#conquest of florida

[gu6chan]

ouaaaaaghhh i've been on a bit of a pokemon binge lately......... i should crack open my old pokemon games and take a peek at my teams :,) i wish i still had my old copy of conquest and black 2 though............ :(

[msschemmenti]

My Way

Emily Prentiss x Reader

Wc: 1335

a/n: crack drabble to get back into writing in general that was inspired by a reel or tiktok storytime i saw

Prompt: Emily and the Crew head to their usual bar to unwind after solving yet another case. Emily is approached by a woman she’s never seen before but she can’t help but to admire her confidence.

“Anyone up for drinks? I think I could use a couple of rounds.” Derek called eyeing everyone as they gathered their things from their desks. They’d all just returned from a rather long case in Florida, which was always a reason to get drunk. Garcia and JJ were the first to agree, followed shortly by Rossi, and after a little peer pressure, even Reid agreed. All eyes landed on Emily expectantly, she raked her brain for an excuse but knew she’d be piling into the bar with the rest of the team. “Oh alright, I’m in.” 

With a triumphant fist pump, Derek led the way to the elevator and to the team’s usual bar. They piled into a booth toward the back of the room and commenced their usual routine of drinking, games, and unwinding. JJ had made her way over to the darts board and seemed to be schooling some men. Garcia and Reid were locked into what looked like an extremely serious conversation at one end of the booth. Rossi and Morgan were both eyeing the bar for what could only be considered their next conquest. And then there was Emily, watching them all nursing her drink in what could only be described as brooding. 

Suddenly Emily felt eyes on her. She gazed around the room hoping to catch whoever’s eye she caught. It wasn’t abnormal for her to meet someone on these team nights out. It wasn’t as frequent as Derek or Rossi but she got her fair share of phone numbers. She was just less likely to act on those approaches. The dating scene in DC was already such a difficult thing to navigate, and being on this team was not very helpful either. She was still surveying the room when she felt Derek nudge her shoulder gently. 

“Honey at one o’clock been giving you the eyes for a while now.” He grinned nodding in that direction. Emily discreetly followed his motion with her eyes and instantly met warm eyes. And they were in fact on her. She watched as the woman twirled a loc of her between her fingers and eyed her over the rim of some fruity drink. The woman smiled sweetly and floated a wink over to their table. Emily smiled back and nodded her head in greeting. Before she could even think about her next move Derek let out a whistle of appreciation. “Oh, I think you might’ve hit the jackpot tonight. I was hoping she was eyeing me but looks like she’s got different tastes.” 

“It’s not my fault you and Rossi are striking out tonight. Maybe it’s a sign it’s time to retire.” Emily grinned in jest causing both men to scoff in offense. 

“It’s a shame too, you probably won’t even take her up on any offer,” Rossi grumbled rolling his eyes. 

“Hey! You don’t know what I might do.” Emily protested earnestly. She moved her eyes back to the woman and watched as she talked with her friends. The bar they went to was a pretty popular spot for post-work drinks and the woman seemed to have come from some office job. She and her friends were all standing and sitting around a high-top table, some with tumblers of dark liquor and others with bright drinks like the woman. The women were all conventionally attractive, yes, but she had to be honest in the fact that she was very attracted to the woman eyeing her. 

“Princess, when was the last time you indulged? I know you’ve had plenty of offers.” Derek asked. 

“I don’t think that’s any of your business.” 

“Oh sounds like she’s practicing celibacy.” Derek chided. 

“I indulge plenty.” Emily protested. 

“Oh yeah? Prove it.” Morgan goaded with a grin. “If your bed is so popular, what’s stopping you from welcoming another?” 

“Morgan, just because a woman smiles at me from across the bar doesn’t mean she wants anything from me. Especially an invitation to my bed. Unlike you, I’m not desperate for any action.” 

Morgan’s eyes widened in shock and he brought his hand to his chest, “Oh you wound me. You wound me.” Before Morgan could continue his poking, Rossi cleared his throat to get their attention. 

“Behave, children. We’ve got company.” Rossi smiled as his eyes roamed to the end of the table.

“Please, don’t stop on my account.” The young woman called as she let the smirk settle on her lips. She stopped at the end of the booth and let her eyes settle on Emily. 

Derek was the first of the two younger agents to wake from their stunned silence. “I think we can be on our best behavior in the company of someone so beautiful, right Princess?”

Derek nudged Emily playfully but it really didn’t do much good considering she was absolutely locked in on the younger woman leaning against the booth. Her eyes slowly scanned her face in interest. Now that she’d come closer, Emily really couldn’t see any reason not to at least entertain the idea of spending an evening with this mystery woman. If she was lucky, she might even get more than just an evening.

“Princess, huh? Well, can I treat the Princess to a drink?” She smiled sweetly reaching a hand out toward Emily. As soon as the words left her mouth she could hear Morgan snickering next to her.

With a roll of her eyes, Emily took her hand and slid her empty glass to the center of the table. “I think I’d like that.” Allowing the younger woman to pull her toward the bar, Emily looked over her shoulder at Morgan and Rossi (and now Reid and Garcia) and stuck her tongue out tauntingly. They’d spent the entire night with no interest from anyone and she was getting a drink with a very attractive woman. All that talk with nothing to show of it.

Once at the bar, seemingly an equal distance from both of their parties, the woman turned to address Emily. “What’ll be?” 

Never having been one to submit, Emily grinned over the woman’s head and waved her hand toward the bartender. As the bartender made his way over to them Emily caged her arms around the younger woman and leaned over her shoulder, her body screaming dominate in every way she knew how.

“Let me have another beer and one of those fruity things for…” Emily ordered next to the woman’s ear. 

“Y/n.” 

“A fruity thing for Y/n.” Emily finished with a smile, never letting her eyes leave the woman she’d trapped between the bar and her arms. The bartender nodded and got the drinks out relatively quickly and they moved to the far end of the bar– out of the way but still just as close to each other. 

“I’m gonna go out on a limb and say your name isn’t Princess.” Y/n started as she twirled the straw in her drink and gazed up at Emily through her lashes. 

“It is not. I’m Emily. My friend is just being a sore loser that I seemed to have caught the attention of the most attractive woman here.” Emily shrugged watching as Y/n’s cheeks tinted pink under her grin. 

“Well, I know what I want,” Y/n said, running a hand over the rim of her cup. 

“And what is it that you want?” Emily challenged. 

Y/n chuckled and allowed her hand to trace Emily’s jawline with a sweet smile. “Well if I have it my way, which I normally do, you’ll be wrapped around my finger before the night is over.” 

Emily raised an eyebrow as she allowed a smirk to take over her face, “Is that so?” Y/n didn’t answer at first and brought the straw of her drink to her mouth pulling Emily closer to her body. 

With their chests flushed and their eyes locked, Y/n grinned sweetly and whispered “You’ll see.” Securing Emily’s attention for the rest of the night, and potentially the future.

[manicdepressionismyexpression]

I travelled the USA today

and lost myself along the way.

I lost my appetite in Kentucky and Indiana and West Virginia

when I realised someone really did vote the monster,

siding with hate against the existence

of those who differ.

I then lost my faith in Alabama,

Arkansas and Florida,

knowing that one of the big three

would rather support a demon than me,

and that every single vote in even the small states

held my life and rights on millions of tiny slips.

I lost my temper in Texas and Tennesse,

where I couldn't believe the gall they had

in supporting the felon all along,

standing against innocents who did no wrong.

Wyoming, Utah, Ohio and their comrades

chipped away at my sanity until

I could not bear to believe that me and mine

were so unimportant to the great America,

and that there was more harm to come still.

Then came Gerogia and Idaho

dealing a terrible blow

to the fragments of my heart still

barely beating among the madness.

Pennsylvania snatched my hope,

a single piece of news bringing

the villains to the brink of victory,

and drowning out the voices of those

breaking like me, desperate to be heard.

I knew there was nothing else to be done.

Wisconsin stole whatever was left,

heralding the arrival of a dark age of hate

like the dreaded horsemen,

pillaging me for my rights, my voice, my soul,

to feed to brutal beast who now held our lives in its hand.

At the ending of the day, America was

rejoicing the conquest of a caitiff,

praising the country's greatness and triumph,

but I would not celebrate with them,

for today the USA stole my freedom.

[klaineccfanficlibrary]

Could yall recomend a fic where Blaine’s a bit of a player? Like collide or ride, where he’s known to sleep around for fun until he meets Kurt.

These might be what you are looking for! ~Jen

Dirt On Your Name by sabbypandawan

Blaine Anderson is NYU’s most notorious lothario. Everyone knows his name, and people either warn each other off him or vie for his attention. So when he meets Kurt Hummel at a party their dorm is hosting for the newly moved-in freshmen, he expects either rejection or, more likely, approval – and gets so much more than he ever would have guessed, and had definitely never hoped for.

~~~~~

The Seduction by @hkvoyage

Venetian Blaine arrives at Carnival’s masquerade ball, looking for his next conquest. His reputation as a lover is legendary, and no one can resist him. Virgin Kurt captures his attention, but seducing him will require careful planning. As they spend time together, will Blaine be able to carry out his plan successfully? A historical Klaine AU set in 18th-century Venice.

