#Prestige Fairfield

[ask-dwightfairfield]

(Nothing much, but I P100 my Dwight!)

[qnewsau]

'Old stereotypes don’t apply': Under the hood with 3 Point Motors

New Post has been published on https://qnews.com.au/old-stereotypes-dont-apply-under-the-hood-with-3-point-motors/

'Old stereotypes don’t apply': Under the hood with 3 Point Motors

3 Point Motors’ Khaled Zeitouneh tells us about how being his authentic self helps him find the perfect fit for you when looking for a car like a Mercedes-Benz.

More than getting you from A to B, a car is about innovation, technology, and safety. People wait their whole lives to purchase a luxury car, something many believe is out of reach. But that’s not always the case.

The first Mercedes-Benz Khaled Zeitouneh ever drove was his father’s, leaving a lasting impression.

“The 1998 E320 W210 was when I truly understood what Mercedes-Benz all is about,” Khaled told us.

“It’s about excellence in every aspect of the driving experience.

“That moment sparked my passion for the brand, and it’s stayed with me throughout my career.

“As a kid, I loved my cars. I’d draw them on my textbooks, collect model cars, and go to every car show I could. I knew every make and model on the road.

“When the opportunity came to follow my passion, I couldn’t pass it up.”

Photo by EFP Photography

Old stereotypes don’t apply anymore

For over a decade, Khaled has worked at the family-owned, highly respected Mercedes-Benz retailer, 3 Point Motors.

He started as a sales cadet and worked his way up to Sales Manager, earning the prestigious Mercedes-Benz Star Guild Award in 2020.

“The automotive industry is perceived as being a male-dominated industry, and a lot of men come to work without being their true selves,” he says.

“But from day one, I’ve always been authentic. 3 Point Motors has always accepted me for who I am.

“That’s allowed me to live my passion through my work. I think my clients see that and appreciate it.”

For Khaled, understanding his client’s needs is as important as being himself.

“The old stereotypes don’t apply anymore. It’s crucial that every customer feels understood and supported,” he says.

“It’s all about listening and understanding what the client is looking for—whether it’s performance, luxury, or practicality.

“My role is to guide them toward the car that fits their lifestyle.

“Selling luxury vehicles isn’t just about the cars; it’s about creating a memorable experience.

“Buying a Mercedes-Benz is an emotional purchase. For some people, it’s a dream come true.”

Khaled loves watching customers take ownership of their dream car.

“Seeing their excitement when they drive away in a Mercedes-Benz is priceless.”

“It’s a privilege to represent a brand that stands for quality, innovation, and prestige.”

Photo by EFP Photography

Cars don’t just get you from A to B

In today’s world, technology and cars are more connected than ever. For some, their car is their office.

“Cars are a greater extension of our lives now, and I want to ensure the one you choose is a perfect fit,” he says.

So, what makes the right fit? Khaled believes it’s a blend of practicality and emotion.

“Whether it’s safety, comfort, or technology, the car must meet your functional needs but also bring a sense of pride and excitement.

“A car should elevate your daily life and bring you joy. 3 Point Motors has always been supportive of me.

“And I want to ensure every customer, regardless of their background, feels comfortable and confident throughout their journey with us.”

For Khaled, cars are more than a passion—they’re a calling.

“When you love what you do, it doesn’t always feel like work; it comes naturally.”

Come say hi to Khaled at the 3 Point Motors Fairfield showroom. They are also located in Kew and Epping. Learn more about 3 Point Motors here.

Photo by EFP Photography

For the latest LGBTIQA+ Sister Girl and Brother Boy news, entertainment, community stories in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Check out our latest magazines or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

[bigboyzlounge]

Discovering the Best Hotel Franchise in India

There is an increasing need for superior lodging as India remains a popular destination for tourists and business travelers alike. Selecting the best hotel franchise in india in India can alter the game for prospective investors by providing them with the opportunity to participate in a developing sector in addition to financial benefits. This article examines the leading hotel chains in India for 2024, emphasizing their special qualities and advantages and offering perspectives on what sets them apart in the cutthroat hospitality industry.

Top Hotel Franchises in India

OYO Rooms

Overview: OYO Rooms has revolutionized the budget hotel segment in India with its extensive network and standardized offerings. It caters to a wide range of customers, from budget travelers to mid-range tourists.

Why It’s the Best: OYO’s strength lies in its extensive reach, innovative technology, and strong brand recognition. The franchise model offers flexibility and support, making it a solid choice for new investors.

Marriott International

Overview: Marriott International boasts a diverse portfolio of brands including Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield by Marriott, and the upscale Ritz-Carlton.

Why It’s the Best: Marriott’s franchise model is backed by a global reputation for excellence and a comprehensive support system. Their brands cater to various market segments, offering a range of investment opportunities.

Radisson Hotel Group

Overview: Radisson Hotel Group operates several brands in India such as Radisson Blu, Radisson RED, and Park Inn. Known for its upscale and mid-range properties, Radisson provides a broad spectrum of options.

Why It’s the Best: Radisson’s strong international presence and commitment to quality make it a top choice. The group offers extensive training and operational support, ensuring franchisees are well-prepared for success.

