#Predator League 2024

[goodguygadgets]

Oasis Gaming reaches the promised land, secures Predator League 2024 Philippine championship

Oasis Gaming obtained a ticket to play VALORANT at the Asia Pacific Predator League 2024 Grand Finals at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on January 13 -14, 2024. #StandProud​ #ItLiesWithin​ #PL2024​ #PredatorLeague2024

A fury of run-and-gun antics in the popular FPS game VALORANT prevailed in SM North EDSA Cyberzone last November 12, 2023, as the Predator League 2024 Philippine Finals reached an explosive conclusion. Before they could chase their dreams, Oasis Gaming had to claw their way against their heated rivals, NAOS Esports in the semifinals, which saw the former overcome a 1-0 deficit to eliminate them…

[everytechever]

Predator announces Predator League 2024 Philippine Qualifiers

This year’s trials are divided into three stages: the Qualifiers, the Group Stage, and the Grand Finals. #PredatorLeague2024 #Acer #AcerPredator #gaming #everytechever

 The Philippines’ most prestigious tournament circuit is back! The Predator League is returning, with the battleground extending to even further lands. A combined prize pool of Php 1 million and the highly coveted Predator Shield is at stake. To lift this prestigious trophy, teams must be masters of either of two disciplines: Dota 2 or Valorant. The Predator League provides an avenue for young…

[gaytkachuk]

"tumblr's favorite NHL team" bracket: central division

pacific | metro | atlantic

[quietwingsinthesky]

Drabble 272/366 - Supernatural

The real difference between angels and humans, Millie thinks, is that no part of an angel was ever once small, furry prey.

That’s why Castiel’s stride is cautious yet confident until she says, “Stop,” like a storm settling, feigned calm. Her hair’s on end. Her skin itches with fear. She bows her body, retreats from Castiel’s side.

Something waiting in that dark room wants to eat her.

And it’s too late for either of them to run. It knows they’re in its den. She lets her useless gun drop.

“Told you wandering off was a bad idea, Cas,” she whispers.

[takeoffphilippines]

Sarah G, SB19 will set the Asia Pacific Predator League 2024 Grand Finals stage on fire with #AceYourWorld

Be part of history as 26 teams from across the region compete for top honors in Dota 2 and VALORANT, including their share of a $200,000 prize pool and the highly coveted Predator Shield, in the Asia Pacific Predator League 2024 Grand Finals at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

The MOA Arena stage will witness epic battles between esports teams on January 13 and 14, 2024. Audiences will also get to watch never-before-seen musical stages and collaborations.

For the very first time ever, Acer ambassadors Sarah Geronimo and SB19 will perform “Ace Your World” live! The song #AceYourWorld, streaming on YouTube, was written and composed by Radkidz, the duo of John Paulo Nase (Pablo) and his brother, Joshua Daniel Nase. Through the song, Sarah G and SB19 hope to encourage everyone to stay strong despite the challenges they face in their lives.

Another exciting collaboration stage will feature rapper Felip and Paradise Rising artist Ylona Garcia. Sarah Geronimo and SB19 will lead the roster of talents on Day 1, along with Urbandub, Al James, and UPeepz. Day 2 will feature KZ Tandingan, Sandwich, Franco, Spongecola, Manila Symphony Orchestra, Daloy Dance Company, Josh Cullen, and Pablo.

For both days, there will also be meet-and-greet sessions with Predator ambassadors Cong TV and the Team Payaman boys, burg, KuyaNic, Chibiby, Maggiekarp, amaratv, Een Mercado, Kang Dupet, and Alodia Gosiengfiao.

“We have prepared very hard to give esports players, fans, and enthusiasts two days filled with excitement and surprises. The Asia Pacific Predator League 2024 Grand Finals will showcase world-class gaming, music, and entertainment. The event will put Manila on the global esports map,” said Princess Laosantos, Senior Marketing Manager at Acer Philippines.

For more information and updates about Predator League, visit www.facebookcom/PredatorGamingPhilippines  or the official website www.predator-league.com. 

[antifainternational]

Kirkcaldy reportback!

On Saturday the 18th of May 2024 a group of antifascist members of the community disrupted an event organised by Women Won't Wheesht in Kirkcaldy.

These people were workers, locals and members of the public. They were transgender, cisgender, gay and straight. They were unaffiliated with any organisation, group or political party. Their actions were their own and were organised on their own initiative. They acted to protect their community from an intolerant group who aim to plant a seed of cruelty, a seed of hate that would grow and overshadow everything around it, which would poison the earth and kill off wildflower and bramble and thistle alike.

"A community is made up of many different types of people," one member of the group said, "and what makes a community strong is celebrating the diversity of its members and standing in solidarity with those who need it most. Trans people are one of the most marginalised groups of people in society, and yet groups like Women Won't Wheesht seek to sow division in our local communities by painting trans people as a danger. Trans people are part of the fabric of our communities and groups like Women Won't Wheesht have no place in inclusive and safe communities. We all need to stand up against hate speech and protect our neighbours and friends."

