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themosleyreview · 5 years ago

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The Mosley Review: Best Films of 2019

Wohoo! 2019 has come and gone and man did it fly by. This year we had sooooo many fantastic films and this year was probably the hardest list to put together. I really wanted to include alot more, but I had to make a few cuts. Now I tend to keep my list to the traditional 10 films, but on some occasions I've extended it to 11. This is one of those occasions. I have one runner up that is worth mentioning and I think it should not be missed.

Missing Link: Many animated films are computer generated now and the art of hand drawn animation is rarely shown. The one type of animation that is all but extinct is stop motion animation. It takes time, patience and passion to bring to life characters with such sophistication and care in an almost forgotten art form. The masterminds at Laika are truly imaginative artist and this film shows that in every frame. Not many films take the story of the myth behind Sasquatch to fun places without being hokey and I was relieved that this film took it seriously and pumped so much fun and heart into the story and I think this was a hidden gem of 2019. Click the title for my full review.

Now, on to my list of 2019's best films of the year. If you want my full review of each film then go ahead and click the title of each film. First one up is definitely a fantastic sequel to a film that the author hated, but loved the film adaptation of his second book.

Doctor Sleep: The Shining is a classic that can never really be touched. Stephen King is famously known for disliking the film adaptation of his novel, but with his blessing placed upon Mike Flanagan's vision for the sequel novel, we got this magnificent film. Not only does this film pay tribute to Stanley Kubrick's film, but it also follows the same rules and visual structure while keeping the film fresh. The tone was consistent and the performances were across the board amazing. Ewan McGregor, Rebecca Ferguson and the talented Kyliegh Curran deliver absolute greatness. This film features stunning and intriguing dark moments, but definitely has one of the most disturbing scenes I've ever seen and its all because of Jacob Tremblay's performance in THAT scene.

Ready or Not: How many times have we seen the family initiation story in a romantic comedy? A dozen times I tell you! Well how about you take the same concept, throw in a fun horror version of hide and seek with a hint of the supernatural and great dark comedic writing. You get this fantastic film that is all of that and more. Luckily I stayed away from any major trailers for this film because in retrospect, the R rated trailer gave away too many of the fun gags. The performance of each family member was awesome and this was a standout performance for Samara Weaving. Every year from now on, this film will be on my Halloween watchlist. I loved this film and I can't recommend it enough.

Shazam!: Batman (1989), Superman (1978), The Dark Knight Trilogy and Spider-man: Into the Spider-verse are just to name a few of perfect adaptations of a comic book character to screen. This film was beyond perfection in many ways and the best DC film to date. This film had the right amount of fun, darkness and heart that embodies the life of the titular character. I could see the amount of genuine fun the cast was having on screen and the heartfelt performances of Asher Angel and Zachary Levi were outstanding. Jack Dylan Grazer stole the film with his amazing comedic speed and wit. This was truly a film I had high hopes for and it didn't disappoint.

Avengers: Endgame: How do you start a story in 2008 and bring it to an amazing and satisfying conclusion that wraps up 11 years of storytelling? You have a plan, a clear vision from the very beginning and with that it'll special success. Producer Kevin Feige set out on a journey to bring to life some of the best superheroes and keep them together in a cohesive and long formed narrative to complete a saga that's never been done before. He did it with the best talent behind each film's camera and The Russo Brothers have delivered the most epic film the superhero film genre has ever seen. I have waited my entire life to hear Captain America say "Avengers Assemble!" and I'm so happy I've lived long enough for my dream to come true. This was an emotional journey and end to The Infinity Saga. I really can say so much more about this crowning achievement in storytelling, but I'll keep this summary short.

Rocketman: It was only a mater of time before we got a biopic about the incomparable music legend Elton John. I was hoping that it would not shy away from his sexuality, addictions and his bright and explosive since of style. Well this film jumped right in and held nothing back and I loved every bit. It was truly a fantastical film that had enough gravity and style. The musical locations illustrate his most important moments in his life and are visually stunning and accurate recreations of his most iconic performances. Taron Egerton was Elton John and I loved that he sang all the music. This was truly a masterpiece.

1917: World War II films are a dime a dozen, but the World War I films are rare. Sam Mendes is one of the best directors and all of his films take you on a journey through the eyes, mind and soul of a character and he did exactly that in this film. The fact that this film is almost shot completely in one continuous take, gives every moment gravitas and tension as you watch our main character go along and across enemy lines to prevent an ambush. The score was truly haunting by Thomas Newman and my favorite piece from this film was from the flare scene. Such an stunning achievement in filmmaking should not be missed.

Joker: The clown prince of crime has had many iterations over the past 80 years. The most influential and canonical version of the character came from Frank Miller's The Killing Joke. Heath Ledger's take was iconic and made you scared because of his unpredictability. Joaquin Phoenix has taken the character and given a truly disturbing and authentic performance. As Arthur Fleck, we see through a constantly unraveling psyche, a man become a new and real kind of monster. Not only is this version the most unsettling, but it was beautiful. The cinematography was great and I loved how we got into the mind and heart of the character when he wasn't even speaking. This is a definition of how a person being pushed through horrible conditions can truly become a monster and yet be free. I loved this film and I think it will be studied in many acting classes from here on out.

Ford v Ferrari: There needs to be more racing films of this caliber! I love racing films that are not just about the cars, but also the drivers and their stories. This film was based on the true friendship between Carol Shelby and Ken Miles and I can't say enough how much attention to detail and heart that was put into every frame. The sound design in this film was crisp and powerful. The performances by both Matt Damon and Christian Bale was truly amazing and they had the best chemistry. Their fight scene was the funniest and most realistic fight I've ever seen between 2 friends. James Mangold is one of my favorite directors because of his focus on characters and story first before the action. This was a love letter to the world of racing and a respectful look at the lives of these pioneers of ingenuity and racing.

How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World: How do you make a perfect trilogy? How do you wrap it up with a satisfying and emotional ending? You focus on the story and stay true to the message and heart you started with in the beginning. You let the character bonds naturally grow and make each adventure a learning experience. This film was a perfect ending to the franchise and I can't stress how much I felt like I was with Hiccup and Toothless on their journey to this conclusion. The performances from the cast were stellar as always and although the villain may not have been as great, he still was a good addition. The visuals were the best and the textures in the scales and sand were out of this world. The score by John Powell truly brought me to tears as I got to say goodbye to my favorite companions. If you ever owned a pet, you known the emotional bond that is forged. This was the ultimate pay off and as a pet owner I saw my dog in Toothless' eyes. I will miss this franchise. If you're not crying by the end of this film then something is wrong with you.

The Peanut Butter Falcon: There are some independent films that take a risk in going outside of the norm and telling a story that nobody would have ever dreamed. This film was truly something special and I can't tell you how happy I was throughout. This film focuses on an individual with down syndrome whose dream is to become a wrestler and it is something truly inspirational and heartwarming. Zack Gottsagen was truly brilliant and awesome in this film. I loved his journey and his will to keep going. Shia Lebouf delivers an equally powerful performance and his chemistry with Zack was very sweet. This is one of the best films of 2019 and the most important films of the decade.

And here we are ladies and gentlemen! This is the moment you've all been reading toward. This film was an automatic choice for me the moment the end credits rolled. The crowing jewel of 2019 is none other than.....

Booksmart: I have seen so many high school teen comedies about partying or loosing your virginity before graduation, but never have I seen a film so engaging and focused on the bond of two bestfriends. Their bond was the heart and soul of the film and you couldn't have asked for a better pair of actresses. Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever were beyond perfection in every moment of this film and they had me cracking up left and right. Their adventure over the course of one night was truly fun and you are along for the hilarious ride. Billie Lourd nearly stole the whole film out from under them with her surprising and hilarious appearances. The music choices in the film were awesome as well. The comedy in this film was so fresh and from the first 6 minutes of the film you’re locked into these two ladies chemistry. I can't stress enough how much joy this film brought me and for a film to be on my mind for the entire year and to have me constantly recommending it to everyone I know is an achievement of itself. Olivia Wilde has directed a true masterpiece and new definition of a coming of age story. I can't stop gushing about this film so I'll finish off by saying WATCH THIS FILM!

And that is my list of the best films of 2019 and man has it been a great year in film. Lets hope 2020 starts off the decade with a bang! Thanks for reading everyone.

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dailyaudiobible · 5 years ago

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01/18/2020 DAB Transcript

Genesis 37:1-38:30, Matthew 12:22-45, Psalms 16:1-11, Proverbs 3:27-32

Today is the 18th day of January, welcome to the Daily Audio Bible I’m Brian it's great to be here with you today as we end a…end a week. This is actually…I’m looking at a calendar…this is the third weekend of this new decade. I guess I hadn't realized that until just now. Nevertheless, we have set sail. We have moved all the way here 18 days on our journey and we will continue that journey today. We’re reading from the Christian Standard Bible this week, which is today, and we have been working our way through the stories of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, whose name became Israel. And now we’re going to pick up the story of Israel and Jacob's son Joseph. So, today Genesis chapters 37 and 38.

Prayer:

Father, we thank You for Your word and we thank You for another complete week together in Your word and starting to feel the rhythm of the year now, this new decade upon us, starting to settle in, which is one of the words that we spoke of this year. And, so, we ask that You help us to do that, to find within ourselves, amidst all of the disruption that the Bible can bring to us, that what's really happening here is that what's false is being shaken. And sometimes we didn't even know it was false until it's exposed. But there is the truth deep within us where You live where the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells and this place is true and we want to learn about this place within us, because this is the place that Your word speaks to. And, so, come Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth. This is the promise the Scriptures give us, and we believe that You will. Lead us on the narrow path that leads to life. Come Holy Spirit we pray. In the name of Jesus, we ask. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is the website, its home base, its where you find out what’s going on around here. So, be sure to stay tuned and stay connected

The Community section of the website, and for that matter, the app, you can get all these sections in the Daily Audio Bible app by pressing the Drawer icon in the upper left-hand corner. And by the way, while we’re talking about this, I mean, over the years of the Daily Audio Bible there’s been different iterations of the app. The latest iteration is the one that we are really trying to move everybody into and onto because we have finally reached a place where so many of the technologies that we were building and dreaming and living into and having to come up with, finally, we have like an incredibly stable environment where, if you check a box that you listened, it checks the box. We even had problems with that last year. Like if you check that box, it's checked, it's done. Done deal. In fact, you check a box it's checked on any device you are logged in. Like, so, I had a fun time playing with this. like logging in on the web player, then using the app and checking the checkbox that I’d listened to a certain day on the app and then watching it instantly appear on the computer. It’s like across the board, finally. So, I say all that to say, if you haven't updated recently then go to your web store and look for Daily Audio Mobile app. You may see other Daily Audio Bible apps. Some of those other previous apps, they are being depreciated, they’re going away. Look for Daily Audio Bible mobile app. And even if that's the app that you're using, but you haven't updated in a while, this most recent update that we've done back, actually back at the beginning of the year, is by far…I mean…what's under the hood….the technology under the hood…is really what you’re gonna want to be using. So, update. How did I get on all that? Like I was talking about navigation. So, like, alright, back to the website or the app, go the Community section of the website, find a different links to different social media channels that we participate in, links to the Prayer Wall, like ways to stay connected and praying for one another and now we’re a couple weeks into this year. So, one of the rhythms that become apparent is that we’re a community that's actually incredibly loving, incredibly accepting. Like everybody knows that we’re in this together and we’re all…like…we’ve decided to try to live in the truth, like Jesus is demonstrating for us, which means that…that we accept each other on…on the journey that were on knowing that we’re sharing some history together. And the best thing we can do is love one another, pray for one another, encourage one another. And, so, you know, that's…that's the Prayer Wall and that's the prayers that come in at the end every day. So, you know, kinda like a little bit of a discombobulated conversation, discussing all these things, but I think that's really, I wanted to say is stay connected. That makes all the difference in the world on a journey like this. So, stay up to date and stay connected.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, you can do that at dailyaudiobible.com. There is a link that lives on the homepage and I thank you profoundly and humbly for your partnership. If you're using the Daily Audio Bible app, you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner or, if you prefer, the mailing address is PO Box 1996 Spring Hill Tennessee 37174.

And, as always, if you have a prayer request or comment 877-942-4253 is the number to dial.

And that's it for today. I’m Brian I love you and I will be waiting for you here tomorrow.

Community Prayer and Praise:

Hi, this is Candace from Oregon. I love you Daily Audio Bible. Have I told you that lately? And Brian and Jill thank you so much. Oh Lord that none of us ever take for granted this amazing situation. I want to thank Rachel from Pennsylvania and everyone else who’ve been praying for me and my household. We were under terrible attacks. Starting in November, it went on all the way into January and made…the holidays were good…but this was sort of underlying it and very stressful. I think it’s much better now. Please pray. January 28th, I have a beloved in law who might…who has to go to court and might end up doing some jail time. So, please pray that whatever is the best thing for this dear one will occur, be that jail time or not and that the judge and everyone he has to interact with will know how to point him in the right direction. Lord have your way. Also, please for my February 8th piano recital, that all the students will do well and that the whole experience of taking these lessons will be part of drawing them into a relationship with the Lord Jesus. Thank you so much for your prayers and I am praying for all of you as well. May the Lord’s name be praised.

