#and he's in the streaming career and streams the game they reconnected through

[elmleif]

Georgia and Van are up extra early this morning for her ultrasound appointment. Her anxiety riddled brain started overthinking her upcoming appointment causing her to panic, and Van did what he does best, help his wife regulate her breathing and calm down.

[prnanayarquah]

5 Jamaicans Named In Top 200 Best Singers of All Time by Rolling Stones

New Post has been published on https://plugzafrica.com/5-jamaicans-named-in-top-200-best-singers-of-all-time-by-rolling-stones/

5 Jamaicans Named In Top 200 Best Singers of All Time by Rolling Stones

When Rolling Stone, the iconic five-decade pop music magazine, released its Top 200 Singers Of All Time on January 1, 2023, nobody would have been surprised to find at least a few prominent Jamaicans populating the list, which was topped by the likes of Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Billie Holiday, and Sam Cooke. While the list predictably included the reggae legend Bob Marley (at number 98), he was only the 3rd highest ranked of the magazine’s five Jamaicans.

  The widely beloved and recently departed Toots Hibbert made the list at number 94. Three other Jamaicans with longstanding ties to VP Records were also included. The highest ranked of these was none other than the Crown Prince of Reggae, Dennis Emmanuel Brown, at number 67 (highest among all Jamaicans), who sat just behind and just ahead of contemporary Caribbean superstar Rihanna at number 68 and just behind David Ruffin of The Temptations, good company indeed. “His soulfulness was unimpeachable,” according to writer Michaelangelo Matos. This acclaim should come as no surprise, since Brown had been previously recognized by National Public Radio as one of the world’s 50 Great Voices in 2010.

Dennis Brown would see 13 LPs on VP Records and five on Greensleeves during his career – more than any other VP Music Group artist. VP paid tribute to Dennis Brown in 2016 with an all-star cast of performers revisiting his catalog. In 2018, VP released King Jammy Presents Dennis Brown Tracks Of Life, another tribute bringing the singer’s original master tapes back to life with new combinations.

According to writer Noah Schactman, ‘if an airhorn could sing,’ it might be comparable to the penetrating voice of Barrington Levy, ranked number 119 on the list. Levy’s career traces to the earliest years of VP Records. Three of the company’s first singles on its Roots From The Yard imprint in 1979 were Levy’s “Revelation,” “Collie Weed,” and “A Yah Me Deh.” After being a major force in the 1980s, Levy stepped up his game at the end of the decade and into the 1990s with his major hit covers of Bob ndy’s “Too Experienced” and “My Time.”  VP released his definitive greatest hits anthology, Too Experienced, in 1998.

Also included on the list is one of Jamaica’s great voices of the 1990s and 2000s, Luciano. Writer Michael Goldwasser, who also produced the singer, says that Luciano has “a range that extends from a rich baritone up to a strong falsetto. And he’s a master of the lost art of harmonizing.”

Luciano stepped into the reggae spotlight after the tragic passing of Garnet Silk in December 1994, becoming the next champion of dancehall’s revived cultural sound. “Poor And Simple” from 1993 was his first release on VP, followed by “One Way Ticket” and “Jah Is Alive,” and the album One Way Ticket in 1994, all produced by Fatis Burrell for Xterminator. Luciano had major label releases through Chris Blackwell’s Island Jamaica in 1995 and 1996 but would reconnect with VP starting in 1999 with the outstanding Sweep Over My Soul. Eight more albums followed, including Serious Times in 2004 and its enduring anthem, “Give Praises.” Luciano has remained active, consistent, and relevant to the present.

VP offers congratulations to these five artists for this well-deserved recognition and for their exceptional legacies in bringing reggae and Jamaican culture to the world.

Stream the best of Dennis Brown on Spotify.

[inevitably-johnlocked]

do you have a list of podfic recs? i listen to a lot of @podfixx but she just has so many it’s hard for me to narrow down what to listen to sometimes. i’d love to give other podfic creators a chance too!

Hi Nonny!!

AHHHH Okay so I am a loser and don’t listen to podfics even though I know I would enjoy it for long road trips, but AHHH I don’t I’m so sorry, so I don’t have any PERSONAL recs, so the BEST I can do is give you a list of fics that I know have Podfics for them, since as I go through my bookmarks and update them, I’ve been adding podfic links to them because I like having my lists be as thorough as possible, so this will ALSO give me a chance for authors who know they have podfics of their stories can add them to my recs and I can add them to my offline list LOL

PODFICS 

BOOKMARKED FICS

To the Nines by suitesamba (M, 2,724 w., 1 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Magical Realism, Pining, Angst, John Whump, Time Travel, Fortunes, Time Jumps) – John skips forward in time, and Sherlock reads the signs that point to nine. John knows he’ll eventually be with Sherlock, but the waiting is nearly impossible, and his body is a lot more than transport. A foray into magical realism where all the canon events occur, and a hell of a lot more.

Time on my hands by Mildredandbobbin (M, 7,179 w., 1 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Post S3, One Night Stands, Mutual Pining, Virgin Sherlock, First Time, Sexual Exploration / Discovery) – Virginity’s a construct, a concept—what does losing one’s virginity entail for a gay man anyway? Sherlock wants to fill that particular gap in his knowledge but John won’t, can’t, never will assist and there’s only so much desperately unspoken pining even Sherlock can take.

Software Malfunction by tiger_in_the_flightdeck (E, 16,679 w., 1 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Android Sherlock, Love Story, Unhappy Ending, Angst, Suicide, Jealousy) – “You think I can’t love you? Just because you’re made with metal, and detailed programming?” The doctor propped himself on his elbow, and looked down at it. “I am nothing but blood and bone, and tissue. Things just managed get mashed together in a manner that made me like this. Just like you were put together to make you how you are. When I kiss you-” he did so, briefly, to prove his point. Then more deeply, and lingering, because he could. “When I touch you, or smile at you, does it make you feel different from when others have done it in the past?”

Corpus Hominis by mycapeisplaid (E, 47,709 w., 12 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Case Fic, Fluff, Romance, Frottage, Angst, Anal, Blow Jobs, Rimming, Spas / Massages, Shampoo, Jealousy) - John knows the human body intimately. He’s had plenty of opportunity for study as a doctor, soldier, and lover. There’s one particular body, however, he knows very little about. When Sherlock launches himself head-first into a new obsession and they get sent on a case in an unlikely location, the pair discovers each other’s bodies with confusing yet delightful (and sometimes hilarious) results.

Points by lifeonmars (E, 53,791 w., 42 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || HLV Rewrite / Canon Divergence, Married Life, Pregnancy / Baby Watson, Drinking to Cope, Boxing / Fisticuffs, Clueless John, Angst, Minor Medical Drama, Tattoos, Christmas, First Kiss/Time, Eventual Happy Ending, Love Confessions, Doctor John, Sexuality Crisis, Slow Burn, Case Fic, Drugging, Blow/Hand Job, Emotional Love Making, Parenthood, Passage of Time) – What if His Last Vow never happened? This fic picks up a few months after John and Mary’s wedding, in an alternate universe where Magnussen doesn’t exist, but Mary is still pregnant. Life continues – just in a different direction. And slowly, Sherlock and John find their way to each other.

Albion and the Woodsman by Glenmore (NR [E], 54,437 w., 50 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Post S3, Parentlock, Pining Sherlock, Angst, Family, Drug Use, Depression, Sherlock POV, Light Humour, Reconnecting, Declarations of Love) – Sherlock and John are devastated after Mary Morstan makes her final moves. Sherlock relapses at the crack house, John walks around the world … and a lot happens in between. Parentlock, in the good way.

The Vapor Variant by 88thParallel (CanadaHolm) (M, 72,684 w., 18 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Post-THoB, John Whump, Protective Sherlock, Guilty Sherlock, Anxious/Worried Sherlock, Virgin Sherlock, Angst with Happy Ending, Hurt/Comfort, PTSD John, Slow Burn, Mutual Pining, Suspense, Virus, Sickfic, Big Brother Mycroft) – They stood face to face in the middle of a clearing. The dim light of the moon barely allowed Sherlock to see the glassy terror in John’s eyes and the sweat that glistened off his forehead. His nose was bleeding again, blood dripping in a slow stream from his right nostril. They were both gasping for air, John’s eyes locked on Sherlock’s. There was no recognition there, just wild animal fear. Time stood still for an eternal few seconds, and Sherlock took a shaky breath. “John—”Spell broken, John spun and bolted back into the woods. Still heaving for air, Sherlock took off after him.

The Heart In The Whole by verityburns (E, 101,650 w., 21 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Post-TGG Canon Divergence, Drama & Angst, H/C, First Time, Blind Sherlock) – Events after ‘The Great Game’ leave Sherlock dependent on his best friend and colleague. But John has a secret of his own…

The Wedding Garments by cwb (E, 105,390 w., 36 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Alternate Future AU || Alternate First Meeting, Dating / Arranged Marriages, Romance, First Kiss/Time, Heavy Petting, Cuddles, POV Sherlock, Virgin Sherlock, Idiots in Love, Slow Burn / Falling in Love / Dev. Rel., Nervous/Anxious Sherlock, Jealous/Cranky, Hiking, Vacation Homes / Honeymoon, Sherlock’s Family, Horny John/Sherlock, Patient John, Massages, Hand Jobs, Assassination Plots, Hand Jobs / Oral Sex, Case Fic, Emotional Love Making, Bath Time Fun) – This is the story of a young consulting detective who wants nothing to do with marriage and an army doctor who wants to find true love. It’s 2020 post-Brexit England and the British government is encouraging arranged marriages. Candidates meet through state-run agencies and date in hopes of finding love (and tax benefits). Sherlock doesn’t need or want a spouse, at least not until John Watson shows up. Hesitant to give in to his more carnal urges because of the way they derail his mind, how will Sherlock progress toward the more intimate aspects of a relationship? The answer lies in a very special wedding gift.

Shatter the Darkness (Let the Light In) by MojoFlower (E, 109,683 w., 23 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Genie/Djinn AU || Magical Realism, Kidnapping, Genie Sherlock, First Kiss / Time, Case Fic, H/C, Angst, Clubs, John Whump, Mild DubCon, Hand / Blow Jobs, Torture) – Fairy tales are for those who remember how to dream; not John Watson, broken and hiding from his bleak future in a beige bedsit. But then he discovers a lamp and finds himself in the dangerous riptide of an enigmatic man whose very existence is unbelievable, murder charges against his sister, and the growing pains of feeling alive once more.

