#not the best candidates for parenthood
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featuring: ghoap x nanny! f!reader. parenthood. adoption processes. fluff. slice of life. reader is given an age range
hear me out: simon and johnny transferring to reserve duty – i.e., serving the military on a part-time basis rather than being on active call – once they make the decision to become dads. it comes after a long period of deliberation (and healing on simon's part), but after they're absolutely sure that they want to start this next phase of life together, they call price to get it sorted.
who is thrilled for them, naturally, but warns that they still have a specialised commitment to the task force. if he needs them, then they best make sure they're there. the world isn't a better place yet, and no one can do what the pair does.
fine by them.
so it begins. instead of the complex and ethical choices that come with surrogacy, they opt for adoption and work with an attorney to facilitate the logistics. months of searching come up with a young mother, whose unwanted pregnancy has interfered with her life thus far, and is unwilling to make the further sacrifice that comes with keeping the baby. they must be more understanding, or otherwise less overbearing, than the other candidates – because two months later, they're in a hospital waiting room, anxiously lingering to meet the new addition to their family.
isla riley-mactavish. named after the river where johnny realised he'd be much happier with his lieutenant by his side.
the first few months are bliss. exhausting bliss, but a type of contentment that neither man has known since they first confessed to one another. isla's fussy through nights but they take turns settling her down, and if they have military duties to attend to then it's usually never at the same time. she's spoiled rotten – not just by them, but by the captain and gaz as well, who visit more often than not with bags full of toys they have nowhere to put. a little princess in the eyes of everyone who knows her.
by month five, she's teething and can hold her head up unsupported. simon reads somewhere that it's one of the most pivotal points in her development.
of course the call has to come then.
in the middle of the night, no less, and loud enough to wake her up from her crib. johnny scrambles to calm the bairn down as simon answers, price's grave voice crackling in from the other end. expected to be a long haul. a month at least. state security's at serious risk here, simon. i wouldn't ask you to come out otherwise.
and they made a promise. no matter how much it aches them to leave their darling girl behind.
rdv on base in a week.
he knows that one week is a matter of grace. he can feel the captain itching to hatch the operation as soon as possible, but has staved off to give the boys time to order their affairs. that doesn't mean simon's happy with the timeline, though. seven days is not nearly enough to find a sitter they can trust, especially given their own hindrances.
regardless, they send a job posting for a live-in, 24/7 nanny to close friends – no way in hell are they advertising it to the open internet – and hours later, johnny's sister lets them know of a girl who substitutes at the same primary school she works at. a real darling, apparently. honest 'n' stowed oot of energy, th' weans love her, and she haes experience with bairns too!
promising, but word of mouth isn't enough. they get a name and ask laswell to run a thorough background check. to their relief, it comes out squeaky clean. no arrests, no dui's, no shady travel history. modest socials with only a handful of followers. it's in line with what they know so far, solid enough to encourage them to reach out. so they do: just a brief email, asking what time and place would be best for a face-to-face interview.
they bring isla with them to the agreed meeting spot. a cozy cafe nestled in one of the safest parts of town. it's an early saturday morning and they're scheduled to leave in three days. so far, they've put all their eggs in this basket. johnny has to hold onto simon's hand when he notices the nerves dancing behind his partners usually void eyes. but if he were being honest with himself, he's just as scared.
they notice you as soon as they walk in.
sitting at a table for four, mug of coffee steaming as you bend over a well-loved book. despite your preoccupation, you're observant – they inch in your periphery and your head snaps up, a brilliant smile parting your lips as you spring up onto your feet. simon tallies a point on the ledger in his head. good. alert is good.
as is true for them, it's abundantly clear that you're who they're supposed to meet. johnny can't imagine anyone but a children's educator dressing like that: a gingham babydoll dress over a pair of blue tights, which carries over to the bow in your hair and is juxtaposed by the white oxford lace-ups on your feet. he startles when you extend your hand to shake his and he finds a painted fruit on each of your short nails. positively adorable. and so unlike anything they know.
simon shuffles next to him. isla reaches out from her bugaboo stroller, the colours having caught her eye.
"well hello there! aren't you just the cutest angel i've ever seen? do you like my dress?"
that's another point for immediately engaging with the object of your soon-to-be care. simon watches as you pull out a rattle from your purse, handing it over to the cooing baby. warmth blossoms in his chest, and his apprehension fizzles out in the heat. they hadn't told you they'd be bringing isla – opting to catch you off guard and seeing how you'd deal – so he assumes you carry the toy around for emergency purposes, like anyone else of their ilk would carry a gun.
something about that quirk just screams safe.
"it is a nice dress." johnny pursues, voice smooth in that way it gets when he's flirting but doesn't want it made clear. it took weeks for ghost to attune himself to it – he always just thought the scot spoke like that – but now that he's able to hear it for what it is, he shoots him a cautionary look. not so much mad as he is cautious. wouldn't want to scare her off.
"oh! thank you very much. it's my grandmother's design." you straighten up once isla gains a proper grip on the rattle, patting the skirt like you're basking in the praise. "shall we sit? i assume you have a lot to discuss, and i promise you'll want to try the maple scones they make here."
"please. after you." simon nods.
an hour later, you're giggling into your palm as johnny deviates into a story of the time they took isla to the hospital because they didn't know the soft spot on her head could pulse. simon is quiet in contrast, though not displeased. rather, he's focused on keeping the tally of all the green flags you've exhibited thus far. he doesn't mind that the conversation hasn't followed a typical interview format. in fact, people are more likely to show their true nature when in relaxed settings such as this, which is perhaps why johnny hasn't stuck to the script of questions they'd prepared beforehand. the man is better at social manoeuvring than simon is, anyway. he trusts him to direct this where it needs to go.
"it can be freaky! especially if you've never been around a child that young. i had a similar reaction the first time i babysat my neighbour's infant at sixteen. did you know that they can break out like teenagers? i noticed the poor thing's skin erupt in acne at just a month old and called his parent's crying." you wheeze, wiping the tears along your lashline.
"have ye worked wi' many bairns?"
"oh, yeah. it's been my primary source of income since secondary, all the way through uni. i just finished a master's degree in early childhood education, actually! and i wrote a list of referrals you can call if you need to double check on any of that." you rummage through your purse and pull out an apple-shaped sticky note. "do you mind if i ask what you do? people don't usually look for a full-time nanny unless they're really busy. not that i'm judging! i would ne–"
"military." simon interrupts, ensuring his tone is gentle enough to reassure.
"that makes sense! i mean, for an indefinite amount of time, the pay you're offering is more than perfect. above industry standard, really." you pause, brows furrowing like you're doubting whether you should have said that. "ah– whatever. anyway. isla is wonderful, just the sweetest. and the provided accommodation is an added plus. if you guys have no other qualms, then i'd love to accept the position."
"does i' bother you that there are cameras on the property? porch, kitchen, and living room. jus' for security's sake." simon tests, though he knows he doesn't need to, for extra measure. to someone with bad intentions, CCTV is a massive dealbreaker.
you don't hesitate before answering. "makes total sense! you guys are well within your right to check in at any time."
and they don't have to consult each other to know. johnny is practically buzzing in his seat, muscles flexed with enthusiasm as his gaze flits all over you. lingering on your chest in particular, before he looks over to simon and smiles in an offensively handsome way. simon can't help but smile back, crinkling his eyes more than necessary so the both of you can tell what's going on behind his mask.
it feels a little too good to be true, hopeful in a way that sets off the alarm bells in his head. he's stable enough to recognise that it isn't your fault, though. stable enough not to pin his distrust on you. this is likely the best shot they've got at ensuring their daughter's safety while they're away, and it's come in the form of a vivid, bright little blessing.
(with great tits.)
he'd be a fool to sabotage it.
johnny beats him to the cause. "ye'r hired."
[ next ]
#fashion wise im pulling from 'new girl' jess and 'me before you' louisa iykyk#as always my shit ends up way too long#fic ༄ miss magic#ghoap x reader#simon ghost riley x reader x johnny soap mactavish#simon ghost riley x johnny soap mactavish#ghoap#simon riley#john mactavish#ghost#soap#x female reader#x reader
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Lewis Hamilton x royal!Reader - Social Media AU (Part II)
This was highly requested so here it is!
