#I cannot believe I live in a studio for 4 years with no fresh air beyond opening the windows

[dirty-bosmer]

Finally have balcony furniture and have spent the past 4 hours out here taking in the sun and now soaking up the night sky. I may never return inside again. So long suckers (affectionate)

[abiteofnat]

If you’re reading this, I’m coming back to Chicago, beetch

The non-existent rumors are true. After a brief 10-month exit from the city to soak up the fresh air and social distance-friendly suburbs, I am now returning to Chicago as a single, slightly more anxious version of myself. While I’m still trying to kick some of the anxiety and OCD that COVID-19 pushed from “lifelong tagalongs” to “all-controlling demons”, I feel 97% ready to be back where I feel most myself, and cannot wait to welcome that change. While that 3% still makes me a little uncomfy and hesitant, I’m a believer in pushing your boundaries to allow yourself to grow, and also, I am really sick of suburbs food. 

Ha! I joke. I wouldn’t move downtown simply for access to more diverse & higher quality food... or would I? All I know is while there are plenty of gems in the North Shore, I’ve eaten take out from all of them ten times over, and I did not foster my dislike of cooking out of nowhere. My parents do not enjoy cooking, my sister pretends to enjoy cooking, and I will cook if it is 5 ingredients or less. My latest speciality is a toasted bagel with butter, hummus, and EBTB seasoning. Voila. So when it comes to dinner, we are living off of a carousel of suburban favorites, and are losing steam as we are still not comfortable with dining inside (or dining inside in the city, where the fun food is). 

All of this to say, it’s exciting to imagine what life is going to be like in a few short weeks. While I’m still extra precautionary, I can’t wait to have my own space downtown, where I can enjoy coffee on my little balcony (!!!) and dream of the days friends can come squeeze into my studio safely while I lay out an entire table of sharable spreads and snacks from Ema (Charred Eggplant Spread is the best one, don’t fight me). 

So you may ask, how did you come to this decision to move to the heart of downtown out of seemingly nowhere, you hermit? 

It starts with my mom and I having a brief, simultaneous breakdown and coming to the conclusion that we would both feel comfortable doing a staycation downtown, as long as we wore masks, sanitized always, and braved the cold to eat outside. This was big for me! As a person with real OCD, not cute TV show “I have to keep my pens straight” OCD, this would be the most exposure I’d had to a lot of uncontrollable variables since the pandemic started. If you’re thinking, “you get to spend a weekend downtown in a hotel with your mom, shut up”, know that I hear you. I am unbelievably grateful that I’ve gotten this time with my parents, and that we can do a staycation. However, having anxiety comes at a cost, and that cost is blowing everything way the fuck out of proportion instead of being able to rationalize it sometimes. Let’s! Normalize! Having! This! Discussion!

So, we went downtown in early March for a two-night stay, and oh my goodness. The realization that we got to be in a different space, and do different things, and eat different food for a weekend made it feel like a legit vacation, and not like we drove 30 minutes to get there. The view from our room was of Michigan Ave, and hearing the traffic and seeing the people out and about instantly made me feel a sense of peace I wasn’t expecting. I’ve lived downtown for 6 years, but it always shocks me how much the city feels like an extension of me once I’m in it after being away. My mom and I went out for a walk (gentle yet forceful reminder to please wear a mask), then decided to grab dinner while we were out. The plan was to bring it back to the room, but there was a warm spell, and there just happened to be a table for two at Topolobampo on Clark, and suddenly we were sitting on the patio under the lights eating masa quesadillas dipped in a spicy salsa verde. It just happened!!! 

Before getting downtown, I was tentatively looking at apartments for the spring. I was looking at Lincoln Park, Old Town, maybe Lakeview, and came across a listing in the Gold Cost that caught my eye. That one was swiped out from under me within days, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the area. Then I discovered another unit that was available, and couldn’t shake it from my mind. Over mushroom tacos I discussed it with my mom, and we decided to go see it. Totally not what I had been planning for in terms of location, but why not? 

Once we polished off breakfast the next morning (Eggs Benedict with fried eggs, extra hollandaise) we headed out to see the place. Let me say I have never seen my mom fall in love with a single apartment I’ve lived in, and she was ALL. FOR. IT. Unreal reaction on her part. Once I saw the west-facing views and the incredible natural lighting, I was 100% in as well.

We spent the rest of the weekend wandering the downtown area, enjoying another dinner outside at The Gwen and my mom’s first visit to the Starbucks Reserve Roastery, which was 95% more empty than I’ve ever seen it given we went in a pandemic at 8:30PM. Shit on Starbucks all you want, but that Roastery is an incredible use of space (in non-pandemic times) and the coffee & Princi pastries are really, really good. 

When we got back home feeling refreshed and like we had actually gone on a vacation, I jumped into apartment shark mode real fast and signed as many documents as the very kind realtor could send over. One week later, whabaam, I was a Gold Coast girl. Ahem, *lady*. What better way to celebrate than going to Somerset and having the Rapini & Roasted Garlic Flatbread and Wild Mushroom Risotto? No clue. As I sat outside, yet again with my mom, I felt a wave of excitement come over me and realized, this is it. This is the sign and feeling I’ve been waiting for, telling me it’s time to move back to the city and start over. The creamy, herbacious risotto also helped solidify that. 

SO. After all of that, the news is I’m moving, and you’re probably wondering why I shared all of this on a blog about food. I meant for this post to be about everywhere I ate during my staycation, but realized quickly we ate at some very basic places - DELICIOUS, but still basic. Oops. Below are all the dishes I had and a rundown of the flavors, textures, etc., however don’t expect to find any new, revolutionary restaurants. Sorry! 

1. Topolobampo 

This Rick Bayless restaurant has been around forever, and unfortunately, you can tell by the interior. We’ve eaten here as a family a couple of times before, but never had a noteworthy experience. I can confirm that in a pinch, the patio covered in fun lights & mini piñatas, and the sharable, filling bites will do just fine. This was my first time going to a Mexican restaurant as a non-alcohol drinker, and instead of my typical mezcal margarita, I opted for a Fresh Limeaide which was refreshing and flavorful. We split the Guacamole and Chips, which if you’ve ever stopped at the Frontera in O’Hare, you know is good as fuck. It’s smooth, creamy, tangy, and topped with chopped onions and cilantro for a little crunch. It’s not the most life-changing, but it is consistently satisfying. Next, we got the Mushroom Tacos and Masa Quesadillas. The Masa Quesadillas were a fun surprise, as instead of a tortilla, the masa is what makes up the outside. They are almost like empanadas and stuffed with gooey, melty cheese, and come with a spicy salsa verde on the side. I would come back for these alone - they’re rich yet light, warm, and comforting, all the things you would want when dining outside when it’s still a little chilly. The Mushroom Tacos were quite frankly unreal, because whatever they seasoned the mushroom slices with and grilled them on made them taste unlike any mushroom I’ve had before. There was definitely some meat crossover on the grill, so don’t order those if you’re vegan, or ask them to prepare the mushroom separately. I however was LOSING MY MIND. Over mushrooms. The joys of being vegetarian! 

2. The Gwen

On a happening Saturday night in Chicago, Upstairs at The Gwen is sure to be a packed scene. Located in River North, this hotel bar/restaurant offers a somehow cozy rooftop filled with loungey couches, fire pits, and ambient lighting, even though you’re surrounded by apartments and skyscrapers and there is nothing “cozy” about River North. Every table was filled, yet since you’re outside and it’s fairy spread apart, it still felt safe. I got my new classic, a Lemonade, and we got the Burrata to start. With sourdough, roasted beets, squash, pomegranate, pistachio, & arugula, this plate was nothing short of mouth-watering. It has textures! It has flavors! It has pomegranate seeds, the TikTok must have of the moment! The bread was 10/10, the burrata was 8/10, and all of the toppings made for a very find bite of salad on their own. For my main I got the Lobster Fettucine, a beautiful bowl of “charcoal fettuccine with saffron-tomato sauce, lobster, calabrian chili butter, and basil-brioche crumbs” as listed on their website. Take any of those ingredients and it’s going to be delicious, but all of them TOGETHER? INCREDIBLE. The chunks of lobster were huge, absolutely making the dish worth its price tag, and the sauce was flavorful, unique, and unlike any sauce I’ve tasted in the last few years. It’s typical to do a squid ink pasta with seafood and tomato sauce, but the saffron added a new element I very much appreciated. 

3. The Starbucks Roastery 

I KNOW. THIS IS A TOURIST DESTINATION. All I am saying is if there’s no line, go get an iced latte with two packets of sugar in the raw. That’s all. It’s really good after something like, I don’t know, Lobster Fettucine. 

4. The Penninsula 

You cannot go wrong with hitting up The Penninsula for breakfast or brunch, especially if you are staying there and have the option to do room service. Typically we would go to Pierrot Gourmet, the cafe in the ground floor of The Penninsula, however it has been closed temporarily. If there’s one thing to order with your breakfast, it’s the smashed fingerling potatoes. Delish. 

5. Somerset 

Somerset is becoming a quick go-to of mine for an impromptu dinner downtown, given it’s in the heart of Gold Coast and is cute if you’re sitting indoors or outdoors. The food is nothing too innovative, but it is done well, which is the most important part with “cuter” restaurants that may focus on the Instagram appeal over the food sometimes. Each time I’ve gone I’ve gotten the seasonal flatbread and a pasta or risotto, usually something with mushrooms, and it’s always been plate-licking good. To drink, I got -you guessed it- a Lemonade! For dinner I went with the Wild Mushroom Risotto which was everything you could hope for in a risotto, topped with olive oil, herbs, and local parmesan. We split the Rapini & Roasted Garlic Flatbread which was as it sounds, flatbread covered in rapini, garlic, and ricotta, which added a nice crunch and had enough rapini to feel like it was replacing a boring vegetable side dish or salad. The patio vibes were wonderful, the judgemental girls in the greenhouses looked like they were having a good time, and our waiter couldn’t have been sweeter. I will be going back to try the Fontina Arancini, which I just noticed on the menu. FRICK. 

So there you have it, a very long-winded explanation of the last few weeks of my life and where you can find me on a staycation in Chicago. Hopefully once I move back to the city I’ll have endless new spots to try and won’t be basic anymore! 

Until next time, Happy Eating!

