#milan if you are reading this i’m free on thursday night and would like to hang out | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

nuts-cracker-pn · 6 years ago

Text

I’m calling this thing a ficleton

Well.....eh...I’m sorry. This chapter was no pleasant to write, But it happened.

part 1 part 2 part 3 part 4a part 4b

BLURRED TENDERNESS -PART 5

Armie comes back to the table after finishing his cig with the other guest at the porch of the restaurant. Thankfully he didn’t take too long there or else…

oh wait, there’s a long face. He still doesn’t know who among his family and friends is capable to detect it but he does, he knows those brows so well. Even if she’s smiling he knows when Elizabeth is upset. He will get to that later, cause now his mind is occupied with the fact that he needs to set a plan of steps to follow on friday and saturday in Toronto. Having more freedom of movement since he goes alone is the perfect opportunity to gain the lost ground, talk nice and slow, put feelings on clear, even if that does not mean he can do whatever the fuck he wants. ‘No, you can’t Armie’

He’s very aware of the especulations, the expectations, Tiff’s early insistence on his attendance. He can’t care less. This is his new and only chance.

Is the dinner downfall now, everybody having their own little one on one chat ,Liz went to the toilet, so he idly scrolls on his phone and gets to his hidden file. There’s a snapchat. He closes it startled when the guest seated by his side puts his phone in front of his face for him to see what’s in the screen. ‘Oh shit’ It’s a loop video. It’s Timmy’s appearance at the theater, more exactly his funny exit and interaction with him. And the internet is going crazy. Not that he didn’t suspect it would be a possible effect , but he looks at it for more than it should be razonable. He looks then at the guy -the same who were smoking with him outside, and the husband of one of Liz’s friends. They are not that close but the guy gives him a sympathetic glance. Armie does not know how to respond to that, but what he does know now is that the night will not end well.

When Liz comes back is Armie’s father who starts the goodbyes.

On the car ride back to the apartment their friends kept the charade pretty well.

The babysitter was asleep with the kids in the big chaise lounge and Armie carries them to their beds while Liz talk to the woman. When Armie comes back Liz is already in their bedroom taking off his clothes and organizing things.

“Look I bought this white shirt.”

“Nice”

Armie didn’t pays too much attention to the item.

“Armand.”

He looks at her.

“It’s for your suit. Thursday night.”

He frowns.

“Cartier.” She puts both hands on her waist.

“Ah ok"

“It doesn’t match with the grey one, better with the blue one ok? grey is too casual. You can wear it in Toronto too.”

“ Oh… I thought you didn’t like I repeat outfits at events in a week…”

“ As if you ever consent with my outfits”

“Deciding there then." He is already in his briefs to take a shower. He has the caution to grab his phone and hurries to open the snap. He also has the caution to always have a Google page opened -with any of those random themes he likes- for a cover.

He almost has a heart attack after reading Timmy’s snaps. This thrilling danger coming back again is giving him all kinds of mixing feelings. He’s not sure about anything anymore. The first time could be a confusion. Not a second.

He almost wants to take a screenshot but that would get notified and now he’s thinking of giving him as good as he got right? His butt hurt pride is showing again but this time is for a good cause. Will the boy anticipates? He needs to know.

ProfessorO: Really? I don’t know...Let’s see… 😏

He closes the thing as he gets up from the toilet seat and enters the shower plate.

Couple of minutes later Liz is all over him. Well it’s not as if he wasn’t already a little horny thinking about possibilities.

“I thought you were upset"

“Why should I babe?”

He’s observing her face while wrapping his arms around her.

“Fandom”

“We know how fandoms work right?” She plants a kiss on his lips.

“Anyways, did he tell you before going?”

“Nope"

“Well that’s strange. I mean all this latest isolation. Perhaps he’s heartbroken?”

‘Not now please’ “Don’t know, he didn’t say anything.”

“Poor kid" and she proceeds to spread the luxurious bath mousse in her hands to rub on his husband’s body.

He needs to concentrate on this

“Is this new?”

“Yes , I bought it today. It has japanese oils.“ She puts a hand’s palm on his nose so he can smell. He lets the smell invade his senses and erase everything.

“So…...Where do you want to try it?”

--------WatchThisAuthorWhistling 🌬 ------

Wednesday , September 5 11am

Timmy is staring absentmindedly at the screenshot he did took from Armie’s last night snapchat. He’s having a delicious breakfast,consisting in a chestnut milkshake with some increíbles croissants filled with selected pâtés, in a fancy deli, waiting for a meeting with some producer.

‘What the fuck did he means?’

Ok, he admits he’s been away for a while -he has a good reason but telling Armie now is not a good idea. First he needs to fathom this feeling he has for the man and still doesn’t know how to do it.

They could be friends -still not the kind that know each other very well and trust each other completely as to tell each other their deepest secrets.

