#juju’s 200 event

[sunbeamah]

Thank you so much for this JJK fics recs. As a new JJK fan (yes, just started the anime and manga last year), I was confused of what fic to read, but when I found your post, I was so happy. One of my fav is that time-travel fic of Yuji and Choso with teens Gojo/Geto pairing.

https://www.tumblr.com/dnana-2809-blog/746189842162089984/any-recs-for-some-jjk-fics-something-preferably?source=share

Can I ask your fav JJK ships and JJK Brotp?

And maybe your top 5 (or top 7) fav ships (canon or non canon) from all media (manga/anime, tv series, books, cartoon, etc)? Do you have a certain criteria for a couple to be your otps?

Sorry if my ask is kinda long @sunbeamah .....

No problem!!! I'm so sorry for how long it took me to respond to this ask-- I thought about it a lot, made a list, and then got distracted looking into my old favourite medias TT -- this ask made me go back and relive my Fairy Tail days haha, so thank you very much!!!

And also, please don't apologise!!! I appreciate this ask so much-- and again I'm so sorry it took me so long to reply!!!!!

I'm also so glad you liked the list hehe, I loved that fic too!!!

JJK Ships:

Fushiita

Nobamaki

Chosoyuki

Satosugu

Inuita

JJK BrOTP: Nobara and Yuuji!

Non-JJK top 5:

Liutana (Mortal Kombat)

Zolu (One Piece)

Sasunaru (Naruto)

Kagehina (Haikyuu!!!)

Togachako/Ochatoga (My Hero Academia)

Viktuuri (Yuuri!!! On Ice)

Obamitsu (Demon Slayer)

Below the cut is explanations, with JJK manga panels, SO PLEASE BEWARE OF MANGA SPOILERS BELOW!!! (Specifically, the front page of chapter 205 of jjk manga, and a page from chapter 200 as well I'll lyk where it is below the cut!)

Ah and minor Haikyuu manga spoilers! Just down where it says Kagehina

Jjk chapter 205 is under the chosoyuki (number 3) point; chapter 200 is the second image under fushiita, both appear in the first list below.

JJK Ships!!

Fushiita

This probably isn't surprising at all, but I love Fushiita!!! Something about stoic guys melting and being affectionate with bright, kind, mischievous boyfriends just tickles me yk

2. Nobamaki

A strong upperclassman who watches her cheeky, abrasive underclassman with fondness and interest-- there's more to their relationship that I like of course, their connection as 'the girls' that draws them closer, Nobara's instant respect and softness in regards to Maki, and how protective she becomes of her at the exchange event. I like to think Maki is protective towards her in a different but no less meaningful way. Protectiveness is one of my favourite tropes-- ik it's cheesy but it is!!!

3. Chosoyuki

Now, these two man... These two... I just love how she's so confident and outspoken, and how she saw Choso and went 'yeah. That one.' -- I loved their little date, even if he cried ((LOVE a good pathetic man)), and how she made him think differently about himself and his situation.

4. Satosugu

The soulmatery of these 2... The homosexuality of these 2..... They're unmated. A real Sasunaru descendant.

5. InuIta

I wasn't that into them, to be honest, but my friends and I quote that 'Inumaki-senpai! Shake!' scene in s2 all of the time. Eventually, I started to think of them as kind of cute, and then I tried writing them and found Inumaki is a really fun character to write! I love his mischievousness and dedication to protecting his friends (relegated to a life of speaking solely in onigiri ingredients... nah that's probably one of the perks for him).

JJK BrOTP

It's GOTTA be Nobara and Yuuji. The friendship between these two is awesome, I love how she started out thinking of him as an idiot, and then got to know him and realised that yeah he's an idiot, but he's also a little bit fun to have around sometimes. Nah jk, I love how they're 2 peas in a pod, both crazy, both from the countryside, both just as silly as each other. I really love watching them hang out in the few eps we get of that, and the juju strolls they're both in-- they're just awesome!

Top 5 In Any Media (Excluding JJK)

I had to consult my ao3 bookmarks AND pinterest for this. There are a bunch there of ships I don't read anymore but keep 'for the memories' and some ships I am ashamed of! So I didn't include those hehe.

I'll only put 1 per fandom to keep things fair! Cause there is 1 particular fandom where... My ships will fill up all 7 of the spots...

Also, no particular order! Some of these go up and down based on the day, scenario, fic, art, and heaps more factors!

Liutana My first ship! (Excluding my total drama island childhood... gwen x trent u will always be famous. I don't condone s2) I loved them so much, when MK1 came out and I heard about the kiss??? I damn near cried.

Zolu 1 thing about Zolu is that from the first ep I've shipped them 100%. Every episode that they're in is a fun episode to watch, their dynamic is so SDJHVFSBJNE and I really enjoy it! But also... Any time someone appreciates Luffy I kinda... Side-eye a little...... I'm a bit disloyal in that sense...........

Sasunaru Gaanaru is constantly fighting for this spot tho... I am disloyal. I like nejinaru, shikanaru, hinanaru, sainaru, I even wrote an allnaru fic back in the day. It never saw the light of day but man... Also Shikatema is peak love those 2.

Kagehina Height difference, moody x cheerful, sunrise x shadow mountain-- names with symbolism but also it's the sunrise that puts the shadow on the mountain and I say all that^^ but the second Atsumu appeared on screen...... IM A DISLOYAL PERSON!!! And the reunion?? "Tobio-chan!! Don't talk to my spiker like that :)" WHEN I TELL YOU I ALMOST CHOKED ON MY SCREAM...

Togachako/Ochatoga Just getting back into bnha and man.. these 2 GRABBED ME... Allmomo is FANTASTIC too btw-- and I do mean all girls x Momo but I suppose Kaminari can stay, as Jirou's boyfriend.. and Kurotoko (is that still their ship name?!), Fumirumi, Bakukiri let me stop myself before I erupt,

Obamitsu THEM <33 I'm a bigger, 'stronger' (I'm not as strong as her she's something else) girl too so Mitsuri and this ship is just everything to me... Also love Gentan and Muitan!

Viktuuri The comfort ship I always come back to.

Honourable mentions!

Sophie x Agatha, The School for Good and Evil (BABY'S THIRD EVER SHIP!!!)

Kiyoyachi, Haikyuu (I WANTED U ON THE LIST BABY I REALLY DID)

Sidlink, Legend of Zelda (don't look at me like that... I know...)

Kyokao, Ouran High School Host Club (Yes I watched this. I was 10 and it changed my life)

Rennora, RWBY

Gajevy, Alljuvia, Stingue and Fraxus, Fairy Tail

Cleuce, Allclawdeen, Monster High (by all I mean all the girls -- same for Juvia up there!)

Dickkory, DC

[sweetjujushop]

💖 Sweet Juju will be participating in Artmageddon this Sunday, September 29! 💖

Artmageddon is an outdoor festival with over 200 artists and musicians, showing off their work throughout the historic Ditmas Park section of Flatbush in Brooklyn ✨ Find a complete map of artist locations as well as a schedule of the music performances on the Beautify Brooklyn site! https://beautifybrooklyn.org

Sweet Juju will be stationed on the front lawn at 444 East 17th Street! In addition to exhibiting a few items, I'll also be hosting a make-your-own bracelet station for the kids (and adults too!) Other artists host fun activities as well, so be sure to bring the family, explore the beautiful neighborhood, and get those creative juices pumping! ✨

I'm so excited to get back to in-person events, and what better way to get going again than with something local? 🥰 Attending this event was a blast last year, so I'm really glad to be a part of it in 2024! Hope to see you all there 😍

[absolute-sakuya-stan]

hiii! can i request 🐬💍🍡💘🐝 for juza and taichi? tysm!!

hiya! my two best boys from autumn, juza and taichi! (*^o^*)

🐬Sea Swirl - what’s their reaction if their s/o does the #nakedchallenge from tiktok?

he goes quiet as he quickly looks to the side awkwardly shifts in his seat. “you, uh, dropped your towel,” he says as he’s trying not to look at you. even tho he really wants to. “hehe, that’s the point, silly!” you tell him. “oh, uh, you look good then...” he’s now blushing as you see his eyes flicker back and forth from your body.

💍Always and Forever - how did they know they’d want to marry their s/o? and how would they propose?

juza never thought he’d be able to find someone who would want to actually marry him. he jokingly proposed with a ring pop one day and when you responded with a laugh and “sure” he realized that you really truly loved him. he got a nice ring and planned his proposal with the advice of autumn troupe. he took you out on a casual date and he took you to a secluded area. as you walk hand-in-hand, juza drops his hand from yours. you turn around to see why and you see him on one knee holding a a ring pop yet again. “i, uh, never thought i’d find someone who wouldn’t be scared off by my appearance, let alone my personality. i think you’re amazing and i guess what i’m trying to say is, will you marry me?” as you leap into his arms, he pulls you in for a kiss. he puts you down and grabs the real ring from his back pocket. “i got you an actual ring too,” he shows you the ring and slips the ring on your finger. “i would’ve married you with just a ring pop, you know that, juza?” he laughs as he pulls you in by the waist. “i’m glad you would, sweetheart.”

🍡Sugar Belle - what is something that they would fight with their s/o about? how do they make up after?

he doesn’t have anything in particular that he’d fight with you about. he brings you some sort of sweet and apologizes. he’d like it if you sit in his lap while he holds your waist after fighting so he can be close to you.

💘Lovestruck - what did their s/o do that made them realize they were in love?

the first time you called him adorable. “you think i’m... adorable?” “of course, silly.” he felt his heart flutter and his face flush. he couldn’t be happier when he realized that you really weren’t bothered by his scary appearance. he couldn’t be anymore in love with you after that day.

🐝Bumblesweet - what’s their favorite non-sexual form of intimacy?

he likes feeding you sweets. nothing is intimate to him than sharing sweets with someone close to him. he also like to playful put frosting or whipped cream on your nose just to kiss it off after.

🐬Sea Swirl - what’s their reaction if their s/o does the #nakedchallenge from tiktok?

a taichi.exe has stopped working incident. he probably covers his eyes because he figures he shouldn’t be allowed to look at you when you’re like that. “ahh!! i’m sorry i shouldn’t have looked!” he’ll say as his face is as red as his hair. “haha, taichi, it’s okay!” he peeks through his fingers to look at your face, “i-it is?” he says nervously. you nod and he tries to look but ends up looking away with a flushed face. he thinks you look incredible, but for him it’s almost like trying to look at an angel in its true form.

💍Always and Forever - how did they know they’d want to marry their s/o? and how would they propose?

he’d know he’d want to marry you as soon as you helped him when he was having a bad day mentally. as soon as he realized that he could cry in front of you and you would support him and comfort him, he promised to himself that he’d marry you. in the future he’d get a ring and carry it with him to propose if he saw the chance to. as for his proposal, it’d probably end up being accidental. just one day “i love you so much, will you marry me?” slips out. he blinks and realizes what he said before trying to fumble to get out the ring. no matter how long you’re with him, he’s still a dork who’s in awe anytime he sees you.

🍡Sugar Belle - what is something that they would fight with their s/o about? how do they make up after?

the only thing he’d really get mad about is if you argue with him that it’s okay for him to show emotions. he’s really hesitant earlier on in the relationship because he doesn’t want to mess it up and crying is unmanly to him. he’ll profusely apologize and just give him some hugs and kisses and he’ll feel all better.

💘Lovestruck - what did their s/o do that made them realize they were in love?

he realized he was hopelessly in love with you when one time he made a joke and he heard you laugh. it’s not like it was the first time he heard you laugh at something he said, but something about that one time felt different to him. he smiled as he heard you laugh and he was hit with the realization that he was absolutely smitten by everything you did.

🐝Bumblesweet - what’s their favorite non-sexual form of intimacy?

cuddles! big spoon, little spoon, it doesn’t matter to him. any and all cuddling positions he will do just as long as he’s close to you he’s going to be happy. he also loves if you run your fingers through his hair.

[artificialqueens]

Gimme Love, 1/9 (Miz Cracker/Blair St Clair) - Grinder

AN: Welp! I started this back in March. It was supposed to be a oneshot and then I realised it was 200 odd pages. Whoops! Another songfic based on music by Joji. This one is Gimme Love, which some of you would probably know, it was circling TikTok for a while. Anyway, more song fics to come!! I hope y'all enjoy! Stay safe in these crazy times!

TW: Mental health, panic attacks

1993

"OK, so you got your apple juice, your finger sandwiches, and grapes. And most importantly, you got your best outfit on. Ready?"

No. I wasn't ready. They were going to eat me up. I knew just by how the 3 bitches off to the side stared and laughed. One of them was swinging from the bus stop pole. It sounded evil, but I hoped she would have fallen over.

