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Most recently published stories on Vocal.
US and Allies Strike Islamic State in Syria After Attack That Killed Three Americans. AI-Generated.
The United States and its allies have launched targeted airstrikes against Islamic State (IS) positions in Syria following a deadly attack that killed three American service members. The operation marks a sharp escalation in the ongoing campaign against the extremist group and underscores Washington’s determination to respond forcefully when its personnel are targeted abroad.
By Aarif Lashariabout 5 hours ago in The Swamp
Tea of Silence. AI-Generated.
The snow had covered the hills for days, turning the land into a quiet white world where sound seemed afraid to exist. On the highest of these hills, beneath a dry, leafless tree, a young man sat alone. The tree had long ago lost its strength, its branches thin and broken, but it still stood, as if refusing to disappear. The young man chose this place often, not because it was comfortable, but because it was honest.
By Bilal Mohammadiabout 5 hours ago in Earth
1:49am
4/16/25 1:49am I want to breathe death in my larynx and feel loose change in the torn and raggedy pockets of my mother’s cardigan. The water is next to the bed. It’s not cold and never will be. So I guess what’s left is us; we will walk with crooked feet on a path carved by ancient societies. You will borrow my shoes. I will taste vengeance in my tea and convince myself it’s good for my liver. Coffee is fine too. Yes, that’s all. I will think about how I want to kiss you and, the clouds, they will rise to space, and leaves, they will glue their limbs back together. The sun has been out for weeks. This screw isn’t any looser than when I bought it. But I will wake up and I will be in the ship that splits in two and slide my sullen palms across its tundric pillow. I never took swimming lessons so whatever happens is meant to be. I’m sorry if that upsets you. I’m sorry I said that. Anyway, I want to lie nude in wildflowers with ants who build colonies and worms who can’t see. You have a problem with textures. You can’t help it. I could try to tell you things, like how I want my children to understand how little everything is and to not be afraid of the giant fingers that grab at sewing needles in their dreams. I could say it always scared me. It’s just not right. But listen, back to it: I want to indulge in passion and binge affection. Is it a sin if it helps? I will endure the things I am given and inculcate everyone around me to do the same. Do five laps around the block before you respond, whatever helps. I will tell you I want harmony to be palpable and wheels of recognition to be locked in an imperishable gear. Refill the pot if it’s empty. What I want has nothing to do with me. Diagonal tile is cold, you know, and my hair gets crunchy after too long out there. I want this lesson to end.
By Olivia Dodgeabout 5 hours ago in Poets
When Low Volatility Still Hurts: Drawdown Geometry at Work — Elio Asset Management. AI-Generated.
Markets often get summarized by a single number: volatility. When that number is low, conditions get labeled “stable.” But stability is not a guarantee about how losses arrive. The shape of a drawdown—its geometry—can determine whether a portfolio absorbs stress smoothly or suffers disproportionate damage even when the headline volatility level looks benign.
By Elio Asset Managementabout 5 hours ago in Trader
