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xlibbyxreaganxo · 7 years ago

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Bullet Proof Part 2

@prettyinpayne @ohnoitsthebat

Chapter 2:

Danny Reagan smirked seeing his baby sister and her partner come down the escalator talking and laughing with each other. Which he was happy to see. The last few months before she left for Chicago she had been spooked, scared of her own shadow. He knew it was to do with Paul almost killing her in the warehouse.

It had killed him every night knowing that part of the reason she ended up in the warehouse to begin with was because he sent her on a scene with Atwater, Halstead and Ruzek, he should have kept her with him at the perticint. But he trusted the Chicago Detectives to keep her safe and the second they turned their backs and sent her with a rookie, she got hurt. And he was never going to let that happen to her again.

“Hey Danny.” Libby said as they approached him, “You okay? You look all sorts of serious.” “I am fine Libs. Just thinking about a case is all.” he answered, “come on, Gramps made your favorites for dinner and Erin got cheesecake from Juniors too.” “I love coming home.” She grinned, “You think I am a good cook wait until you taste my gramps pot roast.” Carlie laughed nervously. “Relax C. They aren't scary. They are really nice.” The blonde nodded her head nervously causing the two siblings to look at each other then back at her.

“Come let's go get some food before we have to go to Nicky’s party. Work can wait until tomorrow.” he said. “I still can't believe you got us suckered in for a case Danny.” The younger Reagan complained, she had gotten the message once they had gotten off the plane and she didn't want to say anything until they were in the car about it. “Well you are his type and I trust you two more than I do most of the rookies out there.”

“You are lucky I love you Danny.’ Danny smirked before looking over Libby's shoulder at a guy wearing a leather coat and avatar sunglasses staring at them. “Go outside, the car is outside with the lights on.’ “Everything okay?” she asked concerned by his sudden demeanor change. “Everything is fine. Go now.” He answered motioning for his sister and her partner to go around him and outside.

Once they were out of his sight, he went over to the guy that had been watching them. “You got a problem man?” he asked. ‘No.’ He answered. “From the way you were looking at my sister and her friend, I think you do have a problem.’ “I don’t. Your sister and her friend are good looking that’s all.’ He answered as he shoved his hands into his pockets, his fingers brushing up against the gun that was resting there. Danny scowled and shook his head, he forgot that Libby got a lot of attention from men and it bugged him, he had been glad when she had made the decision or to move to Chicago and take Erin Lindsay's place on the intelligence unit. And started the relationship or whatever it was with Jay. He didn’t worry as much when she was with him. He knew that Jay would stand in front of her and take a bullet if need be.

By the time they had arrived at the Reagan house, Carlie was at ease thanks to the easygoingness of the two siblings but deep down she knew that it bothered her that she wasn’t close to Connor like Libby aws with Jamie, Danny and then her older sister Erin who she and the rest of the intelligence team hated but they kept their distaste undercover so they wouldn’t set her off. They had all seen her lose her temper at the perp who had threatened her. It took Kevin and Adam to pull her away from the interrogation room and to calm her down. God knows what she would do if they were talking about her family. She was shaken out of her thoughts hearing the doors open and Libby calling something up to her twin brother who came out onto the front steps. Swallowing the lump that was in her throat she followed Libby out of the car. “Jamie.” She greeted with a nod of her head. “Carlie.” He returned giving his twin a look who started giggling, she thought the whole situation between the two had been funny and liked to tease them when she was around them. “Not cool.” He muttered to her as he took her bag from her.

She shrugged her shoulders as she walked up the stairs and into the house. “Hello?” She called. “Aunt Libby!” Jack and Sean called at the same time as they stood up and went over to her. “Awe no Jay?” Sean asked looking over his shorter aunt’s shoulder to see who came with her. “Not this time, he had to stay behind and do some work with the rest of the team. This is Carlie.” Carlie offered the two younger boys a smile. “Hi, I have heard alot about you from your aunt.”

The two boys nodded their heads looking at the blonde was standing there. “She is cute but is she as cool as Jay?” Sean asked. “Same level cool.’ Libby answered. Carlie laughed as Danny pulled her over to the table to introduce her to the rest of the Reagan family.

***

4 hours later

***

“Come on Libby, let's go get some fresh air.’ Carlie said hooking her friends elbow with her hand and started leading her away from her siblings and niece all of whom were laughing at Libby. “Mmkay.” She said with a laugh, Nicky wanting to try different liquors wanted to start with tequila and it seemed to be Libby's weakness, the younger Reagan sibling had been reduced to a giggling mess. Something Carlie was sure that their teammates would love to see especially Adam and Jay.

Once they were outside, Carlie let her lean against the wall as she pulled out her phone and pulled up snapchat to show them what she had to deal with. The former New York cop kept giggling as she leaned against the wall. Her eyes closed and her flushed cheeks tilted up to the cool sky in effort to cool herself down. “one I found Libby's weakness. Tequila. And two Jay, she is really really drunk right now.’ She laughed before turning the camera around and pointed it at herself, “Next time you are coming with her and babysitting her. I am pretty sure this is plot by Danny to make her sick. Hey1 Who are you!” She asked seeing a man that had dark hair and a swaggered walk.

He didn’t answer her instead he grabbed a hold of Libby and started pulling her towards him. “Hey! Lettgo!” Libby exclaimed to trying to pull her wrist free “Shut up Liddy.” the man said before hitting her hard across the face. “HEY!” Carlie exclaimed as another man came up behind her and hoisted her up in the air and spinning her around and dumping her onto the cold hard floor of the van. Libby follow seconds after her.

#libby reaganx #thin blue line short storyx

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surveystodestressme · 7 years ago

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43.

5000 Question Survey Pt. 4 301. List 5 things you have not experienced that you would like to experience before you die. traveling the world, getting an amazing house with my favorite person, owning a hairless cat 302. Will you try to accomplish any of these things within the next year? i doubt any of them will get accomplished so soon 303. What do you feel controlled by? the world around me 304. If Jesus appeared to you and told you that the moon was made of green cheese would you believe him? i wouldn’t believe it bc i don’t believe in jesus 305. What is one thing you are sure of? i am happy with my life

306. At what part of the day do you feel the most alert? usually at night right before bed lol 307. Have you ever played in a band? i wanted to start one when i was younger but my friends nor i knew how to play any sort of instrument 308. Have you ever stared into the ocean thinking ‘early creatures crawled outta that’? no lol 309. If not, what do you think of when you are staring into the ocean? i think of how beautiful it is and how maybe someday i will get to explore it further 310. Do you like the mental challenge of chess or other games? i’ve never played chess but sure 311. Do you ever think of where your atoms were before they were in you? not really. 312. Do you ever think about where your atoms will go after they have been in you? ^ 313. If you didn’t know that people couldn’t fly do you think that you could? i guess so 314. Are you someone that others call when they’re having a problem and want to talk about it? actually yes, my friends have always been able to come to me for advice 315. When it comes to literature, do you see beyond the writing and into the meaning intended by the author? no lol i just want to read the damn book not try to interprete it 316. Is there anything you can take apart completely, and then put back together, and have no left over parts? idk maybe 317. What are your feelings about the death penalty? you know, i feel like if it is a bad enough crime or that this person has committed multiple horrible crimes then why should they get to continue living and wasting space in prison/jail when that spot could go to someone who didn’t do something as bad/maybe will learn their lesson from a crime they’ve committed. i feel like if you have committed the same crime time and time again, you won’t learn your lesson and you don’t deserve to be here. 318. If there was a god and you could ask him/her one question what would it be? there isn’t a god.. sooo 319. Do you believe that life will be found on other planets? absolutely. i feel like there’s no way that all of the planets in our solar system are completely empty 320. What is something worth suffering for? anything for the people you love. 321. If you could put an extra eye on your body anywhere you wanted, where would you put it? on the back of my head 322. Are you in touch with the earth and nature? i wish i was moreso 323. Would you rather live simply or extravagently? simply 324. Have you ever been camping? yep 325. Is your heart open when you meet someone new? no 326. Are you able to have conversations with and become friends with people who are not like you and are interested in different things than you are? absolutely. not everyone i am friends with is a carbon copy of myself. it’d be boring to be friends with someone so similar. i like someone who has different interests and opinions, makes the friendship that much better 327. Are strangers more beautiful or frightening to you? more frightening only bc i’m a little afraid of meeting new people 328. What stops you from doing everything you want to do? usually me 329. Can you think of three adjective that do not apply to you at all? goody-two-shoes, boring, patient 330. How do you feel about Jeremy Jaynes, who got a nine year prison sentence for spamming people with junk email (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Jaynes)? well.. probably shouldn’t spam people with junk mail 331. Do you know who the current premier of China is? no idea 332. Are you very active? not nearly as active as i should be 333. Is there a city that reminds you of the landscape of your brain? not that i can think of at the moment 334. Have you ever loved someone who has loved you back? best feeling ever, yeah 335. Is it really being 'in love with’ someone if the other person doesn’t love you? i mean, you can be in love with them without them reciprocating the feelings 336. Do you believe that there is someone perfect for everyone or that people just fall in love with who ever they are with at the time? i feel like there is someone for everyone 337. Do you know secret things? idk, do i? 338. Have you ever fallen in love with someone you shouldn’t have? oh yes 339. How do you overcome your fears? facing them???? 340. What can you do better than anyone you know? idk man 341. Would you benefit from a wilder existence? sure 342. Does it seem to you like the range of socially acceptable behavior is getting smaller or larger? smaller 343. Have you ever fired a gun? yep! 344. Are people becoming more afraid of each other? yeah, i think so 345. If you had to choose the percentage of freedom vs. safety what ratio would you decide on (ex: 100% free 0% safe)? idk i feel like there’s less safety 346. Does safety stifle you? nah 347. Who or what needs to be stopped? a lot of things need to be stopped man 348. Are human beings becoming more domesticated? kind of 349. Do you follow the lives of the British Royal Family? no 350. How did the death of Pope John Paul II (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_Paul_II) affect you? it didn’t affect me at all 351. Have you ever lost something and never found it? a magnifying glass that i still think about sometimes that i got when i was like 5 or so 352. Do you listen to any talk radio shows? nope 353. Who do you trust more, your friends or your parents? my parents probably 354. Would you ever date someone outside of your race or religion? yeah 355. Which of the 7 deadly sins in the worst (gluttony, greed, pride, lust, envy, wrath, sloth)? greed 356. Which one are you most guilty of? sloth probably lol 357. Are you afraid to be alone with yourself? Do you try to avoid thinking? nope i don’t mind being alone 358. Would you venture to tell someone you loved him or her if they didn’t say it first? i did it with jack and he didn’t say it back for a month or so.. lol it was agonizing 359. What are you the most sensitive about? animals 360. What can you talk about for hours? animals... lol 361. Do you talk about yourself, other people, or ideas the most? probably ideas 362. Do you believe that spell casting can work? if it was real 363. Are you a fan of The Legend of Zelda games? never played them 364. What old movie would you go see if it were re-released in the movie theaters? the breakfast club 365. Is there a celebrity that you would be too starstruck to talk to if you met them? morgan freeman but i would will myself to talk to him even if i just started talking gibberish 366. Have you ever left a mean unsigned note? not that i recall 367. Do you think it’s cheesy to paste things you didn’t write into your diary? nah 368. What are three things that you try not to think about? death, whatever i’m currently worrying about, anything happening to my loved ones 369. Is casual sex acceptable for you? sure. i mean, i just do it with the person i’m with 370. What form of sexual protection do you use? birth control & condoms 371. What is expected of you that you feel is unnatural or not right? that i should have my entire life together. 372. Do you sometimes place your own expectations on other people? sometimes 373. Do you sometimes act overeager to make friends when you are around strangers? it’s usually the complete opposite 374. Do you take everything that is said literally? sometimes...i try not to though 375. Do you take most things others say seriously? also yes... something i need to work on 376. Do you have a quick wit? not as much as i’d like to 377. Do you believe in the need for political correctness? eh 378. Do you have strong opinions and beliefs? on some subjects yes 379. If yes, can you still hang out with and be friends with people who disagree with you? yes. i like to know that people have an opposite opinion of me and aren’t afraid to say it. i enjoy having little debates with my friends about things we disagree on. i do it with my brother a lot. 380. Are you uptight? i kind of am, sometimes. 381. Do you sometimes do risky things? eh 382. Could just about anyone hold your interest in a conversation for at least ten minutes? maybe 383. Are you self-conscious? i have no reason to be 384. What would be your ideal destination for a Saturday afternoon? a park, if it’s nice out 385. Does anyone have a video tape of you doing soemthing embaressing? oh god yes. back from when i partied every weekend 386. What is Kevin Smith’s(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Smith) best movie? no idea who that is off the top of my head 387. Where do you like to go on Friday or Saturday nights? i like to stay in sometimes and go out and do something with friends other times. it just depends on my mood 388. Do you like your friends to act the same way all the time or do you accept their moods and changes? i accept their moods and their changes. that’s life, man 389. Do you often feel like other people are judging you? eh sometimes but i don’t let it get to me 390. What do you think other people judge you to be like? idk better than what i am maybe? 391. Are you quick to judge others? it’s something i’ve been working on not to do, i used to do it allll the time 392. When you have a fight with someone do you want to talk about it right away or calm down first and then talk? i prefer to clear the air as soon as possible 393. Some say love is a river (according to the old song). What do you say love is? idk. love???? lol 394. What is the worst fault a person can have? being a piece of shit and not caring about it 395. Do you have it? nope 396. Which do you think has more impact on a person’s character, genetics or environment? environment probably 397. Who was your first best friend? kristen 398. If you are not best friends anymore, what came between you? i moved away and went to a different school. plus we were in kindergarten so it’s not like we could call or fb each other lol. but we have each other on social media now and maaan has she changed a lot 399. Who have you read a biography about? tons of people 400. What would your own autobiography be called? Cierra: the life of short jokes, cats, and cozy blanket cuddling

#bored #quiz #questions #survey

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bbusallday · 8 years ago

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BB19 Nighttime Updates - 7/1- Day 11 (Complete)

Updater: Nayeli

Recent evictee: Cameron & Megan(self-evict) HOH: Cody Nominees: Alex & Jillian POV players: Cody, Jillian, Alex, Raven, Matt & Jason POV holder: Alex Have nots: Jillian, Josh & Ramses Den of Temptation: Paul

8:00PM - Cam 1&2

Mark and Dom talking in the loft. They talk about showmances. They say last season was the season where showmances were embraced rather than targetted.

Mark says he can’t tell if he’s playing Elena or if she’s playing him. Dom says if he doesn’t know that that means he’s becoming attached, he tells her not to say that. Dom tells to him to talk game with her and throw her bait to see if she’ll say anything.

Elena joins them. They talk about relationships.

8:20PM - Cam 1&2

Cody and Jess cuddling upstairs.

Cody says he feels he can make Alex calm down. Jessica says she has calmed down a lot.

Jess said she can’t imagine anyone putting Raven up and Cody says no one better put her up, he’ll come for them.

8:39PM - Cam 1&2

Casual talk downstairs and upstairs(the loft). Christmas, Paul, and Dom in the loft. Different people in and out of the kitchen.

Dom and Elena say they hope they’re all friends after the show. Elena says unless someone does something really bad, she thinks everyone is going to be friends with all of them. Elena said friendship is really important to her and it’s her weakness.

8:54PM - Cam 1&2

Paul comes in HOH with Cody, Matt and Mark. Paul says the girls are “emotional as tits” and never let them have time alone.

They agree on getting HOH from the girls, they say the girls wouldn’t do anything too crazy if they got it but Paul says they’ll just complicate things for them and that them winning wins them respect from the girls and they’ll go with what they’re doing.

They all agree Ramses is a superfan and that personally, they have nothing against him but they’re on to him. They all say he doesn’t talk to them, and Paul said Dom even tried to get a read on him but she didn’t, Paul said Dom can get a read on anyone and she couldn’t on Ramses. Cody says that Ramses told him that he’s only seen the last couple seasons.

They agree Kevin is a floater who is more on their side.

Jess comes in, followed by Raven after.

Raven says Josh is always following her

They’re discussing if Josh was able to be put up.

Mark says as a joke Cody should “forget” that he can’t nom Josh and during the veto ceremony and just be like “The replacement nom is Josh- Oh I’m sorry that’s for next week”

Constant Josh talk.

Cody leaves.

