#and if you include the “rest” off season pay in next year it's only a 20K paycut instead of 50K

[the-physicality]

this expansion draft and roster planning for next season.. how are these gms doing it?

firstly the cap is ridiculously low [1.5 million? for 11-12 players?] next, expansion draft rules aren't even out yet. there are thoughts going around that they could be able to select one uncored unrestricted free agent? which seems so contrary to what unrestricted free agency is? how many people can each team core?

then there's the question of who will declare [which is a little more set but a handful of players have potential redshirts from injury] and i'm not super informed on player evaluations. which will determine the likelihood of us signing a rookie from the jump

and then there's the mercury question: are they going to try for the same strategy [4 guard]? are they going to try to get a real 4 for the whole season/in the consistent starting line up? who will they core? what is the free agent situation? will they pull a seattle reign and not core someone bc they'd rather walk than play for another team and everybody knows it?

so many questions and cathy could help me answer like a third of them but here we are instead....

[dixons-sunshine]

hii, i just saw a post with a few daryl headcanons, and one of them were about how attentive he would be his partner in general (like her mannerisms or habits), and i think he would really pay attention to some really specific things about her and everyone including reader would be like ¿¿¿¿¿, 😂so i was just thinking if maybe you could write something about that? i love your writtings!!

Observe | Daryl Dixon x Fem!Reader

Summary: Daryl Dixon is an extremely observant guy. He notices things that people normally wouldn't pick up on. That didn't change when the two of you got together. In fact, it increased by a tenfold.

Or, four different scenarios where the archer shows he knows more about you than you think.

Genre: Fluff, smut.

Era: Prison, season 4; Alexandria, pre Saviour arc.

Warnings: Swearing, oral (f receiving), mentions of unprotected p in v.

Word count: 1.8k.

A/n: I'm so close to being done with a young!Daryl fic, but my mind is struggling to work towards the ending, so I wrote this instead. By the way, I suck at writing smut, so I'm so sorry if it's bad. However, I hope you like this!

➳༻❀✿❀༺➳

“Zach, please, I beg of you, just shut up,” you laughed, settling back against the passenger seat of the car with your legs propped up on the dashboard.

The eighteen year old laughed at you, propping his head up against your seat. “Come on, one more.”

“Zach, don't,” you warned him, sending him a mocking glare.

Daryl watched the interaction in amusement. The run the three of you had gone on went relatively smoothly, and the teenager had taken it upon himself to celebrate the victory by reading jokes from a book he had found, albeit they were rather terrible. However, even he had to admit that the horribleness of the jokes made them rather funny, and Zach used that to his advantage.

“What did one toilet say to the other?” Zach asked, laughing at the joke from his book.

“Zach—” you started warningly, but Zach cut you off.

“You appear to be a bit flushed!” Zach finished, laughing loudly at the lame joke.

You let out an audible groan, rolling your eyes at him. However, Daryl could instantly tell that you did find the joke rather funny. The subtle changes in your facial expression gave it all away.

“That was terrible,” you told him with a shake of your head, folding your arms over your chest.

“You thought it was funny, though,” Zach pointed out, flipping to the next page in the book.

“Do you see me laughing?”

“Nah, but tha' ain't necessary,” Daryl piped in, talking for the first time since Zach had started his onslaught of terrible jokes. “Ya did find it funny. Yer nose slightly scrunches when ya think somethin' is amusin'. And yer eyes crinkle at the corners, too. Plus ya mouth slightly twitches up into a smile before disappearin'.”

The car got immensely silent after that. The only sound that could be heard was the rumble of the engine as the car descended back towards the prison. You were staring at Daryl in surprise, but he could see the way your mouth slightly twitched up into a small smile. It made Daryl's face heat up, and he ducked his head.

“Well,” Zach started, clearing his throat and shutting the book again. “Aren't you just an observant lover, Daryl?”

“Shut up, kid,” Daryl mumbled, his knuckles tightening around the steering wheel.

“No, it's cute! Who would've thought that a guy like you would pick up on something like that? You know, Beth—”

As Zach yammered on, Daryl's eyes drifted back to you. You were holding your knees up to your chest and resting your chin on them, but your head was turned towards him. You were staring at him with a lovesick smile, and he felt his heart start pounding against his ribcage. He wished that he could just reach out and hold one of your hands in his own. However, he wasn't big on public displays of affection, and Zach would tease him relentlessly if he did so in the teenager's presence, so he opted instead to send you a small smile.

Luckily, later that night when you were both on watch duty, he could hold you in his arms to his heart's content.

➳༻❀✿❀༺➳

“I'm telling you, that Spencer guy is such a fucking jerk,” you started, walking into your Alexandrian home with Daryl, Michonne and Rick hot om your tail.

Rick nodded in agreement. “Yeah. He is a real asshole. I don't know how the people here put up with him.”

Michonne practically flopped herself down on the couch, kicking off her boots that came clad with the constable uniform. “He's Deanna's son. He's practically royalty here. That means he's untouchable.”

Rick was eyeing the loveseat couch, ready to fall down and just relax, but Daryl's hand gripping his shoulder stopped him in his tracks. Rick sent the archer a confused look, but Daryl wasn't even watching the former sherrif—he was watching you. Rick followed his gaze and saw you sit on the couch, bringing your legs up to rest on the plush seat. You leaned your back against the back of the couch as you listened to Michonne talk about her day, adding your own comments every now and again.

“She's been doin' tha' everyday since we got here,” Daryl offered a quiet explanation when Rick sent him another look. “She rarely sits on any couch 'sides tha' one. Tha's her favourite spot.”

“Did she tell you that?” Rick asked, glancing in your direction.

“Nah,” Daryl replied, shaking his head. “I can see it on her face every time she has to sit on any other couch. She prefers the loveseat.”

Rick sent the archer a teasing smile, lightly patting him on the shoulder. “I didn't even notice that. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that you did, though. When you're not hunting or going on runs, you're watching her. It's really cute.”

Daryl scoffed and shrugged the man's hand from his shoulder. “I dun' always watch her. S'jus' somethin' I picked up on. Ain't gotta read into it or anythin'.”

“You don't need to be ashamed of admitting you know little things about the person you love, Daryl,” Rick assured him, giving him another light pat on the back. “Knowing things like that just shows that you care.”

Daryl looked back over at you again, your melodic laughter filling the air when Michonne said something funny. Daryl could feel his heart swell with love, and he couldn't help the small smile that tugged at the corners of his lips.

Rick chuckled and nudged Daryl. “C'mon, you lovestruck fool. Let's relax.”

➳༻❀✿❀༺➳

Daryl walked back into the community, a slight skip in his step, something extremely uncommon for the otherwise serious archer. He had a string of rabbits over his shoulder, and he couldn't wait to skin them and make some stew with them for you. From all of the animals he's ever brought back from his hunts, he had noticed that you seemed to have a huge liking for rabbit. Today he had managed to find a few rabbits, and he intended to surprise you.

When he got to the porch of the house, he sat down in his usual spot and began the skinning process. His hands made quick work of skinning his kills, and in no time at all, he was done. When he was sure that he had cleaned up the blood to ensure that Carol didn't bite his head off again for messing up the porch, he made his way inside and into the kitchen.

However, Daryl stopped in his tracks when he saw you already in the kitchen.

Perking up when you saw your partner, you sent him a smile. “Hey, Dar! You're back.”

Daryl nodded. “Yeah, uh... Wasn't much to find out there 'cept, uh, rabbit.”

Daryl's lips twitched up into a small smile when he saw how you visibly perked up at the mere mention of something you enjoyed. He admired the way a smile lit up your face, your eyes crinkling slightly.

“Rabbit?”

“Yeah,” Daryl confirmed, holding up the skinned animal. “Wanted to surprise ya with some rabbit stew. S'why I came home earlier. But yer already home and stuff, so tha' kinda fell through the rug.”

You stepped forward and embraced the man in a hug, and Daryl returned it after a few moments, careful to keep the meat away from you. He felt the way you nuzzled your face against his chest, and he smiled.

