#vega nation we stay winning

[hammerhead-jpg]

Oops guys srry

[youkissedareaderinthedark]

The Scare

Synopsis: A terrifying crash puts Y/n in an even more terrifying situation, and it affects everyone, in the end.

young female driver x 2023 F1 Grid

A/N: for this one, valtteri is retired and reader has taken his seat at alfa romeo

also, @badassturtle13 you requested a fic like this a month or two ago while i was in my writers block-era, but if you remember your ask and would still like to read it, here it is

You knew the risk. All twenty of you did. That’s how yet got into these cars every weekend. But that doesn’t make it any easier when you actually face the risks.

You weren’t the biggest fan of the Las Vegas Grand Prix from the start. You knew the planning for it was rough, and that there were a lot of elements of the weekend that everybody was unsure of.

You weren’t exactly surprised when the reasoning behind the storm drain incident was released after Free Practice 1, or when race directors revealed they didn’t even look at the predicted weather for this weekend.

But there wasn’t much you could do about either, about any of it really, so you put your head down and focused on your car.

You joined Alfa Romeo as the third rookie of the 2023 season, and although you and Zhou weren’t getting wins and podiums each weekend, you finished in the points nearly every race, and helped bring your team up to 8th in the Constructors Championship.

As of the second to last race, you were having a good first season; you and Zhou got along great, your team trusted you, and you liked getting to know and hanging out with the rest of the grid. Specifically, your closest friends Logan and Oscar, who you were walking with in the paddock before Sunday’s race.

“Is it bad that I’m not excited for the race?” Oscar asks from the middle of you three, as you walk down the grid.

“I don’t blame you, I wouldn’t want to start P17 either” You admit.

“You’re gonna be fine Oscar, you’ve made your way up the field before, you’ll do it again” Logan shrugs, assuring him.

Oscar nods as you speak up with the beginning of a smirk on your face. “When you make it up the field and into the points, along with me and Logan, what are we doing to celebrate?”

“No. No, we have-” Oscar’s already shaking his head as Logan laughs. “I know some of the grid is going to a club a few blocks away, you guys wanna go?”

“Yes,” You rush to say after you see Oscar start to protest. “we’ll go. No objections”

“We have flights tomorrow-” You interrupt the Australian. “I don’t care, we should all go. And I have to leave now so you can’t say no” You point out as you near the Alfa Romeo garage. Oscar rolls his eyes playfully as Logan continues to laugh.

“Good luck Y/n, see you after the race” Logan says, still chuckling as Oscar waves and continues down the paddock with the American by his side.

You greet Zhou as you walk towards your drivers room to meet with your trainer. The last 20 minutes you have before you’re needed on the track is spent doing reflex tests and speaking with the strategists one last time.

You leave the garage to stand for the national anthem after a brief Grid Walk interview with Martin, and quickly return for the formation lap.

“Alright Y/n,” Your team principle, Alessandro, comes over your radio as you’re pulling out into the pit lane. “do your best to maintain P7 or higher, just be aware of the tires. Stay safe, good luck”

“Thanks, will do. See you at the finish line” You reply before flipping down your visor and accelerating onto the track.

“Ladies and gentlemen, it’s a cold night here in Las Vegas, but the city is awake and ready to watch the last U.S race of the 2023 season. Our drivers are approaching the starting line, the five lights are coming on, and it’s light’s out and away we go!”

You manage to pull away from Magnussen behind you and advance closer to Logan in front of you as you near Turn 1. You get through the first and second lap fine, until your race engineers Alex, informs you that Lando’s crashed during Lap 3, and the 19 drivers remaining are being led by the safety car until Lap 7.

You think your race will be uneventful past that point until you notice the reluctance in the car’s breaking during Lap 19. “There’s something wrong with my brakes, it’s getting hard to slow down” You radio concerned, back to your team.

“Stand by Y/n, we’re checking” Alex tells you as you approach Turn 1 on the next lap. After a few moments without an update, you radio again.

“Anything? It’s getting bad, I can’t slow down” Your voice shows your clear concern. It’s clear to everyone that you’re getting more and more distressed each minute.

“One moment, Y/n, we’re trying” The engineer becomes audible again, and you get that everyone in the garage is trying, but right now it’s not enough.

You’re going at 150 miles an hour down the straight after Turn 4, and you could practically hear your heart beating nervously as you approach Turn 6.

You press on the brake pedal. Nothing. You try to release your hold on the accelerator pedal and clutch on your steering wheel. Nothing.

You go through the options in your head;

Turn and crash purposefully now to slow your car down? There are drivers less than a second behind you, the straight isn’t that wide, they could get hurt.

Turn and hit the curb as you pass the corner to slow down? There are drivers less than a second behind you, the corner isn’t that wide, they could get hurt. You could get hurt

Your adrenaline is pumping, thoughts are flying through your head at a million miles per second, and you don’t know what to do.

You’re going 150 miles an hour down a straight, but now the corner is coming closer.

“I can’t fucking stop! Alex!” You’re pressing the radio button frantically, hoping someone, anyone responds.

Nothing.

It all goes by in a flash.

Turn 6 comes at you faster than you imagined. Your Alfa Romeo crashes front-wing first into the barriers, the momentum of a 150 mile-per-hour car so strong, not even your harness can stop your body from colliding into your steering wheel.

Everything goes white for a moment, all you could hear is a deafening ringing in your ears, and then the only thing you could feel is pain.

The hurt in your chest is intolerable. You think you’re screaming. There’s smoke or clouds of dust or something else you can’t begin to decipher in the air surrounding you. You could feel the vibrations of the track from the passing cars below you, but you don’t bother to move your head up from where it rests on top of your wheel.

If the ringing wasn’t so loud, you might’ve been able to hear three of your ribs on the right side of your chest break when you first made impact with the wheel. If the pain wasn’t so unbearable, you might’ve been able to notice how because three of your ribs on the right side of your chest are broken, your lungs can barely produce oxygen for you to breathe.

It’s only when you try to gasp for air against the tears running down your face do you notice. The second you try, it sends streaks of pain overflowing throughout your body. Then you realize. You can’t breathe.

You want to stay calm, you really do, but you’re crying so much you could feel them soaking your balaclava, you’re scared to the point that your hands are shaking uncontrollably, there’s still so much adrenaline in you, and you can’t breathe.

You try to radio your team to tell them to send medics or just do something to help, but when you open your mouth to speak, the same thing happens as when you tried to radio for help earlier.

Nothing.

You’re stuck in your crashed car, without a voice, without a breath, and you think this is it.

It feels like hours, but really, it’s only been about a minute since you’ve crashed. Every grand stand is silent, and Martin Brundle and David Croft are speechless. Alex is trying to communicate with you while the other engineers attempt to figure out the the state of your car. Drivers are being led by the safety car under a red flag, anxiously talking to their own engineers to find out if you’re okay. And finally, the safety marshals and medical staff have made their way onto the track and to your car.

The marshals repeatedly shout to you for a sign of responsiveness while the medics move to pull you out of the car. Everyone else is either running in and out of the ambulance that’s just arrived, or helping place a curtain around you for privacy.

The medics transfer you onto a gurney on the ground while the lead medic assess you. She’s pulled off your helmet and balaclava and is left staring at your pale face, alarmed eyes, and gasping mouth.

A few touches to your pulse and lungs confirm her suspicion, and the woman quickly asserts her team. “She has flail chest, she needs an oxygen machine and an IV for pain meds. Her ribs are broken on the right side of her lungs, she’s been barely breathing”

The materials asked for are provided in seconds, and within a few moments, an oxygen mask is placed around your face, and the skin in your left forearm is being pierced with a needle.