Women Won't Wheesht is a hate group which peddles anti-transgender bigotry. Their events, veiled under vague 'concerns about women' have historically been attended by anti-abortion anti-feminist groups such as the Scottish Family Party, homophobes such as the Destiny Church, and members of the fascist Scottish Defence League. Their members also attended rallies organised by the neo-nazi Kelly Jay Keen.

Women Won't Wheesht's rhetoric calls for the elimination of drag queens, transgender and nonbinary people from public life. It is the same rhetoric which was used to murder members of the gay community during the AIDS epidemic. It advocates both social murder (murder by inaction from the state) and violence against transgender people. To achieve this, they bully and harass transgender people in society and online. They publicly share people's addresses and names. They accuse all transgender people of being sexual predators, thereby toxifying and dehumanising them so they are seen as less-than-human. They lobby politicians to spread their hate and appear legitimate.

The anti-transgender reactionary movement in the UK has been called explicitly genocidal by the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention.

We, as proud members of our community, denounce all genocides and any who participate in them. We stand for a world where everyone has the right to speak their mind, where everyone has the right to be who they are. We stand for a world where gay, straight, brown, white, man, woman, and everything in between can live and love together. We cannot stand by and allow Women Won't Wheesht platform to spread hate and cruelty. We are fighting for a kinder, more caring world.

If the members of Women Won't Wheesht reach out to their local queer community, if they choose to talk, and listen, and learn, if they come with humility and gentleness, they will be greeted and welcomed with kindness and respect. We understand that many of those who come to join these movements have done so under a deception. They have been told that their alienation is not due to the United Kingdom's misogynist society and the social murder and violence of neoliberal capitalism, but due to transgender people existing. Many of us have been caught and deceived by such lies too. We have learned, and we have grown.

But if Women Won't Wheesht continue their campaign of violence, they will meet resistance. Their platform will be taken away, because it is by the grace of the people of Scotland that they have it in the first place, and the people of Scotland will not allow genocide of any kind.

At the action on Saturday, members of the public were overwhelmingly in support of transgender liberation.

One organiser said "People of all ages stopped to speak to the outreach team and expressed disgust at the transphobia from the Women Won't Wheesht incomers." Over one hundred trans flags were distributed to supportive people of Kirkaldy.

SOLIDARITY. LOVE AND KINDNESS.

ANTI-FASCISTS OF SCOTLAND.

[loserlvrss]

𝐊𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐁𝐔𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐒

the world crumbled a long time ago. humanity could've died off — and, some would say it had — but, in reality, all it did was prosper under new circumstances. broken shreds of what remained, nature reclaimed, intertwining with the wires of the programming. Some would die just to be in the network of higher-ups, and some would rather watch the world burn a hundred times over. the question wasn't, which are you? it's who are you? In a place where somebody is really nobody.

a place where technology hadn't died: the sector one. the place where nobody who was ever somebody lived. a distant place to almost everyone else. only handing itself out on a silver platter to the, self-proclaimed, elite of the elite — old money, nepotism and pure coincidence — people lied, stole, betrayed, killed and died just for a place amongst the best of the worst. no one deserved the title this place disguised them with, wasting and polluting an already hellish world.

but, there was a whisper against the wind. the monarch's reign would soon come to fall — the reapers alongside. sector one would no longer prosper off the graves of its people. the walls would crumble as the old habits died. all it would take was eight pirates and one so-called princess to overthrow reality and start a revolution where everyone could be anyone.

there weren't mercenaries anymore, just a new world. and, all you had to do was step into it.

all rights reserved copyright © loserlvrss 2024

genre // romance, dystopian, cyberpunk, cybercore, drama, alternate universe, action, enemies to lovers, suggestive, smut, love triangle, multi x reader, series, comedy, post-apocalyptic universe, chapters

estimated word count // ≈ 32-50k

theme warnings // language, descriptive death & fights, blood, gore, sexual & suggestive content, substance abuse (drugs & alcohol)

status // ongoing, will post when i have time <3

playlist // wake up ateez, poison love dreamcatcher, wet dream snow wife, predator lee gi kwang, xs rina sawayama, do or die dpr artic dpr ian, i’m not a woman i’m a god halsey, coma dvii, silver light ateez, supernova aespa, ganma lexie liu, cyberpunk ateez, addicted pixy, another life key, gottasadae bewhy, daisy ashnikko, this world ateez, bad alive wayv, django ateez, claws kim petras, nightmare trendz, bound key, break it off — bonus track pinkpantheress, new world ateez, spoiled bitch tiffany day, eenie meenie chungha hongjoong of ateez, gods league of legends new jeans, dune ateez, the bat nct u, what do you want from me? bad omens, side by side bewhy, misa misa! corpse scarlxd cordhell, set it off league of legends dpr live jimmycline, halazia ateez, rpm sf9, iris pastel ghost

author’s note // tag list open !!

chapter one chapter two chapter three chapter four chapter five chapter six chapter seven chapter eight ++ more to be added !!

