#and then to not even acknowledge the role that our bench played is wild

[the-physicality]

.

[dfwandy]

We want to start by thanking everyone attending services today. Many have traveled in from out of state, and others took time out of their schedules to be here. It means so very much to us to share our father’s celebration of life with you.

To begin, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge our mother, Page Barry. All three of us; Robin, Jimmy and I. our spouses and our children want to take a moment to recognize our mother’s role in Dad’s care during his final years. When he became ill, Pagie became a project manager of sorts over his care. Because of her steadfast dedication to his wellbeing, he was able to live comfortably in his final years. We are incredibly grateful, that because he was so well taken care of, his life was extended, and we were able to spend more precious holidays with him, including his 83rd birthday just a few weeks ago. Mom, you embodied what marriage really means through your dedication to Dad. Thank you, mom, from the bottom of our hearts.

I should mention that tomorrow is Jim and Page’s 61st wedding anniversary. Not long ago, even though Dad was very sick, he reached out to all of us to plan a special 60th wedding anniversary celebration. It wasn’t until we were sitting at the party dinner table that he realized it was actually their 59th anniversary! He was off by a year, but a wonderful time was had by all.

They say “If the United States can be called a body, then Kentucky can be called its heart”. Dad was a Kentucky boy through and through, and I know he is looking down on us today, and beaming that Kentucky folks are “in the house” and representing his home very proudly today.

When you think about Jim Barry, the very first thing that comes to mind is his sharp sense of humor and quick wit. In order to be truly funny, you really have to be smart, and in Dad’s case, his sense of humor was brilliant. One of my favorite zingers of his came about 12 or 13 years ago. A group of the St. Louis crew came down to Texas for a summer visit. We were at Sea World. In San Antonio. In July. It was in a word. HOT. We had three wild boys and a toddler to boot, running the park causing total mayhem. Deep into the afternoon we stopped at a bench in the shade to gather our thoughts and cool off for a moment. and I said to the group “I’m going to the concession stand, can I get anybody anything? Dad quickly piped up and said “a pistol”. These zingers, as we call them, the fast as a flash one liners always brought levity to whatever situation we were in and brought joy and howling laughter to our gatherings.

When I asked my boys about their Grandad they had so many fond memories to share. Vance remembers when Grandad helped him build his Texas Longhorns themed Scouts derby car, Nicky recalls Granddad painting camo stripes on his new Nerf gun, and James loved watching the masters with him this past Easter weekend.

Everybody has a dad. But there is a very short list of people in this word have MY dad. He was special, Jim Barry was...really cool.

When most children bring home school artwork, it typically goes on the fridge and maybe gets tucked away in a scrapbook. My dad took my drawings, precisely contour cut them out, and mounted them to pretty colored boards. When other little girls got play kitchens at Christmas, my dad built one from scratch and hand lettered “Jennifer’s Stove” on the backsplash. A lot of girls get a car for their 16th birthday. When I turned 16 my dad custom painted a VW bug. Hot pink with gold glitter racing stripes.

Examples like this number in the hundreds. There’s a typical way things are done and there is his way. You could call it the “Granddad Factor”. The special touches that he brought to ordinary occurrences were simply...magic. memories of his unique and thoughtful contributions are woven through the very fabric of my life, and I am forever changed for the better because he was my Dad.

Dad had a few hospital stays recently. When the nurses walked in you could tell his demeanor changed and he would turn on the charm a little bit. As they would leave the room he would say TTFN! Which stood for Ta Ta For Now! He thought it was pretty cool that some of the nurses caught on and started saying it back.

I think his little catch phrase is only fitting today. Dad, we are not saying goodbye. We will see you again. So, for today, we will simply say Ta Ta For Now.

[dramaqueeenamby]

Waves: Quarantine

A/N: It's been way too long since I've done something for the Wavesverse, and I apologize deeply. I have a few requests related to this series to complete, but I couldn't knock this idea.

Words: 4K

Warnings: None

Tags: @babe-im-bi @notacamelthatsmywife @missyperle @queenoftheworldisdead @tashawar @valkryienymph @letsshamelessqueen-m @hello-therree @mani-lifes @liquorlaughslove @toni9 @koko-michelle @theequeenofcurses @taylortheeshowpony

Waves

Summer placed her phone inside of the mount and made sure that it was secured before she sat back in her bed, getting comfortable with the mass of pillows supporting her back, and smiling tentatively. “Hi, guys.”

Summer!

Someone tell me this isn’t a joke???? Please???

She lives!

Sis, blink twice if you need help.

Summer rolled her eyes. “Ya’ll better stop. I know it’s been a minute since I’ve hopped on live, but it hasn’t been that damn long.”

Summer continued to read the comments where more than a few people pointed out she hadn’t gone live on Instagram in over three months. Her mouth dropped. “Ya’ll lying. It has not been almost six months, has it?” She placed her hand over her mouth when people started dropping dates in the comments. “Okay, I stand corrected. Damn, I’m sorry, guys.”

Don’t be sorry, bestie. Do better!

Damn, ya’ll are so entitled. Celebrities have lives too.

What life? We all been in quarantine.

Rich people quarantine be different from us poor folks, I guess.

“So that’s actually one of the things I wanted to talk about.” Summer cleared her throat. “And I’m going to try really hard to make sure I word what I want to say as clear and as effective as I can, but I know this is still going to end up as a salacious headline. So, it is what it is.”

Oooh, Summer about to drop some tea.

I don’t see her wedding ring, ya’ll…..

I’m scared omg.

Watch this be nothing but a role announcement.

She shrugged and took a deep breath. “Okay, so a few days ago, I did the Buss It challenge, after being harassed by Sanda. And can I just say that filming was a challenge in and of itself? Not necessarily the movements but preparing? I’ve got two kids, twins, who are like the Tasmanian devil. I was literally up at 3 something in the morning trying to record it because my wild children won’t let me be great.” She chuckled. “Kids are something else.”

Summer truly jumped through hoops and was a damn near acrobat trying to figure out when she could not only get herself done up but actually record the challenge. Being the perfectionist that she was didn’t help, but the fact that she couldn’t recall the last time she’d put on makeup and dressed up was a whole other fiasco.

Quarantine definitely brought out her bum side.

“All of that aside, I truly was satisfied and happy with the final product when I posted it. In hindsight, I should have just left it that, but I wake up every day and choose chaos, so I decided to read the comments.” She blew out a breath. “One of the most frequent comments and really, insults, I’ve received my whole career. Primarily, since I was cast as Storm, revolves around how I look. I.e., my weight. I’ve been called fat, obese, out of shape, and so many other things.”

It was 100% true. The minute Marvel announced that she’d been chosen to play Storm, the racists came all out of the woodworks. She was too short, too chubby, too dark, too black. And Summer didn’t care, not a bit.

“Even,—and I’ll tell you guys this, when I first started my SS training, that’s what I call it, SS for Storm Shape, there was a—person who worked for Marvel at the time who came to visit me while I was training.” She smiled thinking back on that day. She could still recall it so clearly. “He basically was pissed because to him, I still looked the same, fat and out of shape.” She adjusted her top and shifted in her bed. “That same day, I deadlifted and bench-pressed over 200lbs” She paused for effect. “What I need for people to stop doing is stop fucking projecting—and I’m going to cuss in this, so if you don’t like it, oh well. I work for Disney, but I’m a grown ass woman, and I’m going to say what I want.”

I am screaming. Summer said we getting alll the tea today!

So, it’s wrong to point out that someone is physically unhealthy now, cool?

The problem is that no one wants to see a fat superhero. It’s not realistic.

^^^^ Tell me you have a small dick without actually telling me you have a small dick.

“I saw Lizzo, whom I adore, post a Tik Tok where she basically said that she workouts to have the body she wants not what ya’ll want, and honestly? Same. She said that her body type is no one’s fucking business, and that’s so true. Ya’ll love to hop on this internet and pick apart people you don’t even know and criticize bodies you don’t even have to live in and move around with. And for what?” She shook her head, slamming her fist into her open palm as she spoke. She was fully invested now. “I know we in quarantine, but damn, pick another hobby cause being a bully is not it, sweetie.”

