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ineffable-opinions · 28 days ago

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Top 10 BL Novels I Read In 2024

10. Love Supremacy Zone by 화차

Adapted into a manhwa Love Interest Zone, and live action in 2024 Love for Love's Sake which inspired me to watch it. When I started watching the series, I felt that something was off. That I was missing out on a great deal. So, I jumped right into the book. Novel was not only more detailed, the storytelling was so brilliant that it brought about overwhelming emotions – despair, relief, happiness, etc. Going in, I had lots of theories in my head about the identity of many characters including the author-sunbae. I had expected Cha YeoWoon to be the author and Tae MyungHa to be his junior (because of military service) since Tae MyungHa’s life before transmigration and the story of the stalking horse in the novel (which was turned into game) were so similar. Cha YeoWoon is one of the best younger gong (Korean for seme), I have come across in a while. While this one and I, A Gangster, Became a High School Student had older people occupying younger bodies, I liked the latter better. I felt that some of the game assigned tasks were not making much sense towards the end, especially those involving gathering followers on social networking sites. The game system seemed to be acting up as it pleased without much rhyme or reason, which I found difficult to stomach. Extras are really good in this one.

9. Deadlock volume 1 by Aida Saki

Aida Saki passed away this year. While there are other works by the same author that had left a deeper impression on me, this one stands out for being the most political among them all. From prison politics to hybrid identities, there is a lot that the uke deals with as a half-Japanese with a Hispanic upbringing who serving sentence for the murder of his buddy cop in the USA. Maybe the foreign setting offers Japanese authors like Aida-sensei more liberty when it comes to dealing with complex social, political and economic issues, within and outside the prison. Unfortunately, the seme wasn't very impressive - that's an Aida Saki thing, I guess. Recommended for those who enjoyed Manner of Death, Spare Me Your Mercy and BL comics like Under Grand Hotelby Sadahiro Mika (manga) and Shutline by Kyou (manhwa).

8. Try Me เสพร้าย สัมผัสรัก (ChaiWin story) by MAME

gif by @boosnbugs

The moment Chai appeared in Love in the Air, I wanted to know his story and was super-excited to discover the novel when he was main character. Win fell for Chai in his early youth. Years later, he is yet to move on properly after being rejected by his mafioso cousin's righthand man. Chai is bound by duty. Win and Chai's lives keep colliding. Win returns to Thailand amid situations that force Chai to personally provide him with security. Meddlesome ex-lovers and uncle shenanigans to complete the clusterfuck the start of their romance is set to be. Recommended for those who liked TulHin from the novel Breath or from the series Love by Chance Season 2: A Chance to Love as well as the Taiwanese BL series Kiseki: Dear to Me. Even though I read Try Me (PakinGraph story) before this one, it can be read as a stand-alone.

7. I, A Gangster, Became a High School Student by 호롤

Adapted into a manhwa and a controversial bromance live action High School Return of a Gangster in 2024 which inspired me to read the novel.I was glad for it. The book is an absolute delight. It is pretty different from the live action. The transmigrator and his lover have to overcome many difficulties on the way. I had expected the original soul to take hold of the body the gangster was occupying at the end at least based on certain rumors on the internet. But that was not the case. Even though the body was that of a teenager, gangster was a middle-aged man, with all corresponding life experience and attitude. Author did a good job of maintaining that throughout. Certain parts of the novel, especially the face slapping parts, were very makjang. While I think it was dealt better in the novel than in the series, I wanted something different. While the su was a responsible older person in a teenager’s body, gong was the opposite for most parts. the interaction between gong’s father and su were really nice. I also found the bully’s relationship with original soul versus his relationship our su pretty sad, on both counts.

6. Why? ทำไมต้องร้าย...ทำไมต้องรัก (Part 1) by Yeonim

gif by @pharawee

The main couple in this one Nan (Day’s friend) and Mac (Day’s love rival). Nan is an excellent self-aware psychopath for whom Mac is an interesting plaything. There is a great deal of back and forth between them that keeps readers engaged throughout. Nan is kind of a yandere character, especially when it comes to those whom he wants to toy with. Mac is no saint but his cruelty is warped and oft amounts to nothing when faced with the different issues the couple has to face, marking how different his relationship is with what he wanted with Itt. Meanwhile, both of them dotes on each other. The time they spend in Nan’s house, especially the veranda with the little pond in front, is some of the best I have ever come across in a BL. The side CP in this one between Dew and Three, who were interested in Mac and Nan respectively and bond over that. They go from being comrades to lovers with some Nan’s non-consensual exhibitionism being the trigger. Link to Part 2.

Honorable mentions:

The Missing Piece by Kun Yi Wei Lou I love Kun Yi Wei Lou’s works in general, especially her older works with fantasy and historical setting. Among the novels with modern setting this one and Ex-boyfriend are my favorites. It has one of most exciting tropes – substitute lover! But then there are misunderstandings too. So, things aren’t exactly what they seem.

The university set BL Test Love and salaryman, yakuza BL OatShin Diary by MAME – I read it to read about Oat who is mentioned in Love Storm novel as the best racer and got his illegal racing parts replaced with Prapai in Love in the Air and with Kawai Fuma in Love in the Air: Koi no Yokan. I loved their story the best too. Test Love offers glimpse into Phayu’s campus life as a student of architecture and shows us where his reputation as a famous helpful senior comes from. Test Love also has Phayu’s twin brother and his girlfriend. Many characters from Love by Chance are friends with characters in Test Love and there is a cool seaside vacation get-together.

กูจะร้าย...ให้มึงรัก (GearNight story) by Yeonim I got into novel through the movie Love Syndrome: The Beginning that focuses heavily of the murky start to the characters relationship. The characters we encounter in Love Syndrome III have journeyed through lot of ups-and-downs and the novels are really engaging, especially for me as I love meriba endings a lot. They grow as a couple a lot between the immature couple they are in the novel and the awesome couple they are in later novels (where they appear). The side couple FourGus had a troubled start consisting of an early sexual debut that ultimately left Gus pining and Four repenting. It was one of those when-will-they relationships that stands out in the novel. There are so many couples in Yeonim’s universe, it is overwhelming. Thanks to @mygwenchan for this excellent list of Yeonim’s works.

5. Love Sand by MAME

I have been trying to get into Thai BL novels for a while now with varying degrees of luck. This one had me hooked. Khom, the main character in Love Sand, has been familiar to me through TharnType and Love Sea dropped so many little details of his relationship with Connor. While Khom was great, Connor was the most thought-provoking, to say the least. This work tackled different aspects of sex work - gratification and pecuniary reward, romance and emotional toll, racism, race as fetish, etc. I had previously commented on how certain characters MAME created reads like ethnography. This one takes it to areas that are difficult to talk about from one single dimension alone. Moothon (2019) did intersection right and that's why it is the banner of this BLog. Love Sand gave me a close enough experience. Recommended for audience interested in intersectionality with focus on a white Canadian with Thai-upbringing via doting step-mother of Thai origin, as well as those who love wife chasing crematorium, with significant value gap.

4. 服了生育刑的alpha by 星河蛋挞

An omegaverse story about a remorseless alpha arrested on charges of sexual assault choosing to undergo multiple births rather than spend long years in jail. Even though the novel was written in 2022, it deals with a lot of issues that’s in discussion currently, especially in the West, post-US elections and Gisèle Pelicot’s courageous legal battle in the Mazan rape case, such as reproductive rights, sexual crimes, sexism, righteousness, punishment, reformation along with issues such as sex work and law and order and justice system from cops to courts. The novel is available on patreon.

3. 虎三不哭 (Third Tiger, Don’t Cry) by 间歇性咆哮

This is the tale of a crybaby tiger and his haughty lover deer (all in their animal forms throughout but with human like thought process, motivations and emotions). They have to struggle through the different challenges that nature and nurture have placed in their path. Recommended for those who enjoy older danmei as well as those who enjoy animal characters or characteristics such as in Caged Again and Choco Milk Shake.

2. Mr. Zhang and Mr. Zhang 《张先生和张先生》 by 王泡小泡

I started reading this with plans to write a post on Love in the Big City. This novel has been adapted into live action Kinematics TheoryandThe Ambiguous Focus. This is about a couple who are about to celebrate the anniversary of having spent a decade together. They get caught up in the whirlwind of seven ten-years-itch and more that threatens to uproot not only their relationship with each other but also with those around them. Recommended for those who enjoyed Love in the Big City and its adaptations, and for the fans of Fei Tian Ye Xiang’s 北城天街 (Bei Cheng Tian Street).

