#Lauren’s average adventures

[book--brackets]

Summaries under the cut

Goddess Girls by Joan Holub

Athena has always been above average. She has never quite fit in at Triton Junior High, but who would've guessed that Athena is actually a goddess? Principal Zeus's daughter, to be exact.

When she's summoned to Mount Olympus Academy, Athena thinks she might actually fit in for the first time in her life. But in some ways, school on Mount Olympus is not that different from down on Earth, and Athena is going to have to deal with the baddest mean girl in history: Medusa!

Ruby Redfort by Lauren Child

Here's the low-down on Ruby she's a genius code-cracker, a daring detective, and a gadget-laden special agent who just happens to be a thirteen-year-old girl. She and her slick side-kick butler, Hitch, foil crimes and get into loads of scrapes with evil villains, but they're always ice-cool in a crisis. In LOOK INTO MY EYES, we go right back to Ruby's beginnings as an agent. When an anonymous caller sets Ruby a challenge, it's not long before she finds her way into the HQ of the most secret of secret agencies -- SPECTRUM. They need her help to crack a code but her desk job soon spirals into an all-out action adventure, as Ruby uncovers the dastardly plans of the formidable Fool's Gold Gang!

The Arkwell Academy by Mindee Arnett

Sixteen-year-old Dusty Everhart breaks into houses late at night, but not because she’s a criminal. No, she’s a Nightmare.

Literally.

Being the only Nightmare at Arkwell Academy, a boarding school for magickind, and living in the shadow of her mother’s infamy, is hard enough. But when Dusty sneaks into Eli Booker’s house, things get a whole lot more complicated. He’s hot, which means sitting on his chest and invading his dreams couldn’t get much more embarrassing. But it does. Eli is dreaming of a murder.

Then Eli’s dream comes true.

Now Dusty has to follow the clues—both within Eli’s dreams and out of them—to stop the killer before more people turn up dead. And before the killer learns what she’s up to and marks her as the next target.

Hitty, Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field

Hitty is a doll of great charm and character. It is indeed a privilege to publish her memoirs, which, besides being full of the most thrilling adventures on land and sea, also reveal her delightful personality. One glance at her portrait will show that she is no ordinary doll. Hitty, or Mehitable as she was really named, was made in the early 1800s for Phoebe Preble, a little girl from Maine. Young Phoebe was very proud of her beautiful doll and took her everywhere, even on a long sailing trip in a whaler. This is the story of Hitty's years with Phoebe, and the many that follow in the life of a well-loved doll.

George's Secret Key to the Universe by Lucy and Steven Hawking

George's parents, who have always been wary of technology, warn him about their new neighbors: Eric is a scientist and his daughter, Annie, seems to be following in his footsteps. But when George befriends them and Cosmos, their super-computer, he finds himself on a wildly fun adventure, while learning about physics, time, and the universe. With Cosmos's help, he can travel to other planets and a black hole. But what would happen if the wrong people got their hands on Cosmos?

May Bird by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Most people aren't very comfortable in the woods, but the woods of Briery Swamp fit May Bird like a fuzzy mitten. There, she is safe from school and the taunts and teases of kids who don't understand her. Hidden in the trees, May is a warrior princess, and her cat, Somber Kitty, is her brave guardian.

Then May falls into the lake.

When she crawls out, May finds herself in a world that most certainly does not feel like a fuzzy mitten. In fact it is a place few living people have ever seen. Here, towns glow blue beneath zipping stars and the people -- people? -- walk through walls. Here the Book of the Dead holds the answers to everything in the universe. And here, if May is discovered, the horrifyingly evil Bo Cleevil will turn her into nothing.

May Bird must get out.

Fast.

Half Upon a Time by James Riley

Life’s no fairy tale for Jack. After all, his father's been missing ever since that incident with the beanstalk and the giant, and his grandfather keeps pushing him to get out and find a princess to rescue. Who'd want to rescue a snobby, entitled princess anyway? Especially one that falls out of the sky wearing a shirt that says "Punk Princess," and still denies she's royalty. In fact, May doesn't even believe in magic. Yeah, what's that about? May does need help though--a huntsman is chasing her, her grandmother has been kidnapped, and Jack thinks it’s all because of the Wicked Queen . . . mostly because May’s grandmother might just be the long-lost Snow White.

The Moorchild by Eloise Jarvis McGraw

Half moorfolk and half human, and unable to shape-shift or disappear at will, Moql threatens the safety of the Band. So the Folk banish her and send her to live among humans as a changeling. Named Saaski by the couple for whose real baby she was swapped, she grows up taunted and feared by the villagers for being different, and is comfortable only on the moor, playing strange music on her bagpipes.  

As Saaski grows up, memories from her forgotten past with the Folks slowly emerge. But so do emotions from her human side, and she begins to realize the terrible wrong the Folk have done to the humans she calls Da and Mumma. She is determined to restore their child to them, even if it means a dangerous return to the world that has already rejected her once.

The Genius Files by Dan Gutman

Coke McDonald and his twin sister, Pepsi, think their family’s cross-country RV vacation is nothing to get excited about...until they’re chased off a cliff, locked in a burning school, and receive mysterious messages in codes and ciphers. From California to Wisconsin, it’s a race against time to find out who’s after Coke and Pep, who’s leaving the notes...and just what being a part of The Genius Files entails!

Time Cat by Lloyd Alexander

Gareth's definitely no ordinary cat. For one thing, he can talk. For another, he's got the power to travel through time. And the instant he tells this to Jason, the two of them are in ancient Egypt, on the first of nine amazing adventures that Jason will never forget.

[offender42085]

Post 1200

Before and After....... but before all this there was that adventure in the lake.

Thomas Jay Ruger, South Carolina inmate 371483, born 1994, incarceration intake December 2022 at age 28, scheduled for release June 2026

Distribution of a Controlled Substance, Trafficking Meth

On Sunday, January 2, 2022, Greenwood County (South Carolina) deputies chased a man who fled from a truck that he was driving and dove into Lake Greenwood to avoid arrest.

Thomas Jay Ruger, and Brandy Nicole Cockrell Young, were arrested. Both were charged with trafficking in meth or cocaine base; possession of narcotic in schedule I(b), (c), LSD and schedule II and possession of other controlled substance in schedule I-V. Ruger was also charged with two counts each of driving under suspension and failure to stop for blue light (FTSBL).

Earlier that day, a Greenwood County deputy spotted a man driving a truck and knew he had active warrants from other law enforcement agencies. He tried to stop the man, but he fled from officers and led deputies in a car chase into neighboring Laurens County.

Eventually the driver opened the door to the pickup truck and jumped from the moving truck and he ran and subsequently dove into Lake Greenwood, trying to swim across the lake. Officers took a woman in the truck into custody and eventually detained the man and brought him back to his truck.

