9/11 Calls

Scene: Inside the dusty garage hideout, night.
The neon from a half-broken โ€œOPENโ€ sign flickers through the window. John Connor leans over a pile of salvaged techโ€”old CB radios, voice boxes, and busted cell phonesโ€”while the T-800 calmly reloads a shotgun with mechanical precision.


JOHN CONNOR:
Hey, uhโ€ฆ Iโ€™ve been meaning to ask you something.

T-800:
Affirmative.

JOHN:
Back there, when you called my foster parents? You sounded exactly like my mom. Likeโ€ฆ freakishly real. How do you even do that?

T-800:
Mimetic polyalloy units possess molecular-level sound replication. I do not. My model uses mechanical approximation and computational waveform analysis.

JOHN (squints):
Soโ€ฆ like autotune on steroids?

T-800 (deadpan):
Incorrect analogy. I record a minimum two seconds of vocal input, extract harmonic frequencies, and construct a digital phoneme map. Then I synthesize the signal through my vocal processor.

JOHN:
So you basicallyโ€ฆ remix their voice in real time?

T-800:
Affirmative. The imitation is exact to within 0.0003 percent deviation in waveform fidelity. Human auditory systems cannot detect the difference.

JOHN (impressed):
Man, thatโ€™s insane. Can you, like, do me?

T-800 (turns slightly, perfectly mimicking Johnโ€™s voice):
โ€œHey dudes, this is John Connor, future leader of the Resistance. Donโ€™t mess with my dirt bike.โ€

JOHN (laughing):
Okay, thatโ€™s creepy as hell.

T-800 (flatly):
It is an effective infiltration technique.

JOHN:
Yeahโ€ฆ remind me never to let you borrow my phone.

The Biggest The Best

Setting: A quiet, opulent lounge at a charity event in Monaco, 2002. The murmur of wealthy guests fills the air.

Characters:

  • JCJ (Joseph C. Jukic): Observant, sharp, with a knowing smile.
  • Arnold Schwarzenegger: Relaxed, but with the keen awareness of a public figure. A glass of mineral water in his hand.

(JCJ leans slightly towards Arnold, nodding discreetly towards a distinguished older gentleman in a impeccably tailored suit holding court across the room.)

JCJ: You see that man over there, Arnold? The one speaking with the curator?

Arnold: (Squints slightly, then nods) Lord Rothschild. Of course. A powerful man. Very connected.

JCJ: Exactly. The richest man in Babylon. The king of his particular mountain. Itโ€™s an old world, that one. All quiet handshakes and generational influence.

(Arnold turns to JCJ, intrigued by the tone.)

Arnold: And what mountain are we on, Joe?

JCJ: (Chuckles softly) A louder one. A brighter one. One with explosions and one-liners that echo in every kidโ€™s head from Detroit to Delhi. Seeing him just now made me think of you.

Arnold: (Raises an eyebrow, a playful smirk forming) What, you want me to start wearing a pinstripe suit and buy a bank? I tried putting on a tie for Junior. It didnโ€™t work.

JCJ: No, no. Nothing like that. Think about it. He is the absolute pinnacle of his world. The archetype. When people think of that kind of immense, almost untouchable financial power, they think of a Rothschild.

(JCJ pauses, letting the comparison hang in the air.)

JCJ: And when anyone, anywhere on this planet, thinks of an action starโ€ฆ the biggest, the best, the very definition of the wordโ€ฆ they think of you. You are the Rothschild of action.

Arnold: (Leans back, his smirk softening into a genuine, thoughtful expression. He lets out a low grunt of appreciation.) Hah. Thatโ€™s a new one. Iโ€™ve been called the Austrian Oak, the Governatorโ€ฆ never that.

JCJ: Itโ€™s true. You didnโ€™t just play the part; you built the genre. You are the kingdom. And thatโ€™s why I say youโ€™re not just the biggest. You are possibly the last action hero.

Arnold: (Nods, his voice dropping to a more reflective tone) The last? Because the world is changing.

JCJ: Exactly. Itโ€™s all becoming green screens and wirework. Anyone can be a hero if the pixels are good enough. But what you didโ€ฆ that was physical. It was palpable. It was real. Like old money versus new money. Thereโ€™s a weight to it. A substance. They can make a thousand action stars now, but they canโ€™t make another you. The era of the one-man empireโ€ฆ the kingโ€ฆ is ending.

(Arnold looks out over the glittering crowd, then back at JCJ. He raises his glass of water.)

Arnold: To kings, then. In all their kingdoms. The quiet onesโ€ฆ

(He gestures with his glass towards Lord Rothschild.)

