#OC: Trend Austin

[takaraphoenix]

Donny + Trend for an ask? (You decide which ask I just think they have cute dynamic in Drunken Dare)

Okay, this is one I can't answer. For one, because it has been so long since I last did an ask game (because asks have come less and less frequent and it became a bit of a bummer to reblog those games and not receive any asks tbh), and I'm not digging an old one out now xD"

So! I'll give you a random, new headcanon. Since you asked about a Trend/Donny kid, I'll give you one!

The di Angelo family name carries so much meaning and legacy in this world that the kid (and Trend) would take it. So, in a similar manner as Jackson di Angelo, they would name their son Austin Michael di Angelo, middle name honoring Trend's dad.

A legacy of Poseidon and Athena, a strategist to boot, but especially in the department of marine warfare. ;D

[indecentpause]

OC Popularity Poll

tagged by @revenantlore to make an oc poll!

Rules: Make a poll with five of your all time favorite characters and then tag five people to do the same. See which character is everyone's favorite! [following the writeblr trend of naming five of my ocs across different wips]

these are all secondary characters from The Black & Blues! Meara and Josselin would be too easy, so here are some others:

You can read it on Ao3 here!

tagging @oh-no-another-idea @reininginthefirewriting @magic-is-something-we-create @albatris

@abalonetea and anyone else who wants to to make polls too!

[mamasturn]

— is it a crime? | I.

pairing: austin butler inspired male oc x kat graham inspired fem oc (calisto and alcacia) summary: it’s been some time since calisto and alcacia have spoken. even with the distance between them and the ongoing heartache she felt at the hands of the man she loved, she can’t seem to let him go. warnings: toxic relationship. emotional manipulation. nsfw themes (no smut though). alcohol consumption.language. potential tag list (these people tend to interact the most. let me know if you want to be added/removed): @neeville @dulcewrites @crash-and-cure @cvpidspearl @blackwriter48 @wonderprince @venus2eros @adoreyouusugar @sunshinetoday1 @cosmic-parker @wacoshuffle @kaitaesupremacy

November was once her favorite month. The leaves were long off strong branches of mighty oak trees. They were found on the soles of her expensive fur-lined boots. The warm weather had chilled, and shorts and skirts were replaced by thick leggings and sweatpants. Iced coffee was replaced by hot teas and cocoas. Family gatherings increased. It was the beginning of the holiday season. 

This time around, life was different. The tensions between families increased by the actions of one. The heart of a woman mimicked the battered one of a man. All parties suffered in the end. 

Her naivety was her downfall, she came to realize after months of introspection and reflection. Her inability to detach was the weapon that beat her into submission until she could take it no longer. Until he lassoed her heart like a runaway animal and flung it against the wall with no mercy. She wondered where’d it gone.

What once was her favorite month became the one she dreaded the most. She had to pick herself off the floor in her darkened bathroom, scrub away the dirty behind the mask, and pick out another to wear to the occasion. Their families were to meet again for the first time in months. She did not look forward to it. 

Her ragged nighttime attire was replaced by all black--a color she’d been fond of as of late. A black dress that stopped just below her knees with black stiletto heels to accompany it. Originally, she felt maybe a splash of color would keep her outfit from looking so dim, but she internally insisted a black trend coat over a red one would suffice. 

She styled her hair differently. It no longer swept her shoulder blades with every turn of her head. No, it sat at her collarbone. A part on the right side and feathered bangs covered the darkness rims of her once bright eyes. Lipstick that was once a blush pink was darkened with red to make a maroon tint. 

Her vehicle of choice was dark and discreet just as she’d come to be, yet it sped down the residential streets like a bat out of hell. 

There was an uneasiness that settled within the pit of her stomach the closer she got to her destination. It felt like hatred, disgust, self-pity, and desire. A desire to not only burn the house to ashes, but to have the life she desired with the man whom it belonged to. 

A loud beep came from her car once she slammed the driver’s door closed. One large breath after another, one foot after the previous, she walked toward the large doors of his home. The wooden trim around the door was familiar. A contrast to the darkness of the remaining. 

She was greeted by the squeals and hugs of her family members and his alike; all clamoring about her distance from gatherings and her ignorance of phone calls and texts messages. 

“I’ve just been handling some personal things,” she said with a tight-lipped smile and curt nod. All that witnessed were more than aware of the personal thing. And it became extremely evident when her breathing hastened once his presence entered the room. 

She sat at the end of the table that would put her farthest from him. Physically, she couldn’t stand to be in his presence. Mentally and emotionally, she would die for the opportunity to be trapped beneath his body, chest against hers, just one more time. 

It was foolish, she understood. To be so deeply wrapped up and entangled by the bounds of a man who didn’t want a thing to do with her. How unfortunate. She scoffed to herself and bit into a piece of broccoli. 

The conversations around her revolved around new business ventures, partnerships with dealers in the area, vacations, and everything of the like. All things that could put Alcacia to sleep. She wasn’t one to talk about her business, either. 

“Alcacia, how’s business?” His mother, Diane, spoke up after recognizing her silence. Her hazel eyes met the blue hues of Diane’s, and with a small chuckle insisted, “All is well.” No one needed to know she was the highest earning connect in the city. It was something she’d keep to herself. Too much knowledge of one’s life was an opportunity for people to sneak in and plot to destroy it. 

“And with overseas ventures?” His voice was different than she had known it to be. She’d heard it transition since childhood. From squeaky clean innocence to sensual seduction. Now, it was rough and rugged like worn leather. Warm like Tennessee Whisky. Alcacia’s jaw clenched and fingers gripped her wine glass. The deep hue of her nails was a contrast to the silver goblet. She wondered if it was easily breakable.

“Fine.” She took a large swig. 

“Just fine?” He prodded. 

“Just fine.” She repeated through gritted teeth. “If you’ll excuse me.” Alcacia knocked back the remainder of her beverage and started toward the bathroom. Her legs led her there without much thought. She’d remember no matter how hard she fought to forget. 

The bathroom was the same. Dark in color but coated in class and luxury. The hand towels were a crisp gray and the walls looked to have been touched up since she’d been pressed against them the last time. A familiar scent of cherry blossom and vanilla. But it was soon overpowered by a husky smell that was engraved in her sensorial memory. 

Through the mirror, she saw the cracked door. Behind it, a shadow moved. The door crept open and a body slid past. It was all too familiar. Trapped in a quaint hallway bathroom with a brooding presence suffocating her so good she couldn’t help but whimper at the memories that she fought ruthlessly to forget. 

“Caci…” 

“You do not get to call me that,” she said sharply. “You lost that privilege a long time ago.” She backed as far away as she could. Against the wall where the hand towels sat folded neatly against the sleek, black bar. Her hair was caught in the cotton fabric. 

