#cardona family

[weareallfruits]

DO NOT GIVE UP ON SAVING PALESTINE!!! I know not everyone can donate as much or at all & that’s not your fault (I’m unemployed myself so I can’t contribute as much as I want). There are ways to help with just your time, though.

Songs by artists from Palestine & from Congo

THE DAILY CLICKS!!

USE THE TIKTOK FILTERS (still works if you post privately)

If you can donate:

[wrestlinghistorywithkay]

When They Were Fans: When Wrestlers Were Fans Part 4

Hey everyone ! I am back with Part 4 of my article series about when our favorite wrestlers were just like us , fans. If you have not read Parts 1-3 go check them out !

‘ The Tribal Chief ’ Roman Reigns with Macho Man Randy Savage , Miss Elizabeth, Hulk Hogan and posing with a cut out of Trish Stratus. Roman grew up around the wrestling business with his father, Sika , and uncle , Afa , being in the WWE as The Wild Samoans. He got to meet a few of his childhood heroes if he attend shows. With wrestling being in his Bloodline , Reigns was trained by his father to wrestle.

Noam Dar and Drew McIntyre. Noam said that Drew came to his high school for a charity wrestling match against his one of his teachers. Dar was 13 years old at the time. He also got the chance to meet and thought he was a superhuman. However , when McIntyre returned to Scotland in 2014 , Dar got the chance to travel with him and even face him in the ring. In a match in Insane Championship Wrestling , Drew kicked Noam off of a balcony. Dar describes the future Hall of Famer as one of his favorite opponents and a good friend.

Brian Myers with Triple H , Kurt Angle , and Jerry ‘ The King ’ Lawler . Being a lifelong wrestling fan and getting to meet his heroes , Myers started training in 2004 alongside tag team partner and close friend , Matt Cardona. Both wrestled for WWE until being released. Myers is currently signed to TNA and Cardona is with GCW. Both are hosts of the popular podcast , The Major Wrestling Figure Podcast.

Damian Priest and The Undertaker. Priest said that he was a huge fan of The Deadman growing up as well as the late , Pedro Morales and Razor Ramon ( Scott Hall ) . At Wrestlemania XL after winning the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, Priest was congratulated by his childhood hero in front of his family and Judgement Day teammates.

Zelina Vega and Jeff Hardy. During a WWE show in North Carolina, Zelina decided to do a tribute to her favorite wrestler. She decided to do a Twist As Fate which is Jeff’s signature move into her match against Bayley. After doing this , she sent a message on her X account to Jeff and his brother , Matt, by saying that she had nothing but love for them.

Liv Morgan with John Cena . The WWE Women’s World Championship has stated that she had a huge crush on Cena as a kid. She also says that Cena was one of her biggest influences as a wrestler. She even took part in the photo shoot to celebrate Cena’s 20 year anniversary in WWE alongside Austin Theory , R-Truth , and Carmella.

My Final Thoughts:

I absolutely love hearing the stories of our favorite wrestlers being fans of other wrestlers and getting to work with them. It makes me happy. I especially loved the story Noam Dar told about Drew McIntyre.

Love You All,

- Kay

[judgmentjay]

pstpstpst. this is an ooc plot call...

for the following: fallon henley, matt cardona and my oc, dylan (the reluctant daughter of steve austin)*. love all the plots, many plots. my girls are bisexual sooo i’d love something as far as that goes! exes? crushes? fwb gone wrong? oh my! as far as matt… iykyk (he is straight and also a pain in the ass). like this and i will come to you after work. <3

*would love another daughter or sib to join!!! he has even an adopted child so we can make anything work. love family plots!!

[townieandy]

🐎 HANKERING FOR HARPER | A HORSE RANCH-INSPIRED BACHELOR CHALLENGE

Meet Harper Cardona, SimsBC TV's first cowboy Bachelor. Even with his slightly rugged exterior, Harper has a kind soul and a heart of gold ready to be won. Will you be the one?

Age: thirty-two (32)

Pronouns: he/they

Sexuality: bisexual

Traits: rancher, self-assured, loves outdoors

The second-oldest of four, Harper has lived on his family's ranch for all of his life, learning the ins-and-outs of living off the land and appreciating the hardships that come with it. While his other siblings got older and moved away from the country life, Harper was the one to stay, holding down the fort with his father until his old man got too old to take care of the rolling acres.

Although Harper loves the ranch life, it can be quite lonely with no so-called "dating life" to speak of with your neighbors living miles apart from each other. This cowboy is looking for someone who appreciates the rougher, more hands-on part of life and who he could possibly ride off into the sunset with. Could you be that someone?

