Derek melancon poem

I did the 2015 practice poetry analysis FRQ for practice, but I honestly don't know what I got. Can someone please help me with grading my FRQ? What do you think I got on the 6-point scale and what can I do to improve?
Prompt:
https://preview.redd.it/jx0pukffvjwc1.png?width=944&format=png&auto=webp&s=ae8497b328ce55804a535ebc845c9f9b66dcd0cb
My essay:
In his poem XIV, Caribbean writer Derek Walcott presents olfactory imagery, juxtaposition, and personification in order to highlight the deep sense of joy the speaker’s visits to the storyteller provided him in an unpleasant world, highlighting how storytelling can be used as an escape from the harsh realities of the real world.
Walcott begins by using olfactory imagery to characterize the path to the elderly storyteller, illustrating the disagreeable environment around the speaker. The speaker describes the “speckled road” “smelling of mold” and the “dark reek of moss” The smell of mold and the reek of moss, typically associated with decay and neglect, illuminate the harsh reality that the speaker lives in. Such unpleasant imagery reflects the speaker's sense of disgust towards the world around him, revealing his desires to escape from a stifling environment. As a result, the disagreeable setting conveyed through the negative olfactory imagery amplifies the value storytelling holds in the speaker’s life.
Walcott then juxtaposes the dullness of the speaker’s environment with the comfort of the storyteller’s house in order to convey the sense of joy the experience of storytelling gives the speaker. The speaker notes the “lamplight glowed through the ribs” “at the black twist of the path,” contrasting the darkness of the path to the storyteller’s house with the “lamplight” glowing in the house. This distinction between dark and light portrays the speaker’s environment as dull, for darkness connotes gloom, as compared to the brightness and excitement of the woman’s house. Thus, the juxtaposition emphasizes how visiting the storyteller is a joyous escape from the gloomy world for the speaker.
Finally, the speaker personifies elements of the storytelling experience, conveying the vibrance and joy of storytelling. The speaker describes how in the “gully” of the storyteller’s “voice / shadows stood up and walked.” This personification of the shadows implies the power of storytelling to bring even inanimate figures like shadows to life. Consequently, the vivid personification imbues storytelling with vibrant qualities, highlighting the importance of storytelling in providing not only the speaker, but all individuals a joyful escape from the dull, unpleasant realities of the world.
Thank you in advance for your responses!

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2024.04.19 22:30 StrikingConfusion371 A poem that helped

I’m sharing the poem that helped me a year ago, at the beginning of divorce. It reminded me that one day I will regain myself, and only myself, without him.
Love after love - Derek Walcott
The time will come
when, with elation,
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror
and each will smile at the other's welcome,
and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread, Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you
all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf
the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.

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2024.04.15 17:05 WarlordofBritannia Red Sox Pitching “Prospects” Since 2007: A Litany of Failures and Disappointment

