#three way with my wife and shaq

[inthismoment]

,,

[angelsswirl]

Whatever Makes You Happy

You say you wanna try

Notes: this story has been done for ages im just lazy as all shit. One more chapter after this one!

Word Count: 3k+

Rating: M

"Sugar, there's a reason why we lose. You say you wanna cry but you never do. Sugar, there's a reason why we lose."

"So...how have you been?"

Lisa would be lying if she said she was giving Joy her undivided attention. She certainly wasn't. In fact, she was doing the complete opposite. Only listening to keywords and the pauses in sentences that indicated it was probably her turn to start speaking.

She couldn't have cared any less about what her Ex-Wife had to say to her. She was her Ex-Wife for a damn reason. Lisa was more preoccupied with how she was going to fix the other 98 problems that she had cultivated for herself within the next 48 hours. Lisa was more preoccupied with how she was going to get you to look her in the damn eye.

"Cut the shit, Joy. You do not care. And I'm not going to pretend that I care how you have been. If either of us gave a shit, I'm sure that we would talk way more frequently."

Of course, part of the reason you hadn't said much of anything to her was because Lisa herself hadn't bothered to say anything first at risk of gaping like a freshly plucked from the ocean catfish. There was no need to embarrass herself more than she already had in front of you. She was guarding her own sanity at this point. And naturally, this had manifested itself into her grown-ass either trying to hide behind one of those seven-year-old boys that stole her face, the sofa, or one time (that she would like to forget) behind a thin lamp like that Shaq meme. 

"Actually, you don't answer my frequent calls."

It was working, though! If only because you found the whole coward thing a turn-off. But, Lisa made a pact with herself in her head. She wasn't going to talk to you until she had something to say. Or rather, until she had something to say that you actually wanted to hear. Or even ratherer, until she had something to say that you actually wanted to hear and that she actually wanted to say. Being the bearer of her own bad news had gotten old quickly.

"Yeah. Because I don't care how you're doing. I thought we just established that."

Mincing her words was getting old too. From now, on Lalisa Manoban was not sparing feelings any longer. It's about time she started to be selfish.

Joy sighed and rolled her eyes harshly. Lisa only shrugged. 

"So. Again. I ask...what the fuck do you want, Park ?"

Calling people by their surname really got the point across. It was so formal. So distant. You did it to make a point. Lisa hated it. It was one of the reasons why she always corrected you. If the twitch in Joy's eye is anything to go by, then it was safe to say that she hated it too. And oh boy, this had to be the first time since the first year of their marriage that they were on the same page about something.

"I heard you were getting married."

"Who hasn't?" Her engagement had been public knowledge for over a year now for anyone who paid attention to things of that sort. Joy Park was definitely one of those people.

"How do the boys feel about it?"

Lisa rubbed the bridge of her nose incessantly, "Confused. They're seven. They'll get over it."

Joy nodded thoughtfully and tapped her hands lightly on the edge of the bar counter, "But, will you?"

Lisa paused mid nervous lip bite, "Will I what?"

Joy gestured with her hand, "Will you get over it?"

"Dumb it down for me, Detective."

Joy laughed with little humor in her voice, "Will you get over being married to someone you can't stand? I mean you've done it before-"

"Who said I can't stand Seulgi?"

"You did. Your eyes. Your hands. Your lips. This is exactly how we looked at each other after the boys were born. And we were miserable for the next three years."

"It's a business thing."

"Oof. Heard that one before. How'd she take it?"

Lisa kissed her teeth, "I assume you're not talking about Seulgi."

"Of course not."

"She practically laughed in my face. I picked one with a backbone this time." Lisa threw her hands up as if to say 'My mistake".

"You were waiting to throw that one in my face weren't you."

"You cheated on me. I was pregnant. With big-headed twin boys. And you cheated on me. So yes, I've always got several insults on the tip of my tongue just waiting."

"And here I thought you were over that anyway...yeah...so what are the terms of the ultimatum she gave you."

Lisa sighed. You hadn't really given her terms. There was no 'If you really loved me, you'd do this', no "It's me or her". Only you saying you were leaving. Only you telling her she knew what she needed to do to get her back. It was more of an open-ended question that Lisa was too pussy-foot to answer. A solution that she was too chicken shit to implement. In the end, Lisa's sure you wanted Lisa to do something not just for you, but for herself.

"To fix it."

"I get it. Fucking the nanny isn't good for business. Not sure how doing the family thing with a detective was."

Lisa shook her head thoughtfully, "You were only a detective that first year we were dating. Attorney by the time we were married. You were on track to be the newest DA by the time the boys would have been five. My parents loved you for some reason. But, we never made it that far-wait. How'd you know Y/N was the boys' nanny?"

Joy laughed loudly, a fond smile playing across her mouth, "You've got whore tendencies, Lili. Just drew a logical conclusion."

Lisa rolled her eyes, "Whatever."

"So, how are you going to fix it?"

"Beats me. You wouldn't happen to have any ideas would you?"

Joy sipped at her now watered-down bourbon on the rocks, "Oh God no. My last stable relationship was with you."

"Oh. So you just came to point out the obvious? Thanks, Joy. You've been such a big help and not a complete pain in my ass."

"I'm sure you'll figure it out, Lisa. In fact, I've got a feeling you already have."

Lisa sighed again, "...Yeah. Thanks, Joy. This conversation served zero purpose for me."

Joy shrugged, "I know. I was just being selfish. This was all for me."

"Nothing new. Still not discussing the terms of custody."

Joy laughed lightly again, "They are way better off living with you. I'll just continue to send Birthday cards."

"And I'll continue to not give them to them. Don't look at me like that, I'm kidding."

"You better be."

Lisa was quiet for a moment, she stared at the bar top as she spoke, "Do you believe in soulmates?"

"Um.., no I don't think I do."

Lisa nodded only half listening to Joy's answer, "Hm. I think I do."

"Good luck, Lili."

"Lord knows I'm gonna need it."

"Here's the paperwork, Lisa." Lisa's father (well Chaeyoung's father technically) sat down the papers on her desk. He then sat in the chair across from her as if he owned the place. Relaxing to his heart's content. Chaeyoung, who was there for witness reasons, sat in the other chair before he could kick his feet up onto it.

She eyed the papers with a bored expression. Hesitating as inconspicuously as she could. Luckily, on most days he wouldn't be able to notice a hurricane if it swept him away.

"You know, after the wedding, tomorrow, your mom and I were thinking of going on a honeymoon of our own."

Lisa couldn't have stopped the words from tumbling out of her mouth even if she tried, "With whose money?"

Her father popped one eye open and aimed it towards Lisa as much as he could without straining, "What do you mean? Once Seulgi signs over her shares we'll be swimming in the green stuff."

"What about the boys? I thought you guys were watching them while Seulgi and I are to be in Jeju."

The wrinkles on the man's forehead deepened. Lisa found it funny that Chaeyoung, for the most part, looked nothing like him. Especially when he frowned so hard he could probably taste the action.

He looked positively miffed that his relaxation station in Lisa's office chair was being compromised," Isn't that what that nanny of yours is for?"

"I told you. Today is her last day." And what a hard pill to swallow that was.

"Hmm. Poor timing on your part. But fine. We'll just take the boys with us. Or just drop them with Chae. Not like she has plans." Chaeyoung squeaked in protest.

About a month ago, Lisa would have fallen into inconsolable hysterics at that. But now, she just feels bad for her sister. Maybe, Seulgi had a friend she could set Chaeyoung up with.

"Yeah okay." Lisa just shook her head.

"Anyway, hurry up and sign the papers. I have to turn them into the county clerk. They're already pulling strings for this. We're being highly untraditional here, Lali."

"Fine."

She scribbled her signature in all the required places, her father watching stiffly, maybe even a little surprised that this didn't take more guilt-tripping. Chaeyoumg for her part looked more upset than Lisa did.

"Great. I will see you two bright and early at the venue tomorrow morning. You know the drill." And didn't she just.

He left with no further preamble. Chaeyoung practically jumped on the desk as soon as the door shut.

"Please tell me you have a plan."

"We agreed to stop lying to each other."

"Lili!"

"What? I have something. It's definitely not a plan per se. But what could I possibly lose at this point?"

"Y/N! You could lose Y/N!"

Little did, Chaeyoung know, that simply wasn't an option.

"Today's the day," You said into your phone camera. Jisoo and Jennie were scrunched together on your phone screen staring at you with identical expressions.

"You're really leaving and going back to Hongdae? Over some stupid girl! What about me?" Jennie exclaimed all but shoving Jisoo out of the frame and getting impossibly close to the camera.

"What about you, Jennie?" You said as you packed the last of your belongings away. Your Uber to the train station would be there soon. You already said your tearful and confused goodbyes to the boys, the only thing left you had to do was get on the train. And all of this would be behind you. Literally.

"You won't stay even for me? Don't tell Sooya this but. I like you more than her." She winced and held her shoulder. You had it on good authority that Jisoo probably flicked her.

"You remember what I told you about what my parents told me before I came here. Looks like they won."

Jennie whined like a child, "But you haven't even tried."

"Oh believe me. I have."

"No, I'm not talking about The World's Worst Nutcracker. I'm talking about your dance stuff. Maybe you can choreograph Jisoo's and I's first dance."

"OMG! One gig! That'll surely yield a tangible profit and put me on the radar of large companies!"

"Stop being mean!" Jennie's pouting face was all you saw until a hand came to mush her face off the screen and replace it with Jisoo's.

"Ignore her, Y/NN. If you think the best move for you is to go back home. Then go. But, just remember she's probably just as miserable without you, as you are without her. You were dealt a bad hand from the beginning, but one bad hand doesn't mean you'll lose the game, okay? I know you love her and you love the boys-I guess I'm just saying make sure you're thinking this through and not just running on a whim because you're scared."

Jisoo was right. You needed Lisa like you needed air to breathe. But from where you were standing, it seemed like you were going to suffocate no matter what you did.

"Yeah. I get it. I've thought it out plenty. I won't be gone for long. Probably help Mama and Dad out for a few months, and then maybe I'll be back, slinging drinks behind that bar with Soo."

"You could move in with us."

You laughed lightly, "No I can't. You guys just got engaged. No need to babysit my heartbroken ass. Let my mom do it. She's used to it."

They both sighed dejectedly, now sharing the frame once again, "Fine. We'll see you when we see you, I guess." Jennie mumbled out. 

"Yes. You will. That's how seeing works. I'll text you when I get home. Bye."

Jennie clicked off the call quickly, obviously mad at you. You only sighed, she would get over it sooner or later. With that, you started to drag your few suitcases down to your Uber. 

The ride to the train station went on in silence. Your driver rightfully assumed that you were not in the mood for small talk or even background noise. He helped you with your suitcases and then drove off with a polite wave. 

You looked down at you one-way ticket to home. It seemed to be running a bit late, but that was okay, because so were you.

You sat heavily on one of your suitcases and stared up at the noon sky, and wondered what the hell had you gotten yourself into over the last six months. Fucked around and fell in love, only for it to blow up in your face. Yep. Sounded about right.

"Are these suitcases taken?"

You could probably identify Lalisa Manoban's voice on vibration alone at this point. It didn't hurt that her voice was followed by unmistakable seven-year-old giggles. But you knew better than to look at any of them. Instead, you kept your eyes on the overcast Seoul sky.

