#Golf Trade Show

[thegratefulgolfer]

Golf Historical Society Of Canada Announcements

As a member of the Golf Historical Society of Canada (GHSC) I am excited to pass on the following announcements. But first, a little bit about the GHSC. GHSC is dedicated to the fun and enjoyment of Canadian historical golf experiences through playing, collecting, learning and sharing. The purpose of GHSC is as follows: To encourage, promote and preserve the history and traditions of golf…

[uk-exhibition-stands]

Expo Stand Design: 5 Winning Strategies to Leave a Lasting Impression

Exhibiting at expos and trade shows offers businesses a prime opportunity to showcase their products, services, and brand to a captive audience. However, with numerous exhibitors vying for attention, it's crucial to have an expo stand design that stands out and leaves a lasting impression on attendees. In this blog post, we'll explore five winning strategies for designing an expo stand that captivates, engages, and makes a memorable impact, helping you maximize your presence at your next event.

Know Your Audience: Before diving into the design process, take the time to understand your target audience and what resonates with them. Consider demographics, interests, pain points, and preferences to tailor your expo stand design to appeal to your ideal customers. Are they tech-savvy millennials, industry professionals seeking innovation, or families looking for entertainment? By knowing your audience, you can create a stand design that speaks directly to their needs and interests, making a more significant impact.

Focus on Brand Identity: Your expo stand should serve as a physical representation of your brand identity and values. Ensure consistency across all elements of your stand, including colors, fonts, logos, and messaging. Use branded graphics, signage, and displays to create a cohesive and memorable brand experience for attendees. By reinforcing your brand identity throughout your expo stand design, you'll increase brand recognition, build trust, and leave a lasting impression on visitors long after the event ends.

Create an Engaging Experience: In today's experiential marketing landscape, attendees crave immersive and interactive experiences that go beyond traditional sales pitches. Design your expo stand to engage all five senses, offering visitors a memorable and enjoyable experience that encourages interaction and participation. Incorporate elements such as product demonstrations, hands-on activities, interactive displays, multimedia content, and giveaways to captivate attendees and keep them engaged with your brand.

Maximize Visual Impact: Visual appeal plays a crucial role in attracting attention and drawing visitors to your expo stand. Invest in high-quality graphics, lighting, and signage to create a visually stunning display that stands out on the exhibition floor. Use bold colors, eye-catching imagery, and dynamic layouts to grab attention from a distance and entice attendees to approach your stand. Consider incorporating large-format graphics, LED screens, and 3D elements to create depth and dimension and make your stand visually memorable.

Design for Functionality and Flow: A well-designed expo stand not only looks impressive but also functions seamlessly to accommodate the needs of attendees and staff. Pay attention to the layout, flow, and functionality of your stand to ensure a positive experience for visitors. Create clear pathways and designated areas for different activities, such as product demonstrations, meetings, and networking. Incorporate comfortable seating, interactive touchpoints, and storage solutions to enhance usability and convenience for both attendees and staff.

Case Study: UK Exhibition Stand Let's take a closer look at how UK Exhibition Stand helped one client implement these winning strategies to create an expo stand design that left a lasting impression.

Challenge: XYZ Corp, a leading technology company, was preparing to exhibit at a prestigious industry expo and wanted to make a significant impact on attendees. They needed an expo stand design that would showcase their cutting-edge products, attract attention from industry professionals, and generate leads for their sales team.

Solution: UK Exhibition Stand collaborated closely with XYZ Corp to develop a bespoke expo stand design that aligned with their goals and objectives for the event. They conducted thorough research into XYZ Corp's target audience, brand identity, and key messaging to inform the design process. The resulting expo stand featured sleek, modern aesthetics, branded graphics, interactive displays, and designated areas for product demonstrations and meetings, creating an immersive and engaging brand experience for attendees.

Results: The expo stand design exceeded XYZ Corp's expectations and made a significant impact at the event. Attendees were drawn to the stand's visually striking appearance and engaging interactive elements, leading to a steady stream of foot traffic and meaningful interactions with the XYZ Corp team. The expo stand design effectively communicated XYZ Corp's brand identity, showcased their products, and generated valuable leads, helping them achieve their objectives for the event and leave a lasting impression on attendees.

Conclusion

Designing an expo stand that leaves a lasting impression requires careful planning, creativity, and attention to detail. By knowing your audience, focusing on brand identity, creating engaging experiences, maximizing visual impact, and designing for functionality and flow, you can create a stand that captivates attendees and sets your brand apart from the competition. Partnering with a trusted provider like UK Exhibition Stand can help you bring your vision to life and create a winning expo stand design that drives results for your business.

Ready to create an expo stand design that leaves a lasting impression? Contact UK Exhibition Stand today to discuss your requirements and explore custom design solutions tailored to your brand and objectives. Let's make your next expo a success!

At UK Exhibition Stand, we specialize in creating unique exhibition stands that reflect your brand and goals. With our range of products and services, Roller Banners stands, Display stand exhibition, Trade show stand, Pop up exhibition stands online, pop up stand UK, Exhibition Standincluding custom-designed stands and accessories, we help you make a memorable impact at trade shows. Our experienced team works closely with you to bring your vision to life, ensuring your stand stands out and achieves your objectives, whether it's boosting brand awareness or generating leads.

[clarissasbakery]

🌸 WELCOME TO MY BLOG 🌸

my name is CLARÍSSA ; 21 ; she/her ; 🇲🇽🇧��� ; ENG/SPAN ; 🩷💜💙

carrd: https://clarissasbakery.carrd.co/

commission status: OPEN [here for info and pricing]

art trade status: OPEN only for mutuals!!

request status: OPEN

DNI; proships, terfs, other uglies stay away‼️

GENERAL THINGS 🐋

• please do not bring any petty drama or discourse near me. i couldn’t care less 🫶

• YOU ARE FREE TO TAKE INSPO FROM MY DESIGNS/STYLE!! i don’t really mind it!

• using my art as an icon/for edits/graphics is also FINE! just please give me credit!

• i use an ipad and apple pencil to draw! i use ibispaintX.

• my favorite characters are ii test tube, bfdi pin, bfdi golf ball, bfdi book, leafpool, rarity, td courtney, becky botsford, & cleo de nile to name a few

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please, PLEASE just treat me like a normal human being and be respectful! 🩷🫶

[puckinghischier]

can we just talk about following quinn around while he’s golfing for a min? all of this content of him playing golf is getting to me soooo bad

like, he’d always ask you to tag along with him and drive the cart for him, just wanting to spend time with you. it’s definitely not because he loves to see you wear your little golf skirt and canucks visor.

you would say no most of the time, not wanting to go ride around in the hot sun all day when you could stay in your air conditioned apartment and watch reality shows. when the weather turns, though, you’ll grace him with your presence every once in awhile.

you especially like to go when he’s playing with his teammates. you loved being his cheerleader and subtly sabotaging his teammates. like the time they asked you to hold the flag while they putted, and you “accidentally” hit quinn’s ball in the hole with the pole.

or the time brock tagged along and you blew the horn on the golf cart just as he was putting for a birdie, causing his ball to sail right past the hole, rolling right off of the green entirely. when he looked over at you, face red and angry, you claimed innocence. “what? i was thirsty and needed to get the cart girl’s attention. how was i supposed to know that was an important putt?”

you always had the most fun when all three hughes brothers were golfing together. you would drive quinn around in a cart while jack and luke had their own. and, occasionally, ellen and jim would join too. ellen and yourself would sit and chit chat while the boys and jim were on the green, teasing each other and not playing by official golf rules in the slightest.

ellen would always pack a cooler with snacks and a light lunch for everyone to have while on the course. the whole group would find a shady spot right off of the course and eat, giving the guys an opportunity to make wagers and bets on who would win and what the others would have to endure if they lost.

usually the punishments were lighthearted and harmless, but every once in awhile one arises that causes some trouble. like the time jack had to jump into one of the small ponds on a course when you were all on vacation together in hawaii, resulting in a lifetime ban for every single one of you when he got caught.

you enjoyed when it was just you and quinn, too. the days that a cool breeze was constantly flowing and you would bring along a book. quinn would let you choose the music that flows through the clip on speaker attached to the cart, knowing you always have a new playlist you’re wanting to show him. he’d buy you a cocktail to sip on throughout the day, knowing how much you loved a fruity drink.

quinn’s favorite part of you tagging along was knowing you were there because he asked you to be. even though you hated golf and claimed it was the most boring sport ever created, you went simply because he wanted you to be there and you knew it was something he enjoyed. he loved being able to look over and hear your little cheers for him every time he putts the ball into the hole. or the way you always say “sounded like a hole in one to me” after the initial stroke at every new hole.

he loved that every time the cart girl drove by, you always made sure he had a fresh beer if he wanted one. he also loved how you’d trade out the beer for water around hole 12, making sure he’s not getting too crazy since he’s the driver in the relationship (other than at the course, of course).

quinn would offer to teach you to play nearly every time you went with him, but after trying to hit a ball or two you always gave up, telling him it’s much more fun to watch him play than having to focus on anything other than how good his ass looks in his pants when he’s putting, considering that’s the real reason you agree to go with him. but what quinn doesn’t know won’t hurt him.

[evermoredeluxe]

How Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour Took Over the Entire World

By Chris Willman

By Alissa Gao for Variety

On the morning that Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour” is about to begin a three-night stand in Dublin, the older gentleman taking charge of my passport at airport customs has clearly had his fill of Swifties, probably processing them by the hundreds already today. When I reveal myself to be one too — despite being arguably the wrong gender, inarguably old and lacking a telltale “Lover” mascara star over my right eye — his disdain is palpable. Suddenly, I’m getting way more screening questions than anyone not on a watch list should. “What do you like about her?” he sneers, peering up over specs.

This is probably the wrong time for me to point out Swift’s Irish heritage, or to assert that she is this generation’s James Joyce. (The original king of the Easter eggs, right?) I wouldn’t really go that far — I’m only on record as doing my best to certify her as this century’s Beatles. Trying to figure out how to answer him, the past 18 years of extolling Swift in print flash before my eyes. I end up murmuring the bare minimum: “Um, her songwriting.” This seems to disturb him further. He snaps back: “Aren’t they all the same song” — a slight pause, and I know what’s coming next — “about her breakups?” Then, abruptly, he stamps me through, sparing me a detour to Interpol for more grilling.

In the cab into town, the driver is blasting a local talk-radio personality sharing his dismay about the fans of an awful superstar taking over his country. The host reads an email sent in from a hater who says, “A year ago, when tickets went on sale, my partner and I made a reservation to take our kids out of the country this Friday morning. … Thank you for creating a safe space with your show.” I start to wonder if Swift might have met her match at the Cliffs of Moher.

But from my drop-off forward, the next three days are like living in a Swift-topia. The mile and a half to Aviva Stadium each night is like Disneyland when it shuts its doors early for an affinity group. Whether stopping in the pubs or walking through the charming neighborhood of Victorian brick homes adjoining the fancy new stadium, there’s that warm feeling of people who are united by one quality: They are all super in touch with their feelings — or else they wouldn’t be Swift fans. And they all are happy to stop on the street or over pints to talk about poetical expression. (Well, except for the occasional taciturn, invariably straight young male who has signified his supportive-plus-one status by wearing a jersey bearing the name of Swift’s Super Bowl beau, Travis Kelce.)