For the first time since you started Lap 19, you’ve found both your voice and your breath, the pain striking through your body isn’t as severe anymore, and your nerves have calmed down.

The lead medic hovering over you notices your less-tense state, and lets out her own breath. “You okay kid?” With an oxygen mask, 3 broken ribs, and an IV in your arm, you nod with small smile of relief on your face.

The medics let you stay laying down on the gurney, and transfer you into the waiting ambulance to get you to the nearest hospital. The safety marshals update the Alfa Romeo garage on your state of health, and your damaged car gets moved off the track. Once informed themselves of the situation, Crofty and Martin advise the anxious and waiting fans of your condition and when the race will resume.

The 18 drivers that were restlessly sat in their garages are now visibly relieved and preparing for the race start. The engineers on your side of the garage are pouring over the data from Lap 19 to figure out where it all went wrong, while your trainer leaves to go meet you at the hospital.

While you’re in the hospital, you get hooked up to a new IV and get assessed by a nurse before a doctor comes in to take your X-rays. The results show your 3 broken ribs and the few bruises on your lungs that are set to heal within a week or two.

You’re put on a ventilator to help your breathing after the doctor tells you that you had to stay in the hospital for at least 3 days, and you’d miss the last race of the season as a precaution.

You also undergo surgery hours later to stabilize the broken ribs, and ensure you’re not internally bleeding. Because of all the anesthesia and pain medicine, your either asleep or painless for your first night in the hospital.

The next day is when you’re brought into the real world again, and your trainer tells you everything you missed. He tells you Lando, who you learn was in the room a few doors down when you came in, visited you after your surgery and wished you to get better soon. He tells you about the rest of the race and everything the rest of the drivers have said about you and your crash.

You talk to your team eventually and convince them to let you travel to Abu Dhabi on Saturday to at least watch the race from the garage. You talk to your parents and friends to inform them that your lungs are healing accordingly, that you’re off the ventilator, and have been breathing fine by Thursday.

You’re discharged from the hospital Friday night, and only stop at your hotel to collect your things before catching a flight to Abu Dhabi. You told Logan and Oscar you’d be arriving Sunday morning, which explains why they’re so surprised when you show up in the paddock after Qualifying Saturday night.

“It’s not the best place to start from but-” Logan spots you first, in the middle of a conversation with Oscar. “Oh my god” Is all he mutters before running up to bring you into a hug. You’re smiling, almost laughing at his reaction, until you hear what the American says.

“Don’t do that again. I thought you-” You notice his voice break, and you’re once again aware of what everyone else was feeling while you were breathless inside your car almost a week ago.

“I won’t Logan, I’m okay now” You assure him as best you can before Oscar comes over to both of you. Logan lets go momentarily while the McLaren driver hugs you.

“We were all really scared, y’know. We didn’t know,” He pauses, his voice catches before he’s speaking into your shoulder again. “we didn’t know if you were okay”

“I know Oscar, I’m here though, I’m okay” You know you can’t say much in sympathy to either of the drivers right now, you’ll never exactly know the anxiety and worry they felt on Sunday, but you do tell them about your time in the hospital and how you’re expected to make a full recovery in time for next season.

“I wish you were driving today though, you should be in your car for the last race” Oscar says as the three of you walk through the paddock together.

“I know, I want to drive too, but at the same time, I’m kind of glad I’m not driving until next season. I want to let my lungs rest and everything before I get in my car again” You say with a shrug.

You were being truthful; you weren’t afraid of crashing again, you actually couldn’t wait to drive your Alfa Romeo, but you heard all the possible long term affects of rib and lung damage, and you’d rather miss out on one race than your entire F1 career.

“I’m just glad you’re okay” Logan admits as Oscar nods.

“Yeah, me too”

a short, somewhat emotional f1 fic. 1 down, 3 to go

[fearsmagazine]

SAW THE MUSICAL: THE UNAUTHORIZED PARODY OF SAW Extends Off-Broadway and Announces National Tour.

After an astonishing New York run this Fall, SAW The Musical The Unauthorized Parody of Saw has extended its run Off-Broadway at AMT Theatre (345 West 45th Street) through Jun 23, 2024. It will also kick off a national tour in LA with a six-week run beginning Feb 29 at the Hudson Theatres Mainstage (6539 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90038 in Hollywood) SAW The Musical: The Unauthorized Parody began performances Off-Broadway on Sept 16, 2023, with its New York Opening Night on Sunday, Oct 1, 2023, and was called "Hilariously Absurd" by NPR. The run is extended through Jun 23, 2024, in Midtown's Theater District.

Danny Durr as Gordon and Jill Owen

The National Tour stops include Los Angeles, CA (Hudson Theatre Mainstage, Feb 29- Apr 7, 2024 ); San Diego, CA (Tenth Ave Arts Center, April 10 – 28, 2024), Las Vegas, NV (May 1 – 5, 2024), Portland, OR (Alberta Abbey, May 15 – Jun 9, 2024), Greely, CO (Union Colony Civic Center, June 2024), Chicago, IL (Jul 26 – Aug 18, 2024). Exact dates, locations, and tickets can be purchased by visiting www.sawthemusical.com/national-tour.

One of the most thought-provoking horror films of all time now is…a musical. SAW The Musical hilariously captures the events of the first movie, parodying the Saw that started it all, following from where Lawrence Gordon and Adam Stanheight find each other for the first time in the bathroom trap. Will they follow "the rules" as they discover each other's secrets? Will they escape the game in time and saw right through? A love story with fluidity (and lots more fluids), SAW The Musical: The Unauthorized Parody of Saw is Little Shop of Horrors meets Avenue Q, pushing the boundary on sexuality and how to love. [Parental Advisory: Explicit Content]

"SAW The Musical: The Unauthorized Parody of Saw brings the iconic horror film to life on stage with a wickedly funny twist. Now is the perfect time to laugh at the macabre as we blend horror and hair-raising laughter, creating a unique musical experience that's both hilarious and thrilling. Get ready for a love story entangled in traps, secrets, and unexpected humor, pushing the boundaries of entertainment with a dash of explicit fun." Cooper Jordan, Creator, and Producer

Created by Cooper Jordan (DEX! A Killer Musical, The Rat Pack Undead), SAW The Musical has a book by Award -Winning Writer Zoe Ann Jordan (Virtuoso - NYCHFF) and music & lyrics by Patrick Spencer & Anthony De Angelis (An Axemas Story), and directed & choreographed by Tony Award Winner Stephanie Rosenberg (Easter Bunny HOP! LIVE; Co-Producer: Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Anastasia) with music direction by Leigh Pomeranz (DEX! A Killer Musical) and fight direction by Dan Renkin (All My Sons, DEX! A Killer Musical). The Musical is produced by Cooper Jordan, Saw The Musical Parody LLC, Stephanie Rosenberg, Merciful Delusions Productions, Panit Chantranuluck, June Rachelson-Ospa, and more to be announced. Cooper Jordan is the Lead Producer.

SAW The Musical: The Unauthorized Parody of Saw (New York) stars Danny Durr (National Tour: A Christmas Carol, Tony-nominated War Paint) as Gordon, Adam Parbhoo (NY: Home's Kitchen) as Adam, Gabrielle Goodman (NY: Open, Stay) as Amanda/Alli/Jigsaw and Voiceover for Detective Tapp is by the late Donnell Johnson, with Swings & Understudies; Andrew Caira (New York: The Importance of Being Earnestly LGBTQ+, Regional/Tour: Atlantic City Blues Brothers), Patrick Voss Davis (Film: Lucky Louie. Regional: Newsies), James Lynch (New York: Baby Powder), Thomas Skea (Film: Out of Water), Morgan Traud (Regional: Mame), Jessica Morilak ("A Sketch of New York") and Keaton Barry. SAW The Musical's National Tour Casts will be announced in 2024.