"That's never stopped you before."

"Ugh. You're so right. Take a seat, boys. Mom's got some begging and pleading to do. This might take a second." You could tell when all three of them set down in unison. Sometimes, you wondered if Lisa knew how much the boys were like her.

"Lisa, you-"

"Hey. My turn to talk. You've done enough for the rest of our lives."

You pursed your lips.

"I'd like to start by saying, I'm sorry. I know since I hired you I put you through the wringer. In more ways than one. I guess at the time, it all seemed like a necessary evil, but it wasn't. Not when your feelings were hanging in the balance. All I've been giving you are excuses on top of excuses, and you don't deserve any of that. I was putting everyone's needs before mine but yours. I was treating you like you were always going to be there no matter what kind of bullshit I put you through."

"Mom. That's a cuss word." Dohyung said helpfully,

"Thank you, Doh. As  I was saying. I was treating you like you were always going to be right behind me no matter what happened. And then today, you weren't behind me. Y/N. I'm going to need you to look at me for this next part."

And you look at her because you're a sucker. A fact that becomes even more apparent when she realizes that Lisa is still in her wedding gown, and the boys are still in their tieless mini tuxedos. 

"Look at me when I say this. You were never just the nanny. I don't care what any person or contract tries to tell you. There was no way this thing between us wasn't going to happen. Because I believe in soulmates. And it took a few practice runs and false starts, but you're it for me. I'm so in love with you that it physically hurts. And because I know I haven't made it as clear as can be yet, turn on your phone and search my name."

You did as told again because you're a sucker.

Lalisa Manoban steps down as CEO of LLE as stocks plummet. Plans to start new entertainment company.

You choked on a gasp, "Lisa you didn't have to do that for me."

"Yes I did, I had to do it for the both of us. I'm sure the 'rents will have fun trying to dig LLE out of the hole I let it fall into." Lisa chuckled happily at the thought.

"So, you just left that poor woman at the altar?" 

Lisa shrugged, "Eh. She didn't want to marry me as much as I didn't want to marry her."

You looked down at the news headline again. Trying to hold in a laugh when the boys peered over your shoulder to look at your phone as well.

When you looked back up, Lisa was kneeling in front of you. You raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not proposing marriage. Not yet at least. I have a business proposal."

You gestured with your head for her to continue.

"I don't want you behind me anymore. I want you next to me. I'm starting up a new business and I heard you know your way around a dance floor, so I was hoping you'd like to join me on this venture. As my partner. Also as my girlfriend, if that wasn't clear."

You stared at Lisa wide-eyed, unmoving.

Kijung tapped you on the shoulder, "Y/N, you're supposed to be gross and kiss Mom now." Dohyung nodded in agreement, confused as to why you hadn't done it yet. This seemed like a foolproof plan when Lisa was explaining it to them in the car.

"All you gotta do is say, 'Yes', Y/N. The ball's in your court."

The ball was in your court..., "I-"

[tabloidtoc]

Star, March 1

You can buy a copy of this issue for your very own at my eBay store: https://www.ebay.com/str/bradentonbooks

Cover: Humiliated Jennifer Lopez used for money and fame by Alex Rodriguez

Page 1: Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank, who is a UK ambassador for George Clooney and Rande Gerber's tequila brand, welcomed a son on February 9 at London's Portland Hospital

Page 2: Contents, Robin Thicke in front of a piano at Gold Diggers studio in L.A.

Page 3: Star Shots -- Serena Williams honored late Olympic gold medalist Florence Griffith Joyner by rocking a one-legged Nike catsuit at the first day of the Australian open, Chrissy Metz brought some vibrancy to the virtual SCAD aTVFest where she discussed This Is Us and was honored with the Vanguard Award, Olivia Culpo checked out the view before heading to the Shaq Bowl in Tampa

Page 4: Inside Britney Spears' nightmare -- a shocking new documentary exposes how Britney was used and abused by people she trusted -- Britney's unable to communicate with fans directly without permission -- fans flooded Justin Timberlake's Instagram to demand an apology for what one called profiting from trashing a woman

Page 5: Facing a lawsuit from her estranged older sister has rattled Mariah Carey -- Alison Carey alleged to a NYC court that Mariah had intentionally inflicted emotional distress by writing about her in the 2020 tell-all The Meaning of Mariah Carey and Alison is seeking $1.25 million after the singer accused her of, among other things, throwing boiling hot tea on her and trying to sell a 12-year-old Mariah to a pimp -- now Mariah has become wary of even those in her inner circle and is making longtime employees re-interview for their jobs -- Mariah's always been on the paranoid side but everyone is a suspect now and she's grilling everyone from bodyguards to chefs to stylists and household staff who have been with her for years and if anyone pushes back they are shown the door -- her great fear is that people could cross over and spill secrets to the enemy because she's been caught off guard before by those she trusted

* Catching ZZZs has become a real problem for Kelly Clarkson -- between her gig as a daytime host, trying to sell homes in Nashville and Encino, and battling her ex Brandon Blackstock over custody of their two kids, she is beyond stressed and she can't sleep and nothing works; the most shut-eye she gets is two to three hours -- it's gotten so bad she's even tried hypnotherapy but her workaholic brain outwits it -- meanwhile her legal woes including a lawsuit with her husband and ex father-in-law's talent agency are getting nastier and Brandon has told her in no uncertain terms that he's not going to stop until he gets what he wants which is a ton of money and time with the kids

* She was the most loathed mother in America and now Casey Anthony wants her say -- 10 years after she was acquitted of murdering her two-year-old daughter Caylee, Casey is making a documentary about the trial and she thinks she can clear her name -- she's not looking for sympathy but she believes she's a victim too and was unfairly convicted in the public eye -- she is planning on dropping bombshells in the doc including her take on the theory that the toddler accidentally drowned in the family pool as well as shocking secrets about her own abusive upbringing but don't expect much remorse

Page 6: Just over a year after her father Kobe Bryant and sister Gianna Bryant perished in a tragic helicopter crash, Natalia Bryant who is Kobe's oldest daughter, has signed a modeling contract with IMG Models who also represent Bella Hadid and Gigi Hadid and the just signed Inauguration standout poet Amanda Gorman

* Rumer Willis was heartbroken when her months-long relationship with Armie Hammer fizzled out in December but after harrowing reports of Armie's alleged abuse of women including asking to barbecue their ribs and carry their severed toes in his pocket, Rumer is telling friends she feels lucky -- she wanted to defend him when the cannibalism stories first came out because she thought they were outrageous and now she feels badly for all of the victims and she's really grateful she didn't get caught up in the Armie nightmare

* Star Spots the Stars -- Eva Longoria, Mandy Moore, Demi Lovato, Dan Levy, Dorinda Medley

Page 8: Star Shots -- Meg Ryan wore some wide-legged trousers and a cute cap on a nature walk in Santa Barbara, Gavin Rossdale wore pink socks while playing tennis in L.A., Ciara holding six-month-old son Win during a family getaway to Hawaii

Page 9: Delilah Belle Hamlin and Love Island's Eyal Booker removed their masks for a quick street smooch during a coffee date in L.A., Sofia Richie enjoyed some PDA with shipping heir Gil Ofer in Miami

Page 12: Kate Upton doing yoga, Tia Mowry-Hardrict and her husband Cory Hardrict shared dishwashing duty after cooking at home, Robin Roberts tasted a treat on Good Morning America in New York City

Page 13: Pregnant Brittany Cartwright brought her dog along to retrieve the mail in L.A., Victoria Justice showed off her toned tummy post-workout in L.A.

Page 14: Goldie Hawn turned quality time with granddaughter Rani into a workout toting her in a backpack, Madonna and Guy Ritchie's son Rocco Ritchie waded in during a vacation in Tulum in Mexico, Lucy Hale on a stroll with her dog Elvis in L.A.

Page 16: Chris Noth put in a day's work on The Equalizer in Paterson in New Jersey, Flavor Flav and Flo Rida at The Super Glow Super Bowl kick-off party in Tampa, Bradley Cooper kept daughter Lea close as the two ran errands in NYC

Page 17: More than a week after celebrating 18 months of sobriety Lily Allen enjoyed a snack on-the-go in London, Jessica Alba lifted her son Hayes while riding scooters with husband Cash Warren in Beverly Hills

Page 18: Normal or Not? Cody Simpson got physical with new girlfriend Marloes Stevens during a romantic getaway in St. Barts -- normal, Selling Sunset's Christine Quinn picking up a portrait of herself in L.A. -- normal, Jack Black raised Thor's hammer in a parody posted on Instagram prompting Chris Hemsworth to call it the greatest thing he's ever seen -- not normal

Page 19: The Crown's Emma Corrin looked intrigued by a leafy object she stumbled upon during a stroll in London -- not normal, Sarah Jessica Parker kicked back in heels during a break from assisting shoppers at her flagship store in NYC -- not normal

Page 20: Fashion -- stars look sweet in tiered dresses -- Maude Apatow, Logan Browning, Margot Robbie

Page 21: Julianne Moore, Camila Morrone, Saoirse Ronan

Page 24: After months of quietly dating, Aaron Rodgers and Shailene Woodley are ready to marry and they announced it in the most low-key way possible and the couple are madly in love and feel unequivocally that this is the real deal -- Aaron and Shailene were friends long before sparks flew in August last year and having to endure a long-distance romance during football season actually made their bond stronger -- Aaron and Shailene are already planning to start a family and they're at that stage when they feel ready to be parents and are keen to have a baby

Page 25: Olivia Wilde and Harry Styles have found another dynamic duo to spend their downtime with which is Florence Pugh and Zach Braff -- the foursome hit it off on the set of Don't Worry, Darling which Olivia is directing and in which Florence and Harry star -- they have the best time together and know how to forget the world outside -- as it turns out bearing witness to Florence and Zach's happy relationship despite their 20-year age difference played a part in Olivia taking a chance on dating Harry who is nine years her junior following her split from Jason Sudeikis and seeing them together inspired Olivia to go for it with Harry and she's so glad she did

* While some couples are overwhelmed being with their kids 24/7 in lockdown, Prince William and Duchess Kate have enjoyed the extended family time with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis -- having the kids at home during the pandemic has given Kate baby fever and she loves being around them and wants to have one more and she and William are trying for another, with Kate saying she's hoping for a girl -- as for raising four young kids, the pair are up to the challenge because Kate's a pro at multitasking and William is a devoted dad and they'll split parenting duties

* Matt Damon is hoping a change of scenery will save his rocky 17-year relationship with wife Luciana Barroso as the couple and their three girls have set up house in a lavish $7000-a-night rental in Australia's tony Byron Bay while the actor films Thor: Love and Thunder -- the beachy new surroundings are just what the couple needs after hitting a rough patch and Matt is working overtime to make sure Luciana enjoys herself Down Under by arranging date nights and buying gifts for her to open every day and even when he's working he's got time set aside for just them and the gestures seem to be working and it's the shot in the arm they both needed

Page 26: Cover Story -- Jennifer Lopez humiliated and used -- shocking cheating allegations rock J.Lo's world as fiance Alex Rodriguez's mistress Madison LeCroy tells all -- while Jennifer is putting on a brave face the affair rumors are devastating to her whether she admits it or not -- after revealing she and Alex exchanged DMs Madison said she doesn't want anything bad for his family or for hers -- Alex says it was innocent and that nothing happened but Jennifer is not fully buying it -- Jennifer and Alex's relationship is personal but it's also business; together, their fortunes have doubled

Page 30: Chip and Joanna Gaines -- inside our farmhouse reno -- Chip and Jo are expanding and renovating their Waco home and it may be their toughest job yet

Page 32: Celeb Parenting Fails -- these celebrity moms and dads share their hilarious hapless moments -- Anne Hathaway, Brad Pitt

Page 33: Willie Geist, Mila Kunis, Pink

Page 48: Parting Shot -- Despite it being her first concert in over a year, Miley Cyrus was ready to rock while headlining the TikTok Tailgate Super Bowl pre-show event in Tampa -- the show treated 7500 Florida-based healthcare workers to a set that included guest appearances by Joan Jett and Billy Idol, who both collaborated on Miley's latest album

[doctorstarinken]

One Time For TeedaMac

Troye,

I’ll never forget the day we met. I pulled up to the studio at CalArts not expecting much to be honest. Nikko had told me he was going to bring a rapper and I my general attitude was “Yea, okay. Sure.” 

