#and now that award seasons over and the public at large has shifted out of the frenzy

[heartbrake-hotel]

I think it's very important that all of us immediately start petitioning Netflix to give AE a season two. They must know how we thirst for more of this cartoon man.

oh god, i WISH !!! i mean, technically i hope, but.. my expectation for netflix to recognize and support quality in their programming has descended into the pits of despair, honestly dfgfs.

they cancel even their uber-successful shows before they can start even thinking about losing money, and the fact that there was virtually NO marketing for ae except for that done by priscilla and epe is.. Concerning. especially considering all the big names they got, like !! they didn't hype at allllll or even. uh vaguely advertise 😭

so i'll campaign like hell and be EXTREMELY VOCAL about how much i love this show.... but also ive been here before many times. rip

netflix prove me wrong challenge !!! 💫

[andypantsx3]

statistically significant | 2 | bakugou/reader

length: 23,490 words | 7 chapters

summary: You’re the scientist who developed a neural net to model the value of assists. Now that your work is feeding into the hero rankings, pro hero Ground Zero has a bone to pick with your results.

tags: romance, enemies to lovers, sexual tension, reader-insert

warnings: aged up characters, eventual smut, m/f threats of violence, problematic behavior

note: I cannot overemphasize that this interpretation of Bakugou is based on season 1 Bakugou, which means he behaves very questionably at the beginning. Please heed the warnings!

Present day

Miruko’s agency was large, much larger than you had expected.

From the street, it had looked unobtrusive enough, a moderately-sized office building with a modern-looking glass front. You could see into a large reception area on the ground floor, and open workspaces on the next few floors, conjoined desks piled high with paperwork and slightly wilted-looking office plants. If not for Miruko’s name emblazoned over the entry in bold, metallic letters, you could have taken it for just another office building.

Once inside, however, the building became much more than that. After checking in at reception, you were led deep into the building, and gestured into an elevator that took you tens of floors down. When the doors opened, they let out into a cavernous space, stretching under what must have been the entire block. The floor was equipped with a gym, several reinforced training spaces the size of office buildings themselves, and what appeared to be a surveillance room where footage from the training spaces could be replayed.

Your mouth dropped open. Did all hero agencies hide deep underground like this? How many other underground floors were there? How big was Miruko Agency, really?

Your guide had enough tact to ignore your inelegant expression, instead leading you towards a training room. A huge, clear window tens of meters across looked into the space, but you would bet anything that it was made of some material much stronger than glass, which was especially evidenced by what you could see going on beyond the window.

Rubble littered the room, scattered in towering piles that gave the appearance of a post-doomsday cityscape. You didn’t know if the room had been set up this way, or if the rubble was the result of the battle going on within; there were two heroes that you could see darting around the space, both appearing to be causing maximum chaos.

Closest to you, a woman with wild pink curls was emitting a powerful stream of some cement-colored substance that ate away at anything it touched, causing it to smoke and hiss and crumble. She melted a huge hole in a pile of rubble, and a man with a shock of golden-yellow hair leapt away from what had probably been his hiding place, backpedaling wildly.

You perked up when you realized who they were--Ashido Mina, the number twenty-nine hero Pinky, and Kaminari Denki, the number thirty-three hero Chargebolt.

Kaminari threw out a hand, and a crackling wave of lightning struck out at Ashido. The lights flickered out briefly, and even behind the window, you could feel your hair stand on end. You blinked past the powerful flash that had temporarily blinded you, casting about for Ashido who had surely been struck down, only to choke on a laugh when you caught sight of her flashing Kaminari the middle finger, sliding away from a huge chunk of rubble she’d dislodged with her acid to use as a shield.

“They’re idiots,” a voice intoned from your side.

You nearly jumped out of your skin, turning to find Miruko herself standing next to you, powerful arms crossed over her chest. Despite her words, a little fond-looking smile flickered at the edges of her mouth.

You schooled your slack jawed expression into a smile. “I don’t know--their personalities are mostly why they’re so popular, so they must be doing something right. I did a little digging into everyone’s results before I got here, and they stood out among a lot of the rest.”

Miruko’s gaze flicked over you. She was short, maybe even shorter than you, but her keen red eyes and very lethal-looking biceps more than made up for her stature. She was intimidating in person, an air about her that told you she could snap and turn on you at any second. Despite the fact that she had asked you here herself, you felt like she might seize you and bodily throw you out of her agency.

“And that’s why they’re idiots. Their results are buoyed by their personalities,” Miruko sniffed. “They need work.”

You prickled a little, feeling like you should say something in their defense, but the truth of it was, you were here to help them work on things.

Some weeks ago, Miruko had contacted the Public Safety Hero Commission with interest in the ranking model. Your version had been in production for close to a year, and you had recently been making scholarly noises about feedback loops, asking for permission to provide pro heroes with individual results breakdowns. Miruko had caught wind of this and demanded on site assessments for her “team of frigging clowns” as she had so eloquently put it. And so you had been loaned out, with the idea of helping to direct the training for the heroes at Miruko Agency, providing them a real time comparison of their training footage to the generic hero ranking model results.

If this trial run was successful, if you could help any of the heroes measurably jump ranks, then the Commission had committed to providing individualized results for the thousands of heroes employed today. The Commission had also expressed interest in your idea of creating and packaging smaller models that took less technical skill to operate, for heroes to use to direct their own training. They had even seemed receptive to giving you a small team of research scientists and software engineers to build such a product, so you would be looking at a pretty sick promotion, not to mention.

Miruko made her way over to the surveillance room, beckoning you after her, and you watched as she leaned over a desk, pressing down a button with one gloved finger.

A crackling sound echoed overhead and her voice followed. “Alright, brats, recess is over. Anyone not heading out on patrol, meet in the surveillance room now.”

The flickering light from Kaminari’s lightning fizzled out, and the door to the training room opened not long after, Kaminari and Ashido spilling out in a chaotic whirlwind of limbs and petty squabbling. They were the first to arrive at the surveillance room, and Kaminari visibility perked up when he saw you.

“Hey!” he exclaimed, interrupting himself on a gasp when Ashido’s elbow caught him in the ribs. “What the fuck, Mina--! Why are your elbows so sharp? Can you just not--?” He grabbed her elbow. “Stop, look, it’s stats girl! From the Awards!”

You startled a little, shocked that he had remembered you. That had been almost a year ago, and you’d only exchanged a couple quick comments in the stairwell.

Ashido looked up from where she appeared to be attempting to crack one of his ribs, her expression shifting into something altogether too interested. You flushed when a sharp grin broke out over her pretty features.

“Oh my god, you’re stats girl? I have been waiting forever. It’s an absolute honor to meet you.” She held out a palm, waggling her rosy fingers expectantly.

A rising sense of horror grew within you. Did...did Kaminari remember you so clearly because he’d told people about the incident? What exactly had he mentioned to her? Who else had he spread the tale to?

“Um, yeah that’s me,” you managed, trying to tamp down your embarrassment.

Ashido grinned wider, leaning forward. “I was totally convinced Denki and Eijirou made you up, except that Katsuki wouldn’t stop plotting revenge out loud for months. You’re, like, a legend. Do you do autographs?”

You gaped at her, your mind sticking on the phrase Katsuki wouldn’t stop plotting revenge out loud for months. A nervous, hunted energy crept over you. Revenge...for months.

Miruko’s rabbit ears twitched and she turned to you, frowning. “I wasn’t aware you’d already met some of my circus monkeys. Is this going to be a problem?”

You dithered nervously, not actually sure if it would be. You’d known Bakugou worked at her agency, considering you had done a fair amount of pre-work collecting everyone's results. But you’d honestly put off thinking about this. Bakugou had been in quite the rage at the Hero Awards, but that had been almost a year ago. And Ashido had phrased his revenge plans in the past tense… Surely he didn’t still hold as much of a grudge now?

Miruko eyed you suspiciously for a moment, but she was distracted when the scuffle of boots indicated the approach of other heroes, and a pair of burly men with curling satyr horns rounded the corner, one of them leaning forward to speak to her. Ashido sent you a wink when Miruko turned her back, mouthing something that looked suspiciously like later.

In the next few minutes, a small group of heroes assembled, ranging from relatively well-known heroes like Ashido and Kaminari, to a couple of heroes who ranked deep in the hundreds--you only knew some of their faces because Miruko had provided you with a list of her employees for preparatory research purposes. They formed a small crescent around the surveillance area, chattering lowly to themselves and eyeing you with speculative curiosity.

To your eternal relief, her most famously explosive employee was conspicuously absent, and you felt yourself relax when it seemed like everyone had turned up who was going to.

When it seemed like the crowd size was finally large enough to please her, Miruko barked a loud “SHUT UP” at them. The din of low voices instantly died down.

“Alright brats. Over the next few months, Y/N will be working here at the agency with us. She has been invited on behalf of the commission, and will be analyzing your quirks, your methods, and your recent work,” Miruko said. “She has individualized results pulled from the current hero rankings that can inform you how to improve. I expect you to take full advantage of this opportunity.”

She gestured to you, giving you a meaningful look as if she expected you to introduce yourself. You gave a little wave, glancing at the heroes around you.

“Um, hi,” you said. “As Miruko-san said, I can give you a little advice based on your current results breakdown. I also plan to analyze video of your training in the coming weeks, and build parallel models to simulate future results given your performance. We can compare those to the current rankings for an idea of how much work you will have to put into particular skills for you to move up in the ranks.”

A small murmur went through the crowd at the prospect of moving up in the ranks. Some gazes sharpened in interest.

You continued, “This is also a good chance to work on specific growth areas -- I can train smaller models on subsets of videos so you can compare your skills more directly with each other or with other heroes from other agencies. Please let me know if there is anything special any of you would like to focus on.”

Miruko stepped back in front of you. “Y/N is going to set up in the surveillance room for the next few weeks. I’ve already established checkpoints for all of you to meet with her, but I encourage you to meet with her more often if you can.”

There were a couple of nods, and a few interested whispers from somewhere at the back of the crowd. Miruko took a breath like she was going to say more, but then--

“Hard pass,” a voice growled from your left. Your hackles instantly raised, and it took your brain a couple seconds to catch up with your instincts. You whipped around wildly when you realized you knew that voice, and you almost jumped a full foot in the air when you caught sight of those familiar blonde spikes over another hero’s shoulder.

You hadn’t noticed his approach, but Bakugou had clearly returned from a fight only minutes ago. His hair drooped a little with sweat, there was dirt streaking the points of his high cheekbones, and his costume was shredded by a thousand tiny tears, like he’d been thrown through a glass window. And...was that blood on his gauntlets? Was it his?

You were torn between immediate annoyance and something like concern at the sight of him so obviously roughed up.

“The meetings are not optional,” Miruko’s voice took on a hard edge.

“I already know what this fucking nerd has to say,” Bakugou drawled dismissively. “And I don’t give a shit. I don’t need assists if I’m the one busy saving the fucking day.”

Your mood edged cleanly into annoyance. It seemed he hadn’t changed any, then.

Miruko’s face darkened. “It wasn’t a suggestion.”

Bakugou bared his teeth. They gleamed almost blindingly white against the dark dirt on his face. “No.”

A wild look entered Miruko’s eye at the challenge. “Everyone is dismissed. Except Katsuki,” she uttered in a low, dangerous tone.

There was a small pause. The heroes around you looked at her askance, and her features darkened even further. “I said scram. NOW!”

The effect was immediate. It felt like no sooner had you blinked than the hall was suddenly clear. The sight of Kaminari and Ashido wheeling around the corner was all the proof you had that the team hadn’t suddenly vanished from existence.

Bakugou snorted and propped himself lazily against a column, affecting a slouch, one pale eyebrow raised over his insouciant expression. It looked almost too perfectly arrogant, and you wondered if he practiced it in the mirror sometimes.

“I said the meetings are not optional, Katsuki,” Miruko hissed, taking a step closer to him. “You can ignore her suggestions all you want, but you will attend them.”

Close as they were, you could see she was almost a full head shorter than him, but the force of her anger seemed to make her larger somehow--she wasn’t towering over him, but she was certainly terrifying. Towering under, your mind supplied unhelpfully.

Bakugou, for his part, held his ground. His mouth curled disdainfully. “What’s the fucking point? The nerd’s just gonna tell me stupid shit. And I’m not going to listen.”

Your fingers twitched in irritation. Data wasn’t stupid shit -- it was mathmatical fact, almost as divorced from human bias as it was possible to be. How was it humanly possible that he hadn’t learned anything or grown even the littlest bit? How was it possible that he was just as infuriating as he was a year ago?

But fine. He could have things his way if that’s what he wanted.

Miruko’s face twisted in a scowl, and she took a deep breath like she was ready to start yelling. But you got there first.

“He has a point,” you said, giving him a hard look over the top of Miruko’s head. “I would hate to waste my time on someone who’s been stalled in the rankings for a year now. He wouldn’t know how to implement my advice even if I were to give it.”

You paused, letting an uncharacteristic smirk curl your mouth, trying your best to channel his disdainful energy. “Isn’t that right, Number Eight?”

Bakugou’s gaze sharpened over Miruko’s silver hair, twin pinpricks of red narrowing in on you. He abandoned his slouch, his body tensing like a hound that smelled blood. “What did you just say?”

You pushed down the petty satisfaction that rose within you at his reaction. He was so fucking prideful, so easy to bait.

“Hmm, cognitive delays,” you said, pretending to tap your chin thoughtfully. “Very worrying. Further evidence he wouldn’t be able to process the information, though. No, I think it’s best if we don’t meet.”

Bakugou pushed himself off the column, edging around Miruko as his mouth drew into a snarl. You were immediately reminded of the Hero Awards, that same overwhelming prickle of power edging over you as he stalked closer, the same scent like caramel and gunpowder.

Miruko’s eyes flicked between the two of you curiously, an eyebrow raised in interest. You hoped it meant she was interested enough in your data analysis to intervene if Bakugou tried to sauté you like an onion.

“If you melt through this blazer I really will sabotage the hero rankings and dip you all the way to number five hundred,” you threatened, edging away from Bakugou as he drew closer. “And also you owe me money for that dress.”

“I’m not gonna fucking give you shit,” he announced, looming over you when he’d decided he was close enough to intimidate. He was near enough that you could feel the heat of him, but he hadn’t put his hands to you yet. It seemed Miruko was enough of a deterrent to curb his bad behavior. “And I’m not gonna meet with you.”

“Good, then we agree,” you said, tipping your head back to look him in the eye. “You’re not good enough to do better anyways.”

Bakugou growled, the phrase clearly still enough to tick him off a year later. “Fuck you, I’m the best.”

“That’s not what your ranking tells me,” you clicked your tongue, feigning disinterest. With the dirt and scratches all over him he looked wilder than ever and you would be a fool to ignore it, but Miruko’s presence made you bold. And something else, some latent streak of frustration and pettiness told you to keep going, to keep pressing the buttons that were getting this reaction from him.

“Your ranking tells me you haven’t even improved the tiniest bit in an entire year. At this rate, you’ll never even hit the top three, never mind be the best. I don’t think you could improve even if you wanted to,” you said.

Bakugou looked like he wanted nothing more than to tear your head off with his teeth. “I can do whatever the fuck I want.”

You opened your mouth to reply but there was a sudden motion at the edge of your vision, something pink and blurry and wild. You glanced past Bakugou’s shoulder to find Ashido leaning around the wall, waving a hand frantically and mouthing something at you. You squinted, watching her lips shape themselves carefully: make a bet.

What? Make a bet?

She wanted you to make a bet?

You looked back up at Bakugou, taking in the oppositional expression, the angry curl of his mouth, the straight slope of his nose, and those keen, blood red eyes glaring down at you. This was certainly the face of a man who wouldn’t be told what to do, who couldn’t be told what to do.

