#they also both hate authority and c@ps

[beefy-the-stronk]

So I've been doing some thinking

If Leigh and Dan got shipped together, they should be called "The Grinning Team"

It's based on the phrase, "the winning team," because one's a fighter (competitive), and the other's a gamer (also competitive). And ofc, they both grin sksk

[into-the-mortuary]

- oreos get eaten pretty quickly at the moment, but galaxy chocolate is another one, most of us are quite snacky and so those two go quick

- listen to music, scroll through social media, try to name specific colours around us because it makes us focus on something else

- we/us for the whole system, i/me for personal, because we all have different opinions and thoughts and feelings on things so it’s nice to address everyone

- fictives are their source, like, we have a lot of fictives who have source memories and stuff, BUT they are not the exact same as their source and they shouldn’t be treated like they are that source character, especially because some of us come from a bad source, it gets annoying

- greek mythology (we want to be a museum archivist because of it), mortuary science (hence the system name), fnaf, petscop, and internet horror! some of us are a bit fussier on the darker interests, but they’re still all collective

- most periods of history (if it’s not modern or ancient we get bored), medicine, anime

- yes we do! mads and wil are the worst for it, mads is especially big on ice cream and will eat as much as he can when she fronts, despite the fact we’re lactose intolerant

- i don’t actually think we have any? not that i can think of at least? other than whenever persi is fronting and eating a meal with meat in, asking who it is this time (yes, c*nnibalism joke)

- yes! usually because they change it to be that way, or due to it being that way in source, yan is the main one because her hair is BRIGHT red

- colouring and watching tv are the main ones, though a couple of them (🎠 and 🌸) like exploring outside

- clowns in a clown car - there’s more of us than you think and we’re all idiots /aff

- a headmate and their partner having a specific sort of talk, a little has switched out during that before and it was awkward but the reactions were funny, also two alters who hated each other (us and ps) both switched out during a cuddling session

- i (rage) personally would love for a big dog, but hound already counts, so?

- i (rage) hate lofi music, whereas spencer (co-fronting) loves it

- it’s easier to think of spencer since they’re in co-front, and whilst i haven’t known him long, their mismatched socks are adorable and endearing /p

- author, he was an asshole (/aff) until he met his now-wife

- not all littles want to be treated like children, and that’s okay. some of the littles in our system formed because we didn’t feel like much of a kid when we were younger, and their attitudes reflect that, and they don’t like being treated like children by most people

- rage [she/they] and spencer [they/he]

Fruit themed Ask Game!

geared towards DID/OSDD systems that wanna babble about themselves <3

🍎- what’s the one food that’s always instantly gone in your house?

🍐- what’s something you do to calm you down?

🍊- what sort of language do you use when referring to yourself/your system? What’s your reasoning?

🍌- What is a piece of misinformation always grinds your gears?

🍉- what are your collective interests?

🍋- what are your collective disinterests? The dumber the better

🍇- do you have a big sweet tooth? Who’s the worst of the bunch?

🍓- share any inside jokes you have together!!

🫐- does anybody have an unnatural hair color in the innerworld? Any particular reasoning?

🍈- if you have any syskids in your system, what’s your favorite thing to do with them/their favorite thing to do?

🍒- do you have a favorite metaphor for systemhood? You don’t need to justify it, it can be silly <3

🍑- what’s an awkward thing/situation you’ve switch in to?

🥭- you can spawn one animal in your innerworld as a class pet, what would it be?

🍍- what’s one thing an alter/part loves, that another one hates?

🥝- think of an alter/part, what’s something you love about them?

🥥- which alter/part was the toughest nut to crack?

🍅- ..what’s your controversial opinion?

[masonscig]

different anon from the 'writer rant' one but it did bring up a topic i find fascinating in fandoms like this re: copaganda and the like. prefacing this by saying that i in no way support cops or think this is a realistic way of portraying them. with that in mind, i feel like there's this common hang up in series like twc where the MC is some sort of law enforcement equivalent - whether its an actual cop or some ancient/medieval/future/alternate universe equivalent - people get frustrated when you aren't able to rebel against that enough. and this isn't just a twc thing either, i've seen the same kind of points made for all kinds of IF games. and like, i get the desire to and how most people would make their OC's decent enough people to recognize that kind of corruption for what it is, but if you're signing on to be a character that by default is in a law enforcement/adjacent position, and has some sense of pride in it, i'm not sure how the author is expected to properly account for that perspective that completely opposes all that.

like, in twc the MC almost always willingly signs on to the force, and even in the 'do it or go to jail' origin they still take pride in being able to help people now despite the circumstances of them joining up - any option to be extraordinarily wary of the agency or cops in general contradicts that unchangeable part of the MC's backstory and identity. and i get your point about mish/ka making an idealistic utopic version of things, but i don't really know what else is to be expected in a series that's effectively set up to be a supernatural crime romance? i don't want to make it sound like the frustrations/concerns are invalid because they're not at all! but i feel like by now the role law enforcement and the like plays in the detective's life is so established people have to suspend some of their beliefs about it to play a series that's always had a pretty pro-law enforcement concept/theme. idk if that makes any sense but thanks for letting me ramble

hey yeah no problem! my inbox is always open for rambling – i love to read it!

i see what you mean and i agree w you to some degree, but also, like i don't think it's a lot to ask of mis/hka to both be critical of c*ps in the story while also allowing the mc to be critical of them too. my criticism is less that this is c*paganda, because yes, any media that humanizes c*ps functions as that, but regardless of that, there should be some level of scrutiny from mis/hka's end.

the point i'm making is that mis/hka could've made ab*se of power an overarching theme connecting humans and supernaturals alike, by leaning into the idea that "c*ps are corrupt, and so is the agency – no matter if you're human or supernatural, any structure meant to protect the people is going to be corrupt because people naturally ab*se power" but she's not doing that. i highly doubt that she's playing the long con.

she's teasing the idea that the mc can have thoughts about hating their job and their position, can be afraid of supernaturals, can be reluctant to join the agency – so, if mc is allowed to do that, then what's the point? is it leading to anything? is the agency corrupt? are the c*ps corrupt? from mis/hka's asks, she insists that the agency are good people (and by default the c*ps too). so then, 'why even give us this road if it's not leading anywhere?' is my question

like regardless of if she wants us to read this as a utopia, it's not. if mc shoots a du mortain, it's just "more paperwork" – don't really spend too much time thinking about the fact that what mc perceives to be is a human was shot by them. just as example. mc can literally choose in b3 to wipe bobby's brain – a c*p actively silencing a journalist (whoa we haven't seen that anywhere have we!). not to mention the like military grade stun volts that agents can just have and use on people. (also the t*rture.) i could go on forever but you get what i mean

again, i really do get what you're trying to say, but saying "this is c*paganda, what do you expect" and shutting down all discussion about expectations of the series isn't really the best way to approach it imo. you can and should examine media past the surface level thought of "this is c*paganda" – yes, we know that. you should counter with, and here's why! and as for what i expect – nuance. i expect a nuanced approach.

[wishuhadstayed]

It Takes a Village

Pairing: Aaron Hotchner x reader

Word Count: about 3000

Summary: when the Hotchner fam is in need, it’s a good thing to have many helping hands. Part 9 to Begin Again.

Warnings: mentions of blood and pregnancy complications

Author’s Note: I really am sorry for that cliffhanger y’all. 😬 I’m just glad you still love me after being gone for like, a literal year. Shoutout to @agent-laufeyson you’re the best 💜 (PS, please ignore Haley in the below gif, also please picture Hotch in the hospital in casual clothes.) 😌

Previous Chapter

Masterlist

For a moment, Aaron’s whole world stopped turning. A cold, familiar sense of dread settled into his chest at the words, “You all may want to sit down for this.”

“Not again,” he thought. “I can’t do this again, we can’t do this again.”

“God please,” he begged internally, slumping into a chair, “if you’re listening, please don’t take her. We need her.”

Suddenly, the voice of a surgeon cut through the silent room like a knife.

“Sir, your wife lost a significant amount of blood. We had no choice but to perform an emergency c-section. Although your daughter is slightly pre-term, she seems to be in good health. However, we would like to keep her a while for monitoring.”

“And my wife?” He inquires, voice trembling with fear.

“It was touch and go there for a while, but we were able to locate the source of bleeding and get it under control. Your wife is out of surgery. She’s stable, but she is very weak and currently asleep. She will also be hospitalized for recovery. At least a week most likely, maybe longer.”

“Mama’s gonna be okay?” Jack pipes up.

“Yes, she is buddy,” Aaron replies, ruffling his hair. “Thanks to that doctor.”

“Thanks for making my mama feel better.”

“You’re most welcome,” the surgeon replied. “You and your dad can go visit her now. The rest of you will have to wait. She needs her rest. I’m sorry.”

“Thank you doctor,” Aaron says, shaking his hand with a sigh of relief.

“You go Aaron,” Rossi encourages, clapping him on the shoulders before he even had a chance to turn around. “Go see your wife and baby. We’ll wait.”

——————————————————————————

Entering your hospital room, Aaron thought your sleeping face was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. Sitting on the side of your hospital bed, he grabbed hand as you stirred awake.

“Hello Angel,” he murmurs as you take everything in. “You gave us quite a scare,” he mentions, softly caressing your face.

“The baby,” you whisper, touching his hand.

“Ssssshhhh,” he soothes. “The baby is fine. She’s in the nursery. You just rest okay?”