1. Utsukushii Koto by Konohara Narise

A gynephilic man falls for a crossdressing salaryman from the same company but different department. While this is not the best work from Konohara Narise, I enjoyed it the most among all the BL novels I have read this year. Recommended for those who enjoyed Mood Indigo, Smells Like Green Spirit or Wait for Me at Udagawachou.

Top 20 BL Live-action of 2024

#thai bl #japan bl #chinese bl #korean bl #top 10 of 2024 #top 10 bl of 2024 #top 10 bl novels of 2024 #bl novel #danmei #danmei novel #danmei novels

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thats-my-passion-right-there · 8 months ago

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Also we could have made it SO MUCH GAYER?!?

I finally saw the mean girls musical (the movie one) I have so many fucking thoughts oh my god

#oni talks #thoughts #mean girls 2024 #mean girls adaption concept is so fascinating to me bc there’s so much material to pull from? but it’s also simple enough that you have #room to breathe if you wanna add more or make new shit? like there’s lots of little prompts since there’s a lot of side characters that get #bits and pieces or have characterization but little plot to use that characterization in like with Gretchen or Kevin #or even that girl at the end for the mathlete meet up? you could definitely turn her into a developed interesting character just from what #we saw from her? expanding on the clique characters could be interesting in a show format too coz you could see the differences in how #each clique functions and interactions both inside themselves and with each other like we even saw a little peek of like with the mathletes #that obviously was supposed to be mirroring Regina and Gretchen but I just find that so interesting! also Gretchen’s high IQ is only really #used at the end & feels like a reference to the original but bc we don’t have that weird race shit anymore it lacks as much punch & feels #like it could do with some more flesh too at least to me? idk like another thing I know everyone finds the tiktok stuff in the movie cringe #& super dated but I kind of love it? and in my ideal show format it could be such a perfect opportunity to interact with fans or have more #worldbuilding kinda reminiscent of like other shows when sometimes they will make like an account meant to be one of the characters accounts #or like having a cool fun interactive website filled with worldbuilding!! used for teasers or trailers or fan forums or behind the scenesetc #also more songs but also some of those songs need some work imo? idk basically everything Renee or Regina focused I generally loved but #some of the other stuff needs help? if we wanna give Janis more character development having her gf be a method for that could be really #interesting like how does Janis quest for vengeance effect her relationship with this new girl? what about their history together? I doubt #she’s perfectly healed hence the revenge quest so it would be in character imo to project or be wary of this new girl right or for her #obsession on getting one over on Regina to get in the way of growing closer with this new girl? also how do these two meet? since they seem #to go to the same school and Regina is a central figure does this new girl have any interactions or history? is she a transfer? does she hav #to go to the school since she could easily be more related to the art & art fair for janis right? how did being outed to people effect janis #and her interactions? how much did she lean into being out? is this girl out? we could easily have the classic 1 out girl attracts the non #out girls or causes a domino effect coz like I’ve been there lol what about Damian? the too gay to function thing has always been somewhat #odd to me bc from what I can tell he seems to be pretty out & proud so it’s not like outing? tbf too gay to function is also like *to me*#not really a particularly teeth-y insult? hence why it works as an in joke lol also I think Cady as token straight works really well between #Regina & Janis? since she’s being used against them & I think it also changes the story if since janis & regina were friends did janis ever #have any idea Regina was closeted? that return of the pride plush was that her coming out? also the heels thing would me more interesting if #you consider the only acceptable interaction for Regina to be nice to a girl is to be making fun of her & can’t b bc she wants to see Cady #in heels she gave her lol? similarly if Regina having that plushy around if instead of it being a close object she was using the bullying to

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namtanlovesfilm · 1 year ago

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a ranking & summary of my thoughts on gmmtv 2024 part 1

pluto: this is my everything already. A GL??? with two of my fave actresses film & namtan??? AND a complex, interesting plot??? I'm obsessed already!!! this looks so good I'm so happy it's happening & it will become my whole personality once it airs!!!

the trainee: I genuinely believed, even with the rumors that off, gun, view, kapook & sea would be in a show together, that we wouldn't get an offgun show this year. AND I WAS WRONG!!! is this what it's like to always fucking win??? like genuinely, my ship is THAT ship, I'm so lucky & happy and I love them so much <3

peaceful property on sale: duuuude, this looks so fun??? I was already hooked when I saw new's over the top character, but a ghost haunting show with taynew, jan & mook??? absolutely incredible! this looks ridiculous & I know I'm gonna love every second of it!

my golden blood: bruh, thank goodness I was warned about jossgawin in advance or I might have had a heart attack, but honestly????? THEY ATE THAT! and mond playing the villain????? babe, that casting is incredible & perfect, I'm obsessed!!! I usually don't like supernatural stuff but I was also a teen wolf fan bruh so atp I'm gonna EAT that shit UP!!!

wandee goodday: you might not know it, but I have a super power. every time I start being a fan of someone who hasn't done bl, they do bl the following year. this year it was nonkul, and next year it's gonna be great sapol. AND I LOVE THAT FOR ME!!! this looks really good & fun, the characters are interesting and the story not too crazy or too basic. I can feel that it's gonna be good!

ploy's yearbook: a female-led show & the return of mond as a main??? BLESS!!! I love most of this cast, this looks fun as hell, I adore my gmmtv girlies... gotta watch this for sure! love seeing earth in more roles outside of his ship too!

enigma 2: I still haven't watched season one, am planning on watching it very soon, but I've heard great things so I'll be sure to catch season two as well! especially since I really liked toey jarinporn in the recent lakorn to the moon and back so I'm excited to see how she does!

my precious the series: as you know I've watched the movie in theaters, but I'm excited for it to be out as a series too, especially since there's extra scenes! seems like it might be even more lovable, and also if it's on gmmtv's youtube channel I'll finally be able to gif the iconic scenes :')

high school frenemy: this looks interesting & I like sky, but I feel like the plot doesn't make sense if it's not a love story... idk I feel like since this is adapted from a kdrama it's just gonna be a frustrating story that should be a romance but is reduced to bromance instead... I might still watch though :')

only boo: this looks kinda cute though basic. I don't know both main leads but might watch it.

we are: this has all ships I like, especially marcpawin & aouboom who deserve more spotlight, so I will be watching, but the plot seems really basic so I'm not expecting anything out of this world...

kidnap: this plot seems interesting but the cast isn't so... yeah.

summer night: I was so confused by who is supposed to be with who in the show lol, honestly I was down for dunkphuwin lmao, but this looks too messy for me :')

my love mix-up: I absolutely despise remakes even though I enjoyed kieta hatsukoi & like geminifourth, and although I'm certain this version will fix the chemistry issues of the original, I'm not gonna be watching it.

ossan's love thailand: same thing as for the previous show but even more so bc ossan's love is such a product of its time & shouldn't be remade in 2024 imo...

#axelle rants #gmmtv 2024 #pluto the series #the trainee #the trainee the series #peaceful property on sale the series #my golden blood #wandee goodday #ploy's yearbook #enigma 2 #my precious the series #high school frenemy #only boo #we are the series #kidnap the series #summer night the series #my love mix up #ossan's love thailand

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aestheticvoyage2024 · 1 month ago

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Day 356: Saturday December 21, 2024 - "The Day All The Mustard Seeds Fell Out"

Its cold plunge season, and the daily ritual has taken hold as a meditation practice that soothes me in ways that I can't understand. I kept chipping away at that ice. Audrie created a loving and energetically positive place for me to keep digging deeper. Exploring the music, and the memories, until finally I had a revelation while she led bedtime that I was nervous to share. I didn't know it, but I was just one inch away from finally answering all my questions. I had already started to admit and affirm and acknowledge what I was - - and as I blasted through my own High Fidelity masterclass with relative ease, I had made the discovery that I had always been this way. I stood in our galley kitchen and rubbed my knuckles on my chest in front of Audrie, who already knew and was letting me crack the code for myself, "Ive always been this way". and there it was. It wasn't just a scared little boy. It was something else entirely. And I had always battled it. The next question was obvious - what was it? Its not depression or anxiety or PTSD - It very definitely was this, but what exactly is that name for this? Audrie was nervous, not sure how to help me with this one. She had a perfect analogy - of the sherpa untying. The rest of the climb is for you. And she was right. She had played every card perfectly as I cycled again in October and November. The whole care team saw it and finally started to chatter about it. Audrie got a e-book she could read on her phone and burned through it, each page affirming that last and describing the past... she was the second to find it. And now it was my turn.

