#AFTER BEING STUCK IN CITY CENTER FROM 9:30 TO 6 PM

[texas-bbq-pringles]

i love student housing (get me the fuck out of here)

[newstfionline]

Friday, January 29, 2021

Seafarers stuck at sea ‘a humanitarian crisis’ (BBC) The fate of more than 200,000 seafarers who play a crucial role in keeping global trade flowing is being labelled a “humanitarian crisis at sea”. More than 300 firms and organisations are urging for them to be treated as “key workers”, so they can return home without risking public health. More than 90% of global trade��from household goods to medical supplies—is moved by sea. But governments have banned crew from coming ashore amid Covid-19 fears. Shipping firms are warning global leaders that ignoring the risk to crews’ mental and physical wellbeing threatens global supply chains, which are crucial to vaccinating the world from coronavirus. Seafarers usually work 10-12 hours shifts, seven days a week to man ships, on four or six-month-long contracts, followed by a period of leave. But due to the coronavirus crisis and travel bans brought in by many governments to combat new variants of Covid-19, hundreds of thousands of crew are spending extended periods at sea, far beyond the expiry of their contracts.

US terrorism alert warns of politically motivated violence (AP) The Department of Homeland Security issued a national terrorism bulletin Wednesday warning of the lingering potential for violence from people motivated by anti-government sentiment after President Joe Biden’s election, suggesting the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol may embolden extremists and set the stage for additional attacks. The department did not cite any specific plots, but pointed to “a heightened threat environment across the United States” that it believes “will persist” for weeks after Biden’s Jan. 20 inauguration. It is not uncommon for the federal government to warn local law enforcement through bulletins about the prospect for violence tied to a particular event or date, such as July 4. But this particular bulletin, issued through the department’s National Terrorism Advisory System, is notable because it effectively places the Biden administration into the politically charged debate over how to describe or characterize acts motivated by political ideology and suggests that it sees violence aimed at overturning the election as akin to terrorism.

Biden embraces order and routine in his first week (Washington Post) Almost every day of his young tenure, President Biden has entered the State Dining Room, a portrait of Abraham Lincoln looking down and wood burning in the fireplace. He speaks on the planned topic of the day. He sits at an undersized desk and searches for a pen to sign his latest stack of executive orders. Within 30 minutes of entering the camera’s frame, he has left it. It is all plotted and planned. Little room is left for the unscripted or the unusual. Biden’s first full week in office has showcased an almost jarring departure from his predecessor’s chaotic style. The result so far is a 9-to-5 presidency—a tightly scripted burst of activity that was charted over the past few months, as Biden seeks to avoid heated conflict and stick to his plan of lowering the political temperature to a level that many Americans can tune out. The question to be answered in coming weeks, however, is whether Biden’s orderly presidency matches this moment of national urgency, and whether it’s sustainable in the face of multiple crises. Biden himself said last week that the government was on a “wartime” footing—then took the weekend off from public appearances. While former president Donald Trump’s chaotic presidency was unsettling for many Americans, it is unclear for now whether Biden’s more restrained style is an antidote or an overcorrection—and whether he can protect his agenda from being engulfed by the political wars raging around him.

Biden Re-Examining U.S. Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia, U.A.E. (WSJ) The Biden administration has imposed a temporary freeze on U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia and is scrutinizing purchases by the United Arab Emirates as it reviews billions of dollars in weapons transactions approved by former President Donald Trump, according to U.S. officials. The review, the officials said, includes the sale of precision-guided munitions to Riyadh, as well as top-line F-35 fighters to Abu Dhabi, a deal that Washington approved as part of the Abraham Accords, in which the Emirates established diplomatic relations with Israel. U.S. officials said it isn’t unusual for a new administration to review arms sales approved by a predecessor, and that despite the pause, many of the transactions are likely to ultimately go forward. But in line with campaign pledges made by President Biden, Washington is seeking to ensure that American weapons aren’t used to further the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen, where its conflict with the Iranian-aligned Houthis has resulted in thousands of civilian deaths and widespread hunger.

Congress and social media use (Pew Research Center) Though not especially productive in passing bills, the 116th Congress set new marks for social media use. Voting members of the 116th Congress collectively produced more than 2.2 million tweets and Facebook posts in 2019 and 2020. That means the median member of Congress produced more than 3,000 posts across their profiles on the two social media platforms during this span. In total, the 116th Congress produced roughly 738,000 more social media posts than the 114th Congress of 2015-2016, the first one for which the Center has data.

Battling COVID-19 proving deadly for Peru’s doctor corps (AP) Black-and-white pictures of dozens of men and women, some in their 30s and others much older, line the perimeter of a bright yellow building overlooking the Pacific, a two-story-tall black ribbon covering part of the facade and a Peruvian flag at a half-staff near the door. The makeshift memorial is for fallen “pandemic soldiers”—doctors who have died since the coronavirus struck this South American nation last year and unraveled the public health care system. More than 260 doctors have died from the virus in Peru. Their colleagues blame the deaths on a lack of proper personal protective equipment and what they say is the government’s abandonment of the health care system. The Andean country was one of the worst-hit in the region by the pandemic during 2020 and is now experiencing a resurgence in cases. A revolving door of patients, long work shifts, shortage of medical supplies, including oxygen, and lack of protective equipment at hospitals across the country has affected the mental health of doctors. Doctors now warn that Peru could face a crisis of physicians if the government does not take the appropriate steps. Health care professionals have been mounting an open-ended national protest for weeks to press their complaints about inadequate salaries, poor benefits and other working conditions.

English lockdown set to last until at least March, Johnson indicates (Reuters) Prime Minister Boris Johnson indicated on Wednesday the COVID-19 lockdown in England would last until March 8 when schools could start to reopen as the government announced new measures to clamp down on travel to and from Britain. A highly contagious new variant of the virus, which emerged in southeast England at the end of last year, has led to a soaring number of infections across Britain with cases and deaths reaching record levels. England has been in lockdown since the start of January with schools, pubs and restaurants closed and people told to stay home as much as possible. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, whose governments decide on their own measures, are also under various restrictions.

Portugal is in ‘terrible’ phase of pandemic, PM Costa says (Reuters) Portugal is in a terrible phase of the coronavirus pandemic, Prime Minister Antonio Costa said, warning that it would be some weeks before things might start to improve and only limited help could be expected from abroad. With a total of 668,951 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 11,305 deaths, including a record 293 dead on Wednesday, Portugal has the world’s highest seven-day average of new daily cases and deaths per million inhabitants. The situation was not “bad”, it was “terrible”, Costa told the TVI broadcaster overnight. “There is no point in feeding the illusion that we are not facing the worst moment,” he said. “And we’ll face this worst moment for a few more weeks, that is for sure.” More than 20 ambulances with COVID-19 patients queued outside Portugal’s largest hospital on Wednesday evening as they waited for beds to become available, while doctors in other hospitals warned of a risk of the oxygen support system collapsing.

China sharpens language, warns Taiwan that independence ‘means war’ (Reuters) China toughened its language towards Taiwan on Thursday, warning after recent stepped up military activities near the island that “independence means war” and that its armed forces were acting in response to provocation and foreign interference. China believes that Taiwan’s democratically-elected government is moving the island towards a declaration of formal independence, though Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen has repeatedly said it is already an independent country called the Republic of China, its formal name. Asked at a monthly news briefing about the air force’s recent activities, Chinese Defence Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said Taiwan is an inseparable part of China. “The military activities carried out by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in the Taiwan Strait are necessary actions to address the current security situation in the Taiwan Strait and to safeguard national sovereignty and security,” he said.

Unrest grows in crisis-hit Lebanon amid coronavirus lockdown (AP) Lebanese security forces fired volleys of tear gas at rock-throwing youth in the northern city of Tripoli on Thursday amid outrage over the country’s coronavirus lockdown and inaction of the political class in the face of economic collapse. The unrelenting protests in Tripoli, now in their fourth day, came as Lebanon grapples with both the pandemic and the worst economic crisis in its history, with only a caretaker government in charge. The protests resumed shortly after Omar Taibi, a 30-year-old who was shot by security forces during protests on Wednesday night, was laid to rest in Tripoli. More than 220 others were injured in the overnight clashes as frustrations boiled over. The demonstrators denounced Lebanon’s extended shutdown that has exacerbated already dire conditions. The confluence of the crises has posed the biggest threat to Lebanon’s stability since the end of its civil war in 1990.

Ultra-Orthodox unrest threatens Netanyahu re-election hopes (AP) As he seeks reelection, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has turned to a straightforward strategy: Count on the rock-solid support of his ultra-Orthodox political allies and stamp out the coronavirus pandemic with one of the world’s most aggressive vaccination campaigns. But with ultra-Orthodox communities openly flouting safety guidelines and violently clashing with police trying to enforce them, this marriage of convenience is turning into a burden. Netanyahu has watched his political partners undermine the country’s war against the virus and spark a public backlash that threatens him at the ballot box. “Netanyahu’s hope is that Israel will be the first country in the world to be vaccinated, that he will be able to open the economy to everyone, ultra-Orthodox and secular, and then the problem will be forgotten,” said Moshe Klughaft, a campaign strategist who has advised Netanyahu in the past. If the current troubles persist, he said, “Netanyahu will be in big trouble.” “Israel’s facing a Haredi insurrection that’s making it impossible to fight COVID,” wrote Yaakov Katz, editor of the Jerusalem Post, using the Hebrew word for the ultra-Orthodox.

How far from GameStop to game over? (Reuters) The battle between small-time traders and hedge funds that has shaken U.S. and European stock markets moved into Asia, with surges in several Australian companies squeezing another batch of financial institutions that have bet on the stocks falling. The war began last week when famed short seller Andrew Left of Citron Capital bet against GameStop and was met with a barrage of retail traders [egged on by Reddit users angry at hedge fund profiteering] betting the other way. Consequently, the video game chain rallied as much as 1,700% in two weeks, costing some large short hedge funds billions. The squeeze has made Reddit required reading on Wall Street. Discussions on the social media forum fueled the action around individual stocks. Wall Street saw its worst sell-off since October as funds scrambled to sell their positions in stock market darlings, such as Facebook, Apple and Microsoft, to make up for surging losses from bets made against struggling smaller companies.

[hawkvalley]

Broncos Regular Season Week 8

Hawk Valley

Quick Review

The Broncos lost to the Chiefs 43-16. The game was not as close as the score might suggest.

A longer review

Kansas City started the scoring off, it was a run to the left side, on first down with 9:08 left in the first quarter. On Denver's next drive, the offense stalled. They punted the ball back to Kansas City with 8:15 left in the quarter. On first down, the Chiefs fumbled and the Broncos recovered. Lock then connected with Patrick for a 26 yard gain. On third and goal, Lock scrambled to the right for a Denver touchdown. McManus missed the point after touchdown. After the miss, the announcers had a ref in New York review the catch by Patrick and he said the catch would have been ruled incomplete had Kansas City challenged the play.

With the ball back in the hands of Mahomes, the Chiefs wasted no time on offense moving down the field. On first down they picked up 17 yards on the ground. On second down, Mahomes completed a pass for a thirty-eight yard gain. At this point in the game, the Denver defense toughened up and held Kansas City to a field goal on that drive. At this point, the score was 10-6 Kansas City, with two minutes left in the first quarter.

The Broncos started their new drive by handing the ball off to Lindsay on first down. He picked up a first down, on first down. Drew Lock followed that up with an incomplete pass. On second down, Gordon picked up 7 yards, but someone on the Broncos was flagged for holding, wiping out the run. On second and twenty, the Broncos tossed the ball to Gordon for a gain of two yards. On third and 18, Lock completed a pass to Gordon, but he fumbled and Kansas City recovered. Mahomes then threw an incomplete pass to end the first quarter.

Two plays into the second quarter, the Broncos sacked Patrick Mahomes. Kansas City punted the ball and downed it on the two yard line. Gordon rushed for 8 yards on the first two plays of this drive. Lock then found Jeudy for a 7 yard gain and a first down. Lock then threw a deep pass to nobody at the 12:12 mark. Lindsay bailed him out by picking up 20 yards on the very next play. Lindsay picked up another 9 yards on first down. Fangio then rotated Gordon into the game and he picked up a first down. Lock lost three yards on first down. On the very next play, Lock threw a pick six. Kansas City now lead the Denver Broncos by 11 points with 9:18 left in the second quarter.

Over the next two downs, Lindsay picked up 25 yards. Then Vannett caught a pass from Lock for a 19 yard gain. At that point, the Denver drive stalled and the Broncos ended up kicking a 43 yard field goal. Kansas City returned that kickoff 102 yards for a touchdown, increasing their lead to fifteen points. The Broncos drive that followed the Chief's kickoff return, failed to get a first down and they punted with 4:15 left in the half.

Kansas City earned one first down on their next drive before they had to punt. The Broncos returned to Lindsay on the next drive and he picked up five yards but he was injured on the play. Gordon came in and picked up 10 yards. Then Lock was sacked for an eight yard loss with 1:37 left in the half. Lock shrugged that off and hit Okwuegbunam for a gain of 17 yards. On first down, Lock completed a pass to Hamilton for a 13 yard gain. Kansas City was flagged for defensive holding on that play. Lock was then sacked for a nine yard loss. On second and nineteen, Lock threw the ball away as he was being sacked. He was flagged for intentional grounding. As the first half ended, Lock completed a pass for a 21 yard gain.

The Chiefs started the second half off with the ball, but thanks to a sack on that drive, Kansas City ended up punting. The punt was 44 yards and the Bronco fielding the punt dropped it. He ended up recovering the ball. Gordon ran for a one yard loss on first down. Patrick then caught a pass for a twelve yard gain. On first down, the Broncos tried a reverse and gained eleven yards. Then the Broncos tried a flea flicker which was intercepted.

On third down, what looked to be another Kansas City touchdown pass, ended up falling incomplete when their wide receiver dropped the ball as the Denver defense arrived. Kansas City then kicked another field goal. The score was now 27-9 Chiefs. The next Broncos drive gained four first downs before it stalled. On fourth and five, the Broncos tried to get a first down, but don't make it. Kansas City responded with a gain of 16 yards on first down and then another gain of 17 yards. The Denver defense then forced the Chiefs into their "short game" offense and with 2:03 left in the third, Kansas City kicked another field goal. Kansas City lead 30-9 at this point.

Back on offense, Denver quarterback Drew Lock scrambled and looked to have injured his knee on the play. It turns out that his knee brace got stuck in the turf. The Broncos made Lock remove his knee brace that he had been wearing since high school. Rypien came in and handed off to Gordon. Kansas City was flagged for a personal foul on the play. Lock came back in and ran out the clock in the third quarter.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Lock threw an interception. In less than two minutes, the Kansas City offense gained about fifty yards. With about 11:21 left in the game, Mahomes threw a touchdown pass. Kansas City extended their lead to 28 points.

Denver got the ball back and had their most successful drive of the game, it lasted a little over four minutes. The Broncos ran the ball three times out of four, for a gain of 7 yards. The one non-running play was a pass was to Hamilton for a 13 yard gain. On third and five, Lock connected with Fant for an eleven yard gain. Lock went right back to Fant for a gain of 24 yards. On second down, Lock hit number 85, the big O, for a gain of 14 yards. At the 7 minute mark, Gordon ran into the end zone. The score was now 37-16, Kansas City.

Denver tried an onside kick, but Kansas City recovered. Andy Reid pulled Mahomes at this point and put in their backup quarterback. He moved the ball into the red zone. On first down, they ran up the middle for a two yard gain. On second and goal, a quarterback scramble lost three yards. On third down, they ran the ball for a two yard gain, but there was a flag on the play. First down Kansas City, with 3:48 left in the game. On second down, the backup quarterback scrambled into the end zone. Their kicker ended up missing the PAT. The score was now 43-16 Chiefs, which ended up being the final score. On the next Bronco drive, Lock threw four consecutive incomplete passes. Kansas City took over on downs and entered victory formation with 1:36 left on the clock.

The Game Stats

Denver

Time of Possession

33:24

Passing Attempts

40

Passing Yards

254

Rushes

33

Rushing Yards

177

Chiefs

Time of Possession

26:36

Passing Attempts

25

Passing Yards

213

Rushes

22

Yards

101

Player Stats

The Running Game

* AYPC is average yards per carry

PlayerCarriesAYPCLongTD(s) Fumble(s) Gordon1741112 Lindsay992000 Freeman34600 Lock33410 Hamler1101002

The Passing Attack

* He was targeted once

PlayerReceptions%LongTD(s)Fumble(s) Okwuegbunam7100%1700 Patrick375%2700 Fant343%2400 Hamler267%2102 Jeudy250%1300 Hamilton267%1300 Gordon250%1002 Vannett267%1900 Freeman150%500 Cleveland*00%000

The Quarterbacks

Lock

Passing

compypaTD(s)INT(s)LongRating 60%6022758

Rushing

AttYardsLongTD(s) 3841

Sacked

TimesYards LostFumble(s) 3200

Mahomes

Passing

compypaTD(s)INT(s)LongRating 65%91038107

Rushing

AttYardsLongTD(s) 0000

Sacked

Time(s)Yard(s) LostFumble(s) 3250

Henne

Passing

compypaTD(s)INT(s)LongRating 100%7001194

Rushing

AttYardsLongTD(s) 4-211

Sacked

Time(s)Yard(s) LostFumble(s) 130

During the week

There was a full press by the media to promote Drew Lock. They even suggested that the Broncos draft better receivers, hire a new offensive coordinator and only use offensive sets with three tide ends and two running backs so that Lock would look better. The problem with this approach is, those people that the media wants to replace, looked great when Rypien was behind center.

Once again, people blamed the front office. During this discussion, a point was made that John Elway doesn't have much time left on his contract. So maybe, change will be coming soon? *soon, as in the next two years.

Both the Broncos and Chargers tested positive for Covid this week. The Broncos offensive line coach has been quarantined and on Sunday, it was announced that the Broncos defensive coordinator tested positive. An offensive linemen for the Broncos will not play today due to a positive Covid test. The game is still scheduled for today.

Afc West Standings

Vs the Division

TeamGame(s) PlayedWinning %Net Las Vegas1100%+8 Kansas City367%+22 Los Angeles10%-3 Denver10%-27

Vs the Conference

TeamGames PlayedWinning %Net Kansas City4100%+53 Los Angeles2100%+13 Denver450%+8 Las Vegas20%-23

vs the NFC

TeamGames PlayedWinning %Net Las Vegas367%-11 Los Angeles30%-15 Denver10%-18 Kansas City00%0

Today's teams ranked by stats

Broncos (2-4)

28th

28th

26th

16th

6

5

13

93%

0

18

0

0

0

0

-8

Lost 1

Chargers (2-4)

21st

4th

5th

13th

12

5

9

69%

0

12

0

0

0

1

-2

Won 1

Outlook

For this game, lets look at how each team played against common opponents. Both teams have played the Bucs and the Chiefs. The Chargers lost to Tampa Bay by 7, the Broncos lost by 18. Both teams have played against the Chiefs, the sole divisional opponent for both teams. The Chiefs beat the Chargers by 3 points, but they beat the Broncos by 27. Both teams are 2-4, in their four loses the Chargers have been outscored by 18 points or close to 5 points per game. In the games the Broncos have lost, they have been outscored by 52 points or almost two touchdowns per game.

