#115 Dying For Fame | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

thatoneraven · 4 years ago

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I finished all the info on my boy, so I'm just gonna drop it because I'm an impatient motherfucker. I put a lot of effort into him to try and make him as realistic to the game as possible.

The Taxidermist Rian ‘Kazugra’ O’Byrne Gender: Male Born: June 20, 1997 Age: 24 Nationality: Irish American Realm: Hangman’s Forest Power: Frankenstein’s cure Weapon: Walking stick Movement speed: 115% Power speed: 130% Terror radius: 32 meters Height: Tall DLC: Beauty in Death Special ability Frankenstein’s Cure “A powerful concoction containing poisonous plants such as nightshade and hemlock. It disables the body, but the mind remains awake. For a disease as destructive as humanity, paralyzation is the only cure.” Start the trial with 4 vials. To cure a survivor, press and hold the power button to prepare the syringe. Release the power button to increase movement speed for 10 seconds and rush at the survivor to initiate injection. A successful injection will trigger a timer for the survivor. At the end of the timer, the survivor is immediately put in the dying state and killer instinct reveals their location for 5 seconds. Before the timer ends, survivors can find and inject the remedy at cabinets scattered throughout the map. These cabinets are highlighted in white to the killer and affected survivors. To replenish your stock of vials, interact with a cabinet. Cured survivors suffer from the following afflictions: - Hindered effect - Exhaustion effect - Illusionary terror radius Perks Shadow kin You feel a sense of kinship with the crows of the realm. In your time of need, they offer you their eyes. All survivors within 5/8/12 meters of a crow will have their aura revealed for 5 seconds. Shadow kin has a cool down of 1 minute. Stirred Mulch The lessons of the forest stick with you. Listen to nature, and she will guide you. Disturbances in the environment are significantly more noticeable. Scratch marks made by survivors last 1/3/5 seconds longer. Sounds made by running survivors are amplified. Formaldehyde You crave the perfect specimen. You become obsessed with one survivor. Every time your obsession is healed within a 48 meter radius of you, you gain a token. You can gain up to 4 tokens. Each token decreases your terror radius by 3/5/8 meters. If the obsession is sacrificed or killed, all tokens are lost. Lore Rian O’Byrne was born in Ireland in 1997. At the age of 3, his family moved to America in the hopes of achieving a better life. They started a new life in Detroit, Michigan, but quickly fell into poverty after the chaos of 9/11. Growing up poor in a world where he had to live in constant fear deeply scarred his psyche. He was labeled as an old soul, always isolating himself from his peers and opting to read a book rather than play. With his childish innocence ripped away too soon, he watched with bare eyes as humans destroyed the world. He learned hatred, rage, and vengeance as those around him began treating him differently, separate from the rest of the population. He fell to self harm, finding comfort in the punishment of his human body. As if taking pity on him, nature left a gift in his path. Rian, at the age of 12, found an injured crow on the back steps of his house. He had a soft spot for animals, so he took the crow in and attempted to heal it. The crow lasted a few minutes, but ended up taking its last breath in his hands. He handled it the way he handled everything that upset him, he turned to his creativity to right the situation. He made it his mission to keep the bird’s beauty alive in death. With the help of the internet, he learned how to take apart the bird and salvage its parts. He took its skull and painted it to represent the night sky. In the basement closet, he set up a small shrine for the bird. Its skull rested in a bed of black feathers, surrounded by a crown of smaller bones and dried flowers. As if nature had appointed him a purpose, Rian started finding dead animals wherever he went. They started off small: birds and rodents. He would take them home and perform the same ritual of taking their bones and painting them. Eventually, the animals started getting larger, harder to hide. He managed to salvage a roadkill cat at one point, almost getting caught by his parents who arrived home sooner than expected. He’d started taking walks in the forest nearby, occasionally finding shed antlers to add to his work. After returning from one of his night walks, he found his parents in the basement inspecting a sickly sweet smell. In a panic, Rian ran upstairs and packed a bag with his things and ran away from home at the age of 16. With what little money he had, he managed to make it to a small town in the upper peninsula. A local farmer found him dehydrated and starving on the side of the road, and decided to take him in. They arranged a deal. Rian would work for them, and they would help him get back on his feet. He would wake up early everyday to work tirelessly on the farm, and would turn in early at night to work on preserving animals he found nearby. Out of fear, he kept these shrines out in the forest. He would often come back to find them ruined. This frustrated him, so when he managed to save up enough, he got a small apartment in the heart of the town. He continued to work on the farm in his free time, but with his own space, he was able to keep a safe workspace. He managed to get a job as a vet technician, giving him a better source of income. With this money, he was able to get better supplies for his work. He learned how to preserve flesh and make leather from leftover skin. Bigger subjects became easier to deal with now that he actually had the tools for working with them. His home became a graveyard of sorts, a place to remember the unfortunate victims of humanity. He lived in peace for 2 years, but as he already knew, good things don’t last. A man broke into his house late one night while he was working on a deer skull, holding him at knife point while he threatened him. Rian, strengthened by years of work on the farm, overpowered the man and turned his knife on him. All the rage and hatred he had held over the years came spilling out when the man insulted his work. Rian slit his throat, watching with disinterest as the life faded from his eyes. It was similar to the animals he worked with, but this time, he felt no sympathy, no urge to preserve him. He wanted to tear him apart and put him back together to represent the monster he really was. Rian locked himself away in his room for weeks on end, feigning sickness so he could work on his new project. After 4 weeks of work, Rian took the complete work and hung it in a tree in the surrounding forest where he knew someone would find it. The man was completely unrecognizable. His skin had been removed, dried muscles exposed and decorated with shards of glass. His limbs had been amputated and sewn back on with wire; his wrists ended in stumps, hands relocated to cover his empty eye sockets. His jaw hung low, black tongue flopping uselessly in the tooth empty mouth. His teeth stood out in a crown around his exposed brain, accompanied by shards of glass. His genitals had been burned off, and his gut had been ripped open and emptied, leaving only a dried heart hanging in the empty space. A week later, his work hit the newspapers. People began panicking; there had never been a killer in that town, let alone one that gruesome. Rian reveled in the fame, the power, the fact that he had finally gotten rid of one of the things ruining the world. He grew addicted to the feeling, and started watching people to find his next victim. With the leather he harvested from his last victim, he made a mask roughly resembling a crow. He became obsessed with the idea of plague doctors; he wanted to embody an inhuman doctor, here to cure humanity of its filth. From this sparked his new identity: Kazugra. He was no longer human, he was a vengeful spirit come back from the dead to enact vengeance. His next victim was a pedophile who he managed to drag into the forest. He ended up tied to the trunk of a tree along a hiking trail. He made headlines all month. After his third victim, Rian realized it was too dangerous to stay in the heart of the town. With what he had saved up, he moved to a cabin in the woods nearby. When he would go into town for work and other tasks, he would keep an eye out for future victims. Mangled bodies began to show up more frequently in the trees. People dubbed him “the modern Frankenstein” for his monstrous creations. The surrounding forest became the “Hangman’s forest.” To make matters easier for himself, Rian started learning how to create mixtures of deadly plants to take out his victims. He started a small garden of nightshade and hemlock, favoring those plants for their ability to paralyze his victims. At first, the mixture was too strong, resulting in his victims dying swiftly. Though, with some adjustments, he was able to get the perfect solution, capable of disabling them while leaving them awake. The police were struggling to identify the killer, as Rian was meticulous in his care to leave no clues. The bodies continued to pile up, and news of his work began to spread throughout the U.S. With the leather he had harvested from his victims, he made a new mask. One to represent his true self. During a particularly rough kill one night, a person managed to capture a picture of him with his mask on. The picture spread like wildfire, and he became a controversial subject online. At the age of 24, the police finally caught a trace of the man behind the murders. They found a single strand of red hair crusted to her dried flesh. Immediately, they tracked him down and pinpointed his location. As soon as Rian heard the vehicles outside his home, he fled into the forest. The forest seemed to whisper to him, telling him how to get away. A crow descended from the trees, staring at him with burning orange eyes. The whispers told him to follow it, so he did. The forest grew foggier and darker, until Rian was swallowed into the night. The modern Frankenstein was never found.

#DBD #Dead by Daylight #DBD oc #DBD oc killer #Slasher #Slasher oc #DBD Taxidermist #DBD Rian #DBD Kazugra #The Taxidermist #Rian O’Byrne #Rian “Kazugra” O’Byrne #Kazugra

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gofancyninjaworld · 5 years ago

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OPM Webcomic Chapter 118 Review: Best-Laid Plans vs Saitama

Summary

Short version: Men propose. Saitama disposes.

This chapter opens in the immediate aftermath of the fight we saw in the previous chapter. A dying Gale Wind addresses Sonic and Flash, telling them about the Ninja leader “That Man” and painting him as a ghoulish figure to be greatly feared. One that will definitely hunt down the two of them once he hears of the Heavenly Ninja Party’s demise.

Flashy Flash and Sonic are a little less than impressed.

Indeed, they head to Sonic’s hideout to kill the leader in person, talking along the way. Sonic gives us another perspective of what happened in the run up to Flashy Flash’s extermination of the Ninja Village, which was that the day before Blast had showed up and killed off the junior ninjas. Talk about another brutal bombshell just lobbed at us as if it’s a tennis ball.

Wow -- now that’s clear moral blue water between Blast and Saitama.

Once they arrive, what greets them is going to be a CLASSIC panel for the ages:

Yup, Saitama has stripped the ninja leader of all his weapons and smacked him into a hole halfway to America (or at least where America might be if it existed). Saitama gives each of them a sword, saying that it makes him and Flash even and leaves.

Unfortunately, if Saitama thought it settled things, he’s wrong. Sonic is more determined than ever to defeat Saitama and Flashy Flash is more convinced than ever that Saitama is his disciple. Heh heh, your hangers-on, they just multiply, Saitama. There’s something I want to say about that too.

Speaking of multiplying pests, meanwhile, back at the Hero Association HQ, a board meeting is hearing out Amai Mask’s new plans for increasing the popularity of the Hero Association. He’s proposing a hero recruiting show. And his proposed star, yup, you’d never guess: Saitama!

What could possibly go wrong?

Meta

OMG, quite a bit to talk about. Let’s keep it to three, shall we?

1. Sonic’s hatred of heroes

I love this thing that Sonic said

“I hate those who think highly of themselves just because they possess great power.”

Something that was (emphasis on was) dear to Sonic’s heart was that his fellow orphans ought to be freed from their brainwashing and rehabilitated. Not processed into machine-like monsters nor summarily executed as hopeless. He explained this at great length in chapter 115. When Blast killed the juniors, the idea of heroes as noble people died for Sonic. If they’re different, they should protect people. All people. Not use their power to be superior and enact their judgement on them. From Sonic’s perspective, heroes are just ninjas who are clumsier and do violence for less pay. And preachier: ninjas know they’re just in it for the money.

It’s not a totally fair way to see heroes, but one thing that I have spoken of before in One-Punch Man is that ONE makes extensive use of the fact that everyone has their own perspective. Which is good, but in OPM, he emphasises that people believe their perspectives to be complete, which is where its comedy and tragedy both spring from. Link I can see Sonic’s point of view. His pointing out that Flashy Flash cannot be said to have broken free of his programming either, is very fair. Effectively, Flashy Flash’s rebellion consists of killing people for no money.

Of course, Sonic’s hands are none too clean. In the aftermath of the Ninja Village’s demise, he went with the default of being the very thing he’d wanted to escape: be a ninja. It’s great that he hasn’t stopped thinking and wrestling with his beliefs on how people ought to be. I look forward to seeing what concrete actions his thoughts finally turn into.

Other than chasing Saitama, that is.

