#the content mill for this team truly gives me everything i want

[workingforitallthetime]

10/9/21

(x)

[swanqueensalad]

Is your question thingy still on? if so, would you rate top10 episodes to watch if you want swanqueen :)

ahhh this is such a good question!! and my ask box is literally always open for anything, i love chatting with y'all <3

this is Not a comprehensive list, just ten great ones that come to mind (plus two bonus ones and a lot of rambling bc, as always, i got carried away).

i've tried to put them in chronological order for the show!

1. a land without magic (1x22)

don't get me wrong, there's a lot of incredible swan queen episodes in season one (the pilot, desperate souls, that still small voice) but the content in finale just does something to me man...

emma pinning regina against the wall, the intensity of the confrontation and regina admitting everything, the way they're instantly a TEAM despite all that fury and heartache because henry comes before anything else, the literal entire sequence paralleling charming fighting maleficent and saving snow to emma fighting maleficent and saving regina, i -

2. broken (2x01)

feel like this a bit of a rogue one since, again, s2 has lots of good stuff, but there's a LOT going on in the premiere! emma promising to protect regina for henry (which we know develops into this kind of sacred oath she fulfils at her own peril over and over throughout the years) and being so attentive to her, saving her from the mob, helping her to her feet, human-shielding her, and the look on regina's face when emma's touch restarts her magic and opens a portal to another realm - the literal requirements for 'true love'. so, so good.

3. the cricket game (2x10)

a classic. emma starting to not only see but fight for the woman regina really is. this strange developing trust and respect, the desire to not be enemies for a brief second before it goes wrong again.

4. and straight on til morning (2x22)

i will never be able to scream enough about the sq development in the s2 finale. regina being the most vulnerable and herself in front of emma, begging her to let her die as herself because she knows she's the only one who could understand and grant her that - and emma not letting her, emma jumping in and finding their shared magic together for the first time to save each other and everyone else. emma speechless, seeing everything regina feels for henry.

also "you might not be strong enough but maybe we are" is one of my favourite swan queen lines, because i think it just sums up the whole ship!

5. going home (3x11)

jumping to the 3A finale, what can i say? once again, as always when it comes to henry, they are a team above all else. the group hugs, henry calling them 'mom, mama', emma being a human shield again, regina whispering her name as she wakes up, ready to give emma everything she ever wanted for herself and their son.

the incredibly intimacy and intensity of their goodbye and all those things unsaid and unfinished between them. *chefs kiss*

6. breaking glass (4x05)

ok so despite the stupid frozen arc, season 4 is actually one of my favourites for swan queen content, bc you have emma promising to give regina a happy ending in the premiere and seeing that all the way through to sacrificing herself for her in the finale. and that's what dreams are made of.

i specifically mention breaking glass bc there's so much sq screen time. emma is gutted that regina thinks she'll never have her back, literally follows her around all episode trying to prove the opposite (in the same way hook follows her around lmao), elsa telling emma not to give up on her.

and there's that gorgeous scene where emma is so honest with her about the two of them having something special and unique and different from what they have with anyone else, and that hopeful 'it's a start' ... i ...

7. operation mongoose (4x22)

what would be a list of top tier swan queen episodes without the climax of all that 'fighting for her happiness' - the saviour sacrificing herself to the darkness to save regina. this was truly the peak of ouat i swear to go d

also lots of nice stuff in the alternate reality with emma, henry and regina!

(before i move on from season 4 i do have to mention bonus episode: lily - emma's super gay fucking backstory, regina telling her she needs her, the first (?) swan queen road trip!, regina talking emma down from shooting lily/beating up that dude because she believes so strongly in emma's goodness)

8. dreamcatcher (5x05)

i remember after this episode came out, there was a post circulating of a bunch of c$ fans saying they were literally worried sq was becoming canon/getting undeniable.

so yeah. everything in this episode is pure gold. the swan mills family dynamics, regina trusting emma with her most painful memory, emma crying over the dreamcatcher, and that deliciously tense argument on regina's porch that was so electric it made sq feel inevitable. ('don't miss swan me, we've been through too much' is another favourite line!)

9. only you (5x22)

swan queen road trip, them being married af the whole time plus regina once again being her most open and vulnerable with emma? what more do you need

10. wish you were here (6x10)

this is another episode i don't think i can ever scream about enough - there's just so much to unpack! firstly, emma becoming enfuriated and attacking the evil queen because she's upsetting regina. secondly, regina thoughtlessly wishing to be sent after emma to get her back. thirdly... emma swan waking herself up from a curse and remembering who she is, sparking her own magic back to life, because even in her most cursed unknowing state she had to save regina mills.

how do you ever get over that (also they're so soft together once emma's awake, i...)

honorable mentions go to

enter the dragon (4x15) - for regina's gay backstory with mal, emma being insanely protective of regina and literally following her around all night super unhappy about her being in danger ('if i see anything i don't like i will come in blazing' oof) all the while regina is doing it to protect emma in return, jesus christ -

birth (5x08) - purely for the scene at the well where regina begs emma to tell her why she's hanging on to the darkness (aka begging emma to admit she loves her, while emma is being super repressed but they both know that's what they're talking about)

i'll be your mirror (5x08) - for all that good married sq teamwork content in the mirrorworld, regina admitting she's scared to raise henry alone and emma promising to always be there and never let anything bad happen, and the softness and tenderness of them watching him dance with violet and realising they've done such a good job together... i'm so weak bruh

[chaoticpuff17]

A Dangerous Game

Part 26

masterlist

warning: violence. smut. penetrative sex. fingering. dirty talk. cunnilingus (mild). swearing. yandere behavior. angst 

Hello darlings! It’s here! The wedding! The angst, the heartbreak! And Taehyung too! I loved writing this chapter, and I hope you all enjoy reading it! Sorry its a long one!-- chaotic puff

The wedding was upon them faster than anyone truly realized except perhaps for Namjoon for whom the day could not come fast enough. Anyone looking for the groom would find him giving orders half done up in his tux and his hair a mess from the amount of times he had run his hands through it. More than one poor soul had been threatened by the crime lord throughout the course of the morning. Every member of staff was on edge trying not to set off the hair trigger the man seemed to be operating with. But for every bit of nervous energy the groom exuded, the bride carried herself with a sort of gentle indifference as though nothing could touch her.

She watched the bustle in the garden, the people going in and out of the house, from the vantage of her old window. For the days leading up to the wedding, Namjoon had her move to her original room where she could rest and get ready away from the bustle of the final wedding preparations. Of course she was not without someone by her side. There was a team of ladies all there devoted to making the bride look perfect, every inch the match of the great Kim Namjoon, and there was her ever present guard. On this day, it happened to be Taehyung.

He may not have been her favorite of her minders, but his joking and boxy smile had kept her calm throughout her busy morning. And she had to admit, the man had style and had been a godsend in directing the ladies in making sure she looked up to Namjoon’s standards while still looking like herself. It didn’t hurt that he had also kept a steady stream of mimosas flowing throughout the morning, and had insisted on breaks whenever she began to get overwhelmed.

He was a smart man. He’d balanced out the alcohol with the food he coaxed into her whenever she had a break from the ladies determined to make her look every inch Namjoon’s queen and made sure that the mimosas weren’t too strong. No one wanted the bride to be drunk on her wedding day, except perhaps for the bride. She would have welcomed the numbness the alcohol would have brought, but Taehyung was not about to take the fall for a drunk Y/N when Namjoon was already two seconds away from a conniption fit.  

She emerged from the closet carrying her skirt gently lifted in one hand as she came back into the main room. The satin of the gown flowed down her body hugging her figure from the sweetheart neckline till just below her hips where it flowed out in a gentle trumpet skirt with a lovely train trailing behind her. It was simple and elegant, just as everything Namjoon had arranged for the wedding. Everything about her appearance had been decided on by Namjoon as she had shown no interest in any of the wedding plans.

Her hair was pulled back in an elegant chignon on the back of her neck with her veil fixed into it with an elegant silver comb. On her finger sat the ring Namjoon had given her accompanied by the only other jewelry she wore, the earrings he had given her that first day. The pearl and diamond earrings were just as lovely now as they were then, and she looked at them with a sort of bittersweet irony. Namjoon, she had found, was a romantic at heart. The earrings were sentimental, the first piece of jewelry he had given her as his “wife”.  

“What do you think?” She asked smiling humorlessly as she played with the veil that fell down to her hips flaring it out behind her as she did a little spin.

“You look beautiful.”

“Not a hair out of place. I’ve been poked and prodded enough to ensure that.” She grimaced remembering the hours spent in hair and makeup. She’d been pulled out of bed early that morning pushed into a bath, and then swept away into wedding preparations with Taehyung happily chattering away the whole time.

“And you look perfect!” He cheered lifting a glass in her direction before throwing back the contents and reaching to fill his glass again.

“Oh no.” She huffed shooting him a dark look. “If I’m not allowed to be drunk for this affair, you’re not allowed to be drunk.”

“It’s a wedding.” He deadpanned adjusting his suit. “Everyone will be drunk before the night’s over, except for you and Namjoon. Namjoon’s way too excited for today to get drunk and ruin it. And you are on strict alcohol limits, noona. Namjoon said no tipsy brides.”

“Yeah, well he’s a spoil sport.”

“You’re the one marrying him.” He grinned playfully shoving her shoulder.

“You can have him.” She snorted taking a sip of her own mimosa which was really more orange juice than champagne at this point. “You couldn’t have brought screwdrivers instead?”

“No drunk brides.” He sing songed shooting her shit eating grin. “I’m not about to be the one hyung shoots today.”

The door opened distracting them both especially with who entered. There stood Jackson looking bedraggled in his suit and breathing heavily as though he had run to be there, and he probably had. She wasn’t naïve enough to think that Jackson was allowed anywhere near her.

“What are you doing here?” Taehyung asked standing and taking a defense stance in front of the bride. “You’re not allowed up here. Guests are supposed to be downstairs, and riff raff is supposed to stay outside with the rest of the trash.” He growled.

“Y/N.” Jackson continued ignoring Taehyung’s insult. “Y/N, please. I need to talk to you.” He begged stepping further into the room despite the dirty looks the ladies and Taehyung were giving him.

She took in a shuddering breath grabbing Taehyung’s arm for support. “Get him out of here.”

“Y/N…”

“Get him out of here!” She shouted standing from the sofa and moving to stand by the window instead her skirts rustling behind her.

“Y/N.”  He pleaded.

Taehyung stepped forward pushing Jackson back. “She doesn’t want you here.”

Jackson shoved back trying to push past the taller man. “Y/N, please. Just let me talk to you.”

“Out.” Taehyung grabbing the other man practically throwing him out of the room. “If I see you near her again, I’ll shoot you myself.” He hissed closing the door behind him. He pulled out his phone tapping a message out to the other boys before turning his attention back to the woman who was shaking over by the window. “Could you get her some water?” He murmured to one of the attendants before moving over to her. “You okay? Need me to grab Jin-hyung? He’s probably trying to sedate Namjoon hyung, but I’m sure I can steal him away. He likes you better than hyung anyway.”  

She shook her head. “How did he get in here?” She whispered staring out the window to the garden out at what would very shortly be her wedding ceremony.

“I don’t know, but I’ll check the CCTV footage. If you don’t want Jin, I can call Jungkook up for you, or Yoongi?” He offered looking over her worriedly.

“I’ll be fine.”

He paused looking her over for a minute as if contemplating something. “I’ll call Jungkook. He’ll be here in a minute.”

And he was. The younger man came bursting into the room only a few minutes later looking over at her frantically. “Noona!” He crowed swooping her up in hug and spinning her around when he reached her.

“Kook!” Taehyung scolded trying to pull the other man off of her. “You’re going to mess up her hair!”  He fussed over her making sure her veil was still in place and that her hair and dress were fine once Jungkook has set her on his own two feet again.

“You look beautiful, noona.” He gave her his bunny grin before glowering at his hyung. “How did that fucker get up here?”

“I don’t know! I’m going to go check the security cameras! See you at the ceremony, noona.” He shot her a wink before moving to take his leave.

“You okay, noona?” He asked giving her a puppy dog look despite the fact that he was much taller than her and all muscle.

“I’ll be fine, Kookie.” She gave him a weak smile wrapping her arms around herself. “How long till the ceremony?”

“I need to get you down there soon. Probably in the next half hour or so.”

“So soon?” She whispered.

“You’ll be fine, noona.” He assured looping an arm over her shoulder comfortingly. “And now you’ll really be our noona! You’ll be hyung’s wife!”

“You sure we can’t just get in a car and go?” She asked staring down at the guests milling around in the garden. She knew none of them, but she knew they were probably all mafia connections of Namjoon’s.

Soon enough Miss In came to usher them down stairs. Jungkook let her loop her arms through his, using him as support as they descended the stairs towards what felt like her impending doom. Marriage was far more permanent than kidnapping. It was legal, binding. That was what Namjoon wanted. He wanted her bound to him to tightly she could never leave.

Someone handed her bouquet. White peonies. Everything was white peonies. She knew the meaning of the peony, and it left a sour taste in her mouth. Romance. Prosperity. Good fortune. A happy marriage. That’s what he wanted, a happy marriage, and he was going to get it whether she wanted to give it to him or not. He was going to have it all, the romance, the prosperity, the good fortune, and the happy marriage too.

She would have chosen anemones, aconite too. Loneliness and hatred. That was what this marriage would be for her. Loneliness and hatred. This was not the life she wanted for herself, and she wanted it even less as Jin came to stand beside her ready to lead her down the aisle where she could see Namjoon waiting. She had to try though. What other choice did she have?

She didn’t register the music, nor did she pay attention to the eyes of the guests on her. Her focus was on Namjoon. He looked dashing in his tux, she hated to admit, with his hair pushed back from his forehead, and a smile on his face that looked absolutely blissful showcasing those damn dimples of his.

Jin kept her steady as he led her down the aisle, his hand a comforting weight on her arm keeping her grounded a she wanted nothing more than to run back up the aisle and disappear. It was the most emotion she had felt in weeks.

Jin handed her over to Namjoon placing a gentle kiss on her cheek and murmuring words of encouragement into her ear before he did.

She didn’t really remember the ceremony. It was all a blur to her up until the moment it was her turn to say ‘I do’. Namjoon squeezed her hands bringing her back to the present reminding her it was time to seal her fate. Odd how two little words could carry so much weight. They were almost suffocating. She said them though, her voice barely a whisper.

The officiant had them sign the papers there an then placing their stamps on the paperwork sealing her fate. Namjoon’s happiness was almost dizzying once it was done. It radiated from him in waves washing over her almost nauseatingly.

He pulled her into a sweet kiss savoring the fact that she was his now, well and truly his. There would be no escape for her now.

The reception passed by in almost the same blur for her as the ceremony had. Person after person came up to congratulate the happy couple. And she did her part. She smiled. She thanked people. She remained by Namjoon’s side like a good obedient little wife should all the while feeling hollow, an empty shell of herself.

“You look beautiful, jagi.” Namjoon whispered pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Absolutely stunning.” She didn’t respond staring off into the distance. “Are you alright, jagi?” He asked lightly squeezing her hand.

She started looking up at him with wide eyes. “Yes, I’m fine. Just a little tired.” He hummed eyes scanning over her for any signs of fatigue. “I think I just need a minute. I think I’ll go over to the pagoda if that’s alright with you.” Her smile was thin, strained.

“I’ll get you some water and meet you there.” He murmured releasing her with a content smile, one that she did not return instead lifting her skirt slightly and making her way through the garden paths and towards he pagoda.

It was evening now and the garden was lit up like a fairy land as the guests milled around. One occasionally stopped her, offered their congratulations, and she thanked them with a tired smile. It was a relief when she reached the pagoda. It too was lit up just like the rest of the garden, but it was far enough away from the main festivities that she could have a moment of peace.

She basked in the night air leaning over the railing to stare down at the dark water of the pond. The surface was smooth, glasslike in the night. This was one of her favorite spots in the garden. She often took tea here. It had a beautiful view of the gardens, and was shielded from the sun. She and Namjoon had even taken meals there together on occasion.

“Y/N?” She stiffened at the sound of the familiar voice. Whirling around she found herself faced with Jackson.

“What are you doing here?” She hissed bracing herself against the railing. “You’re not supposed to be here.”

“Y/N, please, just talk to me.” He pleaded walking towards her despite the way she flinched away from him.

“I don’t want to talk to you.”

“Please, Y/N, I’m trying. We don’t have much time.”

“You should go.”

He sighed pulling a hand through his hair agitatedly. “I know. I know. I just need you to talk to me. This was never my intention. You have to know that.”

“I don’t know anything anymore.” She scoffed inching her way along the railing looking for a way around him.  

“Y/N, please, I can get you out of here. I just… I just need some time.”

She laughed, the sound bordering on hysterical. “It’s too late for that now. I’m married, Jackson. I’m fucking married!”

“I know. I’m sorry, little bear.”

“You have no right to call me that anymore. You’re a liar.”

“No.”

“You’re a liar and a sneak. Where you ever going to tell me?”

He ran his fingers through his hair again growling under his breath. “You didn’t need to know. You’d been…”

“Don’t!” She shrieked. “Don’t pull that shit on me. I’m not some fragile flower you need to protect. I never was.”

“Just listen to me!” He yelled surging forward and grabbing her upper arms. He shook her slightly his grip on her uncomfortably tight.

It was only for a moment though. In the next second he was ripped off of her pressed against one of the beams of the pagoda, Namjoon’s hand around his throat. “Step away from my wife.” He growled eyes blazing with a cold fury. “I thought I told you never to go near her again? Are you deaf or just stupid?” He hissed cocking his head to the side curiously as Jackson clawed at his hand trying to get him to release the strangle hold he had on him.

Namjoon released him, only to send him flying to the ground in the next second with a brutal punch. Namjoon circled him his movements slow and deliberate as he examined the man before him. Jackson’s nose was bleeding, and he was dazed, but he made a move to get up, only to receive a savage kick to the rips sending him sprawling to the ground again.

Namjoon tsked staring down at him with disdain still circling him like a predator. Namjoon’s men were there in an instant pulling Jackson up and holding him on his knees as Namjoon stared him down. “I warned you, Jackson.” He sighed looking down at the man with something akin to disappointment, but there was a sick sort of glee in his eyes belied the fact that he was enjoying this far too much to be disappointed.

He sent another sharp hit to Jackson’s head followed swiftly by another.

“Stop it.” She shrieked pressed back against the railing. “Stop!”

But Namjoon ignored her sending another harsh hit to the man’s face. Yoongi and Hoseok held Jackson still, completely unbothered by the violence. Hoseok looked almost gleeful while Yoongi remained impassive, almost bored by it all.

“Stop it!” She shrieked again tears welling up in her eyes as she surged forward to take hold of Namjoon’s arm before he could throw another punch. Jackson was already bloody and bruised, and she didn’t want to see any more of it.  

