#Midweek Nation

[entertainingthewhatifs]

Am I a....(Insert F word)

“I think my friend’s a feminist. She’s gonna start marching in protests for Planned Parenthood or N.O.W. I think she might even burn her bras….” Good! I’ve never done any of those things, yet I seethe when anyone says, “Feminism is the cause of the breakdown of the family unit.” Really? You’re implying that if a woman’s husband dies and she must solely support her children, she should basically…

[shutterandsentence]

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”--Hebrews 11:1

Photo: Midewin National Prairie, Illinois

[mycryptosuite]

Plan For National Unfailing Banker Today 12/11/2022

Plan For National Unfailing Banker Today 12/11/2022

Plan For National Unfailing Banker Today 12/11/2022 Plan for national unfailing banker – Saturday national lotto banker, live banker for today national facebook with the best lotto banker for today. Ghana lotto national their free banker – Here are the best two sure and banker for National draw on 12 November 2022. Banker for today friday national – live banker for today friday bonanza with no…

[rjzimmerman]

Do the recent or right-now-ongoing crazy global weather scare you? Bother you? Interest you?

I'm pulling this from various media sources, because there is so much crazy weather happening now, or that has happened within the last couple of weeks, it seems like no single media source is picking it up.

From Heatmap AM:

Houston’s floods – More than 400 people in and around Houston, Texas, evacuated their homes over the weekend due to flooding. At least one person, a child, was killed. In one nearby county, more than 21 inches of rain fell over five days last week. The rain has tapered off but the cleanup has just begun.

Brazil’s rain – In Brazil’s southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, days of intense rain caused the Guaiba River to overflow and flood more than 340 cities, including the region’s capital of Porto Alegre. At least 78 people are dead and more than 115,000 have been forced to evacuate. One climatologist calledthe catastrophe “a disastrous cocktail” of climate change and the El Niño effect. “It looks like a scene out of a war,” said Rio Grande do Sul governor Eduardo Leite. 

Chile’s fires – Fires in Chile’s Valparaiso region, fueled by an intense heat wave and enduring drought, have killed at least 51 people and burned more than 64,000 acres.

Kenya’s deluge – Flooding and landslides in Kenya from unrelenting rainfall have killed more than 200 people. It is still raining and the weather is forecast to worsen throughout the month of May.

Southeast Asia’s heat wave – A lengthy heat wave has shattered temperature records across Southeast Asia, forcing many schools to close. One weather historian called the heat wave “the most extreme event in world climatic history.” 

From the Associated Press (AP):

A weekend spring storm that drenched the San Francisco Bay area and closed Northern California mountain highways also set a single-day snowfall record for the season on Sunday (May 5) in the Sierra Nevada. The wet weather system had mostly moved out of the state by Sunday morning, but officials warned that roads would remain slick after around two feet (60 centimeters) of snow fell in some areas of the Sierra. “Did anyone have the snowiest day of the 2023/2024 season being in May on their winter bingo card?” the University of California, Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab asked on the social platform X. The 26.4 inches (67 centimeters) of snowfall on Sunday beat the second snowiest day of the season — March 3rd — by 2.6 inches (6.6 centimeters), according to the lab.

From Yale Climate Connections:

For the first time since the 2010s, a high-risk outlook for severe weather (level 5 of 5) has been issued for parts of the Great Plains. The outlook was put in place at 8 a.m. EDT Monday, May 6, and updated at 12:30 p.m. EDT Monday by the NOAA/National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center, as a busy few days of severe weather moved into high gear. Dozens of tornadoes could erupt by midweek, including in and near Oklahoma on Monday and across a broad swath of the mid-Mississippi and lower Ohio River valleys on Wednesday. Many of the worst tornado U.S. outbreaks of recent years have played out across the Mississippi Valley and Southeast, but multiple rounds of twisters have hammered the Plains since late April, taking at least seven lives and wreaking what will no doubt be hundreds of millions of dollars in damage.

From Wikipedia:

On 16 April 2024, heavy rains caused floods in the United Arab Emirates, affected cities of mainly Dubai and Sharjah, the northern Emirates, and different areas of the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. According to the National Center for Meteorology (United Arab Emirates) , this was the country's heaviest rainfall recorded in 75 years. The floods in the Emirates were a part of the greater Persian Gulf floods.

[pedripics]

hi! may i ask you something about this Super League? im confused because im new here. and what about that 1 billion euros for? thank you

Hi, of course 🫶🏻

The Super League is a rather complex topic, so I'm gonna give you a short summary and a longer version with the history and stuff under the cut.

In short, the Super League is a proposed football competition for football clubs in Europe that is aimed to rival the UEFA competitions, such as the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League.

Format (this is the new version they just released):

It would include 64 men’s (spread across three leagues) and 32 women’s teams (spread across two leagues) playing midweek games in a league system across Europe. All clubs would play in groups of 8 – home and away – resulting in a guaranteed minimum of 14 matches per year. At the end of the season, a knockout stage of 8 clubs will be played in each league to determine the league champions. There would also be annual promotion and relegation between the three/ two leagues. The idea is that it would not interfere with domestic leagues.