Read Part I
dailymail
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dailymail The new Duke and Duchess of Clarence get cosy while enjoying the sun on a yacht off the Amalfi Coast
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lewisdefender stalking a couple on their honeymoon? how classy
royallybored leave them alone! they deserve one week without you shoving cameras in their faces
kartingkween public 👏 figures 👏 are 👏 entitled 👏 to 👏 privacy 👏 and 👏 respect 👏 too 👏
f1wagupdates
Liked by hamilfan44, loyallylewis, and 96,725 others
f1wagupdates like mother, like daughter. her royal highness the duchess of clarence suited up and joined her husband on the track earlier this weekend thirty years after princess diana showed the world her fascination with racing
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royallyracing i just know that diana is so proud of y/n
hamilfan44 and she would’ve loved lewis so much 🥺
gridgirlie who’s cutting onions?
royalwatcher
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royalwatcher The Duke and Duchess of Clarence are glowing in white as they step out to attend the Pride of Britain awards
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f1wagupdates her bump is adorable 😭
royalfashion most fashionable couple around bar none
paddockstyle they never disappoint!
clarenceroyal
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clarenceroyal We are pleased to announce that Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Clarence welcomed their firstborn child in the early afternoon on July 7th, 2024. Their Royal Highnesses' son weighs 7lbs. 6oz.
The Duchess and baby are both healthy and well, and the couple thank members of the public for their shared excitement and support during this very special time in their lives.
More details will be shared in the forthcoming days.
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mercedesamgf1 our hearts are full 🖤 sending so much love to the three of you (and roscoe)
f1wagupdates i knew it! the timing made sense when mercedes announced that lewis would not be racing at silverstone
totosheadset i was so worried at first but omg this is wonderful news
keepingupwiththeclarences i don’t know if the world is ready for the pure power of a mini combination of y/n and lewis
clarenceroyal
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clarenceroyal “The arrival of our son changed our lives wholly and irrevocably. We have never experienced joy quite as all-consuming as that brought on by parenthood. We thank you for your support and kindness during this time of inexplicable happiness.” - Y/N and Lewis
The Duke and Duchess of Clarence have released three candid photos of their growing family taken by the new parents.
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f1 we’ll save a seat for him in around 18 years
mercedesamgf1 sounds good to us!
serenawilliams lovelies 😍
susie_wolff so precious ❤️ a tiny race suit is on its way to you because it’s never too early to start following in his dad’s footsteps
hamilfan44 roscoe is already the best big brother
#f1 imagine#f1#f1 fic#f1 fanfic#f1 fanfiction#f1 x reader#f1 x you#social media au#lewis hamilton#instagram au#instagram imagine#lh44#lewis hamilton imagine#lewis hamilton x reader#lewis hamilton x you#lewis hamilton fic#lewis hamilton fanfic#lewis hamilton fluff#lewis hamilton fanfiction#lewis hamilton blurb#f1 instagram au#f1 blurb#instagram edit#fake instagram#f1 fandom#mercedes amg f1#f1 fluff#formula 1#insta edit
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Could I please request hc or a drabble about Cove as a new parent with a female MC? Thank you! ❤️
its your lucky day (aka you've asked smth ive been thinking abt for days LOL) bc ive written hc's and drabbles <333 although mostly messy hc's that are in no coherent order also I think I will come back n write more coherent n specific scenarios bc I have sm thoughts on cove through parenthood.... pls tysm for this ask I hope it's satisfactory bc i wrote in order of my thoughts LOL
tags : fluff, AFAB reader, after step 3/wedding dlc, "options" for 1 or 2 babes (if you hc triplets im praying for u🙏), no gender mention of the babe/s, birth surrogacy n adoption are up for imagination but pregnancy/surrogacy is most implied altho i think you could imagine adopting a baby before they're born bc ik some ppl do that
synopsis : how cove acts when you have your first kid & a bit on how he is raising them with you <3
many many candid shots of cove holding the baby
PLEASE tell me someone recorded near the end of the birth/when they brought you the babe
he's crying. no matter what he's crying his fuckin eyes out
if you're giving birth please either have him wait outside n come in to cut the cord at the end bc he might faint
if you do have him in the room he'll be on his best behavior. will try his best not to worry too much bc he knows it could stress you out
(I'm thinking abt this video I saw where the wife said her husband fainted n fell back into this rolly office chair n just rolled to the back of the room into the dark side (it was apparently a long room lollll))
if you're in for a long labor or it's pretty short he's more calm bc either it's over before he can freak out or it's so fuckin long he's over it LOL
he's more of a solid, physical support than anything else because he's not too good with words but also he dosn't want you to feel pressured, annoyed, or smth with constant "you got this!" "its okay!" as you're pushing out a whole human, its not a simple task
[video 1]
COVE: so little...
COVE: (looks at his mom/dad) are they supposed to be this small? (watery laugh)
is very scared to hold the babe, he's a big guy, with or without the muscles so he's always gentle with them even once they get bigger
definitely texts his dad during the pregnancy/surrogacy/adoption process "I hope i can be a good dad like you"
cliff getting a text from cove at 3am: "ty for raising me idk how you did it omg"
cliff is crying n flying over there immediately
!!!! if you need someone to help you adjust cliff is on the fuckin way!!! you can't even finish asking bc he's alrdy here, whatever you need guys!!!!
but if you want to be alone to bond w the babe or you hire a professional to help with the transition then he or your moms will come over and clean up, prepare food, and allows you to come home and not worry about getting things done.
dies if the kid has his hair color or eyes, like at first he just finds it crazy that he's a dad n that he has a lil spawn of his own
also lots of pictures of cliff playing w the babe/s
we all know cove can be lazy with his hair, but he doesn't want his kid going to school w crazy hair so he learns
at first it looks like a mess
n if you keep your hair short or can only do smth simple, its time to call your ma or lee for help LOL
imagine cove standing by your ma as she's showing him how to braid... so sweet
cove is tip-toeing through the house, trying to shake off his outside clothes quietly and when he walks back into the room after brushing his teeth he's greeted with the sweet sound of his baby's giggle
you are sound asleep.
you and the other babe are sound asleep.
he shushes the baby, easing himself into the bed. suddenly he thinks that spending all that money on this big bed was worth it, especially with the way his achy body sinks into it.
"cove?..."
he reaches over the babe/s. "sorry.. did I wake you?"
you hum, it's not a yes or a no, just a sleepy sound and he laughs at how out of it you are even though you're trying to fight it, stroking your face and carding his fingers through your hair.
"I love you.. thank you." he whispers. this moment is so delicate. he worries a bit that if he speaks too loud it'll be gone and he'll wake up in his teenage bedroom, staring at the bottom of his scratched up bunk bed.
"f'what?" you blink slowly.
"for everything..." he grins softly, thinking about that night
of your wedding, when you told him you wanted kids with him.
after the ORCA fundraiser dinner, when you asked him if he imagined having kids with you.
"we made it. that future we talked about..."
you smile softly, more awake now. "thanks for making it with me."
he laughs, muffins his face in the pillow and resting a hand on the baby, willing them not to wake. "how can you thank me for that?"
you grin, more sleepy than anything but still full of mischief.
"how can you thank me for getting me pregnant?" you giggle at your husband's flustered face.
"how can you thank me for being here like I promised years later?" you tease, bringing up night of the fundraiser.
cove flushes, burying his face in the babies hair instead of answering you.
he puts an arm around you, careful of the little one/s between you. "just go to bed..."
gb lady said cove is sahd material.....
omg he makes them lunch always, or he at least helps you make lunch because his cooking skills are a bit limited and they'd prbly have star shaped sandwiches and applesauce everyday
HE HAS A THING TO PUT THE BABE IN WHILE HE DOES HOUSE SHIT
your kids are definitely cuddles bc of him, he always picks em up, and if he doesn't have a carrier than he'll make a makeshift one out of a blanket.
omg imagine him and the kid/s at the dining table crying tryna figure out the homework
"its getting worse y/n!!!"
"what the fuck is common core math?!"
"babe call the teacher, something is missing here..."
if you're bad at math or smth too than you're all fucked n your kid/s AND COVE are facetiming his dad for a long distance tutoring lesson
he's reading them books every night
HE gets upset when it doesn't happen
"babe we gotta turn around, I only read them 5 books we're gonna be gone 6 nights."