Jess says that Cody hasn’t said much about who he actually is putting up.

Discussing how Ramses is always lingering and listening. Paul says he’s open to Jason and Ramses(even though he talks about Ramses being a threat a lot more though)

They suspect Ramses got the curse and the $25k

Kevin comes in and they ask him who he thinks got the curse. He says Ramses.

Kevin says that Josh just asked Cody if he’s in the Marines. When Cody said yes he asked him if the Marines are those ones who don’t fight in the war and don’t get drafted and asked him if he was in ROTC. They all laugh/can’t believe he’s serious. Jess said she doesn’t know how Cody didn’t kill him.

Kevin goes back downstairs.

Matt says it’s funny to watch what Josh does, and they all agree.

Elena comes in

Matt asked her if she’s down to backdoor Alex next week, she says yes.

Jess says that Cody isn’t really telling anyone who he is putting up and Paul says he doesn’t care as long as it’s between 2 options(Ramses and Jason)

Jess is concerned with what Cody might say if they tell him that they want to backdoor Alex.

10:08AM - Cam 1&2

Paul talking about last season. He said last season he called Michelle a cunt, and that he had told her to stop several times and she didn’t and that they didn’t show that. Paul says they said he was racist because he called James a little Korean man. Paul said that was a physical description of him, he was 5'3, a man and Korean he said there’s nothing wrong with that. Ramses agrees and says that people just find anything to get mad at.

Paul said he got a letter from a woman who claimed he lost because of his “foul mouth”. Paul posted it and left the address on it. He said he doesn’t know why she thought he of all people would think he would care what she thought.

10:39AM - Cam 1&2

Jason. Christmas, and Paul in the apple room. They say Josh is digging his own grave and the more he talks the worse it gets for him.

Lots of casual talk all over the house.

Dom is holding a motivational talkshow/ interviews with people. Most of the house is gathered for it.

12:00AM - Cam 1&2

Mark goes up to HOH and tells Cody that someone said it’s not fair how the girls are going to get by because they’re in showmances.

Cody says he’ll try to make deals with everyone for the couples and Dom.

12:08AM - Cam 1&2

Dom says to Mark that she thinks Elena likes him, for the game and for real.

Dom thinks that Elena thinks that Mark and she might have something and she gave her a weird look.

Dom says she likes Christmas and trusts her but she knows how good of friends Marks and Dom are and that’s why she goes up to the loft when they’re there.

Dom says that the guys trusting her makes their girls(Jess and Elena) not like her and they could team up against her(Dom) at some point. She says the girls just don’t like the relationship she has with them. Dom says if she was ugly she wouldn’t be a problem.

Dom said Alex told her that she’s not targeting her but that she has heard from other people that she was targeting the couples.

Mark tells Dom he completely trust her with everything.

Dom says she knows everyone wants to ask her what’s going on with her and Mark. Dom said she asked Ramses if he thought Mark liked her. She said Ramses that at one point he thought they had an alliance and that he looked at her a certain way. Dom told Ramses that he and Elena are a thing and that he and her are not.

Dom says she likes Paul and that he’s smart. Mark says he(Paul) and Cody will eventually be a problem because Cody is going to look out for the team and Paul is about doing what he wants to.

Mark says the nine isn’t going to last more than 3 weeks. Dom agrees.

Dom says she doesn’t think she’ll be portrayed to American correctly.

Mark says he thinks he’s in a better position if he’s in a showmance with Elena. Mark says he likes her as a person but doesn’t know how it would work, him and her in a relationship. Dom tells him that she really liked him but she’s afraid.

Mark says he has one friend in the house and that he wants to think he and Cody are friends but he can’t tell because of the face he always has. Dom asks who the friend is and Mark says her, and she says she was about to punch him in the thought because she thought it was Cody.

If you would like to help us and become a live feed updater send us a message at bbusallday.tumblr.com or email [email protected]!

#bb19 #big brother 19 #bblf #day11 #submission

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surveysonfleek · 7 years ago

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352.

5000 Question Survey Pt. 4 301. List 5 things you have not experienced that you would like to experience before you die. fly first class, travel to japan, do a social painting class, ride in a hot air balloon, eat something super expensive. 302. Will you try to accomplish any of these things within the next year? yeah, the social painting one probably. 303. What do you feel controlled by? nothing really. 304. If Jesus appeared to you and told you that the moon was made of green cheese would you believe him? i’d have to make sure i wasn’t dreaming first. 305. What is one thing you are sure of? i hate my job lol.

306. At what part of the day do you feel the most alert? early evening i think. 307. Have you ever played in a band? nope. 308. Have you ever stared into the ocean thinking 'early creatures crawled outta that'? nope. 309. If not, what do you think of when you are staring into the ocean? i wonder what’s at the very bottom. 310. Do you like the mental challenge of chess or other games? i don’t like chess but i love other board games. 311. Do you ever think of where your atoms were before they were in you? not really. 312. Do you ever think about where your atoms will go after they have been in you? nope. 313. If you didn't know that people couldn't fly do you think that you could? i guess it would’ve been a possibility. 314. Are you someone that others call when they're having a problem and want to talk about it? yes, i’m the listener of the group. but most of my friends don’t follow my damn advice!!! 315. When it comes to literature, do you see beyond the writing and into the meaning intended by the author? haha no, that’s what english class was for. 316. Is there anything you can take apart completely, and then put back together, and have no left over parts? probably not unless it was made up of like ten parts and under lol. 317. What are your feelings about the death penalty? i don’t really know. like i’m usually one to say let them rot in jail, but that’s space, time and money from taxpayers of society. idk tbh. 318. If there was a god and you could ask him/her one question what would it be? what is the meaning of life? 319. Do you believe that life will be found on other planets? maybe not the planets in our galaxy, but probably other ones. 320. What is something worth suffering for? anything for the people you love. 321. If you could put an extra eye on your body anywhere you wanted, where would you put it? behind my head lol. 322. Are you in touch with the earth and nature? not really. 323. Would you rather live simply or extravagently? simply. extravagently would be draining. 324. Have you ever been camping? yes. 325. Is your heart open when you meet someone new? no, because i have a boyfriend. 326. Are you able to have conversations with and become friends with people who are not like you and are interested in different things than you are? hmm i can definitely have conversations with them, idk about being friends. i’m assuming if i spend a lot of time with them we’d become friends eventually. 327. Are strangers more beautiful or frightening to you? err neither. i look at people sometimes and wonder if they’re a genuinely good person lol. 328. What stops you from doing everything you want to do? myself. 329. Can you think of three adjective that do not apply to you at all? patient, stupid, enthusiastic. 330. How do you feel about Jeremy Jaynes, who got a nine year prison sentence for spamming people with junk email (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Jaynes)? idk them. 331. Do you know who the current premier of China is? nope. 332. Are you very active? nope. 333. Is there a city that reminds you of the landscape of your brain? not really lol. 334. Have you ever loved someone who has loved you back? yes. 335. Is it really being 'in love with' someone if the other person doesn't love you? nope. 336. Do you believe that there is someone perfect for everyone or that people just fall in love with who ever they are with at the time? idk tbh. it honestly depends on the person. 337. Do you know secret things? not really. 338. Have you ever fallen in love with someone you shouldn't have? nope. 339. How do you overcome your fears? facing them. 340. What can you do better than anyone you know? surveys. hahaha. 341. Would you benefit from a wilder existence? idk. 342. Does it seem to you like the range of socially acceptable behavior is getting smaller or larger? smaller tbh. 343. Have you ever fired a gun? yes. 344. Are people becoming more afraid of each other? yes. 345. If you had to choose the percentage of freedom vs. safety what ratio would you decide on (ex: 100% free 0% safe)? ugh, idk. 346. Does safety stifle you? not really? 347. Who or what needs to be stopped? obviously the group that’s been spreading all sorts of terrorist attacks in the world lately. 348. Are human beings becoming more domesticated? i guess. 349. Do you follow the lives of the British Royal Family? not really. i know the main ones i guess. 350. How did the death of Pope John Paul II (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_Paul_II) affect you? i was sad but a little too young to understand. 351. Have you ever lost something and never found it? of course. 352. Do you listen to any talk radio shows? not religiously. 353. Who do you trust more, your friends or your parents? parents. 354. Would you ever date someone outside of your race or religion? yes. 355. Which of the 7 deadly sins in the worst (gluttony, greed, pride, lust, envy, wrath, sloth)? wrath. 356. Which one are you most guilty of? sloth. 357. Are you afraid to be alone with yourself? Do you try to avoid thinking? nope. i like being alone sometimes. 358. Would you venture to tell someone you loved him or her if they didn't say it first? i’ve done it before. 359. What are you the most sensitive about? myself. 360. What can you talk about for hours? with the right person, absolutely anything. 361. Do you talk about yourself, other people, or ideas the most? it depends on who i’m talking to. 362. Do you believe that spell casting can work? idk. 363. Are you a fan of The Legend of Zelda games? i never played them tbh. 364. What old movie would you go see if it were re-released in the movie theaters? none haha. i hate going to the movies. 365. Is there a celebrity that you would be too starstruck to talk to if you met them? yeah, probably. 366. Have you ever left a mean unsigned note? nope. 367. Do you think it's cheesy to paste things you didn't write into your diary? i don’t have a diary. 368. What are three things that you try not to think about? well if i don’t want to think about them it’s better to not answer this question right? 369. Is casual sex acceptable for you? to each their own, as long as everyone is being safe. 370. What form of sexual protection do you use? birth control. 371. What is expected of you that you feel is unnatural or not right? that i should have my entire life together. 372. Do you sometimes place your own expectations on other people? yeah but it’s whatever. 373. Do you sometimes act overeager to make friends when you are around strangers? not really. i used to be like that when i was younger, i slowly got more anti social lol. 374. Do you take everything that is said literally? no. 375. Do you take most things others say seriously? no. 376. Do you have a quick wit? i wish i did! 377. Do you believe in the need for political correctness? not all the time. 378. Do you have strong opinions and beliefs? to some they’d be strong. 379. If yes, can you still hang out with and be friends with people who disagree with you? errr... i pick and choose my battles. i would think differently of someone i’m friends with that had entirely different views to me and who are pushy about it. 380. Are you uptight? i don’t think so. 381. Do you sometimes do risky things? kinda. 382. Could just about anyone hold your interest in a conversation for at least ten minutes? haha it depends. some people are just shy. 383. Are you self-conscious? yes. 384. What would be your ideal destination for a Saturday afternoon? anywhere tbh. 385. Does anyone have a video tape of you doing soemthing embaressing? yeah, probably. 386. What is Kevin Smith’s(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Smith) best movie? idk. 387. Where do you like to go on Friday or Saturday nights? one night for staying in, one night for going out. 388. Do you like your friends to act the same way all the time or do you accept their moods and changes? i accept their moods and changes, we’re all human. 389. Do you often feel like other people are judging you? not often because i don’t care most of the time. 390. What do you think other people judge you to be like? idk. 391. Are you quick to judge others? not really, i usually give everyone a chance. 392. When you have a fight with someone do you want to talk about it right away or calm down first and then talk? it depends who. i usually talk about it right away. 393. Some say love is a river (according to the old song). What do you say love is? love. 394. What is the worst fault a person can have? not being able to change for the better. 395. Do you have it? no. 396. Which do you think has more impact on a person’s character, genetics or environment? environment. 397. Who was your first best friend? pj. 398. If you are not best friends anymore, what came between you? well we were like 5 and eventually i moved like 40 minutes away so we didn’t see each other anymore. 399. Who have you read a biography about? mindy kaling. 400. What would your own autobiography be called? nooooo idea.

#survey #surveys #quiz #bored #questions

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aqua-lien · 6 years ago

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5000 Question Survey - Part 4

301. List 5 things you have not experienced that you would like to experience before you die. A: Traveling to another country. B: Skydiving. C: Buying a house. D: My brothers getting married. E: My mom being debt-free 302. Will you try to accomplish any of these things within the next year? Maybe traveling to another country? Not sure. 303. What do you feel controlled by? My own fears. 304. If Jesus appeared to you and told you that the moon was made of green cheese would you believe him? No. 305. What is one thing you are sure of? I exist, at least in terms of my own reality. 306. At what part of the day do you feel the most alert? Around 11am, depending on when I woke up. 307. Have you ever played in a band? No. 308. Have you ever stared into the ocean thinking 'early creatures crawled outta that'? Yes omg. 309. If not, what do you think of when you are staring into the ocean? I also like to think about how big it is. 310. Do you like the mental challenge of chess or other games? Yes. 311. Do you ever think of where your atoms were before they were in you? Yes. 312. Do you ever think about where your atoms will go after they have been in you? Yes, probably just out to increase the universe’s entropy. 313. If you didn't know that people couldn't fly do you think that you could? Not unless I had prior proof of me, like, accidentally flying. 314. Are you someone that others call when they're having a problem and want to talk about it? Yes. 315. When it comes to literature, do you see beyond the writing and into the meaning intended by the author? Sometimes. 316. Is there anything you can take apart completely, and then put back together, and have no leftover parts? A pen lol 317. What are your feelings about the death penalty? I don’t think it’s reasonable. It’s very expensive and a lot of people are wrongfully executed. It’s very barbaric in my opinion, kind of like the Byzantine “eye for an eye” principle. 318. If there was a god and you could ask him/her one question what would it be? Why is there suffering? 319. Do you believe that life will be found on other planets? Yes absolutely. 320. What is something worth suffering for? Your own longitudinal happiness. 321. If you could put an extra eye on your body anywhere you wanted, where would you put it? Maybe like, a secret hidden third eye on my forehead. 322. Are you in touch with the earth and nature? Yes. 323. Would you rather live simply or extravagantly? Kind of in the middle. I want to be able to live in a space that’s completely 100% comfortable to me & reflective of who I am. If that costs a lot or a little, it doesn’t matter to me. 324. Have you ever been camping? Yes, probably like 5 times. 325. Is your heart open when you meet someone new? Not really. My past experiences are fair game, but what I’m thinking or feeling in that moment is more off-limits. 326. Are you able to have conversations with and become friends with people who are not like you and are interested in different things than you are? Yes, I’m a very tolerant person. 327. Are strangers more beautiful or frightening to you? It depends on the environment I’m in. 328. What stops you from doing everything you want to do? My own fears. 329. Can you think of three adjectives that do not apply to you at all? Unmotivated, delusional, ignorant. 330. How do you feel about Jeremy Jaynes, who got a nine-year prison sentence for spamming people with junk email (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Jaynes)? Our justice system is completely whack lmao. People get years for nonviolent offenses, meanwhile rape perpetrators get out after serving mere months in prison. And this doesn’t even touch people of color. 331. Do you know who the current premier of China is? No. 332. Are you very active? Kind of. 333. Is there a city that reminds you of the landscape of your brain? Not really? I don’t view my mind like that. 334. Have you ever loved someone who has loved you back? Yes. 335. Is it really being 'in love with' someone if the other person doesn't love you? Yes. Love often goes only one way. 336. Do you believe that there is someone perfect for everyone or that people just fall in love with whoever they are with at the time? I think that people come into your life to teach you things. Each person you date is a lesson, and you can be in love with all of them or not. However, there is one person meant for everyone, and they’re not necessarily a romantic partner either. 337. Do you know secret things? Yes. 338. Have you ever fallen in love with someone you shouldn't have? Yes lmao 339. How do you overcome your fears? I try to just face them, and I often get encouraging examples of positive outcomes from others before I try it. 340. What can you do better than anyone you know? I’m pretty good at empathizing. 341. Would you benefit from a wilder existence? Yes. 342. Does it seem to you like the range of socially acceptable behavior is getting smaller or larger? Larger. 343. Have you ever fired a gun? No. 344. Are people becoming more afraid of each other? Yes. 345. If you had to choose the percentage of freedom vs. safety what ratio would you decide on (ex: 100% free 0% safe)? 70% free, 30% safe. Safety is also relative, though. 346. Does safety stifle you? No, I live for safety. 347. Who or what needs to be stopped? Donald Trump lmao 348. Are human beings becoming more domesticated? No, I think humans are becoming more innovative and individualistic. 349. Do you follow the lives of the British Royal Family? No. 350. How did the death of Pope John Paul II (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_Paul_II) affect you? Not at all. 351. Have you ever lost something and never found it? Yes, lots of times. Mostly stuff like socks. 352. Do you listen to any talk radio shows? No. 353. Who do you trust more, your friends or your parents? Parents. 354. Would you ever date someone outside of your race or religion? Yes, I’ve done it before. 355. Which of the 7 deadly sins in the worst (gluttony, greed, pride, lust, envy, wrath, sloth)? Greed. 356. Which one are you most guilty of? Sloth. 357. Are you afraid to be alone with yourself? No. Do you try to avoid thinking? Sometimes, but I’ve learned it’s important to consider your thoughts for what they are and let them pass. 358. Would you venture to tell someone you loved him or her if they didn't say it first? Maybe. 359. What are you the most sensitive about? My individuality & freedom. 360. What can you talk about for hours? Astrology. 361. Do you talk about yourself, other people, or ideas the most? Myself lol 362. Do you believe that spell casting can work? To a certain extent. I believe most spell-casting is about manifestation. If you cast a spell, you’re putting energy out into the universe that says that you believe the outcome of the spell is real and that it will happen. Thusly, the universe may make it happen for you. 363. Are you a fan of The Legend of Zelda games? I’ve never played them. 364. What old movie would you go see if it were re-released in the movie theaters? The Goonies. 365. Is there a celebrity that you would be too starstruck to talk to if you met them? Ariana Grande. 366. Have you ever left a mean unsigned note? No. 367. Do you think it's cheesy to paste things you didn't write into your diary? Not really. 368. What are three things that you try not to think about? My family members dying, other people’s suffering, my failures. 369. Is casual sex acceptable for you? No, it ruins my self-esteem. I don’t judge others who do it, though, to each their own. 370. What form of sexual protection do you use? I take birth control & demand my partners use condoms. 371. What is expected of you that you feel is unnatural or not right? That I should have a solid plan for years in advance when I’m unsure of who I even fucking am right now. 372. Do you sometimes place your own expectations on other people? Yes, a lot of the time I expect people to have as much integrity as I do. 373. Do you sometimes act overeager to make friends when you are around strangers? Yes. 374. Do you take everything that is said literally? No, I’m very intuitive when it comes to sarcasm. 375. Do you take most things others say seriously? Depends. 376. Do you have a quick wit? Yes. 377. Do you believe in the need for political correctness? To a degree, yes. 378. Do you have strong opinions and beliefs? Yes. 379. If yes, can you still hang out with and be friends with people who disagree with you? As long as there can be respectful conversation about it. 380. Are you uptight? Yes, very. 381. Do you sometimes do risky things? Not very often, no. 382. Could just about anyone hold your interest in a conversation for at least ten minutes? No, I’m actually very picky about who I talk to. If I’m not feeling it, there will be no conversation lol. 383. Are you self-conscious? Mostly about my personality, yes. 384. What would be your ideal destination for a Saturday afternoon? Probably at home or at the thrift store. 385. Does anyone have a video tape of you doing something embarrassing? I have a couple of videos of stuff I’ve done drunk or high, so yeah lol 386. What is Kevin Smith’s (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Smith) best movie? Clerks 100% 387. Where do you like to go on Friday or Saturday nights? My apartment lmao 388. Do you like your friends to act the same way all the time or do you accept their moods and changes? I definitely accept my friends’ mood changes. That’s what being a friend is all about. 389. Do you often feel like other people are judging you? Sometimes but I don’t care. 390. What do you think other people judge you to be like? Bitchy, intimidating, confident. 391. Are you quick to judge others? Sometimes. I’m trying to break that habit. 392. When you have a fight with someone do you want to talk about it right away or calm down first and then talk? Calm down first, then talk. 393. Some say love is a river (according to the old song). What do you say love is? Love is a neurochemical con job. 394. What is the worst fault a person can have? Lack of integrity. 395. Do you have it? No. 396. Which do you think has more impact on a person’s character, genetics or environment? The environment 100%. 397. Who was your first best friend? Brittnie. 398. If you are not best friends anymore, what came between you? My dad cheated on my mom with her mom. 399. Who have you read a biography about? Douglas MacArthur (we have the same birthday). 400. What would your own autobiography be called? This Bitch.

