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darkqueenofshadows85 · 3 years ago

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My Sonic Game Story Ranking From Worst to Best

Greetings, mortals! Today, I will be ranking every Sonic game story I've seen from worst to best.

Disclaimer: I will be judging the following games by the plot and writing, not the gameplay. Also, I will only be including Sonic game stories from 1998 onwards (I don't know much about the Classic Era storylines), and I'll eventually need to make an updated version of this list that includes Sonic Frontiers when that game comes out, but for now, this is my current ranking.

Please keep in mind, this is MY OPINION! You don't need to agree with it, but please don't complain in the comments section if you disagree with this list.

Anyway, let us begin! ^^

22. Sonic Lost World (2013)

This is hands down, the worst Sonic game story ever. It has a painfully cringeworthy script that looks like it was written by a ten year old, along with it catering to completely different people who likely hate Sonic as a whole. And don't even get me started on the Deadly Six...

21. Sonic Boom Game Trilogy (2014-2016)

I'm just going to group the entire trilogy here because they're all equally boring and unimpressive in my opinion, with Rise of Lyric and Shattered Crystal being the absolute worst of the bunch. And while Fire and Ice was a slight improvement over its predecessors, it's still kind of bland.

20. Sonic Free Riders (2010)

This is what you get when you take everything good about the first two Sonic Riders games and throw all of it out the window. With its lazy PowerPoint style cutscenes, a boring plot and badly written characters, this game effectively killed the Sonic Riders series.

19. Sonic Forces (2017)

What can I say about this bland, disappointing disaster of a game that hasn't been said already? It promised us a more serious, high-stakes storyline reminiscent of the Adventure/Dark Era titles and a mysterious, threatening new villain to boot, but then somewhere along the line, SEGA just shrugged and said, "Eh, it's just a kids' game. Who cares?" The amount of wasted potential this game had is ASTONISHING. Let's hope that Sonic Frontiers will have a much better story than this, because trust me, WE DO NOT WANT A REPEAT OF FORCES.

18. Sonic Generations (2011)

Not the worst storyline that the Meta Era has to offer, but it is a bland and practically non-existent one.

17. Sonic Rivals Duology (2006-2008)

I have mixed feelings towards both these games' stories to be honest. Rivals 1 was forgettable, while Rivals 2 was a hot mess, but yet there's something oddly charming about it...

16. Team Sonic Racing (2019)

Yes, it's bland, it's forgettable, it makes a lot of questionable writing choices (i.e. Eggman and Zavok are working together even though they clearly hated each other in Lost World, Vector names himself leader of Silver and Blaze's team even though he wasn't even invited to the race to begin with, Dodon Pa is revealed to be the good guy all along, etc.), and it has PowerPoint style cutscenes similar to Free Riders, but it's still one of the more tolerable Meta Era stories in my opinion (at least compared to the likes of Lost World and Forces).

15. Sonic Colors (2010)

Honestly, if it wasn't for the Pontaff duo's writing, I would actually consider this to be a cute and relatively decent light-hearted Sonic story. The Wisps are a great addition to the franchise, as they're extremely adorable and without them, we wouldn't have Eclipse's sweet little Dark Arms from the Archie comics. The only thing that truly bothers me about this game is that it started the Meta Era, which I personally hate. If it was just a standalone spinoff title aimed at the younger demographic like what the Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog TV show was to the Classic Era, I wouldn't be as harsh towards it. Also, the DS version has a much better script than the Wii version, and I highly recommend checking it out.

14. Sonic Rush Adventure (2007)

Not quite as good as the first Rush game's story, but it's still a decent story overall. It introduced Marine the Raccoon, who (in my opinion) is a very underrated character. Also, I like the idea of Sonic and Tails exploring the Sol Dimension, I just wish they could have done more with it.

13. Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood (2008)

I don't really know that much about Chronicles to be honest, but from what I've seen, it looked pretty cool. I like that it used lore from the Adventure games in its story, and Shade the Echidna is an interesting character who had potential, but sadly, she can't be used in official Sonic media anymore... (Fuck Ken Penders and his BS legal drama 😡)

12. Sonic Shuffle (2000)

This game's story had a surreal, dreamlike atmosphere to it, which I really liked. I also find it interesting that Illumina is the literal precursor to Solaris in a sense, as both characters are godlike deities who were separated into two halves, and then there's the fact that Shuffle predated 06 by about seven years. I know most people remember this game as a Mario Party clone, but I think the story is perhaps the most interesting and overlooked aspect of Shuffle.

11. Sonic and the Secret Rings (2007)

Secret Rings may be the black sheep of the five main Dark Era games, but the story is still enjoyable in its own right. The idea of Sonic exploring the world of the Arabian Nights was an interesting concept, and Erazor Djinn, while underdeveloped, is a much better villain than the Deadly Six.

10. Sonic Adventure (1998)

This game officially started the transition from Classic to Modern, and what a transition it was! One of my favorite aspects of SA1's story (besides the world building and lore) is that each of the six main characters contribute something important to the plot: Sonic himself is given a decent story with a good personality, Tails got his own character arc that showed that he was more than just a sidekick, that he could stand up for himself (which the newer games seem to have forgotten, sadly), Knuckles' story gave us more of his perspective of his clan and his role as the Master Emerald guardian, Amy is given a cute, wholesome story in which she tries to protect a Flicky from one of Eggman's robots, Big's story involves him looking for his pet Froggy and Gamma's story had the most emotional depth out of all the characters' campaigns, and his death is easily one of the saddest moments in the entire Sonic franchise.

I just wish SEGA/Sonic Team could make the characters more involved in the story rather than it just being the "Sonic Only Show". Seeing other characters besides Sonic be important to the story really brought out more to his world and honestly, I think it's an nice change of pace from tradition and I can only hope the idea of multiple character stories can return one day.

9. Sonic Heroes (2003)

This is the textbook example of a light-hearted Sonic story done well. I love the dynamic between each of the four teams and the interactions between the characters. Yes, it can be very cheesy at times, but that's all part of its charm. Unlike the Meta Era games, there are no stupid jokes, the characters aren't butchered and the storyline took itself seriously enough to fit in with the shonen anime style of the 2000's Sonic games. Also, Neo Metal Sonic is an awesome villain and the best version of Metal Sonic in my opinion.

8. Sonic Rush (2005)

Out of all the handheld Sonic games, this one has the best storyline in my opinion. It introduced fan favorite Blaze the Cat, who many people (myself included) consider to be one of the best female Sonic characters, and it has a great theme/message about learning to open up to friends.

7. Sonic Riders (2006)

A fun story that tells the tale of an ancient society in a futuristic setting... what's not to love? Also, I liked the dynamic between Team Sonic and the Babylon Rogues, it was interesting and enjoyable to watch.

6. Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity (2008)

Easily the best installment of the Sonic Riders trilogy, Riders: Zero Gravity delves deeper into the Babylon lore that was introduced in the first Riders game while also telling a deep, meaningful story and further developing the relationship between Team Sonic and the Babylon Rogues.

5. Sonic Adventure 2 (2001)

One of the most widely acclaimed narratives in the Sonic franchise, SA2 is an engaging, high-stakes story jam packed with memorable moments and excellent characterization, with Shadow's character arc being the highlight.

4. Sonic Unleashed (2008)

This game represents everything the Sonic franchise should strive to be. Sonic and Chip's friendship throughout the story was definitely a highlight for me, and the final battle against Dark Gaia during the climax was EPIC. To me, this is what the Sonic franchise should be like, not like the dumb sitcom "storylines" of the Meta Era games. I truly hope there's still a chance for the writing quality of the Sonic series to get back on track and that future games will have more amazing and masterfully written storylines like this one.

3. Sonic and the Black Knight (2009)

This is honestly the best portrayal of Sonic in the Sonic franchise next to Unleashed and SA2. It gets Sonic's character right in so many ways. Being thrown into a world of chivalry and conduct, Sonic doesn't play by those rules and opts to be the free-spirited, nice guy he is. The plot twist was good and Sonic's message to Merlina about living life to the fullest is such a positive message a character like Sonic absolutely nails to deliver. This game, along with Unleashed, SA2 and Riders: Zero Gravity, is the pinnacle of Sonic game storytelling.

2. Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)

Excluding Sonic and Elise's boring love story plot, 06's story is really good in my opinion. In fact, I personally think it has one of the best narratives in the entire franchise. Though that could be the nostalgia I have for 06... 😅

1. Shadow the Hedgehog (2005)

You already know I love this game too much. Sure, games like SA2, Unleashed and Black Knight are objectively better in terms of writing, but I have a lot of nostalgia for ShTH, as well as 06. It gives me all the warm, fuzzy serotonin and it's very nostalgic to me, so yea...

Another reason why I'm extremely biased for ShTH is because its main villain is hot (｡💜‿💜｡)

Thanks for reading! I hope you guys enjoyed this list and I'll see you next time!! ^^

#sonic the hedgehog #sonic game stories #ranking #worst to best #blog post #opinion post

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cilliansaccent · 4 years ago

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The Peaky Designer - Cillian Fanfic, Chapter 24

Hello, welcome back. Below is the next instalment of my fanfiction!

Leave a like or a comment if you liked it, or if I can do anything better! Please, it would mean the world and to understand if anyone is enjoying my writing. Also, sharing/reblogging would be even better.

PLEASE READ:

I will not be including Cillian’s family as it’s kinda weird since he has children lmao. Just a mention of his parents and a previous lover.

I will indicate in a chapter if there is smut in the beginning and before the actual scene!!

I will add trigger warnings if there is any!!

There is a variety of levels of swearing during a chapter, I will not hold back, everyone swears.

The timestamp for the Fic is now 2016 and onwards!!

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Background: Gabrijela Babic is a Croatian girl from Sydney, Australia. She is born in the year 1991 on the 24th of December. She studies a Fashion degree in a University with a major in Game Design as well. Her teacher in the fashion designer class managed to nail an Internship on the set of Peaky Blinders with the shows very own Costume Designer, Allison McCosh. There, she travels to London for under a year to learn how to be one, working alongside the actors as well the man she admires, Cillian Murphy. But, her platonic feelings for the man begins to grow into something more, and she wonders whether she should pursue them or let him go for fear of her strict parents and her three older brothers…

Characters:

Swantje Paulina as Gabrijela Babic (swalina on Instagram)

Cillian Murphy

Word Count: 5,235

!!Warnings!!: Mention of abortion near the end

Date: February 2017

Chapter Name: Maya’s Wedding Day

Brief Chapter Outline: The pair attend’s Maya’s wedding, it’s all nice and happy until Lucia ruins the surprise for Gabrijela. It ends with the following day after-party at Maya’s parents house.

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It was an early start for Gabrijela and Cillian. They took another shower, Gab going first since she had to be ready quicker and she took her time when it came to doing her hair and make-up.

"You look fine without all of that on." Cillian mused.

She huffed, "Yes. You've told me many times. But it's only for these special occasions I'll go full out. Or if I'm streaming a game." She was combing her wet hair once she was out of the shower.

"I have yet to see you do a stream," Cillian said.

"Well, I do plan on a stream next weekend. You can watch." She giggled.

"Sounds like a good idea." He nodded and went into the shower.

Gabrijela dried her hair and worked on it. It was a half up half down style with a braid, the loose ends were in soft waves as her hair was like that naturally. She cleaned up her jewellery next, she had found some earrings that could match her necklace, they were simple gold sunbursts with a little opal in the middle. She still had that Claddagh ring on and admired it. She truly loved it. She popped on their shared music playlist as she set on her make-up. She kept it quite natural, when she would come back she would add more to match her evening dress. Her dress for the church was an off the shoulder, white top section with the skirt a rose gold with four big white flowers. She wore flats with a small heel.

Cillian was ready in his suit, he was fixing up his collar as Gabrijela came over and did his tie, "You look dashing, babe." She adjusted his tie and collar and rubbed down his jacket.

"And you look stunning." He held her forearms gently.

"Thank you. Can I take a photo?" She grinned.

"Okay." He chuckled and they posed before the mirror as she snapped a pic. "Oh, we look good."

"We do. A perfect couple." She leaned up and kissed his cheek gently.

They pulled away and she grabbed her bag, checked for anything she was missing and off they went. Her family were finishing up and the kids mucked around near the parking lot. They all greeted each other before they all got into their own cars. Her parents would join in her car, she would lead her family to the church.

Once everyone got to the church, they mingled with the rest of the guests and Gabrijela found her group of friends. They all greeted each other.

"How was the drive?" Elijah asked.

"Good. I'm tired since we left right after I finished work." Gabrijela laughed. "Don't give me that look you kinky asshat. No. I'm not tired because of that." She punched his shoulder.

He grinned, "Sure thing. Hey, I gotta tell you something though."

"Oh? What is it?" Gab asked.

"Before we all knew what Lucia had done to you and the shit she caused us, she is still coming to the wedding. Maya wanted to tell her not to come but she felt way to bad. You know how she is." Elijah said.

Gab sighed heavily, "Thanks for telling me. I'll make sure I keep away from her."

"No problemo. I think she's just coming to the reception so you got time to get yourself ready if she ever tries to face off with you." Elijah patted her shoulder.

"Yeah. Again, thanks." She smiled.

