There is a device that contains details of all time and existence from the start and as it marches forward. This device is a God Machine; its machinations are wondrous to all sentient beings of the universe, or it would be if its existence was widely known. These are the tales from the Aeternus.
Before the intro reverts back to the continuation of Approaching Eternity, I wanted to take a moment to say that I am officially rattled. I was stunned by the election of Donald Trump, it felt very surreal and even though he’s been in office for months now, and he’s done some dumb things that have negatively affected my daily life, it’s largely felt like a TV show, a reality show about a man out of his depths in the white house. This week, however, has been so traumatizing that I finally see that not only is this real, but it goes far beyond mere inconvenience. I work in immigration law so Trump’s executive orders have definitely given me headaches at work, but I’ve been looking at it as just an inconvenience issue. Trump’s policy makes people more nervous and I’m on the phone with people more and more just calming them down (which I am very bad at when I’m frustrated). It’s sad to realize that I am kind of numb to my job, but it would be impossible for me to get too invested, I wouldn’t be able to do my job as long as I have. But, Trump is threatening to ruin a bunch of people’s lives and very soon. Deferred Action, commonly known as DACA, that grants authorization to work to thousands of young people who have lived in the US since they were children, can’t survive unless the Trump Justice Department, led by Jeff Sessions, defends it in court. There’s no reason to believe that Sessions will devote any resources to the defense of the program, so it will be cancelled, and all those thousands of young people, in college, with jobs, with children, will be subject to deportation to countries they have most likely never really known. Trump pretended to care about the young people, maybe to seem generous, maybe to pander to Hispanics after insulting Mexicans to launch his campaign, but whatever the motive, it will prove to be a hollow statement when DACA soon ceases to exist.
I have to say that. I have to say it loudly and often to anyone who will listen to me. I do what I can for people through my job. I don’t want to drown in the gravity of it all, but I don’t skimp on effort. I bust my ass for any client I am assigned. I do it because I get paid to do it, and because I care. I don’t believe in rewarding people who break the law, but minors can’t legally decide to have sex, can’t drive, can’t drink, can’t vote, so why would we penalize them for coming with their parents to the US? We are too civilized a country to do that. Or so I thought.
There were nazis in the streets, white supremacists. And the president of the US, notice the lowercase p, refuses to condemn them, does so after criticism, then seemingly retracts the condemnation because he wasn’t applauded for condemning only after being criticised. Our president, who loves to claim that he is not a politician, can’t put politics aside long enough to say that white supremacy, Nazism, and praise of the Confederacy are all un-American. I guess the nation isn’t completely there on the Confederacy, which confounds me, but the other two are a no brainer.
Is this the America that Trump voters wanted? Where monuments to Holocaust survivors are desecrated, and statues honoring traitorous slave mongers are protected? Where school children worry if their parents will be deported, and housing projects are being demolished with no plans for the relocation of residents?
I’m reeling. I did not know that things were this bad. But they are. And I have to say it loudly and often to anyone who will listen to me.
Let me stop. I’m going to find something positive to share.
Oh wait, I have some Serials for you.
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This week:
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Enter the Bromeris!
Agent Red: “The only enemy that the Auburn Order detests more than the Ruling Class are the Bromeris. Sure, the Ruling Class were self serving and cared only about their blood relation, but historically, the Bromeris had thought of the Hafjeris as nothing more than pets and that was a history that the Hafjeris struggled to forget. Not to mention the prohibition of the Bromeris species on the planet Hafjeran.”
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Have you ever read Ender’s Game? Yeah, it’s something like that for the orphans, but way cooler.
Druinte Social Society: “The athletic period for orphans at the hall is a team competition. All of the orphans from both halls are divided into color teams that are only relevant for the exercise period. There are eight teams, Red, Yellow, Blue, Orange, Green, Purple, White, and Black.”
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Here’s one last look at the players from the CZS Event in the wake of Dr. Worthington’s last minute victory over our heroes.
CZS Epilogue: “First responders are reporting that two men were responsible for a fire that sent flames high into the sky. After firefighters put out the fire, they were shocked to find what appeared to be human remains. No word yet if the two men are being charged with murder. This comes just hours after destruction at a local apartment complex where the death toll is still rising.”
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Clay and Ivan are together at last, but there is no rest for the weary. Clay has some unfinished business to settle. You can’t just kill a man and expect to get away with it.
Love as Power (Diode Bk. 1): “He sprints from one side of the yard to the other, over and over again until he is breathing with his whole body. When he thinks to break for water, the sun is up and he sees Ivan standing on the low steps of the backdoor smiling with a big bottle of water. Clay smiles and the two meet halfway, in the center of the yard, and they kiss. “
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The magician’s back in Wilmington with the Alia, and they are forced to play clean up.
Amazing Elroy (Amazing Elroy, The Magician Bk. 2): “The man flies into a rage when he doesn’t feel the pain of his head against the metal bar. He yells and throws his fist violently through the air. Kevin sees foam at the man’s mouth and he sends the little boy away, who does not need to be told to leave.”
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I can’t excerpt this week’s blog post from Solse, it would spoil the whole thing.
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It’s the PRL Serials Volume III! And yes, 3 is a magic number. Check out the PRL Serials website for other interesting things to read and enjoy. See you next week!
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PRL Serials 