Game Time

Sunday November 1 @ 2:05 PM MT

[awesomehimalayanhigh-blog]

Best Jungle Safari In India - Madhya Pradesh

I have recently come back from four-month solo spending travel in Europe and still inside seven days, the post-travel gloom kicks in. What's more, to aggravate it, my morning sniffles incited by a brown haze covered Delhi turns into a daily schedule. I am desiring to return to nature at the smallest probability. I begin searching for choices – the slopes of Himachal, a forsaken place where there is Ladakh the perfect shorelines of Kerala or the sand ridges of Rajasthan. Subsequent to considering for a couple of days, the choice is made. I am going to visit the woods that roused Rudyard Kipling's Mowgli. Toward the part of the arrangement, set off from Delhi to investigate natural life the travel industry in India. While there are numerous choices to pick the best wilderness safari in India, I settle for a five days Tiger Trail in Madhya Pradesh.

The best Jungle Safari in India begins at Pench

At 5:30 am on a hazy morning in November, I leave for the Pench National Park in an open-jeep alongside my Naturalist, Alwyn from Jamtara Wilderness Camps. Before beginning our Jungle experiences, we are blessed to receive a hot cuppa espresso and tea alongside home-heated treats. Our naturalist reminds us to abandon all electronic gear at the hotel excepting our cameras and binoculars. The crisp breeze stings my cheeks and makes my eyes water however I am solid and steady with a few layers of winter garments, woolen top, suppressor and a high temp water jug tucked under my cover.

As we enter the recreation center, I see langurs hopping from tree to tree, feathered creatures tweeting as one, chital and sambar crowds cautiously munching in the prairie. We move along the wilderness and I smell the sweet fragrance of the moist earth at sunrise. I see the morning dew dribbling from the trees onto the rich undergrowth. Before I could catch any of those, the jeep moves and the scents and sights vanish. The quietness of the wilderness is every so often broken by Alwyn and the neighborhood park control, who exhaustiveness and enthusiastically educates us concerning the widely varied vegetation of the wilderness. They share stories of the backwoods that are a charming blend of logical certainties gathered from their preparation and the books they have perusing, and neighborhood legend from the region.

All of a sudden Alwyn hears an alert call of a langur pursued by the snorting of a deer. It is a sign that a tiger is on a lurk. A feeling of readiness holds the gathering as we drive towards the pain call. When our jeep stops, we pack onto one side of the Jeep to look outside.

Following 10 minutes, our understanding is reasonably compensated when the great feline uncovers itself to us from the thick foliage. My heart is everlastingly held by the glossy orange coat with dark stripes. Only a couple of feet away… the Royal Bengal Tiger crosses the earth street… gives us a hateful look… and evaporates again in the thick timberland. My day is made!

We at that point proceed onward to investigate the recreation center's huge assorted variety of untamed life, including Leopard, Tiger, Jungle Cat, Dhole (Wild Dog), Sloth Bear, Wild Boar, Mongoose, Gaur, Cheetal (Spotted Deer) and Sambar. When our long for Tiger satisfies, cravings for food kick in. At around 9:30 am an excursion breakfast is served in the wilderness with some hot tea or espresso. We at that point remain in the recreation center until 11 am before coming back to our base camp at Jamtara.

At night, we had an alternative to either go for the evening Safari from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm or drench ourselves in the ancestral existences of the Jamtara town. We stroll through the town market selling a wide range of knickknacks – from silver gems to crisp vegetables. Peddlers genuinely call us as we go through the mud way with our eyes stuck on the cobs of corn, which develop richly in the region, dry in patios. Jug gourd vines climb wooden fences and tiled rooftops. We are welcomed for some steaming tea in a nearby house made up of wood and mud. As the sun sets, we come back to our camp seeing the residential dairy cattle returning home with their herders.

This was my first day of a five-day Tiger Trail in Madhya Pradesh, where Rudyard Kipling got enlivened to compose the Jungle Book. While visiting the two key national parks, Pench and Satpura, I saw an assortment of creatures and flying creatures including tigers, panthers, wild pooches, wolves, sloth bears, buffaloes, wild pigs to give some examples. Alwyn and Aly Rashid (naturalist and the proprietor of Reni Pani) continued sharing the top to bottom learning about the undulating geology and untamed life.

About the National Parks – Pench and Satpura

There are more than 1,200 types of plants in Pench and 1300 in Satpura including a few uncommon and imperiled ones. We went through a variety of vegetation extending from clammy, shielded valleys to open, dry deciduous timberland. Satpura is dissimilar to Pench, however they are only a couple of hours drive from one another. The previous is lusher and has trees greener and taller than Pench. In Pench, there are higher odds of Tiger locating, while Satpura has a lot of panthers, sloth bears, monster Malabar squirrels, and transitory winged animals. Pench is best investigated on jeep safaris, Satpura can be investigated by walking, pontoon, jeep or elephant.

Past the untamed life

Each night, we shared our accounts of creature sightings as the tidbits and beverages made the rounds around the blaze. Furthermore, every night a fortunate individual got an opportunity to rest under the stars in the Star Bed – a glitzy machan in fields at Jamtara Camps. The Star Bed experience is a wellspring of salary for neighborhood ranchers, and 80 percent of the staff are procured from encompassing towns.

Truth be told, it was here I became more acquainted with how profound established organization's history is in protection. Proprietor Amit Sankhala's granddad – Kailash Sankhala – was the person who begun Project Tiger, a preservation program in India in 1973. Furthermore, the heritage has developed as far back as then with his child Pradeep Sankhala assuming control over the charge of the Tiger Trust after his dad's passing and setting up eco-accommodating Jungle lodges. Also, presently Amit is holding the post effectively.

Nourishment is either developed nearby or sourced locally from the encompassing farmlands. Goods are produced using reused wood, every characteristic item are utilized where conceivable, and visitors are given a tempered steel bottle for sifted water.

In any case, it wasn't only the national stops and camps that intrigued me. I was astonished by the real protection and network advancement works of Jamtara Wilderness Camps and Reni Pani Jungle Lodge. In addition to the fact that they provide an extraordinary Jungle safari experience interface you with the neighborhood networks that call these remote zones home and assume a crucial job in protecting the national woods. Both Jamtara and Reni Pani resorts supply school work areas and different things to the network and assume a functioning job in Tiger preservation.

I had gone to focal India to dispose of my movement blues yet I wound up observing so much common excellence and good omens in untamed life the travel industry – on account of edified law-production, a couple of submitted people, and some genuinely great cabins.

Things being what they are, when are you heading on a Tiger Trail in Madhya Pradesh?

Travel Essentials

Where to Stay in Pench

While there is a wide range of settlement alternatives accessible in the Pench National park territory, I profoundly prescribe remaining at eco-accommodating hotel Jamtara Wilderness Camps arranged in the Village of Jamtara, close Pench National Park. There are 10 extravagance safari tents with en-suite restrooms and private verandah, open air and indoor parlors, library, valet stopping, pool and clothing. Rooms are outfitted with free sifted water, tea-and espresso making offices, boiling water bottles, cooling and Soultree shower items. There are no TVs and no WiFi or versatile sign all through this remote, eco-accommodating camp.

Where to remain in Satpura Tiger Reserve

As of late, the Satpura National Park has seen the blooming of a few boutique wilderness lodges. Among these, the Reni Pani Jungle Lodge is best in class. Situated in an immaculate backwoods common of the Satpuras, it gets its name from the neighboring innate town. Reni Pani highlights twelve extravagance bungalows enveloping three particular structural plans.

The nallah units, the backwoods units and the slope units are altogether assembled utilizing nearby/indigenous material and are portrayed by survey decks, huge relaxing narrows windows and extravagance restrooms. The 'GolGhar' or the gathering place, has an interesting and one of a kind plan and highlights an eating territory, a bar, a library and a parlor set in its different corners. Its actual woodland condition combined with neighboring patches of rural land make Reni Pani and its encompassing territories a hotbed for creatures and flying creatures.

The most effective method to arrive

The Pench National Park is all around associated via air, street and railroads

By Flight: Arrival to Nagpur, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport (130 km away) or Jabalpur Airport (213 km away) from any significant Indian city.

By Rail: The closest railhead to Pench is Seoni Railway Station, which is around 30 km from the Pench National Park and has ordinary trains interfacing the spot to Mumbai and different spots.

By Road: Pench lies on the Nagpur-Jabalpur parkway and is effectively open by transports and cabs. Take a transport or a taxi from Seoni transport remain to the Pench National. Seoni is connected to all spots in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra by a decent system of Roadways. In the event that you intend to take the transport from Nagpur, you should get down at Suktara or Khwasa.

The Satpura National Park is a 3.5hr/130km drive from Bhopal. Bhopal is all around associated via air, rail and street to real Indian urban communities.

[pedrospookie]

Satin Slippers - Part 3: Moderato

hey guys! I’ve decided that there will be a part 4 to this series! Stay tuned as I would like to have it up by the weekend. If you like this series, let me know, and if you have any requests, comments, feedback, please send it to me!

High School!Peter Parker x Stark!Reader

Angst & Fluff!

Word count: 3502

 The sun shone through your bedroom window, the light of day break waking you from your sleep. Today was the day of the Spring recital. You had awoken with knots in your stomach, but you weren’t sure if you were nervous for the show or due to the previous night with Peter.

The two of you hadn’t spoken since the evening where you almost kissed. You hadn’t attended school yesterday as you had a mandatory dance class and rehearsal during the day, leaving you unable to meet up with him for your usual morning bagel. He hadn’t responded to any of your texts, but you knew that the Avengers were particularly busy, as your dad, while back in the country, had been absent yet again.

You slip your toes into some fluffy slippers and walk into the kitchen to make some breakfast. The penthouse was quiet without the Avengers there to keep you company. Opting for some tea and oatmeal, you sit on the counter while you wait for the kettle to boil.

You pull out your phone and look at the last text you sent Peter.

8:47 am Y/N: Hey Pete? Can we talk?

9:32 am Y/N: I hope I didn’t freak you out last night, I’m sorry

1:23 pm Y/N: Can you give me a call when you have the chance?

3:54 pm Y/N: Stay safe xx ❤️

Had you scared him away? you thought quietly to yourself, grabbing your stomach to soothe the knots that were growing tighter with every passing minute.

You phone vibrated in your hand, a smile growing on your face as you hoped that it was a message from Peter.

To your dismay, it was Annabelle confirming that you would bring her an extra pair of tights. With a sigh, you reply quickly to your friend.

As you poured the hot water into your cup and bowl, being greeted by Pepper, who walked into the kitchen to join you.

“Good morning, superstar.” She smiles, kissing the top of your head.

“Good morning, Pepper.” You reply sweetly, sitting beside her at the kitchen table.

Pepper had always done her very best to treat you like one of her own children. She respected the fact that she wasn’t your mother and never tried to replace her, however, Pepper felt that you were her entire world. She had been a mother figure to you since you were four years old. She was truly the only mother you ever knew. When Pepper had started dating Tony, she knew that the two of you were a package deal and she never tried to change that.

“What’s going on, Y/N?” She says with a sympathetic look in her eye.

“Nothing.” You sigh, looking into your plain looking oatmeal. The berries you had hoped to dress it with had gone moldy in the fridge. Just another thing on your list to be disappointed about.

“I’ve known you long enough to sense when you’re off. What’s up?” Pepper presses, lifting your chin up so you could look her in the eye.

“I’m nervous…but not for the show. Peter hasn’t talked to me in two days and I think it’s all my fault.” You confess, a lump forming in your throat as fear washes over your body.

“Well, what happened? It’s not like Peter to just leave you hanging.” Pepper counters as she sits back into her chair.

“He was supposed to come over after my dance class, and he did. But I was a bumbling mess of tears because I am angry with dad. Peter was trying to console me and then we almost kissed, but dad interrupted us. Peter then rushed out of the tower and I haven’t seen or heard from him since. He won’t even reply to my texts.” You cry, a couple of tears falling onto your cheeks.

“Mmm, I see.” Pepper hums, wiping the tears from your cheeks. “Think about how Peter is probably feeling. He’s been stuck on a plane and on a mission with your dad for the last 35 hours. The poor guy is probably sweating bullets and is definitely busy. I’m sure he will give you a call the moment they land.” She smiles, chuckling lightly. Pepper always knew the right thing to say.

“Now, the issue with your father. He’s a stubborn man, you know?” She laughs, “Part of him feels that he’s losing you, his little buddy. You’re interested in your own life now and Peter, and your dad feels left out. But because he’s stubborn, he won’t say anything and will just let you do your own thing while he focuses on work. Maybe you should try and talk to him tonight when we go for dinner?” Pepper suggests, grabbing your hand for reassurance.

“You’re right. I didn’t think of it that way.” You sigh, realizing that you should have tried to see things from your dad’s point of view.

“You aren’t supposed to, you’re young! You figure these things out over time.” She smiles while standing up. “I’d be happy to give you a ride to the studio, if you’d like?” Pepper adds as she wraps her house coat tighter to her body. “Maybe we could go for lunch beforehand?”

“I’d love that, Pep!” you chirp as you finish eating your breakfast.

----------------------------------------

With your dance bag in tow, you and Pepper walk across the street from where you’ve parked and enter a cheery little café. It had the loveliest view of the harbor with the skyscrapers lining the horizon.

Pepper’s tall frame looked dashing in slick skinny jeans, riding boots and a black blazer, her red hair pulled back in to a sleek ponytail.

You on the other hand, had your messy locks slicked into a tight bun with baggy sweat pants, your dance jacket and uggs.

As the two of you got seated, you could see a large mass block out the suns view, and a rumble came from the ground beneath your feet. Trailing behind the darkness in the sky, flew Iron man. You could see Spider-Man swing from the buildings across the horizon.

With a sigh, Pepper looked at you and said, “Don’t worry, Y/N. I’m sure they’ll be on time for tonight. All you should focus on is yourself.” She consoles with a smile.

Unfortunately, seeing your father and crush sweep through the city had become a common occurrence for both you and Pepper. If it had been something incredibly serious, the rest of the Avengers would have been called and Tony would have contacted the both of you. However, these missions often took a while and the chance of the two of them arriving on time, let alone at all, was incredibly slim.

You gave Pepper a look, as if to say that you knew your dad would once again miss another show.

“Well…You can count on me!” Pepper says overly enthusiastic tone, trying to cheer you up. A sigh escaping your lips as you looked down at your menu.

Meanwhile…

Peter and the rest of the Avengers had just landed after a quick trip to Washington. There had been some suspicious activity at the Pentagon that needed resolving from the team. As they landed, Peter had whipped out his phone out to message you. He had been so busy that he hadn’t had the chance to reply to you. As if fate was in his way, just as he was about to hit ‘send’, more trouble arose causing both Tony and Peter to jump into action.

The henchmen from the mission at the Pentagon had followed the Quinjet to New York, unfortunately, only Tony and Peter had been on board as the rest of the gang had stayed back in Washington to keep an eye on things.

“uhm, Mr. Stark?” Peter says hesitantly, webbing the bad guys that were trying to interrupt Tony, who was working on disabling what seemed to be the central line of the aircraft.

“What, kid?” He shouts back.

“It’s 6:30!”

“So? Can’t you see that we are a little busy?” Tony replies sharply, annoyed that Peter was interrupting his work.

Peter takes a punch to the face, shooting a web at his attacker. The web pins the henchman to the wall allowing Peter to go after the others.

“The show starts at 7!” Peter reminds, drop kicking one of the bad guys that was aiming a gun at Tony.

“What show!? Kid, you should be more focused on the task at hand rather than your How I Met Your Mother reruns-“

“No! Y/N’s show!” Peter interrupts hastily.

Tony had completely forgotten among the chaos over the past few days. He was grateful to be wearing a mask as it concealed his shame and embarrassment. The last thing he needed was to let you down.

“Then I guess we better get moving!” He shouts, kicking his suit into high gear.

-------------------------------------

At the theater, you were pacing back and forth in the hallway that lead to backstage, the sound of your point shoes making an annoying tapping sound on the hardwood.

“Y/N, what’s wrong? You are never this nervous.” Annabelle asks in a concerned tone.

“It’s nothing.” You sigh, looking at the clock on the wall.

A familiar red head pops behind the stage door.

“Any news from them Pepper?” You plead, searching her face for an answer.

“Nothing yet. Don’t sweat it, kiddo. Just go out there and do your best, okay?” She smiles as she adjusts the tiara on the top of your head. “You look perfect.  Now, let me have my proud mom moment and pose for a photo!” Pepper laughs as she pulls out her phone, snapping a photo of you on pointe and a silly one with Annabelle.

That small moment with Pepper was enough to calm your mind for the time being, until you reached the wings of the stage. You couldn’t get Peter out of your head. You were so worried about his well-being, and on top of that, the state of your friendship.

After what felt like eternity, the stage hands gave you the cue to set yourselves in the wings before taking your position on stage.

You could hear the crowd clapping as you nervously walk on stage to set your place. You look over at Annabelle who gives you a wink for good luck. You place your self in the center of the stage and hold your breath. It wasn’t until the curtains opened and that you had turned around, that you saw, not only Pepper, but your dad and Peter, in the front row, safe and sound.

With that, you breathed a deep sigh of relief, allowing yourself to fall in tempo to the music.

------------------------------

A roar of applause filled the theater as you and your friends walk to the front of the stage for a bow. You could see faintly, a giant smile on Tony and Pepper’s faces. Peter looked completely astonished.

This ballet had been one of the most beautiful things Peter had even seen. He compared it to the first snow fall of the year, how magical and captivating it could be. Peter thought that you were simply radiant. He could tell where you were among the corps de ballet by your stage presence alone. He knew his girl.

Scrambling backstage in a line that resembled ducklings, you took in a deep breath, a large smile forming as you exhale.

“Way to go, Y/N!” Your ballet mistress says as she gives you a long congratulatory hug. “The Mazurka was beautiful and vibrant. Keep up the great work! You never know, we might give you something bigger for the Christmas recital.” She mentions with a coy smile as she walks away to congratulate another soloist.

You walk to the dressing room and plop down at your vanity, flicking on the lights that shone around your mirror. Annabelle sits beside you and gives you a giant smile.

As you take out your earrings, she taps your shoulder and leans close to you. In almost a whisper, she says “There’s a cute boy waiting for you at the stage door, I can only assume that it’s Peter?” Annabelle giggles, excited for her friend.

You felt your stomach drop. You knew that he was here, why did this come as such a surprise? Maybe you were stressing because you haven’t spoken, let alone seen, Peter in almost 3 days and now you had no idea as to what he was going to say.

Standing up and taking a shaky breath, you turn towards the hall that lead you to the stage door. As you were about to walk out of the dressing room, Annabelle shouts “Good luck!”.

You hesitantly push open the stage door, standing before you, with his back turned, was an incredibly nervous Peter Parker. In one hand he held a bouquet of flowers and the other running through his brown, wavy hair.

