Gisèle Pelicot is my person of the year
+ A CHRISTMAS SALE!!!
Angels! Christmas and the New Year are coming up (HOW???) so I wanted to give you all a special discount to get yourself, or someone you love in your life, a SYSCA subscription to be part of the cutest community on the internet!!
Whether you know someone who’d love it, or whether your New Year’s Resolution is to stay on top of the news a bit more (or to support the media you love) I think this would make a great gift (and I’m not biased in the slightest) xx
Hi my babies!!! And hi to all the new angels who’ve joined us from Instagram!!! This is the final week of the newsy for the year, so let’s make it a good one ok? I went camping over the weekend where we played Scrabble and drank hot chocolate (very wholesome), and then when I got home, in that sleepy sunny haze that often comes after camping, I started watching Sex & The City for the very first time (I know!)
I’m also nearly finished reading our book club book for this month which is ‘All That We Know’ by Shilo Kino and I am ADORING it (even if the notes on cancellation are giving me anxiety.) Highly recommend it as a summer read for you angels!
⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ ˖ IN THE NEWS⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ ˖
Gisèle Pelicot removes all traces of her husband
And so she fucking should. I just really want you all to go and read this article about Gisèle Pelicot (my person of the year, btw.)
Even though I know you’re all going to go and read it like the good lil SYSCAhood members you are, here are some excerpts.
It was November 2011, and Gisèle Pelicot was sleeping too much.
She spent most of her weekends in a slumber. She was annoyed, because during the week she worked hard as a supply chain manager, and her time off was precious.
Yet she could not seem to stay awake, often drifting off without even realising it and waking hours later with no memory of having gone to bed.
She had no idea that, in his late 50s and nearing retirement, her husband Dominique Pelicot had been spending a lot of time on the internet, often talking to users on open forums and chatrooms where sexual material – often extreme or illegal – was freely available.
In court, he would later pinpoint that phase as the trigger for his "perversion" after a childhood trauma of rape and abuse: "We become perverted when we find something that gives us the means: the internet."
Sometime between 2010 and 2011, a man claiming to be a nurse sent Mr Pelicot photos of his wife, drugged with sleeping pills to the point of unconsciousness. He also shared precise instructions with Mr Pelicot so that he could do the same to Gisèle.
At first he hesitated – but not for long.
Through trial and error he realised that with the right dosage of pills he could plunge his wife into a sleep so deep nothing would wake her. They had been lawfully prescribed by his doctor, who thought Mr Pelicot suffered from anxiety due to financial troubles.
He would then be able to dress her in lingerie she refused to wear, or put her through sexual practices she would have never accepted while conscious. He could film the scenes, which she would not have allowed while awake.
Full article here. Read with care xx
Trump did an interview where he outlined some of his proposed changes and…
They’re as bad as we expected. In an exclusive interview with Kristen Welker, (moderator of NBC News’ “Meet the Press) the incoming President opened up about his plans for his next term. From pardoning Jan. 6 rioters on day one to pushing for mass deportations and ending birthright citizenship, he’s kinda doing exactly as we expected. Here’s a little summary of what he’s proposing:
Justice and Pardons
Pardons for Jan. 6 rioters on day one, citing what he considers harsh prison treatment.
No plans to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate President Joe Biden but suggested others should face scrutiny (e.g., Jan. 6 committee members).
Immigration
Mass deportations of millions of undocumented immigrants, beginning with those convicted of crimes.
Ending birthright citizenship (guaranteed by the 14th Amendment) and considering a constitutional amendment to achieve this.
Legislative solution for Dreamers, allowing those brought to the U.S. as children to remain legally.
Tax and Economy
Extending the tax cuts passed during his first term.
He’s open to raising the federal minimum wage, currently at $7.25/hour, after consulting with governors.
He plans to impose tariffs on imports from major trading partners, despite acknowledging potential cost increases for American families.
Healthcare
No clear replacement plan for the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).
Other Policies
He will not restrict access to abortion pills.
He plans to expand domestic oil production with a “drill, baby, drill” approach.
He has no intention to replace Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.
Personal and Administrative Decisions
His children, who served as White House aides during his first term, will not join his administration.
He plans to release his full medical records.
He will retain ownership of Truth Social, the social media platform he founded.
Constitutional and Legislative Changes
He’s open to amending the Constitution if necessary to achieve goals like ending birthright citizenship.
Seven tourists in hospital in Fiji with suspected alcohol poisoning
Yikes. First Laos, now Fiji. Seven tourists in Fiji have been hospitalized with suspected alcohol poisoning, with several reportedly in serious condition.
The group is believed to have consumed cocktails at a resort bar on Saturday night. Shortly after, they experienced symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and neurological issues.
Of the seven, four are Australians aged between 18 and 56, one is an American, and the remaining two are also foreign nationals, according to local media and Fiji’s health ministry.
This incident follows a similar tragedy just weeks ago, when six tourists in Laos died from suspected methanol poisoning.
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I’m not consuming much web stuff atm except I’M ADDICTED TO ZOELLA’S VLOGMAS VLOGS AS PER EVERY YEAR:
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In a world that feels more mystifying by the day, where journalists are constantly being laid off, and misinformation spreads faster than a leaked Harry Styles song, finding media that you trust, understand and actually want to read is so important.
I know you value what I do - so many of you email me saying how much you love the newsletter, thanking me for explaining topics you might not have heard of, and telling me how much it means to you that you’ve got a friend on the other side of this thing (🥺🥺🥺) If you believe in paying for the media (or the person???) you love, then please consider becoming a supporter.
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Gisele Pelicot is my person of my lifetime. That woman is spectacular. I learned about the trial early on and followed it daily; not a day went by when I didn't read something heinous about what was done to her and her handling it with the grace of an angel.
https://federicosotodelalba.substack.com/p/drugs?r=4up0lp