So it is that I end up chatting with a middle-aged gay man in a sequin-covered shirt whose female companion whispers to me, while he steps away to trade friendship bracelets with a 10-year-old girl and her mum, that Swift’s music just helped him through a difficult breakup. The girl then runs off to trade her homemade bracelets with a pair of high-helmeted Dublin policemen loaded up to their own elbows with friendship swag — unexpected accessories for long arms of the law.

All the stories about American Swifties swarming overseas to catch “The Eras Tour” turn out to be true: You couldn’t swing a neon golf club around here without hitting a Yank. Approximately one out of every five fans I approach is visiting from the States — and the jubilation they’re feeling about the night’s impending concert is compounded by the fact that nearly all of them financed a European vacation and a concert ticket for roughly the same amount they would have paid on a secondary ticketing site for a typical four-figure ticket to one of last year’s predatorily repriced U.S. shows.

Remember the venerable stereotype of the Ugly Americans, brusquely trampling over refined Europeans in their travels? Thanks to Taylor Swift, who has a gift for laying out global welcome mats, this is the summer of the Spangly American.

At the stadium on night one, just down the row from me are a group of millennials from New Jersey, several in glam unitards inspired by the “Lover” or “1989” portions of the career-spanning show and looking like they were costumed by Swift’s own designer, with fake jewel-encrusted microphones to match. I ask how many hours went into perfecting these nearly pro-grade outfits.

“About 80 hours for mine,” says Megan McLaughlin. “Hers probably longer,” she adds, nodding toward one of her sisters, Margo Steinberg. “She knows all the glues and the best gems.” Indeed, confirms Steinberg, “I was working on mine since January. And, yes, I did quit my job to finish it!” She adds, when I ask if she cares to share any secrets to a particularly good look, “You have to use the B-7000 glue.” (A third sister, Amelia McLaughlin, admits she resorted to buying her spangly dress off Etsy — “I was doing a PhD, but I had to match these girls’ enthusiasm” — while a fourth, Carolyn McLaughlin, skipped the glitter and went for a red dress that matches Swift’s from the “I Bet You Think About Me” video.)

Certainly, there is an element of cosplay to many of the fans’ outfits. Some have seen footage of the new segment Swift added to the tour beginning in April 2024 — devoted to her most recent album, the 31-song “Tortured Poets Department” — and have managed to manufacture gowns that look like they’re made of paper and feature lyric excerpts printed on them in script, à la Swift’s custom-made Vivienne Westwood dress. I meet a group of American women who became friends as literature majors in college who have “Tortured Poets”-themed outfits, one duplicating the Westwood dress and the other with handmade printouts of the latest album’s lyrics pinned all over her black dress, as if she were literally pulling pages out of Swift’s playbook.

It’s the devotion to lyrics, even more than glitter, that is most impressive about the bespoke outfits fans have concocted for the occasion. There are scores and scores of Swifties wearing homemade T-shirts — sometimes singular, sometimes matching with a friend, like walking Burma-Shave signs. Some of the messages are obvious, like the dozens of laddies wearing “It’s me, hi, I’m the husband/boyfriend/father, it’s me” shirts. (Bet that seemed really original at one time.) But a lot of them refer to more obscure songs or stanzas, as if every nearby street or stadium loge section is full of human Easter eggs, begging to be unpacked. It’s hard to think of any other superstar in the history of stadium tours who could have inspired as much fan-crafted clothing rooted in the power of words.

Combos of middle-aged mothers and their teen or 20-something daughters abound; some of them have seized on Swift’s mentions of her own mother, Andrea, to come up with their T-shirt ideas. On Lansdowne Road, I talk to a mum whose red-on-black shirt says, “Had to listen to all this drama,” accompanied by a daughter bearing the legend, “And here’s to my mama.” (This is a reference to Swift’s song “This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things.”)

Later, in a stadium Guinness line, I chat up a pair of thirsty locals, the daughter’s shirt reading “I call my mom, she said …,” with the mom’s shirt completing the thought: “It was for the best.” (Damn it, I had to Google to recall that’s from a “1989” Vault track that came out last year.) I ask the daughter if she had to explain to her mom what she was wearing. “She’s 52,” she replies. “I don’t think she knows.”

Age is really no guarantor of not getting it — the popular #SwiftieOver50 hashtag on X proves that. Although outnumbered, plenty of older people are unaccompanied by a minor, or by anyone who has been a minor in the past 20 years. I approach a middle-aged couple, Jean Sebastian Conley and Natasha Gagne, again bidden by their matching shirts — “Who’s Taylor Swift?” and “Who’s Travis Kelce?” They turn out to be French Canadians who found their 206-euro SRO tickets to be a steal compared with the extravagant resale prices they briefly considered back home after being shut out of the initial on-sale. I ask what attracted them to Swift since, unlike so many others here, they didn’t grow up with her.

“I really fell in love with her with the ‘Folklore’ album,” Conley says, referring to her low-key Grammy-winning album recorded during the early months of the pandemic. “I think different audiences and older audiences found her through that and ‘Evermore’ because they were more singer-songwriter, a little bit rougher indie music, and that’s what we like most. So that’s how I got hooked.” For her part, Gagne says, “I like everything she represents. And when she redid all her masters, that’s where I thought she was a lady boss.”

It’s a reminder that, for however many mini-narratives Swift packs into the three hours and 20 minutes of an “Eras” show, there are really four or five years of backstory that feed into the audience’s shared awareness. When she sings the ominous ballad “My Tears Ricochet,” accompanied by a coven of stone-faced dancers, at least some fans will understand it as a distant reflection of her very public feelings about the men she considers her business bêtes noires, Scooter Braun and Scott Borchetta, who bought and sold (respectively) the rights to her first six albums, spawning much vitriol as well as four “Taylor’s Version” rerecorded albums to date.

When the dancers put their grins back on, Swift plays an ebullient excerpt of a very recent “Poets” bonus track, “So High School,” which every person in the crowd will know is inspired by Kelce. There are some breakup songs of recent vintage too — yes, Mr. Customs Man! — like “The Smallest Man in the World,” which may or may not have cost Matty Healy, the 1975 frontman and former Swift paramour, a night of sleep.

The whole tour is themed around not just the newer records but the rerecordings that have made every older album in her catalog feel improbably fresh. It was, quite possibly, the single most baller move in the history of the record industry … and led to the career-retrospective concept for what is already unquestionably the biggest tour in the history of popular music.

Any discussion of the charms of fandom isn’t meant to forestall discussion of “The Eras Tour” as big business. The numbers are fuzzy because Swift’s camp does not release grosses from her shows, unlike nearly every other artist at the stadium or arena level. Even when the tour wraps after 20 months on Dec. 8 in Vancouver, it seems likely those numbers will continue to be guarded with a zeal on par with the government of North Korea’s. Many industry experts believe the gross will approach or even surpass $2 billion.

What is known for certain — even without a confirmation from Swift World — is that she broke the all-time tour-gross figure when she hit the $1 billion mark, whenever exactly that might have been. The two trade publications that specialize in the touring industry have slightly differing estimates: Billboard calculated a cumulative gross of approximately $900 million when she took a break at the end of 2023, figuring that she would crack $1 billion shortly into the tour’s resumption in April, while Pollstar estimated that she had passed $1 billion by the conclusion of last year. Any way you guesstimate it, Swift took less than a year to break the previous record of $939.1 million, which Elton John grossed with his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour across nearly three years of shows.

One source close to the production said early in the “Eras Tour” era that her average gross each night is $14 million. Others believe that is a highly conservative estimate, with a possible total that on at least some nights edges closer to $17 million. One remarkable aspect is that this does not include the revenue from any inflated resale tickets — which, as anyone who has tried to get tickets through Vivid Seats or StubHub knows, mostly have gone for several times their face value. It was little publicized, but Swift had “dynamic pricing” turned off for her ticket sales, possibly to avoid the controversies Bruce Springsteen encountered when the face value on some of his tickets leaped to the four-figure range upon their first sale. Swift left money on the table by not participating in the scalping of her own tickets, which had an average price of around $230 and topped out at $499, excepting VIP packages, which zenithed at $899 — all well short of what some other superstars ask nowadays. Of course, neither Argentina nor anyone at Wembley Stadium ahead of Swift’s opening night performance in June will be crying for her when she’s in reach of $2 billion without the resale inflation … not to mention the hundreds of millions of dollars in merch.

(This is extraordinary also because Swift hasn’t done any press to promote the tour, except for when she was selected as Time Magazine’s Person of the Year in December. But she doesn’t need to — the tour is constantly being celebrated on social media with every outfit change. And it’s also become so huge, it’s featured more A-list sightings than the Oscars, from Julia Roberts to Tom Cruise to Stevie Nicks, who had the surprise song “You’re on Your Own, Kid” dedicated to her in Dublin.)

Benson Boone, whose “Beautiful Things” is the most-streamed song of 2024 in the U.S. and the world, says he felt dwarfed when performing as the opening act at one of Swift’s seven shows at London’s Wembley Stadium. He has forever committed to memory the exact attendance figure he was given for the night: “89,497,” he says. “Just her stage alone is bigger than anything I’ve ever seen — 300 feet of it!” he says. “I took in every moment. It was cool for me to experience another artist’s world and learn from it. I want to work that hard and be the captain of my ship.”

Although it’s maddening to a media that likes official box office reports and can’t get them, it’s easy to see the wisdom in not flaunting those figures if you’re a superstar artist who counts on being seen as relatable. Swift certainly is proud of breaking records — she posted a tweet when “The Tortured Poets Department” spent its first 12 weeks at No. 1 on the album chart, one of only three albums in history to do so. But she’d rather count fan impressions than dollars. By the same token, she doesn’t publicize or confirm acts of generosity that leak out, like the sizable food-bank donations she makes in every city she tours, or the $100,000 bonuses that the tour’s 50 truck drivers reportedly got for Christmas.

An addendum to all this is how the “Eras Tour” film — released last fall, less than halfway through the actual tour — grossed just over $180 million domestically and $261 million globally, beating the records set by Justin Bieber’s concert film in the U.S. and Michael Jackson’s globally. Massive big-screen spoilers only heightened, rather than diminished, resale demand for the shows yet to come on the 152-date tour and helped precipitate the movement among Americans to head overseas, to make up for the supply found sorely lacking at home.

“She is the torchbearer for the live industry,” says Andy Gensler, editor of Pollstar. “It’s nothing we’ve ever seen before, and it’ll be a long time before we see it again. Her timing was exquisite: The pandemic created this yearning and hunger for live entertainment like nothing else in our history, so she couldn’t have picked a better time to go out.” Pollstar called last year a “historic golden age” for touring, as the top 100 global tours collectively surpassed $9 billion — up 46% from 2022 — with Swift obviously contributing a significant chunk of that total. (This year, the trade reports that overall tour attendance is down, with flat grosses, representing a slight reckoning for the live industry that, obviously, isn’t impacting “Eras.”)

