#switzerland what to do if you have covid

[apnajourney]

Unexplored Things to do in Lauterbrunnen Switzerland apnajourney.com

Unexplored Things to do in Lauterbrunnen Switzerland Some places make you feel that this is how heaven would look like Magical waterfalls, stunningly green valleys mountain peaks and dramatic vertical walls in the heart of the Swiss Alps, Lauterbrunnen valley has a sense of drama in every direction Read more

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[imperatorrrrr]

another new Nico Hischier interview, this time in French, highlights below:

Q: Are you still living your dream? A: Yes, of course. It has always been my dream to be a professional hockey player. It is an honour to be able to do it, to have the health to do it. To do what I love. Many others would have loved to be in my shoes. I wake up every morning with the thought that I am privileged. I do my best to help my team win games. 

Q: You are presented as a hockey star. How big is the pressure? A: It is enormous. It starts right away when you become a professional player. And it stays the whole time. In Europe and across the Atlantic. The pressure is everywhere, not just in hockey. It is about knowing how to manage it. To put yourself in a condition to release it. It is not always easy, when you have thousands of people scrutinizing what you do. You have to take the best of it. The pressure helps me give the best of myself in every situation. That is how I can go to bed with a good feeling without being disappointed in myself. 

Q: "It's not always easy," according to you. What were the most complicated moments of your career? A: The most difficult period was undoubtedly the season marked by Covid. Also because of the injuries that affected me. I learned a lot from that period. There was the virus. I was injured, I trained in my corner. Fortunately, my mother was able to join me, even in times of pandemic, to be by my side during the operation. I realized at that moment that health was the most important aspect. These injuries affected me at the time, but they also sounded like an inner awakening. I was able to put the cursor on what matters and in sport it is health.

Q: How do you deal with loneliness and being away from your loved ones? A: That's not easy either. I love Switzerland. I love being here with my family and friends. It's very important, even more so during the summer, to be with the people who matter, to recharge my batteries. When I go back to the United States, my life pretty much revolves around hockey. Well, only around hockey. We play three to four games a week, we travel a lot. When my friends or family come to see me, it gives me a good boost. To sum up, I appreciate both situations: my life there but also being able to come back, recharge my batteries and go back to America to give my all in hockey.

Q: Who are your friends and how do you find the balance between hockey and everything else? A: In the team, I share a lot of things with Jonas Siegenthaler and Timo Meier. Guys I already knew from a young age. It's cool to be able to play with them. I'm also lucky to have been able to meet players from other countries, to meet new people. Americans, Canadians, Swedes, Czechs. It's very enriching to have all these cultures and to be able to come together around a common passion.

Q: Has life in the United States changed you? What is American in you? A: Open-mindedness. Being open to others, to meeting new people. You don't need to be friends with everyone, but it is important to listen to others, to take their opinions into account. Nevertheless, I remain very Swiss, I feel very Swiss. 

Q: What do you mean? A: I don't know. I'm still very close to my family, my friends. I try not to attract too much attention. I'm content with little things, simple things. A good dinner, a raclette from time to time, a good glass of wine. These are moments that I appreciate.

Q: Let's talk about your club, the New Jersey Devils. A club that has evolved considerably since your arrival? A: That's for sure. It's very different from what I knew when I started. We were among the youngest on the team with Jasper Brett and Pavel Zacha. The other teammates were all more or less in their thirties. Everything was new to me. But it was good. I was able to learn a lot from all the experienced players. They made me understand a lot of things. What it means to be a Devil, how to take care of your body, it was very varied. In the middle of my journey, the team got younger and I had to take on more and more responsibilities. Today, there are obviously some younger than me. It's changed a lot in 7 years and that's normal. For my part, I try hard to present the best version of myself every day. 

Q: You are seen as a leader. You are a leader. Was that natural for you? A: Absolutely. On the ice, it's clear. I've always wanted to do things well. I've always wanted to win. A true leader has to have that mentality, putting your ego aside for the good of the team. Off the ice, I'm not the most visible or the loudest but I also enjoy the camaraderie, the jokes and the outings. Maybe that's where I have the most to learn. But I'm still learning. I'm only 25 years old. There's still more to explore. 

Q: You might think that communication is essential? A: It is very important. You never know how people react, what they need. You have to find a good balance between what you give, what you ask and what you receive. To be a leader, you need empathy, understanding but also firmness in your demands. Some aspects were more complicated for me but I try to find the right balance.

Q: Is the feeling of representing Switzerland even stronger when you have a career so far away like you? A: It's clear. They speak Swiss German in the locker room. I meet friends I had known in juniors. Hockey remains a small world, a small environment and not just in Switzerland. And it's always nice to meet up with people you know to share such an experience in a world championship.

Q: Are you ambitious, optimistic for the next big events, the 2026 Olympics and the 2026 World Cup? A: Of course. We have proven in recent years that we have a very good Swiss team. We know how it works in sport. Every piece is important, every detail counts to reach the top. But we have to believe in our chances. And we have a good group, as I said. I am looking forward to the next tournaments. The Olympic Games are certainly a dream for me, having never been there. It is different from a world championship but we will have the same ambition. You never know in sport. 

Q: Your season is so long. You could skip the Swiss national team selections. Why is it so important? For the good times, the ones that remain. I grew up watching Switzerland. And to be able to represent them, it really means something special to me. It's always a pleasure to wear this jersey, to see the fans of the national team. It gives me a lot of joy. It hasn't happened yet, but the only reason that would make me give up would be physical unavailability or mental fatigue. If I feel fit, I'll go. If not, it's a matter of being honest and giving up, because it wouldn't be good for me or for the team. 

[pedropascalunofficial]

"Pedro"

Behind the scenes of the making of God Said No by Omar Apollo

Lyrics to "Pedro"

If meadows was a man, would you trade me for your land?

Mine still have a misty dew

Something I can offer you

If I could get the chance, would you train me with your hands?

Hold me with a magnitude

That takes me to a better view.

Okay, I'm not sure how to start this

I remember I finished a job

And I was too scared to go back to the US

It was, like, second-wave COVID in Europe

And, um, I was going from Budapest to Switzerland

That was a place that I could get to to buy some time

And figure out what I would do before Christmas

And I also arrived, um, very shattered

Uh, I'd had an incredible time on a job

But my heart was, uh, pretty shattered by something

And, uh, and I remember walking

I think it must've been Lucerne

I remember thinking the, the saying like, um, "It brought me to my knees"

And it was this sort of residential area

And I remember just literally being kind of brought to my knees

By a park bench, and, um

And I remember asking the park bench to come alive and save me

'Cause I didn't feel like there was kind of any moment past that moment

But there was, there was

I can't believe I'm sending you this"

Entertainment Weekly posted this interview shortly before Pedro travelled to Lucerne.

(Thank you so much for sending this💜)

[eff4freddie]

Pedro | Omar Apollo

Transcript

(clears throat)

"mmm...ok, I'm not sure how to start this. I remember, I finished a job and I was too scared to go back to the US. It was like...2nd wave Covid in Europe and umm...I was going from Budapest to Switzerland. That was a place that I could get to to buy some time, and figure out what I would do before Christmas. And I also arrived very shattered. I'd had an incredible time on a job but my heart was pretty shattered by something.

And uhh...I remember walking, I think it must have been Lucerne, I remember thinking the saying - like umm - 'it brought me to my knees'. And it was this sort of residential area and I remember literally being, kind of, brought to my knees by a park bench. And I remember asking the park bench to come alive and save me. Cuz I didn't feel like there was, kind of, any moment past that moment.

But there was. There was.

I can't believe I'm sending you this.