They could be lovers -very hidden ones, for now, that is if that status could be changed at all someday.

Or they could be nothing.

Is that even possible now? There’s a sequel to film in a future that seems to be closer than he thought. What nobody knows is he made a visit to Italy before his return to New York, and Luca invited him to his new home in Milan right before going to Venice. Of course he cooked some holly dish of his personal recipe book for his caro bambino. They talked a lot, about the sequel too, and after returning home he gained some advice : “You both need time, Timo. For differents reasons. I really want you to take that time.”

For some reason he already knew this but the moment he learned at that dinner that Elizabeth won’t go to Toronto he started to stumble over his own resolution.

The truth is he won’t be ‘hanging out with the cast’. The cast will arrive Thursday night at different hours. He wanted to have a day alone there so he can readapt all the places in his last mémoires to the new scenario without Armie, Luca and everything “cmbyn”.

He planned this afternoon flight so he can do some shopping and walking around after landing at the Pearson airport . And so he does.

He heads to the Eaton Center after arranging with the staff his accomodation in the hotel room. He’s kind of changing his look, or the way he sees himself… Definitely tired of being seen as a “boy”, that is. This lil mustache & goatee will remain for the time being. ‘This hair has grown a little too.’ Looking at his head in the mirror of a store, he thinks about how he hated that bowlcut at first but now he’s finding new ways of ‘wearing it’.

Thursday morning he’s sorting out some casual outfits from the shopping bags in his room. He actually have some free stuff from brands. He loves this lilac t-shirt and he bought a similar design in white, but with an add touch of ‘risque’... ‘This is too much Timothée’ He smirks at himself. Where is he going with that thing he doesn’t know. He goes down for breakfast before heading to the atelier where his suit is going to be fitted.

-----Later in New York---

Armie doesn’t want to go to this Cartier event, but Liz is acting strange since that Tuesday night. Today she was all the time on her phone, making calls by the window-balcony. She surprisingly cheers him up before he went to the play… He finally dress himself in the car, yeah , with the blue suit, the white shit, and the mustard shoes. Later he finds out she looks quite stunning with that red dress,and cheerful, and funny, and flirty….’What the fuck is going on.’ He tries to engage in conversations with some fellows actors so the night will pass lightly. When they are returning home in the car Liz is quite tipsy, and smoochy, and touchy with his thigh. “Hon, I’m pretty horny.” She says in his ear.

Ok, he should have drunk a little more too. Thankfully he has plenty of vodka at home. After all his flight is at 2:30pm.

Friday morning Armie wakes up by the noise of suitcases, phone calls, kids yelling. He gets off the bed and looks at the clock in his phone. 11:am.

Entering the living room he sees all the suitcases there prepared, Liz is already dressed, and the nanny is preparing something in the kitchen.

“ Come on, get dressed. I need to get there to confirm my flight.”

“ Wait, what time was your flight?”

“Is. Same as yours. We are going together, hon” She kisses his cheeks.

Armie turns his head from the fridge and ends, at last, to open his sleepy eyes.

“What..?”

------------------I’M SORRY---------

P.D. next will be better I promise. 😞

@isitandwonder @larawashere @maraskolnikova @ohana @seconddayofsummer @babyboytimmy @pucomano @ladyblakeney25 @whatitis-inside @lovetheawesomeness @xiavttini @mjquintas @ellibellybutton @debmont8686 @imapplemint @peachlovercmbyn @lemmefangirl @morna-1 @buddhaoffice @lovingyou4ever2018 @lenore1126

Thanks for reading, liking, rebloguing, commenting.( sorry for the tags that don't work

#charmie reunion #ficlet #blurry tenderness #armie x timmy #this was hard to write #the mood is gloom lately #hopefully i will cheer up with next chapter #charmie

29 notes · View notes

paulbenedictblog · 5 years ago

Text

%news%

New Post has been published on %http://paulbenedictsgeneralstore.com%

Usa today The Backstory: When the news becomes too much, look around, there is help

Usa today

I'm USA TODAY editor-in-chief Nicole Carroll, and here's The Backstory, insights into our biggest stories of the week. At the same time as it's good to get The Backstory in your inbox a week, register here.

Usa today In per week of pretty footage, this one stood out: The massive Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort sailing into Contemporary York Harbor, flanked by police boats, gliding by the Statue of Liberty.

It was as soon as there to bear interplay on non-coronavirus instances, to attend overrun Contemporary York Metropolis hospitals.

In Central Park, an emergency self-discipline hospital rose, 14 white tents staffed by a workforce of 72 doctors, nurses and diversified health care workers from Samaritan's Purse, an evangelical Christian catastrophe reduction group. Makeshift hospitals had been also underway in the Javits Convention Center in Lengthy island and the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens.