I really needed to hear this today.

Using Lizzo as a point of reference makes everything you’re saying null and void. Lizzo is clearly overweight and at risk for diabetes, heart disease, just to name a few…..

I been saying this! You can’t look at a person and say they’re unhealthy.

Bodies come in so many forms, and all are beautiful.

“Now, I bring all this up because a lot of people were commenting on my Buss It challenge and pointing out the fact that I’ve gained weight, and guess fucking what? I have, and you know what else?” She leaned over to whisper while covering her mouth with her hands for focused effect. “I don’t care.”

Summer laughed and shook her head. “As others have pointed out as well, yes, we have a gym in our house. I 1000% acknowledge the fact that having the resources that I do as a celebrity and someone who has money puts me in a different category. Hell, my husband has a whole fitness app. I recognize that. If I wanted to keep up with my workouts, emphasis on wanted, I could have. I own up to that, but I just didn’t feel like it, and that’s okay. What’s not okay is to send and leave mean messages calling me all kinds of names.”

Summer had thick skin. She always had. Growing up with her family, who always ensured to feed her self esteem and make sure she knew that she was beautiful, definitely paid off. It was just a combination of quarantine and not having a lot of opportunities to keep herself busy with work that had her feeling some type of way.

“And that’s something else I wanted to bring up.” She blew out another breath and tried to gather her emotions. This was the subject she was almost certain she’d grow teary eyed discussing. “I love my husband to death. My children are everything. Christopher’s family is like my own, but— I haven’t seen my family, like my mom, grandma, brothers, etc in almost a year.” She paused, dwelling on that. Almost an entire year since she’d been able to physically hug and interact with the people who made her who she was. “And I’ve always made it clear how much I fucking love my family. I live in Australia. I can’t do a drive by with grandma so I and my kids can at least see her on the doorstep.” She quieted again, eyes darting off as she quietly cursed. “I’m trying really hard not to cry right now.”

Please don’t cry, bestie.

This is the side of quarantine that people don’t talk about enough.

Has this woman never heard of FaceTime????

I feel her pain. I live in Europe, and my family is in the states. This quarantine has been brutal.

My grandma died from COVID, and I couldn’t even go to the funeral. Summer is bringing up a good point.

“Damn,” Summer chuckled bitterly and wiped at the tears that fell. “I’m okay, I promise. I just bring this up because quarantine has also been very hard for me in that aspect. At certain points, I’ve been down, I’ve been in my head a lot, and I just was not, for the most part, in a space where I felt like I had to keep up my fitness regimen. And that’s okay. I put my mental wellbeing ahead of making sure my body is socially acceptable. Sue me.”

I really appreciate her honesty.

Summer never goes beyond surface level in interviews, so seeing her this vulnerable is really surprising.

Are we supposed to feel bad for her? She’s rich. She can afford whatever help she needed.

These comments are not passing the vibe check.

Ya’ll are all mental health advocates, but when a black woman is opening up about her struggle, it’s discarded?

“And let me make this clear too, I have an amazing husband who is so patient and so kind. He’s one of the best people I can go to when my anxiety hits, so I don’t want this to come across as me complaining that I’ve been alone. I have him and our children. I just miss the rest of my family. That’s all.” She dried her eyes and started to read the comments, unsurprised by the mixed reaction. She expected as such and was unaffected. At least until she saw one comment.

@ChrisEvans: ❤️❤️❤️

“Evans!” Summer wasn’t expecting to see his name pop up. It’d been such a task convincing him to join IG, let alone teaching him how to operate it. “Let’s go live.”

Not my husband and wife in my head about to go live!!!!

Imagine being able to call Chris Evans your best friend

I still say they smashed idc

It’s Christopher Jamal Evans hopping on this live for me.

^^^ I’m so sick of y’all with that shit.

“Let me try to add him,” Summer spoke to herself, scrolling through the comments to find his so she could request him. “Alright, I requested him. Let’s see if he answers.”

She wondered if she should have sent him a text asking if he was available when he appeared on her screen, effectively splitting it with her on the top and him on the bottom.

“Punk.”

“Kid.”

Summer smiled and greeted, “Hi, best friend.”

He chuckled. “How you doing, Summer?”

“Clearly not as good as the people watching,” she chimed. Summer saw nothing but heart eyes and hearts in the comments. “These people really love you. You truly are a manipulative bastard. He’s an asshole, guys.”

“Don’t be jealous, Summer. It’s so unbecoming of you.”

“You can go to hell.”

“Language,” he playfully reprimanded. “Where are the kids?”

“At preschool. Things are finally starting to open back up over here. Thank God.” She clasped her hands together. “Y’all, please wear masks. Don’t be Karen’s.”

Chris laughed, grabbing his chest. “We’re getting there, Summer.”

“The lies you tell,” she countered. “Don’t A Starting Point, me. Ya’ll are far from getting there, and I’m tired of it. I wanna see my family.”

He sighed. “I know, but how are you feeling today?”

“I got rid of the kids, so that’s definitely a weight lifted,” she answered honestly, laughing when she saw judgmental comments in the chat. “Listen, if you’re a parent, you know where I’m coming from. You love your kids, but my god, sometimes you just need some space.”

“As soon as this all blows over, I told you to send em’ by me for a couple of weeks.”

“Best friend, I already purchased their tickets.” He laughed. “As soon as I get the green light, they are all yours. Feel free to keep them.”

“You guys see how she is?” He pointed to Summer, leaning and squinting to read what was being said. “I do love kids, especially the twins, they’re amazing.”

“He is really really great with them, guys,” Summer added. “One thing about Evans, he’s patient as hell and really, just a big kid. Why do you think him and Christopher get along so well? 40 going on 4.”

“I resent that.”

“Is it a lie though?”

He hesitated. “No.” They both laughed.

I’m loving the dynamic between these two so much.

Is it just me or are they flirting with each other…..

Ain’t nothing inappropriate about this conversation. Ya’ll are reaching…

Ya’ll remember that blind item that came out years ago alleging Chris (Evans) was the biological father of the twins? Hmm…..

^^^^^This kind of bullshit is the reason we’re in a global pandemic.

As always, Summer and Evans ignored any foolery that was being dropped in the comments when she caught a comment that didn’t contain some ridiculous rumor.

“Yes, it is true that Evans and Christopher weren’t allowed to do press together anymore. Ya’ll, they literally could not stay serious for more than a minute. I felt so bad for the poor interviewers.”

“Hey, we were not that bad,” Evans protested, his Boston accent more prominent.

She gasped. “You guys were terrible, Evans, and you know it. I was so mad when they put me with ya’ll those few times. I could barely hear the interviewers over your laughing and stupid commentary that literally no one asked for.”

“We did not.”

“There’s deadass video proof, Evans.”

“Fake news.”

She opened her mouth but caught herself. “I was about to say something.”

He laughed and asked, “Do you remember how we all got drunk before the Infinity War premiere?”

“No, ya’ll got drunk. I was big and pregnant, remember?”

“No,” he dismissed. “You were drinking with us.”

“Evans, how was I drinking when I was pregnant?” She challenged and reminded. “I got drunk with ya’ll for the Endgame premiere, not Infinity War.”

“That’s right,” he remembered and chuckled. “You think we’ll get in trouble for saying this?”

She shrugged with one shoulder. “You’re dead, Christopher never gets in trouble for anything, and I do what I want. I think we’re good.”

Kevin Feige watching this live right now like 🥴🥴🥴🥴

I never realized how arrogant she is……

LMAO. Not the whole cast showing up drunk to the biggest premiere of their lives.

Chris Evans is too damn fine to be approaching 40 and still single.

