Outside the walls, rural life continued at its typical pace, with herdsmen tending their livestock, and farmers working their fields. Very few of those stuck outside the walls were dwarfs. Most appeared to be humans, and a few shepherds were skrael. The small, semi-reptilian figures running alongside their wooly charges looked almost comical. For much of the day, no one came or went from the city, which remained firmly buttoned up. Our camp was established, and the sun was threatening the horizon by the time we saw another sign of activity within Oakenyoke. A contingent of mail-clad spearmen flanked Bedros’ waifs and palanquin bearers as he approached the camp gates. An ornate geometric pattern in blue and bronze marked their angular shields.
“His Grace, the Dux[41] Pyry Theophanis will grant audience to the Ethnarch of the Volkmund and King of Zesrin. But no attendants or soldiery. The remainder of your contingent will remain here.”
“Which one?” Gebhard asked.
“Excuse me?” Bedros asked, consternation crossing his brow.
“Your trade is words. I assumed when you used the singular of ‘Ethnarch’ you were only referring to one.”
“There is more than one?”
“Indeed, this here is Erbprinz Kord Grosz von Karststadt-Salzheim. We are of equal titular rank within the nobility.”
Bedros ground his molars together with a motion that reminded me of cows chewing cud. “Are there any others?”
“Well, we have some counts and barons-”
“Any equal or higher to yourself.”
“No. Just the two of us and King Hengist.”
“Fine. The three of you will be permitted to have an audience with my Duke.” The spearmen formed an aisle on either side of the petal-strewn path. The intent was clearly meant to give the impression of being an honor guard while hedging us in. The problem was, Graymire was taller than their spears, and the looks the dwarfs gave each other made me doubt they’d hold the line should we get unruly. Still, these were our allies, and we did not come to Oakenyoke to cause trouble. Bedros’ waifs led our procession back to the city and through the gate. A broad boulevard lined in cherry trees ran to the soaring edifice with the brass dome. Clustered between the trunks of the trees were masses of curious onlookers. Dwarfs of every social stripe crowded the margins of the roadway to get a look at the foreign visitors. Every one of them that looked at least moderately well-off had non-Dwarf attendants close at hand.
Before the great domed palace, the boulevard opened up into a plaza. At the heart of the plaza was a large fountain. The statuary in the middle showed a number of subjugated figures pouring ewers from which water flowed into the fountain proper. The bow-backed wretches depicted included representatives of most sapient species. The noted exception was Dwarfs. The sole Dwarf in the ensemble stood on top of the highest, and centermost spot. Chains wrapped about his fist ran to collars on all the other figures. The sight of the statuary made me take another look at the non-Dwarf attendants. Each wore at least a symbolic collar about their necks. Many had thrall-brands on their temples. Every one of them was a slave.
Other roads left the plaza, but we were interested in the long stair at the far end. As wide as the original boulevard, the stair was flanked on either side by a tall hypostyle of rose quartzite columns holding aloft tile-capped sandstone. Crimson canopies spanned the gap, one after another, providing shade to the stairs without obstructing the breeze. Just looking at it, the stairway seemed to stretch on forever. This made Bedros’ next words all the more unwelcome.
“You cannot bring your beasts up the steps. We will tend to them, and they will be returned when you depart.” A wide-eyed slave took Graymire’s reins as I reluctantly dismounted.
“That’s a lot of steps,” Hengist said.
The rule did not appear to apply to Bedros’ palanquin bearers, as they continued to carry him up the stairs. Flanked by spear-wielding dwarfs, there was nowhere to go but up. And up. And up. From the way my legs were complaining, I could easily imagine we’d climbed up among the clouds, but we’d only gone so far as the domes of the city. We finally reached a second plaza. From this elevated position, we could see out over the walls, and I spied our encampment in the distance. Gold-veined marble pillars held aloft a frieze in rust-red and white. At a glance, it showed a march of conquest by the ever-victorious Dwarfs against a procession of savage foes. We passed under this frieze and through another hypostyle before reaching the doors of the palace proper. For the first time that I’d seen, the Archilogos descended from his palanquin and stood on his own feet.
