#National Beer Day survey

[brewscoop]

Discover the latest trends in craft beer with our National Beer Day survey! Find out which brews are topping the charts in California and across the nation. From the Cullen-Harrison Act’s impact to the booming craft beer market, this article has it all. Cheers to great beer!

[mariacallous]

Oulu is five hours north from Helsinki by train and a good deal colder and darker each winter than the Finnish capital. From November to March its 220,000 residents are lucky to see daylight for a couple of hours a day and temperatures can reach the minus 30s. However, this is not the reason I sense a darkening of the Finnish dream that brought me here six years ago.

In 2018, moving to Finland seemed like a no-brainer. One year earlier I had met my Finnish partner while working away in Oulu. My adopted home of Italy, where I had lived for 10 years, had recently elected a coalition government with the far-right Matteo Salvini as interior minister, while my native UK had voted for Brexit. Given Finland’s status as a beacon of progressive values, I boarded a plane, leaving my lecturing job and friends behind.

Things have gone well. My partner and I both have stable teaching contracts, me at a university where my mostly Finnish colleagues are on the whole friendlier than the taciturn cliche that persists of Finns (and which stands in puzzling contradiction to their status as the world’s happiest people).

Notwithstanding this, I feel a sense of unease as Finland’s prime minister Petteri Orpo’s rightwing coalition government has set about slashing welfare and capping public sector pay. Even on two teachers’ salaries my partner and I have felt the sting of inflation as goods have increased by 20% in three years. With beer now costing €8 or more in a city centre pub, going out becomes an ever rarer expense.

Those worse off than us face food scarcity. A survey conducted by the National Institute for Health and Welfare found 25% of students struggling to afford food, while reductions in housing benefit mean tenants are being forced to move or absorb the shortfall in rent payments. There are concerns that many unemployed young people could become homeless.

Healthcare is faring little better. Finland’s two-tier system means that while civil servants and local government employees (including teachers) paradoxically enjoy private health cover, many other people face long waiting lists. Not having dental cover on my university’s plan, I called for a public dental appointment in April. I was put on callback and received a text message stating I’d be contacted when the waiting list reopened. Six months later, I am still waiting. A few years ago I could expect to wait two months at most.

The current government, formed by Orpo’s National Coalition party (NCP) last year in coalition with the far-right Finns party, the Swedish People’s party of Finland and the Christian Democrats, has been described as “the most rightwing” Finland has ever seen – a position it appears to relish.

Deputy prime minister and finance minister Riikka Purra – the Finns’ party leader – has been linked to racist and sometimes violent comments made online back in 2008. The party’s xenophobia is clearly influencing policymaking and affecting migrants. As a foreigner, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to feeling a certain chill as anti-immigrant rhetoric ramps up.

A survey by the organisation Specialists in Finland last year found that most highly qualified workers would consider leaving Finland if the government’s planned tightening of visa requirements went ahead (that proposal, which extended residence time required for Finnish citizenship from four to as many as eight years has now become law). Luckily, I am a permanent resident under the Brexit agreement.

With the coalition intent on ending Finland’s long history of welfarism in just one term, there is a risk (and hope among progressives) that it may go too far, inviting a backlash. We arguably saw signs of this in the European election in the summer, when Li Andersson won the highest number of votes for an EU election candidate in Finland. Andersson, who was education minister in Sanna Marin’s former centre-left coalition government (which lost to the NCP in April 2023), ran on a progressive red-green ticket of increased wealth equality and measures to tackle the climate crisis. She has also been critical of emergency laws blocking asylum seekers from crossing Finland’s eastern border, arguing that it contravenes human rights obligations.

Andersson’s party, the Left Alliance, chose a new leader this month, the charismatic feminist author Minja Koskela, who was elected to Helsinki’s council in 2021 after a period as secretary of the Feminist party, and as a member of parliament in 2023. Koskela argues: “People are widely frustrated with the government’s discriminatory policy and cuts to culture, social and health services, education and people’s livelihood. It is possible to turn this frustration into action.” (Full disclosure: I’m a member of the party and have helped coordinate its local approach to immigrants.)

It remains to be seen if she can build on Andersson’s EU success. Although the popular media-savvy figure appears to relish the challenge of turning the party into an election winner, Koskela faces a huge challenge. The party struggles to poll at more than 10% nationally, aside from a brief high of 11% in July. A place in government is nonetheless possible. But Marin’s Social Democratic party (SDP) of Finland (now led by Antti Lindtman), has topped the national opinion polls 12 out of 14 times since April 2023.

Meanwhile, the Finns party is polling at 16%, down from the 20.1% vote they gained in the election. These figures point to one thing: another possible SDP-led coalition government in the next parliament by the summer of 2027. This would probably include the Left Alliance and the Green League, among others. And such a coalition would aim to undo a lot of the damage done by the right.

But until then, there will be more damage to come. So while there is clearly hope for an end in sight to the country’s political darkness three years hence, this will bring little solace now to poor people, migrants, and the squeezed middle class as the long Finnish winter closes in.

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 12.8

Holidays

Astraea Asteroid Day

Battle Day (Falkland Islands)

Be Someone's Pillow While You Watch TV Night

Bodhi Day (Buddhism; Secular Date)

CARICOM-Cuba Day

Charity Day (Ukraine)

Colorism Awareness Day

COVID-19 Origin Day

Day of Finnish Music (Finland)

Day of Loyalty & Love for Hugo Chavez (Venezuela)

Day of Radio and Television Workers (Kyrgyzstan)

Human Rights and Peace Day (Kiribati)

International Artist’s Day

Ivy Day (French Republic)

Kliment Ohirdski (Macedonia)

Mother’s Day (Panama)

National Bad Hair Day

National Blue Collar Day

National Christmas Tree Day

National Crossword Solvers Day

National Dave Day

National Donair Day (Canada)

National Family Day Darn It

National Health Savings Account Day

National Simon Day

National Students’ Day (Bulgaria)

National Tree Planting Day (Malawi)

National White People Take BLM Out of Your Profile Day

National Youth Day (Albania)

Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Day (Ethiopia)

Nicki Minaj Day

Night of the Lizard King

Panama Beach Day (Uruguay)

Pansexual Pride Day

Popeye Day

Pretend To Be A Time Traveler Day

St. Kliment Ohridski Day (Macedonia)

Studrntski Praznik (Students’ Day; Bulgaria)

Take It In the Ear Day

Virgin of Caacupé Day (Paraguay)

Winter Flowers Day

World Climate Day

World Indica Day

World TAPS Awareness Day

World VFX Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Lemon Squeezer Day

National Bartender Day

National Chocolate Brownie Day (a.k.a. Brownie Day)

National Concha Day (Mexico)

National Lard Day

Portland Holiday Brew Fest

Independence & Related Days

Constitution Day (Romania; Saipan; Uzbekistan)

H.E.R. (Humanitarian Empire and Realm; Declared; 2020) [unrecognized]

Taguig City Charter Day (Philippines)

2nd Sunday in December

International Children’s Day [2nd Sunday]

Jashan-e Sadeh (a.k.a. Adar-Jashen; Zoroastrian/Parsi)

Lager Beer Week begins [Sunday of 2nd full week]

National Children’s Memorial Day [2nd Sunday]

Sandwich Sunday [2nd Sunday of Each Month]

Seven For Sunday [Every Sunday]

Sleepy Sunday [2nd Sunday of Each Month]

Sundae Sunday [Every Sunday]

Sunday Funday [Every Sunday]

Survey Sunday [2nd Sunday of Each Month]

2nd Sunday in Advent [3rd Sunday before Xmas] (a.k.a. ... 

Advent Sunday

Love Sunday

Transfiguration Sunday

Waiting Sunday

World Choral Day [2nd Sunday]

Worldwide Candle Lighting Day (7 PM) [2nd Sunday]

Weekly Holidays beginning December 8 (2nd Full Week of December)

Computer Science Education Week (thru 12.14) [Week including 12.9]

Lager Beer Week (thru 12.14) [2nd Week]

Festivals Beginning December 8, 2024

British Independent Film Awards (London, United Kingdom)

Good Things Brisbane (Brisbane, Australia)

Heritage Fire (Charleston, South Carolina)

Mill Valley WinterFest (Mill Valley, California)

Feast Days

Adolph Menzel (Artology)

Afflux (Discordian)

Albert Gleizes (Artology)

Amaterasu Day (Goddess of the Sun; Shinto; Japan; Everyday Wicca)

Aristide Maillol (Artology)

Army Day (Spain)

Astraea's Day (Greek Goddess of Justice)

Bill Bryson (Writerism)

Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson (Writerism)

Bodhi Day (a.k.a. Secular Bodhi; Buddhism) (Lunar Bodhi: 8th Day, 12th Moon)

Bodhi Season, Day 8 (Buddhism; Secular Date) [Leading Up to 12.8] (a.k.a. ... 

Principles: Enso

Secular: Bodhi Day Eve

Eightfold Path: Awakened Mindfulness and Concentration

The Heart Sutra: Kintsugi (Golden Repair)

Budoc (Beuzec) of Dol (Christian; Saint)

Camille Claudel (Artology)

Chesty Puller Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Clement of Ohrid (Julian Calendar)

Day of Tiberinus (Pagan)

Diego Rivera (Artology)

E. C. Segar (Artology)

Eucharius (Christian; Saint)

Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Christian) [a.k.a. ... 

Blessing of the Water Day (Uruguay)

Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Anglican Communion)

Dia de las Playas (Day of the Beaches or Family Day; Uruguay)

Festa da Conceição da Praia, celebrating Yemanjá, Queen of the Ocean in Umbanda (Salvador, Bahia)

Festival of Lights (Lyon)

Immaculate Conception Day (Christian Nations)

Mother's Day (Panama)

Our Lady of Camarin Day (Guam)

Festival of Neith (Ancient Egypt)

Festival of Tiberinus (Ancient Rome)

Festa da Conceição da Praia (celebrating Yemanjá, Queen of the Ocean; Brazil)

Fiber Projects Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Garlic Bread Day (Pastafarian)

Hanukkah Day #1 (Judaism) [thru Dec. 15th]

Hari-Kuyō (Shinto Festival of Broken Needles; Japan)

James Thurber (Artology; Writerism)

John Banville (Writerism)

Kliment Ohridski (Christian; Saint ) [Malta]

Louis de Bernières (Writerism)

Lucien Freud (Artology)

Marian Kamalen (Christian; Saint) [Guam]

Patapios of Thebes (Christian; Saint)

Pope Eutychian (Christian; Saint)

Richard Baxter (US Episcopal Church)

Rohatsu (Bodhi; Buddhism)

Romaric (a..k.a. Romanic; Christian; Saint)

17 Triads Day (Celtic Book of Days)

The Six Dwarves (Muppetism)

Virgin of Caacupé Day (Paraguay)

Volta (Positivist; Saint)

Wifredo Lam (Artology)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Lucky Day (Philippines) [67 of 71]

Shakku (赤口 Japan) [Bad luck all day, except at noon.]

