#more about angel alegria

[matchalovertrait]

📩 Simblr question of the day: Your sim is having a heated discussion with someone about whether Cereal is a soup or not, what side are they on? 👀 ( freely share this SQOTD around, anon or not, and use the hashtag " SQOTD " ~ 💛 )

Thanks for this!! Here we have Dulce and Ángel debating this topic as if they're being interviewed:

[changingplumbob]

📩 Simblr question of the day: Choose a sim of your own that you consider your/a fave, then choose one sim from three (or more!) different simblrs, now imagine what those sims would be like in a room together? Who's walking out first? Who's staying the longest? Who would get along? Who wouldn't get along at all? Elaborate as much or as little as you'd like :) (p.s please feel free to share this to others, anon or not, and feel free to use the hashtag " SQOTD "! I love seeing everyone's answers and reading them makes my day ~ 💛 ) (p.p.s I saw you ask for the best friend ask, be on the lookout for that sometime soon :))

Oh my gosh I have so many ideas I'll have to put them under a cut!

Brunch Date

First up we're going BIG! I'm talking time to ship up every single member of the York family to go and meet the Alegria family by @matchalovertrait! Wouldn't be too massive of a trip though since we're mostly all in Tartosa.

I suspect Devin and Dulce would get along. I think Aaron would probably be a bit too pompous for Erick to maintain a conversation with. I'm guessing Noemi would probably not mind talking to Calista since they're both family and career women. Angel would probably be the one helping Joey make sure Alfred and Rilian are having fun.

Supernatural Hang out

Sending my werewolf Samir, his boyfriend Reece, and the Knightstone's to try and make friends...

They would be meeting up with Caleb and Morgan by @marcishaun, as well as Lou and Lux by @ethicaltreatmentofcowplants.

As well as Priscilla, Tony and Moumou by @eljeebee and the Bohan family by @aliengirl.

First up Moumou (who's a cat if you didn't know) would be surrounded by all the younger sims. The youngest would probably just all be sitting there making imitation cat noises. I like to think Silas would be interested to meet Carina and Orion and have a million questions about how they manage to look both human and alien at the same time.

Blue would tell Adam how he carried a pregnancy and Adam would storm off in horror for several reasons. First off Adam doesn't want more kids. Plus he's hot headed. Then of course Adam hates UFO aliens getting humans pregnant and would probably feel like the tale hits to close to home, even though Rhea and Blue made their kids with love. Suzanna however would be fascinated to learn about the process.

Priscilla would likely try to cheer up Caleb about being a vampire while Tony would probably try to impart some wisdom about being a human in love with an immortal to Morgan.

Let's be real Samir would probably sit there brooding the entire time but Reece would undoubtedly be chatting at a million miles an hour with Lou and Lex to try and learn all he could about real werewolves.

EDIT: I forgot my main point which is I think most of them would enjoy talking about plants and gardening and nature.

Animal Get Together

Cluckton would be hanging out in a park with Matilda from @sharona-sims...

Le Chat by @akitasimblr, Nougat by @kissalopa and Daisy by @lauralovelysims

They would get up to mysterious animal things

Universes Collide

Amiyah and her siblings by @deardiaryts4 are invited to the Chopra Homestead!

I would invite the other Rahul but I think things could get awkward if Amiyah's parents show up considering her Cassandra is best friends with the woman who married and then divorced Rahul...

I think Amiyah would spend the time trying to teach Savannah and Mercedes how to dance and would probably give them several make overs. Cassandra would find it fascinating to meet these alternate universe Rahul offspring where as Rahul would probably be a bit creeped out.

Casual Drinks!

Sending Joey to meet the infamous Ben Ben by @slightly-ludic for a night on the town! You know Ben needs a drink after that Jungle Adventure!

Of course we're also inviting Astrid by @simmerbeans and Stan and Milena by @stargazer-sims.

A lot of the talk would revolve around travel and what different countries are like. I think Astrid would love talking to Ben and Stan, Joey would do his best to comment on the conversation but secretly be eyeing up whatever single ladies are in the bar. Of course Joey and Ben would say some dopey stuff earning them eyerolls from the other three. I think the younger ones would benefit from time with Stan and Milena though, get some life lessons.

[six-paths-of-jeanmarco]

Eurovision 2010 vs 2011

Albania: It's All About You vs Feel the Passion Armenia: Apricot Stone vs Boom Boom Austria: The Secret Is Love Azerbaijan: Drip Drop vs Running Scared Belarus: Butterflies vs I Love Belarus Belgium: Me and My Guitar vs With Love Baby Bosnia and Herzegovina: Thunder and Lighting vs Love in Rewind Bulgaria: Angel si ti vs Na inat Croatia: Lako je sve vs Celebrate Cyrpus: Life Looks Better in Spring vs San aggelos s'agapisa Denmark: In a Moment like This vs New Tomorrow Estonia: Siren vs Rockefeller Street Finland: Työlki ellää vs Da Da Dam France: Allez Ola Olé vs Sognu Georgia: Shine vs One More Day Germany: Satellite vs Taken by a Stranger Greece: Opa vs Watch My Dance Hungary: What About My Dreams? Iceland: Je ne sais quoi vs Coming Home Ireland: It's for You vs Lipstick Israel: Milim vs Ding Dong Italy: Madness of Love Latvia: What For? vs Angel in Disguise Lithuania: Eastern European Funk vs C'est ma vie Malta: My Dream vs One Life Moldova: Run Away vs So Lucky Netherlands: Ik ben verliefd (Sha-la-lie) vs Never Alone North Macedonia: Jas ja imam silata vs Rusinka Norway: My Heart Is Yours vs Haba Haba Poland: Legenda vs Jestem Portugal: Há dias assim vs A luta é alegria Romania: Playing with Fire vs Change Russia: Lost and Forgotten vs Get You San Marino: Stand By Serbia: Ovo je Balkan vs Čaroban Slovakia: Horehronie vs I'm Still Alive Slovenia: Narodnozabavni rock vs No One Spain: Algo pequeñito vs Que me quiten lo bailao Sweden: This Is My Life vs Popular Switzerland: Il pleut de l'or vs In Love for a While Türkiye: We Could Be the Same vs Live It Up Ukraine: Sweet People vs Angel United Kingdom: That Sounds Good to Me vs I Can

2010: 20 vs 2011: 19

[sweepseven]

I've been thinking about Alegria recently and a question came to mind about it.

Namely, what purpose do the Nymphs serve?

Like, in the original, I think they're there to give most of the female artists a group to belong to, but that still leaves them without a clear place in the dynamic of the other groups that I can tell. The remake doesn't add any clarity for me either, not helped by the fact that they're now only perform one act, last I checked.

Any insight on this would be great, because I otherwise love the Nymphs and want to know more about them.

Well there's only two of them, so I wouldn't call them a "group" in the way that the Angels or Bronx are groups. Everything about both versions of the show is very deliberate too, so they're definitely not there as an excuse to give two otherwise unspecified acrobats different costumes (contrast with Kurios, for example, which has many characters that are weird just for the sake of being weird as a means of enhancing the show's setting).