[singing starts] I will send out an army to find you in the middle of the darkest night. It’s true I will rescue you. I will never stop marching to reach you in the middle of the hardest fight. It’s true I will rescue you [singing ends]. Hey this is for Anonymous who called back on December 27th and to anyone else who thinks since God’s so good and we’re so bad we’re not worthy and He doesn’t want anything to do with us, but like the song says He’s doing everything He can to get to us and He will rescue you. So, just a little encouragement.

Good morning Daily Audio Bible family this is Carla Jean from Las Vegas calling today asking you to pray for my son Noah. He’s 23 years old and has been fighting a spiritual battle most of his life. I keep thinking that God must have great plans for this boy for him to be so pursued by Satan. He’s 23 and he contacted me yesterday in the middle of an anxiety attack and we Facetimed for an hour trying to get him to seek help. He lives in a different state and he’s afraid because he has no health insurance and I told him I don’t care, just get the help you need, and I will take care of it financially. I’ve asked him if he wants me to come to him and he does not want me to go there. He is a sweet boy and I’m just…am asking you to storm heaven with me. Matthew 8:16 said many who were demon possessed were brought to him and He drove out the spirit with a word and healed all the sick. That’s my prayer for my son Noah and I’m praying for all of you who are fighting spiritual demons right now. May the Lord grant us all peace. Amen.

Some skim the surface while others dig deep yet both of them say Your commandments they keep one says confess and believe in your heart and you shall be saved you’ll have a new start and nothing and no one can take that away salvation is yours, whatever may but then the other one says action speaks louder than words and faith without works is just air for the birds if God is in your life then there should be some change all things are new if they’re not something strange but both of them say that Christ is the way that judgment is coming and you should trust and obey but yet and still both of them put others down including each other the cycle just goes round vicious in nature and not from our God which they both claim to represent which really seems odd traditions and customs leading to sin the Sadducees and Pharisees all over again what will it lead to where will it end misleading the children of God is a terrible sin though not by intention for they too are deceived but that original serpent also fooled Eve some skim the surface while others dig deep yet both of them say your commandments they keep

[email protected]. Like to give a shout out to Sherlock Washington and Kim and Michelle from LA. Hope you both are doing well and know you’re all in my prayers daily. And once again Brian and the Hardin family thank you for this wonderful podcast for God’s Holy Spirit flow. Keep it flown’ y’all. All right bye-bye.

Hello sweet DABber family this is Trusting Father in South Carolina. It is Sunday the 12th about 4 o’clock in the morning and I’m a five-year listener, this is my second time calling in, the first time being about a year and a half ago when my daughter had an affair. Since then she divorced and went into another relationship, a real bad relationship and from that she is pregnant, and we have a precious little baby boy on his way in April. But also, in her family she has two other little boys, one is five and the other soon to be three and I’m asking prayer for her. She…I don’t even know how to put it into words, but she is…she is very confused. She is in a high-powered job and, you know, before she went into her affair, she and her husband were…you know...they like to party and…and I’m…I just…I don’t even know. I feel like her…she’s just messed up mentally, emotionally, physically and, of course spiritually. So, I need to also tell you this, that I have a son who’s an alcoholic and a recluse and he’s 34 years old and we have another daughter who’s been in a 10 year relationship with another woman and my husband has been depressed before we were even married when where we are age 19 and 20. So, it has been very intense here, especially lately. And I want to, I don’t know, I just felt very led to reach out just ask for your prayer and I’m just so grateful in knowing that Father’s faithful. And thank you so much.

Hello this is Duncan from Fredericksburg Texas. I’ve tried…I’ve been on here once at least, I know that. For the lady in South Carolina whose sister is…is in...is in ICU let me pray right now. Oh Father so many hurting people and there are many listening to this who are broken and hurting and at various stages of grief, various stages of anger, various stages of anything that’s not good. Father, I know I’ve been in…I’m still…the post-holiday __ or hardships of life are…are sometimes harder to deal with and especially Father for those of us who have lost loved ones as I have lost my wife back in October. Father just take care of…of this gal, just please touch her and heal. Father just raise up people, more people who will love her back…back to health. Father, I believe that can be done with encouragement and father with being ministered to and I just ask you to do that for this lady who is suffering from bipolar and is in the ICU. And for…I cannot remember names, so many of them. So, just take care of them Jesus. Thank you. Amen. And now, just for me. I request, I am a pianist, I am…just happened to be totally blind but that doesn’t stop me. I’m 73 years old that does not stop me either. And I will be going to upstate New York next weekend and then to Long Island and then finally back up to Buffalo. I leave Saturday the 27th and then come back…no…Saturday the 18th and then come back the 27th then a player local gig on the 28th. So, I just ask you to pray for me…

Hello Daily Audio Bible family this is J from Nashville. Got a little bit of a something going on with my throat, but I wanted to take a moment to pray for the people who just feel like they can’t catch a break. Heavenly Father, in the precious and mighty magical name of Jesus Christ, God we come before You this morning adoring You and lifting up the holy name of Jesus. Mighty God bless You as we confess of any sins that we may have committed knowingly or unknowingly. Lord we rest in Your forgiveness and we thank You for Your grace and mercy allowing us to come to You again and again receiving this precious gift that You give us. Father, we need You in this moment. We pray for Your comfort. We pray that Your Holy Spirit will give us wisdom and understanding in these times where we just feel like giving up, where You feel like all the odds are against us and we can’t find a single way out. Lord we ask that in these moments of despair, confusion, fear, we ask that You will remind us in a way that only You know how, that You are there and You will always be there and You are in control. We love You Father. We praise You Jesus. We glorify You God and we thank You. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen. I love you family. I miss you. Until next time.

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hesthekingofsomewhere · 5 years ago

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Alright Y’all: Here are my HCs for Modern Sarah and Kath

Sarah

Gay af

also, fashion icon

bish got that bohemian art hoe aesthetic and she is LIVING it

also a pinterest QUEEN

she has a fashion youtube channel that is killing it

like a few million subscribers, half of which are there for the gay disaster elements

anytime she mentions kath she starts crying a little bit

epitome of west coast fashion on the east coast

that said, she looks like a sweet heart but she is a STRAIGHT SAVAGE

someone even looks at her gf wrong she is ready to fight

also, lowkey a genius

like, she’s kept davey and les alive this long, she has to be a genius

she has all of the brain cells of the jacobs kids

that said she can not drive

her driving in the city mostly consists of kath/passengers screaming

they dont know how she got her licence in the first place

also, hella into the environment and social causes

has not touched a plastic bag since she was 5

supports her gf with her whole heart

Kath

somehow more bi than jack kelly

jack, romeo, and her have “flirting contests”

first one to blush loses (hint: its always romeo)

professional flirt when it comes to everyone but Sarah

(not that she flirts with anyone but Sarah outside of these competitions)

she is the epitome of “young professional”

she works for a popular left-wing newspaper

she has a love/hate relationship with her job

a lot of other authors there hate her for her father

writes to the point of passing out at her computer most nights

good thing she has gf who can carry her to bed

distinguished bi in the streets, disaster bi in the sheets

unexpected meme queen, everyone expects sarah to be the one whose hip to the lingo but kath undoubtedly spends more time online

hates her father to the point where she’s not past exploiting him

not to get political but she is 100% a socialist

every 6 months she wants to move to a new country

also a total plant mom, but they both water the plants so they often drown

same thing happens with feeding the cat, rupert, so hes a lil chubby

would die for rupert, her plants, or sarah

supports her gf with her whole heart

#Newsies #newsies headcanons #sarah jacobs #katherine pulitzer #katherine plumber #newsies hc

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kukuandkookie · 5 years ago

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This is the version with ALL the bios!! For the individual drawings, go here!

Star Butterfly: When Meteora decided she didn't want to be the future queen of Mewni, preferring to travel around the world with her best friend Mariposa, Star was once again reinstalled on the throne. She was hesitant at first, but Eclipsa reassured her that she and Moon and all the queens after Festivia had earned their place as part of the Butterfly family—because no matter how flawed, they had served Mewni and made sure it fluorished till modern day. After her coronation, getting married to Marco, and having twins, Star has become much more mature. She's still playful but also very powerful, and even when magic comes back to Earth-ni, Star still doesn't fully trust it. Marco Diaz Butterfly: Star's husband and knight and the king of Mewni/Earth-ni, Marco is as caring and adventurous and strong and careful as ever. He can be quite overprotective of those he loves, but he's also always ready to battle. While Star is often frazzled with the duties of being queen, sometimes making her a little less aware of what's going on between her children, Marco is quicker to pick up on the conflict between Crescent and Celeste. Jackie Lynn Thomas Lucitor: Calm, cool, and collected, Jackie is as chill as ever. She really helps Tom's temper, and she enjoys teasing her husband a lot. She is a very carefree parent who doesn't push a lot of expectations on her son Tyrian, and while she often steps in when Tom is too harsh, her serene outlook on life can sometimes cause her to misunderstood her son's struggles to meet the kingdom's expectations. Note: I made Jackie and Tom a couple and designed Tyrian back in 2017! I didn't want to change everything in my next gen AU, so they're still together. Jackie is pansexual in this AU, and she did date Chloe. I do think Chloe and Jackie are cute btw! Tom Lucitor: While much calmer than he was as a preteen, Tom still occassionally loses his temper—especially since the duties of being the king of the Underworld can be very stressful. He's especially concerned that his son, Tyrian, seems to have such weak demon powers (since so much of him is part-human), and he worries about Tyrian and their kingdom's future. He doesn't mean to, but he piles a lot of expectations on Tyrian which really stresses the boy out. They were closer when Tyrian was younger, especially because they both do really love rabbits. Janna Ordonia Greason: Janna and Oskar sort of just happened. They're not a very dedicated or romantic couple, but they found their quirkiness compatible with one another. Still being her clever, manipulative self who can always get what she wants, Janna now acts as Oskar's manager for his music career. With her help, he's become a sensation—and she's trying to get him to rival the iconic boy band Love Sentence. Janna is still very interested in magic and the occult, and she is very good friends with Tom (sometimes much to his chagrin). Oskar Greason: Spacey, quirky, and sometimes rather strange, Oskar has since grown into a talented musician with many fans. His music style resembles Bill Wurtz in terms of uniqueness, but he also has a lot of popular "indie"-style songs that are more suitable for being played on the radio. He's often got his head in the clouds and has a coffee addiction (which he shares with his wife Janna). Oskar is often seen with dark bags under his eyes due to a lack of sleep—he seems most alive when singing or making music. Brittney Wong: Since growing up, Brittney has become a rather embittered woman. She runs a business empire and is still filthy rich, but she can still be quite rude and grumpy at times. Even then, she sometimes softens up, especially after Star tried to get to know her more, so she no longer dislikes her old classmates so much. She's also quite good at manipulating relationships to help her secure her spot on the social ladder, and she piles a lot of expectations on her daughter Whitney. Even then, Brittney isn't exactly a terrible person, and has a strong sense of morality in a cutthroat world of business. Note: Her adult design is based on Eliza Biskit from Littlest Pet Shop 2012, since I designed her daugher based on Whitney Biskit from the same show lol. Justin Armberg: Justin and Brittney got together awhile back, and their relationship has frayed quite a bit since then (perhaps they are divorced?). Justin is a professional football player, and despite his big size, he's got a pretty big heart. He loves his daughter a lot and does care for Brittney, but her attitude sometimes does get grating. StarFan13 (aka Amanda Jacobs): While still a giant fan of Star (and Marco!), StarFan13 does focus on other things after becoming an adult. She works at a library and reads to children and even writes picture books and children's novels (many inspired by Star), but she also got popular online for blogging about the royal queen and king of Mewni/Earth-ni. She's still quite hyper and quirky and excitable, but StarFan13 is also very nice and genuine. She recently got to know Kelly and they are growing quite close... Kelly: After she and Marco didn't really go anywhere as a couple, Kelly focused almost entirely on her fighting. She had a few relationships, but most of them were short and not very dedicated, and eventually she ended up with her son Kyle. Still, she's never let it get her down. She's still incredibly strong in battle, often duking it out with Jorby, and she's very kind and intelligent. Kelly enjoys reading, especially after her son got really into it (way more than sparring), and since visting an Earthen library, she got to know StarFan13 and they're growing quite close... Zeke: Friendly yet a little oblivious, Zeke has become a successful tattoo artist. He also enjoys skateboarding, spray-painting, and rocking out. While seeming mostly chill on the outside, he can get quite emotional over small things. Becky: Still dating Zeke, Becky is still a high-maintenance girlfriend, although she's less demanding than she was as a teen. She and Zeke have broken up a few times before, once being apart for a very long time, but they eventually ended up back together. She's fairly traditional in certain regards, and is currently a stay-at-home mom that does also do work from home. Alfonzo Dolittle: Alfonzo is still adventurous and goofy, but has since grown more into using that adventurous personality to pursue science and computer science (especially computer science and programming). He and Ferguson live together, and they collaborate on making video games. Ferguson O'durguson: Eccentric and sometimes a little crude or grumpy, Ferguson has grown into a sharp-minded businessman who is always ready to seek out a financial opportunity. Along with his partner (in crime) Alfonzo, he works primarily on promoting video games. Ruberiot: Always working on his next musical hit, Ruberiot wasn't too sad to pass the role of songstrel onto Angelo, a younger musician. Now he works on making his own music, having even collaborated with Oskar and is seeking a collaboration (and friendship) with Love Sentence. He hasn't changed much, still being easily frazzled yet fairly playful. Sometimes he gets overwhelmed with his wife and children's goofy antics. Foolduke: No matter how old she gets, Foolduke will always hold onto her sense of humour and cleverness. Still playful and fan, Foolduke enjoys teasing her husband. She has a lot of fun performing and even exploring the role of drama. Mime Girl: Basically an auntie to Foolduke and Ruberiot's children, Quince and Harley, Mime Girl is still very close to Ruberiot and Foolduke. While silent, she's very expressive and playful. She enjoys helping Foolduke and Harley practice performing. She also acts as a mentor to Quince, as he's so terrified of performing, easily scared, and has social anxiety, but miming calms him down, and he finds performing as a mime is easier for him than as a jester like his mom and sister. Princess Ram: Princess Ram is known to be fun-loving, often hungry, and kind of spacey. She loves beautiful things—especially shiny things—and keeps a careful eye on her Kingdom of the Green Pastures. Heartrude Butterfly: After marrying Princess Ram, he has since moved into the Kingdom of the Green Pastures. He's a little arrogant, high-strung, and competitive, but Princess Ram has helped him be more friendly and carefree. Penelope Spiderbite: Known for her kindness and friendliness, Penelope accepted monster refugees and helped them rebuild after the battle with Mina. Whenever kingdoms were hesitant to befriend monsters, Penelope was quick to join Star in the pro-monster campaign. She also works hard at modernizing her home, the Forest of Unlikely Spider Bites, and making sure her citizens have antidotes for all the spider bites they get. Slime Spiderbite: Penelope's husband, Slime has since become king of the Forest of Unlikely Spider Bites but still doesn't really enjoy the spotlight. Despite that, most citizens like him because of his kind and helpful nature—he was the main inspiration for the antidotes to spider bites that has since become a bestselling item. Slime is also very inoffensive and having basically become the mascot for the antidote, he's a very effective spokesperson for the pro-monster campaign. Lilacia Pony Head: Not exactly having grown humble with age, Pony Head is still brash and loud and arrogant. She's not an unproblematic queen in the slightest, but her citizens enjoy watching her and the drama or chaos that follows her on "The Pony Head Show!". She's not even always the best wife or mother, often getting on her daughter Starlight's nerves, but she's very protective and fiercely loving of her family. Seahorse: He's still pretty robotic and hard to talk to, but he's been a really good influence on Pony Head (despite them having an on-and-off relationship for a really really long time). He manages her show and does damage control—the citizens all approve of him quite a lot. He's also getting a little back into heavy metal, especially since his daughter, Starlight, has a strong interest in it. He can be kind of overprotective and baby his daughter, but he's been there for her when Pony Head is off doing whatever. Katrina: One of the many children of Buff Frog (aka Yvgeny Bulgolyubov) and a very smart/talented fighter. She spends much of her day working out, and since the monsters have found more peace on Mewni, she's joined the Butterfly royal guard in a sort of integration program. She (and Mona Lisa, the Septarian that is found as an egg by Crescent and Celeste and later added to the Royal Guard) both mentored under Meteora a little bit (but especially Mona Lisa). She also still really enjoys cornball and loves her family very very much.