“Peter?” You say softly, stepping lightly down the couple of stairs that led into the lobby.

As Peter turned around, his jaw dropped. You look even more stunning in person! Peter thought to himself.

“Wow, you’re beautiful.” Peter sighs, his eyes staring gracefully into yours. “The whole performance was beautiful…wow.” He smiles, handing you the bouquet. “Th-these are for you.” Peter stutters. For some reason he was suddenly nervous, his hands shaking as he gives you the flowers.

“Thank you, Pete.” You smile, accepting the beautiful flowers. You took a light sniff at the vibrant, fragrant buds.

“I’m so sorry that I’ve been MIA.” Peter spits out, his big, brown eyes looking at you sincerely.

“Peter, it’s okay. You were more than a little busy.” You chuckle, walking closer to the boy, noticing a small bruise forming underneath his eye. “You’re here now, and that’s what matters.” You say, leaning in closer to Peter.

“You know, I really wanted to kiss you the other night.” He smiles, holding the sides of your face in his hands.

“I know.” You say, biting your lower lip as you look up at him.

“Is it too late?” He asks, a concerned look in his eyes.

“It’s never too late.” You reply, a smile growing across your lips. You felt as if you had a million butterflies fluttering around in your stomach. Your cheeks grew hot as Peter leaned in and pressed his soft lips to yours in a much-anticipated kiss.

You lean into his kiss, deepening it as your wrap your free hand around his neck.

The sound of someone clearing their throat pulls the two of you away from your kiss. You peer over Peter’s shoulder and catch Pepper hitting your father with the programme from the recital.  Peter turns around quickly to see Tony standing there.

“Uhm, Mr. Stark, I can explain-“ Peter stutters, anxiously running his hand through his hair. He was slightly embarrassed to be caught by your dad.

“There is no need, Peter.” Pepper smiles, interrupting whatever Tony was about to say. She walks over and gives you a big hug and a kiss on the head. “You were incredible, kiddo. Can I take a picture of you and Peter, with those beautiful flowers?” Pepper winks as she lines up the two of you and snaps a photo with her phone. “Tony, why don’t you step in with them.” Pepper asks, but it came out sounding more like a demand. He walks behind the two of you and places a hand on your shoulder. Once Pepper had finished taking photos, he turns you to face him.

“I’m so proud of you, kid.” He says with a tear in his eye. “Thanks dad.” You smile, giving him a giant hug. Tony wraps his arms around your shoulders and pulls you in closer. “Your grandmother would have been so proud.” He whispers in your ear.

 --------------------------------

The following morning, your dad woke up early to cook you breakfast. You woke up to the aroma of bacon filling the air. As you entered the kitchen, you saw your dad wearing Pepper’s pink, frilly apron as he flipped bacon in the pan.

“Morning dad.” You smile, sitting on one of the bar stools that was directly in front of the stove.

“Mornin’ kiddo. I thought the two of us could sit and chat over breakfast?” He says happily, a nervous gaze in his eye.

“I’d love that, dad.” You smile. The fact that your dad was attempting to make things better meant the world to you.

Once breakfast was ready, the two of you sat across from each other at the table, making silly faces at each other until one of you broke down laughing. Having broken the tension through that childhood game, Tony clears his throat and gazes at you with a serious look.

“I’m sorry that I have been absent, Y/N. I am so sorry. I know I’ve been an ass lately but it’s no excuse. I’m your dad and I should have been there for you. I felt like I was being replaced, but I had forgotten what it was like to be a teenager, captivated in my own life. Busy with school and friends, falling in love with not only people, but passions. I’m sorry. It’s a tough time and my dad bailed on me when I was your age, and I realized that the last thing I wanted was to become like my father. I let myself down, but even worse, I let you down.” He sighs, a lump forming in his throat.

You take his rough hand in yours, and smile.

“It’s okay, dad. I understand. I’m just happy that we are here, together, now. And that you came last night. That’s all I need.” You reply. You were just relieved to have your dad back.

“Well, since that’s cleared up…what’s the deal with Parker?” He asks sternly, a cool look in his eye.

“I have no clue.” You sigh, thinking about the kiss last night.

“What do you mean ‘I have no clue’!” Tony mocks in a high-pitched tone. “Clearly, you and spiderling are into each other.”

“Easy there, dad. I wouldn’t go that far-“ “Kid, the two of you were practically on top of each other last night. Invite the kid over and talk to him.” Tony laughs.

“You won’t be mad? Like, if we were to date?” You ask shyly, worried at what your father’s reaction might be.

“Why would I be mad? Peter is a great kid, who has excellent marks in school and a great heart. He’ll take care of you, he’s already proven that to me.” Tony smiles, squeezing your hand gently.

“But I thought because of mom-“

“Look, there is more to that story than you know. You are not your mother. Pepper, myself and your grandmother raised you to be better than that. I was in a bad place at that time…Peter is nothing like me. I’ll tell you the rest over a glass of rye when you’re of legal drinking age.” Tony laughs, “So? Are you going to call him, or do I have to do it for you?”

With a gulp, you pull out your phone and text Peter, asking him to come over around noon.

“There. I did it.” You sigh anxiously as you hit send. Within seconds, your phone buzzed with a reply from Peter.

Pete 💖: I’m in the area, could I swing over now?

Looking up at your dad, “Peter said he’s in the area and asked if he could swing by now? Would you mind?” You ask politely. “I just don’t want to step on your toes- “ “Baby girl, go for it. I guarantee you that he’s been hovering around the Tower all morning.” Tony smirks, having known this as a fact.

Peter was caught on the security cameras numerous times this morning, as he had been anxiously swinging around, wanting to come in and talk to you, but his nerves had gotten the best of him.

Peter wanted so desperately to tell you all his feelings. Aunt May had encouraged him to go over and talk to you, but he was so caught in his own head that receiving your text had given him the boost that he needed.

The elevator doors opened and revealed an incredibly nervous Peter Parker.

You had no idea how he could be so brave and outrageous when he wore the Spider suit but when it was just Peter, he became so shy and vulnerable.

“Mornin’ Parker!” Tony hollers, frightening the timid spider-boy.

“Good m-morning, Mr. Stark. Is Y/N home?” He asks politely.

You pop your head from around the table and smile.

“Mornin’ Pete!” You reply cheerily. “Wanna go for a walk?”

This gave you two the chance to be alone without your parents eavesdropping on the two of you.

With a relieved smile on his face, Peter agrees and follows you to the elevator.

[tequila-clifford]

Not the anon from that question, bu still lowkey curious about your NYC story?

Lorddddd, here we go, okay. SO Kortni and I are from Maryland, Amanda (@angelbabycal) is from Philadelphia, obviously a lot closer to NYC; 3 days before the show, Kort and I went to stay with Amanda. 

7/20/2014 We had been running errands all day in preparation for the trip: Getting waters and snacks to put in our backpacks and getting what we needed to make our posters for the show. We finally got back to Amanda’s house and after eating dinner, we immediately started working on our signs (I will include photos of them at the end of this post) Let’s estimate and say we started working on them around 5pm??

7/21/2014 We worked straight through until 6am (about 18 hours without sleep at this point), at that point we were taking turns to shower and packing up our bags, whoever wasn’t in the shower was using a hair dryer on the signs. We were being picked up at 7am and taken to the train station in Trenton, NJ. When we got to the station, Kortni was in charge of getting the tickets, WELL, she accidentally got the amtrak (or however tf you spell it) tickets which were like $200 EACH so that was STRESSFUL. I think we had like an hour until our train got there, so we were sitting, waiting. Then I started to feel sooooooo sick ( probably wasn’t the best idea to have been drinking all night while making our posters) I made approximately 27 trips to the bathroom in the span of an hour and I was FREAKING OUT bc we were about to get on a train to NYC and I was sick as fuck, but I was NOT about to bitch out and not go to this fucking concert. When our train arrived, I was finally starting to feel a little better; I went right back to stressing when the 3 of us got separated on the train bc there was so many people. We made it to Penn Station (and reunited) around 9:15am, I think? We had never been to NYC, none of us, so we found a map and made our way to Rockefeller Center (around 10 am?) to get our wristbands. When we finally got there, there was no one in giving out bands, but it was impossible to miss all of the other people from 5sos Fam, (when Luke tweeted about the fam literally taking over the city, he wasn’t lying) so we asked around and found out where to go. We finally found the line with other fans to get wristbands (10:30ish), and idk security I guess(?) was putting people into cages barricades. LET. ME. TELL. YOU. these barricades each had 25+ girls and they couldn't have been larger than the size of a parking space, we sat for OVER 3 HOURS. IN THE SUN. IN THE MIDDLE OF JULY. We had been awake for about 25 hours when we FINALLY got our bands and were released from band jail, but not before being told that we could NOT wait in Rockefeller center for the show, and that if we came back before 6:30am the following morning, we would be escorted away by the police. Oh, I failed to mention, WE HAD NOWHERE TO STAY BC WE HAVE VV GOOD IDEAS WITH VV BAD PLANNING. So, we had about 16 hours to kill before they opened the barricades back up for the show the following morning. So, we essentially walked around the city the entire time; which’ is not a v smart thing to do when A. you’re wearing vans and B. you have thick thighs. (y’all KNOW what I’m talking about). Later in the afternoon, the 3 of us went to Build-A-Bear to make ourselves Ninja Turtles: Michelangelo for me, bc Michael. Donatello for Amanda, bc Cal. Leonardo for Kortni, bc Luke. And we made Raphael for Guro, bc Ash. So now, on top of our backpacks, we were also 3 dumb asses carrying around stuffed Ninja Turtles. Like I said, v bad planning. Throughout the day, we met tons of people from the Fam which was AMAZING, even stuck together as a big group for awhile walking around the city and to what we thought was the boys hotel (but i’m not about all that stalker shit so we only stood across the street for maybe 20 minutes before we went our seperate ways) At this point it was probably close to 10 pm, we had been awake since noon the day before and we were running on adrenaline. We decided we needed to go change into the clothes we’d brought for the show and to clean up however we could. We walked for about 45 minutes to Grand Central (taking our time bc we had hours to kill still) to use their bathrooms and freshen up then we sat on the floor there for probably close to an hour charging our phones and trying to get even a little bit of rest.We didn’t want to get in trouble for being there so we eventually left and slowly made our way back towards Rockefeller Plaza. These places are not that far apart, but i’m telling you, after walking nonstop all day, it felt like hours. 

7/22/2014 It was 1 or 2am when we finally got to a place we could sit down, of course as soon as we did, we started dozing off and CAN’T DO THAT IN NYC we were told by police that we had to move, so up we were again with another like 2 and a half hours before the barricades would be opened So we walked some more until we decided to stop and finish getting ready; obviously it was still dark outside, so us getting ready consisted of one of us holding the flashlight on our phone and one of us holding a front facing camera while the other did their makeup. When we were just about finished, we saw people RUNNING towards the plaza. IT WASN’T EVEN 5:30AM AND THEY HAD STARTED LETTING PEOPLE INTO THE BARRICADES. OUT. OF. ORDER. So the wristbands that we had with numbers in the 100′s (meaning we should have been in the second group) now meant absolutely nothing AND bc we were told the barricades wouldn’t be open until 6:30am, we were now in the second to last group. We sat in those cages barricades until they finally started letting people in, and when I saw them letting in every single group ahead of us, I was literally fighting back tears. The Today Show is 100% GA so we were packed in tight, and I have been to GA shows before so when I tell you tight, I mean TIGHT.  We stood for about 35 minutes before the boys came out for their soundcheck and fans behind us immediately started trying to push their way forward (like where tf you think you’re gonna go? We are literally in the Azkaban of concert seating rn) . We were so far back that we could hardly see the tops of their heads. The 3 of us literally felt like we were dying, I don’t know if you’ve experienced like 40 hours of no sleep, (plus walking 80% of those 40 hours) but it really fucking hurts. Amanda and I were leaning against one another to literally keep from collapsing, our legs felt like jello and we were dizzy from exhaustion. THEN the girl standing behind me NOT ONLY started kicking my legs AND “accidentally” pulling my hair, SHE WAS TRYING TO STEAL MY NINJA TURTLE FROM MY BACKPACK. Now if this had been under normal circumstances, I would have given her a warning before literally beating her ass for putting her hands on me, but, I was in no condition to start and altercation. The boys finshed their soundcheck, which I now have zero recollection of, and we tried to hold out until they came back on. After about 30 minutes (if that, honestly this part is pretty fuzzy bc i was half dead) we physically could not stand anymore, we flagged down the nearest security guard and asked if he could let us out. They had the streets blocked off a 1/4 mile in each direction surrounding the plaza, he told us that we had to be outside of the perimeter once we left the barricades. We were devastated but the alternative was to be carried out by medics bc there was NO WAY IN HELL we would have lasted in that crowd. Let me tell you, when you work that hard to see your favorite band, when you’re so fucking close and then it doesn't happen, it’s awful. When you work that hard to see your favorite band, and they start their set, the second you’re outside of the 1/4 mile radius, it is soul crushing. I’m pretty sure we cried the entire way to Penn Station. It was barely 8am and our train back home didn’t come in until 4pm. We finally made it there and slept in the chair all day. refusing to speak of anything that had happened, and then slept on the train home. We walked back into Amanda’s house without peeping a word about “How was it?!” and we passed out on her floor for 16 straight hours, woke up to pee and eat, then crashed for another 12.

 I am telling you, that entire New York experience remains one of the most disheartening things I’ve ever gone through,  It made me lose hope that I would ever meet them or even see them again. I had spent so long defending them to everyone who made fun of me for loving them so much, then to go through that, I like mentally shut down. I know that sounds dramatic, but that makes it no less accurate. I became inactive on my blog and essentially gave up, I tried to move on from 5sos and I regret it so fucking much. Now I’m 23 and loving them more than ever because I finally realized how much they got me through and that no ones opinion of them matters but mine. 

Amanda's poster front and back

My poster front and back

I’m sorry this was hella crazy long btw 😅 but yeah. That's my NYC story.

Ask is always open!

[k2kid]

Bouvigny Huts.

Bouvigny Huts.

The precise location of the camp has not bee determined. Note the Bois de Bouvigny at grid 32. For reference Lens is almost due East 12 Kms to city center.

Those two words may have spelled mixed feelings with the Battalion. This would be the first time they ware billeted there but other battalions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force reported the conditions for this facility in the rear as “…life in the trenches was less irksome and monotonous and no more beastly than in places like Bouvigny Huts.”[i] It appears at odds with the common conception that the further back from the line a unit it was, the safer it was. But several incidents in the Battalion history would not bear this out.

It was at Bouvigny Huts that one such event occurred and will be viewed through the experience of one of the soldiers that was directly affected by it.

Operational Order No. 127

Operational Order No. 127[ii] from the Officer Commanding the 4th Brigade, 2nd Division of the Canadian Corps would seal the fate of some of the men of the 18th. On July 3, 1917, the order stipulated that the units of the Brigade, of which the 18th Battalion was a member, would move off the line to Divisional Reserve. The orders directed the 18th Battalion to move from the front line at Barlin to Bouvigny Huts. This was an approximately 9-kilometer march and that each company was to maintain a 400 yard interval. The 18th set off 3:00 PM, along with its sister battalion, the 19th. The Battalion had earned some good news, for on July 2, 1917, at a Sports Day held at Camblain-le-Abbe, the Battalion Football Team won the final 2-0 and Private David Sydney Laird won the high-jump.

Arriving that afternoon, the Battalion dispersed to billets and was involved in training on July 4 to 7 inclusive. The Battalion trained on box respirator drill; close order drill; platoon level attack drills involving trench and open warfare. The afternoons were reserved for recreational training, “…including games of all kinds.” There was also a notation that the Corps Commander, General Currie, would visit the Battalion on July 8, 1917, but he actually visited all the battalions of the Brigade on July 7. This was prescient as the next day was rainy, and it appears that all training for the 18th Battalion was called off.

On July 9, 1917, the training continued. The Battalion engaged in its training per the syllabus and at 11:30 AM “sharp” the Battalion began “Battalion drill, with the Battalion Band attending. It ended at 12:30 PM and the men of the 18th returned to their billets, probably glad for a respite, a cigarette, and then lunch before the afternoon’s activities.

It was then the shell struck. A 5.9-inch shell from a Germany gun reached out into the Divisional area and stuck a billet. It wrought havoc as it resulted in 5 men of the Battalion killed outright. Four would die of wounds shortly after, and a further 35 would be wounded to varying degrees.

18th Battalion War Diary entry for incident.

Private Eric Clement Crawford[iii] was one of those men. He, and the Battalion, had a reason to hate Bouvigny Huts. Its reputation may have preceded itself in the minds of the men of the 18th if the rumour mill and purveyors of scuttlebutt had anything to do with sharing local knowledge of the facilities in the rear.

Two sources review this billeting area, giving it a low reputation.

The 102nd Battalion remembers the Bouvigny Huts:

“This was our “job” till the 11th, when we moved back to rest in what was perhaps the worst camp outside of Vadincourt that we ever visited, Bouvigny Huts. It was a nine-mile march to this camp, which was situated in a wood on a hill above Gouy Servins; the weather was bad, the mud intense, the accommodation crowded; the 87th shared the camp with us and for eight days we lingered there with no recreation other than that afforded by one Y.M.C.A. hut which was always packed to the doors. It is a positive fact that man after man when out at rest under these conditions would emphatically declare that he was looking forward to going up the line again because life in the trenches was less irksome and monotonous and no more beastly than in places like Bouvigny Huts.[iv] This is merely a statement of fact and not a criticism of the organization: in view of the number of troops to be looked after and the limited possibilities of accommodation in the whole of the shell-shocked area round Vimy we were lucky not to be sleeping on the ground; but the statement is made to show that life behind the lines was not lived out upon a bed of roses.”[v]

Not only was the camp not “…a bed or roses,” but it was continually subject to German shellfire as this diary entry attests:

“Spent time in same sector. Last trip 28 days in line. Artillery more active. At Bouvigny Huts for eight days. Shelled. Relieved 13th Middlesex for a short time while reliefs were being made. Came into front line on March 20. On HQ, hours 8 – 12 PM. Very heavy gunfire on 21st about 5 PM. On same day Fritz put a shell through church tower at Mont-Saint-Éloi.”[vi]

The shell that exploded that day altered the life-path of Private Crawford.

University College Hospital

By July 12, 1917, Crawford had passed through the intricate organization of the Royal Army Medical Corps and its associated units and had arrived at University College Hospital at London, England. The medical notes outline his condition and treatment[vii]:

Station and Date Disease: G.S.W. R. ankle UNIVERSITY COLLEGE HOSPTIAL

Adm 12/7/17

Died 23/7/17

A very dirty suppurating wound on dorsum of Right Foot at tarsal point.

  X Ray Exam: does not show any fractures.

  17.7.17 Wound is being washed out several times daily with Dakin’s Solution.

  Three [Carol’s] tubes in wound. Right leg in Macintyres Splint. Considerable oedema of soft parts of foot and lower leg.

