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legy · 1 year ago

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random game roundup 1

The Other Side

included in: Indie Bundle for Abortion Funds but also it’s pwyw with no minimum

this is a game where you are trapped in a room and need to follow instructions on the terminal to drill through the walls and escape. it is very short (i completed it in about 14 minutes). this game excels massively in atmosphere in art direction. i found that interacting with objects was not extremely clear (as in it was hard for me to figure out where exactly it wanted me to be clicking). really enjoyed having to diegetically press the keys on the keyboard to interact with the terminal.

overall would recommend if you want a quick horror experience, especially for the asking price of “free”

My Little Pony: Super Ethical Shipping Climax!

included in: Indie bundle for Palestinian Aid, also it’s free

i am not the target audience for this game.

Naughty Elves - Christmas puzzle game

included in: Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality, Indie bundle for Palestinian Aid

not porn :/

fairly straightforward puzzle game. santa’s elves stole all the presents so you need to throw snowballs at them through the window until they fall over. i think it’s really funny but not very well communicated that you are stuck outdoors (presumably can only enter houses through the chimney)

i don’t think you should play this

Attention Heroes!

included in: Indie bundle for Palestinian Aid & it’s pwyw with no minimum

required minimum of two players so unfortunately i will have to skip. the description is really funny tho i really want to find out what self-centered gameplay means

Epic Battle Fantasy 4

included in: Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality

honest to god fucking flash game. fantastic. this is a jrpg which are typically very hard to get an impression of in such a short time period but fortunately this one lets you loose basically instantly. i can tell theres insane depth to this already. the humor is really dated (its from 2014 so whatever) but the art style is generally very cute. music is hot ass tho. i am actually probably going to come back to this one after i’m done with this post

Discovering Colors - Animals

included in: Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality

Bara Blackjack

included in: Queer Games Bundle 2022

this orc did not come dressed for strip poker.

it’s literally exactly what it looks like. which is awesome. main complaint is that his dialogue would show up and vanish so fast i had no idea what he said most of the time. he really wanted me to see his penis though

he’s circumcised btw

Hungry Frog

included in: Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality, but it’s also free

no shit this is frog fractions but sincere

1977: Radio Aut

included in: Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality + it’s free

i didnt realize peppino was a real name i thought pizza tower made it up

this was really cool tho its a short biography on the life of a communist who was killed by the sicillian mafia for standing up against them.

This Call May Be Recorded

included in: Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality + it’s free

what if telemarketing had undertale combat

i kinda didnt like this at all tbh. it didnt feel like it was trying to make a point. like not even the point of expressing frustration at working at a call center. the people you call are all really annoying caricatures and you are just a poor guy following an incoherent script. this really needs more time in the oven

#random game roundup

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abbys-closet · 4 years ago

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this is kinda a weird request but hear me out: the main 3 having a girlfriend who plays roblox and she shows them the game. would they get hooked? what would their avatar look like? what games would they play? any player stereotypes? lol sorry this is so detailed but hcs please

a/n: no need to apologize my dumbass needs things to be detailed i actually had alot of fun writing this. sorry the hcs are so short :( only hot people play roblox btw 😗

genre: crack. 💃🏾

warnings: none. other then cursing (which doesnt really need a warning) and this not being proofread (i dont proof read, we die like women here.)

• first time you introduced him to the game he pretended he wasn’t that interested

• doesn’t play it that often but plays it whenever he’s bored or has alot of free time

• LFMAKSJWJ he would just be that one dude bullying slenders & copy and pastes in ragdoll or club iris or whatever theyre called, i havent played roblox in like—2 months

• would probably just bully kids in general. mf likes to start arguments with literal 10 year olds for no reason

• he finds it funny and starts laughing his ass off when they reply with some corny ass comeback bullying little kids of roblox is fun. idc idc.

• you’d have to remind him that they’re literal children

• would also just go to random cafes or military games just to troll or start sum

• his avatar would probably have a style thats considered simple emo/alt & y2k so just like a hoodie with ripped jeans and a bunch of chains or whatever

• i could see bakugo playing alot of shooter games like paintball, arsenal, etc

• literally rages when he loses or dies and its funny asf 😭

• mf sucks at obbys. please never make him play one he’d rage quit so quickly

• also alot of scary games not the ones where its like ‘camping story 3’ or sum

• one time he forgot to turn his joins off and you caught him playing adopt me

• he said he was just curious but....idk man 😗

• he was pretty interested when you showed him the game

• would play it with you, or when he’s really bored

• he’d also be suprisingly good at like,,,every game without even realizing it

• that one player who makes most people rage quit (because they’re that good) w/o knowing it

• i could see shoto enjoying alot of showcases/scenery games he appreciates the time and effort it took to make said game

• also likes a ton of older games work at a pizza place, epic minigames, etc

• as i said before, mf is a pro at like every game

• so naturally he’s good at obbys

• literally a boss at tower of hell

• his avatar is just the standard bacon hair outfit or whatever yall call it now idk 😔

• doesn’t really care when people are mean to him for looking like a noob

• would just be that one mf in games thats either kicking everyones ass or in the corner like 🕴🏾

• one or the other, theres no in between :)

• honestly thinks roblox is pretty fun

• finds the best/most underrated games to play

• but he kinda just sucks at everything

• like he’s not the best at shooter games

• mf is ass at horror games

• but he doesnt mind, he just plays for fun

• (even tho he sucks) i could see him playing alot of shooter games ands obbys

• that one player who’s just overly nice to everyone and says “gg/gj” every round

• i have a feeling he’d use the ugc creations to look like allmight or something

• LMFAO imagine his username tho

• all_might826 or something 😭🖐🏾

• kinda in that cycle of forgetting the game exsists, then remembering it after seeing you play it and being hooked for a week or two

#bnha #deku headcanons #deku x you #deku x reader #deku x y/n #bnha izuku #izuku midoriya #midoriya x y/n #todoroki x you #todoroki headcanons #todoroki x reader #bakugou x y/n #bakugo headcanons #bakugo x reader

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iturbide · 4 years ago

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LIO FOCCACIA BREAD

look i know for a fact these are both from the same person so i’m just doubling them up

How do I feel about this character?

Lio Fotia is a little pyro in every sense of both words. That...that pretty well sums it up, actually. I love him a lot, and I think that he’s a fascinating character: he’s obscenely powerful, but he adheres strictly to a non-lethal policy, and insists that those who follow him uphold the same. He cares about his people, and “his people” include any and every Burnish, regardless of whether he knows them personally or not. He’s so dedicated to them and their safety that he quite literally becomes an avatar of the flame for the sole purpose of confronting the person responsible for their pain. And all he really wants is for his people to be able to live safe, healthy, peaceful lives. Lio as a character, when you dig into him, is fascinating and powerful, and I care about him deeply (even if I will make fun of him relentlessly).

Who do I ship this character with romantically?

Galo. I can’t help it, they literally exploded into a heart made of fire near the end how can I not. Their dynamic is really interesting on the whole, and the fact that they come to respect each other, learn from each other, and depend on each other over the course of the movie is glorious. I love the idea of them being partners for life, not just on the job.

Who is my brOTP for this character?

Meis and Gueira are pretty obvious, but I love the bond between the three active heads of Mad Burnish. They call him ‘Boss,’ but the level of care and concern they show for him are staggering, and well above what I would expect for subordinates to a leader, even one as powerful as Lio. Their affection is palpable in places, and I love the idea of them as this cohesive unit, with the two of them trying to take care of Lio as much as he takes care of all of them.

...also Lio and Thyma as QPP is my vice which I blame @banyanas for.

What’s my Unpopular Opinion™ about this character?

He’s so feral you guys. Popular Fandom Theory is that Lio’s some high class guy, but I’m pretty sure the outfit is just for show: he thinks it looks cool so he goes with it. As far as I’m concerned, Lio was born off the grid and has lived his whole life that way, such that he knows nothing about how society is run outside the lawless wastes where the Burnish struggle to survive. His education is therefore entirely piecemeal, since he never got any kind of formal schooling: he learned how to read and write, and he can do basic math thanks to various Burnish he’s known throughout his life -- but while he doesn’t have more than a rudimentary grasp on the idea of genetics and inheritance properties that most kids know in grade school, he has a startling grasp of anatomy and knows some advanced Burnish first aid (including the flame-sharing CPR). He’s absolutely feral and he’s not going to need re-introduction to society, he’ll need to be introduced for the first time.

What’s one thing I wish would have happened with this character in canon?

LET HIM KEEP HIS PROMARE DAMMIT. The ending of Promare is the one thing that always gets me really upset, because I don’t want the sentient fire to go away, I don’t want the Burnish to lose a part of themselves and need to (re)integrate into society -- I want it to stay, and see how society is forced to change and adapt once it becomes clear just what Kray Foresight was doing (not to mention how valuable Burnish can be to society at large).

And this is why I have a 200-300k word fic in progress, which is also banyanas’ fault.

How do I feel about this character?

Galo...is my favorite kind of character. I have this weird soft spot for the meatheads, and when I first saw Promare, within the first maybe two minutes of Galo’s screentime I knew that he was going to be my favorite (I was not wrong, but Lio does end up in a tie with him). Pure of heart, dumb of ass pretty well sums of Galo’s character: he’s incredibly kind-hearted and wants to help everyone, went into Burning Rescue for the purpose of saving as many lives as possible...but he’s such an idiot sometimes. A capable idiot! But an idiot all the same, what with the whole fighting fire shirtless and the epic speeches before just about everything he does (not to mention his matoi presentation that Lucia indulgently gave him to show off for Mad Burnish, which is still one of the most hilarious things in the movie, alongside Galo getting a separate video screen just to show his thumbs up). He’s a really good guy, and his personal growth throughout the film, how his mindset changes as he realizes plight facing the Burnish, is wonderful to watch.

Who do I ship this character with romantically?

Lio. Again, they turned into a giant flame heart near the end, that says a lot and doesn’t even get into the fifteen second mouth-to-mouth thing. They worked together wonderfully throughout the film, pushing each other and learning from each other and finally coming to respect and trust each other enough to not only work together, but save each other and the world. Their partnership is powerful, and I want to see them as partners for life.

Who is my brOTP for this character?

Basically the whole Burning Rescue 3 crew, but especially Aina and Lucia. The fact that Lucia literally used her free time to build him an experimental tech suit based on his ancient firefighter fixation (complete with built-in slideshow because I’m not over that) says a lot about their relationship, and I love the idea that he’s a willing guinea pig for a lot of her experiments because they usually involve him getting to play with awesome new toys. He and Aina also have a really close relationship in the movie: she goes after him when he runs off, worries about him and what kind of trouble he’s potentially getting into -- heck, she didn’t hesitate to drive straight to Foresight Tower and confront her sister the minute she heard Galo had been arrested. She thinks the best of him, and he clearly thinks the world of her, too; the idea of them being super tight best friends is really heartwarming, and I love the idea of them sticking together and supporting each other through everything.

