#Illuminate Stapleton

[loopsisloops]

Imagine you’re in the kitchen late one night. Slow dancing with Loki. The oven light illuminating the both of you in a warm glow. The kisses shared are soft and slow. Heartbeats steady as you sway back and forth together. The scent of him and the baked goods fills your mind, you don’t know which is better but his lips sure are sweet.

[thelensofyashunews]

ALANA SPRINGSTEEN FIRES UP Boldest Chapter Yet WITH TWO-SONG RELEASE: “cowboy / hold my beer”

Today (10/18), Columbia Records/Sony Music Nashville artist-songwriter Alana Springsteen packs a punch with two new songs that introduce her boldest chapter yet: the reflective yet fierce “cowboy” and stadium-sized anthem “hold my beer.” Spotlighting her fearlessly detailed storytelling and empowered point-of-view, the double-song release marks the much-anticipated follow-up to her critically acclaimed 2023 debut album, TWENTY SOMETHING.

“'cowboy / hold my beer' had to drop together. To put it in the simplest terms, ‘cowboy’ is my past and ‘hold my beer’ is my future. If there’s anything I learned from the process of writing and releasing my debut album, TWENTY SOMETHING, it’s that we’re never really done ‘figuring it out.’ With that in mind, I can’t promise I won’t find myself in relationships that don’t end up working out again. But I can promise I’ll be a lot more secure in and out of them,” shares Springsteen. “The guy that ‘cowboy’ is about hurt me in ways that I’m still coming to terms with. I still find myself wondering how I couldn’t see what was right in front of me. That self-doubt finds its way into every part of your psyche, and it manifests in the ways that you interact with the world around you. I’m working on healing from that. Part of the process has been finding my confidence and strength again. That’s what ‘hold my beer’ signifies. It’s for everyone out there who’s ever been underestimated or doubted. It was important to me that I start this next chapter of my story with these two songs.”

Arriving on her 24th birthday, “cowboy / hold my beer” finds Springsteen pushing forward with the hands-on approach she brought to every aspect of TWENTY SOMETHING – a three-part powerhouse whose title track landed on NPR Music’s “The Best Songs of 2023” list, with The Tennessean naming her Chris Stapleton collaboration “ghost in my guitar” among the “25 Nashville Songs That Tell the Story of 2023.” To that end, she co-wrote, co-produced, and played guitar on both new songs, in addition to collaborating with heavy-hitters like Amy Allen (a GRAMMY® Award-winning songwriter whose latest credits include mega-hits like Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso”).

Firing up the next era of her artistry, “cowboy / hold my beer” each illuminate different facets of Springsteen’s inner world and in-depth perspective on life and love. On “cowboy,” she looks back on her relationship experience to date and examines tough-to-break patterns like falling for someone who’s all wrong. Written by Springsteen, Ido Zmishlany, Delacey, andAmy Allen, and produced by Zmishlany (Tate McRae, Demi Lovato, Justin Bieber) and Springsteen, the hard-hitting but tender track puts a fresh spin on a timeless tale of hope and heartbreak, revealing Springsteen’s supreme lyrical talent as she merges personal confession with classic cowboy iconography (“I put his face up on a wanted sign / These days they're lookin different but commit the same crimes”). With its pounding drums and smoldering guitar riffs, “cowboy” builds to a heart-stopping peak in the song’s stripped-back final moments, beautifully showcasing the irresistible force of Springsteen’s singular vocals. 

Meanwhile, on “hold my beer,” Springsteen flips the script and offers up a wildly fun takedown of anyone who might dare to underestimate her. Written by Springsteen, Ido Zmishlany, Delacey, and Sarah Solovay, andproduced by Zmishlany and Springsteen, the unapologetic banger opens with Springsteen confidently delivering her lyrics in a hypnotic form of talk-singing (“And you’re jokin with your boys and I see it on your face / You think I look too sweet to be a threat / And there might’ve been a time when that woulda made me cry / But now I’m like alright bet”). In a brilliant counterpart to “cowboy,” “hold my beer” takes full ownership of her actions and embodies an unstoppable power at the gloriously soaring, gang-vocal-fueled chorus. Together, the two songs represent the fascinating dichotomy of her emotional life, honoring her strength and vulnerability in equal measure. 

With “cowboy / hold my beer,” Springsteen brings an even greater level of self-assurance to themes explored on TWENTY SOMETHING, an album comprised of three fully realized installments: Messing It Up, Figuring It Out, and Getting It Right. Since the release of her landmark full-length debut (and its widely lauded DELUXE edition), she’s earned praise from the likes of PEOPLE (“Everything about her says she was made for this wild, breathless — and, yes, high-risk — life of an artist”), American Songwriter (“Springsteen’s music has struck a chord with listeners from every corner of the globe, giving a pathway to those seeking connection, solace, and understanding”), Billboard (“Springsteen possesses a classic female voice packed with angst and determination”), and many more. 

In addition to headlining stops among supporting a run with Tyler Hubbard with one stop in Canada at History on November 1st, Springsteen makes her much-anticipated return to Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry stage tonight (10/18) after appearing for the first-time on her 22nd birthday in 2022. Buzzed-about from her spot on NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Concert series, and recently joining forces with GRAMMY® Award-winning, multi-platinum superstar DJ/producer Tiësto for their sizzling summer collaboration “Hot Honey,” she continues to make headlines. Promising more new music on the way, she’s also teamed up with Us Weekly to document her journey to this year’s CMA Awards – check out that exclusive content here and here.

[newmusicweekly]

Daring to Dream on Life's Path of 'Glitter Gold'

Singer-songwriter Kathleen Fee debuts her first solo EP, Glitter Gold, featuring the standout focus track “Look Both Ways.” The song is penned by a trio of acclaimed songwriters: Jerry Salley, with over 540 recorded songs spanning country, bluegrass, and gospel music, including Chris Stapleton, Reba McEntire, and Toby Keith; Elisha Hoffman, founding member of The Loving Mary Band, Steven Tyler’s country band, and co-founder of Pumphouse Records with Lee Brice and songwriter Rob Hatch; and two-time Grammy winner Rebecca Lynn Howard, who has written songs for Martina McBride and Trisha Yearwood and recorded with Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, and Patty Loveless.  STREAM HERE "Look Both Ways" Official Teaser Video Widely recognized as the dynamic frontwoman and driving force behind the New York City Irish band Celtic Cross, Kathleen Fee’s solo project is brought to life through collaborations with some of the most celebrated songwriters in the industry, encapsulating the universal pursuit of a journey toward a path illuminated with golden opportunities. Across her EP, while exploring diverse themes, all songs intersect on the voyage of self-discovery and the pursuit of authenticity. Before you leap into the unknown, "Look Both Ways" is about taking a moment to look left and right at a crossroads in your life, considering all directions, and daring all to dream.  Sharing Read the full article

[ttownpromoc]

YOU ARE WANTED!!