-Natalie 

[redvanillabee]

Post-credit Scene – BBC Sherlock Series 4 VS Avengers: Infinity War

This is a postscript to my standalone MCU meta, Don’t Mourn - Avengers: Infinity War and the Five-Act Structure. The following piece can largely be understood without having first read the linked piece, but I do make small references back to the main meta. 

While I was unaware at first, Infinity War gives me a very strong sense of déjà vu. From the marketing to the plot to the fan reactions, it feels like something I’ve seen. And then it hit me:

Infinity War reminds me of BBC Sherlock Series 4.

Fan Theories and Reactions

The first thing about Infinity War that reminds me so much of Sherlock S4 is the fan theories and fan reactions. Both fandoms have similar expectations over what they might see in the show, but those expectations are similarly let down, and the reactions are almost identical.

1.      Character Deaths

If there is one thing that both the Sherlock fandom and the Marvel fandom are no strangers to, it is character deaths. Or more accurately, highly ambiguous character deaths that gets written over 15 minutes later, no one truly dies until they truly die, but are they really dead? Scientists can’t tell.

Prior to the release of both Infinity War and Sherlock S4, both fandoms expected character deaths – specifically, conclusive ones that will propel the story forward, launching the storyline into a new era. However, none of that happened in both fandoms.

The Marvel fandom is well aware of the impending end of the original Avengers, both in-text and outside of it. Many have expected Tony Stark to die, and pass the mantle on to Peter Parker. Another theory is that Steve Rogers would die in Infinity War, passing on the mantle of Captain America to Bucky or Sam. These theories make sense both textually and metatextually. Steve and Tony’s arcs are both mostly complete – their trilogies are complete, and they both seem to have hit rock bottom by the end of CACW. Metatextually, RDJ is ageing out of Stark, and Chris Evans’ contract with Marvel is about to expire, with the fandom well aware of his plan to not renew it. It makes sense for the story to be passed on to characters who are still fresh enough to the audience, and can carry on the MCU.

However, Infinity War does the exact opposite – it kills off anyone who could further the universe. Stephen Strange and T’Challa both only have one standalone film out; they could easily carry their own trilogies well into the 2020s.  In particular, with the critical acclaim of Black Panther, it makes no sense for T’Challa to die now. The Guardians of the Galaxy are not the most well-known Marvel characters, but they have made a name for themselves, and have an upcoming sequel. Not to mention Peter Parker, Marvel’s star superhero who has just returned to the Marvel Studios. He also has a sequel coming up in the Universe. There is no good reason why Marvel would kill him off at this point in the MCU.

Something similar happened to BBC Sherlock in Series 4. Characters who stand in the way of a story about Sherlock Holmes and John Watson just keep returning, seeming to hold back the development at every turn. Mary Morstan just will not go with a clean break.

While part of the original canon, for many, Mary Morstan is not important to the essence of the dynamics between Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. Many believe that for the show to continue to be about its titular character, for the story to carry on being a Sherlock Holmes story, Mary Morstan will have to literally or figuratively die, to be removed from the picture for the dynamics between John Watson and Sherlock Holmes to progress. Even Martin Freeman, who plays John Watson in the show,��feeds the theory. While Mary Morstan supposedly dies in Series 4 Episode 1, much like the ash-deaths in Infinity War, her death is highly ambiguous and inconclusive. For one, her death is ostensibly the opposite of what the show says a killing shot to the chest looks like. Besides, Mary Morstan lingers in the following episodes. She still intrudes upon John’s life (The Lying Detective), and even narrates John and Sherlock’s actions (The Final Problem). Even if Mary is physically dead, narratively she is not. She retains control over John and Sherlock’s journey, leaving the story unable to move forward. I will further explore this below.

Of course, there is also Jim Moriarty. He has supposedly died six years ago, in Series 2 Episode 3 The Reichenbach Fall. However, he just keeps showing up again and again, intruding upon the story. His recurring not-dead has become so iconic that it even makes it into late night comedy shows:

2.      Suspended in Time

In both Infinity War and Sherlock, characters who should be removed from the scene to allow the story to move forward, do not get removed. These inexplicable and problematic deaths lead to the same problem: the story comes to a standstill. This applies to both the Avengers and John and Sherlock.

As explained above, Infinity War comes to an abrupt pause at the ending. Unlike past Avengers films, where the endings typically point to a general direction in the future for the team, the Avengers stand around, motionless, in the fields of Wakanda. Their fight was futile, and there is no way forward. Likewise in the Soul Realm, Thanos is condemned to live with his regret over Gamora, apparently endlessly, in a liminal space where time does not seem to exist. At the end of the film, everything freezes, and comes to a stop.

BBC Sherlock takes that to an even more literal level. With Mary Morstan and Jim Moriarty never truly dying, they maintain their control over the narrative. Mary narrates John and Sherlock’s actions at the end of The Final Problem, claiming possession of them as her ‘Baker Street boys’, and Jim coming back to round off the supposed end of a show titled Sherlock in a post-credit cameo. John and Sherlock, unable to bring their story forward, are literally suspended in a standstill:

[x]

With a freeze frame where the two are frozen mid-air, the final frame of The Final Problem highlights the issue at the end of both Sherlock S4 and Infinity War: when those who should die to move the story forward don’t die, the story cannot go on; it becomes caught in a stalemate.

3.      You’re Not Exactly Wrong, But…

The MCU and Sherlock fandoms are prolific when it comes to fan theories. Before Infinity War, there have been several jokingly made fan theories that turn out quite close to the actual plot. For instance, there is the joke headcanon that Loki will pull the ‘transform into a snake’ trick  on Thanos, when the latter comes to take the Tesseract. This is actually not a million miles off from Loki’s attempt to kill Thanos when he surrenders the Tesseract, only Loki does not live to tell the story in the film version.

Likewise, with Sherlock, many have proposed fan theories that are mostly just jokes. For instance, before S4 aired, some joked that Rosie Watson, John Watson’s baby daughter, is a bag of guns and money. While the show does show a real, human baby, the subtext also implies that the fan theory may not be entirely wrong. With the Oscar Wilde references, the show does say that, at least metaphorically, the baby is a gun.

4.       Confused, Angry, Mourning

If the plots of Infinity War and Sherlock S4 are so similar in nature, you can expect the fan reaction to be somewhat identical as well. That is precisely what happened. Following the release of the new instalments, both fandoms are caught in a state of what I call ‘confused angry mourning’.

After The Final Problem and Infinity War, both fandoms were at a loss at what they just witnessed. What just happened? Both fandoms asked. What did we just witness?  The death roll, the plotlines, they all shocked the fans. The fans also did not hesitate to tear the shows apart. Many have dressed down The Final Problem as something “filmed in a spray painted cardboard box held together with duct tape with a spare camcorder found in someone’s basement”, or a cheap Saw parody. The MCU fandom frankly aren’t any less savage when it comes to Infinity War. I have lost count of the number of times I have seen someone call Thanos a ‘giant grape’ (or other purple fruits). It would also appear that even Taika Waititi, director of Thor: Ragnarok (2017), is not too kind about the Infinity Gauntlet either:

[x]

And the fans were angry. They were angry at the futility of the characters’ strife. What was the point of Thor fighting so hard to preserve the population of Asgard, to save Heimdall, to save Loki, if all are just going to be thrown away in the first five minutes of Infinity War, leaving him with ‘nothing to lose’? What is the point of proving that Thor can demonstrate his powers without the Mjolnir, only to insert a plot point about him getting a battle axe? What is the point of Steve turning on the whole world to save Bucky, only to have Bucky wiped from the world by Thanos? What is the point of everything?

The Sherlock fans were just as angry. Series 4 defeated points made by the show itself in previous series, or what the showrunners said about the show. For instance, as mentioned above, while the show made a huge point in His Last Vow about how a killing shot to the chest does not look like what one would see in a Hollywood movie, that is exactly what happens to Mary Morstan in The Six Thatchers. The show’s treatment of Doyle’s The Adventure of the Three Garridebs is also the complete opposite of what Steven Moffat, one of the show’s writers, said about the original story. Even within Series 4 itself, the episodes were contradicting each other. At the end of The Lying Detective, John Watson gives a lengthy monologue about how ‘romantic entanglement’ would complete Sherlock as a person. That is quickly overturned in The Final Problem, where the argument appears to be filial love is what Sherlock needs. The list goes on and on.  

On top of it all, the fans mourned. It is quite straightforward for the Marvel fandom – they mourned those who die or disappear. They mourn for Gamora, Bucky, Loki, Sam Wilson, and more. They mourned the futility of Thor’s struggles, and the little time Steve gets to spend with Bucky. For the Sherlock fandom, the mourning was a little more meta. They mourned the apparent descent into nonsense of their favourite show. For the Johnlockers, they mourn the apparent missed opportunity of canon Johnlock. Across the two fandoms, mourning reigned the immediate aftermath.

5.       Going Backwards

Perhaps most alarming of all, the Sherlock fandom and the MCU fandom came to the same theory following their respective shows: we need to look at the shows backwards.

For the Sherlock side, this comes quite directly from the showrunners. Mark Gatiss, one of the writers for Sherlock, said that he had the cast read the script in reverse order during the first table-reads. From there, the fandom works The Six Thatchers backwards, trying to come up with a version that makes sense. For instance, some suggest that a reverse TST could support the Alibi Theory, the theory that the messy sequence of events in the episode is a cover story for John and/or Sherlock having killed Mary, rather than Vivian Norbury.

The MCU fandom came to this theory, impressively, with less input from the showrunners. For instance, there is  the theory that ‘we’re looking at infinity war [sic] all backwards’. Their reasoning, similar to what I have argued above, is firstly that there is no sense in Infinity War killing off characters that carry future films, while letting characters played by those whose contracts are about to expire stay alive. Citing the power of the Soul Stone in the Marvel comics, the meta goes on to argue that for the universe (both in-text and the Cinematic Universe) to continue, it could depend on who got turned to ash, rather than who is remaining on earth, forming the new Avengers as they avenge themselves in the Soul Realm. Their fight against Thanos in the Soul Realm, they argue, could be the alternative Battle of New York that cemented the original Avengers.