“I just needed a minute. You can leave.” Her gaze was on his black boots. They needed to be replaced, she thought. Scuffed along the sides and the soles were beginning to lower. 

“I just--I wanted to make sure you were okay.” Her eyes cut to his and her nostrils flared. The audacity. Had he wanted to make sure she was okay when he tossed her out of his home like hot garbage? When he embarrassed her the evening of the last family dinner? Or when she failed to appear for months at a time all because of his own actions. 

Alcacia scoffed. “To hell with you, Calisto. You weren’t worried about me until I didn’t come crawling back to you like I did before. I wasn’t a topic of concern when you treated me like one of your whores, so why am I an area of concern now? You should be ashamed of yourself for the way you treated a woman who loves you.”

Loves. The present tense. It didn’t go through deaf ears. He understood the difference. Calisto took a step toward her. She took one backward. Her back was against the wall and her chest heaved. He couldn’t trap her like this again. She’d be a puddle at his feet. 

The leather of his jacket creaked with the swing of his arm. His extended hand reached for her. He came close, fingertips grazing her wrist. Just as he’d done months before when he pinned her hands above her head and loved her into oblivion. Normally, she’d melt into his touch, and deep down, she wanted to. However, there was a principal he failed to understand--hurt people hurt people and it would take more than false niceties and puppy-dog eyes to repair the damaged that was caused by his own hand. 

“I was wrong, and I’m sorry.” Sounded rehearsed, she thought to herself. Not remotely genuine or sincere. The young woman scoffed and dropped her hand. She pushed herself off the wall and straightened herself. Her shoulders pulled back and a force tilted her chin up.

“Don’t.” Alcacia commanded. Her voice was low and it shook, but she was serious. “You’ll have to do more than that to even think about ever repairing the damage you caused. Goodnight, Calisto.”

She’d be a fool to say she didn’t want to fall into his arms, forgive him of his trespasses, and allow him to suffocate her in love and adoration. But, if he’d fooled her like a joker once before, who was to say he wouldn’t do it again? Once before his actions showed how he dishonored her and treated her as a footstool, and if he wanted to prove himself worthy of her, it would take more than words to change her mind.

[ur-mag]

Watch Selling the OC's Jarvis and Austin Feud Over 'Swinger' Comment | In Trend Today

Watch Selling the OC’s Jarvis and Austin Feud Over ‘Swinger’ Comment Read Full Text or Full Article on MAG NEWS

[viraltiger]

[OC] Franklin BBQ in Austin - See more viral images on ViralTiger.org

[thecollegefootballguy]

2021 Big 12 Coaching Power Rankings

Time to put out the Coaching Power Rankings before the season starts. They show where each head man stands in relation to his peers, and it usually is a good barometer on the health of the program itself.

Let’s see where each coach stands.

The rankings from last year can be found here.

-

It’s a bit weird talking about the Big 12 without addressing the elephant in the room. Yeah Oklahoma and Texas are leaving, but they’re gonna be in the conference for the next few years.

The league itself replaced two coaches in the offseason. Kansas decided to pull the plug on the Les Miles experiment a bit early after things on the field and in the administration went really south. Texas decided to move on from Tom Herman after the Longhorns failed to challenge for the league title. Where do their replacements stack up?

-

10. Dave Aranda

Record at Baylor: 2-7

Baylor lost a ton of talent from Matt Rhule’s 2019 squad but it still wasn’t an inspiring start to the Dave Aranda era. I know it takes time to build so we’ll just see how things go in year 2 to get a better idea where the program is going.

-

9. Steve Sarkisian

Overall Record: 46-35

Movement: N/A

Welcome to the Big 12, Steve Sarkisian. It has been an interesting road to get here but the former USC head coach and Alabama OC is now in charge in Austin. Will he be able to bring Texas back? Time will tell. What I do know is he rebuilt Washington back from horrific to good in his time in Seattle. His USC tenure was controversial to say the least, but he brings in a lot of momentum as the coordinator of a national champion offense.

-

8. Matt Wells

Record at Texas Tech: 8-14 Overall Record: 52-48

Movement: Up 1 Spot

Moving up one spot when two coaches ahead of you were fired isn’t really a huge achievement. I’m not sure things are looking great for Matt Wells in his short time at Texas Tech. The Red Raiders have shown an anemic offense so far and that kind of thing doesn’t fly in Lubbock. I hope Tech improves in year three or this seat is going to be very hot.

-

7. Neal Brown

Record at West Virginia: 11-11 Overall Record: 46-27

Movement: Up 1 spot

Neal Brown seems to be having West Virginia moving in the right direction. It will still likely take time for WVU to be able to consistently compete with the top flight of the league, but Brown seems to have reestablished a solid foundation for the Mountaineers.

-

6. Chris Klieman

Record at Kansas State: 12-11 Overall Record: 84-24

Movement: Down 1 spot

Kansas State disappointed in year 2 of the Chris Klieman era, regressing from an 8-5 record to 4-6. Still, the season featured another upset win over Oklahoma. It was a mixed bag to be sure, but I think K-State fans still believe things are trending up under Klieman.

-

5. Lance Leipold

Overall Record: 146-39

Movement: N/A

Kansas hired the guy that turned around Buffalo. Sounds familiar, but I think there’s reason to believe in Lance Leipold. He turned the Bulls into a war machine, and if he can get the Jayhawks on the same program it could finally reverse the horrific losing malaise that has plagued this program for over 10 years. It will take time for Leipold to turn things around, if he’s even up to the job. I hope they give him the time he needs to turn things around.

-

4. Matt Campbell

Record at Iowa State: 35-28 Overall Record: 70-43

Movement: Up 3 spots

Matt Campbell is quickly turning into one of the most promising young stars in the coaching world. Campbell nearly did the impossible, leading Iowa State to a conference title. The Cyclones would’ve been able to claim the championship if they didn’t have to face Oklahoma in the championship game despite beating the Sooners in the regular season. Campbell seems to be sticking around for now, which is great for the Cyclones as long as they can keep him.

-

3. Mike Gundy

Record at Oklahoma State: 137-67 Conference Championships: 1 (2011)

Movement: Up 1 spot

Oklahoma State seems to have fallen into a bit of a funk in the past few years. The Cowboys are reliably good, but never great. I don’t think they are happy with this in the long term but for now Mike Gundy still seems to have the confidence of the administration in Stillwater. And why shouldn’t he have their confidence? He’s the architect of the longest winning period in team history so we know he’s got the understanding to keep them competitive. Idk maybe win Bedlam one of these years, that’ll get you back into the top flight of league competition.