It was time to head into the church and she took Cillian's hand. Together they sat near the front with her family and friends. Ben was standing up at the front with his mates, looking very nervous. Twenty minutes passed before the bride had arrived. The guests all stood as the little flower girls, both Maya's and Ben's, walked down the aisle, throwing flowers along the way but were giggling and kept getting distracted. Then it was the ring boys who were close to the girl's ages, followed by the three bridesmaids. The music began as Maya and her father walked together down the aisle. She had a beautiful lace dress which had a Queen Anne collar and short flowing sleeves. The bodice was hand made and had little crystals sewn in the middle of the flower designs. She looked absolutely stunning and very happy.

The ceremony continued on, it was seriously perfect. Their vows were their own and it brought tears to both their eyes. Gab felt Cillian slip his hand in hers and squeeze gently. She looked up and he smiled at her, she returned it. She looked back when they exchanged rings... She wondered if she was ever going to get married.

Once the ceremony ended, the Croatian band started and played music as they walked out followed by the bridal party then soon after the guests. Everyone gathered in front of the church and took a photo, then a big circle was formed and the bride and groom danced to the music. People clapped and cheered, more photos taken and people congratulated them. The bride and groom eventually left to go have their photos taken, some people headed back to their hotel rooms or straight to the reception that was being held at the Hunter Valley Gardens.

Gab and Cillian headed back to their hotel with her parents in tow. They all relaxed in the garden as it was cooler, Leo had brought drinks and they had some. Gab stuck with her lemon lime and bitters. Music played from the boom box she brought along, the kids asleep, the air warm but not to much to cause you to sweat. Then it was time to get ready, Gabrijela changing into her other dress, Cillian helping with the lace back. She laughed when he gripped her hips and pulled her close, kissing her shoulder then to her neck. She tangled her fingers in his hair, "Don't, babe. You know what will happen."

"Just don't think about it." He said, coming to her jaw.

"Bastard." She was turned around to face him and she planted her hands on his chest. "I. Love. You."

"And I. Love. You. Too." He leaned in and kissed her softly, "You look really beautiful."

"Thank you. You look really handsome." She smiled and fixed his hair.

He took her face in his hands gently and he smiled, "Shall we go?"

"We shall." They kissed and pulled away and headed out and soon left to go to the gardens. It was done outside with a huge marquis that was decked out in a very boho, natural theme. Pretty lightbulbs hung from the beams above (which looked like branches), the poles were designed to look like tree trunks with curling flowering vines. The tables had three types of designs, one had the red wattle, yellow kangaroo paws and the eucalyptus flower with leaves sprinkled on the tables. The bridal table was similar but much more extravagant with flowers draped at the front with fairy lights woven between them and as the backdrop to.

Gabrijela took the stem of rosemary from the basket, it had a red, blue and white ribbon at the end and she pinned it to Cillian's jacket lapel.

"What is this for?" Cillian asked.

"All Croatian weddings have this. Each guest gets it. Tradition says it wards off evil spirits and that guests then give money." She pointed to the box. "Though, you would give a card instead of just dumping it in." She held the card up and grinned before she put it in the box. "I already bought her a gift, a Smeg Toaster that will match her other Smeg items in their new house."

Cillian chuckled, "Nice." He took her hand as they walked to their table. They were seated with her friends, Elijah at her side.

"Please tell me she won't be on our table?" Gab asked Elijah.

"Sadly she will be, but don't you worry. We got you." He hugged her a little and squeezed her shoulder. "Also you look fantastic. You both do."

"Thanks, Eli." Gab smiled a little before she sighed. "Ah fuck." Gab cursed when she saw Lucia walk in what looked like a much older man.

"Now that is a first," Karsyn said with a raised brow, he was seated beside Cillian.

"What the hell." Gab groaned.

"It's going to be okay." Cillian gripped her hand, touching her face, "I love you."

Gab smiled and touched his hand as Lucia beamed, "Hi guys! Good to see you all." She exclaimed.

"Nice to see you too," Elijah said with a tight smile.

Karsyn only ignored her and talked to his fiancee.

"Well, this is David. My boyfriend." She introduced the sketchy looking dude. Lucia told him each of their names before they sat down. The vibe on the table was weird since no one was really talking to Lucia. Gab kept her attention on Cillian, showing him something on her phone.

"So! Gab-gab, how have you been?" Lucia chimed in, beaming.

Gab looked up, "It's Gabrijela. I've been fine." She leaned into Cillian's side, gripping his thigh.

David seemed intrigued but he didn't talk, keeping mostly to himself.

"That's good. You like my handsome boyfriend? He's super sweet. He's also from Ireland to. We both have guys who got in common. Should hang out." Lucia nodded.

Gabrijela bit her bottom lip and took a quick glance at her friends who also seemed like 'WTF'. "Uh, don't know. I'm quite busy."

"I'm sure we will find a day! I'll message you. Did you change your number? Been trying to get back to you." Lucia frowned.

"Uh. Yeah-"

"Oh then please, give it to me. I want to organise a day-" Lucia started.

"No. I will not. I'm busy, Lucia. I have no time to meet up with you." Gabrijela already felt annoyed and she felt embarrassed for her boyfriend who was trying to tell Lucia to stop.

"Why not? I want to see you again." She pouted, tears in her eyes. "I miss you!" She cried. David grabbed her and hushed her, whispering fast to her and she was whimpering.

"Jesus." Gabrijela turned away from her, shaking her head. "I'm already fucking sick of her." Gabrijela felt that second-hand embarrassment.

"It's okay. I'm here for you." Cillian rubbed her arms gently then took her hands and brought them to his lips. He looked at Lucia who was staring at him with clear vile anger. He only looked back to his love and kissed her forehead.

No one talked to Lucia despite she was trying to chat up the ladies on the table. Very light conversation before she finally got the gist of it.

Eventually, the bride and groom had arrived. The bridal party went first in, each couple had their own song they danced to as they entered followed by Ben and Maya. They picked a lovely Croatian song and they danced together in the middle of the dance floor. Then they parted after it was done and took their spots on the table.

Their MC, Maya's cousin, welcomed everyone and complimented the bridal party and the couple before he sneaked in some jokes before he departed. The first-course meal was then brought out soon after, people were chatting, music was playing. There was going to be a live band, she could see it. She loved live Croatian bands, and these guys were good.

Lucia got up to go talk to some people she saw, leaving poor David alone.

"Hey mate." Elijah spoke up, smiling at the man, "I gotta ask, what are you doing with her?"

"With Lucia? Like anyone else, dating her." David sat a little straighter.

"Right. Right." Elijah sat back.

"I'd like to ask why you all gave her such a cold greeting. Are you not her closest friends? Especially you?" David looked at Gab.

"Was. She's no longer our friend." Gabrijela said. She wondered if Lucia had even told David why they never spoke. It looked like he was quite confused.

"That doesn't mean you should give her the cold shoulder." David frowned, "She's proven to be an actual lovely girl."

"Oh? So you know what she did?" Gabrijela asked, tilting her head to the side.

"Yes. She told me she made a mistake with sleeping with your now ex. She truly wants to make it up to you." David replied.

"Yeah. No. She did not make that mistake. She wanted it." Gabrijela scoffed, shaking her head. Cillian gripped her thigh, squeezing to remind her to stay calm.

"Have you ever spoken to her about it? She said you just dropped her." David cocked an eyebrow.

"Of course. I won't be dealing with people who cheat. I've dealt with people like that, don't need it in my life." Gab replied smoothly.

"But you should-" David began.

"Listen, mate. She said she doesn't want to be friends with her. Drop it. Besides, how long have you been dating Lucia?" Elijah cut him off.

"Three months," David said.

"Right. And you understand that she was causing some shit with us, as well?"

"Yes but-"

"No buts here. Just understand that she's cut deep wounds with us all and we aren't the type to just happily oblige her just because she throws a tantrum. You just saw it yourself." Elijah said, his eyes hard.

David frowned and glanced at Gabrijela and her man then sighed and sat back, arms crossed.

Gabrijela looked away and saw Maya looking at them, she gave her a smile of reassurance and a promise they would talk later.

It wasn't long when it came to the first dance. Gabrijela explained to Cillian the meaning behind the song and how much it meant to Maya and Ben. He found it quite romantic as they watched the pair dance. The rest of the bridal party danced until anyone else may come up.

"Shall we?" Gabrijela turned to Cillian.

"Dance?" He asked.

"Yeah. Come on, my love." She said as she stood up and took his hands. They walked to the dance floor and he spun her before he pulled her close. They swayed to the music, her head resting on his chest. She imagined them on their wedding day like this.

"You make me so unbelievably happy, Cillian." She said, her eyes shut.

His lips brushed her forehead, his thumb ran over her knuckles slowly, "I can say the same for you. You are truly a woman I love."

She loved that word in his accent, it made her shiver, "My Cillian." She looked up at him and leaned up to kiss him softly.

He smiled and they pressed foreheads. Maya made an 'aw' sound as they came close.

"You two are so cute!" She beamed and broke away from Ben to hug Gabrijela.

Gab laughed as she hugged her friend back as Cillian shook hands with Ben, "Congrats. You look so good! Ugh!"

"Thanks. Oh my god. I love this dress. It suits you so well!" Maya beamed. The girls gushed over each other before they danced, their men stood off to the side to talk.

"I have something really important to tell you and the gang," Gab said to Maya as they twirled.

"Oh? How important?" Maya asked with a smile.

"Very. After all the formalities are done we all meet under the willow tree." Gab giggled.

"Oooh, secrets. I love secrets." Maya mused.

They parted as the dance ended and they all took their seats once more. It was time to do the speeches, which were very sweet, a lot of tears from both Maya, Ben and Maya's dad and Ben's best man. The speeches really tugged at the heartstrings. Even for Gabrijela. Then it was time to cut the cake, which of course almost turned out into a food fight but Maya wasn't having it. Once the cake was taken away and people calmed down it was time to throw the bouquet and Gabrijela was up on her feet.

"Hey! You aren't single!" Elijah shouted.

"Don't care!" Gab stuck her tongue out as all the girls gathered. Music played as Maya swayed and messed around... Then threw the flowers. The girls cried out and reached for it... Gab caught it as she tittered to the side and fell down as she laughed.

"Woo!" She yelled as Cillian rushed to her side.

"You okay my love?" He asked, eyes wide.

"I am. I am." She giggled and kissed him as he helped her to her feet. "Now it's your turn." She said as Maya came over.

"You good? Holy crap you were determined." Maya laughed.

"Yep! I was!" She nodded as they took a picture together.

"What do you mean it's my turn?" Cillian asked as they pulled away.

"You'll see." Gabbie pulled him back to the table as it was now Ben's turn.

Ben had done a whole 'Magic Mike' kinda dance for Maya who was red as a tomato. He stripped and paraded around her before he got to his knees and went under her skirts. She laughed and giggled as he finally took out the garter.

"Up you go, babe. Go catch it." Gab whispered to him.

"Oh, God." He laughed and stood to join the boys.

"Don't you hurt him!" Gab yelled, pointing at Ben's brothers and cousins.

Ben also did the teasing before he threw it. Gab gasped as the group surged forward... Cillian came out victorious! He laughed as he was bear-hugged by the group and Gabrijela was called up. They took photos together then with the bride and groom before Cillian and Gabrijela began to dance. It was an old tradition that they would do this. They did a bit of a jig together and laughed and mucked around, people cheering and clapping.

It was time to sit down as dessert came out, chocolate fudge cake. Gabrijela groaned as the dish was set before her, Cillian getting some type of ice-cream and some other cake. "Let's share," Gab said and they did, going half and half with their dishes.

Gab waited when Lucia decided to leave and she whispered to Elijah and Karsyn to follow her. They all got up, including the wives as they walked out to the willow tree. Gab waited back as her friends had all gathered there and looked up at Cillian, "You still okay with me telling them?" She asked him. They had discussed on the drive that Gabrijela would tell her friends about her being pregnant. They both agreed they would do it tonight.

"I'm perfectly fine with this. I swear it. Your friends deserve to know and I am more than happy to tell them." He squeezed her hands.

Gabbie beamed and together they went to their group of friends.

"Spill it, girlie." Maya grinned.

"Well..." Gabbie glanced at Cillian then back at her friends. "I'm pregnant!"

There was a moment and Maya was the one who gasped, "Really? Oh my god!"

"Yep! I am!" Gabrijela laughed as she was crushed against her friend's body in a tight hug.

"Congratulations!" Karsyn and Elijah said as they all hugged each other.

"When are you due?" Maya asked.

"Don't know. Maybe October or November if my calculations are right." Gabrijela giggled as Cillian pulled her close.

"Are you excited?" Ben asked Cillian.

"Oh very much so. I can't wait." Cillian grinned and looked down at Gabrijela.

There was excited chatter among her friends, and they eventually found out they were all first to know before her family. That was another obstacle to get across.

"What's all this excitement?" Lucia had wandered over and looked at everyone, "And why was I left out of it?"

Everyone turned to look at her, "None of your business." Elijah smiled.

"Is someone pregnant?" Lucia continued, "Who? C'mon, tell me." She crossed her arms.

"None. Of. Your. Business." Elijah said again, "No one needs to tell you anything."

"I wasn't asking you." She snapped at Elijah. "Ladies? Someone gonna tell me?"