The Bang and the Clatter by earlgreytea68 (M, 137,049 w. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Baseball AU || Slow Burn / Dev. Rel., Possessive/Obsessive Sherlock, Jealous Sherlock, Mutual Pining, Body Appreciation, Depression, Closeted Sexuality, Family, Sherlock’s Mind Palace, Ogling Each Other, Anxious Sherlock, Panic Attack, Drunkenness, Talk of Forever, Big Feelings™) – Sherlock Holmes is a pitcher and John Watson is a catcher. No, no, no, it’s a baseball AU. Part 1 of Baseball

Performance In a Leading Role by Mad_Lori (E, 156,714 w., 21 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Hollywood / Actor AU, Secret Relationship, Falling in Love, Slow Burn, Romance, Coming Out, Fluff and Angst, Pining) – Sherlock Holmes is an Oscar winner in the midst of a career slump. John Watson is an Everyman actor trapped in the rom-com ghetto. When they are cast as a gay couple in a new independent drama, will they surprise each other? Will their on-screen romance make its way into the real world? Part 1 of Performance in a Leading Role

Gimme Shelter by SinceWhenDoYouCallMe_John (E, 159,368 w., 21 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || 70′s Surfer AU || Period Typical Homophobia, Hawaii, Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Professional Surfers, Gay John / Sherlock, Angst with Happy Ending, John was a Sailor, Misunderstandings, Mutual Pining) – All John Watson wants is the feeling of a freshly waxed surfboard under his feet and the hot California sun baking down onto his back. To finally go pro in the newly formed world of professional surfing and leave the dark memories of his past behind him as he rips across the face of a towering blue barrel. To lounge beside the beach bonfire every evening with an ice cold beer tucked into the cool sand beside him and listen to Pink Floyd and the Doors while the saltwater dries in his sun bleached hair. That’s all he wants, that is, until the hot young phenom taking Oahu and the Hawaiian shores by storm steps up next to him in the sand in the second round of the 1976 International Surf Competition. (PUBLISHED AS ‘The Sea Ain’t Mine Alone’)

Proving A Point by elldotsee & J_Baillier (E, 186,270 w., 28 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE ||  Me Before You Fusion || Medical Realism, Insecure John, Depression, Romance, Angst, POV John, Sherlock Whump, Serious Illness, Doctor John, Injury Recovery, Assisted Suicide, Sherlock’s Violin, Awkward Sexual Situations, Alcoholism, Drugs, Idiots in Love, Slow Burn, Body Image, Friends to Lovers, Hurt / Comfort, Pain, Big Brother Mycroft, Intimacy, Anxiety, PTSD, Family Issues, Psychological Trauma, John Whump, Case Fics, Loneliness, Pain) – Invalided home from Afghanistan, running out of funds and convinced that his surgical career is over, John Watson accepts a mysterious job offer to provide care and companionship for a disabled person. Little does he know how much hangs in the balance of his performance as he settles into his new life at Musgrave Court.

“TO READ” FICS

Curlock by 88thParallel (G, 1,285 w. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Sherlock’s Hair, Fluff, Ficlet) – How Sherlock learned to control and appreciate the incredible gift he was born with, and the man who helped him sort it out.

Letters, the Writing of by earlgreytea68 (G, 2,416 w., 1 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Post-TRF/Hiatus) – While he’s dead, Sherlock writes John letters. Part 1 of the Letters series

Let’s Say I Let You In by kedgeree (E, 9,972 w., 1 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Halloween, Costume Kink, Est. Rel., Humour, Smut, Vampire Sherlock, Bloodplay, Biting, Romance) – It’s Halloween and Sherlock’s vampire costume is turning John on, but Sherlock doesn’t quite get the idea of a sexy vampire. At least…not at first. Part 4 of the Holidays series

Almost Home by Berty (E, 13,871 w., 1 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Alternate First Meeting, Captain John, Pining John, University Student Sherlock, Gay Bar, First Time, Anal, Mutual Masturbation, Protective Big Brother Mycroft, POV John, Time Skips, Memories, Angst With Happy Ending) – He pulls out the ID card – the one that Sherlock had somehow seen when he was buying drinks at that awful club. He’s had other ID cards since then but he’s hung on to this one for some reason. He looks at the image of his face, young and pale and idealistic, and he knows that just a month later that man would have found and lost the love of his life within a week, and even knowing that, John wouldn’t change a single thing.

Heart on a String by AngelSpirit (E, 23,257 w. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Alternate First Meeting, First Kiss / Time, Infidelity, Angst, Fluff, Kidlock/Teenlock, Mentions of Recreational Drug Use) – John and Sherlock got married with Cracker Jack rings when they were 7 yrs old. It wasn’t official, but for their whole lives they took it very seriously.

Common Tongues: Unassuming Brilliance by jinglebell (E, 41,174 w., 11 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Anal, Rimming, Snowballing, Language Kink, Blow Jobs, BAMF John, Size Difference, Height Difference, Sapiosexual Sherlock, Barebacking, Size Queen) – John may be predictably average in most things, but there are a handful of areas in which he knows he is uncommonly skilled. He can make a great cup of tea, for one. He’s also good at patching folks up, putting bullets precisely where he wants them, and listening.The one skill that John is perhaps most exceptional in, though, is language. John is a polyglot.

Against the Rest of the World by SilentAuror (E, 43,936 w. || PODFIC AVAILABLE ||  POV First Person Sherlock, Present Tense, First Time, Post-TRF) – Sherlock has been away from London for nine hundred and twelve days and counting, and has no idea what sort of reception to expect when he finally returns. Post-Reichenbach.

Command Structure by 221b_hound (E, 49,034 w., 16 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Post TRF / Not S3 Compliant, Dom/Sub Play, Dom John/Sub Sherlock, Oral/Anal, Anal Fingering, Frottage, Past Child Abuse, Anxiety Attacks, Captain Watson, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Protective John, Slow Build, PTSD Sherlock, Consensual, Past Dub Con, Rimming) – Sherlock Holmes returns from his hunt to destroy Moriarty’s network. He comes home to John, and at long last they start this thing between them that couldn’t begin while Moriarty threatened them. But Sherlock has returned fractured and suffering anxiety attacks. He thinks he needs discipline - the whip - to help him focus and be strong. But his problems are deeper and run back to a childhood of neglect. John Watson is prepared to be Sherlock’s Captain, but he’s a doctor too. His command style isn’t about pain and subjugation. It’s about care and responsibility: and those concepts go in both directions in Captain Watson’s command structure.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Baker’s Yeast) by yaycoffee (E, 60,879 w., 13 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Unplanned Pregnancy / One Night Stand, Drunken Sex, First Kiss/Time, Bit of Case Fic, Sally/Sherlock Drunk Sex First Ch.) – Sometimes, one makes an imprudent decision born of a devastating combination of drink and sentiment. Sometimes, the consequences of that decision take on a life of their own. And sometimes, the facing of those consequences shapes every aspect of one’s life–from the hugely meaningful down to the seemingly insignificant. Part 1 of the Knows His Own series

Perpetual Motion by Fay (orphan_account) (E, 75,789 w., 31 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Romance, Unconventional Relationship, Renegotiation of Boundaries, Virgin Sherlock, Changing Sexuality, Masturbation, Orgasm Delay/Denial, Exhibitionism/Voyeurism, Sex Toys, Hurt/Comfort, Angst and Humour, Grieving, Light Bondage, First Kiss / Time, Hand Jobs, Quarrels, Shower Sex, Pillow Humping/Frottage, Oral Sex, Slight Self-Harm, Chastity Device) – Everyone thinks that they’re a couple, but Sherlock’s self-sexual and John’s straight, so they’re never going to fall in love, are they? Even if neither of them can imagine life without the other.

The Blog of Eugenia Watson by Mad_Lori (G, 95,026 w. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || OC POV, Parentlock, Teenagers, Diary / Blogging / Journal, Family, Humour) – I like to think of this not so much as a blog but as the first draft of my inevitably best-selling memoirs. My Life In an Unconventional Family. How unconventional? Well, I live with my divorced parents and my dad’s husband. How’s that for starters? Trust me, it gets weirder.My name is Eugenia Watson, but you can call me Genie. I’m sixteen. This is my life. Note: Work is marked complete for now and is on hiatus, having reached a convenient stopping point. Additional chapters may be added in the future.

Northwest Passage by Kryptaria (E, 95,157 w., 27 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Canadian AU ||  BAMF!John, Canadian John, PTSD, Anal / Oral Sex, Rimming, Emotional Hurt / Comfort) – Seven years ago, Captain John Watson of the Canadian Forces Medical Service withdrew from society, seeking a simple, isolated life in the distant northern wilderness of Canada. Though he survives from one day to the next, he doesn’t truly live until someone from his dark past calls in a favor and turns his world upside-down with the introduction of Sherlock Holmes.” Part 1 of Tales from the Northwest

Drift Compatible by J_Baillier (E, 130.380 w., 26 Ch. || Pacific Rim Fusion || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Alternate First Meeting, Angst, Family Drama, Accidental Telepathic Voyeurism, Martial Arts, Sci-Fi, Internalised Homophobia, Rubbish Siblings, Army Doctor John, Medical H/C, Bullying, Neurodiversity, PTSD, Drug Use, Depression, Mourning, Adventure, Hurt/Comfort, UST/URT) – A washed out war hero struggling with his past. A prodigy who wants nothing to do with his family legacy. Both are looking for something—and someone—worth fighting for in a world where human civilisation is constantly under threat.

Nature and Nurture by earlgreytea68 (M, 203,273 w., 57 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Parentlock, Cloning, Kidlock, Dev. Rel.) – The British Government accidentally clones Sherlock Holmes. Which brings a baby to 221B Baker Street. Part 1 of Nature & Nurture

Radioactive Trees In A Red Forest by Maribor_Petrichor (E, 280,251 w., 73 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Post-S4, Suicidal Ideations, Alcohol / Rx Drug Abuse, Coming Out / Bisexual John, Seizures, Past/Referenced/Implied Child Abuse, Hallucinations, Rehab, Celibacy, Sobriety / Relapse, Slow Burn, Friends to Lovers, Grief/Mourning, Psychological Trauma, Nice /Not Anti-Mary, John’s POV, Parentlock, First Time, Angst, Switchlock, Angst with Happy Ending) – John Watson is what happens when a man can no longer see a reason to go on. John Watson is what happens when a man starts to let go. “It is what it is.” John Watson is what happens when what “it is” becomes too much to bear. This is a story of the life, death, and resurrection of John Hamish Watson.