It is interesting how in both fandoms, going backwards can explain and further both stories. The apparent finale in both Infinity War and Sherlock S4 are the beginning if we reverse the order. Incidentally, this ‘going backwards’ fits in nicely with John Yorke’s storytelling model, where to complete the story arc, you need to bring it back to the thesis, returning to the original theme, only now better negotiated and better tested.

6.       Let the Conspiracy Begin

Beyond fan theories, beyond fan reactions, if there is one thing that ties the MCU fandom to the Sherlock fandom after Infinitiy War and Series 4, it is this: the conspiracy wall.

Sherlock is famous (or notorious) for its tie to the word and the concept of conspiracy. From plans to take down the government, to discussing conspiracy theorists, the show does not shy away from the topic. Within the fandom, there is even a subset of fans known as The Johnlock Conspiracy, or TJLC for short.

TJLC is perhaps best known for their many, many metas analysing the show. From the metaphors, subtextual symbols, to the lines and the soundtrack, TJLC thoroughly examines the show to find a clear overarching theme across episodes, across the ‘crime of the week’s. The showrunners of Sherlock appear to be aware of this theorising fanbase, writing them into the show via multiple proxies throughout the seasons, and even have Sherlock directly address ‘the heart of the conspiracy’ in The Abominable Bride (2016). In Series 4, the show even parodied the conspiracy wall scene from It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia in one of its promotional pictures:

[x]

It would appear, that following Infinity War, the MCU fandom has turned into something akin to TJLC:

[x]

7.       Missing Scenes

Above, I have outlined how key characters that were spotted on set of Infinity War are ostensibly missing in the final product: from the casting call for two-year-old twins, to the ostensible absence of Clint Barton and Scott Lang. In an interesting turn of events, MCU is not alone in mysterious absence of known scenes and content.

Following Sherlock S4, viewers have gone back to review known Setlock (behind the scenes) moments. They found many instances where content that were supposedly filmed for Series 4 are missing from the actual product. Most notably, during SDCC 2016, Benedict Cumberbatch said  he had 29 pages worth of a monologue in the latest series; as many viewers will have noticed, that monologue does not appear in the show at all. Even his Shakespeare soliloquy in The Lying Detective is a heavily cut-down version; it could not have been the 29-page version that he talked about at the panel. Besides, overseas Setlock, such as what they filmed at Niagara Falls, also failed to make it into the final product.

Again, as I said above, it is perfectly normal for filmed content to be cut during post-production. However, based on the information available to the fandom regarding the filming process, Infinity War and Sherlock S4 will have cut out significant chunks – AIW will have removed two key characters, one of whom is carrying his own sequel following the premiere of Infinity War; on the other hand, the Sherlock crew will have deleted a significant monologue, as well as content specially made overseas.

#ThanosDemandsYourSilence

It is natural for showrunners to protect the plot of their unaired content. However, in the age of social media, people have far more reason to fear fellow fans spoiling the show, than the showrunners or the press themselves giving away major plot points. Hence, we see efforts to curtail fan spoilers. Shortly before the global premiere of Infinity War, Marvel Studios launched one last round of marketing. With the cast locked in interrogation rooms and Tom Holland’s mouth duct-taped shut, Marvel informs the world that Thanos demands your silence.

[x]

As previously said, given the scale of the fandom and the content of Infinity War, it is no surprise that Marvel will do everything they can to ensure that everything is under wraps. However, the tone of the tweet and the hashtag reminds me of something…

On 13th and 14th January, 2017, with the premiere of Sherlock Series 4 Episode 3: The Final Problem on the horizon, the episode was leaked on a Russian website. The show, as expected, rushed to damage control on social media. In particular, there is the tweet from the official Sherlock account:

[x]

While the circumstances are different, I would argue that #KeepMeSpoilerFree is very similar to #ThanosDemandYourSilence in terms of tone.

Even though Infinity War and Sherlock S4 are hardly the final instalments, this secrecy certainly gives it an air of finality. Which leads me onto the final similarity across the two fandoms…

The End is Nigh

Thanks to what we know about the MCU, we know that Infinity War is not the final Avengers film; there is Infinity War Part II coming up. Similarly, thanks to Amy’s meta BBC Sherlock: A Drama in Five Acts, we know Sherlock Series 4 is not the final season. However, both shows did not shy away from creating a sense of finality in the promotional material.

Take, for instance, the trailers. Trailers for both Sherlock S4 and Infinity War keep hammering on the idea that this is their final chance, this is their last hope. The Sherlock trailer insists that, as opposed to the game being ‘on’, ‘it’s not a game anymore’. It reiterates that ‘everything they know will be tested, everyone they know is under threat’. Infinity War echoes these sentiments, asserting that ‘you will know what it’s like to lose’, that the fans will know what it is like ‘to feel so desperately that you’re right, but to fail all the same’. Most importantly, they ask: ‘where will you be when it all ends?’

The cast is all too keen to join in the hype. Chris Evans, when asked about Infinity War, says ‘it’s really gonna take the cake’. Which is, I would argue, very similar to what Amanda Abbington (Mary Morstan) says about Series 4 being something ‘groundbreaking’ that will make ‘television history’.

 The similarities between Infinity War and Sherlock S4 seem farfetched or cherry-picked at first. However, when you consider how Sherlock S4 is also the fourth act in a five-act structure, the shared elements seem less like inter-fandom musings, and more like something dictated by the narrative structure.

This really will not be the first time Sherlock and the MCU mirror each other, though.

Author’s Notes:

If at certain point of this piece it reads like I am explaining TJLC to those who are not in the game, it is because well, originally that was the intention. This meta was originally attached to Don’t Mourn, which I linked to at the beginning of this piece. As advised by my two betas, I published this part separately because it was not too closely related to the main meta. 

[bennoda-n-cheese]

Time Cannot Heal Me

Too much time has passed, too soon to try and mend wounds which cannot be mended. Every morning you wake you come to the realization that he’s gone, still. Snapping you back into the seat of life you’re not ready for. A small piece, a weak fragment of your heart hopes when you wake he’ll be there. He’d be alive and it was only a dark nightmare your brain had set into play while you dreamed, texting you to see if you wanna go to lunch or work on fresh ideas in the studio or life would be normalized that maybe the pressure off your chest would release you from it’s breaking grasp. The thing about losing others is no matter how many people you’ve lost certain people leave stronger feelings on you. You cannot brace yourself, no matter how many scenarios you set or thoughts you’ve only thought of in the dark. It hurts; like punches to the gut, repeating blows before you can process, making your legs weak and your heart hurt. Like scorching flames kissing your insides and making your headspin in dizzy rotations. You try not to think about it, about him. You even ignore the band for now, all of you do. No one blames you, it’s harder now more than ever. Everyone takes a reluctant but healthy step back, to focus more on their home lives, kiss their children more and love their wives a little harder. It’s clinging to anything to make the hurt less horrid. You focus on Anna and Otis, grounding yourself physically and mentally. It’s easier when the hurt comes in waves on beaches instead of tsunamis. Time is suppose to heal all wounds, but you don’t think it will heal yours.

A new activity you’ve picked up is late night walks, you never use to before but the City of Angels never sleeps and apparently neither can you. The wind is always warm, a mild breeze on your face, making you smell the city in every store you pass. All the shops and eateries you both spent time in, making memories, midnight walks during those precious hybrid theory days; both of you far too happy and joyful, staggering your way back from bars, his thin tattooed arm thrown over your shoulder for support, while your arm held firmly around his warm waist. You remember as you walk through the dirt paths of the park the first time you realized you loved him, so much more than you could be able to comprehend. Cigarette shoved between his slim, soft lips, a bright orange glow reflecting off his features in the dark, you didn’t like him smoking but tonight it was different. Both you and Chester sat at a dirty bench in the area, old, creaking wood supporting both your weights. Sitting so close your knees touch and shoulders bump. You smell the acrid, gray swirls of smoke escape his lips as he tells you something Joe told him last week that made him laugh. You find that joy and youthfulness in his eyes as he recalls the humorous joke, both of you laughing. Jokes were exchanged for some time. Only after the cigarette was finally extinguished under Chester’s boot, you realized the growing silence. The only source of light was a park light which glowed a dull yellow, casting various shadows over the both of you, He looked beautiful, like an angel. Dyed blonde spikes looking golden in the faint light above. The closeness between bodies became noticeable, you believe in that moment a lot did.

“I feel happy.” He stated a half smile working its way unto his face, leaning back on the bench more, sliding himself into a lazy and comfortable position. You watch him before letting out your own smile, ignoring the kisses of color coming to your cheeks. “Yeah?” You ask slightly surprised as you quirk a brow at him, fixing yourself into a similar fashion, all the while watching his eyes closed behind his glasses. He nods, slowly, alcohol fresh in his system not making its way through just yet. “Yeah man!” Chester confirms optimistically, his smile is wider and he shifts slightly, looking at you with those dazzling, big, brown eyes. You feel yourself sink into them, unwilling to run away from the intense gaze. “Moving here and doing what we do is the most fun I’ve probably had in like…forever.” He pauses at the end of the sentence, gesturing absently with one of his hands until the word comes to him. Your smile never ceases as you chuckle warmly, he follows suit. “Honestly Chaz having you here is the most fun I’ve ever had in a long time. It’s always nice to talk with you and meeting you have really made an impact on me…and the band!” Maybe your words are partially slurred and perhaps too many emotions were coming into play, saving yourself with the last part. His smile is softer, maybe the alcohol is to blame but you swear you see his cheeks, ears and neck touch into pale pink tones. “Thank you Mikey.” It’s genuine, laced with something else you couldn’t figure out. He looks so soft, you desperately wanna kiss him, just once. You wanna feel Chester’s hands on your skin and act on things you’ve tried to ignore. The closeness is recognized again, deciding to move yourself away playing your cards right for now. Chester realizes what you’re doing and before you know it a hand stops your own and just like that you feel frozen.