Instant relief washes over your face. “Jack?”

“I’m right here mama!” he exclaims, scrambling into Aaron’s lap.

“I want to see the baby,” you tell Aaron.

“I know darling, but you really need your rest.”

“I NEED to see her, Aaron.” You plead.

Taking the hint, he begins to rise. “Jack why don’t you stay with mama, while I go talk to the nurse, okay?”

“Okay Daddy,” he agrees, climbing in the bed next to you.

“I’m glad you’re feeling better mama,” Jack says, looking up at you with the sweetest face.

“Me too, baby,” you reply. “Are you ready to meet your sister?”

“Yeah!” he exclaims with a look of excitement. “Can I hold her?”

“Of course you can buddy, as long as you’re careful,” Aaron replies as he re-enters the room. “The nurses are bringing her down.”

A few minutes later a nurse arrives holding a tiny pink blanket. “Who wants to hold her first?” She inquires.

“You should hold her first, Aaron,” you suggest.

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he insists. “You’ve been the strongest, bravest mom I know already. You should hold her first.”

As the nurse places the tiny, squirming bundle with her father’s dark hair in your arms, all the stress and chaos of the day seems to just melt away.

As you free a tiny hand from the swaddle so she can grasp your finger, her eyes flutter open.

“She’s perfect, isn’t she?” you wonder aloud.

“Absolutely lovely,” Aaron muses, draping his arm around your shoulders. “Just like her mother.”

——————————————————————————

Meanwhile, cooped up in the waiting area, the BAU team began to grow restless.

“Maybe we should get out of the hospital and go shopping while we wait,” Garcia suggests. “I think Y/N deserves all the gifts and pretty things today.”

“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” JJ questions.

“TARGET RUN!” all three women exclaim in unison.

They all wandered the aisles like kids in a candy store.

“I’m getting her balloons,” Penelope says. “Like so many pink balloons. Nobody can feel bad with that many balloons.”

“Flowers,” Rossi chimes in. “We should get her plenty of flowers to make the room cheerful.”

“We’ll have to get those from hospital gift shop,” JJ comments.

“I’d want chocolate,” Emily suggests. “Chocolate helps everything.”

“Look,” Morgan says, showing a pink stuffed bunny to Garcia. “It’s cute right? For the baby?”

“It’s perfect, Derek,” she assures, grabbing his hand. “Very cute.”

“Oh, a memory book,” Reid mentions. “So they can write down details every day.”

“Leave it to the genius to pick out a book,” Morgan jokes with a playful shove.

“Settle down, boys.” JJ cuts in. “As much as I’m sure she’ll appreciate the pretty gifts, she did just have a baby,” she reminds the group. “She needs some practical things too, trust me.” As she picks out a blanket and a pacifier, Henry begins to grow restless. As she picked up a snack for him, another idea crossed her mind.

“We should get something for Jack, too,” she thought aloud. “LEGOs. He loves LEGOs. And some gummy bears.”

A sudden ringing startles everyone.

“Ssssshhhhhhh,” Garcia commands as she puts the phone on speaker. “It’s Y/N! Quiet!”

“Hello my angel dear,” she lilts, “How are you feeling?”

“I’m very tired, but otherwise happy and healthy,” you report. “Is everyone with you?”

“We’re all here,” JJ chimes in.

“Hi everyone!” You reply. “In that case, I have news. The nurses have said that we’re allowed to have visitors first thing in the morning, if you’d like to see our newest addition.”

“Oh, wild horses could not keep us away, ma’am.” Penelope assures. “We’ll see you all bright and early.”

“Not too early, Penny,” you remind her. “You gotta give me a chance to wake up first.”

“Right, sooooo 10am then?”

“It’s a date.”

——————————————————————————

That evening, you soaked up as much family time as possible before the wave of visitors began. Aaron was a natural, as you’d known he would be from seeing him with Jack.

Watching him with the baby was quickly becoming your favorite pastime. The look of sheer enchantment on his face as he held her close and rocked her made you fall a little more in love with him every moment.

“Daddy loves you so much,” he coos to the tiny bundle in his arms.

“What?” he questions as he catches you watching.

“Oh nothing,” you reply, ruffling Jack’s hair as he slept by your side. “Just wondering how I got so lucky.”

“I think it’s me who got lucky. I thought I’d never love again. I was so closed off. I was prepared to spend the rest of my life as a single dad, doing everything on my own. Now,” he chokes out, “now I’d fall apart without you.”

“Good thing you’ve got two of us now to keep you boys in line then,” you return with a wicked grin. “She’s got you wrapped around her finger already.”

——————————————————————————

When you awoke the next morning, you were greeted by the most beautiful sight. Aaron still asleep in the recliner next your bed, his arm cradling the sleeping baby on his chest. While you hated to disturb the peaceful scene, you knew the team would be arriving as soon as the clock struck 10.

“Aaron,” you whisper. “Aaron, wake up,” slightly louder this time. He stirs awake, moving slowly so as not to wake the sleeping child.

“What is it babe?”

“The team will be here soon,” you inform him.

“Ah. I should go get ready,” he replies.

“Mama, can I hold her while dad gets ready?” Jack asks, startling the both of you.

“Oh buddy, I didn’t realize you were awake,” you say to him. “Of course you can hold her if you want.”

Jack scrambled into your lap as Aaron rounded the bed.

“Just be really careful with her bud,” Aaron reminds him as he settles the baby on his lap.

“I will dad,” he replies.

As Aaron walked away, the baby’s eyes fluttered open and she let out a small cry.

“Here, why don’t you give her a pacifier?” you suggest.

“Sssshhhh, don’t cry,” he says, giving her the pacifier, and then softly stroking her head.

“What do you think about your baby sister, Jack?”

“She’s pretty, Mama, just like you.”

“Thank you baby,” you reply. “That’s very sweet. I love you.”

“I love you too, mama.”

“And I love you all,” Aaron adds.

——————————————————————————

A short while later, a knock at the door alerts you that your visitors have arrived.

“You ready for this?” Aaron asks as he walks to the door.

“I’ve never been more ready. I just know they’re gonna be so in love with her.”

Aaron opens the door and the team flows in with their myriad of gifts.

Penelope hands off her bouquet of balloons to Derek and rushes over to hug you.

“Oh Y/N,” she gushes, cupping your face. “You look beautiful. It’s so good to see you, we were all worried sick.”

“Thank you Penny,” you reply, eyeing the room. “I’m assuming the shopping spree was your idea.”

“Oh shush woman,” she scolds. “You deserve it. We wanted your room to cozy and pretty because we heard you’re going to be here for a while. Sue us.”

“Thank you all for the gifts, you really didn’t have to do any of that,” you reply, tearing up as you address the whole room. “Just being there for us when we needed you the most was all we could ask for and you’ve gone above and beyond.”

“This is the least we could do, really,” JJ assures, softly rubbing your hand.

“Oh fine, be modest if you insist,” you reply with an eye roll. “I’d open all the gifts now, but I imagine you’re all much more interested in our slightly earlier than anticipated arrival.”

Seemingly for the first time since they came in, everyone notices Aaron’s presence and the little pink bundle in his arms.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” you continue, “the announcement you’ve all been waiting for. Introducing Miss Savannah Rose.”

“What a lovely name,” Emily chimes in.

“Thank you,” Aaron cuts in. “We would have told you all sooner but we actually just decided on it while we were here,” he says beaming down at his perfectly content infant daughter. “You can all hold her if you like.”

“I’m sure we’d all love to,” JJ replies, “but i think we should leave that you for now. I’m sure we’ll have plenty of time to spoil her rotten just as soon as she gets home.”

“Right! We just wanted to check on everyone and make sure you have everything you need,” Garcia adds.

“Well thanks to you guys, I think our hospital room is pretty well stocked. I just wish I could say the same for the nursery,” you say with a shrug.

“What’s wrong with the nursery?” Rossi inquires.

“I’m afraid that’s my fault,” Aaron admits. “Between me traveling so much for work and Y/N being pregnant and taking care of Jack, it got pushed to the wayside. I thought we had a bit more time.”

“Aaron, how many times do I have to tell you it’s not your fault?” you soothe, reaching for his hand. “We’ll figure it out together.”

“I know, I just wanted everything to be perfect for you.”

“It already is dear,” you assure him with a smile. “Why don’t you go get some coffee, you look exhausted.”

“Good idea babe,” he says, settling the baby into your arms.

“I could use a cup myself,” Morgan adds.

——————————————————————————

“Derek, I need your help,” Aaron pleads, once out of earshot of the room.

“Of course man, anything you need.”

“We’re going to be in the hospital for about a week while Y/N recovers and I’m desperate to have a nice nursery for her when we get home, but I obviously can’t leave her alone. I know it’s a lot to ask, but is there anything you could do to help?”

“Sure thing man, don’t worry about it. That’s the best gift I could hope to give you.”

“You’re the best,” Aaron replies, slapping him on the shoulder. “Just don’t let Y/N find out, okay? I want it to be a surprise.”

“My lips are sealed,” Derek promises.

——————————————————————————

That afternoon Derek had the whole team assembled in the nursery to get started.

“Alright everyone,” he begins, “We’ve got one week to make this the best surprise gift possible. Let’s make it happen.”

“What color should we paint it?” Penelope inquires.