~~~~~

Skin on Skin by  Ulysses31dancer

Kurt wins a VIP ticket to meet Blaine Anderson the rock star. He doesn’t realize that this one incident will change his life forever.

~~~~~

Not Exclusiveby nellie12

Finn happens to be doing well for himself in the University of Florida. He is starting QB for the Gators, and he’s a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and his grades aren’t terrible. He also has his favorite step-brother coming to visit from New York, and Kurt has no idea he’s about to have the Spring Break of a lifetime until he meets Finn’s best friend and frat mate- Blaine Anderson.

[jaywritesrps]

I think theres still more to the story with krashlyn. Not gonna lie it’s so one sided and the hate train on ash is extreme - like I get not believing her statement for some people but I feel like if there was proof of an affair it should’ve leaked by now. I just think the scales are eventually gonna tip and it might not be pretty for krieger. I just don’t buy ash left her family cause Sophia bush looked at her and she now wants to be rich and famous, when she’s been committed for 13 years and planning her retirement in Florida. Some of the fanfic is now boarding conspiracy and insanity.

I agree with you. You know that saying that says it needs two to tango. Don't get me wrong, as I stated before, I am an Ali Krieger's fan, even though I am deeply disappointed at how Ali dealt with this, cause we still don't know her side of the story, cause she is really good dodging tricky questions, but she has her share on this too.

Like after the wedding, they pegged me as an unbalanced relationship, it was more like "what Ali wants, Ashlyn will give her". And Ashlyn's likes on IG when the news broke sorta confirms this feeling I had. There was one particular quote that from her that strike my attention that said if someone you love use their conquests to belittle you, then this person doesn't deserves you, especially when you helped them to have those victories or something along those lines. And if something like this was happening, can't imagine what was going behind closed doors with them to a point she decided to leave a 13 years relationship. And Ashlyn isn't stupid, she knew this hate train was going to get her and all the implications involving thos decision, and she still chose to divorce cause it was better than live the way they were.

But okay, Let's assume there was cheating (which i don't think so cause of what you said about proof and from who Sophia is), on Ashlyn's side, can you imagine how bad your relationship has to be that you cheated on the person you are dating for 13 years and later decide to leave to be with the other woman?

What I really think it happened based on what we know is that their relationship was bad on both ends, Ashlyn and Sophia talked about it in Cannes. Sophia was responsible for giving support to Ashlyn undeniably, cause all of Sophia's friends says she is someone that will stand up for you and fight for you no matter what, even though she doesn't do that for herself (Hilarie Burton's words), she gave Ashlyn that emotional support, while Ashlyn did the same for her while she was sick and made Sophia realize her relationship with Grant it wasn't what she thought she wanted. It was a mutual platonic relationship that ended becoming romantic down the road. Period. the end.

Ashlyn and Ali didn't worked as couple for a while. We can't pinpoint exactly what happened or when that happen, cause we dont know their home life, but looking back them through their social media, press and interviews, you can see that cracks starting to show up prior the Cannes event.

And to be honest, it's better this way, Ashlyn and Sophia are happy and Ali will find someone that will treat her as the queen she is. What is despicable is the hate fans are sending to Ashlyn and Sophia for just living their lives, based on half true or fanfics from L Chat, you know.

[rowinablx]

Why we need to remember Aaron Hernandez and his actions even though we'd rather forget

In the shadowy labyrinth of American football's pantheon, the story of Aaron Hernandez is a tragic tale of a fallen hero. Once a gleaming beacon of athletic prowess and promise, his narrative unfolded like a Shakespearean drama, replete with triumph, scandal, and a poignant descent into the abyss of despair. Born in Bristol, Connecticut, on November 6, 1989, Aaron grew up in a family where football was not merely a pastime, but a religion, a creed that shaped the very essence of their existence. His father, Dennis, a former tight end for the University of Connecticut, cast a long, formidable shadow over Aaron's youth, instilling in him a fervent passion for the game that would both elevate and ultimately consume him.

Aaron's journey into football stardom began in earnest at Bristol Central High School, where he honed his skills as a tight end and linebacker, earning a reputation as a force to be reckoned with on the field. His athletic talents did not go unnoticed; a slew of college scholarships awaited him, with the University of Florida emerging as the crown jewel of his academic and athletic conquests. It was here, under the tutelage of Urban Meyer, that Aaron's star continued to ascend. With a Super Bowl victory already under his belt, he was a highly sought-after prospect, and the New England Patriots, recognizing the potential that lay within him, drafted him in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft.

Hernandez's tenure with the Patriots was marked by moments of brilliance and controversy in equal measure. In 2011, he signed a lucrative contract extension, a testament to the faith the team had in his abilities. However, whispers of off-field troubles began to tarnish his gleaming facade. Reports of drug use and violent encounters painted a picture of a young man grappling with the pressures of fame and fortune, a theme that would become a tragic motif in his life. Despite these off-field distractions, Aaron's performance on the gridiron remained strong, earning him a spot on the 2012 Pro Bowl roster and contributing to the team's Super Bowl appearance that year.

The darker shadows of Aaron's life grew longer in the summer of 2013 when he was implicated in the murder of semi-professional football player Odin Lloyd. The ensuing legal saga cast a pall over the NFL and his team, as the public struggled to reconcile the smiling image of the talented athlete with the accused killer that stood before them. Despite proclaiming his innocence, the walls of accusation began to close in. The New England Patriots, faced with a PR nightmare, decided to cut ties with their star player, effectively ending his football career.

As the trial unfolded, it became clear that the allure of wealth and notoriety had led Aaron down a path fraught with perilous associations. His friendship with a violent gang member, his involvement in the murders of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado, and his tumultuous personal life were all laid bare in the courtroom, a stark contrast to the glamour of the football field. The once-celebrated tight end, who had dazzled fans with his acrobatic catches and powerful runs, was now the subject of morbid fascination, a symbol of the fragility of the American dream.

Throughout the trial, Aaron's mental health was called into question. A complex tapestry of brain injuries, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), and a history of physical abuse emerged, offering a glimpse into the tumultuous inner workings of a man whose public persona had been meticulously crafted by the machine of professional sports. His lawyers argued that the repeated traumas he had suffered during his football career had fundamentally altered his mental state, leading to erratic behavior and violent tendencies. This defense, while controversial, shed light on the darker side of the sport, sparking a broader conversation about the long-term effects of head injuries in football and the responsibilities of the NFL towards its players.

But there was another secret lurking in the shadows of Aaron's life that had remained hidden from public view: his closeted bisexuality. The hyper-masculine world of the NFL had little room for those who did not conform to the rigid heteronormative ideal, and Aaron, fearing the repercussions of living openly, had kept his sexual orientation a closely guarded secret. The burden of this concealment weighed heavily on him, contributing to the inner turmoil that fueled his descent into a world of drugs, gangs, and violence. His fear of being outed was so intense that it is believed to have played a role in his involvement with the very individuals who would ultimately lead to his downfall.

The interplay between Aaron's private struggles with his sexuality and the machismo of football culture created a toxic stew that simmered just beneath the surface. His relationships with men, both on and off the field, were fraught with tension and confusion, a silent battle waged in the locker room and the streets of Boston. The dichotomy between his public persona and his private truth was a constant source of anguish, as he sought to reconcile the expectations of his fans, his family, and his own identity in a world that often seemed incapable of understanding the complexities of the human condition.

In the hyper-masculine crucible of professional sports, where homophobia was as rampant as the pursuit of victory, Aaron's bisexuality was a tightly held secret, a burden that grew heavier with each passing season. The fear of rejection and the potential loss of his football career haunted him, forcing him to navigate a treacherous social terrain where authenticity was often equated with weakness. This secret, like the unseen bruises on his brain, festered within him, contributing to a volatile mix of emotions that would later be cited as a significant factor in his violent outbursts.

But amidst this chaos, there was a beacon of hope and love in his life: his daughter, Avielle Janelle-Jasmin Hernandez. Born in 2012 to Aaron and his fiancée, Shayanna Jenkins, Avielle became the one constant in a world of fleeting glamour and shifting alliances. She was the embodiment of innocence in a narrative stained with the dark hues of deceit and tragedy. Aaron's love for her was unbridled, a love that transcended the constraints of his public image and the shackles of his personal demons. In the quiet moments away from the media frenzy and the echoes of his legal battles, he was simply a father, playing with his little girl, trying to imbue her with the joy and wonder that had once filled his own youth.

Avielle's existence served as a stark reminder of the humanity that often gets lost in the glitz and grime of professional sports. Despite the chaos that swirled around him, Aaron strived to be a present and loving father. He shared tender moments with her, whispering sweet nothings into her ear, and showering her with the affection that was a stark contrast to the cold reality of his life outside the confines of their home. The birth of his daughter had brought a new dimension to his life, one that offered a semblance of normalcy and a reason to fight for redemption amidst the tempest of scandal.

Yet, the storm grew more ominous when Aaron was finally arrested on June 26, 2013, for the murder of Odin Lloyd. The news sent shockwaves through the sports world and beyond, as fans and detractors alike grappled with the image of the smiling, baby-faced athlete now handcuffed and escorted into a police cruisher. The mugshot of a disheveled and bewildered Hernandez would become an indelible symbol of the tragic narrative that had unfolded. The arrest marked a stark shift in his life, from the adored to the vilified, a transformation that was as swift as it was stunning.

The legal process that followed was a grueling marathon of accusations, court appearances, and media scrutiny. His once-adoring fans now questioned their allegiance, his teammates whispered in hushed tones, and his endorsements evaporated like mist in the harsh sun of public outrage. Throughout the trial, Aaron's demeanor oscillated between stoic and emotional, a reflection of the tumultuous tempest raging within. Each day brought forth new evidence, each revelation a fresh wound that bled the veneer of his former life away, leaving only the raw, unvarnished truth of his actions.

The courtroom was a modern-day coliseum where Aaron's fate was decided not by the roar of a bloodthirsty crowd, but by the cold, methodical deliberation of twelve jurors. The air was thick with tension as they weighed the testimonies of witnesses and the evidence laid before them. His lawyers painted a picture of a man haunted by his past and tormented by the very sport that had brought him fame, while the prosecution presented a calculated killer who had thrown away a life of privilege for a fleeting moment of rage.

