#we were bullying kids in maple hospital

[generic-doomsday-villain]

the doctor is in (ppl who think lesbians can like/be men + vice-versa, proship, & endo dni)

[candydripping]

MATTY CAMPBELL ( HE/HIM ) is a CIS MALE, TWENTY-SEVEN year old DRIFTWOOD BOOKSTORE OWNER who has been living in Moorbrooke for FIVE YEARS. They were born on SEPTEMBER 2ND and right now, they are currently residing in MAPLE COURT. It has been said that they look suspiciously like FREDDY CARTER and if they had to choose a song to describe themselves, they would choose GET AWAY by GEORGE EZRA. 

trigger warnings: parental death

we love a good pre-written bio hehehe

the first few years of matty’s childhood were just nice. his parents were both surgeons who met at the hospital they worked in and he grew up in a fairly small village in devon, england

he was a very very quiet kid. growing up he had a bad stutter and often struggled to speak, so a lot of the time he just didn’t bother. the kids would pick on him for being weird and which just made matty even more withdrawn from everyone else

because of the bullying, his parents decided to pull matty out of public school and send him to a private school instead and even though he still didn’t completely fit in, it was far better than the school he used to go to

after being there for a while, he realised some of the people there were exact kind of people he needed to be around because he managed to make some friends who helped pull him out of his shell

he was 100% a nerd who genuinely loved all of his lessons and found himself having a particular affinity for literature

( death tw ) but because i’m the queen of angst, when he was 14, the campbells went on a summer road trip which ended in tragedy. a truck ran a red light and instantly killed matty’s parents and left matty with serious injuries and he ended up having to have surgery

matty spent the rest of the summer in hospital and honestly he didn’t even want to go back to school because he knew the accident would be all anyone ever spoke about but he had nowhere else to go

he was even quieter than usual and became withdrawn once again because he was sad and just didn’t feel like communicating with anyone. he started to skip a lot of lessons so he didn’t have to be around people despite the fact that he’d always been a good student 

his aunt and uncle looked after him but they were mean and hard on him and his cousins would pick on him just because they could. he hated the summers he had to spend there and as soon as he finished school and turned eighteen, he left

he’d always been fascinated by the world so for the next few years he went from place to place, living in different areas and countries until he finally settled in a small town in maine

he got a job at driftwood bookstore which he absolutely adored. the store was owned by an older gentleman who took care of matty and made him feel like he had a home and when he retired, matty took over the store and became the new owner

fun facts!

matty has what we call a resting grump face™️ aka he just looks like he’s angry all the time but really he’s not he’s actually pretty soft ( although the fact that he’s very anti-social probably doesn’t really help his case )

he won’t object to people hanging out with him but he does prefer to be on his own and won’t often be the one to reach out so sometimes it’s difficult for him to keep friends

tbh people just make him anxious and he’d rather hide somewhere with a book

honestly he’s really just a softie and with anyone he can genuinely call a friend he’ll be really sweet to and do nice things for them all the time

his name is matty and he will never ever answer to matthew and tbh if anyone called him that he’d straight up ignore them 

his stutter isn’t as bad as it was when he was a kid and it now only particularly affects him when he’s feeling particularly nervous or anxious which still frustrates him a lot

has a watch that his parents gave to him which he never ever takes off no matter what 

doesn’t like being in cars after the accident and will get rlly anxious if he has to be in one and prefers just to walk everywhere or get buses

suffers from a lot of chronic pain in his hips thanks to the accident and surgery but he usually stays pretty quiet about it bc he doesn’t like to complain :((((

he’s a bi baby but he’s probably only been in one or two relationships, if any. he doesn’t like the idea of sleeping with anyone that he’s not dating at all

would definitely be the cutest boyfriend though even if he’d be a little awkward at times

he lives above driftwood bookstore and absolutely adores it and 90% of his place is covered with books

[tact-and-impulse]

Women of Ruroken Week 2017, Day 5

Ugh, I had a hard time deciding between Uki and Tokio, and Uki won out at the last minute. I used up all my romance fuel on yesterday, but Tokio and Saito still show up.

Prompt: Seasons

The cicadas were loudly singing, and Uki impatiently tapped her foot, readjusting her phone against her ear. “Look, I can’t leave, my shift’s not over!”

“Well, I can’t pick him up by myself. I’ve only got one good hand.” Her older brother complained.

She rubbed her forehead. Why did Ota have to be on that summer school trip now? Why did Sano-nii have to break his hand again? And why, why was Papa out at this hour? “I’ll ask Tokio-san if she can cover for me, and I’ll text back if it’s okay. But you have to call Katsu one more time. Got it?”

“Yeah. Got it.” He ended the call.

She groaned, slapped her cheeks with both hands, and fixed on a smile as she reentered the hospital. “Um, Tokio-san, can I ask a favor from you?”

Tokio-san looked up from the printer, which was spitting out pamphlets. “Of course. What is it?”

“My dad was arrested. Again. I might have to pick him up from the station with my brother. Is it okay if I leave a little early?”

“Why don’t you leave now?”

“I can’t do that to you. It’d just be you and all the babies.” She gestured to the room full of incubators. The NICU ward was a terribly lonely place, at night.

“I don’t mind at all. I can get out of my date.” She was already dialing.

“Even worse! You never go on dates, this is a lifetime opportunity!”

Tokio-san rolled her eyes. “It’s fine. It was a blind date, set up by Yamakawa-san. That man loves playing matchmaker…” She muttered, before clearing her throat. “Saito-san? I’m sorry, but something came up and it looks like I have to cancel. Oh.” Confusion then took over her expression. “No…that’s right. But you also work at Kamiya Kasshin? I see, surgical oncology, on the other side of this floor.”

“A surgeon. He could be rich.” Uki whispered, and was rewarded with a light shove.

“Two more hours. Are you sure you don’t want to move it?” Saito-san must have said something snide, because Tokio-san pressed her lips together, as she did when she was pissed. “Well, I’m not nervous either. I’ll see you in two hours.” She flashed her phone a disgusted look. “The date is still on. That man refuses to back down.”

“Does he know you’re a nurse?”

“He probably does; he seems informed.” Tokio-san shook her head. “Anyway, Uki, I’m your senior. Don’t worry about me, go to your dad. He needs you.”

“…okay.” Reluctantly, she left, blowing kisses to the sleeping preemies on her way out.

Half an hour later, she picked up Sano-nii and drove to the station. “I brought water. He’ll need it.” Sano-nii said.

“Hmph, we’re way too nice. He should appreciate how we’re trying to alleviate his hangover in the morning.”

“Yeah, we shouldn’t give it to him.” Her idiotic brother was about to pour the water out the car window.

“Don’t you dare!” She yelped, as the warm wind swept through her short hair. “Give it to me, I’ll save it for my shift tomorrow.”

“Damn, make up your mind.” He clicked his tongue. For a while, they were quiet.

“Mama would give him water.” Uki murmured.

“Well, she’s not here anymore.”

Breast cancer was ugly and fast. Her illness had forced Sano-nii and Papa to reconcile, after years of estrangement. Then, with her death, they had unraveled, fighting each other when they could and fighting others when they couldn’t. Uki had to hold the family together, and it was hard, to essentially be a nurse at all hours of the day. But she didn’t have a choice. She loved her father and brothers, and now that Mama was gone, she was only fiercer about it. She didn’t want to lose anyone again.

