I received the following information from a colleague‚ who has contributed his thoughts and conclusions on various subjects in the past. I will refer to him as 'André in France.'Dear Lon and possible readers‚Responding to your invitation to suggest any explanation about the apparitions of flying entities in Chicago‚ I shall try to resume my knowledge about this complex subject. What follows may seem unbelievable and even unsettling to many people.The present civilisation lives in a materialistic environment‚ which is commonly referred to as 3D (third dimensional). More fundamental then the word “dimension”‚ I would call it “consciousness level”. No doubt more and more people today are convinced that there is indeed some sort of life after life and subsequently higher levels of consciousness‚ which I shall concisely refer to as 4D‚ 5D‚ etc. Traditionally an unassailable barrier stood between dogmatic establishment science and spirituality‚ but it is breaking down today with the advent of quantum physics and string theory.It is said that our body has a soul but it is the opposite; our immortal human soul possesses a temporary body. When the body dies‚ the soul moves up to the forth level of consciousness (4D). In 3D we live with the notion of linear time – past‚ present‚ future – which is an illusion. When in 4D we escape the limits of time. We then perceive the reality of reincarnation: our supposed “past lives” are all simultaneous but our 3D limitation forces us to live only one life within one body at a time. It also prevents our access to higher knowledge and understanding.Let me recall a familiar comparison. Yet a few centuries ago men thought that the Earth was flat. They did not dare sail very far out at sea for fear of falling over the edge of the world. Their concept of the “world” did not allow them to imagine that the shortest way from one point to the next could be anything but a straight line‚ since a notion such as a rhumb line (great circle) is linked to that of a spherical world.Such are we in 3D‚ but entities living in 4D (or higher) are able to see the true nature of life in 3D. They are also capable of inter-dimensional travel‚ i.e. through our time and space‚ which implies that they may appear from our past or our future! Such is most probably the case with the Chicago batman‚ but also with most of the numerous apparitions throughout the world (including that of the French “beast of Gévaudan” mentioned in one of your earlier posts). More importantly such is also the case with the “Short Greys”‚ to which I shall come back farther.This leads to matters of higher importance‚ namely the origins of mankind‚ the passing of civilisations and cosmic cycles.Genesis such as written in the Bible is the first and foremost misinformation and conditioning of human 3D consciousness. It is an allegory disguising genetic manipulations of an original spiritually connected human (Namlù’u in Sumerian) by invading reptilian ETs. Semitic scholars while under Byzantine domination composed biblical Genesis on the basis of Sumerian tablets and engravings. But‚ as everyone knows‚ history is always written by or for the benefit of the victors.Back to what I wrote to you in October 2011‚ the reference to this is usually limited to Zecharia Sitchin’s popular writings. But he is not altogether reliable (for ex. his statement about the so-called “Nibiru” is a misinterpretation of the Egyptian Neb-Heru). I rather recommend three authors‚ better educated than the popular ones usually mentioned. First and foremost Anton Parks who‚ despite the apparent English name‚ is a Frenchman. Two of his seven books have to this day been translated into English. See http://www.antonparks.com/main.php (bottom of page‚ last two vignettes on the right). His exegesis and interpretation of the Sumerian hieroglyphs is probably the most thorough and reliable ever‚ as testifies the comprehensive references in the footnotes of his books. Second is the late Laurence Gardner: http://www.graal.co.uk/. His book "Genesis of the Grail Kings" is a must. Third is Laura Knight Jadczyk: The Wave series.I shall try to summarize this very wide and complex subject.The reptilian race Gina-abul and especially among these the invading warring males Annuna are responsible for our present DNA. The females Amasutum kept the secret of genetics. The Annuna stole the secret and forced them to manipulate our DNA so as to make humans their slaves and source of nourishment. (This is clearly the origin of the subjugating of women in most religions).The human soul is endowed with two possible opposite lines of evolution which exist in the Universe in the conscience of the Creator: *Service to Self* (StS) or *Service to Others* (StO). As for the difference between the two‚ their very names are self-explanatory. As a consequence of reptilian manipulation‚ only StS is available within the limits of life in 3D. However the Amasutum secretly included a key in our genes which would allow us to evolve towards the state StO. This is probably the hidden function of what we call “trash DNA”. Within our deepest consciousness we know that StO behaviour exists‚ that it is the only way out of the 3D matrix and -beyond 4D - the only access to 5D and farther on our eternal journey towards the Source of Life.We are endowed with free will‚ thus free to decide whether or not we intend to reach StO status‚ not only in 3D‚ but also in 4D where‚ after the death of our body‚ our choice needs to be confirmed.The “3D matrix” is the reality that has inspired the fictions of our film industry. It is the realm wherein the reptilians endeavour to keep us. In Sumerian language A-DAM means animal‚ cattle...! We are their cattle and source of food and therefore they are bent on preventing us to escape. The StS environment is the seat of emotions and the source of all suffering‚ which is the food of the reptilians. They incite us into all forms of conflicts and wars. They initiated religions‚ which are the main causes of wars throughout human history.Yet we have a choice because there are two opposite levels in the StS matrix. Souls in level 1 (in short StS1) are what we commonly perceive as criminals‚ sadists‚ tyrants and violent persons of all kinds. They revel as such and make no effort to proceed towards the state StO. Conversely souls in level 2 (StS2) are righteous‚ loving‚ peaceful and generally worthy persons. Consciously or instinctively they strive towards the ultimate state StO‚ which they know is the only path to freedom and fulfilment. This is also where the original DNA is gradually reactivated.The Universe is created and kept in equilibrium by a community of planners‚ the Kadistu‚ who are servants to the original Source. On