I thanked the gods that the main audience chamber was directly behind those doors. From the shape and distance to the roof, the chamber had to fill the brass dome. But the dome itself was only covered in brass, as the interior was covered in massive, painted reliefs whose detail was muddied by shadows. Lanterns hung from hooks on every pillar ringing the base of the dome. Giltwork chased the arches linking the marble pillars, glittering in the light and drawing the eye down to the dais. Upon it stood a throne entirely faced in ebony and lapis lazuli. Four Dwarfs in full plate stood spaced equidistant along the foot of the dais in front of the throne. They faced the assembled courtiers and stood unmoving. The throne was the only seat in the chamber, and it was empty. I set my jaw and tried not to let my wobbly legs betray me.
Despite their voluminous beards and the strength needed to carry about the sheer weight of jewelry burdening their frames, the courtiers gave off an effete air. Even having just climbed the interminable stair, the three of us could have bested the lot of them in battle. The only real challenge would come from the four guards at the throne. And yet, derisive chatter passed from sneering lips to agreeing ears. I shook off the thought and focused on remaining standing while we waited. From the left, a figure in black plate strode into the room. The glossy surface of the angular ceremonial armor gleamed like the night sky as he passed among the lanterns. The helmet bore the stylized visage of a dwarf face, but where eye holes might have been sat red jewel lenses. The beard of the visage consisted of a curtain of embossed diamond-shaped plates connected to each other by rings at the corners. It tinkled with every motion of the dwarf’s head. In his right hand was a tall ebon staff topped with iron scales. Two chains wrapped about the staff in a spiral. The staff was taller than I was, and easily spotted over the heads of the courtiers.
This dark figure strode up the dais and stood beside the throne. With the acoustics of the dome, his voice sounded as if it came from every direction, loud, clear and resonant.
“His Honored Grace, Dux of the Rebel Marches, Stratigos Particular and Guardian of the Chains, Pyry Theophanis the Sixteenth.”
It took all my willpower to not burst out laughing as a figure maybe two-thirds the height of the other Dwarfs emerged from behind the throne and seated himself upon it. For all the blue silk, gemstones and gold draped upon his frame, there was no disguising that Pyry Theophanis was but a child. His fair hair was neatly combed and his jaw set in determination, but his cherubic face bore no gravitas. The only thing I saw in his eyes was fear of making a mistake of etiquette. Save for the four guards at the dais and the figure in black, the Dwarfs all fell to one knee, facing the throne.
“You may rise,” Pyry said, his voice bearing the expected high pitch of youth. The court returned to their feet, some having a harder time of it than others. The Dux looked up at the figure in black. “Are these the savages, Lawspeaker?” he asked in such an innocent, earnest tone that I almost missed the way he’d referred to us. That, and the title of ‘Lawspeaker’ stood out to my ears.
“These are the Ethnarchs of the force the Emperor has invited to help crush the Drakoi.”
Wonderment and curiosity filled Pyry’s eyes as he looked us over. “That one’s taller than a troll,” he said.
“Not quite, your grace.”
“Archilogos,” Pyry said.
Bedros tipped his head in acknowledgment.
“Ask our guests what they wanted.”
“By your command.” Bedros turned and switched languages. “His Honored Grace requests to know what you would ask of his beneficence.”
Gebhard held up the ornate scroll tube. “I hold here an invitation from the Emperor to aid his armies in battle against the Drakoi. By the oath of support he swore, I request supplies and provisions that I might continue on to meet Protoarchistratigos Stojan Archelaus and his forces.”
I was surprised that Gebhard managed to get that mess of a title out without stumbling on the awkward word. Bedros turned about.
“He is quite rudely demanding we resupply his army,” the Archilogos said in Dwarfish.