"No." I clung to my Mother.

"Brianna." She uttered. She was tired, already having dealt with this before leaving the house. And it didn't help that Grandpa only laughed instead of helping out.

"No!" I said louder, squeezing my tiny fists into her shoulders.

"Look. Everything will be fine. The day will fly in, trust me. And I'll be right here when you get off the bus later." Mom continued.

She gave me a kiss on the forehead and shook me off.

As she smoothed her skirt down, I stamped my foot in a huff. For me, this was the second most ultimate betrayal that had ever happened to me. My Mom was making me go to school. How dare she.

"I love you, girl. Be good and have a great day." Mom said before walking away. My gaze followed, feeling the faucet in my eyes turn on. I was prone to cry baby behaviour around this age.

Now that my Mom was gone, it was all game for the bitches.

"Awww, the little baby needs her Mommy." One of them cooed in her fake voice. "Didn't you know the pre-school bus picks up two hours later?"

"Yeah!" Another decided to join in, "And I bet that's not even your real Mommy."

"She is too!" I clenched my tiny fists at my side. This was half true. I was an adopted child, but to me, Roberta was the best Mother I could have ever asked for. And no one had the right to question that.

"No, she's not! Your real Mommy didn't want you 'cause you're ugly!"

"Yeah, look at your hair. It looks like a fur ball."

"And your clothes are obviously hand me downs."

I stamped my feet again. "That's it! I'm giving you the finger!" I flipped them off. I picked it up from Mom, from the many time's drivers pissed her off. When she'd warn me never to do that, I knew it had some sort of power to it.

But it did nothing. The girls just laughed even more. I had no defences; therefore, I was left helpless.

The bus pulled up, and I was last to get in. The girls warned almost everybody to watch out for the "girl with the weird hair".

I moved down the middle of the bus, my head moving from side to side, hoping to find a seat.

Everybody with a free seat either put their bags on the chairs or put their feet up. I wanted to snap, demanding that they let me sit. But the fear inside rendered me silent.

I was nearing the back, where the 3 girls sat. They smirked upon seeing my face, relishing in the fact I was on the verge of tears. All I wanted was to turn back, get off the bus and lock myself in my house.

But as if someone above heard my innermost thoughts, that's when I heard it.

"Do you need a seat?"

I looked towards the voice. And I froze. There she was, an absolute angel. She looked like a Disney Princess with her bright blonde hair and blue eyes.

I hesitated for a moment. But the bus began to move. So I sat down next to her.

"Hi," I said.

"Hey." Her eyes were observing me, looking me up and down. And I felt even more stunned. "You have funny hair."

"My Mommy says I have lovely hair," I replied in defence.

"I didn't mean it in a bad way. I just never seen hair like that." The girl replied.

My hair wasn't even bad. I just had a massive head of untamed brown curls. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Then again, I had never seen anyone with hair like hers. She looked like she had gone to a salon beforehand. "Your hair looks golden."

"Thank you." She smiled. "I'm Blair. My favourite colour is yellow, and I wanna be a singer when I grow up. How about you?"

"I'm Brianna. My favourite colour is pink. And...I wanna be a politician someday."

"What's a pola...polatichon?" Blair asked.

"A politician." I corrected her. "I don't know what they do. They just shout a lot. And that's what I want to do."

Blair had no idea what I was talking about, but she laughed anyway. And that made my heart skip a beat.

I felt something pelt the back of my head. I grabbed it, looking at the small rolled up bit of my paper in my hand. It was wet. I had just been spitballed for the first time.

Blair looked over her shoulder, and I did the same. It was the three bitches from the bus stop. They weren't even hiding their giggles.

"Not nice." Blair stuck her tongue out at them. Then, turning back around in her seat, she put her hand on mine. "Don't worry about them. I'm your friend, Brianna."

"Really?" My eyes brightened.

"Of course!"

As much as that statement had made my heart soar, how it made me feel like there was nothing to be afraid of…

It was the biggest lie I heard that day.

As soon as I got off the bus at the end of the day, I waved to Blair, unaware that she would be sitting with the 3 bitches the next day.

And then it went on for years, being that ugly girl with weird hair. And it didn't help that I needed glasses later in life.

But I wasn't completely alone. So let me tell you about Jujubee.

2020

"Hey, asshole! I'm pulling in there!"

Jujubee was hanging out the driver side window, flicking the indicator aggressively.

"Juju, can you just...not do that?" I asked, my eyes glued to my phone as I checked how many people had seen my Instagram story. It was a picture of the two of us, showing off our outfits that had been gifted from Alexander McQueen.

"And let that asshole steal my spot? Absolutely not." Jujubee protested. She flipped the guy off, only to receive the same gesture back at her. She wasn't prone to behaving like this. I usually found it absolutely hilarious how loud she could be.

Now, you're probably wondering - two well-dressed ladies in their Alexander McQueen outfits should be seated in the back of a limo, sipping champagne.

I wasn't a fan of limos. They only drew attention.

And with Jujubee hurling dog abuse at the other drivers, I was sure the attention would be on us.

But we made it to the event without any trouble.

Jujubee was hilarious, intentionally and unintentionally. I learned that all the way back on my second day of school. When it was clear to me that I wouldn't be friends with anyone else, I ventured off on my own, exploring the playground and looking for bugs. But, instead, I found her sitting alone in the sandbox.

"Leave me alone. I'm trying to dig to the centre of the Earth." She had said, blowing her shiny black hair out of her face.

I knew she would only reach the bottom of the pit, so I laughed, and I helped her dig. We had been inseparable since.

We grew up together, all the way through elementary, high school and college. And through those years, we had one thing in common - we were the weird ones. The kids who everyone bullied.

Ugh, I hated that word; bullied. It made me feel pathetic and helpless. Jujubee and I, however? We were far from pathetic and helpless. After all, how would we even be where we were if that was the case?

OK, maybe I was pathetic and helpless growing up. No, I was. I had just accepted all the name-calling, the shoving, the damage. Jujubee, on the other hand, would fight against it all.

But back to the current situation. We were now sitting at a table with the other project workers. Everyone was having a great time, and the event hadn't even really begun yet. They passed jokes around, talked about trials and tribulations, and I laughed along.

But I may as well have been alone as I was stuck in my own thoughts. How it was even possible, we were all gathered here for this moment.

I looked at Jujubee, sitting next to me, and felt an overwhelming need to hug the shit out of her. If it weren't for her being so encouraging, then maybe this wouldn't have happened.

"What's up?" She caught me staring.

I lowered my head for a moment, breathing a laugh out through my nostrils. I didn't want to get sappy with her, even though she deserved my gratitude. My best friend, my ride-or-die bitch. Lifting my head again, I smirked. "Nothing. I'm just glad you're on this team." I raised my glass to her before sipping the bubbling champagne.

"Proud of you bitch." Jujubee reaching over and squeezed my free hand.

I was proud of me too. Because, despite all of the shit I dealt with in school, here I was, the manager and director of this whole operation.

All of the hard work paid off - years of trials and tribulations, so many arguments and disagreements. We finally did it. We found a gateway to another world, a parallel universe, a portal in the middle of the space just waiting to be explored.

Of course, people doubted me. They said things like, "Well, it is a dream, all right." How could anyone blame them?

But here we were.

The speaker, Michelle, called me up onto the stage to receive a certificate, all encased in a glass frame. I exchanged air kisses with her and graciously took the award. Jujubee cheered me on as I stood up there, letting people take pictures.

And then came the obligatory speech.

I couldn't lie; I hated public speaking. It was always something I struggled with. But, I never backed down from one. I just liked to keep them short and sweet.

"Long story short, I had dreams, and I worked towards them. So, here I am, an example of the walking embodiment of success. And I thank each and every one of you, ladies and gentlemen. Have a great night."

Short and sweet. The crowd applauded.

Yes, I was told in the past that I'm arrogant, but I disagreed. I'd say confident. And there was nothing wrong with confidence. After all, there has been a stigma around that word. Doesn't it come from a sense of insecurity, the need to tear successful people down because you're afraid to strive towards your goals?

I deserved to feel this successful, for all those times I was laughed at and ridiculed. I look down on all those assholes and let them know that I made it.

I posed for pictures as I held my award, knowing they would be everywhere the next day; in the papers, magazines, the Internet.

This wasn't the first award I had received. I had a shelf full back home, along with all of my past badges. They reminded me that, once upon a time, I was just any other office worker with her yellow badge. And now here I was, the director of the project with my black badge working closely with the government.

I got off the stage and moved back to my chair. Jujubee rolled her eyes, but her smile remained.

"Where's the after-party?" I asked as the audience shifted their attention from me.

Sometimes I never understood how she put up with me. "Don't worry. I got us covered."

She wasn't lying. A few hours later, we were in the apartment of some other rich somebody. Music was bouncing off the walls, the speakers apparently on full blast.

The main lights were out, replaced with multicoloured LEDs dancing around the place. It was as if we were in our own private club.

Jujubee and I were in the crowd dancing, but because I was absolutely wasted, I lost her many times.

No need to panic, however. Jujubee wasn't a drinker. So she'd find me. She always did.

I really did feel sorry that she had to deal with all of my shenanigans.

"Juju, where the fuck are you??" I roared, not that it would do much. Midsummer Madness by 88RISING was blaring now. Starting to stress out now.

I grabbed a champagne flute as a waiter walked by.

"Brianna, I love the dress." A woman leaned over and shouted in my ear. I had met her before at another event, a fashion reporter if I remembered correctly.

"Thanks. It's Versaci."

As I said earlier, it was fucking Alexander McQueen. I was faded.

Somehow I ended up in the bathroom, throwing up all the alcohol I had consumed into the toilet. After I finished, I washed my mouth out, looked at my reflection and said, "Baby, you're a star."

And somehow, I made it back downstairs. I was searching for Jujubee but found someone else instead. And it was fucking Ed Sheeran.

"I love your new song." I lied.

"Which one?"

"The new one." I smiled. "Hey, Ed. You wanna be the first person to go through the portal?" I wrapped an arm around him.

He looked absolutely taken aback. "Of fucking course. My manager will be in touch."

I really hoped he was joking. Why the fuck had I even suggested it?

I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was Jujubee. My nerves settled, and I leaned closer to her. "Let's go outside."

I had no recollection of making it out to the balcony. The only thing I remembered happening before then was rambling to many strangers about how much I adored Jujubee.

A few other party attendees were outside too. I wanted to tell them how I didn't deserve Jujubee and that she was an angel. But she quickly steered me away.

I looked out over the city, a happy smile on my face.

"Are you having fun, baby girl?" Jujubee asked, using her favourite pet name for me. She sparked up a cigarette. I wanted to ask her for one, having gone from chain smoker to social smoker in recent years. But I was too distracted by the view.

"Yeah. I can feel it, Juju." I replied, looking at my hands. It was almost like I could actually feel it. The euphoric feeling of success running in my veins. "Good things are coming."

"Oh, I feel it too." Jujubee blew out the smoke and followed my gaze. "You know what? Your Grandpa was a great guy. And I know that he's proud of you."

My smile dropped. And I was silent.

I preferred to avoid speaking about things like this. Emotions weren't something I liked to deal with - another difference between Jujubee and me.

Just the year prior, we both went to see Midsommar. During the scene where the main character is having a breakdown on the ground surrounded by the Hargan woman screaming along with her, Jujubee was captivated. She looked almost like she wanted to scream along with them. And as she squeezed my hand and leaned over to me, she said, "I need someone to do that with me." I replied with a quiet, "Can't relate."

I'm not insensitive. I just feared emotions for two reasons.

1. They could be weaponised against me. And as much as I tried not to let the online hate get to me, I knew that if it ever became personal, then it would hit difficult.

2. The most important reason of all; a childhood full of breakdowns and too many emotions.

Jujubee nudged me. "You wanna go?"

I didn't want to. But I said, "Yeah. I'm...so drunk right now," and turned away from the city view.

"Can I be that annoying whore and ask if I can stay at your place?" Jujubee asked, taking my hand.

She didn't even need a reason. "Yes, you can."

We waded our way through the crowd, made for the door and left. And before I knew it, we were back at my place, lying in my bed. I loaned her a t-shirt to sleep in. I wanted to sleep in my Alexander McQueen. But Jujubee wouldn't let me.

We both lay there, facing the ceiling. I could already feel the oncoming suffering. Usually, I loved moments like these, when time became fluid, when I didn't have to worry about how I had even gotten home.

But my head was pounding, and the loud ringing in my ears was the cause. If I was bad now, I'd be dead by morning.