History:

Proposals of Super Leagues in European football have been around for decades with the earliest ideas dating back to 1968. There were attempts to create a 'Super League' in 1987 and 1990 but they were abandoned after UEFA and FIFA threatened to sanction all involved clubs. In 2009, Florentino Pérez (president of Real Madrid) began planning a 'Super League' because the Champions League, in his words, was too "obsolete and problematic for the quality of the sport and an obstacle preventing clubs from growing their businesses and developing infrastructure." That idea resurfaced in 2020 when big clubs started suffering financially from the Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing debts. That got American investors interested who pledged US $5 billion towards its formation. In January 2021, FIFA and all six football's continental confederations (AFC, CAF, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, OFC, and UEFA) issued a statement that rejected the formation of any breakaway European Super League and that they would ban any club or player involved from any competitions organised by FIFA and its six confederations.

Current 'European Super League':

In April 2021, Pérez announced the formation of the 'European Super League' (ESL) via a press release signed by twelve clubs that signed up to be involved (Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspurs, Inter Milan, Juventus, AC Milan, Atlético Madrid, FC Barcelona, and Real Madrid). The aim was a new competition that "provides higher-quality matches and additional financial resources for the overall football pyramid, provides significantly greater economic growth and support for European football via a long-term commitment to uncapped solidarity payments, which will grow in line with league revenues, would appeal to a new younger generation of football fans, and also would improve VAR and refereeing." Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, and Juventus were the three leading clubs. There is much more to the financial aspect of it (like solidarity payments, welcome bonuses, participation payments, commercial revenue, etc.), but that's rather complicated and depends on what newspaper you wanna believe.

Reception:

The announcement led to a joint statement from the governing bodies of the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A condemning the formation, with all governing bodies declaring to prevent the ESL from proceeding any further. Football governing bodies from Germany, France and Russia released similar statements. UEFA reiterated their statements made in January 2021, warning that any clubs involved in the Super League would be banned from all other domestic, European and world football competitions and that players from the clubs involved would also be banned from representing their national teams in international matches. (The Premier League and their governing body FA ruled out barring the six clubs from domestic competitions and preferred to not take legal action.) Numerous politicians expressed their opposition to the proposal of the ESL. Amongst commentators, footballers and managers, the ESL sparked contrasting opinions. Media companies were mostly opposed to the idea (which does not come as a surprise as ESL promises free viewing of all live matches). Many football fans, including the fans of the involved clubs, were not in support of the idea of the ESL. The backlash led to nine clubs (all clubs, except FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Juventus) announcing their intention to withdraw from the project in April 2023. However, eight of these nine clubs remained involved as stakeholders. In June 2023, Juventus announced their decision to leave the Super League project after facing a rumoured 5-year ban from all European competitions if they went through with the project. (That only leaves FC Barcelona and Real Madrid)

Legal issues:

In May 2021, the Super League filed a complaint to the Court of Justice of the European Union against UEFA and FIFA for their proposals to stop the competition. UEFA had opened disciplinary proceedings against FC Barcelona, Juventus, and Real Madrid, which were threatened to be excluded from all UEFA competitions, in order to sanction them but these measures were stayed until further notice as a result of the rulings from the Spanish commercial court and Swiss authorities. In June 2021, the Swiss Department of Justice and Police and the Spanish Commercial Court referred the issue to the Court of Justice of the European Union to question whether UEFA and FIFA have violated two articles of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union. Article 101 prohibits cartels and other agreements that could disrupt free competition in the EEA and Article 102 aims to prevent businesses in an industry from abusing their position or taking action to prevent new businesses from gaining a foothold in the industry. On 21 December 2023, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that FIFA and UEFA's rules, which banned clubs from joining rival competitions, such as the Super League, are contrary to EU law. UEFA's and FIFA's rules making new football projects subject to their prior approval are also unlawful.

What does the ECJ's ruling mean:

The ECJ's ruling is binding and not subject to appeal. The ECJ's decision on UEFA's rules does however not rule on whether the Super League should (or is allowed) to exist. UEFA needs to change and clarify its rules now to comply with EU law. Once the regulations are updated, the Super League will still need to acquire authorisation to set the competition up. The ruling basically gives companies like A22 the right to pitch a new football competition and for their application to be judged on criteria which are "transparent, objective, non-discriminatory and proportionate".

Revival of the project:

In December 2023, A22 announced a new, updated proposal (which I already explained under format). However, many clubs have issued statements opposing the idea (including clubs, who were once involved in the ESL). As of right now, Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and SSC Napoli have issued statements in support of the ESL. There are reports about various clubs from Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and other European leagues who are keen on joining (but no official statements from the clubs).

Why could Barça and Real Madrid receive €1 billion?

I believe this has not been confirmed by A22, but it has been reported by various newspapers. They would receive €1 billion as a reward for their loyalty, as they are the only two clubs who remained firm on their decision to take part in the Super League. That would obviously only happen if they find enough teams to set up the ESL.