Their father was waiting for them, under the supervision of three cops, who released him after Sano-nii signed whatever they wanted.

“Hey, you two.” He grimaced. His hands were covered in bandages, and one eye was purple and swelling.

“You’re a wreck, Papa.” She hated how her voice sounded so pitiful, and she opened the water bottle for him. “You’ve caused so much trouble. Here, drink up, and let’s go home.”

***

“Saito-san proposed.” Tokio-san casually said, when they bought coffee. A red maple leaf caught in her bun and she nonchalantly removed it.

Uki’s eyes widened. “You just had your one-year anniversary! Why is he rushing?”

“He might get a job in Hokkaido.”

“Then, are you going with him?”

“I said I would think it over.”

Uki blew out a breath, and watched how the steam evaporated in the cool air. “Marriage, huh? That’s a big step.”

“For you, maybe. You’re twenty-two. You have plenty of time.” Tokio-san was ten years older.

“If I ever met anyone. Katsu is the only one I see on a semi-regular basis, and I’d never marry a NEET. So, do you not feel ready?”

“No, I am.” She admitted, as they walked into the bustling hospital lobby. “But I like my job too.”

They had the day shift now, and some of the infants were just waking up. After greeting the other nurses, Uki checked on the little ones. Most of them were doing well, and she cooed encouragement. “Good morning, everyone. Let’s work hard today.”

Then, Tokio-san tapped her shoulder. “I just got a call. C-section for twins, 32 weeks. You and I are going to retrieve them.”

“Alright.”

They hurried to the operating room, wheeling two spare incubators. Tokio-san accepted the first child and began to work methodically. Uki quickly took the second, and she carefully inserted the breathing tube. There, the baby gasped, and Uki smiled. The next few hours would be critical, but she had helped welcome this tiny life.

After they transported the infants to the NICU, Tokio-san spoke. “I’ve decided. I refuse to quit and move to Hokkaido.”

“What will your boyfriend say?”

“He’ll have to deal with it. He’s a grown man, that shouldn’t be a problem.” It apparently wasn’t, because on Monday, Tokio-san was pink-cheeked. “Saito-san said that he’s staying here after all.”

Uki threw her hands up in celebration. “Then, is it time to look at wedding gowns? Or are you having a Japanese-style wedding?”

Tokio-san brushed it off, saying she hadn’t said yes to him yet. But it was clear that she would, and Uki was happy for her.

***

Ota was being bullied, and since Papa was late for the parent-teacher meeting, Uki arrived in his stead. The bully’s parents denied any wrongdoing, and she grew irritated. She didn’t realize that she had raised her voice and the argument had turned into an outright screaming match. She only saw red, refusing to calm down even as other teachers had to drag the parties apart.

“Those people need to relearn manners! How could they be so mean to a cute young lady like me?” She huffed, as they walked back to the car.

“But, thank you, Uki-nee.” Ota said.

“I’m your sister, that’s what I do. And you have to tell me when things like this happen. If you stay quiet, I can’t help.” He nodded, and she readjusted his scarf for him with a sigh. “It’s so cold, but not enough to snow.”

“Mm.”

“What should we have for dinner?”

“Soba.”

“Good idea.” And she was reminded of Tokio-san, who cooked the dish often. Saito-san liked the buckwheat noodles. But lately, Tokio-san had been quieter than usual, and Uki had not heard her mention her husband for a while.

The following day, she noticed her friend’s eyes were red. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” Then, they both looked up as the door opened.

Saito-san strode over. There was a weariness in his expression, when Uki inspected him closer. “Tokio.”

“Hajime?” She glanced at Uki, before saying to her husband. “We can talk outside.” But she had forgotten her coat, and Uki went to give it to her. She stopped short though, for she could hear them through the door.

Saitou-san’s voice drifted out. “You’ve been upset since this morning, and I want to know why.”

“You know why. We hardly see each other, and when we do, we never talk. I miss you, even when you’re right there.”

There was a pause. “Work has been busy.”

“So am I. And yet, we have to make time for each other.”

“I’ll try.” He said at last.

“You will?”

“Yes. Because I love you.” He said it like a fact; it wasn’t romantic at all.

Tokio-san shakily answered. “I love you too. But we need to do more than this.”

“I know.”

Uki remembered herself and slowly backed away. It was just in time, because her phone suddenly vibrated. “Ota?” She asked.

“Hi, Uki-nee. Do you need anything from the supermarket?”

“The supermarket? Are you there?” She heard chatter in the background. “Look, don’t worry about it. I’ll stop by after I leave, so you can go home. Sano-nii is working overtime today, but Papa should be finished soon.” Their father drove vegetables and woven baskets from the countryside.

There was a shuffling noise, as if Ota shook his head. “It’s okay. I should help out more, around the house. I’m not a little kid, you don’t have to take care of me all the time.” He was right.

She exhaled. “Hang on, I wrote down a list earlier and I’ll read it to you.”

***

Cherry blossoms were outside Papa’s hospital room. He had sprained his ankle, and Uki desperately needed a break. She fluffed his pillow and checked his vitals, anything to busy her mind. “Have you been crying?” Papa asked her.

“It’s allergies.” She lied and blew her nose into a tissue. She’d have to redo her makeup later.

“If you say so.” He leaned back, waiting.

“One of the babies didn’t make it. Organ failure. I’m not usually like this!” She defended. “Tokio-san’s hormonal, because now she’s pregnant and she already has Eiji, the little boy she adopted with Saito-san. Anyway, the parents cried, then she cried, and I cried because of her. Saito-san took her home early though, so here I am. Once I feel better, I have to go back.”

“If it hurts, why are you working as a nurse?”

"I want to be here. This is the hospital that took care of Mama, until the very end. And I’m always minding you, Sano-nii, and Ota. At least, babies are cute and they give nothing but love. It’s so rough, when we lose one."

“That’s because you care so much.”

“It’s not a bad thing!” She snapped.

“Of course not.” He ruffled her hair. “If you didn’t, we’d be helpless. You’ve done a good job, putting up with this old man and your brothers. So, don’t forget that caring is what you do best. That’s why you can keep going on, even when your work is tough.”

Damn it, now she was tearing up again. “Why can’t you say more things like that?”

“Uh…” He coughed.

“Knock, knock.” Sano-nii drawled as he entered. Ota tailed him, carrying a duffel bag. “Good grief, I couldn’t believe it when I heard you were the patient.”

“Well, it’s not like I wanted to be here. Tch, now I can’t drive. And aren’t you supposed to be working?”

“I’m on lunch break, I might as well spend it here. You’ve got a nice view from your window, and Ota wanted to drop off bento boxes.”

“Here, Uki-nee.” Ota handed her one. “You should eat too.”

“Thanks. We should eat fast, you need to get back to school.”

As they ate, they bickered and raised their voices often and laughed too loudly. It wasn’t exactly a flower viewing, but she was with her family, and that made it alright.