“Please stop.” She whispered shivering in the night breeze. “Joonie, please.” He froze hearing the nickname.  He looked down at her in surprise eyes flitting over her features taking note of the distress displayed there. “Please, Joonie.” She whispered tightening her hold on his arm.

He sighed turning his attention back to the bloodied man. “Take him away. I never want to see his face here again.” His eyes narrowed dangerously as he lifted Jackson’s face up to look at him. “The next time you cross me, I won’t be so gracious.”

He turned then, back to Y/N while he wiped the blood from his hands with a handkerchief. “I think it’s time to retire, jagi.” He held out a hand, and she obediently took it allowing him to pull her into his side and lead her out of the pagoda.

She was shaking the whole way through the garden and back into the house. Namjoon ignored the guests trying to give them well wishes, focusing on bringing her back inside. He took her back to the master bedroom gently leading her into the walk-in closet where he carefully undid the zipper of her dress allowing her to step out of the heavy mass of fabric before draping the white robe that the attendants from earlier had her in over her shoulders.

He sat her down at the vanity pulling off her veil and setting it aside before setting to work on the myriad of pins that had been shoved into her hair that morning. He took his time, gently pulling out each pin and setting it on the vanity. Slowly, her head was released allowing her hair to tumble over her shoulders where Namjoon laid a trial of kisses over the fabric of the robe.

They hadn’t been intimate since that first time. He was frightened of setting her off, but tonight was different. Tonight was their wedding. Tonight she was his, and he had every intention of having her.

She stared at him in the mirror watching as he trailed kisses over her shoulders gently moving the robe away from her shoulder allowing it to catch at her elbows.

“You were absolutely radiant today.” He purred eyes meeting hers in the mirror. “A vision.” A kiss to the junction of her neck and shoulder. “A goddess.” Another kiss placed higher up. “Won’t you let me worship you, jagi?”

She nodded mutely, allowing him to pull her up and sweep her up into a bridal hold as he carried her into the bedroom dropping her onto the beds before crawling on top of her kissing a trail from her navel up. He straightened up straddling her waist as he removed his shirt before his hands came down ripping her bra in two throwing the ruined contraption away as she gasped at the unexpectedly brutal movement.

“Beautiful.” He growled leaning back down to lavish attention on her now exposed breasts.

He toyed with the flesh there, pulling, sucking biting watching in satisfaction as her breathing became heavier. She groaned as he delivered a sharp nip to the sensitive nub grinning from ear to ear as he trailed kissed back down her skin towards the apex of her thighs. He stopped when he reached the lacy edge of her panties, hooking a finger under the fabric and slowly pulling it down her legs before throwing it to meet her ruined bra and his shirt on the floor.

“Shhhh.” He cooed pressing his hands down on her thighs to keep her still as she began to shift nervously. He placed a wet kiss to the skin of her inner moving upwards towards his goal. “Let me make you feel good, jagi.” He ran a finger up her slit flicking her clit and reveling in the way she whimpered under his touch.

 “You’re hardly wet at all, jagi. We can’t have that, now can we?” He hummed sympathetically shooting her a predatory grin before burying his head between her thighs.

She gasped back arching off the bed at the first feel of his tongue against her clit. Marcus had never done this to her, but Namjoon seemed all too pleased to do it. He pressed his lips over her core, sucking her clit into his mouth as her body jerked a high pitched whine escaping her mouth. She could feel him grin against her. The smug bastard.

His tongue teased her clit, pleasure winding its way up her spine as he worked. His hands kept their grip on her thighs holding her in place as he continued teasing her, nipping and licking at her cunt and drinking up the arousal that was gathering there. Eventually one of his fingers came up teasing her slit as he worked over her clit before slipping inside her pulling another moan from her. He slowly thrust his fingertips in and out of her working her over before slipping in another finger and then another relishing the way she keened and moaned as he curled them within her pumping them in and out at a quicker pace bringing her closer and closer to her high before she came with a scream falling back against the mattress as she came down.

Namjoon didn’t stop there though. He continued to tease her ignoring her whines of protest as he sucked on her clit harshly fucking his fingers into her determined to make her cum again.  

“Namjoon!” She warbled out trying to push him away, oversensitivity taking hold pleasure bordering more on the side of pain now, but he growled pushing her hands away and continuing his assault until he felt her walls tighten around his fingers as she came again.

He sat up watching with satisfaction as she laid against the pillows dazed from the onslaught of two consecutive orgasms. “So beautiful.” He purred. “Look at you. So wet for me. My wife.” He swooped down taking her mouth in a harsh kiss that was more teeth than tongue, nipping her lip making her gasp. “Gonna fuck you full.” He growled. “Make you scream for me.”

“Namjoon.” She keened squirming underneath him trying to create some friction to ease the ache between her legs.

“I know, jagi.” He cooed slowly unbuckling his pants slipping them off all the while watching her with heavy lidded eyes. “Such a good girl for me.”

He settled himself between her legs rubbing his lengths over her folds coating himself in her slick, a low pleased growl escaping him. Her breath hitched as he pressed the tip of his cock into her entrance slowly pushing himself in until he was buried to the hilt letting her feel every inch of him. “You take me so well, jagi.” He moaned panting into the skin of her neck. 

He moved setting a brutal pace as his hips snapped against hers. “Namjoon!” She keened throwing her head back against the pillows. She may not have liked him, but even she had to admit he was an excellent lover. Marcus had never been so concerned about her pleasure, but Namjoon seemed to revel in it, pleased by his ability to make her moan his name despite her distaste for him.

With each thrust the tip of his cock brushed against her cervix slamming in and out of her until she was seeing stars. It wasn’t long until she felt the pressure building in her abdomen again, his cock filling her in all the right ways constantly hitting the spots that left her breathless.

“Fucking hell.” He groaned nipping at her neck. “You’re so fucking tight.”

She didn’t know how much longer she was going to last as his fingers came down to rub tight circles against her clit. She came with a high pitched scream of his name, followed not long after his pace stuttering as he released spurt after spurt of cum into her in quick succession.

He lied on top of her for a moment taking a moment to enjoy the feel of her heat around him before pulling out of her, his cum leaking out of her as he did. “I love you.” He whispered placing a light kiss to her lips. “I love you so fucking much.” Another kiss. “My wife.”

part 27

[chrsitophwaltz]

MICKEY MEETS FC BAYERN (PART 4/4)

for the entire houston clownery experience click here

psa: if you’ve read the last 3 parts, then you know the drill. i just wanna add that i don’t know how coherent this is bc writing it drained me already. i typed it straight from my garbage brain so this is obviously NOT SAFE FOR WORK. if you’re brave or thirsty enough, or have holy water at the ready, then by all means please proceed.

*matthew mcconaughey voice* alright alright alright

we’ve reached the end, folks! it’s taken me longer than i thought to put this part out. mainly because my brain still can’t comprehend that this actually happened. y’all know that feeling where something happened and you just floated right through it then a few hours later when you’re all alone it hits and destroys you like a fucking trainwreck?

yeah, that’s what it’s been like.

so to recap:

friday: the team arrived. i was positioned nicely near the bus exit and my mind, body, and soul had been buzzing and ready for that moment. i had it all well-rehearsed too: niko steps out, i scream like a banshee for his name, he comes over-- with soft hair and glorious stubble and all-- to sign my shirt and take a gazillion pics. oh, and of course i try not to faint or drool all over him. it was almost fullproof. the problem? he never stepped out. he and thiago went straight to the airport for a press conference and were never in the team bus. i was ready to unleash death right then and there.

but oh well. all hope isn’t lost. i’m gonna be five rows behind the bayern bench the next day during the game anyway. got the tickets within an hour or so after sales opened. i can thirst to my heart’s content over him and his beautiful backside for two hours. and i had this huge ass sign ready, asking for his bottle. it’s bigger and brighter than my life. he CANNOT possibly miss that, right?

saturday: game day! i’ve been buzzing the entire morning and early afternoon. today’s the day! my first time inside a football (american) stadium too. and i was kinda nervous about my sign’s debut too. what if he does see it and give me his bottle? what would i do? do i manage to keep cool or do i smash it right into my eye socket in front of him? until now i still don’t know

so we go down to the stadium. my sign was getting some attention too. people, bayern fans and madridies alike, stopped me and asked what it meant (i had to sheepishly explain to random people that yes, i am indeed asking for his bottle, and no, y’all don’t wanna know why). some guy even got it on his video camera but idk what he did with it sjdfdjkfdjkfsfs

i got settled into my seat and h o l y s h i t i was so close to the pitch and the bench! all the drama? i got it! all the shirt-changing action? i got em too! and all the angry niko antics??? best believe they’re seared into my mind forever and ever!!!!

(dare i say, with full risk of sounding like a downright whore, the man’s got real juicy buns in the back oven. like, fuck me!!!! he’s fit as fucking fuck!!!!!!!! he also loves to whistle and scream instructions and mouth off to hansi on the bench. oh, and to randomly thrust his hips like nobody’s fuckin business!!!!!!!!)

(srsly niko, why do that???? GET OFF MY DAMN NECK!!!!!! PLEASE!!!!!!! my 17-year old sister was beside me and i had to be 110% a responsible, sane adult!!!!!!! even the guy sitting behind us eventually caught on to my thirst since he saw me filming niko the whole duration of the game sddbsjfdjfnsm)

anyway, niko LOVES to hydrate and he probably finished around 4-5 bottles of water. at one point he looked over at where i was and i’m sure as h e l l he saw my sign (it was a huge ass board). but guess what? it’s like he knew just how desperate i was and kept on sexily chugging. god fucking dammit, niko!!!!

y’all know what happened to all those bottles? NOTHING! they’re just piled up on the bench never to be used again. i was right there, niko! A CRUMB! just one fuckin crumb was all i asked for!!!!!!!!!!!! he could’ve thrown that bottle straight at my fuckin face and i would’ve THANKED him

the game ended, we won, and NO BOTTLE. a bitch was sad!!! a bitch was going STIR CRAZY!!!!! the team only had one day left before they left for kansas city. i’ve been trying to get info on how to get into the practice session so i can see him and all the boys. but of course! the training session might as well be in secret because it’s invite-only!!! even the paulaner bbq event was closed. the only events that were open were the mall meet-and-greets. but those wouldn’t have niko or the rest of the boys in them.

please bear in mind again that i decided to shell out extra just to make that one day extension happen. 

i had to see the entire team. i needed to experience niko up close. if i don’t get to do this now, then god knows when i’ll get the chance to do so again.

so, driven by desperation, i made a totally uninformed decision to go to the hotel at some random time the next day. ultimately, it was either the hotel or the carl lewis track. i figured the hotel would be a safer bet since i’d been there before and it was closer to the mall where the meet-and-greets would be (just in case the worst happened and i failed to catch them before they left for practice or wherever).

hotel or track? hotel.

what time? probably 8:30.

did i know what i was doing? absolutely fucking not.

but hey, couldn’t hurt, right? it was bonkers. truly bananas. but what choice did i have? in the end, i just wanted to be able to tell myself that i tried.

sunday:

i’ve been thinking about what to call this part. here’s some of what comes to mind:

1. crazy binch follows crazy idea and it works? it’s more likely than you think!

2. if you like it (i LOVED it) then you should’ve put a ring on it (I MCFUCKIN DID!!!!! in my head at least sksdjfksdfsdfh)

3. the day kathleen krüger probably wanted my head on a spike (and i don’t blame her)!

so the events from parts 1 and 2 happened. saw and greeted kathleen krüger in decent german. it was going pretty well. somewhere in there, during the sven/leon mishap, it finally happened. the moment that i’ve been waiting for. perfection!

*record scratch* eh, not really.

look, i’m 5′3 (and 1/2, i’m gonna insist on that). leon is 6′2. sven is about 6′3 or 6′4? anyway, y’all get it. they’re tall af.

and niko? a very sexy 5′9.

so in the haze of mortification and embarrassment brought about by the sven/leon mishap, i completely missed niko going out of the hotel. the binch literally had to be positioned in between sven and leon and all the other tall german people milling around the hotel. my ass had been on alert for him nearly the entire week (and let’s be real, for months) and when the moment finally presented itself, it completely flew over my head. i nearly ruined my own damn plan.

thankfully though, i’d been chatting with the bayern staff earlier and they knew that i’d been waiting this whole time to meet niko. i wondered out loud, “ugh, when is niko gonna show up he’s usually one of the earlier ones” and the guy in the red audi fcb tour polo shirt frowned and said “what? he literally just went out. didn’t you see him?”

my world literally stopped. i wanted to slap myself. my ears were ringing.

niko, already out? how could i have missed him? had he already gone up the bus???

i literally did a 360 so fast i gave myself whiplash and saw through the glass doors the man i’d been waiting forever for. he was clad in his blue coach kit of shirt and shorts. i could also swear he was glowing like an angel (probably bc of the bright sun or the product of my thirst-addled brain, idk).

there was another problem, though: he wasn’t stopping. he was going straight for the bus. and his leggies were f a s t.

and where was i? still frozen in shock inside the freaking hotel!!!!

i’m not the fastest person in the world but man, adrenaline really does work wonders! thank goodness my brain chose that moment to regain its function and spurred my body into motion. with no fucks left to give, i ran full tilt through the throng of people leisurely heading out, past the security guards who looked at me like i was insane (i was), out of the hotel and into the courtyard where there were about 50 or so fans behind the barriers who had gathered to catch a glimpse of the team.

it was like everything was in slow-mo. there was kathleen, patiently standing near the bus door and taking inventory of the players and staff before they leave. and there was niko, with literally one foot lifted to go up the first step into the bus.

my brain did a quick calculation. even with adrenaline, he’d already be up and inside the bus by the time i get to where he was. they may have let me inside the hotel, but i knew the bus was off limits. i had to stop him before he’s out of reach. and i knew that if i missed him, then that would be the absolute last time i’d see him in houston. that was my last chance.

i already had one foot dipped into the proverbial pool of shame. i was vaguely aware that i had the hotel staff stationed near the door and some fans looking at me bc of my marathon sprint antic. why not just take the full plunge, right?

so i did the only thing i could do to stop him: i screamed for him. throat open, full diaphragm, lungs out screamed: “NIKO! NIKO PLEASE!” my voice and the desperation that it was absolutely dripping with echoed within the walls of the hotel entrance.

i don’t even know the others’ reaction to that anymore, and i don’t really wanna know. all i know was that it worked! he stopped and turned around to look. and god was he. so. beautiful!!!

overjoyed that he paused, i ran straight towards him. there was a body in front of me that i barely dodged in my haste and i belatedly realized it was the team photographer taking shots of the departure. i nearly bowled him over and destroyed his expensive camera but thankfully i somehow managed to do a the matrix-esque maneuver and ducked under his arms and up again straight back to niko. the look on my face must’ve been shocking and horrific (i bet) because as i zoomed in on niko, i saw poor kathleen just behind him, still near the bus door, go tense with her eyes as big as saucers.

look, i understand. if i were the team manager of a popular football team, and some woman was running straight for one of my charges, with A Certain Look on her face, and with the bus door wide open, i’d be worried af. she probably thought i was gonna attack niko (somewhat true, but not in the way she thought...or was it?) and/or infiltrate the team bus. my intentions were pure (ish), of course, but my face didn’t reflect that.

the Queen knew martial arts and could’ve karate-kicked me off the face of the earth and away from niko, but she didn’t. so thank you, kathleen. and i apologize.

safe from kathleen’s wrath (for now), i turned my full attention to niko. i was finally in front of him!!!!! my dream had finally come true!!!!!!!!!!!

my brain and my soul were trying to leave my body and i wasn’t really 100% percent in the moment, but even with the little presence of mind i had left it was too much to bear. niko looked a bit perplexed, like i might attack him or something (with the way i looked, ran, and shouted like an animal i totally get it), but still managed to look relaxed, open, and friendly. he looked at me expectantly and i felt my mouth move to ask for an autograph and my hands give him my cardboarded jersey and sharpie. i wasn’t in control of my body anymore but thank god it knew exactly what i wanted.

niko, a true angel sent down from the heavens above, gracefully took my shirt and sharpie. i’m pretty sure my mouth was wide open and probably had some drool hanging off, and i could feel kathleen’s stare boring holes into the side of my head. as he was signing it, my last few brain cells were roasting.

his hair was soft and ungelled, and was damp (he looked like he recently just came out of the shower) and as his head was bent down, That Stray Lock of Hair flopped into his forehead. it nearly made me pass tf out!!! the sun was also shining brightly and his stubble was already silvery (thanks to bayern’s season of clownery!) so when the light caught it, it literally shone. each strand was literally p e r f e c t i o n. perfect length, perfect texture (from the looks of it; i didn’t dare touch no matter how much i wanted to bc thankfully i still had one fragile shred of dignity left, and i’m sure kathleen would’ve brought out the shotgun), perfect everything. i was about to have a coronary right then and there.

i’ve thought a lot about what i wanted to say to him if i did get the chance to meet him and talk to him. i remembered all the highs and lows of last season and as he finished signing my shirt, i thanked him and said “good luck, niko. and don’t listen to everything they say; you’ll always have people to stand behind you and the team no matter what.” at least that’s what i thought i said. i don’t really remember bc i was half spaced out. but i must’ve said something to that effect bc he looked up from what he was doing and gave me a big, and dare i say, relieved (?), smile. god, his eyes. they were so green. and soft. and really, really kind.

he was probably surprised that i said that to him, what with my earlier crazed stunt. but of course, ever the gentleman, he said “thank you so much” G O D!!!! HIS ACCENT!!!!! if you haven’t heard him speak in english yet, or just speak at all, now’s the time to google that shit. it’s deadly af on video, but goddamn, like everything else about him in person, it’s truly something else live.

mercifully, when he gave me back my shirt and pen, i still had enough life left in me to ask for a picture before i finally passed out. i never would’ve forgiven myself if i forgot!!!

me: thanks again, niko. is it alright if we take a picture?

niko: sure, of course! (god i love him; also, he loves to say “of course” for some reason sjkdhfdfjsdkfh)

so i had my shirt and sharpie in my left hand, and was trying to work my phone with my right hand. niko sidled up real close to my left side and HOLY FUCKING SHIT. he was so warm. and his arm was f i r m. he was leaning really close and my brain was short-circuiting from trying to memorize every single detail and trying to work my phone camera.

