One of the most important things I learned in my Language and the Law class is that law enforcement will intentionally misinterpret every type of statement asking for a lawyer as not asking for a lawyer. Even directly saying it like this “I will not speak to you without a lawyer” can be taken as a simple statement of fact rather than a request for a lawyer. You literally have to state “I am now invoking my right to a lawyer” and every time they try to proceed with an interrogation you have to answer every question with “I am invoking my right to have a lawyer present”. You can’t just tell them you won’t talk without a lawyer or that you want a lawyer. You have to state that you are invoking your rights. Otherwise they could just say “well they just said they wouldn’t speak without a lawyer present. That’s not invoking their rights to a lawyer. It’s just stating a fact.” even just stating your right to a lawyer doesn’t count!

PLEASE share this addition. I am a lawyer who works in criminal defense, and this is one of the most avoidable things that people consistently get wrong about the Miranda rights.

Here are some more “ambiguous” phrases which courts have found DO NOT invoke your right to a lawyer:

“Maybe I should speak to my lawyer first.”

“I might like a lawyer.”

“I think I should have a lawyer present for this.”

“Could I speak to my lawyer first?”

“How long until my lawyer gets here?”

And perhaps most egregiously – “Get me a lawyer, dawg – ‘cause this is not what’s up.”

Here are the magic phrases which you need to know if you want to invoke your Miranda rights:

1) “Am I free to leave?”

It’s worth asking this even if the answer is obvious. Even if the officer does not let you leave, by forcing them to admit that you are not free to leave, you are creating a record which your attorney can use to prove that you were in custody. Miranda rights only apply if the interrogation is custodial, meaning that police officers will frequently claim that their suspects were “not in custody” to get around their Miranda rights.

2) “I am invoking my right to remain silent.”

Simply staying silent will not invoke your right to remain silent. As absurd as this is, you must explicitly say that you are invoking your right to remain silent in order to invoke that right.

3) “I am invoking my right to an attorney.”

As stated above, you must be not only clear and unambiguous, but clear and legally unambiguous. Don’t get cute. Don’t get sassy. And on the flip side, don’t get intimidated and use verbal ticks to minimize your request. Say the line with those words exactly – say it clearly, and say it once, and then say nothing else.

Because even after you’ve done all this, the police can still try to get you to talk. They’re not supposed to interrogate you, but they’re allowed to make casual conversation, and if that conversation just happens to circle back around to the thing they wanted to question you about, well, that’s really your fault for talking after you said you wouldn’t, isn’t it? Can’t possibly fault the poor officers when you initiated – if you really wanted to have your rights respected, you wouldn’t have talked to them in the first place.

The police know this, and they will mercilessly exploit this loophole. So, once you’ve successfully invoked your Miranda rights, any and all conversation you have with police officers will put those rights back into jeopardy. 

Putting it all together:

Ask: “Am I free to leave?”

If they say no, say: “I am invoking my right to remain silent and I am invoking my right to an attorney.”

And then shut up and do not say a single thing to them for any reason whatsoever until you have actually spoken to an attorney. Yes, even if it takes hours. Yes, even if they start talking to you about something else.

Finally, a very important disclaimer:

I may be a lawyer, but I’m not your lawyer, and I cannot guarantee that what I’ve just laid out here will always work for every situation. We didn’t get to this bizarre and absurd place overnight – we built this ridiculous system piecemeal, by deciding on a case-by-case basis that certain phrases were “too ambiguous” or certain types of questioning weren’t actually questioning at all. The law is still in flux, and is still fundamentally out to get you, and willing to bend plain meaning beyond all recognition to do it. Even if you invoke your rights perfectly, exactly as I have specified above, there’s a chance that your invocation of rights will be disqualified on some new technicality that no one’s even thought of yet – and that’s precisely the problem.

Watch this video: “Don’t Talk To The Police”

I am begging my followers to please watch this video from start to finish. I know it’s long, but it is incredibly valuable information that everyone needs to know, especially if you’re involved in any form of activism.

