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moody-by-nature · 6 years ago

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Rescue Me | Chapter Ten

Part One

Jared’s POV

I lay on my side of the king sized bed and watched her sleep peacefully. Last night she hesitated sleeping in the same bed, so I volunteered to take the couch. Andie wasn't having that and eventually, she realized it wasn't a big deal to sleep in the same bed. I grinned looking at the wall of pillows she felt was necessary to separate us.

During the night she scooted closer and now had her arms tucked around a pillow and up under her chin, her dream causing her to smile and giggle. My eyes continued to wander over her, taking in her wild curls that lay haphazardly on her pillow, down over her beautiful face.

Her shirt was pushed up her side and I bit my lip at the sight of her bare hip showing just above the duvet. My mind was instantly flooded with the image of all the things I wanted to do to her, my body started to react.

Andie stretched her left arm across the bed. Her hand landed low on my stomach as if she could read my mind while asleep, making my growing problem, worse. I groaned and crawled out of bed in need of a cold shower.

I emerged from the bathroom to see Andie with her arms over her head pulling her shirt on. Her white lace bra, leaving little to my imagination. I cursed internally, forced my eyes away from her chest and turned around, clearing my throat to announce my presence.

"Good morning!" She greeted me cheerfully, "You showered again?" She questioned. I turned around and nodded, "Good morning, did you sleep well?" Andie nodded, "Yes, how about you? Why did you shower again?" I walked over to my suitcase tossing my dirty clothes into the dirty side, "No reason."

Andrea shook her head at me, confusion etched all over her face. She glanced at her watch before she said, "Ok. Are you hungry? We can grab a late breakfast. I know a great place not far from here that makes delicious vegan food. It's not too cold today so we can walk if you want, or call for a car." Food was the last thing on my mind, but in need of a distraction, I agreed and we set off.

We walked three blocks down to a place called Chimera, a small, bustling cafe. I followed Andie inside, standing beside her as she placed our names on the waiting list to be seated.

After a few moments of sitting quietly, Andie knocked her knee into mine, waiting for me to look at her. I looked into her grey eyes, "You ok over there J? You've been quiet this morning." A smile twitched at the corner of my mouth, "Yeah, I'm good." She smirked at my answer, You're a terrible liar, Jared."

Before I could formulate a response this guy walked up and greeted Andie. "Andrea? Oh my goodness, it is you!" He said warmly, pulling her into a tight hug. I watched as his hands drifted a little too far down her back for my liking. Who the fuck is this guy?

"Seth! How are you?" She replied, placing her arms awkwardly on his shoulders. "I didn't know you were in town, how long are you here?" Seth asked. "Another day, maybe two, I'm not sure yet. My friend Jared and I are road tripping back to California." It was like she finally remembered I was with her when she said my name and she looked at me. "Jared, please come say hi!" Gesturing me over excitedly, she finally broke free of his embrace, "Jared, this is Seth, an old acquaintance. Seth, this is my good friend, and soon to be boss, Jared."

I reached out to shake his hand, but he failed to return the gesture. Instead, he squared his shoulders and stood as tall as he could facing me, "Jared." He replied curtly. "Seth." I smirked in return with a nod. Andie stood between us glancing back and forth anxiously.

"Andrea darling, let me take you to one of the reserved seats in the VIP area, you'll get better service in there." Seth stated, grabbing Andie's hand and pulling her through the restaurant. I scoffed and rolled my eyes then chuckled quietly when she pulled away from him, "I'm not your 'darling' Seth, never have been." There's my sassy girl.

Seth led us to a private room, pulled out Andrea's chair and again looked me with a smug look before leaving to get our water. "So, he seems like a super nice guy." I snarked, looking over the menu. I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding when I heard her laugh. "He's still the biggest jerk I've ever known, apparently, some things never change."

Unfolding her napkin and placing it over her lap, she sighed, "You didn't help much either, by the way. Standing there oozing confidence the way you do, being naturally sexy. It isn't fair to all the other men in the world Jared." She giggled, then gasped when she realized what she said, looking up and into my eyes, her cheeks blushed, "I did it again, didn't I?"

I furrowed my eyebrow, "Again?" I asked. "I seem to have this problem with keeping my mouth shut around you and Shannon. Saying things out loud instead of in my head, like last night." She answered.

"What about last night?" My buddy Seth returned at that moment with two glasses of water and took our order. "You go first, J, I'm not sure what I want just yet." Andie stated.

"Ok, I'll have the Tokyo Eye with a side of fruit and side of potatoes, please." Handing Seth the menu and then looking at Andie. "Mmm, that's what I want too, please!" She said excitedly, "Can I have my fruit before the rest of it?" Seth smiled what I'm certain is the most fake smile I've ever seen, "Sure, Andrea, not a problem." he said, then walked away.

"What happened last night?" Delaying her answer, she slowly sipped her water. I raised my eyebrow at her and playfully smiled, "Quit stalling, young lady."

"It was after the show, those two model types, you stopped to say hi. I have no idea why, but for some reason watching you talk to them while I sat in the car drove me crazy. Shannon heard me talking to myself." She rambled. I couldn't help but grin, my heart beat a little faster in my chest knowing I made her jealous too.

"Why are you grinning like that?" Andie asked, "Because I made you jealous." I smirked. "Don't be cocky because I told you the truth." She huffed. "I'm not being cocky, I'm being naturally sexy and oozing confidence." I laughed, quoting her slip up. Andie rolled her eyes just as good 'ol Seth appeared with our food.

"Uh oh, trouble in paradise?" He chirped. Andie cut her eyes at him, "Kiss off, Seth. You have no idea what's going on here. Furthermore, it's none of your damn business."

"Temper, temper, Andrea." He chastised.

"How about you reassign us to another waiter and not come back, m'kay. I don't know why I even attempted to be nice to you in the first place. I don't want to see you again." She spat, taking a couple deep breaths to calm herself.

"You know Andrea, you're still the same tease you were in high school. Come in here, fresh from Hollywood, just as hot, no, hotter than the last time I saw you. Acting sweet and innocent still... Too bad I didn't get to go through with my plans at that party, I would have enjoyed.. " My blood was starting to boil and I didn't want to hear how that sentence ended, so I cut him off, "Hey! The lady said get lost. I'd appreciate it if you'd do just that." I stated calmly.

Seth glared at me, "Who the fuck are you, anyway? Her knight in shining armor?" He barked incredulously. I was seething mad, but kept my cool, "No, she's quite capable of fending for herself. But you've obviously upset her and I won't let you speak to her that way any longer. Are we clear?"

He stormed off and I reached across the table, placing my hand over hers, enjoying the ever present tingly feeling when our skin connected. Eyes closed, she wrapped her fingers around mine, trying to reign in her emotions.

Andie opened her eyes and smiled at me, "Thank you for sticking up for me."

"My pleasure, although you didn't need it. But I couldn't let him talk to you like that. You want to leave? We can get this stuff wrapped up to-go." I offered. "Absolutely not, I'm not about to let that asshole ruin my breakfast." She answered, picking up her fork and digging in.

Her playfulness returned as we ate. We discussed landmarks we wanted to see on the drive home and after walking around downtown for a bit, decided to go surprise her parents.

"Oh wait! There's somewhere I want to take you first." She beamed at me as we walked back to the hotel. "It's right over there," she pointed, "Ever been to the center of the universe, Mr. Leto?" Andie asked, wiggling her eyebrows at me.

"I can't say I have," I said through a laugh, "but I'm excited to go with you, Miss Bennett." She squealed in excitement, and took off up the street.

I followed her up a steep incline, my eyes traced the brick pattern in the sidewalk as we went. The path lead to a moderately sized circle at the top where Andie stood waiting on me. "Welcome to The Center of The Universe!" She exclaimed, throwing her arms up. It doesn't seem all that fantastic from where you stand, I know. However, when I step out and you enter, anything you say will echo back to you."

The expression on my face must have been comical because she started giggling at me. "I'm serious. I have no idea how it works, but it's trippy. I sound completely normal to you, right?"

"Yes," I said, walking towards her, entering the bricked circle with her. "You have to stand dead in the center to get the full effect." She stated, pulling me closer to her. A gust of wind kicked up and I closed my eyes as her lavender scent engulfed me and smiled.

"J, you have to talk for it to work." She chuckled, nudging me in the side. "Mmm?" I replied, not hearing what she had said.

"Will you sing to me?" Andie asked, looking up at me through her eyelashes.

I went with the first song that popped into my head, singing the first couple of lines of 100 Suns before stopping in amazement. She wasn't kidding, everything I sang echoed back to me standing inside this circle. "That's fucking awesome!" I said. Andie watched in amusement, sitting down and lying back with her head right in the middle.

I laid down beside her, shoulder to shoulder and sang the rest of the song. Turning her head, she smiled, "Thank you, that's always been a favorite."

"Hey, let's take a selfie." I said, elbowing her arm. "Are we going for serious, silly or both?" Raising my left arm into the air, I said, "Both! But serious first." I snapped a few of each pose, and we laughed looking at the outcome.

We stared into the gloomy sky, pointing out what we saw in the clouds and watched planes pass by for a bit when she spoke again. "When I was a little girl, after my parents separated I had to spend my days at my great grandparents while mom worked two jobs and went to college. My great grandfather used to touch me inappropriately." She turned her head towards me, looking into my eyes and continued, "It went on for about a year before my mom asked me if something happened."

She shuffled onto her right side and tucked her arms under her head, "Then, when I was eighteen, I was invited to a party by this girl Ashley. We had a few classes together and had become friendly even though she was very popular and I wasn't. Ashley said I needed to meet some of her friends and against my better judgement, I decided to go."

She paused to take a deep breath, "That's the night Seth was referring to. We started talking, I was drinking what I thought was Dr. Pepper, but it had been tampered with. I still don't know how he did it. I never sat it down."

As I listened to her I felt anger rising.

"Long story short, Seth got handsy and pulled me into a bedroom. Thankfully, this couple came in and the guy stopped him before anything happened. I barely remembered anything the next day other than being touched by him and not enjoying it."

"That's why I've pushed everyone away. That's why I..." she sighed.

I turned onto my left side to face her and gently pulled her chin up to look at me. Her face was full of emotion. I pulled her into a hug before I placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "Andrea, I'm sorry you went through all of that. I'm so glad that piece of shit didn't hurt you and I'm seriously considering paying him another visit!"

"No Jared, please. It's in the past, I just wanted you to know the history there. He's not worth the energy!" She chuckled.

I placed my hand on her cheek, "You're right, Andie, he isn't. As for your great grandfather, that's just.." I trailed off trying to find the right words. "Oh, karma took care of him. He suffered multiple strokes for years and finally a massive heart attack. He was still a nasty old man though, even when he lived in the nursing home." She shivered at her memories and I pulled her close holding her, wanting to replace them with memories of our own.

Her warm breath tickled my neck as we lay there. Her soft lips ghosted my skin as she said, " So, are you ready to go surprise my parents?"

#rescue me #jared leto fanfiction

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misssophiachase · 7 years ago

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Drabble prompt for you! How about Caroline as one third of Charlie's Angels and Klaus as the bad guy?

Independent Women

Thanks nonnie! And sincere apologies for taking so long! I love this and as much as I enjoy Klaus as the bad guy I have changed it to suit my story. Hope you still like it! I then realised this had way more potential as longer than a mini prompt so tell me if you like it so far and I might just reciprocate if there’s interest.

Los Angeles…

“Good morning, angels,” his rich voice floated through the intercom.

“Good morning, Enzo,” they replied in unison, bursting into fits of laughter as they uttered it.

“For god’s sake, why can’t you just call me Charlie like I asked?” He growled.

“Because we’re not here to fulfil your pathetic, male fantasies,” Kat offered, inspecting her recent manicure with sudden interest.

“And I’m not Farah Fawcett or even Cameron Diaz for that matter,” Caroline added before he could bemoan the fact she wasn’t again.

“You’re just a few layers and bangs away from it, Forbes,” he assured her. They all rolled their eyes at their handler’s predictable response.

“Just because I can’t see you doesn’t mean I don’t know what your eyes are doing, angels.”

“You realise that technology has advanced since the 1970s right, Enzo?” Katherine explained slowly for his benefit. “It’s this little thing called Skype, maybe you’ve heard of it?”

“But then I’d have to see your rolling eyes, while Forbes twirls her hair around her index finger, Bennett taps her feet impatiently and you inspect your latest manicure for the tiniest of faults.”

“Have we been summonsed just to talk about hairstyles, manicures and eye rolling? I mean really, Lorenzo?” Bonnie asked. The silence from the other end of the line told them he was attempting to regain his composure. Enzo hated it when his agents questioned his authority, unfortunately for him he had no choice with these three firecrackers.

They were all at the top of their respective training programs in the CIA two years ago upon graduation, each girl offering a different skill set and as a trio had become the best undercover agents in North America over that short time.

“As much as I enjoy our chats, Bennett,” he shot back gruffly. “I have your new assignment.”

“Finally,” Kat mumbled under her breath while looking between her friends curiously. “Please tell me it involves a beach in Hawaii or California at least, my tan is faltering given that extended period at the peak of Alaskan Winter.”

“I’m so glad your tan trumps work, I’ll be sure to put that on my next evaluation report, Pierce.” He informed them curtly before continuing. “You’ll need to be on the first plane to France tomorrow, your flights and accommodation have already been arranged. Further instructions will be forthcoming when you arrive but I’m happy to report that the Monte Carlo Beach Club will be happy to accommodate your tanning needs, Pierce.”

Caroline looked between her friends curiously. Not only were they going to beautiful beaches in France but it was official, they’d made it to the international leagues and couldn’t be happier with their progress so soon up the ranks. They stifled their excitement, knowing it would be extremely uncool to Enzo if they squealed right now given they were hardened CIA operatives.

“What? No high pitched girly screams? Given the look on your respective faces I’d conclude that you’re pretending to be cool.”

“Pervert,” Kat murmured.

“As always this conversation has been a pleasure, angels,” he chuckled, his throaty laugh coming alive through the intercom before disconnecting.

“What was that, Kat?” Bonnie insisted. “We already know he can see us.”

“I like to throw him a little bone now and then,” she said confidently. “Then his defenses are down and we can get those extra tidbits of information.”

“Like?” Caroline asked curiously.

“Now I know exactly which bikinis to pack given the destination,” she smiled mischievously before making her way towards the exit her hips swinging exaggeratedly as she did it.

Hotel de Paris, Monte-Carlo, Ambassador’s Suite

“I did not sign up for this bullshit,” Katherine huffed, her pacing back and forth against the impressive harbor backdrop from the large window quickening so much she was almost a blur.

The excitement about their current and surprisingly international mission had dampened quickly upon learning what exactly was required. Learning they were working in tandem with MI6 wasn’t wholly unexpected but their undercover roles had been tough to swallow. Not to mention the agents they had to work with. Their reputation was legendary but it didn’t mean they were happy.

The Mikaelson Men. And yes, that was their nickname world wide. Three brothers all extremely accomplished and gorgeous but also arrogant and lethal at the same time.

“Neither did I, but I’m not exactly sure what we can do about it now,” Caroline interjected. “Enzo might be a pussycat but we’re at the whim of the US Government don’t forget.”

“Way to ruin the mood, Care,” she muttered, her pacing finally coming to a complete stop, albeit reluctantly given her exasperated expression.

“Look, the last thing I want to pretend is to be one of their pathetic girlfriends but I happen to like being in employment and paid accordingly.” Given Bonnie’s meagre upbringings, they weren’t surprised at those comments. “In fact there’s nothing more I love than a challenge, Kol Mikaelson won’t know what hit him after the week’s out.”

Kat and Caroline were fairly certain she was right. “After all, it’s only acting and given our impeccable skills, it will be a walk in the park along with that tan you’re after.”

“You might have a point. I kind of like the concept of messing with the smug Mikaelsons, especially that one in the suit, consider it our greatest triumph yet, ladies.”

They parted ways at that point to prepare for their debut at the beach club, Caroline closing the bathroom door to inspect her appearance critically. Her golden waves cascaded halfway down her back, her blue eyes even more pronounced from the brief but intense exposure to the sunlight since their earlier arrival. The gold bikini which barely contained her creamy curves was perfect for the mission, especially paired with the transparent, white kaftan over it.

She’d chosen to conceal her connection with the Mikaelsons for operational reasons. The last thing she needed was any untoward emotional entanglements to rear their ugly head mid assignment. She steeled her nerves, knowing she needed to act better than she ever had in order to keep their past exactly where it needed to be. In the past.

Monte Carlo Beach Club

Caroline didn’t flinch, just approached him on the beach purposefully beneath her floppy hat. They were mere inches apart before his crimson lips found hers greedily and his tongue tested the barrier before slipping in slowly and dipping into her warmth. A multitude of memories flooded back, so too the tingling between her legs as his mouth ravaged hers. Bastard. She resisted the urge to knee him roughly as deserved, deciding to shelve that particular reflex until they were alone.

They parted, but only a few inches, his blue eyes filled with the lust she knew all too well. Caroline had no intention of showing her true feelings, instead running her hand slowly down his bare chest. She could feel his breath hitch and was suddenly enjoying the power she exuded over him in the situation.

“What have I told you about not applying sunscreen every few hours, baby?” Caroline purred, her hands continuing their assault on his skin.

“I was waiting for you, love,” he murmured, pulling her onto his lap and grasping her hand possessively, allowing it to move further southward, grazing the tip of his cock. Caroline noted just how aroused he was before continuing their charade. “No one knows how to rub in the sunscreen just like you.”

“Unless you’re planning on sunning yourself naked, I think your ‘little boy’ is well taken care of,” she teased, noting the way his face fell briefly when she used that term.

“Do I need to punish you with my ‘little boy’ in front of everyone, sweetheart?” His words came out in short, sharp bursts as he threatened to penetrate her in public view. Caroline knew from experience he’d actually do it if provoked.

A deep laugh interrupted, breaking their heated concentration. Their eyes briefly, and reluctantly, averted as he approached. Clothed in head to toe black, even given the extreme heat. Of course they both knew who he was and exactly what he was capable of doing.