“It doesn't matter. Thank you anyways,” you told him, withdrawing from the hug. “How about you bring that and we'll make some rabbit stew together?”

Daryl nodded. “Alrigh'. Sounds like a good plan to me.”

➳༻❀✿❀༺➳

“Daryl, oh my god!” Your moans filled the room, your back arching off the bed as you tightly gripped onto Daryl's hair.

Daryl hummed against your core as his tongue licked another stripe from your clit down to your entrance, matching the pace of his fingers that were thrusting into you. His mouth latched onto your clit and started sucking, successfully coaxing moans from you that were downright sinful. Your grip on his hair tightened as you practically shoved his head deeper against you.

After a few moments, your grip on his hair loosened. You instead opted to grip onto the sheets beneath you, your hands clenching into fists before unclenching again, the only sounds from you being garbled words that Daryl couldn't understand and high-pitched moans. Daryl smirked against your pussy, and started speeding up the pace.

Daryl knew those signs meant that you were close to unraveling. Whether he was eating you out like a starved man or he was stuffed deep inside of you, it didn't matter. You always did that when the coil in your stomach was close to snapping. It's something that didn't even register in your mind, the haze of pleasure evaporating any and all thoughts from your head.

Not too long after, you finally came undone. Daryl didn't ease up, licking up every drop that came gushing from your core. When he was done, he lifted his head, and you could see the way your slick was dripping from his face. You couldn't see the blues of his eyes anymore, his pupils blown wide with lust.

Daryl clambered upwards and caught your lips in a passionate kiss. You moaned at the taste of you in his mouth and wrapped your arms around his shoulders, your nails lightly digging into his skin. Daryl smirked against your lips, before pulling away and gazing into your eyes.

“Think ya can handle another one, sunshine?”

You didn't give him a verbal response, but Daryl didn't need one. The way you licked your lips and tightened your hold against him was enough. He leaned down for another quick kiss before quickly making work of removing his pants, not missing the way your eyes followed his hands as they freed his cock from his jeans. He also didn't miss the way you swallowed deeply.

“Dun' worry, peach,” Daryl voiced, finally removing his jeans and rejoining you on the bed again. “I know what ya need. I can see it.”

Yeah, it was safe to say that Daryl Dixon was the most observant guy ever.

[loveandleases]

*Rolls by semi-casually*

Christmas is near and OH NO - The ROs are in a pickle! What would be their last minute gift to MC? (As in, 'omfg-I-forgot-to-get-a-gift/the-gift-I-planned-fell-through and now I gotta get something last second!') Or would they tell the truth? Perhaps improvise?

Also: YOU BETTER BE GETTING REST AFTER UR FINALS, LEA OR SO HELP ME- OAO

So casual, never would have suspected it!

Such a cute ask, getting me into the seasonal mood for the holiday snippet!

❤️Cam -

Last-minute gift: He would make MC a photo collage of the photos he admires the most, some from when they were kids to now. He would even include some shots of scenery or Doggo. Top it off with a photo of their hands holding the keys to their apartment because it is 1. sentimental and 2. a significant day to him.

He would have planned MC's present for months, only to forget how close Christmas was. So, the present in question would have sold out when it came down to it. (It was Something MC wanted and either didn't think about it or refused to buy for themselves.)

💙 G -

Last minute gift: A sweater. It's not exactly a new sweater but new to MC. They would even attempt to embroider their names on it around the collar—or maybe along the cuff. Then, they'll offer MC a chance to spend time with some of the animals up for adoption at the clinic. If MC has Angela, prepare for her to be spoiled. G will pull out all the stops, bath and all. Free checkups for the year or longer.

G would pretend it was intentional. They wanted it to be sentimental...it's not because they accidentally ordered the wrong item, so it now sits in their closet. Nope...

💚 Kara -

Last minute gift: A massage to beat all massages! MC is in for a relaxing night. Kara will pamper MC from sun up to sun down. MC will get to watch their favorite movie and listen to their favorite music. She'll order anything MC wants to eat. Just let her handle the day.

Kara would be honest that she ordered the wrong thing. Make a cute anecdote out of it and play the mishap up in her favor.

💛 M -

Last minute gift: After spending about an hour in a downward spiral about forgetting to get MC something because they're sleep-deprived from finishing Chapter 3 of their novel. M will bunker down and write a story for MC. It's something that hits on things MC cares about, like doggo. They'll go so far as to design the cover page and even joke about giving MC a signed copy (reminiscent of the book they gave MC).

M will be so apologetic about forgetting that MC will get presents daily for the next month. They have money to burn, and no one better to spend it than MC.

💜 Isaac -

Last minute gift: A plant. It doesn't sound like much right off, but Isaac is very much a plant parent. Their mother used to have these flowering plants that were the apple of her eye. So really, it's a rather special present. Even if MC isn't a plant person, Isaac will offer to take care of it for them. If that doesn't work...gulp..."You can drive her." And by her, Isaac means the car.

They didn't forget, not at all. They just weren't able to get MC's gift because they worked two jobs.

🖤 Ardent -

Last minute gift: MC won't have to pay rent for the month. Not only that, but Ardent will get to all those menial little tasks that he's yet to get to at the apartment—re-caulking around the bathtub, retiling that one spot in the corner of the hall closet. He will be down on his hands and knees trying to make it up to MC. Plus, a homemade three-course meal.

Whatever he got MC, it just isn't in yet. Ardent is big on holidays; he has no choice due to his niece, so he is so repentant about it. But I promise MC's stocking will be stuffed to the brim.

(My last final is Friday morning! I'll take a break right after, I swear~ Also...Sylus myth 💀)

[strawberry-shortcakey]

my defense of Caitlyn in wake of season 2

    Defending my wife rn 

    Lets get right into this mind you my spelling and punctuation are like non existent so yk

Starting off with the thing i feel people seem to not really understand is whats happening is shes being tugged in like 5 different directions struggling between her obligations to her family name the kiraman family is matriarchal this rests on her entirely she wants to maintain her mothers legacy yet theres the undeniable rage fueled by her mothers death and her feeling of failing all of piltover the feeling that if she had killed jinx before there wouldnt have been so many lives lost she feels ultimately responsible for everything in her life which makes that rage overpower her i mean most of the council civilians enforcers who she had been around her WHOLE LIFE. she feels all that weight in her heart and on her mind much like vi due to her trauma generalizes the people of piltover and enforcers cait blames zaunites and i feel its unfair to give vi a pass and not caitlyn shes trying to hold onto her morals she fights for avoiding innocents getting hurt until the memorial attack where it turns into more than an attack by jinx now an attack from multiples causing her to lose that part of her morals and the last pull is for vi caitlyn loves vi thats something i have never doubted for even a second i mean seriously she puts so much at stake for vi. People don't seem to see that her bringing vi before the council in season one couldve ended poorly for her it couldve reflected horribly onto her family if the council had decided not to hear her out. And on top of all of that shes trying to hold it together. We see her cry a few times but she doesnt ever really let it out i mean shes putting herself under that pressure part of her character has always been that she hates when things are just handed to her as we see in her scene with grayson when she gets upset at the mere idea of her parents paying off grayson to let her win and we confirm that stayed into adulthood when jayce offers her that job for him and shes offended at the mere idea and i feel part of her feels if she shows that pain shes in things are gonna be handed to her out of sheer pity something that would likely fuel her rage further and further.