Hilton Hotels & Resorts

Overview: Hilton is a globally recognized name with brands like Hilton Garden Inn and DoubleTree by Hilton. It is known for its high standards and luxurious offerings.

Why It’s the Best: Hilton’s franchise model provides access to its robust global marketing network and operational expertise. The brand’s focus on quality and guest satisfaction makes it a premium choice.

The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts

Overview: The Leela is synonymous with luxury and high-end hospitality. It operates in key cities and tourist destinations, offering premium accommodation options.

Why It’s the Best: The Leela’s focus on luxury and personalized service sets it apart. As a franchisee, you would benefit from the brand’s prestige and high standards, catering to the high-end market segment.

Key Considerations for Choosing the Best Franchise

Brand Reputation: Opt for franchises with a strong brand presence and positive market perception. A well-regarded brand can significantly impact your hotel’s success.

Support and Training: Ensure that the franchise offers comprehensive support and training. This includes assistance with operations, marketing, and staff training.

Market Fit: Choose a franchise that aligns with your target market and location. For instance, luxury brands are ideal for high-end destinations, while budget-friendly options work well in more cost-conscious markets.

Investment Requirements: Assess the initial investment, ongoing fees, and potential returns. It’s essential to choose a franchise that fits your financial capacity and offers a good return on investment.

Growth Potential: Consider the franchise’s growth prospects and market expansion plans. A franchise with a strong growth trajectory can provide long-term benefits.

summary

A number of variables need to be considered while choosing the best hotel franchise in India, such as market fit, investment requirements, support systems, and brand repute. With their own benefits, OYO Rooms, Marriott International, Radisson Hotel Group, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, and The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts are all great options. To optimize their success in India's thriving hospitality industry, investors can take advantage of established brand strength, operational support, and market expertise by partnering with a top-performing franchise. To get the best results, do extensive research and select a franchise that best suits your objectives and investment plan.

[booknridelimo]

Car & Limo Service in Fairfield, CT

Corporate events are important occasions that require meticulous planning and personalized attention to detail. From business conferences and seminars to business meetings and networking events, every aspect should reflect the professionalism and commitment to excellence of your company. 

One essential component that you often get overlooked is planning corporate transportation. With the reputable car & limo service in Fairfield, CT, you can take your corporate events to whole new heights. Continue reading this blog post and know why hiring professional limo and car transportation services is imperative for corporate events.

  Impression of Sophistication –

When it comes to planning a corporate event, making a first impression matters a lot. Consider hiring a professional car & limo service in Fairfield, CT to make a grand entrance, and set the tone for a successful and memorable corporate event. 

With the sleek and luxurious vehicle along with the presence of professional chauffeurs, you can be able to create an atmosphere of sophistication and prestige. Your guests and clients will appreciate the attention to every detail and the commitment to delivering a top-notch experience.

  Efficiency –

Corporate events often involve the coordination of different attendees, schedules, and locations. Managing their transportation needs can be challenging. When you choose a reliable car & limo service, you can leave the transportation in the hands of professionals. They will work closely with you to plan everything specifically tailored to your event's requirements. From coordinating arrival and departure times to managing group transportation, their expertise and experience ensure a seamless experience, allowing you to focus on the success of your event.

Comfort and Convenience –

A comfortable and convenient experience is important for your event attendees. Professional car & limo Service specializes in offering an extensive fleet of impeccably-maintained vehicles ensuring optimal luxury and comfort. 

Featuring spacious interiors, plush seating, and state-of-the-art amenities, the luxury cars and limos create a relaxing atmosphere that allows your guests to unwind and prepare for the event ahead of time. In addition, they will eliminate the hassle of parking and navigating unfamiliar areas, ensuring a stress-free experience for your guests.

  Safety and Reliability –

Maintaining the safety and reliability of transportation is significant for any corporate event. Most reliable car and limo service providers prioritize their client’s safety by offering a fleet of meticulously maintained vehicles equipped with advanced safety features. 

Their professional chauffeurs are experienced and licensed, and appointed through rigorous background checks, ensuring safety and reliability. With their extensive expertise, you can rest assured that your guests will arrive at the corporate event venue on time, every time.

Final Conclusion –

So, you should never overlook the significance of transportation when planning your next corporate event in Fairfield CT. With Book N Ride Limo, you can improve your client’s travel experience and leave them with a lasting impression.

You should trust our experts to handle the ground transportation requirements of your clients and focus on making a corporate event successful and memorable. Book our car & limo Service and let us help you take your corporate events to the next level of excellence.

[polchinskimemo]

Granite Grave Memorials, Headstones Westchester, Greenwich

Find out the best Granite Grave Memorial Headstones Benches in Greenwich, Darien, Fairfield County Ct, Manhattan, and Westchester County NY. For more details, contact us.

These memorials have been erected on larger size plots in the cemetery.  They are truly works of art.  Erecting this type of memorial will bring prestige and importance to your memorialization.

