#Monica Lavell

[stoopidamerican]

W Championship 2022 Group Final Round

Better late than never, here's the latest installment of my Women's Soccer, July 2022 series: the final round of CONCACAF's W Championship.

Women’s Soccer, July 2022: A SeriesThis is the sixth post in a series devoted to the 117 games of international women’s football played in July 2022, covering the final group stage round of CONCACAF’s W Championship. If you’d like to start from the beginning (or to pick and choose your competitions), you can do so from my opening post. Next up is Round 2 of the Euros, hopefully tonight. Embed…

[svpernatvralis]

FENISHA LAVELLE is a 105 year old cis female vampire. people say they have a striking resemblance to camila mendes. they work as a dancer at delirium nightclub and are part of the conclave ( vampire capo ). people say they’re really ambitious, dauntless, & vehement, but unfortunately also calculating, guileful, & impetuous. why are they in invictus? well, they crave power.

henlo it me again! i hope u guys aren’t sick of me yet bc here’s my final ( for now, at least ) bb! say hello to my boss-ass bish gal fen! she’s sassy, classy and a lil badassy. she’s a rather feisty, fiery, ball of rage and anger who cba with ur bullshit tbh n she’ll tell u this too if u piss her off enough! she’s lowkey cutthroat and always out for number one, aka: herself. but, i mean, she does have some redeeming qualities and her hair is bomb af so that makes up for it all really, doesn’t it? basically that meme: ‘ she’s beauty, she’s grace, she’ll punch you in the face. ’

fundamentals.

name. fenisha isolde lavelle.

age. 105, but appears around 23.

d.o.b. january 27th.

gender. cisgender female.

pronouns. she / her.

orientation. bisexual.

affiliation. the conclave.

rank. vampire capo.

job. dancer at delirium nightclub.

connections.

adoptive mother. monica lavelle. †

adoptive father. edward lavelle. †

adoptive siblings. lola, erik, & alec lavelle. †

significant other. n/a.

child/ren. n/a.

pet/s. n/a.

proficiencies.

spoken languages. english, & spanish.

negative traits. capricious, ornery, impulsive, guileful, & caustic.

positive traits. ardent, whimsical, intrepid, graceful, & poised.

strengths. great analyst, abstract thinker, imaginative, original, enthusiastic, open-minded, objective, honest, & straightforward.

weaknesses. very private, withdrawn, insensitive, absent-minded, condescending, loathes rules and guidelines, & second guesses herself.

appearance.

eye colour. brown.

hair colour. dark brown.

height. five feet, two inches.

weight. 54 kg.

miscellaneous.

zodiac. aquarius.

element. water.

house. ravenclaw.

meyers briggs type. intp-t.

alignment. chaotic neutral.

enneagram. type three.

temperament. choleric.

intelligence type. intra-personal.

the basics.

FENISHA ISOLDE LAVELLE     —     one hundred and five, vampire, dancer at delirium nightclub, + vampire capo for the conclave !

possible triggers   :   child abandonment, foster system, adoption, cancer, death, huntington’s disease, substance abuse, alcohol, violence, gore, blood, murder.

tl;dr.     ok so for this gal, let's all give a big, warm welcome to sadness ( no, i was in no way at all inspired by salem from sabrina for that line ) bc boy oh boy, her life has been constant grief and pain, tbh. strap in for the bumpy ride, i'll give u cookies for compensation. OK SO, fenisha was abandoned as a baby, never did—and still doesn't—know her biological parents and she doesn't want to either, tbh. she bounced around from foster home to foster home until she was adopted by the lavelle family when she was eight. it was great! they were lovely people who made her feel at home. she loved them, they loved her back. in time, the older she grew, she began to resent the fact that her real parents weren't in the picture; believing she was always gonna be unloved and unwanted even tho the lavelle family did everything they could to make her feel the opposite. anywho, she fell in with the wrong crowd until she was sent off to an all-girls boarding school where she learned how to mellow herself a tad. but, here comes sadness again! at sixteen, her youngest adoptive sister passed away from cancer which made fenisha withdraw before, finally, acting out again. pressing the self-destruct button is this gal's speciality. did the pain stop? NOPE bc a year later her adoptive father passed away from huntington's disease. this time, she tried to bury her sadness, repress it and move on. for the most part, it worked. but still, she found herself gravitating towards her vices—things and people she knew were no good for her. drink, drugs, people, you name it. quickly, she realised that these things were no longer any good at keeping her dark side at bay: she needed something more, something deeper. thus, she began going down the road of petty crimes—stealing cars, smashing windows, theft, setting fires both metaphorically and literally. due to this lifestyle, she wound up entangled with some real shady folk who did ... even shadier things. most specifically, she started dating a real jackass who was violent and truthfully, a horrible person, really. fast forward a year or so and things took a swift nosedive when her lowlife boyfriend’s hands were round her throat and not in the kinky way. while she’d clawed at him and tried to fight him off, she struggled against his weight and strength until, eventually, all she could recall was waking up with a searing headache: the lights and noises just too much to handle. it wasn’t until she’d lost control to overwhelming bloodlust that she realised the truth: her boyfriend had turned her into a vampire. naturally, at first, she was horrified and it took her a hella long time to adjust but once she had, she kind of relished in her new life. once she got a grip on her nature, she joined the conclave and climbed the ranks where she now rests as a capo. all in all, she kind of digs who she is and what she is: after everything she's been through, she loves herself. it's been a long and winding road but fenisha finally believes that she's settled in her life now even if she is an overachiever who invests way more time in her job than she should. oop. tho she still refuses to let people in, her abandonment issues terrifying her to the degree that she feels that anybody she'd ever let into her life would eventually leave her in the end. *insert sad face emoji here.*

random extras.

nicknames: fen, nish, nisha ... spawn of satan   >:-) 

she loves art in every form: paintings, sculptures, music, dance, people, etc. she loves the freedom that expressing herself through these mediums gives her.

she’s ... experimental. she’s experimented with just about everything: hairstyles, clothing, drink, drugs, people ...

can be hella calculating and vindictive so do not cross her.

quite power hungry tbh.

she does have a shot at redemption but she doesn’t want it lmao. 

she’s already been to hell so why bother trying to right her wrongs?

and boy, are her wrongs a century long list shkjsh.

high key is not above killing people who don’t do things her way.

doesn’t believe she’s capable of loving anyone.

she’s lowkey a perfectionist to the point of being ruthless, also cutthroat and egotistical.

if ya ain’t of use to her, then what the heck is ur purpose???

she can be ... aggressive sometimes and most definitely has anger issues.

dry sense of humour one million percent.she can drink any man under the table.

smol but fierce.

absolutely adores animals. 

much prefers them to humans.

she’s quite adventurous and loves to feel the adrenaline in her body.

a bit meddlesome and a troublemaker.

always up for a good time.

outspoken and quick-witted with a sharp tongue.

is a tad theatrical.

really, she does what she wants to, when she wants to, without seeking the approval of others.

[vawnn]

The World Cup is over but the soccer/futbol doesn’t stop there.  

New to Women’s Soccer and want to continue to watch the players your fell in love with? Well lucky you, club season isn’t over just yet....there’s another trophy on the line now. Watch national teammates hack at each other’s ankles in the NWSL.

How to watch: USA: Yahoo Sports    International: NWSL Website

Some teams have broadcast deals with local networks. US fans who can’t get ESPN for specific matches can download a VPN and watch via the NWSL site.

Cost: Tickets  are as low as $15~20[Or cheaper with promotions]

Take a friend, a family member, coworker,or go by yourself. Buy merch, drive that long commute, and get your a$$ in a seat because the league and players need you.  Watch this ---> Budweiser Ad  

****Below are the 9 clubs with their locations w/ USA & Internationals who played in the World Cup.****  Nwsl site isn’t the most accurate so forgive me.

