#ct: the best of what we can be (Elizabeth)

[the-rad1o-demon]

Article title: "Let's Talk About The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA)"

Article text:

"Back in July, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation approved the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) and the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). COPPA is good legislation focused on the collection of data by web operators from users under the age of 13.

KOSA, on the other hand, is not great. The bill aims to prevent harassment, exploitation, and mental health trauma to minors on the Internet. Doing so will require broad content filtering to limit minors’ access to specific types of online content.

'This bill sets out requirements for covered platforms (i.e., social networks, video streaming services, or other applications that connect to the internet and are likely to be used by minors) to protect minors from online harm, including requirements relating to (1) safeguards to restrict access to the personal data of minors, (2) tools to help parents supervise a minor’s use of a platform, and (3) reporting of harm to minors from using the platform.'

The summary of the bill sounds innocuous enough. There’s a lot hiding below the surface. It was originally introduced in 2022, and its authors, Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), had to take it back to the drawing board after a coalition of organizations publicly opposed it.

Those critics worry that it will greatly limit access to sex education information and resources for LGBTQ+ youth. It will put significant pressure on online services to over-moderate users and content. It also forces State Attorney Generals to make decisions on what information is 'appropriate.' We’re already witnessing what happens when the 'appropriateness' of content and culture is left to individual states. Book bans, sports bans on transgender students, bans on gender-affirming care, and groups like Moms For Liberty taking over school boards.

Marsha Blackburn has already admitted that her goal for this bill is 'protecting minor children from the transgender in this culture.' That statement alone puts this entire bill in the same category as all of those other state regulations Republicans are trying to push through. It makes any democratic support of the bill unacceptable. Someone needs to call Elizabeth Warren and tell her to rescind her recent co-sponsorship of KOSA.

Even President Biden has voiced misguided support for this bill. Saying, 'We’ve got to hold these platforms accountable for the national experiment they’re conducting on our children for profit.' In the same way we don’t need or want politicians making policies or laws about our bodies, we shouldn’t need or want politicians or web providers making decisions about what is or isn’t appropriate for our children. That’s our job as their parents. Establishing a nanny state isn’t in anyone’s best interests.

KOSA also requires that web platforms enable stricter parental controls. Parental controls are good in theory, and when actual parents enable them. But this bill puts the onus on web providers to make decisions for everyone’s kids. Including older minors who, at the age of 15 or 16, should have some right to privacy and access to information. If you’re a kid who doesn’t feel safe at home for whatever reason, being able to find online mental health resources may mean the difference between life and death.

The other bad part of this bill is that it will require websites and online platforms to collect MORE data from users. If you think The Internet knows too much about you now, just wait. Age verification may require all users to provide much more personally identifiable information (PII). Your IT Guy can tell you this will put your information at significant risk of data breaches and threaten users’ overall privacy.

To some degree, I understand and even support a desire to get Big Tech under control and held accountable for bad actions and platform mismanagement. But The Kids Online Safety Act doesn’t stop there. It’s going to make at-risk communities even more at-risk. It’s going to adversely affect user privacy. And most importantly, at least one of the writers of the bill is prepared to use it to hammer away at trans rights and social acceptance.

Reach out to your Congressional Reps and ask them to vote no on KOSA Resisbot has you covered. Or you can look up contact information for your Congressperson(s) here. If you do make a call, IndivisibleSF has a good script you can use when you leave a message."

-- End Article

[sasquapossum]

I've discovered a lot of covers of Zombie, by The Cranberries, lately. Some of them have been around for a while but somehow I haven't seen them, while others are genuinely new. Here's the original, to get us started.

This is an extremely powerful song, and I have equally strong opinions about it. If you know anything about Dolores O'Riordan and The Cranberries, or have watched the video, you'll know it's about the Troubles in Ireland. I feel it's critically important for any cover to respect that, both for the sake of Dolores who is now gone and for the sake of Irish people generally. The vocals are meant to express both great sadness and great anger. For that reason I will not be linking to the Miley Cyrus or Halocene covers, because I feel that their performance in an emotionally bland style fails to show that respect.

One particular aspect of Dolores's singing is that at many points she's keening (from Gaelic caoineadh meaning to cry or weep). As the most amazing Elizabeth (Charismatic Voice on YouTube) explains in her reaction video, this involves deliberate crossing from upper CT-dominant to lower TA-dominant registers, over and over again. It's a powerful expression, as you'll see.

The best known cover, by a long shot AFAICT, is by Bad Wolves.

Tommy Vext has a rich, deep voice, so he doesn't do keening. In fact he kind of goes in the opposite direction with an impressively smooth delivery, but he expresses that intensity in many other ways. Again, Elizabeth enlightens with another reaction video. There's also a personal connection to Dolores here (mentioned in the video itself) and a few lyrics changes which I'm sure she must have approved. The first call-back to the original video (at about 1:30) broke me so badly I had to stop and compose myself for a full minute. Very powerful.

Next up is Dan Vasc. I love Dan. Unfortunately, I don't have much to say about his version, except that he delivers this with his customary excellence. Also, this is explicitly a cover of the Bad Wolves version, which makes it third generation and I think that's kind of cool.

Next up is another favorite: Colm McGuiness. This one hits hardest of all IMO. Of all the male singers, Colm comes closest to keening, and his intensity in other sections is something to behold. I hope he had a nice cup of lemon-ginger tea after doing that to his vocal chords. It's hard to believe anyone could go darker and heavier than Dan, or break me worse than the Bad Wolves version, but ... well, just listen.

Shifting gears just a little, but still on the rock/metal side, we have Rock Orchestra. IMO this is the best arrangement of a cover, using all the sounds of an orchestra to great effect. I love the woodwinds, I love the strings, I love the brass, I even love the xylophone. Julian Hinton did a masterful job on that. Erin Fox also does a great job, coming closest to Dolores's sound in the first two thirds and adding some of her own completely appropriate stylings in the last part.

Now for a complete change of pace - sort of a "palate cleanser" if you will. Systir is another one of my favorites. This is an acoustic version, with Lauren McGlynn delivering a shoegaze-y performance that leans much more into sadness than anger. That might seem at odds with the original's intent, but it really does work IMO. One of the things about a great cover is that it can go in its own direction while still remaining connected to the original. As an Irish group, I'm sure everyone involved here understood the importance of respecting the original song and its subject matter, and they thoroughly did those justice. This one might haunt me the most.

There are many more, some of them very good in their own ways. Unfortunately, I need to stop short of turning this into a whole dissertation and - as you can see - the competition for what to include is very intense. I hope you've all discovered some new artists, and maybe learned a little bit as well. Thanks to all of these wonderful artists (and one commentator) for honoring Dolores, and of course the people she was singing about as well.

[emma-m-black]

Doctor White - Chapter Two

Tom Koracick x OC (FanFiction)

This is a super rough draft of a Tom Koracick x OC story I've had in my head. I got a ton of chapters done, but then kind of his a block at a cliff hanger and I figure, perhaps if I post it, maybe I can figure out what to do next.

Rating is probably close to PG, don't think there is any spicey bits, pretty tame.

Read: Chapter One

Chapter Two:

"So you, walked in with Doctor Koracick." One of the residents spoke from where they were sat on the bench. She was looking Elizabeth over with a scrutinizing look.

Elizabeth finished lacing up her shoes before turning to look at the others in the room. "Yeah, do you want to hear about how good he was in bed too?"

"He's like twice your age!" A man from across the room. His face scrunching up in disgust.

"Really guys? I didn't sleep with him, we met in the hall outside the mixer last night, and he wanted to create a stir, so we walked in together."

"Well, you definitely did that. Your surgical assignments are on the board, now to go scare the interns." Came the Chief Resident's voice.

"Doctor White, you're on my service today." Amelia said as she walked into the Resident's lounge.

"Nope, sorry, she's with me." Came the voice of Doctor Koracick. "You have to find someone else to be your prodigy today." Tom spoke as he reached out and grabbed Elizabeth's hand and began to drag her away. Elizabeth looked back to watch Doctor Shepherd.

"Do you even still work here?" Shouted Amelia after them.

Once Elizabeth and Tom were down the next hall, he released her hand. "You know you just put a target on my back, right? It's my first day here."

"You'll be fine."

Elizabeth nudged her shoulder into Tom's arm as they walked. "They think we are sleeping together." She spoke in a hushed whispered.

"Oh, that sounds fun." Tom smiled and looked down at Elizabeth. His eyebrows wiggled, and Elizabeth could not help the soft chuckle that left her lips.

"You are just as cocky in person as you are in your papers."

Tom stopped walking, causing Elizabeth to walk past him before realizing her companion was gone.

"You read my papers?" Asked Tom with a large smile on his face.

"I knew who you were when we met and of course, I've read your papers. You are a neuro god. I've watched your lectures, I've read your research, you are the best there is…and now, I sound like I'm a crazy stalker." Elizabeth said as she placed her fingers to the side of her head. She closed her eyes and groaned.

"A hot, crazy stalker."

Elizabeth's eyes flew open, and she suddenly felt really hot. "I don't. I didn't. I, I just really like brains."

"I like you. You're going to be fun to mess with." Tom said before beginning to walk once again.

Elizabeth moved into step beside Tom as he led her to the CT room. Once they entered into the scanning room. Tom directed Elizabeth towards a screen that was set up in the back corner. "The nurse was supposed to leave a gown for you."

Stepping behind the screen, Elizabeth began to take off her lab coat and her scrubs, before slipping on the gown, and beginning to tie it shut.

"Let me know if you need any help. I've heard I'm good with my hands."

"You know what. I take back what I said." Elizabeth stepped out from behind the curtain as she tied the last tie on her gown. "You are a menace, you probably just road on the curtails of everyone around you." The words came out serious, but her lips were pulled upward in a smile.

"Ouch." Tom said as he held a fist to his chest. "Now come on, get on up here, so I can get back to work."

Elizabeth moved to the table and sat herself down. Tom helped her lay down and set her head in the molded pillow. "You know the drill, no moving, well I check out that sexy brain."

"How do you know it's sexy, you haven't even seen it. It could be all not sexy."

"I had your scans sent over after the mixer. It's a sexy brain, trust me, pre- and post-tumour." Tom reached up and pressed the button to move the table into the machine.