(note: my lock screen is niko drenched in beer after they won the bundesliga. thankfully, i turned off my phone’s auto lock just the night before. imagine if he saw me trying to unlock my phone with his wet self plastered on my screen. i never would’ve survived the shame.)

as i was skin on skin with niko, my organs were literally failing. my hands were shaking and sweating, and my camera just. wouldn’t. set. on. photo. it went to video, to slow mo, to god knows what else. it was already getting embarrassing and i was mumbling apologies to niko bc i was sure i’d already taken more than enough of his time. and i haven’t forgotten that kathleen was still there! still staring at us, at me, and witnessing every single mortifying thing!!!!

niko, literally heaven itself incarnate, was so patient though and just chuckled. oh. fuck. me. his chuckle. y’all know his voice is deep af, right? and you know that certain r a s p that comes with it. well, fuck. he did this deep ass raspy chuckle that went straight down to my loins!!!!! christ on a bike!!!! my inner whore was literally about to jump out!!!!! i’ve fantasized about hearing it in person for so long but jesus fucking christ I WASN’T READY. ALL THIS TIME AND MY BODY STILL WASN’T READY!!!! AND I’M DAMN SURE IT WILL NEVER BE READY!!!!!!!!! NO ONE IS READY FOR THIS ATTACK!!!!!!!!

g o d. anyway, he finally took pity on me. he chuckled (i’m on the brink of death here!!!) and reached for my phone to help me take the goddamn photo. he set it on photo (freaking finally, thanks niko) and we posed for the photo. hell, he was so close again. while i tried to smile and look somehow decent, i just had to take away as much detail as i could before we parted.

1. i already said this, but his h a i r. so soft. and houston was freaking humid. while mine was literally about to turn into a bird’s nest from the humidity, the man just couldn’t look fugly if he tried!!! he literally had NO FRIZZ. damn niko, tell me your secret!

2. his stubble was SO CLOSE. every strand? PERFECTION. no words could adequately describe it. and holy shit, his jawline and cheekbones. if i touched it i could literally lacerate my goddamn hand. and he had no pores??? fucking sexy cryptid

3. his c h u c k l e (he wasn’t chuckling anymore, but that shit stays with you till the end of time)

4. HIS S C E N T.

okay. i have a scent kink. i know. TMI. like this whole write up is one big banner for too much fuckin information. but holy shit. HOLY S H I T. until now i still don’t know how to fully describe, and i probably never will succeed in fully conveying what it was truly like (and if my brain embellished some of it; i was really too far gone to know anything anymore), but fuck. f u c k. he wasn’t wearing perfume or cologne, i’m sure of that. nothing too artificial that stood out to my nostrils. probably bc they were going to train under the houston sun and spritzing was wasted and unnecessary. but remember that he was fresh from the shower, so that was basically his main scent. it was very nice, very crisp, very clean. basically, sexy as hell. classy. panty-melting!!!! hell, i don’t know!!!! you know what i mean!!! idk if it’s from the hotel toiletries (if it was, good job post oak hotel!) or if it’s his own (then i need to know niko! what products do you use???). but yeah. clean and crisp. d***y supreme.

and there was also something else. it must’ve been his natural scent. and god. GOD!!!! a bit woodsy (?) and quite sweet. i’ll stop there before i say something that REALLY crosses the line.

so my thumb moves, and we take the photo. ONE FREAKING PHOTO. that’s all i managed. i wasn’t able to look at it until my uber ride to the mall later on, and i really would’ve liked more to take with me and stare at when i’m....lonely. but it was magically HDR, and i looked passable. and niko. again: perfection!!!! now that i know what he’s like in the flesh, nothing else will ever come close. but this does come quite close.

after the photo was taken, i manage to squeak out another “thanks.” niko smiled again (kill me one last time, why don’t you) and squeezed my arm lightly before saying goodbye and finally going up the bus. kathleen could breathe a sigh of relief now.

i don’t know how long i stood there. surely not that long since i still got to take pics with serge, manu, and lewy. but it did feel like forever and i haven’t shaken myself out of it. as i’m writing this, exactly one week later after it happened, i still haven’t shaken myself out of it. i don’t think i ever could.

i’m just thankful to whichever deity made this happen. my houston trip was finally complete (i haven’t met everyone yet at that point, but i just somehow knew deep inside that it would all work out). i got what i came for and more. my extension was not only worth it, but completely priceless. i’ll treasure this whole day and that little moment i got with niko for the rest of my life. that’s for sure.

just to end this, i just wanna say something. i know this was one whole crazy and thirsty post, but seriously. he’s a really nice man. a good man. it wasn’t for more than a few minutes at most, but it felt like forever in my mind. and in that short moment, i just knew he tries his best. i’m a true blue niko stan but even i know he made mistakes. i’m clearheaded enough to acknowledge that. but he tries, and he succeeded. and no matter how calm and cool and collected he always appears to be, you can still see how much it all affects him. hell, he literally grayed in front of our eyes in less than a year. his eyes were a little less bright at the end of the season as compared to his presentation last july. when i gave him that little message of support, i literally saw the relief in his eyes and how much he appreciated it. he and the team have been through quite the ordeal last season, and there are no guarantees it will be easier this time around.

you don’t have to like him, you know. but please. a little basic human respect still goes a long way.

there, i said my piece. and it’s done! thank you, fc bayern, for being so nice and game and all-around wonderful. thank you, kathleen krüger, for staying calm long enough to let me have my moment with niko. and thank you, niko, just for being... you. now here’s the ONE picture i’ll treasure for the rest of my life:

[jlf23tumble]

1D Day, Hour One

God only knows what this hellscape will look like on December 18, so if I’m gonna recap each hour of 1D Day, I might as well do it now, eh?? 1D Day is a gift that none of us really deserved, and yeah, it has a ton of shitty moments, but much like X Factor itself, the true gem is Louis Tomlinson and how much he runs this entire show (and lbr, the band itself), Jesus, god, do I love him.

Anyway, 1D Day aired 7 hours of live content on November 23, 2013 to promote Midnight Memories, and yes, yes, we’ve all seen the gifsets, but like anything else with this band, it’s tremendously better in context. I watched this whole thing a couple of years ago, when I first got into this fandom, but I didn’t know all of the dynamics then, so it’s extra fascinating to me now. We’ve all binged worse shit than this that took way longer, and I promise you won’t regret an hour a night for a week--but if you’d rather read my hot take, here you go, under the cut! Note: these are really shitty screengrabs, and for that, I am truly sorry.

A horrible announcer introduces the D by saying they weigh in at a collective 792 pounds, and all I can wonder is does this mean they have daily weigh-ins, why is it that specific? This focus on their weight is just gross to me. C’mon, writers, you’re better than this (j/k, you aren’t).

The three-foot bubble between Louis and Harry is established pretty early on, with Harry doing the prettiest sitting in all the land before bolting to his feet immediately because Louis happened to walk by his couch. A very real question: Was this bubble a requirement that Ben Winston constantly whispers into their headpieces, or did sbb decide, hey, let’s make it obvious that we have to CONSTANTLY adjust where we stand, even if it’s two feet away because that’s not enough room for Jesus?

There are some truly hilarious guest “stars” to announce, the first being the giant video head of David Beckham, which pops up and immediately starts speaking, so we're already off to the races with a) fuckups and b) Louis’s annoyance at said fuckups.

Liam takes a good hard look at his future:

Harry isn’t allowed to gaze at Becks, he’s off by the listening booth, which is a giant red call box because they’re Briddish, pip pip, cheerio. Unrelated, but I low-key feel like Harry's coked up or else really taking the piss with all his “LIVE BANDDDDDDD,” JERRY! JERRY! JERRY!,” etc., not to mention how fast he’s speaking, the way he grinds on the guitarist’s lap while Louis fonds at the sky, and all the yelling with arms aloft.

The best part of the rundown of the guest “stars” (or breast stars, if you’re Niall) is that we’re only in the first 10 minutes, so everyone’s giving it a go, but then we get to Mr. Simon Cowell, and Niall claps five times to stony silence (me as Harry constantly staring at Louis from three feet away):

Piers Morgan comes out to describe the “grilling” he’s going to give them later, all angry—genuinely angry—that they’re trending on twitter because they keep saying that he smells. And they don’t stop, even here, they keep yelling, “What’s that smell? You stink, etc.,” and he’s such a dick that I want to bottle this moment and spritz it around my house daily.

This mild trash talking continues, with Piers promising “tears from Piers,” but Slytherin Niall pulls the fingernail out of his mouth, smiles that sneaky smile, and says, “Yeah, but this isn’t Piers Morgan Day, is it, this is 1D Day,” and I want a transcript because there’s so much talking, but all of it trashes Piers, and god, I love my sons.

Anyway, they keep winding Piers up (Piers: “I’m going to find out what you’re most embarrassed about,” Liam: “The way you smell,” Piers, genuinely in a rage: “Don’t say that”), and he keeps talking about how he’s interviewed heads of state, etc., the implication being that this is below him, but Niall counters that Oprah and Barbara Walters have, too, and they would have much preferred Oprah, to the point where Piers admits they couldn’t afford Oprah (lmaooooooo). 

We move on to Harry, spinning a twitter wheel that means they’ll follow whoever it lands on, which seems like a cute idea. I’m guessing it’s the official twitter handle?? I don’t know or actually care!

Louis can’t read the teleprompter, and he mutters later that it’s because it makes no sense rather than being too hard to actually see, but me as Niall, already yawning at the 25-minute mark (the bubble is preserved, though, whew):

I’m guessing Scott Mills is the “host” of this show because he comes out with a stick (??) and an agenda (Scott’s no Dermot…he has a face for radio, as they used to say back in the day). This whole section just features a lot of Harry and his pinned sleeves staring at Louis, and honestly relatable:

The next task is toilet paper roll stacking, with two judges from the Guinness Book of World Records on hand to see if this band of hyenas can beat the current world record and stack 28 (!!!!) rolls in 30 seconds. Two reasons to love Louis: he interrupts this idiocy to ask, “How did you two get into this, is this a full-time job you do every day?” (I was wondering the exact same thing), and this is his face for this challenge:

Sadly, they fail, and Harry’s the one who has to tell the judges, “Well, sorry for wasting your time!” with a cheery wave from the ladder. Uh oh, though, the bubble, we’re at two feet:

Much better!

This is still too close for Ben Winston’s comfort, so we split up the teams in what feels like a college course with a lot of money to run fake broadcasting drills. Zouis gets to report from the field, with some tweet rapping; the weather guy, sports guy, and lead broadcaster experience some technical difficulties, prompting Harry’s infamous, “SOMETHING’S GONE WRONG,” and we’re off to Poland:

For a production company that seems hell bent on “no homo,” there are lots of things that raise my brows, like this big “handsome” (Harry’s words) he-man who’s going to pull a “boohs” full of 1D fans over a line, so the boys have to guess how long it’s going to take him…by writing all over his mostly nude body (I’m the eye contact that Harry and Louis maintain during this):

Dude pulls the boohs successfully, so yay! Next up is Wrong Direction, the world’s worst lookalikes (HONESTLY, I’m embarrassed for everyone in this segment on Hollywood Blvd: the idiots who are “fooled” by this, the guys themselves and the low-key insult of it all, myself because this went on for way too long):

I’ll spare everyone the individual matchups because yike, but the real Wrong Direction comes to the studio, with all the guys dressed up like their matches, and the real D is polite, albeit mildly “wtf are we supposed to do about this” (me, too, Zayn). Points to Harry for at least trying to strike up some conversation: “Did you have foon, acting like us?” We’re supposed to vote for the best one on Google+ (lolololololol).

Scott takes two girls who look like they’re legit about to pass out into the red call box so they can be the first people to listen to the new album. While they listen to something none of us can hear, we get some VT (that’s “videotape,” god, I hate the whole lingo lesson we got earlier) of Spain and some fans, all of which feels like lengthy filler. I feel for the people Scott mentions as being asleep during this because there is a LOT of fill. Maybe make this shit shorter, just a suggestion!

Next up is Jamie Scott from his home somewhere in the middle of the night; he wrote most of Midnight Memories along with Louis and Liam, and he gives them an 8.5 in terms of how they did on a scale of 1-10 (and that’s AFTER Louis insults his pillows with the alphabet on them, “In case you forget”). There’s a lot of Lilo hand-shaking in celebration, and some enthusiastic clapping from Harry (a little too enthusiastic…I’m gonna imagine that someone tells him to tone it down in his earpiece because he looks around quite a bit):

A few things happen that don’t really interest me: the first listen of “Through the Dark” (this is skipped in the vid), a remote report from Radio Disney (Harry: “HOLLYWOODDDDDD!”) and a fan who wins the chance to come visit them later in the day, and then we’re back to Scott, who looks exhausted, and it’s only been 40 minutes.

All is not lost, because the next VT is the totally unnecessary yet extremely vital coverage of the D’s exercise regime. I’ve seen so many gifsets of hottttt and sweaty Lirry, but you haven’t lived until you’ve heard Niall’s American accent while he stretches: “Welcome to my workout dvd! I’ll be with you for the next 45 minutes to  give you the lowdown of how I stay in shape.” PLEASE @ NIALL, DO THIS.

I really WANT to be Harry and effortlessly pump out pushups, but in reality I’m Zouis, popping some robot dance moves and drinking Red Bull. The weird shorthand throughout this is that Liam is an animal (Ziam + a whip = fire), Harry’s into flirty sexercise, Niall wants an arse like Kim K’s, Zayn’s a slender boxer, and Louis…just fucks around? Missed opp for footie Louis.

The first performance is “Story of My Life,” and we’ve all seen it before, but godDAMN, Zayn sings like an angel. Lots of technical problems in the audio, prompting quite a few Louis/Harry hand gestures, but still, in spite of it all, they sound amazing individually and together.

Even local asshole Piers Morgan is impressed, as he comes out to tell them that they were surprisingly good, along with a bunch of other neg bullshit. This is another one of those segments that it pays to watch the whole clip of, and Jesus, do I want a transcript. They head over to the couches, and Piers points at Louis and says, “You have the most reason to be nervous,” but Louis’s like, “Yeah, but I’m not,” and wow, #goals.

Everyone gets a couch, and the upshot is that Piers is a terrible egoist who thinks he’s a fantastic interviewer, but he really isn’t…all the questions are shit, and these five eat him alive. Everything he asks falls flat, and it’s so masterfully, subversively handled, from Louis’s iconic “define girlfriends” (and the underappreciated attempt by Harry to define it for Piers later: “Like in primary school, if you hold hands with a girl and you're eight, is that a girlfriend?”) to the obsession with smells (Piers asking Niall, “Why do you always smell,” claiming it’s a fan’s question, and Niall answering that it’s because he had colic as a child, so can only fart; Piers asking Zayn, “Who stinks the worst,” and Zayn saying that they all smell quite good, actually) to Piers demanding to see Zayn’s tattoo and relentlessly attacking him for it being a gun (Louis keeps interjecting that it’s a watergun, but go off I guess, paraphrasing).

But the best is always Louis. “What’s the weirdest thing a girl has done to impress you?” “Tweeted Piers Morgan.” Later, he says pointblank to Piers, “You do stink.” But then…but THEN, it’s the Four interview 1.0, only instead of Ben trying to get Louis to deny gay rumors, it’s Piers, who does it twice: “What’s the one rumor you wouldn’t want to hear about yourself?” Louis’s answer: “That I’m not good at football.” “Are you good?” “No….I just wouldn’t want it confirmed.” Piers tries AGAIN: “What’s the worst thing you’ve had to read about yourself?” but Louis turns it around and says he hates reading about one of the other boys being dead (!).

Because he’s the worst, Piers takes it to the ladies and asks how many girlfriends they’ve had and how many times they’ve kissed a girl. Harry says he’s kissed 8 ladies (which prompts a good scoff out of Zayn), and everyone else says 5 or 6, 3 or 4, etc., with Louis declaring he’s only had one proper relationship (no genders mentioned), so maybe 2 (lmaooooo). Piers gets all excited that he’s kissed more girls than this hot boyband has, and I wanna say, you’re almost there, “friend”…keep working it through.

There’s more antics w/r/t Piers, like his poor 2YO daughter crying, and him trying to blame it on Harry Styles not answering her dad’s sex questions or stupid questions about embarrassing things they’ve caught the others doing, and yeah, I don’t think they’ll get into the big ot5 gang bang on live TV, but ask anyway, I guess?

The last person to suffer sitting next to Piers is Liam, and I love him always, but especially for saying, “How’s it going there, stinky?” when Piers takes a seat to ask him why he’s so sexy. Piers tries to “joke” that the sexy question is for him, but nobody says anything, and then he asks Liam AGAIN before admitting that it’s a shitty question, so then he asks about them all wearing tight jeans, and godddddd, why does anyone let him interview anyone?? 

The good news is that Piers can tell he lost, so as he tells them that he thinks they’re pretty okay, actually, but, “You’ve gotta stop calling me stinky,” and you know they never will.

Scott says it might feel like much longer, but it’s only been an hour, and Zayn’s lookalike won, so we can all rest easy. This hour closes with a review of the highlights, and it’s ham-fisted and awful. Shocking!!!!

I can’t do one of these every single day, but I’ll do hour two sometime soon! Hope you enjoyed this, @justlarried, lol!

[kusunogatari]

[ Something New || Chapter Two ] [ @abyssaldespair ] [ Uchiha Obito, Suigin Ryū, Suigin Reiji ] [ Verse: White Hands of Healing ] [ Previous || Next ]

...he’s been dreading this. And yet...he knows it’s something that has to be done.

There’s no revealing his intentions, insisting instead he’s going on a short walk. Won’t be gone long. Ryū gives a curious tilt of her head, reclined with Reiji in her arms, but doesn’t protest.

“Be safe.”

The well-wish earns a quirk of his lips, heading out and shutting the door with a small sigh. It’s not often he heads out on his own unless for his village-assigned tasks. There’s still something a bit...unnerving about being here. About being stared at. Whispered behind.

He does his best to ignore it.

Instead, Obito turns from the little house and makes his way to the proper village quarter. It’s one he hasn’t dared visit since his return to Konoha. Mostly because he doesn’t have much reason to.

But partly because he knows it’s largely as full as it is because of him.

...but that’s why he has to go.

A lot of things have been brewing inside him since the trip to the hospital only a few days ago. Since then, mother and baby have been healthy, if not a bit weary. And Obito has had a lot of thinking to do. A lot of reflecting. Even now, the inkling he felt when first handed his son bothers him. That memory…

...and the true realization of what he did.

Which is why, as he passes under the archway leading to the village cemetery, he knows what he has to do.

Their graves are above the typical - which makes sense. A Hokage and his wife aren’t exactly your regular, run-of-the-mill citizens. Even clan heads’ graves can pale in comparison. But even then, there’s a humble simplicity in Minato and Kushina’s gravemarkers.

...Obito has to wonder who made the orders, given neither of them had any family left to speak for them that could.

For a long moment, he just...stands before them, reading the inscriptions over and over, looking at the date, realizing how many years it’s been. How many years...since he took their lives away. Left their newborn son an orphan.