[astral-circuitry]

i'm so sorry, but i'm still homeless which is whatever, except i'm so fucking sick rn, I think i might have covid. i was hoping i'd feel better by now, but alas. if anybody could help me book a hotel room to stay in either from tonight till Tuesday bc i absolutely Cannot go to work tomorrow, or at least from tomorrow till Tuesday, i'd be so grateful. i can't do anything in return but promise i'll pay you back, I get paid on the 24th or 25th depending on my CEO. the reason I had so little money this month was a huge dentist bill I had to pay the last installment of and I frankly misjudged, i'm usually better with my money.

it would be CHF 168 for two nights or CHF 85 for one. i know that's very expensive, but that's bc i'm in Switzerland and it's holidays time. also I admit I don't wanna stay in a shared room hostel with 5 other people while probably having covid, they'd kill me for my cough and i'd get them sick on top of the murder charges

PayPal: edit it's fine i'll all good, tysm

again, so sorry for bothering you, ik what times we're all in

[blackswaneuroparedux]

Anonymous asked: Of all the many languages you speak which is your weakest one? Do you use those languages?

It’s privilege to learn any language that isn’t your mother tongue. As Ludwig Wittgenstein correctly observed, “The limits of my language means the limits of my world”. If English is our native tongue we put ourselves at a disadvantage because we expect every other nationality to take the trouble to speak it. There seems no incentive to learn a foreign language. We become lazy not just in language but also in other ways including our cultural enrichment, our imagination, and a misplaced sense of our self-importance in the world.

Of the European languages I know, I probably think German would be my weakest. When I was in school in Switzerland you’re brought up in three languages: French, Italian, and German (even if the Swiss speak Swiss German). When I say weakest I mean I can converse fluently, but I don’t have time to read German literature in the same immersive way I would say with French literature or take any special interest in German affairs.

I would say I’m fairly fluent in French now but still prone to silly mistakes. I’ve been told that I can speak without an accent and that is heart warming to know, because that was always the goal once I moved here to France. I don’t really use French in my work as it’s a multi-national entity and so English is the default language of corporate world, but I’m speaking French pretty much the rest of the time outside of work.

I was extremely fortunate to be born into a multi-lingual family where Norwegian and English were spoken from birth. All my siblings were being versed in Latin (not Greek which came years later after doing Classics at university) by the time I was 8 or 9 years old because my father was a classicist and he felt Latin was the building blocks to mastering other languages.

All this occurring whilst we moved lived and moved around a lot in the world such as China, Japan, India, and the Middle East. When I was initially sent to one of the first of my English girls boarding schools I was horrified that most of the girls only spoke English. I thought I was the stupid one for only knowing 6. Boarding school, if nothing else, gave me a great privilege to hone in on the languages I did know and start to learn others.

My parents didn’t take the easy way out and put us children in international schools like all the other expat children. That would have been too easy given how tight knit the British expatriate community was out there. Instead we were left to sink or swim in local schools in places like Tokyo and Kyoto in Japan or Shanghai in China or in Delhi, India. It was a struggle but you soon find your feet and you stumble towards some basic level of fluency.

I’m fortunate that before Covid my corporate work took me often to the Far East and it was a great opportunity to hone what I already knew. The result is I can converse and take business meetings in Chinese and Japanese (though English gets thrown into the mix too).

I would say Chinese is more of a struggle for me these days because I’ve not been back since before the Covid lockdown in 2020. Chinese is one of those languages that can easily melt away if you don’t get the chance to converse in it on a regular basis. Japanese less so, probably because the culture had more profound impact on me than Chinese culture.

Hindi is less of an issue because I have close Indian friends and also I watch Bollywood movies as well as converse with Indian immigrants here in Paris who have local stores. Urdu I learned through the backdoor because Urdu has a spoken affinity with Hindi (if you know Hindi then you know spoken Urdu, more or less, especially in Northern India and cities like Delhi where Urdu was born in the burnt ashes of Mughal India). Reading is another matter because they each use different scripts - Sanskrit for Hindi and Arabic and Persian script for Urdu.

Strangely enough when I was doing my tour in Afghanistan years ago with the British army, I would speak Urdu with local Afghans who served as official translators or were selling goods on the base. These Afghans knew Urdu because an entire generation of Afghan boys and girls grew up in refugee camps on the Pakistani border during the different phases of the Afghan war. I have very fond memories of their friendship and hospitality, but less so of the war itself. 

With Arabic, it had lapsed woefully until I did a posting in Dubai in the past year (as catalogued in my blog) and I found myself suddenly remembering a lot and asking Arab friends. Soon I was able to hold my own amongst my colleagues and corporate clients. In these cultures it’s really hard to stay focused because so many of them speak very good English. So it’s hard to get them to stick with their own language because you want to learn from them - but they want to show off their English proficiency - and so you have to be polite but persistent to stick with Arabic.  

If you’re learning a new language then I hope you stick with it. There’s almost nothing more rewarding in your life than the disocovery a rich culture through language. The key is to find a way to make it fun rather than a trip to the dentist chair for a root canal operation.

Thanks for your question.

[sam-loves-seb]

weekly tag wednesday

thanks to my lovelies for the tags <3 @spookygingerr @transsexual-dandelions @deedala @heymacy @gallawitchxx

name: sam

age: 26

location: home of the 2024 nba champions

and now...

what is your DJ name? dj sammy spins

if you were a genre of music, what would it be? indie rock

what would you title your biography? what the hell is going on (seriously can somebody tell me)

what are the first three things you'd do if you were invisible? steal some shit, probably commit some other non-violent crimes, then maybe try and uncover some state secrets

what subject do you wish was taught in every school? literally copy and pasting bee and so many others but: financial literacy !! i still feel like i know nothing !! also on a less serious note: world geography, because it has taken me a shockingly long time to figure out where some things in the world actually rae

when was the last time you tried something for the first time and what was it? a few weeks ago i tried a new beverage of the alcoholic variety called Sun Cruisers and they were quite good

what is the most underrated city you have ever visited? davos, switzerland (probably not that underrated to some but i had never even heard of it before i went and now i think about it constantly)

what day in your life would you like to relive? the last day of school before spring break during my senior year of college. it was a friday, i had no classes, i spent most of the day with my roommates hanging out and that night we got tipsy and watched mamma mia and jumped on the couch and scream-sang all the songs

little did we know that a week later the world would end.

i went to florida for 5 days for spring break and when i came back, the dorms were closed, classes were online, and everything was completely shut down starting monday because of covid. we had to move all our stuff out, and i never lived with those roommates again. we're all still friends, but i rarely see them because we live far apart.

this answer got away from me but yeah. that last day with my perfect roommates in our perfect apartment dorm. that's the day i'd relive if i had the chance.

if you could eliminate one thing from your daily routine, what would it be and why? showering. it's so tedious. i know it needs to be done but god it's so much effort. why can't i be instantly clean?

how long would you last in a zombie apocalypse? honestly i think i would last pretty long in a zombie apocalypse if i tried, but the more important question is would i want to last in a zombie apocalypse? probably not. is there an end in sight? a cure? is this just the world now? i think my survival skills are high but my will to live is low in this scenario

what would be the most surprising scientific discovery imaginable? if scientists figured out teleportation i think that would be the most shocking thing to me

if you could have any view out your office window, what would you choose? a city view. i want an office in a high rise that overlooks boston. that would be cool.

tagging anyone who hasn't played yet cuz it's almost technically thursday by now <3

[icanseethefuture333]

Have you watched the recent Dream academy documentary? So Hybe’s new global group katseye went through a Surivial show, and upon the Surivial show they released a documentary, and all the katseye - dream academy girlies were going against Manon? She’s like extremely pretty but they all seem jealous and envy towards.

Can you please do a reading on how katseye member see her??

We stan Manon in this household!!!

(I know you asked to do a reading and not give my opinion but I like to gossip about reality TV shows so I will make a separate post 👉🏽👈🏽)

I WAS LITERALLY WATCHING IT TODAY LOL. I think I’m like on episode 4??? It’s so dramatic but I can’t stop watching. I said even before Manon debuted she was getting so much hate for no reason, but after seeing the show, I see it’s envy coming from a lot of the girls as well. To keep it short - the hate is just because people hate to see a black girl be feminine, popular, pretty, and shy. Manon really represents a different side of black women that we don’t get to see often in the media which is someone who is beautiful but also anxious, gentle, insecure, and introverted. The girls took advantage of the fact she’s more soft spoken and talked over her more than once. They also were hating on her before they joined that house because a staff member from HYBE chose her personally (especially Naisha and Adela)!!!