The distance he was attempting to swim was estimated to be about 1/3 of a mile (or 1/2 a kilometer). Each time the man would see deputies waiting for him at the water's edge he would change direction. After several course changes he eventually came ashore into the hands of waiting deputies.

(Lake Greenwood is an artificial lake, composed of impounded water behind a hydroelectric dam. The surface area of the lake is 18 square miles/46 square kilometers with an average depth of 22 feet/7 meters.)

Inside the truck, officers found plastic baggies with about 11 grams of a substance that tested positive for meth, along with pills in the woman’s purse and other baggies. The man and woman told officers the drugs belonged to the other person, so deputies decided charge both of them in connection with the drugs.

At court proceedings almost a year later in November 2022, Ruger pleased guilty and was sentenced.

4a

[pheavampire]

The Witcher from Netflix

Lauren S. Hissrich mistook an average Dungeons & Dragons campaign reflected in a pond for the Witcher.

S3 was slightly better that S2 but it's still painfully obvious they don't understand these books at all. Even when they write scenes a bit closer to Sapkowski's plot, they prove they have no clue what these scenes are used for in the original.

This kind of humour fits to the Vox Machina, not to Sapkowski's writing. This kind of psychological depth and plot logic fits to the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, not to the Witcher.

Netflix took a story about decent people with flaws living in a realistic, cruel world and turned it into generic American fantasy.

But after S2 I'm not even sad.

[kamreadsandrecs]

Title: The Mischief of the Mistletoe (Pink Carnation #7) Author: Lauren Willig Genre/s: historical, romance, Regency romance Content/Trigger Warnings: period-accurate misogyny, bullying Summary (from author’s website): Arabella Dempsey’s dear friend Jane Austen warned her against teaching. But Miss Climpson’s Select Seminary for Young Ladies seems the perfect place for Arabella to claim her independence while keeping an eye on her younger sisters nearby. Just before Christmas, she accepts a position at the quiet girls’ school in Bath, expecting to face nothing more exciting than conducting the annual Christmas recital. She hardly imagines coming face to face with French aristocrats and international spies… Reginald “Turnip” Fitzhugh—often mistaken for the elusive spy known as the Pink Carnation—has blundered into danger before. But when he blunders into Miss Arabella Dempsey, it never occurs to him that she might be trouble. When Turnip and Arabella stumble upon a beautifully wrapped Christmas pudding with a cryptic message written in French, “Meet me at Farley Castle”, the unlikely vehicle for intrigue launches the pair on a Yuletide adventure that ranges from the Austens’ modest drawing room to the awe-inspiring estate of the Dukes of Dovedale, where the Dowager Duchess is hosting the most anticipated event of the year: an elaborate 12-day Christmas celebration. Will they find poinsettias or peril, dancing or danger? And is it possible that the fate of the British Empire rests in Arabella and Turnip’s hands, in the form of a festive Christmas pudding? Buy Here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-mischief-of-the-mistletoe-a-pink-carnation-christmas-lauren-willig/11108093 Spoiler-Free Review: So I know this is technically meant to be a holiday/Christmas romance sort of thing, but I’m reading this series in order right now so whatever - but also it’s coming on to summer right now where I am and any thoughts of the cold and the snow sound WONDERFUL when the heat index is in the 40s Celsius. Thoughts of the cold aside, this reread actually made me love this book so much more than when I first read it! A lot of that has to do with Turnip and Arabella’s romance: how Arabella manages to see through Turnip’s seeming buffoonery to the kind, earnest man he actually is, and Turnip seeing Arabella for the playful, witty woman she can be underneath all her no-nonsense sensibility. Their romance is about them being actually, genuinely SEEN for who they really are - and being loved for it, rather than judged or, worse, mocked. I don’t know anymore why I wasn’t raving about their romance when I first read this book, but now I definitely am, because I love how Arabella and Turnip fall for each other when they finally see each other for who they really are, and encourage each other to be their truest selves even if the rest of the world thinks them strange. I also liked the inclusion of Jane Austen in this novel. There was a nonzero chance that this would be an awful idea, but the author handled this pretty well, a nice little wink by the author to the genre this series belongs to. After all, without Austen, the Regency romance genre might not even be a thing. Plus, including Austen and making Arabella belong to more or less the same social class as her opened up a chance for the author to highlight how different the lives of highborn/wealthy women are, versus their lowerborn/poorer counterparts. In all the previous books the female leads have been titled and/or wealthy, whereas Arabella is neither. Thus, she and Austen offer a glimpse of what the life of the “average” Regency woman was like, which is a glimpse I appreciate. Another interesting thing about this particular novel is that, unlike the previous six books, this does NOT include Eloise Kelly and Colin Selwick’s storyline. And honestly, I didn’t miss them, but that’s mostly because I’m more hooked on the Regency-set storylines - which is kind of the point of these novels anyway, at least in my opinion. So overall, this was a lovely diversion from the usual format this series tends to follow, with a focus on a romance that is absolutely touching and squeeworthy in equal measure. Rating: five mistletoe sprigs

[kariskyline]

Mlpfim rewatch - Season one part one

Episodes and notes under the cut

Rating are subject to change when the season roundup comes

Friendship is Magic: Written by Lauren Faust, first aired 10/10, and 10\22 (overall 14/20)

Part one 7/10

A really good introduction to the main cast. It gives us the necessary information for the start of the show.

Part two 7/10

Still good just not as good as the first part. The only “issue” if you can call it that is that Applejack’s trial seems less about honesty and more about trust.

Ticket Master: Written by Amy Keating Rogers and Lauren Faust, first aired 10/29

6.5/10

This is the start of a few episodes surrounding the Grand Galopping Gala. I think it’s pretty alright and the lesson works.

Applebuck Season: Written by Amy Keating Rogers, first aired 11/5

6/10

Honestly alright. Applejack’s stubbornness and its consequences is funny. The only part I don’t really enjoy is the hospital scene.

Griffon the Brush Off: Written by Cindy Morrow, first aired 11/12

7/10

Gilda and her relationship with Rainbow is pretty interesting. Pinkie and RD’s pranks are also funny and thankfully return later.

Boast Busters: Written by Chis Savino , first aired 11/19

3.5/10

Oh boy where do I start. The biggest issue with the episode is that the moral doesn’t seem to fit. Trixie isn’t really in the wrong this episode when compared to the others. Boasting is her job as she is a magician. So why is she being shamed for it?!

Dragonshy: Written by Megan Mcarthy, first aired 11/26

8/10

Honestly one of my favorite episodes of this batch. The adventure is fun and Fluttershy stepping up is a really good moment. Though considering that dragons hibernate why didn’t we ever explore this with spike?