I could feel Jujubee's eyes on me, and I looked back at her. She was smiling, her brown eyes glimmering. "Almost there, girl."

Despite the pain I was in, I smiled back. I knew this whole thing, the thingy, the portal; it wasn't just my dream. It was hers too.

Fuck, I was hammered.

"Almost there," was all I could manage to say.

Jujubee turned on her side and treated me to some cuddly spooning. "OK, go to sleep, loser."

It was straining on my neck, but I kept my head turned, letting my eyes linger for a moment longer. God, I fucking loved that bitch. Nothing was ever going to come between us, and that made me the happiest.

I turned over, my back relaxing against her torso. Then, before giving in to my exhaustion, I checked my phone. The bright light made me squint at first. And the alcohol in my system didn't help matters.

I checked how many people had seen my story now. The number was blurry. So I aimlessly swiped notifications away.

But I stopped at one message in particular.

Blair: Hey Brianna! Long time no speak. I just wanted to say I saw pictures from your thing tonight. Congrats, girl! Look, I know you're probably super busy, but I'd love to have a catch up with you sometime.

"..." My eyes were wide. Now that was a name I hadn't heard in a long time.

1995

"Do you see Cassiopeia yet?" Juju whined.

I was trying my hardest to find it in the telescope. But the stars were all in clutters; there were so many. "No. I think I see the big dipper, though."

"Really? Let me have a turn!" Juju begged.

I pulled away from the telescope, allowing Juju her turn. Usually, I would have refused, only letting her use the scope after finding what I was looking for.

I really hadn't found the big dipper, but Juju bought it. "Wooooow. That's so cool."

"I know, right?" I smirked.

The backdoor opened, and Grandpa came out in his winter jacket, pj's and his signature slippers. "How many have you girls found now?"

He was carrying two mugs of hot chocolate with whipped cream. I cheered excitedly because Grandpa's hot chocolate was the best, and I'd fight anyone who tried to tell me otherwise.

"We found the big dipper. But that's it." Juju replied, sounding very much let down.

"Don't lose hope," Grandpa gave us our hot chocolate, "some are harder to find than others. I bet there are a lot more constellations out there that haven't even been discovered yet."

I sipped the hot drink, and I could feel it already warming me up. I was so tempted to take my gloves off and let the mug warm them up. But we promised my Mom we would stay wrapped up. "Do you think we could discover one?"

Grandpa took a seat on one of the old deck chairs. "Brianna, you can do anything you set your mind to. Anything is possible."

"One day, I wanna get into a rocket ship and fly away," I said, looking up at the night sky, imagining the scene in my head.

"Hey, Mr Caldwell, are there other people like us? Just looking up at the sky?" Juju asked, taking a sip of her hot chocolate.

"That's an interesting question. I'd say yes, what with how nice the sky is tonight," Grandpa let his gaze trail up, the stars reflecting in his eyes, "But did you know, somewhere far, far away, there are two little girls who are exactly like you. They look the same, they talk the same and even have your names. And they are doing exactly what you're doing right now."

My brows knit in confusion, "what do you mean 'far far away?"

Grandpa looked down again, seeing how intrigued Juju and I was. "Let's just call it the other world. It's basically like our world, but...certain things are different. Like," he paused to think, "maybe cats bark and dogs meow. Or, maybe the sky is pink and not blue. Maybe you girls are actually older, and I'm the young one."

"Do horseys fly in the other world?" Juju asked with much optimism.

"Probably. I don't see why not." Grandpa shrugged.

I glanced up at the sky as if I would somehow just see it. Another world where life was somewhat better.

"Would my Mommy and Daddy have given me up in the other world?" I asked quietly.

Grandpa was silent. His lips were pursed, forming a tight line like there were words on the tip of his tongue that he knew he shouldn't say.

Juju hugged me from the side. I wanted to hug her back but didn't want to cry.

Her hold made me feel safe, so I offered her a half-smile.

Since my first day at school, when those cretins had tried to tell me Roberta wasn't my real Mom, it stuck with me. Yeah, I knew deep down those girls didn't know shit, and Roberta was the best Mother in the world, but I was only human.

As much as I loved my Mom, Grandpa and other family members, I just wanted to feel acceptance from my biological parents.

"Brianna, honey, whoever your family is in the other world, I'm sure they love you from the bottom of their hearts. Just like we do." Grandpa said. He extended his arms out, offering me a hug.

I didn't want it. But I knew I needed it.

That night, we didn't find any constellations. Not that it mattered. After my Grandpa went back inside, Juju and I were set on finding the other world instead.

And this interest went on for nearly a whole year.

It sounded dumb, but we would play games where we were our 'other world selves'. Juju lived in a house full of cats, and they were 'cutest cats in the whole country. So cute they won every pageant!'

And I lived in a huge mansion with my Mom, Grandpa, and my biological parents.

We collectively agreed that our other world selves were the prettiest girls in school, and we had tons of friends. We were so cool, we didn't even have to go to school.

Of course, this started a minor argument between us. Juju would always say, "how can we be the prettiest girls at school if we don't have to go to school??"

"Shut up, Juju! Anything is possible in the other world!"

"Yeah, but it doesn't make sense!"

All of it was so ridiculous. But we loved every minute of it.

I'll never forget the time we built a fort in the woods at the back of my house, and Juju stood under the archway and shouted. "I'm the queen of 'Other World'. Beware ye bastards who enter our domain!"

Then she got upset because she said a bad word and thought she had betrayed her parents.

A few minutes later, I fucked up.

"I, Brianna Caldwell, am the Queen of 'Other World'. I sit on this throne along with my best friend, Blair St Clair!"

Juju was even more upset now.

"Why is she your best friend?? I'm your best friend!" She began to cry.

"Jujubee, it's only pretend." I tried to reason with her.

"No, Brie-Brie. You're always talking about Blair! I know you would rather be best friends with her than me!"

"That's not true!"

"It is!" She wept. "She'll never be your friend, Brie-Brie. She doesn't even like you."

"Take that back!"

"No!"

My anger was bubbling beyond the boiling point. So I shoved her over. "Go away. Now!"

Juju ran off crying.

My teeth were grit, my fists clenched. For about 5 minutes, I stormed around the fort, screaming in anger and kicking the ground.

Mom was freaked out. She knew it was me screaming, so she came running. When she found me, she shouted at me for scaring the absolute fuck out of her.

This only pissed me off more. It took her 5 minutes to get me to chill out.

When I finally explained what happened, she told me it was OK and that we'd be friends again the next day.

It didn't help my mood, so she took me to the mall. It was a rare occasion for us to visit the place. We weren't the richest, what with Mom struggling to keep a job. She wasn't a lousy worker; someone else would just come along who was much more experienced. And without another parental figure to help out, it just meant not much money was being brought into the house.

But Mom decided we'd go to the toy store, and I'd find two dolls, one for me and one for Juju. I made sure they looked exactly like us. Well, considering the nice clothes and great hair, they were our other-selves.

And leaving the building, I was perched on Mom's shoulders, eating the biggest ice cream cone I had ever gotten, when I looked over at the jewellery shop. Two women were leaving the store, holding hands. They leaned in close to each other and kissed.

I just...stared as they smiled at each other, mesmerised by the adoration they so clearly shared.

"Mommy?"

"Yes, Brianna, baby?"

"Why are those two ladies kissing?"

Mom cast a quick glance to where I was looking. "Oh. OK, first of all, don't stare. It's rude. But yeah, they're just two ladies in love with each other. That's all."

I looked away, just as she told me to do. "They're in love? I thought only boys and girls could be in love."

"I guess they're still telling you that in school, huh?" Mom quipped. "Well, I'll tell you this, but keep it on the down-low 'cause I don't want no parents coming and knocking on my door saying you're putting ideas into their kids' heads." She laughed. "The truth is; boys can fall in love with boys, and girls can fall in love with girls. You fall in love with whoever your heart tells you to, Brianna."

I nodded. "Uh, huh. OK, I understand." But then, it hit me. "Fuck."

"Brianna." Mom warned. She knew I was prone to sometimes spurting a few cuss words. But she only had herself to blame.

"Sorry, Mommy." And as we left the mall, my brain couldn't stop thinking about what had popped into my head.

Maybe, just maybe, I was in love with Blair.

My mind was taking me back to years prior, still in my first year of elementary school. It was coming up to Valentine's Day, and we all had to make a card for someone in the class. Bit of a weird activity for a bunch of kids who were more concerned if they were getting bikes for Christmas or not.

And I slaved over my card, making it yellow instead of the traditional pink colour, and drawing daisies all over it.

The message read, "You really deserve this. You're welcome." I've always been a poetic genius.

And instead of giving it to any of the boys, I insisted it went to Blair.

I had vague memories of that day. I only remembered her confused face as I handed it over.

I never received a card in return.

Of course, the other kids picked on me for it. But Juju had my back.

"You're all just jealous 'cause Brie-Brie's card is unique!" I remember her shouting.

But of course, they weren't jealous. This concept was foreign to them - a girl gifting another girl with a Valentine's Day gift. But then again, they just didn't know any better.

[grimmtheautisticwerewolf]

New Canadian vaping items

On the off chance that you haven't been put off by the whirlwind of negative news headlines twirling around the potential dangers of vaping, this new category of cannabis consumables could be a welcomed approach to indulge. After all, vaping can be discreet and brands are attempting to create a number of items that make it easy and enjoyable to smoke.

However, not all Canadians will be able to purchase cannabis vape items. As per new decision in Alberta, cannabis vaping has been given the red light, and in Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador

it additionally remains a no-go due to health concerns. Meanwhile, Health Canada keeps up that vaping can possibly be hurtful and that long haul effects remain obscure.

Kolab Project

Maker: Auxly

Dose: 255 mg of THC and 2.55 mg of CBD per 0.3g pen

Price: Approx. $59, prices differ by region

Vape pens from Kolab Project come in indica, sativa, just as mixture varieties and most will be high THC. Cartridges come in two sizes likewise: 0.3g, which has 255 mg of THC and 2.55 mg of CBD per unit; and 0.5g cartridges, with 425 mg of THC and 4.25 mg of CBD.

Marley Natural

Maker: High Park (Tilray)

Dose: Varies

Price: Approx. $49.99, prices fluctuate by region

In the event that you THC Vape Cartridge know anything about the weed world in the US, Marley Natural, a Bob Marley-branded cannabis line, may ring a bell. High Park has teamed up with the well-respected organization to carry it to Canada and is commencing the collab with its Marley Green vape cartridges. They contain pure CO2 winterized cross breed cannabis oil that is 75% to 85% THC, in addition to they work with most 510-thread vaporizer items.

Canaca

Maker: High Park (Tilray)

Dose: 400 mg or more of THC per pen

Price: Approx. $44.99, prices fluctuate by region

Canaca is one of the marque marks in the High Park portfolio and it prides itself on old fashioned Canadian heritage. The new vape pens will be added to the brand's already existing roster of dried flower, prerolls, and oil.

Namaste

Maker: Zenabis

Dose: 0.5 ml per unit

Price: Varies by region and retailer

Namaste's PAX Era Pods will dispatch in three strains including D Bubba (a sweet and earthy high-THC, low-CBD that is indica-prevailing), Ultra Sour (a heavy half and half that is sativa-predominant with citrus and diesel scents), and Citrique (a sativa-prevailing mixture that is high in THC with a lemonade-like flavor).

Juju

Maker: Canopy

Price: Starting from approx. $34.99, varies by region and retailer

For the tech-keen toker there are Juju Joints. These single-use vape pens are bluetooth-enabled and can be connected to a smartphone application that reveals information about the pen, like strain details and when to change the cartridge. They're recyclable and use a case based system.

Attack

Maker: Auxly

Price: Approx. $48.75, varies by region and retailer

Dose: 800 mg THC and 8 mg CBD per 0.3 ml pen

Expect natural product flavors from Foray's sativa-blend vape pen. The 0.3 ml disposable vape pen is rechargeable and uses leak-resistant tech to ensure no fluid gets inside of the device.

Dosist

Maker: Aphria

Price: Approx. $55, varies by region and retailer

Dose: 2.25 mg THC per hit

Dosist vape pens will come in a large and little size, depending on your preference. The former equals around 200 hits per pen while the latter is around 50. Both pack 2.25 mg of THC per hit. The come in different profiles, like Arouse (sativa-prevailing) and Blend (a half and half).

[aqua-dan]

I may as well try the Xenoblade ask things: all the story ones (11-30) and 50 if that’s not too many.