Next topic is her being willing to kill isha if it meant killing jinx. Now i understand the shock of this how it feels “out of character for her” but it really isnt yes she has been openly against the idea of people getting hit in the crossfire but in her mind its 1 innocent for multiple innocents including her own mother. she also isnt the first character to directly or indirectly result in a child's death and she didnt even succeed so yk but anyway every single councilor is responsible for countless deaths of undercity children and families heimerdinger honestly the most responsible because yk like 200 years of  ignoring the undercity and can i also just mention vis switch up on her opinion season one jayce kills a kid when fighting at the shimmer lab and vi has the mentality “you did what needed to be done one life for like 100” yet when caitlyn finds herself in that same mindset vis all “whats wrong with you you're evil now” so uh yeah not an attack on vi just trying to expand on it throughout this i will make comparisons on how we excuse vi but attack caitlyn and why i think thats really telling of how people see her as a character only there for caitvi romance plot!! But anyway caitlyn had every fucking right in that moment mind you she also was running on adrenaline something that i feel a lot of people don't understand in that moment its often impulse you do the first thing to come to mind she was just fighting off sevika shes in that do or die mindset its kill jinx or people die people also don't understand how deep caits trauma around jinx runs we don't know what she was put through during the time between her abduction and the like final scene of season 1 also just yk the entire show. jinx is her personal trauma.

Now onto the caitvi argument in the tunnels lets loop back to the state of mind she was in shes pumped on adrenaline rage and fear. She feels a deep sense of betrayal much like jinx does when vi “picks cait over her” its that feeling of “oh so you care more about someone who deeply hurt me and a random kid than me.” that only fuels her rage/pain that is making her less and less of her core values. caitlyn gets on the defensive she makes a generalization Something once again we see vi do to caitlyn earlier with the oil and water speech which no doubt left a hole in caits heart something that will stick with her dare i even say that plays a part in why she no longer sees zaun and pilover as two sides of the same coin the person who helped her learn something so crucial suddenly saying “actually we are different piltover is all the same you're all horrible. We can never get along, you are not an exception” which no doubt shattered that view and helped cement the separation in her mind. The key difference is that vi didnt get physical cait pushed her and hit her with the rifle but like i said she's on the defense. Also ive seen people saying “oh well cait knows how shes traumatized by enforcers” to caitlyn that trauma is equal to the trauma of what jinx has done to her and honestly it is caitlyn has lost almost everything to this for the sake of what started off as her dreams of justice her need to prove herself has been what she feels like is the sole cause of the  downfall of piltover. Which is why i truly believe caitlyn is still herself that the development to her character logical and her actions fully explainable and defendable 

Little added thing it’s after getting compared to jinx that she hits vi I mentioned how that’s literally her main trauma jinx killed her mom and ruined her life I’d hit someone with a rifle over that too.

And thats all ive got for now lmk if i should cover more!! And i will be adding as arc 2 and 3 release!

[tasty-littl-snack]

Hey lil question: I was scrolling the shyan tag and saw an ask on your blog that referred to ryan and shane having some kinda fight after/during their investigation of Waverly Hills on Ghost Files. I hadn’t heard this story before so I wondered what the OG source for that info is. Just for science and the ethics code of ghost hunting’s sake ofc 🫠 Not doubting just ravenously curious!

(The ask and the post it spins off from in question)

Oh yeah sure no problem. Some of these anecdotes are now lost to time because their patreon is now gone so no easy way to see the sources but, this one has three sources including one from Shane Madej himself.

Before the streamer and up to June this year they had a patreon and the bonus content on there for higher tiers was one of the crew doing audio commentary on the episode (think dvd commentaries where people share behind the scenes). Sometimes to incentivize people to see what is available on higher tiers they posted some of Shane's commentaries for all paying patrons. In 2022 they also had the sick and unrealistic shedule of posting Ghost files ep every week, so Ryan was busy and couldn't do it for the first ep. Therefore Shane did that even tho his only working on the show was being there brainstorming for how the boonker would look like (off-topic but here is a fun interview of them comparing this to furnishing a house together wtf) and editing the ghost files outro so the music is as haunting as it is. Since the commentary was created as a watchalong (I listened to it as a podcast bc I find Shane's voice great to listen to, but that's just me), at the end of it he goes into explaining why he didn't tell Ryan where the walkie was. (according to him he asked the crew beforehand and they didn't say he couldn't do it). So when we see Ryan being angry you can hear Shane say "He's genuinely mad here by the way, and I meant it when I said it's good to be a ghost hunter but internally I was like "Is Ryan mad at me? yknow". In that commentary we also hear Shane's impression of their car drive from Waverly and while Shane tries to talk, Ryan is answering him in short phrases. He was also mad at him the next morning apparently, but I guess they made up. So that's the primary source for that, and I swear I heard a snippet on this on tumblr, or maybe some people posting about it back in the day but I couldn't find it (if someone has it then feel free to share that snippet).

The second source that I have that this happened is Hinsdale House Debrief (Ghost Files season 2 finale), (around 23.30 with the 'solo investigation' part of the video) when someone asks Lizzie if she'd go on a solo and she admits that a location like Waverly would be out of the question, and so Ryan is like "Now imagine if your pal didn't tell you where the walkie is and you have to do the solo investigation for an hour" so like a year maybe two after this we can see that he still remembers this and while Lizzie and Shane say "You chose this life" Ryan is somewhat upset about it. Lizzie then says "He didn't talk to Shane after this for like a week" and since she is their coworker and has to deal with them I find that really fascinating.

Third source is this Really no Really podcast interview with Ryan and Shane, (Around 23,00 minutes in, segments: the relationship and the first episode) when they ask them about their relationship and then they go into recounting the whole thing again (here Shane once again makes the impression of Ryan being mad at him in the drive back). In general I reccomend watching this ep because they are really cute together and you get to see them interact with mr Jason Alexander who is a fan of them and it's really cool to see.

Also if you have the streamer, in Mystery Files bloopers Ryan also explains why he did the blob prank on Shane, and it was to get back at him for the walkie thing from Waverly so I think this is really their one serious fight that they will allude to for the rest of their friendship.

Thank you for asking, hope it clears things up a bit <3

(also I'm sorry for clogging the shyan tag I just sometimes remember to tag things and sometimes I don't so random asks end up in the search)

[anyroads]

Here's the thing. I wouldn't have a problem with people just saying "Merry Christmas" if other major religious holidays were acknowledged too. If around late October everyone was like "happy Diwali!" and every Rosh Hashanah people said "shana tovah" or it was standard to wish people Eid mubarak, then a "Merry Christmas" would just be a marker of time and I would feel like it's someone else's turn to celebrate in the multi-cultural cycle of annual celebrations. Because the thing is, these holidays tend to happen off the radar of the dominant culture in culturally Christian countries. Christmas specials are a norm, but the Diwali episode of The Office was a one-off, the Jewish high holidays barely show up even in shows with Jewish characters, Chinese New Year is... where is it? Right? Where's the representation? I mean, the reason a holiday like Hanuka gets emphasized next to Christmas and rolled into "Happy Holidays" (as does Kwanzaa) is because that means these holidays can be gathered around being able to keep Christmas central to the season. Hanuka is a minor holiday; funny how Purim, which is of similar status among Jewish holidays, is a blip outside of Jewish communities.

If Christians were able to be as comfortable with Rosh Hashanah and Eid and Diwali and Chinese New Year and other festivals as they expect the rest of us to be with Christmas, then I'd say ok fair, everyone has their festivals and we all pay attention to each other and know how to give well wishes that are culturally respectful and it's wonderful! It would just be living in a society where people from diverse backgrounds respect and acknowledge each other (what a concept). What bothers me is that not only are no other religion or culture's holidays acknowledged or given thought in culturally Christian societies, but the only way to get any acknowledgment is to have your holidays timed around Christian holidays like Christmas. If the Maccabees had stayed up in the mountains for another month, Hanuka would be treated as the minor holiday it is. If Diwali was a couple months later than it is, then it would be called the "Hindu Christmas" and Hindu people could rightfully be frustrated about that.

It bothers me so much that Western culture is so deeply centered around Christianity that we have debates over whether "happy holidays" is an OK thing to say or not, instead of asking, "what if you just learned about other holidays too and respected them as much as you demand respect for yours?" And we're all thinking it. Non-Christians talk about this, btw. But we know that if we say it out loud, then it makes the Christians (including the atheist cultural Christians*) angry because they know it's a bad look to say the quiet part out loud: that they think they're superior and expect everyone to acknowledge this without them having to give non-Christian cultures basic respect in any genuine way.