If Ive always been this way, it will show in the music. I started to identify that tool. We played a fun game of looking when I thought of an interesting song that I could place in time. We laid in bed at 130 and I whispered one more to see if she was still awake. "What is it?" She whispered back. "Off He Goes". We turned the lamp on, and scrolled the lyrics and I explained what it meant out loud, unsure of what might be coming next. Just like all the others. Next thing I know, I was standing in the bed exclaiming "this is what they write books about!" Almost psychedelic. I could finally see. What I was so desperately seeking was finally found. "Ive always been this way. And now I have the proof I need." A song about BPD from high school. I finally connected the code. Now I just needed a name for it. I went to bed tonight thinking about Hemingway, and what that would answer for me. My old spirit animal was waiting for me when id wake up in the morning to give me the final answer and Id never have to wonder again. Today was the last day Id ever have to feel the way Ive felt my entire conscious life. I was awake though I wasnt even sure yet what it meant.

Song: Bob Schneider & Mitch Watkins - Losing You. Trevor Hall - Losing You

Quote: "To be understood is to prostitute oneself. I prefer to be taken seriously for what I write, not what I am. ~Fernando Pessoa

Off He Goes:

Know a man His face seems pulled and tense Like he's riding on a motorbike In the strongest winds So I approach with tact Suggest the he should relax But he's always moving much too fast

Said he'll see me on the flip side On this trip he's taken for a ride He's been taking too much on There he goes with his perfectly unkept clothes There he goes

He's yet to come back But I've seen his picture It doesn't look the same up on the rack We go way back

I wonder 'bout his insides It's like his thoughts are too big for his size He's been taken, where? I don't know Off he goes, with his perfectly unkept hope There he goes

And now I rub my eyes For he has returned Seems my preconceptions are What should have been burned For he still smiles And he's still strong

Nothing's changed But the surrounding bullshit That has grown And now he's home and we're laughing Like we always did My same old, same old friend

Until a quarter to ten I saw the strain creep in He seems distracted And I know just what is gonna happen next Before his first step He is off again

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dollycas · 4 months ago

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Essentials of Murder: An Aromatherapy Apothecary Mystery by Kim Davis #Review / #Giveaway - Great Escapes Book Tour @Kookiesandbooks

Essentials of Murder: An Aromatherapy Apothecary Mystery by Kim Davis About Essentials of Murder This book was originally released on September 8, 2021. I reviewed it on January 5, 2022. It has now been re-released with more books in the series to come. I have reposted my review below. Essentials of Murder: An Aromatherapy Apothecary Mystery Cozy Mystery 1st in Series Setting - California Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harbor Lane Books, LLC. (September 24, 2024) Print length ‏ : ‎ 283 pages Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DD3W1XPJ After a scandalous arrest in San Francisco, Carissa Carmichael has moved back to her small Southern California hometown to start over as she opens her Aromatherapy Apothecary shop and reflexology services. A tourist destination, Oak Creek Valley, seems the perfect place to put the past behind her, but it seems no one will let her forget. When she finds the man who threatened to drive her out of business murdered in her shop, Carissa becomes the primary suspect, especially when her fingerprints are found on the murder weapon. Despite her father’s position as Oak Creek Valley’s chief of police, most townspeople assume she’s guilty. Refusing to run again, Carissa knows she must prove her innocence to save her shop and save her father’s career when the investigating detective turns his focus on her. With suspects acting as slippery as the essential oils she distills, it’s up to Carissa to apply pressure and sniff out the truth before it’s too late. Includes essential oil and reflexology tips. Dollycas's Thoughts Carissa Carmichael returns home after leaving San Francisco in hopes of leaving her recent past behind. With the support of family and friends, she strives to open an aromatherapy and reflexology shop but before she can even host her grand opening she finds a dead body right next to her distilling equipment and her fingerprints are the only ones on the murder weapon. Her chief of police father is forced off the case and the new lead detective feels his investigation is easy because he is convinced she is the killer. She now knows it is essential to catch the killer herself or to get rubbed out permanently. Kim Davis excels in creating multifaceted characters that readers are drawn to almost immediately. Take Carissa, she has a bit of a checkered past that has probably given her father some gray hair, and in the San Francisco case, a situation that could come back to bite him in the future. She did make a great friend and mentor in Mari Kemp while there and Mari has come to town too now to help her open her shop. Cari also reconnects and hires a friend from high school who is a marketing whiz but she needs more help than just the job. Ashley is a character that really grabbed me and I can't wait to see her life hopefully change in positive ways. We are introduced to a couple of possible romantic interests, a jerk detective, and other interesting residents of the California small town too. All are well-crafted, essential to the plot, and interesting in their own ways. I really enjoy the way Ms. Davis tells a story. This mystery was filled with twists and turns. The victim really had issues that served up a nice list of possible suspects. The detective had ulterior motives that really tested everyone involved. Some strange land deals play into the mix and Cari tries to so be a good friend to many while trying to follow her dad's orders to stay safe. The dialogues between the cast are both dynamic and true to life. But it is her delightful descriptive writing style that really makes her story so enjoyable. She can set a scene that paints a vivid picture in your mind while never being overly wordy. She seems to weigh each word and phrase carefully to really make them count. Readers can tell she did her research and knows her theme. The information she imparts about essential oils is so well presented. You can almost smell them too. You can't have a Kim Davis cozy mystery without some emphasis on food and let me tell you, all the trips Carissa made to the bakery down the street had me virtually adding pounds to my own body. Then again they could be actual pounds because she includes the recipe for Jasper's Triple Chocolate Rolls in the back of the book. She also includes an Aromatherapy Basic Care Guide that I found very helpful and renewed my interest in essential oils. This series is off to a marvelous start with Essentials for Murder. I can't wait for book #2. Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent About Kim Davis Kim Davis writes the Aromatherapy Apothecary cozy mystery series, the award-winning Cupcake Catering cozy mystery series, and the middle-grade fantasy adventure The Board Game Chronicles series. She has also written several children’s nature articles published in a variety of magazines. Kim Davis is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. She lives in Southern California with her husband and rambunctious mini Goldendoodle, Missy, who has become an inspiration for several plotlines. When she's not spending time with her granddaughters or chasing Missy around, she can be found either writing on her next book, working on her blog, Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder, or in the kitchen baking up yummy treats to share. Author Links: Website Facebook Twitter (X) Goodreads Pinterest Purchase Links: Amazon Barnes & Noble Apple Other Online Book Retailers Also written by Kim Davis This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Escape With Dollycas. Great Escapes Praise for Essentials of Murder: An Aromatherapy Apothecary Mystery by Kim Davis Great setting and a strong mystery pulled me in and I finished it in a day and a half. Highly recommend, and I’m looking forward to book two! ~Sarah Can't Stop Reading Books There's more to ESSENTIALS OF MURDER than meets the eye making it a solid start to an enjoyable new series. ~Cozy Up With Kathy Essentials of Murder is a fragrant tale with an angry neighbor, distilling oils, cruel vandals, finding an old friend, a protective father, a determined detective, and a killer conclusion. ~The Avid Reader TOUR PARTICIPANTS - Please visit all the stops. September 24 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT September 24 – Deal Sharing Aunt – SPOTLIGHT September 24 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT September 24 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT September 25 – Christy's Cozy Corners – SPOTLIGHT September 25 – Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense – SPOTLIGHT September 25 – Sarah Can't Stop Reading Books – REVIEW September 25 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT September 26 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW September 26 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT September 26 – Guatemala Loves to Read – CHARACTER GUEST POST September 26 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW September 27 – Angel's Book Nook – AUTHOR INTERVIEW September 27 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW September 27 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT September 28 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT September 28 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW* September 28 – The Mystery of Writing – SPOTLIGHT September 28 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT September 29 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT September 29 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT September 30 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – SPOTLIGHT September 30 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT September 30 – Boys' Mom Reads! – REVIEW September 30 – Reading Is My SuperPower – AUTHOR GUEST POST a Rafflecopter giveaway Have you signed up to be a Tour Host? Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today! Want to Book a Tour? Click Here Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.” Read the full article

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steveneveral · 7 months ago

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Things sometimes just work out...(23 June 2024)

Events in my life just have a way of working themselves out.