Oh my! That is quite a few! But hey, never let it be said that I’m a quitter! Thank you for the ask, my friend! Here goes nothing…

11 - Did you get any of the plot-twists spoiled to you before playing Xenoblade?: Nope! I mean, okay technically yes. But sometimes I can be really stupid and oblivious, and even though I was dropped some REALLY BIG hints, I still managed not to get it due to my sheer stupidity alone hah! I suppose being naturally dumb has its perks sometimes!

12 - Which character did you like the most?: This is one of those questions I can never truly have a solid answer for! I’ve re-played Xenoblade so many times, and I swear I have a different favorite of the main characters every time! They’re all very great in their own ways. But!! If we’re including non-main characters in this question, then Kallian and Alvis are solid faves forever.

13 - Opinion of Juju?: I’ve never minded him too much. He’s a little helpless, sure, but he’s got his own neat little arc with all the Colony 6 stuff! I think people make him out to be worse than he actually is. 

14 - Was there any scene which made you cry?: Aah,, It really might be a better idea to ask me which scenes DIDN’T make me cry, because I swear there are fewer of those. But regardless, the ending cutscene in particular always gets me pretty emotional.

15 - What’s your opinion of the ending?: Ah yes, speaking of! The first time I watched the game (watched a lets play before playing it myself), I didn’t really understand the ending all too well. But after playing it myself and dwelling on it for a really… painfully.. long time, I ended up understanding and also really enjoying the ending! It’s very bittersweet and it absolutely made me cry. Just seeing them all in normal situations after all of this is over, in a way beginning a new journey, it’s so lovely!

16 - Which character do you think deserved more spotlight?: KALLIAN. Listen, he’s actually one of the most important characters in the game, and I don’t think he’s often treated enough like it. I think it would have been really lovely to see more of him, hear more of his thoughts and how the events of the game affected him, and especially him interacting with Melia/Shulk/and various other characters. Also he’s really quite the dork if you listen to his lines and I love that. I’d love to see more of him.

17 - Did you want to kill Metal Face, even after it was revealed he was Mumkhar?: I’m pretty 50/50 on that one. I always love redemption arcs, and in truth, I’m VERY high-key a pacifist when it comes to the vast majority of things. But Mumkhar, he very well might have just been too far gone. He didn’t show (idk about feel) remorse for any of his actions. He loved to taunt, to gloat, and especially to put Dunban down. Clearly the dude has some issues to work through. But I suppose what it comes down to for me is whether or not it’s actually kinder to spare him. And in truth.. I think that’s a no in this case. 

18 - How do you think Xenoblade handled the two semi-love triangles? (Shulk/Fiora/Melia and Sharla/Reyn/Gadolt): 0/10 do not pass go, do not collect $200. The love triangles are really my one big beef with the game. I think the Reyn/Sharla/Gadolt triangle was handled better, personally. It started off feeling pretty forced, but in the end it did seem to work and I certainly don’t mind Sharla/Reyn as a ship! It’s really just the Fiora/Shulk/Melia love triangle that throws everything off for me. I had no indication before a specific line that Melia had any interest in Shulk other than being friends, Sharla and Dunban’s interference and comments were frankly weird and out of place, and the tension between Fiora and Melia then just seemed… so off-putting since I never really could get into Melia’s romance side of things. I’m very much a multi-shipper within the Xenoblade fandom, but Shulk & Melia just really don’t go together in my mind. However, I wish MOST of all that Dunban would stop making comments about Shulk and Fiora getting together. There’s like three of Dunban’s heart to hearts dedicated to that and I’m like DUDE. Let em sort it out on their own time, you’re just being weird about this. 

19 -  Favorite race in the game? (Nopon, High Entia, Machina, Homs, any Bionis enemies): High Entia! Probably not the most original pick, but I am just strangely attracted to these arrogant bastards with wings on their heads. (kidding, I love em, but they can be so incredibly stuck up)

20 - When heading towards the final battle, how did you react upon seeing our own solar system and then finally Earth?: I didn’t really understand it at first, but the second time I played it made a lot more sense! I think it’s very interesting, but honestly not very memorable. 

21 - Did you predict any plot-twists before they got more openly hinted at? (Like predicting Dickson’s betrayal before the “I feel bad about deceiving these kids” line): Once again, my own stupidity knows no bounds. I knew something was up, but the first time I saw the game, I took it very face value. 

22 - Is there any lore which you’d like to know more of?: Tons, actually! I loved learning about the history of Bionis in the game! But in a more narrowed down category, I would really love to know more about Alvis’s backstory. I have my theories, only somewhat backed up by the second two games, but it would still be nice sometimes to know more concrete things! Would definitely also help for me with writing fanfics. 

23 - Do you believe Zanza was redeemable?: Yes, actually. He was quite far gone, but I do think there were potentially things that could have ended up redeeming Zanza. The things he truly wanted could have been achieved in other ways. As Shulk said, his future and our future,, could have existed together. 

24 - Which of Fiora’s forms do you prefer – her Homs form, Face Nemesis form, Mech form, or Meyneth form?: Mech form! I mean honestly, she’s wonderful and beautiful in all forms. But Mech form is absolutely the most useful... and she makes for a very pretty robo-girl. Like y’all, I’m 100% gay and yet I’m still a little star struck when it comes to Fiora

25 - Is there any cutscene which stood out to you?: I really enjoyed the cutscenes from the second battle of sword valley. Kallian does indeed happen to be one of my absolute faves, so it’s easy to call me biased, but it’s so interesting to see his growth in the small moments you’re able to see it. He seems so much more confident here, so much happier than in other parts of the game. He’s doing what he believes is going to allow them to take the future into their own hands, and you can visibly see that it excites him! It’s cute!

26 - Which story arc is your least favorite?: Probably the whole Ether Mines thing. It’s not that the CHARACTER arcs were bad there, but the mines are just terribly boring. 

27 - Which line is your favorite?: “Your blade, it did not cut deep enough.” IT HAS SO MANY DIFFERENT MEANINGS LORD ALMIGHTY HELP ME

28 - Did you enjoy Riki’s role as a comic relief provider?: For the most part, yes! He’s a very enjoyable comic relief character! But I really appreciated his more serious moments. It’s refreshing to see comic relief with depth. Sometimes, on occasion, I wish he had more of those moments. But regardless, he’s well received to me!

29 - What’s your opinion of Shulk as a protag?: He’s such a good boy!!!! Okay, admittedly there are some Shulk moments I’m not overly fond of, and other characters I find more compelling, but he’s still really great and I wouldn’t have any other protag here!

30 - What’s your opinion of Zanza as the final villain?: EXCELLENT! I think having him as the final villain, it really summed up the whole feeling of the game, how changeable things are, and taking the future into your own hands. 

50 - How did you get introduced to Xenoblade?: Chuggaaconroy! What a dude!

[abcnewspr]

ABC NEWS ANNOUNCES SPECIAL COVERAGE OF THE STATE FUNERAL FOR QUEEN ELIZABETH II ON MONDAY, SEPT. 19

David Muir and Robin Roberts Lead Coverage From London Alongside ABC News Correspondents and Contributors, Beginning at 5:15 A.M. EDT

Expert Commentary From Royal Contributors, Including Former Staffers of Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III

ABC News*

ABC News will present special coverage of the state funeral for Queen Elizabeth II, beginning at 5:15 a.m. EDT on Monday, Sept. 19, on ABC. “World News Tonight” anchor David Muir and “Good Morning America” co-anchor Robin Roberts will lead coverage from London, alongside ABC News’ correspondents and contributors, including “GMA3” co-anchors Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes; chief foreign correspondent Ian Pannell; chief White House correspondent Cecilia Vega; senior national affairs correspondent Deborah Roberts; “Nightline” co-anchor Juju Chang; senior national correspondent Terry Moran; foreign correspondent James Longman; correspondents Maggie Rulli, Lama Hasan and Britt Clennett; contributors Robert Jobson, Victoria Murphy, Omid Scobie and Andrew Morton; Ailsa Anderson, former press secretary to Queen Elizabeth II; and Peter Westmacott, the former deputy private secretary to King Charles III.

Muir will anchor a special edition of “World News Tonight” from London on Monday. “GMA3: What You Need to Know” will also originate from London on Monday, with Holmes and Robach anchoring the program following coverage of the queen’s funeral.

ABC News Live will have coverage throughout the weekend, capturing the moments and events ahead of the state funeral. Anchors Diane Macedo and Kyra Phillips will anchor throughout the day on Monday. The queen’s funeral will also be available to stream on ABC News Live.  

ABC News Digital will continue its blog and stories over the weekend and on Monday, detailing the moments and events surrounding the queen’s funeral. “GMA” Digital will have stories on what to expect and what to know about the state funeral on Monday. This week, the digital team published a story about the finances of the monarchy and questions about its future.

ABC News Radio will have live anchored coverage of the funeral, led by correspondent Aaron Katersky at Westminster Abbey, with correspondent Tom Rivers, multiplatform reporter Ines De La Cuetara, reporter Patrick Reevell and People Magazine senior royals editor Michelle Tauber. ABC News Radio will offer status reports to all stations throughout the day, as well as two-ways with reporters and experts during morning and afternoon drives.  

ABC News’ flagship daily podcast “Start Here,” hosted by Brad Mielke, will feature special coverage of the queen’s funeral, covering the sights and sounds with ABC News correspondents in London.

ABC NewsOne, the affiliate news service of ABC News, will be reporting live from London with multiplatform reporters De La Cuetara and Faith Abubey. NewsOne provides news content and services for more than 200 ABC affiliates and international news partners.

*COPYRIGHT ©2022 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. All photography is copyrighted material and is for editorial use only. Images are not to be archived, altered, duplicated, resold, retransmitted or used for any other purposes without written permission of ABC. Images are distributed to the press in order to publicize current programming. Any other usage must be licensed. Photos posted for Web use must be at the low resolution of 72dpi, no larger than 2x3 in size.

ABC News Media Relations Anna Negrón anna.m.negron@abc.com

-- ABC --

[yakumtsaki]

Alright everyone, here we fucking go again. When I tell you I enabled the special event camera just to see Sophie do this animation, TOO CUTE❤️ I’m so thankful that we had one (1) good parent in this entire legacy, though I still can’t believe it was Sophie Miguel of all people.

However, the time has come to leave the past and look to the future.. literally look to the future, as in look at everyone’s adult faces. I’m also gonna take this opportunity to repeat/present everyone’s LTWs and personality points etc, since I had the brilliant idea to bring 200 spare spawns to college with us and even I can’t keep shit straight. Let’s dive right in!

We begin with Sophito who somehow looks more like Jojo’s son than any of his actual children. @chocolatemilkbag​ said he has ‘Jojo’s genius scowl’ and I can’t unsee it now! Why did you have to ruin everything by rolling the worst LTW from the worst aspiration, Sophito?? ANYWAY. Sophito’s stats:

Neat: 10  Outgoing: 3 Active: 8 Playful: 7 Nice: 5 (was 7 before Sophie’s intervention) One True Hobby: Science Sign: Virgo Aspiration: Pleasure Secondary Aspiration: Romance  LTW: 50 First Dates (🤮) Major: Physics 

Absolute mess of a person, but it’s ok, it gets worse:

I do stand by my previous comment that Sugar did his best looks-wise considering what he had to work with, personality-wise however..

Neat: 2 Outgoing: 3 Active: 9 Playful: 7 Nice: 4 One True Hobby: Sports (lol) Sign: Sagittarius  Aspiration: Popularity Secondary Aspiration: Pleasure LTW: Become General (LOL) Major: History (can’t believe I share majors with Sugar)

Moving on to the angelic JuJu! Here are Julian’s stats:

Neat: 8 Outgoing: 2 Active: 1 Playful: 8 Nice: 10 One True Hobby: Tinkering (CUTE, he’s a Tinker-Union after all!) Sign: Capricorn Aspiration: Pleasure Secondary Aspiration: Popularity LTW: Become Professional Party Guest Major: Literature 

And here are June’s stats:

Neat: 9 Outgoing: 5 Active: 5 Playful: 4 Nice: 9 One True Hobby: Science Sign: Cancer Aspiration: Knowledge  Secondary Aspiration: Fortune LTW: Become Chief of Staff Major: Biology

Best looking sim we’ve produced, AND a sweetheart, AND a brainchad? I think I know whose house I will be escape-playing once generation 4 is in full swing.

