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bluephoenixdruidicprincess · 5 years ago

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My 2019 Blog Review

Today's the last day of 2019, so I thought it would be fun to dig through my archive and reflect on my blog activity over the past year. I am doing this on my phone but once I have access to a computer again, I'll put this all under a cut. I just can't do it on my phone.

Jan 2019

- Tumblr's background color changed and apparently I'm the only one who liked the change.

- Kingdom Hearts 3 release -- of course, this was a huge thing in my blog at the time. Afterall, I'd only been waiting 15 years for this game. And while I definitely had problems with the game, it also had some very memorable moments that I loved...like Sora punching Davey Jones (I never ever want to forget that moment).

- I began my adventure of learning Japanese. I'm doing pretty good so far.

- The Mummy (Brendon Fraser) appreciation. Occamshipper apparently doesn't like these movies but I love them. I met some great people because I told occamshipper that whereas they didn't like The Mummy Returns, it is in fact one of my favorite all time movies.

- Lots of rambling about my love for Lucy Heartfilia and the Nalu ship from Fairy Tail.

Feb 2019

- BoA Appreciation. I love K-Pop and BoA is one of my all time favs.

- The Vic Micnogna scandal. Honestly, I don't really care about what's going on with the trial, what bothers me is the stain that was left on Funimation because of it. The voice actors really alienated the fanbase in this scandal and I didn't like that.

- Power Rangers appreciation. I love Power Rangers and unironically, too. My favorite power ranger is Adam from Mighty Morphin.

- Within Temptation's new Resist Album dropped and I loved it. I love these epic stories they tell with their albums and the vibes they give.

- I watched the Mythica franchise and my appreciation affair for Zombie Girl began.

- Ronon/Keller appreciation. I loved this pairing so much and I'm super sad the show never did more with them.

- Legacies Reviews. Apparently people find me funny? I have a sense of humor that people enjoy?

Mar 2019

- Emily Bett Rickards revealed she would not be on Arrow for its final season. I was really depressed a out that and I got a lot of hate from comic book fans for daring to say that I like the character of Felicity Smoak.

- Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles appreciation. One of my favorite anime/manga of all time.

- I was a victim of credit card fraud because of Creation Entertainment and then they tried to deny they were at fault despite hundreds of their customers reporting credit card fraud all at the same time. They eventually retracted their statement but because of this, I will probably never go to a Creation convention again. They're way overpriced and I certainly will not entrust my important info to them again.

Apr 2019

- Shadowhunters final season started airing and they went from irritating to just plain boring. Seriously, the season's biggest crime isn't how misogynist and racist it was, it was that it was completely nonsensical and boring for me.

- The release of Taylor Swift's and Brendon Urie's collab of ME! and I seem to be the only one that seems to legitimately love that song (even the "spelling is fun" part, RIP you beautiful lyric, alas, you were too good and pure to last in this hateful unfunny world of judgemental culture).

- The X Family appreciation. This is one of my favorite Taiwanese dramas and definitely my favorite series in the KO franchise.

- I broke up with the main SPN meta community (otherwise known as the Positive Police). We just didn't see eye-to-eye. I didn't appreciate them lording over the fandom telling people what they should and should not ship, telling people what they should and should not like...and they didn't appreciate me saying so. Lots of blocking went on and I'm still eternally sorry for the people that got blocked by these big fish because they simply liked my posts.

May 2019

- Game of Thrones crappy ending. What is there to really say about it? It was terrible and misogynist AF.

- Ezra appreciation from the Natural Oneders TFS at the Table D&D campaign. Ezra Lockwood was my favorite character and I'm not okay with how he was written out of the campaign.

- I was quite angry about Dean destroying Chuck's guitar like Dean was a 5-year-old child angry that he didn't get his way (seriously, Dean needs to be sent to time-out).

Jun 2019

- Quicksilver and Dadneto meta commentary from FOX 's X-Men franchise. So much lost potential there, unfortunately (thanks, Dark Phoenix).

- Orca appreciation. They're beautiful, majestic creatures and I love them, they might be my spirit animal.

- Someone unfollowed me because I wasn't giving enough attention to real-world problems. Essentially, I wasn't woke enough I guess. But I'm sorry, if I want to feel all righteous and justicey, I'll watch the news. Social justice and politics are not primary focuses of this blog.

- Godzilla King of Monsters was fantastic.

- Chuck TV Series appreciation. I love this show and I miss it dearly.

Jul 2019

- Veronica Mars Season 4 discourse. Essentially I hate what happened to Logan and what it means for Veronica's character moving forward.

- Played Love Island The Game and had way more fun than I probably rightfully should've had.

Aug 2019

- Re-watched Sailor Moon and then watched Sailor Moon Crystal. Both shows are so much fun. Plus, I love Sailor Jupiter. I love Jupiter's personality and her power aesthetic is badass to match her personality.

- Taylor Swift's Lover album dropped. I might be in the minority but it actually ranks pretty low on my list of Taylor Swift albums.

- Skillet's Victorious album dropped a d ot was a huge disappointment for me.

- I found watermelon to be my new favorite post-workout snack.

Sep 2019

- I watched The Untamed and I absolutely adore this show. I started watching more chinese dramas because of this show. And whereas I haven't found something I enjoyed quite as much from the chinese drama list, I've still greatly enjoyed a lit of the shows...but they still have nothing on The Untamed. The Untamed is just so good.

- Lover Fest was announced. And it was real shady the dealings that were going on with this. It actually kind of made me wary of actually wanting to see Taylor live.

Oct 2019

- I began the Korean drama, Extra-Ordinary You. I haven't finished it yet, but I plan to. I wanted to wait until the entire series was done airing. It does really interesting things with tropes and I greatly enjoy this show and can't wait to to return to it.

- Sherlolly appreciation. Rediscovered my love for the Sherlock/Molly ship from Sherlock.

-Leverage appreciation. Absolutely fantastic show. Highly recommend it.

Nov 2019

-Psych tv series appreciation. Another one of my favorite shows of all time.

- I wrote a Dean Winchester endgame meta. It was fun.

Dec 2019

- Kamen Rider Den-O appreciation. My favorite from the Kamen Rider franchise. I've been re-watching it and it's so much fun. Sato Takeru is amazing in it and the fact that this one of his first acting jobs and he's able to pull off doing so many different characters is seriously amazing.

- SPN finally brought us an angel/vessel dynamic in the form of Adam and Michael and it was amazing.

- The Jumanji re-make appreciation. I love it and The Next Level is just as good as its predecessor and I'm anxiously awaiting the next film in the franchise.

- My thoughts on why I'm single. Mainly because I'm lazy and I just don't feel like doing through all of the work involved in dating.

There you have it. That's 2019 for me. It had its ups and its downs but blog wise, I think I had a pretty good year.

#2019 review

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patriotsnet · 3 years ago

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What Are The Republicans Afraid Of

New Post has been published on https://www.patriotsnet.com/what-are-the-republicans-afraid-of/

What Are The Republicans Afraid Of

What Are Republicans So Afraid Of

Elizabeth Warren: ‘Republicans are AFRAID of voters!

Instead of conspiracy-mongering about an election they did well in, they could try to win real majorities.

By Jamelle Bouie

Opinion Columnist

There was a time, in recent memory, when the Republican Party both believed it could win a national majority and actively worked to build one.

Take the last Republican president before Donald Trump, George W. Bush. His chief political adviser, Karl Rove, envisioned a durable Republican majority, if not a permanent one. And Bush would try to make this a reality.

To appeal to moderate suburban voters, Bush would make education a priority and promise a compassionate conservatism. To strengthen the partys hold on white evangelicals, Bush emphasized his Christianity and worked to polarize the country over abortion, same-sex marriage and other questions of sexual ethics and morality. Bush courted Black and Hispanic voters with the promise of homeownership and signed a giveaway to seniors in the form of the Medicare prescription drug benefit. He also made it a point to have a diverse cabinet, elevating figures like Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice and Alberto Gonzales.

Whether shrewd or misguided, cynical or sincere or outright cruel and divisive these gambits were each part of an effort to expand the Republican coalition as far as it could go without abandoning Reaganite conservatism itself. It was the work of a self-assured political movement, confident that it could secure a position as the nations de facto governing party.

‘nobody Is Afraid Of Their Grandfather’

Many Republicans expect Americans will become dissatisfied with record levels of government spending and debt, an increasingly crowded U.S.-Mexican border;and new rules and regulations promulgated by the Democratic Congress and the Biden administration.

Pledging to work with the Biden administration on an infrastructure bill, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he is “hopeful” that “we may be able to do some things on a bipartisan basis; but they got off to a pretty hard left-wing start.”

“We don’t intend to participate in turning America into a left-wing,;kind of Bernie Sanders vision of what this country ought to be like,” McConnell told Fox News after the meeting between Biden and congressional leaders.

Fiscally conservative groups are stepping up campaigns against Biden and his spending proposals.

The organization Americans For Prosperity is preparing ads for competitive House districts in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona and Georgia. Biden wrested those states from Trump in the 2020 election, providing him his margin of victory in the Electoral College.

Some Republican criticism plays off Biden’s age and his occasionally mangled syntax, but that strategy has met limited success. Some of the attacks mirror the ones Trump made in 2020 against “Sleepy Joe.”

“Trump never found a salient way to brand Biden, and Republicans continue to struggle after the election,” Republican strategist Alex Conant said.

Opinion: What Are Georgia Republicans Afraid Of

It wasnt so long ago that disenfranchised Blacks and activist Whites were beaten and killed for attempting to secure the right to vote.

Among the better-known victims were civil rights workers James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner, three young men who were abducted, shot at close range and buried in an earthen Mississippi dam on June 21, 1964. Part of the Freedom Summer, the three had hoped to register Black voters and educate them so they could pass the literacy tests required to vote.

When their bodies were discovered nearly two months later, one of the dead men had red clay in his lungs and clenched in his fist, indicating he was probably still alive when buried. The perpetrators included members of the local Ku Klux Klan and the Neshoba County Sheriffs Office.

This incident was but one of many leading up to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, but is illustrative of how bloody and hard-won the right to vote was. Weve come a long way, as they say, but some people are still determined to make voting more, not less, difficult. Georgias recent 98-page voting reform legislation, signed into law on March 25 by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, is a case in point. These red-clay legislators dont require a literacy test, but theyve created a host of new regulations that potentially make voting more difficult for minorities.

Also Check: How Many States Are Controlled By Republicans

Opinion: What Are Republicans Afraid Of

Its almost funny, in a twisted sort of way. Election after election, Republicans have based their core political appeal on fear.

And yet as dual gun massacres this weekend starkly illustrate they refuse to offer solutions to any of the mortal threats Americans actually face.

President Trumps closing message;in the midterms was Be afraid, be very afraid; he and his co-partisans have lately doubled down on it for 2020. Of course, the perils that Republicans promise to rescue us from are often fictional, or of their own making.

We must fear the coming scourge of socialism . Trump likewise stokes public anxiety;over;a Market Crash the likes of which has not been seen before if anyone but me takes over in 2020 .

;Trump and allies urge us to cower in trepidation from helpless parents and children seeking asylum, a threat so grave they needed to be separated from one another and caged. We must also fear the supposed Muslim and Latino hordes, who threaten to;wipe out;Anglo-European culture and displace white babies with their own.

These are hardly the only foreigners who should inspire existential dread, according to right-wing fever dreams. Rogue nations should, too, thus justifying enormous increases in our defense budget. Of course, all the nukes and jets in the world wont protect us from the assault our enemies abroad are currently waging against us, and that Republicans;resist;confronting: the one on our electoral system.;;

Senate Republicans Use Filibuster To Kill Jan 6 Commission

Only six Republicans joined Democrats in a procedural vote.

Senate Republicans block Capitol riots commission

In a remarkable political moment, Republicans on Friday blocked the Senate from moving forward on a bill that would establish a bipartisan, independent commission to investigate the Jan. 6 assault by Trump supporters on the U.S. Capitol.

Six Republicans joined Democrats in the 54-35 vote, but that fell six votes short of the 60 needed to start debate on establishing a commission — which then, normally, would require only a simple majority to pass in a final vote.

“Out of fear or fealty to Donald Trump, the Republican minority just prevented the American people from getting the full truth about January 6,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said right after the vote.

“Senate Republicans chose to defend the ‘big lie’ because they believe anything that might upset Donald Trump could hurt them politically,” he said.

The Senate leader reminded GOP senators they “all lived the horrors of January 6.”

“I was no further than 30 feet from those white supremacist hooligans. Do my Republican colleagues remember that day?

“Do my Republican colleagues remember the savage mob calling for the execution of Mike Pence — the makeshift gallows outside the Capitol? Men with bulletproof vests and zip ties, breaking into the Senate gallery and rifling through your desks. Police officers crushed between doorways?” he said.

“Not so today,” he concluded.

No Republican spoke.

Also Check: Who Controls The Senate Republicans Or Democrats

Gop Lets Trump Fight Election For Weeks Despite Bidens Win

WASHINGTON Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday theres no reason for alarm as President Donald Trump, backed by Republicans in Congress, mounts unfounded legal challenges to President-elect Joe Bidens election victory a process that could now push into December.

Republicans on Capitol Hill signaled they are willing to let Trump spin out his election lawsuits and unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud for the next several weeks, until the states certify the elections by early December and the Electoral College meets Dec. 14.

McConnells comments show how hard Republicans are trying to portray Trumps refusal to accept the election results as an ordinary part of the process, even as its nothing short of extraordinary. There is no widespread evidence of election fraud; state officials say the elections ran smoothly. The delay has the potential to upend civic norms, impede Bidens transition to the White House and sow doubt in the nations civic and election systems.

Trump remained out of sight at the White House, tweeting his views, but the social media company Twitter swiftly flagged the presidents tweets that he actually won the election as disputed.

Its not unusual, should not be alarming, McConnell told reporters on Capitol Hill. At some point here well find out, finally, who was certified in each of these states, and the Electoral College will determine the winner. … No reason for alarm.

What Do Republicans Fear

What do Republicans fear?

Muslims? Political correctness? Taxes slightly higher than zero?

Having to adapt and compete with everyone, not a select few? Fully funded and functional public goods? Obamaphones?

Hearing strange languages? Waiting a little longer at the all-you-can-eat buffet line? Not being able to hunt deer with a rocket launcher?

Equality? Opportunity? Their own aging genitalia? Falafel?

Or maybe they fear for their wallets. Fair enough. I worry about my economic future, too. But, you know what? Economics is a policy question. Economics is not a science. If it were, we’d be doing the optimal thing all the time.

You know what is a science? Medicine. Reproductive health. Environmental studies. Geology. Biology. Meteorology. Science is a frikkin’ science! Believe me!