Likes: long walks on the ranch, horses, grilling, stargazing, playing guitar, blues, iced tea, freckles, horseback riding

Dislikes: sci-fi movies, flying, clowns, being late, laziness, snakes, closed spaces, cold weather, loud noises

Fun Facts:

Comes from a long line of ranchers and inherited his ranch from his father

Has an American Standardbred named "Lady"

Is deathly afraid of flying and airplanes

Is completely tone deaf but loves singing while playing his guitar

okay, okay, first off and foremost, big shout out to wrixie whose bachelorette challenges are a huge inspiration to me and also inspired the formatting of the images above.

also, i will be mostly following the base rules with some extra touches to suit my gameplay preferences, and Harper's attractiveness preferences will be randomized when i officially begin the challenge.

🐎 Contestant Entry Guidelines:

Must be young-adult or adult.

Only humans are allowed. (sorry my occult baddies)

Must have at least one negative trait.

i. Cannot have the romantic trait.

Can be any gender.

Skills do matter.

i. You have ten points to distribute to skills (ex: level 5 in cooking, level 2 in dancing, level 3 in video gaming).

ii. Don't worry about going into the game to add these skills, just list them in the description of your entry.

Should have likes and dislikes.

Maxis-match or CC-free.

Must be comfortable to changes of eye and skinblend defaults as well as outfits.

Tag me @townieandy or use #harpersBC to make sure I see your entry. Also please ask if you have any questions!

🐎 CONTESTANTS

1. Taken

2. Taken

3. Taken

4. Taken

5. Taken

6.

7.

DEADLINE: UNTIL I GET 7 SIMS

[ukfrislandembassy]

Reading academic literature on languages of the Indian subcontinent is something of an experience. Some of it I think is simple culture shock, some of it is probably an effect of differences between British English(es) and Indian English(es), and some of it is clearly a holdover from colonial ideas.

Like on the one hand you'll find a paper that is about e.g. contact effects of Bangla on a Munda language, one published by the Central Institute of Indian Languages no less, but then it turns out the abstract is entirely muddled and the article itself contains prose like this:

"Though Koda is a Munda language yet the name Koda is recognised as an Indo-Aryan word which is related to digging. The main occupation of the Koda community is to dig land. They generally specialise in earthdigging." (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344713421_Effect_of_Bangla_on_Koda_verbs)

Then you get the stuff which is not wrong or even necessarily badly written but does have a noticeable Aryan-chauvinist bias, such as this passage on the history of Assamese:

"Therefore, by the seventh century AD the kingdom of Bhaskara Varma, which extended to a considerable part of Bengal in those days, must have been populated by a large number of Aryans, who, by virtue of their superiority, spread their language among the aboriginal people speaking non-Aryan languages. The native population gave up their undeveloped and unwritten languages in favour of a much more developed Aryan tongue." (from The Indo-Aryan Languages, Cardona & Jain 2003, published by Routledge).

It's not like this isn't something I can deal with, it's just that it's seems a bit weird to someone coming from an academic culture where the assumption is you speak impartially about the languages you are discussing, and has generally abandoned notions such as 'developed languages' as unhelpful. Though of course it an older form of western academic is of course a key component in the history of 'Aryan' as a concept; when Indo-European became established as a family and Sanskrit a key language for it suddenly became interesting to people who had, ahem, certain views about how humans should be divided into groups. And some of that still is carried over to today (see also the Out of India theory for the Indo-European homeland, something which basically nobody outside of India supports).

[itsthestutterforme]

“Rules Are Overrated” (Modern!Tom x black!reader)

Summary: Tom is your brother’s friend that’s had his eye on you since you and your family moved to Manchester. He didn’t care about the rules. He knew that he just had to have you.

Notes: GIF is not mine, Modern High School AU, dancer!reader, sexual themes (dry humping, oral sex, p in v penetration, overstimulation), minors DNI

**

Your hips were swaying to the beat of the song on your speaker as you placed the middle of you box braid between you teeth, continuing the braid all the way down to the end. You had the speaker so loud, it vibrated the door of your room.

You couldn’t have heard the doorbell ringing and Tom knocking at the door. Tom was a friend of your brother’s. Your entire family moved to London from New York for a change, leaving behind your childhood friends and your close family.

To this day, you never understood the real reason. One day Dad came home with some news and by the end of the week, we were on a plane to London. You had two older siblings, Eloise and Wade. We were all still adapting to London but at least Wade was making friends. One of those friends being Tom Bennett.

Tom helps himself to the house. Wade said that it was cool to wait for him inside a few times before. His curiousity got the best of him and he followed the sound of the music. You had one braid left, taking a small scoop of edge control and putting it on your hair. You picked up some hair and braided down, feeding hair in periodically.

“Ku Lo Sa” by Oxlade came on the speaker and you slowly whine to the beat of the song. You were still whining when Tom walked in. You made eye contact with him in the mirror and lowered the volume on the speaker as you turned around to face him. “I’m assuming you’re looking for Wade,” “I am. You happened to know where he is, love?”

