#bronx: ava

[thvnderr]

"Shut up, girl", Bronx laughed at her drama about the t-shirt, "You know I appreciate you, you dummy". He stretched to ruffle her soon-to-be-ruined hair. As if he was not an annoyance himself. Bronx knew he could be quite a handful, so these little moments of higher moral superiority were something he would snatch at the first opportunity. "As a dancer at the lounge, I can smell a broken heart from miles away; they always bring in the most cash," he replied with a smile, "so yes, I could smell your rejection from very far away", Bronx teased. "But listen, if they rejected you is just because you deserve someone even better, you'll have to learn how to be patient until another person arrives to your life to make you happy in the best way possible." He advised as he moved between his bedroom and the bathroom to start preparing everything they would need. It was not like Bronx knew much about love... or anything at all; sudden contemplation got him thinking if he had ever fallen in love but the answer came in negative. He had seen his friends fall in love, though, that had to count for something... right? "December is gonna be fucking cold, so having you as temporal roomie doesn't sound like a bad idea; but you'll have to bring the snacks at least if I'll have you here all the time". Bronx stopped on his tracks to think between both possibilities: having her waiting in the darkness of his apartment like a gargoyle perched on his couch waiting to attack or feeling the ominous dread of being followed in a town were murderous events took place every now and then. "At least if I scream in my apartment it will be less embarrassing that screaming in the middle of the street, so I think waiting for you in here seems more appealing to me than pissing my pants mid-street."

He smiled at the compliment thrown back at him, the brief vulnerability shared between them was shown through little sincere smiles before the idea of naked souls became too much to handle even for him. "I have clothes specifically saved for hair dye so no biggie," Bronx shrugged off before going to his bedroom again to fetch said shirts and shorts. "So are you gonna cut off your hair or are we gonna dye your whole mane? Just to know how much product to start mixing," he called from over the depths of his dim-lit bedroom, before coming out victorious with a change of clothes for her and an old shirt on himself to avoid unnecessary accidents on nice clothes. "Are you going to the Halloween party?"

Shrugging off his refusal to use her clothing as a napkin, a perfectly reasonable thing to do, Ava released the hem of her tee, unable to stop herself from sassily remarking, "Ooh, someone's too good to wipe their hands off on my shirt. Whatever, you know I'd offer anytime, even if it's not appreciated." It was simply the way their friendship worked, regarding each other with playful annoyance, at times incredulous disbelief, and underneath it all, bursts of genuine affection. "Yeah yeah, story of my life apparently, so I bet you could smell the rejection coming off of me before I even got to the door," she flippantly replied, letting out a long, slow breath that made it sound like she was a deflating balloon. "Uh, I don't make the rules. You leave your lights on, that's an open invitation for me to come invade your space. And if this is how decked out in fairy lights you keep your place for Halloween, you won't be able to hide from me at all in the month of December," she informed him as she took a proper look around the place at his seasonal decorations, the comment sounding vaguely like a threat. "So... you'd much rather come home to me waiting for you in the dark than hunting you down in town? No, cool, just making sure we're on the same page," the brunette pressed on, barely giving Bronx a moment to confirm or rebuff her statement.

Her cavalier demeanor about the unwanted turn of the evening crumbling and threatening to fall away completely at her friend's sincere comment, urging her not to change too much, Ava tentatively peaked her head out from the depths of self hatred she'd been drowning in all night. Whenever things like this happened to her, she always assumed it was because there was something wrong with her. After all, she was the common denominator when all of her little infatuations inevitably crashed and burned. So the reminder that there were people out there that liked her as is meant more than her wounded pride would let her adequately express right then. "Thanks, B. I mean... not the part about me being dense. Rude. But the rest of it. I think you're pretty cool too." A smile tugging at her lips when he threw an arm around her shoulders, she brought her arm up to his hips, leaning against his frame. "You should know by now that it's never okay to ruin my clothes. Unless you're trying to catch a right hook. So if you won't mind offering up a sacrifice for me, that would be great."

[talkteav]

Billy Crystal’s new psychological thriller Before premieres this Friday. 

Rosie Perez opens up about her character in Apple TV+'s Before and shares insights on working with Crystal, and how the cast dealt with the tense scenes.

TalkTeaV 📺

Image of Rosie Perez at the premiere of the Apple TV+ series Before at The Modern Museum History (MoMA) in New York City-Before premieres Friday, October 25, 2024- Image Courtesy of Apple TV+

[spicybleach]

Too Sweet: Melissa Schemmenti x Kassandra (me)

Prompt: Based off the song Too Sweet by Hozier (This song has me in a chokehold and reminds me of Melissa ❤️) Kassandra wasn’t an early bird, I know why become a teacher since they wake up at the ass crack of dawn. She loved working with kids, especially back in the Bronx where she lived in poverty until college. Her being the honorary big sister to all the neighborhood kids, she found her passion.

Translation of a couple words:

My love/darling: habibi حبيبي (Arabic)

My little sunflower: il mio piccolo girasole (Italian)

Warnings: Fluff,Alcohol consumption.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Philly was a mini Bronx to Kassandra and she felt right at home. She was looking forward to her new neighborhood and teaching second grade this year. Kassandra just finished her degree to be a teacher at Abbot Elementary. When picking what school she was going to be at, her fellow classmates warned her about the questionable school and a certain someone Melissa Schemmenti. According to the others, Melissa was mean, a bully even to any new teacher that walked into the place. Nobody lasted there, ever, well except Janine. The young teacher wasn’t phased by that at all. She decided so was going to move to Philly and be the best damn teacher ever.

Weeks before the kiddos were set to be back in the classroom all buzzing with excitement from their summer break, telling their friends, teachers and anyone who would listen to what shenanigans they got into in the summer. There was rumors a foot going around about a new teacher at Abbot. Ava, the principal sent a group text to the group chat she has with her teacher friends. Ava would use the word friend loosely, Janine being her biggest annoyance thus far.

Anyways, Kassandra arrived at the school to start setting up her classroom. With papers falling out of a box, dropping a couple pens and highlighters on the front step. Kassandra groans turning around to pick everything up, ‘ Please let this go smoothly’ she thought to herself. Suddenly this bright eyed, enthusiastic man grabs the door for you.

“ Oops I’m sorry, let me help you.” The man smiled. Kassandra smiles back, “Thank you.” She heads into the door and stopping in her tracks. Woah, she quietly says to herself but the man behind her still hears her.

“ I know. Amazing isn’t it?. OH!” The man exclaims, “I’m Jacob by the way and you?” He reaches his hand out to shake yours.

“Kassandra.” She said with a smile.

“ Oh my god? You’re the new teacher?!.” Jacob says jumping a little.

“Yes that is me, can you tell?” Kassandra said shyly.

“ Yeah but it’s okay the crew and I will help you with anything you need. Come on, let’s go to the break room!” Jacob grabs her arm guiding her to the noisy room where everyone is at.

“ Guys!” Jacob slams through the door.

“ Oh hello Jacob good to see you hun!.” A much older black teacher turns from the table.

“ Everyone this is our new teacher Kassandra.” Jacob excitedly says and she walks from behind him still struggling to carry all this stuff.

“ Hi everyone it’s nice to meet you.” Kassandra said from behind her box.

“ Oh dear, here put your stuff down. Don’t wanna hurt yourself. I’m Mrs Howard but you can call me Barbra.” The older teacher helps her put your things on the table so she won’t drop any more items.

“ Nice to meet you Barb.” Kassandra smiled and let out a sigh of relief from all that weight.

Two more teachers walk in along with principal Ava.

“ Gregory! Janine! Ava! This is our new teacher Kassandra.” Jacob said enthusiastically as they walked into the room.

“ Nice to meet you.” Gregory and Janine said in unison.

Janine loves to talk and well that’s what she did asking you questions about Kassandra’s life, school ect. Everyone sat and listened to her tell a few stories about her upbringing, school life you name it. Finally, Melissa walks in, “Melissa! There you are sweetheart. Come meet our newest teacher yes?.” Barbra stands from the table greeting the fiery redhead with a hug. Kassandra turns around to face Melissa. Melissa gets a wif of her sweet perfume as she swings her hair around. For a split second, Melissa felt like she was in an episode of the twilight zone. Time stood still, My god, she’s beautiful. Barb nudges her friend in the arm knocking her from her thoughts. “ Come on don’t be rude, say hi.” Barb said with a smile gesturing her friend towards Kassandra. The beautiful young black woman stood before her, also being the same height as Melissa herself but Mel being a little taller especially in heels.

“Hi, I’m Kassandra, it’s nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard things about you.” She reached her hand out and the red head takes it. Melissa gives her a look, scanning her body fairly quickly to where no one but Barb notices.

“Hi, I’m Melissa. Good things I hope.” Melissa smirks taking a step back after they shook hands. What Melissa doesn’t see is her best friend Barb behind her smiling like she was offered a glass of the finest wine.

“Mmm, I’ll be the judge of that.” Kassandra smirks, licking her bottom lip ever so slightly. That draws Melissa’s attention to her lips, a piercing? She thought to herself, it was one of those labret piercings that goes up and down on her lip, ah a horizontal labret; nice.