#star vs the forces of evil #svtfoe #kuku88 #my art #svtfoe next gen #starco #tomckie #star butterfly #marco diaz #tom lucitor #jackie lynn thomas #janna ordonia #oskar greason #brittney wong #starfan13 #ruberiot #foolduke #penelope spiderbite #pony head

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a-walk-in-silence · 6 years ago

Text

Falling For You (Prologue)

Pairing: Harrison Osterfield x Fem!College!Reader

Word Count: 1.2k

Summary: You’d only known Haz as a voice over the phone. A close friend to one of your close friends. But one night, the two of you start talking alone. What happens from there?

Warnings: Small jokes about fetishes, nothing else much in this chapter!

A/N: Hey guys! This is a new series that I actually really want to write! I’m hoping to have all the backing and love and support for this because this is a story close to my heart. I want you all to enjoy this! Any comments, reblogs, and likes are appreciated!

Masterlist

“Hey, Y/N, wanna join in on my call?” asked your best friend and roommate, Ana. “It’s gonna be me, Tom, Z, Jacob, and Haz.” Her eyebrow quirked up a little as she gauged your reaction once Haz’s name was mentioned.

You nonchalantly shrugged, rolling off of your own bed. You clambered up onto her high-rise bed and joined her in what little tiny space there was. She reached behind you towards her desk, where she had two sets of headphones ready to set up the call.

The barest hint of a smile was etched on your face as you stared at the discord app that was open on her computer. Although you barely used the app yourself, you recognized many of the usernames of people that you had just started to become friends with.

‘Beer4lyf’ was Ana’s boyfriend, Tom Holland. He was also Haz’s best friend if you remembered correctly. You weren’t 100% familiar with everyone in the group or how they knew each other, but you did know that. Ana constantly bragged about it.

‘AlohaBeeyotches’ was Jacob. Batalon Another mutual friend of Ana, and a total sweetheart at that. He was extremely funny, and could make anyone laugh.

‘ThenPerizh’ was Z. Zendaya Coleman was Ana’s best friend growing up. The two were inseparable, and they knew everything about each other. But while Ana was at college, she was your best friend. The two of you wouldn’t trade that for the entire world. You had each other and that’s all that mattered.

The final person in the little group chat was ‘BlondsRDumb’. A joke username that Tom had created for his best friends discord account. Harrison Osterfield, or ‘Haz’ for short. He was probably the funniest person in the entire call, and he had a voice as smooth as honey. You never failed to smile when he was on call.

You never knew these people in real life. You had briefly met Tom when he helped Ana move into the dorm, but you were clueless about the others. The most you had on them was one of the billion pictures Ana had of them as well as their voice. All you knew is that these people were incredibly gorgeous and ridiculously talented.

You also weren’t sure how much they knew about you. Ana said she had shared pictures of the two of you together, so you assumed they must know what you look like. But you weren’t quite sure what they knew about you. Did they know that you did theatre in high school? Did they know about your past relationships? Just how much did Ana share?

“Hey, take your headphones, man. We gotta join call,” she joked, passing you the earbuds. You rolled your eyes and put them in as she pressed the “Join Call” button. Instantly you were met by the icons of these four people you had come to know.

Tom’s picture was a blurry picture taken of his dog, Tessa. Jacob had a picture of some waves crashing against the sandy shores of some beach. Z’s picture was the zoomed in picture of Barack Obama’s eyes that is constantly accompanied by the phrase, “then perish”.

Meanwhile, Haz had a picture of himself, smiling brightly into the camera. His curly blond curls were styled perfectly, and his baby blue eyes shone brightly in the picture. You weren’t sure where this picture was taken. All you knew was that it was a great picture of Haz.

“Hey guys,” Ana called, a bright smile on her face. “I have Y/N with me today, so be nice!”

You shook your head, a smile tugging at the corner of your lips. “Hey guys.”

“You brought Y/N? Gross,” Haz joked from his end of the line. “I thought she was done hanging out with us after you decided to share all of our dirty sex secrets to the world. Why is she back?”

“You’re not the only one with secrets, Osterfield,” you teased. “Besides, what’s a little fetish going to do to turn me down? There are much worse things to be attracted to that aren’t-”

“That’s enough flirting, guys. Come on, Ana told us she had big news to announce. So tell us everything,” Z chimed, her voice practically singing. You smiled over at her, pleased with the fact that she managed to hide the fact that you guys were leaving Miami, Florida, and heading up to Tampa to see them at the Halloween Party that Tom was throwing.

Ana returned your smile as she pushed her yellow-blonde strands from her face. “Well... The announcement that I have is that Y/N and I are going to be able to make it for the Halloween Party after all! You guys will finally get to me Y/N in person and I get to see you all again. Plus we all get to see Haz again.”

A weird sound came from Haz’s mic, his icon lighting up with a green circle around it to prove that it was him who spoke. “Guys I live in Orlando. I’m just busy with work. It’s not my fault I work 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. most days except for Wednesday and Thursday.”

“Yeah but you’re going to be there. And you’ll meet Y/N, and hang out with the squad again. It’ll be fun! Plus, you’ll love the murder mystery Z has been planning.” Ana once more smiles over at you, her dark brown eyes gleaming brightly. You could practically feel the excitement oozing off of her.

There was something almost exciting about seeing her get so happy about this party. She had helped Z plan the murder mystery, as had you. You both had put time into planning this perfectly so that way everything would fall into place and the murderer would be revealed at the end. All the clues were set up perfectly.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun, guys. I really do think that I can put up with 20 some people being there just to see everyone get really involved in this murder mystery party,” you replied casually. “I really hope you guys get into it.”

Your phone went off in your back pocket, startling you momentarily. You carefully shifted so you could slide your phone out of your back pocket and read the notification that you had just received.

Sitting on your home screen was a white notification with the word “Discord” written over the top. The picture was of a smiling Haz, the same from his profile picture, with the word “BlondsRDumb has requested to be your friend!” You and Ana shared a look for a moment before you unlocked your phone, accepting his friend request.

The next thing to happen was a text. A text from the person who talked to you the least out of the group outside of these phone calls. Every once in awhile he would acknowledge your existence in a group a shared group chat, but not as much as Z or even Tom. The text was simple, but, for some reason, it made your heart nearly melt in your chest.

‘See you this weekend ;)’

----

Hey, that’s it! This is the prologue so it’s relatively short, but I’m hoping this is enough to pike interest! I really hope this is well received! I have a few things planned for this! Some unexpected but good things planned! I really want everyone to enjoy this almost as much as I enjoy writing this! So comments are really, really, really appreciated! Thank you!

Tags:

@dodie-y3llow @youreafangirl-harry @thedaydreamingwriter @hollands-poppet @starksparker @hollandroos @peeterparkr @spidey-pal

#harrison osterfield x reader #harrison osterfield headcanon #harrison osterfield imagine #harrison osterfield series #harrison osterfield blurb #harrison osterfield drabble #harrison osterfield #series #prologue #falling for you

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apicturewithasmile · 7 years ago

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LOST rewatch (season 3):

[follow the entire rewatch-tag here]

episode 1 – A Tale of Two Cities:

Time for Dooooowntooooown!!!

“So I guess I’m out of the book club.”

Aaaah it’s THAT Jack flashback episode aka the lowest he’s ever been aka

It’s not that Matthew Fox is a bad actor… it’s just that everyone else on the show is better than him. It becomes even more apparent with the presence of Michael “I single-handedly invented acting” Emerson being around there to stay now.

Sawyer solving the bear cage puzzle is so cute I wanna hug him.

episode 2 – The Glass Ballerina:

Awwww yaaaaas Ben’s round glasses jkdgnidfgnoidsfg

It always baffles me how long it takes for the credits to finish. Going on minute 8 of this episode and they still rolling.

It’s Sally Slingshot

Only Ben Linus can use a camping chair as a dramatic prop

“My name is Benjamin Linus and I’ve lived on this island all my life.”

episode 3 – Further Instructions:

John being speechless after seeing naked Desmond running through the jungle – #same

Wait… is that the sweat lodge episode? If so it means sweaty topless Terry O’Quinn and my body is absolutely and 100% ready!!!

Charlie just made the same “you don’t call, you don’t write” joke on John that he already pulled on Eko

It’s probably the only totally… useless John flashback. Like… we don’t really learn anything about his character that we didn’t already know. I still enjoy every second of John screentime we get but… I wish they had used this one for something else.

“amendable for coercion” is probably what Ben has written in John’s file as well

episode 4 – Every Man For Himself:

Oh shut up Charlie, you jealous ass.

It’s the episode in which Ben knocks Sawyer out with his phallic baton.

“the big kahuna”

First time appearance of the true star of the show: bunny #8

I love that of all the characters on the show, Sawyer’s the one who reads every book he can get his hands on.

Murder cactus hair!!!

Ben’s Bunny Bag™!!!

episode 5 – The Cost of Living:

Sexy linen outfit, Ben! Love the abundance of chest hair!

“Do you believe in God, Jack?” – “Do you?” – “Two days after I found out I had a fatal tumour on my spine a spinal surgeon fall out of the sky, and if that’s not proof of God then I don’t know what is.”