I think they’re scared of losing a dream of what they could have been. They’re nostalgic for a past that never existed. Norman Rockwell–painter of Great America–was married three times and one of his wives tried to burn his house down with him inside. There was never a perfect world.

“Make America Great Again”? America’s been great forever, but that doesn’t mean it’s been great for everyone.

I would love to be proven wrong. I mock, but I’m eager to learn, because right now, it makes no sense:

Republicans seem to fear being slightly uncomfortable. The rest of us fear being slightly dead.

I’m afraid of nuclear war and having to learn Russian or Mandarin.

Hooray.

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Primary Election Snafus Show Challenges For November Vote

Republicans’ and Democrats’ vastly different starting points help explain why the politics over voting and elections have been and likely will remain so fraught, through and beyond Election Day this year.

Sometimes it seems as if the politicians involved barely live in the same country. It has become common for one side to discount the legitimacy of a victory by the other.

And the coronavirus pandemic, which has scrambled nearly everything about life in the United States, makes understanding it all even more complicated. Here’s what you need to know to decode this year’s voting controversies.

The Rosetta stone

The key that unlocks so much of the partisan debate about voting is one word: turnout.

An old truism holds that, all other things held equal, a smaller pool of voters tends to be better for Republicans and the larger the pool gets, the better for Democrats.

This isn’t mathematically ironclad, as politicians learn and relearn regularly. But this assumption is the foundation upon which much else is built.

The Goal Is To Undermine Confidence In Elections

Why Are Republicans Still So Afraid Of Trump? | The 11th Hour | MSNBC

Underscoring the point, Rep. Jim Banks , the chair of the Republican Study Committee, made an extraordinarily disingenuous appearance on Fox News Sunday. Banks had endorsed the Texas lawsuit, which would have invalidated millions of votes in four states based on fictions, and voted to overturn President Bidens electors in Congress.

Pressed by Foxs Chris Wallace to admit Biden won fair and square, Banks kinda sorta acknowledged it, but immediately pivoted to claiming those actions were entirely justified, by insisting that his serious concerns about the election were still valid.

This is not the act of a coward who fears Trump, and would vouch for the integrity of the election if only he could do so without consequences.

Rather, it is the act of someone who is fully devoted to the project of continuing to undermine confidence in our elections going forward.

This is for purely instrumental purposes. Republicans are employing their own invented doubts about 2020 to justify intensified voter suppression everywhere. Banks neatly crystallized the point on Fox, saying those doubts required more voting restrictions after reinforcing them himself.

Indeed, with all this, Republicans may be in the process of creating a kind of permanent justification for maximal efforts to invalidate future election outcomes by whatever means are within reach.

Tags

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No More Distractions Maybe Maybe Not

Republicans said they were distracted in making the case against Biden by a lack of cohesion, including internal disagreements over what to do about Trump.

Some blamed Cheney, the now-former House Republican Conference chair who argued that the party should move past Trump and stop echoing his lies that the 2020 election was stolen from him. She said those claims triggered the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, an incident Democrats would surely use against Republicans when elections roll around.

House Republicans voted Wednesday to demote Cheney from her role as third-ranking Republican. She responded that the GOP would struggle against Biden and his agenda if it continues to embrace Trump and his conspiracy theories.

“To be as effective as we can be to fight against those things, our party has to be based on truth,” Cheney told NBC News.

House Republican Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., who supported demoting Cheney, said voters are disenchanted with Biden and the Democrats. Scalise told Fox News he sees “a lot of really serious concern about the direction that the socialist Democrats are taking us,” and “Biden has embraced that far-left Bernie Sanders;agenda.”

“People don’t want this to become a socialist nation, yet you see how far theyre moving,” Scalise said.

“It’s always difficult to generate a unifying message when you’re the party out of power,”; GOP pollster Whit Ayres said.

New Poll: Americans Overwhelmingly Support Voting By Mail Amid Pandemic

Traditionally, Republicans have tended to support higher barriers to voting and often focus on voter identification and security to protect against fraud. All the same, about half of GOP voters back expanding vote by mail in light of the pandemic.

Democrats tend to support lowering barriers and focus on making access for voters easier, with a view to encouraging engagement. They support expanding votes via mail too.

The next fight, in many cases, is about who and how many get what access via mail.

All this also creates a dynamic in which many political practitioners can’t envision a neutral compromise, because no matter what philosophy a state adopts, it’s perceived as zero-sum.

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Blinken Cracks Up At Hearing Over Gop Senator’s Conspiracy Theory

Days after a bipartisan agreement was reached in the House to form a commission to examine the roots and events of the January 6 riot at the US Capitol, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy announced Tuesday that he opposes the bill.

) McCarthy doesn’t want to testify under oath about his phone conversation with former President Donald Trump on January 6“What I talked to President Trump about, I was the first person to contact him when the riots was going on. He didn’t see it. What he ended the call was saying — telling me, he’ll put something out to make sure to stop this. And that’s what he did, he put a video out later.” 2) McCarthy wants to be speaker badly.

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your-dietician · 3 years ago

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Purgatory is a very real thing

New Post has been published on https://tattlepress.com/ncaa-football/purgatory-is-a-very-real-thing/

Purgatory is a very real thing

The days mostly looked the same for Jordan Anthony during the fall of 2020. He’d start around 6 a.m. at a Harris Teeter in Olney, Md., where he worked as a home shopper. He’d race around the store, fill customers’ online orders and bring their groceries to the parking lot for pickup. He’d work until 2 p.m., speed to the gym for an afternoon workout and then went to Dick’s Sporting Goods, where he’d stay until close.

Not too long ago, Anthony played linebacker and graduated from Michigan. He was an elite recruit – he ranked as the No. 106 overall player in the 247Sports Composite – and could’ve played college football anywhere he wanted.

He entered the transfer portal in December of 2019 expecting to have the same sort of options. His Michigan career had not gone the way he wanted but Anthony figured his recruiting pedigree would help him find home quickly as a graduate transfer with two remaining years of eligibility.

Yet after months of contacting coaches non-stop and waiting for any situation to manifest that’d allow him to continue playing FBS football, Anthony needed to start making money. That’s when fears of forced retirement manifested.

“I was definitely scared thinking about, you know, my time may be up,” Anthony told 247Sports.

Anthony said this in mid-June, a few weeks after he publicly announced his commitment to Troy. The former No. 106 overall player in the 2017 class, per the 247Sports Composite, Anthony waited 19 months in transfer portal purgatory before he found a home ahead of the 2021 season.

There’s an argument that he’s one of the lucky ones.

With the expectation the NCAA would pass a one-time transfer exception that would allow players to play immediately at their destination of choice, the 2020-21 cycle has seen a record number of transfers enter the portal. The debut portal cycle saw 1,720 players enter, per a source with direct knowledge of the portal. That number retracted to 1,695 in 2019-20. But for this offseason, that number has ballooned to 2,510 with more than one month remaining before the transfer portal annually resets August 1.

These mass exoduses across campuses nationwide – an average of 19.3 players have entered the portal per FBS team, including walk-ons – has led some coaches to sound the alarm bell. Nebraska head coach Scott Frost recently sparked controversy with his comments on the subject.

“There’s no question it’s going to be risky to put your name in the portal,” Frost said at a fan event.

The numbers support that suggestion. Using 247Sports’ internal portal database, 247Sports examined data from the 2019-20 portal cycle to gain a sense of where scholarship Power Five and FBS players (those who were announced as part of their team’s annual recruiting classes) land once they enter.

Of the 480 Power Five scholarship players 247Sports studied from the 2019-20 cycle, only 26.5% of them stayed as a scholarship player on a P-5 roster. Another 26.3% signed with a G-5 program. Overall, 47.2% of P-5 scholarship athletes went to the FCS, junior college ranks or did not find a landing spot. Among the 826 FBS scholarship players 247Sports examined, only 37.8% stayed on the FBS level.

“It’s a tough situation and kind of a tough taste of reality,” USC Director of Player Personnel Spencer Harris told 247Sports. “It’s just a changing world and gives these players a good sense of where they’re at.

“They need to make sure they have all their information before entering the portal.”

***

Anthony remembers feeling hopeful when entered the transfer portal on Dec. 4, 2019.

He redshirted as a true freshman and played in 16 games over the next two campaigns, combining for 15 tackles and a QB hurry between the 2018-19 seasons. Anthony never did feel comfortable playing at 245 pounds, the weight Michigan asked him to when manning their middle linebacker position.

So once Anthony entered the portal, he spent the next six months reshaping his body. By June, Anthony weighed 228 pounds and felt ready for a comeback at a Power Five program. That was the goal. He also figured many of the programs that recruited him in high school would come flocking back.

“Going in I had the idea this was going to be easy,” Anthony said.

Three years is a lifetime in coaching, however. Many of Anthony’s high school recruiters had retired or moved to other jobs. Combine those changes with Anthony’s relative lack of tape – he took 131 snaps in his Michigan career – and Anthony often got passed up for more proven options.

Things started slowly in the portal for Anthony but picked up once bowl games and the Early Signing Period ended. LSU, Louisville, Illinois and many G-5 programs reached out and stayed in steady contact. Often, Anthony thought an offer was just on the cusp. He remembers thinking LSU was close until he saw the Tigers go with Jabril Cox from North Dakota State. Yet no offers ever came.

Often, contact with schools would cease without warning after one or two seemingly positive messages. Anthony remembers getting Twitter DMs like, ‘Hey would you be interested in playing in the SEC?’ Anthony would respond right away but never hear from them again.

“I was like, ‘Did I say something wrong?’” Anthony said.

He reshaped his body and felt ready to play by the beginning of the summer. But as COVID-19 raged across the country, Anthony did not yet have a home.

This led to a Michigan graduate and former elite recruit sitting out the 2020 season and working a pair of part-time jobs; a football lifer not yet ready to move on from football but also without any better short-term options.

“It was just tough for me mentally,” Anthony said. “That’s the reason I kind of just had to sit out. Not because I didn’t want to (play), but I didn’t have anywhere to go.”

Anthony worked and worked out waiting for another chance. Once set on landing in the Power Five, Anthony opened up his mind to playing on the G-5 level. This time, in Year 2 of his portal existence, Anthony spent most of his time reaching out to schools. He’d follow coaches on Twitter. He’d DM and text a school’s Director of Player Personnel. Sometimes, he reached out to players in an effort to get his name out there. He tried that at Cal to no avail. Once, Tennessee’s fans started a mini-Twitter campaign to get his name on the radar with Vols coaches. Dozens of Tennessee fans followed Anthony hoping the linebacker-needy Vols would reach out. They never did.

There were hopeful moments followed by disappointment. Texas was in some contact with Anthony but took two other inside linebackers (Ben Davis, Devin Richardson) instead. Anthony reached out to Liberty, a school that was really interested in him during the 2020 offseason, asking if the school thought he’d still be a fit. The Flames did and Anthony was ready to commit. But Liberty decided to use the scholarship elsewhere.

Finally, Troy’s linebacker coach Andrew Warwick reached out. The contact stuck this time.

Anthony went from talking with Warwick to communicating with most of the staff. He took a FaceTime tour of the campus with Warwick as the guide. It didn’t take long for Anthony to decide to commit.

After 18 months it didn’t matter if it was Power Five or not. He had a chance.

“I’m so excited,” Anthony said. “Every day when I was at work that was all I was thinking about. I just need somebody to take a chance on me because I’m willing to prove how bad I want this.”

***

Anthony suggests there are two different types of players who enter the transfer portal: Those with proven production and everyone else. Those in the first category will find a landing spot without much issue. Those in the latter – no matter their recruiting pedigree – are much more dependent on their previous relationships and teams taking a risk.

Kater Johnson, a four-star signee with TCU in the 2019 class, entered the portal after just one year in Fort Worth. He had a similar experience to Anthony before ultimately signing with Butler Community College.

“It’s humbling,” Johnson told 247Sports last year. “You realize within a few months, a year later, the whole process restarts. Once your class is through – I don’t want to say they don’t care about you – but it’s a business.”

With only 37.6% of FBS scholarship players staying on the FBS level, it’s clear most players fit into that limited category. Not that every player wants to continue playing FBS football. Some transfers happily drop down to a lower classification so they can play. There’s no justification in criticizing any player who wants to keep playing. If Jake Bentley wants to go for Year 6 at South Alabama – awesome.

Yet in a college football world where so much focus is placed upon FBS players and recruits are so hyped coming out of high school, those who enter the portal often do so with a lack of information.

“When college football players are debating whether or not to enter the draft or not, they get a grade,” Harris said. “They have some information on where they might land in the NFL Draft and then they can decide whether they go back to school or enter the draft.

“There’s really not that information available to college football players (entering the portal).”

Contact with players is illegal before they’re officially listed in the transfer portal, so it’s up to players to self-evaluate their careers and opportunities before deciding to enter. These self-evaluation situations will only arise more often in the future.

With more players occupying college football than ever thanks to super seniors and a looming scholarship crunch on the horizon, the perils of the transfer portal seem unlikely to change moving forward.

Already on campus at Troy and prepping for the 2021 season, Anthony remains hopeful about the transfer portal following his year-and-a-half journey from Michigan to Troy.

“There were a lot of times I started losing faith and thought I might not ever play again,” Anthony said. “But I’m telling you, what’s meant for you is meant for you.”

Others like Frost, who saw more than a dozen of his scholarship players enter the portal this offseason, are far less buoyant when discussing the revolving door that is often the portal.

“Every kid who leaves any program thinks they’re going straight to Nebraska or Alabama,” Frost said. “And the reality is most of them aren’t. We’ve had some leave that have wound up in places like that. But I guess the right way to say it is Nebraska is a way better place for them, and they end up, in my opinion, in lesser places. But every kid thinks they’re going to get the same interest or more than they got coming out of high school, and it just isn’t true.”

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nothingman · 4 years ago

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Voters wait in a long line on the first day of in-person early voting for the Georgia Senate runoff election in Atlanta on Dec. 14, 2020.

Photo: Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times via Getty Imag

“We just celebrated Bloody Sunday, and we’re fighting the same battles,” said Helen Butler, executive director of the Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda, likening the legislative changes advancing through the Georgia General Assembly to civil rights-era trickery.

Georgia’s Republicans lost a game of inches in the elections in November and January. Rather than admit to themselves that they were outworked, Republican legislators have instead decided to play with the rules.

Some of the changes are profound. Some seem perfectly petty.

The bill that passed the Georgia Senate on Monday night, SB 241, criminalizes “ballot harvesting” activities like helping people fill out absentee ballot applications. It also requires an applicant to either upload a picture of a photo ID or submit photocopies of an ID. In combination, the two rules create impossible conditions for some voters, Butler said.