He slowly sits up more, looking more timid and nervous than you feel. “Mike,” The blonde haired man starts, much softer than earlier. “Can I try something?” Your heart pumps faster, making your head rush and your palms damp. Your blush is probably recognizable now, even past the shadows and dull light fixture. He knows. “Y-Yeah…” You confirm just as silent as he sounded. Chester nods, shifting closer to you. Panic and excitement spark through you like a circuit board, his eyes are wild, nervous. You grip his thin hand in yours gently, a silent reassurance. He looks more bold now, leaning in so close to you, breaths mingle; the smell of cheap smokes and alcohol float from the both of you. Chester leans in the rest of the way, slowly tilting his head as your lips meet, it’s a shy exchange of love. You kiss back gently, feeling both of your fingers lacing while his other hand rest on your chest, your hands sit on the fabric of his hoodie covering his shoulders. Giving soft squeezes as you feel him relax. It ends too quickly for you and him. The singer pulls away cautiously, shifting back to the other end of the cramped space. “Thank you.” Voice faint as it leaves his lips. You only nod, wanting of him now more than ever. Your skin itches for Chester Bennington, his body and his grace. Leaning towards him you repeat his own question back to him. “Can I try something Chaz?” Your voice is warm and stronger this time, a lion waking from its slumber, ready to let out a mighty roar.  He’s cute when he’s caught off guard, more open and expressive. “Please.” Chester’s voice is more bold, lacing with gingerly handled notes as you cup his face, bringing your kiss back into full fledged warmth. His eyelids flutter shut and your eyes soon follow. The kiss is deeper this time, warmer than the summer and more sacred than tombs. Only you both will know, only you both.

The bench is newer and colder now when your eyes open, chocolate eyes taking in the scene before you. The overhead light is now bright white, better taken care of compared to seventeen years ago. You’re tired, checking your phone it is now 4:16am. Your body feels the push and sway of memories you weren’t expecting, snatching your energy away with it’s fading time. You feel like he’s watching you, maybe he is. Endlessly putting others before himself even in death his spirit won’t rest to lend a hand. Standing slowly you feel your back pop, letting out a soft grunt as you start your way back home, your legs aimlessly guiding you. Giving one last glance back at that bench you swear you see him. A younger him; all blonde hair and lip piercing, too big clothes and boyish features. He’s staring at you, smiling that grin that made you weak so many moons ago. You blink a few times and there’s no one, once again another piece is deflated and falling away as you see nothing but the air. It says time heals all wounds but you don’t think it can heal yours. You don’t think it ever will.

[eldanbct]

Transferal Brief & Manifesto

Identifying the Problem:

In our modern age, the changing dynamic of technology as a means for communication, has meant we are now connected, yet equally disconnected from each other on an interpersonal level. Through exploration, we hope to understand how the introduction of technology ands its social mediums has impacted the quality, context, intention and language of human interactions through digital platforms. Human interactions in how we communicate, the attention we give to others, and how we allow ourselves to be seen through social media.

“If you think about it, our attention is the only thing we truly own in our lives . . . Unfortunately, with today’s technology, our attention is being pulled in more directions than ever before, which makes this optioning of our own attention more difficult — and more important — than ever before.”

Mark Manson, 2017 (https://markmanson.net/Smartphones)

This being an extremely prevalent issue in society yet also relatable to us on a personal level, we aim to highlight this movement by engaging audiences through an interactive novelty experience. We envision achieving this by integrating different disciplines and practices. Marrying digital and physical mediums could take the form of:

- A tangible or performative installation. Implementing physical computing with the use of arduino, mechatronics and resources available from the 3D labs.

- Interactive projection, incorporating practices such as motion capture, distortion of projections, developing on our programming skills.

By making it live and interactive, as opposed to a static display, we are promoting active feedback. Inverting the role of the audience from observer to participator. This takes on the principle stated in the Chinese proverb, “Tell me and I’ll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I’ll understand”.

While we see this as an opportunity to explore and learn about a range of platforms to use, a transdisciplinary approach allows us to draw on the strengths of the individual mediums, adding versatility to the overall scope of the final project. This reflects the nature of communication and conversation, which is expressed through multiple ways. Therefore we believe an effective commentary cannot be presented through a singular medium.

“The medium is the message. This is merely to say that the personal and social consequences of any medium—that is, of any extension of ourselves—result from the new scale that is introduced into our affairs by each extension of ourselves, or by any new technology.”  - Marshall Mcluhan

Justification of our group formation

Our group Transferal consists of

Sheena Alex Talia Samy Daniel

Between the 5 of us we have a broad spectrum of skills in the realm of visual ((((LANGUAGE?))), from animation, video editing and all the way to graphic design, our group has had experience with different forms of visual communication which eases the idea of creating a multiplatform experience in the future of our project.

Moving away from our skillsets, from the get go majority of us found each other in a practice group with similar ideas across movement that could be integrated and related back to each to complement an experience.

Although our ideas were relatable, at the time of this it was during speed dating, a week before groups would actually be concrete. Looking for individuals that have similar ideas was great but after having some knowledge of majority of our peers work ethic I did have some peers I would rather work with than others. Broadening who I worked with has been a breath of fresh air, collaborating with new faces and getting their perspectives on different issues has been eye opening. I would say when looking for a group during this exercise I found that work ethic proved to be more valuable than a an individuals great idea, between 4 or more people, if everyone is willing to input during the concept and brainstorming stage there is no doubt in my mind that looking specifically for “creative” group members is an issue.

This studio is a semester long project which means it’s a marathon not a sprint. A group with great work ethic and is willing to accept everyones input/ideas will greatly benefit more than opposed to a group that is high creative and struggles to turn up to studio or communicate efficiently (as examples)

From my experience and basic knowledge of everyone in studio, our group consists of high motivated and keen members looking to benefit and gain knowledge from each other for the next years to come.

[high-fructose-lesbianism]

The 5 Best and 5 Worst songs from 2016’s Billboard Top 100 Singles

The 5 Best Singles

5. When We Were Young- Adele (#83)

Adele is always great. Lyrically, this isn’t necessarily one of Adele’s best efforts. Compared to some of her other songs, it can be a little clunky but saying that, it’s still fucking Adele. She’s a great songwriter, a better singer and always a breath of fresh air within the pop charts. 

4. I Hate U, I Love U- gnash ft. Olivia O’Brien (#38)

Apparently this is a bad song. I’m sorry for it being here. I will admit that once I learned what gnash looked like, I doubted his sincerity slightly more than when I was just going off the song. But gnash is the weaker part of the song and wholly secondary, the star here is Olivia O’Brien. She is a beautiful singer who manages to evoke emotion in her singing which I see increasingly rarely from these sort of upcoming female singers. I find that Olivia O’Brien seems to actually have an understanding of the lyrics she’s singing as opposed to either singing them slowly to sound sad or just doing unnecessary vocal runs. 

More and more I am finding emotional pop ballads come across flat for me. It’s something that I complain about with the 50′s charts and I find there’s a resurgence in this day and age. Increasingly more of these slow, indie ballads come off artificial or lacking any emotion at all. This one isn’t. Mostly due to the work of Olivia O’Brien, this is a song that not only sounds like the singers have a grasp of human emotion but it sounds personal. I am looking forward to hearing more from Olivia O’Brien because she has sincerity in her singing that I am finding increasingly scarce.

3. Ex’s and Oh’s- Elle King (#63)

This is a rechart from 2015 where it didn’t even make my shortlist but this year was worse so here it is, 3rd best song of the year. Admittedly it maybe should’ve made my shortlist in 2015. I do love me a maneater song.

More than that, I love some country music that sounds a little dirty and grungy. It’s all so clean and pretty usually. Both in subject matter and arrangement, this song is a bit grittier. It’s still definitely country-lite but the non-country influences here are rock as much as they are pop (and not at all rap) and these influences combine brilliantly to make a song about the promiscuity of Rob Schneider’s daughter.

2. Hello- Adele (#7)

Adele is better than you. She’s also better than every single indie upcoming artist who sings their songs at one quarter speed to evoke sadness. Adele doesn’t coast like that. Much as Adele’s voice is great technically, what makes her truly brilliant is her ability to inject every syllable of her lyrics with emotion. It is perhaps foolish to hope for sincerity coming from the pop charts but if songs that require sincerity are charting, I don’t think it’s too much too much to ask that they be sung by competent performers. Adele is so far beyond competent.

1. Sorry- Beyonce (#71)

The theme of my top list year seems to be a demand for sincerity and believability from the performers. Again, the pop charts are probably not the place to do this and I would make my life easier if I just enjoyed the work of Flo Rida or similar for whom sincerity is less of a problem. Sadly, I am pretentious. Luckily, Beyonce.

Lemonade is an amazing fucking album and “Sorry” is a great single to represent that album. This song is simultaneously intensely personal and yet remains relatable. In “Sorry”, Beyonce managed to walk the fine line of being a superstar and diva but also making music that speaks to her fans. It worked. This song is an inspiration, instead of Beyonce being so far removed from the average person’s life experiences, instead she comes across as an inspiration of what to do. When confronted with a cheating lover, Beyonce has given us not only a song to listen to during that hard time but an inspirational template of how to act.

This song is a bit of a slow burn, the first verse being rather discordant and impersonal and it just builds and builds in quality and personal details to the point that the last verse becomes the best individual verse of 2016.

The 5 Worst Singles

5. All In My Head (Flex)- Fifth Harmony ft. Fetty Wap (#93)

This is not a song I care about sincerity with. What I do care about is that this is a club song that you can’t dance to, nor is it a song about sex that you can fuck to. I just don’t see any occasion in which this song would work at.

Vocally, the members of Fifth Harmony are all over the place. Whoever is singing the second verse I find particularly grating. And then there’s Fetty Wap who I cannot make out a single word from. It really sounds like he stumbled in drunk and ruined their recording session but then they kept it in for some fucking reason (Presumably because he’s the only performer in this song who has any personality).

Lyrically, this song is repetitive. It only has the one verse and other than the brief, out of place interlude from Fetty Wap, that is the only thing to interrupt the bridge and chorus. The repetition of the verse makes one particular lyric stand out all the more-- “so tongue and cheek when we’re laying on roses.” What does that mean? That is not a sentence that makes sense and it drives me fucking mental. It sounded a lot like tongue-in-cheek which is confusing to begin with and they should’ve been aware of that when writing. Even now that I know it’s tongue and cheek, it’s a still a weak and borderline nonsensical lyric. I would’ve given it a pass if it was just one throw-away line in a verse but because the song repeats said verse, here we are. If you’re only gonna have one verse to your song, at least make all the lyrics half-decent. 