certain occasions they send emissaries to teach humans the practice of Service to Others and show us the way to freedom. They are the Kiristi‚ which means “ardent sons of life” or “fish of the stars and life”. Several Kiristi have appeared since the beginning of human history. They incarnate a human body and are mostly known as prophets and saints. Christ is the one familiar to us westerners. His life and teaching have been related and transmitted through the gospels‚ though very imperfectly because much misunderstood by his own disciples. The religion‚ which he never founded‚ has soon become an instrument of power in the hands of Roman papacy.Two thousand years later‚ Christ very recently transmitted a revised and true version of his teaching to a woman who’s name is kept secret. Under dictation through clear audience she typed a series of nine letters on her computer. They have been translated in several languages. I very strongly recommend this reading. They may be downloaded at: http://christ.direct/PDF/Christ9Letters-.pdfNear the end of this account I shall explain why Christ’s letters appear in our present times.Thus‚ we are all StS of one or other kind with many nuances between the extremes. When the body dies‚ the soul moves up into 4D where it is confronted with all the other StS. Here they withhold their free will and are called upon to confirm their choice. Many (if not most!) StS1 realise they have taken the wrong path while in 3D and chose to fall back into another 3D life where they have the opportunity to learn more lessons and possibly proceed up towards StO the “next time”. Since linear time is an illusion‚ the “next time” may well be a life out of the past or the future !This is where we‚ in 3D‚ meet with apparitions. As mentioned higher‚ souls in 4D‚ whether StS1 or StS2 are free to move through time and space and may change shape. However‚ Universal Law forbids entities from higher dimensions to intervene openly into the lives of people in 3D. Therefore entities from 4D that manifest themselves in our 3D space infringe the Law. Yet many do so nonetheless‚ why now more than ever before? We shall see farther. As a clear example let us take the case of the “Short Greys”.They are not ETs; they are aliens. What is the difference ? They originate from parallel earthly vibrations. They have souls; some may be nasty but most are indifferent or even friendly. They are time travelers who sometimes use UFOs with which they travel back into space-time by changing their gravitational magnetic field. They may visit our past or even our “predestined future”. They are often to-day’s humans coming back from our future in an attempt to change their temporal involuting life line in order to live other 3D cycles with the hope of reaching StO status. They have so to speak “missed the bus to 5D” and try to catch the present one with us. They plan to achieve this thanks to advanced technology. From them we own much of our present technology. This of course is a wrong path since materialistic technology is mostly of StS nature. We today should take this as a warning and avoid making the same mistake.Short Greys are servants to the Gina-abul ETs who are‚ since Genesis‚ our reptilian jailers and predators. Reptilians have always been here; they appear rarely and stay deep underground‚ (cf. M. Salla: the Dulce report).What about the Chicago Batman‚ or Batmen‚ since the question is: have there been several apparitions in different places at the same time or is it a single entity showing up different times in the same neighbourhood? The answer to this depends of course on collating witness reports‚ which is not my concern.I feel certain that the Batman case is somehow similar to that of the Greys. They come into our space-time because it offers a unique opportunity for making up thanks to change. The nature of this change is cosmic.The solar system‚ which is located at about 2/3 the distance from the centre of our galaxy‚ orbits around the centre on a plane which stands at an angle to the median plane of the galaxy. The movement is related to the 25‚920-year period of the precession of equinoxes. When our Sun passes exactly through the median plain of the galaxy we have a Transition. This brings about many changes: cataclysms of all sorts‚ climate changes‚ and an expected pole inversion. (Even though we are responsible for depletion of natural resources and pollution of the planet‚ major climate changes are not of our doing but‚ through misinformation‚ they serve the interests of the “military industrial complex”).But Transition modifies not only the physical environment but also the electromagnetic vibrations of life on Earth‚ of our psyche and spiritual consciousness. Religious persons call this Ascension. To human souls this offers a unique opportunity to accelerate their progress on the chosen course: progress towards StO or remaining in comfortable StS. But it also opens “worm holes” between dimensions facilitating the appearance in our physical space of many forms of life coming from the past or the future. This for instance explains apparitions of pterosaurs‚ shape-shifting entities and other strange life forms.Much more important‚ Transition brings about the end of our civilisation‚ not in so many centuries nor even decades but right now! Any human whose consciousness is not asleep is aware of this. For the same reasons the same happened with previous civilisations‚ the latest one being Atlantis‚ where from many Short Greys are very likely shipwrecked souls.This is also the opportunity taken by Christ to reaffirm his teachings‚ notably also because after 2‚000 years our knowledge and intellectual capacities are sufficiently developed to understand him.As for the concentration in the Chicago vicinity‚ it may be an interesting field of research for scientists of various disciplines. What is the history of this region‚ the geology‚ the fauna‚ human population‚ etc. from recent to very ancient times? There may be a clue to discover.Conclusion:This summarises the extent of my research and knowledge‚ as a layman‚ in this vast spiritual subject. I refrain from trying to convince. I may be wrong. I encourage possible readers to exercise their discernment and make their own research.Advice:If you witness strange apparitions‚ whether frightening or not:- do not fear;- remain calm and detached;- do not speak to the entity‚ it can read your thoughts;- through your thoughts send it a message of compassion and love;- if it is a landed UFO do not attempt to approach.Peace be with you. AndréNOTE: I have found André and his continued research‚ on a variety of subjects‚ to be very insightful. I appreciate his input. LonTrue UFO Accounts: From the Vaults of FATE