                National Women’s Soccer League - Twitter

Chicago Red Stars - Twitter

Plays out of: Bridgeview, IL (Seatgeek Stadium)

USWNT: Julie Ertz, Alyssa Naeher, Morgan Brian, Tierna Davidson Internationals: Sam Kerr(AUS)

Houston Dash - Twitter

Plays out of: Houston, TX (BBVA Stadium)

USWNT: [ No current players from the WC Roster BUT some don’t know it’s 100% possible to support a team regardless if your fav NTer is on it or not ;) ] Internationals: Rachel Daly(ENG),Clare Polkinghorne(AUS), Kyah Simon(AUS), Nichelle Prince(CAN),Sophie Schmidt(CAN), Allysha Chapman(CAN), Lindsay Agnew(CAN),

North Carolina Courage - Twitter

Plays out of: Cary, NC (Sahlen’s Stadium @ Wakemed )

USWNT: Crystal Dunn,Sam Mewis, Jessica McDonald, Abby Dalhkemper Internationals: Debinha(BRA), Stephanie Labbe(CAN), Abby Erceg(NZL)

Orlando Pride - Twitter 

Plays out of: Orlando,FL (Exploria Stadium)

USWNT: Ali Krieger, Alex Morgan, Ashlyn Harris Internationals: Marta(BRA), Camila(BRA), Alanna Kennedy(AUS), Monica(BRA), Shelina Zadorsky(CAN)

Portland Thorns FC - Twitter

Plays out of:  Portland,OR(Providence Park)

USWNT:  Tobin Heath. Lindsey Horan, Adrianna Franch, Emily Sonnet Internationals: Caitlin Foord(AUS), Ellie Carpenter(AUS), Hayley Raso(AUS), Andressinha(BRA),Christine Sinclair(CAN)

Reign FC - Twitter

Plays out of: Tacoma,Washington(Cheney Stadium)

USWNT: Allie Long, Megan Rapinoe Internationals: Lydia Williams(AUS), Steph Catley(AUS), Elise Kellond-Knight(AUS), Adriana Leon(CAN), Celia Jimenz Delgado(SPN) Rumi Utsugi(JPN) Emma Kete(NZL)

Sky Blue FC - Twitter

Plays out of: Piscataway,NJ(Yurcak Field)

USWNT: Carli Lloyd

Internationals: Kailen Sheridan(CAN), Estelle Johnson(CAM)

Utah Royals FC - Twitter

Plays out of: Salt Lake City, Utah (Rio Tinto Stadium)

USWNT: Becky Sauerbrunn, Christen Press, Kelley O’Hara Internationals: Katrina Goory(AUS),Desiree Scott(CAN),Katie Bowen(NZL) Rachel Corsie(SCO)

Washington Spirit - Twitter 

Plays out of: Boyds,MD(Maryland Soccer Plex) w/ games @ Audi Field in Washington,DC*

USWNT: Rose Lavelle, Mallory Pugh Internationals: Chloe Logarzo(AUS), Cheyna Matthews(JAM),Francisca Ordega(NGA)

FURT.

[firehatt]

A Break From Alaska

A Break From Alaska

Monica and James Lavell with their 40 pound Short Bill Spearfish

A break from Alaska finds this charming couple their largest fish ever!  James and Monica Lavell were on a delayed Honeymoon here in Kona Hawaii.  It was their first trip to the Islands.  The couple live in Eagle River, AK where James is a Operating Room Nurse and Monica is an ICU Nurse.  While charter fishing in Kona Hawaii aboard…

[we-got-the-a-team]

NWSL players potentially affected by USSF’s summer tournament

Asterisk indicates a player not on the team’s most recent roster, but who was called up within the last year.

Total: 28 to 54 players

--

Orlando Pride (8-10 players)

AUS: Steph Catley, Alanna Kennedy, Laura Alleway*

BRA: Marta, Camila, Monica

USA: Ashlyn Harris, Ali Krieger, Alex Morgan, Kristen Edmonds*

JPN: —

North Carolina Courage (4-10)

AUS: —

BRA: Debinha, Rosana

USA: Lynn Williams, Sam Mewis, Jessica McDonald*, Jaelene Hinkle*, Abby Dahlkemper*, Taylor Smith*, Ashley Hatch*

JPN: Yuri Kawamura*

Portland Thorns FC (3-8)

AUS: Hayley Raso

BRA: —

USA: Meghan Klingenberg, Allie Long, Adrianna Franch*, Emily Sonnett*, Emily Menges*, Tobin Heath*, Lindsey Horan*

JPN: —

Houston Dash (5-6)

AUS: Lydia Williams

BRA: Bruna Benites

USA: Jane Campbell, Kealia Ohai, Carli Lloyd, Morgan Brian*

JPN: —

Chicago Red Stars (3-6)

AUS: —

BRA: —

USA: Alyssa Naeher, Casey Short, Christen Press, Julie Ertz*, Arin Gilliland*, Danielle Colaprico*

JPN: —

Sky Blue FC (2-4)

AUS: Sam Kerr

BRA: —

USA: Kelley O’Hara, Mandy Freeman*, Sarah Killion*

JPN: —

Seattle Reign FC (2-4)

AUS: Larissa Crummer*

BRA: —

USA: Megan Rapinoe, Merritt Mathias*

JPN: Rumi Utsugi

FC Kansas City (1-4)

AUS: —

BRA: —

USA: Becky Sauerbrunn, Amy Rodriguez*, Christina Gibbons*, Shea Groom*

JPN: —

Rodriguez is not expected to play for FCKC.

Boston Breakers (2)

AUS: —

BRA: —

USA: Megan Oyster, Rose Lavelle

JPN: —

Washington Spirit (0)

[miamarie1960]

Thoughts on the Orlando Pride vs Boston Breaker’s game

Solid 1st half by Orlando. Great possession rate, some really good transition attacks, scored on their chances and didn’t allow Boston any chances or even to set their own pace on attacking. High pressure and very intense pressure on the ball. Was surprised to see Kennedy on the midfield but she had a terrific going at it. Want to see more of Monica, maybe not fully back after her injury, she wasn’t bad but not going forward as much. Still not sure about Kristen Edmonds. She was better in this game but still not as good as she was last year.

The defensive line was more or less spotless. Pressley + Krieger worked really well together, although I prefer Ali as a rightback. It gives her more opportunities to go forward. But they were solid last night. Catley made her best match so far. And Edmonds wasn’t given much to do actually. It was her offensive work that bothered me a little. Lost a few balls and didn’t have a lot of passes that went in the right direction. Still a better effort than in earlier games. Spencer is great in and around the box but overall I’m not as impressed as everybody else seems to be. She lost the ball a lot of times in the 2nd half on the offensive and disappears to much in the games. My guess is that she will be on the bench as soon as Morgan comes back. And as a bench player she could be a real asset, coming in when players are getting tired and adding speed to the offense.

In the second half it was more about possession for Orlando, they had a few really good chances to score. Kennedy had 3 chances alone, Carmila should have scored. I wonder if Marta carried a small injury into the 2nd half. she seemed a bit slow and not as willing to do runs. Hope I’m wrong about the injury. Rose Lavelle who? Was she even on the pitch? Seriously Boston looked really weak.

Ps. The commentators were awful! During the whole match they never caught on to the fact that Kennedy didn’t play CB! The main commentator mixed the players up on several occasions, even said the wrong team a couple of times; Pride had the ball when it was Boston etc. Seemed very unfocused and not well informed at all. It’s annoying to hear. And one more thing that annoyed me was their constantly talking about Morgan coming back to take the captain’s band! Why does people assume this? I hope that Tom has made his choice for the whole season, Ashlyn Harris deserves that honor. And Krieger has so far done a terrific job as well. It would be wrong on so many level to give Morgan that role. And btw, didn’t the commentators catch the news that Morgan is injured? She might be gone for a couple weeks.