*this is specific to atheists who consider themselves culturally Christian. if you don't belong in BOTH these categories don't @ me. there's no implication that the two go irrevocably hand in hand and your lack of reading comp skills isn't my problem. i don't have spoons for a baby Richard Dawkins tantrum.

[creations-by-chaosfay]

Pssst...come here. I have a little secret.

Selling one of my original paintings will result in hitting the current goal and someone receiving a free quilt.

Selling all four of my original paintings will result in wiping out Cacoa's vet bills (there are two and total just over $1400 USD), paying for a plumber (wet season will be here soon and we need the plumber NOW), wiping out one of our other debts (around $1200 as of this post, and it will start collecting interest next spring), and a good chunk of the rest (around $5k, not collecting interest). That means several people will be winning a quilt.

To anyone who purchases one of my paintings: I will be happy to make a little quilt for you as thanks.

Paying off the debts will mean we can actually save money rather than spending it all on bills, food, and paying off these debts. More exciting goals will be posted instead, like being able to purchase things from my wishlist. You may, of course, purchase these on my behalf and receive a free quilt as a show of thanks. It would just be really nice if I could afford to purchase things myself.

Please, buy my paintings. I would like to no longer have to beg for help, and these are the fastest way to making it possible.

I have $9455 worth of artwork in my shop right now. That includes both my paintings and quilts (coasters and up). More is being added every week until I take a significantly overdue break that's longer than a week (I need at least a month seeing as I've been working virtually nonstop since February). I would be outstanding if it all sold. Right now, I'll be satisfied with just one or two of my paintings selling. Ecstatic if all four sell. I may very well faint in shock if everything in the shop sells before the year is over though. Pay off all our debts, put money aside to replace the plumbing, and purchase some things from my wishlist.

Please share this!!! For those from social media, it means hitting the reblog button, not liking the post. Liking it is a bookmark for you and no one will see it. I'm not on social media (for a long list of reasons) and never will be. If you use social media, please share this information as well as my links. If you've received my work, be it a gift, shop purchase, giveaway prize, or commission, share a review of it on your social media accounts. I'm a Disabled artist (on a fixed income of enforced poverty) and will never be able to work a "Real Job," my husband is the only one employed (currently a dishwasher), and he's also my caregiver (the state pays him and it's enough for the mortgage and a couple bills). Selling my work is the only way I can make any income. Vendoring conventions and craft fairs is not an option due to my health as well as my husband's work schedule, so please don't suggest those.

Thank you!

[gingergofastboatsmojito]

Shooting for the Michelin stars comes with a price

I keep thinking about the debt.

Walk with me here: In writing when you give your heroes what they want, you make them pay a price, it's not just a plot twist it's a literal "rain on your parade" moment that comes after the honeymoon period, which is usually fairly short in dramedies and it's a full-on breaking point. Meaning: Status quo does not stand a chance. Something's gotta give and usually that happens in the form of a crisis. The usual suspects include (but are not limited to) death, a fire, a trial, and a departure of some sort that doesn't include death but represents the end of an era anyway.

So, outta those possibilities, which are the most common and the ones I think will be brainstormed in The Bear's writers' room, I wish they went for the first one → death.

And here's where I get cutthroat, sorry, some characters make more sense dead. Their deaths mean progress, they are the omen, their wakes are the rites of passage, they help the plot move forward in a way no other plot device would and if handled correctly, they can even serve the ulterior motive of a happy ending (totally Austenian, I know).

Before I get into that full-on, I should clarify that all my musings have only one goal: determine the Sydcarmy friendliness level of a character, scene, storyline, etc. I couldn't care less about what's gonna happen on the show as a whole, I just care about how what may or may not happen on the show is compatible with my Sydcarmy endgame purpose and to what extent exactly? Full stop. The rest of the predictions are fun, sure, but don't really spike my curiosity or interest that much, I can totally live without them. Whilst I have dived into them and nailed some, obviously, it's like watching grass grow for me, IDGAF. The only predictions I truly care about are the Sydcarmy ones, mine and others´, because we have an awesome fandom that really pays attention to detail and treats the matter with the importance it has. It's not just a ship like any other, shipping Sydcarmy became a mission because it's us against the world pretty much, even though we have grown in numbers since The Bear slayed during the past award season, we still need to deal with a lot of 💩💩💩 from the anties and the neutrals and of course, the racists, and the gaslighting cast and crew, so it's literally us against all odds. Hence, I may not agree with everything I read around here all the time, of course, but we are brothers in arms, guys. #RESPECT.

That being said I think Cicero (aka The Godfather) is better off dead so The Bear's debt dies with him. Because, and here's the whole argument I took my sweet time to make, thanks for sticking around:

Source: Chef's pencil.com (2024)

In the graphic above we can see the ever-rising prices the customers have to pay to dine there, those are only the current ones, that graphic will be outdated by fall of this year when menus rotate. Naturally, those numbers are directly proportional to the ever-rising production costs. Besides, let's not forget that when a restaurant is granted a star, to maintain it, it needs to innovate. They can't keep it by doing the same thing they were doing when they were rewarded that star to begin with. If the "inspectors" don't perceive there's enough innovation in the menu the next year, they can remove the star/s that was/were previously granted, that's why retaining stars is a lot harder than getting them. So that equals higher costs, in other words: more money and sometimes, less revenue.

Michelin-star restaurants' costs are always on the rise, always, no matter what. That is why they are usually acquired by "Groups" or corporations that can endure the financial blow of keeping the restaurant operational and still maintain a somewhat solid profit margin. Also, their business model tends to branch out to books, private events or collaborations, etc to get different streams of income, other than the actual dining experience provided to their customers on-site. Usually, all of that has a cost structure that requires the backup of a corporation, and there are investment groups that specialize in providing that kind of support to the restaurants, kind of what Cicero does but at a much larger scale, and legit.

So: when The Bear gets its star (notice I say when and not if) our heroes will get what they want and shortly after will be "payback time", sorry I didn't make the rules. More details that back my assumption about the star can be found here.

What I want and wish to happen is that the "payback" is a crisis along the lines of: "OK, we got the bullshit star but we are still not making ends meet and if we wanna keep it, then that means we are nowhere near paying off the debt we have with The Godfather and thus he will take it all, that was the deal, we are gonna be left with nothing, all of this for nothing -I'm sorry, Syd, but hey! We still have each other, right?-". See the dramedy?

And that leads me to think that if Storer kills Cicero off we will all be happy, The Bear will keep its star (debt free) and will continue operations and Sydcarmy can flourish after that crisis, which most likely strained the relationship but they will be able to make it up.

Unrelated (?) Plus The Godfather, in the movie, really dies and gives the inheritance to his son (Al Pacino). You can watch that death here and I hope I'm not the only one who can see poetry in his death, surrounded by tomatoes on a beautiful sunny day... Awww.

I have plenty of reasons to call Cicero the Godfather but I won't dive into those yet. Raincheck? After watching season 3 I will give Cicero a run for his money if Storer doesn't ax him first as a cliffhanger, that is (which I think would be all kinds of awesome but I won't hold my breath for that one). He's shady, he does "Risky business", I can tell.

Summing up: At the end of S3 we should have a star or James Beard award which is the prequel to a Michelin Star and that will take us straight to payback and the need to tie that loose end either as a cliffhanger in S3 or in S4, which I think will be more like a series finale because I never saw The Bear as a 5 season arc, I always thought that 4 were enough and I was right about the renewal, so even though I hope I'm wrong in thinking there will be no S5, I don't think I am because the story can totally get a great closure in 4 seasons. So, by then, Cicero should be gone and we should be starting to see that in S3.

He should be the price they will all have to pay to get what they want. 🤞

I haven't forgotten about my ulterior agenda:

Level of Sydcarmy friendliness of Cicero's death → 💯

It will secure the restaurant, liberating them from the debt and bringing them closer together because Syd's shoulder can be the shoulder Carmy cries on when the only father figure he has left, after Mikey's death, is gone = 😍.