The approach to Nymphs feels very different between the original and IANL. In the original, they are heralds of oncoming change. They often flank the White Singer, the Old Birds find them intimidating, and they're most often seen collaborating with the Bronx or even serving as encouragement and inspiration for the oppressed (like when the Strong Man was part of the show). Despite all that, something about them also feels cold and untouchable, not unlike the Angels. Change is scary, and so can freedom be in its own way, too. I feel the original Nymphs capture that.

In IANL, I'd argue that they're evidence that change has already begun to take place. They're more approachable than the originals, a little more fun-loving, a little less serious. They play. There's room for that in a world that's already begun to change, whereas the original "story" seems to have begun a few steps earlier than the one we see today.

The IANL Nymphs have a brighter spotlight on them now that they have their own act, but I do feel they're less effective as characters than they were before. They're one of my few disappointments with IANL, truthfully. They have an entire act all their own, and yet they're still doing less for the story than the originals. It's a shame.

Plus I hate the new Nymphs' wings, but that's pettier lol

And if you really want some headcanon bullshit, I wrote this a while back that touches on why the Angels aren't the ones that have wings.

[x--daughters-of-darkness--x]

NITA STRAUSS On Upcoming Solo Album: 'It's Gonna Be Half Vocal Songs And Half Instrumental'

During a new appearance on "The Mistress Carrie Podcast", Nita Strauss, the Los Angeles-based guitar shredder for the ALICE COOPER band, spoke about the progress of the writing and recording sessions for her follow-up to 2018's "Controlled Chaos" solo debut. She said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We've got half and half — so it's gonna be half vocal songs and half instrumental. I did feel, and the label and everybody agreed, it's still important for me to keep my identity as a guitar player and not just branch off too much and go, 'Okay, well, now it's just guests.' Let me still have a little of what makes me me, which is the instrumental shred stuff. And the instrumental pieces that I've written on this record are, I think, better than anything I did on the first one — definitely more… I don't know if it could be more emotional but they're very emotional pieces of music and I think a little better crafted this time around. So I think all the songs in general are more well thought out, better put together this time around. And I do have some of my absolute favorite [singers guesting on it]. I have three amazing powerhouse female vocalists on this album so far. And there are still a couple of things T.B.D. [to be determined]. And then we should be ready to release next spring."

In October, Nita shared "Dead Inside", her first new music since the release of her critically acclaimed debut solo album "Controlled Chaos" in 2018. The track is her first-ever solo collaboration with a vocalist, David Draiman, frontman of Grammy-nominated rock icons DISTURBED.

Strauss has been playing with Cooper since 2014 when she replaced Australian musician and former Michael Jackson player Orianthi. She joined Alice in time for a mammoth MÖTLEY CRÜE tour. She was recommended to Cooper by the legendary rocker's former bass player and WINGER frontman Kip Winger.

Nita released "Controlled Chaos" to mass acclaim from fans and media alike, with Metal Injection calling it "a great debut that — as its creator intended — leaves no doubt", and Guitar World stating "'Controlled Chaos' is a panoramic view of Nita Strauss's many strengths". To date the album has clocked up 6.7 million streams worldwide, with music videos for singles "Our Most Desperate Hour", "Pandemonium", "Alegria" and "Mariana Trench" generating over 3 million YouTube views.

As well as performing with Cooper, Nita has also played with R&B star Jermaine Jackson, early MTV darlings FEMME FATALE, video game supergroup CRITICAL HIT and popular tribute band THE IRON MAIDENS.

In April 2020, Nita launched "Rock Guitar Fundamentals" — a three-module online guitar teaching program suitable for learners of all levels. The course is available at www.iwanttoplayguitar.com.

Nita's live show is mostly instrumental in nature, combining originals with covers.

[namelists]

names inspired by: christmas

this list includes names inspired by christmas stories, songs, traditions and myths, both religious and secular. happy holidays!

Aisling: Irish, meaning “wish” or “dream of”

Alegria: Spanish/Portuguese, meaning “joy”

Alvin: Old English, meaning “elf friend”

Amaryllis: a tropical red flower popular at Christmas due to the colorful blooms that brighten up a winter landscape

Amicitia: Latin, meaning “friendship”

Angel: two angels appear in the Christmas story, bringing good news with them each time

Anise: a warm spice from the star-shaped pericarps of the fruit of an asian evergreen

Aster: from the Greek word for “star”

Bailey: George Bailey from ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’, the generous banker who sacrifices his dreams in order to help his community

Belle: what sounds like Christmas more than jingling bells?

Buddy: the tallest, happiest Elf ever, singing loud for all to hear.

Carol: originally celebrations of the winter solstice, Carols are dances or songs of praise and joy  

Chandelle: French, meaning “candle”

Charity: kindness, generosity, goodwill, compassion

Christian: a believer in the Christian religion

Cider: traditional North American spiced hot drink, made in autumn and winter

Clarence: the guardian angel from ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’

Clark: the patriarch of the Griswold family in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”

Cookie: traditionally baked and shared with family and friends to celebrate the season

December: the coldest darkest month, during which cultures all over the world hold celebrations of life and light

Demetria: Greek goddess of winter

Douglas: the most familiar Christmas tree type, the Douglas Fir

Dovana: Lithuanian, meaning “gift”

Dream: a cherished aspiration, ambition, or ideal

Eira: inspired by the Norse Goddess Eir, means ‘snow’ in Welsh

Elvie: from Old English, meaning “elf friend”

Ember: sparks from a cozy crackling fireplace

Emmanuel: a Hebrew name, meaning “God with us”, given to the Christ child as a symbol of God’s protection

Estrella: Spanish, meaning “star”

Eve: the night before Christmas during which not a creature stirs.

Faith: complete trust or confidence in someone or something

Flick: a character from ‘A Christmas Story’ who gets his tongue stuck to a pole

Fraser: a lovely-smelling sturdy Christmas tree

Gabriel: the archangel who delivered the prophecy of the birth of Jesus to Joseph

George: George Bailey from ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’, the generous banker who sacrifices his dreams in order to help his community

Gloria: Latin for “glory”, what the angels sang to praise the baby Jesus, according to the songs

Grace: the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings

Hoku: Hawaiian, meaning “star”

Holiday: English, meaning “holy day”

Holly: the bright berries of holly trees ripen during the winter, giving a splash of color to a somewhat dismal season

Isabelle: from the French song ‘Un flambeau, Jeannette, Isabelle’, about two female farmhands who have found the baby Jesus and his mother in a stable

Ivy: a winter vine that still looks bright and beautiful in the darkest season

Jeanette: from the song French ‘Un flambeau, Jeannette, Isabelle’, about two female farmhands who have found the baby Jesus and his mother in a stable

Jesper: the worst postman in the world who accidentally creates the story of Santa, in the film ‘Klaus’

Jesus: Hebrew name related to Joshua, meaning “to rescue”, given to the Christ child, whose birth is celebrated during Christmas (even though he was most likely born in the spring)

Jia: Chinese, meaning “home”

Joseph: Mary’s husband, who almost left her when he learned she was pregnant, but an angel let him know it was the Holy Spirit’s baby, so it was okay

Jovie: the honey-voiced love interest of Buddy the Elf, her name means “joyful”

Joy: a feeling of great pleasure and happiness

Kari: Turkish, “covered with snow”

Kevin: was left Home Alone, and engineered an ingenious security system for his house.