Lily Aldridge, Annabell Wallis, Jeremy Renner, Zac Farro, Karl Urban, Millie Bobby Brown, Elizabeth Banks, Selita Ebanks, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Stapleton, Darren Criss, Cody Christian, Willa Holland, Carlacia Grant, Zachary Quinto, Niall Horan, Kelsea Ballerini, Avril Lavigne, Finn Wolfhard, Stephen Amell

WELCOME TO TINSELTOWN!!

The place where dreams can be made, and hearts can be broken. Living in the public eye isn’t always as glamorous as it seems from the outside. Don’t forget, that spotlight you love so much - it illuminates everything, including your flaws. Between the gossip, tabloids, and grudges this town chews people up and spits them out day after day. The trials and tribulations of the Hollywood elite are unlike any other, it’s impossible to relate unless you're one of them. The high paced, sometimes high stress can get to a person, causing them their careers. Others thrive on it. What will happen to you? Do you have what it takes to make it?

[kittycatlukey]

FarCry 5 Preference: The Type of Music You Two Listen To Together

Joseph Seed: Religious, Classical

Some song examples—

1. He's Our Father (Cult song) (pretty much all of them but this one is your favorite)

2. Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven

3. How Great is Our God by Chris Tomlin

4. River Flows in You by Yiruma

John Seed: Religious, Rap

Some song examples—

1. Oh John (Cult song)

2. Let the Water Wash Away Your Sins (Cult song)

3. Stan by Eminem

4. Knife Talk by Drake, 21 Savage, and Project Pat

5. Smack That by Akon and Eminem

6. Baby Got Back by Sir Mix Alot

7. Stir Fry by Migos

8. Millions by Skeme

9. Bassheads by Gangrene

10. R. Cali by A$AP Rocky

11. Praise God by Kanye West

12. Closed on Sunday by Kanye West

13. Illuminate by Ab Soul and Kendrick Lamar

14. We'll Meet Again by Vera Lynn

Jacob Seed: Classical, Jazz, Metal, Rock, and old country

Some song examples—

1. Only You by The Platters

2. The Great Pretender by The Platters

3. Pulse of the Maggots by Slipknot

4. Whiskey River by Willie Nelson

5. It Must Be Love by Don Williams

6. Mr. Weatherman by Hank Williams Jr.

7. I'm No Stranger to the Rain by Keith Whitley

8. Fortunate Son by Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR)

9. I Can't Help Falling In Love With You by Elvis Presley

10. Fly Me to the Moon by Frank Sinatra

11. Purple Haze by Jimi Hendrix

12. The Chain by Fleetwood Mac

13. Dragula by Rob Zombie

14. Strutter by Kiss

15. Stray Cat Blues by The Rolling Stones

16. Stranglehold by Ted Nugent

17. Ordinary Man by Ozzy Osborne and Elton John

18. Tiny Dancer by Elton John

19. Imagine by John Lennon

20. Hurt by Johnny Cash

21. Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd

22. Break Stuff by Limp Bizkit

23. Symphony of Destruction by Megadeth

24. One by Metallica

25. Rooster by Alice In Chains

26. Losing My Religion by R.E.M.

27. Islands in the Stream by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton

28. Greedy Fly by Bush

29. Glycerine by Bush

30. Machinehead by Bush

31. Summer of '69 by Bryan Adams

32. Hell or High Water by Billy Raffoul

33. Soldier's Eyes by Jack Savoretti

34. You Don't Mess Around With Jim by Jim Croce

35. Operator by Jim Croce

36. Just My Imagination by The Temptations

37. Dinosaur by Hank Williams Jr.

38. Higher Love by Steve Winwood

Faith Seed: Religious, Pop, a little rap, some alternative

Some song examples—

1. Oh the Bliss (Cult song)

2. Help Me Faith (Cult song)

3. Fascination Street by The Cure

4. Maneater by Nelly Furtado

5. Wannabe by Spice Girls

6. Bossy by Kelis

7. Work It by Missy Elliot

8. Slow Hands by Niall Horan

9. Little Things by One Direction

10. Amnesia by 5 Seconds of Summer

11. Happier than Ever by Billie Eilish

12. I Love You by Billie Eilish

13. Therefore I Am by Billie Eilish

14. Arms Tonite by Mother Mother

15. Watermelon Sugar by Harry Styles

16. Just the Way You Are by Bruno Mars

17. Rolling in the Deep by Adele

18. Sign of the Times by Harry Styles

19. Under the Bridge by Red Hot Chili Peppers

20. Car Radio by Twenty One Pilots

21. Basket Case by Green Day

22. Rhiannon by Fleetwood Mac

23. Don't Come Close by Yeasayer

24. Serotonin by girl in red

25. Dreams by Fleetwood Mac

26. Slumber Party by Ashnikko

27. She by Harry Styles

28. Woman by Harry Styles

29. drivers license by Olivia Rodrigo

30. Through Glass by Stone Sour

31. Gypsy by Fleetwood Mac

32. Plastic Hearts by Miley Cyrus

33. Prisoner by Miley Cyrus

34. Sweater Weather by The Neighbourhood

Joey Hudson: Rock and a little country

Some song examples—

1. Wonderwall by Oasis

2. Black Rain by Soundgarden

3. Jolene by Dolly Parton

4. Play It Again by Luke Bryan

5. Forever After All by Luke Combs

6. Tennessee Whiskey by Chris Stapleton

7. I Hope by Gabby Barrett

8. You Should Probably Leave by Chris Stapleton

9. Rumor by Lee Brice

10. Sweet Child O' Mine by Guns N' Roses

11. Let Me Be Myself by 3 Doors Down

12. Seven Wonders by Fleetwood Mac

13. Hair of the Dog by Nazareth

14. Future Days by Pearl Jam

15. Ain't No Rest for the Wicked by Cage the Elephant

16. Angel Eyes by New Years Day

17. Supermassive Black Hole by Muse

18. The Scientist by Coldplay

19. Cigarette Daydreams by Cage the Elephant

20. Way Down We Go by Kaleo

21. Paparazzi by Kim Dracula

22. Far Away by Nickelback

Staci Pratt: 99.5% rap and .5% metal

Some song examples—

1. A.D.H.D. by Kendrick Lamar

2. Humble by Kendrick Lamar

3. Loyalty by Kendrick Lamar

4. DNA by Kendrick Lamar

5. Sex Metal Barbie by In This Moment

6. Hold Up by Marion Band$ and Nipsey Hustle

7. Life of a Mack by 100s

8. Mo Bamba by Sheck Wes

9. I'm a Real 1 by YG

10. The Next Episode by Dr. Dre

11. Gin & Juice by Snoop Dogg

12. Colt 45 by Afroman

13. Plain Jane remix by Ferg and Nicki Minaj

14. Freak on a Leash by Korn

15. A.D.I.D.A.S. by Korn

16. Cash Shit by Megan Thee Stallion and DaBaby

17. Smokin' and Ridin' by BJ THE CHICAGO KID and Freddie Gibbs and Problem

18. Hood Gone Love It by JayRock and Kendrick Lamar

19. Warm It Up by Kris Kross

20. Insane in the Membrane by Cypress Hill

21. Drop It Like It's Hot by Snoop Dogg

[e-dubbc11]