MagazineEminent Discovery: Eminent Discovery‚ A Lifetime Of UFO ExperiencesSkinwalker Ranch: No TrespassingFor Nobody's Eyes Only: Missing Government Files and Hidden Archives That Document the Truth Behind the Most Enduring Conspiracy TheoriesWeird Winged Wonders: The Twilight World Of Cryptid CreaturesToward the Light: Rescuing Spirits‚ Trapped Souls‚ and Earthbound GhostsPowwowing Among the Pennsylvania Dutch: A Traditional Medical Practice in the Modern World (Pennsylvania German History and Culture)Energy Essentials for Witches and SpellcastersALIEN DISCLOSURE: EXPERIENCERS EXPOSE REALITY - AudiobookRegister a SNAP EBT CardTHE MEME HUMANOIDS: MODERN MYTHS OR REAL MONSTERS - AudiobookTry Audible PlusPHANTOMS &; MONSTERS READING LISTFeel Free to Post PHANTOMS &; MONSTERS DIRECT LINKS ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA &; WEBSITE. Thanks For Your Support!Have you had a sighting or encounter?Contact me by email or call the hotline at 410-241-5974Thanks. LonAccess Phantoms &; Monsters Posts on Twitter 'X'-----YOUR SUPPORT IS APPRECIATED! THANKS-----CHICAGO/LAKE MICHIGAN MOTHMAN UPDATE W/ TOBIAS WAYLAND - LIVE Chat - JOIN US! Lon Strickler (Host)Welcome to Phantoms &; Monsters Radio. In this episode‚ I welcome my friend &; colleague Tobias Wayland to the show. We will discuss the newly reported Chicago/Lake Michigan Mothman &; winged humanoid sightings and any updates to previous reports.Tobias Wayland is a Fortean investigator investigating the unusual for over a decade. The first several years of his investigative career were spent as a MUFON field investigator and following that he investigated independently before becoming the head writer and editor for The Singular Fortean Society. Tobias is a frequent guest on various podcasts and radio shows‚ has written several books and contributed articles to periodicals on the paranormal‚ has appeared on television and in documentaries‚ and is often invited to speak at paranormal conferences and events. Tobias &; Emily Wayland are members of Phantoms &; Monsters Fortean Research. He was featured in the series premiere of Expedition X‚ and the Small Town Monsters documentaries Terror in the Skies and On the Trail of the Lake Michigan Mothman for his work investigating Mothman sightings around Lake Michigan. He and his wife Emily have been involved with the Lake Michigan Mothman investigation since its advent in the spring of 2017. He published a book chronicling the experience‚ The Lake Michigan Mothman: High Strangeness in the Midwest. His second and third books about unusual phenomena‚ Strange Tales of the Impossible and The Singular Fortean Society’s Yuletide Guide to High Strangeness‚ continue their work in investigating a variety of seemingly impossible events.In the Singular Fortean Society’s Yuletide Guide to High Strangeness. Tobias and Emily Wayland take you on a journey into the darkest part of the year. Winter has always been a time of magic‚ monsters‚ and legendary figures; their stories are told and retold across generations. But what if there was something more? Some authentic human experiences that inspired these stories‚ so often told around fires built as much to drive back the shadows as to provide warmth. In this book‚ the Waylands compare Christmas legends to modern anomalous phenomena to see what similarities exist. From Sheepsquatch to Santa Claus‚ The Singular Fortean Society's Yuletide Guide to High Strangeness covers a wide variety of reported sightings that might represent a startling truth behind our stories.-----ORDER THE AUDIOBOOK VERSIONORDER THE AUDIOBOOK VERSIONProject Threshold: Team Riker: Division A-----TODAY'S TOP LINKSMassive planet too big for its own sun pushes astronomers to rethink exoplanet formationWebcam Films Odd UFO Zipping Through Sky at Mexican AirportALIEN HEALERS: SINGULAR‚ OTHERWORLDLY MEDICINE - LIVE Chat - Q &; A - JOIN US! Lon Strickler (Host)LISTEN TO NARRATIONS OF PHANTOMS &; MONSTERS REPORTS &; CASES - PLEASE SUBSCRIBE‚ LIKE &; SHAREAnnabelle Doll: The True Story Behind the Haunted Icon and Hollywood’s PortrayalMexican Woman Fatally Attacked by Shark While Swimming with DaughterPHANTOMS &; MONSTERS READING LISTCONSIDER ADVERTISING ON PHANTOMS &; MONSTERS RADIOLET'S DISCUSS YOUR OPTIONSClick the link for our Media KitCHICAGO MOTHMAN / O'HARE BATMAN YouTube PlaylistPHANTOMS &; MONSTERS RADIO Podcasts on Spotify**********Your financial support of Phantoms &; Monsters and our other pursuits is much appreciated. Please click the banner above. Thanks.Have you had a sighting or encounter?Contact us by email or call the hotline at 410-241-5974Thanks. LonAlso available with audiobooknarration by Terry Springs‚CBS-TV Las Vegas affiliate.The Dark Arts of MISTER SAM SHEARON - Original Prints &; MerchandiseThis blog and newsletter are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Work 3.0 United States License.Registered trademark PHANTOMS AND MONSTERS ® / PHANTOMS &; MONSTERS ® - USPTO #90902480 - Lon D. Strickler© 2005-2023 Phantoms &; Monsters - All Rights Reserved

Milan may be the new center of eco-chic design on the Italian Peninsula after a company “took a risk” and invested in a way to turn food waste into 3D printing materials which they then use to print tabletop furniture. They’ve made table lamps‚ incense holders‚ magazine racks‚ key bowls‚ clocks‚ and bookends‚ all with […] The post Ecofriendly Tabletop Furniture is Being 3D Printed in Milan from Famous Italian Food and Drinks appeared first on Good News Network.

Watching Elf has become a holiday tradition for many since it premiered in 2003. Twenty years later‚ and we’ll be able to see the film again on the big screen—a really big screen‚ in fact. IMAX theaters announced on social media that they would be holding screenings of the classic Christmas film starting December 8‚ 2023 and will have showings at least through that weekend. For those unfamiliar with Elf (or for those who need a refresher)‚ the Christmas movie stars Will Ferrell‚ who plays a human named Buddy who was raised as an elf at the North Pole. Buddy finds out that he’s actually human‚ and heads to New York City to figure out his true identity. Hijinks ensue as Ferrell’s Buddy‚ with his impish‚ innocent joy in everything‚ eventually touches the heart of those around him‚ including his grumpy human daddy‚ Walter Hobbes‚ played by the great James Caan. The movie is directed by Jon Favreau‚ who went on to direct Baby Yoda in The Mandalorian‚ as well as a few Marvel films‚ and also stars Bob Newhart as Papa Elf‚ Zooey Deschanel as Jovie‚ Edward Asner as Santa‚ and Mary Steenburgen as Emily Hobbes. Curious if there’s a screening near you? You can go here and put in your zip code to see what’s available. Happy holidays!