“What my partners and I talk a lot about is how it’s one thing to have a big tour in North America. It’s another thing to have an equally big tour wherever you are in the world and to do doubles and triples in these markets,” says Bernie Cahill, an Activist founding partner and manager of acts including the Grateful Dead and the Lumineers. “It’s an anomaly. It’s not normal. And don’t forget, you’re going into what I call asymmetric venues, which are venues that are not really built for music; these are venues that are built for football games or soccer games and can be very challenging to do music. And they get it right every time — Louis Messina [Swift’s tour promoter since her earliest days] and his team are world-class.” But for all that globe-trotting, he notes, “there are some artists that you see do a show and you know they don’t even know what city they’re in. I always feel like Taylor knows exactly where she is. She has a relationship with that city or that market and those fans and she’s connected to them in ways that are very authentic, that you can’t fake.”

The one big snafu in the rollout of “The Eras Tour” occurred in November 2022 when the Ticketmaster system melted down after too many North American dates went on sale at once, causing thousands of fans to experience long delays. The on-sale broke the all-time record for tickets sold in a single day at 2 million, but it also nearly broke the world’s largest ticketing platform. Swift herself was Teflon in this situation, as the blame fell on a ticketing system not capable of handling so much of the Swift-loving world at once. And although most of the problems people have with Ticketmaster are different from what fans faced in the “Eras Tour” debacle — mainly, hidden fees and monopolistic practices — it could have big legislative consequences anyway. Dean Budnick, co-author of “Ticket Masters: The Rise of the Concert Industry and How the Public Got Scalped,” believes that the Swift hullabaloo was the main catalyst for Congress enacting reform. “There’s no question that perhaps there’s gonna be some meaningful change in ticketing as a result of what people experienced with that on-sale.”

That sense Cahill spoke about of the singer making it clear to an audience she knows exactly where she’s at is in full force in Dublin. Swift introduces the “Folklore”/”Evermore” segment by suggesting that she had a spiritual locale in mind when she started writing that more intimate material, locked in during the first part of the pandemic. “It keeps me up at night all year long: Which era is the most Irish?” she half-jokes to the crowd. “I’m gonna make a case for it being ‘Folklore’ … This album’s imaginary world had a whole aesthetic — like I lived in this cabin in a really green, nature-y, moss-covered landscape. You see where I’m going?… Another thing that I think makes it more Irish than the other eras is, ‘Folklore’ was all about storytelling. And I know you hear this a lot, but you guys are naturally gifted storytellers, right?”

Later on, Swift will cement the local connection by playing, as a “secret” surprise acoustic song, “Sweet Nothing.” She doesn’t have to give the crowd any explanation for that: From the first notes, Irish Swifties will immediately recall that the lyrics reference to the coastal town of Wicklow. The real cherry on top of the show for locals at any international Eras Tour stop, though, comes with a customized moment each night during “We Are Never Getting Back Together” when the spotlight is put on backing dancer Kameron Saunders for a couple of seconds, as he blurts out something locally appropriate, and cheeky. One night in Dublin, it’s the Irish catchphrase “the neck of ye!”; on another, he yells out “pog mo thoin,” meaning “kiss my ass!”; the massive, knowing laugh that inside joke gets makes it clear this isn’t entirely an audience of American tourists after all.

But the basic theatrics and emotional currents remain consistent from show to show. If Swift is surprisingly reticent to make her “Eras Tour” numbers public, that may be, in part, her desire to keep the focus primarily on a personal fan connection. Music industry veterans are taken aback by Swift’s ability to be giant and intimate onstage. “She’s a master marketer of herself — and she is not afraid to be vulnerable to her fans,” says Michele Bernstein, who runs a consultancy that works with stars like Drake. Bernstein could almost be quoting the lyrics of “Mastermind,” where Swift describes herself in almost comically omniscient terms, then dives into a bridge about how no one would play with her as a little girl.

People like my guardian of the customs gate may complain about Swift’s songs centering on her romantic splits, but that subject matter magnifies her own insecurities and weaknesses, expressed in genuinely eccentric wordplay, in ways that keep the audience in thrall to someone they perceive as a humble underdog as well as a veritable cage fighter. She could do a $10 billion tour someday and still keep the crowd enraptured by how she measures up to, or rallies to exceed, the smallest man — or men, or Kardashians — in the world.

This plays out in the “Eras” show in all sorts of symbolic ways, like the new segment in the “Tortured Poets” section where she seems to have fainted from the vapors of failed romance. Dancers in tuxedos try to revive her while a swing version of “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart” plays over the PA. A pair of women dressed as nurses fit her with what looks like a majorette’s uniform — or, with all its off-white stripes, is it really meant to resemble a straitjacket? The resemblance is probably not coincidental. Swift fans know there’s nothing like a mad woman.

The most exhilarating moment that has been added to the show this year has her gliding down the ramp on a platform, appearing to anyone at floor level like she is levitating like the witch she makes herself out to be in “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?” Taylor Swift: She was Agatha all along!

Yes, there is much to unpack. But in Dublin and in every other city where “Eras” has alighted, there is also pure inspiration for those who maybe haven’t always felt like they’ve had a voice, whether it’s her LGBTQ+ fan base or, well, women. It’s a modern transmutation of Beatlemania in which Swift manages to be all four Fabs, and a mirror, as well as object, of that gaze. You don’t have to be a woman to experience the explosion of pure female joy that takes place on a mass scale at an “Eras” gig, but for men, it doesn’t hurt to have a healthy sense of where you might sit on the female spectrum.

Outside Aviva Stadium, two young Londoners have formed their own two-woman straight-gay alliance: One is wearing a shirt with the hand- drawn words “You’re obsessive and crazy,” and the other’s shirt has the phrase “You’re gay,” each with an arrow pointing to the other. This echoes the original lyrics to Swift’s 2006 oldie “Picture to Burn,” which was rerecorded after some were offended by “gay” as a possible teen epithet. “I am obsessive and crazy, and she is gay,” laughs Zoe Gibson, pointing to her friend, India Day. “We want to bring back the original lyrics. We never found them homophobic — we want to reclaim it.” Day adds, “We’ve listened to her since we were 4 years old, so obviously there’s the nostalgia factor. But for me, she speaks on quite a lot of issues like gay rights and feminism, and all of her songs perfectly sum up the experience of being a woman.”

Some of the shirts are apropos for Pride Month. Seeing a boy of no older than 15 or 16 wearing a homemade “But Daddy I Love Him” shirt (the title of a “Tortured Poets” fan favorite), it’s easy to imagine some courage was required to don that apparel. Along the same lines, I spot any number of women making their own statement in shirts with the modified exclamation “But Daddy I Love Her.”

Gay or straight, 6 years old or 60-something, female or just female-allied, the crowd inside gets its sway on early in the show, with the arrival of the gentle, waltz-time “Lover.” It’s not one of the big set-pieces of this nonstop Broadway-style production — the spotlight is just on Swift and her acoustic guitar — but it might be the one where the entire audience feels like it’s at a four-minute campfire. No wicked witchiness here, just winsomeness.

Down on the floor, I’m seeing what amounts to a Taylor Swift mosh pit: gangs of two or three or five young women, ignoring the fact that Swift herself is just yards away from them on the ramp. They’re singing and acting out every last line to each other, as if the superstar isn’t even towering right over them. A waste of their euros? Hardly. Swift will capture their full attention again as the show proceeds, but in the moment, she isn’t just a superstar — she might be the world’s greatest community organizer.

[vintagelasvegas]

Dunes Hotel & Casino '55-'93

Dunes, 1955. Kodachrome photo from Charles Phoenix.

Timeline of the Dunes

’53-54: First announced as Hotel Araby (RJ 11/1/53), then became known as Vegas Plaza, and Hotel Deauville (RJ 1/20/54, 4/23/54). Named the Dunes by the time of groundbreaking, 6/22/54 (RJ).

’55: May 23, original owners Robert Rice, Al Gottesman, Joseph Sullivan, Alexander Barad and Jason Tarsey open the $4 million Dunes Hotel-Casino with 200 rooms on an 85-acre site. John Replogle, designer Robert Dorr Jr., architect and designer. Signs and Sultan figure by YESCO (RJ 5/23/55).

’55: Aug., Dunes leased by Sands partners and reopened in Sep. Subsequent financial difficulties cause the casino to be closed, 1/56.

’56: Bill Miller, Major A. Riddle, and Robert Rice are licensed to reopen the casino in May. In Nov., the license is changed to add M&R Investment Co. as the company that operates the Dunes.

’57: Jan., Minsky’s Follies opens the first topless show at a Strip resort.

’59: Convention Hall addition.

’61: Olympic Wing addition.

’62: Riddle sells 15 percent of the stock to M&R Investment Corp., whose stockholders now include Charles Rich, Sidney Wyman and George Duckworth.

’62: Oct. 21, Tower groundbreaking.

’64: Construction of "Miracle Mile" golf course. Sultan figure moved to golf course in May. In Oct-Nov, the 180-ft sign is installed in Oct., and switched on 11/12/64.

’65: Jun, opening of Dome of the Sea and the 24-story tower. Dunes Golf Course opened.

’69: Continental Connector Corp., a publicly traded company, buys the Dunes in a $59M stock transfer in May. In Dec, the SEC charges that CCC defrauded stockholders in the proxy statement it issued offering to buy the Dunes. CCC settles the SEC complaint in ’76. At this time, bankers E. Parry Thomas and Jerome Mack are principals in M&R and CCC.

’74: In Sep., Gaming Control Board files a complaint against the Dunes for catering and "comping" alleged Kansas City mob chief Nick Civella, one of 11 members of the Black Book, Nevada's List of Excluded Persons. The Dunes ultimately was fined $10,000.

’75: In Feb., Morris Shenker buys an interest in M&R through his IJK Nevada Inc. Later in the year, Dunes owners Shenker and Riddle are asked about allegations that reputed mobster Anthony Spilotro had "set up shop" at the Dunes. Spilotro reportedly was spending up to 14 hours a day in the poker room and appeared to be using it as an office.

’76: In Jun., Shenker sues the Teamsters Union for $140M for backing out of a loan commitment, which was to be used to add another 1,000 rooms. In Oct., Dept of Labor intervenes, saying the loan was prohibited. In ’80, Shenker's breach of contract lawsuit is tossed out of court by U.S. District Judge Roger Foley.

’79: South tower opened in summer. Shenker announces the Dunes will construct a $65M hotel-casino in Atlantic City. FBI affidavits are unsealed claiming that two confidential informants "both advised that the Kansas City organized crime group headed by Nick Civella has a concealed interest fronted by Shenker at the Dunes." Shenker denies the allegations.

’80: In Jan., alleged members of the NY Columbo family are discovered staying for free at the Dunes. Gaming Control Board Chairman Richard Bunker says the "comping" did not violate the law or gaming regulations. Later, four of the group, including Joseph Columbo Jr., are indicted on charges of obtaining money under false pretenses in an airline ticket reimbursement scam. The indictment is dismissed by District Judge Joseph Pavlikowski and in ’84 was reinstated by the NV Supreme Court.

’82: Aug., the $17M Oasis Casino opens, doubling the existing casino space at the resort. Design by Farris Alexander Congdon Architects. New 2-floor casino includes Xanadunes electronic gaming area, and Video-Video arcade space (RJ 8/13/82, 8/20/82).

