'we gotta erase his head from this torso'

"We were able to make undercover drug purchases from all these individuals"

The enemy drone trailed a U.S. drone

'Get behind me Satan‚ I'm Jesus! Get the fuck outta here Satan'

National Geographic is coming out with a new documentary about the history of the first Black pilots‚ engineers‚ and scientists who became astronauts‚ and a new trailer for the feature reveals that these pioneers were not only in the U.S.‚ but in the Russian space program as well. The documentary‚ titled The Space Race‚ includes interviews with NASA astronauts past and present‚ as well as other pioneers in the field like Ed Dwight‚ whose candidacy to become the first Black astronaut in the early 1960s lost political support after Kennedy’s assassination. As the trailer also points out‚ the Russians had a Cuban of African descent‚ Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez‚ take part in their space program around the same time that NASA had three Black candidates—Ronald McNair‚ Guion Bluford‚ and Frederic Gregory—in their program. Here’s the official synopsis: The Space Race weaves together the stories of Black astronauts seeking to break the bonds of social injustice to reach for the stars‚ including Guion Bluford‚ Ed Dwight and Charles Bolden among many others. In The Space Race‚ directors Lisa Cortés and Diego Hurtado de Mendoza profile the pioneering Black pilots‚ scientists‚ and engineers who joined NASA to serve their country in space‚ even as their country failed to achieve equality for them back on Earth. From 1963‚ when the assassination of JFK thwarted Captain Ed Dwight’s quest to reach the moon‚ to 2020‚ when the echoes of the civil unrest sparked by the killing of George Floyd reached the International Space Station‚ the story of African Americans at NASA is a tale of world events colliding with the aspirations of uncommon men. The bright dreams of Afrofuturism become reality in The Space Race‚ turning science fiction into science fact‚ and forever redefining what “the right stuff” looks like‚ giving us new heroes to celebrate‚ and a fresh history to explore. The Space Race will premiere on National Geographic on February 12‚ 2024‚ and will be available via streaming on Disney+ and Hulu the following day. Here’s the trailer as well as a poster for the documentary to keep your eyes on the stars until then: The post <;i>;The Space Race<;/i>; Trailer Sheds Light On Little-Known Space History appeared first on Reactor.

We’re thrilled to share an excerpt from Lore of the Wilds by Analeigh Sbrana‚ a romantasy debut about an enchanted library‚ two handsome Fae‚ and one human who brings them all together—out from Harper Voyager on February 27. In a land ruled by ruthless Fae‚ twenty-one-year-old Lore Alemeyu’s village is trapped in a forested prison. Lore knows that any escape attempt is futile—her scars are a testament to her past failures. But when her village is threatened‚ Lore makes a desperate deal with a Fae lord. She will leave her home to catalog/organize an enchanted library that hasn’t been touched in a thousand years. No Fae may enter the library‚ but there is a chance a human might be able to breach the cursed doors. She convinces him that she will risk her life for wealth‚ but really she’s after the one thing the Fae covet above all: magic of her own. As Lore navigates the hostile world outside‚ she’s forced to rely on two Fae males to survive. Two very different‚ very dangerous‚ very attractive Fae males. When undeniable chemistry ignites‚ she’s not just in danger of losing her life‚ but her heart to the very creatures she can never trust. You know‚ if you continue along that corridor‚ you’ll eventually end up in the dungeons. They’re quite a dreary place to visit—unless you’re into dampness and foul smells.” Lore started at the accented‚ deep timbre of a male’s voice coming from behind her. Turning‚ she pressed her back to the red earth of the wall and took in the fae before her. It was the same guard who had lingered by the trash bins in the dining hall‚ watching her. In this light‚ his almond-shaped eyes seemed the color of onyx‚ matching his black hair. His antlers almost brushed the low ceiling. Lore became acutely aware of every one of those layers of dust and grime coating her. She sniffed and thought she could‚ in fact‚ smell something foul wafting from the direction she’d just been headed. “I…” She cleared her throat. “I’m looking for my quarters. The maidservant‚ Elra‚ disappeared after bringing me to the dining hall and‚ well‚ I thought I would have run into her by now.” Buy the Book Lore of the Wilds Analeigh Sbrana Buy Book icon-close Lore of the Wilds Analeigh Sbrana Buy this book from: Amazon Barnes and Noble iBooks IndieBound Target “Elra is rarely where she ought to be. I don’t know how she still has her position here.” The guard took a step toward her‚ sliding his hands into his pockets. “But I am more concerned about why you are wandering the