#wait till the people take their asses to the voting booth

[invisiblequeen]

To all the people in power who helped this genocide happen, allowed it to happen, blocked aid from outside and ignored every voice of dissent...history is already spitting on your name. In today's age, you can never erase what you've willingly been a part of. You will never shut the people up. You will never rid the internet of your sins. You will never hide the proof. You will never be forgiven. You will never be remembered fondly. And you will never win.

[shygirl4991]

Tumblr Sexyman Tornament

Summary: The crew receive  a letter from SMG3 to join a tournament that can change the boys into men, the great tumblr sexyman tournament. The crew must go through multiple challenges to win tumblrs votes. Who will be victorious in this grand tournament? 

A gift for @alianarepasa

Tags: humor,silly, adventure, tumblr sexyman,

Everyone at the castle was running around excited, a mail toad arrived giving everyone letters to some event. SMG4 opens the letter and scoffs  “Tumblr sexyman? This is 2024 who even cares about this stuff!” Bob rolls his eyes hearing SMG4 “THAT’S WHAT SOMEONE WHO ISN'T SEXY SAY!” 

Four put the letter away and was ready to toss it till he heard Boopkins speak up “Oh but SMG4 Don't you know the host for the event is last year's winner!” hearing this SMG4 looks at the host name and goes pale “What...SMG3 WON SEXYMAN!” jealousy started to build up at the thought the internet found SMG3 of all people sexy. He snaps his fingers and turns to his crew “What are waiting for we have a competition to get to!” Everyone cheered as they ran through the portal. SMG4 eyes go wide seeing so many familiar faces in the crowd, then his eyes settle on the host himself.  Ignoring his friends calling out to him he stomps up to the host “So you manage to win tumblr sexyman huh? Must have been because true sexyness wasnt around!” he smirks at Three making the man roll his eyes. The man turned to face four “Oh i didn't expect tumblr’s pathetic man to be showing up!” 

The tension rises as the others watch the pair bicker on the stage, Boopkins frowns “Why can't we just get along and have fun with this?” SMG3 and four get close their bodies almost pressed against each other as they smirk “Just you wait and see im taking your title, no one can beat my level of sexy,” SMG3 chuckles leaning forward at this rate any wrong step and the pair would end up kissing  “Then show me how sexy you can be, cause a loser like you don't know how to rizz anyone up.” Mario, seeing the tension between them steps forward, everyone gave him a confused look “HEY YOU TWO SHOULD KISS!!” 

Both mens faces go red at that moment realizing how gay they must have looked as they step away from each other, then in sync yell “SHUT IT YOU ASS!”  SMG3 takes a deep breath “Alright everyone! Let the games begin and SMG4 get off my stage!” he shoves Four off the stage making the man glare at him. SMG3 takes out a whiteboard and starts drawing on it, everyone watches excited for their first challenge. He points to the board and smiles “Okay everyone now that we have all invited accounted for let's begin! Your first challenge will be confidence, to be sexy you must be confident in all you do!

Everyone was taken by Ugandan knuckles to a personalized booth, each contestant had different prompts that will help them show their confidantes. SMG4 walked into the booth ready to show his stuff, looking around he noticed a computer with his youtube channel pulled up. He gets closer to the computer “My channel?” he hears a chuckle as the lights turn off, SMG4 jumps in fear “Uh hello? What's the challenge?” with a blink the lights turn back on. He looks down to notice he was now wearing a dress, then a camera comes out of the wall with a note “Well four, I'm sure your fans are excited for your new video!” 

Hearing this, four panics “What i'm not making a video in a dress!” Another note appears catching his attention giving him a warning if he doesn't he will be kicked out. He sighs looking at the camera “Hey everyone it's me…Princess SMG4…” he could feel himself cringing, he needed something to spark a fire. Remembering that his rival did these challenges with no issue he smiles at the camera placing his hands on his hips “And i'm about to show you some royal class memes!” After passing the challenge he was ready to get out of the dress “No no SMG4, real sexyman will finish the whole thing in a dress!” Hearing the smug tone in SMG3's voice  angered four as he stepped out of the booth. To his surprise half of the people that started are gone, he walks up to the crew that gives him different looks “Don't ask.”

Mario gives him a thumbs up “You make pretty bride!” he glares at Mario for his comment. Meggy giggles and pats his back “Hey it's not bad you have to wear a dress, i was in a battle with no splatgun!” Everyone talks about their first challenge, they all sounded intense so why was he making a youtube video in a dress. A bell rings catching the crews attention “The votes are coming in hot guys time for challenge two!  The internet is a sucker for bad boys, so your next challenge is to show how bad you all can be!” 