Their friendship is so goals omg

@ChrisHemsworth: Snitches

Summer’s jaw dropped as she caught the last comment, swiping up to click the name and make sure that she was reading correctly. “Christopher, what the hell are you doing on my live?”

Evans brows furrowed. “Hemmy is here? Shouldn’t he be working?”

“That’s what I want to know,” Summer supplied. “And how long have you been watching?”

@ChrisHemsworth: Long enough.

She smiled nervously and looked off to the side. “I feel weird now. I don’t like when he watches my lives.”

“Aren’t you guys married?”

“Aren’t you supposed to be shutting the fuck up?”

Evans lifted his hands in a defensive manner. “Touchy subject, I see.” They shared another laugh as he cleared his throat. “Why don’t you add him now? I’m supposed to be helping Scott cook.”

“My favorite Evans,” she gushed and furrowed her brows. “You, cooking? Since when?”

“Get out of here.” He waved her off and reminded. “I’m not the one who constantly causes near fires when in the kitchen.”

“So, you really just putting all my business out there like that?”

“Summer, it’s not secret to anyone that you can’t cook for shit.”

“Wow, it really be your own best friends.”

He chuckled. “Love you, kid.”

“Love you too, punk,” she blew a kiss. “I’ll text ya’ later.”

“Alright.” He smiled for the camera. “Thanks for having me everyone.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” she said jokingly. Evans and Summer said goodbye one last time before he left the live. She blew out a breath and ran her hand through her hair. “Baby, comment something so I can add you. It’s too many comments to wade through.”

Summer adjusted her phone and checked the time on the clock on the wall. It’d been a while since the kids were away at school, and she didn’t want to get so caught up that she was late picking them up.

@ChrisHemsworth: I can’t. I’m too drunk.

Summer released a mixture of a laugh and a snort reading his comment. “You are so damn petty.” She clicked his name and adjusted her outfit while waiting for him to answer. She almost cursed when it seemed like he wasn’t going to join, only for her to smile when his face appeared on her screen.

“Hi,” she greeted in a soft voice with a small smile.

“Hello, Sandcastle.”

“Did you just—I swear to god, it’s always something with you.” Summer rubbed her temples and shook her head. Christopher smiled in response. “Why aren’t you working?”

“I am.”

“You are?”

“Yes.”

“If you’re working, how are you talking to me?” She asked, sassily.

“Umm, a little thing called multitasking, ever heard of it?”

“Wow. You are an asshole.”

“That’s mean.”

“You’re mean.”

“Christopher, you are literally a child.”

“Does a child have muscles like this?” He flexed, and Summer stilled. Christopher stayed in ridiculous shape, but this was another level. He’d never been this massive, and she wasn’t too proud to admit that. Just not aloud.

She faked a yawn. “Am I supposed to be impressed?”

They really just be roasting each other all the time, and I’m here for it.

Summer must be legally blind because this man is stupid fine tf

It’s gotta be steroids. That’s not natural.

^^^^^He’s the god of thunder.

Summer rolled her eyes at the typical nature of the comments. These were the reasons she limited her time on social media and especially stayed away from reading the comments. Her attention was redirected to the top of her phone. It was a text from Christopher asking her to call him.

“But we’re—oh, I get it.” She realized he wanted to talk to her, not her and her tens of millions of followers. “Alright, guys, I’m gonna get off here so I can talk to my husband, alone.”

“She just doesn’t want to share me with you all, that’s all.”

“Don’t even start, Christopher,” she lectured while he laughed and got serious, for a minute tops.

“Hope you all are taking care and staying safe,” he spoke honestly. “And we’ll talk to you soon.”

Summer waved and smile. “Bye, guys. Remember to be kind.” Summer offered a final smile before ending the live. Closing up the app, she moved to open FaceTime and called up Christopher. He answered almost immediately. “You know I hate when you watch my Lives. Now, how much did you see?”

“Enough to know you’re coming to see me tonight.”

She laughed aloud. “Funny.”

“I’m serious, Summer.” Focusing on him, she realized that there was no humor in his voice nor his expression. Summer also noticed that he didn’t have the Thor wig on yet, which was probably why he was able to go live with her. He was waiting to get into hair and makeup. “Leave the kids with Liam. It’s not like he’s doing anything.”

“Christopher!”

“What? Is he not a professional unemployed bastard.”

Summer’s smile remained as she shook her head. “You are so mean.”

“I’ll handle the flight arrangements. You, my beautiful wife, just make sure you get on the jet so I can handle you.”

“Christopher, you’re working. People with everyday jobs don’t just up and show up to their spouses workplace because they miss them or need a break from the kids. That’s how folks get fired.”

Christopher started to move around, walking somewhere, she realized. “What are you doing?”

“Hey, Tike.”

Summer’s eyes widened slightly. “Christoper!”

“Sup, man?” Taika asked casually, as Summer laughed again. Taika Waititi was such a character.

“You mind if Summer comes up for a few days?”

“Sure, man,” he replied almost right away. “Bring the kids and chickens too.”

“I am not bringing those damn chickens,” she immediately protested.

Christopher made a sound. “Ha, so you are coming!”

“I didn’t say that.”

Taika joined Christopher so that he was in camera. “Hey, Summer, why don’t you come on join? You can have a cameo. Chickens, too.”

She rubbed her temples. Taika’s and Chris’s friendship would never not make sense to her. They were cut from the same cloth. “One, hey. Two, I was already in Ragnarok. I’m good on the cameos. Three, what is with ya’ll and those creepy looking chickens?”

“Whoa, creepy? What did the chickens ever do?”

“Exist,” Summer answered dryly. She still hadn’t forgiven Evans and Christopher for convincing her to let the kids keep those damn things. Her home was becoming more and more of a farm with each animal that joined the household.

“Tough crowd, that one, ehh?”

“Always,” Christopher agreed.

“I can hear you both,” she reminded and groaned loudly. Summer would love to spend a few days away from the kids. Chris would be working, yes, but she’d at least get some time for herself. Even better, alone adult time with her husband. That had also been a bit tricky during quarantine because of her rambunctious twins. Still, she disliked using her status as a celebrity to gain things, and this would definitely be a case of using status for pull. “I don’t know….”

Deep in her thoughts, she hadn’t realized that Chris had walked away and returned to wherever he was prior to finding Taika, most likely his trailer.

“What if you only stayed a night?” Chris tried to bargain. “The flight is only an hour and a half. That will give you more than enough time to come here, let me fix you dinner, run you a nice bath, maybe get in the good ole’ horizontal tango—”

“You know I hate when you call it that,” she reminded quietly, admitting. “That does sound nice, though.”

“Or, I can come to you—“

“Absolutely not. Christopher, you’re already doing so much back and forth as it is.” One of the good things to come out of quarantine, to Summer at least, was that it forced many people to take a much needed break. Her husband was one of those people. Christopher had been working nonstop since she met him. Project after project, film after film, many of them Marvel films, which put a whole other layer of difficulty what with the strenuous physical requirements. Even now as he shot Thor 4, he was in the best shape he’d ever been, muscles nearly tearing the cotton of his clothes. He looked amazing, but it was what they couldn’t see that she was starting to grow a little concerned over. Christopher wasn’t as young as he once was. He had to slow down, eventually.

Summer realized this would be a perfect chance to have a conversation about just that with him, which all but led her to her final decision.

“Alright,” she conceded, finger up as she made her demands. “Three days, and I stay at the house while you shoot. We may be returning to normal, but we’re still in a pandemic. I won’t go around anyone except you.”

“So I get you all to myself? Hardly consider that a stipulation.”

“And…we talk.”

“After the horizontal tango—“

“I swear to God, if you don’t stop calling it that—“

“What was that, sweetheart? I wasn’t listening.” She saw that he had paused the screen, causing Summer to remember that she hadn’t even consulted with the babysitter. “Making flight arrangements for you.”

“Shit, let me text Liam and make sure he’s available.”

“He gets reception in the box?”

“Christopher! For the last time, your brother is not living in a box.”