-

-

2. Gary Patterson

Record at TCU: 178-74 Conference Championships: 6 (2002, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014)

Movement: Same

Gary Patterson is one of the best coaches in the Big 12. He’s the second longest tenured coach in FBS football and a living legend. The Horned Frogs haven’t competed for the league title since 2017, but I don’t things are trending that far south. Texas Christian is gonna give the man as much time as he wants to try to get things back up and running again.

1. Lincoln Riley

Record at Oklahoma: 45-8 Conference Championships: 4 (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)

Movement: Same

Lincoln Riley and Oklahoma run the Big 12. The Sooners have won their sixth consecutive conference championship and show no signs of slowing down. Riley is clearly one of the great offensive minds in the sport and the guy already has a lifetime contract as far as I’m concerned.

[lucidpantone]

The Wtfock writing team seems ill equipped to produce a transformative piece of tv abt a B(oy)OC. My observations are based on their output& the audience they've inherited and attracted as a result of their output. i can't see any drastic measures being taken to improve. But! i'm ofc not apart of the cast or crew, maybe this very contentious moment in history will be significant for the show too? Maybe it'll initiate more research for s4 and encourage them to reevaluate many things goin forward?

Anon,I have written alot on this topic in previous anons as you are not the first to highlight some of the viewership issues so let me refer you to these past anon’s.

1. Viewership & Audience Reception for a Moyo S5 2. Skam +remakes writers room diversification 3. Palpability of a Moyo season considering wtfock decision to make him the “ignorant” (homophobic) friend.

However you brought up the current times. When I wrote my past anons they were pre-BLM (see I’ave been repping moyo s5 for a long time his story isn’t a trend for me). I am 100% sure that Wtfock (+ remakes) are aware that no SKAM has ever main-d a MOC. If you count it up thats 30+ seasons of Skams (including wtfock s4, SkamES s4, Druck s5 since its confirmed these will be female mains) and no one has been brave enough to put a MOC front and center. Skam was founded on the ideals thats its a show for all teenagers to explore their insecurities and life experience but looking at where Skams stand now. Is it a show for all teenagers? That tells all teenage stories? I mean Skam Austin was finally going to give us a non-white Isak and at that point we were 6 remakes deep(Druck did give us our 1st non white Even). You bring up the cast and crew and I think you hit the nail on the head. If Wtfock wants to go into uncharted territory they need to do it as a unit. Hire poc to co-write the season, bring on consultants on issues about race dynamics in Belgium and research the medical stats concerning MI in the black Belgium community. The crew knows as we do that they will have very little room to mess this up. If they do they will be called every racist term under the sun but if they pull it off it could be incredibly moving. In this current environment production companies are dying for textured stories about MOC but producers know (Am talking to you Rutgers) that you gotta be brave to tell a story like this. You need to invest in diversifying your pov as a cast/crew to be able to tackle these topics but I can assure you from how the cast has been liking and retweeting Noa’s post concerning police brutality in Belgium and marching in Brussels that I believe they would be up for the task. Am going to close this anon with a fun fact: Jordan Peele once said about making the movie Get Out “I thought it was impossible, I thought it wasn’t going to work, I thought no one would ever make this movie” well thank god Jordan took a leap of faith and made Get Out because he ended up winning an Academy award for it. People sometimes don’t know they need to see something until you show them.

[what-if-rpg]

Welcome to the family, LYNN! Your application to CHRISTOPHER WALKER was accepted. I am really happy to have you around! Make sure to read the beginners checklist, and remember, have fun! I can’t wait to roleplay with you! Have fun!

IN CHARACTER

CHARACTER NAME: Christopher Robert Walker CHARACTER AGE & DATE OF BIRTH: 28, August 17th, 1991. OCCUPATION: Model FACE CLAIM: Austin Butler HOMETOWN & CITY WHERE LIVES NOW: Cleveland, Ohio & New York City, New York SEXUAL ORIENTATION & GENDER: Bisexual & Male RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Single. POSITIVE TRAITS: humorous, energetic, optimist. NEGATIVE TRAITS: materialistic, vain, trusting. CHARACTER QUOTE/LYRIC: When a person is in fashion, all they do is right ANYTHING ELSE?: not that I can think of! SECONDARY CHARACTER CHOICE: I’ll take almost any other oc to start with!

HEADCANONS

Christopher has always been used to his picture being taken. His mother used to joke that people just found him super photogenic, but it was the truth: for whatever reason, he didn’t often take a bad photo (though he promises, there are still enough awful ones that he feels the need to track down and burn) and maybe this is why the blond has his vain points, but it’s also what slowly seemed to put him on the track he’s on today.

Possibly a product of his vain tendency, the hyperawareness of his own appearance, Christopher did get into clothes and fashion fairly young. He often got mocked for it when he was a kid, so he didn’t often bring it up outside his family or friend group. However, he never let this fact take his interest away from him, and he would do his best to at least be aware of the latest trends of what he found fashionable.

By his senior year, as he made through the year with his solid C if he were being honest to B - at best average, Christopher knew what he wanted to do, and it  was either heading to New York City or Los Angeles and try to break into the modeling word. Despite his parents telling him that it wasn’t going to be easy, and that it wasn’t too late to pick his grades up at try for a school where he could at least study fashion, Christopher had his heart set on what he wanted. So, not long after graduation, he packed up his stuff and set his sights on New York, determined and sure he could make it work.

When he got to New York, it wasn’t easy by a long shot. He found a cheap apartment with some random guy he probably shouldn’t totally have trusted, and set straight to work to get signed. It was only when he realized that the money he had shown up with wasn’t going to cover past two months rent and allow him to eat that he figured out working nights as a barback for money wouldn’t be a bad idea. He also found his too trusting nature to be his downfall when he fell for more than a few scams that nearly got him kicked out. But finally, by 22, Christopher finally got signed by a small but real model agency, and while he might not be walking New York Fashion week even now, 6 years later, he’s getting enough bookings to put him in a better apartment and, as long as we keep working weekend nights somewhere, eat maybe twice a day.

CONNECTIONS

MR & MRS WALKER: Christopher has always loved his parents, though they have the usual parent/kid issues: they worry too much about him out there, they have the fear in the back of their minds that he’s going to fall in a trap of trusting the wrong people, and remind him that it’s not too late for a backup plan. He feels slightly smothered and isn’t totally sure they really believe he knows he’s doing what’s best, but he loves them nonetheless. JAYDEN, LUCAS, AND STELLA WALKER: He’s always felt like he could talk to his brothers and sister, and though he is the youngest of the family, he never once felt like they babied him. He calls at least one of them once a day, maybe two if their schedules work out. He keeps promising Stella he’ll visit her in LA once he has enough money, and that she always has the couch in his apartment when she’s out east. HANNAH WALKER: There’s not much to say for Hannah; Christopher truly likes her a lot, any interaction being good, and he believes she’s good for his brother. BRITTANY AND STEPHANIE: Understandably being family who live not too far, the Walkers and Pierce’s have always been fairly close enough, in the sense it’s easy to visit each other for Thanksgiving and there have been times their schools have played each other in games, and now and then Christopher has seen Brittany at games. He’s always liked both his cousins, and hopes that when he finally visits Stella, he can swing by his cousin Brittany’s to say hello.