[linuxgamenews]

Discover the Massive Content Update for Slay the Princess

Slay the Princess content update releases free for the horror visual novel game on Linux, Steam Deck, Mac, and Windows PC. Thanks to the incredible skill of Black Tabby Games, this experience is truly unforgettable. Available on Steam, GOG, and Humble Store with 97% Overwhelmingly Positive reviews. Slay the Princess just rolled out a massive content update, it's something you don't want to miss! Developed by Black Tabby, the same folks who brought us "Scarlet Hollow," this title has really turned heads with its unique blend of surreal horror visual novel and engaging storytelling. Now, it's back with even more to offer. First off, let's talk about the free content update for Slay the Princess. It's a substantial expansion of the endgame content. Imagine more animations that bring the eerie world to life and over 3,000 words of additional dialogue. That means more choices, more depth to your interactions, and a richer experience overall on Linux and Steam Deck. And the icing on the cake? Some epic orchestral tracks recorded by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. Trust me, they add a whole new level of intensity to those climactic moments.

Slay the Princess NOW offers a free content update

While the content update release – you can also buy Slay the Princess at a 20% discount during the Steam Midweek Madness sale. If that's not a deal, I don't know what is. And it gets better. The game is also part of the "Cabins in the Woods" bundle on Steam, alongside "Inscryption" and "What Remains of Edith Finch" Proton. All three titles have their unique twist on cabin-themed settings, and you can get them at an additional 10% off. That's a deal that's hard to pass up. Slay the Princess isn't just another typical title with a free content update. It challenges you in unexpected ways. Voiced by Jonathan Sims (yep, the guy from The Magnus Archives) and Nichole Goodnight, the story sucks you right in. The premise seems simple – enter a cabin, pick up a dagger, and confront the Princess. But trust me, it's anything but simple. Each choice you make leads you down new, often startling paths. The Princess isn't just a static character; she evolves with every encounter, making each playthrough unique. The love and support from the community have been Overwhelmingly Positive. Tony Howard-Arias, the lead writer, expressed heartfelt thanks to everyone who's played, shared, and created content around this title. Your enthusiasm is what fuels these updates and expansions. So, if you're looking for something that's a bit off the beaten path, with its content update, offering a blend of horror, mystery, and immersive storytelling, Slay the Princess is a must-try. And there's no better time than now, with the new content and these killer deals. The free content update is live on Steam for Linux, Steam Deck (playable), Mac, and Windows PC, priced at $17.99 USD / £15.29 / 17,99€ (with the 20% discount) until April 8th. Regular price on GOG and Humble Store.

[atlantichurricanes]

Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook issued by the National Hurricane Center in Miami, FL, USA

2024-06-16, 14:00 EDT

Southwestern Gulf of Mexico: A large area of disturbed weather is located over Central America, the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, and the adjacent waters of the northwestern Caribbean Sea. A broad area of low pressure is forecast to form from this system over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico on Monday or Tuesday. Environmental conditions appear conducive for subsequent gradual development of the low, and a tropical depression or tropical storm could form by midweek while it moves slowly westward or west-northwestward.

Regardless of development, several days of heavy rainfall are expected across portions of southern Mexico and Central America, and these rains are likely to cause life-threatening flooding and flash flooding. Locally heavy rainfall is also expected to spread over portions of the northwestern coast of the Gulf of Mexico by the middle of the week. In addition, gale warnings have been issued for portions of the Gulf of Mexico, and more information on these is available in High Seas Forecasts issued by the National Weather Service.

* Formation chance through 48 hours...low...30 percent.

* Formation chance through 7 days...high...70 percent.

Southwestern Atlantic Ocean: A trough or an area of low pressure is forecast to form by midweek a few hundred miles northeast of the central Bahamas. Environmental conditions could be conducive for some development of this system thereafter while it moves westward or west-northwestward.

* Formation chance through 48 hours...low...near 0 percent.

* Formation chance through 7 days...low...30 percent.

&& High Seas Forecasts issued by the National Weather Service can be found under AWIPS header NFDHSFAT1, WMO header FZNT01 KWBC, and online at ocean.weather.gov/shtml/NFDHSFAT1.php

$$ Forecaster Beven

[justinssportscorner]

Paul MacInnes at The Guardian:

Uefa has been found to be “abusing a dominant position” in the way it applies its rules, leaving the potential for a revival of the European Super League project. In a long-awaited ruling by the European court of justice, Uefa and football’s international governing body, Fifa, were found to have rules relating to the establishment of new competitions that were not “transparent, objective, non-discriminatory and proportionate”. These rules have been declared “unlawful” by the court. The judgment also found, however, that its decision “does not mean that a competition such as the Super League project must necessarily be approved”. The ruling has been awaited by football’s stakeholders as potentially offering sign as to the future of the European game and whether a project such a Super League could happen again.

Bernd Reichart, the chief executive of A22, a consultancy hired by the Super League Company, said on X: “We have won the right to compete. The Uefa monopoly is over. Football is free. Clubs are now free from the threat of sanction and free to determine their own futures.” A22 swiftly revealed its plan for men’s and women’s Super Leagues, with 64 teams in the men’s competition, 32 in the women’s and promotion and relegation across the divisions in each. It said the initial selection of clubs would be based on merit, there would be no permanent members and clubs would continue to play in their domestic leagues, with Super League matches scheduled midweek. Ejection from either competition, however, would happen only for clubs that finish at the bottom of the last tier. Clubs would be placed in groups of eight, guaranteeing them 14 matches a season. Reichart said of the project’s plans, which would in effect replace Uefa’s Champions League. “For fans: We propose free viewing of all Super League matches. For clubs: Revenues and solidarity spending will be guaranteed.”