“Do you know that for certain?”

“Goodbye, Christopher,” she prepared to end the call before smiling softly. “I love you, Christopher, and thank you.”

He winked. “I’ll always do anything for you, Summer. Anything.” A beat. “Don’t forget to leave the clothes. You won’t need them.”

“Christopher!”

[zozammer]

Dark Hair

Big proponent of the goo, hot chocolate stuff.

I was born normal, perfectly happy and ready to Rock. And I had potential to love, and be loved.

(So go figure. It’s been a rocky ride so I wouldn’t be past that word haha.)

A friend wrote to me the other day, said she found some letters I wrote to her in the ninth grade and they made her smile. They also upset her slightly because the letters had bouts of sadness, of darkness, that’s what she said anyway. I laughed it off and said I was grateful because I have a wicked sense of humour as a result of. That actually brought me some perspective. I’ve always been a bit sad, a bit dark, it’s been a relatively permanent fixture and reaction to my surroundings. It goes away, as it did in boarding school, when I’m in the presence of warmth and love. It goes away completely in ‘utopia’, in a progressive and equalising community.

I’m fine when I’m playing, acknowledged, and therefore shining. I’m actually great when I’m institutionalised; the irony is I’m perfectly built for tribes and communities, where my role and assimilation are clear. The black sheepishness is actually a great addition to the stew and makes for truly wonderful and funny times. I’m now thinking of mutton ha.

In Buddhism they say, ‘know yourself and you know everyone else’. So I guess everyone feels a bit out of sync when they’re out of love.

In a free, enlightening, and kind world, I am absolutely fine. But the world isn’t like that. I don’t really have false hope for any sort of love, even though I know that’s what will heal me inside. A lot of us who experience psychic pain are also emotionally vegan lol, in a sense that we derive our love from activities and small pleasures. Like food, or cooking, or art or reading. Maybe everyone is in psychic pain and we’re living in harsh times because it’s the most narcissistic time in human history, at least in terms of romantic love, if not platonic. We’re also experiencing a sex recession which also means that humans are having the least amount of sex ever recorded in history, even though we have greatly liberal norms today in comparison; ironically, this hasn’t created more intimacy, rather, left us the loneliest generation yet. I’m really happy for the ones who have managed to find partners who regard them as whole and familiar.

Me, on the other hand - I’ve had wild tales and interesting chemistries to say the least. I’ve been driven up the wall by the patriarchy (and perhaps driven some right under too, all is fair); been deemed incomplete and offered interesting mirrors by genteel Bandra boys, posh private school narcissists, deluded Apple fanboys, trolls, bullies, predators, older attached men, disturbed proletarians, creepy climbers, or even intolerant neo-patriarchs. That said, no offence taken. I’m just as deluded, neurotic and even perhaps a little narcissistic myself. I hold little or no hope of ever being in love because I hold no delusion of anyone ever being able to see what I can see, and consider any of it beautiful or relatable. But mostly, I have yet to ever feel whole in their presence and through their lenses and validated in the spectrum of their ideals. Sometimes self-love can’t make up for the way their politics seem to clash with yours, and the new symbols that emerge in the process. And then you just have war, which is often substituted by art as a peace offering.

We can all shout “Liberty! Equality! Fraternity!” and “Go Green!”, support our friends at Pride but the optimism doesn’t really translate into our innate senses of self and the allowances we make for what we think is lovable and acceptable. Very much cruising at the meat market for partners or friends, ones we think are good enough, to whom we can attach our identities with loving truisms. We type out ‘fuck capitalism’ in bold, most self-righteously on our latest androids and MacBooks. We collectively cheer on Greta on the field, as we continue to smoke our packs of cigarettes and chomp on our quarter pounders from the benches. We say ‘we love all sizes’ but we pick on the chubby ones anyway, because they symbolise weakness on a primal level, all the while sipping on our flat whites and turning to Nietzche in search of deeper throats.

Do I hope to meet a friend/lover who is my intellectual, emotional, and physical equivalent? Plato insists that the highest form of love between two people is ‘philia’, or friendship - the love that exists between two individuals who expess a likeness and kinship, and can move towards life sharing common goals and grow in ideals. So I guess what I’m saying is, I think I need to make friends with my other half inside first, for there to be communion outwards. It’s a fuck ton of work.

What I can hope for, is healing and being at peace and making art without others picking at me during the process, therefore isolation is my current answer. Although, it’s more sustaining and extremely beneficial when you have inspiring teachers and a healthy community. The healing doesn’t start without forgiveness, and I don’t know how long that bit is going to take. I’ve been praying though. I can hope for art and making some consistent change, understanding nature more, and living out my ideas to fruition.

Being solid in plan and execution and hopefully the work will be strong enough, to survive the politics of a place.

[junker-town]

Maybe Jared Dudley was the unlikely key to the 76ers chemistry

The Sixers figured it out on the fly during the regular season. The first-round battles with an unlikely foe was exactly what Philly needed to come together.

BROOKLYN — This was the scene after the 76ers came from behind to defeat the Nets in Game 4, 112-108: laughter. Despite a third-quarter scuffle that ejected one of Philadelphia’s four stars, the post-game press conference for Jimmy Butler and Joel Embiid became a comedy special.

Joel Embiid and Jimmy Butler addressing the Jared Dudley situation pic.twitter.com/B0dInypB9v

— Kristian Winfield (@Krisplashed) April 20, 2019

It was utter mayhem on the basketball court midway through the third period after Embiid issued Jarett Allen his second flagrant foul of the series. Only this time, Jared Dudley came to Allen’s defense, shoving Embiid and barking in his face. And only this time, Butler came to Embiid’s defense, ramming Dudley with the need to be restrained.

Embiid never had a chance to even think about retaliating. Butler handled his light work. That’s the way this relationship works.

Jared Dudley and Jimmy Butler ejected for the melee; Embiid gets a Flagrant 1 pic.twitter.com/OllMftoI9W

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 20, 2019

Butler and Embiid had come to an agreement earlier in the season. They acknowledged that the two cannot win without one another.

Embiid is the workhorse, the dominant presence giving opponents matchup nightmares. Butler is the closer, the playmaker who has proven, time and time again, he can create under pressure. If Embiid carried the team through the first three periods, Butler would carry the team across the finish line. It’s the wild experiment in Philly that’s got the Sixers headed to the second round for a date with Toronto.

But in this wild role reversal, Butler was ejected with 7:40 remaining in third quarter. Philadelphia’s closer was no more, because he came to his workhorse’s defense. Embiid took over after Butler was ejected. He had 18 points, nine rebounds, five assists and two blocks from that point on. He dominated the game, after Butler dominated Dudley.

The 76ers had no choice but to come together in the face of an unlikely enemy. After all, Dudley called Ben Simmons “average in the half-court,” to which Simmons responded, “That’s coming from Jared Dudley. Come on.” The story was no longer Nets vs. Sixers, but beef between a veteran and a young star.

The real story is this loaded 76ers team, crystallizing a chemistry that has waffled back and forth all season. Chemistry was the only question mark after taking two stars and adding another two in the middle of the season. If this team is connected, like they looked against Brooklyn, it could be the beginning of something special in Philadelphia.

After all, the 76ers upended their team in November to acquire Butler, then absolutely bulldozed it at the trade deadline to land Tobias Harris. The moving parts blasted the chemistry from Philly’s previous season. They played the second half of the year figuring it out on the fly. Somehow they steered the plane through turbulence into the East’s third seed.

Some felt Dudley had gotten into Simmons’ head. Simmons responded with a signature playoff performance in Game 3, then refused to talk about Dudley any further.

But Dudley continued jawing at Simmons in Game 4. He stripped him in transition in the second quarter, then after a timeout was called, Dudley trash-talked Simmons on the way to the bench. Then, he made a three-pointer in the same period, and gave Simmons a taste of his own trolling medicine.