I don't know I can manifest these things, but I seem to be good at it.

One good example was back after I graduated high school.

To set this up: From my senior year of high school up until I joined the Army at 20 years old, I worked at a Target store. It was a great job for me to have at that time in my life. I learned a lot about financial and personal responsibility, as well as developing a great work ethic. I also developed a hate for stupid people, but that's a story for another time. 😅

Back to the story: I started out as a cart pusher, worked my way up to cashier, and then I finally worked my way to the electronics department. I'll return to this later.

I'm also going to return to my relationship with Ashley for this part of the story. Ashley and I met in our senior year of high school and we were able to keep our relationship going even after we graduated. The main reason for this is because Ashley decided to take a year off from school before going to college since high school burned her out to a pretty high degree. I didn't have plans for going to college at that time because I couldn't even begin to think of affording it. (I'll get back to this as well.)

The pleasant side effect of Ashley taking a gap year before college was it allowed us to spend more time together. Long story short, we had a great year together and learned a lot about each other. At the end of her gap year, she left to go to college in Colorado.

It was heartbreaking for us to split up so she could go to school out of state, but we also understood that we weren't going to get in the way of each other getting out of the working class working world that we knew would trap us sooner or later.

Let's get back to my job at Target. The same week that Ashley left for Colorado, I was back working in the Target electronics department. The thoughts of Ashley's recent departure were weighing heavy on my mind that day when someone came up to me who was looking to buy a TV.

He asked me some questions about what was the best TV was for his budget, and I went into my spiel about the best TVs we had for sale. He then asked me a question that, now that I look back on it, was a key life moment:

"Can I ask you something else: Have you ever wanted to do more with your life?"

I thought about it for a few moments, and said "Yes, I've been thinking about that a lot recently." He could tell I had something weighing heavy on my mind. We chatted for a bit as we made our way to the electronics register. I learned he was an Army recruiter who worked at an office not too far from where I was working.

As I was ringing up his new TV, he hands me his business card: It said "Recruiter, US Army", with his name and all his professional contact info.

"If you're interested in doing something with your life, give me a call."

Later that afternoon I was sitting in the break room looking at this business card, Ashley still on my mind, and slowly realizing the universe just gave me a message: "Steven, here's a way out of this retail-working world. You should consider taking it."

Again, this was in late August, less than one week after Ashley left for Colorado. By that October, I had considered the offer and decided to sign my name on the enlistment contract. Not only did I now have a path out of the retail-working world, but thanks to the GI Bill I would be able to go to college, something I could only dream about before.

Ashley had her way out, now I had my own way out. The universe closed the door on Ashley, but opened the door to the rest of my life.

I still had a few months left to work at that Target store before I had to leave for the Army. By March of the next year I had trained my replacement in the electronics department, and by April I was on my way to Basic Training.

And so, the path to where I am today began.

It's weird. The universe ended one thing I had going, but opened another door to help me move my life forward.

A long-ish story, yes, but it's a good example of how I know that I'm going to be all right.

#seoul #seattle #life thoughts #love #traveler #thoughts #travel #quotes #relationships #manifesting #life changes #heartbreak #personal growth #my thoughts #late night thoughts #universe

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mariespeaksg-dsgrace · 8 months ago

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Conspiracies

https://rumble.com/v4wqxb5-conspiracies-and-conspiracy-theories-jamestown-massacre-1978-acts-ch-2.html

Conspiracies & Conspiracy Theories: Jamestown Massacre ,November 18, 1978, "Spiritual tongue" acts ch 2

Welcome Back Child Of The Most High Living G-D! Book : https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-encyclopedia-of-conspiracies-and-conspiracy-theories_mike-newton/417243/?resultid=7faf4e5e-86ff-432c-b367-377bfc41a24f#edition=4291686&idiq=1416883

The Encyclopedia of Conspiracies and Conspiracy Theories is a non-fiction reference book that explores the world of conspiracy theories. It was published in 2005 by Chamberlain Bros. and features an introduction by editor Thom Burnett. The book discusses 365 conspiracy theories, covering a wide range of topics, from politics and government to business and everyday life.

The encyclopedia is divided into various sections, each focusing on a specific type of conspiracy theory. Some of the topics covered include:

Political conspiracies, such as the assassination of John F. Kennedy and the Watergate scandal Business conspiracies, such as the manipulation of the global economy and the control of major corporations Historical conspiracies, such as the Knights Templar and the Illuminati Paranormal conspiracies, such as alien abductions and UFO sightings Modern conspiracies, such as the 9/11 attacks and the COVID-19 pandemic Each entry in the encyclopedia provides a detailed explanation of the conspiracy theory, including its history, key players, and evidence. The book also includes photographs, illustrations, and other visual aids to help readers understand the complex concepts and theories.

The Encyclopedia of Conspiracies and Conspiracy Theories is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the world of conspiracy theories and the many theories that surround them. It provides a comprehensive and authoritative overview of the subject, making it an essential reference book for anyone looking to learn more about the world of conspiracy theories.

website of American cults: https://www.newyorker.com/books/under-review/how-cults-corrected-america

Ooooh, how I have missed our talks and time together. Although, the time off may not have been long in actual sense, for me time seem to drag on until well last week! Then I felt the rush of excitement that comes with every beginning of a new season.

Thank you to those returning, it has been a journey especially with all the updates and changes that tend to happen in the current, but not permanent (B’H) climate the world currently is in. Also, thank you to the new subscribers and followers. I do hope you enjoy the new season and whatever stage one is, please remember we all have to start somewhere and whenever in doubt, dismay, or wonder, ask G-d. Most importantly……….

ThankYouHaShem

My G-d, my Creator, my Father, and the True Love of my Life!

Please know that everyone will truly be in our prayers.

And you all are loved and missed.

with love..,

Marie

vocabulary #lesson #study #conspiracies #conspiracytheories

time #campuses #schools #cops #military #teachers #students

spirituality #christianity #rome325 #pagan #witches #witchcraft #sorcery #2024 #elections #TorahClub #torahforwomen #prayer #psalms #tehillim #meditation #hope #season6 #bookclub #books #school #homeschool #lastest #update #history #folklore #mtyhs #legends #navajo #dineh #dine #1stnations #losthistory #ancientones #africa #lookup #research #truehistory

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littlelieshq · 4 years ago

Photo

hey my loyal readers, ALISE here, your one and only source of gosan’s finest. aren’t you curious about what i have in store for you today? don’t lie, of course you are! well, today’s highlight happens to be the only and only BAEK MINGYU. the baek mingyu? yes, that’s right, him. you know him, don’t you? TWENTY-THREE, SENIOR AT GOSAN U? no? well—i don’t blame you if you don’t, if you’ve seen one gosaner, you’ve seen them all. but this one, he’s a little special—not everyone’s dad went to jail for tax fraud as the fall guy for their boss, after all.

interested? well why wouldn’t you be?

lucky for you i always deliver.

2008 Oct 18

to the parents of baek mingyu

mingyu is an excellent student, even as a kindergarten student. he shows strength in playing with his peers and in his manners. he already has mastered his alphabet as well as started to show strength in addition.

he is getting along with most of the students, and was recently able to break up a flight amongst two classmates, because of tha—

2013 Oct 18

to the parent of baek mingyu

mingyu is adjusting well to the fifth-grade curriculum, he is demonstrating strength in the subjects of reading and writing – as well as working well with his fellow peers and respecting his teachers

though he’s demonstrating strengths in his various school subjects, since the arrest of his father, mingyu has become unusually quiet during break times and spends his time at his desk alone. If this behavior continues we would like to set up an appointment to discuss further –

2016 Oct 18

dear baek mingyu

thank you for applying for soo-sin high school writing scholarship

congratulations – after reading your portfolio of writing samples, we’ve decided to award you the scholarship your collections of short stories were very enjoyable and sweet, and due to your submission winning , you have now been gifted with the ability to join our elite school at the fraction of the price.

2019 Oct 18

dear the parents of baek mingyu

your son – baek mingyu is excelling in all subjects of his schooling at the moment. he has high marks all around and seems to be very focused on his studies. he’s respected by his peers, which is evident when his classmates elected him for class president for their homeroom.

though he has no problem with the curriculum – it’s my advice as his homeroom teacher that mingyu should work on his extracurricular activities, as his third year is fast approaching.