Everyone nods getting ready, SMG4 glares at Three “How am i supposed to do that in a dress?!”  Three laughs at the man “Not my problem! Alright viewers at home get ready to vote!” SMG4 walks up to the stage confusing three, suddenly four jumps three and they start fighting, knocking over the camera and ruining the set. Three gets up rubbing his head to notice he was now wearing the white dress they put on four “OI! GIVE ME BACK MY CLOTHES!” SMG4 running off in threes outfit sticks his tongue out as he attempts to catch up with the others. He was already falling behind as he watched the others rob banks and pirate movies, he looked around thinking how he can be a bad boy.  An idea comes to mind as he sneaks up to Mario, he just robbed a restaurant of all its spaghetti. He was laughing and not paying attention to the bag, SMG4 grabs the bag and starts running “IM SORRY!” 

Mario turns looking at his best friend in shock before getting angry and starts charging after the meme guardian. Four started screaming as he was being chased, he did his best to avoid the fat Italian as the votes started coming in. Three fixes his dress annoyed that it was dirty and smiles at the camera  “Times almost up everyone you have five more minutes to commit your crime!”  SMG4 slides in a small gap knowing that Mario wouldn't fit, he lets out a sigh of relief until he starts hearing singing. He starts to shake as he turns looking through the hole. That's when he saw Mario’s arm stretch towards arm. Panicked, he grabs a chair and starts to smack Mario’s arm away till the timer rings letting everyone know the challenge is done.

SMG4 fixes threes hat to make sure it doesn’t fall off his head, he drops the bag of food which Mario jumped the moment he saw it. SMG3 walks up to the final contestants “DUDE WHAT IS WITH THAT GAY AS DRESS?” SMG3 glares at him “Shut it bob, and I know lots of people love seeing someone as sexy as me rock a dress!”  Three glares at his partner before pointing the letter in his hands “Everyone has placed their votes, we know the winner!”

SMG4 eyes go wide surprised “what two challenges and that's it?!” Three scoffs at the comment “Sexyman isnt about skill its about being sexy to the viewers, we can have all the challenges wont change the mind of fans you of all people should know that idiot.” Four sighs looking down, SMG3 would know better than anyone about how fans can be given the creepy fan mail the man gets. The drum rolls and as three opens the letter “In fifth place Mario…which is surprising he ranked so high when he mostly ate paste,” he sighs as he changes the card to see the next person. 

“Fourth place is Toad! Many people watching loved how you hacked into SMG4 channel and posted that video of him in a dress!” SMG4 eyes go wide as he turns to Toad who was laughing, flipping him off, in a panic he takes out his phone and curses to himself. The internet graveyard has no internet beside the starbucks, he was going run to the cafe close by only to get grabbed by Three. “Third place, Meggy for her display of confidence in the badass showdown against the infestation of rat memes that i didn't want to deal with!” SMG4 struggles against Threes hold “Let go bitch i need to delete the video!!” ignoring his partner he flips to the next card his eyes going wide. Looking up he stares at Bob “Uh Bob..for his sick raps…and dad body? The fuck?” SMG4 stopped struggling to look at the card alongside Three. The card showed they recounted the votes multiple times to make sure it was correct. 

Now it was the time everyone was waiting for, SMG4 seeing how he was the only one, got excited. He expected to hear his name only to be surprised “It’s me again! Wow I'm shocked you guys find me so sexy you voted for me when i wasn't even a part of this!” Four grabs the note reading it “That's bullshit then what about me!?” SMG3 smirks “I did say your tumblr’s pathetic man congrats!” Four stares at three “What…WHAT DO YOU MEAN PATHETIC WHAT ABOUT ME IS!” The two start fighting as the crew congratulates each other for their placement. Then they turn to watch the pair fight, Bob decides to make it fun by starting bets as the men argue through the night. 

[rhymisms]

The world

The world could use less blue and red, separating states; let’s look for lavender instead and lessen our debates.

Let’s get to know our neighbors again and open up our doors; let’s fill the world with many friends and end ongoing wars.

The world could use more open meetings and freedom of the press; more investigations leading to criminal arrest.

The world needs shorter terms of use that users understand, not fifty pages so obtuse that suits get out of hand.

The world could use less ransomware, more random acts of kindness; less abandonment, more care, so fewer things divide us.

The world could use a lot more Jesus and a lot less joints; instead we plead for men to please us and they disappoint.

Let’s stop waiting for the feds to save us with more benefits that serve only to enslave us to their whims and writs.

Let’s stop forcing folks to track their earnings when we have the IRS; we require complex tax returns at the prep industry’s request.

We must keep corporate monopolies from chasing what’s illegal – committing highway robberies, placing profits over people.

We need less billboards on our highways ruining the view, distracting drivers zipping by by selling us shampoo.

The world could use less hazardous fracking, pumping pollutants in the ground, till our caverns begin cracking and our drinking water’s brown.

We need less billionaires in Congress killing the prayers of millions; they dare to disregard their conscious and trample on civilians.