Overview
We all know the Red Sox haven’t developed a single viable starting pitcher (i.e., one who gave the team 100 starts) since Clay Bucholz. In fact, between 2007 and 2022 the most starts for Boston by a pitcher signed and developed by the organization was…69, by Felix Doubront (2010, 2012-2014). In that fifteen-year period the Red Sox not only failed to provide themselves with a homegrown starter but even the ones they traded away generally failed to make a major league impact (Justin Masterson is the sole exception with 184 career starts, or about two and a half Doubronts). The following is a full list of every pitcher ranked as one of the Red Sox ten best prospects since the debut of Clay Bucholz (as measured by soxprospects.com), what happened to them, and if possible, why they did not make an impact at the major league level.
Note: For the sake of my sanity and yours I did not include any pitcher who failed to make multiple appearances on one of the three rankings done by soxprospects.com in consecutive seasons. In practice this means I will not acknowledge the guy who was ranked eighth in June 2017 because he had a good month at Single A. Hardcore Travis Lankins fans and Trey Ball-truthers may feel free to politely vent their frustration. I am also not including guys still in the organization.
Justin Masterson (2006-2008)
Masterson is both the last and first of his kind, a genuine starting pitcher prospect who succeeded in the bigs as well as a disappointment for the Sox. A mid-season callup in 2008, Masterson worked as both a fill-in starter that year as well as an excellent middle reliever, posting a 3.16 ERA in 36 games (nine of which were starts)/ nearly 90 innings; Sox Prospects predicted his ceiling as “a #3 starter or a dominant set-up man,” depending on how his ability to control his sinker developed. Through the first half of 2009, this dual role for Masterson continued until he was traded to Cleveland as part of the package for Victor Martinez. The Indians committed to Masterson as a starter and by 2011 he was their de facto ace (this was right before they came up with Kluber and Carrasco and the rest of those mid to late 2010s staffs); between that season and the next two Masterson became an archetypal mid-rotation workhorse, pitching 615 innings with a 3.86 ERA (100 ERA+). However, in his walk year he suffered a series of injuries to his knee, back, and shoulder, was traded to the Cardinals at the deadline, and struggled with control throughout en route to a career worst 5.88 ERA. That winter the Red Sox brought Masterson back on a one-year prove it deal, but the lingering effects of those ailments had essentially ended his career; after being released that August Masterson never again pitched in the majors. Overall, he had almost exactly half the career of fellow burly righthanded sinker baller Derek Lowe.
Michael Bowden (2008-2009)
Bowden was the first prospect I followed who failed to make a major league impact, and thus has come to be the face of this era of flopped arms in my mind’s eye. In hindsight, his status as the top starting pitcher prospect in the Red Sox organization was probably inflated by the preceding graduations of Papelbon through Masterson and his pedigree as a first round pick in 2005; Bowden had four average pitches but no exceptional offerings, which allowed him to quickly reach AAA before stalling out as an apparent Quad-A talent. The Sox swapped him to relief after brief cups of coffee in 2009 and 2010 but he never progressed further. Bowden saw most of his big-league career as a low-leverage reliever for the 2012 and 2013 Cubs, totaling 75 replacement level innings. After that he never appeared in a major league game, though he was still playing independent ball as late as 2021.
Nick Hagadone (2008-2009)
Hagadone was another part of the Victor Martinez package, though he did not come nearly as close as Masterson to fulfilling his headlining role in that deal. Only recently returned from Tommy John at the time of the trade, the 2007 first rounder struggled to progress as a starter and (like Bowden) converted into a low leverage reliever. Unlike Bowden, Hagadone did not even provide replacement level production, bouncing between Cleveland to Triple A Columbus for several years before being nontendered in 2015.
Junichi Tazawa (2009*)
Sox fans will best remember Tazawa for his role as Uehara’s set up man in 2013, but he had originally been signed by the Red Sox as a starter in December 2008. Injuries and ineffectiveness had forced the move to the bullpen before 2012, but this of course was more than a mere salvage attempt—Tazawa was one of the better relievers in baseball for the next four seasons, appearing in 240 games with an even 3.00 ERA and even more lights-out peripherals (9.1 K/9 against a mere 1.8 BB/9). He lost his effectiveness by the second half of 2015, but it seems safe to say that Tazawa represents the upper echelon of Red Sox pitching prospects since 2007.
Casey Kelly (2008-2010)
Kelly was actually drafted in the first round as a two-way player in 2008, but after about a season and a half of terrible hitting at the lowest levels, the Sox agreed to Kelly’s preference to be a full-time pitcher. A rocky 2010 debut at Single A did not deter the Padres from making him half the headlining return for Adrian Gonzalez before the 2011 season (the other half being Anthony Rizzo). Kelly dominated AA ball that year, and had reached the majors by late 2012, winning his first start with six shutout innings against the Braves. However, from there it was all downhill, as he struggled through September, tore his UCL the next spring, made an abbreviated return in 2014 before injuries once again wiped out the rest of his season, and tried switching to relief in order reduce the strain on his arm. While ostensibly healthier, Kelly struggled mightily in the upper minors and began bouncing from organization to organization before his professional career in America ended in 2018. Since then, he’s been one of the best starters in the Korean baseball league, so he may yet have a Ryan Vogelsong-esque twist to his career.
Stolmy Pimentel (2009-2011)
Despite his fantastic name, was never more than your typical intriguing arm signed out of the DR as a teenager. Sox Prospects gave his ceiling as either a back of the rotation starter or decent late reliever; as it was, Pimentel never gained more than a series of brief appearances on a major league roster (primarily for the 2013 and 2014 Pirates). His most worthwhile contribution for the Red Sox came when he was traded to Pittsburgh (alongside Mark Melancon and two throw ins) for all-star closer Joel Hanrahan and some light-hitting middle infielder named Brock Holt.
Anthony Ranaudo (2010-2014)
Ranaudo is yet another first round pick who failed to make it, but unlike Bowden and Hagadone he was highly regarded across baseball as a top prospect. Having fallen to the 39th overall pick due to concerns over an elbow injury in college, he steadily worked his way to majors despite a lost 2012 season, debuting with seven starts in the last two months of the 2014 season. Unfortunately, that’s as good as it got for Ranaudo as despite excellent numbers in the minors he failed to impress at the big league level and was swapped to the Rangers that winter for Robbie Ross. A mediocre 2015 at Triple A wiped off more of his former luster and after spending most of 2016 in the White Sox organization Ranaudo was done in American pro ball. Like Kelly, he tried salvaging his career in Korea; unlike Kelly he flunked out after a single season, which did indeed mark the end of his professional pitching career. Ranaudo never developed a viable third offering to complement his fastball and curve, and this likely was the largest factor in his failure to fulfill the hype.
Felix Doubront (2010-2011)
Between Masterson and Houck, Doubront is the closest the Red Sox have come to developing a starting pitcher for themselves. Signed as sixteen-year-old in 2004, Doubront slowly worked his way up the major league level, usually repeating each course along the way. Promoted several times through the second half of 2010, he made a generally favorable impression, though issues with command prompted questions of making him a reliever. A poor 2011 at Triple A brought up concerns about both his work ethic and long-term prospects. Nonetheless, when injuries and ineffectiveness forced the Red Sox to turn to Doubront as a rotation mainstay in 2012 the Venezuelan southpaw stood strong and mostly met the challenge, providing 161 innings of average pitching. He would do much the same in the miracle year of 2013, but in neither season was he more than an acceptable fourth starter. When the wheels fell off in 2014 so did Doubront’s career; he was traded to the Cubs at the deadline for a player to be named later (later to be named Marco Hernandez). Since his control was never more than poor, Doubront’s career could not long survive a K/9 below 8. He appeared in his last major league game in 2015 at the age of 27.
Matt Barnes (2011-2015)
Part of that legendary 2011 Red Sox draft class, Barnes featured a classic fastball/curveball combination. Injuries, inconsistency, and the failure to add a third pitch equal to those first two led to a conversion to relief, though in this case he has more in common with Tazawa than Bowden and Hagadone. Barnes had three solid seasons then made the all-star team in 2021 as a closer, which earned him a three-year extension. Unfortunately, long-standing confidence issues and (again) injury led to a fall as swift as his rise; Barnes pitched poorly after the break and through 2022 before being dumped on the Marlins in a swap of fading relievers. Right now, he’s working out of Washington’s bullpen.
Henry Owens (2012-2015)
Like Matt Barnes, Henry Owens was drafted by the Sox in 2011. Unlike Barnes, Owens stayed a starter throughout his professional career. He tore through the minor leagues, reaching AAA by the time he was old enough to drink, en route to an extended major league audition in 2015. At first glance, Owens did not pitch too poorly—his peripherals were average, as were his results (4.57 ERA in sixty-three innings). But the Red Sox (now under Dave Dombrowski) were unimpressed with his stuff and sent him back to AAA for 2016, where he again did well. In five starts in the majors that year Owens was admittedly smacked around, but given his track record up until that point you could still envision him earning at least a back of the rotation spot if granted the opportunity. Unfortunately, he started struggling with command, getting sent all the way back to AA ball, was waived to Arizona and then the Dodgers in a matter of weeks. Owens pitched in only five more professional games before spending a final few years in independent ball.
Until doing research for this post, I would have thought of Owens in the same class as Ranaudo or Bowden; now I think of him as being closer to Blake Swihart—a former first round pick from 2011 who worked his way to the majors by 2015, did well in his rookie year, then was dislodged by the new regime, his apparent faults exaggerated in order to explain why he was being shafted. Look, if Owens was ever going to become a major league pitcher, it was not going to happen in AAA, just as Swihart was never going to become a better catcher by breaking his ankle in the outfield. The fourth and fifth starters for the Red Sox in 2016 were Clay Bucholz and Drew Pomeranz; Owens’ 2015 was just as good if not better than what those two “provided” and he was considerably cheaper, too.
Allen Webster (2012-2014)
Webster came to the Red Sox organization through that August 2012 megadeal with the Dodgers that sent Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford and Nick Punto west. That trade was primarily a salary dump, but Webster (with fellow pitching prospect Rubby de la Rosa) had some potential. Of course, he never actually fulfilled this potential; if Owens was the guy with results better than his stuff, then Webster was the guy who’s stuff was better than his unexceptional results. He crested with a couple of decent years at AAA, bombed in abbreviated big league action, and ended his career in Cubs organization…for those keeping count, that’s the fourth failed Red Sox pitching prospect later acquired by the Theo/Hoyer Cubs (Bowden, Kelly, and Doubront being the other three). Webster and Owens also had stints in Mike Hazen’s Diamondbacks.
Brandon Workman (2013-2014)
Also known as “Matt Barnes at home,” Workman was a college righthander with a good fastball/curveball combination who never developed a viable third pitch and wound up in the bullpen as a result (2015 Tommy John surgery didn’t help). Workman only had one good season out of the ‘pen, which you probably remember Chaim Bloom was somehow able to spin into Nick Pivetta. What you may not remember is that Workman was released by the Phillies after 2020 only to be signed by the Cubs—that’s right, he’s the fifth Theo/Hoyer expat.
Brian Johnson (2014-2016)
Brian Johnson had one of the unluckiest careers of any pitcher mentioned here. A big southpaw drafted out of Florida in 2012’s first round, Johnson had the solid repertoire of the stereotypical crafty lefty starter. Unfortunately, his professional career was one freak mishap after another—a line drive to the face during the 2012 Futures’ game in Fenway meant he couldn’t eat solid food for months, let alone keep in shape, which led to a shoulder injury at the start of 2013. When he was finally healthy, Johnson cut a swath through minor league hitting, most notably a 1.75 ERA in 118 innings at AA which was followed by 2.53 ERA the next year at AAA and his major league debut…whereupon an elbow injury ended his season early. Latent anxiety issues then started plaguing Johnson, even threatening to end his career at one point. He came back, of course, and will be best remembered as the swingman for the greatest team in Red Sox franchise history.
Michael Kopech (2015-2016)
Kopech shouldn’t actually be listed here due to my criteria, but he deserves a mention as part of the trio of prospects that brought Chris Sale to Boston. With a peak velocity of 102mph, Kopech’s heater could only ever be matched by his personality—in his first pro season, he was suspended fifty games for using a banned substance. Ok, that stuff happens, maybe he really did just accidentally take a tainted supplement as he claimed—and then the next March he broke his hand punching his roommate. Kopech’s turbulent off-field life has followed him to the big-league level: in January 2020, Kopech married Canadian actress Vanessa Morgan; in June 2020 Kopech filed for divorce, a month after the announcement that the couple were expecting their first child.
Kopech is currently the White Sox closer.
Jay Groome (2016-2022)
Groome is the classic “There’s No Such Thing As A Pitching Prospect,” a first rounder who has never come close to fulfilling his selection spot due mostly to injuries. He had his first full professional season last year, making 30 starts at Triple A; he also posted a 8.55 ERA and walked seven and a half batters per nine innings.
Jalen Beeks (2017-2018)
Beeks, like Kopech, would not be here if not for his inclusion in a major trade—in this case the deal that brought Nate Eovladi over from Tampa in 2018. One of few pitchers who did not become a Cy Young Award contender immediately after putting on a Rays uniform, Beeks has been an unexceptional swingman after parts of six seasons. He started 2024 as a Rockie reliever, which is not unlike being the understudy for an extra in a high school play.
Darwinzon Hernandez (2017-2018)
Finally, we have Darwinzon Hernandez, the wild lefty reliever. Darwinzon has never walked less than four men per nine and he’s not likely to stop anytime soon. Seventy low leverage innings between the 2019 and 2021 seasons seem likely to be the extent of his major league career, as he is now a member of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. In his sole appearance last year he faced seven batters, hitting one, walking one, striking out one, and allowing two earned runs. Bless ‘im—all the way on the other side of the world and he hasn’t changed one bit!
Conclusion
Looking back at the past fifteen years of disappointment, four distinct types of failed pitching prospects come clear:
The Reliever: Matt Barnes and Junichi Tazawa are obviously the best of this group, though you can also include Brandon Workman, Michael Kopech, and Darwinzon Hernandez. These guys had good fastballs and maybe an equal second offering but never found that third pitch that would make them a starting pitcher. Injury presumably made the decision to convert to full time relief easier.
The Never-That-Good: These pitchers were the beneficiaries of either a weak system, overhype, or both. Michael Bowden is the forefather, followed by Nick Hagadone, Stolmy Pimentel, and Allen Webster.
The Injury-Derailed: Casey Kelly is the clearest example, but Brian Johnson’s numbers until his 2015 MLB debut clearly reflect a higher ceiling than he reached. Jay Groome also belongs here, the sole pitcher to have never made an appearance in the big leagues.
The Deserved Better: Henry Owens, literal and spiritual batterymate to Blake Swihart.
This leaves Felix Doubront and Anthony Ranaudo as apparent exceptions, though you could place the former in the “Never-That-Good” category given his high ranking was due at least in part to coming along directly after the Papelbon-Masterson generation graduated. Ranaudo’s failure to become even a back of the rotation option is, to my understanding, nigh inexplicable even in hindsight.
If I had to hazard an educated guess on the future categorization of current Red Sox pitching prospects, I would place Mata in the Reliever group, Noah Song next to Jay Groome in Injury-Derailed. Dick Fitts, Winkelman Gonzalez, and Luis Perales all deserve more time to prove themselves before even conjecturing their projections.