FaceTime them every night you're away just the two of u
falls asleep w the kids in the weirdest positions
why is there a princess crown on his head and where did the face paint come from????
spoils the kid/kids. you're gonna go bankrupt please stop!!!
when your kid/s finally graduate n move out on their own, he thanks his dad for raising him and teaching him how to be the best dad.
also thanks you for just being amazing n reassuring him whenever he worried abt doing something wrong
if you have more than 1, he's a master by baby 2/3
COVE: (holding fresh baby, whispering) ....why is it so red
raising you kid/s w cove is tough at first, cove worries about doing some wrong or failing as a parent.
and he did eventually admit he was worried about raising his kid/s in a "broken" home. his parents did their best! and he loves them, but the split was hard for him and he doesn't want them to go through the same feelings.
every day is a new experience in your house to say the least
I imagine it's filled w lots of worry, love, and tears
COVE N HIS KID/S HAVE A CRY COUNT
(cove is losing somehow?! he's been out crybaby-ed)
#our life: beginnings & always#olba#cove holden#cove holden x reader#cove x mc#cove x reader#cove our life#our life cove#cove holden fluff#cove holden x mc
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Hello Fiona! What is your opinion on In My Life being about Paul?
Hi anon!
I'm like a semi-contrarian about this, but also Not Really.
What we know about In My Life is that John both described it as a really personal song and also didn't really elaborate on what the lyrics meant, electing instead to provide the backstory. It could mean he was being specifically cagey about the song's subject but I also get the feeling he was just a bit pissed the entire time he was doing his song rundown for Playboy 1980 lol – which is understandable IMO; he probably would have preferred to talk more about his newer music than going over songs from 15 years ago again.
Now, given the timeline of when the song was written, I've always seen three possible candidates for who it's about: Paul, Cynthia, and my personal pet theory: Julian.
At this point, I do kind of think Paul is the most likely subject of the song, though I'm not sure that's entirely rational on my part. Partly it's the I Know (I Know) lyrical connection (a song I am pretty much 100% on the Paul train for); partly it would make sense that, if Stu and Pete are also being referenced in the song, it would be natural for John to draw a comparison between them and Paul, his current best friend.
A thing I find interesting in this context (and the Julian context) is that the song isn't necessarily speaking to a romantic love interest. It certainly could be (and I do tend to think John came to think of Paul that way at some point if not necessarily by 1965 already) but it also might not. Especially when you consider the "acid mindset", which John was getting acquainted with at the time: romanticizing your friendship with your artistic partner could slot into that perfectly, without any of it necessarily being sexually-tinged (or without one having to admit to oneself that it is sexually-tinged).
As for Cynthia, it's absolutely fascinating to me (in a bad way) that she is not commonly held to be the subject of the song. In My Life is a love song, but scholarship seems to stop listening after the first minute. I don't think this is because the song intrinsically can't be about her, I think this just speaks to how egregiously the JohnandYoko narrative (or even the JohnandPaul narrative, in these circles) dominates discussions. It would certainly make sense for John not to want to admit this song might've been for the wife he mistreated by 1980. This emotional letter John wrote Cyn is from just around the time the song was written, meaning it wouldn't be unthinkable for him to in a sense "renew his vows to her" in form of this song.
Which brings me to the Julian theory, that sort of combines all the points I made above. On the one hand, the song isn't explicitly romantic, and I think the line "When I think of love as something new" makes a lot of sense referring to parenthood. Plus, "But of all these friends and lovers" could also suggest that the you is neither a friend, nor a lover. And the letter I linked above is actually mostly about John feeling regretful about how he's not been around for Julian.
"I think it’s been a slow process my feeling like a real father!" he writes, more than 2 years after his son was born, which IMO would make sense of this song coming so "late", if it were for Julian. And again I imagine John would not cop to it in 1980, as he wouldn't for Cyn or Paul.
On the whole, I think I find Paul slightly more likely, but to be honest, that might just be bias on my part, so I don't commit to it fully, and I think the other readings are very interesting at least. In My Life as a song from a parent to a child is wonderful!
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“We have to be a nation that trusts women.”
March 15, 2024
ROBERT B. HUBBELL
The most significant political development on Thursday was the appearance by Vice President Kamala Harris at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Minnesota. Her appearance at a women’s healthcare clinic was the first by a U.S. vice president (or president) at a facility that provides abortion services. See CNN, Kamala Harris becomes first VP to visit abortion provider with Planned Parenthood visit.
The visit was part of Kamala Harris’s “Fight for Reproductive Freedoms” tour. She is taking the lead on an issue where she can be (and has been) a more effective and outspoken advocate than President Biden. Her leadership on the issue of reproductive liberty is a good development for Harris, Biden, and the American people.
V.P. Harris said, in part,
I’m here at this health care clinic to uplift the work that is happening in Minnesota as an example of what true leadership looks like. . . .
The reason I’m here is because this is a health care crisis. Part of this health care crisis is the clinics like this that have had to shut down and what that has meant to leave no options with any reasonable geographic area for so many women who need this essential care.
Harris framed the issue as one that pitted politicians against women’s control over their bodies:
How dare these elected leaders believe they are in a better position to tell women what they need. To tell women what’s in their best interest. We have to be a nation that trusts women.
Harris’s visit was historic. But it also showcased Kamala Harris’s campaign skills, including her ability to connect with women and young people on the campaign trail. For readers who remember Kamala Harris only from the debate stage in 2020, I urge you to watch a few minutes of her appearance in Minnesota.
No soaring rhetoric. No shouting. No anger. No pep rallies. Instead—like Joe Biden—she is a relatable candidate speaking to the American people about their needs, wants, and fears.
I was impressed and by Kamala Harris’s appearance in Minnasota, and I hope you will be, too.
But there is more. In a similar speech last week in Arizona, Kamala Harris touched on a matter of extreme urgency for all women and men: The plan by religious fundamentalist extremists to make contraception illegal.
In Arizona, Harris said,
And right now, other extremists, as you have heard and know, are in court trying to bring back a law from 1864 that would completely ban abortion in Arizona — 1864. Understand: 1864, before women had the right to vote, before women could own property, before Arizona was even admitted as a state.
So, the 2024 ballot will not only include access to abortion service, but access to contraception. See The Independent, Republicans are taking aim on contraception — and they’d rather you didn’t know.
In short, Kamala Harris is fast becoming the leading voice for reproductive liberty on the Biden-Harris team.
Readers sometimes send emails suggesting that Joe Biden replace Kamala Harris by appointing her to the Supreme Court or to serve as Attorney General in Biden’s next administration. When I question readers about their desire for a different vice presidential candidate, some say Harris is not “likable.” That (mis-)impression is an unfair hangover from her appearances on a debate stage with sixteen other Democratic candidates in 2020. Watch the video above if you still labor under that misapprehension.
Other readers say (wrongly) that Harris is not “ready” to be president if called upon to replace Biden. As I tell readers who raise that concern, she has more experience than did the following presidents when they began their first term: Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, John F. Kennedy, Donald Trump, George W. Bush, and Ronald Reagan. She has comparable experience to George H.W. Bush when he was elected president.
Biden and Harris are a formidable team. That fact will become increasingly apparent when Trump picks a V.P. candidate from a rogue’s gallery of sycophants willing to debase themselves by serving as running mate to an insurrectionist, coup-plotting, extortionist, document-stealing sexual abuser.
[Robert B. Hubbell Newsletter]
#women's rights#human rights#totalitarianism#Robert B. Hubbell#Robert B. Hubbell Newletter#Kamala Harris#women#reproductive rights
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The Promise
Premise: Cassie reflects on impending motherhood.
Book: Open Heart (post series)
Pairing: Ethan Ramsey x F!MC (Cassie Valentine)
Rating/Category: Teen. Fluff.
Words: 745
A/N: Submission to @choicesholidays Mother's Day; @choiceschallenge-may2023 prompt "family"
When Cassie Valentine was six, she thought her mom was a fairy queen. Bright and sparkly — especially when she wore her tiara — she sprinkled fairy dust over their beautiful home with a single wave of her hand.
At eleven, she thought Olivia Valentine was a superhero who wore beautiful gowns to parties but could karate kick would-be thieves without hesitation.