Dudley was exactly the villain the Sixers needed. He was the the trolling force who helped Philadelphia unite.

Joel Embiid on Jared Dudley: “First of all, he’s a nobody. When opponents do stuff like that, they’re trying to get us out of our game. I’m too valuable for that.” (via @DefPenHoops) pic.twitter.com/uAtSAz5FL5

— Kristian Winfield (@Krisplashed) April 20, 2019

The Sixers knew Dudley would have something extra in Game 4; both Embiid and J.J Redick admitted the team was expecting it this time around. But Butler dealt with Dudley, then the Sixers dealt with the Nets. This series against a gritty Brooklyn team is exactly what Philly needed to grow.

It was the matchup that brought the team together after the regular season tried to tear them apart.

[5hfanfiction]

Wicked Games (Chapter 7)

Things got pretty awkward between me and Lauren, and even Dinah as well. Incidentally, I began to regret my decision to stay with them while my floorboards were getting replaced.

Lauren and I tip-toed around eachother as much as possible. I avoided her, and she avoided me. I tried to stay out as long as possible, so that I would come home late, and when I was there, Lauren stayed in her room.

Dinah was still friendly towards me, but I felt weird knowing that she knew, knowing that she had heard what transpired between me and Lauren. I knew it was silly, but I was avoiding her as well, feeling slightly embarassed.

I told them I was staying out late studying in the library, which was true, but I could have just as easily studied at their place. I just didn’t want to deal with the underlying tension between us three. Additionally, I hated having to pretend like everything’s normal when Mani and Ally were around. I preferred to act like nothing had ever happened, and to stop thinking about or acknowledging it.

Today was game day, and I was a little concerned the awkwardness would carry over into the game. I made the executive decision that we would need to have a talk before we let this ruin a potentially good game for us. Our opponent was Pacific Lane University, who’s in our conference. It would be our first conference game of the season. It’s especially important that we beat them and start off our league schedule on a good note, if we hoped to get to the post-season and win our conference championship.

Although Pacific Lane had not won a game thus far in the short start of the season, you could never underestimate an opponent at the college level. We had learned that the hard way last year, when we lost to what was considered the worst team in the conference and, as a result, lost our playoff contention. Any team could beat anyone on any given day. You have to bring your best every game or else you will lose.

I needed Lauren, Dinah, and I to bring our best today and not be worried about off-court issues. Which is why I texted coach and informed him that I wanted to have a players meeting between us three before shoot around. One of the reasons that I liked and respected Coach Tommy was that he let me make decisions as captain. Most coaches that I have had in the past would give you the title, but never let you do anything with it, other than shaking the refs’ hands at the beginning of the games. He truly allowed me to step into the role, no questions asked.

I stopped both Dinah and Lauren before they left the locker room to get on the court and motioned for them to come with me to the conference room. Lauren blinked at me, clearly astonished. Dinah seemed to have an understanding expression. I said nothing as we walked to the room.

The conference room was a small room, with a long wooden table, and a series of nice chairs on each side. A projector screen was on the wall at the front. This is where we hold team meetings, have film sessions, and the occassional interview. I gestured for them to sit in the available chairs at the front of the table. I sat in a chair opposite them, and then cleared my throat.

“I think we all know why we’re in here,” I started, my voice shaking slightly. I swallowed my nerves and continued, “I just want to make sure there is no more tension or distractions for our game today.”

Dinah spoke up first, while Lauren refused to meet my gaze, opting instead to stare at the ‘wonderful’ mahogany table. “Honestly Camila, I’m sorry if I’ve been a little weird lately-”

I put my hands up to cut her off, “No Dinah, I’m sorry. I’ve been the one who’s been avoiding you. You did nothing wrong. I just..” I looked from Dinah to Lauren, and then back to Dinah when Lauren did not look up, “I was embarassed that you overheard it.. ya know,” I admitted, shrugging, trying to be honest.

Dinah nodded her head, “I understand and I promise,” she said as she put both hands up, “there’s no judgment here.”

I never was concerned that there was, but I nodded, appreciating her reassurances. At the same time, I cringed internally for Lauren at the comment.

I looked over at her and noticed that she still hadn’t looked up from the table, clearly doing her best to block out this conversation. This was exactly what I didn’t need. What our team didn’t need.

“Lo, I’m going to need you to look at me, and talk to us,” I said cautiously, worried she might lash out.

Her beautiful greens finally moved up to meet my eyes. She looked back-and-forth between me and Dinah for a few beats and then sighed.

“I’m sorry for putting you on the spot here Lo, but… what happened.. happened. We can’t take that back now. I just want to move forward and make sure all of our focus is on getting that ring at the end of the year.”

She just stared at me for a few seconds, with an unreadable look in her eyes. I swallowed, worried that she wasn’t going to say anything, until at last, she nodded her head and said, “I agree. It’s in the past. It won’t be a problem on the court.”

“Ok, great,” I muttered. I got up from the table and walked around to them, opening my arms. I pulled them both in for a hug, as they stood. “I love ya’ll,” I spoke genuinely. Then I pulled away and looked at them both, “Let’s go get this win.”

Dinah was smiling. Lauren had a blank look, but they both nodded in agreement. I took that as good enough. We ran out to the court, only a few minutes late for the shootaround. I gave a thumbs up to Coach Tommy and we proceeded with putting up shots.

Once shoot around was over, we all went for our pregame meal at Subway. I came back to the gym straight after to get treatment from the trainers. They stretched me out and had me put a heat pad on my legs and hips for twenty minutes, since my muscles were often tight and tense there. Lastly, they taped my left ankle, which had a tendency to give out on me. I went through this ritual before every game.

Finally, it was time for warmups. I went into the locker room, and grabbed my uniform off the hooks, which had already been hung up for us. To finish, I put on my shooting shirt and shoes. I slid my headphones out of my ears, and put my phone away in my bag.

I closed my eyes, taking a moment to remind myself that this was my last year, and I needed to approach every game as if it was my last. I also took this time to remind myself that I know what I’m doing, to remind myself to trust my instincts.

The thing I struggled most with throughout my entire basketball career had always been more mental than physical. Confidence was often lacking with me. Some people thought I was crazy for feeling that way when I put up the kind of numbers that I was currently, and maybe it was. Unfortunately for me, there’s always a voice in the back of my head that believes I am not good enough. To this day, I still wasn’t sure why that voice had come alive. I had made strides in quieting that voice in recent years, but it was always there. Just below the surface, waiting for a few missed shots, a few turnovers, a few missed rotations on defense, to wake back up.

I went through an exercise I had researched about. I flashed through memories of good games I had in the past, good moves I made, good reads, good passes, good shots, good blocks, anything and everything to remind myself that I know how to play basketball, and that I am good at it.

Once I felt myself regain confidence, I took a deep breath and opened my eyes. I left the locker room, feeling in the zone, and ready to dominate.

Now, I was standing in the huddle with my fellow starters, getting the last pregame talk. Coach Tommy was reminding us that Pacific Lane loves to play a 2-3 zone defense with a trap in the corners. “We can still go to the corners, to move the defense, but make sure we zip it out of there as quickly as possible. Don’t get trapped!” Then Coach looked toward me, “Camila! Their defense cannot stop you, attack them.” I smiled slightly, appreciating his confidence in me. “Normani, draw the fouls. They love to reach on defense.” Tommy then put his arm out, for us all to meet our hands in the middle, “Win it for eachother ladies,” was the last thing he said before we broke out with a resounding, “Together!”

I stood on the left side of halfcourt, waiting for the jump. The ref threw the ball into the air between Dinah, and Pacific Lane’s center. To my delight, Dinah won the tip, and the ball found its way to Jamie, who drove immediately towards the right side of our basket. Timing it correctly, I slipped behind my defender, calling for the ball. Jamie floated it to me, and I easily hit the left-handed layup. 'Good start’ I thought as I ran back on defense.