“Wade and Eloise went to the arcade. You can find them there.” “And why aren’t you with them?” “Games bore me,” you continued to braid. “What were you just doing when I walked in? With your hips?” “It’s called whining. It’s from Central Africa,” “So you’re family is Central African?” “No, we’re Trinidadian.”

He hums in response, getting a good look at your room. “Um, excuse me?” “You’re excused,” he says, pushing the hair and clips on your bed to the side and lay down on your bed. “What are you doing?” “You haven’t seen a man lie down before?” “I’d hardly call you a man,” you scoff. You finished your braid and search through your basket for the setting mousse.

“Yeah you’re Wade’s sister alright,” “Oh please, I make Wade’s life interesting,” “Sure you do,” “Aren’t you supposed to be finding my brother? What are you still doing here?” “Don’t get your knickers in a twist, sweetheart. It makes it more enjoyable to piss you off,” he stands from the bed and gave your hair a playful tug.

You sent him a glare when he says, “See you around, sweetheart.” “I have a name,” you scold. “I know. It’s sweetheart.” He corrects, closing the door to your bedroom.

**

You ran to your bag to grab a drink of water. “Group A is up in five, Y/N. Make it quick.” Your dance coach calls. “I’m coming,” you take a swig of your water. The sound of your name catches Tom’s attention from the street. He was walking passed the studio to meet Lois and his father for dinner when he heard your name.

He opens the door to studio and watches as you and your group made your way to the center of the floor. The rest of the class sits on the side while you and your group waited for the music to cue on. The choreography was sensual because it matched the vibe from “Love Me Back” by Trinidad Cardona.

Tom’s lips part when he sees you in the center of the group doing the choreography. The dancers on the sidelines were cheering you guys on when it was the point of choreography where you went to the floor. You were on your hands and knees, slowly grinding on the floor and brought yourself up on your knees. And that was the end of the choreography.

The class clapped for you guys and you stand from the ground with a proud smile. That was, until you caught the gaze of a familiar pair of blue eyes. “And that’s a great way to end class. See everybody next week.” You packed up your bag and Tom made his way over to you with a smirk.

“Does your brother know you’ve been dancing like that?” He asks. “Why? You plan on snitching?” You throw the strap of the bag over your shoulder. You noticed the stares and giggles of your dance mates when they walk by Tom and you roll your eyes.

“Not at all. I’m no snitch. You’re not the only one who’s the trouble child.” He says when he follows you out of the dance studio. “Who says I’m the trouble child?” “Is that a trick question?” You scoffed and gave him a shove. “What are you doing here anyway?”

“I have dinner with my family,” “Right. I’ll see you around then.” You opened the door to your car and threw your bag on the floor. “Wait, I can just.. rain check or something.” “Raincheck and do what exactly?” “I.. have a crush on a girl who knows how to dance like that. And I want to impress her.” Tom lies. He needed to think of something so he could see you again without using Wade as an excuse.

“You’re seeing someone?” You asked. “Awe, you jealous?” He says, smirking when he sees you roll your eyes. “I’ll help you.” “Really?” “I have nothing better to do. Hop in.” You walk around the car and slide into the drivers seat. “You might want to buckle up because I don’t slow down for anybody,” you say when he sits in the passenger side.

You smiled when he gripped the side handle when you revved the engine of your car before peeling off the curb.

**

“Remember to loosen your hips,” you looked down at his waist. “Careful, Y/N. It almost seems like you are looking at something else,” Tom teases. Your eyes shot up to his and his smirk widens. “Do you want me to teach you or not?” You snap.

“The women are in lead when it comes to whining. They are in front, moving, and the guy follows. He takes whatever she gives him.” “Would you say I need more practice?” He asks, thinking back to the first time you grinded on him. He got lost in the feeling of your body against him. How his hands felt holding your hips.

“I think we’ve practiced enough. You’re ready to ask out the girl you’re interested in.” You tucked your phone in your pocket and went to grab your bag when he says, “When were you going to tell me you got accepting into Kings College? How did you celebrate?” You stopped in your tracks and slowly turned around to face him.

“How did you know that?” “I have my sources.” You squint at him analytically. “Eloise told you, didn’t she?” “She did,” he says after a long pause. “Jesus, I need do tape her mouth shut.” “What’s so bad about her telling me?” “It’s not that. My parents believe that dancing isn’t a real job. They didn’t feel the need to celebrate,” “Kings College is the top three unis in London. That’s a big deal.”

You blinked at him a moment as you came to the realization of something. “There isn’t another girl, is there? It’s me you’re pursuing,” “Sharp as a whip, you are.” He says with a tongue click. “Isn’t there a bro code that says don’t mess with your friends sister?” You crossed your arms, yours eyes narrowing when he nears you.

“Rules are overrated. What do you say we celebrate in a way only a man and woman can?” You dropped your hands at your sides and lifted your chin to him. “Do it then,” he grips your chin so you are staring directly into his eyes. You maintained eye contact when you took his thumb into your mouth and swirled your tongue around it before pulling away.