2. Saitama sucks at confrontation. It’s been on my mind for a while, but this chapter makes it blatantly clear that Saitama really, really cannot do interpersonal conflict. Ask him to protect someone? No problem. Defend his principles? Sure. But for Saitama to actually push back for his own sake? Ah, now that’s a problem. The first time we saw this was back in chapter 37 when Tatsumaki was insulting Saitama and rather than answer her, he asked Genos to take up the quarrel on his behalf. It’s also been interesting to see how Forte and friends quit hassling Saitama the moment Genos showed up and evicted Forte.

repeatedly, Genos gets to be Saitama’s mad dog who gets him what he wants without his having to be ugly about it

The sensible thing to do when he gave the ex-leader’s sword to Flash was to tell the latter not to see him any longer. Instead, he left it at ‘we’re even’ which just sounds like he’s making good on a wrong and wants to continue a relationship with Flash.

Saitama’s reluctance to advocate for himself isn’t going to go well with the third point.

3. Fame. That Amai Mask was profoundly impressed by Saitama in the wake of the Monster Association raid is something we’ve known since chapter 97, where we learn what he thinks of as beauty. Power. The power to combat evil, by which definition Saitama is the most beautiful hero he has ever seen. His wanting to raise Saitama’s profile is understandable.

Creepy but sincere

Amai Mask is right about one thing -- you can’t force people into the Hero Association. If it’s to survive, it needs to be seen as a desirable place for prospective heroes to come to. However, the way he’s put the two reasonable things together, to make Saitama the star of a hero recruitment show, is such a bad, bad idea.

It’s bound to end in tears. The terrible thing is that Saitama is unlikely to turn it down right off the bat -- he’s been so desperate to be better known that he’s once stripped himself naked and fought a monster in the buff. But stand up, be made up, read an autoprompter and participate in publicity gags and fakery? It’s all going to go downhill, sliding sideways and on fire.

Wait... Amai Mask... tears... If it were only Amai Mask who would end up looking foolish, I’d be all for it. But it’s going to hurt the Hero Association too, which does do really good and important work for all its faults.

Ah well, bring on the drama!

#OPM #opm webcomic #review #ONE #speed o' sound sonic #Flashy Flash #Blast #Saitama #Amai Mask #I really hope that vile ninja leader is dead #but knowing Saitama's lackadaisical attitude #he probably isn't #bugger #anyway the story continues #which direction I do not know #other than drama and comedy are sure to ensue

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alexthegamingboy · 5 years ago

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Toonami Weekly Recap 05/02/2020

Paranoia Agent EP#02 - The Golden Shoes: Yuuichi "Icchi" Taira, a formerly popular sixth-grade schoolboy, starts being bullied at school for his red hat and golden skates which strongly resemble those of Lil' Slugger. The only person he can confide in is his personal tutor, Harumi. Icchi comes to believe that Shougo Ushiyama, a fatter, less sporty pupil who is running against him for student council president, is the one masterminding the bullying. He accuses Shougo aggressively, but someone takes a picture of their confrontation and texts it to the whole class. Shougo defends him, much to Icchi's embarrassment. Meanwhile, the detectives continue to question Tsukiko, who is now witness to two attacks. They also question Yuuichi. Icchi's birthday comes, but nobody comes to his party except his mother and tutor. Shougo attempts to comfort Yuuichi who just gets angrier, hoping Shougo will be the next victim; almost immediately, Shougo is attacked for real. Eventually Yuuichi goes insane with egopathic delusions of reclaiming his fame before being attacked by Lil' Slugger himself.

My Hero Academia U.A. School Festival Arc Season 4 EP#85 (22) - School Festival Start!!: It's 9:00 AM, and Present Mic announces the start of the U.A. School Festival. As Hound Dog catches a scent somewhere in the forest, Deku faces off against a Love-powered Gentle Criminal to determine who will be able to make their dreams come true!

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind EP#24 - Notorious B.I.G: The group manages to secure an airplane after escaping Venice, with Abbacchio using Moody Blues to fly the plane by replaying its pilot. As they prepare to leave, a hostile Stand user named Carne approaches them on the runway, but Mista shoots and kills him. During the flight, Giorno discovers that Carne's Stand Notorious B.I.G, a flesh-eating blob, has activated after his death and has attached itself to Giorno's right arm. Mista shoots Giorno's arm off, but Notorious B.I.G, which tracks its foes by their movement and then absorbs their energy, attacks the Sex Pistols, severely injuring Mista. Narancia attacks with Aerosmith, but he too is targeted and injured by Notorious B.I.G. Deeming Notorious B.I.G to be indestructible, Giorno forces it to latch onto his remaining left arm, then manages to dispose of it by severing his arm and sending it out of the plane. Since Gold Experience's powers come from its fists, Giorno can neither fight nor heal the wounds of himself, Mista or Narancia. Bucciarati relays the attack to Abbacchio and takes the wounded inside the turtle. Alone, Trish is approached by Notorious B.I.G, which was chasing the quickest-moving object nearby, that being the plane itself. The Stand doesn't pursue her when she remains still, instead approaching one of Giorno's throbbing brooches, which is in the process of transforming into one of Giorno's hands. Trish realizes that Giorno had created a brooch replicating one of his hands before cutting his arm off, which when attached could allow him, Mista and Narancia to recover.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Functional Recovery Training Arc EP#26 Finale - New Mission: A few months earlier: Following Rui's death, Kibutsuji summons the remaining five Lower of the Twelve Moons. They enter a massive space warped and controlled by a demoness with a biwa. Kibutsuji has altered his appearance and aura to that of a woman, so they don't instantly recognize him. They kneel once they do. Kibutsuji declares he is disbanding the Lower Ranks, deeming them worthless. It is always the Upper Ranks who kill Hashiras and remain alive, while the Lower Ranks keep changing members and dying. He sets about killing them for various reasons: Lower Six thinks disrespectful thoughts (Kibutsuji reads his mind, an apparently new ability), Lower Four tries to pleas she isn't thinking about fleeing when she sees a Hashira (she refutes what he says), Lower Three attempts to flee in vain (Kibutsuji catches him), and Lower Two says he can do better if he is given more of Kibutsuji's blood (which is ordering Kibutsuji). He asks for the final Twelve Moon, Lower One Enmu, for his last words. Lower One considers it an honor to die by Kibutsuji's hands and thanks him for killing him last as he got to witness the agony of the other five. Deeming that the right answer, Kibutsuji infuses Lower One with a large amount of his blood to strengthen him and says he'll give him more blood if he can kill Tanjiro. Present Day: A Kasugai crow wakes Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke with an assignment - go west to the Infinite Train, where casualties are increasing, and slay the demon there. Tanjiro encounters Genya from Final Selection while walking, who has a larger and more muscular form, but Genya goes out of his way to bump into and then ignore him. Tanjiro visits Aoi, thanking her for helping him, but she tells him not to. She claims to have survived the Final Selection by luck, and that she was too cowardly to go into battle, but Tanjiro says it doesn't matter since she helped them and he'll carry her feelings into the battlefield, touching her. He also says goodbye to Kanao, who flips a coin to determine if she should talk to him. When the coin lands right, she tells him goodbye and explains she uses the coin to decide things she hasn't been ordered to do, since she can't decide for herself. Tanjiro takes her coin and says if it lands heads she'll listen to the voice in her heart and make her own choices and flips it. It lands heads. She asks how he made it do that since she didn't see him cheat, but Tanjiro smiles and says it just did and he would have flipped it as many times as he needed for it to land heads if it hadn't. Just before the boys leave, Tanjiro sees Giyū and thanks him for helping with Nezuko. Not sure how to talk with him, Giyū tells him to thank him by doing good work, which Tanjiro promises. The boys make it to the train station but Inosuke mistakes the Infinite Train as a beast and ruler of the land since it's so mighty, though Tanjiro says it may be a guardian spirit. Zenitsu calls them country bumpkins, telling them it's a train. They attract the attention of police and flee, deciding to hide their swords. Their organization isn't recognized by the government, which doesn't even acknowledge that demons exist, so they must keep a low profile. They outrun the police and jump onto the train as it leaves. Tanjiro has brought Nezuko, determined that they won't be separated again. On the train with them are Rengoku and the Lower One of the Twelve Moons.

Black Clover: Elf Tribe Reincarnation Arc/Vs. Word Soul Devil Zagred Arc EP#115 - Mastermind: Rhya has a flashback to the massacre. Rhya had allowed the elves to believe they were betrayed by Lumiere, the brother of Licht's human wife, Tetia, when in fact Rhya knew Lumiere was innocent but hid the truth so the elves would continue to hate humans. Ronne places the stone in the altar, revealing he was actually possessed by a Devil named Zagred that now rises from the land of the dead. He reveals to Patri that he was the one who convinced the ancient humans to massacre the elves. Yuno saves Rhya and Patri but his magic is useless against the devil that can use Word Soul Magic, meaning anything he says becomes reality. Asta and Mimosa arrive and while Asta and Yuno try to fight together they fail. Zagred reveals he was the one who cast the forbidden spell to resurrect the elves, not Licht, and the war between humans and the Eye of the Midnight Sun was all part of his plan to regain his original body. Asta and Yuno succeed in wounding him, but he heals instantly. He further reveals that when the owner of a four leaf Grimoire is filled with despair, as Patri now is, it transforms into a five leaf Grimoire. His first attempt created Asta's Grimoire 5 centuries ago, but he was prevented from claiming it for himself, but now with Patri's five leaf Grimoire in his possession he has the power to rule the world. Now filled with ultimate despair Patri transforms into a Dark Elf and randomly begins attacking everyone. Zagred departs leaving Patri to kill everyone for him.

Slightly Damned Page 961: https://www.sdamned.com/comic/961

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#Toonami #Toonami Weekly Recap #Toonami Open #Paranoia Agent #My Hero Academia #U.A. School Festival Arc #JoJo's Bizarre Adventure #JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind #Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba #Functional Recovery Training Arc #Final Episode #Black Clover #Elf Tribe Reincarnation Arc #VS. Word Soul Devil Zagred Arc #slightly damned

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thesportssoundoff · 5 years ago

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“Pitcher X brings Y” A look at 10 options for the Yankees in the upcoming off season

Joey

October 28th

The Yankees have plenty of reasons for not playing games into the final week of October. Unfortunately for them, it boils down to not being able to hit more so than any serious pitching deficiency. Unfortunately x2 there's not a lot of options for them in terms of upgrading their offense (You've got maybe one infield position open, maybe one outfield spot available, no real room for a full time DH) so chasing the mythical ace will be at the top of the agenda. The Yankees have implied that they're ill-prepared to spend beyond their means but let's say they DO drift into the starter pool. I'm going to take a peek at ten different starters and discuss what they would offer the Yankees in 2020 and maybe even going forward.

Gerrit Cole- Peace Of Mind

Simply put, you can pick whatever metric you want and Gerrit Cole tops any Yankees pitcher. There's maybe 4-5 guys better than Cole at this point in his career as he finally has taken the step up from where he was in Pittsburgh. There's really no point in writing an endless wall of words to descibe how special of a player Gerrit Cole is. He's likely to comfortably blow by the contract that David Price got (7 year, 215 mil) after a superb season where he outdueled his own teammate to become the ace of the Astros staff. Cole is the best player on the market, arguably the best pitcher to hit the open market since Cliff Lee did it in 2010 and is the youngest proven no flaws ace to hit the free agent market since a 29 year old CC Sabathia did in 2009. The Yankees got that guy and got 10 years of superb production including a World Series ring so why not do the same with Gerrit Cole? Cole gives the Yankees the no questions asked #1 starter they seem to be dying for. He would give this team (or any team really) a set it and forget it ace who you can rely on given his stuff, mental makeup and durability. For the Yankees, Cole + Severino + Tanaka + Paxton gives you the workhouse anchor who allows the Yankees to take some of the pressure off of Tanaka (a stud in the postseason but a guy who has struggled with injuries and inconsistency), Severino (coming off an injury marred season and poor in the playoffs with a small sample size) and James Paxton (struggled with injuries throughout his career). For 235 to 250 million dollars, the Yankees can buy peace of mind.