The game continued much like that. Pacific Lane could not keep up with our offensive sets, and we got whatever we wanted relatively easy. I was on fire, Jamie was on fire, and Normani was finding us on every cut, and every screen.

We finished the game 82-57. We got ahead so much, that our bench players were able to get into the game, including Ally. The starters got to sit and rest for the entirety of the fourth quarter, which is our goal for every game.

The stats at the end of the contest found me with 18 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 assists. Normani had 10 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals, and 10 assists. Dinah had 11 points, 11 rebounds (5 of which were offensive), 1 steal, 2 blocks, and 2 assists. Jamie had 15 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists. Missy had 8 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 assist.

We had 20 bench points, which is pretty remarkable. Lauren had 6 points from 2 beautiful 3-pointers, and a pair of assists. Ally even scored while she was on the court, which caused the whole bench to erupt into an array of wild cheers, in honor of our best cheerleader.

Everything was clicking for us in that game. As Coach Tommy reminded us in the locker room afterwards, it’s very hard to beat a team when they have four (almost five) players in double-digit point figures.

He told us to enjoy our vicory, but to remember that we have another game in 2 days, against a very tough conference opponent. Our record was now 4-1. I grimaced remembering our 1 loss, which came on the road during our second game of the season. I didn’t plan on adding any more to that column.

As I was unlacing my shoes, I noticed some feet move into my line of sight. I looked up to find the piercing green eyes of Lauren. She smiled slightly, as she raised her hand to give me a high-five. I hit my hand with hers and smiled back, as she stated, “Good game.”

“You too, Lo,” I responded warmly.

“Back to calling me Lo, huh?” she mumbled, half joking, but there was an underlying sentiment of sadness there as well that was unmistakable.

I leaned back, remembering how she questioned me about calling her Lauren. I didn’t realize that she paid that much attention to it. “I think that’s for the best,” I said dryly.

She nodded, and then turned to walk back to her locker. 'There it was again’ I thought. I went from feeling good and stable, to uneasy, all because of Lauren.

________________________________

AN: For future reference, all college names are fictional.

Wattpad: munkeytutu

[rodrickc0536-blog]

Learning PSYCH 625 Stats For The Actions Sciences Entire Training course

If you feel like the majority of parents that are actually intending their youngster's christening, you want every thing to be ideal, up to the last information. Know just how you can bring in even more significant additions to your team-or what you're currently doing that others actually appreciate-by proactively seeking comments off those you work closely with. The role from play is actually for the kid to know much better cognitive principles in ways that are satisfying, real, cement, and relevant to them. Sometimes gay males obtain harassed and also bullied for not adapting to the criteria of the community. After you are actually completed and your mind seems to be eventually blank without any originalities, you may review your checklist from charming quotes and choose the greatest ones. They are extra truthful, and tend to look for meaningful relationships compared with guys. That is actually vital that our company find opportunity for meaningful communication with our young people. Thus, every thing points in the direction of sourcing and also carrying out EHR program's that greatest serve one-of-a-kind requirements of varied process while also being actually up to date along with the CMS directed on Licensed EHR Innovation for obtaining Meaningful Usage requirement bench-mark. Words and photos may assist you in remembering factors through delivering pictures in your scalp as opposed to merely phrases or amounts. This year, our vacation gifts could be expressions of accurate admiration which will have true influence on our relationships as well as create our holiday one to remember. Yet the honest truth is actually, if you desire to possess purposeful connections, you have actually come to agree to let go from your agenda as well as really concentrate in on another. When two folks fall in love with each other they experience one of the most wonderful emotion on earth. Exactly what is not purposeful use electronic case history keeping are the disputes, alerts, and also finger directing at those suggesting the impending laws. Purposeful marketing attaches brand names with a beneficial objective to improve the quality of life. Here is more in regards to yellow pages online indonesia (http://vizinondipiu12.info/) have a look at our web site. It is actually likewise fairly simple to discover internet presents for charity-- every thing off art work to publications to packed pets-- if you want to give a teacher gift that renders its proceeds to charitable organization. You could find all types and also designs from charming quotes - comical, unfortunate, wonderful, smart, french, scriptural, solid, as well as even more. Today, guys have their ears stretched making a style statement, or even to take after their much-loved pop group. That Is this article writers view that our team as black men have made it with the hardiest of your time achievable, traditionally communicating. Retail stores can easily end up being the new Googles of the fmcg sector, creating the situation for 'much better intake'; helping, training and assisting individuals attain the end results that are meaningful to them. Telugu Religious tracks promote people to dedicate to a much deeper and more purposeful partnership along with God. School-age youngsters begin valuing coordinated play - such as introduced verses as well as tracks, video games along with guidelines, relays and also other exercisings, sports as well as jobs that they can easily accomplish over a certain timespan. The brain scans demonstrated that this modification-- off useless to meaningful-- seemed generated by LSD following up on certain receptors as well as designs in the brain, inning accordance with the research study. So, while deciding on just what existing to get for all your partners this Christmas, make certain to think about homemade or even personalised Xmas grant service xmas sayings quoted on an imaginative newspaper or even an item from designed glass. The Brazilian energy label Petrobras is actually yet another case in point, this is one of the leading significant labels in Brazil with a Meaningful Brand name Mark rating far more than many fmcg brands as well as stores. Because that is brief because that doesn't have too several words given that it is succinct, the text message is actually concise. The fad and practice from delivering christmas times sayings is actually also climbing but it possesses indeed became a well-liked method of conveying your passion and hot joyful wishes along with the adorable terms. They use social media sites management to make sure that they could reach out to the target market and also engage them in a meaningful technique. Another characteristic from relevant job is that you recognize its own value as well as others will too. Your kid will definitely really feel pleasant coming to you when he or even she requires insight if you establish a constant routine around relevant interaction. IKEA makes many significant relationships along with individuals, at an economic, intellectual, organisational, religious and also psychological degree. Standard memorial verse and end of lifestyle quotes could be sentimental as well as warm. Famous Christmas tracks consist of Dootha Paata Paadudi, Oh Sadbakthlara, Sri Yesundu Jenminche Reyilo. Not remarkably, Fidelity Investments is one of one of the most meaningful financial labels. Yes, most of us possess a busy schedule and also the clock maintains ticking, nevertheless, when you agree to take a relevant rest or generate an improvement in atmosphere even for a 50% of hr, your anatomy shifts, your mind kicks back and you removal right into a boosted condition of harmony and also self-awareness. The moment product line for significant make use of is broken down in to three phases, beginning with 2011. Lyrics off your beloved songs are actually regularly interesting options for you to look into. This is essential to remember that there is no person factor that makes a present purposeful - what possesses definition for one person are going to not essentially carry the same significance for another person. And that's what I would like to speak about today: things that, in wide movements, create an efficient, relevant lifestyle, a lifestyle from payment, a lifestyle of success. This is actually a basic subject as well as lots of males are actually having the complication of sex-related weak spot. Medicaid EHR Motivation System- Eligible specialists and also qualified healthcare facilities might train if they embrace, use, upgrade or materialize the purposeful use qualified Electronic Wellness Report modern technology in the first year of their participation, as well as carry on revealing this in the complying with years of involvement also. Christmas time was actually commemorated by offering presents like cigarette lighter in weights, expensive ash racks, as well as festive containers from one's beloved company. Pandora Chaos Raven opted for hers purposely to be relevant along with all 3 sections, and informed Magus (after beating the crap out from him) to phone her by one or any sort of, she was actually every one of all of them: Pandora (after Pandora's Container; she really observes herself much more as package, yet also less individuals received this when she called herself 'Container') Chaos (she despises being able to anticipate points accordinged to just what she knows), and also Raven (her wedded name). Understanding even more about character kinds and the features that prevail to those individualities can provide you a meaningful idea right into establishing far better co-worker connections within the workplace as well as client connections in business marketplace. Along with christmas sayings estimates on crystal clear glass, enhanced with wonderful ornaments, you can share your love as well as devotion with the medium this gorgeous Christmas time present. These honors may take the kind of lunches, cash money benefits, gifts (brought in from humorous safety and security poster) or maybe a prize. The main designs utilized to set up a document authorization for the reasons from Meaningful Make use of, are actually by means of a web site and utilizing the Patient Hook up version. Establishing significant aim ats instead of uninhabited amounts is actually an excellent means to boost functionality and workers inspiration. This should begin through identifying what you prefer, or even what is actually significant to you, not in the theoretical yet increasingly laid outed as well as accurate as your hunt cultivates. This means that despite the fact that you could have created large networks from connections via your social networking sites platforms, you are going to just ever before have the capacity to communicate with these individuals everyday; you are going to never ever have the capacity to form any type of kind of purposeful hookup with all of them. With significant job, you have the tendency to work more difficult compared to ever before, however along with much more total satisfaction than you ever before assumed possible. This is one point that males do not speak about but 'STEER THEM WILD' when they acknowledge it and experience along with in you.