Kiseki: Japanese, meaning “miracle”

Klaus: the name of the heartwarming toymaker in the new Netflix movie bearing his name

Kris: Kris Kringle is one of Santa’s many names, and his legal name according to ‘Miracle on 34th Street’

Love: an intense feeling of deep affection  

Lucia: the Swedish saint of Christmas, celebrated on December 13th

Lumi: Finnish, meaning “snow”

Lux: Latin, meaning “light”

Mahalo: Hawaiian, meaning “thank you”

Malachi: Hebrew, meaning “messenger angel”

Maria: the name of the woman who gave birth to the Christ child when she was still a virgin

Merry: surprisingly means ‘Guardian of the Sea’ in Welsh, but inspires a warm cozy Christmassy feeling

Mint: a sweet, cooling herb that flavours candy canes

Móshù: Chinese, meaning“magic”

Natalie: Latin, means “the birthday of the Lord”

Natasha: Russian, meaning“born on Christmas Day”

Neve: an anglicized spelling of Gaelic ‘Niamh’ and means ‘snow’

Nicholas: Patron Saint of children, inspired the story of Santa Claus

Noel: French word for Christmas

North: the direction in which you go to find Santa’s house

Peace: freedom from disturbance; tranquility

Poinsettia: a bold, bright, beautiful Mexican flower with red and green blooms

Ralphie: the bold, awkward, near-sighted protagonist of ‘A Christmas Story’

Regalo: Spanish/Italian, meaning “gift”

Roi: Welsh, meaning “to give” & French meaning “king”

Rudolph: the bullied baby reindeer who saved Christmas

Sage: a warm cozy spice known for the distinct taste it gives to classic holiday stuffings

Sahar: Arabic, meaning “magic”

Saman: Icelandic, meaning “together”

Shepherd: the sheep minders who were minding their own business when the angels came to tell them about the birth of God’s son

Snow: atmospheric water vapor frozen into ice crystals, which fall in light white flakes or blanket the ground in cold weather

Star: the star of Bethlehem lead the Magi of the East (the three wise men) to Jerusalem, where Jesus was born

Stella: Italian, meaning “star”

Svetlana: Russian, meaning “light, shining”

Taika: Finnish, meaning “magic”

Tannen: A tannenbaum is a fir tree, long celebrated for their sturdiness and ability to stay bright and green throughout winter

Trúa: Icelandic word for “believe”

Vela: Spanish, meaning “candle”

Vesper: Latin, meaning “evening star”

Winter: the coldest, darkest season of the year, during which cultures all over the world hold celebrations of life and light

Yukio: Japanese name meaning “snow”

Yule: means “winter solstice”

[taeminie]

hi ali!!! the song was so beautiful and your voice is just too gorgeous for this world!!!!!!!!!! thank you for the content as usual :') ANYGAYS 14, 83, and 90 for the sweetheart asks 💖 - alexa

ALEXA MY HONEY!!!!! thank u angel and pls ur voice was soo stunning in that cover u posted im still obsessed.

14.  Song that makes you happy? How about one that calms you down when you’re in a bad place? omg here goes a random list

- pretty u - svt, red flavor - red velvet, on my way - phil collins, si los hombres han llegado hasta la luna - siempre así, rimas pa’ seducir - cultura profética, khao gun di - scrubb, alegria - pez mago, for the first time - the script, good life - one republic

83.  What time of day do you tend to be in the best mood?

post lunch time!! bc im back from work and can relax and also i just ate so im happy. so around 3-5 pm

90.  What’s your favorite personality trait you have?

i talk to myself and plan things out before doing them or plan my days and have learned to be more patient as well. (so i guess patience)

thank you for your ask and for your beautiful compliments im blushing now  💖

hope you’re doing well angel !!!!!  💖

[maschasrankings]

2011: Top 43

Bosnia & Herzegovina: Dino Merlin - Love In Rewind

Germany: Lena - Taken By A Stranger

Italy: Raphael Gualazzi - Madness Of Love

Slovenia: Maja Keuc - No One

Ukraine: Mika Newton - Angel

Bulgaria: Poli Genova - Na Inat

San Marino: Senit - Stand By

Georgia: Eldrine - One More Day

Serbia: Nina - Čaroban

Hungary: Kati Wolf - What About My Dreams?

Estonia: Getter Jaani - Rockefeller Street

Spain: Lucia Pérez - Que Me Quiten Lo Bailao

Switzerland: Anna Rossinelli - In Love For A While

Romania: Hotel FM - Change

Moldova: Zdob și Zdub - So Lucky

Armenia: Emmy - Boom Boom

Turkey: Yüksek Sadakat - Live It Up

Poland: Magdalena Tul - Jestem

Albania: Aurela Gaçe - Feel The Passion

France: Amaury Vassili - Sognu

Austria: Nadine Beiler - The Secret Is Love

Azerbaijan: Ell & Nikki - Running Scared

Croatia: Daria - Celebrate

North Macedonia: Vlatko Ilievski - Rusinka

Belarus: Anastaysiya Vinnikova - I Love Belarus

Iceland: Sjonni's Friends - Coming Home

Netherlands: 3JS - Never Alone

Latvia: Musiqq - Angel In Disguise

Lithuania: Evelina Sašenko - C'est Ma Vie

Slovakia: TWiiNS - I'm Still Alive

Russia: Alexey Vorobyov - Get You

Finland: Paradise Oskar - Da Da Dam

Portugal: Homens da Luta - A Luta É Alegria

Sweden: Eric Saade - Popular

Cyprus: Christos Mylordos - San Aggelos S'Agapisa

Greece: Loukas Girokas & Stereo Mike - Watch My Dance

United Kingdom: Blue - I Can

Denmark: A Friend In London - New Tomorrow

Belgium: Witloof Bay - With Love Baby

Malta: Glen Vella - One Life

Norway: Stella Mwangi - Haba Haba

Israel: Dana International - Ding Dong

Ireland: Jedward - Lipstick

[matchalovertrait]

💌 Post 4 pictures from Pinterest that describe your OC. Send this to 3 other simmers to keep the chain going!

Thank you so much! I'll do this for Ángel :)

[missrkl]

Descendants of acts 2

Chapter Six

Rachel’s monthly had come and she wasn’t really in the mood for anything. Not only was she in severe pain that seemed to be constant, but she was also noticing things that she would not usually notice when her monthly wasn’t around. Like right now, Pastor Gabriel was here in class, teaching, and he couldn’t help but be good looking. He had this caramel brown hair and he styled it quite well, and he wasn’t skinny and he wasn’t pudgy looking neither, he was just right. Chunky looking in his T-shirt and jeans. It was a Saturday after all, and the usual man power outfits of these pastors on weekends was either chequered shirts or T-shirt’s. His arms exuded tanned muscles and he was a wearing jeans. Rachel really wanted to cover her eyes with her hands and not look at him. She never noticed these things about him when she wasn’t on her monthly. She could notice the outlines of every piece of muscle. It’s not like he could tell what she was thinking or feeling, but she always felt that he could read her mind, or see her life from afar because at every chance he got, it seemed, every teaching or sermon, he was talking about her and she always wanted to hide but had to act like she was nothing like what he was talking about. He creeped her out usually whenever he did that, but during these moon cycles she was vulnerable to the hormonal changes in her body and she couldn’t help but feel and see things and think things she didn’t want to. Like how tight his jeans were. Rachel looked to the floor. Only 10 students allowed for seating during this pandemic, others were online in zoom at the back wall, clearly she didn’t have to be here, but since Pastor Gabriel was the one teaching she knew it would be worth it. Plus the biscuits and tea was always fun. Always the food. Rachel sighed. She should have just stayed home, at least from behind the screen he wouldn’t notice her so much.