"No." Gabrijela frowned, "Elijah is right. We don't need to tell you shit." She said, "Come on, let's go back inside." Gab said and walked with Cillian, holding his hand.

Everyone followed inside, leaving Lucia alone.

The night continued with more dancing and taking silly photos in the photo booth. Gabrijela and Cillian headed into the garden again where they kissed under a tree for some time where things began to grow hotter until Elijah, Karsyn and Ben ruined the fun. Gab was happy her friends were super supportive of their relationship, the boys loved Cillian, they acted mature but also had heaps of fun.

Gab couldn't get her eyes off Cillian the whole time, and Maya kept teasing her about it.

"Shut up." Gab rolled her eyes, shoving her friend a little.

"Nah. Not when you got googly eyes and drooling all over yourself." Maya laughed.

"Sorry, can't help that my boyfriend is a total snack." Gabbie mused.

"And cheers to that!" Maya beamed and they clinked glasses.

The girls chatted with each other before Gab spotted her parents looking around before their gazes fell on to Gab and wandered over.

"Gab, we need to chat." Her father said with a firm tone. "Alone."

Gabrijela frowned but her friends all got up and left, Maya mouthing 'Come to me if you need it' and turned to go.

"Okay... What's up?" Gab was confused as to why her father looked so grim. And angry.

"Well, is there something you'd like to tell us?" Her father stared at her, his scowl was clear.

"Tell you... What?" Gabrijela seemed more confused than anything.

"Gabrijela, don't play dumb. We know you are pregnant." Her father snapped.

Gab winced and her eyes widened, "What?" She had no words.

"Lucia told us. You told your friends first without consulting with us." Her father continued.

"You should have told us so we can discuss whether you will be keeping it or not." Her mother added.

"Well, I was planning to." Gab restrained her anger, "But I wasn't going to tell you yet. I wanted to make it a surprise. But it seems you both are not happy I am pregnant, am I correct?"

"Of course not. I've never been happy with this relationship either, I do not see a good future with this man at all. Why couldn't you be with someone closer to your age? Why must you waste away your life-"

"First of all," Gab cut her father off, glaring at him, "It is none of your damn business on who I date. I love Cillian, for who he is. Not because he is an older man. I never cared about it, I care about how he treats me and how we are together. You should be happy he makes me happy." She said with a clear, hard voice. No way would she let her parents trample over her like this.

"And does he know about you being pregnant?" Her mother scoffed a little.

"Of course. And we have a plan about when I am due, he will spend the few weeks here with me. Supporting me." Gab straightened her shoulders. She wouldn't let them shit on Cillian either.

Her parents let out a sigh, "And through it? How will he support you here when he isn't here?" Her father asked.

"Of course he can't come with me to the appointments so I have Maya to help me with it. Why does it matter? He is dedicated to me and with this baby, he will do whatever he can to help me." Gabrijela said.

But the next words that came from her mother hurt the most, "Darling, I do not think this is a good idea. How will your child grow up with an old man who won't be able to keep up? I know this is hard but we can talk to a doctor about-"

Gabrijela stood, tears forming in her eyes, "How dare you! Don't you talk to me about aborting my child! Of all the people, I thought you'd be happy or at least kind about this! I cannot believe you'd think I'd choose to rid my child."

"Baby, what's going on?" Cillian had rushed over when he heard her raised voice and had seen the trio interact.

"I just- God! You are unbelievably cruel!" She was crying now, tears streaming down her face.

"Damnit Gabrijela, you are ruining your life! This whole thing is a mistake, why couldn't you just behave yourself?" Her father stood, "I do not accept what you have with this man, or what you are carrying. You are no daughter to me."

The words speared her heart, "I HATE YOU! FUCK YOU!" Gabrijela screamed and turned and ran off.

Cillian turned to her father, having had enough of this, "How could you say that to your own daughter?" Fuck being nice. This was his love and future mother to his child. "What a terrible thing to say, you should be comforting her and aiding her. Not turn her away." He shook his head, "I love her, I love our child. There is nothing you can do about it. I'd like you to reconsider your words to her and make peace if you have the heart to do so." Cillian turned and ran after Gabrijela.

Her parents were in shock but had not said anything else after him.

Gabrijela was in the bathroom, crying in one of the stalls. Maya was there, trying to comfort her and hold her. Cillian didn't care and came in, "Gabbie? My love?" He came to the closed door, he could see Maya's white dress underneath it.

Maya opened the door and let Cillian in, who gathered Gab into his arms.

"I hate them," She cried into his chest, "I can't believe they even had the guts to say such cruel things."

"Shh, I'm here now. I'm not going anywhere." He stroked her hair gently, rocking her a little.

They spent like that for a bit before he managed to walk her out, they headed out of the venue where he cleaned her face up, Maya and the rest of her friends there with her.

Though, Elijah was inside with his fiancée who was trying to calm him down and not go after Lucia who was smirking like a cat. But he didn't need to as Maya came over with her husband and told Lucia to leave.

The girl made a huge deal and a tantrum, her boyfriend super embarrassed as he had to literally lift her and carry her out of the place.

When Gab seemed to recover, Cillian held her hand as he sat beside her, his jacket around her shoulders. "I love you." He said softly, cupping her cheek and turning to face him.

She smiled a little, "I know. I love you too." She rested her head on his shoulder and he kissed her head.

"Nothing will stop me from loving you. Or our child." His hand slid over her stomach.

"You are perfect, Cillian. You really are." She looked up at him, "My handsome love." She kissed him deeply.

His arms slid around her and they kissed passionately, "When we head home, I'll make you a fantastic bath." He murmured against her lips.

"Yeah? Will you be in there, a bow on your head?" She giggled softly.

"Sure, if we have one." He pecked her lips.

She was feeling a little better but she was still hurting, "Well, long as you are there, that matters most."

"Mmm, yeah." He leaned back in and kissed her again.

"Hey, come on you two. We're going to say good-bye to Maya and Ben." Elijah broke them up.

The pair stood and walked back in, hand in hand. Everyone stood in a circle as the newlywed couple went around to each person to say good-bye. Her brothers had already left earlier because of the kids and they had a long drive home tomorrow.

Eventually, they had left after another dance and the party continued on.

Gab danced with Cillian and her other friends, not meeting her parent's eyes. By midnight the party finished and Maya's remaining family cleaned up, as well as Gab and Cillian and her parents. Once that was over they drove back to the motel in total silence. Cillian took to the wheel despite Gabrijela telling him not to.

Now at the motel, Gabrijela didn't say goodnight to her parents and simply went to her room with Cillian. She undressed as he prepared a bath, cleaned her face and combed her hair before tying it up in a bun.

Cillian had finished with the bath and she wandered over, he was undressing as well and she couldn't help but watch him. "Sexy." She purred.

He laughed, facing her full-on, "That's you. Come on, let's get in." He said and helped her in before he slid behind her. He set up some music for them to listen to as they relaxed in silence. Cillian could feel Gab falling asleep and woke her up before he washed her. He got out with her and dried her and dressed her in one of his shirts and boxers.

Together they slipped into bed, him being the big spoon.

"I love you." She murmured softly.

"I love you too." He replied gently, kissing the back of her neck.

They both eventually fell asleep.

The Next Day...

Gab was glad her parents weren't coming in the same car to Maya's after-party at her parent's house. Cillian had agreed as well as they packed the car. Soon they were on the road to the country house where they were able to stay the night as well.

The party was only close friends and family, it was a clear but hot day. It was all outside but undercover thankfully. A Croatian band was playing and a little dance floor was set out.

It was nice, Gab thought. She loved weddings and always dreamed of being married to someone she loved, and she gazed at Cillian once more with that cute, small smile.

"What?" He asked as he looked at her, they were dancing.

"Nothin'. Just admiring you." She said. She wore a short yellow summer dress with white polka dots. She still had his necklace he gave her all those months ago.

"Uh-huh." He said and kissed her softly as they swayed.

The afternoon continued on with plenty of laughter, food, dancing, singing and drinking. The majority had gone home by four, but the party kept going well into the night.

Gab had fallen asleep in the egg chair as her friends chatted around her, and Cillian had come over to pick her up and take her up to the spare bedroom. He undressed her and went back down to say goodnight to everyone before he joined his love in bed.

She had rolled and snuggled close to his side, mumbling something but kept on sleeping.

He stayed awake a little, watching her peaceful state. He let his mind think and wonder, feeling totally blessed to have her with him. Tomorrow, he thought, he needed to go out to the shops and buy a few things before they left to go to their camping trip on Wednesday.

He knew what he had to do and he was nervous about it.

#cillian murphy #thomas shelby #peaky blinders #cillian murphy fanfic #fanfiction

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livingcorner · 3 years ago

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How to Make a Crystal Garden for a Science Project@|how to grow your own crystal garden@|https://images.saymedia-content.com/.image/t_share/MTc0Mzk0MDExMTkxMDkyNTg0/how-to-make-a-crystal-garden.jpg@|0

Just a geeky mom who loves to share science with her kids. She teaches how to do simple science experiments that anyone can do from home.

Easy instructions to make a salt crystal garden

You're reading: How to Make a Crystal Garden for a Science Project@|how to grow your own crystal garden@|https://images.saymedia-content.com/.image/t_share/MTc0Mzk0MDExMTkxMDkyNTg0/how-to-make-a-crystal-garden.jpg@|0

I was recently introduced to growing a salt crystal garden by a friend of mine. She had beautiful cauliflower-like blooms growing in a dish on her countertop. Once I saw it, I decided that it was a must-do project for the kids and me. I had most of the items I needed to grow the garden lying around the house, and the time spent to make it was minimal. It is so easy, but yet so satisfying to watch the crystals in the garden grow.

This would be great for kids looking for a science fair project, but even without the science fair, it’s fun. My kids were mesmerized by the growing crystals and seeing how they changed each day. So without further ado, here are instructions on how to make your own salt crystal garden.

Supplies

Salt

Ammonia

Mrs. Stewarts Bluing (find this in the laundry section of the store)

Warm Water

Sponges

Container to grow crystals (glass or plastic work well)

Food Coloring (optional)

Instructions

Day One

Wet the sponges and squeeze them out. Next, cut the sponge into small sections that are about an inch or two big. Then place the individual sponge pieces into the container you’ll use to grow your garden. It depends on the size of your container how many pieces you use. Our containers each had one sponge in them. We tried to get creative with the building the base of our garden, but to be honest, the gardens with sponges stacked on each other took longer for the crystals to form. Crystals still grew, but the results were a bit slower.

Sponges arranged in the plastic container.

Next, for each crystal garden take 2 tablespoons of salt, ammonia, liquid bluing, and warm water and combine them in a measuring cup. Stir until you can no longer get the salt to dissolve. All of the salt won’t dissolve, so don’t try. Just mix it until you feel it’s as dissolved as it’s going to get.

After the solution is combined, pour it over the sponges. When you get to the mucky blue salt at the bottom, drop it on top each of the sponges. Make sure to use all of the mixture.

Sponges waiting for crystals to form.

If you’d like to use food coloring, now is the time. A few drops here and there on top of the salt blobs will suffice. We found that blue worked best. Green turned teal blue, and red and yellow really didn’t leave a color at all. If you don’t use food coloring the crystals will be white which is quite stunning.

I’m not exaggerating when I say the crystals will begin blooming within the hour. The overnight results are amazing.

Crystals beginning to bloom after just a couple of hours.

Crystal Garden in the morning. Only 10 hours after starting.

Day Two

Add two more tablespoons of salt to the places on the sponges that crystals didn’t form. The crystals will continue to form throughout the day.

Day Three and Beyond

Prepare a half batch of the original mixture and pour it into the bottom of the container. This is the food that will keep the crystals blooming. You can continue to add the mixture every few days and your crystal garden will grow for in infinite amount of time. Ours grew for over 3 months until we decided we our needed the counter space back.

The crystal garden is growing up the sides of the container.

Crystal Garden Hints and Tips

The crystals are very fragile. They will collapse if you touch them. They may collapse when you move them. No worries though, they will grow back when you “feed” your garden.

You can add food coloring at any time, but it will dissolve your crystals. The good news is they will grow again each time you add more of the ammonia, salt, bluing mixture.

Ammonia is not needed to get the crystals to grow. It actually just aids in the evaporation process. Leave ammonia out if you wish, but realize it will take longer for the crystals to form.

After days of feeding your garden it may begin to try to escape your original container by growing up the sides. That’s ok, just put the container inside a larger container like a cake pan.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with the crystals. After months of feeding the crystals we tried to kill them off by just adding water, instead of the solution. Guess what, they still grew back for days.

Any porous substance can be used instead of sponges; charcoal or lava rock would make a good substitution.

Air needs to flow freely around the crystal garden for it to grow, so don’t cover it up.

Put food coloring in different places to have both white and blue flowering crystals.

The Science Behind the Crystal Garden

Definitions

Read more: How to make a living wall – an easy step by step to DIY your own living wall system@|how to make a green wall garden@|https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YZYpqoj72ggrEjU3MUf9p5-1200-80.jpg@|0

Soluble – easily dissolved, especially in water.

Crystalize – to change from a liquid to a solid form that is made up of crystals.