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2024.04.12 08:20 Rimbaud82 [POEM] Rathlin by Derek Mahon

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2024.03.26 18:29 I_love_lucja_1738 Thank goodness Emily Dickinson wasn't on the LC last year

Just remembered her shocking poems. I'd be cooked if she was there. Thankfully Derek Mahon saved the day in the end. As they say: at the heart of the ridiculous, is the sublime.

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2024.03.25 15:36 SilasMarner77 [POEM] After the Titanic by Derek Mahon

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2024.03.24 05:19 Charity00 The Amazing Race 19 - Review

I’ve decided to rewatch every Amazing Race and rank them all.
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SEASON 19 gets a 5/10
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This is probably the most forgotten season. I personally found it very dull and underwhelming with no standout teams or big moments. I only just finished rewatching this season and it’s hard to remember many big moments that define this season. There were some very likeable teams but I just found there was no character growth or drama at all (so I don’t have strong opinions on most teams). Although, it did have a “feel good” vibe and there were some very small characters moments that stopped this season from being “terrible”. Ultimately there were 3-4 fantastic legs but the rest ranged from dull to average.
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General Thoughts
- This season felt very laid back and free of drama which some fans may prefer. TAR17 and TAR18 also had somewhat of a laid back vibe but also had some interesting negative energy (Nick/Vicki, Chad/Stephanie, Kent/Vyxsin, Ron/Christina) to balance it. It also had teams who were funny (Michael/Kevin, Nick/Vicki again, Zev/Justin and Ron again) and TAR19 had neither of these. The teams mostly felt flat with not even any quirky characters. Some teams who had meltdown potential (Kaylani/Lisa, Liz/Marie, Justin/Jennifer, Ethan/Jenna) were out early and they were not pushed hard enough to “crack”. This “campy” feel can also be seen in the “previously on” segment where “Who will be eliminated….next” is followed by a team saying something silly or making a stupid noise..and then the intro. This is a really nitpicky complaint but I hate how they ruin the dramatic “Who will be eliminated” with something comical like “I’m gonna pee my pants”. Another nitpick is Phil ruining the non-elimination suspense by asking questions like “It’s been a rough day hasn’t it?” before the “non-elimination” reveal. These annoying additions started in TAR19, but they do have better TV maps this season I guess. They also seemed to give each eliminated team a story at the beginning of their elimination leg so it felt more obvious they would be eliminated - this has happened in previous seasons but seemed to happen more often here.
- The cast also felt gimmicky and the snow highlighted it even more by introducing the gimmicky teams first in the ep1 intro. Amani/Marcus (retired NFL player), Ethan/Jenna (Survivor winners), Laurence/Zac (first under 18 to sail around the world) and Andy/Tommy (Olympic snowboarders). You then had Kaylani/Lisa (Vegas showgirls) and Liz/Marie (perfect barbie twins) and we’ve sort of departed that era where you have 2 normal sisters like Mary/Peach, or a normal mother and daughter like Nancy/Emily or just 2 normal fun brothers like Ken/Gerard. It is harder to relate to gimmicky casts, although they can be interesting at times. Some teams like Ernie/Cindy and Bill/Cathi felt normal enough through.
- A big issue this season - there were no inter team dynamics at all. No alliances (maybe Andy/Tommy and Laurence/Zac very briefly), nobody hated anyone, nobody flirted with anyone, nobody argued with anyone. There wasn’t even any U-Turn drama (Ernie/Cindy U-Turned Bill/Cathi and it was never spoken of again). Classic seasons we would know who liked who and who disliked who but here I have no idea what Ernie/Cindy thought of Jeremy/Sandy or what Andy/Tommy thought of Amani/Marcus or what Bill/Cathi thought of Ernie/Cindy etc. Even the intra-team dynamics were mild with some very mild bickering with the siblings Justin/Jennifer and Liz/Marie getting the most heated scenes. Compare this to TAR3 where every single team in the final 4 had some sort of storyline with the other 3 teams (Ken/Gerard and Derek/Drew had an alliance, Flo and Drew had a showmance, teams were annoyed by Ian, Ken had a playful friendship with Flo etc).
- Ernie/Cindy winning was an okay outcome but “nothing special” which is honestly like most winners unfortunately. The show tends to edit these “dull and nice” winners but I guess Ernie/Cindy had an interesting enough relationship dynamic. Bill/Cathi would have been fantastic winners though, but besides that Ernie/Cindy seemed like a good enough outcome. Most fans probably preferred Andy/Tommy because of their dominance (despite many of their wins being because of penalties or special circumstances haha) and Amani/Marcus weren’t very strong racers. Good enough ending!
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Route
- The route was good though. Some new countries in Indonesia, Malawi, Denmark and Belgium, as well as Taiwan and Panama that are rarely visited. Thailand is the only overused country with way too many visits to Bangkok. Nice to see Atlanta as the finish city, but Los Angeles again as the start. I guess starting in the Buddhist temple was a nice way of tying in Taiwan as the first location. It was a very warm route with no cold places - Malawi seemed like the coldest place visited haha
- Challenges were actually not too bad. There were a few good mental puzzles in there - Bill/Cathi missing the billboard, lots of teams not giving ALL their money to the orphanage, looking for the 2 phrases on the tower in Denmark, teams not seeing Panama Viejo on the skirts, Jeremy/Sandy going to the wrong “Dump”, the Buddha statues and their hand symbols, disassembling and resembling the temple and even the Tintin costumes. I do feel some of the cryptic clues were misleading though. The orphanage had 8 out of 11 teams miss the card which suggests production made it too unclear. Teams should only worry about their clues and not random cards placed on a table. The same with the message on the skirts where more teams noticed the Balboa coins rather than the message. Thinking it was the Balboa statue is not necessarily wrong.
- This season brought back the Express Pass, a touch screen Double U-Turn (which had glare and was terrible to look at) and a new twist - the hazard. I personally didn’t mind the Hazard but it was really just a speed bump, but it only lasted 1 season. I like starting line challenges and this is the most successful so far (TAR15’s starting line elimination was unfair and TAR18’s automatic U-Turn also arguably screwed that team). The Double Elimination was okay but it also meant there was 1 extra non-elimination. It did feel like there were too many non-eliminations at the start - it was good in a returnee season but not newbie casts. There were also less clueboxes and some creative places to hide the clues which was nice.
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Cast Ranking
1.Bill/Cathi - they were so loveable and I believe were the strongest of the over 60 teams, although I preferred watching Meredith/Gretchen and Fran/Barry. They beat Jeremy/Sandy at 2 physical challenges and Bill outperformed athlete Marcus at the physical tobacco challenge. They still felt like underdogs but still competitive and it was a joy seeing them scrape through to the final 5. A lot of down to earth sweet moments like “We’re going to need ginseng to keep up”, Cathi perving on Bill rock climbing, and Cathi nagging Bill at the temple Road Block “Be quiet we can all hear you!” and nagging him to sit down in the truck in Africa. I love older teams and such a shame they are the last older team (with Derek/Shelisa in TAR36 being the closest in age to them).