#5000qs

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spotlightsaga · 8 years ago

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Kevin Cage of @spotlightsaga reviews… Ru Paul’s Drag Race (S09E03) Draggily Ever After Airdate: April 7, 2017 @vh1 @wowreport Ratings: 0.673 Million :: 0.3 18-49 Demo Share Score: 4.5/10

**********SPOILERS BELOW*********

Finally! An episode we can all sink our teeth into. No, this isn’t a ‘Drag Race’ best… But we’re finally starting to see who has that special something to make it to the latter half of this competition and who doesn’t. Slowly but surely the stakes are raising and the stars are rising to the top. 'Draggily Ever After’ as an episode and as an overall challenge knows exactly where it is in the competition. There are still weak ones and performers that aren’t fully realized as full on Drag Queens left in the competition, so the challenge is basic… But it demands the Queens to realize a concept and reach into their bag of tricks and show us their artistic side by having the contestants create Princess characters that are accompanied by an original sidekick and threaded together by a short storyline.

Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, but it looks like, for the most part, that Eureka, Nina Bo'Nina Brown, Sasha Velour, Trinity Taylor and Valentina are all front runners for their own reasons. Shea Couleé could be a dark horse in the competition… And the judges seem to be pulling Peppermint in to praise her for something outside of this competition, as if Peppermint has established herself and put in work and therefore automatically deserves a little bit of spotlight and praise. I get it and I don’t get it. I just know I’m not looking at a winner. Charlie Hides does runway well, but the total package isn’t strong with this one. For some reason I can’t ever remember who Alexis Michelle is, was, or anything about her. It’s true I take a Xanax or two, but I’m going to need this girl to shine and soon. Maybe she just hasn’t had the met the right challenge yet? If someone or something doesn’t make an impression on me I can literally turn around, walk two steps, and completely forget they exist. What were we talking about again?

I hate that Drag Race is on Friday’s now. The weekend is not when I do my best writing as I’m always tired, running around, bartending or serving for extra money or trying to get an extra piece or two worked on for a printed publication or wherever I can fit in. Last week in my review on RPDR, I fumbled some words about the show of which Lisa Kudrow was quoting, it didn’t change the fact that she was one the show for 20 seconds to just say lines from one show that she did. They did say 'The Comeback’ in the show, and unfortunately I’m unable to post edit something I post on TVShowTime and I apologize for the mistake and it was corrected outside of this platform, but understand that I really try to come from a good place… And no, the show she was quoting didn’t change how I felt about the segment. Please don’t tell me to 'calm down’ or 'relax’, I am writer at heart and whether I’m making money or not, I love this community, you see what I write first, and it’s you who really get to see the true me, sans about 5 people in this world who I know are the definition of a 'real friend’, and only one of them lives here in South Florida. I am exhausted right now, I’ve been up since 5am yesterday morning working and I really hope that I can convey this next topic with the compassion and sincerity that I normally am able to convey with ease (just not Friday-Sunday).

As a Floridian, who had friends and co-workers in Orlando during the Pulse Massacre, this is a very difficult place for me to revisit, even with the amount of time we’ve all had to process what happened. I’ve been in a gay relationship for over 11 years now. I’m a natural born hustler in many aspects, I’ve always had multiple jobs, multiple passion projects, and for a good 3-4 years I was a 'Male Dancer’ in one of the most notorious Gay Strip Clubs in Ft Lauderdale, FL. I’ve always been on the outside of the gay scene, I never felt like I belonged, and that’s because I don’t, and that’s ok. During my time working there, I made a lot of friends that I never thought I would make. My intention was to go in, get money, and get the fuck out. I thought I had nothing in common with a lot of these people and hung with the other 'straight’ dancers at the club at first. I quickly found myself bored with those 'straight’ co-workers (no offense, trust me they were vapid and always overcompensating for something they lacked beyond physical beauty) and suddenly found myself very much amused at the more quirky, flamboyant boys who came to play. They were all hot messes, yes, but in a 'Party Monster’ type of way, you know… Before the whole murder…errr… Manslaughter twist ending.

There’s always been a huge part of me that has been terrified to seem anything less than masculine, even though my personality is very much 'over-the-top’, I’m haunted with the memories of my parents scolding and shaming me for a brief moment of 'sounding gay’ or displaying a trait that they found too telling. Suddenly I was worlds away from that feeling and those people (who I do love and know did have good intentions, just an ignorant approach) and I was meeting some of the most impactful and beautiful people who were very proudly 'gay’, something I had always equated with 'exploiting for money’ or 'shameful’. These over-the-top Latin and Black young men took a stubborn, scared strawberry blonde boy who was allowing myself to be the “token 'soulless ginger’ with a thick ass and athletic legs” and helped me shed the fear of just letting go and being 100% me. They really showed me how to live my life to the fullest in a way I didn’t know was possible. That chapter in my life is very much over now. You won’t my find me in gay clubs anymore, and my other safe haven, the rave scene, is long dead (since 2003/2004), and now I may attend a music festival once or twice a year if my schedule permits it… But I wouldn’t trade my experience with those incredibly amazing human beings for anything in the world and I try to take what they taught me with me everywhere I go and apply it to anything and everything. One of those people I lost to suicide, and no there was no 13-tapes to listen to afterwards, because suicide is an ugly spurt of the moment thing.

Not everyone is right for the strip club, it takes a special kind of damaged mess to navigate that world… But there were several young, unbelievably strong young men who showed me something beyond that for a few years… And I’m incredibly blessed to have a partner who knew I needed that experience and allowed me to do whatever I wanted, never wanting to impede on my personal growth, but still always put up somewhat of a fight… For good measure.

That 'safe place’ that Cynthia Fontaine talked about, I know that place, and the thought of a single man barging in one of those places with an AK where people are able to discover a different meaning and break the general mold of what is or isn’t 'the social and societal norm’ and gunning down as many people as possible rips my inner core into a million pieces. The night that it happened, I called my friends and coworkers in Orlando, over and over and over, wondering if they were alive… Wondering how something like this could happen.

Growing up with the bravery to admit that sexuality and gender isn’t as 'paint by numbers’ as everyone wants it so desperately to be is difficult, especially when you are a leader and you bear that cross during difficult times like middle and high school. Once you make it out of high school, it does in fact 'get better’, but now we have to face something like this… In a place that’s supposed to be designed to celebrate our freedom, a place that allows a select few a unique chance to come of age for a second time around… But instead that 'safe place’ was used as a hunting ground. People were lined up and shot one by one, bullets and blood, tears and pain staining the air with a stench of terror and death as good people who had amazing hearts and the ability to heal and teach and love and change people’s lives for the better… It’s impossible to truly make sense of… And something a fucking hashtag on social media will only stain further.

What we heard between Trinity and Cynthia was a real conversation about the direct effect it had on two people’s lives… Two people that were technically removed from the nightmare, but still very much a part of it in a very real way. It’s something we will never escape as human beings, as sexually free human beings and it’s fucking terrifying. Sasha urged everyone not to be scared to go out and live your life, and I don’t have the answers or the ability to even offer up a solution because I don’t ducking know why there are people in this world who want something like this to happen. I’m glad that I was able to experience the rave scene pre-9/11/2001 and the Florida Gay Nightlife pre-6/12/2016. I hate that people are scared to go out now, scared that someone could shoot up a nightclub, or drive a truck into a fair, or set off a bomb, or snipe people at a concert, but I don’t blame them… Fuck I’m scared to just ride the metrorail or congregate in a large crowd.

And on that note, I’m going to move back to the competition. I didn’t expect this very real, very fresh moment at the time to be captured on camera and shot straight forward, without the usual tongue-in-cheek editing the show is known for. They just really served up a raw recount of how these acts of terror, particularly this one on the LGBTQ 🏳️‍🌈 community affects us all, even if we weren’t inside that building holding a strangers hand, hoping to see tomorrow. Let’s move on… Because we have to… Because the world will keep moving even if we don’t…

The lip sync? Aja might paint like a clown, but it was clear there is something genuine inside of him… A fire that does burn for a win. She gave us a fun, energetic lip sync, especially compared to her direct competition, that screamed 'Give me another shot!’ Unfortunately that look, that concept, and that sidekick he created was indeed a pun that neither Ru, nor any of the judges, nor I can resist to crack… A PRINCESS DISASTAH!!! Aja is young and anti-glossy, the latter of which her Brooklyn Drag Sister used to her advantage in S8. Thorgy Thor gave us a purposeful unpolished polish and we ate it up. Aja just isn’t there yet, but I want her to be. It’s clear that there is talent and great ideas mixed up in this mess, and if you can’t see that then surely the good intentions are plain to see. Like Farrah Moan, he needs another 3 years or so to understand who he is. It’s not always about 'honing your craft’, even though that’s definitely a part of it, and that’s proved by Valentina who’s turning it out in the top group consistently now in the most spectacular of ways. Age may be just a number, but life experience and raw talent counts for something major… And at this point in Aja’s career, I think that’s exactly what’s lacking to make the package complete. He’ll get there tho, I’m sure of it.

Guess I won’t be eating my words… Will I, Kimora? Like I said last week, the only reason I believe Kimora was given a pass to stay was because Jaymes Mansfield was so damn terrified. I try to stay away from negativity, but Kimora doesn’t really bring the best out of anyone including herself. It’s that nasty attitude…She transparently played the 'dumb blonde’ (I guess in 2017 we call that 'Playing Kardashian’, but I have no reason to insult any of those women), and that overly confident schtick doesn’t translate when there is no substance or clever angle to back it up… Kimora is no Willam Belli. I know stupid, I’ve stared at it directly in the face… And even stupid knows what adjectives are. I just don’t buy it. Kimora is the product of a generation that eats, drinks, shits, and dreams of reality television… But this is reality tv competition and we see that you are attempting to play a part, and not even well. You wasted a spot. You sent Jaymes Mansfield home and as scared as that little bugger was, he was certainly more promising and more talented. I’m not being mean here, I’m being real. There was nothing fun about watching Kimora Blac and this is literally the last sentence I will ever write about him.

Thanks for reading. I know this was a long one. And yes, I think taking the time to share my views of the show as well as compare and contrast my life experiences was worth it, especially since we were able to cover Pulse, it’s aftermath, and what it means to me. This will be edited down as it moves to other platforms, but I think that you and you and you who have read this all the way through are worth my time and every word on this page, as ridiculously fucking long as it is. Spotlight Saga is my baby, my brand that I’m moving forward as my own online publication, who better to give the most honest and passionate piece of myself to than you?

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chicagoindiecritics · 5 years ago

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New from Al and Linda Lerner on Movies and Shakers: Da 5 Bloods

This is no fun buddy road trip. Spike Lee hits a current nerve looking from the past and present of Black Lives Matter recounting war and racism in Da 5 Bloods. Lee uses creative techniques to flashback 5 Viet Nam war buddies bouncing between then and now. They want to go back to the site of their battle for life and death. They want to return to where their 5th Blood died in combat with Viet Cong to repatriate his remains. They also want to recover a fortune in gold they left behind at the time of that attack.

Lee and writer Kevin Willmott reworked a script by Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo. They chose to show the trauma that Black men faced in Viet Nam and how they were made to feel invisible and powerless during and after the war. These were brave and heroic soldiers who were fighting for a system that denigrated and abused them in an unnecessary conflict. They fought while systemic racism was still being preserved and stacked against them. Black soldiers had more casualties.

Otis (Clarke Peters) organizes this expedition bringing the men back together. He also meets up with Tien (Ley Y Lan) with whom he had a relationship during the war. Eddie (Norm Lewis) is the high-powered successful businessman who just wants to do right. Melvin (Isiah Whitlock, Jr.) is the calm, level headed member of the team. Paul (Delroy Lindo) came out of the war the most damaged. He is loud, brash and opinionated, especially about politics. He wears his MAGA hat proudly and isn’t afraid to let it be known where he stands on everything. Paul has PTSD worse than his buddies and it creates problems more than once. Spike Lee gives each of the men their own emotional revelation scene as they remember this place and what happened there.

They start in Ho Chi Minh City. Spike Lee incorporates his iconic films and music from the past to set the scene and the mood for this journey. They meet in a bar called Apocalypse Now (the real name of that bar) to reminisce and plan their adventure. And he uses the iconic monumental Ride of the Valkyries cruising down the river to get to where they will start their journey into the jungle. Lee extensively uses the music of Marvin Gaye right from the beginning and through in the film to set the mood with more music from the Viet Nam era. (Mother, Mother, What’s Goin’ On). The director also pays homage to his favorite old films as in The Treasure of Sierra Madre, with the story line of infectious greed to find gold.