“How is a blind person going to upload that form into an email process and send it in?” she asked. “People don’t have copiers in rural Georgia. They don’t always have internet access. They don’t always have email or fax.”

Absentee ballot boxes are apparently too convenient when placed outside, so now they must be indoors and only available during business hours. No more private buses would be able to take early voters to the polls.

Other changes seem simply absurd. Consider the criminalization of line warming, the practice of offering food or drink to people standing in line to vote. It seems something awfully minor. But combine it with substantial reductions to early voting and absentee ballots and the inability for local elections boards to expand polling locations, and suddenly you have long, thirsty lines.

Melody Bray, co-founder of the Georgia 55 Project, saw lines around the block for early voting in the primaries last year. She and some friends eventually banded together to organize relief for line-stranded voters. They partnered with local restaurants like Atlanta’s beloved Dancing Goats Coffee Bar chain, using funds from their partners to pay for the coffee rather than ask for freebies while companies are laying people off. It was grassroots civic participation. If the Senate bill is passed by Georgia’s House and signed into law, it will be illegal.

“Amongst ourselves, we have disparate political views,” she said. “It was hard to be nonpartisan, actually. But we all love Atlanta. … I think that losers can be very bitter about losing, and winners can be very bitter about winning. It would be very hard with data to show that line warming somehow affected Republicans getting voted into office.”

“I think it’s cruel. There’s no purpose other than trying to suppress the vote.”

And yet in elections decided by half a percent, all it takes to win is for one in 200 people — the right people, of course — to choose comfort over democracy.

“This is un-Christian. It’s inhumane,” Butler said. “I think it’s cruel. There’s no purpose other than trying to suppress the vote. They’re hoping that people will get out of line and not vote. People see the viciousness of this.”

Vicious, perhaps, because many Republicans believe this is the last stand. Democrats have spent years fighting to expand voter turnout, and that’s been a major contributor to Georgia tipping blue. The midterms have been cast as an existential contest for control of the state between the probable Democratic nominee for governor, Stacey Abrams, and the survivor of a brutal Republican primary to come between Gov. Brian Kemp and whoever becomes former President Donald Trump’s anointed champion. This week, ousted Sen. Kelly Loeffler launched Greater Georgia, the Republican answer to voter turnout.

“We are at war, fighting to protect our democracy from domestic enemies at this moment,” Abrams told Anderson Cooper, invoking the threat of the January 6 Capitol attack. “Those domestic enemies should be renounced.”

I see no real rationale for the changes aside from protecting statewide officials from defeat by a Democrat. So there’s no virtual fig leaf covering legislators’ immodesty.

“Because of the posture and the timing of this legislation, everyone agrees that no one has seen anything like this,” said Pichaya Poy Winichakul, voting rights staff attorney at the Southern Poverty Law Center. “What we do know is that they’re making it very difficult to track this legislation. Every operative iteration of this bill has never been made available to the public in time for a hearing and public testimony on that bill. It’s been difficult for us as voting rights activists to track this bill and exponentially more difficult to track for voters.”

SB 241 passed the Senate 29-20 on a party-line vote. It needed 29 to pass; leadership decided to protect the seven most vulnerable seats from having to cast a vote. Now the Senate bill is going to the House, which already passed its own bill implementing voting restrictions a week ago, and then will land on the governor’s desk to be signed into law.

Today, virtually every eligible adult in Georgia is a registered voter, in part because registration is automatic when acquiring state-issued ID. SB 241 would end automatic voter registration.

Even before the pandemic, more than half of voters cast votes early, either in person or with an absentee ballot. In November, about 80 percent of voters cast early votes. But the Senate bill would restrict absentee ballots to people 65 or older or to those who have a physical disability or can show that they’re out of town.

Consider that about 73 percent of Georgians over 65 are white, compared to 54 percent of residents overall. Older white voters traditionally break for Republicans 3 to 1 in Georgia.

Under the Senate bill, Georgia’s secretary of state would cede much of the office’s authority to a state board. It would administer a hotline for anonymous complaints about voter fraud, which it would be obligated to investigate. The secretary would also be unable to enter into a consent decree with the federal government without approval from both chambers of the General Assembly. The sheer cynicism of it: The law essentially predicts that a Democrat will win the seat and prevents that Democrat from cooperating with a Democratic president as long as a gerrymandered state Senate can hold power.

“Souls to the polls” events for Sunday early voting were initially to be eliminated entirely. After an outcry and national attention, the authors amended the bill, allowing that counties can pick one Sunday for early voting. The bill passed the House along party lines last week and will be taken up by the Senate.

The American Civil Liberties Union testified that the proposed laws probably violate both the Constitution and the Voting Rights Act. That may be beside the point: It will cost progressives time and money to fight in court. Even if and when organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center prevail in court, their coffers will be lighter. During the civil rights battles of the ’50s and ’60s, legislators pursued similar strategies knowing that they would fail in court. The Voting Rights Act required Southern states with a history of discrimination to submit proposed changes to election laws to the Department of Justice for pre-clearance review for that very reason: so that they couldn’t continually game the courts.

In 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court held some of the pre-clearance provisions of the act as unconstitutional. Since then, a parade of laws suppressing voting have marched across the South, from onerous voter ID requirements in Texas — which took five years in court to reverse — to laughably discriminatory disenfranchisement of Black voters in North Carolina. Georgia by and large escaped this campaign, until today.

Passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would restore pre-clearance to states with a history of discrimination. Georgia came to the Democrats’ rescue, giving them control of the U.S. Senate. The question is whether the Senate will return the favor.

The post Jim Crow Rises: Desperate Georgia Republicans Scurry to Pass Voting Restrictions Law appeared first on The Intercept.

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theonion · 7 years ago

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Jeb Bush Debuts One-Man Presidential Campaign Tragedy Play In Black Box Theater

CORAL GABLES, FL—In an attempt to tell the story of his failed candidacy in his own words, former Florida governor Jeb Bush has rented out a local black box theater and debuted a one-man show that chronicles the tragedy of his 2016 presidential campaign, sources reported Thursday.

According to those in attendance opening night, the two-act solo piece, entitled Jeb? (Or: The Rise And Fall Of An Honest, Consensus-Building Conservative), traces the 64-year-old’s path from well-heeled Republican frontrunner to presidential also-ran in a 150-minute performance that features monologues, character vignettes, musical interludes, and a 10-minute interpretive dance sequence in which Bush starts out as an egg and then goes on to reenact his childhood.

Clad in a black T-shirt and black jeans, the onetime White House hopeful reportedly moves barefoot across the stage, which, apart from a single lectern, is completely empty.

“Why, you might not think it to look at me now, but there was a time when people expected big things from me—though I don’t suppose you’d want to hear about that, would you?” Bush wonders aloud during an early scene, speaking as an elderly version of himself and hobbling downstage with a cane in his hand. “Well, believe it or not, I once stood before a crowd of cheering people who were awfully excited to hear me say, ‘I’m a candidate for president of the United States of America.’”

“Here I am now—it’s June 2015, I’m in Miami, and I’ve just announced my campaign,” continues Bush, mimicking the roar of the crowd as he mimes shaking supporters’ hands and kissing babies. “Yessir, I had the whole world on a string: I’d come up with a strong message about jobs and immigration, and folks had given my Super PAC more than a hundred million bucks. My friends and I thought the future was just waiting for us to reach out and grab it. My God, we were so naïve! Standing before all those bright lights and flashing cameras, I had gone blind.”

Theater patrons confirmed that the show, which runs three nights a week through Dec. 20 at the Gables Playhouse Upstairs Stage, includes a monologue in which candidate Bush, puffing out his chest, speaks confidently about how he will undo President Barack Obama’s policies. Soon, however, the stage lights begin rapidly flickering on and off, his words grow more and more confused, and he wanders out into the aisles of the theater mumbling incoherent syllables into the ears of audience members.

Another memorable scene reportedly finds Bush reenacting the third Republican presidential debate: slouching forward and affecting the Jersey dialect of Chris Christie, then smirking and taking on a sharp nasal tone to impersonate Ted Cruz. Sources said Bush quickly jumps from one part of the stage to another, cycling faster and faster through the personas of all 10 GOP candidates until the scene, like the debate itself, devolves into chaos.

Attendees noted that Bush saves his most damning portrayal for Donald Trump, ending each of his chief antagonist’s lines by whispering, “Lies, lies, lies.” As the Trump character berates him with insults, Bush slowly moves upstage, making himself smaller and smaller and eventually curling up into a fetal position.

“You’ve lost New Hampshire, you’ve lost Iowa, it all comes down to South Carolina,” Bush says in the play’s final moments, repeatedly shouting “South Carolina, here we come!” at the top of his lungs as he drags the lectern upstage and stands behind it. “The people have voted. The returns are in. Fourth place. A crushing, humiliating defeat. It’s all over. My journey has ended.”

“What a poison draught to swallow,” continues Bush, a spotlight slowly contracting until only his anguished face is visible as he falls to his knees and grasps frantically at his hair. “What a bitter pill. And why, why was I forsaken? What manner of country would bleed a man dry, suck the very marrow from his bones, then cast him aside like so many broken playthings? O, perfidy! O, pride! I’m sorry, big brother! I’m sorry, Father! And I’m sorry, Mr. Reagan—to you most of all. I feel the rushing tide of history leaving me to drown in its wake. Yet here, so close to the end, I also find the veil has been lifted, and I can see beyond to catch a glimpse of this nation’s future. Shall I tell you what I see? Oh, don’t ask it! For the vision in my mind’s eye is no shining city on a hill. No, I see only darkness. I see destruction. I see death. God bless America, and God help us all.”

Theater ushers confirmed a section of front-row seats that had been roped off and reserved for members of the Bush family remained empty throughout the performance.

#The Onion

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movietvtechgeeks · 7 years ago

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Latest story from https://movietvtechgeeks.com/supernatural-actors-find-time-worthy-charities/

'Supernatural' actors find time for worthy charities

The SPN fandom is known far and wide for its generosity and dedication to the charities that our cast supports. After so much drama, negativity and “wank” in the fandom lately, I figured it was time to focus on the positive – specifically, the cast’s charitable efforts. Stronger Than Storms They don’t call us the #SPNfamily for nothing. On Aug. 25, 2017, hurricane Harvey made landfall in the Houston area of Texas. Many Supernatural fans will know that both Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles, two of the stars of Supernatural, make Houston their home in the off-season, and when they aren’t filming. Two days later, Aug. 27, The Family Business – Jensen’s brewery in Austin – started a Crowdrise campaign to raise money for the hurricane Harvey relief effort. The #SPNfamily showed up in force. Later that day, the donations were up to $50,000 – which was then matched by a $50,000 direct donation to Random Acts, Misha Collins’s charity. One day later, the amount was over $100,000; as of the end of August, the amount is at $394,364 – in 10 DAYS. Not only that, the CW – the network that carries Supernatural – is also supporting the cause. A representative from Random Acts says: “We're thrilled and honored that the Family Business Beer Company, along with Jensen and Danneel Ackles, have chosen to include us in this fundraiser. The best thing people can do for those affected by Harvey is to open their hearts and give or volunteer — and so far, people seem to be eager to do just that. In the coming days, as the situation worsens, we hope everyone will keep those things in mind.” Random Acts/GISHWHES/IMAlive/YANA Misha Collins. This man must have “charitable” as his middle name. Random Acts spent over $500,000 in 2016; GISHWHES has raised over $400,000 for charities, completed over 400,000 random acts of kindness worldwide, and: In addition, Jensen Ackles and Misha created the You Are Not Alone Campaign in 2016, to help raise money for IMAlive – a crisis support network fully staffed by volunteers. IMAlive volunteers support con-goers during photo ops and autographs at Creation Entertainment conventions – it can be overwhelming meeting someone you admire and look up to, someone who has made a big impact on your life (I took advantage of speaking with an IMAlive volunteer at the New Orleans convention – being able to talk about why I was there for a Jared autograph helped – a lot). More recently, Misha created the #IWishForThis campaign, which is raising money for Random Acts and Lydia’s Place – “The mission of Lydia Place is to disrupt the cycle of homelessness and promote sustained independence for current and future generations.” According to the Stands website, where the campaign is hosted, 100 percent of the profit goes to a partnership between Random Acts and Lydia’s Place. Here’s what Misha had to say about his charities: “The single biggest strength of the SPNFamily is its passion— its ability to come together to support a cause. Random Acts and YANA were both born as a response to that passion. As actors, it's rare to have an such a supportive fan base and Jared, Jensen, & I feel so fortunate to be able to act as the conduit that directs their energy toward making a positive impact in the world. Whether it's building a school in Nicaragua and an orphanage in Haiti, or assisting other Supernatural fans with mental health support, I'm constantly astonished and humbled by the way the fans always rise to the challenge and can't wait to see what we can accomplish next.” The main cast aren’t the only charitable ones in the SPN family. Rob Benedict, whose charity of choice is The National Stroke Association, says: “As a stroke survivor, I want to do everything I can to raise awareness about strokes and to see the signs when a loved one is having a stroke. The National Stroke Association is a great organization that is doing just that.” Mark Sheppard, who until recently played Crowley on Supernatural, has chosen Camp Conrad Chinnok as his charity. According to their website: “Camp Conrad Chinnock offers recreational, social, and educational opportunities for youth and families with diabetes. Campers are taught diabetes self-management skills in a fun, interactive, and safe environment. A primary focus of Diabetes Camping and Educational Services is providing residential camping experiences for youth with Type 1, insulin-dependent diabetes and their families at Camp Conrad Chinnock. Whether attending a youth or family camp, a comprehensive educational program provides training in formal and casual settings to teach children how to manage their medication, eat properly, and integrate physical activity into their lifestyle.” Carrie Genzel, who was on both Bugs and Just My Imagination (a favourite episode of mine, as it was directed by Richard Speight Jr.), has her own charity campaign as well: “I had only a small idea of how incredible the SUPERNATURAL Fandom was from doing ‘Bugs’ in the first season, but seeing as social media wasn't as it is today, I had no idea of the overwhelming sense of love that the fandom has and shows those of us lucky enough to have been on the show. When ‘Just My Imagination’ aired there was a sudden tsunami of appreciation and excitement for the episode and the scenes I was apart of. “It was then I understood what makes the SUPERNATURAL Fandom so special, and unlike any other I've seen. That love, that inclusiveness, and support is right along the lines of how I live my life, of what I believe in, and when I launched my blog stateofslay.com I got immediate support from many of the SPN Family. My beliefs are that we don't leave anyone behind, we stand as one, as a community, and knowing that at any given time, every one of us will need some help, or encouragement, the idea of STATE OF SLAY is that together we are stronger and can accomplish anything. “Soon after launching the blog, an incredible woman from the fandom, Willeke Vis, came to me about designing a T-Shirt campaign; we decided to have all proceeds to go BWSS, Battered Women's Support Services, an organization that was close to our hearts -- and an incredible way to give back and send out that sense of community to women who are making a fresh start. We got ‘375cArrow’ aka Carrie, to help us make our design come to life. The idea behind it is that it looks like a superhero emblem, because we are all the superheroes of our own lives, it says SLAY POWERED, as a reminder to use the power within to SLAY our days. The Slay Powered merchandise can be purchased in the SLAY STORE at www.stateofslay.com, with all proceeds going to BWSS. “I am constantly in awe how of the SUPERNATURAL Fandom gives back, from the cast members to those who just feel inspired to contribute and make someone's day brighter. They all inspire me every day. SLAY on.” The Lucifer we all know and love, Mark Pellegrino, is just wrapping up his #onlylove campaign – the T-shirts, available through Represent, support Stomp Out Bullying. Sales just ended on Dec. 4, 2017, and wound up selling over two-thousand hoodies. Mark says: “I love kids, so my main charity is St. Jude’s. Ending childhood cancer and the suffering it causes would be a dream come true.” The Supernatural fandom is truly a family – we have done so much good in this world, all stemming from a little TV show. Let’s keep it up! Editor's Note: Sadly, there has been that very small minority that has tried to discount the amazing and noteworthy work that the Supernatural actors have done which is sad and just downright disgusting, but all of these charitable causes have been verified and are legitimate endeavors. We have linked to each of them for those interested in learning more about them. Check Out Our Holiday Gift Guides: [abcf-grid-gallery-custom-links id="50643"]