For an updated schedule, National Tour tickets or to purchase tickets, please visit SawtheMusical.com.

[danwhobrowses]

One Piece Chapter 1112 - Initial Thoughts

3 Long Long Weeks

But finally we have returned, One Piece is back and the chaos resumes!

I'm glad Oda of course got to rest, but these weeks have been rough without it, so I'm eager to jump back into Egghead.

Spoilers for the Chapter, Support the Official Release too!

We continue with the Yamato-quest cover story, apparently he's asked Kin'emon for a favour and has compensated for it with payment

As the Mark IIIs get taken down, V. Nusjuro criticizes Vegapunk's decision to give Bonney 'the power to destroy nations'

Of course blind to the fact that they literally have been robbing a child of their parent and been trying to kill her, but yes poor you and your clone army will listen to their child over you

The Navy are still trying to target the Giants' ships, as we get back to the Vice Admirals confronting Bonney and Franky

Fuck yeah Franky! Bellamied that Vice Admiral Nine-Chins!

Bonney de-ages and kicks away the Shell Vice Admiral as well with ease

The transmission is still ongoing, Vegapunk has a sensitive mouth, given the tongue, so he's waiting for the coffee to cool

York leads Mars to the room where it was recorded, and Mars immediately went for the laser!

York continues to explain, stating that destroying the building is futile

We get another layout of Punk Records, sounds like it's an explosion hazard, gas cylinders that could blow Punk Records sky high

Mars suggests that York use their collective mind to figure out where Vegapunk hid the broadcaster, though York mentions something about 'sins' which Mars seems to pick up on

He also senses something in Punk Records, some decent observation haki

York details what the snail looks like and Mars flies off

In the control center, Stussy is alive and so is Kaku albeit still bubbled

I feel like it bodes poorly for her, with Lucci still moving and all, but Kaku asks whether she just got abandoned

Seems Stussy has a mission still to do, one she volunteered to stay behind for

Interesting though that Kaku didn't know it was Mars, given how Lucci did

Edison explains that Stussy is staying behind to lower the barrier

Also Robin panels! She's still in a med bed but this time she has dialogue!

The group still have concerns though how they'll get out without Vega Force 01, even though Edison says the odds are impossible

Usopp has a Coup de Burst set, but we're waiting on Zoro and Jinbe, it may come down to improvisation

Edison seems to respect that though, despite the odds and the facts he admires tenacity

And with that inspiration he leaps from the Labosphere, with a plan to get them to safety - as well as tanking the laser damage

Godspeed little fella, sorry for hoping you were a fraud at the beginning because of your namesake

Back with Luffy and their escape has been halted by Shai Halud

Ju Peter is using suction to try and bring them back in so Luffy stuffs a building in his mouth

But that's it again for Gear Fifth as he goes saggy, fortunately the Giants have food called Hákarl

Fermented Shark Meat, but it'll do, it was said to be reserve rations

Warcury's on the charge next, but is hit by a Red Roc

Luffy's hand aches from the impact though, so Warcury is very durable or has the Rough Skin ability like a Garchomp

Oh no...Saturn has climbed to the Labosphere with Nami, Robin, Brook, Lilith and Usopp

And V. Nusjuro has blocked the path ominously between Bonney, Atlas and Franky

Mars finds a transponder snail with a minute of time remaining too, it all looks dire

It looks dire, but something tells me there's a switch coming.

Saturn will likely be confronted by the returning Zoro and Jinbe, though I'd like to see Usopp, Nami and Brook put up a fight. V. Nusjuro will likely be a Sanji opponent methinks, though he's built to be a Zoro opponent I think the alternation makes sense there. Either way due to immortality the Straw Hats can't win, there has to be a secondary clutch action in order to trigger an escape, the Iron Giant is one thing probably on the ground level but perhaps whatever Edison plans is a second?

It was good to see Robin and Stussy again, and the latter actually doing something even though I'm 90% certain Lucci's gonna jump her at the worst moment. I still hope for a Kaku face turn again but we'll see, him being moved likely means the other CP agents and Seraphim could've been moved too, spared from the wreckage. Also proud that Franky one-shotted a vice admiral because yes, that should be how a Yonko crewmember would deal with it!

As for the transponder, I don't think that's where Punk put it, it's a feint, an inconspicuous decoy that will undercut the Gorosei's believed victory in the moment, pride comes before the fall after all and the narcissism on these dicks is outstanding.

Interestingly I don't know any other lingering factors that can come in clutch, unless the Grand Fleet are gonna pop out; Doll and Bluegrass are still circling the island so something will likely happen there, the Seraphim are at the mercy of the chain of command, so it's getting to the make or break part of the arc before the grand escape.

[black-arcana]

HALESTORM's LZZY HALE Explains How She Ended Up Moving To Nashville

During a recent appearance on the "Life In The Stocks" podcast, HALESTORM frontwoman Lzzy Hale spoke about her decision to relocate to Nashville, Tennessee after spending most of her living in Red Lion, Pennsylvania. Asked if Nashville is truly the music Mecca of America right now, Lzzy said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think it is. I think that there's a lot of us from like the coasts and stuff like that. And even my friends from New York, it's cheaper to have a yard here, and especially people that wanna have a family life, but also still tour. But there's so many different walks of life. That was what surprised me when I first got here a decade ago or something like that. 'Cause I came out of here kind of sight unseen. I'd kind of visited here, but it was more out of necessity. We were making, I think it was 'The Strange Case Of...' [HALESTORM's second album] or doing something in California, and all of our family that was in Pennsylvania area decided to all move to Florida. They were all in cahoots. And so, so they all kind of called us while we were stranded in California and were, like, 'Hey, we packed up all your stuff,' because truth be told, we way overstayed our welcome living with our parents, like well into as long as we could. So, we get back from making a record, and now I'm pretty much amongst my boxes in a spare room in my parents' place in Florida. I'm, like, 'We've gotta get outta here.' So, Joe [Hottinger, HALESTORM guitarist] and I ended up just renting a U-Haul and just driving from Florida to Nashville. We called our friends that were kind of already here. Actually, our buds in NEW MEDICINE were living out here. And we were, like, 'Hey, can you check out this apartment that we're looking at? Just make sure it doesn't smell funny. But we're coming to just stay here until we figure it out.' And then I got this house that I'm staying in right now about seven, six years ago, something like that. And so, yeah, just putting some roots down here."

Earlier this month, HALESTORM and I PREVAIL kicked off their summer 2024 co-headlining tour. Produced by Live Nation, the trek launched on July 9 in Raleigh and will run through August 17 in Las Vegas. HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD and FIT FOR A KING are serving as support. The tour is also the catalyst and the creative spark for HALESTORM and I PREVAIL's collaborative track "Can U See Me In The Dark?", which was released earlier in the month.

HALESTORM has partnered with mental health organization Sound Mind Live to engage fans to pledge support that will provide free-to-the-community mental health programming across the country for fans and the broader community.