Evaporation – to change from a liquid state to a gaseous state.

Colloidal Suspension – A substance where the particles of the solution are mixed, but they are not dissolved.

Porous Substance – Any substance having small spaces or holes through which air or liquid may pass.

Capillary action – The ability for liquid to travel through small spaces without the help of forces like gravity.

A month later and this crystal garden is still blooming.

Now that you know the science terms here’s how they apply to the salt crystal garden. First off, salt is a soluble crystal, therefore, it’s a crystal that can be dissolved in water. In any salt and water solution when the liquid evaporates the salt will crystalize. Think of a saltwater fish tank, in all saltwater fish tanks a white powdery crystal substance can be found at the top. This is because water in the tank has dissolved leaving salt crystals at the top of tank. You can test this for yourself by dissolving 1 teaspoon of salt in one cup of hot water. After a few days, some of the water will evaporate and white crystals will form at the point where the water originally started.

Your crystal garden will start to look like cauliflower if you don’t feed it for a several days. It’s still pretty.

In the recipe for the crystal garden large amounts of salt are added in proportion to the amount of liquid. You can see this just from the fact that when mixed it is impossible to get all of the salt to dissolve.

Because there is so little liquid, the crystals will form quickly. The Mrs. Stewarts bluing acts as a colloidal suspension in the mixture. Since the bluing particles are not dissolved, they form the nucleus of the crystals and allow the salt garden to bloom around it rather than form chunky solid salt crystals.

As mentioned earlier, the ammonia aids in rapid evaporation. It not only evaporates quickly, but it also helps the water and liquid bluing to evaporate quickly.

On day three and beyond you should add the mixture to the bottom of the container. This helps keep the crystals from being disturbed. Because the sponges are porous, the mixture will be drawn up through the sponges by capillary action. This feeds the crystals, and keeps them growing for months as long as you remember to feed them. If you don’t feed them, the crystals stay for a while, but their appearance changes dramatically.

So whether you are planning your next science project, or just want to have fun growing a crystal garden this project is a must try.

What are you waiting for? Start your crystal garden today!

Comments

Shellie on July 27, 2020:

Can the crystals be preserved or “sealed” somehow without damage? Example: epoxy, laquer, glue, etc…

Jahra. on March 15, 2020:

Another set of questions:

Can I use some other blueing product other than Mrs Stewart’s ?

Does the blueing affect the coloring of the crystals ?

What’ll happen if I don’t put blueing in the solution ?

Is it possible to keep the crystals as they are without having to feed them over and over again ?

Can transparent liquid resin be poured on the garden to add a protective layer ?

Jahra on March 14, 2020:

Hi ! May I ask what salt have you used ? And which section of the grocery store do you find ammonia ?

grant on March 01, 2018:

so is there a different way to add, do you have to mix the salt together

Kathy Hull (author) from Bloomington, Illinois on May 04, 2016:

I got Mrs. Stewarts Blueing at my local grocery store, but they also sell it on Amazon.

Jeffery on May 03, 2016:

Agreed with Jeff .

jeff on May 03, 2016:

Read more: 6 things to think about before preparing a raised bed garden@|how to prepare a raised garden bed@|https://i0.wp.com/savvygardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/raised-bed.jpg?fit=657%2C360&ssl=1@|0

WHERE CAN U GET MRS STEWARTS BLUEING DUDE!! THEY DO NOT SELL IT ANYMORE !!

Glenn Stok from Long Island, NY on August 03, 2015:

This is great. I actually remember doing this when I was a kid. But then again, I always played around with experiments similar to this at that age.

I have a friend who has a nine year old daughter and I’m passing this hub on to her. I think her daughter will love it. And it’s a great learning process too.

Kathy Hull (author) from Bloomington, Illinois on June 27, 2015:

I don’t see why not, I actually think it would turn out pretty cool in an aquarium.

Susan Britton from Ontario, Canada on June 27, 2015:

Would this work in an empty aquarium. I have 2 that I dont want fish in anymore? I love this idea.

Liz Elias from Oakley, CA on June 25, 2015:

I vaguely recall doing something similar when I was a kid. I’m definitely passing this along for the grandkids to try.

But, I’ll have to wait until later; for some reason, all the various share buttons and not visible on this little notebook computer.

Voted up +++ Congrats on the EC

Vic Dillinger on June 25, 2015:

What a fun article!

Karen A Szklany from New England on June 25, 2015:

Thank you for reviving my interest in this project. I’ve known about it and haven’t done it with my daughter yet. Will try it today.

It was very useful to know that I could leave out the ammonia. Not a fan of the stuff, so we can be patient about the evaporation process. Can’t wait to do it….may wait for her friend to come and each of them can make one.

Venkatachari M from Hyderabad, India on June 24, 2015:

Awesome idea of growing artificial gardens in your home. It is very interesting and exciting too even for grown ups, not to mention children.

Thanks for sharing it. Voted up and awesome and sharing G+

Rota on June 24, 2015:

Love this! Something really different to do and watch grow

Factable News from Lagos on June 24, 2015:

Lovely and nice, maybe i should try it out .

FlourishAnyway from USA on June 16, 2015:

This seems like a cool summer science project to do with the kids. Graf hub! Voted up and more!

Source: https://livingcorner.com.au Category: Blog

source https://livingcorner.com.au/how-to-make-a-crystal-garden-for-a-science-projecthow-to-grow-your-own-crystal-gardenhttps-images-saymedia-content-com-image-t_share-mtc0mzk0mdexmtkxmdkyntg0-how-to-make-a-crystal-garden-j/

#livingcornernews

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certainheartrunaway · 6 years ago

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GETTING READY FOR DAYTON!

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“George Thomas’ guide to shopping for quality audio connectors. How to spot good audio connectors with George, Show Us Your Project with Randy, get the most out of Dayton Hamvention with the ARRL’s mobile app, 2019 Hamvention souvenir patch and lanyards with Don, solar weather with Dr. Skov, chatroom questions with Amanda and more! Hosts: Bob Heil, George Thomas, Don Wilbanks, Amanda Alden, Dale Puckett “

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wp-yahoo-style-1042-yahoopa-blog · 8 years ago

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2017 Golden Globes Best and Worst Dressed: Yahoo’s Choice!

Officially, the Golden Globes may be about recognizing the year’s standout movies and television shows, but let’s face it, isn’t it really all about style? And also about judging and relishing all those gorgeously, insanely over-the-top fashion faux pas? To decide on this year’s fashion winners and losers, Yahoo Style asked our readers to weigh in with their judgments. Click through for the results. Power to the people!

Best: Blake Lively in Atelier Versace

Blake Lively wore a custom black velvet Atelier Versace gown with Swarovski crystal chain-mail details and a sweetheart cutout. And how can we ignore those stunning Lorraine Schwartz emerald-and-diamond cuffs?! (Photo: Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Style

Worst: Sarah Jessica Parker in Vera Wang

Sarah Jessica Parker wore a light ivory, silk faille, plunging V-neck gown with draped skirt and sleeves and jeweled belt detail from Vera Wang. The combination of Parker’s peekaboo sleeves and the big updo obviously wasn’t a good one. As commenter on TMZ put it, the Divorce actress looked like “Martha Washington’s mother.” (Photo: Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Style

Best: Drew Barrymore in Monique Lhuillier

Genna commented that while she thought that Lily Collins’s look was far and away the best of the night, she thought Drew Barrymore was “stunning” as well in an ombré metallic Art-Deco-sunburst-embroidered, cape-sleeve sheath dress from designer Monique Lhuillier’s spring 2017 collection. (Photo: Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Style

Worst: Nicole Kidman in Alexander McQueen

Nicole Kidman wears Alexander McQueen’s silver wave "shipwreck" sequined, embroidered ivory gown with a distressed tulle train from the designer’s spring/summer 2017 collection. Ms. Allen named Nicole Kidman worst-dressed, mainly because of her color choice. “Why does Nicole Kidman always [wear] pale colors? She looks pale and washed [out]. She should be wearing vibrant purple, emerald green even black. She wouldn’t [look] like a corpse.” (Photo: Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Style

Best: Regina King in Romona Keveza

Regina King in metallic Romona Keveza strapless gown with a slim column skirt. With 93 percent of people voting for her as best dressed, Regina King in Romona Keveza was one of the favorites of the night. (Photo: Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Style

Worst: Emily Ratajkowski in Reem Acra

Emily Ratajkowski’s yellow silk gown showed a lot of skin, but that still didn’t get her a spot on the best dressed list. Even with the dramatic cascading diamanté back! (Photo: Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Style

Best: Lily Collins in Zuhair Murad

Lily Collins was a clear favorite with so many people in an elaborately embroidered floral gown, nipped at the waist with a sheer neckline from Zuhair Murad. “My favorite is Lily Collins. She looks absolutely fabulous,” C wrote in the comments section. (Photo: Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Style

Best: Angela Bassett in Christian Siriano

Angela Bassett in a pink off the shoulder gown by Christian Siriano. (Photo: Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Style

Worst: Felicity Jones in Gucci

Felicity Jones wore a Gucci silk tulle gown with tromp l’oeil beading with a crystal bow, but the most fun was the shoes she wore that you couldn’t see. They were Gucci platforms with a cat-head detail! (Photo: Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Style

Best: Kristen Bell in Jenny Packham

Kristen Bell wore a a black sequin and crystal tuxedo gown from the Jenny Packham Archive. (Photo: Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Style

Best: Millie Bobby Brown in Jenny Packham

12 year old Millie Bobby Brown wears a silver crystal and sequin embellished illusion tulle off the shoulder cocktail dress from British designer Jenny Packham. (Photo: Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Style

Best: Amy Adams in Tom Ford

Amy Adams wore a Tom Ford gray anthracite-sequined strapless evening gown. (Photo: Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Style

Worst: Ruth Negga in Louis Vuitton

Ruth Negga is wearing a zipped gown custom made dress in black chiffon embroidered all over with three shades of gold mini paillettes. The dress is embellished with rubber cords, leather bands and metallic clasps. (Photo: Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Style

Worst: Tracee Ellis Ross in Zuhair Murad

Tracee Ellis Ross wearing a silver strapless beaded couture midi dress with an underlying corsetry. (Photo: Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Style

Worst: Jessica Biel in Elie Saab

Jessica Biel’s Elie Saab haute couture dress was a sleeveless, deep-V-neckline gown with a black velvet bodice and mini-checkerboard print skirt set with sequins, embellished with flowers in silk mousseline, crystal stones, silk threads, and beads. (Photo: Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Style

Worst: Carrie Underwood in Iris Serban

Carrie Underwood’s Iris Serban’s pink crepe long dress with hand made delicate flowers is actually part of the designer’s wedding collection! (Photo: Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Style

Worst: Jessica Chastain in Prada

Jessica Chastain in a custom Prada light blue silk-wool column gown accented with a deep V-neckline and cascading sequin, baguette, and crystal fringe embroidery. (Photo: Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Style

Worst: Michelle Williams in Louis Vuitton

Michelle Williams wears a custom made corseted bustier gown. The gown is in black organza embroidered with white lace velvet flowers. Williams accessorized this look with Louis Vuitton high jewelry Solitaire ring in platinum, one 6,01 carats flower cut diamond surrounded by 217 diamonds. (Photo: Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Style

Best: Priyanka Chopra in Ralph Lauren

Priyanka Chopra wore a one-of-a-kind hand-embroidered gold evening dress from Ralph Lauren Collection with sequins and glass beads that took 1,600 hours to make! (Photo: Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Style

Best: Mandy Moore in Naeem Khan

A crowd pleasure, this Naeem Khan gown In midnight blue silk chiffon is part of his fall 2016 gown. (Photo: Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Style

Worst: Sophie Turner in Louis Vuitton

Sophie Turner’s Louis Vuitton dress is from Nicholas Ghesquière’s Spring Summer 2017 collection for the house. (Photo: Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Style

Worst: Anna Kendrick in Vionnet

Anna Kendrick’s grey sheer plissé gown from Vionnet had an air of Grecian goddess to it but it did not win any loves from the public. (Photo: Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Style

Best: Sienna Miller in Michael Kors Collection

Sienna Miller wore a custom white beaded silk-crepe gown from Michael Kors Collection. (Photo: Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Style

Best: Julia Louis-Dreyfus in Georges Chakra

Julia Louis-Dreyfus played it safe and wore a black and white one shoulder Georges Chakra dress from his Spring Summer 2017 collection. (Photo: Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Style

Worst: Janelle Monáe in Armani Privé

Janelle Monáe wore an Armani Privé black sequined, wide-neck bodysuit dress featuring a white gathered skirt of silk taffeta covered in a oversized polka-dot paillettes. (Photo: Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Style

Best: Evan Rachel Wood in Altuzarra

Evan Rachel Wood wore a custom Altuzarra tuxedo with satin accents, waistcoat, and silk blouse. (Photo: Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Style

Best: Sofia Vergara in Zuhair Murad

Sofia Vergara was va va vroom in a gold intricate floral embellishment gown by Zuhair Murad. The long sleeved fully embroidered gown featured cut-out shoulders & a sheer mesh panel at the neckline. (Photo: Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Style

Worst: Kristen Wiig in Reem Acra

Kristen Wiig wearing a high neck white lace Reem Acra gown. (Photo: Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Style

