Swarm Life #3 - by Twifight Who Cares Anyway.

CAUTION! SECOND IMAGE CONTAINS FLASHING IMAGES! BE ADVISED AND AWARE! Heck, it makes me twitch, to be honest. ANYWAY, here's the latest Swarm Life:

If this is disruptive to anyone, I will stop posting these strips. For now though? I LOVE doing them! LET ME KEEP DOING THEM!

Also, SPOOPY SKEETER THE LURKER:

I had some extra images of Skeeter, and I found this weird pattern to them. Put them in an animated .gif? VOILA! INSTANT EPILEPSY! ... I mean, er... cool image. Lightning strike! YAY!

... holy heck, my eye won't stop twitching. I'M SORRY EVERYONE!

Comments

[Navieka]

Disruptive? NONSENSE!
orig12.deviantart.net/1c12/f/2016/318/a/d/untitled_by_meekapuppy1-daocqlf.png

[Menelaus Redz]

This made me laugh... so keep making them I say!

[Twifight Sparkill]

4300346

You're next in the comic, yannow... oh, sorry. SPOILER!

You may be afraid now.

[Twifight Sparkill]

4300347

Blame Phazon - we talked about politics. He's scholarly, and I'm... well, I made fun of it all.

Politics and a sense of humour is how we ALL WILL SURVIVE.

[Navieka]

4300348 Afraid? Why, on the contrary I am quite surprised! What have I done to earn this honor?

[Twifight Sparkill]

4300352

You're cute and fuzzy, and I OWE YOU FOR THAT AMAZING ANIMATION!

- ... *urp*!

[Navieka]

4300355 Very well, I shall wait in anticipation till then.

[theRedBrony]

i loled

[Twifight Sparkill]

4300360

EASY LAUGHS! THAT'S WHAT I DO!

... yet the question remains. What am I doing? Where do we go from here!?

Trump makes it funny. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT!

[theRedBrony]

4300363 Build a wall?

[Twifight Sparkill]

4300375

An emotional one exists. Is that the same?

... c'mon, like ANYONE IN CONGRESS would allow him to do ANYTHING he threatened to do! Such a Hollywood enterprise, these preliminaries. America is a drama queen, but it isn't STUPID.

Otherwise, it'd welcome Justin Bieber EVERYWHERE HE GOES.

[theRedBrony]

... c'mon, like ANYONE IN CONGRESS would allow him to do ANYTHING he threatened to do!

Agreed, but quite a few of those things would actually be good.

America is a drama queen, but it isn't STUPID.

Tell that to the rioters, those people who beat a man to death for voting Trump, and that lady who took a shit in the street and smeared it on a Trump sign. Frankly, I'm not at all proud to be an American right now, and it's not because of Trump, it's because of all this drama, it's unfathomably childish and it's going way too far. I really hope this shit stops soon.

[Menelaus Redz]

4300377 ugh, if there is one person more hated than Trump, it's justin bieber.

[Twifight Sparkill]

4300406

I dig at the bottom of the barrel ALL THE TIME. Big ol' scoops.

Just like CNN.

[Phazon]

4300380

Not sure how much stock you put in Snopes, but they debunked both of those stories.

http://www.snopes.com/protesters-beat-homeless-veteran/
http://www.snopes.com/clinton-supporter-defecated-on-sign/

[Twifight Sparkill]

4300380

Your country is wonderful no matter who gets chosen to be in charge, because no election actually means a thing - as with every first-world country there is:

"... research revealed that a small group of financial elite have gained control over key areas of our lives – energy, food, health care, education and more – and are the single greatest threat to humanity’s ability to thrive."

"The real menace of our Republic is the invisible government, which like a giant octopus sprawls its slimy legs over our cities, states and nation … The little coterie of powerful international bankers virtually run the United States government for their own selfish purposes. They practically control both parties … [and] control the majority of the newspapers and magazines in this country. They use the columns of these papers to club into submission or drive out of office public officials who refuse to do the bidding of the powerful corrupt cliques which compose the invisible government. It operates under cover of a self-created screen [and] seizes our executive officers, legislative bodies, schools, courts, newspapers and every agency created for the public protection."

... so relax, because you're awesome, and there isn't much we can do right now about anything. Also, they're not very invisible. I think, for them, that's a combination of laziness and a very cruel manner of inside joke.

Oh, uh... so anyhow. YAY!

zanakay.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/suicide-booth.jpg

4300416

The press is lying?? WHAT!? Oh noes! INSERT DOLAN MEME HERE!