Amidst the cacophony of the trial, whispers of his mental state grew louder. The revelation of CTE, a neurodegenerative disease linked to repeated head trauma, cast a pall over his actions. It was as if the very essence of Aaron had been hijacked by an invisible enemy that had been festering within his brain, slowly unraveling the fabric of his sanity. This twist in the narrative brought a new dimension to the case, transforming it from a simple tale of crime and punishment to a complex exploration of the dark underbelly of America's favorite pastime.

The verdict was handed down on April 15, 2015, and with it, the curtain fell on one act of Aaron's tragic play. Found guilty of first-degree murder, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The football star who had once reveled in the adoration of the crowd was now just another inmate, a number rather than a name. His fall from grace was complete, a cautionary tale etched into the annals of sports history.

Yet, the story of Aaron Hernandez did not end with the Lloyd trial. In 2017, he faced another set of charges for the 2012 double homicide of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado. The trial was a macabre reprise of the one before, with the same cast of lawyers, witnesses, and media spectators all gathering to dissect the grim details of his life once more. This time, however, the outcome was unexpected. In a stunning reversal of fortune, Aaron was acquitted of the murders, leaving the courtroom in a state of shock and disbelief.

The acquittal, while granting him a temporary reprieve from the specter of the death penalty, did little to absolve him in the eyes of the public. The shadow of doubt lingered, a specter that clung to him like a second skin. The jury had spoken, but the collective consciousness remained divided, unsure of what to make of this man who had been vilified and then, in a twist of fate, partially vindicated. The narrative of his life had become a Gordian knot, a tangle of conflicting truths that seemed to defy a clear-cut resolution.

And then, in the stillness of his cell on April 19, 2017, Aaron's story took its darkest turn yet. In a moment of desperation or perhaps a final act of control in a life that had spun wildly out of it, he took his own life. The news sent shockwaves through the media landscape, leaving those who knew him, and those who had only known of him, to ponder the enigma that was Aaron Hernandez. His final act was a silent scream that echoed through the hollow corridors of the justice system, a haunting reminder that the most profound stories are often the ones that end without closure.

Before he ended his life, Aaron made a final phone call to the two people who had remained steadfast in his corner, his fiancée, Shayanna Jenkins, and his beloved daughter, Avielle. It was a call filled with the weight of a thousand unspoken words, a poignant coda to a relationship that had been the sole bastion of love and support amidst the chaos. Shayanna, the woman who had stood by him through the tempest, who had borne the brunt of his tumultuous emotions, was now left to grapple with the incomprehensible. Her voice, a beacon of solace in his final moments, would now be forever etched in the annals of a love that had been tested by the harshest of circumstances.

The conversation between Aaron and Avielle was one of those rare, heart-wrenching moments that transcend the confines of time and space. A father, desperate to leave an imprint of love on the soul of his child, whispered sweet nothings into the phone, his words a gentle lullaby to a life filled with turbulence. Avielle, oblivious to the gravity of the situation, giggled and cooed, her innocence a stark counterpoint to the grim reality of the conversation's subtext. For Aaron, it was a fleeting glimpse of the life he could have had, a poignant reminder of the joy that had been within his grasp.

In the hours leading up to his suicide, Aaron's cell was said to have been meticulously arranged. It was a place of solace, a sanctum where he could retreat from the cacophony of his thoughts and the relentless judgment of the outside world. He had written notes, messages of love and apology to those who had stood by him, and perhaps a final confession to those he had wronged. The act of writing, a silent conversation with his own conscience, was his final attempt at reconciliation, a feeble attempt to mend the fractured narrative of his life.

The moment he took his own life was one of profound solitude, a stark contrast to the frenetic energy of the football field he once knew. The quietude of the cell was pierced only by the desperate finality of his breath, a somber testament to the depths of his despair. His death was a tragic finale to a tale that had been marred by darkness and misunderstanding, a story that had become a cautionary allegory for a nation grappling with the consequences of its obsessions with violence and hero worship.

The aftermath of Aaron's suicide sent shockwaves through the world of football, where the whispers of CTE grew from a murmur to a deafening roar. The revelation that he had been suffering from severe CTE at the time of his death cast a pall over the sport, forcing a reckoning with the price paid by its gladiators for the entertainment of the masses. The league, long criticized for its handling of head injuries, found itself at the center of a storm of scrutiny and accusation.

The examination of Aaron's brain postmortem revealed a frontal lobe that had been ravaged by the repeated traumas of his football career. This part of the brain, the seat of judgment and impulse control, had been steadily caving in upon itself, a silent saboteur of his thoughts and actions. The once vibrant tissue had become a tapestry of decay, the delicate threads of his sanity frayed and torn. It was a stark visual representation of the invisible war waged within the minds of countless players, a battle that often went unseen until it was too late.

This revelation of his severe CTE cast a pall over the football world, forcing a collective examination of the price paid for the sport's glitz and glory. The league that had once dismissed the long-term effects of head injuries was now confronted with the grim reality of its complicity in the creation of monsters. Aaron's damaged brain became a symbol of the darker undercurrents that flowed beneath the gleaming surface of the NFL, a reminder that the warriors on the field were mere mortals, not immune to the ravages of the game they loved.

In the wake of his suicide, Aaron's estate became a battleground of its own, a grim reflection of the turmoil that had dominated his life. In a surprising twist, he had bequeathed all he had to his daughter, Avielle, and his fiancée, Shayanna.

The decision to leave his mother, Terri, and brother, DJ, with nothing was a poignant reflection of the fractured relationship that had existed for years. Terri, a woman who hadn't dedicated anything to her son's success, had watched without care or love as he spiralled out of control. The distance between them grew as Aaron's wealth and fame created a chasm that neither could bridge with love alone. His cousins, who had once shared a close bond with him, found themselves cast aside in his quest for power and acceptance in the treacherous underworld of gangs and drugs.

In the complex web of his final wishes, Aaron's omission of his immediate family was a silent manifesto of his true allegiances. He had chosen the path of his father, Dennis, who had instilled in him the belief that football was the only true family he needed. The sport had become his solace, his identity, and ultimately, his downfall. The men he had surrounded himself with, the ones who had shared his darkest secrets and borne witness to his most heinous acts, were the ones who would inherit his legacy, a twisted testament to the bonds formed in the crucible of violence and deceit.

But it was the whispers of his past that truly haunted Aaron's legacy. The dark secrets of his childhood, the bruises on his soul that had never quite healed, had shaped the man he became. A young boy subjected to the cruel whims of parental abuse, he had learned to navigate the world through fear and pain. His mother, Terri, had been as much a specter of torment as she had been a nurturer, her harsh discipline leaving him emotionally scarred and yearning for a sense of belonging. Meanwhile, his father, the very man who had introduced him to the sport that would come to define his life, had also been the source of unspeakable pain. The abuse he suffered at the hands of both parents had etched a pattern of violence into his psyche, one that would manifest in the most shocking ways.

The shadow of his father's influence loomed large, a man whose own demons had cast a long shadow over their family. Dennis Hernandez, a former football player himself, had pushed Aaron into the sport from a young age, imbuing in him a fierce competitiveness and a win-at-all-costs mentality. Yet, this drive for success was underpinned by a volatile temper and a propensity for violence that would become a hallmark of Aaron's own behavior. The echoes of his father's fists resonated through his life, a rhythm of pain that seemed to follow him wherever he went, shaping his interactions and his identity. The love he had for the game was inextricably linked to the fear and anger that had been beaten into him, a love tainted by the very hand that had thrown the first pass.

Terri's role in Aaron's tragic narrative was equally complex. A mother whose own childhood traumas had left her emotionally scarred, she had sought refuge in a religion of discipline that often crossed the line into abuse. Her love for her son was as fierce as it was flawed, her methods of tough love a tragic misinterpretation of what it meant to be a guardian. Her words, sharp as tacks, had pierced his soul, leaving wounds that never quite healed. The screams and the slaps had been her tools of shaping, a misguided attempt to forge a son who could withstand the crucible of life, but instead, had only served to fuel his anger and resentment.

Yet, it was the whispers of his father's abuse that reverberated with a chilling resonance. The very man who had taught him the art of the catch, had also taught him the art of concealment, the necessity of hiding the bruises and the tears. The fear of his father's wrath had been a constant presence in his life, a specter that had haunted his every step. The silence that shrouded their home had been a cocoon of terror, a prison where Aaron had learned to bury his pain deep within.

In the wake of Aaron's suicide, the NFL and the New England Patriots found themselves in the uncomfortable spotlight of public scrutiny. The league that had once been seen as untouchable, a bastion of American values and heroism, now faced a reckoning. The tragic end of Aaron's life served as a stark reminder of the human cost of the sport they had built into an empire. The glitz and the glory of the Super Bowl rings were tarnished by the image of a young man destroyed by the very game that had made him a legend. The conversations about CTE grew louder, more insistent, as the reality of the long-term damage wrought by football could no longer be ignored.

The NFL, initially slow to respond to the growing concerns about the prevalence of brain injuries among its players, was now forced to confront the grim truths that Aaron's life had laid bare. The league implemented new protocols for concussion management and invested millions into research and prevention programs. Yet, the shadow of his story lingered, a reminder of the countless others whose lives had been forever altered by the violent collisions that were the lifeblood of the game. The hallowed halls of the league offices grew quiet as the whispers of doubt grew into a clamor for change.

The New England Patriots, too, faced a reckoning. The team that had once proudly claimed Aaron as one of their own now found their brand tarnished by his actions and the implications of their own role in his downfall. The organization was forced to examine its own culpability in fostering a culture that valued victory over the wellbeing of its athletes. The jettisoning of a star player was a stark admission that the machine had faltered, that the pursuit of greatness had come at too high a cost.