[voices-from-above]

Current NWSL Players in U-20 WWC

Boston Breakers (7): Allysha Chapman, CAN (2008) Natasha Dowie, ENG (2008) Rose Lavelle, USA (2014) Adriana Leon, CAN (2012) Midge Purce, USA (2014) Abby Smith, USA (2012) Rosie White, NZL (2008, 2010, 2012)

Chicago Red Stars (8): Vanessa DiBernardo, USA (2012) Julie Johnston Ertz, USA (2012) Summer Green, USA (2014) Sofia Huerta, MEX (2012) Alyssa Mautz, USA (2008) Alyssa Naeher, USA (2008) Katie Naughton, USA (2014) Casey Short, USA (2010)

Houston Dash (9): Andressa, BRA (2014) Janine Beckie, CAN (2014) Morgan Brian, USA (2012) Amber Brooks, USA (2010) Jane Campbell, USA (2014) Kealia Ohai, USA (2012) Poliana, BRA (2010) Nichelle Prince, CAN (2014) Cari Rocarro, USA (2012, 2014)

FC Kansas City (9): Yael Averbuch, USA (2004) Katie Bowen, NZL (2012, 2014) Christina Gibbons, USA (2014) Mandy Laddish, USA (2012) Sydney Leroux, CAN (2004), USA (2008, 2010) Cat Parkhill, USA (2008) Amy Rodriguez, USA (2004, 2006 )Becky Sauerbrunn, USA (2004) Desiree Scott, CAN (2006)

North Carolina Courage (6): Sabrina D’Angelo, CAN (2012) Debinha, BRA (2010) Mackenzy Doniak, USA (2014) Abby Erceg, NZL (2008) Sam Mewis, USA (2010, 2012) Katelyn Rowland, USA (2014)

Orlando Pride (8): Camila, BRA (2014) Nickolette Driesse, USA (2014) Ashlyn Harris, USA (2002, 2004) Marta, BRA (2002, 2004) Monica, BRA (2006) Alex Morgan, USA (2008) Chioma Ubogagu, USA (2012) Toni Pressley, USA (2010)

Portland Thorns (9): Adrianna Franch, USA (2010) Tobin Heath, USA (2006) Amadine Henry, FRA (2006) Lindsey Horan, USA (2014) Kendall Johnson, USA (2010) Meaghan Klingenberg, USA (2008) Allie Long, USA (2006) Meg Morris, USA (2010) Christine Sinclair, CAN (2002)

Seattle Reign (4): Kiersten Dallstream, USA (2008) Christine Nairn, USA (2008) Megan Rapinoe, USA (2004) Rumi Utsugi, JAP (2008)

Sky Blue FC (6): Maya Hayes, USA (2010, 2012) Sarah Killion, USA (2012) McKenzie Meehan, USA (2014) Kelley O’Hara, USA (2006) Raquel Rodriguez, CRC (2010) Kailen Sheridan, CAN (2014)

Washington Spirit (8): Lindsey Agnew, CAN (2014) Kasey Kallman, USA (2012) Stephanie Labbe, CAN (2004, 2006) Kristie Mewis, USA (2010) Francisca Ordega, NIG (2012) Mallory Pugh, USA (2014, 2016) Katie Stengel, USA (2012) Shelina Zadorsky, CAN (2012)

Totals:  2002: 3

2004: 6

2006: 8

2008: 13

2010: 14

2012: 19

2014: 19

2016: 1

[shihtzuman]

187 #ClimateMayors adopt, honor and uphold #ParisAgreement goals

Badman Nishioka/3rd report /1st 62 Mayors, 2nd 88 Mayors, 3rd: The 187 US Mayor's commit to adopt, and uphold Paris Agreement!

HP: Climate Mayors

U.S. #Climate Mayors working together to advance local climate action, national emission reduction policies, & the Paris Climate Agreement www.climate-mayors.org. Jun 2

187 US Climate Mayors commit to adopt, honor and uphold Paris Climate Agreement goals

STATEMENT FROM THE CLIMATE MAYORS IN RESPONSE TO PRESIDENT TRUMP’S WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT June 1st 2017

The President’s denial of global warming is getting a cold reception from America’s cities.

As 187 US Mayors representing 52 million Americans, we will adopt, honor, and uphold the commitments to the goals enshrined in the Paris Agreement. We will intensify efforts to meet each of our cities’ current climate goals, push for new action to meet the 1.5 degrees Celsius target, and work together to create a 21st century clean energy economy.

We will continue to lead. We are increasing investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency. We will buy and create more demand for electric cars and trucks. We will increase our efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions, create a clean energy economy, and stand for environmental justice. And if the President wants to break the promises made to our allies enshrined in the historic Paris Agreement, we’ll build and strengthen relationships around the world to protect the planet from devastating climate risks.

The world cannot wait — and neither will we.