“Fuckin hell,” you let out a squeak of surprise when he picks you up and wrapped your legs around his abdomen. You held his face to press a warm kiss on his lips. He held there a moment, relishing in your soft skin. You pulled away from the kiss to take off your shirt. He squeezed your ass as his gaze settled on your breasts.

He sits down on his bed and buries his face into your breasts, nipping at the swells propped up by your bra. You instinctively rock your hips against his crotch and he groans into your neck. “You’re so fucking hot, Y/N.” “Mm, I know.” “Fucking tease,” he gave your ass a slap and you chuckled.

He tossed you next to him, standing to pull off your shorts before taking off his shirt. You watched as he slide between your legs, his large hand traveling up your thigh. He left kisses on your inner thigh, making you slick with anticipation. “I did say it was a celebration, wasn’t it?” He whispers, noticing your thighs rubbing together.

“Look at you getting eager for it,” he adds with a chuckle. “Tom,” “Isn’t that such a pretty sound,” he kissed up your stomach until he got to your breasts. He unclipped your bra with ease and sucked on one of your nipples until your back arched. One hand traveled to your lower back, he pressed his crotch to yours and started rocking back and forth.

Your soft moans spurred him to hump you harder and faster until your body tensed with an orgasm. You gripped his forearm for dear life and waited until you could finally breathe. “Fuck,” you said. He pulled away from your breast with a pop.

He pulls your underwear off and moans at the sight. “You’re throbbing,” “Tom,” he groans at the way you moaned his name and sealed his mouth around your core. He explores all the different angle to suck and lick at your clit. “Fuck, Tom. That feels so- oh!” His hands come up and rubs your nipples, your body twisting away at the stimulation.

When he had enough of your squirming, he pressed a hand to your stomach to stead you and sucked harshly at your clit. You wouldn’t be surprised if he left a bruise on it. Stars clouded your vision, a whimper left you when you felt his weight leave you. He kissed your body while you came down from your high.

“You ready for any other one?” He asks and your eyes widen. He kissed you and you pulled him down so his chest was flushed against yours. “I need an answer, love.” He presses a kiss to your jawline. “Yes, keep going.” He pulled away to reach into the drawer next to his bed and pulled out a rubber.

He kicked off boxers and his trousers and slid the rubber on. You felt like a bitch in heat when you bucked your hips against him when he slides back in between your legs. “Tom, please.” “What do you want, baby?” “Fuck me,” “How do you want it?” He lifts your chin up with his nose and rubs the tip of his cock at your entrance.

“H-hard and fast,” “Is that right?” “Yes, please..” you begged. Your mouth fell open when he slides into you slowly so you could feel every inch. Your legs widen and he slowly thrusts into you until he saw your face relax as your body got used to his thickness. He chokes out a moan when you clenched around him. “Do that again and it’ll be over sooner that you’d like,”

He props one leg over his shoulder and rams into you hard and fast like he promised. When the vein of his cock rubs a gspot consistently, you pushed against his abs and tried to turn away from him. “Uh uh. Move your hand.” “Tom, please.” He pins your arms by your head and sent you a hard thrust in warning.

“S-sorry,” you apologized and he kissed you while rubbing quick circles on your clit. A gasp escaped you when another orgasm came over you. Tears swelled in your eyes and your body spasmed over and over again until the orgasm passed. Your walls clenching around his sporadically made him cum with a soft fuck.

He squeezed your wrists and kissed you once you both gained your breath back. Resting his forehead against you, he pulled out of you and tossed the rubber in the trash can.

“Should I leave.. then?” You asked, sitting up. “Why would I want you to do that?” He settled in next to you. “Because I thought you only wanted..” “I want you. All of you.” You laid back down and he holds your back to his chest, leaving kisses down the nape of your neck.

“Can I tell you something?” You hummed in response, enjoying his soft lips on your skin. “I only befriended Wade to get close to you,” he confessed. “Ouch, you better hope Wade doesn’t find out.” You said teasingly.

“Why? You plan on snitching?” He asked. You recalled having a similar conversation with him before so you decided to play along. “Not at all. I’m no snitch. You’re not the only one who’s the trouble child.” He wraps a hand around your throat with a gentle grip and pressed a warm kiss on your lips.