Having amassed over 2.5 billion streams globally, the Grammy Award-winning band HALESTORM has grown from a childhood dream of siblings Lzzy and Arejay Hale into one of the most celebrated rock bands of the last two decades. Most recently, the band released "Back From The Dead", their fifth full-length studio album which has tallied over 100 million streams worldwide. Rolling Stone called the title track "a biting but cathartic howler about overcoming all obstacles," and that song as well as "The Steeple" marked their fifth and sixth number ones at rock radio, respectively. Associated Press said the album "will definitely be in the running for best hard rock/metal album of the year." Their previous album, "Vicious", earned the band their second Grammy nomination, for "Best Hard Rock Performance" for the song "Uncomfortable", the band's fourth #1 at rock radio, and led Loudwire to name HALESTORM "Rock Artist Of The Decade" in 2019. Fronted by Lzzy with drummer Arejay, guitarist Joe Hottinger and bass player Josh Smith, HALESTORM's music has earned multiple platinum and gold certifications from the RIAA, and the band has earned a reputation as a powerful live music force, headlining sold-out shows and topping festival bills around the world, and sharing the stage with icons including HEAVEN & HELL, Alice Cooper, Joan Jett and JUDAS PRIEST. Additionally, Lzzy was named the first female brand ambassador for Gibson and served as host of AXS TV's "A Year In Music".

[spacetravels]

the way you described Las Vegas in the tags of that orb post is honestly a little poetic. what’s your favorite part of the city?

HAHA thank you. i love my home (said in a derogatory but endeared way)

hmmm. that’s always hard to say. i like how connected everything is and how diverse this city is!! you can get all sorts of food here and participate in so much culture and meet all kinds of people… it’s hard to narrow it down to One Thing

i like downtown. fremont street does free concerts every weekend. the haunted museum is REALLY fun. every month we have art fests (first friday!! last saturday!!) and you get really involved in the local art scene. also chinatown!!! my bestie chinatown

my favorite “tourism” place is area 15. omega mart by meow wolf. i’ve been there 5 times now. it’s my favorite piece of interactive art and has a sincerely fun and well written story attached to it. i’ve discovered something new every time i’ve gone!!! i recommend it to everyone. i take everyone i can there

we also have rly good hiking. red rock. mt charleston. we’re very close to the valley of fire and zion national park!! it’s great.

also we’re all very dedicated hockey fans and being a part of this city sports culture is really something else. vgk’s inaugural season started right after the october 1 mass shooting and they had a significant impact in strengthening the community after the fact. it was through hockey that we wholly adopted #VegasSTRONG, a far different city motto from the infamous “what happens in vegas, stays in vegas” and it feels really. idk. it’s a really special thing. their 2023 stanley cup win was deeply important in ways i can’t begin to explain.

i dunno. i like the people here. everyone is kind. everyone cares. we’re a big city but i do think we’re very tight and small as a community. sometimes when we go to a residency show on the strip and the lights come on and we see people we know. sometimes at a hotel i get asked where i’m from and when i say “here!” their face lights up and we suddenly speak the same language

gotta say though as a local: i drive by the Sphere a lot. like it’s part of my evening commute when i’m forced onto the strip. i can see it from my house. one time the giant emoji turned to face the freeway while i was on my way to work on a rainy morning and i was jumpscared so bad i nearly swerved my car off

[tkachuktkaching]

Matthew Tkachuk talking on life in Florida as top destination in the NHL

You’ve had a lot of time to chill. What the hell have you been up to?I’ve been hanging out and going to the beach a lot. I’ve taken a few quick trips. One of the perks of living in Florida is you have the ocean right there. It’s super good for your body and mind to go in there—it’s pretty peaceful in there. I’ve gone out a couple times for dinner. But mostly I’m just staying quiet at the house.

Obviously, I’m using everything in the basket to try and win it all here. 

Oh, I went to the Heat game the other night! I got to see Game 6 and sat with Charles [Barkley] and Shaq for a little bit.  

How fun was it to guest on Inside the NBA and witness that legendary Charles and Shaq energy up close?

It was awesome! It all happened last minute—literally that morning I was asked if I wanted to come to the game and talk with Charles and Shaq. Hell yeah! Let’s do it. But what was really cool was talking to those guys off camera. That’s when we were really talking. Hockey, sports, golf, just talking about everything, getting to pick their brains, and learn about stuff I don’t really know about was super entertaining. 

The idea of playing hockey in Florida always has this kind of funny connotation. It’s a relatively new franchise, you’re playing in warm weather in the south, it’s a very opposite idea of what most people have in their head when they think of the NHL. But you’re making it all sound pretty great.

It’s the top destination in the NHL. When you look at it—this is my opinion, and I would say most people’s opinion—the top two destinations in the league right now are the Florida teams. Third would probably be Vegas. It’s funny how that’s who we’re playing in the Final. People probably don’t look at Florida as the biggest hockey market, but Tampa’s won all these Cups recently and been to a bunch of Finals, the Panthers had some good runs before I got here, and when you go out West, Vegas has been right there at the top. Dallas has been right there too. These warmer climate markets aren’t the same as Toronto or Montreal, but the success that everyone’s had down here is no secret.  

When I chose to come here, the number one reason was to be on a competitive team, compete for championships year over year, right behind that was the way of life. But you’re not just coming here to live the Florida life, you’re coming here to win. It’s just a perk that you get to live in Florida on top of all that. My life has changed so much since coming [to Florida]. The lifestyle has been unbelievable. The way I’m able to live down here is insane. It doesn’t get better, anywhere. Playing in the U.S., having these opportunities with people like Jimmy Butler and Charles Barkley, having way more nationally-televised games, competing for the Stanley Cup, that’s made not only myself but everyone on the team more of a name than we were before. 

Have you become a boat guy since moving to Florida?

I have not. I’ve gotten as far as a few jet skis. I’m not a boat guy. I like to go on boats, but I don’t want to drive a boat. No chance I could park it. 

Quotes from an interview Matthew did before the playoff final started Via gq.com

Photo taken during the All Star Weekend via floridahockeynow.com

[stereax]

Any scorching hot takes on which top team will drop like a rock next season? Or if you're not feeling spicy, any 4 nations thoughts? Could be anything: positional depth/roster speculation/line comps/which team would win the tumblr hotness poll, etc. Personally I'm very curious which Cs stay Cs and which Cs become Ws

I'm not gonna touch 4 Nations yet because I don't know anything about that, especially because, iirc, they only have six players on each roster right now? I don't want to speculate who goes and who doesn't just yet because, knowing my luck, I'm gonna get half the teams injured just talking about that lol.

But! Hot takes on which teams will do WORSE than last season. This, I CAN do! Under the cut!

Now, I don't think any teams will "drop like a rock" - part of the parity of the NHL means that teams that are good usually stay good for a while and teams that are not usually stay not. A Devils-esque complete collapse is only going to happen if there's massive injuries (like the Devils had) and trade hell (like the Devils again had - there was a deal in place for Markstrom a long time back but it got nixed by Flames ownership, for example). That being said...

I think the New York Rangers is the obvious answer here. They haven't added anyone of note (depth defensemen don't count) in a league where just about every other team has gotten demonstrably better. Part of this is due to the issues surrounding moving Trouba's contract, which made them unable to jump on free agents on July 1. This, coupled with the issue of Goodrow and the waivers situation, has shown many across the league that the Rangers organization does not intend to honor NMCs and NTCs, which is a strong blow against them. But they'll still be a good team, partially because of Shesty and Quick and partially because the Metro isn't exactly the best conference in the league. (Only the Rangers, Carolina, and New Jersey seem any good, and Carolina went through its own gutting of its entire second pair, but because they're the Canes they'll make Walker and Gostisbehere Norris candidates. The Isles are mid and didn't address it, the Flyers are stuck between trying for a wildcard and tanking, the Pens have no supporting cast, the Caps just acquired Dubois which is all I need to say about them really, and don't even talk about the Jackets...)