Javier Tebas, the president of La Liga and a staunch critic of the Super League, which continues to be backed by Real Madrid and Barcelona, accused Reichart of behaving as if he had been drinking “until 5 in the morning”. He said the ruling had not stated that Uefa and Fifa must admit the Super League. “On the contrary,” he said, “it points out that the criteria for admission to competitions must be transparent, objective and non-discriminatory. Principles precisely incompatible with the Super League.” Uefa said the ruling did not “signify an endorsement or validation of the so-called ‘super league’” but addressed a “pre-existing shortfall” in Uefa’s framework which it said it had subsequently corrected in June 2022. It outlined its continued opposition to the Super League project. “Uefa is confident in the robustness of its new rules, and specifically that they comply with all relevant European laws and regulations,” it said. “Uefa remains resolute in its commitment to uphold the European football pyramid … We trust that the solidarity-based European football pyramid that the fans and all stakeholders have declared as their irreplaceable model will be safeguarded against the threat of breakaways by European and national laws.”

In 2021, immediately after the announcement of the breakaway tournament, Uefa took disciplinary action against the 12 Super League clubs, with each sanctioned and banned from European qualification for joining a competition unauthorised by the governing body. The Super League company brought legal action in response, its arguments focusing on whether Uefa should have the power to decide what is authorised. Uefa’s disciplinary processes were suspended as part of these proceedings, with nine of the 12 clubs also walking away from the Super League. An opinion published last year by an advocate general at the ECJ found Uefa had not acted against European competition law by sanctioning its clubs. Real Madrid’s president, Florentino Pérez, said after the ruling: “Today will mark a before and after; it is a great day for the history of football and the history of sport.” Pérez said clubs could now be “the masters of their destiny” and the Super League would give football “the new impetus it so badly needs”.

The European Court of Justice rules that neither FIFA nor UEFA can legally block the formation of the Super League.

[papirouge]

I never was told to leave a church group before but I had left one, the last one I went to, because they were.. ew

It seemed well in the beginning. No issues until the church let go of the old pastor and this new young guy came in. Single and would sometimes sprinkle in weird incel talk about how single women were the worst parts of Gods kingdom for disobeying his commandment to be fruitful and multiple. Like? What?

Then the sermons got very political. Old people that never had issues before and were pretty nice had become a lot more mean and racist. I saw less women in general? Trump this. Trump that. Democrats are working with the jewish elites and muslims to destroy our Godly nation (I’m living in the US), it was so BIZARRE to hear this being said with no irony or anything and people legitimately believe it.

I left when I attended a midweek meeting that talked about church issues. And it started by discussing how the Catholic Church is a horrible institution for defending pedophiles while others called out how the victims were mostly boys and “priests should have been women the whole time then those boys would be called men, not whatever beta victimhood they want to be” -cue snickers from mostly males- Then the subject was to abortion where some believe it’s a crime against *the state* ie the government because abortion takes away 1 solider from the military and others chimed in with “we’re already below replacement levels, we need more babies!”

And I, being not white, and not caring about white people panicking over being a minority was just really bored of it all. But I did look at a few others didn’t really react who looked at me and we just knew this is just stupid.

And I also, being someone who couldn’t care any less about the american military industrial complex, was bored of the panic people feel about abortion needing to be banned ONLY because the military requires bodies is honestly dystopian to say the least.

Yeah the rest of that meeting went by terribly. I know these people are not representative of anything, but I cant stand how a lot of churches now are becoming mini political centers.

Also, one of the higher up guys in the church quietly left before I did when he was outed as a gay man for sleeping with married husbands. But some people blamed the wives? God was a trash fire that place was.

There were so many good times and a lot of good people though too, like I got to know this old lady who knitted sweaters and scarves for people for free if you asked and all she would ask in return is for you to hang with her 🥹 she used to work as a nurse in the 50s, she couldn’t have her own babies so, she told me, “I ended up for a time as a volunteer to cuddle babies in the hospital!” she was such a beautiful person. She also donated a lot of money to domestic abuse shelters for women.

I'll NEVER understand why Christians fundies act like not having children is a sin/"multiplying" is a commandment for ALL of us. Jesus was a celibate - yet he never sinned. Why can't they make the logical conclusion off of it?

When God told Eve and Adam to multiply it was while they were still in the garden of Eden, and yet, they started conceiving/multiplying only after they got kicked out of the garden. Were they sinning for not multiplying humankind while still in the garden? eating the forbidden fruit is the only and first sin they committed out there - not their lack of offsprings. Breeding kink christians should get their facts straight.

I'm absolutely not surprised by this new generation of young pastor matrixed by red pill content. It was bound to happen. I think it's yet another sign we have to stop relying on "regular" church assemblies and build our own communities.

I really don't get whenever a male get exposed for being a pedophile people go like "oh but if roles were reversed!!" Like- do those people see men reaction whenever boys get abused? They are the one acting like the victims were grownups and how "lucky" they were from discovering sex that turned them into men. Women are the ones consistently frowning upon sexual abuse.