“I guess he’ll be expecting us.”

episode 6 – I Do:

Yet another bad wig for Evangeline Lilly

Random Nathan Fillion

I love the cage frickle frackle scene

Nice psychological warfare, Benjamin fucking Linus!

episode 7 – Not In Portland:

I love Juliet’s curly hair <3

“I’m Tom btw.” – nice timing, Tom!

RICHARD ALPERT!!!

Ben just lying there, chilling with his back cut open… getting some fresh air on that spine.

There it is: Angel Hair Pasta story 2.0

“I wanna know what he said. You owe me an answer.” Good God what is it with Jack and this overly possessive behaviour? Why does he always have to know everything about the women in his life?!?!?! That’s not healthy, Jack!

episode 8 – Flashes Before Your Eyes:

More Desmond, hell yes!

istg that blue semi-unbuttoned shirt is such an iconic look for Desmond and it’s also hot as fuck

OF COURSE Charlie is playing Wonderwall

episode 9 – Stranger In A Strange Land:

The worst episode yet it gives us topless Benjamin Linus.

Seriously, I have hardly anything else to say about this one.

“Your bedside manner leaves something to be desired, Jack.”

Good fucking God, Jack you entitled self-righteous asshole!

episode 10 – Tricia Tanaka Is Dead:

Roger Workman!

Where’s Sayid btw?!??!?! Haven’t seen him in a while!

Aaaah there he is my bebe Sayid!!!

“SHUT UP! Red…. Neck… Man….”

episode 11 – Enter 77:

It’s the Mikhail Bakunin episode!!!

Oh wait…. Is that a Sayid episode? The one with the cat that I had completely forgotten about until now?!?!?!

I loves Sayid’s flashback hair in this episode.

NOT EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY, JOHN!!!

Oh John, what is it with you and beeping computers?

episode 12 – Par Avion:

“Remind me why we’re keeping him alive?” – “What do you suggest? We shoot him like a dog?” – “No. I like dogs.”

I love you, Danielle!

“The John Locke I know was…” nice time travel foreshadowing

Claire’s aunt is such an asshole!

John throwing Mikhail through the sonic fence is my jam!

DADDY SHEPHARD!

Okay but… if you can just go over the fence? Then why does Smokey not just… fly over it?!

episode 13 – The Man From Tallahassee:

OH NO NOT THAT EPISODE!!! Right in the feels!!!

John finally reunited with his future island husband.

The bedroom scene! Yassss!!!

“The man from Tallahassee? What is that, some kind of code?” – “No, John, unfortunately we don’t have a code for: there’s a man in my closet with a gun to my daughter’s head. Although we obviously should.” FUCK YAAAAS!!!!

“I know you, John Locke. […] Tell me John, did it hurt?” – “I felt my back break. What do you think?”

I like Tom Friendly – he really lives up to his name.

I can’t believe that Jack – the only doctor the survivors have – wants to leave the island all because Kate fucked Sawyer. Sounds like something a guy would do who’d detonate a hydrogen bomb because his girlfriend left him.

Ben and John out-sassing and manipulating each other is foreplay tbh.

“I was born on this island…” LIAR!

THE MAGIC BOX!!!! Fgnidgnidflsgnlkdd FUUUUUCK!!!! SHIT’S GETTING REAL!!!

Also a very rare occasion in which Ben’s beautiful face has no wounds, scratches, bruises…

You can see I adore this episode by how much I have to say about it even if it’s just a ramble of feels

And now it’s bondage John!

“And then you came striding out of the jungle, John, to make my dream come true.”

episode 14 – Expose:

Wow… I can’t believe I’m already that far down into my rewatch.

Unpopular opinion: I actually love Expose. It’s so… useless and dorky that it’s amazing!

“I’m just a guest star and we all know what happens to guest stars.”

It’s Boone and Shannon *cries forever*

I can’t believe someone called Maggie Grace and told her “hey, we know you got totally screwed over and we killed your character before you could have any substantial character development but… we need you back for an episode, you gotta scream your fucking lungs out of your body once more!”

Seriously…. This is the creepiest death on the whole show.

episode 15 – Left Behind:

Hahahaha it’s the one where Hurley tricks Sawyer into being nice

I loooove Cassidy and I love they mirrored this flashback with the Kate-and-Juliet-are-handcuffed-together episode

“My name is Kate.”

episode 16 – One Of Us:

It’s the one where Ben is very very creepy

That’s probably the only episode in which I can somehow understand the people who dislike Ben…. But I still love my dear rat boy!

episode 17 – Catch 22:

Ooowwww I love Desmond episodes

Oh Kate…why?!?!

I deadass forgot the whole freighter plot, like… I knew Miles & Co. where about to appear but I forgot how this whole thing started

episode 18 – D.O.C.:

Jin’s the only one who has a nice dad and a terrible mother

Also I just typed “John” instead of “Jin” which makes me wonder: where’s my bald jungle baby?

Aaaah first mention of fake 815

episode 19 – The Brig:

Fuuuuuck I’M NOT READY!!!

They made me miss my dear John for two (three?) entire episodes only to come back with this to totally rip my heart out

The “previously on” bit already wrecks me

IT’S THE PINS AND NEEDLES SCENE!!! Also known as: Ben tries this “flirting” all the cool kids are talking about.

Terry’s looking hot as fuck in that entire episode

Ben knocking out Anthony Cooper with his walking stick is my aesthetic.

Danielle causally poppin by to get some dynamite

“little hot for heaven, isn’t it?” – I would looooove this whole red herring if it weren’t for the “they were dead the whole time”-crowd

God that Anthony Cooper = The OG Mister Sawyer reveal is AMAZING!

“I thought I was special.” – “Well, everyone makes mistakes.”

Yes, James, KILL THAT ASSHOLE!!!

“I’m on my own journey now.”

episode 20 – The Man Behind The Curtain:

My precious Carrie Preston!

Uncle Horace

“Call him Benjamin.”

“You are the man behind the curtain – the wizard of Oz. And you’re a liar.”

Namaste!

Sterling Beaumon was the best casting choice for baby Ben!!!

Mikhail Bakunin still running like the devil’s chasing him (literally, kinda, considering Smokey revived him.)

John: [Ben] and I are going to see Jacob. – Everyone else: Wuaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa?

Ben really has a history of very shitty birthdays.

And this is making me very emotional because it reminds me of the “video of tears and pain” which makes me wanna cry my fucking soul out.

“Kinda hard to celebrate on the day you killed you mom.” Oh fuck off, Roger.

Ben’s Bunny Bag™ back in action

“I don’t wanna go back there. I hate it there.”

The way Richard talks to baby Ben is soooo similar to the way Ben talks to John I’m gonna scream!!!

Okay but this is no kiddon the best episode of this entire show so far. Like… Nothing that happened up until this point compares to this!!!

I FORGOT ABOUT BEN SPEAKING TO AN EMPTY CHAIR!!!!

Still baffles me they thought they could slap some fake hair and make-up on Emerson’s face and make him look like a 20yo – when he was already older than Ben is in our now-timeline… like… was there no 20yo actor with a big nose and bug eyes around?!?!

“Goodbye, Dad!”

“The Dharma Initiative. They came here seeking harmony, but they couldn't even coexist with the Island's original inhabitants. And when it became clear that one side had to go, one side had to be purged, I did what I had to do. I was one of the people that was smart enough to make sure that I didn't end up in that ditch, which makes me considerably smarter than you, John.”

John Locke seriously bringing a knife to a gun fight!

alright kiddos, I am #fucked up now.

episode 21 – Greatest Hits:

How many episodes actually start with someone running through the jungle?

Danielle just showing up to blow something up!

According to Jack this is day 90? So it takes another 18 days for them to actually get off the island at that point?!?! Wow.

Guess that’s the end of bunny #8

episodes 22 & 23 – Through the Looking Glass:

OH MY GOD IT’S THE FIRST FLASH FORWARD!!!

“WE HAVE TO GO BACK, KATE!!!!”

“I’m a dentist. I am not Rambo.” – I love these two so much!!

Can you believe they thought it was a good idea to give Ben round glasses that make his eyes look even bigger than they already are? He looks like straight out of a manga.

There really is a lot of fatphobia in this episode.

It’s taller ghost Walt

ALEX AND DANIELLE MEET FOR THE FIRST TIME!!!! WELP!!!

Ben letting himself be tackled and punched by Jack is such a power move. I am 100% convinced he let it happen on purpose because it’s already canon that he can easily knock out friggin Sawyer!!!

NOT PENNY’S BOAT

From Ben’s perspective this is once again John “striding out of that jungle to make my dream come true”

“I don’t wanna shoot you.”

Remember when you watched that finale for the first time and didn’t know all the time it was a flash forward and not a flashback?!?!? And then Kate steps out of that car and you were all like WOOOOAAAAHHHH?!?!?!

Remember when you didn’t know whose funeral they were talking about?!?!?!

That last scene was the first time I found Jack actually likable and relatable!

WE HAVE TO GO BACK!!!

#LOST #lost show #lost abc #Maddie rewatches LOST #finally finished s3 #this took me longer than 1 and 2 #because I was quite busy

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strongblacklesbian · 7 years ago

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Escape

Characters: Badger x Fox (both from Foxtrot) Rating: Mature (for swearing and hints at sex) | Word Count: 850 Summary: Badger and Fox were told to run. And run they did, stumbling into something Fox would call romance along the way. A/N: @travelingrose and I had an agreement where I’d write these two if she drew them and I’m finally holding up my end. Also for @timepetalscollective adoptions for Billie Piper’s character Badger. I wrote Fox with they/them pronouns. I hope this is okay. Also on: AO3

A mobile’s repeated chirps and cries fell on deaf ears, with relish, if its owner did say so herself. And she did, as she flipped over an aggressively polite “thank you for keeping our rooms smoke free” sign and tapped her cigarette on the plastic. Badger sank against the mahogany headboard and flicked on the TV. A reptilian grin curled her wine-stained lips seconds later when a voicemail icon began to flash on the mobile’s screen. It’d be the same as the previous half a dozen she’d gotten, no doubt.

None of it fucking mattered, never would. Mrs. D couldn’t touch them, not from the rotting jail cell she should be sitting in by then. Revenge tasted even richer than the now empty bottle of imported wine on the bedside table. And it’d gone down just as smooth. Badger had slipped into the club and onto Mrs. D’s computer to wipe her bank account clean. They rang the police with an anonymous tip about “Jacob’s” kidnapping on a payphone and took off for the most expensive hotel they could find. The charge wouldn’t stick but they were bound to come up with something that would. Mrs. D lately had taken the route of subtly threatening the police who came close to the club, and that road only went one way, as she was hopefully finding out at present.

So there they were, Fox and Badger, laying low waiting for their flight to the Bahamas in the morning. Ezra might’ve been a scumbag but his advice was on the dot. Fox was convinced they’d be caught, pacing the room until Badger ordered them a whole cart’s worth of room service. With a bellyful of filet mignon, souffle, and wine, they passed out and Badger could finally relax. Or try to at least. The room was so clean, entirely free of threadbare carpets soaked with decades of dirt or grimy mystery-stained sheets. Its crisp white porcelain sink and down pillows conveyed a sense of safety Badger didn’t deserve. Not that she much cared. There was only one thing she bothered to care about presently - they were tucked into her side, cocooned in impossibly high thread count sheets and a plush monogrammed dressing gown.

Badger wasn’t accustomed to caring about anything, much less somebody she’d only just met. She might’ve likened herself to the smoke escaping her lips: only ever drifting by and disappearing before anyone could get close, leaving just a scant trace behind. She’d upset Fox when they asked why she kissed them because she didn’t have an answer other than she’d felt like it. Anyone else might’ve let it go right there, she wasn’t worth the effort. Fox fought her on it and got under her skin.

“Can’t let yourself feel anythin’ for anyone, can ya?” they’d snapped.

This froze Badger in place and seeped into her chest, chilling her to her core. Fox’s pointed rage robbed her of anything meaningful to say. So she didn’t say anything. Not with words, at least. Words were cheap and Badger’s tastes were expensive. A lip-biting kiss and a simmering sigh later Badger was shedding her snakeskin and slipping into bed with Fox, clinging to their heat. They’d melted and whimpered in her arms. Now fast asleep, Badger idly combed her fingers through their hair as she emptied the contents of her brain into late night telly. She suspected she might never have an answer that’d satisfy Fox but couldn’t resist feeding off their pure heart as long as she’d be allowed to.

Days into their escape to the Bahamas Badger thought she was in the clear and Fox had forgotten their question but when they asked again, “Why me?” Badger simply replied “Why’d you come with then?” She eagerly lapped up Fox’s frankly adorable indignance, which only made them angrier, shouting about whether their relationship (capital ‘R’, to Badger’s brief panic) was a game to her. Later that day they shouted about something different entirely, much to Badger’s eternal smugness.