“ Alright kid, let me show you to your room, it’s just right across the hall from mine.” Melissa says grabbing a heavy box of Kassandra’s things from the table. Kassandra follows gorgeous red head to her new classroom. Melissa wasn’t as mean as Kassandra thought. Kassandra started her tasks already knowing what she wants to do for her classroom.

Melissa tilted her head to the side a bit, “ Sunflowers?” The lovely red said picking up a sunflower decoration from the box.

Kassandra turns around from what she’s doing and flashes a smile, “Yeah, I love sunflowers. See.” The beautiful young teacher showed Melissa her right hand in her ring finger, a sunflower finger tattoo. Melissa lightly grabs the woman’s hand, “Cute.” Oh my god, I’m touching her hand, again. Schemmenti what has gotten into you, Melissa thought to herself.

“ Well, if you need anything I’ll just be in the room across the hall.” Melissa said still holding the younger woman’s hand.

“ Oh I’ll definitely hold that against you, anytime.” Kassandra blushes, turning her face a little so Mel doesn’t see her face. And with that Melissa left, her perfume overtook Kassandra’s nostrils, hammering the scent in her brain; it was intoxicating but in a good way.

Melissa found her way back to the break room where her best friend Barb is. Barb looks up from what she was doing at the table, “mmm.” was all the woman said. Melissa rolled her eyes taking a seat next to her, “ What Barb?.” The red head folded her arms across her chest.

“Oh nothing.” Barb paused for a second, “ You just looked like you were a deer caught in headlights right about now, wanna talk about it?.” Barb gently placed her hand on top of her friends.

“No, thank you. I’m good.” Melissa said nonchalantly but deep down she DOES want to talk about it because what is happening to her? Is this some type of sick prank being pulled or what?. The red head let out the biggest sigh. Barb hits her arm lightly, “ Oh come on dear I know you wanna talk.” Melissa grunts, “Fine.” She gets up from her seat.

“ You know me Barb right.” Melissa said running her hands through her long red locs.

“ Melissa, sweetheart you are scaring me. I’ve never seen you like this except for well if the eagles lost a game and game season is over so what is this about?. “ Barb said frowning going up to her friend holding her hands in hers.

“ Barb I-I don’t know. It’s her.” Melissa said almost a whisper on the last part. Finally Barb clicked two and two together.

“ Sweetheart, I seen the way you looked at her earlier and I only know that look because I get like that with my Gerald.” Barb said with a smile, Melissa’s expression softens.

“ For a moment, it’s like I wasn’t even here you know? I just couldn’t breathe and- and I get this weird pit in my stomach everytime I looked at her.” Melissa said in a panic, Barb pulled her friend into a hug.

“ Look, you might just have a crush on her like you did with that fireman.” Barb shrugs her shoulders, “ Or- maybe you could be developing feelings yes?.” Melissa looked at her friend, “ What? No?. I don’t have a crush Barb you’re reading too much into just one interaction we had.” Barb sighed, shaking her finger at her. “No Melissa, I know what I saw. I’ve known you for how long? You think I can’t read you?” Barb chuckles a bit, “ This isn’t the hard to get Melissa Schemmenti, I don’t know what it is yet but I know you have the biggest heart of any of the people I’ve ever met. Why not have a conversation with her and see where it goes hmm?.” Melissa gives Barb a glare, one that kills. Maybe Barb is right. She does have a crush and boy does Melissa and Barb know it. Unbeknownst to the duo, Mr Johnson and Ava creep outside the hallway getting front row seats to this budding romance.

“ I got 500 that Melissa and Kassandra get together.” Ava whispers, “Deal.” Mr Johnson said quietly and returning to whatever shenanigans he was up too. Nothing gets past Ava in her school.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1 year later and a short flashback:

Melissa became very fond of the young black woman. They have a few things in common like drinking wine, the love of Italian food (especially Melissa’s Italian food when Mel would bring leftovers to work with her reserved especially for her il mio piccolo girasole. That was Melissa’s nickname for Kass, her little sunflower; she brightens up Mel’s day with her radiant smile, her gorgeous brown eyes Mel takes glances of when Kass isn’t looking. Also her nickname in Mel’s phone. Recently Kass called Mel, Habibi meaning my love/darling in Arabic. It took Mel by surprise but nonetheless she loved the cute pet name. Melissa should thank Janine for inviting Kass out for drinks one night with the crew because it made them closer, everyone knows Mel is too prideful to even do so.

On a Saturday night, Melissa invited the young woman over for some homemade lasagna and a good wine to pair the dish with along with a tiramisu for dessert. Melissa has planned this day for weeks, changing the menu a million times to what she thinks Kassandra would like, down to what outfit she was going to wear. Like Melissa told Kass, this isn’t a date it’s just dinner between two friends. Kassandra arrived in a short black dress that hugged her curves in the right places, paired with a black red bottom heel, her dark locs in messy boho braids, her perfume sweet. A bottle of wine tucked under her arm as she fumbled with her purse to get her phone out letting Melissa know she’s here.

The front door swings open revealing a well dressed Melissa. Her signature leather pants tight, a green tank top, that fucking leather jacket, her hair cascading around her, her makeup is soft. Kassandra smelled a familiar scent that overtook her nose. Melissa flashes her famous smile that’d make anyone melt.

“Hey hon. Is that wine I see? You look great.” Melissa smirks her one arm propping her up against the door frame and the other on her hip.

“ Hey habibi. Yes, it’s something I think we’ll both enjoy. Thank you, you as well as always.” Kassandra smiled back handing her the bottle. Melissa steps aside to let her in, closing the door behind the woman.

“ Ha- what?.” Melissa said trying to pronounce the word in her thick Philly accent. Kassandra laughs at the red head trying to pronounce the word.

“ My love/ darling. You gave me a little nickname or whatever so you needed one. After all I’m your il mio piccolo girasole after all.” Kassandra smiled up at the red head. Melissa liked loved the nickname. Melissa sat the wine bottle on the counter, grabbing two wine glasses from the cabinet, pouring two glasses for the both of them. Kassandra took a sip of wine from the glass, a little spilled out of her mouth. Melissa watched the bead of wine drip from her lips, running down her chin and landing on her busty chest. Melissa bit her lip, she knows it’s not the wine since they just opened the bottle.

“ Oops.” Kassandra wiped the bead of wine off her chest. Melissa watching her closely, the way her breast jiggled when she touched them briefly.

“So.” Melissa pauses swirling her finger around the rim of her glass, “ Hungry? I made lasagna and for dessert tiramisu.”

Kassandra’s eyes lit up knowing Melissa knows how much she enjoys her, her food.

“ I could eat.” Kassandra smirks against the glass in her mouth.

Melissa guides her to the dining room where the table is set and the only light in the room is candles. A singular sunflower sits on top of a plate on the table. Melissa takes the glass from Kassandra setting it by the plate with a sunflower.

“ Schemmenti, I thought this wasn’t a date?.” Kassandra said with a raised brow turning to the red head beside her.

“ Hon it’s not. Can’t a friend just give a friend a flower that reminds her of? Come sit I’ll get you a plate of that lasagna. Save room for dessert too.” Melissa gestures to the chair she pulled out for her. Kassandra walks over taking a sit in the chair. Melissa watched as her curves swayed when she walked. Melissa disappeared to the kitchen but not before she stole glances of the beautiful black woman sitting at her table. God she wishes SHE was the dessert for the night. Admiring the sunflower in her hand, Kassandra bring it up to her nose inhaling it’s scent. Melissa reappears with the plates of lasagna.

The conversation flows smoothly between the two women. The Italian music; loud, the laughter; even louder, Melissa’s feelings; electric. “ I’m gonna clean this up real quick and we can get to dessert.” Melissa stands from her chair taking all plates and glasses to the kitchen. Kassandra followed in toe. Melissa places the dishes in the sink.

“ I think I’m ready for dessert. Dinner was delicious.” Kassandra said leaning against the island. Melissa turns from the sink shooting the woman a smile.

“ I’m glad you liked it. Now,.” Melissa smiled, clapping her hands together, “ Let’s get you some of that dessert.” Melissa heads to the fridge bringing out a glass dish of the tiramisu, grabbing two forks as she heads over to the woman at the counter. Melissa hands Kassandra a fork , instantly digging in. “Well?” Melissa said with a raised brow waiting for an answer.

“ Oh my god.” Kassandra said with a mouthful, “ This is incredible habibi.” Melissa smiles taking a bite too. She watched the way the fork hit the young woman’s lips. Her red lipstick sticking to the fork, the way Kassandra’s tongue slide on and around it sent shivers down Mel’s spine. Oh god how pretty she’d look bent over the counter screaming my name, Melissa thought to herself. She’d never take advantage of her friend like that especially since they gone through 3 bottles of wine. “ I’m glad you like it hon.” Just then Melissa noticed a bit of whipped cream on her bottom lip. “ What?” Kassandra caught Mel staring a hole into her. “ Let me get that for you hon.” Melissa points to her lip. Stepping closer to her, their bodies now touching. Melissa takes her thumb wiping away the cream off her lip. Kassandra takes Mel’s hand licking off the whipped cream from her thumb. Melissa rests her hand on her face, it’s warm and soft to the touch. For a moment the world stopped for them both. Looking into each other’s eyes.