[fantabulisticity]

Formal Complaint from HRC Triggers Department of Education Investigation into Owasso Public Schools Following Attacks on Nex Benedict

March 1, 2024 WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Department of Education informed Human Rights Campaign (HRC) President Kelley Robinson that the department will open an investigation in response to HRC’s letter regarding Owasso Public Schools and its failure to respond appropriately to sex-based harassment that may have contributed to the tragic death of Nex Benedict (he/they), a 16-year-old 2STGNC+ (Two Spirit, transgender, or gender nonconforming+) teen of Choctaw heritage. This investigation was triggered by a formal complaint made last week by Robinson, who wrote to U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and asked his department to use the enforcement mechanisms at its disposal to prevent similar tragedies from taking place in the future and to help hold accountable those responsible for Nex’s tragic death. The letter from the Department of Education reads: “the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR), is opening for investigation the above-referenced complaint that you filed against the Owasso Public Schools (the District). Your complaint alleges that the District discriminated against students by failing to respond appropriately to sex-based harassment, of which it had notice, at Owasso High School during the 2023-2024 school year.” “Nex’s family, community, and the broader 2SLGBTQI+ (two spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex+) community in Oklahoma are still awaiting answers following their tragic loss. We appreciate the Department of Education responding to our complaint and opening an investigation–we need them to act urgently so there can be justice for Nex, and so that all students at Owasso High School and every school in Oklahoma can be safe from bullying, harassment, and discrimination.” -- Kelley Robinson, President of the Human Rights Campaign The full text of the letter from the Department of Education in response to HRC can be found here. The full text of the initial letter from HRC President Kelley Robinson to Secretary Cardona can be found here. According to the letter, OCR is opening the following issues for investigation: Whether the District failed to appropriately respond to alleged harassment of students in a manner consistent with the requirements of Title IX. Whether the District failed to appropriately respond to alleged harassment of students in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 504 and Title II. HRC sent a second letter to the Department asking it to promptly begin an investigation into the Oklahoma State Department of Education, as well as the current State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Ryan Walters. In addition: -- Robinson wrote to Attorney General Merrick Garland asking the Department of Justice to begin an investigation into Nex’s death.

-- Robinson wrote to Dr. Margaret Coates, superintendent of the Owasso school district in Oklahoma, calling for the superintendent to take advantage of the Human Rights Campaign’s Welcoming Schools program— the most comprehensive bias-based bullying prevention program in the nation to provide LGBTQ+ and gender inclusive training and resources — and offering to bring experts to the district immediately.

[empirearchives]

Caroline Bonaparte rumored to be the model for La Grande Odalisque

[La Grande Odalisque, Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, 1814. Commissioned by Caroline Bonaparte, Napoleon’s youngest sister]

Excerpt from Ingres: Painting Reimagined, by Susan L. Siegfried

The Grande Odalisque exploited the balance between ideal figures and portraits in its artistic models and pushed that equilibrium to the limit. It was easily destablized by the directness of the odalisque’s gaze, even though the face was an idealized Raphaelesque type. Indeed, Ingres was unable to control rumors that he had portrayed Caroline Murat in the Grande Odalisque […]

The rumors were hardly surprising. Caroline Murat’s kinship with Pauline Borghese must have incited speculation, especially among enemies of the Bonapartes in Italy, about the Bonaparte women’s taste for disguised portraits of themselves in the nude.

[Pauline Bonaparte as Venus, by Canova]

Moreover, in the eighteenth century the king’s mistresses used to commission portraits of themselves in the guise of sultanas, as did Madame de Pompadour in A Sultana Drinking Coffee by Carle Van Loo (1752, The State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg), so there was precedent for thinking that a “parvenu princess,” if not a mistress, may have followed suit. […]

Another ornament with a story behind it is the large and distinctively coiled bracelet worn by the Grande Odalisque. This bracelet closely imitates one in Giulio Romano and Raphael's portrait of Doña Isabel de Requesens i Enriquez de Cardona-Anglesola, known in the early nineteenth century as Raphael's portrait of Jeanne d'Aragon. Vasari identified the sitter as the vice-queen of Naples, and Ingres would easily have made the connection to the new queen of Naples, Caroline Murat.

He owned an engraving of the portrait, and he was also thinking about portrait painting at the time, since the occasion for his visit to the Royal Palace of Naples was portrait commissions of the Murat family. To identify Caroline Murat by means of a bracelet may seem obscure, and that is perhaps the case. However, Ingres’s study of ancient costume had taught him that particular articles of clothing were invested with meaning: for example, he had traced the entire history of ownership of the necklace of Eriphile, a work of Vulcan that was passed on by Venus and had dire consequences for whoever owned it.

[kingdomofmatanzas]

The Royal Family of Matanzas have formally announced the engagement of Prince Ariel, The Duke of Bayamo and Ms.Chiara Cardona, The Minister of Commerce, with photos taken on the grounds of the Palace Del Sol Royal Gardens.

The engagement took place in September during a holiday to Covadonga for the couples 2 year anniversary. Prince Ariel and The Royal Family jeweler designed the ring together. The ring features a gorgeous 5-caret round center diamond surrounded by a cluster of 14 solitaire diamonds set in white gold.

The wedding will take place in the Spring of 2024 at Basilica de Santa Maria la Real de Bayamo with further details to be announced.