’82: Dec., Stuart and Clifford Perlman agree to buy the Dunes for $185M. The brothers loan Shenker $4M and $2.9M of that sum is used to pay overdue federal payroll taxes and avoid the seizure of assets by the IRS. Shenker denies the resort is on the verge of bankruptcy. Docs filed with the SEC indicate the property is in default on a number of loans and a number of creditors threaten foreclosure action.

’83: The Perlmans assume management of the Dunes in Apr., and operate it for four months before the sale collapses in Aug.

’83: Oct., a foreclosure sale of the Dunes' golf course and some other property is averted when problems are worked out with the trustees of the Hotel & Restaurant Employees and Bartenders Int’l Union and the trustees of the Nevada Culinary and Bartenders Pension Trust, which are owed $1.5M for non-payment of union benefits.

’83: Dec., a federal jury in Las Vegas decides that Shenker owes $34M to the So. Nevada Culinary and Bartenders Pension Fund for defaulting on loans in ’73-’75 to two of Shenker's land companies, Sierra Charter Corp. and IJK Nevada.

’84: Feb., Shenker files for personal bankruptcy in Missouri to protect his assets from the $34M judgment. The IRS claims that the 78-year-old Shenker owes $66M in unpaid taxes stretching back 20 years. Shenker's bankruptcy filing claimed assets of $82M and liabilities of $197M, the largest debt ever recorded in the St. Louis bankruptcy court.

’84: Mar., Valley Bank of Nevada heads a consortium to lend the Dunes $68.6M as part of a debt restructuring plan.

’84: May, John Anderson buys a controlling interest in the Dunes with his JBA Investments Inc. Anderson signs a $25M note to pay the Perlmans for the $35M they invested in the resort. Shenker's 26 percent interest remains under the control of the bankruptcy court.

’84: Jun., the FBI alleges that Shenker approved $600,000 in kickbacks to alleged Milwaukee crime boss Frank Balistrieri in connection with loans from the Teamsters Union to Allen Glick, who later bought four Las Vegas resorts before being forced out of gaming by Nevada officials. Shenker denies the kickback allegations. No charges are filed.

’85: Feb., Dunes is cited for failing to retrofit the property to meet fire safety standards. About $2.2M is spent on retrofitting during the first half of the year.

’85: May, former Gaming Control Board Chairman Richard Bunker leaves his position as corporate treasurer of Circus Circus Ent. to become president of the Dunes.

’85: Aug., Jack Bona buys out the Dunes' 49 percent interest in its Atlantic City property in a $21M sale. The next day, Bona places the property in a Ch. 11 reorganization in bankruptcy court.

’85: Sept. 27, Dunes defaults on the $68.6M bank loan and Valley Bank moves ahead with the legal steps required for a foreclosure sale Dec. 23.

’85: Oct. 24, Federal marshals begin seizing cash from the Dunes casino cage to pay a $2.7M judgment obtained by trustees of the Culinary and Bartenders unions. They accept a $200,000 check and leave the cash in the cage.

’85: Nov. 1, Marshals return to collect the remaining $17M owed to the unions but are halted by a last-minute restraining order.

’85: Nov. 6, Dunes' operating company. M&R Investment, files for reorganization under Chapter 11.

’87: Masao Nangaku buys the Dunes for $157M.

’92: Nov., Dunes bought by Mirage Inc. for $75M.

’93: Jan. 26, closed. North tower and sign demolished 10/27/93.

‘94: Jul. 20, South tower demolished.

A major source for the timeline is Jane Ann Morrison. Judge Approves Payday for Dunes Employees. Review-Journal, 11/7/85.

Dunes, 1955. This is the original layout of the resort, before the addition of the Convention Hall and Olympic wing. Photo by Ed Screeton. Dunes Hotel Photograph Collection (PH-00281), UNLV Special Collections & Archives.

Late '64. The 180-foot sign has recently been completed. Dome of the Sea restaurant and the hotel tower are nearing completion. Culinary Workers Union Local 226 Photographs, UNLV Special Collections & Archives.

Mar. '85. Photo by Scott Henry, Review-Journal.

[sexycornenthusiast]

eden's garden minecraft server headcanons

Damon: Guy who loves elaborate piston doors. Thinks he's a better builder than he actually is. He and Eva take turns upgrading random stuff in each other's bases while they're offline as a show of dominance. His storage "system" has been a disaster since she was banned. Keeps finding chickens all over the place and doesn't understand where they're coming from.

Eva: Dug herself into a mountain 10,000 blocks away from everyone to build absurdly complicated redstone contraptions, none of which have much utility beyond being cool (eg. working calculator, world's most efficient pickle farm, machine that automatically launches chickens all the way to Damon's base, etc). Likes to build traps in random places. Currently serving a month long ban sentence for blowing up Wolfgang's entire base in a fit of rage (nothing survived. you can see bedrock in some places)

Wolfgang: Has been living out of Grace's basement since The Incident and spends most of his time out on quests to get her whatever items or blocks she asks him for. Building anything stresses him out because he's a perfectionist so he's pretty much embraced the homeless lifestyle.

Grace: Builds almost exclusively out of white concrete. Surprisingly good at making minigames and has recently been preoccupied trying to find the best way to build Minecraft golf. Never collects her own resources. Anything Wolfgang can't get for her, she steals from someone else's storage - usually Damon, Wenona, or Diana. She would love to steal from Eva, but Eva only has one chest with two string and a poppy.

Jett: Also makes minigames but they're kind of bad in a charming way. Claims that Mark lives with him, but Mark has never been to his base. Teamed up with Cassidy and Jean to build a subway system (ice boat tracks) between everyone's bases and has since become enamored with the idea of iceboat racing.

Mark: Does nothing but dig perfect 16x16 holes to bedrock. No beacon, no enchantments, just pure love of the game. It's stress relief for him. Anything he doesn't directly need for crafting more tools gets left behind in a chest. Every once in a while Jett comes by and throws him 4 stacks of cooked pork chops so that's all he eats. The others eventually realize that if they fence off an area and label it as 'to be cleared' he'll just show up and do it.

Cassidy: Technically the server owner but hates admining. Flexed her speedrun strats by beating the ender dragon on day one. Gave everyone a free elytra in the first week (Wenona threw hers into lava in front of her and they've been Minecraft enemies ever since). Spends most of her time either doing community projects or pranking people. Was in the middle of trying to convince Eva to help build a fully functional postal system before The Incident.

Wenona: Has a huge villager trading hall and a farm for pretty much everything. Half the server is indebted to her in some way. The true extent of her infrastructure is unknown even to her closest friends. If you visit her at the wrong time your game WILL drop to 10 fps. Has been caught online at 3 AM multiple times but always claims she was "just AFKing" (this is a lie).

Ulysses: Bad at video games. Can barely play and has a death count in the multiple hundreds. Makes a full map of the server every week or so. Whenever he isn't doing that, he just finds someone doing something interesting (usually Wenona but not always) and watches them like a personal livestream.

Ingrid: Better at the game than anyone expected and has died the least amount of times. Obsessed with armor trims and has a downright unreasonable amount of dogs. Doesn't trade with villagers but uses them as "background characters" for her medieval city build. Constantly the target of pranks like turning her house into an aquarium or encasing it in obsidian, but seems to genuinely believe her friends are just giving her gifts in silly ways.

Toshiko: Building in the same city as Ingrid but in completely different style. Somehow they've made it work. Never affected by the pranks against her basemate because the last time that happened she made them regret their entire lives. Tries and fails to hide the fact that she's afraid of the nether. Types in chat in full grammatically correct sentences complete with punctuation.

Jean: Has admin privileges and does most of the work on that front. Had the final say on Eva's punishment after The Incident. Can never stay in one area for very long and has built something unique in every one of his classmates' bases. Not all of them are aware of this fact. Has sooo many tridents and no one understands how he gets such good drop rates.

Desmond: Spawn-proofed his entire area immediately and now plays the game as a chill farming sim. Only leaves said area on special occasions. Has more food than he could ever use and doesn't care if people take it.

Eloise: Beat all the in-game bosses in a span of like a week then got bored and stopped playing (this is valid).

Kai: Built an actually really impressive castle, but it's all facade and no function (there are no lights on the inside and it doesn't even have a back). Lives in a pile of chests and shulker boxes in an open field. Can never find anything in it. Has a pink bed.

Diana: Plays with shaders. Builds beautiful landscapes like a painting in Minecraft and focuses a lot on little details and atmosphere. Loves doing interiors. Don't ask her what a repeater does because she will not know. Gets all her materials through hand-gathering and generous donations. Eva also tried to blow up her base, but she found the TNT and dug it all up, leaving behind only a few minecarts that did minimal damage.

[vax-merstappen]

F1 boys being your personal photographer 📷

imma start using the keep reading line because i feel like it gets cluttered otherwise.

i had so much fun writing these omg. finding all the cute pictures and coming up with scenarios was literally the best thing!

Lando Norris

You were too busy laughing at a joke Ria had made to realize that Lando had taken your picture. He was always snapping pictures of you when you weren’t paying attention and only when he posted them on his jpg account would you realize they had been taken. You scolded him when you saw the post but you couldn’t stay mad at your personal photographer for long, as you had to admit the pictures were always cute. Also who doesn’t mind a little attention from a boyfriend as cute as Lando?

Oscar Piastri

Every time you went on a trip with Oscar, you always took advantage of the opportunity to get him to take pictures of you. He wouldn’t do so without a bit of prompting and direction of how exactly you wanted the picture to look, as he always wanted you to look perfect in every shot. After a bit of reassurance that the pictures were after he had captured them, Oscar always brightened up, knowing he had made his girlfriend’s day just a little bit brighter. Even though it is a bit of a hassle getting him to take your pictures, you wouldn’t trade in your photographer for anyone else!

Max Verstappen

It was your first time going to one of Max’s races as his girlfriend and Max loved seeing you dressed in Redbull Racing gear. Every time he saw you throughout the weekend, he made sure to take a picture to capture the moment. Eventually, you asked him if he only liked to take pictures of you when you wore his team’s gear, to which he replied that he always likes taking pictures of you, but that the team clothes definitely made you look hot.

Charles Leclerc

Every time you dress up, Charles insists that you pose for a picture. You decided to put on a new dress for a date and dinner with Charles and as you walked through the city he stopped you all of a sudden. “Mon amour, I need to get a picture of you. You look too pretty to forget.” How could you say no? After quickly posing for him, you beamed with joy, feeling like the most beautiful woman in the word. If you asked, Charles would have told you that you were indeed the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

Carlos Sainz

It was your first time playing golf and Carlos had given you instructions on where to stand and how to hit the ball correctly. You had given it a try, dramatically failing in your first two attempts, but managing to hit the ball a good ways on your third swing. As you continued to play, Carlos stood behind you and took your picture. You turned around excitedly after hitting the ball really well and saw Carlos grinning in pride and holding a camera. You ran into his arms, happy your boyfriend was so proud.

Lewis Hamilton

If you looked at Lewis’ camera roll, it would be filled with pictures of you and Roscoe, sometimes together and sometimes apart. One that particularly stands out was when he came home from a weekend racing to find you and Roscoe curled up together on the couch, fast asleep. He quietly entered the room and set his bags down before immediately sneaking over and taking a picture of his two sweethearts looking so peaceful together.