Every single cop lies. Every single cop lies and manipulates and twists the situation around to get a confession. Even when they know that the person is innocent, even when they know that what they have isn’t enough to convict someone, even when they know that that confession has been made under duress or manipulation. All they care about is getting anything to put someone behind bars.

It doesn’t matter how eloquent or innocent or experienced you are. Do not talk to cops.

happy 420 and day i reserve a spot in hell

its that time again folks

Best time of year

FAQ

Can you diagnose me with TS through an anonymous tumblr message where I list my symptoms? No, because I am not a doctor and even a doctor can’t diagnose a patient without seeing them in person and undergoing testing.

What is the diagnostic criteria for TS? Two motor and one vocal tic for at least one year, present before age 18. There are other tic disorders that don’t fit into this very specific criteria, but this is the distinct definition of Tourette’s Syndrome.

What makes tics worse? Tics naturally wax and wane (they go through periods when they get better and then periods when they get worse), so the natural flow of life can create differences in severity.. Tics can also be triggered by anything, and this varies from person to person. However, many people find that stress, anxiety, fear, sadness, or any other strong emotions including excitement can worsen their tics.

Do tics hurt? Some do, some don’t. Most motor tics have some level of discomfort associated with them, a lot of vocal tics don’t really cause much pain. Some tics are particularly painful, and if you have the same tic every couple of minutes for 10 years, your body is going to start seeing some damage from it.

What do you call that feeling you get before you do a tic? That’s called a premonitory urge, and it feels different for everyone. Some of these urges are stronger than others, but this is why we call TS dysvoluntary, we can hold them in up to a certain point but eventually they have to come out to relieve that urge.

What is a tic attack? Tic attacks are periods of time when your tics are absolutely uncontrollable, as opposed to the usual dysvoluntary premonitory urge. These can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few hours.

What are tics of the mind? Tics of the mind are similar to OCD in that they are mental compulsions that accompany our physical tics. While the rationale behind OCD is “If I don’t do this, something bad will happen,” tics of the mind are simply “I have to do this.” These compulsions can feel just as strong as those in OCD and can create a lot of anxiety. They often feel the same way a motor or vocal tic does, just kept within our minds. Some examples of this are: counting things, checking, touching sharp/hot/forbidden surfaces, etc….

Is ______ a tic? Absolutely anything and everything can be a tic, and the answer to this question will always be “Anything is possible!” and probably a little sass from having to answer this question so many times.

Why do some people curse? Coprolalia, or the tic where people say obscenities, is an extremely rare tic (happening in less than 10% of all cases), but is often the most focused on in the media. Copropraxia, making obscene gestures, is the motor version of this.

Do we tic when we sleep? Some people do. We don’t really have any way of knowing unless someone tells us.

What other conditions are associated with TS? Short answer: pretty much anything Long answer: Tourette’s is pretty much a package deal with OCD and ADHD, with almost 80% of cases having one of those disorders. We call this common bond a comorbidity, and TS is comorbid with many other disorders. A few more very common comorbidities include autism, sensory processing issues, learning disabilities, mood disorders (depression, Bipolar Disorder), and various rage/impulse disorders.

What causes it? The biggest theory we have is a chemical imbalance of the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin in the basal ganglia (the movement center of the brain). We know this from research on similar movement disorders such as Parkinson’s that give us some ideas about how movement control works and which chemicals are implicated in these related things. It is a heritable genetic condition, and many people with TS have a family member who meet some of the criteria.