Pastor Gabriel then called for a guest speaker to come and share something online zoom room, it was Matt! Rachel tried to hide her surprise and her ‘happy face’ at seeing his smiling face. For some reason Matt always had a way of making her laugh. He was either a really funny person, or extremely talented at performing, hosting, speaking. He was an actor and performer after all. Matt was there to talk a little about ‘true worship’ and pastor Gabriel was to finish it with ‘biblical worship’. Rachel loved worship and that trumped the hormonal challenges her body was creating in her. She needed, wanted and desired to know about this more than knowing them and soon both the men faded into the background. Except for the few moments Pastor Gabriel would run his hand through his caramel brown hair, Rachel wished he would stop doing that. He must know what that does to a female, he must know he’s good looking. Such a distraction! Soon class ended and she got a ping on her phone, it was David, he said he knew she was in school and that it would be ending soon, that he was ready and was in the market to change his outfit. Rachel smiled, David, just as good looking as Pastor Gabriel, and he liked hanging out with her! Rachel smiled as she picked up her books and made her way to the tea machine. Clearly she was taking tea home with her, and a biscuit, or two. Even if pastor Gabriel was eyeing her, probably thinking how she eats too much no wonder she isn’t super slim and beautiful. Rachel did wonder what Pastor Gabriel really thought of her. Maybe he thought she was a freak. Good looking men never liked girls like her, even as friends. Men liked to have good looking females around them, Rachel was sure of that. Plus she felt ugly beside him anyways, he was prettier than she was. Total mismatch. It’s not like she wanted to do anything or be anything with him. Normally she was turned off by him and all his manliness because of her past..but during her monthly it seems he turned into what seemed like a pop-up book and became more apparent or appealing to her. Rachel smiled at him as she took her tea and biscuits in her hand and smiled at pastor gabriel as she sipped her tea walking out. Who cares if he thought she was an eating pig because she was the only one to grab it before leaving and the only fat girl in class. He wasn’t interested in her, so it didn’t matter. If he was interested in her then maybe it would mean something. Being healthy for just being healthy never crossed Rachel’s mind. All she cared about was comfort and pleasure to alleviate pain, stress and so much more.

On the bus Rachel logged in the holy Bible game and met David in the market. She looked around the market and found this floating light that would rest on top of her head. It was called Tongues. Apparantly it gave you abilities to talk and understand different languages. Handy. Rachel told David she was on the bus, she would battle with him when she got home. So Rachel basically downloaded everything pastor Gabriel had said about worship and the testimonies and experiences of Matt regarding worship to David during the ride home. As Rachel entered the house she greeted her family, had her dinner and decided to shower and everything before fully getting into this game on the computer.

Rachel logged out on the phone and logged in on the computer and VR. The tongues was still there on top of her head. It felt like a fire. David and Rachel had been invited to the international tournament for gaming on this, but they had to practice and all of that. They decided to test this tongues thing by going to the Italy side of the game, a totally different district. As their characters flashed from UK to Italy, Rachel felt that fire on her head get stronger. As they approached these two citizens by the Trevi Fountain to explain the gospel of Jesus, Rachel found her character speak perfect Italian and she was also able to interpret the Italian language in their response. This tongues was super impressive. The demon she had to fight for them was the easy kind. They weren’t fighting for points anymore, they were practicing for bigger things.

David and Rachel soon entered the colosseum and found it was filled with unsaved citizens, all of them were specials! David and Rachel looked at each other. How were they going to fight all the manifesting demons at the same time? There’s over a thousand! Rachel remembered in bible school learning that worship was also a weapon, and how tongues was also a form of worship. Would it work like that in the game as well? Rachel mentioned this to David as the citizens stared at them, Zombified as their demons began manifesting and the place becoming dark. David and Rachel soon felt overpowered by these manifesting demons as the spirits began rushing around like a cold gale force around them. They held hands and used their tongues, and soon the tongues began singing, they were singing in Italian a worship song to Jesus:

Dio ti guardi, ti benedicca

Che estenda il suo amore

E ti mostri favore

Dio te guidi con amore

La pace ti di

 

Dios te guarde y bendiga

Que extienda su amor

Y te muestre favor

Dios te mire con agrado

Y te de paz

 

Amen, amén, amen

 

Che ti copre la sua grazia

In mille generazioni

Ai tua famiglia ai tuo figli

E i figli dei tuoi figli

 

La tua presenza ti accompagne

Dove vuoi che tu vada

Ti riempia, ti circondi

Va con te, con te

 

Di giorno e di notte

Nell'entrare e nell'uscita

In tuo pianto e alegria

Il ti ama, il ti ama

 

Tu presencia te acompañe

Donde quieras que tu vayas

Que te llene, te rodeé

Él te ama, Él te ama

 

Él te ama, Él te ama

Il ti ama, il ti ama

 

Amén, amen, amén

(La Benedizione/La Bendición [The Blessing])

Soon Rachel and David saw a host of holy angels filling the sky and joining in their worship, trees began clapping their hands and the holy light of the kingdom of God came down from heaven and rested on earth and all the demons were conquered by Jesus. So Rachel got up in the middle of the crowds of people with David and between them they shared the gospel:

Amico, sto per farti la domanda più importante della vita. La tua gioia o la tua sofferenza per tutta l’eternità dipendono dalla tua risposta. E la domanda è: sei salvato? Non si tratta di sapere se sei buono o se sei membro di una chiesa. No, ma sei salvato? Sei sicuro di andare in Paradiso, quando morirai?

Dio dice che per andare in Paradiso, tu devi nascere di nuovo. Infatti, secondo il Vangelo di Giovanni 3:7, Gesù disse a Nicodemo: “Dovete nascere di nuovo”.

Nella Bibbia Dio ci rivela il Suo piano per far sì che nasciamo di nuovo, il che significa essere salvati. E il Suo piano è semplice! Tu puoi essere salvato oggi stesso. Come?

Prima di tutto, devi ammettere di essere un peccatore. Infatti, “. . . tutti hanno peccato e sono privi della gloria di Dio” (Romani 3:23).

E siccome sei un peccatore, sei condannato a morte: “. . . il salario del peccato è la morte . . .” (Romani 6:23). Questo comporta una separazione eterna da Dio nell’Inferno: “E come è stabilito che gli uomini muoiano una sola volta, e dopo ciò viene il giudizio” (Ebrei 9:27).

Dio però ti ha tanto amato che ha dato il Suo unico Figlio, Gesù, affinché il tuo peccato fosse imputato a Lui e morisse al tuo posto: “. . . Egli (Dio Padre) ha fatto essere peccato per noi Colui (Gesù) che non ha conosciuto peccato, affinché noi potessimo diventare giustizia di Dio in Lui” (2 Corinzi 5:21).