I genuinely feel for her because people were not respectful of her cultural differences yet wanted their culture to be respected and I found that really irritating. Especially how in Switzerland health is a big priority and sis literally had covid and they were angry she wasn’t going to rehearsal??? And then told on top of it to just “do better” 💀. I would of been pissed. Two girls both had surgery and had to skip out on practicing but nobody said anything.

I understand how the girls were feeling and were upset and yes it is hurtful to see how “the halo effect” can happen in real life. A person that is prettier could get a position in a group just because they’re attractive but I think that’s just a harsh reality they needed to face. In the music industry, especially the US and South Korea, looks are very important. I think that most of the girls felt they were “beautiful” but didn’t realize they possibly couldn’t be the prettiest girl of the group. There were 20 girls who got chosen to compete, realistically speaking someone was going to be prettier or more talented than you (and yes that could be a black woman because being the beauty standard and/or white does not mean you are the prettiest!) 👀🍵.

Overall, I think the show is messy as hell but it’s what needed for a wake up call. I think people have dreams of being kpop idols or celebrities but don’t understand exactly how harsh that industry can be. People will chew you up and spit you out at any given moment. If being a idol is a person’s dream then they need to be confident with a secure mindset and need to be prepared with the proper knowledge on legality (so many idols lost the right to their group name, music, and so on because they didn’t know what was in a contract)

[hitchell-mope]

Five years later.

Now be warned. These headcanons are based on what I personally think could have happened to the Pritchett’s by 2024. The pandemic and lockdown influenced this scenario. And it will have my own interpretations of the characters. So if you don’t like it. Don’t read it.

Let’s get the pandemic stuff out if the way first shall we?

During the lockdown Jay decided (read: he was forced to admit) that novelty dog beds were nonstarter. So now he’s a freelance consultant for closest firms like his own. He has his own hours. And he can make them pay through the nose. So he’s very happy.

Because of the pandemic freezing everything. Gloria decided to volunteer enforcing the six feet apart rule at supermarkets. She proved very effective.

Manny got lucky. Very lucky. He got cold feet the day before the cruise left so he was at home when the lockdown started in earnest. Javier on the other hand got stuck on a Covid cruise and became born again. Gloria wishes that he wasn’t.

Joe loved the zoom classes. He got to show his teachers his room. And he became very popular with his new class when he showed them the pool.

With the housing market frozen during lockdown, Phil also volunteered at the supermarket as a cashier and cleaner. It lacks the major human interaction he prefers. But he was proud to contribute to society in some way during the crisis.

Claire hated the pandemic. Her new job went up in smoke two weeks in. She had to reclean everything every two hours. It got so bad that Alex had to recommend a therapist to her. Claire still isn’t 100% yet. But she’s getting there. Plus. She’s gotten closer to Dylan.

Haley’s marriage suffered during lockdown a little bit. Dylan was classed as an essential worker. So he was basically living at the hospital for months on end. And he felt like he couldn’t talk to her about it. Not even when a surge of very young patients died on his watch on the same day. The only one he felt like talking to was Claire. But now they’re in marriage counselling. Which is helping them a lot.

Alex and Arvin also got very lucky. They were in California for his birthday and staying at the Dunphy house when everything shutdown. Their jobs in Switzerland were packed in. But at least Alex had her family around her during the lockdown.

Luke had a mixed bag during the pandemic. He was just about to leave for Oregon when lockdown was announced. Which meant that he was still at home and doing zoom classes so that was good. But he also had Alex breathing over his shoulder.

The lockdown was a miserable experience for Mitchell. In a completely different state miles away from the rest of his family. He kept a 24 hour zoom call going just so he could see his father every day. Needless to say he was over the moon when Cameron suggested they move back to California when lockdown was lifted.

Cameron’s dream job turned into a nightmare once all of the schools closed. Plus his side of the family, especially Pameron, didn’t follow any of the rules properly so he kept having to throw them out of the house to keep Lily and Rex safe. Admittedly he did go a little overboard when he misinterpreted “bubble” and tied to wrap the houses exterior in plastic. But eventually he calmed down and got through it.

Lily fared a little better. She found learning in place boring. But she was happy to finally have a reason to yell “get away from me” when people broke the six feet apart rule.

Now on to the fun stuff. This will be a bit Luke heavy because he’s my favourite character.

Luke ended up majoring in child psychology at the University of Oregon. He figured that George, Poppy and Rex could do with an Uncle Frasier. That and he watched Silence of the Lambs a lot during lockdown. He wisely leaves that out of conversation.

At ten am on the Fourth of July 2022 Luke Dunphy became a father to a boy he calls Phillip Franklin Dunphy. Frankie for short. The baby was left on the doorstep nameless. But he knows who mother is though. He only slept with one redhead after all. He’s now suing for full custody with Mitchell’s help on grounds of abandonment.

Luke fell in love with his college roommate in 2024. Reeves McCoy. (For references sake think of John Boyega in the force awakens but with a prominent Missouri accent). Reeve is on the wrestling team and is majoring in family law. Luke brought Reeve home for the summer. He hadn’t told anyone so everyone was very surprised but very happy for him. None more so than Cameron and Mitchell. Then Cameron found out they Reeve is a descendant of the fabled McCoy family. And Cameron was raised believing that the Hatfield’s are in his veins. Reeve won him over by singling a ten hour Cher medley.

Haley and Dylan have another baby now. Clark Kent Marshall. Named after Claire. And the ward that he was born on Neither of them get the reference to superman.

George’s first word was “oops”. Poppy’s first word was “no”. Rex’s first word was “Lily”. Lily lords it over Cameron and Mitchell every chance she gets. And Frankie’s first word was “dada”. Luke finally understands why Phil is the was he is.

Lily can yodel like Alameda Slim. Mitchell pays her 100 dollars a week to keep it a secret from Cameron. He categorically refuses to start a bluegrass band.

Alex and Arvin are married but don’t have children. They mutually decided not to. Instead they have a calico cat called Curie. Unfortunately for them. He has a habit of running through plate glass doors. So now Joe calls him Luke the Cat. And it stuck.

Thankfully for all concerned. Mitchell and Cameron moved back into their perfect house in 2021. It pays to be related to a realtor like Gloria.

Manny finally got fame for his movies. And he hates it. He made what he felt was a hard hitting docudrama about mother and son relationships. But it’s known as a reimagining of Psycho. He’s now joined Phil and Gloria in the real estate business.

Claire got on the Marie Kondo train. She started her own business where she helps people clean up their lives. Especially families with a lot of children.

Joe is a very smart student. Well. He would be if he didn’t channel all his intellect into a black market candy stall. Jay still doesn’t know where he got the merchandise from.

Phil and Gloria started a new business with Manny after Covid. Family Realty. They proved extremely successful with Mitchell and Cameron’s friends.

And that is what I think the Pritchett’s are doing five years after the show ended.

[ladylooch]

Letters in Your Last Name - Chapter 18

A/N: So you like smut you say?? Good cause it's in this one twice 😉 When I say I cannot help myself with Kevin, I mean it bbys. Outside of the smut tho, I do love this chapter.. so cute.. lil angsty... doing the hard work of showing up... what isn't to love?

Word Count: 4.6k

Warnings: SMUTTTT 18+ content , COVID Talk, angst, swearing

Wild’s belief never wavered, which makes Game 7 defeat harder to swallow

Another year, another first round exit by the Minnesota Wild.

I watch the last few drops of Nespresso fall into my cup. The machine buzzes as it finishes up. I grab the cup, adding in my frothed cream. I glance down the hall at the bedroom door, finding it still shut and concealing my sleeping boyfriend.

Another season done; another off-season hovering. The off-season we were supposed to spend together. First in Sweden, then in Switzerland. COVID has ruined many things and it’s hold on our lives has not weakened in the slightest. Most of Europe is still closed to Americans even as vaccination rates have increased significantly in the U.S. Kevin and I are done with both rounds and thought that would be enough for me to join him in Europe. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to matter. At this point, both Sweden and Switzerland are still closed to me.