Amani/Marcus - Marcus was very loud and loved his football analogies “We ran it for a touchdown” and his inspirational quotes…despite not performing that well haha I found Marcus similar to Mallory though - really likeable as a character but not necessarily entertaining or any storylines/depth. I liked when Marcus felt like “Big Easy” in the little taxi and also feeling like OJ but weren’t big on the drama or hilarity. But they were super respectful to one another and I remember Amani was shocked when Marcus got frustrated that 1 time in the finale (she didn’t want their children to see that). They were fun underdogs scraping through each week but still preferred Bill/Cathi.
Andy/Tommy - “The Snowboarders” were the “nice guys” who were threats. One of the first final bosses who were taken down at the final elimination, and somewhat controversially with the other taxis working together. They were likeable but not that entertaining with the only interesting thing I remember them doing was teasing Laurence by making faces from behind. I know they got some criticism for their comments about the Buddhist traditions (“We know the one true God”) but I didn’t think it was that bad. They’re not as memorable as the other male teams from that era - Cowboys, Globetrotters, Afganimals and Chippendales.
Ernie/Cindy - they were fine, had an endearing relationship story and some very minor disagreements. Cindy had the “overachieving Asian” storyline, prepared for the race excessively and freaked out over small things compared to calm Ernie. She was a control freak but seemed likeable at the same time. But they also had down to Earth cute moments too like “I feel so Asian right now” on the dragon boat, and Cindy gushing over how cute Ernie looked in the period costume. Ernie was super likeable being like “I can‘t believe an A student like Cindy would give a C student like me the time of day”. I believe Cindy may have been more interesting in a season where there was more alliances and drama around her.
Justin/Jennifer - had the most dramatic arguments (in a season full of niceness) with Justin being more meticulous and Jennifer being more impatient but then learnt to work together later. I sort of like bickering siblings because they feel more relatable and less uncomfortable than bickering couples. Some of their disagreements made the earlier episodes feel less dull I guess.
Liz/Marie - another team with some good bickering but also seemed upbeat and bubbly. Also had the backstory of racing for their father who recently passed and were underdogs who struggled quite a bit especially getting taxis with no money. Pretty likeable with some fun freakouts (like yelling “Maybe I’m dyslexic” in the first Road Block) but mostly just a generic early boot girl team. Both them and Justin/Jennifer would have made the end game more interesting.
Laurence/Zac - started off as the classic “sweet parent/child team” but then they showed Laurence being arrogant, thinking he was better than his son at everything (and also being wrong, like when Laurence didn’t want to take notes when disassembling the temple but Zac wanted to) and misogyny (several comments about the girls choosing sewing challenges). Laurence wasn’t hilariously arrogant like Ron (TAR12) but I’d prefer Laurence being a bit controversial than a Steve/Allie or Toni/Dallas who were sweet and boring. So they were fine but not stand out characters.
Jeremy/Sandy - were boring and were just the generic dating couple with mild bickering. It was almost like watching Jill/Thomas again who were just as irrelevant. Jeremy wanted to win for his son but besides that, they had no storylines and they did nothing memorable. I feel like they may have bickered more than what was shown like Sandy said “You told me yesterday you’d stop yelling at me” which we didn’t see. And Sandy had some minor witty comments if you watch closely but they were very underedited.
Kaylani/Lisa - had a great 1st leg with “We’re not going anywhere….because YOU have no passport” and surviving the Hazard and the passport situation…but not much after that besides Kaylani doing it for her daughter. Liz/Marie were the more endearing girl team.
Ethan/Jenna - were called out as threats for both having a million dollars and they thought Jenna was sneaky (plus Jenna being glad Bill/Cathi survived ONLY because they aren’t a threat). The Double elimination backfired because I think producers really wanted Ethan/Jenna to last longer. Jenna had some sass that this season needed but didn’t do much in their 2 legs.
Ron/Bill - don’t remember a single thing they did besides being the “token gay couple” and being 1 of 2 teams eliminated in the double elimination. Ethan/Jenna were given more focus so Ron/Bill were just a side note. I can’t even tell you how they came last. One of the most irrelevant teams ever even amongst first boots.

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Leg Rankings
1.Leg 8 - Denmark (F6 - Laurence/Zac eliminated) - had all the elements of a fantastic episode! A new city in Copenhagen, Flight drama (Cindy ignoring Laurence/Zac, and Amani/Marcus getting a bad flight), driving navigation (with some teams getting lost), an extra challenge which was finding the flags from the tower (Jeremy/Sandy going to the wrong place), I liked the period dancing Road Block (plus Bill sharing his sweet story of him and Cathi being high school sweethearts, with Cindy commenting “We just met in a bar over a shotski” haha), sexual innuendo at the butter churning challenge, placement shifts, a double U-Turn that actually impacts the leg (but doesn’t lead to instant elimination) and a tense finish with a come-from-behind by Amani/Marcus. And Laurence/Zac actually felt like a surprise boot since it seemed like Jeremy/Sandy would be last…so it’s good to feel surprised at the end. This leg had so many more character moments and drama with a more classic competitive feel.