What treatments are there? There are no medications that are labelled for TS, but there are some used off-label that seem to work in some cases. Most notably, there’s Abilify, Tenex/Intuniv, Clonidine, Risperdal, and Haldol. While there are many more that are used off-label, these are the big ones that many people with TS may have experienced. Other treatments exist as well, outside of the pharmacological route. CBIT (Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Tics) is a very up-and-coming popular treatment, although it requires frequent meetings with a specialist. Basically you capitalize on your premonitory urge and push that into a less harmful tic. Eventually through treatment, these bad tics can be transformed into subjectively better ones. There is also a very new treatment that has extremely mixed reviews and very little research, but it’s worth mentioning. There is a very individualized mouthpiece that supposedly stops tics from happening through the immobilization of certain parts of the jaw. It doesn’t inhibit your ability to speak, eat, or do anything you couldn’t do before (once you get used to it), but it can be very expensive if you’re not part of a clinical trial. Finally, the most extreme treatment has to be Deep Brain Stimulation. This is a surgical brain procedure where they place electrodes in your brain and hook them up to an external machine. This is used in only the absolute worst case scenarios, but it gets an honorable mention in this section.

What is a Youth Ambassador? The Tourette Association of America (formerly the Tourette’s Syndrome Association) has a program where they bring young people (aged 12-17) to Washington D.C. every year to train them to give presentations about Tourette’s. You get the skills needed to do anything from presenting to classrooms (with a packaged presentation to start you off) to lobbying Congressmen about relevant legislation to working a booth at a health fair to anything else you can think of. It’s a super great program, and your chapter can send you for free if you qualify, so a free trip to D.C. to hang out with a bunch of cool kids with Tourette’s is a pretty good deal.

What are echophenomena? There are 4 types of echophenomena. They are symptoms that often occur in TS, and are just as uncontrollable as tics are.

What’s an IEP/504? An IEP (Individualized Education Plan) or a 504 are ways to get accommodations in a school setting. For example, getting extra time or being able to take notes with a computer instead of by hand. The main difference is that 504s are directed at any disability that may need an accommodation (such as wheelchair ramps) while IEPs are more specifically disabilities that affect the actual learning (such as being able to take a test in a separate room). Both IEPs and 504s are at no cost to the family and are legally mandatory for schools to provide to children with disabilities.

How does it affect jobs? TS does not have to hinder your career at all. People with TS are actors, professional athletes, CEOs, and anything else they want to be. The famous neurologist Oliver Sacks even wrote about a surgeon with TS in his book An Anthropologist On Mars. While you may have to deal with bosses who are jerks and coworkers who aren’t understanding, you are protected by the Americans With Disabilities Act, so no one can fire you or deny you any workplace rights because of your tics.

Who are some famous people with TS? There are many successful people who deal with Tourette’s Syndrome, such as David Beckham (english footballer), Dan Aykroyd (actor), Tim Howard (English footballer), James Durbin (American Idol season 10), Howie Mandel (comedian), Dave Pittman (American Idol season 9), Michael Wolff (pianist and father of Nat Wolff), Heather West (season 2 winner of Hell’s Kitchen), Chelsea White (comedienne, MTV, VH1), Dash Mihok (actor), and the list goes on…. It is also believed that Mozart had TS.

This list is ever-growing and I will happily add anything to it if requests are made. Feel free to share this with anyone you think may benefit from it.

More famous people with tics:

Billie Eilish (singer) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4vRFodAqWo

Kristen Bell (actress) - https://youtu.be/VUJdUJCrjhk?t=131

Adam Ladell (singer, the Voice runner-up) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttPTrcLSm54

Caspar Lee (popular YouTuber) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vap_eknHZ0E

Samuel J. Comroe (comedian, AGT 2018) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnQoxT2iMkQ

i think i’m hilarious

Phans, I need your advice

Can anyone please recommend a good POTO fan fiction of moderate to long length? Leroux had the poor manners to die before writing a sequel or prequel. Thanks all

::squints::

You’re looking for Leroux compliant phic?

This is a tall order, dove. Most of the shit that’s Leroux compliant is dark as fuuuuuck…….,

Who do I know that might know? @likelightinglass @chris–daae

And @sparklyerik wrote a really adorable phic

But everything I can think of is so short…

I’m writing a Lerouxan prequel but it’s slow in process (there’s a lot of research)

*rolls in on a skateboard*

So I hear you want Leroux compliant fics?