  19.7.17 Temp was up at 104.6 yesterday. Wound examined under anesthetic. A pocket of pus found to extend to posterior of lateral malleolus. An incision was made behind the malleolus and a tube passed.

  20.7.17 Wound looks much cleaner today. No pain. Temp down to normal. Pt. [patient] is slightly bronchitic.

  23.7.17 Dies of secondary haemorrhage ankle.

His fever, as reported on July 19, indicates an infection, and an operation was conducted to resolve this issue as the doctors must have suspected an infection that was not being resolved by the drainage and the washing of the wounds. The temperature chart shows that Crawford’s temperature appeared to resolve itself after the surgery, but on evening of the 21st his temperature was up to 103.8 degrees F. The notes do not fill in the entire circumstances of his treatment.[viii]

Graphical display of Private Crawford’s temperature, pulse and respiration rates.

At 10:38 PM on July 21, he was haemorrhaging with a temperature of 103.8. The next morning, at 4:00 AM, it has receded to 101 degrees. 12-hours later it rises to 104 degrees and another operation is completed which secured the haemorrhage that had developed from the vanti-tibial [sic] artery. This appears to stop the haemorrhage but another note on the chart at 6:45 AM on July 23, indicates another haemorrhage. He is given intra-venous saline and dies sometime after 10:00 AM that day.

It is not clear from the medical records why the doctors did not amputate but it would appear that Private Crawford’s overall condition, relating to his fever, pulse, and respiration, and other observations, precluded a more radical treatment. The valiant efforts of the doctors and nurses to sustain his life could not stop what would end up being inevitable.

Private Crawford’s grave. BROOKWOOD MILITARY CEMETERY. IX. C. 3. United Kingdom. Source: Find-A-Grave.

Private Crawford, twice wounded during his service, and dying of his second wound, would be buried at Brookwoods Military Cemetery, the largest Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in England. He does not lie alone, but he is the lone member of the 18th Battalion to be buried here. He is not buried close to his home and his grave sites, perhaps unvisited and unadorned, as one of over 5,000.

From that day over 100 years ago, the explosive force of that German shell transformed the lives of at least 44-men of the 18th Battalion. Private Crawford survived, for a time, to become another one of the many of the Battalion to sacrifice his life.

It has been illustrated that staying at the Bouvigny Huts was dangerous and the billeting accommodation appear to give little protection from long-range German shelling. One wonders if the military authorities made any action to obviate the obvious danger of having the huts located near the Bouvigny Woods? If they did, their methods were not effective or were too late for Private Crawford and his comrades.

After the shelling the Battalion would serve in the Lens sector. Twenty-Five men would die that month, half of the deaths attributable to that one shell. The Battalion would make good its losses and move on to fight in the Battle of Hill 70. But before that it would return to the scene of the tragedy more than once.

The dreaded Bouvigny Huts.

[i] HQ 102 Canadians. (2020). Retrieved 28 September 2020, from http://www.102ndbattalioncef.ca/warpages/102chap5.htm

[ii] 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade diary entry for July 1917 Appendix 1, p. 4. RG9-III-D-3. Volume/box number: 4881. File number: 239. Container: T-10678. File Part 1=1917/05/01-1917/07/31; 2=1917/08/01-1917/08/31

[iii] Private Eric Clement Crawford, reg. no. 409106. This soldier was born in Rugby, England on March 23, 1896. He was a groom and joined the 37th Battalion at Niagara-on-the-Lake on June 11, 1915. He arrived in England and served there until he was transferred to the 18th Battalion, where he arrived on February 2, 1916. He was wounded by a GSW in the back on September 15, 1916 and was admitted for treatment of this wound in France until he was returned to the 2nd Canadian Entrenching Battalion on October 29, 1916. He served with this until he was returned to the Battalion on February 21, 1917. He served with the Battalion until his wounding on July 9, 1917.

[iv] Emphasis mine.

[v] HQ 102 Canadians. (2020). Retrieved 28 September 2020, from http://www.102ndbattalioncef.ca/warpages/102chap5.htm

[vi] Smith, A. (2020). document 62146 | Canadian Letters. Retrieved 28 September 2020, from https://www.canadianletters.ca/document-62146

[vii] It is rare to have medical notes that are legible. Doctors, event at that time, seem to suffer from terrible handwriting.

[viii] Note that this interpretation is from a lay person’s point-of-view. No medical knowledge or expertise is implied by the author.

Killed by Shell Last Name First Name Status Reg. No. Date of Death BURLEIGH WILLIAM RILEY Confirmed 124197 09/07/1917 HOLLAND SANDIESON Confirmed 226580 09/07/1917 MATTHEWS J R Confirmed 54288 09/07/1917 RATCLIFF W Likely 739723 09/07/1917 REED G H Likely 413119 09/07/1917 RIBTON R H Likely 53280 09/07/1917 STEEVES A Confirmed 444599 09/07/1917 WEBB WILLIAM Likely 675541 09/07/1917 SMITH A Likely 424389 10/07/1917 CRAWFORD C E Confirmed 409106 23/07/1917

“…because life in the trenches was less irksome and monotonous and no more beastly than in places like Bouvigny Huts” Bouvigny Huts. Bouvigny Huts. Those two words may have spelled mixed feelings with the Battalion. This would be the first time they ware billeted there but other battalions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force reported the conditions for this facility in the rear as “…life in the trenches was less irksome and monotonous and no more beastly than in places like Bouvigny Huts.”

[fly-pow-bye]

What’s Airing On Cartoon Network? (October 2019)

Animation Magazine has posted Cartoon Network’s October schedule. Teen Titans Go, Mao Mao, a halloween episode of Craig of the Creek, a lot of Victor and Valentino, and more! See all the shows after the break.

Bakugan: Battle Planet

October 6th:

Bakugan Breakers/ The Awful Ones - Magnus’s new team of Bakugan Brawlers overhear Lightning’s warnings of a sick Core Cell and decide to capture the dog to find its location. Then, Magnus heads into the Labyrinth to claim the Fortus Core Cell for his own. (7 AM)

October 13th:

Mask of Pride/The Graveyard of Courage - Driven by revenge, Magnus decides to go back into the labyrinth, face the AO and claim the Fortus Core Cell energy for himself. Then, super charged by the Fortus Core Cell, Magnus wages war on the AO. (7 AM)

October 20th:

Vestroia - Part 1: The AO discover the only way to stop Magnus, and possibly save him, involves shutting down the infected Fortus Core Cell. Part 2: The AO must decide whether or not to help Benton Dusk destroy the infected Fortus Core Cell, risking the destruction of their own Bakugan. (7 AM)

October 27th:

Too Much/Who Are You? - The Hide Matrix goes crazy and a simple AO training mission turns into a complicated rampage. Then, after the loss of their HQ, the AO is a little off, but in talking to Benton Dusk, they learn a new sense of purpose for their team. (7 AM)

Ben 10 (2016)

October 5th:

The Bentathlon - After stuffing their faces with gyros, Team Tennyson makes their way to the real Greece in the Omni-Copter, but when they are suddenly captured by the Forever Knight mid-flight, Ben ends up in a coliseum, where he is pit against old foes: Iron Kyle, Queen Bee, and the Ground Hawgs! (12 PM)

Prey Or Play - After receiving a super-exclusive ticket to Adrenaland, Ben leaves behind Grandpa Max and Gwen to enjoy the perks of being the parks only attendant, but when he learns he’s not alone, our hero must now contend with the only kid who could afford the price of admission: Billy Billions! (12:15 PM)

October 12th:

Beware of the Scare-Crow - During a visit to the farm of Penny Bennyson’s grandfather, Team Tennyson is constantly haunted by a Scare-Crow that’s come to life, but when Ben discovers that Aristocrow is behind it all, our hero must defeat Aristocrow’s master, the steam-powered Steam Smythe, if he is to save his cousin’s farm! (12 PM)

The Night Ben Tennyson Came to Town - Team Tennyson travels to Wheeler, “the liveliest mining town on Route 66”, but when Ben becomes paranoid that the Forever Knight is out to get him, he must try to convince his fam while also stopping his new foe from destroying the town. (12:15 PM)

October 19th:

And Xingo Was His Name-O - When a new Xingo app mysteriously appears on Gwen’s tablet, Ben can’t help himself and activates it despite his cousin’s disapproval, springing a trap that transports Ben in the animated world and Xingo back in the real world. It’s the ol’ switcheroo! (12 PM)

Fear in the Family - Ben and Gwen can’t wait for the Omni-Copter to arrive at the Great Pyramids, but when bad weather disrupts their flight, they soon come face-to-face with The Fogg and its spawn: The Fogg Family! (12:15 PM)

October 26th:

Xingo Nation - Kevin 11 gives Xingo a power up – setting him loose to wreak havoc on other TV shows – and it is up to Ben to stop them both. (12 PM)

Heads of the Family - Team Tennyson stops in at a fringe family reunion, and Ben encounters a whole lot more than kooky cousins— namely, Kevin 11 and the Bugg Brothers, whose latest crackpot invention sparks a series of hilarious head-swaps between all parties. (12:15 PM)

Craig of the Creek

October 26th:

The Haunted Dollhouse - Craig and his friends find themselves being followed by a creepy doll and its haunted dollhouse. (10 AM)

DC Super Hero Girls

October 11th:

Frenemies - Batgirl’s worlds collide when her best friend from Gotham City moves to Metropolis. Meanwhile, Catwoman is making some new friends of her own. (8 PM)

October 25th:

Soul Sisters - The girls must track down Katana, a mysterious warrior who’s stealing the souls of Metropolis’s villains. Meanwhile, Diana’s new friend Tatsu is a perfect match for her in every way, but may have a connection to Katana. (7:30 PM)

Mao Mao, Heroes of Pure Heart

October 5th:

Flyaway - When Adorabat’s spirit transcends her body during a meditation exercise, Mao Mao and Badgerclops have to figure out a way to return her to the real world. (10 AM)

Baost in Show - When Bao Bao returns, and the King makes him his pet, Mao Mao must rescue his ex-partner. (10:15 AM)

October 12th:

Fright Wig - When the King cannot overcome his fears, he abuses having the Sheriff’s Dept. on call.

Sleeper Sofia - When the Sky Pirates infiltrate Sheriff HQ, they put our heroes in danger!

Power Players

October 5th:

Access Denied - When Axel and the team try to figure out what Sarge Charge’s secret weapon is, they get ejected from the house by his newly upgraded security system and must fight their way back inside before Madcap does. (12:30 PM)

Swing Set Jet Set - Axel and the team battle Princess SugarSalt for possession of Bearbarian’s hammer, traded to her by one of their own – Galileo! (12:45 PM)

October 12th:

Side Kicked - Zoe builds her own battle suit in hopes of joining Axel’s team. The only problem? She can’t shrink! Hijinks ensue as a full-sized Zoe tries to assist Axel & co. in a battle against Pyrant and his army of mind-control drones. (12:30 PM)

Porcupunk Rock - Madcap turns to Axel and his team for help after a sonic upgrade to Porcupunk threatens to bring down the house. (12:45 PM)

October 19th:

All Trick No Treat - On Halloween, Axel gets too caught up in the scares and loses track of the fun – just in time for an infiltration by the worst trick ‘r’ treater of all, Madcap! (12:30 PM)

Iced Out - Madcap’s latest creation, the Ice Crusher, puts the whole city in a deep freeze, forcing Axel and the team to face him in a game of high-stakes hockey or risk slip-sliding into another ice age! (12:45 PM)

October 26th:

Gathering Dark - Axel must help Bearbarian overcome his secret fear of the dark to stop Dynamo from stealing his ride. (12:30 PM)

Bobbie Not Blobby - Axel discovers that the culprit behind Bobbie Blobby’s missing mech-suit is Masko, who only wanted to clean out its clogged clay cannons, but lets the suit fall into the hands (or tentacles) of Dr. Nautilus – intent on flooding the sewers! (12:45 PM)

Teen Titans Go!

October 4th:

Cartoon Feud - Control Freak forces the Titans and the Scooby Gang to compete on Family Feud. (6 PM)

Curse of the Booty Scooty - When Robin “Booty Scooty’s” his booty off, the Titans must go on an adventure to recover it. (6:15 PM)

Collect Them All - After the other Titans are turned into collectibles and disappear, Robin must search yard sales and stores to find them. (6:30 PM)

Butt Atoms - Despite Robin’s warning, the Titans mess around with atomic toots and end up causing a worldwide plague. (6:45 PM)

October 15th:

TV Knight 5 - Batman pretends to be sick to avoid work so he and Commissioner Gordon can run around town watching their favorite shows. (6 PM)

October 25th:

Witches Brew - The Titans throw a Halloween party and invite the Justice League but the witches brew Robin creates has side effects. (6 PM)

Transformers Cyberverse

October 5th:

Trials - Optimus and Megatron finally discover the Allspark. (6:30 AM)

October 12th:

Dark Birth - While Starscream acquires new power through the Allspark, the Autobots mistakenly assume Starscream is still under Megatron’s command. (6:30 AM)

October 19th:

Parley - The Autobots and Decepticons attempt to forge an alliance in the face of the threat posed by Starscream. (6:30 AM)

October 26th:

Starscream’s Children - Optimus Prime leads a rescue mission onto the Nemesis, saving the Decepticons from Starscream. (6:30 AM)

Victor and Valentino

October 5th:

The Great Bongo Heist - The boys forget to get Chata a gift for Abuela Day and in a panicked move, they pretend that the bongo drums they borrowed from Xochi are for her. Knowing they have to return the drums, Victor & Valentino pretend to be burglars to steal the bongos back. (9 AM)

Escape from Bebe Bay - When Vic & Val accidentally turn themselves and Don into babies, they must escape a daycare center in order to change back to their normal ages. (9:15 AM)

Band for Life - When Vic and Val tag along with Xochi to a punk concert, they want to prove that they’re cool enough to hang out with her. But in a desperate attempt to be cool, they wind up destroying the concert. (9:30 AM)

Tez Says - Vic & Val are in awe of the new magician in town, but things go awry when they agree to help him out with a new trick – despite Chata’s wishes. (9:45 AM)

October 12th:

Forever Ever - When Vic and Val do a sloppy job cleaning up in Maria Theresa’s attic, they accidentally set off a time loop, trapping them in an endless series of chores forever! They must figure out how to stop the loop and return time back to normal. (9 AM)

Dance Reynaldo Dance - Vic is desperate to win the cash prize for the dance contest in Monte Macabre and is frustrated that his partner Val won’t let him call all the shots. Instead he chooses a different partner: Reynaldo. But Vic pushes Reynaldo too hard to execute his artistic vision. Eventually, he learns that in order to be a success, you have to be equal partners. (9:15 AM)

October 19th:

Tree Buds - Vic and Val build a treehouse and Val dismisses Vic with a frivolous task so he can build the treehouse exactly how he wants. But when Vic returns unknowingly with a branch from El Arbol Vampiro, Val’s perfect treehouse turns into a nightmare! (9 AM)

October 26th:

Lonely Haunts Club 2: Doll Island - In order to prove their bravery, V&V head to a haunted island to retrieve a special doll, but Charlene and Pineapple are intent on getting it first. (9 AM)

Cat-Pocalypse - When Vic gets sick and is stuck in his room, he spies on Pineapple and becomes convinced that Pineapple is creating an army of zombie cats. Val agrees and the two become obsessed with stopping Pineapple before it’s too late! (9:15 AM)

El Silbon - Victor sets up a haunted corn maze, but the town kids think it’s lame. Vic decides to make the maze scarier by enlisting the help of El Silbon (The Whistler) to really scare the kids, but El Silbon has plans of his own. (9:30 AM)

On Nagual Hill - Vic & Val take over a forest hill and build an epic waterslide, disturbing the plants and animals that normally inhabit it. But when a Nagual (a human with the power to transform into animals) transforms Vic into a chicken and Val into a donkey, they learn to sympathize with the animals and understand the world a bit more. (9:45 AM)

[beninlife]

The End of an Era

Hello, loves! It is hard to believe that for 10 years I have wanted to join Peace Corps.  Not only did I finally join, but I completed my full 2 years of service!  I have exactly 4 days left in Benin and I am not sure where to begin on describing emotions or events that have taken place leading up to my departure.  So, I’ll start by describing my last two weeks in Bohicon.  Christiana, Pauline’s daughter, came by and took all my furniture a week before I moved out (I inherited all the furniture from the volunteer before me, so I figured I should pay it forward as I am not getting replaced in my house).  Once the furniture was gone, I sat there wondering why I had not gotten rid of things sooner!  It felt great to live a minimalist life with only a small mattress on the floor and a few items of clothing. 

It is part of the culture in Benin for the locals to ask for a gift when you get back from the market, when you travel to another city, before you leave for good.  My understanding is that due to the history of French colonization and missionary work – it has left Benin as a very “give me, give me” culture; dependent on handouts to survive.  So, having close to nothing in my house helped alleviate a lot of those demands for gifts.  My friend Jean told me to respond by saying “Je suis comme vous, j’ai rien.”  (I am like you, I have nothing) I did try this response on a few neighbors and they looked at me confused saying….” But you are white, you have money”.  So, all in all, a failed attempt to politely say I have nothing to give away.  This continued three times a day for the last two weeks, which left me feeling a bit frustrated. 

A less frustrating culturalism in Benin is going away “fetes” (parties).  Everyone in the invited fete wears matching fabric, food is prepared, and drinks are shared. Usually the one leaving pays for or contributes some money to the fete.  I happened to have three going away fetes my last week at site in the following order:

1.)    My Women’s Anti-Trafficking Group in Adjido:  I arrived in the small village on Tuesday around 9 AM and the food was not prepared yet, so I sat and helped peel garlic as the ladies danced around and teased me about leaving, asking if they could go with.  Finally, at 12, the women changed into their matching outfits and we began the short walk to the community center where we normally hold our Village Savings and Loan Meetings.  (The women carrying food and drinks on their heads) Once we arrived, the women began singing traditional songs and held a dance off!  Yours truly was pulled into the dance off against Christiana, which the ladies got a kick out of.  Then the President and Treasurer of the group had the final dance off which brought the house down with laughter, cheering and clapping.   We sat down and enjoyed my favorite meal that they had prepared: Pate rouge with soy cheese.  We each got a drink of choice (coke, sprite, or apple juice).  I had put 15,000 CFA ($26.00 USD) towards the fete and am glad I did.  It was worth it to see all of us dressed up so nicely with no place to go, laughing and stuffing our faces.  We eventually got around to holding our savings meeting and then I got back home around 2 PM, exhausted. 