[recentanimenews]

Tubi Adds In This Corner of the World, Liz and the Blue Bird, and More

Screenshot via Eleven Arts

  Tubi continues to grow its anime offerings, following the recent deal inked with Toei Animation to add episodes of shows like One Piece and Dr. Slump. The latest has Fox's free streaming service teaming up with Shout! Factory to stream a handful of acclaimed titles, including In This Corner of the World, Millennium Actress, Liz and the Blue Bird, Penguin Highway, and more. 

    The free additions will be available both subbed and dubbed starting April 8. In This Corner of the World will join the Tubi lineup in 2022. Here's an overview of everything that's on the way:

  Millennium Actress

Winner of Tokyo Anime Award and nominated for multiple Annie awards, this gorgeous new restoration is what many believe to be Satoshi Kon's (Perfect Blue, Paprika) greatest work. When the legendary Ginei Studios shuts down, filmmaker Genya Tachibana and his assistant are tasked with interviewing its reclusive star, Chiyoko Fujiwara, who had retired from the spotlight 30 years prior. As Chiyoko recounts her career, Genya and his crew are literally pulled into her memories where they witness her chance encounter with a mysterious man on the run from the police. Despite never knowing his name or his face, Chiyoko relentlessly pursues that man in a seamless blend of reality and memory that only Satoshi Kon could deliver. The film also garnered the Grand Prize in the Japan Agency of Cultural Affairs Media Arts Festival.

  Liz and the Blue Bird

Directed by Naoko Yamada, students and best friends Mizore Yoroizuka and Nozomi Kasaki prepare to play a complex musical duet, "Liz and the Blue Bird," for oboe and flute. Though they play beautifully together and have been friends since childhood, Mizore and Nozomi find that with graduation looming and the duet proving difficult, their friendship begins to buckle under the pressure. Interspersed with their story is the fantasy tale of Liz, drawn like a storybook, contrasting with the crisp realism of the school. These two distinct styles weave with stirring music to tell an intimate coming-of-age story. The film was nominated for Best Film at the Crunchyroll Awards.

  Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms

Though only 15, Maquia knows she will live for centuries without aging past adolescence. She belongs to the Iorph, a clan of ageless beings just like her. Maquia's elders warn her not to fall in love with anyone outside their realm. But fate pushes Maquia out into the mortal world one night when an invading territory separates her from the clan. There she discovers an orphaned baby, Arial, and takes him in as her own child. From this point, Maquia will suffer extreme heartbreak in the name of motherhood, as she watches Arial grow and seeks to reconnect with her lost Iorph friends, all torn apart by the cruel world of Mesate.

  Penguin Highway

Budding genius Aoyama is only in the 4th grade, but already lives his life like a scientist. When penguins start appearing in his sleepy suburb, hundreds of miles from the sea, Aoyama vows to solve the mystery. When he discovers that the arrival of the penguins is somehow related to a mysterious young woman from his dentist’s office, they team up for an unforgettable summer adventure! The film was nominated for Best Animated Film at the Japanese Academy Awards.

  The Wonderland

On the day before her birthday, young Akane meets the mysterious alchemist Hippocrates who brings her through a basement and into a fantastical world full of magic and color. Though things seem peaceful on the surface, he reveals this world is in danger and as the destined Goddess of the Green Wind, it is Akane's responsibility to bring back the rain and save this world from the terror known as Zan Gu. Joining Akane on her journey is Pipo, an alchemist in training, and her adventurous Aunt Chii. The only problem? Akane just wants to go home. The film is directed by Keiichi Hara.

  Sound! Euphonium: The Movie – Welcome To The Kitauji High School Concert Band

Sound! Euphonium: The Movie – May The Melody Reach You

Sound! Euphonium: The Movie – Our Promise: A Brand New Day

Based on the manga and television series, the Sound! Euphonium movies follow Kumiko, a young girl at Kitauji High School who plays euphonium in her school’s orchestra. Follow the band on their mission to reach Nationals while juggling romance and adolescence.

  Haikara-San: Here Comes Miss Modern Parts 1 & 2

Adapted from Waki Yamato's popular manga, Kazuhiro Furuhashi’s Haikara-San is a heartfelt, and sometimes comical, tale of love surviving through the perils of war and separation.

  Donten: Laughing Under the Clouds Gaiden

One Year After the Battle, The Tragedy of Fuuma Ninja Tribe, and Conspiracy of the Military

It's been a year since brothers and shrine guardians, Tenka, Soramaru, and Chutaro, have defeated the legendary giant snake that threatened to destroy humanity. However, their lives are thrown into upheaval when they discover a plot to revive the evil serpent.

  In This Corner of the World

Based on the award-winning manga by Fumiyo Kouno and brought to life by acclaimed filmmaker Sunao Katabuchi (Mai Mai Miracle) and producer Taro Maki, In This Corner of The World tells the emotional story of Suzu, a young girl from Hiroshima, who's just become a bride in the nearby city of Kure during World War II. Living with her husband's family, Suzu has to adjust to her new life, which is made especially difficult by regular air raids. But life must go on, and Suzu — through the help of her new family and neighbors — begins to discover the joys of everyday life in Kure. Much is gained in Kure, but with war, many things cherished are also lost. In This Corner of The World is brought to life, in stunning animation, by acclaimed filmmaker Sunao Katabuchi (Mai Mai Miracle) and producer Taro Maki. The film was also nominated for Best Film at the Annie awards, among several other wins and nominations.

  Source: Press release

    -------

Joseph Luster is the Games and Web editor at Otaku USA Magazine. You can read his comics at subhumanzoids. Follow him on Twitter @Moldilox.

By: Joseph Luster

[ucflibrary]

Be Inspired by Great Nature Writers

Nature writing can transport us to new place, inform us of the world around us and open our eyes to the magic and beauty right in front of us.  Here are some ebooks currently available through the UCF Libraries to get you started.

The Essential Naturalist edited by Michael H. Graham, Joan Parker and Paul K. Dayton.

“The Essential Naturalist offers … a wide-ranging, eclectic collection of writings from more than eight centuries of observations of the natural world, from Leeuwenhoek to E. O. Wilson, from von Humboldt to Rachel Carson. Featuring commentaries by practicing scientists that offer personal accounts of the importance of the long tradition of natural history writing to their current research, the volume serves simultaneously as an overview of the field’s long history and as an inspirational starting point for new explorations, for trained scientists and amateur enthusiasts alike.”

Readings in Wood by John Leland

“Award-winning nature writer John Leland offers a collection of twenty-seven short, poetic essays that marry science and the humanities as the author seeks meaning in trees. Readings in Wood is an investigation of trees and forests and also of wood as a material that people have found essential in the creation of society and culture. Leland views with wit and erudition the natural world and the curious place of human beings as saviors and destroyers of this world.

Readings in Wood is a hybrid testament of science, faith, superstition, and disbelief learned from sitting on tree trunks and peering at leaves and fungi. Leland hopes others will join him in nature’s classroom.”

Where’s the Moon?: A Memoir of the Space Coast and the Florida Dream by Ann McCutchan

“In this coming-of-age memoir, McCutchan, a writer and musician, returns to Florida to reconcile with the life she had there [growing up]. Reconnecting with old friends and long-forgotten places, she confronts the transformation of wetland real estate she knew as a child into south Florida suburbs and the booming Space Coast… She … comes to a deeper understanding of the meaning of the cultural shifts she experienced in the sixties, and achieves a new appreciation of the history and aspirations of the two people who meant the most to her.”

The Great Clod: Notes and Memoirs on Nature and History in East Asia by Gary Snyder

“Over the course of his singular career, the Pulitzer Prize–winning poet, essayist, environmental activist, and Beat icon Gary Snyder has derived wisdom and inspiration from his study of Eastern philosophies, cultures, and art. Now, with this collection of eight essays, Snyder offers “a deceptively small book enfolding a lifetime’s worth of study” (Kirkus Reviews). The Great Clod is the culmination of a project that Snyder began in 1969 with the essay ‘Summer in Hokkaido,’first published in Coevolution Quarterly. In it and the subsequent entries… Snyder weaves together elements of travel memoir and poetic insight with scholarly meditations on civilization’s relationship to the environment.”

At Home in Nature: A Life of Unknown Mountains and Deep Wilderness by Rob Wood

“The compelling story of one family’s life among the rugged landscapes of British Columbia’s Coast Mountains, converting youthful ideals, raw land and a passion for the outdoors into a practical off-grid homestead.

Settling on Maurelle Island, he and his wife built an off-the-grid homestead and focused on alternative communities and developing a small house-design practice specializing in organic and wholesome building techniques. At Home in Nature is a gentle and philosophical memoir that focuses on living a life deeply rooted in the natural world, where citizens are connected to the planet and individuals work together to help, enhance and make the world a better …place.”

Want to explore more?  Check out the titles related to nature available from Ebsco Ebooks

Learn New Outdoor Skills

Expanding your skills is a sure-fire way to appreciate nature more deeply.  Want to know why the mocking bird in your neighborhood sings so many different tunes..including imitating your car alarm?  How about knowing what to look for to find water out in nature?  Want to be able to identify the plants and animals you encounter? There are a wealth of authoritative educational opportunities available online that you can use to build skills.  Here are some of our favorites:

Cornell Ornithology Lab Open Lectures

Here you will find free lectures given by world renowned experts in the field of ornithology.  This site also links to free learning games and instructional videos as well as the Lab’s online course offerings (for a fee).

Great Courses through Kanopy

Fundamentals of Sustainable Living “Become a more thoughtful consumer, save money, and reduce your ecological footprint with this course that teaches you how integrate sustainable practices into your everyday life. By learning specific knowledge and techniques on how to work more efficiently with the energy, water, and food you consume, you can live a more balanced and sustainable lifestyle that also positively impacts the world around you.”

The Science of Gardening “When scientists examine home gardens and landscapes, one fact stands out: The leading cause of landscape failure is not disease and it’s not pests – it’s our own gardening practices. Create a beautiful and sustainable home garden guided by the newest information from applied plant physiology, biology, soils science, climatology, hydrology, chemistry, and ecology.”