“Got that covered already,” Derek replies while opening a paint can. “Purple. Hotch said it’s Y/N’s favorite color.”

“Oh Derek, it’s perfect!” she squealed, squeezing him tight. “She’s gonna adore it.”

“While the two of us are painting,” Penny addresses the group, “why don’t the rest of you do some some shopping?”

“Great idea, baby girl.” Morgan chimes in. “I think they’ve got the basics from the baby shower and I saw a crib and changing table in the garage, but I’m sure you guys can find things they’re missing.”

“Oh I think we’ve got this,” JJ states confidently. “Let’s get this show on the road,” she commands, herding Emily, Rossi, and Reid out the door.

When the group arrived back at the Hotchner house several hours later, the nursery walls were covered in a soft shade of lavender; as were Morgan and Garcia.

“I don’t know how you two managed to get any paint on the walls,” JJ said with a grin.

“Smile for the camera, you two,” Emily cuts in, snapping a picture on her phone as the couple hug and smile in their paint splattered clothes.

——————————————————————————

The next day conversation flowed as team was busily assembling furniture. Rossi, Reid, and Morgan worked on the crib while Penny, Emily, and JJ tackled the changing table.

“Let me know if you ladies need any help,” Morgan mentions casually.

“Oh right,” Emily grumbles, “because OBVIOUSLY the women need a big, strong man’s help, right?”

“I didn’t say that,” Derek counters. “I was just offering.”

“Oh not only will we get ours done without your help, we’ll get it done faster,” Emily challenges.

“Oh yeah?”

“YEAH!” all three women reply in unison.

“You’re on,” Morgan accepts.

“Oh you’re so going down,” Penny taunts, throwing pieces of plastic wrapping at Derek.

“Losers buy sushi for lunch?” Rossi suggests.

“Oh that could be pretty expensive for you Dave,” JJ comments. “You sure you’re up for that?”

“Ha ha, very funny,” Rossi says, rolling his eyes. “We’ll see about that.”

Two hours later, as JJ and Emily were finishing up the crib, the men came dragging in, arms full of takeout bags.

“Say cheese!” Penelope squeals as she takes their picture. “For the bragging rights.”

——————————————————————————

The next days were spent putting the finishing touches on the room.

A purple gradient butterfly mobile above the crib from JJ.

A bookshelf with a fully stocked library, specially selected by Reid. Emily places her floral covered photo album on top.

Lavender curtains with a shimmery overlay, Penelope’s contribution.

Derek’s stuffed bunny, carefully laid in a white gliding chair with purple cushions, which was generously paid for by Dave.

Derek lays a soft shag rug over the hardwood floor and drapes a plush floral blanket over the edge of the crib.

“I think that about does it, guys,” he says with a look of pride.

“You know, I bought them that photo album,” Emily comments, “it would be a shame if we didn’t put a few in there as a gift.”

“Yeah, but how do we get a picture of the whole group?” JJ wonders out loud.

“We could set a timer,” Penelope suggests.

“Yeah, but who sets the timer?” Reid asks, as he turns to see the whole group looking at him.

“Seriously guys?”

Between the camera falling over, closed eyes, and Spence not making it back before the timer, it took a few tries before there was a good group shot.

“And now a funny one,” Penny insists.

Once the photos, including the bloopers, have been printed and arranged in the album, JJ makes sure to write descriptions for each in the margins before setting it back on the shelf.

“Good job team,” Derek announces. “Our work here is done.”

——————————————————————————

After all the chaos surrounding the birth and a full week in the hospital, nothing felt better than standing at the door of your house with the love of your life and your two beautiful children.

“You ready to finally get some rest, baby?” Aaron asks as he ushers you inside the house, one solid arm arm around the small of your back and Savannah in her carrier on the other.

“Yeah,” you sigh, dropping your purse on the coffee table and slipping off your shoes. “I just wish we didn’t still have to worry about the nursery,” you groan, plopping down onto the sofa.

“About that,” Aaron says with a mischievous grin, offering you his free hand.

“What are you up to, Aaron Hotchner?” You muse as he leads you down the hallway.

“Just trust me,” he assures, coming to a halt in front of the nursery door. “Close your eyes,” he requests.

“What is going on here?” you inquire again.

“Just close your eyes please, darling,” he asks. “For me.”

“Alright, alright,” you comply, “this better be good.”

“Don’t open them until I say so, okay?”

“Yes sir.”

With eyes closed and Jack close by your side, you hear the door open and the rustling of paper inside the room.

“Alright,” he whispers, sliding his arm around your shoulders. “Open your eyes.”

—————————————————————————

Taglist: @ange-must-die @agent-laufeyson @poetsacademia @hotchners-slut @arganfics @ladyreapermc @rousethemouse @less-intelligent-spencerreid @tgibstan @themanip @word-scribbless @quillvine @glizzieborden @miss-united-ace @samayoshito @hotchnerundercover @pedropascalian @thenewnormalforensicator @crowdedimagines @sagittarianwolf @kleff03

[mostlysignssomeportents]

My first-ever Kickstarter: Help me change publishing with the audiobook for Attack Surface, the third Little Brother book.

I have a favor to ask of you. I don't often ask readers for stuff, but this is maybe the most important ask of my career. It's a Kickstarter - I know, 'another crowdfunder?' - but it's:

a) Really cool;

b) Potentially transformative for publishing.

c) Anti-monopolistic

Here's the tldr: Attack Surface - AKA Little Brother 3- is coming out in 5 weeks. I retained audio rights and produced an amazing edition that Audible refuses to carry. You can pre-order the audiobook, ebook (and previous volumes), DRM- and EULA-free.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/doctorow/attack-surface-audiobook-for-the-third-little-brother-book

That's the summary, but the details matter. First: the book itself. ATTACK SURFACE is a standalone Little Brother book about Masha, the young woman from the start and end of the other two books; unlike Marcus, who fights surveillance tech, Masha builds it.

Attack Surface is the story of how Masha has a long-overdue moral reckoning with the way that her work has hurt people, something she finally grapples with when she comes home to San Francisco.

Masha learns her childhood best friend is leading a BLM-style uprising - and she's being targeted by the same cyberweapons that Masha built to hunt Iraqi insurgents and post-Soviet democracy movements.

I wrote Little Brother in 2006, it came out in 2008, and people tell me it's "prescient" because the digital human rights issues it grapples with - high-tech authoritarianism and high-tech resistance - are so present in our current world.

But it's not so much prescient as observant. I wrote Little Brother during the Bush administration's vicious, relentless, tech-driven war on human rights. Little Brother was a bet that these would not get better on their own.

And it was a bet that tales of seizing the means of computation would inspire people to take up digital arms of their own. It worked. Hundreds of cryptographers, security experts, cyberlawyers, etc have told me that Little Brother started them on their paths.

ATTACK SURFACE - a technothriller about racial injustice, police brutality, high-tech turnkey totalitarianism, mass protests and mass surveillance - was written between May 2016 and Nov 2018, before the current uprisings and the tech worker walkouts.

https://twitter.com/search?q=%20(%23dailywords)%20(from%3Adoctorow)%20%22crypto%20wars%22&src=typed_query&f=live

But just as with Little Brother, the seeds of the current situation were all around us in 2016, and if Little Brother inspired a cohort of digital activists, I hope Attack Surface will give a much-needed push to a group of techies (currently) on the wrong side of history.

As I learned from Little Brother, there is something powerful about technologically rigorous thrillers about struggles for justice - stories that marry excitement, praxis and ethics. Of all my career achievements, the people I've reached this way matter the most.

Speaking of careers and ethics. As you probably know, I hate DRM with the heat of 10000 suns: it is a security/privacy nightmare, a monopolist's best friend, and a gross insult to human rights. As you may also know, Audible will not carry any audiobooks unless they have DRM.

Audible is Amazon's audiobook division, a monopolist with a total stranglehold on the audiobook market. Audiobooks currently account for almost as much revenue as hardcovers, and if you don't sell on Audible, you sacrifice about 95% of that income.

That's a decision I've made, and it means that publishers are no longer willing to pay for my audiobook rights (who can blame them?). According to my agent, living my  principles this way has cost me enough to have paid off my mortgage and maybe funding my retirement.

I've tried a lot of tactics to get around Audible; selling through the indies (libro.fm, downpour.com, etc), through Google Play, and through my own shop (craphound.com/shop).

I appreciate the support there but it's a tiny fraction of what I'm giving up - both in terms of dollars and reach - by refusing to lock my books (and my readers) (that's you) to Amazon's platform for all eternity with Audible DRM.

Which brings me to this audiobook.

Look, this is a great audiobook. I hired Amber Benson (a brilliant writer and actor who played Tara on Buffy), Skyboat Media and director Cassandra de Cuir, and Wryneck Studios, and we produced a 15h long, unabridged masterpiece.

It's done. It's wild. I can't stop listening to it. It drops on Oct 13, with the print/ebook edition.

It'll be on sale in all audiobook stores (except Audible) on the 13th,for $24.95.

But! You can get it for a mere $20 via my first Kickstarter.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/doctorow/attack-surface-audiobook-for-the-third-little-brother-book

What's more, you can pre-order the ebook - and also buy the previous ebooks and audiobooks (read by Wil Wheaton and Kirby Heyborne) - all DRM free, all free of license "agreements."

The deal is: "You bought it, you own it, don't violate copyright law and we're good."

