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The quiet, sun-drenched suburbs of North Tucson became the epicenter of a frantic multi-agency manhunt this week following the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC “Today” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie. What began as a missing person’s report has rapidly spiraled into a high-stakes criminal investigation, with Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos taking the unusual step of personally overseeing the scene. The gravity of the situation has shifted from a standard welfare check to a potential crime scene, as investigators admit that evidence uncovered within the family home points toward a more sinister reality than a simple case of a senior citizen wandering away.

The timeline of the disappearance traces back to the evening of Saturday, February 21, 2026. Nancy Guthrie was last seen at approximately 9:30 p.m. at her residence located near the intersection of East Skyline Drive and North Campbell Avenue. This upscale area, nestled in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains, is known for its rugged terrain and winding roads, making any nighttime disappearance inherently dangerous for a person of advanced age. However, it was not until noon the following Sunday that a family member noticed her absence and contacted the authorities, triggering an immediate and massive response from local law enforcement.

Sheriff Chris Nanos has been remarkably candid with the press regarding the “chilling” nature of the updates surfacing from the field. While Nancy Guthrie is reported to be of sound mind and cognitive clarity, her physical condition is fragile. She suffers from significant mobility issues and physical ailments that make it nearly impossible for her to have traveled any considerable distance on foot without assistance or a vehicle. This physical limitation is the primary factor driving the sheriff’s department to treat the case as a potential abduction or foul play. During a press briefing, Nanos emphasized that the department is “throwing everything” at the search, noting that the presence of the homicide unit at the residence is a procedural necessity based on the troubling physical evidence found on-site.

The search operation has grown in complexity and scale over the last forty-eight hours. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has deployed a sophisticated array of technology to comb the desert landscape and residential blocks surrounding the Guthrie home. Helicopters equipped with thermal imaging have been circling the foothills, while specialized drone units fly lower to the ground to inspect drainage culverts and dense brush. Because of Tucson’s proximity to the international border and the high profile of the family involved, Federal assistance has been requested. NBC News reporter Tom Winter confirmed that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has joined the effort, providing additional aerial assets and personnel trained in tracking and search-and-rescue operations in harsh environments.

At the center of this tragedy is Savannah Guthrie, who has remained a pillar of the NBC newsroom for years, often reporting on the disappearances of others. On Monday morning, the “Today” show broadcast a poignant statement from the anchor, who expressed the family’s profound gratitude for the outpouring of public support. Savannah’s message was one of desperate hope, focusing entirely on the safe return of her mother while praising the tireless efforts of the Pima County deputies. The Guthrie family has long been respected for their privacy and resilience, but the public nature of this crisis has brought a global spotlight to the Arizona desert.

The investigation inside the home remains the most cryptic element of the story. Sheriff Nanos has refrained from detailing exactly what “troubling details” were discovered, but he did confirm that the department’s criminal investigation unit is leading the charge. In cases involving elderly individuals with limited mobility, the absence of signs of a struggle or forced entry usually points to a medical emergency or a voluntary departure. However, the Sheriff’s explicit use of the word “crime” suggests that the scene told a different story. Blood evidence, signs of a struggle, or the missing presence of specific personal items often trigger this shift in classification. Forensic teams have been seen entering and exiting the property with evidence bags, and the perimeter remains cordoned off with yellow tape as a “sea of investigators” works to piece together Nancy’s final known moments.

Community involvement has been a double-edged sword for the Pima County authorities. While hundreds of volunteers have offered to join search parties, the rugged and cactus-filled terrain of North Tucson poses a risk to untrained civilians. Consequently, the Sheriff’s Department has redirected the public’s energy toward digital evidence. Detectives are currently canvassing the neighborhood, requesting that every resident within a five-mile radius of the Skyline and Campbell intersection review their Ring doorbell cameras and private surveillance systems. They are specifically looking for any vehicles that seemed out of place or any individuals on foot between the hours of 9:00 p.m. Saturday and 12:00 p.m. Sunday.

The psychological toll on the Tucson community is palpable. Nancy Guthrie is a well-known figure in the area, and the realization that an 84-year-old woman could vanish from a secure home in a reputable neighborhood has sent shockwaves through the region. The Sheriff’s Department has not yet issued a formal “Silver Alert” or “Amber Alert” style notification for a specific suspect or vehicle, which suggests they are still in the process of identifying a person of interest. However, the language used by the Sheriff—referring to the situation as a “crime”—indicates that they may have more information than they are currently releasing to the public to avoid compromising the integrity of the investigation.

