#bread poll math

[istherewifiinhell]

Listen for that toaster pop and grab some butter its time to take a big crunchy bite of Novembers Bread Poll Math

Total takers: 31 (jesus christ)

Flavour section

Strawberries - 13, Sweet Potato - 7, Cranberries - 6, Golden Raisins AND Dried Apricots - 2, Raisins - 1

Texture Section

Sliced Almonds - 13, Walnuts AND Sunflower Seed - 6, Pumpkin Seed - 3, Cashews - 2, Pistachios - 1

Sweetener Section

Brown Sugar - 14, Honey - 8, Maple Syrup - 4, White Sugar - 3, Golden Syrup AND Molasses - 1

It seems the Allure of God Tier Fruit strawberries was too strong for the other flavour items to catch up, even if its maybe less conventional in non pastry bread.

Similarly as I forced ppl to choose a seed or nut I wonder if the mildness of sliced almond drew the appeal here.

And for the sugar, listen folks i think we must admit we are but Ye Olde Childen celebrating for the brown sugar penny candies we have been brought and will savory rapturously. Brown Sugar Good.

Simple inclusion suggestions where sparse this round. One person was sad I did not have herbs, again, (sorry, I'll work on adding it to the next one). A taker that really wanted me to consider pork rinds (or as they put it prok rinds in bred), and someone who said teeth.

Combos Advocated for were Walnuts and Sunflower seeds (twice actually!), Pistachios and Almonds, and Honey and Brown Sugar (that was the last loaf in fact!).

This Quiz had a lot more people with different kinds of bread suggestions for me. Several Pumpkin breads (which is actually a loaf, not yeasted bread, which is what were doing here), banana bread (ditto and sorry but I don't like it!), latte bread (looking this up and same but I am intrigued, also chai latte bread which im imagining so wonderfully), cheese and green onion bread (compelling!), anpan (again looking up, rolls with red bean paste), bacon bread, honey glazed croissants and a bread that is swirled with regular and chocolate where all further suggestions.

And finally, to everyone who said something nice about the last loaf! thank you! But most of all the taker who said it was creature shaped and Glistening. How sweet yet horrifying.

So the bread to be Made is the very cute sounding to me, Strawberry and Sliced Almond Loaf sweetened with brown sugar.

Which. By the way, heres the base recipe I've been using for these loafs anyway

1/4 cup water, 1 cup butter milk (milk with lemon cmon now), 3 tbsp sugar (of choice), 1 1/2 tbsp of butter (any fat would be fine probably), 3 cups flour, 1tsp salt, 1/4 tsp baking soda (honestly not sure if its doing but its staying in for now), 2 tsp yeast, and 1 & 1/2 cup fixings of ur choice (literally)

[i-am-l-ananas]

y'all really rose to the occasion for the yeast! as a final result, for every 1 cup of flour, we've got a bit more than a half cup of yeast.

for an actual loaf, for every 1 cup flour, we need closer to A QUARTER TEASPOON YEAST. yeast is very powerful!! you don't need a lot!

and alas, ~4 tablespoons of water per every 1 cup of flour is not enough to hold this monstrosity together! we've got salty yeast crumbs. category 5 tummy event Do Not Eat

and for the handful of folks questioning the sugar and oil, they aren't necessary, but try adding a little bit of sweetener (I prefer honey!) and fat to your next loaf! it makes for a nice soft crumb and a golden crust

if the ratios work out into something nearing edible, I'll make the loaf

[tessieee]

Main 7 x an MC that acts silly and talks to themselves when they’re alone

PT. 1 -- Pt. 2 after the fic that won the poll :p

Pairings: OBEY ME! Lucifer x MC, Mammon x MC, Leviathan x MC

༺═────────────═༻

Spending time alone in the House of Lamentation became a rarity as the brothers and you grew closer. Some days it was mediating a fight between Mammon and Levi, others it was being dragged to go shopping with Asmo, napping with Belphie, then a Fangol game for Beelzebub, and Lucifer on your tail over assignments from R.A.D. Regardless, you gave your precious time out like bread and water, feeding those who cried out for help; you knew being needed by so many people at once made your chest swell with pride and filled a void inside you that nothing else could. 

For a while, you’d convinced yourself that the exhaustion you felt was simply because you weren't used to so many people wanting to spend time with you at once, but your denial only went so far as you began to become snippy with your favorite demons. Talking to yourself was a habit you’d picked up every time you were home alone when you still lived with your parents. Staring in the mirror to finish off arguments, speaking to no one in particular while folding laundry, anything to fill the silence. Tonight you swore up and down that you finally had some time alone while finishing up a paper for Curses and Hexes and subconsciously, began to talk to yourself again.

• —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Lucifer ~ 

“What the hell am I even saying here?” You guffawed at your words, strung together by nothing but the Devildom equivalent of Red Bull and your hopes and dreams.

“…great and then you decided to… to…completely ignore the hex counterpart”

You rolled your eyes, staring off to the side as if briefly looking at an off-screen camera. Someone has been watching too many sitcoms. “Awesome! Then I finish this and then I finish math and then I’m done. Dude, I think I’m the GOAT.”

“Thanks!”

Unbeknownst to you, your monologue had caught the attention of the eldest, who, like you, believed that he had been alone that night. Leaning up to your door, he continued to listen as you narrate your actions to an audience you never expected to have. 

“What would Lucifer say…”  You spew a poor impression of Lucifer. 

“You do know you forgot the hex counterpart! How will you be expected to make me look good for my boyfriend? Oh, Lord Diavolo!”

 Embarrassment weighed in your chest, joking about it only relieved the insecurity of whether or not he could like you back for a moment before stinging. You take note of the fact that the demon had been occupying your mind feverishly the past week, today was certainly no exception. You wished he’d check on you to see how diligently you were working. The thought of his approval made you wipe away a dazed grin, your face hot with shameful desire.

Laughter bubbled throughout the room as you made yourself laugh through the rest of your homework. Lucifer’s heart raced at the sound; as he had gotten to know you, your laughter became his favorite sound along with the haunted records he treasured. 

Being caught up in the moment certainly put him at a disadvantage as he almost missed your footsteps growing closer to the door. The prideful demon took this opportunity to feign intention and raise his hand to the door as if to knock on it. Smooth.

“Lucifer? To what do I owe.. the pleasure?” Your meek and confused demeanor threw him off. In front of his brothers you could be so witty, your retorts to the occasional friendly tease from one of his brothers at breakfast often resulted in his gaze focusing on your supple lips, he found that fantasizing about kissing you in the morning kept him distracted for hours to come. 

Your bravery and confidence that you had slowly built up with the time you spent in the Devildom was something he admired so to catch you in such a vulnerable state felt as if you two were sharing something intimate. If the hall wasn’t so dark you’d likely see his lightly flushed expression. 

“I- How long—“ You look behind you self-consciously. “Were you standing there?”

“I was just about to knock. Why do you ask?” You’re lucky he likes you. Sparing your pride, to the both of you, was almost a love language on its own. The executive decision to not nag you about your assignment at that moment was made soon after seeing your cute behavior.

“Oh,” a shy smile spreads upon your lips. You knew he’d be the last person to poke fun at you for this. “Well, it’s a little embarrassing but I tend to talk– to myself? When I’m alone— and.. sometimes around others and..” Your confession ended up sounding more like a question trailing off at the end into an awkward silence. Stupid beautiful demon face.

To your absolute delight, your awkwardness appeared endearing to the firstborn. Luckily you were able to catch sight of the slightly upturned corners of his mouth. He looked incredibly amused by your red cheeks and refusal to make eye contact.

“Are you laughing, Lucifer?” 

“You are the GOAT? Or so I’ve heard.”

“For that long?!”

There’s a moment of silence before you catch sight of his shoulders trembling with laughter, your fit of giggles in pursuit. Your heartbeat finally relaxed; you became aware of how comfortable you felt around him.

Who better than to keep your little secret? 