You also have the Vegas Golden Knights, who lost basically all of their UFAs and, due to their cap crunch, didn't gain much from it outside of Alex Holtz, who's a project forward. The Pacific, however, is weak as balls. (Calgary and San Jose will be bad; Anaheim, Seattle, and LA will be mid; Vancouver will be pretty good; Edmonton will be very good.) Simply based off goaltending and defense, as well as very good center depth, Vegas should still be okay enough to make the playoffs, and we all know the famous Vegas Trade can happen too, which always makes it interesting. (In the Pacific, Calgary as well is probably going to take a massive step back. Everyone worth a damn was put out for a fire sale. I'd fully expect them to be in the Hagens sweepstakes. And Seattle's a mess...)

Another team that's gonna have problems is the Boston Bruins. Not that they'll be bad. We know they'll never truly suck. But they've got question marks floating around their lineup, from Korpisalo and Swayman (one was statistically a bottom five goalie in the league last year and the other isn't under contract right now; the point of shedding Ullmark's cap hit was to have a cheap backup like Bussi and not a major question mark with a large cap hit for a backup) to Zadorov and Lindholm (arguably both overpaid and both expected to be top line players; those contracts will not age well) to Marchand (he's not getting any younger and who knows how much he's got left in the tank, especially since this is his contract year). There are going to be some major growing pains. I would not be surprised if they start slow, fire Montgomery, and then still end up as the second seed in the Atlantic.

From the Central, I'm gonna pick the St Louis Blues. They signed Ryan Suter in the year of our Lord Stanley 2024. And took on two cap dumps in Radek Faksa and Mathieu Joseph. That's all I need to say.

Y'know what. Let me just do Way Too Early Predictions again.

This is how I see it. (Atlantic, Central, Metro, Pacific)

Draft lottery: CBJ, CGY, CHI, MTL, SJS

Hockey purgatory: ANA, BUF, OTT, PHI, PIT, SEA, STL, WSH

Wildcard tossups: DET, LAK, MIN, NYI, TBL, UTA, WPG

Playoff teams: BOS, CAR, COL, DAL, EDM, FLA, NJD, NSH, NYR, TOR, VAN, VGK

I would not be surprised if both WCs in the East go to Atlantic teams and both WCs in the West go to Central teams. At the same time, I'm having a really hard time seeing any bona fide Cup contender. Last year, from literally last July, the Panthers seemed to be head-and-shoulders THE team to beat. This year, there's nobody like that, at least to me. Everyone has some question marks.

"But Edmonton - " Edmonton is in cap hell, still having to resign Broberg and Holloway and already being over the cap. Plus, Skinner is not that good. Plus, Ekholm and Bouchard can't carry the defense. Plus, McDavid and Draisaitl can't carry the offense. Give me a break.

But yeah. Sorry for the delay here! I hope this answers your question - let me know if you have any other questions or follow-ups :)

[basedkikuenjoyer]

To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day...

This is not exactly a first-time playthrough. But I am ripping through yet another of one of my all-time favorites. Because apparently Fallout: New Vegas became a staple of Millennial trans culture and at times I do live up to stereotypes. You should see how wide-eyed I get at opportunities to use heavy machinery around the greenhouse. At least my PoliSci degree is useful here, because everyone knows the most fun thing in video games is complex political scenarios!

Seriously, we have a fun action RPG here but if I wanted that I'd pick up Fallout 4. Which I quite like a lot in it's own right. But there's something about the charm of New Vegas. Sorta become a Christmas tradition to play it while cooking my parts of the big get-together meals. How can you not love this beautiful concoction of 50s sci-fi B movie and old Western? Cowboys & Aliens shouldn't be just one random forgotten movie it should be an entire subgenre complete with it's own Samurai & Aliens analogue. World is bullshit sometimes.

Giant fuckoffty Gatling laser chem fiend build this time because I have spurs that jingle jangle jangle and usually rely on the Big Iron on my hip. Never done Sneering Imperialist in Honest Hearts before and yeah we're doubling down on the evil with enthusiastically supporting my original and current decision to the big question it all builds to. Who should Courier Six tip the scales toward in the battle for Hoover Dam? (Which I can never take seriously due to how many times I saw Beavis & Butthead Do America as a kid.)

House Always Wins bay-bay! And don't you dare sully the good name of this captain of industry by comparing him to Fuccboi Prime Elon Musk. Game gives you three factions and the choice to go it alone. The New California Republic, or the best candidate for the US government's successor on the West Coast. Caesar's Legion, a pack of Roman cosplayers complete with slavery and aggressive chauvinism while still being anti-drugs so like...wtf? Not a serious choice. If I have to endure a post-apocalyptic Mojave Desert I am going to make Hunter S Thompson look like Carrie Nation. You dorks managed to conquer Arizona, stop the fuckin presses (<3 you Piper).

Then you have Edwin House, an old CEO of a robotics Corp from before the great war on some kind of space-age life support for 200 years with a great big boner for Las Vegas. Yes, he's kinda a total douche but his goal is to mostly maintain Vegas as a city-state with his advanced robots. He's the one I lean towards because his resources at hand don't allow him to do much more than that and while he isn't perfect he seems content to operate through finding someone he can just pay. Doesn't seem too big on moralizing and honestly he's kinda funny. Like, recruiting tribes to fill out themed casinos is such a weird way of bringing "civilization" to the wasteland but...they did it willingly and it's been working pretty well. For all the shit Freeside gets even it's pretty stable by wasteland standards.

Obviously if you decide the main character Courier Six is a saint who'd never do wrong Wild Card where you do it yourself is the moral choice. But the kicker to me is that House and his agent sorta keep each other in check, especially if Courier Six has stuff like Big MT in their back pocket. House is ultimately doomed to fail because he only has so many of his big robots and his explicit goal is mostly about trying to get technological progress back on track. He can't really project power though. He's fine working with the NCR but they'll win in the very long game. Vegas staying a city-state that the Republic needs to sit down and stabilize if they want to oust is good for both sides and it'll get the Legion out. That's my view at least.

[openheartfanfics]

Bryce x F!MC: Pure Fluff

One Shot V - #

Valentine's Day Dinner - @eadanga 💘 Bryce asks Lauren to be his Valentine.

Valentine's Day Notes - @storyofmychoices 💘 Although it was Valentine's (Heart) Day, there was a lack of cardiac surgeries so Bryce occupied his time making this note for Olivia.

Vegas Adventures - @anotherbeingsworld  The rewrite of their trip to Vegas with an extra helping hand. BP x OH Crossover.

Victory - @kat-tia801  Prompt: I love it when [I/you/he/she/they/name] win(s).

Waiting - @storyofmychoices  The moment Bryce and Olivia have been waiting for is finally here and they’re more nervous than they expected.

Whatshisname - @julia-highstorms What if they met while Bryce was a bartender? 

‘We Accept the love, we think we deserve’ - @anotherbeingsworld High School AU

Weather The Storm - @fantasyoverreality98 They go on a vacation to Hawaii a few months after the attack on the Senator.

Wedding Toast - @omgjasminesimone   Keiki’s toast at their wedding. 

What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve - @lucy-268  🌟 Charley and Bryce were FWB; then she kissed Ethan in Miami. New Year’s Eve during intern year. Feat. Ethan x F!MC

What Happens In Vegas - @omgjasminesimone Light NSFW

What You Mean To Me - @god-save-the-keen Set after 2.11. 

What you need - @oofchoices  A fic about Bryce in pink. He also came knocking on the door because he had a patient that looked exactly like her.

When those period cramps call my name - @peonierose   Those stupid period cramps.

Whispers Of The Sea - @storyofmychoices  Bryce and Olivia enjoy a day at the beach.

Wild Blue - @peonierose   What do you do when your girlfriend says she’s going to do a photo shoot to support the ban of killing dolphins?

