#Arbor Day 2021

[sweetestcaptainhughes]

Till Forever Falls Apart Timeline

Author's Note: I am going to be honest, this is a loose timeline, I have a more detailed one and just retracted what I didn't want to reveal yet and will be revealed in the chapters I will be posting. Good news I have started chapter 1 so yay! This is an interactive AU, so feel free to send in asks.

May 2020 - Jack met Idris at a party for the first time, it's supposed to be a one night stand and she ended up staying the weekend at Jacks. 

They end up hitting it off and Jack gets hooked after the weekend and asks for her number and she gives it to him. But she does warn him she won’t be around for the summer since she just finished her finals at NYU and plans on going home to Ann Arbor.

July 2020 - They text throughout the summer and Jack ends up inviting her his July 4th party and she surprisingly shows up. They sleep together again, and Jack swears she’s the best he ever had. 

August 2020 - So when they end up running into each other the next month, back in Jersey. They start hanging out and become true friends with benefits, because with Iddy in her junior year, she physically can’t have anything except something casual. Although even if she had time, at this point Iddy doesn’t see Jack more than a friend with benefits. 

July 2021 - Idris comes for July 4th again at the lakehouse. Quinn joking that it is becoming tradition, Iddy being at the lakehouse during the 4th. 

September 2021 - Idris found out she got pregnant. Iddy is a senior in college now, 2 semesters away from graduating. 

October 2021 - Idris decides to move out of her apartment with her roommates despite it being closer to NYU, and moves in with Jack.

December 2021 - Jack proposes over Christmas break and she says yes. But her only condition is that they don’t even think about wedding planning until she graduates and Zander is born, because she doesn’t wanna be like 8 months pregnant at her wedding.

May 2022 - Idris 6 months pregnant walks the stage graduating with honors with a double major in art history and communications. Jack is so nervous something is going to happen simply because she’s wearing heels and he knows her ankles have been very swollen lately, to which Idris simply rolls her eyes. 

July 23, 2022 - Zander born in Michigan. Idris was nervous about how Jack’s brothers would react to living with a newborn. But both brothers fell in love with little baby Zander. Idris felt truly a part of the family, especially when no one cared that her mom and sister stayed for a week when she gave birth. 

September 2022 - Idris gets clear to have sex again, and Luke agrees to watch Zander for a date night. Both get a little too wine drunk and one thing leads to another and they get pregnant with Zola. Literally the first time they have sex since Zander is born, Idris cries a lot, a lot when she finds out, a lot when she tells Jack, a lot when she does the math of how far apart the baby in tummy and 2 month old will be apart in age. 

October 2022 - They get Apollo. 

May 2023 - Zola is born, and Jack calls her the best birthday present ever since she comes a week early and two days after his birthday. 

September 2023 - Once Jack starts even just preseason, it hits Iddy how hard it is to have two kids one who JUST turned one, a dog, and starting her career. 

May 2024 - Once everyone comes home, they play house, pretend everything is okay. They celebrate Jack’s birthday with a small party with just the family. 

May 16th - they celebrate Zola’s first birthday. They have all the family over both Idris and Jack’s. Something about that day brings them together after having problems for months. 

September 2024 - Iddy asks for a break, it is a very big fight. 

Early October 2024 -  Eventually she finds an apartment she likes a few blocks away. Which is truly perfect, since Jack and her still haven’t come up with a better plan than switching every other day.

[all-hallows-street]

All Saints Street Profile Pictures

Phew. Okay I am sure this is the complete collection of all the avatar/profile pictures that have been released so far.

It includes:

2017 Paper Cups Set (Abu, Damao, Ira, Lily, Luis, Lynn, Momo, Nick)

2019 Flower Crown Set (Ira, Abu, Damao, Neil, Nick, Lily, Lynn)

2019 Year of the pig (Axel, Crystal, Damao, Ira, Lily, Lynn, Momo, Neil, Nick)

2019 Goodnight! Set (Abu, Crystal, Damao, Ira, Lily, Lynn, Momo, Neil, Nick)

2020 Christmas Set (Abu, Damao, Ira, Lily, Lynn, Neil, Nick, +2)

2020 Campus/School Set for Team Battle (Abi/Arm, Abu, Crystal, Damao, Ira, Lily, Lynn, Momo, Neil, Nick)

2020 Workers Day Set (Abi/Arm, Abu, Damao, Ira, Lily, Lynn, Momo, Neil, Nick)

2021 Arbor Day Dumplings Set (Lily, Lynn, Neil, Nick)

2021 Sailor Set for Team Battle (Axel, Crystal, Damao, Ira, Lynn, Momo, Neil, Nick, Will)

2022 Box Set (Lily, Lynn, Neil, Nick)

2022 Year of the Tiger (Ira, Damao, Neil, Nick, Lily, Lynn)

2023 Year of the Rabbit (Abu, Crystal, Damao, Evan, Ira, Lily, Luis, Lynn, Momo, Neil, Nick)

Here is the google Drive link with all of them:

Oh, by the way: Team Battle was a popularity contest event for all FRZ comics (Fei Ren Zai, There Are Beast and All Saints Street) characters. I'll talk about the WSJ character rankings another time. Right now, I am exhausted and will sign off.

Edit: Well, goddamit. This is why you don't work exhausted. I missed the first set of avatar/profile pictures made by Lingzi. You might recognize it from the eng twitter account using the Neil one. Uploaded them to the drive so it should be all of them for real now.

[voidvannie]

˗ˏˋ 𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗟𝗔𝗛 𝗛𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗘𝗦 ˎˊ˗

𓆩ᥫ᭡𓆪┊Get to Know Delilah Hughes !

୨୧ Full Name, Delilah Claire Hughes

୨୧ Age, 19 years old

୨୧ Birth Place, Nashville, Tennessee

୨୧ Currently Living, Ann Arbor, Michigan

୨୧ Birth Parents, Michelle Logan, Billy Munson

୨୧ Adopted Parents, Ellen Hughes, Jim Hughes

୨୧ Siblings, Quinn Hughes, Luke Hughes, Jack Hughes

୨୧ Face Claim, Jessie Murph

𓆩ᥫ᭡𓆪┊FUN FACTS !

୨୧ Delilah was born Wednesday September 22, 2004 at 2:47 AM.

୨୧ Her parents Michelle and Billy were teenage parents that were not ready to be parents and put her up for adoption.

୨୧ She was adopted by Ellen and Jim Hughes when she was six years old after the adults decided they wanted to adopt a little girl.

୨୧ All of the boys were super excited to be getting a little sister and Quinn quickly referred to her as ‘his baby’ even though she was six years old.

୨୧ Because of their one year age difference, Luke & Delilah were the closest (and still are), and after his move to New Jersey, the two stayed close.

୨୧ Quinn taught her how to ice skate when she was eight because she would always get sad when the boys would play hockey and she had to be on her own.

୨୧ From a young age, Delilah was always into music. She took a lot of lessons and learned to play tons of instruments.

୨୧ No matter where she went, she was always singing. She’d sing when she was bored, when she did her homework, when she did her chores.

୨୧ In 2019, she started posting videos of herself singing on TikTok and quickly went viral.

୨୧ She was signed to a record label in California but stays in Michigan with her parents and she goes back and forth to record music.

୨୧ In 2021, her song “Always Been You” gained over 70 million streams on Spotify.

୨୧ She has a game day tradition with each on of her brothers when she goes to their games; With Quinn, the two have a secret handshake, with Jack, the two of them always go out to dinner just the two of them, and with Luke, he always gets her to sign the tape on his stick, claiming it as good luck.

୨୧ Even though her brothers all play professional hockey, her favorite team is the Chicago Blackhawks.

୨୧ Devil’s hockey players that she’s close to — Nico, Alex, Dawson.

୨୧ Canucks players that she’s close to — Brock, Elias, Thatcher.

୨୧ Other hockey players she’s close to — Trevor Zegras, Cam York, Cole Caufield, Adam Fantilli, Wyatt Johnson, Connor Bedard.

୨୧ When she writes a new song, Luke is always the first one to hear them before they are put out.

୨୧ Tate McRae is her best friend.

୨୧ She has the biggest crush on Mitch Marner, and had always begged Jack or Quinn to introduce them whenever she’s at games and they play the Maple Leafs.

୨୧ Her celebrity crush is Connor Bedard and Timothee Chalamet.

𓆩ᥫ᭡𓆪┊EXTRA FACTS !

୨୧ She had a necklace that she wears for luck at concerts that had the first letter of her brothers; she’s never seen without it.

୨୧ She absolutely hates any sour candy, but she loves sour patch kids.

୨୧ Becuase Luke went to umich to play hockey at college, she’s friends with a lot of the boys for the team, but she’s the closest with Ethan Edwards and Luca Fantilli.

୨୧ She and Ethan dated for 3 months after Luke moved to New Jersey, but broke up after deciding that they were better as friends.