US Evangelicals should really pipe down with their mocking of catholic Priest pedophile when they have no problem handing over their 13 y.o girls to middle age polygamous scrotes. There's a documentary floating around on TikTok of a man who married & impregnated girls as young as 13, their sisters, mom, cousins, etc.

Bless that old lady. Wherever they are, women are the only hope to elevate the bar somehow. I'm glad you're out though. How much time did you stay in that cesspool of a church ? I think documenting crazy church drama from an actual/authentic Christian perspective (instead of a whiny uwu church trauma uwu one) could be the subject of such a cool documentary. Made by Christians FOR Christians, and to warb them off the lunacy of modern churches.

I thought about it but I'm in France and most church are catholic so very geriatric but chill/unproblematic. The evangelicals ones are those were the mess is. They're mostly African too 👀 (I'm from Congo and Congolese pretty much 'own' the network of evangelical churches in France and Belgium lmao) A few months ago a Christian teen rapper got exposed having several gf (in the same time)/having sex with them - they all exposed him on TikTok 💀. They said he was adamant having sex with them with Christian music in the background 😭

If i was around your church I would do an interview of that homewrecking gay dude and expose their husbands. JUSTICE FOR THEIR WIVES. I can't imagine the horror of discovering your husband is cheating with a gay man... Double betrayal. And let's not forget the STDs.... They all should be put to jail IDC

[choti12]

The Best Time to Visit Hong Kong: A Comprehensive Guide

Hong Kong, with its towering skyscrapers, bustling streets, and vibrant culture, is a city that captivates travelers year-round. However, choosing the optimal time to visit can greatly enhance your experience and ensure you make the most of what this dynamic destination has to offer. Here's a comprehensive guide to help you decide the best time to visit Hong Kong:

1. Weather Considerations:

Spring (March to May): Spring brings mild temperatures and blooming flora to Hong Kong. It's an ideal time for outdoor activities such as hiking, exploring parks, and enjoying the city's scenic views.

Summer (June to August): Hong Kong summers are hot and humid, with temperatures often soaring above 30°C (86°F). While it's not the most comfortable time to visit, summer is perfect for beach lovers and water sports enthusiasts.

Autumn (September to November): With clear skies and pleasant temperatures, autumn is arguably the best time to visit Hong Kong. It's perfect for sightseeing, attending festivals, and sampling seasonal delicacies.

Winter (December to February): Hong Kong's winters are mild and relatively dry, making it an attractive option for travelers looking to escape colder climates. The city is adorned with festive decorations during the holiday season, adding to its charm.

2. Festivals and Events:

Chinese New Year: Celebrated in January or February, Chinese New Year is one of Hong Kong's most significant festivals. The city comes alive with colorful parades, traditional performances, and dazzling fireworks displays.

Spring Lantern Festival: Held in conjunction with the Chinese New Year, the Spring Lantern Festival takes place on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. Visitors can admire beautifully crafted lanterns and participate in various cultural activities.

Hong Kong Arts Festival: Taking place from February to March, the Hong Kong Arts Festival showcases a diverse range of performances, including music, dance, theater, and visual arts.

Dragon Boat Festival: Celebrated in June, the Dragon Boat Festival features exhilarating dragon boat races, traditional ceremonies, and delicious rice dumplings known as zongzi.

3. Peak Tourist Seasons:

Golden Week: The first week of October sees an influx of tourists from mainland China due to the National Day holiday. Accommodation prices tend to surge during this period, so it's advisable to book well in advance.

Christmas and New Year: Hong Kong is a popular destination for holidaymakers during the festive season. Hotels and attractions may be crowded, but the city's festive atmosphere is truly magical.

4. Considerations for Budget Travelers:

Off-Peak Travel: Visiting Hong Kong during the shoulder seasons (spring and autumn) can offer significant savings on accommodation and flights while still enjoying favorable weather and fewer crowds.

Midweek Stays: Opting for midweek travel instead of weekends can also result in lower hotel rates and dining expenses.

In conclusion, the best time to visit Hong Kong ultimately depends on your preferences, budget, and the experiences you wish to have. Whether you're drawn to the city's cultural festivities, outdoor adventures, or culinary delights, Hong Kong promises an unforgettable journey regardless of the season. So, pack your bags and get ready to immerse yourself in the enchanting tapestry of sights, sounds, and flavors that define this cosmopolitan metropolis.