Sign

*Mayor Eric Garcetti, City of Los Angeles, CA/

*Mayor Martin J Walsh, City of Boston, MA/

*Mayor Bill de Blasio, New York City, NY/

*Mayor Sylvester Turne, City of Houston, TX/

*Mayor Madeline Rogero, City of Knoxville, TN/

*Mayor Rahm Emanuel, City of Chicago, IL/

*Mayor Ed Murray, City of Seattle, WA/

*Mayor Jim Kenney, City of Philadelphia, PA/

*Mayor Kasim Reed, City of Atlanta, GA/

*Mayor Lioneld Jordan, City of Fayetteville, AR/

*Mayor Trish Herrera Spencer, City of Alameda, CA/

*Mayor Kathy Sheehan, City of Albany, NY/

*Mayor Allison Silberberg, City of Alexandria, VA/

*Mayor Jeanne Sorg, City of Ambler, PA/

*Mayor Ethan Berkowitz, City of Anchorage, AK/

*Mayor Terence Roberts, City of Anderson, SC/

*Mayor Christopher Taylor, City of Ann Arbor, MI/

*Mayor Van W Johnson, City of Apalachicola, FL/

*Mayor Susan Ornelas, City of Arcata, CA/

*Mayor Esther Manheimer, City of Asheville, NC/

*Mayor Steve Skadron, City of Aspen, CO/

*Mayor Steve Adler, City of Austin, TX/

*Mayor Gordon Ringberg, City of Bayfield, WI/

*Mayor Jesse Arreguin, City of Berkeley, CA/

*Mayor William Bell, City of Birmingham, AL/

*Mayor Ron Rordam, City of Blacksburg, VA/

*Mayor John Hamilton, City of Bloomington, IN/

*Mayor Dave Bieter, City of Boise, ID/

*Mayor Suzanne Jones, City of Boulder, CO/

*Mayor Carson Taylor, City of Bozeman, MT/

*Mayor Eric Mamula, Town of Breckenridge, CO/

*Mayor Lori S. Liu, City of Brisbane, CA/

*Mayor Brenda Hess, City of Buchanan, MI/

*Mayor Byron W Brown, City of Buffalo, NY/

*Mayor Miro Weinberger, City of Burlington, VT/

*Mayor E Denise Simmons, City of Cambridge, MA/

*Mayor Lydia Lavelle, City of Carrboro, NC/

*Mayor Pam Hemminger, City of Chapel Hill, NC/

*Mayor John J Tecklenburg, City of Charleston, SC/

*Mayor Jennifer Roberts, City of Charlotte, NC/

*Mayor Andy Berke, City of Chattanooga, TN/

*Mayor Mary Casillas Salas, City of Chula Vista, CA/

*Mayor Brian Treece, City of Columbia, MO/

*Mayor Stephen K Benjamin, City of Columbia, SC/

*Mayor Brian Tobin, City of Cortland, NY/

*Mayor Biff Traber, City of Corvallis, OR/

*Mayor Jeffrey Cooper, Culver City, CA/

*Mayor Mike Rawlings, City of Dallas, TX/

*Mayor Robb Davis, City of Davis, CA/

*Mayor Cary Glickstein, City of Delray Beach, FL/

*Mayor Michael Hancock, City of Denver, CO/

*Mayor Frank Cownie, City of Des Moines, IA/

*Mayor Josh Maxwell, City of Downingtown, PA/

*Mayor Roy D Buol, City of Dubuque, IA/

*Mayor William V Bell, City of Durham, NC/

*Mayor Kris Teegardin, City of Edgewater, CO/

*Mayor David Kaptain, City of Elgin, IL/

*Mayor Lucy Vinis, City of Eugene, OR/

*Mayor Stephen H Hagerty, City of Evanston, IL/

*Mayor Coral J Evans, City of Flagstaff, AZ/

*Mayor Jack Seiler, City of Fort Lauderdale, FL/

*Mayor Tom Henry, City of Fort Wayne, IN/

*Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson, City of Gary, IN/

*Mayor Rosalyn Bliss, City of Grand Rapids, MI/

*Mayor Nancy Vaughan, City of Greensboro, NC/

*Mayor Joy Cooper, City of Hallandale Beach, FL/

*Mayor Luke Bronin, City of Hartford, /

*Mayor Peter Swiderski, City of Hastings-on-Hudson, NY/

*Mayor Nancy R. Rotering, City of Highland Park, IL/

*Mayor Gayle Brill Mittler, City of Highland Park, NJ/

*Mayor Tom Stevens, Town of Hillsborough, NC/

*Mayor Dawn Zimmer, City of Hoboken, NJ/

*Mayor Josh Levy, City of Hollywood, FL/

*Mayor Alex B Morse, City of Holyoke, MA/

*Mayor Paul Blackburn, City of Hood River, OR/

*Mayor Josh Levy, City of Hollywood, FL/

*Mayor Candace B Hollingsworth, City of Hyattsville, MD/

*Mayor Svante Myrick, City of Ithaca, NY/

*Mayor Steven M Fulop, Jersey City, NJ/

*Mayor Sly James, Kansas City, MO/

*Mayor Nina Jonas, City of Ketchum, ID/

*Mayor Steve Noble, City of Kingston, NY/

*Mayor Adam Paul, City of Lakewood, CO/

*Mayor Michael Summers, City of Lakewood, OH/

*Mayor Christine Berg, City of Lafayette, CO/

*Mayor Richard J Kaplan, City of Lauderhill, FL/

*Mayor Mark Stodola, City of Little Rock, AR/

*Mayor Robert Garcia, City of Long Beach, CA/

*Mayor Dennis Coombs, City of Longmont, CO/

*Mayor Marico Sayoc, City of Los Gatos, CA/

*Mayor Paul R Soglin, City of Madison, WI/

*Mayor Kirsten Keith, City of Menlo Park, CA/

*Mayor Tomas Regalado, City of Miami, FL/

*Mayor Philip Levine, City of Miami Beach, FL/

*Mayor Gurdip Brar, City of Middleton, WI/

*Mayor Daniel Drew, City of Middletown, CT/

*Mayor Reuben D. Holober, City of Millbrae, CA/

*Mayor Jeff Silvestrini, City of Millcreek, UT/

*Mayor Tom Barrett, City of Milwaukee, WI/

*Mayor Mark Gamba, City of Milwaukie, OR/

*Mayor Betsy Hodges, City of Minneapolis, MN/

*Mayor Mary O’Connor, City of Monona, WI/

*Mayor John Hollar, City of Montpelier, VT/

*Mayor Timothy Dougherty, City of Morristown, NJ/

*Mayor Fred Courtright,City of Mount Pocono, PA/

*Mayor Ken Rosenberg, City of Mountain View, CA/

*Mayor Megan Barry, City of Nashville, TN/

*Mayor Ras Baraka, City of Newark, NJ/

*Mayor Jon Mitchell, City of New Bedford, MA/

*Mayor Toni N Harp, City of New Haven, CT/

*Mayor Mitch Landrieu, City of New Orleans, LA/

*Mayor Francis M. Womack, North Brunswick Township, NJ/

*Mayor Donna D Holaday, City of Newburyport, MA/

*Mayor Setti Warren, City of Newton, MA/

*Mayor David J. Narkewicz, City of Northampton, MA/

*Mayor Jennifer White, City of Nyack, NY/

*Mayor Libby Schaaf, City of Oakland, CA/

*Mayor Cheryl Selby, City of Olympia, WA/

*Mayor Buddy Dyer, City of Orlando, FL/

*Mayor Greg Scharff, City of Palo Alto, CA/

*Mayor Jack Thomas, Park City, UT/

*Mayor Greg Stanton, City of Phoenix, AZ/

*Mayor William Peduto, City of Pittsburgh, PA/

*Mayor Ted Wheeler, City of Portland, OR/

*Mayor Liz Lempert, City of Princeton, NJ/

*Mayor Jorge O Elorza, City of Providence, RI/

*Mayor Nancy McFarlane, City of Raleigh, NC/

*Mayor John Marchione, City of Redmond, WA/

*Mayor John Seybert, Redwood City, CA/

*Mayor Hillary Schieve, City of Reno, NV/

*Mayor Tom Butt, City of Richmond, CA/

*Mayor Levar Stoney, City of Richmond, VA/

*Mayor Daniel Guzzi, City of Rockwood, MI/

*Mayor Mike Fournier, City of Royal Oak, MI/

*Mayor Darrell Steinberg, City of Sacramento, CA/

*Mayor Christopher Coleman, City of Saint Paul, MN/

*Mayor Kim Driscoll, City of Salem, MA/

*Mayor Jackie Biskupski, Salt Lake City, UT/

*Mayor Kevin Faulconer, City of San Diego, CA/

*Mayor Ed Lee, City of San Francisco, CA/

*Mayor Sam Liccardo, City of San Jose, CA/

*Mayor Pauline Russo Cutter, City of San Leandro, CA/

*Mayor Heidi Harmon, City of San Luis Obispo, CA/

*Mayor Miguel Pulido, City of Santa Ana, CA/

*Mayor Helene Schneider, City of Santa Barbara, CA/

*Mayor Lisa M. Gillmor, City of Santa Clara, CA/

*Mayor Javier M Gonzales, City of Santa Fe, NM/

*Mayor Ted Winterer, City of Santa Monica, CA/

*Mayor Chris Lain, City of Savanna, IL/

*Mayor Scott A Saunders, City of Smithville, TX/

*Mayor Joe Curtatone, City of Somerville, MA/

*Mayor Pete Buttigieg, City of South Bend, IN/

*Mayor Philip K Stoddard,City of South Miami, FL/

*Mayor Domenic J Sarno, City of Springfield, MA/

*Mayor Lyda Krewson, City of St Louis, MO/

*Mayor Len Pagano, City of St Peters, MO/

*Mayor Rick Kriseman, City of St Petersburg, FL/

*Mayor Michael Tubbs, City of Stockton, CA/

*Mayor Glenn Hendricks, City of Sunnyvale, CA/

*Mayor Michael J Ryan, City of Sunrise, FL/

*Mayor Daniel E Dietch, City of Surfside, FL/

*Mayor Stephanie A Miner, City of Syracuse, NY/

*Mayor Marilyn Strickland, City of Tacoma, WA/

*Mayor Kate Stewart, City of Takoma Park, MD/

*Mayor Andrew Gillum, City of Tallahassee, FL/

*Mayor Bob Buckhorn, City of Tampa, FL/

*Mayor Jim Carruthers, Traverse City, MI/

*Mayor Eric E Jackson, City of Trenton, NJ/

*Mayor Jonathan Rothschild, City of Tucson, AZ/

*Mayor Shelley Welsch, University City, MO/

*Mayor Diane Marlin, City of Urbana, IL/

*Mayor Dave Chapin, City of Vail, CO/

*Mayor Muriel Bowser, City of Washington, D.C./

*Mayor Oscar Rios, City of Watsonville, CA/

*Mayor Edward O’Brien, City of West Haven, CT/

*Mayor John Heilman, City of West Hollywood, CA/

*Mayor Jeri Muoio, City of West Palm Beach, FL/

*Mayor Christopher Cabaldon, City of West Sacramento, CA/

*Mayor Daniel Corona,City of West Wendover, NV/

*Mayor Thomas M Roach, City of White Plains, NY/

*Mayor Debora Fudge, City of Windsor, CA/

*Mayor Allen Joines, City of Winston Salem, NC/

*Mayor Angel Barajas, City of Woodland, CA/

*Mayor Joseph M Petty, City of Worcester, MA/

*Mayor Mike Spano, City of Yonkers, NY/

*Mayor Amanda Maria Edmonds, City of Ypsilanti, MI

Updated signatories as of 8 AM PT on June 3, 2017

Climate Mayors (aka, Mayors National Climate Action Agenda, or MNCAA) is a network of 200 U.S. mayors — representing over 54 million Americans in red states and blue states — working together to strengthen local efforts for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting efforts for binding federal and global-level policy making. Climate Mayors recently released an open letter to President Trump to oppose his actions thus far against action.