“Young people these days,” he smirked knowingly. “Can I suggest we reconvene at the Casino tonight at my private table? Much less people frowning over public fornication, believe it or not. And I have to admit the way she puts you in your place is extremely arousing, Hayes.”

Caroline felt his finger nails penetrate her lower back, something he was known for during jealous fits. She couldn’t help but relish in that fact before agreeing to the night ahead. It was all part of their plan after all.

As childish as it sounded, she was equally as excited by catching the bad guy as she was playing mercilessly with the good one. Good being a relatively loose term when it came to Klaus Mikaelson.

What was going to happen next she wasn’t quite sure about but it certainly wasn’t going to be dull. That much she knew given their history.

Part Two HERE

#independent women #misssophiachase #klaroline drabbles #part 2 #thoughts #thanks bonnie for the awesome prompt #charlie's angels

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woodchuckvirus · 7 years ago

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Already really said my piece on the whole Change the Channel bit, but I guess I can also offer my thoughts and impressions I had as a fan of TGWTG throughout the years.

The first TGWTG video I saw was the Hook review. I remember thinking “Oh, cool, I love this movie!” But rather than just basking in the nostalgia of the film, it was just this lengthy video of a guy ranting about how bad the movie was. I kind of felt put off by that. Why would I watch a video of some dude shitting all over a movie I loved? But morbid curiosity and lack of anything else better to watch at the time led me to watching some of NC’s other videos. And then I started to get it, that it wasn’t so much an authentic review of the movie as it was a Mystery Science Theater type of riffing. Comedians will often roast their colleagues, but they’ll do it as an, albeit odd, form of affection. So I understood. It was really just roasting these films, and years later I’d hear Doug comment here and there about how much he actually loved the film (and Dante effin’ Basco making cameos much later!).

So, I watched his videos. Naturally, the very next contributor I noticed was Nostalgia Chick, who is currently one of my top faves to this day. I gradually discovered Lupa, Phelous, Linkara, MarzGurl, and pretty much the whole posse eventually. Everyone from Film Brain to Diamanda Hagan.

I enjoyed the videos from all of these producers, even though 80% of the time their videos didn’t really fully touch my interests (I know so very little about comics, B movies, and some of Diamanda Hagan’s stuff takes a bit of a strong stomach to watch...!).

But I loved their personalities and what they brought to the table. Each of them unique and distinguished, and they had me laughing quite a bit the whole way. In fact, one great experience I had was catching them all at MAGFest. I just happened to hear that they were all there, and luckily I was only about an hour away from the place. So I hopped in my car, drove over, and found them in clusters or one by one in the halls. Got to take photos with Linkara, chat with Lupa and Phelous and a handful of others. Even got to hug Diamanda Hagan. It was awesome. But no Doug. In fact, although I watched for which conventions he would appear at, they were all just too far away, and to me it wasn’t worth it to drive that far out just to see one dude. Perhaps it’s fitting, then, or telling, that I got to meet nearly all the producers in person, but never Doug, himself.

Now, I’m not going to lie... I actually really enjoyed To Boldly Flee. I got a kick out of Spoony as Terl and Dr. Insano (taking back all of his stuff that the crew stole from him by the end of the movie and leaving them stranded, that cracked me up).

Even the end with Doug encountering his own character face to face and asking him how the story should end. I’ve had that experience with my own characters and writing so many times before, where it starts to become the character that’s leading the story more than it’s me writing them. I loved that idea of speaking to my characters in person.

So I did like the movie. What’s more, I really enjoyed seeing all the producers together, playing off of one another and adjoining all their distinct dynamics.

When Lupa was booted and other folks followed along with her, that was a huge disappointment. Hearing that they left on bad terms was disheartening. But ultimately it seemed as though it was just an unfortunate situation. And the show went on.

After Demo Reel failed and NC was reinstated, my interest in Doug’s videos really did drop. I watched, still, with that same kind of sad, loyal hope you get when you keep seeing a new season of your favorite show coming out. Perhaps THIS season will be better---nope... Okay, surely THIS season---nope... okay, third time’s a charm---nope... I kept watching NC’s videos because I liked Rachel, Malcolm, Tamara, and Jim. But the humor in the videos was just sort of flat-lining. Almost seemed kind of pandering and predictable. I haven’t really laughed at a single NC episode in a long while. In contrast, I’ve laughed myself to tears over Brad’s videos and a few of Lupa’s and Phelous’s, and Bennett’s. But NC’s humor is just kind of stagnant, now. There isn’t even anything clever about it anymore. Just a one-trick pony kind of deal.

So I was already losing interest in NC. I just kept watching his videos because they were there, in my YouTube subscriptions and suggestions, and so were convenient enough to click when I was winding down at the end of a workday. I had stopped visiting the CA website because it had been flooded with a bunch of contributors whom I didn’t know. And the website itself was a bit tricky to navigate.

So when the Change the Channel stuff began to gain momentum, I started to see that what happened to Lupa and Phelous wasn’t just a fluke. This was a chronic issue that was rampant throughout the site’s inner workings... When MarzGurl, Linkara, and even Lindsay started to chime in, that was eye opening... When producers started leaving, it was clear how serious these issues really were. When CA issued their non-apology, that just reaffirmed everything.

Though I enjoyed the To Boldly Flee movie, knowing that so many of the producers had such an awful time working on it really sours the whole thing. They’re not proud of the work, and it was an essentially exploitative project.

So, in truth, it was pretty easy for me to drop CA, unsubscribe, etc. NC had already lost my interest a while ago. In the meanwhile, finding the personal channels of all my favorite producers has left my YouTube feed a little fuller these past couple of weeks. I’m glad to be able to support them more directly, now.

Seeing the most recent mass exodus of contributors leaving the site really shines a dreary light on the state of CA. I have a feeling, though, that they’re not going to let themselves be bothered by it. They are probably just going to circle themselves around their central NC crew and just leave it at that. I think it does say something, though, that they had to cancel their next anniversary movie. That does indicate that this Change the Channel movement has left an impact. Even cost them money. So while they may just cut their losses and consider themselves “better off,” they were still stung pretty hard by this whole thing. I hope that leaves SOME kind of impression in their minds. And I hope that impression doesn’t eventually just amount to Rob and Doug rolling their eyes at each other while grunting “Those annoying children and their complaints.”

#channel awesome

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shemakesmusic-uk · 4 years ago

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Pale Waves have dropped their new video for ‘You Don’t Own Me’. Taken from their just released new album Who Am I?, the clip fits perfectly to the 90s-slash-00s guitar pop aesthetic that runs throughout the record. All multicoloured hair and graffiti covered walls, it’s a bright, brash delight. [via Dork]

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Los Angeles-based pop artist Cooper Phillip is known for her empowering anthems that highlight everything from strength and gratitude to self-love. Her latest single, 'Not Perfect,' is yet another example of her ability to craft uplifting tunes, encouraging listeners to start putting themselves before others in order to fulfill your own desires. The Russian-born singer has just dropped a new music video, and it's everything we expected from this flamboyant artist and more. The theatrical video emphasizes the importance of rebelling against the idea of being perfect and all that it represents. When you begin to let go of the idea of perfection, Phillip reminds us, life is so much better. Phillip wants to encourage you to live life a little less seriously, do what you want, wear what you want, and most importantly, be who you want. After all, our time on this planet is far too short to worry about living up to other people's standards and expectations. According to the artist herself, "'Not Perfect' is about self love and finding qualities about yourself that make you unique. There is no need to modify who you are just to fit in with society's norms. You have to stay true to who you are and carry yourself with pride and with dignity." 'Not Perfect' features Phillip's soaring, soulful vocals, big and bold melodies, and fast-paced, dance-worthy beats. Intoxicating to say the least, this song will worm its way into your mind all day long. By the end, it'll have you grinning ear to ear, and more importantly, it'll remind you who you are. [via Pop Dust]

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Closely following the release of their new single, Maltese electro-pop outfit OXYGYN have shared the brand new video for ‘Mercy’. The new video continues from 2020’s ‘Wicked White Lies’, a portrayal of how society deals with social issues in which individuals are made vulnerable, as frontman Kurt Abela details: “We become angered by a social cause when it first emerges, but we are quick to break it down within our own minds and forget. Instead, we focus on our own personal issues, and are not able to overcome them. This video acts as a wake-up call to society that the social issues hinted at throughout the video are still present and need their due attention.”

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Oxford alt-pop outfit pecq have unveiled the video for ‘Killing Time’ . The band say: "‘Killing Time' is about making the same mistakes over and over – dying relationships I kept going back to, destructive habits I can’t break. I’m a big one for drastic changes and breaking with the past but so many times I end up back where I started – burn it down and build it just the same." Killing Time is the second single from their forthcoming EP Stranger, due out April 15. [via Loud Women]

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With us getting a taster of spring the past weekend, singer-songwriter Bess Atwell is keeping the momentum going with her dreamy new single 'Co-op'. Like the first blooms of spring, Atwell’s latest single unfolds with serene ripples of guitar strings surrounded by her lush calming vocals, leading us to a track that has us reminiscent of Lana Del Rey and Phoebe Bridgers. Similar to her previous offerings, the track maintains the same fresh and unique sound she has displayed throughout her career. Accompanied by a self-directed video, the singer puts the emotional context of the track at the forefront, directly referencing the lyrics with bold imagery and contrasting props. Opening up on the single, the singer revealed, “It’s an illustration of mine and my partner’s life together. The relationship seemed to provide me with some sort of permission to recuperate from family trauma, as if realising for the first time that there was a life outside of that chaos lulled me into an emotional slumber. Through the song, I grapple with the desire for, and fear of, comfort. I used references to Virginia Woolf’s Mrs Dalloway to depict a vivid nostalgia and an affinity for trivialities that serve to calm when darker thoughts set it.” [via Wonderland]

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Polish alt-pop aesthete Brodka has shared her barbed new single 'Game Change'. The multi-hyphenate returns with new album BRUT, a fresh statement from a potent, outspoken figure. Huge in her homeland, Brodka has shifted and evolved with each project - and BRUT will be a further chapter in this. New single 'Game Change' is out now, and lyrically it's an expressive statement of feminism that comes at a timely moment for Poland. Brodka says that the single "is about gender roles in society; a topic that's particularly prevalent in her home-country of Poland at the moment, where reproductive rights are being rolled back by lawmakers." The dazzling video is online now, and it spins a repressive dogma on its head. She says: "While making the video for 'Game Change', I was inspired by the story of the Albanian Sworn Virgins. Women who, by taking a vow of chastity, take on a male role in society while gaining all the privileges associated with being a man. They are treated as men but can keep their feminine names. This story, although abstract, is relevant to the current situation of women in Poland. Sadly, you don't have to be a Sworn Virgin to have your rights decided by men in the 21st century." [via Clash]

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After teasing the collaboration last week, Ashe and FINNEAS have unveiled their new single 'Till Forever Falls Apart'. The collaborative track is accompanied by a video directed by Sam Bennett that shows both artists dancing at sunset. Ashe says of the song, "'Till Forever Falls Apart' is one of my favourite songs with one of my favourite people. If I’ve learned anything from Moral of the Story, it’s that accepting the hard truth is strangely comforting. This song, while sounding like the most romantic song I’ve ever written, is about acceptance as well. The lyrics, ‘I’m gonna love you knowing we don’t have forever’ is about how it’s more important to have had the chance to love than to stay in love. FINNEAS is one of the most talented people I know and it’s fitting to release this song with someone I love so much. I'm lucky to know him and I hope to never know a life without him in it." FINNEAS adds, "Ashe to me, is a timeless artist. Her music will be as relevant and important 30 years from now as it is today. Making music with her has always been an extension of our friendship and I could not love this song more." [via Line Of Best Fit]

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Charley enters into the Australian pop world with her debut single 'Hard For Me'. It's the type of slick, high-tier pop song that sits amongst the world's biggest stars, carrying the same acute level of sheen and confidence as Charley moves above a bright, synth-driven production that elevates her every word. It's the type of single that takes the foundations laid by modern-day pop heavy-hitters - she lists Katy Perry as an inspiration, for example - and builds upon them, evolving the sound forwards into 2021 and beyond. Produced by Stephen Schmultz in Nashville three years ago now, the song introduces Charley and everything you need to know about her this early on. You get a taste of her sound and the energies and inspirations that fuel them, as well as the intimacy that underlies a lot of her songwriting, and how she brings pockets of her personal life to the forefront through glitzy pop songwriting. She's a welcome addition to Australian pop, and you get the sense that 'Hard For Me' is really just the beginning. "[Hard For Me has been] a long time coming, and as a Virgo, I am not patient," she says on the single. "In my head, this has always been my debut release. It’s got such a special place in my heart. I’ve had such a vision for every single part of it. "Me and my boyfriend had kind of just gotten back together again at that point. All of the butterflies were heightened again. I just wanted to write a song about how I felt about him and how it gave me such a rush when I looked at him. Everyone has been there! When you just… melt." Take a dive into the single and its Mitchell McKay-directed video clip above. [via Pilerats]

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After making a name for themselves with their dusty-yet-glowing self-titled debut in 2017, Chapel Hill duo Blue Cactus are announcing their return with their second LP called Stranger Again. Set to be released May via Sleepy Cat Records, the album continues the pair’s mission to blend classic country sounds with vintage ’70s pop sensibilities and a sobering sense of honesty, as heard on the record’s first single, 'Come Clean.' “Sometimes we are the last person to tell ourselves the truth,” vocalist Stephanie Stewart shares of the track’s lyrical origins. “We ignore our gut, suppress our instincts, and go through the motions of a life that other people have defined for us. We become the person everyone else wants us to be and lose ourselves along the way. ‘Come Clean’ is about radical self-love and acknowledging the struggle in that journey; that hard, unflinching look in the mirror. “In 2017,” she continues, “I was in the process of separating from my then husband. I wrote most of this song during that time. It wasn’t until a year later after the divorce was finalized that I was able to find the words that had been missing from this song. I was carrying a lot of shame and guilt, and once I finally let that go, I was free to rediscover who I was as a person outside of that relationship. I was finally free to love me.” The track’s video echoes these themes of rebirth and relearning, with the band members blindfolded and slowly making contact with the outside world. [via Flood]

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Mermaidens have delivered their catchiest, dreamiest cut yet. 'Soft Energy' is the single teased with the announcement of their Soft Energy New Zealand Tour. The new track is stupidly good, and ushers in the next Mermaidens era after 2019 album Look Me In The Eye. Vocalist Gussie Larkin took the director's chair for the 'Soft Energy' video, and with support from NZ On Air and director of photography Ezra Simons (Earth Tongue), has created a blush-tinted world for the band to expose their soft, tender hearts and ask those with a "tough and detached exterior ... to act with softness and vulnerability". [via Under The Radar]

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Along with the release of her debut EP, Swimming Lessons, 19-year-old alt-pop singer-songwriter Genevieve Stokes premiered the video for her newest single, 'Parking Lot,' on Friday. Shot in her hometown of Portland, ME, the 'Parking Lot' video is a wistful tribute to the first flush of young love. "I wrote 'Parking Lot' after I met my now-boyfriend for the first time," Stokes tells NYLON. "It’s about the intoxicating, obsessive feeling of a new crush and creating a fantasy world with them. " After teaching herself piano at the age of eight, Stokes spent her adolescence developing her sound, inspired by iconic female singer-songwriters like Cat Power and Regina Spektor. Swimming Lessons was recorded this past year in a cabin in the woods, a haunting, beautiful setting that seeps into the records' sound. [via NYLON]

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You can’t blame us for wanting a bit of hedonistic relief after a year of going stir-crazy within our four walls. And as we yearn for release, and ache for the proximity and darkness of a packed dance floor, here to give it to us, no questions asked, is dark-pop trio KRUDO. Comprised of pop singer Olivia May Green, as well as established industry greats, producers Dan Duncan and Igor Tchkotoua, KRUDO blurs the lines of genre to make way for a whole new body-moving beast – and their latest release 'You Can’t Blame Me' is no exception. Moody warped synths, sinister bass lines and the haunting vocals of Green tell a story of empowerment and self-love, as she growls “I’ll never change or leave to fit your master plan.” Just the anthem we needed when many of us will be feeling disconnected and out of sorts. The trio have previously stated that their music is “not about polished pop music; it’s about memorable moments that hold a clear message.” And that much is clear from the formidable sonic palette of the new release, accompanied by a symbolic music video which shows Green breaking the picture-perfect shackles of industry expectation and rising phoenix-like into her own identity. Taken from their two-part EP of the same name, the release comes as part of the ever-expanding release schedule of label HE.SHE.THEY – the event series, record label and fashion brand operating as a safe space for individuals regardless of “age, race, sex, gender, ableness, religious background or sexual preference”. [via Wonderland]

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Top popster Bebe Rexha has dropped a brand new single, titled ‘Sacrifice’. The track is taken from her forthcoming second album, which she claims is “by far the most challenging yet fulfilling project I have ever worked on. I wrote, recorded, re-wrote, re-recorded and then repeated that process in order to deliver an album that truly reflects who I am as a singer, songwriter and most importantly as an artist. I want to give listeners a journey of pop paradise fused with elements of rock and hip-hop. It’s important to me that my music continues to recognize ongoing themes of vulnerability, the cycle of self-destruction & self-realization, and female empowerment.” So there we go. ‘Sacrifice’ follows up on 2020’s ‘Baby, I’m Jealous’ which featured Doja Cat. You can check out the vampire themed video above. [via Dork]

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Tulliah has debuted the video for her really quite lovely new single, ‘Distant Dreams’. Taken from her debut EP Fre$h Hugs – set to drop next Friday (12th March), the clip was filmed in her hometown of Mt Martha Beach, Australia and directed by Cass Wood. Tulliah explains, “30 degrees, snow gear on the beach, fish man = very weird dream! I had this idea for a while that the video clip for 'Distant Dreams' would be really weird and dream like. When I was in the studio we went on a tangent about being in winter clothes while sunbathing on the beach, flying on planes to Hawaiian beaches and little fishes eating big sharks. I have no idea why haha but I knew it was weird, just like all Dreams are”. Talking about how the track came together, she adds: “We set up my new piano in the backroom of my parent’s. My mum was moving a painting that they have had for years to the top of the piano when she read the back of it – it was called Distant Dreams. This song flowed out of me. I used to never really believe that I could achieve my dreams. This song is about not wanting to break away from my visions and goals. The lyrics ‘don’t go waking me up’ is a really direct demand to myself! It’s about not wanting to go back to doubting my capabilities.” [via Dork]