Elizabeth closed her eyes and allowed the memories of her past to invade her mind. "I imagine death so much, it feels more like a memory This is where it gets me, on my feet the enemy ahead of me. If this is the end of me, at least I have a friend with me." The table suddenly stopped moving, and Elizabeth opened her eyes to see Tom staring down at her.

"Weapon in my hand, a command, and my men with me. Then I remember my Eliza's expecting me." Tom finished. "Hamilton."

"Sorry, I sing musicals when I'm nervous."

"Where have you been all my life?" Asked Tom.

"Just look at my sexy brain already, so I can put my clothes back on."

Tom just let out a chuckle and set the table in the CT. "Remember, no moving."

"Yeah, yeah. Do I hear a waltz? Oh, my dear, don't you hear a waltz? Such love Blue Danubey music, how can you be still?"

"You must hear a waltz!" Tom sang through the microphone right before the hum of the CT turned on. "Even strangers are dancing now. An old lady is waltzing in her flat, waltzing with her cat."

Eventually the sound of the machine stopped and Elizabeth knew the scan was done. "Well?"

"CT looks clean."

"See told you." Elizabeth said, and when she received no response, she attempted to lift her head to see where Tom was before suddenly the table jerked under her.

"And you can tell me in another three weeks. "

"Three weeks, my scans are every three months." Said Elizabeth as she shot up from the table once she was free of the machine.

Tom held out a hand for her to help her off the table. "And now that I'm your Doctor, it will be every three weeks. You are almost at the ten-year mark, which means you are a one and done or…"

"I'm going to start growing a new friend at any moment."

"Exactly. Now come on, put your clothes back on, we have a patient to see."

Chapter Three

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For KING & COUNTRY Drops New Remix Version Of “Love Me Like I Am” Ft. Jordin Sparks

Multi-GRAMMY winning, Platinum-selling duo and Curb | Word Entertainment recording artist FOR KING + COUNTRY drops the new remix version today of their #1 hit single feat. Jordin Sparks, “LOVE ME LIKE I AM,” titled “LOVE ME LIKE I AM (R3HAB REMIX) FEAT. JORDIN SPARKS”, The song was remixed by internationally-renowned DJ R3HAB, and is available on all digital platforms. Listen HERE. Written by Joel Smallbone, Luke Smallbone, Josh Kerr, and Michael Pollack (BMI Pop Writer of the Year; “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus; Justin Bieber, Beyonce); and produced by FOR KING + COUNTRY, Josh Kerr (GRAMMY winning songwriter), and Jeff Sojka, the original track, “LOVE ME LIKE I AM,” is featured on their current GRAMMY nominated, AMERICAN MUSIC AWARD-winning studio album, WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?, the duo’s second Top 10 Billboard 200 charting album (#7).

The RIAA Platinum-selling brothers made up of Joel and Luke Smallbone recently scored their latest #1 Billboard Christian Airplay Chart with “LOVE ME LIKE I AM” feat. Jordin Sparks, marking their 13th #1 hit single (and 8th consecutive #1 hit single) on the chart. Additionally, the Smallbones, with Hillary Scott of Lady A, recently garnered a 2023 GRAMMY Award nomination for “Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song” for their collaborative track, “For God Is With Us”. The song was co-written by the Smallbones, Josh Kerr, and Jordan Reynolds, with the official music video viewed more than 8.9 million times since its 2022 release. FOR KING + COUNTRY is currently on their 2023 “What Are We Waiting For?  The Tour Part II,” and tickets for the tour can be purchased HERE. Love Me Like I Am - For KING & COUNTRY https://youtu.be/JN2qwgsCgvY For King + Country “What Are We Waiting For?’ The Tour | Part II *Indicates additional festival/fair performances. 4/14/23             Brookshire Grocery Arena                     Bossier City, LA 4/15/23             Bell County Expo                                  Belton, TX 4/16/23             American Bank Center                          Corpus Christi, TX 4/20/23             Blue Cross Arena                                  Rochester, NY 4/21/23             MVP Arena                                          Albany, NY 4/22/23             Chartway Arena                                    Norfolk, VA 4/23/23             Toyota Oakdale Theatre                        Hartford, CT 4/27/23             First National Bank Arena                     Jonesboro, AR 4/28/23             Hartman Arena                                     Wichita, KS 4/29/23             United Wireless Arena                          Dodge City, KS 4/30/23             Baxter Arena                                        Omaha, NE 5/2/23               El Paso County Coliseum                      El Paso, TX 5/4/23               Foster Communications Coliseum          San Angelo, TX 5/5/23               Reed Arena                                           College Station, TX 5/6/23               Ford Park                                              Beaumont, TX 5/7/23               United Supermarkets Arena                   Lubbock, TX 5/11/23             Enmarket Arena                                    Savannah, GA 5/12/23             iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre            West Palm Beach, FL 5/13/23             Macon Coliseum                                   Macon, GA 5/14/23             The Orion Amphitheater                        Huntsville, AL 5/24/23             Centennial Hall                                     Winnipeg, AB 5/25/23             Elim Church                                         Saskatoon, SK 5/26/23             ChristCity Church                                 Edmonton, AB 5/27/23             ChristCity Church (2 shows)                  Edmonton, AB 5/29/23             WinSport Arena                                    Calgary, AB 5/31/23             Queen Elizabeth Theatre                        Vancouver, BC 6/9/23               Spirit West Coast                                  Stockton, CA* 6/10/23             Fishfest 2023                                        Irvine, CA* 6/11/23             Family Life Radio Fest.                         Glendale, AZ* 7/16/23             Hills Alive Festival                               Rapid City, SD* 7/20/23             Truist Park                                            Atlanta, GA* 7/22/23             Wild Adventures Theme Park                Valdosta, GA* 8/7/23               Wisconsin State Fair                              West Allis, WI* 8/10/23             Iowa State Fair                                      Des Moines, IA* 8/12/23             Unity Festival                                       Muskegon, MI* 8/21/23             The Alaska State Fair                            Palmer, AK* Read the full article

[emilieautumnarchives]

EA for Lime Mascara

Archived from Lime Mascara, 2004 [warning: archive is broken] Last accessed: 8/2/2022

The Chelsea: Violin/Backing Vocals - Emilie Autumn

Lime Mascara: For those of us, like me, who hadn't heard of you until Courtney Love recruited you what should we know about you. Basically give us a mini bio.

EA: As much as I really want to spare you the whole “I was born at a very young age…” bit, I suppose it serves a purpose. I began with the violin at age 4, and I’ve been at that game ever since. I’ve been writing (music and words) most of my life as well, and singing for a small part of it. I’ve trained with master teachers from all over the world, but had some of the best and worst experiences of my life while studying as a teen at Indiana University’s School of Music. I sold my horse so that I could devote myself entirely to music to an unnatural degree. When I was 17, I got a phone call from Nigel Kennedy, my violin hero. Ecstatic. When I was 18, I moved to England and was utterly disappointed in the Royal College of Music. Horror. Home was Malibu, CA, though it is now Chicago, which I perfectly adore because of the CTA. I am expecting a shipment of essential oils right now, including oil of green tea which I am very much interested in, and which is to serve as an ingredient in “Mistress,” the perfume I am in the midst of designing. I am getting a puppy next weekend and do not want to go on tour for that reason alone. I ought to have been born in the 16th century so that I could have served at the court of my all-time idol, Queen Elizabeth I. I’m in love with my boyfriend, Annie Lennox, “So Hard” by The Pet Shop Boys, and high tea.

Lime Mascara: What kind of music can we find on your solo albums?

EA: My first release was purely classical, just fiddle and harpsichords and lutes and Bach and such. Very corsets-and-crumpets, my favorite. It does have a few of my own little compositions, which I suppose de-purifies it in the eyes of the classical cognoscenti, but whatever. My second release was an EP called “Chambermaid” because it featured the track of the same name (but in quite a different version) from my subsequent full-length album, “Enchant.” The EP is worth your time mainly because of all the crazy remixes it’s got on it, as well as a gothic cathedral choir number, and a sexy cover of a song from “Cabaret.” Then, I put out a charity single called “By The Sword,” which is all about avenging wrongs and female knights and things – it’s for the 9/11 victims. The best part of this single is the video extra of another cover, “I Know It’s Over,” by The Smiths. Then comes “Enchant,” my first full-length solo album in the alt-rock, or “fantasy-rock” vein. I love this record so much, I can’t even tell you. It’s not egotistical, I swear, it’s just that it took me something like five years to make it due to stops and starts and different labels and other yucky things.

Lime Mascara: Other than violin, what instruments can you play?

EA: I can play the sewing machine and the whistling teapot. I can also play classical and jazz piano, viol da gamba , harpsichord, viola, electric, baroque, and modern fiddles, all manner of keys and computers, a bit of mandolin, and the riding crop.

Lime Mascara: Will you be adding violin to classic Hole songs on tour with Courtney?

EA: Absolutely, yes. I’ve already played several Hole numbers with CL in concert, and I think they’ve gone really well. “Violet” and “Celebrity Skin” are some of my favorites because I get to sing pretty much everything as well. I’m waiting for “Northern Star” which I really love, but we’ve been waiting on that one for some unknown reason…The Chelsea is an amazing band, and playing anything with them is a perfect pleasure.

Lime Mascara: When is the tour "supposed" to start?

EA: The “tour” is “supposed” to “actually” “start” on June 18th in…let me see…oh, in New Haven, CT. We’ve got 24 dates all across the US thus far, and then we’re off to Japan for Fuji Fest where Belle & Sebastian is also playing, to my giddy delight.

Lime Mascara: How did Courtney find you?

EA: Courtney found me through my website, www.emilieautumn.com. The way she tells it, she was looking online at “gothic lolita” fashion sites, and it became apparent that those who like EGL also like EA, which I think is just lovely. She then wrote me a very long letter and the phone calls began. The first call I got was on the night of my CD release party for “Enchant,” which is to say that I’ve never promoted my album properly because I’ve been running around with CL. It was a compromise, but I’m happy to do it for a friend I believe in.

Lime Mascara: How did the first meeting go?

EA: The first meeting…ah, bittersweet memories… The first meeting took place in France over the recording of “America’s Sweetheart.” Courtney was doing vocals when I walked into the Chateau and she was a bit preoccupied, but then so was I because I had the sweetest little Frenchman for a driver and I wanted him to live in my handbag. She started calling me “princess” which is coincidentally the name of her lapdog, and then played for me all of the demos that had been recorded by that point. Her energy very nearly blew me out of the room, but I‘ve since gotten used to that.