Look Before You Sleep: Written by Charlotte Fullerton, first aired 12/3

5/10

I don’t really mind Twilight in this episode as much as I use to. AJ and Rarity’s pettiness is fine but not super funny.

Bridal Gossip: Written by Amy Keating Rogers, first aired 12/10

3/10

Oh boy. This episode is one of the first major instances of the ponies being racist/xenophobic and let’s just say it wasn’t great. There’s a lot to say about Zecora and how she’s handled by the show as African representation. As I am not African and haven’t participated in African culture I shall open the floor to them.

Swarm of The Century: Written by M.A. Larson, first aired 12/17

7/10

Honestly it’s pretty fun. The chaos brought by the parasprites is enjoyable. Though I do wish that someone pointing out that Fluttershy was wrong for keeping one of them.

Winter Wrapup: Written by Cindy Morrow, first aired 12/24

6/10

It’s alright. The song is fun however the fact that they were late every other year is kinda sad. Though seems odd that outside of seasonal episodes we don’t get a lot of winter episodes.

Call of The Cutie: Written by Megan McCarthy, first aired 1/7

9/10

Honestly this episode is really good.For the first episode that forces on one of the cmc, who will become major secondary characters, is this is really good. I do wish that twist had remained involved with the CmC later on but it’s still a good episode.

Fall Weather Friends: written by Amy Keating Rogers, first aired 11/28

8/10

First fall episode of the season and I like it. Personally between the two RD is more in the wrong than AJ for escalation the situation in the first place imo. Though I refuse to believe that Twilight someone who has never had ran in what is basically a marathon could get fifth. That’s more of a nitpick though.

Overall this is a solid first half of season one. It gets a 70% which is pretty alright.

I think this is because the episodes are more average than ones that are overly positive or negative.

Notes

There aren’t a lot of episodes that take place in different seasons. The show overall seems to take place during summer/spring.

The aura colors of the unicorns’ magic seems to be more transparent and Twilight’s seems to have a different color this season.

[musingsofabookworm1]

My Last Five Reads: July 2024

All of This Could be DIfferent by Sarah Thankum Matthews

All the potential for this book but a major disappointment. This should have been a DNF for me as soon as I saw that the dialog was done sans punctuation. It slows me down to the point of being annoying. But that aside, the book was slow. Definitely character driven which is especially problematic when as the reader, you’re not a fan of the character. Said character is Sneha who graduates and moves to Milwaukee for a job. She knows no one there but gets a college buddy a job, starts to make friends, and sends part of her paycheck back to her parents in India. There are some bigger things that happen. Nothing thrilling, though. 2 stars only because of the familiarity of the Milwaukee setting. 

Tiananmen Square by Lai Wen

This one gets a lot of praise, but I felt it average. We follow the main character, Lai, in a coming-of-age epic that peaks at the demonstrations at the title venue. We meet Lai in her youth living with her parents, younger brother, and grandmother. After longing for more than what her life is giving her, she earns a scholarship and finds what she is looking for. Of course there is much more to it than this. The relationship with her grandmother, mother, and childhood friend take center stage to the plot throughout most of the book. There were definitely parts I liked that had a fast pace, but they were balanced out by slow, wordy parts making it 3 stars. 

You Shouldn’t Be Here by Lauren Thoman 

And continuing on with mediocre reads, this book follows two characters: sixteen-year-old Angie and first-year-teacher Madelyn. Angie hears strange noises in her house followed by voices. But no one hears them but her. Madelyn is trying to uncover the mystery of her missing cousin in the same town. The plots go back and forth between chapters. Things went a bit off the rails for me as the climax and resolution occurred. And this author obviously does NOT know what it is like to be a first-year teacher. Well, at least a good first year teacher. Madelyn just, like, goes home and chills and has a social life among many other adventures. #unrealistic A fast pace and some good pop culture references but only 3 stars. 

Middle of the Night by Riley Sager

I read this one in one shot on the drive to Mackinaw City/Mackinac Island  last Friday. My first disappointment from Riley Sager. 3 stars. At the age of 10, protagonist Ethan lost his best friend. The two boys were tent camping in Ethan’s yard, and he awoke to find the tent sliced open and Billy gone. Billy’s disappearance has haunted Ethan for years. He’s never gotten over it. 30 years later, Ethan’s parents move from this quiet New Jersey town to Florida, and Ethan moves into their house. Signs of Billy appear. Is he back? Is it a ghost? He and old friends are determined to find out. There wasn’t much of a twist to this one like Sager’s other work, and it dragged moving back and forth between past and present with a lot of different characters. Sager will remain an autoread for me despite this one being average. 

In Any Lifetime by Marc Guggenheim

This was the best of this crop of reads at four stars. It was one of the free Prime reads for Kindle this month, and I read this one on the way back home from our weekend excursion (in between a few naps). We meet protagonist Dr. Jonas Cullen on a life-changing night. He is winning the Nobel Prize. But after the ceremony, his wife (and unborn child) is killed in a car accident. Jonas’ work has focused for years on parallel universes. So all he has to do is get himself to a universe where his wife is still alive. No problem, right? Well, of course, it's a problem which is why there is a plot to this book. But it’s certainly not the problem I anticipated. I usuallly am not one to pick up a book that has a “science-y” element, but the author made it accessible and melded it nicely with strong characters that I couldn’t help but cheer for. This reminded me of “Meet Me In Another Life” (5 stars, highly recommend). A unique, enjoyable read.

[adamwatchesmovies]

The Terminators (2009)

While I didn't enjoy this film, that doesn't mean you won't. No matter what I say, the people involved in this project did it: they actually made a movie. That's something to be applauded. With that established...

Released by The Asylum - a hack filmmaking studio that capitalizes on big-name releases by churning out imitators with washed-up stars - The Terminators is more of what we’ve seen before. The special effects are appalling, the acting sucks, the script is unacceptable. I could copy-and-paste my review of any other film they've released to describe why this attempt to cash-in on Terminator: Salvation is as pleasant as a bath in a pool of molten metal but I’d rather be thorough. Anything to prevent others from sitting through this movie like I did.

In the future, our cyborg servants suddenly rebel and attack - killing every human in sight. The only way to stop the invincible machines is to reach an orbiting space station and shut off the master computer onboard.

This movie has no reason to be. The plot is so thin you could’ve easily compressed it into a half hour. Instead, we’re forced to sit back and watch as unlikeable, one-dimensional characters dance around, wasting time before they can find a way to blast off into space. None of them have arcs. In fact, identifying the main character is a strain. It might be the woman whose husband is cheating on her (Lucinda Rogers) but it’s not like she plays a crucial role in this adventure; Tiffany is merely the one who gets the most screen time.