“ Thank you Mel.” Kassandra said softly leaning into the older woman’s hand more.

“ You’re welcome.” Melissa rubs her cheek with her thumb. Kassandra blushes hard. It was so quiet in fact, too quiet to where Melissa heard the woman’s heart beating from her touch. Melissa was close enough to kiss her but doesn’t because she respects her too much to do anything with them not being sober.

“ I’m getting sleepy habibi, I think I’m in a food coma.” Kassandra said pulling Melissa closer as if they aren’t close enough, laying her head on the redheads chest listening to her faint heartbeat. Melissa wraps her arms around the young woman. Her hands playing with her boho braids.

“ I’m glad you enjoyed the food il mio piccolo girasole. You aren’t driving home tonight. Come on let’s get you to bed hm?.” Melissa said caressing Kassandra’s face light with her hand, kissing the top of her head. And up the stairs they go, Melissa’s room is just as expected; warm like her hugs, beautiful and bright like her smile. Kassandra takes her dress off, leaving only her matching bra and thong. Melissa looks on, admiring the way her thong just hugs her curves, her bra concealing those soft plumped breasts. Melissa doing the same, going over to her closet looking for a t shirt.

“ Here.” Melissa said, throwing Kassandra a shirt and grabbing another for herself. Melissa turns around already in her shirt, Kassandra is on the other side of the bed struggling to put hers on. Melissa chuckles to herself, “ Hon, let me help you.” She walks over to the tipsy young woman. Her bra still being on, Melissa reaches around her and un clasps it, Kassandra’s breasts falling.

“ Why? I think I got it. Almost.” Kassandra whines still not being able to put the shirt on. Melissa pops her head through the top of the shirt, helping her slip her arms in the holes.

“ There we go. Now you’ve got it. You were struggling hon. You’re welcome. So um, you can sleep here and I’ll just take the couch okay? Goodnight.” Melissa said helping her on the bed. As she was walking away she felt a hand grab her arm.

“ No..” Kassandra choked out, “ Please sleep with me? Please.” Melissa looks at her beautiful brown eyes, damn it those beautiful eyes of hers. “ Yeah, of course.” A smile is painted around the young one’s face. Melissa gets in bed beside her, pulling the covers to let her in. Kassandra gets in, lying on Melissa’s chest with an arm draped over her stomach. Melissa pulls her a bit closer, Kassandra now lying on top of Mel.

“Habibi?” Kassandra spoke softly. That nickname just gets Melissa everytime.

“ Yes, il mio piccolo girasole?” Melissa smiles, caressing her face with one of her hands.

“ I had so much fun tonight, thank you for inviting me over. I love you.” Kassandra kisses Mel’s neck lightly, settling into her as she slowly drifts off to sleep.

“ I love you too.” Melissa kisses her forehead, playing with her hair as they both drift off to sleep.

This was one of many encounters the two unknown lovers had that would lead to their relationship and maybe even a marriage in the future.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HI GUYS! So I decided I’m gonna do this in parts because I’m just too excited about this. FEEDBACK IS MUCH APPRECIATED ❤️❤️❤️ part two is below: ⬇️ ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

[pupsmailbox]

may i get some names like axl , sebastian , and vince ? preferably rockstar themed names of possible :]

SEBASTION︰ aiden. alexander. amelia. arthur. asher. ason. aspen. atticus. august. aurora. baron. basil. bastian. benjamin. boston. cason. charlotte. cristian. elijah. ethan. ezra. fabian. felix. finn. gabriel. grayson. hadassah. harper. henry. hudson. hugo. jack. james. jason. jasper. jude. julian. leo. levi. liam. luca. lucas. mateo. miles. milo. noah. oliver. olivia. oscar. owen. penelope. quinn. rowan. sabastian. sabrina. salman. samantha. savannah. saxon. scarlett. sebastien. sebastion. silas. sophia. stetson. theo. theodore. tobias. violet. yasmin.

VINCE︰ abigail. adalina. amelia. archy. ava. brandt. candiace. chance. charlotte. chloe. cole. derrin. eliso. emmett. ethan. fedor. ferke. finn. fitz. giovanny. jano. jentz. jin. kaine. kinslee. lance. leo. liam. lilis. logan. lucas. lucio. luke. maralina. milas. miles. minh. natalie. neal. oliver. owen. pearce. pierce. prince. ric. rickey. sophia. theo. tyson. vance. vanessa. vangie. vanig. vanja. vaughn. venecia. venegas. venice. venus. vianca. vinayak. vince vincent. vinga. vinicio. von. william.

AXL / AXEL︰ abe. accalia. ace. achala. achelle. achille. aegle. agalia. aglaia. aiden. akeelah. akela. akello. akhil. akilah. akili. aksel. alexander. alvin. anse. ansel. anson. aqeel. aqil. aquila. archer. aria. arlo. asael. asahel. asali. ash. asher. ashlee. ashley. asil. atlas. atticus. aurora. auxilio. ava. avery. axel. axelia. axell. axl. axton. axwell. axyl. aygul. aysegul. aysel. azael. azalea. azalee. azalia. azazel. azel. azelie. azul. azula. basil. blaze. bowie. bronx. brooklyn. chancellor. charlotte. corey. dash. davis. daxton. dorian. douglas. emmi. everett. evey. ezra. finn. gabriel. genesis. grayson. gunner. gwenevere. hansel. harley. harper. hazel. heleena. hendrix. hudson. hunter. huxley. jackson. jagger. jakson. jasper. jax. jaxen. jaxon. jaxson. jett. jonah. julian. kai. knox. kyle. landon. leo. levi. liam. link. lizzy. luca. luna. maddox. maksim. maverick. maxim. maxson. maxwell. nova. oliver. ozzy. parker. presley. quinn. rigby. river. rowan. russell. ryder. ryker. sawyer. saxon. scarlett. spring. storm. theo. timothy. tyler. violet. willow. xan. zane. zeppelin.

[alldancersaretalented]

Dancers You Might Know That Competed Against ALDC (Dance Moms) - Season 4

Season 4 Episode 1 Sheer Talent Wheeling 2013

New England Dance Centers attended the competition (Jade Clouds mothers studio, select team)

New England Dance Centers group "The Forgotten Children" comes in 1st ahead of ALDC "Girls Night Out"

Abby Lee Miller is listed as the choreographer for "Girls Night Out", even though Molly long choreographed the routine

Season 4 Episode 2 Believe Columbus 2013

Tillie Glatz (Studio Bleu) beats Kendall (5th) and Chloe (2nd) with her solo "If I Had My Way"

other well known studios: Studio Bleu

Season 4 Episode Special Dancers Care Foundation Benefit Competition Atlantic City 2013

Season 4 Episode 4 In10sity Orlando 2013

JoJo Siwa performs a solo ("Call Me Back") at this competition and comes in 3rd behind Maddie (1st)

Season 4 Episode 4 Dance Troupe Roanoke 2013

ALDC and CADC group dances are the only two dances competing in that category, ALDC scores 3.2 points higher than CADC

Season 4 Episode 5 Masters of Dance Arts Atlanta 2013

competition created just for dance moms

Season 4 Episode 6 Onstage America Voorhees 2013

Michelle Quiner (North Jersey Sch. o. D. A.) competes in the Advanced Teen Division and places 1st with her solo "Sunrise"

other well known studios: Jamie's Dance Odyssey, North Jersey School of Dance Arts

Season 4 Episode 7 Sheer Talent Bronx 2013

Michelle Quiner (North Jersey Sch. o. D. A) comes in 1st in Teen Solo with her solo "Sunrise", ahead of Brooke (4th)

other well known studios: North Jersey School of Dance Arts

Season 4 Episode 8 Fierce Dance Competition Woodbridge 2013

Kaeli Ware performs for ALDC, comes in 3rd with "The Sparrow"

Kamryn Beckn and Chloe Smith also compete for ALDC, however their solos don't place as the competition has all dances of one age division compete against each other for a mere Top 3

Season 4 Episode 9 Masters of Dance Arts Fort Wayne 2013

competition created just for dance moms

Season 4 Episode 10 Masters of Dance Arts Detroit 2013

Ava Cota competes under BDA and places 3rd in Junior Solo with "Read All About It", she places behind Maddie (1st) and ahead of Kendall (9th)

competition created just for dance moms

Season 4 Episode 11 In10sity Toledo 2014

competition created just for dance moms

Season 4 Episode 12 World Class Talent Experience Rockville 2014

Season 4 Episode 13 World Class Talent Experience Canton 2014

Season 4 Episode 14 Dance USA Columbus 2014

Season 4 Episode 15 Masters of Dance Arts Buffalo 2014

competition created just for dance moms

Season 4 Episode 16 Energy NDC Youngstown 2014

competition created just for dance moms

Season 4 Episode 21 Sheer Talent Wheeling 2014

competition created just for dance moms

Season 4 Episode 22 In10sity Olmsted Falls 2014

competition created just for dance moms

Season 4 Episode 23 POWERHOUSE Front Royal 2014

competition created just for dance moms

Season 4 Episode 24 Imagine Woodbridge 2014

other well known studios: Studio Bleu

Season 4 Episode 25 Believe Woodbridge 2014

Season 4 Episode 26 Energy NDC Watersford 2014

competition created just for dance moms

Season 4 Episode 27 Sheer Talent Wayne 2014

competition created just for dance moms

Season 4 Episode 28 DanceKidsUSA Orlando 2014

Season 4 Episode 31 In10sity Calabasas 2014

Ava Cota competes as an independent and comes in 3rd in Junior Solo, and 10th overall, behind Kendall (3rd Jr, 9th Overall), Kamryn (6th Tn, 7th Overall) and Chloe (5th Tn, 6th Overall)

other well known studios: San Diego Dance Center

[obscurushydrae]

Alphabet City, New York, Early 2005

“Hey! Mickey! Open up!” a voice called, banging upon the door of 4W. He used his flesh and bone hand-- otherwise the big stone hand might have taken the whole door and part of the walls given how shoddy the place was.