What’s my Unpopular Opinion™ about this character?

He’s sharp. A lot sharper than a lot of people would give him credit for. Yes, he is frequently an absolute dumbass, but his emotional intelligence is frankly astounding. He makes a pretty thoughtless remark about Burnish when he firs wakes up in the cave after Lio knocks him out, but he rapidly reads the whole situation and despite the fact that he’s surrounded by Burnish, he still offers to help when he recognizes the gravity of Thyma’s situation, and later he talks about the emotions of the Burnish in that moment and the clear grief they felt, though most people would have written off the Burnish as terrorists and left it at that, judging from how they reacted to finding out the pizza baker was Burnish. On top of that, he sees a giant Burnish flare tearing through the city, and unlike everyone else, he instantly recognizes that it’s crying from the sounds its making and the fire coming off it. So while he definitely has a penchant for running his mouth when he shouldn’t, he still knows how to read a situation and act thoughtfully.

What’s one thing I wish would have happened with this character in canon?

I kinda wish he’d gone Burnish. There were actually a couple moments where I really thought he had, and I’m disappointed that it was never more than hinted and left to interpretation. For Galo, the “firefighter with a burning soul,” I think it would have been fascinating for him to have the fire spark in him, and come to grips with the fact that it doesn’t make him dangerous -- since Promepolis society generally deems Burnish to be dangers, and even if he’s working to unlearn a lot of that, he’s still a firefighter, and fire is something that needs to be put out. It could have been fascinating to see him learn control of the flame, rather than constantly exerting dominance over it, especially since fire protects him on more than one occasion in the final third of the movie. It’s a shame they never explored that, because it could have been amazing, especially combined with the Promare not leaving.

Give Me a Character

#answered #anonymous #meme #promare #lio fotia #galo thymos #gunhorse i know this is you #you and i are the only ones who call lio foccacia instead of fotia #but we watched promare today and it was once again fantastic #now i miss life goes on

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ivedonestranger · 5 years ago

Link

Chapters: 24/?

Fandom: Teen Titans (Animated Series), Justice League & Justice League Unlimited (Cartoons), Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (TV), Marvel Cinematic Universe Rating: Mature Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Relationships: Jinx/Raven (DCU) Characters: Raven (DCU), Cyborg (Character), Robin (DCU), Beast Boy, Batman, Green Lantern, Diana (Wonder Woman), Superman (DCU), Blue Beetle (DCU), Jinx (DCU), Koriand'r (DCU), Phil Coulson, Natasha Romanov (Marvel), See-More, Dorcas "Godiva" Leigh (DCU), Jason Woodrue, Bulletman, Steve Rogers, James "Bucky" Barnes, Zatanna Zatara, Komand'r (DCU), Stephen Strange, Karen Beecher, Kyd Wykkyd, Gizmo (DCU) Additional Tags: Multiple Crossovers, World Domination, Epic, Dark, Canon Temporary Character Death, Minor Character Death Series: Part 1 of The Midnight Saga Summary:

Though there were some in the know when it came to multiple realities, very few understood how expansive it was. Not only were their realities that changed fundamental parts of the known quantities, but there were also realities out there that were entirely different. Worse, there was something between those realities, and it wanted to get in.

All it needed was someone to open the door. She was his way in.

--------------------------------------

It was time.

The feeling flooded through Raven like a dawning truth, and it caused her eyes to pop open. She felt the thrum of excitement, the primordial terror of failure, and the fact everything was about to change permanently.

Raven and Jinx's naked bodies were intertwined among the blankets and pillows in her room of the Fortress and the pinkette mode in protest when Raven pushed her off. The woman walked over to the windows and throwing them open to allow the light to flood in. The rain from last night left everything glistening in the morning light as the sun came up.

It was time.

"Wake up, Jinx," Raven ordered as she pulled on her dark dress and fastened the control gem around her throat.

"Just five more minutes, Mistress," Jinx muttered rolling on her stomach and burying her head in the pillows. The Midnight Empress scooped up the leather belt and gave a good swat across the sleepy girl's exposed posterior which caused her to yelp and fall out of bed.

Fastening the belt around her waist, Raven leaned down to the surprised and sleepy girl.

"It's time."

The knowledge that the world was on a knife's edge was not lost on Robin when Batman signaled for the pullback of his team from Boulder. They all knew the alignment of the realities would give their lost friend a clear shot at opening the portal to Sovereign's prison.

The Quinn jet that had picked them up screeched through the sky towards the rendezvous, only miles away from Boulder, Colorado at the foot of Apache Peak. They did not want to sit on top of the portal point in fear of the rupture, destroying their chance to stop the evil creature. Robin leaned forward with hands together while Cyborg and Gizmo were going over some of their gadgets.

"You get the briefing, Robin?" Clint asked in the jumpsuit beside him. Robin nodded without looking at the bow and arrow wielding Avenger.

"We're air support on the southern flank. We're to keep Midnight's troops busy so Superman and Shazam can close in on Sovereign."

"And the Midnight Empress."

"Yes."

"You gonna be okay, kid?"

"Do I have a choice?"

Had they ever had a choice. Weren't he and his friends just curled up in Titan's tower only over a year ago eating pizza and watching movies? Now, he was part of an army that was trying their best to murder a woman that he once cared so much about.

'Not murder. Stop.'

This was war, and this was something that needed to be done to preserve the rest of reality.

"T minus 13 hours before optimal alignment," Iron Man's voice came through the speakers. His suit of armor flying in formation beside them. "Then, the party begins."

The Armies of Midnight rose like a dark cloud from the Fortress. The heroes and metas that allied with her taking the lead of Millinium's minions. The giant cyber bug himself was not far, towering over her thin frame like an ever-present watchdog with the power to level streets. Raven strode out among the troops, humans who had joined her cause, Metas who saw the truth of Sovereign and the cybernetic bugs that followed Sovereign's oldest ally.

Even clans of the Kaz-Kal, space insectoids from another galaxy had joined her cause, probably sensing the impending doom if they continued to resist. Blackfire and Jinx stood in the front of their legions, their heavy black outfit mirroring her own in their own unique cut. Jinx was showing some skin while Blackfire's resembled more battle armor of Tamaran.

"Lead, Archon," Millennium's voice thrummed in low pressure. "We shall follow you."

Wrapping herself in the golden light of her power, Raven rocketed into the sky, and the swarms followed. The first fight of the final battle about to begin.

The wind whipped and cut at her, but Raven pushed through, her mind focused on the goal, to land in the center of the point and ripped a hole in the fabric of space. The thoughts of Robin's laugh, Starfire's ill aligned words, and Cyborg's battle cry flitted across her mind, but she shunted it aside. There was a greater good to be fighting for, a greater good that required sacrifice.

'Can you do it?'

Sovereign's voice came through to her mind as clear as a bell. The alignment was almost perfect, and his presence could be felt.

"Can I do what?"

'Can you kill them if you face them?'

"I'll do what I have to do, my Sovereign," she answered, pushing her friend's faces out of her mind. "Whatever it takes."

Conveniently, the mathematics pointed to the entrance of the portal being in a field at the foot of Shoshoni Peak, and it had allowed them to dig in and hide among the sparse wood and rock faces. SHIELD and ARGUS agents with all sorts of weaponry, metas that Robin had never seen, and weapons of all sorts had been set up. Robin strode out of the Quinn Jet, his armor activating and the mask extending and wrapping his face. His titanium gap still billowed, but he resembled more a soldier than the hero of Jump Suit. The suit's optics kicked in overlaying the scene with augmented reality.

Cyborg strode up beside him and pointed to a cluster of trees.

"That's gonna be the best place to intercept any of the air attacks. We're gonna need to keep as many as we can off of Iron Man as possible."

Traveling a few more clicks, His new Titans found their spots and quickly hunched down to hide. Gizmo dropped a few scatter probes that masked their signature from any sensors. Starfire huddled in close to him. She had donned the full Tamaranian armor and face mask. Koriand' r had insisted as this was a fight for the existence of her own people too. Her eyes flitted to his mask a few times as they silently waited. Bumblee had shrunk down to a smaller size and up in the tree.

It was now time to wait.

The waiting was the hard part. The holo chronometer counted off the seconds, and the sun slowly rose into the sky, bathing them in its light. It had begun to get hot to the point that his suit's environmental systems kicked in to try and regulate. Birds were singing, and animals flitted to and fro as if nothing unusual was happening.

A few deer had taken up to eat in the center of the large field oblivious that they stood in the center of an intergalactic portal point.

"This waiting is killing me," Gizmo growled, his binocular lenses zoomed out giving him a strange insect-like look.

"Trust me; we're going to want to wait as long as we can. Once it starts, it's going to be all in." Cyborg responded. "There's no booyah in what we're about to do."

"Robin?"

Dick Grayson turned to his friend Starfire, who had come up close and lowered her voice. "I understand how difficult this is for you, but if you face Raven and find that you cannot do it. I will kill her for you. I am willing to take that burden."

"Star..." Robin started as a wave of emotion, choked him. She had spoken all their fear. Each had pretended not to hear her words, but he knew that they had.

"I'll make it quick. A snap of the neck and she won't feel a thing. It's the least I can do for someone who has meant so much to us."

"I'm not giving up on her," Robin said firmly.

"Dude," Cyborg said as quietly. "She's gone. If we don't kill her first, she'll take us out. You saw her eyes. Our Raven is gone. It's the Midnight Empress we're about to face."

Starfire returned to her spot to keep a lookout, and for the next hour, the image of Raven's lifeless body and the sound of her neck snapping played over and over in his mind's eye. It couldn't come to that. It couldn't.

"Heads up!" the speaker in Boy wonder's ear kicked in. "We've got incoming and a lot of it."

Robin looked up at Bumblebee as she zipped down and returned to size, her entire body covered with yellow and black armor, weapons at the ready.

"What is it?"

"They're sending in the grunts. Clouds of cyber minions and Kaz-Kal. They're going to try to overwhelm and hold so they can bring the bitch in."

"Alpha-2 this is central," Batman's voice came over, grim and somber. "It's a go. We see Midnight Empress in the center of the cloud. Pull those flankers away and give us our opening."

"Understood," Robin responded standing and turning to his team. "Let's do this."

Charging out, all of them shot into the sky. The jet pack lifted Robin off the ground while Cyborg's jet boots, had him going alongside Gizmo. Almost immediately the sky became alive with multi-colored energy bolts emanating from hiding spots cutting into the swarm and dropping them in droves. It seemed though that for every one killed, three appeared in its place. Bombs and bolts cut through them, and The New Teen Titans all banked north drawing a good swarm of them away. Below Robin could make out the descending mass being met by the colorful metas of the Avengers.

"Damn, all hell just broke loose!" Falcon called as he shot overhead, machine guns blasting away.

'No, hell is coming.'

In the center, Raven watched from her floating perch in the sky. The swarms had begun to descend, and as she had expected, Iris had set up, and they were mowing through her troops efficiently. She had expected as much. With their positions shown, the sorceress turned to Jinx and Blackfire and gave them a nod. With glee, the descended leading their armies with them.