Retired nurses, doctors and therapists returned to work. Clinical colleges graduated college students early, in bid that they could maybe match to work.

The top of the Empire Sigh Building flashed crimson, a 1,400-foot-high heartbeat within the sky, to thank all these on the entrance lines.

Around the town, every night time at 7 p.m., folks stood out of doors to clap for clinical workers.

Usa today Around the nation, folks keep teddy bears in home windows for children to procure on walks. Teachers drove via neighborhoods to wave at college students, to relate them or no longer it's OK, we're aloof here.

When a health care provider was as soon as pulled over for speeding in Minnesota, the police officer gave her five masks as a exchange of a tag.

When a 5-yr-broken-down's birthday occasion was as soon as canceled in Eatontown, Contemporary Jersey, fire vans paraded down his avenue to abet him bear a great time.

When a flower store in Naples, Florida, had a wave of canceled orders, the proprietor loaded up buckets of new vegetation and drove around the town, giving them away.

An 87-yr-broken-down Warwick, Rhode Island, lady known as police Friday because she had no meals within the dwelling and the community heart could maybe not abet her till Monday. An officer requested for her record and went procuring.

In Milan, Michigan, neighbors step out facet each night time at 7 p.m. and sincere smile and wave to each diversified.

In Indianapolis, they utter.

Usa today In every city, in every neighborhood, on every block, folks are offering to abet, to compose what they'll.

Usa today We are, too.

The United States TODAY Network has extra than 5,000 journalists across the nation masking this disaster for their communities. The final coverage is free out of doors paywalls at extra than 250 knowledge sites.

USA TODAY is not very any longer within the relief of a digital paywall. As well to, we provide a free, day-to-day coronavirus e-newsletter. (Register at newsletters.usatoday.com.)

We are portion of the communities we duvet and are desirous to serve our neighbors. So our firm created a internet dwelling, supportlocal.usatoday.com, that connects a full bunch of runt businesses and the these that would favor to serve them by procuring gift certificates.

We know you are timid about your job, your mortgage, your funds. The hardships hit home this week when our firm, Gannett, introduced cost-lowering measures, including furloughs for journalists.

We get it. We bear assembled an expert community of journalists to reply to your questions about unemployment, the stimulus and your rights. Our Money workforce will respond questions in your advantages and funds. Our Washington workforce will enable you to with the federal stimulus method. Be conscious of us your interior most finance strike workforce. That it's likely you'll anticipate questions at money.usatoday.com. We are going to respond them there as neatly.

We also know here's extra special. Truly extra special.

You, your chums or family shall be sick (now we bear sick co-workers, too.) The children are home, and you are trying to gaze or educate them at the same time as you work (us, too.) That it's likely you'll very neatly be piquant too mighty and no longer getting ample advise. (Ditto).

It helps to hold that you are no longer by myself. We bear started a e-newsletter, "Staying Apart. Collectively," to fragment strategies (here is one on sleep), diversions (listed below are 10 mighty livestream reside presentations) and how-tos – issues to invent dwelling more straightforward all via this unparalleled time. We even created a guided meditation, difficult you to quit, relax your mind and breathe. That it's likely you'll register for the free e-newsletter here.

Because the stress builds, because the times get more challenging, we're here to abet.

It be our mission. It be what we compose.

Photojournalist Lola Gomez at the Austin American-Statesman, portion of the united states TODAY Network, was as soon as hospitalized this week with COVID-19. She reported the data in a video from her hospital bed.

"I wanted to fragment my legend as a journalist and a typical human being that nobody is exempt from this," she texted Thursday. "If (folks) don’t deem in knowledge, they could maybe aloof deem in these that are telling their possess stories of being sick with COVID-19 and in doctors and nurses telling their stories about how they're struggling to address sufferers."

She made the a similar plea in her video: "Try to be taught the factual method," she acknowledged. "Files journalists, photographers videographers ... are working – I point out even extra than 40 hours per week – to get you the data as soon as they bear it. So engage care of your self."

Backstory: Questioning authority in times of disaster is not very any longer unpatriotic. It be severe.

Backstory: We're at a severe moment on the coronavirus curve. Empower your self with facts.

Nicole Carroll is the editor-in-chief of USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] or discover her on Twitter here. Thanks for supporting our journalism. That it's likely you'll subscribe to our print edition, ad-free experience or electronic newspaper replica here.

Read or Portion this legend: https://www.usatoday.com/legend/conception/2020/04/03/backstory-coronavirus-folks-helping-out-clinical-friendship-in-times-of-need/5100466002/

Pick up Contemporary & Worn Vehicles

Contemporary VehiclesWorn Vehicles

0 notes

michaelfallcon · 4 years ago

Text

Allegations And Apologies Rock La Marzocco

In addition to a standard postscript disclosure, this feature requires additional disclosure. The following reporting involves an advertising client on Sprudge Media Network, La Marzocco. It also involves multiple Sprudge contributors: Jenn Chen, Michelle Johnson, and Alex Gable. Thank you for reading Sprudge.