...and now...he has a son of his own. Alongside the pride, the joy, the disbelief...is a sinking and undeniable grief, guilt...and shame. He tries to imagine being in Minato’s shoes, now. Knowing what he knows. Feeling what he feels. How he, too, would fight tooth and nail, give his life, if it meant keeping Reiji safe.

Ryū, he knows, would do the same.

He tries to imagine the fear, the fury, the fight for a life he treasures beyond his own. Not only that, but his wife’s. Minato faced a monumental threat that night: one against not only his family, but his village.

...and it was all his doing.

Jaw clenching, Obito’s fists curl at his sides - not in external anger, but internal. What a fool he’d been...so embroiled in hate, in loss, in rage...he’d taken everything from a man who’d done his best to give him everything. Minato had his flaws - maybe he could have done something more to save him, save them - but in the end, he did everything he could for his team. For his village. For his family.

And it was his actions that cost him everything. Facing him in the fourth war - seeing that understanding light cerulean eyes as he teleported to his prior student, putting the pieces together - it had stung.

But now...now he truly understands that weight. Of what he stole. What he robbed from not only Minato, but Kushina...Naruto...he tore a family apart because of his own feelings of betrayal and hurt and anger. Now that he has one of his own...understanding what he did is unavoidable.

“...I can’t even apologize,” he then rasps, finally speaking, voice shaking. “There’s no apology in this world or the next that would begin to scratch the surface. But...I understand now. I’ve come to understand so much. Not just about you, and what I did to you. Both of you. But everyone, I…” He punctuates with a deflating sigh. “...I can’t excuse my choices. I did what I did. It was born of manipulation, but eventually...I embraced it all the same. I was cruel and angry for the sake of being cruel and angry. I wanted the world to feel what I’d felt. To lose what I’d lost. But now...I am the one coming to realize what I took. That fear is now my fear.

“...I have a son. I never expected to. I thought I would live the rest of my days alone, in my purgatory, while the rest of you dreamed. It was to be my penance. But I...was distracted. Led astray. And the only reason I’m here, now...is because of her. The only reason I had to keep going was her. And now...I have another. They are...my only reasons. My world. My…” He can’t seem to find a word strong enough.

“...I’m sorry. It’s not enough, it will never be enough, but...I want you to know how much I regret now what I did. I can’t change it. But I...I know now. I know that feeling. If someone...if they…” His sentence breaks apart, fractured by emotion. “...I would do just as you did. No hesitation. To me, nothing is more important. My life, it’s...it’s nothing without them. Had I never found her...I’d be content to disappear. There was nothing else once it was all over. I made it through that war because...I made her a promise. To see her again. And if it couldn’t be in the world of dreams...it was up to me. So I fought. And I prevailed. And now, I have this...tiny little world that’s my own. If I lost it...I would cease to exist. So I know why you laid down your life. I would do the same, now. I just...regret that I forced that choice on you.

“...maybe it’s not enough, but...I’m going to try to do better. To use what time I have left to...make amends. I know I can’t ever repay all my debts. Not in a thousand lifetimes. But...in this one I have...I want to try to make things right. I want to love my wife. I want to raise my son. And little by little, work off a shred of the debts I owe. I’ll always have this guilt. I suppose that’s part of my sentence. To live the rest of my days with that weight. That knowing. But in the end...my biggest regrets come from you. You, and my team...and my family. The only people who cared. Who I...gave up on. Because I felt you’d given up on me. I…”

Obito sighs. He’s carried on for far too long as it is, but...well, this has built up for more than half his life. And his new perspective means introspection. He’s never had much chance to voice any of this aloud...nor any reason to.

“...I’ll keep trying. It’s all I can do. But...I felt I should finally speak to you. Admit that I was wrong. Try to...somehow make this right, as best I can. I had to tell you that...I understand. I know, now. And I’ll try to use that knowing to...be better. If I can.”

...with that, Obito finds himself just about out of words. And somehow, he feels...exhausted. And yet, perhaps...just a little lighter.

“...I’ll bring him here. Someday. Tell him the truth. Hope he’ll forgive me. He...deserves to know who his father was...and who he is. When he’s old enough...I’ll let him make that decision for himself. Maybe...if she could still find good in me...he will too.” A long moment of silence passes, staring at their names.

“...until then...I guess I’ll say my goodbyes.” Feeling awkward, he nonetheless bows deeply over the stones, a kind of restless uncertainty in his chest as he walks away. It plagues him all the way home, still quiet as he steps inside.

And then, from another room, he hears a melodic, “Okaeri!”

Something in him stills at the word. Helps to ground him. Though still somber, he smiles softly to himself, removing his shoes and stepping in.

“...tadaima.”

     A wee sequel! Technically this was Meg's idea, but I liked it so much I had to write it myself...whoops. Hopefully I pulled it off okay. I tend to make characters talk a lil too much, but...then again, Obito's got a LOT on his mind, and...I feel like he'd feel able to open up to Minato, like he used to as a genin.      idk if there'll be more to this, but since THIS idea tied into the first part, I thought I'd just make it a second chapter here. Buuut yeah! Hopefully it's passable, aha - I still get nervous writing Obito for some reason, especially when it's mostly JUST him, and his thoughts.      *skips away* Thanks for reading!

[bang7an]

A list of BTS’ UNOFFICIALLY RELEASED socially-conscious, non-love songs:

Not only does BTS have a bunch of socially-conscious officially released tracks, they have a ton of unofficial/non-group releases with meaningful lyrics as well.

OT7

흔한 연습생의 크리스마스 (A Typical Trainee’s Christmas) * = about the insignificance of holidays to trainees and feeling lonely, overwhelmed, and belittled because of the industry’s expectations

Born Singer * = about pursuing your passion despite criticism from society and the uncertainty of the future

흔한 아이돌의 크리스마스 (A Typical Idol’s Christmas) * = comments on how the grass is not always greener on the other side; about feeling overwhelmed due to the work load/expectations of being an idol. also a thank you to ARMYs for continuously supporting them 

So 4 More * = about constantly working harder in order to  pursue one’s passions and to reach one’s dreams

We Are Bulletproof PT 1 4 BEGINS Ruff * = about surpassing your rivals by being yourself & not letting other people’s words get to you

RM, Suga & Jin

학교의눈물 (School of Tears) * = comments on the apathy of the current education system that pits children against each other and teaches students to step on the weak to rise to the top

어른아이 (Adult Child) * = about how reaching the age of adulthood is not as special and revolutionary as others make it seem; it is just another chapter in the book called Life. also a shout of gratitude to Korea’s armed forces who are often forced to serve for 2 years when they reach the age of adulthood

Jungkook, Jimin & J-Hope

졸업 (Graduation) * = about seeking freedom from the educational system and realizing everyone will take a different path towards their respective dreams

RM, Suga & J-Hope

땡 (DDAENG) * = about thanking the antis and internet trolls for their dedication because BTS used their hate to motivate them to rise to even higher fame and success

RM & J-Hope

널 웃게 할 노래 (The Song That Will Make You Smile by Lee Seung Gi ft. Rap Monster & J-Hope) = RM & J-Hope’s part is about not being afraid of standing tall and facing one’s adversaries head on

RM & Jungkook

Like A Star * = about regret for being afraid of being different from others and not pursuing one’s dreams/passions

알아요 (I Know) * = a thank you to male and female ARMYs for supporting them the last 3 years & a promise to be always there for ARMYs in the future

RM & V

네시 (4 O’CLOCK) * = about that ambiguous time between night and day when the blue moonlight seems to stop time and you can heal from the chaos of the light/reality

Jimin & V

95 Graduation * = about how fast time flies & the importance of preserving and remembering the past that was built to create the present. also an apology to their classmates for not being able to attend their graduation

RM

Hookgayo (w/ Iron & Supreme Boi) = calls out the repetitiveness of the industry & artists who use swear words/graphic content simply to catch the interest of the general public (a response to Brave Brother’s diss track “Round and Round,” where he dissed producers, like Bang Shi Hyuk PD)

Fuck Cockroachez (w/ Zico) = about facing the uncertainty of the future and staying strong

Seventeen = about feeling lost in the world and not knowing how to actualize your dreams. comments on how only you can take control of your life

DREAMIN = about taking the unbeaten path and looking towards the future while never forgetting one’s humble beginnings

Glory = about pursuing your passions despite the disapproval of people around you

Naa = about the sweetness of pursuing one’s dreams and the curious beckoning of the unknown future

Suicide = about the feeling of failure even when others label you as a success

7 Dayz (w/ Popinjay) = about how dreams cannot always shield you from reality

130305 = about newbies who disrespect the senior artists that came before them

Tipsy (w/ Supreme Boi) = about pursuing your passions not for the applause, but for your own pleasure and personal satisfaction

94 Line Rap (w/ 삼순, 윤달, Suprema, Kyum2, LUPE, Wildbuck) = about the power of attacking your haters mentally rather than physically

Swag Player (w/ Tangent) = dissing wanna-be-rappers that compare themselves to those from the underground scene

You Can’t Do That (대남협 w/ Supreme Boi, i11evn, Marvel J, Kyum2) = addressing haters that say idol rappers can’t be considered truly “hip-hop”

Check the voice (w/ 라이머, 문화의사대, Black $heep, rap k.o, 문스피어, Kwind, TL, 몽숭이, Star Yankie, 찌질보이, 대포, BLAGI) = about ignoring the haters and looking straight ahead

Listen To Me = about breaking the music industry by being one with the beat

닥투 (Vote, or Just Shut Up) * = telling people we should voice our opinions by exercising our right/power to vote

Party (XXO) [Lyrics by RM] * = about fighting hatred with love & standing up for the minorities of the world. also contains pro-LGBT lyrics

I Like That [Lyrics by RM] * = about self-love & being independent and confident after a break up

FREESTYLE * = about the uncertainty of the future & the societal pressures that come with choosing music over college

FREESTYLE 2 = about how his tears for the past have dried & how he can’t go back now. also about being grateful and wanting to give thanks/strength to the people who have helped him along the way

FREESTYLE 3 * = about feeling lonely in a room full of people & the importance of self-motivation to reach your dreams/success

Freestyle 4 * = about longing for a past when time was infinite and dreams were limitless

Rap Monster * = about his dream to lead the new generation of hip hop by writing and conveying his own words/message

Where U At * = about the uncertainty of the future in such a competitive/saturated job market. also comments on how today’s youth is explicitly taught that money isn’t everything, but is implicitly pressured to earn a high salary

Too Much * = about feeling alone and trying to find where one belongs (in this case, he is rapping about the rejection he feels from hip hop fans for being an “idol” and idol fans for being a “monster”). also a question as to whether one can be truly happy/content in life

Unpack Your Bags (w/ DJ Soulscape) * = about the difference between his “idol” self and his “non-idol” self & the path towards finding his true identity

P.D.D (Please Don’t Die w/ Warren G) * = about serving revenge to haters by using the hate as a stepping stone for success

부끄부끄 (Bucku Bucku by MFBTY ft. EE, Dino J, RM) * = RM’s part is about showing magnanimity to the haters out of pity. he also gives respect to the seniors that he had always looked up to and are now able to write songs with

목소리 (Voice) * = about overcoming his past and finding his true source of happiness in music

Do You * = about living without labels/societal restrictions and doing “the fuck you want!”

각성 (覺醒/Awakening) * = addressing the fear and inevitability of failure. also about embracing the title of “idol” & not letting the label restrict his mind or actions

Monster = about becoming better than your haters by enjoying what you do everyday

농담 (Joke) * = “I’ll say one word about your rap, don’t rap.”

God Rap = about accepting and loving oneself, as well as accepting and not ridiculing others with different beliefs/views

Rush (ft. Krizz Kaliko) * = about preventing the negativity from affecting you by focusing on your own life

Life * = questioning the differing levels of loneliness that people feel and the blurred line between life and death

표류 (Drift) * = about trying to determine one’s purpose in life, but feeling lost

I Believe * = about trusting oneself and making the most out of one’s life by following one’s heart

튀겨 (ProMeTheUs by Yankie ft. Dok2, Juvie Train, Double K, RM, Topbob, Don Mills) * = RM’s part is about seniors/the older generations who look down towards and dismiss the youth

always * = about feeling like the world is not listening to you and will never be able to accept you for who you are

Change (w/ Wale) * = about trying to change the current state of the world we live in. also comments on the corrupt education system and police brutality, as well as cyberbullying

코끼리 (Gajah/Elephant by Gaeko ft. RM) * = RM’s part is about fighting for oneself and not letting life/destiny push you around

SUGA/AGUST D

Diss = about how you can’t buy talent with money

Swagger = about being destined for success

All I Do Is Win = about surpassing your competition by improving yourself day by day

싸이하누월 MIX Final * = about how music is a part of him & not being afraid to display his true self, despite the stigma that comes with the label “idol”

Agust D * = about rising from the bottom to the top and breaking away from the stigma of “K-Pop” and “idol”

give it to me * = “Born tiger, ain’t gonna live like a dog.”

치리사일사팔 (724148) * = about pursuing your passions to reach success. also comments on social classes and the priviledge of old money

140503 새벽에 (140503 at dawn) * = about loneliness and pretending to be okay on the outside while fighting your inner struggles. also comments on his social phobia, that was an onset of his restricted lifestyle as a trainee

마지막 (The Last) * = about the dangers of comparing oneself to others & not recognizing who one has become. comments on self-hatred, depression, social phobia, suicide, and mental health. also about the sweetness of success after hardship & learning to find pride in one’s self-esteem

Tony Montana (ft. Yankie) * = about the switch from wishing for the downfall of others, to focusing on his own success and taking care of his family, fans, and team. also about the trials that come with rising from the bottom to the top

so far away (ft. SURAN) * = about the meaningless of living life without a purpose/dream, but also struggling to find that purpose. in addition, conveys a message of hope that one will find happiness through hard work and not giving up on the seemingly impossible

J-Hope

Animal (Jo Kwon ft. J-HOPE) = about not letting anyone take control of your passions (in this case he’s talking about his passion to perform)

1 VERSE * = about the gratification of watching your hard work and effort come to fruition

Hope World * = about opening up oneself to the world and living with hope

P.O.P (Piece of Peace), Pt. 1 * = about the role of music in bringing about change and comfort in a chaotic world

백일몽 Daydream * = about dreaming the impossible dreams and living life without fear of restrictions

Base Line * = about discovering the “base line,” the inner catalyst, that drive’s one’s motivations and achievements

항상 (HANGSANG ft. Supreme Boi) * = about how BTS is his driving force and his pride in reaching the top with his members by his side. also about his hope that they will be together forever

Airplane * = about reminiscing on his youth, when he used to dream of the skies, and finally realizing that he has surpassed his childhood goals

Blue Side (Outro) * = about wanting to preserve his memories of his younger, naive self, even if it’s through a dream

name: video w/ lyrics

=: live performance/dance practice

*: official music video/trailer/SoundCloud release

[axekerose54]

Pdf download Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher Researcher PDF EPUB KINDLE

(PDF Kindle) [Download] Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher Researcher EBOOK FREE DOWNLOAD (PDF Kindle) [Download] Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher Researcher [Full Book]

[EPUB & PDF] Ebook Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher Researcher | EBOOK ONLINE DOWNLOAD

by Geoffrey E. Mills.

Ebook PDF Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher Researcher | EBOOK ONLINE DOWNLOAD Hello Book lovers, If you want to download free Ebook, you are in the right place to download Ebook. Ebook Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher Researcher EBOOK ONLINE DOWNLOAD in English is available for free here, Click on the download LINK below to download Ebook Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher Researcher 2020 PDF Download in English by Geoffrey E. Mills (Author).

Download Link : Download Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher Researcher

Read More : Read Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher Researcher

Description

Note: This is the bound book only and does not include access to the Enhanced Pearson eText. To order the Enhanced Pearson eText packaged with a bound book, use ISBN 0134522729.  A step-by-step guide to action research with a balanced coverage of qualitative and quantitative methods.  The leading text in the field of action research, Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher Researcher is known for its practical, step-by-step guidance for teachers on how to do research in classrooms. Drawing on his extensive experience working directly with teachers and principals to help them learn how to conduct action research studies, the author guides future educators through the action research process via numerous concrete illustrations. The text positions action research as a fundamental component of teaching and helps it's readers not only acquire the skills to conduct quality studies, but also how to make it a part of everyday teaching practice.  Improve mastery and retention with the Enhanced Pearson eText The Enhanced Pearson eText provides a rich, interactive learning environment designed to improve student mastery of content. The Enhanced Pearson eText is: Engaging. The new interactive, multimedia learning features were developed by the authors and other subject-matter experts to deepen and enrich the learning experience.* Convenient. Enjoy instant online access from your computer or download the Pearson eText App to read on or offline on your iPad® and Android® tablet.** Affordable. Experience the advantages of the Enhanced Pearson eText along with all the benefits of print for 40% to 50% less than a print bound book. *The Enhanced eText features are only available in the Pearson eText format. They are not available in third-party eTexts or downloads. *The Pearson eText App is available on Google Play and in the App Store. It requires Android OS 3.1-4, a 7” or 10” tablet, or iPad iOS 5.0 or later.

Tag the PDF

Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher Researcher by Geoffrey E. Mills Ebook PDF

Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher Researcher by Geoffrey E. Mills PDF Download

Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher Researcher by Geoffrey E. Mills EPUB

Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher Researcher by Geoffrey E. Mills EBOOK

Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher Researcher by Geoffrey E. Mills PDF Online

Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher Researcher by Geoffrey E. Mills E-BOOK Online

Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher Researcher by Geoffrey E. Mills PDF

Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher Researcher by Geoffrey E. Mills ebook library

Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher Researcher by Geoffrey E. Mills pdf document

Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher Researcher by Geoffrey E. Mills pdf reader

Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher Researcher by Geoffrey E. Mills ebook creator

Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher Researcher by Geoffrey E. Mills ebook deals

Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher Researcher by Geoffrey E. Mills ebook kindle

Let's be real: 2020 has been a nightmare. Between the political unrest and novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it's difficult to look back on the year and find something, anything, that was a potential bright spot in an otherwise turbulent trip around the sun. Luckily, there were a few bright spots: namely, some of the excellent works of military history and analysis, fiction and non-fiction, novels and graphic novels that we've absorbed over the last year. 

Here's a brief list of some of the best books we read here at Task & Purpose in the last year. Have a recommendation of your own? Send an email to jared@taskandpurpose.Com and we'll include it in a future story.