Well, well, well.

Okay, to start, check out this community on FFN, Purely Leroux, theres a decent collection there, but the most recent one is from 2009 or so, and a lot of good ones have been posted since. So start there. Check out the Community section for Phantom of the Opera, there’s a lot of good compilations of similar fic in all different themes, you’ll definitely find something you like. 

Then read everything by Quiet2885 and Kryss LaBryn, they write almost entirely Leroux compliant. My particular favorites are Gifts and Wrappings and Sherry (this one is a strong M though, read the warnings). Quiet writes a lot of longer fics, but most are modern.

Now you specifically asked for long to moderate length. Not honestly all that many of those but a couple good ones are:

Mingled Tears by bwayphantomrose

Stockholm Syndrome by gravity01

The Scorpion by MlleBree

If you tell me what you like I can dig up some more, I’ve read everything Leroux because I’ve been reading POTO fanfic since 2004, and I used to be such a Leroux snob I wouldn’t even read fics where Christine was brunette. (don’t you judge me, I’m much better now)

What’s your poison @whimsy-patron ? 

You like fluff? A Kiss to Make it Better by T0theM00n 

You like angst? The Ten Minutes by Artist Forever 

You like dark and messed up? Pandora’s Pictures by GuinevereBlak 

You like really dark and really messed up?  Advances by Elagi (STRONG M, please read the warnings) 

You want Christine never having left? Lilacs in the Louis-Phillipe Room by symphonyinA 

You want to hear about the two weeks she was captive? Two Weeks of Eternity by NoOneMournstheWicked 

You want modern? Ten Months Previoulsy by Broken-Vow 

You want M rated but also sweet?  A Living Bride by RStiltSkinned

All those authors are great btw, check out everything.

Theres more where all that came from, just let me know!

And if you’ll be so kind as to check out my page :) 

OH MY GAWD

It’s the motherlode!

::SOBS HAPPILY::

Thank you! I honestly have no idea on preferences yet, since I’ve mostly read ALW and he’s a different fish.

*scrolling* *scrolling* ….wait….

Oh my god, one of my stories is on here?! O.O As an example of good Leroux-compliance???

This is…all I’ve ever wanted. Reblogging to feast on these fics later.

Okay, sooo, I’m going to shamelessly recommend my own writings. I’m a Leroux-Version lover, so I know (I feel it in my heart, believe me) the struggle to find Leroux-based Fanfiction…

So here’s my account. With the exception of the very first story there, and the one called “Mannequin”, all of them are Leroux-based.

Here’s my multi-chapter Leroux-based E/C story, Wishes of the Heart. It’s still in progress, but I try my best to update as quickly as possible and stay as true to Leroux’s characters as possible:) (NOT horror/Terror)

Summary: Before the whole Angel of Music fiasco started, Mamma Valérius falls ill, and a desperate Christine looks for help in the only friend she has, The Voice in her dressing room. He offers his help, and in exchange, she promises to give him the only thing he has ever wished for: a living wife. Purely Leroux-based. Rating may change.

Here’s a one-shot, taking place at the time in which Christine still thought Erik was an Angel of Music, called The Gidance of an Angel. E/C.

Summary: When Christine Daaé asks her Angel of Music for piano lessons, Erik cannot refuse, even if that means recurring to desperate measures.

Here’s another one-shot. AU. E/C if you want, but since the woman’s name is never mentioned, it doesn’t have to be. It’s called Returning Home.

Summary: With a child on his arms and a wife by his side, Erik returns to see the first woman who ever denied him her love: his own mother.

And the last one, Company. Not E/C. T-rated.

Summary: In the middle of the night, Erik looks for the company of a lady for the first time.