Movie TV Tech Geeks News

#Featured #Jared Padalecki #Jensen Ackles #Misha Collins #Rob Benedict #Supernatural

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expatimes · 4 years ago

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UK, EU reach post-Brexit trade deal

Key aspects of future relationship remain unsettled

BRUSSELS, Dec 24, (AP): Just a week before the deadline, Britain and the European Union struck a free-trade deal Thursday that should avert economic chaos on New Year's and bring a measure of certainty for businesses after years of Brexit turmoil. Once ratified by both sides, the agreement will ensure Britain and the 27-nation bloc can continue to trade in goods without tariffs or quotas after the UK breaks fully free of the EU on Jan. 1. Relief was palpable on both sides that nine months of tense and often testy negotiations had finally produced a positive result.

The Christmas Eve breakthrough was doubly welcome amid a coronavirus pandemic that has left some 70,000 people in Britain dead and led the country's neighbors to shut its borders to the UK over a new and seemingly more contagious variant of the virus spreading in England. “We have taken back control of our laws and our destiny,” declared British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who posted a picture of himself on social media, beaming with thumbs up. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said "it was a long and winding road but we have got a good deal to show for it." “It is fair, it is a balanced deal, and it is the right and responsible thing to do for both sides,” she said in Brussels.

The 27 EU member states and the British and European parliaments both vote on the agreement, though action by the latter may not happen until after the Jan. 1 breakup. Britain's Parliament is set to vote Dec. 30. France, long seen as Britain's toughest obstacle to a deal, said the uncanny steadfastness among the 27 nations with widely varying interests was a triumph in itself. “European unity and firmness paid off,” French President Emmanuel Macron said in a statement.

And German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that unity will now probably result in all the EU nations backing the deal: “I am very optimistic, that we can present a good result here.” It has been 4 1/2 years since Britons voted 52% to 48% to leave the EU and - in the words of the Brexiteers' campaign slogan - “take back control” of the UK's borders and laws. It took more than three years of wrangling before Britain left the bloc's political structures last January. Disentangling the two sides' intestation and reconciling Britain's desire for independence with the EU's aim of preserving its unity took months longer.

The devil will be in the detail of the 2,000-page agreement, but both sides claimed the deal protects their cherished goals. Britain said it gives the UK control over its money, borders, laws and fishing waters and ensures the country is “no longer in the lunar pull of the EU.” Von der Leyen said it protects the EU's single market and contains safeguards to ensure Britain does not unfairly undercut the bloc's standards. Johnson's relief at striking a deal contrasted with his earlier insistence that the UK would “prosper mightily” even if no agreement were reached and the UK and the EU had to reinstate tariffs on each other's goods. His government acknowledged that a chaotic no-deal exit - or a “crash-out,” as the British call it - would probably bring gridlock at the country's ports, temporary shortages of some goods and price increases for staple foods.

The turmoil could cost hundreds of thousands of jobs. To avoid that, negotiating sessions alternating between London and Brussels - and sometimes disrupted by the pandemic - gradually whittled differences between the two sides down to three key issues: fair-competition rules, mechanisms for resolving future disputes, and fishing rights. The EU has long feared that Britain would slash social, environmental and state aid rules after Brexit and gain a competitive advantage over the EU. Britain denies planning to institute weaker standards but said that having to follow EU regulations would undermine its sovereignty. A compromise was eventually reached on the tricky “level playing field” issues. That left the economically minor but hugely symbolic issue of fishing rights as the final sticking point, with maritime EU nations seeking to retain access to UK waters where they have long fished and Britain insisting it must exercise control as an "independent coastal state."

Under the deal, the EU is giving up a quarter of the quota it catches in UK waters, far less than the 80% Britain initially demanded. The system will be in place for 5 1/2 years, after which the quotas will be reassessed. The UK has remained part of the EU's single market and customs union during the 11-month post-Brexit transition period. As a result, many people so far have noticed little impact from Brexit. On Jan. 1, the breakup will start feeling real. Even with a trade deal, goods and people will no longer be able to move freely between the UK and its continental neighbors without border restrictions. EU citizens will no longer be able to live and work in Britain without visas - though that does not apply to the 4 million already doing so - and Britons can no longer automatically work or retire in EU nations.

Exporters and importers face customs declarations, goods checks and other obstacles. The UK-EU border is already reeling from new restrictions placed on travelers from Britain into France and other European countries because of the new version of the coronavirus sweeping through London and southern England. Thousands of trucks were stuck in traffic jams near the port of Dover on Wednesday, waiting for their drivers to get virus tests so they could enter the Eurotunnel to France.

British supermarkets said the backlog will take days to clear and there could be shortages of some fresh produce over the holiday season. Despite the deal, there are still unanswered questions about huge areas, including security cooperation between the UK and the bloc - with the UK set to lose access to real-time information in some EU law-enforcement databases - and access to the EU market for Britain's huge financial services sector.

The post UK, EU reach post-Brexit trade deal appeared first on ARAB TIMES - KUWAIT NEWS.

#world Read full article: https://expatimes.com/?p=15983&feed_id=24824

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patriotsnet · 3 years ago

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Who Are The Moderate Republicans In The Senate

New Post has been published on https://www.patriotsnet.com/who-are-the-moderate-republicans-in-the-senate/

Who Are The Moderate Republicans In The Senate

Jim Jordan Announces He Will Not Run For Senate In 2022

Senate Republicans block probe of Capitol riot

Washington; Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, will not run for Ohio’s open Senate seat in 2022, a spokesperson for his congressional campaign said on Thursday.;

On Monday, Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, announced he would not run for re-election on Monday, leaving the seat without an incumbent for the mid-term elections.

Ohio’s Republican Lt. Gov. Jon Husted on Wednesday said the he also would not run for the seat.;

Jordan, a leading member of the House’s Freedom Caucus, has been a staunch ally to former President Trump and led the House Republican floor speeches against the vote to impeach Trump on Jan. 13. President Trump won Ohio by about 8 points in the 2020 election.;

When asked whether Jordan would run for Ohio governor, his spokesperson said, “He’s going to run for Congress.”;

The open Ohio Senate seat could be key for Republicans hoping to retake control of the Senate majority. Republicans will have to defend 20 seats in the 2022 cycle including three open seats: Portman’s Ohio seat as well as one in North Carolina stemming from Sen. Richard Burr’s decision to not seek re-election and Pennsylvania’s Pat Toomey who announced he will also retire from Congress.;

Sen Thom Tillis Of North Carolina

Tillis recently reelection in the Tar Heel State after an expensive and bitter contest.

He has the most conservative voting record of the senators convening with Biden, and the ninth most conservative overall, according to the watchdog firm GovTrack.

A vocal supporter of Trump, Tillis has at times expressed interest in bipartisanship, though such calls waned over the Trump era as he faced an increasingly challenging reelection bid.

The Stakes Around The Impeachment Process Are Low For Markets High For Senators Analyst Says

As President Donald Trumps impeachment trial continues, Sens. Susan Collins, Mitt Romney, Lisa Murkowski and Lamar Alexander are in the spotlight.

-0.72%

Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine, Mitt Romney of Utah, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Lamar Alexander of Tennessee are getting attention as an important step in President Donald Trumps impeachment trial nears.

The Senate looks set to vote next week on whether to subpoena new witnesses or documents, with that action slated to come after Trumps lawyers and House managers finish their opening arguments as well as after senators get up to 16 hours to ask questions.

There could be a 51-49 vote in favor of calling witnesses if the four GOP lawmakers back that approach and all 47 senators who caucus with the Democrats also support it.

Heres what the four Republican senators, often viewed as moderates, have said so far on the issue:

Beyond these four lawmakers, Sens. Rob Portman of Ohio, Cory Gardner of Colorado and Martha McSally of Arizona are also among the Republicans talked about at various times in recent weeks as possible swing voters in the impeachment trial, though McSally lashed out at a CNN reporter who asked for her view on the calling of new witnesses, labeling him a liberal hack and then promoting the testy exchange on her Twitter account and on a campaign-fundraiser T-shirt.

Also Check: Last Time Republicans Controlled Congress

Two Moderate Democrats Urge Senate Republicans To Back Us Capitol Riot Probe

Light catches a security fence around the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, March 15, 2021. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo

WASHINGTON, May 25 – Two U.S. Senate Democrats known for independent streaks urged Republicans on Tuesday to support a bipartisan commission into the deadly January attack on the Capitol, after one in six House Republicans broke with party leadership and backed the probe.

Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema called on Republicans to work with them to reach agreement on a bill to investigate the events leading up to and on Jan. 6, when President Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the building while Congress was certifying Democrat Joe Biden’s November election victory, leaving five dead.

Some 35 House Republicans joined Democrats last week in voting to pass the legislation that would create a bipartisan commission modeled on the one Congress passed following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The bill requires that the commission issue its final report by Dec. 31. read more

Passage of the bill was an easier achievement in the House of Representatives, where Democrats hold a 219-211 majority. The Senate is divided 50-50 between the parties and requires 60 votes to pass most legislation, meaning that under current rules, 10 Republican votes would be needed to pass the measure.

Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and other top Senate Republicans have spoken out against the House bill, saying that ongoing probes by two Senate committees are sufficient investigation.

Group Includes Conservatives Worried About Precedent And A Moderate Facing A Tough Re

Twelve Senate Republicans rebuked President Donald Trump on Thursday by voting to block his declaration of a national emergency at the southern border.

The group includes moderate senators including one up for re-election in 2020 and conservatives who balked at the president circumventing Congress. Trump after lawmakers failed to appropriate his desired funds for a border wall.

Trump tweeted Thursday morning that he would veto the resolution to terminate the emergency, which passed the Senate, 59-41, in the afternoon after passing the House late last month. Two-thirds of the vote in both chambers are required to override a veto.

Despite some Republicans supporting the resolution, it appears that neither chamber would be able to cross that threshold. Pelosi declined to say Thursday whether she would have the House vote to override Trumps promised veto, saying, Well take it one step at a time.

Several senators in competitive re-election races sided with the president and opposed the resolution, including Sens. Cory Gardner of Colorado, of Arizona, Joni Ernst of Iowa, David Perdue of Georgia and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who changed his opinion after authoring an op-ed in The Washington Post two weeks ago against the emergency declaration.

Also watch:;First 2020 Senate race ratings are here

Here are the 12 Republicans who supported the effort to terminate the national emergency declaration:

You May Like: Trump 1998 People Magazine Interview

The 6 Republican Senators Who Will Decide The Supreme Court Fight

Some are facing difficult elections. Others are institutionalists. But they will play critical roles in replacing Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Sen. Susan Collins. | Greg Nash/Pool via AP

09/21/2020 07:32 PM EDT

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Ruth Bader Ginsburgs death on Friday kicked off what is sure to be the most consequential Supreme Court confirmation fight in decades andputs a spotlight on the handful of senators whose votes will determine the future of the court.

The universe of potential swing votes in the Senate is surprisingly small considering how high the stakes are. The following senators will be under enormous pressure from Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and President Donald Trump to either fall in line, or break from their party in the most dramatic fashion.

McConnells decision to hold a vote on Ginsburg’s replacement forces him to balance his long-standing desire to cement a conservative legacy in the federal judiciary, while also retaining his power as majority leader.

That there are so few potentially in play lawmakers reflects the hyperpartisan nature of the political landscape in 2020. With less than 45 days left until the election, both sides have largely retreated to their respective sides.

With 53 Republicans in the Senate, McConnell can afford to lose only three votes. Vice President Mike Pence could break a 50-50 tie if needed. Heres who to watch:

The true swing votes

Republicans Have A Limited Amount Of Time To Make Their Offer

The Biden White House is already signaling that they care more about what Republican voters think, compared to Republicans in Congress. Their Covid-19 relief package remains extremely popular with voters, no matter their political party. And while the White House is pointing to polls showing infrastructure is also popular, CNNs Harry Enten pointed out that an average of polls showed around 54 percent voter approval for a big infrastructure package, a good 12 percentage points lower than the approval average for the already-passed Covid-19 bill.

If you looked up bipartisan in the dictionary, I think it would say support from Republicans and Democrats, Biden senior adviser Anita Dunn told the Washington Post. It doesnt say the Republicans have to be in Congress.

Republicans have a limited amount of time to try and make a deal before Democrats forge ahead with budget reconciliation. Sen. Chris Coons , one of Bidens close allies in the Senate, told Punchbowl News that Democrats dont want bipartisan negotiations with Republicans to drag on for months.

If we get to Memorial Day and there isnt a clear this group of Republicans is working on this menu with these pay-fors on this timeline, I think Democrats just roll it up into a big package and move it, Coons said. Is President Biden willing to wait until Labor Day for us to come together around some perfect bipartisan infrastructure package? No. Is he willing to wait until the Fourth of July? Maybe.