A series of allegations, recriminations, comments, and counterclaims have rocked the coffee landscape over the last week related to La Marzocco, the international specialty coffee machine manufactory based in Florence, Italy.

Let’s start at the start. On Monday, June 1st La Marzocco USA posted a notice of charitable donation and protest support on its Instagram page. LMUSA is the United States branch of La Marzocco International, one of dozens of field branches worldwide and tasked with sales, product support, and community outreach as part of the global La Marzocco brand. This post happened against the backdrop of a historic moment for civil rights here in the United States, and indeed worldwide, sparked by the police murder of George Floyd and pervasive, systemic racism across society, including the criminal justice system.

Responses to LM USA’s donation notice varied and included both critique and praise. But one response, in particular, drew considerable attention, the fallout from which is still rippling across the American, Italian, and global specialty coffee industries.

This comment was made by Alex Gable, an American coffee professional and journalist based in Milan, Italy. He is, in particular, an enormously talented wine journalist and photographer, whose byline has appeared on Sprudge Wine and other international wine publications. Gable was briefly an employee of La Marzocco International, working from January 2018 until May 2018 in the role of Accademia Coffee Specialist.

Here is the comment in full:

Reaction was immediate and included additional comments demanding an explanation on La Marzocco’s Instagram post, as well as screencaps of the comment appearing soon thereafter on additional social media outlets, including Twitter and Facebook. The two individuals mentioned by name in Gable’s allegations, Jenn Chen and Michelle Johnson—both also enormously talented and widely respected journalists—have vocally responded to the commentary via public social media posts. This is a brief selection of just some of the public reaction, which is included here with permission.

While I do not have as much power as a giant, decades-old company, I guess I have enough influence to have made it as a reference point over there. And you can be damn fucking sure that unless things are made to be different, I will not be working with the company.

— Jenn Chen (@thejennchen) June 2, 2020

My statement for @lamarzocco but also I want to add in that the entire marketing department needs to answer for it. And I do not want the apology if it’s half assed or lip service. Don’t bother sending anything out. @LaMarzoccoHome @lamarzoccousa pic.twitter.com/920HzUMlDH

— Jenn Chen (@thejennchen) June 2, 2020

.@lamarzocco Please answer for this. Quickly. pic.twitter.com/0NDZjEnyY9

— i said what i said (@meeshal) June 2, 2020

Johnson’s call for a response was echoed across social media. Shortly after making his initial comments, Alex Gable deleted them from La Marzocco USA’s Instagram account.”It was quickly after I posted it out of consideration of names I wrote without permission,” Gable tells Sprudge. “I did not want to create a distraction from the horrifying acts of violence happening in the US and reacted in the moment not having realized that it was about to seen by a lot of people online.”

Indeed, screencaps of Gable’s comments continued to be shared widely spurring additional discourse, including repeated calls for public statement coming from several prominent members of the American and international specialty coffee community.

La Marzocco then did indeed release a public statement. At 11:30 PM PST on Thursday, June 3rd—that’s Thursday morning, June 4th in Italy—the following public statement was issued by the official international La Marzocco Instagram account.

View this post on Instagram

Dear Friends, ⁠ ⁠ La Marzocco has always valued its culture and openness to the community as a whole. This week, one of our former employees reported that racist and offensive statements were made by more than one of our employees. We are investigating the assertions made in the post and will take appropriate action based on our findings.⁠ ⁠ Regardless of our review, we deeply apologize to the black community, the coffee industry and to the community at large for the alleged statements by La Marzocco employees.⁠ ⁠ La Marzocco is sorry, moreover, for the undeserved emotional stress caused to the individuals in the post including Jenn Chen and Michelle Johnson. We will be reaching out to them directly.⁠ ⁠ La Marzocco is open to all, independently of race, religion and gender, and adheres to and promotes values of equality, diversity, and respect. La Marzocco agrees with and stands with the movement taking place in the USA, which aims to dismantle racism. La Marzocco welcomes all to visit at any of its locations around the globe to engage in open conversation with us. La Marzocco is committed to developing sensitivity programs and reinforcing its policy.⁠ ⁠ Here are the steps we are committed to today and moving forward:⁠ ⁠ We have opened an internal investigation to determine where issues may exist with the aim to find solutions to ensure any findings are addressed.⁠ Evolve policies with actionable and enforceable consequences regarding the conduct and behavior of all global La Marzocco employees.⁠ Appoint a high-level committee trained in diversity and inclusion with authority to develop reviews, hiring practices and training for global La Marzocco employees.⁠ Implement Diversity and Inclusion training courses at all global locations.⁠ Develop an ongoing review of our Diversity and Inclusion actions to ensure we are consistent with our values now and into the future.⁠ ⁠ Thank you for your business and support. It is because of you that we have had our success and we feel the responsibility to continue to earn your trust and respect moving forward.⁠ ⁠ Guido Bernardinelli,⁠ CEO La Marzocco

A post shared by @ lamarzocco on Jun 3, 2020 at 11:38pm PDT

An identical message was posted by the La Marzocco USA Instagram account shortly thereafter, and the statement has been published additionally on La Marzocco International’s official website.