The second season of Our Flag Means Death saw a lot of big changes for the crew‚ particularly for Stede Bonnet‚ the gentleman-turned-pirate who’s now trying to navigate his relationship with Ed (a.k.a. Blackbeard). According to Rhys Darby‚ who plays Stede on the show‚ his character’s relationship with Ed wasn’t something that was in Bonnet’s original plan. “He probably wasn’t expecting to find love‚ but he found it in the most notorious pirate‚” Darby told me in a recent interview‚ adding “imagine you’re in Lord of the Rings‚ and you’ve fallen in love with Sauron or something. Not that Ed’s that evil‚ but in pirate terms‚ he certainly was. But then when you meet a person and you realize that that’s all a façade‚ because of course it is. Because they need love and that’s why they are the way they are.” [Note: Spoilers ahead for season two of Our Flag Means Death.] The end of season two sees Ed and Stede planning on putting down roots and perhaps turning the shed they’ve housed up in into a bed and breakfast. Darby‚ however‚ doesn’t think things will stay that way if a third season comes round. “I think‚ in his head‚ that’s not the end‚ because he doesn’t think he’ll ever be happy or that the next door will open and someone will come through with a sword and try and kill them.” Poor Stede! Read on for the rest of our discussion‚ where we talk about merman training‚ Stede’s wardrobe‚ and how many times Darby had to throw a certain violin. Credit: Nicola Dove/Max This interview has been condensed and lightly edited for clarity. Let’s talk about clothes. So Stede gets a lot of outfits in season two—there’s the haunted jacket‚ some leather pants—what was it like to wear those different costumes and did they affect your performance at all? 100 percent. In the first season‚ there was so many garments that were beautiful and awkward to wear sometimes‚ the high-heeled shoes and things like that. But he always looked amazing‚ like he shouldn’t have been on that pirate ship. And I loved wearing that kind of stuff because it really made me turn into that guy. And so when we got into season two‚ a lot of that was gone. I’d changed into a more romantic‚ well-worn version of a pirate that was capable‚ and the attire was linked to that attitude. Every step of the way‚ what Stede was feeling or should be feeling‚ you could see it in his clothing. And so it made it very easy for me. But I did miss the beautiful garments‚ so when I got that jacket‚ the cursed suit‚ I remember actually putting it on and going‚ “Oh thank God!” And I felt like Steve was saying that as well: “Oh‚ my God‚ I’m back!”  He didn’t care that it was cursed because he doesn’t believe in that kind of stuff‚ you know? So that was really fun to be able to do that. And then later on in the season‚ obviously we won’t talk about the mermaid‚ which of course we have to talk about that. (Editor’s note: they do talk about it later.) But when I got near the end of the season‚ when he’s putting on that British jacket‚ when they’re dressing up as those guys. There was a slow moment there—we can tell he’s putting it on he’s going‚ “Oh‚ this will do me very nicely.” He just loves how things look on him. It gives him confidence. And I think he’s a changed man‚ so there was probably some conflicting moments of when he was wearing the more open big collar sexy stuff‚ that’s who he had become—putting on the other stuff was that battle armor‚ where he’s putting on something that can protect him from this romantic guy that he doesn’t really think he is. I interviewed Vico Ortiz‚ and they said that there were rumors that the haunted jacket was actually haunted‚ like a fire alarm went off and things like that. It did‚ as soon as I turned up on set wearing that outfit. The fire alarms went off and there was there was no fire‚ but I think that’s just because I was looking so hot. A lot of people were saying that was the main reason. Credit: Nicola Dove/Max So the mermaid outfit. As you said‚ we’ve got to talk about it. How did you learn how to swim in it like did? Because you look very natural when you’re swimming underwater there. I already knew how to swim like that. When I was a kid I used to pretend I was a little merman or merkid‚ so I’d swim with my legs stuck together like that and like go like that in the water. I’ve always been into Cryptids‚ so I’ve always been into creatures and mermaids that are a mythical perhaps real thing. So I pretended to be one and so I already had the skills. In some ways‚ it’s an innate training that I’d had my whole life. So when I put the thing on—first of all‚ we just tried it with a little flipper thing without the whole suit. I think they just wanted to make sure I could do it. And it was really easy for me. Once I put the actual whole thing on‚ I just embodied the merman creature and was able to do the same swimming technique that I’d done as a kid. Credit: Nicola Dove/Max You as Stede had a lot more action scenes this year. Was there any memorable fight or action scene you did that was especially memorable for whatever reason? When we’re in the sand dunes‚ the moment where Ed and Stede see each other‚ they’re both battling different soldiers. And I’m basically taking on four or five people at once. That was quite good because—they only showed a little bit of it‚ but there’s an orchestrated moment where I had to kill one here‚ chop one that way and then‚ with the guy I’d killed‚ I had to pull his musket out and then we run along and then I shoot one guy with a musket and then stab this other guy. They show some of that‚ but that whole day was cool because it was just us being pirates in the true sense of the word. Yes‚ there was the romantic run to each other‚ but apart from that‚ it was action—it was on the sand and we dressed up and these outfits‚ and we had we had stunt people. I’ll never forget that day because it was in New Zealand. It was in a really cool location. We had heaps of extras. And then you’ve got that moment when you see the three of us are sitting on sand dune after the fight‚ and we talked about how well we did and I think I say‚ “I did as well” and the other two acknowledge that. And it was a really special moment. That day  I’ll always remember as far as fighting goes‚ because we’ve had a fair amount of rehearsal and things like that with the stunt people. And when I basically do kill Ned [Lowe‚ the musician torture pirate]‚ that was a powerful moment for me because I think it’s Stede at his ultimate point‚ where he’s standing up for his crew‚ and he kills the bad guy. And of course‚ he kills him in a funny way‚ because it’s a comedy. So he’s throwing a—what is that? A cello or something? And Ned is also doing the walk the plank thing‚ which reflects the whole theory that the actual real Stede Bonnet created walk the plank‚ because he wanted to kill someone without having to really do any damage. So Ned’s on the plank‚ so there’s that moment. And then I also had to throw the instrument at him and took a lot of shots before I could actually get the guy with it. So that was fun. The first two seasons of Our Flag Means Death are now streaming on Max.