2021 Oct 18

dear baek mingyu

congratulations on being accepted to gosan u. down below is your to do list if you consider attending the university for the spring semester.

2024 Oct 18

dear mingyu

you’ve only just entered the service, and I miss you dearly. your brother and sister are missing you as well, though chan won’t admit it. i can’t believe my oldest boy is already serving in the airforce. your father wishes he could be by your side now, the military is such an important part of a man’s life, and to go without your father is such a sad thing.

mingyu, your father should be returning home by your first leave, please try to come visit.

2026 Oct 18

dear bae mingyu

we’re sorry to inform you but the winter internship for samsung biologics has been rewarded to someone else. thank you for applying, but we decided someone else would be a better fit.

2026 Nov 18

dear mingyu,

your mother told me you were having trouble finding an internship in your career path, as a student at gosan u you have many options. if you need help finding those connections, please send a reply back. i know a few people.

i know we rarely speak son, but i-

mingyu scoffs, his eyes squinting as he scanned the letter, before quickly throwing it into his trash. who gave that old man his address? he’s done enough with his so called connections.the senior already wanted to puke every time he saw his father grovel at the feet of the men who made him a scapegoat, mingyu wanted no part in that for himself.

#ll:accepted #krp #llsp:fm

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gardenpeony71-blog · 5 years ago

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Ask Sam Mailbag: 01.18.19

After watching the Lakers game and reviewing box score from the loss to the Nuggets I see a team with no go-to guy and no special playmaker who can score and get others shots and make them better, no defense, no shooting. Where do we go from here with this team?

Craig Chandler

Sam: Hey, what about how difficult it is to do one of these Ask Sam columns on a nine-game losing streak? Anyone thinking about me! So, how about looking at it this way: There's no great way to consider what's been going on with the Bulls lately other than to reassure you that,

The sun'll come out Tomorrow Bet your bottom dollar That tomorrow There'll be sun Just thinkin' about Tomorrow Clears away the cobwebs And the sorrow 'Til there's none When I'm stuck a with day That's gray, And lonely Carrying a nine-game losing streak and feeling eek! I just stick out my chin And Grin, And Say, Oh My The sun'll come out Tomorrow So ya gotta hang on 'Til tomorrow Come what may Tomorrow, tomorrow maybe they'll win tomorrow You're always A day Away

Quvenzhané Wallis with an assist from Sam Smith

I do not profess to be a NBA coach evaluator but it seems to me this team is not playing up to its potential. There certainly appears to be enough talent on this team to accidently win a game once in a while. The players seem upset about this especially after the Denver loss. I think it is not too early to judge Coach Boylen. From afar it seems this team is not responding to his coaching. My question is while I am a full fan of Paxson, I wonder why not name Boylen interim as most teams do instead of giving him a two year contract?

Dwayne Corry

Sam: I need to straighten at least that out. Jim Boylen did not get an extension. He was on an assistant coaching contract through the 2019-20 season matched with Fred Hoiberg, which is standard. When an assistant is promoted to head coach whether called interim or not it is routine for the assistant to be given a slight bump in salary—same as Larry Drew in Cleveland—for the additional duties and responsibilities. Boylen got that as soon as he acceded to the job as does every coach in that situation. He was already under contract through the end of next season and still is with the appropriate addition for being asked to do more as would be with any of us in most any job. I don't disagree with the absence of an interim title because your statement to the players should be we are serious and this isn't a substitute teacher, so put away your spit balls and whoopee cushions (what? they don't do that anymore?).

OK, it doesn't look like it sometimes, but a Western Conference trip in the midst of trades, injuries and reworking a playing system in the middle of the season isn't exactly a stable time. The Bulls say after every season everyone is evaluated and I assume that will be the situation again. But Boylen also has not had a training camp or a chance to hire his own staff or much consultation about personnel. Tough to judge.

I know you don't pay too much attention to college hoops, what are your thoughts about Zion? I know a guy who knows a guy that says he may not be worth a long term investment due to his style of play and weight... his knees may not hold up. I personally think he may be a tweener... he may be too short for a power forward and he may be slow/ heavy for small forward. Great athlete and great college player, but I don't see him being close to a superstar in the NBA. if we end up with him, where does he play? Can he play small forward? We already have 2 guys at power forward in Markannen and Carter.

Joe Dobrzynski

Sam: If he's as good as many suggest, then he plays wherever he wants. True, I don't watch much college ball—lately the NBA ball I have been watching has been bad enough—but I have ventured to a Duke game on occasion and see some flaws, like shooting, though I have yet to give him a physical. A lot of top picks don't work out. It happens. No matter what the NBA GMs say now, everyone wanted Greg Oden and not Kevin Durant. The kid looks like he could be a star, and, especially for the Bulls that's what they lack. I like Markkanen and LaVine a lot, and believe if you get them a star to attract some attention instead of all of it going to them they will be much better. Maybe the Duke kid does fade out. Who knows. Remember Brandon Roy who went from Rookie of the Year surprise to high school coach? But the draft is about taking a chance on a star. There are no guarantees. He looks to be the biggest star in this draft. I'd have no hesitation. And imagine if I were actually watching.

Can your remember NBA players from former generations who seemed way too athletic and powerful for their body to handle the rigorous of the league longterm? D-Rose comes to mind, Zion scares me, Larry Johnson? Jordan and Lebron do not really qualify to me, they are exceptional athletes as well, but their bodies did not seem as freakish as Zion's and Rose's jump, stop and acceleration ability was off the charts.

Sven Ruppert

Sam: Injuries are bad luck; Zion would be good luck.

Pundits everywhere, including those attached to the Bulls, are all salivating over Zion Williamson - and the Bulls are fast amassing a record that could make ZW a possibility in the next draft. My question is - in terms of fitting in with the Bulls - is Zion more of a short 4 on a team that seems all "4ed-up", or more of an oversized 3 who will have trouble guarding smaller, quicker players at that position? (a Jabari Parker with less range?). I know he's a talent, but who sits when he takes the floor and is he a Boylen-kind-of-guy?

Dennis Novak

Sam: I can see where the fan interest is going. As I suggested, I'm fairly confident he's Boylen's type of guy. It's not that difficult to fall in love with someone special.

What a great job the Nets have done so far this year. After arguably the worst NBA trade ever in 2014 it appeared the Nets would take a decade to recover. They traded away their draft picks for 2014, 2016 and 2018. In addition Boston got to swap picks with them in 2017. Success didn't seem possible until they could finally get their draft picks from 2019 going forward. The playoffs, maybe in 2024. Halfway through the season and they are 23-23 after winning an amazing game against the Rockets. The GM, coach and team are to be congratulated. The are an incredibly resilient bunch of unrecognizable and discarded players. Treveon Graham, Joe Harris, Rodeons Kurucs, Jarret Allen and D'Angelo Russell were their starting lineup against the Rockets. Against the Rockets they were down by 14 with a few minutes to go in regulation and tied it. In overtime, they were down by 6 with about a minute to go and won it. They help define resilience. This team finally has their own 1st round pick this year and chose winning to tanking. They have skipped the tank to build a winning culture. Kudos to a really great team. Can you make your magic now happen for the Bulls?

Bruce Roberts

Sam: Well, it has been my philosophy in avoiding the indignity and fraud of losing on purpose because losing makes you a loser. I fear it is occurring with the Bulls to some extent, though I am facing some ambivalence considering the two months lost to injuries and the coaching change and the hole so deep that perhaps it might be best for the rest of this season to not try so hard. Though I wince when I even think about it. The losing model guarantees you nothing, and I agree, good for the Nets for putting a very nice team together. But their problem with some good trades—and I still count the Jimmy Butler one good for the Bulls—is that they have yet to have that transcendent star and are last in the league in attendance. Maybe in free agency this summer? Winning is a curious thing. It only seems understandable when you examine the successful teams. But that is the best team I've enjoyed from Brooklyn since the '56 Dodgers.

After reading your take on Jabari Parker being back in the rotation after their loss to the Lakers, it made me think back to when you've said you're not a fan of his demeanor towards the media. Too terse, always on the defensive, etc with Zach Lavine being basically the polar opposite. That said, It made me wonder who have been some of your favorite players to speak to over the years?