Stephen Strasburg- The prototypical Yankee arm

I'd like to imagine every team would want a Stephen Strasburg. For the Yankees though, Strasburg is pretty much what they draw up a starting pitcher to look like. The Yankees historically like big tall pitchers and Strasburg fits that bill. Knowing the dimensions of their park, they prefer guys who can go out there and pitch as close to no contact as possible. Strasburg led the ML with strikeouts in 2019. They aim to amass pitchers who if they DO get hit can pitch to soft contact. Strasburg does that as well. When healthy (and that's a serious maybe) with Strasburg, he's got Cole-esque properties. The Yankees have gotten to watch him pitch deep into the playoffs as a capable #2 (and at times #1) behind Max Scherzer. One of the bigger philosophies inside the organization is that pitchers throw less fastballs (the Yankees were last in 2017 and 2018 in fast balls thrown as a staff) and Strasburg throws his fastball less than 50% of the time. There's a lot to love here if you can overlook the age with Strasburg being 31 and the injury history. Strasburg fits the current Yankees mindset despite having two serious flaws that traditionally has not worked out well with this team. This feels less like a marriage of love a la Cole and more a marriage of convenience but those can absolutely work too.

Hyun Jin Ryu- A potential ace IF

It would take a tremendous lying effort to convince people that the options after Cole and Strasburg are sure things. That said there's plenty to like about the names going forward. If you start with Hyun Jin-Ryu, you're talking about a guy with ace like qualities. The three times where Ryu has had an extended opportunity to show his stuff, he's been pretty much everything you'd want a pitcher to be. In his first year in the majors, he put up a 14-8 with a 3.00 ERA and 1.20 WHIP across 192 innings. In his sophomore campaign over 152 innings he pulled up a 14-7 and 3.38 follow up. The problem is that from 2014 to 2018, there's a lot of dead space within that resume. A lot of injuries and so-so production taint Ryu's overall free agent profile. In 2019 he returned to form as pretty much the same guy he was when he showed up; relying on a lot of ground ball outs, minimal walks and minimal hard contact to cruise in with a 14-5 record and a 2.32 ERA. Behind Walker Buehler and the resume of Clayton Kershaw, Ryu saw the mound in game three of the NDLS and cooked up a 5 inning start (a rare start where he didn't give the Dodgers length) with only 2 runs on his ledger when he left. Ryu is a potential ace IF you can overlook the injury concerns, the advanced age and are willing to err on the side of optimism that switching leagues will not lead to you regretting the deal two years down the line. A lot of ifs but a supremely talented arm to consider as your potential #2 behind Severino.

Madison Bumgarner- An October Answer

No pitcher figures to have a weirder stock than Madison Bumgarner. From 2013 to 2017, he was among the the premier arms in major league baseball. We're talking about a four time All Star who garnered Cy Young votes with an ERA+ that never fell under 115. Even in 2018, considered the start of the decline, he was a pretty damn solid arm. Since 2018 though, the years and the innings have begun to rack up and Bumgarner has entered into this weird Verlander in Detroit-y "I'm not sure if he's done but he's not who he once was" middle ground. That said the Yankees wouldn't be bringing in Bumgarner for what he does from March to September. If they sign him, they're probably going to carry his elevated HR rate and declining stuff to a mid 4-ish ERA and they'll probably tolerate him shouting at home run hitters who aren't jettisoning it out of the box because a Bumgarner signing is entirely about postseason prestige. We ARE talking about a pitcher who pitched to a 5+ ERA on the road with middling stuff who would be going from San Francisco to a park with arguably the worst dimensions possible for his skill set. It's not about that though. If Bumgarner is pretty damn good in the summer, he's insane in the fall when the games count a hell of a lot more. We're talking about a career 2.11 ERA in the post season and an era UNDER 1 in World Series play. The Yankees would be getting Bumgarner almost for the same reason they'd be getting Cole; there's a peace of mind in having a guy like that in big games. There's something to be said for the Yankees to slot him in as a game 2 or game 3 starter knowing full well that the history of the player indicates he's going to handle business. Even if Bumgarner is an innings eating #4 from April to September, he would step in and inspire insane confidence in October just on the years and years of work he put in already. In many ways, he's another Masahiro Tanaka. Is one month of greatness with five months of meh worth 15 mil or so?

Zack Wheeler- An Illusion?

I'm already getting tired of the takes about Gerrit Cole and Zack Wheeler having enough similarities that Wheeler is a poor man's Cole. I'll let MLB do the hard work there (https://www.mlb.com/news/zack-wheeler-has-potential-comp-in-gerrit-cole) and you can read for yourself all of the comparisons. Zack Wheeler has been in the Mets rotation in some form or fashion since 2013. Despite that, he's been historically a pretty okay-ish pitcher who is more of a tease than a sure thing. He's an illusion of what may be; electric stuff, stretches of inconsistency, stretches of #1 type performance and the reputation of being a guy who gets better as the year goes along. It's believed the Yankees had some interest in Wheeler (even if at this point, it feels like their focus was more on Bumgarner, Minor and Boyd) and the general rule of thumb is if Cashman wants you once, he'll do what he can to get you eventually. For me though Zack Wheeler represents another AJ Burnett. He's about to turn 30 years old and has been in the majors longer than Gerrit Cole has. He just might be what he is but teams are going to pay for what he may be. It's an illusion of a cost controlled (in theory) ace with elite stuff that can work anywhere. He's the most overly reliant of all the names mentioned so far and has the worst injury history as well. There's always going to be a belief that if you get a guy like him out of a bad spot, he'll wind up achieving his potential. That's the illusion. What you can pay for the illusion is the debate.

Jake Odorizzi- Familiarity

Odorizzi figures to be the favorite fallback option for teams who don't want to pay/miss out on Cole, Strasburg and Wheeler. Like Wheeler, he's another pseudo what if guy. He was a prized arm who moved around as the key piece in trades for a while before landing with the Rays who got some good burn out of him before he just fell apart. He struggled in the famed failed free agent class of 2018 and then found himself this year as probably the 2nd best Twins pitcher going into this loaded pitching class. Odorizzi gives the Yankees some familiarity. He's pitched against their team (nearly 100 innings to a 4.71 era) and in their stadium before (an unsightly 5.4 ERA) and thrice against them in 2019. He started game 3 of the ALDS against them and gave the Twins a shot to do something had they been able to score any runs. He's pitched in the AL East before with the Rays (4.70 ERA vs the Red Sox). Odorizzi may be a bit too fastball and line drive happy for the Yankees but familiarity + upside tends to win out when desperate measures come into play.

Jose Quintana- Potential stability at a moderate price

Once the ultimate chest thump for Cashman detractors, former Yankee Jose Quintana has been pretty solid since leaving the organization. He was an under the radar great arm for the White Sox and the Cubs jumped the Yankees in 2017, snagging him when the Yankees were trying to make a determination between Quintana and Sonny Gray. Since going to the Cubs, Quintana has been....alright I guess. His peripherals are basically the same, he was still a pretty reliable innings eater but the results haven't matched up well in the end. As the Cubs are teetering between going all in and going into a soft rebuild, Quintana may be on the market. In his worst pro season ever, Quintana was probably just a smidge behind Masahiro Tanaka overall. He had a slightly higher whip due to elevated walks, struck out batters at a slightly better clip and ceded a few innings to Tanaka overall. At 11 million dollars, Jose Quintana may not be a sure bet to rebound but he's still got plenty of value if he can get his walks under control. He's never been a big strike out guy but again, neither has Tanaka recently. Maybe having two Tanakas isn't a bad thing.

Dallas Keuchel- A Sabathia replacement

Listening to Brian Cashman speak throughout the year, you get the feeling he really thought the Yankees had Dallas Keuchel in the bag. On a number of occasions, he made implications that he felt like he had a deal in place and somebody (either Boras or Keuchel) needed to step up and get it done. In his post season presser, he said they just missed out on Keuchel with a deal that was barely above theres IE: he would've topped it had he known. Keuchel wasn't great with the Braves but he was more than solid enough as a back end of the rotation guy with playoff experience. He wasn't great shakes at the beginning of his hyphenated season but once he got his sea legs under him in August, he had a 3.68 ERA which includes a game where he gave up 8 runs. Remove that game up and he has a 3.33 and remove the game before that where he went 5 IP/3 ER and it drops to a 2.55. He was absolutely what the Braves needed and then folded in the playoffs. The Yankees JUST lost their Dallas Keuchel; a soft tossing lefty who had a bevy of playoff experience and was reliable and durable for a playoff team. I don't know if Keuchel has the same leadership qualities that CC Sabathia has but he'd be a worthy enough successor as the heir to the crusty lefty throne.

Tanner Roark/Michael Wacha/Kyle Gibson/Gio Gonzales- Innings

Long story short; this would be all about depth and amassing names and faces. None of these guys pitch a meaningful inning in a playoff rotation. They're there to eat innings and prevent your team from having to use a bullpen game. The Yankees could've used that when they were trudging out the likes of Nestor Cortes, Johnny Lasagna and Chance Adams hoping like hell they had something to offer for 3-4 innings a clip.

#MLB #Yankees #Cole #Wheeler #Keuchel #Sabathia #Tanaka #Severino #Strasburg

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animeraider · 3 years ago

Text

I posted 136 times in 2021

122 posts created (90%)

14 posts reblogged (10%)

For every post I created, I reblogged 0.1 posts.

I added 115 tags in 2021

#spotify - 45 posts

#new music - 24 posts

#youtube - 13 posts

#streaming - 7 posts

#chris reed and the anime raiders - 6 posts

#radio free california - 6 posts

#covid19 - 4 posts

#scary pockets - 4 posts

#music video - 3 posts

#vaccine - 3 posts

Longest Tag: 39 characters

#the boys with the perpetual nervousness

My Top Posts in 2021

Just so that you don't think I skipped a week I'm going to post this, because I simply couldn't resist when the next number in the sequence was "2112". This is my list of Rush songs I like. I have been a fan from the first album through to the last. I have put usually two songs from each album on this list, occasionally more and once less (I'm not a big fan of Caress of Steel). I skipped the live albums.

These are the songs I like, not necessarily the hits. For example, Tom Sawyer is NOT on this list. I've never thought that was the best track on Moving Pictures. For me that's always going to be Limelight. Spirit of the Radio is also not on this list, although I do believe that's a great song. There's just stuff on that album I like more.

And of course 2112 is on there. I'm not a fan of the Ayn Rand-ish horseshit, but if you listen very very carefully, you'll find that neither were they.

They started out life as a Zepplin-ish rock band, got very proggy when Neil Peart joined, and then started moving to a more synth-based sound. Peart developed into an amazing drummer and Alex Leifson just got better and better and more experimental with each album. They kept on evolving and kept on taking risks, right through their last album - a concept sci-fi work that brought in an outside string section, that they toured with.

When inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Peart was serious and talked about influences and the life and thanked the fans, Geddy Lee talked about the fun and they joy of what they do and thanked the fans, and Alex Liefson gave the most memorable speech in history. Seriously, go and google the damned thing or look it up on YouTube. It's the funniest and most outrageous thing ever done - it will never be topped. It just can't be done.

Anyway, this is my list. New music will return with Radio Free California Episode 2113.

1 notes • Posted 2021-03-20 17:58:09 GMT

Math or something

Funny how the percentage of the current population who is still getting #COVID19 and dying from it is directly proportional to the population that remains unvaccinated.

It's almost like it's math or something.

1 notes • Posted 2021-06-19 22:28:30 GMT

We're still in the "we're fucked" zone

I have been collecting daily stats on #Covid19 since the previous administration stopped publishing them. In other words, since June of last year. I've done this every day, which is why I know we're still in the "we're fucked" zone of the pandemic.

But a number of states aren't publishing their stats anymore as of today. It is the public health policy of an Ostrich. All of them, without exception, are "red" states.

In 4 to 6 weeks this is going to get MUCH worse.