Gesù quindi dovette versare il Suo sangue e morire. Infatti, “. . . la vita della carne è nel sangue. ” (Levitico 17:11) e “. . . senza spargimento di sangue non c’è perdono dei peccati” (Ebrei 9:22). “Ma Dio manifesta il suo amore verso di noi in questo che, mentre eravamo ancora peccatori, Cristo è morto per noi” (Romani 5:8).

Sebbene non possiamo capire come, Dio ha detto che i miei peccati ed i tuoi peccati sono stati imputati a Gesù, e che Egli è morto al posto nostro. Egli è diventato il nostro sostituto e questo è vero, perché Dio non può mentire.

Amico mio, “. . . Dio comanda a tutti gli uomini e dappertutto che si ravvedano”. (Atti 17:30). Questo ravvedimento o pentimento comporta un cambiamento di mentalità per cui si concorda con Dio sul fatto che ogni essere umano è un peccatore, ed anche si riconosce quanto Gesù ha fatto per noi sulla Croce.

Negli Atti degli Apostoli 16:30-31, il carceriere di Filippi chiese a Paolo e a Sila: “Signori, cosa devo fare per essere salvato?” Ed essi risposero: “Credi nel Signore Gesù Cristo, e sarai salvato . . .”

Credi, dunque, semplicemente in Gesù come Colui al quale è stato imputato il tuo peccato, come Colui che è morto al posto tuo, fu sepolto e che Dio ha risuscitato. E la sua risurrezione ci assicura in maniera assoluta che il credente ha diritto alla vita eterna quando Gesù viene accettato come Salvatore: “ma a tutti coloro che lo hanno ricevuto, egli ha dato l’autorità di diventare figli di Dio, a quelli che credono nel suo nome” (Giovanni 1:12). “Infatti: <<Chiunque avrà invocato il nome del Signore sarà salvato>>” (Romani 10:13). Quel “chiunque” comprende anche te. E quel “sarà salvato” non significa “può essere salvato”, ma sarà effettivamente salvato.

TRANSLATION

My Friend: I am asking you the most important question of life. Your joy or your sorrow for all eternity depends upon your answer. The question is: Are you saved? It is not a question of how good you are, nor if you are a church member, but are you saved? Are you sure you will go to Heaven when you die?

God says in order to go to Heaven, you must be born again. In John 3:7, Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Ye must be born again.”

In the Bible God gives us the plan of how to be born again which means to be saved. His plan is simple! You can be saved today. How?

First, my friend, you must realize you are a sinner. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

Because you are a sinner, you are condemned to death. “For the wages [payment] of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). This includes eternal separation from God in Hell.

“ . . . it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).

But God loved you so much He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus, to bear your sin and die in your place.

“ . . . He hath made Him [Jesus, Who knew no sin] to be sin for us . . . that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Jesus had to shed His blood and die. “For the life of the flesh is in the blood” (Lev. 17:11). “ . . . without shedding of blood is no remission [pardon]” (Hebrews 9:22).

“ . . . God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8).

Although we cannot understand how, God said my sins and your sins were laid upon Jesus and He died in our place. He became our substitute. It is true. God cannot lie.

My friend, “God . . . commandeth all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30). This repentance is a change of mind that agrees with God that one is a sinner, and also agrees with what Jesus did for us on the Cross.

In Acts 16:30-31, the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas: “ . . . ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ And they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved . . . .’ ”

Simply believe on Him as the one who bore your sin, died in your place, was buried, and whom God resurrected. His resurrection powerfully assures that the believer can claim everlasting life when Jesus is received as Savior.

“But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” (John 1:12).

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13). Whosoever includes you. Shall be saved means not maybe, nor can, but shall be saved.

87,000 were saved this day, not an empty seat at the colosseum this day. Wow, they must really be ready for this national tournament. Bible school was definitely helping in this. Exhausted Rachel and David parted ways and Rachel prepared for bed. These painkillers were very helpful, otherwise she wouldn’t have made it through bible school or that game. Usually in her monthly all she could muster was vegging out in front of the tv with her blanket and hot chocolate. If that didn’t help, painkillers had to be the answer and she was glad to have done just that. Maybe after the pandemic, Rachel thought to herself as she lay in her bed, that she would know more about God than she had ever known before, be more wise and maybe, she could actually do this for real.

[six-paths-of-jeanmarco]

Eurovision 2011 vs 2012

Albania: Feel the Passion vs Suus Armenia: Boom Boom Austria: The Secret Is Love vs Woki mit deim Popo Azerbaijan: Running Scared vs When the Music Dies Belarus: I Love Belarus vs We Are the Heroes Belgium: With Love Baby vs Would You? Bosnia and Herzegovina: Love in Rewind vs Korake ti znam Bulgaria: Na inat vs Love Unlimited Croatia: Celebrate vs Nebo Cyprus: San aggelos s'agapisa vs La La Love Denmark: New Tomorrow vs Should've Known Better Estonia: Rockefeller Street vs Kuula Finland: Da Da Dam vs När jag blundar France: Sognu vs Echo (You and I) Georgia: One More Day vs I'm a Joker Germany: Taken by a Stranger vs Standing Still Greece: Watch My Dance vs Aphrodisiac Hungary: What About My Dreams? vs Sound of Our Hearts Iceland: Coming Home vs Never Forget Ireland: Lipstick vs Waterline Israel: Ding Dong vs Time Italy: Madness of Love vs L'amore è femmina (Out of Love) Latvia: Angel in Disguise vs Beautiful Song Lithuania: C'est ma vie vs Love Is Blind Malta: One Life vs This Is the Night Moldova: So Lucky vs Lăutar Montenegro: Euro Neuro Netherlands: Never Alone vs You and Me North Macedonia: Rusinka vs Crno i belo Norway: Haba Haba vs Stay Poland: Jestem Portugal: A luta é alegria vs Vida minha Romania: Change vs Zaleilah Russia: Get You vs Party for Everybody San Marino: Stand By vs The Social Network Song Serbia: Čaroban vs Nije ljubav stvar Slovakia: I'm Still Alive vs Don't Close Your Eyes Slovenia: No One vs Verjamem Spain: Que me quiten lo bailao vs Quédate conmigo Sweden: Popular vs Euphoria Switzerland: In Love for a While vs Unbreakable Türkiye: Live It Up vs Love Me Back Ukraine: Angel vs Be My Guest United Kingdom: I Can vs Love Will Set You Free

2011: 19 vs 2012: 22

[x--daughters-of-darkness--x]

NITA STRAUSS Releases Music Video For 'Alegria'

Nita Strauss, the Los Angeles-based guitar shredder for the ALICE COOPER band, has released the official music video for the song "Alegria".  The track is taken from her first solo album, "Controlled Chaos", which was released in November 2018 via Sumerian Records.

Nita recently confirmed that her second solo LP "is very much on the way." The disc is tentatively due in late 2020.

This past September, Nita told Heavy1 TV that she wrote the majority of "Controlled Chaos" while she was on a previous tour with Alice Cooper, adding that she was "falling right back into the pattern of writing my album on days off. I've got my Pro Tools rig out here, so I'm just writing and recording. And we'll do some more clinics, do some more solo touring, do some more touring with Alice, and then I'm hopeful for a second album release in late 2020."