halls like a lost little puppy.” “I wasn’t—” “Should I alert the steward about you sneaking around the halls?” Fear crawled up Lore’s back. “I’m not sneaking! I’m trying to find my way back to the library‚ or actually‚ to—” The guard cut her off. “You shouldn’t be in the library at this hour. You should be in your room.” If he had let her finish. “I was looking for the library or Elra‚ so she could show me to my room.” The guard rolled his eyes and sighed‚ like he was making a massive sacrifice. “Follow me‚” he said. Panic flared in Lore’s chest as her gaze fell to the blue stripes on his uniform. He could take her anywhere and she would have no way of knowing if it was the right direction. But‚ then again‚ the dungeons definitely weren’t where she wanted to go either. Why would he be so kind as to take her to her quarters? Everyone else had been… a slew of unpleasant adjectives ran through her head. And earlier‚ he’d been glaring at her so furiously‚ too. “Follow you where‚ exactly?” His mouth quirked‚ a hint of a dimple appearing on either cheek. “Do you not know how to follow orders?” Lore wanted to glare at him‚ but she stilled her features and waited a beat‚ hoping he would answer her question. “Hmm.” The thoughtful sound rumbled from his broad chest. “I’m a castle guard. It would be remissive of my duties to let an outsider wander unescorted through the castle. And anyway‚ I’ve nothing better to do than show a little mouse to a safe place.” “I am not a rodent!” Lore hissed. Anger writhed through her. She knew the Alytherians viewed her as less than them‚ but to be compared to a mouse? “No‚ you are not a rodent. But you are small‚ weak‚ and you work in the library—a place a mouse would love to be. Are you going to follow me or not‚ Mouse?” She clenched her fists‚ bit the retort on the tip of her tongue‚ and gave him a slight nod. “Maybe you aren’t as dim as you appear.” He turned‚ walking in the opposite direction of where he claimed the dungeons were. “What gives you the right to call me dim?” Lore mouthed to his back. “You would have to be dim to voluntarily explore this area of the castle at night.” Lore jumped. How had he seen her? She needed to bite her tongue. But some strange brand of courage seemed to have gripped her‚ and she said‚ rather stupidly‚ “It’s not like I thought to myself‚ ‘Hmm‚ I shall explore the dungeons today.’” “Exactly. You didn’t seem to think at all. This way.” He turned left. She felt uneasy following him so blindly‚ but the thought of finding herself alone once again in the maze of low corridors was worse than enduring the company of a sentry. Eventually‚ he led her to a different low-lit corridor with considerably more signs of life. This one had doors with symbols carved on them. He stopped at a blue door with a swirling symbol on it: three swirls connected by one line. “It’s this one. I would suggest you not do any more ‘exploring.’” The disbelief was obvious in his tone. “There are some in this castle who would like to know what a little mouse such as yourself tastes like.” She supposed she should thank him‚ even though the thought made her stomach turn. “Well‚ thanks‚” she grit out. “Try not to sound so appreciative.” I’ll do that‚ she thought‚ just as soon as you try not to sound like such a prick. The guard’s cold eyes flitted over her face like he knew what she was thinking. She stilled her features‚ putting on a blank mask. He didn’t know. Couldn’t know. Because if he really knew her thoughts‚ he would have broken her jaw for her insolence by now. “Now‚ do what you’re told and go to your room.” It was a dismissal. Without a word‚ Lore pressed down on the latch and pushed the door open. Relief coursed through her when she saw that she had‚ indeed‚ been led to a small room. When she turned back to the guard‚ he was already halfway down the corridor‚ his hands still in his pockets. Maybe he’s on his way to find another waste bin to lurk by. Lore stepped into a sparsely furnished room. A small bed stood against one wall‚ with a thin pillow and an even thinner quilt adorning it. Next to the foot of the bed frame was a wardrobe that held two pale green tunics‚ two pairs of thick tights‚ underclothes‚ and a worn pair of boots. The only other furniture was a small chair and table in the corner with a singular candle and flint. Her door had a lock on the inside. She latched it. Checked that the lock worked. It did. She removed her boots with a pained hiss and sunk onto the lumpy mattress. It was stuffed with hay‚ not unlike her bed at home. She thought she might be too anxious to sleep‚ but it’s amazing what the body will do when faced with two days of terror. Lore was asleep before her head hit the pillow. Excerpted from Lore of the Wilds by Analeigh Sbrana. Copyright © 2024 by Analeigh Sbrana. Reprinted courtesy of Harper Voyager‚ an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. The post Read an Excerpt From Analeigh Sbrana’s Lore of the Wilds appeared first on Reactor.