[sb19alexx]

SB19 at Asia Pacific Predator League 2024

Them without Stell 🥺

[mostlynotwork]

Get set for more adventures involving giant mobile cities, airship battles and psychologically unstable cyborgs. Oh, and a kind of love triangle just to break up the action.

'Predator's Gold' is the second book in the (original) 'Mortal Engines' series. [Read my post on the first book here]. Two years after the events of the previous book, Tom and Hester are attacked by the 'Green Storm', a faction of the Anti-Traction League. To escape, they take refuge aboard the traction city 'Anchorage'. Once a thriving centre of trade, it's now a ghost town, struggling through the arctic cold.

Stranded aboard Anchorage, Tom and Hester are faced with new mysteries. Why did the Green Storm attack them? Why is Anchorage in such disrepair? Is America still a radioactive wasteland or has it renewed itself as a green land of hope? And why do things keep going missing in Anchorage? Adding to the challenges for our protagonists, 'Predators Gold' also throws in a love triangle of sorts.

As I observed in relation to 'Mortal Engines', if you're a fan of dystopian novels and open to a book intended for a younger audience, this might be a quick series you'll enjoy. Look for it in your library or second hand book store if you don't want to pay full price for such a quick read.

Note: While this post was in January 2024, I finished the book in 2023, so counted it in my 2023 list.

[harrelltut]

1968 gen x him [michael] esoteric [me] occult king [ok] of sirius eye cloud [icloud] cybercryptography technologies way above your 2023 pay grade

IMMORTAL U.S. MILITARY KING SOLOMON-MICHAEL HARRELL, JR.™

ommmmm

1921 quantum computing michael harrell, jr. silently took over sunken place 2023 america in 1968

you still enslaved in their artificial matrix [a.m.] in 2023?!?!?!

ahop un& 31=:k sQ(1˜A1`= !justus@league g---ma2/,A

Gen X marks the spot

quantum harrell tech [qht] ultra secret [u.s.] schwarz [u.s.] deutsch [usd] illuminati of america, inc [a.i.]

cyber 2023 war 2024 war 2025 war in fallen america

historically ancient [ha = harrell] 9 ether [he] cryptography and cryptanalysis @ quantum harrell tech [qht] llc

1968 gen x him [michael] esoteric [me] military code writer of secret government communications from our ancient internet [a.i.] deep inside our moon universe [mu] intranet [mi = michael] world

our ancient 9 ether computer systems predate you

mo' money mo' money mo' money

shhh... 1968 gen x him [michael] harrell, jr. born a trillionaire

1968 gen x him [michael] expensive [me] plutocrat!!!

it's lonely at the top

igigi so high up... we aluhum anunnaqi deep [a.d.] inside our golden 9 ether moon universe [mu]

heil harrell!!

eye untouchable

[heroticisms]

This post made me cry harder than I have in years.

I was born just over a month after you two got married and grew up a trans teenager in Germany, where the only legal method to change your name and gender was the "transsexuality law" (Transsexuellengesetz, TSG) - in place since 1980 and barely updated since then. The TSG required invasive appraisals, nearly 2000€ in processing fees and years of waiting, always with the risk of being denied again.

Last Friday (Nov 1 2024), a new law went into effect: the self-determination law (SBGG) lets you change your name and gender marker (to m/f/x/none) at any registry office in Germany for 23,50€ after a 3 month waiting period. Today, the first registry appointments took place.

From 8am, I sat in a waiting room full of other trans people nervously clutching their IDs and birth certificates, talking to partners and parents, leaving offices beaming. A teenager (who, by the TSG, would be waiting until his mid 20s) left the office with both his parents as they smiled down at his brand new birth certificate. I went to another registry office in a different town and it was the same there: trans people in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 60s, people whose children predate the TSG finally having the freedom to be who they are before the state. Reassurances and congratulations.

The SBGG is here and - I hope - it's here to stay. With the far right targeting trans lives so heavily, I'm sure everyone felt some pressure to push the change through before the next government can take it back. Still, we're here. We have backup. I didn't have to fight my way indoors. It's nothing compared to a two-day marriage when gay was a whisper or an insult.

We're leagues apart and yet - today, I feel that celebration. The solidarity, the love, the fear. I'm grateful for everything the law affords us now. Without you and all those couples squeezing through a loophole, without everyone fighting tooth and nail to make it happen, I don't know where we would be.

Thank you for sharing your memory. It reached me just in time 🩷

Twenty years ago, February 15th, 2004, I got married for the first time.

It was twenty years earlier than I ever expected to.

To celebrate/comemorate the date, I'm sitting down to write out everything I remember as I remember it. No checking all the pictures I took or all the times I've written about this before. I'm not going to turn to my husband (of twenty years, how the f'ing hell) to remember a detail for me.

This is not a 100% accurate recounting of that first wild weekend in San Francisco. But it -is- a 100% accurate recounting of how I remember it today, twenty years after the fact.

Join me below, if you would.