Read more....https://www.polchinskimemorials.com/estate-memorials/

[shaankaz]

Prestige Luxury Properties in Bangalore

Prestige Finsbury Park Apartments Bangalore

Prestige Finsbury Park new launch residential apartment project for Sale from Prestige Constructions located at Aerospace Park Baglur Road North Bangalore. The Property is spread across 25 Acres of land with Hyde & Regent Towers. Hyde is spread across 15 Acres and Regent is 10 Acres. Saleable area of 1 & 2 Bedroom Flat ranges between 636 to 955 Sq.ft & 1 BHK Price starts at 33.50 Lakhs.

Prestige Woodland Park Apartments Cooke Town Banaswadi Bangalore

Prestige Woodland Park is a Luxury Residential Apartment Property located at Banaswadi Main Road Cooke Town Bangalore. The project Comprises of 3 Bedroom Apartments of sizes ranging between 1383 to 2094 Sq.ft. Woodland Park Property is spread across 1.50 Acres of Land & comprises of 166 Flats. The Cost Price of 2.5 BHK Home starts at Rs. 1.84 Crores onwards.

Prestige Fairfield 3 & 4 Bedroom Apartments Dollars Colony Bangalore

Prestige Fairfield 3 & 4 Bedroom Apartments located at RMV 2nd Stage Dollars Colony Bangalore. The Property is spread across 2.8 Acres of land and comprises of 158 premium residences. 3 & 4 bedroom apartments sizes ranges between 1993 to 2837 sq.ft. 3 BHK Price starts from Rs. 2.24 Cr.

Prestige Tech Cloud Commercial Office Business Park

Prestige Tech Cloud is a new launch commercial office space development located at International Airport Road Devanahalli Bangalore. This property is going to be an International Class, High quality campus with best of the Multinational companies operating from the property. The commercial development will have seven mammoth edifices including an Amenity building. The Commercial Office Building for sale in North Bengaluru is designed with a themed landscape with ample space allotted to greenery for ventilation.

Prestige White Meadows Villas & Apartments Whitefield Bangalore

Prestige White Meadows 4 & 5 Bedroom Villas, Apartments and Penthouse located at Whitefield Main Road Bangalore. The Property is spread across 28 Acres of land and comprise of 214 sky villas and 66 independent Bungalows. The Project is completed, received OC and is Ready for possession. 4 Bedroom Apartment sizes ranges between 4111 to 7854 Sq.ft and Villa area starts at 5576 Sq.ft. The Cost Price of Villa starts at Rs. 6.5 Cr Onwards and Apartments pricing starts at Rs. 5.0 Cr.

Prestige Song of The South Apartments Bannerghatta Road Bangalore

Prestige Song of the South apartments project from Prestige constructions located at Akshaya nagar Bannerghatta Road Bangalore. The property is spread across 33 Acres of land and comprises of 1, 2, 3 and 4 Bedroom apartments of different dimensions. This is an RERA Approved residential project. The rera carpet area of 1 BHK flat is 450 sq.ft and the cost price ranges between Rs. 35 to 40 Lakhs.

Prestige Park Square Apartments Bannerghatta Road Bangalore

Prestige Park Square 2 and 3 Bedroom Apartments located at Bannerghatta Main Road Bangalore. The property is spread across 8 Acres of land, with more than 70 % of land area utilized for landscaping gardens, water bodies and amenities. Park Square has to 586 high rise residential apartments of sizes ranging between 1115 sft to 1885 sft. This is a RERA Approved housing project and the rera carpet area of houses are in between 776 sq.ft to 1224 sq.ft.

Prestige Leela Residences Luxury Apartments Bangalore

Prestige Leela Residences 4 Bedroom ultra luxury residential apartment Project, located at old airport road kodihalli Bangalore. The Property is spread across 3 Acres of land and comprises of 88 super luxury simplex and duplex residences of sizes ranging between 2920 sq.ft — 6879 sq.ft.

Prestige Jindal City Apartments Tumkur Road Bangalore

Prestige Jindal city new launch residential apartments township project from Prestige constructions, located at Tumkur Road Bangalore. The property is going to be one of the largest housing complex in west Bangalore which is spread across 32 Acres of land area, comprising of 3571 apartments.

Prestige Golfshire 4 & 5 Bedroom Luxury Villas Nandi Hills Road Bangalore

Prestige Golfshire is a Luxury Villa Project along with a 18 hole golf course and Club House located at Nandi Hills Road Bangalore. The property is spread across 275 Acres of land and comprises of 209 villas with large portion of land area dedicated for landscaping, water bodies and greenery.

Prestige Elysian Apartments Bannerghatta Road Bangalore

Prestige Elysian is a new Launch residential apartment project from Prestige Constructions, located at Bannerghatta Main Road Bangalore. The property is spread across 6.27 Acres of land and comprises of 548 flats of sizes ranging between 1109 SQ.FT to 1810 SQ.FT. The project comprises of 2 & 3 bedroom homes & the cost price of apartments ranges between 88 Lakhs to 1.45 crores.

Prestige Augusta Golf Village 3 & 4 Bedroom Villas Bangalore

Prestige Augusta Golf Village is a luxury villas & Twin Houses Property, located in North Bangalore. The property is spread over 104 acres of land and designed around a 9 hole Golf Course.