Director Lee changes the aspect ratio during flashbacks, especially when using historic footage Lee shows of Martin Luther King, Jr., Mohammed Ali, Angela Davis, 1968 Riots, LBJ and Nixon, the My Ley Massacre, even the drawing of Crisps Attucks, the first Black man to die in defense of this country in 1770. The screen narrows to look more square. That also took some adjusting as a viewer. As do a couple of scenes that switch quickly and one where the four vets are seen side by side, each framed in red, which looked somewhat out of place in this film.

Spike Lee considered using de-aging technology to show the men young in flashbacks, and then back to being old. But he decided he had to come up with a better, more creative way to tackle the problem for two reasons. Filming in a jungle at 100 degrees would cause makeup and prosthetics to melt. And he had to keep the budget at $100 million. So, the actors appear as the same age in flashbacks as well as the in the current time scenes. It was a little jarring and confusing at first, but Lee thought the audience would get used to it and we did. And after awhile, it made sense, since the only character that didn’t age was Stormin’ Norman, (Chadwick Boseman) the 5th Blood who died in the jungle 5 decades earlier. He stays young.

The four vets meet their guide, Vinh (Johnny Tri Nguyen) at the bar, who offers to go with them on their journey, but they say no thank you. Tien, uses her contacts to arrange a meeting with shifty French businessman, Desroche (Jean Reno) who is willing to help smuggle the gold out of Viet Nam for a cut. He’s a little stiff in the role.

Complicating matters as the 4 living Bloods are about to take off on their journey, Paul’s son shows up, concerned for his father. They have more than a contentious relationship. Paul is really rough on his son and unhappy he’s there. David’s a school teacher back home and a good guy. The guys agree to let him come. Maybe he’ll be able to control his Dad’s PTSD outbursts and meds.

David meets a pretty French lady in the bar. Hedy (Melanie Thierry). She has two sidekicks, part of her organization to detonate land mines left from the war in Viet Nam. They become friendly and she takes interest in David’s trip with Dad and friends, but the 4 Bloods and David step off by themselves. Incidents along the way test their strength and trust. Then you get to see who survives their last tour of duty.

A notable, emotionally charged scene is an incredible take, more than 3 minutes long where Delroy Lindo delivers a monologue that bears his character’s soul. Lindo, as Paul, is non-stop, bringing up every raw emotion, close up, looking straight on. It’s a tour de force, not only for the actor, but for cinematographer, Newton Thomas Sigel, (Bohemian Rhapsody, Drive), perfectly framed, then panning up to Paul’s Black power fist against the sky. It’s jaw-dropping punctuation.

Spike Lee draws a straight line from the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. to today’s explosion of protests over police brutality reminiscent of those on race and war during Viet Nam and now with Black Lives Matter. Spike Lee, as with Black KKKlansmen, Do the Right Thing, has managed to weave together history, solid performances and storytelling. There’s humor, emotional depth, suspense and violence in a strong statement on race, politics and war. Though unplanned, this film could not have come at a more crucial moment.

Netflix 2 hours 34 minutes R

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minimin1993 · 5 years ago

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S/M 55

Warning: Finally.

“Well look who finally blessed us with their presence.” Anthony said raising his eyebrows at the pair who finally got dressed and came back out to their friends who were all sporting the same smirk on their face.

“Come on don’t be jealous, if I had a girl like that I would have done the same thing.” Toby said winking at Sebastian who sits down pulling Min on his lap again. “But I gotta admit you guys are not trying to even hid it, god damn look at those marks.”

“What can I say, my girl likes it rough.” Sebastian said grabbing his drink.

After that the pair just starts to enjoy the rest of the night which their friends certainly made it interesting when they both got put on the spot when 2 strippers came in dressing in a skimpy Bucky and Linda outfit for their lap dance, before the night came to an end with everyone clearly drunk out of their minds.

Wedding day

“Damn Sebastian stop pacing you are going to put a hole in the floor.” Sebastian mother said as all the groomsmen watch Sebastian pace almost frantically around the hotel room.

“Ma, what if she gets cold feet and doesn’t show up? What if she realize what a mess I am and doesn’t want to marry me anymore? Oh my god… What if….”

“Sebby calm down, anyone with eyes can clearly see how much she loves you. Funny enough I already knew she was going to be the one the first time I met her. So don’t worry because when the time comes she will be walking down that asle.”

“Thank you ma.” Sebastian said giving his mom a kiss on her cheek.

“Now if you excuse me I have to go check my soon to be daughter-in law.”

Gloria excused herself from Sebastian room heading over to Min hotel room only to find all her bridesmaid knocking frantically on the bathroom door. “Minnie come out, everything is going to be fine.” Tiffany said trying to calm Min down who can be heard crying on the other side of the door.

“What happen?” Gloria asked walking over to Tiffany and others.

“She scared.” Tiffany sighed.

“Let me talk to her. You guys wait and get ready in the other room.”

“Thank you Gloria.” Tiffany said as they head to the living room to finish getting ready.

“Min dear open the door its Mom.” Gloria said softly, hearing the girl on the other side sniff and unlocks the door. Gloria walks in and sees the girl's eyes buffy looking sad and lost giving her a hug. “What's wrong dear?”

“I’m scared that the moment I walk out there Sebastian will realize he doesn’t want me anymore because of how broken I am.” Min cried out hearing Gloria laugh lightly.

“Oh dear, you and him are almost identical it's hilarious.”

“What do you mean?” Min pulled away looking at Gloria who was softly wiping away her tears with a smile on her face.

“When I was over their with Sebastian, he was pacing the entire room going on about what if you get cold feet and not show up.”

“Really?”

“Yes, and guess what my dear. In the years I have watched my son grow up I have never seen him this happy nor talk about anyone like he does about you. Trust me when I say this that boy loves you with everything he's got and he isn’t going to stop anytime soon if ever.” Gloria said pulling the girl out of the bathroom to the vanity where they were dolling her up for the wedding. “Now if you agree let's finish getting you ready before we give that boy a heart attack thinking you won’t show up, even though I think he still might have one from how beautiful you look my dear.”

“Thank you mom.” Min smiles brightly at her.

“Anytime.” Gloria said before calling in the bridal team back over to finish the girl up.

When it was time for the Ceremony to start Sebastian was a sweating mess but his boys assured him everything is going to be alright. After Sebastian walked down the aisle with a huge smile on his face looking at his friends and family in the crowd he watches their groomsmen (Chace, Chris, Charles, Ethan, Paul, Will, and Toby) and bridesmaid (Tiffany, Jennie, Key, CL Eunji, Jin, and Linji) walk down the aisle looking dashing as ever.

(Bridesmaid dresses, minus Key who is in a suit)

His brain was starting to get negative thoughts once again until the music changed and everyone turned to look at the door. The moment the door opens, Sebastian swore his heart stopped and nothing around him existed but Min.

Min had her head bowed down nervously gripping Mr. Hwang's arm until she looks up and looks eyes with Sebastian who had the most beautiful smile on his face causing her to break into a huge smile herself. The closer she got to him the more her heart was rapidly beating until Mr. Hwang handed her hand over to Sebastian.

“She is all yours now son.” He said before taking a sit next to his wife.

“I love you beautiful.” Sebastian whispered smiling down at her twinkling eyes.

“I love you too handsome.” Min winks at him causing him to chuckle before they both look over at the priest.

“To all present I say: We are gathered here, not to witness the beginning of what will be, but rather what already is! We do not create this marriage, because we cannot. We can and do, however, celebrate with Sebastian and Min the wondrous and joyful occurrence that has already taken place in their lives, and the commitment they make today. I have been told that they have written their own vows. Sebastian would you like to start us off.” The priest gesture to Sebastian who turns back to Min grabbing both her hands taking a deep breathe.

“I remember the first day I met you and I swore since that day you are going to be the death of me and till this day I still stand by that and more because I have never expected that that was the day I met the love of my life. Growing up I never imagine myself ever getting married but dam was I wrong, here comes this 5’3 girl who snatched my phone out of my hand and ran around the studio so fast I never expect to catch her. But here I am standing under god promising myself to her because I have caught something more valuable. Her heart; even though I still wonder why on earth did this woman choose me when I have nothing to offer her. I promise to be the best husband I can be even though I have no stinking clue how to do that. I promise to love you and cherish you till the end of time and more. I promise you my mind, body, and soul even though you already owned that like how you already own my heart. I can’t imagine my life without you and I can’t wait to continue this crazy journey with you by my side forever. I love you.” Sebastian vowed wiping the happy tears that Min was slowly shedding.

“Wow that is such a tough one to follow. And like your mom had told me how we are identical because I also started my vows with the first day I met you too. I remember how I was talking to Chris and Kevin when this perfect specimen walks over to us with the cutest smile I have ever seen and lets not let me forget the most gorgeous pair of eyes I will never get tired of looking into. But like you said I also never expected to meet the love of my life. Throughout my life I have gone through many horrible things and if I was given a choice to redo everything I will still choose to go through that again if it leads me right back into your arms. I promise to be the best wife I can be to the best of my knowledge. I promise to love you with everything I have and more because you deserve someone better than me but you still somehow decided to choose me. I promise you my mind, heart, body, and soul because I would be nothing without you by my side. Sebastian Stan, I love you.” Min said now wiping Sebastian tears.

“You've both chosen to wear rings as a reminder of these promises. People often say wedding bands are a perfect circle, with no beginning and no end. As you look at these rings over the years, I hope you remember that. You've created something invaluable, and just as I know you'll protect these rings, I'm confident you'll protect the commitments you've made to one another today. Sebastian, as you place this ring on Min’s finger, repeat these words after me: This ring symbolizes my love for you and the commitments we made today.” The priest said as Sebastian slips the ring on Min finger repeating the words. “Min, as you place this ring on Sebastian's finger, repeat these words after me: This ring symbolizes my love for you and the commitments we made today.”

“By the power of your love and commitment to each other, and by the power vested in me I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now seal your vows with a kiss.” Sebastian was beaming with happiness and joy as he pulls Min close to him dipping his head down to give her a kiss that their friends and family started to hoot and holler nonstop. “Congratulations. Family and loved ones, I now present to you the newly married couple and . Let's hear it for 'em!”

“I love you Mrs. Stan.” Sebastian whispered into her lips who was grinning up at him. “I love you too Mr. Stan.”

Reception

“I am blessed to know these 2 idiot for a decade and lets just say that it has been a journey for sure waiting for them to admit their feelings for each other. I have watched them start out as just friends pretending to not acknowledge that they literally needed each other presence like water. Even when they both were in other relationships they still can not lose the other person, like come on who has each other house keys to even having a personal closet in each other's house. Sebastian I hope you know you are one lucky ass person and I swear if you ever hurt our little princess which I know you won't but you will have the entire Marvel family come after you. I love you both and I wish you both nothing but the best. To Sebastian and Min.” Chris said raising a toast to the newlyweds for everyone to join in with him.

“Now if the time is right I welcome the bride and groom up to have their first dance.” The MC announced as Sebastian pulls up a blushing Min over to the dance floor and the music starts to play. Julia Michaels Heaven.

Heaven ^^

(Listen to the song in this part, it literally how I describe Sebastian Stan and this whole story was inspired by this song. Even if I didn’t portray him as a bad guy but you know what I am talking about *wink*)

“I love how this song kind of represents our relationship in a way.” Sebastian said as they swayed to the music.

“I can’t help it, you are my bad boy who brings heaven to me.” Min said smiling up at him.

“So you would do anything for me?”

“Would you do anything for me?”

“Without a question babygirl.” Sebastian said looking at Min in her eyes, she pulls him down and gives him a loving kiss that took his breath away.

#bucky x reader #james buchanan barnes #sebastian stan #steve rogers #sebastian x reader #the first avenger #winter solider x you #winter soldier #originl character #captain america #infinity war #chris evans #original character #marvel #endgame #avengers

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thisdaynews · 5 years ago

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How Pence’s Camp Persuaded Trump to Pick Their Guy as VP

New Post has been published on https://thebiafrastar.com/how-pences-camp-persuaded-trump-to-pick-their-guy-as-vp/

How Pence’s Camp Persuaded Trump to Pick Their Guy as VP

It was July 14, 2016, just four days before the Republican National Convention, and Donald Trump was still waffling on who to pick as his running mate.

He had just told Indiana Gov. Mike Pence he was his pick, but then, a day later, here he was calling up New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

Story Continued Below

“Are you ready?” he asked, as Christie recalled. “I want to know that you’re ready and that Mary Pat is ready.”

“If you want me to do this, we’re going to be ready,” Christie told him.

“Stay by the phone tomorrow, because I’m making this call tomorrow,” Trump said.

And what about former House Speaker Newt Gingrich? Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump liked Gingrich because he meshed well with Trump, performed well on TV and was a big thinker in a way Trump wasn’t. But Trump had told an adviser that Gingrich’s vetting packet was terrifying. The dirt Trump’s people had dug up on Gingrich “makes mine look tame,” Trump told the adviser.

The previous Saturday, Trump had told a roomful of donors he liked Christie for vice president. That Tuesday, he told Pence’s good friend and Indiana Republican Party Chairman Jeff Cardwell that the choice was down to Pence and Gingrich. And just the previous day, July 13, he’d called Pence and told him he was it.

Hearing that timeline, a former Trump aide laughed. “He tells everybody yes.”

How did Trump decide on Pence? A flat tire, some Hoosier hospitality, lots of prayers and Pence’s striking indifference—with which the Indiana governor impressed Trumpin a meeting at the Governor’s Mansion—had gotten the Indiana governor to the brink of history. But it was a previously unreported threat from Pence’s political brain trust that would land him on the ticket and ultimately lift Trump over the finish line months later, changing the course of history.

***

Before a mid-July meeting that changed everything,Trump didn’t particularly like Pence. To Trump, he carried the whiff of a loser. Here was a man who should be coasting to reelection in a solid Republican state but instead was bailing out water in a rematch with the Democrat, John Gregg, who had almost beat him just four years earlier. Pence’s team said their polling was strong and had improved greatly since last year’s “religious freedom” disaster. But Trump pollster Tony Fabrizio saw something beyond Pence’s job prospects; Pence was the only candidate he’d run the numbers on who helped lift Trump with evangelical voters and conservatives. Pence felt a lot like the medicine Trump didn’t want to choke down.

Campaign chairman Paul Manafort and Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus both had been pushing hard for Pence—each for his own reasons. Manafort saw an immediate crisis at the nominating convention in Cleveland: Delegates could deny Trump the nomination if the uprising spurred by Ted Cruz and other movement conservatives—the kinds more likely to warm to Pence—carried through. And Priebus saw another problem: Republicans could lose even more seats down the ballot with Trump at the top of the ticket if evangelical Christians and stalwart conservatives stayed home rather than vote for either Hillary Clinton or Trump.

Longtime Trump friend and former insurance magnate Steve Hilbert also pushed hard for Pence behind the scenes as the race picked up over the summer of 2016. Trump came to him regularly with questions about Pence, and Hilbert assured him he would be a good selection. When Trump asked whether Pence could raise enough money for the ticket, Hilbert went to Pence campaign manager Marty Obst, who worked up a quick memo of their fundraising efforts for the Republican Governors Association.

While Obst and his fellow aideNick Ayers worked the phones on Pence’s behalf, in the great shadow campaign for running mate, Pence laid back and didn’t lobby directly. “Running” for running mate had always been a passive-aggressive exercise in wanting it while looking like you don’t want it. But Pence seemed awkwardly placid, even to his aides. Obst asked him how he could be so calm, and Pence said it was because “God has a plan.” Whatever God’s answer was, Pence would be OK with it.

The decision would have to be made soon. The nominating convention in Cleveland started July 18 and the running mate was set to be nominated Wednesday, July 20, 2016. And Pence had his own deadline: If Trump were serious, he would have to make it clear before noon on July 15, because that was when Pence would have to pull his name off the ballot for governor if he were picked as Trump’s vice presidential running mate.

With the leaders of the establishment on his side, and no connections to Trumpworld, Pence was at the bottom of the small list of finalists—but he was still in the mix.

Trump was scheduled to do a fundraiser in Indianapolis on Tuesday, July 12. Hilbert had helped set it up months earlier with the heads of Trump’s campaign in Indiana, former GOP chairman Rex Early and veteran Republican operative Tony Samuel, long before Pence was seriously considered a running mate. Happenstance seemed to smile on the Indiana governor.