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Ladyhawke is back with a brand new single, ‘Guilty Love’. The first taster of a new album, due to arrive later this year, the track features fellow popsters BROODS. Ladyhawke – real name Pip Brown – explains: “‘Guilty Love’ came about after some writing sessions with Tommy English in Los Angeles. Georgia Nott from BROODS came along to one of our sessions, and after we were talking a while, we realised we had all grown up Catholic. We shared stories and experiences; Georgia then suggested we write a song about shame”. “‘Guilty Love’ is important to Georgia and me for different reasons. Personally, growing up in the Catholic school system, as I reached my teens, I started to feel immense shame and denial about my sexuality. I suffered the constant fear of being judged and alienated by my friends and family. These feelings took a long time to shake off and work through. ‘Guilty Love’ is a way to share our experiences, and hopefully help anyone going through the same thing to know they’re not alone.” Georgia from BROODS adds “’Guilty Love’ came from the classic “in-studio heart to heart”. We talked about growing up religiously and how we carried a lot of shame around the idea of what a woman (or person) should be. This song is about that but also about finding our own way back to a sense of spirituality through love. The love that once caused so much guilt, ended up being the most healing and spiritual. END CONVERSION THERAPY EVERYWHERE!” Too bloody right. ‘Guilty Love’ comes with a video fitting of the song’s message. [via Dork]

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Atlanta-based pop artist Siena Liggins shared her video 'No Valet' on Thursday, the second single from her upcoming debut album Ms. Out Tonight. The track serves as the follow-up to 'Dirty Girl' alongside Yung Baby Tate, seeing the singer take viewers from the dancefloor to the backseat of a car in the club parking lot. The quirky clip finds Liggins adorned and surrounded by sparkly glitz, cowboy hats, and disco balls, playfully performing with a full band. "'No Valet' is steamy, downtempo braggadocio disguised as a backseat car anthem for whatever happens after the after-party," Siena explained to FADER about the song. “I was listening to a lot of old songs produced by Timbaland before [producer] Nydge laid down this really sexy bassline that put me in the mood for something steamy and dreamy at the same time.... It’s the confidence I get after the function is over and the groove I need when I’m talking my shit." [via The FADER]

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London's Mychelle is certainly an individual. Freshly signed to FAMM - the same management company as Jorja Smith and ENNY - her new single 'The Way' is a subtle but deeply powerful piece of songwriting. Soft and soulful, it relishes on nuance, allowing the most subtle element to rise and grapple with intensity. Mychelle's video for 'The Way' was shot on Hackney Downs in East London - fact fans might not that it's close to our office. Directed by photographer Michaela Quan it's a beautiful glimpse into her world. [via Clash]

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Pussy Riot have announced a new EP called Panic Attack, due out next week — March 11. As a preview of the impending release, they’re sharing 'Sexist', a bold new single featuring fellow Russian rapper Hofmannita, which comes with an unforgettable NSFW music video. 'Sexist' is the second single Pussy Riot have shared from Panic Attack, following 'Toxic', their collaboration with Dorian Electra and 100 gecs’ Dylan Brady. Produced by White Punk and Count Baldor, 'Sexist' is a dark electro-pop hip-hop song about the severity of rape culture. Pussy Riot and Hofmannita take turns telling the fictional story of a heroine being invited to a hotel room by a male governmental official, being harassed, and, unable to escape, murdering him in self-defense. Consider shielding your screen before hitting play on the song’s music video. In the NSFW clip, various nude men pose as pieces of furniture while the singers casually push them around with collars and whips. Peppered throughout is plenty of latex apparel, BDSM positioning, and generally regal decor. According to Pussy Riot member Nadya Tolokonnikova, the video is meant to inverse the main premise of the patriarchal culture. “Instead of women and queer people being objectified and serving as furniture, we use sexist pigs as furniture,” she said in a statement. “The video does not encourage to oppress anyone, but rather satirically highlights arbitrary and absurd nature of any oppression.” [via Consequence of Sound]

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thenotoriousscuttlecliff · 7 years ago

Text

Moffat Era Rewatch: Under the Lake/Before the Flood

The Doctor and Clara run into some ghost on an underwater base...

Warning: Spoilers Sweetie

While I loved Being Human, I’ve never been much of a fan of Toby Whithouse’s Who episodes. This story and 'The God Complex’ are the only ones I actually like, although it took me a few watches to warm up to this one.

Ships of unknown origin should always been left well enough alone. Don’t dig them up, don’t go inside them, just leave them where they are.

I don’t think I would’ve ended up liking the Drum crew as much as I did if this had be a single episode. Two-parters always allow more chances for the guest characters to shine and grow being basic cannon fodder.

God, I will never be over the way he looks at her in this moment.

Clara you should know by now that Twelve is not a high five person.

“Was it something she said? She does that. She once had an argument with Gandhi!”

“You're from UNIT.” Wait, that’s actually the truth. He is from UNIT. Has the psychic developed a fault?

UNIT is still around in 2119. Is it still being run by a Lethbridge-Stewart?

O'Donnell geeking out over the Doctor is cuter than it has any right to be.

Pritchard is such a Burke. Good thing he’s killed off before he can screw them over for a goddamn percentage. But then he becomes a ghost trying to kill them so it’s six and two threes.

The cynic in me has to wonder if Toby wrote a Tivolians into this episode because they are his creation and he gets paid more for it.

“No, no, actually, I can't. It's been deleted for semaphore. Someone get me a selection of flags.”

“So, who's in charge now? I need to know who to ignore.”

I always love it when the Doctor gets really excited about encountering something completely new, even if it’s very scary and trying to kill him.

The cards!!!

“I'm very sorry for your loss. I'll do all I can to solve the death of your friend slash family member slash pet.”

“Calm, Doctor, calm. You were like this when you met Shirley Bassey.”

The TARDIS set has been given a slight redress for this season and now has more round things on the walls.

“Put the handbrake on.”

He’s worried that she’s becoming too much like him and he has every right to be.

“Because I've got a duty of care.” "Which you take very seriously, I know.” Wait until you see just how seriously, Clara.

“I'd love to work for UNIT, Earth's first line of defence, and all. I'm probably not suited, though. Not much of a fighter. More of a bleeder.” Sounds to me like you’d be perfect for UNIT.

“I can't force you to leave, so you can stay and do the whole cabin in the woods thing and get killed or drowned, if you want. But my first priority is to protect my crew.”

Walk up to the scary killer ghosts, say “Hi” and hope they chase you. Yep, the Doctor definitely came up with this plan.

“The dark, the sword, the forsaken, the temple.”

“It means that someone is deliberately getting people killed, hijacking their souls and turning them into transmitters.” Which is a frankly horrifying concept.

“Surely just being around me makes you cleverer by osmosis?”

He tells them to go and then encourages them to stay, even though he knows that some of them might die. Classic Doctor.

“Whenever I step outside, [Cass] are the smartest person in the room.” Doctor, Clara is right there.

"And because whatever song I heard first thing in the morning, I was stuck with. Two weeks of ‘Mysterious Girl’ by Peter Andre. I was begging for the brush of Death's merciful hand.” Who would’t be.

“My God. Every time I think it couldn't get more extraordinary, it surprises me. It's impossible. I hate it. It's evil. It's astonishing. I want to kiss it to death.”

“You can't just leave us!” "Listen to me. I'm going back in time to when this spaceship landed. If I can understand why this is happening, I can stop them killing anyone else. I can save you. You trust me, don't you, Clara?” Twelve has come a long way since ‘Deep Breath’.

“Wait, you're going to go back in time? How do you do that?” “Extremely well.” Rule 1, the Doctor lies.

As much as I love seeing Peter smash through the fourth wall, does anyone else find it a little patronizing that the show is having to explain this rather than trust us figure it out on our own?

“This didn't happen, by the way. I've met Beethoven. Nice chap. Very intense. Loved an arm-wrestle.”

The titles are more rocky.

“Somehow I doubt that Rose or Martha or Amy lost their breakfast on their first trip.” Don’t mention Amy, the wound still hasn’t fully healed. No, I don’t mean the Doctor, I mean me. I still haven’t fully recovered from the loss of the Ponds.

“The Minister of War?” Like Gus, this is one of those things that looked like it was going to be really important, but ultimately ended up going no where. Was it a plot arc that was dropped or something?

O'Donnell, you don’t need to hide your excitement. He loves it when people say it’s bigger on the inside.

“My first proper alien, and he's an idiot.” Technically the Doctor is your first proper alien, Bennett. And he is most certainly an idiot.

“This is the Fisher King.” Why does an alien have the same name as a figure from British folklore?

TARDIS Skype.

“Not with me! Die with whoever comes after me. You do not leave me.” The boss has spoke, do as you’re told, Doctor.

“No. Doctor, I don't care about your rules or your bloody survivor's guilt. If you love me in any way, you'll come back.” *shipper screaming*

Where did the Fisher King get his gun? Was he going to be buried with it?

Why don’t you both say that you think O’Donnell is next? Don’t coddle her. She’s a big girl, she can handle it.

“Let's split up.” What? That is so stupid, there is no logical reason to do that.

O’Donnell’s death is so stupid. Not only is it classic fridging so that Bennett (the guy who loves her) can be angsty about her dying, but it makes no sense. If she’s been dead as long as Prentis why didn’t her ghost show up sooner? What was ghost O’Donnell doing all this time? Why did she keep herself hidden until it was convenient to the narrative?

“I've only just figured that out. But you knew that all along, didn't you?” Err, you figured it out at the same time, Bennett. That’s why you tied to stop her leaving the TARDIS. You can’t blame the Doctor for not doing more when you did just as little.

“This isn't about saving me. I'm a dead man walking. I'm changing history to save Clara.”

“I'm going to go back to the base and I'm going to save Clara, because that's what I do. And I don't see anyone here who's going to stop me.” *TARDIS stops him* Oh, Doctor, when will you ever learn?

Clara figures out Lunn is immune to the ghost and instantly tries to use that to her advantage. She really is becoming more and more Doctorish.

“She said to ask you whether travelling with the Doctor changed you, or were you always happy to put other people's lives at risk.”

Just going to take a moment to point out how good the lighting and set design is in this episode.

Three different people played the Fisher King. Neil Fingleton was the one in the suit, Peter Serafinowicz did the voice, and Slipknot’s Corey Taylor provided the roar.

“My people will come, and you will do nothing to stop it, Time Lord.” Bad guys hissing “Time Lord” is one of those little things I love about Doctor Who.

“Time Lords. Cowardly, vain curators who suddenly remembered they had teeth and became the most warlike race in the galaxy."

“Oh, Cass. Cass. Cass. Idiot. I'm an idiot.” Like I said, she’s becoming more and more Doctorish.

This scene is very tense until Cass goes all Daredevil which was just a little silly for me.

So did the Fisher King put the panel back in place before he left the ship? because it was there when they found the ship. This is one of those minor details I kind of obsess over.

This moment was in the trailers which was a bizarre thing to do since it gave away how the story’s main villain is defeated.

“Don't kiss me. Morning breath.”

Clara is so cute in the sonic shades.

There really is no need for all the men in this story to be secretly in love with all the women. No need at all. Okay, maybe the Doctor and Clara, but that’s it.

Next Time: The Girl Who Died/The Woman Who Lived

#Doctor Who #DW #Moffat Era Rewatch #The Doctor #Twelfth Doctor #Clara Oswald #Under the Lake #Before the Flood

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cynicinafishbowl · 7 years ago

Note

For the dvd meme— any bit in the second or third chapter of Politics and Profanity where Lizzy and Evie are flirting. I’m #predictable

I expected no less from you, madame. I have decided to go with Chapter 2 (under the cut)

By about ten the next morning, Elizabeth realised that Darcy had not taken the intended message away from their meeting. This realisation came by way of the five emails he had sent her by then, amending his schedule in some insignificant manner. [Darcy is a petty little shit when he puts his mind to it] By the end of the day, and another seventeen emails, she was sure that he was having his revenge by inundating her with as much minutiae as he could throw at her. Knowing, thanks to his incessant emailing, that he would not be in his office, she walked towards it, hoping to see Mr Fitzwilliam. He was indeed there, and seemed surprised to see her.

“Miss Bennett. To what do I owe the pleasure?” Fitzwilliam asked as she entered the room. A moment later, having seen her expression, he continued, “Wait. Fitz hasn’t been flooding you with emails keeping you updated as to every tiny amendment to his schedule, in an attempt to mete out some kind of schoolyard vengeance, has he?” [They’ve known each other for literally forever, which mean he knows exactly the sort of shit Darcy is likely to try to pull]

“That and sending me the occasional synopsis of a particularly interesting something which happens to be in one of his red boxes.”

Fitzwilliam rolled his eyes. “Would I be correct in surmising that you could probably use a drink?” he asked, opening the door to Darcy’s office and waving her in. “I can offer you scotch, sherry, [Yes Minister - I couldn’t not] or bourbon.”

“Bourbon?”

“He acquired a taste for it whilst on an internship in America.”

“Scotch, thank you.”

“Have a seat, Elizabeth. May I call you Elizabeth?”

“Only if I may call you Evelyn.”

There’s a definite current of flirting between the two of them in Pride and Prejudice before Fitzwilliam backs off, which in my opinion is because Darcy takes him aside and invokes bros before hos. Obviously in my fic, Fitzwilliam backs off for a different reason, but that is neither here nor there.

My initial plan was to actually have Lizzie and Fitzwilliam date for a while, before they realise that they’re better off as friends or some such, but that didn’t end up happening. I can’t recall why I decided against it. Probably the fact that I couldn’t really think of a plausible reason for them to break up, so it was safer never to go there.

“By all means, Elizabeth, otherwise our following conversation about Fitz is going to be far too confusing.” Elizabeth sank into one of the armchairs in the office and accepted the drink Fitzwilliam handed her, murmuring thanks and taking a sip. “So how many emails did he send you?” Fitzwilliam asked, before cutting her off. “No, no, don’t tell me. Twenty?”

“Twenty-two. Twenty-three if you count the one he sent last night.”

“Christ. And I assume that diligence meant that you actually read them all.”

“Indeed it did,” Elizabeth confirmed, “although every so often there was some interesting bit of statistical analysis from a research paper. Or in one case, a picture of a cat as an attachment labelled ‘virus virus Trojan horse plz open plz’.” [I believe that all email attachments should be named in the manner of lolcats]

“And you opened it?” Fitzwilliam chuckled.

“Of course I opened it. If the computer defences aren’t up to any viruses I’m sent, it’s better that we know about it as soon as possible.”

“So I take it from your visits that you think Fitz has potential in the long run?” [he’s not an idiot]

“What on earth do you mean?” Elizabeth prevaricated.

“If you thought him nothing but a passing nuisance, you wouldn’t be bothering yourself with talking to his assistant after he spent the day annoying you after you reamed him for what was, admittedly, not his fault, but, as I pointed out, something which he probably should have explained from the outset, instead of saying inappropriate things to people with arguably more political clout than him. If you thought he didn’t have staying power, you would just let him run his course, and breathe a sigh of relief when he was replaced and went to work for some top tier law firm.”

“You’ve really thought this through, haven’t you?” [Up until now, Elizabeth had thought he was just along for the ride until something better came up]

“It’s my job to think these things through. If I didn’t think Fitz could go all the way, I would be spending my leisure hours looking for more permanent jobs. Instead, I spend my leisure hours conversing with lovely ladies such as yourself,” he pointed out with a slight inclination of his head. [Shameless. Absolutely shameless.]

“Darcy’s problem isn’t that he’s stupid or even bad at politics from what I’ve seen. His problem is that he’s too… I don’t know… idealistic. [She realises that Darcy isn’t a terrible person, he’s just going about the politics wrong] If he weren’t, he would realise that things are less about actually running the country and more about climbing the greasy totem pole. I mean for heaven’s sake. It’s youth and unemployment.”

“Surely you don’t mean to say that some portfolios are more important than others. Miss Elizabeth, I am shocked,” exclaimed Fitzwilliam in a tone which implied that he was anything but.

“You might very well think that,” Elizabeth paused in her response to take a drink, “but I couldn’t possibly comment.” [Two of my favourite things - that quote from House of Cards, and the Victory Sip, where you punctuate your statement with an exceedingly smug sip of something]

Fitzwilliam chuckled. In response to Elizabeth’s curious look, he said “You know, if you were a bit taller, and significantly more Tory, you’d be exactly his type [He’s essentially describing Caroline Bingley, who is, but for the fact that she’s utterly uninterested in men, exactly his type]. And before you start getting all sardonic, I am in no way implying that that is at all your intent.” [He fails to mention that she is also very close to his type: compact and filled with rage]

Elizabeth, entirely ready to reply with something sardonic, after all, she had hardly come to Westminster to secure some rich, conservative husband [lol surprise bitch, that’s what you’re getting], instead burst into laughter [He’s hot and he’s funny. Such struggle]. “And what, pray tell, was the sample size from which you drew this conclusion?”

“I will admit that my scientific method was somewhat less than rigorous.”

Elizabeth glanced at her watch, and saw that she had another forty minutes until Darcy was due to return to pick up his red boxes for the evening. As such, she was more than slightly surprised to look up from her watch to see him walk into his office [I do enjoy having characters ambush other characters]. He looked, quite rightly, somewhat confused. “You’re not meant to be back for another forty minutes, Minister. You’ve been quite diligent in that respect haven’t you?” she pointed out.

“I emailed you from the car.” [This bitch, am I right?]

Elizabeth pulled out her phone and saw that that was indeed the case. [She has to commend his diligence and commitment to pettiness] Standing, she excused herself. “Indeed you did. Evelyn, it has been a pleasure. Minister, that cat picture was most droll.” [tfw your workplace nemesis is hot as shit, and his homie is super cute and funny. #relatable]

As she left, she heard Darcy ask “What was that about?” [I love having the start of the next conversation happen while its subject is still within earshot.]