Winning - @storyofmychoices  Bryce and Olivia can’t seem to stay away from each other, even during an Edenbrook baseball game.

Wintery Prompt - @omgjasminesimone It’s cold outside. 

Wintery Prompt (Drunk Dryve) - @omgjasminesimone

Wish List - @storyofmychoices 🎄 Olivia is making a list and checking it twice of what she wants most this Christmas. Inspired by this post.

Words of Love - @peonierose   Bryce and Luna are excited to become parents.

Work Woes - @omgjasminesimone Feat. Lahela Siblings

Working Out - @lucy-268  Maggie joins ‘The Boys’ for a morning workout.

X Marks the Spot - @flowerpatchess   Bryce finds a voice that’s been haunting him for years. [1.2]

Yellow Hibiscus in Bloom - @aallotarenunelma This is Doctor's Day. How will Bryce and Kaisa will celebrate it?

Yes, Dr. Lahela - @annekebbphotography  He asks MC to be official. 

You Are The Sun - @doctorsurferbro Loving Bryce Lahela shouldn’t be this easy.

You don’t have to rush - @oofchoices  Even though Keiki’s living in his living room Bryce wants MC to leave some stuff at his place so she wouldn’t have to rush in the mornings.

You Make It Feel Like Christmas - @lucy-268 🎄 Bryce plans a fun game for Maggie for Christmas.

You are in love - @hannabanana-6 Bryce realises his feelings for Casey. An addition to the wedding in Open Heart book 3. [3.11]

You’re Invited - @appiomofchoice  Bryce invites his internal medicine friends to a housewarming/unpacking party. There is a slight miscommunication.

8 Letters - @anotherbeingsworld  Things you said that I wasn’t meant to hear.

#PlantLove - @storyofmychoices Olivia celebrates National Houseplant Appreciation Day.

_

SUBMIT OPEN HEART FICS & WRITERS HERE

[mariacallous]

The US midterm elections went badly for Trump. That spells trouble for Hungary’s prime minister, who has foolishly gambled on a Trump return.

As the only remaining superpower, the elections in the US are the most consequential for countries outside of their own, in particular for the future of the community of democracies around the world. And this year’s midterm elections were arguably more important than most. It was not just a contest between the two main US political parties – the Democrats and the Republicans – it was also a vote on the influence of Donald Trump, the disruptor, the irresponsible and uncontrollable former president. With some exaggeration, the future of the “American Idea” hung in the balance.

Americans defied the pessimists. The majority voted on November 8 for a more balanced politics, rejecting stupidity and extremism. Trump suffered the biggest hit: most of the candidates he embraced, supported or outright chose were defeated by moderate, centrist, mainstream Democrats. Trump’s stranglehold on the Republican Party has loosened, at least for now. He is no longer the uncontested leader or “owner” of the Republican brand.

The results will no doubt have consequences for other illiberal leaders around the world, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who had pinned all his hopes on a strong showing for Trump-supported candidates. It begs the question, then, what the poor result in the midterms will mean for the Trump-sycophant, who is practically the only head of government in the transatlantic community to openly root for Trump.

Back to the centre

At the midterms, the Democrats held onto the Senate, while the Republicans squeaked out a thin majority in the House of Representatives. Crucially, Democrats fared well in the gubernatorial races. In New York and Michigan, the sitting governors, Kathy Hochul and Gretchen Whitmer respectively, were easily re-elected. Arizona chose moderate Democrat Katie Hobbs over the Trump-backed extremist “election denier” Kari Lake. In Maryland, Democrat Wes Moore romped home with 62.5 per cent of the vote.

All in all, a strong message to the world was sent out about the resilience of US democracy but also the desire of the majority of Americans to move to the centre. Extremists fared worse than moderates.

Perhaps the most consequential news came out of Florida, where the Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, was re-elected with a 20-point majority. As the third largest state and the arguably the most important swing state, Florida makes DeSantis a serious contender for the Republican nominee for the 2024 presidential election. Trump just might have met his nemesis in the Republican Party.

Yet DeSantis is not guaranteed to win the primaries, there will be others as well as Trump, who already announced his candidacy on November 16. To paraphrase the famous saying about Las Vegas: what happens in Florida could stay in Florida – DeSantis’s success might remain a “local” victory given the national electorate is quite different.

Thus, it is important to keep in mind that Trump and Trumpism is not yet dead. While a healthy process of redefining the Republican Party has finally begun after the 2020 presidential election loss, it is far from clear what will unfold. Whether mainstream Republicans will be able to regain leadership of the party, or if the populists will dominate. Trump will be a force to be reckoned with, one way or the other – unless the Republicans themselves decide he should disappear from politics. It is an unknown how the Republican base will respond to the midterm results. And we don’t know how the Democrats and Joe Biden himself will interpret the party’s better-than-expected showing. Hopefully with humility, caution and a sense of realism.

For the world, the message is that Joe Biden will not be a lame duck president for the next two years. He can largely continue his agenda. He is the president of the United States, period. While an unfriendly House of Representatives will likely cause lots of headaches for the president, he does not have to fear the promised “indictment” by Republicans, as the Senate is safely in Democratic hands. If my optimism prevails, deals will be made across the aisle.

Hope, pray, wait

Optimism is in shorter supply when it comes to the Hungarian prime minister. Orban has repeatedly let it be known that he has high hopes for a second Trump presidency. He peddles the lie that the “relationship between Hungary and the US has never been as good as during Trump’s presidency”.

Orban has also made clear his disdain for Joe Biden. He openly works against the transatlantic alliance, thus US interests, in the international arena. And he shamelessly pushes the Russian narrative on its war of aggression against Ukraine. He is a disruptive force within NATO and the EU.

Orban’s strategy has been plain: wait for the next US presidential election in 2024, when – it is hoped – Trump will return triumphant. Yet that kind of strategy is called gambling. It’s also called (no pun intended) Russian roulette, for it could easily end up blowing up in his face.

Right now, the outcome of the 2024 election – and even the Republican nomination – is little more than a toss-up. Two years is a long time, and the Trump brand has taken a big hit recently, from which he might never recover.

With the rise of Ron DeSantis, Orban has a serious dilemma: either abandon his BFF, his pen pal, his idol Donald Trump, risking his wrath; or stick with him in the belief that raising the stakes in the proverbial game of roulette will result in an even bigger reward in the event the Republicans pick Trump and he goes on to win the presidential election.

Taking sides early in such an election is not a smart idea. Making an enemy of any potential president can poison the relationship in the long term. In diplomacy, this is critical; in the relationship with the US, it can be disastrous.

While DeSantis is a populist, embracing many of the ‘Orbanesque’ illiberal ideas, he’s hardly likely to embrace Orban given the Hungarian premier’s close relationships with Russia’s Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping.

Even were Orban to abandon Trump in favour of DeSantis, the Florida governor might well still regard him as a liability and an embarrassment – unless Orban openly and unequivocally abandons his friendships with Putin and Xi. Yet that would be hard – and not just for him. His long-serving foreign minister, Peter Szijjarto, for example, would probably have to hand back the Russian Order of Friendship he received recently from his counterpart Sergei Lavrov. Furthermore, if DeSantis is serious in his ambitions, he will have to appeal to more moderate voters as well. Hardly good news for Orban.

So Orban will have to make tough choices; he can’t have it both ways. He needs to closely watch the debates going on within the Republican Party, between the Trump Republicans and the Reagan Republicans. He should monitor Republicans like Congresswoman Liz Cheney, who was vindicated by the midterm election results. The conservative Republican from Wyoming, was prevented by Trump from running for office this time around, but she is not going away and could lead the charge for a renewal of the Grand Old Party. She is a conservative and Republicans like her are not amenable to Viktor’s love affair with Donald, his foreign policy or his illiberal thinking.