2004 was an election year, and much like conservatives are whipping up anti-trans hysteria and anti-trans bills and propositions to drive out the vote today, in 2004 it was all anti-gay stuff. Specifically, preventing the evil scourge of same-sex marriage from destroying everything good and decent in the world.

Enter Gavin Newstrom. At the time, he was the newly elected mayor of San Francisco. Despite living next door to the city all my life, I hadn’t even heard of the man until Valentines Day 2004 when he announced that gay marriage was legal in San Francisco and started marrying people at city hall.

It was a political stunt. It was very obviously a political stunt. That shit was illegal, after all. But it was a very sweet political stunt. I still remember the front page photo of two ancient women hugging each other forehead to forehead and crying happy tears.

But it was only going to last for as long as it took for the California legal system to come in and make them knock it off.

The next day, we’re on the phone with an acquaintance, and she casually mentions that she’s surprised the two of us aren’t up at San Francisco getting married with everyone else.

“Everyone else?” Goes I, “I thought they would’ve shut that down already?”

“Oh no!” goes she, “The courts aren’t open until Tuesday. Presidents Day on Monday and all. They’re doing them all weekend long!”

We didn’t know because social media wasn’t a thing yet. I only knew as much about it as I’d read on CNN, and most of the blogs I was following were more focused on what bullshit President George W Bush was up to that day.

"Well shit", me and my man go, "do you wanna?" I mean, it’s a political stunt, it wont really mean anything, but we’re not going to get another chance like this for at least 20 years. Why not?

The next day, Sunday, we get up early. We drive north to the southern-most BART station. We load onto Bay Area Rapid Transit, and rattle back and forth all the way to the San Francisco City Hall stop.

We had slightly miscalculated.

Apparently, demand for marriages was far outstripping the staff they had on hand to process them. Who knew. Everyone who’d gotten turned away Saturday had been given tickets with times to show up Sunday to get their marriages done. My babe and I, we could either wait to see if there was a space that opened up, or come back the next day, Monday.

“Isn’t City Hall closed on Monday?” I asked. “It’s a holiday”

“Oh sure,” they reply, “but people are allowed to volunteer their time to come in and work on stuff anyways. And we have a lot of people who want to volunteer their time to have the marriage licensing offices open tomorrow.”

“Oh cool,” we go, “Backup.”

“Make sure you’re here if you do,” they say, “because the California Supreme Court is back in session Tuesday, and will be reviewing the motion that got filed to shut us down.”

And all this shit is super not-legal, so they’ll totally be shutting us down goes unsaid.

00000

We don’t get in Saturday. We wind up hanging out most of the day, though.

It’s… incredible. I can say, without hyperbole, that I have never experienced so much concentrated joy and happiness and celebration of others’ joy and happiness in all my life before or since. My face literally ached from grinning. Every other minute, a new couple was coming out of City Hall, waving their paperwork to the crowd and cheering and leaping and skipping. Two glorious Latina women in full Mariachi band outfits came out, one in the arms of another. A pair of Jewish boys with their families and Rabbi. One couple managed to get a Just Married convertible arranged complete with tin-cans tied to the bumper to drive off in. More than once I was giving some rice to throw at whoever was coming out next.

At some point in the mid-afternoon, there was a sudden wave of extra cheering from the several hundred of us gathered at the steps, even though no one was coming out. There was a group going up the steps to head inside, with some generic black-haired shiny guy at the front. My not-yet-husband nudged me, “That’s Newsom.” He said, because he knew I was hopeless about matching names and people.

Ooooooh, I go. That explains it. Then I joined in the cheers. He waved and ducked inside.

So dusk is starting to fall. It’s February, so it’s only six or so, but it’s getting dark.

“Should we just try getting in line for tomorrow -now-?” we ask.

“Yeah, I’m afraid that’s not going to be possible.” One of the volunteers tells us. “We’re not allowed to have people hang out overnight like this unless there are facilities for them and security. We’d need Porta-Poties for a thousand people and police patrols and the whole lot, and no one had time to get all that organized. Your best bet is to get home, sleep, and then catch the first BART train up at 5am and keep your fingers crossed.

Monday is the last day to do this, after all.

00000

So we go home. We crash out early. We wake up at 4:00. We drive an hour to hit the BART station. We get the first train up. We arrive at City Hall at 6:30AM.

The line stretches around the entirety of San Francisco City Hall. You could toss a can of Coke from the end of the line to the people who’re up to be first through the doors and not have to worry about cracking it open after.

“Uh.” We go. “What the fuck is -this-?”

So.

Remember why they weren’t going to be able to have people hang out overnight?

Turns out, enough SF cops were willing to volunteer unpaid time to do patrols to cover security. And some anonymous person delivered over a dozen Porta-Poties that’d gotten dropped off around 8 the night before.

It’s 6:30 am, there are almost a thousand people in front of us in line to get this literal once in a lifetime marriage, the last chance we expect to have for at least 15 more years (it was 2004, gay rights were getting shoved back on every front. It was not looking good. We were just happy we lived in California were we at least weren’t likely to loose job protections any time soon.).