The Midnight Empress watched closely as the battle raged, watching for her opening to cut through and to land. She could feel the urgency, the draw of the alignment growing closer. Raven could taste the anticipation coming off of her imprisoned comrade.

"Now!"

Without hesitation, she shot down towards the spot, and her guard followed. They twisted and turned as they descended, and she could feel the enemy focusing their firepower on her. Heroes flew by in blurs as the Kaz-Kal, allies, and cyber minions put themselves between them and her. She alighted on the ground and fell to her knees. She drew held her arms out, and the world became silent.

What was next was sheer pain as the power exploded out of her and into a forming vortex. An energy beam sliced through her shoulder spurting blood, but she could not care. Sovereign had come.

Forcing her eyes open, Raven saw the black portal that warped reality as if being pulled inside and from the distant stars. A form appeared and stepping out, floating in the air was a young man with brown hair, simple features but brilliant glowing gold eyes. He glided forward with a grin of pure ecstasy on his face.

"I. Am. Free!" he said with a laugh that seemed to reverberate through her.

"Sovereign!" Raven choked out a warning as she saw Superman come blasting from the woods, every ounce of energy thrown into the Kryptonian's influence. She knew that the blow he was about to deliver could shattered meteors, but when it connected with Jason's face, he barely flinched. Superman halted in front of him with a mixture of surprise and realization of how powerful the entity was.

"Hello," Jason said, a look of glee on his face. He backhanded Superman which sent him soaring away and impacting the side of a mountain. Shazam, in his red outfit, tried to hit also but found himself caught by the arm and hurled into the ground below, leaving a crater on impact.

Raven floated up to him, and he turned his eyes on her. His smile softened, and the girl's heart thrilled with excitement. It was horribly stupid of her, but she was glad he was handsome. Her Jason wasn't striking or adonis, but his eyes seemed ancient but kind. He ran his hand down her cheek.

"You've saved me. Thank you."

"Anything."

"Now, hold them off while I begin my process of bringing peace."

He floated upwards with arms outstretched and instantly, she felt a strange tug on her body and mind as if the world itself was beginning to shift and phase.

"SOVEREIGN!"

Raven turned to see Superman, bloodied and bruised charging in again with Wonder Woman right on his heels. Jason gritted his teeth and turned to face the attacker but caught the glint from the corner of his eye just like she did.

Batman stood there with Coulson with a strange bazooka, and the realization hit.

"No!" Sovereign's scream of anger reverberated through her.

Instinctively she flew up to him to shield him, but he dropped and grabbed hold of her. Instantly, she felt white-hot as if his hand was somehow cooking her body completely. She screamed in pain as he held her fast with no way to escape. The feeling broke abruptly when a bolt of red and blue energy struck him and dropped him to the ground. Raven could feel the power being ripped from him. Iris had done it. They had found a weapon to hurt him.

Dropping as fast, she caught the entity who had fallen unconscious, and as Superman darted towards her to grab her, she threw open a portal, fell through and snapped in shut cutting of the shout of rage from the Kryptonian. The next thing she knew, she hit the marble floor of the Fortress hard, the sorceress head slamming with a sickening crunch and though being ripped from her.

#teen titans #teen titans raven #teen titans jinx #raven #jinx #robin #fanfiction #ao3 #ao3fic #ivedonestranger fiction

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televinita · 7 years ago

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Zoo 3.04

Why is this show burning Utica to the ground.

[Side note: this unwieldy post is the product of me doing a skip-through when this episode aired, watching maybe 15 random minutes from beginning to end, writing the part up to the line with the music notes, and finally watching the full episode only to work myself into a swampy mess of partially adjusted feelings once I had all the facts. I hope it is moderately less confusing to follow than this explanation]

A list of ways the show failed me on this outing and, now that I think about it, probably subconsciously contributed to my subsequent abandonment.

1. Continued the reign of Super Jamie, the most boring zealot ever to zeal 2. Set up a weird Madonna/Whore Villain complex with all of its female characters 3. Deeply underwhelmed re: fireworks on the kiss they built up to for nearly two damn years. 4. Pit Jamie and Jackson against each other Me in July: I don't even know which one I am maddest about but I'm pretty sure it's the last one. You know what screw it, I'm gonna flamethrower my OTP and just full steam ahead into the realm of slash. If Jamie can't play nice enough with either of the men I need her to love then I'm gonna toss her out of the equation and make Mitch/Jackson my new fave.

I have been suppressing the desire to run with this since last year, because canon is always superior, I hardly ever slash anyway, and I like to save the non-canon shipping feels for when the canon runs out and I need a new hit of an old love, but whatever. My fondness for the bromance has become epic enough to drop the b. Or replace the b. ♫Confident in bisexuali-tay!♫

[Edit: As you move forward, keep in mind that I spoiled myself a tad on episode 8, probably subconsciously because I needed a reason to push me over the rage hump, and while I am still gonna air my original grievances, I am also still on the Mitch/Jamie train]

------------ AUGUST GRIEVANCE THREE: Not good enough! *whip* So. I happily spoiled myself on the stills for this episode before it aired, which included both kiss scenes, and my heart shot the moon. Then I saw them in context and my heart fell into the basement. My reaction was a lot of "you had TWO OFF-SEASONS TO NOT SCREW THIS UP HOW DID YOU SCREW THIS UP," followed by creating this post that I really should have just posted at the time, but I waited too long, so now it is only a storyboard artifact:

I just...I wanted it to be a bigger moment. Or I at least wanted to feel more. I felt twenty times more emotion from their reunion hug in 2x05, or one stupid handhold on the beach, than I did for the most significant moment they've had since season 1, and that is not the way it should be. I'm still having a really hard time coming up with why it wasn't saved for the end of the episode, or why the kiss wasn't introduced at the beginning, interrupted by a Panic Plot, and then resolved in a Thank God We're Alive way. As for the hookup part, well, some people express their feelings through song; I am much better at expressing mine through snarky recap:

Update y'all, they did in fact go bang. In the middle of the day. And then got redressed and continued the plot because who would want their characters to have nice things like a whole night together for their first time when they could instead toss it off as casual "anyway lol thanx for the afternoon delight buddy, now hang on I gotta go do a murder."

I don't even need them to make a big emotional deal out of things; clearly they are both people who are very fine with hookups, but the fact that the most epic reunion was popped off in the early middle part of the episode just to set up that Jamie will put Her Cause before everything did not sit well with me. I still wanna know what was the point of separating them for 10 years before they ever got together if their reunion wasn't going to be the focal point. If you're gonna be like this, literally nothing would have been changed by eliminating the love triangle and letting them be together in season 2. I think and hope that most people really liked this scene, though, and more power to you if you did. I think I watched it wrong. G.3 TAKE TWO The thing is, I did watch it wrong. I delayed posting this by an extra day because it really bugged me that I didn't love the kiss. I watched it 8 times trying to pinpoint where the bottom fell out, because I definitely appreciate that Mitch finally got to talk to Jamie at the bar without her running away. I liked him answering honestly about how he's doing post-op, I liked him directly confronting her about her dark turn, and what is left? I hypothesized that maybe "How about now?" just didn't feel like enough segue to kissing. I hypothesized that maybe it wasn't the words but the body language; leaning across from two separate chairs is kinda awkward. But anyone knows that if you watch a thing you want to like enough times, you brainwash yourself into liking it, so guess who is now on board with this moment. Somewhere between my sitting close enough to the computer to notice the emotion in Mitch's face, Jamie's right hand covering his, how much I love his hand on her face, and the swelling orchestral score that reminds me of the Will/Elizabeth beach scene in Pirates of the Caribbean...I stumbled into the promised land of shipper joy. I've even convinced myself to like the very phrase I thought was not good enough. Mitch has previously gone big and gone home alone. So this time it is the smallest possible overture with no expectations attached -- and score. I am still annoyed about the pacing and Jamie's abrupt departure post-bedroom, though. ----------------------- GRIEVANCE TWO: Why do you want us to hate women? Serious question how is that any woman who isn't the literal blessed mother Clementine is cold, calculating and/or pure evil? Like, I'm not saying that I would not normally be all on board with a team of mercenary lesbians, but when both evil fronts are also personified by power-hungry women and Jamie's ends justify all means and a mother is selling someone else's kid then...like...to take a Chandler Bing quote completely out of context: WHERE are ALL the MEN?? We're talking about reproductive rights. If the political side of Tumblr has led me to believe anything, it's that men are all about controlling that. (Looks like they show up in the next installment, tho.) ------------------------- GRIEVANCE FOUR (again): Jamie/Jackson Why don't you just stab me through the heart with a hybrid horn. I hope everybody has been whispering to each other like "who's gonna tell her?" / "Not me I don't wanna be there when Televinita's hopes and dreams for the backstory of her fave wayward ship get blown to kingdom come; I heard she threatens to perform brain surgery on people with power drills." Now, to be fair, I have spent weeks in a state of rage thinking that Jamie sold him out on purpose to further her vengeance quest, because in my patchy scene-jumping I missed the important part where she tried to protect them all with pseudonyms. My feathers have de-ruffled considerably.

I'm just...still annoyed. That there is this much bad blood after that amazing scene in 2x13 where he sat on the steps with her and held her while she cried, and I wrote beautiful analysis no one ever saw about them matching heartbreak for heartbreak, the widow and widower of this war.

in case u need a reminder

AND YOU JUST DESTROYED MY HOPE OF THEM BEING PLATONIC LIFE PARTNERS FOR YOUR SHODDY PLOT NEEDS?!, I WILL MURDER YOU. (well, I'll get my dino-vultures to come after you. Guys, I might be having a problem where Abigail is becoming my hero and I want to join her? I think I'm watching it wrong again...)

----------

GRIEVANCE ONE: canceled.

I had so much more rage about Jamie the Assassin before I sneaked a peek at episode 5's plot and was assured she did not actually go out and do a murder**. Prior to that I was 'bout to drop Jamie into a volcano myself. Plus Mitch does get in some good shots at Logan while they're running around Reiden Tower, so on second viewing this is a lot more fun.

**To be clear, I have been consciously using this phrase in reference to Trelkez'sIn Secret macro recap (spoilers for that movie), which I have not stopped laughing at.

NON-GRIEVANCES

* Props to the prop department for the dead vulture hybrid.

* "Pizza" is even better than Henry. Do you think he will ultimately have a more significant role to play than Henry, or is he just there to look cute? (I have no problem with him just being there to look cute.)

* I got a giggle out of Mitch's "the vigilante thing? Kinda workin' for me," because it would.

* My favorite part of this entire episode, though, is Mitch and Jackson coming to an agreement that they need to keep an eye on Jamie, just because it reminds me of one of the few things I like about Mitch/Jamie in season 2. Even though I know there is soon-to-be-revealed irony afoot in Jamie being the problem here.

