#remaining 2 cards for ng tomorrow

[dukeofdogs]

Gwent: The Witcher Card Game | The Tide Rises | Nilfgaard

[abbythestrange]

ANAWANGIN COVE, ZAMBALES.

So since the classes have ended, me and my friends planned on having a beach trip, anwhere that is feasible. HAHAHAHA. Talk about strict parents. Anyways, so we started planning this since March and I thought we'd never be able to fulfill that plan, but now, yay, we did it! We we're originally 7 to begin with but only 5 of us could make the trip (money wise and, you know, di pinayagan ng parents). So let's start.

We originally joined a tour on Facebook that offers an all-in plan, which is cheap and we've checked the reviews, the joiners enjoyed their stay. But unfortunately, 3 days before our scheduled day, our tour coordinator informed us that our tour may not happen on our scheduled day because she lack joiners. And so we opted to look for another tour agency that can accomodate us, but also prepared for a DIY travel. On computing, we estimated that DIY travel would be a little bit pricey than the tour, luckily we found another travel agency that can accomodate us. But, with our fortune slowly thinning out, that tour got cancelled again because of lack of joiners. So we ended up having a DIY travel.

I will not name the 2 travel agencies that cancelled our tour, luckily, Ate Chona of Zambales Backpackers accomodated us. You can say that it's still a tour just without the travel accomodations. We rode a bus going to San Antonio, Zambales at Monumento, Caloocan as instructed by Ate Chona. Once at the San Antonio, you should ride a tricycle going to Pundaquit Port, and there you will meet Ate Chona and she will take care of everything you need.

Ate Chona provided us the 3 meals, Lunch and Dinner on our first day then breakfast for the next day. Boat transfers, tents, mineral water and cooler with ice. The entrance fee to Anawangin Lake Resort is also included on Ate Chona's package.

The problem was, when we departed Manila at 11pm of May 7, they said that the travel time would take around 4-5 hours but to our surprise, we arrived at San Antonio, Zambales at around 2:30 am. Roughly only 3hrs and 30mins of travel time. When we got there, no establishments were open for us to spend our remaining time before the sun rises because we told Ate Chona we would arrive there at around 6am. Luckily, there was a 7 eleven store that is 24 hours and we stayed at a cottage in the plaza that is designated for tourists like us. It was really dark because it's only like 3am in the morning, not a lot of people were out, but we still felt safe being here than at 3am being in Manila. The tricycle drivers were very nice when we asked them about the place. They were really used to having DIY travellers there.

We just stayed there until 5:30 and ate breakfast at 7 eleven since the market opens at around 6am or even later than that. After eating our breakfast, we rode a tricycle going to Pundaquit where Ate Chona waits for us. Upon arriving there, we changed to our swimming attires because the Island Hopping would take place 1st before going to Anawangin Cove. We just waited for our cook to arrive from the market then we rode the boats.

Unfortunately, the weather was not really good on our 1st day. It was raining lightly and the wind and waves were strong that's why our bangkero advised us to sit out the Island Hopping. We may do it tomorrow before we go back to Pundaquit.

After around 30 mins boat ride, we finally arrived at Anawangin Cove. Oh. My. God. What a beautiful place! It is really a very brautiful place. (OA na daming beautiful na word). We rented a cottage to put our stuffs into before pitching our tent and because there's no signal or electricity there, the cottage will be your only source of light at 6pm-10pm, then after 10pm, they will turn off the generators and it will be very dark.

We proceeded to play volleyball and enjoyed the beach though the waves were very strong but still it was a beautiful experience. The sun was not so hot so hindi nakakaitim.

When we were tired playing and swimming, we went back at our cottage and put our stuffs inside the tent that Nanay, our cook, already prepared for us. She also told us that we can eat our lunch already, she's just waiting for the rice to cook. When we checked our phones, it was only 10am! 10 am! Time was very slow there but we were really enjoying our stay. We ate our snacks and did some stuff before eating our lunch at 11am. Then we proceeded with Kayaking at the lake. Very fun experience too. And took some good photos and enjoyed the scene. Super enjoy when I'm with those fools. HAHAHAHAHA.