Lime Mascara: Do you have a designer for your outfits or do you design everything yourself?

EA: I have this little faerie who sits in my closet and if I feed her muffins she makes me corsets. Other than that, I do design and sew everything I wear onstage, and frequently off as well. Check out www.willowtechhouse.com or www.punkatorian.com if you’re so inclined. It’s got a bunch of my creations, some of which you can have for your very own.

Lime Mascara: So far, what has Courtney taught you about the music industry?

EA: You learn so much just be being on the road, and with Courtney, it’s times ten. Sometimes I feel like I’m in the army, and others I just feel privileged to be playing with such a great group of ladies; it really depends on what day it is. I was no stranger to questionable industry dealings when I came into this, and certain bits of what I’ve seen behind the scenes has done nothing to elevate my opinions of the major music industry as a whole. However, I have met some fantastic people whom I greatly respect (Peter Asher and all at Sanctuary), and that’s given me a bit of hope that perhaps you can operate on a large scale without losing your dignity. And I suppose it’s hardly worth mentioning, but I’ve learned that the media is largely a misogynistic monstrosity that lies without shame on a regular basis (the microphone incident that never happened…). I’ve also learned that a girl band is so totally the way to go.

Lime Mascara: When can we expect your next solo record?

EA: Do you mind if I have breakfast while we chat? While I feel that “Enchant” had a good deal of wretchedness in it, my next rock release will certainly multiply that, for better or for worse. It’s to be called “Opheliac,” and it’s all about the state of being in what I call the ‘ophelia syndrome’ of knowing what’s right and what’s good for you, and yet putting yourself in harm’s way just so that you can later go mad on someone else’s dime. Tracks will include “If I Burn,” a sweet little number about the witch burnings of 1645, “Opheliac,” the title track about the concept above mentioned, and “Mad Girl,” a lullaby to that lunatic part of my psychology that I am constantly trying to put to sleep. I am also in the midst of writing a melodramatic track called “Willow” which is a duet I intend to beg Morrissey to record with me. I’m writing the part for him alone, and if he doesn’t do it, the song will sit at the bottom of my sock drawer until the end of time because I’m not sharing it with anybody else. I plan to begin recording the new album once we arrive safely home from this impending tour. While I’m on the road, my new producer, Stuart Holverson, will be doing the preliminary mixing for a side project of mine to be released within the next couple of months. It’s called “The Jane Brooks Project,” and all I can say is that it’s very, very divergent from anything else you’ve heard me do. I truly hope you like it. After that, I’m planning to record some more classical violin, namely, the complete unaccompanied Bach Sonatas & Partitas, and the Teleman unaccompanied as well. I figure you can never get too much of plain, unbuttered violin in your ear.

[utt-archived]

It’s raining X-Tags! 

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[kiss-my-freckle]

The Apothecary

8x5 episode description: “The task force investigates an organization of bank robbers with a special expertise in stealing from other criminals. An old blacklist case resurfaces.”

My suspect: The Apothecary 

Reasons why:

1. Red’s collapses. 

The timing is perfect because it’s like a reverse of The Apothecary’s episode. Instead of suspecting Dembe of poisoning him, Red’s first collapse came at a time when Dembe’s imam was abducted. Red has no reason to suspect him, which removes their need to do an exact repeat. 

Snakes -

The woman’s snakeskin boots as she entered the room. 

"The lab did find one distinct element in the molecular structure of the drops taken from Robert Dahle’s apartment. A peptide unique to the venom of Bungarus flaviceps, also known as the red-headed krait."

Jennifer's reference in S6 that reminds me of Liz's reference in S4 and ties in Red's reference in S2.

"I'm the snake in the grass."

"I’ll do my job, but I am done cozying up to that snake."

"Our fake father's a criminal, and our real one's a snake."

Orion Relocation Services + Fate - 

There are other seeds, like Dembe standing by the Orion stained glass window. 

The Hunter and his arrows. This made me think of The Deer Hunter and Liz's marionette comment, which she first mentioned to Ressler in The Longevity Initiative (2x17).

This also pulls in Keenler’s Capricorn Killer soundtrack.

♪ What arrow? At what angle? And what angel? ♪

And I already know Agnes is that angel because she was referenced twice, by the woman from Paris and Skip Sutherland.

“She’s an angel.”

“For a surcharge, I’ll even watch the cherub.”

Red’s Stairway To Heaven comment. "Who the hell's Elizabeth Keen?" because Liz was wrong. "I'm expecting a little devil of my own." As Red already warned us she would be. "What makes you so sure you're not wrong this time?"

My question is, what the hell happened? You did. You and Agent Ressler.

All that glitters is gold + Like I said, silver linings

Red’s symptoms, which mirror that of his original poisoning, only it’s more like an ongoing attack rather than a one-shot. I think they’re getting the formula wrong because The Apothecary didn’t have Red’s medical file. Kate only needed so much from him anyway because of her skill set. 

“Well, just that whoever poisoned him knew his medical history - intimately. The toxins were uniquely designed to target his body chemistry.”

She attended medical school and she knew of Red’s medical history.

"Your tremors are gone. But not the underlying condition."

His tremors were gone because he wasn't drinking the wine.

"Fun fact - Li Qing Yuen ate wolfberries every day of his life and was said to have lived to the ripe old age of 256."

The tests -

“We thought, at first, you may have had a series of mini strokes. But the MRIs, the EEGs, they ruled that out.”

“Vitals are - okay. Pulse. You need an MRI as well as a CT-scan.”

The medical file -

“There were no medical records, nothing about Reddington on file.”

“About my chart.”

The wine (with both his collapses) - 

“An old blacklist case” for an “old friend”

“Elizabeth, I found the wine that was used to administer the poison.”

“What? Everyone knows wine is dehydrating.”

The difference in doctors -

Dr. Clemons: "Not for her."

Dr. Stark: "Someone she cared about."

For the same reason the woman from Paris didn't turn to Norman Devane for herself, Red didn't turn to Spalding Stark for himself. He's trying to donate to someone he's related to, someone he actually cares about. That's why Red isn't collapsing, having tremors, or showing signs of vision and/or hearing impairment when he visits Dr. Stark, only when he visits Dr. Clemons. He's seeing two doctors for two different reasons. That’s why Dr. Stark purposefully stated that he doesn’t test on children. He’d experiment on Red because technically, he’s considered terminally ill. He has a running hit on his head. Dr. Stark would provide Red with hope of saving his future - Agnes, his granddaughter. Agnes runs opposite Ames in The Pharmacist. That’s why Red is financing Stark.

“My - My daughter’s pregnant. I want to see my grandchild. I can get you the money.”

Just as he financed Dr. Shaw to save Liz. 

2. Elodie killing her husband. 

Taking note how Aram's dialogue to Elodie's dead husband mirrors Red's comment to Tom in 5x8.

"I, uh - I know this is super awkward. But I think this might be in your best interest."

"I’ll say this for you - you’ve always believed that you were acting in her best interest."

As well as Red’s comment to Kate.

"And yet, I know you believe what you did was best for Elizabeth, which is why I brought you here."

Aram's comment... lol

"Quick stick. Oh, God. Oh."

This ties in Liz's second memory wipe. “You were drugged. Propofol, Tramadol.”  imo, the reason they've been mentioning Tom so much lately. 

Add in Elodie's comment -

"Who comes up with all the nicknames? General Shiro. The Pharmacist. The Apothecary.”

And Aram’s -

“You used me. You got me to open up to you. That’s why you kept asking about Blacklisters. To seduce me into giving you a murder weapon.”

3. “stealing from other criminals” like Red’s statement to Marvin.  

"I shouldn’t be surprised. We’re criminals, after all. It’s in our nature to betray."

Judas hits back to The Pharmacist (Dr. Stark). 

“I’ve always found stories of betrayal to be so compelling, so tragic for all those involved. Judas, Iago, men who were beloved by those they’d betrayed.” 

♪ There is a judas among us Nobody here we can trust There is a judas among us ♪ 

4. Marvin and Becky.

This is a man who already lost a son to suicide.

"They tracked him down, of course. Returned the child to his mother. Marvin was disbarred, convicted, and incarcerated. A year later, Timothy hung himself. He was 15."

Went to prison for three years because of his work with Red.

"He forced the FBI to release you from prison a week before your parole so that you could become his accomplice and help him escape during a police standoff. You had a new fiancé at the time, a whole life waiting. What do you have now, Marvin? Alone, on the run til you die?"

While incarcerated, lost his chance to have children with Becky.

"Becky hit menopause while I was in that bird cage. We wanted kids, but if you must know, I had performance anxiety during our conjugal visits."

The bird references are everywhere. Atticus at the mental hospital. Red wanting to hear the birds sing in Isabella Stone's episode. Agnes and her cuckoo clock. Mato and his cuckoo clock. Red wanting to hear the bird sing in Miss Rebecca Thrall's episode. 

"Because I am working in a toy store!"

Then Marvin went to work in the toy section, which likely upset him more, but it's as close to kids as he'll get. It’s also likely he did time with The Apothecary (Asa Hightower) because they took the death penalty off the table in exchange for curing Reddington. 

"I’m here because I need information about the prison where you served. Wallens Ridge, something’s happening inside those walls, and I need to..."

"You take the death penalty off the table, and I’ll tell you how to cure Raymond Reddington."

The father Asa became, the father Marvin wishes he could be. Asa raping his wife pushes to Hannah Hayes' episode.

5. My predictions for Ressler.

I already did a full-length post on my predictions for Ressler. Not sure where it is and I don't feel like looking for it, so I’ll keep it basic. Ressler went with Red to Dr. Stark’s lab FOR A REASON. Red’s two-for-one sale will become his two-for-one investment. “This is gonna be a gas.” Damn right, it is. Ressler’s gonna look at Red’s medical file in the hopes of helping Liz, only to find out Red is Katarina Rostova aka N-13. Then Red is gonna threaten Ressler with fire just as he did Minister D because it’s all about those blackmail dialogues - found in Minister D and The Informant, as well as the one Garvey handed to us with the bones. Add in Dom’s warning to Liz in 8x2 because knowing is enough. 

