#Lash Classes In Las Vegas

[illuminolashesblog]

Eyelash Extension Classes in Las Vegas: Elevate Your Skills and Boost Your Beauty Career

Our Eyelash Extension Classes in Las Vegas teaches you the newest innovative technique for applying gel eyelash extensions. These quality LED lashes last longer and are safer and more comfortable than extensions applied with traditional lash glue. They also save time because they can be applied faster and without stickies.

THE METHOD COMPREHENSIVE EYELASH EXTENSIONS TRAINING COVERS THE FOLLOWING:

Classic & Volume eyelash extensions techniques with Lynk-Gel

Speed lashing with Lynk-Gel

Cleansing & safely securing upper and lower eyelids for application

Seamless Lynk-Gel eyelash extensions attachment, as well as product maintenance

Safe lash extension removal in two ways

Wrapping theory & method

Client consent & aftercare forms

[nabnailbar043]

Understand why you should only get your eye extensions done from a reputable eyelash extension salon Las Vegas

Do shaky hands, smeared eyeliners, and wet eyes always spoil your eye makeup look? Then don’t worry! Give yourself a break from cakey eye makeup by getting eyelash extensions.

Beauty enthusiasts have been obsessed with eyelash extensions ever since they were introduced. And for all the right reasons! Eye extensions not only save up on makeup application time, but they also lift your face to give you a stunning natural look. So, be prepared to turn heads if you get eyelash extensions!

Now, the harsh truth is you run the risk of eye infection if it is not done properly. Applying eye extensions correctly would require expertise from a trained professional. It is therefore advised that you get eye extensions from a reliable eyelash extension salon Las Vegas – NAB Nail Bar.

At NAB Nail Bar, you’ll find the finest professionals who can apply eyelashes in a safe manner.  Our professionals are certified and will examine your face in detail to determine which eyelash extensions are best for you. They have the ability to define your eyes beautifully and give them a fluffier, bolder appearance. So, you would never want to put your eye makeup on after you get eyelash extensions done from NAB Nail Bar.

For us, safety is our top priority. So, in addition to using the best products and professionals, we make sure that the health of your natural eyelashes doesn’t deteriorate.  So, you can be confident that your natural lashes will be in great condition even after removing the extensions. We value and respect all our customers and thus, to satisfy their needs, we go above and beyond.

 So, whether you want a dramatic or soft look, our professionals will customize the eyelashes’ just the way you want. The main advantage of getting eyelash extensions is their ability to mask undereye circles and bags under the eyes. Your gorgeous eyelashes are going to steal the show and make your dark circles look less noticeable.

What sets us apart from our competitors is our reasonably priced service. We believe that beauty doesn’t need to be highly-priced.  And so, we keep our prices pretty reasonable yet keep our quality intact. We strive to make every customer happy and ensure that they leave the salon feeling good about themselves. The reason, we are standing strong in the market is simply because of our high professionalism and world-class service facilities. Therefore, if you’re unsure about which eyelash extension salon Las Vegas to trust for eyelash extensions, go with us. We promise not to let you down.

For more information click: https://nabnailbar.com/ or contact: (702) 577-1680

[azdskinandmakeup]

Practice is the best teacher, or so the old saying goes. So when it comes to makeup learnings we trust, it’s only natural to turn to celebrity makeup artists whose mastery of their craft can be attributed to the countless hours they’ve spent perfecting their techniques on the most watched faces of showbiz in their makeup chairs. 

Be a part of AZD Makeup & Skin Inc to learn best skin care and makeup tips by professionals in Las Vegas. 

Anti aging facial treatment 

Acne facial treatment 

Anti-Acne facial treatment 

Oxygen hydra facial 

Microdermabrasion facial benefits 

Microneedling facial 

Eyelash extensions 

Classic Eyelash Extensions 

Volume lashes 

Microblading facial 

Makeup artist classes 

Professional Makeup 

Swedish Relaxation Massage 

Hot Stone therapy Body 

Exfoliation treatment 

Professional Makeup Artist 

Professional Makeup Classes

[bbastudiopro]

Grow Your Look with Handmade Lash Extensions in Las Vegas

In the glittering city of Las Vegas, where beauty and glamour reign supreme, it's no surprise that residents and visitors alike are constantly in search of ways to enhance their appearance. One beauty trend that has taken the city by storm is handmade lash extensions. These luxurious and customizable lash extensions are transforming the way people look and feel, making them the perfect accessory for anyone seeking to up their beauty game in Sin City.

Handmade lash extensions are not your average falsies. They are meticulously crafted by skilled technicians who take the time to create a customized look that suits your unique style and personality. Unlike machine-made extensions, which can sometimes look uniform and unnatural, handmade extensions provide a natural and seamless appearance.

The process begins with a consultation with a lash technician who will assess your natural lashes and discuss your desired look. Whether you want a subtle enhancement or full-on Hollywood glam, the technician will create a lash design tailored to your preferences. The extensions are carefully applied one by one, resulting in a stunning and long-lasting effect.

The Benefits of Handmade Lash Extensions

One of the biggest advantages of handmade lash extensions is their durability. Unlike traditional false lashes that need to be applied and removed daily, lash extensions can last for weeks with proper care. This means you can wake up each morning looking and feeling fabulous, without the hassle of applying mascara or falsies.

Handmade lash extensions are also incredibly versatile. They come in various lengths, thicknesses, and styles, allowing you to achieve the exact look you desire. Whether you prefer a subtle, natural look for everyday wear or dramatic, voluminous lashes for a special occasion, handmade extensions can accommodate your needs.

Moreover, these extensions are designed to be lightweight and comfortable, so you'll barely notice you're wearing them. Say goodbye to the discomfort of heavy false lashes or the fear of them falling off at the worst possible moment. Handmade lash extensions stay put, rain or shine, allowing you to enjoy your time in Las Vegas without worry.

Why Las Vegas is the Perfect Place for Handmade Lash Extensions

Las Vegas is a city that's all about glamour and making a statement. Handmade lash extensions fit perfectly into the city's culture of extravagance. Whether you're hitting the famous Las Vegas Strip for a night out on the town or attending a high-stakes poker game, your lashes will be on point and ready for any occasion.

In a city known for its world-class entertainment and vibrant nightlife, looking your best is essential. Handmade Lash Extension Las Vegas provide a convenient and low-maintenance way to achieve a flawless look that lasts throughout the day and night. Plus, they're perfect for those Instagram-worthy photos in front of iconic Las Vegas landmarks.

If you're looking to enhance your beauty and make a lasting impression in Las Vegas, handmade lash extensions are the way to go. These customized, durable, and versatile extensions will have you feeling like a true Las Vegas star. Say goodbye to the hassle of traditional false lashes and hello to a more glamorous, low-maintenance beauty routine. In a city that never sleeps, your lashes should never rest either. 

For More Info:-

Powder Brows Services Las Vegas

[minor-solemnity]

What's your favorite character from the golden trio era?

Oooh idk possibly this is an unpopular opinion - at least it was when I was like, properly in the fandom rather than where I am now which is firmly on the sidelines with my hands over my ears and ignoring everything that I don't like - but Cho Chang. This is probably in part because she got so much undeserved hatred (thank u fandom and author racism) and I am predisposed to like characters that people don't like.

I find her character so heartbreakingly real in a way that I think is entirely accidental on JKR's part. I don't think JK can write women. (Plz don't hate me for that, but like, it's true.) Everything interesting about the characters we are meant to like gets sanded down and ignored in the later books - Hermione's whole thing is like, book smart but not emotionally intelligent, she wants to be right and have people know she's right more than she cares about their feelings. She thinks rules are important until they apply to her. She is ruthless and vindictive and petty. These are interesting character traits that just get completely dropped in the later books. By the time book 6 ends and book 7 starts Hermione is 'wife' and 'mother' and it's kinda sad.

I digress.

Cho's boyfriend is murdered. Cho is understandably upset and heartbroken and sad af. She tries to find comfort in Harry because Harry was there, Harry must understand. Harry can help her process. Their ways of dealing with trauma are completely opposite to each other. Cho seeks emotional vulnerability and closeness from the boy who, of all people, will understand. Harry's way of processing trauma is to ignore it. It happened, it sucks, I will never speak of it again (until all my unprocessed emotions come spilling out and I end up lashing out and getting angry). Those two ways of dealing with trauma are not going to work well together. Harry is honestly a dick towards her - she's his fantasy. She's not a real person to him. When that fantasy comes crashing down he behaves pretty awfully towards her. And if you're reading critically, you come away thinking yeah, Cho's a whiny crybaby who doesn't get Harry at all. What a bitch. When in reality, it's more like - Cho is seriously fucked up and is trying to come to terms with her grief and seek comfort in someone who she thought would get it.

Imagine being like, 16 and being isolated and sad and so fundamentally misunderstood. Imagine being 18 and your friends are dead and the boy you liked is still dead and the other boy you thought you might like is a hero and the only thing you're really known for is the mess that is your grief. Imagine that the popular consensus is that your grief is something to be ridiculed.