୨୧ She’s naturally a brunette but frequently dyes her hair black.

୨୧ She’s terrified of clowns.

୨୧ Her brothers are the only ones allowed to call her by her middle name.

୨୧ Much like Quinn, Delilah loves keeping to herself.

୨୧ She meets Connor at a Devils vs. Blackhawks game November 5, 2023.

[equallyshaw]

star crossed loves au | connor bedard x kailey hughes au ↳ not for the faint of heart. ↳ august, 2021. ↳ masterlist.

warnings: swearing, talks of depression and jack being an ass. also, there is an attempt mentioned + self harm & eating disorder. word count: 2.9k

after the panic attack in kaileys washroom that afternoon, ellen had begun to notice more and more the subtle changes in her daughter's moods and behavior. she saw the lucky go, girl who was always up for anything and everything, begin to become a recluse, quiet and very calculated girl. she saw the light in her daughter's eyes diminish and she didn't know where it all had begun. she grew worried as luke was getting ready to head off to michigan for his freshman year, while she stayed back to complete her senior year.

what was she going to do without her irish and best friend no longer in the house? :

she knew it was the final straw when kailey had declined to hang out with luke before he left, and to forgoe their 'twin day' they liked to call it which they had been doing since b before they moved to michigan where it was just the two of them, with one final day before school started up again. she watched as kailey told him no and then proceeded to head upstairs to nap, which was something she'd been doing a lot of lately. she saw the solemn and defeated look of form on her youngest son's face, and her heart absolutely broke watching him look down at the two tickets he had gotten for a festival in downtown ann arbor. he left the two tickets and headed into he garage, to take a drive. that evening as her and her husband began to get ready for bed, she told him of everything she'd been seeing with their daughter and how she had said no to luke today. to which, luke was shocked with the latter. everybody in their family knew that they gave themselves one day a year to boast in the final summer break hours with each other, and to say no was huge.

"i- i think we failed her jim. i really do. she shouldn't be feeling the way she feels in this house and this town. did we make the wrong decision moving here for jack? do you think we should of stayed in toronto and let jack head off like we had quinn do?" ellen rambled as jim pulled her into his arms. he kissed the top of her head, "she quit her sports too. i should have noticed it last year when she didn't sign up for try outs. when she lied to us and said she just didn't make it. or when she yelled at jack when they both came back from training camps...i should have known. i should have been a better mother." ellen sobbed as jim continued to comfort her. "you're not a bad mother, we are not horrible parents ellen. i promise you. the best thing we can do is be there for her, get her help and continue to show up for her - now more than ever." he said and ellen nodded, wiping her tears. "as for the move, i think about it too. i think about the 'what ifs' and if we made the right decision, and some days i do regret it but we can't go back, we can only move forward hun. we will get through this, kailey will get through this." he said a bit stoically, taking the weight and pressure off of his wife. ellen nodded taking one last look at jim, before the two of them fell asleep.

_

a week later, ellen drove kailey to a therapist out in detroit. she called the school the following day, inquiring if her guidance counselor could talk to her daughter once the first day rolled around, and after that conversation, her guidance counselor referred her to a social worker in detroit for her to go to therapy. kailey was confused more than anything, as to where all of this had come from, but took it with great strides. she could finally breathe for once, because somebody had finally noticed. ellen called quinn that same afternoon to let her know kailey would be going to therapy and hoped quinn could check in with kailey in a week and quinn was shocked, but was relieved that she'd have somebody to talk to and have a safe place to do so. ellen also told him some of what the guidance counselor had said, in particular, the part about jack. which made quinn beyond pissed off, and went into big brother mode.

as soon as the two got off the call, he facetimed his brother. jack's egotistical smile graced the phone screen and then fell, once he saw quinns face. "is everything ok?" he asked and quinn shook his head, "no." he stated. "you are an ass jack, a fucking ass." he began but was cut off by jack, "what the hell man? what did i do now?" jack fought back. quinn made a tsk noise, "what haven't you done. you've treated our baby sister nothing more than a roommate since you guys moved to michigan. you fucking told your teammates or friends, that she was nothing more than a roommate. what the hell jack? you're supposed to protect her and build her up, not tear her down and bully her. do you know where she's headed now because of what you and others say to her? yknow she's bullied at school, right? oh wait no, you don't because nobody told you anything about her life. kailey made sure of that. always having luke to promise he wont say anything, but he's seen it all. he see's how people treat her at school and he has seen how you've treated her as well. yknow she quit lacrosse and soccer because her mental health got so bad last year? she lied to mom and dad and said she didn't make it, but she didn't even go to the fucking try out. instead, she drove new buffalo across the god damn state. because you were at home, she drove three hours to get away from you man! three. fucking. hours." quinn paused taking a deep breathe, "she's headed to therapy jack, because of how immature you are. what do you have against her, huh? what does she have, that you don't? why did you do and say all that you did, man?" quinn questioned as jack took in all of the information.

jack felt tears spring to his eyes as he digested it all, and he swallowed harshly. "its stupid." he mumbled and quinn rolled his eyes. "speak up man." quinn demanded.

"its dumb!" jack said louder now and quinn gave him a deadpanned look, "it cant be that stupid if it's given her years of torment." quinn said irritably. "have you ever thought of life if we hadn't gotten into hockey?" jack questioned and quinn's eyebrows furrowed, "have you ever thought of how life would have played out? the freedom we'd have or the ability to plan our own future?" he added. quinn sighed, as he continued to listen. "its stupid because when we moved to michigan, i was hurting. i didn't or couldn't understand why. i didn't understand when i was supposedly living out my dream of playing for team usa, and dedicating my life and time to the sport that we love. i think apart of me hated that we had to move, or that i did. mom and dad didn't listen to me when i said i'd move there by myself, but then they said that luke has a shot of getting into the program too so it would be easier to move everybody. but they didn't listen to when i asked about kailey, and how she'd adjust. i was hurting because i felt like a burden, because of the way kailey reacted to the move. she began to cry, she began to yell at mom and dad about how they were ruining their lives, and then she began to scream at me. telling me how selfish i was, and how much of a brat i was because we were moving because of me." jack paused to sniffle and wipe a stray tear.

"i was hurt because she was hurt, and then i took my anger and frustration and sadness out on her. which was wrong of me, i now understand and know. when we got there, i took on the burden of having to prove how beneficial it was for me or us to move. had to be number one in order to prove to kailey that it was the best decision. had to show everybody that i was meant to be there. all the while, she was hurting because of me and i was too narrow-minded-" quinn cut him off, "you were a dummy." and jack nodded in agreement.

"once i started to make sly comments towards her and about, it snowballed and i knew it was too far past redemption or apologies. so i rolled with it. i became the villain in her story, and if i could go back now - i'd do it differently. it was not fair or right of me to treat her that way. mom and dad didn't raise me to be that way, and i let them down. i let all of you down, especially kailey."

_

back to kailey:

she sat down in the aesthetically pleasing therapist's office, as her mom waited outside. she sat down in front of the woman her mom had told her about, and how she would be able to help if they were a good fit.

"so kailey, do you know why your mom brought you here today?" the younger woman questioned and kailey nodded. "because im depressed." she stated as her hands clasped together and began to fidget with them. "how long would you say you've been depressed, kailey?" the social worker questioned softly. the blonde girl swallowed counting in her head, "i would say for six years now." she stated and the social worker nodded. "do you know what triggered it? or anything that might have been the start of it?" they questioned sitting back to let the blonde speak.

kailey nodded, "when we moved from toronto to ann arbor for my brother jacks hockey program. my parent's didn't listen when i said i didn't want to move. i didn't want to uproot my life that had finally calmed down." she began, "once we moved, jack became mean. i mean we didn't always get along growing up but enough to where when he began to taunt me, say mean things to me- it was almost as if it was whiplash. i couldn't believe that he'd do such a thing. at the time, i was also mean. i was mean to my parents because i couldn't accept that they'd made this terrible decision. i was mad because they didn't let jack come to michigan like our older brother quinn did, when he joined the same program. and then luke became even more dedicated to hockey as well. it felt like i was losing my support system and Irish twin, but in reality i wasn't. it just felt like i was losing control on the world i had hated for years. hockey took away my brothers. took away my life and family. everything bad that has happened in my life, is because of it. i can't stand to watch it, i only went for my oldest brother - quinns - pro debut in vancouver and then i haven't been to a game since. i even told my other brother luke who will be at michigan this year, that i wont watch his games. i wish him well and hope he doesn't get hurt, but i know that hurts him. i know it. but i cant allow myself to watch it or even think about it." kailey said before taking a pause to breathe.

the social worker spoke up, "it is not unusual for you to have created boundaries. we do that as a coping mechanism, even if other do not see it as such. we do it so we can protect our hearts, our minds and our psyche. you cutting off hockey is not surprising. its a triggering thing for you, which makes sense given your relationship to jack." they paused to change course a bit, "my next question is...have you used those boundaries to in turn harm yourself in anyway?" they questioned. kailey felt as if the air was knocked out of her, as she felt tears form. she swallowed them down, before taking a breath. kailey nodded, before breaking down. the social worker watched for a few seconds, before moving over to the couch next to the girl. the social worker hesitated before wrapping her arms around the girl, who immediately grasped onto her arms. the social worker rubbed her upper back, trying to comfort the girl.

nobody had ever asked her that before, nobody knew the great lengths she had gone to have some sort of control over her life.

"yes." kailey breathed as anxiety coursed through her. the social worker nodded and continued to hold her for a few more minutes, before kailey calmed down. she wiped her tears and took a few tissues that were on the coffee table before her.

the social worker moved back to the other chair and waited for kailey to speak.