We need less hacking from the types who leak all of our passwords, and fewer maddening tax hikes from bureaucrats ass-backwards.

Let’s stop puking over finance laws with huge super PACs funding inauguration balls through their stupid-tax.

Nations should pay off all their debts and forgive their neighbors’, ensure their people aren’t oppressed and subject to forced labor.

We need more presidents who just preside instead of those who rule, taking precedence with pride and pissing in the pool.

The world needs more common folks in Congress – teachers, preachers, clerks – not pros who do what is preposterous and stay there for the perks.

Let’s return to having states that rule as they see fit, instead of national dictates which leave the nation split.

We should stop erasing as we choose and learn from history; stop defacing our statues, but replace Mister Lee.

We should listen when someone says “rape” and actually test the kits, so victims do not lie awake till their case gets dismissed.

The world could use a boom in going to the voting booth, and we could do without doom scrolling – that’s the honest truth.

The world could use less nuclear weapons that doom our doomsday clock to count from minutes down to seconds while we Zoom, Facebook and TikTok.

We need less faces stuck in mobile phones and more social graces; let’s get closer with the Jones, and stop scrolling pages.

We need less disembodied voices taking our commands, and to stop trading privacy for biometric scans.

Let’s stop living life for content and try to be present; we don’t need a million likes and comments just to be content.

If only we’d stop bashing debtors and do better with the dash; perhaps we’d find that all life’s pleasures can’t be purchased with our cash.

We should seek other folks’ success, but bridle all our barons, care about our titles less, and have less entitled Karens.

It shouldn’t take a law degree to follow legal cases, and agreements that we read should not be fifty pages.

Let’s end every campaign speech from career politicians whose end goal is to impeach each pol in opposition.

Let’s stop thinking presidents will save us from every evil we perceive; instead, let’s be far more courageous about what we believe.

We need men who stand up to regimes while injustice rolls like tanks, and people who still have a dream – and, free at last, give thanks.

Let’s re-roll all the red tape that holds our state together, and let liberty take shape instead of being tethered.

The world could use a few more manners and pardons so it heals, plus less marketers and scammers while we start our meals.

The world could use less cancel culture and not throw the first stone; we handle scandal like a vulture, but ignore our own.

The world could use less paranoia that the past will bite them in the rear, and a lot less schadenfreude when others must leave their career.

We should stop being so P.C. – euphemisms used today will be taboo, I guarantee, a few decades away.

We should respect correct elections while still being cautious; let’s reject any insurrections and pray for those in office.

The world could use more spiffy clothes but far fewer suits; let’s love the folks that we oppose and stop courtroom disputes.

We need fewer prisons and more schools providing education, more men who listen to the rules and not stuck at the station.

We need more kids who make their beds, don’t talk back and complain, so they don’t grow up baking meth and stuck on crack cocaine.

We should not lack for black justice, but fight for what is right; let’s live so that more people trust us, let’s love and let’s invite.

The world could use less blood-filled sneakers and more filled blood banks, and let’s pay more to our skilled teachers than customary thanks.

Our schools should focus less on testing and homogenizing kids, so students aren’t brought down by stress, but build off Myers-Briggs.

The world could use more scholarships to teach our kids careers, and a lot less dollar tips so they’re not in arrears.

Let’s stop mass-producing college grads who play career roulette, and teach the skills they need to have without the fear of debt.

Let’s raise builders and engineers and fewer TikTok stars; let’s be makers and pioneers who finally walk on Mars.

The world could use much faster trains and monuments that scrape the sky; let’s build the future of airplanes instead of red tape piled high.

The world needs fewer border walls severing the land, and more Borders Books in malls and eyes in the newsstand.

The world could use less campaign speeches and more folks who champion freedom; if congresspeople refuse to reach across the aisle, let’s unseat ‘em!

The world needs people to reclaim control from institutions, so folks won’t hide behind fake names for fear of retribution.

The world could do with less insurance, and more folks who save, instead of folks who are content to see adjusters paid.

We should all be better givers when we see paupers on our way; we worry pennies will be frittered, but we waste dollars by the day.

We need fewer thousand-dollar coffins for folks with too much cash; stop overpaying for black boxes while beggars sleep in trash.

The world should put away its porn and stop its masturbating; no wonder we are so forlorn, with actors at our waiting.

The world could use fewer deepfakes created to deceive, for when our faces are replaced, what speech can be believed?

We need fewer faces stuck in mobile phones, and more social graces; stop putting trust in the unknowns when they’re used to trace us.

The world needs fewer strip clubs promising pole dancers, and far more committed hubs, who give wives honest answers.

The world should slap a warning on smoke sticks and cigars, plus every last recording till we ignore porn stars.

The world could use less Photoshop and adverts selling sex, telling women that they’re not young ladies but objects.