Every attempt to flesh out the characters infuriates you. During the final act, Tiffany and Chloe (Lauren Walsh) have to confront their feelings, which of course means they do it at the worst possible time. In another movie, it might highten the stakes. Not here. Try as you might to suspend your disbelief and accept the extremely phony-looking Terminator ripoff our heroes have to dodge, the crying and “bombshell” revelations do nothing for you. In fact, they rob the scene of any urgency. These people should be focussing on the task at hand. They would be if the danger was real. The affair? It doesn’t even add any nudity to the movie. Not that it would’ve have made the film any better but it would’ve made this decidedly R-Rated and therefore limit the number of people who might sit down with it. Don’t worry if you were looking for some shots of topless ladies, however. The trailers before the movie have that covered.

The way to view a movie knock-off is in a double-bill with the original. You see how it was done well, and then compare the imitation’s efforts. Hilarity usually ensues. The problem with The Terminators is its attempt to be original. The plot is nothing like Terminator: Salvation or any other entry in the series. It’s a generic robot plot you’ve seen a thousand times with a couple of visual cues here and there to remind you of the better movie you wish you were watching. When I say a couple, I mean two: the muscle-bound humanoid killing machines and the title.

Most of The Terminators feels like a crappy zombie movie with an even thinner budget than your average direct-to-video trash. There are some twists and turns towards the end but they won’t excite you. The performances are so shoddy it’s hard to tell if the people who exclaim things in surprise are genuinely shocked or bored. I know I was.

Don’t watch The Terminators. If you want to see a bad movie and make fun of it, skip this one. Skip anything by The Asylum. Its only saving grace is that the film is completely forgettable. I’ll remember having seen it but won’t what happened in The Terminators as early as tomorrow. (On DVD, September 27, 2019)

[ssklaroline]

[thebrightsessions]

Entertainment Spotlight: Ian McQuown

Ian is an LA based actor and producer known for the YouTube comedy group, Extremely Decent, as well as a voice actor in the popular audio dramas: The Bright Sessions, The AM Archives, StarTripper!! & Deck The Halls! His credits inclue American Housewife, Trial & Error, Better Things, and For All Mankind. Ian took the time to answer some questions for us. Check it out:

You’ve worked on multiple podcasts -- what drew you to the medium?

Well, to be honest, Lauren drew me to it because TBS was my first narrative podcast. We met at a Rocky Horror Picture Show show. Anna Lore is our mutual friend and I think Anna is just talented as all get out, so anything she’s involved I want to be in. And, I don’t know, it was just one of those lucky breaks you get where a door opens and takes you to all these cool places you never anticipated.

On podcasting though, I really appreciate how much more possible it is to tell engaging stories without the boundaries of having to afford a set and a camera and insurance and etc etc etc. Like, I grew up with Star Wars, The Matrix, Cowboy Bebop— so when I imagine the stories I like, I’m usually picturing other worlds, space ships, people with super powers and those types of stories used to have a lot higher barrier to entry to make than they do now, which is just awesome.

If you could give a character from The Bright Sessions a spinoff series, who would you choose and what would the series be called?

I mean, no surprises here, but I’d love to see Damien’s early years. And I’d be super clever and call it something like... Damien: The Early Years. I'm dying for that content a little bit actually: Damien, before he became such a bad guy. Maybe a love story that doesn’t work out and leaves him really scarred? Villains so bad they created a villain instead of a victim—  that moment where we see the two roads Damien has to choose between and it totally shreds us when he makes the choice we all know he’s going to make, I mean, come ON you can see that, right? It’d be like the Star Wars prequels but without all the youngling killing and “NOOOOOOOO”’s and I want it.

Can you share a fun story or anecdote from the making of The Bright Sessions?

Haha, ok well it’s not really anything of note BUT: I remember Lauren had this area rug in her room, which as you probably know is where we would record, and it was this really nice, I think, red sort of floral rug that took up pretty much all the floor space because it was covering up the older apartment rug-floor underneath it. And it was, as I said, really cool, except it wasn’t a rug on a wood floor, right? It was a rug on a rug so it was a bit taller than the people who designed the room had planned for— the result of which was that you’d walk in and the room had this really awesome little vibe with this cute rug, and it was all very cozy, unless you looked directly behind you at the corner where the door had just spent ages scraping the surface of it, catching the corner, tearing little pieces out. And I may be getting apocryphal at this point, but I feel like by the time I had started coming around Lauren had straight up duct taped it to the floor, which really didn’t help the problem. And, I don’t know—again it’s not really anything momentous—but I just remember giving Lauren a particular amount of shit about it one day and us all having a really good laugh. And I really love that— there are jobs where you show up, keep your head down, do your work and leave, but then there are jobs like The Bright Sessions where you all get to become friends, and even if you don’t see each other for a while you sort of just get to pick up where you left off. And then those jobs turn into other jobs and you get to keep hanging out with your friends and peers and just making stuff you like— I’m a big fan of that.

If your life was a choose your own adventure, what decisions would viewers have to make on an average day?

OKAY, you wake up...

Water your garden before it gets to be 110 today, you cannot skip this step. You may however:

A) Stay out in the garden for longer if you get inspired and check if the tomatoes and peppers are ripe for picking.

Great! Now let’s make breakfast:

A) Make eggs, toast, fried tomatoes, and hash browns? 

B) Make (A) But also with Bacon? 

C) Make a smoothie?

D) There’s no time today, run to Whole Foods and get their incredibly priced $6 Egg, Bacon Cheese Breakfast burrito.

Awesome! You’ve eaten and now you can think. What work do you have to do?

A) Prep your audition, dummy! It’s due this afternoon, go fix your hair. 

B) You have a zoom meeting with actor friends at 11 to play around with some new material, put on a hat.

C) There is nothing you have to work on so stare at your computer and wonder if there’s new project you could be working on. Try to find that project, leave your hair as it.

Wow! You really had a great (insert previous choice here), let’s get you a coffee and take a TV break. What should we watch?!

A) That new show you haven’t seen yet because you need to watch everything so you know how to work on it should you get an audition for it.

B) Harley Quinn (your favorite new cartoon).

C) Teenage Bounty Hunters.

D) Farscape.

E) Nope, you just got an audition for tomorrow, everything is off the table, start working on it (Level Complete).

Lunch Time!!!

A) Turkey sandwich with pickles from the garden?

B) Trader Joe’s Margherita Pizza with basil and peppers from the garden?

C) Are we going to start another loaf of sourdough you basic mf?

D) Yes we probably are, but also (A) and (B).

Cool! I’ve eaten lunch. Now what?

A) You haven’t finished that work from this morning. Riiiight.

B)…More Harley Quinn…?

C) Let’s make pasta from scratch!

D) Let’s make ribs! From…ribs!

F) You just got an audition for tomorrow, everything is off the table, start working on it. (Level Complete).