And finally, time for the douchebags. The following 3 sims have 9 nice points between them. Reginald Upsnott-Union:

Neat: 8 Outgoing: 3 Active: 8 Playful: 3 Nice: 3 One True Hobby: Sports Sign: Scorpio Aspiration: Fortune Secondary Aspiration: Pleasure LTW: Earn $100k Major: Economics

Wilfred Monif-Union:

Neat: 8 Outgoing: 10 Active: 6 Playful: 3 Nice: 3 One True Hobby: Sports Sign: Scorpio Aspiration: Fortune Secondary Aspiration: Popularity LTW: Become the Law Major: Philosophy

Saving the worst for last, we arrive to Ti-Ning and Frances’ iconically awful daughter, Eliza Worthington-Trimble, aka the aforementioned revenge of Ti-Ning in our top pic. Honestly everything you need to know about her is already obvious in this gown she grew up in, but here are her stats anyway:

Neat: 10 Outgoing: 4 Active: 10 Playful: 8 Nice: 3 One True Hobby: Sports Sign: Scorpio Aspiration: Fortune Secondary Aspiration: Popularity LTW: Become CEO Major: Economics

Bro is there a direct corelation between a sim’s lack of nice points and sports being their own true hobby?? Anyway, enough with the intros, time to chill, declare majors, have some much needed makeovers..

..AND GET REJECTED BY MISS HAVISHAM FOR OUR FIRST KISS. JULIAN WHAT THE FUCK. WHY WOULD YOU EVEN ATTEMPT THIS WITH 10 RELATIONSHIP POINTS 

-SHE HAS A WEDDING DRESS ON??

Ok ya good point, BUT STILL. Like this happened so immediately after we moved in that I’m still makeovering Sophito in the background, ffs Julian.

-Well I’m all madeover now and ready for my TRUE one true hobby: cucking my relatives!

I’m having such a hard time accepting this is who you are now.

Thankfully there’s no rejection in the world that Julian can’t get over by suggestively dancing with his twin!

A full hour of me letting these douchebags loose on free will has yet to pass, and Wilfred already has an enemy, and it’s our old friend Purple Shirt Braids, whose actual name is Claire!

Oh great, location change! Wilfred WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM

OF FUCKING COURSE. I forgot that in this family we can’t just meet someone, like them, and ask them out, we have to become enemies first and work our way up there.

-Uhh, listen, Claire, I.. SUGAR DO YOU MIND, YOUR PENIS IS DISTRACTING ME -THEN DON’T HAVE YOUR HEARTFELT CONVERSATIONS IN THE COMMUNAL SHOWER??

Ya ok that’s it, I call time of death on our first day here, everyone fuck off to sleep and we’ll pick this up tomorrow.

Good morning every- JULIAN WHO IS THIS

-I don’t know! She’s a total stranger but she likes me!

FFS JULIAN. I later remembered that that’s Stacy, Gunther’s very first woohoo that he then iconically slept with while on a date with Blue Meatballs, LOL

At least Eliza and Reginald are still going strong! 

Nevermind! I don’t know about you guys but I’m really getting the sense that ACR is extra out of control this time around?? God help me.

-A relative of mine having a romantic relationship I’m not involved in? Not on my watch!

WILL YOU PLEASE GO TO CLASS AT SOME POINT

-Please, the only way I’m going to class is if I’m teaching it.

I seriously can’t stand this Jojo-Gunther hybrid you’ve grown up into.

Oh ya that’s great, get right on this bullshit, Sugar. 

-Claire, I’d like to apologize for you seeing my genitals the other day, in the form of a song!  -Awwww, I hate Wilfred so much!

-Uhh, hi, Claire, I thought maybe we could hang out and get to know each other better and not assault each other, if you want?? -Alright sure, what’s your name again? -You know what, nevermind-

-I just remembered that fight I lost to you and I’m back to hating you! All I can do is follow my heart and my ACR action queue..

Yes hi, Wilfred, what the fuck is happening right now? 

-Reginald is busy giving financial advice on the internet, that’s what’s happening!

Ya ok so??

NO FUCKING WAY. NO. I CAN’T GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN, BREAK IT UP RIGHT NOW 

MUCH BETTER.

-Claire, now that we’re still furious with each other but no longer enemies it feels like the appropriate time to ask, would you bang me?

-Bring it on, blondie!

CUTE. See, Wilfred, despite what’s been going on around here for 3 generations it turns out you can still have a fulfilling love life with someone outside our wider family circle! 

-Oh Eliza, I’m so happy we autonomously banged with no prior romantic interaction while that moron was busy with Wilfred! -Me too, but I can’t help feeling a little bit guilty for cheating on Reginald with two of his cousins in one afternoon. I should have at least taken a day off! -It’s not your fault, babe, cheating on Unions is in your DNA!

Oh ya right, did you learn that in those classes you never attend, Sophito? FML

[nightmare-afton-cosplay]

New Orleans’ LaLaurie Murder Mansion to Star in Upcoming Horror Films

Steven Wagner/Getty Images

New Orleans’ infamous LaLaurie mansion, where an untold number of slaves are said to have been tortured and then savagely murdered nearly 200 years ago, will play a starring role in a new horror movie franchise.

The creators of “The Conjuring” movies recently signed on to make a series of movies about the mansion and the atrocities that took place there.

The three-story, real-life house of horrors already has a Hollywood history. The French Quarter home with a Baroque facade and balcony was previously owned by actor Nicolas Cage. And it was featured in the 2013 “Coven” season of the popular TV series “American Horror Story.”

The mansion was owned by local socialite Delphine LaLaurie, who allegedly brutalized her slaves, gouging out their eyes and tearing off limbs. A 12-year-old slave climbed to the roof and leaped to her death rather than suffer such cruelty, according to rumors.

When a fire broke out in the mansion in 1834, firefighters reportedly found the brutalized slaves chained in cages in the attic. They were freed.

Incensed by her treatment of the slaves, a mob reportedly ransacked the house. LaLaurie was said to have fled to Paris, and it’s still unknown what became of her.

The mansion is “one of the most extraordinary homes that I’ve ever sold,” says real estate broker Dorian Bennett, of Dorian Bennett’s Sotheby’s International Realty. He’s sold the home three times over the past 30 years, most recently to investor Michael Whalen, who paid $2.1 million for it in 2010. “It’s Old World architecture at its best.”

Over the years, Bennett has had a few unexplained incidents in the house that he chalks up to the supernatural. He declined to elaborate on what transpired.

“Everybody believes it’s the most haunted house in America because of the juju, the energy, the vibe,” Bennett says. “I know there are spirits in there.”

But a previous owner, Jay Monroe, CEO of satellite service provider Globalstar, has told realtor.com® that the house wasn’t haunted. He lived there for about a half-dozen years with his family. He sold the property to Cage in 2006 for $3.45 million. It went into foreclosure three years later, and then was sold to Whalen.

Whalen is one of the collaborators on the film franchise. He’ll be providing access to the property, which still attracts hordes of tourists each day who take pictures outside of its walls.

This won’t be the first time that “The Conjuring” creators, brothers Chad and Carey Hayes, have worked on a movie centered around a haunted house. “The Conjuring” franchise was also based on the “true story” of a haunted house in Rhode Island. Famed paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren were called in to investigate the unexplained occurrences.

“We love writing films in which we get to tell true stories—incorporating moments that people can look up and discover did in fact happen,” the brothers said in a statement. “With the LaLaurie house we get to do exactly that. There is a wealth of documentation of a very dark and frightening past of true events.”

The post New Orleans’ LaLaurie Murder Mansion to Star in Upcoming Horror Films appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

from https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/new-orleans-lalaurie-murder-mansion-to-star-in-upcoming-horror-films/

[the-record-newspaper]

MerleFest draws 75,000

MerleFest,    presented by Window World, has officially come to a close, but not without    a number of electric collaborations, spontaneous sit-ins, and world-class    performances. 

Wynonna &    The Big Noise, Amos Lee, Tyler Childers, Sam Bush Band, Brandi Carlile, and The Avett Brothers all brought    extra MerleFest energy to the Watson Stage, marking another successful year    for the long-running festival.

Early estimates    show that from its start on Thursday, April 25, to its close on Sunday,    April 28, participation over the festival’s four days exceeded 75,000    attendees and artists from across the world.

MerleFest, held    on the campus of Wilkes     Community College, is    the primary fundraiser for the WCC Foundation, which funds scholarships,    capital projects, and other educational needs.

“We’ve had an incredible weekend,”    Festival Director Ted Hagaman said. “With over 100 artists on 13 stages    over the four days, we again feel we succeeded in providing a quality and    successful event for all involved. Preliminary numbers show we attracted    thousands of fans from all over the world. We appreciate their support.    This event could not happen without the work and dedication of our    4,500-plus volunteers and the many great safety and service agencies in Northwestern North Carolina. We’re already looking    forward to MerleFest 2020.”

Thursday

Chatham    County Line kicked off the 32nd annual    MerleFest with a big “newgrass” bang. At the top of their game,    Raleigh-based Chatham County Line appeared right at home on one of the    biggest stages their home state has to offer. After Thursday’s    sunset, Wynonna Judd and her band, The Big Noise, set    about conjuring up enough rock and roll, blues, and country juju to knock    the first-day crowd right off their feet. Once the crowd had recovered, the    ones left with enough energy to carry on into the wee hours were treated    with more electric boogie music in the form of Donna The Buffalo.    Sporting dancey rhythms and electric improvisation, Donna proved to be the    ultimate weekend ice-breakers, encouraging the late night crowd to let    loose during their First Night Dance on the Bojangles’ Dance Stage. 

Friday

Before the    sun had set on Friday, patrons were treated to show-stopping sets from the    likes of Texas    troubadour Radney Foster, Boston-based bluegrassers Mile    Twelve, and the soft folk harmonies and humorous musings of The    Milk Carton Kids. Upon the close of the Chris Austin Songwriting    Competition, festival first-timer Amos Lee took the Watson    Stage with his unique blend of soulful Americana.Tyler Childers closed    out the Watson Stage with his now famous concoction of mountain music, old    school country, and 1960s The Band-ish rock and roll. Under the bright    stage lights, Childers rollicked through songs off of his award-winning 2017    album “Purgatory” to the delight of fans, some of whom had traveled to    MerleFest on Childers’ merit alone. During Childers’ set, eclectic folk    rockers Scythian set up in the Dance Tent for their second set of the day,    the annual Friday Night Dance. Keeping the night owls rocking until almost    midnight, Scythian reminded fans just how fun their music can    be. 

Saturday

Saturday    saw Chris Austin Songwriting Competition winners perform    on the Cabin Stage to an audience eager to hear these up-and-coming songwriters    before they’ve hit the big time. Now in its 27th year, the contest is an    extraordinary opportunity for aspiring writers to have their original songs    heard and judged by a panel of music industry professionals (Joey Ryan and    Kenneth Pattengale, better known as The Milk Carton Kids, Cruz    Contreras of The Black Lillies, and Texas-troubadour Radney    Foster), under the direction of volunteer contest chairperson, Grammy    Award-winning singer/songwriter Jim Lauderdale.

The first    round of the CASC took place in Nashville,     Tenn., and was narrowed down    from 970 entries to 12 finalists representing four categories: bluegrass,    country, general and Gospel/inspirational.

Each of the    12 finalists received admission and lodging for three nights at MerleFest.    Finalists attended a workshop Friday morning given by D’Addario prior to    the finals. After the contest, all finalists took part in a songwriting    mentoring session with Jim Lauderdale and the on-site judges. The    first-place winners in each category received $600 cash from MerleFest, a    performance at the Cabin Stage on Friday night, and a 20-minute set on    Saturday at the Cabin Stage. In addition, the first-place winners    received a live performance/recording session with Saloon Studios Live,    D’Addario strings, Shubb Capos, and their winning song will be aired on    WNCW 88.7. Net proceeds from the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest help    support the Wilkes Community College Chris Austin Memorial Scholarship. See    below for a complete listing of winners and finalists.