Plant Science: An Introduction to Botany“If you look around right now, chances are you’ll see a plant. It could be a succulent in a pot on your desk, grasses or shrubs just outside your door, or trees in a park across the way. Proximity to plants tends to make us happy, even if we don’t notice, offering unique pleasures and satisfactions. Open your eyes to the phenomenal and exciting world of botany!”

Our Night Sky “For thousands of years, the star-filled sky has been a source of wonder, discovery, and entertainment. All you need to feel at home in its limitless expanse is Our Night Sky, a richly illustrated 12-episode course that gives you an unrivaled tour around the sky–all while teaching you about the science, technology, and pure pleasure of stargazing.”

Add to the Scientific Study of Nature

Want to conduct some research?  Right now?  Even in your own backyard?  Join a citizen science initiative!  There are hundreds of projects actively seeking data from interested observers just like you.  Check out the projects listed on these resources and find one that’s right for you!

CitizenScience.gov

National Geographic Citizen Science Projects

SciStarter.org

Don’t worry if you don’t have a background in science, there are projects available at all skill levels!

Virtually Explore Our World

Want to walk the Kalahari? Climb to the top of a mountain? How about swim at the bottom of the sea?  UCF Libraries has hours of streaming video to inspire your love of nature!

BBC Landmark Collection

Check out some of the best nature documentaries of the last decade with this collection from Alexander Street Press.  Titles include Planet Earth I & II, Spy in the Wild, Big Cats and so much more.

The Swamp

Explore the history of the Everglades and the unintended consequences of man’s quest to control it.

Forces of Nature

This four-part series from PBS delves into the powers and motivators which influence our natural world.  Find out answers to such questions as “Why is water blue? How can a shape defy gravity? Why do bees make hexagonal honeycombs? And how do these things affect our own lives?”

Commit to One New Sustainable Practice

It can feel overwhelming trying to figure out the best way you can limit your negative impact on our planet, but don’t worry, it is not an all or nothing proposition.  Even small changes in your actions can have lasting impact.  I challenge each of us to commit to making one change in honor of the 50th Anniversary this Earth Day. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Choose one item you use regularly that comes in single use plastic and switch to more sustainable option.  Bonus: choose a zero-waste option.

Reduce energy consumption by raising the temperature on your thermostat. You can start small with one degree and transition over time.

Commit to only drinking from reusable bottles or cups for one week.

Eat plant-based meals one day a week, or three meals throughout the week.

Switch one cleaning product you use to an environmentally friendly option.

Want more information?  Check out our Naturally UCF Guide and our Anthropocene Reading List

[sammyspreadyourwings]

I thought I knew all your on going projects but apparently not! :D If you don't mind me asking about some of them? (NOT full on spoilers but maybe tell us a little bit about them?) Eboy // Twitch Streamer, Plane delay, Frian fight, Post ‘91 Dom/Sub, Witch AU(have you talked about this before? did I somehow missed it?) Reincarnation, Air Bubble AU, Alice in Wonderland. I'm sorry I know I ask a lot but I'M JUST VERY INVESTED IN YOUR WRITINGS OKAY I love you *cue Lady Gaga's paparazzi*

Ihad like 80% of the answer done, but then I accidentally closed out of the browser,so then I gave up for the night and just wrote more on a different story, buttoday, we try again!

 Hopefully, I avoided spoilers?

Oh, long post ahead!!

Eboy// Twitch Streamer

 Okayso borrowing from the aesthetic of an Eboy, or “soft boy” mixed with egirlculture but ignoring a lot of that gross subculture (fun fact these things meantwo different things but I’m using them as one because I’m lazy.

BasicallyJohn is an accidental eboy, Roger has a pretty decent sized following, but oneday he invited John to be in one of his videos, and then John got a lot of peoplefollowing him because of it. And while he’s not super thrilled about it, fansdo tend to donate to his koi-foi or paypal or whichever so he can’t exactlycomplain when all he has to do is make a video about something and make himselflook “soft.” Freddie helps them both with it, but their videos do talk aboutscience things or cars or music.

Thenthere’s Brian, who gained a following on Twitch, because he was bored one dayand decided to play Animal Crossing. Because of the game and his voice, itpicks up popularity as a very relaxing stream to watch. Brian will just rambleabout anything from his classes to his music to deep questions, occasionallybreaking it up by shouting about something happening in game. He like overshares, but not about his personal life.

Johnfinds the channel one night when he’s going through a very high anxiety phase,and starts at Day 1, and by the time he’s caught up it’s already late afternoonand may have developed an accidental crush on the streamer. He thinks it’ll goaway because it was an exposure crush.

Spoiler,it doesn’t really.

Brianis also a lowkey fan of Roger and John’s channel, because he likes learningabout the things they talk about + and they’re both very cute (even if hispreference is the brunette with the beautiful smile), so win-win.

Theymeet when they’re both (John and Brian) invited to be parts of different panelsat a con.

Therest is as they say, history, or a massive amount of pining, long distancerelationships, drama, at least one break up, and Freddie being a saint forputting up with this.

Planedelay

 Basedon the time that I was stuck on a tarmac for two hours because it was anopen-exit and there was lightning within 15 miles but it happened to be Floridaso there’s always lightning and they only checked every 15 minutes.

Brian’sbeen away trying to get big name donations for his charity, as well as doing a lecturetour on campuses. It’s been fun, and exciting to not just be Brian May, Queen’sGuitarist, but two months in the states (alone) is more than he can really beexpected to enjoy. He is so very ready to get home and not leave his house (ormore specifically his bed) for the next week reconnecting with his boys.Calling had simply not been enough. So here comes the big day of him gettingback to the UK.

Firsthis plane gets delayed for almost a full twelve hours due to mechanical issues.So now he has to mope around the air port for over fifteen hours (and that’sbeing optimistic that the plane won’t be delayed further).

Aftera quick call to his boys about the delay (to which Freddie whined about andRoger got irritated about and John just said they’d make sure a car would gethim), Brian sits by his gate and pouts.

Hedoes end up writing some very sappy love songs as presents and managing tocatch a few hours of sleep.

Anywaythe plane is only eighteen hours late by the time it fully touches down. Therest of the flight is pretty uneventful, sans Brian’s mind drifting to what he’sgoing to do when he sees his boys when he finally gets to their house (air portreunions aren’t exactly possible now with the fame they’ve accrued over the years)

Butwhen they touch the tarmac there’s a problem with the ramp. Mechanical failureof some kind, so he’s stuck again for a few hours while they move one toreplace it. Brian is literally so exhausted that by the time he grabs his bagsall he can imagine is sleep.

Frianfight

 Oneof the first (and I think only?) Frian things I’ve written was about themgetting into a fight during Hot Space and Brian basically ending it, this is thefollow up to that

Post‘91 Dom/Sub

 Soafter Freddie dies and John grows distant with the Roger and Brian beforeultimately leaving the relationship, Brian and Roger hadn’t gotten into thatusual type of scene. They had sex, sure, and sometimes it was kinky, but itwasn’t any of the dynamic that they had before. When Brian finally gets upsetenough to ask for it (part of his brain is telling him that Roger doesn’t wanthim anymore etc), Roger has to figure out to do what John did.

TL;DRAngsty bdsm sex

WitchAU

//this is an ask that I have, but it got kind of out of hand orwill when I actually type it out

 MainlyI fell in love with the world (Sammy falling in love with world building, tellme it isn’t so) but hopefully the plot is super interesting

So,summarizing the ask text:

1)it’s possibly going to be a fem!queen au (I haven’t actually figured that outyet because I had such a weird relationship with those types of AUs)

2)John, Roger, and Freddie (for the sake of organization we’re using their realnames) are a coven

3)Brian has been dealing with spirits and visions since he was little, but hedidn’t know that he was a witch

Butthe spirits take a heavy mental toll on Brian: depression, anxiety, andinsomnia. When he meets the other three things surprisingly get a little better.

Briandevelops a crush on all of them, proceeds to panic and not tell them about it,and suffers in silence (so the unusual).

Nowthe plot revolves around Queen being a particularly powerful coven (each havingrare Gifts) and other witches in the world not exactly happy about that. One inparticular (a combination of a lover scorned and someone who has always wantedpower) decides that she’s going to stop them from having the power they possess.Her target? Brian, who has no idea that he’s a witch, much less come into hispowers. So basically this witch keeps getting more and more aggressive with herattempts. At first it was trying to distance him from the others (which Johndragged him back handily talking about how stupid Brian is, and that of coursethey want him around), her next step was to distract him from finding out his heritage,then to try and  turn him against theothers (now she’s using magic for this) but Freddie manages to counter thespell, and finally she moves on to straight up trying to murder him.

Andthe spell she uses? It might very well succeed.

Reincarnation

Iwrote this as a prompt a long time ago, where if you look into the eyes of yoursoulmate, you remember your previous life with Maylor I ended up writing, orstarting to write John’s reintroduction 

AirBubble AU

MyMerfolk AU, that was the Thought of the Day a few days ago

Alicein Wonderland

Brian,later on in Queen’s career once again falls ill with hepatitis (in the late 80s),and his fever dream basically makes him go on this adventure (because they hadjust watched the animated movie the night before this all flared up).Sothis one involves rapid shifting from fever dream to real life.Oh,and it’s going to be a little bit of a darker Wonderland. Going from say, thatthing resembles a deer to that thing was never a deer.

[whoacanada]

Fic: The One Where Jack’s a Goalie - Part One

Summary: Jack Zimmermann comes out of rehab with a new lease on life and a desperate need to reconnect with the ice. However, he’s unwilling to place himself back in the spotlight so he decides to start his career over and retrain as a goaltender. With less judgment from his peers and little chance of going pro, Jack has a chance to be himself at Samwell, possibly for the first time in his entire life.

Pairing: Zimbits, references to past hookups

--

“You’re a goalie stuck in a forward’s body, Jack. I hope you never lose that spark.”

Jack remembers being fourteen and horribly offended. All he’d done was get a little excited about how the Royal Canadian Mounted Police transitioned into their modern incarnation. That’s it. He knows deep down his father meant it as a compliment but Jack knows goalies are quirky. Weird. They aren’t playmakers, they can’t be captains, they’re integral, necessary, but they aren’t stars. Jack’s supposed to be a star.