Bangarang! You probably chose to start cooking dinner immediately after eating lunch. You ate it (and it rocked), what now?

A) You just got an audition for tomorrow, everything is off the table, start working on it. (Level Complete)

B) DnD with squad.

C) Go on a run, dude— you’re getting a Jaba chin….

D) Bring on the chin! Let’s watch TV until 2am! Here are your options:

A) Harley Quinn (your new favorite cartoon)

B) Teenage Bounty Hunters

C) Farscape

D) Put The Office on in the background and clean your house.

Level Complete.

As you can see I’m a very food-focused person. Also, I’m going to be real, that is truly what most of my days look like and I’m low-key a little mortified that ’taking a shower’ wasn’t a game option... 

Can you share your favorite piece of Bright Sessions / AM Archives fan art?

I love all the fan art that people make for my characters but this one from Franartz has always been really special to me. It’s so GQ, I just love it — and some of my favorite early AG moments are with Damien, who looks a little like he stepped out of a Gorrilaz album here— big fan. I’m a little obsessed with fan art actually, I save everything I come across— there’s a freckled red-headed series of Owen by TheFigureInTheCorner that makes me really happy. Seeing that my work has inspired someone else to make something of their own is really what’s up, you know? It makes me think about all the art and entertainment that has touched me over the years and I get a lot of joy from being a part of that cycle.

Thanks for taking the time, Ian! Give I Can Die When I'm Done a relisten right here.

[evil-moonlight]

Thank you so much for the tag @pequenaroo. <3 <3 <3 I appreciate you a lot!! I've read yours and it fascinates me just how cool you are of a person. I am glad to get to know you. <3

Nickname: I am usually called Jin, Rej, Rejin, Ren, Renj, Renji, Rere, Michi, Mich, Din, Den.

Star sign: Cancer

Height: 5'0 💁‍♀️

Time: 11:55 AM

Birthday: June 23

Favorite bands: Kodaline, Sleeping At Last, IV of Spades, Cigarettes After Sex, Coldplay, Eraserheads, Radiohead, Ben&Ben, etc.

Favorite solo artists: Birdy, Hozier, Lana Del Rey, Zild Benitez, Lauren Aquilina, Adele, Ruth B, Kacey Musgraves, James Bay, Moira De La Torre, Aurora, Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift, etc.

Favorite Foods: Lechon, Adobo, Crispy Pata (so filipino mode XD), takoyaki, sushi and sashimi, fried and steamed siomai, carbonara pizza, anything as long as it's food lol

Favorite colors: Black, golden yellow, pink

Last thing I googled: Steps on how to do the pixie cut hairstyle (done at home).

Last show I watched: Ghost Doctor (Last show I rewatched, Bad and Crazy / currently watching, Dangerous Partners)

Last movie I watched: Once again, I'm stuck with rewatching. Last movies were Atonement, The Merciless, Hwayi: A Monster Boy (yes, rewatching these at the same time is possible).

Lucky number: 4 (no reason)

When did I create this blog? Around September last year (I guess). That was when I was searching for Killer and Healer script/novel translated in English, and since I found excellent reviews instead, I ended up creating this blog 'cause I too wanted to write.

Do I have any other blogs? Yes, unfortunately — I cannot access that anymore because I made that one around 2012 (when I used to be a feral kpop fan) and I was too young and too dumb to even memorize my password. Lmao.

Do I get asks? Yes, sometimes. The first one I got was when I was asked if I'm a human or not (but that idiot is a close friend of mine, lol) and I had to really analyze myself just to know the answer like I always did back in college days while solving accounting problems. Af. It was the hardest ask ever! xD

Why did I choose my URL? Evil (because I want to always be reminded about Beyond Evil) and Moonlight (because the word reminds me of Jiang Yue Lou and Chen Yu Zhi from Killer and Healer).

Blogs you follow: woah, didn't expect it would already reach 290 Tumblrs. (majority of them come from the merciless evil devil from hell megafandom, BL, and minority are the poetry enthusiasts)

Dream trip: I'll start with the local tourist destinations here in the Philippines, apart from my own, another Southeast Asian country would be Thailand (just because I'm always mistaken as Thai, lol) then I would love to travel around some parts of East Asia particularly Japan and Taiwan, and the most interesting part is visiting Europe (UK, Italy, Ireland, Netherlands — Amsterdam (the Anne Frank House), Finland, Greece, and Spain (because one of my best friends is currently living there), actually I want to visit the whole Europe. XD), also Algeria, Morocco, and New York City (at the public library where Ash died peacefully reading Eiji's letter 😭, like I'll be having a Bananafish adventure).

Instruments: used to play guitar, and now I'm starting to learn ukulele, and would love to try the piano in the nearest future.

Average hours of sleep: weekdays would be 6-7 hours, weekends would be no sleeping schedule or if I'm lucky enough, 3-4 hours (I know it's not good for the health but)

How many blankets do you sleep with? One is enough.

No pressure tags: @inescated @sashkitty @kimsunho @lamaladelcuento @we-will-fall-in-hell-together 💖

[libertyreads]

April Wrap Up--

Can you tell I’ve had a stressful month based on the amount of comics I read? I love how that’s now just an indicator of what kind of month I had. Though I did also manage to get through TWO giant and dense novels as well with time left over for a classic and some morally grey characters. Let me break down everything I read.

Comics/Graphic Novels-- 1. Lumberjanes Vol. 13: Indoor Recess by Shannon Watters-- 3.5 stars.

2. Lumberjanes Vol. 14: X Marks the Spot by Shannon Watters-- 4 stars.

3. Lumberjanes Vol. 15: Birthday Smarty by Shannon Watters-- 3.5 stars.

4. Giant Days Vol. 13 by John Allison-- 4.25 stars.

5. Giant Days Vol. 14 by John Allison-- 3 stars.

6. Giant Days Extra Credit Vol. 1 by John Allison-- 3.5 stars.

7. Kodi by Jared Cullum-- 4.5 stars.

Short Stories/Novellas-- 1. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll-- 3 stars.

2. There Was Only One by Nicole Scarano (Kindle)-- 3.25 stars.

Novels-- 1. Starry-Eyed Love by Helena Hunting (NetGalley)-- 3.75 stars.

2. Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots-- 3.75 stars.

3. My Favorite Half-Night Stand by Christina Lauren (Kindle)-- 4.25 stars.

4. Cibola Burn by James S.A. Corey-- 4.25 stars.

5. The Change by Kirsten Miller (NetGalley)-- 3.25 stars.

6. House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas-- 3 stars.

My average rating for the month came out to 3.65 stars. And I read 4,078 pages across 15 works in the month of April. Given how stressed and tired I’ve been lately, I’ll take that for sure.