#cbs zoo comeback project #OH MY GOD THIS IS SO LONG AND NOT EVEN GOOD #queued #next time I swear I will make sense and maybe even stay under 1000 words #it should be done by tomorrow

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travelonlinetips-blog · 6 years ago

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New Post has been published on https://travelonlinetips.com/where-to-eat-with-kids-2/

Where to eat with kids

Families flock to the Gold Coast for theme park action, beach chills, hinterland mini-hikes and sunny good times. But you’ll need to step up your energy levels to extreme perkiness so that you (and your little people) can keep up with this holiday to-do list.

From Main Beach to Surfers and down to Currumbin, we’ve found the best family-friendly cafes and restaurants to refuel the crew, complete with climbing spots, play areas for all ages, frothy babycinos and piping-hot flat whites for the tour guides (aka you!).

BSKT Cafe, Mermaid Beach

You’ll find BSKT right in the heart of Mermaid Beach, less than 40 metres behind the sand. The dedicated kids area on the beach side of the restaurant (with bonus activity packs) isn’t the only drawcard for families – all kids meals come with a free juice and little ones eat free here every Friday night.

While they’re known for their locally-sourced, organic, paleo and gluten-free menu, BSKT is a hit with kids thanks to the berrylicious pancakes, tacka tacos, flatbread ham and cheese toastie, and kiddies ham and eggs. Little (and big) kids can top it all off with a CocoWhip, a healthy soft serve that’s vegan and dairy-free.

Where: 4 Lavarack Road, Mermaid Beach. Open: Breakfast and lunch Monday to Thursday 7am-4pm, Friday and Saturday 7am-10pm, Sunday 7am-5pm. Hot tip: Nom nom downstairs and then ommm upstairs at BSKT Activ where they offer strength and recovery-focused yoga classes.

Paradox Coffee Roasters, Surfers Paradise

This modern coffee-lovers haven has created a great gated space for kids featuring a chalk wall, toys, teddies and games to keep them distracted while you enjoy a coffee hit, eat with two hands and maybe even have a grown-up conversation.

The all-day breakfast and all-day lunch menu is packed full of deliciousness like haloumi and avocado burger and housemade cranberry and chia fruit toast for parents, but the real treat comes in kiddie form with the Paradox Kids’ High Chocolate. Prepare for the sugar high.

Where: 10 Beach Road, Surfers Paradise. Open: Breakfast and lunch daily from 7am-3pm. Hot tip: For something a bit special, their high coffee experience is like a regular high tea, but with caffeine goodness.

Waterfront Restaurant at Southport Yacht Club, Main Beach

Want your kids to learn sailing skills while you sip your latte? Then head to the Southport Yacht Club on weekends from 9am to 10:30am so your 7 to 15 year-olds can take off on a FunSail adventure.

Once they’re back from a morning on the water, they’ll need something palatable from the “cadets” lunch menu, which includes all the staples from steak and chicken nuggets to pasta bolognaise and fish and chips. Seafood-loving parents, on the other hand, will be drooling over the macadamia crusted barramundi or salmon linguine.

In between sailing and eating, the kids will be sorted for fun at the playground on the western lawn of the clubhouse.

Where: 1 Macarthur Parade, Main Beach. Open: Breakfast Saturday and Sunday 7:30am-10am, lunch Monday to Saturday 12pm-2:30pm and Sunday 12pm-5:30pm, dinner Monday to Sunday 5:30pm-8:30pm. Hot tip: Kids can chow down on lunch or dinner for a bargain $5 on Mondays and Tuesdays with any adult main meal purchase.

Bumbles Café, Surfers Paradise

It might only be a five-minute walk from the heart of Surfers Paradise, but Bumbles Cafe on Budds Beach – facing the Nerang River – feels miles away from the high-energy centre of the GC.

Find a spot outside under a big shady umbrella at one of the best under-the-radar kid-friendly cafes and place an order for a prawn or lime chicken finger sandwich (for you) and bacon and egg slider or waffles with vanilla ice-cream and Lindt chocolate sauce (for them).

Where: 19 River Drive, Budds Beach, Surfers Paradise. Open: Breakfast and lunch Monday to Thursday 7am-4pm, Friday to Sunday 7am-4pm. Hot tip: Go posh and book in for Bumbles’ high tea featuring housemade sausage rolls, quiche Lorraine and lemon curd tartlets.

Bazaar, QT Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise

One word: Buffet. A crowd-pleaser for all ages, this Sunday brunch buffet is found inside one of the coolest hotels in the hood, QT Gold Coast, smack bang in the middle of Surfers Paradise.

Their epic spread includes a live crepe station, gourmet brekky bowls, fondue station, breakfast pizzas and fried chicken with waffles – all of which can be enjoyed by the kids too. Buffet-style dining at its yummiest.

Where: QT Gold Coast, 7 Staghorn Avenue, Surfers Paradise. Open: Breakfast daily 6:30am-10:30am and dinner 5:30pm-late, Sunday brunch 11:30am-3pm. Hot tip: Treat yo’self to bottomless mimosas for an extra $25. Worth it.

Miami Marketta, Miami

If you’ve got kids that can’t agree on cuisines, head to outdoor street-food market Miami Marketta for 25 vendor options that’ll suit all tastebuds.

Despite the delish savoury selections available – from teppanyaki noodles and gnocchi to gozleme and brisket – the kids may make a run straight for the Dessert Hall which holds an abundance of gelato, cakes and donuts.

Live music from local blues, jazz and roots artists (with a dancefloor to boot) rounds off this fun family night out.

Where: 23 Hillcrest Parade, Miami. Open: Dinner Wednesday 5pm-10pm, Friday 5pm-11pm, Saturday 4pm-11pm. Hot tip: Got a group? Book out the Cocktail Garden, which opens up the private bar to you and your guests.

Paddock Bakery, Miami

For kids (both the two- and four-legged kind), this busy bakery and café inside an old Queenslander home is a great spot to enjoy breakfast, brunch or lunch (or an anytime treat).

Head beyond the picket fence to explore the veggie patch, citrus trees and lavender garden, armed with one of the ample crunchy cronuts, gooey tarts and other treats that are pumped out each day.

Want something more substantial? The dippy eggs (served with buttered sourdough soldiers, bacon bits and labna) and iced Milo are high on the order rotation for the kids, while mums and dads have tough decisions to make with the all-day brekky and lunch options.

Where: 20 Hibiscus Haven, Miami. Open: Breakfast and lunch daily from 6:30am-3pm. Hot tip: Need to cater a morning tea? You can order tarts, sourdoughs, cakes, sausage rolls and other treats from Paddock Bakery online.

Plantation House Cafe, West Burleigh

Right on Tallebudgera Creek and less than 10 minutes’ walk from David Fleay Wildlife Park, you’ll find Plantation House Cafe. With plenty of off-street parking, this easy-access cafe pulls in the locals with their all-day organic and free-range breakfast treats like Boston baked beans or corn and zucchini fritters, both served with spinach and poached eggs on sourdough.

Acai bowls are ready for the fruity fans while kids can’t say no to Plantation House’s burgers, pancakes and shakes. There’s a kids’ play area with chalkboard, rocking horse and loads of toys, too.

Where: 1/43 Tallebudgera Creek Road, West Burleigh. Open: Breakfast and lunch Monday to Saturday 6:30am-2:30pm, Sunday 7am-2pm. Hot tip: Grab some breakfast sustenance after an early morning swim in Tallebudgera Creek or play at Marin Sheils Park across the road.

Dune Café, Palm Beach

Dune Cafe’s location in the middle of pumping Palm Beach (and overlooking Currumbin Lagoon) gives them a five-star family badge.

Scallywags who love simple breakfast cuisine will dig their hotcakes or bacon and egg slider; while lunch options include tasty nacho boats and Southern-style chicken tenders and chips. The big people menu doesn’t disappoint with rustic potato and quinoa hash for brekky, or barramundi in crispy gluten-free batter for later on.

Where: Palm Beach Parklands, 945 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach. Open: Breakfast and lunch daily 6:30am-3pm. Hot tip: Grab a table or BYO picnic blanket and take in the live music on the last Saturday of every month.

Passiontree Velvet, Robina

If your mini-me brings their mandatory plus-one (of the stuffed kind) to all occasions, book in for the Teddy Bear’s Picnic kids high tea at Passiontree Velvet.

With all the fanciness of a grown-up high tea, but with a kid price-point (and no tea in sight), this cake shop turns it on with ham finger sandwiches, strawberries, macarons and a choice of babycino or juice. Mum (or dad!) is sorted with classic English scones, finger sandwiches and loose leaf tea too.

Where: Robina Town Centre (in front of David Jones), 19-33 Robina Town Centre Drive, Robina. Open: Monday to Wednesday 9am-5:30pm, Thursday 9am-9pm, Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 10am-5pm. Hot tip: Order a custom cake or macaron tower for a next-level addition to any birthday party.

Neighbourhood Espresso, Currumbin Waters

As the name suggests, there’s a strong community vibe at Neighbourhood Espresso with a casual backyard feel.

Let the kids loose in the vintage caravan cubby and grassed play area with tables and chairs and toys aplenty. Then, load up on the spiced pumpkin waffles with banana curd or chunky avocado topped with seeded dukkah, lemon and cumin oil. Kids can take a break from play with bacon and fried egg or avocado on sourdough.

Where: 4/9 Station Street, Currumbin Waters. Open: Breakfast and lunch Monday to Friday 5:30am-2pm, Saturday and Sunday 5:30am-1:30pm. Hot tip: Expect a good coffee from Neighbourhood Espresso. Their beans are brewed from Yatala’s own Supreme Roasters.

Currumbin Beach Vikings Surf Life Saving Club, Currumbin

Whether your crew is signed up for the local nippers or not, Surf Life Saving Clubs are a pretty sure bet for good-value kid-friendly food options. Currumbin Beach Vikings have breakfast, lunch and dinner by the beach sorted with loads of specials across the week.

The Nippers breakfast menu covers simple delights like sausage, egg and hash brown or pancakes with maple syrup and ice-cream. Family faves like chicken nuggets, cheeseburger and chips and old faithful, Hawaiian pizza, are on the Nippers lunch and dinner menu.

Where: 741 Pacific Parade, Currumbin. Open: Breakfast Monday to Friday 7am-10:30am and Saturday and Sunday 7am-11am, lunch Monday to Friday 11:30am-2:30pm and Saturday and Sunday 12pm-3pm, dinner Sunday to Thursday 5pm-8pm and Friday and Saturday 5pm-8:30pm. Hot tip: Leave your car at home, and call ahead to arrange the courtesy bus pick-up and drop-off.

The Bearded Dragon Hotel, Mount Tamborine

If your family is beached out, head to the hills of Mount Tamborine and dine on quality pub-fare at the Bearded Dragon Hotel. Set on 110 acres, this country pub paddock with a huge beer garden has a bit of everything for the fam from live music and crocodile shows to playgrounds and alpaca feeding.