[Cynewulf]

4300377 you'd think so but Congress also went to war with Mexico once cause President Polk said that they had attacked us. No one bothered to ask why or where until we had marched over the Rio Grande and he never could actually answer those questions. Always got a cough.

We're kind of the worst but in an entertaining way. Like that time we had an abortive civil war over whiskey. Or the time that we had an abortive civil war over Jackson being an ass. Or that time we got really drunk and read the newspaper and thought the Spanish were assholes so we invaded Cuba but didn't wait for horses so all of our cavalry were just running around led by a fat bespectacled Teddy Roosevelt. Or that time Canada burned down the White House.

Good times.

Swarm liiiiiiiife

[Phazon]

4300419

How does the saying go? A lie can travel halfway around the world before the truth puts its pants on?

At the very least, it means that biased news outlets are lying. People out there clearly took two videos that predate Trump's campaign and have nothing to do with him, and then fabricated a story around them. These stories then spread to other news sources (sometimes up to mainstream ones) who don't do their due diligence, either because of incompetence or malice.

Personally, it's gotten to the point where I don't even believe anything that Fox News puts out is trustworthy. The final nail in that coffin was their coverage of the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church shooting. We're talking about a person in his twenties with white supremacist imagery and rhetoric on his social media who shot up a historically African American church and killed nine people, with multiple eyewitness accounts confirming that he was there to kill African Americans... and Fox News tried to spin it as an attack on Christianity.

As for the people who believe those stories? Well, a lot of the time it's confirmation bias. People hear what they want to hear and believe what already supports their preconceived notions. But sometimes people just don't turn their bullshit meters on.

It's really a shame, because when I see a news story about over a dozen racist, homophobic and misogynistic attacks within a day of Trump's win, I'm forced to take it with a grain of salt because any number of those incidents could've been falsified. Like I said, due diligence in reporting and journalism is paramount.

[Fattymagee1]

Lel, dat comic.

[theRedBrony]

4300416 Interesting... well, either way, there's still a lot of senseless rioting and generall crybaby-ness to this whole scenario.
4300672 You're quite right. They're making up all sorts of shit these days. Media will do anything for a buck, it seems.
4300419 Indeed. INDEED! But you have to wonder, all the media, the republicans, pretty much everyone didn't want Trump to win. And Hillary was being shoved in by any and all underhanded and illegal means. Makes you wonder if Trump really is an outsider like he claims. He might actually contend with the invisible shadow government...

But of course, here he is, right now, lining his cabinet with all manner of very-establishment GOP people. Goddammit.

[Twifight Sparkill]

4300751

You read the others? Hm, I should put a Fatty in my court! THAT'D BE HILARIOUS!

... or a nightmare. Can't decide! Lel.

4301091

"Indeed. INDEED! But you have to wonder, all the media, the republicans, pretty much everyone didn't want Trump to win. And Hillary was being shoved in by any and all underhanded and illegal means. Makes you wonder if Trump really is an outsider like he claims. He might actually contend with the invisible shadow government..."

I think that time shall tell. I was having a similar conversation with Phazon and Hunterz263, and here's what I offer: if you're worried about the horror that Trump may bring, recall the tenure of Richard Nixon. Remember him?

According to Wikipedia, he actually did a lot of great things for the U.S. during his tenure as president - Nixon ended American involvement in the war in Vietnam, and ended the military draft, for instance. He opened diplomatic relations with China AND he initiated the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty with the Soviet Union - the same year! His administration transferred power from Washington to the individual states, albeit only generally. He enforced desegregation of Southern schools! He established the Environmental Protection Agency! Nixon also presided over the Apollo 11 moon landing, which signaled the end of the moon race!

All very significant moments and outstanding political achievements! Ricky should be considered a champion by history, right? Right? Sadly, due to the scandal of Watergate, he resigned in the face of almost certain impeachment and removal from office. That was it! No fanfare, no recalling his former triumphs... nothing. All he's remembered for was "THE SCANDAL". Sad, honestly.

Check this, yo:

The Constitution defines impeachment at the federal level and limits impeachment to "The President, Vice President, and all civil officers of the United States" who may be impeached and removed only for "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors".

The charge of high crimes and misdemeanors covers allegations of misconduct peculiar to officials, such as perjury of oath, abuse of authority, bribery, intimidation, misuse of assets, failure to supervise, dereliction of duty, conduct unbecoming, and refusal to obey a lawful order. Offenses by officials also include ordinary crimes, but perhaps with different standards of proof and punishment than for nonofficials, on the grounds that more is expected of officials by their oaths of office.