[ghosthierophant]

1x01, 1x02, 1x03

i know i know i know i’m late

turns out i love 80s SCP Containment breach with suburban children / ET but it’s a girl with cortexiphan / Fringe’s Jacksonville for 8 episodes, what a surprise everyone saw coming

el & barb & jonathan deserve/d better

idk if steve redeems himself or anything he broke the camera & i literally started crying i hope he fucking dies 

The Vanishing of Will Byers:

THE HAPPENING

ah yes, flickering halls - my aesthetic

SCP CONTAINMENT BREACH

whoops

there’s my child - all my child

DEMOGORGON 

DND & BOOM

10 hours

/ denied

“it got me” ,,, well

THE MUSIC THE HAPPENEING

you watch your language there, young man

/ restricted area

/ light flashing

house

slendyman

911 pls help oh god it’s static 

NOPE

ok yeah arm yourself QUICKLY BETTER DO IT QUICKLY

,,, oh god jhhh fgod

welp

he’s gone

THE THEME, THE MEME

THE FONT

#power outages - yum

tfw my house has the same brown paneling as the couch

hi dude you look a mess

THESE SOUNDS

i’m the law

hi winona

WILL IS GONE

winona you being a mess rn

THIS CHILD IS DOING  HIS BEST TO BE A 2ND PARENT

/ language /

middle school

tfw no one locks their bikes

oh look, childhood bullies... lame

Midnight

Frogface

Toothless

i like the bone thing

BARB :(((((((((((((((((

,,, k hun

Bathroom Mackks

LET HER LEAVE LET HER STUDY

,,,, ugh

/ slurring

fuck a gnome

COFFEE & CONTEMPLATION, FLO

she there

,,,,, ok 

“he’s not like you, he’s not like me, he’s not like most”

“is he?” - stop

99/100 - this is the 1/100 time tho

YOUR SON GONE

HERE’S MASSIVE DYNAMIC / SCP FOUNDATION

yes the music

80s Scp Containment Breach

LOVE THIS AESTHETIC

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ok

THE GIRL

eleven, or mini olivia

music  o n  point

/ waltzes in with a fuckin hospital gown

/ eats it all

HI GOTTA GO GOTTA GO I GOTTA RUN

not a boy

,,,, i’m the nerd boys with the nerd teacher

this is pure

OHLOOK IT’S A RADIO 

YOU COULD TALK TO THE RADIO IN HALT IN CATCH FIRE 

BIGGER THAN CALIFORNIA 

nice aussie accents omg

/ overlappingchatter

HE ASKED /mocking

THEY’RE GUNNA LOOK FOR THEIR FRIEND

the hobbit

nice fuckin fort castle fam

/ in the past

OH GOD THE WITCH STOP

tfw netfix quality drops  x.x

burger for the not-boy?

what are parents????

,,,, let’s define hurt

hi benny

“eleven”

/ scratching

/ concentrates with her cortexiphan powers

bike

tfw wire taps

EX-WIFE

cynthia is a bitch

life is hard for joyce

DOG

yeah follow the dog

tfw bullets ARE still there

the door DID slam open

the light DID short out

SQUELCHING

/ ignores him

FUCK WHAT THE CHIEF SAID

your family sucks

tfw no one leaves

tfw language

NANCY PISS OFF

I’D NAMEDROP STEVE TOO

BOYFRIEND

I’M MIKE

I SUPPORT MIKE CARING ABOUT WILL

I LOVE MY SON

/ ted is alone

what’d i doooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

thx mr. clarke

MUMMIES NEVER DIE

his kid is dead

the DND

THE RADIOS

/ put himself in danger to help the party 

BACKPACK

/ climbs into the house

/ not doing a good job of it

LOL THE MUSIC

/ still eating

/ smile

,,,, social hmm

OH GOD

godfuckcigndamnIT

ESCAPE HUN

:(((((((((((((((( RIP DINNER DUDE YOU WERE THE BEST DUDE

THIS IS WHY WE CAN’T HAVE NICE THINGS

TOTO, AFRICA

IS THIS WHY IT GOT BIG AGAIN

,,, this dumbass

YUP HE’S A FUCBOI

,,, /slut-shames

she’s aite, steve

BLESS THE RAINS

jonathan for best of the older trio

jonathan my other child

HE’S CLOSE

I KNOW IT

I FEEL IT IN MY HEART

:(((((((((((((((((((((((

STATIC :((((((( 

growling

tfw surges

she’s totally right it was him

/ IS REALISTIC

TFW NO WEAPONS

it’s eleven

MUSIC

The Weirdo on Maple Street:

THE WIG WAS LAID

tfw no hair

FREAKING OUT

FREAKING ME OUT

TFW NOT DEAF

cancer ran away who knows

/ about to change

EVERYONE FLIPS OH MYGOGODHOGHDOG OH MYGODHGHDO

JEEZUS

i’m dying screaming i’m dead

“no”

“yes”

/ tfw seriously wrong w her

/ tfw crazy

/ trying to striip

MY MAN LUCAS IS FUCKIN HARDCORE

mom tells your mom who tells your mom

great plan

jeez lucas

IS THAT REAL I WANNA TOUCH THE TATTOO

i love you mike

“el” 

THEY’LL NEVER FIND HER IN HERE,,, this,,,obvious,,, fort

THIS THEME

try to eat

:(

it’s,,, kinda weird

/ i trust the mother’s intuition

/ plays the daughter card

now everyone’s upset

/ good at hiding

/ punches, out of support i guess

EGGO’S

A LOT OF STUDYING LAST NIGHT

I’M MIKE

SHE’S IIN LOVE W THE EGGO

“no”

/ shakes head

yup big trouble

“bad”

“bad people”

/ guns

STAY IN THE FORT

great forest cinematography omg

SHOW SOME CLASS, ASSHOLE

??????????????????????????????????? DON’T ASK THAT

,,,, why is steve an asshole

,,,, why is the asshole gang here

... why are you all assholes his fucking brother is missing

all of you are dicks

tfw the plan sucked

STOP THINKING ABOUT NAKED

lucas cares a lot about will tho at least but

/ mikes goes rogue & stays at home

i’m mike reacting to his sister

DAD SLEEPS THERE

yay she’s laughing

:(     jonathan 

ugh the flashbacks

tfw lonnie & joyce bickering

JONATHAN KEEPING THE FAMILY TOGETHER

“you shouldn’t like things bc people tell you you’re supposed to”

“esp not him”

/ leaving hawkins

pls give her 2 weeks & the phone & the camels thanks

ALL CLEAR WHAT

oh god that’s the will house

THE MUSIC

[ beeping rapidly ]

[ mimicking yoda ]

/ moves force with his mind

oooh the angel

THE BOY

WILL

?????? SHE POINTS

UH OH

UHHH OHHHHH

oh goddddd upstairs

promise - “it means something that you can’t break ever”

uh ohhhh :////

yikes

:(((((((((((((((

i love my child i don’t like her

,,, thx for being lowkey understanding/???

/ hides something in the closet

/ was freaking out in the closet

/scooches chair

,, callahan pls

benny’s :(

/ wanders around by himself

,, damnit cynthia

GET OFF OF HIM

PISS THE FUCK OFF LONNIE

get off of him

lucas pls

WHAT KIND OF DANGER 

lucas that’s so un-black to tell your mom

/ locks the door

/ nosebleed

/ checks the trunk

GO TO HELL, LONNIE

,,,, what an asshole i hope he dies 

“more real” - like you???? piss the fuck off

WILL HE SHUT THE FUCK UP

DO YOU STOP?????