The reaction has been wide-ranging, with members of the international specialty coffee industry voicing both praise and critique. In particular, several commenters demanded to know what steps specifically La Marzocco would take regarding the proposed investigation, and when the public would be informed of follow-up. NYC-based coffee professional, podcast host, and Black Coffee panelist Ezra Baker summed up this sentiment succinctly, commenting: “Well peeps Now you have to show it.” La Marzocco’s official account replied to this statement directly by saying, “Thank you for giving us the opportunity.”

A sentiment of continued accountability was echoed in the public responses of Michelle Johnson and Jenn Chen, along with skepticism.

I am not taking the Italy call but I will talk to the US office. @meeshal & I received texts from the US last night with a heads up on the statement and an offer to talk to Italy. Did not receive any direct communication from HQ beforehand. Did not preview the statement. https://t.co/5DET2jXW9u

— Jenn Chen (@thejennchen) June 4, 2020

From what I see on the Instagram post, there are no responses from LM managing the comments from employees. That should have been step one in making amends. They do not deserve any more free labor or advice from me. I’ll take payment for the extra therapy session I had to sched.

— Jenn Chen (@thejennchen) June 4, 2020

I’ll take payment for the years of unpaid labor trying to educate this entire industry they’re supposedly the leader of and an Linea Mini setup in Chocolate Barista purple.

I think I will also only talk to the folks in the US. https://t.co/rp7dpcxbxX

— i said what i said (@meeshal) June 4, 2020

La Marzocco has not issued any further official public statement as of press time, and have continued to reply to select comments on social media. But one member of La Marzocco staff named in the allegations, Marta Kokosar, has issued a rebuttal statement to her public Instagram, in which she calls Alex Gable’s account of her quotes and statements are “very serious and false allegations.” In this statement, she writes, “A judgment was made about me personally, built without any foundation, without any evidence and absolutely no checking of the facts. My personal and professional history is made of clear choices and strong positions against racism, homophobia, sexism; in words and in practice. Always. I do not intend to contribute to controversies that distract attention from what is happening in the United States.”

Many members of the wider coffee community in Italy and abroad have made additional comments on social media, with some reaching out directly to Jenn Chen via direct message. Chen has shared one of these messages on Twitter:

Hello everyone. I’m going to make this very, very clear. I do not accept @lamarzocco’s apology because of many reasons. I am friends with some on the US team and I do not envy the work they will have to carry.

HOWEVER do not fucking slide into my DMs @aripoz with excuses. pic.twitter.com/FeMj5E1KYc

— Jenn Chen (@thejennchen) June 5, 2020

Reporting a feature like this naturally involves including a broad range of public comment; it is a story that has played out widely in the public sphere, on social media, against a backdrop of history. In the course of that reporting we’ve additionally reached out to all parties involved—La Marzocco’s US and international teams, including individuals working for La Marzocco named in Gable’s comments, as well as Chen, Johnson, and Gable themselves—and offered the opportunity to make an additional comment.

La Marzocco International has offered the following statement as an additional comment, in a quote from CEO Guido Bernardinelli:

“Recent events have prompted us to think of how privileged we are. We must make time for reflection as important social changes are happening around the world. The world is ever-changing and we must make sure that we evolve, not only as individuals, but also as ambassadors of those changes while honoring our origins that are based on equality, diversity and respect. La Marzocco is built on transparency and we welcome you – with open hearts and open minds – to visit at any of our locations around the globe and engage in a genuine conversation with us.” — Guido Bernardinelli.

Alex Gable has offered the following statement as an additional comment:

“There’s a common sentiment here in Europe, similar to the US, that racism is only defined by a conscious hate, and that use of racial slurs is okay. I will continue to fight that idea.

There is never a good time to stay silent about hate or even about other people’s silence towards hate, even if it’s brushed off as casual workplace humor, and no matter what country you are in.

I would like to sincerely apologize for identifying certain people that were targets of other people’s prejudiced comments before asking their permission to do so. I am now aware that this is not the best approach, and will be devoted to learning more.

I hope that by speaking out about past experiences, there will be practices put into place to foster a truly open work environment.” — Alex Gable

Jenn Chen has offered the following statement as an additional comment:

“I do not accept La Marzocco‘s apology.