  2.)    Pauline’s Family: Christiana and I had planned to have a fete at La Racine on Friday night, a restaurant in Bohicon.  I pre-ordered 10 plates of food for 20,000 CFA ($35.00 USD) and waited for Friday night to arrive.  I invited Pauline, her husband Julien, Christiana, her son Nehemie, Emile (my favorite moto driver), the school Director of CEG Sodohome, and three of my retired friends.  (Plus me, that would have made 10 people) The fete was set to start at 7 PM, but mother nature had other plans.  As we are in the rainy season in Benin, the rain started pouring at 6 PM.  Christiana called and re-assured me that by 7 it would be fine. Around 7:30 PM, guests started calling and asking if the party was still on.  I said yes, let’s just wait a little bit.  8PM, 8:30PM, 9PM, 9:30 PM…..finally at 9:45PM I called everyone and said the party was off as the rain still had not stopped!  As everyone uses motorcycles as transportation, it would have been impossible to drive in the rain.  I started to get ready for bed when I got a phone call at 10:30 PM from Christiana.  She said to run outside of my house, because she had found a friend with a car who picked up some of the guests! I quickly dressed, grabbed my rain jacket and ran outside.  When we arrived at La Racine, I was surprised to see Julien, my friend who we call Sancho (he is a security guard and helps Pauline around her house sometimes), Christiana and her son.  Julien and Pauline are hosting a student for an internship program, so the girl was there as well.  We called Pauline but she had gotten stuck in the rain trying to make it to the fete on a moto taxi so she was feeling very sick and was at home trying to stay warm.  The staff at La Racine had held the food and warmed it up so we had a nice feast, including a bottle of wine that the owner sent over to our table.  As I had already pre-ordered the food, I still had to pay for 10 plates and drinks but it was worth it.  All in all, it worked out but it was a final reminder from Benin that life does not go as planned and patience is key.

  3.)    Retired Patrons of CLCAM:  Jean, Telesphore and Sabine have all served as Directors at CLCAM over the last 20 years and are all retired now.  (The volunteer before me, Mike, had introduced me to Jean as someone I could rely on as he has worked with Peace Corps Volunteers for ten years) CLCAM is a microfinance and loan association and has been in business for 40 years in Benin.  As they were unable to make it to my fete at La Racine the night before, on Saturday they picked me up at noon wearing 40th Anniversary CLCAM tissue and had made me a matching dress as well!  We stopped at La Racine so they could see the venue and I bought them each a beer.  From there, we drove to Abomey to stop at one of their friend’s house for a whiskey.  From there, they took me to Hotel Bis where we had another beer each.  Finally, we ended up at a bar near my house for a final beer!  I am not a big drinker so I was pretty toasty after all of the bar hopping!  As you all are aware, the last two years have not been easy for me regarding interactions with males in Benin.  It was such a blessing to have these three men as my support and protectors the last two years! In Benin, usually retired, well established men are referred to as “Patrons” or bosses.  It was a hoot being driven around all day by these patrons, and getting only the best service at each place we stopped since they are highly respected in the community.  I thanked them for always being so kind to me and for their friendship since 2015, and then they dropped me off at home.  Feeling quite tired I took a nap and then had one last dinner with my friend Aviva who lives 10 minutes from me in Saclo (she will fly home a week after me)

Moving day!  On Sunday, I woke up and called my taxi drive to verify that he would arrive at 1 PM.  I organized everything that needed to be returned to Peace Corps in my living room (mattress, gas tank, lock box, fire extinguisher, water filter, helmet).  I still had not said goodbye to Pauline and her schedule did not permit a meetup that day, so I was pretty sad.  I then decided to burn my last stick of incense and walked through each room in the house, as well as the garden and bathing area outside.  I thanked each space for the memories and lessons I was taught over the last two years and then I cried a lot.  Tears of joy, tears of sadness, tears of closing this chapter of my life. The more I travel, the harder the goodbyes are as I will always leave a piece of myself behind.  I enjoyed an hour of silence as the incense finished burning and then Aviva, Alex and Camille showed up with the taxi driver to help me move the Peace Corps items into the car. 

Surprisingly the move itself was very anti-climactic.  I was expecting neighbors and children to run after the car, waving and crying.  Instead, it was a quiet Sunday afternoon. No one was home.  I went next door to turn my keys into my landlord to find 15 children glued to a television watching a show.  I said, “Au Revoir” and they nodded, not taking their eyes off of the TV Screen.  We dropped Aviva off at her house since she was on the way to Cotonou and I cried a lot as we said our goodbyes! She was a great friend and saw me through me best and worst days in Bohicon, and accepted me just the same.  She lives in California so I am sure we will meet again someday!  I got back into the passenger seat of the taxi (Camille and Alex were in the back seat as they were going to Cotonou as well) and remained silent for the 2-hour journey.  I made sure to soak in all the landscapes, humor the vendors as they tried to shove peanuts and water through the window at every stop, and did not even mind that our driver stopped to urinate a few times.   I arrived in Cotonou around 3:30 PM, checked in my Peace Corps belongings with staff and showered. 

Now begins Close of Service (COS) in Cotonou.  Yesterday, all 11 of us who are flying home this week had to go to the medical office to get a TB skin test done.  We are all provided with a COS checklist, which entails running around to get signatures from different staff members before the day we fly home stating that we have paid any debts, we have returned Peace Corps property, our bank accounts are closed, and that we are medically cleared to leave the country.  The last step is an exit interview with our Country Director, which I have scheduled at 9 AM on Thursday morning.  Pauline surprised me yesterday!  She came to Cotonou and took me out to lunch one last time.  I was so excited that we had a chance to meet up and say a proper goodbye.  I thanked her for everything that she had done for her community and for me the last two years, including loving me as if I was her own daughter.  It was really emotional, as I have received more encouragement and love from her in 2 years than I did in 26 years from the woman who gave birth to me.  We took one last photo together and then Pauline said “go ! quickly! We will start crying! “ so off we went, both on different moto taxi’s going in opposite directions.

As far as luggage, I am ready to go.  My suitcase is exactly 50lbs and my small carry on backpack is stuffed full.  My flight is at 5:25 AM on Saturday, August 19th.  We have a quick stop in Lagos, Nigeria and then continue to Morocco.  I will have a 10-hour layover in Casablanca, Morocco.  As there are two other volunteers on my flight, we are planning to spend the layover walking around Casablanca, visiting the grand mosque and getting lunch.  From Casablanca, our flight will leave at 10:30 PM for JFK!  I am so anxious to land in the USA for the first time in 2 years!  We arrive at 1 AM in JFK on Sunday, August 20th.  I will try to sleep in the airport before boarding my 8:30 AM flight to Atlanta.  After 3 hours in the Atlanta airport, I will FINALLY take my last flight to Albuquerque, landing around 3:30 PM on Sunday, August 19th.  No doubt I will be tired, excited and full of emotions throughout my long journey back to New Mexico.  I will keep you all posted once I land safely and am enjoying New Mexican cuisine with my family!  What a wild ride it has been for two years living in Benin. 

It is the end of an era!  10 years of planning to join the Peace Corps is completed.  Thank you all for your continued support via phone calls, WhatsApp messages, emails and keeping me in your thoughts.  So thankful for my network of loved ones!  Looking forward to catching up with all of you stateside very soon!!!

[flairina]

Flair’s Dreams, February 2018

Separating this into two parts, because it was just way too long otherwise. Here’s my dreams from the past month.

2/2/18: (1:11-7:00) (Sick) (Powers Dream) (Continuation Dream)

I have the powers of The Simurgh (Worm), due to being designated by her as her replacement. This blurs my vision- a lesser version of her inability to see the present?- but I could make certain parts of it (single columns of a transparent "grid") clearer with focus. This may have affected something else as a result when I made use of it. If The Simurgh is hurt, I have the option of repairing it (from afar, through the bond), but if the damage is too severe I will have no choice but to take over.

I'm in an auditorium with many other teens/children, who've been enlisted/recruited by a cult-like group. The group requires them to complete schoolwork in a very odd way, and shows them a "Tomato Surprise" fighting game, the setup of which is familiar to me, but better through out. I allow the guy on the left of me to rest his hand on mine because he likes the contact, and he then becomes a black girl with braids named Jupiter. The auditorium is suddenly empty, leaving us alone. Underneath the cloak she's wearing are oxygen tubes and four green bottles attached to her belt/waist. I then wake up (for real), and think to myself that I need to hurry up and finish the dream before falling back asleep, whereupon the dream resumes. Kaneki (Tokyo Ghoul) takes my place, and Jupiter's skin melts. She survives, if barely, which may have been part of "Kaillou's" plans.

I and a few others are near a large farm-like complex where the Nichijou characters are running around. I'm quite convinced that you don't get hurt falling off of stuff in dreams (without actually being aware this is a dream, somehow), and attempt to prove this by jumping off a tall tower, three separate times- once, with large plastic box lids in my hands for drag. This does not, in fact, hurt me. Another guy, on the other side of the farm, can't seem to bring himself to do it.

Upon waking up to my alarms over and over, I repeatedly had the same impression of the end of a dream involving DDLC, many small rainbow squares, and my having the ability to manipulate reality. I kept using this ability to change the "ending" (of the dream) to be simpler, because the alternative just seemed too complicated.

2/3/17: (Sick) (Repeated Wakeups) (Powers Dream)

After being stuck and unable to move for the longest time, I somehow turn this into a literal weapon (large pyramidal shaped metal object). Others are in the same situation as me, and they do the same. We're in some sort of containment area/underground enemy base, and upon emerging into a golden room (the view is 2D), I hear a huge "thrumming" noise. It turns out that I have superpowers (telepathy and spirit sight), and that was the thoughts of something huge. Later, I'm sitting in a room with two of my captors looking at me. Either they send forth an enormous red energy lance that spears through my right eye, or something behind me sends it out, spearing through my head/eye from behind, but through my captors as well.

2/5/17: (10:30-6:15) (Sick)

There is a large white hotel/conference-like building where we (Northrop Grumman?) are holding a food banquet. I pass Marion at the vegetarian table, and go upstairs to the things I'll actually eat. I somehow end up in an entirely different building (the basement of a house in a residential area), where I eat with several people I don't know. I exit, and find that the world has a very surreal feel to it, and everything is tinted slightly golden yellow. A floating, grinning white mask stares at me from behind, which I laugh at before strolling down the street towards a downward slope. As I head down it, I tug at my legs, which are pale metallic yellow, and made of pointed symbols and machine parts. There are weird creatures made of white orbs that look sort of like snowmen called "natives". The scene then zooms out to show Akko (LWA) holding up a charm of one.

There is a "mentor" Kuzuhamon (Digimon) who cares for/trains a "Flaredramon" (actually a Flamon, who may or may not have been me) inside of Dad's house. Kuzuhamon gets extremely angry at Flamon for some reason, and starts "training" him by attacking him with brown energy construct versions of various Digimon. Flamon tries to run away, de-digivolving step by step with every hit, until he de-digivolves all the way down to "Kuramon" (actually a Dorimon). Kuzuhamon suddenly becomes much nicer, which Dorimon enjoys, but he's experiencing time much faster now, to the point that several days go by without his mentor moving. He runs away for real, re-digivolving as he does, and encounters a field full of Digimon. They point out Piedmon in the other direction (was a goal of Flamon's to hunt him down?), but he doesn't care, and just keeps running into the sunset.

Me, Dad, some guy with bluish hair, and some girl with sort of bronze skin and brown hair have a real treasure map, which we set out to discover the treasure of. After passing through a city at night and a mall (where I have a frustrating interaction with a "pen-phone"), we come to a twisting path under a pitch black sky, which passes through areas of tall brush visible basically only in outline, everything is so dark. This place is utterly terrifying, to the point that there is a literal SAN meter in place, and all of us are certain we are going to be eaten. Despite that, we make it through the path with no incident, until we reach the end and accidentally step into a lake we can't see. All of us feel a sharp, cutting feeling on our feet that makes us think we just got bitten by snakes, and hurriedly pull back. Our eyes begin to adjust, and it becomes apparent those were not snakes, but pirahnas, which share the lake with anglerfish, _____, and mermaids. We debate over their gender for a little while, as we're not quite sure where to go right now. Eventually we decide we need to go underwater after all, despite our reservations. Again, this goes better than expected, as it's not really underwater beneath the lake surface, leading us to end up in a fascimile of my room. We again find ourselves at a loss for what to do, and after several minutes I end up digging at my carpet, which is covered in pictures of tiny penises. It turns out there are small pieces of black plastic and metal that look like part of some larger component beneath it, which we gather together with plans of reconstructing it. We then decide we're done for the day, put some recycles in a large bag, and leave... to the rest of the house. It's still light outside (only 2:00 PM), and Dad has disappeared. The three of us look in a mirror and a song is sung, followed by a rendition of Namae no Nai Kaibutsu, as a love song.

A large, muscled black woman throws two giant sword "fish" to shore from underwater. She becomes famous as the first ____, transgender weaponsmith over time, who does commissions, but none that are just for the sake of the user "looking sexy". I'm a bit confused by this, as the line between "cool" and "sexy" is rather indistinct, and ponder it for a bit.

2/7/18: (???-5:45)

I and some others are on a colorful (fluorescent) island, trying to get off of it. There are many obstacles and dangers on the island, such as a tribe of people who ambush and turn us into trees if we wait in one scenario. It is possible to "outbid" the chief however, and stop them. If not, I'm left as the last to be revived/untreed, by which time everyone outlevels me (9-10, as opposed to 4).

I start taking gymnastics again at a center with a bunch of exercise bikes. This time, there is archery mixed in (at the same time), making it far more difficult. I'm told I was born under the "sign of the vine", which is an apple. Usually archery is apparently a girl's concern, since it's the main method of attack/defense if her wedding turns into a fight. I become a girl with short, dark hair halfway through explaining this, complaining that the "apple" basically just means on the wedding night "do not eat unless clean/unstained". I am now IN a wedding dress, standing on a table while I talk to a guy sitting at it.

2/9/18: (1:??-8:45) (Powers Dream)

Subtly eldritch hallway course, with stuff like a book which dark purple hands emerge from that grab you, which you need to shake off, sentient exits, and other inanimate-but-not stuff. I accidentally seal off the exit because I looked at/used a binder in the wrong way, which is bad. Others gather in the other room at the end, as do I. If the hallway can no longer be completed in a single bout/one long stretch, I'll be turned into a toy car. This does in fact happen when I can't fix things, but thankfully Amethyst (Land of the Lustrous; not the one we see in the show) still knows about/remembers me despite time/the world readjusting, and builds an intricate addition to the hall for me, consisting of a series of spinning, polished blocks built into the walls that send a ball rolling down to "complete" it, turning me back to normal.

I start out the dream as a gem (Land of the Lustrous), talking to someone about how we've surpassed the need for gender, in an apartment building. I exit it, and encounter large drops of honey on the road, which I find strange. I'm now just me, heading down the road towards the "Little JJ" (Jean Jacket) shop to get clothes. There are some people talking about a real Zero Escape style event, who I call out to and talk with briefly before moving on. I then go to a museum/park or something with many sandstone buildings. I recycle a root beer bottle I brought with me, and enter. Near a building, I hit my head somehow, and accidentally use telekinesis on a huge block of something out of my immediate sight but nearby. I know someone is unhappy about that, as I'm supposed to keep my abilities secret. Annoyed by this, I start levitating another large rock and wing it around in eight different directions. I then mass manipulate a bunch more, right out in the open. The organization that wants me to keep things secret won't let me turn myself into a girl for some reason (which I could), so I'm feeling vindictive. I cackle inwardly.

2/11/18: (1:??-6:45)

There is a "blossom festival" celebrated by monks, wherein they carry giant iron discs down neighborhood streets. Others can also run back and forth between their homes and the temple multiple times to receive enlightenment. Their temple is more of a wooden complex, and when I get there, someone in the back tries to stop me from moving further in.

There are "feminine timelines" for Ranma, wherein he is or becomes a girl at least semi-permanently for various reasons. In a mall, she chases after Happosai, who is threatening to use the "Yowl of the Demon Cat". Ranma corners him in a window, whereupon he blows everything up. The severed rainbow tail of a god (looks like a mermaid's) lands in the wreckage.

A ship pulls into port. Ranma drives a motorcycle through shallow water to Wolverine and a girl training to be Wonder Woman. Ranma threatens Wolverine into training with rocks.

All "planes" of magic have been based upon a single one, that made them all for fun/fiction. Its inhabitants look like cloth creatures and puppets, with a ruler named "Lord Lubrante". We manage to beat him, and progress to the next area.

2/12/18: (1:01-6:45)

I am playing a game that is actively trying to kill me, where every step/necessary action is dark and creepy in some way. One of these involves going outside my house to find thousands of tiny black creatures with bright white eyes staring at me. They giggle, and try to fade me out of existence. Another is to go out into the driveway in the dark and dig blindly in the soil with a knife for something that it turns out is actually in the mail.The package is in Chinese, and contains a question, the answer to which is written in the sky ("____ cloud computing"). There is only one step left after this.

2/13/18: (12:??-4:19, attempted SSILD, 4:30-6:45) (Powers Dream)

I'm an anime-girl with curving pink hair down to the small of my back, which narrows at the end and looks almost like it was painted with watercolors. I'm named "Sayori", and probably was in fact some version of the Sayori from DDLC. Inside of a giant, lengthy structure that looks still partially under construction and floats a few feet off the ground, I do some stuff for others involving pictures of me ("lessening"/thinning the number thereof?), then slide down a large, chunky red triangular thing that looks sort of like a tongue to get to the bottom. I transform/turn into a girl with long purple hair, wearing a dress of some sort. I use my hair to glide into the "girl's side", which is a section at the very back of the structure with a pale and royal purple color scheme. I really like how convenient it is to glide places like that, and really don't want to give it up, even though I know I should. I find Yuri (DDLC) in the area, and talk to her, now myself again but wearing pink jeans for some reason.

Taylor (Worm) is on a deserted island, by her own choice. Leet somehow gets in contact with her over the phone, which she's pissed about, and she consequently threatens Number Man for letting Leet do so or giving him her contact information. He replies that "thinking in real time" is rare, which is something Leet possesses, hence why he allowed it. Leet is annoyed the "latex" (webs) Taylor sold him have stopped working, which is clearly his own fault. Taylor gets fed up and tosses the shoes of the two mercenary guys Leet sent as proxies into the water, just past some playground equipment I'm hiding near. She retreats to a nearby cave where a velociraptor mother nests, and one of the guys follows. I quietly follow both of them, wanting them to notice me but also wanting to be mysterious. The cave is mostly puddles and pebbles at first, but becomes a dull, dusty auditorium. Taylor talks to the guy off to the right, while I settle down a little further back. Taylor then leaves to find one of the two baby raptors, and the guy calls out to me. Perry (Phineas and Ferb) abruptly pops in, and I recognize him as such only because his eyes widen. I laugh, and talk with someone on the other side of the room, as tons more people from Phineas and Ferb pour in from nowhere. This makes me laugh even more, as this is supposed to be a deserted island, and I can't figure out how they even got here. I mention to someone offhand that none of them even asked about me when I showed up, as the auditorium renews, gaining red carpets, bright lighting, and gold walls. A "light fight" conducted with flashlights ensues.

2/14/18:

Mall, time travel allows us to save a laser ray exposure victim, flies and maggots saved someone else by way of Trelawney (Harry Potter), there's a short, long sleeved, purple and white jacket with stars on it that I want, Mom refuses to believe the house is going to be set on fire by a drier explosion (which we time travelled back to avoid) without details.