Nicholas Hill

Sam: First regarding Jabari; his attitude and demeanor were awful when he came to the Bulls. Why, I never could figure. All everyone said was he was different, but not evil. Actually, since the benching, which wasn't a great idea, and in the return he's been much better. The point wasn't so much he wasn't cooperative. There were plenty of guys to talk to who are terrific people; but it was the way he was answering simple questions with defiant, one word answers. It's mire an insult to people at their jobs, failing to give respect to someone's job. Jabari never once was asked back then an unfair or even probing question. Anyway, he's been fine lately, if not detailed. All just about everyone in media really asks for is simple decency.

The truth is there are so, so many really good people in the NBA, kids who came from difficult backgrounds who are grateful for the opportunity, friendly, savvy and eager to help. Some of my favorites over the years for being open, outgoing, helpful and friendly were Elton Brand, Larry Bird, Steve Kerr, Magic Johnson, Phil Jackson, Joe Dumars, Kyle Korver, Jerry West, Jordan (pre-championships), Isiah Thomas, Johnny Kerr, Joe Caldwell, Chet Walker, Horace Grant, Charles Barkley, Mack Calvin, Wayne Embry, Brent Barry, Grant Hill, Bill Cartwright, Pau Gasol, Derrick Rose and too many more I'll regret leaving out.

I really don't have an opinion on Boylan yet as a coach, but I have read "experts" opinions on the internet which feel the Bulls young talent is not developing since he took over (They were all hurt under Hoiberg so nothing to really compare). Do you feel there is acceptable growth in the Bulls players as individuals and as a group under the watch?

Jason Doll

Sam: I know from being a parent we shouldn't monitor growth by the week or month. I know it's different in sports, and there have been some setbacks the last month or so. But let's be real, as it were. It's a month with a new coach, players off injuries having lost their preseason and yadda, yadda. I know no one likes hearing it and a losing streak headed to the bottom of the league and a succession of blowout losses is depressing. We saw plenty of good things from LaVine pretty much until the coaching change and plenty from Markkanen, who came back strong against the Nuggets. The glimpse showed you he has a lot of stuff. Carter is that tough guy the Bulls always talk about. The Bulls talk about growth, too, but I assume they mean over a season and not a losing streak. We should know a lot more by summer when the Bulls make Williamson player/coach/primary stockholder and the new team logo.

The Wolves (while not amazing) have twice as many wins as the Bulls while playing in the Western conference. Meanwhile, the Bulls are actually worse this year. If the future success of the Bulls (drafting Zion) has nothing to do with the assets/players acquired in the Butler trade doesn't that mean GarPax lost that transaction?

Matthew Ruth

Sam: Curious way of looking at that. Though I am going to Williamson's Hall of Fame enshrinement in September. I think the Bulls would make that deal again, and I'm fairly sure the Timberwolves would not, and certainly not Thibodeau, which probably would mean he still was working there. I'm still on board for LaVine, Markkanen and Dunn for Covington and Saric.

I'm interested to see what happens the rest of this season. Apparently, Boylen will be gradually introducing more pace. Let's see how Dunn plays as that happens.I think he's a very solid player and that he can play faster than we've seen. But can he see the court well & drop dimes on the run? Can he take more 3's and still make a good % of them? It's hard to assess his fit into an offense they aren't really running yet. Hopefully, we'll know enough after 39 more games to make a sound decision. For that matter, if we draft a point guard it can still be a competition for the starting job. Dunn would be an awfully strong player to have coming off the bench. The great teams have player like that – who might start elsewhere – on their benches. Why not us? But from the Nuggets game there's no doubt in my mind now that the tank is on. Boylen's comments are a dead give-away. Yes, it's "a season of discovery"… yet another one. Anyway, I'm giving the game ball to RoLo – 17 & 6 in 19 min. on 8-10 shooting plus some nice intangibles. Everybody else mostly stunk.

Art Alenik

Sam: When the season started the No. 1 question on most lists was Kris Dunn, and I think it still is. The Denver game was disappointing—yes, in many respects—the way Dunn made a point after the Lakers game of apologizing, which I didn't think was necessary as bad games happen, but then didn't do much again. End of bad trip, altitude, a team making 20 threes. It may have looked worse than it was. Dunn has had some very effective games, and his numbers are respectable at 12.5 and 6.5 coming off missing two months. But I'm still having difficulty figuring out what he exactly is in this era of high scoring, hot shooting point guards.

I don't think sixth man is a horrible thing, though many NBA players, like Parker, have disagreed. It seems like a nice way to make a living. Having a guy like Dunn coming in as a combo guard may be the stuff of an excellent team. I don't think the Bulls have fully made up their minds on Dunn and it's hard to get a read from Dunn about how he'd deal with such a competition and situation because he is so guarded. Hey, he's a guard in case you missed that one. I get it. He's only played a bit more than a month, so it's not so much the tank as many of the the questions don't have answer yet.

Who is Zach Lavine as a ball player or are you still waiting to see? He is having a good statistical year and the team is not winning. I see a talented offensive player with an innate ability to score and on the defensive end someone who will not be a difference maker. Will he be more than a great scorer? Is it fair to start the Jamal Crawford comparisons and if that's the career he has, is it good enough for the Bulls to continue to keep him on their rebuilding roster? If he continues to put up just under 24, 4, and 4, will there be serious suitors on the trade market? Is he the person the Bulls should be building a team around or will his need to have the ball on the offensive end, hinder the progression of young players?

Tim Koncel

Sam: I don't think it's either you're Michael Jordan or James Harden or you're Shaun Livingston. I like Zach as a player a lot. Many don't like him as much as I do. I don't worry about the defensive component as much since James Harden seems to have done OK without it. Yes, Harden is a build around, and maybe Zach isn't quite that player, but he makes tough shots, takes tough shots, can get to the basket and is a good shooter and great athlete. Who are the Bulls to say that's not good enough for them? Enough with these Shaquille Harrisons and David Nwabas who compete like crazy. That's not the NBA. Maybe it's the NBA bench, but they're in every draft. In the second round. Zach has a chance to be a star, and those are the players the Bulls need to be accumulating. Zach has flaws, but this is his first full season back after his ACL and has never started more than 47 games in an NBA season at 23 years old. I think the Bulls these days are pushing him toward too much two-point play, and he's a willing player trying to do what is asked. My guess is he's not so sure it's what's best. But he's trying to be a good teammate and professional. The Bulls could do a lot worse. And have. More often than not, someone else's spouse or date isn't exactly who they seem from your vantage.

Its not so much the recent turmoil that has made me anxious about the rebuild it's just that even on a "good" night (not getting blown out at Utah on 2nd if back to back), the way the bulls are losing - take 9 more shots shoot a decent percentage but make 9 fewer 3s - is troubling given both the analytics or really, math (you can score more counting by 3s) and trends in the nba. In other words - isn't the urgent need drafting or signing guys who either can hit the 3 or have potential to be good 3 point shooters. I suppose if valentine can come back he would fit that description.

Guy Danilowitz

Sam: I'm fairly sure that's obvious to them as well. Yes, they could use some Valentine, and Holiday made threes (in streaks). I'd look at it as a larger issue if this were the final version of the team. I've mentioned the need for a wing player who can make plays off the dribble and shoot, a backup big man, preferably a defensive seven footer to tag team with Wendell Carter Jr., perhaps a point guard and, certainly, shooting. I'm not sure how the team sees it, but I can see Carter, Lauri Markkanen and Zach LaVine as core players going forward. There may be others, but they're still on audition regarding play or salary. There's another high draft pick coming and a big money free agent or two this summer. Probably not one of the top two, but I believe a good player and maybe two. I don't see Markkanen or LaVine yet as that No. 1 option to build around, so they have to show as well, and they still are very young. Can you get a No. 1 in the draft? Maybe. If not in free agency, what about an ensemble and a lead like Dirk Nowitzki, who was good enough to be the best player on a title team and several close. Markkanen could be that good. If this were Year 4 I'd be more worried. There are a lot of moves still to make.

The Bulls now reportedly refuse to buy out lopez if he cant be dealt knowing he is going to the Warriors. Will garpax throw away a couple million over this fight and not buy him out since he obviously has zero trade value? Or is he the head of the "leadership council" so someone we need to play out his contract? Maybe we can do lopez a favor a favor, give him his entire salary in a buyout so we can get another extended run of felicio playing 20-30 minutes a night....need to see how his development is coming along again....or just burn that money too with asiks and jabaris and cam paynes and play carter jr 48 minutes a night?