[junker-town]

How the Warriors COULD be vulnerable, even if they actually aren’t

We’re not worried about Golden State’s midseason malaise ... unless these nagging issues somehow don’t get solved.

The Golden State Warriors have won only four times in their last 10 games. They’ve suffered dreadful losses to the Heat, Magic, and the Suns, of all teams. At home, of all places. After taking a 27-11 lead. What most people would consider a slump is for the Warriors yet another referendum on their angsty quest for a three-peat.

The Dubs are also sniping at each other again, and their own fans, in that passive-aggressive way NBA people deal with their problems. It doesn’t take a panhandle prophet to tell the Bay Area vibes are not flowing in peaceful harmony.

This has caused my esteemed colleague Tom Ziller to suggest that, “everything is on the table” because the Dubs have allowed themselves to be afflicted by a late-winter malaise of boredom and dissatisfaction. That, he believes, has leveled the playing field enough to make their inevitable championship run an open question.

At the risk of betraying my own nihilistic mood at the moment, I’m in the, “None of this matters” camp. Assuming none of their four stars get hurt/suspended, the Warriors will once again hold the championship trophy in June. Anarchy will have to wait until July when free agency shakes us out of our doldrums.

Still, Ziller is much smarter than me and I suppose now is as good a time as any to take Golden State’s temperature, because the Warriors do have some issues. They may be inevitable, but they’re not as unbeatable as we imagined.

Let’s stipulate the obvious: injuries matter.

If the Warriors lose either Steph Curry or Kevin Durant for any length of time during the postseason, then all bets are truly off. They were 5-6 without Curry earlier in the season, and while they survived a first-round series without Steph last year, the Warriors are clearly diminished without their superstar guard.

Durant has missed only one game this season, but he hurt his ankle toward the end of the Suns game. It doesn’t sound serious, but it also comes at a time when Golden State is getting ready for a road trip that includes games in Houston, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, and Minnesota. While there’s never a good time for an ankle injury, better now than April or May.

Because they have two MVP-caliber superstars, the Warriors’ margin for error is simply that much higher than everyone else. Take either one out of the equation and that disappears. They still might be better than everyone without Durant or Curry, but that’s no longer a given.

Let’s amend that. If the Warriors lose any of their other core players, then things get interesting.

This is not a deep team. Strength in numbers has given way to death by superstars, and that’s left a barren bench beyond the top five in the rotation.

The Warriors don’t have a reliable backup point guard, unless you count Shaun Livingston, and then they don’t have a reliable off guard. You don’t miss Klay Thompson until he’s not there. While that’s been infrequent, his absence against Boston last week was notable.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr has tried to plug various players into those roles, from Quinn Cook, to Alfonzo McKinnie and Damion Lee. None have taken control of the job. Wherefore art thou, Leandro Barbosa?

We all know how vital Draymond Green is to the Warriors’ equation. A healthy Andre Iguodala is a necessity. Take any of their top five out of the lineup, and things get dicey.

They might have a DeMarcus Cousins problem.

Boogie’s return from a torn Achilles in mid-January energized the Dubs. They swept an East Coast road trip and went 10-1 heading into the All-Star break. The chemistry appeared copacetic and Cousins has been solid, averaging 15 points and eight rebounds in somewhat limited minutes.

The problem is the Warriors haven’t played all that well with Cousins in the lineup since the All-Star break. The offense has cratered and the defense has turned porous. It’s tempting to put all this on Boogie, yet he’s merely a cog in the machine. Big men always look bad when team defense breaks down, and the Warriors have freely acknowledged their effort-related shortcomings of late.

Beyond that, Boogie’s outside shooting hasn’t come around yet and, as always, the Warriors are at their best when they run smaller lineups out on the floor. This is a legitimate concern once the playoffs roll around against say, the Rockets, who will look to run Cousins off the floor.

Cousins was supposed to be a luxury, not a necessity. It will be interesting if Kerr treats him as such when it matters.

Do the vibes matter?

I’m on record as thinking joy matters when trying to win a championship. Basketball is a game that requires trust, communication, and connectivity, especially at the highest levels, when a single slip can mean the difference between winning and losing.

There are two mitigating factors in the happiness spectrum: talent and experience. The Warriors have talent, and their core has been together for more than half a decade. They clearly know how to play with one another, whether they feel like doing it consistently or not.

That’s the main reason why I can’t get too worked about this now. Everyone in the league is miserable in March. It’s merely Golden State’s turn in the barrel.

Can anyone take it from them?

This is the real issue. There are only two teams in the West that can give Golden State problems: Oklahoma City and Houston.

The Rockets came within a Chris Paul hamstring injury of taking the Warriors out last season, and they’re peaking at the right time. While Houston has its own depth issues to deal with, the combination of Paul and James Harden is capable of matching Golden State’s superstar power. Put them down as a maybe.

OKC is the wild card. The Thunder are deep, they have experience, and Paul George has been one of the top five players in the league this year. They’re also young, athletic, and hungry, with a whole bunch of dudes who could get hot at the right moment and cause all kinds of chaos. They could also shoot themselves right out of a series.

You can talk yourself into either one of those teams giving the Warriors a serious run, but that’s where it stops. The Nuggets are not that team, not yet anyway. The matchups don’t favor the Jazz or San Antonio. The Trail Blazers have never offered Golden State serious resistance in the postseason. The Clippers would be a huge pain in the neck, for about five games.

The Finals may be a different story. Milwaukee is loaded, and brimming with that elusive element of joy everyone keeps trying to find. Boston is playing with effort again. The Sixers are dangerous. The Raptors are … something.

Still, the Warriors only have to beat one of those four teams in June, when all their issues should be a thing of the past. As long as their problems are self-inflicted, it would take an upset of monumental proportions to deny the Warriors their three-peat.

Whether anyone enjoys it or not is another story.

[junker-town]

Let’s explore Kevin Durant’s Taco Bell theory of mortality

We have that and more in Thursday’s NBA newsletter.

Kevin Durant did another run on The Bill Simmons Podcast, and most of the attention the first part is getting is due to the PSA he issued to “all the blog boys and fanboys” expressing doubt in analytics. Amid that Durant says “all these guys are gonna write articles and get real mad about what I said tonight.” I, for one, am not going to take that bait [cough especially when provoked by a dude with burner sock puppet accounts cough].

Something else is more worthy of attention. Here is Durant’s Taco Bell theory of mortality:

”After we won the championship, I had Taco Bell and it ran through me just like it would a normal person. I’m like, ‘Oh s--t. I thought I had a golden stomach (laughing). I thought I was immune to everything, but no. You thought, like, Michael Jordan never went to the bathroom. [...]

”That’s the perception of it all: we’re just immortal. We’re normal f--king people who are really good at what we do. But at the end of the day, we go to sleep just like everybody else. We really put on our pants just like everybody else. We take a s--t like everybody else! So it made me realize that I am not king anything because we won a championship. I just achieved what I want in my profession. [...] It makes me realize that, like, that superstar word to me really isn’t a thing. It’s all a facade and all a fake. When I go through normal stuff, it makes me realize that I’m just a mere mortal. But I’m really f--king good at basketball.”