I tend to pick and chose which parts of the extended canon I believe in, but I believe in Cho moving to America and getting hitched to an American muggle dude. (Moving to America is probably my own headcanon actually). What would motivate her to move across the world? Grief? Wonderlust? Anger? I imagine it's all three. Idk if this is a relatable feeling to a lot of people, but I get it. I have a constant itch under my skin that tells me to move on whenever a place starts to feel too much like home. To leave. To escape. Nowhere feels like home because home is a collection of broken things. It's a hall of funhouse mirrors - the wires in your brain get mixed up. Comfort and safety become synonymous with 'i will fuck this up' and 'i don't deserve this' and 'everyone will leave'.

I want so many things for Cho. I want her name to make sense. I want her to be seen as something other than 'pretty' and 'sad'. I want her in Boston slamming Sam Adams by Sam Adams grave because she finds it funny. I want her in Boston, learning to drive a car (stick-shift because the driving instructor had made a comment about how automatics are easier to learn and she is tired of people seeing her as something weak and unable). I want her road-raging and I want her to drive across the country because why the fuck not. I want her in New York and the city is so frantic and no one looks at her and she feels so small and the lights are so bright and she thinks maybe she could disappear here and no one would ever know. I want her to find a group of women rollerskating and maybe they invite her to their roller derby group. It isn't flying, but it's fast and aggressive and she's never allowed herself to be aggressive like this before. She's not allowed herself to be angry like this before. No one else has allowed her to be angry like this before.

I want her to go to California and to go to Angel Island and I want her to understand that there have been people like her before. That she is not alone in this feeling. I want her to meet a dude who's studying for an MBA - he doesn't know who she is. Doesn't know what she is. She's just this cute girl who drinks Sam Adams even tho that's a Boston thing and they're in San Diego. He's probably a frat boy. I want him to be a frat boy who takes his degree too seriously and wakes up at like 5 because he's also a gym rat. He takes her to his boxing class. She probably cries during and hey that's okay - she has a lot of shit to work through, he can tell. He doesn't ask about it. Just says her accent is cute. Maybe she starts taking night classes, maybe she doesn't. She's weirdly technologically illiterate - she sends him postcards even though they live in the same city. She says its because her school didn't let them have phones. She's never seen a Tarintino film and that's just like... not cool. They watch True Romance on his shitty box TV in his room in his frat house and she laughs (she laughs like the violence is cathartic) when Alabama completely destroys Virgil. He looks at her and she shrugs and says 'I get it.'

She says that's she's leaving soon - doesn't know where. Probably isn't coming back and again that's... not cool. She's weird about some stuff. Won't talk about home - won't say where she's from. He should be fine with it because like, it's not as if this is anything serious and his life is pretty clearly planned out. Get an MBA, work in some start-up tech company - the internet is a thing now and god, there's money to be made. He thinks maybe that she should like, stay but she also seems like the kind of person who doesn't know how to stop running. And look, he's doing an MBA. He rushed his frat. He goes to boxing every morning without fail. He's determined. He's not good at letting the things he wants go. But he lets her go because she doesn't want to stay. One night afterwards, his frat bro says, philosophical because they're crossfaded, that maybe she can't stay. Maybe she won't let herself stay. And that... That sounds about right.

So he waits. He waits and he gets postcards with no return address - in Seattle, she tries ice hockey. In Miami, she tries surfing. He almost gets on a plane to Cincinnati because she got into a fight with some dude who made his girlfriend cry in public. Apparently, she knocked him out with a punch just the way he showed her to. It feels weirdly romantic.

I want her to write a postcard to him when she's sitting in a bar in Las Vegas and I want her to include a return address. I want him on the first flight out, because fuck his classes? She included a return address. He asks her if she's ever going to go home and she looks at him and says, 'What? To San Diego?'

[nabnailbar]

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[shesawriter39049]

|ROLL DEEP|M| P.1

                 *Yoongi centered fic with a shared OT7 plot*

CH.1.1   CH. 1.2

**Operation: What’s eating blue!?***

_________________________________________________________

“Stop, this stopped being a you, thing and became a us thing  the minute we chose to show up here tonight! You gave us an out and we stayed...we will always stay...”

1.2 K Sneak Peek

Pairing: Yoongi x OC

Genre: Sugar baby AU/Suspense/Smut/Angst/Roomate AU/FWB AU

WC: 7K

Nonsexual Warnings: Mentions of drug use (Molly/weed/)Strong language/ Alcohol addictions/ brief mentions/ speculations of domestic violence/abuse

Sexual Warnings: Oral (M & F receiving) power bottom Min Yoongi, cum play, breath play, spanking, dirty talk, Slight overestimation, sex toys (Cock rings....) Semi-public sex (A chill little blow job in the car) The sexual warnings are for both parts of CH.1 so the smut is split in half!

NOTE:  Just to clarify the dynamic Yoongi and the OC are roommates who hookup on the side, they are BOTH sugar babies to two separate people! So yes, that would imply that Yoongi and some of the other boys who are also sugar babies are Bi. There is no MxM but there is mentions of it occasionally….as well as some harmless ot7 flirting! Also all of the boys are introed, Tae and Joon just play a lager part here!

_______________________________________________

I guess, fuck where do we even start? Maybe, will go back to where it all technically started, which was the last time things felt...somewhat normal yeah?

So, that would be...hmm...about 2 weeks shy of you heading into Junior year at USC right? The day your boys picked you up at the airport, and the three of your treated Blue, aka TaeTae to brunch!?

Well, wait let’s back track a little it all started much eariler than that, because you weren’t even aware of your brunch plans until later in the day. So Initially the day in question kicks of with you, in oversized blacked out CHLOE shades, hungover as fuck, sat in at the airport one Sunday afternoon. Smack dab in the middle of Terminal 6, in a bar called Blu2o sipping on a Bloody Mary, scrolling aimlessly through Snapchat. While simotaniously being told for the very first time ...that you’ll be attending a “Haute Couture”  themed charity auction...on Tuesday! Yup,  the day after tomorrow! Thank god he can’t see your damn face right now, biting down on your straw to muzzle yourself!

“No, babe it’s fine, I’ll just hit Rodeo tomorrow morning, and I’m sure my nail and lash girl can fit me-Oh you...haven’t gotten... what ...your wearing either?” Parroting the words back In slow motion as if it would make the words sound better or something!

Oh for fucks sake! Bringing your forehead flush to the marble bartop already feeling a full blown migraine brewing at the nape of your neck. Giving yourself a couple moments to self compose, this man is so damn unorganized it’s unfucking real. His personal assistant better be the 2nd highest paid person within his entire company because…..This is far from new, I don’t even know why your suprised and I’d say you don’t get paid enough for this....but ya do! So you suck it up, lose the attitude and slip right into your “Yes sir” or maybe I should say ‘Yes daddy” voice.

“Don’t worry about it, I know your busy. I totally get it, your a 28 waist right? Of course, I remember...I remember everything you tell me….Ohhh your gonna let me put you in color too???” Eyes flickering up to the notification from your bank, noting a cute little 12k wire pending.

“Yeah, no, I see it, that should be good. I was thinking Versace or Cavili for you anyway...they have good prints to fit the theme, and if all else fails I have my card too…yup..just landed about..hmm... 30 minutes ago actually. Of course, stop apologizing, Sunday's are always your golf days, I get it, hey, tell the guys I said hi and enjoy your day. Text me later if you feel up to it..k....bye..”

Were you actually getting a little flustered there towards the end? It's the slight accent, isn't it? Honestly, it didn't take much for you to slip into “character” with him, even after barely being together a full month. For one he wasn’t an asshole, had a decent sense of humor, and he’s really fuckin hot...however there was one, little, well shit, not so little issue...you noticed while with him recently. Which, then sparked quite a few questions while also answering some that had been rattling through your head since the day you met. But will circle back to the fact that you spent a week on vacation with a man, while dressed in some of the sexiest pieces of 2019 couture! Yet..you barely got touched once outside of a couple chaste kisses and hand-holding while at the two fashion shows you attended together… so, yeah, yeah!

A low groan in frustration rattled from your throat as you continued scrolling through Snapchat, trying to come up with some possible outfit scenarios in your head! It’s kinda funny, how mynute all of that seems now though, how your definition of “Stress” that day was you trying to decide if your sugar daddy was gay, while also  finding time to fit in a self-care day, shopping, and getting your books for school!!  The fact that, that was what you considered migraine worthy, fuck, what you wouldn’t give to consider multitasking your only maltitude of “stress” again …..

Just in your own little world, mind swirling with a couple of stylists you’ve met along the way, considering the idea of them pulling some vintage pieces for you instead!  What you should be doing, is scrolling through your contact list and texting said stylists, instead you find yourself more and more distracted.  Getting lost in the mounds of snap updates from Jimin as he “modestly” sunbathed in a private villa in Italy. Then later sharing a glimpse into his shopping spree from Versace, no doubt a good 20k worth of Italian luxury spread out along the plush white sheets. Sending him a cheeky little “That’s my boy” with a couple of smug winky faces in response!