Then it starts to rain.

We had not dressed for rain.

00000

Here is how the next six hours go.

We’re in line. Once the doors open at 7am, it will creep forward at a slow crawl. It’s around 7 when someone shows up with garbage bags for everyone. Cut holes for the head and arms and you’ve got a makeshift raincoat! So you’ve got hundreds of gays and lesbians decked out in the nicest shit they could get on short notice wearing trashbags over it.

Everyone is so happy.

Everyone is so nervous/scared/frantic that we wont be able to get through the doors before they close for the day.

People online start making delivery orders.

Coffee and bagels are ordered in bulk and delivered to City Hall for whoever needs it. We get pizza. We get roses. Random people come by who just want to give hugs to people in line because they’re just so happy for us. The tour busses make detours to go past the lines. Chinese tourists lean out with their cameras and shout GOOD LUCK while car horns honk.

A single sad man holding a Bible tries to talk people out of doing this, tells us all we’re sinning and to please don’t. He gives up after an hour. A nun replaces him with a small sign about how this is against God’s will. She leaves after it disintegrates in the rain.

The day before, when it was sunny, there had been a lot of protestors. Including a large Muslim group with their signs about how “Not even DOGS do such things!” Which… Yes they do.

A lot of snide words are said (by me) about how the fact that we’re willing to come out in the rain to do this while they’re not willing to come out in the rain to protest it proves who actually gives an actual shit about the topic.

Time passes. I measure it based on which side of City Hall we’re on. The doors face East. We start on Northside. Coffee and trashbags are delivered when we’re on the North Side. Pizza first starts showing up when we’re on Westside, which is also where I see Bible Man and Nun. Roses are delivered on Southside. And so forth.

00000

We have Line Neighbors.

Ahead of us are a gay couple a decade or two older than us. They’ve been together for eight years. The older one is a school teacher. He has his coat collar up and turns away from any news cameras that come near while we reposition ourselves between the lenses and him. He’s worried about the parents of one of his students seeing him on the news and getting him fired. The younger one will step away to get interviewed on his own later on. They drove down for the weekend once they heard what was going on. They’d started around the same time we did, coming from the Northeast, and are parked in a nearby garage.

The most perky energetic joyful woman I’ve ever met shows up right after we turned the corner to Southside to tackle the younger of the two into a hug. She’s their local friend who’d just gotten their message about what they’re doing and she will NOT be missing this. She is -so- happy for them. Her friends cry on her shoulders at her unconditional joy.

Behind us are a lesbian couple who’d been up in San Francisco to celebrate their 12th anniversary together. “We met here Valentines Day weekend! We live down in San Diego, now, but we like to come up for the weekend because it’s our first love city.”

“Then they announced -this-,” the other one says, “and we can’t leave until we get married. I called work Sunday and told them I calling in sick until Wednesday.”

“I told them why,” her partner says, “I don’t care if they want to give me trouble for it. This is worth it. Fuck them.”

My husband-to-be and I look at each other. We’ve been together for not even two years at this point. Less than two years. Is it right for us to be here? We’re potentially taking a spot from another couple that’d been together longer, who needed it more, who deserved it more.”

“Don’t you fucking dare.” Says the 40-something gay couple in front of us.

“This is as much for you as it is for us!��� says the lesbian couple who’ve been together for over a decade behind us.

“You kids are too cute together,” says the gay couple’s friend. “you -have- to. Someday -you’re- going to be the old gay couple that’s been together for years and years, and you deserve to have been married by then.”

We stay in line.

It’s while we’re on the Southside of City Hall, just about to turn the corner to Eastside at long last that we pick up our own companions. A white woman who reminds me an awful lot of my aunt with a four year old black boy riding on her shoulders. “Can we say we’re with you? His uncles are already inside and they’re not letting anyone in who isn’t with a couple right there.�� “Of course!” we say.

The kid is so very confused about what all the big deal is, but there’s free pizza and the busses keep driving by and honking, so he’s having a great time.

We pass by a statue of Lincoln with ‘Marriage for All!’ and "Gay Rights are Human Rights!" flags tucked in the crooks of his arms and hanging off his hat.

It’s about noon, noon-thirty when we finally make it through the doors and out of the rain.

They’ve promised that anyone who’s inside when the doors shut will get married. We made it. We’re safe.

We still have a -long- way to go.

00000

They’re trying to fit as many people into City Hall as possible. Partially to get people out of the rain, mostly to get as many people indoors as possible. The line now stretches down into the basement and up side stairs and through hallways I’m not entirely sure the public should ever be given access to. We crawl along slowly but surely.

It’s after we’ve gone through the low-ceiling basement hallways past offices and storage and back up another set of staircases and are going through a back hallway of low-ranked functionary offices that someone comes along handing out the paperwork. “It’s an hour or so until you hit the office, but take the time to fill these out so you don’t have to do it there!”

We spend our time filling out the paperwork against walls, against backs, on stone floors, on books.