And here's the groundbreaking part. For this Kickstarter, I'm the retailer. If you pre-order the ebook from my KS, I get the 30% that would otherwise go to Jeff Bezos - and I get the 25% that is the standard ebook royalty.

This is a first-of-its-kind experiment in letting authors, agents, readers and a major publisher deal directly with one another in a transaction that completely sidesteps the monopolists who have profited so handsomely during this crisis.

Which is where you come in: if you help me pre-sell a ton of ebooks and audiobooks through this crowdfunder, it will show publishing that readers are willing to buy their ebooks and audiobooks without enriching a monopolist, even if it means an extra click or two.

So, to recap:

Attack Surface is the third Little Brother book

It aims to radicalize a generation of tech workers while entertaining its audience as a cracking, technologically rigorous thriller

The audiobook is amazing, read by the fantastic Amber Benson

If you pre-order through the Kickstarter:

You get a cheaper price than you'll get anywhere else

You get a DRM- and EULA-free purchase

You'll fight monopolies and support authorship

If you've ever enjoyed my work and wondered how you could pay me back: This is it. This is the thing. Do this, and you will help me artistically, professionally, politically, and (ofc) financially.

Thank you!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/doctorow/attack-surface-audiobook-for-the-third-little-brother-book

PS: Tell your friends!

[bunnyywritings]

how would prohero! bakugou, todoroki, and midoriya react if a teenager went up to them (at a meet n greet or on the street or something) and whisper to them ‘don’t show any emotion, call 911, my foster parents have been abusing me for so long’ and back off with a smile and a ‘have a nice day’ before walking into a bathroom or something to wait out

[a/n: Thank you anon! I did these as an hc and they might’ve turned out a bit long? I’m not sure but here it is. Slight warning seeing as this is a sensitive topic and there’s a curse word or two in Bakugou’s but it is Bakugou so...? I also made this as fem!teenager, I hope that’s ok -yours truly, bunnyy-`ღ´- ps. Despite probably not being able to do much, my inbox is always open if anyone needs to talk. This is a judgement free zone! I’m here if you ever need any support 🥺 ]

Prohero!Bakugou

* Ever since Bakugou debuted as a pro hero, he had gotten used to teenagers (both guys and girls) approaching him and asking for a picture. He was aware they thought he was handsome and whatnot

* He didn’t really care for it but to rise in the ranks, he needed high social ratings too

* So he wasn’t very surprised when a teenager approached him while he was on patrol

* He waited for the usual “oh my god! It’s Ground Zero!” Or “look! It’s Ground Zero! Please take a picture with me!” But it never did

* He quirked an eyebrow as she looked around cautiously before meeting his gaze with terror filled eyes

* “Please don’t make a scene but...help me. My foster parents, they-they’re hurting m-me. I just c-can’t take it anymore. Their abuse has gone on for so long.”

* His eyes widened as he watched her practically beg for help with a totally neutral face but the eyes gave it away, he could see the fear, he could see how tired she was

* Before he could respond, she took a deep breath before a smile made its way onto her lips and a cheery, “Have a nice day!” filled his ears as he watched her walk into a convenience store

* He grit his teeth. Sweat beading on his brow. He didn’t know what to do. Domestic situations like this were usually a job for the police...but he couldn’t wait for them, they’ve proven time after time how unreliable they can be to get to the scene quickly and it was HIM who was directly asked for help

* His mind went blank when he saw two older adults walked passed them and into the convenience store. “Why did you run off?! We told you to stay in the car while we were getting groceries!” He watched as the teen who just begged him for help was roughly grabbed by the arm and yanked out of the store

* Grabbing his phone, he scrambled to call it in

* He audibly growled when he watched as one of the parents raised their hand and the poor girl flinched away in terror

* His body reacted before he could and he was suddenly in front of the terrified girl and gripping the parents wrist in a death hold

* “You should never EVER raise your hand at a child that way. Get away from her before I blow your asses to kingdom come!”

* “That’s no way for a pro hero to speak to innocent civilians.” They had the AUDACITY to act like they weren’t guilty

* “Abusers are villains in my book! Your time of causing harm has come to an end!”

* And right on time, the police arrived and Bakugou briefed them on the situation before reluctantly letting them take her into their care

* After he finished giving his statement to an officer, someone collided with him. He looked down to see the girl wrapping her arms around him. Tears dripping onto his chest

* “T-thank you...you’re the o-only one whose ever b-believed me.” She cried as she clung to him

* “O-oi. Stop crying, they’ll never able to hurt you anymore” he hesitantly wrapped an arm around her comfortingly, his hand coming up to pat her head

* She thanked him once more before she was called away

* A small grin appeared on his face, it never failed to amaze him how good it felt to save someone, he really hoped she’d get the happy home she deserves

Prohero! Shoto

* As one of the top heroes, he was used to being called in for a bunch of different things and he’s seen a lot of unsightly things

* He likes to believe that he’s been desensitized to the violence that he’s witnessed a countless number of times

* Boy was he wrong

* He was on his usual patrol when a teen approached him

* Shoto had a good social rating and learned how to make peace with the fact that people thought he was attractive even if he still couldn’t really see it

* “Can I get a picture please?”

* He accepted and wrapped a friendly arm around her and pose to take the selfie

* “My foster parents have been abusing me with their quirks, please save me. I can’t take it anymore.”

* His eyes widened, he could see the skin of her wrists that peeled out from her school uniform

* There was nasty burn marks littered all over

* “Thank you!” She moved away from him and bowed, “have a wonderful day!” She had a bright smile on her lips but she seemed on the verge of tears

* She walked past him

* A bewildered expression took over his face as he turned, wanting to reach out to her when he saw her with her parents

* The way she subtly flinched at certain movements and the way they gripped her arms or shoulder

* To the untrained eye, it seemed completely normal

* But he knew the signs of abuse all too well, emotional and physical

* “Excuse me!” He called out rather calmly

* All three of them turned around, the teens eyes widened

* “I need you two to unhand her and come with me please.”

* They resisted, claiming that they had done nothing wrong

* “Just because you aren’t doing anything despicable at the present moment doesn’t make you innocent. I’m not a hero that takes child abuse lightly, especially when the use of a quirk is involved. Please come with me before I decide to use force.”

* Another hero or two caught wind of the situation and proceeded to assist in the arrest so Shoto could stay with the girl before the proper authorities showed up

* “Thank you....s-so much, I t-thought it would n-never end.”

* “Believe it or not, I know what it feels like. But it will get better, I promise. Besides, that was something pretty brave you did. I’m sure you’ll recover soon and be stronger than ever.”

* He would make it his personal mission to check in on her from time to time and make sure that the next place she ended up in would be somewhere where she’d be loved and supported

* Because he had Class 1-A to help him recover

* She needed love and support to recover, he made sure that she got it

Prohero! Midoriya

* Poor baby is devastated whenever kids or teens were directly involved while doing his job

* He was doing his usual patrol

* He assumed school had let out already since there was a bunch of kids in school uniforms wandering about

* He never minded being approached by fans, he knew what it was like to be a fanboy so he encouraged photos and autographs

* So when he saw a girl running in his direction, he didn’t think anything of it

* He prepared himself to take a cheesy, peace sign selfie

* But when the girl basically rammed into him and clutched onto his hero suit for dear life, he was instantly worried

* Images of when he encountered Eri for the first time flashed across his mind

* “Please. They’re hurting me.”

* “Who is? Who’s hurting you?” His eyes frantically searched the area before looking down and meeting her tear filled gaze, lip quivering and eyebrows pinched together

* “M-My parents, w-well my f-foster parents. They-“ her tearful stuttering was cut short when the shout of a name caught both their attention and she tensed up in his arms

* “Please don’t let them take me.”

* He told her to hold onto him and he picked her up, using his full cowling to make him run faster in the direction of his agency

* He was determined to not make the same mistake this time around

* I think he’d probably call Uravity aka; Ochaco, to come and help calm her down and keep her company

* After receiving word that someone had called in a report about a missing teen that fit the girl’s description, he used that to confront her foster parents

* Making sure they were properly taken care of and were no longer able to ever have foster kids or adopt kids for the foreseeable future

* After things seemed to calm down, he actually noticed that the girl went to UA

* “Oh! Are you in the hero course?”

* She was shocked by his excitement as she nodded

* “What’s your quirk?”

* He couldn’t help it but he needed to distract her for the time being

* He hated seeing people hurt, the innocent being in fear for their life but this is what he lived for

* Seeing the people he helps smile again, be carefree while speaking about their favorite school subject, even, anything is better than them being in fear

[thegreatdemonzhuyan]

camille for the name thing! or like whatever letters u haven’t done lmao

omg I don’t think I’ve ever been this popular for one of these ask games  😂

C: which fandom do you know the most about? lmao I answered rnm last time I got this but it’s prob btwn that and snyder’s dceu films

A: fandom you blog about the most lol another one I already answered. it’s prob rnm. it’s definitely the fandom I’ve created the most content for.