It in fact was a game. Badger brought up the fact that Fox could leave any time they pleased, if they could bring themselves to leave the warmth and pristine beaches behind in favor of London weather. They went out and got a job at a little restaurant near a resort - entirely in spite. Badger’s move. Fair enough, she thought. Two could play. She went out and charmed her way into a dance instructor position for American tourists with too much free time and money. (Always the perfect combination for a customer, in Badger’s experience.) Fox would hitch a ride with a coworker to the resort Badger worked at and they’d walk home to the beat up shack they rented under the table. But it was theirs and they were strangely proud of it. Some nights Fox would sneak into Badger’s classes and steal a dance with the instructor.

Somewhere in the midst of their game of relationship chicken Badger’s goal shifted to making Fox smile. She didn’t care about the future at all as long as she could see that smile in it.

#billie piper #foxtrot #badger x fox #timepetalscollective #travelingrose #model #moony's fic #look i wrote a thing #badger needed a fic #now she's got one #she's not an easy character to write actually #i enjoyed the challenge

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pacman-tattoo · 7 years ago

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tw: parental abuse, depression, other mental bullshit, manipulation, mention of rape (which ended up being a lie told to me, but it’s still there), suicide attempt mention

i guess i owe you guys a story or some shit. it’ll be under a read more since... i don’t want to hurt anyone else.

it’s pretty long, so if you don’t read it, i don’t blame you. but fuck it, i might as well tell my story.

so. i’m not sure how else to start other than at the beginning of what i can remember.

i’ve always been a lonely kid. i had a couple friends, ended up somehow growing apart from them one way or another. one of these friends as a girl named haley. she was tall and blonde and not many kids liked her but she stood up for me so i liked her. my dad actually knew her grandparents. they were nice to me.

we got along well, at first. i had my first sleepover at her house and it was just us two and we played pretend like the kids we were. eventually it went from being innocent to sexual, as she played pornographic games on the computer across from her bedroom and i still get uncomfortable at the memory because she ignored me when i complained until i ended up distracting myself.

we played pretend. we texted, i remember being frustrated at a stupid flip phone because of texting. i remember being young.

i remember her lying to me about a boy that lived across the street. she told me he raped her. i remember being pissed at him and wanting to do something but she refused. i remember her trying to “lure” him into her room so that we could get a picture of him.

it was all a fucking lie. a game. like it’s not a serious issue, like it was nothing. i’m still pissed over it. eventually she told me she might be pregnant and that she’d keep the baby and that was also a lie.

eventually she flunked out of the school we were in, and i remember distancing myself slowly and eventually stopped talking to her. when i made a facebook account in... i dunno, end of 8th grade, beginning of freshman year maybe? she found me and tried to reconnect because she recognized the name but i didn’t have an icon. i deleted the request, blocked her, and never spoke to her again.

not too long ago, she was arrested along with some other dude for what i think was kidnapping and assaulting a kid she got into an argument with.

after haley was sara. sara was tall and arrogant and hot-headed and didn’t want friends, she wanted people to agree with everything she said and do her bidding. with sara, i had logan (who’s still my friend today, bless him) and jacob (who i stopped talking to after 8th grade). i fucked up, i bitched at her, and she made my life hell. she talked shit about me behind my back, she made logan and jacob avoid me, she abandoned me completely. this was seventh grade. i was 12.

i learned that i might be depressed when i was 12. sara mocked me because i wasn’t like her - i didn’t have the scars to show for my struggles, i appeared to have a cushy life. eventually it was just bullying, and i ended up nearly killing myself. i can’t wear lanyards anymore without thinking about that day. so i resolved to stay away from sara, ultimately. logan and i were still friends, sorta. jacob was my best friend. the only good thing from 7th grade was that i started participating in theatre that year.

so came along 8th grade. sara and logan were in high school (and my school is technically a program within two schools, going from 6th to 12th) and jacob and i were in middle school so we were separated then. jacob and i played pokemon and were in drama together. he was friends with sara. he tried to convince me that she changed.

she did not. i kept her out and i refused to let my guard down again. i’d been hurt before, i wasn’t letting it happen again. jacob confessed he liked me at the end of the school year. sara left the school that year, i’m pretty sure. i stopped talking to both of them.

i meant to mention this before, but 7th grade was when things started to grow more unbearable. teresa judged my friendships and tried to police who i hung out with. she tried to control odyssey of the mind and theatre, trying to “coach” me until she realized i wasn’t going to listen to her advice (because i was always a little shit, i guess).

high school hit. i was alone again. i had sharon (a sweetheart) who ate lunch with me before she ended up just going to her mom’s classroom. i started getting worse - more anxious, more depressed. it wasn’t too bad. i could handle it. i barely remember sophomore year, except for the part where i confessed my feelings for a senior and then realized i wasn’t straight due to Another Senior (love you, IJ, thanks for helping me discover myself) and getting badly fucked due to my team in OM - which ended up marking my final year in the program. fuck you, bo. you hurt me and you still are.

teresa gets worse. she had surgery back in freshman year, and every so often she has to go in to have things checked out because maybe her tumor isn’t gone completely. and yeah, that’s a lot to drop - but it’s changed her. she used to be loving. and now she’s... not my mom, i guess.

junior year was okay. i was depressed, i was anxious - but i made a friend and we’re still friends today and she means a lot to me. the end of the school year is when i found Dear Evan Hansen and found myself in characters - namely, evan and connor.

the summer over senior year seemed to hurt. teresa felt controlling, wanting me to go to the college she wanted me to go do (which i’d rather die then go to), study what she wanted me to study, do what she wanted me to do. i was nothing more than a slave to her, and my brother gets the worst of it a lot of the time.

i would put this in like... a better time, but i don’t remember when it happened - or if it even did happen. i remember my brother and my dad leaving for the day, i remember teresa forcing me to hang out with her and eventually it turned into her taunting me and making me sob and her screaming at me to keep crying, you baby and i remember feeling so helpless. i remember clinging to my dad when he got home and he was pissed at me because his fucking wife played innocent like i was just acting out. like i was a toddler.

i still don’t know if it happened. but it feels so damn real, but i can’t even trust my own memory anymore.

so here i am now. i’ve wanted to kill myself more times in the past few months than i have in years. i’ve fucked up a lot more, i’ve slipped up, my mental health falling into hell. i found love, we broke up - and we still talk. i fuck up over and over. i have people leave me. i have people stop talking to me, abandoning me again and again without reason. and i should know that’s just how life is sometimes - but, fuck, i can barely let my guard down for anyone anymore. i can’t trust people as easily as i want to.

and now i’ve stopped taking my meds because i hear beeping sometimes and it causes me to have panic attacks because it sounds like a heart monitor and i’ve never had problems with hospitals before.

i’m broken. and i know i’m broken - and i’m beyond repair.

but i’m trying. god knows, i’m trying.

and that’s all i can do.

i’m trying.

i’m percy.

i’m 17.

and i’m ready to wake up.

#bean talks #suicide mention tw #suicide tw #rape mention tw #manipulation tw #parental abuse tw #emotional abuse tw #ask to tag #(just lemme know bbs i promise i wont mind)

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wallpaperpainting · 4 years ago

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The 10 Secrets That You Shouldn’t Know About How Can I Sell Paintings Online? | how can i sell paintings online?

There is alone one apparatus trusted by art-world assembly to buy, sell, and analysis art: the Artnet Price Database. Its users beyond industries—from bargain houses to museums, galleries and government institutions—represent the art world’s best important players. We’re demography 15 account to babble with some of the Artnet Price Database’s ability users to get their booty on the accepted accompaniment of the bazaar and how they’re befitting up with the latest trends.

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Miety Heiden’s job as a agent administrator and arch of clandestine sales at Phillips allows her to assignment with abounding of the world’s top collectors. “With clandestine sales, it is all about the acceleration at which you can accomplish a purchase, and not actuality bedfast to bargain seasons,” she says. “The capital address for collectors is burning satisfaction.”

Even during the accepted abeyance on in-person business, Heiden has affiliated to accomplish after-effects for Phillips, negotiating sales of works by Banksy, Yayoi Kusama, and Bruce Nauman.

We had the adventitious to bolt up with Heiden about aggregate from how online sales will change the art market, to what makes an online examination allowance angle out from the crowd.

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How has the role of clandestine sales aural the beyond art bazaar confused over the accomplished decade?

Auction houses accept been affairs abreast back the 1980s. Nowadays, we are seeing added “public” clandestine sales, including affairs exhibitions and, of course, online examination rooms. There has been a greater about-face to accessible clandestine sales than annihilation else.

You had an important duke in Phillips’s acknowledgment to the growing absorption in historically marginalized and underrepresented atramentous artists, including the 2019 exhibition, “American African American.” Back then, how accept you apparent this articulation develop?

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Phillips as an alignment has benefitted from the insights of our chief advisors, decidedly Arnold Lehman, who was already the administrator of the Brooklyn Museum, and curated “American African American.” The absorption from collectors in African American artists has skyrocketed in contempo years and the bazaar has acquired rapidly. Back in 2015, I captivated a affairs exhibition at Sotheby’s featuring works by Jacob Lawrence, Barkley Hendricks, and Njideka Akunyili Crosby, amid abounding others. At the time, there was actual little absorption in these works—you could accept best up a Barkley Hendricks for $100,000, but cipher bought it—and now we are seeing his assignment advertise for over $10 million.

Are there any artists in accurate you anticipate abide undervalued?

I still anticipate women artists are undervalued, in general.

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What arising art-market trends are you befitting your eye on?

I’m consistently befitting an eye on what’s accident globally with art-market trends, and I adulation

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rate-out-of-10 · 7 years ago

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SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING REVIEW

Since 2002 we’ve seen two actors take up the mantle that is Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. Now, with the MCU’s continuously expanding universe and a partnership with Sony, a third joins the fray, Tom Holland. Spider-Man is one of the most recognizable icons in all of pop-culture, so when Spider-Man: Homecoming was announced and that Marvel Studios and Sony came to an agreement to allow Spider-Man to join the MCU, there was a lot of excitement. In addition, we got a wonderful taste of the new take on the web-slinger in Captain America: Civil War (2016), so a solo movie showcasing what this iteration was all about, naturally the hype was extremely high. And it really pays off in the end.

WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD

CHARACTERS/PERFORMANCES

It should be made known that this interpretation of Peter Parker is a younger kid than the past two live-action ones, specifically a 15 year old high school sophomore. Tom Holland is the youngest to play the role to date, and he fits it like a glove. Not only does he look the part being so young, but his whole demeanor and personality is immature, but in the best of ways. He’s quick-witted, and about as blown away as audiences are while he’s pulling off his super stunts. Tom Holland is a refreshing take on a character we all know, and have seen on the live-action screen twice before, and that’s great. He owns everything about Peter, the awkwardness, the genius, and the whimsy and outgoingness of Spider-Man. He’s perfect for the role. Alongside Tom Holland, he has his best friend character, Ned played by Jacob Batalon. Batalon plays the comedic role well enough, however I personally feel that there were too many bits of him just derailing scenes. He was funny, don’t get me wrong, however the film is filled with humor so to have a character that was there almost devoted as the comedic relief seemed a bit tried. His relationship to Peter, however, felt very genuine, so the constant gags he plays always feel in character. From a villain perspective, Michael Keaton’s Adrian Toomes (The Vulture) isn’t anything groundbreaking, but here he works very well with what the film is going for. He is realistic and felt mostly justified with what he was doing, however some jumps in motivation were a bit stark, which made Toomes feel a tad bit under developed. Nonetheless, Keaton plays him very well, with confidence and with just the right amount of broodiness that he didn’t feel at all like another cheesy, weak Marvel villain. On top of Adrian Toomes’ evil doing, I appreciated the humanistic approach to him and his team. When the world is now wracked with aliens and monsters, people of course will start to try and get ahead just to survive, but then to profit. It was a nice commentary on how humans react when they feel outgunned or up against a wall. A “force hand” to The Vulture’s character was very apparent.

Among the top stars in Homecoming, Robert Downey Jr., and Jon Favreau reprise their roles as Tony Stark and Happy Hogan respectively. I’m glad that this film didn’t try too hard to bank on Iron Man, he was a very welcome supporting character, an awkward mentor and a person that Peter thinks very highly of. I’ve missed Happy, not seeing him since Iron Man 3 (2013), and the same goes for Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts. These characters were all very welcome on screen. The other cast of characters including the rest of Peter’s classmates like Laura Harrier as Liz, Tony Revolori as Flash, and Zendaya as Michelle were all great to see. The diversity in the casting of the film is very commendable as well. It felt like a real diverse high school in a real city. It’s often seen as a little thing, but roles like these do carry a lot of weight and it’s very refreshing to see. On another beat, the younger take on Aunt May (played by Melissa Tomei) worked well with the younger take on Peter as well. She didn’t feel out of place, and honestly, I kind of preferred it. I did want to chime in on the MJ talks too. Zendaya plays a role named Michelle Jones, and at the end of the film she says “my friends call me MJ”, a clear emulation of the known character Mary-Jane, “MJ”, and Peter’s wife in the comics. There’s no real content in the film to say that she is the “new MJ” but regardless, she’s a different character entirely, as seen by how she carries herself here. The nickname is really the only place where the two characters cross. Regardless of future intent for the character, like her potentially becoming Peter’s love interest, she’s not Mary Jane. Her nickname of course pays homage to the “original MJ”, but that’s it. This is Marvel taking artistic liberties, with both diversifying its casting, as well as creating a unique, but still recognizable, universe for Spider-Man.