Worst: Chrissy Teigen in Marchesa

Chrissy Teigen’s Marchesa lace gown with embellished floral details from the spring 2016 collection. (Photo: Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Style

Worst: Kerry Washington in Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda

Kerry Washington wore a gold-silk-threaded gown with crystal embellishments by Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda. (Photo: Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Style

Best: Emma Stone in Valentino Haute Couture

Emma Stone wore Valentino Haute Couture gown especially designed for her by Pierpaolo Piccioli. And if the dress wasn’t stunning enough, Stone finished the look off with Tiffany Archival necklace and diamond earrings and rings. (Photo: Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Style

Worst: Hailee Steinfeld in Vera Wang

Hailee Steinfeld wore a custom lavender hand-draped french tulle A-line off-the-shoulder gown with draped sleeve accents by Vera Wang. (Photo: Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Style

Best: Issa Rae in Christian Siriano

Issa Rae in a custom white beaded gown by Christian Siriano. (Photo: Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Style

Worst: Sarah Paulson in Marc Jacobs

Sarah Paulson wore a Marc Jacobs gold lace-embellished long-sleeve open-back gown with rolling waves of sparkling gold and silver sequins. (Photo: Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Style

Best: Viola Davis in Michael Kors Collection

Viola Davis wore a custom canary yellow paillette-embroidered stretch-tulle one-shoulder gown from Michael Kors Collection. (Photo: Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Style

Best: Reese Witherspoon in Atelier Versace

Reese Witherspoon wore a custom Atelier Versace strapless yellow gown with a sweetheart neckline and thigh-high slit. Her bling includes a Tiffany Archival necklace, yellow diamond earrings and a selection of rings. (Photo: Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Style

Worst: Zoe Saldana in Gucci

Zoe Saldana in a Gucci silk chiffon gown with asymmetrical tiered ruffled skirt and satin bow. (Photo: Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Style

#_revsp:wp.yahoo.style.us #globes 2017 #_uuid:2accc244-a629-3b78-8213-717514c3c42d #awards #awards 2017 #slideshow #best and worst dressed #_lmsid:a0Vd000000AE7lXEAT #globes #fashion

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bigyack-com · 5 years ago

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FreshDirect, After Broken Eggs and Angry Customers, Stages a Comeback

About a year and a half ago, longtime patrons of the pioneering grocery delivery service FreshDirect started complaining that orders were arriving hours late. There were broken eggs and spoiled fruit. One customer reported that she had paid $200 for groceries — only to receive nothing but seltzer and a loaf of bread.The source of the problems was FreshDirect’s multimillion-dollar headquarters in the Bronx, a sprawling distribution center with nine miles of conveyor belts that the company opened in the summer of 2018 after moving out of a smaller facility in the Long Island City section of Queens. A complex automated system was creating confusion on the floor of the new warehouse, resulting in canceled orders, missing items and long wait times.At the height of the crisis, FreshDirect’s chief executive, Jason Ackerman, stepped down and was replaced by David McInerney, who had helped run the company since the early 2000s. Over the following months, FreshDirect made logistical fixes that gradually eliminated the distribution problems. But plenty of damage had been done.“We had so much trust, we could’ve built a bank of trust,” Mr. McInerney said in a recent interview. “Over time, that trust was eroded.”Something else also eroded as FreshDirect struggled: its hold over the grocery delivery industry in New York. Over two decades, FreshDirect had accumulated a loyal following of well-to-do Manhattanites as one of the first companies in the country to execute a successful grocery delivery operation. Now, however, the company faces an increasingly wide array of rivals, including Amazon, which owns Whole Foods and won over a number of FreshDirect’s customers during the chaotic transition to the Bronx.“When FreshDirect first started, they didn’t have the competition that they have now,” said Phil Lempert, a retail and grocery analyst. “They have 100 things working against them.”While it remains the most popular online grocery service in New York, FreshDirect has seen its share of the market drop from roughly 66 percent in 2017 to 46 percent at the end of last year, according to the research firm Second Measure. Over the same period, Amazon’s share nearly tripled, from a little under 8 percent to around 22 percent. Rivals like Instacart and Stop & Shop’s Peapod brand also made up ground.“Amazon will take more and more of FreshDirect’s sales,” said Burt P. Flickinger III, a retail and supermarket consultant. “It’s the proverbial David versus Goliath story.”On some level, FreshDirect’s struggles are a normal evolution: A start-up pioneers a new business, before being gradually overtaken by well-funded imitators. But the company’s future also represents a test of whether Amazon, with its deep pockets and vast logistical infrastructure, can dominate fresh food, a market in which regional companies like FreshDirect have historically thrived.Last month, the supermarket chain Fairway, another New York institution, filed for bankruptcy for the second time in five years, blaming the increased competition from national retailers like Amazon and Trader Joe’s. In the fall, the asset-management arm of JPMorgan Chase, which led a $189 million investment in FreshDirect in 2016, discussed selling its stake with a handful of regional and national grocery chains, according to Mr. Flickinger, who said he had discussed the matter with some of the chains that JPMorgan approached. (He declined to name the chains; the talks were previously reported by The New York Post.)Still, Mr. McInerney insists he is not worried about FreshDirect’s competitors. The company has been profitable in the past, though a spokeswoman declined to reveal any details about its current financial performance, except to say that it is “showing double-digit revenue growth.” In 2017, FreshDirect generated $600 million to $700 million in sales, according to news reports.FreshDirect did not dispute that JPMorgan had discussed selling its stake, though Mr. McInerney said the company had no “immediate plans” to be acquired by a competitor. (JPMorgan’s asset-management branch declined to comment.) At the moment, FreshDirect delivers to New York, New Jersey and Washington, D.C., as well as some parts of Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Delaware. But Mr. McInerney, a loquacious and energetic former chef, has an expansive vision for the company’s future — a delivery empire stretching from Washington to Philadelphia to Boston.“Our goal is really to control the Northeast corridor,” he said. “If I were to look into the future, there could be a bifurcation of shopping, where people are buying packaged goods in one place and fresh food in another.”That’s an argument grocers across the United States make with increasing regularity, hoping that culinary expertise and locally sourced supply chains will allow them to compete with the logistical superiority of Amazon. In November, Kroger changed its slogan to “fresh for everyone” — a branding move that experts say was intended to emphasize its advantages over online rivals that have less experience supplying fresh food.“A lot of the big supermarkets are making sure that they have higher-quality fruits and vegetables, higher-quality prepared food, higher-quality deli counters,” said Judah Frommer, a grocery industry analyst at Credit Suisse. “That’s a lot of the way that local grocers are combating Amazon.”FreshDirect, of course, has no retail stores. Its carefully selected meats, cheeses and produce are delivered from distribution centers like the warehouse in the Bronx and a separate facility in Prince George’s County in Maryland.Over the last 18 months, the company has made a series of adjustments to regain the trust of customers who felt burned by the delivery issues in 2018. In the past, customers who reported missing items would receive store credit and an apology. Now, FreshDirect offers to deliver missing items immediately, at no extra cost. And first-time customers get their groceries in a different color bag than a regular delivery, so FreshDirect’s drivers know to be especially careful.But most of all, FreshDirect has staked its future on providing high-quality fresh food from around the world. On a recent afternoon, Mr. McInerney bounded through the Bronx warehouse, grabbing passing colleagues by the shoulders and enthusiastically shaking their hands. Then he stopped next to a box of unusually large blueberries.Before becoming chief executive, Mr. McInerney served as FreshDirect’s “chief food adventurer,” traveling widely with a team of food merchants to scout new products. On one trip, he said, he visited FreshDirect’s blueberry supplier, David Jackson, at his farm in California. In a shed where blueberries were being packed into boxes, Mr. McInerney noticed that some berries were larger than others.“I said, ‘Dave, could you sort out just the biggest ones for me?’” he recalled. And so FreshDirect’s signature “jumbo blueberries” were born.“It was only because we had boots on the ground that we saw that, something the farmer may not think of on their own,” Mr. McInerney said.Mr. McInerney tells a similar origin story about FreshDirect’s eggs — except, in that case, he picked out an unusually small, especially flavorful variety.But no matter how flavorful, eggs have to arrive intact for customers to continue ordering them. And after the switch to the Bronx, such basic requirements became challenging for FreshDirect. Food was out of stock. Orders arrived late or went missing. Customers were furious.The logistical chaos was largely the result of insufficient planning and a rushed transition to the new facility, which was much larger and more complex than the Long Island City headquarters, according to six people familiar with FreshDirect, including several current and former employees.It was also in line with a broader lack of organization across the company. For years, former employees said, FreshDirect’s website had been unwieldy, making it difficult and time-consuming to post updates.After the initial issues at the new headquarters, FreshDirect become better organized and more streamlined, with the help of a consultant at AlixPartners, Holly Etlin. For one thing, meetings became more efficient, according to a former employee. Ms. Etlin was a stickler for punctuality and banned employees from having laptops out during meetings where she was present. (Ms. Etlin declined to comment.)“Like many businesses facing a transition, we had enlisted internal and external expertise to make sure we emerged in an even better position to grow,” said Sabrina Strauss, a spokeswoman for FreshDirect. “They helped us on an interim basis to support our business and keep us on a positive trajectory.”Now FreshDirect is looking to move past its problems in the Bronx. For his part, Mr. McInerney professes to be more interested in fresh fish and poultry than potential acquisitions or competition from Amazon.“What we do is focus on what we do well,” Mr. McInerney said. “Which is fresh food.”In a storage room in the Bronx headquarters, he took out a box containing a large halibut, digging through a layer of ice crystals until the glistening scales emerged.“That’s a gorgeous fish,” he exclaimed, lifting it out of the box. “Look at how beautiful that is. This fish came out of the water yesterday.”He put it back down.“Pretty cool, right?” Read the full article

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caveartfair · 7 years ago

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Decades of New Yorker Covers Trace the Changing Image of Women in America

“The March,” by Abigail Gray Swartz, February 6, 2017. Courtesy of The New Yorker. Used with permission.

“Another Day, Another Egg,” by Harry Bliss, April 13, 1998. Courtesy of The New Yorker. Used with permission.

Take a snapshot of the average crowd waiting on a New York City subway platform and chances are it will be roughly split between women and men. But in April 1998, when the cover of the New Yorker magazine depicted a woman on the platform, holding both a Chanel bag and a briefcase on her way to work, it was a quietly revolutionary moment for women.

“We had gotten to the point where you can make it a woman and it’s not about the fact that she’s a woman,” said New Yorker art editor Françoise Mouly in a recent conversation with her daughter, writer Nadja Spiegelman, at the SoHo boutique of designer Rachel Comey in New York. Mouly noted that the original submission had shown a man waiting for the subway, but she thought, why can’t this be a woman? Women wait for the subway, too.

Against a backdrop of near-daily sexual harassment revelations and a broader reckoning with questions of gender, power, and the media, the pair discussed the evolution of women on New Yorker covers throughout the magazine’s 92-year history. From a World War II drawing of women socializing in a factory to the nearly published image of Hillary Clinton as the would-be first female president of the United States, the roughly 50 covers they presented reflect the magazine’s ability to mirror cultural change, challenge convention, and normalize new ideas.

To find images of women, Mouly and Spiegelman sifted through the New Yorker’s archives—which span more than 6,000 covers, each labeled by category. They focused on certain categories—including weddings, mothers, servants, literary life, love—and bypassed others such as politics, hunting, sports, or technology, which historically depicted few, if any, women.

Women at Work

“September 5, 1942,” by Constantin Aladjalov. Courtesy of The New Yorker. Used with permission.

“The First,” by Malika Favre. Courtesy of The New Yorker. Used with permission.

Among several images dating back to World War II, Mouly showed a 1941 illustration by artist William Cotton, in which a group of young women escorted by a chaperone, their eyes wide with fright, encounter a group of ogling sailors. Like many other covers at the time, the image portrayed young women as fragile and in need of protection. It is a joke about sexual harassment, said Mouly, but “the joke is on the fear of the girls, not the interest of the boys,” added Spiegelman.

Even as women began to enter the workforce to aid the war effort, New Yorker covers continued to show them as helpless, incapable, or domestic. While a government campaign encouraging women to enter the factory workforce promoted feminist icon Rosie the Riveter, whose likeness, dressed for work in coveralls and a red bandana and showing off her flexed muscle, was reproduced all over the United States, the New Yorker’s version, a 1943 illustration by Rea Irvin, showed a pampered woman clad in fitted coveralls, the bandana in her hair tied in a bow, admiring her reflection in a hand mirror while her maids straighten her bow and bring her a toolbox and gloves. The image fell back on stereotypes about women, rather than their lived realities as factory workers and in other home front jobs, such as flying military airplanes, driving trucks, and operating hydraulic presses.

Irvin’s cover embodied “all of the prejudices and preconceptions that are so deeply seated and so ambient that we barely notice them,” Mouly said.

Fast forward some 75 years to Abigail Gray Swartz’s illustration of Rosie the Riveter as a strong black woman, published on the cover of the February 5, 2017, issue to celebrate the Women’s Marches of January 21, 2017. It shows Rosie clenching her bicep and donning a pink Pussyhat, the knitted caps that became a sign of women’s dissatisfaction with the election of Donald Trump as U.S. President.