Premieres

Anne of a Thousand Days, by Maxwell Anderson (Play; 1948)

Babe, by Styx (Song; 1979)

Blade: Trinity (Film; 2004)

Blood Diamond (Film; 2006)

California Dreaming’, by the Mamas & the Papas (Song; 1965)

Cat Napping (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1951)

Children’s Hospital (TV Series; 2008)

Cigars of the Pharaoh, by Hergé (Graphic Novel; 1934) [Tintin #4]

Crouching Tiger, Hidden dragon (Film; 2000)

The Deer Hunter (Film; 1978)

The Disaster Artist (Film; 2017)

Dungeons & Dragons (Film; 2000)

Gandy’s Dream Girl (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1944)

The Holiday (Film; 2006)

The Honey Mousers (WB LT Cartoon; 1956)

Hotel California, by The Eagles (Album; 1976)

In Flanders Field (Poem; 1915)

I, Tonya (Film; 2017)

Little Televillain (Chilly Willy Cartoon; 1958)

Lolly Bomb, by Little Big (Song; 2017)

Luisa Miller, by Giuseppe Verdi (Opera; 1849)

Merry Little Batman (WB Animated Film; 2023)

Moon River, recorded by Henry Mancini (Song; 1960)

Mr. Fantasy, by Traffic (Album; 1967)

My Heart Will Go On, by Celine Dion (Song; 1997)

On the Town (Film; 1949)

Permanent Damage, by The GTO’s [Girls Together Outrageously] (Album; 1969)

Poor Things (Film; 2023)

Pop Gos Your Heart (WB MM Cartoon; 1934)

She-Sick Sailors (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1944)

Shishkabugs (WB LT Cartoon; 1962)

Silver Streak (Film; 1976)

Sophie’s Choice (Film; 1982)

A Star is Born (Film; 1976)

The Sundowners (Film; 1960)

Symphony No. 7 in A Major, by Ludwig van Beethoven (Symphony; 1813)

Their Satanic Majesties Request, by The Rolling Stones (Album; 1967)

Surfin’, by The Beach Boys (Song; 1961)

Termites from Mars (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1952)

The Unshrinkable Jerry Mouse (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1964)

Wise Owl (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1940)

Today’s Name Days

Edith, Elfriede (Austria)

Edita, Euharije, Ljiljana, Marija, Nevenka, Sabina (Croatia)

Květoslava (Czech Republic)

Maria (Denmark)

Külli, Küllike, Külliki, Külve, Külvi (Estonia)

Kylli, Kyllikki (Finland)

Edith. Mariä Empfängnis (Germany)

Patapios (Greece)

Mária (Hungary)

Immacolata (Italy)

Guna, Gunārs, Marieta, Vladimirs (Latvia)

Gedmintė, Guntilda, Vaidginas, Zenonas (Lithuania)

Marion, Marlene, Morgan (Norway)

Boguwola, Klement, Maria, Światozar, Wirginiusz (Poland)

Patapie (Romania)

Marína (Slovakia)

Concepción, Inmaculada (Spain)

Virginia (Sweden)

Potap (Ukraine)

Rohan, Spence, Spencer, Spenser (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 343 of 2024; 23 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 7 of Week 49 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Ngetal (Reed) [Day 15 of 28]

Chinese: Month 11 (Bing-Zi), Day 8 (Bing-Wu)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 7 Kislev 5785

Islamic: 6 Jumada II 1446

J Cal: 13 Black; Sixthday [13 of 30]

Julian: 25 November 2024

Moon: 50%: 1st Quarter

Positivist: 7 Bichat (13th Month) [Galileo]

Runic Half Month: Jara (Year) [Day 2 of 15]

Season: Autumn or Fall (Day 77 of 90)

Week: 2nd Full Week of December

Zodiac: Sagittarius (Day 17 of 30)

[thepastisalreadywritten]

SEOUL, South Korea — In fried-chicken-obsessed South Korea, restaurants serving the nation's favourite fast-food dish dot every street corner.

But Kang Ji-young's establishment brings something a little different to the table: a robot is cooking the chicken.

Eaten at everything from tiny family gatherings to a 10-million-viewer live-streamed "mukbang" -- eating broadcast -- by K-pop star Jungkook of BTS fame, fried chicken is deeply embedded in South Korean culture.

Paired with cold lager and known as "chimaek" -- a portmanteau of the Korean words for chicken and beer -- it is a staple of Seoul's famed baseball-watching experience.

The domestic market -- the world's third largest, after the United States and China -- is worth about seven trillion won ($5.3 billion).

However, labour shortages are starting to bite as South Korea faces a looming demographic disaster due to having the world's lowest birth rate.

Around 54 percent of business owners in the food service sector report problems finding employees, a government survey last year found, with long hours and stressful conditions the likely culprit, according to industry research.

Korean fried chicken is brined and double-fried, which gives it its signature crispy exterior, but the process -- more elaborate than what is typically used by US fast food chains -- creates additional labour and requires extended worker proximity to hot oil.

Enter Kang, a 38-year-old entrepreneur who saw an opportunity to improve the South Korean fried chicken business model and the dish itself.

"The market is huge," Kang told AFP at her Robert Chicken franchise.

Chicken and pork cutlets are the most popular delivery orders in South Korea, and the industry could clearly benefit from more automation "to effectively address labour costs and workforce shortages," she said.

Kang's robot, composed of a simple, flexible mechanical arm, is capable of frying 100 chickens in two hours -- a task that would require around five people and several deep fryers.

But not only does the robot make chicken more efficiently -- it makes it more delicious, says Kang.

"We can now say with confidence that our robot fries better than human beings do," she said.

Investing in 'foodtech'

Already a global cultural powerhouse and major semiconductor exporter, South Korea last year announced plans to plough millions of dollars into a "foodtech" fund to help startups working on high-tech food industry solutions.

Seoul says such innovations could become a "new growth engine," arguing there is huge potential if the country's prowess in advanced robotics and AI technology could be combined with the competitiveness of Korean food classics like kimchi.

South Korea's existing foodtech industry -- including everything from next-day grocery delivery app Market Kurly to AI smart kitchens to a "vegan egg" startup -- is already worth millions, said food science professor Lee Ki-won at Seoul National University.

Even South Korea's Samsung Electronics -- one of the world's biggest tech companies -- is trying to get in on the action, recently launching Samsung Food, an AI-personalised recipe and meal-planning platform, available in eight languages.

Lee predicted South Korea's other major conglomerates are likely to follow Samsung into foodtech.

"Delivering food using electric vehicles or having robots directly provide deliveries within apartment complexes, known as 'metamobility,' could become a part of our daily lives," he said.

"I am confident that within the next 10 years, the food tech industry will transform into the leading sector in South Korea."

'Initially struggled'

Entrepreneur Kang now has 15 robot-made chicken restaurants in South Korea and one branch in Singapore.

During AFP's visit to a Seoul branch, a robot meticulously handled the frying process -- from immersing chicken in oil, flipping it for even cooking, to retrieving it at the perfect level of crispiness, as the irresistible scent of crunchy chicken wafted through the shop.

Many customers remained oblivious to the hard-working robotic cook behind their meal.

Kim Moon-jung, a 54-year-old insurance worker, said she was not sure how a robot would make the chicken differently from a human "but one thing is certain -- it tastes delicious."

The robot can monitor oil temperature and oxidation levels in real time while it fries chicken, ensuring consistent taste and superior hygiene.

When Kang first started her business, she "initially struggled" to see why anyone would use robots rather than human chefs.

"But after developing these technologies, I've come to realise that from a customer's perspective, they're able to enjoy food that is not only cleaner but also tastier," she told AFP.

Her next venture is a tip-free bar in Koreatown in New York City, where the cocktails will feature Korea's soju rice wine and will be made by robots.

Entrepreneur aims to improve South Korea's dish using robot

11 September 2023

[dataanalysis-kagh]

I decided to work with the NESARC data. Because I’m interested to know how much wine is needed for a person to be considered as alcohol dependent.

Sure, an excess of wine consumption will promote the alcohol dependence, but how about people that leave in European countries. They drink wine almost every day and that doesn’t make them alcohol dependent. Therefore, I decided to explore the number or glasses of wine consumed, the type of wine and the familial ascendency.

Research has explored the relationship between wine consumption and alcohol dependence (AD), revealing various insights regarding consumption patterns, demographic influences, and health outcomes.

A significant study by Flensborg-Madsen et al. (2008) found that individuals who primarily consume wine have a lower risk of developing alcohol use disorders (AUD) compared to those who consume beer or distilled spirits. This study analyzed data from a diverse population and indicated that for both genders, drinking more than 35% of total alcohol intake as wine was associated with a notably reduced risk of AUD—0.8 for men and 2.0 for women—compared to higher risks associated with beer consumption [1].

Kerr et al. (2004) examined the influences of age, period, and cohort on beverage-specific alcohol consumption in the United States from 1979 to 2000. The study highlighted that increased educational attainment correlates with higher wine consumption and lower beer consumption among different cohorts. Notably, this research underscores how socio-demographic factors influence drinking behaviors, which may relate to varying risks for alcohol dependence across different age groups [2].

Rosoff et al. (2021) conducted a Mendelian randomization study involving over 780,000 participants to assess the causal effects of educational attainment on alcohol use behaviors, including AD risk. Their findings indicated that higher educational attainment was associated with increased wine consumption while reducing risky drinking behaviors like binge drinking. This suggests an indirect relationship where education may mitigate risks associated with alcohol dependence through altered consumption patterns [3].

The PURE Poland cohort study (2021) examined patterns of alcohol consumption among 2,021 adult participants from urban and rural areas in Poland. The study revealed that 54.6% of participants frequently consumed low-alcohol beverages like wine and beer, with significant differences in drinking behaviors based on gender and education level. Current drinkers showed higher odds of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases compared to abstainers, indicating potential health risks associated with alcohol consumption [4].

The reviewed literature indicates a complex relationship between wine consumption and alcohol dependence influenced by demographic factors such as age, gender, education, and beverage preference. While moderate wine consumption appears to be associated with lower risks of AUD compared to other alcoholic beverages, further research is needed to fully understand these dynamics across different populations. The findings suggest that promoting wine over other alcoholic beverages may be beneficial in reducing the incidence of alcohol-related disorders within specific demographic groups.

Citations:

[1] Flensborg-Madsen T, Knop J, Mortensen EL, Becker U, Makhija N, Sher L, Grønbaek M. Beverage preference and risk of alcohol-use disorders: a Danish prospective cohort study. J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2008 May;69(3):371-7. doi: 10.15288/jsad.2008.69.371. PMID: 18432379.