Recommended Reading: How Many Republicans Are On The Supreme Court

Who Are The Moderates

There is a small group of moderate Senate Democrats who have largely avoided choosing a side when it comes to eliminating the filibuster, which requires 60 votes to proceed on most legislation. But others object to partisan legislation on a case-by-case basis.

Swing-state freshman Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., and Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H. both up for reelection next year are among the few who have refused a position on the filibuster in recent months.

Others, like Sens. Jon Tester, D-Mont., Chris Coons, D-Del., Tom Carper, D-Del., and Angus King, I-Maine, all voted against instituting a $15-an-hour federal minimum wage. Others have quietly avoided commitments on legislation such as the For the People Voting Rights Act and the finer details of the negotiations on an infrastructure package.

Manchin and Sinema have given other Democrats who may share their views consistent political cover to dodge questions and refuse firm commitments on legislation. The razor-thin majority in the Senate means that as long as one Democrat is willing to publicly block a bill, nobody else has to join them unless they want to.

The Moderate Republicans: A Guide To Whos Who

Moderate Republican Demands Answers From Ted Cruz | MSNBC

Jun 21, 2021 | Election Campaign News

Brief # 22 Elections and Politics

The Moderate Republicans: A Guide to Whos Who

Policy Summary;

When it comes to political beliefs, a large portion of voting bloc seems to be wrought with radicals.; However, the truth is that most Americans dont have very extreme ideas at all, and are actually quite moderate.; In recent elections we have seen this, with an increasing amount of folks with more radical beliefs being elected to Congress.;On the right side of the aisle, folks like Marjorie Taylor-Greene and Madison Cawthorn are examples of extremes who dont represent the majority of Americans, or even the majority of their party, yet get some of the most airtime and screen time of any folks in Congress.; However, moderate Republicans also get a lot of time to talk, and these are some of the most popular people in Congress, mostly because they are willing to work with the President and the other side of the aisle.; We will now highlight several prominent moderate Republicans who we think may end up running for president.

Analysis;

Liz Cheney:

Mitt Romney:

Lisa Murkowski:

Susan Collins:

Don’t Miss: How Many Republicans In The House Voted For Impeachment

Senate Gop Moderates Fume As Mcconnell Prepares To Block Jan 6 Commission

Is that really what this is about, that everything is just one election cycle after another?” lamented Sen. Lisa Murkowski .

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell walks to the chamber. | J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo

05/27/2021 10:24 PM EDT

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During Thursday’s Senate Republican lunch, Sen. Susan Collins made one last plea to her colleagues to advance a proposed independent commission to probe the Capitol riot, with changes she fought for. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell spoke right after her.

And the GOP leader is set to win the day, much to the consternation of a handful of his members who fear the party is making a mistake in voting down the House-passed commission bill sometime Friday. After an increasingly hard public and private push from McConnell, Senate Republicans are ready to make the independent investigation into the Capitol attack their first filibuster of the Biden administration.

Collins kept trying to whip up 10 votes to break a filibuster on Thursday and said in an interview that she wouldnt give up.” But McConnell didnt let her go un-rebutted at the conference’s closed-door meeting, and Collins was resigned to the short-term failure of her efforts at compromise.

It would be so much better if we had an independent outside commission,” the Maine Republican said.

She acknowledged that an outside inquiry into the pro-Trump attack on Congress could be a painful and political exercise, but still a worthwhile one.

Filed Under:

Few Forces Of Moderation Remain

Political analysts will sometimes recount how the Democrats, after losing three consecutive presidential elections, nominated Bill Clinton in 1992 and moved in a more centrist direction. This might feel like a tempting comparison to make with the GOP now, but the key difference is that the Democrats of the early 1990s had a more diverse coalition to draw on that made that kind of pivot possible . By contrast, the Republican coalition of today lacks any significant liberal or moderate factions who might pull it back to a more centrist position.

The bottom line: American political parties are not top-down entities, capable of turning on a dime. They are loose networks and coalitions of many actors and groups. And because the Republican Party has been pulling in a more extreme direction for decades now, most Republican moderates have either quit the team or reoriented themselves in a more combative, Trumpian direction to stay alive. And these forces will most likely continue to tug at the party, leaving would-be moderates with the same choice theyve faced for decades: Quit, or get on board.

Lee Drutman is a senior fellow in the Political Reform program at New America. Hes the author of the book, Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop: The Case for Multiparty Democracy in America.

Read Also: What Do Republicans Believe About Taxes

Moderate Republicans Fall Away In The Senate

I wrote earlier about the electoral implications of the defeat of longtime Senator Richard G. Lugar of Indiana in the Republican primary on Tuesday. It should make the seat much more competitive and will increase Democrats odds of retaining the Senate, although the nominee that Republicans chose instead, Richard E. Mourdock, the state treasurer, is perhaps a very slight favorite over the Democratic nominee Joe Donnelly.

The bigger story here, however, is that Mr. Lugar is the latest in a long line of relatively moderate Republican senators to meet an electoral demise. In fact, most moderate Republicans who served in the Senate just a few years ago will no longer be in the Congress when it meets again 2013. This is quite simple to illustrate.

I took the 55 Republican senators that served in the 109th Congress from 2005 through 2007 and divided them into two groups, moderates and conservatives, according to their voting records as analyzed by the statistical system DW-Nominate. Because there were an odd number of Republican senators in that year, I could not divide them exactly evenly, but I put 27 in the moderate group and 28 in the conservative group, with the dividing line falling between Senator John McCain of Arizona and Senator John Thune of South Dakota.

Republicans have added a couple of moderates to their ranks in cases where they won seats on Democratic turf, like Scott Brown of Massachusetts and Mark Steven Kirk of Illinois.

Sen Lisa Murkowski Of Alaska

Murkowski, who is not up for re-election until 2022, is among the more moderate senators and has proved that she is not afraid to break with her party and Trump.;The Senate appropriator;explained her support for the resolution in a floor speech;earlier this month, saying, Congress is a co-equal branch of government and as such Congress should stand up for itself.

You May Like: What Do Republicans Think Of Trump Now

Thousands Of Republicans Changed Voter Registration After Capitol Attack

WASHINGTON; Since the violent attack at the Capitol on Jan. 6, thousands of Republicans changed their party registration in key swing states.;

As of this week, 9,891 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their party registration. In North Carolina, that number was just above 7,400 and more than 9,000 Republicans in Arizona did the same. While Florida statewide numbers aren’t available yet, Orange County, Fla. saw over 1,200 Republicans change their party. Just about 100 Democrats did the same in Orange County since Jan. 6.;

Leigh Ann Caldwell and Melissa Holzberg

Bidens Views Were Shaped As Obamas Vice President

Biden is well aware that the US Senate was designed to curb the ambitions of presidents; he wrote about the institution with reverence in his 2007 autobiography Promises to Keep.

The Senate was designed to play this independent and moderating role, and it is a solemn duty and responsibility that transcends the partisan disputes of any day or any decade, Biden wrote in his book. But several things happened between then and now to further shape Biden and his staffs views of the same institution.

As vice president, Biden saw that President Barack Obamas repeated attempts to work with GOP leadership on the Hill were often roundly dismissed. Biden was himself dispatched several times to try to strike deals with Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell who was intent on making Obama a one-term president. Early on in his presidency, as Obama was en route to the Capitol to meet with Republicans to get them on board with a stimulus bill to save the economy from crisis, House Republican leadership sent out a message to their members telling them to vote against any proposal.

Then, during Obamacare negotiations, Senate Democrats and Obama administration officials were met with repeated nos from even the most moderate Republicans. As Ezra Klein and Sarah Kliff detailed for Vox in 2017:

On most issues, that wasnt productive, because Sen. McConnell wasnt interested in finding common ground, Obamas legislative affairs director Phil Schiliro told me in an interview last year.

Recommended Reading: What Are The Chances Of The Republicans Winning The House

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fyrapartnersearch · 7 years ago

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PEOPLE WATCHIN'

shame, shame, shame

hey how are ya my name is emmy and i’m here to search for a new rp partner. a bit about me, i’m 21, canadian, in university, and i go by she/her pronouns. i reside in the mountain timezone and i am thrilled to hopefully start writing with you. i'm hoping to find a new partner or two to write with as my semester winds down!

why should you write with me? because i promise that if i pick up an rp with you i’m gonna put 100 and 10 percent of my effort into our story. i’m looking for a long term gig, someone who i can really weave a plot with, someone who digs the cut of my jib. i want us to be able to sob over our characters together late into the night. i want us to exchange songs, playlists, posts found on the internet, aesthetic boards, whatever reminds us of our characters/our plot. i will probably spam you with pictures of my character’s playby and i want to see mad pics of yours, too. i want us to go through our character’s struggles together as well as be able to cheer together when our characters get ahold of their sitch and come up on top. i want us to inspire one another with our writing. it’s gonna be great. you & me honey.

gee, that sounds nice! i’m inclined to agree with ya! but a few things you should know before you go any further: i write anywhere between full lit to lit + to novella style, so expect posts of at least 4 - 6 paragraphs baseline. sometimes i crank out 10. or just 5. depends entirely on what’s going on. i write according to situation, with a great amount of detail spent on what my character is thinking/feeling in response to yours. the replies you get will be fully fleshed out & enthralling. i am a stickler for grammar and spelling, though nobody’s perfect, i do occasionally have my slipups. all lowercase text is strictly kept to ooc communication. i will never pressure you into posting or writing ridiculous amounts just to match my post. i want you to have fun too, ya hear? if i’ve had a bit too much to drink or am about to hit the hay, i’ll wait to post until i can give my post my full attention. usually i’ll be able to post at least once a day, sometimes multiple times a day if we’re in the same or a similar time zone. final exams and papers are coming up for me though so i'll be a little slow posting-wise, but still around ooc, until dec 15. i also totally understand life happens and sometimes we just need a breather. ♥ i have bipolar depression, and sometimes my depression kicks my ass, but i’ll let you know when that happens.

oh goodness, what else? i write predominantly m/m pairings but i am open to m/f and f/f as well. right now i am craving m/f with me playing the f buuut i'm also down for m/m as well. i tend to write pretty high-strung alpha males as characters, so i'm wanting to play a role other than that to challenge myself and try my hand at a different kind of character. i do not write high fantasy settings, sorry doll. my interests mostly align with modern day, slice of life kinda stuff, aside from the fandoms i do have. i don’t have many limits besides excessive gore, scat, mpreg, and writing smut for sake of smut. i love my romance just like anyone else does, but it’s got to have plot. our characters have to have chemistry or else i get bored. i haven’t doubled before but i think i’d be down for it with the right plot. usually i prefer that we play one character each, or we play multiple characters within a plot, but not usually more than one plot at the same time. but!!! i am totally willing to try new things!! just be patient with me as i learn m'kay? also most of my characters are pretty kinky but like, i prefer that we talk about kinks and limits one on one as opposed to airing out my character’s laundry. also- i wanna be your friend ooc. let’s chat. i find it’s so much easier to have muse and post if i enjoy the virtual company of the people i’m writing with.

ok but what do you write?

what *don’t* i write? kidding. here’s a bit of fandom for ya. if i’ve got plots listed, they’re the ideas i have, but i’m totally open to yours as well. stars denote how much i’m craving them. i’ll list the canon characters i write after i list the fandom:

fallout: new vegas & 4: arcade gannon & elder maxson, paladin danse - also got a ton of ocs for both *plot for fallout 4 a: we explore the cut ending to the brotherhood of steel questline, wherein the sole survivor and paladin danse refuse maxson’s final orders for danse, and fight for danse to become the leader of the brotherhood of steel. would likely require you playing maxon or danse and me playing the other, with one of us playing the sole survivor. *plot for fallout 4 b: your/my oc is a double agent for the railroad, with the mission to infiltrate the brotherhood of steel and send intelligence back to the agents back at home base. your/my oc becomes unexpectedly attached to elder maxson through work and circumstance. eventually, your/my oc must make a choice of where their allegiance lies: within the arms of arthur or with the faction they are fighting for. (potentially, we could double and do plot a & b at the same time.)

mafia 2: vito scaletta ***plot for mafia 2 a: we explore the dynamics of a relationship between vito and your oc. your oc could be in a position of great risk- think outside of the mafia, possibly a police officer, prostitute. some position where power dynamics could be played with. if the pairing is m/m we also deal with the themes of internalized homophobia and coming to terms with one’s identity.

*bioshock 1, 2 & infinite: brigid tenbenbaum, andrew ryan, frank frontaine & eleanor lamb, sofia lamb & booker dewitt

**marvel cinematic universe: tony stark, steve rogers

**greater marvel universe: logan howlett, carol danvers ***random plot: we do a crossover and we ship sharon carter/carol danvers. i just. uuugh i have a lot of feelings about them and i have hella muse for these babes. lemme know if you’re down to give this a shot i will love you forever no word of a lie.

but honestly where my heart lies is within oc rp. here are a few plots i have of mine, stars denote how much i’m craving them:

****(m/m) power & politics: my oc is a prestigious state senator, who lives a double life. he is currently in the closet with no intent on leaving it anytime soon. however, a certain someone falls into his life, making him question what he thought he knew for certain. your oc breaks down the walls my oc has put up and changes him into a softer, better man. however, with an upcoming presidential campaign on the horizon for my oc, the limits of the secret relationship will be pushed and pulled beyond what both parties have ‘signed up for.‘

***(m/m) too good to be true: our ocs start out in the whl, both as promising wingers. their good chemistry is vital to bringing back their team’s success. however, one of our ocs starts to get too attached to the other, and when an nhl draft separates them, one of our ocs is all too eager to cut contact and try to forget. the two excel in their nhl careers without one another, and end up on nhl teams with a history of deep rivalry. occasionally, the gloves hit the ice, fueled by the tension of unresolved feelings and the pressure of the respective teams to keep up the rivalry. the two are reunited when they are both chosen to play nationally for the same team, and are forced to reconcile what they have both buried so deeply within them.