The Bearded Dragon team are serious about their hefty steaks and burgers but also mix in a sticky plum and maple glazed pork belly and Big Boy brisket Yorkshire pudding for good measure. Kids can take their pick of cheesy bolognaise, steak and vegetables or battered fish and chips.

Where: Corner Tamborine Mountain Road and Beaudesert-Beenleigh Road, Tamborine Village. Open: Monday to Friday 10am-8pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am-8pm. Hot tip: Make a weekend of it and stay overnight in a family room onsite at Bearded Dragon Hotel.

Need more foodie inspiration for your little people? Here are some more Gold Coast kid-friendly cafes:

The Yard Cafe, 17 Lavarack Road, Mermaid Beach

Zest Coffee, 5/496 Golden Four Drive, Tugun

Cafe Tahbella, 11/3 Cottonwood Place, Oxenford

BMD Northcliffe Surf Club, 51 Garfield Tce, Surfers Paradise

Elk Espresso, Oasis Mall, Broadbeach

Mermaid Beach Surf Club, Hedges Avenue, Mermaid Beach

Pancake Diner, The Strand, 72 Marine Parade, Coolangatta

What’s your favourite kid-friendly cafe on the Gold Coast? Share your spots with us (and other mums and dads) in the comments below.

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lamoille-house · 4 years ago

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Things to do in Montreal, a Perfect Family Vacation Spot

Planning a Family vacation in Montreal is a cakewalk. There are interesting places to visit with your kids, activities to undertake, and fun events to witness. This epic family vacation will keep everyone in your family happy right from landmarks, museums, nightclubs, parks, shopping districts, and galleries. After Paris Montreal is the second French-speaking city in the world. A single day of sightseeing will reveal some spectacular things to do in Montreal like attending festivals, museums, a heady nightlife, iconic food, and fine dining in amazing restaurants. Walking and biking tours are arranged to explore the city’s neighborhood.

Things to Do in Montreal:

Popular Attraction:

Old Montreal/ Vieux-Montreal is the most popular tourist spot in the city being the original site of the city’s French Colonial origins. Historic sites, streets, and landmarks can be explored on foot. The main attraction is the Pointe-a-Calliere museum of archaeology and history, the twin-towered Notre-Dame Basilica, and the open-air gathering space of Place Jacques-Cartier. There are tons of restaurants, bars, souvenirs shops, and art galleries along the way for your enjoyment.

See Montreal from above: the new observation deck Montreal in summer offers unobstructed views of downtown Montreal, the leafy Mont-Royal Mountain, the Olympic stadium, and the river St. Lawrence.

Things to Do in Montreal Botanical Garden is the biggest park in the city. The park has many greenhouses and specialty gardens. The Botanical Garden is best suited for leisurely visits and educational trips. The garden host several outdoor theme gardens during the spring, autumn, and summer seasons. This theme garden includes Szhade garden, Japanese garden, Lily garden, Chinese Garden, and picturesque water garden. Another attraction is the Insectariums the largest of its kind in America. It is home to 1, 50,000 specimens of insects and other arthropods like spider and centipedes.

The Things to do in Montreal Underground City connects shopping centers, subway stations, and buildings. You can have access to 2000 stores, 17 museums, an ice hockey arena, a movie theater, night clubs, restaurants and much more.

Attending the Barbie Expo in Montreal is a dream because of its largest collection. There are over 1000 different kinds of Barbie dolls.

Other Things to Do in Montreal:

Shopping:

There is no shortage of shopping centers. There are dozens of shopping centers connected to Montreal’s underground city. You will spend your entire day exploring them. Some destination includes the art galleries and high-end boutiques and assortment of parks across the city.

Marche Jean-Talon is said to be the oldest public market in the city. All year round they sell maple products, fresh fruits, and vegetables, meat, spices, cheese and a variety of bakeries products.

Outdoor activities:

Outdoor sports from ice-skating to inner tubing, dog sledding to cross-country skiing attracts tourism.

Mount Royal: If you love outdoor activities, the Mount Royal is the place to just hop on a bus up to the top of the mountain and enjoy some winter fun playing in the snow. Arrange to hire a snowshoe for skating on Beaver Lake. Try some cross-country skiing. If interested in snow tubing then go up to the top Mount Royal slope and whizz down picking up some serious speed along the way.

La Ronde theme park should be on your bucket list along with your family. The rides are for everybody in the park such as Chaos, Boomerang, Demon, and Monster for the teenagers. The younger kids will love the Grand Carousal, the Joyous Moussaillons, and the Tchou Tchou train ride. They also have live shows and events to entertain everybody. The best time to visit the park is from mid-May until late October.

Jump up and down at ISaute. Take up extreme tramp lining for an evening at the warehouse in Anjou. There is a massive room with wall-to-wall trampolines. You feel like a kid jumping as high as your body can soar. ISaute also boasts a trampoline dodge ball stadium and a basketball dunk center.

Montreal bike lanes run through downtown. It is a favorite route for a casual cycle ride away from the traffic along the Lachine Canal. Along the way, it passes some public art and the city’s iconic industrial architecture.

Winter Activities in Montreal:

This city offers many fascinating winter events and activities. There are tons of skiing and ice-skating in Montreal but also there are tons of festivals. Heading to Montreal in winter cannot only be breathtaking, but inexpensive as well.

Play at Fete des Neiges: for four weeks every weekend’s residents are treated to a fun-filled family event called Fete des Neiges. Daily live ice sculpting demonstration takes place along with zip lining, tubing, skating, and giant football. You will be entertained with different choices of food trucks and dining options ranging from wood-fire pizza to potato donuts. Kids can enjoy the skating path along St.Lawrence River, a polar circus, and many games.

Montreal High lights festivals:

This festival combines performing art, exquisite food, the finest chefs, and free family fun. A free outdoor site offers a plethora of open-air activities, like shows, activities for children, street theater, puppet shows, circus acts, and fireworks. The popular free event at this festival is Nuit Nlanche.

Place Des Festivals in Montreal is an outdoor public square built to host big festivals, and big crowds. Just for Laughs comedy festival, the Montreal Jazz Festivals and several other events make use of the space to host free shows and concerts year-round.

Check out Montreal’s’ wine bar scene with amazing bars and restaurants for plentiful wine options “Mon Lapin, Rouge Gorge, Alma, Bar St-Denis, and majestique.

Discover Montreal’s most creative and delicious craft beer. Sample three unique brewpubs.

The Food tour is a popular way to get to know a city. They take you to a variety of food stops and many historical landmarks satisfying not only the foodies but also the culture buff. Montreal is known as foodie city for its eat, drink and to explore the city side by side.

Enjoy the best things to do and discover in this unique destination of Montreal.

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wikitopx · 5 years ago

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Brindisi is an important city on the Adriatic coast of Southern Italy in the Apulia region and has a current population of just over 88,000.

This natural port has played a major historical role in the development of this Italian region due to its strategic location and active trade with Greece and other countries on the Adriatic Sea. The city has a diverse economy based on agriculture, chemical processing and electricity generation, plus commercial port operations. Historically, legend has it that Brindisi was founded by the epic hero Diomedes but records show that it has seen some form of settlement since ancient Roman and Greek times. Due to its prominent position on the Adriatic coast, throughout its history, Brindisi has been ruled by various empires and kingdoms including the Ostrogoths, Lombards, and Kings of Sicily.

[toc]

1. Brindisi Port

Brindisi is a thriving port and the inlet of water that spans from the Adriatic Sea is surrounded by piers, harbors, ports, and stations for commercial and public shipping activities. This whole area is hugely interesting and a great place to simply walk and explore.

The Via del mare, for example, offers great views across to part of the commercial shipping docks, whilst the Via Ettore Ciciriello allows views of the Naval base and some of the smaller shipping operations.

On the opposite side of the port, you can find the Monument to the Italian Soldiers and further north is the fantastic Marina where you can find a host of quaint fishing and sailing boats. When visiting Brindisi, the port is undoubtedly one of the main attractions.

2. Castello Alfonsino di Brindisi

This historic castle is located on the edge of the Isola Sant’Andrea that sits on the northern edge of the port. Constructed in the 16th century, the castle served as a defensive fortification and protection for the entrance of the port of Brindisi.

The structure has a multitude of different towers, paths and walkways, and bases that provide great views of the Adriatic sea and the sea. Furthermore, in the center of the castle, there is an enclosed port that is quite picturesque ad has a single arch access point.

When exploring Saint Andrea Island, make sure you visit this castle and admire this important piece of city history.

3. Santa Maria del Casale

Brindisi has a number of important religious structures and the Church of Santa Maria del Casale is one of the most beautiful and famous places. Constructed in the 13th century, this church has stood for hundreds of years and has recently been restored to maintain its beautiful paneled exterior.

The front façade features a pink and white polychrome design with a series of gorgeous patterns and an overhanging ornate doorway. Furthermore, the interior has some stunning frescos on the walls including an immense colored depiction of the Last Judgement, the Annunciation, and Madonna with Child.

Only a short distance from the local airport, this church is a prime example of medieval architecture.

4. Pontificia Basilica Cattedrale

Brindisi Church is the main religious structure in the city and was truly consecrated by Pope Urban II in the 11th century. Located in the heart of the old town, this cathedral has an unusual exterior and sits in a charming square next to several other historic structures.

The style of the cathedral is Romanesque and the front façade contains an ornate bell tower and a series of opulent stone statues. Inside this beautiful church, the style is regal and the main passage is supported by a series of whitewashed columns on the top with plaster.

At the main altar, there is a gorgeous colorful stained glass window, and there is also a side chapel containing the remains of Saint Theodore.

5. Lido Azzurro

Azzurro Beach is a fantastic place to visit to escape from the city and enjoy some quality relaxation.

You can reach this charming and quiet beach in less than 20 minutes from the center of Brindisi along the SS379 route. Although only small, the beach has a myriad of amenities including the fantastic Guna Beach Club and Arca di Noe beach bar and market.

The beach itself has some gorgeous sand and a host of parasols and sun loungers. Furthermore, the water here is mild and perfect for a swim. If you are driving your own car, there is plenty of parking so don’t worry about not finding a space.

While visiting Brindisi, consider going down to the beach to soak up the wonderful climate of the Adriatic.

6. Brindisi Archaeological Museum

Located next to the cathedral in the center of the old town, the Archaeological Museum is a great place to visit whilst walking through Brindisi. For those who love ancient history and looking into the past, this museum has a host of interesting artifacts, displays, and relics.

Whilst most archaeological museums provide finds from digs in the surrounding area, the museum at Brindisi actually contains a myriad of finds that have been excavated from the harbor, the port is and surrounding sea.

Included in the museum you can find a range of ornate bronze and stone statues dating back as early as the Roman era, ceramics, coins, glassware, tombs, and weaponry. This museum really provides a great insight into the city of Brindisi and its regional history.

7. Enjoy a fine Italian dish at La Locanda del Porto

Located only a short distance from the previously mentioned promenade, la Locanda del Porto is a highly regarded restaurant in the heart of Brindisi and is a great place to enjoy a sumptuous evening meal.