“And the scroll he is holding?” Pyry asked.
“Is an oath of support from the Emperor.”
Pyry propped his jaw upon his fist, trying to look contemplative. “If we just give them what they want, they will go away?”
“Yes, your grace,” Bedros said.
“But I’ve never met a savage before. I want to keep them in the palace for a bit.”
“How long would you like them to stay?” the Archilogos asked.
“Not too long, your grace,” the Lawspeaker cut in, “The slaves might get… ideas.”
Pyry looked at the Lawspeaker, then back at us. “A few days,” he said.
“As you command,” Bedros said before turning back to us and switching languages. “His Grace will honor the oath of support and provide you with the supplies and provisions you require. However, it will take several days to gather sufficient quantity. In the meantime, he would like to extend an invitation to stay here as his guests.”
The most infuriating thing about the excuse Bedros had picked was that it was so plausible it might even be true.
“I need to stay in contact with my subordinates,” Gebhard said.
“Runners will be placed at your disposal for communication.”
Unable to find a decent excuse to be let back to our camp, Gebhard gave a cut nod. “Very well.”
“Superb.” He turned back to the Dux. “They understand your wishes and will be staying for a few days.”
“Archilogos,” the Lawspeaker said, “We will find individual translators for these three. Once you show them to the dining hall, you are dismissed.”
Bedros bowed low to hide the scowl on his face from the Lawspeaker, bending over almost in half with an extravagant gesture of his arm.
***
Jet and ivory figures inlaid into the golden sandstone walls conveyed a cornucopia depicted in semiprecious stones as the eye progressed around the perimeter of the dining hall. Each figure, dish and foodstuff was individually carved into a realistic, if idealized, image. The room was smaller than I’d expected, and few of the courtiers were in attendance. A low table filled the center of the space. It was ringed by Dwarf-sized divans with intricate embroidery. As the couches were too short, I had to sit upright. The new translators proved to be a trio of beardless dwarfs who demurred on introductions, saying it was not their place. With their proximity and the position of our seats, it was impossible to have a private discussion with either Hengist or Gebhard without drawing attention to it. In fact, it was impossible for anyone in the room to have a private conversation.
The meal started with etched crystal goblets into which was poured honey-colored liquid. I stared at the ivy patterns on the glass before me and tried to guess what the drink was.
“Is something the matter?” someone asked. The echo from my translator made me realize the question had been posed to me.
“Apologies. Not too long ago, I had a drink get poisoned, and I am… over-wary.”
The Lawspeaker pointed to the slave who was pouring beverages. “Take a drink from his glass.” The svelte, fair-haired girl set down the crystal ewer and picked up my goblet. She downed a swallow without hesitation and set it back down. The level within the cup was visibly lower by a slight margin. “You will prove every glass you pour him.” The Lawspeaker had not taken a couch, and was still in his ceremonial armor. He was positioned behind Pyry, and enough to the side for the young Dux to look up at him.
“I appreciate the gesture,” I said, picking up the goblet. The beverage was sweet to the tongue, but burned the throat. The fumes cleared my sinuses quite readily. I guessed it was quite a bit stronger than the wines I was more familiar with. The first actual dish placed before me was a piece of bread bigger than a roll but smaller than a loaf and baked into the shape of waterfowl. It sat on a pond made from a mashed paste. Vegetables artfully carved into lilies and leaves decorated the pond. The dwarfs took their knives to their bread bird and revealed that the body had been filled with red jelly. They used their slices to scoop up the pond mash and ate it like that. Though it was only a baked good, I mercifully decapitated my bread bird and started with the head. The paste was mildly sweet, but as I chewed, the taste of the dark brown bread came through. The pungent and powerfully flavored spices overwhelmed the palate and drowned out everything else until I’d rinsed my mouth with another drink. It had the consistency of bread, but the flavor of an entire spice cake packed into that morsel. I wondered if the dwarfs’ taste buds were dead from their cuisine.