[eurekakinginc]

"[OC] Austin, Texas Transportation Trends Since the Pandemic and Winter Storm 🛴✈🚗"- Caption by Charlie2343 - Detail: https://ift.tt/2OdYRbh. Filed Under: 1,000 ways to visualize Data. Curated by: www.eurekaking.com

[takaraphoenix]

I wanna know, if Derek died because Erotes didnt help him or the crew didnt meet Erotes, what would happen in Chasingverse if Derek still stays dead?

Oh, fairly sure Sam would have used Donny's underworldly connections and shadow-travel to get to the underworld and get Derek back. There was no universe in which he would have just stayed dead. Either Sam, or Trend, because Sam was too devastated to think clearly and come to this conclusion.

[geneticandunattainable]

I hope the next ten songs help to ensure the diversity of this year’s list, but lord knows there’s even more to come.  This chunk is home to indie folk, hip hop/R&B, Icelandic rock (with a distinctly American sound), and several electro-pop tracks.  I hope the 20 tracks you’ve seen at this point continue to confound and delight, with plenty of new songs you’ve never had the opportunity to hear.

40. Honeysuckle – “It’s Getting Late”

Boston produces yet another independent folk group – this one a trio, with outstanding three-part harmonies to boot. Comprised of Holly McGarry, Benjamin Burns, and Chris Bloniarz, Honeysuckle performed at Newport Folk Festival in 2015 and continues to tour New England in support of other folk acts.  This track specifically grabs you straight from the start with the warm banjo; the charm offensive continues with multiple instances of highlighting the harmonies, instrumentation, and arrangement, with lyrics focusing on the nature of time and change.   Their profile continues to grow with attention from NPR, among other publications, so keep your ears open for future success. 

39. Tep No – “Me and My Guitar”

Not much is known about producer Tep No besides the fact that he briefly sought an acting career in LA before moving back to his native Canada.  Now based in Toronto, his music typically blends several genres, utilizing electronic sounds with pop sensibilities and fusing melodies with otherworldly synth beats. The vocals on this track are practically spoken word, delivered over a swirling mix of looped chants, samples, and – you guessed it – guitar.  The result is an outstanding choice for any low-key summer mix you have planned for a few months from now.  This song is so great, it wouldn’t be out of place on a new season of The OC; those of you who know me personally realize the weight of that statement. 

38. Hayley Kiyoko – “Gravel to Tempo”

I almost feel embarrassed to love this song as much as I do, and initially placed it higher on the list before finding stronger tracks.  I had never heard of Hayley Kiyoko before this song, but it turns out she has a DCOM (Disney Channel Original Movie for those of you past puberty), CSI spin off, and ABC Family Freeform show under her belt already.  The Japanese-American actress and singer dropped this gem in late summer, with slick production that doesn’t feel heavy handed.  The track utilizes more electro-pop sounds with Kiyoko’s breathy vocals to highlight the insecurity everyone feels at different points in their lives.  She channels teenage angst in a way that feels validating; a standout line being “I thought I was depressed/But I think I just needed to cry.”  Regardless of how other people talk about her, Kiyoko is determined to do things her way, sporting a middle finger to the world. Given the grief we all faced in 2016, it was a message that felt particularly appropriate.  

37. Brian Fallon – “Nobody Wins”

The Gaslight Anthem’s lead vocalist decided to work on a solo album during a recent hiatus from the band.  This classic return to American anthems shows his time off was time well spent.  His signature raspy vocals carry a buoyant and bouncing song with a surprisingly dark subject of acceptance after death. The guitar strums and steady backing rhythm sound straight out of a John Cougar Mellencamp album in the 80s, complete with the unexpected lyrical content.  What shouldn’t be surprising after listening to the track is that he recorded it in Nashville with the help of producer Butch Walker, who co-wrote the song and also played guitar for the entire album.  This song is a welcome blast from the past from an artist who hopefully has a bright future.

36. Ben Abraham – “I Belong to You”

"I Belong to You” is a love song for the ages from Melbourne-based singer/songwriter Ben Abraham.  There is something absurdly charming about the fact that his Australian accent is front and center in his singing voice, which CMJ described as “delicate yet booming.”  His parents are Indonesian folk stars, which may have influenced his own style, integrating harmonies and poignant arrangements.  “I Belong to You” is yet another song that makes it difficult to listen along without tapping your foot, incorporating a lilting guitar, a xylophone, and even hand snaps to woo the audience.  It certainly doesn’t hurt that this wonder from Down Under is rakishly handsome.  There’s little not to like here, as this burst of sunshine will leave you smiling all day. 

35. Solange feat. Q-Tip – “Borderline (An Ode to Self-Care)”

A Seat at the Table is an outstanding album from a consistently strong artist who just so happens to be sisters with Beyoncé.  Her song “Losing You” placed fourth on my list for 2012, and while “Borderline” doesn’t quite match that track, it’s still incredible in its own right.  Solange makes allusions to Aaliyah and A Tribe Called Quest, with Q-Tip working multiple levels of production.  The song itself is an interpolation of “Electric Relaxation,” a gem from the group back in 1993.  Aaliyah comes through when Solange references the 2001 hit “More Than a Woman” near the end of the song.  “Borderline,” though, is so much more than its musical references; it’s a track that directly addresses police brutality against black Americans.  The political track reminds its listeners that it’s okay to temporarily ignore the violence in an attempt to stay sane.  As Solange told W magazine, “To be able to get up and tell my child to have a wonderful day and know that he’ll be protected and nurtured and loved and treated like an equal contributor to society, I sometimes have to choose to not look.”

34. Kaleo – “Way Down We Go”

Icelandic rock band Kaleo has been bubbling under since 2012, but finally achieved moderate success with “Way Down We Go” in 2016.   It’s been used on myriad television shows, and most recently popped up in trailers for The Good Fight and Logan.  The four members of the band grew up in Mosfellsbær, near Reykjavík, but are now based in Austin. The blend of blues and rock are a strong production choice, with hard-hitting drums, strong guitars, ubiquitous reverb, and haunting looped vocals all working to make the song one you can’t forget.   The chorus alone will be stuck in your head for days, making this a solid choice for playlists in the year to come.