5. 7 Years- Lukas Graham (#12)

This song is insufferably arrogant. Saying that, I marked comparatively low because at least they were trying. Lukas Graham probably spent months perfecting this song and I respect their work ethic. Too bad that if anything “7 Years” is overwritten and overproduced. 

Again, my thing here is the sincerity. In this case I think the lack of it comes from how overwritten the lyrics are. Any seed of truth and raw emotion was left seven drafts behind. Now all we have is this obnoxious, soulless song that’s sung by a performer who not only hasn’t mastered how to apply emotion to his songs but also hasn’t mastered the basic art of singing. There is nothing redeeming about this song. It’s so arrogant and self-serving, not nearly as personal and emotional as they clearly think it is and the lead singer’s voice is insufferable. Lukas Graham can kindly fuck off back to Denmark.

3. Timmy Turner- Desiigner (#98)

Admittedly, “Timmy Turner” is acting as more of a poster child for the mumble-rap genre in general. I’m not a fan. It’s like the unholy mating of the inarticulation of crunk rap of 2004 and the lazy beats and general no-fun of the T-Pain-esque autotune 2008 era. 

These songs just sound lazy. Much as “7 Years” was overwritten, “Timmy Turner” could go through at least one more lyrical draft before they went into the recording studio. I don’t find the stream of consciousness style that these raps hold to be appealing, I find it lazy.

Of course, I’m sort of guessing that the lyrics are bad because I can understand so few of them. “Timmy Turner” and other mumble rap songs genuinely give me anxiety about the well-being of the performers both in the moment and in a long-term sort of way. The performers just sound so incredibly, dangerously intoxicated.

“Timmy Turner” had to become the poster child and 3rd worst song of the year because it most clearly expressed my overall problem with the mumble rap genre. Timmy Turner sounds like a party that’s not fun anymore. One of those parties where you’ve been there for hours and it’s now 4 in the morning and everyone’s gone from fun and lively drunk to sad/angry drunk and someone’s throwing up in the bathroom. That is what “Timmy Turner” sounds like, a party you regret not leaving hours sooner. The discussion and depiction of intoxication comes across as so bleak that I can’t see how anyone enjoys listening to this music.

2. Watch Me (Whip/ Nae Nae)- Silento (#88)

I will say, as bad as this year is, I find it reliving that this song is still second worst. As I said last year about “Watch Me”, this song is so bad it makes me miss Soulja Boy. That’s pretty much all I have to say on this issue.

1. Me Too- Meghan Trainor (#62)

On top of being obnoxious, this song is inexcusably lazy. Much as Rihanna’s Work is also a pretty lazy song, Rihanna’s been doing this 10 years now and is allowed to phone one in. This is only Meghan Trainor’s second album and fifth major single. You can’t afford to get this spectacularly lazy with your output so early in the game. For fuck’s sake, the beat sounds like noises you make with your mouth to amuse a child. None of Trainor’s vocal talent is on display and in place we have obvious rhymes and an instrumental chorus that’s more sad than it is catchy or danceable. Not only am I confused why this is a song, but why the fuck was this a single? Was this seriously one of the notable tracks on her new album? If singles are supposed to be advertisements for the album as a whole, this is a terrible one because the thought that this is one of the strongest songs from said album is terrifying. This song should’ve been like track 10 on a 12 track album, one of the filler tracks. Much as this song never should have been recorded, it sure as hell should never have been released as a single. This song is embarrassing and I hope Meghan Trainor and everyone else associated with it feel embarassed every day about its existence.

Other Observations on this List

Like 2016 in general, this top 100 was bad and made me sad

I’d like to take a moment of silence for some songs that should’ve been top 100 hits but weren’t

Lazarus- David Bowie (or any and all given songs from Black Star)

Formation- Beyonce (or any additional songs from Lemonade)

The Greatest- Sia ft. Kendrick Lamar (Sia’s better single of the year)

Either Equal Rights (ft. P!nk) or Finest Girl (Bin Laden Song) by The Lonely Island (because we’ve had viral comedy hits chart before and holy shit, “Finest Girl” is the funniest thing)

WTF (Where They From) ft. Pharrell Williams- Missy Elliott

Genghis Khan- Miike Snow (in a better year, this would’ve been a sleeper hit that became song of the summer)

As I sort of mentioned, mumble rap was the most defining genre of the year

If I had not already been through this, I would be worried about the direction pop music is going because I really don’t like the mumble rap. But like the terribleness that was 2008-era autotune rap, this too shall pass

Other than mumble rap, there was a lot of slow, emotional R&B or acoustic songs of which I did not buy the sincerity

Perfect is One Direction’s best single and that kind of bums me out because Zayn was my favourite member of One Direction and this was released after he left

I still can’t believe we’re letting The Chainsmokers have a career

I don’t like 21 Pilots. I don’t understand the appeal.

[kansascityhappenings]

Global coronavirus deaths top 200,000 as some virus lockdowns relaxed

ATLANTA — As the global death toll from the coronavirus surpassed 200,000 on Saturday, countries and some U.S. states took cautious steps toward easing lockdowns imposed amid the pandemic. At the same time, fears of a surge in infections made even some outbreak-wounded businesses reluctant to reopen.

The states of Georgia, Oklahoma and Alaska started loosening restrictions on businesses despite warnings from experts that such steps might be premature.

Shawn Gingrich, CEO and founder of Lion’s Den Fitness, decided after the Georgia governor’s announcement that his Atlanta gym would remain closed for now.

“We’ve sacrificed so much already,” Gingrich said. “I feel like if we do this too soon, we’ll see a spike in cases and we’re back to square one.”

Others were eager to get back to business with precautions. Russ Anderson, who owns four tattoo studios in south Georgia, said he “couldn’t get up out of [his] chair quick enough” when restrictions were lifted. His main shop served 50 or 60 customers Friday when it reopened, with customers and tattoo artists wearing masks, he said.

The worldwide death toll was more than 202,000, according to a count by John Hopkins University from government figures. The actual death toll is believed to be far higher due to insufficient reporting.

India reopened neighborhood stores that many of the country’s 1.3 billion people rely on for everything from beverages to mobile phone data cards. But the relaxed rules didn’t apply to hundreds of quarantined towns and other places hit hardest by the outbreak that has killed at least 775 people in the country where many poor live in slums too crowded for social distancing.

Shopping malls also stayed closed nationwide. Still, for owners of small stores, being allowed to open again brought relief.

“This is a good decision,” Amit Sharma, an architect, said. “We have to open a few things and let the economy start moving. The poor people should have some source of income. This virus is going to be a long-term problem.”

India also allowed manufacturing and farming to resume in rural areas last week to ease the economic plight of millions left jobless by the March 24 lockdown. The restrictions have allowed people out of their homes only to buy food, medicine or other essentials.

Elsewhere in Asia, authorities reported no new deaths Saturday for the 10th straight day in China, where the virus originated. South Korea reported just 10 fresh cases, the eighth day in a row its daily increase was under 20. There were no new deaths for the second straight day.

Underscoring the unknowns about the virus, the World Health Organization said “there is currently no evidence” that people who have recovered from COVID-19 cannot fall sick again.

Some countries extended or tightened restrictions, confirming a pattern of caution.

Sri Lanka had partially lifted a monthlong daytime curfew in more than two thirds of the country. But it reimposed a 24-hour lockdown countrywide until Monday after a surge of 46 new infections, its highest daily increase.

Norway extended until at least Sept. 1 its ban on events with more than 500 participants.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Spaniards will be allowed to leave their homes for short walks and exercise starting May 2 after seven weeks of strict home confinement, though he said “maximum caution will be our guideline.”

“We must be very prudent because there is no manual, no roadmap to follow,” he said.

Kids in Spain will get their first fresh air in weeks when a ban on letting them outside is relaxed starting Sunday. After 44 days indoors, they’ll be allowed out for adult-supervised one-hour excursions no farther than 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) from home. They will not be permitted to play with others, and some nervous parents shopped online for child-size masks for them.

“I really want to get outside, and Ema does as well,” Madrid resident Eva Novilo said of her 7-year-old daughter. But Novilo predicted “difficult situations” if they see her friends and have to stay apart. “I don’t know if we will be able to maintain control.”

Belgium sketched out plans for a progressive lockdown relaxation starting May 4 with the resumption of nonessential treatment in hospitals and the reopening of textile and sewing shops to make face masks.

In Italy, where restrictions also will be eased May 4, authorities warned against abandoning social distancing practices as millions return to work. Free masks will be distributed to nursing homes, police, public officials and transportation workers. Workers painted blue circles on Rome’s subway platforms to remind people to keep their distance when commuters return.

The country continues to have Europe’s highest death toll, with 26,384. The 415 deaths registered in the 24-hour period that ended Saturday evening was the lowest toll since Italy registered 345 on March 17, but only five fewer than Friday.

With gatherings banned, Italians celebrated the 75th anniversary of their liberation from occupation forces in World War II, emerging on balconies or rooftops at the same time to sing a folk song linked to resistance fighters.

Britain held off on changes to its lockdown as the virus-related death toll in hospitals topped 20,000. The figure doesn’t include deaths in nursing homes, likely to be in the thousands.

In France, the government prepared to ease one of Europe’s strictest lockdowns from May 11. The health minister detailed plans to scale up testing to help contain any new flare-ups.

Testing shortages also are a problem in Brazil, Latin America’s largest nation, which is veering closer to becoming a pandemic hot spot.

Officials in Rio de Janeiro and four other major cities warned that their hospital systems are on the verge of collapse or already overwhelmed. In Manaus, the biggest city in the Amazon, officials said they have been forced to dig mass graves in a cemetery. Workers have been burying 100 corpses a day — triple the pre-virus average.

Along with Georgia, Oklahoma allowed salons, spas and barbershops to reopen, while Alaska cleared the way for restaurants to resume dine-in service and retail shops and other businesses to open their doors, all with limitations. Some Alaska municipalities chose to keep stricter rules.

Though limited in scope, and subject to social-distancing restrictions, the reopenings marked a symbolic milestone in the debate raging in the United States and beyond as to how quickly political leaders should lift economically devastating lockdown orders.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, infectious diseases chief at the National Institutes of Health, on Saturday stressed a step-wise approach to reopening economies, with restrictions gradually lifted as areas reach certain milestones.

“Any attempt to leapfrog over these almost certainly will result in a rebound, and then we can set ourselves back,” Fauci told an online meeting of the National Academy of Sciences.

A survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found Americans overwhelmingly support stay-at-home measures and other efforts to prevent the spread of the virus.

In Texas, where retailers are allowed to sell items for curbside pickup, Allison Scott said most customers of her women’s clothing store in a Dallas shopping mall seem to feel more comfortable ordering online.

“I want to be open more than anything but I don’t think that society is ready to come out either,” she said.

from FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports https://fox4kc.com/tracking-coronavirus/global-coronavirus-deaths-top-200000-as-some-virus-lockdowns-relaxed/

from Kansas City Happenings https://kansascityhappenings.wordpress.com/2020/04/26/global-coronavirus-deaths-top-200000-as-some-virus-lockdowns-relaxed/

[vsplusonline]

Global coronavirus death toll hits 200,000 as some lockdowns eased

New Post has been published on https://apzweb.com/global-coronavirus-death-toll-hits-200000-as-some-lockdowns-eased/

Global coronavirus death toll hits 200,000 as some lockdowns eased

As the global death toll from the coronavirus surpassed 200,000 on Saturday, countries took cautious steps toward easing lockdowns imposed amid the pandemic, but fears of a surge in infections made even some outbreak-wounded businesses reluctant to reopen.

The states of Georgia, Oklahoma and Alaska started loosening restrictions on businesses despite warnings from experts that such steps might be premature.

Shawn Gingrich, CEO and founder of Lion’s Den Fitness, decided after the Georgia governor’s announcement that his Atlanta gym would remain closed for now.

“We’ve sacrificed so much already,” Gingrich said. “I feel like if we do this too soon, we’ll see a spike in cases and we’re back to square one.”

Others were eager to get back to business, with precautions. Russ Anderson, who owns a tattoo studio in south Georgia, said he “couldn’t get up out of my chair quick enough” when restrictions were lifted. His main shop served 50 or 60 customers Friday when it reopened, with customers and tattoo artists wearing masks, he said.

The worldwide death toll was at 201,907 as of Saturday afternoon, according to a tally compiled by John Hopkins University from government figures. The actual death toll is believed to be far higher.

India reopened neighborhood stores that many of the country’s 1.3 billion people rely on for everything from beverages to mobile phone data cards. But the loosening didn’t apply to hundreds of quarantined towns and other places hit hardest by the outbreak that has killed at least 775 people in the country where many poor live in slums too crowded for social distancing.

Shopping malls also stayed closed nationwide. Still, owners of small stores, being allowed to open again brought relief.

“This is a good decision,” said Amit Sharma, an architect. “We have to open a few things and let the economy start moving. The poor people should have some source of income. This virus is going to be a long-term problem.”

India also allowed manufacturing and farming to resume in rural areas last week to ease the economic plight of millions left jobless by the March 24 lockdown. The restrictions have allowed people out of their homes only to buy food, medicine or other essentials.

Elsewhere in Asia, authorities reported no new deaths Saturday for the 10th straight day in China, where the virus originated. South Korea reported just 10 fresh cases, the eighth day in a row its daily increase was under 20. There were no new deaths for the second straight day.

Underscoring the unknowns about the virus, the World Health Organization said “there is currently no evidence” that people who have recovered from COVID-19 cannot fall sick again.

Some countries extended or tightened restrictions, confirming a pattern of caution.

Sri Lanka had partially lifted a monthlong daytime curfew in more than two thirds of the country. But it reimposed a 24-hour lockdown countrywide until Monday after a surge of 46 new infections, its highest increase in a day.

Norway extended until at least Sept. 1 its ban on events with more than 500 participants.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Spaniards will be allowed to leave their homes for short walks and exercise starting May 2 after seven weeks of strict home confinement, though he said “maximum caution will be our guideline.”

“We must be very prudent because there is no manual, no roadmap to follow,” he said.

Kids in Spain will get their first fresh air in weeks when a ban on letting them outside is relaxed starting Sunday. After 44 days indoors, they’ll be allowed out for adult-supervised one-hour excursions no farther than 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) from home. They will not be permitted to play with others, and some nervous parents shopped online for child-size masks for them.

“I really want to get outside, and Ema does as well,” said Madrid resident Eva Novilo, speaking of her 7-year-old daughter. But Novilo predicted “difficult situations” if they see her friends and have to stay apart. “I don’t know if we will be able to maintain control.”

Belgium sketched out plans for a progressive lockdown relaxation starting May 4 with the resumption of nonessential treatment in hospitals and the reopening of textile and sewing shops to make face masks.

In Italy, where restrictions also will be eased May 4, authorities warned against abandoning social distancing practices as millions return to work. Free masks will be distributed to nursing homes, police, public officials and transportation workers. Workers painted blue circles on Rome’s subway platforms to remind people to keep their distance when commuters return.

The country continues to have Europe’s highest death toll, with 26,384 deaths. The 415 deaths registered in the 24-hour period that ended Saturday evening was the lowest toll since Italy registered 345 on March 17, but only five fewer than Friday.

With gatherings banned, Italians celebrated the 75th anniversary of their liberation from occupation forces in World War II, emerging on balconies or rooftops at the same time to sing a folk song linked to resistance fighters.

Britain held off on changes to its lockdown as the virus-related death toll in hospitals topped 20,000. The figure doesn’t include deaths in nursing homes, likely to be in the thousands.

In France, the government prepared to ease one of Europe’s strictest lockdowns from May 11. The health minister detailed plans to scale up testing to help contain any new flare-ups.

Testing shortages also are a problem in Brazil, Latin America’s largest nation, which is veering closer to becoming a pandemic hot spot.

Officials in Rio de Janeiro and four other major cities warned that their hospital systems are on the verge of collapse or already overwhelmed. In Manaus, the biggest city in the Amazon, officials said they have been forced to dig mass graves in a cemetery. Workers have been burying 100 corpses a day – triple the pre-virus average.

Along with Georgia, Oklahoma allowed salons, spas and barbershops to reopen, while Alaska cleared the way for restaurants to resume dine-in service and retail shops and other businesses to open their doors, all with limitations. Some Alaska municipalities chose to keep stricter rules.

Though limited in scope, and subject to social-distancing restrictions, the reopenings marked a symbolic milestone in the debate raging in the United States and beyond as to how quickly political leaders should lift economically devastating lockdown orders.

On Friday, President Donald Trump spoke optimistically of the economy but also asked people to continue social distancing and using face coverings. He also signed a $484 billion bill to aid employers and hospitals. In the past five weeks, roughly 26 million people have filed for jobless aid, or about 1 in 6 U.S. workers.

Trump also said his widely criticized comments suggesting people can ingest or inject disinfectant to fight COVID-19 were an attempt at sarcasm.

In Texas, where retailers are allowed to sell items for curbside pickup, Allison Scott said most customers of her women’s clothing store in a Dallas shopping mall seem to feel more comfortable ordering online. Scott thinks it’s still too risky to allow people to shop in person, and she can’t see people wanting to.

“I want to be open more than anything but I don’t think that society is ready to come out either,” she said.

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[euroman1945-blog]

The Daily Thistle

The Daily Thistle – News From Scotland

Sunday 12th August 2018

"Madainn Mhath” …Fellow Scot, I hope the day brings joy to you…. Quite a breeze blowing this morning as Bella and I leave the house, the normal silence of the morning gone, replaced by the sounds of blinds slapping where the owner failed to tighten them, shutter rattling as the wind buffets, palm trees are rustling as their leaves are scrapping against one and other, Gulls are calling as if protesting against being woken so early, after all it is only 3.30am, but we are unperturbed by the wind and the noises of nature, so up the hill towards the old hermitage we venture… at the top we stand, Bella with her nose in the air, scenting the smells from the town below, me watching shooting stars rain down on the atmosphere above,  until finally we turn and head for the house….

HISTORIC EDINBURGH CHURCH FOR SALE - FOR SAME PRICE AS LONDON FLAT…. A stunning 19th century church in Edinburgh has gone on the market for the same price as a studio London flat. The Gothic style building offers accommodation split over three different levels for around £590,000. Sitting on the corner between London Road and Easter Road, the B-listed building is merely a mile from the centre of Edinburgh. Anyone buying the building is able to remove various fixtures and fittings contained within the land -- including a war memorial. The Church of Scotland building also boasts a Tudor style hall, a spacious sanctuary and a practical meeting hall. The building was closed after the London Road and Holyrood Abbey Parish churches joined together as part of plans to reorganise the churches in the east of Edinburgh. And the church has been the subject of a campaign from a local group called Save London Church” seeking to buy it using community right-to-buy legislation. A brochure advertising the Church of Scotland building suggests a number of different uses for the former religious building. It reads: “The Property is Category B* listed as a crèche, day nursery, day centre, educational establishment, museum or public library. “It has potential for a variety of other uses, subject to obtaining planning and listed building consents. “The Sanctuary is spacious and airy, with a balcony on three sides above. “There is also a bright and practical meeting hall which has potential to be used for a variety of purposes.” For the same price, you can get a new-build 471 sq ft studio flat in the Camden area of London.

ROXBURGHE HOTEL SET TO BE SOLD…. Roxburghe Estates has announced it will sell one of its landmark properties next month. The ownership of the 22-bedroom Roxburghe Hotel and Golf Course, based in Heiton, near Kelso, will transfer to Bespoke Hotels – the largest independent hotel group in the UK – at the end of July. The Duke of Roxburghe said: “I am delighted that we have reached agreement with Bespoke, knowing that they have exciting plans for the future and will invest significantly in the business. “We look forward seeing the Roxburghe grow in the years ahead under new ownership and achieving our long-term vision of a high-quality resort destination. “We strongly believe the Roxburghe has a secure and successful future under Bespoke Hotels’ management.” While hotel management experts ICMI will no longer be in charge at the hotel, the Duke said that the staff at the hotel and golf course will retain their jobs. In 2010, planning consent was granted for 60 holiday lodges, a new clubhouse and conversion of the existing clubhouse to a 10-bedroom dormy house, all of which stood as a key factor in Bespoke’s strong interest and decision to acquire the business.