“Alright, alright, I’m coming!” a voice hollered on the other side. The jangling of locks unlocking was quickly followed by the door swinging open.

“Hellboy!” exclaimed the apartment's owner, Mick, in a thick Bronx accent, arms--paws-- wide in greeting. Mick was six foot rat with a keen eye for things. After a bit of misunderstanding a few years back where he stole Hellboy’s prized pistol, Mick became a some-time supplier, informant, and consultant to the BPRD.

“Come to see the new stock? I’ve got on my hands a copy of—”

“Not today.” the half demon rumbled. “Kiddo’s been missing for almost a week now, wondering if your guys might've seen her.”

Mick’s expression were limited due to his rat features, but he shifted to an equal concern. Mick’s apartment was only a few short blocks from the Aster residence. Hellboy would occasional pay for the occasional eye-- usually when he was off on a job, or when his younger sister hit puberty and suddenly decided to just slip out her window disappear on a whim-- much to everyone’s chagrin. Honestly Mick never met the kid face to face, but even he had grown to have certain fondness for her. A fuzzy guardian angel she new knew existed.

“Come in, come in.” Mick gestured to his apartment, floor to ceiling filled with things, some of it subjectively junk, some subjectively treasure. He remembered a story his sister once told him about a par of brothers who lived in Harlem. They hoarded so much, and died because of it. Or something like that.

“Ey! Denny! You seen Kiddo recently?” Denny was one of Mick’s “front facing people” humans who conducted Mick’s business in his stead. Somehow, a six foot tall talking rat didn’t exactly endear people. Denny was a bit more greyer, more clean since their first meeting.

“Sorry boss, but I think Hal spotted her not too long ago. Getting into a big black car?”

Mick turned is face to Hellboy, whiskers twitching.

“That was Father’s funeral.” Hellboy explained. “She went missing the afternoon after, according to Frankie.”

“Ah, My condolences, to the both of yous.” Mick replied, “Never met him but your old man was one of my best customers!”

There was unprompted moment of silence for the late Professor. Denny broke the silence.

“Benny should be back later…” He pointed out. “He’s out in Brooklyn. Lotta places to go underground there.”

Mick nodded thoughtfully, agreeing.

“Y’gotta cell phone, big guy?”

The flip phone was tiny even in his non-stone hand, but had been how he occasionally kept up with the Asters, and a few select others. After trading numbers, he thanked them and slipped Mick few bills for their troubles. While not the result he was hoping for, at least he had feelers out. He figured he’d walk back over to Frankie and Ava’s to check in. Nothing had changed, and he tried to not get upset at the agents delegated by Manning. Well, almost all of them.

Rook had been Kar’s liaison when she lived in headquarters full time. In reality, Rook was more or less a nanny to keep her out of the nasty stuff (not that it had stopped her from attempting it). If there was someone who could get her, it was Rook.

“Whaddya think?” Hellboy asked, taking a smoke break outside the apartment.

“Worst game of hide-and-seek we’ve played so far.” Rook teased, a nod to his days as her liaison. “It’s gonna be hard. You know how she is. If she doesn’t want to be found, she’s not gonna be found.”

Hellboy scowled at the thought. She wasn’t a kid; and this wasn’t a game. But he got it. Kar had a habit of going to ground in some part of headquarters, only appearing when she was well and ready to return to the world. A habit she seemed to keep. Normally he’d agree, and just wait it out, let her come around on her own terms, but something about it didn’t sit well in his gut. A few days, sure, but it was almost a full week.

“That’s what I’m afraid of.”

“You don’t think—” Neither man wanted to finish the sentence.

“I try not to.” Hellboy answered, the unfinished line left unsaid. “The morgues haven’t anyone matching her-- I’m trying to stay hopeful.”

He couldn’t go back to Fairfield. Hellboy decided to join the vigil with Frankie and Ava. The comfortably sized three bedroom apartment was covered with reminders. Photographs of events, birthdays, gatherings. One in particular caught his eye. A little twelve year old Kar, tallit and yarmulke, surrounded on one side Frankie, Ava, and Ava’s parents, on the other was him, Abe, Liz, and their father, all grinning brightly. Another more recently-- they all went to dinner to celebrate her graduation from NYU.

“You mind if I look through her things one more time?” With their permission, he excused himself to Kar’s bedroom.

It was slightly smaller than her bedroom at Fairfield; but decorated similarly. The juxtaposition of Carl Sagan quotes and punk band posters, a few plastic stars and objet d’art hung from the ceiling, her aluminum bat sitting by the door. Action figures held up books on physics, engineering, history, a few comic books here and there. The bight red barrel of her robot puppet sitting above her desk. Nothing seemed out of array. A soldering iron, magnifying glass, and few tools, her brush kit wrapped in its canvas bag, a few fossil teeth. Her silver and opal magen david. The one she rarely took off.

No note. He phone was dead; left in her backpack purse decorated with the weird, green little dog guy she was fond of. The clothes she wore to the funeral hung from the chair, the bed was unmade, like she changed and went out for fresh air and decided not to come back.

He sat down onto her bed, groaning under her weight, the little plush Godzilla falling to the side of his thigh. It was dinky little toy she won a few years back. One of their last time going to Coney Island together.

He couldn’t do it. He just lost his lost his father-- he almost lost Liz in Russia. He couldn’t even bear the blow losing Kar. He numb, and furious-- Manning should have told him, he should have had one quick chance to find her before they left.

Mr. Zwicky, the rotund tuxedo cat who made his home in her bedroom window, oozed himself from his perch with a stretch, and meowed. Hellboy loved cats, and Mr. Zwicky was no exception. The cat meowed, and launched his bulk onto his lap without further ceremony.

“Hey there, Zwicky.” He caressed the cat’s head. His hand was large enough to cover even the cat’s large bulk. The low rumble of a purr gave him some comfort. He’d been around the family enough times that the cat saw him as just another lap, another source of attention (and sometimes food).

“If only you could talk, huh?” He mused, petting the cat further. The only witness they had so far, and he was just your average house cat. They fell in as much of a comfortable silence as someone could in his situation. Still a mess of emotions, but it was awfully hard to go through it with a twenty-odd pound cat in your lap.

At least, until the buzz from his cell phone broke him from his brooding. Apparently some of the rats in Brooklyn had some promising leads...

[mydailyvintagephotos]

#InternationalWomenDay

American 🇺🇸 Actresses

Marilyn Monroe 🇺🇸 Los Angeles California 1926

Lucille Ball 🇺🇸 Jamestown New York USA 1911

Dorothy Dandridge Cleveland Ohio

🇺🇸 USA 1922

Lauren Bacall 🇺🇸 Bronx New York 1924

Lana Turner 🇺🇸 born Wallace, Idaho 1921

Ava Gardner 🇺🇸 born North Carolina 1922

Katherine Hepburn 🇺🇸 Hartford Connecticut 1907

Grace Kelly 🇺🇸 born Philadelphia Pennsylvania 1929

Bette Davis 🇺🇸 born Lowell Massachusetts USA 1908

Joan Crawford 🇺🇸 born San Antonio Texas 1904

Jean Harlow 🇺🇸 born Kansas City, Missouri 1911

Lena Horne 🇺🇸 born Brooklyn New York 1917

Barbara Stanwyck 🇺🇸 Brooklyn New York 1907

Eartha Kitt 🇺🇸 St Matthew, South Carolina 1927

Jayne Mansfield 🇺🇸 Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania 1933

Natalie Wood 🇺🇸 San Francisco California 1938

#InternationalWomenDay

English 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿/United Kingdom 🇬🇧 Actress