Cassie remembered exchanging a shocked look with her twin brother Max after the incident. They stared at the man screaming and cursing on the ground and then at their mom. She was calmly talking to the police in flawless Italian, her hair effortlessly styled like a movie star.
“No wonder Dad always tells us not to make Mom angry,” Max whispered in awe.
“Mom must be Wonder Woman in disguise,” Cassie murmured, eyes wide in admiration.
Of course, they never saw their mother break down into tears behind closed doors after their father picked them up from the police station in Rome.
To them, she was a woman who could pack up and move their family from one city to another within weeks. One who bought the best presents and made the small moments fun and full of laughter, whether baking cookies on a rainy day or camping in the backyard with s’mores and ghost stories.
And she always seemed to know what she and Max were feeling before they did. The woman honestly had superpowers.
The siblings might joke about their mom’s scary intuition or how often she tried to set them up with eligible candidates when they were both single. But in the end, they also knew how lucky they were.
Their social circle was shiny on the outside but hid a sordid interior where infidelity and broken marriages were common. However, their parents had never wavered in their love for each other and their family.
Cassie thought their example was why she and Max never settled for less than true love. But did that automatically translate to parenthood?
Max was already a wonderful father to Noah and now Isabelle. But would she?
Cassie reflected on motherhood while she and Ethan waited for the final ultrasound before the twins’ arrival.
“You seem lost in another world,” Ethan said, his concern breaking through her reverie.
“Do you think I would make a good mom?” Cassie asked, apprehensive despite her best efforts to control the nerves.
“Sure.”
“That’s it?” She crunched her face in annoyance. “Not exactly a ringing endorsement, babe.”
He shrugged, and Cassie wanted to hit him.
“What do you want me to say?” he sighed. “I don’t exactly have the best experience with mine to answer your question with any uncertainty.”
He twisted in his seat to face her and clasped her hand, his thumb stroking the soft skin in an absent gesture.
“I do know this with all certainty,” he said, his blue eyes gravely serious. “Whenever we have doubts, we just need to look at those around us that we admire and learn from their example. My dad, your parents. Your mom. We’re not alone, are we?”
Cassie pursed her lips as she contemplated his words. And then she laughed as a thought occurred to her.
“Who are you, and what have you done with Dr. Ethan Ramsey?” she teased. “The austere and demanding attending I met when I first arrived at Edenbrook would’ve never uttered something so profoundly emotional.”
Ethan rolled his eyes.
“He wouldn’t have done that either,” she giggled.
“He fell in love with a smart-mouthed intern who asked for private lessons and refused to take no for an answer!”
Cassie kissed his cheek sweetly. “What can I say? I learned perseverance from my mom. She’s the best and who I hope to become when I grow up.”
“Which will be when, exactly?” he shot back, one eyebrow quirked.
Cassie burst into laughter at his disgruntled tone and clutched her pregnant belly, her body shaking. She was still laughing when the ultrasound technician called her name a few minutes later.
“Ignore her,” Ethan muttered when the technician looked at him askance.
Later, Cassie was back at her desk, but her mind wasn’t on work. She stared at the latest ultrasound printout and rubbed one hand over her belly.
“I will make mistakes,” she said to her unborn children. “But I promise I’ll always love you, no matter what.”
It was the same promise her mom had made to her and Max as kids. And it was enough.
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All Fics & Edits: @annfg8 @bluebelle08 @coffeeheartaddict2 @crazy-loca-blog @doriopenheart @genevievemd @headoverheelsforramsey @lucy-268 @jamespotterthefirst @jerzwriter @lady-calypso @mainstreetreader @peonierose @potionsprefect @queencarb @quixoticdreamer16 @rookiemartin @socalwriterbee @takemyopenheart @tessa-liam @trappedinfanfiction
Submissions: @choicesficwriterscreations @openheartfanfics
Ethan & Cassie only: @cariantha @custaroonie @hopelessromantic1352 @mrs-ramsey
#open heart#open heart choices#choices open heart#ethan ramsey#ethan ramsey x mc#open heart fanfics#open heart fanfiction#playchoices#choices fanfics#choices fic writers creations#cfwc fics of the week#choices fanfiction#ethan ramsey x cassie valentine#short story#writers on tumblr
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PEOPLE’S POLICY PROJECT
PART I:
Relative to its European peers, the United States spends virtually nothing on benefits for families with children.1 This dearth of family benefits leads to two cruel outcomes: it denies many people the ability to have the families that they want and inflicts financial ruin on many of those who go through with parenthood despite the lack of social support.
The prevalence of financial problems among families with children causes many would-be parents to have fewer children than they would prefer and causes some to forego parenthood altogether. A recent survey found that one-fourth of people between the ages of 20 and 45 had fewer or expected to have fewer children than they wanted.2 The most common reasons were economic: 64 percent said child care is too expensive; 44 percent said they can’t afford more children; and 43 percent said they waited too long because of financial instability.
When people do have children, they often struggle to afford child care, pre-k, and even everyday expenses. The effects of this social neglect are felt most severely by those on the bottom of our society. Twenty-one percent of American children live in relative poverty—a higher percentage than that of any European country.3
Current policy discussions around benefits that help families with children are fractured in strange and unhelpful ways. Ideas to expand child care and pre-k services tend to get grouped in with education policy or stand alone under the heading of “early childhood education and care.”4 Programs that provide public health insurance to children are categorized as healthcare policy.5 Paid leave proposals almost always seek to bundle leave for parents with leave for medical reasons and then wind up classified as women’s policy.6
These issue-area assignments are not wrong in an objective sense, but they create a muddled and rudderless policy framework. A more effective approach would be to bring all these policy ideas under the heading of family benefits and then pitch family benefits as having a simple unified purpose: making parenthood easy and affordable for everyone.
In Section One of this paper, I lay out a general theory that explains why having and raising children is so difficult in a laissez-faire capitalist system. In Section Two, I introduce the Family Fun Pack, a suite of family benefits that solves the problems identified in the first section. These benefits include free child care, free pre-k, free healthcare for children, and a child allowance, among other things.
Progressive candidates looking for a fresh platform would be wise to consider adopting the Family Fun Pack agenda. It is a coherent set of programs that conveys a simple message. These programs, which are common throughout the world, are extremely effective at reducing the burden of parenthood and especially effective at reducing child poverty.
The first problem, which I call the mere addition problem, is that adding children to a family unit increases the amount of resources and time needed by the unit, but our current economic system does nothing to address this need. Similar workers receive the same wages and time off even though some have to pay for diapers and child care while others do not. Because income is paid out to the factors of production without any regard for its final family-level distribution, families with children wind up in dramatically worse financial circumstances than families without children, even when the families are otherwise identical.
The best way to understand the severity of the mere addition problem is through a concrete example with realistic figures. So, imagine two married middle-class couples, the Smiths and the Johnsons. Both families earn $80,000 per year, but the Smiths have a son and a daughter when they are in their mid-20s while the Johnsons never have kids.
According to the latest figures from the usda and the Current Expenditure Survey, the Smiths will spend $233,970 out of their own pockets getting each of their children to age 18.7 That’s $467,940 for both kids. The Johnsons, being childless, will spend $0 over the same period. If both of the Smith’s kids attend a four-year public college, that will cost the family another $116,720, bringing the grand total with college to $584,660 versus the Johnson’s $0.8
Despite working the same middle class jobs, the Smiths are much worse off than the Johnsons. By merely adding two children to their family unit, they find themselves half a million dollars in the hole. This dynamic opens up huge inequalities between families with different numbers of children and causes many lower income families to drown under the financial burden.
In the above example, the Smiths earn $80,000 per year and therefore can probably absorb the extra costs of raising children without going broke. But for lower class families, the story is much more bleak. Retail workers, food service workers, and others with low incomes often find themselves completely crushed by these expenses. Without a robust set of family benefits available to offset child-rearing costs, these families frequently wind up in poverty.
Indeed, because of the mere addition problem, the presence of children is one of the leading causes of poverty in American life. In social statistics, poverty is a function of family income and family size. When children are added to a family, the family’s size increases, but the family’s income does not. This necessarily pulls a family closer to the poverty line and plunges many families below that line.