The world could use less pride parades and more humility, we need more people who will pray to do God’s will indeed.

The world needs more Salvation Armies and a lot less Hooters, fewer orgies and sex parties, plus porn-packed computers.

The world could use less mass surveillance and more men attending mass; no more of those masked assailants in maddening attacks.

We need fewer 3D-printed guns and courtroom convictions; less fentanyl sold by the tons and more friend prescriptions.

We don’t need child predators exposing genitals, but letters to our editors and calls to senators.

Let’s stop mocking those whom we elect, and show respect a second, lest democracy be wrecked and we hold the weapon.

Schools should fuel curiosity, instead of meting tests and pleasing local policy set by elected pests.

The world needs fewer landfills, less litter in the ocean; plus more fans of Lindsay Mills as well as Edward Snowden.

The world could use less superpredators who threaten us with goons; let’s put our Putins on sedatives and try our Kim Jong Uns.

The world needs fewer colonies and much more community; it should trade its lotteries for fiscal opportunity.

Our hospitals should all assure us their prices aren’t inflated for those who afford insurance while others go unaided.

The world has no place for abortion when adoption is an option, yet often we prefer our sin and pop mail-order toxins.

The world could use less revenge porn and far more make-up sex; plus fewer folks who suffer scorn each time they make missteps.

The world could use less cross-dressing and turn straight to the cross, but we gloss over transgressing and call trans-haters lost.

The world could use a lot more Jesus and fewer cruel jihads; instead we let the the devil lead us to serve other gods.

The world could use less one-armed bandits, and fewer crooks with two, as well as fewer propagandists who try to spin the truth.

The world could use more ash-smeared foreheads before Eastertide and a lot less nuclear warheads made so people die.

Unless we build solar panels by the legions and wind farms ten abreast, we’ll be wearing sandals in the polar regions and snorkels in Key West.

We should place less hope in presidents who can’t solve every woe, and let’s repress our own attempts to make the post a show.

Let’s stop making fun of leaders and show them respect; let us render unto Caesar when we write a check.

The world could use more arboretums to save earth’s diverse plants, and far more religious freedom, so saints can take a stance.

We need folks who pray for leaders instead of showing scorn, and people loving as lay preachers, teaching Christ is born.

The world should stop rebranding sin and promoting vice: now perversion and abortion are known as human rights.

The world could use a few less pronouns and reinstate two genders, for men who put on women’s gowns are nothing but pretenders.

Plus, the world should be ashamed of its Netflix binging, streaming Hunger and Squid Games. and not even blinking.

The world could use far less revenge and far more repenting, for we all could use a friend and far less offending.

The world could use fewer mean tweets, more folks who wax poetic; we need more teens who eat their wheats, and fewer vaccine skeptics.

And whether British or Chinese, let’s stop disagreeing; let’s work as one to stop disease, and bolster our wellbeing.

Believe me, we could use less wars, tarot cards and ouija boards, and we should ignore the hoax of tea leaves and horoscopes.

And all the folks who dip their big toe, clicking on blue chips or crypto, should know with abject certainty that love is the best currency.

We need less speech that’s labeled “hate” by people who don’t want debate; they stifle folks who disagree and dare to plug “diversity.”

We need more Dr. Jefferies rescuing for our refugees as well as folks like Susan Rice fighting for our human rights.

The world could use far less misfortune, and yet we choose to bless abortion, but all who advocate the crime live lives saved by their moms in time.

The world could use more voices going to the polls with ranked-choice voting; instead of opting for the lesser evil, let’s learn we can agree on people.

We should go back to dolls with cooties rather than our Call of Dutys, we need less quarrels and more compacts, and to put down our Mortal Kombat.

The world needs less Assassin’s Creed, fewer folks on grass and weed, passing classes that they need by bribing teachers to agree.

We need more folks who donate organs just to lower total orphans, and let’s slap warnings on our sore thumbs that our phones play with endorphins.

We need less teens who long for sex trying to be seen by text, tweeting out their teats and pecs and preening on the latest tech.

The world could use less slot machines and more Shabbats from TV screens, fewer teenage drama queens, and men who like to mock Marines.

The world could use a few more breaths from people quitting cigarettes, folks unafraid to take twelve steps before they’re led unto their deaths.

Let’s give away more beds and meals to those who cannot pay for pills and lower marked-up medical bills so high they make us all fall ill.

We need fewer docs who will prescribe doc-assisted suicide, telling patients they can die, when it’s God who should decide.

The world has monks with months in jail while politicians do prevail with lawyers who spent years at Yale fighting for them tooth and nail.

The world could use a lot more wisdom from authorities who listen instead of these two-party systems where people argue over dictums.

The world needs fewer super PACs that seduce our bureaucrats and congressmen who lose their slacks while the country’s at collapse.