DIRECTION/WRITING

Director Jon Watts and his writing team had their work cut out for them, crafting a fresh take on the character of Spider-Man as well as blend him in with the established MCU. Skipping the original story completely was the absolute best decision for the film. Instead focusing on Peter’s dealings as Spider-Man, his desire of becoming an Avenger, and his really being a young, naïve kid. This is a grounded, small-scale approach to Spidey. He’s never in downtown Manhattan for example, he’s swinging from smaller building, and using what’s around him to get around. There’s even a bit of him swinging into a gold course where there nowhere to swing so he ends up just sprinting across the screen muttering, “This sucks”. The plotline as well is very small compared to the “world ending” stories that we’ve gotten used to seeing from Marvel at this point. It was refreshing to take a step back and focus on building Peter and Spider-Man, and establishing him, before anything else. The writing is very strong with Peter’s character. I will say though, that there were several bits throughout the film that had great dramatic potential, but were undercut by daft attempts at comedy. Spidey is always going to quipping, that’s a given, but here I felt like the writing was trying way too hard to add humor in not-needed places. I wanted to take things a tad bit more seriously, but I feel like I wasn’t allowed to.

As a storyline goes, it hits all the generic notes, but it relies a lot on Tom Holland’s character to do the heavily lifting. His character is meant to draw in viewers, and if done right, whatever Peter is doing, people should be invested in it. Like I said, it’s a small scale film, and it definitely plays on a lot of cheesy elements (typical high school, typical romance, the same Peter Parker troubles we’ve all seen before), however the film generally does a great job with allowing those things to work with the script and have it still feel exciting, rather than tried. Homecoming paced itself generally well, too. There were some parts that felt a little rushed, some of the high school sequences felt a bit lackluster as well. Almost like they were in there because they had to be, but they didn’t carry too much weight. What really moved the film along was Peter himself and whenever Spidey was on screen. There were some great fight sequences, the ferry scene being the most notable. Spidey was quick, quipping the whole time, and showcased some amazing talents. I very much enjoyed “Karen”, Spider-Man’s computer that Stark put in his suit. I loved seeing the high-tech suit, something we hadn’t seen before. There were some great action scenes throughout, the ferry scene being the most notable. It being the clear height of the film, where we get a real showdown between Spider-Man and Vulture, a great scene with Peter trying to keep the ship from breaking off, as well as Tony confiscating the Spider suit. The movie was in full swing by this time, and Peter’s transition back into his make-shift suit through the end of the film didn’t feel spoiled at all. Heading back to the roots was a nice direction to go in, especially to give a glimpse to what Spidey was before Tony’s suit.

I think Homecoming started in the best of ways. After being introduced to Adrian Toomes during the clean up after the “Battle of New York”, we get a first person, video footage perspective of Peter when he is first picked up by Tony in Civil War, to when he gets his new suit, as well as him filming while he’s waiting for his queue to swing in and take Cap’s shield. I thought that whole bit was extraordinarily clever and the best way to introduce Holland’s Peter into this movie. Separately, it isn’t abundantly clear when this film takes place. We do get an ”8 Years Later” stamps after we see Toomes cleaning up New York; we’re obviously somewhere in between Civil War, as Cap is cited as a war criminal now, and the events of Doctor Strange and the Earth bit of Guardians 2 isn’t mentioned at all. I also have to give a great commendation for Cap’s troll of a post-credits scene. After Gunn’s clever post-credits bombardment in Guardian’s 2, we get Cap doing a PSA announcement on “patience” and how it’s so important, even when faced with something so disappointing when you waited a long time to get to it. I see you, Marvel.

Final Rating: 8.5/10

I think Spider-Man: Homecoming is exactly where the MCU needed to go with Spider-Man. It didn’t waste too much time getting to him, it gives Tony and Happy, new Spider-Man gadgets and things, and it was an all-around good time. There may have been some issues with the comedy undercutting some important, potentially dramatic scenes, and the plotline being a generic one, but the film is a lot of fun regardless because Tom Holland alone reels you in and keeps you smiling. It’s small scale, and to some it may feel a tad bit underwhelming, but for the character of Spider-Man, this is where we needed to see him. In a “friendly, neighborhood” setting. It worked really well, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Spider-Man in the future. I really hope he’s here to stay because: objectively, this is a great movie and Tom Holland is wonderful, but subjectively, Spidey is my favorite in all of Marvel comics, so I really want him to stick around in the MCU.

#spider man #spiderman #spider-man #tom holland #marvel #marvel comics #mcu #superhero #comic #comic books #robery downey jr #review #film review #movie review #out of 10 #peter parker

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yoursongpodcast · 8 years ago

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For 'Tell Me About Your Song' #79, songwriter Marian Call talked about her song 'Oregon Trail', which is from her album 'Standing Stones'.

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Wikipedia has articles about the actual historical Oregon Trail, as well as the 1970s/1980s education game 'The Oregon Trail'. The idea of the 'Oregon Trail Generation' was described in a 2015 article named 'The Oregon Trail Generation: Life Before and After Mainstream Tech' by Anna Garvey in Social Media Week.

I also recommend an essay that Marian Call wrote about her song 'Standing Stones', which is the song that follows 'Oregon Trail' on the Standing Stones album.

In our discussion, I made reference to Marian Call's interview on 'Make Me Smart', which you can hear on the Marketplace website.

More information about Marian Call and her music can be found on her website, where you can also find out about any upcoming shows. You can get her music on Bandcamp, as well as most other places where music is sold. She is also on twitter, facebook, and Patreon.

The 'Tell Me About Your Song' icon was designed by Shaenon K. Garrity.

If you want more information about your host, Jacob Haller, then check out my web page, my facebook page, or my twitter account.

'Tell Me About Your Song' on Apple Podcasts - rate and review us!

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Episode Transcript:

[BEGINNING OF 'OREGON TRAIL' PLAYS:]

And we set out in the springtime with our bindles and our boots, And we reveled in our poverty, abandoning our roots. A brand new path, adventurers, All lonely, bold, and brave, Breaking free and making do, And telling tales of how we'd save ourselves.

JACOB: Hello and welcome to Tell Me About Your Song, the podcast where I talk to musicians and songwriters about a song they've written. Today, I'm talking to Marian Call, and the song she'll be talking about is named 'Oregon Trail'. So, where would you like to start, Marian?

MARIAN: This is part of a record called 'Standing Stones,' and, in that record, one of the things I'm interested in looking at is the stories we tell ourselves. Like, the myths that we have about who we are, and the myths of, you know, Western culture, myths of America. And this is one of those myths, the Oregon Trail, right? It's about being stron,g and independent, and adventurous, and setting out on your own, and conquering the landscape, and finding a place for yourself -- You know, all the things that we -- All things we want to do, in sort of our individualist society. It's about self actualization, and about claiming a space in the world, and that myth is so important to us. But I've been thinking a lot about how it doesn't necessarily hold up, either to our experience, or to a good model. Like, it might seem exciting to think of being a pioneer, and going out, and, you know, finding your own way in the world, but the more you actually read about what it would have been like back then, about (a) how horrid it was; (b) about the myths that the pioneers were often being sold about "Free land out west!" when, of course, that land was already occupied, and about the idea that it was our destiny to command and control the landscape and to have, you know, a country from sea to sea. That was not a given; that was a something that we decided, and then we made it real. And that may or may not have been a decision that sat well with everyone who was affected by it. Part of why I wanted to write about this was that it is one of our founding mythologies, you know? It's a real historic event, but it's also a mythos that is larger than this one event, and that's why I wanted to tackle it, and both honor it, and dismantle it, at the same time. [laughs] You know, every now and then, those think pieces come along about generations, and what millennials are doing, and what Gen X is doing, and everything like that, and I was part of this cohort -- and a lot of my friends were, too -- that fell kind of between Generation X and Y and millennials --

JACOB: Mmm-hm.

MARIAN: -- and we never got a name, but I still feel like our experience is kind of fundamentally different, and we're too young to be Generation X, but definitely too old to have a similar experience to millennials, in a lot of ways. And I read several articles in which some scholars and demographers argue for the existence of a Generation Oregon Trail, which is kind of a small cohort. I think it's like 1976 to 1987, or something like that -- or 1986.

JACOB: Mmm-hm.

MARIAN: And that describes the generation of people who started school -- like, started, you know, their first few years of school -- without networked computing, but, by the time they completed school, the Internet was fully fledged and running. And so, like, kids after us grew up typing from the time they were, you know, very, very small. They don't remember before computers in the home, and before computers in school, to do all their tasks. In fact they stopped needing to even offer keyboarding classes in a lot of schools. They didn't teach typing anymore, because the kids would just arrive at school already knowing how to type.

JACOB: Mmm.

MARIAN: And that was not true for my group! We had to go through hours and hours of typing classes, Mavis Beacon and all the rest. So this song is about the peculiar life of that particular generation. I think this cohort of people is really cool, and inspiring, and interesting, and innovative, and has made a lot of cool things, but at the same time, there's a little a little bit of a sense of opportunity drying up, in a lot of ways, and I wanted to write something about that, and I thought the Oregon Trail was a perfect allegory for it. It describes the name of the generation because of that video game we all played, and it also describes a sort of a modern look back at that journey, that has been mythologized as one of the cornerstones of the American story, you know? Did you play Oregon Trail when you were young.

JACOB: Oh yes!

MARIAN: I did, too. Several different generations of it, too, from the, like, big floppy disk, to the little floppy disk, to the hard drive version, to the -- Apparently, someone told me there was an Oregon Trail 2, and, like, an Amazon Trail, and they kind of did a couple of spin offs and sequels, which surprised me. I hadn't heard of those, but --

JACOB: Yeah, I had no idea.

MARIAN: Yeah. Hundreds of people have gotten in touch with me, to tell me, like, how this hit a nostalgia spot for them. So, yeah. I'm kind of revising that history in this song. Like, it starts out really great. It's, you know, 'We set out adventurous --'

[BEGINNING OF 'OREGON TRAIL' PLAYS:]

MARIAN: And then we gradually realised that it wasn't just us. It was everyone else.

['OREGON TRAIL' CONTINUES:]

'Til everybody else we knew Had started on the journey too. Then we were not phenomenal, no, we were not phenomenal. We never were phenomenal, Just part of our whole generation's vague instinctive mass migration. We were not exceptional, no we were not exceptional. We never were exceptional. We were longing longing longing though, And true. We were dreaming that the world was dreaming too.

MARIAN: And maybe we were being brave and individual, and making our own choices, but maybe we were also just part of this kind of global phenomenon that we couldn't really control.

[AN INSTRUMENTAL PART OF 'OREGON TRAIL' CONTINUES BRIEFLY.]

MARIAN: The opening sense of possibility that we had, as young people, when the Internet was new, was very much hit by, you know, two different bubble bursts. First, the Silicon Valley, and kind of that portion of the economy -- realizing, no, the internet doesn't do everything, and it doesn't change everything. It does some things, but not all of them. And then the housing bubble burst -- that, no, we can't all own a home on the income that we have. No, we're never going to pay off our student loans. No, we're never going to get out of credit card debt.

JACOB: Mmm-hm.

MARIAN: No, we're never going to stop moving around the country. I think the number of times a person my age has changed cities is just, like, astounding now. it's really -- it's so different from the generation before. This is also part of a song cycle, and this is kind of in the middle beginning of it, so there's some resolution that answers this song a little bit later in the album. This is in the 'What are we doing?' stage at the late beginning on the record. I wanted it to start feeling like a very wholesome folk song, like -- I'm working on a folk festival this weekend, and I wanted it to sound just like a good old classic tune, you know? Maybe a little more complicated words, but the same chords, and the same feel, as, you know, a Willie Nelson kind of song.

JACOB: And the harmonies, too.

MARIAN: Yeah, the harmonies, exactly, are very straight at the beginning.

[EXCERPT FROM 'OREGON TRAIL' PLAYS:]

Surrendering exceptional to lighten up the load, We woke up ...

[SONG CONTINUES PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND.]

MARIAN: But the deeper into the song you get, the more your perspective shifts, sort of. I think of it as, like, a moment when the sky opens, and suddenly you realize that the world is so much bigger than you thought.

['OREGON TRAIL CONTINUES:]

And the World Was all a road ...

MARIAN: And that occurs in the middle of the song, and we have this big, kind of -- We have a big, and sort of shocking, key change. It's not the way you would usually change keys from A to E by way of a C major chord, which is not in either key, but it's -- That's the pivot between those two worlds. And it's meant to feel this grand opening into a much larger universe.