In 2017, 158 million Americans lived in families with children.9 Over 28 million of those people lived below the poverty line, and that’s even after counting transfer programs like food stamps and the Earned Income Tax Credit.10
If these children did not exist, then obviously there would be no child poverty. More interestingly, if they did not exist, then half of the poor adults who currently live in families with children would no longer be poor.11 That’s right: half of poor adults who live with children are only poor because of the expenses of raising children. It is thus the presence of children in these households that is driving the adults into poverty. Based on this analysis, children directly or indirectly cause 36 percent of all the poverty in America.
Since children increase the amount of resources families need to maintain their standard of living, a society that fails to match that need with public benefits will generally wind up with high levels of interfamily inequality and high levels of child and child-adjacent poverty.
The second problem, which I call the lifecycle income problem, is that peak childbearing years occur in early adulthood when individuals are working entry level jobs and therefore receiving entry level pay. As workers gain experience, they generally receive promotions and raises that increase their incomes, but much of this money comes too late to help with the punctuated costs of raising children. This mismatch between peak earning years and peak childbearing years drives up inequality and poverty in society.
People generally have children in their late 20s and early 30s. The average age of first birth is 26.6 years old.12 The birth rate, i.e. the percent of women who have children in a given year, peaks at 11 percent around age 30.13 The percentage of adults living with children under the age of 5 peaks at 35 percent around age 33.14 The percentage of adults living with children under the age of 18 reaches a high of 66 percent at age 39.15
Yet adults receive their highest levels of income in their 40s and 50s. Median personal earnings peak at age 44; median family income peaks at age 49; and median equivalized family income, i.e. family income adjusted for family size, peaks at age 59.16 The result of this lifecycle income pattern is that family incomes are lowest right around the time people start having children, increase gradually while people are raising kids, and then reach their peak after kids have moved out.
(Continue Reading)
#politics#the left#peoples policy project#social democracy#democratic socialism#economics#millenials#childcare#inequality#economic inequality#poverty#capitalism#long post
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Movie Review: American Fiction
Thelonious Ellison is an angry man. You get the feeling that he is always angry, always has been angry and unless he changes something, always will be angry. He is right about the world and about people when he thinks that they all want easy answers and spoon-fed entertainment, but being right won’t fix what’s wrong with him. The movie is about whether he can do that himself.
What does he need to fix? Everyone around him has an opinion, and everyone may have a point. Understanding broken people requires broken people, so Monk, as he is usually called, is fortunate that his whole family is broken. They are still suffering from the suicide of the father, an unseen phantom. The mother (Leslie Uggams) is in the early stages of dementia. The plastic surgeon brother Cliff (Sterling K. Brown) has recently been divorced after being caught with a man, and has responded to his outing with unreserved debauchery. The only really responsible member of the family is the older sister Lisa (Tracee Ellis Ross), a doctor at a fictional version of Planned Parenthood, but when she unexpectedly dies, the family’s remaining broken pieces must come together to solve the puzzle that is them.
Monk does this while struggling with the low sales of his books as readers prefer more salacious fiction that gives them what they think the black experience is like---guns, drugs, hopeful stories of rising out of imagined ghettos painted in the most generalized of lights. Monk doesn’t want to tell that kind of story, and indeed argues that he cannot. He is a well-educated black professor from an upper-middle-class background, and he wants to write about the experiences of black people like himself. The audience doesn’t want to read them, and eventually in a night of doubt he gives in and dashes off a quick book that plays to the stereotypes, with Keith David and Okieriete Onaodowan as the hilarious personifications of two of his characters. Like the play in The Producers, he intends the book to be derided and to fail, and also like The Producers, it is an unexpected hit. Hurting for money, Monk and his long-suffering agent Arthur (John Ortiz) play along to increasingly hilarious results.
The most pressing issue on Monk’s mind is his mother, who deteriorates rapidly. Uggams’ performance is full of sympathy. She has a single screenplay-dramatic moment that ends up forcing the family’s hand, but mostly her condition is treated as a slow descent. Notes of The Father, one of the few successful depictions of Alzheimer’s on screen, can be detected here, as she becomes abrasive as a defense and only turns lucid long enough to recall her husband’s infidelity. Brown as the brother injects comedy into the proceedings with his many drug-loving younger lovers and his acid tongue, but it is to the film’s great credit that he doesn’t remain merely comedic relief. His story eventually gets a catharsis that allows Monk to think he might, at some point, receive his own. Monk’s only real ally seems to be newfound girlfriend Coraline (Erica Alexander), but there are cracks there from the beginning, as he covers up for his actual abrasive nature with the kind of humor that is meant to hide hostility.
Monk’s nemesis is Sintara Golden, a best-selling author who “writes black” in every way Monk disapproves of. Played by Issa Rae, she comes off initially as a cheap plot device, but shifts a little when the two are thrown into the same panel of judges for a book award contest. Yet another brave touch in the movie is how their inevitable confrontation is handled. We can at least sort of respect her as long as she thinks she is doing a genuine thing, even if she isn’t. Trapped in a candid moment, she lets down her practiced talk circuit defenses and reveals her true reasons for writing the way she does. What those are I will leave for you to discover, but the character is much stronger and a suitable nemesis for Monk by not being made into a “girl boss” figurehead.
The movie is rife with conversations meant to expose the deep racial and personal biases well-meaning white liberals often inadvertently show. It is sometimes subtle and sometimes not, and for the most part each kind of depiction is effective. What strikes me most about this aspect of the movie is entirely subjective. I saw it in a preview screening at a film festival where the audience was mostly older and mostly white. Every time the film skewered some convention of “black” popular culture and the way non-black people see it, I couldn’t help wondering if I was the mark. If I was, I didn’t feel attacked by that, but rather encouraged to re-examine my views. The fact I did all this while laughing my ass off should at least tell you one thing: you should go see this movie.
Verdict: Highly Recommended
Note: I don’t use star ratings. Here are my possible verdicts:
Must-See
Highly Recommended
Recommended
Average
Not Recommended
Avoid Like the Plague
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Spring is here and Fruit Fest opened with a bang! Here are the juicy selections offered so far!
FIC. Draco & Harry. Draco/Hermione. Rated: G. Words: 1,251. Fluff. Chef Draco. Pub Owner Harry. Bars and pubs. Baking.
Draco Malfoy has a boot full of pears and Harry Potter has a pub full of people who like eating them.
🍐 Read on AO3 🍐
ART. Draco/Harry. Rated: G. Muggle AU. Fluff. Meet cute.
"And it might sound silly but let's go home"
🥭 Read on AO3 🥭
FIC. Draco & Goyle. Rated: E. Words: 1,434. Object insertion. Anal fisting. Pranks gone sexual. Drabble collection.
Harry and Ginny come up with an insane prank to play on Draco. Except it goes sideways. Well, more up, and then sideways, but only after plenty of stretching. This is crack gone overboard. Pumpkins go up holes and gaping booty gets an impressionist description; read at your own peril.
🎃 Read on AO3 🎃
FIC. Harry/Hermione. Rated: G. Words: 1,416. Panic attacks. Comfort.
Ron's left, and Harry buckles under the pressure. Hermione walks him back from the edge.
🥝 Read on AO3 🥝
ART. Draco/apple. Draco/Harry. Rated: E. NSFW art.
Draco does a photo shoot for Witch Weekly, in which he shows his appreciation for his favorite fruit.
🍎 Read on AO3 🍎
ART. Draco/Harry. Rated: G. Mpreg. Pregnant Draco. Cravings.
Apples symbolize peace, beauty, wisdom, joy, fertility, and youthfulness
🍏 Read on AO3 🍏
FIC. Draco/Hermione. Rated: T. Words: 402. Tooth rotting fluff. Family feels. Parenthood. Springtime. Scorpius & Lyra.
Hermione Granger had always loved springtime. She loved everything about the season even though she was a late summer baby having been born in the middle of September, she had always preferred the spring and autumn time. They always called out her names. Then she found true love with Draco Malfoy, who had also always loved the springtime. He felt the same about the season even though he was another summer baby. They purposely had their wedding in the Malfoy Manor gardens in the middle of spring. They had prolonged their honeymoon so they could celebrate it within the spring. But, then came the birth of their two spring babies. Scorpius and Lyra Granger-Malfoy. With the cherry blossom blooming on the trees across the gardens of Malfoy Manor. Newborn lambs and little piglets frolicking about in the neighbouring fields. Loads of loaded picnics with all different kinds of food and drink underneath the shining sun with their babbling children. Hermione and Draco Granger-Malfoy would always love the springtime.