Trump Force One, as it was known on the trail, was about as Trumpy as it got: The plane was a massive Boeing 757, which he’d bought for $100 million five years earlier when he was considering a run for president in 2012. It included a bedroom, guest room, galley, shower and gold-plated fixtures throughout. But, like much of Trump’s empire, there was quite a bit of wear underneath the gold plating. The plane was built in 1991 and ran as a commercial airliner for a few years before going into private use.

When it landed at a private airfield just outside Indianapolis that Tuesday afternoon, it popped a flat tire on the landing gear on the right side of the plane. Trump’s Secret Service detail scrambled to figure out what to do. Meanwhile, Trump’s campaign team rushed to downtown Indianapolis because it was already late for the fundraiser. Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks, bodyguard Keith Schiller and personal assistant John McEntee rode in the car with a former aide to Early, Kevin Eck. Eck could hear Hicks in the back setting up meetings for Trump in California the next day. Trump planned to spend July 12 in Indianapolis, do a fundraiser and rally with Pence and then fly on to California for another fundraising event.

About 25 high-dollar donors from Indiana showed up to the fundraiser late that afternoon at the Columbia Club in Indianapolis. After brief remarks from Trump and Pence, they set up for photos with Trump inside the Crystal Terrace, a large, elegant ballroom with sweeping views of downtown.

When Pence’s friend Cardwell got to the front of the photo line, he introduced himself to Trump. “I understand you’ve known Mike a long time,” Trump said, according to Cardwell. Cardwell nodded. They chatted a bit about Pence’s qualifications, then Trump pulled him aside.

“I want to talk to you more about this,” he said, as Cardwell recalled. “Listen, it’s down to two people: I’m looking at Newt Gingrich or Mike Pence.” He wanted to know why Pence should be picked.

“I don’t think you need another lightning rod at the top of the ticket,” Cardwell said, echoing the argument Priebus and Manafort had been making for months. “Mike Pence will deliver the evangelical vote, he will deliver the Rust Belt. And because he is a member of the Republican Governors Association, he’s got good relationships with all the surrounding governors, Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder.” The Rust Belt twist helped because the Trump campaign long knew it would have to sweep the region to win the White House.

The Secret Service agents assigned to Trump motioned for him to get moving, but Trump waved them off. Then Cardwell, a small-business owner for decades, remembered that he was talking with a businessman, so he made a finer point, which played to Trump’s ego and inclinations: “The two of you would be the best public-private partnership in history.” Trump smiled and asked for Cardwell’s cellphone number.

Trump’s team ran out the back of the Columbia Club to the alley where his motorcade was waiting to take him just north of the city to a rally in Westfield, Indiana. Eck sat in the car, idling, when Hicks, Schiller and the rest of the team jumped in.

Eck noticed the cool, collected chaos of the typical campaign style had been replaced with franticness. Hicks hopped between texting and phone calls, canceling every California meeting she could. The flat tire on Trump Force One would take a long time to fix. The brake on the right-side landing gear had broken and caused the tire to pop. They could fly up the replacement brake from Florida immediately, but that would cost $30,000, and Trump didn’t want to spend that much. So he had a campaign aide drive the part from Florida to Indiana.

Some aides saw God’s hand at work. Others saw Manafort’s. Regardless of the reason, Trump was stuck in Indianapolis overnight.

***

One more night in Indianapoliswould prove quite fortuitous for Pence.“The Trump family had pretty much made up their mind; they were getting ready for the next week, the convention,” Cardwell said. “The family was all on board with Newt.”

That night, Mike and Karen Pence dined with Trump and his son Eric at the Capital Grille, a fancy steakhouse at The Conrad, the five-star hotel where the Trumps were staying.

Trump was gregarious. “You’ve really got a lot of muscle around here. Everybody has these good things to say about you,” he told Pence, according to Obst.

Pence had been scheduled to fly to New York the next day to meet with Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump Jr., a formality as part of the VP vetting process. But Trump and Pence decided at dinner to have the Trump family fly into Indianapolis first thing in the morning for a family breakfast at the Governor’s Mansion.

That night gave Pence the “home court advantage,” Obst said. “If you think about Mike walking into Trump Tower with all the gold and going up to the residence, it’s really disorienting — and then sitting in this bizarre chair, having everybody fire questions at him. The interaction would have been very different.”

Pence walked out of the dinner after a few hours with a giant smile on his face. Cardwell, who was waiting outside the private dining room so he could hear about the meeting afterward,couldn’t believe what was happening.“That’s the night a flat tire changed the course of American history.”

Mike and Karen Pence spent the night picking flowers for the breakfast in the backyard, using the light of their iPhones.

Eck got up early to drive out to the private airfield and pick up Trump’s children from the airport—Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, and Donald Trump Jr. One Trump aide said Jared and Ivanka flew to Indianapolis to meet Pence as a part of doing their due diligence in vetting running mates. Christie saw their trip asa last-ditch effort to block him from becoming Trump’s running mate, a product of Kushner’s long-standing hostility against Christie for sending his father to jail years ago.

Early that morning, Karen drove to a boutique grocery to pick up breakfast. It seemed so fitting that this played out on their home turf, in the neighborhood she grew up in—Broad Ripple, near Butler University. This was the same neighborhood where she and Mike first met at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, where Karen was playing guitar. This was the same neighborhood where they lived together after they were married and where Mike launched his political career in 1986.

Karen served breakfast for the Trumps and her husband’s small team at the Governor’s Mansion. After the meal, Donald Trump and Mike Pence sat down with a small group in the “bunker”—the furnished basement of the mansion. They got down to brass tacks, in a previously unreported meeting.

Trump looked at Pence and held up his cellphone. He had several missed calls from Christie. “I need killers. I want somebody to fight,” Trump said in a conversation recalled by Obst. “Chris Christie calls me nonstop about this job. He calls me every 10 seconds; he’d do anything for his job. He is dying to be vice president. And you, it’s like you don’t care.” He reiterated: “I need killers! Do you want this thing or not?”

Pence was calm, unnaturally calm. Obst knew why: He was resigned to whatever answer God would give. Pence could only be himself.

“Look, Donald, if you want somebody to be a killer, if you want somebody to be a constant attack dog, I suggest you go find someone else. I’m not that guy.”Pence told Trump he liked running for reelection. He told him he was the guy if Trump wanted someone who could help him run the White House, help get bills passed and build and maintain relationships with donors, officials and governors.

“So, if you want me to do it, I’m going to say, ‘Yes.’ If you don’t want me to do it, I’m going to work really hard for you and the other guy. It doesn’t matter. It really doesn’t matter,” he said, according to Obst.

“Well, then why are you going through this process?” Trump asked, perplexed by Pence’s dismissive answer.

“Well, you’re in my home, you tell me,” Pence said. “Your whole family came here to see me. Obviously, the feeling is mutual, right?”

All Trump could say was: “Wow.” He seemed genuinely surprised that a man he had thought of as a loser—a man who also wanted something from him—appeared so nonchalant.

After Trump and his family left, Obst looked over at Pence. “What was that? That was awesome!”

Pence smiled.

Trump hopped back in his motorcade to have lunch with Gingrich at the Columbia Club in Indianapolis. Sean Hannity, an unabashed Gingrich supporter, had flown Gingrich into Indianapolis at the last minute, sensing the coveted spot on the ticket was slipping away from Gingrich. But Gingrich was stuck waiting as Pence held court. Hannity’s instincts were dead-on: In 24 hours, Gingrich had fallen from the pick to the bottom of the pack. The man who trained generations of Republicans and set the angry tone of Trumpism with his campaign school and instructional cassette tapes was trumped by a flat tire and masterful political timing by Pence.

Meanwhile, Eck drove Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump and Eric Trump back to the plane to leave. Eric Trump rode shotgun. Christie had been calling their father for hours, and it wasn’t fair to just leave him hanging. Eric asked Ivanka if they should call him, and she answered that it was a good idea. Eric got on the phone with Christie and assured him no decisions had been made yet. “Our families have been good friends for years,” Eric told him. “We wouldn’t make a decision without telling you.” He hung up after a few minutes. “That was good,” Ivanka said, according to Eck.

Trump Force One still sat on the tarmac, unmoved from the day before. It would be a while before the flat was fixed. But the Secret Service had arranged for an auxiliary plane to fly Trump from another airfield nearby on the west end of the city.

That evening, Mike and Karen Pence gathered together with their central team, chief of staff Jim Atterholt, Obst and Ayers, at the guest house next to the Governor’s Mansion. The small house formed a de facto campaign headquarters, for only the innermost of Pence’s circle. They talked out logistics, and there were plenty of logistics to consider—they needed to know before noon on Friday whether Trump was picking Pence.

They tried to stay focused on the race for governor, but it was hard. Trump was mercurial indeed, and an excellent encounter could be wiped away with another flat tire or impressive showing by Christie or anyone else. Nothing could be truly cemented until one week from then, in Cleveland, when the Republican delegates approved Trump’s anointed running mate.

As they were debating their next steps, Ayers received a call from the Trump campaign: Pence should get ready for a call from Trump in 30 minutes. They did not know what was coming, but they had a feeling. As they grabbed one another’s hands in a circle, Pence asked Atterholt to lead them in a prayer. Atterholt, a devout evangelical like Mike and Karen, chose a “hedge of protection” prayer. “I prayed to put a hedge of protection around Mike and his family. I prayed for peace and wisdom and for God to protect his family,” he recalled. Atterholt, Ayers and Obst then left—and Mike and Karen ran inside to the study to take the most important call of their lives.

Later that night, Trump called and told Pence he was the VP pick.

***

The Pence family woke up on Thursday, July 14after the phone callbelieving that they had the nod from Trump locked up. They called in Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb to tell him the news and that they would support him in his bid to replace Pence on the ballot for governor. They would fly to New York for an announcement at Trump Tower that evening.

Mike, Karen and Charlotte, their middle child, ducked into an SUV to ride to the airport. They hid in the back, heads down, so the television cameras assembled across the street wouldn’t spy them. Before leaving, they sent a decoy, Mike Pence’s older brother Greg, chauffeured in a black SUV just like the governor’s. The journalists ran after him. Greg Pence waved and smiled. They also had a decoy plane ready—the private jet owned by Pence’s younger brother, Tom, was set for takeoff to New York. Pence flew on the private plane of one of his closest advisers and fundraisers, Fred Klipsch.

They’d fooled the press, but they didn’t fool Christie. One of Christie’s state troopers told him a private flight was coming in from Indianapolis and landing at Teterboro, New Jersey. Christie said he called Trump and chewed him out.

“You picked Pence?”

Trump hated confrontation, so he played it down. “Nothing is final, Chris,” he said.

Christie leveled with him. “I will do this for you, Donald, but I don’t need this,” he said.

But Trump assured him he was still in. “Chris, Chris, just be ready. Are you ready?”

“Ready for what?”

“Ready, I need you to be ready for this.”

“Mary Pat and I are ready, just tell us when.”

News reports emerged that Pence was the running mate pick. TheIndianapolis Starreported shortly after noon that Trump had settled on the Indiana governor. Pence and his family huddled at Trump Tower, waiting for the big rollout.

Then CNN reported that not long after Trump made his verbal commitment to Pence, he was already asking aides if it were too late to back out of the decision. The announcement was supposed to be made on Thursday, but the Trump campaign delayed. Trump said this was in deference to the terrorist attack in Nice, France, that had killed 86 people. This rang odd, since global events rarely seemed to have any effect on Trump.

A few hours later, Trump called in to Greta Van Susteren’s show on Fox News Channel to talk about the terrorist attack and the running mate process. “I haven’t made my final, final decision,” he said. “I’ve got three people that are fantastic. I think Newt is a fantastic person. I think Chris Christie is a fantastic person.”

Ayers and Obst smelled trouble. They knew how Trump worked—he could change his mind a thousand times more between now and the convention and nothing would be locked in until the Republican delegates voted on a running mate. Ayers and Obst weren’t about to have Pence and his family go through this only to have the football yanked at the last minute. They knew they had to lock Trump in. And the clock ticked for them, but not for Trump.

Manafort told them Trump wouldn’t announce Pence as his pick until Saturday, which would be one day after Pence had to remove his name from the ticket for governor. If Trump changed his mind and went with Christie or someone else, Pence wouldn’t be running for governor or vice president. He’d be out of a job.

Obst said he and Ayers yelled at Manafort: If Trump wouldn’t make the announcement publicly before noon Friday, the deadline for Pence to decide if he would stay on the ticket for governor, they were going with their backup plan and Pence was running for governor.

Trump called Obst and Ayers at 1 a.m., after a fundraiser in Beverly Hills, Calif. “Guys, I told you not to worry about it,” he said, according to Obst.

But they were worried. They were freaking out.

The morning of Friday, July 15, 2016, one of Pence’s deputies stood ready to deliver the papers to the Indiana secretary of state’s office that would remove Pence’s name from the ballot for governor and legally allow him to run for vice president. They had until noon.

Trump called up Obst and Ayers. “Guys, what do you need me to do?” he asked.

Obst and Ayers repeated their threat: Make the announcement publicly now or they were backing out. It was a stunning request from the would-be running mate, leveraging the man at the top of the Republican ticket. Pence’s modesty and the miracle flat tire—both of these appeared to give Pence the edge in Trump’s selection. But with a famously indecisive nominee, the importance of Obst and Ayers’ last-minute push is hard to overstate.

Trump asked if a tweet would do it. “Yes!” they screamed.

After the phone call, with just an hour left before the deadline struck on Pence’s future, Trump tweeted: “I am pleased to announce that I have chosen Governor Mike Pence as my Vice Presidential running mate. News conference tomorrow at 11 a.m.”

And then the campaign revealed the new logo, the intermingling of Trump and Pence—literally. The “T” looked like it was penetrating the “P” in a suggestive manner. The internet devoured the blunder and the logo was turned into a GIF, the T repeatedly bobbing up and down through the hole in the P. Brad Parscale, the campaign’s digital director, eventually took responsibility for the error and the logo was quickly scrapped. “What is the T doing to that P?” asked John Dingell, the Michigan Democrat who, at 90, seemed to understand trolling better than any other person in Congress.

But at least Pence knew what he was doing.

On Saturday, July 16, 2016, Donald Trump walked onstage with Mike Pence. Pence opened by thanking God, then Karen and his kids, and then Trump.

“I come to this moment deeply humbled and with a grateful heart,” he said.

From the forthcoming book PIETY & POWER: Mike Pence and the Taking of the White House by Tom LoBianco. Copyright © 2019 by Tom LoBianco. To be published on September 24, 2019 by Dey Street Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. Excerpted by permission.

#Foreign #Politics #Their #Trump

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bbusallday · 7 years ago

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BB19 Evening Updates - 7/30 - Day 40 (Complete)

Updater: Hannah

Recent evictee: Ramses HOH: Paul Safe: Mark Nominees: Jessica, Cody & Jason(curse) POV players: Paul, Jason, Cody, Jessica, Kevin & Raven POV holder: Paul Have nots: Mark, Christmas, Elena & Alex

Sorry there were no Daytime Updates today, they were not submitted to us. I don’t have time to flashback and do a full post, but I’ll give a quick summary of the main game talks that happened during that time.

Basically Paul had a convo with Jess where she told him exactly how her hex works. Jessica said she would consider not using the hex this week if she was guaranteed 2 weeks safety and the whole house targeted Alex next.

Paul agreed to that and said he would talk to some of the other houseguests and see if they are on board. He also planted some seeds to Jess to make her not trust Cody and want him to go this week. This created some drama between Cody/Jess which caused them to break up again and Cody told Jess to not use the hex on him and just let him be evicted on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Paul came up with a plan that most of the house will lie to Jessica/Mark/Elena and tell them they are targeting Alex next, but really target Mark/Elena followed by Jess. He got Alex on board with being nominated as a pawn next week and the rest of the house on board with the plan to lie to Jess/Elena/Mark for the next few weeks.

Paul then had a meeting up in the HOH with Jessica, Christmas, Elena, Mark, Raven and Matt where they all promised to Jess that she would be safe for the next two weeks and Alex would be nominated by any of them if they win HOH next week.

So, Jessica is possibly not going to use her hex at all and willingly let Cody be evicted, with Alex following next week. When in reality almost everyone is on a scheme to target Elena, Mark and Jessica after they get Cody out this week.