It’s still kinda crazy to think, things like that are considered normal within your world now, the fact that you aren’t even surprised at the number of gifts. Or, simply the fact that your barley 21-year-old best friend is sunbathing in Italy on someone else’s dime. Then again, you just got sent 12 thousand dollars to spend on an event that would last maybe all of 5 hours, while sitting next to a stack of Louis Vuittion luggage from your first class flight in from Vegas, technically. Opting to land there first after a long 15-hour flight, checking in at The Four Seasons for not even a solid 24 hours before coming home! Honestly?There was no real reason for the pit stop except it gave you an excuse to see a friend while also allowing you to unwind in one of your favorite hotels!

That sentence alone is actually absurd when you really think about it, the idea of you casually booking flights and suites in 5-star hotels as if you’re ordering off the damn dollar menu at Mcdonalds! You, the girl that was working two jobs at the Groove and mourning a piece of shit cheating ex boyfriend her freshman year of college.....is now reminiscing about catching flights to chill with friends and last minute finding dresses for Couture themed galas.Like, what the actual fuck is life.... Oh my bad, life at the moment is constantly being paranoid that you and your friends will get arrested! Life in this moment however...was a fucking perfect!

The friend you where meeting in Vegas was Hoseok by the way, the redhead was currently vacationing in Sin City for the next couple of days, typically residing in LA as well. Just Chillin’ before the semester starts, living his best life, which revolves around “OFF-WHITE'' shopping sprees, private dance lessons, and constantly taking thirst trap pics for his 10’s of thousands of followers online. He randomly texts you saying “I miss your face” you text him saying “I land at 8 tonight bring a bottle and sushi to room 605 at The Four Seasons hotel '' Simple!

Your initial flight, the one that was 15 hours, was originally from Paris, where you spent the last week or so with Jeong-su, being arm candy, sipping wine, sightseeing and of course shopping!. Barley 32 hours ago your Snapchat looked pretty damn similar, if not worse in comparison to Jimin’s but what can I say, you can’t be in the home of Givenchy and Gaulthier and not go to Givenchy and Gaultier!

What your life is, what you and your friends do, I mean, I think it’s safe to say it’s pretty self-explanatory yeah? The average 20 something-year-old in college isn't flying themselves out of the country or going luxury shopping without a little help. In your case, it’s typically thanks to a person you commonly refer to as “Daddy” now, the context behind the word however….is where you and your friends may differ from others…..

But that’s your business, your concern and more importantly your choice, and honestly for a while life seemed too damn good to be true...I guess looking back on it now, I guess that’s because it kinda was!

Sat at the predominantly empty bar alone, more than content by the silence, twirling your straw between your lips, as you scanned back over the shit show that was your schedule for the semester! Getting more of a migraine from that, then shopping or even the fact that you're still hungover and drinking on an empty stomach at half-past 12. Shooting a quick text to your redheaded best friend cursing him out for getting you drunk off your ass on a bottle of Yamazaki 12.

“Can I get anything else for you beautiful? Another drink or maybe an appetizer? We have damn good loaded queso fries if I do say so myself!” Waving the menu in your face playfully, the warm, inviting voice in front of you was the bartender, who’s had his eye on you since you swayed in. Even if you looked like crap for your standards you knew to most you were the farthest thing from it as you swayed into the bar like you owned the place. In your heels, and tiny little black dress, while an airport assistant trolied in your luggage behind you! Ohhh Blair  Waldorf would without a doubt be proud!

“Mmmm…” Lips pursed in a slight pout as you raked over the menu, honestly, you were hungry and they have bomb ass fried pickles…..”Actually, yeah, I’ll get-”

“ 3 tall shots of whatever top-shelf Tequila you have, also add whatever she’s been drinking to my tab, along with an order of fried pickles with extra ranch…please and thank you!” Smoothly sliding his black card, and ID across the marble bartop for review.

Oh.

The look on the bartender’s face was fucking priceless, torn between shitting himself and maybe….nah, just straight shitting himself! Skin flushed, the sense of panic was clear as day,  wondering if he’d overstepped that fine line between customer service and filtration. Considering whoever the person behind you is, clearly knows you well enough to know your food order. A forced bashful smile playing along his lips as he bowed out in acknowledgment, sliding the gentelmen back is ID and whispering out a faint “Yes sir, coming right up…”

The base vibrating through your ears instantly had you readjusting your posture, a strong tingle running down your spine, back arching ever so slightly. A playful smirk playing along your lips as you slowly laced your tongue back around your staw, tucking a loose strand of hair behind your ear.

“You sure you wanna do that? My tastes are pretty expensive..” Tone blatantly flirtatious, yet you still hadn’t bothered to even turn around, that’s when suddenly you hear a deep arrogant chuckle rumbling low in his chest. Only...this sounds a little brighter? And like it’s coming from your left instead of behind you…

“Mmm, I’m sure we can handle it baby….”

You could feel the air shift behind you, it felt warmer, and there was a strong mix of scents flooding through your nose. Leaning back in your seat, pleasantly finding your shoulders, the back of your neck, and your head, cradled against a lean wall of silk. Sighing contently, naturally letting your body melt into his frame, nose running into your face as you smiled so hard your cheeks hurt. That’s when a gangle of veiny, porcelain limbs wrapped around your shoulders pulling you even tighter against him, only to find brown, sharp, cat-like eyes staring down at you, though a pair of translucent designer shades. Seemingly a little bit amused at how excited you are to see him. Long dark wavy locks falling messily into his face, a tiny silver hoop dawning his button nose. Tongue playing at the corner of his mouth, letting the tiny silver ball slip between his lips. This angle lets you really appreciate how sharp, yet soft his features were, an oxymoron that honestly makes no damn sense unless you see him in person….jawline sharp enough to cut glass yet he has the cutest cheeks ever when he smiles. It honestly makes no sense whatsoever and he’s one of the many reasons you have trust issues. Well, that and your line of work, considering the number of men you find out are married and still try and sneak around with you.

Then, as if to just make his presence known, there’s another pair of hands making their home along your body, gently squeezing your thigh. Except, he’s polar opposite to the person I just described, the man behind you is your roommate Yoongi, the man who just took a seat to your left, is your other roommate Namjoon! First off, he’s tall as all hell, and an offensively perfect shade of brown, he can’t even go into the burbs without being asked what self-tanner he uses. In which he smugly replies “Genetics” letting them sit there and try and google said company that makes that brand of self-tan. Streams of meticulously placed colored neo-traditional tattoos paint his skin, accompanied by deep dimples, and bleach blonde hair styled into an undercut, sides buzzed into the perfect fade.

“So you gonna get up and give me a real hug or what???”  Placing a kiss in your hair as he pulled back, giving you room to hop out of your seat and right into his arms.

The Full thing is coming soon, this is from summer 2019, I just have to edit, and reread the full thing again! I also wrote the first 3 parts all at once..sooo if your exicted show this some love anddddddddd come let me know!

Love you as always,

Rocki

[nyc-blacklist]

Some people say that Erin looks a lot like ALISHA BOE. Her faceclaim is semi-negotiable and she is currently AVAILABLE.

All Erin ever knew was lights. Growing up in Las Vegas meant that she was surrounded by light, laughter and life – always. After sixteen years of lusting after the lifestyle she was forbidden to be a part off, the young lady got her first fake ID, and suddenly the city was hers. She wasn’t popular in high school -she seemed to anonymously simply co-exist with most of the people there- but outside of those walls, she had more than just a name – she had a meaning.

It was easy for Erin to lose touch with the real world. She’d be out until the early hours and return to her parents whom had grown immune to her antics after only a few months of repetition. That was, until she began to come home too drunk or too high or not at all for days at a time – escorted by the police on several occasions. She began to miss classes, lose grades, and lose interest in anything but the nightlife she’d always strived to be at one with. Her parents kept quiet despite their concern, which is why it came as such a shock when she was sent away.

Denver was nothing like Vegas. The juvenile delinquency center wasn’t close to her precious night life and there were no neon lights to send her to sleep. She would (attempt to) sleep in the dark and be forced awake at six in the morning for school. The girls there were hostile and had no interest in meeting new people in the way that Erin so naturally did, and it left her to wander alone from one day to the next.

With a tendency to lash out with frustration, Erin wasn’t released from the center until a little over a year later. Despite spending her time away just waiting to return to her hometown, the girl, on a whim, headed for the east coast. She had no money, no friends, no idea how she managed, but somehow Erin hitchhiked and bargained her way to New York in less than two weeks’ time. It wasn’t quite Vegas, but it was close enough, and so it was where she stayed and, over time, she made new connections and a place for herself.

Relationships

Employee at Othello - Spending most of her time out on the floor selling shots, Erin has one of the only jobs in the club that allows her to get a little tipsy. The owner had realised pretty early on that she had a knack for charming free drinks out of their customers so he decided that, if it meant more profits, he could look past her having a couple of shots on the job. This, she often thinks, is what I’m best at.

[francisalberts]

Cool, cool evening | Closed

The breeze caressed the skin of his face gently as he walked down the street, his bright blue eyes observing the world around him. The sun had gone down now, and the world was so much more different at night. Particularly down town. Frank liked it much more downtown. Things were livelier, happier, and people were more comfortable with themselves.