Fitzwilliam’s response of “You being a prat,” made her smile as she walked back to her department, where promptly was she greeted by Mr Gardiner. “Where the fuck were you?” [Ah, my Malcolm Tucker homage]

“Drinking scotch with the assistant to the person whom I’m pretty sure just became my nemesis.” [So that’s what the kids are calling it these days]

“I’m sorry fucking I asked,” he muttered as he stalked off.

I love the ‘question, overshare answer, look of disgust’ structure. I use it a lot.

Waiting for her, when she arrived at her computer, were three emails. The one Darcy had sent from the car, updating his schedule, along with a second, newer, email; and one from Mr Fitzwilliam [when did I drop the ‘Mr’ and just have him as ‘Fitzwilliam’? Clearly some time after chapter 2]. She clicked on it.

Elizabeth,

You must come for another chat some time soon. Fitz keeps you pretty well informed of his comings and goings, and I’m invariably always around.

I feel that our chat this afternoon was cut short. [Yeah you do. He thinks she’s attractive, she’s fiercly intelligent, he’s starting to like her]

Yours &c,

Evelyn

Attached to the email was a virtual business card with his details. A smile playing across her features [she is also in the beginning of liking him], she opened the newest email from Darcy.

Ms Bennet,

I hope that my correspondence today has been of a satisfactory level of detail. I have attached my agenda for tomorrow.

Regards,

Fitzwilliam Darcy, MP

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. If he wanted to continue on this line of childish behaviour, that was entirely his prerogative [later on, she comes to enjoy this vague spite-flirting. She has not yet reached that point]. With her work done for the day, she packed her things into her bag and made her way home. It was only when she arrived, to find Jane absent (in her being flooded with unnecessary details of Darcy’s schedule, she had forgotten the altogether more relevant fact of Jane having a date). Elizabeth made herself some eggs, opened her laptop, and poured herself some wine. [All good life choices, like google stalking someone, tend to be motivated by wine]

Having an evening to herself, without the risk of Jane seeing what she was googling and reproaching her for it, Elizabeth opened Chrome and typed ‘Fitzwilliam Darcy’ into the search bar. The first couple of results were official governmental sites, a number of news entries, including the one for which she had been sent to disabuse him, something from a law firm website, and a number of other results which offered no insight into the gentleman. It was on the third page of results [aka Dark Google - if it’s not on the first page, tweak your search term. Things get weird once you’re past that first page of results] that she found something interesting. An obscure Cambridge publication showed a photograph of a young Darcy along with two young men and a young woman, and the caption ---- [Why bother deciding where he went if I can just go the ---- route of Austen?] College University Challenge Team.

Elizabeth very nearly spat out the wine she had just imbibed [spit-takes are never not hilarious]. Here was Darcy, unmistakeably, but over a decade ago. He couldn’t have been older than nineteen, and he was still in the throes of boyhood [the awkward teenage years we would rather forget], his body seeming too tall for his frame [stringbean Darcy], as if he had just completed a growth spurt, which, she supposed, he probably had. Armed with a new search phrase [Good decision, Lizzie. Don’t just keep going deeper], she returned to Google.

She had barely opened the first video when she opened her email to see if Fitzwilliam had seen fit to include his mobile phone number in his set of details. Elizabeth was delighted to see that he had [totally for professional reasons]. She typed the number into her phone and dialled.

“This is Evelyn.”

“Evelyn. Hullo. This is Elizabeth Bennet.”

“Elizabeth! To what do I owe this delight? I hope Fitz hasn’t been pestering you [that’s a lie. He hopes Fitz has been pestering her, because then she’ll keep chatting to him].”

Elizabeth laughed. “No more than the usual. Although it is about him that I called.”

“Oh really?” Fitzwilliam said, with some real intrigue in his voice. “Do go on.”

“I was doing some googling,”

“Of course.”

“I can sense judgement, and I will not have it.” [I swear, the flirting wrote itself]

“Not at all. Please continue.”

“I found a video of Darcy as some lanky teenager on Univeristy Challenge.”

Fitzwilliam let out a hoot of laughter [he remembers stringbean teenager Darcy]. “I’d no idea that was on the internet. Hang on.” Elizabeth heard some shuffling and then frenzied typing, followed by another hoot of laughter. “I am so glad you called. I was making do with occasionally recalling it and chuckling. I never even thought to see if someone had uploaded it. That has absolutely made my evening. I’m going to spend hours making GIFs of this just so that I can send them to him at inopportune moments.” [He totally would]

“Surely you have better things to do with your time,” Elizabeth protested.

“Indeed I do not, for you see, unlike you, I am wildly unqualified for this position and very much did get the job entirely through nepotism [This statement is more or less entirely true]. I take phone calls when he’s out of the office, but let’s be entirely honest, Fitz doesn’t need me around [Not quite true, but definitely not untrue]. A partially trained chimpanzee could do my job [very true]. He hired me because I was an unemployed cousin with a PhD [in retrospect, the timelines make more sense if it’s a Bachelor’s. This was written back when I hadn’t planned for him to have spent quite as long in the military. That changed] in maths so pure that numbers weren’t even involved any more, which of course meant that my job prospects were infinite, and he happened to need a glorified receptionist, and since we always got along well as lads, he gave me the job.” [definitely one interpretation of events]

“Don’t sell yourself short. You could engage in the vicious cycle of academia and teach bright-eyed young things skills which are wholly unusable in the real world so that they too can’t get jobs and so go into academia.” [I wonder what my opinions of professional academia are]

“If I could tolerate youths, then maybe, but ugh, can you imagine?”

“I hate to break it to you, Evelyn, but if they’re at university reading pure maths, I can guarantee that they are about as far from being ‘youths’ as is humanly possible.”

“Excuse you, Miss Elizabeth, I will have you know that there was many a debauched escapade as we dealt with n-dimensional hypercubes.” [debauchery is relative]

“I’m sure.”

“Tell you what, once the GIFs are done, I’ll send you a couple for your own amusement.” [that’s totally not just an excuse for them to keep corresponding at all]

“You are a prince among men,” Elizabeth informed him.

“I know. Feel free to drop by any time Fitz is out of the office, or indeed whenever he isn’t. I’m finding that I enjoy our chats, and nothing worries Fitz more than me chatting about him with terrifying women.” [especially when Fitz worries that he’s going to fall madly in love with them]

“It’s been a pleasure, as always.” [yeah it has]

Elizabeth marvelled at how someone could be so resolutely upper-class, and then read anything other than Classics at university. [really though. I just wanted something that would make him super unemployable, and it was Maths or Classics. Since I decided that Tristan read Classics, Maths it was]

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junker-town · 5 years ago

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How the Patriots’ ‘Boogeymen’ make opposing quarterbacks see ghosts

Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images

This New England defense is allowing a ludicrous 35.4 passer rating. But will it hold up when the competition gets better?

Kyle Van Noy has a name for the Patriots’ linebackers. Boogeymen. It’s also an extremely fitting name for the entire Patriots defense.

That unit’s dominance has been borderline supernatural through the team’s 7-0 start. New England leads the league in most defensive categories after allowing 14 points or fewer in each of its games this fall. And that moniker was especially appropriate after Bill Belichick’s team threw so much at Jets quarterback Sam Darnold that he claimed he was “seeing ghosts” by the second quarter in Week 7:

Sam Darnold on the performance & “seeing ghosts.” #NEvsNYJ pic.twitter.com/zoOJRplmbt

— Kimberly Jones (@KimJonesSports) October 22, 2019

So how do you get a quarterback who’d put together one of his finest games as a pro in a win over the Cowboys to collapse like a dying star one week later in a 33-0 shellacking?

The Patriots have a plan to spook opposing quarterbacks.

Step 1: Dial up blitzes on clear passing downs

Belichick’s defensive strategy was clear from New York’s first possession. If the Jets were in a passing situation, a blitz was coming.

New England didn’t need stunts or subterfuge to confuse New York’s offensive line. It just sent more defenders than the Jets had blockers, then watched as Darnold lost his composure in the ensuing chaos. This was his very first dropback of the game:

the Patriots might blitz Sam Darnold 1,000 times pic.twitter.com/nk0gLfxk1J

— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) October 22, 2019

An empty backfield left four prospective receivers and six blockers in front of Darnold. The Patriots single-covered those wideouts and sent everyone else, including safety Duron Harmon, meaning at least one player would have a mostly free run at the young quarterback.

Once the play started, both Jamie Collins and Dont’a Hightower got through the line untouched to force Darnold into a bad decision. A split second later, Devin McCourty had his fifth interception of the season and the offense had the ball inside the New York red zone.

This happened again early in the second quarter, only this time Darnold didn’t even have a chance to get a pass off:

Van Noy's TD run didn't count, but let's not ignore the fact that if not for the lucky clash of feet the Patriots would have scored a touchdown because the Jets' offense doesn't know how tackles work pic.twitter.com/Gz2fHe3Fnd

— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) October 22, 2019

An empty backfield meant an extra rusher for New England. The Patriots defensive backs allowed a little more cushion for a short pass, but it didn’t matter. John Simon came through completely unblocked for a strip sack and the Jets narrowly avoided giving up one of the league’s most embarrassing fumble return touchdowns of the year.

At this point, the Patriots had taken up residence in Darnold’s head. Not only was he seeing receivers that didn’t exist and throwing to routes his actual targets were never meant to run, his accuracy had been shredded to hamster bedding by the mere threat of pressure. Even when his wideouts broke free from New England’s press coverage, he couldn’t get the ball to them.

Here’s his footwork on that first interception (where he’s facing seven guys) vs. his footwork on his fourth and final one (this time against a four-man rush):

That latent nervousness at the threat of being sacked won’t translate against more veteran passers. Fortunately for them, the Patriots have an elegant complement to their violent pass rush.

Step 2: Trust your defensive backs to handle man coverage near the line of scrimmage without safety help

Those blitzes that damned Darnold were the result of Cover-0 defensive packages that left every receiver locked into single coverage. New England can do this thanks to a versatile group of defensive backs who’ve been able to handle pretty much anything that’s been thrown at them.

High-profile stars like Stephon Gilmore and Devin McCourty have paired with less familiar faces like Jonathan Jones and J.C. Jackson to create a blanket of coverage. Through seven weeks, this defense has allowed only a single passing touchdown, hauled in 18 interceptions, and held opponents to a 35.6 passer rating — four points lower than if an opposing QB went 0-of-20 with no interceptions every Sunday.

That allows Belichick to get creative with his blitzes, even if his selection against the Jets was a rather academic affair. The team’s corners snuck up to the line of scrimmage in press coverage knowing that a flooding pass rush would likely force a quick shot and limit the distance their targets could cover downfield. The Patriots are daring opposing quarterbacks to fire off passes into a tight windows because their defensive backs have the green light to jump routes as soon as the ball’s in the air.

Or, as Pats Pulpit’s Taylor Kyles put it:

The Patriots are just toying with Darnold. DBs are waiting for him to let it go quickly against these blitzes and attacking the ball in the air before receivers even know it’s out of the QB’s hand

— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) October 22, 2019

That’s been the backbone of the New England defense, and eight different players have used it to haul in interceptions in 2019; 15 players have at least one pass defensed.

Step 3: Strength in numbers

One of my early-season concerns about the Patriots was how the defense would operate after the loss of Trey Flowers’ dynamic pass rush. No one player in the trenches took up as much of an opponent’s gameplanning spotlight as the do-it-all lineman who left for the Lions in free agency. I thought this would limit the damage the rest of the defense could do as blockers shifted their focus elsewhere.

This was incorrect.

New England has gotten major contributions from established Pro Bowlers, rookie debutantes, and players who had to claw their way to a roster spot alike. The team’s front seven has yet to showcase any glaring weakness in its pass rush. The following players each have at least two sacks through seven games:

Van Noy

Simon

Hightower

Collins

Chase Winovich

Michael Bennett

Danny Shelton

Adam Butler

The Patriots aren’t collapsing pockets because one guy is breaking through protection; they’re doing it because a handful of guys are. New England’s defense is a swarm, and that’s taking away lanes for opposing passers to run through to daylight in the midst of a dominant start.

Still, the Patriots have plenty to prove, even if they rank No. 1 in scoring defense, yards allowed, yards allowed per play, opponent passer efficiency, and about a dozen other categories. The question now is whether it can continue against tougher competition.

Step 4: Figure out if this can work against a quarterback who’s actually good in 2019

New England has fielded the league’s scariest defense through seven weeks, but it has done so against a lineup of underwhelming opponents.

Six of the Patriots’ victories this season have come over teams with two wins or fewer. The one team with a winning record — the 5-1 Bills — start the notoriously uneven Josh Allen at quarterback. He and Week 1 opponent Ben Roethlisberger are the only two QBs New England has faced with winning career records as starters.

It’s not especially surprising Belichick has found a way to baffle players like Luke Falk, Colt McCoy, Daniel Jones, and the 2019 version of Ryan Fitzpatrick. It’s going to be a lot more challenging to do the same over the team’s next six games.

Baker Mayfield, next man up to face the Pats in a Week 8 showdown in Cleveland, may lead the league in interceptions, but covering Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry is an entirely different challenge than a Robby Anderson-Demaryius Thomas combination. After that, the Patriots have Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. If Jackson can escape the pressure of a Cover-0 blitz, he’ll absolutely feast in the space created when his wideouts push New England’s secondary downfield and there’s no linebacker (or, more likely, safety) waiting as a spy in the second level.

The back end of the schedule is filled with more passers who can escape pressure, buy time, and take shots. Dates against 2016 draft class standouts Carson Wentz (Eagles) and Dak Prescott (Cowboys) follow in Weeks 11 and 12. The AFC’s race for homefield advantage will kick into high gear when the Texans and Chiefs bring likely MVP candidates into matchups in Weeks 13 and 14.

Deshaun Watson has a career 76.5 passer rating (and three interceptions) in two prior games against lesser Patriots defenses. Even though his offensive line has been its typically unimpressive self, he’s still having the most impactful and efficient season of his young career so far and remains one of the league’s toughest QBs to contain.

Patrick Mahomes remains Patrick Mahomes, and while he’s currently dealing with a dislocated kneecap, he’s slated to be healthy before he travels east to Foxborough in December. The Patriots held him in check for two quarters last year to start the AFC title game. He played six other quarters against Belichick’s defense last season and threw seven touchdowns.

New England isn’t as scary as Darnold made it seem, but it’s still loaded with a million different ways to derail a quarterback’s best-laid plans. When every part of that unit moves together, it creates a fast-moving horde that can overwhelm blockers, shut down wideouts, and make quarterbacks see specters.

That’s been incredible against some of the league’s least impressive quarterbacks. If the Patriots want to make it to their fourth straight Super Bowl, that defense will have to stand up against good passers, too.

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weneedtherooks · 8 years ago

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What If...

@maritime-peacock Oh man, this one actually hurt. Like, a lot. Part Two fulfilled: Alternate timeline where Friedrich dies in the war

It must have happened overnight. He almost looked at peace.

Influenza, they said. Clara had heard there was an outbreak, but she didn’t think Friedrich, of all people, would get it. He had been quick to brush it off; it wasn’t like he’d never had it before. This time...the symptoms just wouldn’t go away. They had taken the both of them to a nearby field hospital (she had a cough from a lingering out-of-season cold), and from there he continued to decline. It was the first time they had really gotten a chance to talk. He’d practically told her everything about his life; his brothers, his home, his father. He even said he loved her…

She knew he was close to dying. She just didn’t realize how much it was going to hurt.

Like losing a piece of yourself.

That same day, they released her. Sent her back to the front lines. She got a new partner; some fresh from training rookie who barely knew his head from his ass. Clara was just constantly irritable with him. He was slow. Clara stopped sleeping. Before she knew it, the war was over. It turned out that Friedrich’s older brother, Derrick, had been stationed nearby. He came over and offered to let her stay with him and his family. “You are family, Clara.” he said. She sobbed. She couldn’t hold it in any longer.

Christmas time came around. She hadn’t left their house much; finding the energy to do anything was a difficult task. She’d heard Armin whisper something about depression on a couple of occasions. Today, though, she decided to go walk through the markets. Friedrich had mentioned how much he loved them...he wanted to take her if the war wasn’t still going on. She bought herself a couple of treats before finding a small, secluded area nearby. Digging in her pocket, she produced a letter...one of the nurses had found it. It was addressed to her. Inside was a letter and a ring:

Clara,

I do not imagine I have much time left. If I could have my way, I would not leave you behind to survive this hell alone. So please, allow me to bare myself to you before I go. Clara, I am so grateful to have met you. You are an extraordinary young woman. I never thought in my life I would ever meet and fall in love with someone so wonderful. You have brought a light to my life that I will treasure forever, even into the afterlife. Inside this letter, there is a ring. I had planned to give it to you after the war. I wanted to ask you to be my wife, my partner in everything. I do not have much to offer, but anything I have is yours. My brother’s can help you with anything, you need only to ask. My Clara...I love you. Please do not ever forget that. I sincerely hope that this life will be kind for you. Grow old for me, see all the things I will not. I hope that you will find love after this hell you have been through. I know how strong you are, but do not forget that there are others around that are willing and will help you. It is okay to rely on other people. May God protect you for the rest of your years.

With all my love,

Friedrich Wilhelm Rosenthal

Her legs gave way, the flood of tears and emotions following suit. Damn you, Friedrich, just damn you. She slipped the ring onto her finger, kissing it gently as if she was somehow kissing him.

She walked back to the house, asking to be let into Friedrich’s room. His brothers all looked at each other for a brief moment before Derrick stepped forward. He took her up the stairs to his room, looking to her for confirmation before opening the door. Friedrich’s room was fairly empty. Some photos, clothes, grooming items, but nothing much beyond that. Clara grabbed a few pairs of his clothes, the pictures, and some of his personal items. She put on a overcoat that she knew he was fond of. It was a little long on her, but she didn’t rightfully care. Clara asked Derrick to take her to the dock. She wanted a ticket home; the sooner the better. He nodded, motioning his wife to come with him. When she asked, Derrick simply said “I am not letting you travel that far alone. Not in distress like you are.”, and his wife agreed with him. After some long discussion, the rest of his family decided that it was best if they all left; they all felt that the scars on Germany were too deep. They didn’t want to risk staying through the backlash the war might throw.