[capricorn-0mnikorn]

Okay, yes. It turns out I'm an actual fan of a music group...

What with everything going on in my life (mostly my aide of over 25 years telling me she's quitting by the end of the year, and giving me until then to figure out alternatives solutions), I've been finding emotional escape through finding first-time reacions to VoicePlay. ... It's my personal game of "Today's lucky Ten Thousand:"

[Transcript from ExplainXKCD.com in the alt text]

I'm picky, though. It truly has to be either: one of someone's first three reactions to VoicePlay, itself (not just a first reaction to a particular song), or: an in-depth analysis that shows an insight to things I don't know about.

...Not just someone expecting to be wowed sitting there going: "Wow!" Either I'm watching someone learn something new, or I'm learning something new.

Anyway, these truly first-timers will often request recommendations for more songs by them (I realize this is often done to milk YouTube's engagement algorithm as least as much as it's honest curiosity). And that got me thinking of my own "VoicePlay Defined" recommendation list. So I thought I'd post it here.

These are not all necessarily my faves, but illustrate the group's artistic evolution, and breadth of styles, which is at least as impressive as any individual songs.

Road Trip (May22. 2014) a comedy skit from "The Sing-Off" live tour, of friends fighting over the car radio. Arranged by the bass singer, Geoff Castellucci.

Phantom of the Opera Featuring Rachel Potter (November 18, 2015) Warning: Flashing / strobe effects. Their first experimentation with cinematic storytelling along with their singing. Arranged by the vocal percussionist, Layne Stein.

Queen in 5 Min (November 23, 2018) Warning: Flashing / strobe effects. Tells the story of their high tenor, Earl Elkins Jr., contending with the various gods of Death, as told through the lyrics of Queen songs. With a cameo from Earl's husband. Arranged by Layne Stein and second tenor Eliezer (Eli) Jacobson.

Just Sing (May 15, 2020) Filmed during the first round of quarantine, a stitched-together collaboration with former group members, family, and colleagues. The closed captioning is given over to the names of all the participants, and their connection to the group. This is the last video before Earl Elkins left for private reasons. Arranged by Layne Stein.

Man in the Mirror Featuring D.J. Young (May 28, 2021) J. None's last video as their baritone, before leaving for a five-year stint singing in the U.S. Navy Choir. though he has since come back to sing with them, when he's on leave. Arranged by Geoff Castelucci.

Wicked A Cappella Medley | A Chance To Fly Featuring Rachel Potter and Emoni Wilkins (November 25. 2021). Arranged by Geoff Castelucci.

Dragonborn Comes Skyrim Featuring Omar Cardona (February 4, 2022) An example of their Gamer Geek side. Arranged by Geoff Castelucci.

And finally: Seven Nation Army Featuring Anthony Gargiula. (May 12, 2023). In this one, they really leaned into adding effects (or filters?) on their voices in post production, to give a more textured, instrumental feel. Also, you can clearly see how Eli Jacobson has matured from second tenor to first tenor with a hard rock belt. Arranged by Geoff Castellucci.

[bclletragedie]

                                  @warystares

LOCATION: gravity nightclub. FOR: angel cardona.

𝐈𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐀 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐂𝐊 to absolutely no one that on her nights off -- veronica could be found dancing the night away at gravity. like most of new york city, shaking off the stresses of the week was an activity she welcomed with open arms. add the drinks, the drugs, and the prospect of spending the night with worthy company -- count her in. but, the cherry on top of the already decadent cake? it came whenever her eyes fell on her best friend, her angel. confidence aside ( it was anything but a facade ), veronica held a particular softness for angel -- and it certainly didn't just come from running with the same crew. something in her felt tied to them... to be frank, she would kill for her. without hesitation, without a second thought.

while veronica was as ruthless as they came ( her time with the jade tribe only being able to recieve minimal credit for that ), angel was the closest thing she had ever had to true family. just pure, genuine love. no need to hold her knife behind her back, no need to watch her back. for she was watching angels, and angel was watching hers.

" i should have known it was you over there.. you look like a fucking disco ball, honey! " veronica laughs, standing from her booth with a hand outstretched to take the other's. the smile on her face is not forced, practiced for the next potential suitor -- it's all genuine. " god -- you look radiant! where the hell did you get this little number? if it goes missing from your closet in the next couple weeks -- you'll know exactly where it is. mine. "

[know4life]

Juneteenth Freedom Forum

What is Black Culture? "Reestablishing the Black Family"

Streamed LIVE June 18th at 4p at www.youtube.com/know4life and www.facebook.com/know4life

Myla Cardona-Jones, CEO

Brunner Literacy Center @brunnerliteracycenter

Adjunct Professor, Sinclair College

mcardona-jones@brunnerliteracy.org

937.567.9600

https://www.brunnerliteracy.org/

Brief Bio: Myla Cardona-Jones is the Chief Executive Officer of the Brunner Literacy Center and Adjunct Professor in the Advanced Job Training program at Sinclair College. Myla is also a founding member of Eradicate Racism and a certified DEI consultant. She partners with several local nonprofits in the community and focuses in the areas of race and the law, deib, leadership, women, and the development of underserved/under-resourced communities. @myla.cardonajones