Uptown, people were all about money. Relationships weren't authentic or natural. People were accessories to one another. But downtown, everything was real. Frank could only take so much of the uptown society for so long. He did like classy broads. But they were all into money...and they knew they were higher class...and although they tolerated Frank so long, his relationship with Ava had shown him that eventually, women would reveal what they really thought of him. That he was still that kid from Hoboken, who carried change in his pocket, and never grew up.

Frank placed his cigarette into his mouth, lighting it between his clasped hands, before he shoved his hands back into his suit trouser pockets. He wandered towards the club, now run mainly by Fitz. He recalled Fitz. Now of age. Pink cheeked. Long eye lashes. Soft spoken, but amusing. Boisterous sometimes, but mostly, delicate. The last time they had seen each other they had seen one another in a different way. Flirtatious. Almost intimate in how bare they had laid out their personalities to one another. Different to what everyone else had seen. And although this was frightening, Frank couldn't deny this was his favourite place still to go to in Las Vegas - for the reason of the atmosphere and the company.

Frank strolled into the bar, seeing how busy it was already. He removed his hat from his head, running fingers through his hair to smooth it down as he looked around - looking for those he knew, and observing those he didn't.

@like-a-dame-fitz

[newstfionline]

Tuesday, May 10, 2022

Workers grapple with new stresses as they return to office (AP) Last summer, Julio Carmona started the process of weaning himself off a fully remote work schedule by showing up to the office once a week. The new hybrid schedule at his job at a state agency in Stratford, Connecticut, still enabled him to spend time cooking dinner for his family and taking his teenage daughter to basketball. But in the next few months, he’s facing the likelihood of more mandatory days in the office. And that’s creating stress for the father of three. Carmona, 37, whose father died from COVD-19 last year, worries about contracting the virus but he also ticks off a list of other anxieties: increased costs for lunch and gas, day care costs for his newborn baby, and his struggle to maintain a healthy work-life balance. “Working from home has been a lot less stressful when it comes to work-life balance,” said Carmona, who works in finance at Connecticut’s Department of Children and Families. “You are more productive because there are a lot less distractions.” As more companies mandate a return to the office, workers must readjust to pre-pandemic rituals like long commutes, juggling child care and physically interacting with colleagues. But such routines have become more difficult (and more expensive) two years later.

Oh, rats! As New Yorkers emerge from pandemic, so do rodents (AP) They crawled to the surface as the coronavirus pandemic roiled New York City, scurrying out of subterranean nests into the open air, feasting on a smorgasbord of scraps in streets, parks and mounds of curbside garbage. As diners shunned the indoors for outdoor dining, so did the city’s rats. Now city data suggests that sightings are more frequent than they’ve been in a decade. Through April, people have called in some 7,400 rat sightings to the city’s 311 service request line. That’s up from about 6,150 during the same period last year, and up by more than 60% from roughly the first four months of 2019, the last pre-pandemic year. In each of the first four months of 2022, the number of sightings was the highest recorded since at least 2010, the first year online records are available. With more people spending time outdoors as temperatures grow warmer, will rat sightings further surge?

Strong winds batter New Mexico, complicating wildfire fight (AP) Dangerous, gusty winds were expected to continue Monday across northeast New Mexico, complicating the fight against wildfires that threaten thousands of homes in mountainous rural communities. The region’s largest city—Las Vegas, New Mexico, home to 13,000 people—was largely safe from danger after firefighters mostly stopped a blaze there from moving east. But the northern and southern flanks of the wildfire proved trickier to contain as wind gusts topped 50 mph (80 kph). More than 1,600 firefighters were out Sunday battling the two major blazes burning northeast of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Together they covered 275 square miles (some 710 square kilometers), an area more than twice the size of Philadelphia. Firefighters had contained nearly half of the blazes by Sunday night.

Costa Rica’s new leader takes over with a blast at the past (AP) Rodrigo Chaves began a four-year term as Costa Rica’s president on Sunday, taking office with a lengthy list of reproaches for his predecessor and the country’s political class while promising great change. Shortly after being given the ceremonial presidential sash by outgoing President Carlos Alvarado Quesada, Chaves lashed out at the state of the nation he has been left to lead, complaining of the high cost of living, crime, drug trafficking and long lines at social security offices. “Not only are we going to put the house in order, we are going to rebuild it!” he vowed. “This is the sign our our times. It is the urgency for change that cannot be delayed, the cry of a democracy that we will not let disappear!” Chaves may find governing difficult, however: His party has only 10 of 57 seats in the legislature. Costa Rica has enjoyed relative democratic stability compared with other countries in the region, but the public has grown frustrated with public corruption scandals and high unemployment.

Russia marks WWII victory overshadowed by Ukraine (AP) Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday sought to cast Moscow’s military action in Ukraine as a forced response to Western policies and a necessary move to ward off a potential aggression. Speaking at a military parade on Red Square marking the World War II victory over the Nazis, Putin drew parallels between the Red Army’s fighting against the Nazi troops and the Russian forces’ action in Ukraine. While lambasting the West, Putin gave no indication of a shift in strategies or made any indication that he was going to declare a broad mobilization, as some in Ukraine and the West have feared. Addressing the phalanxes of elite Russian troops filling Red Square, Putin said the campaign in Ukraine was a necessary move to avert what he described as “a threat that was absolutely unacceptable to us (that) has been methodically created next to our borders.”

Russia’s ultimate political survivor faces a wartime reckoning (Washington Post) Sergei Shoigu, the consummate survivor of Russian politics, has always had a knack for PR. The 66-year-old Russian defense minister for years presided over theatrical exercises, rattled off statistics about personnel, and boasted of fearsome new weaponry—all to project the image of a Russian military on the rise under his guidance. But in the 2½ months since the Kremlin launched a war against Ukraine, the facade that Shoigu meticulously presented over the past decade has disintegrated. Having retreated from its attack on Kyiv, the Russian military is facing immense pressure to save face and capture a larger swath of Ukraine’s east. Questions persist about how much blame Shoigu should bear for the Russian force’s failures—as opposed to Russia’s military leaders and intelligence chiefs, widely seen to have miscalculated how much Ukrainians would resist. The ultimate outcome on the battlefield may determine the future of Shoigu, the longest-serving minister in Russia. Can the great survivor of Russian politics, often seen as a possible next Russian president, survive even this?

Russia’s Grave Miscalculation: Ukrainians Would Collaborate (NYT) The solicitation to commit treason came to Oleksandr Vilkul on the second day of the war, in a phone call from an old colleague. Mr. Vilkul, the scion of a powerful political family in southeastern Ukraine that was long seen as harboring pro-Russian views, took the call as Russian troops were advancing to within a few miles of his hometown, Kryvyi Rih. The offer failed spectacularly. Once war had begun, Mr. Vilkul said, the gray area seeped out of Ukrainian politics for him. Missiles striking his hometown made the choice obvious: He would fight back. “I responded with profanity,” Mr. Vilkul said in an interview. If the first months of the war in Ukraine became a military debacle for the Russian army—deflating the reputations of its commanders and troops in a forced retreat from Kyiv—the Russian invasion also highlighted another glaring failure: Moscow’s flawed analysis of the politics of the country it was attacking. The Kremlin entered the war expecting a quick and painless victory, predicting that the government of President Volodymyr Zelensky would fracture and that leading officials in the largely Russian-speaking eastern region would gladly switch sides. That has not happened. In all but a tiny number of villages, Russia failed to flip local politicians to its side. “Nobody wanted to be part of that thing behind the wall,” said Kostyantyn Usov, a former member of Parliament from Kryvyi Rih, referring to Russia’s isolated, authoritarian system. He said that system had dismal appeal in Ukraine and noted the absence of widespread collaboration with Russia, including among Ukrainians who speak Russian and share the country’s cultural values.

Ukraine is rebuilding (Washington Post) The mere sight of a child here—wearing sunglasses, pulling a scooter, bugging his mother to buy him candy—was enough to impress Petro Trotsenko, a stall owner at a market in Bucha that reopened this past week. Just over a month ago, the market lay bare, looted of all its wares, cut up by shrapnel. The nearby glass factory where Trotsenko, 74, worked in his younger years was being used as a torture chamber by Russian soldiers occupying this suburb of Kyiv. Nearly every yard was filled with rubble, burned-out vehicles and makeshift graves. Nearly every family with children had fled. Trotsenko and his wife, who hid for weeks in their basement, burned wood from the fence that surrounded their house to boil rainwater. That’s how they cooked the gruel that kept them alive. But in about the same amount of time as the Russians occupied Bucha, the city has remade itself. The market is open, and Trotsenko has restocked. Huge divots in roads where the shells fell have been paved over. The suburban train to Kyiv is running again. Water and electricity have been largely restored. Families are returning. President Volodymyr Zelensky says it will cost Ukraine at least $600 billion to rebuild what has been destroyed in Bucha and across the country during the Russian invasion. But local officials and regular citizens are not waiting for some new Marshall Plan. They are cleaning up and rebuilding their cities, even as the question of when the war will end remains unanswerable. Volunteers are mostly carrying it out, allowing government funds to remain focused on the war.