Daniel Ricciardo

One thing about Daniel is that you cannot stop him from taking pictures of you. That man always has his camera wherever he goes and more often than not, you find yourself the focus of his shots. So you were not surprised when you went to take a picture of the sunset only to see Daniel over your shoulder, taking a picture of you taking a picture. You of course didn’t mind, as pictures are one of the ways Daniel shows you how much he loves you. Fans always love seeing new posts on Daniel’s jpg account because they know the posts are filled with more content of you waiting to be seen.

Yuki Tsunoda

Yuki always found you most beautiful when you were doing something you loved. So when you went outside to put the final touches on your most recent painting, Yuki went with you. At first he only watched intently as you worked, but then he pulled out his phone and took a few pictures of you. When you checked your phone later that day, you saw a picture of you and your art on his Instagram story with a caption saying “my beautiful artist.”

Alex Albon

Alex always manages to capture your worst moments on camera (or what he would call your best moments). From pictures of you drunk to picture of you making silly faces, he has all the blackmail photos he could ever need of you. One of his personal favorites is the time you two were walking down the street after a night at the bar and you insisted on trying to ride the “spinny thing” at the playground you stumbled across. Needless to say, drunk you didn’t last very long and Alex caught you mid fall.

Logan Sargeant

Neither you nor Logan had traveled much before he got into racing. So once he began to visit the different countries on the schedule, he decided he wanted to get a picture of you in each place you went together. Of course you couldn’t come to every race, but at the ones you did attend, you made sure to get plenty of pictures of each other at all of the tourist attractions nearby the track. Your personal favorite picture he took was in Singapore, a country both of you had on your bucket list.

[willowsnook]

gin and whiskey with lemonade in a cooper mug 😋

carlos sainz x wnba!reader

watch your fucking mouth

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

People would think your proudest moment this past season was winning Rookie of the Year or leading the league in assists. But for you, it was something much more trivial. Your team had unanimously agreed that you were the most likely to go pro in any other sport you tried.

Some people are just born with it, and you had it. Golf, pickleball, distance running, and even bowling—you had a natural athletic gift. That’s why you loved participating in celebrity charity events, especially getting to hang out with other athletes.

Unfortunately, this passion led to a memorable incident last year at a charity golf tournament. You’d been paired with F1 driver Carlos Sainz, and the two of you were truly a match made in hell. It all started when Carlos questioned if you really wanted to hit off the men's tee instead of the women’s. That pissed you off. The satisfaction of watching your ball sail past his was one of the best feelings in the world—and the tight frown on his face made it even better.

Snide remarks were traded for the rest of the day, leading to a grand finale that went viral. It was the final hole, and you were tied with Carlos, who had already finished at 2 under par. Cameras and fans were everywhere, watching your last shot.

"Take all the time you need, cariño," he called out, smug.

"Watch your fucking mouth," you snapped, locking in and sinking the final putt, one stroke under to win. That moment blew up on TikTok, quickly becoming known as one of your "coldest" moments.

The next time you saw him was at a celebrity softball game. You actually ended up being on the same team which meant that your feud would be fine right? No.

Much to your team's dismay, you and Carlos spent more time trying to one-up each other than actually playing the game. The final straw was him hitting a walk-off home run. You left immediately after, too annoyed to celebrate with the team. There was just something about that man that drove you crazy.

Unfortunately, the feud with Carlos brought in a lot of PR exposure, which led to today. You stood with your arms crossed, glaring at Carlos, who was giving you the same look.

Because F1 had a race in Austin this weekend, your team’s marketing department thought it would be a great content opportunity to partner with Ferrari while they were in town. They’d set up a series of mini-games for you and your teammate Maddy to play against Carlos and Charles Leclerc.

The first game was knockout. After a quick round, it was just you and Carlos left, both sinking shot after shot. You finally missed and panicked, but Carlos missed his next shot too. As you went for a layup, you suddenly felt arms around your waist, lifting you off the ground.

"No way, mi amor," Carlos whispered in your ear, swatting your ball away before sinking his shot. You couldn't help but laugh, actually enjoying yourself.

The next game was chess, where Charles easily wiped the floor with everyone. Finally, the day ended with pickleball, and this was where things got competitive. Carlos was used to playing padel, but he was still dangerous with a pickleball paddle.

The match started intense, neither of you willing to back down. Eventually, Maddy and Charles gave up, leaving the two of you to battle it out. After what felt like forever, you hit a quick shot that left Carlos twisted on the ground. Your victory cheer faltered when you noticed he wasn’t getting up.

Jogging over, you felt a mix of concern and annoyance that the marketing team was more focused on capturing the moment than helping.

"You good?" you asked, stopping next to him.

Carlos groaned. "I think I pulled something in my groin."

Groin injuries were no joke, and you immediately knelt beside him. "Show me where," you demanded, and he smirked.

"Give me your hand, and I’ll show you," he flirted.

"You’re unbelievable," you replied, trying to sound annoyed but failing as a smile tugged at your lips.

"It actually does hurt, though," he added seriously. You called out for an athletic trainer, and when you helped Carlos up, he draped an arm around your shoulder, leaning on you for support.

"I told you that you’d get hurt fighting her," Charles said with a grin, watching you lead Carlos away. Carlos shot him a glare as you smirked.

Later, Carlos lay back on a training table with ice packs on his thighs. You sat on a nearby table, legs swinging as you chatted with the trainer. When she left, Carlos looked over at you.

"You didn’t have to stay this long," he said.

You shrugged. "I can’t have my biggest competition out for the celebrity charity season, can I?"

He chuckled softly, the tension from earlier easing. "Guess not."

You offered a small smile, leaning back on your hands. "Besides, who else would I argue with during these charity events? No one else is as fun to beat."

"Fun?" he said, raising an eyebrow, his tone teasing but with a hint of challenge. "You call this fun?"

You laughed. "As fun as watching you squirm every time I win."

Carlos propped himself up on his elbows, his eyes locking with yours. "You do realize you’ve been driving me insane since the first tournament, right?"

You opened your mouth to reply with a sarcastic retort, but something about the intensity in his gaze stopped you. Your breath caught for a moment, and instead, you said, “Yeah, well, the feeling’s mutual.”

A silence hung between you, but it wasn’t awkward. Something was simmering there—unspoken words and tension that had been hidden beneath all the banter and competitive fire.

Carlos broke the silence, his voice softer this time. "Maybe we should stop fighting, then."

You raised an eyebrow. "And do what instead?"

"Try something new," he suggested, his lips curving into a slow, confident smile. "Something a little less competitive."

Your heart skipped a beat as his meaning became clear. The challenge you saw in his eyes wasn’t about sports anymore—it was something deeper, something that made your pulse race.

"Are you saying you want to stop losing to me?" you quipped, trying to keep things light, though you could feel the shift between you.

Carlos laughed, shaking his head. "I’m saying I want to stop pretending that this... thing between us is just rivalry."

For once, you didn’t have a snappy comeback. You just looked at him, your competitive nature melting into something warmer. Maybe all those charity games, the teasing, the constant push and pull—it was never just about proving who was better. It had always been an excuse to be close to him, to feel that thrill.

You stood up from your seat, stepping closer to Carlos as he sat on the edge of the training table. His eyes followed your every move, the air between you thick with anticipation. You didn’t know where this would go, but you knew one thing for sure—you were done pretending.

"So what’s the plan, then?" you asked, your voice just above a whisper.

Carlos leaned in slightly, his voice low and teasing as always, but with a hint of sincerity. "I’d say it’s about time we call a truce."

You smiled, biting your bottom lip. "A truce, huh?"

He nodded, his gaze softening. "Unless, of course, you’d rather keep fighting."

Without missing a beat, you closed the distance between the two of you, pressing your lips to his. The kiss was brief but enough to send sparks through you. When you pulled away, Carlos grinned, that same cocky smirk he always had when he thought he’d won.

"Don’t think this means I’m going easy on you next time," you said, your voice playful, your heart still racing.

Carlos chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "Wouldn’t dream of it, cariño."

[twopoppies]

Things that I am interested in doing with Harry: shop for fancy linens, I know he knows where to get them so they are luxe. Watch some sort of limited miniseries on premium tv because I like those better than normal TV or movies. Have him teach me how to juggle because I cannot do it. Watch and discuss Planet Earth or similar show. Museum of Natural History in London. Grocery shopping for specialty items at niche markets, I want to spend some time shopping around for fancy mustards and jams together. Golfing because yes I can play and I want to see how good he is however I don’t want to discuss golf because golf is so very boring to talk about. Drink rose outside when the day starts to cool off. Park for picnic and reading. Shopping for used books. Shopping for sunglasses. Put mascara on both of us. Go to art museums in interesting places and learn about new types of art that art history classes didn’t cover. Go to that Thai restaurant in Bangkok he waited hours for a table at, I loveeeeew Thai food. Buy him a bicycle helmet. Weed or other drugs I consider safeish- no needles, trusted sources only. Trade favorite books but promise to return them once finished (do not steal my favorite books, Harry). Errands because they’re usually more fun with a friend. Outdoor dining for any meal somewhere bougie. Buy stationary and fancy pens. Dinner party. Meander around new neighborhoods. Buy new couch I feel like he has good taste in furniture. Margaritas but no casemigos that brand is not cool. Flower market. Not hang out with anyone he works for or with for any reason (lookin at you, Ben, James, Jeff, BRAD, Xander. Basically all the revolting crowd he runs with). Not hang out with Kid Harpoon that guy gives me the creeps. Ok now I’m just going to start being mean and saying things I do not want to do so I’ll stop. Anyway none of this involves hopping on his dick and I’m not leaving that out to make a point, I just don’t think that’s something I want to do. OH practice driving a manual transmission because I haven’t done that in awhile although technically I know how. He can teach me again I think just he knows.

LOL! I love you, whoever you are. Other than the weed, I’m with you 100% (because I don’t smoke).

You are officially the start of my “correct ways to be friends with Harry” tag. Or maybe “loving Harry the right way.” 🤣🤣🤣

[treedaddymcpuffpuff]

Beneath Miles of Stone - Part five - John Wick x Plus Size Fem Reader

Summary: John has been in prison for nine months. He’s content to stay if it means appeasing the high table and keeping peace between the owners of each continental. However, he meets someone who erases that willingness. Peace be dammed.

TW: Bullying

Michael has a lot of stuff. A lot of heavy stuff. Despite him assuring her that he can move it all in on his own, she still wants to help.

It would be kind of a dick move if she didn’t assist with all of this. An hour in, and the apartment is already transformed from bland and empty into a hoard of pastel rainbow decor and soft white staple pieces.

She takes a break to admire the painting of a fluffy white angel cat over watercolor Van Gogh scenery. Michael comes through the door, panting, with his White Cottage microwave in tow.

“Who painted this?” She asks him.

He smiles, blushes, puts the microwave down and then his hand on his hips. “I did.”

Her eyes grow wide. “This is amazing.”

He chuckles. “Thank you.”

She likes Michael a lot already, but she’s also very jealous of him and his many talents and cool possessions. He makes her want to decorate and be creative, both skills she’s never been able to possess correctly.