The atmosphere of this restaurant is wonderful and the staff is kind, friendly and helpful. La Locanda serves a range of Italian dishes including some amazing antipasti, various pasta dishes and a fine selection of oven-baked pizzas.

Furthermore, you can choose from a range of seafood dishes such as lobster and some fresh salads for a lighter choice. With a great selection of accompanying the wine, La Locanda really is a fantastic venue!

8. Sample a coffee at the Café Olympia

While sightseeing in Brindisi, why not consider stopping at one of the local cafes to enjoy good coffee and take a break? Café Olympia is located on Via Cesare Battisti in the south of the old town and has a beautiful outdoor seating area.

In terms of food and drink, this café has a wide selection including a fabulous range of gelato in various flavors, a selection of freshly baked pastries and croissants. The combination of excellent outdoor location, quality food and drinks, and friendly staff make this cafe a true delicacy.

9. Monument to Italian Sailors

Located on the opposite side of the harbor to the historic old town, the monument to Italian Sailors is one of the most iconic structures in the city. Lovingly known as “The Rudder” this immense stone structure does actually resemble the rudder of a ship and stands proud against the surrounding landscape.

Created in 1933, the statue stands at 53m tall and it is actually possible to climb to the top of it for unrivaled panoramic views of Brindisi. The surrounding park is also a pleasant place to walk and the views across the harbor are fantastic.

10. Parco Urbano del Cillarese

Although Brindisi is located on the coast, it still has some areas of natural beauty and some excellent public parks. Parco Urbano del Cillarese can be found on the western edge of the harbor and is a great place to explore and enjoy a pleasant walk in the sun.

This specially designed park is a favorite haunt of the locals and has a playground for children, several small ponds and a myriad of walking and cycling trails. The park goes over the SS379 route and you can also see the beautiful artificial Lac di Cillarese lake from here.

With a myriad of trees and greenery, this park really is a welcomed change from the busy ports and bustling city.

More ideals for you: Top 10 things to do in Agrigento

From : https://wikitopx.com/travel/top-10-things-to-do-in-brindisi-707080.html

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tonydsmith · 5 years ago

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Orlando Disneyland Tours

Orlando Disneyland Tours Are All Fun and Frolic

Orlando Disneyland tours are fun and interesting enough to make your vacation worth remembering. Contrary to popular belief, Disneyland is actually not just for kids. Visit Disneyland for a different experience. The place is beautiful with its list of resort hotels, animal parks, and a range of eateries.

The Magic Kingdom Park, for example, offers a range of activities to indulge in. At the Atlantic Dance Park, a large screen plays music videos and it is sure to jazz up your night. Chakranadi is situated in the Anandapur village at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park. The tunes are melodious and exotic as well as tranquil. Chakranadi with its seasonal tunes and festivals is for all ages and interests. Enjoy the tunes of sitar and tablas during Orlando Disneyland tours.

Besides these, there are many pubs, restaurants, theme parks awaiting you in Disneyland. Take a look at some of the fun things that you can be a part of.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Orlando Disneyland tours include a magical sphere known as Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This includes characters and entertainment, several thrilling rides, fine restaurants and pubs. While you are over here you will get to see how movies are made. Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular is here to take you into the world of film-making. See the tutorials of stunts, double roles, stunt actors and go back to the action packed world of Indiana Jones. Additionally, you can meet Darth Vader, Olaf and even the Beauty and the Beast live on stage.

The Sunset Boulevard hosts Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. You can also visit Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith. The latter is a famous steel roller coaster ride. It features Aerosmith members like Tom Hamilton, Brad Whitford among others. Moreover, while you are at Hollywood Studio, pay a visit to Muppets Courtyard and Animation Courtyard.

Electrical Water Pageant

This show almost takes place on every evening. The place was first opened in 1971. Ever since, it has been a must visit for many tourists. Over here, you will actually see animal figures bordered by lights as they float on barges. Overall, as the show is followed by music, it creates a magical and soothing effect. Make sure to check the schedule and the programs before you visit. The show is moreover, free of any charges.

Shops and Bazaar

In Orlando Disneyland tours, there are a number of shops and marketplace to choose from. For example, the Agrabah Bazaar has beautiful clothes, eateries. You can get goods in your favorite fictional characters, trinkets to take home, colorful toys, as well as art collections. Chapel Hats specializes in sun hats, floppy hats, outdoor hats and other well-designed head gears.

Island Carnivale

Experience a glamorous show of dancers, stilt walkers and musicians with your Orlando Disneyland tours. You will come across this colorful array of fun at fantasy at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Be a part of typical and unique rhythms as the dancers dance to the beats. Clap, dance, laugh and listen to the musicians play Paraguayan harp while you are in Orlando.

In between hopping from one place to another, taste the finest dishes of Orlando Disneyland Tours. Choose from a range of dining options, beverages and delicious lunch. The menu includes Julienne Steak, Hibachi Chicken and Hibachi Salmon. You can also have a bite of the African cuisine apart from pizza, grilled chicken and many other scented species. You are sure to enjoy an exceptional holiday on the whole.

There are several things to see and enjoy in Disneyland. Therefore, make sure that you have enough time on hand if you visit. Once you enter this amazing amusement park, you may actually end up losing track of time. Moreover, there is actually something for everyone here. Are you a nature lover? There is a park for you. Are you interested in science? There is a place for you. Do you have children? There are several places for children, in fact.

The post Orlando Disneyland Tours appeared first on Miami to Key West Tours Guides.

from Miami to Key West Tours Guides https://www.miamitokeywesttoursguides.com/orlando-disneyland-tours/ from Miami to Key West Tours Guides https://miamitokeywesttoursguides.tumblr.com/post/186850910066

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erickrichards · 5 years ago

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Orlando Disneyland Tours

Orlando Disneyland Tours Are All Fun and Frolic

Besides these, there are many pubs, restaurants, theme parks awaiting you in Disneyland. Take a look at some of the fun things that you can be a part of.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Electrical Water Pageant

Shops and Bazaar

Island Carnivale

The post Orlando Disneyland Tours appeared first on Miami to Key West Tours Guides.

from https://www.miamitokeywesttoursguides.com/orlando-disneyland-tours/

from Miami to Key West Tours Guides - Blog http://miamitokeywesttoursguides.weebly.com/blog/orlando-disneyland-tours3856910

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miamitokeywesttoursguides · 5 years ago

Text

Orlando Disneyland Tours

Orlando Disneyland Tours Are All Fun and Frolic

Besides these, there are many pubs, restaurants, theme parks awaiting you in Disneyland. Take a look at some of the fun things that you can be a part of.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Electrical Water Pageant

Shops and Bazaar

Island Carnivale

The post Orlando Disneyland Tours appeared first on Miami to Key West Tours Guides.

from Miami to Key West Tours Guides https://www.miamitokeywesttoursguides.com/orlando-disneyland-tours/

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sciencevsromance · 7 years ago

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Coachella 2018 (Weekend 1, belated)

Every year, it’s tempting to search through the lineup, fashion, and scene reports to come up with a grand unifying theory of a given year’s Coachella lineup. Going in, the obvious candidate was the striking absence of rock headliners and major nostalgia acts from the lineup. But midway through the festival, it became obvious that there was one Coachella 2018 story and that story was #Beychella.

Having postponed last year’s performance due to her pregnancy, Beyoncé made up for lost time by stacking the stage with a pyramid of bleachers filled with well over a hundred dancers, musicians, drum corps, and cheer squad. Opening the set with “Crazy in Love”, attired in an instantly iconic custom yellow Balmain hoodie (evoking a fictional historically black college Greek system, the house of Beyoncé Knowles) paired with tiny jean cutoff shorts (a nod to an esteemed Coachella tradition) she proceeded through five costume changes( https://www.thecut.com/2018/04/beyonce-coachella-2018-most-iconic-moments.html), hovering at one point in a crane above the crowd (“Drunk in Love”), and with the help of a few very special guests (a dance-off with her sister Solange and a duet with her husband Jay-Z), and a very welcome three song Destiny’s Child reunion, she used her two hour set to make the festival her very own. And thanks to the lack of counter-programming (sorry, X Japan), almost everyone who was at Coachella was at the mainstage to witness it.

She was the first black woman to score a headlining spot and employed her numerous gifts as a singer, dancer, and creative force to make the performance intense, compelling, and utterly unforgettable. It felt less like a festival headliner than a takeover, or at least a reconfiguration and expansion of what’s possible. I’ve been going to Coachella for over a decade and have never seen anything quite like it (sorry Kanye).

In the last few years, there is no Coachella story more evergreen than the festival’s ongoing growth. From one weekend to two, to expanding the grounds to accommodate even more stages and attendees. This year was no exception, with the footprint expanding even further into an adjacent polo grounds. The most dramatic consequence of (and motivation for) this land-grab was to finally carve out a separate space for a new, once again, impossibly larger Sahara tent to be moved from its longtime home in the back corner of the festival to a privileged spot adjacent to the main entrance, iconic Ferris wheel, and opposite the festival’s mainstage. Although this reconfiguration drastically improved traffic flow throughout the grounds, getting anywhere within view of the new tent (more of an airplane hangar, suitable for studying elite alien technologies) remained even more difficult. In part because the tent’s programming, long a home for EDM and electro-bros, had been shifted to a strong hip-hop and DJ lineup that included French Montana and Migos (who we missed because, again, getting anywhere with a sightline of the stage required far more perseverance than we had).

However, the additional stages allowed for considerable diversity in genre and performers. It is hardly enough, but somewhere around a third of the acts were female-fronted or contained female band members. This diversity spanned genres — highlights included sister act, Ibeyi playing a moving, layered, show that at one point sampled a Michelle Obama speech to a small devoted crowd at the Gobi tent, sparkly surf rock from Alvvays, Tash Sultana laying out ground rules forbidding racists, homophobes, or transphobic audience members from her sunset performance in the Mohave tent, all the way to another sister act, HAIM, arguably the highest-billed rock act at the whole festival nabbing the opening spot for for Beyoncé. Pausing between epic guitar riffs (and faces), Esme Haim related a fond Coachella memory about the time that she was accidentally dosed with mushroom-laced chocolate from Ke$ha to fend-off a type one diabetic episode, the psychedelics hitting just as it was time to run across the field to see Prince, leading me to re-evaluate my understanding of the flow and scope of time.

And, if anyone could challenge the #Beychella narrative, it was Cardi B riding an ascendant hypewave to draw an enormous late afternoon crowd to the mainstage lawn to make a claim on rebranding the festival #Bochella. Like Beyoncé, she brought her own (smaller) crew of dancers to work the poles, a host of guest drop-ins (Rihanna, G-Eazy, Chance the Rapper), and lived her best life while not letting her advanced pregnancy slow down any of her filthiest dance moves. Whereas Beyoncé achieved high art over two hours, Cardi’s only aim was to fit as much fun as possible into thirty minutes.