Jack says as much and his father stares him down with one brow arched playfully. 

“You’re laying on stereotypes pretty thick, bud. You’re telling me Patrick Roy wasn’t a playmaker? Sawchuck? Hell, I should call Martin and have him come down here himself. Goalies are the glue that keeps a team together, the last line of defense and the most entertaining people you’ll ever meet. Or the biggest bastards. Either way, you remind me of some of the best boys I’ve ever known.”

Bad Bob has made his point but Jack holds fast on his opinion for a long time. Through the Q, even when he’s exhausted and strung out and hating everything around him. He resents goalies on principle: they’re his natural enemy, keeping him from playing his best game. Eventually, he takes that dislike all the way to rehab.

“The professional pipeline discourages individuality in players that are marked for great things,” his therapist prompts. “You aren’t allowed to be an individual. We’ve discussed this before but I don’t think you’ve really examined why you project these judgments. Is it that goalies are ‘weird’, or is it that you resent the fact they aren’t judged as harshly as you were?”

At a Junior World Cup game, an announcer called Jack ‘a hockey-playing robot’ and the nickname stuck. It wasn’t long before scouts, news article, and people on the street he didn’t even know started calling him a ‘robot’ like it was a compliment.  

Goalies are weird. Quirky. Goalies can love history and old movies. Goalies can sing to Toto during timeouts. Goalies can be anxious. Goalies can have tantrums and yell and they don’t have to be perfect all the time. Goalies aren’t robots, they’re people.

Jack doesn’t cry during that particular session but it’s a near thing.

He comes home from therapy and starts researching how common it is to switch positions and still be a decent player. There isn’t much to work with but Jack has plenty of time and energy to spare. He isn’t planning on going pro, he just wants to play. He wants to have fun.

So, one night Bob makes him a dinner and Jack downs half a steak half before saying, “I think I want to be a goalie.”

Bob Zimmermann cuts an impressive figure, even sporting his ‘Check the Cook’ apron. He’s a little older, little grayer, more than a few of the lines around his eyes are Jack’s fault, but for all of Jack’s internalized fears of failure, perpetuated largely by growing up in the shadow of a legend, the man has always been a dedicated father. Jack’s overdose only proved it.

“You want to be a goalie?” Bob asks from across the kitchen, waving his spatula to mime what Jack thinks is supposed to be a mitt. “Goalie-goalie?”

“I think I’d like to play hockey again. Reset and start over. I can do that as a goalie. No pressure to be…well, me.”

His father contemplates him for a moment before grabbing an avocado from the bowl near the coffee machine and chucking it at Jack’s head; he barely dodges it when his mother yells, “Jesus, Bob!”

“I’m not a goalie yet,” Jack shouts, turning around to look at the dented avocado resting on the floor.

“Clearly,” Bob sighs and, to his credit, apologizes for throwing the fruit before asking, “You still want to learn to be a goalie?”

“If I say yes will you throw an orange at me?”

Jack fights the urge to retreat to his room when his father pulls out the chair beside him and sets a notepad down beside Jack’s half-finished plate, ‘To Do’ scrawled messily at the top, and directly below that, ‘new goalie pads’

“No, I was thinking about shooting some pucks at you, which might actually be worse. Let’s start with this.”

Like most things, it takes time. Jack starts developing a different set of muscles, does the same training exercises his pint-sized pee-wee goalies practice religiously. For months the Zimmermann’s entertain a steady stream of hockey legends bribed with beer and good company to help Jack practice his puck-stopping skills.

Never let it be said that Jack Zimmermann half asses anything.

He goes to therapy. Keeps a journal. Does breathing exercises and forces himself to be honest about the things he enjoys. When he wants to make a joke, he jokes. He chirps. With no chance of going pro, there’s no pressure to hide. Well, less pressure. He doesn’t want to accidentally out Kent, but if a cute boy smiles at him, he’s smiling right back.

Jack’s goalie pads might as well be a suit of armor. His pee-wee kids are in awe. His beer-league teammates are terrified. Eventually, his skill sets overlap and he’s not just a big fish in a small pond, he’s a shark; going crazy sitting around all day doing nothing but read and train. He needs something bigger, a challenge.

(His mother says he needs a boyfriend, but that’s debatable.)

When Jack decides he wants to go to school, Alicia’s alma mater of Samwell is a foregone conclusion. However, like most things regarding Jack, his reputation precedes him. When he goes to meet with the Dean regarding his slightly unorthodox admission, they find the head coach of the men’s hockey team has been invited to meet them as well.

“Jack’s not here to play hockey,” Bob says immediately, in lieu of a proper greeting, already tense. “He’s here to be a student.”

“Maybe not ‘normal’,” Jack amends, leaning against his mother’s side. She giggles behind her hand but composes herself quickly.

Hall, the newly appointed Men’s Hockey coach launches into his proposal emphatically, talking about the school’s repeated playoff berths and building the entire program around Jack. Bob is red-faced and looks like he’s about to flip a desk but Jack reaches over to rest a hand on his father’s arm to steady him.

“It’s okay. I think I’d like to do it,” Jack’s parents both turn to him in surprise. “Under one condition.”

“Anything you need,” Hall says quickly, unable to hide his excitement.

“I want to be brought in as a goalie.”

Hall’s smile falters.

“What?”

“I’m not a forward, anymore. I can understand if you aren’t looking for a —”

“No! No, um, we only have one goalie right now, I’m sure we can bring you in under Johnson until we see how you perform.”

A tentative verbal agreement is struck, hands are shaken, and Jack’s brimming with excitement he knows he can’t share just yet.

“Are you sure this is what you want?” His mother asks when they clear reception, wary of listening ears. “This wasn’t the plan, you don’t have to play if you don’t absolutely want to.”

Jack almost doesn’t answer, distracted by a flier tacked to a student notice board announcing an end of semester bonfire. He doesn’t miss the pride flag stamped in the corner and neither do his parents.

“One in four, maybe more,” Alicia teases softly, not for the first time since they’ve arrived.

“I know,” Jack glosses. “I still love hockey, if I’m terrible at it, no harm no foul.”

His father is less certain, a frown tugging at his lips as he guides them both toward the door.

“This is a Division 1 school, Jack. A degree is one thing, being a full-time college athlete is another. You’ll have eyes on you again.” Bob nods to the flier. “I just want to be sure you aren’t overextending yourself before you’ve even started.”

There are kids playing ultimate frisbee on the quad; beyond them, Jack can see a group of runners disappearing behind the science building. The sun is shining, the trees are in full bloom, and Jack desperately wants to be a part of something normal.

“If it’s too much, I’ll quit,” Jack promises, keeping stride with his parents as they head to the rental car. “Can’t hurt to try.”

(Two Years Later)

Johnson slaps Jack’s ass and says, “Look out, your timeline’s about to jack-knife.”

“You say that every week,” Jack settles into the crease and wiggles his hips, ready for the new frogs to show their stuff. “Still don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about, bud.”

There’s a hell of a freshman class this year, a lot of potential, a lot of risk, and the A on Jack’s sweater means he gets a chance to help mold the team into something great. He’s excited. He’s nervous.

“Don’t need to be the best,”Jack whispers to himself, watching Holster razz a small winger. “Only good and kind.”

The first issue of the season presents almost immediately. The short frog can’t take a check and goes down so hard it’s painful to watch. Jack doesn’t leave the net, lets Johnson investigate since he’s closer, but he watches like a hawk, trying to figure out what the issue is without engaging.

Hall said the kid used to be a figure skater, so clearly he isn’t used to contact, but he’s made it this far so he has promise. Everyone has promise and Jack feels a weird camaraderie: change is hard, he should know. 

Eventually, they slide the kid to Jack’s side of the rink and Jack finds himself staring down a set of bright brown eyes reddened by shame. 

“Bittle. C’mere.”

“Jack, right?” His accent catches Jack off guard in the best way. 

“So I’m told. Stand still,” Jack kicks off a little and slides into Bittle’s space at a glacial pace, slow enough Bittle has time to back up a few inches.

“What are you doing?”

“Checking you. You know ‘bunny slopes’, eh?” Jack realizes he needs to explain himself. He’s thinking about kids learning to ski on beginner courses and hooks his stick around Bittle’s leg to drag him forward so he bumps against Jack’s pads. “Bunny checks. Lapin check.”

“Are you making fun of me?” Bittle pushes back and frowns, hurt. “I know it’s stupid —”

“No, non,” Jack pushes his mask up and turns to set his stick up on the net. “Checking is hard, you need to start small.”

“Wait,” Bittle’s expression changes from wounded to confused. “You’re actually trying to help?”

From across the rink, Jack can see Murray watching them both with the same cautious optimism he showed after they awarded Jack the A. 

“Hall said you used to figure skate,” Jack says, nudging Bittle’s skate with his stick. “It’s hard adjusting to a different playing style, don’t let it get you down.”

“I played hockey in high school,” Bittle defends lamely, letting Jack maneuver him toward the bench.

“So did I,” Jack jokes, though Bittle doesn’t seem to find the same humor.

“Zimmermann! Give us back the frog!”

“Take it easy,” Jack orders, patting Bittle’s helmet awkwardly. “Keep your head up.”

Bittle offers a wary ‘thanks’ and heads back to the frog huddle while Shitty whips around to steal Jack’s water bottle.

“Think you spooked him trying to be all maternal. Trying to make that frog your new pet project? Gonna fix him up nice and pretty for the ball? Rescue him from a tower?”

“Maybe. Stop mixing metaphors. No one that fast should seize up so quick.”  

“Well someone needs to do something or he’s going to get bust down real fucking fast —” Shitty stops and gives Jack a hairy eye. “You got the look, brah. Crazy eyes. It’s too early in the season for that thousand-yard-stare.”

Jack smacks Shitty with his stick, mind already a million miles away. He needs to make a few calls, confer with his father, but he thinks he can sort Bittle out in a few weeks with some dedicated attention. He tells Hall and Murray as much.

“You’ve got more experience than anyone else on this team, if you think you can help, by all means,” Murray tells him, giving the program’s blessing.

It takes Jack half a day to plan out a schedule, a timeline of exercises before he realizes he hasn’t actually spoken to Bittle about the extra practices. Or anything at all beyond their initial interaction.

“Bro, you went crazy internal,” Ransom points out at dinner that evening. “Your psychology notes are a mess, looked like you were comparing stats.”