You were a big dude, man. But you were a different big dude. Kind of like a Patrice O’Neal, Shaq, Biggie kind of big dude. Physically big, huge personality, big laugh, and more importantly you had a huge heart. There was a quiet confidence you displayed while you patiently waited your turn to hop on the mic that evening. Most people get -- myself included -- don’t really know how to act inside a studio. I’ve learned to tame that part of myself by being really, really enthusiastic and be really encouraging of everyone’s creative process. You’re not like that though. You just sat back patiently, cracked jokes, and picked our brains on our collective views on music. 

That’s the other thing that won me over. I could sense that you were just a big music lover and music nerd. You asked me my views on trap, and I gave you some bullshit generic response to which you replied, “That doesn’t really tell me your opinion though.” I respected that. Before you even knew me, you had a charming gall to you to say what needed to be said. 

Fast forward to when you got behind the mic.

Man... there are a few musical moments I remember vividly. The first time I conducted an orchestra, my undergraduate audition, my first day as a contracted/hired songwriter in a large studio, the first rehearsal I ever had with the lady who later become my wife, and the first time I heard you jump behind that Neumann. 

Everything about your performance that evening was so flawless. Your voice, the lyrics, the flow, content, vibe, et al. You just had everything, man. And the best thing about it, you were fucking cooler than ice cold, bruh. You can spot talent by how hard -- or in this case, how not hard-- someone is working. There has always been such an ease in your delivery. Even when you fucked up, it was done with grace. 

__

Just as I’ll never forget the evening we met, I’ll never forget the day Nikko called me to deliver the bad news. I was in Honolulu teaching underprivileged high-school students how to film score using affordable software and was lucky enough to work in a truly world-class studio. The folks who contracted me were also kind enough to allow me to use the studio to work on whatever projects I wanted to work on as long as I had finished working on the student projects beforehand. 

It was exciting. I was flown out to Hawaii, was given a ridiculous per diem, didn’t have to pay out of pocket for lodging, and more importantly, I was working in the same studio that where a lot of my favorite records were made. 

The plan was to get a lot of post-production out of the way for our project. Seemed like the perfect situation. Get flown out, work in a dope studio, and work on your own personal projects after-hours. What could possibly go wrong?

Just like I’ll never forget the evening that I first heard you rap, I’ll never be able to shake the feeling I got when Nikko called me and told me you were diagnosed with cancer. 

__

I gotta be honest. I still can’t believe you were diagnosed with cancer. I still can’t believe you didn’t beat it. I still can’t believe you’re gone.

Intellectually speaking, I know you’re not here. What I mean to say is that, I recall visiting you before you got transferred to Keck and that I recall driving up to Fresno to see you for the first time since I got the news. I remember the day you called me and told me you were in a hospital in LA and that I could come visit you. I remember the weekends I’d spend with you kicking your ass on 2k and saying something along the lines of “Son, even if your make-a-wish was to get better at 2k, I’d still kick your ass. Fuck you. Guard this money ass three pointer.” I remember making jokes about how I preferred when you were incapacitated because at least you didn’t talk back. Honestly I think the nurses were a bit shocked, but we just had that relationship. We could say the most fucked up things to each and laugh about it. 

During the day of your memorial, your pastor said that you fought. You fought everyday to survive and you battled this bullshit disease until you couldn’t and that the rest of us in the memorial should do the same. That is to fight everyday for life. 

Truthfully, I haven’t fought everyday since you passed. It’s difficult. In my own selfish understanding, it wasn’t just that I lost a friend and a brother, I lost my fucking career. I poured everything I had into our record and while it’s very painful for me to listen back to it, I know it’s fucking good. It’s one of those things where I actually don’t care for people’s opinions about this record because I know it’s good and if someone doesn’t like it, it’s not for them. We made this record for us and we were about ready to usher in a new paradigm shift in hip-hop.

I know that probably sounds hyperbolic as fuck, but what good does believing in a record I can no longer perform in public do for me? Whether we were actually as good as I think we are is irrelevant, I knew we were going to the very top because I finally had a proper MC in my corner who saw eye-to-eye with me and an MC who could body any piece of music I gave them. 

You elevated what I wrote. Without you, everything I wrote were just these bland academic exercises in showing people how well I can music. You gave my work heart and soul and turned it into art. 

But now you’re gone and you have been since October. And as much as I’d love to fondly look back at our short time together and as much as I like to imagine of what we were both robbed of, I don’t think it’s really healthy for me to do so anymore. 

__

I’ve always wondered about the human soul since I was a child. My grandfather died when I was very young, followed by my uncle, and during my teenage years my other uncle quite literally died in my arms. I’m not a stranger to death. I grew up christian so every Sunday I was reminded of the death and resurrection of Christ. 

But for whatever reason, your passing really hit me hard. I wish I could say that I’d see you again some day, but I really don’t know where we go when our time on Earth is done and I think that’s what scares me the most. The idea that all I’ll ever have are the memories I shared with you is the scariest part. We didn’t know each other that long, but we grew close. You got to know me and I got to know you through our shared work. The music I presented to you was a tangible representation of my best self as expressed through sound. In turn, you gave me the best representation of yourself through your lyrics. 

Collaboration is a sacred bond. My friend, Max, who I so wish you got to meet, told me that when he got on the phone with me to console me after he had learned I was grieving your loss. While there are a lot of things I don’t know about the nature of reality, I can say with full confidence that my favorite thing about being an artist is the communion that occurs where people are in a room trying to create something out of nothing. While I don’t know where we go after we die, I do believe in the divine because I have experienced with when working with talented people like yourself. There is a quiet agreement that we are all trying transcend our current situation and hopefully share that with the world. 

Teeda, you were more than a friend and collaborator. You were my brother. I didn’t grow up with biological brothers, but there is an old adage that goes “you don’t have to be blood to be brothers.” While blood is thicker than water, the frequencies we pushed out into existence is the only connection I need to call you family. 

While I wish I could wipe you from my memory as having to live with the fact that one of the most beautiful humans I’ve ever known has left at such a young age is too painful, I know that your spirit will always live on. I see your face in Alonzo’s and I’m always so hyped whenever Joss shares pictures of your son on her IG.  

I wish it had worked out differently. I wish you had beat cancer and that we had gone on the road and fucking killed stages from here all the way to Manila. I wish we had more time to make more music and that we could have made your wildest dreams come true. I wish you could have shown your mom just how ridiculously talented her son is. (She shared me that story on how she asked her A&R friend to talk you out of rapping only for him to be like “Yo, he’s actually super dope. He’s a little raw, but if he keeps at it he can be something.”) I’m not sure if you heard, but at the end of your days at City of Hope, your mom would play our song all the time and the nurses and medical staff would always look in amazement that it was our song playing. One dude even said that you sound like J. Cole. I mean... I’m not the biggest J. Cole fan, but I know you loved him and thought he was better than Kendrick. I still think that opinion is mad trash, but you’re dead now so I guess you literally took that stance to your grave. Respect. 

I had so many plans for us. I really did believe we could have done whatever the fuck we wanted to. You made us that good. But I have to let those plans go as I have to let you go. I wish I didn’t have to, but I gotta do like you and fight for my life everyday that I’m on this planet.

Working with you to craft the songs we have crafted will always be one of the highest honors I will ever undertaken in my life. Knowing that someone as talented as you considered me a friend, brother, and a collaborator will always be one of the highest compliments that anyone can ever bestow upon me. 

Rest easy, OG. I truly hope we can chop it up in another dimension when my time here is through. I’ll keep a lookout on Zo for you. I promise. 

-DMR

[freenewstoday]

New Post has been published on https://freenews.today/2021/04/17/d-wade-leaps-into-ownership-with-stake-in-jazz/

D-Wade leaps into ownership with stake in Jazz

Three-time NBA champion Dwyane Wade has purchased an ownership stake in the Utah Jazz, joining majority owner and team governor Ryan Smith with plans to take an active role in the franchise and region.

Wade, an eight-time All-NBA player with the Miami Heat, is the latest of several Hall of Fame-level players with NBA ownership stakes, including Grant Hill (Atlanta Hawks), Shaquille O’Neal (Sacramento Kings) and Charlotte Hornets majority owner Michael Jordan. Magic Johnson previously had a 4% stake in the Los Angeles Lakers.

“This goes way beyond the dream I had to just play basketball in the NBA,” Wade told ESPN. “I’ve seen Shaq do it in Sacramento. I’ve seen Grant Hill do it in Atlanta. I’ve seen Jordan do it in Charlotte. If this partnership is going to be anything like my relationship is with Ryan, there are going to be a lot of things that I’ll want to be involved in. …

“Unfortunately, people in my community don’t get this opportunity, and I do not take it lightly to have this opportunity. To make real change, this is where you have to be — at the top — and Ryan knows that. I’m thankful for him, and I know too that I bring a lot to this partnership outside of just my basketball knowledge and skills.”

Wade, 39, met Smith on a San Clemente, California, golf course shortly after his retirement from playing in 2019, and they became fast friends. Wade wanted to understand about Smith’s tech empire, including his company Qualtrics, and calls him a mentor. Smith, 42, raised the idea of Wade joining the ownership group upon completing a $1.66 billion purchase of the Jazz in October.

The NBA has a bylaw that ownership stakes can be no less than 1% of the team, but Wade’s financial investment in the franchise is not immediately clear.

Dwyane Wade is joining Grant Hill (Hawks), Shaquille O’Neal (Kings) and Hornets majority owner Michael Jordan as Hall of Fame-level players with NBA ownership stakes. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Wade joins a small ownership group that includes Smith and his wife, Ashley; investor and Accel partner Ryan Sweeney; Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes; and the Miller family, which previously owned the team.

“Dwyane has had a chance to be part of so many different [ownership] groups if he wanted that,” Smith told ESPN. “We’ve basically been in discussion from the time we closed on the team on how we can get this done. Like I run my tech business, you want the brightest people around.