In the hallowed halls of Gillette Stadium, the silence was palpable. The cheers that had once reverberated in celebration of his touchdowns were now replaced by the echoes of his name, a specter that hung in the air like a dark cloud. The franchise that had been built on the bedrock of discipline and excellence now faced a crisis of conscience, a moment where the reflection in the mirror was not that of champions but of enablers. The question of what could have been done differently to prevent Aaron's descent into madness became a rallying cry for reform within the franchise.

Yet, the NFL, the behemoth that had once cradled Aaron in the bosom of its billion-dollar empire, remained steadfast in its denial. The commissioner's podium remained a bastion of stoicism, the words of condolence and concern for the victims' families ringing hollow in the face of the league's inaction. The whispers of CTE, once a fringe theory whispered in the shadows of the game, had become a deafening crescendo that the league could no longer ignore. Yet, the institution that had made him a star was now a silent accomplice in his tragic demise, its silence a deafening indictment of its own complicity.

The gleaming helmets and pads that had once been the armor of his glory were now the very instruments of his destruction. The league that had profited from his talent and labor now turned a blind eye to the wreckage left in the wake of his life. The glitz of the Super Bowl, the rabid fandom, the endless merchandise that bore his name—all were now tainted by the grim specter of his mental decay. The NFL, an entity that had once been the very essence of his identity, had abandoned him, leaving him to face the demons of his past with nothing but the echoes of his former glory.

The whispers of CTE grew louder, a cacophony that the league could no longer muffle with the roar of the crowd. Yet, the commissioner's podium remained a bastion of denial, a fortress of rhetoric that shielded the sport from the harsh light of reality. The very men who had once lauded Aaron as a paragon of athleticism now shied away from his name, as if the mere mention of it could taint their gleaming empire. The concussion protocols, the charitable donations to brain injury research, the solemn speeches about player welfare—these were the fig leaves that sought to cover the naked truth of their indifference.

Aaron's story was a mirror held up to the NFL, reflecting the shadows of a culture that prized performance over the people who provided it. His brain, once a marvel of coordination and strategy, had been pulverized by the very sport that had promised him a golden future. Yet, in the corridors of power, the talk of his tragic end was couched in terms of 'what ifs' and 'if onlys', a tragic narrative of personal failingures rather than a systemic betrayal. The league's refusal to fully acknowledge the role it played in his downfall was a testament to its own fear of mortality, the specter of accountability that threatened to bring the towering edifice of football to its knees.

The NFL, a colossus of wealth and influence, continued to march on, its gleaming helmets and pads a façade for the bruised and broken minds that lay beneath. The men who had once called Aaron their own were now eager to distance themselves from the carnage he had wrought, as if by disavowing his existence they could somehow erase the stain he had left on their pristine image. Yet, every time the pigskin was tossed in the air, every time the crowd roared for a bone-crushing hit, the ghost of Aaron Hernandez hovered just out of sight, a silent witness to the violence that was intrinsic to their beloved game.

The commissioner's podium remained a bastion of denial, the words of concern and condolence ringing hollow in the face of the league's inaction. While the whispers of CTE grew into a cacophony that could no longer be ignored, the NFL clung to its dogma, insisting that the safety of its players was paramount while simultaneously burying the evidence of its own culpability in the tragedies that had unfolded. The concussion protocols were a band-aid on a bullet wound, a cosmetic fix for a systemic issue that was as deeply embedded in the fabric of the sport as the laces on a football. The gleaming stadiums and endless streams of revenue were built on the backs of men like Aaron, who had been chewed up and spat out by a machine that cared little for the lives it consumed in its relentless pursuit of victory.

The players, too, grappled with the grim realization that the sport they had dedicated their lives to could be their ultimate undoing. In the locker rooms and training facilities, the whispers grew into a murmur of doubt, a collective questioning of the price they were paying for their place in the pantheon of football greats. The fear of the invisible enemy lurking in their own minds was a stark contrast to the tangible opponents they faced on the field. Yet, the allure of the game, the roar of the crowd, the camaraderie of the huddle—these were the opiates that dulled the pain of the hits they took, both physical and emotional. The NFL, a colossus of wealth and power, had become a modern-day Sphinx, demanding a toll of sanity and health in exchange for the fleeting glory of touchdowns and Super Bowl rings.

The legal system that had once held Aaron's fate in its hands now seemed a distant memory, a macabre theater where his life had played out for the world to see. Yet, as the final act closed and the curtain of his existence fell, it was clear that he had been the architect of his own downfall. The choices he had made, driven by the demons of his past and the relentless pursuit of a future that never truly existed, had led him to the cold concrete of a prison cell. It was a tragic irony that the very thing that had made him a star—his unrivaled skill and passion for football—was the same force that had propelled him into a world of darkness.

The grief that Aaron had sown was vast, a tangled web that enveloped not just the victims of his crimes, but also the countless individuals who had been drawn into his orbit. His family, who had once been the bastion of his love and support, now grappled with the shattered remnants of their own identities. His fiancée, Shayanna, who had stood by him through the storm, now faced a future without the man she had planned to build a life with. His daughter, Avielle, would grow up with only the faintest memories of her father, her childhood stolen by the shadow of his infamy.

But it was the revelation of his sexuality that added another layer of complexity to his tragic tale. The television series "American Sports Story," with the talented Josh Rivera portraying Aaron, dared to explore the deeply personal and often misunderstood aspect of his identity. The show did not shy away from the raw, unfiltered reality of a man trapped by the rigid constraints of masculinity and homophobia within the NFL. It delved into the secret world of Aaron's desires and fears, offering a poignant look at the internal battles he waged as he juggled his sexual orientation with the hyper-masculine world of football.

The series, with its nuanced portrayal of Aaron's bisexuality, served as a catalyst for a new wave of discourse surrounding the intersection of sexuality and sports. It peeled back the layers of a culture that often vilifies those who dare to be different, showcasing the profound impact that fear and prejudice can have on a person's mental health. Each episode, a meticulously crafted tapestry of his life, revealed the deep-seated pain and confusion that he had endured, the constant fear of being outed a constant specter that haunted him. The raw and authentic performance by Rivera breathed new life into the story, allowing viewers to empathize with the man behind the headlines, humanizing a figure that had been vilified and misunderstood.

However I think the response to the series is for the wrong reasons, focusing on Josh Rivera going full nude in some scenes and sex scenes with men, rather than the profound message it carries. The explicit nature of the show's portrayal of Aaron's sexuality, while jolting to some, served as a stark reminder of the isolation and fear he must have felt. His sexuality was not merely a footnote in his tragic story; it was an integral part of his identity, one that he was never truly able to embrace. The scenes, while controversial, were not gratuitous; they were a raw, unflinching look at a man whose life was a tapestry of secrets and shadows, stitched together by the very sport that had both created and destroyed him.

Labeling Aaron as a gay character when he was a real person and likely bisexual is to me, incredibly disrespectful to him and his family. It's like reducing him to a caricature instead of the complex human being he was. He had a fiancée, a daughter, and a life that was multifaceted and layered with experiences beyond his sexual orientation. To focus solely on that aspect, especially in such a salacious way, is to ignore the depth of his suffering and the tragedy of his story. The series, while attempting to shed light on the struggles of LGBTQ+ athletes in the NFL, unfortunately, seems to have succumbed to the very sensationalism that perpetuates the stigma.

During the production of "American Sports Story," Josh Rivera, who played Aaron, was acutely aware of the delicate nature of portraying such a controversial and sensitive figure. He approached the role with the utmost respect, not just for Aaron's memory, but for those who had loved him in life. His responses to questions about Shayanna Jenkins, Aaron's fiancée, were marked by empathy and sensitivity. He knew that she had lived through the horror of his crimes, the pain of his incarceration, and the agony of his suicide. To her, Aaron was not a character to be played; he was the father of her child, a man whose love she had once shared.

The depiction of Aaron's bisexuality in the series was a double-edged sword. On one hand, it brought much-needed attention to the plight of LGBTQ+ athletes in professional sports. On the other hand, it risked reducing a multidimensional human being to a salacious headline. The nude scenes, while integral to the narrative, became the subject of public fascination rather than a catalyst for meaningful dialogue. The true tragedy of Aaron's story was not his sexuality but the inability of the world around him to accept and support him for who he truly was. The NFL, with its entrenched homophobia, had been his stage, but it had also been his prison, a place where he could never fully reveal himself without fear of rejection and ostracism.

Amidst the furor of the series' release, it was easy to forget that Aaron had been a man who, despite his flaws, had loved deeply. The tenderness he had shown to his daughter, Avielle, was a stark contrast to the violence that had come to define him in the public eye. His love for her was a poignant reminder that even the most broken of souls can find moments of redemption. Yet, the shadow of his crimes loomed large, casting a pall over any attempt to view him solely as a victim of the system. He was a man who had made terrible choices, and while the world of football had shaped him, it was ultimately his own hand that had held the gun.

Holding Aaron accountable for his actions was not a simple matter of assigning blame; it was a complex dance of justice and mercy, of understanding the depth of his suffering while not absolving him of his crimes. The legal system had done its job, meting out the harshest punishment society could offer, but it had failed to address the root causes of his descent into darkness. The NFL, with its billion-dollar profits and glitzy facade, had turned a blind eye to the mental health of its players, preferring to treat them as commodities rather than human beings with complex emotions and identities. The league's inaction in the face of the CTE crisis was a silent admission of complicity in the destruction of lives like Aaron's.

Yet, Aaron's life was not one of unbridled malice. There were moments of tenderness, of love and care that pierced through the armor of his public persona. His love for Avielle was a testament to the goodness that had once resided within him, a spark that had not been entirely snuffed out by the flames of his demons. In the quiet moments, when the cameras were gone and the shouting had ceased, he was a father, a man who loved his child with a fierce, unyielding passion that transcended the ugliness of his deeds.

The impending ten-year anniversary of Aaron's suicide is a poignant reminder that amidst the glitz and the gore, there were hearts that had been broken and lives irrevocably altered by his actions. The victims' families, forever bound by a shared grief, must relive their anguish with each new retelling of his story. His own mother and siblings, who had once basked in his glory, now bear the weight of his infamy, their hearts a battleground of love and loss. The relentless cycle of television shows and documentaries that dissect his life with morbid fascination only serves to exhume the pain that they, and so many others, have worked tirelessly to bury.