Treasure and her mother lost everything when Treasure’s father died. We’re thrilled to share an excerpt from Dazzling‚ a new take on Nigerian mythology by Chịkọdịlị Emelụmadụ—out from The Overlook Press on December 5. Treasure and her mother lost everything when Treasure’s father died. Haggling for scraps in the market‚ Treasure meets a man who promises to change their fortunes‚ but his feet are hovering just a few inches above the ground. He’s a spirit‚ and he promises to bring Treasure’s beloved father back to life if she’ll do one terrible thing for him first. Ozoemena has an itch in the middle of her back. It’s an itch that speaks to her patrilineal destiny‚ an honor never before bestowed upon a girl‚ to defend the land and protect its people by becoming a Leopard. Her father impressed upon her what an honor this was before he vanished‚ but it’s one she couldn’t want less—she has enough to worry about as she tries to fit in at a new boarding school. But as the two girls reckon with their burgeoning wildness and the legacy of their missing fathers‚ Ozoemena’s fellow students start to vanish. Treasure’s obligations to the spirit escalate‚ and Ozoemena’s duty of protection as a Leopard grows. Soon the girls’ destinies and choices alike set them on a dangerous collision course. Ultimately‚ they must ask themselves: in a world that always says no to women‚ what must two young girls sacrifice to get what is theirs?     Treasure: Then At night when the spirit comes‚ I wake up. Simple and short. Is like somebody tapped my leg. I crawl on the floor to the back door of our one-room and open it. The moon’s stomach is not yet full but is enough to see inside the night. “What are you finding?” I ask. Fear is trying to catch me‚ but if me I allow it‚ I will be stuck inside trouble. He is no longer pretending to be a human being. I can see the space between the ground and his shoes. He don’ have shadow. He takes his cap off to scratch. His hand looks like one giant spider like this‚ sitting on his head. “What do I want?” He puts the cap back on his head. Is black like Nnamdi Azikiwe’s own‚ but designed with gold coils that shine. It’s the same cap he wore the last time me and him talked. That’s how I know it’s not silver like is looking now. “I brought you a gift‚” he says. “I was going to give you before‚ but you ran away. What was chasing you?” Buy it Now I want the something he’s holding. It smells like o.kpa wawa‚ steamed with pepper and spices. The saliva in my mouth is pouring spring water down my throat. “Thank you. I don’ want.” He sighs. The breeze is cold and dry from his mouth. Deep freezer air. It smells of stockfish and sawdust. Can spirits breathe? The man unties the knot of the o.kpa‚ holding it by the end of the bag. It dangles in the air and spins open. He caresses it. “Warm as a mother’s breast‚” he says‚ and takes a bite. I don’ like how he says this. I want to spit. The whole place is smelling delicious. I can’t bear it anymore. The spirit blows as he chews‚ pushing the smell towards me. He swallows. “You called me. I came. The question is‚ what do you want from me?” “Me? I dinor call you.” “Yes‚ you did.” “When?” “When you were sitting on the floor cursing those boys that stole your money. You wanted them to pay‚ didn’t you? You’ve forgotten all the things you said?” He bites more of the okpa until what is remaining resembles a shadow smile in his hand. “It doesn’t matter. You called me and I am here‚ and now‚ we bargain.” “Hia! Bargain‚ kwa?” I think for a moment. “If I really called you‚ then where is my money?” His face is dark from the moon‚ and I can’t see his eyes‚ but his body becomes straighter. “You want your money back? Is that what you want?” I don’ trust him. Yes‚ I want my money back‚ but the way he is behaving makes me suspect something. I don’ answer him. He don’ eat the remaining okpa in his hand and the smell of it is twisting up my inside. “Before I answer‚ I want another okpa. A big one…” The thing is in the air between us before I’ve finished talking. Looking back into our room‚ the bed is dark. Mummy breathes softly on it‚ shallow and fast‚ as if she’s running in her dreams. Everything she has taught me is at the back of my mind: Don’ talk to strangers. Don’ eat food in your dreams. Don’ collect things from people’s hands. I take the okpa. It’s hot‚ the waterproof bag sticks to my palm. I tear it with my teeth and the okpa sticks to the soft parts of my mouth and burns them. My tongue is on fire. Palm oil is all over my face. I suck my lips‚ pulling all of the sweetness into my mouth; even the bag follows. “You want more?” the spirit asks. He comes down slowly‚ a leaf on the wind‚ until his feet almost touch the floor. His moustache moves. He is smiling. I don’ answer him. I am thinking what I will do to pay for the okpa. It was sweet‚ but— “You can’t be coming to my dreams anymore‚” I say. “You pulled me in. Such a sweet dream. Do you miss him? Your daddy?” I don’ give him ear with this question as well. My mind is telling me that I should not have got up from where I was sleeping‚ but I had to. I don’ know why. Like he is pushing me button and I must be answering him. “By the way‚ you haven’t thanked me for my other gift. Did you not like it?” The carton with the bread and things and things. I should just say‚ “Thank you.” Instead‚ I say‚ “Ifeanyi took it.” The moustache falls. “And who is this Ifeanyi?” I tell myself to shut up. “Ifeanyi is Landlady’s grandson.” “Eh-ee. Taking something that I called your name over? Anyway‚ leave him to me.” “He is mannerless‚” I say. “I can get you another box. Anything you want‚ I can give you. I just have one small request. Very small. It’s not a big thing at all.” My stomach is bubbling as if I have eaten spoiled egusi soup. The okpa wants to come out‚ but I know that one is what Daddy calls “forgone conclusion.” I have eaten the spirit’s food and now I must kuku obey him. Sebi that’s how it works in all the stories? “I want to live again. My first life was… taken. You will help me. You will be my wife.” “Your wife? Who is your wife?” Fear drums in my chest. “Please‚ I can’t be your wife. I am a small girl.” The spirit is silent. His body moves dancing-dancing like fire. If he was breathing before‚ he has stopped now. He’s waiting for me to do something that me I don’ know. A spirit wife? God forbid bad thing. I can’t be anybody’s wife. Husbands that walk-about chasing