“There is a broad picture here. It’s much more than just basketball. This league is the biggest platform that there is, and we ran toward that. This isn’t a league where we came in saying, ‘Hey, this has gone somewhere we’re not comfortable with.’ This is actually what we signed up for. We’re the newest ownership group. We’re the youngest. Dwyane’s a perfect fit.

“It wasn’t like we wanted more partners; that wasn’t what we were trying to do. I want to work with Dwyane on and off the court, on the business side, and so do our partners — because of who he is as a human being and what he’s accomplished. Those are the kinds of people you want around.”

Wade didn’t say whether he had significant conversations with Heat ownership surrounding a financial stake in the franchise where he spent 14-plus seasons of his career. He described his strong personal relationship with Smith and a shared vision for that business partnership as the driving force for securing the Jazz stake.

“The respect I that I have for that [Heat] organization will not go anywhere, the love that I have for the [Heat] fans — that goes nowhere,” Wade told ESPN. “But this is about the next phase of my life as an investor, a businessman, an entrepreneur. For me, this is an opportunity to grow.”

Heat owner Micky Arison on Twitter expressed disappointment that Wade didn’t reconsider a stake in the Miami franchise after previous negotiations, adding that he wished Wade “good luck and much success with the Jazz.”

Wade described a synergy to Smith’s progressive vision of transforming the Jazz’s success on the court — including a league-leading 41-14 record — into becoming a cultural leader in the community and state. Beyond Smith’s lifelong love of the Jazz and basketball, his devotion to social causes made the organization an easy sell to Wade. Smith has dedicated a four-year college scholarship to an underserved student for every Jazz victory this season and partnered with Apple CEO Tim Cook to invest $4 million into the construction of eight Encircle homes, which provide safe-haven homes for LGBTQ youth and their families. Smith has embraced the Black Lives Matter movement, publicly supporting his players on those issues.

“We’re not running away from the racial and social and LGBTQ conversations,” Wade told ESPN. “I’m committed to doing the work. I talk about the LGBTQ community, which everyone knows is important to me. My daughter is part of that community.

“I don’t look at this as only a Utah Jazz relationship. I look at this as a relationship that’s multifaceted — business, basketball, me being able to bring Ryan into my world just as he’s bringing me into his world.”

Wade has had a strong relationship with Jazz All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell, who has regularly been compared to Wade since his arrival in the NBA.

“I call him 2.0,” Wade told ESPN. “If there’s a player similar to me, it’s Donovan Mitchell.”

Before the coronavirus pandemic, Mitchell had spent time shadowing Wade in South Florida.

“He wanted to ride in the car with me, go to the gym and shoot, and really wanted to pick my brain,” Wade said. “He’s on that short list of people who call me and talk for hours. We’ve got a big brother-little brother relationship.”

That relationship will have an opportunity to grow, and so will Wade’s role on the basketball side with the Jazz. Saying “they have the right people in place,” Wade sees an opportunity to pick his spots to contribute on the team side.

From free-agent meetings to individual counsel, Wade said he is fully invested in the franchise’s future. Wade, wife Gabrielle Union and family live in Los Angeles, a short flight from Utah. They spent Valentine’s Day skiing in Park City. “I fell on my ass a lot of times,” Wade said. “Ryan is showing us every inch of Utah.”

Said Smith: “Every city in every state is looking at leaders in their community to help. Whether it’s Minnesota, New York or L.A., what we do is something that can be leveraged to drive the culture of an entire [region]. That’s the work Dwyane and our group are talking about. We’re in a world where basketball is uniting this state when everything else in the world is trying to divide us. If we can take that platform and do good and lead and write change for the future, we can look back and say, ‘Wow, that’s what legacy is about.'”

Source

[iwritestuffsometimes]

A Rose Would Smell As Sweet

“Hunt!” Her voice came from the bathroom. “Hunter, come here!”

He almost dropped his laptop as he bolted from the couch and across the floor of the bedroom. “What?” He caught the handle of the bathroom door, only slowing his momentum slightly, before he shoved the door inward. “Are you okay? What’s wrong?” He gasped. Steam swirled around his head. His eyes were wide and practically glowing.

“Huh? Oh!” She blanched. “No. I’m fine. Sorry.” She sat up straighter on the edge of the bathtub.

He sighed. “Oh. Good.” He stepped forward and sat beside her. He put his hand on her belly, over the towel she was wrapped in. “You good too, Lizzie?”

She rolled her eyes and swatted at his hand. “Lizzie might be a Leon.” She reminded him.

“We’re not naming him Leon.” He grimaced.

“I wanna name him after your daddy though.” She pouted.

Hunter laughed his squeaky laugh. “That’s not what Leo is short for.”

She couldn’t help but giggle with him. “Well, I know but Leonardo seems like too much.”

He rocked backwards on the tub as he laughed harder. “Dad’s full name is Leo. It isn’t short for anything.”

She gaped at him as she computed the information. He didn’t stop giggling as she processed. She sighed. “Okay, shut up or I’ll be tempted to tell you that you’re short for anything.”

“Oh, good.” He grinned and touched her stomach again. “I’m glad you held back.”

“Oh, of course.” She covered his hand over her belly and looked down. “I couldn’t be that mean to Daddy could I, Leon?”

“Veto on Leon.”

“Veto on Lizzie.”

“Fair.” He stood from the tub and began to make his way to the door. “Oh wait, what did you want?” He turned back around.

“Oh!” Her face lit up and she lifted her leg into the air, holding onto the sides of the bathtub for support. She wiggled her ankle at him. “Feel!” He frowned and stayed put. “My legs, Stupid. Feel my legs!”

“Why?” He asked but stepped forward and ran his hand along her shinbone anyway.

“Isn’t it soft and smooth!” Her face was as full of glee as he’d seen it in a while. He couldn’t help but smile with her. “I finally got around to shaving!”

“It’s nice.” He chuckled.

“I feel like a lady for the first time in weeks.” She grinned. “No more caveman legs!” She kicked both her feet in the air and giggled.

“Gosh, you’re cute.” He shook his head in wonderment. She smiled and reached her hand up, silently asking him to help her stand. She groaned with the effort but he steadied her with hands on either side of her shoulders. “I was kinda starting to like the caveman legs.” He shrugged and laced his fingers through hers, walking her out of the bathroom. “Felt like I was just letting Cole sleep in the bed again.” He joked.

She swatted at his chest. “Why’d I marry you?”

“I always just figured mom bribed you somehow.” He shrugged. She laughed and kissed his cheek. “Do ya want dinner?” He asked. “I might as well go ahead and take a break now that someone interrupted me anyway.” He pointed to the laptop that was perched on the couch at a weird angle.

She sighed. “I want…” She pursed her lips as she thought.

When she took too long, he cut in again. “Yes?” He goaded.

“Well, I want chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes,” she poked at her stomach. “But Billy Jean wants Chinese food.”

“BJ? Ya wanna name our child BJ?” He frowned at her.

She squished her face up. “I didn’t think it through.”

He chuckled. “Well, how about I go get Mommy some southern food, and I’ll grab Daddy and Shaquille some Chinese take out on the way home?” His suggestion was met with a raised eyebrow and a smirk. “What? We could call him Shaq!” He insisted.

“We could call him Leon.” She responded.

“We could call her Lizzie.”

“I hate this game.” She rolled her eyes. “My legs are soft and smooth. I don’t wanna waste it. I wanna go out.”

Hunter chuckled. “Um, I’m sorry, who are you trying to impress?”

“My incredibly short husband.”

He threw his hands up, palms out in defense. “Okay, truce. We can go out. You and Faron can battle it out between the two of you.” He lent to kiss her stomach. “I’ll just drive.” He straightened.

“Faron?” She tilted her head. “That’s… actually not bad….” She blinked and repeated the name.

Hunter smiled. “Is that the first one we’ve agreed on?”

“I think so.” She grinned, her eyes lighting up. “That was a long six months.”

“We still got three to decide.” He kissed her cheek and sat back on the couch.

“Yeah.” She turned to the closet and started picking out an outfit for dinner. “But this might be the last time in three months that I have shaved legs.” She joked. “So Faron can get over it. We’re eating where I want to go.” She held up a shorter dress; one of her favorites. It wasn’t a maternity dress but it was stretchy enough that she thought she could still make it work. “And I’m wearing this.” She grinned.

“I’m liking this idea more and more.” He nodded at the sight of the dress. She unhooked the towel from around herself. She reached to take the dress from the hanger but flinched and touched the side of her abdomen. “Uh uh. Not now, Faron.” Hunter narrowed his eyes at his wife’s belly. “Don’t ruin this for me. You’re gonna be spoiled for the next 18 years. You gotta cool it for a night.” He leveled with her stomach, watching as a footprint made its way to the surface of her skin. Hunter’s eyes widened. “She’s got your attitude.”

She laughed. “Maybe. But he’s probably got your height.”

“As long as she doesn’t have caveman legs.” He pouted.

A/n Two requests in one yo. I’m gettin real good at this writing what people asked me to a long time ago thing. (thats a lie. I’m still crappy at it. but i wrote it so yay) Anyway- feedback would be nice. Even if this is literally only a scene and has no real plot. I hope you liked it though.  Kaythanksmateloveyoutoobye

[ali94nas]

Kyle, Kobe, and Gianna

I was in the library getting ready to start my work when I saw someone post about Kobe dying. It felt weird. I told my wife about it and as news came in about Gianna I could feel strange emotions bubbling up that I couldn’t make sense of. After all the details were confirmed that Kobe and his daughter were gone, I felt like I was supposed to move on. The next day I woke up to go to work but I could barely get myself out of bed. I felt heavy but was almost embarrassed. It’s not even like I was a huge Kobe fan. So, why was I feeling heavy? It felt silly to me.

I went to private Islamic school that was predominantly South Asian and Arab until my freshman year of high school. I had just moved back from India after doing my 8th grade there and came to school almost a month late. It was basically my first time in public school in a new neighborhood with all these white folks. To add to that I was 14 and socially awkward trying to fit in and I struggled.

My locker neighbor’s name was Kyle. He was a locker or two down from mine and he had never seen me before so he smiled at me and shook my hand asking for my name. He might have been wearing a Chicago Bulls shirt which prompted us to talk about then newly drafted Derrick Rose. I didn’t know much about basketball but I knew enough to talk for a few minutes with him.

After that, I realized that basketball was going to be one of the ways I could relate to these kids along with Hip-Hop which I had already resonated with both growing up. So I dedicated myself to becoming a basketball-head and Hip-Hop-head. Sometimes in the morning and every afternoon, Kyle and I would talk to each other for a minute about the game last night. He would see me in the halls and dap me up. After my last class I would rehearse in my head what aspects of the game I could mention to him and was always excited to see him and would always feel a little down when we didn’t see each other.

My sophomore year came in and I didn’t see Kyle anymore but I made a ton of new friends. By the time I was a junior I could barely get to class with how many people I would greet in the hallway and I had a great group of friends. But one morning, I think after Spring Break, they made an announcement that Kyle was killed in a landslide accident.

I felt shock. Then, I felt confusion. Why do I feel so strongly about his death? I mean I talked to him my freshman year a little bit, but I didn’t keep in touch. Am I making a big deal out of nothing? We barely had any memories together save a minute at the end of school days two years prior.