• —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Mammon ~ 

“Hooooly shit you’re a genius.” Your fingers flew furiously on your keyboard.

Quiet clacking noises emitted from your fingertips as your melodic voice broke the silence in your room. Music was much too distracting and you’d procrastinated enough on this assignment. Lucifer’s nagging reminded you a lot of your mother and it goes without saying you needed less of that. 

“Oh my god,” You scoff, noticing you had accidentally typed ‘Mammon’ instead of ‘divination’. The demon had been particularly clingy with you as of late, not that you were complaining. It felt nice to be needed, especially if it was him.

“Mammon.. oh he’s so cute.” You practically swooned, sighing loudly and quite dramatically. Your finger quickly made its way to your hair, twirling it mindlessly as your mind wandered from your assignment. The week’s adventures replayed in your mind. You didn’t miss the way your pose looked in the mirror, grinning and nodding in approval. Maybe you’ll post some selfies later!

It wasn’t unusual for Mammon to be demanding of your time if not the most out of all of his brothers. Who could blame him? Time flew when the two of you were together. Two peas in a pod.

“God, if I keep procrastinating like that I won’t be able to go with him.” 

You gasp quietly, taking note of the expression you chose.

“Is that like a cuss word here? Will I get smited?”

A singular “Ha!” Escaped from your lips followed by a string of words. Your frenzied typing had grown to a halt, the back of your seat used as a tool to help stretch your back. Truthfully you’d been at your homework for a couple of hours now and you still had so much left and it was so late. You wondered again where everyone went, you could hear the house creak and you’d be lying if you said it didn’t freak you the hell out.

Scrolling on your phone, you decided to open Deviltunes™ to cut the silence. Finally returning to your homework, you sang along and continued making small talk with yourself.

“Come to think of it, wouldn’t it be weird if someone was watching me right now? Nice question moron, of course, no one’s watching.” Your declaration came out less confident than you would’ve hoped. 

“You always talk t’yourself in private?” The speed at which you turned around almost gave you whiplash. Catching sight of Mammon all smug and disheveled, likely from a night out, made your breath hitch. “Worry not! The Great Mammon will grant you the favor of sparing your ego tonight!”

“Where’s everyone else?” Your arms stay crossed, attempting to make yourself look tougher. This moment didn’t affect you, certainly not! Especially because you did not care that he was the one to catch you talking to yourself and because you did not have enormous feelings for him. 

He only grinned at your weak attempt to change the subject. “Just out. Pretty sure Levi’s been here the whole time.” Both of you share a moment of agreement and you let go of a breath you weren't aware you were holding. This didn’t deter the demon from prodding you until you answered his questions. 

“You talk to yourself too?” 

“Yes, Mammon.”

“You think I’m cute?” 

“Mammon.” His eyes widened at your tone, a smile plastered onto his face as he raised his hands defensively. The avatar of greed swore he meant no harm and came in peace.

Frustration bubbled in your chest as he continued to poke fun at your habit– you were embarrassed yet the expression on your face, fidgeting, and red face went right over the demon’s head. Luckily he managed to catch on before he got pushed too close to your door. Complaints spilled from his mouth like chants he knew he’d pushed your buttons a little too much this time and, still with a grin albeit smaller than when he started to make fun of you, shifted his tone. 

“Alright, human.” He grabs your wrist with one hand, brushing stray hairs from your blushing face. “Pay attention ‘cause m’ only doin’ this once! Better not make me regret it.”

Mammon pulls you into his chest, halting your brief nervous breakdown and reminding you that despite all of the chaos you two get yourselves into he’s still your peace. You swear time freezes for a moment as you take in a deep breath, the scent of his cologne and cigarette smoke wrapping around you as his arms do. That’s your Mammon. He knew very well he wouldn’t keep his promise and you wouldn’t rather have it any other way.

• —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Leviathan ~

MC.hammah:

‘Yo Levi. You home 2nite?’

‘Heard u went 2 a Ruri-chan pop-up! Get me something cute. Thx!’

Leviathanreallordofshadows:

‘If I have time after dis line’

‘Get these randos out of line I need this figurine more than they do. > : (’

‘Ugh this is taking too longgggggg’

‘Hey! Where’d u go? Keep me company or ur fake’

You didn't bother waiting for the messages that followed, even the resident shut-in was out of the house tonight. You tossed your phone on the bed and twirled around your room in delight. The world was your oyster– except the world, for now, was confined to the walls that made up the House of Lamentation. You could go exploring, but the sight of your discontinued essay for class held you back from leaving your room. Trudging towards your desk from your bed had to be the hardest task you completed that day.

Your head rested on the palm of your hand as your fingers found themselves in a comfortable tangle in your hair. Scanning the online textbook excerpts in hopes of finding more context to your evidence. All of the right pieces were there, you just needed the glue that would connect them all. Attempt after attempt, the words began to blend into one another and you notice you’ve been reading the same paragraph for the past 5 minutes. 

Why was focusing on this so hard today?

 You lean back to rub your eyes gently, the blue light of your laptop stinging your retinas. Maybe you were just a little butthurt that you’d heard nothing about this, especially since you’d been the one to send him the Devilgram post notifying fans of the event in the first place.

“Not even an invite? Seriously, what’s going on with him..” You frown at your lap, deciding to grab your D.D.D once again. The lock screen turns on, a group picture you’d begged everyone to take, the highlight to you was the cute poses you and Levi had chosen for this picture. Inside jokes like these often provoked the occasional look from his brothers; no one was in on them except you, him, and maybe Henry 2.0.

You scroll down the messages in your DMs with him, scanning for some sort of subtle invitation you might’ve missed but still nothing. With a quiet thud, you threw yourself onto your bed, continuing to scroll yet not finding a moment that excuse his lack of invitation.

“Guess m’ just not cool enough for these anymore.” “Did he take the fish? If you took Henry I swear I’ll rip your soft purple hair right out of your head.” You glance once more at your desk and bury your face into your comforter to let out a boisterously loud groan.

“Homework. Right! Maybe that's why he didn't invite me!”

You look into a nearby reflection with an expression desperate for approval yet you only end up with loud silence and a realization that you look insane. Focusing on your homework doesn't seem that bad anymore. The walk back to your chair is a silent one, thanks to that you were able to catch the quick footsteps from your door. Did whoever just got home hear all of that? Counting your blessings for finding yet another distraction to the assignment you were putting off, you head towards the door hoping to catch the spy. Opening it you weren't expecting to find Levi, much less with a giftbag from the event.

“Were you–” He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, embarrassed that he’d been caught so quickly. “On the phone? Y-Yknow’ with someone?”

Had he heard all of the self-deprecating monologuing you spewed? Oh, no. 

“No! No. Levi, I was just…” You trail off, talking quietly with newfound paranoia of being eavesdropped on. “Talking to myself. Obviously.”

Great. That sounded insincere! The demon shifts the weight on his feet awkwardly as his hands fidget with the gift bag in his hands. “Oh, okay. I was just wondering since it– uhm– sounded like you were on the phone.” Poor boy… “I dunno’ I’m probably just being stupid.”

Your face softens as you hear his words. You two were too similar sometimes, sympathy was almost inevitable. Taking his trembling hands in yours you peek up at him through his bangs.

“What’s this, Levi?” “For not– not inviting you. It was supposed to be a surprise.” Ohhhh…

“Levi!” Your arms soon find themselves wrapped around his neck, overcome with emotion as you pull him close. You note he runs cold and that he smells like linen and a day at the beach. “I’m so sorry. I thought– maybe you were over me coming to events like this.”

“No! Never! You’re my– my Henry.” Levi flushed at the sudden spike in intimacy between the two of you. How he was able to keep it together this long was beyond him. “I just figured you were too busy for another event so I’d bring you something special” 

His free hand clutched your shirt to keep you close as if he’d let go and wake up from this dream where a normie and an otaku could get so close without a rip in the space-time continuum. Yet again, he supposed over time you became so much more than just a normie to him.

“It’s amazing Levi. Thank you!”

Worth it!