[noloveforned]

welcome to 2024! no love for ned is still here and still on wlur every friday night from 8pm until midnight! i was hoping to have a new theme set to go this week but we're going to stick with our fall 'food songs' for another week.

our last show of the year was the annual look back twenty years ago for our best of 2003 show (now streaming on mixcloud). if you enjoyed the show, you can also check out the previous nine retrospective shows spotlighting 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995 and 1993 (1994 will be produced later this year as a special a 30th anniversary show).

no love for ned on wlur – december 29th, 2023 from 8pm-midnight

artist // track // album // label the aislers set // languor in the balcony // how i learned to write backwards // slumberland shout out louds // the comeback // howl howl gaff gaff // bud fox matt suggs // calm down // amigo row // merge belle and sebastian // i'm a cuckoo // dear catastrophe waitress // rough trade the rosebuds // kicks in the schoolyard // make out // merge the lucksmiths // midweek midmorning // naturaliste // drive-in sprites // do it yourself // starling, spiders, tiger and sprites // march camera obscura // suspended from class // underachievers please try harder // elefant st. thomas // a long long time // hey harmony // racing junior bishop allen // little black ache // charm school // champagne school herman düne // why would that hurt? (if you never loved me) // mash concrete metal mushroom // shrimper bearsuit // itsuko got married // itsuko got married 7" // bearslut dressy bessy // baby six string // dressy bessy // kindercore the new pornographers // testament to youth in verse // electric version // matador all girl summer fun band // dear mr. and mrs. troublemaker // 2 // k david and the citizens // graycoated morning // until the sadness is gone // adrian saturday looks good to me // alcohol // all your summer songs // polyvinyl the essex green // the late great cassiopia // the long goodbye // merge beulah // landslide baby // yoko // velocette reclinerland // give up your film career (lenny's theme) // the ideal home music library // hush blanket music // hyper-ballad // read: interpreting bjork tribute // hush tobin sprout // doctor #8 // lost planets and phantom voices // mr. whiggs plastic mastery // i fell in love on the way to a funeral // sverige ep // 555 the thermals // no culture icons // more parts per million // sub pop rainer maria // mystery and misery // long knives drawn // polyvinyl joel plaskett emergency // extraordinary // truthfully truthfully // maple music sloan // false alarm // action pact // vik guided by voices // useless inventions // earthquake glue // matador deerhoof // dummy discards a heart // apple o' // kill rock stars lil' hospital // there could be girlfriend // i wanna be well // best friends the national splits // she's my baby and she's alright // fontana // mr. whiggs murder beach // eight great ways // first string teenage high- songs of tullycraft played by people who aren't tribute // bumblebear casiotone for the painfully alone // jeane, if you're ever in portland // twinkle echo // tomlab bobby birdman // i will come again // heart caves ep // states rights

erykah badu // back in the day // worldwide underground // motown the books // take time // the lemon of pink // tomlab nanang tatang // bunny hop hop // muki // tiger style so // a // so // thrill jockey piana // hide and seek // snow bird // happy broken social scene // anthems for a seventeen-year-old girl // you forgot it in people // arts and crafts califone // michigan girls // quicksand/cradlesnakes // thrill jockey the strugglers // the new room // the new room // tract magnolia electric co. // just be simple // the magnolia electric co. // secretly canadian crooked fingers // big darkness // red devil dawn // merge the trouble with sweeney // the break up // i know you destroy // burnt toast vinyl barzin // past all concerns // barzin // where are my azure ray // hold on love // hold on love // saddle creek seekonk // move // for barbara lee // kimchee sun kill moon // carry me ohio // ghosts of the great highway // jetset the american analog set // come home baby julie, come home // promise of love // tiger style the twilight singers // teenage wristband // blackberry belle // birdman spiritualized // she kissed me (it felt like a hit) // amazing grace // sanctuary the postal service // the district sleeps alone tonight // give up // sub pop her space holiday // my girlfriend's boyfriend // the young machines // mush styrofoam // a heart without a mind // i'm what's there to show that something's missing // morr music howard hello // my friend / the parasite // don't drink his blood // temporary residence pernice brothers // one foot in the grave // yours, mine and ours // ashmont the salteens // damn you // let go of your bad days // drive-in the unicorns // i was born (a unicorn) // who will cut our hair when we're gone? // alien8 the hidden cameras // ban marriage // the smell of our own // rough trade yo la tengo // today is the day // today is the day ep // matador

[bananaofswifts]

Taylor Swift has done that rare thing in recorded music in 2022 by exceeding expectations for her latest album.

At a time when even the biggest artists’ releases tend to perform less well than previous albums, in large part because of the shift to a consumption model, Swift’s 10th original studio album, Midnights, has stunned the industry in the past week. Its weekly sales are, in fact, higher than any of her previous albums by more than 100%.

Swift also secured the UK charts double with Anti-Hero debuting at the singles summit. Swift is the first female artist since Miley Cyrus in 2013 to achieve an albums and singles chart double.

Midnights (EMI) opened at No.1 with blockbuster sales of 204,501, which is more than the rest of the Top 14 albums combined. The album has also broken vinyl sales records for the 21st century, and secured the biggest weekly streaming total since Ed Sheeran’s Divide in 2017.

The result powered EMI to a 16.8% share as the No.1 label based on the All Music (All Albums) and (Artist Albums) metrics. The label also had the Top 4 singles (including former No.1 Unholy by Sam Smith & Kim Petras), and five of the Top 6 (including Lewis Capaldi’s former No.1 Forget Me).

Swift’s latest LP is the first to top 200,000 sales since Adele’s 30 in December 2021, which was itself the biggest weekly sale since Ed Sheeran’s ÷ posted 206,411 in its third week at No.1 in March 2017. Midnights is already the third biggest album of the year to date, behind Harry Styles’s Harry’s House and Ed Sheeran’s =.