The live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender is set to premiere on Netflix on February 22‚ 2024‚ and the promotional train for the series is chugging along in anticipation. Part of that effort involved an article in Entertainment Weekly where Daniel Dae Kim‚ who plays Fire Lord Ozai on the series‚ talked about his view of the character. The feature also included part of an interview with Elizabeth Yu‚ who plays Ozai’s daughter‚ Azula. In it‚ she teased one way the upcoming show differs from the source material. “He’s deliciously a villain‚ and that’s what I sank my teeth into‚” Kim told EW about Ozai. “That’s one of the things that I was really looking forward to doing. He reminded me of the Darth Vader of this show.” That portrayal of Ozai isn’t that different than what we saw in the animated series‚ where Ozai leads the Fire Nation and is‚ among other things‚ not the best dad to Zuko and Azula. “I really enjoyed exploring this idea that he was so unapologetic about the things that he believed in‚” Kim said. “It actually reminded me a little bit of our political landscape today because there are certain people who take such extreme positions without apology and with the understanding that their position is the only correct position. That is how Ozai thinks‚ in a strange way. In his own way‚ he believes he is parenting the best way he knows how. He is trying to groom his son to be a successor‚ and he’s seeing that his daughter is naturally equipped to succeed him. So he’s trying to figure out who is going to lead this nation into the future.” The article also includes a quote from Yu about how her character‚ Azula‚ as well as Ozai are portrayed in the Netflix show. “A lot of the O.G. series was [told] through the eyes of Zuko‚” she said. “I feel like our show lets [Azula and Ozai] have their own start to their story before all the stuff that we know them to do later on.” It’s intriguing to see what extra backstory or details we’ll get for Ozai and Azula in the new series. The good news is we have less than a month to wait and see the entire first season on Netflix on February 22‚ 2024. [end-mark] The post Netflix’s Live-Action <;i>;Avatar: The Last Airbender<;/i>; Will Give Us More from Azula and Ozai’s Perspectives appeared first on Reactor.

Dune: Part Two hasn’t come out in theaters yet‚ but the director and cast are already eager to work on a potential Part Three. A feature in Total Film quotes stars Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya‚ who play Paul Atreides and Chani respectively‚ saying they’re “super enthusiastic” to learn about director Denis Villeneuve’s plans for a third film. That’s not to say‚ however‚ that Part One and Part Two‚ which cover the events in Frank Herbert’s Dune‚ won’t tell a complete story. “All of the elements are there‚” Villeneuve told Total Film about the ending of the sequel. “But I think the movie adaptation is more tragic than the book. The way that Part Two ends… it would create a total balance and equilibrium to finish Paul’s storyline in what we could say in Part Three.” Villenueve has professed his desire to direct a third Dune film‚ which would adapt the story Herbert told in Dune: Messiah. According to his cast members‚ however‚ he hasn’t shared details of that script yet‚ which also makes sense since Warner Bros. hasn’t publicly greenlit a third film either. Nevertheless‚ Zendaya and Chalamet are ready to return to Arrakis if the occasion arises. “Denis is an artist‚ and doesn’t like to share things until he’s got it figured out. So whenever he’s ready‚ we’re all keenly ready to hear what his vision is‚” Zendaya said. Chalamet added‚ “The idea excites me very much. If the time and opportunity comes to complete the story with Messiah‚ I think we’re all super-enthusiastic about that.” Dune Part Two premieres in theaters on March 1‚ 2024. [end-mark] The post Denis Villeneuve Says <;i>;Dune: Part Two<;/i>; Ending Will Somehow Be More Tragic Than Book appeared first on Reactor.