As the sun sets on the second full day of the search, the window of time for a “safe return” is narrowing, given Nancy’s physical health and the cold desert nights. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department continues to operate under the assumption that every second is critical. They have reiterated the contact number for their tip line, 520-351-4900, urging anyone—even those with seemingly insignificant information—to come forward. The intersection of a high-profile media family, a vulnerable elderly woman, and a potential criminal element has created a perfect storm of urgency and dread.

The world now waits for a breakthrough. Whether that breakthrough comes from a neighbor’s hidden camera, a forensic discovery in the Guthrie living room, or a tip from a passerby, the resolve of the Pima County authorities remains unshaken. For Savannah Guthrie and her family, the nightmare continues as they navigate the agonizing silence that follows such a disappearance. The transition from a search-and-rescue mission to a criminal inquiry marks a dark chapter in this unfolding saga, leaving a community and a nation hoping for a miracle in the Arizona brush.

The landscape of modern identity is undergoing a profound transformation as the vocabulary used to describe human sexuality expands to meet the complexities of individual experience. Within this evolving framework, a myriad of terms has surfaced to offer clarity to those who feel traditional labels fall short of capturing their internal realities. While the emergence of dozens of identity labels—ranging from graysexual and neptunic to aegosexual—has sparked debate regarding the necessity of such specific terminology, proponents argue that these words provide essential validation for experiences that have long existed without a name. One of the most recent terms to generate significant conversation and online engagement is “orchidsexual,” a label that challenges conventional understandings of how attraction and desire interact.

At its core, orchidsexuality is defined as a sexual orientation falling within the broader asexual spectrum. According to community definitions, an orchidsexual individual is someone who experiences sexual attraction toward others but lacks the desire to pursue or engage in sexual relationships. This orientation creates a unique internal state where an individual may recognize that they find someone sexually appealing or “attractive” in a traditional sense, yet they simultaneously harbor no interest in, or may even feel a dislike toward, participating in sexual activities.

This distinction between attraction and desire is the fundamental pillar of the orchidsexual identity. To those outside the asexual spectrum, the two concepts are often viewed as inseparable; it is commonly assumed that if one finds another person attractive, the natural progression is a desire for physical intimacy. For orchidsexual people, these two threads are decoupled. This makes orchidsexuality an intrinsic orientation rather than a conscious lifestyle choice. This critical nuance differentiates it from concepts like celibacy or abstinence. While celibacy is a deliberate decision to refrain from sexual activity—often for religious, personal, or philosophical reasons—despite potentially feeling desire, orchidsexuality describes a baseline lack of desire that is part of the person’s fundamental makeup. It is also distinct from sex-avoidance triggered by external factors such as fear, gender dysphoria, or societal pressure, as it is viewed as a natural facet of the individual’s sexual orientation.

The term “orchidsexual” was coined in 2021 by a user known as Ringotheman on the FANDOM platform. As the identity gained traction, it followed the tradition of many LGBTQIA+ communities by establishing a visual symbol of its own: the orchidsexual pride flag. This flag consists of four distinct colored stripes—pink, gray, purple, and black—each layered with specific symbolism intended to reflect the nuances of the orientation.

• The pink stripe is included to represent the presence of sexual attraction.
• The gray stripe signifies the orientation’s placement within the asexual spectrum.
• The purple stripe represents sexual relationships.
• The black stripe symbolizes the lack of desire or the state of being “unwanting” regarding those relationships.To further distinguish the flag and acknowledge the etymology of the name, a simplified outline of an orchid is often featured in the design. Beyond mere aesthetics, such symbols serve a vital role in visibility, allowing individuals to feel seen and recognized within a larger, often overwhelming, digital and social landscape.

As orchidsexual has moved into more mainstream online spaces like Reddit, it has naturally become a subject of scrutiny and curiosity. Much of the discussion centers on how the label differs from more familiar concepts. Some skeptics struggle to see the difference between this identity and simple celibacy, leading to passionate debates over the utility of “microlabels”.