***(m/m) big money: these two ocs play for rival teams in the nhl. while their teams have a history of tension, our two ocs take it to the next level. audiences are more excited to watch these two fight than they are to watch the game itself. there’s a market in the violence between these two, and a reputation to maintain on both ends. if the public found out that these two were secretly seeing one another, their careers would both be over.

okay and, here are just some general prompts that could be intertwined with the plots above, or could be something we use to springboard into our own rp:

my oc has serious commitment issues. they often go around ‘ghosting’ individuals after 4-5 dates, with little to no explanation of why. your oc falls for mine, and is the first to confront my oc about their shitty habits.

your oc and my oc were best friends, but they lost touch over a stupid fight they had when they were preteens. they can’t believe that they’re seeing one another in a bar, halfway across the world from where they met.

your oc and my oc were flames. my oc proposed to yours, but yours turned them down. they never spoke again… until they were sharing a crammed elevator, with my oc being completely drunk, and still confessing their feelings for your oc.

your oc is a huge fan of my oc’s nhl career/political career. your oc wins a contest to meet and have dinner with my oc. while my oc expects a boring night out, my oc is completely surprised by how well they hit it off with your oc.

my oc, your first oc and your second oc all grew up together. your first oc has always been pining for my oc’s attention, and is thrilled when my oc and your first oc finally get together. they develop a long term relationship, but my oc knows it would devastate your first oc if they told them that they have been seeing your second oc for most of the relationship.

i recognize that a lot of these focus on the nhl/the lives of professional hockey players- please don’t be worried about hockey knowledge/nhl jargon/whatever else goes through your head! i’m more interested in sport as a realm for drama than i am for following the rulebook and being 100% accurate to life when it comes to hockey. there’s a lot i don’t know and am still needing to learn, myself! as for general oc ideas, here’s a list:

professor x student

veteran x civillian

cop x criminal

psychiatrist x patient

street racing, fast-and-furious-esque setting

rival gangs

nhl/hockey based (lol obviously)

**small town canadiana or americana

**something themed around equestrian life, like rodeo or english riding sports

fun, fluffy romance based modern settings

darker themes such as addiction, abuse, etc

*historical setting- preferably, the second world war/1940s-1960s, or like, 1980s old time hockey small town kinda shit

honestly whatever you can pitch me that isn’t high fantasy ☺

i can honestly expand on and work with any of these ideas, these are just like, topics. whatever i do with you, i promise it’ll be fleshed out, with tons of opportunity for drama.

hell yeah let’s do this pal

if any, and i mean any, of this piqued your fancy, pleaaaase shoot me an email at

↳ [email protected] !

i will respond! but please send me something thoughtful! i’d like to hear what part of my ad that you’re interested in/why you chose to contact me. i am most wanting to rp over email and talk over google hangouts but i can be open to skype, too. i sure look forward to hearing from you! ✌ & ♥ emmy

#indie rp #indie roleplay #independent roleplay #oc rp #multiple paragraph #long term #email #marvel rp #avengers rp #smut rp #mcu rp #submission

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yoshi4sushi · 7 years ago

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(purupurupuru) (purupurupuru) (gocha!) (coo!) (coo!)

BOO! Happy Monday and Halloween, minna-san! I hope everyone enjoys the spooky day, and get loads of treats and scares from your friends and family. With October over, November will be filled w/ loads of pumpkin spice and loads colorful leaves. The weather is getting chilly so please keep yourself warm. Well, enough said, we have loads of goods to share w/ you so you know the drill. First off, last week’s chapter was totally bizarre. As Luffy is pinned down by Dogtooth’s mocha, he goes off to enjoy his break time in his private mocha shrine warning his chefs to not peek inside. Just when we thought Luffy is done for, he ate the mochi and freed himself. He destroys the shrine and boy our imagination of Dogtooth’s handsome face was a total letdown! He had huge monster teeth munching down on his donuts and ice tea. It was…it was…..GROSS! He got angry as the chefs made a bad remark of his monster teeth, and pummeled them. At the end, Luffy acknowledges Dogtooth’s strength, but tells him off that he won’t let him beat him so he finally gets into gear 4th. What will be the outcome of this fight? Let’s see how this week’s chapter goes. Moving on, this past weekend’s episode was brutal. Luffy and Nami took on the whole army of Big Mom’s kids and chess soldiers. As they fought and fought, they were utterly defeated at the end. Meanwhile, Sanji pleads Big Mom to spare Luffy and the others, and he won’t resist his marriage to Pudding. Big Mom agrees to his plea as long he doesn’t get ideas to escape. Next week, we see Luffy and Nami captured while Brook and Pedro make their move to get the Road Poneglyph. It won’t be easy cuz’ we soon meet the second of sweet commander, Smoothie. Will they pull it off? Don’t miss it. Now on with the goods. Look who finally showed up! It’s our friend, Tongari-san. Yay! Due to the extreme weather, he couldn’t be here the other times, but the weather has now calmed down. With that, share the news, my friend. What’s going on that you can’t hold it in? Tongari-san says that next month, awesome events are happening. First, let’s not forget a certain marimo head’s b-day. That’s right! It’s the soon-to-be #1 swordsman, Zoro! His birthday is on Nov.11th. To celebrate his birthday, the tower will be selling his birthday button. Also, if you visit the park, you will receive a birthday bromide card of him. You can buy the ticket before or on the day you visit. Either way, you’ll receive it. Also, if you purchase a ticket beforehand, you’ll get another special bromide card. You can reserve a ticket online or at any 7/11 store. Neat! But wait! There’s more! We have other birthdays. Yes! We have Carue. His birthday is on Nov.8th, Bepo whose birthday is on Nov.20th, and last but not least, Reiju whose birthday is on Nov.30th. They will all have birthday buttons on sale. Next, winter is coming, here’s the new image of the winter season as we see the gang in their gray/gold themed clothing. Official winter season goods will be released later on. There’s more! Franky’s Cola Bar will be selling a new dessert and it’s a honey honey maple vanilla pudding, and it will come w/ a free acrylic key chain of chibi Sanji. The Mugiwara will be serving two birthday menus such as Zoro’s 3 sword style tonkatsu bowl served w/ fried pork drizzled in sauce w/ some rice and seaweed. For dessert, they will serve Bepo’s mango juice w/ a shaped whip cream head of his face. If you order either of the two, you’ll receive a free birthday card of them. Next, the photo booth on the 5th floor will have birthday backgrounds of Zoro, Bepo, Carue, and Reiju. Its 700 yen, and you can choose two backgrounds of your choosing. Next, Tongari Island will be having quest badge event where you must complete three missions, and you can choose any of the 17 triangular buttons as a prize. You must receive a sticker as a confirmation that you completed the mission. Tongari Store is where you’ll receive the prize. Also, for the upcoming Tongari Scoop, if you solve all 4 missions, you’ll receive a free button of Sanji. Follow the directions. Even if you don’t get it right, you’ll still receive the prize. To participate, you must purchase a Tongari passport and pay 600 yen to receive the kit. You can only do one mission on the day you visit. You can’t do more than one. Next, guess who’s making their appearance for photos! Yes, you got it. It’s none other than Luffy and the diva princess, Anne. They will appear every Friday of this month. Staff will give out photo tickets. It’s first come, first serve. Photo frames are 1500 yen. Also, the Log Gallery of Battle will end on Nov.30th. The 3rd theme will be tears. It will begin on Dec.1st. More news will be announced later on. So exciting! Also, the park tickets will be having new designs from different themes they had throughout these 3 years. Next, POP figurine is out. This time, it’s Jinbei. He will be released in March. Pre-orders starts today so we’ll leave a link if you’re interested in purchasing. Next, on Nov.11th, they will release this photo book of OP Super Kabuki II. It will have interviews w/ the lead actor of Luffy, Ichikawa Momonosuke w/ Oda-sensei along w/ photos of the plays. No news if next year they’ll have a 3rd play, but we’ll be on the lookout for that. Next, All bookstores and Mugiwara Stores will be selling this OP log book of the Dressrosa series. It will come w/ some presents if you purchase it. Next, we have more birthday goods of Zoro. They will sell this new bromide frame of him and new birthday button design. It will be released on Wednesday. Next, Straw Hat Stores are selling this new denim purse of Law. Very stylish. Next, they also are selling these adorable coin purse of the cowboy theme. You can choose Chopper or Luffy, Sanji, & Zoro. Next, online websites will be taking pre-orders of these three string cord neckbands of Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji. Pricey as they’re handmade, but stylish and neat. It will be released this month. No exact date, but we’ll keep you posted. We’ll leave a link if you wish to purchase it. Next, all Straw Hat stores are selling these new iphone covers of popular scenes from the story. Next, the DMMV Theater is having a second campaign round where you retweet their post for a chance to win a free 2018 boys calendar of Wild. Winners will be informed by direct message. Also, if you purchase a ticket to the show, you’ll receive a free t-shirt or a towel. Next, Canal City Hakata mall in Fukuoka will be having a second OP Water Spectacle show where the water fountains will show mini show of OP w/ colorful illuminations. The event will start November until May of next year. Last, but not least, Charadeco shop will be accepting cake reservations for Christmas cakes that will come in different designs such as Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Ace, Nami & Robin, and 20th anniversary image of the Straw Hats. The flavor will be strawberry cream w/ some fresh fruits and nuts. Pre-orders will begin next week, and will be delivered early December depending on the day. This applies those who live w/in Japan. Overseas delivery is not possible. The cake will be frozen when it arrives at your residence. If you live w/in the country and need help to make reservation, please leave a message on our den den mushi question box. Phew! I think we covered everything. Well, that’s all for now. Tune in next week for more news and events. Special thanks to Tongari-san for sharing the news. We’ll see you around. Kikko! Momon! Job well done, boys.

Cake order: http://p-bandai.jp/charadecoshop/print/onepiece/?utm_source=pcake_o_onepiece

Figurine: https://en.megahobby.jp/

Scarfs: http://j-hobby.net/gir/187534.html

3D show: https://vr-theater.dmm.com/schedule/onepiecevr?utm_source=official&utm_medium=op&utm_campaign=3rd

#one pie #merchandise #event #food

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shmosnet2 · 5 years ago

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Critics’ Claws Are Out for ‘Cats’: A Roundup of Reviews

The trailer sent shock waves through the internet this summer. Now that they’ve seen it, what do critics have to say about the new big-screen adaptation?

Jason Derulo as Rum Tum Tugger in “Cats.”Credit...Universal Pictures, via Associated Press When the first “Cats” trailer dropped in July, the internet convulsed with revulsion and awe. People were unprepared for the digital fur technology that was unleashed in the two-minute spectacle. “If this messed up world doesn’t kill us first, ‘Cats’ will clearly finish the job when it opens on Dec. 20,” Garrett Martin of Paste Magazine wrote. And with the release of the film this week, a similar tide of panic, confusion and anger has flooded the American psyche — or at least the psyches of those who have been exposed to the feature-length film that some fear they cannot unsee. As of Thursday night, the movie had a 34 on the film review site Metacritic, a score based on the generally unfavorable reviews of 43 critics. It registered at 20 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, which offered this bit of punditry: “Despite its fur-midable cast, this ‘Cats’ adaptation is a clawful mistake that will leave most viewers begging to be put out of their mew-sery.” Critics have complained that the stress of viewing the movie has triggered migraines and the urge to throw shoes at the screen. And yet, others have found they can’t look away. Alex Cranz of Gizmodo said she saw sights no human should see: “I have been processing this movie for the last 24 hours trying to understand anything as terrifying and visceral a train wreck as ‘Cats.’ You have to see ‘Cats.’” The New York Times film critic Manohla Dargis said that “a doctoral thesis could be written on how this misfire sputtered into existence, though there’s nothing new about the movies’ energetic embrace of bad taste.” Among the many deliciously catty lines in her review — please read it here — was a description of Judi Dench’s Old Deuteronomy as “a Yoda-esque fluff ball with a huge ruff who brings to mind the Cowardly Lion en route to a drag ball as Queen Elizabeth I.” The claws are out across the internet. We’ve gathered a few of the sharpest lines for your reading pleasure.

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From left, Danny Collins as Mungojerrie, Taylor Swift as Bombalurina and Naoimh Morgan as Rumpleteazer.Credit...Universal Pictures Better Left Onstage Was adapting Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Tony Award-winning musical, which enjoyed decades of fame and profit around the world, a mistake? For many, the answer was yes. “‘Cats’ turns the most vacuous stage musical of the 1980s into a big-screen litter box for the hammiest of stars to unload into,” Peter Howell of The Toronto Star wrote. The headline of his one-and-a-half-star review: ‘Cats’ is a dog — a big, dumb, loud one.” The original stage show was marketed as a musical for the masses, Kevin Fallon noted in a critique for The Daily Beast. “Because it is legitimately insane, it made an entire generation of people think they hated musical theater. Wait ’til they see this movie!”

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Idris Elba as Macavity, left, and Francesca Hayward as Victoria.Credit...Universal Pictures, via Associated Press ‘A Horror and an Endurance Test’ Among the chief complaints about “Cats” — the stage musical as well as the film — is the lack of a story line. Justin Chang of The Los Angeles Times described it as “a movie in which making sense was the very last priority” and summed up the plot as “Les Meowsérables.” He continued: For the most part, “Cats” is both a horror and an endurance test, a dispatch from some neon-drenched netherworld where the ghastly is inextricable from the tedious. Every so often it does paws — ahem, pause — to rise to the level of a self-aware hoot. “Unless you’re on strong mind-altering substances while you’re watching the film, you will either be baffled or bored by this pseudo-religious nonsense,” Nicholas Barber of the BBC wrote in his two-star review. Peter Debruge, Variety’s chief film critic, said the director Tom Hooper’s “outlandishly tacky interpretation seems destined to become one of those once-in-a-blue-moon embarrassments that mars the résumés of great actors” and “trips up the careers of promising newcomers.” What’s Up With the Fur? One of the main draws of the film was supposedly the special effects to crossbreed feline and human anatomies using a technique called “digital fur technology.” The effects, however, have been most kindly described as “creepy.” “Millions of dollars and thousands of hours have been sunk into making the cats in ‘Cats’ look like hypertrichotic mutants from the Uncanny Valley Of Dr. Moreau, with tails and furry faces and hairless human fingers and toes,” Ignatiy Vishnevetsky wrote for The AV Club. “Their proportions in relation to the sets seem all wrong.” David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter offered this reminder to those who watched the trailer: If you recoiled back then at the sight of British acting royalty with their faces stuck onto little furry bodies, or even just the jarring image of cats with human breasts, chances are you’ll still be covering your eyes and peering in a profoundly disturbed state through the gaps between your fingers at the finished film. At least until boredom sets in. Not Safe for Children “Anyone who takes small children to this movie is setting them up for winged-monkey levels of night terrors,” Ty Burr of The Boston Globe wrote. “I truly believe our divided nation can be healed and brought together as one by ‘Cats’ — the musical, the movie, the disaster,” he said. “In other news, my eyes are burning. Oh God, my eyes.” Matt Goldberg, writing for Collider, nodded to the onscreen sexual tension: But if it wasn’t enough to make the cats horny (why are they so horny), Hooper also feels the need to make it gross by having them dig through trash and play up their animal instincts. “Cats” always feels like it’s two seconds away from turning into a furry orgy in a dumpster. That’s the energy you have to sit with for almost two hours. Slate’s headline was succinct: “The ‘Cats’ Movie Is a Void of Horny Confusion.” Put It Out of Its Misery Tyler Coates of Wired said the film was “awful”: It has been a while since a big-budget, star-packed studio film has felt like such a disaster from start to finish. Befuddling, confusing, deeply ugly, and incredibly un-fun, I surely won’t be the only critic to recommend ‘Cats’ be put down immediately. What has for decades been something of a pop culture joke is now an even more wackadoo entertainment event. It’s almost as if Hooper and company were tasked with making the worst movie they could conceive of, that it was one epic troll — that could be the nicest thing I could say about it, that they have achieved something. ‘Not That Bad!’ “I realize that critique won’t be used in Cats’ advertising campaign,” Mara Reinstein of Us Weekly wrote. “But the musical does indeed have its merits — and is not nearly as disastrous as you feared.” Richard Lawson of Vanity Fair also showed mercy and described the film as “an ugly stray who smells bad and should not be invited into your home, certainly.” “And yet it is its own kind of living creature, worthy of at least some basic compassion.”

https://ift.tt/34Kq2g2 . Foreign Articles December 20, 2019 at 03:45PM

#. Foreign Articles Critics’ Claws Are Out for ‘Cats’: A Roundup of Reviews

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bigyack-com · 5 years ago

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China Condemns U.S. Over Hong Kong. That Won’t Stop Trade Talks.