But despite your words and your inherent distaste, there was no denying he was actually your best shot, the cleanest pathway to your promotion. Bakugou was smart, driven, and absolutely lethal. If anyone could turn around a rank at top speed it was him.

But he couldn’t be made to do it. He had to want to do it.

Ashido waved in the corner of your vision again, enunciating with exaggerated facial expressions. Make a bet.

Things clicked into place.

“Hmm, I wouldn’t be so sure,” you looked away from Ashido, inspecting your nails casually, like your focus would rather be anywhere than on this conversation. “In fact, I would bet almost anything that you wouldn’t know how to implement my suggestions, even if you tried.”

Bakugou froze, red eyes passing over you curiously. For one heart stopping moment, you thought he was on to you, but he just leaned down instead, putting his face close to yours.

“I’ll fucking take that bet.”

You tried to push down your sudden swell of excitement, fighting to keep your expression neutral. You knew he wouldn’t cooperate if he thought you were happy about this.

“Fine. You have two months to jump a rank,” you said. “Or I win. And you’ll pay me what you owe me for the dress.”

Bakugou smirked, crossing his arms over his chest. This had the effect of emphasizing both the tears in his shirt and the swell of his biceps.You quickly attached your eyes firmly to his face--that was so not what you needed to be focused on right now.

“I’ll do it in one,” he said. “And then I win, you smug fucking nerd.”

You gazed at him steadily. “Agreed. Miruko’s number seven--you think you can beat your own boss with just a month of work? You’ll never.”

“You haven’t heard what I win yet,” he said.

You stared at him, eyebrows drawing together in confusion. “You go up in rank. That’s what you win.”

Bakugou’s handsome face shifted into an uneven smirk. “Oh no. This is twice now you’ve opened your little know-it-all mouth and acted like you know what the fuck you’re talking about. When I win, you’ll tell me I’m the best and I was right all along.”

You suppressed an eye roll. If he moved up a rank, the point would very obviously be that you were right all along. Was he really so unreasonably competitive and spiteful that he needed to be told he was right?

Then you remembered he’d quite literally dragged you into a stairwell and implied he'd fry you to a crisp when he found out he was number eight. Of course he was.

Well, a few throwaway words were worth nothing compared to the promotion you’d be getting. He could have his sense of self satisfaction when you were knee deep in software engineers and fat stacks of money.

You took a deep breath, holding out a hand. “Okay. If you win, which is a very big if, then I’ll admit it. Deal?”

Bakugou considered you for a long moment, red eyes watching you closely, before a calloused hand engulfed yours. “Deal," he growled, a crooked grin flickering at the edge of his mouth. "Get ready to eat shit, nerd.”

You suppressed another eye roll, hoping to god this was going to be worth it.

This was going to be the longest month of your life.

[thoughts-on-bangtan]

Hi! What are yours views on the recently released billboard article about bts? I assumed that people agreed on the fact that its was extremely disappointing and disrespectful towards bts but there are many ‘army’ blogs who are still defending that article

From anon: What do you think of the new Billboard article about the boys? 😓

I’ll be honest, I had a bit of a debate with myself if I want to post something about the article or not, if I want to draw more attention to it (like there’s literally anyone left who hasn’t heard about or read it), and if I want to get mad all over again. Since you’re reading this, we all know what conclusion I arrived at.

Usually I try to at least somewhat organize my answers to not jump around or angrily rant, but wow, I don’t know if I’ll be able to get that done this time so please bear with me this once. I’d also usually add direct copy+paste quotes and/or screenshots but I truly don’t want to give this article any clicks, or give that “journalist” and his writing even more direct attention, so this answer will have to do without them, I’m sorry. I’m sure you’ve all read the article, or at least seen parts of it, so you’ll know what I’m talking about in each instance.

You know, in all of this, besides the obvious awful aspects of it all, I also feel bad for the staff (not the Billboard journalist and the editors) involved in this, like for example the photographer who went in and took gorgeous pictures of the members, did his best working with them, only for said pictures to be forever attached to this dumpster fire. And the members who spent so much time during that photoshoot to get only the best results and yet, what does it even matter in the end. As well as the fact that they took time out of their busy schedules to meet the journalist, to answer whatever questions he had, to just end up having to read all...THAT.

As some pointed out, it is though very telling that none of the HYBE/BHM/BTS twt accounts have retweeted the Billboard twts with links to the article. That already basically tells you everything you need to know, as in, that the article isn’t worth our time and our braincells needed to read it.

After so many years I think most of us have come to expect basically nothing from interviews with literally any US publication, but especially magazines like The Hollywood Reporter (remember that mess?) and Billboard, and, well, the bar was in hell and yet they still managed to deliver a result that was, I think, one of or the worst article I’ve ever read on BTS. Especially since large parts of the article weren’t even about them? For a cover story about BTS, what’s up with the lack of interview, the minimal amount of quotes from their answers, the summarization of their supposed words, and the large focus on a “controversy” basically cooked up by haters on stan twt? And the “journalist”, who has shown in older twts that he has a negative bias toward BTS and ARMY, even taking direct quotes from stan twt accounts for western artists to illustrate his point, instead of, I don’t know, legit sources? Showing numbers or anything that would show credibility and a solid foundation for said argument? But instead it’s gossip and malicious accusation based on “I don’t like that this band is successful instead of my fave so I will accuse them of cheating while I ignore all the cheating my own fave partakes in”.

More below the cut:

Of course we were, once again, served the narrative that ARMY are just a bunch of manipulated teens which, let’s like talk about that for a second because there are a lot of layers to this and the further you look, the worse it looks for people like this journalist and everyone else like him openly shading ARMY. 

Let’s suppose ARMY really somehow were millions of girls ages 12 to 18 (who somehow have access to enough money to raise funds for music and also match BTS’ $1 million donation and spend money on so many different charity projects every year) and these journalists, most of them men usually above the age of 30, go around and basically belittle and “hate” on them. Do we see the problem here? The fact that in this case grown adults openly, in publications they are paid to write for, bully teenagers and kids simply because they don’t agree with the musician said teens and kids have decided to be a fan of and support. And because they are girls instead of soccer loving boys, as counter example.

A truly weird hill to be willing to d*e on just to make some kind of (negative) point if you ask me. 

Then of course there’s the whole thing that Mr. Journalist decided to go in with a narrative in mind and seriously sit down opposite Namjoon and basically ask him “hey, listen, what do you think about your crazy TEENAGE fans buying your music (truly the audacity, how dare they) and that they are cheating and manipulating the system? Like that’s not right, right?”. Bless Namjoon and his genius brain for being able to keep his cool and shut down that man with his amazing answer shifting the blame right back onto Billboard and how, if they don’t like people playing by the rules that they themselves have created, maybe they should look at their own system and reevaluate it instead of turning against and point a finger at BTS who, as Namjoon said himself, are simply an easy target because they are foreigners, because they sing in a language that isn’t English, and because they are Asian. And really, is there anything the US music industry hates more than foreigners, POC at that, being successful, or even more successful, than their industry supported artists? Don’t think so.

Also can we talk about how strange the argument of “bulk/mass buying” is when ARMY never goes over the limits Billboard themselves have set up, being four copies of a given song. If they truly were against people “bulk/mass buying” you’d think they would lower the number to one copy per person and that’s it, right, the way iTunes does it. And yet, they did not. Because “bulk/mass buying” is okay, just not when it’s ARMY and Bangtan.

Billboard: Buying multiple copies of the same song is bad and makes no sense. You’re cheating.

Also Billboard: Here, buy EIGHT copies of the same magazine, with the exact same contents but different covers, for $170+ in this neat little bundle.

Make it make sense, will you? Or at least be less obvious with what you’re doing.

It’s a problem when it’s done in a way that doesn’t benefit them, and the greater US music industry and their shady system, but when it does benefit them, it’s totally chill, easy, no problem? It’s so obvious, dumb, and kind of makes me want to laugh but also scream and/or knock my head against my table because it’s just so bizarre yet it’s treated like this all makes sense and is completely normal. And the sad thing is, it is normal. We, or BTS as umbrella term, are a problem because we get things done, we get achievements and #1s and numbers without giving in to payola, paid playlisting, bundles when they were still a thing, and without everything else the US labels do to push their artists into basically false fame. 

And that, ladies and gentlemen and nonbinary friends, is where the issue lies.

While talking about all of this among ourselves (as in ARMY at large) across sns, as well as taking into account some pondering by journalists questioning the intentions of the article, a thought arose and, now that I think about it, it sounds just too obvious and yet here we are. Voting season for the Grammys is coming up sometime soon-ish, and Billboard is one of the major publications that the voting members look at and read when considering who to give their vote to. Now imagine you’re a voting member who until this point had a positive, or at least neutral, opinion on BTS but on Monday you sit down and read this article? Would you still want to vote for an artist being accused of “chart manipulation” and supposedly claiming they didn’t actually want to do music in English but were forced into it despite originally saying something else?

No, right?

And that’s the point. 

This is nothing but a glorified smear campaign against Bangtan across lots, and I mean lots, of publications who picked up the narrative that this article presented and ran with it. The US music industry sees their success and feels threatened because they are showing that when you have true, organic success and a loyal fan following you don’t need any of the paid for tricks to achieve things, you don’t need payola, don’t need paid for playlisting on streaming websites, and don’t need US industry backing. You can do it all on your own, therefore these exploitative systems and institutions don’t make any money off of you which is obviously unacceptable. Even more so when you could actually win, or at least again be nominated, for what is regarded as the supposedly most prestigious music award, aka the Grammys. So, since they know they can’t get rid of ARMY, can’t discourage us from supporting BTS, they go for their image and reputation instead. And that’s what this article tried to achieve. Show that, wow, in the end all the “dark side of K-Pop” stories were true all along because even poor, poor BTS are puppets of their evil agency after all, are forced into things, and are used to manipulate their gullible teenage fans into throwing money at them and manipulating the charts.

How come we’re the only ones who see just how f*cked up all of this is? And the few journalists who are on our side?

Lastly, can we talk about just how weird the use of and the quotes themselves from the members were? Most felt not only out of place, out of context, but also so weirdly out of character some ARMY have started to question how much of their “quoted words” are actually theirs and how much might be, essentially, fabricated/twisted to fit the desired narrative the journalist had from the get go. I know a certain crowd, you know which one I mean, jumped onto what was said about the english songs but also especially the final quote from Seokjin at the end of the article that essentially boiled down to “we were so annoyed and overworked we said screw everything, especially our agency, and now we only trust each other” or something to that effect. Am I the only one who thinks that quote sounded nothing like something Seokjin would say? Yes, he’s said cheeky things in the past, he’s also said bold things, like his entire speech against sajaegi back in 2019, but each time he was polite and stuck to his manners while doing so, yet this? I don’t know, something about it just feels very off. Or JKs quote about how he sacrificed more than just his youth to be who he is now. While we know that is true, after all he became a trainee at a very young age and spent the better part of his teenage years as idol on stage, but has he ever spoken about that negatively? In such a manner?

Someone suggested that interviewers should publish transcripts of the original Korean answers and questions that BTS were asked in order to offer some transparency and also for us to know that what they are quoted saying are actually things they did say. I know that’s very unlikely to ever happen, just wishful thinking on my/our part, especially when a hit piece article is attached to it, but in moments like this, it really would be very helpful. For us, but also to add credibility to such articles and the context in which said quotes are used.

Now, for the ‘ARMYs’ who defended this article, to be honest, I’d very much question how much of an ARMY someone is when they can go and read this article and agree with it. How? I get that for some the things in this article played right into their manti agenda, but mantis aren’t ARMY. And the crowd who decided to, instead of blaming the journalist for the narrative he tried to push with all its negative implications, blamed HYBE/BHM instead? Are you serious? That isn’t how journalism works, or at least it shouldn’t be. HYBE/BHM can’t just go in and say “we don’t like this article, change it”, that’s not how freedom of press works, and also, do you realize how weird it is that you are blaming an Asian agency for a hit piece published by a western publication?

What was interesting though was that, as example, the online merch store Cokodive made a statement on their IG page in which they said the following:

So even they, who could’ve directly benefited from selling the magazine, decided that it wouldn’t be right because that article is a travesty. It’s a small thing in the grand scheme of things, yet it shows that it isn’t just ARMY who are being “sensitive little snowflakes who can’t take criticism” but also others outside the fandom who also see the disrespect within the article and its blatant negativity and lack objectivity.

Personally I saved the pictures but I refuse to give views directly to Billboard when it comes to the “Things you didn’t know about BTS” video as well as the behind the scenes clips of the members regardless of how beautiful they are. And I refuse to give their website and this article any more clicks than I already gave them while reading the article in the first place.

You can be critical of an artists success, you can wonder how they, specifically, managed to become as successful as they did, but what you can’t do is completely ignore shady practices of other artists while attacking those who don’t partake in any of them simply because they manage to fill stadiums and get #1s without those practices. At the end of the day, just like Forbes once said that BTS don’t need the Grammys but the Grammys need BTS, in the same way BTS don’t need Billboard and their shady articles and twts, but Billboard needs BTS for clicks and views and therefore revenue. 

As longtime ARMY it also saddens me having watched Bangtan become more and more disillusioned with the US market, as well as ARMY going through the same thing. Then again, like Namjoon said in the article, it isn’t their goal to become mainstream in the US, all they want is to have a big tour and that’s it. Nothing more.

As twt says: this article should’ve just stayed in the drafts.

[pondermoniums]

A Rant Nobody Asked for About Stranger Things season 3.

feat. my personal pet peeves.

Disclaimer: when I first watched Stranger Things 3, I massively enjoyed it. I thought it finally captured the 80s aesthetic and vibe with the colors, the neon, and music. I even enjoyed it the SECOND time I watched it, although I was officially aware of some major flaws by that point.

1. The Coca Cola flex.

CocaCola has been all over this show ever since Tommy handed Steve one as a makeshift ice pack after his fight with Jonathan in s1. And then by season 3 it’s just....obnoxious???? And so unnecessary??? Karen Wheeler’s drinking one by the pool in episode one. Billy knocks into someone during his first day being flayed, and a coke rolls over the concrete.

LUCAS DOES AN ENTIRE MONOLOGUE ABOUT NEW COKE.

I mean, Jesus, we get it. CocaCola basically owns Georgia, where a lot of American TV shows are filmed.....but......you’re literally CocaCola. This kind of flex is entirely unnecessary and therefore pathetic.

2. Karen and Billy

Okay, listen. I thought their interaction in season 2 was H I L A R I O U S.  But I’m someone who has looked 21 since I was 14, thanks to being an early bloomer. I get it. The cocky prowess of looking older than your peers. Getting to look adults in the eye and get that tiny bit of respect with nothing more than just looking like they do. And, as a writer, the contrast between thirsty, older Karen with young and equally thirsty Billy is an odd pair of puzzle pieces that fit really hilariously - largely because it’s so unexpected, maybe. And frankly, I think it’s one of the first scenes where Dacre’s acting really made my eyes fall out of my head, he did so well.

But it should have ended there.

I’ve been to a LOT of public pools in my day (I’m 26 but hush), and I have NEVER seen older women thirsting over the lifeguards. Ever. It’s predatory - an attribute most women understand all too well - unprofessional, and just downright gross. Their whole interaction in s3 is for “the male lens,” which Hollywood really needs to figure out by now is outdated, predatory, disgusting, and not good writing.

3. Glossing over Billy Chugging Chemicals

Bouncing off of #2, is Karen’s total negligence of Billy’s condition. Many people have pointed it out before, but a row of mothers being completely ???? about Billy’s condition is a raging red flag of bad writing.

(Also that it was written by men, because women are hard-wired to be super aware of other women - a tactic of living on guard in a man’s world all the damn time. So you can always count on a mother, grandmother, or a brave teen/20-something to be the one to walk up to a person who doesn’t look well in order to check on them, even if you’re complete strangers. It’s happened to me, and I’ve done this for other people.)