Top 5 Slow Dance Songs for Matt

Thank you for reading these!  Let me know if you like them and if you’d like me to do some more of these from my full list of Slow Dance Songs for Matt here….or I have another list of Lap Dance Songs for Matt also that I can do scenarios from.  I do really like doing these so I may do more just because I can.

Pairing:  The first 4 are GN! and the last one is F!

1.  Crazy Love – Van Morrison

The first thing I thought of when I put this song on my list was a sleepless night for Matt.  He didn’t want to keep you up with his tossing and turning, it’s one of the nights where he can’t seem to drown out the commotion of the city so he just decides to get up, go out to the couch, and listen to some music.  

Matt getting up isn’t what woke you, he is your own personal space heater so it was the cold that woke you up when you rolled over and he wasn’t there.  Your feet hit the floor and you walk on your toes out to the living room and there he is, adorable as ever, the only light in the room is coming from the neon sign outside his window.  He had felt you walk across the floor and heard the bedroom door slide open so he takes his ear buds out…“I’m sorry sweetheart, did I wake you up?”

His face is so soft and sweet. He’s genuinely concerned whether or not he woke you up and gazing at him in that moment, you didn’t know it was possible to love him more than you already do but you absolutely do.  

“Oh no, no Matty…It’s just cold in bed without you.  What are you listening to?”

Slowly you walked over to him and brushed your thumb across his stubble.

“Just some music.  I couldn’t sleep…I’m having a hard time tonight drowning out all the noise.”

You always feel terrible when something as basic as sleep doesn’t come easily to him.  His abilities are a blessing and also a curse and all you wanted to do was take away whatever problem he was having at the moment.  

“I’m sorry, my love…Maybe I can help.  Can I see your phone, please?”

You extend your hand, he notices your fingers are like ice as he hands you the phone and you put the song on…

I can hear her heartbeat from a thousand miles Hear the heavens open every time she smiles And when I come to her that's where I belong Yet, I'm run into to her like a river strong

You take both his hands in your and pull him up towards you.  “Up here with me, handsome…come on.”

He pulls you close so your bodies are touching, his strong arms wrap around your waist, while you hold him close with your head on his chest and just move with the music.

She gives me love, love, love, love, crazy love She gives me love, love, love, love, crazy love

She got a fine sense of humor when I'm feeling low down And when I come home to her when the sun goes down Takes my troubles all away, take away my grief Take away my heartache, in the night like a thief

“This is nice, sweetheart.  I feel like we’re the only two people in the world right now.”

You smile against his chest and softly say…

“Well if it will help you tune everything out, just think of it that way.  It’s just you and me, baby.”

She gives me love, love, love, Crazy Love

“I think I’m ready for bed now.”  Matt says.

“Well come on then, Matty, you ready for sleep?”

You look up at him, he had that devilish smirk on his face that was illuminated by the neon sign outside and he whispers in your ear…

“Who said anything about sleep?”

2.  Tennessee Whiskey – Chris Stapleton

Let’s be honest, this song is one of the sexiest songs ever.  I can see putting this song on the juke box while you’re out together at Josie’s or another bar.  It’s one of my favorite songs of all time and I’d LOVE to slow dance with Matt to this song.

A night out at the bar for a few drinks was a weekly occurrence.  Matt, Foggy, Karen and you.  It’s just a way to unwind after a long week at the office and being with your friends and your boyfriend made you really happy.  Watching Karen and Foggy try to shoot pool was hilarious, you’d think with all the time they spent there that they’d actually be pretty good, nope, not at all.  Then you hear your song come on.

Used to spend my nights out in a barroom Liquor was the only love I've known But you rescued me from reachin' for the bottom And brought me back from being too far gone

You're as smooth as Tennessee whiskey You're as sweet as strawberry wine You're as warm as a glass of brandy And honey, I stay stoned on your love all the time

Reaching up, you take Matt’s drink away, rest it on the table and grab his hand.

“How about a dance, handsome?”

Matt smiles, turns and tilts his head towards you and asks…

“What?  Here?  No…Well… I’m sure everyone will be looking at you beautiful, and not me so you win.”

You're as smooth as Tennessee whiskey Tennessee whiskey Tennessee whiskey

The two of you dance to your song, Matt kisses your forehead and you lift your chin and give him a long, deep kiss.  Patrons at the bar start whistling and cat calling and from the pool table, you hear Foggy yell in your direction.

“UGH!  You two are nauseating, get a room, will ya?!!!”

The two of you laugh and then you hear Matt’s voice low and gravelly in your ear.

“We should go before I take you right there on that pool table.”

3.  You and I – Lady Gaga

I LOVE this song.  The first time I heard it was when I realized that Lady Gaga could really belt it out and how powerful her voice is, she’s amazing.  It would probably be my karaoke song…that or “Tequila” (everyone laugh, because that’s hilarious).  Anyway, the scenario I came up with for this one is a little funny because it involves Matt catching you basically putting on a concert at the apartment while you’re cleaning.

Matt left work early to surprise you and in a few minutes he’d find out just how surprised you’d be.  As he got closer to his building, he tilted his head and realized you were…singing and he thought to himself “that’s not half bad…”  Then he remembered you said you wanted to do some cleaning today and also telling him to make sure he’s careful whenever he comes home because the floor might or might not be wet.  As he walked up the stairs, a smile spread across his face while he stood outside and listened to you for a minute…  

You taste like whiskey when you kiss me, oh I'll give anything again to be your baby doll This time I'm not leaving without you

He said, "Sit back down where you belong In the corner of my bar with your high heels on" Sit back down on the couch where we Made love the first time and you said to me

Something, something about this place Something 'bout lonely nights and my lipstick on your face Something, something about my cool Nebraska guy Yeah, something about, baby, you and I

Quietly, he unlocked the door, put his things down and took his shoes and socks off.  The scent of natural lemon cleaning products filled the apartment, you knew with Matt’s hyper senses that some cleaning products were just too much for him so you tried to use as many lightly scented products as you could.  The floor by the door wasn’t slippery but he could tell it had been recently cleaned, again he smiled, so you weren’t JUST putting on a concert in the apartment, you were ACTUALLY cleaning and he could tell you were in the kitchen.  He walked around the corner and smiled with that dimple on full display…you hadn’t noticed him yet.