“I was…busy,” Jack defends, casually sliding a hand over his ‘notes’.

“Jackabelle, here,” Shitty slaps his tray down beside Jack and shakes him with a one-armed hug. “Is going to fix whatever’s fucking with Bittle. Operation: S.O.B.: Save-Our-Bittle.”

“Ha,” Jack scribbles a reminder to talk to Bittle in the morning. “Like Arrested Development.”

That night, Jack lies awake listening to the boys roughhouse upstairs, trying to figure out how he’ll broach the subject of extra training. 

He can fix this. He can fix Bittle.

The next morning at team breakfast, Bittle settles in across from Jack, a little to the left of Jack’s empty coffee cup. His plate is loaded with breakfast potatoes, Texas toast, and a few scant pieces of turkey bacon. It’s unbalanced for a preseason meal, but nothing that can’t be remedied so Jack rolls two hard boiled eggs from his plate onto Bittle’s; the frog will need the energy if they’re going to train together.

“Bittle.”

The kid blinks up, surprised.

“You need to eat more protein.”

[wiremagazine]

13 OF THE BEST 2019 FORT LAUDERDALE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL SPOTLIGHT FILMS

BALLOON   (Germany, 2018) Director: Michael Herbig In German, with English subtitles

An incredible true story of resistance. 1979, East Germany during the height of the Cold War. Two ordinary families yearning for freedom secretly form a great escape plan to get across to the West: with courage and ingenuity, they build a hot air balloon with small pieces of cloth for their eight family-members to fly over the border. But an initial failure threatens their entire plan, setting off a dangerous race against time for a second attempt, with the state police now hot on their heels.

BEFORE I FORGET (Brazil, 2018) Director: Tiago Arakilian In Portuguese, with English subtitles

At the age of 80, a retired judge decides to demolish the stability of his comfortable life and become the owner of a strip club.

CELESTE   (Australia, 2018) Director: Ben Hackworth In English

Hidden from the world at a crumbling estate in lush tropical Far North Queensland, Celeste anxiously reaches out to Jack, her late husband's son, inviting him to return to the languid, sprawling family home for her much-anticipated recital. Jack's reappearance after a long absence stirs up unsettling memories, pulling them both into a mutually precarious orbit.  

CHASING THE JET STREAM (Switzerland, UK, 2018) Director: Claudio von Planta In English

Chasing The Jet Streamfollows the pioneering adventure of Marc Hauser, a Swiss entrepreneur and motivational speaker who wants to become the first skydiver in the world jumping into a hurricane-force jet stream at 8,000 to 10,000 meters altitude. With this record, Marc wants to bring attention to the nascent technology of airborne wind energy systems, which can harness high-altitude wind power. This new technology has the potential to defuse the global energy crisis.

COLD FEET   (Germany, 2018) Director: Wolfgang Groos In German with English subtitles

Denis, a third-rate burglar who needs to pay his debts to some disagreeable crooks, breaks into the Austrian winter cottage of rich businessman and stroke patient, Raimund (screen veteran Heiner Lauterbach). It seemed like the perfect plan until a raging snowstorm hits the region just as Raimund's granddaughter Charlotte (Sonja Gerhardt) comes to visit, mistaking Denis for the new nurse. Without escape being an option, Denis decides to play along. What follows is an entertaining game of cat and mouse, where a suspicious Charlotte, her handicapped grandfather and the clever young man are unexpectedly forced to unite and put their resources to use.

CUBA (U.S., Cuba, 2019) Director: Peter H. Chang In English

CUBA tells the powerful story of a land preserved in time, yet poised on the cusp of dramatic change. The nation's vibrant culture, meticulously maintained colonial architecture, and pristine ecosystems provide a vivid window into the island's history and spirit. CUBA will transport audiences across breathtaking landscapes, under the ocean surface to iridescent reefs, and into streets throbbing with music and dance in the heart of Havana. Through the eyes of Cuban artists, historians, and scientists, the film provides an intimate look at this vivacious island nation.

DELFIN   (Argentina, 2019) Director: Gaspar Scheuer In Spanish with English subtitles

Life certainly isn't easy for Delfín, an 11-year-old boy who lives alone with his father in the barren, muddy outskirts of a Buenos Aires province small town. But above all things, Delfín wants to participate in a Children's Orchestra that is being formed in a neighboring village. His aging music teacher taught him to play the French horn, and Delfín will do the impossible to show up for the audition. This will mean an adventure for him and also for his father.

FROM THE VINE (Canada, Italy, 2019) Director: Sean Cisterna In English and Italian, with English subtitles

From The Vineis the story of a downtrodden CEO experiencing a moral crisis that travels back to Italy to recalibrate his moral compass. He discovers a new life by reviving his Nonno's old vineyard, offering the small town of Acerenza a sustainable future and reconnecting with his family in the process. Combining magic realism and Italian neorealism, and set against the backdrop of wine country Italy, the film is about finding your roots in your family when you're at the bottom of the barrel.

FUNNY YOU NEVER KNEW   (U.S., 2019) Director: Andrew Hunt In English

Comedians Fred Willard and Kevin Pollak re-discover three remarkable TV comics from the 1950s: Imogene Coca, George Gobel and Martha Raye, whose groundbreaking work was broadcast live. Thanks to recently unearthed kinescopes a new audience can enjoy vital and hilarious performances that have languished unseen for 60 years.

LA BOLDUC (Canada, 2018) Director: Francois Bouvier In Canadian French, with English subtitles

In Montreal, at the beginning of the 20th century, a poor and uneducated mother of a family managed to get her family out of poverty by becoming a resounding folk singer. With the crisis of the '20s and '30s in the background and the first impetus for the fight for women's rights, the screenplay traces Mary Travers Bolduc's life, her dazzling career, her difficult marriage and her touching relationship with her daughter. Elder Denise, who played the piano on her mother's records and dreamed of becoming an actress in Hollywood.

LOVE IN SUSPENDERS (Israel, 2019) Director: Jorge Weller In Hebrew, with English subtitles

Tami is a widow in her 60's and Beno is a widower in his 70's. She is optimistic, always smiling, and still talking to her husband who has been dead for a few years already. Beno is tougher on the outside, but also still suffering from the loss of his wife. Tami and her husband were successful singers so now she lives comfortably in a beautiful retirement home. He, on the other hand, is finding it hard to pay the monthly rent. Notwithstanding their differences in lifestyle and personality, and their interfering offspring and neighbors, they eventually fall in love.

SAFE SPACES (U.S., 2019) Director: Daniel Schechter In English

A New York City professor spends a week reconnecting with his family while defending his reputation over controversial behavior at his college.

SEEING BEAUTY: GIANNI VERSACE'S MIAMI BEACH PALAZZO     (U.S., 2019) Director: Scott Cardinal In English

The extraordinary history of the Casa Casuarina, best known as the Miami Beach Palazzo of fashion designer Gianni Versace. This documentary includes a grand tour of the interior and exterior of the fabulous estate, including its legendary "1 million tiles" swimming pool.

This was originally published in Wire Magazine Issue 22.2019

[cjolive]

3/17/2019

Before I even started I took a deep breath. I sometimes think back on my old tumblr days. Once upon a time, I was stressed every day with one problem or another. Shit, it’s been a long time. To quote the new Spider-verse movie. “Let’s do this one more time.” 

When I was a young ambitious kid I had a lot of talent. I was a sports boy. Soccer. Basketball. Softball. Baseball. Frisbee Golf. Ultimate Frisbee. Tennis. Track. Biking. The list could go on, but I honestly don’t have the thought process right now to do so. I was active, that’s the point. I was around town a lot, playing with my school team and with the town’s team during summer. I had a lot of connections and met a lot of strange people. It was odd because I was raised Lutheran, and I was in a Christian town. Yet, I met all of these people that were not religious and that really opened my eyes. I saw a lot of things I wasn't supposed to like or do.  I met people I shouldn’t have. I went to places I shouldn’t have. It rounded me out before Highschool. Queue Asthma and a disease affecting my knees. Sports were now out of my life. Luckily! The internet and video games were on the rise, and I was hooked. 

So It’s the summer before my Freshman year. For two years now I’ve been playing World of Warcraft with one of my newfound friends Anthony. My first internet only friend. You know the guy my mom thought was a murderer or rapist for the first few months. We’re talking about Highschool, and we’re nervous about what will unfold, but also excited. Anthony lived in Cali, so we wouldn’t meet until after Highschool. Although, my grade school friend Nick is going to the same school as me. It’s away from my hometown, we’ll both be meeting new faces. He tells me his sister thinks all grade school relationships die in Highschool. It did for a time, but now we’re still friends. I’m proud of that, and I’m proud of the man Nick has become. 

Eventually, we get to Highschool and I meet one kid that turns my life upside down. His name is Wade. Total jock, classic meathead... You know at first sight anyway. I was lucky he sat with me and Nick at the lunch table on the first day. It turns out me and him would get along so well he’d still be my best RL friend to date. We connected on a level that was strange for me. I was a bit nerdy and different so I thought our types just wouldn’t clash. That’s when I learned not everyone hates you for liking video games. Believe me, that’s common knowledge now, but years ago people would make fun of you for playing games. They weren’t as accepted as they are now, especially in small Lutheran communities who at first disliked a lot of gaming tropes. The blood, violence, and gore. That and the idea they waste too much time. Regardless we clicked and it did wonders for me. I showed him a world of nerdy shit he fell in love with, and he showed me how to stand proud of what I liked and who I was. I’m sure if you ask him he’ll probably see it another way, but this isn’t about us so much so we’re skimming. 

High school was a trip. Besides the few good people I came across and the experiences I had, the others were not so good. I had bullies. I had enemies. I got in trouble. I made mistakes. I was a depressed and broken kid with a depressed and broken family. We’ve grown from that. We’re better now. I fell in love. Then I tried to love two others. Eventually years later, after High school, another. I have a lot of love to give, but I don’t think it’s meant for someone else just yet. I’m still learning to love myself, and you know what, It’s working. Every day I can see myself growing wiser, stronger, better, nicer. Some days I tear myself down, but that’s natural. We overcome those downs and learn to encourage the highs. 