Missionaries by Phil Klay

I loved Phil Klay’s first book, Redeployment (which won the National Book Award), so Missionaries was high on my list of must-reads when it came out in October. It took Klay six years to research and write the book, which follows four characters in Colombia who come together in the shadow of our post-9/11 wars. As Klay’s prophetic novel shows, the machinery of technology, drones, and targeted killings that was built on the Middle East battlefield will continue to grow in far-flung lands that rarely garner headlines. [Buy]

 - Paul Szoldra, editor-in-chief

Battle Born: Lapis Lazuli by Max Uriarte

Written by 'Terminal Lance' creator Maximilian Uriarte, this full-length graphic novel follows a Marine infantry squad on a bloody odyssey through the mountain reaches of northern Afghanistan. The full-color comic is basically 'Conan the Barbarian' in MARPAT. [Buy]

 - James Clark, senior reporter

The Liberator by Alex Kershaw

Now a gritty and grim animated World War II miniseries from Netflix, The Liberator follows the 157th Infantry Battalion of the 45th Division from the beaches of Sicily to the mountains of Italy and the Battle of Anzio, then on to France and later still to Bavaria for some of the bloodiest urban battles of the conflict before culminating in the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp. It's a harrowing tale, but one worth reading before enjoying the acclaimed Netflix series. [Buy]

 - Jared Keller, deputy editor

The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 by Garrett Graff

If you haven’t gotten this must-read account of the September 11th attacks, you need to put The Only Plane In the Sky at the top of your Christmas list. Graff expertly explains the timeline of that day through the re-telling of those who lived it, including the loved ones of those who were lost, the persistently brave first responders who were on the ground in New York, and the service members working in the Pentagon. My only suggestion is to not read it in public — if you’re anything like me, you’ll be consistently left in tears. [Buy]

- Haley Britzky, Army reporter

The Body in Pain: The Making and Unmaking of the World by Elaine Scarry

Why do we even fight wars? Wouldn’t a massive tennis tournament be a nicer way for nations to settle their differences? This is one of the many questions Harvard professor Elaine Scarry attempts to answer, along with why nuclear war is akin to torture, why the language surrounding war is sterilized in public discourse, and why both war and torture unmake human worlds by destroying access to language. It’s a big lift of a read, but even if you just read chapter two (like I did), you’ll come away thinking about war in new and refreshing ways. [Buy]

 - David Roza, Air Force reporter

Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege: 1942-1943 by Antony Beevor

Stalingrad takes readers all the way from the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union to the collapse of the 6th Army at Stalingrad in February 1943. It gives you the perspective of German and Soviet soldiers during the most apocalyptic battle of the 20th century. [Buy]

- Jeff Schogol, Pentagon correspondent 

America's War for the Greater Middle East by Andrew J. Bacevich

I picked up America's War for the Greater Middle East earlier this year and couldn’t put it down. Published in 2016 by Andrew Bacevich, a historian and retired Army officer who served in Vietnam, the book unravels the long and winding history of how America got so entangled in the Middle East and shows that we’ve been fighting one long war since the 1980s — with errors in judgment from political leaders on both sides of the aisle to blame. “From the end of World War II until 1980, virtually no American soldiers were killed in action while serving in the Greater Middle East. Since 1990, virtually no American soldiers have been killed in action anywhere else. What caused this shift?” the book jacket asks. As Bacevich details in this definitive history, the mission creep of our Vietnam experience has been played out again and again over the past 30 years, with disastrous results. [Buy]

 - Paul Szoldra, editor-in-chief

Burn In: A Novel of the Real Robotic Revolution by P.W. Singer and August Cole

In Burn In, Singer and Cole take readers on a journey at an unknown date in the future, in which an FBI agent searches for a high-tech terrorist in Washington, D.C. Set after what the authors called the "real robotic revolution," Agent Lara Keegan is teamed up with a robot that is less Terminator and far more of a useful, and highly intelligent, law enforcement tool. Perhaps the most interesting part: Just about everything that happens in the story can be traced back to technologies that are being researched today. You can read Task & Purpose's interview with the authors here. [Buy]

 - James Clark, senior reporter

SAS: Rogue Heroes by Ben MacIntyre

Like WWII? Like a band of eccentric daredevils wreaking havoc on fascists? Then you'll love SAS: Rogue Heroes, which re-tells some truly insane heists performed by one of the first modern special forces units. Best of all, Ben MacIntyre grounds his history in a compassionate, balanced tone that displays both the best and worst of the SAS men, who are, like anyone else, only human after all. [Buy]

 - David Roza, Air Force reporter

The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

The Alice Network is a gripping novel which follows two courageous women through different time periods — one living in the aftermath of World War II, determined to find out what has happened to someone she loves, and the other working in a secret network of spies behind enemy lines during World War I. This gripping historical fiction is based on the true story of a network that infiltrated German lines in France during The Great War and weaves a tale so packed full of drama, suspense, and tragedy that you won’t be able to put it down. [Buy]

Katherine Rondina, Anchor Books

“Because I published a new book this year, I've been answering questions about my inspirations. This means I've been thinking about and so thankful for The Girl in the Flammable Skirt by Aimee Bender. I can't credit it with making me want to be a writer — that desire was already there — but it inspired me to write stories where the fantastical complicates the ordinary, and the impossible becomes possible. A girl in a nice dress with no one to appreciate it. An unremarkable boy with a remarkable knack for finding things. The stories in this book taught me that the everydayness of my world could become magical and strange, and in that strangeness I could find a new kind of truth.”

Diane Cook is the author of the novel The New Wilderness, which was long-listed for the 2020 Booker Prize, and the story collection Man V. Nature, which was a finalist for the Guardian First Book Award, the Believer Book Award, the PEN/Hemingway Award, and the Los Angeles Times Award for First Fiction. Read an excerpt from The New Wilderness.

Bill Johnston, University of California Press

“I’ve revisited a lot of old favorites in this grim year of fear and isolation, and have been most thankful of all for The Collected Poems of Frank O’Hara. Witty, reflexive, intimate, queer, disarmingly occasional and monumentally serious all at once, they’ve been a constant balm and inspiration. ‘The only thing to do is simply continue,’ he wrote, in 'Adieu to Norman, Bon Jour to Joan and Jean-Paul'; ‘is that simple/yes, it is simple because it is the only thing to do/can you do it/yes, you can because it is the only thing to do.’”

Helen Macdonald is a nature essayist with a semiregular column in the New York Times Magazine. Her latest novel, Vesper Flights, is a collection of her best-loved essays, and her debut book, H Is for Hawk, won the Samuel Johnson Prize for Nonfiction and the Costa Book Award, and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Kirkus Prize for Nonfiction.

Andrea Scher, Scholastic Press

“This year, I’m so grateful for You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson. Reading — like everything else — has been a struggle for me in 2020. It’s been tough to let go of all of my anxieties about the state of the world and our country and get swept away by a story. But You Should See Me in a Crown pulled me in right away; for the blissful time that I was reading it, it made me think about a world outside of 2020 and it made me smile from ear to ear. Joy has been hard to come by this year, and I’m so thankful for this book for the joy it brought me.”

Jasmine Guillory is the New York Times bestselling author of five romance novels, including this year’s Party of Two. Her work has appeared in O, The Oprah Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Real Simple, and Time.

Nelson Fitch, Random House

“Last year, stuck in a prolonged reading rut that left me wondering if I even liked books anymore, I stumbled across Tenth of December by George Saunders, a collection of stories Saunders wrote between 1995 and 2012 that are at turns funny, moving, startling, weird, profound, and often all of those things at the same time. As a writer, what I crave most from books is to find one so excellent it makes me feel like I'd be better off quitting — and so wonderful that it reminds me what it is to be purely a reader again, encountering new worlds and revelations every time I turn a page. Tenth of December is that, and I'm so grateful that it fell off a high shelf and into my life.”

Veronica Roth is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Divergent series and the Carve the Mark duology. Her latest novel, Chosen Ones, is her first novel for adults. Read an excerpt from Chosen Ones.

Ian Byers-Gamber, Blazevox Books

“Waking up today to the prospect of some hours spent reading away part of another day of this disastrous, delirious pandemic year, I’m most grateful for the book in my hands, one itself full of gratitude for a life spent reading: Gloria Frym’s How Proust Ruined My Life. Frym’s essays — on Marcel Proust, yes, and Walt Whitman, and Lucia Berlin, but also peppermint-stick candy and Allen Ginsburg’s knees, among other Proustian memory-prompts — restore me to my sense of my eerie luck at a life spent rushing to the next book, the next page, the next word.”

Jonathan Lethem is the author of a number of critically acclaimed novels, including The Fortress of Solitude and the National Book Critics Circle Award winner Motherless Brooklyn. His latest novel, The Arrest, is a postapocalyptic tale about two siblings, the man that came between them, and a nuclear-powered super car.

David Heska Wanbli Weiden, Riverhead

“I’m incredibly grateful for the magnificent The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee by David Treuer. This book — a mélange of history, memoir, and reportage — is the reconceptualization of Native life that’s been urgently needed since the last great indigenous history, Dee Brown’s Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. It’s at once a counternarrative and a replacement for Brown’s book, and it rejects the standard tale of Native victimization, conquest, and defeat. Even though I teach Native American studies to college students, I found new insights and revelations in almost every chapter. Not only a great read, the book is a tremendous contribution to Native American — and American — intellectual and cultural history.”

David Heska Wanbli Weiden, an enrolled member of the Sicangu Lakota Nation, is author of the novel Winter Counts, which is BuzzFeed Book Club’s November pick. He is also the author of the children’s book Spotted Tail, which won the 2020 Spur Award from the Western Writers of America. Read an excerpt from Winter Counts.

Valerie Mosley, Tordotcom

“In 2020, I've been lucky to finish a single book within 30 days, but I burned through this 507-page brick in the span of a weekend. Harrow the Ninth reminded me that even when absolutely everything is terrible, it's still possible to feel deep, gratifying, brain-buzzing admiration for brilliant art. Thank you, Harrow, for being one of the brightest spots in a dark year and for keeping the home fires burning.”

Casey McQuiston is the New York Times bestselling author of Red, White & Royal Blue, and her next book, One Last Stop, comes out in 2021.

"I'm grateful for V.S. Naipaul's troubling masterpiece, A Bend in the River — which not only made me see the world anew, but made me see what literature could do. It's a book that's lucid enough to reveal the brutality of the forces shaping our world and its politics; yet soulful enough to penetrate the most recondite secrets of human interiority. A book of great beauty without a moment of mercy. A marriage of opposites that continues to shape my own deeper sense of just how much a writer can actually accomplish."

Ayad Akhtar is a novelist and playwright, and his latest novel, Homeland Elegies, is about an American son and his immigrant father searching for belonging in a post-9/11 country. He is the winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and an Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Vanessa German, Feminist Press

“I'm most thankful for Daddy Was a Number Runner by Louise Meriwether. It's a YA book set in 1930s Harlem, and it was the first Black-girl-coming-of-age book I ever read, the first time I ever saw myself in a book. I appreciate how it expanded my world and my understanding that books can speak to you right where you are and take you on a journey, at the same time.”

Deesha Philyaw’s debut short story collection, The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, was a finalist for the 2020 National Book Award for Fiction. She is also the co-author of Co-Parenting 101: Helping Your Kids Thrive in Two Households After Divorce, written in collaboration with her ex-husband. Philyaw’s writing on race, parenting, gender, and culture has appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, McSweeney’s, the Rumpus, and elsewhere. Read a story from The Secret Lives of Church Ladies.

Philippa Gedge, W. W. Norton & Company

“As both a writer and a reader I am hugely grateful for Patricia Highsmith’s plotting and writing suspense fiction. As a writer I’m thankful for Highsmith’s generosity with her wisdom and experience: She talks us through how to tease out the narrative strands and develop character, how to know when things are going awry, even how to decide to give things up as a bad job. She’s unabashed about sharing her own ‘failures,’ and in my experience, there’s nothing more encouraging for a writer than learning that our literary gods are mortal! As a reader, it provides a fascinating insight into the genesis of one of my favorite novels of all time — The Talented Mr. Ripley, as well as the rest of her brilliant oeuvre. And because it’s Highsmith, it’s so much more than just a how-to guide: It’s hugely engaging and, while accessible, also provides a glimpse into the mind of a genius. I’ve read it twice — while working on each of my thrillers, The Hunting Party and The Guest List — and I know I’ll be returning to the well-thumbed copy on my shelf again soon!”

Lucy Foley is the New York Times bestselling author of the thrillers The Guest List and The Hunting Party. She has also written two historical fiction novels and previously worked in the publishing industry as a fiction editor.

“The books I'm most thankful for this year are a three-book series titled Tales from the Gas Station by Jack Townsend. Walking a fine line between comedy and horror (which is much harder than people think), the books follow Jack, an employee at a gas station in a nameless town where all manner of horrifyingly fantastical things happen. And while the monsters are scary and more than a little ridiculous, it's Jack's bone-dry narration, along with his best friend/emotional support human, Jerry, that elevates the books into something that are as lovely as they are absurd.”

T.J. Klune is a Lambda Literary Award–winning author and an ex-claims examiner for an insurance company. His novels include The House in the Cerulean Sea and The Extraordinaries.

Sylvernus Darku (Team Black Image Studio), Ayebia Clarke Publishing

"Nervous Conditions is a book that I have read several times over the years, including this year. The novel covers the themes of gender and race and has at its heart Tambu, a young girl in 1960s Rhodesia determined to get an education and to create a better life for herself. Dangarembga’s prose is evocative and witty, and the story is thought-provoking. I’ve been inspired anew by Tambu each time I’ve read this book."

Peace Adzo Medie is Senior Lecturer in Gender and International Politics at the University of Bristol. She is the author of Global Norms and Local Action: The Campaigns to End Violence against Women in Africa (Oxford University Press, 2020). His Only Wife is her debut novel.

Jenna Maurice, HarperCollins

“The book I'm most thankful for? Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein. My mother and father would read me poems from it before bed — I'm convinced it infused me not only with a sense of poetic cadence, but also a wry sense of humor.”

Victoria “V.E.” Schwab is the bestselling author of more than a dozen books, including Vicious, the Shades of Magic series, and This Savage Song. Her latest novel, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, is BuzzFeed Book Club’s December pick. Read an excerpt from The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.

Meg Vázquez, Square Fish

“My childhood best friend gave me Troubling a Star by Madeleine L'Engle for Hanukkah when I was 11 years old, and it's still my favorite book of all time. I love the way it defies genre (it's a political thriller/YA romance that includes a lot of scientific research and also poetry??), and the way it values smartness, gutsiness, vulnerability, kindness, and a sense of adventure. The book follows 16-year-old Vicky Austin's life-altering trip to Antarctica; her trip changed my life, too. In a year when safe travel is almost impossible, I'm so grateful to be able to return to her story again and again.”

Kate Stayman-London's debut novel, One to Watch, is about a plus-size blogger who’s been asked to star on a Bachelorette-like reality show. Stayman-London served as lead digital writer for Hillary Rodham Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign and has written for notable figures, from former president Obama and Malala Yousafzai to Anna Wintour and Cher.

Katharine McGee is grateful for the Redwall series by Brian Jacques. Chris Bailey Photography, Firebird

“I’m thankful for the Redwall books by Brian Jacques. I discovered the series in elementary school, and it sparked a love of big, epic stories that has never left me. (If you read my books, you know I can’t resist a broad cast of characters!) I used to read the books aloud to my younger sister, using funny voices for all the narrators. Now that I have a little boy of my own, I can’t wait to someday share Redwall with him.”

Katharine McGee is the New York Times bestselling author of American Royals and its sequel, Majesty. She is also the author of the Thousandth Floor trilogy.

Beth Gwinn, Time-Life Books

"I am thankful most for books that carry me out of the world and back again, and while I find it painful to choose among them, here's one early and one late: Zen Cho's Black Water Sister, which comes out in 2021 but I devoured just two days ago, and the long out-of-print Wizards and Witches volume of the Time-Life Enchanted World series, which is where I first read about the legend of the Scholomance."

Naomi Novik is the New York Times bestselling author of the Nebula Award–winning novel Uprooted, Spinning Silver, and the nine-volume Temeraire series. Her latest novel, A Deadly Education, is the first of the Scholomance trilogy.

Christina Lauren are grateful for the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. Christina Lauren, Little, Brown and Company

"We are thankful for the Twilight series for about a million reasons, not the least of which it's what brought the two of us together. Writing fanfic in a space where we could be silly and messy together taught us that we don't have to be perfect, but there's no harm in trying to get better with every attempt. It also cemented for us that the best relationships are the ones in which you can be your real, authentic self, even when you're struggling to do things you never thought you'd be brave enough to attempt. Twilight brought millions of readers back into the fold and inspired hundreds of romance authors. We really do thank Stephenie Meyer every day for the gift of Twilight and the fandom it created."

[mi5016annabodgal]

The animation industry

“The corporate structure of companies active in the business ranges from the largest media conglomerates in the world ( Walt Disney, Time Warner and Viacom Inc.) to small companies amounting to little more than a designer with a PC and the latest software package.”

- Wescott T (2011) An overview of the global animation industry. Creative Industries Journal pp. 253 - 259.

The first lecturer of this module tackled questions about the animation industry. This is a vast topic and probably everyone gets a bit lost at the beginning or to where to begin at all. The lecturer was built around the most important questions one need to ask from themselves when they plan to step into the industry. 

Statics and conclusion from the lesson’s pdf:

‘The animation sector currently employs 56,800 people and employment is predicted to grow by 8% over the next 5 years. Employers have said that 25% of current vacancies are due to skills shortages across both 2D and 3D.Productions employ a huge number of staff, many of whom will be freelance, to complete projects. 2014’s Paddington employed 893 people of whom 200-300 were animation artists.’

-Creative Skillset

EDUCATION

78% of the workforce are educated to degree level.

27% of the workforce hold a postgraduate qualification.

Only 1% of the workforce have undertaken an apprenticeship.

56% of respondents had found out about their current or most recent role through informal recruitment.

Of those working in terrestrial TV 73% were likely to use formal classroom training. For both the games (53%) and the VFX (45%) workforces, online resources was the most commonly used mode of training.

48% of the workforce has undertaken some unpaid work during their career. (original works)

Estimated number of UK jobs in film, TV, radio and photography in creative industries in 2015: 231,000.

In 2013, there were more than 5.400 film production companies, over 2,200 post-production companies, 395 film distributors, and 215 exhibitors.

30% of people working in the creative media industries are freelance. This varies by sector from just 9% in VFX to 90% in film production.

Most film businesses have fewer than 10 employees.

Rise in creative industry jobs in film, TV, radio and photography: 1.6 per cent (2014-15), and 9.9 per cent (2011-2015)

Average annual income was £33,900 (a rise of 6% on 2010). Income ranged greatly from £45,900 in VFX to £23,150 in film.

Conclusion: 

stand on more legs but know your stuff, 

employment is rising due to skill shortanage in both 2D and 3d animation, 

education is important having a postgraduate degree looks goon in a CV but so does previous employment or faward winning stuff, 

but don’t stress over your CV it’s more important to know peopled have a big wide network cause probably your friend or classmate or colleague will be the one who gets you the next job, 

big companies are not everything, 

be flexible and open and always ready to learn, 

there is no unified salary or any union which collects animators and defends their rights, 

most people work freelance and freelancer work on many stuff big and small productions too, 

Vfx earns the best but truly those who go to advertisement.