“I didn’t know I was coming home to a clean apartment AND a show.”

He scared the ever living daylights out of you and you nearly jumped out of your skin.  Covering your heart, you shrieked.

“Jeez Louise!!  Dammit Matty!  You and your ninja skills!!”  He laughed again at you.  There’s that dimple again.  “You scared me!”  You were laughing a little too.  “And stop laughing, you nearly gave me a heart attack.  Good thing you can’t see me, I look a fright right now.”

He was still laughing a little “Well, I’m sorry I scared you, beautiful and I highly doubt you look bad.”

“So yes, I was just getting ready to mop the kitchen floor…and maybe I am using the mop for a microphone.  Don’t you judge me.”  The song continues…

You and I, you, you and I You, you and I, you, you and I, I You and I, you, you and I Oh yeah, I'd rather die without you and I

C'mon, put your drinks up

He loosened his tie and bit his lip.

“Why don’t you dance with me instead, sweetheart.”  He extends his hand and wiggles his fingers a little.

“Really?  I smell like a combination of cleaning products and sweat, you sure you wanna do that?”

Of course he does not mind in the slightest.  “I’d really like you to dance with me, your singing would feel nice against my chest.”

You and I, you, you and I Baby, I'd rather die without you and I You and I, you, you and I Nebraska I'd rather die without you and I

“Well how can I say no to that?”  You take his hand, he pulls you quickly into his chest, and you continue to sing just for him this time.  

It's been a long time since I came around Been a long time but I'm back in town This time I'm not leaving without you

That’s enough cleaning for today.

4.  Crazy for You – Madonna  

Come on, you know I had to stick in a school dance/wedding song in here somewhere.  I needed my 13 Going on 30 moment because I love that movie. I imagine you and Matt going to one of your cousin’s weddings.  It’s probably one of the first big family events you’re taking him to and he decides today is the day he tells you he loves you.

Your cousin’s wedding was beautiful, maybe a little too beautiful.  The two of you were in Newport, RI and felt more than a little out of place, just because Newport is a very rich town.  The venue is way extra but hey, open bar right? You love weddings so you were determined to have a great time, especially with the sexiest man on your arm.  

You and your boyfriend, Matt have been together for a while, long enough for him to meet your parents and your siblings but not long enough for him to meet the extended family but today was that day.  You thought it went well, as well as it could go.  Periodically you checked to make sure that all the commotion wasn’t too much for Matt’s heightened senses and every time you asked him, he said he was good.  

Out of the corner of your eye, you noticed he was in a deep conversation with your cousins and your brothers while you were talking to your mother and your grandmother however you didn’t notice when your youngest brother carefully led Matt over to the DJ who then handed him a microphone.

“Excuse me, everyone.  I’m sorry to interrupt this beautiful wedding, at least everyone is saying it’s beautiful, I wouldn’t know…blind guy.”  He holds up his cane and everyone laughed.  “Anyway, I was wondering if my lovely date would come up here, please.”

”Oh my god, Ma!  What is he doing?”  You whisper yell to your mother, then your brother starts to push you and chimes in…

“Well go on, y/n…go up there!”

The song starts…

Swaying room as the music starts Strangers making the most of the dark Two by two their bodies become one

You take his hand, put your left hand on his shoulder and he takes his right hand and rests it on your back.

I see you through the smokey air Can't you feel the weight of my stare You're so close but still a world away What I'm dying to say, is that

“This is how you ask me to slow dance with you, Murdock?”  You smiled “With everyone watching?  And you picked the most middle school dance song you could think of, didn’t you.”

He laughed and flashed his charming smile.

“Oh come on, sweetheart, I know you love this song.”

I'm crazy for you Touch me once and you'll know it's true I never wanted anyone like this It's all brand new You'll feel it in my kiss I'm crazy for you, crazy for you

“Well you are not wrong, I do love this song.”  God, this man made you so disgustingly happy.

He leans into your ear “I am ‘crazy for you’ as the song says.”  

A little embarrassed, you smile big and cover your eyes with your hand.  “You know I’m ‘crazy for you’ also.”

You could tell he was a little nervous for what he was about to say next…”Actually…” he paused and kissed your forehead…”I’ve wanted to tell you for a while…that…I…uh”

Looking up at him, you asked “What is it, Matty?  What do you want to tell me?”

You could feel his fingers fidgeting on your back so you knew he was anxious.  “I’ve wanted to tell you that…I love you.  I really, really love you.”

It's all brand new, I'm crazy for you And you know it's true I'm crazy, crazy for you It's all brand new, I'm crazy for you And you know it's true Yeah, I'm crazy for you Crazy for you, baby

With a smile on your face, you tilt your chin up to give him a little kiss on his lips and told him…

“Well I really, really love you too, handsome.”

5.  Bring It On Home to Me – Sam Cooke

Fun fact about me, I love old Motown and R&B.  I listened to a lot of classic rock growing up because that’s what my Dad loves but I remember him and my Mom also loving a lot of Motown and this song by Sam Cooke is one of my favorites.  So this one I thought about you and Matt cooking together, it’s just such a nice tempo for a happy slow dance, he could even throw a spin in there.  

On this dark and rainy afternoon, you left Matt in front of the stove, stirring the soup he helped you make while you cut up a few pieces of bread.  One of your playlists that he loves so much is playing in the background.  Bring It On Home to Me starts playing and you excitedly let out a little bit of a squeal…

If you ever change your mind About leaving, leaving me behind Baby, bring it to me Bring your sweet loving Bring it on home to me Yeah (yeah) yeah (yeah) yeah (yeah)

“Awwww, Matty!!  I love this song!  I used to listen to it all the time with my parents!”

Matt smiles, puts the spoon down, and extends his hand…”Well c’mere beautiful.  I’ve always wanted to dance with a pretty girl in my kitchen.”

I know I laughed when you left But now I know I only hurt myself Baby, bring it to me Bring your sweet loving Bring it on home to me Yeah (yeah) yeah (yeah) yeah (yeah)

A laugh escapes your lips while moving to the beat…”Yeah right, Murdock.  You expect me to believe that you’ve never used that line on anyone else?”