M: your favourite writer/s oh god idk when was the last time I read a book 😬🙈 uhhhhhhhhhhhh literally the only authors I can think of for books are like.....some YA folks that I LOVED in my late teens but now I’m just like YIKES @ them........ uh if we’re talking like screenwriting and you asked me one (1) year ago I would’ve said chris terrio in a heartbeat bc bvs but he’s also responsible for tros so like lol fuck him if he can write that vile trash. uh ava duvernay, who is also one of my fave directors, writes or co-writes a bunch of her films so she’s def on the list. tarell alvin mccraney, who I haven’t actually read anything he’s written (🙈) but moonlight and david makes man are both rlly excellent and he’s responsible for both. uh for tv, chris fedak always immediately comes to mind bc he’s created/co-created three shows I love (chuck, deception, and prodigal son) and knowing his co-creator of chuck and seeing what he’s made since it’s become p clear that the aspects of the show I hate about it are (for the most part) things he’s not responsible for lol (also! ALSO! idk if it was him or someone else in the writer’s room but in ps when a sex worker got murdered, malcolm kept referring to her as a sex worker instead of using slurs and it still makes me so !!!!!!!!)

I: a book you can read over and over again idk the last time I touched a book oof. ok this would absolutely not be true today but as a kid I was obsessed w the tale of desperaux I’m p sure I would read it like 3x a year and then the film came out and ruined my fondness of the book by being a diasaster lmfaoooooooo

L: a quote from one of your fandoms which you absolutely adore afhdjgfkgh L is such a popular letter today lmaooooo ok another quote hm chuck this time. for context chuck is sitting around his house v drunk and sarah comes by his house unexpectedly lol

C: I get it, okay. I think everybody gets it, Shaw’s amazing, and you two are gonna run off together and save the world, and that’s... great news for the world. But earlier on, in my drunken haze, I realized I hadn’t asked you a question. A really important question that I’d like to ask you now, if that’s okay. Just once, for the record: Sarah, do you love me? -beat of silence- C: Wow, I’m in my underwear. I’m sitting in my underwear, holding a plastic guitar. There’s a very good chance I’m making a complete fool of myself, isn’t there? S: Yes. C: I should probably put some pants on. S: No, Chuck. Yes. Chuck, I fell for you a long, long time ago. After you fixed my phone and before you started defusing bombs with computer viruses. So, yes. Yes

here’s the scene if you care to see what made 14 year old me lose my entire mind

E: a character you think you’re the most like? already answered but it is indeed max lov that hyperempathetic autistic lesbian :)

send me letters

[sun-to-my-luna]

#XVIII

― the time has come.

The focus of today is Camila’s self-titled album “Camila.” Depending on the person music has a variety of interpretation, and today we’ll be looking {into it}, and at other things.  Not from the average CS perspective. Not from the general public perspective, but from a totally different perspective.

ps. want to mention beforehand that I know I don’t usually talk about darker shit, but because it makes sense I feel like I should.

Anyways as we all know IHQ was placed in the intro of the “CITC” MV for promotional reasons, and they both  weren’t  put onto her album.  IHQ  was simply released as a single for the sole purpose of drama. It either left everyone wondering who it was really about, or confirmed the narrative that there was a nonexistent grudge.

When someone first listens to “I Have Questions” it sounds like a somber song aimed at a love interest, or possibly the girls of Fifth Harmony. Butー there’s one possibility no one seems to think about.

Maybe the song is towards multiple people, or at least for someone else. “Them” or those that control every aspect of her life except for what’s actually private.

This theoretical analysis will be divided into three parts.

When this was posted the “LAND vs. C” narrative had already been put into motion. Everyone else (GP) was lead to believe that the song was supposedly about the group when in fact it most likely wasn’t. The girls were out having fun...but Camila was stuck  in a hotel bathroom all day writing songs? It doesn’t make sense, unless she was actually being forced to work on her album...which was later delayed on purpose.

I.

I’ll start with this string of tweets.

The guy in the tweet above is the SND at Interscope Records, and he is giving a power statement in that tweet  that says, “ They work for you. You do as you’re told,” or “You don’t tell them how to do their job.”

That same day underneath that tweet he received a comment from Chippy who I completely agreed with, but “Marcus” here  seemed to disagree, and answered back sarcastically.

Then on May 27th he tweeted this. *cough* Are you referring to MJ? *cough*

I noticed this tweet on a different account run by someone else from the #E*** clan.

“ーThe Artist is doing mostly all of the work, & the label is just the #plug. The machine.. labels don’t even care if an artist doesn’t sell, they’re making money from streaming & singles & shenanigans (PR, Scandals, and Media..etc.)”

He’s right, but the thing I found the most interesting is he used the term “ machine” (similar to Chely Wright) to describe the big labels.

II.

***This next section is going to get a bit dark.***

All kinds of stuff has been mentioned on my blog before like “the dark web”, but nothing quite similar to the level of this. I’m going to explain it only briefly.

Commercial cult manipulation:

What is a cult? A cult is a group of people who organize around a strong authority figure in this case a multi-level marketing organization,  aka. “Major Label.”  Cults attempt to expand their influence for the purpose of money. They change someone’s old identity with a new one. The person may not have chosen that identity.

Before a celebrity becomes a“celebrity” in the entertainment industry they’re a normal person with a normal life under the radar.  After they get into a position of  known status they have to maintain  an image (that they don’t choose), and  they need to maintain their brand. 

Because that’s what they become, a brand that makes other  people money.

Edgar Schein described the process of “coercive persuasion” as a 3 stage process.

“an unfreezing of the identity” - breaking the person down

“changing” -  the change that should happen to the person

“refreezing” - Reinforcing the new identity.  

Everyone in Fifth Harmony had been assigned a certain role since the beginning, and if you watch interviews you’ll see that clearly enough. We’ve even mentioned here on tumblr before; how they break an artist down only to  build that artist’s image up again, and that’s a constant change.

a.

Mind Control:

Bare in mind:  mind control in a cult setting is a system that messes with someone’s identity

Mind control is not brainwashing

The people involved unwittingly participate, by cooperating with their controllers, and giving them private information that they don’t  know will be used against them.  Mind control in a commercial cult setting is achieved by placing a person in a social environment where in order to function, they have to replace their old identity, and adhere to the new identity.

Emotional Control:

Fear and guilt are central to any thought reform/mind control program. Cult tactics include:  inducing fears and phobias  in group members to allow the leadership to maintain control. Members can  believe that all sorts of horrible things may happen if they don't follow the  rules.

For example: If you come out, then you’ll lose fans or won’t have a career.

Alyson Stoner:

+ Plus many more.

They lose the freedom to choose for themselves, the freedom to do what they want, have the relationships they want or even eat what they like.

“Mind control may be largely understood by analysis of the three components described by Leon Festinger, a psychologist, in what has become known as the "cognitive dissonance theory.”“

These components are control of behavior, control of thoughts, and control of emo­tions.

b.

Behavior Control:

Behavior control is the regulation of an individual's physical reality. It includes the control of his environment— what clothing he wears, what food he eats, how much sleep he gets—as well as  other actions he performs.

This need for behavior control is the reason most cults give a very rigid schedule for their members.

We know they’re always over-working her.

 In addition, new diets and eating schedules also can have a disorienting effect. (Lost a little wight because I wasn’t eating.) After someone has been broken down, they must be built up again as the "new man" (or "new woman," as the case may be.)

In a mind control environment, freedom of choice is the first thing that one loses. The reason for that loss is  simple: the cult member is no longer themselves. Then, without warning, they seem to become their old self, with their old attitudes and mannerisms. Just as suddenly, they flip back to being a stranger.

Now obviously I’m not saying they’re a part of commercial cult manipulation. What I’m saying is there’s so much more shit that happens in the music industry  that we don’t know if they could be or not.   Cardi B has said it herself on instagram live, “ People have evil intentions around you. The Music Industry is more fucked up than the streets. The streets are way easier.” Anyways with that being:

III.

Lyrical  Analysis―

Why did you leave me here to burn?

 I’m way too young to be this hurt.

I feel doomed in hotel rooms staring straight up at the wall.

Camila was no longer a part of the Fifth Harmony partnership which means she was rarely getting paid for merch, and for preforming. They were forcibly making her a solo artist while she was still in the group, and they were most likely feeding her ideas  about it since 2015, even though she still wanted to be a part of  the group.  (Notice how Camila/Roger worded the statement. Not once were the girls mentioned, only the brand, aka Fifth Harmony.)

―“I was shocked to read the statement the Fifth Harmony account posted without my knowing. Saying that they were just informed through my representatives that I was “leaving the group” is simply not true.  I did not intend to end things with Fifth Harmony this way.”

She was probably working non-stop on her album all through out the 7/27 tour, and if that was the case it wouldn’t surprise me if she felt stressed, or tired.

One example is during the 7/27 tour in St. Louis when she had an anxiety attack, and couldn’t preform, but still preformed the next day. Panic attacks can happen because of demanding situations, or stress whether it be physical, emotional, or psychological.

Do you care,  Do you care?  Why don’t you care?

I gave you all of me

My blood my sweat  my heart and my tears

Why don’t you care?

{Camila}:  “They were actually working us to the fucking bone.”

{Lauren to Ally}: “ They’re making decisions on a regular basis to fuck us over, to make us literal slaves Ally.. we’re doing fucking labor everyday, and we see nothing.”

NUMBER 1  tell me who do you think you are?

You’ve got some nerve trying to tear my faith apart.

NUMBER 2  why would you try to play me for a fool?

I should've never trusted you.

The Camila from 2014 who was just a girl with big dreams, and the Camila from 2016 the girl that was feeling doomed inside hotel rooms... have two very different demeanors.