The world could use less drunken dudes in fewer firewater feuds, and pols in Cancun like Ted Cruz while Texas temps are down to two.

We need fewer coups and battles drawn and fewer countries spied upon, but China, know our eyes are on autonomy down in Taiwan.

The world could use more arbitration instead of arms accumulation, for every nuclear escalation ebbs us toward annihilation.

The world could use less global stasis, moguls folding in Las Vegas, and Chernobyls causing cases of radiation leaks in places.

We should rush to disavow a world that’s lush with mushroom clouds, crushed beneath a starless shroud where children shriek and scream aloud.

We need more saving and less spending like a worldwide doomsday’s pending, till our debts are beyond mending and we end with payday lending.

The world needs fewer checks that bounce as well as off-shore bank accounts collecting funds in such amounts that accountants can’t keep count.

Use the fortunes of stock brokers to support our organ donors, cut short addiction for our smokers, and end abortion with the voters.

The world needs less abortion pills distorting who lives and who’s killed, where folks can order refills till their future children’s blood is spilled.

We need less cinemas with seven screens showing Halloweens and Scream, inserting skin in certain scenes, so teens can sin between their jeans.

Perhaps it’s time we part gene pools to give head starts to propagules; we need more smarts and fewer fools, and finer arts to mark our schools.

Let’s view dilemmas through a prism of wisdom and not cynicism so to reduce the skew of schisms like rampant anti-semitism.

The world could use less press against the congressmen and presidents who, in their first address, attempt to lessen voters’ hesitance.

We need fewer calls to “rock the libs!” or condemn conservatives, and fewer pols who all call dibs on skirting laws for relatives.

Congress needs less elephants and asses in the one percent of classes moving slow as cold molasses unless they’re spending all our taxes.

The world could use a few less stoners and folks judging other voters; flood the planet with blood donors. and let us love all of the loners.

We need less folks who bristle at woe and more whistleblowers; more epistles like Thoreau’s, dismissing missile throwers.

Each conflict has led to vets left beset by their regrets, quick to pick up cigarettes and collect high liquor debts.

We need less madames and more moms, less assassins, Vietnams, let’s stop dropping atom bombs, put down arrows, pick up palms.

The world could use fewer James Bonds seeing countries spied upon, and exchange its QAnon for far more Monty Python.

The world could use less naked pecs in pictures that are rated X, more men who pray in the narthex and fewer who will pay for sex.

The world needs more poetics dreaming and a lot less Netflix streaming; let’s relax with books for reading and learn something that’s redeeming.

We need less drunken bellies filled with ale, disfunction and families that fail, junk on tellies, in the mail, and more veggies telling tales.

The world could use more clerisy with queries adhering to our presbyteries than paranoid conspiracy theories fueled by eerie TV series.

The world needs more recycling spots, far more Bibles and less slots, fewer kettles calling pots, and far fewer murder plots.

We need fewer fancy platitudes and more proactive gratitudes; let’s act out the beatitudes and practice better attitudes.

The world could use far less polluting, fewer reckless, ruthless shootings, and lawyers who live off of suing, causing officers’ undoing.

We need fewer deaths and fewer diggers due to cigarettes and liquors; let’s lower debts and put down triggers and stop the threats to vets and vicars.

We need more teens who wait for sex and drivers who can wait to text, so neither end up with regrets when they reflect on their wrecks.

And the world could use less teens trying to be figurines because they see the glamour queens we Photoshop on magazines.

Let’s watch less pornography and not sneak off to Double Tree with a rubber or Plan B to commit adultery.

We need fewer men with fantasies of other women’s mammaries, ruling their homes like Rameses till their entire family leaves.

And tell me, who’s the genius, please, who thought up convenience fees, which pretend to bring us ease but only bring us to our knees!

The world could use less cops sitting, checking out their stock listings, and a lot more more job listings to put a stop to shoplifting.

We need less churches built like theaters and more shepherds and sheep feeders, far more servants and less leaders, fewer Pharisees, more Peters.

If each thing we say and preach is designated as hate speech, how can people e’er be teached or evil leaders be impeached?

We need less greenhouse gas polluting and to end each last mass shooting, plus fewer Facebook users spewing untrue things till our undoing.

The world should not be resorting to torment like waterboarding since torture’s never as rewarding when it leads to broader warring.

The world needs fewer lotto jackpots giving false hope like the mascots of the rigged Chicago Black Sox throwing games for lowdown crackpots.

The world could use a lesser dose of anything that’s high fructose, before we all get diagnosed with diabetes, tipo dos.

We need more folks who act like Linus, and give out all their gold like Midas, who hold that love always unites us like that saint of old, Aquinas.

The world could use less campaign speeches and more folks who champion freedom; not legislators in the sheets with lobbyists per diem, and if congresspeople refuse to reach across the aisle, let’s unseat ‘em – we need living democracy and not a mausoleum!