China’s robot-built 3D-printed dam (SCMP) China is using artificial intelligence to effectively turn a dam project on the Tibetan Plateau into the world’s largest 3D printed project, according to scientists involved. The 180 meter (590 feet) high Yangqu hydropower plant will be built slice by slice – using unmanned excavators, trucks, bulldozers, pavers and rollers, all controlled by AI – in the same additive manufacturing process used in 3D printing. When completed in 2024, the Yangqu dam will send nearly 5 billion kilowatt hours of electricity each year from the upper reaches of the Yellow River to Henan, the cradle of Chinese civilization and home to 100 million people.

Marcos Jr. won Philippine presidency, unofficial count shows (AP) The namesake son of late Philippine leader Ferdinand Marcos appeared to have been elected Philippine president by a landslide in an astonishing reversal of the 1986 “People Power” pro-democracy revolt that ousted his father. Marcos Jr. had more than 30.8 million votes in the unofficial results with more than 97% of the votes tabulated as of Tuesday afternoon. His nearest challenger, Vice President Leni Robredo, a champion of human rights, had 14.7 million votes in Monday’s election, and boxing great Manny Pacquiao appeared to have the third highest total with 3.5 million. His running mate, Sara Duterte, the daughter of the outgoing leader and mayor of southern Davao city, had a formidable lead in the separate vice presidential race.

The Farm Dog of the Year (WSJ) Westminster isn’t the only dog show in town. The American Farm Bureau Federation started its contest in 2018, in partnership with Nestlé Purina PetCare. Think manure, not manicures. The current winner is Fit, a 33-pound black-and-white border collie who herds sheep on a farm near Orlando, Fla. She beat out 100 contestants for a title that carries a $5,000 cash prize, a year’s supply of dog chow—and recognition for the scrappy dynamos that work on farms and ranches across the country.

[nevernevadahq]

Everyone suspects BLAKE LUCAS ROUSSEAU of at least one of the cardinal sins, but in Nevada, the worst sins are bound by blood and this is HIS: THE BROTHER'S OF ICHOR. HE rolled the dice TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO as a TREASURER. Under the desert sun, they claim the act of CO-OWNER OF ROUSSEAU'S / DEALER. They’re often mistaken for MAXENCE DANET-FAUVEL before those crimson colored glasses slide down their nose. LUKE better get busy living, or they’ll get busy dying by the ripe age of TWENTY-FIVE. There are no second acts in a marked life, and it’s measured out by the melody of MY.LIFE BY J.COLE FT. 21 SAVAGE & MORRAY.

DATE OF BIRTH: April 21, 1997

GENDER AND PRONOUNS: Cis Man, He/Him

HOMETOWN: Las Vegas, NV

MARK: Jacket

CHARACTER BIOGRAPHY [TW: DEATH, DRUG MENTION]

Life wasn't always this draining. It used to be fun, free, and full of optimism. But that was in the past now. For a second, Luke had a future. A gifted child with a good head on his shoulders, his teachers would say he'd be a businessman, a lawyer, and one of them even suggested the president. However, things quickly changed for the worse once he turned eight. With his mother leaving the family, his older brother in the army, and his dad working too hard to pay attention, Luke found himself losing interest in classes and lashing out. The boy was smart, but he was too stressed to focus on anything, and being disruptive was as much of an escape as it was a role to take to avoid reality. Luke had always been close to his siblings, looking up to his brother and father, protecting his mother and his sister. When his mother left, his image of a perfect family shattered quickly. He saw his father suffer and overwork, he remembered the calls he made to his brother who wasn't even home, he remembered crying himself to sleep when nobody was looking. It wasn't about living anymore, it was about surviving.

As he grew into a teenager, he wanted to help his father as much as he could, they had always enjoyed a close relationship and he felt like he needed to contribute more to the family now. Ever since he was young, he had admired his father's role in the Brotherhood, and now that he wasn't a kid anymore, he started closing in on the organization and actively trying to participate more. Slowly, he found himself rising to the rank of treasurer. Life seemed good, it was stable, and he was recovering from his mother's departure. Then, the worse that could happen had happened. His father disappeared or died, the answer changes depending on who you ask. Personally, Luke finds himself conflicted, two sides inside of him picking at his brain trying to convince him of one or the other fate. He couldn't believe that their father, the strong man who brought him and his siblings up, the gang member, would just die. He had to have been hiding, right? At least that's what his brain convinced him of thinking. Perhaps, it was escapism, perhaps it was his way to cope with another traumatic event.

Luke grew up in Nevada, seeing the bright lights and the City of Sin throughout the years. He remembered working as a store clerk trying to make some money to help keep his family afloat and pay for his college education, but quickly quitting once he saw that dealing paid far better. He found himself targeting an audience that would pay a premium for his product. A pretty boy, educated, and in a suit could enter any fancy restaurant or hotel and establish a conversation with businessmen or frat boys who'd be interested in what he had to sell. Work smarter, not harder.

You reap what you sow and Luke definitely found himself enjoying the new luxuries that his side hustle would give him. He threw away the books and lecture notes, changing them for alcohol, drugs, dancers, and the high life of a playboy. He transferred himself from studying finance at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas to some online university where he cheated his way through and half-assedly listened to the lectures. He had learned what he needed to and now just wanted the degree just for the sake of fulfilling his,now gone, father's wishes.

Smart, manipulative, a survivalist. Luke wasn't a genius, but he was far from being dumb. A balanced mix between book smarts and street smarts. His temper gets the best of him, though. He can be loud, obnoxious, and a little too reactionary at times. When it comes to business, he analyzes and finds the better alternative to each plan. When it comes to his emotional side, he's a mess. Luke grew up too fast, matured too fast, in some areas he's a grown up and in others, he's still a petulant teenager who throws a fit if he doesn't get his way.

BLAKE ROUSSEAU IS WRITTEN BY LEXA.

[skypalacearchitect]

On Monday, a pipe bomb, most likely hand-delivered, was discovered in the mailbox of philanthropist George Soros's New York suburban home. The culprit was unknown, but it was just the start. Yesterday, as CNN anchors were reporting live on explosive devices addressed to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Barack Obama, a fire alarm went off in the background. The anchors hurried off the air as the CNN offices in New York City were evacuated due to a suspicious package.

Soon reports came that more suspicious packages were also sent to Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), former FBI director John Brennan, and former attorney general Eric Holder. The return address on the package to Holder, as it was for others, was for former DNC chairwoman Rep. Debbie Wasserman Shultz (D-Fl.). And because the delivery address on the Holder package was incorrect, it was sent to Wasserman Schultz's Florida office, prompting an evacuation. Police later intercepted similar packages addressed to Former Vice President Joe Biden and outspoken Trump critic Robert De Niro; the San Diego building housing Sen. Kamala Harris's (D-Calif.) headquarters was also evacuated because of suspicious packages. Altogether, there were three evacuations and 11 bomb scares in the span of a couple days. We don't yet know who sent the explosive devices or what his or her motivations were, but we do know who the intended victims are and their connection to one another is no mystery.

The targets—predominantly the former and current Democratic leadership—were the very same ones at which Trump has aimed his vitriol since his political debut in 2008: Obama, the subject of the racist birther conspiracy theory, and Soros, the subject of an anti-Semitic one; Waters denigrated as having "extraordinarily low IQ"; "loudmouth partisan hack" Brennan; "enemy of the people" CNN; and Wasserman Schultz, whom he accused of "corruption." Even in light of botched explosives, there was no sign that Trump supporters would abate in their parroting of this invective bombast. On the very same day an explosive device was sent to Clinton, the MAGA mob at a Mosinee, Wisconsin rally howled "LOCK HER UP! LOCK HER UP!" Nevermind that the original offense—Clinton's potentially exposing sensitive information via e-mail—was the one Trump was guilty of, as reported that day in The New York Times, by making calls on smartphones, despite aides warning that they were not secure from Chinese spying.

As soon as reports on the bombs came out, the white knights of false equivalency galloped to the scene, brandishing swords of both-siderism. Former Vice President Joe Biden, offered vague and meaningless pablum: "This country has to come together. This division, this hatred, this ugliness has to end." Chuck Schumer took a step further, implicating liberals: "Make no mistake: Despicable acts of violence and harassment are being carried out by radicals across the political spectrum—not just by one side." Meghan McCain equated the explosive devices with Majority Leader Mitch McConnell getting heckled at restaurants. The National Review's David French asked if "there was any momentum for toning things down,"citing this week's bomb scares, as well a recent ricin threat to Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and the 2017 shooting of Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.). "We are still blessed with relative political peace. But we shouldn't fool ourselves. That can change," French later wrote. "The late Sixties and early Seventies saw a surge of political violence on a scale that would shock the conscience of Americans today."