2/15/18:

After some sort of accident, four people are reconstructed in bodies not their own. They were based on pictures from a manga/light novel someone in the group had been writing, as well as a picture of a parent in someone's case. Mine (I wasn't part of the group at first, but then was) looks kind of like Ashley from EGS, and was based on the "dark magic" sister from the manga who wore long, ornate dark dresses and kept her hair in a fancy updo. Later, we wander through a Japanese city, where zombies are wandering around, though we only see two. Japan apparently did this to itself. We enter a building and go into a top secret room in the back, where a lady we know is waiting at a table for us. She was partially responsible for the body reconstruction.

2/16/18: (2:00-9:00) (Change Dream)

I'm Mia (La La Land), but with red hair. Apparently I'm getting married, which I formerly wanted, but am now quite unsure about. 800 demons will be attending as my guests (what was I doing BEFORE this?). I try on a dress (THE wedding dress?), which is a shiny green "culture doll" (or "culture thief"?) design. I'm concerned I don't know how to dance, because I'm NOT Mia, I'm me, and I know I am. Earlier, I was on an island covered with wheat, stick bugs, and many other animals. My "husband" gave me honey flowers, which smelled great, and we walked down a wooden "bridge" on the ground. Later, a giant whale creature and a small "1/1" beluga thing are on my side as Hex-like troops/creatures at the edge of an island of ice, where the ceremony is going to take place. The giant whale goes nuts when attacking, crashing through EVERYTHING, the ice and the ceremony area included, in just three lunges. It turns pink and cartoonish, and a woman's torso sprouts from its forehead, yelling "It's mine, all MINE!". The whale then leaves, leaving everyone in shock, besides several of the demons who foresaw this. I can't help but be a bit relieved by this, as the wedding will at the least be postponed (and possibly outright cancelled) by this, silently thanking the woman I assume was my stepmother-to-be for her intervention.

2/18/18:

Oneshot-like game, inside an old house, return later to find a previous mini-boss, a woman with long ears/hair extending to the sides, a koi-like color scheme (white, black, and orange), and tubes coming out of her, she has turquoise/pink/yellow colors on the overworld map (while not fighting her), "one of the few things to give me hope" (a quote from her), secret ending involves her, to get it Undyne (Undertale) and a wizard ghost must first be appeased, followed by her.

2/19/18: (Powers Dream)

There are time travel watches, which I have one of, but seem to have lost. As a result, I resort to "rewinding" by simply dying instead. I and someone else go to live at an apartment, which is a "fixer upper" (a gray, crumbling, destroyed concrete complex). Later, I sneak into a building with a group of others (including Mineta from MHA), going through two of the five special "hub" rooms (they have energy lines going out from their centers and interconnect with the others) in order to get to a normally inaccessible area. Mineta goes into the hall, sticking to the ceiling in order to scout, but we get caught anyways, and Ectoplasm enters the room we're in and attacks. He demands to know (from me) who killed "Scarlet", a girl with long red hair in a ponytail who used a sword to fight, telling me that "I know you know". He's right, as I know from a previous timeline, which I try to explain but don't do a very good job of. Eventually I do get to the point and tell him it was "Laokhen" (Laoshen? Laorhen?), a man with a child's appearance and wearing yellow robes, who uses many short blades to fight. I explain the time travel and my missing watch, returning to Dad's house to try and find it. I THINK that I took it to my house and left it in my room.

I'm Taylor (Worm), with a power similar to Sundancer's, but the sun is created around me, protecting me while also serving as offense. I'm practicing my powers with the Travellers, who attack me (while I float with the sun around me) with some sort of sparkle beam and some other ability, noting that "she still hasn't moved" when I remain still. I continue to not move even after that comment, because I'm feeling tremors for some reason, which I continue to feel even after waking up for a short period.

2/23/18:

After I try to enter a bathroom, I end up falling through a giant vertical rock tunnel into the Earth, back down towards the "Green" (as in the Pokemon game) area. There is a girl "falling" (floating) alongside me, possibly Ciel from Hero Oh Hero, who explains why we are falling, but not in a way that makes much sense or satisfies me. We pass by a Yugioh duel occurring on a rock pillar on the way down.

There is a regenerating man/entity with a weird, organic sort of black/green shell body. He can turn parts of himself separated from his main body into other parts of himself, including those with more mass than they have (miniscule pieces into full sized organs and such) so as to fix himself, and can reconglomerate by using them. The tiniest piece left over means he'll just come back- a robot guy disguised as human by artificial skin pounds his head practically out of existence, only for the pieces that splashed everywhere to turn into lungs, then snakes, which lunged at robot guy before recongregating and becoming the man again.

2/26/18:

There are giant Pokemon in the style of the Pokemopolis episode, one of which we confront in a clearing in the woods. The other is an enormous Abra with wings, which we see through a hole in a cave's ceiling. The same "clear/block the river" plot is being used here.

By brushing an electronic chip with a toothbrush given to me by the Steven Universe gems, I can teleport anywhere I so desire. I use this to freak out people/my new neighbors by teleporting into the middle of their group at a canyon.

A robot replaces Dad, which I instantly become aware of despite its attempt to disguise itself. I can't turn my head, and ask Robot-Dad for help, whereupon he reveals himself, and I tell him I already knew that. He builds a wireless phone (for me?), but I will have to get through a barrier first and absorb a near-equivalent of Sauron, which terrifies our maid (we have a maid?).

2/27/18: (1:45-6:45) (Powers Dream)

In a building (in space?), I descend a staircase into a dingy corridor, with many doors on both sides. All of them have monsters behind them, which I have to take on with nothing more than an iron sword. It takes me a while to actually enter the corridor, because I'm thinking how to approach the task before me. I can earn skills by beating different monsters, associated with their species/type. Unfortunately, in the throng I incur, I beat a samurai-esque guy who grants a "sense everything in a small radius" skill, followed by another monster who grants a "heighten senses" skill, which is a very bad combo because it makes wounds excrutiatingly painful. Still, I manage to make it through the fight, and exit the corridor to a giant, metallic green complex/building, which I need to get to the bottom of (or at least near). There's a mayor-like guy in an alcove on the way down, and killing him will let me evolve. Later, I'm on a bridge/rectangular platform affixed to a wall (with no obvious way to get on it), which bends at a right angle in the middle and extends out into midair. It's set up to be mostly linear for a Hebiko-esque boss with over 10 arms (in a circle around her body), who emerges from a large, electro-globe like machine atop a pile of screwed together metal at the end of the platform. I personally want to fight her AS Hebiko, and may be able to become her eventually, what with the evolving ability. The "game" had planned extra features for replayability, but they were never implemented, so the "Faux-Hebiko" fight doesn't have any variants.

[frommainetospain2020]

Will 2020 be the best year of my life?

To preface this first blog post, this has been gradually added to over the course of about 9 months. The beginning of this post predates the COVID pandemic, so keep that in mind.

If you’re reading this, you probably know at this point that I’m planning to participate in CIEE’s Teach in Spain program for the 2020-2021 school year. And if you’re reading this, I hope that something else has happened with 2020. I’ve planned to get bariatric surgery at some point between April-July 2020. I speak in the future tense because this is past Steven speaking to you now. December 29, 2019 past Steven to be exact.

I’ve been known to have an overly ambitious mind, and when something gets stuck in there, it doesn’t just “go away”. I’ve proven this time and time again with my first study abroad experience in Italy, my themed recital “The Tantalizing Tale of the Timid and Tactful Toreador”, among others.

I guess my discovery of the CIEE program is a twist of fate. In mid-November, I was researching ways of teaching abroad in Europe. I found CIEE and their Teach Abroad programs. The kicker was that the company was actually stationed in Portland, ME. I chose Spain because I wanted something similar to my first experience, but still different enough to challenge me.

The bariatric surgery was something different altogether. I’ve always been a fat guy. There’s really no beating around the bush, I’ve been fat since I was four years old. I’ve tried a number of fad diets, from a juice cleanse, to a potato diet, to a “Nutritarian diet” among others, but obviously nothing stuck. In the summer of 2019, I got into a binge of the show “My 600 LB Life” where extremely morbidly obese people, (like twice the size of me) get bariatric surgery. I began to look into the concept for myself.

Now, it’s gonna get a little bit sketchy for a second. I looked into two possible scenarios. The first one being that I get approved from my insurance company, and then I have the surgery performed at Northern Light Medical Center in Bangor. Ba da bing, problem solved. But I also had a backup plan. I was genuinely considering going the “travel tourism” route, and going to Tijuana, Mexico. I’ve watched a number of reviews, and honestly, if the insurance doesn’t go through, it’s not fully off the table. But you, reading this in the future, will know better than I would as to the outcome of this endeavor.

So, thus will begin the wonders of the roaring twenties. Will 2020 be the year of a new me? A thinner me? A trilingual me? I guess we’ll find out.

6/28/2020 update- So.... what can I say? This has been a hell of a year. Never in my life would I have predicted that a worldwide pandemic would basically shut everything down. Yes, as you probably know, whenever you get to reading this, COVID 19 basically made everybody need to shelter in place and made the end of the school year be virtual for basically everybody worldwide.

That being said, the weight loss surgery was also very much affected. I met with the psychologist, dietician, and my surgeon at the beginning of March. And yes, this is from a memory perspective, because it’s been a while since I wrote the first part of this blog post. Anyway, when I weighed in then, I weighed 370 lbs. For me at that point, it was pretty standard. I had been roughly that for a long time, and it was nothing shocking to me. After the visit with my surgeon, I was surprised to find out that they were scheduling my surgery date. I chose April 23, 2020 as the day my life would ultimately change. Buuuuuuuuut, because COVID shut everything down a few weeks after that, it didn’t quite work out that way. My date got pushed from 4/23 to 5/28. From 5/28 to 6/25, and then luckily got bumped up from 6/25 to 6/11.

I’m happy to say that the 6/11 date actually stuck. I had an endoscopy done and they found some acid inflammation in my stomach, so my surgeon recommended a bypass instead of a sleeve. My ultimate question was “Can it still happen at the time it’s currently scheduled?” to which she responded yes. I then basically said “You’re the doc, Doc...” and that’s how it ended up working.

For those of you that have never gone through the weight loss surgery process, there’s a liquid diet that you have to do for 2 weeks before surgery, and two weeks after it. And it is ROUGH! It was easily the hardest thing I think I’ve ever pushed myself to do in my life. But I didn’t cheat once, and I recently upgraded to soft foods.

When I ended up having my surgery, I was basically conked out most of surgery day. The anesthesia knocked me out and I could barely stay awake from when I was in recovery (around 10 o clock I think...) until about 6 PM. I was in and out of consciousness.

I was an ideal patient though, from what I could tell. I had very little pain. The only real pain I had was from the gas that they used to expand my abdomen. But I was used to this after having my appendix out. Apparently patients aren’t as keen to walk the halls as I was, seeing as I had about a dozen nurses comment on how frequently and how quickly I walked.

I was discharged at around 12:30 on the third day in the hospital. I was then dismayed to find that my parents proceeded to get themselves Wendys on the ride home, which smelled nauseating. I literally wore my COVID mask upside down the whole time so I didn’t have to smell it.

Recovery was normal for the most part, except it took me a bit to figure out the whole hydration thing. There was a point after a few days at home that I had worked all of the IV fluid out of me and my fluid/electrolytes were low. Because of this, I got extremely dizzy and lightheaded whenever I stood. I eventually figured it out by drinking more and incorporating Gatorade Zero with my liquid intake.

Like I said, I’ve recently gotten approved to move to soft foods, and can I just say, it’s heavenly. After 30 days of a full liquid diet, I was living for that first scrambled egg, and I gotta say, even though it was pretty mediocre because I suck at cooking eggs, it was still heaven.

So yeah, goal 1 of 2 checked off of the list. The second goal is obviously going to be increasingly difficult because of the current state of the world. The EU is threatening to not let any US citizens in because the US is full of idiots politicizing the coronavirus and refusing to wear masks, causing massive spikes and making the US’s number of cases ungodly high. So hopefully that will sort out in time for me to.... you know..... go...

I did attempt a few back up plans, but none of them came to fruition. I interviewed for music teacher positions in Hermon, Lisbon, and Winthrop. The latter being the furthest I got, since I was the runner up. One could assume that operating under the assumption of “everything happens for a reason” could come to mean that Spain will work out as initially intended, which I truly hope it does. But if it doesn’t, I’m gonna have to scramble to get a job, which is ultimately gonna suck, but it’s necessary.

Now, as I write this, CIEE seems to think it will work out as planned. They say that in the next two days, they’ll be sending out placements for where I’m slated to go. Most people opt for very urban areas close to the city center, but I wanted somewhere more quiet, so I’m assuming I was probably easy to place.

In the visa process, the consulates have been closed and not accepting visa appointments for a few months. Recently, the Boston consulate made an email that you’d have to email to get an appointment, which I emailed, but I haven’t gotten a response yet.

The hardest document to get in the process is a background check. I initially tried to get a Federal FBI background check, but I needed a physical fingerprint card, which was difficult to get. I attempted to get fingerprinted at the Millinocket Police Station, but the FBI rejected those fingerprints. I tried two different things to get a state background check instead, but the results of that remain to be seen.

So, ultimately, will I be able to go abroad again? Will COVID buzz off in time to not ruin the second half of 2020? The world may never know.... At least for a couple months... I’m writing this as a draft so by the time anyone other than me reads this, those months will have passed and the result will be abundantly clear, so you have that advantage over me. So... I guess we’ll see...

Since I have other topics to write about, I’m going to stop this first blog post here.

[nemesis-nexus]

Here is the latest information on Tropical Storm Harvey. If you are in the affected area I once again implore you to head for higher ground because flooding is imminent and there are already two confirmed casualties! Published: | weather.com Aug 27 2017 1:34 PM Tropical Storm Harvey has stalled over Texas where extreme rainfall has occurred in the Houston metro area, leading to record-breaking, catastrophic flooding. Days of drenching downpours are ahead along with the potential for tornadoes and lingering coastal flooding. Localized rain amounts of 40-50 inches are not out of the question once Harvey's rain is finished later this week. This may end up being one of the worst flood disasters in U.S. history. In the 24 hours through Sunday 6 a.m. CDT, parts of the southeast Houston metro area had received more than 20 inches of rain. One location in far southeast Harris County near Webster logged 24.28 inches of rain in 24 hours and 26.76 inches in 48 hours. (MORE: Latest Houston Impacts) Record flooding has occurred and the flooding has rivaled what occurred in Tropical Storm Allison (2001) in some areas location. Reports from the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) include:  Record flooding in Harris County has been observed at Little Cedar Bayou, Willow Spring Bayou, Armand Bayou, Turkey Creek, Beamer Ditch, Berry Bayou, Buffalo Bayou at West Belt, Horsepen BayouRecord flooding is forecast for Buffalo Bayou at West Belt Drive and Piney Point Village and for Cypress Creek near Westfield.Little Vince Bayou in the Houston suburb of Pasadena had reportedly equaled the level it reached during Tropical Storm Allison in 2001 early Sunday morning.The level of Clear Creek in Friendswood, Texas, has exceeded what was experienced there during Allison.Devastating flooding was occurring on the middle and lower Clear Creek.Lower Hunting Bayou flooding was likely very deep in homes.More than 1,000 water rescues have occurred due to flooding in Harris County. "Volume-wise, this has likely reached the rainfall that fell during Allison in June 2001," said NOAA's Weather Prediction Center in a forecast discussion Sunday morning. In addition, August 2017 is now the wettest month for Houston on record, with 22.99 inches, surpassing the previous record of 19.21 inches from June 2001. Major flooding from up to 19 inches of rain has also occurred to the east of Austin in Bastrop and Caldwell Counties where water rescues have been reported. Harvey made landfall Friday night near Rockport, Texas, north of Corpus Christi, as the first Category 4 hurricane to landfall in the U.S. since Charley in August 2004. (MORE: Hurricane Central | Latest Impacts | How You Can Help Victims) The circulation from Harvey will meander over the state for days to come, resulting in additional double digit rainfall amounts. Here's what to expect. DAYS OF HEAVY RAIN AHEAD Harvey's center of circulation is moving very slowly over south Texas and is expected to crawl southeast towards the Texas coast in the next couple of days. Bands of heavy rain are wrapping into the east side of the circulation center, resulting in the disastrous flooding that has unfolded in parts of southeast Texas. Rain from Harvey is also affecting areas north and west of its circulation to the I-35 corridor. (MORE: Harvey By the Numbers) Harvey is caught in a zone of light steering winds aloft, and therefore will meander near the Texas coast for days to come.  The tropical storm is currently caught in between two areas of high pressure and without another weather system to scoop Harvey up, it will be stuck for the next few days.  A tropical cyclone's rainfall potential is a function of its forward speed, not its intensity. Several days of torrential rain will add up to prolific multi-day totals, regardless of any downgrade of Harvey. Areas of heavy rain may persist in parts of Texas or the adjacent Lower Mississippi Valley into at least part of Labor Day weekend. (MORE: Water, Not Wind, the Deadliest Factor in U.S. Tropical Storms, Hurricanes) Here are the latest storm total rainfall forecasts from the NHC and NOAA's Weather Prediction Center: Middle/upper Texas coast: 15 to 25 inches, with isolated totals up to 40 inchesDeep South Texas and Texas Hill Country eastward to central and southwest Louisiana: 5 to 15 inches LONG-LIVED FLOODING In addition to the reports mentioned earlier in this article, here are other locations that are forecast to experience river flooding this week. Local National Weather Service (NWS) offices have not minced words about the rainfall flooding, warning that some structures could become uninhabitable or be washed away. Road and bridges could be closed, with some weakened or washed out, due to the record river flooding expected in some areas. (MORE: Your Vehicle Can Be the Biggest Danger in a Flood) The NWS is forecasting major river flooding in roughly four dozen locations in southeast Texas. (MORE: NWS River Flood Forecasts) Homes may be flooded along stretches of the Brazos, Colorado, Guadalupe, Navidad and San Bernard Rivers.  Flooding along the Brazos River in Richmond, Texas, could approach the previous record crest set just one summer ago, on June 2, 2016. Much of the west and southwest sides of Wharton, Texas, could be under water from the Colorado River. The river may overtop levees by several feet in Bay City. The Guadalupe River may flood parts of the city of Victoria. Upstream, the west side of the town of Cuero may experience disastrous flooding, potentially forcing all roads to be shut down into town except highway 87. Near Thomaston, hundreds of homes may be flooded to over 10 feet, according to National Weather Service accounts of previous floods. Given the longevity of the rainfall, and flood water draining from smaller tributaries, it's likely mainstem rivers such as the Brazos, Colorado and Guadalupe rivers will remain above flood stage into Labor Day weekend, possibly beyond. RIVER FLOODING AFTER SURGE FLOODING These flood waters will drain toward areas near the middle Texas coast hammered by storm surge flooding and destructive winds from Harvey's initial landfall. Persistent onshore winds are still keeping water levels higher than normal along the middle Texas coast, including such areas as Port O' Connor and Port Lavaca. This coastal flooding may continue through multiple high-tide cycles the next few days, only slowly subsiding with time. (MORE: Three Reasons Slow-Moving Tropical Storms and Hurricanes Are the Worst) These surge-choked bays and inlets won't allow these swollen rivers to drain fast enough, backing up these rivers and worsening flooding upstream, just as the floodwater upstream arrives. It will be an arudously slow process to first get coastal water levels down, then drain the massive volume of floodwater upstream. This process will likely continue past Labor Day, in some areas. RECAP: A TRULY HISTORIC HURRICANE Harvey made landfall Friday night near Rockport, a town of less than 10,000 people and about 30 miles up the Texas coast from Corpus Christi. Harvey is this nation's first major (Category 3 or stronger) hurricane landfall since Hurricane Wilma struck South Florida in October 2005, an almost 12-year run. A multi-day deluge of the Texas Gulf Coast with catastrophic and life-threatening flooding and destructive winds through could leave areas uninhabitable for an extended period of time, the National Weather Service has warned. Harvey went from a tropical depression to a major hurricane in 56 hours. It intensified rapidly to a Category 4 hurricane with winds up to 130 mph after moving over a pocket of hot water in the Gulf.  Harvey is also the strongest landfall in this area, known as the Texas Coastal Bend, since Hurricane Carla, in September 1961, produced catastrophic damage from storm surge and high winds in Port O'Connor and Palacios, Texas, among other locations. The only other Category 4 landfall of record near the Texas Coastal Bend was the infamous Indianola hurricane of August 1886, which devastated the town of Indianola just 11 years after another Category 3 hurricane, eventually turning the former bustling port into a ghost town. A storm surge of more than 6.6 feet was recorded at Port Lavaca, Texas, with destructive surge reported in other locations along the Texas Coastal Bend. There have been at least 12 tornadoes, so far, with the total number of tornadoes still yet to be determined. One apparent tornado crossed Interstate 10 and hit a storage facility in the west Houston metro suburb of Katy around 5:30-6:00 a.m. Saturday. At least one tornado was confirmed in northwestern Harris County, Texas.  In the southwest suburb of Missouri City, more than 50 homes were damaged in the Sienna Plantation neighborhood. RAINFALL TOTALS Here are the latest rainfall totals through 1 a.m. CDT Sunday: 21.08 inches in League City 18.28 inches near Pasadena 15.10 inches near Austwell 15.10 inches near Smithville 13.82 inches San Antonio River near McFadden 15.00 inches near South Houston (six hour total) 13.52 inches near Sugar Land 10.54 inches in Aransas9.92 inches near Richmond 9.37 inches near Victoria7.73 inches in Palacios 7.33 inches at Houston Hull Field 6.81 inches in Galveston 5.96 inches in Berry Bayou (Harris County - three hour total between 9 pm -12 am CDT Sat/Sun) 3.97 inches in Meyerland or near Houston (one hour total between 9pm-10pm CDT Saturday) 2.90 inches near Corpus Christi STRONGEST WIND GUSTS Here are the highest wind gusts we've seen from Harvey: Port Aransas: 132 mph, sustained to 110 mph Near Copano Village: 125 mph Near Lamar: 110 mph Rockport: 108 mphNear Taft: 90 mph Near Magnolia Beach: 79 mph Palacios: 69 mph Corpus Christi Int'l Airport: 63 mph Austin Bergstrom Int'l Airport: 52 mph