Yes, it’s true  bands never last a long time together, but they made the fans that she loved hate her. That way she wouldn’t have a choice, but to leave because they didn’t want her in the group anymore. They made her want to leave. They pushed the solo idea onto her.  They kicked her off of Fifth Harmony. They broke her down.  She was so tired, and you could tell.

NUMBER 3 why would you who you swore that you would be?

These people made it seem like she could trust them, and she believed that. Those people were supposed to be there for her. They were supposed to be her stepping stone. They were supposed to care. The only back they were looking out for though was their own. She would be the next rising “pop idol” and they did what they could to make it happen.

  Money is more important than someone else’s emotions, and health to them.

Don’t believe me? Ask Lauren Jauregui’s knee infection.

With that I leave you this:

No matter how successful someone is, or how happy someone looks it  doesn’t mean that they’re actually happy.  There’s a lot of things that go on behind the scenes that nobody knows about. You may think you know, but you don’t. They show you 10% of their life on social media, but that doesn’t mean you automatically know 90% of their life. You may talk to them for 5- 15 minutes, but that doesn’t mean you know what they’re going through. Make sure you show them love. Make sure you show them support. Make sure they know that no matter what they’re going through they have a fan base that won’t ever stop appreciating them even if they end up being  poor.   Show them you care no matter what. Show them you love them for them and not just because they’re “famous.” If you’re lucky enough give them the longest hug you can, because not everyone can.

[dangermousie]

Like Georgians, Jacobites and some of the most awesome romance novels? A Patricia Veryan pusher post

I have just discovered that Patricia Veryan, a writer of romance novels set in Georgian and Regency time, has had the bulk of her books reissued on kindle.

So this is a giant pusher post.

Who is Patricia Veryan, you may ask. She was a British writer of romance novels who was old school enough to belong to the style of Georgette Heyer and Jeffery Farnol (who deserves his own pusher post), instead of the newer but now old “bodice ripper, rapey” school like Woodiwiss, Rogers et al. Her novels have plots, no sex scenes and are swoonily, amazingly romantic. She also did her research and they feel like true period novels, not modern people in period clothes prancing about.

They are full of swashbuckling, angsty heroes with awful families, strong heroines fighting off villains, conspiracies unmasked, swords at dawn, tons of hero torture and gorgeousness. Does it sound good? It should.

As I mentioned above, she wrote both regencies and Georgians, but I am gonna talk about the latter series today, because they are all on kindle. Her two Georgian series are The Golden Chronicles (set in the aftermath of Bonnie Prince Charlie's 1745 uprising) and Tales of the Jeweled Men (ditto). TGC follow the supposed treasure that Bonnie Prince Charlie amassed to help his Rebellion, which disappears, and which now the good guys are trying to get to the donors and bad guys want for themselves. There are six books in the series (though there are two earlier books, Mistress of Willowale and The Wicked Widow, which tie into it too. MoW is not available on kindle but TWW is and is a delightful Georgian romp with a rakish, cynical hero who ends up adoring the spunky, cheerful, pragmatic heroine. I am rereading it RN). * Practice to Deceive - Penelope Montgomery always meant to marry Quentin Chandler but he went off and joined the Jacobite rebellion and her family died and she's stuck with her awful aunt and uncle. Quentin resurfaces when he comes to her for assistance but he gets captured by her psycho family and tortured for info about the treasure. Penelope rescues him and they go on the run. I loooove this book. Penny is not flighty or dim or anything but calm, a little reserved, very ladylike, yet awesome. And I have a crush on charming, funny, h/c magnet Quentin. My fave Veryan character, Roland Mathieson, first appears in this one as the bad guy's henchman who kinda wants Penelope. * Journey to Enchantment - the hero of this one is Penelope's brother Geoffrey and heroine a Scottish gal Prudence McTavish. I remember liking it OK (short version - Geoffrey is Jacobite Scarlet Pimpernel) but was not particularly in love. * The Tyrant - love this one. Phoebe Ramsay ends up being stuck in an engagement to Meredith Carruthers as a cover for some Jacobite-related smuggling. I love both fashionable, fun Phoebe and cool, common-sense, angstmuffin Mededith (we are introduced to the first but not the last of Veryan's horrific parents in this one - I am not sure whether I hate his father or his mother more) and we see more of Roland who actually ends up helping the lead couple, in a very ironic, standoffish way, while sneaking bad guy bits now and then. * Love Alters Not - super super super obsession. Dimity Cranford, in order to lead soldiers away from an injured Jacobite family friend, ends up in all sorts of complicated embroglios which ultimately lead her pretending to be someone else entirely, that someone a woman trying to disposess Sir Anthony Farrar, an English army captain in the late Rebellion, who has been ostracized by everyone for running at the battle of Prestopans, leading to the rout of his unit and *da-dun* making Dimity's brother crippled. So much angst and hurt/comfort and awesomeness, you have NO idea. I think Dimity/Anthony are my favorite Veryan OTP which is saying a huge huge deal. Also, I believe I was gibbering and screaming at my book during Anthony's trial. Roland appears again and this is the book I fell for him in - he's sort of Anthony's friend and is thoroughly delicious. * Cherished Enemy - follows Robert McTavish (Prudence's brother) and Rosamond Albritton, sister of a recurring character. Tbh, it's my least fave in the series, though I don't hate it or anything, so I don't remember it much. * The Dedicated Villain - LOOOOOOVE! Roland gets a book! And what a book! Roland is on the hunt for the Jacobite treasure, comes across a troupe of actors (or are they?), which includes the tiny (short ladies represent!) but fierce and awesome Fiona Bradford - will he actually change his mind about his obsession? The Dedicated Villain is my favorite of her Georgians (well, that, and Love Alters Not are probably tied). I mean, Roland and Fiona! This series actually manages to do a convincing job of moving Roland from villain to antihero to hero with me buying the transition; also it explains why he starts out the way he does without making it a full excuse. TDV is also one of the very few books that maxed out my hurt/comfort love - PV never really went much for h/c of the physical as opposed to emotional sort in general but Roland's torture scenes in TDV are beyond brutal, I was kinda reading through my fingers and bawling (one of my vivid memories is being high school age, sitting under a tree during the very hot summer, reading that stuff and sniffling). But oddly, it didn't feel gratuitous because it was sort of karma for some of the stuff he did, especially to Quentin in Practice to Deceive (though what happened to him was miles worse than what happened to Quentin). And props to Veryan for having the guts to give him permanent damage. Jeweled Men follows a nefarious conspiracy to take over certain strategic properties to stage an invasion and a bunch of sexay aristocrats who stumble on the plot and decide to fight it (think 18th century Pimpernel). * Time's Fool - follows Gideon Rossiter, a discharged officer who's just returned from the Continent, and his attempts to figure out why his family's properties and wealth imploded. Heroine is Naomi Lutonville, Gideon's erstwhile fiancee. I normally wouldn't like Naomi - she's high-maintenance and dramatic, but I adore her to bits. I ship them like crazy, too. * Had We Never Loved - my first Veryan! Clearly, I was impressed. Horatio Glendenning (remember Jacobite family friend in Love Alters Not? That's him) fought for Bonnie Prince Charlie so his future is not so good. His OTP is a feisty gypsy, Amy Consett, who is NOT discovered to be a Duke's daughter in disguise or anything. It's a lovely lovely book and they are a lovely lovely OTP. * Ask Me No Questions - Quentin's staid older brother Gordon gets his own books. There are all sorts of machinations, but this is not a huge favorite. Gordon and Ruth Allington are nice people but give me Penny and Quentin's humor and reckless courage any day. If you like nice and mature leads though, this one is for you. * A Shadow's Bliss - like amnesia? This book is for you. Ruth's amnesiac bro Jonathan tries to solve the mystery of a shipwreck he was involved in blah blah heroine is Jennifer Britewell and I literally remember nothing about her. Or Jonathan, for that matter, other than he has amnesia. The reason to read this book is the recurring characters of August Falcon, Jamie Morris, and Gwendolyn Rossiter. I read Jeweled Men as if was coming out and remember devouring each book for even the slightest hint of progress between cynical, cutting August and smart, unimpressed Gwendolyn - they are one of my fave Veryan OTPs, together with Dimity/Anthony, Roland/Fiona, and Mitchell/Charity from Sanguinet books. * Never Doubt I Love - Dimity's bro finds love. Once again, I was in it for finding out what makes August tick, Jamie's adoration of August's sis Katrina, and Gwen and August's sexy sparkle. It’s a good book on its own merits though and has a hero with a disability, which was unusual at the time. * The Mandarin of Mayfair - EEEE! EEEEE! I still remember pre-ordering this book and rolling in mad glee (hyperbole. Or is it?) August and Gwen get their own book, plus the conspiracy gets finally unmasked, there is kissing and hurt/comfort and gals being the ones to propose. The OTP is beyond amazing - August is so smart and lethal and functional despite his major issues arising out of the fact that as 1/4 Chinese he’s looked down as a mongrel by “polite” society (I love that Veryan's heroes never wallow), Gwendolyn is full of common-sense and rescues him from prisons and bad guys and won't let anyone bash him (himself included, but also their friends, which turn on him for spoilery reasons. I still have residual rage about it. Katrina, you are the worst sister ever and dead to me!) I think the ending is a little pat to resolve the very real issues he has with marrying Gwendolyn and dragging her into his life, but at that point they've been through so much hell, I didn't even care.