It is wrapped up in PR speak and tied off in this nice little bow of all promises and no actions. Where is the accountability? When will the investigation be complete? Is it going to be conducted by a third-party?

I have long admired La Marzocco for their innovation, research, and dedication to the community. And because of this, I am severely disappointed at not just their statement but also the handling of the situation.

I hold no grudge against Alex [Gable]. In fact, I think he was incredibly brave to speak up. I hope he and the other ex-employee mentioned also receive personal apologies and offers of support.

This has been an unexpectedly, emotionally draining and angering week in many ways. The blatant and insidious racism many of us have been shouting about and working on for years are buried in companies like this. I hope La Marzocco and the coffee industry learn from this situation.” —Jenn Chen

Michelle Johnson has offered the following statement as an additional comment:

“I said what I said. Do better or be left behind.” — Michelle Johnson.

This story is developing.

La Marzocco is an advertising client on Sprudge Media Network.

All Jenn Chen bylines on Sprudge.

All Michelle Johnson bylines on Sprudge.

All Alex Gable bylines on Sprudge.

Jordan Michelman (@suitcasewine) is a co-founder and editor at Sprudge Media Network and the winner of a 2020 James Beard Award for digital journalism.

Allegations And Apologies Rock La Marzocco published first on https://medium.com/@LinLinCoffee

0 notes

shebreathesslowly · 4 years ago

Text

Allegations And Apologies Rock La Marzocco

Here is the comment in full:

— Jenn Chen (@thejennchen) June 2, 2020

.@lamarzocco Please answer for this. Quickly. pic.twitter.com/0NDZjEnyY9

— i said what i said (@meeshal) June 2, 2020

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by @ lamarzocco on Jun 3, 2020 at 11:38pm PDT

An identical message was posted by the La Marzocco USA Instagram account shortly thereafter, and the statement has been published additionally on La Marzocco International’s official website.

A sentiment of continued accountability was echoed in the public responses of Michelle Johnson and Jenn Chen, along with skepticism.

— Jenn Chen (@thejennchen) June 4, 2020

I’ll take payment for the years of unpaid labor trying to educate this entire industry they’re supposedly the leader of and an Linea Mini setup in Chocolate Barista purple.

I think I will also only talk to the folks in the US. https://t.co/rp7dpcxbxX

— i said what i said (@meeshal) June 4, 2020

Other members of the La Marzocco community in Italy have made additional comments on social media, with some reaching out directly to Jenn Chen via direct message. Chen has shared one of these messages on Twitter:

HOWEVER do not fucking slide into my DMs @aripoz with excuses. pic.twitter.com/FeMj5E1KYc

— Jenn Chen (@thejennchen) June 5, 2020

La Marzocco International has offered the following statement as an additional comment, in a quote offered by CEO Guido Bernardinelli:

Alex Gable has offered the following statement as an additional comment:

“There’s a common sentiment here in Europe, similar to the US, that racism is only defined by a conscious hate, and that use of racial slurs is okay. I will continue to fight that idea.

There is never a good time to stay silent about hate or even about other people’s silence towards hate, even if it’s brushed off as casual workplace humor, and no matter what country you are in.

I hope that by speaking out about past experiences, there will be practices put into place to foster a truly open work environment.” — Alex Gable

Jenn Chen has offered the following statement as an additional comment:

“I do not accept La Marzocco‘s apology.

I hold no grudge against Alex [Gable]. In fact, I think he was incredibly brave to speak up. I hope he and the other ex-employee mentioned also receive personal apologies and offers of support.

Michelle Johnson has offered the following statement as an additional comment:

“I said what I said. Do better or be left behind.”

This story is developing.

All quoted parties and public statements included in this feature appear with advance consent.

La Marzocco is an advertising client on Sprudge Media Network.

All Jenn Chen bylines on Sprudge.

All Michelle Johnson bylines on Sprudge.

All Alex Gable bylines on Sprudge.

Jordan Michelman (@suitcasewine) is a co-founder and editor at Sprudge Media Network and the winner of a 2020 James Beard Award for digital journalism.

from Sprudge https://ift.tt/3eS7yzK

#Sprudge

0 notes

fossadeileonixv · 7 years ago

Text

Professor Rockett's Final Grades

This is a good picture that I like.

So as we wind up the season, I've decided to grade Milan's major players (at least five league appearances) as well as coaching and management on a very American A-F scale. Not much else to say, just read, respond and riot. Remember, these are only my opinions, so while probably right, feel free to disagree.

Keepers

Donnarumma (B+): The final month of the campaign was stormy, to say the least, and there’s little doubt that he cost us points in the league and a chance at the Coppa, but subtract those couple matches and you had a very solid junior season from The Don. During the hump of the season the wantaway (or manipulated, or both) youngster was vital in saving points to keep us within reach of the Champions League and without some of those performances we’re missing out of Europe next year. Markedly improved his footwork and distribution, and aside from his recent form, continued as a stalwart between the sticks. He’s a polarizing dude around these parts, but I for one, am gonna miss the big lug.