"i didn't realize it at first, but I've known for some time that my eating habits aren't healthy. i used food as a way to have some control in my life, when decisions were being made for me and the way that people treated me at home and at school. i used it because i couldn't control my environment. i haven't self harmed myself in a year, since jack left and people began to leave me alone at school. i took their words out on myself, because i felt like i deserved it for whatever reason. i took the way people viewed me to heart, and knew that that was another way i could harm myself." kailey explained, and the social worker nodded.

"how are your eating patterns now?" she asked kailey and the girl shrugged. "could be better, could be worse." she said before she dived into them, and how they had gotten better over the past year but worsened when jack came home for the offseason. the social worker and her dug deep into that conversation, before the social worker had one more question to ask.

"have you ever had an attempt?" they questioned and kailey sighed, before looking away. she had pushed that moment into the back of her mind for so, so long. she didn't like to think of it because it didn't work, and felt embarrassed about it.

"yeah i uh, i was alone a weekend during my sophomore year. jack had one last tournament with team USA and my parents took my brother luke to canada for it. and because i could drive, i stayed back. and I've uh never told anybody that before." she finished before chugging more of the coffee she had brought. the social worker nodded, "so it was just the once?" they clarified and the girl nodded. "i feel ashamed and embarrassed. but i didn't have anybody to call. i couldn't call q because he was canada working, and then i couldn't call luke because he was also with my parents and my best friend becca was living her life back in toronto. i was all alone, and had nobody." she finished and the social worker nodded. "for starters, i want to thankyou for sharing me all that you did today. it is difficult to come into an unfamiliar space with somebody you don't know, and share your deepest secrets and the one's you hide from the world. it takes courage and strength my dear, and those are things you do not lack." the social worker began and they saw a small smile form on the girls pale features. "and i know things will come up as we meet, but how about we come up with a plan for moving forward, things we will do together and what you'll do on your own?" and kailey nodded.

_

kailey waited in the small waiting room for her mom to come out of the office. the social worker wanted time with her mother to talk about what had been shared and their plan moving forward, with the consent of kailey ofcourse- since she was 18. ellen came out with a puffy face and thanked the social worker before the two walked out. ellen took ahold of her daughter's hand as they walked back to the car. the two hopped into the car and ellen sat there as kailey got her seatbelt on. ellen sniffled before looking at her youngest baby before grabbing ahold of her left hand, "im sorry you've had to deal with all of that without anybody knowing. im sorry you've had to carry so much pain, shame and anger these past years here. im sorry that i didn't notice sooner, my love." ellen said as a tear broke through. kailey nodded in acknowledgment taking ahold of her mom's hand with her other, and smiled. "i appreciate that mom, i really do." she smiled before ellen kissed her daughter's temple. she wiped her tears before turning on the car, "how about we go surprise luke for dinner?" and kailey nodded profusely.

im sorry that was so sad ): hope you enjoyed tho!

[mulderscreek]

Through the Pages of the Calendar Challenge

Your challenge is to craft series of interconnected X-Files kidfic or babyfic (or pregnant-fic) stories, any length you like, that are all set on holidays. However, it is up to you to define holidays. If you would like to include a story in your series about International Cat Day or Arbor Day or Talk Like a Pirate Day, that's between you and your muse.

If this sounds like an exciting challenge, but you're not sure where to begin, please look at the list below of previous holiday challenges: if you would like to use challenges as the premises for all your stories you can, or you can use a challenge when you find yourself out of ideas. Entirely up to you.

A final note: your stories do not have to chronologically follow the calendar, and can be spread across a single year or as many years as you like. Do not feel that you need to start at either the beginning of the year or with any particular holiday. Your first story can also be set in any year you would like, including well before the X-Files began or long after it ended.

List of our TNF holiday Challenges after the cut

2024 The Mistletoe Midwife Challenge

2024 Paper Ornaments Challenge

2023 A Very Hallmark(?) The X-Files Challenge

2023 The 12 Days of Us Challenge

2022 Dear Santa Challenge

2022 The Winter Guest Challenge

2021 Will You Merry Me?

2020 Last Christmas, This Christmas, Next Christmas Challenge

2019 Away in a Manger Challenge 2018 I'll Be Home for Christmas (If Only in My Dreams) Challenge 2017 Christmas List II Challenge 2016 William's Favorite Ornament Challenge 2015 The Christmas Child Challenge 2014 First Christmas With You Challenge 2013 This Christmas Challenge 2012 Picture It Challenge, Christmas Edition 2010 I'll Be Cloned For Christmas challenge 2009 Christmas List Challenge 2008 Christmas Reunion challenge 2007 Given first line/photo challenges 2006 No Room At The Inn/Holiday Bizarre challenges 2005 Merry Multiples challenge 2004 Choose Your Own Holiday challenge

And Scene! Prompt - Making a Wish

The Best Darn Thanksgiving Costume Ever Challenge

As We Gather Together Challenge

Thanksgiving For Eight Challenge

Things Said Thanksgiving Challenge

First Thanksgiving With You Challenge

Thanksgiving 2010 Thankful/Angstful Challenge

Thanksgiving 2005 Challenge

And Scene! Prompt - Candy!

Fright House Halloween Challenge (2024)

2023 Halloween Party at the Mulders Challenge

Halloween 2022: Come Away O Human Child Challenge

Halloween With My Sister Challenge (2021)

Bump In the Night’s 2020 The Trick or Treater’s Trick Challenge

Take Me Out Halloween Challenge

The Nursery Files and Bump in the Night's Still Here Challenge

First Halloween With You Challenge

Black Cat Challenge

Halloween Night Challenge

This Halloween Challenge

Halloween Crossover Challenge

Picture It Challenge, Halloween Edition

Halloween Flashback Challenge

Halloween Trick Challenge

Halloween 2008 Challenge

Halloween 2007 Challenge

Kid Resurrection Halloween Challenge

Romantic Evening Interrupted Challenge

And a Happy New Year Challenge

Family Summer Vacation Challenge

Labor Day Labor challenge

Mother's Day/Father's Day Challenge

Other Family Holidays Challenge

[covid-safer-hotties]

The Tripledemic That Wasn’t - Published Dec 16, 2024

Covid mitigations kept respiratory diseases like RSV and Influenza at bay during 2020 and 2021. Dropping mask mandates brought them back, giving us the "tripledemics" and "quademics" being experienced right now. Mask up. Keep everyone safe and healthy.

By Marie Rosenthal, MS As the “traditional” respiratory season began during the COVID-19 pandemic, public health experts, infectious disease doctors and hospital administrators were gearing up for a “tripledemic”—they were anticipating months of fighting not only SARS-CoV-2, but also influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

With the three viruses expected to surge across the country, experts were offering advice about protecting family, friends and colleagues. At the time, 12,000 people were dying from COVID-19 each day in the United States alone. Hospitals were barely handling the onslaught of incoming cases. What would they do if 200,000 or more people showed up at their doors with influenza or RSV? A “normal” flu season sees 100,000 to 710,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 to 51,000 deaths. A “normal” RSV season could hospitalize at least 120,000 people and kill 6,100.

Yet, to the relief of many, the tripledemic was not seen during the 2020-2021 respiratory season. So, what happened? Infectious Disease Special Edition spoke with three respiratory virus experts about what they saw, and why they think they saw it, and what that means for the future of influenza.

“The 2020 to 2021 season was the lowest influenza on record,” said William Schaffner, MD, FIDSA, a professor of medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, and a professor of preventive medicine, Department of Health Policy, at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, in Nashville, Tenn. “The curve was essentially flat. We even had some conversations with our colleagues in Canada, who said that the flu cases we were discovering were probably in error,” he jested.

“Flu was not just mild; it was absent, because of the very things that drove people crazy about COVID: segregation and wearing masks,” explained Arnold S. Monto, MD, the co-director of the Michigan Center for Respiratory Virus Research and Response, as well as professor emeritus in epidemiology and public health at the University of Michigan, School of Public Health, in Ann Arbor.

Mitigating Factors

There probably were two factors at play, according to the experts. The first was viral exclusion or interference, which can occur when people or animals are exposed to multiple viruses simultaneously. As the organisms jockey for position, one becomes dominant and the others wait their turn, so to speak. This is seen frequently during normal flu seasons—one strain of flu, often influenza A, sweeps across the country first, and then influenza B comes through near the end of the season.

“I think that when there is a respiratory virus roaring through the community, it can be hard for other respiratory viruses to break in,” said Richard J. Webby, PhD, the director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Studies on the Ecology of Influenza in Animals and Birds, and a member of the staff of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, in Memphis, Tenn.

“When you look at peaks of influenza A, influenza B or RSV over a winter season, more often than not, those peaks don’t overlay [one another]. One comes first and then when one is coming down, the other one will come up,” he said.

The other dynamic—and probably the biggest influencer—was the actions that were put into place to mitigate COVID-19. Social distancing and masking had much to do with stopping the spread of all the respiratory diseases, all three experts told Infectious Disease Special Edition.

“I think it was the unexpected consequence of everything that we were doing against COVID,” Dr. Webby said. “But influenza activity went to very low levels [that season] as did other respiratory viruses as well.”