These women literally stare at him for every shift of work he has, and they.....don’t do anything????

Karen WALKS IN ON HIM DRINKING CHLORINE. It actually took me the second watch-through to realize what he was doing in that storage room, and god, my heart just broke. It’s the only time we actually see a glimpse of Billy making himself flayed like the others. It’s so fleeting (maybe because we already get so much pain from his plot, and we do see what happens with the other flayed people) but it’s also one of the reasons, I think, that we have a whole fanbase ready and eager for his return.

We didn’t get a good glimpse of him poisoning himself to the point that he has to rely on the MindFlayer to stay alive. I’m not saying any of us want that, no way, but that’s my personal headcanon: in s2, Will was super protected and therefore capable of being separated from the Flayer. All of the Flayed IMMEDIATELY low-key drowned themselves in ice water to lower their temperature, and then chugged chemicals. They all die twice.

4. Billy. Just......Billy.

This poor boy’s plot was so pointless. It’s a special thing: creating such a good character and then doing fuck-all with him. The moment you realize his only purpose in season 2 was an introduction is....the beginning of a lot of disappointment. And no, he DIDN’T serve as an antagonist for Steve, because what happened? He slowed Steve down.

That’s it.

He doesn’t keep Steve from helping the kids in the tunnels. He doesn’t break him and Nancy up. He doesn’t gloriously out Steve’s bisexuality to the town by being his shameless lover.

He literally does nothing except just......be there? Looking gorgeous and providing a juxtaposing characterization for Max. That’s all. Billy’s treated like an accessory.

Then we arrive to season 3 and....I guess the only justification for his plot is sort of classic Greek tragic hero. He’s the new Keg King whose hubris makes him stand too long outside the warehouse, and thus, his downfall.

But here’s what’s wrong with that: Steve Harrington.

We were so spoiled with good writing for Steve. Steve had an incredibly refreshing and valid character AND redemption arc. Frankly, all the good writing goes to Steve in this show, so we expected the same writing to go to the other douche bag king of the show.

And we didn’t get it.

5. 80s Bullshit vs. Modern Audience

You can tell they’re trying to straddle the line between, “this is how people talked back then,” and, “this pertains to a modern audience.”

Example: Mike saying to Will, “It’s not my fault you don’t like girls.”

I know they did multiple takes of this scene with different variations of this line, and that’s the one the editors settled with. Regardless, I know I am not the only person who screeched with rainbow pride for Will’s sake. And it’s not the first time they’ve touched on very hot modern topics. Hopper touches on homophobia in season 1 - a fact I completely missed until I read an interview where the actor, David Harbor, mentions it, himself. Then I rewatched season 1 and realized, sure enough, he reacts poorly when Joyce tells him that Lonnie calls Will a f*g. It’s not even fatherly, “that should be my son, how dare he.” It’s straight up, “this kid might not be worth finding if he’s gay.”

Of course there’s the more obvious occasions where Steve calls Jonathan a queer and Neil Hargrove should come with his own neon trigger sign. Slut is a term that’s carelessly thrown around (as high schoolers are wont to do, sure).

But the thing that’s bothered me the most is Steve saying to Billy, “Were you dropped too much on your head as a child, or what?”

Maybe it’s just me being extremely sensitive to mental health stuff (also, WHY does Steve ironically get all the triggering lines? lol), plus he says it very soon after we finally know why Billy behaves the way he does. Just.....*long sigh*. I hurt, okay. Some parts of this show really hurt, and I don’t like “it was the 80s” as an excuse.

6. Lucas and Kali or, the Diversity Check Marks

One black kid. One. Then they gave him a sister. Cool. Somebody give these people BLM awards.

*eyes roll so hard my cat chases them across the floor*

You know what this reminds me of? The East Asian actor who trended in movies like The Goonies and Indiana Jones.

The only thing that even remotely makes this small drop of diversity okay, is that they made Lucas a major player in The Party, and cast a dope actress to be Erica Sinclair, and likewise made her a linchpin in the Scoops Troop plot.

But touching back to #5, you can’t use “it’s the 80s” as an excuse, nor can you say, “it’s white bread Indiana.”

BUT but but but Kali!!!!

You mean the character in one episode? Two, if you count the opening of season 2.

Listen. For all the bipoc folks who wonder, “Do white people realize how.....WHITE everything is?” as a white person, I can absolutely say: 

Yes. We. Do. Fucking. Notice.

• • • • •

Well. That’s all lol If you made it this far, I’m sorry and thanks lol 

Tip your artists and comment on fics because lord knows that where my seratonin comes from.

[ohsh1t2wksl8]

Layers

Layer 1: The Basics Name: Age: Birthday: Gender: Zodiac Sign: Layer 2: Your Family Do you have any brothers or sisters? Do you have any pets? Do you still live with your parents? Do you have any stepparents? How many cousins do you have? Layer 3: Your Friends Who is your best friend? Who have you been friends with the longest? What do you like to do with your friends? Do you have more friends online or in real life? What is a good way to make friends with others? Layer 4: Your Home Do you live in a home, apartment, duplex, trailer, etc? How many rooms are there in your house? Is your home large or small? What is your favorite room in your house, and why? Do you prefer having people over to your house, or would you rather go to theirs? Layer 5: Can You Can you fold your tongue into the taco shape? Can you touch your toes without bending your knees? Can you tie a cherry stem in a knot with your tongue? Can you hold up your end of a physical fight? Can you do any yo-yo tricks? Layer 6: Who Who inspires you the most, and why? Who helps you maintain your sanity? Who do you go to most often for advice? Who knows you better than you know yourself? Who is someone that you would die or put your life on the line for, no questions asked? Layer 7: Do you Do you still eat sandwiches without the crusts? Do you typically finish your meal at a restaurant, or need to take a container home? Do you pull an Oreo apart in order to eat it? Do you read a lot of gossip magazines? Do you make friends easily? Layer 8: How Many? How many people live in your house with you? How many pets have you had in your lifetime? How many tries does it take you to become successful at something? How many meals do you eat a day? How many people can you honestly tolerate? Layer 9: How How do you typically get to school or work? How do you deal with a breakup? How do you like to help others? How do you know when you’ve found “the one”? How do you sleep in bed? Layer 10: What What do you think happens when we die? What do you do if there’s no toilet paper left on the roll and you’re already peeing? What do you eat most often? What toys did you enjoy most as a child? What do you do if you witness someone being awful to someone else? Layer 11: Where Where is your favorite place to eat out? Where is the place that has the best ice cream in your area?  Where did you meet your current or last significant other? Where can you be found at 7 PM. typically? Where can you find the best French fries? Layer 12: When When did you find out the truth about Santa, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy? When do you typically fall asleep?  When was the last time that someone paid you a compliment? When do you feel most comfortable? When did you last go to the bathroom? Layer 13: Why Why do you enjoy taking surveys so much? Why do people gossip so much? Why can’t humans fly?  Why aren’t you doing something else right now? Why is the sky blue?  Layer 14: If... If you had a million dollars, what would you spend it on? If you found out someone was cheating on you, would you ever take them back? If you found a wallet with cash in the street, including identification, would you turn it in? Why or why not? If you could have any food right now, what would you like?   If you found out that the world was going to end tomorrow, how would you spend your last day? Layer 15: Firsts When did you lose your first tooth? Who was your first teacher that you ever had? When did you first learn how to ride a bike? When was the first time you had sex? Did your first birthday have a theme to it? Layer 16: Lasts Last person you texted: Last drink you sipped: Last time you rode a bike: Last time you swam in a pool: Last person you hugged: Layer 17: Favorites Favorite Color Favorite Season Favorite Shape Favorite Letter: Favorite Number: Layer 18: This or That Pepsi or Coke? Movies or Television? Phone or Tablet? Fruits or Vegetables? Animals or Humans? Layer 19: Which Which Poke’mon is your favorite? Which day of the week is your favorite? Which birthday celebration was the most memorable for you? Which holiday is your favorite? Which shoe do you put on first? Layer 20: Love Life/Relationships What is the name of your first love? How many times can you honestly say you’ve been in love? Have you ever been in a relationship before that was abusive in any way? Have you ever been engaged or married before? Do you have any children? Layer 21: Jobs, Dreams, & Goals What did you want to be when you grew up (as a little kid)? What do you aspire to be now? What interests you? What is the most recent goal you’ve achieved? What is a goal you are still striving to reach? Have you ever won any sort of awards before? If so, for what? Layer 22: Opinions & Beliefs Pro-life or pro-choice? Were you raised with any sort of religious background? If so, then what? Democrat, Republican, or Independent? For or against the death penalty? Thoughts on assisted suicide? Layer 23: Currently/Today/Present What day is it? What’s the weather like outside? What have you eaten? Did you run any errands? What time is it? Layer 24: Yesterday Did you have a work shift? Did you eat out anywhere? Was it snowing? Who did you last say goodnight to? Did anything unusual happen? Layer 25: Tomorrow Do you have to go to school/class? Does this day have any sort of significance to you? What is a chore that needs to get done? Will you hang out with friends? What time will you be expected to be awake by? Layer 26: Have You Ever Performed a magic trick successfully? Sat or laid on a rooftop and looked at the stars? Walked around with your underwear on inside out or backwards all day without realizing it? Touched a snake? Been bitten by an animal? If so, what animal? Layer 27: School Life Are preschool and kindergarten mandatory where you live? Were you or anyone you knew homeschooled? Did you attend public or private school? Were you bullied in school, popular, or somewhere in-between? What is the highest level of education that you completed? Layer 28: Your Appearance Eye Color: Hair Color: Height: Weight: Do you have freckles. moles, beauty marks, or birthmarks - and where? Layer 29: Electronics, Internet, & Social Media How much time do you spend on the internet per day? Which social media platforms do you belong to? When’s the last time you replaced the batteries in your television remote? Are you more likely to stream movies and shows on your laptop, or cast them to your television? Do you have an e-reader, or do you prefer actual books? Layer 30: Are You Are you still in school? Are you a member of the LGBTQ+ community? Are you looking forward to anything coming soon? Are you dreading anything coming soon? Are you gullible or naive? Layer 31: Does Does your workplace make you feel like you can never take a day off without feeling guilty about it? Does someone currently hold the key to your heart? Does anyone out there hate you? Does talking about sex make you uncomfortable? Does crying make you feel less strong?  Layer 32: Would You Do the Polar Bear Plunge? Ever try to walk across a room blindfolded? Swim with sharks? Go into outer space, given the chance? Go out in public, looking how you do right now? Layer 33: Pets/Animals Do you have any pets? If so, what type, and their names... If not, what type of pet have you always wanted? What is your favorite animal? Do you think it is cruel to have circus animals? How often do you walk your dog, if you have one? How often do you scoop the litterbox, if you have a cat? Layer 34: Food What is your favorite breakfast item? What is your favorite kind of dessert? Do you eat all three meals everyday? What’s the longest you’ve gone without food? What do you like to eat when you are feeling sick? Layer 35: Past Does your past ever come back to haunt you at times? What is one of your favorite memories of the past? What is something that you used to do in the past, but no longer do? If you could have a meal with someone from the past, who would it be, and what would you ask them? Which historical time period would you like to go back to and check out? Layer 36: Future Do you think you will ever get married one day? Do you plan on ever getting a different job in the future, or are you happy with the one you’ve got? What age do you plan to retire at? Or do you plan on working til you’re dead? What is something on your bucket list worth mentioning? If given the opportunity to see how your future plays out, would you take it, or no? Layer 37: Hygiene How often do you shower? How often do you brush your teeth? Do you actually iron any of your clothes? How often do you do laundry? How long do you use a bath towel before switching it out? Layer 38: Clothing, Makeup, & Style Do you wear nail polish? If so, how often do you paint your nails? How would your describe your sense of style? Are there any popular trends that you do not find appealing? Where do you typically buy your clothing from? What sorts of accessories do you wear/use? Layer 39: Hobbies Do you still color, even as an adult? Do you/would you like to crochet, knit, cross-stitch, etc? What’s the last thing you crafted all by yourself? Do you use Pinterest at all? What’s the last thing that you cooked or baked? Layer 40: Dislikes List some of your pet peeves here. What are some things that annoy you about yourself? Is there anyone out there who you actually hate? Who? What is a feeling that you dislike? Do you get some ugly road rage while driving?  Layer 41: Random Have you ever successfully pogo’ed on a pogo stick? Have you ever mastered the jump rope? Do you know what it feels like to be truly happy? Is it winter in your part of the world right now?  What’s your favorite type of survey, and why? Layer 42: Music What are some of your favorite genres of music? What are some music genres that you can’t stand? If you had a blank pair of concert tickets, who would you hope to be going to see? Do you still listen to music on the radio from time to time? iTunes, Spotify, Pandora, Amazon Music, or YouTube? Layer 43: Books What were some of your favorite books as a child? What genre of books do you typically read most often? What are some of your favorite books as an adult? What is a book that you were required to read for school that you actually enjoyed? Do you read any newspapers or magazines anymore? Layer 43: Around the World Where’s the best place you’ve taken a vacation and/or day trip to? Where is somewhere that you’d like to go someday, assuming you have the funds to do so? Where do your family members originate from? What is your favorite type of ethnic cuisine? What is something that is typically representative of your own culture? Layer 44: Would you Rather... Drink apple juice or grape juice? Wear pants or shorts? Be taller or shorter? Go to a zoo or an aquarium? Visit an art gallery or a museum? Layer 45: Movies Do you remember what the first movie was that you saw in theaters? What are some of your favorite movies you’ve seen? What genre of movie do you typically enjoy? What is a movie you’ve seen that you weren’t expecting to like, but were pleasantly surprised? How many movies do you own? Are they all DVD’s, or do you still have some VHS ones left? Layer 46: Personality Are you more of an introvert or an extrovert? Are you more easygoing and laid back, or anal? Are you kind to everyone who shows that they deserve kindness? Describe your sense of humor. Do you tend to over-share? Layer 47: Celebrities Which celebrity has given their child the most unique name, in your opinion? Are there any celebrities that you keep tabs on/read articles about often? Who is/are your celebrity crush(es)? Have you ever personally met someone famous before? If so, then who? Who is a celebrity that you’re getting tired of hearing about all the time? Layer 48: Emotions When was the last time you cried? What are some things that you’re afraid of? What is something small that makes you happy? Who is the last person that you were angry with, and about what? Are you typically a shy or outgoing person? Layer 49: Digging Deeper What is your favorite alcoholic beverage? How old were you when you got drunk for the first time? Do you smoke? Have you ever taken and sent naked pictures of yourself? Have you ever done any drugs other than marijuana? If so, which ones? Layer 50: Games What are some of your favorite video games? Do you have any computer games that you play regularly? What was your favorite board game, growing up? How about your favorite card game? How good are you at solving puzzles? (such as a Rubik’s cube, word puzzles, or putting together a jigsaw puzzle) [ohsh1t2wksl8]

[brieannakeogh]

Dog Days of Summer- Ch 14

Dog Days of Summer- Chris Evans X plus sized reader. Dog days of summer are usually defined as the hottest of the year, some define it as lazy days. This year ‘hottest’ has nothing to do with the outside temp. You meet Chris and Dodger Evans while taking your own dog to the park.

Previous Chapter / Master List

Warnings: No warnings

Chapter 14

It had been a week since Chris left Boston. You had gotten the job you interviewed for and were supposed to start the following week. Life had gone back to what it was before, except for the fact that he did end up video calling you a lot. Always in the morning and at night, sometimes on set when he was bored between scenes. Introduced you to the other actors he was working with, when they inevitably asked him who he called all the time. Your heart still beat wildly when you would hear him say his girlfriend. 