[ltenvs3000w22]

Blog post 3

My working definition of privilege includes advantages that have been given to individuals based on their membership and belonging within a group. It is a special right or immunity, usually unearned. Peggy McIntosh introduced a concept explained on courselink to help understand privilege more easily. This concept is displayed as thinking of privilege as an “invisible backpack”. What your backpack holds depends on circumstances within your life. It is often not acknowledged that the contents in those with a lot in their backpack was not entirely earned. This is a great way to show and help understand how privilege works.

Race, gender, sexual orientation, ability, religion, wealth, and class are all examples of privileges. Being born into a middle class family as a cis female, with an abled body i carry many privileges myself. I have a family I am very close with who financially supports me. These privileges encouraged me to have my own experiences which I have not necessarily earned. This took a while for me to understand because I have never experienced a world without having these privileges. It makes me feel guilty as I did not earn these privileges but I know I can acknowledge it and appreciate what I have without being completely ignorant (as many are). Being ignorant about your privileges is a luxury and needs to be noticed.

Privilege certainly plays a role in nature interpretation. There are many factors that contribute to the ability to have access to natural areas. In order to travel to, afford, and take work off for these locations, you must have many privileges which are usually not even recognized by the individual as a privilege.

To me, exploring nature is a common activity that I get to experience whenever I want. For most people, nature is costly and difficult to approach. I have access to primary literature which encourages me to be informed on new discoveries. Because I am a university student, I have the privilege to speak with professors and field experts about what I am interested in. I am able to interpret and appreciate nature more than the average person.

The knowledge I have alone is such a privilege that I didn’t even realize until writing this post. Being aware of the risks and tips of going outside. Knowing how to be prepared for camping trips allows for safe adventures which not all people have knowledge in.

I hope everyone is aware and acknowledges how lucky they are to have privileges. Peggy McIntosh's invisible backpack concept should be constantly recognized and encourage everyone to put themselves in other people's shoes.

Thank you for reading my post! I look forward to reading yours!

Lauren

[moiloru]

About the so-called "Third-Case Syndrome"

I've been in the Ace Attorney fandom for a few years now, and there is a story I've heard more times than I can count: the story of the "Third-Case Syndrome." After joining the Danganronpa fandom, I realized - not without surprise - that a similar "Third-Chapter Syndrome" had admittedly cursed the series. However, I do believe that, in both cases, it would be wise to exert caution: things are never as simple as they seem. Now, even if this seems evident to me, I'll say it just to be sure: this is only my opinion. You might disagree, but please do not be toxic about it.

Before we proceed, I'd also like to warn you all: spoilers ahead for the entire Danganronpa and Ace Attorney series (even the Investigations and DGS games). Now, let's begin.

Ace Attorney:

AA1 - Turnabout Samurai:

To start off, we have 1-3. I agree with most of the fandom that it is slightly too long and the investigation segments drag out. Going from Studio One to Studio Two, to the Detention Center, etc. is quickly boring. However, its cast is solid (especially Powers and Oldbag), Dee Vasquez's motive (self-defense) is original, the Steel Samurai's theme slaps, and Edgeworth gets the first bit of his character development! I believe it outweights the negative aspects of the case and make it enjoyable. I believe it is far better than 1-1 and 1-2 (with its obvious twists and rushed ending), although it doesn't compare with 1-4 and 1-5, of course. But it's definitely not the case that people point the finger out when arguing about the "curse."

JfA - Turnabout Big Top:

I'll definitely be playing Devil's advocate on that one, but I like 2-3. Of course, the whole "love triangle" thing was shit, but the rest of the case was fine! Regina sucks, that I can agree with, but Moe was funny (in my opinion), Max got some quality character development in the end, Ben & Trilo were a nice duo, and Acro... Acro is one of the best culprits in the series, hands down. His theme is amazing and he is one of the most tragic characters in the series. Knowing that he unknowingly killed the person who had helped him is just sad, and his motive for trying to kill Regina, while not excusable, is understable. Losing the two people he was closest to, and him explaining that he couldn't "up and leave" (literally, too) before Bat had woken up was just sad. Also, while 2-3 isn't amazing like 2-4 (my favorite case) is, it's miles ahead of 2-1 (which objectively sucks) and 2-2 (which lasts for hours with an annoying and predictable culprit). Besides, the plot twist at the end with Edgeworth appearing sets the tone for the upcoming final case. In my opinion, Turnabout Big Top gets some undeserved hate.

T&T - Recipe for Turnabout:

3-3 is really good, no questions asked. The mere fact that it's better than 3-2 (predictable culprit, forgettable victim...) is obvious to me. But it also features the return of Maggey, and the first (and only) appearance of amazingly comical characters like Furio Tigre and Victor Kudo (who both have amazing theme songs). The victim might be a little forgettable, but he at least gets some development, unlike Bullard in The Stolen Turnabout. Of course, Tigre is obvious as the killer, but he's meant to be this way, and the way you corner him is amazing. The reveal that Godot can't see red on white matters in 3-5, and the case is hilarious. Special mention of Viola Cadaverini, who's underrated by the fandom, in my opinion. 3-3 is probably the strongest third case in the Trilogy, and it is definitely not the worst case in T&T.

AJ - Turnabout Serenade:

Okay, this case sucks. I dislike it very much and I can't find anything that would redeem it. The victim is boring, Daryan is obvious, Valant isn't good enough, the mini-game is tedious, and the "Phoenix saves the day" thing is repetitive. However, 4-3's biggest flaw is the defendant, Machi Tobaye. Lamiroir is an enjoyable character, and the plot twist surrounding her eyesight isn't bad, but it doesn't make Machi good enough not to ruin the case. This case is the weak point of a great game, but fortunately, 4-4 more than makes up for it.

DD - Turnabout Academy:

Dual Destinies is my least favorite game in the main series, but it has some solid cases, 5-3 being one of them. The trio of Juniper, Robin, and Hugh is amazing (even if the twist around Robin was pretty obvious), the WAA trio works very well, and we even get a chance to see Klavier again (his objection clip sucks, though)! It is definitely a strong case, even if Means was a bit obvious, and while it doesn't hold up to the great ending of DD, I do believe that 5-3 is better than 5-1, 5-2, and maybe even 5-4.

SoJ - The Rite of Turnabout:

Maya's comeback makes this case good, albeit not great. It is better than 6-1 for sure (drags on too much for a tutorial case) and probably 6-4 and 6-6, but it pales compared to 6-2 and 6-5, of course. Nayhuta is the weak point of 6-3, but everything else about this case is pretty good! The "new" Maya is a right balance of her former self with some more maturity, Datz is funny, Beh'leeb Inmee was a really emotional character, and while I don't like Tahrust too much, the plot twist around his death was pretty cool. Also, this case also makes it clear why Phoenix did what he did in 6-5 when Inga blackmailed him: he can't lose Maya. It could have been better, but this case is solid, and definitely not part of a "curse" of any kind.