[EXCERPT FROM 'OREGON TRAIL' PLAYS:]

We bought some land out west, Though nowhere seemed to feel like home. And digging in the yard we found somebody else's bones. The moment that the shovel hit, We bowed before the things we should have known.

MARIAN: Gradually, our speaker realizes that they thought they were going out into empty space to make a name for themselves, and, in fact, they were going out into someone else's space. And that doesn't feel very good.

[EXCERPT FROM 'OREGON TRAIL' PLAYS:]

Of course we're not the first ones here. We never were the first ones here. Just part of our whole generation's Childish frontier re-creation.

[SONG CONTINUES PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND.]

MARIAN: But if you don't do that, then there's not enough food, there's not enough security. It's a little bit of a story of getting lost along the way growing up.

['OREGON TRAIL CONTINUES:]

... adventurers We were longing longing longing and so lost We were barely what we needed, and it cost.

MARIAN: And it reminds me of a lot of friends my age. I do have some friends my age who are married and have, you know, houses, and kids, and things. But, you know, coming on 40, it's not nearly as many of us as we thought, right? And a lot of us are not housed, or are moving around the country all the time, you know, not settling in one city, or we're not -- we're divorcing and remarrying, or not settling into a family structure, getting old enough to be like: "Well, I guess I'm not having kids, then," without it really being ever a voluntary choice. I think that's one of those surprises that hits you along the trail, and that's what this song is about. [laughs] After we transition to E, then I start adding chords that are more modern -- chords that were not in the original, sort of, lexicon of vintage country music.

[EXCERPT FROM 'OREGON TRAIL' PLAYS:]

... the first ones here. Just part of our whole generation's Childish frontier re-creation. We were not adventurers. No, we were not adventurers. We never were adventurers! We were longing longing longing ...

MARIAN: So I started adding, like, a flat seven chord, a D major chord, and I start adding minor IV chords, and it gets, basically, just messier and messier. It's like the chord progression sort of starts to disintegrate. And, at the end, the harmonies get weirder, and weirder, and weirder, and then the harmonies kind of fall apart, too. And the two backing voices kind of abandon the main voice, and wander off on their own, and get lost.

[EXCERPT FROM 'OREGON TRAIL' PLAYS:]

No, we have not found shelter yet. We've eaten what we meant to plant, And the twelve ages of man are circling hungry overhead -- And grandmother would disapprove. We will make no more miles today.

MARIAN: It's really -- it's fun. It's like the oxen have run away. [both laugh] Yeah.

JACOB: Yeah.

MARIAN: It's actually a reference to a videogame, too. There's a lot of videogames in this song, not just Oregon Trail. I got hooked on 'Don't Starve', which is a ridiculous -- [chuckles] It's just, it's a very silly videogame. It's a survival game --

JACOB: Uh-huh.

MARIAN: -- and I played way too much of it in the year that I was writing this record, and it informed a lot of my thinking about just, like, what it really does take to survive. When you eat the seeds that you were supposed to put in the ground, you know, you survive another day, but you've jeopardized your future, and that's very much, you know, me and my other, kind of like, late 30s friends, having to spend our savings, or still being in debt, without any sort of assets. And it's not meant to be too hopeless, but it is meant to be, like, a moment of clarity, that I set out on this journey, and realizing we're not as far as we thought we were, and we haven't found anywhere to stop and plant.

JACOB: And it says, "The 12 ages of man are circling hungry overhead."

MARIAN: Uh-huh. And I have 11 songs that are divided by those 12 ages of man.

JACOB: Ah.

MARIAN: Yeah. I really worked on the structure of this one, because I like the idea of -- The 12 Ages of Man is sort of a late medieval pre-Renaissance Western European idea that, if a person lived all 12 ages of man, they could get to be 72. So there were 12 ages, and they were six years each, and they corresponded to, like, the months of the year, and they corresponded to the seasons, and to the horoscope, and to a map of the body, and everything. They sort of connected all these things that weren't necessarily connected. But I liked that idea, and so I have these 11 songs that are about different stages of life, and this one is very much the, like, getting out of college, and then realizing that it's not as easy as you thought, you know? [laughs]

JACOB: Mmm-hm.

MARIAN: Late 20s/early 30s. You've accomplished so much, and you've been set on this grand trajectory, and then you get out there in the world, and you're like, "Oh! Hang on!" it's kind of a letdown. But there's more to come in the story.

JACOB: You were talking about this in terms of it being part of a song cycle, so: What comes before this, and what comes after it?

MARIAN: What comes before this, is a song about about childhood, about being young, exuberant, and feeling like you can fill up your whole world, or like the world cannot contain you. It's a song called 'No Paper'. The original working title was 'Lauds', which is the name of the prayer for that hour of the day, that corresponds to the Twelve Ages of Man, that corresponds to all this big structure that I was kind of plugging into, from early, like, Renaissance literature. [laughs] You can leave that out, if you want.

[EXCERPT FROM 'NO PAPER' PLAYS:]

There is no paper big enough for what I'm going to draw today.

MARIAN: It's a crazy rhythm jam, actually, with very little melody, but it has, like, a horn section, and some really wild harmonies, and just insane electric guitar. It's a very, like, expressive, creative, kind of Jackson Pollock-y song, about being young, and feeling full of possibility. It's also about protests, and protest sign,s and marching. The line is "There is no paper big enough for what I'm going to draw today." And it's just -- There's nothing that can contain me, or that can contain my message, and, you know, that feels very youthful to me. Both about, like, little kids, before they learn that -- Before they learn that art is supposed to look a certain way, and they're just like scribbling filling up the whole page, and, like, just the energy that people have, like, in college, when they're learning everything, and excited, and have a lot of passion, and so: Yeah. It's kind of a younger age.

[EXCERPT FROM 'OREGON TRAIL' PLAYS:]

We never were adventurers. We were longing longing longing and so lost.

MARIAN: And then, we transition to this song, which is a little bit, like, "Well, we thought we were going to go out into the world and conquer it, and then we had another think, after we got out there."

JACOB: Mm hmm.

MARIAN: And the song after it is the title track. It's called 'Standing Stones.'

[BEGINNING OF 'STANDING STONES' PLAYS:]

We drew nine lines from east to west We drew nine from north to south And we stitched our names in concrete veins Through miles and miles and miles of ground

MARIAN: It sort of reconciles that. It's about how our impulse to build things, and make things, and design, and scratch, and leave our mark, and change the environment -- how that impulse is really universal -- we all have it -- and also how it's impermanent. Like, it's going to pass away, but that doesn't matter, because it's just what we do, and that's beautiful. It's really, it's a validation of humanity, in the middle of acknowledging that we have a finite span, so, yep! And then it goes on, kind of more into, like, middle age, and then midlife crisis, of course, and then into a kind of acceptance. Some of the other songs on this record are much, much less complex. This one's through composed. Like, the chords don't necessarily repeat, and the lyrics don't repeat very much. But, yeah, it does reward repeat listening. It's definitely a journey. And hopefully catchy, too. Like, people will be leaving humming it, even though they can't remember any other words because they don't repeat!

JACOB: Have you played this song out?

MARIAN: Yeah, we play it out, and it's hard to communicate that groove change --

JACOB: Mmm.

MARIAN: -- So I just kind of have to do without it. But that's part of why I was so excited to put it on a record, too, and have it sound different on the record. I like doing it out. I wish -- I would love -- I would just die to do it with a trio --

JACOB: Mmm-hm.

MARIAN: -- you know, so we could sing all the harmonies. But that's, again, the joy of getting to record it! There's a video for it, that I really am proud of. Pat Race made an Oregon Trail style video of it, and, as it happened, somehow someone pinged the son of the man who created Oregon Trail -- one of the two men who created Oregon Trail. And he emailed me, and then his dad e-mailed me! So I got a message from the creator of Oregon Trail, which was great! [laughs]

JACOB: Wow, that's awesome! What did they say?

MARIAN: They really liked it! That was -- that made me happy! I was shocked and surprised. His name is Don Rawitsch, and he got in touch just to say that he was honored by the tribute, and that he thought it was interesting. Says, "Thanks for the tribute to the pioneers, and the game I co-invented 45 years ago."

JACOB: Wow.

MARIAN: And I can't believe it was 45 years ago, because I experienced it more like 33 years ago.

JACOB: Mmm-hm.

MARIAN: But yeah. [laughs]

JACOB: Yeah, that video is great. I watched -- Like, I started watching it, and then I kind of had it on in the background, and I thought it was just the actual game, and then I went back and looked at it, and I was, like, "Wait a minute!" One of the things is a cellphone charger, and --

MARIAN: Yep, yep, yep, there's --

JACOB: -- and you come across this pile of skulls, I think, right around where the modulation occurs.

MARIAN: Yeah. It takes some twists. We were hoping, actually, that, at the beginning, people would think it was just kind of a GIF that repeats, you know, and doesn't really go anywhere.

JACOB: Mmm-hm.

MARIAN: But, gradually, it kind of gets wilder, and wilder, and takes you out of our safe little sweet country song beginning.

JACOB: I think that this idea is one that I stole from Kai Ryssdal, because I listened to your interview -- or, I didn't know if it was an interview, per se -- but when you were on "Make Me Smart" --

MARIAN: That was fun. [chuckles]

JACOB: -- but he kind of asked you about, you know, being in Alaska, and kind of engaging in this sort of pioneering spirit that's involved in living up there.

MARIAN: Well, I think the connection is very much that, if ever there were a place where that American mythos is embodied, it's Alaska, for sure. There's there's some very bold, strong, self-reliant, competent people up here, you know? You can love them or hate them, but people kind of assume that you can split your own wood, and maybe fly a plane, and it's weirdly, like, one of the most and least sexist places I've ever been.

JACOB: Mmm-hm.

MARIAN: The most, because we have really difficult rates of abuse, and things like that, here, because there's a lot of substance issues. But it's also the least, in that people -- People here very much assume that I run my own business. They don't think I'm arm candy when I go to a party, right?

JACOB: Mmm-hm.

MARIAN: We've had women politicians at a higher rate than a lot of other states. We have tons of women business owners. And if you're out at a cabin, people won't flinch when they give you a tough job. They won't be surprised if you pick up something heavy to carry it, you know? It's just very -- It's nice! I like it! I like the presumption of my competence, even if I'm not always competent. [both laugh] But the funny thing is, up here in the land of the most independent people anywhere, is where I find that people are very, very clear on the fact that we're not independent. None of us are independent. We all rely on each other, and we're all connected in really concrete ways, like, you know, so and so does this job, and so and so does that job, and, in a tiny town, they're the only people who do it. We need them, and we rely on them, so we have to take care of them. I know people who have literally gone out into the woods, to their own property, to clear logs, use those logs to turn them into a cabin, live in that cabin in the summertime, you know, and have just cut every board themselves, right? But those people are the ones who are the most aware that if they, you know, if they slip up and hurt themselves, and they don't have a friend, then they're screwed. You know, if they don't have help -- if they don't have everyone else to come over and assist at the crucial moment -- then their house is not going to get put up. You can't do it yourself, in this -- The kind of twofold lesson here is, you can be as independent as you want, but you can't do it yourself, and especially when nature is really a factor, the way it is here. And I really like that. So that's what -- that's kind of what this whole record is about, is, you can you can be as independent and strong as you like, but we still need each other. Alaska has had a huge influence on this record. [laughs] It's like embracing it, and at the same time unmasking, the pioneering spirit, as being a lot more complicated, and a lot less pure, and not at all what we dreamed it was.

JACOB: Mmm-hm.

MARIAN: It doesn't look how we thought, in the movies. [chuckles] In the video game.

JACOB: Right. So, if people would like to hear more of your music, what should they do?

MARIAN: You can hear more of my music -- I have ten albums now, and then a few singles -- at bandcamp.com/mariancall. So just look me up on bandcamp, you can find me on YouTube, you can find me on Twitter, you can find me at a Facebook page, and you can find me on Patreon, now. That's new. The new album is just on Bandcamp, as of right now. It should be up in a lot of other locations very shortly. You know iTunes, and Spotify, and all that.

JACOB: Great. And I'll put links to all of that. I put together a blog post --

MARIAN: Oh, excellent. Thank you!

JACOB: -- for each episode, so I'll put links to that, and that blog is at yoursongpodcast.tumblr.com [spells it]. So my name is Jacob Haller, and I have a website at JacobHaller.com. You can find all my music there, or on bandcamp, and links to my other podcasts and projects, and, as I mentioned, there's a Tumblr blog for the show notes at yoursongpodcast.tumblr.com. And there's also a Web site for the podcast at tellmeaboutyoursong.com. You can write interview us on iTunes, or Stitcher, or any of those places, and I would love it if you did that -- or just tell a friend. If you think they would enjoy this episode, send them a link. So, with all that said, we're going to go out and listen to the song we've been talking about: 'Oregon Trail' by Marion Call, from her album 'Standing Stones'. Thanks for listening.

['OREGON TRAIL' PLAYS IN FULL. YOU CAN FIND THE FULL LYRICS ON MARIAN CALL'S BANDCAMP PAGE.]