We crossed the lake and took some more photos there, it was like a forest there at the other end of lake. And the shower areas where also located there. When we got tired, and the sun was already up, we decided to brave the Anawangin hill top and tried trekking. The trekking experience was tiring but really worth it. It was also scary at first because we don't have a guide but the trek uphill have a trail so you can do it by yourselves. When we reached the first level, we stopped there and admired the view. Then took some more pictures before heading down. When we're finally able to come down, we enjoyed the sandbar and the current that connects the lake to the beach. It was so fun, but I think that's where I got my sunburns. Painful. :(

After enjoying there, we had our meal again, ang takaw diba, then rest, before taking a shower because we decided to take a rest and swim on the next day na. We slept at our tents and woke up at 7pm in the evening and ate our dinner. We weren't able to put out our bonfires because it was raining, at around 9pm, it stopped raining so we had our mini bonfire. Played cards and drank beers and ate marshmallows. A lot of fun talks. Very relaxing and unwinding.

Until the strong wind and rain ruined everything that ended up soaking our tents and some of our stuff. The rain made it hard for us to sleep because our tent was wet, but we still managed to sleep despite everything that happened.

On the morning, we woke up at around 6am and enjoyed the beach again, then decided to climb the Anawangin hilltop again, but this time take it to the highest point. I wasn't able to come with them because i'm very scared and tired at the same time so I stayed at the 1st level. When we all got down, we enjoyed the sand bar again for a few minutes before heading back to our cottage and ate our breakfast. Then we were told that our boat was already there to pick us up so we hurried and showered and packed up our stuff and bid our goodbyes to Anawangin. We weren't able to experience Capones and Camara Island because the waves were still strong and it is not advisable to go there.

Overall experience, 9/10. The weather was just bad for us to enjoy our experience fully. But nonetheless, it was a very adventurous travel and very fun. Especially it was with my friends. Very liberating and unwinding. I would really want to go back there again some time. Thank you for the experience, Anawangin! You're a gem. 😊

[terryblount]

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey update 1.3.0 releases tomorrow, full patch release notes

Ubisoft has announced that a new patch for Assassin’s Creed Odyssey will be released tomorrow. Update 1.3.0 will be 6GB in size for the PC and will add in-game support for Torments of Hades as well as for the upcoming Lost Tales of Greece.

Moreover, this upadte will address an issue causing enemy fire attack damage to be too high, will up Ikaros’s attack damage, will reduce the weekly contract objectives to make them simpler and faster to complete, and will forbit enemy archers from having the ability to apply players Critical Chance and Critical Damage stats engravings to themselves.

As always, this patch will also fix a number of bugs and issues. For instance, it will address an issue in New Game+ that caused all map progress to be carried over unintentionally, several issues preventing players from completing Ainigmata Ostraka, an issue causing players to spawn under the map when traveling to Lokris Overwatch viewpoint and an issue preventing players from confirming kill on the Swordfish & Brison.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey patch 1.3.0 also comes with some PC-specific fixes. For example, it addresses an issue preventing players from reassigning key bindings when using M&K, will force native resolution values to remain intact when players switch to window modes without applying any settings, will force Anti-Aliasing to be set to the appropriate value when Adaptive Quality is set to ON, and will increase scrolling speed for filters in Photo Mode.

UPLAY and Steam will download this update once it becomes available tomorrow, and you can find its complete changelog below.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Patch 1.3.0 Release Notes

CONTENT

EPISODE 2 – TORMENTS OF HADES – THE FATE OF ATLANTIS

Added in-game support for Torments of Hades

LOST TALES OF GREECE

Added in-game support for upcoming Lost Tales of Greece

FEATURES AND IMPROVEMENTS

BALANCING

Upped Ikaros’s attack damage

Mercenaries will now carry different amounts of iron and gems to be looted. It’s not equal work, equal pay in ancient Greece, Misthios!

Addressed an issue causing enemy fire attack damage to be too high

Enemy archers no longer have the ability to apply players Critical Chance and Critical Damage stats engravings to themselves. No getting owned by archers any more

Reduced the weekly contract objectives to make them simpler and faster to complete

Aligned sell price of “The Fate of Atlantis” weapons with main game weapons

MISCELLANEOUS

Ainigmata Ostraka now indicate if they’re from Greece or other realms

Added a visual hint for items currently assigned to another loadout

Unique Legendary Lieutenants will now scale up with players

BUG FIXES

DLC – THE FATE OF ATLANTIS

Addressed an issue in The Keeper and Kyros that prevented players from completing the quest

Addressed an issue keeping Kyros from walking to the next quest objective

When playing the “The Fate of Atlantis” DLC, Wardens will no longer be classed as archers during gameplay or challenges