He stops dancing for a minute…”Lemme see your hand…”  He places your hand on his chest…”I’ve never danced in my kitchen with anyone except for you.”  His heartbeat was so steady  “You believe me now?”  He asked.  

You smiled and said…“Well…when you put it that way…You’re no liar, Matthew.”  

Matt kisses your nose and says…”You ready for the spin?”

Before you could protest, he spun you outward and pulled you back into him, both of you laughing with the rain coming down in the background.

One more thing I tried to treat you right But you stayed out, stayed out at night But I forgive you, bring it to me Bring your sweet loving Bring it on home to me Yeah (yeah) yeah (yeah) yeah (yeah)

You continued to dance with your love even after the song was over, it was quiet with only the sound of the rain to move to now and you thought...maybe rainy days weren’t so bad after all.

Honorable Mentions:

1.Cry to Me – Solomon Burke  

For your Dirty Dancing moment before smexy time. (wink wink)

2.  Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton

Either before or after a really fancy date night

Again thank you for reading! I appreciate you!💕💕💕

Tag list: @freshabogados @skvatnavle @phoebe-danvers @moonlarking @shedaresthedevil @mindidjarin @matt-erialgirl @nelson-et-murdock @elgrandeavocados

Others that might enjoy: @1800-fight-me @sobachka-korol @mattmurdockspainkink @saintmurd0ck @wint3r-h3art

Please please tell me if you’d like to be added or removed from either list.

[guerrerense]

What The Hex ! por Stapleton Road Por Flickr: It was an early start for me from my hotel in Carlisle to bag this shot of 66737 working the 6S45 0625 North Blyth to Fort William Alcan. Because of weekend east coast main line maintenance works, services were diverted over the Tyne Valley Line which included the alcans which frequently did not run on a Saturday. No prises for originality on this shot but having never been to Hexham before I opted for a safe angle. The rising sun had just cleared a cloud bank but had not fully illuminated the shady corridor created by the trees except for the glint.

[05x04]

art that reminds me of cas

untitled (beer dreams) by gregory crewdson, wish shower by gary simmons, incindiary nocturne: launch at dawn by stephen hannock, quiet night by stapleton kearns, ides of march by cy twombly, consciousness by taysa jorge, golconda by rene magritte, the illuminated man by duane michals, auto da fé II by paul benney

[avtomatkalashnikova]

My boss asked me three times today if I was okay. I don't know if I didn't do as good a job of hiding it as I usually do, or if it's worse than usual and harder to hide, but as I shrugged on my coat, Kevlar made of cotton duck, a size too big, I wish I could say it hit me. But it didn't. Nothing did. He saw something in my eyes and written on my face that scared him. That's all I realized.  

Settling into the melancholy of Chris Stapleton on my way home, I wish I could say I came to some conclusion, but my headlights illuminated nothing but the highway in front of me, the asphalt cold and dry, the world passing in the darkness.

I don't know if it should scare me too.

[ebaeschnbliah]

________________________________________________________________

ANOTHER  HOUND  -  A  SPECIAL  ONE

________________________________________________________________

The Hound of the Baskervilles is probably the best known story by ACD. Over 20 film and television versions of it have been made. And in everyone of those adaptations the original story has been changed a little bit in some way or another. But there is probably no classical, victorian version which differs quite as much as this one, from 2002, with Richard Roxburgh and Ian Hart as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson (X). And some of those changes are very interesting, particularly with regard to Sherlock BBC.

Warning:  Major spoilers - in fact, all the spoilers - are under the cut! If you haven’t seen the movie and want to be surprised, don’t go further!

The legend of the Baskerville Hound

As mentioned in ‘Lady Holmes’, the greatest change has been made to the old legend of the hound itself.

At the time of the Civil War, the Manor of Baskerville was held by one Hugo, a wild, profaned, godless man. Hugo accused his wife of having an affair with a young man who owned lands near to the Baskerville estate. Mad with jealousy, he beat her savagely. She fled across the moor. Hugo gave chase. He caught her and he killed her, but her hound, devoted to its Mistress, had followed. It flew at Hugo and tore out his throat even as Hugo stabbed the creature to death with his hunting knife. According to the legend, ever since, the ghost of the hound has plagued the family, prowling the moor, uttering piteous cries. A foul thing - great black beast with blazing eyes and dripping jaws.

In this adaptation Sir Hugo Baskerville is not a single man, lusting after a yeoman’s daughter whom he abducts and carries away to Baskerville Hall to have his way with her. No pakt with the devil happens. Instead there is a husband, driven by murderous jealousy, because he suspects his wife of having an affair with another man. And a faithful dog kills that furious husband and gives its own life to protect the beloved mistress … unsuccessfully.

Cousins

Stapleton and the Baskerville Boys

Once there were three Baskerville brothers …. on the left Charles the eldest, in the middle Sir Henry’s Father, whose name isn’t mentioned in the novel nor in this adaptation and the one in the chair is Rodger, the youngest brother and the black sheep of the family. 

In the original story the son of Rodger Baskerville, of the same name as his father, marries Beryl Garcia from Costa Rica. He changes his surname into Vandeleur when he returns to Engalnd with his wife, where he establishes a school in Yorkshire. When that business goes wrong the Vandeleurs move to Dartmoor and change their names into Jack and Beryl Stapleton. Still under the name Vandeleur though, he had become a recognized authority on entomology - the knowledge of insects. They also pretend to be brother and sister instead of a married couple. 

Holmes learns at the British Museum that the name Vandeleur was given to a certain moth which the man, now called Stapleton, had been the first to describe. 

This Jack Stapleton, former Vaneleur, originally Rodger Baskerville - nephew of Sir Charles and cousin of Sir Henry - has only one principal aim in view … the ownership and assets of the Baskerville estate.

The 2002 HOUND adaptation changes Stapleton’s history consederable. Rodger, the youngest Baskerville, ‘got a commission in the Guards but was drummed out … ‘conduct unbecomming’. He leaves England and the family assumes that he died penniless and alone. As big mistake, as it will turn out. ‘Late in life he married a whore named Mary Prescott’. They haveone child, a son called John. It isn’t mentioned if John Baskerville marries his wife Beryl abroad or after he has come to Engalnd. At some point he changes his name into Baker. Under that name he becomes a recognized authority on archaeology. Instead of butterflies this man collects skulls and bones and historical artefacts. When Mr. Baker and his wife Beryl move from Kent to Dartmoor they change their names again … this time into Jack and Beryl Stapleton. They also pretend to be brother and sister instead of a merried couple.