Week two you had started work so he couldn’t call you in the middle of the day. He still texted random thoughts to you, which you responded to on your breaks and at lunch. You thought it would be really hard, but it wasn’t bad. You did your thing, he did his and you met in the middle through smart phone or the computer. Still, you missed his physical presence, but then he would text you a snarky remark to something you sent him or a funny meme and it would be ok again. 

Week three the tabloid hit the shelf. It was quickly picked up by Buzzfeed and forwarded to you by a well meaning coworker, asking if that was you kissing Chris Evans. Quickly going on break, you run to the bathroom and pull out your phone, where you see he had already messaged you about it. A picture of the original tabloid with the caption: “I’m so sorry.”, came in forty-five minutes before. Clicking on the little picture by his name, you wait for the ringing to be answered on the other end. 

“Chris?” You ask when the line was picked up but no one said anything. 

“I...I…” Right away you knew his anxiety was getting to him.

“Chris, it’s ok. Just take a deep breath.” You take a couple of breaths with him. “Are you ok?” 

“Shouldn’t I be asking that of you?” 

“I’m fine. We’ve already talked about this, although I hadn’t seen the response online. I just saw it a few minutes ago and called you.” 

“It’s not bad right now, mostly supportive. I was really worried about how you would react.” He confesses. 

“Don’t worry about me. You’ll still be coming home this weekend won’t you?” 

“Yeah that hasn’t changed.”

“Good. Just do what you have to to finish up and then you can take a break and we’ll come up with a game plan. I’m sure twitter has been bugging you for a response.” 

He chuckles. “I don’t dare get on twitter right now.” 

“We will see each other in a few days and we’ll just play dumb until then, that work?” 

“Ok.” 

“You sound like you feel better.” 

“I do. When you didn’t text me back for almost an hour I just knew it wasn’t going to be good. I really thought you would be freaking out more about this.” 

“Oh I probably will, but being able to focus on you and getting you to calm down helped me to calm down.” You laugh. “I’ll keep my phone turned on vibrate and on my desk so I can see it. That way I won’t miss it if you need me for something.” 

“Sweetheart, you’re just as busy as I am, I don’t want to get you in trouble. Now that I know you’re not freaking out, I’m good.” 

“Still gonna do it. You’re too far away to stop me.” The smirk in your voice coming through. 

“Not for long. I’ll be home soon.” 

“Can’t wait.” 

You say your goodbyes and go back to your desk, ignoring the coworker that sent you the link. Tentatively you type in ‘Chris Evan’s girlfriend’. Images of you and he kissing in front of the car and holding hands assault you. It was more than just the one photo that was linked on Buzzfeed and he had sent you. Different angles, none of them flattering, showing you and he being close and coupley. Clicking on the first link, an online version of the tabloid, you read the short caption. “Chris Evans spotted kissing unknown woman outside of his apartment the morning he left for LA. Couple looked close and more than just a hook-up. Sources say they’ve been seen around the Boston area for weeks, holding hands and looking lovey-dovey. Does Cap have a new girl in his life?” 

That particular site didn’t have a comment section, so you moved on. Hesitating over the Twitter link, you knew it was the best place to look, but also was going to be the most toxic. Steeling yourself you make the most dramatic click of your life and see a few different hashtags trending. Luckily, the most popular hashtag, that was about you, still wasn’t first on the list and it was just a basic #chrisevansgirlfriend. That was fine, that was normal. A few rows down you see one that turns your stomach, #chrischubbychaserevans. You have the perverse urge to click it and spiral into the toxic waste dump that is Twitter on a bad day, but you hold off when you see not far below it, #sizedontmatter. That one you do click. 

It brings up threads full of people, strangers, defending you, defending his choice. Congratulating him since he looks so happy. It’s full of support and love. You tell yourself that you won’t cry, set it as a mantra in your head, but it doesn’t work the more you scroll through. Closing the page out so you don’t break down in the middle of the office, you try your best to continue on like any other normal day. By the time you get home, you are mentally exhausted. Not only did you have to dodge coworkers questions but at some point someone got a hold of your phone number. You had several reporters call to see if you would like to comment and if it was really you in the picture. Hanging up on the people didn’t deter them. 

You made a high pitched growling, squealing noise when the phone rang again, effectively scaring Popcorn from the room. Your thumb automatically going to the cancel swipe before you noticed it was Chris. 

“Thank god it’s you! I was about to chuck the phone out the window!” You told him dramatically, a large sigh escaping you. 

“Don’t tell me they got your phone number?” 

“Yep. Just the reporters at least. No threatening fan calls or anything.” 

“I’m sorry baby. I’ll call my manager and have him set up a new private phone number for you as soon as he can.” 

“That would be very much appreciated. It’s not so bad though. I got on Twitter today.” 

“Braver than I am. Been avoiding it all day. How bad was it?” 

“It was definitely a mixed bag of reactions. There were a number of supporters, but also your haters just labeled you as a chubby chaser, and you became the posterboy for plus sized acceptance.” You laughed. 

“They’re just jealous. How could I get a girl as hot as you?” 

“Pfft yeah ok. I’m totally the hot one in the relationship.” Sarcasm dripping from your voice. 

“Seriously, it will blow over soon.”

“I know, some other scandal will hit the interwebs and soon I’ll be a distant memory.” 

“You might pop back up in the news when I drag you to award shows this season.” You sit on your couch gaping like a fish. “Hello? Still there? Did you die?” 

“But you never take anyone to those things, except family.” 

“Maybe it’s time to change that.” He said quietly. “We don’t have to worry about that now. I just can’t wait to see you for a couple of days this weekend!” He talked excitedly about what he wanted to do and seamlessly shifted the conversation in that direction. 

You both stopped talking about the public pictures of the two of you and went back to normal conversations. Deciding that the most important part of your relationship was seeing each other in just a few days. The weekend seemed to be coming quickly and after only a couple more days of work, you left a little early so you could go to his place. 

He luckily had given you the arrival time that morning and your boss was fine with you taking an hour off early. The fact you were fake coughing had nothing to do with your time off, or at least you didn’t particularly say you were sick at the time. The public bus stop wasn’t far from your place when you went to work, but his area was more converted to not having a bus stop near it, since it was even more expensive than your area. Granted it wasn’t an issue, only being a few blocks that you had to walk. Picking up Popcorn from the house first, since you knew he would love to see Dodger. It took you a little off the time frame you were needing, so you assumed he was in the apartment, putting his items away and getting settled. The fact that your phone started ringing, with his dogs name coming up, worried you a bit since you were now behind the time he was supposed to get back. 

“Hey.” Trying the hardest to answer him in a neutral voice. 

“Where are you? I came to your office but your boss said that you went home sick. I didn’t know you didn’t feel good. Then I came down here and you’re not at home.” You can’t help but laugh at the fact that he went to your job and your home, trying to surprise you, just like you had him. “Why are you laughing?” 

He actually sounded worried so you wanted to calm him down. “Because I’m right in front of your own apartment. I had asked for a little time off early, while having a cough that may have been acting I committed, so I could come on down to you. The bus just took forever to drop me off is all. I’m surprised you came down to the office.” 

“Well I did come in a little early and got unpacked and tired of sitting around. Thought you would enjoy me picking you up.” 

“That would have been very pleasurable. How about we walk to each other and meet in the middle? What about the dog park?” 

“Dodger would love that...you got Popcorn with you?” 

“I do in fact.” 

“See you in a few minutes.” 

You quickly hang up the phone and grab the dog so that you are power walking down the sidewalk instead of going slow. “What do you think Popcorn? Should I tell him I love him, even with the tabloid notice coming out about us or wait? Should I also quit now and go with him to the set?” Popcorn starts to shake because of how quickly you are walking. “Yeah I’m not sure either.” You kiss the dog on the top of his head and speed up even more. 

Next Chapter

I did it! I finished this chapter! I know it’s been a while and thank ya’ll so much for understanding. It’ll still be a while on the next chapter too but maybe I’ll be able to get to it lol. Let me know what you think of the last 500 words b/c I wrote that while still healing and probably a little mental off with a brain tumor, but oh well. That should be away soon until it gets bad. 

@spidey-babe-parker,  @stevieang, @albinotigerpython, @paintballkid711, @katykyll, @avengersrulez1536, @ultrafreespirit, @wantingtobekorra,   @i-had-a-life-once,  @ghostssss, @babybeluuga, @bodhi-black,  @kanupps06, @hatterripper31, @grandloser, @reniescarlett, @kjidhzyx, @normanreedus5150, @ilovethings-somuch, @spiderman-2013, @bloodyvalentine93, @xx-raven, @passionghost, @prettybubblesintheair, @averyrogers83,  @ria132love, @patzammit, @whom-the-fack, @pooslie, @3dsaunt, @kristiedwyer, @janeyboo, @theonelittleone, @aslandia726, @itsmysticalmystery, @stanclub, @geminimoonbeamx, @lookwhatyoumademequeue, @eyesfixedonthesun22, @mrsalh32611, @whatmakesmebeme-tblr, @isaxhorror, @kateelyse96, @hidden-treasures21, @aubreystilinski, @tnupsweetpie, @mikaelasingswritesloves, @webcraft4eveh, @fanfictionandjunk, @elizabeth-marie-moon, @linesal, @cjmyerhaan, @cevansgirl, @collinsstanharbour, @i-was-petmanger, @bononoh, @justlistenlovelife

[onbigstor-blog]

Your all-in-one platform for selling on Amazon

9 Things Amazon Sellers Need to Know to Stay in Business During Coronavirus.

4 Ways coronavirus is affecting Amazon sellers

1. Amazon is prioritizing essential goods over non-essentials for deliveries

Since the outbreak of coronavirus, or COVID-19, the demand for essential products has skyrocketed, leaving store shelves empty of basic necessities such as food, medical supplies, and household goods like toilet paper and paper towels.

Meanwhile, a disruption in the global supply chain has led to shortages in supply. Amazon responded by shifting gears from its role as an “Everything Store” to becoming an invaluable supply chain to help get America through this time of crisis.

March 17, 2020

Amazon announced it would freeze non-essential FBA shipments from its third-party sellers. In addition, it has started to prioritize essential goods over non-essentials.

Amazon considers the following product categories essential:

Baby

Health & Household

Beauty & Personal Care (including personal care appliances)

Grocery

Industrial & Scientific

Pet Supplies

If a seller’s products are outside of those categories, they will not be able to send shipments to Amazon’s fulfillment centers nor create an inventory replenishment order.

However, these changes are temporary.

Amazon stated that the freeze on receiving non-essential goods would only last until April 5. And sellers whose products are already in Amazon’s fulfillment centers — or are on the way to the fulfillment centers — will still have their products enter the supply chain.

However, while Amazon has not yet made an official announcement, the freeze is still in effect. I tried to create a shipping order for one of my products on April 6 and received a message saying Amazon’s fulfillment centers aren’t accepting inbound shipments of non-essential items.

Currently, there are no restrictions for merchants who fulfill their own products (FBM). Therefore, it is still possible for sellers who currently sell via FBA to make sales and ship their goods to customers themselves.

March 21, 2020

Amazon announced that the Italian and French marketplaces would only ship essential goods to consumers. However, as of this writing, there is no word when this restriction will lift. (Not only could this move affect the seller’s business, but may leave them without a stream of income during these trying times; 22% of active sellers in the French marketplace and 23% of active sellers in the Italian have no other income than their Amazon business.)

March 24, 2020

Amazon further announced that Amazon India (amazon.in) would only ship essential goods to consumers following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement that India would enter a 21-day lockdown.

In addition, TameBay reports that non-essential goods in the Amazon UK (amazon.co.uk) marketplace are taking as long as 3-4 weeks to ship. And in the US marketplace, the sellers’ ability to create coupons is temporarily suspended until April 5.

March 31, 2020

we received word that Amazon would offer the following benefits to help sellers during the COVID-19 outbreak:

It states that “In light of the evolving COVID-19 crisis, we will waive two weeks of your inventory storage fees for products stored in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, and the Czech Republic.”

This is in addition to the previously announced updates including:

Waiving the April 15 long-term storage fees for inventory stored in the U.S. and Europe.

Pausing repayments and interest until April 30 for sellers with direct loans from Amazon Lending.

Waiving April fees for those using Seller Account Management or the Launchpad program.”

Furthermore, Amazon said it would be taking measures to mitigate the impact of the crisis on sellers’ account health.

We’ve also heard through some of our contacts in China that Amazon is already prepping sellers for the 2020 Prime Day season which should happen may happen in August.

Finally, some sellers have noticed that Amazon has changed their Buy Box algorithm to award the Buy Box to FBM sellers. However, Amazon has not offered an official statement regarding this change.

April 1, 2020

Amazon informed sellers that it would be prioritizing the supply of key medical supplies to hospitals and government organizations.

In a message to sellers on their forums, Amazon had this to say:

“You may have offers on one or more products (ASINs) that will now be available exclusively to hospitals and government organizations, which are in urgent need of high-demand medical products like N95 masks, surgical masks, facial shields, surgical gowns, surgical gloves, and large-volume sanitizers. Select ASINs of these product types will no longer be available to the broader public on Amazon.com and AmazonBusiness.com.

“For ASINs subject to this change, we have eliminated our standard referral fees through June 30, 2020, to encourage our selling partners to make additional inventory of these products available at competitive prices to these customers with the greatest need.

“For more information about these changes, including a list of impacted ASINs, visit COVID-19 Supplies 28. To request approval to sell these products, visit: http://www.amazon.com/COVID-19-Supplies”

April 13, 2020

Amazon announced plans to hire an additional 75,000 employees, on top of the 100,000 previously announced, to continue supporting demand during the coronavirus pandemic.

2. The global supply chain has been disrupted

China, the primary supplier for many Amazon sellers’ goods, was ground zero for the coronavirus outbreak. And China’s normally thriving import industry has felt the strain of COVID-19 already.

Even before the crisis hit the U.S., a recent Jungle Scout survey of 681 of Amazon sellers who sourced their products from China revealed:

36% sellers seeing declining sales

11% sellers raising prices on products

50% sellers looking to source products outside of China

Some sellers are looking to the U.S., India, Vietnam, and Mexico, among other countries, to source their products, though it’s unclear how suppliers will be able to respond as coronavirus continues to spread throughout those countries, too.

Analyst Edward J. Kelly of Wells Fargo Securities explained that many popular items will sell out as early as mid-April. Big-box retailers like Walmart and Target who turn inventory faster will be the “first to experience out-of-stock issues.” (LA Times)

Likely, private label and wholesale Amazon sellers will face similar issues.

In fact, Amazon has extended its window for returns. Normally, Amazon’s shoppers have only 30 days to return purchases. However, due to delays in shipping both on their end and US carriers’, Amazon is giving shoppers until May 31 to return any purchases made between March 1 and April 30

3. Consumer spending is declining

According to a survey by Moody’s Analytics, nearly 80 million U.S. jobs could be lost during the coronavirus outbreak, primarily in the travel, tourism, leisure and hospitality sectors.

With reduced consumer spending, dollars will be put towards more essential goods such as food, medical supplies, and childcare, and away from luxury items.

Already, we’ve noticed an uptick in searches for essential items, including:

Rice: 1181%

Bottled water: 238%

Toilet paper: 75%

Meanwhile, non-essential goods are down.

Office supplies: -28%

Party: -10%

Furniture: -8%

April 3, 2020

In addition, though Amazon did not confirm, Reuters reported that Prime Day 2020 is being postponed.

Despite the fact that Prime Day is often the biggest sales day for most sellers, this year’s deal day will likely happen sometime in August (though it could be pushed again), rather than the usual July.

4. Working from home is becoming the norm

Fortunately, many employees have the option of working from home. That means, in addition to essential items, certain work-from-home products and keywords have increased searches on Amazon.

Work from home: 85%

Webcam: 32%

Computer monitor: 14%

Other items such as comfortable chairs, home gym equipment, home entertainment, and learning resources for children who are out of school, have also shown an increase in searches and sales on Amazon.