Women as Parents

Images of mothers also evolved to convey a more egalitarian and inclusive understanding of parenthood. A 1942 image shows a young, upper-class bride riding in the back of a cab as she looks out the window, in visible horror, at a large brown-skinned family. Even in 2000, an image by Carter Goodrich shows a figure who represents Mother Nature, seated with her four children, as a sad professional woman clutches her briefcase, contrasting women’s “natural” function with a woman pursuing a career. And as recently as 2008, an illustration by Barry Blitt shows a woman staring longingly at babies romping like puppies in the window of a pet store as her husband drags her away, an image that already feels dated, given men’s growing embrace of fatherhood.

More recent New Yorker covers have expanded our visual vocabularies with a broader scope of images of mothers, especially working mothers. The most powerful image—Hillary Clinton assuming her post in the West Wing—never made it to print, but other, more subtler ones, have shown us that there is no single mold for a parent, and that women’s identities can extend far beyond their role as a mother. For example, a 1998 cover by Mouly’s husband and Nadja’s father, comics legend Art Spiegelman, shows a woman in a hard hat and work boots, proudly breastfeeding at a construction site. The image challenges us to reconsider what for so long has been the collective archetype of the workers building our skyrises—the famous 1932 shot of 11 male ironworkers breaking for lunch along a steel beam some 800 feet high in the sky while building New York’s Rockefeller Center.

Older Women

“October 11, 1941,” by William Cotton. Courtesy of The New Yorker. Used with permission.

“Brief Encounter,” by Art Spiegelman, September 26, 1994. Courtesy of The New Yorker. Used with permission.

Where could the New Yorker improve? Mouly and Spiegelman both cited depictions of older women, who they said are often used as a foil for younger women in order to emphasize the latter’s beauty and youth. Several covers show elderly women in isolation, with no older men around them, “peering out at the youthful vitality around them,” said Spiegelman. Spiegelman, who is 30, said she has been thinking a lot lately about how older women are portrayed and viewed in our society today. While sorting through The New Yorker’s older covers, she recalled asking her mother, “Are there images of older women where they aren’t the butt of the joke, where they’re just seen as respected?”’ to which Mouly had replied, “Patience: I can’t do the cover before the world changes. No one will get it.” But for her part, Mouly has continually published images that support an evolving vision of culture and thus, helps us visualize expanding possibilities for women.

A cover from 1955 by Mary Petty presents an older Victorian woman positioned at the second-story window of her house, looking down at a party in the courtyard nextdoor, as if a prisoner in her own home with her best days behind her. Another illustration by Petty, which made the cover the following year, shows an elderly woman reading in her opulent, four-post canopied bed as her maid plugs in her electric blanket, as if suggesting that, without a companion, it’s her only hope at warmth and comfort on a cold night.

A 1994 cover by Art Spiegelman shows an older woman as she gazes out of the corner of her eye at an advertisement for male underwear that is decorating her bus stop. Here, the artist challenges our cultural perceptions of an older woman: She is given agency and sexual desire.

Women and Marriage

The covers related to weddings and gay marriage represent one of the most exciting evolutions given how concretely these issues have progressed. “Our covers about gay weddings evolved from the first one where it wasn’t conceivable, to the celebration of it,” said Mouly. A 1994 cover by Jacques de Loustal, showing two grooms in front of a wedding cake, was “shocking” at the time. Today, Mouly said, “it would just look like the wedding section of the New York Times.”

Likewise, the 2012 cover by Gayle Kabaker that honors two female brides would have seemed unfathomable at the time of say Edna Eicke’s 1954 cover of two very young girls pictured while gazing at a white wedding dress in a bridal shop window. The more recent cover features two brunette women, each wearing a gown and veil adhering to traditional Western wedding attire, even as the image fosters an understanding of marriage that far transcends those early conventions.

The New Yorker in the Trump Era

“June Brides,” by Gayle Kabaker, June 25, 2012. Courtesy of The New Yorker. Used with permission.

“Operating Theater,” by Malika Favre, April 3, 2017. Courtesy of The New Yorker. Used with permission.

For an April 2017 cover, Mouly encouraged artist Malika Favre to alter her original sketch of men and women surgeons, looking down at their patient on an operating table, to feature solely women. The cover went viral as women across the world—Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Brazil, Turkey—became inspired to recreate the image using themselves and their peers and proudly post it across platforms with the hashtag #ILookLikeASurgeon.

Another cover, from October 2016, was sketched in the aftermath of then-candidate Donald Trump’s cruel comments about former Miss Universe Alicia Machado, who he called “Miss Housekeeping” and “Miss Piggy” in assumed reference to her Latina heritage and weight gain, respectively. Barry Blitt’s illustration shows a dour-looking, heavy-set Trump as pageant queen Miss Congeniality, sporting a one-piece bathing suit and a crystal tiara. The cover was deeply subversive, casting Trump, who owned the Miss USA beauty pageant from 1996 to 2015, and has bragged about intentionally walking in on contestants changing clothes, primped up like a beauty queen, an object for us to judge. The magazine’s fact-checkers flagged the drawing’s outdated pageant wear, which dates from the 1950s, but Blitt argued that was intentional: Trump, he said, is trying to drag us back into the 1950s.

And yet as these images suggest, the magazine, and our wider culture, has come an exceptionally long way from those earlier times. The path forward will require that cultural leaders like Mouly, and ourselves as individuals, continue to be champions of the world we want to see. “It’s not that a cover created change,” said Mouly. “It’s just that it can dislodge some of the assumptions and make you open up your realm of the possible—an image is a very powerful thing.”

from Artsy News

#Artsy News

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taniasinel · 7 years ago

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The First White House Christmas for the New President

NOTE: I know the country is so divided right now and even mentioning the words ‘White House’ can be loaded – but please realize – I am just commenting on the Christmas decorations, nothing more and nothing less. I have always tried to keep religion, politics and race out of the blog. Keep in mind that if I make a positive comment about one White House Christmas Theme and a negative comment about another theme – it’s not because I’m either a Republican or a Democrat.

It’s just about the décor!!

I try to blog about the White House Christmas theme every other year or so and I think one reason why I am drawn to it is because as a Jew, we don’t decorate for Christmas. I’ve talked about this before – but being a Jewish blogger during Christmastime can be a very lonely place.

Writing about the White House holiday festivities is one way I can enjoy the season’s décor with all of you !!!

As usual, the comment section will be unmoderated and all I ask is that everyone PLEASE be respectful of each other.

And so, on to The 2017 White House Christmas Decorations!!!

Lord, help me!!!

“OY VEY IST MIR” – as my Yiddishe bubbe used to say to me!

I love the lone lights on in the Family Study.

When a new First Lady comes to the White House, it’s exciting to see what direction her Christmas decorations will take. The holidays are one time that the First Lady can put her stamp on the White House style and show off her creative abilities. But, it must also be an enormous responsibility to come up with a new theme for Christmas, year after year. The Obamas had two terms to decorate for Christmas and I’m sure by year eight, it was extremely hard to think of fresh ideas and new ways to tie a bow.

Michelle’s 2015 Blue Room Christmas Tree – I always thought it was designed to make you think of the American flag.

Michelle Obama was always fashion forward – her clothing choices were stylish and she liked to experiment with different dress designers. She also had a myriad of haircuts. Her interior design for the White House was just as exciting. Michelle’s decorator, Michael S. Smith, introduced color schemes not seen before in the White House and the family added important pieces of contemporary art work to the permanent collection. Thus, it would only follow that the Obama Christmas décor would also be modern and bold. If you were a fan of flocked trees and silver ornaments – the Obama Christmas themes wouldn’t necessarily be your cup of tea. Year Eight was by far their most whimsical theme – colorful and joyous, it was geared to the children, to be sure. The theme was “The Gift of the Holidays” – and there were wrapped presents in every corner of the White House.

Contemporary and festive, the last Obama Christmas was a nod to the children. The two main trees weren’t even trees! Set in shiny silver tubs, the tree shapes were lighted from within and decorated with bright silver and gold balls. Wrapped silver gifts were placed between the columns in the foyer.

In the Obama State Dining Room, scalloped trays held a collection of gingerbread houses – made from LEGOS, they represented each state and territory. Do you see how kid-friendly this theme was?

The Obama basement was lined with a collection of friendly and melting snowmen. Some wore scarves, others worn knit caps.

The Obamas went out with a bang, for sure. Their last hurray was one to remember. Reviewers of their 2016 Christmas décor said the next family “would have tall shoes to fill to duplicate their last theme.” But, I’m sure that many didn’t really like this style. I know that I prefer more traditional Christmas décor.

What theme would you choose for the White House if you were suddenly annointed First Lady? Would you be forward thinking like Michelle or would you go for a more traditional route?

I would go more traditional, which is exactly what Melania Trump did.

AND this year’s 2017 White House Christmas Theme is a winner. The decorations have never been prettier. It’s a theme for all ages to enjoy – not just children. I can imagine grandparents loving this year’s theme as much as their grandchildren. It’s absolutely beautiful.

Hats off to Melania for a job well done.

For sure that initial Christmas for each First Lady must be the hardest. Politico recently wrote a story about the First Christmas White House Theme from Kennedy to Trump HERE. You can easily see the evolution of the Obama themes from their first more traditional Christmas to their last, very modern, theme:

For Michelle Obama’s First Christmas in 2009, she chose a more traditional theme.

Eight years later, Michelle’s last Christmas Theme in 2016, was a riot of colorful and contemporary elements.

For the first Trump Christmas, the theme is “Time-Honored Traditions” – a nod to the 200 years of holiday celebrations inside the White House. To be sure, the new First Lady definitely wanted to bring back a more classic holiday look. There is nothing contemporary about her decorations. To further illustrate the “traditional” décor – ballerinas leapt around the Grand Foyer to strains of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. The choice of The Nutcracker was a nod to Jacqueline Kennedy whose "Nutcracker Suite" in 1961 was the first official White House Christmas Theme.

Note: I’ve noticed a few changes in the White House décor since Obama has left. There has been very little said publicly about the Trump decoration, but we had to wait almost six years to get information about the Obama décor.

In 1894, Grover Cleveland’s White House Christmas

While Christmas themes have changed dramatically over the years, it is obvious that Melania wanted to bring back a more classical look. Her changes were obvious before you even stepped inside the White House. Each window now has a large red bow wreath – as if the White House was any other house in the neighborhood, decked out for the season.

The White House windows with traditional wreaths and red ribbons in each window.

Amazingly, this is the first year that the windows have had wreaths! Why weren’t there wreaths before? I’m sure the windows will never be bare again and the wreaths will forever be known as Melania’s Wreaths.

The holidays are a great time to examine the beauty of the White House up close. The trim around the windows is just so exquisite.

A close up of the pretty fan light window found in the family’s private floor.

And to drive home the point – the traditional gingerbread house showed the red ribboned wreaths in its windows. Each year the cake is designed according to the theme and it is displayed in the State Dining Room in front of the antique gilt mirror.

Here is a very blurry plan taken from a video - of the First Lady’s décor on the main floor of the White House. I counted 33 trees here, alone. On top of this, there are more trees in the basement, the second and third floors, and the West and East Wings! Can’t imagine how many trees there are in total for the complex.

The festivities start after Thanksgiving with the First Lady descending down the main stairwell. The White House reported that Melania was very involved in the choosing of each detail.

Ballerinas danced to The Nutcracker for the First Lady.

The piano provides holiday music for parties.

Off Topic: When are they going to update those red AND yellow curtains?

After the tree lighting ceremony, there was a party with music.

Melania looks over all the decorations.

The Grand Foyer and Cross Hall became a winter wonderland. The Foyer looks exceptionally pretty because there are so many trees grouped together.

A closer view. Thankfully, the long red runner was picked up from the Cross Hall. The Blue Room tree is the focal point from this direction.

I love the flocked trees. These are just beautiful!!! Did you notice all the crystal icicle ornaments hanging from the branches?

The view down the Cross Hall looking into the State Dining Room.

I love how simply the trees are decorated – with only crystal ornaments and snow.

Just beautiful!!!

This nighttime guest shows a view of the beautiful chandeliers in the Cross Hall.

And here is the view towards The East Room – showing the nativity scene placed inside the gold curtains.

The dancers add a wonderful element to the photographs.

A close up of the crystal ornaments show that besides the icicles, there are both stars and ballerinas. Love it!!!!!

Magical Winter Wonderland.

Large trees are layered with medium sized trees and small trees to create a soft vignette.

A night time view of the Cross Hall. You can see the crystal icicle ornaments on the trees in this photo.

A very creative Instagram photo of the Cross Hall during a nighttime party.

The focal point in the Grand Foyer is the door to the Blue Room. Flanking the door are two large trees, and inside the Blue Room is the largest tree in the house, which is delivered each year by a horse drawn carriage.

The Blue Room tree is an 18 x 6 Balsam fir from Wisconsin. Ornaments with state seals decorate the tree.

The Blue Room tree is trimmed with gold ribbon and blue velvet bows.

The Blue Room at night. Glass ornaments with each state seal decorate the tree.

The First Lady and her son Barron welcome the Blue Room tree to the White House – this event always signals the start of the Christmas Season here.

The Blue Room tree during the day.

Next door, the Red Room is decorated as a candy cane wonderland! This is a brand new design for this room. Traditionally there are two small trees placed in the windows. This year, for the first time in memory, the tree is placed in the center of the room.