33. Chance the Rapper – “Blessings”

Chance had a huge year, breaking out into the mainstream to unprecedented success - especially without a label - in no small part due to his legendary verse on Kanye’s “Ultralight Beams.”  It’s fitting then, that the arguable highlight of his Grammy-nominated (and history making) mixtape.  As an avowed atheist, I can contend you don’t need to feel particularly pious to enjoy the conviction of Chance and vocalist Jamila Woods, who has collaborated with him in the past. Pitchfork agreed, noting it as "one of the strongest rap albums released this year, an uplifting mix of spiritual and grounded that even an atheist can catch the Spirit to.”  The keyboard is strong throughout, invoking a soulful church service only augmented by the improvisations from Donnie Trumpet.  The laid-back vibe of the track seems to personify Chance’s illustrious grin, with the end product more a profession of faith than a prayer.

32. The Head and the Heart – “All We Ever Knew”

With every album this sextet releases, one can note an upward trend of rising confidence. The group originally formed in Seattle, but the bulk of this album was written in Los Angeles - Montecito Heights, to be specific.  Previous albums had the group compared to the Avett Brothers and Fleet Foxes, but the production on their third signaled a clear direction change, and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros wouldn’t be completely off base as a point of reference.  However, this song is in its own world for the band in regards to its success, topping two separate alternative charts on Billboard.  Starting with a simple vocal and piano, the song builds to an explosion of noise within the first fifty seconds.  The consistent build of instrumentation and playful tone are such a joy to hear. They’re truly firing on all cylinders at this point, and I cannot wait to see what they have in store for us next.

31. Banks – “Trainwreck”

Here’s a thought guys – respect the women in your life.  I’d hate to be on the other end of a song like “Trainwreck,” apparently penned as a kiss-off by Banks to “a guy I never wanted to kiss.”  The doom-filled beats and almost trap texture on display here is a newer sound for Banks, who previously appeared on my 2014 list. Taylor Swift doesn’t have shit on her lyrics, though, with lines like “It’s quite depressing, there is no fixing to the problem when you’re talking to an idiot,” and a chorus that simply repeats “I had to get away” over and over again.  The entire aesthetic here is glamour noir, leaning into the darkness without ever sacrificing an ounce of the snarly pop that’s become her signature sound.  “Trainwreck” is a clear standout from the year, and a rare track that would find itself at home on a workout playlist just as easily as a compilation for Halloween.

[globetrotterpics]

Sunset over a field of bluebonnets in Austin Texas - [OC] [4083x6123] - IG: @travlonghorns https://ift.tt/3e0dhUi

Check out our website Globe Trotter Guides for the latest travel news and trends!

[newyorktheater]

Britney Spears, 20 years ago

Will Roland in Be More Chiil

Cast of Mean Girls

Andrew Barth Feldman in Dear Evan Hansen

Isabelle McCalla and Caitlin Kinnunen as high school girlfriends in The Prom

“I’m not a girl, not yet a woman…I’m in between,” Britney Spears sang some two decades ago, and it could almost be the new anthem (gender-adjusted) for Broadway. The opening of Be More Chill this week adds yet another to the New York stage shows that focus on teenage characters (mostly portrayed by non-teenage performers), many of which attract a large teenage audience. These include Dear Evan Hansen, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Mean Girls, and, yes, ok, Wicked. (The Prom has a dual focus; and the audience for, if not the characters in, Frozen skew younger.) Teen angst has made its way Off-Broadway as well, with Superhero.

Shows about teens and tweens are hardly new: 13, Bye Bye Birdie, Carrie, Hairspray, Matilda, Newsies, School of Rock, Spring Awakening come to mind. But we’re seeing a particular trend now, and not an especially welcome one. It’s of course a good thing to broaden the demographics of the Broadway audience, and at least one of these shows is widely viewed as of high quality.  Yet their focus is largely on angst and on stereotypes.  How accurate or fair are the depictions of teenagers in these shows?  Yes, high school may be a time when some people are trying out identities, and too many of them might like to assign reductive labels to their classmates or even to themselves.  But surely this is not the full picture, nor a constructive one. As I say in my review of Be More Chill, the actual high school students we see regularly in the news are  taking the lead in attacking such crucial  problems as climate change and gun control — problems that have stalemated adults.

Incidentally, “I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman,” along with “Baby One More Time,” Spear’s first pop single when she was 17 years old, are likely to be two of the 23 songs from her repertorie that will be in the new musical “Once Upon a One More Time” aiming for Broadway, announced today.  The book, thankfully, is not about teen angst. (For more details, see Week in NY Theater News, below.)

The Week in New York Theater Reviews

THE B-SIDE: “Negro Folklore from Texas State Prisons,” A Record Album Interpretation

In “The B-Side,” three men sing along with an album on a record-player —  or, as people prefer to say these days, a vinyl on the turntable. But there’s a reason why the Wooster Group’s encore presentation of its simple and odd hour-long piece, first performed at the Performing Garage in 2017, is filling St. Ann’s Warehouse every night. The album is “Negro Folklore from Texas State Prisons”…

Austin Scott as Alexander Hamilton and Carvens Lissaint as George Washington, the new cast members of “Hamilton” on Broadway.

  Hamilton on Broadway 2019: New Cast, New Clarity

I recently saw Hamilton again on Broadway, during a rare open captioned performance, and it was a revelation in several ways.

  I would love to see this show but there are not enough OC performances for those of us who want to attend. It’s nice to pat yourself on the back about access, but the reality is that an occasional Wednesday OC performance with limited tickets is not access. #captionallshows

— Dr. Petrified Tree Sap (@a_joy_martin) March 9, 2019

The Cake Review: “This is Us” writer on Christian baker’s Lesbian wedding dilemma

In “The Cake,” Debra Jo Rupp (the mother on “That 70s Show”) portrays Della, a Christian baker in North Carolina who refuses to bake a cake for a lesbian wedding. If the story is inspired by the Supreme Court case decided last year, Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, playwright Bekah Brunstetter, who is a writer for “This Is Us,” makes it personal in several ways…One of the future brides, Jen (Genevieve Angelson), is the daughter of Della’s best friend, who died five years ago. Della, who is childless, views Jen like a daughter…Bekah Brunstetter has told interviewers that she wrote “The Cake” as a way to explain her support for gay rights and same-sex marriage to her parents. Her father, Peter Brunstetter, is a Republican politician from North Carolina who supported an anti-gay state bill that defined marriage as between a man and a woman.

Be More Chill on Broadway

Somebody wrote “NYC Loves BMC” in chalk on the sidewalk outside Broadway’s Lyceum Theater, the new home of “Be More Chill,” the high energy, high decibel pop-rock musical that stars Will Roland as a self-proclaimed high school “loser” who swallows a pill containing a supercomputer and becomes cool. I tweeted a picture of the scrawled public love note; the tweet was retweeted nearly a hundred times. “Be More Chill” has some seriously devoted fans, most of whom seem to be 15 years old. It’s a thrill to see such teenaged enthusiasm for live theater.  I wish I could share more fully in their ardor for this show

  The Week in New York Theater News

The first annual Rave Theater Festival is asking for submissions. Artistic director @kendavenportplans roughly 20 plays, musicals, multimedia, and cross-disciplinary projects, as well as family shows, which will each receive up to five performances, August 9-25, 2019 at Clemente Sito Velez Cultural and Education Center on the Lower East Side.