“Please, tell me about your homelands,” Pyry said.
Hengist’s tale of Zesrin did not excite the youth, as his neighbor was too well known. Gebhard’s taciturn delivery was even less engrossing. So, I felt the need to be effusive in my description of Ritterblume. Talking also meant I wasn’t expected to keep eating the overpowering spiced bread. I spoke of the hills and the pastures, of the rock formations and the ruins, of the mysterious roads to nowhere and the maze-like karsts of the Slagveld. My description of a snowfall that had reached my waist got the Dux particularly engaged.
“I’d get lost in that, it would be up to my head.”
“The year it happened, I was only about as tall as you are now, so we’d still have found you,” I said. Pyry laughed at that.
“Here the snow never gets more than toe-deep.”
Mentioning the karsts led me down the path of talking about other places I’d been. I continued to describe the cities of the Volkmund, the pilgrim trail, and the Imperial highway. Something about my delivery held the young dwarf’s attention even as I spoke of parts of Zesrin. He looked at me eagerly when I stopped talking.
“Well?” Pyry prompted.
“And then I reached here. Your own eyes can do your city more justice than my words,” I said.
The young dwarf sighed. “I wish I could travel.” The translators didn’t repeat his words, nor the utterance of the Lawspeaker that Pyry needed to be older first. The first course presaged what was to come. The herbs baked into the meat dish rendered it impossible to tell what animal it might have been, and the dessert was too sickly-sweet to complete. Finally, the meal concluded, and the Lawspeaker directed a slave to show us to our rooms.
The labyrinthine corridors of the Oakenyoke palace were more than my sense of direction could handle. By the time the slave guiding us indicated the chambers we would be staying in, I had no hope of finding my way back to the front exit. The walls of the suite were covered with tapestries from floor to ceiling, depicting a great many scenes with no apparent unifying theme. On a hunch, I peered behind one of them. The dark granite forming the wall had been ornately carved as per many stone surfaces in the palace. Then at some point the wall has been disassembled and put back together wrong. Large polygonal slabs of stone were held together by great spans of mortar jammed with rubble to fill the gaps where they did not fit. Scenes sat out of order, at odd angles or outright inverted. The tapestries were hung to hide the mess.
“There are no doors,” Hengist protested. I took another look around the suite. The only things covering the archways between rooms were curtains of silken brocade.
“I suppose we can assume there is someone eavesdropping on everything,” Gebhard said.
“That’s a safe assumption even when there are doors,” Hengist said. “Servants tend to be everywhere.”
“Still, they have to go out of their way here.” Gebhard gripped his forehead and rubbed his temples with his fingertips. His voice dropped in volume. “So what did we miss from the language barrier?”
“Not a whole lot,” I whispered back. “Bedros doesn’t like us, and painted us in a bad light, but the Lawspeaker doesn’t trust him.”
“I could tell that much anyway.”
“The rest of the translators were accurate.”
“Thank you,” Gebhard said, though his tone was more dismissive than grateful. I took this as a sign to wander off. I only went as far as a suitable bed. The edifice I found was made of gilt iron, and raised high enough from the ground as to have three oaken steps for dwarfs to climb into it. It was not such a difficult prospect for me. Samite curtains separated the sleeping area proper from the tapestried room around it. Whatever fabric was stretched across the frame to hold it aloft, the mattress itself was stuffed tightly with wool and covered in linen sheets. A heavier blanket was folded across the foot of the bed, but Quendaverus had not shown the kind of weather that made me reach for a blanket. In fact, if I wanted to get any sleep, I needed to take some of my clothes off.
[41] Dux is the proper title for the lord of Polyarotron, though its commonly used derivative ‘Duke’ is equally applicable in casual conversation. Formal address mandates the use of the proper title Dux instead.
If you want your own copy, the whole book is available from Amazon in eBook, Paperback, and Hardcover variants.
I am enjoying the story.
I’m glad.