Before she knew it, she was 24. Where did the time go? She worked at a small diner. She was fairly popular among the German population that lived in the area; they were genuinely appreciative of her. That’s when he showed up. His name was Richard. He looked strikingly like Friedrich did. Blonde, blue eyes, similar build. He asked if she wanted to go out that night. Get some drinks, make a night of it. Why not? What else am I doing?

Nine months later, she had a son. She couldn’t help herself. She named him Friedrich. Friedrich Wilhelm Bennett. He was a happy boy who loved to play out in the sun.

When the Depression happened, she lost everything: her job, her home, her possessions. Her son was seven when Clara got sick.

Life decided to be cruel: influenza. And in within a few short months, she ended up passing.

Everything is...bright.

Clara looked around when the light faded. She was somehow standing in the Rosenthal’s old home in Hamburg. She walked past the mirror by the door. She didn’t look sick anymore. Behind her, she heard the sound of someone’s footsteps. Her hands went to her face. The person in the mirror smiled. She turned around, wrapping her arms around him. He pulled her closer, kissing her cheek. He moved to whisper to her.

“Hello, Clara.”

#shitty dialogue #my ocs #friedrich rosenthal #clara bennett #local rook takes your suggestion

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olehistorian · 8 years ago

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Almost unrecognisable from her role as the dowdy housekeeper in Downton Abbey, Phyllis Logan is starring in an exotic new medical drama. She talks to Judith Woods about seizing the day and those Downton movie rumours… 'Obviously I never had a career to speak of before Downton Abbey,’ says Phyllis Logan drily, raising an eyebrow for further effect. ‘I sometimes wonder how on earth did I fill my time?’ It’s not true, of course, but we all know what she means: sometimes a jobbing actress is swept away by a juggernaut of a role that takes her a very long way from where she used to be. The Downton effect has had an impact on the career of every member of its award-winning ensemble cast. Lily James has starred in the BBC’s War & Peace and the movie Cinderella, Michelle Dockery landed a role as a criminal in the gritty US show Good Behavior, Joanne Froggatt played a serial killer in the ITV series Dark Angel – and now Phyllis is set to star in a new ITV drama series, The Good Karma Hospital. But it’s her years in service to the Crawley family that have made her a poster girl for ladies of a certain age who refuse to accept that life holds no more adventure. When her doughty but warm-hearted character Mrs Hughes finally found love with the pompous but kindly butler Mr Carson, it struck a blow for midlife love. In those days ‘Mrs’ was an honorific title bestowed on senior female staff, regardless of whether they had ever wed, so Mrs Hughes’s comical angst about whether he would be expecting ‘a full marriage’ struck a chord with any woman over 40 who has ever fretted about going to bed with a new partner. ‘Mrs Hughes was aerated about the sex thing because she probably hadn’t had much experience, but that turned out to be the least of her bloomin’ worries,’ acknowledges Phyllis. ‘God preserve us all from nitpicking middle-aged men who can’t abide change.’ In the phenomenally successful series, which ran for six seasons, Mr Carson (played by Jim Carter) turned out to be irrevocably stuck in his ways – the routines of the big house where he had been serving for many years. Ironically, it was his new wife’s performance in the couple’s kitchen (as opposed to the bedroom) that proved his greatest source of disappointment. Eventually, with affectionate pragmatism, the pair decided he should eat his meals at the Downton kitchen, cooked by Mrs Patmore, as before. ‘It’s a very identifiable scenario,’ says Phyllis, 61. ‘When a more mature couple makes a life together, each brings certain expectations and baggage and of course there’s always need for compromise, which some men in particular find difficult. Phyllis, once best known for playing posh totty Lady Jane Felsham in the 1980s and 90s series Lovejoy, was a late starter herself when it came to settling down. She met her husband, Pirates of the Caribbean actor Kevin McNally, in the 1993 miniseries Love and Reason when she was in her late 30s, but they didn’t get round to tying the knot until she was 55. ‘I had always sworn I would never have an actor in the house because they are so much trouble and so vain, but you can’t legislate for Cupid’s bow,’ she says. When she got together with Kevin, theirs was not a series of careful compromises but a classic coup de foudre. ‘I never thought real love – the sort where your blood tingles and your world explodes with joy – would happen to me at my time of life. I believed I had missed out. But I’m ever so glad it happened.’ A couple of years later, aged 40, she had their son David. He is now 20 and studying music and music production at university in Leeds. Once upon a time, reaching six decades was a milestone to be dreaded rather than celebrated, but, in well-cut jeans and a flattering floaty top, her burnished hair hanging loose, Phyllis provides incontrovertible proof that though life may not begin at 60, it sure as heck continues at a rip-roaring pace – as long as you have the right attitude towards the rollercoaster. ‘We packed David off to university not so long ago and as we drove back to our house in West London we were listening to the Elaine Paige show on Radio 2,’ recalls Phyllis. ‘She played Peggy Lee singing “The Folks Who Live on the Hill” and as soon as I heard the line “and when the kids grow up and leave us” I burst into absolute floods of tears and spent the rest of the journey splashing about in the passenger seat. But since then I’ve thought a lot about empty nest syndrome and how once your chick flies the coop it gives women the freedom to stretch their own wings once more, too.’ And as fate would have it, Phyllis’s new role in The Good Karma Hospital has allowed her to do just that and will doubtless prove a source of inspiration to a great many female viewers in a similar position. Set in India, the series features another estimable actress, Amanda Redman, 59, who plays an eccentric expat running a ramshackle cottage hospital, which is short on resources and long on compassion. ‘It’s a cross between Holby City and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel but with dark secrets, so it should be right up everybody’s street,’ says Phyllis. ‘I play Maggie Smart, who has come to India for her daughter’s wedding and becomes unwell, so ends up in hospital and falls deeply in love. Not with a man – she already has a husband – but rather with the community, the culture and the way of life. She’s a fascinating character who has such humour and joie de vivre and it was great to play a woman finding herself and connecting with a wider spirituality.’ Phyllis spent months filming the six-part series on location in Sri Lanka. She, too, found herself smitten with the place and the people and at one point Kevin flew over from the US where he is in the cast of the US television series Turn: Washington’s Spies and they managed a 12-day break together. ‘We stayed in a hotel on the beach and it was bliss. The majority of the population are Buddhists and seemed so calm, open and thankful for whatever life gave them; I think we could all learn from them.’ All the same, Phyllis isn’t entirely convinced she believes in karma as a concept. ‘It would be nice to think that if you are a decent human being then eventually things will turn out right,’ she says. ‘But fate can intervene and pull the rug out from under you without warning and there might be nothing you can do.’ It is something she and Kevin can speak of from personal experience. Phyllis’s mother died from a dementia-related illness aged 90, but it was the agonisingly slow decline of Kevin’s mother over many years that proved more devastating. ‘Kev’s mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in her early 60s and from then on his father became her carer and it was so hard for him. She reached the point where she didn’t recognise her own son and was agitated and upset because she had no idea where she was or who she was; that was heartbreaking to witness.’ Phyllis is an ambassador for Dementia UK and does what she can to support the charity’s work. ‘It’s such a cruel disease. I am aware there’s a genetic component so I do brain-training on my phone every day. Will that help stave it off? I have no idea; I think of Iris Murdoch – such a clever woman who dealt with words and complex memories all her life, and yet all those things that made her so creative and unique were taken while she was still alive. Ultimately, all you can do is cross your fingers and make the most of every day.’ Phyllis is certainly doing that. Last year was a veritable Air Miles bonanza; as well as her sojourn in Sri Lanka she went to Sydney for a Downton DVD launch, Los Angeles where the ensemble cast of Downton won yet another Screen Actors Guild Award, and then to New York to receive the prestigious Great Scot Award from the US branch of the National Trust for Scotland (previous recipients include comedian Billy Connolly and actor Alan Cumming). She wore a dress bought in John Lewis embellished for the occasion with a tartan sash and matching ribbon. ‘I’m not interested in fashion,’ Phyllis confides. ‘It’s just not on my radar. Whenever I’m doing a contemporary role, the wardrobe mistress will usually say, “Let’s go to Selfridges and get a personal shopper.” Most women would probably love it, but my face falls because I absolutely hate trying on clothes. One of the things I loved about Downton was the fact I had two outfits and maybe a coat if I got to go into the village; the girls in the Crawley family kept having to go for fittings every time there was a big dinner, which would have driven me mad.’ Logan loves… Reading Alan Bennett’s Keeping On Keeping On. I love him; my husband Kev played him in the stage version of The Lady in the Van. Listening to The Today programme on Radio 4 and Classic FM. Watching I do enjoy a good nature documentary. Planet Earth II was spectacularly good. Guilty pleasure A whole bag of Kettle Chips with a crisp glass of Picpoul de Pinet. Beauty product Boots No7 moisturiser; it’s not fancy but it does the job. Desert island luxury A karaoke machine, stage, lights and all the songs from the 70s. I’ll make a row of coconuts for an audience and there’ll be no stopping me. The ongoing international popularity of Downton means Phyllis and various other cast members are still asked to appear at events to meet the fans and launch DVDs. She’s often asked about her wigs and whether she kept one; she had three identical hairpieces all of which she affectionately dubbed Elsie. ‘People ask me if I was tempted to take a wig or that big bunch of keys I carried, but that would be theft, because these things aren’t my property,’ says Phyllis emphatically. ‘Besides, if there’s a Downton movie, which I hope will happen, all the props and costumes will be needed.’ Ah yes, the Downton film; rumours still swirl but so far there’s been no confirmation. According to Phyllis it may yet happen if – and it’s a huge if – the cast members can ever be gathered in one place long enough. ‘It’s like herding cats!’ she laughs. ‘We’re all so busy and in different countries, but it would be such fun to get together again. The camaraderie on set was extraordinary.’ Phyllis was in every episode of the family saga. Her husband even appeared in a handful of episodes as Horace Bryant, the stern father of an army major who fraternised with housemaid Ethel (Amy Nuttall), getting her pregnant before he died in action. Horace persuaded her to hand over his grandchild to him, which was brutal but necessary as she had been sacked from Downton in disgrace and had taken to prostitution in order to survive. ‘I was quite miffed that the producer had offered Kev a job without even consulting me,’ laughs Phyllis. ‘I wouldn’t dream of queering his pitch – although I do think I’d be great as Johnny Depp’s mother in a Pirates of the Caribbean film [in which Kevin plays Joshamee Gibbs]. And every lad needs a cuddle from his mother now, doesn’t he?’ Her eyes glitter with the sort of mischief Mrs Hughes would most certainly not approve of, but now Phyllis has emerged from the shadow of her fictional alter ego, she is keen to push boundaries. Last summer she resolved to challenge herself by taking on a theatre role in a dazzling touring production of Noël Coward’s Present Laughter, alongside Samuel West. ‘The prospect of going back on stage was a bit frightening, but that is exactly why I embraced it,’ she says. ‘I can be a bit of a scaredy-cat so I have to push myself and I was so very glad I did. It took me right back to my early days as an actress: booking my own digs, sitting on the seafront on my day off eating fish and chips. I also got to see fascinating places such as Canterbury, Cambridge and Brighton.’ Seeing the world – be it near or far – is something she gently urges all women to do once the kids have left. ‘Travel does broaden the mind and fill the senses,’ she says. ‘It gives you a new perspective and there are so many beautiful regions in Britain that I can think of no better way to spend time than exploring them because you’re a long time dead – so carpe diem, ladies!’ The Good Karma Hospital will be on ITV next month. Phyllis is an ambassador for Dementia UK and is supporting its campaign timeforacuppa.org Styling: Natalie Read. Hair: Alex Price at Frank Agency. Make-up: Lucy Gibson at Frank Agency using Clinique. Table and vase, both Habitat Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-4128572/Interview-Downton-star-Phyllis-Logan.html#ixzz4WSbvI2CF Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

#phyllis logan #downton abbey #good karma hospital

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deniscollins · 4 years ago

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Coronavirus Limits California’s Efforts to Fight Fires with Prison Labor

Prisoners have helped California fight fires for decades, playing a crucial role in containing the blazes striking the state with more frequency and ferocity in recent years. They are an essential part of the state’s response to what has become an annual wildfire crisis. Some Californians, including former inmate firefighters, say the program provides a sense of purpose, offering prisoners a chance to prove themselves and the satisfaction of helping others. To critics the prison program is a cheap and exploitative salve, one that should be replaced with proper public investment in firefighting. Should California continue to use prison labor to fight fires: (1) Yes, (2) No? Why? What are the ethics underlying your decision?

They charge into fire zones with 60-pound packs and three-foot chain saws, felling trees and hacking through brush to make wide paths of dirt around anything worth protecting. Bright orange uniforms set them apart from other firefighters — and identify them as inmates of California’s state prisons.

“It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life,” said Ricardo Martin, who became an inmate firefighter while serving a seven-year sentence for driving while intoxicated and injuring another motorist in a crash. “But we took special pride in being able to actually save people’s homes,” Mr. Martin said. “Everybody talked about that and how good they felt about it.”

Prisoners have helped California fight fires for decades, playing a crucial role in containing the blazes striking the state with more frequency and ferocity in recent years.

This past week, though, Mr. Martin and hundreds of other inmate firefighters were absent from the fire lines. They had already gone home, part of an early release program initiated by Gov. Gavin Newsom to protect them from the coronavirus.

That has highlighted the state’s dependence on prisoners in its firefighting force and complicated its battle against almost 600 fires, many which continued burning across Northern California on Saturday. Experts worry that dry thunderstorms forecast to begin on Sunday could wreak more havoc, further stretching the resources needed to fight what are now the second- and third-largest fires in modern state history.

To critics the prison program is a cheap and exploitative salve, one that should be replaced with proper public investment in firefighting; to others it is an essential part of the state’s response to what has become an annual wildfire crisis. Some have complained that participants were released just when the state needed them most.

“The inmates should have been put on the fire lines, fighting fires,” said Mike Hampton, a former corrections officer who worked for decades at an inmate fire camp. “How do you justify releasing all these inmates in prime fire season with all these fires going on?”

Mr. Newsom’s answer is that prisoners faced another threat. Across the United States there have been 112,436 infections of inmates and correctional officers and 825 have been killed by the virus, according to a New York Times database. In four of the six prisons that train incarcerated firefighters, there have been more than 200 infections each among inmates and staff members, according to The Times.

The virus has also affected non-inmate firefighters. About 80 are currently in quarantine because of potential exposure to the coronavirus, according to the union representing firefighters.

At Delta Camp, an inmate firefighter facility outside Vacaville, an hour’s drive northeast of San Francisco, the number of incarcerated firefighters is down to 55, well below the camp’s capacity of 132. Over all, the state has the capacity to train and house about 3,400 inmate firefighters. Only 1,306 inmates are currently deployed.

Men like Mr. Martin, who was released on Aug. 11, say they are grateful to be back home.

The state’s main firefighting agency, Cal Fire, says it is overwhelmed by the size and complexity of the fires in Northern California, which by Saturday night had burned through nearly one million acres, forcing more than 119,000 people to evacuate and leaving at least five people dead.

Cal Fire, which has deployed 13,700 firefighters, is pleading for more personnel, especially the crews that create the so-called hand lines, the clearings crucial to stopping and slowing down wildfires. Mr. Newsom has requested more firefighters from as far away as the East Coast and Australia.

“Inmate fire crews are absolutely imperative to our ability to create hand line and do arduous work on our fires,” Brice Bennett, a spokesman for Cal Fire, said. “They are a tremendous resource.”

The coronavirus has exposed countless examples of inequality across the nation, has devastated state budgets, and has left tens of thousands of families bereft. The debate over California’s inmate firefighters shows how the pandemic’s consequences have reached deep into unexpected corners of society. In California it has been the difference between having the manpower to save homes from wildfires — or not.

The California prisons department estimates that its Conservation Camp Program, which includes the inmate firefighters, saves California taxpayers tens of millions of dollars a year. Hiring firefighters to replace them, especially given the difficult work involved, would challenge a state already strapped for cash.

The larger debate in California is whether the state, which has the largest inmate firefighter program in the country, should be employing prisoners to fight fires in the first place. Incarcerated firefighters in California are paid $1 an hour when they are on the front lines, leading some to describe it as slave labor. They work in treacherous conditions, with six inmate firefighters dying over the past three and a half decades, including one from the state’s female contingent of incarcerated firefighters.

Already there are plans to shrink the program. Mr. Newsom’s budget, passed over the summer, calls for closing eight inmate fire camps, which the governor’s office estimates will save $7.4 million.

The union that represents Cal Fire employees has been urging the governor and the Legislature to cease relying on inmate firefighters. Tim Edwards, the president of the union, said the California prisons department had been lowering the bar for inmates who qualify for fire camp.

“They are trying to add people who would have never made it into the camps before either because of multiple offenses or the types of offense,” Mr. Edwards said.

The department of corrections says inmates must have less than five years left on their sentences and are disqualified if they have a history of escape with force or violence or if they have been convicted of sexual offenses or arson.

The system of inmate firefighters was born of necessity during World War II, when many of the state’s firefighters were shipped off as soldiers to Europe and the Pacific. Inmates were deployed to fill their places. Several states, including Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and Wyoming, employ prisoners to fight fires, but none have as many as California.

Some Californians, including former inmate firefighters, say the program provides a sense of purpose, offering prisoners a chance to prove themselves and the satisfaction of helping others.

“It gave me a sense of direction and a sense of worth,” said Francis Lopez, who spent a year as an inmate firefighter. “There are people high-fiving you, there are big signs saying, ‘Thank you to the inmates for fighting our fires, for saving our homes.’ You see that and you think, ‘Wow, I can do good. I can be a person who is being respected.’”