Kevin and I have known this for weeks. We have strategically been pushing the thought from our minds. Armed with the fierce hope of a deep playoff run, we continued to methodically plan our entire summer from our first day arrival in Sweden to our return to the U.S. from Switzerland. Unfortunately, for both us, and the Wild, neither of those things ended up happening.

Now, with the season over, Kevin is ready to head back to Sweden and begin training for this upcoming year. On his flight home from a Game 7 defeat, he made a long list of the improvements to focus on with Andreas this summer. Regardless of the fun we have planned, we both anticipate a tumultuous summer of both pushing for improvement and contract negotiations. With the two shortened seasons of Kevin’s latest contract, there is concern that he may not be able to secure the long term, big money contract we envisioned for him at the start of this season. Additionally, the Wild have at least two other players in Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Erikkson Ek to re-sign. With so many unknowns, it feels difficult to see where we will be going from here. We are both still hopeful that the going turns into staying.

I grab my coffee and pad out of the kitchen into the living room. I sit in one corner of the couch and look out across Minneapolis. It’s a warm, Spring day and the sun is shining brightly in the sky. Today is locker clean out which means hours of interview and goodbyes for Kevin. Later this week, the players will have an end of the year bash hosted by the Spurgeons, so the goodbyes will mostly be to the Wild Staff members and media.

After a few sips of my coffee, Kevin enters the living room with bed head hair tossed about and his MacBook Pro. He greets me with a soft kiss and a smile. He sets the open laptop next to me on the couch and wanders to the kitchen where he makes himself a Nespresso. While the machine kicks in and begins pouring Kevin’s coffee, I casually glance at the screen of his computer. There, I see he is looking at flights to Sweden from Minneapolis leaving on Sunday, five days from now. I purse my lips in both annoyance and confusion.

“You’re looking at flights?” I ask him, taking a sip of my coffee to seem chill.

“Yeah, just seeing what options are out there in the next week or so.” He responds after a yawn. The way he says this, so casually, irks me.

“But… I can’t go yet.” I say quietly, looking into the rich brown of my coffee.

“I know.” He says slowly. I’m silent as the machine finishes his drink. He grabs it and walks over to join me on the couch. “That’s why I haven’t booked anything.” I give him a skeptical look as he sips his coffee. He holds up a cautioning hand. “I’m not trying to leave without you. I want to discuss our options.”

“Well, the options are you stay here or you go without me.” I am trying to not sound angry, but there is a definite bite to my words I can’t filter out.

“I think that is simplifying it a bit.” Kevin responds, leaning back into the couch after setting his coffee down.

“Oh? It’s more complicated than that?”

“Well, yeah.”

“How so?”

“The plan for this off-season was and remains for you to come with me. I know when we started planning everything, we thought things would be open again. In Sweden, things seem to be shifting in a positive direction. There is talk that they are opening up soon to international travelers. I was thinking I could go for now and get everything settled, then when the border opens, you can join me.” Although Kevin is a Swiss native, he has permanent residency established in Sweden, therefore he can return even though international travelers are not currently permitted.

“What if this talk turns out to not be true?” I ask him.

“Then we will figure out that next step then.” I roll my eyes towards the ceiling, letting out a heavy sigh. I’m trying not to get upset, but he’s talking about leaving me here in such a casual way, like it’s not a big deal. Like we haven’t done this two other times and it didn’t almost tear us apart at the seams. How could he have forgotten the emptiness of those lonely nights? The memory still haunts me every night he’s on the road.

“Maybe that mindset works for you, but it doesn’t work for me with us anymore. Every time you leave, I’m left feeling like a piece of me is missing. I go through the motions of life, but I feel stuck in place when you’re gone. Like we are living two different lives. I want to share my life with you, Kev. Not live it while you’re 3,000 miles away and 7 hours ahead of me. Honestly, the thought of you leaving and then this turning into another 2-3 months apart, isn’t something I want to do for another summer.”

“I understand that and agree.�� He says cautiously. He pauses and seems to contemplate his choice of words carefully. “Since we are being honest, I think I should go now. This is the most important off-season I’ve ever had. With two shortened seasons, I’m not sure if Billy is going to give me the long term deal that I want. Early talks haven’t looked good. This off-season is going to set my career up for a good future. A future that’s going to provide for us and our plans.” I take in his resigned features. I believe that it won’t matter what I say. He’s going. So I pack up the rest of my arguments in my head, shove them deep, and surrender to more time apart.

“Okay. If that is what is most important, then you have to go.” As easy as it has been the last few times to encourage him to go, the taste of it in my mouth right now has me wanting to spit. I’ve been so considerate and supportive of him in the past. Why can’t he consider staying here with me now?

I stand, grabbing my cup and bringing it to the sink. I know I need to leave. If I stay here, I’ll do something embarrassing like get on my knees and beg him to stay here with me. Luckily, I have the perfect excuse. “I’m going to head out. Felicia wanted to run some errands this morning without the kids.” I pour out the remaining coffee and give the cup a quick rinse. When I turn, Kevin is standing in the living room with his arms crossed, looking at me with an expression I can’t read.

“Do you have to leave right now?” He asks me. I give a shrug and a nod even though I don’t. I’m not fooling him either. “Sam.” Kevin says with slight annoyance in his tone. “If this isn’t okay…” He runs a hand through his hair nervously. “Baby, just talk to me.”

“I have, Kevin. You don’t seem interested in listening.” My voice has taken on a sharp, angry edge. At the sound of it, Kevin’s demeanor instantly turns frustrated. He rolls his eyes, setting them on me with an edge of fierceness. He is quiet, taking in the look on my face. It’s like he’s peeling back layer after layer while we stand there. It’s a vulnerability I don’t enjoy so I cross my arms over my chest to shield myself from him.

“I’ll stay here until you can come with me.” He finally says. Even though that’s what I want, deep down the instant dread begins to suffocate me. Changing his plans just for me feels like a disaster waiting to happen. What if he resents me for this later? What if missing out on this training time ends in a short term deal? Or worse, a trade and starting over? I can’t be responsible for any of that. He needs to own this decision.

“That’s fine, but it better be your decision, not something you say to make me happy but you don’t want to do. If this has any potential to be something you resent me for, you need to go. I’m not interested in being a scapegoat.” I watch as his jaw tightens further in defiance. “I can already see it on your face, Kev. You don’t want to stay here.” My nostrils flare in frustration.

“I feel like if I go, I’m going to lose you.” His eyebrows are drawn low and his eyes are squinting at me with a borderline snarl on his mouth.

“That is ridiculous. You’re not going to lose me.” I tell him, grabbing my keys and my purse from the counter. “Go to Sweden. When I can come, I’ll come.” My tone is cool and I’m purposefully being just as calm as he was earlier. I turn and start walking to the door. The tears are burning in my eyes, but I’m trying to stride confidently, like the heaviness of this isn’t crumbling my heart into pieces.

“Sam.” Kevin calls as he sighs exasperatedly. I whirl around to face him.

“I don’t know what there is left to talk about at this point, Kev. Just go book your flight. You need to be there more than you need to be here. You don’t need me. So go without me.” My voice wavers with emotion. Kevin is silent as he stares back at me, dark eyes watchful. As the seconds pass, I can feel the sadness take over my features. How many days would we be apart this time? A deep sob suddenly rocks my chest. I throw my hand over my lips tightly to keep the sound in. My tears shatter Kevin’s edginess. He is across the living room and reaching for me in seconds.

“Of course I need you. I’m staying. I’m not going to go without you.” He assures me. “I don’t want to be anywhere you’re not.” He rubs his hands up and down my back as I cry into his chest. He squeezes me tightly to him. I feel embarrassed at the amount of tears that are sinking into his shirt. At least I didn’t beg? I pull back from him and wipe my fingers beneath my eyes.

“I hate this.” I tell him, looking across the room at the bank of windows. I can’t bring myself to look at his face, but I know he stands with his arms crossed in silence, watching me. Two more tears leak out and I wipe at them angrily.

“It definitely sucks.” He says quietly. “But I really think things are going to be okay in a few weeks. In the meantime, I can train here. We can be together and then everything else will work it’s self out.”

“Are you sure?” I ask again quietly.