Asked if she will do any singing on her upcoming LP, Nita said: "No. I want people to enjoy it. So I'm not gonna sing."

Earlier this year, Nita told the Long Island, New York radio station 94.3 The Shark that she didn't have any reservations about putting out an album of instrumentals with "Controlled Chaos".

"Everyone said that I had to put out some tracks with vocals — that was the vast consensus among the people in the industry," she recalled. "And I have to say I'm really glad that Josh [Villalta, Nita's longtime boyfriend and manager] and I stuck to our guns and I put out the album I wanted to make. Maybe I could have made more money if I would have made it more marketable, maybe I could have had more success and [gotten airplay] on bigger radio stations and what have you, but it wouldn't have been the album I wanted to make."

The 11-track "Controlled Chaos" was a challenge to Strauss and an opportunity for her to reconnect with what inspired her to start playing guitar when she was just 13 years old.

"I started playing guitar because of instrumental guitar music," she said. "All my real heroes made instrumental albums. All my own career has been spent playing in bands, but I never forgot that dream of what inspired me to pick up the guitar in the first place."

"Controlled Chaos" reached No. 1 on Billboard's Heatseekers Albums chart and No. 6 on the Hard Rock Albums chart.

Nita's live show is mostly instrumental in nature, combining originals with covers.

Strauss has been playing with Alice Cooper since 2014 when she replaced Australian musician and former Michael Jackson player Orianthi. She joined Alice in time for a mammoth MÖTLEY CRÜE tour. She was recommended to Cooper by the legendary rocker's former bass player and WINGER frontman Kip Winger.

[mariatokareva]

Princess from the planet Alegria. Manny space years ago there was a planet called Alegria with a Kingdom and a Legion of warriors,angels, healers, architects, designers, dragons and many more special beings that lived in harmony and love. There was something very special about this planet, they had the last of its kind species that looked like a cat but it was a special being that could generate incredible amounts of energy That could be used to do good things but in the wrong hands could be a very dangerous weapon. I will continue the story in the next post that I will share, this is the princess of the planet and she came to me after a very deep awakening experience where I got to see and experience this planet as if it was a past life. If you look closer you could see tears dripping from her eyes, those tears are both of happiness and sadness of gaining an experience and losing a memory. #missfrais #art #collection #painting #extraterrestrial #miami #artist #love (at Golden Beach, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/B68n8WbpSCe/?igshid=4q3rrvz46mea

[fairytail-whathesays]

Well, I didn’t intend to be up past 3 a.m. doing this shit, that’s for sure.

[ Ahem ] I’ve made posts about how Mirajane’s magic is difficult to take seriously before, but I thought I’d really draw a diagram of it, and get both the good and the bad out so you guys can see why I hate certain Satan Souls more than others. On the whole, they just look like cosplay costumes, and not very intimidating or eldritch at all, but certain ones pull it off better than others. 

Standard Satan Soul:

This one goes for the “sexy devil” thing, that’s easy enough to see. It puts a rather heavy emphasis on sex.

It puts an equal or greater amount of emphasis on the “devil” part though, which is why her appearance may seem comical, but you can still take it seriously when it starts beating the crap out of things and shooting lasers. A sexy demon is as legitimate a demon as any, I suppose.

The tail, the hair, the ears, the arms, all of it’s done right, and really the only thing offsetting it is the amount of cleavage,  stomach  and thigh showing.

Satan Soul: Halphas

I am disappointed beyond belief.

Everything that was done right with Satan Soul was turned around and done wrong with this one. Sex took a much heavier emphasis and Halphas looks completely nonthreatening.

Halphas has....scales? Are they scales? It has slightly lizard-like qualities.

Did you know the demon Halphas, in the Ars Goetia, takes the form of a bird? I didn’t, until 2 seconds after I entered the name in the Google Search. Did Mashima just look for a list of demon names without bothering to look at what each of them even looked like?

Considering how much from the standard Satan Soul is turned on its head here, I have to wonder if they were going for the “divine devil” subversion that paints devils as angels that are fallen. If so, they shouldn’t have.

This was the anime viewer’s first introduction to the fact that Mirajane had more than one Satan Soul available, rather than manga-readers who only learned of this when she pulled out Sitri. I think the way it was done and written was good--the way it was designed just sucks to hell and back.

Satan Soul: Sitri

There is no real way to describe the patterns on the suit other than “geometry”. They just look like angle-curve shapes put there only for decoration. That alongside with the extremely poor choice of color and the plastic horns up there, just makes this Satan Soul extremely difficult to look at. It looks tacky. It looks like an actual cosplay costume. More so than the others, I mean.

Satan Soul: Seilah

This just reminds me that Seilah is much, much too human-looking herself to be a good demon. It just doesn’t threaten me at all. I guess I have to pin the blame for that on Seilah instead of Mirajane, but still.

Satan Soul: Alegria

This one is the best by far. It takes the standard Satan Soul, trims the fat, and makes none of the mistakes that Halphas, Sitri, or Seilah did. Reading Mirajane using that takeover, it felt very easy to believe she was truly that terrifying a force as she was described as.

[limejuicer1862]

Wombwell Rainbow Interview

I am honoured and privileged that the following writers local, national and international have agreed to be interviewed by me. I gave the writers two options: an emailed list of questions or a more fluid interview via messenger.

The usual ground is covered about motivation, daily routines and work ethic, but some surprises too. Some of these poets you may know, others may be new to you. I hope you enjoy the experience as much as I do.

Amy Shimshon-Santo

a writer, educator, and urbanist, believes the arts are “a powerful tool for transformation,” both socially and personally. She connects the arts, education, and urban planning in her work. Holding a PhD and MA in urban planning from UC Los Angeles, an MFA in creative writing from Antioch University Los Angeles, and a BA in Latin American studies from UC Santa Cruz. Amy is an associate professor at Claremont Graduate University where she heads the Master of Arts Management program. She has been recognized on the National Honor Roll for Service Learning. Amy lead the ArtsBridge program for UCLA Arts and her efforts provided the foundation for the University of California’s first visual and performing arts education degree in the state. Amy represented the State of California at the National Endowment of the Art’s Education Leadership Institute, where she was a founding member of Create CA. She has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize in creative nonfiction and Best of the Net in poetry. Amy’s essays have appeared in Entropy, and have been published by SAGE. Her work has also been published by University of California Press and State University of New York Press, and can be found in Rose Quartz Magazine, Public, Teaching Artist Journal, Tiferet Journal, Critical Planning, Entropy, Yes, Poetry, Zócalo Public Square, and Lady/Liberty/Lit, and more. Her book of poems, Even the Milky Way is Undocumented, is forthcoming with Unsolicited Press in 2020. Amy is found on www.amyshimshon.com

shimshona4@gmail.com Twitter: @amyshimshon IG: @shimshona http://www.amyshimshon.com/

The Interview

1. What inspired you to write poetry?

Poetry was my first (written) language. I intuitively wrote with line breaks since I was a girl. I didn’t call it poetry, but it was how I wrote. A kind of birth mark.