We enter one of the public areas, filled with displays and photos of City Hall Demonstrations of years past.

I take pictures of the big black and white photo of the Abraham Lincoln statue holding banners and signs against segregation and for civil rights.

The four year old boy we helped get inside runs past us around this time, chased by a blond haired girl about his own age, both perused by an exhausted looking teenager helplessly begging them to stop running.

Everyone is wet and exhausted and vibrating with anticipation and the building-wide aura of happiness that infuses everything.

The line goes into the marriage office. A dozen people are at the desk, shoulder to shoulder, far more than it was built to have working it at once.

A Sister of Perpetual Indulgence is directing people to city officials the moment they open up. She’s done up in her nun getup with all her makeup on and her beard is fluffed and be-glittered and on point. “Oh, I was here yesterday getting married myself, but today I’m acting as your guide. Number 4 sweeties, and -Congradulatiooooons!-“

The guy behind the counter has been there since six. It’s now 1:30. He’s still giddy with joy. He counts our money. He takes our paperwork, reviews it, stamps it, sends off the parts he needs to, and hands the rest back to us. “Alright, go to the Rotunda, they’ll direct you to someone who’ll do the ceremony. Then, if you want the certificate, they’ll direct you to -that- line.” “Can’t you just mail it to us?” “Normally, yeah, but the moment the courts shut us down, we’re not going to be allowed to.”

We take our paperwork and join the line to the Rotunda.

If you’ve seen James Bond: A View to a Kill, you’ve seen the San Francisco City Hall Rotunda. There are literally a dozen spots set up along the balconies that overlook the open area where marriage officials and witnesses are gathered and are just processing people through as fast as they can.

That’s for the people who didn’t bring their own wedding officials.

There’s a Catholic-adjacent couple there who seem to have brought their entire families -and- the priest on the main steps. They’re doing the whole damn thing. There’s at least one more Rabbi at work, I can’t remember what else. Just that there was a -lot-.

We get directed to the second story, northside. The San Francisco City Treasurer is one of our two witnesses. Our marriage officient is some other elected official I cannot remember for the life of me (and I'm only writing down what I can actively remember, so I can't turn to my husband next to me and ask, but he'll have remembered because that's what he does.)

I have a wilting lily flower tucked into my shirt pocket. My pants have water stains up to the knees. My hair is still wet from the rain, I am blubbering, and I can’t get the ring on my husband’s finger. The picture is a treat, I tell you.

There really isn’t a word for the mix of emotions I had at that time. Complete disbelief that this was reality and was happening. Relief that we’d made it. Awe at how many dozens of people had personally cheered for us along the way and the hundreds to thousands who’d cheered for us generally.

Then we're married.

Then we get in line to get our license.

It’s another hour. This time, the line goes through the higher stories. Then snakes around and goes past the doorway to the mayor’s office.

Mayor Newsom is not in today. And will be having trouble getting into his office on Tuesday because of the absolute barricade of letters and flowers and folded up notes and stuffed animals and City Hall maps with black marked “THANK YOU!”s that have been piled up against it.

We make it to the marriage records office.

I take a picture of my now husband standing in front of a case of the marriage records for 1902-1912. Numerous kids are curled up in corners sleeping. My own memory is spotty. I just know we got the papers, and then we’re done with lines. We get out, we head to the front entrance, and we walk out onto the City Hall steps.

It's almost 3PM.

00000

There are cheers, there’s rice thrown at us, there are hundreds of people celebrating us with unconditional love and joy and I had never before felt the goodness that exists in humanity to such an extent. It’s no longer raining, just a light sprinkle, but there are still no protestors. There’s barely even any news vans.

We make our way through the gauntlet, we get hands shaked, people with signs reading ”Congratulations!” jump up and down for us. We hit the sidewalks, and we begin to limp our way back to the BART station.

I’m at the BART station, we’re waiting for our train back south, and I’m sitting on the ground leaning against a pillar and in danger of falling asleep when a nondescript young man stops in front of me and shuffles his feet nervously. “Hey. I just- I saw you guys, down at City Hall, and I just… I’m so happy for you. I’m so proud of what you could do. I’m- I’m just really glad, glad you could get to do this.”

He shakes my hand, clasps it with both of his and shakes it. I thank him and he smiles and then hurries away as fast as he can without running.

Our train arrives and the trip south passes in a semilucid blur.

We get back to our car and climb in.

It’s 4:30 and we are starving.

There’s a Carls Jr near the station that we stop off at and have our first official meal as a married couple. We sit by the window and watch people walking past and pick out others who are returning from San Francisco. We're all easy to pick out, what with the combination of giddiness and water damage.

We get home about 6-7. We take the dog out for a good long walk after being left alone for two days in a row. We shower. We bundle ourselves up. We bury ourselves in blankets and curl up and just sort of sit adrift in the surrealness of what we’d just done.

We wake up the next day, Tuesday, to read that the California State Supreme Court has rejected the petition to shut down the San Francisco weddings because the paperwork had a misplaced comma that made the meaning of one phrase unclear.