Holmes learns at the British Museum that a man named Baker had found an unique bronze dagger in Kent. It’s exactly this dagger Stapleton shows Dr. Watson on his first visit at Merripit House and he tells him that he had found it at Dartmoor. Big mistake, because Watson reports this information to Holmes.

This Jack Stapleton, former Baker, originally John Baskerville - nephew of Sir Charles and cousin of Sir Henry - has only one principal aim in view … and it’s not the money … it’s only revenge that drives him. ‘Revenge on a family that destroyed his father and allowed him to die a penniless, syphilitic drunk’ 

Forgone characters in this adaptation

Mr Frankland and his daughter Laura Lyons are completely omitted. Cartwright, the boy who delivers messages and food when Holmes hides on the moor is also missing, just like Dr. Mortimer’s cane and because of it the famous cane deduction scene at 221b Baker Street. In return a new character has been added …. Mrs. Mortimer, the doctors wife and …. medium. (Dr. Mortimer is played by John Nettles/Inspector Barnaby)

Séance at Merripit House

Sitting round the table (left to right) are Dr. Watson, Mr. Stapleton, Dr. Mortimer, Mrs. Mortimer, Sir Henry and (viewed from behind) Beryl Stapleton. This scene is a nod to the Rathbone adaptation of the Hound from 1939.

While in the Rathbone version the séance is interrupted only by a scary howling, in this one the monstrous hound itself appears and ‘knocks’ at the rain-swept window. A valiant Dr. Watson is the first one outside …. armed only with a chair. But as quickly as the hound had emerged out of the stormy night, the beast has vanished without a trace by then.  

Love is the bait

In the original story it is Laura Lyons who writes the letter to Sir Charles Baskerville and makes the disastrous appointment that leads to his death. A letter dictated by Jack Stapleton who pretends to be in love with Laura, that he wants to marry her. Laura, still married to a man who had deserted her, hasn’t the money to afford a divorce. And so Stapleton comes up with the idea that she should ask Sir Charles for help, who had done so before. After Laura Lyons has sent the letter, Stapleton feigns a change of mind and offers to pay for her divorce himself. That’s why Mrs. Lynons foregoes her appointment with Charles Baskerville and Stapleton has a free run and is able to frighten his uncle successfully to death. 

As mentioned above the character Laura Lyons doesn’t exist in this adaptation. Therefore someone else has to send the fatal note to Sir Charles. This part is assigned to Miss Beryl Stapleton. Of course, as the unmarried sister of Stapleton she can’t ask Sir Charles to fund her divorce. Near the end of the story it turns out that Stapleton has set up his wife as potential love interrest for Charles Baskerville right from the start. The note she sends is actually an invitation for a date. And Sir Charles takes the bait and dies. 

When Henry Baskerville turns up, as the unexpected heir of the estate, Stapleton is willing to play the same game again. This time though his wife crosses his plans. Beryl sends an anonymous letter to Sir Henry even before she meets him in person. And after they get aquainted, it becomes clear that both are falling in love with each other rather quickly. In the end Beryl Stapleton refuses to obey her husbands will. 

It’s Christmas at Baskerville

Another major change concerns the date of the Baskerville case. The original story is set in October.

Baskerville Hall, October 13th. MY DEAR HOLMES: My previous letters and telegrams have kept you pretty well up to date as to all that has occurred in this most God-forsaken corner of the world. ……   (ACD HOUND)

In the 2002 adaptation the case comes to its violent end at Christmas Day. And the night before, Baskerville Hall is illuminated festively. Many guest are invited. Sir Henry welcomes the ladies with a kiss unter the mistletoe. 

Even a little stage is set for a nice Christmas play, starring a knight in shining armour, a grim looking Father Christmas and … a monstrous hound.

Dramatic highlight of the play …. a fight between knight and hound …

And while everyone enjoys the rare Christmas festivity at Baskerville Hall, Sherlock Holmes leaves the party early and secretly. He has work to do and crosses the moor to breaks into Merripit House, looking for the final clue to prove Jack Stapletons true identity. 

A foe worthy of our steel …..

That’s how Sherlock Holmes describes his opponent to Dr. Watson. Stapleton and Holmes meet for the first time during the Christmas festivity at Baskerville Hall and it’s impossible to overlook that Stapleton is thrilled to compete with the famous detective. 

STAPLETON: You interest me very much. I’d hardly expected so dolichocephalic a skull …. or such well marked supraorbital developement. Would you object to my running my finger along your parietal fissure?

HOLMES: I should object in the strongest possible terms.

STAPLETON: A casst of your skull until the original is available would be an ornament to any anthropological museum! I must confess …..

The Stapleton character in this adaptation is indeed a foe worthy of Sherlock Holmes. Have never seen a better one. And the dialoge above reminds me very much at the one between Holmes and Professor Moriarty in The Final Problem …. only the other way round. 

MORIARTY: You have less frontal development than I should have expected,

Holmes the addict

In canon there are only two stories where Holmes’ drug habit is directly observed. 

"Which is it to-day?" I asked,—"morphine or cocaine?" He raised his eyes languidly from the old black-letter volume which he had opened. "It is cocaine," he said,—"a seven-per-cent. solution. Would you care to try it?"  

This is the very first scene of The Sign of Four. Holmes takes a dose of cocain and Dr. Watson can only prevent him from taking another one by asking him to deduce the poket watch of his late brother. After that famous deduction scene Dr. Watson wants to know:

“May I ask whether you have any professional inquiry on foot at present?"

"None. Hence the cocaine. I cannot live without brain-work. What else is there to live for? Stand at the window here. Was ever such a dreary, dismal, unprofitable world? See how the yellow fog swirls down the street and drifts across the dun-colored houses. What could be more hopelessly prosaic and material? What is the use of having powers, doctor, when one has no field upon which to exert them? Crime is commonplace, existence is commonplace, and no qualities save those which are commonplace have any function upon earth." 

That’s the moment when a young lady - Mary Morstan -  is announced by Mrs. Hudson and the case of lost Agra treasure unfolds. It is well known that this case ends with Dr. Watson’s engagement to Mary Morstan and Sherlock Holmes turning once again to his seven percent solution of cocain..

"For me," said Sherlock Holmes, "there still remains the cocaine-bottle." And he stretched his long white hand up for it. 

The other story where Dr. Watson adresses Holmes’ drug habit is The Missing Three Quarter. Here too he names the lack of work - unbearable boredom - as the most dangerous trigger for Holmes to fall back on drugs. 