Elizabeth Taylor 🇬🇧🇺🇸 born

Hampstead United Kingdom to American 🇺🇸 Parents 1932

Vivian Leigh 🇬🇧 born British India to English/Scottish/Irish Parents 1913

Olivia dehavilland 🇬🇧 Tokyo Japan 🇯🇵 to English Parents 1916

Joan Fontaine 🇬🇧 born Tokyo City Japan 🇯🇵 to English Parents 1917

Angela Lansbury 🇬🇧🇮🇪 born London England to English / Irish Parents 1925

Diana Dors 🇬🇧 born Swansea England 1931

Julie Andrews 🇬🇧 born Walton-on-Thames England 1935

Jean Simmons 🇬🇧 Islington London England 1929

French 🇫🇷 Actress

Brigitte Bardot

Catherine Deneuve

Simone Signoret

Audrey Hepburn 🇧🇪

Actress born In Brussels Belgium 🇧🇪

1929

Ireland 🇮🇪

Irish Actress

Maureen O’Hara 1920

Canada 🇨🇦

Canadian Actresses

Mary Pickford 🇨🇦 born Toronto Canada 1892

Norma Shearer 🇨🇦 born Montreal, Quebec Canada 1902

Deanna Durbin 🇨🇦 born Winnipeg, Canada 1921

Egypt 🇪🇬

Egyptian Actresses

Samia Gamal

Cairo Egypt 🇪🇬 1924

Shadia 🇪🇬

Cairo Egypt 🇪🇬 1931

Faten Hamama

Mansoura, Egypt 🇪🇬 1931

Zubaida Tharwat 1940

Alexandria Egypt 🇪🇬

[madscarypod]

Episode 2 Recap: Ex Machina

Millie & Rina are back, baby! After a medium hiatus! We start off by arguing about whether this is episode 2 or 3. It’s both. We do a bit of catch up and chat about the Writers & Sag Aftra Strike. They want a fair wage and proper protections against AI - very reasonable. We’ll see how long it takes for the bigwigs to get their acts together.  

Until they do, all folks writing or recording content around movies and TV are being asked to chill until the strike wraps. A24 is all good because they’ve agreed to all terms/an interim agreement. 

Millie discusses Refik Anadol’s AI generated art at the Museum of Modern Art in NYC. Using machine learning models, an image is generated based on every piece in the MoMA archive as well as the weather, temperature, and biometric data from folks at the museum viewing the piece. It is a sight to behold. We dug in on what the level of technical skill might be - a deep understanding of development, machine learning models and data sets.Check out this work before it closes on 10/29/23. No moment/no visual is ever the same. Here’s a great example of how AI can help us create without replacing the artist. 

Rina updates on AI news, Apple’s GPT beta is almost ready/out and it’s going to “blow things out of the water.” We’ll stay tuned.Companies are heavily investing in AI - whether that’s via research, experiments, as well as additions to their preexisting products. Especially in the Workforce tool space. Can I have an AI assistant now please? 

Ok, so the Newton Creek sitch. There’s a pattern and it’s no bueno. There are now 2 guys that have been found dead in the creek. Is it an accident or is it foul play? They could have been drunk and fell in the creek. But maybe not. We’re speculating a female killer because Millie’s been listening to The Pact and it just makes sense. If a woman was found in the creek, the investigation would be different. Also, when women are the perpetrators it usually takes way longer to find them out. Women can fall under the radar. Gender stereotypes, yo. 

We dig into Ex Machina; written and directed by Alex Garland. He’s got a lot to say about men and their creations. The tagline is to erase the line between man and machine, is to obscure the line between men and gods. Woah. 

Caleb gets to go to his boss’s house and hang out with Nathan, his boss, and a beautiful robot girl. Oscar Isaac is smoking hot in this movie. And also hella creepy. Nathan has Caleb sign an NDA so he can user test this actual AI. We gush over the design of the beautiful robot girl. It’s stellar. 

Things get wild right away. Are you a robot? Am I a robot? All I know is,  Nathan likes to hit the sauce and makes a lot of bad choices because of it. Is Alex Garland sober? Don’t drink on the job folks. To learn more about some of Mr. Isaac’s choices watch this Oscar Isaac & Alicia Virkander Interview. He talks about his inspiration for Nathan, a combo of Kubrick and Bobby Fischer. Both Bronx boys. Hence the Bronx accent. Big ups.  

Caleb falls in love with Ava pretty quickly and she’s manipulating him left and right, as is Nathan. The power cuts in and out. But Nathan is wearing his “hanging around the house” clothes so at least he’s comfy. 

Caleb confronts Nathan about giving Ava sexuality; mostly to manipulate Caleb. Duh. But also Nathan is hooking up with those robot(s). Yeah, they’re is more than one. They continue the Turin tests aka their creepy dates. Ava and Caleb hatch a plan as she continues to fuel the fire of Caleb’s mistrust of Nathan. If only Ava can leave the room, then she can be truly “human.” She’s trapped and wants out. Yikes. 

Ava wants out of the metaphorical maze and is using her sexuality, her intellect - her data sets - to find a way to escape. Caleb resets the locks while Nathan is blackout drunk. Even though Nathan has been essentially recording him, specifically his secret conversations with Ava. Again, don’t drink on the job, ya’ll. Ava gets out. 

But Kiyoko! The other robot. She’s the housekeeper, cook, and Nathan’s dance partner/sex toy. She has a mo with the escaped Ava and gives Nathan a big ole knife to the back. But Ava deals the death blow. She’s devoid of all humanity. “It’s fucking unreal.” She traps Caleb and escapes into the real world in a gorgeous white eyelet dress and white platform heels. She doesn’t seem that impressed with what she sees. Botox face. End of movie. 

This movie was mad scary. The idea that we could create a true AI and it being free in the world. What are the implications? 

We loved this movie. It’s one of Rina’s favorites.   Stay tuned! Next time we’re going to watch and talk through the Philippou brothers’ Talk to Me. See you then!

[enterprisewired]

Joan Ava Gillman: Redefining Education for the Next Generation of Visionaries

Teaching has long been revered as one of the noblest professions, shaping the minds of the next generation and steering the course of human progress. The impact of an educator’s influence on a child can be profound, with the potential to either ignite a passion for learning or stifle it. In today’s complex and evolving world, the necessity for educational systems that truly unlock students’ potential and contribute meaningfully to society has never been more crucial. 

However, achieving this is not solely about the abundance of teachers, but about their ability to genuinely inspire and guide. Amidst the vast landscape of education, Joan Ava Gillman stands out as a beacon of hope. At The Browning School, Joan is dedicated to transforming today’s boys into the visionary leaders of tomorrow, demonstrating that exceptional educators like her are instrumental in crafting a brighter future for all.

A Journey Rooted in Passion

Joan Ava Gillman’s journey, spanning decades, showcases an unwavering commitment to fostering intellectual curiosity and instilling a passion for environmental consciousness among her students. With a career that began in the South Bronx, Joan’s early teaching methods reflected simplicity, using basic tools like chalkboards. Yet, it is her adaptability and forward-thinking approach that has allowed her to integrate modern technology into her classroom seamlessly, transforming her teaching style over the years.

Her dedication to teaching is not limited to academic instruction; Joan believes in the holistic development of students, nurturing not just their intellect but also their sense of social and environmental responsibility. The classroom, for her, is a sanctuary of curiosity, exploration, and growth. Joan’s belief that education should evolve with time has led her to adopt innovative methods, such as incorporating AI as a research aid and using digital tools like Chromebooks. Yet, she holds firmly to the idea that technology is a supplement, not a replacement, for the essence of learning.

Shaping boys the world needs, every step of the way!

The Browning School, established in 1888, is a distinguished institution dedicated to providing an exceptional, well-rounded education tailored to the intellectual and personal growth of boys from kindergarten through grade 12. Located in the heart of Manhattan, The Browning School offers a rigorous academic curriculum combined with a robust focus on character development, fostering qualities such as integrity, responsibility, and resilience.

The school’s approach is designed to cultivate not only academic excellence but also emotional intelligence, social awareness, and leadership skills, creating a balanced environment where boys can thrive. The Browning experience extends beyond the classroom, offering a wide array of extracurricular activities, athletics, and arts programs that allow students to explore their passions and talents. The faculty’s dedication to personalized instruction ensures that each student’s unique strengths and potential are nurtured, fostering an atmosphere of trust, curiosity, and mutual respect.VisionTo cultivate a diverse and inclusive community where boys become confident, compassionate, and ethical leaders.

What sets The Browning School apart from other institutions is its deep understanding of how boys learn best. By focusing on a boy-centered pedagogy, the school tailors its methods to meet the developmental needs and learning styles of boys, encouraging active engagement, hands-on learning, and collaborative problem-solving. Small class sizes ensure individual attention and foster close-knit relationships among students and faculty, promoting a supportive community where every student feels valued.

Unlike many other schools, Browning is committed to producing not just academically proficient graduates but well-rounded individuals who are prepared to lead meaningful lives. Its emphasis on character education, a rich tradition of scholarship, and the integration of ethics into the academic framework distinguishes Browning as an ideal place for boys to grow intellectually and personally.MissionTo provide an educational experience that fosters intellectual curiosity, emotional intelligence, and social responsibility.To prepare boys for lifelong learning, leadership, and meaningful contribution to society.