Bluegrass:

1st Place- Anya Hinkle (Asheville) – “Ballad of Zona Abston”

2nd Place-    James E. Woolsey (Petersburg, Ind.), David Foster (Petersburg, Ind.)    – “Sugar Ridge Road”

3rd Place-    Wyatt Espalin (Hiawassee,     Ga.) – “Light Coming Through”

Country:

1st Place-    Andrew Millsaps (Ararat) – “Ain’t No Genie (In a Bottle of Jack)

2nd Place-    Hannah Kaminer (Asheville)    – “Don’t Open Your Heart”

3rd Place- Shannon Wurst (Fayetteville,     Ark.) – “Better Than Bourbon”

General:

1st Place-    Alexa Rose (Asheville)    – “Medicine for Living”

2nd Place-    Bryan Elijah Smith (Dayton,     Va.) – “In Through the Dark”

3rd Place-    Wright Gatewood (Chicago,     Ill.) – “First”

Gospel/inspirational:

1st Place-    Russ Parrish (Burnsville, Minn.),    Topher King (Savage, Minn.)    – “Washed By The Water”

2nd Place- Ashleigh    Caudill (Nashville, Tenn.),    Jon Weisberger (Cottontown,     Tenn.) – “Walkin’ Into    Gloryland”

3rd Place-    Kevin T. Hale- (Brentwood,     Tenn.) – “We All Die to Live    Again”

On    Saturday, Molly Tuttle returned to the MerleFest stage for    the first time since she won the Chris Austin Songwriting Competition in    2012. A rabid crowd ate up every guitar lick and melody Tuttle played as    she continues to push the envelope of what can be played on a dreadnaught    guitar. The Waybacks’ annual Hillside Album Hour found the    bay-area band covering Led Zeppelin IV in    its entirety with Sarah Dugas (formerly of The Duhks) handling most of the    vocal duties and Sam Bush, Jens Kruger, Red Young, and Tony Williamson    backing them up for yet another memorable Saturday afternoon set. Sam    Bush Band lit up the Watson Stage ahead of Brandi Carlile, running    through his career-spanning catalog of “New Grass” tunes and closing with    his new rousing rock and roll anthem, “Stop The Violence”. Traditional Bluegrass super group Earls of Leicester once    again paid excellent homage to the giants of the genre, Lester Flatt and    Earl Scruggs. In an era of progression for the genre, the Earls brand of    picking reminded the crowd that it’s perfectly OK to stick with tradition    from time to time. Brandi Carlile and her band closed out    Saturday with her signature songwriting style and vocal fireworks. Drawing    from her newest release, “By The Way, I Forgive You,” and then diving    deeper into her past works, Carlile and longtime musical partners Tim and    Phil Hanseroth belted and whispered in close three-part harmonies well    enough to make every last MerleFest attendee’s jaw drop. To close out    an already special night, Sunday headliners Seth and Scott Avett of    The Avett Brothers joined Carlile around a single mic at the front edge of    the Watson Stage and performed the Avett’s “Murder In The City”,    drawing a huge reaction from the already stunned crowd.

Sunday

North    Carolina Governor Roy Cooper introduced Steep    Canyon Rangers Sunday afternoon on the Watson Stage. Late last    year, Gov. Cooper declared 2019 to be North Carolina’s    “Year of Music”, adding, “from bluegrass to the blues, from gospel to funk,    from beach music to indie and hip hop, North Carolina is the birthplace of many    musical styles and iconic performers.” Gov. Cooper was in attendance    for Steep Canyon Rangers’ “North Carolina Songbook” set on the Watson Stage    which dove into the rich history of the region’s music, specifically the    musical heritage of their—and the festival’s—home state, and solidified their    place in MerleFest lore. Bluegrass    patriarch and hair-style pioneer Del McCoury celebrated his 80th birthday    surrounded by friends, family, and the Del McCoury Band. Del and the boys    fired up the Hillside Stage, highlighting his eight-decade milestone with    class and style that only the McCourys can provide. North Carolina’s own The Avett    Brothers closed out the festival after having joined their father,    Jim Avett, for Sunday’s annual Gospel Hour. On the Watson Stage,    gladly playing tunes that spanned their almost-two-decade long career, The    Avett Brothers had the crowd singing along from the very first line. While    many MerleFest patrons have seen the Avetts at the festival before, this    performance proved that the brothers and their band have now truly transcended    to the next level of much-deserved stardom.

About MerleFest

MerleFest was    founded in 1988 in memory of the son of the late American music legend Doc    Watson, renowned guitarist Eddy Merle Watson. MerleFest is a celebration of    "traditional plus" music, a unique mix of traditional,    roots-oriented sounds of the Appalachian region, including old-time,    classic country, bluegrass, folk and gospel, and blues, and expanded to    include Americana, classic rock and many other styles. The festival hosts a    diverse mix of artists on its 13 stages during the course of the four-day    event. MerleFest has become the primary fundraiser for the WCC Foundation,    funding scholarships, capital projects, and other educational needs.

About Window    World

Window World®,    headquartered in North Wilkesboro, N.C., is America’s largest replacement    window and exterior remodeling company, with more than 200 locally owned    offices nationwide. Founded in 1995, the company sells and installs    windows, siding, doors and other exterior products, with over 15 million    windows sold to date. Window World is an ENERGY STAR® partner and its    windows, vinyl siding and Therma-Tru doors have all earned the Good    Housekeeping Seal. Through its charitable foundation, Window World Cares®, the    Window World family provides funding for St. Jude Children’s Research    Hospital®, which honored the foundation with its Organizational Support    Award in 2017. Since its inception in 2008, the foundation has raised over    $8 million for St. Jude. Window World also supports the Veterans Airlift    Command, a nonprofit organization that facilitates free air transportation    to wounded veterans and their families. Window World has flown over 100    missions and surpassed $1 million in flights and in-kind donations since it    began its partnership with the VAC in 2008. For more information, visitwww.WindowWorld.com or    call 1-800 NEXTWINDOW. For home improvement and energy efficiency tips,    décor ideas and more, follow Window World on Facebookand Twitter.

 For more information, visit www.MerleFest.org.

[thenextrush]

Mardi Gras Fair Day, the biggest and best-loved free community event of the season, returns on Sunday 17 February with over 80,000 people expected to come together in Victoria Park in Camperdown for a day filled with live entertainment, over 200 stalls, and food and drink outlets.   2019 will see the all new Doggywood and Sports Village and the official Fair Day After Party extravaganza at the Seymour Centre.

“Fair Day is such a special event for the community,” said Mardi Gras CEO Terese Casu. “It is a loud, proud and welcoming celebration of community spirit and connectedness and a wonderful opportunity for the LGBTQI Community, their friends, families and supporters to come together and enjoy a blissful day of fun, food and festivities.”

View this post on Instagram

When you lose your date at Sydney Mardi Gras 2019 launch night and run into all your idols!!! 😱😱😱😱😱 What a room!!! Far out! . . Be FEARLESS! That's the theme for next year's parade because you are unstoppable! . . . . . . . . . . #sydneymardigras2019 #sydneymardigras #launch #fearless #destinationnsw #cityofsydney #tourismaustralia #sydneysport #gayathlete #pridefestival #sydneymardigras #gaysydney #instagay #sydneyaustralia #sydneysport #celebrate #gaymelbourne #gaybrisbane #gayperth #faultless #equality #gayboyfamous #lesbianpride #lgbt #gaycommunity #sbs #qantasairways #accorhotels #thestarsydney #redbullmusic . .

A post shared by JL (@josephlloyd_) on Nov 2, 2018 at 11:23am PDT

Presented in Partnership with ANZ, Fair Day 2019 will shine a light on rising LGBTQI music stars that are reshaping the Australian contemporary music landscape and breaking new ground.  Hosted by Faustina Agolley, you will discover a heady mix of queer trailblazers including soulful electronic pop duo and Eurovision contenders Electric Fields, genre-defying J Award winner Mojo Juju and breakout electronic tomboy-pop artist HANDSOME.  Also taking the stage are Detroit-based alt-pop singer-songwriter Flint Eastwood, fierce R&B storyteller & producer Maribelle and Melbourne-based synth-pop duo The Marion Cranes plus super DJ duo stereogamous spinning tunes between sets.

Creative Director Greg Clarke added “This year’s Fair Day features two very exciting new additions, an amazing concert championing queer music artist from within our diverse community on the ANZ Main Stage, and The Arena, an undercover space with raked seating to house both Doggywood and Team Sydney’s sports demonstrations.”

The Arena morning program is a dog-lovers dream. Be sure to not miss the Doggywood Pageant presented in partnership with Hush Puppies, as Sydney’s finest dogs battle it out for the coveted titles of Best Dressed and Most Talented.   Registrations are open pre-event at the Mardi Gras website and also next to The Arena on the day.   There are two sessions (11am and 12.30pm), and plenty of great prizes for both dogs and owners. Get a front row seat to witness some spectacular canine acts as Kelly Gill and the Wonderdogs team of talented Border Collies, team up with celebrity vet Dr Katrina Warren for two show and trick demonstrations at 10:30am and 12:00pm.

In the afternoon Team Sydney takes over The Arena, with demonstrations and activities including Volleyball, Tug of War, the Speedos Fashion Parade, the Swing Out Dancers, Martial Arts and Fitness.

View this post on Instagram

Ladies & Gentlemen the @sydneymardigras season is now officially open!!! Fasten your seatbelts it's going to be an epic two weeks culminating at the 40th Anniversary parade! And there's lots to celebrate year! . Just some of the action from the #teamsydneysports village at #fairday2018 Find out more and join a teamsydney club today! . . Follow: @theflyingbats @sydneyrangersfc (Soccer) @sydneyconvicts (Rugby Union) @sydneystingers_women (Water polo) @sydneystingers @sydneysilverbacks (Wrestling) @gleberowingclub (Rowing) @dsdbc (Dragon Boating) @sydneywomensbaseballleague @bentstixhockeyclub Choose from more than 30 clubs at teamsydney.org.au and become a member today! @ normanmitchell @helloitsmekazbot . . #martialarts #kungfu #snapsydney #cityofsydney#hapkido#martialarts#wingchun#wushu#mma#chinesemartialarts #gayathlete #glmamartialarts #sydneymardigras2018 #sydneyrangersfc #sydneyconvictsrugby #gleberowingclub #sydneystingers #sydneyevents #amequality #alexgreenwich #tribeinfluencer #sydneylocal #lifestyleblogger #differentstrokesdragonboatclub #nswpolice #defglis #nswsesinsta #dindinsvideo #newtownsydney

A post shared by JL (@josephlloyd_) on Feb 18, 2018 at 11:53am PST

Victoria Park Pool will be open on Fair Day, so be sure to pack your swimmers if you want to take a dip. Especially for Fair Day, Victoria Park Pool will be offering free entry for children under the age of 10 years.

To learn more about the Sports Club visit the Team Sydney Sports Association site

The mid-morning program on the ANZ Main Stage will start from 10:30am and will feature performances from the NSW Police Band, Swing Out Sydney Dancers and the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir. In the early afternoon you will be able to get a taste of some of the extraordinary queer performance, cabaret and burlesque artists performing throughout the Mardi Gras Festival.

Everyone’s favourite Fashions of the Fair will be held on the ANZ Main Stage at 1:30pm, so prepare those glittering summertime picnic looks and get ready to strut-your-stuff. Mardi Gras talent spotters will be roaming the Park handing out Golden Tickets for you to compete in Fashions of the Fair and you could be in the running to win tickets for you and 3 of your best friends to Mardi Gras’ new retro pool event, Strictly Kaftan Party.

For those looking to dance the summer day away, the new Absolute Dance Floor will feature an electric line-up of DJs GI Jode, Victoria Anthonyand Amanda Louise and as the sun-sets two of Sydney’s iconic DJs, Kate Monroe and Dan Murphy will take to the decks on the ANZ Main Stage to keep the party vibes pumping until close at 9:00pm.

The official Fair Day After Party this year will be across the road at Mardi Gras’ new late night Festival Club at the Seymour Centre. After a day of soaking up the rays in Victoria Park with Sydney’s LGBTQI community head to the Festival Club for a night of entertainment and dancing featuring a stellar line-up of artists hosted by NICOLA and Kryptonite including DJ sets by Betty Grumble and pop-up performances from Trigger Happy andGarret Lyon.  Entry to the official Fair Day after Party is $5 or free with any ticket to a show on that night at Mardi Gras Central.

CELEBRATING COMMUNITY: Meet Executive Producer, Jordy – who moved to Sydney from a rural town so he could be himself.  He’s chosen his hometown as the setting for his upcoming feature film, Last Seen

Have you added Zain Mitchlan to your Spotify?

Fair Day 2019 WHEN: Sunday 17 February TIME: 10am – 9pm WHERE: Victoria Park, Broadway NSW 2008 PRICE: Free Check out more info here

Parking around Victoria Park is limited, so people are encouraged to take public transport or walk or ride. Bicycle Parking will be available in Victoria Park, at the City Road Entrance (opposite the Seymour Centre).

  Reece Ramsden from Ramsden Lawyers specialises in Family Law particularly around LGBT same-sex couples – click through to learn more or follow him on Instagram @sydneyfamilylawyer

Photo Credits:  Jeffrey Feng Photography, Joseph Lloyd

Fair Day: 80,000 people, 200 stalls and the official opening of the MG Season! Mardi Gras Fair Day, the biggest and best-loved free community event of the season, returns on…

[absolute-sakuya-stan]

🍡 for Banri and Hisoka? Thank youu mwah❤️

sorry for the delay in this!! i was having a bit of a tough time and didn’t get around to doing requests. i’ll hopefully be back to getting the rest of these out! (＞_＜)

🍡Sugar Belle - what is something that they would fight with their s/o about? how do they make up after?

he definitely gets into fights with you about skipping school. he can get pretty heated when he gets mad and he’ll probably say things that he doesn’t mean. he’ll give you a bit of time to cool off from the argument and then he’ll come back and sheepishly apologize for his rash comments. he’ll give you a hug and kiss your temple to show you he really means it. he’s also not opposed to make up sex.