[rotoworld-yahoopartner]

Silva's Wild Card Matchups

Wild Card Round Saturday 4:35 PM ET Game Oakland @ Houston Vegas Projected Score: Texans 20, Raiders 16.5 At 36.5 points, Raiders-Texans is the lowest-totaled playoff game since Tim Tebow quarterbacked the Broncos in the 2011-2012 Wild Card Round. Most of the DFS public will likely look to fade skill guys from this game. The most promising player is Lamar Miller, who rested his balky ankle the past two weeks and will resume bellcow usage against the Raiders. The Texans’ workhorse commitment to Miller never flinched this season, feeding him 20-plus carries seven times with consecutive 20-carry games before Miller was shut down for the final two. The possibility of an aggravation threatens Miller’s floor, but he offers a top-two usage ceiling among Wild Card backs. Favored at home, Miller averaged 103.8 total yards across seven 2016 home games compared to 76.3 yards on the road, also scoring four of his six TDs in the comfy confines of Reliant Stadium. The 2016 Raiders defense was persistently gashed for long runs, a tool in Miller’s repertoire. Oakland wound up yielding the NFL’s second most run plays of 20-plus yards (19). 53-year-old Justin Forsett, who got released three times during the season, ripped off a 64-yard gain on a routine inside-zone run against the Raiders last week. Forsett would have easily gone to the house if he had anything resembling long speed (4.62). 4.4-flat speedster Miller caught the Raiders for a long run in Mexico City on an un-touched outside-zone play for 33 yards before being knocked out of bounds at the one. Health concerns may lower Miller’s DFS tournament ownership percentage in an enticing matchup and spot. … Back at quarterback due to Tom Savage’s concussion, Brock Osweiler will play a game-manager role versus Oakland. On Osweiler’s second drive after relieving Savage last week, the Texans called for a handoff on third-and-six to settle for a 45-yard field goal. Coach Bill O’Brien benched Osweiler on December 19 after he engineered an historically putrid offense that ranked bottom five in Football Outsiders’ DVOA and points scored in the first 14 games. Osweiler failed to clear 270 yards in 15-of-15 appearances with only four multi-touchdown-pass games. As the Raiders will be quarterbacked by fourth-round rookie Connor Cook, it’s unlikely Houston will find itself in pass-heavy situations. Only Cook is a worse quarterback bet than Osweiler on the Wild Card slate.

Osweiler’s targets in these clubs’ Week 11 game: C.J. Fiedorowicz 10; Braxton Miller 7; DeAndre Hopkins 6; Ryan Griffin 5; Will Fuller 4; Lamar Miller 3; Keith Mumphery 2; Stephen Anderson 1. … Osweiler attacked the Raiders in the middle of the field, sending 23 combined targets to tight ends and then-slot man Braxton Miller, who went on I.R. a month ago. The Raiders gave up 5-101 to Travis Kelce in Week 14, 4-48-1 to Chargers tight ends in Week 15, 9-122-0 to Colts tight ends in Week 16, and 5-38-1 to the previously-dead Broncos tight ends last week. Fiedorowicz led Houston in targets, catches (6), and yards (82) in Mexico City. Last week, Fiedorowicz caught a four-yard touchdown from Osweiler in the third quarter before resting in the second half. Based on matchup, anticipated volume, and historical success, Fiedorowicz looks like one of the stronger DFS tight ends on the Wild Card slate. Only Jimmy Graham and perhaps Ladarius Green offer noticeably higher ceilings. Jared Cook and Eric Ebron are also in the mix. … With an assist from the Titans’ sieve-like secondary, Hopkins came to life in last week’s loss to Tennessee, drawing a team-high nine targets with Osweiler under center and parlaying them into six catches for 115 yards. Hopkins’ 51-yarder occurred on an easy underneath route where Titans rookie CB LeShaun Sims made a pathetic tackle attempt and Hopkins nearly raced to the house, going down inside the five. O’Brien’s play calls proactively worked to get Hopkins more run-after-catch chances, and have fed Nuk 34 targets over the past three games. Osweiler is always an obstacle, and Hopkins’ matchup is a concern. The Raiders’ plus-sized secondary has checked Type-A wide receivers Hopkins (5-58-0), Kelvin Benjamin (2-53-1), Demaryius Thomas (5-56-0, 4-47-0), Mike Evans (4-50-0), Donte Moncrief (2-30-1), Sammy Watkins (3-38-0), Tyrell Williams (4-20-0), and Allen Robinson (2-9-0) while struggling against smaller guys Ted Ginn (4-115-1), Marqise Lee (7-107), T.Y. Hilton (4-105), Tyreek Hill (6-66-1), and Travis Benjamin (2-56-1). I think Hopkins (6’1/214) can win against RCB Sean Smith (6’4/215) and LCB David Amerson (6’1/205) enough with his quickness. The Texans probably won’t be trailing like they were in two of their final three games, however, and it’s always difficult to know whether Osweiler will be able to get his weapons the ball. … Fuller and No. 2 tight end Griffin are in play as low-cost DFS punts. We can usually count on Griffin to handle around 40% of the snaps and participate in red-zone packages. Fuller hasn’t topped 60 yards since Week 4, but he profiles as the style of receiver that would give Smith and Amerson fits. Fuller is a 186-pound 4.32 speedster, while this year’s Raiders allowed an NFL-high 61 pass plays of 20-plus yards. Fuller is dependent upon Osweiler completing something deep, of course. Road dogs in the lowest-totaled playoff game in a half decade are the Derek Carr-less Raiders, whose 16.5-point team total is lowest on the Week 18 slate. Rookie Connor Cook engineered Oakland’s only Week 17 scoring drive in Denver and didn’t look quite as frightened as Matt McGloin, but the rookie committed two turnovers, fumbled twice, and took two sacks on 23 dropbacks before admitting afterwards the Raiders were calling plays Cook had never even practiced before. Back to full strength after resting some starters in Week 17, the Texans’ defense held opponents to 16.6 points per game at home compared to 24.4 points per game on the road and finished No. 5 in Football Outsiders’ pass-defense DVOA. This game sets up nicely for Houston’s D/ST. … The Texans played shutdown run defense over their final nine games, holding enemy running backs to a combined 161-542-1 (3.36 YPC) rushing line and stymieing Raiders backs for 18-32-0 (1.78 YPC) when these clubs met in Mexico City. The Raiders stuck with a three-way committee in last week’s loss to Denver as DeAndre Washington led the running back group in snaps (40%) and touches (9) with Latavius Murray (30%, 6) behind him and Jalen Richard (23%, 4 touches) sprinkling in. Coach Jack Del Rio did state publicly this week that he wants Murray more involved, a probable necessity for a rookie-quarterbacked team that needs to lean on its power running game to stay competitive in this projected low-scoring road affair. Due to shaky workload distribution and a bad matchup, I’m still having a hard time getting excited about Raiders running backs as Wild Card DFS plays. Raiders LT Donald Penn’s (knee) loss is another concern for this offense. Penn was Pro Football Focus’ No. 1-rated run-blocking tackle and lines up on Texans sack leader OLB Whitney Mercilus’ side. The Texans are also getting back OLB Jadeveon Clowney (wrist/elbow) this week. Cook’s target distribution off the bench last week: Amari Cooper 6; Michael Crabtree, Mychal Rivera, and Clive Walford 3; Washington and Jamize Olawale 2; Richard and Seth Roberts 1; Murray 0. … Cook made his best Week 17 throw to Cooper, trusting his wideout to win in tight coverage for a 32-yard score with both Chris Harris and Aqib Talib in the area. Cook went right back to Cooper on the ensuing two-point-conversion try, although the pass was broken up by Broncos FS Justin Simmons. Cook showed a small-sample tendency to lock onto Cooper, who went 4-57-1 on five targets when these teams met in Week 11. Matchups are never easy against Texans RCB A.J. Bouye and LCB Johnathan Joseph – Houston held enemy wideouts to the NFL’s fourth fewest receptions (183) and yards (2,189) this regular season – but Cooper is the highest-ceiling Week 8 bet in the Raiders’ pass-catcher corps. … Crabtree had his worst game of the year against the Texans in Week 11, dropping 2-of-7 targets and finishing with five yards. As Cooper will contend more with shutdown force Bouye, Crabtree does offer the more favorable on-paper draw against Joseph, who turns 33 soon and missed three of the Texans’ last four games due to cracked ribs and a bruised lung. Joseph rested in Week 17 and seems likely to be 100% against the Raiders. Due to the musical chairs at quarterback, we’re delving into unknown territory with Oakland pass-catcher projections. … The Texans posed a tough tight end matchup all season, yielding the NFL’s third fewest yards (566) to the position while notably checking Travis Kelce (5-34-0), Delanie Walker twice (5-35-0, 2-34-0), Jared Cook (3-19-0), Kyle Rudolph (2-15-0), Martellus Bennett (2-10-0), and Antonio Gates (0-0). Neither Walford nor Rivera is a compelling Week 18 tight end punt. … Slot man Roberts was a favorite of Carr’s in the red zone, finishing a close second behind Crabtree (21) on the Raiders in red-zone targets (20) and tying Crabtree for the team lead in targets inside the ten (8). While Roberts might have been a sneaky Wild Card play were Carr still healthy, Roberts’ case is a far tougher sell with Cook under center. Score Prediction: Texans 17, Raiders 13

Editor's Note: The NFL season is coming to a close and many FanDuel players will be eager to enter the realm of daily fantasy NBA, which is exploding in popularity. Winning will require some changes to your approach, though. Pick up some expert strategy tips in RotoGrinders.com's free guide on Transitioning from NFL to NBA DFS.

8:15 PM ET Game Detroit @ Seattle Vegas Projected Score: Seahawks 25.5, Lions 17.5 As eight-point home favorites facing a Detroit defense that got rocked for point totals of 42 (Dallas) and 31 (Green Bay) in its final two games, the Seahawks’ Jekyll & Hyde offense provides potentially lower-owned sources of NFL playoff DFS tournament value with an offense that has been far more Dr. Jekyll than Mr. Hyde at CenturyLink Field. The 2016 Seahawks scored 24 or more points in seven straight home games to close out the year, but cleared that mark in just 3-of-8 games on the road including four meltdowns of 10 points or fewer. The Lions have given up ten touchdown passes over their last three games and got gashed on quarterback keepers by Dak Prescott (35 rushing yards) and Aaron Rodgers (42) in Weeks 16-17, a possible deficiency dual-threat Russell Wilson could also exploit. Due to league-worst line play, betting on Seahawks players is usually an adventure. In Wilson’s case, it has had reliably positive results when Seattle has played at home. Wilson was a top-five fantasy quarterback in four of his final five home games and finished top 12 in all five. This year’s Lions allowed a league-record 72.7% completion rate to enemy quarterbacks and an NFC-high 33 touchdown passes. … The spot is strong for Thomas Rawls as an eight-point home-favorite running back, but Seattle’s running game has been anemic lately. Constantly hit in the backfield and at some risk of losing snaps to more versatile rookie Alex Collins, Rawls averaged fewer than 2.0 yards per carry in three straight games to close out the year and reached 70 rushing yards once all season. The Lions’ run defense did spring leaks down the stretch, yielding a combined 119-541-4 (4.55 YPC) rushing line to enemy running backs over its last six games. Rawls offers touchdown upside and big-play potential, but Seattle’s passing game is the safer bet. The Seahawks’ leader in targets (125), receptions (94), yards (1,128), touchdowns (7), red-zone catches (11), and targets inside the ten (7), Doug Baldwin went as Wilson went in 2016 with a 93.9-yard average in home games but a 47.1-yard average on the road. Since losing slot corner Quandre Diggs (pectoral) in Week 13, the Lions have juggled slot defenders between perimeter cover men RCB Nevin Lawson and LCB Darius Slay. Per Pro Football Focus, top CB Slay covers the slot on just 3% of his snaps. Baldwin runs nearly three quarters of his routes on the interior. Baldwin’s production has been uneven overall, but he offers a top-three receiver ceiling on the Week 18 slate. … The Lions’ tight end coverage improved after getting back WLB DeAndre Levy late in the season, although Jason Witten hit pay dirt against them in Week 16 and Jared Cook (4-56-0) matched up more with Lions FS Tavon Wilson and MLB Tahir Whitehead last week. Jimmy Graham’s volume became unreliable down the stretch, but he scored all six of his touchdowns in home games this year and is easily the best tight end play on the Wild Card menu. This year’s Lions allowed the NFL’s fifth most receptions (93) and third most touchdowns to tight ends (10). … Jermaine Kearse was a trainwreck this year, managing a pathetic 46% catch rate with a league-high five offensive pass interference penalties. Kearse has had big playoff games before, but he flatly struggles to get open and will likely continue to do so against Slay and Lawson, who both earned top-30 cornerback grades among 120 qualifiers at PFF. Kearse will play almost all of the Seahawks’ snaps and usually draws at least six targets, and therefore he is still on the radar as a minimum-priced DFS punt. … Seattle’s Nos. 3 and 4 receivers are Paul Richardson and Tanner McEvoy, although Week 17 suggested they may use nearly as many two-tight end sets as three-receiver packages in the absence of Tyler Lockett (broken leg). Luke Willson (3-26-1) and Graham were bigger parts of last week’s game plan against the 49ers before the first-team group rested early in the fourth quarter. And a little gadget guy named “J.D. McKissic” kept showing up. Richardson’s big-play potential feels mythical at this point, but he’s the best bet of Seattle’s sub-package pass catchers with assured elevated snaps and 40-plus yards in consecutive games. Richardson also returns kickoffs, giving him an additional way to touch the ball. The Seahawks’ defense endured breakdowns after losing Earl Thomas (broken leg) in Week 13, giving up point totals of 38 and 34 to the Packers and Cardinals, respectively, drawing a gimme against the Rams, and struggling in the first half of last week’s two-point win over the 2-14 49ers. There is strong reason to believe Seattle doesn’t pose as tough of a pass-defense matchup without its All-World safety. Playing through a dislocated finger with torn ligaments on his throwing hand, Matthew Stafford’s ball location and velocity were adequate or better in last week’s loss to Green Bay. Scoring expectations on Detroit’s side are still low enough that Stafford is competing with Eli Manning for a distant fourth behind Ben Roethlisberger, Aaron Rodgers, and Russell Wilson as Week 18 quarterback plays. I think there is still a chance Stafford beats yardage expectations. Stafford is also a target for the Seahawks’ D/ST with a 2:5 TD-to-INT ratio since injuring the finger in Week 14. This may be a weather-affected game, possibly exacerbating whatever problems Stafford may still be having with the finger. … After underutilizing him in Week 16, the Lions turned to Zach Zenner for Week 17 bellcow usage with 24 touches on an absurd 97% of the snaps. Dwayne Washington didn’t play a down, while Zenner only sat out two plays where the Lions emptied their backfield. The Seahawks wipe out rushing efficiency, holding enemy backs to a combined 93-257-5 (2.76) YPC) rushing line over their final four games. Still, Zenner’s sheer participation level raises his floor and ceiling as a game-flow-independent running back who will be on the field in all situations. While the spot and matchup are essentially the inverse of last week’s at home against Green Bay’s far weaker defense, Zenner’s opportunity rivals any back’s on this slate beyond Le’Veon Bell. Stafford’s targets over the last month: Golden Tate 40; Eric Ebron 30; Marvin Jones 26; Anquan Boldin 23; Zenner 15; T.J. Jones 10; Washington 8. … This is a #RevengeGame for not only Tate but also for the Seahawks, whom Tate left in 2014 on poor terms and shut down Tate (3-29-0) in their first #Revenge installment in Week 4 of last season. More bankable data is Tate’s consistently high volume with target counts of 10 > 12 > 11 > 13 > 6 > 10 in Theo Riddick’s (wrist, I.R.) six missed games while being schemed the ball on picks, rubs, and even run plays, all designed specifically to funnel the ball into Tate’s hands, where he led the NFC in yards after catch. The Lions have identified Tate as their best player and will keep force feeding him the ball, even if Tate loses the routes he runs outside at LCB Richard Sherman. While Tate’s usage is reliable, it’s fair to wonder if his efficiency will experience a significant dip in this matchup. … Seattle’s interior defense is generally more vulnerable than on the boundaries, making slot man Boldin worthy of serious DFS punt discussion against the Seahawks’ linebackers and up-and-down slot corner Jeremy Lane. Boldin is always a touchdown-or-bust gamble with zero 70-yard games on the season, but he plays 90% of the snaps and scored a touchdown in 8-of-16 games to lead the Lions while ranking third in the NFL in red-zone targets (22) and tied for second in red-zone receptions (14). … The roller coaster that is Ebron has peaked again with 60-plus yards in consecutive games. Ebron can make athletic plays most other tight ends can’t, but his lack of scoring-position usage always diminishes Ebron’s projection. As Ebron is facing a Seattle defense that yielded the NFL’s fifth fewest catches (61) and yards (694) and second fewest touchdowns (3) to tight ends, I’m valuing Ebron behind Jimmy Graham > Ladarius Green > C.J. Fiedorowicz > Jared Cook. … Jones will get most of his routes against Seahawks RCB Deshawn Shead, who is more vulnerable than Sherman but hardly a slouch after allowing just one touchdown pass all season as a 15-game starter. Jones’ target counts (5 > 5 > 7 > 9) have risen steadily since he returned from a thigh injury four games ago, but he hasn’t hit pay dirt since Week 6 while struggling to separate, a concerning deficiency against the Seahawks’ stingy, physical corners. Score Prediction: Seahawks 24, Lions 20