My favorite OTPs in her Georgian series are are four-way time between ladylike Penelope x incorrigible adventurer Quentin in PtD, tormented and self-abasing Anthony and fearless Dimity in LAN, reformed villain Roland x not really an actress Fiona in TDV, and deadly and messed up August x fearless and clever Gwen (btw, Gwen is a heroine with a disability, which, once again, was an unusual thing at the time.)   Worst father award goes to Roland's father (die in a fire, please!) and worst mother is either August's or Meredith's. Coolest family is either Dimity's or Horatio's. Favorite brother-sister pair are Gwen and Gideon Rossiters.

Basically, you should go read them yesterday!

PS Disclaimer. I used to run a Veryan listserve in the really old days. So I am biased. But she is a rare author I am rereading 20 years later and still love.

PPS If you are a Veryan fan, come talk to me!

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Understanding The Bible - A Practical Guide To Each Book In The Bible - Part 28

Written by: PETER KREEFT

FIVE

________

The I AM Reveals Himself: John’s Gospel

Long-standing tradition has identified John the author of the fourth Gospel with John “the disciple Jesus loved” (13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7, 20). He was the one to whom Jesus entrusted His mother when He was dying on the Cross (19:26-27). He was the youngest of the apostles and lived the longest—until the time of the emperor Trajan (A.D. 98-117). We know this from Irenaeus, who was a disciple of Polycarp, who was, in turn, a disciple of John. He was one of the “inner circle” of Peter, James, and John. Most importantly, he was an eyewitness to the events he describes in his Gospel (1:14; 19:35; 21:24-25; see 1 Jn 1:1-3).

It has been a virtual touchstone of ideological acceptability in modernist theological circles to date this Gospel after John’s death in the second century and to hold that not John but “the Johannine community” wrote it. But this position is not based on any conclusive evidence in the text itself or on any evidence at all from history and the earliest tradition. It is rather based on a theological prejudice against John’s “high Christology”, that is, his strong emphasis on Christ’s divinity. The belief that this Gospel is not historically accurate because it was not written by an eyewitness (John the apostle), and that Jesus never really said the uncomfortable things this Gospel says He said—this is simply assumed and asserted as “the accepted results of modern scholarship”. In my opinion, this is what students call “a snow job”.

The case for John the apostle as author is very strong. First, the author’s knowledge of Jewish customs and geography indicates that he was a Jew.

Second, his attention to numbers (2:6; 6:13; 6:19; 21:8; 21:11) and names (1:45; 3:1; 18:10) indicates that he was a contemporary and an eyewitness, as he claims to be (1:14; 19:35; 21:24-25).

Third, he refers to himself as “the disciple Jesus loved”. The other three Gospels all name Peter, James, and John as the inner circle. Peter cannot be the author because he is referred to as another person than “the disciple Jesus loved”, and James cannot be the author because he was martyred too early (Acts 12:1-2). This leaves only John.

Fourth, a papyrus was discovered in Egypt (the Rylands Papyrus 52) containing parts of John 18, which has been dated to A.D. 135. This suggests a first-century date for the original Gospel, for the papyrus would have required considerable time to be copied and circulated.

Finally, all the early Church Fathers ascribe this Gospel to John, including Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Theophilus of Antioch, and Origen.

The Gospel is arranged topically, not strictly chronologically. The central topic is the identity of Jesus. He is the great mystery man. People ask of others, “Who is He?” but of Jesus, “What is He?” They ask where He is from—not His hometown but His home world. His startling answer is that He is from Heaven, from God. He is the most incredible thing that has ever happened: the eternal God has stepped into the world of time He created.

The identification of the man Jesus with the eternal Logos, or Divine Mind, is first asserted in the magnificent, mystical prologue in chapter 1. Then it is gradually unfolded both by Jesus’ words, which more and more clearly claim divinity, and by His deeds, especially His miracles.

John arranges Jesus’ words around seven “I AM” statements:

  1. “I AM the bread of life” (6:35, 48);

  2. “I AM the light of the world” (8:12; 9:5);

  3. “I AM the door” (10:7, 9);

  4. “I AM the good shepherd” (10:11, 14);

  5. “I AM the resurrection and the life” (11:25);

  6. “I AM the way, the truth, and the life” (14:6); and

  7. “I AM the true vine” (15:1-5).

“I AM” is the divine name God revealed to Moses from the burning bush (Ex 3:14). It is the name no Jew ever even pronounces, because to speak the name “I” is to claim to bear it. Exodus 3:14 is the only time God ever revealed His own essential name, as distinct from His relations and appearances to us (for example, as Lord, Creator, Father). In Hebrew, this name is called the sacred tetragrammaton or four-consonant name, JHWH. No one knows for certain how to pronounce it because the vowels were not written down and it was not spoken. (The old guess was “Jehovah” and the new guess is “Yahweh.”) However He pronounced it, when Jesus spoke this unutterable name, claiming it for Himself, He was clearly claiming divinity.

The most explicit occasion of all is in the passage 8:58: “Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” The Jews’ reaction to this was a clear and logical one: they tried to kill Him. For if He was not God, He was the most wicked blasphemer in history and the most worthy of death. This is one of Christianity’s oldest apologetic arguments: aut deus aut homo malus: “either [he is] God or a bad man.” The only thing Jesus couldn’t possibly be is the very thing nearly everyone except orthodox Christians say He was: a good man, but only a man.

People are complex. There are many attitudes we can take toward any person who ever lived—except to Jesus. There are only two possible attitudes to Him. John shows them emerging more and more clearly as the story unfolds, like two characters coming out of hiding. Either He is God, as He claimed to be, and must be worshipped, adored, loved, believed, and obeyed; or else He is the most dangerous liar or lunatic in history. John makes every honest reader choose between these two attitudes to Jesus because Jesus Himself did exactly that.

John arranges his story of Christ’s life around seven signs (miracles). Where each of the other evangelists record many miracles, John chooses only seven. But he carefully records people’s reactions of belief and disbelief after each one. This culminates in the crucifixion, where unbelief seems to triumph—until Easter Sunday.

John emphasizes how Jesus was hated and rejected. He never fit people’s prejudices, categories, ideologies, or set agendas. All were amazed at Him. Some were enthralled, and some were scandalized. Teachings like the one about eating His Body and drinking His Blood (6:58-69) sorted out His hearers into two camps: those who said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” (6:60) and those who said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (6:68).

These are the only two camps that will ever be for all eternity. John shows us, more clearly than any other writer, the ultimate spiritual geography, the eternal map, behind the drama of belief versus unbelief. C. S. Lewis summarized the map this way: “Although there were a thousand paths by which he might walk through the world, there was not one of them that did not lead, in the end, either to the Beatific or the Miserific Vision.”

The seven signs around which John organizes this drama are:

  1. changing water to wine (2:1-11);

  2. healing the nobleman’s son (4:46-54);

  3. healing the paralytic (5:1-16);

  4. feeding the five thousand (6:1-13);

  5. walking on the water (6:16-21);

  6. healing the man born blind (9:1-7); and

  7. raising Lazarus from the dead (11:1-44).

These seven miracles supply the seven basic human needs, both physically and spiritually:

  1. wine symbolizes joy (see Ps 104:15);

  2. physical health symbolizes spiritual health (virtue);

  3. physical power and mobility symbolize spiritual power;

  4. bread symbolizes “the bread of life”, spiritual nourishment;

  5. overcoming sea and storm symbolizes faith overcoming fear;

  6. physical sight symbolizes spiritual sight (wisdom); and

  7. resurrection from physical death symbolizes salvation from eternal death.

Thus Christ saves completely. Joy, virtue, power, life, faith, sight, and immortality replace thirst, disease, paralysis, hunger, fear, blindness, and death.

Jesus speaks much in this Gospel of eating and drinking and life and death. There are two words in Greek for “life”: bios (natural life) and zoe (supernatural life). Zoe is the word John uses for what Jesus offers us. This is a life natural to God but supernatural to us. It includes divine power over nature via miracles, over selfishness via agape love, and over death via resurrection.

But no one can give what he doesn’t have. The practical importance of the dogma of the divinity of Christ is this: Christ can give us supernatural life only if He has it Himself, by nature. The case for Jesus’ divinity is also the case for our salvation.

John presents a compelling case, including many kinds of evidence, for the incredible claim that this man of flesh and blood was God incarnate.

First, most obviously, there are His miracles. These are signs (semeia) of His divinity, and of our own supernatural destiny. Only a supernatural being can perform supernatural acts.

A second, even clearer sign is His Resurrection. This is the final, dramatic, climactic proof of who He is. You just might come up with some natural explanation for other miracles if you were desperate to do so, but not for conquering death. Thus John goes into greater detail about Jesus’ post-Resurrection appearances than the other evangelists.

A third piece of evidence is Jesus’ character. It is as far as it could possibly be from that of a liar or a lunatic. He is good, wise, mature, clever, compassionate, and trustworthy. This is exactly the opposite sort of person from the madman who thinks he is God or the charlatan who dupes dumb disciples for private profit, power, and prestige, like Jim Jones or Reverend Moon.

Fourth, He forgives sins—all sins. “Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

Fifth, He changes people’s lives, characters, destinies, and even their names. Your name tells your self. Only God gives you that.

Insistently, repeatedly, and step by step John builds the case for Jesus’ divinity and challenges each reader with His claim to be not just the Savior but the reader’s Savior. How the reader responds is literally a matter of life or death. This book is, simply, the most important book ever written. It is the book of life.