Now, the Evening Updates are below!

3:00 PM

Paul, Elena, Mark, Raven, Matt, Jessica and Christmas in the HOH room.

They are finishing up the meeting. Everyone is pretending to be on board with getting Alex out next for Jessica. (except Mark and Elena who don't know this is all a ploy)

Matt and Raven leave.

Jess says she asked a question in the DR about her temptation and once she knows the answer she will let them know. She leaves.

Paul: Everybody wins.

Mark and Elena agree, they say they like Alex but she is a good player.

Paul says they just need to make Jessica feel comfortable and get Cody out of here.

Mark leaves.

Elena says Paul and Christmas are the only ones that know she has separated herself from Mark.

Paul says after Cody goes Mark's game play will change.

Elena wants them to be nice to Mark because he is down.

They say they will. Elena leaves.

Christmas asks if Paul is casting spells on people. They are happy Jessica is on board with not using the hex and letting Cody be evicted.

Paul says he can't believe this, he hopes it all works.

Paul says it is very important they keep Mark/Elena out of the loop of their real plan. They discuss that Mark/Elena are definitely close with Jess/Cody.

Paul says Christmas or one of their group needs to win the HOH next. He says they put up Alex and Mark next, with Mark being the target or Elena as a backup target.

They say they will fool Jessica for one week and make her think Alex is going, but really get rid of Elena or Mark.

Paul says Christmas needs to watch her back with Mark because he brings her up all the time.

They say Elena is going to lose it being on slop for two weeks.

Matt comes in. Paul tells him that if he is talking game to Jessica/Mark/Elena for the next two weeks it is about getting Alex out.

Paul says the objectives for this week is to make Jessica feel calm enough to not use the hex, keep Mark/Elena out of the loop, evict Cody.

Christmas is going to fake little arguments with Alex around Jessica.

3:09 PM – cam 4

Jess and Cody in the love bedroom.

Cody is still mad and not really talking to Jess.

Jess is trying to make him feel better, it's not working.

He basically says they are over and she will be fine without him.

Jess asks if he wants to still be with her. He is silent then says he would walk away if he could.

They start making out and cams switch.

3:28 PM – cam 2

Paul, Jason and Kevin out by the pool.

Paul says their plan is good.

Kevin says Cody told him again that he wants to jump on a grenade for Jess.

Paul fills them in on the full plan.

3:43 PM – cam 4

Kevin, Jason and Alex in the yard.

Alex says Paul is trying to save himself, but she doesn't care. She seems fine with the plan, but knows Paul is doing it for his benefit.

Kevin asks who they target next week. Alex says Mark or Elena.

Josh joins and sits on Jason's back for a minute then goes back to his workout.

Kevin seems a little worried that Alex could be evicted.

Kevin leaves. Jason/Alex are studying days.

4:09 PM – cam 2

Cody and Jess in the love bedroom.

Jessica tells Cody she asked the DR if she can use the hex after the votes are announced at the eviction, she is waiting to be called back in for the answer.

She says the spellbook said “anytime during the live eviction” so if the votes are read and she is evicted, she would want to use the hex then.

4:32 PM – cam 4

Raven and Paul in the HOH room.

Raven says she told Jess that she isn't a target for her, but her being associated with Cody isn't good for her. She wants Jess to play the game for her family and not rely on Cody.

Raven says she thinks Cody has accepted the fact that he is going home and it is for Jess' benefit.

Raven says she told Jess that Cody doesn't need to be in jury because Josh will be there and Cody will end up getting himself in trouble having to live with Josh for that long.

Paul says that is a good point.

Paul: No sympathy, no empathy, we keep Mark and Elena in the dark and move forward with the plan.

Raven agrees.

Paul says their plan for next week is to put Mark/Elena up as pawns and tell them they are backdooring Alex. Convince Alex not to play in the temptation competition, decide if they want Mark or Elena to be evicted next, win the POV and take down someone to put Alex up so Mark/Elena/Jess think she is being evicted, then evict whichever of Mark/Elena is left on the block.

Raven says if Jason or Alex win HOH they will put Jessica up and she will just use her hex. Raven says she will be the pawn next to Jessica in that case and Jess will think Alex doesn't like her.

Paul says that is good. He says Raven/Matt need to talk to Alex/Jason and make sure they feel good with them.

4:46 PM – cam 4

Matt and Raven in the lounge.

Raven is telling Matt about the plan she just talked to Paul about, to be a pawn next to Jess next week.

Raven and Matt agree they need to throw the HOH to Alex next week.

Raven says she is going to talk to Alex about all of this later when she can get her alone.

Raven says it is a good move because Jessica will be forced to use the hex and Jess will think Alex doesn't like Raven. Matt agrees.

Alex comes in. Raven tells her about this new plan she came up with.

Alex likes it. She leaves the room.

4:53 PM – cam 2

Jess and Cody on the outdoor lounge chair.

Cody says he didn't realize Jess would freak out the other side the most in this game.

Jess says when she was talking to everyone upstairs earlier; Josh, Kevin, Alex and Jason were so paranoid because they weren't included. She says it was very satisfying.

Cody says Alex is always paranoid.

Jess says Paul was planning on putting up Alex and evicting her this week.

Cody doesn't believe it.

Jess says he was, and if the veto is used he will put Alex up this week. She says that is satisfying enough, even though no one is going home this week. (so she is planning on still using the hex)

Cody says Paul is a liar.

5:39 PM – cam 2

Jason and Alex in the main bedroom.

Jason says it's Cody's fault he is in this situation because he trusted the wrong people.

Alex agrees.

Jason asks if he should stir the pot with his speech tomorrow at the veto meeting.

Alex says yes and make Jess want to use the hex this week. She says she is tired of Jess.

They wonder why America gave Jessica that temptation.

Alex says she can't stand how insecure Jessica is and she want to slap her. She says Jess has a weird looking face that is really tiny. She talks about that Jess' extensions are weird looking and her hair is falling out.

(5:44) This convo switches to cam 3

Alex says she hopes Jessica just uses the hex this week so they can just get her out next week.

Josh comes in. He says Jess wants Alex out prejury so that Cody can win the jury buyback and be back in the game again.

Josh says no matter what happens the three of them have to stay intact.

7:05 PM – cam 3

Paul and Jessica in the love bedroom.

Jess says she doesn't feel comfortable staying on the block until Thursday now after getting answers from the DR.

Jess is afraid that the house will see her as more of a target next to Cody because she has the power.

Paul says they can't take her out though, because of the power.

Jess: Unless I use it.

Jess says she has to use the power before the vote happens during the eviction.

Paul says no one knows when she can use the power, he can guarantee Cody will go home and he will never mention this.

Jess says she can't trust that and she would be gambling with her own safety. She wants to be sure she won't be evicted.

Paul asks if talking to everyone upstairs didn't make her sure.

Jess says she wants to be taken off with the veto.

Paul says he can't do that because then people like Jason will ask questions.

Jess says she has been promised a lot of things and it has fallen through.

Paul assures he wants Cody out of this game and not her.

Jessica says if Paul's veto speech attacks Cody she will get defensive about it.

Paul says he won't say anything negative except one comment, but it won't be to get a rise out of him. He say the whole point is to uplift Jessica.

Jess says she doesn't need to be uplifted.

Jess says she is being asked to stab Cody in the back.

Paul says they aren't asking her to stab anyone, she can use the hex if she wants but she will be the target after that.

Jess says if she is on the block on Thursday and she feels like she is in danger she will use the hex.

Paul guarantees she won't be in danger, they have enough people behind them that want her to stay.

Jessica asks Paul not to attack Cody or say anything towards him because she doesn't want to see him be hurt.

Paul agrees after discussing it for a little bit, he says he won't say anything about Cody in his veto speech.

Paul says they have 6 people on their side that are going to bat for Jess. He says not to repeat when she can use the hex, he says he won't tell anyone that it can only be used before the vote.

Paul reiterates that he wants Jess to stay and Cody to go.

He asks her to shake on this, she does. They hug and Paul leaves the room.

7:24 PM – cam 3

Christmas and Josh in the main bedroom.

They are talking about how they shouldn't let anyone know they talk game and they need to have each other's backs if they hear anything about each other.

Josh says he doesn't have the bond with anyone else that he has with Christmas. He says he trusts Paul based on actions because he has looked out for him in the game.

Alex comes in.

Christmas says that her and Alex need to make sly comments to each other in front of Jess/Mark/Elena so she thinks they don't like each other. She says not to be too obvious though.

Alex agrees.

Christmas says fighting isn't her style so they would suspect something. She tells Alex to just try to one-up her in convos.

Alex leaves to shower.

Paul comes in. He says everything is good.

Christmas asks Josh to leave so she can talk to Paul alone. He does.

Christmas thinks Elena is still feeding Cody/Jess information.

Paul says he will talk to her.

Paul says he doesn't think Jess will use the hex, and she asked Paul not to say anything mean to Cody in the veto speech.

Christmas says Cody has checked out.

7:31 PM – cam 4

Jason, Kevin, Paul and Josh in the HOH room.

They are talking about Jessica's hex. Paul says he doesn't think she will use the hex this week, but she might feel better if she wasn't on the block anymore.

He suggests using the veto on Jess and using Elena as renom.

Jason says he might as well leave her up there because she will feel threatened no matter what.

7:41 PM – cam 1

Jess and Mark in the bathroom.

She is getting ready and says Cody is taking her on a BB date.

Jess says she doesn't know what to do. She says everyone is saying she is safe, but if she gets HOH she is out for blood so she will be making enemies regardless.

Mark asks if her and Cody can both compete in HOH if she uses the hex.

She says yes and that is why Paul is nervous, because he can't compete and they are still one week from jury.

Jess says Paul is freaking out and she doesn't want to give him the satisfaction of letting him get Cody out.

She says if everyone wants Cody out then they can get Cody out themselves. Jess says if Cody wants to go, she will let him go, but he is going back and forth on the decision.

Jess says she only feels comfortable talking to Mark/Elena about any of this.

Jess says if Cody stays in the game he is going to have to be able to handle himself. Mark says she will have to talk to Cody about that.

Jess doesn't like that people are scared to live with Cody. Mark says what Josh does is worse than Cody.

Jess agrees.

Jess asks if Mark wins HOH will he protect her and Cody next week if they are both still here. Mark agrees and says he wants them in jury.

Jess says she needs to talk to Cody because if his mind isn't right then she's not going to keep him in the game and be selfish.

7:50 PM – cam 3

Josh and Jason on the hammock.

Josh is saying that they need to stay intact with Alex and Kevin. He says he trusts Paul and Christmas too.

Jason says he isn't sure about Christmas.

Josh says he doesn't know what is going on because no one is telling him anything, but Cody needs to go.

Jason agrees and says he thinks something fishy is going on.

Josh says he wouldn't want to test their luck and put Alex up next week.

Jason agrees.

Josh tells Jason not to trust Mark at all because he will make Jason be a target too.

Jason says he doesn't because Mark wants Alex out.

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recentanimenews · 6 years ago

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THE GREAT CRUNCHYROLL NARUTO REWATCH Gets Caught In A Sticky Web In Episodes 113-119

Welcome back to the Great Crunchyroll Naruto Rewatch! I'm Carolyn Burke, and I'll be your host this week as we make our way through all 220 episodes of the original Naruto. Last week, we covered Episodes 106 - 112, where we slogged through the conclusion the Land Of Tea arc and watched Sasuke abandon his team in favor of Orochimaru (boo, Sasuke, boo) even while Sakura poured her heart out to try to get him to change his mind and stay.

We continue our rewatch this week with Episodes 113 - 119 in which Naruto, Shikamaru, and the rest of the gang attempt to recover Sasuke from the clutches of evil while simultaneously further discovering each other's (and their own) individual jutsu and fighting styles, along with their uniquely important roles on the battlefield. And there's no better time for it, either. Because this go-around, these kids could very well be in the most danger they've ever had to face. Will they step up and survive, or crumble under the pressure?

We've got character development, spiders, and a stunningly fancy underground bathroom coming at ya this week! We'll dig into a few of our own introspective revelations and find out what each Crunchyroll Features team member brings to the table. We'll dig into our favorite jutsus, as well as singling out our favorite comedic Naruto moments.

Let's check in with the Crunchyroll Features team and see what they thought about this week's batch of episodes.

Shikamaru acknowledges that Choji thinks he is the weakest link. Others agree with this line of thinking, but Shikamaru seems to see Choji's worth. What do you think Shikamaru would see in you that your teammates might miss?

Paul: I'm 33% social anxiety, 33% depression, and 33% Impostor Syndrome, so I don't really know what Shikamaru would see in me that I don't already see in myself. If sent on an important ninja mission, such as rescuing Sasuke from the clutches of a gang of super-powered weirdos, my first response would probably be to hide in a ditch and let the Earth reclaim me.

Kevin: That I view myself as a pawn. As long as the leader has something for me to do, I will never give up and will follow any whatever order they give me, even if I don't necessarily understand the reasoning.

Joseph: That's a tough question. I guess he might see that I'm really stubborn and won't back down from something once I've committed to it, which means I'm really likely to end up like Choji whether it has to do with this fight in particular or snatching the last chip from the bottom of the bag.

David: That I'm most motivated and do my best work when given specific directives and goals.

Noelle: This is a little tricky to answer, to tell the truth. If I had to think about it, I like to think I have good analytical skills, and I am very determined when I put my mind to something.

Jared: I guess that I can be stubborn and not give up despite things looking bad, so that might work for him.

Kara: This is a very clever way to get writers to say something nice about themselves. Also probably why it's so hard for most of us! He'd probably notice that I will risk wasting my time to salvage at least a tiny victory from the jaws of defeat... though "defeat" in my line of work is a lot more to do with missing files than actual death.

Danni: This is literally the hardest question anyone has ever asked me.

Neji is stepping up and showing he can keep a calm head and strategize in the middle of danger. Shikamaru is definitely noticing and rewards Neji with a leadership position because of it. What do you think about the dynamics of the students, how they interact with each when the chips are down? Would you have made the same decision or would you have appointed someone else?

Paul: I appreciate how all of the members of rival teams from Hidden Leaf Village pull together during this crisis, and I'm glad that they accept Shikamaru's planning without a bunch of egos getting in the way. It was especially gratifying to see that Neji has internalized the lessons he learned from being defeated by Naruto during the Chunin Exams. If I were put in Shikamaru's leadership position, it would be Hide in a Ditch City, 24/7, 365, though.

Kevin: Honestly, I more think that Shikamaru appointed Neji as vice-leader because he was the obvious best choice. Both Naruto and Kiba are too hot-headed to think in tense situations, let alone lead, and Choji had already been left behind. As for the Genin interactions, I like that they are actually somewhat nuanced and call on each person's history with the others. Shikamaru has more inherent trust in Choji's abilities than anyone else, while Naruto believes in Neji because of their fight in the Chunin Exam.

Joseph: It seems obvious since Neji is considered a genius, but I really love the introspection that came about with each individual student in these episodes. For Neji, who we've mostly seen as someone who falls right into the genius role, he actually seems somewhat burdened by it. He's surprised that people see someone as average as him as a genius. I just thought that was interesting. Shikamaru made wise decisions all around.

David: It's an astute decision, and in combination with his choices and reasoning in the previous set of episodes, Shikamaru is finally proving there actually was something worth admiring in him. So much development all at once for these characters makes it kind of wash over me, but overall I'm enjoying how the show manages to wring these characters for all they're worth.

Noelle: It's a logical choice, and I think it makes a fair amount of sense. Neji has clearly learned from his mistakes, and has the ability to keep a cool head during a crisis situation. For kids as young as them, that's not an ability many people have. Being able to recognize that during a pinch was a solid call.

Jared: Neji makes the most sense to be the de facto second in command. He's supposed to be a genius and despite his loss to Naruto in the Chunin Exams, I don't think that's necessarily knocked that moniker away from him. Naruto has probably had more experience recently in circumstances like they're in, but his tactical prowess and ability to make calm and collected decisions is questionable at times which would knock him down a bit. So yeah, it was the right call to make.

Kara: This goes back to why I thought Shikamaru was a shoo-in for Chunin rank. Everyone's aware of each other's strengths and weaknesses, but Shikamaru doesn't have the baggage of ego or anything to prove to go with it. Considering I tend to be a lot more like Naruto when it comes to being fighty and having something to prove, I would probably not in the heat of the moment have made the same decision. And I would have been wrong.