ISU NPC stats will be appropriate according to elite status

Addressed an issue in The Beacons Are Lit causing the device to fall through the map when thrown at the door

Kolossus will no longer receive damage from torches

Addressed an issue with regards to “The Conqueror” achievement that prevented some players from unlocking it

The “No Good Deed” quest will now appear after completing “The Beacons Are Lit”

DLC – LEGACY OF THE FIRST BLADE

Gaspar the Gatekeeper, true to his name, will now attack when approached in the Terror Gorge Poi

Addressed an issue in Protector Of Persia that prevented players from completing the quest

LOST TALES OF GREECE

Leda has been found safe and secure in the cave during “Daddy’s Home”

The Hero Sword reward will now be given to players after completing Daddy’s Home

Addressed an issue in Daughters of Lalaia that prevented players from progressing this Lost Tale of Greece

Addressed an issue that caused Heir Of Memories to wrongly appear in Argolis at the start of the quest

NEW GAME+

Addressed an issue in New Game+ that caused all map progress to be carried over unintentionally

Players will now be able to acquire the artefact after killing Medusa with NG+

After killing the Cyclops in Stairway to Olympus with an NG+, the cutscene will now play as intended

Addressed an issue in NG+, preventing players from completing “Test of Judgement”

Addressed an issue during Battle Of 300 in NG+, causing Leonidas to have more than four adrenaline bars if the spear was previously upgraded

Addressed an issue where the Mercenary tier 5 benefit wasn’t kept in New Game+

Addressed an issue in NG+, preventing players from completing Monger Down

Hard Mode encounters in the Arena with NG+ will now drop the Arena Fighter’s Set items

After completing Ancient Revelations in NG+, players will no longer obtain a duplicate reward

MAIN GAME

GAMEPLAY

Addressed several issues preventing players from completing Ainigmata Ostraka

Addressed an issue causing players to spawn under the map when traveling to Lokris Overwatch viewpoint

Bandits and Followers of Ares have finally agreed on a contract to try and take over the Obsidian Islands

Daughters of Artemis contracts will spawn in regions where targets are available

Sleeping NPCs killed next to their friends will no longer raise bounties

Small boat sails will remain intact after reaching level 90

Addressed an issue preventing players from meditating or summoning the Adrestia

Not under the boat, Machaon will be ferried to the underworld properly after players confirm his kill

Addressed an issue preventing players from confirming kill on the Swordfish & Brison

Addressed an issue causing the Phalanx Spear to deal less damage than stated on the weapon card

Addressed an issue preventing the Conquest battle heroes from spawning as expected

WORLD

Addressed an issue causing mercenaries to be seen in Modern Day

The Tomb of Agamemnon is now off limit for wolves in Modern Day

QUEST

Addressed an issue in The Favor that prevented players from completing the quest

Addressed an issue preventing players from interacting with the captain in “Test of Character”

Addressed an issue preventing players from fighting the immortals after dying

Addressed an issue in The Grand Minotour that prevented players from completing the quest

Addressed an issue in By The Fates where the handmaiden could be stuck in a follow objective

Addressed an issue in A God Among Men that prevented players from completing the quest

After interacting with the door during “Meet Myrrine���,” the cinematic will now trigger as intended

Players will now be able to complete the “Unlucky Bandits” on Hephaistos Islands

If left alive during A Fight With Talos, Talos will now remain armed

Addressed an issue causing the shark to spawn underground where the glittery pendant is placed in Safe Passage

In Stranger Tides, ambushing riders will enter combat and react to players as intended

Addressed an issue in Shark The Vagrant that prevented players from completing the quest

Addressed an issue preventing players from completing “Follow that Boat”

Addressed an issue causing NPCs to get stuck, preventing the completion of “The Taxman Cometh”

Addressed an issue preventing players from completing “Test of Faith.” Faith is now given to you, misthios!