༺═────────────═༻

Note: OKAYYY I know the fic that won the poll isn't technically my first fic. This one's kinda like a pilot episode? They're also all long kinda so that's why there's two parts soz be nice to me please

Feedback + constructive criticism is appreciated !!!

[dividedindiversity]

Best EU Song bracket masterpost

Call for submissions!

Bracket 1:

Round 1

Poll 1: Buđav lebac (moldy bread) - S.A.R.S vs. Ti, ki izzivaš (You who challenge) - Laibach

Poll 2: Zbudi me za 1. maj (Wake me up for the first of May) - Mi2 vs. Bella Ciao - traditional

Poll 3: Welcome to the European Union - David Rovics vs. Spomienky na budúcnosť (Memories of the future) - Ine Kafé

Poll 4: Doba je zlá (Times are bad) - Živé kvety vs. Samo ljubezen (Just love) - Sestre

Round 2

Poll 1: Pasážová Revolta/Nasze Pokolenie (Passage Revolt/ Our Generation)- Karel Kryl vs. Buđav lebac (moldy bread) - S.A.R.S

Poll 2: De Bom (The Bomb) - Doe Maar vs. Θούριος (Thourios - battle hymn) - Rigas Feraios

Poll 3: Winds of change - The Scorpions vs. Το Γελαστό Παιδί (To Yelasto Pedi - The Smiling Child) - Mikis Theodorakis

Poll 4: Bella Ciao vs. Seven Sins - Ren

Poll 5: Těšínská / Cieszynska - Jarek Nohavica vs. Spomienky na budúcnosť (Memories of the future) - Ine Kafé

Poll 6: Nina cried power - Hozier vs. Ein bisschen Frieden (A little peace) - Nicole

Poll 7: Freedom is a verb - Daniel Kahn and the Painted Bird vs. Der Schimmel (The gray horse) - Karel Kryl

Poll 8: Doba je zlá (Times are bad) - Živé kvety vs. Atmostas Baltija/ Bunda Jau Baltija/ Ärgake Baltimaad (The Baltics are waking up) - Žilvinas Bubelis (Lithuanian), Viktors Zemgals (Latvian), Tarmo Pihlap (Estonian)

Round 3

Poll 1: Pasážová Revolta/Nasze Pokolenie (Passage Revolt/ Our Generation)- Karel Kryl vs. Θούριος (Thourios - battle hymn) - Rigas Feraios

Poll 2: Winds of change - The Scorpions vs. Bella Ciao

Poll 3: Těšínská / Cieszynska - Jarek Nohavica vs. Nina cried power - Hozier

Poll 4: Der Schimmel (The gray horse) - Karel Kryl vs. Doba je zlá (Times are bad) - Živé kvety Tie!

Is there a song missing that should be on here? No worries! You can submit it via ask for the second bracket! The winners of both brackets will meet in the final.

Round 4

You did it people! the bracket maker can't make a bracket for a three-way vote so no image this round. I will have to do math for the ranked voting on poll 3. But the matchups are:

Poll 1: Pasážová Revolta/Nasze Pokolenie (Passage Revolt/ Our Generation)- Karel Kryl vs. Bella Ciao

Poll 2: Těšínská / Cieszynska - Jarek Nohavica vs. Der Schimmel (The gray horse) - Karel Kryl vs. Doba je zlá (Times are bad) - Živé kvety

Semifinal 1

Bella Ciao vs. Těšínská / Cieszynska - Jarek Nohavica

[ven-of-oath]

I have made the most fucked up cookie oh my god and I am the exact reason it is fucked up my list of mistakes in order

- decided to half the serving size without doing math (also I didn't measure out any ingredients)

-added icing sugar instead of white sugar

-added hot chocolate powder and chai tea powder

-used an egg substitute powder and not an actual egg

-used bread flour instead of normal flour

-added about 4 times the amount of baking powder called for

So it basically turned into a large flat disc with sprinkles on top and I'm waiting for it to cool down to try it so I can see if it's edible or not

(I also accidentally clicked the poll option so it's just here)

[dailydianakko]