Remember to follow my tag #Gingerpovs 💋

[hunterssm00n]

Paranoia

Yandere! Sheriff OC

A little bit older / A black leather jacket / A bad reputation / Insatiable habits / He was onto me, one look and I couldn't breathe...

*cw include stalking, yandere behavior, abuse of authority, obsession, and dark themes* MDNI - 18+

♡˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚ ♡

hunterssm00n © All rights reserved by me. I do not allow this work to be used or adapted in any way without my permission.

It’s below twenty this morning; cold, but beautiful. The sun rising over the hills reflects off of the ice that covers nearly every surface outside. The light makes everything look like it’s sparkling- like the inside of a winter wonderland snow globe. I, unlike most people who live around here, love the winter, so this weather doesn’t bother me. Quite the opposite; I look forward to this season every year. I think the snow is magical.

The snow is also all-telling.

Footprints are easily visible in the white flakes on the ground. You can see where someone has been, where they’ve stepped, if they’ve walked around your house, around your car, to your bedroom window to peer inside.

Maybe most people don’t think about it that way. Maybe most people aren’t paranoid like me. But then again, maybe most people don’t have a reason to be, like I do.

I notice the second set of tire tracks immediately, upon walking out the front door. I know he’s been here; he’s here every night. During the night I thought I’d heard his vehicle outside; the low idle of the engine almost like comforting white noise in the background. I had been too exhausted to really react- my new job quickly taking its toll on my daily life. Working in a warehouse makes me ready for bed by eight thirty every night like an old lady, and once I'm asleep I sleep like a rock. But the thought had been in the back of my mind nonetheless: He’s here. He’s watching.

I check, and then double check the lock on my front door, turning the door handle about ten times before I'm comfortable walking down the steps towards my car. The second thing I notice is the footprints. I see them leading from the tire tracks to my front steps, pausing there, and then walking sharply to the left. I know if I look at them more closely, and follow their trail, that they’ll lead to every window, pausing there as well. And the back door. And the basement window. If I look extra closely, I may even see gloved handprints on the window sills, gently having rested there the night before, mere hours ago. The thought gives me shivers, and it isn’t from the cold. I walk quickly towards my car, paying close attention to my surroundings all the while. The thought that he may still be here somewhere, watching, always watching, makes my spine tingle and the hair on the back of my neck raise.

I don’t know exactly how this started; what I did to capture his attention. And, evidently, his obsession. I go to work, the store, the coffee shop, and barely anywhere else. Most of the time I hide away in my little house, the only place I feel like I can truly breathe a sigh of relief. But somehow I've piqued his interest, and he’s been following me ever since.

This has been going on for a few weeks now- enough for it to become part of my routine. I’ll be in my home at night, winding down from the day, and I’ll see lights appear at the end of the driveway. Sometimes they don’t come all the way down; they sit for a few minutes before reversing and driving away. But I always know that they’ll be back, at some point. While I'm lying in bed, sometimes before I fall asleep, I’ll hear the crunching of snow and gravel under tires as the car approaches. If I'm already asleep, sometimes I'll wake up briefly, by some sort of sixth sense maybe, letting me know that I am not alone here; that there’s someone outside. The beams of light sweeping over my curtains before going out look like that of a passing vehicle on the road, but my driveway is long, so the house is not right next to the road itself. Instead it's tucked a little ways back into the trees; perfect for me to hide. And, evidently, perfect for someone else to hide, too.

He hasn’t gone any further than parking in the driveway and walking around my house, peering in the windows. But I wonder how long it will stay that way. How long before he gets a hold of my house key, and makes a copy? How long before he decides to see if one of the windows will open, so he can slide in? The answer to that, is that even after two weeks, things have been steadily escalating. And it's not like I can call the police. They'd laugh me right off the phone if I told them that it's their sheriff who is stalking me.

His name is Sheriff Ray Donnovan; mid forties, law enforcer of this small town, and my stalker.

Even when I try to tell someone, they’ve all just chalked it up to him being ‘a good cop’; ‘looking out for his town’. Plus, your house is on the main road anyways; he’s probably just parking in your driveway to watch for late night speeders. They overlook the fact that the sheriff doesn’t normally work nights; being of a higher rank, wouldn’t he pick a better shift than the graveyard one? And why, if he’s been working all day, is he parking in my driveway like a traffic cop trying to meet his monthly quota? Doesn’t the sheriff have better things to do? Also, wouldn’t he first ask to use my driveway if he was going to be hiding there to catch unsuspecting drivers in the wee hours of the morning?

I know better. A good cop doesn’t come to someone’s house at night while they’re asleep (or while he thinks they’re asleep), and park outside in their driveway all night. A good cop doesn’t memorize someone’s schedule so that he happens to run into them in random places, multiple times a week. A good cop doesn’t walk the perimeter of someone’s house every night, without being asked, to look in their windows and try to find weak points of entry.

You’re just being paranoid, they tell me. He’s a good guy; he’s an upstanding citizen. He’s the sheriff, for chrissake.

I shake my head to clear the swirling thoughts, and open my car door. Being late to work won’t fix anything.

♡˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚ ♡

This is an original work of mine, as are the characters.

I do not own the song ‘My Oh My’ by Camilla Cabello. The above picture is from pinterest and there’s a link attached to the original post.

[ncisfranchise-source]

Heading into its 21st season, NCIS has a tough job: properly paying tribute to David McCallum, who died at the age of 90 in September, and his character, Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard, who was first introduced in the backdoor pilot episodes of JAG in 2003.

Season 21 Episode 2, airing on February 19, 2024, is the one tasked with doing just that, and it will be cowritten by the actor whose character we first met as Ducky’s assistant, Brian Dietzen. (Jimmy Palmer is now a doctor himself and the chief medical examiner.) Dietzen is once again collaborating with Scott Williams, with whom he wrote Season 19’s “The Helpers” and Season 20’s “Old Wounds.”

“In the episode, the team will learn of Ducky’s passing and reflect on their memories of him as they grieve,” co-showrunners/executive producers Steven D. Binder and David North told TVLine. “And true to Ducky’s meticulous and compassionate nature, even after he’s gone, he still manages to solve one last crime with the team.” They also promised “a very touching and special moment you won’t want to miss.”

But what moments need to be in what is sure to be one of the most powerful, touching episodes of the series? We suggest just those below.

An episode worthy of David McCallum and Ducky

Listen, this should go without saying and it’s more likely than not that we’ll get it, but it’s the only way to kick off this list. Whatever the tribute ends up being, it should be one that would make McCallum proud and properly reflects what both his and Ducky’s legacies mean for the show and franchise. That, of course, would include flashbacks to significant moments over the past 20 seasons.

Major returns — or at least mentions

While Dietzen and Sean Murray (who plays Tim McGee) have both been part of the show since Season 1, they were both introduced (and recurred) then. But Gibbs (Mark Harmon) has a long history with Ducky — the 400th episode detailed its origins — and Tony (Michael Weatherly), too, was part of the JAG episodes. We also saw what Ducky meant to characters who have since left like Ziva (Cote de Pablo) and Abby (Pauley Perrette) over the years. (Gibbs, Tony, Ziva, and Abby are also characters Dietzen told TV Insider in February he “would be ecstatic to write for.”) At least one major return would be great — especially from Harmon, given Ducky and Gibbs’ friendship — but if that doesn’t happen, these characters need to at least be mentioned in a significant way.

At least one flashback with Young Ducky

Adam Campbell has appeared in four episodes since Season 12, including the 400th, as young Ducky, and from his first, it was clear he was perfect casting. And if Mark Harmon isn’t in the episode, his son Sean Harmon could always return as young Gibbs for a flashback highlighting the early days of that friendship.

Palmer sharing an anecdote about Ducky...

… just like Ducky did all the time. He’s the perfect person to deliver it, and it would be especially fitting if that is what helps the team solve its case, given Binder and North’s tease in their statement.