BREWDOG EXPLORING OPTIONS FOR FIRST AUSTRALIAN BREWERY….  Fresh from appointing a managing director for its US arm, craft beer maker BrewDog has named its “top dog” for Australia as it eyes possible sites for its first brewery Down Under. Zarah Prior, who previously held the role of “head of people” at the Aberdeenshire-based firm before joining Australia’s Stone & Wood Brewing Co last year as head of engagement, has now returned to the company, tasked with identifying locations for its new production facility. The Ellon-headquartered brewer, which recently opened its 100,000 square foot brewery in Columbus, Ohio, and appointed Tanisha Robinson as managing director of BrewDog USA, is focusing its initial searches around the “fast-developing” areas of Brisbane in Queensland and Newcastle in New South Wales. Over the past eight years, the firm’s “Equity for Punks” crowdfunding initiative has attracted investment of more than £40 million from some 55,000 people around the world. In April, US private equity firm TSG Consumer Partners bought a stake of about 22 per cent in the business in a deal that valued it at about £1 billion. Prior, an Australian native who holds an MBA from the University of Queensland, said: “Our Australian Equity Punk community has been crying out for BrewDog to set up shop closer to home, so we are excited to finally be making that happen. “We are open to redeveloping an existing industrial site with a 2,000 to 4,000 square metre built-up facility, or alternatively a plot of land able to comfortably accommodate a new build of that size with expansion capabilities in the future.”

AXE FALLS ON LOOPALLU MUSIC FESTIVAL AFTER 13 YEARS…. One of the biggest festivals in the Highlands and Islands is to be axed after this year. Organisers of Loopallu, which has brought the likes of Paolo Nutini, Franz Ferdinand, Mumford and Sons and Twin Atlantic to Ullapool, will be staged for the last time this September. The announcement came after the event was forced to relocate from the Broomfield Holiday Park, on the banks of Loch Broom, after a dispute with its owners. The View, Glasvegas, Hunter and the Bear, Turin Brakes, The Rezillos and The Vatersay Boys will be among the acts to perform at the event's swansong, which will be staged at Ullapool harbour. Loopallu was founded by Ullapool-based promoter Rob Hicks in 2005, with the American band Hayseed Dixie helping to get the event off the groud by headlining the first two festivals. The event, championed by BBC DJs Janice Long, Mark Radcliffe and Vic Galloway, is believed to the most lucrative of the year for the local economy. However the relocation to the harbour meant the event's capacity was forced to be cut. A statement on the Loopallu Facebook page said: "With a heavy heart, we’ve decided that our 13th outing is going to be our last. There’s no time to be sad, it’s time to celebrate what has made Loopallu so special over the years. "Time to celebrate how the little event with a big heart transformed a small west coast village at the end of the season, bringing millions of pounds into the economy over the years, and not to mention the priceless friendships established. "It’s time to bring back some of our favourite acts over the years, but also introduce some new ones too; some established household names and some stars of the future. "The whole team would like to say a big thank you to all who have come over the years, your support and enthusiasm made the event what it was and what it is.

BUDGET COFFEE CHAIN EASYCOFFEE OPENS FIRST EDINBURGH STORE…. Budget coffee chain EasyCoffee is set to open its first Edinburgh outlet. The cafe chain, founded by EasyJet tycoon Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, already has £1 coffee shops in cities across England, with the Capital site set to be its first in Scotland. The shop has opened opposite the Haymarket train station. A cup of coffee or tea sells from £1 in EasyCoffee shops, with food like a ham and cheese toastie costing around £3.20. The chain has already announced plans for 200 new stores in major high street locations as it seeks to take on market leaders like Costa Coffee, Pret A Manger and Starbucks, although the locations are being kept a closely guarded secret. Announcing the Edinburgh store, CEO Nathan Lowry said: “EasyCoffee has been popping up all over and we are finally heading to Scotland. “We are just so chuffed to have found the right location with plenty of seating and free wifi, the right team and cannot wait to be a part of the neighbourhood.” He said the firm also had plans for the ‘world’s first’ Irn-Bru Freeze frozen drink to be sold from the Haymarket shop.

On that note I will say that I hope you have enjoyed the news from Scotland today,

Our look at Scotland today is by Anna Deacon who said the light was gorgeous when she took this photo of Cramond Island on Sunday.

A Sincere Thank You for your company and Thank You for your likes and comments I love them and always try to reply, so please keep them coming, it's always good fun, As is my custom, I will go and get myself another mug of "Colombian" Coffee and wish you a safe Sunday 12th August 2018 from my home on the southern coast of Spain, where the blue waters of the Alboran Sea washes the coast of Africa and Europe and the smell of the night blooming Jasmine and Honeysuckle fills the air…and a crazy old guy and his dog Bella go out for a walk at 4:00 am…on the streets of Estepona…

All good stuff....But remember it’s a dangerous world we live in

Be safe out there…

Robert McAngus #Scotland #News #Spain

[robertmcangusgroup]

The Daily Thistle

The Daily Thistle – News From Scotland

Sunday 30th July 2017

"Madainn Mhath” .…Fellow Scot, I hope the day brings joy to you…. Boy! It's windy Gentle Reader this morning, blinds are snapping and the detritus of Saturday his being blown hither and yon.. but the good thing is the temperature has dropped about 10 degrees ..making it a comfortable 21c as I walk the town of Estepona this morning..as I walked down towards the ocean the wind was making the palm trees bow their heads in mock subservience as we walked past .. I got quite a laugh out of it, Bella of course hadn't got a clue what I was chuckling about.. but like my morning with Vincent yesterday the heavens are clear and the stars are out in profusion.. even managed to see a couple of shooting stars rush head long across the heavens, bound I know not where.. but I now where I'm going, to get another cup of coffee and start chatting to you about the news...

HISTORIC EDINBURGH CHURCH FOR SALE - FOR SAME PRICE AS LONDON FLAT…. A stunning 19th century church in Edinburgh has gone on the market for the same price as a studio London flat. The Gothic style building offers accommodation split over three different levels for around £590,000. Picture; SWNS Sitting on the corner between London Road and Easter Road, the B-listed building is merely a mile from the centre of Edinburgh. Anyone buying the building is able to remove various fixtures and fittings contained within the land -- including a war memorial. The Church of Scotland building also boasts a tudor style hall, a spacious sanctuary and a practical meeting hall. The building was closed after the London Road and Holyrood Abbey Parish churches joined together as part of plans to reorganise the churches in the east of Edinburgh. And the church has been the subject of a campaign from a local group called Save London Church” seeking to buy it using community right-to-buy legislation. A brochure advertising the Church of Scotland building suggests a number of different uses for the former religious building. It reads: “The Property is Category B* listed as a crèche, day nursery, day centre, educational establishment, museum or public library. “It has potential for a variety of other uses, subject to obtaining planning and listed building consents. “The Sanctuary is spacious and airy, with a balcony on three sides above. “There is also a bright and practical meeting hall which has potential to be used for a variety of purposes.” For the same price, you can get a new-build 471 sq ft studio flat in the Camden area of London.

ROXBURGHE HOTEL SET TO BE SOLD…. Roxburghe Estates has announced it will sell one of its landmark properties next month. The ownership of the 22-bedroom Roxburghe Hotel and Golf Course, based in Heiton, near Kelso, will transfer to Bespoke Hotels – the largest independent hotel group in the UK – at the end of July. The Duke of Roxburghe said: “I am delighted that we have reached agreement with Bespoke, knowing that they have exciting plans for the future and will invest significantly in the business. “We look forward seeing the Roxburghe grow in the years ahead under new ownership and achieving our long-term vision of a high-quality resort destination. “We strongly believe the Roxburghe has a secure and successful future under Bespoke Hotels’ management.” While hotel management experts ICMI will no longer be in charge at the hotel, the Duke said that the staff at the hotel and golf course will retain their jobs. In 2010, planning consent was granted for 60 holiday lodges, a new clubhouse and conversion of the existing clubhouse to a 10-bedroom dormy house, all of which stood as a key factor in Bespoke’s strong interest and decision to acquire the business.

BREWDOG EXPLORING OPTIONS FOR FIRST AUSTRALIAN BREWERY….  Fresh from appointing a managing director for its US arm, craft beer maker BrewDog has named its “top dog” for Australia as it eyes possible sites for its first brewery Down Under. Zarah Prior, who previously held the role of “head of people” at the Aberdeenshire-based firm before joining Australia’s Stone & Wood Brewing Co last year as head of engagement, has now returned to the company, tasked with identifying locations for its new production facility. The Ellon-headquartered brewer, which recently opened its 100,000 square foot brewery in Columbus, Ohio, and appointed Tanisha Robinson as managing director of BrewDog USA, is focusing its initial searches around the “fast-developing” areas of Brisbane in Queensland and Newcastle in New South Wales. Over the past eight years, the firm’s “Equity for Punks” crowdfunding initiative has attracted investment of more than £40 million from some 55,000 people around the world. In April, US private equity firm TSG Consumer Partners bought a stake of about 22 per cent in the business in a deal that valued it at about £1 billion. Prior, an Australian native who holds an MBA from the University of Queensland, said: “Our Australian Equity Punk community has been crying out for BrewDog to set up shop closer to home, so we are excited to finally be making that happen. “We are open to redeveloping an existing industrial site with a 2,000 to 4,000 square metre built-up facility, or alternatively a plot of land able to comfortably accommodate a new build of that size with expansion capabilities in the future.”

AXE FALLS ON LOOPALLU MUSIC FESTIVAL AFTER 13 YEARS…. One of the biggest festivals in the Highlands and Islands is to be axed after this year. Organisers of Loopallu, which has brought the likes of Paolo Nutini, Franz Ferdinand, Mumford and Sons and Twin Atlantic to Ullapool, will be staged for the last time this September. The announcement came after the event was forced to relocate from the Broomfield Holiday Park, on the banks of Loch Broom, after a dispute with its owners. The View, Glasvegas, Hunter and the Bear, Turin Brakes, The Rezillos and The Vatersay Boys will be among the acts to perform at the event's swansong, which will be staged at Ullapool harbour. Loopallu was founded by Ullapool-based promoter Rob Hicks in 2005, with the American band Hayseed Dixie helping to get the event off the groud by headlining the first two festivals. The event, championed by BBC DJs Janice Long, Mark Radcliffe and Vic Galloway, is believed to the most lucrative of the year for the local economy. However the relocation to the harbour meant the event's capacity was forced to be cut. A statement on the Loopallu Facebook page said: "With a heavy heart, we’ve decided that our 13th outing is going to be our last. There’s no time to be sad, it’s time to celebrate what has made Loopallu so special over the years. "Time to celebrate how the little event with a big heart transformed a small west coast village at the end of the season, bringing millions of pounds into the economy over the years, and not to mention the priceless friendships established. "It’s time to bring back some of our favourite acts over the years, but also introduce some new ones too; some established household names and some stars of the future. "The whole team would like to say a big thank you to all who have come over the years, your support and enthusiasm made the event what it was and what it is.