Of course, there was still room for old time rock and roll at Coachella. We started the festival with a set of sappy anthemic rock from mega-producer Jack Antonoff’s little side project, Bleachers. In Coachella drop-in super special surprise guest fashion, he was joined for a few songs by “Canadian Queen of Pop” (Carly Rae Jepsen), and had enthusiastic support from a live band that, like any good son of New Jersey, included a giant saxophone in the backline. Perhaps riding that LOVE, SIMON bump (and including the song he wrote for the movie) the tent was a place for girls on shoulders and tentative gestures of Bro-affection for some touchy-feely hugs among buds catching big #feels under the sun.

Other random high/lowlights included a few kinda pitchy sadboy songs from The Weeknd, hearing St. Vincent slaying on guitar while walking over to a confident performance from a silver suited Perfume Genius, Kygo running an electro variety show, Odesza’s crystalline summertime vibes accented by flame throwers and a marching drum line, Kygo pressing play and welcoming a series of drop-in vocalists (“drop-in” is a Thing We Say Now), David Byrne and a stage full of musicians constantly in motion, closing with a cover/reconfiguration of a cover of Janelle Monáe’s “Hell You Talmbout,” chanting the painfully long list of the names of the too many high profile victims of police brutality.

On the arts front, standouts were Edoardo Tresoldi’s magnificent trio of intricate wire mesh temples (Etherera) defined the southern horizon, dusty daytime mirages that snapped into sharper relief when illuminated at night. NEWSUBSTANCE’s Spectra, a seven story spiral tower wrapped in 32 custom shades of rainbow-colored glass was instantly iconic inside and out. Walking up the corkscrew ramp offered spectacular intensely monochromatic color-filtered views of the immense crowds and surrounding mountains, a brief respite from the festival noise, and endless opportunities for selfies.

In other gross miscellany, we only dropped into a couple offsite parties, staying at the T-Mobile/Pandora Cree Estate takeover long enough to grab a beach towel and sample some pink confections (the dry desert heat is not kind to macarons, freshly spun cotton candy fares better), but not until Dillon Francis took over poolside DJ duties. At Amex’s party, organizers engeniously covered a giant section of the Parker’s back lawn with geometric Fortress of Solitude style tenting to combat the merciless afternoon sun with a refuge that featured fruit bars, temporary tattoos, and a ridiculously boozy lemon cocktail. We didn’t show up early enough for the SoulCycle or Yoga clinic.

On the fashion front, floral crowns are gone, sparkle dandruff is here. For women, beach goth is perhaps in decline with metallic mesh replacing black lace as the cover up du jour. plus a whole lot of sequins and metallics. For dudes, basic bro is forever, with tropical megaprints — preferably matching shirt and shorts sets — as a more practical RompHim and flashy alternative to basketball jerseys. In VIP excess, the wristband provides few perks beyond access to the Rose Garden (worth it) and fun foods like desert sushi, extremely marked up sake, and Korean influenced pizza. But main campus catering has improved, too: LA (by way of Seattlw) coffee celeb Kyle Glanville had a pop-up outpost of Go Get Em Tiger in the gen pop marketplace alongside Ramen Hood’s vegan stand (surprisingly tasty and welcome as the temperatures dropped after sunset). Sad days for celeb-watching: multi-year tradition of nearly tripping over Jared Leto was broken. We did see Darren Criss, EJ Johnson, and K Stew at the same VIP tequila stand (at the same time, yet separate). And, just as it seemed like the era of Paris Hilton sightings at Coachella was over, we passed her on the VIP path going into the festival Sunday night just as we were making an early pre-Eminem escape, providing a weirdly magical end to an annual festival traditions that is maybe only 35% “about the music” (for me) but I guess I’m cool with that when that percentage pays off with a few big “Coachella Moments”.

#gif #Coachella #Beyoncé #beychella #Cardi b #Nichelle

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asaspro-blog · 7 years ago

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I expect to be downvoted and that's ok but I think that Epic needs to slow it down.

New Post: https://fortnite.asas.pro/i-expect-to-be-downvoted-and-thats-ok-but-i-think-that-epic-needs-to-slow-it-down/

#fortnite #game #fun #esport #news

I expect to be downvoted and that's ok but I think that Epic needs to slow it down.

Before I get downvoted into oblivion I’d like to say the only reason I’m making this post is because I love this game. I have always played multiplayer games. From tabletop Warhammer, DOTA, CS1.6, WOW, League, and everything in between. I’ve played casually and hardcore. I sincerely hope that I’m 100% wrong about everything I’m about to say.

I don’t think that you’re going to run out of steam because content is limitless, but I think you’re on track to bloat the game with non-essential features. Fortnite was a tornado of great things happening at once and Epic has handled the increase in popularity far better than any other company I’ve seen. I’m not saying its luck, because Epic is a great company but IMO, this is the first time in Twitch.tv history a multi-platform game has dominated the number 1 spot and remained there. Why? Well I think for a few choice reasons: Fortnite isn’t like PUBG in that you need something special to play it which I think deterred a lot of fans of PUBG. It had new mechanics that added and entirely different dynamic to the game, building was new and made the game not as linear as competitors and it came with entertaining streamers that helped its growth. Tack on the Amazon Prime deal and that’s a wrap. Great gaming companies have tempo. They keep it consistent. I think that's important. I could be wrong, but I'm just speaking on a forum about what I've seen / experienced.

Epic, the game is still young. There’s still large portions of the map no one visits; waiting to be turned into the new Tilted Towers. There’s so many QOL features to add, in fact, I just saw one on the front page about colour distinction on friendly and anti-friendly traps, that’s a great idea. Competitive modes, itemization and customization of avatars, banners, mechanic-polishing, there’s SO much left to be done. Keep making creative content like skins and such because its great…but shit…we JUST figured out bloom and aiming…and we already have vending machines, guided rockets, and now something that builds for you.

I feel like you’re trying to put toppings on a pizza but there isn’t even dough yet…it’s just flour in a bag.

I love this game. I just don’t want to see people quit because they are dying to guided rockets, because building editing is still buggy.

TL;DR: Content pacing and tempo is really important to the longevity of a game and there's of basic stuff that needs to be done.

Edit: yo I didn’t know this topic was posted so much and I honestly thought it was unpopular opinion so I feel y’all that are ribbing me for saying “I expect to be downvoted” but I legit thought it was gonna be the exact opposite.

Edit 2: There’s a lot of debate about “power” here. That’s a common trend right to talk about what’s “op” in gaming threads so I understand the confusion. I want to clarify I’m NOT talking about that. What I’m talking about is this:

Imagine this game had a tutorial, it would teach you about building, rarity’s, the consumables, the zone, weapons, etc and would define their roles in the game. The basics. Farm mats, hit crit spot, build a hut, edit a door, etc

Now think about what the tutorial would be like now: “there’s 30 pistols, really no difference in most them, there’s 2 smgs, one you’ll never grab unless it’s the first chest and ur dying, there’s 6 different types of snipers but no point in ever grabbing a crossbow unless u need binoculars, there’s something called a chain gun but drop it for literally anything else because it’s the worst gun at its job, buildings cool but this does it instantly, this is how bloom and aiming work, but there’s a guided rocket u can pilot that also gives u incredible game info because u have vision over everything, in the future pickaxes will have added bonus run speed and more materials per hit, we’re adding cars, shield zones that u drop instantly, eagle taxi’s, and in the meantime stuffs bugged and a lot of stuff has no clear purpose but we just thought it was cool”.

#Uncategorized

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rememberthattime · 7 years ago

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Chapter 31. Move II. Part II. Home

Alright, where’d we leave off with the last post?

Part I was Japan, our first week after leaving the UK. Part III will conclude with our arrival in Sydney. That means Part II will be the time in between. The awkward middle brother, or Jeff, of this three-part moving post. Included in Part II: Christmas in Dallas, New Year’s in Woodinville, and reunions in Seattle.

Over the past two years, most of my posts have been about our travels around Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and soon-to-add, Australia. That said, I still like to add our trips back home, specifically because I want them to be included when Chelsay converts this blog into a book. I’ve done all the writing and uploading, so she can handle eventually turning this into a NYT’s best seller.

That was a joke (except not, she definitely needs to make this a book). The real reason I want to write about our trips home is the same reason I write about any of our travels: I don’t want to forget.

As I wrote in my wedding post, this blog should be a time machine. 20 years from now, I’ll open the book that Chelsay publishes and place myself back in what will likely be our most adventurous years. Young D’Derek (or whatever weird name Chelsay decides on for our first) will be learning to drive, and Diana (the classic, sensible name I choose for our second) will be taking piano lessons, while Papa Mike heads back to Iceland or Morocco or Jordan or Japan via these posts.

That said, as exciting as our travels to new places have been, some of our favorite memories will undoubtedly come from our returns to the familiar. I’ve written about our first trip home in March 2016 (Chapter 7) and our second trip home that Christmas (Chapter 15), so now, without further ado, here is our third trip home: Christmas 2017.

Oh, one more note first: because there are so many moments I want to remember from this third rendition (and because I’m three months behind in writing about this long move), I’ll structure this post in bullet form. Okay, now: Christmas 2017.

Highlights from Texas:

Our trip began in Dallas, and as all trips to Dallas begin, we started with Chick-fil-a. It might just be fried chicken and a pickle, but I’d take it over a 18 oz steak any day.

While Chelsay, Liv, and my mom got mani/pedis, my dad, brothers, and I headed to Top Golf. Not even the dumping rain could stop Matt & I’s pin-seeking in our 2-on-2 match up.

The Kerns play a lot of games. Pictionary is always a family favorite, while the meme game seemed slightly inappropriate for this crowd. A few new additions to the game arsenal were Matt’s e-games, where we all come up with funny responses to various prompts, then vote on the best (my mom’s “Shmule” response was an all-timer). One surprise favorite was also one of the simplest: Uno. The unexpected enjoyment actually had nothing to do with the game, but more to do with someone inevitably making a fart joke. (You can tell it was a fart joke in the picture below because my mom is not amused).

Bocce, and braving the frigid temperatures to complete undoubtedly the worst matches those courts had seen.

Another Kern family tradition: back-and-forth putt-putt battles between the kids and parents (+ Chelsay).

It doesn’t even matter who won.

It was definitely the kids.

Christmas cookie making, with some highlights being Matt’s Grinch, Chelsay’s wreath, and Liv’s stocking. Definitely the worst cookie goes to Jeff (”Someone’s in here”).

Pasta on Christmas Eve. Continuing our tradition of informal Christmas Eve meals (grilled cheese, Italian beef sandwiches, tortilla soup, sloppy joes), the family decided on homemade pasta this year. Chelsay made a phenomenally hearty Bolognese sauce, while the family spun out rolls of al dente linguine.

The Christmas Day photoshoot.

After a delicious Christmas beef tenderloin, my mom shared the basics of piano playing with Chelsay, while Matt, my dad, and I took a long, cold, sunset walk down the Trophy Club fairways.