Herein was the issue: flattening political discourse to nothingness, as if the civil rights activists struggling for voting rights and white supremacists agitating to suppress them were on equal sides of the same coin. In the '60s and '70s, as today, it was fringe activists, like the Weather Underground, who engaged in political violence on the left, while on the right, the political violence, including police beatings and mob murders of non-violent civil rights activists, was openly sanctioned by establishment political figures. Sure, a former Bernie Sanders volunteer, as Press Secretary Sarah Sanders cited in defense of Trump, shot up a GOP baseball game, but Bernie, unlike Trump, doesn't offer incitements of violence as a regular feature of his speeches. There are, of course, loonies and extremists of all political stripes, but only the leaders of one political party have consistently encouraged extrajudicial violence, viciously attacked the free press, and advocated for the imprisonment of political opponents: the GOP.

Trump has led the way, explicitly promoting violence and assailing the press. He has repeatedly struck an offensive on facts and reporting, sliming the media as "fake news," "dishonest," and "a real problem in this country," attacking CNN, in particular, as the "enemy of the people." At his rallies, journalists have become a punching bag, with hecklers screaming insults and obscenities in their faces. There is simply nothing bearing any resemblance to this attack on the First Amendment, nevermind an equivalence, coming from the Democratic leadership. This morning, unsurprisingly reversing on his brief call for unity, Trump tweeted out a victim-blaming and threatening assessment of the attempted bombings: "A very big part of the Anger we see today in our society is caused by the purposely false and inaccurate reporting of the Mainstream Media that I refer to as Fake News. It has gotten so bad and hateful that it is beyond description. Mainstream Media must clean up its act, FAST!"

For many years now, Trump has condoned extrajudicial violence in no uncertain terms. He has repeatedly expressed admiration for murderous dictators, particularly those who dispose of adversarial journalists. Last week, at a Montana rally, he praised Rep. Greg Gianforte (R-Mont.), who assaulted a reporter last spring, as "my kind of guy" specifically because he had "body-slammed a reporter." Gianforte was never censured by his Republican colleagues for physically attacking a journalist. By contrast, Democratic leaders, like Schumer, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and former Obama advisor David Axelrod have gone out of their way to scold liberal protest—the nonviolent exercise of free speech—at restaurants.

On the 2016 campaign trail, Trump leaned heavily on violent fantasy, urging supporters in Cedar Rapids, Iowa to "knock the crap out of" protestors, promising to pay their legal fees; telling a Las Vegas crowd "I'd like to punch him in the face, I'll tell you" of another protestor; and directing security at a winter Vermont rally to confiscate protestors' coats before kicking them out. The crowd ate it up. Trump security choked a Time photographer in Virginia rally. And in North Carolina, a Trump supporter punched a Black Lives Matter protester at a rally, and another protester was beaten by a mob in Alabama. Of the latter attack, Trump complained on Fox News that the protester "was so obnoxious and so loud" that "maybe he should have been roughed up."

While Trump has unequivocally called for actual violence, his administration has lashed out at non-violent political protest, like a 26-seat farm-to-table restaurant refusing service to Press Secretary Sanders, denouncing, along with the pearl-clutching political class, so-called "leftist mobs" for exercising political speech. After Rep. Waters encouraged progressives to confront "anybody from that Cabinet" in public to "push back" on the policy of family separation at the border, Trump twisted it into an us-versus-them attack, issuing a warning: "she has just called for harm to supporters…of the Make America Great Again movement. Be careful what you wish for Max." Of Kavanaugh's critics, he said "these people are evil." While the president cares little for policy, wavering back and forth on issues, one of the few consistencies in his political ideology is that it is premised on the debasement and dehumanization of the other.

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[tkmedia]

Robert Saleh captivates New York Jets with new-school coaching, folksy stories

6:00 AM ETFLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- New York Jets coach Robert Saleh is a storyteller. Just the other day, he told one of his favorites."The camel story," defensive end Ronnie Blair said with a smile.In the team meeting, Saleh described a trip to the zoo with his kids, how they observed the camels and got into a conversation about the camel's unusual body parts. Each foot has two giant toes, he explained, which helps them walk in the desert. Their long lashes protect their eyes from wind-blown sand. The two humps serve as energy storage.No doubt, some players were thinking, "Where's coach going with this?"In the end, Saleh told his players they, too, have unique traits, which allowed them to reach the NFL. To survive in the league, he said to them, you have to apply those gifts because they make you special.Just like that, it all made sense. There's a lot of that happening around One Jets Drive.Welcome to their new Camel-ot.After two disappointing seasons under former coach Adam Gase, the Jets have a new leader, a new energy and a new way of doing business. Saleh has captivated the organization with his upbeat demeanor, streamlined practices and, yes, folksy stories, which he adopted from his mentor, Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Gus Bradley.Catch the 2020 Centennial Class ceremony in Canton, Ohio on Saturday (6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN), followed by the 2021 HOF class induction on Sunday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN):• Peyton Manning changed QBing forever • Troy Polamalu's lasting bond with Bill Cowher • Jimmy Johnson: 'How 'bout them Cowboys?' • Charles Woodson's legendary path in NFL • Winston Hill, Joe Namath's friendship • Get to know this year's HOF classes • Videos: Watch these HOF moments Saleh is widely known as the fist-pumping, chest-bumping former defensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers, but there's another side to him. There's a quiet confidence players appreciate."One thing I love about coach Saleh is he's very confident in what he's trying to push," Jets linebacker Jarrad Davis said. "When someone is confident, you don't have to be overbearing. You don't have to come on strong. It's not rah-rah. It's not the movie-scene speeches. It's just, 'We practice this way, we believe in this.'"Guard Greg Van Roten said, "You'd see him on ESPN and stuff, jumping around, and you're like, 'This guy needs to calm down a little bit.' But now, being in his building and around his staff, there's no doubt as to the culture he's trying to instill. You hear it all the time: All gas, no brake. Cut it loose. Play fast. Have fun."Football wasn't fun last season for the Jets, who stumbled to one of the worst seasons in franchise history (2-14). It wasn't all Gase's fault, but his frowning personality added a layer of gloom. He and Saleh are nothing alike. The only thing they have in common is their home state, Michigan. They're as different as Woodstock and Carnegie Hall as concert venues.At practice, Saleh walks through the lines during the stretching period and fist bumps every player. If he's not doing that, he's talking to his assistants. Gase usually spent that time off to the side, chatting with reporters. While those conversations sometimes provided insight into his thinking about the team and certain players, they also sent a mixed message to his players. He'd rather be with them than us.Saleh doesn't yell during practice. He's chill, and so are his coaches. They believe in teaching, not berating. Gase wasn't a yeller, but former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was known for his salty, high-decibel rants."It's kind of weird, not hearing a coach yell because I've experienced that," said Jets running back Ty Johnson, who played for former Detroit Lions coach Matt Patricia.After the first public practice, Saleh walked over to the bleachers and spoke to a few hundred fans, thanking them for venturing out despite coronavirus pandemic concerns to watch his team. It was a small, but meaningful gesture. Gase's focus was strictly football, not the fans or public appearances. He once skipped the team's glitzy uniform-reveal party in Manhattan.Coach Robert Saleh is leaning on messaging and fundamental teachings to inspire these Jets on the field. Vincent Carchietta/USA Today SportsSaleh is the face of the franchise and he embraces it. In the spring, he attended NBA and NHL playoff games at Madison Square Garden, Barclay Center and Nassau Coliseum, playing to the camera whenever his face appeared on the JumboTron.He is most comfortable in front of the team. Every day, he highlights a specific football technique, showing it performed by a player in three different settings -- walk-through, individual period and team period."There's always a very clear message that he wants to get across," Van Roten said. "He's showing us, 'Hey, these are the things we're going to teach you, this is how we want it applied and this is what it's supposed to look like.'"It could be a defensive back in press coverage or an offensive lineman exploding off the ball. Saleh called it the "duality of coaching," how everyone can learn when a specific skill is taught, even those at different positions."The energy he brings is infectious," Jets defensive end John Franklin-Myers said. "Sometimes you get in a routine where it's the same thing every day. It's hard to come to work. But he comes in a room and just jumps out. As soon as he gets in the room, you see his smile. You hear his determination speaking to us. When he goes in a room, he captures everybody's eyes. He captures everybody. You can hear a pin drop."The man can hold a room, especially with his stories. They're his way of breaking up the monotony and teaching a life lesson.NFL Nation reporters break down every division to get your ready for the season.• NFC East | AFC East • NFC North | AFC North • NFC South | AFC South • NFC West | AFC West "We all have messages as coaches," Saleh said. "This can get very redundant to a player, but when you deliver it in the form of a story, it's more attachable. They're listening, they're engaged. Sometimes, they're like, 'All right, where's he going with this one?' Then they hear your punch line and they remember it.""You can tell he puts a whole lot of time into these stories," said Blair, who played for Saleh in San Francisco. "It's very important to him and, if it's important to the head coach, you want to listen."Saleh also changed the length and structure of practice. He usually keeps it under the two-hour limit and his schedule includes high days and low days. Tuesday was a high day: Full pads with five team periods, five plays apiece. Wednesday was a low day: Helmets only, with four team periods, three plays apiece. They went back to full pads on Thursday, their most taxing practice of camp.Old-school coaches might cringe at such a dialed-back approach, but Saleh doesn't want to beat up his players before the season starts. Maybe that explains why the Jets have fewer soft-tissue injuries than previous camps. He also doesn't devote much time to 7-on-7 periods, a training-camp staple for other teams. He doesn't consider them "live" reps because there's no line play and no pass rush.Saleh is enjoying what he calls "the world's greatest honeymoon." After all, the fans love him and there's no place to go but up. Eventually, he will have to deliver wins. The Jets own the NFL's longest active playoff drought (10 years), and the fan base is desperate for respectability. They haven't had a winning year since 2015, let alone a postseason berth.Saleh knows how to survive dry spells. He has this story about a camel ... Read the full article

[lucindaspvcks]

𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕣𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟.