Danni: I think Neji was the most obvious choice for the role. His ability to remain calm under pressure is pretty comparable to Shikamaru's, especially in the wake of the lessons he learned from fighting Naruto. I have a lot more respect for him now after that fight than before. Also, I'm glad Choji got some time in the spotlight finally.

Neji seemed to have some very close calls in this episode. Do you feel like stakes are being raised? Are these ninjas-in-training in more danger than when we first started watching? How do you think they're handling that?

Paul: I keep seeing pictures of most of the main cast as grown-ups in various social media posts related to Boruto, so I know that no matter how thickly they lay on the "this kid just died heroically for the sake of his friends" paint, none of them are actually in mortal danger. Plot armor aside, seeing Neji and Choji get beaten to within an inch of their life still evokes a strong emotional reaction from me. Aside from that, I think the show has done a good job amping up the drama.

Kevin: They're definitely in more danger than early on, simply by not expecting any backup and not having a Jonin around to save them. If they are outclassed, it's up to them to figure out how to not die. As for how they're handling it, in some ways I wish they were more frazzled. Everyone is just taking it in stride that they may die, and two of them have already finished their fights near death at best. Even if they've been on a bunch of missions before, this is the first time we've seen them as just Genin with a Chunin leader. Seeing a bit more psychological strain of realizing how high the stakes are would be a nice bit of realism.

Joseph: I kind of wish Choji and Neji's fights didn't end so similarly. Obviously, the emotions within were different, and Choji's was particularly poignant, but they both survived by the skin of their teeth and were more or less presumed dead in the same way.

David: It's weird, because I very much love how Choji's little arc was handled and felt like the emotion at the end was earned. On the other hand, Neji's is also good but it feels like the show is trying way too hard to convince us he might actually die here. It never feels like it would actually happen, at least this early with so much left unexplored, but the scenes where he's on the brink feel like they last forever. So, it's a mixed bag.

Noelle: As a kid, I was more concerned, but as an adult, I know the drill. Shows like these rarely commit to killing off their characters, and I remember Neji being decently popular at the time. It's too risky a move to kill people off. While I do think that comparatively, the stakes are absolutely being raised, with kids going out on a life-threatening mission, I know it's not going to end that badly. Bad, but not the worst possible outcome.

Jared: The stakes are much much higher for most of these characters since we haven't really seen them in this kind of danger before. Everyone outside of Naruto hasn't had to deal with these kinds of enemies yet within the context of what the show has presented us. So, it makes sense that even someone like Neji is struggling with a much tougher opponent compared to what he's used to. Although it was kind of odd how they seemed to structure both Choji and Neji's fights to be very similar with how they'd get the upper hand, their enemy would recapture momentum, here's a second form, and then both were spent by the end of it.

Kara: The stakes are higher for sure. But to revisit what Paul said, I'm not sure how I feel about the dramatic "death" scenes. Even if we didn't have Boruto now telling us who grows up and has kids and stuff, I don't think I like those scenes playing out only for a "just kidding" later. I love seeing the characters grow and realize what they value in what they think are their last moments, but now every time I see a sad death scene and hear that flute music I'm just gonna be like "Ah, it's fine, they'll wake up in the hospital."

Danni: Listen, it's a shonen anime. Is anyone really ever dead in a shonen anime?

Spiderwebs! We've seen some interesting jutsu on this show, but spiderwebs seems icky and sticky enough. What did you think of this scene? Has your favorite jutsu changed since we started rewatching the show?

Paul: As far as Ninjutsu go, "Literally Spider-Man" is pretty powerful. I'm not terribly arachnophobic, but between the sound effects and the visuals of Kidomaru spitting up his silk, I got pretty grossed out, although it made for a thrilling fight. My favorite Jutsu so far is still Kakashi's Sharingan-enhanced Jutsu copying skills.

Kevin: I'm not very arachnophobic, but throughout the first half of Neji's fight, I was continuously thinking "that's WAY too many spiders!" As for a favorite jutsu, if we're including all jutsu from all disciplines I really like he Eight Inner Gates. Something that theoretically everyone can obtain and which has an inherent progression system that lets you throttle the power. If we are restricted to ninjutsu, then probably the Shadow Clone jutsu because of all of the utility that we'll find out about later.

Joseph: Gosh, I can't even think of my favorite jutsu right now. There've been so many, but I guess I still prefer the earlier bugs to these bugs. I was kind of bored by the Neji fight, to be honest, and I didn't see the sudden appearance of a giant spider as much of a threat. I actually thought it might have just been an illusion at first.

David: I don't think anything can faze me after Shino's brand of bug jutsu, that's Peak Yikes.

Noelle: I love spiders! Spiders are cute! So no, there's no creep-out factor for me. I still think Gaara's sand is still a fave of mine though.

Jared: I'm so glad I'm not Neji when he had so many spiders raining down on him as I would've just noped the heck out of there immediately.

Kara: I thought the spiderwebs would be my biggest "Nope," but Kidomaru just horking up golden arrows like some sort of weird Mary Poppins carpetbag thing got me worse.

Danni: It's gotten weird. I honestly can't understand why that guy had six arms and the ability to secrete spiderwebs. That can't just be a chakra thing, right? Seriously, they're really glossing over the fact that guy somehow has six arms.

Shikamaru saying it would be dumb to rush into confrontation and being cut off by Naruto's "Hey jerk!" is completely hilarious. What are some other comedic beats you've been a fan of? Do you think putting these one-liners in the middle of intense scenes works? Or does it ruin the flow of a battle arc?

Paul: I'm still a fan of Naruto getting caught in a snare trap, freeing himself, then getting caught again immediately in another snare trap, and I suspect we haven't seen the last of the dreaded One Thousand Years of Death attack. The moments of levity (even in high-stakes situations) are nice because they give the audience breathing room. I personally don't want my shonen shows to be dark and depressing all of the time.

Kevin: Naruto including both funny and touching moments in the middle of tense situations is one of the parts of the franchise that I really like. The timing isn't always perfect, but it stops the show from staying too dark for long, or adding extra context to give weight to the situation. It becomes a problem when that weight takes an entire mini-arc in the middle of something much more important, but for one-liners or short flashback scenes, it's generally pretty effective.

Joseph: Naruto's comedy is at its best when it's mixed in with the action. When an entire episode relies on it, it totally falls flat, but I love moments like this. They're what makes Naruto Naruto! I wish I could remember more specific comedic beats throughout the series but I'm old and we're over 100 episodes in.

David: Comedy is important to keeping the tone of a show like this in check. It's especially important here exactly because of moments like the one mentioned; Naruto himself is a hothead and frequently bad at reading the room, but that part of his personality absolutely has to land for the big story beats to work, too. In that sense, I don't just like the jokes, but find them vital to the show's success.

Noelle: I think it works just fine. The issue with a lot of comedy in action scenes is that it detracts from the situation at hand, lowering the tension. Most of the time, that's usually not a good thing. In this case, you need comedy because the scenes are so serious- being overly serious hurts a show equally so. While the jokes can be hit or miss, that they exist I don't think is much of an issue.

Jared: It's interesting because moments like that absolutely work as this brief instance of comic relief, without it taking away from the seriousness of the situation. Sometimes the show can get a bit overboard when it's trying to do comedy for a whole episode and that doesn't work, but when it's utilized in situations like here where we know Naruto would totally do something like this, it can help as a nice little breather in between everything being super tense.

Kara: When it's good, it's very very good. When they go for a completely wacky episode/set of episodes it's A Lot, but when they sprinkle the humor in amidst the action it's just excellent. I'm still a fan of Naruto showing up triumphantly during the second stage of the Chunin Exam forgetting the password just as predicted. More recently, I love the little song he sings as he swoops over Tayuya's head in this last set of episodes.

Danni: If nothing else, it's a clear and concise summary of his entire character. I can 100% believe someone who shouts "Hey jerk!" in that situation is also someone who makes a diversion attack only to completely negate the purpose of the diversion by shouting "Above you!" before attacking from above. Also, my favorite comedic beat is still Sasuke finding out Itachi is back because some grunt runs into the room shouting about Itachi. It probably wasn't supposed to be funny, but it still makes me laugh.

And, of course, what were your high and low points for the week?

Paul: My high point was Akimichi Choji stomping a mudhole in Jirobo, because Choji's my favorite supporting lad and this is his first real moment in the spotlight. My low point was Orochimaru's arms going fully necrotic. They really leaned into the body horror elements in these episodes. I'm not super squeamish, but I wasn't mentally prepared for that.

Kevin: High - Choji's fight. As the fat kid who was never picked first for any sport (and only not picked last because I would literally stand in front of someone running at me to stop them), Choji's entire backstory and moment of triumph really struck a chord with me, both when I was a kid and even now. Low - The start of Tayuya and Shikamaru's fight. Naruto, don't just stand there, run away so she can't stop you! Shikamaru, why did you wait so long to try to Shadow Possess Tayuya? Tayuya, why did you take so long to react to literally everything that happened in that moment? I'm sure that it was just a quick cutaway in the manga, but if it was it didn't translate to animation well.

Joseph: High: I really enjoyed Choji's fight, and the end to it--regardless of how permanent it really ends up being--was beautiful. Low: My dude Orochimaru is living in a series of interconnected caves. Forget the ninja closed-circuit TV, I'm more baffled by the fact that he had someone come in and grout and tile a custom shower for his bony ass.

David: Agreed on Choji's fight being the best part this week. Similarly, though, my low point was the Neji fight in general, because it felt like the same sort of fight but with a lot less punch.

Noelle: High point: Choji getting some screentime and owning it. He needed his time in the limelight. Low point: I'm enjoying the Neji fight a lot less than I used to, which is a shame.

Jared: My high point would probably be like everyone else so far in seeing Choji finally get his moment to shine. Orochimaru's lavish underground bunker was hilarious given how furnished it looked with a very nice bathroom, a technologically sound lab, and then a random prison in there as well. Low point might be just how the Neji fight was a bit too similar to the Choji fight in terms of structure which led it to not feel as impactful.

Kara: Ordering the same as everyone else at this table. Choji's fight was intense and definitely the high point of the week. It was cool seeing what he could do beyond Fat Kid from Hook no Jutsu. Low point is just knowing how weird it's gonna feel watching any dramatic alleged death scene going forward and wondering if they're just gonna be fine in five minutes.

Danni: High point is a tie between Choji's final punch and Neji showing off he has the coolest fighting style in the entire show. There wasn't really a singular low point for me, just a feeling of sluggishness in every episode that dragged down this whole batch of episodes for me. They just felt too slow.

COUNTERS:

Bowls of Ramen: 0 bowls

“I'm Gonna be Hokage!”: 0

Shadow Clones Created: 9 + 1 uncountable scene

Total so far:

Bowls of Ramen: 42 bowls, 3 cups

“I'm Gonna be Hokage!”: 52

Shadow Clones Created: 352

And that's everything for this week! Remember that you're always welcome to join us for this rewatch, especially if you haven't watched the original Naruto! Watch Naruto today!

Here's our upcoming schedule:

- May 17th, we'll visit the Valley of the End with JARED CLEMONS.

- May 24th, NICOLE MEJIAS plays referee for Naruto vs. Sasuke, Round 2!

-May 31st, NOELLE OGAWA will start us off on a journey back into the land of filler.

CATCH UP ON THE REWATCH!

Episodes 106-112: Sasuke Goes Rogue

Episodes 99-105: Trouble in the Land of Tea

Episodes 92-98: Clash of the Sannin

Episodes 85-91: A Life-Changing Decision

Episodes 78-84: The Fall of a Legend

Episodes 71-77: Sands of Sorrow

Episodes 64-70: Crashing the Chunin Exam

Episodes 57-63: Family Feud

Episodes 50-56: Rock Lee Rally

Episodes 43-49: The Gate

Episodes 36-42: Through the Woods

Episodes 29-35: Sakura Unleashed

Episodes 22-28: Chunin Exams Kickoff

Episodes 15-21: Leaving the Land of Waves

Episodes 8-14: Beginners' Battle

Episodes 1-7: I'm Gonna Be the Hokage!

Thank you for joining us for the Great Crunchyroll Naruto Rewatch! Have a great weekend, and we'll see you all next time!

Have anything to say about our thoughts on Episodes 113-119? Let us know in the comments! Don't forget, we're also accepting questions and comments for next week, so don't be shy and feel free to ask away!

----

Carolyn Burke also writes for Bunny Ears and Cracked. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

Do you love writing? Do you love anime? If you have an idea for a features story, pitch it to Crunchyroll Features!

By: [email protected]

#Anime #News #Latest in Anime News by Crunchyroll!

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everettwilkinson · 7 years ago

Text

Ryan faces diciest stretch of his speakership

The following newsletter is an abridged version of Campaign Pro’s Morning Score. For an earlier morning read on exponentially more races — and for a more comprehensive aggregation of the day’s most important campaign news — sign up for Campaign Pro today. (http://www.politicopro.com/proinfo)

UP ON THE HILL — “Ryan faces diciest stretch of his speakership,” by POLITICO’s Rachael Bade in Racine, Wis.: “For all its power and prestige, the speaker of the House is one of the most thankless jobs in Washington — just ask John Boehner. Now, with Congress barreling toward major fiscal fights this fall, Paul Ryan is about to get a taste of the Boehner treatment — and then some. Consider what’s on the immediate horizon for the GOP wunderkind: President Donald Trump is ready to shut down the government over his border wall with Mexico. Breitbart has all but declared a renewed, Steve Bannon-led war on GOP leaders, with Ryan in its crosshairs. And conservative lawmakers are exhorting the speaker to play hardball on raising the debt ceiling — even as the White House demands a no-strings-attached increase to calm nervous creditors. ‘Conservatives aren’t going to roll over when it comes to the debt ceiling,’ said Republican Study Committee Chairman Mark Walker (R-N.C.) in a Tuesday interview. ‘I can tell you: It’s going to be a battle.’” Full story.

Story Continued Below

FEC VIOLATIONS — “Major GOP donor admits to campaign finance law violations,” by Campaign Pro’s Kevin Robillard: “A chain of for-profit hospitals owned by a major GOP donor admitted to illegally reimbursing executives for hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations to political candidates over a decade-long period, according to FEC documents obtained by POLITICO. In the documents, made public Thursday, Cancer Treatment Centers of America admits to paying out $700,000 over a 12-year period ending in 2014 to reimburse donations to 31 different political candidates. The company’s founder, Richard Stephenson, has donated hundreds of thousands to Republican politicians and committees and once served as a top board member of the conservative group FreedomWorks. A spokesman for Stephenson pointed out the FEC found the company’s misbehavior was not ‘knowing and willful.’” Full story.

WILL SHE, WON’T SHE — “Collins weighing decision: stay in Senate or run for governor?” via WLBZ: “Senator Susan Collins says she will decide sometime in September whether to run for Governor. A number of Republicans have been urging Collins to enter the race for the Blaine House, though she says it is a very difficult decision.” Full story.

MEANWHILE — “LePage: Collins ‘highly unlikely’ to win GOP gubernatorial primary,” by Campaign Pro’s Daniel Strauss: “Maine Gov. Paul LePage predicted Thursday that Sen. Susan Collins would probably lose a Republican primary in the state if she decides to run for governor. LePage was asked about the possibility that Collins would try to succeed him during an interview with Maine’s WGAN, and he offered his latest round of criticism of his fellow Republican.” Full story.

2020 WATCH — “Donald Trump’s Team Is In 2020 Mode At The RNC’s Summer Meeting,” by Buzzfeed’s Henry J. Gomez: “President Donald Trump is staging extraordinarily early re-election rallies, and his former pollster already is testing his strength against speculative primary challengers. But the most tangible signs that Trump and his allies are dashing into 2020 mode are happening in a much quieter place: the Republican National Committee’s summer meetings here in Nashville. Brad Parscale, a trusted adviser, served as the Trump family’s eyes and ears at a Wednesday budget session. He and Michael Glassner, the head of Trump’s campaign committee, were among the key aides seen chatting up RNC members in the halls and at the bars and restaurants inside the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center.” Full story.

Days until the 2017 election: 74.

Days until the 2018 election: 438.

Thanks for joining us! You can email tips to the Campaign Pro team at [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] and [email protected].

You can also follow us on Twitter: @politicoscott, @ec_schneider, @politicokevin, @danielstrauss4 and @maggieseverns.