The view towards the State Dining Room.

I really love this chandelier.

As for the design, not sure why they used these tall boxes. The tree looks out of proportion, in my opinion. When the trees were in the windows – they were always on the boxes, but not sure it looks right, here in the middle. Thoughts?

The view towards the door.

And the nighttime view.

Close up of the tree with the candy cane ornaments.

A nighttime view of the Red Room with the tree lit up. Candy stations are between the windows and flanking the settee.

Red and white candy cane stations are set up around the room. They look like ice cream float drinks. Darling!!!!

View of the settee with the candy cane decorations at each side.

The First Lady said "Surprise” to the school students working on art projects made with gumdrops.

"So you want to show me how to do it?" she asked the students who then helped her make the project.

Nothing is more traditionally Christmas than candy canes!!

In the newly updated Green Room, the design mimics The Red Room, with one central tree instead of the two smaller ones in the windows and that darned box again.

I really hate the box.

The theme in the Green Room was traditional crafts, using paper and classic designs.

Night party in the Green Room.

Traditional silhouettes were displayed in the Green Room’s windows. The scenes in the two windows depict President John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, each celebrating Christmas with their families.

The mantel displays a collection of Presidential silhouettes. I LOVE this!!!!

Nighttime view. Notice that the newly recovered salmon chairs, designed by Laura Bush’s decorator, are nowhere to be seen. Not sure if they are permanently gone or just gone for the holidays.

A closeup of the mantel décor.

The view towards the hall and grand staircase from The Green Room.

The children showed the First Lady how to make the silhouettes. Cut outs to make your own silhouettes were included in the White House brochure.

Usually, the brochure is available online – but I couldn’t find it this year.

The Green Room reflected in the antique gilt bulls-eye mirror.

In the East Room, the John Singer Sargent portrait of Theodore Roosevelt looks out onto a hanging mistletoe.

This is the most minimally decorated East Room that I can remember. I do like the simplicity though. Usually three needlepoint rugs are in the room – but they were removed. Not sure if that is a permanent change or not. The creche is the focal point of the décor.

A close up of the White House’s creche.

Melanie plays catch with the ornaments.

When Melania first walked into the East Room, one of the children asked her "Are you the First Lady?" Another said she looked like an angel. They all ran up for a group hug. The First Lady was all smiles with the children and she obviously was enjoying her time spent with them.

Simple and elegant.

The large East room has four fireplaces and three chandeliers.

The center chandelier is reflected here in the mirror along with the candelabra.

One guest took this photograph of the East Room chandelier. Beautiful!

For an evening party, the table is set with food and sweets. A bar is set up on the sides of the room and green skirted tables are used to eat at.

Across the long Cross Hall is the State Dining Room. The big shock is the reappearance of the old rug that was replaced by the Obamas! What is going on??????

The White House Historical Association spent a fortune on a new rug for the State Dining Room, along with new chairs and new curtains. This is the old rug from the old décor. And, I’ve been DYING to know if the Trumps changed the décor in the adjoining Family Dining Room?? The two dining rooms are adjoining – and their new designs compliment each other. If the Trumps are changing the State Dining Room – then I think the Family Dining Room would be next, which is such a shame because the Obamas had just recently revealed their new design for that room which cost $590,000, paid for by the White House Historical Association. Oh well…

Back to Christmas. Sorry. I just blew a gasket looking at this rug! LOL

Again, the décor is simple and classic. Dual trees trimmed in green and gold balls.

A close up of the trimmings.

The Gingerbread White House is seen at the very right. This is a different chandelier than the others. It’s brass, not crystal nor French, which most of the others are.

The gingerbread house with the wreaths in the windows. Great bald eagles hold the console upright.

Abraham Lincoln gives his approval. At least the new curtains remain. Not sure if they will bring back the former ones too.

BTW, the Association made TWO identical rugs for this room – so that when one is cleaned, the room will still have the proper rug on the floor. And I assume it was done for wear and tear.

Now this caused the most chatter of all the decorations. Silvery icy branches created a winter wonderland in the hall. Usually the décor in this hall is less than stellar, but this time – it’s spectacular.

At night, it takes on an eeriness with the uplights.

This photo of the First Lady was released, walking through the branches.

But as usual, people couldn’t leave it alone!!!

This view and the previous photograph of the hall became a very, very popular meme. People thought the photo looked spooky and a large number of memes were created and then shared on Social Media.

The first meme: The nighttime photo turned into a Halloween worthy look.

Look at the ceiling – spooky smoke and lighting was added.

And here is just one of the 1,000s of memes created – the scary twins from The Shining. You have to have a sense of humor.

Google “Melania White House Christmas Meme” to see more of the memes … if you dare.

The Trumps first Christmas Card was on display along with cards from all the other first families.

The Gold Star Tree is a mainstay of Christmas – you can send an online message to a serviceman or send one via the postal box.

The children work on Christmas cards underneath the various cards through the years.

On the basement level, the library had a clever tree made of books.

I wonder if the golf book is one of President Trump’s!

An original 1866 edition of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, is protected by glass next to the wing chair and fireplace. President Franklin Roosevelt read the story each year at Christmas in the White House. The Library has several thousand books – many are first editions.

This guest posed on the settee in the Library – I had never really noticed the settee or the antique mirror above it.

In the China Room, the table was set for a traditional Christmas dinner. That epergne!!

Another view.

The table was set with Ronald Reagan’s china.

And The Vermeil Room – the decorations are color coordinated to the room. This room is really the blahs. They need to redo it and make it more exciting.

Lady Bird!

The beautiful oval Diplomatic Reception room is also located in the basement, but it is NOT on the Christmas tour. Thankfully, the Trump sisters Tiffany and Ivanka posted photos of them in that room so we can see some of the decorations. The original, antique wallpaper, found and bought by Jacqueline Kennedy, is one of my most favorite decorative elements in the White House.

But, all I can notice is there is a NEW rug here!!! When did that happen? More about the rug follows.

One great surprise is for the first time ever – the movie theatre was opened for Christmas visitors. Notice the fan light over the door. Each family chair on the front row has a blanket on it – in other photos – there were also pillows with white pillow cases.

A visit to the famous White House bowling alley is NOT on the tour, but this family was invited to use it during their Christmas visit. I never realized there are two lanes. It really looks professional too! Apparently there are TWO bowling alleys in the White House complex. This is the original two lane alley that was used almost every day by staffers during the Obama years. AND, there is also the Nixon bowling lane - a private single lane that Richard Nixon had installed for his personal use.

All in all – the 2017 First Trump Christmas is a success. I think it’s the prettiest décor in a long time. I love the traditional theme and look forward to seeing how Melania’s Christmas style evolves over the next three years.

This was always my favorite year – 2004 Laura Bush. Her theme was “A Season of Merriment and Melody.”

Now, about that rug!!!

This is the rug that has been in the oval Diplomatic Reception room since 2009, purchased by Laura Bush. This rug was custom woven for the room and it received high acclaim when it was first seen, in situ.

No information has been released about a new rug in this room. It might have been ordered by the Obama’s and it might have just arrived, but that seems unlikely. This rug is a bright yellow green and I’m not sure where the shade came from – it doesn’t look like the greens found in the wallpaper.

This past summer, during the time when everyone was on vacation, a small renovation took place in the West Wing and Oval Office. Photos of the finished work were released to great fanfare. But another, later notice, below, was barely discussed.

In November, it was announced that $1.75 million was spent on furniture for the White House and associated offices, including $17K for custom rugs.

This might be for the Diplomatic Reception room – OR for a new rug for Trump’s oval office. Or, it could be for East or West wing offices. Additionally, $7,000 is for furniture pedestals and $5K for wallpaper. Also, $12.8K was spent on a custom conference table from a company that made one for Richard Nixon in 1969. $291K goes for office walls (?) and another $240K was spent on wood office furniture. $29,000 went to “upholstered household-furniture manufacturing,” and $10,000 for floor coverings.

$7,000 for pedestals? He must be adding busts around the office. The $291,000 for office walls? That sounds like office cubicles.

It is not known whether Trump is paying for this himself. He is allowed only $100,000 to redecorate. Obama’s changes were paid for out-of-pocket and donors. Trump did buy a large crystal chandelier for his dining room in the West Wing along with a 60’ TV.

Here is the rug, seen last week.

It’s just an oval green rug with a small pile. The pile is AWFUL. It creates tufts where people walk. Do you see how the rugs has shadows on it? This color looks deeper and less yellow than the photo with the daughters in it.

And here’s another view. This is a lesson on pile and flat rugs in public areas. Glad I don’t have to vacuum this rug up each time someone steps on it!

On to the State Dining Room with the old décor, rug, and curtains. This decoration was completed by the CLINTONS! The room had not been decorated in that long.

But for some reason, the Obama’s new rug (2) are not being used and the old rug was being used again. Maybe the rugs were damaged or made incorrectly so they were being sent back for correction? That could be a possibility.

The White House Historical Association bought the rug(s), curtains, and new chairs.

At this luncheon given by Melania a few months ago – the Obama rug was still in place. I love her flowers and tablesetting. Very elegant.

But here is the older rug. I am perplexed!

The East Room normally has three rugs in place – one underneath each chandelier. These rugs were pulled up for the holidays – probably. But again, not sure.

And moving onto the Oval Office.

Obama’s office. Designed by Michael S. Smith, the wheat colored rug was the focal point – quotes from leaders were sewn around the perimeter. Velvet sofas with marine blue velvet pillows, two tan leather chairs, and contemporary lamps were a complete departure from past décor. The wallpaper was striped. The office was traditional with contemporary touches.

This view shows the new rust curtains, Resolute desk, two antique chests, and side chairs that had been used by previous presidents.

Trump took out the sofas and brought in George W. Bush’s sofas, he brought in Ronald Reagan’s rug and Bill Clinton’s horrible curtains. It was a complete mishmash.

If I were his designer – I would have said, keep the Obama décor until yours arrives.

Instead, there were whispers that the Obama wallpaper was stained and damaged. I kid you not. That’s what an anonymous source from the new administration said as to why the wallpaper was changed as a stop-gap measure until the entire office is redone for good at which time new wallpaper will be hung, again.

The same official source also said “Mr. Trump wanted to bring back the luster and the glory of the White House.”

And here is the President’s newly revealed office. He is using the old rug and sofas from various presidents – including Clinton’s old curtains until his new furniture arrives.

But he removed Obama’s wallpaper and replaced it with this one that seems too white and gray and cool toned, since the sofa, rug, and curtains are warm toned.

Close up of the paper.

And finally, the last treat – something I have never seen before – the White House elevator! Love this. Notice the carved trim and the porthole windows. Utterly charming. I hope they never get rid of these doors.

I hope you enjoyed this look at the 2017 Christmas decor.

Here are two books I just discovered from the former White House florist. Click to order:

Christmas White House flowers – click above.

White House year round flowers – click above.

A few ideas for celebrating Christmas:

For the night before…. Checked Pajamas HERE

Another cute pair, less expensive HERE

Darling shirt for Christmas HERE

Ben aka Mr. Slippersocksman is addicted to his slippersocks…he just ordered a fresh pair from Amazon. Click on the photo…

For Christmas, these are darling. I never knew there are slippersocks in all colors and styles. Click on the photo.

We love to do jigsaw puzzles on Christmas Day – this is an Antique Map. Click on the photo.

A table specifically for puzzles. Click on the photo.

Need a cute house gift? French plates & French Cheese HERE

VINTAGE Chinese Rice Bowls HERE

Dress up or down for Christmas Eve or Day HERE

With jeans. Black Velvet Jacket HERE

Love this – in Pink OR Black Kimono HERE

from COTE DE TEXAS http://cotedetexas.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-first-white-house-christmas-for-new.html

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aaafencemasterinfo · 7 years ago

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vernicle · 7 years ago

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<p>Romney's response to Trump's white supremacist comments is essential reading.</p>

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"This is a defining moment for President Trump. But significantly extra than that, it is a moment that will outline The united states in the hearts of our children."

Mitt Romney and President Donald Trump have constantly experienced a to some degree peculiar marriage.

When Romney ran for president in 2012, Trump alternated concerning insulting the former Massachusetts governor and eventually presenting his endorsement. Equally, when Trump campaigned in 2016, Romney slammed Trump's guidelines and unwillingness to release his tax returns, but cozied up to him immediately after the election.

"Frenemies" is in all probability the most accurate way to describe their marriage.

Trump and Romney fulfilled for evening meal in November 2016. The awkward seem sums up the marriage pretty properly. Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images.

Just after managing to (typically) bite his tongue in excess of Trump's tumultuous to start with months in business, Romney laid into him with a fiery Facebook write-up.

At difficulty was Trump's moral character and the signal he sent to white supremacists and neo-Nazis in the wake of the Charlottesville protests.

I will dispense for now from dialogue of the moral character of the president's Charlottesville statements. No matter whether he...

Posted by Mitt Romney on Friday, August 18, 2017

There are some crucial takeaways from Romney's write-up.

1. "No matter whether he supposed to or not, what he communicated prompted racists to rejoice, minorities to weep, and the extensive heart of The united states to mourn."