→ IN CHARACTER INFORMATION

Character Name: Lucinda Kingsman

Nicknames: Luc, Carver, Ghost, Snipe, Cin & Kingie 

Character Age: Twenty Nine

Gender: Female.

Occupation: Bar Owner & Assassin

Location: Las Vegas, Nevada.

Affiliation: The Cranes

Trigger warnings below: Serial killer, assassination, body mutilation, murder, violence, arranged marriage, parental death,

+ Intelligent, Precocious, Logical & Adaptable 

- Snarky, Emotionally-Void, Untrustworthy & Sly

→ BIOGRAPHY

Lucinda Kingsman was that of a princess. Known to those around her as the woman who got everything she wanted but still sat upon her throne made by her late father. Born into a family that was what others would distinguish as one of the deadliest that ran through her hometown; Hudson, New Jersey.

Lucinda from the get go in her life was a woman who was very much the child that every mother hoped their child would not befriend. Known for being a brat who was spoilt and always got her own way never sat right with those around her. But of course with the name that her family had made for themselves meant that they let them run a riot without ever really disciplining the child. No one could pin anything on the family but those around knew that the business they were in was no where near legal. But the cops were in their pockets making their lives easier.

As a small child Lucinda had a love for carved wooden objects such as animals, people, dolls houses and anything that she could use around her room or the masses of land that the Kingsman family owned. So much so that her family allowed her to start attending classes within their household where she learnt how to make them herself; a possible new side business from their own child if they harnessed it correctly.

Throughout the years as she slowly grew from a child into a young woman and the family saw a change that they loved. She was a true Kingsman, loyal and family orientated. So much so that eventually she started working for her parents; it was the inevitable and she had longed for the day that she’d make her family proud by bringing in business and money for them. It was in her to be part of their lifestyle; she’d always wanted it. A true serial killer’s daughter, made of crooked money and dodgy deals.

Loyalty ran so deep through her that it would possibly bring her early demise; she would happily die for anyone within her family. But outside of that she held no allegiance to anyone, she did not believe in the need for human companionship outside of her circle.

It would be no shock to those who knew her well enough to know that there was something dark that ran through the petite dark haired girl. A narcissist with little to no emotion towards other people that came into her life. She saw people as dispensable and for her own personal use until she could dispose of them.

Blood lust also ran strong through her from the small age of fifteen; her favourite weapon a knife. Carving wood had gone and turned into the soft skin of people. The love to watch them squirm, the screams and begs to be set free. It was like she’d gotten a taste of evil and took as much of it as she could and created a monster; herself. People knew there was something off about the way she was with people. She began to delve deeper as she would kill people for fun, torture with just a knife changed, she would find ways to watch people die; even so much so delving into places like the dark web to cure her desires.

Some simply put it down the fact that she was spoilt and her family had done so in a way that meant she didn’t act normal, it was like she thought she could walk on water. But that was not it; there was a need to kill that scared some people around her that knew of her murderous tendencies.

Aged Nineteen was when the family broke the news to her; they had arranged for her to date a man of the families choice; they wanted her to do this so they could land a good deal for the business in trading; assassination. It was like someone had told her they were taking a child’s play things away, a full blown tantrum was thrown by Lucinda as realisation hit her that she was simply a business deal. Although treated to everything she wanted through life, there were things even she had to do that she hated more than anything. So she agreed.  

When agreeing Lucinda has felt a little out of sorts; having to spend time with someone she could really care less about and she is pretty sure they don’t even like her either. It was family business after all; he was in the same boat. Family dinners were awkward but she had one person in her life that made everything better. His name was Jameson and although she never romantically liked him, she did grow to like him as a person. 

It was a shame she didn’t have more time to get to know him. 

But that didn’t prepare her for the murder of her parents. A job gone grown tore her world apart in seconds, and if Lucinda knew anything it was that if she didn’t get out of here she’d be the lose end they were tying up. So she ran. And she kept running until she set foot in one of the best places she could ever have imagined to re-start her life.

Las Vegas, Nevada.

It was here that she met Tobias and Salem and maybe, just maybe her life was going to get better than it had been before. Maybe, by working for these they’d offer her security and show her exactly what she could have more than what she didn’t have.

It was that moment that Lucinda became a Crane. 

→ PERSONALITY SUMMARY

Throughout the years Lucinda has maintained her sassiness, insensitivity, independence, pride, selfishness, and sense of self-preservation. Lucinda was an extraordinarily beautiful and seductive young woman: she had an oval face with fine bone structure, a wealth of brown curly hair, and almond-shaped, deep woodland hazel eyes with thick dark lash

Lucinda is someone who rarely manages to find people she likes unless its for her own personal gain. With little to no qualities except for her vast intelligence and ability to become a chameleon in her surroundings, she was the perfect imitator. With a mind like silver she remembers pretty much everything she hears or sees, and uses it to aid her with her jobs. But there are a few people she does consider to be worthy. Lucinda is someone however who does dream of more for her life, there are times she wishes; but they’re fleeting.

[viraljournalist]

Colby Covington's divisiveness hits home ahead of UFC title fight

New Post has been published on https://viraljournalist.com/colby-covingtons-divisiveness-hits-home-ahead-of-ufc-title-fight/

Colby Covington's divisiveness hits home ahead of UFC title fight

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. — Colby Covington is shadow boxing, warming up for a private striking workout. He’s with a coach, inside a room tucked next to an acai bowls cafe. Rock music is playing on Covington’s smartphone, and he’s wearing a shirt that reads “Stomp my flag, I’ll stomp your ass.”

It’s 1:06 p.m. on a Monday in mid-November at the famed American Top Team training center. A few feet away, on the other side of a closed door, the other pro fighters at the gym — including ESPN’s No. 2 bantamweight, Marlon Moraes, No. 5 flyweight Jussier Formiga and PFL standout Kayla Harrison — are wrapping up a group class. Covington can’t see his teammates when they gather in the center of the mat or hear them when they all yell ���ATT!” in unison to end the session. That’s partly by design, as some fighters prefer private sessions before a big fight. But for Covington, the isolation is deeper.

“I’m doing stuff behind closed doors now,” Covington says during lunch, a month before his first unified title shot. “I don’t want people to see my training. That’s a big concern of mine. I don’t want people to see the game plan I’m working and how much I’ve improved and the skills I’m developing every single day. You’ll see that on fight night when I step into the Octagon.”

The UFC is closing 2019 with a loaded card in Las Vegas this weekend. UFC 245 features three title fights, including Kamaru Usman vs. Colby Covington (welterweight), Max Holloway vs. Alexander Volkanovski (featherweight) and Amanda Nunes vs. Germaine de Randamie (women’s bantamweight).

UFC 245: Usman vs. Covington • Saturday, Las Vegas • Early prelims: ESPN+, 6:15 p.m. ET • Prelims: ESPN2, 8 p.m. ET • Main card: ESPN+ PPV, 10 p.m. ET

Top UFC 245 content

• Covington’s divisiveness hits home • Urijah Faber at 40 • Why Usman’s grappling is key

Order UFC 245 now

Aside from being one of the best fighters in the world, Covington is known for being one of the UFC’s greatest villains. He is skilled at incendiary — and sometimes crude — trash talk.

And it’s not just with opponents. Over the last few months, Covington’s divisiveness has shaken the walls of American Top Team. He has publicly feuded with several teammates, including former friend — and perhaps the hottest act in the UFC — Jorge Masvidal. The Covington-Masvidal beef has defined the growing tension within the gym and put a spotlight on ATT that will grow more intense should the teammates eventually become opponents.

In the meantime, Covington will challenge Kamaru Usman for the UFC welterweight title in the main event of UFC 245 on Saturday in Las Vegas. In his corner will be coaches from a gym — the only gym Covington has known as a pro — where at least one of its stars wants him to lose.

“I don’t feel comfortable,” Covington says. “I feel like I always have to look over my shoulder. I have to watch my back. I don’t know if people are gonna come up and try to attack me. I’ve had people yelling in the gym at me, creating scenes and stuff. It’s not a good environment for me there.”

But some argue it’s an environment Covington helped create.

“Colby doesn’t need to watch his back at our gym,” says Dan Lambert, owner of American Top Team and Covington’s agent. “He might need to watch his back just about anywhere else he goes as a result of what’s happened. … There’s pros and cons to being who Colby is and that just might be one of the things he needs to deal with moving forward.

“I think Colby thrives on that chaos,” Lambert continues. “[‘Chaos’] is his nickname and appropriately so. I think it pushes him to go harder at those people and at the gym.”