Arnold: โ€ฆand the loud ones.

(He taps his glass gently against JCJ’s.)

JCJ: To the last king of Babylon.

Arnold: (A wide, iconic grin finally breaks across his face) I still like the sound of that. But the night is young. Maybe Iโ€™ll go say hello. See if he wants to be in a movie. I have a script about a banker who fights aliensโ€ฆ

JCJ: (Laughing) Now thatโ€™s a handshake Iโ€™d pay to see.

(They both laugh, the sound cutting through the dignified hum of the room, two men perfectly aware of their respective domains.)

Lung Cleanse

๐ŸŒฟ Herbal & Naturopathic Lungโ€‘Support Herbs

These herbs are traditionally used in naturopathic and holistic systems to help soothe inflammation, support mucus clearance, and protect lung tissue:

๐Ÿซ Respiratory Herbs

  • Mullein (Verbascum) โ€“ Classic expectorant; helps loosen and expel mucus and soothe irritation.
  • Lobelia โ€“ Relaxing to airways and used historically for respiratory congestion (use cautiously).
  • Osha Root โ€“ Used for chest congestion and mucus movement.
  • Thyme โ€“ Antimicrobial and mucusโ€‘clearing herb that supports bronchial health.
  • Licorice Root โ€“ Soothes irritated lung tissue and helps thin mucus.
  • Peppermint โ€“ Menthol helps relax airway muscles and ease breathing.
  • Elecampane, Plantain, Lungwort โ€“ Traditional herbs for mucus and gentle expectoration.

๐Ÿ‘‰ These can be prepared as teas, tinctures, or steam inhalations (e.g., herbal steam with peppermint or thyme). Many are found in readyโ€‘made lung herbal blends.


๐Ÿฅฆ Foods That Support Lung Cleansing & Repair

Whole foods rich in antioxidants, antiโ€‘inflammatory compounds, and lungโ€‘protective nutrients may help reduce oxidative stress and support lung tissue healing:

๐ŸŽ Top Lungโ€‘Friendly Foods

  1. Citrus Fruits (oranges, lemons, grapefruit) โ€” high vitaminโ€ฏC for antioxidant support.
  2. Apples โ€” associated with slower decline in lung function in exโ€‘smokers.
  3. Berries (blueberries, strawberries) โ€” powerful antioxidants.
  4. Cruciferous Veggies (broccoli, kale) โ€” antioxidants and sulfur compounds.
  5. Leafy Greens (spinach, Swiss chard) โ€” chlorophyll and detox support.
  6. Garlic & Onions โ€” antimicrobial, antiโ€‘inflammatory nutrients.
  7. Carrots, Beets, Tomatoes โ€” betaโ€‘carotene, lycopene, and micronutrients.

Tip: Smokers may particularly benefit from extra vitaminโ€ฏC because smoking depletes antioxidant stores in the lungs.


๐Ÿงƒ Lungโ€‘Supporting Drinks & Tonics

Drinks that combine antiโ€‘inflammatory, expectorant, and antioxidant ingredients can be soothing and supportive:

๐Ÿฅค Detox & Lungโ€‘Friendly Beverages

  • Watercress + Ginger + Turmeric Juice โ€“ targets toxins and supports cilia function (the lungsโ€™ own cleaning cells).
  • Green Tea with Lemon & Honey โ€“ antioxidants protect lung tissue and soothe throat.
  • Turmericโ€‘Gingerโ€‘Black Pepper Tonic โ€“ antiโ€‘inflammatory and mucusโ€‘loosening.
  • Beetroot + Apple + Celery Juice โ€“ nitrates for oxygen delivery and antiโ€‘inflammatory effects.

๐ŸŒฌ๏ธ Lifestyle Practices That Enhance Lung Cleanse

In naturopathic and holistic circles, food and herbs work best alongside lifestyle practices that support respiratory health:

  • Hydration โ€” water helps thin mucus.
  • Steam inhalations with herbs โ€” opens airways and helps loosen congestion.
  • Breathing exercises (pranayama, deep breathing) โ€” support lung capacity and mucus clearance.

โš ๏ธ Safety & Notes

  • Herbs can interact with medications and health conditions. If youโ€™re on blood thinners, have high blood pressure, are pregnant/nursing, or have COPD/asthma, check with a qualified health practitioner before using herbal extracts.
  • No food or herb can fully โ€œundoโ€ smoking damage โ€” the most important factor in lung healing is reducing or quitting exposure to smoke.
  • These approaches are supportive; for chronic lung disease or serious symptoms consult a medical professional.