I'd like to be wrong - but I haven't been yet.

1 notes • Posted 2021-05-22 17:34:49 GMT

Anti-masking is child abuse.

Last WEEK, nearly 94,000 children caught COVID in the US. That's 50% MORE than the number of children that caught POLIO in it's worst YEAR.

3 notes • Posted 2021-08-11 16:38:48 GMT

My Kevin Gilbert Story, and my latest single.

As some of you know I’ve had a few brushes with the “big break” that many in my line of work crave. I was signed to a major label in the early 1990s, and the record I turned in was shelved. The label wanted me to be the “next Michael Penn” and by that point not even Mr. Penn was interested in that, let alone me. I had three songs picked up for a movie, which was never released. I got out of my record contract and signed with another label, releasing an album that included 5 songs from the one that was shelved. The label put no money behind it. I had a big hit in 2009 and signed a European distribution deal, which fell apart when the married couple who ran the business fell into a messy divorce. I sold thousands and thousands of records in Eastern Europe – which were being sold by pirates. It took several years to get that fixed.

I had an audition that everyone felt I was a lock for to play keyboards for a Japanese band that had a huge following. My flight to the audition was supposed to be September 12, 2001. I actually watched the plane I was supposed to board land as it was the last flight grounded. I’ve done some engineering and performing I don’t get to tell anyone about – the NDA’s are pretty strong. One of my songs became the theme to a German Television show.

But let me tell you the story of a relationship I almost had with a multi-Grammy-winning star who soared high and made it further than I have, whose song I have made a cover of and released as a single today.

So where to begin. First of all, yes, I knew Kevin Gilbert. No, we weren’t friends, but we were colleagues and classmates. We performed together a few times – all of if school related. That’s it. Oh, and he invited me to a jam session he was going to have once and I turned him down. I’ll get to that.

Believe it or not, I have to tell this story starting in the middle. There was once a band called Toy Matinee. I loved that band. Clever songs, well written melodies, a sense of darkness and a sense of fun. It was a band that me and my roommate Max could agree on and we cranked that album loud and often. We went and saw them live at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, and were about 10 feet from the stage. This is NOT the live album released in 1999, but I can tell you they rocked the place that night. Played almost every song from the album, and did an encore of Elton John’s “Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding” that smoked.

A great night.

Now I jump into the past, to tell the tale of the UCLA Synthesizer Ensemble. It was the brainchild of Professor Roger Bourland, who at the time was only in his 2nd year as a professor at the school and would later become dean of the department. He searched out the most rock and roll musicians in what was mostly a stuffy classical music department. Me. Dave Koz. Joel Harnel. And this kid named Kevin. The five of us took another student’s source material and arranged up a musical. Straight musical theater and full of schlock, and all performed on synthesizers. We eventually put on four shows, with the five of us in the orchestra pit. I wrote the show-stopper ballad and a Latin inspired piece. I hate to say it, but I no longer remember what everyone else did, although I remember Dave mostly for his EWI playing and Joel for multiple reasons – including the fact that he wrote and arranged all of the drum parts.

I knew Joel fairly well – we had played together a few times and he was even more rock and roll than me, with more experience. Dave Koz was, even then, Dave Koz. The only saxophonist I had met up to that point in my life who was better than me. We had played in jazz bands together but he was already a rising star. When he beat me for the gig with Richard Marx’s touring band his career just took off – but all this was before then. I was one of Roger Bourland’s students – in fact, I had been in the “test” classroom when he had auditioned for his job.

I barely knew this Kevin kid. I was constantly getting his name wrong – for whatever reason my brain had him wired as Kevin Anderson.

My only real interaction with him outside of this 12-week experiment was down in the practice rooms. Many of these rooms had pianos in them and on any given day you could hear Mozart, Brahms, Chopin and all of the other usual suspects. I would go and write my own material and be pounding out rock and roll. Kevin did that too. Once while in the middle of the writing process for the musical he came into my practice room while I was working on a song in the style of Elton John. He invited me to a jam session the next Tuesday he was going to, and I declined. Tuesday was when MY band practiced, and as their lead guitarist I needed the practice.

That was the end of it. After the musical was over we all drifted our separate ways and for the most part didn’t run into each other again. I ran into Dave once at a music festival in San Francisco and he introduced me to Clarence Clemmons, which was pretty damned cool.

By now you’ve figured out that Kevin was Kevin Gilbert. Congratulations. I hadn’t. For many years to follow I would remember him as Kevin Anderson.

Now I’ve told you all of this so that you understand that this is long BEFORE Max and I went to see Toy Matinee in concert. I became a fan of the band without knowing that Kevin was its leader. I was ten feet away from him, performing for an hour. I had performed with him myself.

I didn’t recognize him. Nothing clicked in my brain that this was the same guy. I didn’t put two and two together. I rolled for my intelligence check and got a one.

Kevin Gilbert would go on to a solo career, win seven Grammys for his work with Madonna, be part of the driving musical force behind Sheryl Crow’s first album, become one of the founders of the Tuesday Night Music Club, and become one of my songwriting heroes. The man could paint a picture with very few words and his musical ability was enviable.

And then he died; a victim of his own vices. I’m not going to go into that here – I know nothing at all and can shed no light on the subject.

Several years later I relocated to San Francisco with my family. I discovered the band Giraffe once I was on their home turf, and of course discovered the fact that Kevin Gilbert had been their leader when he was a teenager. BEFORE I knew him. Giraffe was a pretty damned good band that had come so startlingly close to making it big – their albums are worth hunting down and they did a fantastic live rendition of Genesis’ “Lamb Lies Down on Broadway” (the full album mind you) that is lots of fun.

I was looking for a recording studio for my second album when I ran across a man named Steve Smith who owned a recording studio down the peninsula from where I was living. In his bio, he briefly mentioned that he was the drummer for Giraffe. Awesome. On his web site of the time if you dug in a little bit there was a bio of Kevin Gilbert, and he talked about the brief time he spent at UCLA.

Parts of the story looked and felt awfully familiar to me. Smith talked about the musical without mentioning the name, and again, it felt familiar. Me being slightly brave, I wrote an e-mail to him to ask what was the title of that musical and that I might have been involved in it. He confirmed it for me.

Holy crap.

All of the pieces started falling into place then. The rehearsals, our discussions about piano playing, that I went to one of his shows and failed to recognize him? The fact that I think he invited me to come join the FUCKING TUESDAY NIGHT MUSIC CLUB and I didn’t even fucking notice!?!!?!!?!!?

I’m an idiot.

Actually, in looking back at the timeline I don’t think he invited me to join TNMC. That came a couple of years later – I think. I’m never going to know for certain. If he had told any of the other members I don’t know about it. I’ve exchanged about a dozen words with one of the other members over social media but we certainly don’t know one another.

I wonder if he saw me in the audience that night and laughed. I will never know. I can tell you there is an album version of that night you can listen to and/or buy. A then-unknown Sheryl Crow played keyboards in the band, dressed up like a dominatrix biker chick. When I found out about that later I was amazed – I didn’t recognize her either.

I’m an idiot.

Nick D’Virgilio of Spock’s Beard played drums. I don’t remember the name of the bass player but what I remember is this man with the thickest eyebrows I have ever seen in my life. Marc Bonilla played lead guitar. Oh, the people I could have met.

I never did work in Steve Smith’s studio. I no longer remember why.

When I was working on my third album in my newly built home studio I recorded a number of covers and one of those was Kevin Gilbert’s “Tea For One”. It’s a fantastic song of unrequited love and missed chances told from start to finish in only a few dozen words. I have no idea if he would have liked what I did to his song – he had a wicked sense of humor that I can recall now but I never got to know him on a personal level as a songwriter, which was my mistake. I could have but I was so focused on myself in those days that even if the overtures were made I probably didn’t even notice.

I recorded the song in what I called "Garage Pop" during those days. A bit uneven, imperfect vocals - what you might get from a band practicing in their garage instead of a polished studio version. If you want that, I recommend hunting down his version.

But I recorded “Tea for One” just the same – it’s a great song and I’d like to think I gave it some justice – even if it doesn’t come close his version. It was on the original version of my third album "The Long Goodbye", which I released myself, but was cut when the album was moved to digital streaming services (In all fairness, I cut 21 songs from the original release – which was a 2 CD set).

My music career has been dark for several years, but it got jump started in 2020 in the middle of the pandemic and I’ve been revisiting a lot of my unreleased work since, and of all the covers I did this is still my favorite. I am releasing it now, in tribute to a musician I admire and could have called friend if I had just paid a bit of attention.

The guy holding the roses was me, as it turns out. I had no idea.

+++++++++++++++++

For those of you with very long memories you should listen to the full single on Spotify, because I’ve thrown in a little bonus for people who remember the 1980’s band ASK. Just a little piece of a little ditty written by me, Kevin Donville and Ed Lee.

5 notes • Posted 2021-04-16 15:29:34 GMT

Get your Tumblr 2021 Year in Review →

#my 2021 tumblr year in review #your tumblr year in review #Spotify

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sam-hells-americana · 7 years ago

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THE LOST COLONY OF ROANOKE

The lost colony of Roanoke is still one of the great American mysteries.

Before Jamestown and Plymouth, there was an attempt to set up settlement by the British in what is present day North Carolina. However few know that there were actually two attempts at a Roanoke settlement.

The first was executed by Sir Richard Grenville in 1585, along with 100 all male colonists in what is now North Carolina on the island of Roanoke off the coast. Grenville returned to England for supplies, leaving his second in command, Ralph Lane, in charge while he was gone. Lane tried to provide for the colonists by Kidnapping and enslaving the Native on the island which lead to outbreaks of violence.

The colonists had to be rescued by Sir Francis Drake, and were taken back to England except for 15 men who were left behind to try and keep the settlement going but were never heard from again.

The bone of one of the men, however, were discovered on the shore of Roanoke Island by the second fleet of settlers a few years later.

The endeavor was organized by Queen Elizabeth I and the famed explorer, Sir Walter Raleigh. Approximately 115 British colonists, men, women, and children, set up a small settlement called Roanoke in 1587, along with their leader and governor, John White, who had been one of the original settlers who had been taken back to England by Francis Drake.

That same year, John White returned to England to gather fresh supplies for the colony when Queen Elizabeth I ordered all available ships to be used in defense against the impending Spanish Armada. Without his ship, John White stayed in England for three years with no word from the Colony of Roanoke before he was able to return to North Carolina.

When he returned, he found that the colony and all it’s inhabitants had vanished, including White’s family and new born granddaughter, Virginia Dare, who is recorded to be the first colonial child born in the country. The only confirmed remains from the colony was the word “Croatoan“ carved into a tree, and a large fence. Croatoan being the name of an island off the coast where Roanoke was located. Houses and buildings were gone, with only a large fence and the word Croatoan to prove that the settlement had been there at all.

To this day, scientists and historians are not sure what truly happened to the Lost colony of Roanoke, but there have been many theories.

Some believe the colonists ran out of supplies before White could return and tried to relocate to an new area in search of food, possibly to the mainland or to Croatoan Island where they may have either been killed by the Natives or assimilated with them on the island to survive.

Others believe that they may have tried to return to England themselves, either dying at sea or were attacked by the Spanish who were at war with England and had been colonizing Florida at the time.

But there are also paranormal or disturbing theories as well, such as that the settlers had been wiped out or abducted by Aliens, or that they had resorted to cannibalism (As suggested by the “Zombie Research Society http://zombieresearchsociety.com/archives/2190)

One particular legend sticks out however, in the legend of the colony of Roanoke. And that is the Legend of the White Doe of Roanoke.