[2] Kerr WC, Greenfield TK, Bond J, Ye Y, Rehm J. Age, period and cohort influences on beer, wine and spirits consumption trends in the US National Alcohol Surveys. Addiction. 2004 Sep;99(9):1111-20. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2004.00820.x. PMID: 15317631.

[3] Rosoff DB, Clarke TK, Adams MJ, McIntosh AM, Davey Smith G, Jung J, Lohoff FW. Educational attainment impacts drinking behaviors and risk for alcohol dependence: results from a two-sample Mendelian randomization study with ~780,000 participants. Mol Psychiatry. 2021 Apr;26(4):1119-1132. doi: 10.1038/s41380-019-0535-9. Epub 2019 Oct 25. PMID: 31649322; PMCID: PMC7182503.

[4] Zatońska K, Psikus P, Basiak-Rasała A, Stępnicka Z, Wołyniec M, Wojtyła A, Szuba A, Połtyn-Zaradna K. Patterns of Alcohol Consumption in the PURE Poland Cohort Study and Their Relationship with Health Problems. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Apr 15;18(8):4185. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18084185. PMID: 33920940; PMCID: PMC8071311.

[cksmart-world]

SMART BOMB

The Completely Unnecessary News Analysis

By Christopher Smart

January 7, 2025

WHAT? NO RIOT AT CAPITAL THIS YEAR — BUMMER!

People love anniversaries, especially people in news media. In case you were in the jungle of the Yucatan Peninsula without cell coverage, we just had the fourth anniversary of Jan. 6 — a date like Dec. 7 that will live in infamy. Or not. Donald Trump's gang is urging him to strike Jan. 6 from all calendars. Erasing history — literally. You see, according to Trump and his GOP Congress, Jan. 6 didn't happen. It doesn't matter that the whole country watched the insurrection at the Capital unfold on live TV. Four years later half the nation doesn't believe it happened, raising the question: who's on psilocybin? That Trump could revise history so quickly sets the high bar for gaslighting, according to Republican consultant Mac Stipanovich. “It is a tribute to Trump and his posse’s ability to convince half the country,” he said. “And it is a telling indictment of the intelligence of that half of the country.” Brainlessness is not illegal, in fact, it's a conservative value. Well no Wilson, we don't know where the Democrats are: no insurrection, no pepper spray, no beating the hell out of cops, no nothin'. They pledged a peaceful transfer of power. Typical liberal move. Makes you wonder if they're even playing the same game. Politics is not girls softball. What would've happened if Trump didn't win in 2024 — we could'a had another insurrection. Oh well, there's always next time.

GOVERNOR: TIME TO DUMB DOWN COLLEGE

Higher Ed has lost its way, declared Gov. Spencer Cox. Colleges and universities are teaching all kinds of weird useless stuff that won't help graduates get good jobs as computer programers and delivery drivers for Amazon. Worst of all it purports to teach students to think for themselves, which is code for progressive B.S. that turns them into liberals. This idea of a broad education isn't helping anyone. That's why the governor and legislative leaders want to strip the fat out of Higher Ed. “Efficiency” and “streamlining” are the new thrusts of Utah lawmakers. No more “basket weaving 101,” unless, of course, a lot basket weaving jobs open up. No more Descartes, Newton and John Lennon. From now on its Jobs, Gates and Shakira. The University of Utah, in particular, is in the crosshairs of lawmakers because it is way too leftist for their rightwing sensibilities. It's essential that colleges and universities cut down on history, literature and partying. Minors in Twister, home brewing and philosophy will likely be eliminated. Mike Shultz, speaker of the House, knows the value of education 'cause he didn't graduate from college and look at him now. We've got to boost “workforce alignment,” he said. Students shouldn't come out of college dumber than when they went in. What good is a Theater degree if you're only going to act like a waitress.

SCREAMING OBSCENITIES AT PARK CITY MOUNTAIN RESORT

Hey Wilson, you and the guys in the band used to ski at Park City in the olden days, right? Back when Park City was a cute little town and a big-resort wannabe. Well, times change. Did you know that according to one national survey, PC Mountain and Deer Valley are two of the three most expensive ski “experiences” in the U.S. Check this out: According to casino.org, when all the costs are tallied you can drop $2,500 per day at P.C. Mountain or Deer Valley. That includes lodging at a fancy hotel, a lift ticket, ski rentals, a half-day lesson and lunch with a beer. No Wilson, they didn't say which kind of beer, but it must be pretty good. Over the Christmas holiday, Park City Mountain made national news when ski vacationers were screaming obscenities out loud and on social media. For months the Park City Ski Patrol was threatening to strike if they didn't get a raise from $21 to $23 per hour. Vail Resorts, which owns and operates Park City Mountain, wouldn't meet their demands and when the holiday skiers showed up there was hell to pay. Runs weren't open, lift lines were long, and when you're spending that kind of dough you expect... well you expect to ski. So much for all that expensive advertising and P.R. Greatest Snow on Earth? Greatest Snow on Earth you can't ski on. You just can't buy advertising like that.

Post script — That's a wrap for the first fabulous week of 2025 here at Smart Bomb where we keep track of Jan. 6 rioters so you don't have to. Hey Wilson, want more proof that Jan. 6 was just another family friendly day at the Capital. Consider this: 1,580 Trumpers have faced criminal charges for their activities that day in 2021. More than 170 people were charged with using a deadly weapon or injuring police. Five police officers died in the aftermath, four of them by suicide; about 150 were injured. Four rioters died, two of heart failure, one of acute amphetamine intoxication and one was shot and killed by a Capitol police officer. Donald Trump has promised he will pardon the Jan. 6 insurrectionists on his first day in office. They are “political prisoners” and “hostages,” he says and they've been treated unfairly. That's par for the course when it comes to the plan to keep Joe Biden from becoming president after he won the 2020 election. About 70 percent of Republicans surveyed said the 2020 election was rigged and Trump actually won. By contrast 100 percent of them say the 2024 election was fair and square. Things just keep getting better.

Well shucks Wilson, you and the guys in the band know what it's like in slam so why don't we go out with something for those great patriots that are pining away behind bars:

Now, they hold me here much longer Probably go mad all by myself

Now, I really need somebody Said, I really need somebody's help, yeah Why does a man up in the judgment chair Got his ass, God's right arm In some double pair? Alright Walkin' a frozen line A western winter, be hail and rain Way back in New York this mornin' There ain't no one there Who ever gonna remember my name Now when the sun comes up Mama, you should know That now I just don't care no more, alright Three o'clock this morning I thought I saw Jesus coming down He came through the concrete, baby He came through them walls without no sound And I say, concrete walls, that ain't no clay I closed my eyes, watched him slip away, alright

They look at you sideways They call no man by his Christian name His natural born name All you got is your backbone to lean on You can expect no help from your brain Now when a man wants reason He best be willing to pay I'm down in Leavenworth Prison, now And I do not count no days Said, when a man wants reason He best be willing to pay I'm down in Leavenworth Prison now And I do not count no days

(Phone call from Leavenworth — Chris Whitley)

[brookston]

Holidays 12.8

Holidays

Astraea Asteroid Day

Battle Day (Falkland Islands)

Be Someone's Pillow While You Watch TV Night

Bodhi Day (Buddhism; Secular Date)

CARICOM-Cuba Day

Charity Day (Ukraine)

Colorism Awareness Day

COVID-19 Origin Day

Day of Finnish Music (Finland)

Day of Loyalty & Love for Hugo Chavez (Venezuela)

Day of Radio and Television Workers (Kyrgyzstan)

Human Rights and Peace Day (Kiribati)

International Artist’s Day

Ivy Day (French Republic)

Kliment Ohirdski (Macedonia)

Mother’s Day (Panama)

National Bad Hair Day

National Blue Collar Day

National Christmas Tree Day

National Crossword Solvers Day

National Dave Day

National Donair Day (Canada)

National Family Day Darn It

National Health Savings Account Day

National Simon Day

National Students’ Day (Bulgaria)

National Tree Planting Day (Malawi)

National White People Take BLM Out of Your Profile Day

National Youth Day (Albania)

Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Day (Ethiopia)

Nicki Minaj Day

Night of the Lizard King

Panama Beach Day (Uruguay)

Pansexual Pride Day

Popeye Day

Pretend To Be A Time Traveler Day

St. Kliment Ohridski Day (Macedonia)

Studrntski Praznik (Students’ Day; Bulgaria)

Take It In the Ear Day

Virgin of Caacupé Day (Paraguay)

Winter Flowers Day

World Climate Day

World Indica Day

World TAPS Awareness Day

World VFX Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Lemon Squeezer Day

National Bartender Day

National Chocolate Brownie Day (a.k.a. Brownie Day)

National Concha Day (Mexico)

National Lard Day

Portland Holiday Brew Fest

Independence & Related Days

Constitution Day (Romania; Saipan; Uzbekistan)

H.E.R. (Humanitarian Empire and Realm; Declared; 2020) [unrecognized]

Taguig City Charter Day (Philippines)

2nd Sunday in December

International Children’s Day [2nd Sunday]

Jashan-e Sadeh (a.k.a. Adar-Jashen; Zoroastrian/Parsi)

Lager Beer Week begins [Sunday of 2nd full week]

National Children’s Memorial Day [2nd Sunday]

Sandwich Sunday [2nd Sunday of Each Month]

Seven For Sunday [Every Sunday]

Sleepy Sunday [2nd Sunday of Each Month]

Sundae Sunday [Every Sunday]

Sunday Funday [Every Sunday]

Survey Sunday [2nd Sunday of Each Month]

2nd Sunday in Advent [3rd Sunday before Xmas] (a.k.a. ... 

Advent Sunday

Love Sunday

Transfiguration Sunday

Waiting Sunday

World Choral Day [2nd Sunday]

Worldwide Candle Lighting Day (7 PM) [2nd Sunday]

Weekly Holidays beginning December 8 (2nd Full Week of December)

Computer Science Education Week (thru 12.14) [Week including 12.9]

Lager Beer Week (thru 12.14) [2nd Week]

Festivals Beginning December 8, 2024

British Independent Film Awards (London, United Kingdom)

Good Things Brisbane (Brisbane, Australia)

Heritage Fire (Charleston, South Carolina)

Mill Valley WinterFest (Mill Valley, California)

Feast Days

Adolph Menzel (Artology)

Afflux (Discordian)

Albert Gleizes (Artology)

Amaterasu Day (Goddess of the Sun; Shinto; Japan; Everyday Wicca)

Aristide Maillol (Artology)

Army Day (Spain)

Astraea's Day (Greek Goddess of Justice)

Bill Bryson (Writerism)

Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson (Writerism)

Bodhi Day (a.k.a. Secular Bodhi; Buddhism) (Lunar Bodhi: 8th Day, 12th Moon)

Bodhi Season, Day 8 (Buddhism; Secular Date) [Leading Up to 12.8] (a.k.a. ... 