Undying Au- What chapter is this

help

“Akko Akoo!” shouted Diana sadly. “No, please, come back!” But I was too mad. “Whatever! Now u can go anh have sex with Vampire!” I shouted. I stormed into my room and closed my black door with my blood-red key. It had a picture of Marylin Manson on it. He looked so sexy in a way that reminded me of Diana and Vampire. I started to cry and weep. I took a razor and started to slit my wrists. I drank the blood all depressed. Then I looked at my black GC watch and noticed it was time to go to Biology class. I put on a short ripped black gothic dress that said Anarchy on the front in blood red letters and was all ripped and a spiky belt. Under that I put on ripped black fishnets and boots that said Joel all over them with blood red letters. I put my chestnut brown hair out. Anyway I went downstairs feeling all sad and depressed as usual. I did sum advanced Biology work. I was turning a bloody pentagram into a black guitar. Suddenly the guitar turned to Diana! “Akko I love you!” she shouted sadly. “I dnot care what those fucker preps and posers fink. Ur da most beautiful girl in the world. Before I met you I used to want to commit suicide all the time. Now I just wanna fucking be with you. I fucking love you!.” Then…………….s he started to sing “Da Chronicles of Life and Death” (we considered it our song now cuz we fell in love when Joel was singing it) right in front of the entire class! Her singing voice was so amazing and gothic and sexxy like a cross between Gerard, Joel, Chester, Pierre and Marilyn Manson (AN: don’t u fink dos guyz r so hot. if u dnot no who dey r get da fuk out od hr!) . “OMFG.” I said after she was finished. Some fucking preps stared at us but I just stuck up my middle fingers (that were covered in black nail polish and were entwined with Diana’s now) at them. “I love you!” I said and then we started to kiss just like Hilary Duff (i fukin h8 dat bitch) and CMM in a Cinderella Story. Then we went away holding hands. Croix shouted at us but she stopped cuz everyone was clapping by how sexy we looked 2gether. Then I saw a poster saying that MCR would have a concert in Blytionbuyry right then. We looked at each other all shocked and then we went 2gether. XXXXXXXXXXXXX666XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX We ran happily to Blytoonberry. There we saw the stage where GC had played. We ran in happly. MCR were there playing ‘Helena’. I was so fucking happy! Gerard looked even sexier than he did in da pictures. Even Diana thought so, I could totally see her getting an erection but it didn’t matter cuz I knew know that we were da only true ones for eachother. I was wearing a black leather minidress and black leather platinum boots with red ripped fishnets. Diana was wearing a black baggy MCR t-shirt and black baggy pants. Anyway, we stated moshing to Helena. We frenched. We ran up 2 the front of the band to stage-dive. Suddenly, Gerard pulled off his mask. So did the others. We gasped. It wasn’t them at all. It was.,……………………….. PaUl and da parliment! “Wtf Diana im not going to a concert wid u!” I shouted angrily. “Not after what happened to me last time? Even if its MCR n u no how much I lik them” “What cause we…you know…” she gadgetted uncomfortbli cause girls don’t like to talk a bout you-know-what. “Yeah cause we you know!” I yielded in an angry voice. “We won’t do that again.” Diana promised. “This time, we’re going with an ESCORT.” “OMFG wtf/ Are you giving into the mainstream?” I asked. “So I guess ur a prep or a Christina or what now?” “NO.”she muttered loudly. “R u becoming a prep or what?” I shootd angrily. “Akoo! I’m not! Pls come with me!” Sshe fell down to her knees and started singing ‘Da world is black’ by GC to me. I was flattened cause that’s not even a single, she had memorized da lyrks just 4 me! “OK then I guess I will have to.” I said and then we frenched 4 a while and I went up 2 my room. Sucy P’oison was standing there. “Hajimemashite gurl.” she said happily (she spex Japanese so do i. dat menz ‘how do u do’ in japanese). “BTW Hannah that fucking poser got expuld. she failed al her klasses and she skepped math.” “It serves that fuking bich right.” I laughed angrily. Well anyway we where felling all deprezzed. We wutsched some goffic movies like Das niteMARE b4 xmas. “Maybe Hannah will die too.” I said. “Kawai.” Sucy P’oison shook her head enrgtically lethrigcly. “Oh yeah o have a confession after she got expuld I murdered her and den Barbara did it with her cause she’s a necphilak.” “Kawai.” I commnted happily . We talked to each other in silence for da rest uv da movie. “OH HEY BTw, im going to a concert with diana tonight in Hogsmeade with mcr.” I sed. “ I need to wear like da hotset outfit EVA.” Lotte Go’thic 666 Nightfall Nodded ENREGeticALLlY. “Omfg totally lets go shopping.” “In Hot Topic, right?” I asked, already getting out my spshcial Hot Topic Loiyalty carde. “No.” My head snaped up. ‘WHAT?” my head spuin. I could not believe it. “Lotte Go’thic 666 Nightfall are u a PREP?” “NOOOO!NOOOO!” She laughed. “I found some cool goffic stores near Luna NOova that’s all.” “Hu told u abut them” I askd sure it would be Duana or Diabolo or Vampire(don’t even SAY that nam to me!). Or me. “Chariot.” She sed. “Let me just call our broms.” “OMFFG Chariot?” I asked quietly. “Yah I saw the map for blytonbury on his desk.” She told me. “Come on let’s go.” We were going in a few punkgoff stores SPECIALLY for the concerts in BLUYTONBURY. The salesperson was OMG HOTTER THAN GERARD EXCEPT NOT CAUSE THAT’S IMPOSSIBLE and he gave me a few dresses. “We only have these for da real goffs.” “Da real goffs?” Me and Sucy P’oison asked. “Yah u wouldn’t believe how many posers ther are in this town man! Yesterday Piceis and Finnelan tried to buy a goffic camera pouch.” He shook his head. “I dint even no they had a camera.” “OMFG NO THEIR GONNA SPY ON ME AGAIN!” I cried, running out of the changing room wearing a long black dress with lots of red tulle coming out and very low-cut with a huge slit. “Oh my satan you have to buy that outfit” The salesperson said. “Yeah it looks totlly hot.” Said Lotte Go’thic 666 Nightfall. “You know what I am gona give it to you free cause u look really hot in that utfit. Hey are you gonna be at the concert tonight?” he asked. “Yeah I am actually.” I looked back at him. “Hey BTW my name’s Akko Chestnut dark’ness dementia TARA way what’s yours?” “Andrew Habrige.” He said and ran a hand through his black-dyed hair. “maybe I’ll see you there tonight.” “Yeah I don’t think so cause I am going there with my gf Duana you sick perv!” I yelled angrily, but before he could beg me to go with him, Jasminkla flew in on his black broom looking worried. “OMFG AJJO U NEED OT GET BACK INTO THE CASTLE NOW!” XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX666XXXXXXXXXXXXXX Andbrew gave us some clothes n stuff 4 free. He said he wud help us wif makeup if he wunted koz he was relly in2 fashin n stuff. (hes bisezual).  Jasminka kept shooting at us to cum back 2 LUNA NovA. “WTF NelSon?” I shouted angrily. “Fuck off you fjucking bastard.” Well anyway Barbara came. Jasminka went away angrily. “Hey bitch you look kawaii.” she said. “Yah but not as kawaii as you.” I answered sadly cause Boobra’s really pretty and everything. She was wearing a short black corset-thingy with blood red lace on it and a blak blood-red miniskirt, leather fish-nets and black poiny boots that showed off how pale she wuz. She had a really nice body wif big bobs and everything. She was thin enouff 2 be anorexic. “So r u going 2 da concert wif Diana?” she asked. “Yah.” I said happily. “I’m gong with Diabolo (thatz Hannuah).” she anserred happily. Well anyway Duana and Diabolo came. They were both loking extremely hot and sexy and u could tell they thoufht we were ot 2. Diabolo was wearing a black t-shirt that said ‘666’ on it. She was wearing tons off makeup jus like Marylin Manson. Diana was wearing black leather pants, a gothic black GC t-shirt and black Vanss he got from da Warped tower. Lotte Go’thic 666 Nightfall was going 2 da concert wif Dracola. Dracola used to be called Frank but it tuned out dat he was kidnapped at birth and his real family were vampires. They dyed in a car crash. Frank converted to Satanism and he went goth. He was a peasant now.He gav up noblles. He was wearing a black Wurped t-shirt, black jeans and shoes and black hair wif red streekz in it. We kall him Dracula now. Well anyway we al went 2 Diana’s black Mercy-Bens (geddit cuz wer gpffik) that her mom Berenadete gave her (berfore she died). We did pot, coke and crak. Diana and I made out. We made fun of dose stupid fuking preps. We soon got there…….I gapsed. Gerard was da sexiest guy eva! He locked even sexier den he did in pix. He had long raven blak hair n piercing blue eyes. He wuz really skinny and he had n amazing ethnic voice. We moshed 2 Helena and sum odder songz. Sudenly Gerard polled of his mask. So did the other membez. I gasped. It wasn’t Gerard at all! It was an ugly NOble man wif Wrinklez and  eyes... Every1 ran away but me and Diana. Duana and I came. It was…….Paul and da Nobles! “U moronic idiots!” he shooted angstily. “Ajjo, I told u to kill Vampire. Thou have failed. And now……….I shall kill thou and Diana!” “No no please!” We begged sadly but he took out his knife. Sudenly a gothic old woman flu in on her broomstick. She had lung black hair and a looong black bread. She wus werring a blak robe dat sed ‘avril lavigne’ on da back. She shotted a spel and Paul ran away. It was…………………………………Hilberoook!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[chaosslibrarian]

March Madness cheating

So, the Lyatts from Timeless are doing a bot attack to win their own poll and to make Garcy lose theirs. Anyone who knows the basics of statistics and maths knows that the gains they are making in votes in unnatural and impossible for them to get (for a multitude of reasons).

If any avalance shippers are on the March Madness polls and suddenly noticed that their cushy headstart was gone in the matter of only a few hours: please get back to voting and please consider helping Garcy win agains CAOS too. We don’t need as many votes to get a win but we’ve gone from a 15 percentage point lead to a 10% one in just a few hours. 

The lyatts bought the finale of the show and told the writers exactly what they wanted in it, so they have the economic capital to be assholes as much as they want. Don’t let a white bread boring couple from a dead TV-show no one watched win over avalance. Avalance is too good for this!!

DON’T LET THE BOTS WIN

http://www.zimbio.com/brackets/TV+Couples+March+Madness+2019

[newstfionline]

Jacksonville shooting: The high-pressure, big money world of competitive gaming

By Kyle Swenson, Antonia Noori Farzan, Washington Post, August 27, 2018

With the final seconds draining away on the game clock, “Bread” pulls off a big finish.

It’s a chilly February night in 2017 in Buffalo. The flat screens plastered across the walls of the 716 Food and Sport are all tuned to a live-stream of the game, including a massive 38-foot television in the bar’s main room. More than six hours of video game competition has built to this moment.

Carlos “Los” Yancy and David “Bread” Katz are knotted in a tie, 20-20, in Madden NFL 17, the blockbuster football video game franchise. Yancy, the expected favorite at this tournament, is fending off a final drive by Katz, a Maryland native just beginning to build a reputation among competitive gamers. The winner not only pockets $3,500 but advances to a later contest in Los Angeles.

With the pressure mounting, Katz’s thin face is clenched in a serious look, his grey-green eyes pinned to the screen. As the figures on the screen snap into action, Katz’s quarterback fires off a final Hail Mary pass, connecting with a receiver who blows into the end zone for a surprise win.

“Bread!” the live-stream announcer screams as Katz’s face splits into a joyful grin. “The seventh seed upsets the top seed!” the shocked announcer continues. “I cannot believe it. The gunslinger mentality to go for it!”

“A lot of pressure on these young men,” the announcer tells the audience as the live-cast closes down. “You have to give it up to Bread.”