Mr. Lopez, who was released three years ago and now works as a bartender in Fresno, said the incarcerated fire crews were one of the few parts of the prison system where inmates of different racial backgrounds fraternized. The food, which is prepared by the inmates, was better than in prisons, and they could spend large amounts of time outside. In the winter they worked on flood control projects.

But it is the firefighting work that was most harrowing. The scene he witnessed stepping out of the truck at his first fire is indelibly marked into his memory.

“That door pops, you get out, and there are hills all around you and everything is on fire,” he said. “There’s helicopters flying by, dropping pink retardant. There are fire trucks, hoses everywhere, and you’re hearing radio communication. It’s a very, very intense scene.”

Like the non-inmate firefighters, they work 24 hours straight, sometimes as long as 48 hours, hiking into remote, inaccessible canyons, charging up steep ridges, all the while carrying gallons of water, survival gear and their tools.

“We are the guys they send for the most dangerous missions,” Mr. Lopez said. “We are given the jobs that the machines can’t do.”

His one complaint: Inmates should be given a direct path to a firefighting job once they are released. “At least give him an interview,” he said.

Mr. Martin, the inmate firefighter released this month, said that even before the coronavirus he chose the program as a way to get an earlier parole and be reunited with his teenage son.

Finding a job with a felony conviction on his record will be challenging, said Mr. Martin, who was a police officer in Sacramento for 12 years before he was sent to prison. He is now looking into work with private fire contractors.

Mr. Martin said inmates would appreciate higher pay; when they are not fighting fires they earn between $2.90 and $5.12 per day, according to the prisons department. But what many inmates want most is freedom — an expedited release date.

“It’s dirty, hard work and after a 24-hour shift we sleep on the mountain with rattlesnakes and scorpions,” Mr. Martin said. “I don’t think anyone is there for the pay.”

#Prisoners

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talhaghafoor2019-blog · 6 years ago

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The 100 Greatest American Music Venues | Consequence of Sound

Feature artwork by Cap Blackard

Where did you attend your first concert? Mine was at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles. It was Counting Crows touring their second album, and for every detail that can be recalled of the actual performance is a bit of memory on how the space felt. The Wiltern was seated back then, and from the ornate chandelier to the first glimpse at a merch stand, the lasting impression was of how big everything felt, how a venue was a place you could get lost in, where the rules of reality didn’t necessarily apply.

Of course, part of that feeling is just youth, but the great venues do have a transportive quality. Details of the box office or the bathrooms or the bar all hold their own weight, building significance both in spite of and because of the experiences held in the rooms. And some of these rooms are better than others. Sure, the most unexceptional concert venues might be near and dear to our hearts because of the shows we saw there or the people we met, but the really great venues go beyond that. There is history between their walls, features that are unlike any other concert space, and state-of-the-art lighting and sound that allow for artists to realize their vision of live presentation.

We took all of this into account when selecting the best 100 venues in the US. Both major and smaller markets are represented, while the sizes range from arenas to bars. There are venues whose history extends back 100 years, and there are others built in this century. But they all hold a certain common ground. A big one is the booking, with most still lining their schedule with the best talent. A few that don’t make their money on national touring acts are known for booking top-tier local acts. All of these venues, though, are known for quality shows regardless of who is actually up on stage.

We’ve already asked our readers to weigh in on their favorite American concert venues. And a number of artists have made their own selection. Now, it’s our turn.

–Philip Cosores Deputy Editor

Established: 2003 What You’ll See: Ian MacKaye, My Brightest Diamond, Cloud Nothings

Despite being sandwiched between two major cities, Connecticut is pretty barren when it comes to culture. Drive out to what feels like the middle of nowhere in Hamden, though, and you’ll find one of the state’s hidden gems: The Space. The all-ages venue sits in a huge, desolate parking lot, but once you step inside, it comes to life. Lights string the ceiling like silly string, a snack bar sits at the side with baked goods, and a flooded thrift store and arcade room hide upstairs.

It’s all types of cool without trying to win cool points, allowing The Space to boast the feel of a DIY Brooklyn space without all the pretension. Thanks to its tiny 150-person capacity and Connecticut’s limited venue options, concertgoers get an intimate show from bands that play far larger venues elsewhere on their tour. Then you step back outside and remember you’re in the middle of nowhere — which, ultimately, makes the venue feel all the more like an Alice in Wonderland trip.

–Nina Corcoran

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Established: 1930 What You’ll See: Animal Collective, Leon Bridges, Tyler, the Creator

Added to the National Register of Historic Places in September 2003, Cain’s Ballroom has a long history of serving various purposes, not hitting its stride as a contemporary music venue until relatively recently. It was initially constructed in 1924 as a garage for Tulsa co-founder W. Tate Brady’s vehicles. Six years later (or five years after Brady’s suicide by gunshot), Madison W. “Daddy” Cain converted the place into a dance establishment, giving it the name Cain’s Dance Academy.

From then on, it’s grown more and more synonymous with musical happenings in Tulsa, playing host to the Texas Playboys’ radio broadcast on KVVO and, after being sold to Larry Schaeffer in the 1970s, even the Sex Pistols in 1978. These days, a wide array of artists swing through for shows at 423 N. Main St. in Tulsa, including a considerable variety of hip-hop acts — A$AP Ferg, Tory Lanez, and Bones Thugs-n-Harmony are all scheduled for upcoming shows.

–Michael Madden

98. The Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace

Las Vegas, Nevada

Established: 2003 What You’ll See: Celine Dion, Rod Stewart, Reba McEntire, Elton John

Yes, the Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace looks like pure Vegas kitsch, a concert venue built to resemble the Colosseum of Rome. And yes, the residency program (inaugurated by Celine Dion) sometimes feels like an elephant graveyard for past-their-prime musical acts. But dig deeper, and this venue inspired by an ancient wonder soon reveals itself to be a modern marvel. The stage includes 10 motorized lifts as well as North America’s largest LED screen, which stands 40 feet tall and projects elaborate, seemingly three-dimensional backgrounds.

Despite a capacity of 4,100, no seat is more than 120 feet from the proscenium. That intimacy, combined with astounding acoustics and a stage spanning 22,400 square feet, means that everyone has a front-row seat for the always dazzling spectacles. All of these perks, combined with an extended stay in an exciting city, make these residencies very attractive to aging performers. If Rod Stewart or Reba McEntire aren’t your speed, that’s fine, but you’ll be glad it exists in 2031 when Jay Z starts his residency.

–Wren Graves

Established: 2012 What You’ll See: Burgerama, Beach Goth, Morrissey, Fetty Wap, Jenny Lewis

Using the shell of the Galaxy Concert Theatre, which hosted B-level gets like Sugar Ray and Medeski Martin and Wood for its run from 1994-2008, The Observatory emerged from a massive restoration that turned a 550-cap concert theatre into a two-room concert juggernaut. The main stage hosts acts ranging from hip-hop elite to Orange County legends in a 1,000-person space, while its smaller 350-cap Constellation Room is the only place in the OC to catch an act like Mitski or Into It. Over It.

One of the best aspects of the venue is how well it’s booked, landing better rap acts than any venue in neighboring Los Angeles, while often featuring bands offering warm-up shows before their much bigger LA or festival stops. It’s even become the sight of an occasional festival, with Burgerama and Beach Goth both utilizing the dual indoor stages and the outside parking lot.

–Philip Cosores

Established: 2002 What You’ll See: Synths, sun tans, and a sanctuary from mouse ears

Orlando’s countless amusement parks, performance spaces, hotels, and mini-golf courses make the sprawling central Florida city into an east coast Las Vegas, albeit one that was hit especially hard by the mid-2000’s subprime mortgage crisis. But a few Downtown O-town local hot spots weathered this economic hurricane and thank goodness for that.

The Social is still standing! And shaking, and grooving, as it continues an energetic tradition as the city’s best place to catch rock, electronic, and weekly acid jazz sets. The midsize venue is mostly built around concerts, but has sustained itself over time by becoming an incredible dance space that keeps the club kids, the rockers, and the Salsa fanatics equally entertained.

–Dan Pfleegor

95. JJ’s Bohemia

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Established: 2007 What You’ll See: That 1 Guy, Thelma and the Sleaze, Future Islands

JJ’s Bohemia is many things, but none of them are chic. A tiny space with a big patio attached (or a big patio with a tiny space, depending on your view), it feels as if every inch of the joint is covered with a sticker, a knick-knack, a string of holiday lights, or the front of a VW van. The vibe is undeniably chaotic, which meshes perfectly with the experience of gathering there for a show — when the stage is inches from your nose and no more than a few feet above you, it’s hard to not feel like a part of rock and roll in the making. Add in the free weekly comedy open mic, bartenders with devoted followers, and a handy disc-golf basket, and you’ve got plenty of reasons to roam off the beaten path.

–Allison Shoemaker

94. Count Basie Theatre

Red Bank, New Jersey

Established: 1926 What You’ll See: Brian Wilson, Randy Newman, Kevin Smith

The ‘burbs need concert venues, too, and the Count Basie Theatre caters to the bridge-and-tunnel crowd without making them drive across a bridge or through a tunnel. To that end, there’s something special about seeing legendary, decidedly mature musicians like Brian Wilson and Boz Scaggs right in your Garden State neighborhood, especially when they’re flanked by the Basie’s gorgeously detailed proscenium and celestial blue dome. But such classiness doesn’t drive away the occasional rowdy act: Bruce Springsteen has made several surprise appearances, and fellow Jersey hero Kevin Smith — whose comics shop, Jay & Silent Bob’s Secret Stash, is a mere half-mile away — has filmed a handful of his specials there.

–Dan Caffrey

Established: 1989 What You’ll See: Palm trees and great rock and roll

Like so many promoters-turned-club owners, Tim Mays was simply looking for a place to host shows when he opened The Casbah with Bob Bennett and Peter English in 1989. Eventually the venue became a haven for rock and roll of all shapes and sizes, from local heroes (Rocket from the Crypt, Three Mile Pilot) to alternative rock megastars (Nirvana! Smashing Pumpkins! Blink 182!). Now 26 years later, San Diego’s understated rock and roll mecca continues to be everything a small club should be.

With its 200-person capacity, there’s an intimacy to the current room (Mays moved the club up the street in 1994) even when your back’s against the bar. Posters adorning the wall pay homage to the city’s proud underground rock heritage, while the fake palm trees and year-round holiday lights give it the charm of a punk rock bungalow. There’s also music six nights a week, so yeah, it’s more or less a live music maven’s dream come true.

–Ryan Bray

Established: 2007 What You’ll See: Aesop Rock, Todd Barry, Eagulls, Mutual Benefit

The Crofoot is one of downtown Pontiac’s oldest structures. Nowadays, it’s a two-story building that contains three venues: the Crofoot Ballroom, the Pike Room, and the Vernors Room. It’s gone through numerous periods of turbulence in the past two centuries, facing the prospect of demolition as recently as 2005. It was at that time that the McGowan family of local preservationists sought to restore The Crofoot, ultimately leading to its reopening as a concert venue in September 2007.

Regular attendees are pleased to report their happiness about the above-average quality of sound and the politeness of the staff. While it may not draw household-name performers like some venues in Detroit and other areas of Michigan, the modern-day Crofoot’s combination of charm, intimacy, and historical value makes it an often underrated institution.

–Michael Madden

91. Rams Head Live!

Baltimore, Maryland

Established: 2004 What You’ll See: Queens of the Stone Age, Purity Ring, Metric, The New Pornographers

A lot of the best music venues in the US are anchored by their history, but there’s something to be said about what a modern room can be. A great example of this is Rams Head Live!, a concert hall that gets an exclamation mark in its name and doesn’t waste it. What might be most interesting about the space is that it doesn’t have to work with antiquated design.

Two levels of balcony zigzag the crevices of the space, allowing for viewing not just from the front of the stage, but from the side as well. When full, this can boost the energy to feel like the stage is surrounded by fans. History can be earned in time, but for now, Rams Head Live! provides a worthy alternative than traveling to DC for a mid-level band’s club show.

–Philip Cosores

This content was originally published here.

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coffeebased · 7 years ago

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I’ve been logging my reading for the past five years. I started in 2013, keeping track using a notepad file and Shelfari, but I moved over to Goodreads in 2015/6 when Shelfari shut down. Instead of a notepad file, I keep my reading list in Excel, which lets me make interesting data comparisons of my reading patterns and habits.

I’ve also been making Year-End Reading posts since then: 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016, but they become less interesting and comprehensive as you go backwards.

I was excited enough about this year’s reading post that I made a zine about it and sold it at BLTX 7: Mazinehawa, last December 15. It was obviously incomplete, with my data ending on December 11, but it was really fun to make! It was actually more interesting because it was incomplete, in terms of data, as outliers were established, but now that the data is complete, I’ve found that everything’s within normal parameters, so it’s less exciting and less complicated. I also removed the error bars and line equations for ease of reading.

In 2017, I read 172 books, with an average of 14 books per month.

List of Books Read in 2017:

My Top 10 Reads of 2017, in no particular order

The Goddamned, Volume 1: Before the Flood by Jason Aaron and R. M. Guéra

“And the earth was filled with violence.” (Genesis 6:11). It’s 1,655 years after Eden, and life on earth has already gone to hell. The world of man is a place of wanton cruelty and wickedness. Prehistoric monsters and stone-age marauders roam the land. Murder and destruction are the rule of the day. This is life before the Flood. The story of man on the verge of his first apocalypse. Welcome to the world of the Goddamned. “

City of Miracles (The Divine Cities, #3) by Robert Jackson Bennett

“Revenge. It’s something Sigrud je Harkvaldsson is very, very good at. Maybe the only thing.

So when he learns that his oldest friend and ally, former Prime Minister Shara Komayd, has been assassinated, he knows exactly what to do — and that no mortal force can stop him from meting out the suffering Shara’s killers deserve.

Yet as Sigrud pursues his quarry with his customary terrifying efficiency, he begins to fear that this battle is an unwinnable one. Because discovering the truth behind Shara’s death will require him to take up arms in a secret, decades-long war, face down an angry young god, and unravel the last mysteries of Bulikov, the city of miracles itself. And — perhaps most daunting of all — finally face the truth about his own cursed existence.”

Thick as Thieves (The Queen’s Thief, #5) by Megan Whalen Turner

“Deep within the palace of the Mede emperor, in an alcove off the main room of his master’s apartments,. Kamet minds his master’s business and his own. Carefully keeping the accounts, and his own counsel, Kamet has accumulated a few possessions, a little money stored in the household’s cashbox, and a significant amount of personal power. As a slave, his fate is tied to his master’s. If Nahuseresh’s fortunes improve, so will Kamet’s, and Nahuseresh has been working diligently to promote his fortunes since the debacle in Attolia.

A soldier in the shadows offers escape, but Kamet won’t sacrifice his ambition for a meager and unreliable freedom; not until a whispered warning of poison and murder destroys all of his carefully laid plans. When Kamet flees for his life, he leaves behind everything—his past, his identity, his meticulously crafted defenses—and finds himself woefully unprepared for the journey that lies ahead.

Pursued across rivers, wastelands, salt plains, snowcapped mountains, and storm-tossed seas, Kamet is dead set on regaining control of his future and protecting himself at any cost. Friendships—new and long-forgotten—beckon, lethal enemies circle, secrets accumulate, and the fragile hopes of the little kingdoms of Attolia, Eddis, and Sounis hang in the balance.”

Boku no Hero Academia by Kohei Horikoshi

“Middle school student Izuku Midoriya wants to be a hero more than anything, but he hasn’t got an ounce of power in him. With no chance of ever getting into the prestigious U.A. High School for budding heroes, his life is looking more and more like a dead end. Then an encounter with All Might, the greatest hero of them all, gives him a chance to change his destiny…”

In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan

“The Borderlands aren’t like anywhere else. Don’t try to smuggle a phone or any other piece of technology over the wall that marks the Border—unless you enjoy a fireworks display in your backpack. (Ballpoint pens are okay.) There are elves, harpies, and—best of all as far as Elliot is concerned—mermaids.

Elliot? Who’s Elliot? Elliot is thirteen years old. He’s smart and just a tiny bit obnoxious. Sometimes more than a tiny bit. When his class goes on a field trip and he can see a wall that no one else can see, he is given the chance to go to school in the Borderlands.

It turns out that on the other side of the wall, classes involve a lot more weaponry and fitness training and fewer mermaids than he expected. On the other hand, there’s Serene-Heart-in-the-Chaos-of-Battle, an elven warrior who is more beautiful than anyone Elliot has ever seen, and then there’s her human friend Luke: sunny, blond, and annoyingly likeable. There are lots of interesting books. There’s even the chance Elliot might be able to change the world.”

The Stone Sky (The Broken Earth, #3) by N. K. Jemisin

“THIS IS THE WAY THE WORLD ENDS… FOR THE LAST TIME.

The Moon will soon return. Whether this heralds the destruction of humankind or something worse will depend on two women.

Essun has inherited the power of Alabaster Tenring. With it, she hopes to find her daughter Nassun and forge a world in which every orogene child can grow up safe.

For Nassun, her mother’s mastery of the Obelisk Gate comes too late. She has seen the evil of the world, and accepted what her mother will not admit: that sometimes what is corrupt cannot be cleansed, only destroyed.

The remarkable conclusion to the post-apocalyptic and highly acclaimed trilogy that began with the multi-award-nominated The Fifth Season.”

La Belle Sauvage (The Book of Dust, #1) by Philip Pullman

“Eleven-year-old Malcolm Polstead and his dæmon, Asta, live with his parents at the Trout Inn near Oxford. Across the River Thames (which Malcolm navigates often using his beloved canoe, a boat by the name of La Belle Sauvage) is the Godstow Priory where the nuns live. Malcolm learns they have a guest with them, a baby by the name of Lyra Belacqua . . .”

Dead Balagtas: Sayaw ng Mga Dagat at Lupa by Emiliana Kampilan

“Ang Dead Balagtas ang unang komiks tungkol sa mahaba at makulay na kasaysayan ng Pilipinas. na gumagamit ng alternatibo at malikhaing pamamaraan upang ilahad ang kasaysayan ng bansa.

