Noa Doughtery/Marshall Mann

( Private to Paul )

( Private to Paul )

To: Ralph Campana <rcampana@nypd.nycity.org>
From: Noa Doughtery <noa.doughtery@theagency.com>
Subject: ( Current gang/murder investigation )

I realize family should be a top priority at this time of year, or that is what all the movies and tv specials suggest. The season is the reason; although, it is highly unlikely that particular reason everyone focuses on is truly a winter time activity.

Excuses to stay away from the family would be greatly appreciated.

Although, I could stay with one particular family, if they're willing.

A day built on giving and thanks. Or a day built on the deaths of an indigonous people who were willing to take in some ill-prepared asshats overbearingly idiotic cretins, no matter how redundant that is, who only wanted to subjugate them pilgrims. Or a day of overeating and good family fun with a little football and possibly drama thrown in.

( Paul )

I watch tv. I know, seems odd, right? Do government types really watch tv? Yes, yes, they do. I do. My parents usually added that scholarly element to whatever I watched, but I have a habit of watching the shows that they simply would not approve, rebel that I am. So, recently I watched CSI: Miami; now before you start on gingerman, I happened on this episode, which must have been last week's. Who is on it? Why Normal from Dark Angel. I rather like it when shows I've watched in the past pop up in shows I catch, even by accident, now. Normal's a proud papa, marrying off his daughter. Not sure what came next, but there he was.

I felt the need to share in a small pleasure. There are so much unhappiness out there; sometimes it's good to put a little happy into the world.

Why am I up at this truly forsaken time?

It truly is a mystery. Actually, it's not, for somewhere in my mind, or my partner's, there is an answer.

We've been thinking, which is really our usual past time, but we were wondering, is there ever a truly just war? Of course, that particular definition of "just war" could fall under the particular rules of war. I'm not talking about The Art of War, but about "jus ad bellum" and "jus in bello" - the two parts of a just war. The concept of just war, though often linked to the concept of the Church with the capital C, is an ancient concept.

No. To what rules are the combatants in this war held? To what concepts of the grand design, to ensure that this is not a frivolous war? Is death and destruction ever not frivolous when it is unnatural? But, what is natural death and destruction?

Just War.

Life: a blur of moments, a string of moments, or simply one long moment?

Life is what happens along the way - it's the journey?

Life works a good deal better when all is in unison, but there will always be chaos, entropy.

This illness is unsettling.

Yes, I realize this is short, but what more should be said about something that is life threatening?

( [Filtered to Government/Law Enforcement Reincarnates] )

Greetings. After much deliberation, Marshall and I feel that it is time we make something of an announcement. It's nothing overly exciting to most, but we feel it is truly an interesting exercise - expressing that we are like many others here, two minds in one body. Brings up the saying "of two minds" or the movie The Man with Two Brains. We are travelers in a stream of data, physical, digital, metaphysical. We are here to share and experience, and we thank you for your time.

( The world started with a whisper, not a bang. )