It was Oct. 28, 2017, when Colby Covington reinvented himself in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He said he became a showman for business reasons, but not everyone saw it that way. Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

How Covington went from afterthought to one of the sport’s most polarizing figures dates back to June 17, 2017, when he beat Dong Hyun Kim. UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby told Lambert after that fight that the UFC had no interest in re-signing Covington when his contract was up after his next fight.

Lambert says he told Covington he shouldn’t alter his fighting style, but “there’s some other s— you can change.”

2 Related

After decisioning former title challenger Demian Maia on Oct. 28, 2017, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Covington called Brazil a “dump” and its fans “filthy animals” while standing in the Octagon.

Covington’s new identity had come to life. And it was drawing attention. Covington’s ATT teammate Amanda Nunes lashed out at him on social media. Another Brazilian fighter, former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum, threw a boomerang at Covington a few weeks later during a fight week in Australia.

The strategy worked. The UFC re-signed Covington, and his next fight was for the interim welterweight title, which he won by beating Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 225 on June 9, 2018.

If not for the sudden turn, Covington says he would have been out of a job, “just another guy nobody cared about.” Against Maia, he says he made $30,000. Against dos Anjos in his next fight, Covington says he took home $200,000.

“I’m trying to be a high-paid fighter,” Covington says. “I’m not trying to fight for 20 grand the rest of my career, getting my brains knocked in, lose brain cells and not have something to show for it at the end of my career. You see a lot of these guys at the end of their career, they’re brain dead, they have no money, they’re doing GoFundMe accounts. It’s sad, dude. After I’m done, I want to be set, man. I don’t want to have to work another job.”

After seeing early returns, Covington accelerated his transformation.

Things may already have started to go south in their relationship by the time Jorge Masvidal worked Colby Covington’s corner for his fight against Rafael dos Anjos on June 9, 2018. Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images

Mixed martial arts is an individual sport, but in gyms and training centers all over the world, athletes and coaches work as teams to help fighters prepare and evolve. Many fighters say they wouldn’t be where they are without their teammates, sparring partners and coaches.

Covington upset many with his comments in Brazil, but turning against Masvidal fractured the gym.

“You never talk bad about your teammates, doesn’t matter if you like them or not,” former UFC strawweight champion and ATT veteran Joanna Jedrzejczyk said.

It’s one thing to be controversial, but to some fighters at American Top Team, Covington sold his soul for headlines.

Not long ago, Covington and Masvidal were more than teammates. They were friends and roommates.

Covington says the beef started after he beat Maia, because Masvidal lost to Maia earlier that year. Covington says Masvidal became jealous.

Masvidal says the falling-out started when Covington stiffed one of their mutual coaches, Paulino Hernandez, on a payment for working the dos Anjos fight.

But hard feelings were kept private. Masvidal worked Covington’s corner when he faced dos Anjos and celebrated his teammate’s win. Covington would later say that although Masvidal worked the corner, he didn’t help Covington make weight and, in fact, abandoned him.

But when Masvidal knocked out Ben Askren in a UFC-record five seconds on July 6, Covington posted on Instagram about always having each other’s backs.

Both would later say the relationship had soured by then. The fracture started becoming more public in late July, when rumors circulated that Masvidal could fight for Usman’s crown ahead of Covington, who was quoted on July 30 saying it would be crazy if Masvidal landed a title shot despite being 2-2 in his last four fights.

Masvidal and Covington had words in the audience at UFC 241 on Aug. 17 and security stepped in at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

The feud boiled over two days later on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show, after Covington joked that Masvidal was trying to improve his seating by getting closer to Covington in the first row. Masvidal said Covington told UFC president Dana White that Masvidal was going to assault him — and that White then warned Masvidal about getting into a confrontation.

Masvidal grew agitated during his interview with Helwani and referred to “some stuff” between Covington and one of the coaches, likely the payment issue. Masvidal said Covington knew what gym he’s at and when he’s there, and he said he could be there the following day.

Within the next few weeks, Masvidal and Covington had a verbal altercation at American Top Team.

“I said, ‘If you don’t pay him, I’m going to F you up,'” Masvidal said on The Dan Le Batard Show. “My coach got in between it.”

Lambert says he sat down for a meeting with Masvidal after that altercation, and Masvidal agreed not to come to blows with Covington inside the gym out of respect for the team. Masvidal has called ATT home for 15 years.

“They’re gonna act like professionals,” Lambert says. “They’re gonna coexist. They’re gonna do what the coaches tell them to do. Or they’re not gonna be there. … I don’t think you’ll see problems inside the gym, because they respect it.”

Masvidal told ESPN he wasn’t interested in talking more about a subject that could further divide American Top Team. Both Covington and Masvidal said they would never leave the gym, even if they sign to fight each other.

“We’re better than that,” Masvidal says of his teammates. “Maybe some shady s— has gone down. But we’re not slimeballs. I’m ATT until the day I die.”

Covington and Masvidal are both welterweights, ranked No. 2 and 3, respectively, by ESPN. The possibility of them fighting is real, and it’s something Covington wants.

“You never talk bad about your teammates, doesn’t matter if you like them or not.”

Joanna Jedrzejczyk

“It’s a big opportunity businesswise for both of us — and for the gym,” Covington says. “The type of hype around that fight? Honestly, that would probably be one of the most sought-after pay-per-views in the history of the UFC.”

If Masvidal and Covington do end up booked to fight each other, Lambert says protocols would be put in place at the gym to ensure the best possible environment for both.

“It’s not my favorite situation to be in, but I guess at the end of the day it’s probably a good problem to have,” Lambert says. “It means the gym is doing something right.

“We’ll deal with it. We’ll keep them separated. They’ll train at different times. They’ll train in different parts of the gym. They’ll train with different training partners and different coaches. They’ll both get the best possible training, they’ll come in ready and it’ll go one way or the other.”

If the byproduct of a successful gym is occasionally having two fighters face each other, the downside of a beef like the one between Covington and Masvidal is the atmosphere it would create.

“It’s just gonna be like Team Colby and Team Masvidal,” Harrison said. “It’s gonna literally divide the gym and divide the coaches. Nobody wants that.”

But a potential matchup is further away than some think, according to Masvidal’s manager, Abe Kawa. Masvidal has mentioned Conor McGregor or Nick Diaz as potential next opponents because they could produce bigger paydays.

“As of right now, he’s not in our plans,” Kawa says of Covington. “We’re so far ahead of that. Usman and Colby are fighting for the right to possibly face Jorge. Jorge is the ticket — he’s the A-side.”

It’s not unusual for a fighter to work out alone before a big fight, but for Covington, the isolation could have a deeper meaning. Marc Raimondi

On Saturday night, Covington could be considered the A-side for the main event of a card that features three championship fights. That’s a long way from worrying about getting released by the UFC.

And while ATT teammates Masvidal, Jedrzejczyk and Dustin Poirier dislike Covington — Jedrzejczyk said she hopes Usman will “beat his ass” — there are those who understand his motivation, and even respect it.

“He’s accomplished more in a short period of time than a lot of guys that have been in the industry forever,” says Thiago Alves, a UFC veteran out of Brazil, a team leader and fighter-coach. “You can’t hate the recipe. You don’t have to like it, but you have to respect it. I respect the dude and I like him. … I’m ATT, man. Forever. And he’s a great kid. Never disrespected me. Yeah, say some s— to sell it. But even with everyone here, he’s always been super respectful.”

Nunes was one of the first to criticize Covington on social media after his “filthy animals” comment about Brazilians. Now they share a head coach, Conan Silveira, and Nunes says she harbors no ill will toward Covington.

Silveira, also a Brazilian, says he has not taken any of Covington’s remarks personally and understands what Covington’s goals are by talking trash. He says hard feelings within an MMA gym are not rare, but they shouldn’t be a problem as long as everyone stays professional about it.

“Do you get along with everyone in your family?” Silveira asked. “Colby at American Top Team is a completely different guy. He’s a part of the family. … Of course I’m gonna support him. It’s never that I’m gonna turn my back on him. I say that on behalf of me and them. We’re never gonna do that.”

Covington believes those who knew him before what pro wrestling fans would call a “heel turn” should see that he is just trying to maximize his income in a cold, dangerous sport.

“It shows me their true colors and it shows me who they really are inside,” Covington says. “They can’t understand I’m doing this because of business? They’ve seen me for the last eight years at the gym. And they know who I really am deep down inside. But when a camera turns on, when a mic is put in front of my mouth, it’s a different story, because I’m doing business at that point. And that’s how I look at it.”

Not everyone differentiates between the trash talk of a showman and real bad blood.

“All these words, they do have consequences,” Masvidal told Le Batard. Askren, a noted trash-talker himself, found out the hard way. After knocking out Askren, Masvidal added a couple extra shots and later called them “super necessary.”

Covington embraces the challenge.

“[There’s] a unique element to it where I do actually enjoy and thrive in people wanting to see me get knocked out, people wanting to see me lose and fail,” Covington says. “There’s something really nice that I like about it that makes me want to just prove them all wrong and shut them all up.”

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