🍓 Read on AO3 🍓
FIC. Astoria/Draco. Astoria/Draco/Hermione. Rated: E. Words: 3,668. Virginity loss. Dom/Sub. Mommy/Daddy kink. PWP.
Astoria Greengrass and Draco Malfoy were happily married along with their gorgeous, blond-haired son, Scorpius Malfoy, but life got too busy and it was decided between the couple that they needed a babysitter. And they needed one desperately. This was where the recently turned nineteen-year-old Hermione Granger came in and was the best candidate for the job role of babysitter. However, Draco and Astoria couldn’t help it when alternate feelings start to rise from seeing the young woman with their son.
🍒 Read on AO3 🍒
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Like Father, Like Son
Nathan Souther reviews
In Like Father, Like Son, by Hirokazu Koreeda, several months in the lives of two very different Japanese families, who don't know each other at first but are thrown together into a strange, terrible situation with no easy answers, are shown. Ryomo and Midori Nonomiya, played by Masaharu Fukuyama and Machiko Ono, are a married couple who live in a nice apartment with their only child, Keita Nonomiya, who is six years old. Ryomo is a hard-working businessman from a traditional Japanese family, and Midori is a quiet, loving stay-at-home mom. Even though Keita is still young, Ryomo puts too much pressure on him to do well, even though they love him. Then, terrible news threatens to break the family apart: The country hospital where Midori gave birth to Keita calls the couple to tell them that they may have made a mistake six years ago by mixing up Keita's birth parents with those of another baby. DNA tests prove what the parents feared most: The child they've come to know and love isn't their own. It's the son of Yukari and Yudai Saiki, a working-class couple from a nearby town. They both gave birth in the same hospital at the same time, and they've been raising Ryusei (Shôgen Hwang), the Nonomiyas' son, along with their own children for years. The families get together and think about taking action against the hospital. However, this is not the most important question: how to change how they act with each other. Should the couples go on as before and act like nothing has changed for the sake of the sons they have raised? Or should they try to switch the kids and start over from the beginning? And if they choose the second option, what emotional and psychological effects will that have on the parents and sons?
This problem will probably seem more strange to people in the West than it does to the average person in Japan. Many people in North America and Europe, where adoption and surrogate parenthood are common, would think that the obvious thing to do in a crisis like this would be to keep the children and treat them as your own. But under the surface of modernity, much of Japanese society is still built on strict rules from the past that are based on the idea of blood lineage. To more traditional adults like Ryomo, the idea of raising another family's children is not only unthinkable, but also wrong and even sacrilegious. This makes the news from the hospital more than just upsetting; it feels like a direct attack on Ryomo. Koreeda's best work in this movie is making sure that all of these native differences, these invisible limits that hang in the air, are clear throughout the whole story. Other Asian imports, like Lee Chang-dong's play Poetry, could be hard to understand, but Like Father never is. When one of the characters acts in a way that seems strange to people in the West, we know where that behavior comes from.
The saga is uniquely Japanese in another strange but wonderful way: it feels like a family story. In place of a typical Hollywood story with an A-B-C progression and a predictable ending that strains credibility, Koreeda gives us a deliberately vague meditation that drifts slowly through the lives of its characters, swimming in observations of their actions that float in and out of the frame. Each insight, in turn, adds a piece to a huge puzzle of futility. Even though we can explain how and why each psychological response happens, we can't even begin to come up with a solution to the main problem at hand, which seems completely right.
As he did in his 2008 masterpiece, Still Walking, Koreeda has a poet's eye for the subtleties of people. In this movie, there are two scenes that are as well-observed as anything else he's ever done. Each of them uses a still photography motif that reminds me of Edward Yang's Yi Yi. In a heartbreaking scene near the end of the movie, Ryomo looks at the candid photos that Keita has taken with the family's digital camera for the first time. In doing so, he discovers a part of himself that he never knew existed. In another, the two families pose quickly for a group photo. The way the image is blocked shows not only the differences between the clans -- one is strict and austere, while the other is loose, emotional, and unrestricted -- but also the differences between traditional and more modern Japanese ideas of family.
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What to do if you’re an Alaskan who needs an abortion
First, abortion is still legal in Alaska. There are no trigger laws in effect. There is also no immediate legislative action seeking to change this right. In Alaska, abortion is legal throughout the entire pregnancy. The abortion must be performed by a licensed physician, and you also must be a resident of Alaska for 30 days prior to the procedure (source). You are also required to receive counseling before obtaining an abortion. There are 3 abortion clinics in the state, located in Fairbanks, Anchorage, and Juneau. If you cannot afford an abortion, Medicare is required by law to cover the cost of a “medically necessary” abortion, and Planned Parenthood, which oversees all 3 clinics, also has payment plans and sliding scale fees.
Alaska was one of 4 states to make abortion legal before Roe v. Wade. In 1972, voters overwhelmingly supported an amendment adding the right to privacy to the state’s constitution. Through this amendment, abortion was legalized, as medical care and decisions are protected as private under the State Constitution.
The Alaska Supreme Court affirmed the right to abortion again in 1997, stating that “reproductive rights are fundamental, and that they are encompassed within the right to privacy expressed in article I, section 22 of the Alaska Constitution.” The Supreme Court ruling also states that “these fundamental reproductive rights include the right to an abortion”.
What happens now?
There is still a very real threat to abortion and reproductive rights within Alaska. Governor Mike Dunleavy has already mentioned that he will be introducing an amendment when the legislative session restarts in November that could remove constitutional protections for abortion in Alaska. However, passing an amendment this way requires support from 2/3rds of both the state House and Senate, as well as support from the majority of participating voters the next election. It is extremely unlikely this amendment will ever be seen by voters.
However, this November, Alaskans have the chance to vote on holding a constitutional convention. The possibility for a constitutional convention is put on the ballot every 10 years, and if voters agree to hold one, it is the most direct (and likely) way to amend the constitution.
This process will take time if voters ask to hold one, with final amendments to the constitution potentially not being ratified until 2026, but many anti abortion groups are already pushing hard to hold a constitutional convention, as they see it as the best way to ban abortion within the state. The constitutional convention can address a number of topics, most notably the PFD, which is why support has been growing, but it is almost certain to become contentious and could put abortion on the chopping block.
What can I do?
It is very difficult to change the State constitution, so preventing or banning abortion will not be easy. However, a constitutional convention is the most likely way that abortion protections could be removed. Educate yourself on the issues before voting in November. Anti abortion groups are heavily supporting a constitutional convention, and the question is left entirely up to voters in November whether or not one will be held. Consider voting “no” to holding a constitutional convention, and contact your state legislators to express your support for abortion rights in Alaska. Additionally, vote for candidates that will protect abortion rights for the US House and Senate.
Abortion within Alaska remains safe and legal. However, the challenges and unique remoteness of the state can make it extremely difficult for people in villages or who are off the highway system to access the 3 remaining abortion clinics. If you decide to go outside the state for an abortion due to these barriers, Washington has robust protections and as many Alaskans know, the main way to access any destination in the Lower 48 is to go through Seattle, so there are many flights each day that can get you there.
I have also seen a lot of posts recommending that Alaskans go to Canada for abortions if necessary. The closest clinic is in Whitehorse, and there are no direct flights. Another option is to drive, but again, if you are coming from a village or from off the highway system, this is not a viable option. Alaskans also need to present a passport for entry into Canada. I am from the Interior so I am not qualified to speak for all Alaskans, but Canada seems to be a far more inaccessible option due to its remoteness, difficulty of access, and additional costs of getting a passport and paying out of pocket for an abortion at the Whitehorse clinic. I would highly recommend going to Seattle instead.
#abortion#abortion access#abortion rights#reproductive rights#Alaska#I’ve seen a truly terrifying amount of misinformation going around about what’s happening in ak and that helps absolutely no one so I made#a post instead#.txt
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Nonprofits: the myths
I feel like there are a lot of myths out there about nonprofits, especially around the holidays when a lot of people are giving. So here are my answers to common myths surrounding nonprofits.