“I don’t bite. Unless you ever utter my name. In which case, I’ll gut you like a fish and feed you to the lobsters.”

While Red is threatening him, Ressler’s gonna talk his way onto Dr. Stark’s table like Norman Devane was, only it’ll be for a DNA test to see if he's the father of Agnes. “Because I honestly don’t want her to worry. Whether she does or not is ENTIRELY up to you.” This will be what saves his pretty face from fire, and follow through with Tom’s 4x8 iou. Because Agnes is a Ressler, not a Keen. imo, Ressler’s gonna save two people - Red and Agnes. Red’s two-for-one investment simply by bringing Ressler to Stark’s lab. Because Red knows Agnes is in need of a donation, but he has no idea he’s being poisoned. Ressler’s gonna realize Red is being poisoned, while Red is gonna realize Ressler is the father of Agnes. The not-so- cliché future in-laws. 

The Apothecary hits in so many directions.

[alysemeadfad]

Portraiture

Group practical

we sat parallel to another person, we had our pencils stabbed through paper so we could not see the paper below and we had to focus only on the face and not look down, basically a blind drawing as far as looking at the drawing but we could see what the object was as we drew it.

i did the same thing again in graphite and had got a better understanding of proportion considering we could not see the drawing.

we then chose a unique image of ourselves, well mine was rather unique and we did a rough sketch to help us decide what we wanted to draw for our social realism drawing, i was quite impressed by my sketch the proportions were not half bad.

photo REALISM

i chose to just do the center of my face as i felt it would look the best in the social realism style, i then grid my drawing in 4 by 5 squares and did the same to my paper before then beginning my drawing of the outline and basic shapes in order for me to add tone and texture later on 

what is photo realism?

photo realism is a form of art where a drawing or painting looks absolutely identical to the object or photo it has been drawn from, so much so you cant tell the difference between the two, it takes time, patients and a lot of skill.

but most of the art community don’t consider this to be an art form.

Many would argue that the technical skill required to make Photorealism art can be exceeded by a decent color photocopier or a computer, thus avoid to use the word art in such context, but this discussion brings us to an analogy of photography. If photography is merely capturing an image of what is already there, where is the art in that? It is right there in the photographer’s perspective, the exact choice made by the person wielding the camera in what to capture and from which angle, moment and perspective. If a person creating a photorealistic recreation of a photograph doesn’t have that “artistic” input of a photographer, then what is artistic about the process? Some would say even those renditions are not strict interpretations of photographs, instead, they incorporate additional, often subtle, pictorial elements to create the illusion of a reality which does not actually exist, or cannot be perceived by the human eye.

In the end, as in many things in art, and life in general, the final conclusion remains behind the individual perspective

Da Vinci

Long recognised as one of the great artists of the Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci was also a pioneer in the understanding of human anatomy. Had his ground-breaking work been published, it would have transformed European knowledge of the subject.

https://www.rct.uk/collection/themes/exhibitions/leonardo-da-vinci/the-queens-gallery-palace-of-holyroodhouse/explore-the-exhibition#/

At the outset of Leonardo’s career, anatomical illustration was in its infancy. To convey the three-dimensional form of the body and to show how it moves, Leonardo had to develop a whole range of new illustrative techniques. His challenges were in many ways the same as those faced by anatomists today, and some of Leonardo’s drawings are remarkably similar in approach to modern medical imagery, such as MRI and CT scans and 3D computer modelling.

Studies of Human Proportion

While studying Vitruvius for his work on the Milan and Pavia cathedrals, Leonardo became captivated by the ancient Roman architect’s detailed studies of human proportions and measurements. In addition, when he was measuring horses for the Sforza monument, he became interested in how they related to human proportions. Comparative anatomy appealed to his instinct for finding patterns across different subjects. So in 1490 he began measuring and drawing the proportions of the human body.

The construction lines and all of the annotation almost take away from the actual subject and become more of the focus, which was the main idea anyway It was not meant to be a work of art, but rather a manual for how to create it.

Da vinci was a polymath, a person of wide knowledge or learning. He was not only an artist but a scientist, sculpture and an architect.

Frida Kahlo

was a Mexican painter known for her many portraits, self-portraits, and works inspired by the nature and artifacts of Mexico. Inspired by the country’s popular culture, she employed a naïve folk art style to explore questions of identity, postcolonialism, gender, class, and race in Mexican society. Her paintings often had strong autobiographical elements and mixed realism with fantasy. In addition to belonging to the post-revolutionary Mexicayotl movement, which sought to define a Mexican identity, Kahlo has been described as a surrealist or magical realist.

Kahlo’s paintings often feature root imagery, with roots growing out of her body to tie her to the ground. This reflects in a positive sense the theme of personal growth; in a negative sense of being trapped in a particular place, time and situation; and in an ambiguous sense of how memories of the past influence the present for either good and/or ill.[110] In My Grandparents and I, Kahlo painted herself as a ten-year holding a ribbon that grows from an ancient tree that bears the portraits of her grandparents and other ancestors while her left foot is a tree trunk growing out of the ground, reflecting Kahlo’s view of humanity’s unity with the earth and her own sense of unity with Mexico.[111] In Kahlo’s paintings, trees serve as symbols of hope, of strength and of a continuity that transcends generations.[112] Additionally, hair features as a symbol of growth and of the feminine in Kahlo’s paintings and in Self Portrait with Cropped Hair, Kahlo painted herself wearing a man’s suit and shorn of her long hair, which she had just cut off.[113] Kahlo holds the scissors with one hand menacingly close to her genitals, which can be interpreted as a threat to Rivera – whose frequent unfaithfulness infuriated her – and/or a threat to harm her own body like she has attacked her own hair, a sign of the way that women often project their fury against others onto themselves.[114] Moreover, the picture reflects Kahlo’s frustration not only with Rivera, but also her unease with the patriarchal values of Mexico as the scissors symbolize a malevolent sense of masculinity that threatens to “cut up” women, both metaphorically and literally.[114] In Mexico, the traditional Spanish values of machismo were widely embraced, and as a woman, Kahlo was always uncomfortable with machismo.[114]

image taken at the MoMa in Nyc

Fulang-Chang and I depicts Kahlo with one of her pet monkeys, interpreted by many as surrogates for the children she and Diego Rivera were unable to conceive. The painting was included in the first major exhibition of her work, held at Julien Levy Gallery in New York in 1938. In the essay that accompanied the show, the Surrealist leader André Breton described Kahlo’s work as “a ribbon around a bomb” and hailed her as a self-created Surrealist painter. Although she appreciated his enthusiasm for her work, Kahlo did not agree with his assessment: “They thought I was a Surrealist but I wasn’t. I never painted dreams. I painted my own reality.” Kahlo later gave this painting to her close friend Mary Sklar, attaching a mirror to it so that, if Sklar chose, the two friends could be together.

Tai Shan Schierenberg

Tai Shan Schierenberg lives and works in London. He graduated from the Slade School of Art in 1987 and in 1989 won first prize in the National Portrait Gallery’s John Player Portrait Award. He was then commissioned to paint Sir John Mortimer for the Gallery. The National Portrait Gallery also holds his portraits of Lord Carrington from 1994, Lord Sainsbury, 2002 and most recently Seamus Heaney from 2004. Other noted commissions include Professor Stephen Hawking, Sir John Madejski and a double portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh. For Schierenberg, there is an emotional charge that comes from the different textures and densities, and ultimately the light conditions, that occur in a place at a certain time. He describes his process in 2010: Painting and painting and painting, endlessly exploring ideas in paint on canvas, always painting my way. Finding that over time I can’t see the trees for the paint. Sometimes its good to try a new way, a different path, expose oneself to the vagaries of chance - and see the trees again.

Before he finishes a commission, Tai-Shan Schierenberg usually splatters a bit of paint in the corner of the portrait. It’s not a stylistic move – the brushstrokes in his paintings are fluid but the images themselves are representative – but rather one which gives the subject something to complain about.

in the image above you can clearly see the texture and markings on the canvas, the artist uses oil paint on canvas and applies it using a pallet knife and a large brush, making various large strokes in the work. this gives a rough texture and edge to the piece.

These instinctive visual images refuse to betray the plasticity of the medium. Unlike Freud, Schierenberg sees paint simultaneously as flesh. It is exactly this technique that establishes the major paradoxes characteristic of his work. It is both abstract and realist, edgy and sensitive, grand and inconclusive, violent and melancholic, physically intense and aesthetically detache

Lucian Freud

was influenced by surrealism, but by the early 1950s his often stark and alienated paintings tended towards realism. Freud was an intensely private and guarded man, and his paintings, completed over a 60-year career, are mostly of friends and family. They are generally somber and thickly impastoed, often set in unsettling interiors and city scapes. The works are noted for their psychological penetration and often discomforting examination of the relationship between artist and model. Freud worked from life studies, and was known for asking for extended and punishing sittings from his models.

one of my chosen artists, tai shan sheirenberg seems to be heavily influenced by the style of lucian freud yet he made his own style, they both use the same meduims, oil on canvas also.

here in the colder tones we have a painting by lucian freud, you can see the texture of the brush strikes that help carve out the facial features.

here is a painting by tai shan, the tones are a lot warmer, they are not of the same person tho they look similar, you can see the brush strokes again on this image that help carve out the facial features, tho they are a lot more prominent in this painting as thats tai shans style, you see paint before you see the face .

Interpreting line

The Visual Element of Line is the foundation of all drawing. It is the first and most versatile of the visual elements. Line in an artwork can be used in many different ways. It can be used to suggest shape, pattern, form, structure, growth, depth, distance, rhythm, movement and a range of emotions.