5 ways to pivot your Amazon business for the quarantine economy

There is no telling how long the U.S. will face this crisis, but some estimates peg self-isolation and lockdowns lasting several months — or perhaps as long as 18 months or more.

In the meantime, to ensure the survival of their businesses, Amazon sellers will need to make some drastic changes.

1. Temporarily reduce or pause advertising spending on Amazon

Following the FBA freeze on March 17, one of our customers informed us that Amazon’s sales agents are currently contacting Amazon sellers and encouraging them to reduce advertising spending during the crisis.

If you have experienced a reduction in sales during the crisis, especially if you are selling non-essential goods, we recommend reducing or suspending your ads until further notice.

2. Consider Fulfillment by Merchant

If you have inventory available that isn’t currently in an Amazon fulfillment center and you’re unable to create a shipment, you can fulfill the products yourself.

Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM) works a little differently than Amazon FBA.

When a sale is made, you are notified in Seller Central as well as on your Amazon Seller mobile app.

You have 24 hours to mark the order as ‘Shipped.’ Failure to ship orders within 24 hours may affect your seller account health.

Amazon offers shipping carrier services from which you can purchase directly through Amazon and print.

You will need to pick, pack, and ship the goods and ensure that the product arrives in a timely manner without any damage or issue.

There are, however, a few more risks involved with FBM shipping:

Unless you already have a large fulfillment operation in place, the costs for FBM orders can be higher than those for FBA orders.

Shoppers can leave negative seller feedback based on the speed and quality of your shipment.

You must handle your own customer service issues.

Read more about FBA vs. FBM fulfillment methods here.

3. Switch business models

Because of the difficulties you may have securing products from China or other overseas providers, business models such as private label, wholesale, and dropshipping will become difficult during the outbreak.

Furthermore, retail arbitrage may also suffer due to self-isolation and lockdown practices. Many retail stores will close.

However, there are other business models you can introduce to your Amazon selling business during the outbreak:

Handmade: With handmade, you can create your own products such as seasonal gifts (Easter, Mother’s Day), clothing & accessories, and toys & games and ship them to the consumer. You can apply for Handmade on Amazon’s website.

Online arbitrage: While retail arbitrage may not be possible during the outbreak, online arbitrage might be a viable alternative. Similar to retail arbitrage, online arbitrage involves purchasing a product from one retail site such as Ebay.com or Walmart.com and listing it on Amazon at a higher price.

Kindle Direct Publishing: If you have a knack for writing and creating content, you might consider writing books and publishing them on Amazon. Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) allows authors to create both digital and print formats on Amazon. Like dropshipping or Amazon Merch, there is no cost to get started; you simply need to create the material.

Manufacture your own products: 3D printers are becoming less and less expensive. And there are some sellers on Amazon who design, print, and sell their own 3D-printed goods.

Read more about the pros and cons of different Amazon sales models here.

4. Focus on your brand

We all hope and believe commerce will return to normal eventually. So, while your sales may drop for a few months, this is a good time to focus on your brand and your overall message.

Take advantage of the free resources and product trials (Jungle Scout’s free trial offers the best of both worlds, with Jungle Scout Academy) available on the internet to anyone interested in selling on Amazon.

Learn how to optimize your listing. Master the ins and outs of pay-per-click. Become an expert in all-things Amazon so that you and your product are ready when things return to normal.

And make sure to communicate frequently with your customers, both on and off Amazon. Take to social media to assuage fears or even offer levity. Create promotions to get your brand’s name out there.

5. Stay informed

Over the next few months, there will be lots of changes, both on and off Amazon. The best thing to do is to stay on top of those changes and act accordingly.

Make sure to read news from reputable sources and stay involved with those close to Amazon, like Jungle Scout. You can also join our Facebook group, Amazon Competitive Edge.

Frequently Asked Questions

Many of the questions below are related to Amazon’s freeze on non-essential inventory entering their fulfillment centers.

What products are being accepted?

Currently, Amazon is only accepting products from the following categories:

Baby

Health & Household

Beauty & Personal Care (including personal care appliances)

Grocery

Industrial & Scientific

Pet Supplies

What if I already had a shipment on the way?

If you created a shipment before March 17, Amazon will still accept your inventory and put it into its supply chain as normal.

What happens to inventory still at port?

As long as any inventory that is currently in transit to Amazon has an inventory replenishment order placed before March 17, Amazon will accept the inventory into its fulfillment network.

Will Amazon freeze/suspend fees and loan payments, too?

As of April 9, Amazon announced it would temporarily pause account suspensions related to supply chain and fulfillment difficulties. Since March 20, Amazon has not been suspending sellers who have had high late shipment rates, and Amazon says these changes will remain in effect until May 15.

As of this writing, there is no word on whether or not Amazon seller fees will be frozen.

However, Amazon had made mention that it may temporarily disable its Inventory Performance Index (IPI).

The IPI is part of the seller’s account health metrics. It is the score that Amazon uses to determine the amount of inventory sellers are allowed to send Amazon.

In addition, Amazon sent out a notification that they are going to waive April’s long-term storage fee for sellers in the US, the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Poland, and the Czech Republic. The email did not mention whether or not that waiver will be extended past April.

Most recently, on March 25, multiple sellers received a notification from Amazon Lending. It said that — effective March 26 through April 30th — Amazon Lending would be pausing repayments on outstanding loans, and that loans would not accrue interest during that period.

The notification also stated that payments will resume on May 1st, 2020, with sellers retaining their previous monthly payment date and the same number of payments as before.

Can I get my inventory out of Amazon’s fulfillment centers?

The short answer is yes — but it may take a while.

FBA sellers who hoped to have inventory stored at Amazon’s fulfillment centers returned to them right away (in order to sell it FBM) are — for the time being — out of luck. Amazon recently sent out an email stating that removal operations are being paused temporarily in some of their fulfillment centers.

But, that doesn’t mean sellers can’t still submit removal orders. It just means that fulfilling those requests will take longer than usual.

Auto-removals are also going to be held up due to this interim stoppage.

What types of products should I sell on Amazon during the crisis?

If you have the ability, sell essentials. Focus, too, on products for people who are self-isolating during the crisis.

Consider that not only will people have to work from home, but children will have to stay home from school as well.

Can the virus be transmitted through packages?

The New England Journal of Medicine published a report stating that the SAR-CoV-2 coronavirus can survive on cardboard for up to 24 hours and plastic and stainless steel for up to 72 hours.

Having said that, U.S. carriers are taking extra precautions:

The U.S. Postal Service citing the World Health Organization stated that there is very low risk for transmission of the coronavirus through packages. In addition, they are constantly monitoring the situation.

UPS has increased monitoring of its employees for sickness and complying with all government mandates.

FedEx is also taking extra precautions to ensure that their deliveries are safe during the crisis.

DHL also released a 2-page press release explaining the measures they were taking to ensure safe deliveries.

*Disclaimer: This article was updated on April 13, 2020 to reflect Amazon’s latest announcements.

[brightly-painted-canvas]

how about some mazlek going away on a nice, peaceful vacation together after the oscars so they can finally get some alone time? (let's pretend rami had some time off before going back to film mr. robot)

I am disgustingly late, dear anon! But I finally have something ready for you. Hope you don’t mind me filling this request with another one of my rambling hc posts, it felt like the best option :)

Joe doesn’t like to be predictable EVER so when he and Rami figure out they have one week of break between the Oscars and the start of Mr Robot filming, he calls dibs on being the one in charge to decide where to go on vacation

he also keeps the whole plan a secret (and he’s surprisingly good at it) (but maybe Rami being so taken with award season and shootings preparation helps him being successfully secretive)

the day after Rami’s Oscar win, at some point in the afternoon (since they slept in late to cure the afterparty hangover), they say bye to their friends and Rami’s family and Joe drives North until they reach Salt Lake City and stop for the night in a hotel

(Joe promises that’s not their destination but Rami is not worried in the least and he enjoys the drive and fastfood dinner and mostly he likes not having to worry about a thing, trusting Joe completely)

(he’s also already in an absolute state of lax and relief after months and years of incessant work and stress and having to be constantly in the public eye, doing the right thing, being always on his best behaviour)

Joe as usual makes the best out of their modest hotel room situation and prepares a warm bath for the both of them and then gives Rami a back massage all the while Rami complains he needs to relax too since he had been driving for half a day

they fall asleep in the middle of a sloppy and tired make out session and as they wake up the day after they make fun of each other for being too old and too tired to maintain a regular sex life with their kind of lifestyle

they have breakfast and then continue the journey

Rami offers to drive a bit as long as Joe tells him where to go but Joe refuses saying they’re not that far

true to his words, after a few hours that the scenery outside the car’s windows has turned white with snow and they are well beyond the border between Utah and Idaho, they park outside a nice private cottage right at the foot of the mountains

the lodge is beautiful outside and inside: there is a large living room with two couches and a fireplace, an old-style kitchen with already a few box and bags of grocery done for them and on the second floor probably the best decorated bedroom Rami has ever seen (and that’s saying something, considering he’s used to stay in some fancy hotels around the world). The best thing about the bedroom is the window and balcony, overlooking the woods and a creek of a small lake that is completely frozen in the still icy weather of late winter. The place looks pristine and clean but at the same time warm and cozy and he asks Joe how he found it but Joe refuses to give away his secret sources (probably just a late night deep dig into Airbnb’s abyss)

this leads to them bickering without malice about how it’s not nice to keep secrets in a relationship and they go on until they’re outside exploring the surroundings of the house and Joe gets hit with a snowball on the back of his head

they have a vicious snowball fight for minutes until Joe succeeds in catching Rami by his waist and rolling the both of them down a slope of fresh snow

soaked to the bones and laughing their asses off they snuggle close and kiss with frozen lips as clouds of warm breath surrounds them

getting back inside to get changed, Rami starts the fire in the living room and feeds it until Joe is out of the shower and they can switch

when Rami is back from the hottest shower he could get, all the sheets and blankets and pillows of the bedroom are now forming a perfectly structured pillow fort in front of the fireplace and Joe is pouring French red wine inside two glasses looking smug

Rami sits beside him on the fluffy floor of the pillow fort and kisses him senseless

(“You don’t know how much I needed all this.” “Oh, believe me… I do know.”)

they’re tired for the long travel and playing in the snow but they manage to make dinner and watch a movie and even christen Joe’s epic pillow fort making slow and tender love

Rami refuses to fall asleep on the floor though, so they pick up some of the blankets and sheets to make the bed upstair and fall asleep on a very soft mattress and in each other’s arms

the week goes on smoothly and easily: they make trips to local sightseeing places and visit the Yellowstone Park and they have long lazy mornings and evenings in front of the fireplace, just reading or watching TV or having the best sex they had in months

Rami is relaxed and pliant and smiles and laughs so much more and he looks so utterly in love with Joe it’s almost a trouble when they’re grocery shopping in the nearest town or surrounded by other tourists in this or that winter location

Joe can’t really seems to care about being recognised or found out at this point though, since he’s so utterly in love with Rami himself and he’d risk everything to have his beautiful man always this happy, this carefree, this lovely

(at some point there is a small accident which includes Joe and ice skating on the frozen lake but everything turns out fine and they decide, out of embarrassment, not to talk about it ever again)

before they know it’s been five days and they need to pack their things and get back, in time to catch their flight for NYC

they decide to celebrate their last day of freedom in high style (but still in THEIR style): they cook and bake together (some fancy steak recipe by Rami, some unhealthy and too buttery cookie batch by Joe), have dinner in front of the fireplace, reconstruct the pillow fort to feel more warmth and comfort, re-watch Bohemian Rhapsody (it’s kind of a cathartic moment where they relive all that came from the last year of their lives, the good and the bad things, the funny and the emotional parts of the whole ordeal), cuddle the hell out of each other

it’s right at the end of the Live Aid scene, before Don’t Stop Me Now starts playing over the last frame and titles start rolling, that Rami says: “I can’t wait for what comes next.” in a soft sigh against the back of Joe’s ear

they’re lying almost horizontally on a pile of pillows and the cushions of the couch, under white sheets creating a soft canopy over them and a warm blanket around their bodies perfectly set together: Joe is resting almost upon Rami, his back against his partner’s chest, Rami’s right hand lazily stroking his hair as he rests his left cheek on top of Joe’s head

“What’s next? Robot? Bond?” asks Joe sleepily, wrapped in the the perfect bliss of the lazy evening and Rami’s warm body around him

he turns his face just enough so that he can look back at Rami and kiss his cheek for good measure. Rami’s strokes have stilled but his fingers are still tangled in his hair

“I meant for us,” says Rami and he sounds insecure and certain at the same time, like he’s trying to process his thoughts, share a sudden epiphany with Joe

“What’s up with us?” asks again Joe, searching Rami’s eyes and leaning even more into his side. “I don’t know… I guess we’re gonna need to find a place for us? A common ground where we can be together even if we’re on different projects… we’re gonna need to find more time to spend together outside work. Match schedules, plan things…” explains his partner

“This date isn’t over yet and you’re already trying to ask me out again?” jokes Joe, smirking

“I’m… trying to ask you to marry me, actually.” smiles back Rami, unflinchingly

Joe lets out a tiny gasp and stares at him with wide eyes, opening and closing his mouth like he’s at loss of words but wants to say something back

Rami doesn’t move and doesn’t let him go, he just shift so that Joe slides between him and the back of the couch and they can lay on their sides and look into each other’s eyes as he asks, softly and lovingly: “Would you marry me, Joey?”

“Like that’s even a question!” exclaims Joe, breathlessly

“Could you still reply to it, just to clear any possible doubt?” adds Rami, trying but failing to look annoyed, stroking Joe’s cheek and neck as the other ducks his head toward him, suppressing a nervous laugh. Rami doesn’t move, he just repeats: “Joseph Francis Mazzello, will you marry me?”

“Yes I will marry you, Rami Said Malek.” he spells out slowly and looking smug: “Try and stop me.” he adds, provocatively

“I really don’t want to do that.” says Rami and they can’t contain their satisfied smile as they kiss, sealing their promises

they don’t have engagement rings to exchange (“So you weren’t planning on proposing here and now?” “Not at all. Why, were you?” “Not really…?”) so they just entwine their fingers and fall asleep holding hands, still facing each other

(yes they sleep under the pillow fort this time, sorry Rami)

the next morning they pack their things and load the car and Rami leaves a nice message to the lodge’s owners on a piece of paper on the kitchen’s countertop, while Joe promises to leave a more than positive review on Tripadvisor

they call their families to let them know there’s good news (they mostly take it well, except both Nelly and Virginia sound like they’re crying of joy and Rami feels sorry for having to tell them on the phone)(Sami and John’s reaction are both along the line of “About time! We been knew for ages” which makes sense)(Yasmine has to be stopped because she’s already suggesting plans and names for the florists and catering service recycled from her own wedding)(Mary is the family’s normal one and just congratulates them, sounding very happy)

(the next in line for a call are Gwilym, Ben and Martin)

on their way to the airport they discuss how to break the news to the rest of the world and they decide for a slow approach and a low profile

so Joe just sends out a tweet that says: “Brace yourselves, big surprises aren’t over yet” , Rami likes it and that’s it (for the time being)

(fans freak out and fandom explodes, of course)

[slusheeduck]

Geeking IN: How Online Fans Are the Future of Media and Media Marketing

           Once dismissed as socially inept nerds, fans are taking the lead as this generation’s most successful creators. While there has always been the odd story of fans who end up taking the helm of favorite TV shows or adapting their favorite work into a movie, many new faces in the entertainment industry are using their knowledge from years of participating in online communities to market to the global internet audience, as well as keeping their own fandoms somewhat in line.

           Recent years have seen a boom in the acceptance of “fandom,” that is, a community of fans. Comic conventions have gone from a punchline to mega-events that require a lottery just to get in, there are countless articles on sites like Buzzfeed about “How wrecked were you during the Game of Thrones finale?” and “Seven ways to tell you’re a Cumberbitch.” Even something once as obscure as “fanfiction” has practically become a household term.