🍡Sugar Belle - what is something that they would fight with their s/o about? how do they make up after?

he’d get into fights about his reckless sleeping habits. there’s been more than enough times that he comes back from a napping place with some scratches and bruises the he doesn’t notice until you point them out. he doesn’t get heated and yell, but he can get annoyed and he’ll give you the silent treatment for a while. but he never will fall asleep if you’re mad at each other, he can’t rest at all if he knows you might be upset. he’ll offer his marshmallows to you as a peace offering and apologize. after his apology, he’ll ask you if you’ll come lay by him and take a nap. he always clings just a little bit closer to you when he naps after making up from a fight.

[olaluwe]

Sometime in the 1970s, the Juju music maestro, then known as Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey, did a track wherein a line lamented the cheapness of death in the country. This piece was written by Niran Adedokun and was first published on The Punch. The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of 360Nobs.com. The line “iku di mejiepinni,” meaning “death has become two for a penny,” spoke about the frequency with which people, especially young ones died. It talked about the low life expectancy in the country and waxed spiritual by wondering whether this was a result of sin. Were he still in his elements today, one can only imagine what the great music composer and musical artiste would be singing. At the time Obey released this music, those who died, even if they were young, died mostly from natural causes, largely due to the evolving state of medical sciences, not just in Nigeria but across the world. The state of medicine has since improved so tremendously that illnesses, which killed people in the 1970s, have either been totally eradicated or most countries of the world have upgraded healthcare delivery so that preventive and curative therapies prolong the lives of people or entirely save them from such ailments. But not Nigeria. The world seems to have moved on and left our dear nation behind. Although Nigeria is significant for her population and large mass, it is notorious for supplying the world with the worst developmental index possible. A 2015 report of the National Population Commission suggests that a total of 52,000 people die annually from childbirth or pregnancy related complications.  In other worlds, one woman dies every ten minutes in the process of bringing a new life. And the World Health Organisation says at least 70 percent of these deaths can be prevented if women had more access to skilled medical care. Medical science has found solutions to complications like post-partum hemorrhaging (excessive bleeding); hypertensive disorders (eclampsia), prolonged labour and infections that account for the preponderance of incidences of mortalities resulting from pregnancy. But not Nigeria! In addition to the number corpses of women of child bearing age that Nigeria piles up every year, 2,300 under-five year children die from a myriad causes that the country is still grappling with. WHO says that an average of 240 Nigerians die from cancer every day in Nigeria. This translates to ten people every hour and a total of 80,000 in a year. Nigeria is said to introduce an extra 100,000 cases of cancer into the world burden annually yet the country has less than one radiotherapy machine per one million people, hence, the Nigerian cancer death ratio of four out of five cases. At least 300, 000 fall into the cold arms of the grim reaper through malaria every year not to talk of the number of lives lost to non-communicable diseases and several other infections that most of the world no longer contends with. Sadly it is clear that no one, leader or led, pays definitive attention to the tragedy  of healthcare delivery and what the unquantifiable volume of lives lost does to the image and future of Nigeria. Government at all levels, of course pays lip service, voting billions of naira to the sector annually, but there is no manifest improvement in access and quality of healthcare delivery from the primary, secondary, tertiary levels in Nigeria, which is a shame. But the failure of governance and the humanity of Nigeria is even more evident in the unbridled level of cold blood letting that happens in the name of ethnic/religious clashes and other violent crimes. The country just seem to have suddenly been taken over by some merchants of death. It is so bad that Governor Abdul’azizYari of Zamfara State recently raised the alarm about his inability to maintain law and order in his state. This was after 30 lives were lost within one week A report published in THISDAY newspaper in May, 2018 suggested that 900 people were killed in such violent circumstances in the first five months of this year. The number included lives lost in Benue, Taraba, Kaduna, Kwara, Plateau, Nasarrawa, Niger, Kogi and Adamawa States. Last weekend, another 200 lives or more were added to the list when three local governments in Plateau State came under the attack of herdsmen who were said to be avenging the killing of their kinsmen as well as the theft of their cattle. What happened on Sunday was not new though. Time and time again herdsmen have wrecked this inhuman havoc on helpless communities.You have justification of the attacks on the strength of its being reprisals to violence that had been brought on the Fulani herdsmen in the past. How these first attacks remain largely unreported is however a mystery. Assuming the justification is correct however, that no one who has been involved in venting those reprisal attacks, which are usually not of equal measure with the supposed initial ones could suggest that self-help is a legal resort in Nigeria. It is more curious because, as we have seen in the case of the latest incident in Jos, not onlythe Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, the umbrella body of the Fulani herdsmen speaks to justify this events, even the presidency has helped to ventilate it! For instance the statement released by the presidency on Sunday quoted security information which indicated that about one hundred cattle were rustled by a community in Plateau State, and some herdsmen were killed in the process. It also shows the incompetence if not complicity of law enforcements agencies in the country. If security forces had the information quoted in the statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, knew that cattle had already been rustled, it behooves on them to have given justice to the owners of the cattle by arresting those who perpetrated the crime and taking it further by deploying resources to forestall reprisals. That none of these happened should mortify the security forces to the level that they would be unable to tender excuses of the initial crime. The presentation of this excuse by the President’s spokesperson only goes on to portray the nation’s security apparatus as largely reactive and inefficient. But, more importantly, it reflects the total disrespect for life amongst us as a people.  Over the past couple of months  government officials including the Minister of Defence has exposed the lack of will to deal with this situation with suggestions that states which have enacted laws to protect their people against the incursion of Fulani herdsmen may have to repeal those laws before there can be peace in the country. What the powers that be fail to realise is that such postures unwittingly embolden the citizens capacity to seek self-revenge and invariably wittingly down the essence the country’s law ultimately turning the country into barbaric state in which power is might and reasoning is lost. There is no sane society where a man is allowed to take the life of another without consequence and even if that happens, the state takes the commission of such offences as one done against it and not necessarily against the receiver of the aggression. Without this, the world would live in disorder and lives, even of those who are innocent of any crime would be in jeopardy. The gradual degeneration of Nigeria into a killing field is the failure of government to hold the lives of citizens with the sanctity that it deserves. And when government shows no respect for lives, the people follow suit.  This is why there is so much bloodletting around us, if it is not Boko Haram, it would be Fulani herdsmen or ethnic militias or armed robbers, kidnapers or even frustrated policemen who turn their guns on innocent citizens. Death just seems to lurk in corners across the country. But Nigeria’s only redemption from the current path of self-destruction is for its people to place more of value on the lives of the people who make the country. No country, where death is so commonplace can truly aspire for greatness. No matter how much resources it has or how much infrastructure it builds,  human life is the essence of society and a single human life should be worth more than all the treasures that man can acquire. Nigeria needs to re-learn that. Editor's note: This piece was written by Niran Adedokun and was first published in The Punch Newspaper. The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy or position of DEJOLALUWEBLOG.

[newstfionline]

Can former journalist Lee Strobel make a convincing case for miracles?

By Jonathan Merritt, Religion News Service, March 14, 2018

A few years ago, I experienced a miracle at a writing conference outside of Boston, Massachusetts. Following a talk I gave on storytelling, a group of women approached me and one stepped forward: “We have a word from God for you.”

I froze but maintained a cautious smile.

The women explained that they were friends who had met at a church with a long name that had the word “revelatory” in it. It sounded like the type of place that calls its pastor “Apostle” and lets people dance while he preaches. As a Southern Baptist, I’ve always been skeptical of these kind of Christians. Maybe I’m afraid that their Holy Spirit juju might somehow rub off on me, and I’ll have an experience I won’t be able to explain. I know now that the fear is well-founded.

“Can we pray over you and anoint you?” one asked.

Not wanting to be rude, I agreed.

And then it happened. One by one these women told me things about myself that they could not have known--things that I’d never shared with anyone. And then they delivered a message, an encouragement, that I now believe was from God. I shared this story in full in my book “Jesus is Better Than You Imagined,” and it is not the only time I’ve inexplicably encountered transcendence.

I believe in miracles because I’ve experienced them.

But my testimonial is not enough to convince others. Certainly not stalwart skeptics and the non-religious. And that’s where Lee Strobel hopes to contribute to the cause. As the former legal editor of The Chicago Tribune, he has created a cottage industry around investigating Christian claims and making an evidence-based “case” for everything from Jesus’s Resurrection to faith itself.

Strobel’s new book, “The Case for Miracles: A Journalist Investigates Evidence for the Supernatural,” features a lot of miracle accounts, rational arguments, and a fascinating poll of Americans. I question whether it is effective to judge mystical events by logical standards, so I decided to discuss these matters with Strobel myself.

RNS: Let’s start by defining terms. How do you define a “miracle?”

LS: My two-year investigation of the supernatural blew my mind. But like you, I needed to start out with a meaningful definition of miracles, especially since it’s a term used in many differing ways --- and often flippantly. A lot of philosophers have given it their best shot. Augustine was poetic. He said a miracle is “whatever appears that is difficult or unusual above the hope and power of them who wonder.” Oxford’s Richard Swinburne was straightforward. He called a miracle “an event of an extraordinary kind brought about by a god and of religious significance.”

I prefer the definition offered by the late philosopher Richard L. Purtill: “A miracle is an event (1) brought about by the power of God that is (2) a temporary (3) exception (4) to the ordinary course of nature (5) for the purpose of showing that God has acted in history.”

RNS: You partnered with Barna to conduct a survey for this book. So tell us: do Americans believe in miracles?

LS: Yes, they do--more than I anticipated. Half of Americans (51 percent) said they believe the miracles of the Bible happened as they are described. That’s pretty high in our increasingly skeptical culture. Two out of three (67 percent) said miracles are possible today. Only 15 percent said they aren’t. One sidelight: Republicans are more likely to believe in modern miracles (74 percent) than Democrats (61 percent). I’m not commenting on that--just presenting the facts.

RNS: How many Americans claim to have personally experienced a miracle?

LS: This is where the research really gets interesting. Nearly two out of five US adults (38 percent) said they have had an experience that they can only explain as being a miracle of God. By extrapolation, that means 94,792,000 American adults are convinced that God has performed at least one miracle for them personally. That’s an astonishing number. Now, let’s say 95 percent of those cases are actually astounding coincidences that can be explained through natural means. That would still leave more than 4.7 million miracles, and that’s just in the United States.

“Skeptic” magazine scoffs that supernatural reports are “more common from the uncivilized and uneducated.” Yet another study showed that 55 percent of US physicians said they have seen results in their patients that they would consider miraculous. That’s coming from highly educated professionals trained in medicine, often in very secular settings.

RNS: In your book, you spend a lot of time documenting people who share unexplainable events. It seems to me that this, at least partly, roots your argument in experience rather than evidence. What am I missing?

LS: A person’s experience can have evidential value. However, the evidence is amplified if we also have corroboration in the form of multiple other eyewitnesses who are trustworthy and have no bias or reason to lie; medical tests before and after a supposed healing; or other kinds of more objective facts. I’m as skeptical of miracle claims as the next person. However, I believe they are possible, and I’m willing to examine the evidence in each case to conclude whether it’s actually a misdiagnosis, the placebo effect, fakery, spontaneous remission, or there’s some sort of other natural explanation--or whether it can truly be best described as a divine intervention.

RNS: I’ve heard skeptics often say that to believe in “miracles” would be to deny science because, after all, miracles violate the established and observed laws of nature. How do you respond?

LS: Scottish skeptic David Hume called a miracle “a violation of the laws of nature”--and you can’t violate the laws of nature, right? Hume’s critique is still touted by skeptics today, but my book demonstrates that Hume’s approach is fatally flawed. In fact, philosophers have decimated Hume in recent years, as illustrated by the title of a recent book by a non-Christian scholar published by Oxford University Press: Hume’s Abject Failure.

Actually, miracles are not a violation of the laws of nature. For example, if I drop an apple, the law of gravity tells me it will hit the floor. But if I drop the apple and you reach in and grab it before it hits the floor, you haven’t violated the law of gravity--you’ve merely intervened. And that’s what God does in performing a miracle--he intervenes in the world that he created.