Defense

Calabria (B): I was not high on Calabria prior to this season. I thought that he had decent pace, good vision on the counter, and was capable of placing some accurate crosses but I felt he was undersized and slow to react on the defensive side. However, the gains Davide made this season were palpable and made me a believer. He filled in better than anyone really could have expected after the Conti blow, and minus a few hiccups, was a consistent performer for the bulk of the season.

Bonucci (C+): After a disastrous first half of the season where nearly every game was punctuated by at least one inexplicable personal mistake, the 42 million euro man settled in alongside Romagnoli nicely after Gattuso’s appointment and subsequent switch to a four-man back. While never really reaching the form displayed at Juventus, was a solid battery-mate to the breakout A.R., and seemed to nurture his growth.

Romagnoli (A-): Aside from Koulibaly, was maybe Serie A’s best defender from December on. Was the anchor of the defense when we implemented the 4-3-3, providing a stout base to, at times, a curvy spine. The comparisons to Nesta extend far beyond the number as his positioning, awareness, technique, and timing all made dramatic improvements. My team MVP.

Rodriguez (B-): Advertised as an inverted fullback, I expected a lot more from the Hot Rod after his move from Wolfsburg last summer. Stymied somewhat by a significantly weaker attacking left side, R.R. left a lot to be desired in attack, with many of his crosses and shots wildly off-the-mark. However, he held up his end of the bargain on the defensive side of things (let’s just forget that whole Arsenal tie), again, with less protection than the rest of the defense, so all in all, a nice little campaign, albeit a quiet one.

Abate (C-): Gattuso relied on his old chum a little too often for my liking, especially at the end of the season, allowing us to experience his footballing decay in real-time. Pizza making gif was worth keeping him around for though ("I'm gonna let you in on a little Abate family secret here, but the secret to any Neapolitan pizza is cheese.").

Zapata (B-): Can you name a game when Zapata went full Zapata? I’ll wait. The arrivals of Bonucci and Mussachio seemingly damned the Colombian to Europa and Coppa fixtures, but the latter’s inability to secure playing time and a small stretches where A.R. was injured provided Zaps with a couple handfuls worth of starts. Never really went into the ‘God-Zapata’ video-game mode that once cancelled out Higuain, but was consistently good, which is good enough for me.

Musacchio (D+): A weird combination of being third, and then fourth choice, and never really dazzling when given the opportunity left the former Villareal man on the outside looking in. To be fair, he never looked inept, and I would have liked to see him a bit more, but neither Montella nor Gattuso seemed impressed enough in training to make it happen.

Antonelli (INC): Came on mostly as a sub in the dying embers of the match.

Midfield

Kessie (B): I can see a couple eyebrows raised here, but while Franck is probably my favorite player on this squad outside maybe Romagnoli, and though I think he was indispensable to the midfield as our only true box-to-box guy, he suffered mightily at times from being overworked. I’m not faulting him at all as his energy, ability to push possession up, and marking were vital, and far ahead of his age. However, he was a net negative looking absolutely gassed in a number of matches due to a lack of a second option. Here’s hoping we get a vice-Kessie this summer because this kid is too good to run into the ground.

Biglia (B-): It seems so long ago that Lucas Biglia was in such poor form that the timeless Rick Montolivo displaced him in the starting eleven. Then Montella was fired and Gattuso gave him a second chance and he totally redeemed himself! In the few games he missed in the second half of the season, the drop-off in organization was noticeable. Provided uncompromising cover for the backline, short, silky distribution in possession, and was a vital cog in our unbeaten run in the winter.

Bonaventura [C]: This was a rather frustrating season for Jack. While the numbers are respectable with 9 goals in 47 games across all competitions (a more respectable 8 in 33 league appearances), more often than not he cut an uninspired figure on the pitch, giving away possession, running straight into defenders, and disappearing for large swathes of the match. The move from wing to mid may have something to do with it, but even so, that trademark ability to win one on one matchups that made his wing-play so effective was by and large absent.

Montolivo [C]: Old Lady Face did what Old Lady Face does, and that’s do an average job. I’m by no means a hater, as Monty was neither stellar nor poor, filling in admirably while Biglia got himself sorted. Much like a lukewarm cup of water to wash down some advil before bed, necessary and effective.

Locatelli (D+): Had a couple sweet performances towards the end of the season, but otherwise seemed to stagnate if not take a step back entirely. Continued to look overwhelmed in almost every duty as a regista, leading me to believe he isn’t really suited for the role, needs significantly more time to grow into it, or both. A year as a starter at a smaller club could do this kid wonders, because the growth has been uneven here and this past season was in some respects a lost year.