If you would like to sign this statement, or require further information about the Climate Mayors (MNCAA) and its activities please email info@climate-mayors.org or visit our websitehttp://www.climate-mayors.org.

NOTE 2pm, 6/2: Please note that we are receiving a significant amount of interest from US cities in joining Climate Mayors and we may be delayed in responding to you. Climate ChangeTrumpParis AgreementCitiesGlobal Warming

Climate Mayors U.S. #ClimateMayors working together to advance local climate action, national emission reduction policies, & the Paris Climate Agreement

https://medium.com/@ClimateMayors/climate-mayors-commit-to-adopt-honor-and-uphold-paris-climate-agreement-goals-ba566e260097

[mealha]

'We put our bodies through hell and back': behind the scenes with the stars of the Women's World Cup

In the run-up to the tournament, Lucy Bronze, Kelley O’Hara and other international players were given disposable cameras. They share the sacrifice, solidarity – and ice baths – that got them to the World Cup

Embarrassingly, there were tears running down my face when I stepped into the roaring stands for England’s first match of the 2019 Women’s World Cup in Nice. Football is just a game, but for women players it is hard to disengage from the sexism and stresses that accompany it. Watching Nikita Parris flowing down the wing, smashing in a penalty at the 14th minute, then Ellen White’s initial offside goal being rewarded by the real deal: I know how hard their predecessors had fought for these moments of unadulterated joy.

The frenzy of press and promotion in the lead up to this year’s tournament was unprecedented. But Goal Click, a five-year-old social enterprise that sends disposable cameras to footballers around the world and then publishes the results online (alongside candid interviews), has been well ahead of the strike. Before the tournament, their cameras ended up in the hands of 18 international players, including England striker Lucy Bronze, Jamaica defender Lauren Silver and USA midfielder Sam Mewis. All have captured the beautiful game in a singularly personal way.

Above: USA midfielder Rose Lavelle (on left) and forward/co-captain Alex Morgan in an ice bath, taken by teammate Sam Mewis: ‘I tried to show realistic parts of our lives. The bathrooms (not glamorous), the ice bath (cold as F), the bus (constantly travelling), Facetiming my husband’

Left: Selfie with Lyon Champions League shirt, taken by England star Lucy Bronze: ‘It’s match day against Chelsea, and I’m holding my shirt with its five badge on the arm because Lyon have won five Champions Leagues. It’s a cool reminder of the history that comes with playing for a club like mine’

Right: Lucy Bronze’s image of fellow Lyon players celebrating reaching the Champions League final, including (from left) Delphine Cascarino, Eugénie Le Sommer and Wendie Renard, who all play for the French national team

Above: England and Manchester City forward Ellen White, taken by her then Birmingham City teammate Marisa Ewers: ‘Ellen was interviewed after our last home game at St Andrews. She’s been outrageous during her time at the Blues – top goalscorer in every season’

Left: Arsenal’s boot room, taken by Beth Mead, forward for England and Arsenal: ‘This is a little shed we keep our boots in. It shows how humble we are in the women’s game. We don’t need big flash things’

Right: Hedvig Lindahl, goalkeeper for Sweden and Chelsea, snaps her youngest son, Nathan: ‘My little boy stepping on to a plane [to a game]. Family is affected by our choice of career. The biggest sacrifice I’ve made is the relationships you have to say no to, like spending time with my 96-year-old grandmother’

Above: Lydia Williams, goalkeeper for Australia, taken by her teammate, defender Steph Catley: ‘This sums up our team. We were heading into one of the biggest tournaments of our careers but we’re the same free-spirited bunch of Aussies we’ve always been. I lost my father suddenly last year. The unity and the family you develop are the most important part of it’

Above: Members of the USA team, including (from left) Ali Krieger, Alex Morgan, Tobin Heath, Allie Long and Megan Rapinoe, in pre-tournament training in San José, California in May, taken by Kelley O’Hara: ‘Just 22 of my best friends getting ready for the biggest games of our lives. Football is the greatest sport on Earth. I hope the generations that come after I am done playing continue to push the sport forward’

Left: Goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl and defender Anita Asante, with other Chelsea players, boarding the plane to play in the Champions League semiifinal, taken by Ali Riley, defender for New Zealand and Chelsea: ‘We weren’t able to charter a private plane. It highlights the differences between us and the men’

Right: USA defender Kelley O’Hara’s shot of her legs (and ice packs) at training camp: ‘We put our bodies through hell and back’

Above: Brazil defender Monica and forward Kerolin playing Teqball, a hybrid of football and table tennis, taken by defender Tamires: ‘When I started playing football on the street, it wasn’t easy because I was always the only girl, so they sometimes didn’t let me play. I heard things like, “Football is for men” or, “Go and clean a kitchen.” Some years later I had a chance to move to São Paulo to start my career, and I did not think twice’

Left: Eugénie Le Sommer, France’s star striker, takes a picture of her foot on the ball

Right: Cecilie Kvamme, Norway and Sandviken defender, playing football cards with a teammate’s son, captured by fellow player Stine Hovland: ‘I am a pre-school teacher and work in a kindergarten. But before the World Cup, I got permission from work to focus on playing. I started when I was six and made my debut for the national team when I was 27 – many years of hard work before it paid off’

Above: Brazil squad members Letícia, Tamires, Kathellen and Luana before pre-World Cup training, taken by Aline Reis, their goalkeeper: ‘Through football I’ve met my best friends, earned a college and master’s degree, learned to speak other languages and seen the world through a new perspective. My hope is that after this World Cup, a lot more people will appreciate and support the women’s game’

Left: Trondheims-Ørn playing another top division Norwegian team, taken by Lauren Silver, who plays in defence there, as well as for the Jamaican national team: ‘Playing in the snow is really hard. My toes go numb, plus the ground is slippery. Opportunities to play in Jamaica are slim. But we are making huge strides on equal pay. We’ve just established contracts with the Jamaican Football Federation for the first time!’

Right: The Thailand squad at training, taken by Miranda Nild, also known as Suchawadee Nildhamrong: ‘I think we will help to inspire a new cohort of young women who want to play soccer, because they have seen people from their country go to a World Cup. My family understands my dream to play professional soccer but expect me to get a “real” job afterwards. That’s daunting’

Above: Córdoba CF teammates walk on to their home pitch, taken by Chile defender Fernanda Pinilla: ‘I started playing soccer at six and played with boys until I was 13, when I joined my first women’s team. We do not have professional football in Chile, so I had to move to Spain. I am fulfilling a childhood dream, but leaving my family has been very difficult’

Above: The USA team relax, taken by midfielder Sam Mewis: ‘I love seeing more women’s football in the media. It’s not just the players who are creating change – the world is starting to pay attention’

Continue reading... from Photography | The Guardian https://ift.tt/2JEMChR

[viraljournalist]

Women's World Cup shows VAR still has room for improvement

New Post has been published on https://viraljournalist.com/womens-world-cup-shows-var-still-has-room-for-improvement/

Women's World Cup shows VAR still has room for improvement

LE HAVRE, France — Players stopped in their tracks across the pitch, quizzically looking around for an answer.

Just before halftime of Sunday’s England-Cameroon Round of 16 match at the Women’s World Cup, a sequence was called to be reviewed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

England forward Ellen White was originally called offside, but after referee Qin Liang consulted with VAR, which showed White was onside, she awarded the goal.

White jumped in celebration and was engulfed by her teammates, while manager Phil Neville punched his arms into the air. Having seen an image of the incident momentarily flash up on the screen, Cameroon’s players protested by forming a circle in the middle of the pitch while England looked on.

And this was just Sunday — but players, coaches, fans and pundits alike have seen VAR calls (or non-calls) alter this entire tournament.