THREE successful Escape Rooms, including a near record-setting win with 24 minutes remaining. Based on our experience, we now get free Escape Rooms for life!

Countless gut-busting meals, including Feedstore ribs, Anamia’s taco salad, Christina’s queso, Mi Cocina sunset fajitas, and i Fratelli thin crust pizza.

On a sad note, Abby’s memorial, where we followed my dad’s heartfelt but humorous eulogy by saying goodbye to the cutest, strangest, best dog any family could hope for.

Highlights from Seattle:

Playing with Miles. His favorite games: Monster Auntie Chelsay (he got so excited that he pooped), Bucket Flights through the house, and Uncle Mike Express, where I delivered my little passenger to Grandma Helen Station or Papa Sum Pass.

Din Tai Fung & Lucky Strike with Chelsay’s whole family, which included shot-caller Chris destroying the record high score in pop-a-shot.

Runs around Crystal Lake. Dan & June have been in this house for years, but the setting blows me away every time I see it. I loved going for chilly runs around the lake, quietly taking in the massive trees, charming homes, calm waters, and beautiful surroundings.

Ringing in New Year’s 2018 with Chelsay’s family, Dev, Babs, Auz, Kels, and our new friend Harvey.

The second annual virtual golf showdown with Danny. Similar to Chris at Lucky Strike, we set some high scores (high scores are good in golf, right?)

Saturday nights with Auz, Dev, Hanan, Tiin, ALoh, Trav, Ben P, Rob Sooz, and Andy Lit at the 5715 House (aka STZ Pad 3). That house has to be one of my favorite places in the entire world. You can visit the Eiffel Tower or Sahara Desert, but it’s hard to beat watching the NFL playoffs on that shitty couch, bumping all the hits from 2011, embarrassing ourselves with throwback beer pong, or epic 3 AM battles in Hockey.

Catch up drinks with Chelsay’s friends, including Officer Nicole, El Gringo (Will), and the Doctors (Matt & Shiva).

Busy season JC meetings w/ Mark Fitz, and the occasional bucket with him & Dev at Bellevue Muni.

Dan and June’s first Escape Room, overcoming some of the hardest puzzles we’d ever faced to escape on their first attempt.

Chelsay and I’s triumphant one-day return to the city. This was my favorite day in Seattle. Although I had a few trips to the city for nights at the 5715 House, Chelsay and I mostly stayed around her parents’ place in Woodinville. On the weekend before her flight to Sydney though, we went with her parents on a reunion tour through the city. We ate breakfast at Portage Bay, walked through South Lake Union, took in the Space Needle views from Kerry Park, visited Pike Place Market, returned to Green Lake for cookie cakes, and enjoyed a nightcap tasting to top it all off from Woodinville Whisky. Our January in Seattle was largely about reconnecting with friends and family, but this day was Chelsay and I’s reunion with the city.

Countless gut-busting meals, including Firenze Amatriciana (possibly my new favorite dish in Seattle), Pink Door Bolognese, La Carta tacos, Great State burgers & crispy crinkle fries, more Chick-fil-a, and of course, Juju’s home cookin’.

Chibi just trying to sleep through all of this.

Alas, our six week return to the States was just a tease, a brief glimpse into our former lives.

Like this blog, life is a collection of different chapters, and each chapter has its setting. Most of Chelsay and I’s story has taken place in the US, though our past two years were set in London and our next two will be in Australia.

Throughout our story, we understand the importance of remaining present in each chapter. Sometimes it’s fun to reminisce or look ahead, but Chelsay and I always come back to the present and appreciate our current setting while we can.

As I write this, it’s been three weeks since I left the US, so Chelsay and I are well into our new lives in Sydney. The next & final post in this trilogy will show how much we’ve already enjoyed our latest life chapter, but this post is a reminder that nothing can ever replace the love I feel for our story’s first setting: Home.

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russellthornton · 7 years ago

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Super Fun Bachelor Party Ideas That Don’t Involve Strippers

Did you make a pact not to have strippers at your bachelor party? Good for you. Here are some bachelor party ideas that don’t involve naked ladies.

Planning the perfect bachelor party is hard. This is especially true when you’re straddling the line between an over-the-top stripper rave and a dull round of golf between you and your buddies. Bachelor parties have turned into a ritual. Strippers, nightclubs, and over-the-top drinking are thought of as the norm when it comes to bachelor party ideas. In reality, your bachelor party should consist of you and your buddies doing something that you love.

While the bride-to-be has probably planned the entire wedding out on her Pinterest board, for the groom, the only planning he will have to do for this event is probably going to be his bachelor party. Finding the right bachelor party ideas can be a difficult task, especially without the fallback of strippers.

Just because your bachelor party will be breast-free doesn’t mean it’s going to be lame. In fact, the new trend of bachelor parties ranges anywhere from pulling over-the-top stunts to sitting around at a LAN party. The world is your last-day-as-a-single-person oyster – so make it count! [Read: 20 questions to ask each other before getting married]

Why you’d ever want a stripper-free bachelor party

For some men, the bachelor party represents the last hurrah. For others, it’s just a reason to get together with friends before you’re too busy having racy sex to hang out anymore. Stripper-free bachelor party ideas may seem like the exact opposite of what a bachelor party represents. But, there are plenty of reasons why a couple may decide to do away with a naked night out. [Bustle.com: How couples deal with strippers at bachelor parties can predict their marriage success]

Here are just some reasons the groom may be opting out.

#1 He says no strippers. Girls are no strangers to strip clubs, come the bachelorette party. If the groom is jealous, or simply doesn’t want his wife-to-be grinding against another man’s hard-on during her “last night as a single woman,” they may have agreed mutually to abstain from strippers.

#2 She says no strippers. If his fiancée is the jealous type, she may put the boot on another girl’s booty in her groom’s face the day before they exchange vows of fidelity and forevers. This may seem like a downer to you boys, but remember this: at the end of the day, he has to go home with her… not with you guys. Happy wife, happy life! [Read: 15 qualities of good friends that set them apart]

#3 Underage groomsmen. Ah, the joys of being 18 or younger. If a member of your group is underage, this can make sneaking into a strip club an unnecessary hassle. Even if he can get in, if he is under 21 he still won’t be allowed to get hammered with the rest of you.

#4 It’s predictable. If the groom is an inner-daredevil who spends his time on great adventures or who prefers party-chats on Xbox Live, why would they waste time on something as predictable as a strip club? Believe or not, some men find this wedding ritual awkward, and maybe less enticing than spending the night at a hockey game. [BroBible.com: 10 rules for the perfect bachelor party]

Bachelor party ideas for the Best. Night. Ever.

Without further ado, here are some of the best bachelor party ideas that don’t involve you tipping a G-string with a dollar bill. [Read: 10 Super fun drinking card games to get the party started]

#1 A road trip. Not all bachelor party ideas that involve a road trip have to arrive in Las Vegas. A getaway weekend is a perfect way to celebrate the last of the groom’s singlehood. Here are some awesome getaways from your bachelor weekend:

– Explore underwater caves, swim in crystal blue waters, zip-line, or explore ancient ruins. Mexico has it all and is an affordable destination.

– You don’t have to speak French to visit. Montreal is known for its amazing food, gothic architecture, the biosphere, museums, and plenty-o-booze.

– Motorcycle weekend. Friday the 13th coming up in your area? Get the boys out on their bikes and head out for a day or a weekend of biker antics.

– Book a weekend at a Dude Ranch. Grab your cowboy hats and buckle up for an experience in the wild, wild, west! A “guest,” or dude ranch, is a cattle ranch that is converted to a tourist “resort.” Here you’ll be able to ride horses, hunt, and view nature at its finest. Oh, and did we mention drink?

– New Orleans. New Orleans is a classic weekend getaway. Head out to Bourbon Street where you can party and drink out on the street or explore the French Quarter when you can check out the architecture, jazz music, and alcohol.

– Canada’s largest city, Toronto, is full of bachelor party ideas. Head out to pubs and breweries, check out the street performers in the distillery district, visit the CN tower, Hockey Hall of Fame, or Casaloma.

#2 Guy’s night in. Just because your night is low-key doesn’t mean it has to be boring. Have a kickass guy’s night in by doing a Local Area Network party and hooking your computers up together or use your Xbox/Playstation for an epic gaming night.

If you’re not into gaming, try a movie night. Choose dude sagas like Rocky, Star Wars, or the National Lampoon movies to make your night seem extra grand. Guy’s night in must-haves include chips, pizza, beer, and wings. [Read: 13 outrageous, fun, and spunky party themes for adults]

#3 Tickets, tickets, tickets. Really, bachelor party ideas don’t have to be complicated. Buying tickets to an upcoming event is a great way to spend your last night as a bachelor and can accommodate a large or small group of your buddies. Here are just some ideas of tickets you can buy:

– Magic show/Cirque De Sole

– Theme park

– Concert

– Medieval Times

– Murder Mystery

– Flying a mini-plane

– Riding shotgun in a race car

– Head to a shooting range

– Escape Room

#4 Sports in three ways. A: If the groom likes sports, why not have a viewing event to be remembered? Get your favorite junk food, loads of alcohol, plenty of snacks, and gather round the biggest TV you can find and get your game on. [TheTalko.com: 20 ways bachelorette parties are worse than bachelor parties]

B: If watching sports doesn’t hold a big enough wow factor for a bachelor party, why not get box seats to the groom’s favorite sports team? Be sure to do your fill of tailgating, and get your drink on beforehand to ensure you have a wild, competitive night.

C: If watching sports isn’t up the groom’s alley, why not get a group of buddies together and play them yourselves? Put together a baseball/hockey/football/soccer team and get ready to kick some ass.

#5 Camping trip. A guy’s camping weekend is the ultimate macho experience. Camp tent-style under the stars and engage in all the activities that go along with it. This includes swimming, hunting, kayaking, fishing, water sports, white water rafting, building fires, and drinking plenty of beer. [Read: 13 questions to ask yourself before getting married]

Make this activity a winter edition by renting a cabin and hitting the slopes for snowboarding and skiing.

#6 Paintball. As long as health and body allow, paintballing is always a good idea. This activity brings out your competitive side and gets your adrenaline pumping! Just make sure if it’s the day before the wedding, don’t hit the groom in the face.

#7 Do something dangerous. Preform death-defying stunts in front of your closest friends. If you’ve ever wanted to jump out of a plane, bungee jump, rent an ATV, scuba dive, or do anything else that may risk your life in the process – the night before your wedding is definitely the time to get it done. Hey, at least someone will be witness to your madness and be able to explain to your wife what happened when she’s visiting you at the hospital!

[Read: Marriage advice – 11 tips for happily ever after]

Just because your bachelor party ideas don’t involve naked ladies doesn’t mean your pre-marriage celebration isn’t going to kick ass. Set the standard and give your friends a night they’ll never forget on your last night as a single guy.

The post Super Fun Bachelor Party Ideas That Don’t Involve Strippers is the original content of LovePanky - Your Guide to Better Love and Relationships.

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