No book lays it out more plainly. John tells us explicitly why he wrote his Gospel in 20:31. (How can so many scholars discuss the issue, as if there were some secret code or hidden agenda only the scholars knew?) It is the Gospel in a nutshell: “[T]hese things are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life (zoe) in his name.”

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THE PROPHECY OF OSEE - From The Douay-Rheims Bible - Latin Vulgate

Chapter 3

INTRODUCTION.

Osee, or Hosea, whose name signifies a saviour, was the first in the order of time among those who are commonly called lesser prophets, because their prophecies are short. He prophesied in the kingdom of Israel, (that is, of the ten tribes) about the same time that Isaias prophesied in the kingdom of Juda. Ch. --- The chronological order is not observed in any edition. The Sept. very from the rest. They place the less before the greater prophets, and read some of the names rather differently, as Prot. do also, though they have nothing but novelty to recommend the change. We shall here specify the Prot. names, (H.) in the order in which these prophets appeared: (C.) 1. Hosea, 2. Amos, 3. Jonah, 4. Micah, 5. Nahum, 6. Joel, 7. Zephaniah, 8. Habakkuk, 9. Obadiah, 10. Haggai, 11. Zechariah, 12. Malachi. H. --- It is not known who collected them into one volume. but the book of Ecclesiasticus (xlix. 12.) speaks of the twelve; and 4 Esd. i. 39. specifies them as they are found in the Sept. Osee, Amos, Micheas, Joel, Abdias, Jonas, Nahum, &c. as in the Vulg. C. --- Many other prophets appeared before these, (W.) but Osee is the first of the sixteen whose works are extant. He must have continued his ministry about eighty-five years, and lived above one hundred and ten, if the first verse speaks of him alone. But some take it to regard the whole collection, and may be added by another hand. C. --- The style of Osee is sententious and very hard to be understood, (S. Jer.) as but little is known of the last kings of Israel, in whose dominions he lived, and to whom he chiefly refers, though he speaks sometimes of Juda, &c. C. --- By taking a wife, and other parables, he shews their criminal conduct and chastisment, and foretells their future deliverance and the benefits to be conferred by Christ. We must observe that the prophets often style the kingdom of the two tribes, Juda, Benjamin, Jerusalem, or the house of David; and that of the ten tribes, Ephraim, Joseph, Samaria, Jezrahel, Bethel, or Bethaven; and often Israel or Jacob till after the captivity of these tribes, when the latter titles refer to Juda, who imitated the virtues of Jacob better than the other kingdom. W. --- Then all distinction of this nature was at an end. H.

The additional Notes in this Edition of the New Testament will be marked with the letter A. Such as are taken from various Interpreters and Commentators, will be marked as in the Old Testament. B. Bristow, C. Calmet, Ch. Challoner, D. Du Hamel, E. Estius, J. Jansenius, M. Menochius, Po. Polus, P. Pastorini, T. Tirinus, V. Bible de Vence, W. Worthington, Wi. Witham. — The names of other authors, who may be occasionally consulted, will be given at full length.

Verses are in English and Latin.

HAYDOCK CATHOLIC BIBLE COMMENTARY

This Catholic commentary on the Old Testament, following the Douay-Rheims Bible text, was originally compiled by Catholic priest and biblical scholar Rev. George Leo Haydock (1774-1849). This transcription is based on Haydock's notes as they appear in the 1859 edition of Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary printed by Edward Dunigan and Brother, New York, New York.

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES

Changes made to the original text for this transcription include the following:

Greek letters. The original text sometimes includes Greek expressions spelled out in Greek letters. In this transcription, those expressions have been transliterated from Greek letters to English letters, put in italics, and underlined. The following substitution scheme has been used: A for Alpha; B for Beta; G for Gamma; D for Delta; E for Epsilon; Z for Zeta; E for Eta; Th for Theta; I for Iota; K for Kappa; L for Lamda; M for Mu; N for Nu; X for Xi; O for Omicron; P for Pi; R for Rho; S for Sigma; T for Tau; U for Upsilon; Ph for Phi; Ch for Chi; Ps for Psi; O for Omega. For example, where the name, Jesus, is spelled out in the original text in Greek letters, Iota-eta-sigma-omicron-upsilon-sigma, it is transliterated in this transcription as, Iesous. Greek diacritical marks have not been represented in this transcription.

Footnotes. The original text indicates footnotes with special characters, including the astrisk (*) and printers' marks, such as the dagger mark, the double dagger mark, the section mark, the parallels mark, and the paragraph mark. In this transcription all these special characters have been replaced by numbers in square brackets, such as [1], [2], [3], etc.

Accent marks. The original text contains some English letters represented with accent marks. In this transcription, those letters have been rendered in this transcription without their accent marks.

Other special characters.

Solid horizontal lines of various lengths that appear in the original text have been represented as a series of consecutive hyphens of approximately the same length, such as ---.

Ligatures, single characters containing two letters united, in the original text in some Latin expressions have been represented in this transcription as separate letters. The ligature formed by uniting A and E is represented as Ae, that of a and e as ae, that of O and E as Oe, and that of o and e as oe.

Monetary sums in the original text represented with a preceding British pound sterling symbol (a stylized L, transected by a short horizontal line) are represented in this transcription with a following pound symbol, l.

The half symbol (1/2) and three-quarters symbol (3/4) in the original text have been represented in this transcription with their decimal equivalent, (.5) and (.75) respectively.

Unreadable text. Places where the transcriber's copy of the original text is unreadable have been indicated in this transcription by an empty set of square brackets, [].

Chapter 3

The prophet is commanded again to love an adulteress; to signify God's love to the synagogue. The wretched state of the Jews for a long time, till at last they shall be converted.

[1] And the Lord said to me: Go yet again, and love a woman beloved of her friend, and an adulteress: as the Lord loveth the children of Israel, and they look to strange gods, and love the husks of the grapes.

Et dixit Dominus ad me : Adhuc vade, et dilige mulierem dilectam amico et adulteram, sicut diligit Dominus filios Israel, et ipsi respiciunt ad deos alienos, et diligunt vinacia uvarum.

[2] And I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for a core of barley, and for half a core of barley.

Et fodi eam mihi quindecim argenteis, et coro hordei, et dimidio coro hordaei.

[3] And I said to her: Thou shalt wait for me many days: thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt be no man's, and I also will wait for thee.

Et dixi ad eam : Dies multos exspectabis me; non fornicaberis, et non eris viro; sed et ego exspectabo te.

[4] For the children of Israel shall sit many days without king, and without prince, and without sacrifice, and without altar, and without ephod, and without theraphim.

Quia dies multos sedebunt filii Israel sine rege, et sine principe, et sine sacrificio, et sine altari, et sine ephod, et sine theraphim.

[5] And after this the children of Israel shall return, and shall seek the Lord their God, and David their king: and they shall fear the Lord, and his goodness in the last days.

Et post haec revertentur filii Israel, et quaerent Dominum Deum suum, et David regem suum : et pavebunt ad Dominum, et ad bonum ejus, in novissimo dierum.

Commentary:

Ver. 1. Woman. This second woman denotes the penitent Israel, yet not quite reconciled. The people in captivity are separated both from her idols and from God, though the latter still retains an affection for them. Osee does not marry this woman, but gives his word. We must not urge the parable too far. He acts as a figure of the Lord, who had received an outrage. C. --- Grace is still offered to sinners, whose persons are never hated by God. W. --- Husks. Sept. &c. "cakes made with grapes," for idols. Theod. S. Jer.

Ver. 2. Core. Sept. "gomor of barley, and for a nebel of wine." The woman must consequently have been of very mean condition. In the East wives are still, even among Christians, purchased according to their rank, often without being seen or consulted. The parents give part of the price to the bride. C. --- The unbelieving Jews, who refrain from idols, receive some temporal advantages; but not thirty pieces of silver, or three cores of wheat, denoting the faith of the blessed Trinity and the observance of the decalogue, whereby they might obtain eternal life. Towards the end of the world they shall be converted. W.

Ver. 3. Man's. After the person was espoused, any infidelity was punished as if she had been married. It does not appear that Osee took this woman to wife. C. --- But he signified that the people must wait for God, in captivity. Theod. Sanct. lv.

Ver. 4. Altar. Heb. "statue;" matseba instead of mozbe, as (H.) others agree with S. Jerom, and there seems to have been no variation in his time. --- Theraphim. Images or representations, (Ch.) either good or bad. As the other things mentioned were good, such lawful images as were used in the temple must be meant. 3 K. vii. 36. W. --- S. Jerom explains it of cherubim. Sept. "altar, priesthood, and manifestations (Urim, &c.) being wanting." H. --- Yet some take it in a bad sense. The Jews adhere neither to God nor to idols.  Vat. &c. --- What misfortune, however, would the latter be? In exile the Jews were deprived of the exercise of their religion, and of their princes. C. --- But this was only a figure of what they endured since they rejected Christ. Orig. Philoc. i. S. Jer. --- This wretched state will probably continue till they at last embrace the yoke of Christ, the true king of ages. C.

Ver. 5. David, their king. That is, Christ, who is of the house of David. Ch. --- After the captivity, the Jews submitted to Zorobabel. Yet this only foreshewed a more sincere conversion to Jesus Christ. In fact, the house of David never regained the throne, (C.) and it is not clear that Zorobabel had any authority over the people. H. - Christ is the literal object of this prediction. C.