woman‚ that leave their wives and children to suffer. Every time you see them answering Papa-this and Papa-that‚ but they will stay in Omalicha’s beer parlour until morning. Talkless of longathroat men like my uncles? No way spirit husbands can be better. Only my daddy was a correct man‚ and he went and died. After much‚ he laughs. “If you know you’re a child‚ are you still a child? Hmm. Okay‚ you don’t want to marry me? You don’t want me to look after you‚ to give you all the things that you lost? No problem.” “Wait!” I know he is about to leave even before he moves. His head bends to one side. I still can’t see his eyes. “Are you going to bother me?” “Bother you? No o. I’m going. There are many other girls‚ but you called me‚ and I answered. Now you say you don’t want me again? It’s okay. You said I should go‚ so I will. Consider my okpa a gift. I will bring you many more things if you let me. Shoes for your feet. Cream to keep your skin shiny. New clothes. Food. All you need to do is agree to be my wife. Simple. I can give you the world—” Am thinking: If you can give me all these things‚ why do you resemble a starving lizard? Why can you not give yourself life? “Can you bring someone back that has died?” I ask. The spirit pauses and the way he is moving tells me that he is happy. “Your daddy? It will take a bit of work. Only mature spirits like me can come and go to the market with what resembles our bodies. I will find your daddy and teach him this‚ even though it is not yet his time. I will prove it to you.” His body moves like fire again. My hands are cold‚ colder than how my room used to be when I had AC. They are aching me. “Teaching this skill takes a while‚ but I will find him and bring message to you. Then you will marry me‚ and you will help me. Yes.” Inside me I am thinking‚ Is that how people in your place use to marry? I want to see Daddy. I want him to come back and use his power to work miracle‚ beat my uncles‚ wake up Mummy to be happy again‚ everything. But fear is catching me‚ because the spirit can come into my life when I am sleeping and when I am awake. “No‚ I don’ want‚” I say. The spirit is rubbing his face‚ rubbing‚ rubbing. He says‚ “Okay‚ what if I bring you those boys who stole your money‚ mm? Will you agree for me then?” My belly starts to sweat. I am thinking what I will use that money to buy. I am thinking that I will throw the boys stone‚ make blood to come out of them somehow because they used kindness to deceive me. Do me‚ I do you. I tell the spirit‚ “Bring them first and we will see‚” making mouth like I am not afraid true-true when I am. It’s like when I want to relax‚ my mind will tell me again‚ “You and a spirit are gisting in the night.” My heart is knocking kpum-kpum-kpum in my neck. I close the door. Ice blocks are under my cheek. When I turn‚ Mummy is sitting up on the bed‚ a dark patch in the grey light of the moon. “Treasure?” She croaks like a frog. “You and who are talking there?” She don’ wait for me to answer her. “Come and lie next to me‚” she says. “The cold is feeling me.”   Excerpt from the new book Dazzling by Chịkọdịlị Emelụmadụ published by The Overlook Press ©2023

The War Room is a fast paced, hard hitting news transmission for the afternoon drive. Featuring roundtable discussions with guests from around the world. Hosted by Infowars reporter Owen Shroyer.

“Transgender” people pose no threat to girls in girls’ restrooms‚ they say. Gender ideology is not a threat to Christianity‚ they say. The rhetoric of “trans genocide” does not inspire hatred or violence‚ they say. One grand jury indictment debunks that entire narrative‚ however‚ and news about it appears to have gone under the radar. Jason Lee Willie‚ a male who says he “identifies” as a female and goes by the name “Alexia Willie‚” faces 14 counts of threatening to injure people across state lines. Willie‚ a resident of Nashville‚ Illinois‚ allegedly threatened to rape girls in girls’ restrooms‚ carry out a mass shooting at schools‚ and bomb churches. He seems to have taken inspiration from the female who identified as male who slaughtered three adults and three children at Nashville‚ Tennessee’s Covenant School in March. A Bentonville‚ Illinois‚ grand jury indicted Willie on Nov. 28. In a legal document giving evidence in support of a motion to detain Willie‚ prosecutors quoted the man who lives with Willie. That document put Willie’s threats into context. “He said that Willie goes on the internet to find preachers or Republicans or black people and said that Willie talks to people about how he is going to ‘have sex with their kids in the bathroom‚ and stuff like that‚’” prosecutors wrote. “There’s a lot of transgenders out here that are tired of being picked on‚ and we’re going to go into the schools and we’re going to kill their f—ing children out here‚ and that’s the end of it‚” Willie allegedly said on a video call in August‚ according to the prosecution’s charging document. “We’re at war.” “A person in Tennessee walked into one of your schools and shot up a bunch of your Christian daughters‚” Willie said in another video call in August‚ referring to the Nashville shooter. “That’s not the last of them if you don’t shut your f—ing mouth. Shut the f— up out here‚ you understand me‚ [name redacted]?” “There is nothing you can do about me‚ motherf—er. Okay?” he added. “They’re trash‚ they’re Christian trash‚” Willie said in another video call‚ apparently referring to black Christians. “They’re transphobic‚ they’re homophobic. They’re no different than the f—ing white supremacists.” He compared black Christians to comedian Dave Chappelle‚ who had a show canceled after he joked about transgender issues. “That’s exactly who the f— they are. Listen‚ Dave Chappelle and all the blacks out here‚ all the black people out here talking about trannies and sh-t‚ they ain’t no different than the white supremacists either‚” Willie said. “You all bow to the same cross‚” he added‚ extending his middle finger. When a woman on the video call told him that if she saw him in a church‚ she would not want to hurt him but to hug him‚ he responded with a threat. “We’re gonna bomb them. We’re gonna bomb them‚” he replied. “We’re gonna bomb the churches. We’re gonna bomb them. You know it. We’re going to kill you motherf—ers.” He threatened to target women in the women’s restroom‚ using a syringe to give them HIV: “[If] I catch you bitches out here with a