The project comprises only 460 villas, as large portion of land area is dedicated for Golf Course, greenery, landscaping and water bodies. This is one of the best ready to move in villas for sale in North Bengaluru comprising of 3 and 4 Bedrooms facing golf course.

Prestige Hermitage Apartments Kensington Road Ulsoor Bangalore

Prestige Hermitage 4 Bedroom apartments located adjacent to Conrad Hotel Kensington Road Bangalore. The property is spread across 1 Acres of land and comprises of 23 Uber Luxury Apartments in central Bangalore. Each floors has got only 1 Residence with private lift lobby and service Lift.

Prestige Kingfisher Towers ultra luxury residential apartments at Vittal Mallya Road Bangalore. Prestige Group is by far the most premium residential development in Bangalore City. The project overlooks the magnificent UB City, Cubbon Park and offers breathtaking views of the city’s most happening locality.

Prestige Kenilworth 3 & 4 Bedroom apartments Cunningham Crescent Road Bangalore

Prestige Kenilworth 3 & 4 Bedroom apartments located at Cunningham Crescent Road Bangalore. The project is spread across 0.8 acres of land and is an exclusive community of only 42 Residences. This is an high rise residential apartment project set in a 23 storey tower. These homes inspire you to live life to the fullest and express yourself the way you do it best. Prestige Kenilworth has got 3 and 5 bedroom residences. The sizes of 3 bedroom apartment is 3503 sq.ft and 5 bedroom penthouse area is 6308 sq.ft.

Prestige Deja Vu — Premium 3 & 4 Bedroom Residences — Promenade Road Bangalore

Prestige Déjà vu is a luxury residential apartment project, located at Promenade Road, Bangalore. The project comprises of 3 bhk apartments and 4 bedroom penthouse of sizes 2775 Sq.ft to 4526 sq.ft respectively. The property is spread across 0.85 Acres of land and comprises of 40 Luxurious apartments with all major amenities.

Prestige Spencer Heights 3 Bedroom Apartments Spencer Road Frazer Town Bangalore

Prestige Spencer Heights apartments at Spencer Road, Frazer Town Bangalore. The project is spread across 0.5 Acres of land in the central Bangalore and comprises of 34 Exclusive 3 Bedroom Apartments. This is a high rise residential housing complex comprising of 18 floors, having 2 homes in each floors. The price of 3 bedroom flat starts from Rs. 3.40 Crores onwards.

https://www.behance.net/gallery/93879481/Prestige-Finsbury-Park

https://medium.com/@row.divyasree/luxury-apartments-for-sale-in-bangalore-ad80c59bd62d

[exhaustedplague]

Also I haven’t played Quentin in a while.  I’ve been busy playing my other son, Dwight

[dwightfairfields]

[blows dust off my blog] this fandom still alive???

anyways let quentin sleep 2k17

[youplaboum]

[pathesis]

Finished Dwight commission!♥

I’ll be opening commissions again soon as soon as I finish the last 2.

Thank you all for being so patient.

[fairfieldthinkspace]

Three Things

Homily by Assistant to the President and Alumni Chaplain Rev. Gerry Blaszczak, S.J., at the Mass to honor Rev. Charlie Allen, S.J. on September 19 at Fairfield University.

Bishop Caggiano, my fellow Jesuits, Dr. and Mrs. Nemec, members of the Allen Family, friends of Fr. Allen, dear Charlie,

In early September a number of you received an e-mail from me. It was an appeal for help. I wrote:

I am humbled by Charlie’s request that I preach at the Eucharist on September 19. But I am also daunted. I am probably not going to be able to distill everything into three points. I certainly won’t warm people’s hearts and lift their spirits the way Charlie always did. Please help by sending me your own reflections and suggestions.

Here is a sample of the responses I got, gentle listeners:

-“You’re right; you’re no Charlie Allen. Good luck.”

-“Charlie had the practice of always saying ONLY THREE THINGS. You would do well to follow his example.”

-“Keep it brief. People will be hungry. Remember that they came to hear Charlie, not you.”

So… let me offer three points. Three reflections, really, on how we can find our way into the meaning of today’s Gospel as we celebrate Charlie.

1.   It would never occur to Charlie to do what the apostles do in today’s Gospel. Charlie would never waste his energy or time trying to establish that he was the first, the best, the most important, the person most deserving of esteem, honor, or prestige. Charlie is not driven to perform, to say and do things in order to buttress his own sense of self-esteem. It would never occur to Charlie to try to appear to be someone he isn’t. There is in Charlie no put-on, no pretension. No facade, masks, games; no drive to impress or win over. Charlie is always and everywhere himself.

 What does Charlie know that, at this point in their own journey, the apostles didn’t? I don’t know how precisely he came by it, but it is obvious to all of us who know Charlie that he lives out of a freedom, a peace, a confidence that is rooted of his own experience and absolute confidence in the unconditional love of God has for him. The love of Christ set Charlie free and set him on fire with the ability and will to share the love of God made manifest in Christ Jesus. That unshakable confidence in God’s love has, I venture to say, allowed Charlie to weather reversals and disappointments in his own life. And, I would suggest, is the source of Charlie’s radiant joy, his unquenchable optimism, his resilient, buoyant spirit. But more on that in a minute.