The questions which to all I can’t give an answer now but will fill them out over time when I figured myself out:

Where do you want to live?

One would think that it is a question to ask later when you already have the luxury to chose. And to be honest I thought that too, but actually, it’s really something that people should focus on more at the beginning. If you know where you want to live you can look into companies that area and manage your portfolio according to their interests. But it’s also good to have as a long term goal too. This type of work is really flexible so it’s also possible to work from any point in the world if you have a good computer/laptop with the softwares needed and internet connection. 

My answer: I want travel live in many places around the world then settle down or not. I don’t mind working and living in one place, wherever that will be, I’m thinking about staying in the UK after graduation then later maybe going back to Hungary and then travel some more, but I aspire to later be employed in a way which let’s me moving around the globe.

What do you want to spend your day doing? 

Good question. 

What skills can you offer the workplace?

good humour?

Who do you want to watch your work?

people

What platform do you want to create content for?

screen

Who do you want your clients to be?

probably people?

What style of employment suits you?

Style of employments:

Freelancing - self employmed working for different companies on particular assignments. Could be within a studio, could be remote.

Colectives - more than one freelancer working together as a team 

eg:     Moth;          the line.          Job, Boris and Marieke

Employment by a company - working for one company, for a salary with set hours.

my answer: hah if only I knew

(Studios that Hugo showed us and are in the pdf:)

Companies:

Global:

Pixar - Disney - Warner Bros Animation - Nickelodeon Animation - Moving Picture Company.

UK

The Mill - London

Framestore - London

Double Negative - London

Aardman - Bristol

Mackinnon and Saunders - Manchester -divesifiction

Factory - Manchester - diversification

Second Home Studios - Birmingham (theatre)

Local (Newcastle upon Tyne)

Atomhawk - Gateshead

Ubisoft - Gosforth

Hedgehog Lab - Newcastle

Arcus - Gateshead

Kuro Dragon - Gateshead

Thee Motion - Newcastle

Neutron

Roots  Wings

Blue Kangaroo

Across the Globe

cartoon Saloon - Ireland

Laika - Oregon

Industrial Light & Magic - San Francisco

We Were Monkeys - Vancouver

London Animation studios:

Passion Pictures

Animade moor playfrms egg. instagram animadetv

Moth

JellY

Loose Moose

Studio AKA

Blinkblink

Bluezoo - diversification

Passion Pictures - div

Children tv program animation studios

Factory - Manchester

Karrot Animation - London

Astley Baker Davies - London

Magic Light Pictures - London 

look into articles:

https://www.screenskills.com/about-us/press-releases/screenskills-announces-programmes-to-tackle-skills-shortages-and-improve-inclusion/

new creatives bbc - tyneside 

[bellabooks]

Imagine If They Had Just Made Them Gay: Early 2000’s Movie Edition

I’ve got a bit of a confession to make. I consume a lot of content on a pretty regular basis. And not a lot as in “I binged watched the entire new season of Orange is the New Black in one weekend” sort of way. No, I consume a lot of content as in “I’ve somehow managed to plow through yet another +30k word Clexa-centric fanfic, caught up on the last three episodes of The Handmaid’s Tale, and re-watched Deadpool for the umpteenth time all in the span of 24 hours” sort of way. And, as most of you can commiserate with me, when it comes to finding decent LGBTQ+ centric content to watch, it’s truly slim pickings to say the least. Yes, there’s definitely been a vast uptick over the last decade in the sheer amount of LGBTQ+ content that’s being produced, but in all honesty, one can only re-watch Grey’s Anatomy and Wynonna Earp episodes so many times. So, what’s a gay to do? Well, let me introduce you to a little game I like to play called “Imagine If they Had Just Made Them Gay”   The rules are simple. * Pick a movie * Preferably one with more than one female lead, but as we all know, that automatically cuts down your options by at least 60%… if not more. * Analyze the plot * Does it pass the Bechdel test? Unless you’ve picked Wonder Woman or Power Rangers, nine times out of ten, it doesn’t. * Re-imagine it if they had made the characters gay.   Let’s start with some easy ones, shall we?   BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM (2002) First and foremost, this movie is already extraordinarily gay. A main character who’s more obsessed with playing soccer than dating the opposite sex. Check. Two girls who prefer to go by the shortened, androgynous versions of their names. Check. Parents who assume that their kids are dating each other because their friendship is one Hayley Kiyoko style sleepover away from being classified as a full-fledged relationship. Check. Keira Knightley spending two thirds of the entire film wearing nothing more than a sports bra and soccer shorts. Check, check, and check. So then, why on earth, does this character even need to exist? Well, actually, he doesn’t. What if instead of Joe being the standard, run-of-the-mill object of affection for both Jess and Jules to pine after, he simply is nothing more than just another one of their coaches? Blasphemy, you say? But how can one have a teenage centric rom-com without the beloved (and oh so painfully stereotypical) two girls / one guy love triangle? Simple. You just don’t. Imagine if Bend It Like Beckham went something like this… Jules, a soccer-obsessed sportsbian, is in desperate need of someone to fill the open spot on her club team and just so happens to stumble across Jess, an equally talented soccer-crazed girl, while out on a run one day. The two hit it off in a “I just met you five seconds ago but am already picking out our future children’s names” sort of way and Jules asks Jess to come try out for her team. Jess wants to say yes, but there’s just one major glitch. Her parents directly forbid her. Jules, being the adorably awkward and slightly thirsty lesbian that she is, begs Jess to at least come to a tryout, saying that if she just so happens to in fact make the team, then she will help Jess hide it from her parents. Jess agrees and the two instantly go about getting to know one another… on the pitch… off the pitch… in the locker room… in the backseat of Jules’ car… But, of course, just when Jules and Jess are about to solidify their budding relationship by adopting a pair of hers and hers rescue dogs, Jess’ parents find out about her foray into the highly controversial world of women’s soccer and guilt trip her into quitting the team, and ergo Jules as well. Not willing to give up on her u-haulin’ dreams so easily, Jules goes behind Jess’ back and makes an emphatic plea directly to Jess’ parents, somehow convincing them not only of Jess’ potential future career in the USWST  but also that she would make the world’s best daughter in-law.     BRING IT ON! (2000) Now, I know what you’re thinking… We already have a plethora of gay cheerleaders. Brittany, Santana, and now even Waverly too thanks to the infamous opening scene of episode 203 of Wynonna Earp. But Torrance and Missy? At first glance, Bring It On! is nothing more than just another classic early 2000s high school movie. Girl meets boy. One’s popular and the other is not. At first, they literally have nothing in common, but as time progresses and they find themselves forced into a host of completely unbelievable circumstances, they come to realize that they are madly in love with one another and despite their differences, wind up together. Pretty straightforward, right? But, there’s one thing about Bring it On! That makes it stand out among the rest… and it’s not the insanely quotable dialogue. That’s right. It’s Missy. Missy, by all logical card-carrying queer accounts, should be Torrance’s love interest, not her twin brother Cliff. She not only perfectly fits the “polar opposite yet somehow we’ve got undeniable chemistry” template but also manages to go one step further, by being the one to truly help Torrance find herself and in the process unlock her inner cheerleading potential. Also, let’s be honest… No one dances like this for strictly “just a friend.” So, if you will, imagine if Bring It On! went something like this… 18-year-old Torrance Shipman seems to have everything going for her. She’s pretty, popular, has a boyfriend that could double for a real life Ken doll, and, to the surprise of no one, has just been named the captain of her high school’s cheerleading team. There’s just one minor problem…Torrance is gay. So, so painfully gay. And no one knows about it. No one, that is, except for her long time boyfriend and resident beard. Torrance is dead set on staying hidden far– think Narnia level far– in the closet until one day in walks a new girl Missy Pantone to cheerleading tryouts and suddenly everything changes. Although seemingly not the cheerleading type, Missy, a former gymnast and resident badass, is willing to give the sport a shot if it means that she still gets to flip and tumble. And also spend time with, the incredibly easy on the eyes, Torrance Shipman. After few late night, hands on practices later, Torrance and Missy are suddenly the hottest high school couple, that unfortunately, no one knows about. With the exception, of course, of Missy’s sidekick of a twin brother Cliff. Torrance’s perfect world, though, comes tumbling down like a faulty human pyramid, when one of the other cheerleaders accuses her and Missy of stealing routines from a rival school. Not wanting to lose her title, nor run the risk of being outed, she does the unthinkable and places all of the blame solely on Missy. Which, of course, leads to a major “I want all of my snapbacks and flannels back” sort of blow out between the two them, where Missy tells Torrance that she isn’t willing to be with someone who values cheerleading and being considered high school royalty over their relationship. After a good, old-fashioned heart to heart with Cliff, though, Torrance comes to realize the error of her ways and goes about making things right… including publicly coming out and announcing to the world that she and Missy are indeed a couple. So, what do you think? Simple enough game, right? What are some other movies you think that would be better if They Had Just Made Them Gay? Jess Harris-DiStefano is a Brooklyn based writer / producer who has a deep seeded passion for both creating and supporting positive LGBTQ+ related content. http://dlvr.it/PX4k2b

[jonasmaurer]

Looking back on 2019 + my goals for 2020

Hi friends! I hope you’re enjoying the new decade so far. What are you up to today? I’m going to get in an arms workout at the gym and start blasting through my editorial calendar for the new year. I have my new planner ready to go (major nerd vibes because new planners make me oddly excited) and am pumped to get content ideas together. Thank you again to those of you who took this year’s blog survey!

I thought I’d share a little look back on the past year and my goals for the upcoming year. I’d love to hear about a highlight from your 2019 and any goals you’re going after this year!

Here are some of the major highlights from 2019:

– The Pilot came home after a 7-month deployment! He immediately was hired by the airlines, which I’ll share a bit more about below

– I attended my first Beautycounter conference (and we saw Michael Buble that weekend! AMAAAAZING)

– I launched HIIT Bootcamp

– Baby August was born! I love this little guy so much. 

– We explored Vancouver and took our first Disney cruise to Alaska

– I got to meet up with Julie and Anne at the NOW Foods trip to Chicago

– We went to San Diego for the 4th of July

– I launched my first pair of leggings with Four Athletics

– We got two guinea pigs, Donut and Lollipop, and we love them

– Did a couple of Phoenix staycations (like the opening weekend of Great Wolf Lodge Scottsdale)

– Went back to San Diego and Disney for a fall trip

– I turned 35 (AH)

– I took Liv to NYC for her first time! We saw Frozen, Wicked, Aladdin, went ice skating at Bryant Park and ate the best pizza

– We celebrated our second year of holidays back in Tucson partying with the fam, but the Pilot was out of town

2019 ended up being a challenging year for me. It was studded with more beautiful memories than difficult, but I thought/hoped this year was going to be a bit of a “reset” and much-needed reprieve from the stress and tireless effort of the Pilot’s deployment. As it turns out, it became another solid year of trying to keep my head above water. See, the Pilot spent the down time of his deployment refining his airline applications and preparing for potential interviews, so when he got home, he immediately got his medical stuff updated and put in his apps while he finished separating from the active duty military. While everyone would’ve loved a little bit more of a break just living our normal lives here, there was no telling how long it would take to hear back from a major airline. As luck with have it, the Pilot had interviews lined up (and was hired) shortly after settling back into Tucson. Of course, for him, that meant traveling for a months of training and jumping into the first year’s schedule with both feet. For me, that meant an immediate return to being the full-time caretaker for the girls while also running a business from home. I absolutely love being with our babies and feel so thankful that I’m the one here and not away, but at the same time, you always have to be “on.” I also felt a lot of pressure from financially supporting the fam and keeping things afloat during the first year. I know it’s not always going to be like this, but for now, I just know it’s my time to hustle and I’m running with it. 

As far as the airlines go, I know I’m venting a lot here, but we do love the Pilot’s new job and his company, We couldn’t be more thankful to have the security of a great second career, and we expected an intense first year paying our dues, but it’s been tough. I feel more used to him being gone than here. Sometimes it’s very lonely, which is why I feel so happy we’re near the family and also to connect with all of you. 

I’ll definitely be ok if 2020 is a more low-key year than 2019. I have some goals set, but am trying to reduce some of the pressure I put on myself. I’m looking at these goals as concepts I’d love to work towards, but if they don’t all happen this year, that’s ok. Mostly I was to emphasize creating time for the things that make me feel fulfilled, and spending time together as a family of 4 whenever possible.  

Health and fitness:

– Continue to follow my gallbladder protocol so I have a good ultrasound in February. This protocol is totally self-imposed and I haven’t written about it in detail because I’m not a medical professional and I have no clue if it’s actually working. My next ultrasound is in February and if the polyps have grown, they want to take out my gallbladder. I can’t go into the ultrasound without doing everything in my power to have an awesome result. Obviously a lot of it is out of my control, but I’m all about taking every step I possibly can. I really, really don’t want to have another surgery for a very long time so I’m crossing my fingers that I can keep my gallbladder. 

– Stay consistent with my current routine. I feel like I’ve hit a stride with my workout routine and love the mix of classes I’m currently taking. Each week, it’s a mix of Orangetheory, Telos (CrossFit-ish), barre, hot yoga, Peloton, outdoor hikes, and Les Mills On Demand workouts I’ll do at home. It’sfun to mix it up depending on what I’m subbing and how I feel that week. Nutrition-wise, I stopped counting macros a while ago (I feel like it was too much for my gallbladder to eat when I wasn’t actually hungry) and am just trying to get in protein, produce, whole grains, healthy fats, and lots of water. 

Family:

Make it through the first year of airlines (and I’m not even the person flying the planes lol). Whooooaaaaaa we’re halfway there. We’re definitely having a party when we hit 2nd year!

Keep supporting our babies in any way possible. I just love them so much and want them to know I’m always their advocate.

Really start to figure out a budget and long-term plans. This is something we’re going to work on for the following year, especially since we have some big long-term financial goals. I guess I’ll dust off my old Excel skills and get a spreadsheet together. 

Focus on things that fulfill my soul:

– Audition for choir (again). You guys know the choir audition I bombed? I’m going for it again. If it doesn’t work out, there are a few other local options to explore. I think that singing again would make my heart happy and a choir feels like a safe bet. 

– Join a volunteer organization. I always say I want to volunteer more and end up feeling overwhelmed with options and don’t end up doing it as often as I’d like. We’re going to be joining a specific organization that has requirements and I’m excited because the Pilot and I are going to do it together, and will also be held accountable.

– Reading every night before bed. I enjoy it so much and sleep better when I read for even 15-20 minutes before crashing. 

– Meditate at some point each morning. I’ve been using the Calm app and love it! My tips for starting a meditation practice are here. 

– Make time to hang out with friends and other couples. We’re at a point in life where it can be tough to get together with friends. I was doing a cooking club here in Tucson, but after a couple of months, no one could make it because everyone is shuffling kids to dance class and sports practice/games. I’ve found that with young kiddos and such a busy schedule, you won’t hang out with friends if you don’t make the time and concrete plans. (Instead of “Let’s meet up this week!” it has to be something like, “Do you want to grab breakfast at 10 on Friday?”) Since I work from home and the Pilot is gone a lot, I feel a bit more sane and happy when I have time to meet up with friends.

Pick up some regular fitness classes to teach. I’ve been subbing classes at a couple of studios, but didn’t take any of my own classes mostly because of childcare. I put it out to the universe (= Facebook) that I wanted to start teaching a couple of my own classes in the new year and was offered a HIIT class where I’m subbing that will start in February. I’m excited to be teaching more regularly again!

Continue therapy. I started seeing an incredible therapist the morning my grandfather passed away. I had made the appointment over a month in advance and figured I couldn’t cancel it, because if you ever needed a therapy appointment, that would be the day you should take one. So I went, and sat in her office and sobbed for 30 minutes. She told me that her office loved tears and I needed to truly feel everything I was feeling, and since then, she’s wrapped me in so much kindness and compassion. She’s become an extremely valued member of my tribe and even though I only see her every couple of weeks, it’s changed my life. It’s helped so much with my anxiety and my relationships, and if you are on the fence about therapy in the New Year, do it. It’s so worth it. 

Travel: 

– Traveling is one of my very favorite things, so I’m hoping for more in 2020! It gives us a chance to fully be present and enjoy time with each other while exploring a new, or beloved place. We have a cruise planned already (YEAHHH) and I’m also hoping we can start planning our next Italy trip. 

Professional:

– Finally find time to focus on SEO. It’s a wonder that my blog has survived this long considering that I know nothing about SEO. I’ve picked up a couple of tips over the past couple of years but I have no idea what I’m doing. I’m going to take a course and also am looking to hire an SEO expert to help me update old posts that are performing well. 

– Hire an editorial assistant. I have a couple of amazing team members who help behind-the-scenes with Pinterest, editing (not this post since I’m writing it the night before it goes live so sorry for the typos…), and Beautycounter. I’m looking for someone local who can help with filming/editing and kitchen days so I can post more recipes in the new year. 

– Update the podcast more consistently and focus on producing video content more consistently. 

– Work on opening my own studio. It may be next year, it may be 5 years from now, but it’s a huge goal of mine. 

– Run more online challenges through the blog. HIIT Bootcamp was so much fun (we’re going to do another one towards the end of January!) and I’d love to create more video packs with full calendars to follow. 

– Hit Senior Director with Beautycounter. Beautycounter has become one of the best things I’ve added to my business, especially because it’s given me the opportunity to connect with some many incredible friends and women, while creating an additional income stream. I’d love to hit Senior Director this year! You can read more about what it’s like being a Beautycounter consultant here. 

– Finish my second book! I signed my second book deal in December and I’m so excited to get this one out into the world! I’ll share more details when I can, but it’s geared more towards my beginner friends who are just getting started. 

If you made it to the end of this post, here’s a high five because this was a long one! 

Thank you so much for being here with me on the crazy 2019 ride. Thank you for being here and being so amazing. I can’t help but feel like I dropped the ball a bit this year (especially on the podcast and posting as much as I’d like) but I have a feeling that 2020 is going to be a good one. Honestly, if I get lots of time with the fam, a good report on the gallbladder front, and make a lot of cheese boards, I’m calling it a win. 

Cheers to the new year! Tell me, friends: what goals do you have set? Please share a personal and professional goal with me in the comments – I’d love to hear them!

xoxo

Gina

The post Looking back on 2019 + my goals for 2020 appeared first on The Fitnessista.

Looking back on 2019 + my goals for 2020 published first on https://olimpsportnutritionde.tumblr.com/

[muabannhadatdananggiare]

We dive into this industry that is murky learn whom writes these exact things, just just exactly what switches into the investigation and just how much it truly costs to have one written.