The State Supreme Court would proceed to play similar bureaucratic tricks to drag the process out for nearly a full month before they have nothing left and finally shut down Mayor Newsom’s marriages.

My parents had been out of state at the time at a convention. They were flying into SFO about the same moment we were walking out of City Hall. I apologized to them later for not waiting and my mom all but shook me by the shoulders. “No! No one knew that they’d go on for so long! You did what you needed to do! I’ll just be there for the next one!”

00000

It was just a piece of paper. Legally, it didn’t even hold any weight thirty days later. My philosophy at the time was “marriage really isn’t that important, aside from the legal benefits. It’s just confirming what you already have.”

But maybe it’s just societal weight, or ingrained culture, or something, but it was different after. The way I described it at the time, and I’ve never really come up with a better metaphor is, “It’s like we were both holding onto each other in the middle of the ocean in the middle of a storm. We were keeping each other above water, we were each other’s support. But then we got this piece of paper. And it was like the ground rose up to meet our feet. We were still in an ocean, still in the middle of a storm, but there was a solid foundation beneath our feet. We still supported each other, but there was this other thing that was also keeping our heads above the water.

It was different. It was better. It made things more solid and real.

I am forever grateful for all the forces and all the people who came together to make it possible. It’s been twenty years and we’re still together and still married.

We did a domestic partnership a year later to get the legal paperwork. We’d done a private ceremony with proper rings (not just ones grabbed out of the husband’s collection hours before) before then. And in 2008, we did a legal marriage again.

Rushed. In a hurry. Because there was Proposition 13 to be voted on which would make them all illegal again if it passed.

It did, but we were already married at that point, and they couldn’t negate it that time.

Another few years after that, the Supreme Court finally threw up their hands and said "Fine! It's been legal in places and nothing's caught on fire or been devoured by locusts. It's legal everywhere. Shut up about it!"

And that was that.

00000

When I was in highschool, in the late 90s, I didn’t expect to see legal gay marriage until I was in my 50s. I just couldn’t see how the American public as it was would ever be okay with it.

I never expected to be getting married within five years. I never expected it to be legal nationwide before I’d barely started by 30s. I never thought I’d be in my 40s and it’d be such a non-issue that the conservative rabble rousers would’ve had to move onto other wedge issues altogether.

I never thought that I could introduce another man as my husband and absolutely no one involved would so much as blink.

I never thought I’d live in this world.

And it’s twenty years later today. I wonder how our line buddies are doing. Those babies who were running around the wide open rooms playing tag will have graduated college by now. The kids whose parents the one line-buddy was worried would see him are probably married too now. Some of them to others of the same gender.

I don’t have some greater message to make with all this. Other then, culture can shift suddenly in ways you can’t predict. For good or ill. Mainly this is just me remembering the craziest fucking 36 hours of my life twenty years after the fact and sharing them with all of you.

The future we’re resigned to doesn’t have to be the one we live in. Society can shift faster than you think. The unimaginable of twenty years ago is the baseline reality of today.

And always remember that the people who want to get married will show up by the thousands in rain that none of those who’re against it will brave.

[goodguygadgets]

Predator League season is back! Who will bring home the glory at the Predator League 2024 Philippine Qualifiers?

A combined prize pool of ₱1 Million is up for grabs as esports teams battle it out in the Predator League 2024 Philippine Qualifiers. #PredatorLeague2024 #AcerPH

The Philippines’ most prestigious tournament circuit is back! The Predator League is returning, with the battleground extending to even further lands. A combined prize pool of ₱1 Million and the highly coveted Predator Shield is at stake. To lift this prestigious trophy, teams will need to be masters of either of two disciplines: Dota 2 or Valorant. Predator League season is back! Who will bring…

[paulshishkoffjr]

It is a final in Des Moines. @mkeadmirals defeated @IAWild, 4-2. Matthew Murray stopped 30 of 32 SOG for the @PredsNHL @TheAHL Affiliate. #AHL #FloHockey #MILvsIA

[topsportsasia]

PFL fighter Francis Ngannou: Renan Ferreira is at the top of the line

Francis “The Predator” Ngannou, 38, of Cameroon and France is currently in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He will make his Professional Fighters League debut at “Battle of the Giants” at the Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 19, 2024. There are nine mixed martial arts matches on the card. In the main event, Ngannou and Renan “Problema” Ferreira, 34, of Santa Tereza de Goias, Goias, Brazil will…

[unitedstatesofworld]

Ice Cube Net Worth: A Deep Dive into the Multi-Talented Mogul's Fortune

Ice Cube, born O'Shea Jackson, is a name that resonates with hip-hop enthusiasts, movie buffs, and business-minded individuals alike. Known for his gritty lyrics and powerful presence, he has carved out an impressive career that spans music, film, and entrepreneurship. But how did Ice Cube net worth? Let's dive into the life and ventures of this multi-talented mogul to understand how his bank account got so beefed up.

