Pattern Ghost

I've come to some grudging acceptance of the "hush money" label simply because large swaths of the electorate wouldn't pay attention at all if it were a "mere" election fraud trial.  I know my fellow Americans well enough to know that high treason isn't nearly as interesting as a porn star.

1/3 of the jurors already selected today.  At this rate the trial might get fully underway by Monday.
 
Also, I'm getting tired of corporate media headlines burying the lede.  This isn't a "hush money" trial, it's a campaign finance violation trial.  Paying off your porn star is not a crime, but laundering the payments in violation of campaign finance law, and thereby cheating in the election, is a felony.

I wasn't praising them. Just pointing out a fact.
 
Below is a thorough, non-partisan analysis of Iran's response to the Israeli strike, its implications and possible outcomes. If you want a clearer understanding of the dynamics involved, it's worth investing eight minutes forty seconds.
 
 

Let's not forget they helped engineer the 10/7 attack:
 
https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/iran-israel-hamas-strike-planning-bbe07b25
 
Israel may have hit them first in this round of Poke the Bear, but I don't think Iran deserves any praise for restraint. 

Wait, what?
 
Oh yeah, the poll...gimme a bit.

Yesterday marked six years of me never having to pretend to be a guy again, and today, like every March 31st, is International Transgender Day of Visibility, so it's a double celebration for me.
 
Being visible as a trans person is important to me for two main reasons. For one, to remind non LGBTQ+ folks that people like me exist and are real people who are part of their communities. The other reason is to help older trans people who think that they're too old to transition know that it's never too late. I started my transition at fifty-two and it's still the best thing I've ever done for myself.
 
So, like the title says, happy Trans Day of Visibility.

Turkey’s Erdogan dealt major election blow as opposition party wins big cities

Title: Speed, Distance, Alien Invaders, and Meep meep

All right, as I see it, we still need titles from Cancer, Dr. MID-Nite, and Sociotard, as well as a Paragon and an Organization from Dr, MID-Nite.
 
I hope to put up the poll tomorrow and run it until Monday morning.

I've had a hard time thinking of a title, so if it's not too late, I'll go with the obvious: Up Schitt's Creek, in the Dark, with No Spear

I've had a hard time thinking of a title, so if it's not too late, I'll go with the obvious: Up Schitt's Creek, in the Dark, with No Spear

While this is a bit of crankiness, given the subject matter, I'm putting it here.
 
I had to drop off a package at the local post office, and I noticed a little stand on the sidewalk, with a big sign saying, "Defend Trump". I was going to ignore them, but as I was getting back into my car, one of them waved me over. Probably not his best idea. After I asked why are we defending a billionaire, his response was, "well, they're trying to take it away."
To which I responded, "Good. He deserves it." I then gave him a short rundown of how he stiffed a company I worked for ("I don't know the details of that"). So, then I explained to him about how Trump Tower was built using undocumented workers. I finished by saying that he is dangerous, should never be near the presidency again, and that he should be locked up. I then wished them a good day, and left. As I was getting back in my car, the gentleman I had been talking to looked like a deer caught in the headlights.
 
 
 

Wildcard: Sebastian Haff/Elvis Presley (From the movie Bubba Ho-Tep), Guardian of the Spear of Destiny

Wildcard: King Shark…
 
or Gambit…

This is two weeks old, but I don't think it's been posted yet:
 
 

What could I choose as a MacGuffin ?
How about a Mother Box ?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_Box

Happy Wednesday!
 
Wednesday, March 13th: The MacGuffin
This is some object that drives the story. It could be a jewel-encrusted bird statue, or a lost relic, or a glove with a bunch of little rocks in it, or a stolen piece of super-tech. It might even be some cute little critter who's actually half a century old. Whatever. It doesn't actually matter what the MacGuffin is, just that the story revolves around it.

"We have a problem in Chicago."
 
"Rent is too damned high?"
 
"No, possible Kryptonian"
 
"Request permission to start my vacation... off planet"
 
"Denied."
 
"If there IS a Kryptonian, how I am I supposed to handle that??"
 
"Do what you always do, find a group of disposable people in Spandex to help"
 
"You mean superheroes, like me? Thanks, thanks a lot."
 
"Enjoy Chicago, Jessica":
 
"Eat me" But she got ready for her flight
 
Bug Pick: Jessica Drew/Spider-Woman
 

 

The BUG: I have to go with....The Tick!
 
Tick (character) - Wikipedia

Okay, I may be cheating on this one.. let me know.
 
It does say related to the hero....
 
Bugs:  Clarise Starling (Silence of the Lambs)
 
Clarise solved her first major case when she discovered the Death's Head Moth in Buffalo Bill's place.  She does have a moth on her face on the movie poster...
 
I know it was a stretch, but the thought of Clarise and Scully working together was just too much to ignore, and the category that would really work just has not been coming up.
 

I go for the "other creepy-crawly" aspect.
 
Leech

Wasp!
 

 
Oh wait, she's already been picked!  So,
 
Hero based on or related to insects, arachnids,. crustaceans, or any other kind of creepy-crawly: Mantis
 

 

Bug Hero: Ben Reilly, the Scarlet Spider