What has changed in my relationship to poetry is how I read, and my entanglement with editing. Writing is natural. Editing is more like design, or how I imagine carpentry. My brother is a carpenter. My grandfather was too. I just build things with different materials and tools. Words instead of wood. Punctuation marks instead of nails. When I edit, I want the poems to look me in the eye, sound good on the tongue, and tell some kind of story.

Essays are another matter. I know precisely when that started. I had to write an essay to apply to college. It felt like ice skating in outer space. Complicated, maybe even impossible. Now, I’ve grown to appreciate the process of writing essays, and am almost always tinkering with one. They help me observe and think. Essays are architectural, 2D dwellings for bigger ideas and worlds. I see a light and run into them without a plan, get lost in the chaos of the experience, and finally figure out what wants to be said. I feel a sense of wonder and satisfaction when they are done.

I write poems every morning, and whether they are “good” or not, they’re my medicine for living. They are my thermometer for authentic living. They help me know myself, and seek freedom despite whatever may be limiting me in the material world.

2. Who introduced you to poetry?

The first poet I remember hearing was Maya Angelou. Listening to her wasn’t just witnessing a vocalist and spoken word master, it was witnessing a woman being phenomenal herself. That’s what I remember first and foremost — “Oh! Look, a woman! Maybe I can be one too!” Hearing her made me feel like it was a good thing to be a woman. She was tall, with a wide arm span, and a voice that commanded attention. She took up space, but trampled no one. She wrapped her hair in stamped cloth, and wore canvas cargo pants. Her poetry was music, a polyrhythmic bumpa-dee-bump-dance of living. She baked Quiche Lorraine. I went home and found a pair of canvas cargo pants my own size. She’s been a lifelong inspiration.

I studied in Nicaragua and Mexico in my twenties, and dove into works of César Vallejo, Nicolás Guillen, Pablo Neruda, Roque Dalton, Ernesto Cardenal, Claribel Alegria, and Giaconda Belli. I read their poetry aloud to myself. That was how I developed an intimate relationship with Spanish, and, later, Portuguese via capoeira music. I was raised in California, and heard Spanish on the yard in school. Eventually, I picked it up, and poetry helped. The poet Francisco X. Alarcon welcomed me into his Spanish for Spanish Speakers class, and poetry came flooding in. Reading aloud, I loved the sound on my lips. Learning a language is a kind of love relationship. This happened to me in three languages (English, Spanish, and Portuguese).

My mother’s first language was Hebrew, but my dad was monolingual English. He lost his mother’s native Russian, and I lost my mother’s Hebrew and Yiddish. I wish I’d learned the languages of my own origins (Hebrew, Yiddish, Russian), but I picked up the ones that loved me back, the ones I lived with.

3. How aware were you of the dominating presence of older poets?

I don’t want to feel dominated by anything, even great poets. If anything, poetry is about freeing myself from all kind of domination. I don’t seek to dominate or be dominated. I seek equilibrium and honesty. I seek wonder and gratitude for living.I am grateful for the presence of older poets. Since I am getting older every day, even my silver hair is a flag to the aging process. Thich Nhat Hanh said, “I am of the nature to die.” I watch older poets to see how they navigate living, and, also, aging. How can we live and write well at every stage of life? How can we be creative at every stage? I read and listen to ancestral poets, and I embrace my relationship to the archive. I feel them as extended family — people who were whispered into, just like me. Adrienne Rich. Mary Oliver. Toni Morrison. Zora Neale Hurston. I don’t compare myself, I just feel related. Living well is not a competition. I’m not trying to achieve or prove anything, just take advantage of being alive.

Unlike Bob Kaufman, I don’t want to disappear when I die. That is not because of ego, it’s because I want to remain in relationship with other writers always, whether I am living or not. The archive has unfathomable dimensions.

Intersectional women deserve to be in there along with everybody else. I want to be a part of that, even if I am just one tiny blue-green thread, or a strand of red-tangerine.

4. What is your daily writing routine?

My knee jerk reaction to that question is, “If I told you I’d have to kill you.” I guess I’m protective of the creative process. It’s a mysterious thing, not something you can just pick up in a supermarket by the dishwashing liquid. Although, maybe that could make a good grocery shopping poem.

I have daily and seasonal writing routines. As a working person, and head of household, I start my day early with writing and ashtanga before work. With limited time, I accumulate small pieces of writing throughout the academic year and rely on the slower summer months to piece mosaics together. I value my job, but my writing life needs time too. So, when other folks dream of summer vacations, I long for stretches of quiet time off the grid. Nine months a year belong to my students. The summers are mine, and I am loyal to them because writing is a necessity.

5. What motivates you to write?

I have a writing self that wants to be expressed. It is my duty to care for her by letting her write whatever she wants. I write to fumble around in the dark and pull out stories. I write to face these times, and shine some light on living in the 21st century. Writing satisfies my adventurous spirit, and helps me feel less powerless as a woman, as a single mom, as someone from an immigrant family where many of us have gone unnoticed, injured, or completely erased. I write to be surprised. It’s the shake-shake-shake of a brown paper sack with something hidden inside. Once I was in Panama working on a popular education project. There was a carnival tradition that involved a pillow case. You fumbled your hand around inside, landed on an object, and pulled it out. Jumbled inside the sack were everyday items and things that were taboo (For example, an enormous blue dildo). Face the mystery. Take a risk. Laugh. Gasp. Weep. Feel something. Write.

6. What is your work ethic?

Fierce. I’ve been called a work horse, and I think that’s pretty accurate. Maybe a work centaur. I write every day, even if it’s just 20 minutes of jottings, so that I know how I am, and what I am thinking about on a deeper level. If I did not need a job-job, I would wake up, do yoga, write all day, and take a walking meditation at night. My idea of a good time. Throw in some dancing and we’re set. Because of writing, even if one “job” ends, I’ll just return to my real-forever-job which is stringing words together. Writing gave me my life back. Wouldn’t you work hard for something that gave you such a gift?

7. How do the writers you read when you were young influence you today?

The books that I read to my children when they were young influenced me as much as those I read when I was a child. They gave me a second childhood, perhaps one I never had. I collect books and try to adopt their courage. The stacks are to get lost in. Find a stool and pull out a book. This also applies to music and dancing. This applies to visual art and film. This applies to ferris wheels and lagoons. It applies to public libraries and the internet.

8. Who of today’s writers do you admire the most and why?

I spent months this year in the clutch of Toni Morrison’s On Self Regard, before she passed. Her intellect is expansive. Just. Expansive. Among the living, I am enriched by the enthusiasm of local writers Adrian Ernesto Cepeda, Genevieve Kaplan, and Ikia Noel because they are great practitioners, advocates, and instigators of writing. Gayle Brandeis, Deena Metzger, and Dan Bellm are guides for me toward how to write and be an upstanding human. I delight in the work of Gloria Carrera, Natalia Toledo, Aracelis Girmay, Ross Gay, Tiana Clark, Natalie Diaz, Nikky Finney, Naomi Shihab Nye, and Yusef Komunyakaa. They crisscross different cultures and languages. Their sentences break things open. They inspire me.