‘I had learned to dread such periods of inaction, for I knew by experience that my companion’s brain was so abnormally active that it was dangerous to leave it without material upon which to work. For years I had gradually weaned him from that drug mania which had threatened once to check his remarkable career. Now I knew that under ordinary conditions he no longer craved for this artificial stimulus, but I was well aware that the fiend was not dead but sleeping, and I have known that the sleep was a light one and the waking near when in periods of idleness I have seen the drawn look upon Holmes’s ascetic face, and the brooding of his deep-set and inscrutable eyes.’  

And this is where the HOUND adaptation from 2002 differs completely from canon. Not only that Holmes doesn’t take any drugs in the original HOUND story. What most surprised me are the times when Holmes is shown using cocain. It happens two times. 

At Baker Street, right after Dr. Mortimer has left them to pick up Sir Henry from the railway station. Holmes decides to inject himself with cocain despite he has just accepted a new and very interesting case. Dr. Watson watches disapprovingly but doesn’t utter a word. 

In a toilet at the Exeter railway station where they just met DI Lestrade who will join them later to catch the clever murderer Stapleton red handed. It’s only hours before the dangerous final act of the case. Dr. Watson and DI Lestrade are sitting at a table in the station restaurant, waiting for Holmes to reappear from the toilet.

Stapleton’s hound from hell

Some time ago I did a little comparison of the hounds from the 2002 adaption and from Sherlock BBC. Both hounds are no real dogs and neither of them is luninous due to a treatment with phosphor like in the original. (As far as I know only the Granada adaptation with Jeremy Brett presents a phosphorescent hound)

The hound from the 2002 adaptation was created by a mix of animatronics and CGI (computer generated images).   (X)

And for the Sherlock BBC hound it was also the first time that CGI has been used on a large scale.  (X)

Maybe this is the reason why both hounds share a certain resemblance with one another. It’s not so much their external appearance - that differs a lot - but rather the movement ot the creatures and the way how the attacking hounds are shot, which looks very similar. 

While the CGI hound works very well for Sherlock BBC, representing a drug induced vision of a monstrous creature in the mind, I can’t say the same for the hound in the 2002 adaptation. It is meant to be a real dog but that hound really looks like something out of a monster movie. More like a genetic breed created by a mix of bear and boar than a big and ill-treated dog. Maybe using a real dog would have been a wiser choice. 

And unlike the original story, Sir Henry doesn’t get off with just a bad fright. He is seriously wounded by the hound and lucky to survive the vicious attack.

A higly dramatic finale

At this point the final act of the case starts unfolding in rapid pace. While Holmes and Watson follow the hound into the moor and are able to rescue Sir Henry in the very last second, DI Lestrade stays back to deal with Stapleton in Merripit House. Watson carries the badly wounded man back to Baskerville Hall and Holmes returns to Merrypit House to confront the murderer - who is held at gun point by the DI - with the damning results of his investigations. Stapleton is completely unimpressed and tells him: 

“Conceited, opinionated, egoistical, vain.  All disembodied mind and cold calculation. You are no match for me!”

After a while the scene is interupted by Dr. Watson who has left Sir Henry in the care of Dr. Mortimer and the Barrymores and rode then back to Marripit House. His first question concerns the whereabouts of Beryl Stapleton. When no one has an answer for him, he starts searching.

“I have no wife”

Over and over Jack Stapleton repeats those words while Holmes confronts him with more than enough evidence that Beryl isn’t his sister but his wife. But it turns out Stapleton says the truth. He has indeed no wife. At that point in the story he is actually already widowed. Beryl had been murdered by her own husband shortly before he sat down with Henry Baskerville to have a little Christmas dinner. And it is Dr. Watson who finds her.

Outraged Watson wants to shoot Stapleton. Holmes steps in and tries to wrench the gun from Watson’s hands. DI Lestrade gets distracted. Stapleton seizes the opportunity and uses the element of surprise. He grabs Lestrade’s gun, knocks him out and aims a shot at Holmes .... but hits Watson instead. Then he runs out of the door.

Injured Dr. Watson sends Holmes after Stapleton into the moor. Holmes almost catches up with the man but then runs straight into the mire. Stapleton turns back to Holmes and watches him slowly sink deeper and deeper into the bog while mocking him with great delight. Finaly he decides to have mercy and put a bullet in Holmes’ head before he drowns helplessly. 

Never make the calculation without John Watson though. Of course, the good doctor emerges out of the fog at the very last second to save his Holmes. He shoots Stapleton and then - despite his wounded arm/shoulder - pulls the detective out of the treacherous mire. 

What an eventful Christmas Day! High time to get back to London. Holmes has already reserved a box for Les Huguenots and thinks of a little dinner at Marcini’s on the way. Watson accepts.

I hope you enjoyed the ride, although it was a bit long. Maybe I should add that this adaptation begins with a scene at the Turkish Bath.

Despite that promising start though, this Holmes/Watson relaationship sadly lacks a bit the warmth and closeness that is portrayed, for example, in the adaptations with Brett/Burke, Livanow/Solomin, Frewer/Welsh or Howard/Crawford. Smiles and jokes between those two men are really rare in this one.

August, 2018

@gosherlocked @sarahthecoat @possiblyimbiassed @raggedyblue @sherlockshadow @devoursjohnlock @sagestreet @tjlcisthenewsexy @sherlock-overflow-error @loveismyrevolution 

[hell-yeahfilm]

BETTER DAVIS AND OTHER STORIES

Walker’s tales set fictional and real-life creative figures—drag queens, sitcom stars, Broadway impresarios, movie divas—in the early 1980s, when gay entertainers were emerging from the closet just as the HIV virus was starting to decimate their ranks. Jim J. Bullock, co-star of the TV comedy Too Close for Comfort, ponders past bruising relationships and his own HIV diagnosis while enacting a bizarre “very special episode” in which his character is raped by two women; and Natalie Wood spends the night of her drowning flirting with Christopher Walken and fighting with her jealous husband, Robert Wagner, while wondering if Wagner is gay. Elizabeth Taylor and Maureen Stapleton follow their stage performance in The Little Foxes by trading acting tips and quips and then repairing to a drag club; drag impersonator Better Davis haunts a man’s reminiscences of the shriveling gay demimonde in Washington, D.C.; an airline steward continues his hyperpromiscuous sexploits while hiding his Kaposi’s sarcoma lesions; and Michael Bennett, director of the musical A Chorus Line, coldly prepares to replace a cast member who has AIDS—which will kill Bennett himself a few years later. Walker’s yarns probe the deep symbiosis of the entertainment industry with gay life as they feed off each other’s styles and sensibilities and a common fascination with identity and role-playing. His sparkling prose often has an Old Hollywood feel to it; sometimes it revels in bitchy repartee—“ ‘You drink too much,’ Liz said. ‘Why?’ ‘Why not?’ said Maureen. ‘You marry too much. Why?’ ”—and sometimes it’s suffused with a romantic glow. (“When Troy and Grayson shook hands,” Harrison “saw something happen immediately….It would be too cliché to call it ‘electric’ but it was as if someone had dimmed the lights in the entire restaurant and illuminated the two of them from below with a floor light, casting everyone else in the room as mindless extras who were only there to observe and comment on the two main characters discovering each other as soulmates.”) The result is a wistful, absorbing re-creation of lives and loves caught up in a cultural transformation that is both fertile and tragic.

from Kirkus Reviews https://ift.tt/3kaPuGw

[ttownpromoc]

YOU ARE WANTED!!