Even before the final result, Midnights was declared the fastest-selling album of 2022 so far based on Midweek sales flashes. It surpassed the 113,812 week one sales for Harry Styles’ Harry’s House by the weekend.

Swift’s week one performance means that she has also beaten Harry Styles’ record for the fastest vinyl sales of the 21st century. Midnight’s staggering vinyl total of 61,948 was helped by multiple coloured editions for fans. It also sold 75,667 CDs, helped in part by the deluxe CD edition’s bonus track, Hits Different, which is not on DSPs.

Physical sales of 139,450 dominated the week one total for Midnights, but it has also been a streaming phenomenon. With 57,964 sales-equivalent streams, the album has the biggest weekly total since Ed Sheeran’s second week at No.1 with ÷ in 2017 (58,280). The ÷ week one tally of 78,944 suggests that it will hold on to that streaming record for some while yet.

Midnights racked up 72.5 million streams in seven days, surpassing Harry Styles’ 53.9m with Harry’s House earlier this year.

Of course, the streaming performance is evident on the singles chart where, as well as No.1 with Anti-Hero (78,993 sales), Swift debuted at No.3 with Lavender Haze (51,308) and No.4 with Snow On The Beach feat. Lana Del Rey (48,417). But for chart rules limiting a primary artist to three entries, Midnight’s tracks would have made up 13 of the Top 16 entries.

In the albums chart, Swift powered ahead of chart rival Arctic Monkeys, despite a strong performance from their seventh album, The Car, which moved 119,016 copies and also improved on their previous release’s week one performance by 37.8%. Its vinyl sales of 37,866 would have set a 21st century record but for Taylor Swift’s Midnights. The pair of huge releases helped physical sales reach a 24.3% share for this chart week.

Martin Talbot, chief executive, Official Charts Company, said: “Many congratulations to Taylor Swift on her fantastic achievement in topping 200,000 sales this week. We always knew this would be a huge week for fans of Taylor and Arctic Monkeys, following the release of their brand new albums - and their combined first week total of more than 320,000 chart sales indicates that their pre-release excitement was well placed. Coming so soon after a fantastically successful National Album Day earlier this month, the successes also highlight just how popular albums continue to be in the digital era – and suggest that the pre-Christmas sales surge is underway.” Midnights is Taylor Swift’s ninth consecutive No.1 album (including the re-recorded version of Red and Fearless in 2021). It is also her fifth No.1 in just over two years.

With nine consecutive chart-topping albums, Swift has overtaken Madonna to set a new chart record, generating the fastest succession of nine UK No.1 albums of any female artist. Madonna retains the title of the female artist with the most No.1 albums (12), but Swift has overtaken Kylie Minogue to follow in second place. Swift has also extended her lead as the female solo artist with the highest collection of No.1 albums this century.

Red (Taylor’s Version) became Swift’s fourth No.1 album in 476 days last year, beating the previous record of 518 days set by The Beatles in 1964/65.

For Midnights, comparisons with previous Swift releases are problematic. Red (Taylor’s Version) posted 72,319 week one sales last November, but that was not an original studio album. The same applied to Fearless (Taylor’s Version), which debuted at the summit in April 2021 with 21,145 sales.

In 2020, Swift secured No.1 lockdown albums with Folklore (37,060) and Evermore (27,532) - but both of those were initially digital-only releases.

Lover, released in August 2019, had opening sales across digital and physical of 53,015. The album marked Swift’s embrace of streaming, following the windowed release on DSPs of previous albums. Reputation, released in November 2017, opened with pure sales of 83,648 (including 41,795 from paid-for downloads). It arrived on streaming platforms some months later.

On a streaming basis, which is a more direct comparison, Midnights (on 57,964 sales-equivalent streams) has clearly outperformed its studio album predecessors for its week one total: Evermore (20,771), Folklore (24,050), Lover (17,891).

For the record, 1989 sold 90,336 copies on its August 2016 debut; Red, which started her sequence of chart-toppers, sold 61,779 copies in October 2012. As well as providing her biggest first week sale, 1989 is Swift’s biggest-seller overall, with consumption of 1,517,982 copies so far.

Taylor Swift scored her first UK No.1 album 10 years ago in October 2012 with Red, whereas it took Madonna 21 years to reach the same tally.

The Beatles hold the overall record, racking up nine chart toppers in five years and seven months between their debut album Please Please Me in May 1963 and The White Album in December 1968.

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this New York Times story:

Millions of Americans from Texas to Maine will face sweltering conditions this week as a heat wave takes hold in the eastern half of the United States, according to forecasters. Beginning Sunday, rising temperatures will hit the South, then stretch over the Midwest before spreading to the East Coast by midweek.

It’s not officially summer yet, so the real baking season is still to come. But this earlier stretch of stifling weather, and the fact that it is expected to linger for days, may be jarring for many regions.

Here are five numbers to help put this coming heat wave — and our warming climate — in context.

99

The expected high temperature in Fahrenheit on Wednesday in Pittsburgh. It would be the highest ever recorded there during the month of June, said Josh Weiss, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center. (In Pittsburgh, he added, there are temperature records dating back to 1875.)