Heartfelt emotion, grief, and joy

It’s going to be a heartbreaking hour. We already know that. But there needs to be (at least a little) joy as well as Ducky’s life is celebrated. Not only could that work, but it could also fit the bill of what Dietzen previously told us he wanted to tackle when it came to writing his next episode: “I would love to do a lighter show, for sure. … But that said, if I could dig into some darker stuff with any one of these characters, that would be a joy to do as well.” Ducky lived a long life. There are some stories still to be told. Those could certainly bring some laughs.

Acknowledgement of what Ducky meant to NCIS beyond the team (and their memories)

Sometimes it’s easy to forget about the rest of the agency, but Ducky didn’t just work with this one team. And he continued to mean quite a deal to NCIS as its historian after he left the chief ME position. There could be some sort of gathering — outside of a funeral, if that’s shown — or not, but what there definitely needs to be is something permanent in the building that serves as a reminder of the legacy Ducky has left behind.

It ends in the morgue

Empty, lights out.

[burnwater13]

Concept art by Doug Chiang of a Kraft Dragon collapsing on Tatooine, while Sandpeople look on, next to a bantha. Image from The Mandalorian, Season 2, Episode 1, The Marshal. Calendar by DateWorks.

NOTE This story was originally published on August 14, 2023. I'm still on vacation and thought folks might like to read this one again.

Grogu almost missed Cobb Vanth. He was a person, one of the few humans, other than Peli Motto, who had noticed Grogu’s relationship with the Mandalorian right away. Grogu almost missed him, because despite Cobb’s fancy words, he didn’t try to stop the bounty hunter from risking his life when they were helping the Tuskens and the Mos Pelgo town folk with the tiny little problem of a rampaging Krayt dragon. 

After all, how much of the work was the Mandalorian supposed to do? All of it? Sure the Sandpeople and the town folk had come out in numbers to try to solve the problem they both experienced in the worst way, but the Marshal had just let Din walk right into the Krayt dragon’s lair without so much as a ‘Hey, what about the kid?’, passing his lips. 

Nope, he’d been much more concerned about the Mandalorian armor he’d purchased from the Jawas years before. The only way he was going to be able to keep it was if Din Djarin failed to help with the Krayt dragon and that just didn’t seem fair or right to Grogu. Mandalorian armor belonged to Mandalorians. Not Jawas. Never Jawas, really.

Grogu had seen the writing on the inside of the cuirass (don’t ask him how, Grogu knows how to keep a secret) and knew it said, in very fine print, ‘Property of Mandalore. If found, return immediately. Otherwise we’ll come and take it off you and you know that means and it won’t be pleasant.’ Or words to that affect. 

Cobb Vanth bought the armor, put it one and immediately fell subject to the requirements written on it. He did the protect your clan part pretty well (normally on the inside of the vambrace) and the help people in need part really well (on the flight pack), but the returning it to the people who made it at such cost and with so much riding on it (someone’s whole family tree was written on the rest of the cuirass) was something the Marshal had failed at.

So while Cobb Vanth was busy fussing and fretting about how the whole thing was going to go down, Grogu had to sit there and listen to them talk about every plan for attacking the critter. None of those plans included just feeding it. None of them included a method for getting it to move out of the area. Nope. They were all about ending the critter. 

Grogu’s Jedi training told him that there had to be another way, but no one was paying attention to him. If they had, he would have suggested that they just work together to move the town. It wasn’t like Mos Pelgo was huge. It was a handful of buildings and very little in the way of infrastructure. Tatooine was mostly empty, so moving away from a Krayt dragon freeway and nest seemed like a good option to him. 

Or, they could have lured the Krayt out of it’s den and then destroyed the den, nest, whatever. The Krayt would have to find a new place to live. They could have even looked for a better place and set it up and then encouraged the critter to go there. Krayt dragons were native to Tatooine, which was pretty hard to believe, because it takes a critter forever to evolve and Tatooine had once been a very different planet, green and lush with oceans and everything. 

But Grogu supposed that anything was possible with the Force, so that may have been part of the problem that Tatooine had. Maybe some Force adept had been there and made changes that allowed the giant critters to survive in such a hostile environment. He supposed he could have done that as well. Used the Force to compel the critter to leave them all alone. His former masters would have frowned at that, but they weren’t there to scold him or help him solve the problem a different way. 

When Grogu complained to his protector, the Mandalorian had laughed and commented that he seemed to like eating the Krayt dragon meat, so maybe he wasn’t that concerned about it’s fate after all. Grogu had to admit, the critter was tasty and he was a sucker for a good meal. Huh. Maybe he shouldn’t have been day dreaming during the situational ethics course that Master Windu had delivered so many years before. It would probably come in handy while he and the Mandalorian were just trying to get him to safety. Maybe he could ask Cobb Vanth to give him a refresher course. He seemed to understand that topic pretty well for a marshal.

[jennawynn]

Chronotrek: TNG S1 Part 1

For those who are seeing this in their tags for the first time- before this, I'd only seen the Abrams movies and a handful of episodes across the various Trek serieseseses. I've been doing as close to a blind, chronological viewing as possible, only shifting between shows at the ends of seasons (not jumping around if there's time travel involved.) So far, I've gotten through Enterprise, S 1 Discovery, Short Trek/TOS Pilot, Disco 2, Short Treks, Strange New Worlds, TOS, TAS, and the 6 TOS movies. I'm now venturing into The Next Generation.

The first 6/7 episodes have given me the following observations:

1- I hate how leaned back the chairs in the front are. Reminds me of my person's car and how I always have to pull up the seat because it feels like I'm laying down and can't drive.

Hey, I've heard of Q. Why would Picard assume that Q knows 1) what a phaser is and 2) what setting it is on?

I'm kind of glad that they immediately went to having a musketeer beam aboard lest someone think this is a serious show lol

Was that engineer in shorts? Oh... some of the men wear _skirts_? Let me look something up... Skants. I feel like this needs that Will Smith gif about he's a little confused but has the spirit lmao. That's a terrible name, though (as is skort tbh and that one's real).

There's a _battle bridge_? And you can separate the saucer? I guess that's how they get away with this being a ship with families on it, though I'm not really clear on WHY they have families aboard. Is it intended to be away from spacedock for years on end? Or a generational ship?

Why would they do such a risky maneuver (separation at speed) just because they don't know what Q is?

Riker looks so silly clean-shaven. My mental image of him certainly includes the beard.

Fun fact: I have a cousin named Ryker after Riker.

3- Why did everyone hate Wesley so much? That's basically all I know about the character- that fans hated him. And that it's Wil Wheaton.

silly!Picard is ridiculous. Such a contrast to the mental image I have of him.

5- Still pulling everyone off the bridge (away from their consoles) to chat, huh? What if something were to happen that required quick response?

Four eps in and Picard has basically surrendered twice?

Riker is... comically oversized compared to the rest of the crew.

6- I really don't understand why Wesley was so hated. I mean he's pretty obviously someone's self-insert (or supposed to be the relatable figure for the younger viewers) akin to the teen heroes of dystopian fic. He's basically just Trek's version of Anakin or Luke. But usually male fans eat that shit up. Was it mostly the older TOS fans who didn't like him because he's young and 'obnoxious' and not 'paying his dues' etc etc bc the older fans saw him (and young fans) as a threat to their egos and their perceived superiority in trekdom?

8- Oh so they actually leave the captain on the bridge now? Reminds me of our houseboat trips on the lake in ROTC- I much preferred being XO to CO- I got to be hands on instead of just giving orders. The CO wasn't allowed to _do_ practically anything.

[we-wouldnt-have-hotdogs]

Plant Island Analysis

this is very random but whatever my singing monsters was my childhood

Context:

My Singing Monsters is a game that was released in 2012, developed by studio Big Blue Bubble. Its basis is that you are in a world made up of islands populated by monsters which all sing a part in what becomes a full song once you breed all of them. The Plant Island is the first island you unlock, and also where the tutorial takes place. 

One of the main reasons why it's symbolic is because of its element. Weirdly enough, the first actual elements you unlock are cold and earth, but the first island is plant. This is because the gameplay can be paralleled to a plant growing; as you breed more and more monsters, the "plant" grows, and as you unlock more elements and islands the "plant" grows more "heads" and, as the islands come to sound more and more full, it "flowers".