The same conflicting thoughts and feelings flooded my heart and brain with Sunday’s news. First of all, Kobe’s just a celebrity. Second of all, he’s just an athlete. Third of all, I didn’t even know the guy! I didn’t meet him and my goodness I hated the guy. I hated the Lakers! They were just too good and always won. But the heaviness on my heart was undeniable.

The players and journalists told stories about Kobe. About how he was an imperfect man just like we all are and he made mistakes that none of us can claim we don’t have the potential for. His selfishness and rudeness were huge reasons I hated him. But even more seriously his sexual assault case where he was accused of continuing sex without consent to the point of injury. He was extremely flawed.

But the thing that finally broke me and allowed me to fully embrace the sadness and feeling of loss of Kobe and Gianna was remembering how he dealt with his imperfections. It was his Mamba Mentality. He dedicated his life to understanding his flaws and working on them. He aimed to live a life of principle and purpose and demanded to be surrounded by those who felt the same. He refused to despair and give up or get lazy and feel complacent and was committed to bettering himself.

When he was a basketball player he was trying to become the best basketball player there ever was. If Michael Jordan was considered the best, Kobe would emulate his footwork, his walk, his speech—anything and everything. Because if Michael had that drive, maybe emulating him would give him that secret. But his goal was never to be Michael, his goal was to beat Michael by being the absolute best version of himself.

When the sexual assault case happened he listened to the victim and heard what she had to say and never felt himself above his principles. He accepted fault and apologized and then devoted himself to being an advocate for women in whatever capacity he could. He became a voice for women’s sports and criticized those who said he needed a son to continue his legacy because his daughter Gianna was even better than he was at her age. He was a voice for the unfair treatment of women athletes in soccer and basketball.

As a husband and father he demanded the best from himself. He got a helicopter and whenever he was in town, he dropped off and picked up his daughters from school even if it was to see them for 20 minutes.

When he retired, his Mamba Mentality continued and he made it his mission to make the best of his second act. If he wanted to make the best financial decisions he would reach out to the CEO of Apple and emulate him like he emulated MJ in basketball. If he wanted to inspire children to never give up on themselves and to always get back up and dedicate themselves to whatever it was they wanted to do, he decided he would write a children’s book. He had no reservations in reaching out to J.K. Rowling and attempted to learn from her so that he could make the best book. He never half-assed anything.

When him and Shaq were beefing, Kobe had no qualms squashing that beef by criticizing himself and seeing if there was something he could do better. When he was criticized for being the youngest player in the locker room and a woman journalist wanted to interview him, he knew that women journalists were not respected back in 1996 so he gave Rachel Nichols a 45 minute interview and told her that he understands how she might feel not being respected by the athletes because they don’t respect him either.

His pursuit of perfection wasn’t out of pride or arrogance. It was out of a desire to never have regrets of a moment wasted even if it meant battling himself. And as he worked on himself and learned, he had a deep desire to share that with others as he did with his book. Being one of the first players to come to the NBA straight out of high school, he reached out to others who went from high school straight to the NBA after him to see if they needed any support or advice. If Mike Wilbon, a journalist, had a heart attack then Kobe didn’t hesitate or feel too awkward or self-conscious to not reach out and send him a letter to get well soon. He didn’t feel embarrassed to ask him continually about his health and demand that Mike do the best he can about his health for his kids.

Kobe fell so many times but he never allowed himself to stay down because of his determination to do the best he possibly could. I think someone who was so fiercely compassionate, fiercely competitive and fiercely in pursuit of making his own happiness by looking at his own accountability in the face of what others might be doing to him, led to God pushing him further along the way.

He said in an interview with Stephen A., that his trials allowed him to understand “God is Great” even deeper. Because as much as he tried to carry to cross, when he wasn’t able to anymore, God picked him up and the cross.

His daughter Gianna was only 13 years old. She was an uncanny reflection of her dad. Her fade-away jumpshot, her smile. Kobe respected Michael’s dedication to self-work and Gianna respected Kobe’s so she emulated him. She was on the path to becoming even greater than her father.

To know that these three individuals; my friend Kyle, Kobe, and Gianna are gone, is difficult. It feels heavy. They were special people. People so committed to being good existed and now they don’t exist. I witnessed their existence and now that existence is gone. Their existence was good and now their existence is gone. That is hard for me and that’s okay.

We don’t feel sad when people are gone because of the fond memories we had with them, necessarily. It’s the impact that those people had on our lives directly or indirectly that brings the heart the pain of loss because that impact is no longer there.

Kyle, Kobe and Gianna did many great things and their character was admirable to me. Their sincerity and drive to be their best are missed. They are missed.

[alonsonfl-blog]

2018 Patriots 53 Man Roster Projection 2.0

Here is my second 53 man roster projection for the 2018 Patriots. I’ll have more out after preseason games. Locks are in bold. Suspended, PUP, and IR players are at the bottom. Have at it:

QB (2): Tom Brady, Brian Hoyer No questions about the top two. Brady got off to a bit of a rusty start in camp, but seems back to his normal self. Hoyer's experience in the system makes him the clearcut backup. Etling has been inconsistent at best, and hasn't shown enough for the team to consider keeping three quarterbacks. A year on the practice squad would be ideal for him. RB (5): Rex Burkhead, James White, Sony Michel, Jeremy Hill, Brandon Bolden I've expected the team to keep four backs throughout the offseason, but Michel's injury opens up a spot for another of Jeremy Hill, Brandon Bolden, and Mike Gillislee. Burkhead, White, and Michel are locks, with the expectation that Burkhead will split some of the early down responsibilities with Hill as Michel gets his legs back under him. Depending on Michel's return timetable, the team could keep four backs and add a developmental player at linebacker (Ja'Whaun Bentley) or edge defender (Eric Lee, Keionta Davis, Harvey Langi)... or, of course, make a trade (John Simon?). WR (6): Chris Hogan, Kenny Britt, Phillip Dorsett, Cordarrelle Patterson, Eric Decker, Matthew Slater This is the worst wide receiver group the team has had going into week one since 2013, and its floor might be lower than that (which is scary). However, with the week five return of Edelman and projected growth in the system for Britt and Dorsett, the group's upside might rival the 2016 Edelman/Hogan/Amendola/Mitchell outfit, especially with Rob Gronkowski as the top tight end over Martellus Bennett. Britt is my breakout guy for the 2018 Patriots. He's still young (29) even though it feels like he's been around forever, and just had over 1,000 yards with Bad Case Keenum and Rookie Jared Goff throwing to him on the 2016 "We're Not Fucking Going 7-9" Rams. Check out my case for Britt here. Dorsett's side sessions with Brady and glowing praise from coaches and teammates alike, coupled with his flashes of upside in 2017 lead me to believe he has real upside as the fourth receiver with Edelman back after September. He just looks so smooth... admittedly, most of this is theoretical/projection. I only include Decker because of Edelman's suspension and his reported $1.9M contract. I doubt he'll be on the team if the other receivers are healthy after week 5. He really struggled creating separation last year. If I had to present a case for him: he was better late in the season and into the playoffs, has some background in the system, and was coming off major hip and shoulder surgery last year. Also, his wife calls him "Big Dick Decker" ... so there's that. I give Patterson almost no shot to carve out a role for himself as a receiver through anything more than reverse/bubble screen gadgetry. If he does, based on his past with learning playbooks, this team is probably in trouble. FB (1): James Develin Overlooked as a crucial component of the offense. Remember the Patriots playing Shaq Mason at fullback at times in 2015? TE (3): Rob Gronkowski, Jacob Hollister, Dwayne Allen No questions here beyond the Patriots maybe asking Allen to restructure his contract, or releasing him with the hope of bringing him back at a salary more in line with his role and production. Gronk will serve as the top tight end, and I think both Hollister and Allen will play a role as tight ends 2a and 2b. Think of Allen as Michael Williams (except he makes $5M... ugh) and Hollister as a rich man's Tim Wright, with upside to become Gronkowski's second best post-Hernandez sidekick (miss you, Marty). OL (9): Trent Brown, Joe Thuney, David Andrews, Shaq Mason, Marcus Cannon, Isaiah Wynn, LaAdrian Waddle, Cole Croston, Ted Karras I count the top seven players on the list as locks, leaving competition for one, maybe two offensive line spots. I give those to the incumbents in Croston and Karras because (a) none of the veterans (Bowanko, John, Schwenke, Tobin) the team brought in have separated themselves and (b) experience and trust in the system. I see some people cutting Croston in projections, and while I understand it, I think the team carrying him on the roster for all of last year means they really like him.

I’ve pushed for the team to try Wynn at left guard as a way to simply play their five best linemen, but based on the early returns from camp, it doesn’t seem like the team is strongly considering it at this point. Too bad. I think Wynn is a lot better than Thuney, and a Wynn-Andrews-Mason interior would absolutely maul people with Brown and Cannon flanking.

Trent Brown was such a masterstroke trade by Belichick. From everything we’ve heard, he looks like the team’s best lineman. I’ll bet he upgrades on Solder, at 20% of the cap hit. If the marriage continues to benefit both sides into the season, I think they make a push to extend him similarly to Marcus Cannon in 2016. The team continues to bring in veterans on the interior of the offensive line, which coupled with the depth at that spot that already existed on the roster leads me to the conclusion that Shaq Mason is the WTF Trade Candidate for this year's training camp. I won't predict it, but I had to get it out there. ED (4): Trey Flowers, Deatrich Wise, Adrian Clayborn, Derek Rivers No surprises here. These four guys are locks, and the team will try to make this its four man edge defender rotation. With Wise's training camp jump, Flowers and Clayborn's proven production, and Belichick's praise for Rivers (coupled with his significant talent), I'm optimistic it'll work. Eric Lee, Harvey Langi, or Keionta Davis could sneak on, though Davis has been playing inside at times during practice. If John Simon becomes available I would think the Patriots inquire. Simon is the way-too-obvious trade or cutdown target for the Patriots this preseason. DT (4): Danny Shelton, Lawrence Guy, Malcom Brown, Vincent Valentine Shelton, Guy, and Brown are established as the top rotation, with Shelton the clear top dog and Guy and Brown as solid 2a/2b rotational pieces. All three will ideally wind up playing a similar number of snaps. I wouldn't read much into Brown being "demoted" to the second unit. Valentine makes the team over Adam Butler, a meh situational pass rusher with no value on early downs and therefore very little depth value on the team. Valentine is a great fill in option as a big defensive tackle if one of Shelton, Guy, or Brown get nicked. If Shaq Mason was a possible WTF Trade Candidate, Malcom Brown may be one on a smaller scale, due to the presence of Valentine, Butler's proven ability to be a replacement level situational pass rusher, and Brown's expiring contract. John Atkins has also opened a couple of eyes during camp. The possible spot for a Brown trade: Detroit, who might be looking at starting Ricky Jean Francois at defensive tackle. Who knows, maybe they throw in Golden Tate, whose contract also expires after this season! (yes, I know they won't throw in Golden Tate. Just let me have my fun)... LB (6): Dont'a Hightower, Kyle Van Noy, Marquis Flowers, Brandon King, Elandon Roberts, Christian Sam The top five are either locks or very close to it, especially based on Elandon Roberts' heavy usage during camp (usage I expect to fizzle significantly come September). Hightower and Van Noy are the horses, with Roberts and Flowers playing situationally, and Sam developing behind the scenes. If either one of Hightower or Van Noy goes down, the Patriots have experience mixing and matching to fill in their roles, but against the best offenses and offensive minds, they're in trouble. Get those two to January. Roberts was atrocious last year, but he has experience in the system and Belichick apparently trusts him. With the prevalence of big nickel as a base defense, though, I don't think his thumper linebacker role will come into play much with Hightower and Van Noy healthy. I do expect Marquis Flowers to carve out a role for himself on passing downs, moving Hightower to the edge, bumping Trey Flowers inside, and letting Brian Flores get creative with pass rush looks. Typing that sent a wonderful chill down my spine. Ja'Whaun Bentlely was the victim of Michel's injury forcing me to keep five running backs, as he's the last guy out in this projection. I don't exactly weep for the team not being able to keep two complete negatives on passing plays at linebacker, though. Sam has been playing over him in practice. CB (6): Stephon Gilmore, Eric Rowe, Duke Dawson, Jason McCourty, JC Jackson, Ryan Lewis I've been banging the "keep six corners" drum for months, and Lewis and Jackson's strong camps have only added fuel to the fire. Gilmore and Rowe will start. The team should try to extend Rowe at some point, similar to what they did with Van Noy last year. Dawson has been seeing top slot reps, though the team experimented with McCourty outside and Rowe in the slot during the week. I like that corner trio more in a vacuum, though it may lack shiftiness against certain receiver types. I think the slot will vacillate based on matchups. McCourty could be in trouble without a strong preseason, as Jackson and Lewis carry more long term upside and the team saves almost $3M by cutting him before the season. McCourty was great last year, though, and cutting him would leave the team with unproven depth behind Gilmore and Rowe on the outside. Jackson and Lewis emerging allows Jonathan Jones to stay on PUP and come back fully ready to go during the season. With no corner as a lock to make the team beyond Gilmore and Dawson signed beyond this year, Jackson and Lewis making the team would allow for more continuity at the position in 2019. The team should go to great lengths to avoid adding their names to the list of young corners that got away (Darryl Roberts, Justin Coleman, Cre'Von LeBlanc, Troy Hill, Rashaan Melvin, Kenny Moore). S (4): Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung, Duron Harmon, Eddie Pleasant The top trio stays the top trio, and I try to prepare myself for seeing Duron Harmon wear 21. I don't buy that he'll usurp Chung as the safety alongside McCourty, but stranger things have happened.