As the calendar pages peel away, revealing the date of Aaron's final act of desperation, the air grows thick with anticipation for the next salacious installment in the tragic saga that has become his legacy. Yet, it is my hope that these producers and networks will recognize the gravity of their role in perpetuating a narrative that has long ago exhausted its educational value. The repeated dissection of his life and the exploitation of his mental health struggles do not offer solace or understanding to those who mourn; they serve only to sensationalize his tragic end.

Aka. Stop. Profiting. Off. Aaron's. Murders. And. Suicide. That's what the ten-year anniversary of his tragic end should signal. Enough with the glossy TV specials and documentaries, the salacious retellings that treat his life like a piece of tabloid fodder to be picked apart and devoured by the masses. It's time to let the dead rest, and for the living to find peace. The families of Odin Lloyd, Daniel de Abreu, and Safiro Furtado, along with Aaron's own, have suffered long enough under the unforgiving glare of the media spotlight, their wounds reopened with each new season of "true crime" content that masquerades as a public service.

American Sports Story should be the end of dramatizing Aaron Hernandez's story. The line between artistic interpretation and exploitation has been crossed, and the time has come to allow the memory of a man whose life ended in such a tragic fashion to rest in peace. The relentless consumption of his narrative has become a grim spectacle, a macabre entertainment that does a disservice to the very real people who continue to feel the repercussions of his actions. The families of his victims, his daughter Avielle, and his loved ones are not characters in a sordid tale; they are survivors of a tragedy that refuses to be confined to the annals of history.

But the tenth anniversary of Aaron's suicide approaches, the media frenzy surrounding his life shows no signs of abating. Yet, it is essential to remember that the story of Aaron Hernandez is not one of fascination or entertainment; it is a story of pain, loss, and a systemic failure to protect those most vulnerable. The victims of his crimes deserve more than to be mere footnotes in a saga of celebrity and scandal. They deserve to be remembered for their lives, not merely as the catalyst for his fall from grace.

Odin Lloyd, a young man with a bright future, was more than just a name in a headline; he was a son, a boyfriend, and a friend, whose life was cruelly snuffed out. His loved ones, who continue to mourn in private, are subjected to a public spectacle that seems to have forgotten the very real agony they endure. Each time Aaron's story is told, it is a fresh reminder of the pain they carry. The same is true for the families of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado, whose lives were cut short in a senseless act of violence that still sends shockwaves through their communities.

Shayanna Jenkins, Aaron's fiancée, who had been painted as a gold digger in the harsh gossip of tabloid headlines, was in reality a woman of strength and resilience. Her love for Aaron was unwavering, even in the face of the unthinkable. The burden she bears is one of profound sorrow and a love lost to the darker recesses of a man's soul. The weight of his actions has shackled her to a past she cannot escape, her future forever entwined with the grim narrative of his crimes.

Avielle, the innocent bystander in this tragic play, grows up in the shadow of her father's infamy. Her childhood is a tapestry of whispers and stolen glances, a dance of love and loss. Yet, she remains a beacon of hope, a reminder that life goes on, even when the darkness seems to have swallowed everything in its path. It is for her that we must strive to find meaning in the chaos of her father's life, to understand that the story of Aaron Hernandez is not just one of a fallen football star but of a family torn apart by forces beyond their control.

To dedicate this essay to Aaron is not to glorify his crimes but to acknowledge the humanity that existed within him. It is to recognize the potential that was snuffed out by a system that values performance over personhood, a culture that prizes the illusion of invincibility over the reality of mental health. In the quiet moments, when the echoes of his tragic story have faded, let us remember the young boy who dreamed of playing under the Sunday lights, the teenager who loved with a fierce passion, and the man who, despite his demons, was a devoted father.

Thank you, reader, for walking this tumultuous journey with us, for delving into the complexities of Aaron's life without flinching. It is through your eyes that we have sought to understand the depths of his despair and the heights of his ambition. May the telling of his story serve as a catalyst for change, a call to action for a world that often turns a blind eye to the pain of those who dare to break free from the constraints placed upon them. Let us strive to create a society where athletes are not just commodities but human beings with the right to be seen and supported in their entirety, free from the shackles of toxic masculinity and the fear of rejection.

As we reach the end of this essay, I can't help but express my sarcasm to the NFL, an institution that has shaped the lives of millions, including our own. Growing up as a fan of the Denver Broncos and the Detroit Lions, I have experienced the highs and lows, the triumphs and the tragedies, that come with supporting teams that are so much more than just a group of players.

The NFL, with its glitz and glamour, often serves as a surrogate family for its fans, raising us on a diet of hope and hero worship. Yet, in the shadow of its gleaming stadiums and million-dollar contracts, lies a darker reality, one that Aaron's story has laid bare. It is a reality where the mental health of players is often an afterthought, where the pressure to perform can crush the spirits of even the strongest men. And in the center of this maelstrom stood Aaron, a man who never had the opportunity to be truly seen and understood aside from his darkness.

Josh Rivera's portrayal in "American Sports Story" offered a glimpse into the soul of a man who was lost, a man whose light was obscured by the shadows of his past and the demons that haunted him. Through his nuanced performance, Rivera managed to humanize Aaron, allowing the audience to see beyond the headlines and into the heart of a troubled individual. He did not seek to excuse Aaron's actions but rather to explore the complexities that led him down such a tragic path.

The series served as a stark reminder that the glitz and glamour of professional football often obscure the very real lives and struggles of the men who don the pads and helmets each week. While the NFL continues to rake in billions and the nation remains transfixed by the spectacle of the game, the human cost is often relegated to the sidelines, a footnote in the annals of sports history. Aaron's story, as brought to life by Rivera, was a poignant reminder that the athletes we cheer for are not invincible, but flesh and blood, prone to the same frailties and vulnerabilities as the rest of us.

[noelcollection]

Publications of the New World

The James Smith Noel Collection has closed out another exciting exhibit, this time the topic was the New World of the Americas as experienced by Europe and other explorers. The exhibit: Exploration of the New World features the culture and intriguing history of Central and South America as it was experienced in the resources produced in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. We welcomed visitors to the mysterious, ancient rituals of the Pre-Columbian Mayans, the Aztecs of Mexico, and the Incas of Peru. We also showcased the advancements in architecture, science, and community development while marveling at the natural beauty of the regions.

One of the cases displayed a fascinating book which was originally published in Spanish and later translated into English. The edition house in the Noel Collection was published in 1688 of The royal commentaries of Peru, : in two parts. The first part Treating the Original of their Incas or Kings: Of their Idolatry … by Garcilaso de la Vega. Vega wrote a pivotal account of Incan history. Vega has a unique personal connection to the Incan world being a descendant of royal Incan lineage. He was half Spanish and Incan, his father being Spanish, and he chronicled Incan history, culture, and destruction as a result of the Spanish conquest. We featured a portion of text that discussed the minerals, precious metals, and natural resources found in Peru, such as, gold, silver, and mercury or quicksilver.

Vega was born as Gómez Suárez de Figueroa in April of 1539, and became known as El Inca. He ventured to Spain when he was 21 where he obtained an informal education and remained until his death in April of 1616. His father died in 1559 and Vega relocated to Spain two years later to seek acknowledgement as the natural son of the Spanish conquistador. His paternal uncle became his protector. While he primarily wrote on the Incan civilization, Spanish conquest, and an account of De Soto’s exploration of Florida.

 Gómez Suárez de Figueroa was born in Cuzco, Peru; his father is recorded as being Sabastian Garcilaso de la Vega y Vargas, a Spanish captain, and his mother was Palla Chimpu Ocllo. When his mother was baptized after the fall of Cuzo and renamed Isabel Suarez Chimpu Ocllo, she was descended from Inca nobility, the daughter of Tupac Huallap and granddaughter of Tupac Yupanqui. Vega’s parents were not married in the Catholic church, resulting in his birth being considered illegitimate and he was given his mother’s surname. Vega was a child when his father left and married a younger Spanish noblewoman. His mother married and had two daughters. His first language was Quechua but learned Spanish as a child.

After moving to Spain, he received a European education and the works he produced was considered to have great literary value. He traveled to Montilla and met his father’s brother, Alonso de Vargas, who took him as his protector to help Vega make his way. He traveled to Madrid and petitioned the crown for acknowledgement. He was allowed the name of Garcilaso de la Vega, or "El Inca" or "Inca Garcilaso de la Vega" due to his mixed heritage. He had first-hand experience of the daily-life of the Inca life which heavily influenced his writings. His education allowed him to accurately describe the political system, labor force, and social life of the Incan empire.

Vega, Garcilaso de la (1688) The royal commentaries of Peru, : in two parts. The first part Treating the Original of their Incas or Kings: Of their Idolatry … London: Printed by Miles Flesher … https://bit.ly/3UxrtdH

Exhibit link: https://bit.ly/3y7k657

[eretzyisrael]

BY ROBERT SATLOFF

The 1973 Arab-Israeli war may be known to Jews as the Yom Kippur War, but it is widely known in the Arab world as “Harb Ramadan” — the Ramadan War — given that Anwar Sadat dispatched Egyptian forces to cross the Suez Canal during the holy month. But it is only a relatively recent example of Arab or Muslim armies waging war during this month. 

The Saudi newspaper Arab News provided a helpful primer on the topic in 2014: “While much literature has been written on Islamic conquests focusing on strategy, many victories occurred during Ramadan due to the focus of the Ummah on Allah Almighty and this removed fear from the hearts of the Muslims. This is why some of the greatest victories in Islam occurred during Ramadan …”

Starting with the seminal battle of Badr in Year 2 on the Islamic hijri calendar, corresponding to the year 624 A.D., the list of historic victories in Ramadan cited in this article includes “the conquest of Makkah (8 Hijri), the conquest of Rhodes (53 Hijri), the successful landing of Muslims on the coast of Spain (91 Hijri), the victory by Tarik Ibn Zayed against the King of Spain (92 Hijri), the victory of Salahuddin against invading crusaders (584 Hijri), and Mamluk’s victory versus invading Tatars in the battle of Ain Jiloot (650 Hijri).”

More recently, take a look at the bloodthirsty Ramadan record of the Islamic State. As a Washington Post reporter noted, a spokesman for the terrorist group exhorted followers in 2016 “to make it a month of calamity everywhere for nonbelievers” — and indeed they did, with gruesome Ramadan attacks against civilians from Kuwait to Syria to France to a nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