“About not leaving you? Yes.” He says as he reaches for my chin. He gently tilts it up until our eyes meet. His gaze is genuine and soft. “I’m all in on this, baby.”

“I know, me too. And that’s what makes it so hard when you go.” I tell him honestly. He nods slowly. His eyes are serious as they look at me. His other hand comes to my face, cupping my neck and stroking my cheek.

“None of my dreams come true without you.”

I close my eyes and lean into his touch. I feel his lips connect with mine again. This kiss is deeply intimate with fresh tears still soaking my lashes. I wrap my arms around his neck and he pulls me firmer into him. His arms slide down my back and to my thighs, lifting me up. Our kiss turns passionate and ravenous. He walks us back to the couch and falls onto it, letting me take control.

“I love you.” I whisper to him as I pull back from his lips. I look down at his face, taking in his swollen lips and muted red cheeks. His brown eyes are molten black; his hair is messy from my fingers.

"Miluji tě.” My heart swoons at the Czech I love you. When he speaks to me like this, knowing I understand, it feels like a secret that only we are in on. His hands are on my hips and he slowly rocks me into his erection. I bite my lip briefly and let out a breathy moan. “You look good up there.”

“Yeah?” I wonder, my fingers going to the edge of my t-shirt and pulling it over my head.

“Even better.” He tells me, watching me closely as his fingers go up my back, unclasping my bra. It falls between us and his lips part in a heavenly sigh. “Sweden can’t compete with you.” He says, thumbs brushing against my hard nipples. He sits up and meets my lips, flipping me onto my back in the process.

“I thought you liked me up there.” I question him, watching as he kisses down my stomach.

“I like you better under me.” He insists as his quick hands pull the rest of my clothes from my body.

His lips connect with my slick flesh and I moan out my agreement.

Later, when we are throughly satisfied, Kevin kisses the top of my head one last time before shifting from the couch. I watch with a pout as he pulls his clothes back on his gorgeous, naked body.

“Boo!” I whine to him. He laughs and comes towards me, leaning down and tugging my nipple into his mouth. “Hey.. it’s not fair to start that when you’re leaving.” Even as I say this, I hold his head to me, enjoying the intoxicating need beginning to pound in my body again.

“I’m giving you something to look forward to later.” He insists, moving to the other nipple and giving it equal attention. By the time he pulls away again, I’m writhing beneath him and breathless. “Just how I like you.” He murmurs to me, kissing my lips softly. He nuzzles my nose and then drapes a blanket over me. “I will be back after lunch. Eat without me.”

“Okay.”

My eyes follow him across the apartment where he gathers his phone, keys and hat at the door. He turns back to me, eyes watchful as he takes me in- breathless, just fucked hair and all. I slide the blanket down just enough that my nipples peak out at him, hoping they will beckon him back to me. He’s pondering something and he licks his lips in a way that makes me groan. I cover my face with my hands and then peek at him through my fingers. He slowly backs away with a grin that underlies the knowing between us both.

He exits the apartment without another word, with my heart wrapped firmly in his hands.

_ _ _

In late July, my feet dangle into the water of the infinity pool at a remote spa and hotel in the center of Sweden. We are here as a late birthday celebration for Kevin, but also for us to unwind after a few strange, tough seasons. I just finished my massage and am waiting for Kevin to appear. I’m so relaxed that I could melt into a puddle and drift away into the Swedish wilderness surrounding us. I trace circles in the water with my hot pink toes and think about how incredible this off-season has been. Kevin was right about Sweden releasing their restrictions soon. After two weeks of relaxation in Minnesota, Sweden welcomed international travelers back with open arms.

I’ve loved every minute of us living here the past two months. I can certainly see why Kevin has become so attached to the city of Gothenburg. It’s a vibrant, chill and young metro that has accepted me with open arms, including Kevin’s group of friends. These days, they truly feel like our friends. We meet up with the group every few days at the archipelago islands on the ocean, a restaurant, or at the local amusement park, Liseberg. Every day is packed with adventure, but it doesn’t feel rushed either. The overall vibe of Sweden focuses on relaxation and contentment. It’s a perfect fit for our off-season needs.

A hand comes to the top of my head to tug my pony tail in a greeting. I don’t have to look to know it’s Kevin. His touch is always assertive and sure.

“I definitely fell asleep.” He says as he sits down next to me. His legs bump into mine in the water. He has been training hard on power and strength this off season. His thighs have become as thick as tree trunks; I’ve certainly been reaping the benefits of them. Just looking at them now has my breathing becoming shallow.

“Me too.” I nod my head, looking over at him. I smile at the obvious creases in his beautiful cheeks from the pillow. “I see why they named a massage style after Sweden.”

“I wish our trainers were that nice about it.” Kevin speaks of the Wild staff members. “I swear, half the time it’s a bet to see who can inflict the most pain.”

“To be fair, that’s how you guys are able to sustain the whole year though. If they were nice about it, you’d be down with cramps and injuries a lot more.”

“Yeah I know. But once would be nice.”

“You should ask for it this year. Build it in once a week and see what happens.” I shrug, flicking my foot to toss droplets of water in the air. A few of them land on my thighs and Kevin slips into the water to submerge himself.

“Maybe I will.” He says before dipping below the surface. The pool is salt water and is warmed to borderline hot tub level, which is perfect to continue to relax the muscles after a massage like that. “Are you going to stay up there?” He ponders to me, running his hand through his wet hair to push it back from his face.

“Probably.” I shrug. Kevin contemplates that before reaching for my left leg in the water. He grabs the other one and comes to stand between my spread legs. His arms reach for my waist and I know exactly what he’s going to do.

“Don’t you dare.” I hiss at him just as he grabs me and tugs me fully into the pool. “Kevin!” I snap right as I go under. I shove at his stomach underwater and push towards the surface. I suck in an annoyed breath and narrow my eyes at him.

“What is with girls not wanting to get their hair wet in the pool?” He asks me with a puzzled scrunch of his nose.

“Because we look like this!” I exclaim, shoving my hair back from my face. “A drowned rat!”

“Well, if I’m going to make you come in public, I need you in the water.” He says quietly, grabbing the backs of my thighs and floating me to tighten my legs around his waist. One hand goes under my butt to give me leverage while the other goes to the side of my swimsuit bottoms.

“You’re really going to- oh yep.” I suck in a surprised breath as his thumb brushes against my clit. “Kay.” I rest my head against his shoulder as he massages me. “This is… ah.. fuck.” I can’t finish my sentence because what he is doing feels so damn good. I raise my head and glance over to where the door just opened. It’s a staff member who is refilling the towels on the rack.

“Can I get you two anything?” She asks us innocently.

“N-no.” I force out with a tight smile. She nods and disappears back through the door, leaving us alone again.

“Keep it together.” He murmurs. His lips brush against my ear as my breathing increases. My chest is falling and rising rapidly from desire. I try to suck in a calming breath but it comes into my mouth with a little moan. Kevin is watching every expression on my face and his teeth scrape at his bottom lip as he observes my eyes close in pleasure. Goosebumps break out across my skin and tighten my nipples against Kevin’s chest. “More?” He asks me and I nod my head immediately.

He breathes out a laugh and slips a finger into me. I promptly clamp around it and Kevin’s lips find mine. I reach a hand between us and grip his wrist tightly, holding him to me as his fingers move. With how relaxed I am from my massage and his skilled movements, I’m coming quickly despite the publicness of it.

To catch the moaning of my orgasm, I reach forward and suck the skin of his shoulder into my mouth. I can’t hold back the force of it and I bite down to stop more sounds from escaping my mouth. When I open my eyes again, my vision is blurry from the intensity. Slowly, I pull back from Kevin’s shoulder and immediately cringe.

“That’s a hickey.” I wince in slight embarrassment. “Geez, what are we 16?”

“It’s hot. I can relive this for a few days.” He grins. “The guys are going to give me some serious shit though.” He laughs, speaking of his fellow training buddies, most of whom are in the NHL. The hickey is getting redder and more distinct with each second. “It’s fine.” He tells me again after watching my discomfort increase. “As long as I can cover it with a shirt, it’s all good.”

“Okay. Sorry.” I mumble to him.