Anything in particular stand out?
It’s a gestalt kind of thing. I like an intriguing story line that I can’t predict where it’s going. And it never cheats with out of the blue events.
And I know enough about medieval history and technology that I can see the respect for the real world.
I’m surprised it was long enough to accommodate him. 😄
It was a Prince-sized bed.
Eh. After a bit of typical, dwarven wear-and-tear, it’ll be a (formerly known as a) Prince-sized bed.
The Sunday morning freak out of the chattering class and the establishment shitbirds is so delicious. Hey Juan Williams, here’s a bowl of dicks. Chow down you fuckstick!
This was fun.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/17/us/politics/trump-signals-a-seismic-shift-shocking-the-washington-establishment.html
https://archive.fo/wXoDV
“He has chosen a bomb-throwing backbench congressman who has spent his career attacking fellow Republicans and fending off sex-and-drugs allegations to run the same Justice Department that investigated him, though it did not charge him, on suspicion of trafficking underage girls. He has chosen a conspiracy theorist with no medical training who disparages the foundations of conventional health care to run the Department of Health and Human Services. He has chosen a weekend morning television host with a history of defending convicted war criminals while sporting a Christian Crusader tattoo that has been adopted as a symbol by the far right to run the most powerful armed forces in the history of the world. He has chosen a former congresswoman who has defended Middle East dictators and echoed positions favored by Russia to oversee the nation’s intelligence agencies.”
The person who wrote his has no clue that the just made the team sound fucking awesome.
I know, right?
Hey McCarthy, don’t you have a Democrat cock to suck?
We are all waiting on pins and needles to find out what massively primaried ex-Congresswoman Liz Cheney has to say.
I can’t wait to take Russian lessons in the Christian Nationalist camps they’re going to throw us in. 🙄
Any glibs see this one on Twitter earlier?
https://x.com/SnakeYandere/status/1858239994353078496?t=rXY3ruIeTpTL0LOl5Hh3hw&s=19
The thread has a longer vid too for context but no subs.
Insane. No 4 rules of safety or anything.
That judge is a pain in the ass.
So, a Polish shooting event was on target
Good Lord. Where to start.
Watching the second video I started looking around and saw no hearing protection. That should be your first clue this was not going to end well.
Well, it was in preparation for the Polish Oral Sex.
You know, were they stand in opposite corners and yell “FUCK YOU” at each other.
JFC, no basic safety protocols.
That dude is probably dead, and if he somehow survived, he’ll probably be wearing a colostomy bag for however long God curses him to live.
I see this kind of bullshit in the shotgun sports all the time, although usually not taken to this level. So while I love shooting the occasional round of sporting clays, I won’t squad up with anyone I don’t already know well.
Dick Cheney is judging sports shooting competitions in Poland now?
We know this wasn’t Walz, this guy actually loaded his gun.
That… was nuts.
Not any more.
/Clouseau
Go on….
JK. Enjoyed this chapter.
UCS, I like your take on a non-traditional Dwarf culture. Really fleshes out the fantasy world.
I stole a few bits of inspiration from the Byzantines and blended it in there with a dash of trad dwarf, and some of my own ideas.
“rose quartzite”
Not the first time I’ve noticed specific rock types mentioned in the story. Kord knows his geology and at a passing glance no less. Can wizardry be used to locate ores?
“the Archilogos”
I’m curious as to what period of the Eastern Roman Empire the Dwarvish realm corresponds to. The encounter reminds me of the meeting between Alexios Komnenos and the Frankish princes of the First Crusade, during which the Emperor was obviously wondering ‘WTF did I do? I wanted mercenaries, not a whole barbarian horde!”
Thanks for the story and look forward to the next installment.
I haven’t thought on the abilities of the Jasper tower, but they’d be the ones I’d say are most likely to have geosensing magics.
I wondered who was going to point out the Byzantine vein running through the Dwarf empire first. They were among the inspirations, but not to a particular stage of their history.