Addressed an issue preventing players from completing “Let my Patients Go”

Addressed an issue during “Conquest” when trying to defeat Stentor, causing players to get stuck in battle

Addressed an issue causing Kleio’s quest to disappear

In A Venomous Encounter, the NPC will now be stationed at the checkpoint “Report to Metiochos”

Addressed an issue preventing players from completing “To Kill or Not to Kill”

Phidas’s mortality will no longer prevent players from completing “Escape from Athens”

Addressed an issue preventing players from completing Prince of Persia (The Blind King)

Brasidas has been ordered to leave the Leader House so players can complete We Will Rise

Bandits have found their ship, which was lost at sea, to join the fight during Mysterious Malady

Addressed an issue in The Handmaiden’s Story that prevented players from completing the quest

Addressed an issue in Perikles’s Symposium that prevented players from completing the quest

Addressed an issue preventing some players from starting “A God Among Men”

Addressed an issue with By The Fates where the quest reward wasn’t given to players

Diona will follow players in the “I, Diona” quest

Addressed an issue with regards to “The Conqueror” achievement that prevented some players from unlocking it

Addressed an issue causing Polyphemos to remain stationary after players are attacking during “To Be Nobody”

Addressed an issue causing Herodotos to go missing during Perikles’s Symposium

Addressed an issue preventing players from completing “Remnant of the Ancients”

Addressed an issue during Atlantis Destroyed causing Barnabas to die after the cutscene

Although Herodotos loves recording history, he’ll no longer follow players throughout Greece during “Family Values”

Addressed an issue preventing players from interacting with the captain in the “Evening the Odds” quest

After spending his living years working for the Order, Kleon has decided to relax on the beach in the Underworld, not ancient Greece

Rebalanced the bow drop rate vs other weapons

Addressed an issue during The Dunce Conundrum preventing players from obtaining Zeno’s Paradox

Phidias the one and only will be shown during Back to Atlantis

Addressed an issue preventing players from completing “Myths and Minotaurs”

Addressed an issue causing the Minotaur’s Labyrinth to be located underwater at times

ADRESTIA AND NAVAL

Addressed several issues with Athena on board the Adrestia

GRAPHICS, ANIMATIONS, AND AUDIO

Addressed various gear texture issues

Addressed various lighting issues

Addressed several weapon animation issues

Addressed some graphical issues that occurred in various regions

Addressed several character and NPC graphic issues

USER INTERFACE, MENU, AND SUBTITLES

Addressed various UI/HUD issues

Addressed a display issue that caused the “Close” prompt to display twice on in-game popup notifications

Steropes Bow and the Hero’s sword can now be used in the Visual customization menu

[PC] When Adaptive Quality is set to ON, Anti-Aliasing will be set to the appropriate value

Addressed various localization issues

Addressed an issue with the Ainigmata Ostraka “Ashes To Ashes” that didn’t mark it as complete in the inventory

Addressed an issue that caused the Mercenary Tier S4 to not work as intended

The Abraxas horse skin will be awarded to players reaching Tier 1 Mercenary rank, as intended

Addressed an issue where the wrong APs count would be displayed after a reset

[PC] Addressed an issue preventing players from comparing on the Mercenaries and Cultist tabs when using M&K

The “Rock and Roll” Ainigmata Ostraka will no longer roll away from your inventory

After fast travelling, the stealth icon cannot remain invisible to players

[PC] When using M&K, players can now walk on boats using the keyboard

[PC] Increased the space between selections in the Mercenaries tab when using M&K

[PC] Addressed an issue preventing players from reassigning key bindings when using M&K

[PC] Added a description for the “Aim Assist” tooltip when using M&K

[PC] Addressed an issue causing the UI to become unresponsive in borderless mode after minimizing the game with “Win+D”

[PC] Native resolution values will remain intact when players switch to window modes without applying any settings

PERKS, ENGRAVINGS, AND ABILITIES

Players will no longer be able to apply the Sphinx Mane set bonus to other set items

Addressed several issues with the Rage ability in combat

Addressed an issue that caused the Call to Arms ability to be locked after Level 81

Addressed an issue preventing players from using the NPC locking mechanic while Rage is enabled

STABILITY AND PERFORMANCE

Addressed an issue creating crashes on loading when storing the game in MS storage systems

Improved performance and stability on PS4

PHOTO MODE

[PC] Increased scrolling speed for filters in Photo Mode. They see me scrollin’

“Reset all settings” confirmation prompt will appear before implementation in Photo Mode

UBISOFT CLUB, ACHIEVEMENTS, AND TROPHIES

Corrected several player stats and leaderboards in the Ubisoft Club

Addressed several issues with Ubisoft Club challenges, stats, and leaderboards

When the conditions are met, players will now unlock the “Breaking the Limit” achievement

Addressed an issue that caused Daughters of Artemis kills not to count toward the legendary Marksman engraving objective, once you’re the leader of this faction

The bonus and engraved version of the Sphinx Mane will now be displayed in the menu