“Sorry for what? Coming so hard you had to bite me? We don’t apologize for that.” He insists. “What we do is go back to bed, order room service, and spend the rest of the day loving each other.”

“That is what we came here for.” I murmur, sliding my fingers through his hair.

When we get out of the pool to head towards our stuff, Kevin winds up and slaps my ass hard then gives it a tight squeeze. I squeak out at the force and immediately start to laugh.

“That’s for marking me as yours.” He murmurs as we slide our robes back on and grab our phones. “And this too.” He says as he leans down and crashes our lips together. It’s soft, but firm, and hints at the continued sexy time he’s promised me later. “You’re the cutest drowned rat I’ve ever seen.” He grins as he pulls away.

“Thanks, babe.”

We wander up to our room and peruse the room service menu. The only thing that Kevin seems focused on is cake, so we order that to start and see where the rest of the day takes us. When the cake arrives, Kevin brings it into the room and immediately hustles back over to his side of the bed. He doesn’t even bother to hand me a fork. I hold my hand out to him expectantly and he shakes his head after the first bite.

“No way. Mine.”

“Oh my god, are you really not going to let me have any of this cake?” I ask, watching as he shoves another large bite into his mouth. I laugh at his puffed out cheeks. He goes in for another bite and my mouth drops open in shock. “Kevin! Ugh! I knew I should have ordered my own. You’re like the cookie monster, except your vice is cake.”

“I’m not sorry. It’s really good.” He mumbles. “We should order like four more of these.”

“Can I have one bite? Just one!” I reach for the plate and he pulls it away. “Why don’t you love me!” I whine, my eyebrows furrowing in sadness.

“Fine.” He sighs in agreement, handing the plate to me. He watches with deep scrutiny as I take a forkful of the cake. “That is a big bite.” He whines to me.

“You’ve eaten over half this slice. Shut up or I’ll tell Andreas you’re cheating on your diet.” I click my tongue at him before shoving the bite into my mouth. Kevin snatches the plate away from me and I almost choke on my cake from laughing. “We have found the one thing in the world you love more than me.”

“Yep.” He immediately says, stuffing another bite into his mouth.

“I’ll remember this next time you want me to suck your dick. You’ll be like Sam, please.” I adjust my voice to mimic the twinge of his European accent as I speak. “My dick is begging for you. And I’ll be like, you better call up that cake.” He snorts on a laugh.

“Whatever. You fall to your knees half the time on your own.” I cough in surprise and my mouth drops open as I stare at him.

“Wow. Greedy and cocky today.” He points at the hickey on his shoulder with his fork.

“Enough said.”

I drop my head in my hands in a brief moment of embarrassment before crawling over to his lap. He moves the plate away from my reach protectively. I straddle him, leaning forward to kiss along his collar bone to the crook in his neck. My tongue dances along the bone to the dip where his shoulder meets his chest and I nibble on him lightly, just below my previous love mark.

“Ah…” He sucks air between his teeth and brings his free hand to my ass. He squeezes it in his hand and releases a grunt from deep in his chest. He moves to put the plate on the bedside table. “Nope. I definitely love you more than this cake.” He insists. His other hand reaches for my neck as he smashes our lips together. The kiss is sexy, filled with a desire that no cake can replicate.

Sam- 1, Cake- 0

[claireofluxembourg]

Who is Alexander that got recently married and he is already cheating?

Fans of continent royals are pissed that British royals got all the attention and theirs get nothing. Ignoring the fact that less attention means less criticism. Harry and Meghan teared to pieces for getting a free house costing millions. Meanwhile Fred and Mary had a secret house in Switzerland paid for by taxpayers for years.(I am glad that Dutch still has a memory of WA and Maxima's covid fiasco.)

Ufo no more makes clear how they add the cost of clothes. And of course she wanted to tell us that Yorks get discounts but no word to support other royals that do it because they are lower than Kate. The absolutely funny was when she tried to explain the economies of Monaco and Luxembourg to her followers 🤣 (Someone must tell her that Albert personally owns most rich companies of Monaco.) While she didn't remember the influence Kate has in British fashion industry, that a golden dress contributed to JP return after lockdown. That unlike Mary Kate must wear new clothes. And of course we still remember the scandal with her clothes.

Someone told me he married another someone whose aristo title is fake. Places full of pretenders if you ask me, I have no clue about them lmao.

Lmaooo the Chalet will always live in my mind rent free, no pun intended. And seriously we all criticised WaxMax to no ends when they decided holidaying during a pandemic was a good idea. But what would they know?

Oh god her basically saying the UK was poor? To british people?? Like listen, they have their problems like any other country but despite that, the wardrobe from the royals is not taxpayer funded and that's something that every sane royal fashion watcher knows. But anything to fit the narrative I guess.

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

How LIV KRISTINE Came Back To Music Through Teaching

Former LEAVES' EYES and THEATRE OF TRAGEDY singer Liv Kristine recently went on "Side Jams With Bryan Reesman"to talk about how she came back to being creative with music by going into teaching. Her sixth and latest solo album is called "River Of Diamonds" and features guest appearances from MOONSPELL frontman Fernando Ribeiro and her sister, MIDNATTSOL singer Carmen Elise Espenæs. It's been nearly nine years since her last album.

"It feels great because I'm 47 years old now, and I'm standing in the middle of my life," said Liv. "And 'River of Diamonds' feels like the first album of my second life."

Liv originally started teaching when her son Leon, now nearly 20 years old, entered primary school at age six. She and her ex-husband Alexander Krull (ATROCITY, LEAVES' EYES) chose a private school in Germany because they were often taking Leon on tour.

"Being a part of the teachers team gave me some freedom," she explained. "I used to teach at Leon's primary school, and that was 14 years ago. That was when my teaching process started. I didn't study that. I studied linguistics, ancient languages, language acquisition, but I never took that part you need to become a teacher. But it's always been in my blood. So when the headmaster of Leon's primary school asked me to support his school, I did. Which gave us some freedom to take Leon on the road, and then it just continued like that with every school that Leon went to."

After her unceremonious departure from her former band LEAVES' EYES in 2016, and her divorce, Liv's life went into a tailspin and she lost her main income source. So she reached out to some people she knew and got a job teaching children with autism.

"I got some experience and I feel great empathy for these lovely human beings," she said. "I was lucky to get into this place, and then it just grew and grew. I started working with children growing up without parents [and] children with Down Syndrome. It's been an amazing experience and an amazing journey. So when COVID happened in Europe, I was not dependent on touring [or] going on stage."

Liv and her husband Michael moved to Switzerland a year ago. "It took some time for me to realize that I had to get through a very rough period, I had to dissolve some blockages," Liv recalled to "Side Jams". "I had to dissolve a trauma. I had to get rid of some dusty layers to really see what I want to do in my life. How can I serve? How can I be really authentic?"

She says balancing her art and teaching has made her feel more secure and creative, which was not the case a few years ago. Liv did join MIDNATTSOL for their 2018 album "The Aftermath" and has done a few guest vocal appearances since 2016, but she had not worked on new music of her own. The singer credits her husband with bringing her back to that.

"I released an EP a couple of years ago, 'Have Courage Dear Heart'," said Liv. "I got it tattooed just underneath my heart, and that was in 2018, 2019, when I met Michael, now my husband and soul partner. I had decided to be without singing. No performance anymore, no band. I just wanted to quit the whole thing — [the] music business sucks, court cases and all the bullshit. Sometimes I found myself in front of court, and I didn't even know what I was doing there. I just wanted to quit it all. And I quit. But I realized that I'm not being myself. So when Michael turned up in my life, he gave me the real kick that I needed. He pushed me. That was when I released 'Have Courage Dear Heart'. It takes a lot of courage to go through that process, but it's very relieving and very freeing in the end."

[planindiango]

The Power of ‘We’ for an equal world

Partnerships go a long way in driving meaningful digital engagement for non-profits during campaigns and make the cause relatable in a pandemic impacted world.

Digital has never been more important for charities than in 2020, as Covid-19 forced non-profits to embrace the “new normal” – in which digital enabled technologies and platforms play a major, long-term role in mobilising communities, campaigning and fundraising. And while doing so it is imperative that we need to re-invent re-strategies and put our acts together in a real time bound manner.