Mitigation factors were important, according to Dr. Schaffner, because once people stopped wearing masks, attended church services and headed back to school, influenza quickly regained its place in the respiratory hierarchy.

“Quite clearly people were staying home [during COVID],” Dr. Schaffner said. “And most importantly, children were not going to school. They were not playing together, and of course, children have the great ‘distribution franchise’ … for influenza virus.”

One reason children are such efficient spreaders in the community is they shed flu virus for longer periods than adults do. While at school, daycare or play, they spread the virus among themselves and then bring it home to adult family and friends, Dr. Schaffner said.

“So, it’s clear the opportunities to spread the virus were so profoundly reduced in 2021, and we did not have an influenza season,” he added.

“I don’t think it was the interference between COVID and flu. Most people think it was the lockdowns and the changes in patterns, particularly schools being closed because schools are where everything is usually being spread. Just look at rhinovirus. Rhinovirus season starts after school opens,” Dr. Monto said.

Another factor that typically affects influenza hospitalizations and deaths is vaccination, but in this case, influenza vaccination was down, which is another reason the experts point to nonpharmacologic mitigation factors. Influenza vaccination has been decreasing since the pandemic. The CDC estimates that in the 2023-2024 flu season, only 55.4% of children from 6 months through 17 years received a flu vaccination—a decrease of 2 percentage points compared with the previous flu season (57.4%) and a decrease of 8.3 percentage points compared with 2019-2020 (63.7%).

Flu vaccination coverage was also low among adults. Only 44.9% of adults ages 18 and older were vaccinated against flu, a decrease of 2.0 percentage points from the previous season (46.9%). Adults saw an initial increase in flu coverage right after the pandemic started, but coverage has continued to decline, according to the CDC (bit.ly/49s7iVu-IDSE).

Taking Its Course

To tease out what happened to the other respiratory viruses, an Israeli study examined hospital admissions related to respiratory diseases among children before and after the pandemic. They retrospectively reviewed medical records from November 2020 to January 2021, and compared them with the same periods during the previous two years. They found 1,488 hospitalizations due to respiratory illnesses: 632 in 2018-2019, 701 in 2019-2020, and 144 in 2020-2021. They attributed the significant decline in respiratory viral and bacterial coinfections during the pandemic to viral interference, as well as social distancing and wearing masks (Isr Med Assoc J 2023;25[3]:171-176).

This was reiterated in several studies, including a recent review in Emerging Infectious Diseases, which predicted a return to more normal flu seasons as the COVID-19 emergency abated (2022;28[2]:273-281). “During the coronavirus disease pandemic, nonpharmacologic interventions have prevented the circulation of most respiratory viruses. Once the sanitary restrictions are lifted, circulation of seasonal respiratory viruses is expected to resume and will offer the opportunity to study their interactions, notably with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.”

As predicted, flu did fight its way back into circulation. The following year, 2021-2022, influenza started later than usual, but in 2022-2023, it started earlier, as “though the virus was getting back into its rhythm,” Dr. Schaffner said, and the 2024-2025 season appears to be behaving “just the way a conventional flu season starts.”

Dr. Webby added: “I think because we stopped doing everything that we were doing during the height of the pandemic—we stopped wearing masks, we started traveling again—COVID settled into more peaks of activity rather than year-round activity, so all of those things that helped keep flu away were gone.”

A Prudent Response

Based on this experience and what they know about respiratory viruses, all three experts agreed that wearing a mask in public during respiratory season is a prudent thing to do, especially if a person is immunocompromised. They also reiterated the importance of staying home when people are sick to stop the spread of all respiratory viruses.

“I recommend a mask for people who are at increased risk of getting more severe disease should they become infected,” Dr. Schaffner said. They should ask themselves these questions: “Are they more likely to become seriously ill and require hospitalization and intensive care admission? Are they at increased risk of dying? Eighty percent of the deaths occur in people 65 and older.

“As a person who is in that group, when I go to the supermarket or the drugstore, or anywhere, I wear a mask,” he said. “So, I think it would be a good idea.”

The viruses are respiratory, and thus spread through airborne particles, reminded Dr. Monto; therefore, anything that reduces that spread is worthwhile. He said he doesn’t understand the resistance to wearing a mask, “because it does work. Why does a surgeon wear a mask in an operating room? Because we know that wearing masks helps to stop the spread of infection,” Dr. Monto said. “It’s not a total answer, but it’s a partial one.”

“In some parts of the world, wearing a mask is still a pretty common practice, so obviously, it does work,” Dr. Webby said, but he added that he thinks it’s the combination of actions that is important. “What impact does wearing a mask on its own have? I don’t think we know,” he said. “People are traveling or were still maybe a little more likely to go to work with a bit of the sniffles as opposed to staying home, so it is hard to tease those out in my mind, but it makes good sense to wear a mask.”

In addition, they said healthcare providers should continue to recommend vaccination against COVID-19 and influenza, as well as RSV, if eligible, because the vaccines help reduce the risk for hospitalizations and death.

Despite the best prognostications, flu is unpredictable, Dr. Schaffner reminded. Although everyone thought a tripledemic would occur, it didn’t. It wasn’t the end of flu by a long shot, and flu came back this season just as it always has.

Dr. Monto concurred: “There are a lot of people who like to say, ‘We understand this.’ But in reality, when you look at what happens, there is a lot we don’t understand. We observe, and we try to predict.”

[disneytva]

Mickey Mouse Funhouse Opens Doors to Season 3 Next Month With Huey, Dewey and Louie

The third season of the whimsical animated preschool series Micky Mouse Funhouse will premiere Friday, February 23 on Disney Junior (9:30 a.m. EST/PST) and Disney Channel (10:30 a.m. EST/PST) before rolling out onto Disney+ later this year.

In the new season, Mickey, Minnie and their friends embark on more imaginative journeys through the magical doors of Funny the Funhouse (voiced by Harvey Guillén), returning them to places like the Enchanted Rainforest and the Old West and taking them to new locales like Movie Magic Land, as well as culturally rich locations like Armenia, Korea and India. Along their adventures, they make new friends and meet up with beloved Disney characters like Huey, Dewey and Louie, unknow if they will be their regular versions or their DuckTales 2017 versions. The new season also includes an epic camping trip special and sees Mickey and the gang celebrating an array of holidays, including Noche Buena, Chuseok, Arbor Day and Hanukkah.

Since its premiere in August 2021, the series has amassed nearly half a billion hours of viewing across linear, streaming and Disney Junior YouTube and consistently ranks as a top 10 monthly series on Disney Junior YouTube. In 2023, the series ranked among the Top 5 most watched series on Linear TV for preschoolers.

[dtan0914]

I have a few random questions.

1. Have you seen the crap Jim Cornette has said about our guys? He said he doesn’t like them because they would call each other their actual names. (I won’t say their names because I don’t know them personally, I feel it’s disrespectful)

2. What does dragon fruit taste like? I really want to try it but it’s expensive in Indiana so I don’t want to buy it without knowing what it tastes like.

3. How did you meet Alex and Chris?

4. Who is your favorite female wrestler?

5. What is your favorite photo you’ve taken/ most proud of?

6. When you give wrestlers rides do they stay with you at your house?

7. Did Chris have a good birthday? Hopefully his wife (she is insanely gorgeous) or husband took him to play with some cats.

8. Did you see the Taco Bell donuts that Alex posted on his stories? They look so good. I’m definitely going to try them when they come out.

9. If you were having a bad day which Gun would you reach out to?

Final question. Who gives the best hugs? Do they smell good?

That’s a lot of questions and I’ll do my best to answer them!

1. I have heard it but I think it’s not him judging their in-ring action, just how they act backstage by calling everyone by their real names. Both of MCMG are like this and they’re the reason why I learned so many people’s real names backstage. I call them both by their shoot names since I’m close with them.

2. This is a really hard question to answer because the grocery store ones taste like absolute garbage. Your best bet would be to buy the frozen cubes of red dragon fruit that’s used for smoothies or in pitaya bowls. The fresh fruits are picked when they’re green so they’re only at about 50% of the sweetness they can get. I think the closest fruit to taste and texture would be like a kiwi. Although there’s hundreds of different types and I grow about 30 of them.

3. I met Alex through PWG. He made his return in 2021 and after his match he crawled over to me and asked me to kiss him. The bit became a thing and I feel really blessed that I was the only girl he had kiss him at ringside during the past few years. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I met Chris officially in 2022 after Alex and I had been talking for awhile but I’ve watched Chris wrestle IRL since 2014.

4. Kairi Sane, AZM, Masha Slamovich, and Jordynne Grace are some of my favorites. Candice LeRae for nostalgia sake.

5. Probably my photo of Eddie Kingston vs Gabe Kidd at NJPW Resurgence last year.

6. No, they typically did not stay at my house since we don’t have too many shows down in San Diego where I live. Talents are treated a lot better now than they were in the past, and most promotions book them hotel rooms. I’ve only had one wrestler stay at my house recently when she missed her flight.

7. I only talked to him briefly on his birthday but he seemed pretty happy! I think they worked on RAW the night before so they probably took it easy. Alex and Chris don’t actually live super close to each other now, so they usually meet halfway between their houses in Ann Arbor.