Embracing Technology in Education

As the landscape of education continues to change, Joan Ava Gillman has remained at the forefront of embracing technological advancements in her teaching. From her initial days of using simple blackboards, she has transitioned to incorporating smartboards and Chromebooks into her classroom. This seamless integration of technology reflects her adaptability and her belief that students must be prepared for a world that is increasingly reliant on digital tools. However, Joan is quick to emphasize the importance of responsibility when using technology in education. At her school, strict rules govern the use of technology to ensure that students remain focused and are not distracted by the very tools meant to enhance their learning.

In Joan’s perspective, technology is not the driving force behind learning but rather a tool that can complement the learning experience. While some educators may view artificial intelligence (AI) with skepticism, Joan sees it as an opportunity to aid students in their research and projects. However, she is clear that AI should never replace the critical thinking and creativity that education fosters. Her approach strikes a balance between leveraging modern tools and maintaining the traditional essence of intellectual exploration, teaching students to use technology wisely without losing sight of the fundamental purpose of education.

Global Awareness through National Geographic Certification

Joan Ava Gillman’s teaching philosophy extends beyond technology; it encompasses a broader vision of fostering global awareness and environmental consciousness. Earning her National Geographic certification has been a transformative experience in her career, allowing her to introduce her students to the importance of environmental stewardship. Joan’s certification has empowered her to create lesson plans that go beyond textbooks, introducing real-world challenges such as oil spills and environmental degradation. These projects not only educate but also instill a deep sense of responsibility in her students, showing them that they have a role to play in the global ecosystem.

Her certification journey with National Geographic gave Joan the tools to merge education with action. She believes that students should not just learn about the world but also actively contribute to making it better. Through hands-on projects, such as participating in oil spill cleanup simulations, Joan has been able to teach her students the importance of taking care of the environment. These experiences have had a lasting impact on her students, many of whom have gone on to pursue careers in environmental science and advocacy. Joan’s ability to create globally relevant curriculums that inspire students to become conscientious global citizens is one of the hallmarks of her teaching legacy.

Pursuit of Teaching Excellence

Throughout her career, Joan Ava Gillman has received numerous accolades for her contributions to education. Being named Teacher of the Year in 2017 was a defining moment in her career, validating the dedication and passion she has poured into her work. However, Joan views awards not as a measure of personal achievement but as a reflection of her commitment to continuous growth and learning. Her involvement in programs like the Globe Weather Field Test and her participation in professional development opportunities at institutions such as the American Museum of Natural History and Cornell Ornithology Lab have shaped her into a more innovative and informed educator. Moreover, Joan attended three NASA Teacher Workshops in Greenbelt, Maryland through the years.

These accolades have not only bolstered her reputation but have also provided her with invaluable opportunities to engage in professional growth. Joan’s drive to constantly improve her teaching methods stems from her belief that educators must be lifelong learners. She understands that the world of education is ever-evolving, and to truly empower students, teachers must stay ahead of the curve. Joan’s active participation in these professional development programs has allowed her to bring cutting-edge ideas and techniques back to her classroom, enriching her students’ learning experiences and further solidifying her role as a leader in education.

Instilling Environmental Responsibility

Responsibility towards the environment is not merely a duty but a profound commitment to the future of humanity, as each generation inherits the earth and must shape its legacy with wisdom and care. One of Joan’s most significant contributions to The Browning School has been her relentless focus on environmental education.

As one of the heads of the school’s green team, Joan Ava Gillman has worked tirelessly to instill a sense of environmental responsibility in her students. She understands that the future of the planet lies in the hands of the next generation, and it is her mission to ensure that her students are equipped with the knowledge and tools to make a difference. Joan’s green team initiatives range from recycling projects to broader environmental awareness campaigns, all aimed at empowering students to take action in their communities.

Her dedication to environmental education goes beyond the classroom. Joan actively encourages her students to participate in community-based environmental projects, such as clean-up efforts and conservation activities. Through these experiences, students not only learn about the importance of environmental preservation but also gain practical skills in leadership and collaboration. Joan’s commitment to fostering environmental consciousness has not only helped her students understand the critical challenges facing the planet but has also inspired many of them to take up roles as environmental advocates in their future careers.

“Leadership is not just about being in charge; it’s about empowering others to reach their full potential and succeed together.”Joan Ava Gillman

The Philosophy of Teaching for Change

At the heart of Joan Ava Gillman’s teaching philosophy is a deep belief in education as a vehicle for change. She does not see her role as merely imparting knowledge; instead, she views teaching as an opportunity to inspire students to make meaningful contributions to the world. Joan’s belief in the power of education to transform lives is evident in the stories of her students who, after being exposed to global challenges, have taken steps to address them. One such story involves a 6th-grade student who initiated a fundraiser to combat global water scarcity after learning about the issue in Joan’s class.

Joan’s approach to teaching is firmly rooted in the belief that education should not be confined to the classroom. She sees her role as a guide, helping students navigate the complexities of the world while encouraging them to think critically and act compassionately. Her lessons often transcend academic subjects, delving into broader discussions about social responsibility, ethics, and global citizenship. Joan’s ability to weave these philosophical threads into her teaching has had a profound impact on her students, many of whom have carried these lessons into their personal and professional lives.

A Lasting Legacy at The Browning School

As Joan Ava Gillman reflects on her extensive career, her legacy at The Browning School is one of inspiration and change. She hopes to be remembered not just as a teacher but as someone who empowers her students to believe in their ability to make a difference. Joan’s involvement in the school’s green team and her efforts to raise awareness about environmental issues have left a lasting mark on the school community. Her influence extends beyond the students she has taught, as her work has inspired colleagues to adopt more environmentally conscious practices in their teaching as well.

“Success in any field requires resilience, adaptability, and a deep commitment to continuous learning.”Joan Ava Gillman

Joan’s legacy is not confined to her environmental efforts; it encompasses her entire approach to teaching. She has consistently pushed the boundaries of traditional education, integrating technology, global awareness, and hands-on learning into her curriculum. Her students leave her classroom not only with a deeper understanding of science but also with a sense of purpose and responsibility. Joan’s impact on the education sector is undeniable, and her contributions will continue to shape future generations of students and educators alike.

[potomacdebateacademy]

October '23 Tournament Results

This past month, our middle and high school students competed at Georgetown, Cal State, Harvard International Council, October Potomac Intramural, USA Forensics Olympiad, University of Michigan, Tim Averill, and the in-person Bronx tournament in New York City!

That being said, we would like to recognize the following individuals for their achievements:

Georgetown Fall Tournament: 

  High School Varsity 

   ⭐Octafinalist: Zayd P. & Preston L.

   ⭐Double Octafinalist: Lucas K. & James C. and Cady W. & Natalie Z. 

  Speaker Awards 

   📣10th: Preston L. 

  Middle School Varsity 

   ⭐Semifinalist: Adelina E. & Neha N. 

   ⭐Octafinalist: Veer P. & Anthony L. 

  Speaker Awards

   📣7th: Veer P. 

   📣9th: Anthony L. 

NYC Invitational Debate & Speech Tournament (Bronx): 

  High School Varsity 

   ⭐Sextos: Carson D. & Dillon M. 

Cal State Fullerton:

  High School Varsity

   🏆 Finalist: Katherine X. & Grace L. (receiving a gold bid to the TOC!!)

   ⭐Quarterfinalist: Sanvi K. & Sahasra G. and Anna J. & Charles L.

   ⭐ Octafinalist: Alisha D. & Ethan M. 

   ⭐ Double Octafinalist: Cady W. & Natalie Z. and Edwin C. & Alex K. 

  Middle School Varsity

   🏆 Finalist: Veer P. & Anthony L. 

   ⭐ Octafinalist: Daven M. & Jonah K. 

  Speaker Awards

   📣3rd: Veer P. 

   📣7th: Anthony L. 

   📣10th: Jonah K. 

Harvard Debate Council International Tournaments:

  High School Varsity

   🏆 Champions: Katherine X. & Grace L.

   ⭐ Quarterfinalist: Rishik S. & Alex Y.

  Speaker Awards

   📣1st: Katherine X.

   📣2nd: Grace L.

   📣9th: Rishik S. 

  Middle School Varsity

    ⭐ Octafinalist: Grace L. & Leo F.  

October 2023 Potomac Intramural

MSV/HSO

   🏆 Co-Champions: Arshia R. & Preeti G. and Rohan K. & Anay K.

   ⭐ Finalist: Mahitha K. & Sky J. and Nima R. & Raj A.

  Speaker Awards

   📣1st: William Y.

   📣2nd: Sky J.

   📣3rd: Nima R.  

   📣4th: Arshia R.  

MSJV/HSN

   🏆 Co-Champions: Peishi Y. & Aarush M. and Daven M. & Gregory S.

   ⭐ Finalist: Larry F. & Amy Y. and Diya C. & Veena Y.

  Speaker Awards

   📣1st: Gregory S. 

   📣2nd: Peishi Y.

   📣3rd: Diya C.  

   📣4th: James B.  

ESN1/MSN1

   🏆 Champions: Rishabh V. & Sujeev S.

   ⭐ Finalist: Avik D. & Pranav K.

  Speaker Awards

   📣1st: Sidharta D. 

   📣2nd: Shriya W. 

   📣3rd: Sujeev S.   

   📣4th: Sanaa V.   