As philosopher William Lane Craig told me, natural laws have implicit ceteris paribus conditions, which is Latin for “all other things being equal.” In other words, natural laws assume that no other natural or supernatural factors are interfering with the operation that the law generally describes.

Craig explained that if there’s a supernatural agent that’s working in the natural world, then the idealized conditions described by the law are no longer in effect. The law isn’t violated because the law has this implicit provision that no outside forces are messing around with the conditions.

RNS: I have friend who often makes decisions based on recurring dreams that they believe are from God. What do you think about that? Can dreams or visions be considered miracles?

LS: The Bible contains about 200 examples of God using dreams and visions to further his plans. I devote an entire chapter to analyzing the supernatural phenomenon of Jesus appearing in dreams of Muslims, usually in countries closed to the gospel.

However, we need to be very careful about dreams; everything must be weighed against scripture. In the cases I cite, there’s some sort of external corroboration--for instance, the dreamer encounters someone in his dream who he has never met, and then he subsequently meets that individual in person--and this individual explains the gospel to them. This kind of external validation is helpful in weighing the legitimacy of dreams and visions.

That said, when you hear story after story of devout Muslims who are encountering the divine Jesus in supernatural ways, and then risking everything to follow him, it’s both jaw-dropping and inspiring. I think this is one of the most exciting parts of the book.

RNS: There are many accounts of miracles, similar to those you cite, but told by people of other faiths. There’s a litany of miracle stories of those who follow the teachings of Buddha or worship Krishna. If I’m going to believe your “evidence,” wouldn’t I have to also conclude that there is something to these stories? Why should I accept the miracle stories of Christians and not the identical stories told by Muslims, Jews, Mormons, and others?

LS: Not all miracle reports are equally credible. For instance, the supposed miracles associated with Buddha or Krishna are shrouded in the mists of history and legend, and are often written by unknown sources and without specific references to historic times and places, so they lack the credibility of historical biblical accounts. The supposed miracles of Muhammad are only in the hadith, which is Islamic tradition that comes hundreds of years after his life and therefore isn’t comparable to the gospels, which were recorded within the first generation when eyewitnesses were still living. The miracles of Mormonism lack credibility because of the unreliability of Joseph Smith and many of his early followers.

In contrast, the key miracle of Jesus--his resurrection from the dead--is corroborated by excellent historical data, as I demonstrate in my book. We have five sources outside the Bible confirming his death. We have a report of the resurrection that has been dated by scholars to within months of his death--too early to be a mere legend. We have an empty tomb that even the opponents of Jesus implicitly conceded was empty. And we have nine ancient sources, inside and outside the New Testament, affirming the conviction of the disciples that they had encountered the risen Jesus. That’s an avalanche of historical data that isn’t matched by any miracle claims in another any other tradition.

RNS: I believe in miracles because, among other things, I’ve experienced them in my life. But your approach is to make a “case” for them rooted in evidence and logic. Doesn’t this ignore the mysterious nature of the supernatural and the miraculous?

LS: Evidence and experience are both important, which is why I explore both of these components in The Case for Miracles. Your experience of the miraculous may be valid, but it might not be convincing to others. That’s where corroboration comes in. Skeptics--like me a few years back--are much more apt to believe the supernatural when presented with credible reports by unbiased eyewitnesses, medical records, etc. I hope my book will challenge the skepticism of non-believers, while at the same time encouraging and strengthening the faith of Christians. To do that, the more substantiation, the better. Honestly, I don’t think documentation strips away the mystery of miracles--to me, it elicits even more awe and wonder, along with the confidence to share the miraculous reports with others.

RNS: You mention that some churches are embarrassed by the supernatural. How would you advise churches to acknowledge and process when their congregants claim to have experienced a miracle?

LS: I believe many evangelical and mainline churches are embarrassed by the supernatural. They want to be considered respectable by their neighbors and not be conflated with the bizarre antics of some TV faith healers. They crave acceptability, order, and predictability. I can understand this, since there are plenty of charlatans out there to distance ourselves from. But the Holy Spirit cannot be put in a box. He will do as He wishes. We should be open to whatever God may want to do, even when He disrupts our carefully planned world.

Now, when miracle claims are made, I don’t think we should automatically accept them. It’s always wise to scrutinize them--are they consistent with Scripture, are they confirmed or validated by witnesses or medical records, and so forth. The Bible warns us to “test everything…hold on to what is good.” Certainly Catholics have been investigating miracles for centuries when they consider a person for sainthood in their tradition. Similarly, when we see what appears to be a divine work of the Lord--like some of the well-documented miracles in The Case for Miracles--we should not only accept them, but also praise Him for His gracious intervention on behalf of people He so clearly loves.

[abcnewspr]

ABC NEWS ANNOUNCES COVERAGE OF THE 2021 ELECTION ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2

“World News Tonight” Anchor David Muir Leads Coverage of “Election Night: Your Voice, Your Vote 2021”  

ABC News Live Will Stream Election Special with Anchor Linsey Davis   Powerhouse Political Team Will Provide Updates Throughout the Day Across All Programs and Platforms 

ABC News today announced its coverage of the 2021 election on Tuesday, Nov. 2, available throughout the day across all programs and platforms, as several contests take place throughout the country. "World News Tonight" anchor David Muir will lead coverage for the network’s special reports on results, and ABC News’ powerhouse political team will report the latest news and developments as the day progresses, including the gubernational elections in Virginia and New Jersey.

Coverage begins on ‘Good Morning America,’ as correspondents Stephanie Ramos and Kenneth Moton report from polling places in Virginia.

“Nightline” with co-anchor Juju Chang will report on the high-stakes gubernatorial race and provide comprehensive coverage of other contests, taking a look at the larger implications of the results on the president, as well as the Democratic and Republican parties. Moton will also have interviews with voters in Virginia.

ABC News Live will stream special election coverage live, beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET, anchored by Linsey Davis. It will include live results from the Virginia and New Jersey races, runoffs in Ohio, ballot proposals in Minneapolis and Texas and context and analysis on other top news stories of the day. A live election results ticker will also be running on the channel, tracking all the major races from coast to coast.

Davis will be joined by chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl from Washington, D.C.; Ramos and Moton from Glenn Youngkin and Terry McAuliffe’s campaign headquarters, respectively; and deputy political director Averi Harper, senior Washington reporter Devin Dwyer and political director Rick Klein, covering how votes are coming in and the issues on voters’ minds. ABC News contributors Yvette Simpson, Chris Christie, Sarah Isgur and Amanda Renteria will offer analysis of the races.  

On ‘GMA3: What You Need to Know,’ Klein and contributor and Sirius XM host Mike Muse will join to discuss the key races across the nation in Tuesday’s election.  

Starting at 10:00 a.m. ET today, FiveThirtyEight will live blog the election until winners are determined in New Jersey and Virginia. FiveThirtyEight will also have real-time analysis of the vote count, and guidance on how to interpret the results, including avoiding red or blue mirages. The FiveThirtyEight Politics Podcast will dive into the results and have stand-alone pieces on the Virginia and New Jersey governors and assembly races.  

The ABC News Digital team will preview the Virginia governor's race with updated results as they come in. Klein will provide analysis in Wednesday’s edition of “The Note” newsletter. The team will update results for the New Jersey governor’s race, capture major moments during the day and publish “On Location” episodes covering the results following Election Day.  

ABC Audio will provide affiliates with hourly Status Reports on Election Day as well as special reports, live audio feeds and live anchored coverage as events warrant.  

ABC NewsOne, the affiliate news service of ABC News, will be providing reports throughout the evening on election night with multi-platform reporter Faith Abubey from Washington. In addition, NewsOne will also be providing analysis from Klein. NewsOne provides news content and services for more than 200 ABC affiliates and international news partners.  

For more information, follow ABC News PR on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.   ABC News Media Relations   Anna Negrón (860) 256-1757 anna.m.negron@abc.com

– ABC –

[lostcoastoutfitters]

Eastern Sierra Fly Fishing Report

Jim Stimson Reports on 9.21.2017

First off, I would like to send out thoughts and prayers to the victims of the Mexico earthquake and the hurricanes that continue to sweep through the Caribbean. These events are hard to fathom and witness.

Early this morning before dawn arrived, you could hear rain pounding down on the roof. Fall is in the air, the seasons are changing. With the thermometer sitting in the low 40’s, I expect the peaks to be plastered in snow once the clouds clear. This is looking like an incredibly scenic autumn. The fishing will be good!

If you need proof, check out the following photograph taken last weekend. The day in general had been on the slow side, everybody had hooked into some trout, but with the water looking so “fishy,” I expected the day to be better. We stopped for a lunch break, ate sandwiches, drank some beer, and then headed back out to the river for one last opportunity. From the road I pointed out a place and said, “There is one more place we have to try before we pack it in.” We thrashed thru the brush and spread out along the river. I left my wading staff back at the truck so I told Tyler, “I don’t feel comfortable wading through the swift water but I think you should fish the far side of the river, under those overhanging tree branches.” There was a nice calm section in the pocket water that looked promising, but to get to it you had to slosh through some fairly deep, moving water. Tyler was a collegiate swimmer, young, energetic, and had no problem with wading, anywhere. In fact, he was already drenched to his shoulders from his many immersions throughout the day. His waders were filled above his knees. He told me, “I am not having a good day unless my waders are filled to my waist!” Nothing fazed him. Off he went and soon he was high sticking thru this run. He hooked and landed a couple of medium sized browns, then stuck a toad. He let out a shriek, “I can’t see it yet, but it feels huge!” The fish turned and darted downstream into the current. Tyler followed closely behind, bobbing and weaving through the boulders, swift water, deep buckets, getting dunked and going up to his chin in the river. Sometimes all I could see was his rod hand extending up through the water. I stashed my rod along the riverbank and followed in pursuit with my net, trying to wade as quickly as I could through the river. Finally, the brown stopped and turned upstream and parked it for awhile. I was able to catch up. The trout was huge, the coloration was amazing, the head and shoulders on this thing were immense. The only thing we could say at the time was, “Holy Shit!” as it slid into the net…….

Let’s be careful out there….

East Walker

The river has dropped to about 235 cfs. I think the ideal level lies between 200-300 cfs, the river is very fishy now. With the river dropping and trout on the move, try the upper section of the Miracle Mile. The pocket water is very productive with caddis worms, brown Fox pupae, stoneflies, damselfly nymphs, Copper Johns, Prince Nymphs, and red midges. The water temperatures are holding well in the mid-60’s and as the day time temps begin to drop, the river will have made it through a hot summer with no ill effects. The trout are thriving!

West Walker

If the East Walker weren’t so close, convenient, and a Blue Ribbon fishery, I would fish the West Walker more. It is a fun place to explore with lots of nice trout, primarily rainbows. The flows are about 200 cfs, which is tenuous for river crossings but that said, fishing is good. In the shallows, try some stimmy’s or elk haired caddis. The deeper buckets you can usually find fish with attractor patterns like prince nymphs.

San Joaquin

If you like to fish in a wilderness setting, try the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin. The river is cruising along at nearly 80 cfs as it winds through the canyon past Devil’s Postpile and Rainbow Falls. A dry dropper setup with a elk haired caddis, stimulator, or hopper along with any type of emerger pattern suspended off the hook bend will work; midges, juju baetis, pheasant tails, etc… these trout are ravenous.

Hot Creek

The creek is flowing through the canyon at 28 cfs. Target your casts to the feeding lanes between the grasses and rocks. You may not see fish, but they are in there. If you are nymphing, try a dry dropper setup. Dave’s Hoppers are working well, very well. Streamers have also fooled some nice trout.

Upper Owens River

The flows are roughly 76 cfs high in the river system but as the Owens meanders towards the Benton Crossing bridge, Hot Creek dumps in a significant amount of water especially when spring runoff is involved (see above). In other words, once the Owens makes the bridge near the campground, the flows are closer to 100 cfs. I have been wet wading (above the confluence) but I wear long pants and a long sleeved shirt for protection from the bugs. That said, the fishing isn’t bad. Caddis are buzzing around and anglers are scarce. Hoppers and damsel flies have been working well. Target your casts as close to the grassy banks as possible. Hoppers tumble into the river, falling from the overhanging grasses. The trout have been leaping into the air to grab damsel flies hovering above the river or clinging to the weeds. It is WAY fun!

Lower Owens River

Don’t rush out and grab your fishing gear. The river went back up to 460 cfs. This will be a new river once the flooding ends. The river is spilling its banks and there are sections between Chalk Bluff Road and the river that are wetlands and marshes. It is a muddy, goopy, mess. If you are going to wade, exercise extreme caution. With enough weight you can cast into the quiet water along the edges and perhaps raise a fish.