We don’t need young adults residing at their parents’ place, texting others to their liking, staying up too late – spending all their days applying for funds from the state; the world needs men who are providing, not grown neonates.

Stop treating bodies as consumables that die from manmade causes, then throwing costly funerals with thousand-dollar boxes leaching from the tomb to earth, spewing harmful toxins, so the cycle is renewable and others die of poxes!

The world should stop ignoble warring and heed all the glowing warnings that have grown while we’re ignoring the advent of global warming – seas are growing, coal is forming holes in ozone layers pouring radiation that’s deforming – all because we say it’s boring.

If each leader in our races promises that he will place his palm upon the Bible’s pages, open for his oath in phrases, then forego his oval base’s cozy and palatial spaces, just to go to remote places, seeing all the voters’ faces, showing them his social graces, noting the tones of their cases – maybe folks would crow his praises, scholars compose untold pages, and the globe would grow his wages for bestowing hope in places!

O, I know what this world could use – more time with nieces and nephews, less sin cities, more Blues Clues, and more time spent walking… in each other’s shoes.

[nataliesnews]

A Pyrrhic victory  3.3.2020

I went early to vote and told them at the polling booth that I hoped not to see them again in a few weeks. And to a little girl that before she grows up we should have a government for better or for worse. Three elections and each on is a holiday…how much has this cost the country? The only one of all these politicians who made me feel that there was at least one decent person amongst them was Reuben Rivlin who spoke about what a disgrace this was to all

 Anyhow Ellen and I were going to go down to the Negev to take Bedouin women who live in out of the way areas to the polls. To cut  a long story very short she phoned me and said she had been bitten by a dog on her hand and was going to the hospital. Of course I immediately went to be with her and stayed there till her daughter came.  At least she will not have to have shots and as I said to her it would have been so much worse had this happened down in the Negev as it would have been a real business. At least this way we were close to home. So when Anna, her daughter came, I went with another friend for lunch…fish and chips do not taste the same as they did in the corner shop in Wesley street in a cone of newspaper with vinegar and salt. 

 Then when I got back to Nofim I met a friend who was completely covered up and she told  me that she was in quarantine….but the stupid thing is she was in Italy and then went to London where she went all over freely with no questions asked and met with  all her family. When she came back yesterday to Israel she was told to put herself in quarantine!! But they very nicely took into consideration the time she spent in London so only has to do so for another eight days.

 She said she would tell the director tomorrow. I wonder how he will react to this because I had been thinking that if anyone here was put into quarantine  how would they deal with it. But the whole business as it is being done here in Israel is so crazy and so without thought. And  of course all this is  together with the elections and you see people in line some with masks and some without and those who are in quarantine have special places to vote.

 My suitcase is two thirds full with chalva, books for Daphne, presents for friends and one third clothes, etc. Normally I would not care as I come to Cape Town and the Strand and get rid of it all but this time I will be schlepping it all over with me. But I just want to be on the plane on the way to Durban and see my suitcase arriving and get my phone fixed. I am so spoiled about coming to Cape Town. If I only knew someone in Durban.

 And now waiting for 22.00 when the results start coming out and I am dreading them. Well last time Netanyahu brought out his xenophobic voters by saying the Arabs are coming in their busloads and this time he has been licking their asses. I hope this time the Arabs got their act together and went to vote. For the first time in my life I nearly voted for the Arab list and so many of my friends have told me the same but it would not make  any difference to Netanyahu as anyone considering that would never have voted for him in the first place.

 This morning. I woke up hoping for a miracle but the days of miracles have passed. I cannot listen to the radio or open the tv. I wish I were leaving today. We will be spared another election but I dread the coming days.

 Natalie

 Natalie

[fashiontrendin-blog]

My First Fashion Week Has Been Imperfect and Strangely Life-Affirming

http://fashion-trendin.com/my-first-fashion-week-has-been-imperfect-and-strangely-life-affirming/

My First Fashion Week Has Been Imperfect and Strangely Life-Affirming

This is my very first fashion week! I’m very excited and also nervous and oh my god what will I wear I hope I don’t fall over at some point. I love fashion as something to think about and observe in others, but I feel I’m very firmly not a “fashion person,” if that makes sense? I sort of feel like a band nerd at a jock party, but I have no doubt this week will be fun (if I don’t fall). This is also my first fashion week as a managing editor, so while we’ve had meetings and google docs and emails galore, 90% of my anxiety comes from a deep need to not mess this up. Below, a recording of my first few days — let me know whether you think I succeeded.

Thursday

10 a.m.

I’m working from home today and have knocked out the work-from-home essentials: brush your teeth, wash your face, put on a bra and make a huge pot of coffee. I spend most of the morning doing normal non-fashion week things.