Principles: Enso

Secular: Bodhi Day Eve

Eightfold Path: Awakened Mindfulness and Concentration

The Heart Sutra: Kintsugi (Golden Repair)

Budoc (Beuzec) of Dol (Christian; Saint)

Camille Claudel (Artology)

Chesty Puller Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Clement of Ohrid (Julian Calendar)

Day of Tiberinus (Pagan)

Diego Rivera (Artology)

E. C. Segar (Artology)

Eucharius (Christian; Saint)

Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Christian) [a.k.a. ... 

Blessing of the Water Day (Uruguay)

Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Anglican Communion)

Dia de las Playas (Day of the Beaches or Family Day; Uruguay)

Festa da Conceição da Praia, celebrating Yemanjá, Queen of the Ocean in Umbanda (Salvador, Bahia)

Festival of Lights (Lyon)

Immaculate Conception Day (Christian Nations)

Mother's Day (Panama)

Our Lady of Camarin Day (Guam)

Festival of Neith (Ancient Egypt)

Festival of Tiberinus (Ancient Rome)

Festa da Conceição da Praia (celebrating Yemanjá, Queen of the Ocean; Brazil)

Fiber Projects Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Garlic Bread Day (Pastafarian)

Hanukkah Day #1 (Judaism) [thru Dec. 15th]

Hari-Kuyō (Shinto Festival of Broken Needles; Japan)

James Thurber (Artology; Writerism)

John Banville (Writerism)

Kliment Ohridski (Christian; Saint ) [Malta]

Louis de Bernières (Writerism)

Lucien Freud (Artology)

Marian Kamalen (Christian; Saint) [Guam]

Patapios of Thebes (Christian; Saint)

Pope Eutychian (Christian; Saint)

Richard Baxter (US Episcopal Church)

Rohatsu (Bodhi; Buddhism)

Romaric (a..k.a. Romanic; Christian; Saint)

17 Triads Day (Celtic Book of Days)

The Six Dwarves (Muppetism)

Virgin of Caacupé Day (Paraguay)

Volta (Positivist; Saint)

Wifredo Lam (Artology)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Lucky Day (Philippines) [67 of 71]

Shakku (赤口 Japan) [Bad luck all day, except at noon.]

Premieres

Anne of a Thousand Days, by Maxwell Anderson (Play; 1948)

Babe, by Styx (Song; 1979)

Blade: Trinity (Film; 2004)

Blood Diamond (Film; 2006)

California Dreaming’, by the Mamas & the Papas (Song; 1965)

Cat Napping (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1951)

Children’s Hospital (TV Series; 2008)

Cigars of the Pharaoh, by Hergé (Graphic Novel; 1934) [Tintin #4]

Crouching Tiger, Hidden dragon (Film; 2000)

The Deer Hunter (Film; 1978)

The Disaster Artist (Film; 2017)

Dungeons & Dragons (Film; 2000)

Gandy’s Dream Girl (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1944)

The Holiday (Film; 2006)

The Honey Mousers (WB LT Cartoon; 1956)

Hotel California, by The Eagles (Album; 1976)

In Flanders Field (Poem; 1915)

I, Tonya (Film; 2017)

Little Televillain (Chilly Willy Cartoon; 1958)

Lolly Bomb, by Little Big (Song; 2017)

Luisa Miller, by Giuseppe Verdi (Opera; 1849)

Merry Little Batman (WB Animated Film; 2023)

Moon River, recorded by Henry Mancini (Song; 1960)

Mr. Fantasy, by Traffic (Album; 1967)

My Heart Will Go On, by Celine Dion (Song; 1997)

On the Town (Film; 1949)

Permanent Damage, by The GTO’s [Girls Together Outrageously] (Album; 1969)

Poor Things (Film; 2023)

Pop Gos Your Heart (WB MM Cartoon; 1934)

She-Sick Sailors (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1944)

Shishkabugs (WB LT Cartoon; 1962)

Silver Streak (Film; 1976)

Sophie’s Choice (Film; 1982)

A Star is Born (Film; 1976)

The Sundowners (Film; 1960)

Symphony No. 7 in A Major, by Ludwig van Beethoven (Symphony; 1813)

Their Satanic Majesties Request, by The Rolling Stones (Album; 1967)

Surfin’, by The Beach Boys (Song; 1961)

Termites from Mars (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1952)

The Unshrinkable Jerry Mouse (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1964)

Wise Owl (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1940)

Today’s Name Days

Edith, Elfriede (Austria)

Edita, Euharije, Ljiljana, Marija, Nevenka, Sabina (Croatia)

Květoslava (Czech Republic)

Maria (Denmark)

Külli, Küllike, Külliki, Külve, Külvi (Estonia)

Kylli, Kyllikki (Finland)

Edith. Mariä Empfängnis (Germany)

Patapios (Greece)

Mária (Hungary)

Immacolata (Italy)

Guna, Gunārs, Marieta, Vladimirs (Latvia)

Gedmintė, Guntilda, Vaidginas, Zenonas (Lithuania)

Marion, Marlene, Morgan (Norway)

Boguwola, Klement, Maria, Światozar, Wirginiusz (Poland)

Patapie (Romania)

Marína (Slovakia)

Concepción, Inmaculada (Spain)

Virginia (Sweden)

Potap (Ukraine)

Rohan, Spence, Spencer, Spenser (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 343 of 2024; 23 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 7 of Week 49 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Ngetal (Reed) [Day 15 of 28]

Chinese: Month 11 (Bing-Zi), Day 8 (Bing-Wu)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 7 Kislev 5785

Islamic: 6 Jumada II 1446

J Cal: 13 Black; Sixthday [13 of 30]

Julian: 25 November 2024

Moon: 50%: 1st Quarter

Positivist: 7 Bichat (13th Month) [Galileo]

Runic Half Month: Jara (Year) [Day 2 of 15]

Season: Autumn or Fall (Day 77 of 90)

Week: 2nd Full Week of December

Zodiac: Sagittarius (Day 17 of 30)

[accapitalmarket]

US markets retreat as Iran Israel tensions spike, oil jumps

US stocks ended lower on Thursday as investors eyed the escalating crisis in the Middle East, which propelled oil prices higher, together with a mixed batch of domestic data.

By the close in New York, the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 0.4% at 42,011, while the broader S&P 500 fell 0.2% to 5,699, and the Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.04% to 17,918.

SPX500 H4

A survey showed strong service activity in the world's largest economy, but weekly jobless claims data rose marginally a day ahead of the key non-farm payrolls report for September.

The latest Institute for Supply Management survey showed service sector activity, which makes up the majority of the US economy, rise to 54.9 in September, compared with an estimate of 51.7.

However, the initial jobless claims increased by 6,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 225,000 for the week ended September 28, above forecasts for 220,000 claims.

The mixed data further dampened down hopes for a 50-basis point rate cut at the Federal Reserve's November meeting. Odds on a 25-basis point cut rose to 64.9%, up from 50.7%.

Rate-sensitive tech heavyweights were weaker, with Amazon.com down 1.5%, Apple losing 0.5%. Elsewhere Tesla shed 3.4%, adding to the previous session’s losses on disappointing third-quarter deliveries, after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the EV manufacturer was recalling 27,185 Cybertruck vehicles in the US as a delayed rear-view image reduces visibility behind the vehicle.

But AI chip darling Nvidia rose 3.3% as its CEO Jensen Huang told CNBC on Wednesday that demand was "insane" for its next-gen Blackwell AI chips.

USOIL H4

Oil stocks Chevron, up 0.20%, and Exxon Mobil, ahead 0.9%, edged higher after four sessions of gains, as crude prices jumped on supply concerns caused by the Israel, Lebanon, Iran situation. UK Brent crude was up 5.2% at 77.73 a barrel, while US WTI added 5.4% at 73.85 a barrel.

On the news front, Levi Strauss dropped 7.7% after the company said it was considering a sale of its underperforming Dockers brand and reported below forecast fourth-quarter revenue.

And Constellation Brands fell 4.7% after the beer maker only maintained its sales and profit forecasts for fiscal year 2025.

Disclaimer:

The information contained in this market commentary is of general nature only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You are strongly recommended to seek independent financial advice before making any investment decisions.

Trading margin forex and CFDs carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Investors could experience losses in excess of total deposits. You do not have ownership of the underlying assets. AC Capital Market (V) Ltd is the product issuer and distributor. Please read and consider our Product Disclosure Statement and Terms and Conditions, and fully understand the risks involved before deciding to acquire any of the financial products provided by us.

The content of this market commentary is owned by AC Capital Market (V) Ltd. Any illegal reproduction of this content will result in immediate legal action.

[shalaka04]

UK General Elections 2024: Notable Electors and Their Potential Impact 

In the UK general election, Keir Starmer of Labour, Rishi Sunak of the Conservative Party, Nigel Farage, and smaller parties might have an impact on the result.

It is anticipated that Thursday's general election would either end the 14-year Conservative Party rule or return the Labour Party to office, ushering in a significant political shift for the United Kingdom. The competition between many powerful and well-known public individuals to lead the nation into the future adds even more intrigue to it. A deeper look at the leading candidates and their interests in this crucial election is provided here.

Keir Starmer: The pragmatic leader of Labour

Keir Starmer, 61, a former director of public prosecutions and human rights attorney for Labour, is the person being positioned as the party's most likely nominee for prime minister. In April 2020, Starmer succeeded Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour Party. She is regarded for having brought the party closer to the center and handled issues like anti-Semitism among its ranks.

Starmer was raised in a working-class home by communist parents who were both nurses and toolmakers. He was given the name Keir Hardie in honor of the Labour Party's founder. Consequently, even if Sir Keir Starmer doesn't often use the appellation, there will always be a certain something about him.��

His supporters regard him as a pragmatic who can steer Britain through the turbulent post-decline waters and a safe set of hands. On the other hand, others contend that Starmer, a circumspect politician, represents a leader lacking a defined strategy. They make a concerted effort to discredit him by calling him a dull flip-flopper. All things considered, surveys indicate that Keir Starmer is a strong candidate to lead Labour to victory.

Conservative Leader in the Storm's Eye, Rishi Sunak:

The 44-year-old head of the Conservative Party, Rishi Sunak, wants to be elected prime minister by the people of Britain. This is his request. Liz Truss, whose economic policies had caused market volatility and ultimately led to her removal from government after just 49 days in office, had suffered the consequences of Sunak's ascent to power.

Sunak, the first Hindu and British Asian prime minister of the United Kingdom, was perceived as a former banker brought in to instill stability in a nation still in shock from the chaotic premierships of Boris Johnson and Ted Truss. While he has made progress in reducing inflation, he has had difficulty delivering on his other key pledges, which include cutting back on undocumented immigration and reducing health waiting lists.