And, as my Washington Institute colleague Patrick Clawson pointed out in 2004, naive non-Muslim governments have been disappointed when they appealed to their Muslim foes for ceasefires during Ramadan: “Modern proposals for Ramadan ceasefires by secular governments — the Soviets in Afghanistan, Saddam Hussein when fighting the Islamic Republic of Iran — were uniformly rejected by the Islamist side, which usually intensified fighting during Ramadan.”

[cleverwordsandotherstuffilike]

Deaths

300 million – Smallpox, worldwide, 20th century200 million – Bubonic plague, worldwide, 1300s62 million – World War II, worldwide60 million – Mongol conquests, 13th century 50 million – H1N1 flu pandemic, worldwide, 191850 million – Famine, worldwide, 1960s 19 million – AIDS, worldwide to date9.6 million – Cancer, worldwide, 2017 1 million – Irish potato famine, 1846-1849 1 million – Flu pandemic, worldwide, 1957  1 million – Mosquito, annual, worldwide 835,000 – COVID-19 pandemic, worldwide, 2020 830,000 – Shaanxi earthquake, China, 1556800,000 – Rwanda, 1994 650,000 – Roman Colosseum for public entertainment, 80-404 618,222 – US Civil War 500,000 – War, Iraqis, 2003 to 2011 500,000 – Famine, worldwide, 2010-2016 400,000 – Homicides per year, worldwide 295,000 – Pregnancy and childbirth, worldwide 227,898 – Indian Ocean tsunami, 2004 113,990 – Injuries, Palestinians, 2008-2020 97,207 – Bosnian war 70,237 – Drug Overdoses (US), 2017 60,000 – Natural disasters per year, worldwide 58,209 – Vietnam War, 1955-1975 (US) 50,000 – Snakes, worldwide 48,344 – Suicide, annual (US) 38,000 – Car accidents, annual (US) 36,000 – Krakatoa eruption, Indonesia, 188332,836 – Terrorism, worldwide, 2018 30,000 – The Blitz, Londoners 25,000 – Hippopotamus16,214 – Homicides, US, 2018 15,000 – Holy Inquisition, 1184-180014,000 – Opioid overdoses, Canada, 2016-2020 5,614 – Injuries, Israelis, 2008-2020 5,585 – Fatalities, Palestinians, 2008-2020 3,466 – The Troubles, Ireland, 1968-1998 1,950 – Halifax explosion, 1917 1,517 – RMS Titanic, 19121,000 – Crocodile, worldwide651 – Homicides, Canada, 2018 500 – Plane crashes, worldwide, 2018 500 – Hippopotamus, Africa 300 – Great Chicago Fire, 1871 (US)270 – Pan Am Flight 103, Lockerbie, Scotland, 1988249 – Fatalities, Israelis, 2008-2020 72 – Grenfell Tower fire, London, 2017 36 – Hindenburg disaster, Lakehurst, N.J., 1937 (US)7 – Space shuttle Challenger, Florida, 1986 (US)4 – Kent State shootings, 1970 (US)

[lunearobservatory]

Hello, in the tags of your post you said to ask you about your DND au, please tell about the DND AU

OH MY GOD. Okay. OKAY. I have so many race class combos, and even a pretty decent storyline? The story is batshit and rly loose rn, so for now I will share the race class combos for the fellas i Do have, not all of them have subclasses but most do

PLEASE if you dont see ur favorite guy here OR you want to hear more about ur favorite guy in the au in general. ASK ME ABOUT UR FAVORITE FELLA PLEASE. I have extensive notes its insane

California - scourge aasimar, (cringefail) bard/bladesinger wizard

Texas - minotaur, barbarian

Florida - summer eladrin elf (?), wild magic sorcerer/arcane trickster

Lousiana - tiefling, circle of spores druid

New York - human, ascendant dragon monk

Gov - porcelain warforged, oath of conquest paladin. Made by PA

Pennsylvania - human, battlesmith artificer

Alaska - firbolg, fey wanderer (antler faewild gift)

Colorado - human (afflicted), drunken master monk

Rhode Island - lightfoot halfling, swashbuckler/battlemaster

Connecticut - forest gnome, swashbuckler/fighter

Massachusetts (half brother Maine) - half wood elf (human father), artillerist artificer/clockwork soul sorcerer

Maine (half brother Massachusetts) - wood elf, beastmaster ranger

Kentucky - centaur (mountain pleasure horse) nature cleric

Michigan - water genasi, circle of waves druid

Ohio - fire genasi, wildfire druid

New Jersey - tiefling, soulknife rogue 

[give-me-a-movie-camera]

I was watching I Love Lucy on Pluto TV last night and it completely slipped my mind that yesterday marked Desi Arnaz’s 106th birthday.

His was a classic Riches-to-Rags, Rags-to-Riches Cinderella tale. Desiderio Alberto ‘Desi’ Arnaz y de Acha III was born 2 March 1917 in Santiago de Cuba, Oriente Province, Cuba, the only son of wealthy landowner Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Alberni II (a prominent Cuban politician, who, to date, was the youngest mayor of Santiago de Cuba from 1923 to 1932) and his wife, Dolores ‘Lolita’ de Acha y de Socías (one of the most beautiful women in the Caribbean, the daughter of a businessman, one of three founders of Bacardi Rum Limited, the world's largest privately-owned spirits company). Desi was of the small but vastly privileged, upper-class y de Acha, the descendent of Cuban nobility of whose colonial ancestors originated from Santander, Provincia de Cantabria, Cantabria, Spain. (His grandfather, Dr Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y Alberni I, was assigned to the first United States volunteer cavalry in Cuba, the ‘Rough Riders’ under the leadership of ‘Hero of Cuba’ Theodore Roosevelt during the Spanish-American War on 1 July 1898. To legend, they sieged San Juan Hill on horseback, and though the forged conquest did not belong primarily to Roosevelt, for the conflict was an integrated effort between the white volunteer regiment and the 1,250 black Buffalo Soldiers, the famed battle gained Cuba her independence from Spain—a victory for the people, the Cuban people).

At the height of the Cuban Revolution of 1933, Desi and his family were forced to flee their Motherland, leaving their riches behind. Following a brief election, the government collapsed with the removal of President Gerardo Machado y Morales from office in August of 1933. The opposing anarchists seized all political leaders and stripped them of their power. Among them, Desi’s father, imprisoned by the regime, before his brother-in-law, Alberto de Acha, intervened on his behalf, thus making his escape to Miami, where he was to remain in exile. Having lost their holdings to the rebels who confiscated their property (their palatial home, a cattle ranch, two dairy farms, and a vacation villa on a private island in Santiago Bay), his father sent for Desi and his mother, who took refuge in Key West, Monroe, Florida in 1934. When Desi washed upon the shores of the Americas, his father had established an import-export company, where the family of three took up frugal lodgings in the company warehouse and dined on cans of cold beans. Desi came to live in New York City and Los Angeles for about one year, where he tightened his belt for survival and scrambled for employment as a struggling musician. Following an engagement as a guitar player for a Latin-American band at the Roney Plaza Hotel in Miami Beach, and a cursory stint with the Xavier Cugat Orchestra in 1937, he made his Broadway debut in the Rodgers and Hart musical Too Many Girls, where he reprised the role for RKO's major motion picture of the same name in 1940. During the course of filming, he fell head-over-heels for the Apricot Queen, Lucille Désirée Ball. The couple eloped on 30 November 1940 in Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut. By 1949, at the age of thirty-two, Desi established himself a renowned nightclub entertainer as conga-playing band leader for the travelling self-titled Cuban orchestra.

Most Hollywood buffs would do well to remember the Power Couple formed by Desilu Productions—a celluloid empire built on the backs of Lucy and Desi’s American Dreams, despite the public scandals and tumultuous marital woes. But at the crowning glory of their golden existence, there are those who neglect Desi's legacy and his reluctant resignation to his fate as the Man Behind the Curtain, to remain in Lucy’s shadow so long as he lived. Lucy, of whose celebrity distinction was of higher standing than her husband’s. Desi, though undoubtedly talented, who was not exempt from the unjust ostracization and societal prejudice that plagued him as a Cuban Spaniard immigrant in racially-charged Hollywood. For those who clutched their pearls at the prospect of Middle American households who might've dismissed acceptance of the world’s first interracial couple on television, Lucy and Desi defied those expectations and dissolved racial barriers in an era dominated by cultural strife. Audiences of all races, colour, and creed came together to shower the Ricardos with adoration and praise, because they came to understand the Ricardos epitomized the human experience, no matter that they didn't reflect the typical post-war domestic demographic. Against all odds, the world fell in love with the All-American Ricardos… white, Hispanic, or otherwise. Lucy and Desi, to be envied by all... America's Sweethearts.

On his 106th birthday, we remember Desi for the pioneer he was, as the Mastermind behind the nation’s most Beloved Redhead.

Behind every great woman lies a greater man.

Perhaps Desi speaks for us all when he declared his everlasting love, in his own words... ‘I Love Lucy was never just a title.’

💓 Happy Heavenly Birthday, Desi.  💓

       𓆩♡𓆪 · ・ 𓆩♡𓆪 · ・ 𓆩♡𓆪 · ・𓆩♡𓆪 · ・ 𓆩♡𓆪 · ・

[cbairdash]

Author’s note: Hoist the Colors may eventually inspire fiction. Most likely will and I’ll gladly write it. But right now, it’s a role-playing game setting with what I hope is an interesting take and look at an “Alternate History” of Earth. It isn’t really “steampunk”, though I can see how someone would get that impression. For me, it’s more a “flintlock fantasy” set on Earth of 1722 in all it’s historical mess… that I’ve stirred up even more!

So, with that said, this time we get into one of the many locations in Hoist the Colors. The Caribbean, but maybe not as you know it!

Hoist the Colors: The Caribbean

It’s the crossroads of the world. Those islands are rich with history and hope for a fresh start. But behind all that lurks monsters of our own making…

- Helena Barrow, Captain of the Horizon’s Rose

The Caribbean. A wide archipelago made up of the Caribbean Sea with its collection of islands and island chains. It’s a tropical region between North and South America, known for its diverse cultures, settlements, trade, and a storied, bloody history. The region has always been home to one culture or another for over 7000 years. 

It has been witness to, and withstood, invasions from Europe, trade wars of conquest, plagues, bloody pirate rampages, and a worldwide cataclysm. Specifically, the event called Crossing’s Fall that shoved the region and its inhabitants into the world’s view. 

At midnight on October 31, 1712, the mysterious events of Crossing’s Fall changed the world. Warped it with shattered fragments of Otherworld appearing and melding with Earth. Near mythical animals appeared around the globe along with refugees from Otherworld. The landscape changed as well. In some places, it was dramatic, but in others, subtle. In the case of the Caribbean, it was more the former instead of the latter.

Changed Lands

Like elsewhere on Earth, the land itself had changed. Fragments of Otherworld became new mountains or foothills in places like Cuba, Jamaica, or Puerto Rico. Rocky islands rose along the coastlines of South America, New Spain, and Florida. The Bahamas, an island chain of scattered small islands, became even more fragmented, and dangerous, with primeval jungles having overrun the more remote ones. 

Across those islands are towns and cities nestled in those dangerous jungles. Ports of call for ships from around the world from Europe, Americas, Japan, China, and beyond. Not to mention local ships such as pirates prowling the waves for a fresh kill. Deeper inland, lost Earth cities are mixed with Otherworld ruins, from ancient stone forts to lost tombs and forgotten libraries. Riches and relics wrapped in fog-shrouded mystery or lethal curses. 

But the most remarkable change was not on land, but in the water. Sirens and other threats joined sharks and other perils already there. Then, across the Caribbean expanse, there was the appearance of the mysterious Arcane Gates. Those alone changed everything.

Riddle of the Gates

The gates appeared for a moment at the stroke of midnight, October 31, 1712, in flashes of emerald lightning. It was dozens of Arcane Gates across the Caribbean, each with their own unique knotwork and mysterious lettering. Then, as quick as they appeared, they vanished. But they weren’t gone. 

As learned in later years, the Arcane Gates had gone ‘dormant’. Waiting to be sensed by a Wavebinder, Navigator, or anyone trained in the Etherwave Arcana. Later, Maria Fairbain, a Sunweaver thayan and seasoned Wavebinder relic hunter, ‘discovered’ the first of many Arcane Gates in the Caribbean. It lay in the middle of the sea between Puerto Rico and Hispanola islands and wasn’t alone.