FIFA introduced VAR, soccer’s version of an instant replay system, back in 2017 to correct any clear and obvious mistakes made by the on-field officials and missed incidents with a focus on minimum interference. It was intended to be used in four instances: goals, red cards, penalties and “mistaken identity,” when the referee may book the wrong player. It was meant to put the emphasis back on everything that has been wonderful about the Women’s World Cup — the brilliant football, goals and the fantastic saves.

Instead, VAR has become too intertwined in this tournament’s DNA, where calls are all too frequently becoming subplots to matches, often hard to define and delaying matches to the point of frustration.

The England-Cameroon debate met all of these unfortunate criteria, but there are a few more examples worth examining.

Under the “delayed matches” category, we turn to Monday’s United States-Spain match. Referee Katalin Kulcsar awarded the Americans a penalty for a trip against Rose Lavelle, but VAR intervened when it should have only been used in a case where there had been a clear and obvious error by the referee. Kulcsar instead went to the touchline to watch the replay, but stuck to her original call. The Spain players were incredulous, their supporters furious. Six minutes — six minutes — were wasted, and there was still a divided interpretation over whether it was a penalty.

Seeing it live and having seen the replays, that was the softest of soft PK’s given on Rose Lavelle. If that was the other way, US fans would be similarly outraged. #FIFAWWC

— Julie Foudy (@JulieFoudy) June 24, 2019

Another area where VAR has invoked the most raised eyebrows and bemusement is when it has interceded in a subjective decision — fouls in the penalty area or judging passive/active players — and it is the referee’s deciding call.

Where the outcome needs a subjective decision by the referee, the official will hear feedback from VAR but may need to make a further call after having viewed the footage in the referee review area (RRA).

Case in point: Sam Kerr being in an offside position during Australia’s 3-2 group-stage win against Brazil, where she did not touch the ball as Brazil headed into their own box. Here, the referee was determining whether Kerr was passive or active in the passage of play that led to Monica’s own goal. There have been three other examples of this: the United States’ second goal against Sweden through an own goal from Jonna Andersson with the official checking on Carli Lloyd’s role; Germany’s goal from Alexandra Popp against Nigeria, with Svenja Huth’s position being checked; and in the France-Brazil Round of 16 match where Thaisa’s goal was originally called offside and then overturned and awarded after Cristiane was deemed passive.

“There was one time in the first half when no one [knew] what they were watching for, players looking at each other, coaches looking at each other,” said Nigeria coach Thomas Dennerby regarding Popp’s goal. “Goal-line technology is good for the game, but I don’t think anyone has the final solution for VAR yet.”

Throughout the Women’s World Cup, VAR reviews have delayed play for significant chunks of time, some up to six minutes. Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Adding to the overall confusion was FIFA implementing the International Football Association Board’s (IFAB’s) new rule just six days before the start of the tournament (they announced the rule change back in March, but it was cemented on June 1), allowing VAR to be used to determine whether a goalkeeper has kept at least one foot on the line when a penalty kick is being taken.

Without a categorical, cast-iron example snapshot of subjective decisions for why the referee has either overturned or reinforced his or her decision, there remains a gray area of individual interpretation — especially with the offside rule as complicated as it is now in the sport as a whole.

This painfully obvious disconnect between intention and interpretation, correct and incorrect decisions, has led some critics to ask aloud whether we’re better off relying on referee infallibility.

FIFA did seek to educate World Cup teams on VAR and when it would be used. All 24 teams were briefed by the FIFA referees’ boss, Pierluigi Collina, at the World Cup draw back in December. A FIFA spokesperson told ESPN that each nation was offered the chance to play a match with VAR present prior to this World Cup — FIFA said it does not have statistics to accurately account for how many teams accepted the offer.

Each team was also sent an educational FIFA VAR video prior to the tournament and was visited by a FIFA official upon arrival in France to talk through the rules. But still, prior to the World Cup, none of the players had competed under VAR until the tournament opened on June 7. The majority of the referees had never used it, and FIFA didn’t even approve VAR for the Women’s World Cup until mid-March despite it saying the review system was “close to perfection” at the men’s World Cup last year. With 99.3% of “match-changing” decisions being called correctly in Russia, USWNT coach Jill Ellis was a supporter of implementing the review system into the Women’s World Cup.

“I can’t see them not having it,” Ellis told reporters last year in Russia. “It would be a little insulting if we’re not afforded the same opportunity. There is too much at stake to not have it. Our game, our passion, our drive, our motivation is at the same level as the men.”

Next season, the Premier League will show a freeze-frame or highlight of any overturned decisions on stadiums’ big screens. (For those stadiums like Anfield and Old Trafford, which do not have screens, they’ll use the tannoy or scoreboard.) But FIFA opted against using that here at the Women’s World Cup. It has previously been alluded that FIFA’s decision to do this was in response to fears of sparking crowd unrest — a position sign-posted by former Italian referee Roberto Rosetti, who set up FIFA’s VAR program, when explaining how UEFA was using it in this season’s Champions League in February.

The Premier League will encourage referees to listen to any VAR interpretation and then give the balance of probability to the VAR’s call, rather than seeking another view at their own discretion, in a bid to keep the game moving. Meanwhile, in France, FIFA is recommending referees take as long as needed to determine a correct outcome, rather than rush to a wrong outcome. What follows is the finger to the ear and then, on occasion, the delay, the jog to the touchline, the focus on the referee watching the monitor and then a decision. Having witnessed these World Cup games in action, it only adds to the pantomime.

Fans are notified when a VAR review is in progress, but fans often don’t see the infraction in question — something Premier League fans will see this upcoming season. Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images

VAR has had its positives — offside goals are correctly being chalked off. But there are still too many gray areas. And as controversial as the Cameroon-England Round of 16 match was, the two decisions that went to VAR — White’s goal and Ajara Nchout’s chalked-off effort — were both correctly overturned. Margins are irrelevant: Under the laws, as draconian as they are, there are no gray areas with offside. You’re either onside or you’re not.

While broadcasters are given the benefit of seeing what the referee/VAR is watching, it needs to be shown in the stadium, or at least the definitive image or clip needs to be aired. Get the action out there for everyone to see, zoom in like Hawk-Eye at Wimbledon and get on with it. Perhaps it even needs the Voice of God booming from the PA to explain the call in definitive terms. And decisions must be made far more quickly. The England-Cameroon game had a collective 15 minutes of added-on time, and for all VAR is doing in making the game more error-free, it should not come at the expense of prolonging matches far longer than before.

With VAR in play, the postmatch narratives should be about what has just happened on the field — the brilliance of the players, the goals and ramifications.

Remember Marta’s inspirational message after Brazil were knocked out by France on Sunday? That should have dominated the headlines, not been moved to the back burner because of controversial and contrasting interpretations of VAR.

That alone tells us there is still work to be done.

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[woso-confessions]