Sa unang tomong ito, isasalaysay ng isang maalam na babaylan ang pagsilang ng santinakpan mula sa mainit na pagmamahalan ni Tungkung Langit at Laon Sina. At saksihan ang pagbangon ng mga kontinente, ang bangaan ng mga karagatan, ang pag-iibigan ng dagat at lupa; mga puwersang bumuo at patuloy na humuhulma sa ating tahanan at bayan: ang Pilipinas.”

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

“Lydia is dead. But they don’t know this yet.

So begins this exquisite novel about a Chinese American family living in 1970s small-town Ohio. Lydia is the favorite child of Marilyn and James Lee, and her parents are determined that she will fulfill the dreams they were unable to pursue. But when Lydia’s body is found in the local lake, the delicate balancing act that has been keeping the Lee family together is destroyed, tumbling them into chaos.

A profoundly moving story of family, secrets, and longing, Everything I Never Told You is both a gripping page-turner and a sensitive family portrait, uncovering the ways in which mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, and husbands and wives struggle, all their lives, to understand one another.”

Oathbringer (The Stormlight Archive, #3) by Brandon Sanderson

“In Oathbringer, the third volume of the New York Timesbestselling Stormlight Archive, humanity faces a new Desolation with the return of the Voidbringers, a foe with numbers as great as their thirst for vengeance.

Dalinar Kholin’s Alethi armies won a fleeting victory at a terrible cost: The enemy Parshendi summoned the violent Everstorm, which now sweeps the world with destruction, and in its passing awakens the once peaceful and subservient parshmen to the horror of their millennia-long enslavement by humans. While on a desperate flight to warn his family of the threat, Kaladin Stormblessed must come to grips with the fact that the newly kindled anger of the parshmen may be wholly justified.

Nestled in the mountains high above the storms, in the tower city of Urithiru, Shallan Davar investigates the wonders of the ancient stronghold of the Knights Radiant and unearths dark secrets lurking in its depths. And Dalinar realizes that his holy mission to unite his homeland of Alethkar was too narrow in scope. Unless all the nations of Roshar can put aside Dalinar’s blood-soaked past and stand together–and unless Dalinar himself can confront that past–even the restoration of the Knights Radiant will not prevent the end of civilization.”

I read the most in June, with 61 books, followed by January and December with a round 30 books each. I did pretty poorly the other months, the lowest number of books read was September, with a big zero, but that was all right because I got to focus on my academics. The reading peaks were during term breaks or the beginning of term, and everything else was in-between.

The number of books read is directly proportional to one’s reading rate, of course, and the highest reading rate I had was 2.03 books per day, bpd, in June, and the lowest was 0 books per day in September. The over-all reading rate for 2017 was 0.47 books per day, which isn’t really all that bad considering how many other things I was doing and reading.

The number of books read in January, June, and December were higher than those read in the other months of 2017. This is likely due to the number of graphic novels read in these months, with a focus on different Western graphic novels in January, three Japanese manga series in June, and mixed Western comics and Japanese manga in December. Graphic novels are easier to read for me, and the serialised nature of comics makes it easy to rack up a lot of volumes in a single sitting because you just keep reaching for the next one!

In the next figure, you can see how much of each month’s reading was comprised of graphic novels. The blue area shows the proportion comprised by graphic novels, and the orange shows non-graphic novels. Graphic novels took up more than or equal to 50% in 7 out of the 12 months.

When I started recording my reading data in 2013, I examined the loose reading data from 2012 and determined that my reading habits could be divided into five main categories: New Releases, Fiction, Graphic novels, Standalone books, and Speculative Fiction. If I were to describe my reading type by category majorities, my reading type would be Fiction (94.8%), Part of a Series (81.4%), Graphic Novel (69.2%), Speculative Fiction (58.7%), and not a New Release (72.4%).

Of the 119 graphic novels I read in 2017, 52% were Japanese manga. The Western GNs I read tended to be single volumes since I am up-to-date with most of the series, except for John Allison’s Giant Days and Bad Machinery books, both of which I came to late. I played catch-up with the manga series I read this year, Haikyū, Mob Psycho 100, Houseki no Kuni, and Boku no Hero Academia, all of which had many volumes published already, so of course those really stacked up.

Speaking of series, I began 28 new series this year and finished 8. 74% of the books I read in 2017 were part of continuing series. I blame the manga for making books from series comprise 81.4% of my total books read in 2017, but again, SO WORTH IT.

Speculative fiction took up 58.7% of the books I read in 2017. Majority of these were Fantasy, 66%, and 34% for Science Fiction. There was so much good sci-fi and fantasy released this year that I didn’t get to read and I can only hope to catch up… eventually. Likely never. Masakit po.

I was able to read 816 books in the past five years, with an average of 163.2 books. I thought that 2017 wouldn’t have as many books as the other years, but it actually has the second highest number of books read, after 2015’s all-time high of 252 books. I thought that 2015’s high reading value would mean that it’s an outlier, but 2017’s reading value was high enough to make it within normal parameters.

Average reading rate from 2013 to 2017 was 0.135 books per day. The highest reading rate, 0.69 bpd, corresponds with the year with the highest number of books read in 2015, and the lowest, 0.31 bpd in 2016. Both values weren’t outliers and were within normal reading parameters for those five years.

The following table shows the reading data in percent, from 2013 to 2017. These five categories were, as discussed earlier, based on loose reading data from 2012.

I was going to show different line graphs showing the progression of these categories across the years, but I found it too clunky for a blog post. In terms of New Releases, the year with the highest proportion of those read was in 2014, and no outliers existed across the five years. For Fiction, the percentage of books read hasn’t dipped below 83.9%, the lowest value recorded, in 2016. The Graphic Novel category shows the biggest change, from 8.97% in 2013 to 69.2% in 2017. Series has trended to increase across the years, with an all-time high of 81.4% this year, which is likely tied to the increase of Graphic Novels. 2017 shows the lowest level of Speculative Fiction yet, at 58.7%.

The trend lines below show that New Release reading has been decreasing across the years, Fiction has remained stable, Graphic Novels and Series have been steadily increasing, and Speculative Fiction has shown a gentle decrease.

Despite the changes within individual categories, the general trends of the categories of my reading remain mostly consistent across the years, as can be seen below.

2018 Objectives

Based on the data above, I’ve seen that my reading hasn’t been as well-rounded as I would like it to be. There’s a lot to be said for just reading whatever I want to read and damn it all to hell, but I have definitely missed reading classics and literary novels. If I want to be a more well-rounded reader in 2018, I should focus more on non-graphic novels, as well as non-fiction books. I don’t want to miss out on the rest of the world because of how easy it is to submerge myself in comics, and I’ve already proved that it’s really easy to catch up to them when I want to.

My 2017 Reading Resolutions were:

1. Continue to read more standalone books and non-fiction.

Not accomplished. I read 20% more books from series and 10% more fiction in 2017!

2. Read more literary novels!

Accomplished, but not entirely. I did read less speculative fiction, but I feel I can do better in 2018.

3. Book blog at least once a month.

OH MY GOD. I did so well until March, and then I just threw myself into my academics. I don’t think that I’ll be able to book blog much in 2018 either; my first quarter is going to be really intense because of academic concerns AND I’m joining an adult musical theater program for a month. I’m going to try to write more, but not for blogging purposes.

4. Use my bullet journal to keep track of my reading. 🙂

I read too much to use my bullet journal to keep track of it. I think that my current Goodreads + MS Excel tracking is perfect for my purposes.

WELP, I wasn’t successful. I think it would have been easier to succeed if I had more time to actually be mindful about my reading but this year was about my academics, so I read what I wanted, when I could. Since I’m still doing my PhD this year, and until 2019 at the very least, I don’t think I’ll be able to have very structured reading resolutions for 2018.

My Reading Resolutions for 2018:

Read less graphic novels

Read more non-fiction

Continue logging my reading on Excel and Goodreads

Keep using the Serial Reader app (Currently Reading Plato’s Republic) so I can read Classics

I’m feeling weirdly optimistic about 2018. I know that years are mostly an arbitrary way of keeping track of time, but I do think that we need that yearly reset so we can take stock of who we’ve become, what we’ve done, and what we want to do. I know that I definitely needed the refreshing feeling of starting a new year and I’m going to hold onto it for as long as possible.

[2017 Reading Round-up]: I’ve been logging my reading for the past five years. I’ve been logging my reading for the past five years. I started in 2013, keeping track using a notepad file and Shelfari, but I moved over to Goodreads in 2015/6 when Shelfari shut down.

#books #books 2 #reading #reading 2

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apsbicepstraining · 7 years ago

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Paolo Bandini: New Englands stout defense will make the difference in a mouth-watering matchup between the two best quarterbacks in the league this season

Success is supposed to be fleeting in the NFL. The Atlanta Falcons are a case study in how its meant to be in a league whose structure is designed to promote parity. After going 14-2 and reaching their first Super Bowl in 1998, they failed to even get back into the postseason for another four years. The exact same thing happened after they went 13-3 and reached the NFC title game in 2012.

And now, all of a sudden, they are back in the big dance.

The New England Patriots, of course, do things differently. This will be their seventh Super Bowl appearance since hiring Bill Belichick as head coach in 2000. No other team has played in more than three over the same span.

Does that mean they will win on Sunday? Not necessarily: we have seen Belichick lose on this stage before. Admittedly, only against the New York Giants, but six games probably isnt a large enough sample size to deduce that no other opponent could upset them.

So, lets try and break this one down through the matchups instead. But first, a quick update on our Pick The Playoffs contest, where three readers have called all 10 games correctly so far.

Can mmmbop86, nbcnfl or ShadowWarrior make it a clean sweep? Or will they fall at the final hurdle? Ill post the full standings in the comments section shortly, but if youre within a point of the lead, do include a score prediction for Sundays game – this will be used as a tie-breaker, if required, to determine our winner.

For now, I can announce that castigers is our overall champion for the combined regular season and postseason contests, having built a two-point lead over the rest of the field with only the one game left to play. Do join me in congratulating them on an impressive 72 correct picks out of a possible 112 so far (and lets not forget that two of those games ended in ties ).

Falcons offense v Patriots defense

Atlanta led the NFL in scoring during the regular season, with Ryan averaging a ridiculous 9.3 yards per passing attempt and generally performing at a level above anything he had produced in his (already solid) career. Meanwhile, no team gave up fewer points than the Patriots.

Its worth noting that the Falcons have not just been running up the scores against bad teams. According to Football Outsiderss advanced DVOA metrics, they faced the second-most efficient group of defenses of any team in the NFL this season. Atlanta put 38 points on Arizona, 29 on Kansas City, 23 on Denver and then 36 on Seattle last month in the playoffs.

The Patriots have barely faced a team all season with anything close to this offensive potential. They did restrict the Steelers to a combined 33 points in two meetings, but Pittsburgh were missing Ben Roethlisberger in week seven, and lost LeVeon Bell early in the AFC championship game.

What makes the Falcons so dangerous is the range of weapons at Ryans disposal. Julio Jones is an extraordinary talent quite possibly the best wide receiver in the league but if it was just a question of keeping him in check then I would have no hesitation backing the Patriots to do so, especially after seeing how they contained Antonio Brown using constant double-teams.

Repeating that strategy against Atlanta, however, would appear riskier. The Falcons do not have a standout No2 option in the receiving game, but what they do have is a whole cast of reliable pass catchers and playmakers, from Mohamed Sanu and Taylor Gabriel at receiver to Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman coming out of the backfield. Assign two defenders to Jones, and will you still have enough left over?

Julio Jones, perhaps the NFLs best wide receiver, will offer New Englands defense a stiff challenge. Photograph: USA Today Sports / Reuters/USA Today Sports

The obvious alternative would be to let Malcolm Butler track Jones everywhere. He is one of few players in the NFL who might be capable of holding his own in such a duel. But we have not often seen Belichick make such rigid use of his No1 corner.

More likely, I suspect, is that the Patriots will flood the field with defensive backs, leaving as few as six men in the box and challenging Atlanta to stay patient and run the ball. The Falcons are quite capable of doing so, but would they stay patient enough in that scenario?

And there is at least a possibility that such an approach could play right into Atlantas hands. They have used the play-action more often, (on 27.6% of Ryans passing plays, according to ProFootballFocus) and more effectively, than any other team in the league. Establish the run early on with a couple of scoring drives, and suddenly it gets that little bit harder for defenders to resist the fake.

Otherwise, the one big concern I have for Atlanta on this side of the ball revolves around the fitness of center Alex Mack, who injured his ankle during the NFC championship game. The single most important player on an offensive line that has benefited hugely from being able to start the same five players in every game, he has practiced this week and is expected to start on Sunday, but will he be at 100%?

That ankle is sure to be tested by an encounter with New Englands 350lb defensive tackle, Alan Branch. If it fails, Atlanta might be in big trouble.

Patriots offense v Falcons defense

As brilliant as Ryan has been this season and I have already made my case for why I think he should win the MVP there is at least an argument to be made that Brady, after returning from his suspension, was even better. How do you combat a guy who completes more than 67% of his passes, and who has a preposterous 132.8 quarterback rating on third down?

The obvious answer is to hit him before he gets the chance to throw. Obvious, but incredibly difficult to achieve. Brady took a mere 19 sacks in 14 starts (playoffs included) this season and has excelled against the blitz for years.

Almost every team that has toppled New England in a playoff game in the past decade has been able to generate consistent pressure without sending extra men after him. In theory, Atlanta have the personnel to do the same. Vic Beasley led the league with 15.5 sacks in the regular season, whilst Dwight Freeney remains a highly effective situational edge rusher as well.

In practice, though, I have some doubts. Beasley is yet to record a sack in the playoffs, and you could make a case that his regular season numbers in that department overstate his effectiveness. His 56 total quarterback pressures only ranked 18th in the NFL, and he is likely to spend a significant part of Sundays game lining up opposite New Englands right tackle, Marcus Cannon a man who has not allowed a sack since week one.

Whether Atlantas blitz can fluster Tom Brady will prove crucial to the Falcons chances. Photograph: Charlie Riedel/AP

Brady should be content to get the ball out quickly, too. The Falcons missed 136 tackles this season, according to ProFootballFocus, and allowed opposing ball-carriers to gain an average of 2.89 yards after initial contact. Those were, respectively, the second-worst and worst such numbers of any team in the league.

A reasonable conclusion for Belichick and his coaching staff would be that it makes more sense to focus on plays that get the ball into receivers hands close to the line of scrimmage rather than taking shots downfield. Nobody executes the simple slant-flats passing concepts better than Brady, who, like Ryan, has a wealth of different targets to aim at.

Chris Hogan has been the star of New Englands playoff show so far, and his size cam be an asset against a defense that prizes speed over power. Belichick might be tempted to soften Atlanta up early, using heavy formations with a heavy dose of LeGarrette Blount and Martellus Bennett. But if not then, hey, Julian Edelman, Dion Lewis and James White all know how to do damage, too.

Special teams

The Falcons might have a slight edge in the third phase, though I dont think its a huge one. Kicker Matt Bryant has put together the best season of his career at 41 years old, the coverage units have been solid and Eric Weems ranked sixth in the league with an 11.4 yard punt return average. The Falcons own punter, Matt Bosher, should be feeling fresh-legged, given hes only had to boot the ball 44 times all season.

New Englands Ryan Allen is solid, as are the coverage units. There have been a few return mishaps over the course of the season, but Dion Lewis ran a kickoff return back 98 yards for a score against the Houston Texans in the divisional round. The only faint red mark is attached to kicker Stephen Gostkowski whose usually high standards have slipped somewhat, with three extra points and four field goals missed over the course of the season.

Pick

What makes this such a fascinating matchup is the fact that, on the surface, you can find so much about these teams that look similar. Brady and Ryan have been the two best quarterbacks in the league in 2016-17, both have benefited from strong pass protection and each has a vast arsenal of varied weapons at their disposal. I expect this to be a high-scoring game.

In the end, though, I do think the Patriots will have an edge on defense. I dont think either team is going to have a great deal of joy rushing the passer unless Mack really does struggle for Atlanta but I do expect Belichick to do a better job of scheming to slow Ryan down, take away the deep ball and test the Falcons willingness to play patiently and chip away.

Perhaps they will rise to that challenge. But Im more inclined to trust the team Ive seen do it before.

Prediction: Patriots 34-28 Falcons

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wrestinganew · 7 years ago

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Self-Care- Sensing/Thinking Entry

Because of this class, the readings, discussions, activities, assignments and most importantly the community building, I have really made great strides to find more balance in my life and take better care of myself. As I have shared elsewhere, taking care of my mental and physical health are the first things I sacrifice in the name of “doing what I need to do” professionally and social justice wise. Since choosing to go back to school, something I cherish so much and have been so transformed by, I have also missed out on so much and hurt myself and others due to my approach to my learning, teaching and working. Before coming to the program I was overworking—working multiple part time gigs all the time because I could not find a full time gig that was personally and professionally fulfilling. I also devoted much time and energy to social justice community organizing. While many people shift their lives around so that they can make more time for school I just thought I would suck it up and do it all. Over the past two years I have just self-destructed over and over again. I cannot count the number of times I have said to Grey “I can’t I have to read”. I cannot count the number of times I have read on work breaks, not eaten, not slept, not gone out with friends, not gone home to visit family or went home only to work the whole time. Even when Grey and I would take a long weekend I would be reading, taking notes, writing papers and grading. I cannot count the number of times Grey has had to apologize on my behalf to our family and friends many times over because I could not come to events because I was doing schoolwork. I cannot count the number of times my students at Bennett who had me before I started this have told me that I looked tired or that that they were worried about me. Everyone around me, until this spring, everyone including customers at Deep Roots, friends, family and students would tell me I looked worn out and that they were worried about me. I cannot count the times that people have joked about my “busy”, saying something along the lines of “what are you doing with all your free time these days”.