[warystares]

FULL NAME angel amadis cardona NICKNAME(S) angelbaby GENDER / PRONOUNS genderfluid / any pronouns AGE/ BIRTHDAY thirty-one / october 23rd OCCUPATION dancer + dealer AFFILIATION / ROLE jade tribe / soldier ORIENTATION / STATUS pansexual / single STRENGTHS charismatic + amorous + resourceful WEAKNESSES narcissistic + incendiary + entitled

HISTORY.

tw vaguely implied homophobia + drug use !

let there be no mistake ― angel cardona is a STAR ; fiery, compelling, easily the FIERCEST force of the universe to be reckoned with. ALL-CONSUMING. from the moment they're born, angel craves ― nay, DEMANDS ― the attention & affections of every stranger BLESSED enough to experience them. if their presence alone is not enough to catch at least a DOZEN curious gazes, then they'll ensure their personality COMMANDS it. as a child, angel hungers for PRAISE ; they're s t a r v e d for it, really ! and not for any real LACK, either. the cardona family is LARGE and while angel might be CURSED middle child of SEVEN, it couldn't be said they weren't close growing up. ( being POOR AS FUCK tends to force your hand in that respect ; privacy is a foreign concept when there are four of you to a bedroom. ) she always had someone to whine to, someone to hold a CAPTIVE AUDIENCE for yet another midnight improv performance. it's only that angel is INSATIABLE. she could have all eyes in the room on her and still want MORE.

and to angel's credit, the big happy family FACADE ― that hallmark movie shit, ❛ we may not have a lot but we have e a c h o t h e r and that's ENOUGH ❜ type deal ― it doesn't last forever. NOTHING LASTS FOREVER. trust when angel says he's lived long enough to learn that the HARD way. ( why the fuck can't they get anyone to love them forever, huh ? the way they want to be loved ? TRAGIC. ) he's fifteen when he lands on the STREETS with little more than a duffel bag & A DREAM. if you think that's CORNY, keep it to yourself ― do you know how LONG it took him to be able to romanticize this ? getting KICKED OUT before he can even drive ! losing everything ! and anyway, whether he recalls it as a GORGEOUS CROSSROADS or the CRUEL BETRAYAL OF BLOOD that it is, it's fine. truly, it is. because the cardinal rule of any IT GIRL is the same : beauty is suffering. it's PAIN. and honey, angel know what it is to SUFFER.

no matter how many friends angel might claim in HIGH PLACES, let it be said that there is nothing glamorous about COUCH-SURFING. a few years are lost to a CRISIS OF IDENTITY ― so neatly hidden behind an air of UNWAVERING CONFIDENCE, the same they've always CLUNG to. they'll insist that they're OKAY, that this is little more than an adventure. AN OPPORTUNITY. at first, it proves little more than an opportunity to S P I R A L ; every night a chance for a new SUBSTANCE, a new STRANGER, a new way to reach true, blissful DISTRACTION. from what ? the parents, the siblings that still live on on WITHOUT them ? the countless classes & auditions ― WASTED for not a single callback ? it doesn't take long for such an ERRATIC path to lead angel straight to DANGER ; it's almost as if they have a TASTE for it. they're DRAWN to it.

it's no surprise, then when angel finds herself swiftly lured into the arms of THE JADE TRIBE, is it ? rock bottom is WELL within sight and she's SCARED ; ALONE, even for all the faces she surrounds herself with day & night. ( it seems an IMPOSSIBLE thought ! ) she yearns for the familiar SECURITY ( and attention... and comfort... and... and... !! ) of a FAMILY. and for some reason, she's gotten it into her PRETTY LITTLE HEAD that she can find that in a world of CRIME. ( she thinks she's UNTOUCHABLE is what it is ― MAIN CHARACTER SYNDROME, maybe. but deservedly so ! angel IS the main character, and GOOD LUCK trying to convince her otherwise. ) when she starts DANCING to try and save enough for a place of her OWN, she quickly discovers how incredibly EASY it is to use her a l l u r e at the club to convince guests & strangers to sample the jade tribe's products.

and the best part ? all of these PILLS & POTIONS angel puts on offer keep them a HOT COMMODITY ; they're IN D E M A N D ! sleazes & scoundrels alike ― whether they come for the DRUGS and become m e s m e r i z e d by the undulation of hips under the PULSE of a strobe light, or VICE VERSA ― are drawn to angel like a flurry of moths to a perfectly-manicured FLAME. they use their wiles to line their pockets, maxing out withdrawals on the DEEPEST of wallets with dark d o e eyes and a PROVOCATIVE grin. she does WELL for herself, too, learned over the years what keeps ATTENTION on her. what the people want to see. and no, it may not be BROADWAY or THE SILVER SCREEN, but angel's still got an audience of adoring fans five nights out of the week. and in the grand scheme of things ? that's not the WORST she could do.