Goodbye, Jordan Richards. Eddie Pleasant takes the mantle of dime safety/core special teamer from Richards, with proven competence in the role, and allows Nate Ebner to fully recover from his ACL tear by starting the season on the PUP list. Duke Dawson, Ryan Lewis, and JC Jackson's value as special teamers shouldn't be overlooked as it relates to the safety/special teams mix, either. That is a major part of what allows the team to keep ten DBs while not being forced to keep five safeties. Special Teams (3): Stephen Gostkowski, Joe Cardona, Ryan Allen The triumvirate returns for another season. No questions on Gostkowski or Cardona, but Allen's battle with Corey Bojorquez in the preseason bears watching. Bojorquez has a monster leg.

Suspended: Julian Edelman

PUP: Nate Ebner, Jonathan Jones, Cyrus Jones

IR: Malcolm Mitchell

[seahawkerspodcast]

3 IN, 3 OUT – The Magic Number 12

By fellow 12 Clinton Bonner

Ohhhhhhh my Flockers, this week’s performance was brought to us, delivered to us, and ultimately served to us by the fabulous #12. We all know why and we don’t have to be rocket surgeons to dig too deep here now do we!?

First home game, 12s fired up.

Final score, 12 to 9 (thanks to a Walsh doink on a PAT)

And of course as you all surely knew… my wife and I celebrated our 12th anniversary, September 17th, which of course was just this past Sunday.

So, as you can see… it just had to be. But, did it have to be so dang hard??? Did we need to go 15 rounds, Balboa-Creed style, against this 49ers group??? Holy catfish no we did not!!! This game had the bleeps, sweeps, and the creeps all culminating in our ‘Hawks in the best formation possible on our home turf with 2 minutes to go… Victory Formation.

As you know by now – and if you don’t shame on you, where’ve ya been?, no excuses, jump in the water’s fine – 3 IN, 3 OUT delves into 3 things that got us 12s fired up, and 3 things that left us scratching our temples. And of course… we try to avoid the vapid, the mundane, and the obvious re-cap as we instead peel back the layers of this ogre onion, and find ‘dem nooks and crannies that satiate our fanaticism.

If we win, we start with an IN … so let’s get at it.

  IN – Ifedi, the Planet Maker

I’m fascinated by science, I dig it. Any of those ‘How the Universe’ this and ‘Through the Wormhole’ that… I’m probably watching at some point. Ever catch one of the episodes that discusses the formation of planets in a system? Fascinating. All the trillions of micro-moments, permutations, collisions, creative destructions that happen in order for an actual planet to form… boggles the mind. It’s one giant game of Plinko and yet, when the dust settles, literally, something gorgeous has been created.

While the pundits will certainly discuss Russell’s houdinability on our only TD of the game, something will get overlooked. As the story of P-Rich’s bone popping through his skin, getting it sewn up like Gordy Howe, and getting back out there to haul in the game winning catch grabs bylines, the formation of the planet will have been overlooked.

This play is insane for many reasons. Watch it as many times as you’d like… I’ll wait.

Russell Wilson somehow finds Paul Richardson for a TD! Seahawks lead 12-9 after Blair Walsh missed the XP. http://pic.twitter.com/AEj5atkm7h

— NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) September 17, 2017

  First… Odhiambo AND Glowinski just fail and fail completely. This should have been a sack and a tie game at 9. Both players failed in such unison that the 2 cosmic rocks that were 49er defenders collide with one another, creating a sliver of salvation for the slippery Wilson to sneak through. He does Russell things and like a fine Knight on the warboard of chess, he moves up 2 spaces, over three and captures 6 with a dime thrown to #10. This play is why we he wins and wins and wins…

Watch it again. There is only one reason Wilson has any chance to escape up the pocket and to his left and that’s because Ifedi does a masterful job on this TD play from start to 6. Germain first executes a perfect RT pocket-creating block, heck if anyone else did their jobs on the line, this woulda been a picture perfect pocket. But planets aren’t formed quite that way.

As Wilson starts to move up, Ifedi is beat for a nano-second as his left leg gives out and he’s down on one knee still blocking the enemy. He muscles back up to two feet, stays engaged with the block and then finishes with just enough ooooomph giving Russ a chance to break left, allowing him to throw the pass.

We kill the O-line all the time. In this play where everyone’s discussing Russ' magic and Richardson’s catch after having his finger sewn back up (thatta a boy P-Rich!!!) … it’s smart to realize that for a planet to form, you need it ALL to go right.

Great job #76 … keep making this side of the ledger would ya!

  OUT – Rhythm is Gonna Get Ya

As previously mentioned, my wife and I celebrated our 12-year anniversary on Sunday… she’s a fitness trainer and she’ll routinely – with proper cause – get on me about ‘my pace’… I like to meander, saunter… perhaps even mosey. Well, fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life son and for our ‘Hawks, slow, plodding, and predictable is NO WAY to go through running this offense.

As Brandan and Adam routinely discuss on the pod, our offense seems to function much, much better – like actually work as a unit – when we go up tempo. Adam’s refers to this as … ‘calling the good plays’…  A few things are evident when we go up tempo and call the good plays!

Our explosive plays go up, mainly because it becomes more backyard ball and our QB is the best improviser in the sport

Russ gets chunks of yards on the ground, including chain-movers

It leads to better success through the air as a result of the non-predictability of it all

So let’s see. We run the ball better overall. We move the chains much more often… and it results most often in points.

Yeah… let’s not do this!!!

Pete, Bevell, anyone with influence in this inner circle… pick-up your friggin’ pace.

  IN – Early, Often, Rhymes with Rocket

Wooooooooh… Tyler Lockett is good at professional football eh?

To see him back, at full speed, and dominating his position for an entire half was huge. We were dropped balls – and not by Lockett – away from this being an early blow out. Lockett did all he could to set us up for success.

The thing that is most impressive to me when you watch Lockett execute mid-range routes is just how open he tends to be. He’s so quick down field that his speed is respected and then his route running prowess takes over and he’s got 3 yards of separation on an out or curl.

While our offense decided to take a nap during the 3rd quarter – always fun! – it was Lockett’s early snags that got us out in front, and who had the first reception of what would be our game-winning drive? Rhymes with Rocket.

Lockett is back to his rookie form when he was un-hampered by any nagging knees. Lockett at full speed + our offense at full speed (at some point)… expect big things Flock!!!

  OUT – Mamma Dropsies

NOTE – not my wife and I, that's actually Coolio

  We may as well let the wifey storytelling continue… In our cupboard, we used to have these oversized, lavender colored plastic cups that could hold probably 30 oz. They were just kinda silly and cumbersome. This was the wifey’s cup o’ choice for a good 2 to 3 years and at least once a month she’d spill this thing… and every single time my response was:

“Oh boy Mamma Dropsies did it again!!!”

She finally stopped using that stupid cup.

I didn’t care when Karen got cut. I didn’t mind seeing Kearse go, considering who we got in return.

I know it was raining, but watching Prosise n’ McEvoy drop TDs and first downs made us all cringe didn’t it? Prosise is supposed to be our sure-handed receiving back and with Kearse gone, I was hoping for more red zone looks for our trio of receivers who pretty much catch ‘em all.

This OUT was just too obvious to drop. Come on roll players #DoBetter!!!

  IN – My Brother’s Keeper

There was an incredible moment in this game that took place in-between whistles and it fired me up more than anything else this season thus far!!!

After the Wagner pick, subsequent fumble, then recovery by Big Perm Big Sherm … this beautiful moment happened.

Another 49ers drive. Another #Seahawks stop. #GoHawks http://pic.twitter.com/UBgR5r4I2d

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) September 17, 2017

  Now you might be thinking Earl is there to simply congratulate Bobby… but watch the video below. Misa thinks Earl had a different message for #54, judge for yourself:

For the 2nd year in a row, Bobby Wagner gets a pick at home vs the 49ers. #SFvsSEA #TurtlePower http://pic.twitter.com/d9cJUJkup8

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) September 18, 2017

  … and exhibit B:

I am my brothers keeper. https://t.co/Ny4jrGLypD

— Earl Thomas (@Earl_Thomas) September 18, 2017

  We’re certain Earl was there to partially congratulate Bobby – who made one heckuva play – but we’re also certain Earl was there to remind Bobby, that ball is ours.

  OUT – Don’t Do it ‘Quill !!!

Penalties. So often in today’s NFL, ticky-tacky touches cause the tug on those tiny yellow towels. As much as we all love this game, it becomes hard to watch when refs take it upon themselves to determine the outcomes.

Those situations stink, but there’s actually another that’s harder to swallow. When you as an observer, at home, with pizza in one hand, and some bubbling beverage in the other have time to scream at the television… “Don’t do it Quill!!!” … and well, he does it… it’s actually worse.

4:59 left in the game.

We are leading 12 – 9, and forced the 49ers to punt it back to us after solid tackles by Reed, Lane, and KJ respectively.