A string of missteps, beginning with the unpopular announcement of the election date and criticism for Sunak's 15-minute attendance at one major event, have completely derailed his campaign. His approval ratings are among the lowest of any prime minister, in part because of this, and his re-election campaign is doubtful.

Nigel Farage: The Immense Stranger

Known for drinking beer and smoking a chain smoke, Nigel Farage is still one of the most controversial figures in British politics. Nigel Farage, who was dubbed "Mr. Brexit" by former US President Donald Trump, had a significant role in the 2016 Brexit referendum. However, the pursuit of a Westminster seat remains unfulfilled. 

Leading the hard-right Reform UK party, Farage hopes to steal votes away from the Conservatives in key seats. But his controversial comments on foreign affairs and the racial issues involving the party cadre have plagued his campaign. Farage's electoral performance might be detrimental to the Conservative Party's prospects.

For more information>>

[nwbeerguide]

Two Roads Brewing's Stratford location revamps the space, to be more family inclusive, a golf simulator, a new food menu, and more!

Press Release

STRATFORD, Conn. ... IPA with a golf chaser? That’s now on the menu at Two Roads Brewing Co., thanks to a new wave of additions and enhancements made throughout the brewery’s campus – already a favorite of Connecticut locals and a destination for craft beer enthusiasts from near and far.

The can’t-miss new Two Roads Tee Box means no more waiting for the 19th hole to kick back. Located just alongside the brewery’s recently-opened Food Hall + Bar, this full-on golf simulator, with Augusta National among 300 iconic courses all over the world, can be reserved by the hour and booked for private events. With space for six golfers, rentable clubs and delivery of food, beer and cocktails from the Food Hall next door, there’s something for everyone, from beginner duffers to scratch handicappers.

Other recent additions to the campus include:

-        A family-friendly lounge in the brewery’s main Tasting Room. With comfortable leather couches and three new hi-def TVs, the lounge offers a more relaxed space for guests to sit back and unwind with the whole family, right down to highchairs for the littlest ones.

-        A new shuffleboard table.  Also located in the Tasing Room, indoor shuffleboard means never having to wait for warm or dry days. Community tables have also been added throughout the space to give guests even more seating options for drinking, eating, hanging-out and board-gaming.

-        For warmer months, a suite of five cabanas located outside in the Hop Yard is available first come first serve or to reserve for large gatherings in the summer months during festivals and events. Each cabana can fit up to ten guests, who can order from the Hop Yard’s new cocktail menu – including all-new slushie and froze inspired cocktails.

“In true road-less-traveled form, we’re always thinking about how our campus experience can go beyond what our fans might expect,” said Ben Paré, Director of Hospitality of Two Roads Brewing Co. “Our latest additions were inspired by all the places our fans enjoy Two Roads – from the golf course to the comforts of their own home or backyard – and give them tastes of those experiences right here at the brewery.”

In addition to the campus enhancements, Two Roads is also debuting a revamped menu at its Food Hall + Bar. The new menu includes tacos made with brisket, pork and chicken braised or marinated in Two Roads beer and beverages, artisanal flatbreads, smash burgers and an extended list of “shareable” items perfect for groups.

“We got a lot of great customer feedback over the past couple months,” added Paré. “We’ve worked hand-in-hand with our Director of Culinary, Tim Lonzak, to launch new items that we know our guests will be excited to try, share and enjoy.”

Two Roads Tee Box will be open from Wednesday – Sunday between 12pm and 8pm available to rent for $60 per hour or $100 for two hours. To book a tee time or learn more about Two Roads’ campus, visit www.tworoadsbrewing.com.

About Two Roads Brewing Co.

Two Roads Brewing Co., launched in 2012, is a privately owned craft beverage company offering a wide-ranging portfolio of beers, canned cocktails, hard seltzers, distilled spirits, and other Road Less Traveled beverages. Located in Stratford Connecticut, Two Roads is ranked 54th among 9,500+ independently owned breweries in the US according to the Brewer’s Association’s 2021 survey. For more information visit www.tworoadsbrewing.com.

[safereturndoubtful]

At Katun, Durmitor National Park

Friday 13th October 2023

From my bed I can see the outdoor temperature monitor at first light, this morning at 2C, and watch as it creeps up at first, then as the sun rises the climb gains more momentum. Within ten minutes of watching it it had risen to double figures. Time to get up, and besides there was something of a kerfuffle outside, and was I still dreaming, or could I hear Spanish being spoken..

There was a Spanish TV crew filming for a travel programme. I spoke to one guy, but then was shushed, as they were actually filming. This item was about horse riding, in these foothills of the Durmitor, and they were away later in the morning to a vineyard. Actually while having that beer in the bar last night I had watched a promotional presentation on the TV about Montenegrin wine. It seems it’s very good.

Horses and cows roam around the place, but this cow coming over for a sniff, gave Roja a bit of a wobble.. they’re rarely good friends, cows and dogs..

The left hip I damaged a few days ago has recovered well enough to hike, and with the advice of one of the local guys tending the horses here, mid-morning Roja and I headed off into the hills, he had said, just go anywhere.. which was fine, as I just wanted to know I wasn’t on private land, but within just a hundred metres, it is National Park.

I surveyed a circuitous route, but soon became lost, as usual.. Nonetheless, my decision to gain height worked well, not only because it provided exceptional views of the peaks, but also because I could spy an onward course. It was tough at times, just on animal trods, but a good test for the recovering hip, which coped okay, though slow. We eventually, chiefly due to Roja’s nose, found our way around what turned out to be an 8 kilometre route, that took in one peak, at just over 1760 metres. It was thoroughly enjoyable.

I spent a few hours in the afternoon with Wordpress as I’m planning to move the blog over to something more of a website. It’s a few days away yet, and fortunately when I get the basics done, I have the help of a professional. Of course I’ll keep the reader informed, but it’s a few days away yet.

From when the sun gets low, about 5 pm, the temperature drops from the high of 28C, but not as quick as it rises in the mornings. 6:20 pm, and it’s just gone below 10C.

I’ll head up to the bar for a beer a bit later, and try the food out as well. It’s the first match of the new Premiership Rugby season tonight, delayed due to the World Cup of course, but the Friday night games are nearly always good fun, and close. It’s Bristol versus Leicester tonight.

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 10.13

Holidays

Agricultural Workers’ Day (Russia)

Artist’s Day (Ukraine)

Astronomy Day

Azerbaijani Railway Day

Blame Someone Else Day

Bonn Phchum Ben (Ancestors’ Day; Cambodia)

Chuuk (Teachers’ Appreciation Day; Micronesia)

Clean the Crumbs Out of the Broiler Oven Day

Cold Turkey Day

Cultural Workers’ Day (Belarus)

Dashain Festival (Nepal)

Dia del Respeto a la Diversidad Cultural (Argentina)

Durga Puja (a.k.a. Dasain (Sikkim, India)

Dussehra (a.k.a. Durga Ashtami; Parts of India)

English Language Day (UK)

Festival of Unmediated Play

Fox Mulder Day (X-Files)

Geologic Map Day

Ghatasthapana (Nepal)

Global Fertilizer Day

Good Samaritan Day

The Great Memorial Day (Thailand)

International Cassette Store Day

International Civility for the Girl Child Day

International Day for Failure (a.k.a. National Failure Day)

International Day For Natural Disaster Reduction (UN)

international Day of Education in Prison

International EarthCache Day

International Plain Language Day

International Skeptics Day

International Suit Up Day

John Peel Day

Karva Chat (Himachal Pradesh, India) [Women’s Festival Only]

King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great Memorial Day (Thailand)

Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day

Military Hydrographer Day (Russia)

Modern Mythology Day

National Chess Day

National Erection Day

National Guinea Pig Day (Peru)

National Headband Day

National Herpes Awareness Day (Australia)

National No Excuse Day

National ‘That’s What She Said’ Day

National Transfer Money to Your Son Day

Navy Establishment Day

No Bra Day

Oilfield Prayer Day (Oklahoma)

Paramedics’ Day (Poland)

Peach Day (French Republic)

Prince Louis Rwagasore Day (Burundi)

Railway Employees Day (Azerbaijan)

Rwagasore Day (Burundi)

Silly Sayings Day

Swiftie Day

Tacksägelsdagen (Thanksgiving; Sweden)

Templars Day

Train Your Brain Day

Treat Yo’ Self Day

Vietnamese Entrepreneur’s Day (Vietnam)

Wan Tamruat (a.k.a. National Police Day; Thailand)

White House Day

Witches’ Festival (Elder Scrolls)

World Bank Action Day

World Cage Free Day

World Thrombosis Day

World Zombie Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

National M&M Day

National Peanut Day

National Pumpkin Day

Yorkshire Pudding Day

Independence & Related Days

None Known

2nd Sunday in October

Bokbierdag (National Bock Beer Day; The Netherlands) [ website ] [2nd Sunday]

Clergy Appreciation Day (a.k.a. Pastor Appreciation Day or Ministry Appreciation Day) [2nd Sunday]

Drink Local Wine Week begins [2nd Sunday]

Father-Daughter Day [2nd Sunday]

Good Thief Sunday [2nd Sunday]

Grandmother's Day (Florida; Germany) [2nd Sunday]

Grandparents’ Day (Hong Kong) [2nd Sunday]

Pastor Appreciation Day (a.k.a. Ministry Appreciation Day) [2nd Sunday]

Sandwich Sunday [2nd Sunday of Each Month]

Seven For Sunday [Every Sunday]

Shojo Festival (Narumi Hachimangu, Nagoya, Japan) [2nd Sunday]

Sleepy Sunday [2nd Sunday of Each Month]

Sundae Sunday [Every Sunday]

Sunday Funday [Every Sunday]

Survey Sunday [2nd Sunday of Each Month]

White Sunday (American & Western Samoa) [2nd Sunday]

World Day of Aunts & Uncles [2nd Sunday]

Weekly Holidays beginning October 13 (2nd Full Week of October)

Anti Poverty Week [Australia]

Drink Local Wine Week (thru 10.19) [2nd Full Week]

Earth Science Week (thru 10.19) [2nd Full Week]

Healthcare Security and Safety Week (thru 10.19) [2nd Full Week]

Improve Your Home Office Week (thru 10.19) [2nd Full Week]

Infection Control Week (thru 10.19) [3rd Week]

International Credit Union Week (thru 10.19) [Week of Int’l Credit Union Day]

International Infection Prevention (or Protection) Week (thru 10.19)

Meditation Week (thru 10.19) [3rd Week]

National Case Management Week (thru 10.19) [2nd Full Week]

National Chestnut Week (thru 10.19) [2nd Full Week]

National Food Bank Week (thru 10.19) [Week including 10.16]

National Lone Wolf Week (thru 10.19) [3rd Week]