Good morning and welcome to the r/NWSL Power Rankings! With the end of the season just 4 weeks away I thought I'd start with the playoff picture for each team. These are general and not exhaustive.TeamCurrent PointsPlayoff ConditionsNorth Carolina Courage42Already clinched a playoff spot, and will clinch a home game with a win or Chicago AND Orlando loss.Portland Thorns FC37Clinch with a win or Sky Blue AND Seattle loss.Orlando Pride32Clinch with 3 wins in the next 4, guaranteed. Could clinch with less if the lower teams don't win out.Chicago Red Stars32Clinch with 3 wins in the next 4, guaranteed. Could clinch with less if the lower teams don't win out.Sky Blue FC29They lose all tiebreakers with Orlando and Chicago, so they must score at least 4 more points than either one of those teams, and stay ahead of Seattle.Seattle Reign FC27Must win 2 more games than Orlando OR Chicago AND win 1 more game than Sky Blue.FC Kansas City23Win out and hope that the teams in front of them collapse.Houston Dash23Win 4 of 5 remaining and hope the teams in front of them collapse...or win all 5 and hope they collapse.Remaining Schedule for Select TeamsChicago Red Stars (very high impact): vs North Carolina, @ Kansas City, @ Houston, @ PortlandOrlando Pride (high impact): vs Boston, vs Seattle, vs Portland, @ North CarolinaSky Blue FC (very low impact): @ Kansas City, vs Washington, vs North Carolina, @ BostonSeattle Reign FC (low impact): @ Houston, @ Orlando, vs Kansas City, @ WashingtonChicago easily has the hardest remaining schedule, while Sky Blue has the easiest. Orlando's is tough, but at least they have 3 home games.We are looking for people to write for the following teams: North Carolina Courage, Seattle Reign, Houston Dash, FC Kansas City, and Washington SpiritRank (Change)Average (Change)TeamExplanation1 (-)1.62 (-0.32)North Carolina CourageOn Wednesday the Courage officially clinched a playoff spot that was never really in question by beating the Washington Spirit. The biggest takeaway from the game was that the Courage came back to win a game for the first time this season. Their five loses had all come when they had conceded forest and their twelve wins all came when they scored first. The Courage need to win just one more game to secure a home playoff game in their first NWSL season, and they have to be looking toward the Shield. Their remaining schedule is moderately difficult, but the games are mostly winnable, meaning that they will have stuff competition but should enter the playoffs with positive momentum. They have won all of their last 5 games.2 (-)1.95(-0.01)Portland Thorns FCPortland faced the Seattle Reign in the series finale of the Cascadia rivalry for week 18. The game finished 2-1 in favor of Portland with help of two goals from Hayley Raso. It was a relatively good game with Portland having the slightely higher possession and passing at a better rate despite the game being in Seattle. Portland's first goal came in the 49' minute as Raso pressured the Seattle defender, after a pass that Kopmeyer should have just booted upfield, which caused a bad touch and Raso finished the 1v1. Her second goal game in the 85' minute after she beat Barnes on a long ball from Sinclair which again left her 1 on 1 with the keeper. Kopmeyer made the initial save, but Raso followed the rebound and put it away. Seattle's one goal came from a questionable penalty kick in the 90' minute where Meghan Klingenberg shielded Rachel Corsie from the ball. It didn't matter in the end however as Portland still came away with a win. They face the Washington Spirit at home this week. Also, finally off the disabled list this season is the Thorns' best player, Tobin Heath.3 (-)3.10 (+0.26)Orlando PrideThe Orlando Pride travelled to Kansas City as both teams put their 3 game winning streaks on the line. In the end, the two teams were separated by a goal from Alex Morgan in the 87' minute on a set piece from Marta, which earned her 6th assist of the season, to secure a 2-1 win. It was an evenly contested match but Orlando did look the better side. Continuous pressure and consecutive corners earned the Pride their first goal from Ubogagu after a scramble in the box. The one goal allowed by Orlando was from a throw in and a quick cross, however Kristen Edmonds did not recognize the offside trap put on by Monica and Ali Krieger which gave Labonta a 1 on 1 with Ashlyn Harris which she converted. The Orlando Pride play Boston and home this week, a team which they beat handily just two weeks ago.4 (-)4.10 (+0.14)Chicago Red StarsIt's kind of hard to rate Chicago right now, what with the rapidfire trades. With Mewis I was going to say stock looked high, and after last week's game everything looked like it had been sorted. Now? It's harder to say. On paper Chicago is still on the upward trend, but we're going to have to wait and see what these new changes bring now.5 (-)5.00 (+0.47)Sky Blue FCSky Blue remains the team of many faces. After the ups and downs of the past weeks they eeked out an almost boring 1-0 game against a weak Boston team. Surely the biggest surprise being, that they kept a clean sheet for once. But which team will show up this weekend against KC? Raquel Rodriguez ist still questionable but will undoubtedly strengthen the team. Also with Simon and Pearce missing, they have a total 4 defenders in the team, so Sky Blue also signed a new defender from the B-team, Cassidy Benintente.6 (-)5.71 (-0.13)Seattle ReignThe Reign saw their playoff hopes slip further away as the failed to earn any points in their home game against Portland. The biggest issue was once again the defense, and they gave up a terrible goal when Kop played the ball to Barnes who hit a weak pass back to her, but Raso got there first. Megan Rapinoe is looking at a early comeback, possibly as early as this weekend, so they might gain some momentum from that. Unfortunately, no matter how well Seattle plays over the last 4 games, their fate rests on the success of three other teams and they can only earn a playoff spot with outside help. Interestingly, the Courage, who beat Seattle three times this year, could help them make the playoffs by beating Chicago, Sky Blue, or Orlando over the last 4 weeks of the season.7 (-)7.00 (-0.47)FC Kansas CityKansas City had a chance to really turn their season around by beating Orlando, but they couldn't quite close the deal against one of the hottest teams in the NWSL. As a positive, they did score a goal and looked dangerous, and it really wasn't that long ago that FCKC was considered the worst team in the league. As a negative, the loss effectively ends the FCKC season, as they need a whole plethora of loses from top tier teams in order to make the playoffs. The Blues will need to decide which direction they want to go in the off-season, as they don't currently look like they are in a position to push for the title with their current, aging roster.8 (-)7.67 (+0.10)Houston DashHurricane Harvey prevented the Dash from playing last weekend, so they are one of two teams that still has 5 games left on the board. They will have to win effectively all of their games and hope for a few losses from Chicago or Orlando. With all of the current moves - trading away Morgan Brian and Lydia Williams - may suggest that they have already given up on the season, but they are probably in good shape to improve next season. At least that's a positive. They will have to play this weekend's home game in Dallas.9 (+1)9.38 (-0.15)Boston BreakersAnother week and another loss for the Breakers. They will miss the playoffs for the fifth season, continuing their history of being the only original NWSL team that has yet to play a postseason game. The team is definitely improved for the Breakers reams of the past, though, and Rose Lavelle is officially off the injury report and hoping to continue her growth before the off-season. In all, while everyone hoped that the youth would magically gel and shock the league, this season was a important step towards the Breakers becoming a perennial contender. They have a chance to play spoiler, which will hopefully keep them playing hard through their last game.10 (-1)9.48 (-0.19)Washington SpiritA pair of losses this week brings the Spirit back to the bottom of the standings and the rankings. Trading away Mewis looked mighty dumb as she scored a goal against her former team on Saturday, and then they lost for the third time this season to the Courage. Mallory Pugh had looked surprisingly mediocre during her last few games, nothing like the inspirational youth that we came to know on the national team. The injuries just keep piling up, with two or three more season-ending injuries occurring this week. via /r/NWSL

[homelesshaunts-blog]

Hello, my name is Lavel Wideman. Your Bloghost of Horror. Push the bones aside, as you creep inside this hip part of Homeless Haunts and be welcomed!

A Ms. Brenda Briggs, is stranded alone on Hawaii. She has not one dime for herself or to pay the rent. Not even a dream to sail a boat on. But it’s a friend from the past she knew long ago she meets again. It’s a connection where she finds out what her friend from long ago does for a living.

The story "Scrimshaw" will shock your senses. It was written by Brian Garfield, and one of the best mystery stories published in American literature. And I must say, it’s one of my favorite stories, too.

It will have you checking where you are going and how much bone you need to leave with. Good luck!

~~

Beyond the wide channel the islands of Lanai and Kahoolawe made lovely horizons under their umbrellas of delicate cloud, but Brenda had lost her eye for that sort of thing; she noticed the stagnant heat, the shabbiness of the town, and the offensiveness of the tourists who trudged from shop to shop in their silly hats, their sunburnt flab, their hapless T-shirts emblazoned with local graffiti: “Here Today, Gone to Maui.”

...Brenda then noticed two men in conversation there. One of them was the wino who always seemed to be there: a stringy unshaven tattered character who spent the days huddling in the shade sucking from a bottle in a brown bag and begging coins from tourists. At night he seemed to prowl the alleys behind the seafood restaurants, living off scraps like a stray dog: she had seen him once, from the window of her flyspecked room, scrounging in the can behind the hotel’s kitchen; and then two nights ago near a garbage bin she had taken a shortcut home after a dissatisfying lonely dinner and she’d nearly tripped over him.