Following with the theory that settlers had assimilated with local Natives, the story goes that Virginia had been taken in by the Roanoke natives and lived with them until she was killed for rejecting a suitor in favor of an other. Enraged, the jilted suitor cursed her to roam in the woods forever. Her ghost is said to take the form of a white doe that has been spotted by locals and tourist on Roanoke island to this day

#americana #american folklore #native american folklore #the island of roanoke #the lost colony of roanoke #roanoke island #the lost colony #ghost stories #north carolina #white doe #roanoke #paranormal #supernatural #mysteries #conspiracy theories

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wikitopx · 5 years ago

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A famous ski area easily accessed from Tokyo, Yuzawa is clearly a favorite spot with tourists.

The winter season for November to May brings most of its visitors, so be sure to swing by the area then. Here’s a tip: book a resort combination ticket to ski down the most slopes at the most economic price possible!

1. An alcohol enthusiast's dream, where one can sample over a few hundred kinds of sake, salt and miso!

With Japan’s varying climate, its nationwide production of sake (a type of strong Japanese liquor), differs greatly from prefecture to prefecture. In that sense, sake has become a medium for the locality to express its unique culture, climate and ingredients. What an artful blend indeed! In Ponshukan, visitors can learn more about the different kinds of sake produced, in say Okinawa versus Niigata, as well as sample them.

The location of Ponshukan in Niigata is also highly apt, with locals in Niigata being the craziest over sake and sake consumption levels being the highest in the country. Prepare to wreak havoc. Then, go forth and sample over 115 kinds of sake in the museum! For those who want some quick side dishes with their sake, fresh cucumber, miso and salt are also great pairings.

Be sure to taste the local speciality, Echigo Tsurukame Junmaiginjo Yamahai, which evokes a creamy taste brought about by longer brewing compared to regular sake.

2. Ski the forgiving slopes at the Naspa Ski Garden if you are a beginner, or with children

A self-professed skiers only resort, Naspa Ski Garden sells like hotcakes in the winter with families and children. In the winter, you can easily spot the many children receiving basic skiing lessons from instructors on site, as well as the adults going a few rounds on the basic slopes. The ski garden is one of the rare few in Japan with a ‘Pingu’ theme, a popular Japanese penguin cartoon. Local children often fawn over its adorableness, and crowd around the figurines for pictures. You might even catch a life-sized Pingu plushie walking around the resort if you are lucky enough!

The exciting white slopes and snowy wonderland is no doubt the main inspiration for the setting of famous Nobel prize-winning novel, Yukiguni (Snow Country). Niigata, with its multiple resorts like Naspa Ski Garden, can certainly earn its proud name of ‘Snow Country’.

3. Admire local and international art installations set as naturally as possible in the beautiful snowy landscape

The Echigo-Tsumari Art Field is a beautiful contradiction–the rural countryside of Echigo Tsumari juxtaposed against modern art is undeniably pleasing. Its location is certainly most apt in complementing the Art Field’s general message: to revitalize the dying past with exciting novelty, to sustain the aging community by bringing back youths and jobs. The background of abandoned buildings, schools and ubiquitous rice fields are incorporated as space for the artwork, making the latter very much alive.

For those visiting next year in 2018, you are in luck! Every three years, the Echigo Tsumari Art Triennale is held in the region for a few weeks in summer. During these art festivals, between 100 to 200 new art pieces are created and displayed in addition to the permanent installations. The ongoing expansion of the art field certainly allows you a unique experience every time one visits.

4. Hike the Kiyotsu Gorge on a cool summer day for the beautiful nature of Echigo Yuzawa

One of the top three gorges in Japan, Kiyotsu Gorge is a majestic geographical beauty nestled away in the mountains between Shiozawa and Tokamachi. The combined landscape of the flowing Kiyotsu River and mountains overhead is simply a stunning sight. For those who are physically fit, the 7 hour hike along the river that takes you to the back side of Yuzawa is highly recommended for the views along the way. Once you have finally reached the gorge, a tunnel awaits. It is a simple stroll after the strenuous hike, featuring four viewing stations offering spectacular views of the cliffs and rivers. Art pieces of the gorge, a short video projected onto the tunnel wall showing the changing of the seasons, and stuffed wildlife are also dispersed throughout, allowing you to admire and learn about the gorge.

Outside the gorge, there is a rustic little community of restaurants, a ryokan and an onsen, so definitely stay a night there for the gorgeous sunrise and an experience of living right next to such natural majesty.

5. Play in the flower gardens and feed some goats in the backdrop of the lovely Yuzawa Valley

With a serene background of the Yuzawa Valley, children and adults alike are often seen frolicking in the gorgeous flower gardens. This is especially picturesque in the spring and summer when the flowers are in full bloom. There are even clusters of wild goats you can feed! Although, be sure to buy the feed from local vendors there in order not to endanger the goats’ diets or the natural ecosystem of the alpine garden.

Check out the go-kart area where you can spin a few rounds with the children in juvenile fun, before heading for some gelato available in the shops nearby. A short stopover in the Yuzawa Highland Alpine Garden can indeed be the perfect breather away from the hustle and bustle of Niigata city or Tokyo.

6. Try out your hand at the best slopes near Tokyo for advanced skiers and snowboarders in the Kagura Ski Resort

The Kagura Ski Resort offers not only exceptionally heavy snowfall which is perfect for skiing, but also a picturesque view of Niigata’s boundary mountains. This sure acts as an amazing backdrop to pictures! Furthermore, Kagura’s wide variety of slopes is clearly demonstrated by how it incorporates three areas, Kagura, Mitsumata and Tashiro. The extended space reduces the overcrowding during peak seasons, giving visitors more space to do as they wish. The Kagura Ski Resort is also interconnected with Naeba Ski Resort via the Dragondola, to form one large ski area referred to as Mt Naeba. Those who do not fear the height and would love an adrenaline adventure, be sure to take this gondola for the views of Mt Naeba!

Despite more beginner terrain, Kagura attracts lots of experienced skiers and snowboarders due to the off-piste and backcountry opportunities. So regardless of your skill level, you can certainly find a slope to your liking in the resort. Ski patrol also has an incredibly relaxed approach to tree skiing, so for those who are interested, knock yourself out, as long as you do it at your own risk.

7. Soak in the many onsens Yuzawa is famous for in the icy winter!

The onsens in Yuzawa have had an extensive history of nearly 800 years. Blessed with natural hot springs, many resorts have developed around them, and offer a unique experience for those who desire to stay overnight and soak in one. There are even supposed healing abilities, such as the soothing of nerve pain, rheumatism, stomach disease, gout and even chronic women’s diseases. Regardless of whether these medical benefits exist or not, the hot springs are an amazing way to warm up in the icy winters of Yuzawa.

One particular onsen is Kannakuri, a foot-spa whose spring waters are renowned to be great for the skin! Many are dressed in traditional yukatas for rent while enjoying their foot bath–a beautiful shot indeed! Otherwise, you can opt to visit the Yama-no-yu, which is popular with Yuzawa townsfolk due to its natural volcanic spring water. The waft of mineral water is strong within the onsen. The Kaidou-no-yu is also highly recommended as it boasts a beautiful ‘rotemburo’, or heated outdoor bath. The contrast of the warm bath with the winter wind is certainly an experience!

8. Feast on a warm and hearty bowl of buckwheat soba and mountain mushrooms when arriving at the train station

Catch an outstanding last meal in Yuzawa as you wait at the train station in Kikushin. The restaurant is just across the road from the East Exit of Echigo Yuzawa Station and serves up one of the meanest tempuras you will ever try. Kikushin is a traditional family owned store with a basic English menu, so you can be sure of the authenticity of meals offered! The sets are incredibly worth it. Do pair them with a local sake or umeshu (plum wine) for the best palate experience ever!

9. Learn about the life of Kawabata Yasunari, the first Japanese recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature

Yuzawa is the inspiration for a Nobel-prize winning literary work, Snow Country. The area’s luscious snow fall and pristine icy weather mirror that in Snow Country. The Yuzawa Town History Museum was set up to commemorate both Yasunari, the fictional wonderland of Snow Country and Yuzawa’s climate. The museum features memorabilia from the life of Kawabata Yasunari, as well as recreations about life in the book. It is indeed brought to life in the most apt location. The World of Japanese Paintings gallery located on the first floor is highly recommended. This exhibit features fourteen works depicting various scenes from Snow Country including Yukiguni no Tsuki. Be sure to visit to get an immersive experience of the famed novel, Snow Country!

Read also: Top 10 things to do in Washington D.C. At Night

From : https://wikitopx.com/travel/top-9-things-to-do-in-echigo-yuzawa-nigata-705366.html

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foreverknightalways · 6 days ago

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Rebecca talks to the audience, I hear you. I just can't see a damn thing through these lights, you know? I'm so drunk, I'm amazed I can see anything at all. Nick watches Rebecca on stage. They tell me there's about 40,000 of you clowns out there

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battybat-boss · 6 years ago

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Pediatric Child Abuse “Experts” are NOT Experts in Anything

Some of the Pediatric Child Abuse Specialist doctors covered in Health Impact News Medical Kidnapping articles.

Commentary by Terri LaPoint Health Impact News

A common denominator in many of the cases of medical kidnapping that we have covered at Health Impact News is the presence of a Child Abuse Specialist doctor. Time and again we have reported stories where a parent takes a child to a hospital for one reason or another, only to find themselves accused of child abuse by a Child Abuse Pediatrician, even when there are real medical conditions present.

Once that accusation is made, doctors almost universally stop looking for any other explanation for a child's symptoms, sometimes jeopardizing the health of the child doctors are supposed to be helping. The child is usually separated from his or her parents and is frequently placed in the care of strangers – a practice that, in itself, is harmful to children.

Parents tend to assume that the doctors are concerned about finding out what is wrong with their child. They do not expect that they may encounter a doctor whose role aligns more with prosecutors and police officers than it does with the practice of medicine.

Defense attorneys in Virginia have recently discovered what could be termed an “unholy alliance” between prosecutors and a child abuse team at Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters (CHKD) in Norfolk.

According to the Daily Press, the Virginia attorneys are concerned that:

the agreement - which they learned of only recently - makes CHKD doctors part of the “prosecution team” rather than truly independent experts, which they fear could tip the scales of justice.

The contracted agreement has been in place since, at least, 2013 in that location. How many other similar contracts exist around the country? Such an agreement could provide a partial explanation for troubling practices that many families have encountered when taking their children to their local children's hospitals.

See some of our coverage of Child Abuse Specialists:

Are New Pediatric “Child Abuse Specialists” Causing an Increase in Medical Kidnappings?

California Christian Homeschool Family Torn Apart as Children are Medically Kidnapped, Forced into Public School, and Mother is Forced out of Family Home

Dr. Carole Jenny – Head of Seattle Children's Hospital's Child Abuse Fellowship. Source.

The Child Abuse Pediatricians are not experts in radiology, orthopedics, neurology, or other specialties in medicine. Yet parents often find that Child Protective Services, attorneys, or their judge are not open to any other medical possibility or diagnosis once the seemingly omniscient and all-powerful Child Abuse doctor has spoken.

Parents who know that they have not hurt their child, and that there has to be another explanation, often seek out other doctors and medical experts.

A parent may have 6, 8, or as many as a dozen reports from medical experts – even doctors who are renowned in their field of specialty, only to have those reports ignored or minimized by CPS and the court. Many times judges refuse to even look at such reports, choosing instead to take the word of a doctor who is not qualified to make a medical judgement on many conditions.

Families with medically-complex children are particularly at risk from such doctors.

These doctors have accused parents of abuse when their child has a condition that is known to mimic abuse, such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, osteogenesis imperfecta, or infantile rickets.

Child Abuse Specialist Kathryn Rausch Crowell, M.D. – Penn State Hershey Medical Group. Source.

Symptoms of Shaken Baby Syndrome, or SIDS, may be attributable to other causes, such as vaccine injury, strokes, seizures, prematurity, or pitocin-induced labor. Birth injuries are sometimes missed at the time of birth and then blamed on the parents later. (See link.)

If a parent threatens to take legal action against a hospital or doctor for medical malpractice, it is very common for that parent to be accused of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy or medical child abuse.