Leg 11 - Panama (F4 - Andy/Tommy eliminated) - a great final 4 elimination mostly because of the drama surrounding the taxis working together. It started off with the Tintin challenge which had some fun moments - Andy/Tommy “We are Charlie Chaplin” and Jeremy “You look like a darn hot man” to Sandy dressed up haha The tattoos, high wire and making sandals/deliver seafood aren’t that great but the cryptic clue on the dresses creates a very exciting, tense, and somewhat controversial finish. Very chaotic seeing teams misinterpret the balboas on the dresses, and then 3 taxi drivers working together and screwing over the dominant Andy/Tommy. Whether it was fair or not, it at least got fans talking…because there honestly wasn’t much else to talk about this season haha Panama was a great location, placement shifts and a very memorable finish but misses #1 because not as much happens at the other tasks. Still one of my favourite final segments!
Leg 1 - Taiwan (F11 - Non elimination) - one of the better opening episodes with enough happening to keep it interesting despite not focusing on lots of teams. Begins with the starting line challenge where Kaylani/Lisa get the Hazard. Kaylani then loses her passport and a fan tweets and was able to return it…plus their bickering “We have to plan…what plan? YOU HAVE NO PASSPORT!” Probably the most fascinating moment of the season and I’m glad they included the fan interference! The billboard was a nice cryptic clue that sent poor Bill/Cathi to a random building for hours. The Confucius proverb challenge was okay (Liz/Marie bickering) but the dragon boat was very dull, although cultural, and it seemed impossible to fail. I would have preferred it to be the Hazard task and have every team do the bungee jump (not many height challenges this season). Didn’t mind the non-elimination here as long as they don’t do leg 1 non-eliminations often.
Leg 3 - Indonesia (F9 - Kaylani/Lisa eliminated) - had a slowish start but a fantastic finish counting the buddhas and running to the mat. Riding the bikes was pointless besides Cindy freaking out when the pedal broke, the farm detour had some fun moments - Cathi falling many times carrying the sacks in the mud haha and the sheep running away from her haha, Laurence using extra buckets (Andy/Tommy not pointing out the mistake to their allies), Amani/Marcus switching, Sandy reading the clue and being like “We can’t pronounce it” haha. But I loved the final Road Block - watching multiple teams work together to understand the 4 buddha symbols plus Marcus struggling even though he was given the answers earlier haha Great location at the Borobudar Temple! And then a tense race between 3 teams, Marcus/Amani trailing but then overtaking teams at the Road Block, many teams having to race back and pay their taxis before checking in. Would be higher if bigger moments earlier on.
Leg 2 - Indonesia (F11 - Ron/Bill and Ethan/Jenna eliminated) - challenges were bland with not much happening but the orphanage mistake at the end saves this episode. Some nice character moments at the start which were rare this season - teams congratulating Bill/Cathi on surviving the non-elimination (“Hello, we’re alive” with Bill limping haha) complaining about Ethan/Jenna and a big fight from Justin/Jennifer. Challenges however were really dull - a repel which had no drama, the speed bump was a very uncreative “untying a knot” and dancing for tips/parking motorbikes was bland. However the sign at the orphanage was a unique twist and produced some chaos coupled with the double elimination. I do however feel the editing seemed off and it didn’t feel as tense as it should be (most teams were just told to go back without any stress or emotion). But it did have Cindy having a minor freak out, Justin/Jennifer argued over running (“LEAVE ME ALONE IF I SAID I CANT RUN I CANT RUN!!!!”) and Ethan/Jenna lost their clue for 1 minute.
Leg 6 - Malawi (F7 - Non elimination) - another leg that was average at the start but ended with a tense final challenge (carrying the beds). These sort of legs would rank lower if in most other seasons. Overall there were some good cultural African tasks but they weren’t that challenging. Delivering the tobacco was a straightforward physical task, and sewing/making toys just aren’t that interesting TV. Laurence tells Jeremy to worry about marrying Sandy because she can’t sew eek but then Laurence cuts himself with the scissors and gets what he deserves for that sexism haha But not much drama or fun moments…and it had that positive feel good energy that seems to run throughout this season. Carrying the beds at the end however had Jeremy/Sandy arguing, a bed awkwardly falling on Cindy (“in African jail” haha and one of the funniest moments of the season), and a tense ending with Bill/Cathi going back to pay their driver and just passing Amani/Marcus on the way back.
Leg 4 - Thailand (F8 - Non elimination) - a pretty average leg with a decent Detour. Starting with teams mispronouncing Phuket and a small flight scramble (top 2 teams Laurence/Zac and Andy/Tommy work together but end up booking a flight later than everyone else). Planting coral in the watesetting up chairs and umbrellas each had some challenging aspects - one had strong waves (causing many teams to switch) and another had strong winds (umbrellas blowing everywhere…with 1 falling on Liz/Marie haha). Some stress and chaos with bickering from Justin/Jennifer, Jeremy/Sandy and especially Liz/Marie who scream at eachother and struggle with the umbrellas, even when Marcus tries to help them and sweet Bill/Cathi wish them luck as they leave them in last. But dull otherwise - the rock climbing seemed really easy and boring. And no big dramas or storylines or much of anything. Just generic island scenery and not much suspense once Liz/Marie fall behind.
Leg 9 - Denmark/Belgium (F5 - TBC) - These last 5 legs were generally unremarkable besides some small things here and there. Reciting the Hans Christian Andersen poem at the start was just okay (the judge “I need more drama!” was the star, plus Marcus trying to distract Amani so she won’t be distracted later made no sense haha and also Cindy trying to read the poem but a tour group coming and blocking her view), the puzzle on the Legoland ride was also just okay (“Does anybody have pesto bismol?”) and the bodybuilding had some fun moments with teams stripping to speedos (Cathi being like “my kids will die when they see this, I’m gonna die seeing this” and Phil giving it a go haha) The train equaliser right before it was disappointing but it had Cindy losing their train tickets and hoping a conductor wouldn’t catch them. Amani/Marcus surprisingly come 1st with Marcus “I haven’t been this nervous since I was in the principal’s office in the 3rd grade”. But no storylines, drama or excitement…and just average challenges.
Leg 12 - USA (F3 - Finale) - one of the duller finales unfortunately. While Marcus struggling at the flight simulator and Jeremy/Sandy going to the wrong “Dump” (a random Home Depot store instead of Margaret Mitchell’s home) were interesting, it also meant Ernie/Cindy took the lead and never lost it. The best finales have multiple teams together at the final challenge…and TAR19 did not have that. The typewriter challenge was too easy - while editing showed teams freaking out over the missing “1”, I’m sure it didn’t take them long to try a “i” or “L”. The memory challenge would have been better if they weren’t given the images in clues because I’m sure Cindy had prepared for this challenge, and she didn’t struggle at all. Ernie/Cindy’s taxi driver missing turns on his GPS was annoying as it was obvious it wouldn’t make a difference. It was a fitting end for Amani/Marcus to fall behind early and Marcus “missed a goal in the end zone and couldn’t close the super bowl” haha
Leg 7 - Malawi (F7 - Justin/Jennifer eliminated) - a pretty dull leg and was just teams doing generic challenges with no suspense! Challenges weren’t that interesting besides Jennifer not taking her clue on the bike ride and some mild bickering when rowing. The slide puzzle Speed Bump wasn’t that creative either, but Amani/Marcus found it a bit challenging I guess. Andy/Tommy outrunning Ernie/Cindy for 1st place was exciting with a very disappointed Cindy, but the U-Turn was underwhelming with Laurence/Zac U-turning a team in front of them. Justin/Jennifer fell behind early so it was fairly predictable especially with Justin talking about coming out to Jennifer at the start which seemed like a very foreshadowing elimination…which is common this season. The canoe/carrying people off the boat had some bickering and using an Express Pass. It would have been interesting if a team like Liz/Marie had to carry the people off the boat though…which is a possibility if they were still there and got U-Turned.
Leg 5 - Thailand (F8 - Liz/Marie eliminated) - found this leg boring, terrible challenges, not much drama and worst of all - very terribly designed! A very basic Road Block that was just searching a bit of water, washing an elephant for a Speed Bump, and then reassembling the spirit house - Andy/Tommy “God is definitely greater than a temple” mixed with Jennifer saying “While it may not be the same religion as mine, it still warrants the same amount of respect”. Besides that it was just whether teams took notes or not. Then a bus to Bangkok and some taxi rides to the pit stop. I appreciate some old school navigation dramas - Laurence/Zac getting off a bus because they thought you couldn’t travel first class on buses, Ernie/Cindy have a fight with their taxi driver with a local threatening to call the police (“You were a terrible driver” but feeling bad afterwards) and Liz/Marie having no money and getting free taxi. These little moments and the unique struggle of Liz/Marie stops it from being ranked last.
Leg 10 - Belgium (F5 - Bill/Cathi eliminated) - Sorry but this was a very boring episode. Challenges were boring, no drama at all, not much difficulty and the teams mostly plodded through with nothing memorable happening. It started with a boring Ford Mustang product placement challenge where nothing happened and took up a lot of airtime. Decorating the waffles was better but not that great either besides a few difficulties, especially Jeremy/Sandy. Cindy laughing “We'll call that waffle Ernie because it farts” haha Releasing and following the pigeons at the end was unique but not something that would alter placements (which the end of a final 5 elimination needs). Amani/Marcus scrape through again in 4th with Marcus of course calling next leg a conference championship. But a sad ending for Bill/Cathi especially knowing that Bill passes away a few years after.