To bridge this gap in understanding, members of the community have developed creative metaphors to explain the orchidsexual experience. One popular comparison likens the orientation to a scented candle. A person might encounter a candle that smells exactly like a delicious food—the scent is enticing and “attractive”. However, that same person is fully aware that if they were to actually eat the candle, the experience would be unpleasant, tasting only of wax. In this analogy, a celibate person is someone who would likely enjoy “eating the candle” but chooses to abstain for specific reasons. In contrast, an orchidsexual person is someone who appreciates the “scent” (the attraction) but has no desire to “eat” (the sexual experience) because they know they would not enjoy the actual act.

The broader debate over orchidsexuality reflects a larger cultural divide regarding how humans should be categorized. Some observers worry that the proliferation of highly specific terms creates “boxes” that are too small and may lead to further fragmentation of the community. They argue that broader terms are sufficient to cover the wide variety of human experiences. On the other side of the argument are those who believe that if a specific term helps even one person articulate their inner life more clearly, it has served a valuable purpose. They view these labels not as restrictive boxes, but as tools for self-discovery in a world that often demands conformity.

Ultimately, the rise of the orchidsexual label highlights a growing trend toward valuing the nuance of “lived experience” over broad generalizations. For those who identify with the term, it offers a way to reconcile the confusing reality of feeling attraction without the corresponding urge to act on it. Whether or not orchidsexuality ever becomes a household term, its emergence signals that the conversation around human sexuality is becoming increasingly sophisticated. It serves as a reminder that human beings are complex, and the ways in which we relate to one another—and to our own desires—cannot always be captured by the limited vocabulary of the past. For many, the goal is not to fit perfectly into a pre-defined box, but to find the words that allow them to be authentically themselves.

The story of Soudi Al Nadak is a modern-day digital era fable that bridges the gap between the idyllic pastoral life of the United Kingdom and the hyper-extravagant, fast-paced world of the Middle Eastern elite. Born and raised in the quiet, verdant stretches of the English countryside, Soudi’s early life was defined by the quintessential British experience—far removed from the desert heat and the metallic glint of skyscrapers. However, as she entered her early twenties, a desire for a broader horizon and a global education led her to relocate to Dubai. It was this geographical shift that would ultimately fundamentally alter the trajectory of her life, transforming her from a student in a foreign land into a central figure in a global conversation about wealth, marriage, and cultural expectations.

Dubai, often described as a playground for the world’s most affluent, provided the perfect backdrop for Soudi’s introduction to Jamal Al Nadak. Jamal was not merely a businessman; he was a well-established Emirati entrepreneur with deep roots in a wealthy lineage, representing the traditional yet forward-looking success of the United Arab Emirates. Their meeting took place against the backdrop of Dubai’s iconic infrastructure—between luxury malls that resemble palaces and a futuristic skyline that symbolizes the pinnacle of human ambition. Jamal, noted for his successful career and soft-spoken demeanor, found himself immediately charmed by Soudi’s distinct Western perspective and her palpable confidence. Conversely, Soudi found herself captivated by the sheer scale of Jamal’s world, an environment defined by private jets, world-class Michelin-star dining, and a level of discreet opulence that few ever witness firsthand.

Their romance was characterized by its speed and its intentionality. It was a whirlwind courtship that moved with the efficiency of the city they lived in, yet it was grounded in a mutual fascination with their differing backgrounds. In 2020, the couple solidified their union in an elegant wedding ceremony that served as a physical manifestation of their dual worlds. The event was a meticulously curated blend of British elegance and Emirati tradition, marking the official beginning of Soudi’s life as the wife of a millionaire.

However, the reality of their marriage extended far beyond the private confines of their home. In an age where every moment can be curated for a global audience, Soudi began sharing glimpses of her new lifestyle online. The transition was instantaneous and jarring for many observers. Within hours of posting content that showcased the staggering wealth of her new life, the digital world reacted with a mix of fascination and vitriol. The videos exploded across social media platforms, turning Soudi into an overnight sensation and a lightning rod for controversy.