Jake Henry

Sam: OK, you’re frustrated and needed to lash out and vent. I’ll wait a bit. OK, ready? Carter was almost out for six weeks, it seemed the other day, so what was the hurry to offload Lopez? And then he was. The Bulls late Friday said Carter actually could miss two to three months after further reevaluations of his injury by hand specialists when the team returned to Chicago. And so now perhaps surgery. Another bad break in a broken season. But more than that this is a larger issue for the NBA that it won’t face; it’s another rich get richer, and the Bulls aren’t rich now. What some top teams apparently are doing—I can’t say I know for sure the Warriors are among them—is telling agents to get their players released or bought out for a small amount and they’ll bring them in on a minimum to give them some money back and then they can add playoff money and maybe be on a title team and their team gets nothing because these teams won’t trade because they are waiting for the buyouts.

So a team like the Bulls trying to get something for a player like Lopez or Jabari Parker gets shut out and the team like maybe the Warriors or Celtics or Raptors or Rockets gets to pick up a player without giving up anything. The NBA has said it wants to level the playing field for all teams and open up trade opportunities, but this buyout period inhibits trades and discriminates most against losing teams like the Bulls trying to add a player or draft pick. The NBA should eliminate the buyout fraud period because it helps just the few top teams, and the Bulls are right to say they won’t grant a buyout because it is being used against them by the top teams to help hold them down. It baffles me why anyone would be mad at the Bulls other than maybe Lopez’ family. And since when are fans upset because the Bulls won’t be able to make more money? Talk about entering Bizarro world.

With your comments on how sloppy Gobert was and with what should be a realization that, against the better 7 foot centers, Wendell Carter may always be overmatched, I have to respond to a comment you made a couple of weeks ago regarding a player who is truly a top 3 center in the league, Nikola Jokic.

After watching him destroy Portland with a 40/10/8 performance, I think that you need to make an effort to actually watch a few Nuggets games so you can make a more informed assessment. In doing so, he totally outplayed the guy who should be the Bulls starting center, Jusuf Nurkic, who is averaging 15.2/10.2/1.36Blks in just 27 minutes per game. Jokic 19.7/10.2/7.6 with a career .356 3PT% is far more valuable to his team than any other center including Embiid. His 21 career triple doubles in 270 games places him second all time behind Wilt's 78 which, if he stays healthy until he is 30, he will eclipse.

Peggy Flynn

Sam: So why would the Bulls want Nurkic if Markkanen actually played as well as Jokic Thursday? And as one correspondent from above mentioned, it was game ball for Lopez playing against Jokic. Jokic is terrific. Yes, I did see the Nuggets play. And, unfortunately, up close Thursday. They're pretty good; if they think they are contenders, Golden State straightened that out earlier in the week. But they've built a very good team; good for them. Yes, I know, the snarky Nurkic thing is the Bulls deal to move up in the draft to take Doug McDermott. The Nuggets took Nurkic, whom they traded for Plumlee, and Gary Harris. They obviously did better, but it's only fair to judge at the time. And I know not a single Bulls fan ever wrote me asking that the Bulls please draft Nurkic. And moving up in the draft from outside the lottery to inside the lottery is always viewed as a coup and was that night. What's so great about Nos. 16 and 19? Like to have those picks again this season instead of a lottery pick? The Bulls were at least aggressive in search of talent. It didn't work out. It happens in the draft a lot. But it made sense. I still can't figure out why Doug can't make more shots.

Anyway, as for Jokic, he's really good. I agreed that. All I believed, and I still do, is he's not an MVP candidate and maybe a top 20 NBA player. Which is very good. The Bulls would like to have a top 20 player. But he's still not even been in one playoff game in his career and has been playing pro ball five or six years. It takes actually being on the winning team in one playoff game before I make someone a top 10 player and MVP candidate. He's having a terrific season. I'd still like a look at his games this spring. Get back to me then. I can be persuaded.

While I used to enjoy the three-point shot I've come to dislike them over the past five years or so as the league as gone so heavily towards them. I don't so much mind that the big man has been de-emphasized, though I wasn't rooting for that either. The NBA has always been my favorite sport/league to watch as it has the best athletes in the world, and because they're not wearing helmets or padding, you can really see that athleticism displayed every game. All the three-point shooting has reduced the number of times per game that players are attacking the hoop and thus displaying their otherworldly natural talents. Of course they still do so some, but now it seems the top goal is to draw contact and a foul and actually attempting to make the shot is just a bonus. Much like baseball has become too much about home run, strikeout or walk, basketball is too much three point shot or free throws. I may be a bit hyperbolic but the emphasis on efficiency in sports - which I understand makes sense in terms of impacting winning - is making them less aesthetically pleasing and thus less fun to watch.

Steph Curry is great and fun to watch, but in terms of his natural athletic and physical talents, where do you think he'd have stacked up in the NBA of the 80s and 90s?

Cameron Watkins

Sam: I feel like the sergeant driving the car in the MASH movie who was always grumbling, "Damn Army" about the behavior of the crazy doctors. Damn Analytics! Again! But relax, not nearly as bad as baseball. I always say great players would be great in any generation and it goes backward as well. Curry wouldn't have the freedom to roam like he does, and some coach would bench him for shooting way out there. Back then they made you throw it inside or sit down no matter how many you made in practice. But Curry is much more clever with the drive than just his shooting. He would be a player like Cleveland's Mark Price, who was a small man and great shooter and one of the best pick and roll guards I ever saw. At least before Steve Nash. Price was a great shooter and multiple all-NBA player and would have been many more if not for injuries. But playing with a seven footer in an era of great centers, his major responsibility was to make his center look better than him. That would have been the difference for Curry, who would have been an All-Star, and better than his dad, who could shoot about as well, but couldn't dribble.

What is Boylen doing with these rotations? We leaves the starters in deep each game, evidenced by the game against the Nuggets when Lavine, Dunn, and Markkanen were all on the court with 6:30 left in the 4th down 35. Also, in the beginning of the 3rd, (which is when most teams go on their run) Boylen usually keeps the starters in for the first 8 minutes with no subs, allowing the Bulls to get blown out. The lineup of Dunn, Lavine, Hutch, Markkanen, and Carter is -29 in terms of point differential. This is not something that should be happening with the talent. It's time to stop allowing the starters to continue to make mistakes and let the rest of the bench contribute, as they have recently outplayed the opponent's bench

Adam Richard

Sam: Venting, also? I've gotten plenty today. I'm not sure you want to see Selden, Harrison, Felicio and Blakeney against Denver's starters. I'm not getting as much mail asking for them to play more as much as you you may think.

Source: https://www.nba.com/bulls/news/ask-sam-mailbag-011819

#read more #see more #check it out #interesting #learn more

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newidaho · 6 years ago

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7. The New Idaho Museum of Oddities

Don’t have the time/patience/desire to read with your eyes? Don’t have eyes? Well, have your friend read you this: You can check out the audiobook for free on Apple, Google, Stitcher, or Spotify. Subscribe for new episodes every Wednesday!

20 December 2054

Johnna Johnson had only been at work for 5 hours, but time was moving quickly. After all, she was getting paid to do essentially what she did at home. That was the beauty of the New Idaho Museum of Oddities—they gave you a comfy seat, some snacks, and they didn’t ask that you do anything but show off your Oddity.

Like many in NIMO, Johnna’s ‘Oddity’ was her weight. Truthfully, Johnna considered this rather offensive, but the ease of the job made it worth the degrading job description most days. And at 375 pounds, Johnna was well qualified to ride in the trailer.

Most days, it wasn’t so bad. Johnna sat down in her seat, watched a Virtual Movie through her Lenses, read a Virtual Book, or browsed the internet. An entire Virtual World lay just behind her Lenses. It wasn’t a problem to spend six hours without moving around. Who liked to move, anyway?

Johnna had always been quite heavy. She was born in 2024 to John Johnson, a single father in Southern Idaho. Having grown up on a farm, Johnna had had every opportunity to eat healthy growing up. John, however, had never enforced this habit, and by the time Johnna learned the health benefits to eating her father’s crops, she was already well addicted to the junk food that was always kept around the house.

Johnna’s father had scrapped together enough money to move to New Idaho in 2030, already sensing that it might be the next big thing, and he brought the 6-year-old Johnna with him into the mountain ring. He only had enough money to buy a small plot of land in Southern New Idaho. Though farming was a much more lucrative profession in New Idaho than it was in the rest of the state, the size of John’s land was good for hardly more than subsistence farming with a very small profit on the side.