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey update 1.3.0 releases tomorrow, full patch release notes published first on https://touchgen.tumblr.com/

[jodounzebulon]

My Real Deer Story

By Jedi Foun Sive

----- Any and all names and locations have been changed or screened out. If you happen to know who I am please keep it to yourself. Thank you. -----

I had been riding a bicycle to and from work all year. An eight-mile round trip, opening the store around 4 A.M. five-six days a week. After a hot and humid summer, the ride had gotten to be a breeze even over all the hills. On Oct. 13th while leisurely riding along I made the four-mile ride to work in roughly 12 minutes, and thought to myself, “Oh damn, I wasn’t even trying, I could probably make that ride in 10 minutes!”, I then spent the rest of the day bragging about my time and how I was going to beat it! I had to stay late so I just rode home at my normal pace, 12 hours on my feet had left me exhausted. As I got to my home hill I hopped off my bike and walked it to the top sweating, and eager for a shower.  

2:45 AM Oct 14th, 2014

I go through my morning rituals but leave all the haste out of my actions. “If I can leave just a little late today that’s all the more motivation to make this ride in just ten minutes”, I tell myself as I futz around for a bit longer. Several minutes before I must leave, I grab my backpack, and march down stairs to get my bike from the garage. I remember I’d gotten in trouble several days before with my grandmother. She was worried because I’d ride through the early morning darkness without a light of any kind. It had never been anything I’d been worried about, but I bought a light for my bikes handle bars and I’d remembered to grab my blaze orange hunting beanie which also had a light. Affixing and turning them both on let me light up my drive way with its trees claustrophobically reaching from my left and the open yard to my right.  

Wheeling out onto the road, I steadied myself for a hard ride. I checked my watch, 3:48 A.M., it was time. I started powering downhill with all my might. It was exceptionally steep with a slight hump around the middle and over a quarter mile long. It ended with a sharp turn south at its base to get to my work. I could knock off a whole quarter mile easy by just pushing as hard as I could to get it out of the way. I could feel the wind stinging my eyes at the corners, and my legs pumping below me. I’m unsure of how fast I managed to go, but I am a pretty big guy, and I had been riding all year, whatever speed I was going it was too much for me to react more than a slight jerking of the handle bars to the left, as I reached the bottom of the hill and a Deer came careening into my right side.  

I remember quite vividly his head went under my leg and I was thrown leftwards, the bike ripped out of my hand as it traveled away from me. I wasn’t aware of my spinning, but my right hip hit the ground first dragging on the road. With the next roll my forehead slammed the asphalt and grew warm, I pulled my arms up defensively and with the next roll my major joints began taking the remaining hits and slowing me down. As I came to a stop I thought, “Are You F@#$!ng Kidding Me!”, then the pain washed over me. The lights on my bike and beanie had gone out. I lay in the dark swearing for several moments, screaming obscenities into the night, until I heard something breathing over my left shoulder. It was right there next to me. I’d seen the videos and pictures, I knew what kind of damage those hooves could do. I would be damned if I’d be on the ground when he got up!

I rolled onto my stomach, everything in me protesting any movement at all. Pushing myself to my feet I realized I couldn’t put any weight on my left leg. It didn’t matter, if he got up, I was going to be ready, I pulled out my pocket knife. My eyes still hadn’t adjusted to the darkness as I began backing away from the grey form on the road. I was lucky that morning, when the deer began making a sound I’d only heard when they had been hit by cars. Hearing that grotesque flopping and scraping sound of the deer struggling to get up for about a minute set my mind at ease and killed the flow of adrenaline pumping through me. The pain renewed as I placed my knife back in my pocket and realized I’m no longer wearing my backpack. Limping in the dark I managed to find it and retrieve my phone. I dial my then roommate.  

Ringing... answered.

<Me> Ted... (pained breathing)

<Ted> (barely audible mumble) What.