 2.   I similarly do not know how Charlie learned that life is about serving others, and putting them first, which Jesus is at such pains to teach the apostles in today’s Gospel. I don’t know how Charlie came to see that the center of his focus, the preoccupation of his life needed to be, as it was for Jesus, emblematically, the child. The child, who in the Palestinian Society of the first century is not the symbol of innocence and simplicity, purity and beauty, but the representative of the non-person. It is hard for us to fathom that in the ancient world a child had no social standing, and no rights. A child did not contribute to the world of trade, warfare, government, religious learning or philosophical discussion. A child, consequently, was a being of no account, at most a potential resource for the future.

 Yet Jesus calls the child from the periphery, positions the child center-stage and embraces him. (By the way, I defy you to find any reference in the literature of antiquity to a philosophical or religious leader, prophet or sage doing such an outrageous thing.) How and when did Charlie learn the heart of Christ, and that to follow Him would mean to make the other the center of his life? How and when did Charlie learn that to be Jesus’ companion must mean to imitate Jesus in identifying himself with the joys and sorrows, the needs and aspirations of the person most marginalized and most disdained, most systematically devalued and ignored? How did Charlie learn to receive, to embrace, to accept and to welcome so sensitively, so inclusively, so warmly? I don’t know, but he did.

 Here is a claim I know for a fact I cannot make about myself: No one has felt unimportant, unvalued, insignificant in Charlie’s presence. And how keenly, intuitively, unconditionally we have sensed that it was not just Charlie who acknowledged, accepted, received us, but that it was Christ himself who had sent Charlie and who was somehow present in and through him.

 One of you wrote to me: “Charlie was a champion of students of color and women, which, in my experiences on this campus at that time, was rare and unique. If I had one word to offer, it would be ‘gratitude’ to Charlie for who he is and how he made me feel.”

 Another wrote: “Fr. Allen always made me feel connected to him as a person, i.e., he was always PRESENT and very focused on you when you were with him. In this way he manifested his own connection to Jesus and Jesus to me.”

 3.   My third and last point. Charlie’s irrepressible good spirits. The crazy games he plays, the jokes he tells, the laughter he loves to provoke and participate in, the upbeat quality of his preaching, his ability to lift spirits whenever you met him, his wry, playful sense of humor that finds its way into everything he does and says. Are we just talking about some particular character trait of Charlie’s, some quirk of his personality? There is more to it than that.

Charlie’s humor and joy and ability to lift us all up, I feel certain, has its source in the experience of God’s pervasive, faithful and unconditional love. A love that draws us ever more deeply into God’s own endlessly sharing, self-giving life, into the very life of the Trinity, where, emptied of crippling self-concern, progressively freed from enslaving ego-driven obsessions, we become more and more channels of God’s liberating, life-giving love for the world.

 Dear Friends, toward the conclusion of the Last Supper Discourse in the Gospel of St. John, Jesus spells out his motive for the preceding instruction he has offered: “These things I have told you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete” (Jn 15.11). Today as we gather for Eucharist, we give thanks to God for the gift He has given us in Charlie Allen, for all that Charlie has shown us, shared with us, been for us. Perhaps most of all, we thank God for the joy that fills Charlie’s heart, that overflows into all his ministries, friendships, relationships. We ask, dear God, that that joy, rooted and grounded in Your love for us all, continue to flow through us to touch, heal and renew all whose lives we touch.

[theatticoneighth]

Watching The Queen’s Gambit; on the Remarkable Unexceptionality of Beth Harmon

‘With some people, chess is a pastime. With others, it is a compulsion, even an addiction. And every now and then, a person comes along for whom it is a birthright. Now and then, a small boy appears and dazzles us with his precocity, at what may be the world’s most difficult game. But what if that boy were a girl? A young, unsmiling girl, with brown eyes, red hair, and a dark blue dress? Into the male-dominated world of the nation’s top chess tournaments, strolls a teenage girl with bright, intense eyes, from Fairfield High School in Lexington, Kentucky. She is quiet, well-mannered, and out for blood.’

The preceding epigraph opens a fictional profile of Beth Harmon featured in the third episode of The Queen’s Gambit (2020), and is written and published after the protagonist — a teenage, rookie chess player, no less — beats a series of ranked pros to win her first of many tournaments. In the same deft manner as it depicts the character’s ascent to her global chess stardom, the piece also sets up the series’s narrative: this is evidence of a great talent, it tells us, a grandmaster in the making. As with most other stories about prodigies, this new entry into a timeworn genre is framed unexceptionally by its subject’s exceptionality.

Yet as far as tales regaled about young chess wunderkinds go, Beth Harmon’s stands out in more ways than one. That she is a girl in a male-dominated world has clearly not gone unremarked by both her diegetic and nondiegetic audiences. That her life has thus far — and despite her circumstances — been relatively uneventful, however, is what makes this show so remarkable. After all, much of our culture has undeniably primed us to expect the consequential from those whom we raise upon the pedestal of genius. As Harmon’s interviewer suggests in her conversation with Harmon for the latter’s profile, “Creativity and psychosis often go hand in hand. Or, for that matter, genius and madness.” So quickly do we attribute extraordinary accomplishments to similarly irregular origins that we presume an inexplicability of our geniuses: their idiosyncrasies are warranted, their bad behaviours are excused, and deep into their biographies we dig to excavate the enigmatic anomalies behind their gifts. Through our myths of exceptionality, we make the slightest aberrations into metonyms for brilliance.