There is one kind of nonprofit - False. There are multiple kinds of nonprofits, with the biggest being 501c3 (charitable orgs) and 501c4 (civic and political orgs). According to this website, there are 27 (!) types of nonprofits. Even within 501c3s there’s a lot of variation, because that’s where orgs that we traditionally think of like Girl Scouts go, but also churches, hospitals, and private foundations.
All nonprofits cannot be politically active - Half false. Some types of nonprofits have more or less restrictions on their political activity, like lobbying or whether they can endorse a candidate/politician. Some nonprofits have multiple but separate arms to accomplish their political needs. Planned Parenthood that provides healthcare to low income women and accepts tax exempt donations? Couldn’t endorse Biden. Planned Parenthood Action Committee (PPAC) that is a 501c4? Few political restrictions.
Nonprofits must spend all of their income annually - False. Nonprofits are allowed to keep some revenue from year to year for unexpected expenses, or years when expenses exceed income. They can have investments as well. They just must report their expenses and income on a 990 form (see below).
It is good for nonprofits to always be under 20% overhead - False. A good nonprofit balances using money for programs with using money to pay staff a living wage. Many nonprofits that spend 20-30% or less of their revenue on overhead often means they seriously underpay staff and lack necessary resources (staff or physical) to carry out programs. Is it bad that certain nonprofits ridiculously overpay CEOs? Yes. But that program staffer who makes $3/hour less than living wage? Should be paid fairly. Chronic underpayment and under resourcing leads to high burnout and turnover, which is good for nobody.
Restricted donations are the best thing for a nonprofit - Often false. Nonprofits know what they need better than most donors. For example, if someone gave a 10k restricted donation to STEM at my council that could only be used for program supplies, like, that is not a good use of that money. It would be better used to pay camp staff (for example) because I can get nowhere without the support of my staff. I can buy tablets or Chromebooks, but I need people to use them. Trust your favorite nonprofit to spend money wisely.
Nonprofits can’t charge for their programming - False. Nonprofits are allowed to charge for things, like membership, admission to their venue, or for special events. Many museums are nonprofits and can charge, and many nonprofits charge for events as well. This is often subsidized by fundraisers or grants, but not entirely paid for. For example, for most of my events at work, the kid’s fees cover the event expenses, but my salary and the building costs are paid for in other ways (cookies, grants, donations, etc). Sometimes we also get grants/donations to subsidize events though, especially if we’re working with underserved groups or we want to put on a really big event.
Nonprofit finances are a mystery - False. Nonprofits are required to publish their recent finance reports on their website. You can also find them in the form of a 990 form on this website (Candid) as well as many others. 990 forms must be freely available and they’re really interesting. Like, my council spends about two-fifths of it’s expenses on salaries. Salaries are expensive! And we still have low pay, but that’s another issue.
So what does nonprofit mean then? Nonprofit basically just means that we don’t pay out profits to shareholders or board members. There’s tons of ways to be a nonprofit, some better than others, but hopefully this is a little overview of what nonprofits are truly like.
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youtube
Watch the 2024 American Climate Leadership Awards for High School Students now: https://youtu.be/5C-bb9PoRLc
The recording is now available on ecoAmerica's YouTube channel for viewers to be inspired by student climate leaders! Join Aishah-Nyeta Brown & Jerome Foster II and be inspired by student climate leaders as we recognize the High School Student finalists. Watch now to find out which student received the $25,000 grand prize and top recognition!
#ACLA24#ACLA24HighSchoolStudents#youtube#youtube video#climate leaders#climate solutions#climate action#climate and environment#climate#climate change#climate and health#climate blog#climate justice#climate news#weather and climate#environmental news#environment#environmental awareness#environment and health#environmental#environmental issues#environmental education#environmental justice#environmental protection#environmental health#high school students#high school#youth#youth of america#school
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On trump-sized advice
From Coketalk/The Coquette, November 16, 2016
CQ, will you please let your sizable fan base know that there is still a Senate seat up for grabs in Louisiana? Every single person in the country who is horrified by the Donald Trump presidency should be trying to get Foster Campbell elected right now, to bring the Senate to an even slightly less terrifying 51-49.
Every last motherfucker who reads this, please go donate to Foster Campbell’s campaign. Do it right now. If you live in Louisiana, get your ass off the couch and go volunteer for his campaign. No joke. This is a big deal.
Do you think they’re crushing up Xanax or some shit and putting it in his soda? Or is he just very, very scared while riding a narcissist’s high?
Please. Donald Trump has no chill. He’s just too busy fucking up already to be in our faces with his usual bullshit.
Not even a Trump presidency is keeping me distracted from wallowing in self pity over my break up. I’m still in love with him!! Please yell at me.
No. I envy you. This is the perfect time to be heartbroken. It’s like getting a two-for-one deal on misery. Go have a shitty round of holidays like the rest of us and look forward to a 2017 where we’ll all be hardened by bitterness and rage.
Let’s say Trump is out of the picture. Maybe he resigns, or is impeached…Mike Pence becomes our next President, right? Isn’t that even more terrifying, knowing his extremely right-leaning position on every platform? What do we do then? It’s like we’re in a game of chess and we’ve just been cornered.
Relax. Mike Pence would be crippled by his association with Trump. He has has no friends in Congress, no mandate, and he would get torn apart by a Republican leadership who would want a chance to hit the reset button in 2020. Yes, he’s a terrible human being, but he’s also an empty suit. We should be so lucky to have his dumb ass fumble into the Oval Office.
Trump the president will not be the same person as Trump the guy trying to win an election. It baffles me that you can be so naive. You give Hillary all these props for masterfully playing the game, yet Trump out-played her. You’re too blinded by your girl power bullshit that you can’t even give props where they’re due. I think you’ll be humbled by the reality of the next 4 years.
What? You think you’ve stumbled onto some unique insight? The candidate is always different than the office-holder, you boorish mansplaining twat. Trump outplayed Hillary by appealing to the worst inside the lowest among us. If you think for one second that Trump will suddenly transmogrify into anything resembling a statesman, then you are drastically underestimating the pathology of that man’s narcissism.
Is it actually possible for him to repeal Roe v. Wade? Please, please, please say no. Please.
Not only is it possible, but it’s likely. It won’t necessarily come in the form of a reversal, but I promise you that women’s reproductive rights will be eroded to the point of non-existence over the next two years. It won’t be permanent. We will eventually win the war, but be mentally and emotionally prepared to lose a number of important battles.
Any chance with this whole “faithless electors” thing?
No. The best case scenario is that enough electors abstain for Trump to not reach 270 votes, which means the Republican Congress would then have to vote him into office, which they would most definitely do. Still, at least it would force those assholes to stand up and claim Donald Trump as their own. They would be responsible for him. It would be their fault, not ours.
I’ve seen people have been donating to Planned Parenthood in Trump’s name, are you one of them?!
Of course I am.
“Embrace the fucking change.” Oof.
Now more than ever. (It’s not supposed to be easy, and remember, embrace doesn’t mean condone.)
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Siphesihle Ndaba Reflects on Meeting Oprah Winfrey
New Post has been published on https://sistamagazine.co.za/siphesihle-ndaba-reflects-on-meeting-oprah-winfrey/
Siphesihle Ndaba Reflects on Meeting Oprah Winfrey
South African actress, Siphesihle Ndaba, best known for her role in the television series “Gomora,” has been candid about her encounter with Oprah Winfrey. Recently, Ndaba shared her experience of meeting Oprah, describing it as a surreal and awe-inspiring moment. She expressed admiration for Oprah’s presence and the wisdom she exudes, describing her as a beacon of inspiration for many, including herself.
In a candid interview with TshisaLIVE, Ndaba unveiled the values and experiences that have molded her journey thus far.
Reflecting on her upbringing, Ndaba fondly recalled her mother’s unwavering resilience and selflessness, navigating the challenges of single parenthood with limited financial resources. She credits her mother for instilling in her a sense of determination and compassion, laying the groundwork for her aspirations to pursue her dreams and make a meaningful impact in the world.
Ndaba’s trajectory took a transformative turn when she crossed paths with Oprah Winfrey, whose philanthropic endeavors in South Africa included the establishment of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls. Ndaba, a student at the academy from grade 10, attributes much of her personal and professional growth to the invaluable opportunities and guidance she received through this life-altering experience.