Wild Card Round Sunday 1:05 PM ET Game Miami @ Pittsburgh Vegas Projected Score: Steelers 28, Dolphins 18

RED TEXT = Edited based on new info. Sunday’s kickoff game has the highest total (46.0) on the Week 18 slate and is lopsided in Pittsburgh’s direction with the Steelers favored by ten points at home. As we’re all aware, Ben Roethlisberger has wicked home-game splits, having completed 533-of-783 passes (68.1%) for 6,781 yards (8.66 YPA) with a 59:16 TD-to-INT ratio and 16-4 record at Heinz Field over the last three seasons -- good for averages of 2.95 touchdowns and 339.05 yards per game. This year’s leaders in passing scores and yards per game were Aaron Rodgers (2.50) and Drew Brees (325.5). Four of the final six quarterbacks to face Dolphins DC Vance Joseph’s defense posted top-three fantasy results, the two exceptions being Bryce Petty and Carson Palmer in a Miami monsoon. In playoff DFS, Roethlisberger is this week’s top quarterback play and I’m not sure it’s close. … Same goes for Le’Veon Bell among Week 18 running backs. The Dolphins’ run defense closed the season ranked No. 22 in Football Outsiders’ DVOA while being dusted for a combined 137-724-3 (5.28 YPC) rushing line by enemy backs over its final six games. As Jay Ajayi went completely off (25-204-2) in these clubs’ Week 6 meeting and Roethlisberger turned in his typical road-game dud while playing through a knee injury that required surgery the following Monday, Le’Veon disappointed – for him – with 109 yards on a season-low 16 touches. The Dolphins dominated time of possession (36:30 to 23:30) and ran 68 offensive plays to the Steelers’ 53 in a stunning 30-15 rout. As Pittsburgh finished top 15 in both possession time and play volume and stiffened considerably on defense down the stretch, a repeat script seems unlikely in this rematch back in Pittsburgh. The Fins have also allowed the NFL’s sixth most receptions (89) to running backs. Just as Ajayi did to the Steelers back in October, I’d look for Le’Veon to return the favor and smash this matchup out of the park. Ben’s targets since the Steelers’ Week 8 bye: Antonio Brown 79; Le’Veon 57; Eli Rogers 40; Ladarius Green 34; Jesse James 25; Cobi Hamilton 16; Sammie Coates 13. … Dolphins top CB Byron Maxwell gave Brown more problems than any corner all year in Week 6, winning their head-to-head matchups more often than not as Brown finished with a season-low 39 yards on eight targets. Maxwell suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 15. In Weeks 16-17, Sammy Watkins (7-154-1) and Julian Edelman (8-151-1) both proceeded to set season highs in yardage against Miami. Brown has topped 100 yards and/or scored a touchdown in six straight home games. He’s the best Wild Card wide receiver play, ahead of Odell Beckham and Jordy Nelson. … Slot man Rogers caught four balls in these teams’ Week 6 game, while Patriots slot man Edelman shredded Miami’s interior defense last week. PFF has charged slot CB Bobby McCain with the Dolphins cornerback corps’ highest passer rating allowed (112.7). Rogers has plus splits in the absence of Green (concussions), averaging 7.0 targets and 82.7 yards in Green's last three missed games compared to 4.2 targets and 35.2 yards in Green's six appearances. … Green suffered an apparent late-week setback and is unlikely to play against Miami. James will take over as Pittsburgh's every-down tight end after logging 84% and 86% snap rates with 5 and 3 targets when Green missed Weeks 16-17. As the Dolphins have lost both of their starting safeties (Reshad Jones, Isa Abdul-Quddus) to injured reserve, they were hit for 6-79-1 by 49ers tight ends in Week 12, 12-129-2 by Ravens tight ends in Week 13, 8-85-2 by Charles Clay in Week 15, and 4-37-1 by Patriots tight ends last week. Although James has not been a high-volume part of Pittsburgh's passing game, he is squarely in touchdown-or-bust punt discussion as an every-down player in a high-scoring offense. I like James better than guys like Dion Sims, Will Tye, Ryan Griffin, and Clive Walford on the Wild Card slate. Keyed by a rejuvenated pass rush and settled secondary, the Steelers skied to No. 12 in pass-defense DVOA by season’s end while holding each of their final seven quarterbacks faced below 265 yards and outside of the top-12 weekly fantasy scorers. From their Week 8 bye on, Steelers DC Keith Butler’s increasingly blitz-heavy defense piled up 30 sacks to finish ninth in the NFL (38) after managing 8 sacks combined in Weeks 1-7. Ageless OLB James Harrison earned PFF’s No. 13 pass-rush grade among 59 qualified 3-4 outside linebackers while late-season I.R./recall returnee OLB Bud Dupree led the league in sacks from the month of December on (4.5). Early-season slot corner liability Sean Davis took over at strong safety in Week 11 and the Steelers didn’t lose another game. Matt Moore has performed above game-manager expectations three starts in, guiding an offense that has averaged 27.3 points per game since Ryan Tannehill (knee) went down. Moore has hit long gains, albeit most of them via dynamic RAC plays. Moore did find Kenny Stills for an over-the-top 25-yard score in last week’s loss to New England where Stills got so wide open it looked like a coverage bust. As Miami is a ten-point dog in Week 18’s highest-totaled game, there is a story to be told where Moore stacks stats in catch-up mode or a sneaky shootout. More likely, the Dolphins will remain a run-first team that tries to control this game and holds Moore under 35 attempts for the fourth straight start. … Jay Ajayi was the star of these clubs’ Week 6 date, eviscerating Pittsburgh’s defense on zone runs to the edge and going BeastMode when sprung free while gaining three quarters of his 204 yards after initial contact against a Steelers defense that was missing ILB Ryan Shazier (knee). Pittsburgh was gashed last week by Browns backs for a combined 27-190-1 (7.04 YPC) rushing line, albeit without DE Stephon Tuitt (knee). Both Shazier and Tuitt will play on Sunday. Getting a true read on the Steelers’ run-defense stoutness has been difficult, but Ajayi’s workload has never been in doubt with 11 straight games of 18-plus touches. Beyond Le’Veon Bell, Ajayi’s usage is arguably the most secure of any Wild Card Round running back. … With such a limited game menu, passing-down specialist and sometimes red-zone vulture Damien Williams might be a mildly intriguing long-shot DFS punt had he not lost what amounted to last week’s game-ending fumble at the Patriots’ six-yard line. We’re really stretching here, but it’s a miscue that might lead to a playing-time bump for fleet-footed rookie Kenyan Drake, who also returns kickoffs for the Dolphins. Moore’s targets this season: Jarvis Landry 23; Kenny Stills 20; DeVante Parker 17; Williams and Dion Sims 8; Ajayi and MarQueis Gray 4. … Landry’s target totals in Moore’s starts are 4 > 6 > 12 with his volume correlating directly to Moore’s game-script-impacted pass attempts totals. Landry has quietly put together 80-plus yards and/or a touchdown in four of his last five games and should be the main beneficiary if this game flows as the ten-point spread suggests. Landry fared well (7-91) in these clubs’ Week 6 meeting and offers one of the best PPR wide receiver floors on the Week 18 slate. He’s in top-six wideout consideration with only Antonio Brown, Odell Beckham, Jordy Nelson, Doug Baldwin, Davante Adams, and maybe DeAndre Hopkins offering a better case. … Stills’ targets with Moore are 3 > 8 > 7 with a touchdown in all three and four scores over his last five games. Stills is always a big-play threat, but he is catching about three balls per game while living on a wildly unsustainable touchdown rate facing a Steelers defense that allowed the NFL’s second fewest touchdowns to wide receivers (9) this year. … Parker’s targets are 3 > 7 > 7 with Moore. Strictly in terms of cornerback-receiver battles, Parker has the toughest in Miami’s pass-catcher corps as the likeliest to draw Steelers LCB Ross Cockrell, who broke out as one of the league’s top young corners this year and played a major role in holding Parker to 28 yards on five catches in Week 6. Because Miami’s pass volume could be elevated by negative script and Parker offers downfield playmaking ability, I’m still going to have DFS tournament exposure. Ultimately, neither Parker nor Stills sets up as a strong on-paper play against a Steelers pass defense yielding so few scores and big passing gains. Only Denver and Houston gave up fewer 20-plus-yard completions than the 2016 Steelers (40). … Sims’ targets with Moore are 4 > 3 > 1 on snap rates of 94% > 100% > 98%. We know Sims will be on the field, but his passing-game usage has been minimal beyond two Week 15 goal-line scores against the Jets. He’s a touchdown-or-bust punt with a goose-egg floor. Score Prediction: Steelers 28, Dolphins 17 4:40 PM ET Game NY Giants @ Packers Vegas Projected Score: Packers 24.5, Giants 20 Aaron Rodgers enters the Wild Card Round as the NFL’s hottest quarterback north of Matt Ryan with an 18:0 TD-to-INT ratio over his last seven games and increased recent rushing production, a handy tool because opponents like to play the Packers’ receivers in man coverage, increasing scrambling lanes. The Giants yielded the NFL’s second fewest quarterback rushing yards (85) this season, however, while only 2-of-16 quarterbacks to face New York posted top-12 fantasy results, including stretch-run shutdowns of Dak Prescott (QB27), Matthew Stafford (QB20), and Kirk Cousins (QB21). When these teams met in Week 5 at Lambeau Field, the Giants held Rodgers to 5.8 yards on 45 attempts and picked him off twice – both by Janoris Jenkins -- the first on a Jordy Nelson drop-deflection over the middle and second on a fantastic diving play in front of Davante Adams. Rodgers has otherwise been lights out in home games, where he has a 22:4 TD-to-INT ratio and multiple touchdown passes in 7-of-8 games this season, most notably in theoretically tough draws with the Giants (2), Texans (2), Seahawks (3), and Vikings (4). Rodgers was the most matchup-proof quarterback in fantasy this year. In DFS tournaments, my guess is Ben Roethlisberger will attract higher ownership. Rodgers still offers a similar or even superior ceiling. … The Packers benched Ty Montgomery for most of last week’s first half following a failed screen pass after which Rodgers left the field shouting at Montgomery. FB Aaron Ripkowski wound up with his second highest snap rate (48%) of the season and a career-high 11 touches. Montgomery did return to start the second half and operated as Green Bay’s feature back the rest of the way, but this occurred a week after Montgomery once again struggled in pass protection. Still learning to play NFL running back, Montgomery’s usage has become volatile while trying to earn Rodgers’ trust. Due to his wide receiver background, it is surprising that Montgomery hasn’t made an impact in the passing game since October. The Packers’ rushing matchup is tough against a Giants run defense that ranks No. 3 in DVOA and has held enemy running backs to a combined 151-512-2 (3.39 YPC) rushing line over its last seven games. Rodgers’ target distribution over the last two months: Jordy Nelson 79; Davante Adams 56; Jared Cook 40; Montgomery 28; Randall Cobb 27; Richard Rodgers 20; Geronimo Allison 17; Ripkowski 6. … Albeit at a time when Jordy wasn’t running as well as he is now, the Giants held him to 38 yards and a touchdown on 13 targets in Week 5 as Nelson left a ton of yards on the field with four arguable drops. Giants top CB Janoris Jenkins also repeatedly made spectacular pass breakups. Jordy scored his two-yard touchdown on off-script improvisation against rookie CB Eli Apple. The Giants have limited enemy No. 1 wideouts, notably checking DeSean Jackson (2-34-0), Dez Bryant (1-10-0), and Antonio Brown (6-54-1) over the season’s final five weeks. The matchup isn’t strong on paper, but a bet on Rodgers is generally a bet on Nelson, and both were incredibly strong bets in the second half of the season. In DFS tournaments, Rodgers-to-Jordy will likely have less ownership than Ben-to-Brown. Nelson has caught at least six passes in six straight games and scored a touchdown in 11-of-16 games this year. Even in a tough draw, Jordy is a top-three wideout on the Wild Card slate. … Adams went to work (5-85-1) in Week 5, doing much of his damage against UDFA CB Michael Hunter, who isn’t on the Giants’ 53-man roster anymore. Adams’ yardage results can be hit or miss, but he finished second in the NFL in touchdown catches (12) behind only Nelson (14) and will get better individual matchups if Jenkins chases Jordy. … Cook is one of Week 18’s top matchup-driven DFS plays facing a Giants defense that yielded 7-89-1 to Redskins tight ends last week and gave up the NFL’s sixth most catches (89) and fourth most yards (1,052) to the position this year. While still not a full-time player, Cook has become a consistent part of Green Bay’s passing game with snap rates of 66% > 59% > 53% and target totals of 8 > 5 > 8 in Weeks 15-17. Cook has a tendency to disappear in the red zone, but his elevated usage and matchup make Cook one of this week’s most intriguing box-score bets. … Allison replaced Cobb (ankle) as the Packers’ third receiver in last week’s win, logging six targets on 81% of the snaps. Allison hooked up with Rodgers for 39 yards on a bootleg pass that required post-snap communication, a 31-yard shot play on a designed downfield pick, and a diving touchdown where Rodgers looked to Allison in the end zone on an improvised play. It was a promising effort by an undrafted rookie. Allison might disappear if Cobb returns, but he’ll get a ton of playing time again if Cobb doesn’t. Allison ran a brutal 4.67 forty at the Combine, but he improved to 4.56 at Illinois’ Pro Day and has vertical ability on sheer length at 6-foot-3, 197 with 33-inch arms. Matchups will work strongly in Eli Manning’s Wild Card Round favor against a Packers defense that gave up 22 touchdown passes over its final ten games and three straight 340-yard games to Matt Barkley, Sam Bradford, and Matthew Stafford in Weeks 15-17. Manning’s recent performance won’t after he topped 270 yards in just one of the final ten weeks in an offense that failed to score 20 points in 10-of-16 games and four straight to end the year. The Packers sold out to stop Odell Beckham on Sunday Night Football in Week 5, putting at least two defenders in his vicinity on all of OBJ’s 12 targets and limiting him to 56 yards on five catches, saved by an eight-yard garbage-time score. As Manning’s fantasy results depend almost completely upon Beckham turning easy completions into big plays, Eli had an ugly 199-yard game to discourage his remaining apologists on national TV. Manning was horrific on the road this season, averaging 223.5 yards per game and 5.94 yards per attempt with multiple touchdown passes in 3-of-8 games. I think Ben Roethlisberger, Aaron Rodgers, and Russell Wilson are all significantly better NFL playoff DFS bets than Eli. Most of the field will, too, of course, making Manning worthy of low-owned tournament consideration based on OBJ’s playmaking ability in the best quarterback matchup on the Wild Card slate. … Paul Perkins’ Weeks 15-17 touch counts were 11 > 16 > 21 on snap rates of 39% > 38% > 51% compared to Rashad Jennings’ 18 > 13 > 19 on 39% > 46% > 39% playing-time clips. Perkins averaged 4.48 yards per carry to Jennings’ 3.00 over the final five weeks. The pendulum is swinging in Perkins’ direction ahead of a plus Week 18 draw against a Packers defense that allowed a combined 203-950-9 rushing line (4.68 YPC) to running backs over its last ten games. I don’t think Jennings is going away, but Perkins has become a better bet for touches and yards. Jennings remains the favorite for scoring-position work after piling up five red-zone carries to Perkins’ two in last week’s win. Manning’s targets since the Giants’ Week 8 bye: Beckham 99; Sterling Shepard 57; Will Tye 45; Jennings and Victor Cruz 31; Jerell Adams 17: Perkins 16; Roger Lewis 14. … OBJ will probably face heavy coverage on every snap, but he is likelier than not to win battles against a depleted Packers secondary that gave up 12-202-2 (Adam Thielen), 8-110 (Deonte Thompson), 9-104 (Cameron Meredith), 6-89-1 (Alshon Jeffery), 6-77-1 (Golden Tate), 5-76 (Marvin Jones), and 4-57-1 (Anquan Boldin) to enemy wide receivers in its final three games on top of league highs in yards (3,017) and touchdowns (26) to the position this year. Despite his slow Week 5 against the Packers, this is a blowup spot for Beckham, who finished second in the NFL in targets (169), third in catches (101), and third in receiving yards (1,367). … Bogged down by a dysfunctional passing game, Giants slot man Shepard managed 14 yards on seven targets against Green Bay in Week 5. Not much of a big-play threat, Shepard was a short score-or-bust fantasy gamble for most of the year. He closed out the season with 13 straight games below 65 yards. … Cruz didn’t even catch a pass in these clubs’ previous meeting. While we can count on Cruz to be out there for over 80% of the snaps, Cruz drew just two red-zone targets from Week 6 on and went over 50 yards once in the Giants’ final nine games. He’s in the same conversation with Jermaine Kearse and Geronimo Allison as DFS punts that cost near the minimum but have goose-egg floors. It’s interesting to note that Cruz (10) hauled in four more 20-plus-yard plays than Shepard (6) this season despite seeing 33 fewer targets. With the Packers’ attention likely to be focused on Beckham, I’m leaving the light on for Cruz to surprise with a big play. … Tye was a popular Week 5 DFS play against Green Bay, only to finish with 37 scoreless yards as Eli overthrew him on a would-be walk-in 60-yard touchdown. Tight ends always have good matchups against the Packers, but Tye hit pay dirt in 1-of-16 games and cleared 55 yards in 0-of-16. That shortage of season-long production has me looking elsewhere for tight end plays this week. Score Prediction: Packers 23, Giants 17