The man talking with the wino seemed familiar and yet she could not place the man. He had the lean bearded look of one who had gone native; but not really, for he was set apart by his fastidiousness. He wore sandals, yet his feet seemed clean, the toenails glimmering; he wore a sandy beard but it was neatly trimmed and his hair was expensively cut, not all shaggy; he wore a blue denim short-sleeved shirt, fashionably faded but it had sleeve pockets and epaulets and had come from a designer shop; and his white sailor’s trousers fit perfectly.

I know him, Brenda thought, but she couldn’t summon the energy to stir from her spot when the bearded man and the wino walked away into the town. Vaguely and without real interest she wondered idly what those two could possibly have to talk about together.

She found shade on the harbor front...while she recounted the litany of her misfortunes. Finally hunger bestirred her and she slouched back to her miserable little third-class hotel.

The next day, half drunk in the afternoon and wilting in the heat, Brenda noticed vaguely that the wino was no longer in his usual place. In fact, she hadn’t seen the wino at all, not last night and not today.

...[O]ther side of the palm tree, tucking the fabric of the cheap dress under her when she sat down. The dress was gone—frayed, faded...It didn’t matter, really. There was no one to dress up for.

...[S]he wasn’t ugly; she wasn’t even plain, really; she had studied photographs of herself over the years and she had gazed...All right, perhaps she was too bony, her shoulders too big, flat in front, not enough flesh on her—but there were men who liked their women bony...

...She noticed the man again: the well-dressed one with the neatly trimmed beard...

The bearded man squinted into the shade, trying to recognize her. Brenda removed her sunglasses. She said, “Eric? Eric Morelius?”

“Brenda?” The man came closer and she contrived a wan smile. “Brenda Briggs? What the devil are you doing here? You look like a beachcomber gone to seed.”

“Good Lord. The last I saw you, you and Briggs were off to revitalize the University of what, New Mexico.

“Arizona.” She tipped her head back with the glass to her mouth; ice clicked against her teeth. “And after that a state college in Minnesota. And then a dinky jerk water diploma mill in California. The world, “she said in a quiet voice, “has little further need of second rate Greek and Roman literature scholars--...I spent last year waiting on tables in Modesto.”

“Duckie,” Eric said, “there’s one thing you haven’t mentioned. Where’s Briggs?”

...”He left me. Four years ago. Divorced me and married a buxom life-of-the-party girl...We had a kid, you know. Cute little guy, we named him Geoff with a G—you know how Briggs used to love reading Chaucer...

“I managed to get custody and then six months ago... he went to visit his father for the weekend...Briggs and the copy-writer and my kid Geoff well, there was a six-car pileup on the Santa Monica Freeway and I had to pay for the funerals and it wiped me out.”

Eric brought another pair of drinks...it had been so long since she’d talked about it that she covered her face with the table napkin and sobbed.

He walked her along the Sea Wall. “You’ll get over it, duckie. Takes time.”

“Sure,” she said listlessly. “I know.”

“Sure, it can be tough. Especially when you haven’t got anybody. You don’t have any family left, do you?”

“No. Only child. My parents died young. Why not? The old man was on the assembly line in Dearborn...Let’s change the subject, all right? What about you, then? You look prosperous enough. Did you drop out or were you pushed too?”

“Dropped out. Saw the light and made it to the end of the tunnel. I’m a free man, duckie.”

“What do you do?”

“I’m a scrimshander.”

“A what?”

“A bone ivory artist. I do scrimshaw engravings. You’ve probably seen my work in the shop windows around town.”

Eric’s studio, high under the eaves in the vintage whaler’s house that looked more New Englandish than tropical, revealed it’s owner’s compulsion for orderly neatness.

She had never liked him much. He and Briggs had got along all right, but she’d always found Eric an unpleasant sort. It wasn’t that he was boorish; hardly anything like that. But she thought him pretentious and totally insincere. He’d always had that air of arrogant self-assurance. And the polish was all on the surface; he had the right manners but once you to know him a little you realized he had no real understanding of courtesy or compassion. Those qualities were meaningless to people like Eric. She’d always thought him self-absorbed and egotistical to the point of solipsism; she felt he had cultivated Brigg��s friendship simply because Eric felt Briggs could help him advance in the department.

...Eric had always been very actorish: he wasn’t real—everything was a role a part, a performance: everything Eric did was done with his audience in mind. If you couldn’t be any help to him he could, without a second thought, cut you dead...

“It must be pretty lucrative, this stuff.”

“It can be. Do you know anything about scrimshaw?”...

Watching her with bemused eyes, Eric went on, “The Endangered Species laws have made it impossible for us to obtain whalebone or elephant ivory in any quantities any more. It’s a real problem.”

“You seem to have a fair supply in those bins there.”

“Well, some of us have been buying mastodon ivory and other fossilized bones from the Eskimos—they dig for it in the tundra up in Alaska. But that stuff’s in short supply too, and the price has gone through the ceiling.”

...Eric smiled with the appearance of sympathy and pushed a little box across the bench. It was the size of a matchbox. The lid fit snugly. Etched into its ivory surface was a drawing of a humpback whale.

“Like it?”

“It’s lovely.” She tried to summon enthusiasm in her voice.

“It’s nearly the real thing,” he said. “Not real ivory, of course, but real bone at least. We’ve been experimenting with chemical processes to bleach and harden it.”

She studied the tiny box and suddenly looked away. Something about it had put her in mind of little Geoff’s casket.

“The bones of most animals are too rough and porous,”...still, there aren’t many types of bone that are suitable...The phony stuff has no grain, and anybody with a good eye can always tell...”

“These two here,” Eric said. She looked down at the two etched pendants. He said, “Can you tell the difference?”

“They look pretty much the same to me.”

“There, see that? That one, on the left, that’s a piece of whale’s tooth. This other one’s ordinary bone, chemically hardened and bleached to the consistency and color of true ivory. It’s got the proper grain, everything.”

“Fine.” She set the glass down and endeavored to smile pleasantly...

“Establishments and institutions and laws are designed by winners to keep losers in their place, that’s all. You’re only free when you learn there’s no reason to play the game by their rules. Hell, duckie, the fun of life only comes when you discover how to make your own rules and laugh at the fools around you. Look—consider your own situation. Is there any single living soul right now who truly gives a damn whether you, Brenda Briggs, are alive or dead?”

Put that starkly it made her gape. Eric leaned forward, brandishing his glass as if it were a searchlight aimed at her face. “Well?”

“No. Nobody,” she murmured reluctantly....

She steadied herself with a hand against the workbench, set her feet with care, and turned toward the door. “It’s a drink too late for morbid philosophical dialectics. Thanks for the booze, though. I’ll see you...”

“You’d better sit down, duckie. You’re a little unsteady there.”

“No, I—"

“Sit down.” The words came out in a harsher voice.

“The door’s locked anyway, duckie—you’re not going anywhere.”

She scowled, befuddled. “What?”

He showed her the key; then he put it away in his pocket. She looked blankly at the door, the keyhole, and—again—his face. It had gone hard; the polite mask was gone...

“It’s the ivory, duckie. The best material is fresh human bone. The consistency, the hardness—it takes a fine polish if it’s young and healthy enough...” She heard Eric say, “You’ll make fine bones, duckie. Absolutely first rate scrimshaw.”

ALLEY OF FEAR

You know when water is poured on a duck, the water runs off them like it was a waxed surface. Their feathers protect these animals from being affected by the temperature of cool water; their webbed feet are what help them to swim effectively through murky waters.

As for Brenda Briggs, it should have been the same concerning words, “Sticks and stones...,” but in this story somehow this Eric guy, he somehow gets the upper hand. Where he saw in Duckie something no one else had and on a lovely island in Hawaii, where she'll never feel sorry for herself or be seen by sight again.

She’s now the product of what all visitors in Eric's store will admire. And this time, most important, people will start to notice her.

Here, in the Alley of Fear, we have what’s left of poor duckie. What people didn’t want, and at this time, someone made use of her.

Bones used correctly are made to hold up the flesh, but this time, bones don't need flesh in his store...or his purpose?

We hold Duckie in a place where she will be noticed. Right here in the Alley of Fear.

Good evening ladies and gentlemen, and in your own homes, and if you have one?