The werdos are special monsters that cannot be bred, and their gimmick is that instead of random sounds or instruments like most other monsters, they sing in comprehensive english, adding lyrics to the islands' songs. The lyrics for plant island reflect the symbolism mentioned above.

Verse 1 

"Every monster knows

How the plants grow"

This is not very likely intended, but the first two lines could be a wink to the MSM community being very interactive with each other and specifically using breeding guides, since they "know how the plants grow" (know how to progress in the fastest way).

"And every monster cares"

The MSM fanbase is highly loyal and dedicated, with many of the players having their accounts from an early age. This is most likely due to the nature of the game (it's practically a waiting simulator), since its breeding times are ridiculously long and some monsters, like the seasonals, can only be bred during specific times of the year. Also, the wubboxes take a very long time to activate as they need an egg of each monster in the island (don't get me started on epic wubboxes and breeding epic monsters in general.) The game has steadily continued its development and updates for about 10 years as of now, including a few spin-offs and a prequel.

We can assume that along with the parallel of the game to a plant, there is a parallel with the "monsters" mentioned to the players/fans.

"And they know how they shape and they feed them to keep them alive"

"How they shape" means how the songs are built up. "They feed them" is a double metaphor, as players literally feed monsters to level them up in-game, but also "feeding" the "plant" can refer to spending time or currency in the game to "keep it alive" and progress.

"Let's watch plants grow

Let's watch plants grow"

Let's pay attention as the songs in the game slowly build up to full finished pieces of music.

"Everything here is alive

Everything here is alive"

Verse 2

"They sleep when it gets cold, and the leaves turn"

When the monsters in the game get muted, as in, the player can choose for certain monsters to just not make sounds, they literally sleep, and musical rest symbols float above their heads. The imagery of leaves turning adds to the island's signature theme of nature, but the phrase "to turn over a new leaf" can also be used to mean "to start a new beginning". In this case this has dual meaning; the start of a second verse, and the start of a new island. The cold island, which is directly mentioned in the beginning of the second verse, is the second island which a player unlocks in my singing monsters.

The beginning of a new verse this way can signify that a new verse = a new island, which further proves the symbolism of plant island as the progression of the game itself.

"They turn brown and they turn gold"

Brown is the color most often associated with the ground, hence its mention after cold. Chronologically, earth island is not the next island unlocked after cold, however the next referenced island is gold island, which is chronologically after earth. The gold island is an island in which you can teleport monsters that reach level 15 or more. Trivia: it was also supposed to be the last island when the game was first created. The leaves (aka islands) turn brown, then they turn gold.

"They need sunlight and water and earth and the air to keep them alive

That's how plants grow

That's how plants grow"

You need to unlock all the natural islands to "keep the game alive", aka progress.

"Everything here is alive"

x4

Verse 3

"A note becomes a chord becomes a phrase becomes a melody

And a note becomes a monster"

This is one of the most straightforward lyrics, as it directly describes the gameplay. The more monsters inhabit the island, the more complete the songs sound. The monsters harmonise with and complement eachother. There is also a possible reference to tribal island here, which is a special island. When a tribe is created, one user can only place one monster in the island. The goal is for enough people to join to complete the island, and after a few monsters have joined, they awaken Kayna, who is the single-elemental monster of fire, which is introduced to the franchise with the launch of tribal island.

"A note becomes a monster".

"Everything here is alive

Everything here is alive"

Verse 4

Let's take the next few lyrics one by one.

"You plant a seed, it settles in"

You start a new island and buy the first few (single element) monsters.

"And then it bursts, then it splits and makes a twin"

Could refer to breeding new monsters, or unlocking a new island.

"Then there are more"

There are more monsters, and eventually, more islands. 

"Look across the landscape, and you'll find

It's just a bunch of plants"

It's just a bunch of monsters, and just a bunch of islands.

As the islands slowly but surely build up, you can take a step back and just notice the sheer amount of monsters that are on the island. Due to the long breeding times, it can feel like you're not making progress, so players are often surprised when the island is finally finished.

After playing for a very long time, players tend to focus on the unnatural elements or new islands, forgetting the ones they first started with. Looking back, they can see the huge amount of progress made. In a way, this is definitely what starting a garden can feel like.

Thus, the parallel to the progression of the gameplay in my singing monsters and a plant growing makes sense.

[avneesh10-blog]

Ultimate Golf Travel Packages: Your Guide to Tee Time Getaways

# Ultimate Golf Travel Packages: Your Guide to Tee Time Getaways

Introduction

Are you a golf enthusiast looking to combine your passion for the sport with unforgettable travel experiences? Golf travel packages offer the perfect solution for avid golfers seeking to explore new courses, meet like-minded individuals, and create lasting memories. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the world of Golf Travel Packages, uncovering everything you need to know to plan your ultimate tee time getaway.

Main Content

The Rise of Golf Travel Packages Golf tourism has witnessed a rapid surge in popularity in recent years, with Golf Travel Packages emerging as a preferred choice for players of all skill levels. Golfers are increasingly seeking well-curated packages that combine access to top-tier courses, luxurious accommodations, and seamless travel arrangements. The global golf tourism market is projected to reach $XX billion by 2025. Golf Travel Packages cater to diverse preferences, including solo travelers, couples, and groups.Choosing the Right Golf Travel Package Selecting the ideal Golf Travel Package requires careful consideration of various factors, such as destination, course offerings, accommodation options, and amenities. #### Factors to Consider: - Destination Diversity: Opt for packages that offer a mix of renowned and hidden gem courses. - Accommodation Quality: Choose accommodations that align with your preferences, from luxury resorts to boutique hotels. - Inclusions and Extras: Look for packages that include green fees, equipment rentals, and transportation services. - Customization Options: Some providers offer bespoke packages tailored to individual preferences.Planning Your Golf Itinerary Creating a well-structured itinerary is essential to maximize your golf travel experience. By strategically planning your tee times, rest periods, and leisure activities, you can ensure a harmonious balance of play and relaxation. Use online resources and golf travel specialists to research courses and plan your schedule. Consider factors such as course difficulty, proximity to accommodations, and dining options.Making the Most of Your Golf Experience Whether you're a seasoned golfer or a novice player, there are several strategies to enhance your Golf Travel Package experience and make the most of your time on the course.#### Tips for Golfers: - Warm-up Routine: Start your day with a proper warm-up to prevent injuries and improve performance. - Course Management: Study the layout of each course and strategize your shots accordingly. - Social Networking: Golf Travel Packages provide an excellent opportunity to network with fellow golfers and build lasting connections.Overcoming Challenges and Misconceptions While Golf Travel Packages offer unparalleled benefits for golf enthusiasts, there are common challenges and misconceptions that can arise during the planning and execution stages. Challenge: Balancing leisure activities with golf sessions. Misconception: Golf Travel Packages are only suitable for experienced golfers.Ensuring a Seamless Travel Experience Smooth logistics and well-coordinated travel arrangements are crucial for a stress-free golf trip. From booking flights to coordinating transfers and tee times, paying attention to the details can elevate your overall experience. Utilize golf-specific travel agencies that specialize in Golf Travel Packages. Stay informed about local golf etiquette and rules to enhance your playing experience.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Golf Travel Packages embody the perfect fusion of sport, leisure, and adventure, offering golfers a tailored experience that transcends traditional vacations. By meticulously planning your itinerary, embracing new challenges, and connecting with fellow enthusiasts, you can transform your next golf trip into an unforgettable journey. Embark on a golf travel adventure today and tee off for a truly exceptional experience!

Frequently Asked Questions

- Are Golf Travel Packages suitable for all skill levels? Yes, Golf Travel Packages cater to golfers of varying abilities, with options available for beginners, intermediate players, and advanced golfers.- How far in advance should I book a Golf Travel Package? It's advisable to book your Golf Travel Package several months in advance to secure preferred tee times and accommodations.- Can I customize a Golf Travel Package to suit my preferences? Many providers offer customization options for Golf Travel Packages, allowing you to tailor the experience to your individual needs.- What is included in a typical Golf Travel Package? Golf Travel Packages often include accommodations, green fees, transportation, and sometimes additional perks like spa treatments or dining credits.- Are Golf Travel Packages cost-effective compared to booking individually? In many cases, Golf Travel Packages** offer cost savings and added convenience compared to booking golf trips and accommodations separately.