Simpsons theme song composer Danny Elfman will make his Broadway debut by composing music for “Gary: The Sequel to Titus Andronicus.”

Twenty-three of Britney Spears’ songs will form the score for a new Broadway-aiming musical, “Once Upon a One More Time” with will have a try-out in Chicago from October to December of this year. “Once Upon A Time… Cinderella, Snow White, and the other fairytale princesses gather for their book club, when – oh, baby baby! – a rogue fairy godmother drops The Feminine Mystique into their corseted laps, spurring a royal revelation.” The Times reports that the run at the Chicago theater “had been set aside for “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough,” a Michael Jackson jukebox musical that canceled its Chicago plans on the eve of an HBO documentary detailing abuse allegations against the pop star. That show’s producers say they are still hoping to come to Broadway.”

The Arts Are Good For You

Three articles that show that the arts are a good thing.

Article 1, by Isaac Kaplan in Artsy:  Arts Sector Contributed $763.6 Billion to U.S. Economy—More Than Agriculture or Transportation, New Data Shows

Article 2, by Tom Jacobs in Pacific Standard:  How arts can help struggling science students do better

A large study released last month found that Florida middle-school students who study music, theater, or visual art subsequently get higher overall grades than their peers.

Article 3 by Robert Ruffin in HowlRound (from 2018) We Need Theatre to Exist, and Maybe Research Can Prove Its Necessity

A new Broadway By The Year, musicals of 1943 and 1951, will be presented at Town Hall of March 25th, “created, written, hosted and directed” by Scott Siegel — for whom 2018 was not a great year, having gotten into a bad bicycle accident. Here is an article about his accident and his show in the Times, written right before the last Broadway By Year, last month.

Alexa’s new skill lets you scour Ticketmaster using your voice

  Robert Barry Fleming has been appointed artistic director of Actors Theater of Louisville, the theater that brings us the annual Humana Festival. He’s been an actor, director, choreographer, arts administrator (at Arena Stage and Cleveland PlayHouse), and championed or commissioned such shows as Dear Evan Hansen and Sweat.

Daryl_Roth – Producing with a Purpose. Theater producer for 31 yrs “Marvel action hero” – Paula Vogel. One of the few female producers on Broadway…she chooses work by women, LGBT folks, and people of color not usually seen as commercially viable

Daveed DIggs is back in New York, for the play White Noise at the Public Theater, and he’s happier to be here than last time.

The last few years I have had not a great relationship with New York, but this time feels really good. The Hamilton experience here was so intense, and it became a pretty stressful place for me to be. That was a show that, at the bottom of it, it’s a bunch of friends getting together and making rap songs. I was involved with that show for a long time because my friend wrote it and asked me to come along for the ride. Everything on the inside of it felt very small, and everything on the outside of it felt very big.

…I love performing in smaller houses. I think you get a different kind of connection there. I’m excited to be doing any play, period, after spending a couple years being in front of a camera. This is a very welcome return. You get a different kind of intimacy in a small space, and I think everybody gets to know each other a little better.

As much as I loved performing on Broadway, I don’t care if I ever do that again. I like telling stories in places where everyone is part of the storytelling.

Oskar Eustis and Suzan-Lori Parks chat with one another about their new collaboration as director and playwright, White Noise, It begins: Oskar Eustis doesn’t believe in giving audiences a heads-up. “When you have a trigger ­warning, you’re implying that people need to be protected from pain,” says Eustis, the artistic director of New York’s Public ­Theater. “I think real art says, ‘No, you don’t. What you need is the chance to face it.’”

If you’re working on a play– especially a new one– and you’re not checking in with your ushers on a regular basis during previews, you don’t actually know how it’s going.

— Evan Cabnet (@evancabnet) March 11, 2019

Thanks Broadway Twitter for having my back. Being a working parent in any profession is really challenging. I never want to disappoint audiences as I am beyond grateful to them, but the health of my family will always come before my job. Thanks to those who understand that 💛

— Laura Benanti (@LauraBenanti) March 11, 2019

.@FosseVerdonFX cast includes: Sam Rockwell as Bob Fosse & Michelle Williams as Gwen Verdon@kelli_barrett as Liza Minnelli@biancamarroquin as @Chita_Rivera +@BranUran as Dustin Hoffman @TheTylerHanes as Jerry Orbach@ethansaslater as @joelgrey Premieres on FX April 9th. pic.twitter.com/lvokxwZUFl

— New York Theater (@NewYorkTheater) March 11, 2019

If you’re an aspiring playwright, this thread by @MikeLew4 might change your life. https://t.co/WouQGQXNUh

— New York Theater (@NewYorkTheater) March 8, 2019

My favorite line: “Get that EXT/INT shit outta there! Dead giveaway your “play” is a pilot.”

Play Formatting PSA: In undergrad one of the 1st things Donald Margulies did was teach us proper play formatting. Which felt like a huge bummer. Shouldn’t it be story first? Who cares about formatting?! Don’t you see that l WILL CHANGE THE FORM, WITH THE POWER OF ART? 1

But now that I’ve done a ton of reading committees, I can see he was right. In the same way you wouldn’t show up to a job interview dressed wrong for the job, when I’m reading a ton of plays my first cut rejections boil down to, “Does this manuscript LOOK like a play or not?” 2/

And the most screwed up thing is that published plays don’t look like manuscript-form plays, so you can’t just learn by picking up an acting edition at the bookstore or your submission’ll look weird. To wit, a thread about formatting. ARE YOU EXCITED?? 3/

A full-length play is approx 100 pgs in length (50 pgs per act). Sure your length may vary. You may have a lean 75 pg straight-through-no-intermission piece or a 120 pg 2-act that “should read really really fast”

Now the formatting nitty gritty! *character names in all caps & centered *dialogue left-justified *in-dialogue stage directions like “(she exits)” should be in parentheses and italics *longer stage directions should be tabbed in and (optionally) italicized 10/

New scenes get their own line (i.e. “Scene 1”) – bolded and numbered *Get that EXT/INT shit outta there! Dead giveaway your “play” is a pilot. *Start a new pg for each scene *End the act on an all-caps “END OF ACT 1” “END OF PLAY” etc – and bold it too cuz that feels GREAT 11/

Teens Take Over Broadway (but is it real?). A Britney Spears Broadway musical? Hamilton Reconsidered. #Stageworthy News of the Week “I’m not a girl, not yet a woman...I'm in between,” Britney Spears sang some two decades ago, and it could almost be the new anthem (gender-adjusted) for Broadway. 2,063 more words

[thecollegefootballguy]

The Top 25 Teams of the Decade: #24 Florida

Hello everybody, we’re celebrating the arrival of the 2020′s by looking at the 25 best programs of the previous decade.