AAI - The Kidnapped Turnabout:

Unfortunately, AAI kinda sucks. The first three cases aren't that good, and while I1-3 is probably better than I1-1, I'll admit it's terrible. It's long, the Amanos sucks, Lauren Paups isn't that great, and if it wasn't for Kay, the case would probably be the worst in the series.

AAI2 - The Inherited Turnabout:

Is there anything bad to say about I2-3? I mean, you play as Gregory freaking Edgeworth, so what more do you want? Ah, yes, it also has DL-6 development, the exceptional Katherine Hall and Jeffrey Masters, plot twists, flashbacks done right (!), and while the villain isn't great, he is satisfying to catch, and he matters in I2-5. Honestly, this case would probably be enough to prove my whole argument.

DGS1 - The Adventure of the Runaway Room:

After a somewhat disappointing second case (in my opinion), DGS1-3 is really good! Megundal (I'll use the names from the fan translation, since I'm used to them and like them better) is quite the interesting character, and the Engarde-like plot twist surrounding him is amazing. His death in the final cutscene is also good and ties in nicely with the final case. Ryunosuke's first trial in England gives him cool development, and damn it, Barok van Zieks! His legslam, glass throw, and objection clip suffice to make him an amazing character, and there's more to him that just that. This case is better than DGS1-2, DGS1-1, and maybe even DGS1-4 if you don't consider its link to DGS2.

DGS2 - The Return of the Great Departed Soul:

While not as good as the two following cases in my opinion, this case is definitely above-average. Gina's comeback is just great, and her new mentor-protégé relationship with Gregson is nothing short of wholesome. Enoch Drebbler is one of the best culprits in the duology, and Courtney Sithe's character is very good, too. She gives a confident vibe that really serves the case. Benjamin Dobinbough (because his canon English name is one I refuse to acknowledge) is a great clueless defendant, and his relationship to Barok is quite nice! It definitely makes the case trickier! Rozaic has a really mysterious and enjoyable atmosphere surrounding her, and finding Herlock standing like statue at the wax museum was amusing. Of course, the best thing about this case is Asogi's return. It is handled well by the game that doesn't try to cover the obvious plot twist.. The final cutscene is just *smooch*. I also can't forget the Joint Reasoning with Herlock when looking for Enoch. Again, this case is definitely not part of a "curse" of any kind.

Overall thoughts:

I don't think the Third-Case Syndrome holds for Ace Attorney. Some third cases weren't good (4-3 and I1-3) but most are either good (1-3, 3-3, 5-3, DGS1-3) or excellent (I2-3 and DGS2-3). I know Turnabout Big Top traumatized most of the fandom, but I don't think it's that bad, and definitely not bad enough to start a curse revolving around third cases.

Danganronpa:

Trigger Happy Havoc:

Chapter Three of THH is... good enough. The pointless argument between Taka and Hifumi is annoying, to be sure, and Celeste did us a favor by getting rid of them. And her plan wasn't bad, either! It could have worked if Makoto and Kyoko had not been there. However, I do believe that this chapter is too boring before the first murder. The motive is also... meh. The plot twist oh Hifumi waking up and remembering Celeste's true name was enjoyable, though. 1-3 isn't amazing by any means, but I think it's better than 1-5 and 1-6, but it stands no chance against 1-2 and 1-4.

Goodbye Despair:

Well, this one sucks. I think it's the only DR chapter that literally has a plot hole. The "Despair Syndrome" motive is probably the worse in the series and this case pretty much ruined Mikan's character. Her execution is lame, Ibuki shouldn't have been a victim (seriously, why?), the culprit is obvious, and the timeframe to execute her plot doesn't work if you aren't Sonic the Hedgehog. Also... that attempt at fanservice was cringe, and it almost killed Hajime. The only thing that redeems this chapter a bit is the name "Titty Typhoon" but that's it. This one definitely alimented the "curse," and rightfully so. In-between two great cases, 2-3 doesn't make a good impression.

Killing Harmony:

3-3 is a chapter I have mixed feelings about. On the one hand, the atmosphere was excellent and fitting of the killer, and Kokichi's prank had us all freak out at first. I don't like neither Angie nor Kiyo (sorry, Kiyo fans), but somehow, it didn't make the chapter worse for me. On the other hand, the Necronomicon motive sucks almost as much as the motive in 2-3. It could have worked in DR2 considering the Killing Game happened virtually, but in V3, the motive was just an outright lie from Monokuma, so it doesn't work. Also, Kiyo was a bit too obvious: the music, the theme, his sudden importance in the plot, the séance... it was just a bit too much not to make him suspicious. Finally, this chapter's major flaw, which I can sum up in one word: sister. That, was traumatizing. Without even going in details, everything that happened after Kiyo's "sister" appeared during the Class Trial ruined it. I'm also curious to know if the writers at Spike Chunsoft are mentally stable, considering Kiyo's relationship with his sister and the fact that they ship Monotaro and his sister Monophanie in the next case. It's not a bad chapter at all, but it has its flaws, unfortunately.

Overall thoughts:

While I wouldn't call it a "curse," it's true that third cases in Danganronpa aren't amazing, especially in DR2. You'll also notice that I didn't mention UDG simply because it's too different a game to be compared to THH, DR2, and V3. If we ever get another Killing Game, I hope that the third chapter will be better, because we've yet to have an awesome Chapter Three so far.

Final thoughts:

I don't believe there are curses revolving around third cases/chapters, neither in Ace Attorney, nor in Danganronpa. However, it's true that in the case of Danganronpa, on average, third cases are the weakest, while Chapters Four and Five are almost always great. Third cases in Ace Attorney definitely get an unfair treatement, though.

Thanks for reading, and I'm open to discussing all of this if you disagree!

[where-is-karl]

I never really understood permafrost before this trip. Then upon entering Fairbanks a friendly cyclist pedaled up next to me. We talked about my trip and then I found out Lauren (friendly cyclist not on Instagram) worked at the Permafrost tunnel. A few days later @glennvilleneuve and I were headed into the tunnel to learn about Ice wedges (pic 1), ice lenses (pic 2), check out some 40,000 year old preserved wood (pic 3), extinct bison bones (pic 4), and 20,000 year old grass, no... not that kind 🤦‍♂️🚭. . The research facility is maintained at a 23°F (~-5°C) temperature. It is 110 meters long (~350 ft) and gives a glimpse into what lies below the surface in Fairbanks where the permafrost is on average 60-120 ft (~20-40 m) thick. If this one little tunnel holds all these mysteries, think how many amazing things are just sitting below the surface perfectly preserved in areas with arctic climates. . (Another story) Along the north slope I was told I was in a desert, yet everywhere off the highway looked like a marsh turns out the 1,000 -2,000 feet of permanently frozen ground doesn't let any water through so the little that does stays on the surface. How crazy! 🤓 . . . . . . . . . . . #instatravel #travelgram #worldtravel #worldwanderer #travel #belarus #vagabond #viaje #podróż #travelawesome #adventure #backpacking #roamtheplanet #mytravelgram #globetrotter #lonelyplanet #welltraveled #roamtheplanet #worldtraveltags #worldtravelphotography #여행 #weltreise #reiseblog #permafrost #science #nerdshit #alaska #fairbanks #usa🇺🇸 (at Permafrost Tunnel Research Facility) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTf205Ip88C/?utm_medium=tumblr

[ssklaroline]

[duggardata]

John + Abbie Are Parents!