CYNTHIA YOU TOO Y’ALL DESERVE EACH OTHER

“this kid”

different hair

NOT HELPING

DON’T GO

tfw no one wants to eat

“no”

/ spasm

HOLLY DON’T RAT THEM OUT

hmmmmmm

“a scared enough one might”

LAB

RHYTHMIC BEEPING

/ brings her dinner  :(

DUSTIN PLS

“what if ‘friend?’”

never break your word /spits on him

barb :((((((((((((((((

i’m barb

SERIOUSLY NANCE

/ does something stupid like putting on a new sweater w a new bra

i love you barb :(

tfw ur cursed

DND

“will”

/ upside down

/ will

“hiding”

not fr the bad men

/ demogorgon

OH SHIT

YO PENTAX 

i’m jonathan??? saving my sibling w photography???

WOMAN SCREAMING

,,, nvm false alarm

why not just drink beer like a normie

YOU’RE THE ONE HANGING OUT WITH THE CLICHE

,,, i’m barb not impressed at all

i’m barb

NANCE SHE HAS TO DRIVE

yikes we bleeding

GNARLY

/ pictures

jonathan,,, don’t get caught

/ MUFFLED BREATHING

S T A T IC 

“MOM”

STATIC STATIC STATIC

/ shocks out another phone

:(

:((((((((((((((((((((

/ lights, wailing, flickering

get on that morse code lol

SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO NOW

/ flickering

OH WTF IS THAT IN THE WALL

NOT OKAY

wher’es barb

i’m barb not impressed

damn at what??? she’s flat????

i’m barb :/

ugh blood activation

Holly, Jolly:

/ sputtering

/ barfing

OH SHIT OH GOD 

,,, nance you’re a bad friend

:///////////////////////////

THAT MUSIC THO

well nance you played yourself

tfw it’s not 10

Steve’s

,,,,, stop lying

why are these tv teens like this

nice swings

:((((((((((((((((((((((((  joyce

I HAVEN’T SLEPT 

THRU THE LIGHTS

HE’S NOT GUNNA DO IT NOW

,,, she sounds crazy but she’s not wrong

fr ‘NAM

/ shoots it in the eye

PRINGLES

ENERGY FOR OUR TRAVELS

, one door

LOL THE FALCON

/ clatters

“she’s not a dog”

/ is paranoid

,,,, it’s not cute paranoia isn’t cute

why am i being forced to suffer thru this

don’t fail your fucking tests

BARB IS GONE BC OF YOU

Emerald City

patrick pls 

/ eats it all

/ levitates

TV

,,,,,,, coke

HERE’S THE CORTEXIPHAN TRIALS

,,, i’m drinking a coke too oh god

tfw ur bleeding

:(

sorry you got triggered by the coke

THE XMAS LIGHTS

LOL ALL THE LIGHTS

/ inside

/ ignore him

tfw no rain on the tape

/ they’re lying

/fan

/ the thing

ah yes, a normal life :/

,,,, stop being assholes

barb doesn’t skip

nance you played yourself

/ LOOK FR ACROSS THE ROOM

born or acquired lol

“the x men are weirdos”

LUCAS PLS

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, stop razzing people about will

“q////r”

children are assholes

MONSTER KILLER

 DARK ROOM YOOO

/ pins, light bulb, nice transition

HELLA LIGHTS LOL

not now, karen

ok,,,, marissa,,, yep

i’m the lt.

We Are

,,, the fuck is the stick up this librarian’s ass

i’m he questioning the taste

nice ye olde tech

brenner

“they took my daughter”

HMMMMMMMM

all the lights

this child some type of olivia too

tfw no power

growling

DO NOT TAKE THIS SMALL CHILD

HOLLY

WHERE IS BARB

THIS TOWN IS HORRIBLE KEEPING TAGS ON THEIR CHILDREN UM

nicole you fucking narc

,,,, assholes

kick steve’s ass

are you fuckng kidding me

i know he was wrong but

not the camera

no 

are you kidding me

are you fucking kidding me

no tumblr exaggeration i am literally crying that poor camera

you fucking asshole

die

pls die

why not him instead of barb

why not theese assholes instead of barb

or will

are you kidding me

that poor camera

fuck you, nance

again your friend is likely dead bc of you

even my netflix is upset it’s not playing rn i’m getting errors

ok it’s back

cat trigger :/

ugh these walter & belly tests are so fucked up

.... :/

:/

GO EL

oh god she used a lot of her powers

she’s bleeding hella

ugh this rly is so olive-like

Fringe was fucke dup man lmao

pls leave them

thanks

/ lies

/ truth

“wastoid”

“cool”

i’m mike falling for the cortexichild

THE CAR IS STILL THERE

nice ass place near the woods lol

/ swing

LIGHTS LIGHTS LLIGHTS LIGHTS

thx dog

/ lights

/ blinks

YES

YES

safe: NO

actual best mom in tv at this point

LETTERS

tfw barb gone

LSD MIND CONTROL EXPERIMENTS - jeezus christ is jacksonville

CIA sanctioned research

YOU’RE RIGHT, CHIEF

11 of what tho

she’s 11 of what

it’s a START

/ sprints out to music

HYPE HOTLINE MIAMI THEME

WHERE ARE YOU

R I G H T  H E R E

how do i find you

R U N

oh jeezus fucking christ that’s terrifying

oh no,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

oh no

what

“what is wrong with you?” yikes

,,, mike 

/ hugs

damn mike’s family is cursed lol both your friends are gone

/ hugs

damn

[snowqueen56]