She hasn’t gotten the key made yet, so she goes out and does that while he starts unpacking his things. By the time she’s done, her apartment looks astonishing. Fairy lights twinkle over gauze white curtains and a big speaker plays soft hiphop music in one corner of the living room. Her couch is full of comfy white and grey fluffy throw pillows. An incense burner releases gourmand, smoky aroma into the air.

Michael is stretched out on the couch, taking a break, watching Legally Blonde on DVD. Her small TV is now in her room and his bigger flatscreen dwarfs the stand that it was on.

She sits down beside him with two glasses of water. Before she can set hers down on the coffee table, he stops her. “Wait! Coasters!”

He digs through two boxes of stuff before he finds new marble coasters for them to set their drinks on.

She laughs at him and he grins back. “I know, I know,” he tells her, “typical trust fund kid BS.”

“You’re fine,” she says. “I was laughing at the coasters because the table is already a mess.”

“Listen,” he says, “this table just needs some tee ell cee. A sander and some paint would do her wonders.” He pats the wooden top.

“Can I help?” She asks, excited and jumping at the opportunity a little too eagerly.

“Of course you can,” he assures.

She remembers him telling her that his mother is an artist. “Did your mom teach you to paint?”

He nods. “She also taught me how to make miniatures. You know, like dollhouses but for adults?”

“That’s amazing. Do you trade art with her?”

“I do,” he says, “we send things back and forth in the mail. Although my dad says it ‘clogs up their post office box’.”

“He’s not a fan of art?”

Michael snorts. “He hates everything except golf. Sometimes I think he hates me.”

She shakes her head. “Does he really hate you? You’re the perfect son.”

Michael sighs. “No, but he hates gay people, so it’s close enough. When I first came out to him, if my mother wouldn’t have been there, he would’ve probably shot me. He’s a real man’s man if you know what I mean...”

She nods, smiling ruefully. “Oh, I know exactly what you mean.”

Michael thinks for a moment. “We should get a dog.”

“I would love that, but it’s no pets here.”

He raises his eyebrows and sips at his water. “What they don’t know won’t hurt them.”

They decide it has to be a quiet dog, one who’s comfortable being alone at night, and there are an abundance of local shelters displaying perfect furry candidates online.

“Rocky. Pitbull mix. Potty trained, good with kids and other pets, sweet and loves everyone.” She shows Michael a picture of a medium sized black, stout dog with shiny grey eyes.

Michael shows her his own selection, a retired service beagle named Winnie. “Short for Winnifred,” he reads, “loves people and other pets, very polite, and hardly ever barks.”

“I love them both,” she groans, leaning back into the couch cushions.

“Same,” Michael sighs. “It’s one in the afternoon. Do you work tonight?”

“Yup.” She presses an arm over her face, blocking out the ceiling light.

“Don’t you have to sleep?” He asks.

She’s not tired at all because she slept through the night—wet dreams work wonders on insomnia—but she agrees because Michael sounds like he needs some alone time. Plus, her DVDs and TV are in her room now, and if she can’t sleep she can watch an old, comfortable flick.

The problem isn’t getting to sleep, it’s staying there—waking up sweating, gasping, whining John’s name. She slaps her mouth shut, presses her face into her pillow, and prays to any deity listening that her voice wasn’t loud enough for Michael to hear. First day in the new place and his roommate is a fiend. It would make any sane person want to revoke their rental agreement immediately.

She should be embarrassed and anxious that Michael potentially heard her, but instead she’s grinding against her sheets and thinking of tall men handcuffed to beds.

This won’t work. This isn’t working. She’s so pent up that it’s borderline painful. She sticks her hand into her sleep pants, past her underwear, and into a sloppy mess, tries to think about anything but John while she rubs herself raw, but in doing so her brain latches onto the thought of him and pretty soon he’s the only thing on her mind.

She tries to paint a decent fantasy of what she would like sex with him to be, but really she doesn’t give a shit as long as it’s him. And that’s what scares her. He could be absolutely celibate and she’d still crave whatever he wanted to give her whether it be a rough kick or a soft caress—she’d be his dog, and **this is the worst time for her to realize that because her alarm is going off for work.

She orgasms at the cost of being ten minutes late.

The locker room lights are off when she goes to put her things away, which is unusual. Since she started, they’ve been lit around the clock. In fact, she’s not even sure where the light switch is in here because she’s never had to use it. Fumbling around in the pitch black is making her even tardier. Finally, when she finds the switch and flips it, the room illuminates, and standing under the migraine-inducing glow is someone who makes headaches seem like a dream come true.

Benny grins from his seat on the bench, which he quickly abandons in favor of looming over her. Once again, the sweaty, edematous mass of him blocks her exit.

She’s too busy contemplating if anyone would hear her scream to see him hold his open palm out expectantly.

“Give it to me,” he says.

“What?” She asks, imagining in another universe she sounds angry and oppositional instead of whiny and terrified. In another universe, she can also kick his ass. Not in this one, though. In this universe, she does as Benny demands and hands him her phone so she doesn’t have to suffer through the touch of his greasy skin a second time.

He holds her phone in one hand while the other holds his own. She doesn’t bother trying to see what he’s doing because she can’t get her feet to move let alone stand on tiptoes and look over his shoulder.

This goes on for a while in which her only thought consists of asking herself if she could run to the door and make it into the populated infirmary before he can catch her. Again, this is a solution mainly dependent on her stubborn feet.

She’s not really worried about what he puts on her phone. It’s what he’s getting from it that sets her pulse careening.

He reaches out and tries to shove it into her jacket pocket, but luckily that’s when her feet decide to save her and step away from his hands. He scowls at her like she just insulted his mother.

“Fine.” Benny opens his hand and drops her phone on the stone floor. She winces when she hears the shatter, then looks back up at his pleased, disgusting expression.

“Remember our trip.” He pushes past her, not enough to hurt but to make her yelp and stumble, and slams the door shut on his way out.

Her phone isn’t broken. The screen has a tiny crack in one corner but other than that it’s still perfect.

She grabs her bag from her locker and brings it with her to the nurse’s station, labeling the locker room as an unsafe and off limits space, which are becoming more bountiful by the day.

John is not her patient tonight. On her day off they must have had an influx of admissions because she’s responsible for 10 of them and the infirmary is unusually and appropriately staffed.

Her hopes of his nurse trading him are slim to none because he’s a wonderful patient and over time everyone has seemed to agree that they want him on their assignment sheet.

The other nurse’s that take and give her report always talk about what a cool, easy going guy he is and how they’re surprised that he needs that many guards with him.

“What do you think he did?” Stan, one of the day shift nurses, asks her.

“My bet’s on released a circus full of wild animals and let them trample a small town, but I could be wrong.” She taps her pen against her report sheet and laughs at her own joke.

Stan snorts. “He probably killed some rich guys.”

The other nurses like him so much that most of their theories on why John is in four point restraints with four men guarding him at all times is because he’s done something valiant that pissed someone powerful off.

That’s probably the other reason his wound looks better; not just because of her, but because if you like a patient or connect with them you’re more than likely going to give them the best care you can provide.

If she’s honest, it kind of makes her feel sick. Not because everyone has grown to like John, but because that means she’ll have less chance of being his nurse from here on out. Also, she knows it’s kindergarten mentality, but she liked him and treated him well first while the other ones had to get to know him beforehand.

Her case load is heavy. A couple IV’s, wound changes, someone with a tracheostomy. She sits down to chart, finally, at 3 AM.

One of the other nurses, Bill, calls for her across the hall.

She fights the urge to groan while standing on sore feet and walking over to his medication cart.

Bill grins at her, looking like he’s really enjoying himself. “My patient in 9 wants to see you.”

“Me?” She asks.

Bill shrugs, still looking very amused. “He says he needs to tell you something.”

“What?”

“I don’t know,” Bill tells her. “Seems that he likes your company, though.” He gives an eyebrow raise at the awkward expression crawling onto her face.

She reminds herself that this her workplace for the 80th time and that Bill’s suggestive expressions are just him messing around. Joking. That’s all. He’s joking.

John is watching the door, waiting for her. When she pops in like a mouse and scurries to his bed, he feels the urge to pat her on the head for showing up which would be the only thing he could do to stop himself from grabbing her up and kissing her.

His smile is wide and genuine. “How’s the roommate search?”

“Uh, I got one.” She smiles timidly, hoping he doesn’t think she’s erratic and air-headed for finding someone so fast

His eyes widen just the smallest bit. “That’s good, is she…nice?”

She nods too eagerly. “He’s great. And he has great decorations.”

The key word here—at least the one his ears attune to—is he. Not because a woman and a man living together automatically entails romance or connection, but because John knows men—John is a man—and most of them turn out to be less than good.

He tries not to look mean, to keep his smile, to focus on her being here with him in the present and alive and well; If he doesn’t, rage will start talking, nefarious, whispering sin in his ear, assuring him that it wouldn’t be hard to break out of these handcuffs and make sure her roommate becomes her loyal dog for the rest of the time he spends living with her and alive.

“If you wouldn’t have suggested it, I’d probably be homeless by next week.” She tries to sway the conversation toward optimism because she sees something in his expression that reads like he’s a little upset. He probably does think she’s a moron at this point.

Maybe it’s just good that she’s happy. He tries to shift focus onto that. The roommate can’t be malignant if she’s so upbeat.

It’s been very easy to talk to John most times, but then there are moments like this when something awkward and unsaid hangs between them and more often than not she doesn’t know what it is. Maybe he doesn’t either.

“Just be careful,” is what he decides to say.

She chuckles. “I will, don’t worry.”

He doesn’t understand what’s funny—again, but he appreciates the laugh. One of them can get him through a few hours, and they’re so easy to wring out of her pretty throat.

One of the security guards stands, stretches, yawns. He says he’s going to take a break. The other guards are asleep, so once he leaves they’ll be alone.

“I’m gonna go to vending, John you want anything?” He asks.

John shakes his head no. “Thanks.”

“I’m sorry if I bothered you while you were busy,” he says, too eager to talk as soon as the guard walks out. “I just wanted to make sure you were alright.”

She purses her lips, which he thinks means she’s trying not to leak an expression that will probably be embarrassing. Really, she’s trying to tame her lion heart back into its cage before it sinks its teeth into him and refuses to let go.

“I’m okay, John.” She attempts smiling. “You’re the one in the hospital bed.”

He shrugs like his stab wound and near death are just a hiccup.

She talks again. “And I’m glad you called me in. I like talking to you.”

His face is all smile now. “Likewise.”

He tells her to pull up a chair if she wants, and she steals one of the metal ones that the breaking guard left behind, sitting by his bedside. They start with a casual conversation about the weather that turns into a discussion on harsh winters in Belarus.

“Did you grow up there?” She asks him.

He nods. “I traveled a lot.”

“So, you’re Russian?” She puts her chin in her palm and stares at him like he is the most interesting person in the world. She’s adorable like this. He wants to brush the stray hairs from her cheeks.

“Yes. American, now.”

“Do you speak Russian?” Her eyebrows raise.

“да, красивая девушка” His tone automatically slides into a deeper baritone when he says this, and it makes her shudder.

He needs to be nerfed. Outlawed. He should not be handsome, nice, like-able, and be able to speak a different language in his perfect voice. It’s really not fair at all.