We dive into this industry that is murky learn whom writes these exact things, just just exactly what switches into the investigation and just how much it truly costs to have one written.

Every person in crypto knows exactly just what white documents are. But who will be the individuals whom compose the things that are bloody?

As it happens, according to a huge Decrypt two-week-long investigation (wherein we talked to, possibly a dozen of these) that the writing of the documents is basically outsourced to contractors—many with limited knowledge that is technical. Most are freelancers, even though many other people have employment with personal white-paper mills. They rake in between $1,000 and $50,000 for a job that is single that might use up to eight months of time and effort. Many find their employers through social media—Upwork, LinkedIn and Twitter.

The very how to see if my paper is plagiarized good news is that the majority of the article writers we interviewed are reporting a current resurgence in operation, that is (possibly?) another indicator that is leading crypto is growing from the long, withering cold weather.

The news that is bad that may probably maybe not surprise anybody who’s watched this room, is the fact that a number of the authors state they are regularly needed to fabricate and exaggerate facts, and so are met by having an alarming laziness in the area of the organizations using them.

Imaginative composing

Numerous authors recalled being asked to inflate customers’ costs. “Most times, you can find cases of money spending plan cushioning,” said Adefemi Yusuff Adegoke , a writer that is prolific. “A task which can be performed with $ funding that is 180k may be padded up to $450k. And so they won’t report the amount that is total during ICO.”

“Most for the frauds have been in the part that is miscellaneous of budget,” he included. “Those ones get straight into the pouches associated with the CEO and CTO.”

(Adegoke, in addition to other people we talked to whom asked to stay anonymous, is dependent in Nigeria, which seemingly have developed a cottage that is healthy for white-paper article writers. Adegoke himself charges $30 to proteges that are would-be a training session.)

Volodymyr Malyshkin, the CEO of Ukraine-based white paper provider Illuminates , which includes aided its customers score well over $12 million from token product product sales, stated the practise of inflating numbers is rife: he has got usually been expected to incorporate “fake numbers” in their company’s work.

Often, Malyshkin has the capacity to provide consumers discounts on “marketing”—selling tales to crypto news sites—which cheapen the fee by up to half. But frequently, he stated, the customers will not correspondingly reduce their spending plans, rather like the “official,” non-discounted cost.

‘It means you’ve got $1 million marketing-PR spending plan, plus in reports you reveal your spendings based the costs on formal website of company,” he stated. “But in reality you paid up to 2 times cheaper.”

“It works together with the majority of sic crypto news/channels,” he added.

It gets far worse. Organizations, relating to Malyshkin, often go into blockchain with little to no knowledge of what they need to build—or also just how to build it—merely hoping your message “blockchain” will attract investors. This means the white-paper authors tend to be tasked with inventing business models with respect to their consumers. Away from dozens, Malyshkin stated, “only one customer had any genuine concept about what you should do from scratch.”

One individual, a senior consultant from a leading blockchain advisory, stated it had beenn’t a case of startups being clueless but a matter of easy, calculated cynicism. “Usually the way in which it really works if you ask me is this—a selection of individuals would you like to raise cash, they purchase a consulting package that features finding out how they may raise, whatever they require to content, what they desire to own into the whitepaper, etc. and that is it,” he stated. “there is hardly ever any interest regarding the area of the ‘crypto startup’ of what is in the whitepaper. All they need is always to raise and anything else acts that purpose.”

Here’s an example: an writer that is american asked to stay anonymous recalled consumers briefing him on a full-fledged white paper, with little a lot more than “five sentences.” Another asked him to publish “a white paper for the container ETF that included Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Ethereum.” Even though the customer announced the task publicly, he seemed a lot more than prepared to accept a business model that is substantially different.

“He basically told us to compose whatever,” he said.

The fine of imagination can run yet drier. The U.S.-based journalist recounts “lots of copyright infringement,” saying: “I’ve had CTOs ask us to talk about patented technology from another white paper as then put it in a new white paper,” he said if it were my own idea, change the words a little, and. “This is patented technology in another an element of the globe.”

“Everything is the identical,” agreed Malyshkin.

Do clients literally state, “Copy this continuing company model”?

Quoth the Ukranian: “Yeah, certain.”

Often, things in a paper that is white near poetic inside their explanations. Hassan Sa’eed, another Nigeria-based specialist, claims to possess penned the white paper for “KuCoin,” a $32 million Singapore-based change and cryptocurrency. (KuCoin didn’t react to our e-mails.)

We asked Sa’eed exactly exactly how he attained conclusions such as: “ KuCoin’s capable procedure team shall develop a bright and future that is prosperous long-lasting and large-scale online/offline advertising & procedure.”

“It is really a subjective understanding, and even though each view is founded on a couple of premises,” he said. “I started off using the mind-set of creating cash to increase my mind above water degree. So, it wasn’t then about how precisely authentic the task is.”

Frequently, facets of a white paper could be included they had any factual basis because they would help generate interest in the fundraise—whether or not. By way of example, in the height for the ICO boom, “it was previously sufficient to include social media influencers into the white paper as teammates,” said Malyshkin.

“Now it is maybe not,” he stated, referring, to some extent, to your resurgence that is recent earnings the cottage industry has seen since startups started peddling “security tokens”—which are made to conform to securities regulations. It really is, relating to Malyshkin, a growth which has have a caveat:

“People want to see projects that are workable” he stated.

Article writers are often stiffed on re re payments. Grant Fjermedal, an author whose company raised $25 million worth of ether, had been guaranteed a cut regarding the crypto funds raised. “Fortunately, the organization never ever arrived through with all the coins that they had guaranteed me–which might have developed a significant tax obligation, given that federal government might have respected them upon time of giving, additionally the final we seemed our coin had accompanied the Triple Egg club, exchanging at something similar to $0.0009,” he stated.

The writer that is US-based meanwhile, recalled a perennially dissatisfied customer who demanded constant rewrites, yet declined to cover him on false grounds. “I’d work with a draft, submit it,” he stated. “they might perhaps maybe not provide any direct feedback, if we had been fortunate, one sentence. The man would state the board doesn’t enjoy it. However will have to compose another 20-30 pages, rather than get feedback that is direct. However it had been like being held hostage when it comes to other 1 / 2 of my pay.”

“chances are they had a launch occasion therefore had no option but to utilize whatever they had,” he stated. “Afterward, the board user stated he didn’t like to pay me personally because the WP ended up being dif from the thing I composed, and additionally they utilized other writing. Whilst in reality, one of my drafts had been the building blocks for 99percent regarding the product that they had.”

Do the authors have scruples when they are expected to fabricate areas of or all their work?

A freelancer from Asia told us he had been usually compelled to add token models that made small feeling to him. “Those things aren’t virtually feasible.” he stated. “But still, i need to compose those activities in accordance with the guidelines.”

“I compose for crappy projects too, if they’ll pay good,�� consented Adegoke. “I won’t enable my name become written on the list of team however. Cash must certanly be made.”

Nevertheless, perhaps the dumbest some ideas are a chance for revenue, lots of the paper that is white stated.

“There are not any stupid some ideas,” said Malyshkin. “We’ll never say no to virtually any startup that requires a white paper.”

Bài viết We dive into this industry that is murky learn whom writes these exact things, just just exactly what switches into the investigation and just how much it truly costs to have one written. đã xuất hiện đầu tiên vào ngày Nhà Đất Đà Nẵng.

source https://muabannhadat.danang.vn/we-dive-into-this-industry-that-is-murky-learn-2-2498.html

[morrisbrokaw]

5 Tips for Hosting Guests During the Holiday Season

I’ll know I’ve reached functioning adult status when I have clean sheets ready, and the guest room in good working order before overnight guests arrive. No matter how many sets of sheets I own, washing them always falls to the bottom of my laundry list (my absolute least favorite household chore). It never fails that I am scrambling at 2 am, with the nicest set of sheets we own, freshly laundered, of course, assembling the room before guests arrive the next morning.

Never one to pass up a design opportunity, we’re using the holidays as an excuse to spruce up a guest room to inspire you to host friends and family this season. Because nothing says “thank you for being in my life” better than making your guest feel extra welcome and relaxed in your home.

Now, this doesn’t mean you need to stress about turning into Martha Stewart and have perfectly tucked hospital corners in your guest room. With just a few small tweaks, guest rooms can transform into an oasis so enjoyable you can use it as your own retreat away from real life in the comfort of your own home.

We teamed up with our long-time friends The Citizenry to pull together five ways a low-key host can make their guest feel extra loved when they stay overnight. Here are five low-stress, easy ideas from yours truly, on turning your guest room/storage room (I see you, fellow hoarders) into a space that will make guests feel loved and leave you feeling like a decent host.

Tip One: Less is more– seriously!

We mean it when it comes to the guest room. And we’re not talking about going minimal with your design, we’re talking about the actual STUFF in the room.  Before you buy ANYTHING for this makeover, take away everything in the space aside from the bed. Then think about the hotels and spaces you’ve loved staying in. One of the biggest reasons we love staying in hotels is the lack of clutter! Keep only what your guests need in this space: a bed, side tables, mirrors, and a possibly a bench/storage piece to place their suitcase. If your guest room is small, don’t worry about adding a dresser, tv, etc. They won’t need it! The goal is to make the space feel like a breath of fresh air. If there is one tip to take away from this post, this one is it. And guess what? It costs nothing!

Tip Two: Bedding is EVERYTHING in a guest room.

Guest rooms are great for making bold design choices, but before you decide what motif/color scheme/style you want to achieve in this space, consider going beyond big-box options and select bedding made with some TLC. We’re obsessed with The Citizenry’s new line of bedding and made their new Stonewashed bedding set  the backdrop for all our pillow and throw selections. Crafted in Portugal’s oldest, family-run linen mill, this bedding collection is made from luxe French flax that has been garnet washed for extra softness. The bedding is earthy and luxurious, all while feeling (and looking) relaxed and inviting– just what you want when someone stays at your home. After all, you’re not running a bed and breakfast so don’t hold yourself to that standard! Unless you get joy from that kind of obsession with details, like me. Then you do you!

Tip Three: Make a definitive design choice that ties together the whole room.

We wanted to keep the palette warm and inviting for a small space. We ended up selecting items from The Citizenry in tones that felt neutral and textured. By adding things like the Engobe Terracotta Clay Vase and the San Cristobal Brass Hanging, it gives interest to the space without overwhelming it. Pillows also helped to make a neutral bed pop. In a studio space, using the bed as a decorative piece adds warmth and brightness making a small room feel inviting.

Tip Four: Add simple touches that help guest relax.

My go-to items? Palo Santo, a little electric tea kettle and favorite fancy teas, and a stack of my favorite books.

Tip Five: Make decor choices that establish the bed the unequivocal focal point.

In this space, we selected a large painting instead of a statement headboard to draw the eye towards pillows made from mixed materials. The brass wall hanging highlights the little gifts for our guests arranged on the side table, plus the natural materials create a relaxing and soothing atmosphere. Anchor the bed with a textural rug and throw in a contrasting pattern or complementary color and you’re good to go.

That’s it! A couple simple ways for you to get ready for guests this holiday seasons. Any tips to add? We wanna hear them below!

–

Ed. note: This post was sponsored by The Citizenry. The compensation received in exchange for placement on Wit & Delight is used to purchase props, hire a photographer, write/edit the blog post and support the larger team behind Wit & Delight.

While compensation was received in exchange for coverage, all thoughts and opinions are always my own. Sponsored posts like these allow for the development of additional dynamic content to be produced, unsponsored.

The post 5 Tips for Hosting Guests During the Holiday Season appeared first on Wit & Delight.

5 Tips for Hosting Guests During the Holiday Season published first on https://workbootsandshoes.tumblr.com/

[flauntpage]

NBA Summer Vacation Watch: Signing a Contract Extension With Summer

Can you smell it? The first whiffs of leaves falling and someone spilling their PSL all over you on the train? Fall will be here before you know it and that’s why, in these trying times, we (me) here at Summer Vacation Watch practice the slightly altered tao of Too $hort, Get It In Where You Can Fit It In. Meaning, embrace the late-August bevy of vacation bounty as players gaze at their warmup gear and think, “No, not yet."

Paul George

If you cast your memory back to last summer, it was this very thorough, good times summer watchdog that first surmised the possibility that Paul George would be on the move from Indiana to literally anywhere else when we caught him fishing solo on some rando Indiana lake. It was depressing. Fast-forward to one summer later and we find Young Trece back out on the water, but this time in honor of his now annual fishing tournament at L.A.’s Castaic Lake, not alone but with many friends including The Brodie. A lot can be revealed in a seemingly simple summer vacation, and to my very discerning, just-got-new-sunglasses-cause-my-last-pair-sunk-in-a-lake-last-weekend eye, George made the right choice by extending his OKC contract.

Rating: OK, but does anyone really win the tournament if we don’t get a photo of Russell Westbrook reeling one in?

Carmelo Anthony

Melo has had a big summer. He’s already signed with two teams when most guys are content to end up at one, and now he’s on safari. In many ways, this video is a lot like Anthony’s career. Sitting atop a dusty vehicle with questionable shocks, mostly cruising in a good outfit but occasionally pointing at springboks (Kristaps Porzingis) and other creatures and contracts he’d like to investigate along the way.

Rating: An explorer’s work is never done.

Ben Simmons

Ben Simmons appears to be in the Valhalla of all professional tennis players, casually considering a sunset that would make any other man weep, top off and in Gucci slides. I don’t know or care enough about tennis to tell you anything about his form, other than to say they make statues based off this sort of thing.

Rating: Advantage, heaven.

Hassan Whiteside

The Miami center was atop a sand dune outside of Dubai, gazing out past the mirages of Miami’s playoff hopes this year and instead, wisely discerning that come what may he will enjoy himself and have fun.

Rating: The rating is whatever your mirage would be—mine is dunking off a sand dune being added to the All-Star Dunk Contest.

JaVale McGee

Look, I don’t want to worry anyone but we’ve got a strong contender out to steal the SVW MVP title away from Patty Mills. JaVale McGee has, so far, been featured more and is clocking more miles and mileage out of the fleeting gift known as NBA summer vacation. This week he’s in the Bahamas, swimming with pigs and sharks and dolphins, doing selfie mode with iguanas, and continuing to be the best dad in the league. And while the summer’s not over by any means, it’s going to take some big moves by Mills or frankly anyone—LeBron singing alone in a Mexican beach bar again, maybe?—to give this guy a run.

Rating: Petition to rename August to McGeeuary.

Zaza Pachulia

Zaza, AKA the Ankle Thief, AKA Crouching Zaza Hidden Season Ending Injury was back home in Georgia, sipping some summer reds under the majestic vistas of the Caucasus Mountains. His Majesty of Tripping Your Favorite Player was looking casual in low Vans and some kind of cargo capri, his face free of all “Who me?” expressions as he truly took some time off from planning how to ruin your franchise’s postseason ambitions.

Rating: Would be interested to know if he’s sipping a Mer-how-low-can-you-go or a smooth Pi-no-you-cannot-just-sneak-up-behind-someone-like-that, Zaza, Noir.

Jamal Murray

Jamal Murray was at the Palace of Versailles, ready to blow the whistle on anyone getting too close to the topiaries.

Rating: A visit to Louis XIV’s AKA The Sun King’s home, Jamal Murray to Phoenix confirmed???

Serge Ibaka

Would it be summer vacation without Serge Ibaka dancing on a boat? He switched out Rihanna for Drake this year and might be the last person on earth doing the In My Feelings Challenge but the first person on earth to do it on the Congo River.

Rating: What Serge lacks in the regular season he makes up for during the summer, so I take back everything I said about the Raptors needing to trade him immediately and at all costs. My bad.

Dennis Schröder

Schröde the dude got engaged! In a tiny helicopter! And he’s into ska now! Congrats my man!

Rating: OKC Punk

Reggie Bullock

Reggie was on a nice looking cruiser with flat tires that’s way too small for him, havin’ a nice time and making a joke about it.

Rating: I love it when we’re cruising together.

Álex Abrines

Abrines was on a two-part honeymoon, first to some locations as seen in Lord of the Rings and later, to a beach in Fiji with nary a Witch-king in sight.

Rating: Nerds love summer, too.

Dragan Bender

Bender was in the chill waters off the Croatian coast looking bored as hell.

Rating: Big demerits for robbing us of a glimpse of some crystalline waters by using this sad ass Parisian filter, my guy!

Ty Lawson

Ty was hanging around in Honduras in what can only be described as “my dream home.”

Rating: Medium demerits for doing this in a scuba and/or mime suit.

Glen Robinson III

Glen sat on a tiny car.

Rating: Get this guy a bigger car.

Josh Hart

Hart was on location at that nest of snakes that chased that iguana during one of the most stressful sequences ever seen on BBC’s Planet Earth. Though he lamented not seeing any lizards or snakes this day, he was happy to hold a little piece of history (a rock) in his hands. He loves nature.

Rating: Lakers Planet Earth episode confirmed.

Garrett Temple

Another safari! Temple, seriously one of the kindest looking men on earth, was in South Africa checking out some lions and doing some poses.

Rating: Open car safari, Temple incredibly brave confirmed.

Jon Leuer

Unfortunately Leuer was never seen again.

Rating: S.U.P.I.P. (stand-up paddle board in peace)

NBA Summer Vacation Watch: Signing a Contract Extension With Summer published first on https://footballhighlightseurope.tumblr.com/

[alanajacksontx]

Eight SEO ladies give their advice on being a woman in search

Like many tech and tech-adjacent industries, SEO is a largely male-dominated field.

Relatively few statistics exist on the exact gender split within the search industry, but a Moz 2015 Online Marketing Industry Survey put the percentage of men working in SEO at close to 70%.

SEM was a little more even gender-wise with around 60% men working in search marketing, while PPC was even more male-dominated, with the survey finding that some 80% of PPC professionals were men.

Image: Moz

Even without the numbers, it’s fairly obvious to anyone who works within SEO that it’s a majority male industry – from the speaker line-ups at events, to the rosters at companies, to the bylines on industry blogs.

This isn’t to say that there aren’t plenty of hugely successful and brilliant women working in SEO, because there are. But there are still comparatively fewer of them.

What do the women who work in SEO think about the gender division within the industry? Do they notice it or feel that it affects their work? Do they think that women in SEO need to do anything differently to stand out? And what advice would they give to other women working in the field?

In honor of International Women’s Day 2018, we wanted to highlight the perspectives of women working in SEO, and how – if at all – they think gender affects the industry and the work that they do. Search Engine Watch spoke to eight successful ladies in SEO to find out their thoughts and advice on being a woman in SEO.

Sam Charles, Founder of Float Digital

Sam Charles is an SEO consultant with more than seven years’ experience working in the digital industry.