My Life with schizoaffective disorder

        Many people do not know what schizoaffective disorder even is, well to make it simple its when you have symptoms of both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.  I was diagnosed with it 3 years ago in 2017. This all started when I was 14 years old, I was being bullied by a girl I got really close with the year before we were best friends did everything together. I started to develop feelings for her my 7th grade year when I told her she acted like she liked me back. This was not the case. She then proceeded to isolate me from my family and friends making it so I felt like I had no one but her, she asked me to be her girlfriend it was all just a joke I felt so hurt and used two weeks later when she “dumped” me. that night at her house was the first time I ever kissed anyone it got pretty carried away from there, not sex but close. Yes I am female so keep your homophobic comments and bigotry to yourself please and no I am not lesbian. The following year after this incident we grew apart and we both made new friends, for some reason the tables turned and I had become her target. I had a big bullseye on my back at all times. I was whispered about, shoved down on several occasions, had rumors spread about me and even the teachers started talking. that's when the cutting got worse, I had started self harming he year prior. I wanted to die at that point. The end of 8th grade year is when my symptoms started to show. I was having delusions that everyone was talking about me including teachers, in the cafeteria I would hear all these voices melding together in unison I couldn't think straight I was seeing shadows everywhere. I knew something was wrong, very wrong. One day after school I went home and took a pair of scissors to my wrist that's when I knew I need help. My mom walked in and saw me she took the scissors. Later I Looked at my mom and just said “mom I want to die” she started looking for help.  We didn't find a counselor until after school got out. I remember the last day was awful, that much I know my memory about that day isn't great I think I ended up in the hospital due to my chronic Maple Syrup urine disease. MSUD is a metabolic disorder with a very restricted diet, I would get sick if I had more than 175 Miligrams of leucine a day. Leucine is an amino acid is protein that is toxic to people with MSUD, it builds up in their blood and causes acidosis which frequently landed my ass in the hospital. Back to  the subject, I was hospitalized in the summer of 2009 due to MSUD, but once there I talked to a psychologist which took a while to get. I forgot the doctors name but they decided that I should be admitted to the IPU ( inpatient psychiatric unit). There were so many kids I remember my first night that's when I met max who I ended up liking, BIG MISTAKE. I remember the orderlies some were nice some weren't. I felt like no one was really listening the entire time I was there max and this girl he liked started bullying me from day one. I still don't know why, I remember feeling like I had finally got things right I found a good looking guy, word of advice never date someone you meet in the psych unit.  I know this sounds like im all over the place with my thoughts but there is so much that contributes to this illness. I was released after 10 days in there they had diagnosed me with PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder and severe depression. Heres the truth though they didn't want to diagnose me with what I really had because they said I was too young to have bipolar or schizophrenia. These disorders are usually found in young adults who are in their 20′s. My therapist refused to diagnose me with either of them I saw him for 10 years and eventually fired him in 2019 for telling me “if you don't swallow semen you will never find love”. personally I think he should have is license taken away.  I was put on celexa which made me gain weight but did not help me it just made me numb. I needed a liver transplant or I was going to die I eventually got one in 2012 there was so much stress it was amplifying my symptoms. Recovery was hell I don't know how I made it though with out my doctors or family. In 2017 the voices got worse so did the delusions I was having a psychotic break. My mom took me to the hospital and I was admitted to a psych ward after they transferred me to the next one. I was there for ten days, I had heard it was a scary hospital that people got raped there. honestly it wasn't that bad all that happened was a girl was dancing naked in the hallway I ignored all the patients didn't talk to anyone but my roommate. at least she was nice. my bed sheets were stolen and they refused to give me new ones and another patient stole my new glasses. after ten days I singed an AMA to me released that's an against medical advice form; I finally got all the papers for me to go home. At the top of the paper was a diagnosis I had never heard before SCHIZOAFFECTIVE DISORDER. I was surprised, I thought “  did they finally get it right?” I was happy someone finally found out what was really wrong with me. I was on so many medications I couldn't function over the months I slowly got tapered off of them 1 by 1 none of them worked. I was on at least 7 medications. after not getting better for a month or 2 went back to the emergency room. This time I was sent to a better hospital. I wasn't hungry I was there for 5 days and didn't eat any food except on the last day there. They put me on better meds, I finally found what I called my miracle drug Haloperidol a first generation anti psychotic. After a few weeks of being on this medication I started to feel #normal for the first time in my life no voices no noises no hallucinations. well its been 3 years and Im feeling great but the voices are back and im talking to myself again. Im on a new drug called Geodon and im getting off my mood stabilizer because the side affects scare me but im feeling great. so I hope this helped. this was my story.

[newagesispage]

                                                              JULY                               2019

PAGE RIB

If you care what people think, you’re their prisoner. – Heidi Fleiss

*****

The Stones are back and opened in Chicago on June21. The reviews were great, they mostly stuck to the hits and Mick was in top notch form. Monkey Man and Sweet Virginia are back!!! Woo Hoo!!

*****

Satellite images show the complete deployment of 4 Russian made S-300 missile defense systems.

*****

Comedians in cars getting coffee will start season 11 on July 19. This season will bring us Eddie Murphy, Barry Marder, Bridget Everett, Melissa Villsenor, Sebastian Maniscalco, Seth Rogan, Ricky Gervais, Matthew Broderick, Jamie Foxx, Mario Joyner and Martin Short.

*****

Law and Order: Hate Crimes is coming.

*****

NRATV is no more. Hooray!! The NRA’s second in command Chris Cox has resigned after he was implicated in a plot to oust Wayne La Pierre. Cox calls the charges, “offensive and patently false.” There are also multiple lawsuits from ad firm Ackerman McQueen that claim the NRA is in violation of contracts.

*****

Republican representative Duncan Hunter is headed to court in September for charges that he and his wife illegally spent more than $250,000 in political donations. Prosecutors want to list details of his many affairs.

*****

NBC is bringing back Who Do You Think You Are?

*****

Police in Hong Kong are beating protesters.

*****

Sexual harassment news of the month: George Nader, part of Trump’s transition team, was arrested in New York on child porn charges.**Cuba Gooding Jr. was charged in NY with forcible touching. His lawyer says that the incident is on tape and will prove he is innocent.** Trump has been accused by the 22nd woman, this time of rape, but most of the media seemed to be playing it down. The victim, writer E. Jean Carroll says she will cooperate 100%.

*****

The Supreme Court ruled that the government can’t stop us from running a business with a scandalous name.

*****

Stop the cash bail system. It is costing us money every day.

*****

Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger have wed.

*****

Joe Sestak is running for President.

*****

I always think of Meghan McCain as the Rosie O’Donnell of the right. She seems to have a big heart and her childhood and parents seem to have made a huge influence. Somehow she always brings everything back to her and she freaks on certain talking points.

*****

Let’s keep an eye on U.S. transportation secretary Elaine Chao. The shipping dynasty of her family is benefitting from industrial policies in China.

*****

2 deputies were fired for inaction pertaining to the Parkland shooting.

*****

People were horrified at the image of Scary Clown with graves in the background on foreign soil as he talked of “Nervous Nancy” and called Mueller a fool. We were outraged when he told us that he would want to listen to dirt on others and wouldn’t see why he should tell the FBI before he walked it back. He does not fucking care. When will we all understand that?

*****

The President is being urged to cancel his speech at the Lincoln memorial.  Many of his own people think it might appear to be a campaign stop paid for by the American people. He did that already when he made ads for himself while at his golf course in Scotland.** I suppose he will pretend to be all about America again when he gets back from smiling with North Korean and Russian dictators.

*****

New York has banned declawing. Meow!!

*****

It is looking like Sam Little, in prison in California, may turn out to be the most prolific serial killer in U.S. history.

*****

The Tony’s came and went. Big winners were Bryan Cranston, Elaine May and Bob Mackie. Ali Stoker was the first wheelchair bound winner and Hadestown won the most awards.

*****

Some schools are trying out yoga instead of detention.  Teaching children how to control their feelings and help it to dissipate seems to be work.

*****

The Catholic Church has stomped on the rights of our Trans brothers and sisters. They decree that people should stay the way they are born.

*****

The movie,’ The Dead Don’t Die’ sounds great with Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Adam Driver, Danny Glover, Tom Waits and Steve Buscemi.

*****

Trump and Pence seem pretty pleased with themselves for not allowing the rainbow flag to fly during pride month. They really hate progress, don’t they?  Luckily, some brave souls are finding ways around it.

*****

Scary Clown has signed an executive order to increase transparency of hospital costs and info of medical professionals.

*****

On July 17 Bob Mueller will testify. **A comic book publisher is turning the report into a graphic novel.

*****

JB Pritzker has signed legal weed into Illinois and they will look at releasing low level drug offenders and putting money back into hard hit communities that were affected by the drug war.