8. I did see it! I hope he actually tries them because whenever I tell him we should get donuts he’s always like, “nooooo I can’t do it” 😂

9. Alex for sure. We’ve been through a lot together and he is very caring.

Final: Chris gives very good hugs! I have had many sweaty hugs from Alex which uh… y’all can leave to your imaginations!! I don’t really pay attention to how they smell tbh since wrestling locker rooms have an overwhelming smell of IcyHot (for obvious reasons).

[d-criss-news]

In Tune With Crissmas

“Criss” Kringle’s coming to town a little early this year. And he’s got creative plans to spread some musical Yuletide cheer throughout the Motor City.

You might even say that it’s his civic duty.

“I’m in the service industry. As an entertainer, I’m here to play some music and take you through a bit of a holiday music Ted Talk,” says actor/singer/songwriter Darren Criss about his “A Very Darren Crissmas” tour coming to the Fisher Theatre on Sunday, Dec. 10. “Hopefully, people will leave with a little holiday pep in their step.”

Topping Criss’ concert playlist are songs from his A Very Darren Crissmas album which dropped in 2021. But because of the pandemic, Criss never got a chance to have a full-blown Christmas concert tour — until now.

“The album and tour showcase creative imaginings of classic tunes and rarely covered hidden gems along with two original Christmas songs,” says Criss, a 2009 Theatre Performance graduate of the University of Michigan.

Joining Criss on stage is fellow UM Wolverine and BFF Tomek Miernowski as his music director. Criss’ set list features “a wildly eclectic collection of songs from big band Christmas classics to novelty tunes and modern-day folk-pop ballads,” he says.

Long before the Crissmas album — which features duets with Adam Lambert, Lainey Wilson and Evan Rachel Wood — Criss was writing original songs for the hit TV series Glee which featured Criss in his breakout role as Blaine Anderson. In 2018, he won a Primetime Emmy, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Critics’ Choice Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for his role as Andrew Cunanan in The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story. In addition, he recently starred in Netflix’s hit series Hollywood, for which he also served as executive producer. And Broadway fans will remember Criss’ star turns in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Hedwig and the Angry Inch and American Buffalo with Laurence Fishburne and Sam Rockwell in 2022.

Though Criss won’t be able to squeeze in a visit to the Big House in Ann Arbor this time around, he’s already checking out the home game schedule for 2024.

“I make it my business to come back at least once a year, especially during football season,” says Criss, who attended nearly every game when he was a student. The last time Criss was in Michigan, he also visited the Motown Museum with his band.

“It was fun,” he says. “There’s a bit of Motown that’s infused in this album that was inspired by the Detroit sound. So, when we play [the Christmas concert at the Fisher Theatre], there will be a bit of a hometown vibe.”

Though Criss’ dad moved all over the country growing up, he spent his formative years in Detroit.

“So that’s why when I applied to the University of Michigan, and ultimately got in, it was such a big thing for me to be able to take my dad to the Big House for a football game. He hadn’t been to Michigan since he was 10. And I took him, easily, more than 50 years later to see a game there. That was a lot of fun,” Criss reminisced. 

“I’ve got a lot of kinship with the state of Michigan and the city of Detroit.”

Birmingham City Lifestyle (December 2023 Issue)

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 8.3

Holidays

Airplane Crop Duster Day

American Canoe Association Day

Arbor Day (Niger, South Africa)

Armed Forces Day (Equatorial Guinea)

Big Forehead Day

Capoeirista Day (Brazil)

Clean Your Floors Day

Cloves Syndrome Awareness Day

Columbus Set Sail Day (1492)

803 Day

El Paso Massacre Anniversary Day

Ernie Pyle Day (New Mexico)

Esther Day

Flag Day (Venezuela)

Freedom Day (Equatorial Guinea)

Golpe de La Libertad (Freedom Day; Equatorial Guinea)

Great Expectations Day

International Day of Family Planning

International Friendship Day [Original Date]

International Hangover Day

International Indigenous Rising Day

Ker Puja (Tripura, India)

Klaatu Day

Lake Victoria Discovery Day

Marshmallow Day (French Republic)

National Booba Day

National COVID Survivor Day

National Ernie Pyle Day

National Georgia Day

National Hair Gloss Day

National Heart Transplantation Day (India)

National Michael Day

National Parks Day

National Ping Pong Day (UK)

National Sales & Marketing Collaboration Day

National Senior Pet Day

National Twins Day

NBA Day

New Brunswick Day (Canada)

Panama Canal Day

Pidjiguiti Day (Guinea-Bissau)

Play Day (UK)

Prairie Dawn Day

Regatta Day (Canada)

Royal National Eisteddfod (Wales)

Sealing Wax Day

Simba Day (Tanzania)

Vicki Draves Day

Yazidi Genocide Anniversary Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Cornish Pasty Day

Edible Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Day

Food Day Canada (Canada)

Grab Some Nuts Day

Honey Day (Japan)

Maine Lobster Festival (Rockland, Maine)

National Watermelon Day

Watermelon Sugar Day

Independence & Related Days

Niger (from France, 1960)

San Salvador Day (El Salvador)

West Sprinske (Declared; 2021) [unrecognized]

1st Saturday in August

Campfire Day & Night [1st Saturday]

Caribana (Toronto, Canada) [Begins 1st Saturday]

Festival of Nations (Red Lodge, Montana) [1st Saturday]

Home Fermentation Day [1st Saturday]

International Alopecia Awareness Day [1st Saturday]

International Blues Music Day [1st Saturday]

International Hangover Day [1st Saturday]

International Trading Card Day

Mead Day [1st Saturday]

Mustard Day [1st Saturday]

National Clown Day [1st Saturday]

National Czech Festival (Nebraska) [Starts 1st Saturday]

National Disc Golf Day [1st Saturday]

National Jamaican Patty Day [1st Saturday]

National Mustard Day [1st Saturday]

National Play Outside Day [1st Saturday of Every Month]

National Pro-Life Generation Sidewalk Day [1st Saturday]

National Riddle Day [1st Saturday]

National Summit Day [1st Saturday]

National Sunflower Day [1st Saturday]

National VFR Day [1st Saturday]

National Virginia Diverse Business Networking First Saturday [1st Saturday]

Railway Workers’ Day (Russia) [1st Saturday]

Rush-Bearing Day (Grasmere, England) [1st Saturday]

Sandcastle Day [1st Saturday]

Satyr's Day (Silenus, Greek God of Beer Buddies and Drinking Companions) [1st Saturday of Each Month]

Taxpayer Appreciation Day [1st Saturday]

Weekly Holidays beginning August 3 (1st Week of August)

San Salvador Week (El Salvador) [thru 8.9]

Satchmo Weekend (New Orleans, Louisiana) [thru 8.4]

Festivals Beginning August 3, 2024

Akita Kanto Festival (Akita, Japan) [thru 8.6]

Andorra la Vella Festival (Andorra)

Armageddon Expo (Palmerston North, New Zealand) [thru 8.4]

Bluegrass and Beer Festival (Keystone, Colorado) [thru 8.4]

Butterfly Festival (Pennington, New Jersey)

Cheddar Cheese Festival: Say Cheese! (Adams, New York)

Cherry Festival (Jacksonport, Wisconsin)

Chokecherry Festival (Pequot Lakes, Minnesota)

Corn Roast Festival (Westminster, Maryland)

FreedomFilmFest (Petaling Jaya, Malaysia) [thru 8.15]

Glorious Garlic Festival (Geneva, New York) [thru 8.4]

Grain Harvest (Urbandale, Iowa)

HarvestFest (Elgin, Arizona)

Howard County Fair (West Friendship, Maryland) [thru 8.10]

Italian Family Festa (San Jose, California) [thru 8.4]

Joyce Daze Wild Blackberry Festival (Joyce, Washington)

Leicester Caribbean Carnival (Leicester, United Kingdom)

Livarot Cheese Fair (Livarot-Pays-d’Auge, France) [thru 8.4]

Magic Valley Beer Festival (Twin Falls, Idaho)

Montana Brewers Summer Rendezvous (Helena, Montana)

National Eisteddfod of Wales (Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, United Kingdom.) [thru 8.10]

National Mustard Day & Festival (Middleton, Wisconsin)

Peach Festival (New Hope, Pennsylvania) [thru 8.4]

Peach Festival (Wyoming, Delaware)

Route 66 Chili Cook Off and AZ State Chili Championship (Flagstaff, Arizona) [thru 8.4]

Satchmo SummerFest (New Orleans, Louisiana) [thru 8.4]

Siberian International Marathon (Omsk, Russia)

Soul Food Festival (Stockton, California)

Steinley Cup Microbrew Festival & Chili Cook-off (Saratoga, Wyoming)

Taste of the Caribbean (Hartford, Connecticut)

Truckfest (Edinburgh, Scotland) [thru 8.4]

Vino & Notes - A Wine, Food & Jazz Festival (Woodland Park, Colorado)

Whiskies of the World (Washington D.C.)