2 p.m

I make one of those weird work-from-home lunches that’s just a bowl of stuff from your fridge.

6:30 p.m.

I sign off to get ready for the DapperQ show at the Brooklyn Museum.

7 p.m.

I decide to walk because it’s finally not a million degrees out and immediately get rained on. I regret nothing as it is important to see the outside world for at least 20 minute on a work-from-home day.

7:30 p.m.

I meet up with my friend Naima and head in. It’s a full-on scene. Technically this is my very first fashion show, but it’s on what feels like my home turf. The general public can and is encouraged to buy tickets so it’s more of an event than anything else. There are pop-up boutiques, a gif booth, the world’s longest bar line and a station to get all of your measurements taken.

8:10 p.m.

The show starts and it’s actually 10 different labels showing: A/C Space, Audio Helkuik, Jag & Co, Kris Harring Apparel Group, Nicole Wilson, SALT, Stuzo clothing, The Phluid Project, TomboyX + Squirrel Vs. Coyote, and THÚY Custom Clothier. It’s a mix of incredibly tailored suits for all types of bodies and all types of gender expressions, flowy linen tunics and pants that feel like tropical menocore, ’90s inspired rave wear and a truly great bike short look. The models that are sent down the runway are all races, ages, sizes and orientations.

9:15 p.m.

That was a very long show, I fell in love at least three times and now I need to buy a suit. First fashion show down!

Friday

10:30 a.m.

I get into the office late because the Q was majorly delayed this morning and it was physically impossible to get on the first one that came. Haley, Simedar and I spend five minutes talking about how dumb New York is as an idea. Someone points out there’s a nutella cookie on the counter and I decide to treat my emotional wounds with too much sugar.

11 a.m.

The office is a ghost town, between people dashing in and out for shows, working remotely and squeezing in end-of-summer vacations. I get a lot of the task-based stuff done (pay freelancers, update our project management software, send some strongly worded emails). I think/hope we prepared well for fashion week this year. We had two meetings to try to get ahead of everything but also decided that this year everyone will be flexible within reason. There’s no need to stay up till midnight working on a post.

1 p.m.

Amelia turns around her Tory Burch post with lightning speed, Edith finds the photos and we turn it live! Nothing like the rush of timely content!!!

5 p.m.

Maybe it’s the sugar, maybe it’s the fashion week adrenaline, but it is 5 o’clock and we have lost our minds. We get on the topic of tattooing celebrities on our thighs, Haley has busted out her weird animal toys and I keep changing my hair. I’m going to Chromat in a few and feel like this is the day to just go for a fulllllll look. I’m wearing a purple jump suit and more makeup and jewelry than I ever do, but changing from a high bun to a messy low ponytail feels like a true leap into a fashion-forward existence. Haley loans me her incredible white coat and while every part of my always-underdressed soul is screaming for me to take it off, a small voice says, it’s fashion week.

5:50 p.m.

Eliz and I arrive at the Chromat show after a quick walk (that girl can walk). There’s a lot of street style hullabaloo and when a nice guy asks to take my photo I say YES. Fashion week has turned me into a whole new woman!! It was a weird process but whatever, I’m an old pro by the time we meet up with Simon and he snaps my photo for this here diary. We’re in line for about 30 minutes but it goes quickly because there is just so much to see, so many people to watch.

6:20 p.m.

After a somewhat confusing line situation and an elevator ride that set off my anxiety (made an iPhone note: “Play about fashion people stuck in an elevator???” I don’t think it’s a hit), we get into the space. In the rush to find our seats I see one Whoopi Goldberg and feel beyond blessed.

6:50 p.m.

The show is over and it was so fun! Once again we were blessed with a gorgeous mix of models including Ericka Hart, whose hair I’m copying immediately. Their swimsuits and sunglasses and beads almost made me sad that summer is over, but I now have some full looks to dream about for the next 10 months or so.

7:15 p.m.

Back in the office to send the final end-of-day editorial email and check in on some things before running off to surprise my friend who just got engaged!! Feeling very happy and grateful for this day.

Saturday

10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Very chill morning, made some breakfast, did some reading, wrote for myself, went to the gym, ate a second breakfast, took a shower and put my “look” together.

1-2 p.m.

Getting ready for the Christian Siriano show and am VERY excited. I got to talk to him ever-so-briefly earlier this year and love not only the stuff that he makes but the people he casts. Also hoping to see my tall sister Leslie Jones.

Feeling a bit of an emotional hangover from pushing myself outside of my comfort zone (amazing what the right coat can do), so I just threw on the Levi’s from this story, a black turtleneck and some dad sneakers. Feeling very much in my comfort zone, I left, giving myself 20 more minutes than Google maps told me I needed because of the raggedy-ass MTA.

2:15 p.m.