National School Lunch Week (thru 10.19) [2nd Full Week]

National Veterinary Technician Week (thru 10.19) [3rd Week]

Nuclear Science Week (thru 10.19) [3rd Week]

Pet Peeve Week (thru 10.19) [2nd Full Week]

Teen Read Week (thru 10.19) [Week of Columbus Day]

YMCA With our Violence Week (thru 10.19) [3rd Week]

Festivals Beginning October 13, 2024

The Chocolate Expo (Manchester, New Hampshire)

Doi Taikomatsuri (Japan) [thru 10.15]

Dunellen HarvestFest (Dunellen, New Jersey)

Troy Chowderfest (Troy, New York)

Feast Days

Aequinoctium Autumnale VI (Pagan)

Alan Turing Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Alexandrina of Balasar (Christian; Blessed)

Allan Ramsay (Artology)

Arna Bontemps (Writerism)

Arrabiata Sauce Day (Pastafarian)

Campanella (Positivist; Saint)

Colman (Christian; Saint)

Conrad Richter (Writerism)

Daniel and companions, of Ceuta (Christian; Saints)

Edward the Confessor (Translation of the Relics Day)

Fautus, Januarius, and Martialis (Christian; Martyrs)

Fontanalia (a.k.a. Fontus; Old Roman God of Wells & Springs)

Gerald of Aurillac (Christian; Saint)

Herblock (Artology)

Maddalena Panattieri (Dominican Order of Preachers; Christian; Blessed)

Mariotto Albertinelli (Artology)

Miracle of the Sun

Moley the Mole (Muppetism)

Our Lady of Fatima (Roman Catholic)

Seven Friar Minors (Christian; Martyrs in Morocco)

Terry Frost (Artology)

Theophilus of Antioch (Christian; Saint)

Very Saucey Day (Pastafarian)

Walasse Ting (Artology)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Sensho (先勝 Japan) [Good luck in the morning, bad luck in the afternoon.]

Premieres

All About Eve (Film; 1950)

The Babysitter (Film; 2017)

Badlands (Film; 1973)

Batman: Death in the Family (WB Animated Film; 2020)

A Bear Called Paddington, by Michael Bond (Children’s Book; 1958)

Bee at the Beach (Disney Cartoon; 1950)

Billy Elliot (Film; 2000)

The Bon Bon Parade (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1935)

Code of the Samurai: A Modern Translation of the Bushido Shoshinshu of Taira Shigesuke, by Daidōji Yūzan (History Book; 1943)

Crimes and Misdemeanors (Film; 1989)

Fat Bottomed Girls/Bicycle Race, by Queen (Songs; 1978)

Fly with von Drake (Disney Animated TV Special; 1963)

The Foreigner (Film; 2017)

The Fowl Ball (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1930)

Goodbye Christopher Robin (Film; 2017)

Harvey (Film; 1950)

Hell House, by Richard Matheson (Novel; 1971)

The House of Mirth (Film; 2000)

Jane the Virgin (TV Series; 2014)

The Last Witch Hunter (Film; 2015)

Linda McCartney’s Sixties: Portrait of an Era, by Linda McCartney (Book; 1992)

Look Who’s Talking (Film; 1989)

The Nightmare Before Christmas (Animated Film; 1993)

…Nothing Like the Sun, by Sting (Album; 1987)

Riley’s First Date? (Pixar Cartoon; 2015)

The Rum Diary (Film; 2011)

The Scarlet Letter (Film; 1995)

The Seventh Seal (Film; 1958)

Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It), by Beyoncé (Song; 2008)

The Sultan’s Birthday (Mighty Mouse Cartoon; 1944)

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Concert Film; 2023)

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, by Edward Albee (Play; 1962)

Wide Sargasso Sea, by Jean Rhys (Novel; 1966)

Yankee Dood It (WB MM Cartoon; 1956)

, by Prince (Album; 1992)

Today’s Name Days

Eduard, Gerald (Austria)

Bogoljub, Eduard, Romul, Teofil (Croatia)

Renáta (Czech Republic)

Angelus (Denmark)

Ebba, Ebe, Epp (Estonia)

Taija, Taina, Tanja (Finland)

Géraud (France)

Andre, Eduard, Koloman (Germany)

Agathoniki, Chrysi, Florentia, Florentios, Karpos (Greece)

Ede, Kálmán (Hungary)

Benedetto, Edoardo (Italy)

Irma, Mirga (Latvia)

Eduardas, Edvardas, Mintaras, Nortautė, Venancijus (Lithuania)

Tarjei, Terje, Torgeir (Norway)

Daniel, Edward, Gerald, Geraldyna, Maurycy, Mikołaj, Siemisław, Teofil (Poland)

Agatodor, Agatonica, Andrei, Carp, Papil (Romania)

Koloman (Slovakia)

Eduardo, Fausto (Spain)

Berit, Birgit (Sweden)

Eddie, Eddy, Eduardo, Edward, Edwardine, Ned (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 287 of 2024; 79 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 7 of Week 41 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Gort (Ivy) [Day 15 of 28]

Chinese: Month 9 (Jia-Xu), Day 11 (Geng-Xu)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 11 Tishri 5785

Islamic: 9 Rabi II 1446

J Cal: 17 Orange; Threesday [17 of 30]

Julian: 30 September 2024

Moon: 80%: Waxing Gibbous

Positivist: 7 Descartes (11th Month) [St. Thomas Aquinas]

Runic Half Month: Gyfu (Gift) [Day 7 of 15]

Season: Autumn or Fall (Day 22 of 90)

Week: 2nd Full Week of October

Zodiac: Libra (Day 21 of 30)

[bike42]

Sunday September 17, 2023

After another comfortable night in our little Inverness cottage, we packed up, converted our roller bags to their backpack configuration, and strapped our day packs on the front. Jeff rolled our smaller bag along with him. Weather-dot-com said it was is the thirties, so we set our with gloves and hats and our Gore-Tex jackets! We walked the 1.2 miles up to the Kingsmill Hotel, the site where we were to meet our Backroads group at 10am.

We arrived first, and it was fun to meet the first two couples that arrived - all from Wisconsin! They are veterans of many Backroads trips - this is our first experience with the company. Then a couple from Chicago arrived, then a newlywed couple (married Thursday in Inverness) arrived, then a mother/daughter/friend of mom … then two more couples that we’ve not yet interacted with much. Then we met our guides, Jenn and Keith, and our support person, Jules. More on all that later!

They piled all of our luggage into a large van, and we climbed into the three vans for a 90 minute drive to Torridon on the west coast of Scotland. The first 30 minutes of the drive I saw sights from yesterday, then we were climbing into the hills. We went past many lakes (lochs) and small villages. The terrain switched back and forth from forested areas to Heather-covered hills. After about an hour, we entered a National park area and a small one lane road with occasional turn outs for oncoming traffic. A slow way to travel - patience required. There were parking lots at trailheads full of cars and lots of RVs from all over Europe.

Eventually we got to the tiny town of Torridon where they’d arranged to have Liz from the Wee Whistle Stop Cafe shut down her cafe for the day and prepared lunch for us! It was a fantastic array of smoked salmon, salads and homemade bread. She’s also going to make our lunches the next two days - lucky us!

Keith gave a talk on how things will work overall and how we can us the Backroads app to be more self sufficient! He also was clear that their job is to make magic happen for us … and that we shouldn’t stew about something all week then hit them on the survey at the end of the trip! Jenn talked about safety, and our route for today’s hike.

Back in the vans for about a 10 minute drive to Loch Damh to start the hike - 4 miles along Loch Damh, the River Bagly, and along Loch Torridon until we get to our hotel. Not sure how they get the other vans back to the hotel, but I guess that’s how Jules works his magic!

It had rained a bit on the drive over, but the rain held off for the two hours that we hiked. It stayed cool, and I hiked with two layers and my rain jacket and was surprised I didn’t overheat! We walked through mud, puddles and rocks initially, but that last three miles was on nice wide trail - easy to walk and talk at the same time!

We enjoyed the hike, and what fun to arrive at the hotel and find Jules had coolers of drinks and snacks set out for us. I had a canned Gin and Tonic and some snacks; Jeff had a beer that was not the best, he said. Then we checked into The Torridon - a former hunting lodge turned luxury hotel. It’s quaint and rustic in the common rooms on the ground floor (with a whisky room and a library), but our suite is luxurious! Comfortable chairs overlooking the cow and the loch, a fantastic modern bathroom and massive comfortable bed. Two nights here - lucky us!

We showered and relaxed, then headed down to meet the group for a glass of wine in the library, along with another ice breaker. We headed to a group dinner after that, four amazing courses that were artistic in presentation. The wait staff gave us great detail on each portion, and between the six at our table we were somewhat successful at discerning what we were eating. Perfect portion sizes too!

After dinner, most of us retreated to the bar for some whisky. I sampled a more smoky variety this time - ok, but think I’ll stick to straight single malt going forward!

[projectoffice5487]

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[brookston]

Holidays 10.13

Holidays

Agricultural Workers’ Day (Russia)

Artist’s Day (Ukraine)

Astronomy Day

Azerbaijani Railway Day

Blame Someone Else Day

Bonn Phchum Ben (Ancestors’ Day; Cambodia)

Chuuk (Teachers’ Appreciation Day; Micronesia)

Clean the Crumbs Out of the Broiler Oven Day

Cold Turkey Day

Cultural Workers’ Day (Belarus)

Dashain Festival (Nepal)

Dia del Respeto a la Diversidad Cultural (Argentina)

Durga Puja (a.k.a. Dasain (Sikkim, India)

Dussehra (a.k.a. Durga Ashtami; Parts of India)

English Language Day (UK)

Festival of Unmediated Play

Fox Mulder Day (X-Files)

Geologic Map Day

Ghatasthapana (Nepal)

Global Fertilizer Day

Good Samaritan Day

The Great Memorial Day (Thailand)

International Cassette Store Day

International Civility for the Girl Child Day

International Day for Failure (a.k.a. National Failure Day)

International Day For Natural Disaster Reduction (UN)

international Day of Education in Prison

International EarthCache Day

International Plain Language Day

International Skeptics Day

International Suit Up Day

John Peel Day

Karva Chat (Himachal Pradesh, India) [Women’s Festival Only]

King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great Memorial Day (Thailand)

Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day

Military Hydrographer Day (Russia)

Modern Mythology Day

National Chess Day

National Erection Day

National Guinea Pig Day (Peru)

National Headband Day

National Herpes Awareness Day (Australia)

National No Excuse Day

National ‘That’s What She Said’ Day

National Transfer Money to Your Son Day

Navy Establishment Day

No Bra Day

Oilfield Prayer Day (Oklahoma)

Paramedics’ Day (Poland)

Peach Day (French Republic)

Prince Louis Rwagasore Day (Burundi)