EA Sports, the company behind the Madden franchise, called Katz’s win the “most exciting moment in all the 2017 NFL Club Series Championships.” The Buffalo Bills tweeted out congratulations to Katz.

But the promising competitive Madden career Katz launched with his 2017 victory in Buffalo took a drastic turn Sunday in Jacksonville, Fla.

Authorities have identified the 24-year-old as the suspected shooter, “pending confirmation,” after gunfire erupted at a live-streamed Madden NFL 19 qualifying tournament held at a busy mall restaurant. Two people were killed in the attack, Jacksonville County Sheriff Mike Williams told reporters Sunday night. Eleven others were taken to local hospitals, including nine gunshot victims and two people injured fleeing the scene, according to Williams. The gunman shot himself fatally, authorities said.

The investigation continues to zero in on Katz, who reportedly competed in Madden under the tag names “Bread” and “RavensChamp.” On Sunday, federal agents and local police raided a home near Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. Neighbors said they have seen Katz there in the past. Police have yet to detail a motive for the shooting, although Katz was registered to compete in the Jacksonville tournament, according to the event’s website. A witness told the Florida Times-Union that the man allegedly opened fire after he was eliminated from the contest.

The shooting has delivered a blow to the tightknit Madden community just as the game’s popularity as a spectator sport--and the stakes involved--rise in the esport universe.

Once thought of as a slacker hobby, esports have become a highly competitive--and highly lucrative--pursuit for gamers in recent years. Top-ranked players compete for prize money as well as endorsement deals, with some championships offering prizes in the millions. They spend countless hours training to perfect their hand-eye coordination and fine-tune their ability to focus under pressure.

Some esports tournaments feature players competing in games that replicate traditional sports played by live athletes, like Madden NFL and NBA 2K. Others allow them to face off in games like Counter-Strike and Fortnite, which are based on battle scenarios.

According to the esports research firm Newzoo, the worldwide audience for esports is expected to reach 380 million people in 2018. Newzoo predicts that esports sponsorships for North American teams will reach $162 million in 2018.

A Washington Post-University of Massachusetts Lowell poll released this spring found that almost three-quarters of Americans between the ages of 14 and 21 had either played or watched multiplayer online games or competitions in the previous year.

For some young players, esports can be a way of paying for college. In 2014, Illinois-based Robert Morris University became the first college with a varsity esports program that offers scholarships to players, according to Engadget. Some 60 schools have followed suit and established esports teams recognized by the National Association of Collegiate Esports, while many others have unofficial programs, the site reported.

A little over a week ago, the University of Akron announced that it would be opening a 5,200-foot esports facility for its varsity, club, and recreational teams in October, touting it as the largest esports space at any university in the world. That same day, the university announced plans to phase out 80 degree programs due to low enrollment numbers.

The potential financial upshot for esport competitors rivals some traditional athletics. The five-person team that won The International 2018, a Dota 2 online battle competition that concluded over the weekend, walked away with over $11 million in prize money. Additional prizes for runners-up put the total prize pool at over $25 million.

But esports also present their own unique form of overwhelming pressure.

“There is no other sport in the world in which one day you can be a teenager playing a game by yourself, and the next day, because someone scouted you from your online account, you’re thrown onto a stage for millions to criticize,” ESPN esports reporter Tyler Erzberger wrote in a piece on the pervasiveness of mental health issues in the esports community published Friday, before the shooting. “There’s little to no assimilation period. There’s no road map for how to deal with the criticism. There’s just you, on the stage with four teammates, facing down the biggest moment of your life with no lifeline.”

Named after John Madden, a longtime pro football coach and commentator who in 2006 was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Madden NFL allows players to build a fantasy roster for their favorite NFL team and compete in online matchups. Some 46,000 people belong to /r/Madden, a Reddit community dedicated to discussing the series.

The first game in the series, John Madden Football, was released in 1988. By 2014, sales had topped $4 billion in revenue.

As of August 13th, more than 130 million copies had been sold, the game’s maker, Electronics Arts Inc., said in a news release timed with the release of Madden NFL 19, the latest version.

Despite Madden’s long-standing popularity as a franchise, the game’s status as a competitive game is only a recent development thanks to the uptick in tournaments with prize money.

Sunday’s competition was a regional qualifier for an October final round in the Madden NFL 19 Championship Series, which offers a $25,000 prize to the first place winner.

Three million players competed in the Madden NFL 18 challenge last year, which was the top-rated esports broadcast in North America, Todd Sitrin, a senior vice president and general manager for the EA Competitive Gaming Division, said earlier this month in a news release.

The release also noted that this year’s competition will have a prize pool of $700,000, the largest in the game’s 30-year history.

“People don’t realize Madden is a growing game in terms of esports,” gamer Matthew Lee told The Post. “There are guys who are going to make over $100,000 playing this year. With streaming and partnerships on top of the prize money you can win in tournaments, it’s becoming a way to make a living.”

However, the circuit remains a tight group of competitors, Lee said. Everyone knows everyone else--in part due to the intimate nature of the game. Unlike other popular esports titles like “Call of Duty” where players compete in teams, in Madden NFL it’s just you working to outsmart an opponent.

“It’s a mental chess match,” Lee said. “I liken it to a lot of card games with the way you fundamentally have to think about it. You make educated guesses, have to quickly do the math, measure possibilities. You have to outplay your opponent based on probabilities.”

The high-stakes can supercharge the emotions on the field of play.

“The Madden community is one of the most passionate and competitive groups of people you’ll ever find,” Michael Aldrighetti, a Madden competitor, told The Post. “During the actual game, it gets emotional. Frustrations mount, occasional chirping at each other. We’re competitors going at each other. Madden may be ‘just a game’, but the people and the emotions are real.”

[istherewifiinhell]

Yes i could edit the answers YES i could ADD MORE ANSWERS. But also i crashed the web browser editor so. Mobile only??

[whereareallthegoodnames]