So how did we get to this point? Where in the scope of the past decade has it become acceptable to “geek out”? The main answer to this is, naturally, the internet. When the world wide web was still the great unknown to the general public, many fans saw it as a way to gather, creating their own websites or posting their fanwork on sites like Livejournal and DeviantArt. As the internet became more and more accessible, so too did joining in the fun of fandom. That leads us to today: now, many fans who have more or less grown up in these online spaces and seen the shifts in fan communities and interaction, are coming of age and producing their own content with a keen sense of how these communities work.

Perhaps the most public example of this comes in the form of best-seller book Fifty Shades of Grey. Regardless of what your opinion on the raunchy romance is, London-based author E.L. James has been completely upfront with the fact that it began as a Twilight fanfiction. While it is already rare for a fanfiction writer to “make it big,” much less into a novel that has sold over 100 million copies worldwide[1] and spawned a movie series and sex toy line, it’s even rarer for them to actually admit that it began as a fanfic. And yet James has no qualms mentioning it.

“Well, it all started way back in the day when I saw ‘Twilight,’ the film, and I loved those books — I could not put [them] down, absolutely avidly read the books,” E.L. James said in an interview on “Katie,” Katie Couric’s talk show. “This switch was flipped. I had to write — started writing, wrote a novel, then I discovered fan fiction…[I] wrote about Edward and Bella and then decided to write about Christian and Anastasia. I took the fan [fiction], and a friend of mine re-wrote it and I thought — if he could do it, so could I, and now I am here.”[2]

James even goes so far as to put this backstory up on her personal website. Regardless of individual opinions of the book, her success and openness about her past in writing has opened up a new wave of potential writers (and agents) who can see their fanfiction transforming into original works.

In addition to Fifty Shades and other books such as Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, the once heavily maligned group of fanfiction writers are shaping up to be the popular, original novelists of the next ten years rather than merely running fan magazines or writing something for a company-approved spin-off novel.

However, while the internet is just beginning to be seen as a source for new talent, it’s more importantly become a place to take seriously when it comes to marketing. Many fans who grew up in the age of internet fandoms have a keen sense of the international aspect of the web; it’s now nothing special to discuss the latest Star Wars movie with someone in Bangladesh from your home in Seattle with a dissenter from Norway. As a result of this global recognition, they are able to market their work for the internet community at large rather than simply the demographic of a set area.

With entertainment and media becoming more and more global rather than regional, this is an invaluable skill to have. It’s not enough to appeal to a target audience, but to instead be ready to market it, however indirectly, to the world. One of the most notable, recent examples of this comes from the show “Gravity Falls,” created by Alex Hirsch. While intended for an American audience of 8-12 year olds, “Gravity Falls” has reached worldwide audiences—its series finale, aired earlier this month, clocked in 2.9 million views in the US alone, and the series as a whole has become number one in total views on record for a children’s show[3]. While the show itself was enjoyable to fans, what gave it the extra punch into worldwide success comes from its use of “easter eggs” (special nods to previous episodes as well as other shows) and secret codes hidden in the show.

“I’ve always been a fan of shows that gave little hints to regular watchers, and I wanted to do the same thing with Gravity Falls,” Hirsch said. “But I never expected [the fans] to go so far with it! So I made things harder, and within an hour, they would find the answers to what I’d hidden.”

This mutual understanding of the fans wanting to find things and the creator wanting fans to work hard made it possible for fans to connect even more with Gravity Falls, as well as helped to create a tighter community. With these interactive elements, online communities began to form around the show, and soon enough people from all over the world were discussing and, more importantly, watching the show.

As if this wasn’t enough, Hirsch took his involvement with fan communities a step farther. He has done two Ask Me Anything (AMA) sessions on the message board site, Reddit: one as himself and another surprise visit as the main antagonist of Gravity Falls, Bill Cipher. Both of these AMAs gave more dedicated viewers a deeper look into the world of Gravity Falls as well as behind the scenes information straight from the source. Additionally, Hirsh regularly held contests related to “Gravity Falls” on Twitter, offering prizes of personalized messages from the characters (of whom he voices four of the mains) and often displaying all entries on his page, ushering in a sense of community with the creator of the show himself.

As lines begin to blur between social media and entertainment media, online fans are becoming a more crucial demographic than ever to reach out to. And as their numbers increase, more and more communities can spot the difference between pandering and “hype”. As we can see, fame can pop up merely because of involvement with a fandom or because of deliberate marketing based on understanding the current “fandom” market. An example of this comes from game developing newcomer Toby Fox, whose game UNDERTALE became an overnight success. Before UNDERTALE, he was very active in a few different online fandoms. In an interview with The Existential Gamer, he discusses the importance of the Nintendo game Earthbound in his past, because he “was part of an Earthbound fan community and it was a cornerstone of my life.”[4]  In addition to being in the Earthbound community, Fox was well-known in the fandom for the webcomic “Homestuck,” going so far as to have his music included in the series. With the knowledge of fandom mentality and what people look for in independent media, he was able to successfully fund a Kickstarter and produce the game, which itself is full of online and fandom in-jokes, endearing it to those “in the know”. And, given the fact that it’s sold over 1.2 million copies[5] and won “Best PC game” from both IGN and Destructoid—two prominent gaming magazines/sites—as well as numerous other awards during the 2015 gaming award season, the amount of those “in the know” is much more than most would assume.

With the acceptance of fandoms and sheer amount of people participating in these types of fan communities, it’s more important than ever for businesses and entertainment networks to begin studying the trends of these demographics and seeing fans as potential employees as well. The latter particularly seems to be the direction entertainment-focused businesses should consider; not only are fans notoriously creative and attentive to detail, but they know precisely what online audiences will be looking for in way of content as well as advertising. And, as was shown by “Gravity Falls”, a show with a savvy team can create a feeling of community with the fans of their product, letting them know that yes, they’re also fans! They understand the frustration of waiting through hiatuses and know what kind of in-jokes to make for those who look for deeper meaning in their media.

I would say that now, we’re living in the time of the super-fan, and that should be something that is embraced in media circles, from a marketing and hiring standpoint. The more media legitimizes their super-fans, particularly the large number of those online, the more they can begin a symbiotic relationship to gain both views and profits.

 [1] http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/feb/27/fifty-shades-of-grey-book-100m-sales

[2] http://www.examiner.com/article/e-l-james-discusses-twilight-influence-fifty-shades-of-grey

[3] http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/gravity-falls-series-finale-disney-xd-ratings-records-1201711939/

[4] http://existentialgamer.com/interview-toby-fox-undertale

[5] http://steamspy.com/app/391540

[pparn]

Aaron Rodgers, Packers in a different place from last year as MVP ponders future

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Watch quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ speech when he accepted the MVP award on Saturday night and you might conclude one thing about his future with the Green Bay Packers. Listen to what he said in his 11-minute news conference moments later when he walked off the NFL Honors stage and perhaps you have other ideas. Read the reports, including one by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, that came out the morning of the Super Bowl, and you might be swayed to an entirely different direction.

The reality right now is this: Everyone is just reading the tea leaves. If anyone knows what Rodgers has planned for the 2022 season and beyond, it’s probably only him, and perhaps his “inner circle” as he called it on Saturday night.

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Rodgers has said repeatedly he won’t take long to decide, and he offered the franchise-tag window (Feb. 22 to March 8) as a possible timeframe, given that it would tie into receiver Davante Adams’ future with the Packers – something that would seemingly be a prerequisite for Rodgers’ return.

While the Packers wait for Rodgers to decide, they’ve taken every opportunity to make it clear they want him back. And while it would seem obvious any team in their position would want the same thing, the Packers’ overtly public approach also says something else: They learned from the Brett Favre divorce in 2008, and they don’t want to lose in the court of public opinion like they did in that case.

Packers president Mark Murphy presided over the awkward Favre-to-Rodgers transition. General manager Brian Gutekunst was an area scout at the time, but he worked under then-GM Ted Thompson. Thompson and Murphy became Public Enemy Nos. 1a and 1b in the summer of 2008. A large portion of the fan base believed the Packers erred in not allowing Favre to return to the team after he unretired.

By making it abundantly clear they want Rodgers to finish his career with the Packers, they effectively shifted the burden to him. If he retires or decides to play for another team, the Packers now will be able to say they did everything they could to prevent it.

Would that sway public sentiment against Rodgers if he does leave? Only the fan base can answer that.

Aaron Rodgers' future is one of the biggest storylines of the offseason, and the only thing that's certain is that if he does walk away, it won't be a bitter split. Patrick McDermott/Getty Images The vibe is different this year. From praising Murphy, Gutekunst and vice president/director of football operations Russ Ball to thanking “our incredible fan base” to saying it has been “an amazing 17 years” to acknowledging the issues he had with the team last offseason have been adequately addressed, Rodgers has made it known that he's not bitter or unhappy with the organization.

He now can walk away -- if that's what he chooses -- and say he also took the high road. One answer from his post-MVP news conference took care of that.

“I was obviously frustrated about some things in the offseason,” Rodgers said. “We had a ton of conversations, and I just felt like there was so much growth, and I’m so thankful for that. I’m thankful for the relationships -– with Brian as much as anybody because there was obviously some things that were voiced in the offseason, privately between him and myself, and I’m just thankful for the response. There was a lot of things that were done to make me feel really special and important to the present, the past and the future of the franchise. And I’ve got to say that Russ and Brian especially had a big hand in that. And it didn’t go unnoticed.”

None of this may impact whether or not Rodgers returns to the Packers, but until a decision is made, there might be more of this to come.

[kentonramsey]

Costume Designers Are Stars On Social Media. So Why Aren’t They Being Paid That Way?

It’s been 73 years since the first Oscar for Best Costume Design was awarded. Back then, the category was divided into two awards — for black-and-white and colour films — with Roger K. Furse winning the former for Hamlet and Dorothy Jenkins and Barbara Karinska taking home the gold statue for Joan of Arc. While their names went down in history, these costume designers did not enjoy the celebrity of today’s pros like Sex and the City’s Patricia Field and Gossip Girl’s Eric Daman. 

“People didn’t know who did the costumes [for films and TV],” says Salvador Perez, president of the Costume Designers Guild, an organization founded in 1953 to protect costume designers. “They’d know what the costume was and who wore it.” Over time, with the help of more televised award shows like the Golden Globes and the Emmys, as well as social media, this has changed. 

In particular, over the last 18 months — in large part due to the pandemic putting a pause on celebrity outings and runway shows — audiences have turned to their favourite on-screen characters for fashion inspiration. Take, for example, Netflix’s Emily in Paris. Following the premiere of Season 1 of the Lily Collins-starring series, brands like Ganni, Marc Jacobs, and Kate Spade, as well as items like bucket hats and berets, saw a boost in sales thanks to Field’s costume work. Other shows like this year’s Gossip Girl and the forthcoming Sex and the City reboot And Just Like That… have prompted a similar reaction, not only resurrecting trends but also inspiring fan Instagram accounts dedicated to ID-ing the items worn on set before the shows even air. 

Yet, as costume designers’ work is celebrated in public, they often don’t receive the acknowledgement they deserve behind the scenes. 

In an industry plagued by pay inequity and gender bias, it’s no surprise that costume designers are victims of the same issues. “The majority of costume designers are women, and they are ignored,” says Perez, who’s worked as a costume designer on shows like The Mindy Project. “[The industry] thinking is, ‘Well, it’s just shopping, my wife can do that.’” As a man working in a role dominated by women — the Costume Designers Guild is composed of nearly 90% women — Perez says he’s been previously paid more than his female counterparts: “It’s proof that it’s a gender thing.”

Costume designer Janie Bryant, who worked on AMC’s Mad Men and HBO’s Deadwood, says that within productions, costume designers are not only getting smaller checks but are also recognised less than directors, producers, cinematographers, and production designers, which are traditionally “men’s roles.”

According to the Costume Designers Guild, costume designers make a minimum of $2,952.11 (£2,148.47) for TV production and $3,139.86 (£2,285.11)for film work. Meanwhile, the weekly rate in the Art Directors Guild is $3,754.47 (£2,732.41) for both TV and film, according to Variety. “Part of our big mission right now is pay equity,” says Perez. “Those roles get paid more than we do, why? We’re all department heads.” Bryant agrees that costume design should be held in the same regard because “what the audience sees on the screen is the actor, and they see the actor in costume.” 

And audiences are taking notice. Perez says that social media has helped movie and TV fans understand how crucial the role of costume design is. Bryant first started noticing a shift in 2007, when Vera Wang showed a collection inspired by Deadwood’s Victorian-era costumes. “That was the first kind of recognition I got outside of the film business,” she says. Bryant recalls a similar phenomenon occurred when designers like Prada started releasing collections inspired by the 1960s at the time Mad Men was on air (2007-2015). “I’m very thankful for that and for all the bloggers and Instagrammers who took the time to celebrate my work,” she says. 

But while platforms like Instagram have helped the creators get more recognition, it has also led to a proliferation of fan pages showcasing the looks featured — something that costume designers are often prohibited from doing, according to Perez. So while accounts like @madmenstyles and @everyoutfitonsatc are amassing thousands of followers, many costume designers are contractually obligated to keep their name off their work or prohibited from posting behind-the-scenes photos from production. “When we sign a contract, it’s often forbidden for us to post any images on Instagram,” says Perez. “So productions are letting fans profit off the work we are doing.” Although accounts like @justlikethatcloset often credit those responsible for the looks — in the case of And Just Like That…, Molly Rogers and Danny Santiago — Perez says costume designers “could literally be fired for doing what the fans do.”

Then there is the issue of not being credited or consulted entirely. Last year, the Costume Designers Guild launched the #CreditCostumeDesigners campaign to urge studios to credit and compensate designers whenever their work ends up inspiring merch and apparel collaborations. In June, the hashtag took off when Disney released a Cruella-inspired collection with fashion brand Rag & Bone. According to Variety, the film’s costume designer Jenny Beavan had no knowledge of the line prior to its release. “I just was sort of horrified,” Beavan told the publication. This is hardly the first time that a costume designer hasn’t been credited, consulted, or paid for merchandising and apparel deals based on their work. 

“Movie studios make thousands of dollars from costumes we design, and we’re not compensated for that,” says Perez. “We’d be happy even if they just credit us, honestly. ”

While there are some instances where the creators have been included — see: the Banana Republic Mad Men-inspired collection created in collaboration with Bryant in 2011 and the Birds of Prey costume designer Erin Benach’s line of jewellery inspired by the film — many others continue to be left behind by contracts and outshone by fan Instagram accounts. 

In response, Rogers and Santiago created their own account dedicated to the Sex and the City reboot, which Perez says was championed by actress and executive producer Sarah Jessica Parker. Rather than ID looks though, @andjustlikethatcostumes chronicles behind-the-scenes moments between the cast and designers before they hit Getty Images, offering hints as to how the costumes play a role in the storyline. Similarly, Bryant has taken charge of her own work. Although accounts like @madmenstyles document and analyse her work on Mad Men, Bryant uses her own Instagram account, @costumedesignerjaniebryant, to give fans deep dives into her past work on shows like Why Women Kill, Deadwood, and The Last Tycoon, amassing over 70,000 followers. 

“I don’t tell my members to just use social media,” says Perez. “But to use it so they can empower themselves and their work. ” As costume designers’ profiles are elevated with the help of social media and fashion enthusiasts, the question remains if they’ll ever be able to reap the rewards of their seams. Until they do, fans will continue double-tapping every post.