She’s too busy trying to tame her rogue thoughts to ask him what he even said. The desire to climb into his lap and straddle him crosses her mind twenty times in different ways. She blinks heavy. “You’re the coolest person I know.”

They talk until the guard comes back from his break, mainly about Belarus and what it was like there and where else he has traveled.

Although she has a ton of charting to catch up on, she doesn’t want to leave him. The taste of human connection is on her tongue after a couple years of abstinence and she’s becoming addicted.

When she exits his room, it’s with reluctance and impressive self control.

She tells him to sleep. He promises he’ll try.

It would be easier to do her job if she wasn’t catching Benny sneering at her whenever they’re in the same space, but she gets through it, reasoning that John has it worse than her because he has to suffer through six hours with the asshole guard in his room. And, it’s easier also because of…well, John himself.

[gordonstanheight]

masterlist of my f1 lists! :)

below can be found various playlists, letterboxd lists, and serializd lists of songs, movies, and tv shows that the drivers have discussed! they are all constant works in progress, and i always welcome help <3 i try to have sources for everything, especially the letterboxd lists!

sports alt — @zandvoortapex

honestly this is more of a passion side project to get recommendations for new medias than anything else LOL there's some really good hidden gems in here IMO

i also just really wanted it all in one place !! so without further ado --

—————

playlists:

‘: ☆ NR6! — sounds to make you feel like you can beat god himself in equal machinery

‘: ☆ SP11! — the mexican minister of defense and his sounds

‘: ☆ LH44! — what does a 7x wdc listen to?

‘: ☆ GR63! — background noise for powerpoint night (which is every night)

‘: ☆ CS55! — the sounds of a smooth operator

‘: ☆ CL16! — what it means to be il predestinato

‘: ☆ LN4! — to play for all occasions (becoming a dj, golf player, race car driver, twitch streamer)….

‘: ☆ LS18! — fortune favors the bold. המזל מעדיף את האמיצים

‘: ☆ SV5! — musik für den sonnenschein

‘: ☆ FA14! — what to put on when you’re conspiring el plan

‘: ☆ PG10! — this playlist was liked by pierre gasly

‘: ☆ E031! — what is estie bestie listening to?

‘: ☆ AA23! — tfw “we bought a zoo” is a movie about your life and also you just died (via appendicitis)

‘: ☆ YT22! — this is what plays softly over the speakers at yuki's restaurant

‘: ☆ ZG24! — how to get in the mood for a runway walk before a fashion show

‘: ☆ VB77! — what plays during cups of coffee and bike rides with the one you love

‘: ☆ MSC47! — what you'd listen to if you were a golden retriever turned into a human boy for a day

‘: ☆ KM20! — what is kmag listening to?

‘: ☆ MV33! — what plays in mad max’s head on loop during his casual sunday cruises as everyone else fights for their life

‘: ☆ DR3! — drs zone activated (daniel ricciardo supremacy)

‘: ☆ JD! — literal embodiment of :3

—————

film (letterboxd) lists:

': ♡ SP11! // no. 1 man on fire (2004) fan

': ♡ LH44! // official letterboxd top four: coming to america, trading places, six degrees of separation, scarface

': ♡ GR63! // no. 1 the gentlemen (2019) fan

': ♡ CS55! // average quentin tarantino fan

': ♡ CL16! // can't stop rewatching harry potter

': ♡ LN4! // class clown says he mostly just watches comedies i said oh i'm sure

': ♡ LS18! // filmbro taste with a bleeding heart

': ♡ SV5! // prefers films made before 2010

': ♡ FA14! // he doesn't like film or music apparently he just stares at a wall all day

': ♡ PG10! // currently rewatching harry potter with charles

': ♡ EO31! // always on that marvel grind

': ♡ AA23! // no jokes just his letterboxd would be insane

': ♡ YT22! // jason statham's biggest fan

': ♡ VB77! // this is literally just someone's dad

': ♡ MSC47! // what the letterboxd of a guy who is actually scared of the nun (2018) would look like

': ♡ KM20! // he just likes the shawshank redemption a lot

': ♡ MV33! // no. 1 fan of the hangover trilogy

': ♡ DR3! // unofficial letterboxd top four: dumb & dumber, friday night lights, ace ventura: pet detective, talladega nights

': ♡ JD! // no. 1 creed iii fan

—————

television (serializd) lists:

': ❀ SP11! ~~ dad taste real

': ❀ LH44! ~~ in his own words he doesn't really care to watch much tv so be disappointed but not surprised by his list

': ❀ GR63! ~~ sitcom type of guy

': ❀ CS55! ~~ grid king of binge watching like only one guy here would be on that grind during surgery

': ❀ CL16! ~~ he "doesn't have the patience" for a lot of tv but he likes to stay up with the trends

': ❀ LN4! ~~ mostly just watches what carlos recommends

': ❀ LS18! ~~ will always be seated for a sports docuseries

': ❀ SV5! ~~ not huge on tv but likes an easy watch

': ❀ FA14! ~~ dad taste and also his own freakin' show

': ❀ PG10! ~~ only watches the trends

': ❀ EO31! ~~ he likes to be thrilled and he likes to laugh

': ❀ VB77! ~~ recently likes two wheels more than four

': ❀ MSC47! ~~ tries to reject the trends, but sometimes they hit idk

': ❀ KM20! ~~ self-admittedly used to be more of a tv guy than he is these days

': ❀ MV33! ~~ loves a good action show

': ❀ DR3! ~~ his favorite hobby might be consuming media

': ❀ JD! ~~ outdoor adventures and romance

[allergictocolor]

Character Profile - Gomez Addams

“Husband of Morticia (if indeed they are married at all), a crafty schemer, but also a jolly man in his own way. Tries hard to be father and teacher to the children, though sometimes misguided - we can depend on Morticia to straighten him out. Sentimental and often puckish - optimistic, he is full of enthusiasm for his dreadful plots. He is dressed in a tight double-breasted striped suit and is sometimes seen in a rather formal dressing gown. The only one who smokes - though Pugsley can be allowed an occasional cigar.” - Chas Addams

That was the description Charles Addams provided for the producers of the television show in 1963. His cartoon depiction of Gomez (named after a friend of his) was short and squat, dark-skinned, with a pushed-up nose, a mustache, and hair parted in the middle. I mentioned previously that he was modeled after Thomas E. Dewey. My husband pointed out to me that Dewey was the “Dewey Defeats Truman” guy. You can read about that weird event-turned-meme here. The TV show included an Easter egg for that in the 4th episode “Gomez, the Politician” (left).

It was the show that established that Gomez is driven mad with passion when Morticia speaks French, or any other language, in front of him, causing him to kiss her arm (right image above). They also established that he’s Spanish (they said Castilian to specify central/northern Spain) and his hobbies include fencing, knife throwing, zen yoga, and blowing up model trains. He calls Morticia “Tish”, “Querida”, and “Cara Mia”.

The comics always portrayed the family as eccentric and wealthy without an explanation as to where their wealth came from. The show depicted Gomez frequently checking a stock market ticker in their living room for his investments in companies with names like Amalgamated Dust.

Gomez in the 60s was a jack of all trades, but a master of none. He was a lawyer, sort of. He fenced, badly. He threw knives, and usually missed. He lost a lot of money in the stock market, but it didn’t matter. They were still rich beyond imagining. Per their creator’s wishes, it was Morticia who really ran things. Gomez was the starry-eyed dreamer. He would do anything for her.

Charles Addams never meant for Gomez to have “leading man” good looks. He was meant to be a bit of a ghoul, a weirdo, a loveable creep. The producers of the 60s TV show knew that wouldn’t really fly with their viewing audience, so they cast John Astin. They could let Fester and Lurch be weird looking. They needed Gomez to at least be cute. Addams passed away before the 1991 movie, but he likely would have objected at least a little to the suave and debonair Raul Julia. At least the movies brought back a little more of the evil.

Charles Addams had complained that the characters in the 60s show were “half as evil” as his cartoon creations. The 1990s Barry Sonnenfeld films may have had a handsome Gomez, but they brought back the sinister nature in a big way. The family drank poison. Gomez practiced his golf swing by hitting balls into his neighbor’s house. Importantly, the very first scene was a recreation of one of the most popular Addams family comics, pouring an unidentified something on a group of carolers at the front door of their mansion.

Raul Julia’s Gomez was many things John Astin’s was not. He was a crack marksman, a skilled knife thrower, and light on his feet. But like Astin’s Gomez, he thought working for a living was for chumps, so he was completely unmoored when the family was ousted from their home. Members of the Addams family don’t have such mundane things as jobs. It was with Julia’s Gomez that we got the real impression that most of the family’s money came from crime, and we loved him for it.

Raul Julia made such an impression as Gomez, that when Nathan Lane stepped into those shiny loafers to play him on a Broadway stage, it was clear he was not so much playing Gomez Addams, as playing Raul Julia playing Gomez Addams. The musical is a hoot, and if you get a chance to see friends in a local production of it, I recommend giving it a shot. However, it didn’t add anything significant to any of the characters.

The 2019 animated film blended visual aspects of both the original comics and the 1960s TV show. This version of Gomez is extremely similar to the comic version, and also has a bit of Peter Lorre to him. (He was the Igor type in old horror movies.) He follows Charles Addams’ original brief of trying hard to be father and teacher to his children, though perhaps he takes this too far with Pugsley. The animated medium allowed the storytellers to be as cartoonishly evil as possible. Charles would have been delighted.

One theme which has been present in all versions of the Addams family is the sense that they don’t belong in polite society. This is taken to an extreme in the 2019 animated film, which I do recommend if you haven’t seen it. (You can skip the sequel.) That theme is then built upon in the 2022 Netflix series, where the Addamses are all members of a caste of society called “outcasts”, different from “normies” in various ways. Typically, outcasts are werewolves, sirens, vampires, witches, etc. We have not yet seen what sets Gomez apart, but perhaps we will in season 2.

In the Netflix series, Luis Guzmán is the latest actor to fill out Gomez’s pinstriped suit, and he’s the one we can most easily believe has committed some crimes. People who only know of the Addams family from the 90s movies objected to his casting, but those of us who understand the full history know that he’s a perfect fit. And I, for one, can’t wait to see what he does in the next season.

[brothermoth]

See I need to share my dad's lore because someone needs to study this man like a bug. We plan to donate his body to science so a bunch of medical students can see the most brain damage a person can possibly have without losing major bodily function.

Now, my grandparents moved around a bit when their kids were little, but my dad spent most of his childhood in rural New York and the middle of bumfuck nowhere in a cottage (it's a shack, make no mistake) on the shore of lake Erie. His parents did not know what the fuck he was doing at any given moment. This guy was diagnosed with ADHD in the SEVENTIES. Do you even know how bad he had to be to get diagnosed in the 70s??

He was a menace of a child but his parents put him in tball instead of getting the little bastard some much needed Adderall. He was super athletic all his life (didn't pass those genes on to me, unfortunately) but this also went along with deeply concerning injuries in the way every boy in the 70s had at one point or another.