Lockett fields the punt at our own 22 as Shaq Griffin stares down, sizes up, and then decides to block a 49er SQUARELY in the swell of his back. This was just unreal.

I wasn’t alone in my shock:

  Very thankfully, this penalty didn’t come back to hurt us. Another IN could easily have been the 4th quarter holes our O-line eventually created and of course the clock-chewing Chris Carson work he put in, assuring we were taking that aforementioned Victory Formation.

But Shaq… Quill … Boobie … you can’t do that again man. You’re a promising pup and us 12s dig ya! Don’t be on this side of the ledger for something so dumb again!

  From the Flock

We had a lot of fun this week on the Sea Hawkers Ring of Honor, on the Sea Hawkers Podcast fanpage on Facebook, and on Twitter during the game. Here are some of the INs and OUTs from you, the Flockers!

  The UK Seahawkers didn’t like Wilson living the ‘High Life’:

Overthrow after Overthrow after Overthrow

— UK Seahawkers (@SeahawkersUK) September 17, 2017

  The snark was strong from Flocktimus Prime:

I'd say the run game is an #out but there is no run game. @clintonbon #3i3o #Seahawks

— Keith Ketover (@FlocktimusPrime) September 17, 2017

  And finally the Sea Hawkers Podcast used facts, logic, and reason to make us all feel better.

IN: Doubled our first half scoring output from last week #3i3o

— Sea Hawkers Podcast (@SeaHawkersPod) September 17, 2017

  1,2, 3 … What’s Next!!!???

It’s the first Mamma Cleo sighting of the year Flock!!!

She’s gazing deep into some sexy deep crystal balls… what does she see???

A squeaker that is sweet Music City to our ears.

Seahawks 22 – Titans 18

#GoHawks

  We are ALWAYS interested in your opinions, your nooks, your crannies and your INs and OUTs of each game, so let's hear it Flock!!!

Go ‘Hawks!!!

Listen to THE best Seahawks podcast out there 12's – The Sea Hawkers Podcast!!! – Do it!

iTunes here

Android here

  via The Sea Hawkers Podcast http://ift.tt/2ww57Ry

[junker-town]

Our 9 favorite left-handed players to ever play in the NBA

Who’s your all-time favorite player who shot the ball left-handed?

Sunday was International Left-handers Day, because it just being Sunday would have been entirely too predictable. It made us wonder: who are the best left-handed players in NBA history?

Left-handedness in the NBA hits a happy medium for professional sports. On one extreme, there’s baseball, a sport where decisions and lineups are made based on a player’s handedness. On the other is football, where you’ll never know which hand is the dominant one for any position but quarterback. In basketball, left-handedness has a meaningful effect on the game itself, but it also mostly manifests itself aesthetically. Something about a left-handed jump shot seems beautiful, perhaps just because we don’t see it as often.

We went through and identified about nine players who are the best left-handers through the league’s history, albeit with some important qualifications.

The best left-hander, straight up: Bill Russell

The undisputed top left-handed has to be the 11-time champion and iconic Hall of Famer. Russell rarely, if ever, took jump shots.

The best left-hander for 90’s nostalgia: Toni Kukoc

That is 3x NBA Champion Toni Kukoc to you. Member of the 72-10 Chicago Bulls. A Croatian basketball star who was one of the first European players to really establish themselves in the NBA. A guy who could play any position, really. May we never forget the impact of this lefty in basketball history.

Best left-hander who wasn’t really a lefty: Larry Bird

Hello. We don’t talk enough about how Larry Bird had perhaps the most savage, ruthless, I-don’t-give-an-eff sports performance in history. One game, bored by his normal right-handed shooting, Bird decided to go an entire game shooting only with his left-hand.

He scored 47 points.

That’s just dumb.

The best left-handed Sixth Man ever: Lamar Odom

Lamar Odom was one of the most exciting part of the Lakers back-to-back title runs in 2009 and 2010. The year he finally won actual 6th Man of the Year, he averaged 14.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and three assists per game. He also shot 53 percent from the floor while being a 6’10 big man that could pass like a point guard. One of the original point forwards of the game before it became commonplace today. He was such a joy to watch on the court.

Best Left-Hander under six feet tall - Isaiah Thomas

No one can scare the 5’9 Isaiah Thomas on the basketball court. After being drafted 60th in the 2011 NBA draft, and doubted by the Suns and Kings, he finally found a home in Boston and it’s the perfect spot for him. He is constantly embarrassing players that are taller than him and that isn’t going to end anytime soon. He’s the King of the Fourth Quarter in the most unconventional way. Left handed and 5’9.

The best left-hander that I (Whitney Medworth) love: CJ Miles

I am the leader of the C.J. Miles fan club and it’s the most excited I get about anything in the NBA these days. CJ is one of those players that gets traded onto your team in a random summer and you don’t give him much thought until he’s suddenly your favorite player in the league. On the court, he’s a sharp shooter who is money from the three-point line if a team ever would ever him proper minutes or put him in the right situations. Off the court, he and his wife have two dogs named Shaq and Penny. He’s also easily one of the best locker room interviews in the league today. 3J forever.

#NationalDogDay #ShaqAndPennyGotBackTogether

A post shared by Cj Miles (@masfresco) on Aug 26, 2015 at 5:13pm PDT

Sorry, I can’t stop showing off how good Shaq and Penny are.

Merry Christmas ya filthy animals from my family to yours ❤ . . . : @thesinersphotography

A post shared by Lauren Miles (@iamlaurenmiles) on Dec 25, 2016 at 8:28am PST

The best left-hander that I (Tim Cato) hate: Manu Ginobili

I actually love Manu. More than maybe anyone else on this list, he embodies left-handedness. Everything about his game centered around his shooting arm — his blink-and-you-miss-it release and his downward tilts towards the rim that always, inevitably ended up going left, even when everyone in the building knew that’s where Ginobili wanted to go. But as a Mavericks fan in the past decade, it’s a mandate that I hate — “hate” — Ginobili for all the times he buried Dallas with clutch jumpers and unbelievable shots.

The best left-hander whose career was cut way too short: Michael Redd

We might talk about Michael Redd the same way we talk about Ray Allen if it wasn’t for the injuries. The sweet-shootin’ left-hander was on the same career path for a while, only to see a twice-torn ACL and MCL end his career prematurely. But while Redd did hit more than 1,000 threes in his abruptly shortened career, the dude was gifted in so many other ways. Here he was at his peak.

Honorable mention: Chris Bosh, who probably won’t ever play in the NBA again even though he’s only 33. Still, he had a Hall of Fame career and will be honored for that.

The most fun left-hander ever: Nick Van Exel

I will not accept arguments for anyone else. Nick The Quick was a Swaggy P and J.R Smith combination for the early 2000s, and he was wonderful.

Other notable left-handers in NBA history, if that’s what you’re looking for

David Robinson, Chris Mullin, Bob Lanier, Tiny Archibald, Artis Gilmore, James Harden, Lenny Wilkens, Willis Reed, Tayshaun Prince, Zach Randolph, Jalen Rose, Mike Conley, David Lee, Gail Goodrich, Brandon Jennings, Anthony Mason, Derek Fisher

[robertmcangusgroup]

The Daily Tulip

The Daily Tulip – International News From Around The World

Thursday 23rd March 2017

Good Morning Gentle Reader… Lots of thick clouds cover the town of Estepona where I live this morning, and we have a promise of rain this afternoon by the weather office on my phone, funny how we have become so reliant on this device we keep in our bag or pocket depending on your gender… read the news, read Facebook, I expect some of you are reading The Daily Tulip as we speak on your “Smart Phone” ..it tells us the time, tells where we are when were lost, tells us the weather, tells us the news, and believe it or not we can even make calls on it… I hate the Dam Thing! I pick my wife up from work, she’s texting her sisters, she’s texting a colleague at the clinic, she’s texting to the university about a course she’s doing, I get home, both son and daughter are holding their phones texting… have we lost the ability to speak or does it have to be discussed via a text?.. here endeath the rant…..

LONDON ATTACK: FOUR DEAD IN WESTMINSTER TERROR INCIDENT…. Four people, including an armed police officer and a man believed to be the attacker, have died in a terrorist incident near the UK's Houses of Parliament, Scotland Yard has said. One of the victims was among several pedestrians hit by a car on Westminster Bridge, before it crashed. An officer protecting Parliament was stabbed by an attacker, who was shot by police. At least 20 people were injured, including three other officers. Acting Deputy Commissioner and head of counter terrorism at the Metropolitan Police, Mark Rowley, said a major terrorist investigation was under way. He said the attack started shortly before 15:00 GMT when the car was driven over Westminster Bridge, hitting and injuring a number of members of the public and the three police officers, who were on their way back from a commendation ceremony. Mr Rowley said after the car crashed, a man armed with the knife "continued the attack and tried to enter Parliament". Witnesses say there was what appeared to be a warning shout and then the crack of three or four shots before the attacker fell to the floor. Foreign Office minister Tobias Ellwood - a former Army officer whose brother died in the Bali terrorist bombing in 2002 - attempted mouth-to-mouth resuscitation of an injured police officer. Prime Minister Theresa May is to chair a meeting of the government's emergency Cobra committee later. Speaking ahead of the meeting, a Downing Street spokesman said: "The thoughts of the PM and the government are with those killed and injured in this appalling incident, and with their families." Metropolitan Police Federation chairman Ken Marsh said: "We offer our deepest sympathy to the family of the officer who has died. This incident shows the dangers our colleagues face on a daily basis." The French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said three French school pupils were among the injured and offered "solidarity with our British friends, and full support" for the wounded students and their families. The Port of London Authority said a woman has been pulled alive from the River Thames near the bridge and was being treated for serious injuries.

SHAQ JOINS KYRIE IRVING IN FLAT-EARTH THEORY…. Apparently science is losing ground around the world of sports. Coming to the defense of NBA star Kyrie Irving, who last month stated against all evidence that the Earth is flat, Shaquille O’Neal has become the fourth basketball player to fly the physics-defying flag. Shaq declared on his podcast, “It’s true. The Earth is flat.” He cited as evidence an impressive string of non sequiturs including Christopher Columbus, long distance drives, building angles, China and “all that stuff about gravity.” For the record, the Earth is not flat.

ALMOST HALF OF CANADIANS WANT REFUGEES ILLEGALLY CROSSING INTO CANADA DEPORTED…. Nearly half of Canadians want to deport people who are illegally crossing into Canada from the United States, and a similar number disapprove of how Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is handling the influx, according to a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released on Monday. A significant minority, four out of 10 respondents, said the border crossers could make Canada “less safe,” underlining the potential political risk for Trudeau’s Liberal government.