cross around your neck in that restroom‚ you better know we’re going to hit you with a f—ing syringe.” He repeatedly condemned men on the call using a slur for black people‚ but the document does not clarify whether those on the call were black. “I’m coming for them in the bathrooms and I’m not f—ing joking. I’m dead f—ing serious‚” he said on one video call. “You can tell the FBI‚ [the Department of] Homeland Security‚ you can go tell all your n—ers out here.” Willie also threatened to rape women so roughly that they would die. “But I promise you‚ [if] I catch your daughters in them bathrooms alone‚ I am gonna f— them‚” he said. “I mean I am gonna f—ing f— them until they’re dead.” “I mean I’m gonna ravage them‚” he added. “I’m gonna reach inside their coochies and I’m gonna pull their intestines out‚ motherf—er. I am not f—ing joking. Do not leave your f—ing kids alone anymore.” Willie rightly faces criminal charges for his horrific threats‚ and these threats do not implicate the transgender movement. Men and women who struggle with gender dysphoria (the persistent and painful identification with a gender contrary to one’s biological sex) do not ipso facto pose a threat to others. These people need understanding and help—help to resolve their underlying psychological issues and become comfortable with their sexed bodies. However‚ Willie does give the lie to the transgender movement’s rhetoric. Activists claim that pro-transgender rules that define private spaces by “gender identity” rather than sex will not allow men to enter women’s restrooms‚ changing rooms‚ prisons‚ or intimate spaces to abuse them. Yet Willie threatened to do just that‚ and far worse. Activists claim that gender ideology does not conflict with the Christian doctrine that God created humans male and female and that gender ideology does not threaten Christian churches. Yet Willie identified Christianity as his enemy and pledged to bomb churches. Activists smear their opponents as advocates of a “trans genocide” who aim to “erase the existence” of transgender people‚ but they insist that this rhetoric will not lead to violence. Willie explicitly said‚ “We’re at war” and pledged to massacre innocent people. Transgender activists need to condemn this man and urge their movement to avoid such demonization and violence. They also need to acknowledge that disagreement with gender ideology is not itself a form of hatred. The transgender movement’s decision to demonize anyone who raises concerns about its radical agenda inspires its own kind of hatred. It is high time the legacy media and those on the Left stop abetting this extremism by pretending that there is no legitimate criticism of this radical movement. Proffer-of-Evidence-in-Support-of-Motion-to-DetainDownload Alexia-Willie-indictmentDownload 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 ‘WE’RE AT WAR’: Trans Suspect Threatens to Shoot Up Schools‚ Bomb Churches‚ Rape Daughters Following Nashville Shooting appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Republican Texas Rep. Chip Roy grilled the assistant attorney general for civil rights at the Department of Justice on Tuesday over the DOJ’s targeting of pro-life activists like Catholic father Mark Houck. Kristen Clarke‚ who oversees investigations into violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act‚ came before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government on Tuesday for a hearing on the “Oversight of the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.” The FACE Act protects both abortion clinics and pregnancy centers‚ but the Biden DOJ has largely used it to prosecute pro-life individuals. During the hearing‚ Clarke told lawmakers‚ “Please know that the division is committed to even handed enforcement of the FACE Act.” Roy drew attention to the fact that Clarke’s division charged at least 26 individuals with FACE Act violations in 2022 and more in 2023. “Even under your watch‚ it’s at least 35 to 1 or 2‚” Roy emphasized. “That is not even-handed. It’s far from even handed. And importantly‚ Mark Houck‚ who was targeted‚ had a raid of his home‚ prosecuted under this‚ was acquitted by a jury! Have you apologized to him on behalf of the Department of Justice for that grave violation of his civil rights? Having his family have to watch him being raided at his home? And then he’s acquitted by a federal jury? Have you apologized to him?” Chip Roy: "Have you apologized to [Mark Houck] on behalf of the DOJ for that grave violation of his civil rights? Having his family have to watch him being raided at his home?"DOJ's Kristen Clarke: "We follow the facts and apply the law‚ that is our job…" pic.twitter.com/r8XhJWgJZH— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) December 5‚ 2023 “We follow the facts and apply the law‚ that is our job‚ and we welcome opportunities to engage with other pro-life groups that may be experiencing threats or acts of violence‚” she responded. “So the answer to that is no‚” Roy said. The congressman was referring to the Catholic father of seven who was arrested and charged with violating the FACE Act in September 2022. The DOJ’s FACE Act charges stemmed from a 2021 incident outside a Philadelphia-based Planned Parenthood where Houck pushed an abortion clinic volunteer who was repeatedly harassing his son‚ Mark Jr. Local authorities ultimately dismissed the matter—until the Biden DOJ re-upped it in response to the overturning of Roe v. Wade.  Mark Houck and his wife‚ Ryan-Marie Houck‚ believe they were targeted by the Biden DOJ in an effort to intimidate‚ silence‚ and scare the family for their pro-life work—praying outside abortion clinics for the women headed inside to abort their unborn babies.  In November‚ the Houck’s sued the Biden administration for “malicious and retaliatory prosecution.” No @chiproytx my family has not received an apology from the @FBI‚ @TheJusticeDept ‚ or @KristenClarkeJD. My dm's are open for that apology any time now!