PROGRAMMING NOTE: Morning Score will not publish from Aug. 28-Sept. 4. Our next Morning Score newsletter will publish on Sept. 5.

EASY LISTENING — “Nerdcast: No retreat, no surrender,” with POLITICO’s Nancy Cook, Michael Crowley and Josh Dawsey. Listen to the full episode here.

POLLING DATA — “Roy Moore, Luther Strange in statistical dead heat in Senate race,” via AL.com’s Howard Koplowitz: “Incumbent Sen. Luther Strange is gaining ground on former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, with the race in the Republican Senate runoff being a statistical dead heat, according to a survey released Thursday. The poll, commissioned by the Senate Leadership Fund a Mitch McConnell-connected super PAC backing Strange, shows Moore ahead by 4 percentage points — 45 percent to 41 percent with a 4 percent margin of error. The survey shows a much closer race than another poll released earlier this week that had Moore with a 19-point advantage over Strange. Moore led all candidates with 39 percent in last week’s Republican primary; Strange qualified for the September runoff with 33 percent of the vote.” Full story.

— “The Alabama Senate race is a mirror image of the presidential election,” via The Washington Post’s Amber Phillips: “An establishment candidate is running for his political life against a controversial, say-anything figure who the elites despise. And against all political logic, the establishment may very well lose.” Full story.

LOAN GONE BAD — “Are Manchin and Puccio still investors in tanking hotel deal? That’s clear as mud,” via WV Metro News: “Senator Joe Manchin and longtime aide Larry Puccio are listed among the borrowers in the original $15,470,000 loan for Hilton Garden Inn Morgantown at Sun Crest Town Center that is now going bad. A lawsuit filed August 8 on behalf of the original lender continues to list Manchin and Puccio as if they remain investors. But Manchin’s staff and Puccio have said repeatedly that they are not investors in the hotel. So what happened? Was there a mistake on the front end? Did they pull their investments along the way? So far, no one is clearing up that mystery.” Full story.

CHARLOTTESVILLE FALLOUT — “Schumer: After Charlottesville, end Trump’s voter fraud commission,” by POLITICO’s Elana Schor: “Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Thursday pressed President Donald Trump to shutter the commission investigating Trump’s unfounded theories of massive voter fraud in the 2016 election, linking voter disenfranchisement to the violent white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va. If Trump does not dismantle the Election Integrity Commission — which has sparked controversy as state officials in both parties refuse to hand over voter information to the administration — Schumer urged Congress to ‘prohibit its operation through one of the must-pass legislative vehicles’ that are set to get considered next month.” Full story.

TECH WATCH — “NGP VAN unveils new iteration of software ahead of midterm cycle,” via Campaigns & Elections: “Call time is about to change for the Democratic fundraisers and candidates using their party’s most popular engagement platform. NGP VAN unveiled the eighth edition of its namesake NGP software this week, and paperless call time is one of its headline features. The update is meant to help streamline one of the most hated parts of campaigning — dialing for dollars — and could help stave off competition from potential rivals.” Full story.

ON THE ROAD — Jolly, Murphy to tour Florida to talk Washington gridlock: Former Republican Rep. David Jolly and former Democratic Rep. Patrick Murphy will hit the road in Florida this fall to host town halls to talk about the dysfunction in Washington. Four stops are already scheduled, with the first on Sept. 12 in Tampa at the University of South Florida, per a statement from the group.

BLAST FROM THE PAST — “Tom Tancredo, upset about canceled white nationalist event, weighs another run for Colorado governor,” via The Denver Post’s John Frank: “Former U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo is considering a run for Colorado governor in 2018 in a move that he hopes is a shot across the bow at the Republican Party. The conservative firebrand told The Denver Post on Wednesday that he is thinking about another run after two losing bids in 2010 and 2014. ‘I certainly have concerns about the party and the people running,’ he said in an interview.” Full story.

ADMINISTRATION SPEED READ — “Oil and gas allies to Trump: Slow down,” by POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre: “President Donald Trump’s aggressive drive to roll back environmental regulations is moving too fast even for some in the oil and gas industry. Publicly, petroleum companies and their trade groups are cheering Trump’s efforts to undo former President Barack Obama’s environmental regulations, including restrictions on fracking-related pollution, pipeline permits and offshore drilling. But quietly, people in the industry are growing worried that deregulation could backfire on them, according to interviews with a dozen executives, lobbyists, lawyers and analysts. Among their fears: Laxer rules could set the stage for an environmental disaster like 2010’s BP oil spill in the Gulf, which blackened the industry’s reputation and spurred a regulatory clampdown.” Full story.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “2020 is a really long ways away.” — GOP Rep. Will Hurd, declining to confirm to MSNBC if he will support President Trump in his reelection bid, The Washington Examiner reported.

Original Source link

from CapitalistHQ.com https://capitalisthq.com/ryan-faces-diciest-stretch-of-his-speakership/

#TrumpNews #CapitalistHQ.com

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melindarowens · 7 years ago

Text

Ryan faces diciest stretch of his speakership

Story Continued Below

Days until the 2017 election: 74.

Days until the 2018 election: 438.

Thanks for joining us! You can email tips to the Campaign Pro team at [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] and [email protected].

You can also follow us on Twitter: @politicoscott, @ec_schneider, @politicokevin, @danielstrauss4 and @maggieseverns.

PROGRAMMING NOTE: Morning Score will not publish from Aug. 28-Sept. 4. Our next Morning Score newsletter will publish on Sept. 5.

EASY LISTENING — “Nerdcast: No retreat, no surrender,” with POLITICO’s Nancy Cook, Michael Crowley and Josh Dawsey. Listen to the full episode here.

Original Source link

source https://capitalisthq.com/ryan-faces-diciest-stretch-of-his-speakership/ from CapitalistHQ http://capitalisthq.blogspot.com/2017/08/ryan-faces-diciest-stretch-of-his.html

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swimmingglitterllama-blog · 7 years ago

Text

Who am I?...

I've just somehow studied a subject this morning without realising #intuition Recently I had something amazing happened to me... I broke off my relationship (was engaged whaaaa!?) I quit my job... (whaaaaa!?) And never seen to clearly in my life hence the drastic changes haha (OK now I've got your attention, let me explain) So... One morning recently I was driving to my first pupil (my job at the time was a driving instructor) so I'm en-route. As I'm driving the clearer I started to see. There was traffic everywhere, I knew even if I got to the pupil we'd just sit in traffic so there weren't much point to doing it. So I text the pupil about the traffic and ask to do later (something was telling me to reschedule but not do the lesson just yet, didnt know why but then I soon understood!!!) So there I am sitting there, I knew I couldn't make it home so I thought, ya know what? I'll just go for a little drive and loose myself in my thoughts. So there I am driving away... And I go to turn down this road... Blocked... Litrelly couldn't even get into the road because of the traffic. So I thought OK... Next road on the left that's clear I'll go down and stop. So I find this little road, completely empty which was bizarre because really it should of been blocked like the other roads. I calmed down after pulling over. Something was about to happen yet I just thought to embrace it. As I was sitting there I was texting a friend who helped pull me through this situation which was "about to go downnnn" (always say that in a kevin Hart way haha... Oh anyways back to the story...) So, there I am enjoying the views around me. Noticing a few cars passing but not many... Now I was avoiding eye contact with everyone because I felt like if I did they'd stop. All of a sudden something very very special happens... For the last month or two I started seeing what I thought was someone in my perifial vision, I always related it to looking like it was my brother. Tall long limbed kind of person. All of a sudden whilst sitting in the car, things stopped. Yep I know whaaaa?... I was litrelly sitting in the car I couldn't hear the wind, birds, no cars were passing... I thought OK something is "about to goop downnnn" (kevin Hart voice again haha...) As I was sitting in the car, I felt a presence behind me like someone joined me in the car. (I'm explaining this to my best ability as not everyone will understand this) There was this calm, secure and happy emotion I was having overcome me. I kept my movements very slow. I respected this being and presence. After that I slightly turn, not looking directly at them but just enough to get a good view in my perifial view... As I sat there the energy was sooo intense but not harmful in anyway, in fact I felt like I was free from all these terrible stressful emotions I had holding me down... As I Sat there I smiled out of respect, acknowledging that they were there, I could see them and was greatful for this moment and connection. After that they reached out and secured their hard on my left arm (humerus bone) And held me tight like you would someone you really care about. I felt like they was saying... "I'm proud of you, it's time to be the strongest you've ever been, and I will be here every step of the way" NO I didn't hear them words... But it felt just like that, I can't really describe it because it's one of those things you have to have see it to believe it. Now since that moment my life has changed.. Like I said firstly I broke up with my then fiancè, quit my job and see so much clarity since. When I was sitting there and feeling this state of emotion. I wasn't scared, I never felt so secure in my life... In fact it felt like an out of body experience. After the presence started to slip away, I realised I could start to hear the wind, birds singing, crops in the field swaying etc... I'm not joking at all here when I say a guy turns up litrelly seconds after this out of body experience. Then he stops past the car... (great he's noticed me crying, but I'm not sad... For once lol) I'm crying with joy (oh no this guy thinks I'm upset...please don't resverse) The guy reverses (damn it!!!) Please don't stop and ask if I'm OK... "you alright there love?..." (sh*t) I'm balling my eyes out because of what I just felt and this guy just turns up out of nowhere!? #cantbeacoincidence So... Im trying to say yes but the emotion and presence I just witnessed was amazing, and overwhelming at the same time. I knew I had to call of my relationship, and my job and start from the bottom and build myself up again. I had to #livelifetothefullest from now on because I was given a gift to recognise sign and use this to my advantage. I can now predict things before they happen. (you should watch limitless... That is litrelly my state of mind) After a little while I realised I needed to help control my emotional well being. I needed to talk to someone who understood. Luckily, I was in the right place at the right time and got some help. Last night I spoke to a friend who sees simular things as me and she told me, you cannot ever loose this gift. I then thought I had lost it but you know what?... Realised I had control over it now. I was bouncing off the wall in a room before because it was so overwhelming. The clarity I have in my life has me knowing where I'm going, what to expect and how to deal with it in my favour. Bab baaaaaaaaaaaam! (as Joe Robinet bushcraft dude says) Yeah so... There ya go "how do you like them apples?" (Paul walker another legend) I can't really explain but the best example is this... Watch interstellar twice. On the second time you'll see things differently that is my life right now and forever. At the every end of the film you'll see."coop" interact with his daughter from a third dimension. Basically I was shown that third dimension and litrelly know that when things fall, be dropped, channel turns over for now reason, that is someone you love looking over you. Acknowledge that, and feel blessed. Not scared but excited to see that they're still looking over you. Trust your gut instinct. I can't really say much more on this as now I've quit everything haha and now playing tennis. #Tennis litrelly is The only thing that makes sense to me now. Always wanted to do it #professionally, not saying that I will be there one day but my odds are pretty sweet atm haha. Anyways hope you like this read. You can #follow me on twitter @marli44 #Follow me on instagram @marli4 And you can like my #photography page on Facebook "Marli's photography" Taking photos helps me maintain #clarity and #gratitude for the things we can take for granted in life. I want to always thank my #sponsor @logangarments for always showing their #support in what I do. #forevergreatful Also greatful for my #family and #friends always and forever. Hold close the people who bring out the better you. If you liked this please connect and I will see you on the next one. Peace out ✌ x Marli

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carasueachterberg · 8 years ago

Text

Dug has arrived.

And it’s been a long time coming. (According to Ian.)

Not long after we started fostering dogs, maybe eight or ten dogs in, my youngest son began calling all our foster dogs, “Dug.”

When I asked him why, he said. “I can’t remember all the names, so they can all just be ‘Dug.’”

Dug is the dog from the movie Up. If you haven’t seen that movie – you’ve missed out. Dug is the ADD dog the main characters encounter on their journey. Dug is searching for the bird Kevin, but is easily distracted. You’ve probably heard people say, “Squirrel!” followed by a quick head turn to indicate how easily they’re distracted. They’re referencing Dug.

With each litter we’ve fostered, Ian has campaigned to name all the puppies Dug. (Dug 1, Dug 2, Dug 3, etc.)

So, when I told him we had the chance to name our next foster puppy, he insisted we name him Dug.

I agreed and he immediately tracked down his older brother and sister to tell them we were finally getting Dug!

Dug arrived Saturday morning and it seems he really did get here just in time. He is not what you would term a postcard-pretty puppy. His head is several sizes too large for his body, but this is because it’s actually his body that is several sizes too small for his age.

Dug is a four-month-old plotthound/lab mix. He only weighs 11 pounds. All of his bones protrude. I’ve seen plenty of skinny dogs, but this is my first truly skinny puppy. I’m used to plump puppies with fat pink bellies to rub and shiny coats. Dug’s eyes are watery and his coat is dull and flecked with dandruff.

We are pumping him full of probiotics, coconut oil, grain-free food, vitamins, and even a supplement for skin and coat. Dug is doing his part, wolfing down everything I set in front of him.

Dug is shy and hesitant and spends most of his time sleeping. I’ve never seen such a calm, quiet puppy. He doesn’t make a sound. I’m guessing he is exhausted. When I put a crate in his pen and covered it with a towel, he took up residence, preferring the safe little cave to the larger play area in the pen.

This past week another puppy we once fostered has been on my mind. This is because I spent three days in New York City with Ian where he was honored with a National Scholastic Gold Medal for an essay he wrote about that puppy named Hadley.

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Hadley remains the most traumatized dog we’ve ever fostered. Ian’s story about Hadley was one of the 1500 art and writing awards chosen from 330,000 entries for this honor.

It was exciting to be in the city—to see the Empire State Building lit up gold the night before in honor of the gold medal winners, meet other high school students from across the country, and to hear Amy Schumer, Paul Chan, Ellie Kemper, Michelle Obama, and Allison Williams speak to the winners at the award ceremony at Carnegie Hall.

I was bursting with pride in my kid, but each time we talked about his essay, I couldn’t help but think of Hadley. Her story wasn’t all that different from thousands of dogs in our country. What set her apart was that despite all the odds against her, she was given a chance.

Hadley was six months old when she came to our house. I would imagine that if Dug spent another two months in a shelter, (if he was granted that time), he would be as completely shut-down as Hadley was.

Although, looking at him now, I’m not sure he could have survived two more months. His body has obviously been ravaged by worms. He is shy and unsure, so completely different from the puppies I normally encounter. His shrunken body supported by oversize paws and carrying an overgrown head, make him seem like an old man.

But Dug has his moments. He wags his tail when I talk to him. When anyone approaches the pen, he backs away at first, but soon enough he creeps forward to be petted. When Gala visits, he clamors for the side of the pen happy for her company. He’s still too weak and unhealthy to play with her, she would certainly overwhelm him but she is settling down lately, so I’m hopeful that the two will be able to play together in another week. Gracie, being Gracie, snarls at Dug when she passes by. Dug just watches her, but never snarls back.

This is not the puppy I imagined. But I’m pretty sure in a week, he’ll look and act different. He’s young and likely, resilient. Once he figures out he’s in a safe place, I’m hopeful his real puppy-self will emerge. I’m so grateful he made it out. So grateful we have the opportunity to teach him about love and trust and care and safety.

I think Gala is finally getting that message, too. She has settled down. And when I say settled down, in terms of Gala, that means she actually lies down and relaxes.

She more or less sticks to dog toys, instead of shoes or cords. She leaves what is on the counter, on the counter. She doesn’t try to slip out any open doors. She ignores Gracie when Gracie growls at her. She sticks her nose in the cat’s face, but no longer pushes the cat with her nose in an effort to get the cat to run so she can chase her.

Everyone has noticed. “What happened to Gala?” asks Ian. “Did you run her a lot today?”

With the heat, we haven’t been running very far or very fast. No, I think what has happened is Gala is no longer so stressed. She’ll never be a low-key dog, that’s just not her personality. It may have taken a little over two months, but I think what has finally happened is that Gala has come to the conclusion that she is safe here.

Let’s hope Dug comes to that conclusion much faster. After all, he has youth on his side.

This puppy has finally found a safe harbor. #fosterdogs #adoptdontshop @rescueoph Dug has arrived. And it’s been a long time coming. (According to Ian.) Not long after we started fostering dogs, maybe eight or ten dogs in, my youngest son began calling all our foster dogs, “Dug.”

#fosterdogs #fosterpuppy #OPH #rescuedogs #skinnydog

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