Railway Employees Day (Azerbaijan)

Rwagasore Day (Burundi)

Silly Sayings Day

Swiftie Day

Tacksägelsdagen (Thanksgiving; Sweden)

Templars Day

Train Your Brain Day

Treat Yo’ Self Day

Vietnamese Entrepreneur’s Day (Vietnam)

Wan Tamruat (a.k.a. National Police Day; Thailand)

White House Day

Witches’ Festival (Elder Scrolls)

World Bank Action Day

World Cage Free Day

World Thrombosis Day

World Zombie Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

National M&M Day

National Peanut Day

National Pumpkin Day

Yorkshire Pudding Day

Independence & Related Days

None Known

2nd Sunday in October

Bokbierdag (National Bock Beer Day; The Netherlands) [ website ] [2nd Sunday]

Clergy Appreciation Day (a.k.a. Pastor Appreciation Day or Ministry Appreciation Day) [2nd Sunday]

Drink Local Wine Week begins [2nd Sunday]

Father-Daughter Day [2nd Sunday]

Good Thief Sunday [2nd Sunday]

Grandmother's Day (Florida; Germany) [2nd Sunday]

Grandparents’ Day (Hong Kong) [2nd Sunday]

Pastor Appreciation Day (a.k.a. Ministry Appreciation Day) [2nd Sunday]

Sandwich Sunday [2nd Sunday of Each Month]

Seven For Sunday [Every Sunday]

Shojo Festival (Narumi Hachimangu, Nagoya, Japan) [2nd Sunday]

Sleepy Sunday [2nd Sunday of Each Month]

Sundae Sunday [Every Sunday]

Sunday Funday [Every Sunday]

Survey Sunday [2nd Sunday of Each Month]

White Sunday (American & Western Samoa) [2nd Sunday]

World Day of Aunts & Uncles [2nd Sunday]

Weekly Holidays beginning October 13 (2nd Full Week of October)

Anti Poverty Week [Australia]

Drink Local Wine Week (thru 10.19) [2nd Full Week]

Earth Science Week (thru 10.19) [2nd Full Week]

Healthcare Security and Safety Week (thru 10.19) [2nd Full Week]

Improve Your Home Office Week (thru 10.19) [2nd Full Week]

Infection Control Week (thru 10.19) [3rd Week]

International Credit Union Week (thru 10.19) [Week of Int’l Credit Union Day]

International Infection Prevention (or Protection) Week (thru 10.19)

Meditation Week (thru 10.19) [3rd Week]

National Case Management Week (thru 10.19) [2nd Full Week]

National Chestnut Week (thru 10.19) [2nd Full Week]

National Food Bank Week (thru 10.19) [Week including 10.16]

National Lone Wolf Week (thru 10.19) [3rd Week]

National School Lunch Week (thru 10.19) [2nd Full Week]

National Veterinary Technician Week (thru 10.19) [3rd Week]

Nuclear Science Week (thru 10.19) [3rd Week]

Pet Peeve Week (thru 10.19) [2nd Full Week]

Teen Read Week (thru 10.19) [Week of Columbus Day]

YMCA With our Violence Week (thru 10.19) [3rd Week]

Festivals Beginning October 13, 2024

The Chocolate Expo (Manchester, New Hampshire)

Doi Taikomatsuri (Japan) [thru 10.15]

Dunellen HarvestFest (Dunellen, New Jersey)

Troy Chowderfest (Troy, New York)

Feast Days

Aequinoctium Autumnale VI (Pagan)

Alan Turing Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Alexandrina of Balasar (Christian; Blessed)

Allan Ramsay (Artology)

Arna Bontemps (Writerism)

Arrabiata Sauce Day (Pastafarian)

Campanella (Positivist; Saint)

Colman (Christian; Saint)

Conrad Richter (Writerism)

Daniel and companions, of Ceuta (Christian; Saints)

Edward the Confessor (Translation of the Relics Day)

Fautus, Januarius, and Martialis (Christian; Martyrs)

Fontanalia (a.k.a. Fontus; Old Roman God of Wells & Springs)

Gerald of Aurillac (Christian; Saint)

Herblock (Artology)

Maddalena Panattieri (Dominican Order of Preachers; Christian; Blessed)

Mariotto Albertinelli (Artology)

Miracle of the Sun

Moley the Mole (Muppetism)

Our Lady of Fatima (Roman Catholic)

Seven Friar Minors (Christian; Martyrs in Morocco)

Terry Frost (Artology)

Theophilus of Antioch (Christian; Saint)

Very Saucey Day (Pastafarian)

Walasse Ting (Artology)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Sensho (先勝 Japan) [Good luck in the morning, bad luck in the afternoon.]

Premieres

All About Eve (Film; 1950)

The Babysitter (Film; 2017)

Badlands (Film; 1973)

Batman: Death in the Family (WB Animated Film; 2020)

A Bear Called Paddington, by Michael Bond (Children’s Book; 1958)

Bee at the Beach (Disney Cartoon; 1950)

Billy Elliot (Film; 2000)

The Bon Bon Parade (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1935)

Code of the Samurai: A Modern Translation of the Bushido Shoshinshu of Taira Shigesuke, by Daidōji Yūzan (History Book; 1943)

Crimes and Misdemeanors (Film; 1989)

Fat Bottomed Girls/Bicycle Race, by Queen (Songs; 1978)

Fly with von Drake (Disney Animated TV Special; 1963)

The Foreigner (Film; 2017)

The Fowl Ball (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1930)

Goodbye Christopher Robin (Film; 2017)

Harvey (Film; 1950)

Hell House, by Richard Matheson (Novel; 1971)

The House of Mirth (Film; 2000)

Jane the Virgin (TV Series; 2014)

The Last Witch Hunter (Film; 2015)

Linda McCartney’s Sixties: Portrait of an Era, by Linda McCartney (Book; 1992)

Look Who’s Talking (Film; 1989)

The Nightmare Before Christmas (Animated Film; 1993)

…Nothing Like the Sun, by Sting (Album; 1987)

Riley’s First Date? (Pixar Cartoon; 2015)

The Rum Diary (Film; 2011)

The Scarlet Letter (Film; 1995)

The Seventh Seal (Film; 1958)

Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It), by Beyoncé (Song; 2008)

The Sultan’s Birthday (Mighty Mouse Cartoon; 1944)

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Concert Film; 2023)

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, by Edward Albee (Play; 1962)

Wide Sargasso Sea, by Jean Rhys (Novel; 1966)

Yankee Dood It (WB MM Cartoon; 1956)

, by Prince (Album; 1992)

Today’s Name Days

Eduard, Gerald (Austria)

Bogoljub, Eduard, Romul, Teofil (Croatia)

Renáta (Czech Republic)

Angelus (Denmark)

Ebba, Ebe, Epp (Estonia)

Taija, Taina, Tanja (Finland)

Géraud (France)

Andre, Eduard, Koloman (Germany)

Agathoniki, Chrysi, Florentia, Florentios, Karpos (Greece)

Ede, Kálmán (Hungary)

Benedetto, Edoardo (Italy)

Irma, Mirga (Latvia)

Eduardas, Edvardas, Mintaras, Nortautė, Venancijus (Lithuania)

Tarjei, Terje, Torgeir (Norway)

Daniel, Edward, Gerald, Geraldyna, Maurycy, Mikołaj, Siemisław, Teofil (Poland)

Agatodor, Agatonica, Andrei, Carp, Papil (Romania)

Koloman (Slovakia)

Eduardo, Fausto (Spain)

Berit, Birgit (Sweden)

Eddie, Eddy, Eduardo, Edward, Edwardine, Ned (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 287 of 2024; 79 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 7 of Week 41 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Gort (Ivy) [Day 15 of 28]

Chinese: Month 9 (Jia-Xu), Day 11 (Geng-Xu)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 11 Tishri 5785

Islamic: 9 Rabi II 1446

J Cal: 17 Orange; Threesday [17 of 30]

Julian: 30 September 2024

Moon: 80%: Waxing Gibbous

Positivist: 7 Descartes (11th Month) [St. Thomas Aquinas]

Runic Half Month: Gyfu (Gift) [Day 7 of 15]

Season: Autumn or Fall (Day 22 of 90)

Week: 2nd Full Week of October

Zodiac: Libra (Day 21 of 30)

[4stars-uswnt]

You Take My Heart Away [Kelley O’Hara x Reader]

requested by anon: Kelley O’Hara x reader where reader gets into a fist fight but she’s like I won’t throw the first punch bc I’ll finish it and like she gets teased by the team but Kelley is mad at reader for it bc R could’ve gotten hurt but it was still cool

requested by anon: Can we get another Kelley O’Hara x reader doesn’t have to be anything specific just maybe along the lines of them both being crazy and maybe oblivious

A/N: i decided to combine these two prompts! hope y’all enjoy it. also bonus points to anybody who gets the title reference (there’s a lil connection to a reference within the story)

warnings: homophobic and sexist language, violence, and swearing

Conversation was flowing and music was playing in the background of the bar, as the USWNT finished up their first round of drinks and appetizers. The team had pushed together a couple of tables, where you all were now sitting, laughing at each other’s jokes.

The air was light, victory and celebration filling the atmosphere. Megan and Ashlyn had been the ones to suggest a night out after your win against Japan, not only to celebrate the 2-0 victory but also to celebrate Lindsey’s birthday that was in the next couple of days.

You were currently sitting next to your best friend, Kelley O’Hara, bridging the gap between the veterans and the youngsters.

“Anybody want another drink?” Alex asks, pushing her chair back, as she moves to get up.

A chorus of yeses ring out, the team’s orders ringing out.

“I’ll help you with that, Al.” You stand up from your seat, giving the other woman a warm smile.

Once the two of you had left for the bar, the rest of the team began interrogating Kelley, who let her eyes follow you as you moved through the crowd.

“Kel,” Ash calls out over the noise of the music. “When are you gonna admit to (Y/N) that you’re hopelessly in love with her?”

“What?” Kelley sputters, flustered.

Megan rolls her eyes at the defender. “It’s so obvious that you’ve had a crush on her for the past like six years, and a blind person can see that she likes you too.”

“I- I’m not in love with (Y/N).” Kelley’s face flushes, as she rubs the back of her neck nervously. “She’s my best friend.”

“Kelley,” Christen softly chimes in,, hoping to talk some sense in her friend she’s known since college. “You guys obviously have feelings for each other that go beyond friendship, and you’ve been dancing around them for years. We just want you two to be happy.”

Many of the women nod and voice their agreement.

“But what if it ruins our friendship and I lose her forever?” The freckled defender bites her lip nervously.

“That’s not gonna happen.” Christen gives her a knowing look. “Even if she didn’t reciprocate those feelings, she’s not gonna cut you out of her life.”