My favorite essay

In all languages there are formal and informal versions. There is what is considered improper and what is considered proper. Speaking informally is how one would speak to friends. Speaking formally is how one would speak to an elder or in situations that require it. An example of a situation that requires formal language would be a job interview. One’s variation in use of the formal and informal versions of their language could affect many situations. Today’s Post Modern English is heavily influenced by old, middle, and modern English. Old English is what was spoken by the Anglo-Saxons. Hundreds of years ago, the English language was still in what would be considered its baby stages. This age of English was based off of Scandinavian roots. Through the Anglo-Saxon time era there was no unified alphabet. Some letters of one person’s alphabet look vaguely similar and are used similarly to another person’s alphabet. During this era of the ancestral form of today’s post modern vernacular, many words were born that have a lasting effect to today. Through out history, there have been times where items were given some names that appear pleasing to hear. However, every so often words and names come into existence that are extremely comical. In April 2016, people elected a hilarious name for a polar research vessel.  People chose to name a boat, Boaty McBoatface (Ellis-Petersen, Hannah). It sounds comical and unreal, but it is true. The human mind never ceases to amaze the world. This similar to another case that proves the stubbornness of mankind can turn out comical. In this specific example, it can be related to how the Old English word for a candle with multiple ends is called a “candeltreow.” The Old English word quite literally means candle tree (“20 Brilliant Anglo-Saxon Words”). As it is plain to see, there is obviously no creativity put into neither the candle tree or Boaty. As previously stated, the stubbornness of mankind can prove to be comical. One time Leonardo DiCaprio lost a beauty poll to an angry drunk dwarf (Smallwood, Karl). The situation sounds unreal and very comical. However, it is a true event and extremely comical. People Magazine, the journal hosting the poll, was completely unprepared for the result. The journal believed that DiCaprio would win. As a matter of fact, the aforementioned journal was so sure that DiCaprio would win that the journal had already printed covers with their ideal winner on said covers. They were completely unprepared for the people to vote in the now late Henry Joseph Nasiff, otherwise known as Hank the Angry Drunk Dwarf. The actions of mankind continues to be surprising for many people. Although people and society have changed since Anglo-Saxon times, mankind have maintained their simplicity and defiance. Simply put, the human race is amazing. Changing culture has shown that often times there will be a constant. The human race is a constant. The stubbornness of the human race is a constant. However, that is not always a good thing. There is stubbornness throughout many events that need acceptance. Change is an event that needs acceptance. The change from Old English to Middle English required acceptance. Middle English had started with the Norman conquest of 1066. Heavily influenced by the Latin alphabet, Middle English looks more like what is seen in today’s Post Modern English. The French had played a major role in the creation of middle english.  Two hundred years prior to invading what is today the United Kingdom, the Normans invaded what is today northern France. These former vikings had abandoned their norse culture in favor of the french (The History of English). The Norman conquest had done more than just change the English language forever and put it on track to be what is today. During the Norman conquest, French had made its way into Anglo-Saxon society. This effectively brought about what is now known as Anglo-Norman or Old French. The language quickly rose to popularity. It soon became used to differ between the elite and lower classes of society. Much like American culture today, one would use their mastery over the French language to say stand out from the crown and distinguish themselves as better than others (Houy, Benjamin). However, it does not stop at the french cramming their language and culture down the throats of the ill prepared Anglo-Saxons. The French had influenced the English language, but it was not just the Normans forcing their language on the Anglo-Saxons. There was a cultural trade. Just as there is French influence in English, there is English influence in French. In Old English there was a word that translates directly translates to apple of the earth, and it means cucumber. That word is eorþæppla (“20 Brilliant Anglo-Saxon Words”). Similarly, the French also have a word that directly translates to apple of the earth, and it means potato. That word is pomme-de-terre. This exemplifies the cultural trade between between the Normans and Anglo-Saxons. Both cultures have a word that have the same direct translation. The French had done more than just influence Old English. They had also influenced today’s Post Modern English. There are several words used in the english language today is influenced by the french or just an actual French word due to there being no translation. Contrary to popular opinion, baguette does not mean bread in French.. The word “baguette” has no translation so the English language just uses the French word for the long bread. Similarly, French cognates exist. Cognates are words that look the same and have the same definition in a separate language and English. French cognates are french words that look the same and has the same definition as a word in the English language. There are several cognates in the french language. Calculator is an instrument designed to help make math easier. Calculatrice is the French word for the same thing. Kilomètre is the French word for a thousand meters. Kilometer is the English word for a thousand meters. Cognates show how much the French and English language truly influence each other. However, one must beware of false cognates. False cognates are words that look like it’s English counterpart, but have different meanings. As previously mentioned the French do not use baguette as the word for bread. The French word for bread is pain. As such, the popular phrase, “Let’s get this bread,” would be, “Allons chercher ce pain,” in French. The French word for corner is coin. While on the subject of coins, the French word for coin is monnaie. There are several false cognates. While they may be misleading, it does allow for some fun word play every so often. For example one could say, “Let’s get this pain,” and concern many of one’s friends. They do not intend to be harmed, but it would be hilarious for one to see the reactions of one’s friends. Word play is a staple of not only the english language but many languages around the world. Puns exist because of word play. Puns may not seem important, but that could not be further from the truth. Puns are simple jokes that bring forth joy with little effort. As with everything worth having, the perfect pun is hard to come by. Being a wordsmith is quite a skill. During the age of Modern English, there was one wordsmith that stood out above others. He created entire new words to fit his fancy. He was so impressive, people continue to teach his works today. He is the brilliant William Shakespeare. Modern English began rearing its ugly, ugly head in the late sixteenth century. With the ascension to power of King James the First during the early seventeenth century, the English language took a sharp left turn into a field of new words. During this period of time the distinction between Middle English and Modern English becomes clearer (“Early Modern English”). As time passes the grammar and lexicon changes to becomes more familiar with what is seen today. William Shakespeare played a major role in the formation of this version of English. Shakespeare invented many words in the English language. Many of which are still commonly used today. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth the word that that describes political killings and paid homicide is presented for the first time. That word is assassination. “If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well it were done quickly: if the assassination could trammel up the consequence, and catch with his surcease success” (Shakespeare, William). Several hundreds of years after the conception and debut of the word, it is still in use. The assassination of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand was the starting event for the first world war. This famous assassination is still taught nationwide throughout the nation of the United States of America. Often times, people will refer to Shakespearian English as Early Modern English, and people will refer to Post Modern English simply as Modern English. The idea is controversial in that not much has changed since the beginning of Modern English except for slang. However, slang is an important part of culture that has been useful in separating generations and displaying comfort. One using slang around another truly shows how comfortable they are around each other. Cultural differences between generations can prove both harmful and useful. It all depends of one’s perspective. Perspective is a powerful thing. People often hear the phrase, “Walk a mile in their shoes,” and it means to view the world from another person’s perspective. One person may see one event as mildly inconveniencing, but another person could see that very same event as a the worst thing ever. With one person that event might be their first mishap of the day. With the other person it could be the last. It could be the hypothetical straw that breaks the hypothetical back of the hypothetical camel. Post Modern English is possibly the best way to describe English as it is currently. Slang is so different between today and even just a few years ago. Slang has defined the generational border. That separation is what marks the difference between ideology. Much of Generation Z should be considered Post Modernist. The ideology of a Post Modernist is more progressive than a Traditionalist. In the world the LGBT+ movement is building, and many of the participants a Post Modernist. A Traditionalist is more complacent with how the world is. A Post Modernist is ready to move forward into a better era. Compared to a Modernist who simply tries build on what a Traditionalist has done. Post Modernism so accurately describes English today due to the slang having very little to do with actual English. At this point it is more about making new words out of incoherent sounds. For example: “Yeet,” is a slang a word. It is often shouted when one wishes to throw an object to gain distance. In comparison to the previously mentioned slang word, there is a word that is shouted for accuracy. That word is “Kobe.” Kobe is the name of a famous former basketball player. He was infamous for his obsessiveness of the ball, but he was also famous for his skill with the ball. The fact that he became a “meme” did help the fame and infamy. A meme is what is currently the most popular form of internet fame and infamy. Reaching meme status could be either good or bad. The organization Peta had reached meme status, and all it did was promote everyone’s hate for the organization. The band Maroon 5 had reached meme status shortly after the halftime show at Super Bowl Fifty-Three. Much of the United States of America despised the band. Meme status is not all bad. The late Steve Irwin had reached meme status. His death hit the internet community hard. Much of the world had revered the man for his love of nature and wild life. He dedicated his life to nature reserves and preservation of wild life. He was a good man with a great heart. Steve Irwin was not the only person to reach what could be considered good meme status, for example: Stan Lee, Bob Ross, Mr. Rogers, and Bill Nye had all reached good meme status. Stan Lee promoted creativity. Bob Ross promoted self love. Mr. Rogers promoted kindness. Bill Nye promotes the pursuit of knowledge. In Post Modern English, almost everything is about context. Context is extremely important. Context builds the setting for sarcasm. Without context and tone, sarcasm would be utterly indecipherable from plain idle drawling. Trying to convey sarcasm through text is almost impossible. There are a few reasons that authors are able to convey sarcasm through text, for example: italics, capitalizations, bolding, and underlining are all ways authors convey all types of tone. Due to context there are words that come about that have two completely contrasting definitions. These words are called contronyms. It becomes rather annoying trying to figure out which of the two definitions the author used without context. Examples of contronyms are: chuffed, spliced, and bill. Chuffed could mean extremely pleased or overly displeased with a situation. Splice could mean to separate, or it could mean to join together. Bill could be an invoice demanding payment, or it could mean a payment. It is all rather jarring to see and read these words without proper context. In conclusion, the progression of the English language through the ages was made possible by all the influences. Old English started off by Scandinavian roots. Old English was influenced by the Anglo-Saxons, who were the first people to speak the language. There was not much writing going on at the time due to the need to carve the lettering into stone tablets. For the same reason, much of the Old English alphabet was just straight lines. Curves were difficult to carve into the stone tablets at the time. Middle English was influenced by the Normans, who were Norse men influenced by the French. So, it is really the French who influenced Middle English. However, as proven earlier, it was more of a cultural trade than it actually being one side forcing its culture down the throat of the other culture. Modern English was made possible by the slow culling of Middle English. From then on William Shakespeare proceeded to form new words that had a tremendous impact on the English language as a whole. As it currently stands, Shakespeare’s words continue to this very day. Post Modern English is truly impacted by the very people who speak it. With a desire to make themselves standout from the previous generation, people have made new words that seem extremely insignificant, but it is a part of their identity. That identity is impossible to see or understand without the proper context.