According to our research with families of medically kidnapped children, usually within 24 hours of the threat of malpractice being made, CPS is called, and the child is seized.

Defense Lawyers, Prosecutors Spar over Hospital's Agreement to Help Prosecute Cases

by Peter Dujardin Daily Press

Excerpts:

Some criminal defense attorneys are crying foul over longstanding agreements between a famed local hospital - Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters - and local police and prosecutors to cooperate on child abuse investigations.

But prosecutors say there's nothing wrong with the agreements - and that the lawyers' assertions are baseless.

The deals are between CHKD, a Norfolk-based hospital, and local commonwealth's attorneys, city attorneys, police and social service agencies from six area cities: Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach.

The “memorandums of understanding” have been in existence since at least 2013.

“We, the undersigned agencies … do hereby agree to the continuation of a multidisciplinary team to better investigate, diagnose and prosecute cases of child maltreatment,” according to the agreements between Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters and the other entities. The teams, coordinated through CHKD, also agree to “exchange information” as part of the investigations.

The Agreement Explains Things

Deputy Newport News Public Defender David Lee contends that the fact that CHKD is working so closely with prosecutors helps explain things.

“You kind of get the sense that this organization has one thumb on the scales of justice,” he said. “For a long time I've been brooding over the fact that whenever CHKD doctors testify in court, in very, very ambiguous factual circumstances, they nevertheless consistently find clear evidence that injuries were inflicted due to abuse - as opposed to accidents, or some sort of underlying medical condition, or some other reason.”

Moreover, Lee asserts that prosecutors had a legal obligation to share the existence of the agreement with criminal defense attorneys before trial. If the lawyers had known about it, he said, they could have attempted to demonstrate in court that CHKD experts are biased.

Child Abuse Doctors – Working for the Prosecution

“People think, it's CHKD, it's just for the kids,” Lee said. “The prosecutors who call them as witnesses are cashing in on the goodwill that CHKD has created. … Because people don't know. When the prosecutor calls them (to the stand), they don't say they are a CHKD doctor who signed an agreement with prosecutors to prosecute people. The jurors just know it's a CHKD doctor.”

Another veteran defense attorney, J. Ashton Wray Jr., also contends the agreements mean that CHKD is “part of the prosecution's team.”

“That's the shameful thing about this - they are being offered as almost independent experts,” Wray said. “So you want to ask the jurors, 'Do you understand that the witnesses that CHKD has here are not as independent as (true) independent witnesses?' … That's what's not been revealed to juries. It will be now.”

A third defense lawyer, Ron Smith, said he's long sensed that CHKD experts come to court with a seeming stake in the outcome, more so than many state medical and forensics experts who testify.

“Their witnesses do come to court advocating a position,” Smith said of CHKD. “They don't just come to court just looking at the facts. They advocate with the commonwealth. … That's always been my experience, and I think that's a common experience.”

Newport News Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Ruth Burdge attempts to minimize the concerns of the defense attorneys:

“To me, this is just silly,” Burdge said. “We've got people dying, and somebody's going to try to paint a bad light about something that's done to just help children. … This is what people want to make a big deal about?”

Read the full article at the Daily Press.

Dr. Alice Newton, Medical Director of the Child Protection Program at Massachusetts General Hospital. Her testimony has wrongly convicted parents of Child Abuse. She is currently being sued for malpractice in the Justina Pelletier case. Image Source.

Ethics Concerns in Child Abuse Investigations

The defense attorneys in Virginia are not alone in questioning the ethics of the Child Abuse Specialist doctors as essentially law enforcement officers masquerading as doctors.

George J. Barry and Diane L. Redleaf of the Family Defense Center in Chicago, Illinois, published a 115-page paper in 2014 in which they raised similar concerns.

In “Medical Ethics Concerns in Physical Child Abuse Investigations,” the authors point out that these doctors essential become interrogators:

Where a child is held by a hospital ER staff or by nursing staff while his or her parents are being separately questioned about the child's injuries, often behind closed doors and in an accusatory manner, important elements of a detention are present.

When the social worker or physician who is doing the questioning promptly reports the parent's statements to the police and child protection agencies, concerns about that detention being coercive are obvious.

When the questioning also occurs without any notification of rights, without disclosure that the information is being sought pursuant to a state-funded contract, and with the added possible elements of lack of food and sleep and parental worry about the injured child's condition, the questioning that might appear to the medical community to be benign and well-intentioned is readily perceived by the person being questioned as a coercive interrogation under detention….

In this regard, persons held “involuntarily” fall within the AMA definition of “detainee.”

Child Abuse “Experts” – NOT Experts in Anything

As we have pointed out many times at Health Impact News, the Child Abuse Specialist doctors are not specialists in many areas that are necessary in order to differentiate between legitimate medical conditions and child abuse. The Family Defense Center points out that doctors are increasingly admonished in the child abuse pediatrics literature to defer to the wiser judgement of the Child Abuse Specialist. However:

A physician who is not a child abuse pediatrician may wonder how child abuse pediatricians can possibly claim a superior ability to draw conclusions as to whether a bone fracture or subdural hematoma is due to child abuse, especially if superiority of child abuse pediatrician's opinion over that of orthopedists, neurosurgeons and radiologists is claimed (as it has been in many Illinois cases on which the Family Defense Center has worked).

Because many different areas of medicine come into play in the determination of whether a particular injury is the result of abuse, a child abuse pediatrician cannot credibly claim to be expert in all of them.

Dr. Deborah Lowen – Head of the Child Abuse team at Vanderbilt. Source.

Hence, using the term “Child Abuse Expert” for a medical doctor, is really an oxymoron. The doctor typically holds no other medical specialty, and the people trained to find abuse of children are law enforcement officers and detectives, trained in forensic science, not medical science. Child Abuse Experts are not trained in forensic science or law enforcement.

So they really are not “experts” in anything.

For more information, see:

Child Abuse Pediatricians: An “Ethically Bankrupt” Profession that Destroys Families

Finding “Child Abuse” Motivated by Funding, not Actual Abuse

The Child Abuse Specialist teams at many Children's Hospitals are funded, at least in part, by government grants and non-profit organizations. According to Barry and Redleaf:

One example of governmental funding would be the Multidisciplinary Pediatric Education and Evaluation Consortium [MPEEC] arrangement in Illinois.

In Kentucky, the Pediatric Forensic Medicine team at the University of Louisville was created with a grant from Kosair Charities in 2007 and has been funded in later years with on-going grants from that same non-profit organization. Both of Kentucky's certified Child Abuse Pediatricians are members of this group.

The MPEEC is a partnership between Child Protective Services in the Chicago area and specific hospitals, including Comer Children's Hospital and Lurie Children's Hospital, according to the 2013-2017 Strategic Plan of the Chicago Children's Advocacy Center (link here).

Our readers may remember Lurie Children's Hospital. They were responsible for the medical kidnapping of Isaiah Rider (see our coverage of his story here) and Baby Malik (story here).

Isaiah Rider was finally reunited with his mother, but they still battle the trauma they suffered after Lurie Hospital doctors and DCFS kidnapped him. Photo source. Story here.

Malik was a baby when Lurie and DCFS took him from his family, who is working to help him to heal. Photo provided by family. Story here.

The first item listed on the Children's Advocacy Center action plan is to:

Increase total annual revenue over five years to $8 million

Increase unrestricted annual revenue by 75% to approximately $3 million

The focus of the plan seems to be more about marketing than caring for children. Another point on the action plan is to:

Bring internal stakeholders together around a unified brand promise.

What is a “brand promise” and why is it part of an organization that purports to be about protecting abused children?

A priority for the MPEEC program is to:

serve kids in Cook City; add partner hospital; add allegations [Emphasis added by HIN]

Parents who have encountered social workers and Child Abuse Specialists are likely not surprised about the priority of adding allegations. Numerous parents have told us that the workers pad reports with as many allegations as they can come up with, throwing them out in the hopes that “something sticks.”

Many Innocent Parents Accused by Child Abuse Doctors

Only 17% of the allegations against parents are “substantiated” or “founded,” according to the 2016 Child Maltreatment Report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Source). This figure, says the Family Defense Center, includes allegations by doctors:

Not only are the substantial majority of Hotline calls deemed to be “unfounded” upon investigation, but there has been a documented 75% rate of error in those indicated findings that are reviewed on appeal.

The Family Defense Center … exonerates nearly 90% of the parents it represents in hearings before the DCFS administrative law judges, including many cases in which child abuse pediatricians have written opinions stating abuse was “more likely than not.”

“Better safe than sorry” reporting may be safe for doctors, but it is not the legal standard and it is not safer for families.

“Protected”? The Headley boys were taken from their family based on the word of a Child Abuse Specialist. They were eventually reunited, but all suffered abuse and trauma in foster care. One was sexually molested in a group home. Photo supplied by family. Story here.

Conflict of Interest Should Be Disclosed

The report asserts that the conflict of interest between the doctors and state should be, as the Virginia defense attorneys claim, fully disclosed to parents if:

the child abuse pediatrician operates under a contract to provide forensic opinions to the state child protection agency and is paid at least in part by the state or by a non-profit child protection organization.

Parents need to be informed:

That the parent has a right to refuse the interview and to decline to give consent to the examination and record review and any refusal will not affect the care and treatment the child receives at the hospital.

Social Workers and Judges Duped by Child Abuse Specialists

Child Abuse Specialists have held themselves out to be THE expert on all things child abuse related. Their papers and statements amount to clever marketing of a particular agenda, squeezing out all competition, whether it comes in the form of actual medical experts or of parents, who just want what is best for their child.

Social workers, attorneys, GALs, judges, and the media have bought their propaganda hook, line, and sinker.

Barry and Redleaf write:

In the rush to establish their expertise, child abuse pediatricians in the MPEEC program have trained DCFS investigators to consider their opinions as to bone fractures and head injuries to be of greater validity than those of subspecialists.

Because of administrative convenience, such exaggerated claims of superior expertise by child abuse pediatricians in determining whether an injury was accidental or inflicted continues to gain acceptance among state child protection agencies who are acting to deprive parents of custody of their children or who are otherwise grossly interfering with family life.

Moreover, judges who ultimately resolve these matters can be persuaded to see beyond the superficial conclusion that the child must have been abused because the child abuse pediatrician says so, but this effort may require both specialized legal representation and the services of medical specialists that are simply not available to all innocent parents.

Dr. Nancy Henderson – Child Abuse Specialist at Greenville Memorial Hospital, SC. Image from YouTube.

Shouldn't Child Abuse Specialists Be Required to Read “Miranda Rights” to Parents?

The authors of the Family Defense Center Paper list a concluding recommendation that:

No Child Abuse Pediatrician should participate in the interrogation of a parent whose child is being held involuntarily at the hospital or in other circumstances that make the parent's participation less than informed.

The typical doctor/patient relationship does not exist, and the Child Abuse Specialist has essentially assumed the role of investigator or prosecutor.

Countless parents have lost their children, or even been incarcerated, based on the court testimony of such doctors, even when there is abundant evidence that they are innocent and that their child has a genuine medical condition that the parents did not cause.

If child abuse pediatricians proceed with questioning of a parent, they should fully inform parents about their role in the ensuing law enforcement and child protection investigation including any contracts they have to perform evaluations for third parties.

Parents should not be misled into thinking that they are being asked questions by and providing information to the doctor to aid in the treatment of their sick or injured child when in fact they are being asked questions solely to assist a government-funded investigation into whether their denial of child abuse is credible.

Read the full report by The Family Defense Center here.

Outside of the Corrupt Family Court System, Judges are Increasingly Throwing out Child Abuse Convictions if Opposing Medical Testimony is Not Presented at Trial

While social workers and judges sitting on the bench, ruling over child custody matters, continue to rely heavily on the reports of Pediatric Child Abuse Specialists, in cases where parents or care givers have been convicted in criminal court of child abuse, judges are increasingly throwing out these convictions, or retrying cases, where opposing medical testimony was not given that could give other explanations for a child's medical condition besides abuse diagnosed by a doctor.