“And Kel,” Tobin adds on. “You never know until you ask her. And who knows? The risk of putting your heart out there may be worth it. But you’re just gonna live in the dark haunted by the unknown and what ifs unless you tell her how you feel.”

“I hate that you’re philosophical insights are usually right,” Kelley huffs.

Meanwhile, as the team holds their intervention for your best friend, you and Alex were at the bar ordering another round of drinks.

As you were waiting for the bartender, you and Alex were engaged in your own conversation, when you hear a boisterous voice interrupt you.

“Hey! It’s Alex Morgan!” A large man approaches the two of you, holding a half-full cup of beer in his hand, and you have a feeling he’s downed a couple pints already.

You sense Alex tense up next to you, as she gives the stranger a tight smile. “Hello.”

“Oh, and who’s this?” He turns to you, a leering grin on his face, making your insides turn. You reach for Alex’s hand in search of comfort but also as a protective gesture.

“Is she your girlfriend?” The man looks back at the star forward. “I hear your entire team is full of d*kes, but I didn’t think you were one. You’re way too hot to be a d*ke.”

Alex’s grip on your hand tightens, as anger radiates off of her. “I’m actually happily married.” She raises her left hand to show off her ring.

“Woah.” The stranger lets out a low whistle, his eyes slowly widening before he squinting to get a better look, as his movements impaired by the alcohol. “That is quite the rock. How’d you afford that with your pay? I’ve heard all about your team’s fight for equal pay and all that. I personally think it’s a load of crap. You guys aren’t even that good at soccer, and it’s so boring. The only thing that makes your games interesting is your smoking hot bodies.”

You scrunch your nose in disgust at this man’s blatant misogyny. “I’m surprised you know about our equal pay fight. I’d think it’d be too complicated for your thick skull,” you quip, throwing the insult right in his face.

“Ooooo feisty, are we?” He raises his eyebrows at you. “And where do you get off calling me dumb?”

“I’m just calling them as I see them,” you simply state, letting go of Alex’s hand, as you move to stand in front of her protectively. “Where do you get off disrespecting women and being a bigot?”

“(Y/N/N), it’s not worth it,” Alex whispers in your ear.

“I’d listen to your friend,” the man sneers and stands up straighter, slightly sobering up. “Because I’m not afraid to hit a girl, especially a mouthy one like you. Women like you deserve to be put in your place.”

“Go on then,” you challenge, probably a stupid decision on your part, but the adrenaline is rushing and you are at your wits end with this man in front of you. “I dare you.”

You thank all the gods in the universe that the stupid stranger was actually stupid enough to try and throw a punch with his blood-alcohol level because you can see his punch coming from a mile away.

Before his fist can make contact with your face, you grab his hand and twist his arm, leaning in closely to his face. “Is that all you got? My mom hits better than you.” You smirk.

“Let go of me, you bitch,” he growls, snatching his arm out of your grasp.

“Wait, I have one more thing,” you call out.

“What the hell are you talk-”

Before he can finish, you cut him off, rather your fist cuts him off. The man in front of you had been testing your patience and had used up all your grace, which, in your opinion, warranted a punch in the face.

You can’t help but wince at the sharp pain shooting through your hand upon the contact, but the cracking sound of his nose eases some of your discomfort.

By now, the rest of the team had become worried by your prolonged absence and then had noticed the commotion this stranger was stirring. Hearing the raised voices coming from your direction, many of the veterans, including Kelley, Christen, Tobin, Ash, Ali, and Megan, made their way over to where Alex was currently holding you back from unleashing your anger on this drunk man.

“What is going on here?” Becky asks, surveying the situation in front of her.

“This asshole was insulting Al and then had the audacity to continue being a sexist pig,” you spit out, directing your words at the man, who was still holding his bloody nose, while Alex was doing her best to keep you under wraps.

“I think it’s time for you to go,” Ashlyn states firmly.

As the goalie, along with Becky, Megan, and Ali, coax the stranger into leaving you alone, and hopefully leaving the club, Alex, Christen, Tobin, and Kelley try and calm you down.

“(Y/N/N),” Christen soothes, cupping your face. “I need you to calm down. Take a deep breath.” The curly-haired forward inhales and exhales, motioning for you to mimic her actions.

You take a deep breath, and upon exhaling, you feel the tension, along with the adrenaline, leave your body.

“Shit,” you sigh. “My hand.”

You lift your right hand, revealing your split knuckles on which bruises were starting to form.

“Come on, Sylvester.” Tobin claps your shoulder, letting out an amused chuckle. “Let’s get you back to the hotel, and on the way, you can tell us all about your heroics.”

You amusedly roll your eyes and lean into the other woman’s side.

As the team gathers their things, ready to call it a night after the turn of events, Megan approaches you, holding out a bag of ice.

“Here, (Y/N), the bartender gave me this for your hand.”

“Thanks, P.” You place the cool ice on your knuckles, hissing at the temperature shock.

On the way back to the hotel, many of your teammates were interrogating you about what had happened back at the bar. After telling the entire story, you received many hoots and hollers from the rest of the team.

“Damn (Y/N)!” Ash whistles. “Remind me never to get on your bad side.”

“Way to protect our honor,” Rose gushes, as many of the women nod along.

“Thank you, (Y/N), for defending me,” Alex says sincerely.

“Of course, Al. Anytime.” You give the forward a warm smile.

“Who knew (Y/N) could be such a badass?!” Emily exclaims with an impressed look on her face. “Kel, did you know that your best friend was a secret badass?”

While the rest of the girls had been teasing you about your heroic actions, your best friend had been oddly quiet.

“News to me.” Kelley answers shortly, her face hard and distant. You furrow your eyebrows in confusion, wondering if the defender was mad at you. You thought she would’ve been proud of you for standing up for the team and putting a sexist douchebag in his place.

Before going back to entertaining your teammates’s jokes and questions, you make a mental note to talk to her once you get back to the hotel, silently thanking Vlatko for rooming the two of you together this camp.

You would never in a million years admit it, but you were harboring a huge crush for your best friend, had been for the past six years, ever since you’d joined the national team. Not only did you not want to ruin your friendship and end up losing Kelley, but you knew she would never return your feelings.

Over the past several years that you’d been friends with the defender, you’d seen Kelley go in and out of relationships, and comparing yourself to her other girlfriend’s, you had a feeling you weren’t her type.

You also had reservations due to the fact that Kelley was your teammate, and you didn’t want to change the team dynamic, especially if the two of you didn’t work out.

Thoughts of Kelley clouded your mind all the way back to the hotel, only further exacerbated by her deafening silence.

Upon arriving to the hotel lobby, before you all disperse to your rooms, Alex gives you another hug and thanks you again, and Becky, ever the mother of the group, gives you a warning.

“Make sure to ice on and off. 20 minutes. You know the drill, (Y/L/N). Kelley, make sure she takes care of that hand.”

“Don’t worry about me, Becks. I got it,” you reassure the veteran defender, giving her a mock salute.

Following Kelley, you cautiously enter the hotel room. You nervously watch the other women move around the room, as she silently goes about her usual nighttime routine. Taking the hint that she wasn’t going to talk to you anytime soon, you go about your own routine and get ready for bed.

After about twenty minutes later, after both of you had showered, you were finishing wrapping your hand and were about to get into bed, when you noticed Kelley discretely staring at your bandaged hand.

Unable to tolerate the silence anymore, you break the tension. “Okay, what is up with you?”

“Hm? What do you mean?”

“Kel,” you sigh, plopping down on the side of her bed. “You’ve been giving me the cold shoulder ever since what happened at the bar. Are you mad at me?”

“Nope. Not mad,” Kelley hums slightly passive aggressively, still not looking up from her book.

You roll your eyes, frustrated by your best friend’s childish behavior. “Kelley, I know when you’re lying, and I know that you’re mad at me right now, so would you please just look at me?!”

Sensing the exasperation and frustration in your voice, Kelley closes and sets down her book. “Fine, you’re right. I am mad at you.”

You thought you’d feel relieved, hearing her confirm your suspicions, but instead, the pressure in your chest increases.

“Why? What did I do?” You practically beg, scooting up the bed, so you’re closer to the other woman.

“As if you don’t know,” she scoffs.

Confused, you tilt your head. “I clearly don’t. Kel, please talk to me, tell me what I did.”

“You literally punched a dude in the face!”

“Yeah, but he deserved it, Kel! You heard the things he was saying,” you defend. “I couldn’t just let him get away with talking about our team like that. I thought you’d be proud of me for standing up to a sexist asshole like him.”

“I am proud, sort of. I mean that was completely badass and totally warranted, not that I necessarily expected that from you, and I’m glad you put him in his place,” Kelley babbles. “But that’s not the point, (Y/N/N). You were reckless tonight. You could’ve gotten hurt!”

Your face softens at her outburst. Taking a deep breath, Kelley confesses, “I love you, (Y/N). I’m in love with you, and I just can’t stand the idea of you getting hurt, especially by some drunk idiot who doesn’t know shit about football or respecting women.”

Your eyes widen and your heart practically stop, when you process the words that have come out of your best friend’s mouth.

“(Y/N), please say something,” Kelley begs.

“You’re in love with me?” You test the words on your mouth.

“Yeah,” she sighs contently, giving you a soft smile. “Have been for the past eight years.”

“Gosh, we really are idiots.” You let out a wet chuckle, shaking your head.

“What?”

“I’m in love with you, too, Kel,” you rasped, your voice laced with pure emotion. “I’ve loved you since my first camp.”

“Wow,” Kelley scoffs, an amused grin playing on her face. “Are we really that oblivious?”

“Apparently so.” You shrug. “But we’re here now.”

“Yeah, we are.” The freckled woman softens. “Can I kiss you?”

You nod eagerly, leaning in to meat the other woman’s lips. The kiss is nothing like you’d dreamed of; it’s better. It’s soft and tender, full of love and passion. You melt into each other, as your lips move together in harmony.

Not wanting things to get too heated, especially not before you’ve talked about what this meant for the future of your relationship, you pull away, resting your forehead against hers.

“Hi,” you whisper, smiling like a fool.

“Hey,” Kelley murmurs softly, returning your smile.

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.” She takes your hand, kissing your wrapped knuckles. “But please don’t be getting into any more bar fights.”

“Hey! I would never start a fight, however I have no problem finishing them.” You smirk, boasting slightly triumphantly.

Kelley rolls her eyes playfully, but then looks into your eyes. “I mean it, (Y/N). I can’t stand the idea of you getting hurt. So no more fights alright?”

“I promise, Kel.” You give her a chaste kiss.

“Good.”

That night, you stay in Kelley’s bed, cuddling into her side. As you slowly drift into a peaceful sleep, you notice the woman next to you is already fast asleep.

You sigh contently, and you can’t help but feel extremely lucky that even after all these years, and everything that’s happened, life still led you to this woman and a love worth fighting for.