Here is the #24 team from the 2010′s:

University of Florida Gators

Record: 81-46 (.638) Division Titles: 3 Bowl Seasons: 8 Major Bowls: 3 Final Top 25 Finishes: 5 Final Top 10 Finishes: 3 Best Season: 2012

The 2010′s began with the final year of Urban Meyer’s tenure in Gainesville. The coach had brought unprecedented success to the program but his well oiled machine was running out of gas. The Gators finished 8-5, their worst finish since 2004. Meyer resigned under a cloud of controversy as former players criticized the locker room culture he’d built that led to the collapse.

Texas’s hotshot DC Will Muschamp was hired away from Austin to lead UF. Another disappointing season in 2011 saw Florida unable to face up against the top talent in the SEC, but Muschamp’s lockdown defense bore fruit the next year. The Gators didn’t allow more than 20 points a game until their season finale against a Top 10 Florida State squad. A 17-9 defeat in the Cocktail Party was the only thing keeping UF out of Atlanta, but with an 11-1 record they were invited to the Sugar Bowl. The trip to New Orleans turned out to be an embarrassment, a 33-22 loss to a Louisville squad that wasn’t even expected to compete. It left a bitter taste on what otherwise would be considered a banner year.

Muschamp’s single-minded focus on defense turned out to be his undoing. After an 11-2 campaign in 2012, UF completely collapsed, going 4-8 the following season. The Gators couldn’t muster more than 20 points in a single game all year, which included an embarrassing loss to FCS Georgia Southern. Muschamp wasn’t fired, but he burnt through all the goodwill he’d accrued from the 2012 campaign. A 6-6 record in 2014 wasn’t nearly enough to retain him, and he was replaced by Jim McElwain. 

McElwain looked like a hit at first. In his first two seasons, Florida won back to back SEC East titles. Sure, they weren’t as good as Alabama, but the Gators were building. Or were they? UF probably wouldn’t have won the division either of those years if there had been any competition from the rest of the East. Georgia, South Carolina, and Missouri all took major steps back in 2015 and 2016 from the previous several years they’d spent in dogfights for the division. When the Bulldogs roared back in 2017 it was clear that Florida was out of their depth. The Gators collapsed back to 4-7 and McElwain was fired midseason.

UF made the obvious choice and hired Dan Mullen, who was Tim Tebow’s OC during the championship years. Mullen has seemingly righted the ship. Florida is 21-5 in his first two seasons, which have included winning trips to the Peach and Orange Bowls. The Gators look poised to compete once again for the East in the 2020′s.

The 2010′s will be seen as a disappointment by Florida fans, who saw their program reach new heights and win three national titles in the 90′s and 2000′s. Muschamp, McElwain, and Mullen all began their tenures successfully, but a collapse followed the first two. Even Meyer lost control at the end. Can Mullen break the trend?

Reflecting Florida’s up and down decade, they suffered losing records to their major rivals: 3-7 against Florida State, 4-6 against Georgia, and 3-7 against LSU. They managed to go 9-1 against Tennessee, but it hasn’t been a great decade for the Vols either, who won’t be appearing on the list. They were 1-1 each against Miami and Auburn.

[eurekakinginc]

"[OC] Transportation trends in Austin since the pandemic 🚗🛴✈️"- Caption by Charlie2343 - Detail: https://ift.tt/2YEaOsl. Filed Under: 1,000 ways to visualize Data. Curated by: www.eurekaking.com

[yahoo-roto-arcade-blog]

Week 2 Fantasy Sleepers: Tampa's 'Quizz show to produce instant riches

Off an early one-week vacation, Jacquizz Rodgers is ready to captain the ship for Tampa. (AP)

Week 2 Fantasy Flames: Palmer a prime bounce back candidate

Each week the Noise highlights under-started names who he believes are destined to torch the competition. To qualify, each player  must be started in fewer than 60 percent of Yahoo! leagues. Speaking as an accountability advocate, I will post results, whether genius or moronic, the following week (Scoring thresholds – QB: 18 fpts, RB: 12 fpts, WR: 11 fpts: TE: 10 fpts; .5 PPR). If you’re a member of TEAM HUEVOS, reveal your Week 2 Flames in the comments section below.

[Sign up for Fantasy Football before it’s too late! Draft now for free]

Carson Palmer, Ari, QB (20 percent started, $34 in Yahoo DFS) Matchup: at Ind (Game over/under: 44.5)

Last week in Detroit, Father Time beat Palmer with a wooden cane. From the onset, the near septuagenarian looked washed up routinely completing passes to the opposition. He converted just 27 of 48 attempts for 269 yards (5.6 YPA) and posted an unsightly 1:3 TD:INT split. And his lone scoring toss came in garbage time. Though the decrepit passer is trending toward shuffleboard contests and strained pea feedings, for one week only he will temporarily stave off the erosive effects of aging. How? The Colts. Sans their best cover corner Vontae Davis, Indy is a natural wrinkle cream. In Week 1, it surrendered 39 offensive points to “rocket launchers” Jared Goff and the Rams. Defensive backs T.J. Green and Rashaan Melvin conceded a combined 111.3 passer rating, 80.0 catch percentage and 10.6 YPA in the opener. David Johnson’s multi-month absence leaves a gaping hole, but the giant void automatically forces Palmer into a high-pressure, and presumably, a high-volume situation. To prevent an 0-2 start, it’s critical for the geriatric to turn back time. The ultra-friendly matchup should do the trick.

Fearless Forecast: 294 passing yards, 2 passing touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 19.8 fantasy points 

Tevin Coleman, Atl, RB (40 percent started, $18 in Yahoo DFS) Matchup: vs. GB (Over/Under: 53.5)

As Fantasy Twitter opines about the imminent, and overblown, demise of Jordan Howard, why aren’t people talking about the small Week 1 touch separation between Devonta Freeman and Coleman? The former logged only two more touches on a 12 snaps advantage. That’s it. The expected 60-40 timeshare under Kyle Shanahan’s direction could be closer to 55-45 in the Steve Sarkisian era. As unsettling as that sounds to Freeman zealots, Coleman backers should feel overjoyed. Nabbed in the middle rounds of most drafts, the former IU standout may regularly net 11-14 touches per game moving forward. Likely on the high end of that range in Week 2, he’s more than just a FLEX option in 12-team formats. Mike Daniels, who munched on Seattle RB flesh in the opener, is an absolute beast in the trenches. Atlanta’s interior line will occasionally neutralize Daniels, but the tackle is a killer whale. Knowing that, look for Sark to feature Coleman (10.5 YPR Week 1) often on the peripheral as a runner/receiver. In a game loaded with shootout appeal, this Coleman won’t resemble Gary.