To Richard from the deadthread:
“Actually the state has been experiencing a pretty good drought.”
We’ve had less than an inch of rain down here in southeast Pennsylvania since the end of August (which was exceptionally wet). October was completely rainless. In addition it’s been exceptionally warm for the season all this time. I think the drought extends even further south than me.
We’re running pretty much the same schedule. Summer was great, in August I had to go to irrigation in the garden. We have been getting a tiny amount lately and with the cool air it isn’t evaporating. All last year , 2023, was a drought.
Looks like a little this week though, no snow at all though.
I quite enjoyed this chapter. At the start, I thought it was getting too AP-ish, declarative. Then I became engrossed in the descriptions and more floral, though I’d describe your writing as being far from “floral.” The descriptive turn gave more depth to the page and phrase, especially humanizing the characters.
I fear that’s what I’d become if I ever attempted to write fiction, far too newspapery. Although Vonnegut pulled it off. Perhaps said “Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words?” (Then Vonnegut turns a phrase at paragraph’s end to elevate everything to perfect simplicity. (I’m biased.)) It would be impossible for me to write a novel without making it autobiographical. That would be a fun project and hopefully a better read, though I’m happy my writing is moving into teamwork with Munchkin, up in MN, formerly close friends teaching in Korea.
She’s highly political and on our page, though distinctly with a legal mind, heavy on hatchet, light on the scalpel. (She can’t help herself. It’s mesmerizing.) I’m helping her organize her thoughts. Working at the courthouse in Cobb County, MN, she works with services applications and hears their stories. She wants to make a Parks and Rec-type ‘show’ with the stories she comes across. I have an idea to add me, the phlebotomist, working with donors and AA folk I know to have them commit acts against those that mooch the system in order to benefit those that actually need it.
I’m tempted to write a short spec-script to tantalize her by injecting my own ideas and humor. She may bite. (Insert every euphemism ya please. ‘Tisn’t all unintentional.) We also have a scheme: We’re the perfect Checks -All -Boxes pair, with her as the brown immigrant orphan, and we both detest the cozy comforter the safety net has become. Comedy about the foibles and tribulations of State Run netting for everyone at all times. This project is actually … not a bad idea. I may be able to quasi come up with something.
I ever attempted to write fiction, far too newspapery.
Former journalist makes good as novelist . . . . .
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Sandford_(novelist)
John Sandford, pseudonym of John Roswell Camp (born February 23, 1944), is an American New York Times best-selling author, novelist, former journalist, and recipient of the Pulitzer Prize.
Wiki shows 50+ novels. I’ve probably read 20 of them.
One of the things I like is the very brisk pace of the novels which I assume comes from the journalism background.
“Very brisk pace”
Agree that it would be due to the frenetic nature of his original day job (which also accounts for his large output).
The best newspaper writers are very readable from having to hone their craft on the fly with the editor constantly on their back demanding copy not only NOW but error free and comprehensible.
@Rhy 🫡
😸
Allen was ridiculous, again.
You’re a good sport Mo.
Back in the (216)
TALL CANS!
Currently popped on my playlist.
Hono no Tobira / FictionJunction Music Video
I always thought it a bit risky for an Asian record label to go by “frying dog”. Kidding aside it’s a big producer.
I see your dog and raise you Vivid Sound. Does not play well in YouTube with its terrible non google search…
https://www.discogs.com/label/54080-Vivid-Sound-Corporation
Other Guy: Donald Trump is going to take away elections! This was the last election!
Me: You mean everyone in the country is going to go along with that? Not one single person is going to resist, or even mildly object? That doesn’t seem possible.
Other Guy:. I’m a worrier.
Me: :facepalm:
Tell him he’s always got PA.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/state/3230765/bucks-county-commissioners-vote-count-illegal-ballots-pennsylvania-recount/
Sensei, I’m just not shocked at all.
Thx for the link.