The public’s reaction was deeply divided, highlighting the complex relationship society has with wealth and gender. On one side of the digital divide, many users saw Soudi as someone who had successfully “hit the jackpot,” viewing her story as a modern fairy tale of love and financial security. These followers were intrigued by the daily routines of the ultra-wealthy, living vicariously through her posts about high-end shopping sprees, exotic travel, and the pampering that comes with being a “housewife” in one of the world’s richest cities. For them, Soudi represented the ultimate success story—a woman who moved across the world and found both love and immense prosperity.

On the other side of the spectrum, critics were quick to label her with the “gold digger” trope, accusing her of flaunting her privilege and prioritizing financial gain over genuine connection. This faction of the audience questioned the authenticity of her lifestyle and the motivations behind her marriage, often viewing her public displays of wealth as a form of insensitive bragging. The debate sparked broader discussions about the expectations placed on women who marry into wealth, particularly when those women come from different cultural backgrounds and choose to document their lives for public consumption.

The scrutiny only intensified as Soudi leaned into her new role. The “next day” after her marriage—symbolically representing her new life—became a permanent fixture in the public eye. Every meal, every gift, and every trip was analyzed by millions of strangers. This visibility brought with it a unique set of challenges. While her life was filled with material abundance, it was also subject to the relentless judgment of a global audience that did not always understand the nuances of her relationship or the cultural context of her new home.

Jamal Al Nadak, despite his wealth, remained a somewhat more private figure in the narrative, though his presence was felt in the sheer scale of the luxury he provided for his wife. His support for Soudi’s public persona suggested a modern Emirati approach to marriage, where his wife’s Western confidence was not just accepted but celebrated. Yet, the tension between their private reality and their public image remained a central theme of their story.

As the years passed, the fascination with the Al Nadaks did not wane. Soudi continued to navigate the delicate balance of being a British expat integrated into high-society Emirati life. Her story serves as a case study in how social media can transform a private marriage into a public spectacle, and how wealth can act as both a bridge and a barrier between cultures. Whether viewed as a fortunate romantic or a strategic social climber, Soudi Al Nadak’s journey from the quiet English countryside to the pinnacle of Dubai’s social scene remains one of the most talked-about transformations in recent years.

The “chilling” update or the “unbelievable” turns that often accompany such headlines usually point to the sheer scale of the lifestyle changes involved. In Soudi’s case, the “next day” was not just a twenty-four-hour period, but the beginning of an era defined by a level of access and luxury that remains unimaginable to most. The story continues to evolve as the couple navigates their life together, proving that while money can buy privacy, the choice to share one’s life online ensures that the world will always have an opinion on the price of that luxury.

Ultimately, the narrative of the Al Nadaks is less about the money itself and more about the shift in identity. It is the story of a young woman who traded the predictable beauty of rural England for the unpredictable, gold-plated reality of Dubai. As she continues to post and the world continues to watch, the question remains: is she a pioneer of a new kind of globalized, high-wealth lifestyle, or is she a cautionary tale about the loss of privacy in the pursuit of the “jackpot”? Regardless of the answer, her life remains a testament to the transformative power of modern romance in a hyper-connected world.

The sun had barely begun to set over Stockton when the rhythmic sounds of a neighborhood celebration were shattered by a sequence of events that would leave the community permanently scarred. What was intended to be a joyous milestone—a child’s birthday party—transformed into a landscape of unimaginable trauma in a matter of seconds. By the time the final gunshot echoed through the residential street and faded into a haunting silence, the birthday candles remained unlit, standing as waxen sentinels of a celebration that never reached its crescendo. The primary horror of the scene lay in the juxtaposition of innocence and extreme violence; the sweet, cloying scent of cake frosting in the air became inextricably mixed with the sharp, metallic sting of blood.

In the immediate aftermath of the gunfire, the neighborhood became a study in raw human instinct and terror. Parents, acting on adrenaline and desperation, shielded their children behind the cold steel of parked cars, their bodies trembling as they tried to provide a barrier against an invisible threat. Some whispered frantic prayers into the hair of their toddlers, while others simply stared at the bullet-riddled home in a state of catatonic disbelief. When law enforcement officers arrived, they didn’t find a tactical battlefield, but a domestic sanctuary turned inside out. Seasoned first responders, individuals who have spent decades witnessing the darker side of humanity, reported struggling to find the vocabulary to describe the sheer wrongness of the carnage they encountered inside.