SHANGHAI — China vented on Thursday after President Trump signed new human rights legislation covering the protest-wracked city of Hong Kong. It denounced the new law as illegal interference in its own affairs. It summoned the American ambassador for the second time in a week. It vowed retaliation.The threats sounded severe. They also sounded empty.Behind the harsh rhetoric, China has few options for striking back at the United States in a meaningful way. And it has bigger priorities — namely, ending the increasingly punishing trade war between the two countries. Though both sides are talking about their willingness to reach a deal, they have yet to sign even an interim pact that would head off potentially damaging new tariffs less than three weeks from now.On Thursday, Beijing’s main agency on trade remained quiet on the legislation even as other officials railed against it, suggesting that the government remained open to a trade deal and would let the volatile issue of Hong Kong simmer, at least for now.“Beijing will make a lot of noises but they can’t afford to do much,” said Steve Tsang, director of the SOAS China Institute in London, a research center. “The trade deal is so important to the Chinese that they won’t let anything upset it.”On the face of it, President Trump’s signature on two bills looks like a direct brushback against Beijing’s rule over Hong Kong. The former British colony operates under its own laws but has come increasingly under the sway of Beijing, one reason behind the increasingly violent protests that have troubled the Chinese territory for five months. The first bill authorizes the American government to impose sanctions on Chinese or Hong Kong officials responsible for human rights abuses there. The second bill bans the sale of American-made tear gas, rubber bullets or other crowd-control equipment to the Hong Kong authorities.China’s reaction was immediate but unspecific. It summoned Terry Branstad, the American ambassador to China, to complain about the Hong Kong legislation, after doing the same thing just three days ago. Hu Xijin, the well-connected editor of the nationalistic Global Times tabloid, said China could retaliate by banning the legislation’s drafters from China and Hong Kong, a move that would be symbolic at best.At a daily news conference in Beijing on Thursday, Geng Shuang, a spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry, said Beijing may take unspecified countermeasures. “This so-called act will only make the broad Chinese people, including their compatriots in Hong Kong, more aware of the sinister intentions and hegemonic nature of the U.S.,” he said, adding that “the plot of the U.S. side is doomed to failure.”Still, asked about trade, Mr. Geng said only that the United States should not implement the law “so as to not affect China-U.S. relations.” And at its weekly news conference on Thursday, China’s Commerce Ministry — the arm of the Chinese government directly involved in trade talks — did not mention the American legislation. The Trump administration has sent its own signals that it does not want the Hong Kong legislation to derail trade talks. Mr. Trump signed the bills in private, outside the presence of lawmakers, photographers and television crews. He also said, without offering specifics, that some of the provisions might infringe on the constitutional prerogatives of the presidency to oversee foreign policy, suggesting he may not implement them. While the Chinese government sees the unrest in Hong Kong as a test of its strength and authority, it has reasons to put the economy first. The trade war has contributed to an economic slowdown that has sent growth to its most sluggish pace in nearly three decades. Economic indicators in recent weeks suggest the slowdown has continued, if not worsened. The Communist Party governs with undisputed power in China based on a promise of a better life, so a slowdown could present a direct challenge to its rule. At the same time, China has come to realize in recent weeks that it needs massive imports of meat to offset an epidemic that has killed half or more of the country’s pigs. The United States is the world’s second-largest producer of pork after China, the second-largest soybean producer for animal feed after Brazil and the largest beef producer.China and the United States are far from ending their trade war. But both sides are trying to reach a stopgap pact, called the Phase 1 trade agreement. Reaching a deal could forestall another round of American tariffs set to go into effect on Dec. 15 on even more Chinese imports, including consumer goods like smartphones and laptops.Chinese negotiators “feel that they’re getting enough out of the trade talks not to let other issues, like North Korea and other questions, get in the way,” said James Green, who was the top trade official at the United States Embassy in Beijing until last year and is now a senior associate at McLarty Associates, a Washington consulting firm.China has let similar affronts pass without meaningful retaliation in recent months as it tries to seek a deal. For example, Chinese officials continued to negotiate after the Canadian authorities at the behest of Washington last year arrested a top executive of Huawei, the Chinese telecommunications giant. Negotiations continued also after the United States put more than two dozen Chinese companies and organizations on a blacklist over human rights concerns. Beijing could take a similar approach to Hong Kong, where its problems would be difficult to solve quickly in any case. Large-scale protests began in Hong Kong in June over a bill that would have allowed the extradition of Hong Kong residents and visitors to the opaque and often harsh judicial system in mainland China. While that Hong Kong government bill was finally withdrawn this autumn, protesters have broadened their goals to include the introduction of universal suffrage and a general amnesty for several thousand demonstrators who have been arrested at protests.The unrest led to a major setback for Beijing on Sunday, when Hong Kong residents voted overwhelmingly in favor of antigovernment candidates in elections for neighborhood councils. The results signaled broad discontent with the territory’s Beijing-aligned leaders and undermined a Communist Party narrative that a silent majority in Hong Kong opposed the protests but dared not speak out. Despite the setback, Beijing may now have the freedom to play the long game with Hong Kong. Tensions have eased and street violence has subsided considerably since the vote. Sunday’s elections were held with minimal disruptions. Even before the vote, Hong Kong’s stock market had begun to climb again, even though the territory’s economy has fallen into a recession for the first time in a decade. On Tuesday, Alibaba, the Chinese e-commerce giant, raised billions of dollars through a share sale in Hong Kong, suggesting that the city remains a crucial financial center for Chinese companies. That could give Beijing room to see what its opponents do next. In particular, the winners of Sunday’s vote will now have to show that they can meet the needs of their constituents. The more than 250 pro-democracy candidates who won local office for the first time last Sunday will have to deal with countless tiny community management issues, from the location of bus stops to complaints over air-conditioners that drip too much. Most of the city’s new district councilors, many of them in their 20s, campaigned on democracy issues instead of less glamorous community service.“I just hope the radicals in the democratic camp haven’t bitten off more than they can chew,” said Leung Chun-ying, a former chief executive of Hong Kong who is now a top adviser to Beijing’s leadership.Hong Kong’s core issues are unlikely to be solved anytime soon. They could extend past the American elections next year, when Chinese negotiators may face a new American president. While Beijing may wait for now, the challenges presented by the American legislation are not likely to be forgotten. Mr. Trump’s signing of the bill could intensify fears within the Communist Party that its influence is waning in the territory and provoke additional efforts to tighten control.Mr. Xi’s government said last month that it would roll out new steps to “safeguard national security” in Hong Kong, though it has not offered specifics.The more the United States tries to “play the Hong Kong card,” said Tian Feilong, executive director of a research institute on Hong Kong policy in Beijing, “the deeper China’s anxiety over Hong Kong’s national security gets.”“The central government will even more urgently consider its methods and systems to control Hong Kong,” Mr. Tian said.Keith Bradsher reported from Shanghai, Javier C. Hernández from Beijing and Alexandra Stevenson from Hong Kong. Albee Zhang, Elsie Chen and Claire Fu contributed research from Beijing. Source link Read the full article

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complexmagrparchive · 7 years ago

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A RETROSPECTIVE’S BLISS

NAME › Ji Sungjoon D.O.B. › 07 05 1985 (32) OCCUPATION › Creative Director at Complex INSTA › @57jsj

content warning: mentions of death

PORTFOLIO

ACADEMIC

central saint martins, london (BA with hons)

INTERNSHIP

high cut –– general / editorial intern ( may – sep 2009; 24 y/o )

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

vogue –– assistant to content manager ( oct 2009 – oct 2010 )

arena homme –– assistant to production manager ( jan 2011 – sep 2011 )

elle –– production manager ( oct 2011 - nov 2013 )

grazia –– fashion market director ( dec 2013 - dec 2015 )

complex –– creative director ( feb 2016 – present )

OTHER INVOLVEMENT

london fashion week, sep 2010 –– sep 2015

asian fashion week london, 2011 –– 2014

seoul fashion week 2016 & 2017

DETAILS

the change in scenery wasn’t unwelcomed, but it did take sungjoon a little longer than expected –– to settle in, to knock apart old habits. his mother spoke words of promises, of a fresh and better beginning, and this was what he would remember. his stepfather was a nice man albeit a tad withdrawn from personal relations.

he was (barely) remembered as the reticent kid through high school, always seated alone at the back of every class. they were his only friends, only companions that made tedious days tolerable.

graduation, military service and college –– distance was inevitable and contact was at the minimal, with everyone moving onto different trajectories, and him moving to another country.

art school wasn’t unexpected, considering his forte for sieving through the seemingly mundane and common for something that had potential to be the next trend-setter. grades and (what little of his then) portfolio worked in his favour to land him in a prestigious school in london.

the competitiveness within the curriculum unearthed him, yanking old habits by the roots and planting unfamiliarities. gone was the boy who’d always been meek and hesitant with speaking his mind, and in its place was someone unforgiving, ruthless, and with a tendency to burn through his short temper fuse.

the internship with vogue in his last year of college kickstarted his career with an offer upon graduation. and he’d soon come to realize that there was absolutely no space for contemplation, any moment of soft-heartedness could have him thrown under the bus instead.

moving onto grazia was by choice –– surviving in and adapting to new environments were never really much of a problem. moving back to korea, though, was by chance. sooyoung’s untimely death had shaken him to the core, so much so that what was meant to be a brief trip back for the funeral ended up as a prolonged stay.

wanting to pick up where she’d left off, accomplish what she’d planned to, he accepted an offer shortly after and began work as a production manager in one of south korea’s most prestigious fashion publication, COMPLEX. three years later he was promoted as the creative director and had been in the position since. life was what he’d begun to know it to be: tedious routines and grooves, working in tandem as gears in a cut-throat industry.

things appeared to be on track, right up till his ill-fated meeting with nara. for all thirty-two years of his life, he’d never met someone who’d grated his nerves in all the wrong ways possible. with his stepfather’s career switch from a businessman to running a campaign for the office, everyone remotely related to him was trapped under a microscope.

the marriage wasn’t so much romance than it was terms and conditions marked out in black and white, and all of a sudden words of congratulations had never appeared this dreary and meaningless.

( I. ) LESSON ONE: two beginnings.

the redacted: shabby walls, air heavy and congested, burnt out cigarette stubs hidden in every nook and cranny of the apartment –– responsible for the residual and suffocating scent of smoke, empty cans stacked in a corner with no order whatsoever, cold and clammy hands that brushed against his albeit rarely, deadweight like winter was trapped within, hushed whispers that were probably not meant to be heard (he couldn’t understand what they were talking about anyway), sullen eyes holding more than he could comprehend. the replacement: a fresh coat of paint, polished jade and wood embellishing shelves, their voices echoed within spaces (too much of it), unfamiliar hands with a different kind of warmth, tranquility like fresh spring — promising albeit a tad distant, sense of normalcy reconstructed and years of childhood redefined.

( II. ) LESSON TWO: blessing in disguise

––– in a year’s time, he’d forgotten how his father looked. in two years’ time, he’d forgotten the warmth of his father’s hand, how the rough creases used to rub his palms and cheeks as though in unspoken apologies. –––

his stepfather was very much a nice man, just a tad too withdrawn from anything too close to heart. having been sloughing through years of business management and socialising on a corporate basis, he had simply never gotten out of playing the ideal businessman role enough to indulge and engage in the ways of a father. joon liked him –– the man had his heart in the right places but had never lifted the barriers of his work enough for joon to be completely comfortable with him.

nonetheless, the simplicity of things sat well with sungjoon; he reckoned this could’ve ended up much worse.

( III. ) LESSON THREE: patterns

“c’mon, i promise i’ll stop asking if you come with us once, just once, please? they’re nice, i promise, hm?”

high school was characterised simply with the same routine of: books, exams, late nights, and repeat. he was (barely) remembered and spoken of, always the same reticent kid seated in the same corner of the library and always alone. they were (she was) his only companions that made tedious days tolerable, only friends that filled lonesome school years with something memorable.

sooyoung was amiable, warm, outspoken, humorous and everything he wasn’t. her inherent ability to effortlessly coax him into just about everything and anything was frustrating to say the least, yet most of the time he found the results to be tolerably satisfactory and at times, rewarding.

it was one too many late nights spent in empty classrooms and the art room, the occasional chanced glances that he could’ve sworn were not wholly just coincidental. she’d never asked, but he’d always walked her home afterwards, hands in his pockets and heart remaining in his own chest, beating, beating, waiting.

***

the tool in mind worked faster than the hand, always steps ahead with what he’d attempted to translate into actuality, in which encapsulated unvoiced words. coherency and sanity were found in the simplest of sketches and varying intensity of strokes, shifting his mind into an ideal state of tranquility, in between consciousness.

it was therapeutic: the seeking and creation of patterns, seeing things neatly arranged and categorised in a way that few others could echo with. in these lands that he’d created for himself ( and occasionally for an audience ) — projected from a fraction of reality, fantasised and malleable, he learnt to find comfort in solitude.

( IV. ) LESSON FOUR: wolves without teeth

what had begun as an interest throughout his high school days had grown to become a steering force, directing him onto this trajectory that he’d adamantly embarked on despite his stepfather’s initial wishes of a business major.

college was far from home and cold, and he was alone once again.