Feast Days

Aomori Nebuta (Harvest Season begins; Japan)

Chokhor Duchen (Four Noble Truths; Buddhism)

Dawg the Dog (Muppetism)

Day of the Dryads (Pagan)

Dymphna Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Fairy Washing Festival (Shamanism)

Feast of Caligo (Mother of Chaos)

The Feast of the Finding of St. Stephen (Christian)

Gamaliel (Christian; Saint)

George Freeman Bragg, W.E.B. Du Bois (Episcopal Church)

Germanus of Auxerre (Christian; Saint)

Henri Cartier-Bresson (Artology)

Kanto Matsuri begins (4-Day celebration to encourage a good harvest; Akita, Japan)

Leon Uris (Writerism)

Lydia of Thyatira (a.k.a. Lydia Purpuraria; Christian; Saint)

Marlene Dumas (Artology)

Myrrhbearers (Lutheran Church)

Nicodemus (Christian; Saint)

Olaf II of Norway (Christian; Translation of the Relic)

P.D. James (Writerism)

Postmodernism Day (Pastafarian)

Prairie Down (Muppetism)

Stephen (Discovery of his Relics)

Supplica Canum (Ancient Rome)

The Wag-Festival (Remembrance Festival of Ancestors; Ancient Egypt)

Walter Scott (Positivist; Saint)

Waltheof of Melrose (Christian; Saint)

Wilfred (Anglican Church; Yorkshire)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Butsumetsu (仏滅 Japan) [Unlucky all day.]

Premieres

The Bourne Ultimatum (Film; 2007)

Chéri, by Colette (Novel; 1920)

Christopher Robin (Film; 2018)

The Cocoanuts (Film; 1929)

Dick (Film; 1999)

Doing Their Bit (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1942)

Duck Tales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp (Animated Disney Film; 1990)

Eat Drink Man Woman (Film; 1994)

Fear of Music, by Talking Heads (Album; 1979)

Grandview, U.S.A. (Film; 1984)

Gypsy Life (Mighty Mouse Cartoon; 1945)

Hang ‘Em High (Film; 1968)

Havana, by Camila Cabello (Song; 2017)

Hot Rod (Film; 2007)

Hysteria, by Def Leppard (Album; 1987)

Innervisions, by Stevie Wonder (Album; 1973)

The Iron Giant (Animated Film; 1999)

A Man Called Adam (Film; 1966)

The Man Called Flintstone Hanna-Barbera Animated Film; 1966)

Man on the Flying Trapeze (Film; 1935)

Metropolitan (Film; 1990)

Mine, by Taylor Swift (Song; 2010)

Northwest Hounded Police, featuring Droopy (Tex Avery MGM Cartoon; 1946)

The Ox-Bow Incident, by Walter Van Tilburg Clark (Novel; 1940)

Party Smarty (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1951)

The Philadelphia Experiment (Film; 1984)

Poor Cinderella (Betty Boop Cartoon; 1934)

The Princess Diaries (Film; 2001)

Serenade No, 9, the Posthorn Serenade, written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Serenade; 1779)

The Spy Who Dumped Me (Film; 2018)

Surfer Girl, by The Beach Boys (Song; 1963)

Total Recall (Film; 2012)

Trinity, by Leon Uris (Novel; 1976)

Underdog (Film; 2007)

Unidentified Flying Oddball (Film; 1979)

William Tell, by Gioachino Rossini (Opera; 1829)

Today’s Name Days

Benno, Lydia (Austria)

Aspern, Augustin, Lidija (Croatia)

Miluše (Czech Republic)

Nikodemus (Denmark)

Kaljo, Kalju (Estonia)

Linnea, Nea, Neea, Vanamo (Finland)

Lydie (France)

August, Lydia, Nikodemus (Germany)

Olimpios, Salomi (Greece)

Hermina (Hungary)

Giovanni, Lidia (Italy)

Augusts, Rets (Latvia)

Augustė, Lengvinė, Mangirdas, Steponas (Lithuania)

Oline, Oliver, Olve (Norway)

August, Augusta, Krzywosąd, Lidia, Nikodem, Symeon, Szczepan (Poland)

Jerguš (Slovakia)

Gustavo, Lidia (Spain)

Tage (Sweden)

Lida, Liddy, Lidia, Loyal, Lydia, Lyle, Lyman (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 216 of 2024; 150 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 6 of Week 31 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Coll (Hazel) [Day 1 of 28]

Chinese: Month 6 (Xin-Wei), Day 29 (Ji-Hai)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 28 Tammuz 5784

Islamic: 27 Muharram 1446

J Cal: 6 Purple; Sixday [6 of 30]

Julian: 21 July 2024

Moon: 1%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 19 Dante (8th Month) [Walter Scott]

Runic Half Month: Thorn (Defense) [Day 11 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 45 of 94)

Week: 1st Week of August

Zodiac: Leo (Day 13 of 31)

Calendar Changes

Coll (Hazel) [Celtic Tree Calendar; Month 8 of 13]

[theawesomeaki-kun]

Arlo (Number Days) cosplay

Arlo watching over the gang

This was a photoshoot I did last 2021 on time for Earth Day + in support of Pacthesis’ release of Number Days t-shirts (Specifically, Arlo “Tree Hugger” prints) for charity on Arbor Day. 

My country has unfortunate international shipping rates and couldn’t really afford one myself, so I hoped a tiny cosplay shoot of everyone’s favorite tree boi could help bump some attention to it instead. 

On the plus side, the fundraiser was successful! Thanks to the Tree Hugger tees, there’s also now an official Pacthesis merch shop. I unfortunately still can’t afford the rates, but a good friend of mine luckily gave me a Cashy Tally ho, mofos coaster haha

Then years later I found more photos that ...I think I forgot from being too nervous about everything. So, here’s the rest of it! enjoi

And now, Cashy!!!

He is a box with typewriting paper. But I did end up making vertical slashes on the outlet, so it can actually hold up chargers. The back can also store things!

trying to take a picture of Bryce with his phone

And, finally...

oh

wait hang on

There we go.

[frankendykes-monster]

A viral social media post has reignited a debate about the prices of one of America’s top burger chains. On March 1, X user @WallStreetSilv posted an image of a receipt from Five Guys that quickly went viral on the platform, garnering nearly 25 million views, and started another heated discussion about recent fast-food prices.

“Five Guys prices are out of control,” the user wrote to accompany the image sourced from Reddit. “$24 for one person.” Per the receipt, the customer spent $12.49 for a bacon cheeseburger with ketchup and mustard, $2.89 for a regular soda and $5.19 for a small fry. After tax and tip, the total came to $24.10. “guess I was expecting about $12 to $15 per person for Five Guys. $22 (without tip) just seems to cross a line,” the user added in a follow-up post. “What is the right amount these days?” [...] But the post garnered quite a response on X, with more than 12,000 commenters weighing in on the initial post with conflicting opinions.

“fast food becoming a luxury meal is a sign of the times,” wrote one X user. “HAH!! This would be cheap in California!” wrote another. And they’re right: A bacon cheeseburger from a Five Guys in Culver City, California will currently set customers back $14.39. “That’s not even factoring in how overrated they are. $10 should be able to get you a premium burger from a higher end place. Drink and fries plus $5,” wrote one critic, which garnered a sarcastic response from another user: “What are things like back in 1990 where you apparently currently live?”

[...]

One user even went so far as to document the rising costs of a cheeseburger with ketchup at their local Five Guys in Ann Arbor, Michigan over the course of a year. According to the post in the Ann Arbor subreddit, the cost of the customer’s go-to meal rose from $7.79 on Feb. 25, 2021 to $10.79 a year later.

[oh-he-grows]

I was about to donate to my local University Master Gardener extension and the Arbor Day Foundation, but turns out the charitable tax deduction for Standard Deductions (which 95%+ of Americans take) was only for 2020 and 2021 as part of covid relief.

Now the only way to get any tax-advantaged benefit to charitable donations is to file with Itemized deductions.

In 2016, 35% of Americans filed itemized deductions.

In 2021, various sources say between 5% and 13% of households file itemized.

Republicans and Democrats have both been submitting proposals to allow charitable donations to apply regardless of standard/itemized deduction since 2017, but even after it was included for 2020 and 2021 it was allowed to expire and is now back to normal.

I can't even imagine the kind of impact this has had on revenue for charities and nonprofits, eliminating any kind of incentive for the average American to donate their already-dwindling paycheck. The American public and both political parties want to be able to donate, but the incentive is not there anymore. Fucking sort it out.