*************************************
Summary
So I ranked this as the second worst US season so far mostly due to the cast being dull and “too nice” which meant there was less drama in the legs and I genuinely didn’t feel much for the teams at the end. I would even rank it behind unpopular seasons such as TAR4 and TAR8 because they had dynamic characters like Kelly/Jon, Tian/Jaree, The Weavers and The Paolos. It did have some likeable teams so I ranked it above TAR16 which was also a dull season. But this is possibly the most forgettable season - it wasn’t necessarily bad, just not as interesting as most other seasons. Around half the legs were average or dull but there were of course some good legs. Some may like the laid back feel but I didn’t unfortunately.
*************************************
So after each season I will place it on a ranking:
1.TAR5 - 10/10

TAR3 - 10/10
TAR12 - 9/10
TAR17 - 9/10
TAR18 - 9/10
TAR2 - 8/10
TAR7 - 8/10
TAR11 - 8/10
TAR13 - 8/10
TAR6 - 8/10
TAR10 - 7/10
TAR14 - 7/10
TAR1 - 7/10
TAR9 - 7/10
TAR15 - 6/10
TAR4 - 6/10
TAR8 - 6/10
TAR19 - 5/10
TAR16 - 5/10

*************************************

submitted by Charity00 to TheAmazingRace [link] [comments]

2024.03.17 17:59 serpentofabyss 2023 Bingo Card Reviews: In and Out of Comfort Zone Edition