JACOB: So where would you like to start, Marion?

MARIAN: [laughs] Um...

JACOB: See? I warned you, and it still is totally --

MARIAN: Oh, you -- you were serious about that! Yeah.

#Marian Call #The Oregon Trail #Oregon Trail #Alaska #jwgh #Tell Me About Your Song #TMAYS #songwriting #interview #podcast #music

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thedesignair · 8 years ago

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Qantas has a long history of providing opportunities for Australian artists to connect with global audiences. Their latest initiative puts current Australian artists at the heart of their business passenger experience.

Starting May 1st, a new range of amenity kits will be rolled out across international flights with new designs being rolled out each month. With artworks named Fairy Bread, 7000 Ironbarks and Maaate, the initiative called ‘Qantas Curates’ has seen the airline work with professional Australian contemporary art curators to select artworks from 16 Australians specialising in a variety of different styles including pop culture, photography, fine art, abstract landscape, Indigenous art and textile design.

Qantas Group Executive Brand, Marketing & Corporate Affairs Olivia Wirth said the airline’s vision is to grow awareness of contemporary Australian art and give travellers a collectible piece to take with them. “As the national carrier, we’re pleased to support talented Aussies telling uniquely Australian stories through their artwork and share them with a global audience,” she said.

“Along with inflight pyjamas, we know amenity kits are an important part of the international Business class experience. Customers love the functionality of our kits and many use them after their flight as make-up bags, an evening clutch or to carry their mobile phones. So, the exposure is broad.”

The amenity kits include ASPAR products by Aurora Spa (hand cream, lip balm and face moisturiser), a wrap-around eye mask in the same artwork as the kit, Colgate toothpaste, toothbrush, earplugs and travel socks.

The collection will start with Bubblegum Dystopia by Jacob Leary on the kit for women and Liam Snootle’s No Queen Blues/Unwind features on the kit for men onboard 1 May 2017

The other artists and artworks include: Billie Justice Thomson – Fairy Bread; Bonnie and Neil – Gypsy Floral; Craig & Karl – Home; Fred Fowler – 7000 Ironbarks; Jon Campbell – Maaate; Kate Banazi – Adas’ Algorithm; Lucy Simpson – Dhina; Luke Shadbolt – North Avoca ECL 2016; Megan Weston – Iceland; Myra Yurtiwa Cooke (dec) – Lirrun; Nicole Warne – Hamilton Island 2014; Polly Pawuya Butler-Jackson – Mobile Phone Tower; Rachel Castle – I Love the people; Tom Blachford – Black Water

The Big Picture

Black Water by Tom Blachford. ‘Black Water’ captures a fleeting moment in time, taken from a helicopter over the bay at 1000 feet. Conflating the scale of the scene it is uncertain whether the ships are massive or tiny.

I love the people by Rachel Castle. If only in our lifetimes we could see all the places and meet all the people. Imagine that.

Mobile Phone Tower by Polly Pawuya Butler-Jackson. We just got the mobile phone tower. Everyone is talking all the time. I want to get a mobile phone but I will need my daughter Denise to show me how to use it. “Yuwa walykumunu telephonepa-lampatju yarlarringu” (hello, I’ve got a mobile phone).

Lirrun Tjukurrpa by Myra Yurtiwa Cooke (Dec). Myra Yurtiwa Cook was born at a special place called Kartjinguku, a creek situated near Warakurna. This paintng depicts a story from Myra’s mother’s country, Lirrun. A Snake Man came from the South of Pukarra. He had been trying to steal a girl to become his wife. She called all the Feather-foot men and they chased him away, back to Pukarra.

Iceland by Megan Weston. ‘Iceland’, like a lot of my work, is influenced by my interest in aerial photography. That perspective of our planet, and the details within rock formations, has always fascinated me. I found myself drawn to the way light travels through and how the eye receives this.

North Avoca ECL 2016 by Luke Shadbolt. Reflective of our individual sense of self, a wave is the present moment of the greater ocean, a concept which we struggle to connect with as humans living in the past and future whilst often disregarding the present.

Dhina by Lucy Simpson. The story of ‘Dhina’ (footprints / tracks) is based on connection to, movement within, and inherent knowledge of the country to which we belong. It maps story, journey and landscape, and is an expression of the beauty of our Yuwaalaraay lands.

No Queen Blues/Unwind by Liam Snootle. I use abstraction to present the viewer with an experience of something new, yet comfortingly recognisable.

Adas’ Algorithm by Kate Banazi. Named for Ada Lovelace, the mathematician, who is often considered the first computer programmer working in the mid-1800s.

Maaate by Jon Campbell. I think there’s something particular about the way Australians pronounce words. We have a habit of dragging the word out. My ‘Maaate’ design accentuates this idea by adding the extra A’s and engages the viewer directly as they say “Maaate”.

Bubblegum Dystopia by Jacob Leary. ‘Bubblegum Dystopia’ extends my interests into the nature of organisation. Focusing on the idea of non-linearity the picture space attempts to explore the layered complexities that define contemporary modes of experience.

Hamilton Island 2014 by Nicole Warne. A photo that makes me nostalgic for those humid nights, balmy skin and sunset swims with the scent of Australia’s summer in the air.

7000 Ironbarks by Fred Fowler. This painting uses symbols of native and invasive species set against a backdrop of urban and rural iconography to explore the relationship between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians. The title is a reference to the German artist Joseph Beuys land art project 7000 Oaks.

Home by Craig & Karl. Being based in New York and London, this artwork is a celebration of our home from afar. We created a colourful pattern with each section of the artwork referencing a different part of the country, whether it’s the landscape or a nod to architectural, cultural or symbolic icons of Australia.

Gypsy Floral by Bonnie and Neil. ‘Gypsy Floral’ is an original hand painted artwork by Bonnie inspired by historical textiles from faraway places.

Fairy Bread by Billy Justice Thomson. The ‘Fairy Bread’ painting is a nod to the classic Australian party food from many of our childhoods.

Qantas Launches Designer Amenity Kits Inspired By Australian Artists Qantas has a long history of providing opportunities for Australian artists to connect with global audiences. Their latest initiative puts current Australian artists at the heart of their business passenger experience.

#amenity kits #artists #artwork #australia #Business class #collaboration #design #Designer #New #qantas

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jobsearchtips02 · 5 years ago

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Coronavirus patient’s last words: ‘Who’s going to pay for it?’

Moments before being intubated and put on a ventilator, one of Derrick Smith’s coronavirus patients asked, “Who’s going to pay for it?”

It’s “profoundly sad that people are worrying about their finances during even possibly their dying moments,” Smith, 33, told Business Insider.

As a nurse anesthetist at a New York City hospital, Smith has been thrust into a “critical-care role” that’s rife with shortages in personal protective equipment, long work hours, and worries about contagion.

Smith said he was disappointed by government containment measures, describing a failure to “protect and uphold its citizens.”

Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.

In Derrick Smith’s view, the coronavirus has turned the United States healthcare system’s pockmarks into garish scars.

In a widely shared Facebook post on Friday, he described a COVID-19 patient’s last words: “Who’s going to pay for it?”

On the verge of being intubated and put on a ventilator, the person “gasped out” the question to their medical team “between labored breaths” before calling their spouse for likely the last time, “as many patients do not recover once tubed,” Smith wrote.

Smith, a certified registered nurse anesthetist at a New York City hospital, whose name he asked be withheld, wrote that “this situation is by far the worst thing I’ve witnessed in my collective 12 years of critical care & anesthesia,” adding, “This country is truly a failed state, and it’s so sickening to witness firsthand, more blatantly than ever.”

Reflecting on the experience, Smith told Business Insider that it’s “profoundly sad that people are worrying about their finances during even possibly their dying moments.” He declined to share more information about the patient, citing privacy laws.

People struggled to grasp the full scope of the coronavirus outbreak while the government tried to downplay it

Smith, 33, recalled first hearing about the coronavirus in January as it raced across Wuhan, China, acknowledging that “it was hard to ascertain the severity of it back then.”

The US reported its first case on January 21. A day later, President Donald Trump told CNBC’s Joe Kernen that he was “not at all” worried.

“It’s one person coming in from China, and we have it under control,” Trump said. “It’s going to be just fine.”

Given that the federal government “didn’t appear to take it very seriously” and was even comparing the disease to the flu to downplay it, Smith said it was only in late February that he began to fully realize the devastation caused by the coronavirus.

He described being instantly worried about the impact that “any sort of viral, contagious pandemic” that progresses quickly would have on the US’s “already fragile healthcare system.”

And what an impact it’s had.

The US has the largest recorded COVID-19 outbreak, with nearly 400,000 confirmed cases and over 12,900 deaths as of Wednesday. New York is the hardest-hit state, with more than 140,300 cases and over 4,000 deaths. Hospitals are overrun, morgues are filled to capacity, and medical workers, who lack sufficient personal protective equipment, are succumbing to the illness themselves.

The Jacob K. Javits Convention Center has been transformed into a 2,500-bed field hospital to deal with the influx of coronavirus patients.

John Lamparski/Getty

The coronavirus has reshaped Smith’s medical work. COVID-19 patients have flooded the various medical facilities where he works, except for a surgical center that is “no longer functioning” because it focuses on elective procedures, which are now scarce.

At the hospital too, his role has morphed. Before the pandemic, Smith’s work was more predictable.

He described his routine as “initially meeting the patient, doing a full interview and physical assessment, taking them to the procedure area, sedating or inducing them for general anesthesia, and then taking care of them up until the post-operative period.”

Since the coronavirus hit New York, however, elective surgeries have been nixed, so Smith has found himself in “more of a critical-care role” that involves working in the intensive care unit or responding to all sorts of emergencies throughout the hospital.

‘I reused the same N95 mask throughout my entire shift’

No two days or cases are alike, Smith said.

“You have some people that come in who are in absolute respiratory distress that need to be intubated relatively soon,” he said. “Or you have someone who’s just very, very ill with classic flu symptoms and upper respiratory problems and don’t quite need to be intubated yet but definitely needs hospitalization, fluids, or antibiotics for pneumonia.”

Coming off a 12-hour shift during which he had only one N95 respirator mask, Smith said that the hospital’s PPE supply had improved but that there was still plenty more to be done to safeguard medical workers and staff.

“I reused the same N95 mask throughout my entire shift, just being careful not to remove it frequently,” he said. This conservation of PPE marks a dramatic shift from “pre-pandemic” times, Smith added, when N95s were the single-use masks they’re designed to be.

Smith said he also expects his team’s shifts to get longer as the hospital is “admitting more and more patients,” increasing their workload.

A hearse backs into a refrigerated truck to pick up bodies outside the Brooklyn Hospital on April 1.

ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images

Asked if he and his colleagues were worried about contracting the coronavirus, Smith simply replied, “Yes.”

The coronavirus affects people in different ways — some are asymptomatic carriers, while others have such severe symptoms that they require intubation in the ICU, Smith explained.

So Smith, like his friends and coworkers, is “just trying to stay as healthy as possible with diet, home routines, exercise, and adequate sleep to boost” his immunity so he can ward off a severe reaction if he does catch the virus, he said. It’d also be helpful, he said, if people adhere to social-distancing guidelines to help flatten the curve.

That said, the coronavirus pandemic is taking a toll on Smith.

“I’m no stranger to death, illness, and the American healthcare system, because I’ve been in it for over a decade,” he said. “But I’ve never seen what I’ve been seeing lately with the speed, intensity, and spread of the virus itself, and its impact on patients and the hospital system.

“It does take a toll,” he added, “but, you know, there’s not really any other option at this point.”

The government is failing people rather than safeguarding their health, Smith said

Smith said his frustration with the healthcare system’s “sad” state “peaked” the day he posted on Facebook.

His interaction with the patient underscored how worries about affording medical care “disincentivize people from wanting to even seek treatment,” he said. That’s “inherently problematic” in the context of a pandemic because people put a heavier “burden on the system when they come in so acutely ill,” Smith said.

He said he thinks that a “tertiary care setting, where people come into the ED with or without insurance,” was “far from the best way to do it.”

“There should be a better emphasis on primary prevention, public health, and also the ability to pay for [healthcare] regardless of your social or class status,” Smith added.

It doesn’t compute to see thousands of people a year dying from a lack of access to medical care in “one of the richest industrialized nations in the world” or being forced to crowdfund their treatment, Smith said, denouncing federal and state governments’ responses to the crisis.

He said President Donald Trump didn’t do enough with the Defense Production Act to actually “pick up the pieces of this mess” and left it to state officials to cull a “patchwork” of containment measures. He also criticized Wisconsin authorities for holding an election during a pandemic and forcing people to choose between their well-being and democracy, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for shifting its guidelines about which face masks are safe to use.

“I believe the main purpose of a government is to protect and uphold its citizens, and I feel like that’s clearly not what’s taking place,” he said.

Correction: The headline of this story originally referred to Smith as an anesthesiologist. He is a nurse anesthetist.

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