Now that I’m out of High school and avoiding all the old devious habits of mine I’ve become what I like to call a better person. I didn’t mention any of it here, but I’ve partaken in a lot of actions I wouldn’t call Christian. I still consider myself one, and for that reason, I felt a lot of guilt. Still, I’m not the type of Religious man to judge harshly, quickly, or unfairly. I don’t think some Lutherans would call me a Lutheran, but because of a Pastor I had in high school I’ve learned to see us differently. We are human, we’re not all the same. My brother is gay, and that is one of the first lessons I had to learn when I realized. Our family had to realize our close-mindedness wasn’t something from religion. Our original church demonstrated acts I wouldn’t call Christian. My views on religion are tilted, but they still remain a solid pillar for me. Anyways... I’m trailing. 

Those old school days. Once prized but quickly forgotten. I hardly think of those four years now, but certain people and memories come to mind at random. From weird strings of thoughts to unlucky dreams at night. You’ll see someone you’ve moved on from and it brings you right back. Dreams. Vivid dreams. My mind can fabricate fairy tales and visions through the simple act of sleep. I’ve tried to be open, and I still do. Ask me anything I will do my best to answer. No more secrets. No more lies. I think of my past and cringe. I could have done better. To those I recall but do not name here I am sorry and thankful. We’ve had experiences and emotions; connections I wouldn’t have obtained anywhere else. I still have drama take place in my life from time to time again. A few months ago I questioned my place within my friend group. I felt myself slipping, but I’m stronger now. I’ve been growing as a person with every day that passes. I lost friends and gained others. There are still people I wish to reconnect with even if just to apologize or to obtain closure. Until I gain the courage to do that I’ll continue to think about my actions and if that would benefit me or not. I must also consider if that would benefit them or not. For now, I’ll stand back and simply think. 

I have come to a new Era in my life. I am the best version of myself that has ever existed thus far. I know who I am. I know what I want to do. I know who my friends are. I know my position in life and love my family. Things are better now and now I can finally work towards my future. I’m streaming. Eventually, I will build a community with my own two hands. We will entertain and live life the way we want to. A company made by friends for friends. To reach towards everyone with an open hand and let them know there are still good people sitting around waiting to meet you. We’ll entertain you, that is the idea, but we also want to connect with you. As I walk this path I will not simply meet coworkers and viewers. I will meet future partners and friends. We can work together to create a place where we can all be ourselves. I know to someone who doesn’t exactly understand what I’m talking about that may sound strange, but I’m proud of that fact. I don’t want to dive into my excitement for my future plans with streaming and company building or I won’t finish this recap of my life. 

The point is I’ve gone through a lot and that’s what made me what I am now. As the person, I am now, I will move forward with wide eyes and a clear vision. I’ll take help and give help to my friends along the way. Still, I am nervous, just like those High School days. Unknown events await me and I’m not sure I’m ready. I wish to love again, but I’m scared I won’t have time for love and a career in my field. I want to become an even better person, but it’s hard to mark my progress. I want to know If I have a bright future ahead, but I’m nervous I won’t live that long. As of tonight, I am a simple boy with a mind finally ready to explore the depth of his ability. Yet tonight I am also sick. I’ve neglected my health for some time and now it may be coming back to get me. I’ve had an illness the last week and I’m not sure how serious it is. Due to its location and symptoms, it could be very dangerous or nothing at all. What is sure is that it’s hard to tell. Normally I wouldn’t be worried, it’s just...

Now that the stars seem to have lined up in my favor I’m scared I won’t become all that I can be.

Life can turn the tables on you at any minute. 

To the people, I’ve come to know. I love you all.

To the enemies, I’ve made in the past. I’ve forgiven you, and I’m sorry I’ve done some things I’m not proud of. 

To my family, I wish for a future where I can repay you for the things you’ve done for me. 

To my friends, stay who you are and continue down the path YOU’VE made. I’ve enjoyed all the time we’ve spent together and appreciated all the conversations we’ve shared. We never know when we’re going to die, and with this at least I don’t have to worry about it as much. 

I use to come here when depressed, but I’ve grown from that. Writing my mind is important to me. To give those who wish to see, a glimpse of what is in me. An opportunity for words to be shared that would otherwise go unsaid. A way for me to be all that I can be.

I wish to grow alongside all of you. I want to see exactly how great we can all become. We are all living our own story. Make every chapter count. 

[hey-its-k2]

Happy New Year! I wanted to share some thoughts about 2018, and what the future may hold in 2019.

2018 was such a weird year for me. I started the year floundering in a job that was hard to be enthusiastic about, feeling like I had lost all of the progress I had made there throughout the years and that I was just treading water trying to stay afloat. It was rough. Things looked grim for a very long time and it was hard for me to see the good in it most days, even if there was some good there. 

That was the majority of my year. Trying to put the pieces together and figure out a way to get out. Or, at the very least, a way to make myself feel like I was still at making forward progress elsewhere even if it wasn't in my career. I was depressed. A lot. There were days where it was difficult to get out of bed and put myself through that. There were days where I didn't. It's tough feeling like you're going nowhere and wandering aimlessly through life. Even now, with things exponentially better than they were for me at the start of last year, I still feel like i'm wandering aimlessly at times. I think that's pretty normal, though. I don't think most people have the luxury of having their lives figured out. I'm still learning how to deal with it one day at a time.

I saw other people move on to bigger and better things. I was happy for them, but in the back of my mind it was hard to not be a little bit resentful. I so desperately wanted it to be me in their shoes. Seeing people close to you succeed is a great feeling, but it's hard to not be a little jealous. Especially when you were in the situation that most of us were in. Almost all of my coworkers and I were trying to scratch and claw our way to better opportunities for ourselves, so it sucked feeling like the one that was getting left behind as everyone else was finally able to move on. The year dragged, and as more and more people around me started to get themselves out of their own situations, I started to lose faith that it was ever going to happen for me. I started to accept that I was probably stuck in the situation I was in, and at the very least decided I should try to make the best of it. It wasn’t easy. It took up the majority of my energy every day just to make it through my 9 to 5 and try to be optimistic.

Because of this, there were probably times where I neglected some of my friends. I admit, it feels like that kind of happens at certain times during every year. I’m bad at being the one to reach out to people. And a lot of the time it feels like people seldom reach out to me. I also have a couple different circles of friends, and it always felt like one group fell to the wayside as I tried to give more attention to the other. That’s already something I could feel happening again towards the end of 2018, and in 2019 I really want to try to get better about that. It sucks to lose touch with friends. Especially as you get older and it gets harder and harder to make new ones.

In the last 3 months of 2018 though, as things really looked like they were getting to their bleakest point for me and I had started to accept that I was probably going in to the new year dealing with the same things that had been plaguing me for the past 9 months, things started to pick up. In October, I got an interview for a new job. I held my breath. Mainly because I had plenty of other interviews over the past couple of years that didn’t pan out for one reason or another. But this one ended up happening. I was finally going to get a chance to apply myself to something new. I was finally going to be able to feel like I was learning and being productive again. I started the job in November and haven’t looked back. I’ll never forgot the experiences I had at my previous job. It was definitely not all bad. I met a lot of wonderful people there. Some of my best friends today I met because of that place. And i certainly wouldn’t have landed this new job if it wasn’t for all the experience I had gained there and opportunities I was afforded and made for myself in the 4 and a half years I spent there. But there were also a lot of false promises that were made to me in that place, intentionally or not. I felt like I busted my ass there for a very long time and had made it nowhere. When I got this new job, one of the people I felt like had been able to go to for advice and who I considered to be a close friend from there straight up told me he did not think I was going to make it at my new job. That was a slap in the face that I will never forget. He was in a shitty situation there himself, and it’s entirely possible he was lashing out due to his own frustration, but it was still a really shitty feeling. It made me determined to prove him wrong. And hopefully I will. Time will tell. The point is, it felt incredible to finally be out of a situation like that and to feel like I was making forward progress with my life again.

Starting in October, but really going forward in to November, I reconnected with someone from my past that I thought was out of my life for good. Alright, backing up I guess they technically showed back up in my life in mid to late June, but I was too much of a pussy to try and push our reconnection happening sooner. I understood why they cut me out of their life at the time, but it still hurt a ton when it happened because I considered them one of my closest friends. Maybe they felt the same and it hurt them just as much. I don’t know, I never asked. They claim they don’t feel the same now, and that’s fine. But that hurts me too. Our relationship was... Complicated. It may not be for them anymore, but it still is a little bit for me. But i’m not going to let that weigh down what was legitimately probably my biggest highlight of 2018. I’m so unbelievably happy and thankful to have reconnected with them and have them back in my life. I hope 2019 brings happiness and an even more rekindled friendship than 2018 allowed for.

I know this is a gaming blog. Yes there were a lot of good games last year. But i talk about that type of stuff all of the time. Towards the end of 2018, though, I really made an active effort to start streaming more. It’s something that i’ve wanted to do for a very long time, and done sporadically for the past 5 or 6 years, but never something that i’ve stuck with for long. I finally started putting in a real effort to it, though. Honestly probably still not as much as I should. If i can i’d love to make it in to a sustainable career. But right now I just have to treat it like a hobby. Honestly, there was a period of a few weeks too where I felt like i was literally just streaming in the hopes that the friend I mentioned would show up in my chat and i’d get a chance to hang out with them. And for a little bit it even depressed me when they didn’t show up. But I managed to move past that, and not just do it for them, but do it for myself. For any of my other friends that wanted to show up and hang out. For ANYONE that wanted to hang out and just have a nice, chill time. Or find what I was doing entertaining or relaxing or really just made them feel any sort of way. There is something extremely cathartic about streaming to me. You get in to that chill flow of playing games or doing whatever else and just hanging out and it’s almost therapeutic for me.

In the past few weeks i’ve gained probably roughly 20-ish new followers. I feel like i’ve made a new friend, too. Someone who seems to genuinely enjoy what I do and wants to support me and see my succeed. It’s a crazy feeling, someone from a different part of the planet, finding me of all people just because I happened to be streaming a random video game they were looking for, and feeling like what could be the start of a new budding friendship because of it. A lot of the support i’ve gotten has been entirely because of him. Sure, hopefully the people he sends my way see the merits in what i’m doing and stick around and find me entertaining for being me. But the fact that anyone would go as out of their way as he has to try and help me out has been really inspiring.