To date, Navigators and Wavebinders have discovered more Arcane Gates in the Caribbean region that exist anywhere else in the world. No one understands why and the Gates gave no clue. But dozens of Arcane Gates were enough to upset the balance of trade and power around the world. Which was already overturned by the change to the lands, people, and a flood of the Etherwave Arcana into the world. 

For the rest about the Caribbean in Hoist the Colors, see the link above!

Taglist: @thelaughingstag

[aboutanancientenquiry]

"Herodotus and the question why

Christopher B. R. Pelling, Herodotus and the question why. The Fordyce W. Mitchel memorial lecture series. Austin: The University of Texas Press, 2019. Pp. xv, 360. ISBN 9781477318324 $55.00.

Review by

David Branscome, Florida State University. dbranscome@fsu.edu

Herodotus’ keen interest in investigating historical explanations or causes is already evident in the Histories’ first sentence, which ends by asking ‘for what reason they [i.e. Greeks and Persians] fought with one another’. While this interest on Herodotus’ part has long been noted by scholars, Pelling’s book is the first monographic study of the topic.[1] In Pelling’s view, asking the question why, rather than merely the question what, in relation to past events is fundamental to Herodotus’ task as a historian.[2] Pelling does an outstanding job of analyzing all the varied rhetorical and thematic strategies Herodotus uses in his efforts to answer this question.

The book is divided into sixteen chapters. In Chapter 1 Pelling surveys the different ways in which Herodotus thinks about historical causes. The subject of Chapter 2 is the assignation of blame (aitiē) by Herodotus or his characters (such as in the abductions of women, 1.1-5) and the related theme of “payback” (tisis), whether with Candaules (1.8-12) or with Xerxes (9.108-113). Chapters 3-6 treat the intellectual and rhetorical background to Herodotus’ methods of explanation, especially as found in contemporary scientific and medical writers (Chapters 3, 5, and 6) and such writers as logographers (Chapter 4), from Hecataeus to Gorgias.[3] For example (Chapter 6), Herodotus can accumulate explanations, without preferring one over the other (as he does with the factors that drove Cyrus to continued conquests, 1.204.2), no less than can the Hippocratic authors of Airs, Waters, Places or of On Ancient Medicine. In Chapter 7 Pelling argues that with the stories of Candaules and of Croesus in Book 1, Herodotus trains readers to expect that some explanations are provisional and must be reevaluated over time (as Apollo himself demonstrates, when he points out the reasons why Croesus’ empire fell, 1.91). All the rest of the chapters except the last one focus on individual themes around which Herodotus seeks out explanations. Chapter 8 is on empire: the reasons why empires like Croesus’ rise and fall or imperial enterprises like Xerxes’ invasion of Greece succeed or fail usually depend on both the shrewdness and the folly of aggressor and of would-be victim alike. In Chapter 9 Pelling finds that Herodotus shapes his “Persian stories” to reflect certain thematic patterns: the influence of royal women, the difficulty of speaking truth to power, the imperialist led to ruin by overreach and by the gods. Although Herodotus privileges the human element as the determining factor in how historical events turn out, Chapter 10 shows that sometimes the divine element is inescapable, whether it is Xerxes’ dream figure commanding him to invade Greece (7.12-18) or the mountain peaks that tumble toward the Persians at Delphi (8.37.3, 39.2). Chapter 11 shifts from Persian defeat to Greek victory: the Greeks won at Marathon and against Xerxes’ forces for reasons both commendable (superior military equipment and training, 9.63.2) and not (Greek disorder at Plataea paradoxically leading Mardonius and his army to attack without good order, 9.59). Other reasons for the Greek victory are freedom (Chapter 12) and democracy (Chapter 13). Herodotus praises those who fought to preserve Greek freedom from the threat of Persian autocracy (7.145.1) and acknowledges that Athens only started to grow great once it freed itself from its tyrants (5.78). Democracy, says Pelling, is freedom taken to an extreme: the Athenian dēmos was free to make decisions that were providentially good (building two hundred ships at Themistocles’ instigation, 7.144) and bad (sending ships to help the Ionian Revolt, 5.97). Chapter 14 deals with the interplay between individuals and collectives: among Persians, individual success is ultimately the purview of the king alone, but even he must operate in the shadow cast by previous kings; among Greeks, the Spartan Pausanias is as free to achieve individual success (and prospective failure) as is the Athenian Themistocles. Herodotus’ allusions to events later than the end (479 BCE) of the main narrative, including the downfalls of Pausanias and of Themistocles, lead Pelling in Chapter 15 to consider how Herodotus, along with his first audiences in particular, may have sought connections between and even explanations for contemporary events (above all, the Peloponnesian War) in the past events narrated in his work. Chapter 16 is a brief epilogue, in which Pelling stresses the explanatory power that Persian imperialism (as described by Herodotus) may have held for Greeks living at the time of an imperialist Athens.

There is much that is excellent in Pelling’s book. It is comprehensive in scope, treating an impressive number of Herodotean passages. At the same time it is well-structured and argued, with each chapter flowing easily into the next. Pelling’s discussion (Chapters 3-6) of Herodotus’ explanatory modes vis-à-vis that of other prose authors stands out for its thoroughness. He provides a useful annotated list (Chapter 15) of Herodotus’ allusions to later events – external analepseis in narratological terms. Perhaps the best part of the book are the many overarching statements Pelling makes about the Histories. A few of these literary critical gems are: “As so often, the richest explanatory passages explain more than the single context in which they figure” (43); “But it was not coincidence that Herodotus happened now; nor was he writing for an audience that would find his thinking too alien to accommodate” (79); “For Herodotus knows that choices can be overdetermined” (103); “Herodotus has more than one approach to multiple explanations” (269 n. 25); “This is a two-way street: past illuminates present, present illuminates past” (215); “Herodotus too will puzzle, and expect his readers and hearers to puzzle too, over the complex events he describes, and he allows us to share the different ways of looking at them and making sense of them” (162); “And Herodotus surely does expect a very active reader, one who is given plenty to work on and plenty to puzzle at” (11).

While Pelling himself seems to expect “a very active reader” for his own book, this can at times cause problems. Indeed, there are some statements Pelling needs to explain more fully. While discussing the mercurial nature of the Athenian dēmos (“swift to decide and swift to change their mind”, 192), Pelling refers to “the Athenians’ swift recrimination of their envoys for offering Persia earth and water (5.73.3; cf. 5.96.2).” Herodotus says that the Athenians had sent their envoys to meet with the satrap of Sardis in ca. 507 BCE and to form an “alliance” (symmachiē, 5.73.1) with the Persians. Pelling implies that the Athenians are upset with their envoys for doing exactly what they had been sent to do (i.e. form an alliance). But it could be instead that the Athenians belatedly realize that the envoys, by offering earth and water to the King, had subjected, not allied, Athens to Persia; this would have made the Athenians rebels in the eyes of the King when they later participated in the Ionian Revolt.[4] Elsewhere, Pelling rightly observes that the idea that Persian subjects were tantamount to slaves is “a Greek conception of the way Persians thought, and real Persian ideology was more nuanced” (286 n. 10). On the other hand, Pelling’s assertion that among the Persians “[t]he degree of slavery doubtless varied greatly even at a much lower level” (176) is not very helpful, and his claim that “‘vassalage’ is a better term” (286 n. 10) for this supposed slavery is also untenable because the Persian “slavery” in question was broader than the concept of vassalage suggests. Rather, in the context of Greek (mis)conceptions of Persian slavery mention should be made of the Old Persian term bandaka (literally “bondsman”), a word which ranged in meaning from whole subject peoples (e.g. Darius’ Bisitun inscription [DB], paragraph 7) to individual Persian aristocrats who had ties of loyalty to their superiors (much like vassals to a feudal lord), particularly to the Persian king.

Errors in the book are rare. Fortunately, the typographical errors tend not to mislead; they occur mostly near the end of the book or in the bibliography.[5] The three outright factual errors are: “Aristagoras arrives in Athens” not in 494 (191-2), but probably in either 500 or 499; Cyrus is recognized by Astyages not “at the age of fourteen” (129), but at the age of ten (Hdt. 1.114.1), as Pelling correctly says later (151: “ten-year-old Cyrus”); it is not Harpagus who is ‘“stricken by the gods”’ (152, referring to Hdt. 1.127.2), but Astyages, as Pelling correctly notes earlier on the same page (152).

Pelling has produced a book that has a definite Herodotean feel to it: sweeping, rich, and thought-provoking. Readers will come away with renewed respect for Herodotus’ overall historiographic achievement and especially for the dogged nature of Herodotus’ attempts to get at the reason why things happened.

Notes

[1] See esp. H. R. Immerwahr, “Aspects of Historical Causation in Herodotus,” TAPA 87 (1956): 241-80 (reprinted in R. V. Munson, ed., Herodotus: Volume 1: Herodotus and the Narrative of the Past (Oxford 2013) 157-93).

[2] In a self-professed companion piece to the current book, Pelling examines the role that Homeric epic played in establishing the roots of historical explanation for later Greek historians: C. Pelling, “Homer and the Question Why,” in C. Constantakopoulou and M. Fragoulaki, eds., Shaping Memory in Ancient Greece: Poetry, Historiography, and Epigraphy (Newcastle upon Tyne: Histos Supplement 11, 2020), 1-35.

[3] In these chapters, Pelling builds upon Thomas’ work to ground Herodotus in the thought world of the Hippocratics: R. Thomas, Herodotus in Context: Ethnography, Science and the Art of Persuasion (Cambridge 2000).

[4] See M. Waters, Ancient Persia: A Concise History of the Achaemenid Empire, 550-330 BCE (Cambridge 2014) 84.

[5] Potentially misleading errors include: “euteteōs” for eupeteōs (205); “160.3” for 1.60.3 (205); “above, n. 000” (285 n. 4) Dewald 1993 is not “repr. Munson 2013” (306); “Xeus” for Zeus (326)."

[crossoverquest]

Crossover Quest does King for A Day: Qualifier Match 5/16

Get ready for the next battle!

The Big Time vs. Team Noize!

The Big Time: Hey, punks! I’m gonna hit you so hard, you’ll be seeing 808s!

Noize(Space Channel 5): I don’t consider myself a punk; I’m a loyalist to Big Band and Pop Jazz.

Noize(River City Girls): Being a punk’s MY distinction.

The Big Time

Favored Genres: All manners of Rock, Punk Rock being chief among them

Favorite Song: Mr Sandman’s Theme from Punch-Out for the Wii

The Big Time is a Sinistra Major who joined Crossover Quest does King for A Day to help his boss, Senator Skull, realize his dreams of world conquest after he argued that winning a tournament of this caliber would earn him some recognition. (Senator Skull’s from Boca Raton, Florida. Florida Men already have respect from me.) Despite technically being a heel, The Big Time wants to win over the voters if not the whole world.

Team Noize

Favored Genres: Rock, Electronic Music, Big Band, Pop Jazz

Favorite Song: Unseen by Megan McDuffee or Noize(River City Girls) on an in universe basis

Two different Noizes from two different games coalesce into one musical force! They didn’t have much in common, but when they learned of their mutual liking of music, Team Noize was born.

[klaineccfanficlibrary]

Good ones with Santana and/or Finn Friendship?

Here are some recommendations. ~Jen

Also try our Santana tag. Here are some recent fics with Santana featuring:

Fire Island Follies by @bitbybitwrites

From a Tumblr Friday Ficlet prompt from bowtiesandboatshoes : "We're going to Fire Island.  It's like gay Disney World."