“Republicans filed a petition to the PA Supreme Court against all counties to attempt to stop all counties from counting these ballots,” Philadelphia City Commissioners said in a statement to Fox News. “They also filed a statutory appeal challenging Bucks County’s decision to count undated and incorrectly dated mail ballots. We are reviewing the filings.”
I’m confused why Philadelphia City Commissioners are making a statement in response to filings to the PA Supreme Court or Bucks County. “We are reviewing the filings.” OK, good for you.
Got interrupted.
That was an actual part of the conversation. smh.
When I occasionally gently push back on some “Trump is gonna…!” tirade with “And how would that work, exactly?”, I mostly get sputtering.
It mostly boils down to people thinking the president is an emperor of some sort.
That’s the way Team Blue wants it. The were disappointed by a pen and a phone.
Welp, many folks around here were convinced that a Harris Presidency meant the end of the world as we know it.
And yes, yes, I know… the TDSer’s are insane but Harris actually would have ended the world. two or three Eye roll emojis.
Who?
Who said that a Harris presidency would be the end? I’ll have to check the comment history tomorrow (I’m three Old Fashioneds in tonight so that’s not happening) but I do recall that Sean predicted reeducation camps and boxcar rides. Others feared WWIII and civil war as they came for your guns.
Considering that Brandon is trying to drag us directly into a war with Russia before his term ends . . . . . fearing WWIII is not that unfounded
Planned attacks on Kursk? That’s a profoundly naughty shit to leave on the Resolute Desk for the next Prez. Purposefully obscene. It’s true every generation says the same, but generations are frequently correct. Or proven correct over time. (9/11 to 25+ years in the Middle East, Intelligence actively spying on citizens, ongoing, etc.)
It’s also always best to be wary. Eternal vigilance comes with false alarms. So do storm sirens and your fridge if ya leave it open too long.
@evan
That was my thought too. Let’s engage Russia 2 months before the new president, who is adamantly against war with Russia, takes office. Way to saddle him with a massive fucking mess.
It’s a complete shit move done to try and sabotage his entire presidency. They’re so fucking mad he won, they’re willing to start large scale war in their fit.
Fuck democrats. Fuck them all.
@Muzzled: You and I, two horses in harness. (Often, I’ve noticed.)
My prediction is turning prescient. Set up all of this dreadful shit, give it all to Trump on a platter… so HE ‘has’ to ‘own’ the failures. Cynical me looks at history and thinks… from the fire only ONE group/ leader can bring us back… and that will be a Democrat. Hopeful Ev, astoundingly, is wishing Musk+ Ron Paul etc, can actually do something. Not much.. just let the veil slip and reveal to all of us JUST how dirty it all is.
I would take a compromise. I knoweth not. Well. That’s what Life is.
@Hype
Snarky comments were not necessarily predictions.
I also said we were going to re-elect Trump.
And I don’t think box cars were my thing. 😂
Here’s hoping I don’t SF the lynk:
Geology is Racist!.
It’s on topic because Dwarfs like rocks.
You can’t fix that kind of stupid.
Only an academic could say something so profoundly stupid. You need teaching to be that dumb. No one is that dumb without being university educated.
This crap is tiresome. Just start executing academians who say stupid counterfactuals like that.
Put them out of our misery.
It’s beyond fucking tiresome, especially after we just told them en masse to fuck off.
For your consideration:
https://san.com/cc/tiger-kings-joe-exotic-pens-letter-to-trump-asking-for-pardon-role-in-cabinet/
I’m denying him a cabinet post.
Trump already picked for Interior didn’t he? (That’s the dept that handles exotic species, right?)
I guess he could hold him in reserve if that pick doesn’t get confirmed.