Welcome to The World, Gracie!

John David + Abbie (Burnett) Duggar welcomed their first child—a daughter they’ve named Grace “Gracie” Annette—on January 7, 2020 at 3:21 AM.  Us Weekly had the exclusive, and the couple told the tabloid—

“Our lives have changed forever with the arrival of our baby girl.  She is a beautiful gift from God.  We are so blessed the Lord has given her to us.  It’s still surreal to know that we are really parents, but it’s a great new adventure that we are excited to take on together.”

For Gracie’s impact on John + Abbie’s Data, as well as the Overall Duggar Family Data...  Read on!

Timing of...

Pregnancy Announcement

John + Abbie announced the pregnancy on August 1, 2019.  Abbie was due January 13, 2020—so, she was 115 Days Along (16 Weeks, 3 Days), at the time of the announcement.  For now, the Predictor assumes that Abbie’s theoretical future pregnancy announcements will also happen at 115 Days Along.

By Duggar standards, this announcement was a little late.  Until John + Abbie’s, it was ‘typical’ for Duggar Couples to announce a pregnancy at 93 Days—or, 13 Weeks, 2 Days—Along.  Factoring in Gracie, it’s now ‘typical’ to announce 1 Day Later, at 94 Days Along.  This varies by a Standard Deviation (SD) of 33 Days, however, so the Probable Range (68%) for Duggars’ Pregnancy Announcements is 61–127 Days Along—i.e., between ~Weeks 9–18.

Sex Reveal

On August 20, 2019, J.D. + Abbie revealed that they were expecting a girl. (Note—Previously, I have put August 19 as their Sex Reveal date; however, it was revealed quite late at night—already after midnight on the East Coast—so, let’s go with August 20.) At the time, Abbie was 134 Days Along (or 19 Weeks, 1 Day). The Predictor assumes that John + Abbie will do all future Sex Reveals at 134 Days Along, as well, since this is their only data point.

As for the Duggar Data... Prior to Gracie’s, a ‘typical’ Duggar Sex Reveal happened at 152 Days Along (i.e., 21 Weeks, 5 Days). After Grace’s, that shifted to 151 Days Along (21 Weeks, 4 Days)—i.e., 1 Day Earlier.  With a SD of 28 Days, the Probable Range (68%) for Duggar Sex Reveals is from 123–179 Days Along.

Delivery (vs. Due Date)

Abbie’s due date with Grace was January 13, but she actually gave birth 6 Days Early on January 7, 2020.  The Predictor assumes that she will deliver exactly 6 Days Early with future pregnancies, as well.

Prior to Grace’s birth, the ‘typical’ GrandDuggar was born 2 (1.67) Days Early.  Factoring in Grace, there was No Meaningful Change; it remained at 2 Days Early, shifting only from 1.67 Days to 1.98 Days Early.

Birth Announcement

Abbie gave birth on January 7, 2020, but Us Weekly didn’t report on it until January 9.  So, John + Abbie announced Grace’s arrival 2 Days Later.

Prior to Grace, it was Duggar–typical to announce a child’s arrival 1 Day Later.  Factoring in Gracie, there is No Meaningful Change; it’s still 1 Day Later.

Birthweight & Length

At birth, Baby Grace weighed 7 Pounds, 11 Ounces, and measured 20.75 Inches long.  She’s one of only 6 GrandDuggars to weigh <8 Pounds, at birth. (The rest are Bella, Garrett, Addison, Meredith, and Ivy.)

Prior to Gracie, your ‘typical’ GrandDuggar weighed 8 Pounds, 8 Ounces and measured 21 Inches, when they were born.  After Gracie, it shifted to 8 Pounds, 7 Ounces (–1 Ounce) and 21 Inches (No Meaningful Change). 

Marriage–to–Firstborn Spacing

John + Abbie married on November 3, 2018.  Gracie was born on January 7, 2020, exactly 430 Days (~14 Months) later.

Pre–Gracie, the ‘typical’ Duggar Firstborn arrived 367 Days (1 Year, 2 Days) into his or her parents’ marriage.  By factoring in Gracie, that shifts slightly to 374 Days—i.e., +1 Week.  Here’s each of the Duggars’ Marriage–to–Firstborn delay, for reference—

273 Days   Joy + Austin, Joe + Kendra

289 Days   Jill + Derick

331 Days   Josiah + Lauren  (Marriage–to–Asa Projected DOB)

369 Days   Jessa + Ben

377 Days   Josh + Anna

400 Days   Josiah + Lauren  (Miscarriage–to–Bella DOB)

430 Days   John + Abbie

621 Days   Jinger + Jeremy

After Grace, Marriage–to–Firstborn varies by a SD of 104 Days, so the Probable Range (68%) for the birth of Child 1 is 270–478 Days, post–wedding.

Looking Ahead

As of January 9, 2020, the ‘typical’ Duggar Couple’s Firstborn–to–Secondborn gap is 1.78x Longer than their Marriage–to–Firstborn gap.  This ratio is critical to the New Predictor’s analysis of 1 Child Couples.  It multiplies those couples’ Marriage–to–Firstborn gap by that ratio (1.78 for Duggars) to get their Projected Pace.  (That Pace will then adjust as they add to their family.  It’s simply the average of all of their spacings, except Marriage–to–Firstborn.)

With this in mind...  John + Abbie’s Projected Pace is 1 Child Every 766 Days (~25 Months).  Again, that’s calculated by taking their actual, 430 Day Marriage–to–Firstborn spacing and multiplying by the Duggar Firstborn–to–Secondborn vs. Marriage–to–Firstborn Ratio [1.78].)

Based on their Projected Pace, plus their other data, here’s when to expect Duggar–Burnett #2—

Baby News   September 15, 2021

Sex Reveal   October 4, 2021

Due Date   February 27, 2022

Birthdate   February 21, 2022

Assuming that John + Abbie maintain the Projected Pace and that Abbie’s fertility lasts until Age 40.47, liked her mother’s did, their ESOQ is 6 Children.