Difficult times require innovative thinking, yet Orban and his diplomats hang out mostly with like-minded populists in America, who themselves misread the mood of the country by backing Trump and his “Big Lie” narrative over the 2020 election.

The role of diplomats is to be the eyes and ears of a country. Yet during the 12 years of Fidesz rule, Hungarian diplomacy, once admired around the world, has been degraded, serving not the country but merely Orban’s megalomania. Diplomats who dare confront Orban with reality are at times, without notice, kicked out the foreign service.

The US midterm elections were not good news for Viktor Orban. The events also send out a clear warning to others, especially those in Central and Eastern Europe, who see him as an example to follow.

Andras Simonyi is a Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council in Washington D.C., a Visiting Scholar at George Washington University. He is a former Hungarian Ambassador to the United States and NATO.

[hammerhead-jpg]

New Hush video spoilers

VEGA NATION WE STAY WINNING‼️

I said I didn't think Vega was gonna come back but-

ERIK why would you literally make me cry over a redacted character for the first time ever just to say "he's coming back y'all!"

Now we just have to worry about the Vega resurrection going wrong and him coming back as some more fucked up version of himself, but let's not jinx it

At least now I have a semi answer on why Hush remembers someone from a time where he wasn't created yet

I wonder now that Hush knows it's for some reason a bad choice to kill Vega, if that means he won't try to kill him again and therefore making Vega the only person who is able to defeat Hush since Hush won't just be able to kill him instantly when he tries. I mean they say Hush is powerful but it more seems like he's better at attack than at defense.

Or maybe he'll have some way of controlling him, potentially even more now that he literally built him back together.

Anyways, I'm sitting here hoping that Doc isn't stupid and that the reason they treat Hush with so much kindness is to try to get him to step down because they know that even implying that they want to stop him from achieving his purpose might land them getting killed and that nobody is strong enough to stop him by force.

I mean I'm not saying that they don't at least have some level of care for him, but they gotta know that mass murderer is wrong, right?

This ep was kinda funny

Hush: I killed Vega and now I feel bad ☹️☹️

Doc: don't worry we all make mistakes! You just have to keep going forward-

Hush: You're right!!! I should put him back together!!

Doc: wait what

Hush: actually you know what, you should come with me!!

Doc: what

[bongaboi]

Utah: 2022 Pac-12 Football Champions

LAS VEGAS -- The only blemish in USC's 11-win regular season had been a one-point loss to Utah in October. Thanks to the Pac-12's decision to turn its championship game into a matchup between its two best teams instead of division winners, the Trojans had an opportunity to make that loss moot and advance to their first College Football Playoff appearance in Lincoln Riley's first season as head coach.

But one blemish turned into two on Friday night, as No. 11 Utah played spoiler and proved it has USC's number this season.

The Utes scored 24 straight points at one point and went on to dominate No. 4 USC 47-24 to win their second straight Pac-12 title and likely keep the Trojans out of the fourth playoff spot.

"You come as far as this team has come and this program has come in the last 12 months, and obviously to not get it done, it's a tough pill to swallow," Riley said after the game. "They were definitely the better team tonight. They deserved it."

"Our players never stopped believing," Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham said. "We had a chip on our shoulder. We got the message loud and clear that people were underestimating us."

In what felt like a tangential version of the matchup between the teams earlier this season, the Utes' slow start did not hold them back. USC dominated the first quarter and raced to a 17-3 lead early thanks to a few more Heisman-worthy plays by quarterback Caleb Williams, who finished the game with 363 passing yards, 21 rushing yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

But it all unraveled in a hurry for USC. After pulling off a miraculous 59-yard run that had him gasping for air and walking gingerly, Williams never quite looked the same.

Afterward, Riley said that Williams "popped" his hamstring on that long first-quarter run.

"I asked him at one point, I was like, 'Are you 50 percent?'" Riley said. "And I mean, he was not even close to 50 percent. I definitely thought about taking him out. … He wouldn't have let me. He wouldn't even let me take him out at the end."

Riley called the performance one of the gutsiest he has witnessed. Williams, meanwhile, described the feeling of his injury as that of an old rubber band.

"The rest of the game I felt it," Williams said. "But a person that I admire is Kobe [Bryant], and he always said the game is bigger than what you're feeling."

As Williams was nursing the injury, Utah was settling in. During the second quarter, quarterback Cameron Rising put together two touchdown drives at the end of the half to tie the score at 17.

In the second half, it became clear Williams was hurt. He favored his left side and was visibly limping. He showed some hesitation as he dropped back, and when the USC defense was on the field, he rode the stationary bike on the sideline to stay loose. At one point, backup quarterback Miller Moss grabbed his helmet and appeared to warm up, but Williams remained under center.

Though Williams stayed in the game, he was no longer the player that spearheaded one of the most explosive offenses in the nation. Having been unable to establish the run early, a hobbled Williams looked frozen in the pocket, and it all but sapped USC's scoring prowess. Williams was uncharacteristically sacked four times, and his throws lacked the pinpoint accuracy and strength they have had all season.

The Utes took advantage. Whittingham said postgame that Utah "smelled blood in the water" when the team noticed Williams was hurt in the third quarter and made a concerted effort to bring more pressure.

Utah not only pressured Williams plenty, but on offense it went back to its most reliable option against the USC defense: tight ends. Dalton Kincaid and Thomas Yassmin combined for 121 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown pass from Rising to Yassmin that pushed the lead back to 10 after USC had cut it to three in the fourth quarter.

By the time running back Ja'Quinden Jackson broke off a 53-yard touchdown run to put the Utes up by 16, the result was all but set in stone.

"I felt we took it a little personal," Rising said. "We saw all that as disrespect. We wanted to go out and prove a point."

Rising, a senior, finished with 310 yards passing to six receivers and three touchdowns. He continued to have success against USC and was selected the game's most valuable player postgame as the Utes once again did what no other team could all season: outscore and outgain the Trojans. Utah finished with 533 total yards to USC's 411. The Utes also finished with a title that Rising leaned into during the postgame ceremony: "Trojan killers."

The win sends the Utes back to the Rose Bowl. The Trojans, meanwhile, were left with not just two losses to the same team, but a hurt quarterback and no title to show for their turnaround season.

"We're not going to walk around like this is some funeral. We made a lot of progress to get to this point," Riley said. "Part of it is when you get to these moments, these big games, is groups that have been there before. [Utah] certainly have. A lot of our team has not."

The prevailing sentiment from Riley after the game was that the Trojans had run into a team that not only outplayed them, but also had more experience. The Utes indeed provide a stark contrast to USC's roster makeup. The transfer portal has defined Riley's first year at USC, and it's evident that Utah's continuity is its strength.

Yet as Riley debriefed on the loss and talked about preparing for USC's bowl game, he was sure to look ahead toward next season, when the Trojans might have some continuity but won't shy away from using change to gain an edge.

"There's going to be a lot of changes. That's college football in this day and age," Riley said. "We know what our mission is -- to be in that same locker room and feeling a whole helluva lot different than we do right now. We'll bring in a couple pieces who will help us on that journey."

[davidpwilson2564]

Friday, July 26, 2024

Can't do anything. Exhausted.

Trump attacks Kamala. Calls her a bum. Calls her garbage. No surprise there.

Pondering this trip: So much money being burned through. So much food being left behind at restaurants. (Too much to do. Doggybagging it was out.)

Saturday, July 27, 2024

Very slowly coming back to life.

Trump tells Christian group that if they vote in the next election they won't have to vote again (!). Says it will "be fixed." Meaning, if he wins he's there to stay. Sounds Putinesque.