The official toll confirmed the magnitude of the tragedy: at least four lives were extinguished in the spray of bullets. As the initial chaos transitioned into a formal investigation, the city of Stockton fell into a heavy, aching quiet. This silence, however, was not one of peace, but of profound shock. Local hospitals became the grim focal point for the survivors and their extended kin. Waiting rooms were packed to capacity with families huddled together, bracing themselves for the medical updates that would determine if the death toll would rise even further. The air in these clinical hallways was thick with the shared weight of a community trying to process a random act of violence that defied any logical explanation.

While the families waited, the machinery of justice began its slow, meticulous grind. Detectives from the Stockton Police Department established a command center, focusing their efforts on the digital footprints left behind by the perpetrators. They began the grueling task of replaying grainy surveillance footage from doorbell cameras and nearby businesses, analyzing every frame with clinical precision. Each flicker of light on the screen was scrutinized in the hopes of identifying a recognizable face, a specific license plate, or a vehicle make and model that could lead to a breakthrough. Beyond the physical evidence, investigators were also searching for a “reason”—a motive that could possibly explain why a children’s party was targeted for such a massacre.

At the site of the shooting, a makeshift memorial began to grow almost immediately. Neighbors, many of whom had been hiding in their own homes just hours prior, approached the perimeter with a mixture of reverence and fear. They left behind a mounting pile of vibrant flowers and soft stuffed animals near the edges of the property, taking great care not to disturb the yellow crime scene tape that now defined the boundaries of the tragedy. The most heartbreaking visual remained the child’s birthday banner, which continued to hang in the front yard. As it flickered and fluttered in the evening wind, it served as a brutal, visual reminder of the thin line between an ordinary Saturday and a historic catastrophe.

The psychological impact on the Stockton community cannot be overstated. In the days following the event, the “ordinary” nature of the day before the shots were fired became a recurring theme in local discourse. It was a day of balloons, laughter, and the anticipation of a cake—elements of life that are supposed to be safe from the intrusion of high-caliber violence. The fact that the candles were never lit became a metaphor for the stolen futures of those who died inside that home. For the children who witnessed the event from behind car doors, the trauma is expected to be a lifelong burden, a memory of a birthday that ended not with a wish, but with a prayer for survival.

As the investigation enters its next phase, the pressure on local authorities to provide answers is mounting. Public safety officials have held brief, somber press conferences, reiterating their commitment to bringing those responsible to justice while acknowledging the deep wound this has inflicted on the city’s collective psyche. The lack of an immediate arrest has contributed to a sense of unease that permeates the surrounding blocks, as residents wonder if the threat has truly passed or if the perpetrators remain at large in the shadows of the valley.

The tragedy in Stockton is more than just a headline about a shooting; it is a story about the fragile nature of peace in modern American life. It highlights the vulnerability of the domestic sphere and the devastating speed with which a milestone can turn into a memorial. While the detectives continue to scrub through the grainy footage and the forensic teams process the bullet-riddled walls, the people of Stockton are left to navigate the “stunned, aching quiet” of a community that has lost its sense of security.

In the coming weeks, the town will likely see more vigils and perhaps a formal funeral service for the four victims. However, the image that will remain etched in the minds of those who were there is the sight of that birthday banner in the wind. It stands as a testament to the fact that the victims were not just statistics in a police report, but people who were loved, who were celebrating, and who deserved a day that ended with the simple joy of blowing out candles. Instead, they are the subject of a nationwide mourning, leaving behind a neighborhood that is forever changed by the smell of frosting and the sting of blood.

The atmosphere within the delivery room at Hai Phong International Hospital in northern Vietnam began as a masterclass in clinical routine. The environment was defined by the sterile, familiar markers of modern medicine: the sharp scent of antiseptic, the rhythmic chirping of heart monitors, and the focused, quiet coordination of an obstetric team that had performed thousands of successful deliveries. For the mother and the medical staff, the expectation was a standard procedure—labor, delivery, and the first cry of a newborn. However, as the birth reached its conclusion, the predictable rhythm of the room was shattered by a sight that would quickly become a global phenomenon.