<Me> I need you to come and get me from the bottom... of the hill... (more pained breathing, and scrabbling sounds)

<Ted> Okay –Click-

-Several minutes later-

As I see the lights at the top of the hill pull out of our driveway, they flash down the hill and the deer began desperately dragging itself to the tree line, the truck approaches much too quickly down the hill and comes to a screeching halt as Ted swings open his door exclaiming, “What the hell was that!”. Seeing me awash in the headlights covered in road rash, blood, and dirt, disheveled and limping towards the truck with my back pack clutched in one hand my phone in the other. Ted steps to the edge of the road to get a better look at the deer now laying in the brush exhausted from trying to escape after our collision and now dragging itself into the woods about 15 feet. “Did you hit a deer?!?!”, he asks, I pull myself into the passenger seat of the truck as Ted spots my bike a ways down the road, he returns with it and places it into the bed of the truck. Hopping into the driver's seat he asks, “Do you need to go to the hospital?”, I replied with a shaky, “yeah”, and we made our way back up the hill to wake my sleeping niece since she couldn’t be left home alone. As we descend the hill on the way to the hospital Ted suggests I let my boss know I won't be coming in to work today.  

Ringing... answered.

<Boss> (barely audible mumble) hello

<Me> (pained breathing) Boss you have to open the store I got hit by a deer and I'm going to the hospital.

<Boss> (still not really understanding) You what? Ok, I’ll head in then.  

<Me> Thanks Boss. -Click  

Thankfully a new hospital had been built not too far from our home just a couple years earlier, and the ride was short, “Do you need any help in?” Ted asked. Feeling a little more in control of my faculties and able to grit my teeth to the pain I said, “Nah I got it, but we may want to call the wardens and check out that deer, it may have broken it’s neck.” I open the door and ease myself onto the sidewalk of the emergency entrance. After I close the door Ted drives away and I limp into the hospital where the woman behind the counter was seemingly unconcerned by my appearance and posture. Looking up from her reading material for a moment she pointed and said, “Take one of those and fill it out someone will be with you shortly”, she then returned to her magazine. Filling out the card I sat down and had a moment to come to grips with the situation. I began drilling myself for memory to be sure I hadn’t sustained a concussion in the fall.  

After several hours of doctors and nurses poking and prodding me and finding and treating the sore spots and road rash. I was sent into a room to get some images of my knee which was pained with each movement. While I was laying on the table, I found myself explaining my circumstances for the first time at length to someone that morning. He reacted differently, more human. He said, “So maybe not today or tomorrow, but give it about a week and this’ll be about the funniest story you’ve ever told!”, and right then I cracked up. I love a good joke and I take life's hits as they come, and I remembered the humor to be found in such a ludicrous situation. I found out not long after that Ted had called the wardens and they determined that the deer would not have survived due to its injuries. To save it a slow death by exposure he terminated it, and let Ted keep the animal. It was gutted and at the butchers by the time I made it home a couple hours later.  

I’ve told this story countless times since then. There is a little more I’m leaving out for another time. It has been added to my repertoire of stories I can tell of my life that no one else can say they have done, I became known as the Deer Slayer after that, and most hear the tale and think I’m full of it. I really couldn’t care less what they believe. I was there I felt the road, the pain. I was approached several days later by a neighbor on that road who had cleaned away my blood, so the kids wouldn’t get curious, or worse some coyotes or something coming to our neck of the woods sniffing for trouble. This is the story I chose to start this off. I hope to add more regularly, as I have lived an eventful 28 years. Given the nature of human memory I will never say that my recollections are 100% accurate, but I will try to recall them as accurately as I am able.  

May the Force Be with You.

[cscnextgen]

NEXTGEN 2017: FIRST MEETING

Monday, September 18th was the first meeting of our new group of NextGen members. Lots of new faces, a few returning faces, and plenty of excitement and anticipation in the air.

For this meeting, we had a few activities planned. First thing on the docket was “graffiti boards” (aka giant post-it notes) on which everyone wrote words or phrases that come to mind when they hear the words “classic,” “stage,” and “company.” (See what we did there?) After writing ideas down, we discussed what came up: for classic, thoughts of timelessness; classical music; tradition. For theater, a stage; live performance; the presence of an audience. For company, a group of people working towards a common goal; corporations; an ensemble.

We discussed the rebranding that CSC recently completed (new logo, new website, etc!), and how the staff learned through that process that the word “classic” sometimes brings negative ideas to mind: stale, boring, passé. Kate (Dorman, Director of Education at CSC) explained that CSC’s mission is to turn towards the future while remembering the past; to reimagine classic pieces of theater as they are relevant to us now. People who find the word “classic” unappealing may in fact enjoy our work - even if they think they will not! CSC aims to make work that resonates with a diverse range of individuals (not just the old school die hard Shakespeare fans).