Lily Aldridge, Annabell Wallis, Jeremy Renner, Zac Farro, Karl Urban, Millie Bobby Brown, Elizabeth Banks, Selita Ebanks, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Stapleton, Darren Criss, Cody Christian, Willa Holland, Carlacia Grant, Zachary Quinto, Niall Horan, Kelsea Ballerini, Avril Lavigne, Finn Wolfhard, Stephen Amell

WELCOME TO TINSELTOWN!!

The place where dreams can be made, and hearts can be broken. Living in the public eye isn’t always as glamorous as it seems from the outside. Don’t forget, that spotlight you love so much - it illuminates everything, including your flaws. Between the gossip, tabloids, and grudges this town chews people up and spits them out day after day. The trials and tribulations of the Hollywood elite are unlike any other, it’s impossible to relate unless you're one of them. The high paced, sometimes high stress can get to a person, causing them their careers. Others thrive on it. What will happen to you? Do you have what it takes to make it?

[scottwinters714]

New Post has been published on https://startrek.everythingonlinenow.com/star-trek-voyager-endgame-phaser/

Star Trek Voyager Endgame Phaser

This Amazing Phaser was a Hollow, Myron Stapleton Upgraded to A Full HERO Complete with power bar and illuminating power cells.

This Set of electronics is the PROTOTYPE that uses VARY bright LEDS for the Power Conduits and the First phaser to have a Continuous looping fire sound made possable by a new type of sound board developed by David Christian.

The “Dolphin” has A 16 LED power bar that has 8 green, 4 Yellow & 4 red LEDS.

Setting 1-8: Stun and Normal power.

Setting 9-12: Higher power – kill, including A longer firing sound.

Setting 13-16: Kill – vaporize includes An Initial sound followed by A looping sound if you hold the trigger down and then when released, An end sound.

Pressing the right setting button will increase the LED power meter and pressing the left one will decrees it. When the LED bar is full, one more press activates the overload. In overload, the LED bar starts flashing, the overload sound kicks in and the Phaser starts vibrating followed by the explosion sound with a more intense vibration function. the emitter flashes red for every setting and stays solid for the overload.

What really makes this amazing is that you can open the illuminating cowl with no loss of functionality. As a bonus, when the Phaser is at full power, press the trigger, and as a result of opining the cowl, you get a warning:

“Warning energy reserves reaching critical stage”

and then the phaser powers off. When the cowl is closed the leds in the power cells stay off to conserve battery power witch also eliminates light spillage.

Special thanks goes out to the talented David Christian who made this Phaser a reality.

As of today 10/11/2012,I have completed the repaint in to the Voyager “Endgame” version (Voyager final) with the Black Emitter This was my Nemesis Phaser that i repainted as the Emitter and buttons do not look like real Chrome as the Nemesis Phaser would look. I hope to get A new Nemesis with Updated Electronics and Chromed parts.

[startrekcommunicatoronline]

Star Trek Voyager Endgame Phaser

Star Trek Voyager Endgame Phaser

This Amazing Phaser was a Hollow, Myron Stapleton Upgraded to A Full HERO Complete with power bar and illuminating power cells.

This Set of electronics is the PROTOTYPE that uses VARY bright LEDS for the Power Conduits and the First phaser to have a Continuous looping fire sound made possable by a new type of sound board developed…

[worklabournewsresearch]

The Working Poor in the Toronto Region: Third Report

“Written by Metcalf Innovation Fellow John Stapleton, with contributions by Dr. Carl James and Dr. Kofi Hope, The Working Poor in the Toronto Region: A closer look at the increasing numbers is Metcalf’s third in a series of reports aimed at illuminating the realities of working poverty in our region and providing an overview of the factors driving the continued rise in numbers.”

“The return of the mandatory long-form census, in 2016, has been critical to help illustrate both geographic and demographic characteristics of the working poor. By disaggregating the data, Stapleton identifies how incidents differ according to gender, age, education, and ethno-cultural and immigration status. For example, in the Toronto CMA, 46% of the working-age population is racialized, yet 63% of the working poor are racialized. Some of the highest rates of working poverty are among Toronto’s Black communities. Dr. James and Dr. Hope provide contextual framing for how this data might be interpreted.”

The Metcalf Foundation, November 26, 2019: The Working Poor in the Toronto Region: A closer look at the increasing numbers, by  John Stapleton, with contributions by Dr. Carl James and Dr. Kofi Hope (44 pages, PDF)

Toronto.com, November 27, 2019: “Analysis: Why does Toronto still need food banks in 2019?: Number of clients continues to grow year over year,” by Dominik Kurek

[alwayssummerblog]

Keith Urban to Headline Nashville’s New Year’s Eve Party

Get your New Year’s Eve plans in order because country rock star Keith Urban is leading the pack at this year’s Jack Daniel's Music City Midnight celebration. The Nashville based event will be Urban’s second time headlining and is set to feature performances by fellow country singers Maren Morris and Carly Pearce, rock group Cheap Trick, R&B singer Jonny P and the Fisk Jubilee Singers.

The musical party will be held at Nashville's Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park and is free to the public, with festivities beginning at 4pm on December 31. The concert will conclude with a fireworks display and the lowering of an illuminated music note to ring in 2018. Music City’s Midnight Celebration is also scheduled to be a featured location as part of CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen.

Artist: Keith Urban. Photo: Richard Gabriel Ford, Getty Images

Urban recently appeared at the 2017 CMT Artists of the Year Awards where he, Jason Aldean, Florida Georgia Line, Luke Bryan and Chris Stapleton were all being honored. The country singer, along with his fellow honorees, opened the night by acknowledging the recent tragedies that have occurred and wanted to send a message of hope and gratitude towards the country music community. "In some small way tonight, we want to thank you for your resolve and perhaps lift your spirits. We hope to remind you that everything we go though, we can get through when we stick together."

Urban also performed "Blue Ain't Your Color," for his wife, Nicole Kidman, ending the song by saying, "I love you baby." For upcoming performances and more on the country sensation, check out Urban’s official website here.