[timomaraus]

February 10, 2020

CNN This Colorado college will start offering a cannabis major in the fall (Editor’s Note: Brings a whole new meaning to getting a high score on a test.)

Time Majority of New Hampshire Democrats would prefer a meteor extinguish ‘all human life’ than Trump get re-elected: Poll (Editor’s Note: First, this is Time magazine, not the Onion. Second, I hope there is some sort of award for the researcher that dreamed up that question.)

The Week America’s pig problem (Editor’s Note: It’s serious. But we can vote him out in November.)

CNN The aviation museum for people who don’t care about aviation (Editor’s Note: I believe that’s called an airport bar.)

CNN This deli offers customers free food if they can solve simple math problems (Editor’s Note: If your roasted turkey comes out of the warming oven traveling east at 2.4MPH, and your Tuscan bread leaves the toaster traveling southwest at 1.4MPH, at what point will they meet over the cranberry relish?)

CNN Trump tells advisers he doesn’t want another summit with North Korea’s Kim (Editor’s Note: Where is the love?)

CNN Major cuts to National Security Council staff expected as soon as next week, sources say (Editor’s Note: Right, because there are absolutely no national security issues to worry about ahead of the election.)

CNN The superyacht that thinks it’s an airplane (Editor’s Note: I have an idea for a new display at the aviation museum for people who don’t care about aviation.)

NBC News Democratic delegate tracker: The race to 1,991 is on (Editor’s Note: Hey Pete Buttigieg, you’re the leader! And you only have, let’s see here 1,963 to go! Can I get a free sandwich at that deli now?)

[woman-of-destiny]

Deuteronomy 8:3

He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord .Can you believe a percentage of Americans who own running shoes but don't run is 87%. Am sure if we were to poll the number of Christians that own a bible but don't read it tend to get a similar results.

This reminds me of a story I heard. One day a teacher was teaching her young class the story of Jesus visiting mary and Martha. She carefully explained how mary and Martha had hurried to clean the house and cook a special meal. Then she paused and asked, what would you do if Jesus was going to visit your house today? One little girl quickly responded, I'd put the bible on the table.

God's word is vital to our spiritual growth, yet it's something that we can often neglect. Just think of God's word as your favourite meal. Many times feeding our bodies has priority in our lives. But when we neglect to feed our souls through study of God's word, we are dying spiritually and we tend to shut out God's voice.

Deu 11:8 says, "Fix this words of mine in your hearts and minds, tie them as symbols in your hands and bind them on your foreheads".

We should direct our mind repeatedly and regularly towards God's word. As paul wrote in Phil 4:8 Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, _if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think of such things.

Today I want to challenge you. Never stop studying the bible. You may not remember everything but the word is flowing into your spirit. It is becoming a part of your heart and mind and it is transforming you bit by bit because man shall not live by bread alone and God's word need to be our daily bread.

The word of God was important in the life of Jesus. It sustained him and helped him in times of temptation ( math 4:4). Today choose to depend on the word of God and you will never be disappointed. Hide his word in your heart that you might not sin against him.

Have a great Monday

Z

Show quoted text

[thisdaynews]

‘I’m not trying to build a national profile’: Brindisi plays it safe in upstate New York

New Post has been published on https://thebiafrastar.com/im-not-trying-to-build-a-national-profile-brindisi-plays-it-safe-in-upstate-new-york/

‘I’m not trying to build a national profile’: Brindisi plays it safe in upstate New York

The freshman Democrat from central New York’s sprawling 22nd congressional district won a tight race last year in a district Donald Trump carried by 15 points in 2016. | Twitter

SHERBURNE — More than 200 miles from the New York City district that catapulted Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to progressive superstardom last year, Rep. Anthony Brindisi is straining to hold on to the center.

The freshman Democrat from central New York’s sprawling 22nd congressional district won a tight race last year in a district Donald Trump carried by 15 points in 2016, helping his party reclaim the House. But now he’s doing his best to distance himself from the party’s vocal left, Ocasio-Cortez included, and also from the liberals who control all the levers of power in Albany for the first time in years. It’s a struggle. And Republicans believe the seat can be flipped again next year.

Story Continued Below

Brindisi’s predicament is a reminder that even in liberal bastions like New York, some Democrats are eager to keep it local rather than engage in the issues that animate the party’s left wing. That’s why on a recent summer’s evening in this village of a little over 1,000 people 45 minutes west of Cooperstown, Brindisi focused not on the Green New Deal or “Medicare for All,” but on a litany of complaints from constituents. They ranged from issues with broadband and cable service providers (too few options, speakers said) to service quality (impeding the ability of their kids to do online schoolwork) to an ongoing dispute between AT&T and media conglomerate Nexstar, which has blacked out a number of local news stations in Central New York.

“It’s very deliberate, because I’m not trying to build a national profile,” Brindisi said in an interview. “It can be challenging sometimes, because being more of a moderate, you will get hit by incoming fire, not only from your left flank, but from the right flank as well.”

Brindisi’s victory last year was not seen as a bellwether of shifting local politics, as Ocasio-Cortez’s primary win over longtime incumbent Joe Crowley was, or partly the result of changing demographics, which helped Antonio Delgado unseat John Faso in a Hudson Valley seat. The 40-year-old former state legislator was in the right place at the right time, capitalizing on Republicans’ health care foibles and one-term incumbent Claudia Tenney’s penchant for inflammatory and conspiratorial rhetoric, which alienated people in her own party.

Brindisi is well aware of those circumstances, and he’s betting that voters will reward his careful centrism in 2020 as he operates far from the spotlight of fellow Democratic newcomers like Ocasio-Cortez, or even Rep. Max Rose of Staten Island, whose media-friendly brashness has elevated him as a counterweight to the insurgent left. He made good on a campaign promise to vote against Nancy Pelosi as House speaker — a high-profile display of independence — and he has brushed aside calls to impeach Trump.

“When I talked to folks in this district who come to town hall meetings, the first issue when they wake up in the morning and think about is not impeachment or the president, it’s ‘how am I going to put food on my table today?’” Brindisi said. “Regardless of what the national party does, I know what my message will be. It’s continuing to focus on those bread and butter issues that will actually help people in places like upstate New York.”

There’s no question that the district favors Republicans. Last year, when Brindisi unseated Tenney by 4,400 votes, the GOP’s sacrificial lamb for governor, Marc Molinaro, won the district over Gov. Andrew Cuomo by 50,000 votes — while Cuomo was on his way to a historic landslide win statewide.

Ideology isn’t going to win him many votes in this district. So he keeps the conversation focused on constituent service in hopes that Tip O’Neill’s famous dictum about local politics rings true next year, when the rest of the country debates the national and global issues of the Trump era.

Brindisi’s town hall in Sherburne came on the heels of an information session at the local library for veterans on recent changes to their private health care options under the 2018 VA Mission Act, which doubled as an informal airing of grievances with the VA and its medical center in Syracuse. It was yet another example of his focus on almost anything but the issues that animate his more-liberal colleagues.

“What I try to stress to the speaker and everyone in leadership is the reason Democrats took the majority in the House of Representatives is not because we unseated other Democrats in primaries, it’s because we unseated Republicans in swing districts like NY-22,” he said. “And the policies that should be reflected out of the House of Representatives are the policies that I hear about at these kinds of town hall meetings: infrastructure; health care costs; drug costs. Those are the things people want us focusing on.”