( she just knows in her heart, even now : she is destined for BETTER. )

CONNECTIONS.

to be added soon !

[jules-has-notes]

2013 VoicePlay spring tour roundup

VoicePlay's spring 2013 tour was shorter than their previous fall tour – just five weeks – and mostly stuck to the southeastern part of the country, but that didn't stop them from packing in the fun. They made up the concert postponed by Hurricane Sandy, visited family and friends along the way, and documented a lot of their downtime on social media. Some of the guys were particularly excited about a new short-form video platform called Vine.

Showtimes:

They started close to home with a student workshop and a concert in Lake City, FL.

Geoff and Eli got up early to chat with the local access morning show folks in Cullman, AL and promote their concert that evening.

Some venues have extensive backstage areas with unexpected benefits.

Some… not so much.

No matter what, though, there's always some waiting involved.

Which can be alleviated by creating your own silliness, or fended off by middle schooler screams (headphone warning).

.

On the road:

The boys left a sticker on the giant sparkplug at the South of the Border tourist attraction in South Carolina, as is traditional.

Long drives might get tedious after a few weeks, but the scenery can be very pretty.

The aromas aren't always so nice, though, especially with six guys (and occasionally a dog) in the van. So if you've ever wondered what the VoicePlay fellas smell like, apparently sometimes it's "vanilla and moonlight".

The theater kids of a cappella enjoy a bit of dress-up wherever they can find it, even if that's in the toy department during a supply run on their day off.

Tony's adorable terrier Fletcher went along for the middle leg of the tour to El Paso.

The cuteness didn't stop the guys from getting goofy during the long stretches of driving or late night shopping excursions, though.

No trip through Texas is complete without a stop at a Buc-ee's for provisions. (Which prompted Eli to give a shoutout to former 4:2:Five member Matthew "Bucky" Buckner who's been making cameos recently.)

The boys popped home for a few days just in time to see Rachel Potter in concert (with friend and future VoicePlay collaborator EJ Cardona). Layne and his then-girlfriend got a little tipsy and silly.

Fewer shows on the tour might have been easier on their vocal cords, but it also meant more long stretches in the van between gigs. At least it had a video game setup.

.

Feeding the beasts:

○ Earl doing restaurants' eating challenges continued to be A Thing.

Earl hot wing challenge (Layne's YouTube) The "blazin' challenge" at Buffalo Wild Wings (a dozen spicy wings in under 6 minutes) was no problem, even playing injured. He was awarded a t-shirt and the onlookers' respect.

(Eli's Vine) He polished off another 32-ounce steak at a Texas Roadhouse.

(Eli's Vine) A tex-mex plate and beer-rita on Cinco de Mayo was easy peasy. (Followed by much silliness from everyone.)

(VoicePlay's Twitter) He was only defeated by the 72-ounce steak at The Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo. He gave it a solid try, though.

○ This one's more of a not-eating-everything-at-once challenge, but when your percussionist's little sister is a professional baker, you've gotta visit and stock up for the road while you're in town.

○ Lunchtime ambience is important, no matter where you are.

○ It's good to acknowledge the fans, no matter how famous you get.

○ And sometimes you just need to share your thoughts with the world, no matter how banal. (That's what social media is for, after all.)

[elverdeshow]

Flashback to May, where Center Theatre Group presented a reading of "The Exoneration of El Maestro" by Anthony Aguilar & Alejandra Cisneros. Featuring Oscar T. Basulto, Raul Cardona, Cristina Fernandez, & Ramona Gonzales.

And we have exciting news! "The Exoneration of El Maestro" will return as part of the Los Angeles Libros Fest! It's all happening September 30, 2023 at 2pm at the Los Angeles Central Library auditorium. Be sure to arrive early for there will be plenty of events that will be fun for the whole family.

Register here.

(Photography by Cristi Burgos)

[happinessismusic]

Shelton's wife and fellow Voice coach Gwen Stefani previously told PEOPLE that it "works out really good for me if [Blake Wins] because then I could be married to the guy that won 10 times."

With that reminder, Shelton said, "I want to dedicate this win to Gwen Stefani as a coach. How about that? Think that'll score me some points? Put it in parentheses!"

After a busy Voice season, Shelton said he's looking forward to spending Christmas in Oklahoma with his wife and family this year.

"Gwen and I are both excited about that," he said. "Literally, when we go back to Oklahoma for Christmas it's like we're in a Hallmark movie, which is incredible. We end up in the country, like 'My gosh, there's a snowstorm. We can't get out.' All of that. I'm addicted to those movies."