When the baby boy finally arrived, he did so with a robust and healthy cry that initially signaled a perfectly normal birth. Dr. Tran Viet Phuong, the attending obstetrician, moved with the practiced efficiency of his profession, supporting the infant and preparing to hand him to the nursing staff for the standard post-birth assessments. It was in this transitional moment that the medical team noticed something extraordinary about the infant’s hand. Unlike the soft, instinctively curled fists typical of most newborns, this baby’s hand was tightly clenched around a small, distinct, and pale object.

As the doctors and nurses leaned in, the initial confusion shifted into a collective, stunned silence. Clutched firmly in the newborn’s tiny palm was an intrauterine device (IUD)—the very contraceptive tool the mother had utilized years prior with the explicit intention of preventing this exact pregnancy. The irony of the moment was visceral; the physical barrier designed to block the spark of life had not only failed its primary mission but had essentially accompanied the child throughout his nine-month journey, ultimately emerging in his grasp as if it were a trophy of his successful arrival.

Dr. Phuong later recounted the sheer disbelief that permeated the room as reality seemed to bend before their eyes. An IUD is engineered to be one of the most reliable forms of long-term contraception, strategically positioned within the uterus to create an environment that prevents conception. It is certainly not designed to travel alongside a developing fetus, nor is it expected to be retrieved by the infant during the birthing process. While medical science offers technical explanations for such failures—such as the device shifting out of place, being partially expelled, or the body simply overriding the hormonal or physical barriers—the visual of a newborn “holding” the instrument of his own prevention transcended mere medical anomaly.

Recognizing that he was witnessing a moment of profound symbolic power and a rare medical curiosity, Dr. Phuong took a photograph of the infant and the device. His intent was not to create a sensationalist image, but to document a reality so improbable that it would likely be met with skepticism without photographic evidence. The image captured the brand-new life gripping the failed barrier, a juxtaposition that highlighted the unpredictable resilience of biology over human technology.

For the mother, who lay exhausted and damp with the effort of labor, the silence in the room was the first indicator that something was amiss. When she finally saw her son holding the IUD, her reaction was a complex tapestry of shock and awe. The tears that followed were not born of regret or frustration over the failed contraceptive, but rather a profound realization that life possesses a momentum that no human plan can entirely contain. In that moment, the sterile delivery room was transformed into a space of philosophical reflection, where the limits of human calculation were laid bare.

Following the initial shock, the medical staff resumed their professional duties with a renewed sense of wonder. The baby was thoroughly examined and found to be in excellent health, with strong respiratory function, healthy color, and normal reflexes. Once the device was carefully removed from his grip, he was swaddled and placed on his mother’s chest. As he calmed under the warmth of skin-to-skin contact, the staff moved with a newfound softness in their voices, acknowledging the gravity of the miracle they had just facilitated.

The story and the accompanying photograph eventually made their way onto social media, where they triggered a massive viral response. The public’s reaction was as varied as the cultures that viewed the image. Some found humor in the situation, joking about the child’s early “rebellious” streak, while others saw it as a definitive sign of fate—the idea that a soul “meant to be” will find its way into the world regardless of the obstacles placed in its path. For many, the image became a symbol of resilience and the stubborn persistence of life itself.

Beyond the viral headlines and the memes, the incident at Hai Phong International Hospital serves as a humbling reminder for the scientific community. It reinforces the fact that even the most highly-rated medical interventions are not infallible. It highlights the complexity of the human reproductive system and the ways in which biology can sometimes “rewrite the script” in defiance of the most careful preparations. The IUD, once a symbol of control and planning, became a footnote in the story of a child who simply refused to be prevented.

As the routine of the hospital eventually reclaimed the delivery room, the central truth of the day remained: a healthy baby was alive and safe. The lingering feeling among the staff was one of humility. They had witnessed an event that reminded them that life is not just a series of clinical outcomes and calculated probabilities; it is also a realm of mystery, coincidence, and chance. By the time the mother and son were settled, the baby was sleeping soundly, unaware that he had just become a global icon for the unpredictability of existence.

The legacy of this “IUD baby” continues to resonate as a powerful metaphor for anyone who has ever seen a plan go awry only to find something better on the other side. It is a story that proves that while humans can build barriers, create schedules, and manufacture fail-safes, life does not always obey these calculations. Sometimes, life does not just find a way; it finds a way to arrive with a flourish, holding the very thing that tried to stop it as proof of its own indomitable will.