~~~~~

Running Interference by @RockItMan

Kurt and Blaine don't want to get set up on a blind date. But when their friends get involved, what they want doesn't really matter.

~~~~~

Cause and Effect by @heartsmadeofbooks

Sometimes heartbreak and betrayal can lead you down a road you never imagined, can make you do things you never thought you'd do, and can take you straight to the love of your life... even though you're already married to someone else. Here's how Kurt and Blaine find each other, a little later than they should have.

~~~~~

And some older fics:

Drunk on You by flaming_muse

It takes Kurt three times to fit his key in the lock of the apartment’s door, partly because Blaine is swaying heavily against his side, a warm, drunk weight keeping him off-balance, and partly because the alcohol in his own system is making the lock swim just enough in the plane of the door that he can’t quite catch it.

~~~~~

Bushwick Game Night by flaming_muse

Pictionary in the Bushwick loft is serious business.

~~~~~

One fine day by botaboxed

Kurt witnessed many moments in his life as a bridal designer – he moment a bride found her dress, saw herself in it for the first time, the one where she could see herself standing up in front of her family and friends and saying 'I do.' Working as he did in that industry, he hardly expected to have a moment of his own while he was at work, but that was exactly what happened.

~~~~~

Alliance verse by rainjoyswriting

A glee fic based on the fact that a united!Kurt and Santana could take on the world.

Summary: "Kurt," she yells again. "I need some of your homo-wisdom, okay?"

~~~~~

Until Further Notice verse by lostinfictionalworlds

Money can't buy happiness. Businessman Kurt is still trying to figure that one out, and performer Blaine thought he knew what he wanted, until he came across a Personal Assistant Ad. A story of acceptance and love, from one's self and that of others, more specifically, one other.

~~~~~

The Seduction by @hkvoyage

Venetian Blaine arrives at Carnival’s masquerade ball, looking for his next conquest. His reputation as a lover is legendary, and no one can resist him. Virgin Kurt captures his attention, but seducing him will require careful planning. As they spend time together, will Blaine be able to carry out his plan successfully? A historical Klaine AU set in 18th-century Venice.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Our Finn tag

Not Exclusive by nellie12

Finn happens to be doing well for himself in the University of Florida. He is starting QB for the Gators, and he’s a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and his grades aren’t terrible. He also has his favorite step-brother coming to visit from New York, and Kurt has no idea he’s about to have the Spring Break of a lifetime until he meets Finn’s best friend and frat mate- Blaine Anderson.

~~~~~ Not another ghost story by @sunshineoptimismandangels

When Kurt Hummel began an online ghost investigation show with his best friend and his step-brother he never expected to find himself alone in an abandoned and reportedly haunted hotel, but one stormy night Kurt finds more than he ever expected in the derelict and chilling Whispering Wolf Hotel. In fact, Kurt may have found exactly what he’s has been looking for. A story of romance, comedy, and sinister plots.

~~~~~

Island Adventure by doeswhatever

“That guy has been following us around the city for the past hour. I'm sort of freaking out.”

“He’s our tour guide you moron”

~~~~~

Best Summer Ever verse by tonks42

AU Klaine. During the summer between his junior and senior years, Kurt returns to camp as a Junior Counselor. His plans for having his best summer ever change when Kurt becomes a friend and mentor to a hurting new guy, Blaine.

~~~~~

There from the start By @blurglesmurfklaine

What if Blaine had been the 12th member of the New Directions instead of Matt? (bc lbr he had like two lines the whole season and had zero storylines) Set in Season One canon, same(ish?) storyline, but with Blaine and Klaine. Not too sure what I’ll change yet ;) Football Player!Blaine

[jeyneofpoole]

ok there are interesting things happening in the notes. nothing about what i’ve said here is ‘harsher’ than things that i have heard said and perpetuated about appalachians and southerners. don’t dish it out if you can’t take it man i don’t know what to tell you. it’s literally a checklist if you get to the end and can say “wow nothing outlined here applies to me” congratulations you win and are not the target audience for a come-to-jesus check like this. i am not obligated to be nice and this is my house. also this is not a place to hold a debate about the pronunciation of appalachia because it is not up for debate. appalachia comes from the name of the apalachee indigenous people who were muskogean language-speakers that lived in florida at the time of spanish conquest. the name was later applied to the area as a whole and is pronounced app-uh-latch-uh. if this makes you angry, refer to item 12 on the list above please and thank you.

before you say that hashtag witty hashtag clever thing about ‘dumb hicks’ or ‘rednecks’ or ‘hillbillies’ run through this quick and easy questionnaire to make sure you’re not a piece of shit!

do i know what states i’m even talking about? can i point to them on a map?

have i ever visited, or god forbid lived in, a state south of the mason-dixon line?

do i know where appalachia is? can i point to it on a map? do i know what states it encompasses?

do i know what the word ‘melungeon’ means? do i know what distinctive people-groups make up the appalachian south?

have i ever made fun of someone for having missing teeth (aka dewmouth), a silly accent, or unique regional grammar structure?

do i think of the south as a homogenous wall of bigots and republicans? have i considered that the south is diverse racially, economically, and politically?

how do i pronounce ‘appalachia?’ have i continued to say it the wrong way after being corrected because it sounds ‘smarter?’

when i say ‘i hate all country music,’ have i listened to anything other than bigwig sellouts singing about trucks and shit? can i name a single true bluegrass musical artist?

do i consider the south to be ‘beyond saving’ or a ‘lost cause?’

do i make ‘sweet home alabama’ jokes about incest in the south? have i poked fun at the ‘blue people of kentucky?’ do i even know their last names, or are they just punchlines to me?

do i say ‘y’all’ in everyday conversation? am i from the south? do i even know where to put the fucking apostrophe?

do i know what the fuck i’m talking about? should i shut the fuck up?