She also talked a bit about the history of the theater, and how a “company” can refer to a core group of actors who act in all the plays put on by the theater. At one time CSC did function in such a fashion, though that is not the case now. And speaking of the stage... the theater used to be a carriage house. #funhistoryfacts

After the introduction to CSC as a company, it was time become more acquainted with each other, as a company of young aspiring theater professionals. For that purpose we had planned a TASK party. If you don’t know what that is, you can read more about it here: https://oliverherringtask.wordpress.com/make-your-own-task/

The basic gist is that everyone writes down tasks on slips of paper and places the tasks in the task bowl. Then everyone pulls out tasks and tries to complete them. Some tasks involved using craft supplies (“Give a birthday card to a friend”); others needed merely one’s own person and imagination (“Be an animal for 2 minutes”).

Though many of the tasks were solitary, a few brought the room together, such as forming a human chain and playing duck duck goose. Others produced some lovely artwork:

“Present someone with an award”

“Bake a cake”

Note the “apple” headband made of a clown nose: “Do your hair with food products”

After about a hundred tasks and perhaps even a few new friendships later, it was time to clean up.

We tidied, we took some group photos, and then it was time to bid farewell. Parting is such sweet sorrow! But fear not, for NextGen will convene again on Monday, October 2nd. There we will talk about the actor/musician model that John Doyle, Artistic Director, uses often and has employed in CSC’s production of As You Like It. Complete with guest speakers from the show! Stay tuned.

P.S. If you’re curious about the tasks completed in our first meeting, here is a full list for your reading pleasure:

Adopt a pet giraffe

Tell someone about your summer

Change your appearance significantly. Remain that way till the end of the party.

Give everyone in the room a high 5!

Lead the room in an exercise class for 30 seconds

Take off your shoes and pretending you’re skating

Call the first person of your contacts

Compliment someone!

Serve someone a gourmet meal

Make up a dance move (name it)

Have someone tell a minorly embarrassing story (that they are comfortable with, of course)

Win an olympic medal

Move about the space like a dog/cat/animal of your choice

Propose to Shakespeare

Pet a very large dog

Choreograph a dance

Try and do a split

Give someone a genuine compliment on their appearance or personality

Whisper grapes in a person’s ear in a British accent!

Try to sell someone your shoe

Start a conga line

Play hide and seek

Sing a Disney song REALLY LOUD

Play tag!

Pretend to be a zoo keeper

Make more tasks!!!

Yell out pineapples in the harshest (but loudest) whisper!

Do a yoga pose!

Tell a funny story about yourself

Create a nickname for yourself (and for CSC NG to call you)

Yell out your birthday at any random time

Bake a cake

Get two people to tell the stories behind their names

Be an animal for 2 minutes

Make jewelry

Do your hair with food products

Sing the first verse of the first song in your head.

Drive an ice cream truck

Give a birthday card to a friend

Give someone a token of your affection

Turn off your phone from now on to tomorrow

Tight rope walk

Square dance

Perform this scene: “1: Hello! 2: Hello.1: Goodbye? 2: Goodbye….”

Teach someone a new song

Make up a poem about frogs

Go bowling

Make something out of yarn

Trade shoes with someone

Draw yourself

Dance like no one is watching

Make a new handshake with three people in the room

Do a split

Direct an orchestra

Write/perform a poem dedicated to someone in the room

Lead the whole group in a cheer

Get lost + ask someone to help you

Ask someone what their favorite holiday + food is

Join the circus

Get three people to recreate a famous scene from a famous movie

Sell someone something they don’t need

Count to 500 by 5s

Learn everyone’s name

Make a human chain

Make everyone play duck duck goose

Make a puppet

Recite a line of Shakespeare for the whole room to hear

Make up a riddle

Turn someone into a mermaid

Braid a guy’s hair

Become a bird

Recite the alphabet backwards

Finger knit something

Walk like a zombie for 10 minutes

Play night at the museum

Teach a bad lesson

Cross your eyes + squeal like a pig

Draw your spirit animal

Build a house

Make a human spiderweb

Say Sally sold sea shells at the sea shore 3x fast

Choreograph a group dance with at least three other people

Play hot potato

Find your light

Present someone with an award

Do 100 jumping jacks then make someone else do it too

Play football w/ 5 people

Solve this: There are 2 floors. On the first floor are 3 switches. On the second 3 lights. You can only go upstairs twice. The switches do correspond with a light. How do you find out which light goes to which switch?

Braid someone’s hair

Choreograph a music video

Take a group selfie

Impersonate cookie monster

Wear a helmet (make one first)