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Costume Designers Are Stars On Social Media. So Why Aren’t They Being Paid That Way? published first on https://mariakistler.tumblr.com/

[aaraf2]

The latest news from Motocross, Supercross, MXGP, and MXoN

Motocross

Motocross is a form of motorcycle racing where riders race using dirt bikes on off-road courses. By removing strict scoring and the sensitive juggling aspects of trials, Motocross was extracted from motorcycle trials in the UK. The aim of  top motocross gear brands is simply to complete a course in the shortest possible time.

 Specially built with many ramps and twists, the tracks used for motocross are. There are approximately 25 to 30 riders permitted to take part in each event. Races entail riding for a predetermined number of laps around the track, where the rider is first named as the winner to cross the finish line. Championship events have races in a heat format, where top riders qualify for the next round before the final race is decided by a final group of qualifiers...

 There are some important competitions carried out for the sport. For the sport that takes place annually, the FIM Motocross World Championship is by far the most notable occurrence. The event features races for four motorcycle classifications, and for men and women, different races are held. The AMA Motocross Championship, Motocross des Nations, and the British Motocross Championship are the other main tournaments, all of which are held regularly for both men and women, with races for various classifications.

 Supercross

Supercross is a motorcycle sport for indoor dirt-bikes that has developed from motocross. The key distinction between the supercross monster energy and motocross is that supercross races are carried out on specially designed indoor dirt tracks consisting of steep jumps and obstacles, as compared to motocross, in which the course used in a natural setting is longer and consists of dirt and terrain. In the United States, Australia, and France, the sport is very popular.

 The course includes many kinds of hurdles that riders have to maneuver around. Some of them are, some are,

Whoop sections: obstacles that enable riders to skim on top of several bumps.

Rhythm parts: These parts are made up of a series of irregular hops

Triple jumps: obstacles where riders have to make three consecutive jumps in one single long-jump that can also be cleared.

 supercross live bikes are divided into two classes, 450cc and 250cc, based on the power of the motors used. The races in the 450cc class are for eight laps, while the 250cc class is for six laps. Races are performed in the form of heats, where 20 riders compete in each contest before the last 20 riders are chosen to determine the winner for the final race.

 The two biggest races for the sport are the AMA Supercross Championship and the FIM World Supercross Championships.

 MXGP

This year is the 62nd running of the FIM Motocross World Championship 'MXGP'. Focused on cylinder size, 125cc, 250cc, and 500cc, off-road motorcycle racing was divided into three divisions up until 2004. The championship was changed and divided into two divisions, MX1 and MX2, in the middle of the last decade, to reflect the large presence of four-stroke engine technology. MX1, renamed in 2014, is open to riders of all ages and is now called MXGP. The MXGP class requires machinery from 250cc two-stroke to 450cc four-stroke to enter, while the 'MX2' class is restricted in age for machinery from 125cc two-stroke to 250cc four-stroke. The FIM motorcycle racing MX2 World Championship is only available to riders under 23 years of age.

 In addition to the regular European venues, the 2019 calendar will include twenty rounds that will see the teams and riders move to new places such as Hong Kong and China.

 Motocross is, by definition, a closed circuit, off-road motorsport that takes place on a natural path consisting of obstacles and jumps created by man; the layout itself often uses the landscape for shifts in elevation, terrain, and distinctive features.

A Grand Prix sees two 30-minute and 2-lap motorcycles completed by the riders in each class, with 25 points awarded to the winner and scaling down to one point for 20th place. For an aggregate result, the rankings of both races are merged. If two riders are tied on points, the order of the final classification will be decided by the second race ranking. The rider with the highest number of points is crowned world champion at the end of the season, which usually runs from March to September.

 Motocross puts a greater focus on riding ability and agility than most other motorcycle sports on outright machine performance. Of course, for Grand Prix success, a well-tuned machine suited to the style of the rider with great handling and suspension is important, but for the most part, it depends on the technique of the rider, condition, and physically and mentally able.

 The World FIM Motocross Championship is the world's most diverse motocross competition. From the traditional old-school tracks that have been there for decades to the more modern-day ones that involve major jumps, waves, and timing sections, it covers every form of track known to man.

On all kinds of terrain, the riders are checked over the twenty round set. All riders in contention must be agile with a strong ability to adjust from the bottomless sand of places such as Belgium and the Netherlands to France's rock hard clay, particularly on days when the condition of the track is affected by the weather.

The destructive coverage of Motocross, Supercross, MXGP, and MXoN, including photographs, videos, and social features from all over America and the USA. Top Motocross racer Jessy nelson motocross, Justin cooper motocross, Ronnie mac helmet, Eli Tomac jersey, axell Hodges helmet.

World championship races typically take place on a Sunday, while on Saturday the practice sessions and qualification races take place. The rating from the Qualifying Race specifies the order of gate selection. The riders enter the match with both the rider who won the Qualifying Race selecting his gate first, followed by the rider who placed sixth, and so on, in a single line. At once, the gate falls and he has the fastest response combined with a powerful engine and 100 percent traction that will narrowly edge 39 other riders at turning one.

40 riders vying for points are shown in each entry list. Most riders are officially registered competitors with and grand prize's local federation who may appoint a handful of the highly praised names to try their hand against the best in the world.

The year's grand finale is traditionally the 'Motocross of Nations' at the end of the season, where the daily fitness riders of each nation battle for their country's pride. Although this meeting isn't really part of the world championship, it retains one of the most important events on the calendar, drawing crowds near the 80,000 marks, and is highly popular with the public and riders alike.

[taytay4ever]

Amid So Many Stories About Bad Men In The Media, Taylor Swift Strikes Back With ‘Reputation’

In the run-up to her sixth album, Reputation, Taylor Swift has been discussed first as a global brand, with the media analyzing her every machination and whether it has induced her possible “obsolescence,” and then as a musician. But now that this record is finally in the world, let’s start with Swift’s music for a change.

Reputation is a cold, convoluted, often surly record, heavily weighted with overly complicated prog-R&B arrangements, awkward attempts at rapping, and lyrics that underline every reference to Swift’s casual hook-ups and late-night binge-drinking. At the risk of libeling Swift’s usual stable of expensive pop-auteur collaborators — headlined by Max Martin, Shellback, and Jack Antonoff — some of the songs seem almost pasted together, with verses barging indelicately into pre-choruses as tempos shift in jarring fashion. The elegance of previous Swift blockbusters like 2012’s Red and 2014’s 1989 has gone missing.

And yet, Reputation adds up to a fascinating and often moving, self-portrait. On the biggest possible stage, Swift has fearlessly exposed some of her rawest vulnerabilities. For the first time in years, Swift seems like a rather ordinary human being, with all the unattractive flaws and nagging hang-ups that suggests.

As was the case with Reputation‘s bewildering first single, “Look What You Made Me Do,” the album is initially off-putting, as sour and difficult to like as Swift’s previous pop album, the candy-coated retro-pop showcase 1989, was sweet and catchy. Swift is nothing if not a pop-music prodigy, a seasoned hitmaker at age 27 who already displayed preternatural gifts for crafting heart-rending earworms more than a decade ago, at a time when her peers were struggling to write essays on The Great Gatsby (which Swift pointedly references on Reputation) in high school.

Swift’s franchise is creating the types of songs that people like without even trying to like them. And yet Reputation is decidedly not in that tradition — sure enough, the album’s early singles have not captured the public’s imagination the way those undeniable world-beaters of 1989 did. It seems intuitive that this represents a failure on Swift’s part. But then you dwell on this album’s lyrics, which are laced with violent imagery and obsessed with control and score-settling, and all of a sudden the turbulent, herky-jerky music makes more sense.

Reputation doesn’t fail at being likable, because being likable for once doesn’t seem to be Swift’s agenda. Rather, this album succeeds at expressing a litany of deep, intractable resentments by a world-famous pop star who seems alienated from all but a tight circle of trusted confidantes. “Here’s a toast to my real friends,” she crows on the album’s bitterest track, “This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things.” You suspect she’s not addressing more than a few people.

Who is Taylor mad at? Who do you got? No specific names are mentioned in the lyrics to Reputation, so instead there are opaque references to “older guys,” “the world,” “what I can’t have,” and “the liars.” But, above all, what haunts Taylor is the proverbial “they” — in “I Did Something Bad,” they are “burning all the witches, even if you aren’t one.” In “This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things,” Swift loves her baby because “he ain’t reading what theycall me lately.”

The songs on Reputation don’t necessarily lend themselves to the sort of “Which boyfriend is this one about?” parlor games that people usually play with Taylor Swift albums. The animus instead here feels intangible and existential, which is why Swift’s belated embrace of hip-hop, while artistically tenuous and bound to be viewed cynically by those who believe Swift is an opportunist, is such a crucial development on Reputation.

It’s easy to laugh at Swift’s stilted flow in “…Ready For It?” or puzzle at the ill-advised “street speak” of the chorus. (“I, I, I see how this is gon’ go.”) But the overt feistiness of rap allows Swift to front-load emotions that she has previously kept concealed behind frothy pop hooks and that iconic “Oh, I can’t believe my good fortune!” award-show face. “I bury hatchets, but I keep maps of where I put ’em,” Swift spits in “End Game,” which shoehorns cameos by Future and Ed Sheeran that would seem preordained by a streaming-service algorithm if Swift were more enthusiastic about streaming. (Reputation is not yet available on any streaming platform.)

Swift has written similarly barbed lyrics in the past, of course, but back then there was usually a trace of playfulness. When she refers to herself as “insane” in “Blank Space,” you can sense the self-deprecation and implied eye roll. But Reputation — aside from that stray cat joke in “Gorgeous” — is mirthless. This time, when Swift buries a hatchet, she draws blood.

Swift has been a magnet for criticism lately — some of it fair, much of it not. The media narrative has turned so rapidly against her that it’s almost hard to remember that, for much of her career, Swift was a darling of the press. As late as 2015, the New York Times was still inclined to refer to her as an “underdog,” and there were no shortage of Swift defenders in the press eager to call out perceived slights, whether it was an indie-music site not reviewing 1989 (even as virtually every other outlet on the planet lavished the album with coverage) or the sexism of Ryan Adams covering the album in its entirety.

But nobody sees Swift as an underdog in 2017. Now, she’s an establishment foil for Cardi B, whose scrappy smash “Bodak Yellow” removed “Look What You Made Me Do” from the top of the pop charts after “just” three weeks this fall. “Look What You Made Me Do” has sunk precipitously ever since, along with the followup single “…Ready For It,” which peaked at No. 4.

Certainly, it’s worth noting that these songs haven’t made the impact that singles like “Blank Space” and “Shake It Off” did. But the whispers that Swift is now finished as a pop star, as Spotify-powered rappers storm the charts seems a tad premature, given that Reputation is projected to move an impressive-in-any-era two million units in its first week.

Did anyone really expect Swift to keep on churning out 1989-sized pop bangers in perpetuity? Who faulted Beyoncé when Lemonade — which like Reputation is clearly conceived as an album rather than a playlist of singles — also didn’t produce any lasting chart hits? (The highest charting single from Lemonade, “Formation,” peaked at No. 10. At least Taylor spent the better part of a month at No. 1.)

Here’s a criticism I agree with: Swift should condemn the alt-right cult that reveres her as some sort of blonde Aryan goddess. Her apparent stubbornness on this issue is strange, considering that sending out a press release against Nazis is literally the easiest thing in the world to do. (I suspect she doesn’t deem it necessary to declare her anti-Nazi bonafides, as opposed to being reluctant to anger conservatives, a frequent charge from critics. But letting the controversy linger nonetheless is nonsensical.) However, the larger argument that Swift’s stock as a pop star has slipped because she’s maintained a largely apolitical public persona doesn’t wash.

Swift, like virtually every artist, is a narcissist. And, by and large, that’s why people like her, because when Swift sings about herself, she does it in a way that makes millions of people believe she’s actually singing about them. That is the job of a pop star. This weird insistence that a musician who has previously shown no inclination to be a political commentator must suddenly register her yay-or-nay take on Donald Trump, Black Lives Matter, or Hillary vs. Bernie says more about our displaced reverence for pop stars than it does about Swift’s supposed moral obligations.

Isn’t it possible that Taylor Swift genuinely has nothing to say on these matters? And isn’t that okay? If given the choice between performative wokeness and authentic non-engagement, I’ll take the latter, please. Besides, as we’ve seen demonstrated time and again lately, the personal is political, particularly when it comes to one of Swift’s primary subjects: The power struggles between men and women.

Reputation arrives in the midst of an ongoing moral apocalypse in the entertainment industry, in which sexual harassment and assault have been properly re-contextualized in the popular consciousness as expressions of dominance and humiliation, typically by straight white men over women. Swift herself has been victimized by this power imbalance, by a Colorado radio DJ who groped her during a station visit in 2013, when Swift was 23. (Swift won a civil suit against the DJ this summer.)

It might be hard to conceive of Swift, one of the world’s most famous women, as somehow subordinate to a faceless radio jock. But consider how country radio has suppressed women, or how chart success (which is still enabled greatly by radio airplay) has come to dominate, dubiously, how we determine relevance or even artistic merit in popular music. If the fallout from the Harvey Weinstein scandal has taught us anything, it’s that even famous women can be abused by much less famous but nonetheless well-connected men behind the scenes.

But with Reputation, I sense that Swift is finished with that. In her new songs, Swift always has the upper hand. If anyone is going to get broken, it’s the guy in the equation, who’s typically an older (and therefore patriarchal) figure. (“I’ve been breaking hearts for a long time / And toyin’ with them older guys / just playthings for me to use,” she seethes in the dirge-like “Don’t Blame Me.”) If she does decide to settle down, it’s up to the other person to accept her shortcomings, not the other way around. (“Even in my worst times, you could see the best of me,” she sings on “Dress.”) Either way, she gets to be the dominant one, the person who always gets what she wants, including the last word.

After listening to Reputation, I think I understand why Swift’s been seemingly indifferent about her recent bad PR choices, including her threat, via a lawyer, to sue a blogger who criticized her silence on the white supremacist issue. And I get why she’s retreated from the media to the comfort of her massive cult on Tumblr, an audience inclined to perceive her venting and femme-fatale posturing as cathartic, rather than merely petulant.

If Reputation had a nutgraf, it would be, “Why should I have to explain myself?” To Swift, going through the paces of tending to her “perfect” public image seemingly provokes the most resentment of all, since it only seems to make people expect even more from her. Haven’t they already taken enough?

Uproxx

[liray-stylespk]

What Does Hoodie jackets Mean?

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[fokohow]

TOP 20: THE BEST VEHICLES FOR THE FAMILY IN 2020 ACCORDING TO PARENTS MAGAZINE

Once again this year, Parents magazine gets wet by naming its best choices of vehicles for the family. Unlike last year, however, the publication is expanding its list of recommended vehicles to 20 (instead of 10 in 2019). Indeed, the magazine’s list this year includes a few additional categories, with the utility segment making up the majority of the models listed, unsurprisingly.

The magazine also considered the safety assessments carried out by the American institute NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). What’s more, the ‘family’ angle of the top 20 requires a test with child seat expert Abbie Patterson. Patterson, owner of the Super Car Seat Geek company, has tested all types of child booster seats in more than 50 car models.

Finally, automotive columnist Rob Stumpf, took the wheel of the vehicles in the child seat test to evaluate braking, steering, acceleration and a host of other parameters.

Without further ado, here’s the list of the 20 best family vehicles for 2020 according to Parents magazine.

Minivans – Best Value: Kia Sedona

In the minivan segment, Kia Sedona takes home the honours with the best value for money because of its more affordable price in its basic livery. However, the magazine notes that it is not possible to secure three child seats in the second row in the least expensive model. The automatic transmission (from 6 to 8 gears since the 2019 model year) is good for smooth shifting.

Minivans – Best Green Choice: Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

Chrysler’s representative in the ultra-family minivan segment is currently the only option (in the North American market) marketed with a charging cable. This rechargeable hybrid powertrain lowers average fuel consumption without penalizing performance, while the government rebate is not to be ignored here either. The Pacifica Hybrid will have to watch its back, as we already know that the next Toyota Sienna will be available with a hybrid powertrain.