In 2016 she founded her own agency, Float Digital, which aims to demystify the art of SEO for businesses, particularly small businesses. She has been nominated at the UK Search Awards, and featured in The Drum’s ‘50 under 30’ list in 2017, which celebrates young women making waves in digital industries.

Charles got her start in SEO in her early twenties after studying advertising at university, working first at a branding design and web development agency, before moving on to manage the marketing at Australia’s largest professional haircare and skincare company.

“Nobody really told me what SEO was but my daily tasks revolved around blogger outreach and creating content based on keywords,” Charles recalls. “Once I moved back to England in 2012, I picked up the first copywriting job I could find, and it was only then, I was introduced to the lovely world of SEO, and suddenly everything I had been doing made sense.”

Charles says that she didn’t initially notice the gender disparity in digital marketing, as her first few jobs were at companies that had plenty of women on their payroll. “It was only when I moved away from content creation and focused on improving my technical SEO skills, that I felt I was in a male-dominated industry,” she says.

“Attending events such as Brighton SEO and engaging with communities online, it’s clear there are more men working in SEO than women.”

However, Charles doesn’t feel as though her gender has been a hindrance in the industry – possibly because her name makes people assume that they’re working with a man. “Too many times I’ve turned up to a meeting or answered the phone and I’ve been greeted with “I thought you were going to be a man”.”

With that said, she emphasizes: “People’s respect for you isn’t based on gender. The last few agencies I’ve worked in have celebrated women, and this sentiment is echoed in online circles, too.”

Charles says that the advice she would give to women in SEO wouldn’t be any different to the advice she would give anyone else getting started in the industry. “There’s no tips or advice I would give to women in SEO because we, as women, are no more or less than our male counterparts.

“Male or female, if you work in SEO there are two pieces of advice I’d offer: learn every day and be completely fearless when it comes to engaging with online communities, speaking at events or chasing clients.

“That said, to me, there’s nothing more empowering than meeting other women in search. There are meetups and lunches especially for women in business, digital or SEO. If this sounds like something you’d benefit from, do a quick search in your area and go along to one. Every event like this I’ve been to has been so welcoming.”

Dewi Nawasari, European Head of SEO at Monster

Dewi Nawasari is a hugely experienced SEO with close to twelve years of industry work under her belt. She jumped straight into SEO as a graduate with a degree in Business Supply Chain Management, landing a job as a Natural Search Optimization Analyst doing link-building for an agency. From there, she worked her way up the industry, and is now the European Head of SEO at recruitment company Monster.

Nawasari reflect that SEO was “not the easiest industry to start in” as a woman. “I remember at the earlier years of my career, coming to any industry event and being one of the few women who attended.

“There were occasions when I was not heard or taken as seriously as the men in my then-workplace, who had formed their exclusive circle of authority. But by the same token, I was really lucky to have also came across men in the industry who confided in my ability purely as a person. They are now some of my dearest friends.

“Do I think women have to do anything differently in order to stand out? The answer is yes and no.

“Yes, because I think women have to stop selling themselves short and start communicating their brilliance and expertise with one hundred percent confidence. Being willing to make mistakes or say something wrong is the only way to find success!

“No – because women should just be women. Never think that you have to fulfil certain stereotypes in the industry.

“Women tend to be quite humble about our achievements, and refuse credit beyond what we feel we deserve. This quality truly brings balance to any workplace because when women are part of the team, they make sure that the team work together to a high standard of performance.”

Nawasari’s advice for other women trying to make their way in the industry is, “Being credible, humble and over-communicating are your weapons.

“Even when you have a slightly rough start to the career, always ensure that you research, analyse, and know your work inside-out before presenting it to anyone. Once you have presented your work, share and over-communicate it – do not sell yourself short! Keep at it and you’ll be incredibly proud when you climb the ladder because of pure merit.

“Oh, and of course, don’t forget to congratulate and clap hard when you see a fellow woman succeed!”

Amanda DiSilvestro, Writer for HigherVisibility and Marketing Manager at Workshops for Warriors

Amanda DiSilvestro has spent seven years working in the marketing industry as a content editor, writer and marketing manager, and is one of the most popular and prolific writers here at Search Engine Watch.

She got her start in the industry through content marketing and worked her way up to a management position in SEO. “While it took several years, I found it to be a great foundation and path forward,” DiSilvestro says.

“I have found throughout my career that ghost writing opportunities are plentiful, and while this is a great way to really dig into SEO and learn the industry, it’s important to balance ghost writing with writing under your own byline. In short, don’t get too comfortable writing for other people – I see this happen all the time!

“Big websites like Search Engine Watch can seem intimidating, but if you reach out and express your passion for the topic and desire to write with your own byline, even if you don’t have years and years of experience, you will find success. At a certain point, it turns into a domino effect and you get more and more opportunities to show off your expertise through content writing.

“The community of women SEOs is great as well, so don’t be afraid to reach out to those you admire.”

Lexi Mills, Managing Partner at Shift6

As a specialist in both PR, a typically female-dominated field, and SEO, a largely male-dominated field, Lexi Mills has a unique perspective on gender in her professional life – she is simultaneously in the majority, and the minority, in both of her intersecting fields.

A digital marketing expert who has won multiple awards in the course of her career, Mills got her start in digital marketing as a graduate working in the Brighton nightlife industry, who convinced the company director to let her manage the company’s marketing and promotion online.

“I learned SEO way before I even knew what SEO was,” she recalls.

Working as a woman in the digital marketing industry, Mills says that she wasn’t always aware of whether people were biased against her because of her gender. “I have a couple of other biases that I have to champion – I’m very petite, I’m female, and I used to look very young for my age.

“Ageism was probably a bigger issue for me – when you’re someone who has worked super hard to get super good at something, and you walk into a room, people think, ‘I don’t want a kid working on this.’ Those were far bigger issues for me.

“I’m sure there was gender bias, but I tended to put things down to those issues a lot more.”

When she ran up against bias in her work as a professional SEO, Mills says that she found it more effective to approach the situation with gentle humor, which tended to be more successful in swaying people’s unconscious prejudices.

“By choosing to believe that people meant well, that they didn’t mean to be biased – even when they were – it changed how I dealt with them.

“I would walk into a meeting room with a client, and someone would say, ‘Oh, I’ll have a tea! And I’ll have a coffee, two sugars!’

“I would go and get the teas and the coffees, come back in, put the tray down, and say, ‘Guys, I specialize in SEO and PR, but I’ve done my very best with the tea and coffee.’

“And these guys would look mortified! But then I’d giggle, and I’d laugh with them – because the reality is, their assumption that their SEO specialist was going to be male and older is actually statistically correct; and these are statistically-driven people. You could say it was gender bias, but it was a statistically accurate assumption to make.

“And instead of me getting angry about it, if I made them giggle, there was a bond that formed – because they didn’t mean it. Or I chose to believe that they weren’t intending to be biased. And they probably came out not thinking that the next time they walk into a meeting room, they’re going to order tea and coffee off a young female, presuming that they’re not the specialist.”

Mills stresses that she has never identified as a “woman in search” or a “woman in tech”, preferring to think of herself as a “person who works in search”. Nevertheless, she believes that women in the industry have to be more aware of how they present themselves, as this can sometimes cause them to meet with more resistance professionally.

“At least five years ago, if you got up on stage wearing a bright pink dress, that would have caused a bunch of fairly unpleasant tweets,” she says. “It makes you look different.

“And while there’s nothing wrong with someone wanting to wear very feminine clothing – at all – it might mean they have to fight a little harder. And maybe they want to put that energy into doing such awesome work that they’re subconsciously changing people’s perception of women.”

She also advises women in the industry to “recognize when it’s time to move rooms. If the room you’re in is biased – go make a better room.

“I move between different projects with different clients, and sometimes I’ll fight that battle, but other times I just think, ‘Hey. I’m going to go to your competitor and kick ass.’”

“As women, the way we’re socialized from a young age means that we develop different language behaviors, different ways of doing things – and that’s okay. You should take those advantages, and play to your strengths.

“Take stock, give back, help others, and be fierce.”

Chelsea Blacker, Co-Founder and Managing Director of BlueGlass

Chelsea Blacker is a hugely experienced digital marketer and the Managing Director of SEO and content marketing agency BlueGlass.

She has worked in SEO for more than 10 years, and got her start in the industry doing SEO for a small personal blog at university, before becoming the assistant to an SEO consultant – at which point, she says, “I was hooked!”

On gender in the SEO industry, Blacker observes, “The SEO community is extremely fair compared to other industries like investment banking or entertainment.

“People respect each other for sharing knowledge, explaining findings, and asking boundary-pushing questions. I have never worried that being female has a negative correlation to thriving in SEO.”

Her advice to other women working in SEO is to make sure their voices are heard – and on a practical level, to not shy away from the technical side of SEO.

“If you’re the only woman in a room, it’s a good room to be in. Participate with value added words (not chat) to prove your voice is worth listening to so you don’t get left out of conversations.

“Celebrate technical learning, don’t avoid it; if you feel out of your depth, it’s a good place to keep swimming until you re-emerge at a higher level of performance. Learn to code, how major tools work and how to break down complex data sets in Excel.

Blacker’s other piece of advice to anyone wanting to stand out in SEO is to specialize. “SEO is well established now, and it’s more difficult to become a thought leader in an industry that’s been around for 15 – 20 years.  I would recommend finding an optimization niche in an emerging industry to develop as a thought leader of tomorrow.”

Hannah Thorpe, Managing Director at White.net

Hannah Thorpe has become a well-known name in the search industry, particularly the UK search industry, in the four years that she has been working in digital. She regularly presents at industry events including SMX Advanced, Search London and Brighton SEO, and last year won Young Search Professional of the Year at the UK Search Awards.

On being a woman in SEO, Thorpe believes that, “SEO is SEO regardless of your gender, like in any industry. I genuinely think that if you enter into the industry passionate about what is we’re all working on, then you’ll be successful regardless of gender.

“The more you try to act differently because of a perception that you have to fit in with the male-dominated crowds, the harder you’ll find it. I love what I do, but I still want to have long fake nails, wear outrageous sparkly shoes and drink champagne, rather than beers.

“That doesn’t make me bad at my job – and if you’re a woman who doesn’t like any of those things, then equally, you should be able to embrace that.

“So much of the pressure to be a certain way is something we are putting on ourselves or creating by segregating into ‘women in SEO’ versus ‘men in SEO’.  I would love for our industry to stop thinking of ourselves as male-dominated and to just think about everyone as individual people.”

Ann Smarty, Founder of ViralContentBee and Brand & Community Manager at Internet Marketing Ninjas

Ann Smarty is a marketing consultant with more than 10 years’ experience, and is another one of our most popular and respected authors here at Search Engine Watch, sounding off on content marketing, keyword research, marketing tools, video optimization and much more with authority.

She is the former Editor-in-Chief at Search Engine Journal, founded social media and content marketing platform Viral Content Bee, and is the Brand & Community Manager at Internet Marketing Ninjas.

When it comes to being a woman in SEO, Smarty says that, “I have never felt that I was in any way treated differently than men in this industry.

“I think our niche offers equal opportunity to both men and women, and I have to guess that the reason why it may be male-dominated is possibly that women shy away from it.

“Likewise, there are probably more men in the IT industry, not because men do anything special to influence that but probably because women just don’t like playing with numbers and computers that much. I don’t have any studies to support my thoughts here, but it’s the feeling that I get.”

Jennifer Jackson, Digital Manager at Sawday’s Canopy & Stars

Jennifer Jackson is another hugely experienced digital marketing expert with close to ten years’ experience working in the industry. She first got into SEO through a university work placement, writing search-optimized content to answer questions that people were asking over the phones.

Even at this early stage in her career, she was successful – “My piece I wrote for them still ranks #2 for ‘data protection act summary’, so even my first venture is doing well!”

As a woman working in search, Jackson hasn’t encountered a lot of negative bias. “I personally have never felt that being a woman has been an issue. I’ve found the SEO industry to be full of brilliant brains and not as many egos as you might find elsewhere.

“But maybe I’ve been sheltered by being on the client side, where I can call more shots because I’m paying the bill.

“I personally don’t think women have to do anything differently to other colleagues. I’m naturally quite vocal and not afraid to be the one to ask what might be a stupid question, so maybe that has helped me.

“I also love to understand as much of the technical details as possible so that I can confidently communicate with more technical roles, which has probably helped me too – but anyone can do this, not just women.”

“At the end of the day, every team needs different brains, and having female input in a room full of males can be truly invaluable – especially when lots of research shows in many categories the buying decision in a heterosexual household are made by the female!”

Jackson says that her best advice for women working in SEO would be the same that she’d give to anyone: “Learn and don’t stop learning. Sign up to industry newsletters; find the answers to things you don’t know; read around the technical jargon so you understand it.

“Don’t be put off when you’re faced with a room of ‘experts’, and don’t be afraid to ask the stupid questions, as you’ll always find someone else saying ‘I was thinking the same thing’.”

from IM Tips And Tricks https://searchenginewatch.com/2018/03/08/eight-seo-ladies-give-their-advice-on-being-a-woman-in-search/ from Rising Phoenix SEO https://risingphxseo.tumblr.com/post/171660656945

[incube8malawi-blog]

Wise Up: A Meeting with Napoleon Dzombe.

As the first of what I hope to be a monthly post where I intend to meet the most successful business men and women, mostly self made millionaires and billionaires in some cases, last week i was invited by our friends at Invest Malawi to a breakfast gathering at crossroads in Lilongwe (its funny that we have to differentiate these days, like they ran out of names or something) to meet Mr. Napoleon Dzombe. First impressions are often everything, and having never met the man that I recently just found out was a Malawian Billionaire by any definition you can conjure up, this was a good impression. Quiet, composed, polite and funny, Mr. Dzombe was honestly not what I expected from a rich man. Where was the $100,000 Rolex on his wrist and imagine my disappointment when I didn't see a posh VX on my way in. As he began to speak, it quickly sank in that I wasn't going to hear stories of his private jets and how he plans to buy an island off the shores of Likoma. He spoke of his background, humble begins as expected, then he mentioned starting his now multi billion kwacha Mtalimanja Holdings Limited with K77 as proceeds from the sales of an inherited cow then I started to listen. Mr. Dzombe bought and sold salt in the early days which then made him enough money to buy 24 bag of shelled nuts and he sold those for a profit, enough to buy a piece of land where he began growing maize. He spoke of his foresight, which for me was one of the many things I attribute to his vast success. "I always knew that people would see my success in selling salt, groundnuts or maize and decide to replicate my success, that is why I've never been in one business for too long" he said. Qoutable: "The reason why we have eyes in front is to move foward". Napoleon Dzombe. He wasn't in the maize business for long either, quickly diversifying into the then illegal business of growing and selling tobacco as it was only the government and foreign companies that were allowed to grow tobacco back then. This was his first major break through making upwards of K120,000 which in his description was enough to buy three brand new Toyota Corollas. He decided to buy two second hand frieght trucks which proceeds of which unsurprisingly can be seen through other trucks that can commonly be seen around Lilongwe. Surprisingly though, Mr. Dzombe doesn't own them, his brother does as he left them to him a long time ago he said. Something his wife often thought was a crazy idea but the man was adamant in his belief in his principle to always move foward. Qoutable: "The most valuable asset in your business should be you." Napoleon Dzombe. I told my wife that the business is me, it's all me, I can make more because it's all up to me and my thinking capacity not the businesses. He went on to start a timber milling company, an idea most of his friends and family said was a mad. Only people who smoke week work on timber they said, are you smoking weed they asked. As Maclean from Invest Malawi and I quickly began to see, everthing the man touches turns to gold and the timber business was no different. Being one of the first people to truly invest in the business, he made millions. What was next for the millionaire ? A hospital maybe. He opened Blessings Hospital out of goodwill, not to make money not that it doesn't which is something else he affirmed. When you think of how to help others, you end up helping yourself. In 2013, Mr. Dzombe opened up a rice milling manufacturing company and announced plans to establish the largest factory in the Southern Africa region. This to add on to the Mtalimanja Holdings owned companies such as Malawi Dairy Industries (MDI), countless livestock on a number of farms, a sugar procesing factory and many more. A keen learner of the western world and their methods, he visited several countries to decipher their secrets. This is one of the reasons he decided in value addition and exporting to get foreign exchange. Keeping in mind he was 25 when he made his first few thousand kwachas, millions today, we asked him what challenges he faced as a young entrepreneur, Mr. Dzombe answered in a quite frank, what are challenges ? We were astonished to say the least, what did he mean what were challenges. So we regrouped and tried to explain to the man that challenges were hinderouses, things that block your path and keep you from achieving your set goals. "No No No", he said, "what do you do when you want to increase pressure at a point in a river or a stream, you put a block. The water accumulates and as it does it increases in pressure and overcomes the block enabling you to then use this water to go the extra mile, irrigate areas that were too far for the stream to reach" this is all challenges are. Qoutable: "Challenges are just blocks that help you to elevate your level". Napoleon Dzombe. When asked how young entreprenuers can start businesses and where they can get the capital to fund their ideas, Mr. Dzombe was less than impressed with the youth of today looking for handouts. Being a graduate of the school of hardknocks, he urged us to start with what we have, save, start small and grow. "Oh capital, that place near Area 18" he said laughing. "What capital he asked, from who, maybe these sleepy old men but not us" (describing people like himself), he further explained. Teach a man to fish and he will feed himself he affirmed. The more donations we get in this country the less hard work we put in. From K77 to making K1 billion every 3 months, thats 4 Billion a year. I would be content with a billion a year but he is far from finished. He has plans to increase productivity at the rice plant to be able to export upwards of K2.5 billion worth of rice a month, because the demand is there, making his personal share of the sales K1 billion, this he described as his allowance. Collaboration is the only way we can develop as a country. Learn to help and work with each other. There is no I in TEAM or COUNTRY it seems, but there is a U. Mr. Dzombe told us a story of Nazis who took a village of Jews up a mountain in winter, they were locked up in a room and told they would be free if they survived the night. One by one they started to die from the cold but two of them, competitiors back in the village hugged each other for warmth and survived the night. Such is the power of collaboration. We asked Mr. Dzombe of what sure ways can we attain success. To which he said be trustworthy. They're supplies that give me billions upon billions worth of stock, sometimes even more than i ordered and when i tell them i dont have the money to pay them for all of it, they are like sure, no problem, we know you will pay. That is something to behold, such trust he has fostered with his clients and supplies. Integrity is another. Read it in the bible if you dont believe me. Proverb 11 v 18: The wicked man does deceptive work, but he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward. and Luke 16 v 1 - 13. All I can say is that I have learnt a lot from Mr. Dzombe and I'm sure you have too. I am a different man for it, smarter, more composed and wiser. Thank you Mr. Dzombe for sharing your life story with us, your experience and expertise have surely contributed to our never ending quest to wise up !