*****

Maple Vale is suing because they say big chicken companies have colluded to hike prices.

*****

Absolut has been a proud supporter of the gay community since the 70’s.  

*****

Jim Gaffigan is in the new film, ‘Being Frank.’

*****

Sarah Huckabee Sanders is out. Many reporters tell us that she and other WH staff can be very different behind the scenes. They have been known to be very helpful and personable at times. The bluster and the lies are mostly for show for the boss.** Acting US customs and border protection commissioner John Sanders is out.

*****  

Scary Clown really put his foot in it with his Stephanopoulus interview. From little wise guy to taking help from foreign powers to the look on his face after ‘the cough’ it was quite the show.** Chuck Todd really soft balled his interview with our Pres. Shame on you.

*****

So, of course Manafort is going to a Federal location instead of Riker’s Island after AG Barr sent a letter to state prosecutors.

*****

One day it is announced that ICE is throwing millions out of the country. Another day they will round up 2,000 illegals that haven’t shown up for court etc. then that is on hold. Iran is going to be hit then it isn’t. It seems like real panic time in the WH. Justice Department attorney Sarah Fabian has explained in her double talk that kids without toothbrushes, soap and proper sleep is fine. Concrete floors in cages seem like a good idea to Trumps WH. Sarah Fabians phone number of 202-532-4824 was released to the public and she got an earful but I am sure she has changed that # by now.** ICE won’t even allow anyone to donate items to the kids in cages except for one in Deming, NM.

*****

Roy Moore is running for senate in 2020. These pompous, narcissistic pigs will not just fade away.

*****

I really hate this way the media lumps all the ‘rest’ of the Dem candidates as interchangeable. At least give everybody a chance to tell us who they are until the debates. All should have an equal chance because there are some good candidates there. Each one is unique and has at least one good idea. Would they all make a good President? Probably not but let’s hear them out!! People wonder why we never have enough choices and then they try to thin the field right away.  Andrew Yang wasn’t even included in some of the advertising for the debates and he is polling 8th. ** Seth Macfarlane and Bill Maher suggest that we do away with the audience. Great idea!!

*****

The first night of debate went well. I went in loving Inslee and went out the same way. He didn’t get much chance to talk what with the moderators asking Elizabeth Warren questions about 4 to the others 1. When Jay did get to speak about climate change and calling out CEO’s,  I thought he was dynamic. He really puts his money where his mouth is. I wish more people would research him. He had the best answer of what this country’s greatest threat is when he answered ,”Donald Trump.” Colbert made fun of Inslee for interrupting Warren about the rights of women. I must say that as a woman, that never even occurred to me because I was looking at her as a candidate. He has also been raked over for trying to interject with that finger in the air. Hmm.. so polite. DeBlasio got in a great line about not blaming immigrants for their problems but blaming the corporations, otherwise he seemed like a bully. Warren and Booker were competent. Klobachar, Gabbard and Ryan should call it quits. I like O’Rourke but he just seems too sweet. I loved his close because he referenced current events like the kids in cages and student protests which didn’t seem like running for student council Pres. I was impressed with John Delaney who I hadn’t known much about.  But Julian Castro won the night. He still wouldn’t be my first choice but he did everything right. He was truly Presidential and seemed to resonate with everybody. He was forceful, down to earth and seemed to know what he was talking about.

*****

Night 2 of the debates was a bit more lively. Hickenlooper will probably impress a few conservatives with his insistence that the Dems shouldn’t identify so much with socialism. Gillibrand seemed like tonight’s bully and it is time for her to go along with Bennet, Swalwell  and Williamson. Now, Marianne got a lot of shit but I agree with her on some basics. Preventative medicine and love being the answer is not stupid. These are things we don’t put enough stock in so why laugh it off? She is right about the chemicals and climate and why we are so sick in this world. She is right about state sponsored crimes and child abuse at the border. I thought Gillibrand repeated herself too much but she is right about putting too much money into private prisons. Buttigieg had a great point about the ‘free college for all’ thing by looking at the reality of those who don’t want college, a decent minimum wage and the rich paying for their own schooling.  He is also quite perceptive about republicans using religion while separating families which gives them no right to use God’s name. He was a bit sweaty but poised and measured all the way through. I am a big Andrew Yang fan and his money to all every month is something I have thought a solid idea for years but he is not Presidential at this point. He should be in the cabinet because he is an idea person but he sort of nervously choked on his first question about his signature piece. I loved that he didn’t wear a tie and his closing statement was awesome. Bernie gave us no surprises but the red, white and blue reflected in his glasses was fascinating. I did love his line about a hemisphere problem that we have and called out the Yemen crisis.  Like the night before, Biden seemed to get more time than the lesser knowns. He started out smooth and easy and ended serious and defensive because of the jabs he received. Kamala Harris stole the night with some of those. She jumped on Williamson’s mention of reparations to explain to Biden why his recent rhetoric of segregationists was so painful. This is why I love debates, it can change everything. I can’t really imagine anyone else taking on Trump at this point. She had some great lines like calming the boys down about no food fights but putting food on the table. Her close was a bit halting but she fired up the crowd as if she was already President.

*****

The after shows zeroed in on the flaws which will unfortunately define some of them.  The way we loop ‘Bookers look’ or ‘Williamson’s love not fear for political purposes’ can belittle the progress we can make. I am right in there watching it but it gets old. Trevor Noah said that many try but it was the Right time for Harris to play the race card. Race is already playing a part as some birtherism is erupting eluding to her Indian mother and Jamaican father.  Don Jr. got the wheels in motion by retweeting some garbage about Harris not being an “American black.”She raised about 2 mil after the debates.

*****

I will never understand why people always bring up this ‘elite’ business when talking about the Dems. Most of the people I have personally known who had a lot of money and looked down their nose at others have been republicans. Perhaps it is all about where one is from.

*****

Teens are evolving bone spurs on the back of their heads from looking down at their phones so much.

*****

Succession will be back on August 11.

*****

A little political hocus pocus seems to be ok with the Supreme Court. In a 5-4 ruling they have barred challenges to partisan gerrymandering.

*****

G20 countries make about 80% of global CO2 emissions. They had agreed to phase out subsidies for fossil fuels. Reports show that in the years since , they have nearly tripled subsidies to coal plants.

*****

Trump is schmoozing with Kim Jong UN saying, ”I would invite him tight now to the WH.”** There was a brawl with new unofficial  WH press secretary Stephanie Grisham and Kim’s people.

*****

The Travers film fest will honor Lily Tomlin with a lifetime achievement award.

*****

The ex- governor of Michigan Rick Snyder, who is responsible for the Flint water crisis, will now have a fellowship at Harvard.

*****

“Trump didn’t actually win the election in 2016. He lost the election and he was put into office because the Russians interfered.”- Jimmy Carter, former President and international expert on election fraud.

Toy Story 4 is big box office.

*****

Mythic Quest is the new series produced and written in part by Charlie Day and Rob Mcelhenney.  The show will be about a video game development company and will star F. Murray Abraham and Danny Pudi.

*****

Melissa McCarthy may play Ursula in the live action  The Little Mermaid.