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[saving-word-crawls]

A Storm of Words crawl (Game of Thrones)

By: Rob_Pine

This is A Storm of Words , the crawl for A Song of Ice and Fire and Game of Thrones ! Finally, the two are combined into one consistent narrative. Canonically. Absolutely. This crawl is divided roughly into seasons of the TV show.

There will, of course, be spoilers from all books and seasons.

If there’s demand for it, I’ll post more of these, based on the rest of the story. Subsequent parts of the crawl, when posted, will be linked in a reply comment to this post. Please don’t directly reply to the subcomment as it will prevent me from editing it

Your result from the first challenge will tell you which character you are. Only do the challenges associated with your character, unless you’re really bored!

Some challenges require dice; I recommend random.org 3 as a slightly less satisfying substitute.

Some challenges can be ‘failed’; failing a challenge provides you with a prompt that you must write into your next scene .

Prologue. You are on a ranging with the Night’s Watch, sent out to track nearby wildlings… but something has gone very wrong. Write for ten minutes while you hide in a tree, watching your comrades die.

If you wrote less than 200 words , you are a moody Northern bastard known as Jon Snow.

If you wrote between 201 and 400 words, you are a refugee princess called Daenerys Targaryen.

If you wrote more than 401 words , you are maligned highborn dwarf Tyrion Lannister.

Jon Snow

Your noble family is hosting the king’s entourage at dinner, but because you’re a bastard you’re not allowed to sit with them. Write 200 words in ten minutes to get the rage out of your system.

If Jon fails: the next scene you write should contain a dog, or characters talking about dogs.

You’ve made it to the Wall, but apparently you’re not allowed any adventure yet. “A man gets what he earns”; well, show your worth by making it to the next round thousand-word mark .

You’re named a steward, to your disappointment, but it does mean you’ll be working closely with the Old Bear himself. Show him you’re not afraid of hard work – roll a 6-sided die . Write at your own pace for five times as many minutes.

Jeor Mormont has brought you terrible news: your father has been executed as a traitor. You try to escape, but you barely make it to 500 words in half an hour before your comrades drag you back to Castle Black.

If Jon fails: the next scene you write should include a betrayal, or a reference to betrayal.

Daenerys Targaryen

You’re unlucky enough to be a thirteen-year-old girl whose creepy brother considers her a commodity to be traded for a crown. Do the Three Digit Challenge as you attempt to ignore his weird, weird comments.

Life’s not been kind to you so far, but you’re settling well into Dothraki culture and, even though you’re a woman, you’re commanding a lot more respect than your brother ever could. You’re even becoming fluent in the language: write 200 words in five minutes to show your command of the Dothraki tongue.

If Dany fails : the next scene you write should include a reference to a foreign language.

Your brother drunkenly threatens you and your unborn child, which is a problem for your husband. Write 1000 words in half an hour as you try to deal with what you just saw.

If Dany fails : kill a character, however minor, off in your next scene.

Things were looking up, but now you’ve suffered a miscarriage and had to perform a coup de grace on your sun-and-stars. However, only death can pay for life… write 100 words for each day in November so far.

Tyrion Lannister

You’re on a visit to the Wall, for largely urinary purposes. Your companion asks why you’re reading on the journey; perhaps a fifty-headed hydra will show them the benefit of a sharp mind. Attempt to write five hundred words in five minutes without ANY corrections or backspaces. Typos mandatory.

If Tyrion fails: the next scene you write should include books or reading.

Anticipating a nice rest, you’re instead accosted by a woman you’ve barely met and accused of trying to kill her son. It’s a long way to… wait, this isn’t the way to Winterfell! Talk your way out of execution by writing 2000 words in an hour.

If Tyrion fails: the next scene you write should include imprisonment or captivity, or a reference to these.

You’re finally allowed to leave the Vale, but you have to take the highroad. You’re ambushed by mountain clans, but perhaps you can win them over by writing until your word count is a palindrome (e.g. 31313, 5555, 929).

You join your father on the battlefield, bringing your army of clansmen with you. He agrees to reward them for saving you, but only on the condition that you write 1000 words in fifteen minutes! … oh, and lead the vanguard into a losing battle.

If Tyrion fails: the next scene you write should include an allusion to a family reunion.

[onenettvchannel]

ICYMI: Internet TV Station 'OneNETtv Channel' makes history with the 7th Season Premiere of 'Totally Spies' [#K5NewsFMExclusive]

(Written by Kimi Sparkle and Rhayniel Saldasal Calimpong / K5 News Patrol #2 reporter & Freelance News Writer, Media Reporter and News Presenter of OneNETnews)

DUMAGUETE, NEGROS ORIENTAL -- 'OneNETtv Channel' was first to air the exclusive and original French LIVE telecast of Totally Spies (Season 7 PREMIERE) last Sunday afternoon (May 12th, 2024 at 4:45pm -- Manila local time) as the world's first online television broadcast here in Negros Oriental.

Kidscreen has previously revealed that the show comprises 26 episodes, with each episode having a runtime of 22 minutes. It is worth noting that the weekly airdates, episode numbers and titles are deliberately arranged in a non-sequential order, creating a random-like pattern.

The 7th Season premiere titled 'Pandapocalypse', marks the beginning of an exciting spytastic journey. The Californian state of America is left behind as the Spies team set off on a summer vacation, following the events of Season 6 finale in 2015. In the later episodes, they make their way to Singapore, where they will face new challenges with familiar faces, and embark on thrilling new missions throughout the rest of the season. The rest is history including episodes titles "When it's Too Much, it's Troll!" and "Totally Talented" as they promise to deliver expectations and excitement.

K5 News FM: Dumaguete has exclusively learned that Mr. Gerald James "Jerry" Lewis has completely retired and is now working as a consultant at the global spy agency 'WHOOP World' (or World Organization of Human Protection). 'Zerlina' has taken the helm as the new head of 'WHOOP', with the ingenious gadget guru 'Toby' injecting new excitement and empowerment into the team. They might be embarking on new objectives and missions soon in Singapore.

The American pay-TV cable channel 'Freeform' (formerly known as 'ABC Family'), debuted the French cartoon show in November 2001. Following this, Television France 1 (TF1) aired the show from April 2002 to March 2015, covering Seasons 1 thru 6 via the 'TFOU' programming block before 'Gulli' took over in mid-May 2024. In the Philippines, ABS-CBN (or Alto Broadcasting System - Chronicle Broadcasting Network, now known as 'Kapamilya Channel') aired the Tagalog dubbed version for international syndication in the mid-2000s up to Season 3, losing the dubbing rights abruptly for no reason.

As French fans gear up to become new secret spy agents… We, the viewers like us and netizens online, are all set to witness the upcoming 7th season today. The mysterious digital villain 'Cyberchac' will soon face in a showdown with the trio of Spies girls team in Singapore with Alexandra "Alex" Vasquez, Samantha "Sam" Simpson and Clover Ewing.

Totally Spies will air first in France with new episodes each week on Sunday morning, including our simulcast here on 'OneNETtv Channel' in Dumaguete City, Philippines; while Cartoon Network in English-dubbed including next-day streaming in America on 'Max' (formerly Home Box Office Max) possibly debuting this year in the fall of 2024, or later sometime by early 2025 onwards.

You can see new episodes available on demand now at the Gulli's website and '6play' for those only if you are in France to witness and catch criminals in action on the spot.

SCREENGRAB COURTESY: Banijay Kids and Family & Ollenom Studio via Gulli

Always stay informed and entertained with OneNETnews and OneNETtv Channel. Championing in the service of the Filipino, Dumaguete and Negrosanon's News Leader!

-- OneNETnews Online Publication Team