I’m finally done with bingo and have two cards: hard mode and normal mode with no horror and less than 30% Dark mood (based on storygraph’s stats). The non-horror part was easy enough, but the mood one made that card a difficult yet fun challenge.
I’ll go through some overall and card-based stats, then talk about my rating system, before giving short reviews of each book.
Card 1: Hard Mode.
Card 2: No horror & under 30% Dark (excluding Horror square).
Book stats. 37 books were from the library, 12 were already on my shelves, and 1 was bought last year. 36% were published in 2020 or later, and the most read year was 2023 with 8 books. My minimum allowed rating was 3 stars, invalidating the first read of about 12 squares (and there were a handful of repeat ones, like Bottom of the TBR).
Author stats. 40 authors were new to me. 30 were American, and if you include English ones, only about 20% were from somewhere else. Gender breakdown was even between women and men, while 10% were neither.
Comfort Zone stats. 18 books would’ve never been placed on my TBR (with 66% coming from Mood card) and 15 were unlikely to be read anytime soon if it wasn’t for bingo. Those were divided equally between the cards, leaving 17 books that would’ve been read anyway, with 70% coming from Hard card.
Hard card stats. 3.8 average rating, 68% being 4 stars or higher. Based on storygraph’s info, the average Dark mood was 60% with the top moods being Dark, Adventurous, and Emotional, followed by Tense and Mysterious. The top secondary genres were LGBTQIA+, Horror, and Young Adult.
Mood card stats. 3.4 average rating, 35% being 4 stars or higher. Based on storygraph’s info, the average Dark mood was 15% with top mood being Adventurous, followed by Emotional, Reflective, and Funny. The top secondary genres were LGBTQIA+, Romance, and Classics.
As I already mentioned, my minimum allowed rating was 3 stars as that has been my usual average every year. 4 and 5 stars are very similar, with the latter reserved for “great books read at the perfect time and mood”. Unrated rating is for non-fiction and books I don’t know how to rate due to their unique style or content.
Now the reviews!
Row 1
Row 1
Title with a Title
The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters. 3 stars. The bleak “asteroid’s going to hit Earth” setting didn’t always mesh well with the simpler murder mystery plot, but it grew on me.
Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko. 3 stars. A girl’s groomed by mom to kill the prince, but then it turns into a multi-year spanning tale. Most characters lacked depth, but the scope and worldbuilding were interesting, albeit overwhelming.
Superheroes
Enemies Like These by P.K. Gardner. 4 stars. An action-oriented, somewhat convoluted plot with a good mix of darkness and humor. The characters were the highlight, especially the evolving relationship between the main hero and the villain.
Good as Gold by T.J. Land. 3 stars. A queer poly romance, with some hero and villain action, that struggled to balance its lighter overall tone with the deeper self and relationship discovery moments.
Bottom of the TBR
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch. 3 stars. A fast-paced thriller mixed with sci-fi multiverse shenanigans created a fun but ultimately forgettable reading experience.
The Kalevala by Elias Lönnrot. Unrated. A classic Finnish epic poem, with interesting characters and stories, that took a while to get into due to its poetic and repeating style.
Magical Realism or Literary Fantasy
Our Wives Under The Sea by Julia Armfield. 4 stars. A woman’s wife comes back changed after a deep-sea work mission. Despite the somewhat rambling style, the somber horror vibes were great and made me feel for the couple’s relationship.
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. 4 stars. Even though things felt too vague at first, I’m glad I went into this book blind. As once things started to click, I fell in love with the author’s otherworldly writing style.
Young Adult
The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White. 5 stars. A story full of queer misery and horror in an alternate Victorian England setting, making me feel deeply for the main character every step of the way.
Pride and Prejudice and Pittsburgh by Rachael Lippincott. 4 stars. Historical FF romance with a time travel twist. The (very bisexual) love story was enjoyably slowburn and lighthearted.
Row 2
Row 2
Mundane Jobs
The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa. 5 stars. A slow-paced dystopian literary novel about disappearing things that aren’t allowed to be remembered. Even though barely anything happened in this, it drew me in with its subtleness.
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi. 5 stars. Following people’s mundane lives isn’t usually my thing, but the connected time travel stories here were strangely comforting.
Published in the 00s
The Vampire Queen’s Servant by Joey W. Hill. 3 stars. An erotic toxic power play story between two reluctant switches who slowly learn to submit to each other. The writing and character work kept me engaged, even if I wasn’t always into the dynamic.
Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead. 4 stars. Follows a succubus with multiple dude troubles. There’s a non-relationship plot going on too, but it wasn’t nearly as engaging as the dramatic, cute, and just plain fun relationship situations.
Angels and Demons
Rogue Demon by Risa Fey. 3 stars. A dark romantic urban fantasy about an emotionally stunted misogynistic alphahole who infiltrates a rival organization, meets a cute gal, and shows exactly why he’s a literal demon. It was a fun read in a fucked-up way.
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. 3 stars. A comedic apocalypse story. I enjoyed the main angel-demon duo but struggled with the other POVs, yet the ending made up for it by connecting everyone together satisfyingly.
Five SFF Short Stories
Books of Blood: Volume One by Clive Barker. 4 stars. 6 short horror stories, and the great ones hit me on a viscerally uncomfortable level.
Silk & Steel edited by Janine A. Southard. 3 stars. 17 romantic FF short stories in various fantasy and sci-fi adventure settings. The unifying theme didn’t feel strong enough to support so many pieces, making the collection feel disjointed.
Horror
Sister, Maiden, Monster by Lucy A. Snyder. 4 stars. A body horror gore fest that escalated into a wild direction. Even though the pacing was rough at times, my personal enjoyment was off the charts.
The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks. Unrated. If you removed the zombies, this could’ve been just a basic survival book. It didn’t really give me anything new, but I liked the “real” zombie encounters section.
Row 3
Row 3
Self-Published or Indie Publisher
Xeno by Nathan Kuzack. 3 stars. A run-of-the-mill sci-fi space horror that morphed into something bleak as hell. It wasn’t really for me, but I couldn’t put it down either.
Born in Fire by K.F. Breene. 3 stars. The urban fantasy worldbuilding felt a bit bloated, but I enjoyed how strong (and snarky) the bounty hunter main character was. It made the alpha love interest more tolerable too since they felt like equals.
Set in the Middle East/Middle Eastern SFF
Shubeik Lubeik by Deena Mohamed. 4 stars. A graphic novel that follows three people in a world where wishes are real. The art was appealing, and the storytelling of the heavier topics made me emotional.
The Hakawati by Rabih Alameddine. Unrated. A mix of contemporary Lebanese fiction and Middle Eastern magical realism. It was sometimes confusing to follow the multiple storylines, even if the storytelling was engaging.
Published in 2023
The Deep Sky by Yume Kitasei. 4 stars. I enjoyed the spaceship saboteur mystery and relationship drama (with mother and friends), but the sci-fi aspects lacked the same depth.
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett. 4 stars. I thought this would be a cozy romantic fantasy, but it was more of an academic, research-focused fantasy with a romantic subplot.
Multiverse and Alternate Realities
Lakelore by Anna-Marie McLemore. 4 stars. A very queer story about the main characters discovering themselves and each other. The internal arcs were complemented by the well-crafted magical realism and unique pacing.
The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo. 3 stars. A historical fantasy about an unusual marriage proposal, fantastical spirits, and various relationships. The writing felt raw at times, but I enjoyed myself, especially after the magical shift one third into the story.
POC Author
An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon. 4 stars. A dystopian space sci-fi with a neurodivergent protagonist. The complex character work and slow introduction to the oppressive setting kept my interest throughout the book.
Sinopticon edited by Xueting Christine Ni. 4 stars. 13 Chinese sci-fi short stories with various tones and ideas that complemented each other well.
Row 4
Row 4
Book Club or Readalong Book
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler. 4 stars. A historical time travel story that explores racism and slavery through a peculiar relationship. Even though the ending was fine, I enjoyed the journey to get there more.
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin. 3 stars. The slow exploration of the unknown world and culture were interesting, but I never got emotionally invested in the characters or events.
Novella
The Revenants by Mary Hallberg. 4 stars. A fast-paced zombie horror movie plot wrapped in a novella format. It was pure fun, as long as I didn’t expect deep plotting or characterization.
The Time Machine by H.G. Wells. 4 stars. A novella about a man traveling through time that balanced action and philosophical ponderings surprising well for an older work.
Mythical Beasts
The Wolfen by Whitley Strieber. 3 stars. A 70s urban horror story about detectives who come across a brutal kill that kicks off a cat-and-mouse game. The humans weren’t interesting, but I liked the animalistic take on the werewolves.
The Book of Imaginary Beings by Jorge Luis Borges. Unrated. A mythological bestiary with rather dry and short entries, but at least it was fast to read.
Elemental Magic
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin. 3 stars. Even though the focus was on the characters’ journeys, I enjoyed the dystopian fantasy worldbuilding a lot which helped keep my interest when I couldn’t connect to anyone on a deeper level.
Chalice by Robin McKinley. 3 stars. A fairytale-like story about new rulers adjusting to their duties. The nature focus and storybook vibes were great, however there wasn’t a whole lot else here.
Myths and Retellings
Before the Devil Knows You’re Here by Autumn Krause. 4 stars. A dark and somewhat surrealistic folk/fairytale about a girl rescuing her brother. The gothic vibes carried the plot’s sagging middle, and the ending felt very satisfying.
Peter Darling by Austin Chant. 3 stars. A queer Peter Pan retelling that had the chance to do a deeper dive into heavier topics, but it focused on the lighter romantic story between the main character and Captain Hook instead.
Row 5
Row 5
Queernorm Setting
Fire Logic by Laurie J. Marks. 4 stars. A brutal, depressing look into the horrors of war. The distant narration amped up the hopeless vibes, so I really didn’t have a fun time, yet I somehow was fully invested by the end of the book.
Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell. 3 stars. A slowburn MM romance in a political sci-fi setting. Even though the meandering pace served the emotional arcs well, I struggled to keep focus during everything else.
Coastal or Island Setting
The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall. 3 stars. A queer slaver pirate falls in love with a high-born girl in a fucked-up fantasy sea adventure. Even though the pacing felt rough, the ending tied all the elements together neatly.
The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by S.A. Chakraborty. 3 stars. The low magic and early crew gathering plot drew me in, so I struggled hard when the story shifted away from those after the halfway point.
Druids
Choose Your Enemies Carefully by Robert N. Charrette. 4 stars. A well-paced story set in the Shadowrun universe that leaned heavily on its fantastical aspects, though still maintained that familiar cyberpunk feel to it.
A Brief History of the Druids by Peter Berresford Ellis. Unrated. The book’s title explains it all, and it was definitely a fascinating topic, though the “brief” part was more like “extremely dense and packed with information”.
Featuring Robots
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro. 4 stars. A slow-paced yet compelling story with minimal speculative elements about mundane life and relationships through the eyes of an Artificial Friend.
I, Robot by Isaac Asimov. 3 stars. A connected short story collection about how the laws of robotics can manifest in different ways. None of them were bad, but nothing stood out either due to the lack of emotional and/or deeper philosophical depth.
Sequel
Mortal Coil (Skulduggery Pleasant, Book 5) by Derek Landy. 5 stars. The dark events in this young adult urban fantasy book nourished my inner edgy teen so hard that I just walked around my apartment going “holy shit” after finishing it.
Soulsmith (Cradle, Book 2) by Will Wight. 3 stars. A big destiny, lots of fighting, felt like anime. I liked the fast pace and comforting simplicity of progression fantasy until I started craving more emotional depth.

submitted by serpentofabyss to Fantasy [link] [comments]

2024.03.17 07:16 minttwea Sterek fic where Isaac is a poet.

Stiles makes a comment about Isaac always wearing scarves and sleepin with married women. And the poem in the pic is about Derek from Issac.

submitted by minttwea to teenwolffics [link] [comments]

2024.02.24 00:20 Lilac_14 Name Highlight- Layla

Hello, fellow name nerds! I decided to do "name highlights" so we can learn more about names. Today we would be focusing on Layla, my favourite name!

Meaning: Layla means "night" in Arabic.

History: Layla was the love interest of the poet Qays, an old Arab tale, which was retold by the 12th-century Persian poet Nizami Ganjavi in a poem called ‘Layla and Majnun’. The story was popular in medieval Arabia and Persia. (Source is BehindTheName)

Popularity rise: The name became used in the English-speaking world after the 1970 release of the song ‘Layla’ by Derek and the Dominos, the title of which was inspired by the medieval story.