A hacker stole the latest music from Radiohead and threatened to release it if they didn’t pony up $150,000 in ransom. The band released a statement declaring. ”We’ve been hacked” , released it themselves for 18 days and the money went to charity. Rock on!!

*****

In Cape Coral, Fla., a parent forced a kid to walk around with a sign of  their wrong deeds. Oh bit.. this stuff is back again.

*****

ICS in Springfield, Illinois’ fired Joe Crane from his broadcast for his honesty. Corporate was insisting on using a ‘CODE RED’ alert for weather even when the weather wasn’t so bad to keep the paranoid watching. After numerous complaints and Crane apparently not able to talk corporate out of it, he went to the public and let them know how much he disagreed with the policy but his hands were tied.  Of course, corporate let him go.

*****

The FCC is giving the phone company more power to fight robo calls.

*****

Archeologists found some weed in China inside some ceremonial cannabis bowls from 2500 years ago.

*****

Rapper Scarface is running for city council in Houston.

*****

20,000 Christians have petitioned Netflix to cancel Good Omens. I am sure the Amazon show is loving the publicity, they were probably looking for something just like this to happen. Oddly, just before I heard this story I saw the first couple of episodes and thought it was pretty good.

*****

Don’t judge someone because they sin differently than you.

*****

The fight to end robo calls has been named ‘Operation Call it Quits.’

*****

OJ Simpson opened a twitter account on the 25th anniversary of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman.

*****

The 71st Emmy’s will be held on Sept. 22 and may not have a host. This no host thing seems to be catching on since it saves money and controversy. The noms will be announced July 16.

*****

If you get the chance, read the Vanity Fair article about Col. Jennifer Pritzker. The cousin of Illinois Governor, JB Pritzker is the world’s only known trans billionaire.

*****

Refineries, Chemical plants and plastics are giving our fire fighters cancer and cities are often not compensating them.

*****

Jordan Klepper used his mug shot as the pic to headline his show. He was arrested with pastors for their rally n support of immigrant students.

*****

Do you wonder if the Trump kids and Melania have so much power and money that they don’t mind that Trump is a laughingstock?

*****

I saw that Seth Meyers used the term bummer camp to explain a kid who gets sent to camp because their parents need to work on their divorce. My friends and I always used that term when our summer camp music festival gets ruined by endless rain.

*****

R.I.P. Roky Erickson, Leon Redbone, Dr. John, Franco Zeffirelli, Leah Chase, Zarious Fair, Elliot Roberts, Alan Brinkley , Troy Chisum, Oscar and Valeria Ramirez, Edward Gallardo and Gloria Vanderbilt.

[spynotebook]

If the election of an American president abetted by Russian interference seems stranger than fiction, you're almost right. Exactly 30 years ago, in the midst of the Cold War, ABC aired a seven-night, 14-and-a-half-hour miniseries depicting life 10 years after the Soviet Union manipulates the presidential election as meek and deflated Americans shrug. “Amerika,” was heavily criticized at the time for peddling the histrionic premise of a bloodless coup. And while much of the production remains implausible, its core message is more relevant today than ever: They did it because we let them.

In the alternate universe of “Amerika,” (available only in VHS, though it can be found on YouTube) a puppet government was installed in 1988, after a sham election in which both major party candidates were Soviet stooges. By 1997, the 50 states had been replaced by 12 “administrative areas.” Communication systems had been taken out – no Internet or cell phones in this version of 1997 – cutting Americans off from each other. The mighty U.S. military is no more; the areas are patrolled by Soviet-controlled “United Nations Special Service Units.” Dissidents, if not simply exiled to desolate parts of the country, are brainwashed at the “People’s Acceptance Hospital.” Older Americans grumble about food shortages and a lost way of life, but are resigned to their fate. Kids are taught their “ancestors” were “bullies” who only killed Indians, exploited workers and dumped those who couldn’t work into “slums” to die. (Lincoln is still revered, but his image now gets paired with Lenin.)

Hope for a restoration of democracy is personified in Devin Milford, played by Kris Kristofferson. Milford, clearly styled on then-first term Senator John Kerry, is a Vietnam vet-turned antiwar activist-turned Massachusetts congressman. He was the last gasp for freedom, running as an independent in the 1988 presidential election before being sent to an American gulag. “Amerika” begins with his release after a six-year imprisonment. He’s not free. He’s confined to 25-mile area in his hometown of what was called Nebraska, but is now part of the “Central Administrative Area.” The Russians try to pressure him to help stifle nascent protests, but he is too stubborn and becomes the symbol of the resistance.

Milford’s refusal to bend is contrasted by his childhood friend Peter Bradford (Robert Urich). Bradford begins as a county administrator disgusted by his Russian overlords. But as he tries to do as much good as he can within the system, he gradually becomes closer to the regime. He eventually agrees to help formally dissolve the United States by turning the administrative areas into rump countries – the final phase of the Soviet’s grand plan, expedited by a false-flag massacre of the entire U.S. Congress, blamed on American terrorists. Bradford is tapped to become president of the new country, “Heartland.”

Hovering over them is the Andrei Denisov (Sam Neill), a KGB agent effectively running the Central Administrative Area (not to be confused with the real-life Andrey Denisov, who is Russia’s current ambassador to China). Cynical manipulation comes as easy to Denisov as breathing – he casually takes credit for a “controlled provocation,” stirring up “young people” to “resist in ways that make them feel good, not those that actually accomplish anything.” But he holds a soft spot for America. At key moments, he lectures Milford and Bradford – with a trace of sadness – on why their fellow Americans surrendered the Cold War.

How was it that the Soviets were able to waltz into America? The specifics of the coup are never spelled out, but various explanations are given as to why Americans were too demoralized to resist. Milford, in archival footage from his doomed presidential campaign, blames the scars from Vietnam, which “struck the core of our perception of ourselves as a people.”

Some point to economics. One man cites the decline of American manufacturing: “They wanted a country which didn’t have a productive capacity. I guess we were [already] well on our way to giving it up.” Marion Andrews (Wendy Hughes), Milford’s conniving ex-wife who betrayed him in 1988, rationalizes that Americans chose to welcome the communists because they were tired of chronic inequities: “Many of us took the opportunity to create an America we believe in. There were millions of people who never participated in the so-called ‘American Dream.’”

Milford has a different explanation. In a separate scene, he tells his sister soon after his return home that Americans were too scared and selfish to support his campaign and stand up for democracy: “I lost faith in everybody. Nobody wanted to risk anything for anybody else. Everybody afraid they were going to lose what they had. They knew it was bad. They were just afraid it’d get worse.”

Bradford, angrily defending his decision to be the face of secession from America to his horrified wife, echoes Milford: “For most people, being an American never meant that much anyway … Damn, I am so tired of this ‘I’m an American’ bull! Where was all that patriotism when it counted? Where was that willingness to sacrifice? Nobody wanted to join the damn Army to defend the country unless they got paid well. Nobody wanted to give any time to public service unless they could make a career out of it.”

But Denisov sums it up most succinctly, “You lost your country before we even got here.”