Attack

Suso [C]: Ugh. Just ugh. On one hand, he was the catalyst for a lot of scoring opportunities, pulling the strings, especially in the first half of the season, when no one else was stepping up to that challenge. I am inclined to say he was our most important attacker until around January. On the other, Lisi’s favorite whipping boy put it on airplane mode for the final two or three months of the season, with Milan’s best match of the year incidentally not featuring him at all. Whether it was that teams figured him out, or that his head was somewhere else, or a little bit of both, is something up for debate. But as the season wore on it became apparent that he is not as indispensable as many of us thought.

Kalanic (F): Why get worked up? We all know why. Flop of the year, with no second place.

Calhanoglu (B): After a slow start to the season (notice that trend?) Cal took over the reigns as the offense’s playmaker with the final match of the season punctuating his importance to the club going forward. Though the sample size is comparatively small, we haven’t had an attacking mid with this kind of quality since Kaka (and no, he’s not in Kaka’s class) with the Turk able to beat defenders, shoot from range, bury set pieces, and serve teammates on platters. Of all the young guns on this squad, he’s probably the one with the highest ceiling.

Borini (B-): My guy. The loveable Fabolous Borini seemed to find the net when we wanted it most and for the price, was maybe last year’s biggest bargain, filling in wherever was needed.

Silva (D-): Mr. Thursday Night was pretty much just that. Aside from grabbing three points in stoppage time at The Luigi Ferraris, Andre only seemed to show and prove against the farmers, making maddeningly poor decisions when given the opportunities in the league (seriously, remember him trying that backwards header off a bounce against Udinese? Oof.) Flashes of potential weren’t even there for most of the campaign leaving most of us puzzled as to why his price-tag was a high as it was coming from Porto.

Cutrone (B): This may be the most controversial grade on this dang report card. 18 goals and 6 assists across all competitions at the age of 19? I know, I know. The kid could earn close to an A-, but my issue with Young Pat is how inconsistent the performances were, to really, no fault of his own. The kid is a poacher in the purest form and for long spells of the season, the service, especially for someone of his stature, just was not there. And when he wasn’t fed, he had difficulty imposing himself into the match, physical as he was. An effective partner could do this kid wonders, and as such, next year is going to be interesting. One of the few untouchables and my breakout player of the year.

Coaches

Montella (D+): It started of well for The Lil’ Aeroplane, but Conti’s injury knocked out an engine which in my opinion, doomed the three man back. Hitting this turbulence, Vinnie was either too stubborn or too unimaginative to compensate and the team struggled to forge any type of identity. The two players that most outlets claim were his guys in Musacchio and Kalinic were flaming busts and it seemed he alienated himself from both players and management towards the end of his tenure. In the end, wrong man for the right job.

Gattuso (B+): For the record Gattuso is my favorite Milan player ever. Also for the record, I’m not sold on him leading this team to a top-four spot. I’m not as pessimistic as Mike, but also not as optimistic as maybe Russu, however you can not deny that he provided a jolt to this club when it appeared that nothing could save it. The beginning was rocky, and if you believed some of the rumor rags, he was close to walking away, but he stuck with it and led the club on a 13 game unbeaten run that included victories against Inter, Roma, and Nazio. Sure, Benevento proved to be his kryptonite, Juve thoroughly dressed us down twice, and his subs were confusing at times, but if we’re going strictly by results, there was a solid uptick after he took over and a lot of our players kicked it up a notch at the same time. No coincidence.

Management

Fassobelli, Mirabelli, and whoever our owner is (F): Harsh? Fight me. This management team decided to go for broke and buy our way into the Champions League and it blew up in their collective faces. Personally, while last summer was exciting, I didn’t buy it and had us finishing 5th and didn’t even see sixth as out of the realm of possibility. Starting with the coach, and continuing with expensive buys that in many ways contradicted other expensive buys, the group bet against common sense and depth and tallied up a massive bill with a better team on paper, but one with fundamental flaws. Sure, there are some nice pieces for next season (but let’s be real, a lot of these, Calabria, Cutrone, and AR, were here before the splurge), but I can't see into the future and I cannot give a passing grade to these cats when they spent over 200 million euros to finish… well here, let’s compare this season: 6th place, 64 points (18W, 10D, 10L), 56F/42A/+14; to last season: 6th place, 63 points (18W, 9D, 11L). 57F/45A/+12. How Mirabelli in particular still has a job is beyond me, but here’s to hoping they’ve learned from their mistakes.

That's it! You've reached level three.

Mike’s coming in with some heat soon. Me? I’m off to Ecuador for two weeks so I won’t be around. Have fun, and be prepared for Deadpool Pt. II (Murad, I’m mailing your package tomorrow I swear!)

0 notes