We have a psychological response to different types of lines:

Curved lines suggest comfort and ease

Horizontal lines suggest distance and calm

Vertical lines suggest height and strength

Jagged lines suggest turmoil and anxiety

The way we draw a line can convey different expressive qualities:

Freehand lines can express the personal energy and mood of the artist

Mechanical lines can express a rigid control

Continuous lines can lead the eye in certain directions

Broken lines can express the ephemeral or the insubstantial

Thick lines can express strength

Thin lines can express delicacy

[overloveds-archive]

❛  ✶  (    kelsey  merritt,  cis  female,  she/her    )    —    did  you  see  elle  vera  walking  around  campus  earlier?  i  hear  a  lot  of  people  talking  about  the  twenty  one  year  old  junior.  from  what  i  know,  they  are  studying  english  and  are  a  part  of  sigma  epsilon  chi.  they  come  across  as  +gracious  but  also  -inflexible,  which  makes  sense  because  on  their  instagram    (    @cinderelle​    )    it  says  they  are  a  taurus . when i see  them,  i  think  of  missing  someone  you  haven’t  met  yet,  an  empty  stomach  filling  up  with  butterflies,  staying  up  all  night  and  telling  secrets  you  swear  you’ll  keep.

alright  hello  i’m  b  twenty three  and  i  never  fuckin  learned  how  to  write  so  i  am  sorry  about  this.  i’d  link  you  to  a  wanted  connections  tag  but  i  got  one  post  n  that  won’t  be  any  help  n  i  do  have  a  biography  written  for  elle  but  most  of  it  revolves  around  her  secret  so  i  won’t  link  it  yet  either  :p  haha  so  far  so  good  amirite??  you  probably  will  figure  it  out  anyway  once  you  read  the  rest  of  this  post...  under  the  cut  is  me  doing  my  best  to  be  vague,  bare  with  me  because  i  can’t  wait  to  start  writing  with  u  guys.

statistics.

𝐅𝐔𝐋𝐋 𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄: elle winnifred vera 𝐍𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐒: ellie, vera 𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐄𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐈𝐌: kelsey merritt 𝐀𝐆𝐄: 21 𝐃𝐎𝐁: may 1 𝐒𝐈𝐆𝐍: taurus 𝐌𝐀𝐉𝐎𝐑: english 𝐒𝐎𝐑𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐘: sigma epsilon chi 𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐎𝐖𝐍: greenwhich, ct 𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄: cambridge, ma 𝐎𝐂𝐂𝐔𝐏𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍: student 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒: maxwell vera, elizabeth pruitt-vera 𝐒𝐈𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒: kevin vera, lily vera 𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄: gracious 𝐍𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄: inflexible 𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐎𝐑: beige 𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍: autumn 𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐆: fake smile by ariana grande 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊: wuthering heights 𝐌𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐄: clueless 𝐑𝐄𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒: anna karenina, annette hargrove

breakdown.

elle has a good home life, it’s not the best but whose is?? her father is a successful businessman and her mother is a small time fashion designer. she has an older brother and a younger sister that she doesn’t have the best relationship with but she tries.

the family has money, but they’re from new money and her dad is constantly working and her mom still has this dream that she’s going to be the next coco chanel so she’s always away working on that dream.

her dad is very strict with her brother because he’s the first born and they have expectations for him to take over the business and they never put that kind of pressure on elle. her brother resented her for being cherished and loved unconditionally by their father and as much as elle tried growing up to bond with him, he wasn’t having any of it.

after the they had elle, her mother was ready to get back into the fashion industry but less than a year after having elle she was unexpectedly pregnant again and her dream was once again put on hold.

elle’s sister was a tougher baby to care for and that on top of having to stay home, her mother blamed her sister. this put a strain of elle’s relationship with her sister too because her sister was jealous of how great their mother treated elle. her brother and sister connected over the bad relationships with their parents and evidently isolated elle.

elle doesn’t blame her siblings or her parents for the lack of relationships with her brother and sister, she doesn’t really understand why things are the way they are, and she’s still trying to forge a bond to this day.

the next 4 bullet points are taken from her biography because i don’t know how else to word it.. again i am sorry... :p regardless of not having the best relationship with her brother and sister, it was easy for elle to make friends. she’s beautiful, elegant, and her family has money— anyone would be stupid to turn a friendship with someone like her down. 

elle’s father also talked her up with colleagues. before she could speak for herself, she already had this pristine reputation. you’d think she would hate living up to that and yet it was the opposite, she loved being known as her father’s sweet daughter because that’s exactly who she is. 

elle is lucky enough to be the person she wants to be; kind, compassionate, and never taken advantage of, thanks to the reputation her father provided her. everyone views her as perfect and she lives up to the title. 

at home, she’s admired and all the other girls are constantly comparing themselves to her. and thus, she has it easy. so easy that she’s grown comfortable living a certain way of life. end scene.

a lot of people come to elle for advice especially since she’s been with her boyfriend for 5 years and she loves being that person for those she cares about but shes also that person that gives out advice and never takes it

speaking of her bf... he’s a grad student and he’s known around campus but he doesn’t come around very much which i’m sure is suspicious to elle’s friends but he’s the guy that is like my studies are more important than going to a stupid party with u.. and elle understands because she’s elle

she’s not exactly a pushover but she does like to make people happy. but if it’s a serious matter she won’t be afraid to say something that the person doesn't want to hear. she never does with her bf though because she believes he’s right... and doesn’t want him to break up with her

because her bf doesn't come around much she usually attends events to take care of her friends or she just stays home. it’s hard to convince her to do things without him. gags

she’s an english major and because her parents adore her they don’t mind that she’s picked a career path that won’t eventually lead to big money and honestly they’re not worried about her being able to provide for herself since she has her bf whose family is rolling in money and they assume they’ll end up together and she’ll be taken care of.

elle picked english because she loves it. she loves reading and escaping her own problems through the stories in the thousands of books she owns. we love healthy coping mechanisms.

i think that is it?? i know i ALWAYS forget something but if you decide to plot w me i’ll make sure to let u know anything i haven’t added here.

i CAN link a social media page that isn’t much but it’s something...

for the smart people who skipped to the end here is a quick summary: she’s the poster child for the perfect rich girl and it’s not even an act! she’s that person who you meet and realize that home can be a person and not a place. legend

now i am going to go finish reading your intros and laugh as i think back to the mess that this is <3

[wafflesetc]

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 |Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 |AO3

Closing Time Chapter 15

Claire Beauchamp is a second year medical student. Due to many late nights with her clinicals, and studying for her pharmacology class, she’s at wits end. One Friday night she decides not to join Joe Abernathy and her other friends out at Church, their local hangout spot, but instead winds up in a dive bar close to her flat with a very nice whisky selection. In fact, one of the best one she’s ever seen. When the bartender calls her ‘Sassenach’ and pours her a double, Claire gets a feeling in her chest she’s never felt before.

Thank you @kkruml for being the reason I’m still writing CT. And shout out to @the-fear-you-wont-fall for an extra set o’ eyes on this one! 

A/N: Buckle up folks.

The next week progressed both slow and fast at the same time. By Saturday night, I could see Jenny’s methodical system of running Lallybroch. I, too, had been put to work here and there, aside from being Jamie’s personal care taker.

I had spent the day checking on Jamie every few hours, while helping Jenny get the garden ready for the spring planting. By the time I had come in for the evening, my nail beds were covered with dirt; I had tassel weeds in my hair and smelled pungently of herbs.

I wiped my hands on my jeans and meandered inside, to find Jamie in the study. While he had been on the road to a fast track recovery, he was still a bit too tender and weak to do manual labor around the house or land, so Ian had set him to balancing the books for the upcoming crops.

I wiped my hands on my jeans as I knocked on the door to the study.

“Aye?” A low voice grumbled as I heard the slam of a book onto the old oak desk.

“It’s me, Claire.” I said meekly, sensing his bad mood. “May I come in?”

“Och.” Jamie humphed as I opened the door and shuffled in, closing it behind me.

“If… You need some alone time to finish the books….” I started as I crossed by arms across my chest and leaned against the door.

I watched as he carefully sat back in the chair as the light illuminated his red hair.  His eyebrows furrowed and he closed his eyes as he rested his head against the back of the old leather chair. For the first time in over a week since his accident, he truly looked unhappy and over tired. I knew him, or so I felt, like I knew the back of my hand. But as I studied the lines on his face, I realized I had no clue what he was thinking or where his mind was.

“A penny for your thoughts, Jamie?” I asked hesitantly. He let out a small breath and I started to close the distance between us. “Or, if you’d rather have some time to yourself, I can go take a shower before we get you situated for the night….”

“Claire.” He said promptly as he opened his eyes and met my glare.  “Is yer life at all how ye thought it would turn out, say from when ye were a wee lass?”

I reached the desk and rounded the corner, just to the right of where he sat, and leaned my hips against the desk as I looked down to him. “In some ways, yes and in some ways no.” I pre-emptively started as I gave him an inquisitive look.

Jamie’s blue eyes met mine as his look gazed into mine, begging me to continue. “Okay, I’ll bite.”

I took a breath and jumped onto the edge of the desk, crossing my feet.  “When my parents died…. I was in the car. I don’t remember much, I never have. All I remember was a spatter of red blood, and my mother softly saying ‘We love you Claire Elizabeth Beauchamp’ and then the paramedics pulling me from the car. I remember feeling so helpless that I couldn’t do a damn thing.”

“Were ye no’ but a lass then?”

“I was. Only six… But it was from that accident, I vowed to make a difference with my life. To be a healer and to save lives.  It was then I knew what my calling was, and now here I am.”

“Here ye are.” He said, although his voice sounded hollow.

“But in some ways… It is also not how I thought my life would be. With Uncle Lamb, I traveled the world.  I’ve told you some stories – summers in Italy, spending Christmas in Turkey, riding camels in the Sahara desert. I planned on Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital for my residency. But then I met Frank, Uncle Lamb got sick… And I stayed in Scotland for reasons that weren’t for myself.” The words left my mouth before I realized the gravity of the words I had just said to him.

“So ye are saying ye dinna want to be in Scotland?”  Jamie asked, and I could hear the edge in his voice.

“I didn’t say that.” I said sternly as I got off the desk and put my hands on his shoulders and spun the chair towards me. “Do not put words in my mouth.”

“I am just repeating what ye said.”

I could feel the anger boiling in the pit of my stomach – the way it used to be when Frank and I would talk about my medical school applications. I clenched my fingernails into his shoulder and could feel his fragile skin breaking beneath my grasp.

No, he was different. This was different.

“No. It is not what I had planned, Jamie Fraser. But like my parent’s accident, I have learned that life doesn’t always go as planned. Sometimes you have to be flexible and carefree, taking challenges head on and figuring it out as you go.”

“And?”

“And…. I’m here, aren’t I? “

“Yes… You are.” He breathed heavily as he took my hands from his shoulders and held them in his hands.

“Yes. I am here. And I’m not going anywhere. There are a lot of things we have to figure out together, but I have faith… I know we will.”