Nonetheless, for all her sullenness, non-conformity, and her plethora of addictions, Beth Harmon seems an uncommonly normal girl. No doubt this may be a contentious view, as evinced perhaps by the chorus of viewers and reviewers alike who have already begun to brand the character a Mary Sue. Writing on the series for the LA Review of Books, for instance, Aaron Bady construes The Queen’s Gambit as “the tragedy of Bobby Fischer [made] into a feminist fantasy, a superhero story.” In the same vein, Jane Hu also laments in her astute critique of the Cold War-era drama its flagrant and saccharine wish-fulfillment tendencies. “The show gets to have it both ways,” she observes, “a beautiful heroine who leans into the edge of near self-destruction, but never entirely, because of all the male friends she makes along the way.” Sexual difference is here reconstituted as the unbridgeable chasm that divides the US from the Soviet Union, whereas the mutual friendliness shared between Harmon and her male chess opponents becomes a utopic revision of history. Should one follow Hu’s evaluation of the series as a period drama, then the retroactive ascription of a recognisably socialist collaborative ethos to Harmon and her compatriots is a contrived one indeed. 

Accordingly, both Hu and Bady conclude that the series grants us depthless emotional satisfaction at the costly expense of realism: its all-too-easy resolutions swiftly sidestep any nascent hint of overwhelming tension; its resulting calm betrays our desire for reprieve. Underlying these arguments is the fundamental assumption that the unembellished truth should also be an inconvenient one, but why must we always demand difficulty from those we deem noteworthy? Summing up the show’s conspicuous penchant for conflict-avoidance, Bady writes that: 

over and over again, the show strongly suggests — through a variety of genre and narrative cues — that something bad is about to happen. And then … it just doesn’t. An orphan is sent to a gothic orphanage and the staff … are benign. She meets a creepy, taciturn old man in the basement … and he teaches her chess and loans her money. She is adopted by a dysfunctional family and the mother … takes care of her. She goes to a chess tournament and midway through a crucial game she gets her first period and … another girl helps her, who she rebuffs, and she is fine anyway. She wins games, defeating older male players, and … they respect and welcome her, selflessly helping her. The foster father comes back and …she has the money to buy him off. She gets entangled in cold war politics and … decides not to be.

In short, everything that could go wrong … simply does not go wrong.

Time and again predicaments arise in Harmon’s narrative, but at each point, she is helped fortuitously by the people around her. In turn, the character is allowed to move through the series with the restrained unflappability of a sleepwalker, as if unaffected by the drama of her life.  Of course, this is not to say that she fails to encounter any obstacle on her way to celebrity and success — for neither her childhood trauma nor her substance-laden adolescence are exactly rosy portraits of idyll — but only that such challenges seem so easily ironed out by that they hardly register as true adversity. In other words, the show takes us repeatedly to the brink of what could become a life-altering crisis but refuses to indulge our taste for the spectacle that follows. Skipping over the Aristotelian climax, it shields us from the height of suspense, and without much struggle or effort on the viewers’ part, hands us our payoff. Consequently lacking the epochal weight of plot, little feels deserved in Harmon’s story.

In his study of eschatological fictions, The Sense of an Ending, Frank Kermode would associate such a predilection for catastrophes with our abiding fear of disorder. Seeing as time, as he argues, is “purely successive [and] disorganised,” we can only reach to the fictive concords of plot to make sense of our experiences. Endings in particular serve as the teleological objective towards which humanity projects our existence, so we hold paradigms of apocalypse closely to ourselves to restore significance to our lives. It probably comes as no surprise then that in a year of chaos and relentless disaster — not to mention the present era of extreme precariousness, doomscrolling, and the 24/7 news cycle, all of which have irrevocably attuned us to the dreadful expectation of “the worst thing to come” — we find ourselves eyeing Harmon’s good fortune with such scepticism. Surely, we imagine, something has to have happened to the character for her in order to justify her immense consequence. But just as children are adopted each day into loving families and chess tournaments play out regularly without much strife, so too can Harmon maintain low-grade dysfunctional relationships with her typically flawed family and friends. 

In any case, although “it seems to be a condition attaching to the exercise of thinking about the future that one should assume one's own time to stand in extraordinary relation to it,” not all orphans have to face Dickensian fates and not all geniuses have to be so tortured (Kermode). The fact remains that the vagaries of our existence are beyond perfect reason, and any attempt at thinking otherwise, while vital, may be naive. Contrary to most critics’ contentions, it is hence not The Queen’s Gambit’s subversions of form but its continued reach towards the same that holds up for viewers such a comforting promise of coherence. The show comes closest to disappointing us as a result when it eschews melodrama for the straightforward. Surprised by the ease and randomness of Harmon’s life, it is not difficult for one to wonder, four or five episodes into the show, what it is all for; one could even begin to empathise with Hu’s description of the series as mere “fodder for beauty.” 