I’m all for a pardon as I’m fond of kooky and eccentric crazy people. Nothing better than director of a sub-cabinet level agency though…
Slutty Sunday T&A all the way!
https://archive.is/ReJlr/84490757631bb34083ad1328cba1207739a81569.webp
NSFW.
https://archive.is/ajmCh/20e7d95a2205b3e4c336805a9c82fcbc0601c4e2.webp
NSFW.
https://archive.is/wvYVc/05ff3d2fc1d778aeb843ef82b205f05ba8bf94ac.webp
NSFW.
https://archive.is/mwzGf/6a34b4c85df94652e26eddfa8cca81a3e9d6a29d.jpg
NSFW.
Uh. Huh. I whistle on by. Pssst. #2 is a as close I’ve ever seen to a Rogue figure (from the dope animated show in the 90s). That, ain’t easy and likely has medical assistance. Uh. Ya put in the effort and you’re reap rewards.
Fun truth about Evan: I am an absolute cuddle-monster. To much acclaim.
Keep cuddling that waifu pillow….
No kawaii shaming, Ted.
Hey Glibs & Glibettes!
Unburden yourselves!
Feed your synergy!
Facilitate success!
👏🌄😛
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=T8Xb_7YDroQ
🎶🎶
“Unburden yourselves!”
It’s too early for masturbation, Sean. Maybe later though.
Good morning, Sean & Stinky!
“In “Major Policy Shift” Biden Authorizes Ukraine’s Use Of US Missiles To Hit Targets Inside Russia”
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/major-policy-shift-biden-authorizes-ukraines-use-us-missiles-hit-targets-inside-russia
Message from the Biden Administration to the incoming Trump Administration and to the American people who voted for a resolution to this slow moving disaster: Fuck you!
What are the chances Biden even knows about this? You seen the videos of him wandering away from the podium into the amazon rain forest?
Most like DoD trash trying to gum up the works.
* and DoS.
“If approved, the capability would likely be used first in the Kursk region of Russia, where Ukraine is fighting against North Korean troops as well as Moscow’s forces, the people said. Still, any permission, if granted, is unlikely to go as far as Ukraine has requested, one of the people said.”
Has it been approved or not. The headline and the body of the article seem at odds. Or does Biden authorize it and someone else approves it? which would seem strange.
Maybe they mean there’s blanket policy approval but there will be requirements for buyoff on individual strikes but, yeah, the gist is muddy.
We cannot fall for this even if it fits our biases. Name names otherwise this is just stirring shit up. I know anonymous sources are important, but this is a large shift in policy and running straight from the lips of an unknown with surface level information just cries out as planted news piece.
Fair point ownbest but ZH isn’t the only outlet reporting it (for whatever that’s worth):
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/biden-approves-ukraine-s-use-of-long-range-us-weapons-inside-russia-reversing-policy/ar-AA1uf7RX
That being said, they’re overselling it while msn is underselling it.
I get that, but that article is based on the AP article which is the source of citing the U.S. official and three others. Probably true in the long run overall.
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/political-commentary/trans-people-science-facts-trump-1235168833/
$250B on anti-trans campaign ads.
I’m willing to accept that’s a typo for million, but based on how many of the ads were about immigration, I don’t believe that figure either.
They immediately launch into parsing language as a means of combating longheld truths, not a good sign.
Same, based on personal experience too.
That person does go on but the fact of the matter is that the voters don’t want boys beating up on girls, which is the logical conclusion of all this stuff and we’re already there.
Huh, a quarter of a trillion… Yeah, that doesn’t come off as BS at all.
Progressivism is the Sideshow Bob character of ideologies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0w6L93kD3xw
The Ukrainians won’t actually be firing U.S. missiles into Russia. I bet the U.S. military wouldn’t trust them with the task.
The U.S. military will be firing U.S. missiles into Russia, but will allow the Ukrainians to take credit.
My guess is that members of the US military will not fire missiles into Russia a couple of months before Trump is sworn in.
I am also skeptical that Biden authorized such action.
Good morning!
I got a decent cash offer for the house. Signing paperwork today to accept. It’s the first step to moving into the new stately R.J. manor.
Congratulations!
Nice!