As an organisation, Plan India is committed to the cause of promoting girls rights and equality. As a humanitarian organisation, while we were at the forefront of COVID-19 response, providing immediate relief and aid to more than a million population, we also set about executing an ambitious digital campaign #EqualUnlock mobilising partners and hundreds of girls from the most marginalised section of the society. Putting the spotlight on rights of girls and their agency is all the more important as often such issues slip through the cracks in the larger scheme of things. We should not let COVID upend decades of work around gender equality.

The campaign #EqualUnlock conceived as part of the International Day of the Girl which falls on 11 October, challenged stereotypes that hold them back or question their capabilities based on gender. The spirit of the campaign was: It is proven that girls have the potential to lead companies and countries through positions of power and be Unconquerable. They strive to fight their battles of freedom and be Unafraid. In a world that ties them with limiting stereotypes and unequal representation, they choose to be Unstoppable. In a post COVID world we should not let girls fight alone but be their voice because it’s time for an #EqualUnlock.

Each October since 2016, led by different Plan International offices, thousands of girls all over the world have taken over positions of power including those of Presidents, Ambassadors, CEOs and Chief Editors as part of a global movement in support of gender equality. Given the new normal created by COVID-19 physical takeovers was difficult but what could not be missed was the need to highlight the need for continued focus on girls’ rights and equality. Embracing the new normal, In India we tweaked the physical takeovers to social media takeovers and roped in partners such as diplomatic Missions, corporates, media and influencers—who espouse the cause of gender equality.

Therefore, Delegation of the European Union to India, Embassy of Argentina, Australian High Commission, Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium, High Commission of Canada in India, Embassy of the Czech Republic, Royal Danish Embassy, Embassy of Finland, Embassy of France, Embassy of Israel, Embassy of Ireland, Embassy of Latvia, Embassy of Lithuania, Embassy of Mexico, Embassy of Netherlands, Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia, Embassy of Sweden and the Embassy of Switzerland; the content platform The Better India – Hindi and English; and the corporates H&M joined the social media takeovers— all came forth to not only celebrate the Day of the Girl but also give up their individual social media handles as Ambassadors/CEOs or that of their organisation in solidarity.

The reach of the campaign was further strengthened with the support of globally acclaimed sportspersons such as Tashi and Nungshi Malik, Tania Sachdev and Ria Rajeshwari Kumari. As a result 20+ girls, some of them from the remotest communities in India, took the digital world by storm reaching 9 million people organically and raising one unified voice for girls’ rights and equality.

 It is evident that together we can make a far bigger impact than we could by acting alone. The big question is—do you see yourself as flagbearer for girls’ rights and equality? The road ahead can be lonely, challenging and long drawn but the outcome is a world where girls are finally seen as equals.

[aijamisespava]

Switzerland In Eurovision 2008-2024

Switzerland has made history in Eurovision right from the start, having hosted and won the very first Eurovision Song Contest back in 1956. And this year, they host the 2025 contest after winning with Nemo's "The Code." So, let's do a bit of a dive into the Swiss Entries from 2008 to 2024...but ranked!

2021: Gjon's Tears "Tout l'Univers" (3rd in Grand Final, 1st in Semi) 2024: Nemo "The Code" (1st in Grand Final, 4th in Semi) 2018: ZiBBZ "Stones" (13th in Semi, Failed to Qualify for Grand Final) 2020: Gjon's Tears "Répondez-moi" (2020 Contest Cancelled due to COVID) 2009: Lovebugs "The Highest Heights" (14th in Semi, Failed to Qualify for Grand Final) 2019: Luca Hänni "She Got Me" (4th in Grand Final, 4th in Semi) 2023: Remo Forrer "Watergun" (20th in Grand Final, 7th in Semi) 2014: Sebalter "Hunter Of Stars" (13th in Grand Final, 4th in Semi) 2008: Paolo Meneguzzi "Era Stupendo" (13th in Semi, Failed to Qualify for Grand Final) 2017: Timebelle "Apollo" (12th in Semi, Failed to Qualify for Grand Final) 2015: Mélanie René "Time To Shine" (17th in Semi, Failed to Qualify for Grand Final) 2012: Sinplus "Unbreakable" (11th in Semi, Failed to Qualify for Grand Final) 2022: Marius Bear "Boys Do Cry" (17th in Grand Final, 9th in Semi) 2016: Rykka "The Last Of Our Kind" (18th in Semi, Failed to Qualify for Grand Final) 2011: Anna Rossinelli "In Love For A While" (25th in Grand Final, 10th in Semi) 2010: Michael von der Heide "Il Pleut de L'Or" (17th in Semi, Failed to Qualify for Grand Final) 2013: Takasa "You And Me" (13th in Semi, Failed to Qualify for Grand Final)

A lot of these entries were really great! While for some the results were...less than satisfactory, I can say that I am looking very forward to what Switzerland will send as their host entry!

[myforrest2]

Crack house

i see how mass shootings happen

deshaun Watson's tiktok

operation white coat

frumpy body girl. i'm shallow

mental health issues in my family

donte and white titties

molestor uncle

phone sniffin dogs . thanks kamala

china made a sun

goochland va powhite

white women fuck like bots

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brett griner

rape fantasies on reddit

racist AI. white people writing code

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gaping asshole porn

levels to dv. neigbor got into a dv situation

you gotta be able to fight if ur abusive

country line dancing in 6th grade

growing up christian concervative

i never believed in covid

having nigerian friends

menopause is a funny concept (the last egg)

wish i dates white women cuz the swifties are out!

million white women march

taylor farrakhan

who decided at the meeting that they were selling bean pies

trans women get a taste of getting offended and cant handle

i want to tell trans jokes but everytime, my dick gets cut off

her tax dollars paid for me to do home invasions but she wanna tell me what i can say

id snort midol if i were a woman

3 months of period and 9 months off

the purge for periods 9 months of peace 3 months of chaos

asking about organic vagina new vagina

synthetic vagina vs vagina

dont stop believing can end racism

stacy abrams dresses like hillary clinton

gmo coochie

my red flags

levels to the horny. showin ur face on pornhub

porn on the family computer

first std test

did ur granny fuck wilt chamberlain

used to be a therapist but it got to be too stressful

happy husband happy marriage

how often do u suck his dick ladies?

church revivals coachella for church

part trans cuz circumcised

so easy to scam women wish i had the heart to do it

nothin brings pussy together likes some and scammin niggas

navigating life being objectified

i'm more than my period

women put u in risky situations

they put bombs in the trash

gotta do everything when u Black

being black is annoying

quantum leap

asians are dark skinned white people

disney couldnt find enough swimmin niggss for little mermaid

vasectmy b4 it was fashionable

slave bible

i go to switzerland

drake's bed is made of horse hair and stingray skin

spelman and cosby

relationship with bpd. she can only handle some of my personalities not all of them

cerebral palsey dude's wheelchair stole

cant wait for sex work to be uberred

prayer for the gay demons

y is it always the stud that gets pregnant

first vasectomy nutt

waited for coochies to freshen up before i ate them

prison rapes kept me out of prison

ex wife had two babies

jump started a period

my mom helped plan my dad's funeral

forrest gump had full blown aids in philadelphia

women LOVE subtitles

suicide by negro. saying nigger at the atl airport

gender reveals for intersex babies

karim juwani tossed her baby in woods wrapped in plastic four years ago

mom shaking babies

construction worker on fire took video

wife beater as wash rag neighbor got in dv

my cousins got basic ass white women

taliban dating show

wilt chamberlain

nutted on my own face once

didn't masturbate til i was in college

heroes dose of shrooms

if he buys you beyonce tickets

honey pack fuckin

trans people they treat caitlyn jenner like black people treat clarence thomas

ain't sucked a dick but sucked toes

i aint a gangst but done gangsta shit

the good molestation from my babysitter's daughter

bv pussy/yeasty pussy

my girl fuck wit me cuz i'm that nigga

i hate the white part of me that tells me what to do

price of chicken goin up

snorting midol

moms love reminding u of how many hours of labor they were in

abortion on a 10 year old rape victim doctot had a tatt off a coat hanger with trust women on it