The government of America is by co-operation and the theory is that the executive, legislative andjudiciary should work together in harmony to formulate policy.

The president has to seek co-operation but he also has to be seen to be leading the nation. This is one of the great ironies of being ‘the most powerful man in the world’. As the leader of his nation he has to be seen to lead yet he is frequently engaged in negotiations etc. (either personally or by proxy) with politicians based in the Capitol. Instances do exist where this co-operation has broken down but it is rare and it is usual for all three partners in government to work together as anything else discredits the whole system. In the past, when a breakdown has occurred, Congress has received the blame thus giving the president an edge over it as an institution.

For normal day-to-day purposes the president has to accept that senators and representatives have their own legitimate power bases and these have to be recognised.

The federal system of government in America and the three distinct forms of government institutions in Washington limit presidential power. Presidents have to “bargain” with other politicians and at times, presidential power is “illusory”. The other politicians who work out of the Capitol building are not controlled by the president - his only chance might be to influence them but the recent outspoken Democrat members who wanted Clinton to resign rather than drag down the name of the Democrat Party (over the release of the Starr report and the video recordings etc.) are indicative of how little influence the president has over his own party members in a time of crisis.

I'd say that this should quell most fears folks have for the moment. ONLY TIME WILL TELL how the chips fall, and uh... metaphors.

OH, and here's a cool l'il gem for all of those Second Amendment supporters (as a Canadian, the right to "bear arms" is literally hunting a bear, butchering it, and taking its forelimbs): How the NRA Rewrote the Second Amendment.

ENJOY!

[theRedBrony]

4302897

if you're worried about the horror that Trump may bring,

Actually, it's quite the opposite. I'm worried there won't be enough horror! I'm worried that the man I voted for is going to turn out to be just another standard issue politician who gets nothing done. I'm not really that worried about it though. I have a feeling he's going to have a hard lesson about his actual place in the running of the country, then push forward on a couple of his planned things, most of which would really help us. I hope he tears up NAFTA, drains the swamp, and repeals Obamacare.

I could give two shits if he builds a wall or not. Honestly I don't think congress is going to OK that one.

[Twifight Sparkill]

4303058

"Actually, it's quite the opposite. I'm worried there won't be enough horror! I'm worried that the man I voted for is going to turn out to be just another standard issue politician who gets nothing done. I'm not really that worried about it though. I have a feeling he's going to have a hard lesson about his actual place in the running of the country, then push forward on a couple of his planned things, most of which would really help us. I hope he tears up NAFTA, drains the swamp, and repeals Obamacare."

AHA! FINALLY, SOMEONE WHO VOTED FOR TRUMP! I owe you an apology, Red. I have spoken to a TON of folk that despise what may come from the recent election, and... I misread you. I MISREAD YOU! GRRAH! You've always been the sweetest and supportive sort to me, and I UNFAIRLY JUDGED YOU. That ... sort of bothers me, honestly.

Personally? I think that the press is making mountains out of molehills, and Trump simply played along with them. Now that he's won, and the gloves are FINALLY off, I think we'll find ourselves with a Trump that is subdued and mostly sedate. YES, he wants a wall. I doubt any of the controvertial things he desired will ever make it through congress, so... yeah. No worries. Myself? I am excited about his devotion to improving the U.S. education system, and I hope he accomplishes that much.

Of course, Canada elected a Prime Minister for his savvy charms and bloodline, and for all of his vaulted "rub 'em the wrong way" speeches he's been nothing but placid. I LIKE Justin Trudeau, to be fair - that makes a lot of my friends mad. HOWEVER, ultimately, every party exists to benefit the nation, and the head is their handsome spokesperson. BOY IS JUSTIN HANDSOME! SI-IGH!

There is NO QUICK FIX when it comes to turning around an economy, and very rarely does a RADICAL MANEUVER make sense in this modern day. Best to stay the course, surround yourself with knowledge and experience, and pick your battles carefully... THEN STRIKE AT THE HEARTS OF YOUR BESOTTED FOES, SPEWING THEIR LIFE'S BLOOD ON THE ... um. I think Trump will be careful. I HOPE he will be.

Politics make my head hurt.

[theRedBrony]

4304146 I hate politics, but alas, I live in a quasi-democracy, I have little choice but to be involved.

I'd vote for you. I think we could use a little Headache Voice in DC.

[Twifight Sparkill]

4304381

You just elected it.

[theRedBrony]

4304446 LOL