Acquiring correct to the heart of the issue, Romney immediately termed out Trump on the concept sent to the white supremacist community. Groups picked up on Trump's canine-whistle signals and reacted appropriately.

"His apologists strain to demonstrate that he failed to suggest what we heard. But what we heard is now the reality, and except it is dealt with by the president as these kinds of, with unprecedented candor and strength, there could commence an unraveling of our national fabric."

Trump throughout his now-notorious press convention on Aug. fifteen. Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images.

two. "The leaders of our branches of armed service services have spoken straight away and forcefully, repudiating the implications of the president's text."

It really is not each individual day armed service management is forced to explain or rebuke something said by the commander in chief, but which is where by points stand these days. Whilst many of their opinions have been framed as becoming only about having zero tolerance for racism, it can be pretty crystal clear who they have been referencing.

"[T]he morale and dedication of our forces — created up and sustained by guys and girls of all races — could be in the balance. Our allies about the world are stunned and our enemies rejoice America's skill to help protected a tranquil and prosperous world is diminished."

A makeshift memorial to Heather Heyer, who died immediately after becoming struck by a motor vehicle driven by an alleged white supremacist on Aug. 12, 2017. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images.

three. "In properties throughout the nation, children are asking their moms and dads what this indicates."

The president is supposed to be someone we can all seem up to, who we can rely on to characterize all Us residents. Trump's to start with two hundred days in business demonstrate that his loyalties lie with his core base of supporters and no 1 else. Romney's point touches on the reality that the divisiveness becoming forged by Trump's statements could do lasting damage to the region.

"Jews, blacks, Hispanics, Muslims are as significantly a section of The united states as whites and Protestants. But these days they speculate. In which may well this lead? To bitterness and tears, or maybe to anger and violence?"

White nationalist Richard Spencer is escorted by law enforcement out of the Aug. 12, 2017, rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images.

four. "He should really address the American persons, admit that he was incorrect, apologize."

If there is 1 factor Trump won't do properly, it can be apologize. In reality, he views apologies as a indicator of weakness, in its place choosing to double- and triple-down on his flubs. Romney is correct: Trump should really apologize he won't though.

"[T]listed here is no conceivable comparison or moral equivalency concerning the Nazis — who brutally murdered thousands and thousands of Jews and who hundreds of hundreds of Us residents gave their lives to defeat — and the counter-protestors who have been outraged to see fools parading the Nazi flag, Nazi armband and Nazi salute."

5. "This is a defining moment for President Trump. But significantly extra than that, it is a moment that will outline The united states in the hearts of our children."

It really is difficult to overstate the great importance of this predicament. Trump has in essence said there is some equivalency concerning white supremacists and persons who struggle versus racism. That's extra than just despicable, it can be hazardous. It really is on him to make this correct and not just for the sake of his have political job, but for the sake of the region he purports to lead.

"They are looking at, our soldiers are looking at, the world is looking at. Mr. President, act now for the fantastic of the region."

People maintain a vigil outside the house the White Home on Aug. thirteen, 2017. Photo by Zach Gibson/AFP/Getty Images.

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surge42-blog · 7 years ago

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Drop It Like It's Hot

Have you ever had a debate with some peeps about trappers and rappers? Well if you have then you know how ugly these kind of conversations become. I've noticed in a few Kendrick/Cole debates whenever someone provides a reason why they don't like one or the other someone always comments "You don't know hip-hop" or even "You probably listen to Lil Uzi Vert and Young Thug" and obviously the latter also carries negative connotations to it. It seems in this world where people are trying to "bring back real hip-hop" (as I sarcastically say) trap artists are correlated with stupidity along with the fans of their music. The stigma has long been prevalent. Many dare not touch an artist's musical catalog as soon as they find out they're trap artists. I agree that trap is not as intelligent as conscious rap but it is a necessity nonetheless. I've had talks with some friends about T.I, they enjoy his music, but once I revealed that he's a trap artist they'd glare at me with surprise. They still vibe to his music though, but in their heads they think trap is all about dread longs that have been dyed, mumbling (shout out to 21 Savage and Thugger), and prominent autotune. Listeners who view themselves as "real hip-hop heads" scorn the ever successful and mainstream trap music, and many have used the now outdated "it takes a certain level of intelligence" phrase. The year is 2017, Migos have released their "Culture" album,and Future has released "HNDRXX" and self titled album, these projects have performed quite well, but let's turn our direction elsewhere. Lupe Fiasco and Kendrick Lamar have just released "DROGAS Light" and "DAMN." respectively. Both of these conscious artists were digging into foreign ground...it came as a shock when I saw the Wikipedia page of Lupe's album have "trap" written in the genre section, boasting songs such as "Dopamine Lit", "Jump", and "Promise". On the other end Kendrick offers us "LOVE.", "ELEMENT." and "HUMBLE.". both artists have lost favor with a certain percentage of their fan base whilst gaining yet another. Personally both albums are not their best offerings but I found them as okay albums...yes even DROGAS Light. On K-Dot's side it came as a surprise to hear him sing and rap over a beat that was meant for Gucci Mane but people still ate it up as evident in the billboard charts. Kendrick worked hard to make a mainstream, trap infused album (maybe that's why he's been collaborating with a lot of trap musicians...was it for practice?). Wasalu on the other hand deliberately tried to make this album a mediocre effort as vengeance towards his former Atlantic Records (DL is Lupe's last album under the label just so you know). But he still gained fans from the album (shout out to Crystal Lynn out there). Lamar's label mate, Isaiah Rashad, even confessed to listening to Lil Yachty music on his "Tity & Dolla" gem from his 2016 "The Sun's Tirade". Trap is not that bad of a genre, people dance to it, people love it. One does not hang with their girl at the club and requests songs from "To Pimp A Butterfly" because nobody is in the mood to hear about the emancipation of the black man, or goes to a BBQ to play "Adoration Of The Maji". Trap is for the fun moments in life, for a more youthful feel, I mean don't we all need something we can listen to so we can "drop it like its hot" every now and then? Now if you'll excuse me I'll be in my bed bumping X's "Look At Me".

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williamgreen533 · 8 years ago

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What’s Next for Twitter? Social Domination or Eminent Failure?

Despite recent improvements to user experience and platform flexibility, the struggle to retain and attract new users—and grow revenue—is still real for Twitter. And, unfortunately, these may be the least of the platform’s worries these days.

From widespread trolling and harassment to simply having a confusing interface, Twitter is drawing criticism for nearly every aspect of its operation. In addition, after shutting down Vine and cutting more than 300 jobs last fall, more fuel was added to the claims that Twitter was getting closer to death.

So … Is Twitter Dying?

As an eternal optimist, I’m not ready to say Twitter’s fate is doomed. As WIRED’s Davey Alba said earlier this year, while Twitter may be a bit of a mess—it still has some real potential and value to offer.

“The thing is, in spite of its mess, there’s still a lot to value in Twitter,” Alba wrote. “No other social network has built up quite the same kind of cultural currency—and for good reason. Unlike other networks, Twitter’s influence is decentralized; it lies in its power users, the ones who use it to give voice to people and movements that may not have risen otherwise. Just look at how Twitter both took and pushed the pulse of the 2016 elections. Or how crises unfold on the platform. Or how social movements take hold.”

But I’m also a realist, so I have to acknowledge that Twitter has some serious work to do to remain viable and competitive. Currently, Twitter reports around 313 million monthly active users, but Statista had that number around 319 million at the end of 2016 and is now reporting 317 million as of January 2017. However, Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook come in with 301 million, 600 million and 1.86 billion monthly active users, respectively.

Cheating Death

You’re probably thinking, how can Twitter avoid falling off a cliff? How can it quell discontent? How can it retain and attract new users? How does it breathe new life into its platform and business?

Well, I certainly don’t have all the answers here. I’m not an expert in business operations or product development—nor am I a clairvoyant with a crystal ball. However, as a confident marketer, I definitely see a couple opportunities.

Twitter is experiencing many of the same problems that other brands face in today’s digital world—increasing competition for audience attention, bad press and reviews, stagnant growth, and so on. Below are two opportunities I think Twitter, and any struggling brand, could take advantage.

#1 – Double-down on your core strengths.

For more than a decade, social media platforms have been looking for ways to set themselves apart from one another—something Twitter made clear right out of the gate. But as social media becomes increasingly ingrained in people’s daily lives, we’re now in a time where social platforms are balancing uniqueness with offering all the things. (Look no further than Facebook and Instagram’s new Snapchat-like features, or the rise of hashtags and mentioning capabilities across platforms.)

For Twitter to stay relevant, it’ll most certainly have to evolve its platform in some way to mimic the things that are working for the competition. But it shouldn’t lose sight of what sets it apart—nor its core strengths. And its core strength is the real-time format that allows users to be intimately engaged with what’s happening in the world and in their social circle.

The big takeaway for all: Define your core strengths, and use them to propel your business strategy and marketing efforts forward.

#2 – Embrace criticism—and address it in public.

Every company dreams of 100% customer or user satisfaction, but that’s rarely the case—even for the most successful and revered brands out there. And, these days, social media is often an easy place for people to air their grievances—an irony Twitter itself is intimately familiar with.

Generally speaking, Twitter is taking a pretty standard PR approach to addressing its shortcomings and user gripes, but it may not hurt to be a little more transparent about it all. Honesty and humility can go a long way.

The big takeaway for all: Use any negative feedback as an opportunity to show humility, understanding and your commitment to taking care of your users, customers and glaring issues.

Will Twitter Die or Find New Life?

As I said, I’m no psychic. But it appears that Twitter is making strides to address some nagging issues.

Last week, Twitter announced that usernames no longer count toward the 140-character limit in tweet replies—which allows users more room to say what they need to say, but still keeps its essence intact. In addition, in early February Twitter announced safety updates to address abusive accounts and content.

“We stand for freedom of expression and people being able to see all sides of any topic,” Twitter said in a release. “That’s put in jeopardy when abuse and harassment stifle and silence those voices. We won’t tolerate it and we’re launching new efforts to stop it.”

Twitter also retired its default profile image of an egg. The new default image is a human silhouette, which Recode said aims to encourage more people to upload pictures of themselves, and also move the brand away from an image that’s often associated with trolls.

Finally, news just broke there’s a campaign to turn Twitter into a user-owned cooperative. According to Business Insider, Twitter shareholders will vote on whether to investigate the proposal at its May 22 meeting. While Twitter is opposed to the plan, and it seems unlikely to move forward, it can’t be dismissed.

“It’s an interesting proposal—and underlines the discontent some shareholders feel with the ailing social network, which is struggling to grow or turn a profit,” the Business Insider article said.

The bottom line? Twitter is trying, but mostly treading water, and what its leaders do in the next year will likely determine whether the platform rises again or meets defeat.

What’s your take on Twitter’s future? Tell us in the comments section below.

Gain a competitive advantage by subscribing to the TopRank® Online Marketing Newsletter.

The post What’s Next for Twitter? Social Domination or Eminent Failure? appeared first on Online Marketing Blog - TopRank®.

Caitlin Burgess http://www.toprankblog.com/wp-content/uploads/Whats-next-for-twitter.jpg

0 notes

groovyturtlepeach · 8 years ago

Text

What’s Next for Twitter? Social Domination or Eminent Failure?

So … Is Twitter Dying?

Cheating Death

#1 – Double-down on your core strengths.

The big takeaway for all: Define your core strengths, and use them to propel your business strategy and marketing efforts forward.

#2 – Embrace criticism—and address it in public.

The big takeaway for all: Use any negative feedback as an opportunity to show humility, understanding and your commitment to taking care of your users, customers and glaring issues.

Will Twitter Die or Find New Life?

As I said, I’m no psychic. But it appears that Twitter is making strides to address some nagging issues.

The bottom line? Twitter is trying, but mostly treading water, and what its leaders do in the next year will likely determine whether the platform rises again or meets defeat.

What’s your take on Twitter’s future? Tell us in the comments section below.

Gain a competitive advantage by subscribing to the TopRank® Online Marketing Newsletter.

The post What’s Next for Twitter? Social Domination or Eminent Failure? appeared first on Online Marketing Blog - TopRank®.

Caitlin Burgess http://www.toprankblog.com/wp-content/uploads/Whats-next-for-twitter.jpg

0 notes

christopheruearle · 8 years ago

Text

What’s Next for Twitter? Social Domination or Eminent Failure?

So … Is Twitter Dying?

Cheating Death

#1 – Double-down on your core strengths.

The big takeaway for all: Define your core strengths, and use them to propel your business strategy and marketing efforts forward.

#2 – Embrace criticism—and address it in public.

The big takeaway for all: Use any negative feedback as an opportunity to show humility, understanding and your commitment to taking care of your users, customers and glaring issues.

Will Twitter Die or Find New Life?

As I said, I’m no psychic. But it appears that Twitter is making strides to address some nagging issues.

The bottom line? Twitter is trying, but mostly treading water, and what its leaders do in the next year will likely determine whether the platform rises again or meets defeat.

What’s your take on Twitter’s future? Tell us in the comments section below.

Gain a competitive advantage by subscribing to the TopRank® Online Marketing Newsletter.

The post What’s Next for Twitter? Social Domination or Eminent Failure? appeared first on Online Marketing Blog - TopRank®.

0 notes