He looked up and smiled as he took my hands and placed them over his heart.

I tipped my head down and kissed the base of his jaw gingerly. “You know I love you, right?”

“I do.” He smiled with a small nod, his voice sounding almost hollow. “I ken ye do, to the very marrow of my bones.”

“And just exactly how do you know that, Jamie?”

“I ken because yer here, Sassenach. I havena scared ye away yet, nor has my sister. Beauchamp genes must have a tolerance for Frasers.”

I laughed lightly as he moved his hands to the belt loops on my jeans and pulled me down onto his lap. “Don’t hurt yourself I weigh as much as an elephant.”

“Dinna fash, Sassenach. I am healed when I get to hold ye.” Jamie whispered with a small crack in his voice as he rested his head into my bosom. I could sense the urgent need to be close to me – to tether himself to the present, to his current reality. Something was bothering him—nagging at him, but I didn’t want to pry. He’d come to me in his own timing.

Or so I’d hope.

I kissed the top of his head as I felt his tears stain my t-shirt. Truth be told, I wasn’t sure why he was crying – whether it was from being emotionally exhausted from recovering, stressed over his business in Edinburgh, or something else, I wasn’t entirely sure. But his hands dug into the back of my shirt, clenched into fists as his fingers locked onto the material, and he tightened his hold on me.

We sat like that for minutes or maybe an hour, I didn’t really know, nor did I care. All I knew was Jamie needed me, needed my touch, and that was the best thing I could offer him as I ran my fingers through his hair.

I could feel his thoughts churning in his head – something was feeding his doubts, something was tormenting him, something was haunting him – something he wasn’t telling me.

He’s not Frank. This is different. This is not going to blow up in my face. Jamie wouldn’t do that to you.

I heard the light vibration of his phone on the desk and turned my head to see the lock screen light up with a text.

‘John Grey: We need to talk, Jamie. As soon as you can.’

I closed my eyes and rested my head atop of his as the knots in my stomach tightened and made me nauseous. I had a feeling my world was about to implode and I had no clue how to protect him or myself.

[letterfromtrenwith]

Prescription Passion - Ch. 7

Carolight Hospital AU

Ch.7 - Dwight's day gets off to a bad start...and it's all downhill from there.

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6

~

HONKKKKK

Dwight jumped as the horn blared, turning to see a red Ferrari startlingly close behind him, but only because it seemed to be trying to drive over the pedestrian pathway in the car park to get to a space opposite. He half-leapt out of the way, and the car pulled in. A tall, dark-haired man in his 40s got out, locking the door with little more than an imperious glance back at Dwight. Under ordinary circumstances, Dwight might have objected to being nearly run over, but he was not only too astonished by the man’s behaviour, he was also in too good a mood.

Admittedly, he might have actually seen the car coming if he hadn’t been so distracted. He’d been in a bit of a dream for the last couple of days, since Caroline had waved off his taxi outside the restaurant. Like the smitten fool he was, he’d twisted around to watch her until the car turned a corner. She’d stood out in the twilight, golden hair bright against her simple red dress. It wasn’t until he got home that he’d realised she’d watched the car drive away in return.

It was only Monday, so he wasn’t sure if that was too soon to ask her out on another date – or rather, ask her out on a date for the first time, since she’d done the inviting last time. Dwight wasn’t used to being asked out by women, and definitely not ones as beautiful and fascinating as Caroline. He hadn’t been lying when he’d told her that relationships weren’t exactly his strong suit – he’d only had one truly serious one, and that had ended…

“Are you all right?” He was startled out of his thoughts by George’s voice. He’d made it into the hospital lobby, following the man who’d nearly knocked him down. “I saw your near miss out there.”

“Oh, er, yeah, I’m fine. Just got a bit of a fright.” He glanced after the driver, but he’d disappeared down one of the corridors which splintered off from the reception. “Do you know who that was?”

“Oh, yes.” George pursed his lips, disapproving. “Francis Bassett – he’s one of the hospital directors. Not a doctor. Some sort of pen-pusher. It’s not the first time he’s nearly caused an accident in that midlife-crisis-mobile of his. Arrogant bastard. And I work with surgeons, so I know from arrogant.”

Dwight laughed. He knew the type – both from his previous work in the NHS, and his time with MSF. Charity higher-ups were often the same, treating the organisations they were in charge of like their own personal fiefdoms, believing they could do what they wanted because they were ‘helping people’, despite the fact that they rarely went near a patient or anyone in need. Primarily because most of them weren’t doctors, or anything at all, so far as Dwight had ever been able to tell.

“So, are you on your way in or out?”

“In. I’ve just dropped Valentine off at nursery.”

“Elizabeth not with you?”

“She came in earlier. They had a bit of a rush on.” George smiled. “If you’re hoping to avoid her, she’ll probably be finished by about 3.”

“Avoid her?” Dwight frowned. “Why would I want to avoid her?”

“Because you’ll get the third degree about your date with Caroline on Saturday night.”

“How did – “

“Oh, she got that out of Caroline days ago.” Obviously sensing that Dwight was slightly taken aback, George’s expression softened. “Elizabeth’s not trying to interfere, she’s just pleased for Caroline, that’s all. Caroline didn’t really know anyone when she came here, and her Uncle is an old friend of Elizabeth’s dad. They’re close. She’s Ursula’s godmother.”

“Oh, I see.” It made sense. He couldn’t really imagine Elizabeth as the busybody type, and he felt badly for thinking otherwise, no matter how briefly. Caroline had certainly given him the impression that she was good friends with the obstetrician. He elected to change the subject. “She’s very cute, by the way. Ursula, I mean. People couldn’t tear themselves away at your party.”

“Yes, she is.” George smiled fondly. They’d begun to walk into the main body of the hospital, towards the staff wing. Dwight still had a short while before he needed to sign in for his shift. “She’s got us both wrapped around her little finger. Valentine was the same.”

“How did you and Elizabeth end up working in the same hospital, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“No, not at all. We met here, actually. I did the first part of my registration in Bath, but came down here to finish. First week on the job, I got called in for an epidural and…there she was.” He smiled, remembering. “Took me six months to work up the courage to ask her out. Wish I hadn’t wasted all that time, to be honest. What’s the point in waiting when you know what you want? Well, this is me. Got a budget meeting. I’ll see you later.”

With that George disappeared in the direction of the administrative offices. Dwight stood a minute watching the double doors slowly swing to stop. He had a feeling that George’s comment about not waiting hadn’t been solely referring to himself and Elizabeth.

~

Dwight stretched, hearing a popping noise from somewhere in the vicinity of his shoulder. He would go and have a sit down, he thought. It hadn’t exactly been busy today, just a steady flow of one patient after another. Nothing especially serious, thank God, although a man with chest pains had been admitted for further observation, but there had barely been a pause.  

As he was signing off a patient form, the phone rang on the desk and Rosina answered. She listened intently to whatever the person on the other end was saying, and the way her mouth set into a grim line gave Dwight a deep sense of foreboding. He was proven right when she hung up.

“There’s been a scaffolding collapse on a building site. At least 20 casualties. First ones should be arriving in the next 10 minutes. Don’t know how many are coming here yet.”

“All right.” Dwight took a deep breath, steeling himself. He’d dealt with mass-casualty incidents before and he’d had significant training. As the senior physician in the department today, he needed to take charge. He could do this. “Activate the MCI procedures. Call in everyone nearby, and see if other departments can spare any qualified personnel.”

Rosina gave a sharp nod and picked up the phone again – she’d be paging just about every doctor in the hospital with the emergency notification. Dwight headed off to round up every spare staff member he could find in the A&E, hurrying them to clear as many beds as they could – getting all the patients who were to be admitted or discharged processed as quickly as possible in the time left, which wasn’t much.

The estimate hadn’t been far off – about fifteen minutes after the phone call, they were alerted that the ambulances had begun to arrive. Just two to begin with, but there would be more, he knew. Thankfully, the extra staff had also started to appear. Mostly nurses, but a few doctors, as well – Dwight saw Hugh Armitage and Malcolm McNeil, and some others whose names he still didn’t know. With another deep breath, he strode out to the ambulance bay doors.

Everything after that seemed to happen both too quickly and in slow motion. The injuries were just what would be expected from a building collapse, but that made them no less distressing. Crush injuries, broken limbs, head traumas – and not all members of the building crew. Debris had fallen onto pedestrians on the street.

It seemed the first reports had underestimate the number of casualties – some had gone to the Royal Cornwall and a few with relatively minor injuries had been taken further afield – but over the course of the next few hours at least 20 patients arrived, although Dwight struggled to keep count, even though he was nominally in charge of co-ordination. There were more pressing issues to attend to – like the young builder with a metal rod through his torso, or the other who had fallen almost thirty feet, or the little girl whose leg had been crushed by a scaffolding pole. After some struggle to stabilise the men, both were whisked away for emergency surgery. Hugh stepped in to take charge of the girl, also hurrying her away to theatre.

Dwight ended up calling time of death on two patients in a row – one who had been struck on the head by a falling plank of wood, and another, an older man whose heart simply gave out with the shock of his injuries. At the edge of his awareness, he heard at least two other TODs being called – the second he recognised as being in George’s voice.

Shortly after that George appeared at his side to tend to another worker with fall injuries – he was still conscious somehow, and in severe pain. Ironically, that was a good sign under the circumstances, indicating against paralysis. The patient was also very distressed, by everything that had happened, and by being strapped onto the spinal board, his head held still by the cervical collar.

“What’s – what’s going on? Ah Jesus! It hurts so much.”

“Shhhh, it’s all right. What’s your name?” Dwight did his best to keep his voice soothing.

“Danny – ah – oh God.”

“All right, Danny, just try to breathe slowly.” As he did his best to assess the young man’s – he couldn’t be more than 20 – condition, Dwight saw George prepare a syringe, inserting into Danny’s drip and injecting the contents, eyes on the monitors at all times. Relatively quickly, his vitals stabilised a little, blood pressure and heart rate decreasing closer to a normal rate, the opioid acting quickly. His injuries were still severe, however. Dwight was certain both his legs were broken, and quite probably his pelvis; he was struggling to breath in a way which suggested the possibility of a collapsed lung.

“He needs an x-ray, and a CT scan.” Dwight said.

