucked up in ways that sometimes mirror the Dwendalian Empire, and sometimes are entirely new.

When I call C3 a class warfare campaign, what I mean is that it's been showing us economic stratification everywhere we look since day one. We have seen, thus far, no middle class in this city. We've seen astonishingly rich people, but mostly we've seen working-class people just about scraping by. We see aging artisans, those people who would have been comfortably middle class in Emon or Zadash, trying to make ends meet by letting out their spare room or breaking a werewolf out of jail for a job recommendation. We see bartenders and performers who never appear to be making enough to support a family (unless that family is part of the trade and performing too). We see warehouse and factory workers who go to those bars and performances and bars and bars and bars at the end of their workdays, and drink their dinner and eat their Meals. (People drink a lot, in Jrusar. People drink a lot in CR in general, but then, our parties have always been on the move and staying in inns and taverns to begin with, and when they had a place to sit and settle they'd inevitably find neighbors who did all sorts of things with their evenings that weren't 'go down to the local and get blitzed'.)

Nobody seems to have a spouse, a family, children. There really don't seem to be a lot of children in Jrusar.

Which isn't to say that all of Jrusar is like this! There are several spires we've never even visited, and plenty of places throughout this very big city that could be a world of experience away. There are plenty of places in Tal'dorei and the Empire, likewise, that might function like this. But that's why it's a campaign theme, not just a locational one -- because the places we're looking in C3, the things we've actually seen, all fall into this same pattern. And some of that is absolutely down to the way the government here functions.

The thing we keep hearing, over and over again, from all sorts of different corners in Jrusar, is 'the city's going to shit'. Nobody ever follows it up with a 'since'. It's never 'since that guy took power', or 'since the Natural Disaster', or 'since that new policy went into place' -- it's just going, going, gone towards some unspecified "shit". A gradual worsening of general affairs. A diffused, maybe even imaginary, decline.

This isn't an accident, either on Matt's part or on the part of the people in charge of the city. The interesting thing about 'the city's gone to shit' as a muttered refrain is that nobody necessarily agrees on what that means. (Who here has heard 'this country's gone to hell in a handbasket' before? Which hell? Which handbasket?) What was it like before that was so good, that we've lost now? Do people even know, do they have concrete things to point to, or is it just a sort of pervasive discontentment? Fear and insecurity because of violence, because of poverty, because of working too hard? And the violence has always been there (but maybe not in your neighborhood), and the poverty's always been a problem (but everything just keeps getting more crowded), and work is work (but there are more jobs in mining than in making things, and look I'm not saying Marxist concept of alienation of labor, but I'm also not NOT saying that ok).

People are unhappy, and they don't really have anything concrete they can point to as the source of their unhappiness. Not on any unified, structured basis, not as a movement rather than a couple of dozen people hidden in an attic.

And this? This is great for the people in power in Jrusar. Sure, everybody's unhappy -- what of it? Unhappiness is always rampant. The important thing is that nobody's directly unhappy with them.

Nobody can strike up a petition to demand that Bobby Treshi step down from the Chandai Quorum if nobody knows Bobby Treshi is on the Chandai Quorum. Nobody can show up at Suzie Lumas's office and make her pay attention to anything if she doesn't have an office. Nobody can influence, petition, persuade, bother, or cancel anybody in the Quorum if nobody knows who they even are.

What's more, this seems to be related to a general lack of transparency in governance in Jrusar in general. There's another essay I want to write about Rule of Law in C3 (which I was going to include here but holy shit this post is already REAL LONG), but basically what it sums up to is, I have no idea exactly what's legal or illegal here, and my guess is that much of the people who actually live in this city agree. Is murder legal? Okay, but what if a bounty hunter does it? How do bounty hunters work, exactly? Who pays the cops' salaries?

One important aspect of the Tal'dorei council is the simple fact that, not only are the names of the council public, so are their respective positions. We know that there's a Master of Development whose job is civil infrastructure, and a Master of Commerce whose job is the budget, and a Master of Law who runs the courts. We know what the jobs even are. We know their duties and responsibilities. We know how the republic is run.

We know none of that, here in Jrusar. Not only do we not know who's in charge of civil infrastructure relating to public transit, we don't know if anybody is. Do the sewage maintenance projects just get sort of shoved off onto the desk of whoever in the Secret Cabinet Meetings doesn't nose-goes fast enough? Is there some young mid-level civil servant somewhere who's running the entire cable car system single-handedly because his boss can't get an audience with her boss outside of a thirty-minute appointment slot booked two weeks in advance, and even then she's only talking to the Official Mouthpiece of the Council rather than the councilor themself? How the fuck does anybody get anything done???

And like, many of these are basic logistical questions that can get kind of smoothed over in a fictional universe and a D&D game, because mid-level government bureaucracy isn't nearly as sexy as secret conspiracies and elaborate heists. But we also see the results of these things manifest in the campaign itself. We see the wild, rampant stratification between people who definitely go to dinner parties with whoever's in charge of the government (even if you're not sure who at this dinner party it is), and the people who don't even have a name to call out. We see the no-oversight corruption endemic in the police system, which definitely appears to be the only way most people in the city interface with their government at all. We see citizens who want specific, targeted change trying to do it via flyers and petitions that maybe nobody will even see.

We see the way basic infrastructure amenities like the cable cars could be improved -- and this was sort of a joke, last Thursday, except that it's not. It came up because the players themselves are feeling the nickle-and-dime ding of having to pay the same toll that working-class citizens in Jrusar have to pay every day, unless they can afford to live in the same nice spire where they work, unless they can't afford to move out of the same shitty one. And there's nobody to tell, nobody in charge who would even know it was an issue.

Jrusar is a mess. And it's a mess in the way that a city-state with a government this utterly un-transparent should and would be a mess.