TED Talk coming this summer.

Playoff Picture Update

Chaos reigns in the West!

Scores Galore ...

CLE 118, CHA 105 BKN 111, ORL 104 NYK 101, PHI 118 POR 103, MEM 108 ATL 114, MIN 126 BOS 97, UTA 94 LAC 111, PHX 99 DAL 93, LAL 103

... And So Much More

Updated NBA mock draft. I’m not leaving the Luka Doncic No. 1 train until the train catches on fire and careens into a lake. And even then, hey, I can swim.

Remember how Ben Simmons cajoled Karl-Anthony Towns into staying up late to play video games, indicating that because the Wolves were playing the Hawks the next day Towns had plenty of time? Turns out Towns put a career-high and set the Wolves franchise scoring record with 56 against Atlanta. Simmons knows.

I wrote about three lessons from the Jazz’s success in the wake of Gordon Hayward’s exit, including the fact that team culture really does matter.

All the data suggests RAPTORS BENCH can hang with the best lineups in the East. Do you believe it?

Anthony Davis is asking the internet whether he ought to shave his unibrow. #engagement

The Kings announce a partnership with Black Lives Matter Sacramento and the Build Black Coalition to invest in Black youth in Sacramento. The Kings have another home game Thursday, protests continue in the city, and thousands of fans have been prevented from entering the arena in two of the last three games due to protests in front of the entrances. The team and city have a plan to get fans in the arena, it appears.

Dope Drawing Board video on Mikal Bridges’ defense.

Joel Embiid has a facial contusion. We’ll take a thousand facial contusions, just no knee or foot injuries.

So, Isaiah Thomas is going to go ahead and have hip surgery. Welp. Here’s a timeline of how he got here, going under the knife right before unrestricted free agency.

The Pacers’ wild comebacks this season, ranked.

Shouts to Kemba Walker for becoming the Hornets’ all-time leading scorer!

Given Steph Curry’s injury, for the first time in perhaps his whole career, Kevin Durant needs to run the offense.

LeBron explains why, were he an MVP voter, he would vote for LeBron. One flaw in his reasoning is that he cites Cleveland’s tumult and turnover without acknowledging his own potential role in said tumult and turnover.

Be excellent to each other.

[junker-town]

Why the Giants fired Ben McAdoo as the head coach

An embarrassingly bad Giants team is turning the page on the 2017 season already.

First Ben McAdoo lost games. Then he lost his locker room. Then, just days after a Thanksgiving loss to Washington, McAdoo made his most controversial move yet — benching starting quarterback Eli Manning in a desperate attempt to save his job.

After that, there was no going back.

The Giants fired their second-year head coach on Monday, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, ending his tenure after lasting halfway through one of the worst seasons in franchise history. His Week 13 loss to the Raiders leaves the Giants at 2-10, tied for the second worst record in the NFL.

Why fire him now?

With just four games left in the season, the Giants could have easily waited to make the move after Week 17. Firing McAdoo won’t fundamentally alter their season now, but it might appease fans fed up with the team’s direction, especially Manning’s benching, this season.

“But, maybe a change attracts a bigger crowd for the last few home games. Could be a show of goodwill to the fans,” a Giants source told ESPN’s Josina Anderson on Monday morning.

So how did it get to this point for McAdoo and the Giants? What happens next?

Losing the locker room

Suspensions to key starters Janoris Jenkins and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie had raised suspicions about McAdoo’s status among the team and whether he could still command the respect of his players. ESPN’s Josina Anderson confirmed his strained relationships with a damning report that ultimately spelled the end of his time in New York.

“McAdoo has lost this team,” an unnamed player told Anderson Wednesday. “He’s got us going 80 percent on Saturdays before we get on a plane to play a game, it’s wild. Changed our off day. He’s dishing out fines like crazy. Suspended two of our stars when we need them most. Throws us under the bus all the time. He’s ran us into the ground and people wonder why we’ve been getting got.”

Even after a historic 51-17 loss to the Rams in Week 9, McAdoo maintained that everything was fine. After and a humiliating defeat at the hands of the previously winless 49ers in Week 10, he said he wasn’t embarrassed by the loss. McAdoo refused to acknowledge that his team — particularly the defense — appeared to quit on him.

Things got better briefly with an upset win over the Chiefs in Week 11, but the Giants were humiliated again a week later. And that’s when the move that will come to define the Giants 2017 season happened.

Benching Eli Manning

There was the face of the franchise on Tuesday, Nov. 28, choking back tears as he explained why he wasn’t going to accept an offer to start and be replaced by halftime just to keep his 210-game streak. Eli Manning, who’s been the cornerstone of the Giants since choosing them in the 2004 draft, and his team were effectively done, broken up.

The decision to bench Manning was pinned squarely on McAdoo, and his handling of it couldn’t have been worse. It was a bad look for the franchise publicly and widened the rifts internally.

"I have a ton of respect for Eli not agreeing to play just halves of football to keep his consecutive game streak going," an NFC East general manager told SB Nation’s Thomas George. "They should have let him finish the season. You’re 2-9 and you’re not going anywhere. Let him finish with some honor.”

It was done because McAdoo thought he could do better with Geno Smith and Davis Webb, who wasn’t even active for the team’s Week 13 game. The head coach thought he could perhaps salvage his job.

But even that was a stretch inside the Giants organization.

"Ben wasn’t ready to be a head coach," a Giants front office executive said. "Let’s be straight about that. He didn’t have the confidence. He didn’t know how to deal with all of the players. He wasn’t ready for New York. When had he really led before? If he gets to 7-9, that will be a surprise. That would be one heck of a Christmas considering everything."

Team owner Joh Mara was upset with how the move was handled as well.

Sources: Some members of the #Giants ownership did not agree with how Eli Manning was handled this week and there was intense and serious internal debate. They are trying to figure out the fallout, leading to John Mara not guaranteeing Ben McAdoo would finish the season.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 3, 2017

Smith was OK against the Raiders in Week 13 — about the same as Manning this season — but the Giants still lost, falling to 2-10.

Now, McAdoo won’t be back with the Giants, but Eli Manning probably won’t be either.

What this means for the Giants

McAdoo had a successful first year with the club, going 11-5 and leading New York to the playoffs after two seasons as the team’s offensive coordinator. However, whatever success he had in 2016 seemed to just be a holdover from the Tom Coughlin era, as the Giants quickly fell apart in 2017. Injuries played a major role — key starters Odell Beckham Jr., Brandon Marshall, and Weston Richburg have all landed on injured reserve this season — but McAdoo’s inability to command his defense ultimately led to his demise.

However, McAdoo was hired for his offensive work with the Packers and then as the Giants offensive coordinator in 2014. Under his leadership, the Giants never scored more than 28 points in a game.

Spagnuolo, the team’s defensive coordinator, will be left to pick up the pieces. The longtime NFL veteran served as the Rams’ head coach from 2009 to 2011, but went just 10-38 over that span. He’s also the man who oversaw Week 9’s 51-17 spanking at the hands of a revitalized Los Angeles team. While his players may rally around him after the change in management, New York is probably looking at a top-five draft pick next spring.

This is only the third time in the history of the team that a head coach has been fired during the season. The last time it happened was in 1976 when Bill Arnsparger was let go seven games into the year.

What this means for Ben McAdoo

McAdoo is an offensively driven coach who lost his top wideouts in 2017 and spiraled out from there. Without Beckham and Marshall, the Giants were forced to rely on a below-average group of running backs, which allowed the losses to begin piling up. Once that happened, his personnel struggles with players and inability to manage a team introduced a new set of problems that flooded his locker room like a sinking ship.

That’s bad news for a head coach, but the good news is it shouldn’t affect his viability as an assistant or coordinator. McAdoo will get another chance — it just won’t be at the top level.