@FoxNews @seanhannity @benshapiro @realDailyWire @NEWSMAX https://t.co/visX9f2p5S— Mark Houck for Congress (@Houck4Congress) December 5‚ 2023 Since 2022‚ the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division has charged dozens of pro-life individuals with FACE Act violations. In 2023‚ the DOJ charged four individuals with FACE Act violations related to attacks on pregnancy centers in Florida‚ though at least 88 pregnancy centers and 218 churches have been attacked by pro-abortion vandals since the leak of the draft opinion indicating that Roe v. Wade would be overturned‚ according to CatholicVote. Clarke has openly supported abortion and condemned pro-life pregnancy centers‚ which offer aid to women who are pregnant and need help. In the past‚ Clarke called pro-life pregnancy care centers “predatory” and “fake clinics‚” and claimed they are part of a “coordinated strategy to tear down Roe‚” as The Washington Free Beacon’s Chuck Ross reported. Pro-abortion groups described her as “exactly the accomplished civil rights attorney who will bolster civil rights enforcement and ensure equal justice for all‚” when President Joe Biden nominated her for the Civil Rights Division position in 2021. 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 ‘Have You Apologized?’ Congressman Grills DOJ Official About Targeting of Catholic Father Mark Houck appeared first on The Daily Signal.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties‚ subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The US Army has announced a “combat” partnership (effective through 2025) with the publicly-funded University of Arkansas at Little Rock – and what they plan to “combat” together is none other than whatever is deemed to be online disinformation‚ but also‚ something defined as “cognitive threats.” And by that‚ they don’t mean all manner of government and formally or otherwise government-associated entities falling over themselves trying to pass off various forms of speech suppression and censorship as fighting “disinformation.” But there’s no denying that this‚ too‚ could fall under the definition of misinformation and cognitive threats offered here – namely‚ the goal is “to detect and combat bad actors online who are trying to manipulate how and what populations think.” But if an actor is perceived as “good” – does manipulating how and what populations (note the plural) think‚ then magically become a good thing? Sarcasm aside – the new initiative is backed with a grant worth $5 million. What the deal reveals is that more and more universities in the US are getting “hired” – whether by non-profits‚ or‚ again‚ the government – to work toward this goal via various dedicated research hubs. In UA Little Rock’s case it’s called the Collaboration for Social Media and Online Behavioral Studies (COSMOS) Research Center. Beside the US Army’s own Research Office‚ another key player in putting this project together was Senator John Boozman. “War is on the social media platforms‚” is one of the comments cited in reports about this development‚ but curiously‚ it doesn’t come from a military representative but a budding academic with the COSMOS Research Center‚ graduate assistant Mano Har. UA Little Rock’s specific task here will be to develop a tool that will detect bots active on social media‚ and this tool will be web-based – but also based on the school apparently already using “AI” to harvest troves of data from social networks. It’s not exactly explained who’s responsible for the omnipresent algorithms’ biases being there in the first place – but now the new tool’s job will not be to get rid of them‚ rather‚ it is to “prevent those who would exploit the biases in algorithms to further narratives and agendas.” (Obviously‚ if they are classified as “bad” actors. “Good” actors may or may not be given a pass trying to accomplish that same task.) The post US Army Enlists University of Arkansas at Little Rock To Fight Online “Misinformation” appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties‚ subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Harvard’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet &; Society and a non-profit are coming together in the hope of devising what they call a governance infrastructure of the internet – via something called Applied Social Media Lab (ASML). For those wondering‚ who even asked for the internet to receive a “governance infrastructure” and what it’s goals and results are supposed to be?‚ some hints as to the answer to that question can be found in the fact this above all concerns Big Tech and its platforms (i.e.‚ the highly influential segments of the internet)‚ and then‚ there’s the issue of who’s bankrolling the effort. Namely‚ Harvard’s new lab is possible thanks to a donation from Project Liberty. Harvard’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet &; Society has received money from government entities‚ and has in the past counted the US State Department (and the USAID agency) and the World Economic Forum (WEF) among the donors‚ as well as the likes of the Bill &; Melinda Gates Foundation‚ Wikimedia Foundation‚ Omidyar Network‚ and corporations ranging from Google and Reuters to AT&;T. And this is not an attempt isolated to one university: Project Liberty is involved in establishing similar outfits in other universities such as Stanford and Georgetown. Billionaire Frank McCourt‚ who made his money in various sports franchises both in the US and Europe‚ is‚ judging by his statements made late last year‚ now spending most of his time “shoring up our political system and society‚ focusing on the foibles of the internet‚ through a network of companies.” That certainly tracks with what Project Liberty is doing now at Harvard and elsewhere. And McCourt is these days saying that the purpose of these exercises is to create “a better internet.” Another vague phrase that means nothing until its meaning is explained‚ but according to reports‚ Project Liberty is not currently in the mood to do that. Specifically‚ one of the questions still without the answer is if this “better internet” will come about with any input from the right wing/conservatives‚ and also‚ in what way social networks can be managed “ethically.” The involved universities are also not providing answers to these questions. However‚ critics have something to say about all this. “The issues Harvard seeks to address through this social media lab – ranging from misinformation to content governance – are entirely subjective‚” said Article III Project to The College Fix‚ adding: “Institutions like Harvard should be bastions of free speech‚ but instead‚ projects like this one will likely only suppress freedom of speech on social media.” The post Harvard Research Group That Has Received Government Funding‚ To Study “Governance Infrastructure” of the Internet appeared first on Reclaim The Net.