Looking forward to 2019, I have a couple of very clear goals. You can call them resolutions if you want, but i’ve never been good at keeping up with those, so i’m just going to try to set myself some realistic and obtainable goals throughout the year and try to stick with them. I want to become a Twitch affiliate. I’m well on my way to doing this. Hell, it’s entirely possible it could happen in the next few weeks if this outpouring of support i’ve been getting lately continues. But i’m not going to push for it in a specific timeframe. It will happen when it’s going to happen and supposed to happen. But it WILL happen. I also want to start eating better and try and lose some weight. Just take better care of myself in general. When I was in the worst of my depression in 2018 that was an extremely difficult task. I’m going to try to make a better effort to take care of myself this year. THe other main thing I want to focus on, beyond my streaming, is trying to learn a new skill. Both my old friend and my girlfriend have really inspired me to try and get in to art this year. Whether it ends up being illustration, design, or pixel art... I don’t know yet. But those are the things i’ve been thinking about pursuing and trying to learn throughout the new year. I’ve never been good at sticking with a thing. I’ll start it, feel like i’m shit and not making progress as fast as i’d like to, and give up. I don’t want to do that this year. I really want to apply myself to learning something i’ve always had an interest in and going for it. Streaming is great and all, and I have no intention of stopping, but at the same time it doesn’t really feel like a super applicable life skill. Public speaking maybe? I don’t know. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy bringing anyone happiness in any way I can, but I really want to try and learn something new that I feel like actually applies to other things and I can use elsewhere in my life. So we’ll see how all of that goes. Who knows, there’s always Community Manager positions if the streaming thing really takes off. Unlikely, but i’m going to keep an open mind. Who the fuck knows what will happen in the next 12 months.

2018 really took an upswing at the end of the year. The new job, reconnecting with my old friend, the swell of support and renewed passion for streaming... I’m really going to try to carry all of that positive energy with me in to 2019 and make it last throughout the year. For the first time in a very long time, i’m optimistic for my future. I feel like I have things I want to aim for that are actually attainable goals. Who knows what the rest of the year will bring. I’m hoping it’s good, but i’m sure it won’t all be good. I’m going to do my best to handle whatever life decides to throw at me and to keep this momentum rolling.

[alexandertheanonymous]

2018 Resolutions

A little late in the game, but definitely wanted to get these on paper prior to it being too late in the year. Let’s get into it. 

FAITH

The one word to describe my faith in 2018 will be reconnecting.

At the end of 2018, I want my faith to have led me to a local church home.

I will make this impact a reality by doing the following three things:

Trying 1 new church a month, until establishing a local church home.

Streaming/listening to church services every Sunday.

Focus on reestablishing my connection with God through daily prayer.

My biggest prayer for myself in 2018 is for God to guide my steps, and have the steps I take in my career, my relationships, and my actions be in line with the purpose he has for me.

My biggest prayer for others in 2018 is that they find peace and purpose in their progress through the year.

MENTAL HEALTH

I consider my current mental health status as: Moderate.

By the end of 2018, I want my mental health to be Flourishing at least 5 out of 7 days a week.

One common negative thought that I have is that in some aspect, I am not progressing/have stagnated.

When I have this thought, I feel impostor syndrome. 

I will replace this thought with the following positive thoughts: I have a plan to improve and better than the day before.

One of my biggest stressors is: Work. It stresses me because I am want to be good at it, but it’s a difficult environment to succeed in. I can manage this stress by improving my organizational skills and focus to do well in my position. 

MENTAL HEALTH

I commit to embracing that is okay to ask for help and its okay to not be okay. 

Three things that cheer me up are playing video games, putting together puzzles, and planning for the future.

In 2018, my unhealthy stress reliever was biting my nails.

In 2018, I will replace that with a fidget spinner/chewing gum.

I will devote 10 minutes to improving my mental health daily. 

I will do this by maintaining my daily reflections and journals.

3 things I want to learn this year are exploring healthier cooking habits, how to do home improvement/DIY projects, and become more knowledgeable on cryptocurrencies. 

A goal that I didn’t complete in 2016, that I want to complete in 2018 is reading at least a book a month. 

My biggest asset to others is my willingness and desire to assist those I care about.

My biggest personal weakness is my hesitancy to meet new people and expand my network.

One thing I want to improve about myself is my ability to express and communicate the emotions I feel. 

HEALTH & FITNESS

In 2018, my fitness goal is to build a physique that I can maintain.

I want to eat generally healthier by the end of the year.

I can commit to working out 5 times a week. 

That’s all for now, looking forward to expanding and following up on this soon. 

-X

[therappundit]

July 2017 - *PlayLi$t of the Month*

How bout these last few weeks, eh? HOV came back, dropped an album of the year contender with 4:44, folks are talking about bars and using terms like “grown man rap” as if that’s a new thing, and tons of new music continues to drop in what has become an incredibly hot summer (both literally and musically).

Truth be told, I’m rushing this month’s list to press because July 21st is turning into quite a stacked day for new releases in both mainstream and indy circles. In anticipation of a more thorough and diverse breakdown of different projects over the next few weeks, I’m dropping Jay’s July’s playlist right flippin’ now....

1. ���The Story Of O.J.” - JAY-Z

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM7lw0Ovzq0

(What can I say about this album from my all-time favorite MC? Shawn Carter came through and dropped a project that fans and critics alike will be analyzing for quite some time. 4:44 is a thoughtful, soulful, tightly constructed, raw, and surprisingly experimental album from a rap legend that had nothing left to prove, except for possibly his ability to drop a great album without one track that seems to reach for a “hit”. Devoid of anything that comes close to a reach at modern hip-hop trends, the Jigga man got more personal than most of us anticipated, turning what was suspected to be a “response record” to LEMONADE into an audio diary that touches on a large variety of topics, leaving us a cohesive album that feels as close to JAY-Z’s unedited stream of consciousness as we may ever hear. Nowhere is that more apparent than on “The Story Of O.J.”, which may be Hov’s best song since The Black Album era. From his stirring hook, to his conversational flow, to the racially motivated poetic waxing, S.Carter’s thoughts grip the listener in the way only a veteran looking back at his long list of accomplishments can...and let’s not forget about No I.D.’s work here! No I.D. turned in the crown jewel of his under-documented career with this album, and his brilliant use of chopped up sampling on this song is a perfect example of how 4:44 secures his place in the hip-hop producer’s hall of fame. So yeah, one might say I’m a pretty big fan of this album.)

2. “Smile” - JAY-Z feat. Gloria Carter

http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/jay-z-smile/

(Staying on the 4:44/HOV tip...what else can I even say about this song??? As if spilling his guts about his marriage, children, fallout with allies and business acumen weren’t enough, he helps drive a message of pro-LGBT rights by discussing his own mother’s sexual orientation on a record! It would be impressive enough to push progressive thinking in the right direction on this one and work to erase the ignorance that still permeates through the genre - even on songs in his own discography - but message aside, this is just a straight-up beautiful record.)

3. “Caught Their Eyes” - JAY-Z feat. Frank Ocean

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/jay-z-lashes-out-at-prince-estate-on-caught-their-eye-w490543

(Did I mention that JAY-Z dropped an album a few weeks back? If you put this song on and don’t want to take a slow drive through NYC with the windows rolled down on a beautiful day, then I don’t know where your soul is at, and I’m sorry, I can’t help you.)

4. “Marcy Me” - JAY-Z

https://noisey.vice.com/en_us/article/8xanbx/jay-zs-marcy-me-is-the-culmination-of-a-decades-long-neighborhood-story

(Who does city and borough anthems better than HOV - riddle me that?? Play “Where I’m From” and this one back to back, and feel the young man’s proud - but ominous - warning to stay out of a neighborhood that’s not for the faint of heart, transition to a middle aged man’s wistful survivor’s song. What a snapshot of an iconic career. Brooklyn, stand up.)

5. “Bam” - JAY-Z feat. Damian Marley

http://pitchfork.com/news/jay-z-shares-new-bam-video-with-damian-marley-watch/

(Dope song, and a REALLY dope video. Seeing Sister Nancy croon the original classic into a studio mic, that’s just priceless right there - and how lucky are we to have it on film to preserve the moment forever. The best use of the famous “Bam Bam” sample we will ever hear.)

6. “A Thousand Birds” - The Alchemist feat. Conway & Westside Gunn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7flBuVi9uKA

(As The Alchemist & Budgie prepared to drop their follow-up to The Good Book, I eagerly awaited hearing the full version of the snippet I heard which featured the Griselda boys reconnecting with the ALC. The full track was released this week ,and of course they never disappoint. This one is a slow head nodder that puts some religiously themed samples to good use, and the final result is another example of the stellar chemistry between a truly special producer and two special rap talents.)

7. “The Pain” - Rapsody

http://2dopeboyz.com/2017/07/07/rapsody-the-pain-nottz/

(Rapsody isn’t one of the hardest female MC’s in the game - she’s one of the hardest MC’s in the game. Gender does NOT matter. What does matter is this beat, this sample, and these bars are dope as hell. Never sleep on Rap, she’s better than most of you dudes.)

8. “Dalai Lama” - Apollo Brown & Planet Asia feat. Willie The Kid

https://soundcloud.com/mellomusicgroup/apollo-brown-planet-asia-dalai-lama-slang-feat-willie-the-kid-1

(Oh I did not miss the news that Apollo Brown & Planet Asia are dropping a project together! Look out for this one, sure fire bangers from start to finish. And I know I’ve said it before, but how great is it to see Willie The Kid back making waves in 2017?)

9. “Camellia’s” - Benny

https://soundcloud.com/user-5212897/benny-camellias-prod-by-green-lantern

(When all is said and done, Benny will be one of the best street poets in hip-hop for the foreseeable future. And kudos to the Evil Genius DJ Green Lantern for doing a helluva good Daringer impression on the production tip.)

10. “Imperius Rex” - Sean Price

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cV_kA6OF43E

(The Alchemist makes another appearance in the top ten, courtesy of a posthumous appearance by the timeless Sean P.)

*Honorable Mention - Bonus Cut*

“Family Feud” - JAY-Z feat. Beyonce

http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/jay-z-family-feud-feat-beyonc-new-song.1974821.html

(4:44, in stores and on streaming sites now.)

Still In Rotation:

Rosebudd’s Revenge by Roc Marciano

http://onsmash.com/music/roc-marciano-rosebudds-revenge-album-stream/

DAMN. by Kendrick Lamar

http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/23147-damn/

[ICYMI: Last month’s list below]

https://therappundit.tumblr.com/post/162265243156/june-2017-playli-t-of-the-month