“We still need to get his BP down.” George rummaged in the cabinet, extracting another syringe. A dose of ACE inhibitors did enough, and Danny could be admitted for further treatment.

By the time everything began to tail off, Dwight had no idea what time of day it was. Once the last casualty from the collapse had been wheeled away into the main body of the hospital, he slumped against the nurses’ desk, all of the energy and adrenaline draining out of him. Nearby, a nurse was cleaning blood from the floor. There were still a few patients receiving treatment – some not from the collapse, but they were being treated by reserve staff who had been called in to take over.

Although he’d called TOD on three patients all told, he’d paid little attention to the actual passage of time, his mind on other things. Blearily, he squinted at the large clock about the desk. It was half past eight at night, about seven hours since they’d got the call. With some difficulty he made it out into the corridor, sitting down with his back against the wall. It was blessedly cool; drawing up his knees, he dropped his forehead onto his folded arms.

He felt as if a weight was settling on his shoulders, and – uninvited – his brain began to conjure up memories. Sparse wooden shacks used as hospital wards, blood permanently ingrained in the floor planks;  little malnourished bodies on pathetic excuses for hospital beds; bombed out buildings; remains pulled out of homes crushed by mudslides; a knock on the door in the middle of the night, blue lights flickering through the glass…

“Dwight? Dwight? Are you okay?” Lost in his unwelcome thoughts, Dwight was startled. He looked up to find Rosina crouched next to him. She gently put her hand on his shoulder. “That was…pretty awful.”

“Yeah..” He scrubbed a hand over his face, and it came away wet. Oh Lord, he’d been crying. He blinked a few times, and saw that Rosina’s eyes were also red-rimmed. She was relatively recently qualified, this was almost certainly the most severe situation she’d ever been in. “You – er – you did really well back there.”

“I tried. You were amazing. You were so calm.” She smiled a little, still rubbing his shoulder gently. Unexpectedly, she leant forward and pressed her forehead against his for a moment before quickly standing up, wiping her own eyes and disappearing back into the ward. Dwight glanced in the other direction, just in time to see Caroline turn and walk away through the doors. 

[theliberaltony]

via Politics – FiveThirtyEight

More and more Americans vote for the same party up and down the ballot these days. But some people still split their tickets. Who? Where? Well, we can use our forecast data to try to answer that. There are 22 states holding multiple statewide races this year — meaning a Senate race and a governor’s race — and with no presidential race to muck things up, most states will vote for the same party in each. But there are some notable exceptions.

In three states — Massachusetts, Vermont and Maryland — it’s especially likely that voters will elect a Republican governor and a Democratic or independent senator. Other states with close contests for Senate or governor, such as Nevada or Wisconsin, could also see split outcomes. Even in states where the same party wins both the Senate and gubernatorial races, there will be at least some difference between the margin of victory in the two races. In other words, just because New York is likely to elect Democrats to both offices, it doesn’t mean all voters cast a straight-ticket ballot — there will be some difference in how big a margin Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Gov. Andrew Cuomo win by in November.

So, to see just how far apart voters might be in 2018, I looked at how much each candidate was expected to win by1 according to the “Classic” versions of our Senate and gubernatorial models, and then I calculated the difference between the margin of victory in the statewide races for each state.2 The difference gives us a sense of how common, relatively speaking, split tickets are in a given state. And as you can see in the table below, Vermont has the biggest difference between the forecasted margins in its races for Senate and governor — about 60 percentage points all told. What this means is roughly 30 percent of Vermonters may vote for both Sen. Bernie Sanders and Republican Gov. Phil Scott, since Scott’s expected share of the vote is about 30 points higher than the share the Republican Senate candidate is forecasted to get.3

Where voters might split their tickets on statewide races

Difference in the size of the forecasted margin of victory for the leading party’s candidate in 2018 Senate and governor races, as of Oct. 18

Senate Governor State Incumbent Forecast Margin Incumbent Forecast Margin Diff VT Sanders* D+46.2 Scott R+13.4 59.5 MA Warren D+29.3 Baker R+29.2 58.6 MD Cardin D+35.5 Hogan R+17.6 53.1 HI Hirono D+53.1 Ige D+29.6 23.4 WY Barrasso R+40.9 Open R+25.0 15.9 CT Murphy D+22.1 Open D+6.4 15.7 NM Heinrich D+22.4 Open D+7.5 14.9 ME King* D+25.9 Open D+11.4 14.5 OH Brown D+12.8 Open R+1.2 14.0 TX Cruz R+5.2 Abbott R+18.8 13.6 AZ Open D+1.8 Ducey R+11.4 13.3 MN‡ Klobuchar D+20.8 Open D+10.2 10.6 WI Baldwin D+12.7 Walker D+2.3 10.4 TN Open R+4.6 Open R+14.1 9.4 RI Whitehouse D+28.9 Raimondo D+19.6 9.3 NE Fischer R+14.1 Ricketts R+22.7 8.6 NY Gillibrand D+30.1 Cuomo D+21.9 8.2 MI Stabenow D+18.1 Open D+11.7 6.4 FL Nelson D+2.3 Open D+3.5 1.2 PA Casey Jr. D+14.4 Wolf D+15.6 1.2 MN‡ Smith† D+9.7 Open D+10.2 0.6 NV Heller R+1.0 Open R+0.8 0.3

“Open” indicates that the incumbent senator or governor is not running for re-election. Some numbers may not add due to rounding. The forecast margin is based on FiveThirtyEight’s “Classic” model as of 4:30 p.m. Eastern time on Oct. 18.

*Bernie Sanders and Angus King are independent senators who caucus with the Democrats. They are counted as Democrats in this analysis.

†Tina Smith is an appointed, rather than elected, incumbent. FiveThirtyEight’s model treats seats with no elected incumbent as open.

‡Minnesota is included twice because it has two Senate elections this year.

Massachusetts, where our forecast shows Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Republican Gov. Charlie Baker as sure bets to win, has the second-biggest difference — close to 59 points. And Warren and Baker are expected to win by nearly identical margins — just shy of 30 points in both cases, as of about 4:30 p.m. Thursday — which means a lot of people will likely be splitting their tickets in statewide races. In third with a 53-point difference is Maryland, where Republican Gov. Larry Hogan appears comfortably ahead and Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin looks to be headed toward an easy win. But these are all states where the incumbents are members of different parties. In states where the same party has incumbents seeking re-election for both Senate and governor, the differences tend to be smaller. This is best exemplified by Pennsylvania, where Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and Democratic Sen. Bob Casey Jr. have nearly identical leads, so their margins of victory are expected to be separated by about 1 point. Similarly, states with open-seat races for both the Senate and governor, like Minnesota4 and Tennessee, also have smaller differences between their forecasted margins of victory; that’s partly due to the lack of elected incumbents, which shifts the states closer to their partisan defaults.5 But despite being a Democrat in a pretty red state, Brown has a 29 in 30 chance of winning per the “Classic” version of our model as of Thursday afternoon, and he is forecasted to win by about 13 points. It’s a different story in the Ohio governor’s race, however. With no incumbent, that race is likely more influenced by the baseline partisan lean of the state and the national environment, which has helped make it a toss-up contest in our gubernatorial forecast model.

Another factor at play may be elasticity, or how likely a state’s voters are to be swingy. Highly elastic states are more prone to big shifts in voter preferences, while more inelastic states fluctuate less. More flexible electorates in states such as Massachusetts and Vermont have shown a greater willingness to vote in opposite directions for different seats,6 which we are seeing play out dramatically in 2018. But elasticity is an imperfect explanation in some cases. Whereas Massachusetts and Vermont rank among the states with the highest elasticity, Maryland is toward the bottom of the list,7 yet the difference between its Senate and governor races is similar to the difference we see in the more elastic states. That said, elasticity can help to partly explain some of the seemingly sizable gaps in states where the same party looks likely to win both seats. Take Hawaii, for instance. Although Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono and Democratic Governor David Ige are both overwhelming favorites to win, Hirono’s forecast margin runs about 23 points ahead of Ige’s. While part of that discrepancy is caused by the presence of third-party candidates in just one of the races (the governor’s race), that would only amount to a small portion of the difference — less than 4 percent of the vote is going to third-party candidates, according to our forecast. It’s possible, therefore, that Hawaii’s relatively elastic electorate8 makes it more open to voting for Ige’s Republican opponent, state Rep. Andria Tupola.

So despite increased political polarization and high levels of straight-ticket voting, our look at the 22 midterm Senate and gubernatorial races this year shows that some voters will still likely vote for different parties on the same ballot. And on election night, we will see at least a few states where the Senate and governor races run very far apart.

[halsteadproperty]

Halstead Agents’ Favorite Small Businesses

Last Sunday marked the end of National Small Business Week, and there is no better way to honor this past week than to highlight the very businesses that keep our markets unique and special. As neighborhood experts with a plethora of knowledge, our Halstead agents leverage small shops and restaurants to show what makes their areas of business distinctive. In honor of this past week, we decided to share with you the exact places that make NY, NJ, CT and the Hamptons the best areas to live.  

Tipsy Scoop

217 East 26th Street, New York, NY  

Ice cream and liquor are two hot commodities on their own. Now, imagine them together. Agent Elizabeth Abbott knows just the place. “Tipsy Scoop is New York’s first ice cream ‘barlour’ that serves liquor infused ice cream that is not only delicious but visually creative,” Elizabeth says. Owned by a young entrepreneur, Melissa Tavss Beranger, the Kips Bay shop has a high enough alcohol content to actually get you buzzed.

(Recommended by Elizabeth Abbott of our Park Avenue office)

The Momogram Shop

19 Newtown Lane, East Hampton, NY

According to agent John Scott ‘JT’ Thomas, The Monogram Shop has been a staple in the Hamptons for more than 10 years. “It’s family owned by a mother and daughter, and it’s my go-to place for all gifts,” JT says. “Whether it is for a closing, dinner party, wedding, new baby, etc., The Monogram Shop is somewhere to provide a warmer, more personal touch to your gifts. Everyone loves to receive something personalized!”