As Shahjahan’s (2014 & 2015) articles touch on, when I started this program I was taking being an aspiring academic “seriously” by destroying my body for the sake of my brain. In the fall of 2015 I was working four jobs and going to school full time, taking out extra loans to pay for Grey’s surgery. During breaks I worked more at Deep Roots to make up for the money we were losing since I was down to teaching one class at Bennett instead of two. Last summer I only took off work to go with Grey for his surgery and take care of him after. When I was not taking care of Grey I was working three jobs. I wasn’t sleeping enough. I wasn’t eating enough (or healthy for that matter). I wasn’t exercising. I wasn’t going to the doctor unless I was sick. I wasn’t drinking enough water and was drinking too much caffeine. I wasn’t going out and socializing or having fun as often. In terms of social justice organizing I started missing out on community building and only attended high stress actions where I would marshal or difficult, conflict ridden meetings. And on the rare occasions that I would actually take care of myself, I felt guilty because “I should be doing work”. When I asked for extensions on assignments or adjustments on deadlines it was never because I was taking the time to take care of myself, it was always because I got called into work or needed to for Grey and I to pay bills. Or I asked for an extension was because I had fallen too behind on grading from being spread so thin. Or I asked for an extension because I was so sick, either so physically ill I could not look at my laptop or read or so mentally ill that I could only bring myself to get out of bed or leave my house to show up (in body not in spirit) to work or class.

As you know, Dr. Bettez, this spring was a time of reflection, of seclusion, of spiritual journeying and healing for me. To borrow from an excellent article I just read about the toxicity of social justice organizing communities, I had decided to leave the “church of social justice” organizing in the fall and was in a sort of excommunicated/exile state (I am still here in many ways). With Charlotte, my fallout with my organizing community, and then the election, my mental health plummeted. I had to change something because after having not had a suicidal thought in 7 years I began to have many. I was standing in the metro station in Montreal at a conference daydreaming about stepping in front of the train. I told Grey over the phone that I was not well and when I got home and we decided my going back to therapy and cutting down on stress were the first things I should do. So I went from working 4 to 3 jobs and then cut down to 2 jobs. I started seeing a therapist. We began planning a week long vacation for my 30th birthday, for me to go back to San Diego, a place that is so important to me. We also signed up for the gym and started eating better and working out more to help with stress. This winter break was the first winter break since I started this program that I did not get physically ill.

But old habits die hard. I stopped going to therapy during the spring semester because “things got busy” and “money was tight” since I was working less. Not being a part of a social justice organization was so deeply emotionally painful and so while I was working less and had more time to devote to school and taking care of myself my depression and anxiety were in full force, keeping me from doing much of anything. I feared leaving my house, other than going to class or work, because I did not want to run into anyone I had organized with. On good days or weeks I went to the gym, ate healthier and made more quality time with Grey and a few friends but still had an unhealthy relationship to schoolwork and my two jobs so my ability to even take advantage of good days/weeks was often hit or miss. The teaching for social justice class and communications course gave me the space to explore all I was going through and thinking deeply about with regard to critical community building across lines of difference or fostering the building and sustaining of solidarity relationships. Going to San Diego could not have come at a better time—seeing my old friends, members of my feminist family, being away from work and school work for a week (I literally only read for pleasure), and being with Grey in the place that I began to find myself after heartbreak and loss and where we began our relationship, brought my so much healing. When I returned I decided that, for many reasons, I would benefit from going back to therapy—to work on my self-care and coping mechanisms with regard to my anxiety and depression. I now work out and eat healthy and more often, I go for walks in my neighborhood and spend more intentional time outside, gardening, hiking with friends or playing with my dogs. Grey and I go on dates more, we laugh, we flirt, we make time to cook real dinners together, drink beer/wine, listen to music, be sexual and play after work and on weekends. I spend time with the few social justice friends I still have here when I can and spend more time checking in on and talking with my friends who live all over the world. I have started visiting my parents more and Skyping them when I can’t.

All that said, this class, the readings, especially Anzaldua’s (2012) and Rendón’s (2009) and the activities have called me to push myself even more. Experiencing Charlotte and all that Charlotte was embedded in for me in terms of the toxicity of the Greensboro community social justice organizing culture and then the election, “cut to the core” of who I am as a human being (Rendón, 2009, p. 19). In reading and then having a dialogue with Jennifer about Rendón’s (2009) outline and discussion of the “Privileged Agreements Governing the Present Pedagogy Dreamfield” I was flooded with emotion. I looked at Jennifer and began to cry and she just held space for me. I have been missing out on life and life has been missing out on me for so long—Grey was missing out on me, my friends, my family, my students, the communities I am a part of, the social justice work I can contribute to, all of it has been missing out on me and I it because of all that I have internalized and have carried outself-sacrificing workaholic, martyr/savior, good student, teacher, comrade, worker. And since teaching is such a huge part of my identity I felt a particular pain thinking of what I have shown my students. It was like a rock came up in my throat as I spoke about this to Jennifer, then sank deep into me, first lingering in my chest and then hitting the floor of my guts. What example, what model had I given my students? What had they learned from watching me about graduate school, social justice community work, academia? What unhealthy, colonial, capitalist behaviors had I normalized as a working-class aspiring public intellectual and community social justice agent with mental health illnesses? They would say it themselves, call it as they saw it, I was tired, sick and without time for rest let alone joy, “all of the time.” What an awful way to live and what an awful thing to be teaching them. This calls me to think of the quote of Thich Nhat Hanh’s that hooks (1994) included in her work: ‘the practice of a healer, therapist, teacher or any helping professional should be directed toward his or herself first, because if the helper is unhappy, he or she cannot help many people’” (p. 15).

In the content of my courses, of my papers, I would speak of healing the mind/body/spirit split of not divorcing “the inner from the outer” (Rendón, 2009, p. 7). Over the past few years, as a teacher, I have made space for my students to do this through class discussions, activities, readings/course materials and assignments. But the irony of it all, I stood before them, telling them how important this was, how learning and teaching in these ways must be connected to living in these ways, I would say that the mind/body/spirit union was a life praxis, all the while I stood before them tired, hurting, aching and worn, I did not live my own praxis then. I am only now truly devoting myself to this “quest” (Rendón, 2009, p. 6). Through coursework and personal critical reflexion in this class I have begun to deeply consider what I want in life and what I want my life to be. This is not in terms of setting short and long time professional “goals” (Self-care wheel) though this is important (and something I have always done). Rather, through this class in particular I have begun to respond to my soul’s calling and pursue “a new pedagogical Dreamfield based on wholeness and consonance” (Rendón, 2009, p. ). I am not living for social justice work if I am not taking care of myself. I am a martyr, a white savior, a schooled student, a cog in the capitalist machine, when I sacrifice my spirit and my body for learning, for teaching, for organizing and/or for work. I want the living, the day to day experience of decolonial and social justice “life work” to be and look socially justice and decolonial. So I am decolonizing my mind, moving me away from capitalist and colonial ways of thinking, and answering the call to care for and emphasize the embodied, erotic, spiritual experience of all that I am and am a part of and how I live it/ with it.

The first time that I emailed you and asked for an extension on these final looping sketchbook entries, I was “asking and receiving help” (Self-care wheel) so that I could take a vacation, mental health days really (Self-care wheel) and enjoy time with Grey and his family (Self-care wheel). On the trip I took time to “relax in the sun”, “bathe in the ocean” (Self-care wheel). I talked to his cousin Ashton who is developing a critical consciousness through her experiences as a college student, fostering a friendship with her, Grey’s stepbrother’s wife and her toddler daughter Naomi (Self-care wheel). I worked hard (and am still trying) to practice forgiveness and compassion towards his family members for the hurtful things they do and say, consciously and unconsciously about marginalized peoples (Self-care wheel). I went to bed early and got sleep, I woke up early and read course readings on the porch in a more embodied and spiritual way rather than a rushed one (Self-care wheel). I turned off my phone much of the time and took walks (Self-care wheel) on the beach with Grey. We made time to be sexual, to kiss, to laugh, to say I love you, to ask and receive nurture and to cook healthy dinners together (Self-care wheel).

When we returned I tried to keep up the balance of inner and outer work, to keep alive self-care practices not on vacation. In between re-reading course readings, working on looping sketchbook entries and thinking about the final assignment I made time to color, to go to the gym, to go to bed at a reasonable time, to take time for meals and spend time relaxing as well as learning about who I am at this point in time and figuring out what I want in life (Self-care wheel) (and I made time to not take pictures of how I was making time too!). I also worked to foster self-forgiveness about not having balance before, about the ebb and flow of trying to implement this new approach to life and the occasional set backs I’ve had lately with my anxious picking, unhealthy eating, and general self-neglect (Self-care wheel). While I was thrown a curve ball with Opie’s seizures, my gum issues and our air-conditioning going out I asked for and received help from friends and coworkers and did my best to bounce back. I didn’t cancel my therapy appointment. I got coverage when I needed to and went to work when I could as well as scheduled and taught a yoga session with my vet’s vet techs to keep up the barter we have with her so that Grey and I can get closer towards getting our credit card debt under control (Self-care wheel). I chose to not cancel my time with family even if Grey needs to stay behind to monitor Opie (Self-care wheel). I have not stopped holding my landlady accountable for her negligence with repairs to try and ensure that Grey and I have a safe place to live and followed through with my overdue dental procedures despite Opie’s condition, asking a friend if she could watch him while I was getting work done and asking a co-worker to cover for me the two days I had work done (Self-care wheel). I cried, a lot. I made time to take a bubble bath. I took time to love on my furbaby Opie and Darla (who has been jealous of all of the attention Opie has gotten) (Self-care wheel). I have watered my garden every day that it has not rained.

I feel like, in the most holistic way and non-self-sacrificing or soul-effacing, ego-driven way, I am beginning to “breathe through the cracks of my open heart” (Rendón, 2009, p. 151), I am beginning to sustain my soul so that I can embrace, with others, the different truth Rendón (2009) talks about. I feel less fragmented. I feel less alone even when I am alone. I feel more present, connected and compassionate than I have ever felt before, and that is because I am gathering “the strength and courage to work only on those things that keep me present and alive” (Rendón, 2009, p. 151). I still hear the voice inside my head that says that doing this is selfish, that it is not “the real work” of social justice, that does not distinguish discomfort that comes from being challenged and challenging my privilege from self-destruction, self-sabotage through the re-inscription of capitalist colonial norms. But I hear this voice differently now. I understand where it comes from. I understand it when it comes from others. I meet it differently because I am meeting myself and the world differently. I meet it with questions instead of answers, avoidance or resistance. I meet it with openness. Most importantly, I meet it with compassion. I meet it, I meet it all, with care.

the moon at night at the beach- I took this when I went for a walk

Grey not wearing a shirt in public for the first time

watching Grey get in the ocean without a shirt on for the first time

the ocean before a storm

hand-holding out on a date

soaking in the sun with these sillybutts

morning snuggles with Grey and our babies

bubble bath

Taking time to eat breakfast

Cheesin’ with Piper

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junker-town · 8 years ago

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How Alabama's new offense can be both 'ball-control' and devastating

New offensive coordinator Brian Daboll could mix college and pro tactics to make life miserable for SEC defenses.

Last season was a big one in the evolution of Nick Saban’s Alabama. The Crimson Tide embraced the spread-option run game to turn loose a true freshman quarterback, which went quite well, and they saw one of the most talented and modern defenses fall just short against a spread passing attack from Clemson.

So far, 2017 is on track to feature big changes. The drama of Lane Kiffin’s ouster before the national title game, followed by his replacement leaving the job after one game, seemed to disrupt the Tide’s natural succession plan.

When Steve Sarkisian left Bama’s offensive coordinator job to take the same one with the Atlanta Falcons, the Tide promoted former New Mexico and Maryland coach Mike Locksley to co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach. And in a bigger move, they hired New England Patriots tight ends coach Brian Daboll as their coordinator and quarterbacks coach. (Locksley’s title is technically co-coordinator.)

Spring practice is underway in Tuscaloosa, and everyone’s buzzing about what Daboll’s Alabama offense will look like. For his part, Saban is swatting away speculation like he’s King Kong atop the Empire State Building. After one practice, a reporter asked Saban about the Tide’s new “ball-control offense,” the coach went on a long rant, but he didn’t reveal anything much about how his offense would actually look.

Since expectations will inevitably include a run at another SEC title and a Playoff berth, how Bama plays offense is a big question across the college football landscape.

Daboll and Locksley bring different experiences to the table.

Daboll has had an extensive career already in the NFL that included some coordinating at weaker teams and coaching TEs for a few years at New England.

The time at New England, where Daboll’s earned five Super Bowl rings, is most interesting. The Patriots’ offense with Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, and company is both legendary and a lot different than anything Saban has run at Alabama.

Most teams are only truly great at running the ball or passing it, and limited practice time makes this point especially true in college. If you want to be great at both, you probably need to focus on running the ball and building your passing game off the run with run-pass options, screens, and play-action. That’s typically what Alabama has done under Saban, and with dual-threat freshman Jalen Hurts at the helm last year, it was even more run-centric than usual. Hurts will keep running a lot.

The Patriots, on the other hand, are built around inside receiver option routes. For years and years they’ve plugged in fresh faces in the slot, who have learned to mind-meld with Tom Brady and control the ball with quick tosses against overmatched linebackers and safeties. Even as a TE coach, Daboll would have been responsible for training guys like Gronk or Martellus Bennett to execute that system, in addition to teaching them their blocking assignments in the Pats’ gap-oriented run game.

Daboll will move back to coaching QBs a role he once filled with the New York Jets. Joe Pannunzio, who once taught future NFL TEs like Greg Olsen and Jimmy Graham at Miami, will handle the Alabama TEs.

Locksley is best-known for his recruiting acumen, but he’s also headed up some college offenses, most recently at Maryland, where he was the OC and then interim head coach. His offenses used spread-option concepts like the power-read or QB counter:

Between Daboll and Locksley, you have a wealth of knowledge and experience on operating gap run plays, QB option ball, and spread passing schemes.

That’s all fairly impressive, but it’ll be interesting to see how it comes together. Alabama has predominantly been a zone blocking team that uses the throw only to open up the running game. It might be different now.

Alabama has the players to run some Patriots-like schemes.

The offensive line’s ability sets the parameters for what an offense can do, while the quarterback’s skill set determines the team’s identity. Alabama has a lot returning in that regard but some major questions still to answer.

Left tackle Cam Robinson has paced the Bama line for the last few years. Robinson’s gone now and will probably come off the board early in the NFL Draft. But while Robinson was a featured blocker, Alabama does return the inside tandem of left guard Ross Pierschbacher and center Bradley Bozeman. The Tide could slide rising sophomore right tackle Jonah Williams to replace Robinson on the left side.

It’s hard to foresee the Tide not being effective in the trenches in 2017, particularly in the run game. The bigger question marks are around Hurts’ skill set as a passer in his second year as a starter. Freshman Hurts ran for over 1,000 yards at 6.2 per carry and was an adept maestro of a spread-option offense. However, Hurts also went 20-of-45 in the Playoff with 188 yards (4.2 per attempt) and a sole passing TD.

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Locksley, Alabama’s new co-offensive coordinator, coaching at Maryland in 2015.

Hurts was effective last year and showed promise as a passer, but he’s not exactly on the verge of being a master of drop-back passing. Where he’s currently elite is in running the ball between the tackles. There aren’t many at his position who can compare to Hurts in that realm. That’ll be a continued advantage.

The Tide wide receiver corps is loaded as always, but what’s intriguing about this Alabama roster is the preponderance of talented tight ends. Last year, the Tide had O.J. Howard, who should be another first-rounder in the upcoming draft. But between Hurts’ limitations as a passer and the abundance of other targets on the team, he didn’t get a ton of action. That might be different for this year’s tight ends.

The Tide still have Miller Forristall, who played frequently as a freshman. They still have big blocker Hale Hentges and freshmen Irvin Smith and Major Tennison. They also have a walk-on and former San Diego Chargers baseball player in Cam Stewart at the position. He’s a 6’8, 251-pound sophomore who should provide some intrigue.

Common practice in the NFL is to flood the field with TEs and then use formational tricks to create good matchups for the better receiving TEs. That’s a trick Jim Harbaugh has brought to Michigan in recent seasons, too. With Daboll and Pannunzio on this staff and all of these talented young TEs on the roster, Alabama might look to adopt some of these tactics itself in upcoming seasons.

The challenge of doing this at the college level is that it’s hard to teach the route tree to a young TE and simultaneously teach and develop him to block DEs in the run game. However, if the Tide can develop Hurts as a drop-back passer, they can mitigate that issue for their young targets at TE in two ways. The first is in using the spread-option to lighten the load for their TEs in the blocking game.

For instance, if a tight end is either releasing to lead-block a linebacker or safety on the edge or running a route, he’ll face a lighter practice burden than learning to kick out a DE or execute a combo block. It’s a choice between two simpler things.

Here’s a double-TE set featuring the option run game, but the TEs are simply stalking DBs out in space. That doesn’t require years of training and development to master.

Another way is in using guys like Hentges or perhaps Stewart to carry the blocking load while Forristall or Tennison flex out wide and focus on running routes.

But ultimately, the more TEs Alabama can develop to be worth seeing the field, the more it opens the playbook to creating NFL-style matchup dilemmas for their opponents in dealing either with 6’5 Forristall and Tennison or speedy receivers like Calvin Ridley or Robert Foster.

Here’s a Patriots favorite that would be tricky for college defenses to handle, yet relatively simple for Hurts to learn if he could develop enough chemistry with at least one key target:

It’s a double-TE formation, which ensures that the defense matches with base or nickel personnel. But then Alabama gets into an empty set with the TEs and RB flexed out wide. The TEs (H and F in this diagram) run up the seams to occupy the safeties, while the RB and outside WR run hitch routes and occupy cornerbacks. That leaves the other receiver (Z) isolated over the middle against one of the defense’s worst coverage defenders, and he’s running an option route, essentially just finding open grass.

Get Robert Foster or Calvin Ridley running that option route and in sync with Hurts, and you have a recipe for the sort of brutal, modern passing attack that Alabama couldn’t stop in the 2017 title game.

It may take a while to master all of this, but Alabama’s got a lot of ingredients.

The potential for combining the hybrid tight end passing game with the QB running game exists within the Tide’s offensive staff and current roster. It figures that modern spread passing tactics could be the next evolution point in Saban’s process.

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