As a farmer in New Idaho, John was exempt from all taxes, and was therefore able to live comfortably. Johnna, however, was still heavily bothered by her family’s lack of upward mobility and became obsessed with the rich Lucid Labs children at Sky High. In her attempts to jumpstart her own social mobility, Johnna went seeking attention wherever she could get it.

During this quest for recognition, Johnna wound up pregnant at 17 by a man who subsequently wanted nothing to do with her. She was too proud to take child support (a move she later sorely regretted). The last she had heard, the father had gone to University out of state, and had never returned to New Idaho. This was probably for the best—she couldn’t imagine him coming into the MoF to see her now.

Johnna kept her pregnancy a secret from her father as long as she could, but after 8 months, and with no way to hide the inevitable physical manifestation of her mistake, she came clean to her father, who immediately expelled her from his house. He hardly had enough money to take care of Johnna, and he sure as hell wasn’t going to pay for her sin.

Johnna found opportunity to visit her father a couple more times before his death in 2043. Charlie, her child, was 2. He would never know his father or his grandfather. Charlie and his mother were all the family either of them had in the world.

In search of a new family, Johnna stumbled upon FuTech Christian Church. It was a beautiful opportunity—not only did their message provide her with hope going forward, but she never had to meet any of the congregation in person. She could appear or disappear as she wished while she took in the messages. She knew that many of those she saw in service were connected to the local network, but many also came from out of town, interested to see what a FuTech Service from New Idaho looked like. This provided Johnna with a diverse community who only wished to build her up as she went through her always-difficult time raising Charlie. They even offered him free enrollment on need-based scholarship to the FuTech Virtual Home School.

Thus, through her drive, her faith, and her gig with NIMO, Johnna had carved out a decent survival for her and her son.

The time was nearing 1400h, and there had been a good bit of traffic. The New Idaho Mall was still rather busy with last-minute shoppers. You could tell some of the visitors felt a little bad for staring at fat people, but it had been surprisingly normalized to a large extent in the New Idaho society.

Not everyone, however, was so tactful. Johnna could sense bad energy as soon as the goateed man in the yellow polo stepped into the trailer.

‘Goddamn, Shelly, truck G is a heavy one indeed!’

‘Ricky, stop.’

‘I’m just saying, I’m just saying. Look,’ he lowered his voice to a whisper that Johnna could still hear, ‘those two are even eating Oreos—it’s almost like you can see them growing as we speak.’

‘Ricky.’

‘No, really, I wonder if they get a raise in pay if they have a raise in weight. Don’t you think that would just make sense?’

Johnna got up from her horizontal position and looked at the visitors. A mistake— when you look into the eyes of a visitor, like staring down a vicious dog, you open yourself up to attack.

‘Hey there!’ Ricky said to Johnna. ‘How’s the day going?’

Johnna nodded.

‘Do they not let you speak? You’re human just like me—I can see that even if other people think there are four little men inside you pulling the levers.’

Johnna remained silent.

‘Come on, have a little fun! Are you having a good day? Getting paid a good bit?’

Johnna could tell she wasn’t getting out of this without a response. ‘Yes, it’s been a pretty good day.’

‘There we go. I knew you could talk. So hey, then, let me ask you this—you happy doing what you’re doing? You feel good about this stuff?’

‘Ricky, come on.’ Shelly hit her husband on the thigh.

‘It’s an innocent question,’ Ricky said. ‘I really want to know. Is this a good gig? You like doing this stuff?’

‘Ricky, obviously she doesn’t. And I’m sure she doesn’t like you talking to her this way, do you?’ Shelly asked Johnna.

‘It’s not obvious, Shelly. If she didn’t like it, she wouldn’t be doing it.’ Ricky turned back to Johnna. ‘So do you like it? Wait, I have a question—were you always this fat, or did you put on the pounds to get the gig? Can’t be that bad, huh, just sitting here doing nothing but talking to losers like me all day.’ Ricky laughed. ‘No answer? Come on! Do you like it or not? I won’t judge. Oh, and follow-up to my last question—cuz Shelly’s gonna hate it, but I really want to know—how did you get that fat?’

‘Rick—We’re leaving.’

‘Come on, wait, give her a minute to answer. You gonna answer?’

Ricky was looking at Johnna with a smile on his face. It almost seemed like the man meant well—like he was genuinely curious and truly didn’t care about how rude he was being.

‘It’s not a bad way to make a living,’ Johnna said.

‘Not bad, huh? Well, I’m glad you like it!’

‘Okay, Ricky?’ said Shelly. ‘Now can we go?’

‘Wait wait, though—she didn’t answer my last question—how the hell did you get that fat?’

Johnna didn’t want to answer this man’s question—it was downright mean, though the innocent look on his face somehow communicated otherwise. The question was, at the very least, objectively rude. But for some reason she felt she owed him an answer.

‘Honestly, just what you would guess,’ Johnna said. ‘My diet and a sedentary lifestyle.’ He had made her admit it to both him and herself. She pushed down the emotions bringing tears to her eyes—she had affected an attitude to herself and others of pride in her body, and she did not care to admit that it could have been different. She preferred to believe she had little to no agency.

‘Aw, damn, I guess I could have guessed that one,’ Ricky said. ‘Oh, well. I guess the rest of my questions will wait for another day. Truck G! Another one to check off my list, huh, honey?’

‘Alright, Ricky, let’s go.’

The blue-and-yellow-clad couple headed out of the trailer, leaving Johnna to herself for the rest of her shift. Only an hour. A six-hour shift altogether. Based on the traffic today, her pay could very well come out to $75. That’s 1/4 of rent in the Jungle. Not so bad for a day’s work. Three more days like this, and rent was covered, then just some extra money for—for—

Dammit. That man, Ricky, had opened a wound. She was now feeling guilty for thinking about the type of food she knew she would spend the extra money on. But her weight—it wasn’t all just food, was it? It was her genes, it was the fact that she couldn’t afford a gym, it was the fact that she hardly had any money, and the money she did get went to the survival of herself and Charlie. And adding on to everything, she just didn’t have the time.

Yeah, screw him. Johnna stuck out the rest of her shift, received her tips for the day, and walked down 11th street to Slick Business, the coffee shop across from the Government Building on the New Idaho Mall. She went to the desk and ordered a Large White Chocolate Mocha with whipped cream. The coffee shop was still busy at this time of day, but she found a spot to sit on the second level.

As she sat down with her coffee, Johnna flipped through different news articles on her Lenses, but her mind kept coming back to that man in the Museum today. He had asked her if she liked working there, and if she had tried to get fat so she could have that job. He had a point—if she lost weight, she would no longer be an Oddity. The Government was basically paying her to stay unhealthy. And if she was unhealthy, she wouldn’t have the energy to get another job. When she looked at it that way, it seemed the Government was basically keeping her captive.

Johnna did a quick search for “New Idaho Government” and looked through the most recent news articles—nothing she wanted. She tried “New Idaho Government Terrible”. Now she was getting somewhere—certainly someone had thought like her.

One of the first hits caught her eye: a website for a group called “NIANS”—New Idahoans Against New Slavery”. She opened the page. On the left side of her lenses, hovering over the table in front of her, was an image of a black stone fist raised into the air. On the right side was a sort of manifesto. She skimmed through it.

NIANS, apparently, was taking a stand against what they believed to be a new form of slavery or indentured servitude—the low-income government work programs, also known as Guaranteed Basic Income. They argued that most of these jobs were demeaning (something clicked for Johnna when she read that one) or traumatic. After that was a long paragraph explaining the negative effects of Mineshaft on the population, specifically the youth.

At the very bottom of the page, Johnna saw a call to action: “NIANS hopes to eradicate poverty through common sense solutions. We plan to force the New Idaho Government to raise our minimum wage to the federal level, something that should have been done a long time ago. Additionally, we plan to ask for an increase in wages for those serving in such traumatic and degrading programs as MineShaft and the Museum of Oddities.”

Johnna’s eyes lit up. she hadn’t known what she was looking for, but this was it—a way out for her and her son—a chance to never work again—NIANS. As she drained the last of her Mocha, Johnna waved her hand over the link: “How Can I Volunteer?”

#New Idaho #Ben Vizy #New Novel #Writing #Writing Community #Novelist #Novel Writing #2054 #Augmented Reality #Futurism #Alternative Income #Guaranteed Basic Income #NIANS #GBI #Museum of Fat

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