BUDGET COFFEE CHAIN EASYCOFFEE OPENS FIRST EDINBURGH STORE…. Budget coffee chain EasyCoffee is set to open its first Edinburgh outlet. The cafe chain, founded by EasyJet tycoon Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, already has £1 coffee shops in cities across England, with the Capital site set to be its first in Scotland. The shop has opened opposite the Haymarket train station. A cup of coffee or tea sells from £1 in EasyCoffee shops, with food like a ham and cheese toastie costing around £3.20. The chain has already announced plans for 200 new stores in major high street locations as it seeks to take on market leaders like Costa Coffee, Pret A Manger and Starbucks, although the locations are being kept a closely guarded secret. Announcing the Edinburgh store, CEO Nathan Lowry said: “EasyCoffee has been popping up all over and we are finally heading to Scotland. “We are just so chuffed to have found the right location with plenty of seating and free wifi, the right team and cannot wait to be a part of the neighbourhood.” He said the firm also had plans for the ‘world’s first’ Irn-Bru Freeze frozen drink to be sold from the Haymarket shop.

On that note I will say that I hope you have enjoyed the news from Scotland today,

Our look at Scotland today is of a regular inhabitant of Scotland, a Seagull ... something often seen but always overlooked...

A Sincere Thank You for your company and Thank You for your likes and comments I love them and always try to reply, so please keep them coming, it's always good fun, As is my custom, I will go and get myself another mug of "Colombian" Coffee and wish you a safe Sunday 30th July 2017 from my home on the southern coast of Spain, where the blue waters of the Alboran Sea washes the coast of Africa and Europe and the smell of the night blooming Jasmine and Honeysuckle fills the air…and a crazy old guy and his dog Bella go out for a walk at 4:00 am…on the streets of Estepona…

All good stuff....But remember it’s a dangerous world we live in

Be safe out there…

Robert McAngus

[robertmcangusgroup]

The Daily Tulip

The Daily Tulip – International News From Around The World

Tuesday 28th March 2017

Good Morning Gentle Reader….  Clear skies this morning as Bella and I venture forth into the early morning darkness…. Stars and other heavenly bodies twinkle a welcome like long lost friends waiting at a railway station for a lover to arrive… we walk together under the night sky, until Bella turns and pulls me back to the house.. another day begins in the little town called Estepona in Southern Spain…….

CONCERN OVER TOURISTS TAKING CRYSTALS FROM ICELAND MINE…. A historic mine in Iceland may have to be closed to the public because visitors keep pinching its crystals, environmental officials have warned. The Helgustadanama mine is famous for Icelandic spar, a type of transparent calcite which was historically used in scientific equipment. Tourist guides note that the area is protected and removing any spar is forbidden, but that message doesn't seem to be getting through to everyone. The Environment Agency says it has been asking for more government funding in order to patrol the area, but that so far hasn't been forthcoming. Olafur Arnar Jonsson from the agency tells public broadcaster RUV that if things don't change, the mine will have to be shut in order to protect what's left. Some locals are unhappy that funds have been spent improving access to the mine, including car parking and toilet facilities, but not on security measures to protect the site. Heidberg Hjelm, who lives nearby, says that some visitors come prepared with tools to chip away bits of spar and make off with it. The English-language Reykjavik Grapevine magazine is unimpressed with the news. "Visitors keep stealing the crystals to keep as souvenirs and that's why we can't have nice things. Because people are terrible," journalist Nanna Arnadottir writes. Iceland is trying to manage a huge growth in tourist numbers: last year it saw 1.8 million visitors, a 39% increase on 2015. Tourism Minister Thordis Kolbrun R. Gylfadottir says the country doesn't want to increase the number of foreign travellers any further, and that one measure under consideration is limiting the number of people accessing a site at any one time.

TONGA GIVES AWAY THOUSANDS OF CHICKS IN ANTI-FAT DRIVE…. The authorities in Tonga are delivering thousands of free chicks and ducklings to communities across the country to encourage people to cut down on fatty imported meat. The Pacific nation is trying to combat its well-documented obesity problem, blamed largely on the population's unhealthy dietary choices. At least 10,000 baby ducks and chickens have been sent to villages across the archipelago and a discount on animal feed is also being offered, the agriculture ministry says. Church leaders are chipping in to provide free wire fencing so that new bird owners can keep their brood safe, Radio New Zealand reports. "The whole thing is trying to reduce the imports of fatty chicken," says Viliami Taufa, a technical advisor at the agriculture ministry. "It is a huge problem here because of the fat that's in chickens that are imported." A third of the Tongan population now has type 2 diabetes, according to the government, and the country's life expectancy for both men and women has fallen in recent years. Health officials have been trying to make it easier for Tongans to afford healthy food, announcing a discount on fresh fish earlier this year. In 2016, the government increased taxes on tobacco and fatty meats - including cholesterol-laden turkey tails.

NO CARDBOARD CUT-OUTS OF TRUDEAU, CANADA DIPLOMATS TOLD…. Canadian diplomatic missions in the United States have been told to stop using life-size cardboard cut-outs of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to promote the country. The two-dimensional Trudeaus have been spotted at a number of promotional events in the US, most recently at a tourism stand at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, CBC News reports. But while they seem to be popular with visitors who share photos on social media, the government department Global Affairs Canada is less than impressed. "We are aware of instances where our missions in the United States had decided to purchase and use these cut-outs," spokesman Michael O'Shaughnessy tells CBC. "The missions have been asked to no longer use these for their events." CBC says the department did not respond to questions about why the instruction was given. The decision comes after a freedom of information request by the opposition Conservative Party revealed emails sent between embassy and consular staff. They show that the embassy in Washington DC paid for express delivery of a Trudeau cut-out last summer so that it would arrive in time for Canada Day celebrations, The Canadian Press reports. The Washington embassy's interest was apparently piqued by the presence of a cardboard Trudeau at the consulate in Atlanta. Some staff were concerned that the idea was not very prime ministerial, but the embassy's events production manager said it would be "a hoot" and prove popular on Snapchat. Photos from the day show visitors to the embassy posing for pictures alongside the cut-out. While some saw it as a bit of fun, the Conservatives didn't miss the opportunity to take a dig at the real prime minister, MP John Brassard telling CBC: "A life-size, two-dimensional cut-out is probably a perfect metaphor for everything that Justin Trudeau represents."

ITALY TV SHOW UNDER FIRE FOR DISCUSSION ON FOREIGN WOMEN…. Italian public broadcaster Rai is facing heavy criticism after airing a discussion which centred around stereotypes of Eastern European women. The segment on Parliamone Sabato, a magazine show on the flagship Rai 1 channel, saw studio guests debate why Italian men might "prefer" to form relationships with foreign women. After interviewing a man who found love with a Russian woman, and showing a video montage of male Italian celebrities with non-Italian partners, presenter Paola Perego announced that she had found a list of reasons online. Among the points, it said Eastern European women "are all mothers" but regain their figures after having children, always dress in a "sexy" way and forgive betrayals. Corriere della Sera points out that the list itself appears to have been adapted from a website that specialises in "trashy lists" but presents them in an ironic way. A swift backlash followed from Italians commenting online, many of whom could not believe what they had seen. Others wondered why they had to pay a licence fee for such content. Rai president Monica Maggioni apologised on Monday, calling it "unacceptable" and a "crazy mistake" by the public broadcaster. It was later announced that the show had been cancelled. "What I see is a surreal representation of Italy in 2017," Ms Maggioni said. "I feel personally involved as a woman, I apologise." The controller of Rai 1 was similarly apologetic, but the criticism wasn't limited to social media. One of the most blistering responses came from Rai board member Rita Borioni, who said the show combined sexism, stereotypes, superficiality and racist traits, and left her feeling "embarrassed, angry and appalled". "Shameful. At the moment I cannot find any other words," she said.

JAPAN'S ELDERLY OFFERED FUNERAL DISCOUNT TO STOP DRIVING…. Elderly drivers in Japan are being offered discounts on funeral services if they agree to surrender their licences, it's reported. The Japanese authorities have been trying to encourage older people to give up driving after a recent spate of accidents, some of which involved drivers confusing the accelerator and the brake pedals. The latest incentive is in the central Aichi Prefecture, where a company that runs 89 funeral homes is offering a 15% discount for those who give up their licences, Kyodo news service reports. Anyone wanting to take advantage of it has to provide evidence that they have handed in their licence at the local police station, which is supporting the initiative. The discount can be extended to family members, including those who live outside the prefecture, the report says. In 2015, there were almost 4.8 million licence holders over the age of 75, according to The Japan Times, twice as many as a decade earlier. The same period saw an increase in the number of fatal collisions involving elderly drivers. Similar incentive-based schemes are operating elsewhere in Japan, although most aren't quite so morbid - some involve cheaper taxi rides or cut-price entry to public baths. The funeral home initiative is also quite a contrast to another offer announced in Aichi in November, whereby elderly locals could tuck into cut-price noodles if they surrendered their driving licences.

Well Gentle Reader I hope you enjoyed our look at the news from around the world this, Tuesday morning…

Our Tulips today are vibrant in color bringing the page to life...

A Sincere Thank You for your company and Thank You for your likes and comments I love them and always try to reply, so please keep them coming, it's always good fun, As is my custom, I will go and get myself another mug of "Colombian" Coffee and wish you a safe Tuesday 28th March 2017 from my home on the southern coast of Spain, where the blue waters of the Alboran Sea washes the coast of Africa and Europe and the smell of the night blooming jasmine and Honeysuckle fills the air…and a crazy old guy and his dog Bella go out for a walk at 4:00 am…on the streets of Estepona…

All good stuff....But remember it’s a dangerous world we live in ….. Be safe out there…

Robert McAngus