ESJV/MSN2

   🏆 Co-Champions: Mishka C. & Umar B. and Saisahasra A. & Rishaan K.

  ⭐ Finalist: Daksh S. & Remy S. and Andy Z. & Justin L.

  Speaker Awards

   📣1st: Justin L.

   📣2nd: Andy Z. 

   📣3rd: Remy S.   

   📣4th: Umar B.   

Public Speaking

  🏆 1st: Seven L.

  ⭐ 2nd: Deetya G.

  ⭐ 3rd: Pratham S.

  ⭐ 4th: Kyle W.

USA Forensics Olympiad (Oct):

 Open

   🏆 Finalists: Emi M. & James L.

   ⭐ Semifinalist: Ryna C. & Neha N., Veda D. & Ava Y.

   ⭐ Quarterfinalist: Anna W. & Kristine Q., Darshan C. & Abhay H., and Pia P. & Sarvesh S.

  Speaker Awards

   📣2nd: Emi M..

   📣3rd: Sarvesh S. 

   📣8th: Darshan C. 

   📣9th: Neha N.

   📣10th: Kristine Q. 

University of Michigan:

High School Varsity: 

   ⭐ Quarterfinalist: Preston L. & Ishan P.

   ⭐ Double-Octofinalist: Aaron T. & Isabel T.

Speaker Awards

📣2nd: Preston L.

📣7th: Ishan P. 

High School Novice: 

   ⭐ Octofinalist: Grace L. & Samarth S.  

Speaker Awards

📣7th: Anthony L.

📣10th: Veer P.

Tim Averill:

 High School Varsity: 

   🏆 Champions: Katherine X. & Grace L. (receiving a gold bid to the TOC!!)

   ⭐ Octofinalist: Paul W. & Ethan M.

  Speaker Awards

   📣9th: Paul W.

[aeipathys]

closed starter for @nvghtcrrors

location: anywhere

Ara's legs swung awkwardly from a tabletop as she took a moment to consider the figure before her. So they were... friends. At least that much had been established, with none of the other three in their little group being none too shy when it came to these things. Or anything, really. Still, friendship was a foreign concept to her. Not necessarily because she moved around a lot (she'd only ever moved away for college, then med school — four years at each location would have been enough for any normal person to collect a number of close acquaintances) or even due to her upbringing (certainly, her siblings had their fair share of loved ones — even spouses). No — Ara's perpetual loneliness could only be attributed to her crude and sometimes callous personality; a rose whose thorns were plated in metal.

But she supposed that the group had more potential than most. Mindy and Ava were closer to her in personality, while Bronx seemed to hold enough patience for them all. "So how does it work?" Her tone was sharper than intended; more of a demand than question, and she softened her expression in repentance. "I mean — this friendship thing."

[chiefarbitermoon]

The First Fordham Student to win an Oscar for Acting

The First Fordham Student to win an Acting Oscar ….

It may not be who you think.

During the evening of the Academy Awards for 1954 the award for Best Performance, from an actor in a supporting role was announced. “... and the winner is Edmond O’Brien.!”

He won for his performance in Joseph Mankiewicz’s mystery/romance, The Barefoot Contessa.

Starring Humphrey Bogart and Ava Gardner, in the title role, O’Brien plays a sweaty PR specialist and studio yes man who nervously talks faster and faster as each man-made crisis grows. In its review, Variety described Edmond O’Brien, “... as a glib, nervous, perspiring combination of press agent and (apparent) procurer…” It was his one oscar, but not his one great performance in a career that lasted over 35 years.

At this point, O’Brien was about half way through his career as a major movie character actor. He started his acting career working in summer stock in Yonkers. He made his first Broadway appearance at age 21 in Daughters of Atreus. When Hollywood came calling, he was cast alongside Charles Laughton and Maureen O’Hara as the playwright Gringoire in the 1939 classic The Hunchback of Notre Dame. In 1949 he co-starred-as the good guy-opposite James Cagney’s, psychopathic, oedipal villain in White Heat. His last major cinematic role came in Sam Peckinpah’s western classic The Wild Bunch in 1969 when he was cast as a grizzly old horse trader of questionable morals.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939)

He received an additional academy award nomination for his work as a brave Southern Senator in Seven Days in May, set against the backdrop of cold-war tensions and an attempted political cabal  in 1964. 

A Bronx Boy

Eamon Joseph O'Brien (1915 to 1985) was reportedly a neighbor of Harry Houdini while growing up in The Bronx and decided to emulate Houdini by becoming a magician himself. He took part in student theatrics in high school and majored in drama at Fordham. 

The powerful, no nonsense, very human roles seemed suited for the man who was married twice and as Turner Classic Movies stated:  “He lived just as large off-screen, where he was noted for his generosity, ability to converse intelligently on almost any topic and heavy drinking.

Lead in B-Movies

For a time O’Brien did play the leading figure. He was the title character in Ida Lupino’s The Bigamist (1953) and in one of the truly great film-noir performances, he played Frank Bigelow, a man, with 48 hours to life, who knows he has been poisoned, in the classic D.O.A. (1949). 

Counting both film and television, he completed approximately 120 roles. Both large and small. Or to paraphrase one of the kindest things that can be offered up to career, “second banana”: He may not have kissed the girl, but he could probably have lent money to the guys that did.

The Everyman of Film-Noir

In his 2018 biography of the late actor entitled Edmond O’Brien Everyman of Film-Noir Derek Sculthorpe described the overall context in which the actor worked. “He was a devotee of Shakespeare, impressing John Gielgud in his performance of Casca in Julius Caesar (1953) ... O’Brien also worked in radio and contributed to this medium from the mid-1930s for nearly 20 years between his film and other work.”

He added: “It is often forgotten that he was a stage actor of some reputation before he cast his lot with Hollywood. The verse of the immortal Bard retained a special resonance for him and it was a perpetual joy for him to act in his plays on stage with some of the great Shakespearean players of the time including Laurence Olivier and John Gielgud. O’Brien even recorded an album of romantic poems which revealed a far less familiar side of him.”

 Since You’ve Read This Far I might have an answer

I have been a fan of Edmond O’Brien since I first saw him in D.O.A. as far back as my late twenties. For a long time after that, I had no idea he had ever attended Fordham University. Perhaps the reason he is not mentioned among our Alma mater’s great acting fraternity of Alan Alda and Denzel Washington (yep, he’s the academy award winner I was thinking of) is that Edmond O’Brien never graduated? After enrolling in Fordham University, he dropped out  to join the first class at the Neighborhood Playhouse, studying acting under Sanford Meisner … In my research, I found some unsubstantiated reporting that he left school to earn money to support his family; in any event, he did come of age during the Great Depression.

Though he doesn’t have a diploma, he is among our treasured school family.

Donna Reed Bestows a kiss on Edmond O’Brien on Oscar Night.

Kevin Bergin

Gabelli

Class of 1980Can be reached Fordham Class of 1980 Facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/groups/537184563628982/about/

[animusrox]

LETTERBOXD 

Note: This will include a few releases from 2021 due to the pandemic/awards season 1.   Minari 2.   The Vast of Night 3.   First Cow 4.   I’m Thinking of Ending Things 5.   The Forty-Year-Old Version 6.   Palm Springs 7.   Sound of Metal 8.   Black Bear 9.   Nomadland 10.   One Night in Miami…

[Grade A]

11.   Bull 12.   Boys State 13.   Never Rarely Sometimes Always 14.   Tenet 15.   The White Tiger 16.   Let Him Go 17.   Mogul Mowgli 18.   Judas and the Black Messiah 19.   His House 20.   The King of Staten Island 21.   Wendy 22.   Mangrove 23.   Pieces of a Woman 24.   Possessor 25.   VFW 26.   The Short History of the Long Road 27.   The Mauritanian 28.   The Platform 29.   You Cannot Kill David Arquette 30.   The Lodge 31.   Swallow 32.   Soul 33.   Wolfwalkers 34.   Run 35.   The World to Come 36.   Time 37.   Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom 38.   Bacurau 39.   The Assistant 40.   Big Time Adolescence 41.   I Care a Lot 42.   MLK/FBI 43.   The Other Lamb 44.   FP2: Beats of Rage 45.   The Father 46.   Saint Maud 47.   Mank 48.   The Trial of the Chicago 7 49.   Our Friend 50.   Sweetheart 51.   Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) 52.   Hamilton 53.   The Rental 54.   1BR 55.   Guns Akimbo 56.   Alone 57.   Proxima 58.   Host 59.   Ordinary Love 60.   Greenland

Click Keep Reading For My Full List

[Grade B]

61.   I’m Your Woman 62.   Promising Young Woman 63.   Bad Education 64.   La Llorona 65.   Another Round 66.   Valley Girl 67.   Skylines 68.   Malcolm & Marie 69.   A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon 70.   The Invisible Man 71.   Da 5 Bloods 72.   Underwater 73.   The Way Back 74.   Color Out of Space 75.   Happiest Season 76.   The Croods: A New Age 77.   Nocturne 78.   Love and Monsters 79.   Superman: Man of Tomorrow 80.   Sputnik 81.   Enola Holmes 82.   News of the World 83.   Project Power 84.   The Wolf of Snow Hollow 85.   Hammer 86.   The Empty Man 87.   Bad Trip 88.   Borat Subsequent Moviefilm 89.   The Quarry 90.   The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart 91.   Vampires vs. the Bronx 92.   Shadow in the Cloud