(Recommended by John Scott ‘JT’ Thomas of our East Hampton office)

Kirby and Company

1029 Post Rd, Darien, CT 06820

Run by a motivated, strong, talented role model named Elaine Kirby, this adorable gift shop is agent Amanda Davenport’s favorite place to buy closing gifts. “Their assortment isn’t the only draw, as the owner always has a bright smile on her face and she knows how to create the perfect gift,” Davenport says. While the shop appeals to anyone who searches for boutique decor and other adornments, Elaine believed Darien needed something for a younger group of residents. Thus, Kirby Girl was introduced as a sister shop to celebrate being kind, witty, smart, fierce, unapologetically awesome, confident, fast, athletic, creative, and proud of what makes each girl different and unique. Kirby Girl is located at 14 Brook Street.

(Recommended by Amanda Davenport of our Darien office)

Mediterraneo

1260 Second Avenue (Corner of 66th Street), New York, NY

“With a relaxed European ambiance, simple interior décor, and charming café details, I feel like I have taken a trip back to Rome,” agent Jennifer L. Hoxter says. Mediterraneo, an Italian restaurant on the Upper East Side, is known for their thin crust pizza and wood-burning pizza oven. Jennifer’s favorite Roma-style pizza is the Pizza Al Portobello, with Portobello Mushrooms, tomatoes, mozzarella and garlic and fresh basil. “The ingredients are so fresh,” she says. “There are many varieties of thin crust pizzas, such as, Pizza Mediterraneo with shrimp, tomato sauce, capers, garlic and scallions. I would also recommend the homemade pastas, and Grilled Calamari.” Mediterraneo’s outside seating has just opened for the warmer months so enjoy your favorite pizza and an ice cappuccino, and maybe run into Jennifer!

(Recommended by Jennifer L. Hoxter of our East Side office)

Taszo

5 Edward M Morgan Place, New York, NY 10032

“Taszo is just one of those neighborhood joints you grow to really love and appreciate,” says agent Erik Freeland. Owned by a Tunisian who grew up in Sweden and Paris, Taszo offers the highest quality espresso, craft beer, and wine in a relaxed brick-walled setting. They have delicious bites to compliment your favorite beverage. “They have great coffee and pastries (from Balthazar) in the morning. Then, in the evenings it switches over to a great, cozy wine/beer bar and the owner makes an amazing lamb tagine and Swedish meatballs,” Erik explains. With very reasonable prices, this double-edged sword is a Washington Heights staple.

(Recommended by Erik Freeland of our West Side office)

Columbus & 74th Thrift Shop

306 Columbus Avenue at 74th Street, New York, NY

Known for their large inventory of clothing, shoes, and accessories, this Housing Works thrift shop will soon take over your closet. “For over 20 years this store has provided unique deals on clothes, furniture and bric-a-brac that I never would imagine I wanted until I saw the item,” says agent Ed Herson. Most of the staff have been working there for many years and I always get a friendly smile when I go there.”

(Recommended by Ed Herson of our West Side office)

Birch Coffee

171 E 88th St, New York, NY 10128

“You know it’s the place to be when the baristas know all the locals by name and the coffee is strong enough to keep you awake all day – even in the city that never sleeps,” says agent Nicole Hay. Birch Coffee, is intentionally situated mid-block directly across from the magnificent new development 188 E 88th Street. It is a cozy nook among the hustle and bustle of New York, with a Brooklyn vibe on the Upper East Side.

(Recommended by Nicole Hay of our Park Avenue office)

White Gold Butchers

375 Amsterdam Ave, New York , NY 10024 

“This artisan butcher/restaurant has the best quality meat out there,” agent Keith Marder says. “To top things off, they allowed Olga and I to do our lifestyle photoshoot inside the restaurant.” White Gold Butchers is a place where you can eat and also buy meat at the butcher counter. This restaurant has been featured in Fobres, Viceland, New York Times, Vogue and Eater NY, to name a few.

(Recommended by Keith Marder and Olga Bidun of our West Side office)

The Ballfield Café

65th St Transverse, New York, NY 10019

This hidden gem in Central Park is surely mistaken for just another annex/shack in the park for those who don’t know it. “Across from the baseball diamonds in Central Park is a small cafe with umbrella shaded tables where lunch and a light supper are served, plus delightful summer cocktails,” explains Christine O’Neal. This café boasts a good beer/cider/wine list and delicious, quick comfort food. You can order to-go at the counter or sit down for a full-service experience outdoors. “The baseball diamonds are just south and the carousel is within sight,” Christine says.

(Recommended by Christine O’Neal of our West Side office)

Round Swamp Farm

184 Three Mile Harbor Road, East Hampton, NY 11937

“Beloved by its loyal clientele, Round Swamp Farm is a throwback to days gone by,” says agent Philip Judson. “Originally started over 50 years ago by Carolyn Lester Snyder in a small red wagon to peddle her family’s vegetables grown on their farm, now four generations continue the tradition. The produce grown on the 20-acre, 250-year-old farm is picked by hand and used to make carrot cakes and zucchini breads, chutneys, sweet and hot pepper relishes, pickles and salsas, fruit jellies and jams, cobblers, pies and muffins. In addition, the farm has an eye-popping array of local seafood caught by family members and dozens of made-from-scratch-daily prepared foods that change with the seasons. The stand is charming and quaint – kids will love visiting with the chickens and rabbits out front – and goods are displayed old style in wicker baskets and baked goods are ties with gingham ribbon. Carolyn and her extended family have become family to us over the 20 years we have been shopping there and we always look forward to their opening (May 11th this year) and to almost daily visits during the summer and fall. In fact, we stock up on homemade soups and dinners before they close after Thanksgiving and freeze them so we can enjoy Round Swamp Farm all winter.”

(Recommended by Philip Judson of our East Hampton office)

Riverdel

820 Washington Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238

Riverdel offers the widest variety of artisanal vegan cheeses around, and a well-curated selection of non-dairy yogurts, nut milks, and gourmet foods. You can sample fresh breads, pastries, and made-to-order sandwiches! “I love getting the ham and cheese croissant but they also have great desserts like Cinnamon Snail, and lots of vegan grocery items too,” says agent Kris Sylvester. “The store owner Michaela is almost always there when I go in and they carry more vegan cheeses than any store in the city. They’ve been in business for 3 years and I am happy to see they are thriving,” Sylvester explains.

(Recommended by Kris Sylvester of our Village office)

Kick Axe

622 Degraw St, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Looking to release some stress, or maybe just some thrills? Agent Marta Quinones-McCarthy recommends trying out a new axe throwing venue in Gowanus. “At Kick Axe, you rent a lane and get an experienced axe thrower who organizes games and gives you instructions on how to throw an axe,” explains Marta. Sounds like a kick ‘axe’ time to us!

(Recommended by Marta Quinones-McCarthy of our Cobble Hill office)

[orbemnews]

Opinion: Levi Strauss CEO: Failing to mandate paid leave is inexcusable Elizabeth (who asked that her last name not be used to protect her privacy) and her husband spent weeks trying to find the right doctors who could give their son the care and treatment he needed. It was like having another full-time job, she said. And then her husband got sick, too. She could have faced a brutal choice: keep working and leave the care of her son and husband to others or quit and look after them herself. One choice carries great emotional costs, the other professional ones. Both come with a heavy financial burden. But we were able to help Elizabeth do right by her family and her career because we offer paid family leave, which allowed her to set her work aside to focus on caring for her loved ones without losing her job and source of income when it mattered most. Too many Americans don’t have this option. The United States is the only industrialized country in the world that does not mandate paid maternity or parental leave and one of just a handful of industrialized countries without a paid family leave policy that allows workers to take care of sick family members. And yet, an estimated 53 million American adults act as caretakers for family members or friends. Not mandating paid leave is inexcusable. It hurts workers, businesses and our economy. Policymakers and business leaders have a moral and economic imperative to provide more assistance. Congress should move quickly to pass the Family and Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act, introduced by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), as part of the next recovery package. It would provide every worker in the United States up to 12 weeks of paid time off to care for their own health, a new child or a sick parent and spouse. This would provide immense relief to so many Americans, including members of the “sandwich generation” who are looking after both children and aging parents. The stress this causes has been exacerbated by the pandemic, but the challenge of balancing professional and personal responsibilities predated and will outlast Covid-19. Establishing national paid family leave is a critical element of how we can build back better. But we don’t have to wait for Congress to make progress on this all-too important issue. Business leaders can implement strong paid leave policies of their own in addition to using their platforms to advocate for a comprehensive national policy. Paid leave policies make businesses stronger. They help employers demonstrate that we have our employees’ backs when it’s most important, which can encourage retention, support productivity and foster a culture where people can do their best work. Paid leave benefits can also help reverse a drag on our economy. The United States loses an estimated $22.5 billion in wages yearly because of the widespread dearth of paid family and medical leave benefits. We know firsthand that businesses can offer paid leave without breaking the bank. Our policy has cost just 10% of what we’d projected. And past surveys have found that a majority of companies that instituted paid family leave did so without significant added costs or negative impacts. Paid family leave is not just good for employees in a moment of crisis; it’s good for businesses, too — a relatively small investment with a very meaningful return on investment, or ROI. Providing paid family leave also expands equity and opportunity — something many companies vowed to do after last summer’s overdue (and ongoing) reckoning with structural and systemic racism in our country. Current leave policies disproportionately disadvantage women and workers of color. Black and Hispanic workers are less likely than White, non-Hispanic workers to have access to paid parental leave, which compounds financial strains and widens an already yawning wealth gap. And 2.5 million women have left the workforce since the pandemic began in 2020, many because they understandably could not shoulder both a full workload and unyielding family and home care burdens. Without a federal paid leave policy, our nation is failing them, further eroding the gains women have made in the workplace over the past 30 years. The question isn’t whether America can afford to institute paid family leave; it’s whether we can afford not to. I look at our experience at Levi Strauss & Co. and the overwhelming public support for paid leave and see the clear answer. Congress must pass the FAMILY Act and enshrine into law comprehensive paid leave benefits for workers, and business leaders should join companies like ours that have enacted programs on their own. Workers like Elizabeth shouldn’t have to choose between earning a living and caring for loved ones. Because we had made the investment in paid family leave, she was able to help her son and her husband recover, and she’s now back at work. It was a benefit for us all. Source link Orbem News #CEO #Failing #inexcusable #leave #Levi #mandate #opinion #Opinion:LeviStraussCEO:Toomanycompaniesdon'thavepaidfamilyleave.Americacandobetter-CNN #Paid #perspectives #Strauss