my dad grew up without infoor plumbing

being able to uberize sex work. ordering a blow job on uber one

chinatown knockoff

white boy jumping off cruise ship

asians & blacks

molestation

disney movies

feeling obligated to jack off to porn i paid for

uber sex (sex work)

trans reparations

dating black women is an olympic sport

called the sex line on gmas phone

scammed by uber

MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC

patchy beard but got asshole hair

homeless whites & Asians

c* vid had people keeping count of death

getting old ( aunt marry droolin on herself)

men washing ass (water bottles to wash ass in iraq)

make the money make the rules

comedy humbles u

pandemic paychecks (ppp loan)

black woman will make or break u (cooked in an oven love)

fuckin bbws is awkward 4 me

american black women make me feel like im trans cuz they cut my dick off til i pull out that check

i rode the short bus to the talented and gifted classes

in tag i had to do extra

in tag it was nothing but white people, another brotha came in there and i said he must have had a mom that really cared about his education. i got punched in the stomach for it

get a trans friend cuz they will get reparations first. black people too disorganized

gotta trick your woman into giving u some pussy

i miss drugs

i'll get my dick back from my girl when i make money. i wont get all of it back cuz she's a black woman "niggas ain't shit"

arguin with my girl is worse than arguin with my mom. mom took away nintendo girl takes away pussy

i act like a woman when a woman leaves me. cuz i have ababdonment issues

Jim Crow needs to make a cameo appearance every 10 years to wake niggas up.

i don't cheat cuz i gotta use a condom

fovrite movie is forrest gump. sequal to forrest is philadelphia

i used to be a social worker but my dick stopped working so i had to quit

what's the wildest thing a woman has told you during sex?

love dont exist anymore. im gonna put my women on one year contracts

white name in black body

if i were a serial killer my victims would b homeless black women

carlee fucked it up for yall

i blew up a kid's face in iraq. i hope he becomes president so i can be part of his origin story

watching couples fuck

white people treat slavery like women treat accountability

alien pussy

be funny watchin my married potnas getting punked by their wives

sexxy red went to my highschool

Gilgo beach killer spaced out his white woman victims

I remember when I had to fake like Lizzo's music for some coochie. Oh the lies we men tell.

God is good all the time and all the time God is gooD

Coochie is pink booty hole brown

my skin is light but my comedy is dark

titties lookin right no lefts

If you could own slaves, how many would you have?

Those MAPs folks are jacking off to all the first day of school pics

kamala harris had an orgasm when the tory sentence came down

kelsey shot meg cuz women will shoot each other over the same dick

had a woman tell me she couldn't figure me out

women want to figure us out so they can control our minds

Glad they didn't call me a baby killer when i got back from Iraq

women that have had abortions got that fire

It was lookin like a baby holocaust when abortions were legal. I dated a woman that aborted 2 babies by the same dude. Those could have been 2 Amazon fulfillment workers.

these mew generation of parents have no control over their kids . cryin toddler in hawaii

i love watching kids act out in public . the parents look like they're trying to solve a calculus problem.

mom used basic math, pinching and threats

black women say shit that make u want to punch...... or shoot them. white women say shit that make u want to kill them

these hoes start talkin like chat gbt when you catch them on some bullshit

got evicted with a wife & 2 kids.

named my son after a member of jodeci but my bm swear she named him

serial killer my victims would be homeless black women

i want to date a non verbal autistic woman

ladies can you cover your ears during my set so we men could have a good time?

i wish black women would suck dick the way they suck the fun out the room

being part white is annoying cuz i got a gluten allergy

lake lanier pussy

jim crow day

how to keep a dude from raping u

white people fuck like bots

cub scout leader died so i didn't get molested

getting a black womans love is like trying to get a laugh from black folks

sex farms

pullin pussy with a telegraph machine

"come thru" in morse code

i'm not a conspiracy theorist i'm just a nigga that has never trusted the government

the holocaust was an inside job

how many niggas would black people sacrifice to get the jew treatment

chlamydia the reggie of stds

u know its fire when she burn u and u still wanna fuck

how many cows is your coochie worth

worst fears are heights, deep water & seeing my daughters titties on reddit

met an ethiopian bbw

tranny porn overstimulation

things that annoy me: fat niggas that ain't funny

student loans

dental damn

being black is a game of dodging diseases and gun violence

trump 2 real for black women they voted for a dude that don't take care of his responsibilities

glad i aint the uncle in the back room doin heroin

coochie after the club trick

low low low price of pussy

how i decide to go raw

men would have babies and not abortions cuz it would require us to go to the doctor

abuse is relative

dad was an aspiring preacher like an aspiring rapper

ai is the cotton jin

black womn patten for heater

giving homeless dick

field vs deployment

jail vs. prison

pregnancy test vasectomy

foreskins

drugs are for young boys

people with guns are scared bitches

lgbt DV do studs hit their girlfriends with their straps

post ops arr funnier than pre ops

dick losing a step

2% gay

- [ ]

pop art and anime

working for pussy

[theknightlywolfe]

I remember hearing he was dead *in school*. Like, it was specifically brought up as something that had just happened and people were talking about the reactions. Like the wall coming down was mentioned and we talked about it (and I watched that happening on TV).

And back then, you got what the mainstream media and the handful of non-cable channels were willing to give you in regards to news and politics, especially international politics. (Most people didn't have cable, it was new and expensive) There was no real resource for finding things out otherwise. Note, I was on the internet already but it didn't have news. It had nerds and the military. Spam didn't exist yet because there was nothing to spam. And we were a rarity to have the internet in our house. I was beta testing fricking Compuserve. Raise your hand if you are old enough to recognize that name.

Not knowing he hadn't died wasn't really possible at the time for the average Joe/Jane. Someone said he had, that's kinda what we had to go on. And that probably got passed around at the same time as people explaining who the hell he was and why it mattered that he'd died.

Finding out years later, well into the internet being a real thing, of course I went to go see what was what. But it was *years and years* later. Until someone specifically memed about him being dead but not really, I hadn't even thought of him since finding out he died and why that mattered. I can't recall how many people died in San Francisco during the AIDS crisis and I lived nearby during the whole damn thing. I contributed to the quilt.

And the reality is, living on the other side of the planet, it's a bloody shock that it even came up back in the day. It's not like I know the name of who is in charge of Australia or Switzerland or Sweden. I'd challenge people who don't live in the countries to name the heads of Chile, Uruguay, or Vietnam without looking it up. The reality is there are too many countries and too many politicians for everyone to know who they all are. 99% of you probably didn't remember Shinzo Abe's name until he got shot. Not because "oh, racist" but because memory isn't perfect and it focuses on what you need to live your daily life.

Should we all know more about international politics? Probably, we're an integrated global society and economy. But there is only so much time and so much energy and we have other things going on. Most of the world probably wouldn't have known about Liz Truss if it weren't for the lettuce. But please, since your memories are so perfect, please, remind me how many people died of COVID in South Africa in 2020 without looking it up. That was only a couple years ago. We had the internet already and counts were updated daily. One of the biggest, most wide spread things to happen to the entire world, surely that means it's very important to everyone. How about Brazil, home of the world's "lungs"? Can't do it? Maybe a couple of *decades* will improve your memory.

And if it was just Mandela, yeah, sure, maybe people are racist, but it's not just Mandela. It's also a camp movie and two of the longest running children's books series and the fricking Disney movies opener. Because, once more, memory isn't perfect.

And seriously people, the Mandela effect is a joke. People are joking when they say alternate universe. It's gallows humour to get through tough times.

gotta be honest and say it's a insane to me that a bunch of people 'misremembered' nelson mandela dying in prison in the 80s even though he lived to become the president of south africa in the 90s and instead of thinking 'wow, i really should learn a bit more about international politics outside of north america and europe because not knowing such a basic fact like this about one of the most influential political figures of all time is kind of embarrassing', they became convinced that this was proof that parallel realities exist and they were somehow having memories of an universe where mandela died in prison somehow. that's presumptuous on a level i can barely conceive of