9. Why do you write, as opposed to doing anything else?

I used to be a dancer and choreographer. Dancing required having a big open space, limber bodies, music, costumes, lighting, gels, sound equipment, a van, crates of costumes props and instruments. I needed 30 minutes to an hour just to warm up, and then hours for rehearsal.

Writing is a creative practice that is accessible to me at this stage of my life. All I need is a pen and notebook. With those two things, I can go anywhere.

10. What would you say to someone who asked you “How do you become a writer?”

Write. Read. Observe. Express. Welcome the sound of your voice. Listen attentively to the world. Truth is a good pair of shoes. Don’t be afraid to put your work out there. Leap.

11. Tell me about the writing projects you have on at the moment.

My debut poetry collection EVEN THE MILKYWAY IS UNDOCUMENTED will be coming out in 2020 with Unsolicited Press. My son and I just recorded an audio book version and I’m excited about that. Recording that was memorable. I sat down at the microphone with him at the console. Yikes. Then I realized what I was about to do and what he was about to hear. “I am sorry. Some of this is hard,” I said. “I am honored,” he said. Just wow. Spoken word is a very particular kind of conjuring that I enjoy. Not enjoy. Adore. I don’t sing, but I will seduce the fuck out of the world with a sentence. It’s good fun. Serious magic.

I completed a collection of essays that is under review, have a new essay in the brain-que-que, and a collaborative poetry book on the horizon. I don’t want to say more until they are fully formed, but I’m really glad that writing keeps coming. That’s the whole point of completing things — make space for what wants to come next.

Wombwell Rainbow Interviews: Amy Shimson-Santo Wombwell Rainbow Interview I am honoured and privileged that the following writers local, national and international have agreed to be interviewed by me.

[mandygilberton]

Eight Fantastic Causes to Support in Time for Back to School

With back to school time on the horizon, we’ve shined a spotlight on eight kid-centric causes our agents and friends support that benefit children around the world. From an organization dedicated to helping children pursue their dreams of higher education to programs focused on children’s health and the arts, these individuals and global organizations are making a difference, one child at a time. LEARNING LAB VENTURES Dr. Jon Marashi, friend of The Agency and neighbor of our Brentwood office, opened our eyes to this incredible organization, Learning Lab Ventures, whose mission is to disrupt generational poverty and empower high-achieving, underrepresented students to graduate from top colleges. Hollywood’s go-to dentist by day, Dr. Marashi spends his downtime as a founding board member of the organization, helping to raise vital funds for scholarships and programs that will make it possible for children to receive the education they deserve. 95 of high school seniors who enter the program go on to a four-year college or university, including Harvard, MIT, USC and UCLA, and have received more than $625,000 in scholarships to date. The organization provides tutoring sessions six days a week and hosts fundraisers year-round to benefit its students and programs. This year’s annual Back to School Giveaway event will be held on August 6th and will help provide children with backpacks, books, healthy snacks, toothpaste from Hello, personal hygiene products from Honest Co.,  and assorted supplies they need for the year ahead. For more information, visit Learning Lab Ventures’ website. SONNET + ROSE In 2017, artist and designer Sanam Daswani was volunteering at a Mumbai orphanage alongside her eight-year-old son. Her son’s Spider-Man backpack caught the attention of the children in the orphanage, and a little boy asked if he could have the pack. Witnessing the boy’s excitement over the simple item—and wanting to share that feeling with the rest of the children—Sanam set out to make sure each child had a fun backpack of their own. In early 2018, she created Sonnet + Rose, a line of stylish, all-vegan handbags to fuel that drive. The mission-driven brand ensures that for each handbag sold, a backpack is donated to a child in rural India. For more information about Sonnet + Rose, visit its website. CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL LOS ANGELES With the support of philanthropic funders, known as Partners in Play, Children's Hospital Los Angeles works in partnership with doctors, nurses, social workers and others to help fund vital resources such as counseling, playrooms, teen lounges and other facilities to benefit patients and their families during difficult times. “The most meaningful gift I ever received was a gift I gave,” says Craig Knizek, Co-Managing Director of The Agency’s Sherman Oaks office. As a board member for CHLA’s "Child Life — Partners in Play” program, Craig committed to a five-year annual donation from The Adam Hunter Knizek Memorial Foundation, which is dedicated to the memory of his first born infant son who passed away in 1995. For more information about contributing or becoming a Partner in Play, visit CHLA's website. THE ACCELERATED SCHOOLS LOS ANGELES Over the years, The Agency’s Leonard Rabinowitz has been a major benefactor of The Accelerated Schools Los Angeles, a thriving community of public charter schools in South Central Los Angeles serving 1,750 students. One of Leonard’s proudest achievements is having donated and repurposed one of his DTLA buildings and multi-acre sites to become home of a charter school for children. The elementary school was named School of the Year by Time Magazine, and their Wallis Annenberg High School boasts a graduation rate of over 90, with a similar amount pursuing higher education. In 2017, Leonard chaired the Capital Campaign, helping to raise $38 million to complete the construction of its newest building for the Accelerated Elementary Charter School, a dual language school for English Language Learners. P.S. ARTS P.S. ARTS is dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing high-quality arts education to California’s underserved public schools and communities. Its annual fundraiser gives 1,500 adults and children an opportunity to experience the joy and creativity that nearly 25,000 students discover every day in California’s P.S. classrooms. The Agency’s Cindy Ambuehl is an avid supporter of P.S. ARTS, sponsoring an arts and crafts booth at the event each year. “There is no limit to the long-term, positive impact art education can have on shaping a child’s mind and creativity,” says Cindy. “It is for this reason that I’m such a strong supporter of P.S. ARTS.” SUNSHINE ALEGRIA OUTREACH Raised in Mexico, The Agency’s Gloria Castellanos regularly returns to her roots as the founder of Sunshine Alegria Outreach, a nonprofit organization that assists underprivileged children and families in Mexico by providing food, clothing and basic necessities through a core of volunteers working closely with local churches and their representatives. "What I hope to instill in these children and parents is that no matter what advantages or disadvantages the world has given you, there's always somebody who will believe in you,” she says. “If that person is not found outside of yourself, then you can find that person inside yourself.” OPERATION RAINBOW Operation Rainbow is an organization dedicated to performing free orthopedic surgery for children and young adults in developing countries worldwide that don’t have access to related medical procedures or equipment. The organization also provides continuing education to international health care providers to encourage medical self-sufficiency. An avid supporter of Operation Rainbow, agent Michelle Long recently joined the organization on a medical mission to Mexico. VISTAS FOR CHILDREN Vistas for Children is a distinguished philanthropic organization comprised of a 100 volunteer group of women from the Greater South Bay area, including The Agency’s Sharon Umansky Benton, an active community supporter. The mission of Vistas for Children is to raise funds to help special needs children and to be a system of support for these children and their families. Since its inception in 1978, the hallmark of Vistas has been its unconditional commitment to children with special needs throughout the community. This includes, but is not limited to, children who are multi-disabled, abused, homeless, terminally ill, suffer from pediatric illnesses, or born with retinoblastoma (cancer of the eye). As a result of its hard work, the organization has appropriated over $7,000,000 to deserving charities, helping over 30,000 children in need.   Eight Fantastic Causes to Support in Time for Back to School published first on https://theopuscondo.tumblr.com/