He has:

-had his EAR ripped almost completely off while playing middle school football — he duck-taped it back on and it just kinda healed itself

-fell into a storm cellar backwards and got knocked out when he was like 5

-been hit in the head by a hockey stick and knocked out

-had his head smash through a wooden door playing floor hockey in gym class

-broke his leg that one time and then tried out for his highschool wrestling team with the cast on (he got on and ended up being captain)

-broke his thumb and didn't tell anyone, then had to have it re broken at the doctor's

-got knocked out in at least 4 fights

-had his knee replaced in his early 30s, drove himself to the gas station to buy a 12 pack, then fell down the stairs with said 12 pack, smashed half the bottles, and popped stitches out

-broken the same toe at least twice; the nail turned black and fell off the first time

-broke his nose falling out of bed like three months ago

-lost a tooth playing hockey

-cut the tip of his thumb off with a hand saw while camping; duck-taped it and continued camping for another 3 days

-has had at least 20 fishhooks caught in his hands

-had Bell's Palsy a few years ago (he was fine he just couldn't eat soup for a while and it was hilarious)

-had too many drinks and burned off his fingerprints on the side of a mini fire pit (the kind that looks like a paint can), laughed about it, and went golfing the next day with huge blisters on his fingers

~~~~~

I'm missing so many. So many. It's a miracle he reproduced. He has so much brain damage but he's fine, he just ignores it.

~~~~~~~~~~Robert's Greatest Hits~~~~~~~~~~

[In Boston] "Oh yeah that used to be an IRA bar. I think I'm still banned for getting into a fight."

"You know my buddy REDACTED? Yeah he got electrocuted once. Almost died, I visited him in the ICU a couple times, he's fine now though."

"I went into a gas station in rural Florida once, super hungover. My buddy went in and came out with tears in his eyes saying don't go in there, so of course I had to. Guy at the counter had a wooden peg leg like a pirate, and there was a nail screwed in. Attached to the nail was a chain and at the end of the chain was a super sickly looking chicken. Weirdest thing I've ever seen, I think."

"You know that plane crash that killed JFK Jr? His girlfriend he was with—i dated her in college."

"Who's that singer? Dupa Loopa or whatever"

~~~~~~Unhinged Information~~~~~~~~

—his childhood babysitter was the actress who now voices Eda from the Owl House (I've met her twice she's very nice. I fell down the back steps of her mom's cottage once)

—He used to bring home water moccasins (y'know, the venomous snakes) and show them to his very terrified mother

—they had a golden retriever named Toby and nobody can remember if she was a boy or a girl

—while cleaning out the basement he found his ID card from the World Trade Center when he went for a business trip...ON AUGUST 10TH OF 2001

—he lived in Boston in his 20s and took a bet while absolutely hammered to run the Boston Marathon, did it hungover and placed like 200-somethingth

—ate a spider by accident one time because he thought it was a bread crumb from his sandwich

—will drive out of his way just to see car accidents

—man's a sympathy vomiter

—will pet literally any animal. If it's small and sweet he's immediately just ready to commit a crime for it

—likes to pick fights with cops but only if they're rude first. He has gone to court to fight 14 dollar parking tickets just out of spite (and somehow he always talks himself out of it)

—swears to god he's seen aliens

—has hardcore puzzle autism. He'll stay up until 1 am just to get 12 more pieces and will finish a 1200 piece puzzle in a day

—also fish autism I swear to God

—you can put this guy in the middle of nowhere and he somehow always knows where north is

[housethemd]

Inlet

(House/Wilson, pre-relationship, loosely set in S2. This will be cross posted to my AO3, where I am WhiskeyRose1)

There are very few physical activities House can still do. After the infarction they had to trade golf weekends for movie marathons, tennis night for bowling night, and lunch break runs for a seat in the cafeteria.

Except for one Tuesday every month. On the third Tuesday of the month the local YMCA pool has a free swim from 2-3:30pm. Lord only knows why, because by that time the housewives and their toddlers have left for nap time, it’s too late in the afternoon for the usual lunch break crowd, and the after school rush hasn’t started yet. It means that the pool is practically deserted.

That’s how Wilson talked House into going. Never mind the plethora of benefits that being in water has for House. While he would never say it, Wilson knows that floating in the tepid water eases the ache in his ruined thigh as well as the aches he never talks about. His hips, his back, his shoulder, all take additional strain due to his disability and the weightlessness of the pool eases the pressure.

They have the changing room to themselves, and they strip down in front of one another with the ease that over a decade of friendship brings. Wilson’s swimsuit is a simple pair of black swim shorts, while House’s are neon yellow with black flames up the legs. House’s are also board shorts, instead of falling just below mid-thigh like Wilson’s, House’s bathing suit touches his knees.

Wilson remembers going to the beach together in the early days of their friendship. House always wore these bright red, 6 inch inseam trunks. They came well above mid-thigh, showing off his muscular legs. Back then House was incredibly physically active and his years of lacrosse, rowing, cheerleading, and running showed on his physique. Wilson was no slump physically, but the looks he got were nothing compared to the number of heads House turned - female and male alike.

They hose off in the provided showers, getting themselves nice and wet before entering the pool area. Wilson watches the water sluice down House’s bare chest and wishes he could make House see how attractive he still is. Sure his body is more lithe than it used to be, but he’s still well put together with broad shoulders giving way to a slim waist and narrow hips. He’s no less attractive at 46 than he was at 33 when they met. House wears his age well. The salt and pepper of his hair distinguishes him, his scruffy look giving him a care free air, and of course he still has those huge bright blue eyes that threaten to steal your soul if you stare into them for too long.

Once they are sufficiently soaked Wilson offers his arm to House. He takes it, let’s Wilson take some of his weight as they make the slow walk from the men’s change room to the pool. The floors are wet and slick and even though House’s blue water shoes give him a little traction they still take their time, lest either of them slip. He still can’t quite believe he talked House into wearing the water shoes. House had balked against them when Wilson first bought them for him after their first pool trip, citing that only old people and toddlers wore water shoes at a pool. After some very blunt words about how like it or not House was a fall risk due to uneven balance, he’d slipped them on wordlessly the next month.

They walk until they are at the edge of the deep end. House finds it easier to walk poolside until they hit the deep end, then slide off the edge into the water, as opposed to trying to walk through the shallower water until it’s deep enough for swimming. Wilson supports House as he lowers himself to sit at the edge, feet dangling into the water.

Wilson retrieves a pool noodle from the bin near the lifeguard station and tosses it in the water before diving in himself.

When he surfaces he shakes the water from his face and hair like a dog, making House laugh from where he is still perched on the edge. Wilson always expects more of a shock when he hits the water, but the pool is kept at a comfortable 85 degrees. Once he’s stopped laughing House pushes himself off the ledge and into the water, momentarily disappearing beneath its surface. When he bobs back up Wilson passes him the pool noodle. House slides it underneath his waist and lays back. House is heavy enough that his body still sinks beneath the water but provides enough buoyancy that he can float without having to move his limbs to much.

Wilson swims laps for a while, as House floats leisurely. Wilson pauses periodically to observe him. His eyes are closed as he lets the ripples of water push him around. Every few minutes he checks his surroundings and if he is nearing a wall or the shallow end he’ll kick his good leg and use his arms to gain enough momentum to float in a different direction.

When Wilson is satisfied with the number of laps he’s done he’ll climb out to grab his own pool noodle and he and House will float side by side. They talk about nothing in the way only old friends can. House says something rude and Wilson splashes him in the face. This evolves into more and more aggressive splashing until the lifeguard has to tell them to settle down. Wilson looks appropriately chastised but House just smirks.

Nearing the end of their extended lunch break, they make their way out of the pool. House stands on his good leg on the ladder out of the pool and uses his arms to push himself back onto the tile floor outside. Wilson scurries out after him to help him stand. They make their way back into the change room and go through the same motions as when they arrived but in reverse.

When they make their way back out to Wilson’s Volvo, both with hair still damp, Wilson can’t help but notice how House moves a little easier. He always does after an hour in the pool. Wilson wishes he could get House to do this more regularly. The university campus has a gym with a pool, and faculty gets in for free. There is no reason why House couldn’t be swimming a few times a week, but Wilson knows being seen by his peers needing support is what keeps him from going.

So Wilson will keep bringing him to the deserted free swim at the YMCA, where he can lean on Wilson’s arm and wear his water shoes without fear of his colleagues losing respect for him.

[lore-of-the-mushroom-kingdom]

The Sports, Karting, And Party games Are Canon.

So something people often do is claim the spinoff games are not canon to what is considered the main games, let alone to each other. So this post is here to provide the evidence they are canon.

First off for confusion about character portrayals in these games click here.

So first off, I have had people claim that Nintendo said that the spin-offs aren't canon. A source I was never provided with. Such a claim always throws me off given Nintendo seems to always treat the spin-offs as canon. On the about section for Mario on the Nintendo Website. The about says this "You may know him as a famous plumber, but he’s also a kart racer, sports star, caped hero, and more!" As for Mario's description on the website it says, "Mario excels at sports including tennis, golf, baseball, soccer, and even kart racing. He's good at all of them! He's a plumber by profession but is really a jack of all trades." Note how it doesn't say it's a different Mario but rather refers to Mario as the same person doing all these things. Calling him a jack of all trades, keep that last one in mind it will come up again. In addition to this Peach's description says "Princess Peach is always game for a variety of sports, and also enjoys baking and cooking." The Encyclopedia says "Being ambitious and multitalented, Mario has tried his hand at all sorts of sports competitions."

In Super Mario Odyssey, 2 outfits Mario can get and wear are the Racing outfit and Mechanic outfits. So not only are these outfits Mario kart themed, but they also have some Mario Kart Sponsor logos on them. This is an acknowledgement of the karting games in a game considered "mainline." Another one is when Super Mario Sunshine listed off both Super Mario Kart and Mario Kart 64 as having taken place prior.

In Mario Party 9 the Princess Minor Constellation says the following about Daisy. "A constellation named after a princess who enjoys tennis, golf, soccer, and not getting kidnapped." This is the Party games making a connection to the sports games.

In Mario Superstar Baseball in the Exhibition Records we get a description for Mario that says the following. "A kart racer, tennis player, golf enthusiast, doctor... The list goes on and on, showing he's a jack-of-all-trades." Again connecting the various games and a repeat of the jack of all trades claim. Again in MSSB we have the DK's description saying "His talents lie in beating on his primate foes and kart-racing."

In a previous post I brought up that in Paper Mario 64 Luigi's Diary says the following. "I remember the carefree days when we played Golf and Tennis and had Parties." I also previously mentioned in a post that Luigi's Kart shows up in the Origami King. But it also happens to show up in Color Splash as well. Also, in Color Splash Bowser says "MARIO?! What are YOU doing here/ Do we have a kart race scheduled for today?" Yes the paper games are canon.

In Super Mario Run there are some statues one can get, one is a Mario Kart Statues. Not these statues and other objects do give lore about the Mario world. Another one is a Blooper statue saying "Blooper from Mario Kart now immortalized in statue form!" You have the Banana statue saying "This banana peel can cause a lot of mayhem in Mario Kart!" Finally in the video 51 Rapid-Fire Questions About The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild, Miyamoto said that it's always the same Mario when asked if there is multiple Mario's in reference to the games. This matches up perfectly with what the Nintendo website, Mario Encyclopedia, and MSSB description are all saying. So with all this information it should be quite clear that the sports, karting, and party games are all intended to be canon. That it's always the same Mario.