[telomeke]

[ID text–

First series of images, posted by Tumblr user @‌cisarovna, is a Twitter thread by writer Deanna Raybourn @‌deannaraybourn dated 10 February 2021. The thread reads:

There are eleventy thousand projects about Agatha Christie's missing days so now can I get a film about how at 40 she took up with a 26-year-old archaeologist, swam with him in her pink undies, and married him? If you're not familiar with the story, after her divorce from husband #1, a jerkface who basically couldn't stand being around all the sad because Agatha was grieving her mother's death, Agatha traveled to Iraq to visit the Woolleys, archaeologist pals. Max Mallowan was one of their young staff members. The Woolleys sent Agatha out for a tour of the area with Max as a guide. They had ADVENTURES. (Swam half-naked, slept in a jail. As you do.) Then, when all of them were in Athens, Agatha learns that her beloved only child is basically at death's door in England. Cue frantic mother, rushing to make arrangements. She's so addled she sprains her ankle BADLY. Max is all, "No worries. I GOT YOU. Here are all your tickets and BTW I'm coming with you because you're hobbling and I am Just That Guy." On the train there are mishaps and he ends up saving the day A Lot. After Agatha gets home to find her daughter recuperating (Yay!) Max comes for a visit. Meets the daughter, the dog, the companion. One night, he taps on Agatha bedroom door and says, "Oh, hey. We should totally get married." Agatha is GOBSMACKED. This is just awesome pal Max. She protests he's too young. He doesn't care. He wants HER. She asks daughter, dog, and companion. Everybody says, "PUT A RING ON THAT BOY." So she did. And for years they traveled out to Iraq each year for him to dig while she sat under a parasol, writing. Max was knighted, Agatha made a dame--each had their own knightly honors. THE END. So, I'm BEGGING you, stop giving us sad, shitcanned, cheated on Agatha, and give us adventuresome, seizing-life-by-the-throat Agatha. We deserve her. Did y'all need to know that Agatha learned to surf in 1922 in Waikiki? Yeah. You did. [surfing emoji]

‌

The images posted by Tumblr user @‌dirtyriver are a montage of old photographs of Agatha and Max. The first four photographs show them on archaeological voyages, suitably hatted against the sun in period clothing. The first photo shows them at a dig, the second on a ship, the third astride donkeys (or mules) in bright sunlight surrounded by some people (possibly African, maybe Egyptian, from their features and dress), and the fourth shows them next to some kind of masonry-lined polygonal-shaped opening in the ground (a well, an open tomb or the entrance to an underground chamber perhaps?) with ruins and dense grassy overgrowth in the background.

The fifth photograph shows a more relaxed, middle-aged Agatha and Max, still outdoors, but in a colder setting. Both are wearing tweedy-looking coats over layers of clothing. Agatha is smiling brightly at the camera while Max is focused on something off to the side with a pipe in his half-smiling mouth, set below a black mustache. While they are standing slightly apart, Max is leaning noticeably toward Agatha.

The sixth and last photograph of the series shows Agatha and Max in old age, posing semi-formally while standing on a gravel path beneath a planted arbor. Max is looking directly at the camera, holding the leash of a small black dog in front of them. His mustache is white here. Although his suit looks quite formal, it is a little untidy and shapeless, and he leans into Agatha by his side even as both of his hands are clasped around the dog leash handle. Agatha, also looking directly at the camera, has her right hand tucked into the crook of Max’s left elbow. She is wearing a stylish, loose-fitting shift dress in a heavy fabric, with a long chunky necklace down its front. Both Agatha and Max have an aspect of calm and contentment here.

‌

The last image, posted by Tumblr user @‌explorerrowan, is a meme showing Jessica Walter as Lucille Bluth in Arrested Development saying:

“Good for her.”

End ID.]

‌

[notiziariofinanziario]

Gli anni Ottanta hanno segnato l’apice del successo di Marisa Laurito, soprattutto al fianco dell’amico Renzo Arbore. Una vita privata lontana dai riflettori Marisa Laurito è conosciuta per la sua carriera artistica, ma anche per la sua vivace personalità. Nonostante la notorietà, è sempre stata discreta riguardo alla sua vita privata, preferendo mantenere una netta separazione tra la sua sfera personale e quella professionale. Molte informazioni le si devono all’uscita nel 2021 dell’autobiografia Una vita scapricciata, dove Laurito si racconta dagli esordi con De Filippo alle nozze durate solo tre mesi con l’ex calciatore Cordova. Marisa Laurito non ha figli e racconta di aver avuto relazioni importanti, pur sottolineando di non aver mai sentito la necessità di conformarsi a modelli tradizionali di vita familiare. Se gli amori di Marisa Laurito non ha dato i risultati attesi dalla protagonista, la convivenza con un ex imprenditore bresciano funziona benissimo dal 2002. “È una persona speciale, solida, piacevole, ma soprattutto seria”, il racconto di Marisa Laurito dell’uomo conosciuto in un bar grazie all’amico Renzo Arbore. “Conobbi Renzo grazie a Luciano De Crescenzo. In quel periodo io ero primadonna al Bagaglino e approdare a Quelli della notte, in una banda di sciamannati, per me fu un tuffo nel buio: era tutto un gioco in cui i primi a divertirsi, prima ancora del pubblico, eravamo noi”, le parole di Laurito. L’amicizia tra Marisa e Renzo dura ancora oggi più forte che mai. Un altro legame importante per Marisa Laurito è quello con la propria città natale, Napoli. Un amore viscerale in grado di influenzare profondamente la sua carriera e il suo stile artistico. Marisa Laurito: l’arte di re-inventarsi L’attrice, cabarettista e conduttrice Marisa Laurito nasce a Napoli il 19 aprile 1951. Si avvicina al mondo della recitazione fin da giovanissima, entrando a far parte della compagnia teatrale di Eduardo De Filippo. Dal suo maestro cerca di carpire ogni più piccolo segreto. Debutta con lui nel 1969 in Le bugie con le gambe lunghe, per poi firmare il primo contratto il giorno del suo 21esimo compleanno, che all’epoca determinava la maggiore età. In seguito entra a far parte del gruppo I Cabarinieri, inaugurando il 15 dicembre 1972 il Teatro cabaret Sancarluccio di Napoli. Nella seconda metà degli anni ’70 prende parte come comparsa a molte trasposizioni televisive delle opere di De Filippo trasmesse dalla Rai. In totale recita in una ventina di film. Il debutto al cinema arriva nel 1976, prima in piccole parti, come in Pari e dispari con Bud Spencer e Terence Hill, poi con ruoli più incisivi, come in I guappi non si toccano del 1979, con Pino Mauro e Richard Harrison, oppure in La pagella del 1980 con Marc Porel. In quest’ultima pellicola Marisa Laurito interpreta la moglie del protagonista Mario Trevi. Negli anni ’80 acquisisce molta popolarità lavorando a fianco di Renzo Abore in Quelli della notte e con Raffaella Carrà nello show di prima serata Buonasera Raffaella, andato in onda tra il 1985 e il 1986. Come conduttrice riscuote un buon successo alla guida di trasmissioni come Marisa la nuit del 1987 e nell’edizione ’88/’89 di Domenica In, diretta da Gianni Boncompagni. In quell’occasione canta la sigla Ma le donne, brano che contribuisce ad aumentare la sua popolarità tra il pubblico. Proprio come cantante partecipa al Festival di Sanremo 1989 con la canzone Il babà è una cosa seria. Le sue esibizioni sul palco dell’Ariston sono ricordate anche per i suoi abiti da sera piuttosto voluminosi e appariscenti. Sono gli anni del maggior successo, culminato con la vittoria del Telegatto nel 1989 come personaggio televisivo femminile dell’anno. Nei primi anni ’90 alterna nuovamente con buon riscontro di pubblico l’attività di attrice e quella di conduttrice. Passata su Canale 5, conduce Paperissima al fianco di Ezio Greggio. Il successivo ritorno in Rai è accompagnato da alcuni programmi non fortunatissimi in quanto ad ascolti, come Caro bebè del 1995 in collaborazione coi Trettré. Nel 1997 torna a recitare, facendo parte del cast della seconda stagione della fiction Dio vede e provvede, con Angela Finocchiaro, Maria Amelia Monti e Nadia Rinaldi. Negli anni 2000 si dedica prevalentemente al teatro, tralasciando l’attività televisiva. Tra il 2006 e il 2009 porta in scena Menopause the Musical, per la regia di Manuela Metri. Tra il 2009 e il 2010 interpreta il ruolo di Consolazione nella commedia Aggiungi un posto a tavola. Nella stagione 2013-2014 torna in tv come una delle conduttrici del programma I fatti vostri di Rai2, nel quale si occupa della rubrica di cucina. Nell’autunno del 2014 è una delle concorrenti di Ballando con le stelle, dove viene eliminata nella prima puntata. Nel 2020 viene scelta come direttrice artistica del Teatro Trianon di Napoli. Nel febbraio del 2023 è protagonista, in sostituzione di Orietta Berti, della seconda edizione del programma Quelle brave ragazze, al fianco di Mara Maionchi e Sandra Milo. L’anno successivo è giudice della terza edizione di Celebrity Chef, programma al quale aveva già partecipato come concorrente nella prima edizione. Dal 2022 prende parte alla fiction Mina Settembre, dove Marisa Laurito interpreta ruolo di Rosa, la zia di Mina. Read the full article

[brookston]

Holidays 12.22

Holidays

Abilities Day

Armed Forces Day (Vietnam)

Be A Lover of Silence Day

Brussels Calling Day (Belgium)

Chipmunks Day

Christmas Eve Eve Eve

Christmas Tree Lights Day

Coal Day (French Republic)

Diplomatic Service Day (Ukraine)

Dongzhi Festival (China)

Energy Industry Day

Flag Day (Proclamation of the Flag; Quebec)

Forefather's Day (Plymouth, Massachusetts) [Unless Sunday, then next Monday]

Freedom Day (on “Futurama”)

Hari Ibu (Mother’s Day; Indonesia)

Home Alone Day

Horn & Hardart Day

International Arbor Day

International Don’t Text & Drive Day

International Festival of the Sahara begins (Tunisia)