Fearless Forecast: 9 rushes, 31 rushing yards, 4 receptions, 45 receiving yards, 1 touchdown 

Jacquizz Rodgers, TB, RB (5 percent started, $21 in Yahoo DFS) Matchup: vs. Chi (Over/Under: 43)

The Buccaneers, the unfortunate recipients of a Week 1 bye thanks to Hurricane Irma, are more than prepared to swashbuckle. Chicago’s defense performed admirably in the opener against defending NFC champ Atlanta. Falcon rushers Freeman and Coleman totaled a lowly 2.6 yards per carry thanks primarily to Akiem Hicks’ execution. The interior lineman tallied the second-best run-stop percentage (15.8) of the week according to Pro Football Focus. No wonder the Bears recently signed him to a $48 million extension. Despite the unfavorable opponent, at least according to recency bias, Rodgers is a trustworthy RB2 in 12-team leagues. It’s important to remember when operating as the primary rusher last year he notched an exhaustive 23.4 touches per game over five contests and averaged 14.9 fantasy points per game (PPR) in those efforts. Charles Sims will occasionally spell him, but Rodgers is the unrivaled captain of the ship. On volume alone, he should yield a handsome booty, especially if Tampa’s offensive line, which displayed marked improvement in the Preseason, is indeed the real deal. For owners who poached him in the double-digit rounds, enjoy the three-game ‘Quizz show.

Fearless Forecast: 20 carries, 86 rushing yards, 3 receptions, 14 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 17.5 fantasy points

Corey Davis, Ten, WR (6 percent started, $12 in Yahoo DFS) Matchup: at Jax (Over/Under: 43)

Overshadowed by fellow rookie wideouts Cooper Kupp and Kenny Golladay last Sunday, Corey Davis, despite missing extensive time with a hamstring injury in August, invigorated the senses in his regular season debut. Targeted a team high 10 times catching six balls for 69 yards, he displayed the route running and high point abilities of a future megastar. He also gained appreciable separation (3.4 yards) ranking eighth for the week in the category per NFL NextGenStats. Those refined skills combined with his plus size and physicality arrow to fantastic fantasy efforts to come, including Week 2 against divisional foe Jacksonville. The Jaguars, inside an emotional NRG Stadium, pawed the Texans into submission. Corners Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye, targeted 16 times, surrendered only six catches for 51 yards. The coverage duo is a tall task for Davis, but look for OC Terry Robiskie to shift Davis around in an attempt to encourage mismatches. Given the attention Rishard Matthews, Eric Decker and Delanie Walker are sure to draw I believe the youngster becomes a vertical focal point for Marcus Mariota. His affordable trade price is about to expire.

Fearless Forecast: 6 receptions, 59 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 14.9 fantasy points 

Jermaine Kearse, NYJ, WR (1 percent started, $14 in Yahoo DFS) Matchup: at Oak (Over/Under: 43.5)

If the Jets were shape-shifting machines, their transformed image would be a toilet. They’re absolutely repugnant, a team destined for endless negative game scripts and lopsided defeats. In reality it’s a fan’s harshest hell, but in fantasy, the anticipated garbage time emits a rather pleasant odor. It’s precisely why Kearse is a recommended plug ‘n play option in deeper formats. The former Seahawk, acquired via trade just two weeks ago, was the lone bright spot Week 1 in Buffalo. Placed in the crosshairs nine times by Josh McCown, he hauled in seven passes for 59 yards. His effort wasn’t tilt altering, but the sizable targets share and 75 percent success play rate are strong indicators he’s McCown’s most trusted weapon. Kearse, never a No. 1 in Seattle, only occasionally flashed as a bit player. Still, his size and experience instantaneously make him the best weapon on New York’s Big West-level roster. Oakland’s secondary, a weak link on an otherwise fair to Midland defense, conceded a 64.3 catch rate to Titans receivers in Week 1. Digging deeper, David Amerson and T.J. Carrie combined for an 87.9 passer rating allowed. Add it up, and it’s worth weighing Kearse’s services in the FLEX.

Fearless Forecast: 6 receptions, 68 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 15.8 fantasy points

WEEK 2 SHOCKER SPECIAL (Under 10-percent started)

Buck Allen, Bal, RB (4 percent started, $14 in Yahoo DFS) Matchup: vs. Cle (Over/Under: 41)

It never ceases to amaze how quickly the fantasy landscape changes. One minute Danny Woodhead has the look for a 100-catch receiver, cutting, slashing and dashing through soft underneath coverage. The next, he’s on a cart to the locker room (SHOCKER!) nursing a blown hamstring. In a blink, Woody’s season prematurely stalled paving the way for Allen to earn snaps, which the USC product promptly took advantage of. He didn’t move the meter on the surface, netting 71 yards on 21 touches, but the cranked volume and the Ravens’ ground dedication suggest Allen and teammate Terrance West are due for friendly workloads moving forward. Most importantly for Allen, he’s the best receiving back on roster. Because Joe Flacco relishes exploiting defenses in the short field, Allen should rack catches. This week against the Myles Garrett-less Browns, Buck owns considerable FLEX appeal. Cleveland was quite respectable vs. Le’Veon Bell in Week 1, holding the All-World RB and tag-team partner James Connor to 3.1 yards per carry. The Browns’ effort was commendable, but they should be one of the more permeable fronts this year.

Fearless Forecast: 13 rushes, 62 rushing yards, 4 receptions, 24 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 16.6 fantasy points 

BONUS WEEK 2 FLAMES

  #TEAMHUEVOS PICKS OF THE WEEK Each week one fortunate guest prognosticator will have a chance to silence the Noise. Following the rules stated above, participants are asked to submit their “Flames” (1 QB, 2 RBs, 2 WRs, 1 TE, 1 D/ST) by midnight PT Tuesdays via Twitter @YahooNoise. How large are your stones?

Kizer, buck, kamara, jj nelson, hurns, Julius Thomas, and bengals.

— Michael Borey (@BoreyOwner) September 13, 2017

Fan Week 1 results: 4-3 My Week 1 results: 4-6, (W: Sam Bradford, Buffalo D/ST, Austin Hooper, Rishard Matthews; L: Ted Ginn, Brian Hoyer, Rob Kelley, Kendall Wright, Bilal Powell, Brandon Marshall; DNP: Thomas Rawls)

Want to bull rush Brad? Follow him on Twitter @YahooNoise. Also check out his TV show, “The Fantasy Football Hour,” now available in 75 million households on Fox Sports Regional Networks, and his new podcast, “The Fantasy Spin.”