Watching over the series now with Bady’s recap of it in mind, however, I am reminded oddly not of the prestige and historical dramas to which the series is frequently compared, but the low-stakes, slice-of-life cartoons that had peppered my childhood. Defined by the prosaicness of its settings, the genre punctuates the life’s mundanity with brief moments of marvel to accentuate the curious in the ordinary. In these shows, kindergarteners fix the troubles of adults with their hilarious playground antics, while time-traveling robot cats and toddler scientists alike are confronted with the woes of chores. Likewise, we find in The Queen’s Gambit a comparable glimpse of the quotidian framed by its protagonist’s quirks. Certainly, little about the Netflix series’ visual and narrative features would identify it as a slice-of-life serial, but there remains some merit, I believe, in watching it as such. For, if there is anything to be gained from plots wherein nothing is introduced that cannot be resolved in an episode or ten, it is not just what Bady calls the “drowsy comfort” of satisfaction — of knowing that things will be alright, or at the very least, that they will not be terrible. Rather, it is the sense that we are not yet so estranged from ourselves, and that both life and familiarity persists even in the most extraordinary of circumstances.

Perhaps some might find such a tendency towards the normal questionable, yet when all the world is on fire and everyone clambers for acclaim, it is ultimately the ongoingness of everyday life for which one yearns. As Harmon’s childhood friend, Jolene, tells her when she is once again about to fall off the wagon, “You’ve been the best at what you do for so long, you don’t even know what it’s like for the rest of us.” For so long, and especially over the past year, we have catastrophized the myriad crises in which we’re living that we often overlook the minor details and habits that nonetheless sustain us. To inhabit the congruence of both the remarkable and its opposite in the singular figure of Beth Harmon is therefore to be reminded of the possibility of being outstanding without being exceptional — that is, to not make an exception of oneself despite one’s situation — and to let oneself be drawn back, however placid or insignificant it may be, into the unassuming hum of dailiness. It is in this way of living that one lives on, minute by minute, day by day, against the looming fear and anxiety that seek to suspend our plodding regular existence. It is also in this way that I will soon be turning the page on the last few months in anticipation of what is to come. 

Born and raised in the perpetually summery tropics — that is, Singapore — Rachel Tay wishes she could say her life was just like a still from Call Me By Your Name: tanned boys, peaches, and all. Unfortunately, the only resemblance that her life bears to the film comes in the form of books, albeit ones read in the comfort of air-conditioned cafés, and not the pool, for the heat is sweltering and the humidity unbearable. A fervent turtleneck-wearer and an unrepentant hot coffee-addict, she is thus the ideal self-parodying Literature student, and the complete anti-thesis to tropical life.

[leecherish]

Dwight Fairfield, The Nurse, The Cannibal, The Pig

DBD asks - OPEN!

Dwight Fairfield: Who is your favorite survivor? 

depends? I guess character-wise Kate is my favorite, because I love her “hopeful songbird” personality so much (and me being the musical person I am, characters who are musicians and/or singers are always entitled for a special spot in my heart).perk-wise I think… Claudette? both self care and empathy have been literal lifesavers for me lately.and as for my main, it’s Nea, because I fell in love with her desgin/skins/perks when i first started out, and ever since I got her the pineapple outfit, I’d say I pretty much associate myself with her uwuThe Nurse: What kind of new content would you like to see in the game?

new gamemodes, more rewards for climbing ranks and for levelling up characters outside of the prestige skins, and more frequent irredescent shard drops.  p l e a s e  my family is starving i need all Nea skins ever created (that are not behind paywall)

The Cannibal: List three HC for your favorite survivor or killer.

uh okay so this is not for any survivor or killer specifically, but I pretty much have an entire group of headcanons made up in my head for how most things in The Fog function to keep it (fairly) short: the survivors in the game always survive canonically, there are many other survivors in the Fog, but they are the ones who have died at the trials. the Entity manipulates the killers’ feelings, brainwashes them to a certain degree, where they don’t remember anything from the time they were human, all they feel is anger and vengeance (and obsession). sometimes though, to make the trials more ~interesting~, the Entity gives the killer a few seconds of access to their old memories in the middle of trials, which usually result in the killers displaying human emotions, even to the point of having a full-fledged mental breakdown - because let’s admit, most killers have had a traumatizing life. this is to make survivors confused, and maybe awake empathy in them, so they are more likely to fall prey to the killers - also because the Entity can’t experience human emotions, but is thoroughly fascinated with them, so they want it to be as intense as it gets. 

The Pig: Who are your favorite content creators in the community?

the youtuber who got me into dbd was Monto, but ever since i’ve been watching a lot of No0b3, Farmer John and PainReliever. Monto’s and PainReliever’s videos are great for learning how to play, and the other two’s content is great if I feel like watching something fun!

[shaankaz]

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[karnatakadiaries]

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[the-real-tc]

Review: Decision Time, Ep. 1103

There were several threads weaving together this plot in another solid script from Ken Craw. We had Georgie and Val butting heads over how hard to train with Flame. We had Tim and Caleb nearly having a falling out over how to run the rodeo school. There was Jade having confidence issues when a new girl (Avery) shows up at the school with great bulldogging skills. We also had Amy and Ty having their first “new parents” freak-out with Lyndy’s health. Finally, we had Jack extending a business proposition to Mitch (he really does like having that guy around!).