The Q isn’t coming for 17 minutes. The B isn’t running at all. I remember how much fun I had in Baltimore earlier this year and briefly imagine what Baltimore Nora is doing right at this very moment.

2:32 p.m.

The train is beyond crowded but I push myself on because I can’t be late. I hope that all of my I’ll-wait-for-the-next-one karma has been stored up for this very moment. Texting with Haley and Em to let them know I’ll be late-late. Because, oh, guess what? This late-ass Q is now running local instead of express. A 3-year-old-girl is pummeling her older brother while their dad plays a phone game. Her brother pushes her and she falls on my shoes, the dad finally looks up. I double check that I’ve registered to vote.

4:17 p.m.

I finally meet Emily outside in line. We have standing tickets and Haley has a seat so she already went in. We chat, see Tiffany Hadish walk in (she ready, I mumble enthusiastically to myself) and I think Carmen Electra? It is raining and the line is outside.

4:23 p.m.

No room at the inn! Someone tells one person at the front of the line that we all have to go home and it quickly becomes the world’s saddest/grouchiest game of telephone. Em and I are both a little bummed and decide to just head home rather than wait to see people exit. I get back on the Q train, it is running as it should.

I’m a little annoyed and frustrated and the high of last night’s New York magic has worn off. The afternoon was stressful, challenging, disappointing and no one likes to feel like they’re being left out. It felt like what I was nervous would happen (“mmm you’re not cool!”) happened and I know it’s not personal and I know it’s not an actual big deal but I’m just…over it.

5:20 p.m.

Grab some groceries on the walk home, come back to send a few emails, update a few headlines and check in on everyone else. My ticket for Pyer Moss is standing also and I’m feeling a little Eeyore-ish and think about skipping it. My friend Morgan’s birthday is tonight and so is my friend Michelle’s goodbye and I could use the extra energy/hours. But I ultimately decide against ditching. So I eat too much cheese, sigh and put on my shoes, and head out the door. Feel free to bookmark that as an inspirational quote.

6:30 p.m.

The show is in Brooklyn at the Weeksville Heritage Center so I splurge on a Lyft since it’s kind of close. I get there and just like that, I’m back in it. Roughly 98% of the people outside are black and there are some fantastic outfits. I bump into my new pal Simon who was smart enough to wear a rain poncho. We wait in line for a bit which gives me ample time to covet the Pyer Moss sweatshirts the staff and crew are wearing. There are also staff members with shirts that say “If You’re Just Hearing About Pyer Moss We Forgive You.” I’ll take two. I don’t know anyone but it’s fine, because I’m just happy to be there.

7 p.m.

I walk into the space and it’s amazing. It is full on raining so it’s a bit of a bummer that it’s outside but very much worth it. I wander over to the back where the historic houses are. Which, I feel like I should explain something here: I LOVE historic homes and historic house tours. Like 80% of my personality is loving historic homes. These particular historic homes are the Hunterfly Road Houses , built at the height of Weeksville’s time as a thriving free black community in the 19th and early 20th century. Okay. Back to fashion. Shaun Ross is here! I think MJ Rodriguez is here too! Karruche is for sure here!

7:15 p.m.

A jazz quartet walks out. They’re all dressed in white and posted up to the side of the houses: I’m about to witness some black excellence, I think to myself. I’m standing by the stage manager and hear her say “the choir is coming out now” into a headset. Which, okay, sorry to keep doing this — I LOVE choirs, and while we’re here on this historic black site about to watch a black designer send black models down the runway while a jazz quartet plays, I watch this choir come out and think about how much being in choir helped shaped my identity and community and realize that, at this moment, it feels a bit like a community, and I get in my feelings, just a little bit. What would it have been like to see this future for myself? What is it like to grow up now with all these infinite ways to be black and successful?

8ish p.m.

The show is over and it was incredible. Yellow pleather overalls, a yellow mesh dress that I would not be surprised to see on MR sometime in the future, gorgeous pleated pants, amazing graphic prints and a gospel choir that swag surf-ed. I would see a look and think of a black actor it would be perfect for, or a friend (I’m matchmaking Crystal and those pleather overalls for sure). It just felt special.

It’s been a rough couple of news days, so standing in that space in awe of all that we do and all that we create was the first time I truly felt what it means for fashion to transcend clothing or magazines or trends. To be at the heart of how fashion can be the start of a conversation or even a feeling.

There was a cookout, with Hennesy, duh, but I decided to leave on a high note. I turned around to look at the Hunterfly Houses all lit up as an amazing 90s R&B mix floated out from the party and I remember why I love New York. That all parts of myself are given a place to thrive, to be seen. That in three days you can see different pieces of what matter to you reflected back in all of the crazy glory of the city at its most insane. I’m signing off to celebrate a friend and say goodbye to another, to give thanks for this city and the people that fill it.

Feature photo by Simon Chetrit.