Minivans – Best choice for large families: Honda Odyssey

Honda’s Odyssey is also an excellent choice, especially since the manufacturer has decided to offer its 10-speed automatic transmission on all trim levels. As reported in the magazine, the versatility of the Odyssey is unparalleled, as the minivan can accommodate up to six child seats at the same time. It’s also the most fun to drive.

Minivans – Best in all weather conditions: Toyota Sienna

Toyota’s Sienna retains its competitive edge once again this year with its optional all-wheel drive system. This increased traction is undoubtedly an asset when road conditions are more difficult, as is its powerful V6 engine, but the Sienna will have to count the Chrysler Pacifica among its direct rivals next year, the American manufacturer having already confirmed the arrival of a four-wheel drive version of its Pacifica.

Three-row SUV – Best Value: Volkswagen Atlas

When the German automaker launched the development of its three-row SUV, it clearly had North America as its target. The magazine was especially seduced by the affordable price of the SUV in its most accessible version.

Three-row SUV – Better Redesign: Toyota Highlander

The change of model for 2020 does him the greatest good, the former Highlander which had been in service since model year 2014. While the publication praises the new design, it’s also in terms of handling that the Toyota representative has improved, especially in terms of suspension. There’s also the availability of a hybrid version, which isn’t widely available in this group.

Three-row SUV – Best Choice for Large Families: Subaru Ascent

The Subaru Ascent joined the three-row seating party for SUVs about a year ago. Here, the fact that all the vehicle’s liveries are equipped with constant-drive all-wheel drive is meant to be an advantage over the rest of the pack, while the publication pointed out that there are 19 (!) cup holders on board.

Three-row SUV – Best Quiet Ride: Honda Pilot

The Honda Pilot looks almost Acura inside, not only because of its full equipment, but also because of its quiet ride. In fact, the Parents magazine article even goes so far as to compare the Pilot to the Honda Odyssey because the SUV is so comfortable. Unlike the minivan, however, the Pilot still offers the tandem of six- and nine-speed automatic transmissions. In this case, the older of the two (the six-speed one) isn’t necessarily a bad choice!

Three-row SUV – Best safety technologies: Nissan Pathfinder

Aging, the Nissan Pathfinder still seems capable of seducing a publication that mainly observes a vehicle’s family characteristics. Here, the safety systems are convincing, as is that horn blast heard after every drive where one of the rear doors has been opened before or while driving. This device reminds the driver that he or she may have a child – or even a pet – strapped to the rear.

Three-row SUV – Best Design: Mazda CX-9

Mazda is certainly not a brand with countless financial resources, but on the other hand, the design of the most recent seasons seems to appeal to the general public. In fact, despite its introduction in 2017, Mazda’s largest SUV has not aged a single wrinkle. The CX-9’s driving pleasure should not be forgotten either.

Two-row SUV – Best Quiet Ride: Buick Envision

The three-shield division has long been associated with the silence of its interior. The Buick Envision, assembled in China, is no exception to this rule thanks to the noise reduction system.

Parents magazine mentions the excellence of the 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged engine mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission, but this mill is reserved for the more upscale versions. In the other trim levels, the driver has to deal with a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre 4-cylinder engine and a six-speed transmission only.

Two-row SUV – Best steering system: Chevrolet Equinox

It’s true that the Chevrolet Equinox comes with a reputation for being poorly assembled and less durable than average. But since its redesign for the 2018 model year, the compact SUV does much better in terms of driving experience, and even overall quality. Parents magazine found the Chevrolet’s steering to be particularly precise, while its powertrain is powerful enough.

Two-row SUV – Better space for child seats: Ford Edge

When it comes to space for child seats, the Ford Edge is second to none, according to the publication. This allows for three seats, a rarity in the two-row SUV segment. The Ford Edge is also one of the most comfortable.

Two-Row SUV – Best Redesign : GMC Terrain

Best redesign award for two-row SUVs goes… drum roll – at GMC Terrain! Oddly enough, the redesign was completed for the 2018 model year at the same time as the Chevrolet Equinox, but hey, it’s the magazine’s choice! The article also mentions the more comfortable suspension on the Denali model.

Two-Row SUV – Best Green Choice: Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid

Par les temps qui courent, il faut regarder du côté des VUS purement électriques pour sauver au niveau de la consommation. Mais, fort heureusement, les modèles hybrides ne sont plus aussi rares qu’à l’époque. Subaru fait d’ailleurs le pari que son deuxième Crosstrek Hybride connaisse un peu plus de succès que le premier qui faisait appel à une motorisation hybride conventionnelle. Avec un arrangement rechargeable, il est possible de rouler sur l’énergie du bloc de batteries, mais il ne faut malheureusement pas s’attendre à de grandes distances.

Two-Row SUV – Best choice for long trips: Subaru Forester

The Subaru manufacturer is often named on this list by Parents magazine. The Forester would be the ideal vehicle for expeditions, thanks to its standard all-wheel drive, roof rack and exemplary comfort. You could even add that the Forester’s fuel consumption has been very good for the past few years, a fact made possible by the adoption of a continuously variable transmission.

Sedans – Best Value for a Hybrid: Honda Accord Hybrid

In the arguments listed by Parents magazine, the Honda Accord Hybrid sedan doesn’t cost much more than the regular model, while trunk space is no longer handicapped by a battery stowed behind the rear seat. The Accord Hybrid is also not an unpleasant car to drive.

Sedans – Best in all weather conditions: Subaru Legacy

The manufacturer has made it its hobbyhorse: four-wheel drive guarantees superior traction in winter. The Nissan Altima has joined the Legacy’s direct rivals with an AWD system, but it’s not a permanent type like Subaru’s.

The redesign for 2020 has certainly helped in this case, the sedan can now be ordered with a more energetic 4-cylinder turbocharged flatbed engine.

Sedans – Best sports car: Nissan Maxima

This was its angle of attack when it was redesigned for the 1989 model year in North America. The Four Door Sports Car still stands out from its peers today because of its relatively dynamic driving dynamics. However, Toyota’s effort is worth mentioning with its Avalon XSE, a large sedan that is surprisingly fun to drive. In the United States, there’s also a TRD livery!

Sedans – Best Hybrid Sports Car: Toyota Camry Hybrid

Still, it’s surprising to see that the hybrid versions are now the sportiest in Toyota’s lineup. Even the Camry is no exception to this rule. The manufacturer continues to offer a V6 engine for the more conservative among us, but we have to admit that the hybrid leaning of the mid-size sedan is at least worth a try.

[naturecoaster]

Entrepreneurial Inspiration, Nature Coast Style

What do you do when your livelihood is completely disrupted? Even with an emergency plan, many small businesses on Florida’s Nature Coast were unprepared for the changes brought about by the Coronavirus, or COVID-19, to our area in mid-March. On March 20, 2020, Governor Ron DeSantis ordered all Florida restaurants to shut down their dining rooms and stop in-house consumption alcohol sales. On April 29, Florida’s Governor gave restaurants permission to open at 25% capacity inside and utilize outdoor dining options. Some businesses closed, some changed their hours, some changed to a completely virtual system, and some found new ways to keep their doors open and their teams active with the new normal. Restaurants, in particular, were hit hard by the order to stop selling alcohol, close bars, then close indoor dining. These three local restaurants have impressed me with their ingenuity. May their stories will inspire you also.

Nature Coast entrepreneurs had to reinvent their business models to keep their operations running during the recent and ongoing COVID-19 Florida mandated public safety rules. Cattle Dog Coffee Roasters James and Heather Cook opened the doors to their first Cattle Dog Coffee Roasters in Hernando, Florida on February 23, 2009. They met in college and shared a passion for roasting coffee, going back to when they first began experimenting with roasting in a popcorn popper. James is a national award-winning chef who graduated from Johnson & Wales University after growing up in California’s restaurant business.

James Cook met his wife, Heather, while at Johnson and Wales University, where they began roasting coffee in a popcorn popper. Today they have five Cattle Dog Coffee Roaster stores with fresh-roasted coffee, amazing breakfast, lunch, and pastry items. Cattle Dog Coffee Roasters has expanded to five locations in Citrus County, offering the most varieties of coffee available in the U.S. as well as custom k-cups, loose leaf teas, and some of the finest breakfast, lunch, and bakery foods daily to their guests. Their online menu is here. With the COVID-19 restaurant dine-in options put on hold by the Governor, James and Heather went into overdrive. “Our first thought was how can we keep our employees working. They depend on us like we depend on them,” James shared with NatureCoaster. “I love to cook and create meals, so we came up with the idea of offering 3-course dinners to our customers Monday through Friday. A salad, entrée and dessert for $15 with a menu that changes daily. We are having a lot of fun doing this and 20 dinners pays for two employees 8-hour shifts.”

This fantastic 3-course meal consisted of Beef Bourguignon, ceasar salad and a chocolate-caramel dessert that was to-die-for delicious for only $15. This year they installed a large coffee roaster in a 7000 square foot building on Florida Avenue, which was the old “Lucky Diamonds Club.” This allows James and Heather to roast 150 pounds of fresh coffee beans in 1-1/2 hours! This is important because their coffee business is growing despite the challenges.  During Cattle Dog Coffee Roaster’s first year in business, they roasted and sold 500 pounds of beans. In 2020, they expect to roast and sell over 31,600 pounds of delicious, fresh-roasted beans.

Cattle Dog Coffee Roasters plan to roast and sell over 31,600 pounds of beans in 2020. They have had phenomenal growth in the 11 years they have been serving Florida's Nature Coast. Image courtesy of NatureCoaster. “We hope to reopen following the Governor’s direction, providing outdoor options and safe distance seating in our Hernando, Inverness, and Crystal River locations,” James said, “Our customer and employees safety are #1 and our desire to serve delicious coffee, tea, and creative, delicious food is right there too.”

Picking up my Pop-Up Dinner from Cattle Dog Coffee Roasters' Inverness location. Jared, the Store Manager, delivered my meals with a smile. Image by Diane Bedard The Pop-Up Dinners have been a great success, allowing 4 of the 5 locations to remain open, so they may continue as COVID-19 State restrictions ease up, or James and Heather may open a more formal restaurant. Chop Block Grill Eric Gallery and Todd Smith moved to Brooksville in 2017. They leased a retail location at 691 South Broad Street to open their dream steakhouse restaurant. After months of construction chaos, they chose to lease a historic location across from the Hernando County Courthouse and opened Broad Street Market. They were quite successful in the year building the business at Broad Street, which continuing buildout on the Chop Block Grill they dreamed of.

In September of 2019, Chop Block Grill opened at 691 S. Broad Street in Brooksville. They were in full swing when Florida's Executive Order 20-71 took aawy inside dining in their new steakhouse location. In September of 2019 they held their soft opening of Chop Block Grill with its new booths, fresh paint, and large, easy-to-manage kitchen. Most of their customers followed them over to the new location although it took a while for the word to get out, the staff to get settled and the kinks to get worked out with the new menu. When “season” hit, Chop Block was poised to take in locals and visitors. And everything was working well until the end of March 2020. “COVID-19 and the Executive Order forced us to lay our entire staff off. We moved to a to-go only menu and two of our former staff are volunteering to help us out,” Eric shared with NatureCoaster.

With some former staff volunteering, Chop Block Grill has been able to manage their to-go operation. They are working on a plan to reopen with the new COVID-19 restaurant guidelines from Tallahassee, but maintain a cautious outlook. Ann takes orders on the phone and takes care of all the public-facing activities wearing a mask and gloves. She volunteers to help at the restaurant she helped open and manage so the rent can still be paid while Eric cooks, Todd cleans, and Mandy volunteers with expo. “We created a smaller menu for our to-go operation, as well as a $5 half-pound Angus Burger Box special. We added a $5 pasta special also, selling over 500 burger specials and over 200 pasta specials,” Eric said. “We stopped the specials last week and went to our regular menu. It got people to notice us and get in the habit of considering Chop Block Grill when they order food for pickup. I am working on our plan to reopen with the new restaurant guidelines, although who knows how long it will take to get back to where we were.”

Eric Gallery and Todd Smith came up with $5 Burger Boxes to kick off their ToGo menu, while Ann volunteered to handle carside deliveries. They sold over 500 burger boxes! Small restaurants are truly a labor of love and their staff often become like a family. Chop Block Grill is planning to stay in the game and grow their To-Go while COVID-19 concerns keep American society from returning to its previous state. “Customers health is our main priority and I am still concerned about this virus continuing to infect our population, so we may take a more wait-and-see attitude than some others,” Eric shared with NatureCoaster. White Heron Tea & Gifts The White Heron Tea and Gifts opened in January 2016. Kelly Maki-Hackman grew up in New Port Richey, Florida and, with her husband, Bryan, always dreamed of opening a small business in it’s historic downtown.

The White Heron Tea & Gifts is located at 6228 Grand Boulevard in a historic downtown building in New Port Richey. Kelly Maki-Hackman has been operating the tea room there since 2016. She opened the tiny tearoom adjacent to Karen’s Gifts which was an established gift shop with 20 years longevity at 6228 Grand Boulevard. There were originally 4 tables. Kelly took over the gift shop and its owners retired. She updated the product lines and added her own touches, including macaroons and fresh-made chocolate delights. With a passion for tea that extended to education and a desire to create new recipes and entertain guests, along with some fine business acumen, Kelly and her staff have grown The White Heron Tea & Gifts to three formal seatings in the Tea Room Tuesday through Saturday, while adding a Tea Parlour for guests to stop in for informal tea and scones during business hours. Then came the State of Florida Executive Order 20-71. The Tea Room and Gift Shop were shut down and Kelly worried about what to do for her staff. Online tea orders were now a priority. “I decided to promote our tea company, Driftwood Teas, which supplies the Tea Room,” Kelly shared.

The Spring Tea Collection by Driftwood Tea Company is a nice way to enjoy the season's flavors and support a local business. Online sales have helped The White Heron Tea & Gifts stay in the game during the COVID-19 shutdown. Driftwood and The White Heron offer seasonal teas and it was time for the Spring Tea Collection. Packaging and shipping were worked out and some promotion was sent out to their customers. A bit of advertising was added. “The tea shipments helped us stay afloat,” Kelly said. Shortly thereafter, The White Heron Tea & Gifts began offering scones and tea to-go. On April 15, full tea kits were added and Prince and Princess Tea packages. “The additional offerings helped us retain a sense of normalcy. We missed the interaction with our customers and each other. We are able to bring in some income while maintaining our community relationships,” Kelly shared.

The White Heron Tea & Gifts now offers Afternoon Tea to go, Prince and Princess Tea to go and scones to go, as well as many types and flavors of tea to their customers. She met with her team this week, allowing them to express their feelings about the COVID-19 situation, working with the public, not working, their families and more. They discussed options for reopening when the State gave its ok and how they might serve outside and with limited seating. “It felt really good to talk with the team. Hearing everyone’s perspective on how this unprecedented situation had affected them and how we might overcome it together was good for us,” Kelly told NatureCoaster, “Now we will make plans to follow the new guidelines and do what we need to so we can weather the storm.” Kelly began creating new scone recipes, with a blueberry lemon, a savory and a strawberry lemon making it to the test kitchen so far. She began making tea cocktails with help from the bar and restaurant next door, Boulevard Beef and Ale and she is working on a cookbook.

Kelly Maki-Hackman, owner of The White Heron Tea & Gifts is working with her staff to move forward under the new Florida COVID-19 guidelines. Nature Coast Leaders All three of these Nature Coast Restaurants have inspired me with their quick reactions to a frightening, rapidly changing environment. Each one took their staff, their customers and their passions into account to find a creative solution to a new problem. What local businesses have impressed you with their response to the American COVID-19 pandemic? Please share in the comments so we can spread the word. Read the full article