All seems well at Heartland on this morning, with Georgie taking Flame around the jumping pen; un-official coach Amy likes what she sees, telling Georgie everything looks good and that no changes are necessary. New daddy Ty shows up just then to place “smiley-pants” Lyndy in Amy’s arms so he can head off to the clinic. Just before he leaves, Ty suggests dinner at Maggie’s; Amy readily agrees. At Tim’s rodeo school: It’s time for his students to learn the fine art of bulldogging (steer wrestling), or for the ladies in the class, ribbon-grabbing. Caleb and Tim have a little disagreement over Tim’s chosen method of instruction, something that threatens to become a huge problem. Jade overhears their little spat and tries to reign them in a little before things escalate. Tim was so irritated with Caleb’s “suggestions” as the episode progressed, he was about to fire him. Caleb-the-Clueless thought he was contributing invaluable assistance. So funny to see these two on totally different pages. Caleb’s hero-worship of Tim has clearly never ended. But Tim does owe him one: when the students were close to ridiculing the old rodeo legend for banging himself up during a steer wrestling demo, Caleb indignantly talked about Tim’s successes, and that they should be grateful to be learning from him. Back at Heartland, Val is disappointed to find Georgie and Amy are done practicing already. She’s skeptical when Amy tells her they accomplished a lot. The show in Okotoks is next week, and Val lays a guilt trip on Georgie about where her priorities lie. She whips out an iPad with a detailed schedule for Georgie, and it’s clear that between practice times and competition dates, she won’t have much time for anything else, particularly Trick Riding. If Georgie thought riding Flame would be a fun, Val Stanton can really suck the joy out of it. Many others have commented on this, and I agree: it’s like Val hasn’t learned anything from when she pushed Ashley and Apollo. She pushed so hard, Ash grew to hate the sport and took up barrel racing just to spite her mother. So, one wonders why Val is pushing so hard… Flame is apparently an Olympic hopeful. Is it the prestige? Is it the money? I’ve posited in other quarters that since Lisa is experiencing financial difficulty in the “expensive” horse business, could Val be experiencing similar troubles? (It’s been pointed out that show jumping and horse racing are different, so maybe the show jumping scene isn’t going down the tubes and Briar Ridge is staying afloat quite nicely.) But if Val’s business is suffering like Fairfield is, maybe she’s desperate for a winner in Flame in order to keep from folding. Georgie tries to make the grueling schedule work, especially since Olivia has approached her to do a tandem trick as headliners in an upcoming rodeo. When Georgie pulls a muscle during a practice run, upsetting her training schedule, Val pretty much forces her to choose between continuing to work for her and riding for the Extreme Team. Side note: Helen Colliander does a brilliant job as Olivia trying to mask her glee when Georgie breaks the news she’s quitting the Extreme Team. Olivia knows the polite thing to do would be to sound disappointed, but she just can’t help herself. It’s a comical scene (I actually burst out laughing) since it’s clear Oliva is really jubilant that her “rival” is no longer going to be a challenge to her solo “headliner” chances. The other “decision” that had to be made was by Mitch, who seems to be hating his job in Calgary, even though it’s what he trained to do. Jack, seeing how much he misses the great outdoors, offers him a stake in his cattle business. In a really comfortable scene around the dinner table, Jack happily announces that Mitch has agreed to come on board. (Wonder what Lou will think of this when she gets back!) For Amy and Ty, Baby Lyndy has been a pretty happy infant… until she starts teething. Her sleep patterns are upset, and the new parents panic and rush Lyndy to the hospital when she starts running a fever. Of course, the kid is all right, but her whiny, cranky behavior shows new godparents Cass and Caleb that maybe now isn’t quite the right time to start their own family. Last but not least thread: Jade and Avery, the new kid in class. Not satisfied with ribbon-pulling, Avery gets into the thick of things by wrestling the steer to the ground, just like a pro. Jade is instantly intimidated, and treats Avery with open hostility. To her credit, Avery takes Jade’s constant maltreatment and comes across as humble, yet self-assured. By the end of the episode, the two of them come to an understanding. Jade realises Avery isn’t there to be a threat, and (maybe) convinces her to stay on as a student in Tim’s school; offers her a chance to partner with her in team roping. Avery says she’ll think about it… Final notes: Baby Lyndy is seriously cute. Not-so-cute when she’s cranky and bringing up her food on poor Cass, but when she’s happy, she’s adorable. Caleb had a poster of Tim on his wall when he was growing up; Tim had a poster of Farrah Fawcett. Adam is still hanging around, though he's stuck with Olivia. Still, he seems content to be chummy with Georgie, and the two seem comfortable with this arrangement. Val was clearly relieved to hear Georgie had chosen to quit Extreme Team, but at least she acknowledged it was a tough decision. Maybe there’s hope for her, yet! Ty claims he *sings* to Lyndy for bedtime. This, I wanna hear. (I would have thought songbird Mama Amy would be the one to sing lullabies.)