More stories are on their way, so if you liked these ones, please follow, favorite, and review:)!

the mOTHERLOAD

Reblogging for future reference, and to rep a few excellent, darker Leroux-based E/C stories!  Warning - no fluff to be found here!

Elcie has written two of my favorites, Bodies on the Shore (T) and The Ordinary Life (M) - the second is shorter but I had to include it.

@sparklyscorpion​‘s FFN page is full of gorgeous Leroux-based writing!  Her Confessions of a Living Wife (M) is one of the best fics I’ve ever read.  

Rebblgged this once but I’ll rebblog this again to add more stuff (nothing mine this time, haha!). Again, all Leroux, different ratings, some unfinished but all of them amazing! None of these are currently (and officially) in hiatus.

Lessons, by CountessofRothes. E/C, strong M, in progress. Very recommended for both the story and the awesome smut.

Deceptive Cadence, by Firdre. Unhealthy E/C set in modern AU. Very recommended, LOVELY Erik. In progress. Author seems to take a liiiiiiiiiittle while to update, I must warn you. If you’re looking for fluffy fluff this is not your story, but it’s also not a strong, extremely toxic relationship. M rated but nothing too explicit.

Madame Valérius is Dead, by the yellow flower. Super, 1000% recommended. Loved it. One of my favs. M rating for believable smut. E/C, ofc. Follows Leroux’s story, but of course, with some twists. It’s awesome and complete.

Matter of Honor, by E.M.K 81. Complete, T-rated. Bittersweet. E/C.

Moonlight Serenade, by magnessina. Short chapters, mkre fluff than anything else. If you want some cute fluffy fluff, this is for you. Complete. Not completely sure, but I think this is ALW Erik. Recommend it nonetheless because, well, E/C fluff!

Cold Ashes by gotta-rite. Complete, dark, messed up E/C. Not fluff. Crazy, crazy Erik. Smut. M-rated. If you’re looking for happy E/C, don’t look for it in this story.

To Those without Pity, by Pointless Nostalgic. Complete. M rated. I remember this fic being Leroux based, but by the summary I guess my mermory was a bit off… oops. Still, it’s great. E/C.

One shots:

Surrender, by dreamdescend. M-rated. Smut. E/C.

While you Were Sleeping, by slow'n'steady. Married life, E/C.

Water Under the Bridge, by Gabriel87. E/C, I guess, though it’s more friendship than anything. Cute with a morbid touch, just as Leroux preescribes;)

All the Tomorrows, by Aisalyn. E/C, five shot. Complete!

I have some more but my internet is too slow right now sooo enjoy these for a while:)

Reblogging with updates and because one of my New Year’s resolutions for 2019 is to read/review more fic!

Me: Crap, I can’t post this drawing of Erik up, the face is so ugly!

Me: wait

The noise I made...

Diver convince octopus to trade his plastic cup for a seashell

Gucci Fall/Winter 2020.21

The final lair!!!!! 😂😂

You can also follow The Phantom of The Fanfic on WEBTOON

Lmaooo

What the fuck?

Same, but what 😂😂😂😂

Back in the 1800s you could just show up to a town and be like “I’m a wealthy prince” or “I’m a doctor” and no one checked if you were lying. I was born in the wrong time because in that madness I would thrive

“The Phantom of the Opera” - Norm Lewis and Sierra Boggess The Phantom of the Opera; Monday, May 12, 2014

“Phright Cam #3. Happy Opening, Matt. #whatishappening #ispendhoursthinkingaboutit#youareneversaphe”

I laughed at this for an hour

Aw tiny tiny bunnies …

Crying from cuteness

He's phantoming!

I love his voice

daroga: depression? isn’t that just a fancy word for feeling “bummed out”?

erik:

Ne, Ne, by 追川うそ

This makes me weepy every time I see it. MONSTER DUDE LOVES HER SO MUCH!!

Fuck! I have been searching the world over for this again! I am saving it so I never lose it again.

I’m gonna throw some emotional hands right quick

Thanks I needed to cry today