The mini-series is all but totally forgotten today, largely because it was an overhyped ratings bust. In the run up to its premiere, it had attracted massive controversy, especially among the left, which presumed it was going to be seven nights of right-wing war-mongering propaganda. (Mother Jones magazine published a six-article attack spread ahead of its airing.) Not only did the Soviet Union complain, but so did the United Nations, which threatened legal action over the use of its name and logo. (In fact, “Amerika” treats the U.N. like an essential institution; Milford laments America “abandon[ed] the principle of a United Nations,” letting Russia, “usurp its name and debase its function.” Denisov further explains that America’s disinterest in the U.N. and international affairs was what turned the world against it.)

Mother Jones’ Todd Gitlin hoped that “CBS and NBC will rise to the occasion with some ingenious counterprogramming.” NBC came through. While “Amerika” won the ratings battle on its opening night, attracting 22 million households, “The Facts Of Life Down Under” was close behind with 19 million. Lacking a gangbusters premiere installment, ratings for “Amerika” steadily declined over the week.

Beyond artistic merits, “Amerika” suffered from poor timing. Production began a few years earlier, when President Ronald Reagan declared the Soviet Union an “evil empire” and joked on a hot mic that he signed legislation to “outlaw Russia” so “we begin bombing in five minutes.” (Many presumed ABC greenlighted “Amerika” to pacify conservatives livid over “The Day After,” its 1983 depiction of nuclear holocaust, though the network denied it.) But by February 1987, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev had acknowledged the USSR’s economic troubles, begun his glasnost reforms and reached out to Reagan. “’Amerika’ became an anachronism before it ever saw the light of day,” crowed The Nation’s Andrew Kopkind in his critical review.

Watching “Amerika” through the lens of 2016 is a wholly different experience.

It’s still a slog. This is not a pulpy “Red Dawn” or a grippingly tense “Manchurian Candidate.” The pace is slow, the lectures often leaden and the editing nonexistent. Seven hours could have easily been lopped off, if not for the desire to have a momentous, week-long television event. The New York Times TV critic warned, “getting through the enormous glut of stereotypes and preachifying dialogue … will tax even the most willing suspenders of disbelief.” The Washington Post was more charitable, deeming it “worth enduring” because of its “daring grimness.”

And there are plenty of outdated references. The 20th century Cold War with the Russians was an existential battle against communism. The question posed by “Amerika” was whether Americans were capable of giving up on democracy, but also on capitalism. In turn, “Amerika” is at its most incredulous when depicting Americans accepting the thin gruel of communism. An early scene shows Bradford at the local diner, wistfully ordering “Aunt Jemima pancakes, real maple syrup and tiny pork link sausages.” The owner, in no mood for jokes, shoots back, “I’ve got soybean cakes and I’ve got molasses and that’s better for you anyway.” This is nonsense. If there’s one thing Americans would get up off the mat for, it’s pork.

But the New York Times TV critic’s conclusion in 1987, “that the United States would simply crumble from within because of a national moral flabbiness -- is monumentally implausible,” doesn’t seem so implausible today.

With the economic argument over communism resolved, the remaining divide with Russia is political: democracy vs. dictatorship, humanitarian internationalism vs. cold nationalism. Access to sausage is not in danger, giving Russia a fresh opening.

American conservatives with a nationalist, and even authoritarian, bent like Donald Trump are not unnerved by the prospect of Russian influence over the U.S. government. Some see common cause with President Vladimir Putin in the war against Islamic militants, shelving concerns about Russia’s imperial ambitions and comfort with genocidal tactics. Much like how the Russians in “Amerika” want the United States of America to dissolve, both Putin and Trump have rhetorically undermined the European Union, and Trump has questioned America’s commitment to Putin’s bête noire, NATO. Weaker global and regional institutions make it easer for individual nations to act with impunity.

Russia isn’t popular with most Americans, but Trump supporters did not flinch when he deflected allegations that Putin’s government murdered journalists by defending him and smearing America: “at least he’s a leader … I think our country does plenty of killing also.” And those in the “alt-right” movement see Putin as a symbol of white nationalist values. News of how Russia used hacking to manipulate voting behavior has only increased Republican approval of Putin in polls. His net favorable rating among Republicans has jumped from minus-66 to minus-10 in little more than two years, while Barack Obama’s festers at minus-64.

What’s even more disturbing is Trump’s dismissal of the U.S. intelligence community’s conclusion that Russia not only meddled in the election, but actively sought his victory—and then celebrated it. Trump’s reaction has been to mock and misrepresent their findings, while blaming the victims for being hacked. His aides scoff at the implication that he’s too pro-Putin: “He is going to modernize our nuclear capability, he’s going to call for an increase in defense budget, he’s going to have oil and gas exploration—all which goes against Russia’s economic and military interests,” Trump’s senior adviser Kellyanne Conway recently noted. But these moves are not all that provocative if Trump and Putin have overlapping foreign policy goals. Moreover, Trump himself has had every opportunity to clear up any misconceptions, and he hasn’t done it. American presidents have had warm relationships with Russian leaders in the past—Reagan and Gorby, Clinton and Yeltsin—but this feels different.

***

Before America in “Amerika” is fully occupied, we see Milford in 1988 make a final desperate pitch to the country: “No, we’re not all in prison camps. We’re not all beaten down by an occupying army with tanks on every corner. But we don’t need troops to tell us we’ve lost our vision. We don’t need Soviet advisors to prove that we’ve lost our national purpose. Americans have allowed themselves to become immobilized by their own selfish concerns. Immobilized by a lack of understanding of the freedoms secured by our forefathers into which most of us were born, and now have lost.” Today we see immobilization as well, from those plaintively wailing on Facebook that Russia has executed something akin to a coup, but feeling powerless as to what to do about it.

“Amerika” did not foresee that Russia’s entry into America politics would be greased by a bombastic right-wing populist billionaire. The fictional president is a mild-mannered, self-described “figurehead.” But he is not without insight, telling Bradford, “Totalitarianism doesn’t need armies. It only needs to control a couple of things: the media, and the ability to dispense privilege to some, and withhold it from others. And of course, a weak and divided people helps.”

The seeds of that dark future are already in the soil. Russia executed a subtle control of the media—weaponizing mainstream institutions through releases of stolen emails and flooding social media with fake news. Fox News is airing uncritical interviews with Julian Assange of WikiLeaks, an organization U.S. officials have linked to Russian intelligence. And the American people are not only deeply divided along geographic and cultural lines, but new research shows them to be increasingly dubious about the importance of democracy.

“If the dream of democracy cannot survive in America, it cannot survive the 20th century,” Milford declared in his announcement address. Denisov, studying videotape of the speech, notices his normally apolitical American girlfriend transfixed. “He’s touched you,” he purrs to her, his expression both intrigued and disturbed. Part of Putin’s agenda is to convince Americans not to be touched, but instead, to believe that our democratic institutions can no longer be trusted. Our challenge, in the face of Russian interference, is to remind ourselves that despite the deep ideological and cultural differences that are testing American unity, the unifying principle of America remains.

Thirty years ago, a bloated, overwrought TV miniseries tried to make that point and missed the mark. We didn’t need to fear the gulag then, and we don’t now. Hysterical prophesizing of totalitarianism can also be counterproductive, making it easier to shrug off quieter erosions of democracy. But no matter how imperfect, “Amerika” was more prescient than its creators ever could have expected, reminding us that we can only can lose what makes America great if we surrender it ourselves.