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An interfaith coalition has offered prayers of solidarity to two evangelical Christians facing their third trial for declaring that homosexuality violates the Bible‚ a position prosecutors call “war crimes and crimes against humanity.” Despite two unanimous acquittals‚ Finland’s state prosecutor has taken an elderly member of parliament and a Lutheran bishop before the Supreme Court to answer for their traditional Christian beliefs on sexuality.  Dr. Päivi Räsänen‚ who has served in parliament for 29 years‚ and Bishop Juhana Pohjola of the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland‚ are facing “spiritual persecution” for upholding the Scripture‚ said a letter signed by dozens of Christian and Jewish leaders. “Once again‚ you face unjust charges. For almost half a decade‚ you have confronted targeted legal harassment for simply living out your Christian faith‚ the direct result of not just political persecution but also spiritual persecution‚” says the letter‚ which was led by Advancing American Freedom and released today. “Now‚ despite twice being unanimously declared not guilty at the Helsinki District Court and the Helsinki Court of Appeals‚ the prosecutor has filed another appeal‚ potentially forcing a third trial at Finland’s Supreme Court.” Authorities have centered their legal case on a five-year-old social media post made by the member of parliament‚ a member of the Christian Democrats Party‚ asking why her Lutheran church body would take part in an LGBT “Pride 2019” event. The post on Twitter‚ now X‚ included a photo of Romans 1:24-27‚ which clarifies that homosexual behavior is sinful.  #kirkko on ilmoittanut olevansa #seta n #Pride2019 virallinen partneri. Miten kirkon oppiperusta‚ #raamattu sopii yhteen sen kanssa‚ että häpeä ja synti nostetaan ylpeyden aiheeksi? pic.twitter.com/cnjAQCrOc2— Päivi Räsänen (@PaiviRasanen) June 17‚ 2019 Two years later‚ in April 2021‚ prosecutors charged Räsänen and Pohjola with “agitation against a minority” under the nation’s law against “war crimes and crimes against humanity.” Police arrested Räsänen and subjected her to 13 hours of police interrogation before her trial. Prosecutors dubbed the Bible verses in her tweet‚ a booklet the two wrote in 2004 expounding on biblical doctrine titled “Male and Female He Created Them: Homosexual Relations Challenge the Christian Concept of Humanity‚” as well as comments Räsänen made on the radio in December 2019 as “hate speech.” Räsänen and Pohjola were first acquitted by the Helsinki District Court on March 30‚ 2022. The three-judge panel ruled that prosecutors had violated the Christians’ right to freedom of expression contained in Section 12 of the Finnish Constitution‚ as well as noting the thorny legal questions posed if secular judges begin ruling on matters of religious doctrine. “It is not for the district court to interpret biblical concepts‚” the court declared. But within days‚ then-Prosecutor General Raija Toiviainen appealed the charges. Räsänen then faced a two-day trial last Aug. 31-Sept. 1. The Court of Appeals unanimously acquitted Räsänen and Pohjola on Nov. 14. Under the law‚ social media posts must be intended to offend‚ and “there must be an overriding social reason for interfering with and restricting freedom of expression‚” they ruled. The judges ordered the state to pay both defendants’ legal fees. Prosecutor had argued that the intent behind the expression of faith was irrelevant but the Court of Appeal explicitly rejected this reasoning‚ confirming – thankfully – that "Chapter 11‚ Section 10 of the Penal Code is punishable only if committed intentionally."— Paul Coleman (@Paul_B_Coleman) November 14‚ 2023 Finland’s current state prosecutor appealed the dismissal once again earlier this month. “It is shocking that the Finnish state prosecutor has decided to target MP Räsänen for a third time‚ because she politely expressed her religious beliefs in public‚” Arielle Del Turco‚ director of the Center for Religious Liberty at the Family Research Council—and who signed the letter—told The Washington Stand. “So far‚ the Finnish courts have been clear in affirming Räsänen’s right to express her religious beliefs. However‚ the process of being dragged through court is often the punishment itself.” The effort to continually prosecute the grandmother of 10 exposes the government’s intolerance and malice toward traditional Christian viewpoints‚ said Paul Coleman‚ executive director of ADF International‚ which is supporting Räsänen’s legal defense. “Dragging people through the courts for years‚ subjecting them to hourlong police interrogations‚ and wasting taxpayer money to police people’s deeply held beliefs has no place in a democratic society‚” said Coleman. “As is so often the case in ‘hate speech’ trials‚ the process has become the punishment.” The U.S. letter offers “prayers and encouragement” to the embattled pair “on behalf of the millions of Americans who support freedom of speech and freedom of religion.” The letter assures them that “you do not stand alone‚” because “each one of us stands alongside you‚” note its writers. “We are watching‚ and we are praying for you. The world is watching‚ and the world is praying for you.” The signatories hope their fellow believers‚ and all those who value freedom of conscience and expression‚ will make that promise real as the West falls progressively under the sway of illiberal secular repression. “Christians around the world should continue to pray for and voice their support for MP Räsänen‚” said Del Turco. The faith leaders signing the letter include Family Research Council President Tony Perkins; former U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback‚ R-Kansas; former U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf‚ R-Va.; Ken Blackwell‚ former ambassador to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights; and Rabbi Yaakov Menken of the Coalition for Jewish Values‚ among many others. The Lutheran pair’s case also attracted high-level support from Rep. Chip Roy‚ R-Texas‚ who named Räsänen‚ detransitioner Chloe Cole‚ collegiate swimming record-holder Riley Gaines‚ and concerned parent Scott Smith his personal “heroes” at FRC’s 2023 Pray Vote Stand Summit. “She gives you hope‚” said Roy. “She gives you a belief that we can stand up and stand athwart that kind of tyranny.” Räsänen has reflected on the words of Jesus to rejoice in suffering‚ taking pride that each trial has allowed her to quote and explain the Bible’s teachings in depth. “After my full exoneration in two courts‚ I’m not afraid of a hearing before the Supreme Court‚” said Räsänen. An “acquittal from the Supreme Court would set an even stronger positive precedent for everyone’s right to free speech and religion. And if the court decided to overturn the lower courts’ acquittals‚ I am ready to defend freedom of speech and religion as far as the European Court of Human Rights.” The letter reads in full: To the Honorable Päivi Räsänen‚ M.D.‚ and the Reverend Dr. Juhana Pohjola‚ We have been following your case since 2019 and on behalf of the millions of Americans who support freedom of speech and freedom of religion‚ we write to show our support for you in these trying times and to offer our prayers and encouragement. Once again you face unjust charges. For almost half a decade‚ you have confronted targeted legal harassment for simply living out your Christian faith‚ the direct result of not just political persecution‚ but also spiritual persecution. Now‚ despite twice being unanimously declared not guilty at the Helsinki District Court and the Helsinki Court of Appeals‚ the prosecutor has filed another appeal‚ potentially forcing a third trial at Finland’s Supreme Court. We are watching‚ and we are praying for you. The world is watching‚ and the world is praying for you. As you once again prepare to stand trial for freedom of speech and freedom of religion‚ know that you do not stand alone. Rather‚ each one of us stands alongside you‚ praying and encouraging you along the way. Sincerely‚ Paul Teller‚ executive director‚ Advancing American Freedom Frank Wolf‚ former member‚ U.S. Congress Ambassador Sam Brownback‚ co-chair‚ International Religious Freedom Summit Dr. Gregory P. Seltz‚ executive director‚ the Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty Eric Patterson‚ executive director‚ Religious Freedom Institute Tony Perkins‚ president of the Family Research Council‚ and former chair of U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Ken Blackwell‚ former U.S. ambassador‚ United Nations Human Rights Commission Maureen Blum‚ executive director‚ Catholics Count Nina Shea‚ senior scholar and director‚ Center for Religious Freedom‚ Hudson Institute Douglas D. Punke‚ senior pastor‚ Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church‚ Fort Wayne‚ Indiana Bunni Pounds‚ president‚ Christians Engaged Rabbi Yaakov Menken‚ managing director‚ Coalition for Jewish Values McKenna Wendt‚ advocacy manager‚ International Christian Arielle Del Turco‚ director of the Center for Religious Liberty‚ the Family Research Council Charlie Gerow‚ CEO‚ Quantum Communications Robert F. Schwarzwalder Jr.‚ Ph.D.‚ senior lecturer‚ Honors College‚ Regent University Bethany Kozma‚ CEO‚ Keystone Policy Robert K. Fisher‚ meeting coordinator‚ Conservatives of Faith Kelly Monroe Kullberg‚ general secretary‚ American Association of Evangelicals C. Preston Noell III‚ president‚ Tradition‚ Family‚ Property Inc. David Kullberg‚ co-founder‚ Scandinavian American Gospel Alliance Richard A. Vigurie‚ chairman‚ FedUpPac.org Jason Poblete‚ Esq‚ president‚ Global Liberty Alliance Eunie Smith‚ president‚ Eagle Forum of Alabama Melissa Ortiz‚ founder‚ Capability Consulting Dran Reese‚ president‚ Salt and Light Council Saulius “Saul” Anuzis‚ president‚ 60 Plus Association James L. Martin‚ founder/chairman‚ 60 Plus Association John Suarez‚ executive director‚ Center for a Free Cuba Nancy Schulze‚ national strategic director‚ Physicians for Reform Originally published on The Washington Stand. Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the url or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state.  The post Christian‚ Jewish Leaders Condemn Ongoing Political and Spiritual ‘Persecution’ of Paivi Rasanen appeared first on The Daily Signal.