The Innocence Project is currently taking on Shaken Baby Syndrome cases where parents and care givers have been convicted of child abuse in all 50 states.

See:

Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts Opens the Legal Door to Retry All Shaken Baby Syndrome Convictions

Attorneys Being Trained to Fight Bogus Child Abuse Charges used in Medical Kidnappings

University of Michigan Law School Awarded $250K to Learn How to Defend Shaken Baby Syndrome Cases

Swedish Health Agency Rejects “Science” of Shaken Baby Syndrome

Dr. David Ayoub is an American radiologist and expert on infantile rickets who has testified in court showing that what is often determined to be “child abuse,” based solely on the examination of x-rays, can often be explained by other medical conditions.

Dr. Ayoub states that “tens of thousands” of parents may be wrongfully incarcerated for Shaken Baby Syndrome and child abuse.

I get about 1 case per day request, and they are nearly 100% rickets cases. It is RARE that I get a normal bone referral, less than 1%.

I am sure I am consulted in less than 1% of all ongoing cases (regarding SBS charges of child abuse).

There are easily 2,000 cases per year of fractures in infants since the 1980s.

50,000 cases is a reasonable estimate. (Source)

See Also:

Neuropathologist Doctor: I Believed in Shaken Baby Syndrome until Science Showed I was Wrong

Comment on this article at MedicalKidnap.com.

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idosurveystovent · 7 years ago

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Do you feel comfortable wearing tube tops? nope, plus now that my upper arms are disgustingly huge, I'm scared they will get to flapping around and ill fly away

Has something someone said today annoyed you? yeah, more like anything anyone said today. I'm fucking tired

Can you hear the crickets chirping at night? yes

Do you like listening to new music, or just sticking to your favorites? favorites

So far, where have you been on vacation?

Cozumel, cali, gulf shores, Colorado, Utah, south Carolina...there is more, I just can’t think of them

Did you ever feel that there was something you couldn’t tell anyone? I'm sure

Do you tend to gossip, even if you don’t mean it to cause harm? ugh, I am terrible about it. we have a real problem with it at work and I am just as bad as everyone else. sooner or later, they will be gossiping about me and it will be my feelings that will be hurt

When was the last time you were bitten by a bug? idk...last summer?

Have you ever gotten your hair permed? yeah, when I was young. My mom made me do it

When was the last time you were in the wilderness? well I went into a cave in a natural forest last weekend so...

Do you have a pair of sunglasses that are worth over $200? fuck no, I haven’t kept up with a pair of sunglasses for more than 2 weeks, ever.

Would you ever go on a trip to Europe? sure

Are you brave when it comes to trying new foods? more now that I am with seth than I was before. He has definitely made me more adventurous when it comes to food

When was the last time you saw your significant other? right now

Is there a friend that you can always go to for advice? eh, not really. bad thing about having a small (nonexistent) circle of friends...the only person I care enough to be mad at is Seth...the only person I have to talk to is...Seth. lol

Have you ever been to a town/place where the people were just creepy? fucking atlanta

What’s the fastest you’ve ever driven in a car? like 115 mph or so

If you see a piano, are you tempted to go over and play a little something? nope, never learned piano at all

Is there someone you know who bakes amazing sweets? not a big fan of sweets so....

Are you ashamed of your singing voice? I can’t sing for shit, but ashamed? hell no, I will belt out those tunes all day long

Has anyone teased you with the “K-I-S-S-I-N-G” song? not in like 25 years

Have you ever had a dream where you could understand a foreign language? nope

What time is it where you are? 7:17 PM

Do you have anything important to do tomorrow? nope, and if anyone expects me to do anything besides lay in my king size bed with ALL the pillow, with Netflix, hulu and youtube, they can kiss my ass

Have you ever owned a beanbag chair? I have

If you own a laptop, do you have a case for it? don’t have one

What was the last movie you purchased on DVD? I have no earthly idea...haven’t bought a DVD in years and years

Are you a fan of retro things? I don’t have a sense of style

Do you do your own laundry? yep.

Have you ever used pastels? don’t guess so

Is there a song you’re listening to at the moment? nope.

Would you be considered to be knowledgeable about World War 2? not really. I wasn’t really interested in history, unfortunately

Have you ever been in possession of a hundred dollar bill? at one point in time

Is there one food you cannot give up, even though you know it’s unhealthy? chocolate and peanut covered salted caramel peanut butter cookies

Will you bother having a party for your next birthday? and just go ahead and tell me who the fuck would come? lol

If you’re with someone right now, do you think it will last? its made it 4 1/2 years so far. I think we have both given up and settled because who the fuck wants to do the dating bullshit in your thirties

Who was the last person you flipped off? couldn’t tell ya

Do you currently have a job? yes.

What was the last movie that was unable to capture your interest? most of them

Have you heard of the Irish actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers? nope

Do you have something to do, that you would rather not do? most things lol. work especially

Are you, in any way, feeling hopeless right now? I'm clinically depressed so, like, yeah, but the meds help some

Is there someone you just need to call and talk to? nah.

Are you one of those people who can eat anything and not gain a pound? bahaha yeah right

Are you nails painted at the moment? nope

Is there a song you’ve been listening to lately on repeat? nope

Do you know who you’re planning to ask to your grad prom? that was like 11 years ago

When was the last time you went shopping? Tuesday night

Is there anyone who did something absolutely hilarious today? can’t think of anything off the top of my head

Are you having one of those days where you feel unattractive? every day

Do you like hot dogs? no

Do you ever get bored of your music collection and get new songs? not really

Have you ever bought a designer purse? no, but my mom bought me a knock off Michael Kors in Mexico a couple years ago

What’s the limit on how much you would pay for a shirt? yeah, like 35 bucks

Would you ever like to see the Walk of Fame? went there my junior year

Is it currently humid where you are? fuck its the worst. especially since I have hyperhidrosis (self diagnosed)

Have you been in any sort of physical pain today? no

Have you ever heard of the German movie Das Boot? nope

Who were the last people you hung out with? seth

Has someone ever called you “obnoxious”? probably. they obviously didn’t know me very well. ;)

Most commonly, do you obey rules, or break them? idk, I am a good person, I don’t commit crimes other than like smoking weed. speeding in my car...that's about it

Do you like making funny faces in pictures? no. I hate pictures

Is there something you look back on and go “I can’t believe I did that”? there are lots of things that I regret in my life

Are you good at offering advice? I try. a lot of people at work come to me for advice; as a matter of fact, one girl just told me earlier this week that shealways came to me for advice because I gave advice that was common sense and what was the right thing to do and not something like “just pray about it”

When was the last time you had to resort to a map? I use google maps on my phone any time I am going somewhere new

Your significant other: have you told them you love them lately? I don’t know that I have told him today...maybe when I left this morning for work but I don’t remember. I'm sure I have told him in the last few days anyways

What was the last thing to confuse you? I can't remember

How many different colors have you dyed your hair? red, black, blonde highlights, platinum blonde all over (that was a huge mistake)

Do you know someone who always spells “bored” like “board”? nope, I wouldn’t talk to them

Are you wearing make up right now? whatever is left over from 4 AM

Is there a phrase that you use a lot? probably but nothing comes to mind

Are you old enough to vote? yes.

Do you have a favorite pair of earrings? no, my ears are gauged out to 2, but ive not found a good pair of earrings that I love yet

Have you ever been to Disneyworld/Disneyland? disneyland

Have you dated someone more than twice? yes

Are you a fan of Keira Knightley? don’t know who that is

Have you ever resorted to alcohol to make you feel better? yep

Do you own a full-length mirror? bahaha funny story about that...no I don’t

Do you ever go on PerezHilton.com to get all the celeb gossip? sure don’t. don't keep up with celebs

Have you heard about Mel Gibson’s rant/freakout? the time he got caught saying the N word?

Do you wish your bedroom was bigger? yes.

Are you aware of the significance of the date April 14th, 1912? titanic sunk

Do you ever just lay back and watch the stars? um no

Lately have you had much time to relax? again, I have worked 10 days straight, so no. but I plan to change that starting tonight

Did anything important/changing happen to you in March 2009? nope

Have you ever felt like a “new person”? don't guess so

Do you own any expensive jewellry? just my engagement ring

What size is your TV? 50 inch and 32 inch

Do you occasionally creep on people on Facebook? yup. I am notorious for it

Has there been someone in your life that just wouldn’t leave you alone? no.

Do you hate to use public bathrooms? nah, gotta go when you gotta go

Would you consider yourself to be loyal? too loyal

Do you find most remixes of songs to be good or bad? usually they are shit

Write something to someone who means a lot to you: Seth, you are everything to me. Husband, father, and best friend. I owe you everything for saving my life 4 years ago. I didn’t know that I could love someone so much until I met you. I love you.

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usatrendingsports · 7 years ago

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2018 NFL Playoffs: Rating the very best potential matchups for Tremendous Bowl LII

When you’re an NFL fan, there is a good probability that your favourite staff is already accomplished for the yr. With solely eight groups remaining within the playoffs, meaning 24 different fan bases will not have a lot to cheer for when the divisional spherical kicks off on Saturday.

Nevertheless, we’re right here to vary that. If you do not have a staff to cheer for this week, then you ought to be spending all of your power cheering for the very best Tremendous Bowl, and that is the place we are available. With eight groups left within the playoffs, there is a whole of 16 Tremendous Bowl matchups which can be nonetheless doable, and let’s simply say, a few of them are much more interesting than others.

Not solely did we rank all 16 doable Tremendous Bowls, however we additionally included the potential level unfold for every recreation and the chances that it’ll occur. As an example, an Eagles-Titans Tremendous Bowl solely has a 175-to-1 probability of taking place, which suggests if you happen to had been hoping for Nick Foles towards Tennessee, I’ve some dangerous information, it isn’t going to occur.

So what would probably the most interesting matchup be in Tremendous Bowl LII?

Finest Tremendous Bowl matchups

Level unfold (by way of BetDSI.eu) Odds of recreation taking place (by way of Bovada.lv)

16. Eagles vs. Titans Potential unfold: Eagles, -2.5 Odds of taking place: 175-to-1

The Tremendous Bowl is on NBC this yr and I am guessing they’d most likely transfer the sport to the Bravo channel in the event that they received caught with Eagles-Titans. The one cause to observe this recreation can be to see whether or not or not Marcus Mariota throws one other landing move to himself. The excellent news for NBC is that the oddsmakers principally do not suppose this recreation has any probability of taking place. Of the 16 matchups which can be doable for the Tremendous Bowl, this one has the longest odds at 175-to-1. One cause this recreation may truly be value watching — moreover the truth that it is the Tremendous Bowl and I will watch it doesn’t matter what, even when it is on Bravo — is as a result of one in every of these two groups would get their first Tremendous Bowl win in franchise historical past.

15. Saints vs. Titans Potential unfold: Saints, -6.5 Odds of taking place: 100-to-1

Final week, there was an opportunity that Mike Mularkey was going to get fired if the Titans misplaced within the wild-card spherical, however that did not occur as a result of they pulled off a 22-21 upset over the Chiefs. The excellent news for Mularkey is that if Tennessee leads to the Tremendous Bowl, the Titans may be compelled to signal him to a contract for all times. I am undecided how a lot a contract for all times would pay, however it could most likely be at the least Gruden cash.

14. Eagles vs. Patriots Potential unfold: Patriots, -7.5 Odds of taking place: 17-to-2

The loopy factor about this recreation is that if Carson Wentz was going to be on the sphere, Eagles-Patriots would undoubtedly rank within the top-five for absolute best Tremendous Bowls. Nevertheless, Wentz will not be on the sphere, which suggests Invoice Belichick would have two weeks to gameplan for an offense being run by Nick Foles after I’m fairly certain he would solely want two hours. This recreation can be a rematch of Tremendous Bowl XXXIX, which is horrible information for followers in Philadelphia as a result of I am undecided they’d have the ability to deal with dropping to the Patriots for the second time in 13 years. The most important draw back to this recreation is that we’d possible be spending the 2 weeks main as much as the Tremendous Bowl debating whether or not or not Donovan McNabb truly puked in Tremendous Bowl XXXIX.