22.6 million

The number of people across the country who were under extreme heat advisories, watches or warnings on Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. That is roughly the population of the state of Florida.

12

The number of consecutive months in which the average global temperature of earth has been the highest on record for that month. Last month was the hottest May ever. June could bring that number to 13.

1,220

The estimated number of deaths per year caused by extreme heat, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That makes heat the deadliest kind of extreme weather. (Flooding, by contrast, causes about 98 deaths per year.) But that number may be an undercount, as heat deaths are hard to track, because heat can exacerbate underlying conditions. And it tends to be most dangerous for people who are already vulnerable, like older Americans who don’t have air conditioning.

4

The highest number on a new scale created by the National Weather Service and the C.D.C. that gauges the health risks associated with extreme heat in a specific location on any given day. Because — as anyone who has spent summer days in Houston or Phoenix could tell you — not all heat feels the same. Experts say that even slightly lower temperatures coupled with high levels of humidity can be more dangerous.

[spacemilkbag]

national holidays midweek always mess me up

[whitepolaris]

Beware the Banditos

If San Diego’s Whaley House is too far out of the way, the next best place for ghosts-on-demand in southern California may be Ventura’s Olivas Adobe. Local ghost-hunting legend Richard Senate has recently completed a documentary about the site, and the spirits apparently obliged him, making a few fleeting appearances on camera and before witnesses. A midweek afternoon visit, when the place is relatively deserted, is perhaps the best time to look for the disturbed ghost of Senora Teodora Olivas. 

Senora Olivas has good reason to keep watch over her home, which was completed in 1851. Her husband Don Raimundo Olivas, was deeded 2,200 acres of land bordering the Ventura shore in appreciation of his service in the Mexican army under General Santa Barbara.  He named his property Rancho San Miguel. By shrewd political maneuvering and hard work, Olivas became one of the wealthiest ranchers in Alta California. Fiestas held at the adobe lasted for days. All of this of course made him a target for bandits, who staged a vicious riad on his home in 1855. 

The robbers rounded up the family and servants and then searched the grounds for valuables. Here, the story gets fuzzy. One version maintains that a trusted Indian servant was secretly given Don Raimundo’s treasure box, reportedly containing anywhere from $3,000 to $75,000 in gold coins (depending on which story you choose believe), to bury on the grounds while Raimundo stalled the outlaws. When the servant successfully completed his mission, returned to the adobe and was shot before the desperadoes realized that he was the only person who knew where the stash was hidden. 

The banditos fare slightly better if you go with the second version of events: After one of them struck Senora Olivas to the ground and ripped off her earrings, the group managed to carry off the treasure and make for the hills. They soon realized that a sizable posse had been rounded up to track them down, so the box was buried in the mountains somewhere between Ventura and Santa Barbara. No one has yet found the lost gold. According to Senate, at least one of the criminals got away-but not forever: “A follow named Encarnacion Berryessa was in a bar in L.A. boasting of his many evil deeds-one of which was the robbery of Olivas adobe,” Senate reports. “The good patrons of the car took him out and hung him.”

Visitors have seen Senora Olivas nervously pacing the high porch along the rear of the house. She is dressed in black and usually disappears in mid stride. She is dressed at the adobe often hear footsteps going up the creaky stairs or pacing on boards above, but see no one when the area is checked. Rocking chairs in the restored rooms tilt back and forth when no one is near, and objects move from their usual locations overnight in the deserted house. Figures have appeared in the upper windows, looking sternly down on startled witnesses. One night in 2004 Senate managed to capture on a digital camera the image of a bearded male face peering into one of the upstairs windows. The window is eighteen feet above the ground, with no balcony or ledge. A bit of research determined that the face resembles Nicolas Olivas, eldest son of Don Raimundo and his wife. Perhaps he was looking for his fingers, which was shot off in the robbery. 

The Olivas Adobe is a State and National Historic Monument, and is located at 4200 Olivas Park Drive, south of the town of Ventura, near Highway 101. Although the grounds are open daily, tours are offered only on weekends from ten a.m. to four p.m. 

[atlantichurricanes]

Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook issued by the National Hurricane Center in Miami, FL, USA

2023-09-03, 14:00 EDT

Active Systems: The National Hurricane Center is issuing advisories on Tropical Storm Gert, located over the central subtropical Atlantic, and Tropical Storm Katia, located over the eastern subtropical Atlantic. Central Tropical Atlantic (AL95): Showers and thunderstorms associated with a tropical wave located several hundred miles southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands have become better organized since yesterday. Environmental conditions are forecast to be conducive for further development, and this system is expected to become a tropical depression around midweek. Additional strengthening is likely late this week while the system moves westward to west-northwestward at 15 to 20 mph over the central and western portions of the tropical Atlantic.

* Formation chance through 48 hours...medium...50 percent.

* Formation chance through 7 days...high...90 percent.

Eastern Tropical Atlantic: A tropical wave over western Africa is forecast to move offshore in a few days. Environmental conditions could support some slow development starting midweek while the wave moves to the west- northwestward at about 15 mph over the far eastern tropical Atlantic.

* Formation chance through 48 hours...low...near 0 percent.

* Formation chance through 7 days...low...30 percent.

$$ Forecaster Blake