YOUNG WOMEN’S PUBIC HAIR GROOMING PRACTICES ‘CONCERNING’ TO DOCTORS…. For many young women, getting their pubic hair ripped out has become a monthly (and often costly) ritual. According to a new study published this week in JAMA Dermatology, 83 per cent of over 3,300 women surveyed across America do some form of personal grooming. The practice appears to be most common among white and college-educated women between the ages of 18 to 34. What’s troubling for lead author and gynecologist Tami Rowen is how early some girls start the habit. “I just saw a 14-year-old this morning who’s not sexually active… [already] grooming.” She doesn’t typically see a lot of teens, but her colleagues who do say, “this is very regular.” It’s partly what made her want to do this study. Her other worry is why women choose to go bare down there. Nearly a third of those surveyed believe grooming makes their genitals “more attractive,” while 21 per cent admit they do it for their partner. A whopping 60 per cent of them claim they do it for “hygienic reasons.” “I think the idea that women think that this is somehow hygienic is pretty concerning,” said Rowen. “Because I don’t think there’s any medical reason to believe that.” Aside from reducing the risk of pubic lice (aka “crabs”), Rowen explained that getting rid of pubic hair can actually lead to a whole host of problems, including lacerations, burns, allergic reactions and abscesses.

ARKANSAS TO EXECUTE 8 PEOPLE IN 10 DAYS, SLAMMED FOR ‘KILLING SPREE’ BY ACLU… The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is taking the state of Arkansas to task for its unprecedented plan to execute eight inmates in 10 days between April 17 and 27. Arkansas hasn’t put an inmate to death since 2005 due to roadblocks in procuring lethal injection drugs after a sales ban by major pharmaceutical makers. But last week, a state corrections spokesman said authorities had procured a new supply of the controversial drug midazolam, allowing for the executions to go ahead. Midazolam is intended to render the inmate unconscious before two other chemicals are administered to paralyze the lungs and stop the heart. But death penalty opponents say the drug is ineffective and causes undue pain and suffering. “By racing to use a drug known to play a part in botched executions, the governor risks debasing the state of Arkansas, its citizens, and the very American traditions of justice by torturing prisoners to death,” ACLU attorney Brian Stull wrote in a blog post. Stull cited the botched execution of Arizona man Joseph Wood who, after being given 15 doses of a lethal drug cocktail that included midazolam, gulped and snorted for nearly two hours before dying. He also noted the case of an Alabama man who remained conscious and responsive several minutes into his execution last December. The suffering caused to inmates by midazolam could be further compounded by human error as a result of a packed execution schedule, Stull wrote, with two inmates slated to be executed on each of April 17, 20, 24 and 27. Only on one occasion has a state attempted to execute two prisoners on the same day using midazolam — and it didn’t end well. In 2014, Oklahoma authorities aborted the second of two planned executions after the first was severely botched, with victim Clayton Lockett succumbing to a heart attack after squirming and groaning for several minutes, even attempting to rise from the execution platform well after he was declared unconscious.

Well Gentle Reader I hope you enjoyed our look at the news from around the world this, Thursday morning…

Our Tulips today are for those who time on Earth was cut short ..

A Sincere Thank You for your company and Thank You for your likes and comments I love them and always try to reply, so please keep them coming, it's always good fun, As is my custom, I will go and get myself another mug of "Colombian" Coffee and wish you a safe Thursday 23rd March 2017 from my home on the southern coast of Spain, where the blue waters of the Alboran Sea washes the coast of Africa and Europe and the smell of the night blooming jasmine and Honeysuckle fills the air…and a crazy old guy and his dog Bella go out for a walk at 4:00 am…on the streets of Estepona…

All good stuff....But remember it’s a dangerous world we live in ….. Be safe out there…

Robert McAngus

[type2diabetestreatments-blog]

One Guy's Perspective on Portable Glucose Options

New Post has been published on http://type2diabetestreatment.net/diabetes-mellitus/one-guys-perspective-on-portable-glucose-options/

One Guy's Perspective on Portable Glucose Options

Since a low blood sugar can hit unexpectedly at any time, we insulin-dependents know that it's imperative to have some quick-acting sugar on hand just in case.

For me, lows have often been known to hit when I am in the middle of something that doesn't lend itself to a break -- especially when I'm not with my wife, who carries a large enough purse to keep my supplies on hand for quick help if needed.

As a daily newspaper reporter and then a legal reporter for many years before joining the 'Mine, I had to be quick on my feet and often found myself going low while out on assignment or sitting in a courtroom trying to comprehend complex legal arguments.

Glucose tabs have always been a favorite of mine because they are quick and easy to consume. (My wife has had to remind me they aren't candy, too, because I'm that fond of eating them...)

The trouble is, as a guy, I struggle with "portable" glucose options. I don't like toting bags or extra items along with me. And let's face it: a tube of 10 tabs or yet bulkier items aren't the most discreet for any man, especially in summer when you're not wearing a jacket and it's all going into the pants pockets.

Years ago, I used to like those individually-packaged white BD glucose tabs that were thin enough so I could toss 'em in my pocket or even my wallet. But since those were discontinued, I've been searching for a suitable replacement.

Three new options are on my radar as good choices, these days. All are fully stocked in my home, desk, car, golf bag, and places I might be at when they're needed:

LEVEL LIFE Glucose Gel

In thin and very mobile tear-open pouches, we have what is known as the LEVEL LIFE glucose gel (which we're giving away in our 2012 Holiday Sweepstakes -- just two more days to enter!)

You might know this product by another name, too.

Remember GlucoBrands and the GlucoPouch? We wrote about company founder Ethan Lewis back in August 2011, and I had fallen in love with the easy-to-open glucose packets when they hit the market.

Ethan — a fellow PWD (person with diabetes) diagnosed at age 12 back in the 90s — wasn't satisfied with the start of GlucoBrands, which launched at the July 2011 annual Children with Diabetes Friends for Life event and, at the time, had just one flavor, mandarin orange.

After reviewing the marketing and consumer feedback, Ethan decided they could use a brand refresh less than a year in.

So he changed the name to Level Foods LLC, relocated from Tampa, FL, to Denver, CO, and set up shop. The company now makes a revised glucose gel pouch available in a variety of flavors.

Ethan tells us that he didn't think about diabetes stigmas when he started his business, but that's what led to these changes.

He found many people don't like shopping in health aisles at stores or want to put D-products in their carts because it was too obvious and potentially embarrassing.

"At the end of the day, I want to be like everyone else and not be singled out because of my diabetes," he said. "I was looking for a brand that spoke to people and had no stigma attached to it, and we wanted a cool name that didn't have that gluco-aspect -- a brand devoted to me that doesn't scream, 'Hey, I have a disease!'"

So the name changed, but the product concept pretty much stayed the same. Same pouch format, although with a glossier and easier-to-tear open package. And four flavors are now available — two "crazy" choices in vanilla and caramel, and two fruity flavors because as Ethan says "we all grew up on those tabs."

Now found in thousands of Walmart stores nationwide, the mass production led to a price drop, so pouches are now selling at half the initial price, currently $2.88 for a three-pack .

In fact, LEVEL LIFE is even creating a new flavor with the help of the DOC... on World Diabetes Day, the company announced a contest to pick the next glucose gel flavor. You too can enter the "Fuel a Cure" campaign, which is open for flavor nominations through Feb. 13, 2013. Once the new winning flavor hits the shelves, $1 of every pouch sale will be donated to the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and JDRF. Any fans of the company's Facebook page can submit flavor ideas there!

And Ethan says his company is in the final stages of developing a whole new line of products that go beyond treating low blood sugars. "They are super-cool, and I say that as a person with diabetes!" he told us, remaining tight-lipped about the upcoming mystery product that will soon debut in 2013. "We are not just focused on lows, but managing blood sugars," he says.

If the new line of D-products is anything like this glucose gel, I expect to be a fan.

My assessment of the glucose gel:

Taste: The new flavors are good, but not too overpowering (like the previous GlucoPouch flavor of Mandarin Orange, which made me gag instantly - the new one does not!)

Portability: The thin and light package is easy to transport pretty much anywhere, in briefcases, golf bags, pants pockets to suit coats or outside jackets. And not long ago when I sat down with the pouch in my back pocket, I was happily surprised to see it hadn't exploded in a messy goo!

Ease of Opening (key during an actual hypo): There's no clear plastic seal that makes it extra difficult to access when you're low, so that's a rare bonus! The pouch top comes off with a quick tear, and the gel inside comes out pretty easily when you squeeze it like a push-up pop. A little remained in the package, but a toothpaste rolling effect made sure I got all 15 grams without missing any left inside.

Really, I love this glucose gel, am hard-pressed to find anything not to like about it. Would recommend it to any PWD.

QuickSticks

It's an over-sized Pixy Stick full of flavorful blood-sugar-boosting goodness? Who wouldn't like that?

That is what QuickSticks is all about. The Dallas, TX, company (owned by QS Holdings) makes these fast-acting sugar sticks as the latest options for PWDs, designed as little packets of gluten-free (!) dextrose that look and feel like the traditional Pixy Stick! They come in watermelon and sour apple flavors, and they're very easy to open and consume. Each packet contains 10 grams of carbs.

Word of warning, though: be careful how you open the packet, as an entire mouthful of either flavor is a little too much all at once...

They can be found in retailer stores like Walgreens, Walmart, Costco and Kroger (among others), and even are available online via Amazon.com for $4.25 for a box of a dozen sticks.

In November, QS Holdings teamed up with basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal to help raise awareness about diabetes and promote their product. Shaq has family members living with diabetes, news reported, and as part of the campaign he's doing national media appearances and educational videos.

"My goal with Quick Sticks is to provide a safe, fun and effective product, as well as inform people of the benefits of utilizing resources like Certified Diabetes Educators, the American Diabetes Association and the JDRF," Shaq said in a statement back in November.

That's cool, except we're left wondering why PWDs can't just buy real Pixy Sticks, which sell on Amazon for about $2.30 for 10-count. Hmm...

GlucoLift

Another new quick-acting glucose option, the GlucoLift tabs have a certain appeal for those looking for the all-natural glucose tab variety. Gluten-free, these tabs are flavored naturally with cherries, berries, and orange and cream in the respective varieties and have no artificial dyes or chemicals.

We wrote about this company back in 2011 and its awesome founder Chris Angell, a fellow PWD who was initially misdiagnosed with type 2 at age 30 before learning he had type 1.

These alternative tabs have become quite popular, gaining the first-ever product seal of approval from diabetes conference group TCOYD. Also, a percentage of the profits goes toward athletic group InsulinDependence and its "1% for the Planet" campaign.

Taste: Some say this product doesn't feel chalky like traditional glucose tabs, but that doesn't really phase me, because I like them all and think they can double-up as candy-like treats. Yum.

Portability/Packaging: To me, the jars and tubes are just like any other brand of glucose tab out there. But what I really like is the portable little sample baggies they offer that have a pair of tabs inside. I can grab two or three of these and be on my way! Very guy-friendly, GlucoLift!

And the price is reasonable, too: The sample packs are actually not for resale and are just that (a sample), but I can buy a jar of 40 orange cream tabs for $8.99 online and then just restock my little baggies as often needed, while keeping the larger jar in my car or desk drawer.

These are just three of the many gluco-products out there on the market for us PWDs. What others have you tried?

Which do you all prefer, and how do you handle the portability if you're not up for carrying a purse or bag around? (Ladies - does this ever apply to you as well)?

Disclaimer: Content created by the Diabetes Mine team. For more details click here.

Disclaimer

This content is created for Diabetes Mine, a consumer health blog focused on the diabetes community. The content is not medically reviewed and doesn't adhere to Healthline's editorial guidelines. For more information about Healthline's partnership with Diabetes Mine, please click here.

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