International Sound Engineers Day

Kagyed Dance (Sikkim, India)

Kayin New Year (Myanmar)

Kids’ Day (Serbia)

Merlinpeen (from “30 Rock”)

Mother’s Day (a.k.a. Hard Ibu; Indonesia)

National Ashton Day

National Be Safe, Be Seen Day (Ireland)

National Betty Day

National Day of Working Women (Pakistan)

National Haiku Poetry Day

National Mathematics Day (India)

National Unity Day (Zimbabwe)

Ouverture Du Sabre National (Niger) [Afternoon]

Power Engineer’s Day (Russia; Ukraine)

Santa Claus Flight Clearance Day

Short Person Day

Sound Money Day

Teacher Appreciation Day (Cuba)

Thermometer Day

Volunteer Responsibility Amnesty Day

World Bard Song Day

World Day of the Thermometer

Yuletide Lad #11 arrives (Gáttaþefur or Doorway-Sniffer; Iceland)

Food & Drink Celebrations

Chocolate Orange Day (UK)

Defrost Your Turkey Day (UK)

National Cookie Exchange Day

National Date Nut Bread Day

Independence & Related Days

Bangladesh (Exiled Government established in Dacca; 1971)

Democratic Union of British States (Declared; 2016) [unrecognized]

Kingdom of Caeruleus (Declared; 2014) [unrecognized]

Kingdom of Nepal (Declared; 1768)

4th Sunday in December

Bluegrass Brunch [4th Sunday]

4th Sunday in Advent [1st Sunday before Xmas] (a.k.a. ... 

Advent Sunday

Gold Sunday

Peace Sunday

Pyrmera (Southern Solstice; Aretéanism) [4th Sunday] (Fire)

Seven For Sunday [Every Sunday]

Soothing Sunday [4th Sunday of Each Month]

Spud Sunday [4th Sunday of Each Month]

Stories for Invisible Friends [4th Sunday]

Sundae Sunday [Every Sunday]

Sunday Funday [Every Sunday]

Weekly Holidays beginning December 22 (4th Full Week of December)

Christmas Week (thru 12.30) [Week from Sunday before Xmas to 12.30]

It’s About Time Week (thru 12.28) [4th Week]

National Eggnog Week (thru 12.28) [4th Week]

Festivals Beginning December 22, 2024

The 10 Days of Wanking begins [ website ]

Feast Days

Anastasia of Sirmium (Orthodox Church)

Aya Takano (Artology)

Beetle Banquet and Badger Ball (Shamanism)

Berzelius (Positivist; Saint)

Bootsy Collins Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Capricorn zodiac sign begins (Astrology; Pagan)

Chaeremon, Ischyrion, and His Companions (Christian; Martyrs)

Cyril and Methodius (Christian; Confessors)

Day Sacred to the Lares (Ancient Roman Household Gods)

Eimhin (Christian; Saint)

Ernan, Son of Eogan (Christian; Saint)

Feast of Alvis (in “Sealab 2021”)

Frances Xavier Cabrini (Outside US; Christian; Saint)

Giacomo Manzù (Artology)

Henry Budd (Episcopal Church USA)

Hunger (Christian; Saint)

Ischyrion (Christian; Saint)

Jean-Michel Basquiat (Artology)

Jean Racine (Writerism)

John Crome (Artology)

Kenneth Rexroth (Writerism)

Khoiak Ceremony for Raising the Djed Pillar (Osiris Festival; Ancient Egypt)

Lottie Moon (Episcopal Church USA)

Maelbrigte (Celtic Book of Days)

Marco Polo Day (Pastafarian)

Masaccio (Artology)

O Rex Gentium (6th O Antiphon or Great Advent Antiphon; Christian) [O King of the Nations; 6 of 7]

Paul Kuniholm Pauper (Artology)

Thomas Couture (Artology)

Tony Isabella (Artology)

Turuhalmë (Yule-Log Drawing; Elves; Starza Pagan Book of Days) [Tolkien]

Wolfgang the Seal (Muppetism)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Dismal Day (Unlucky or Evil Day; Medieval Europe; 24 of 24)

Egyptian Day (Unlucky Day; Middle Ages Europe) [24 of 24]

Fortunate Day (Pagan) [51 of 53]

Tomobiki (友引 Japan) [Good luck all day, except at noon.]

Unlucky Day (Grafton’s Manual of 1565) [60 of 60]

Premieres

Always (Film; 1989)

Animated Epics: Canterbury Tales (Nickelodeon Cartoon Series; 2022)

Aqua Teen Hunger Force (TV Cartoon Series; 1991)

Avatar 5 (Film; 2031)

The Bandmaster (Andy Panda Cartoon; 1947)

Born on the Fourth of July (Film; 1989)

Cast Away (Film; 2000)

The Cats Me-Ouch! (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1965)

Clarinet Quintet in A, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Quintet; 1789)

Darkest Hour (Film; 2017)

Dear Old Switzerland (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1944)

Dirty Harry (Film; 1971)

Doctor Zhivago (Film; 1965)

The Enforcer (Film; 1976)

Flying Down to Rio (Film; 1933)

Goldfinger (US Film; 1964) [James Bond #3]

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (Film; 1978)

Jack Frost (ComiColor Cartoon; 1934)

King Midas Junior (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1942)

The King’s Man (Film; 2021)

Lady Liberty (Film; 1971)

A Man for All Seasons (Film; 1966)

The Matrix Resurrections (Film; 2021)

Meet the Fockers (Film; 2004)

Miss Congeniality (Film; 2000)

The Mummy (Film; 1932)

My Neighbors the Yamaha’s (Anime Film; 2000)

Night at the Museum (Film; 2006)

Obedience to Authority, by Stanley Milgram (Philosophy Book; 1974)

O Brother Where Art Thou (Film; 2000)

Passengers (Film; 2016)

Philadelphia (Film; 1993)

The Pilgrim’s Progress (Novel; 1678)

Pink Bananas (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1978)

Pintails for Two (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1978)

Pitch Perfect 3 (Film; 2017)

The Point, by Harry Nilsson (UK Musical Play; 1978)

The Post (Film; 2017)

Prélude à l'apres-midi d'un faun (Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun), by Claude Debussy (Orchestral Work; 1894)

The Prize Pest (WB LT Cartoon; 1951)

Quiet Please! (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1945)

Rebel Moon (Film; 2023)

Roger & Me (Documentary Film; 1989)

The Rosey and Buddy Show (Cartoon TV Series; 1991)

The Santa Claus Brothers (Cartoon TV Special; 2000)

Sock-a-Bye Kitty (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1950)

Stand by Me (Disney Cartoon; 1995)

Suddenly, Last Summer (Film; 1959)

Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, by Ludwig Van Beethoven (Symphony; 1808)

Symphony No. 6, “The Pastoral,” by Ludwig Van Beethoven (Symphony; 1808)

Thirteen Days (Film; 2000)

Toyland Broadcast (Happy Harmonies Cartoon; 1934)

True Grit (Film; 2010)

Watershed Down (BBC Mini-Series; 2018)

The West Point Story (Film; 1950)

Wiegenlied (a.k.a. Brahms’ Lullaby), by Johannes Brahms (Lied; 1869)

Today’s Name Days

Jutta (Austria)

Časlav, Flavijan, Honorat, Toma (Croatia)

Šimon (Czech Republic)

Japetus (Denmark)

Vambo, Vambola (Estonia)

Raafael (Finland)

Françoise-Xavière, Gratien (France)

Francesca, Jutta (Germany)

Anastasia, Natasa, Zoilos (Greece)

Zénó (Hungary)

Flaviano, Francesca (Italy)

Donalds, Donis, Saulvedis (Latvia)

Dovilė, Gedvydas, Ksavera, Zenonas (Lithuania)

Ingar, Ingemar (Norway)

Beata, Drogomir, Flawian, Franciszka, Gryzelda, Honorata, Ksawera, Ksaweryna, Zenon, Zenona (Poland)

Petru (Romania)

Anna (Russia)

Adela (Slovakia)

Demetrio, Francisca (Spain)

Jonatan, Natanael (Sweden)

Anastasia, Stasia (Ukraine)

Asta, Astrid, Trista, Tristan, Tristen, Tristin, Triston (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 357 of 2024; 9 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 7 of Week 51 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Ruis (Elder) [Day 1 of 28]

Chinese: Month 11 (Bing-Zi), Day 22 (Geng-Shen)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 21 Kislev 5785

Islamic: 20 Jumada II 1446

J Cal: 27 Black; Sixthday [27 of 30]

Julian: 9 December 2024

Moon: 50%: 3rd Quarter

Positivist: 21 Bichat (13th Month) [Lavoisier]

Runic Half Month: Eihwaz or Eoh (Yew Tree) [Day 1 of 15]

Season: Winter (Day 2 of 90)

Week: 4th Full Week of December

Zodiac: Capricorn (Day 1 of 30)

Calendar Changes

Capricorn (The Goat) begins [Zodiac Sign 10; thru 1.19]

Eihwaz or Eoh (Yew Tree) [Half-Month 1 of 24; Runic Half-Months] (thru 1.12)

Ruis (Elder) [Celtic Tree Calendar; Month 13 of 13]