If Donovan McNabb will get within the Corridor of Fame and Terrell Owens would not, I’ll puke throughout myself in protest.

— SportsPickle (@sportspickle) February 5, 2017

I am undecided if he did, however I’m certain that the majority Eagles followers most likely needed to after dropping that recreation by simply three factors (24-21).

13. Vikings vs. Titans Potential unfold: Vikings, -10.5 Odds of taking place: 75-to-1

Of all of the groups left within the postseason, the Titans are the one ones which have a dropping document on the highway, which suggests this recreation would possible be a catastrophe ready to occur. Think about the worst highway staff within the playoffs being compelled to play a highway recreation within the Tremendous Bowl. Oddsmakers have imagined it and so they do not suppose it could be fairly, making the Titans a 10.5-point underdog, which is the most important level unfold of any of the 16 Tremendous Bowl matchups that might occur. The one large cause this recreation can be value watching can be to see if the Vikings can win their first Tremendous Bowl in staff historical past, and never solely that, however do it on their dwelling discipline. The Vikings and Payments are tied for the worst Tremendous Bowl document in NFL historical past (Zero-Four).

Who is prepared for a Tremendous Bowl the place Josh Lambo might stroll away with the MVP? USATSI

12. Eagles vs. Jaguars Potential unfold: Jaguars, -Three Odds of taking place: 55-to-1

This is among the video games that may have the potential to show into one of the vital bizarrely entertaining Tremendous Bowls ever. The one larger mismatch than Nick Foles towards the Jaguars protection can be Blake Bortles towards the Eagles protection. The Jaguars 10-Three win over the Payments would most likely be thought-about a shootout in comparison with what may occur if the Jags and Eagles play: We would solely see three factors the whole recreation, we might see a kicker win MVP. I am getting so excited, I am truly beginning to hope this occurs.

11. Falcons vs Titans Potential unfold: Falcons, -Four.5 Odds of taking place: 115-to-1

Most of America ought to most likely be hoping this recreation would not occur, as a result of if we get an Atlanta-Tennessee Tremendous Bowl lower than a month after a Georgia-Alabama nationwide title recreation, everybody within the South will possible spend the subsequent 10 years speaking about how significantly better the South is at every little thing.

Soccer within the south might need lastly hit its peak: -All-SEC nationwide title recreation tonight -AFC South: Wins each AFC wild card video games -NFC South: Wins each NFC wild card video games -4 of eight NFL playoff groups left are from a southern division.

— John Breech (@johnbreech) January 8, 2018

To be honest, the climate, the candy tea and the biscuits are all higher within the South and I do know that as a result of Southerners inform me that each day. One large storyline on this recreation can be Mike Mularkey making a recreation plan to cease Matt Ryan. Mularkey was Ryan’s offensive coordinator throughout his first 4 seasons within the league (2008-11).

10. Falcons vs. Jaguars Potential unfold: Choose’em Odds of taking place: 25-to-1

Of the 16 doable Tremendous Bowls, solely two of them have been labeled as a doable “decide’em” and Falcons-Jaguars simply occurs to be one in every of them. Every little thing this recreation lacks in sexiness, it could possible make up for in pleasure. The excellent news for the Falcons is that in the event that they someway had been capable of leap out to a 28-Three lead on the Jaguars, there is a good probability they would not blow it and that is as a result of the Jaguars aren’t actually constructed to return again from a deficit that large. After all, if this recreation truly occurs, meaning the Jaguars can have overwhelmed the Steelers and probably the Patriots on the highway, so possibly a comeback from a 28-Three deficit truly would not be that loopy.

The state of Pennsylvania might need to close down if there’s an Eagles-Steelers matchup. USATSI

9. Eagles vs. Steelers Potential unfold: Steelers, -Four.5 Odds of taking place: 20-to-1

They might most likely have to shut down the whole state of Pennsylvania if this recreation had been to occur, or higher but, the NFL might simply transfer the sport to Comfortable Valley and cram 105,000 folks into Penn State’s Beaver Stadium. Ben Roethlisberger will most likely be hoping this recreation would not occur and that is as a result of he at all times appears to wrestle towards the Eagles. In Pittsburgh’s previous three conferences with Philly, the Steelers have averaged simply eight.Three factors per recreation and Large Ben has put up some fairly ugly numbers (202 passing yards per recreation, one whole landing, two interceptions).

eight. Vikings vs. Jaguars Potential unfold: Vikings, -6 Odds of taking place: 25-to-1

If protection wins championships, then the soccer Gods will possible must flip a coin to see who wins this recreation. This recreation would match the AFC’s top-ranked protection towards the NFC’s top-ranked protection in a recreation which may as effectively be sudden dying as a result of one rating may be all we see if these two groups play. Minnesota and Jacksonville had been the one two groups within the NFL in 2017 that surrendered lower than 17 factors and 290 yards per recreation on the season.

7. Saints vs. Jaguars Potential unfold: Saints, -1.5 Odds of taking place: 33-to-1

If we will not get the NFL’s high ranked offense (Patriots) towards the NFL’s finest protection (Vikings) within the Tremendous Bowl, then this recreation can be a pleasant comfort. Saints-Jaguars would give us the NFL’s second-best offense towards the league’s second-best protection, which might be nearly becoming for Drew Brees, who’s completed second finest in NFL MVP voting thrice. Not solely would we get to observe Brees going up towards the Jaguars protection, however there is a good probability that the River Metropolis Relay can be proven roughly 100 occasions within the two weeks main as much as the Tremendous Bowl and that undoubtedly would not be a foul factor. When you’re not conversant in the play, the Saints had been trailing 20-13 with seven seconds left after which proceeded to attain one of many wildest 75-yard touchdowns that you’re going to ever see. Even wilder, is what occurs after the landing.

If a Saints-Jaguars Tremendous Bowl was was simply half as thrilling as that one play, then scores would most likely undergo the roof.

6. Saints vs. Steelers Potential unfold: Choose’em Odds of taking place: 11-to-1

When you like offensive fireworks, then that is the Tremendous Bowl it’s best to most likely be rooting for. This recreation would us give two of the NFL’s high three offenses from 2017. Additionally, with each quarterbacks over the age of 35, it would not be loopy to see both Ben Roethlisberger or Drew Brees resolve to name it quits if their staff finally ends up profitable all of it. The very best half about this recreation is that Saints and Steelers followers would get to spend two weeks arguing about which staff truly wears black-and-gold. Additionally, if you cannot get a ticket to this Tremendous Bowl, that is OK as a result of it could most likely be extra enjoyable to observe on Bourbon Road.

5. Falcons vs. Steelers Potential unfold: Steelers, -1.5 Odds of taking place: 12-to-1

The Falcons and Steelers do not play typically, however once they do, the sport nearly at all times turns right into a traditional. Since 1996, the groups have met a complete of six occasions with all six video games being determined by one rating and three of these video games going into extra time. This recreation would even be a spotlight reel ready to occur because of the presence of Julio Jones and Antonio Brown.

This recreation alone may find yourself producing 5 of the very best Tremendous Bowl catches of all-time.

Four. Saints vs. Patriots Potential unfold: Patriots, -Three.5 Odds of taking place: 9-to-2

If this Tremendous Bowl occurs, we must always most likely simply go forward and assume that Tom Brady and Drew Brees are each going to play till they’re 70. The 2 quarterbacks have a mixed age of 79, which might simply give them the very best mixed in the past of any two quarterbacks who’ve performed towards one another in a Tremendous Bowl. (The document is at present 71. Additionally, Brees is 38, however turns 39 on January 15). Brady and Brees dueling it out on the NFL’s greatest stage can be must-see TV. The one cause this recreation is not one or two spots greater is as a result of these the Saints received dominated 36-20 by the Patriots in New Orleans again in Week 2.

Three. Vikings vs. Steelers Potential unfold: Vikings, -Four Odds of taking place: 15-to-2

The Vikings might exorcise a variety of demons in the event that they get to play the Steelers within the Tremendous Bowl. For one, they’d get an opportunity to avenge their ugliest lack of the season. Again in Week 2, the Steelers handed the Vikings a 26-9 beatdown, which got here in Case Keenum’s first begin of the yr. As if that would not be incentive sufficient, the Vikings would additionally get an opportunity to avenge a 16-6 loss to the Steelers in Tremendous Bowl IX. I really feel like Bud Grant’s nonetheless bitter about that loss. The Vikings would additionally get to an opportunity to finish their Zero-Four run within the Tremendous Bowl and so they’d get to do all of it in a house recreation. So what occurs if you exorcise that many demons? I will let this man inform you.

If the Vikings do someway clutch up and win the tremendous bowl I’ll cry after which relentlessly booze

— Hunter Friesen (@YoungFreezyMN) January 10, 2018

Crying and boozing. That sounds about proper.

If the Vikings Win the Tremendous Bowl I’ll mild my silver van on hearth and Ghost journey it off of 58th st. Down on to Crosstown

— Mike Loye (@Bigmikey_14) January 10, 2018

The excellent news is that if everybody reacts like that man, there might be sufficient warmth generated in Minnesota to maintain everybody heat for the subsequent seven winters.

2. Vikings vs. Patriots Potential unfold: Vikings, -1 Odds of taking place: Three-to-1

This recreation would have practically each storyline that anybody doable dream up.

First staff ever to be taking part in a Tremendous Bowl at dwelling? Verify (Vikings).

Essentially the most hated staff within the NFL additionally taking part in? Verify (Patriots). There is a good probability 90 % of America can be pulling for the Vikings as a result of that is roughly the variety of folks within the nation who appear to hate the Patriots.

The NFL’s finest offense (Patriots) towards the NFL’s finest protection (Vikings)? Verify.

The staff with probably the most Tremendous Bowl appearances (Patriots at present with 9) going up towards the staff with probably the most Tremendous Bowl losses (Vikings, Zero-Four)? Verify.

Patriots as underdogs? Verify. The Patriots have not been an underdog all season, however the early line has them as a possible one-point underdog.

Me in Minnesota promoting t-shirts that say, “Winter is coming for the Patriots?” Verify, however provided that I can get the copyright in time.

So as to add some aptitude to this recreation, Randy Moss might even deal with the coin toss since he performed for each groups.

1. Falcons vs. Patriots Potential unfold: Patriots, -5 Odds of taking place: 11-to-2

One of the simplest ways to remedy a hangover is to name your buddy and exit consuming once more and that is precisely what the Falcons can be doing right here. Nobody would ever use the phrases “Tremendous Bowl hangover” and “Falcons” in the identical sentence ever once more if Atlanta makes it to the Tremendous Bowl and beats the Patriots. Usually, I am not a fan of rematches, however I would be glued to my TV for 4 straight hours if these two groups play in Tremendous Bowl LII. The 2 weeks main as much as the sport can be an absolute circus because the Falcons would face 14 straight days of “No, however actually, how’d you guys blow a 25-point lead?”

The one group of people that may not watch this recreation can be everybody in Georgia. After final yr’s Tremendous Bowl and UGA’s blown lead within the nationwide title recreation, I’ve to suppose at the least half the state is mortified on the considered watching one other soccer recreation the place there is a championship on the road.

Though these two groups performed earlier this season, I will ignore that as a result of it was outdoor and performed in a loopy fog. When you’ve ever seen a turtle attempt to do something whereas it is on its again, that is principally the Falcons offense making an attempt to perform once they’re outdoor, so it wasn’t shocking to see New England win 23-7 again in Week 7.

Oddsmakers truly really feel like there is a good probability this recreation might occur with odds now at 28-to-Three. Simply kidding, that was a lame Tremendous Bowl LI joke. The chances are literally 11-to-2.

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