So glad to get out of that intense Nevada heat.

Sunday, July 28, 2024

The Trumpists have perfected the art of never answering a question. Tom Cotton Yale educated yokel, of which there are several) is asked about the Trump remark about never having to vote again to the roomful of gullible Christians. He says Trump was making a joke. (We are supposed to know when he's being sarcastic.) Says Trump was trying to say something like: the nation will be a paradise when he is back in the White House.

Do my usual errands. Weater hot and humid but not at all like Vegas.

Monday, July 29, 2024

Hot and humid but not at all like Vegas. I am very slow to unpack.

Errands. Later, a beer with Roger at D J Reynolds. We are practically the only ones there.

Note: Kamala has not yet chosen a running mate. Trump is not keen to debate her (heavens no). He goes on and on about how dumb she is. That's his style.

Note: Being away I missed reading the Times obits (what my friend calls the Irish sports pages; oftenthe best writing in the paper). I find the name William Hardy. One of Sharptbn's lawyers who made the news during the Tawana Brawley mess. A handsome man (I once found myself standing next to him on a subway platform) I was not surprised that he aspired to be an actor. We remember that Sharpton disgraced himself thoroughly in the Brawley affair, fleeing the room when the judge read out the verdict. But it's only one of Sharpton's crimes. (E. g. siphoning off money from a kids fund). As an activist and minister (!) he sees himself as being above the law. Someone said "if Al Sharpton didn't exist we would have to invent him."

[nflsundayticket]

Andy Reid's Contract Extension Sends Shockwaves Through NFL

The Chiefs announced the contract extension for the 66-year-old head coach, as well as GM Red Beach and the team president, Mark Donovan. Reed's deal is going to run through 2029, and NFL Network reports that it's going to make him the highest-paid head coach in the league. And remember, Kansas City coming off their third Super Bowl title in the Reid era. They've also won eight straight AFC West titles and have made six straight appearances in the AFC title game. For now, or for more, I should say, let's welcome in our NFL analyst and two-time Super Bowl champ himself, Brian McFadden. And look, BMac, there was a lot of talk after the Super Bowl that Reid might be hanging it up. Clearly, that's not happening. So what do you make of Big Red staying in Kansas City for half a decade? This is huge for the organization. This is huge for the fan base. I mean, this is big time for all of us as well, right, Chris? Because we're in the midst of talking about this dynasty the Chiefs are currently involved in, of course, trying to win their third Super Bowl in a row, something that we've never seen done in the Super Bowl era. This is huge when you talk about the commitment, right? So one would think and one would assume Andy Reid is not making this commitment not knowing if Patrick Mahomes will be the quarterback the rest of the way when you look at the length of his contract. So clearly, there's been some communication when you talk about Andy Reid and Pat Mahomes just staying tied to the H with that organization, which is huge, because when you look at that player-coach relationship, one of the best relationships that we've watched in the National Football League. So when you talk about just having that stability on the offensive side, and don't forget, Chris, as well, remember they signed Steve Spagnuolo to an extension a week or so after winning the Super Bowl in Las Vegas. So now they have their defensive coordinator locked up for the long term. The same can be said for their head coach and play caller. So the structure they have on the coaching staff is huge when you look at the development and the production that they've been able to do with those two guys on the sideline in Steve Spagnuolo and Andy Reid, two of the best coaches in the game by far. Now, the other thing we have to talk about, BMac, Reid's age. So he's going to be 71 by the time this contract runs out. Do you have any concerns about the length of this deal, or has he earned the benefit of the doubt that he's still going to be able to perform at a high level and have that creativity with the offensive schemes once he does reach 71? I don't have any issues with the deal because I think 5 years is a nice sweet spot for Andy Reid, especially when the motivation is still there, and most importantly, winning. Who gets tired of winning, right, Chris? Who gets tired of being successful? I mean, that's something that we're all driven by is winning and trying to continue to do something that many people say that you can't do. So when you talk about the 5-year window being 71, last time I checked, Bill Belichick just finished coaching. I think he was 69 or 70, if I'm not mistaken, and he clearly wants to continue to coach. Unfortunately, he will not be coaching this year. So I think that's a nice sweet spot for Andy Reid. And when you know he hits that four-year plateau or that five-year plateau, then it's something to think about. But I have when you look at this window, this five-year window, and seeing how well this team has been able to perform with Pat Mahomes, one would think more in good health in a 5-year stretch, they should at least, bare minimum, right, Chris, see two more sticky Lombardis. Hey, I think that's at the bare minimum. I think that's doable as long as Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes are there, Travis Kelce. I think it's very likely. Now, speaking about hoisting more Lombardi trophies, they're going for an unprecedented third straight Super Bowl, which would be crazy. Do you think they get there from what you've seen so far and what you expect going into the season? Man, I'm not betting against Kansas City. I'm not betting against Andy Reid, Pat Mahomes, Steve Spagnuolo, what they did last year. For me, watching how they were able to win ball games and win the championship, I feel like this was the time to get to really catch Kansas City sleeping at the wheel because they had some issues on the offensive side. The wide receivers were dealing with drops. They weren't as efficient as what we've seen in years past, especially scoring points per ball game. But their defense prevailed. And then, of course, the offense came to the party, making timely plays that led them to win a championship. One would think they will improve their team on both sides of the football, specifically speaking on the offensive side. So what happens to the rest of the National Football League? What happens to the rest of the AFC West if this team that just won a Super Bowl and what I saw, it was kind of like a down year because we didn't really see the video game-like numbers that we've seen in years past from Pat Mahomes? What happens if they improve when it comes to the personnel with talent? So to answer your question, no question, I'm not betting against Kansas City until I see otherwise. I'm I have to ride with Kansas City. Now, anything can happen. That's why the game of football, the NFL, is such an entertaining league because anything can happen. But number 15 has shown all of us going back to year a year ago in 2022, he was able to prevail on one leg, one ankle. Then going back to what we just most recently witnessed, dealing with inconsistencies at the wide receiver position, he still found a way. You better believe number 15 will find a way in 2024. Yeah. Uh, I'm with you. I'm never betting I bet against KC when they played the Ravens never doing that again whatsoever, BAC with the latest giving great perspective on Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes. He loves it, saying, 'Yes, sir,' as Andy Reid is going to be the head coach of Kansas City through 2029. Read the full article

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History, Family @cutlassandcane Intersect For Rajah Caruth @rajahcaruth_ In Las Vegas Breakthrough

Rajah Caruth celebrated a historic night by becoming the third Black driver to win a NASCAR @nascar national series race, etching his name alongside Hall of Fame trailblazer Wendell Scott and current-day Cup Series star Bubba Wallace. The 21-year-old driver punctuated the moment with a professional-grade smoky burnout that made him look like a seasoned veteran, far removed from his earlier Late Model triumphs at Hickory and Tri-County in the North Carolina foothills and light-years away from his iRacing roots.

History intersected with family Friday night at Las Vegas, and Roger Caruth was among the first to cross the tri-oval’s infield grass to embrace his son after the checkered flag unfurled.

“I’m pretty speechless. It’s been a tough journey so far,” said Rajah Caruth, now in his second full season of Truck Series competition. His first truck win arrived in his 30th start. “A lot of people have helped me get to this point. Thank you to every single one of y’all. Definitely ups and downs, but this journey has been fruitful at times and testing at times. … This winter was a lot of uncertainty about where I’d be driving, not having a bunch of funding behind me at the time. I just stayed true to my faith and my family. Fortunately, a lot of people put a lot of stuff together for me to be in this spot.” -(source: nascar)

DNA America

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