***

trust didn’t come easy in an industry that gave little to no room for mistakes and hesitation. the ebb and flow of things rinsed out the outdated and slow, and he had to learn fast. a sticky situation with a fellow intern was resolved with the immediate termination of the other’s contract. sungjoon had justified it as such: it was the right thing to do when one’s idea was on the verge of being plagiarised, the only thing to do. perhaps he could understand where the other was coming from, but as the field expanded, it had in place this bottleneck filter that retained only the minority, the cream of the crop, and the only direction sungjoon knew was up.

––– savagery was inevitable; it was fangs kept hidden from plain sight until the right moment, always a game of waiting for the right timing, and finding the perfect opportunity to strike. –––

( V. ) LESSON FIVE: the hardest part about you leaving is that i lost all the words i had to say

in place of the usual messages, this particular one was succinct.

date: xx/xx/xx venue: xxx, seoul attire: formal suit

it hadn’t wholly sunken into his head yet, not even when he boarded the flight back to seoul. he’d been expecting to hear from her, from them, but not like that.

silence reigned in a way that it’d tuned out the mourning and the tears. words of condolences were ready on the tongue, but were never spoken –– he couldn’t. a neat little frame with a photo that was likely to be taken recently, he mused at how time had been kind of her as though she was still seventeen. for the longest time he stayed in front of it, wordlessly, knees sore and chest heavy; as though he was still seventeen, still the same boy who’d always been waiting, waiting, waiting for her to lift the silence for the both of them ( and his heart along with it ).

***

resigning from grazia for an extended stay in korea, the following months were spent in absolute agony, dwelling on the uncertainties and the could-have-beens. though if there was something he could do fairly well, it’d be to translate negativity into motivation –– wanting to pick up where she’d left off, accomplish what she’d planned to but couldn’t.

spring, 2012: he moved back to korea and officially commenced employment with complex.

( VI. ) LESSON SIX: another chapter, a different beginning

a seemingly unrelated career switch by his stepfather, had an unpredicted implication of sort on sungjoon. having a member of the family run a campaign for the office meant that everyone remotely related would be trapped under a microscope. the media and opposition were more than prepared to magnify any bit of flaws that could possibly taint the campaigns and effectively swayed the voters’ minds to their favour.

an almost hook-up, booze-fused words with the heavy, bitter taste of regret on his tongue. granted, she was one of the most stunning women he’d ever met and she tasted of cherries and rum with a tinge of honey; granted, alcohol and a lightened mood had lowered his inhibitions enough for words to run loose, unguarded, unfiltered; granted, he could’ve apologised but he refused to compromise his own standards. in his defence, he’d thought that’d be the last of it ( of her, of them ).

they were but a product to be exchanged, manipulated; chess pieces placed rather strategically such that there was meant to have two winners. it wasn’t romance as overly depicted by the media –– it was terms and conditions in black and white and a deal meant to benefit both parties.

and all of a sudden, words of congratulations had never appeared this dreary and meaningless.

#cx:accepted #ji changwook #ji chang wook

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mastcomm · 5 years ago

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Why Matteo Salvini Is Hoping to Be Prosecuted

ROME — Matteo Salvini can hardly believe his good fortune. He’s facing prosecution.

In another country, that might spell trouble for a politician like Mr. Salvini, Italy’s nationalist leader. But Mr. Salvini is being pursued for turning away rescued migrants when he was interior minister, by southern prosecutors who have called it an abuse of power and an act of abduction.

As the effort to criminally pursue Mr. Salvini comes to a critical juncture, just weeks after a defeat in an important regional election thwarted his attempted return to power, he has seized upon it as a political life raft.

“Immigration is surely not a theme that scares me,” said Mr. Salvini in an interview in his Senate office, surrounded by the law enforcement shirts he often dressed up in, dozens of cross necklaces dangling in a row like Mardi Gras beads and assorted gifts that he receives on the campaign trail.

It’s not hard to see why. The potential prosecution has unwittingly revived migration as an issue despite only a trickle of arrivals to Italy.

And it has rearmed Mr. Salvini, an expert in political victimization, with a powerful issue to rally his base. Next week he will convene a news conference with the foreign media, hoping to elevate his international profile as a Trump-like target of political persecution.

“I see the similarities of a left that tries to win through legal means that which it can’t win through democratic means,” Mr. Salvini said in the interview, on the day of Mr. Trump’s acquittal in a Senate trial.

He added that prosecutions “against Trump will end in nothing and they will end in nothing for me.”

Rather than run from the case, Mr. Salvini can hardly stop talking about it, in his daily Facebook Live soliloquies, campaign trail appearances and interviews. He spoke with amazement about a schedule of votes this month and the next to determine whether or not he could be prosecuted for the signature issue that fueled his rise to become the most popular politician in Italy.

“Here,” he said, “every month there is a request to prosecute on immigration that they send forward.”

They, as Mr. Salvini sees it, are ideologically motivated magistrates spurred on by liberal enemies determined to stop his rise in Italian politics.

Mr. Salvini’s critics see a more straightforward case of his breaking the law, not to mention disregarding the dire human suffering of those on board the ships he left floating at sea, and of a judicial system doing its job to hold him accountable. They are doubtful that Mr. Salvini will actually vote for the case to go ahead in another legislative step on Feb. 12. His office says it is still evaluating what to do.

Either way, Mr. Salvini, despite his complaint about having to eat breakfast with his lawyer rather than his girlfriend, is now relishing the opportunity.

In the politics of persecution, Mr. Salvini has few peers, having picked up where Silvio Berlusconi left off. The media magnate and former conservative prime minister spent decades excoriating Italy’s prosecutors as the country’s Communist opposition — to great political fortune.

Mr. Salvini has replaced Mr. Berlusconi as the de facto leader of the Italian right, though he has sat on the sidelines since his coalition government collapsed last summer.

Before then, in one of his last official acts, Mr. Salvini prevented the Italian Coast Guard ship, the Gregoretti, from bringing rescued migrants to an Italian port for days.

On Dec. 17, a court in the southern city of Catania asked a panel in the Italian Senate to lift Mr. Salvini’s immunity and allow him to be prosecuted for “abducting” the migrants by refusing to let the Gregoretti dock.

On Jan. 31, a Palermo court made a similar request concerning a Spanish aid boat carrying scores of migrants, some of whom Mr. Salvini kept adrift for weeks, in violation of a court order allowing them to enter Italian waters.

But even Mr. Salvini’s political opponents have sensed the danger of turning him into a martyr on the migration issue. They have wavered on whether to let the prosecutions proceed, suggested they be delayed until after regional elections and ultimately abstained in critical votes.

There has, however, been one surprise advocate for allowing the prosecutions to go forward: Mr. Salvini himself.

“They will put on trial the entire Italian people,” he took to saying on the campaign trail, often to sustained applause.

Mr. Salvini and his nationalist allies understand how much the issue of migration still resonates with European voters. On Tuesday, Viktor Orban, the prime minister of Hungary, appeared at a conference of international conservatives in a Rome hotel and said the importance of the 2015 migration crisis was that it had lifted the taboo of speaking about identity and national borders.

Mr. Orban urged his allies to “use the chance” the immigration issue provided them. He also seemed to take subtle dig at Mr. Salvini when he asked the crowd how one could help one’s nation “if you are not skillful enough to keep the power.”

Guests at the conference said they were disappointed that Mr. Salvini, who was expected to appear, didn’t show. Mr. Salvini’s office said he never confirmed and there was a scheduling conflict.

Since Mr. Salvini’s failed bid to trigger early elections by pulling the plug on his coalition with the Five Star Movement last year, staying at the center of things has become more of a challenge.

That problem has intensified since his candidate’s loss in the regional elections in January in Emilia Romagna, a traditional left-wing stronghold where Mr. Salvini spent weeks campaigning to demonstrate his dominance of Italian politics and his appeal in formerly enemy territory. He lost badly.

In an effort to find his footing, he has focused on more regional elections this year to apply pressure on Italy’s fragile government, an awkward alliance of his former, and cratering, Five Star partners and the center-left Democratic Party.

But the man who just weeks ago was in such a hurry to collapse the government now seemed resigned to the fact that he had to play a long game. The next elections are not scheduled until 2023.

When discussing his potential comeback, Mr. Salvini exclaimed, “There’s no rush!”

In the meantime, Italian political analysts have argued that Mr. Salvini needed to move more toward the center to expand his support beyond 33 percent. There were some indications that Mr. Salvini wanted to shed his hard-right image.

In the interview, Mr. Salvini said that it was “probably a reductive vision” to lump him in with other nationalists like Mr. Orban and Marine Le Pen in France based solely on their shared opposition to migration.

His League party, formerly the Northern League, he pointed out, ran many of Italy’s regions, including one of its richest and most successful, Lombardy.

It had also, he failed to note, once advocated breaking Lombardy and the rest of the north away from Italy in a fictional nation called Padania. But now, Mr. Salvini said, the League was a truly national party and it had become clear that “Lombardy alone goes nowhere.”

Even so, Mr. Salvini argued that he was in no way distancing himself from the hard-right nationalist milieu in which he emerged as a global leader. Despite failing to appear at the conservative conference, he met privately with Mr. Orban and “brainstormed about scenarios of future collaboration.”

His hard line on immigration — prosecution or not — was a winning one, and one from which he wouldn’t budge.

“I don’t move,” he said, as he sat at his desk, waiting for the bell signaling the next Senate vote to ring.

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biofunmy · 5 years ago

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Believe in Giannis Antetokounmpo. But the Milwaukee Bucks?

I’d usually wait until after the N.B.A. season to take stock of all the basketball takes I got wrong and issue a mea culpa. But with slightly less than half of this campaign completed, I am finding that the season has flummoxed me more than any other in my years of watching basketball. So many trends I thought I was seeing have already reversed themselves, some in spectacular fashion.

So I need to come clean. New year, new me, as they say.

There was the time I predicted the Knicks would make the playoffs. I considered out loud whether the Toronto Raptors were that much better than the Knicks after they lost Kawhi Leonard. I speculated that Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns would become a candidate for the Most Valuable Player Award after his hot start. I wrote that the Philadelphia 76ers “look like a top contender” with their approach of valuing height over shooting and starting four players at least 6-foot-8. I unironically wondered if the Phoenix Suns were for real.

It’s easy — and fair — to laugh at me now. And many of you have! The Raptors appear to be resilient and deep. The Knicks were 10-24 (and minus one head coach) going into Friday night’s game after a three-game winning streak. The Timberwolves are in the midst of yet another disappointing season, and the chatter is that Towns wants out.

The Suns are the Suns, and the Sixers, tall as they are, have been just O.K.

I’ve been trying to figure out where I went wrong. With the Knicks, I overlooked how much fit matters and put too much weight on new talent. With the Suns, I thought a new culture under Monty Williams and the addition of solid veterans like Aron Baynes and Ricky Rubio would reverse years of lackadaisical franchise building.

But more than all of that, the game has been harder to predict because of greater parity than usual. And injuries — lots of them. They have affected league standings more than in any season in recent memory.

I’ve been more Nostradonotbelieveme than Nostradamus. But here’s a fresh batch of takeaways as we enter a new decade, and along with that, hopefully more accuracy.

Don’t trust the Bucks.

The Milwaukee Bucks are 31-5, easily the best record in the league. They are beating teams by an average of almost 13 points a game. They have Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has only improved, especially as a shooter, since his M.V.P. Award-winning campaign last year. They are the best defensive team in the N.B.A. and play at the fastest pace. They have several fun role players, including Donte DiVincenzo, George Hill and the Lopez brothers. There is an outside chance that the Bucks win 70 games.

But.

I predicted the Bucks would make the finals this year. And now I’m taking it back, especially after watching their Christmas Day loss to the Sixers. I underestimated how much better the rest of the Eastern Conference is compared with previous seasons. And I’m skeptical of a team with only one elite playmaker.

In the playoffs, as games slow down and defenses key in more on Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton won’t be a strong enough secondary playmaker to take much pressure off Antetokounmpo. Milwaukee reminds me too much of the 2009-10 Cleveland Cavaliers with LeBron James: a world-beating superstar surrounded by O.K.-to-good role players who fizzled out in the second round.

The Bucks are sixth in the N.B.A. in running isolation plays, according to the league’s tracking stats, further fueling my skepticism. Antetokounmpo’s usage rate is nearly 38 percent — on pace for a career high, by far. That’s a lot to put on him in the playoffs. A miffed Bucks fan would point out that Antetokounmpo plays only 31 minutes a game and that the offense barely dips with him on the bench. Or that no team has outscored its opponents by as many points, on average, as the Bucks since the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, one of the greatest teams of all time. All true! But I surmise that this will change in the playoffs.

(I pre-emptively apologize for being totally wrong about this.)

The Nuggets are disappointing — but not a disappointment.

The early national television games featuring the Denver Nuggets were filled with pronouncements of disappointment, in spite of their 10-3 start. It was noted that there was something missing from this team. That Nikola Jokic wasn’t himself. That once again, the Nuggets needed more from Jamal Murray and Will Barton.

And yet, Denver finds itself in second place in the Western Conference. It has won 10 of its last 12 games. Jokic, after a less-than-stellar beginning to the season, reasserted himself in December, averaging 20.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 7.4 assists on an efficient 62.9 true shooting percentage. The Nuggets have done all this despite playing below-average defense since Dec. 1. And much of their recent schedule has been soft, including a double-digit win at Staples Center against the Los Angeles Lakers, who were missing James that night. But there’s no discounting a road win on Thursday against the Indiana Pacers, who have been dominant at home.

The Nuggets are one of those teams that are extraordinarily difficult to gauge. They have a bona fide M.V.P. talent in Jokic, and every top-tier contender needs one of those. They have solid surrounding talent, with Murray, Barton and Paul Millsap, and productive players who don’t try to do too much, like Mason Plumlee. The rookie Michael Porter Jr. is making the most of his recently expanded playing time (due to the team’s injuries), averaging 15.5 points a game in his last four contests on 74 percent shooting. If he gets comfortable on the court, watch out.

The Nuggets are second in the West — only three games behind the Lakers before Friday’s action — and on pace for more wins than last season.

Yet, you want more from the Nuggets. You expect them to have made a leap the way the Bucks have. Sure, they’re in second place in a tough conference. But while the Nuggets are outscoring their opponents on average by about 4 points a game — more than last season and good for ninth in the league — they’re not dominant. They do just enough to get by. For the third straight season, they are playing at one of the league’s slower paces. They don’t drive to the basket often, but they move the ball well.

The team is not especially great at anything, but after struggling to score to start the season, Denver has had a top-five offense since the beginning of December. That’s a start.

The Nuggets aren’t disappointing per se, but this season is another second-round playoff exit in the making. Still, not to worry, Denver fans. Before you take up the pitchforks, remember that given my recent track record, I will most likely be toasting the N.B.A. champion Nuggets come June.

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