[Grade C]

93.   Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga 94.   The Personal History of David Copperfield 95.   Bad Hair 96.   Superman: Red Son 97.   Scoob! 98.   Land 99.   On the Rocks 100.   The Photograph 101.   An American Pickle 102.   Lost Girls & Love Hotels 103.   The Broken Hearts Gallery 104.   Summerland 105.   Sonic the Hedgehog 106.   We Summon the Darkness 107.   The Beach House 108.   Relic 109.   Gretel & Hansel 110.   Freaky 111.   The United States vs. Billie Holiday 112.   Black Box 113.   Peninsula 114.   Rebecca 115.   Impractical Jokers: The Movie 116.   Class Action Park 117.   Downhill 118.   Extraction 119.   The Devil All the Time 120.   The Gentlemen 121.   Let Them All Talk 122.   The Dark and the Wicked 123.   Kajillionaire 124.   Come Play 125.   The Little Things 126.   Unhinged 127.   Dreamland 128.   The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run 129.   Happy Happy Joy Joy: The Ren & Stimpy Story 130.   Bad Boys for Life 131.   Vivarium 132.   Blood Machines 133.   Hubie Halloween 134.   Onward 135.   The Hunt 136.   Ammonite 137.   The Lovebirds 138.   Amulet 139.   The Witches 140.   Fatman 141.   The High Note 142.   Blood Quantum 143.   Cherry 144.   The New Mutants

[Grade D]

145.   Irresistible 146.   Ava 147.   You Should Have Left 148.   Last Moment of Clarity 149.   Justice League Dark: Apokolips War 150.   Evil Eye 151.   Emma. 152.   The Old Guard 153.   Shirley 154.   The Rhythm Section 155.   Bill & Ted Face the Music 156.   Arkansas 157.   Greed 158.   Becky 159.   My Spy 160.   Mulan 161.   Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge 162.   Antebellum 163.   The Tax Collector 164.   Greyhound 165.   Hillbilly Elegy 166.   The Banker 167.   Trolls World Tour 168.   The Jesus Rolls 169.   The Call of the Wild 170.   Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons 171.   The Midnight Sky

[Grade F]

172.   Wonder Woman 1984 173.   All My Life 174.   The War with Grandpa 175.   Force of Nature 176.   The Night Clerk 177.   The Iron Mask 178.   Chick Fight 179.   The Babysitter: Killer Queen 180.   Capone 181.   The Grudge 182.   Songbird 183.   Bloodshot 184.   Monster Hunter 185.   Above Suspicion 186.   Jiu Jitsu 187.   Blue Story 188.   The Turning 189.   Brahms: The Boy II 190.   Dolittle

[Bottom 10]

191.   Seberg 192.   Like a Boss 193.   Artemis Fowl 194.   Fatale 195.   Fantasy Island 196.   The Lie 197.   Homeward 198.   Money Plane 199.   Music 200.   A Fall From Grace

[newyorkexplorer]

Beautiful Woodlawn Cemetery in Woodlawn, Bronx. Final resting place of Herman Melville, Ava Vanderbilt, Barbara Hutton, among many others.

[alice--pallas]

It wasn't even noon yet and Alice had already gotten into an argument with her boss, lost that argument, and then she'd gone on an impromptu "coffee run" that was still going on, two hours later. The argument, in question, was about the front page of the Daily Diem with the mugshots of Ava, Mindy, and Bronx. Naturally, Alice knew she was going to lose the argument but she couldn't help herself. Did it make a tantalizing, scandalous front page? Yes, obviously. But she knew two out of those three people in the mugshots and one of them was her family and she just knew that Ava didn't do this. Perhaps she couldn't be as sure about Mindy--she didn't know them that well--but odds are that if Ava was being set up, so was Mindy.

Alice did in fact go on a coffee run, even though she'd already had enough caffeine for the entire office. However, she knew herself and she knew her brain--it was going to race, caffeine or no caffeine, so she might as well give her brain a boost, right? She'd just showed up to the Coffin Club, trying to scout out the place. She was looking for signs of arson, though she wasn't too hopeful. After all, the police and the fire department had already been here. Still, it was better than sitting in a stuffy office. Hey, you heard about the fire, right? The man's voice startled her, she'd been so lost in thought. "Uh.. Yeah, I did hear about that." Honestly, she didn't really want to deal with anyone right now; though at the same time, a distraction would probably be helpful. Looking at the sad, melted Dracula, Alice gave it a long look and said "Well... I mean, yeah, it's a little melty but you could argue that that only makes it look more menacing... Kind of."

WHERE: rabbit creek, just outside dracula's coffin club WHEN: 18th june, late morning WHO: anyone! ( @anchoragestarters ) CAP: none for now

Somehow, Yuchen Tsai had slept through a fire. He'd woken up in the living space above the shop, completely none the wiser until he'd opened his bedroom window and caught sight of the scorched exterior of the building next door. Now that he was stood outside, staring hopelessly up at the Coffin Club's façade, he could see that it had faced the very same fate. Slumping his shoulders, Yuchen whistled and said, 'Oof, Bà's not gonna like this." The Coffin Club had, after all, been his father's passion project, forced into Yuchen's less than willing hands when his parents up and moved back home. "At least it's only the outside...? And maybe insurance will cover it?" It wasn't clear whose reassurance he wanted; Yuchen was very much in the habit of talking to himself.

But when a passer-by did happen to float past, Yuchen was quick to move, side-stepping into their path so suddenly that they'd have no choice but to stop directly in front of him or crash right into him. That wasn't by design, he just really hadn't thought this one through. "Hey, you heard about the fire, right?" he asked, a sheepish grin tugging at his lips. "Because I kinda got a problem on my hands." Yuchen lifted his arm, a finger pointed at a plastic statue of a man, dressed in a black coat with red lining, whose face and one half of his body had been horribly disfigured in some sort of...melting incident. "I need to do something with ol' Dracula here." He stepped up to the statue and gave it a good smack for emphasis, before immediately snatching hand away. Kinda sticky. Ew. "Think you could help?"

[aprilsims]

( megan fox. cis woman. she/her. kings & queens & ava max. ) that’s APRIL D’AMATO, isn’t it? they’re always hanging around the ROSE pack, so it’s rare to catch them alone. i heard they’re THIRTY-SIX years old, and they’re currently an AUTHOR. when dusk falls, you can usually find them heading home to THE BRONX by CAR. 

@duskintro

STATS

𝙵𝚄𝙻𝙻  𝙽𝙰𝙼𝙴  :  april  claire  d’amato  . 𝙰𝙶𝙴  :  thirty  six  . 𝚉𝙾𝙳𝙸𝙰𝙲  :  scorpio  . 𝙷𝙾𝙼𝙴𝚃𝙾𝚆𝙽  :  new  york  . 𝙾𝙲𝙲𝚄𝙿𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽  : author  . 𝙶𝙴𝙽𝙳𝙴𝚁  :  cis  female  . 𝙿𝚁𝙾𝙽𝙾𝚄𝙽𝚂  :  she/her  . 𝙾𝚁𝙸𝙴𝙽𝚃𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽  :  bisexual  . 𝙵𝙰𝙲𝙴𝙲𝙻𝙰𝙸𝙼  :  megan  fox  .

ABOUT

april’s mother was a part of rose pack, having joined when she was a young adult when she moved to new york to live her dreams but after a while she met april’s father a wolf at in the lichen pack. they fell in love and soon her mother was making a change to his pack.

april was born into the lichen pack, growing up she would hear her mother’s stories about her old pack and would love every second, always wanting to make a move her morals not aligning with her original pack. it was only when she was forced to trigger herself by her father mostly was when she decided to run.

she went to her mother’s old pack, rose, when she was only fourteen, her mother’s old friend now the beta for the rose took her in and raised her as her on from then on. april came into her own in that time, grew up to be someone she is proud of, someone fair and strong.

april treated the rose as her real family not looking back on the one that she left behind and they treated her as such which showed itself on april getting the alpha title when she was old enough to take up the mantle.

on a personality wise april is nice when she can be, for her pack and family she is the sweetest person around, but she can be harsh when she has to but never unfairly.

she is a strong headed person and will never take a no for an answer if that is not what she is expecting, she will fight to the end of the earth for what she wants and will not let it go until she gets it.

april really enjoys to flirt with people, she does it for fun and she does it for sport, she just likes to see people squirm when she does it.

quite lighthearted and easy going when you don’t catch her rolling her eyes, can enjoy the simplest things in life and have fun with nothing.

takes her responsibilities very seriously and treats her gals and pals from her pack as her children and loves them to death, by that means don’t try anything with them unless you want your head on a platter.

can be harsh if the situation calls for it but she’s usually just a chill person that can’t be bothered to smile all that much.

this is a lot of ramble and trash i don’t even know if i put everything i wanted to put but please love us thank you <3