The Birth of a Hip-Hop Legend

Early Life and Rise to Fame

Ice Cube was born on June 15, 1969, in South Central Los Angeles, a place known for its tough neighborhoods and even tougher residents. Growing up in this environment, Cube found solace and expression through music. By the late '80s, he had joined forces with Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, MC Ren, and DJ Yella to form the groundbreaking rap group N.W.A.

The N.W.A Impact

N.W.A's debut album, "Straight Outta Compton," released in 1988, was a game-changer. Its raw, unfiltered portrayal of life in Compton and its defiant stance against authority made it a cultural phenomenon. This album didn't just put N.W.A on the map; it cemented Ice Cube's reputation as a master lyricist and storyteller. However, conflicts within the group led to Cube's departure in 1989, prompting him to embark on a solo career.

Solo Success and Expanding Horizons

Breakout Solo Career

Ice Cube wasted no time establishing himself as a solo artist. His debut solo album, "AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted," dropped in 1990 and was an instant hit. The album's success was a testament to Cube's talent and vision, allowing him to negotiate better deals and retain greater control over his work. Subsequent albums like "Death Certificate" and "The Predator" only bolstered his status as a rap heavyweight.

Transition to Film

Ice Cube didn't stop at music; he seamlessly transitioned into acting. His film debut in John Singleton's 1991 classic "Boyz n the Hood" showcased his acting chops and opened the doors to Hollywood. This role was the beginning of a prolific acting career that includes hits like "Friday," "Barbershop," and "21 Jump Street."

Business Ventures and Entrepreneurial Spirit

Film Production

Ice Cube's involvement in the film industry didn't end with acting. He took on roles behind the camera as well, becoming a producer and writer. The "Friday" series, which he co-wrote and starred in, became a cult favorite, demonstrating his knack for creating content that resonates with audiences.

Cube Vision

In 1998, Ice Cube founded his own production company, Cube Vision. This venture allowed him to produce and develop a variety of film and television projects, further increasing his net worth. Cube Vision has been behind several successful projects, including the "Barbershop" series and the critically acclaimed biopic "Straight Outta Compton," which chronicles the rise of N.W.A.

Big3 Basketball League

Not one to rest on his laurels, Ice Cube ventured into the sports world by co-founding the Big3 basketball league in 2017. The Big3 is a professional 3-on-3 basketball league featuring former NBA players and other professional athletes. This innovative project has garnered significant attention and success, adding another lucrative stream to Ice Cube's revenue.

Ice Cube's Net Worth: The Numbers

Current Estimations

So, what is Ice Cube's net worth? As of 2024, Ice Cube's net worth is estimated to be around $160 million. This impressive figure is the result of his diverse career and smart investments. Let's break down how he accumulated this wealth:

Music Royalties: His extensive discography continues to generate substantial royalties.

Film Earnings: Both acting and producing have brought in significant income.

Production Company: Cube Vision's success has been a major contributor.

Big3 League: This unique venture adds another layer to his financial portfolio.

Investments and Endorsements

In addition to his primary ventures, Ice Cube has made various investments in real estate and other businesses. While specifics are often kept private, these investments undoubtedly contribute to his overall wealth. Furthermore, endorsement deals and collaborations with brands also play a part in bolstering his financial standing.

FAQs About Ice Cube's Net Worth

1. How did Ice Cube get his start in music?

Ice Cube began his music career with the group C.I.A. before joining N.W.A, where he gained significant fame. His talent as a rapper and lyricist quickly set him apart.

2. What are Ice Cube's most successful films?

Some of Ice Cube's most successful films include "Boyz n the Hood," "Friday," "Barbershop," and "21 Jump Street." His versatility as an actor has earned him roles in both comedies and dramas.

3. How has Ice Cube's net worth grown over the years?

Ice Cube's net worth has steadily grown through his music royalties, film earnings, production company profits, and ventures like the Big3 basketball league. His smart investments and endorsements have also contributed significantly.

4. What is Cube Vision?

Cube Vision is Ice Cube's production company, founded in 1998. It has produced several successful films and television projects, playing a crucial role in his financial success.

5. What is the Big3 basketball league?

The Big3 is a professional 3-on-3 basketball league co-founded by Ice Cube in 2017. It features former NBA players and has become a popular and profitable sports entertainment venture.

Conclusion

Ice Cube's net worth is a testament to his talent, hard work, and entrepreneurial spirit. From his early days in N.W.A to his multifaceted career in music, film, and business, he has continually reinvented himself and found success in various fields. With an estimated net worth of $160 million, Ice Cube remains a powerhouse in the entertainment industry and beyond.

His journey is a compelling example of how diversifying one's talents and interests can lead to remarkable financial success. Whether you're a fan of his music, films, or business ventures, there's no denying that Ice Cube's impact is both profound and enduring. Here's to many more years of innovation and success for this iconic figure.

[sb19alexx]

SB19 at Asia Pacific Predator League 2024

Them without Stell

They performed Gento, Bazinga, Crimzone and ACE YOUR WORLD with SARAH G.