Expressing profound gratitude for the opportunities provided by Winfrey’s visionary initiative, Ndaba emphasized the profound impact it had on shaping her outlook and aspirations. Inspired by Winfrey’s ethos of empowerment and mentorship, Ndaba aims to pay it forward by becoming a positive influence in the lives of others, echoing the profound influence Winfrey has had on her own journey. Motivated by a desire to create opportunities and uplift future generations, Ndaba is resolute in leveraging her platform and influence to effect meaningful change. Her journey stands as a testament to the power of resilience, mentorship, and the transformative potential of education in unlocking opportunities and realizing one’s full potential.
As Ndaba continues to forge her path in the entertainment industry, she remains guided by the enduring lessons and values instilled in her by her mother and mentor, Oprah Winfrey. With an unwavering commitment to making a difference, Ndaba is positioned to leave a lasting legacy that transcends acting, inspiring others to pursue their dreams and catalyze positive change in their communities and beyond.
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CJ court watch - the Arizona abortion case
Arizona's Supreme Court decided Planned Parenthood v. Mayes, CV-23-0005-PR on 9mar24. The decision was 4 - 2. This is a weird case that started in 1971. The case went on hold after Roe was decided in 73. It was resurrected after Dobbs.
Arizona had long outlawed abortion. The current statutory citation is A.R.S. § 13-3603. Arizona's legislature has never repealed that statute. Indeed, the Court noted
To the contrary, four years after Roe and Nelson, the legislature
recodified § 13-211 as § 13-3603, maintaining the operative language of the statute.3 1977 Ariz. Sess. Laws ch. 142, § 99 (1st Reg. Sess.).
¶7 The abortion law’s recodification was not the only legislative
change made to the abortion statutory scheme. Between 1973 and 2022, and conforming to the federal abortion right established in Roe, the Arizona Legislature codified dozens of abortion statutes in Title 36. See, e.g., 1973 Ariz. Sess. Laws ch. 155, § 1 (1st Reg. Sess.); 2022 Ariz. Sess. Laws ch. 105, § 1 (2d Reg. Sess.). To the extent permitted by Roe and its progeny, all of these statutes restricted abortions, including adding many procedural requirements for physicians performing abortions.***
No Arizona law authorized or permitted abortion. "Planned Parenthood and Hazelrigg’s Title 36 arguments center almost
entirely on § 36-2322." That statute is a restriction on abortion that says "Except in a medical emergency, a physician may not" commit abortions.
This is sort of like when Mom and Dad leave the house and tell the teenagers "don't kill each other before we get back." That's not an authorization to kill each other when Mom & Dad return. Right?
Arizona's criminal code is available at https://www.azleg.gov/arsDetail/?title=13. The health & safety code is at https://www.azleg.gov/arsDetail/?title=36.
Everyone knows that this will be a major issue in this year's election. Legislative candidates will run on being the most pro-abortion or the most pro-life candidate. Citizens may add, amend, or repeal statutes in a referendum. https://www.azleg.gov/arsDetail/?title=19.
This is probably the worst result for Republicans and the best for Democrats. The pro-life crowd is mostly 40 Days for Life and Right to Life. Planned Parenthood is far better organized and funded, and it benefits from uniformly flattering media coverage.
For pro-lifers, the law is not the big issue. Abortion was never mostly about the law. Even when abortion was generally outlawed, women still sought and received illegal abortions. Read East of Eden. Even after Roe, women still sought and received illegal abortions. Watch Gosnell.
For pro-lifers, this issue is a battle for hearts and minds. If pro-lifers can win small, individual, mother by mother, baby by baby victories, that's how pro-lifers win the issue. Without winning hearts and minds, the legal wins are pointless.
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Unlocking Parenthood by Choosing the Right IVF Center for Your Journey
Many of our contemporaries consider becoming a parent as a deep-rooted, but favorite dream of any couple. Despite this, the surmounting experiences of parenthood become unpredictably arduous, mostly when one encounters fertility impairments.
In the last decade, the development of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) has kindled hope in the hearts of many who have been fighting the infertility problem.
There are many technologies including in vitro fertilization (IVF); the most renowned method of them all is in vitro fertilization which is responsible for many pregnant couples realizing their dreams. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of IVF very much relies on sifting through the Atlantic Ocean of IVF clinics and choosing the right one.
Kanpur is a city full of good plans. In such a place, the selection of the right clinic for IVF is just as important as a bridge to parenthood.
Understanding IVF:
IVF or In Vitro Fertilization is a method of fertilization that gives a chance to improve the outcomes of the process by fertilizing an egg with sperm outside the body, in vitro.
These embryos then be implanted into the uterus to attempt to create a full pregnancy.
These techniques provide hope for these couples who are incapable of conception due to other factors such as blockage of the fallopian tubes, ovarian disorders, or male infertility factors.
Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best IVF Centre in Kanpur:
Success Rates:
The success rates of a center are among the key factors to take into account when choosing an In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) center in Kanpur. Success rates stand for the centers' ability to help couples succeed with their kids' pregnancies. Choose the Best IVF Clinic in Kanpur which achieves high success rates because couples can boost their chances of reaching the parental status quo this way.
Expertise of the Medical Team:
The proficiency and professionalism of the medical staff is one of the determinant factors that may result in the progress of in vitro fertilization. A fertility center in Kanpur must be the one to possess highly skilled professionals in the fertility field who can provide each IVF candidate with dedicated care and support throughout the treatment.
Range of Services:
The thought of doing IVF at the best IVF centers in Kanpur can be overwhelming for many as it offers comprehensive as well as multi-faceted services to any couple who wants fertility therapy. Besides IVF operations these centers may provide professionals who deal with genetic testing, egg freezing, donor sperm/egg programs, and fertility preservation options for couples in one center that gives couples direct access to all the services that are required for successful reproductive treatment.
FAQs about Best IVF centers in Kanpur
Q1: What is the average number of IVF cycles needed to be performed before achieving a pregnancy?
A: The probability of IVF success is different for each couple to what extent it depends on variables such as age, issues with fertility, and reaction to the treatment. Given that, some couples may get a desired pregnancy result after one cycle of treatment, there is the chance that others may undergo multiple cycles to realize the same.
Q2: What are the drawbacks and sometimes unwanted consequences of assisted reproductive therapy, IVF?
A: IVF treatment may not be very safe with possibilities of side effects such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, multiple pregnancies, and ectopic pregnancy. While there are minimal risks, still, these are given utmost attention with fertility specialists paying close attention to all the developments for taking preventive measures and tailor-made treatments for a given person.
Q3: How much does the IVF therapy cost, and whether it is covered by insurance are the decisive questions that many patients face.
A: IVF treatment expenses can vary based on several considerations like IVF center, strategies included or excluded from the IVF, or other services that need to be added. Some health insurance plans may include a part of the charged cost for IVF procedures but the 12 smartest things you should know before filling the application form include checking as to the extend of coverage by your policy, and considering alternative financing arrangement provided by your IVF clinic.
Ishita IVF Centre: A Beacon of Hope in Kanpur
We can undoubtedly rank Ishita IVF Centre among the top IVF centers in Kanpur which has become a very hopeful lighthouse for couples who are facing infertility problems.
Working together with experienced fertility physicians, modern technologies, and a patient care center, Ishita IVF Centre is committed to providing its patients with complete fertility services and support.
Their excellent customer care and tailor-made treatment method embody taking away positive moments that they become the best IVF center in Kane that provide couples the road to parenthood with assuredness and optimism.
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youtube
Watch the American Climate Leadership Awards 2024 now: https://youtu.be/bWiW4Rp8vF0?feature=shared
The American Climate Leadership Awards 2024 broadcast recording is now available on ecoAmerica's YouTube channel for viewers to be inspired by active climate leaders. Watch to find out which finalist received the $50,000 grand prize! Hosted by Vanessa Hauc and featuring Bill McKibben and Katharine Hayhoe!
#ACLA24#ACLA24Leaders#youtube#youtube video#climate leaders#climate solutions#climate action#climate and environment#climate#climate change#climate and health#climate blog#climate justice#climate news#weather and climate#environmental news#environment#environmental awareness#environment and health#environmental#environmental issues#environmental justice#environment protection#environmental health#Youtube
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