Brindisi’s claim to be a different breed of Democrat is borne out by some metrics, such as GovTrak, where he rates firmly near the center and closer to some Republicans than he is to many Democrats. (Other methodologies indicate that Brindisi votes with the president far less than one would expect, based on the district’s 2016 presidential vote.)

Nevertheless, the National Republican Congressional Committee has begun pumping out messages labeling Brindisi a socialist. It’s a sampling of what will likely become a deluge of such messages over the next 15 months.

“Once we expose his record, that myth [of Brindisi’s centrism] will be exposed a bit,” said Franklin Sager, a high school math teacher running for the Republican nomination. “When you look at the record … he’s going to be seen as a liberal. There’s nothing wrong with that. He’s not a leftist, but he’s a liberal.”

And Brindisi will also have to deal with potential voter backlash against progressive policies implemented by the all-Democratic state Legislature in Albany, including a number of criminal justice reforms and access to driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants. New York Republicans have seized on these issues in their quest to win back the state Senate next year. The driver’s license measure is unpopular statewide, according to the most recent Siena College poll. Given Trump’s popularity in the district, it’s fair to assume the law is even more unpopular there.

Of course, Brindisi had nothing to do with enacting those policies, but it will further test his mettle as not-your-average Democrat.

“I think Brindisi has done everything that you can right; he doesn’t go after the president, he’s careful with his votes and he’s strategic about his stance with leadership,” said a longtime GOP operative familiar with the area. “But he could do all that right and still lose. I think a pet rock could win in a presidential year [for Republicans].”

“Therightpet rock,” the source added.

Already three Republican candidates have lined up to run against Brindisi: Stephen Cornwell, the Broome County district attorney; George Phillips, who has made three previous unsuccessful runs for the seat; and Sager.

“The bottom line is that the needs of upstate New Yorkers are not being addressed,” Cornwell said. “In Washington it seems like there’s no plan other than reelection. We have real people affected by real problems.”

The field may expand further: Binghamton Mayor Richard David’s name has also come up among Republicans, and Tenney has not ruled out running again.

Brindisi has proven himself to be a capable fundraiser, a must for those running in highly competitive seats. He raised more than $4.6 million during his first congressional campaign, and since coming into office he’s raked in a bit less than $1 million, with more than $770,000 in cash on hand, according to Federal Election Commission filings.

By comparison, Phillips has raised about $111,000 and has less than $54,000 cash on hand, and Sager has spent the entirety of the $3,527 he has raised, as of June 30. (Cornwell announced his candidacy in July and thus has not reported his fundraising numbers to date.)

But unless the GOP coalesces around a single opponent in the coming months the way that Democrats quickly aligned behind Brindisi in 2017, he won’t know his Republican opponent until the results of New York’s primary in June.

So until then, Brindisi is canvassing across a district that spans the entirety of four counties and parts of four others — and extends from the shores of Lake Ontario to the Pennsylvania border — in an uphill attempt to buck the nationalization of American politics.

“The problem with Washington, as I see it, is elected officials make a lot of commitments on the campaign trail, and then as soon as they get to Washington they backtrack on those commitments.

“That’s not something I’ll ever do.”

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[b-random]

70 horrible questions... answered.

01: Do you have a good relationship with your parents?  Yes.  Good, but maybe not great. 02: Who did you last say “I love you” to?  My cat. 03: Do you regret anything?  Yes. Lots. I think if you don’t regret anything, you probably think you’re incapable of doing wrong. 04: Are you insecure?  Very 05: What is your relationship status?  Single. 06: How do you want to die?  Happy. 07: What did you last eat?  Garlic bread. 08: Played any sports?  Sports? Doesn’t ring a bell. 09: Do you bite your nails?  No. 10: When was your last physical fight? I’m a lover, not a fighter.  Never been in a physical fight. 11: Do you like someone?  Yes 12: Have you ever stayed up 48 hours?  Probably not quite 48 hours.  40 hours is a distinct possibility though. 13: Do you hate anyone at the moment?  I hate my perception of lots of people. 14: Do you miss someone?  Yes.  There’s one person I have missed every day for the past 8 years. 15: Have any pets?  A couple of kitties. 16: How exactly are you feeling at the moment?  Somewhat bored, mostly indifferent. 17: Ever made out in the bathroom?  Yes. 18: Are you scared of spiders?  It’s not a phobia, but I usually try to keep a wide berth when I’m near one. 19: Would you go back in time if you were given the chance?  Depends on the circumstances.  As a mere observer, probably.  Would I relive certain moments of my life?  Maybe. 20: Where was the last place you snogged someone?  In his apartment. 21: What are your plans for this weekend?  Easter dinner with the family. 22: Do you want to have kids? How many?  I used to.  That candle has burned out though. 23: Do you have piercings? How many?  None. 24: What is/are/were your best subject(s)? God, I can’t even remember.  I do remember that even though I hated math, it was very self-rewarding when I understood it. 25: Do you miss anyone from your past?  Yes. See question 14. 26: What are you craving right now?  Cheetos.  The crunchy kind.  Puffs are bullshit. 27: Have you ever broken someone’s heart?  I’m sure I have. 28: Have you ever been cheated on?  I’m highly suspicious of it, but I don’t have any proof. 29: Have you made a boyfriend/girlfriend cry?  I’m sure at some point I have, yes. 30: What’s irritating you right now?  I have an itch / numb sensation on the top part of my belly. 31: Does somebody love you?  I hope so. 32: What is your favourite color?  When I’m close to you, we blend into my favourite colour. I’m bright baby blue, falling into you. Falling for each other.  Orange.  (PS - Hate that this question has a u in ‘favourite’ but not ‘color’) 33: Do you have trust issues?  Very much so.  Stems from being heavily bullied as a kid. 34: Who/what was your last dream about?  Don’t remember what it was about, but I had a secret apartment under some stairs in the mall. 35: Who was the last person you cried in front of?  Oh god... Don’t remember. 36: Do you give out second chances too easily?  If it means avoiding confrontation, yes. 37: Is it easier to forgive or forget?  Forget. 38: Is this year the best year of your life?  Not so far. 39: How old were you when you had your first kiss?  Ugh... like 20ish. 40: Have you ever walked outside completely naked? Yes. 51: Favourite food?  Tacos or perogies. 52: Do you believe everything happens for a reason?  On a physical level, yes.  Otherwise, no.  Sometimes bad things happen, sometimes good things happens.  Sometimes I run, sometimes I hide and sometimes I’m scared of you. 53: What is the last thing you did before you went to bed last night?  Turned off the Flames game halfway through the third period. 54: Is cheating ever okay? No, but I do think cheating is vilified more than it needs to be.  I don’t believe humans are naturally monogamous. 55: Are you mean?  I can be. 56: How many people have you fist fought? 0. 57: Do you believe in true love?  Haven’t found it yet. 58: Favourite weather?  Sunny spring day. Light breeze. 59: Do you like the snow?  Hate almost everything about it. 60: Do you wanna get married?  Marriage hasn’t been a priority for me since it was illegal when I was a teenager. 61: Is it cute when a boy/girl calls you baby?  Sure.  But I can’t wait for the day when couple stop calling each other “babe”. 62: What makes you happy?  Good music. 63: Would you change your name?  Doubt it. 64: Would it be hard to kiss the last person you kissed?  Yes.  65: Your best friend of the opposite sex likes you, what do you do?  Laugh. She knows that ain’t happening. 66: Do you have a friend of the opposite sex who you can act your complete self around?  Hmmm... not really. I don’t think I have anyone I can act my complete self around.  I’m a very reserved person. 67: Who was the last person of the opposite sex you talked to?  The lady at the polling station. 68: Who’s the last person you had a deep conversation with?  Myself. 69: Do you believe in soulmates?  Not sure I believe in souls. 70: Is there anyone you would die for? Yes. See question 14.

Just decided to answer all questions instead of asking people to request numbers.