Famous/known people:
Layla Alizada (Actress)
Layla Moran (Member of the parliament of the U.K)

In movies/shows:
Layla Keating ( All American)

Songs:
Layla (Derek and the Dominos)

Spelling variations and their ranking:

Leila:

Ranking in the U.S as of 2022: 246
Ranking in the U.K (England and Wales) as of 2021: 231
Ranking in Canada as of 2022: 227

Laila:

Ranking in the U.S as of 2022: 308
Ranking in the U.K (England and Wales) as of 2021: 303
Ranking in Canada as of 2022: 476

Leyla:

Ranking in the U.S as of 2022: 593
Ranking in the U.K (England and Wales) as of 2021: 443
Ranking in Canada as of 2022: 582

Leylah:

Ranking in the U.S as of 2022: Unranked (not in top 1000)
Ranking in the U.K (England and Wales) as of 2021: Unranked (not in top 1000)
Ranking in Canada as of 2022: 2727

Laela:

Ranking in the U.S as of 2022: Unranked (not in top 1000)
Ranking in the U.K (England and Wales) as of 2021: Unranked (not in top 1000)
Ranking in Canada as of 2022: 3211

Laylah:

Ranking in the U.S as of 2022: 920
Ranking in Canada as of 2022: 1672

Ranking and frequency/births over the years:

In the U.S:
1995: 836 (235)
2000: 407 (697)
2005: 144 (2384)
2010: 37 (5896)
2015: 30 (6341)
2020: 24 (6214)
2021: 24 (6337)
2022: 29 (6058)

In the U.K:
2011: 30 (1780)
2015: 35 (1428)
2016: 40 (1358)
2017: 38 (1329)
2018: 44 (1152)
2019: 48 (1025)
2020: 51 (939)
2021: 53 (917)

In Canada:
1995: 876 (23)
2000: 468 (52)
2005: 215 (135)
2010: 64 (406)
2015: 62 (416)
2020: 40 (527)
2021: 48 (485)
2022: 47 (437)

**Fun fact about the name:**The first time Layla was in the top 100 names for girls in the U.S was in 1972. Ranking at 974 with a total of 124 births.

Interesting things I came across:
When I was looking for the ranking for Layla in 1991 ( I couldn’t find it, but found Leila instead) for the U.S I saw the “name” Unknown was ranked at 796 with 258 born with the name for girls. In 1955 it ranked at 866 with “Infant” closely behind at 868.
I found something I thought was very interesting called Top 100 Names by Mothers' Age for England and Wales. It's fun to see how age influences the names.

P.S: If anybody wants to suggest a name, feel free to DM me!
Edited:Format

submitted by Lilac_14 to namenerds [link] [comments]

2024.02.19 05:00 Perfect__Symmetry John Zorn's recommended book list for our study:

Jacques Attali, Noise: The Political Economy of Music (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1985).
Antonin Artaud, Watchfiends & Rack Screams: Works From the Final Period (New York: Exact Change, 2004).
Derek Bailey, Improvisation: Its Nature And Practice In Music (Boston: Da Capo Press, 1993).
Stan Brakhage, Essential Brakhage (Kingston, NY: McPherson, 2001).
Paul Celan, Breathturn into Timestead: The Collected Later Poetry (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2014).
Aleister Crowley; Scott Michaelsen (ed.), Portable Darkness: An Aleister Crowley Reader (Sun Vision Press, 2012).
Guy Debord, Donald Nicholson-Smith (trans.), Society of the Spectacle (Detroit: Black & Red, 2000).
Emily Dickinson, The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson (Boston: Back Bay Books,1976).
Richard Foreman; Gerald Rabkin (ed), Richard Foreman (Art + Performance) (Boston: PAJ Publications, 2005).
Martin Gayford, The Yellow House: Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Nine Turbulent Weeks in Provence (New York: Mariner Books, 2008).
Jean-Luc Godard; Tom Milne (ed., trans.), Godard On Godard (Boston: Da Capo Press, 1986).
Heraclitus, Fragments (New York: Penguin Classics, 2003).
Lewis Hyde, The Gift: Creativity and the Artist in the Modern World, Twenty-fifth Anniversary Edition (New York: Vintage, 2007).
Paola Igliori, ed., American Magus Harry Smith: A Modern Alchemist (Inanout Press: 1996).
Harry Mathews and Alastair Brotchie (eds.), Oulipo Compendium (Los Angeles: Make Now Press, 2005).
Nicolas Slonimsky (ed), Lexicon of Musical Invective: Critical Assaults on Composers Since Beethoven’s Time (New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2001).
Toru Takemitsu, Confronting Silence: Selected Writings (New York: Scarecrow Press, 1995).

(source)

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2024.01.30 20:33 hyshen Where can I buy these Hebrew books (not English translation)?

Folks: a friend in China asks me to buy these books (in original Hebrew version) from USA or wherever else. I really got no clue! Can you guys tell me 1. where in USA I can get them, or 2. any web site in Israel? If you have personal connection with some book seller who carries these book, that would be wonderful.

Modern Literature:

"הסיפור שלי" (My Story) by Asher Reich [English: My Story Chinese: 我的故事]
"תפילת דרך" (Pilgrimage) by Yehiel De-Nur [English: Pilgrimage Chinese: 朝圣之旅]
"האדם בשח"צ" (Man in the Shadows) by Haim Sabato [English: Man in the Shadows Chinese: 阴影中的人]
"הבן מאודסה" (The Son from Odessa) by Aharon Appelfeld [English: The Son from Odessa Chinese: 来自敖德萨的儿子]
"בן המחזור" (The Cycle) by David Rokeah [English: The Cycle Chinese: 循环]

Art and Art Criticism:

"אמנות בישראל: מאורעות לניאריה" (Art in Israel: From Naharayim to Laniado) by Gideon Ofrat [English: Art in Israel: From Naharayim to Laniado Chinese: 以色列艺术：从纳哈赖姆到拉尼亚多]
"תיאוריות האמנות: גישות יסוד בתולדות החשיבה באמנות" (Art Theories: Fundamental Approaches in the History of Art Thinking) by Ziva Amishai-Maisels [English: Art Theories: Fundamental Approaches in the History of Art Thinking Chinese: 艺术理论：艺术思维史中的基本方法]
"כאן ועכשיו: אמנות ישראלית, 1960-1990" (Here and Now: Israeli Art, 1960-1990) by Gideon Ofrat [English: Here and Now: Israeli Art, 1960-1990 Chinese: 此时此刻：以色列艺术，1960-1990]
"מאמרים על אמנות יהודית וישראלית" (Essays on Jewish and Israeli Art) by Mordechai Omer [English: Essays on Jewish and Israeli Art Chinese: 犹太和以色列艺术论文集]
"הביצה השחורה: אמנות ישראלית וספרות עברית" (The Black Egg: Israeli Art and Hebrew Literature) by Gideon Ofrat [English: The Black Egg: Israeli Art and Hebrew Literature Chinese: 黑蛋：以色列艺术与希伯来文学]

Poetry:

"שירים נבחרים" (Selected Poems) by Yehuda Amichai [English: Selected Poems Chinese: 精选诗歌]
"שירי רחל" (Poems of Rachel) by Rachel Bluwstein [English: Poems of Rachel Chinese: 瑞秋的诗歌]
"שירים שנבחרו" (Selected Poems) by Leah Goldberg [English: Selected Poems Chinese: 精选诗歌]
"תהלים בתרגום לעברית עכשווית" (Psalms in Contemporary Hebrew Translation) by Yair Hurvitz [English: Psalms in Contemporary Hebrew Translation Chinese: 当代希伯来译本的诗篇]
"מולדת מילים" (Homeland of Words) by Nathan Zach [English: Homeland of Words Chinese: 词语的故乡]

补充：
《圣经》
律法书（五经）：摩西
历史书：约书亚、撒母耳、大卫、以斯拉、尼希米、以斯帖等
智慧文学：大卫、所罗门、约伯、传道者、雅歌等
先知书：以赛亚、耶利米、以西结、但以理、何西阿、约珥、阿摩司、俄巴底亚、约拿、弥迦、那鸿、哈巴谷、西番雅、哈该、撒迦利亚、玛拉基等
耶胡达·阿米亥YehudaAmichai 《诗歌》《耶路撒冷之歌和自我》《阿门》《时间》《爱情诗》《伟大的宁静：纷纭的问与答》《耶路撒冷之诗》《甚至拳头也曾是五指伸张的手掌》《阿米亥：1948—1994年诗选》《开、闭、开》
《巴别塔》（בבל / Bavel）- "Bavel" - 作者：夏娃·哈维尔 / Evel Harel
《约拿》（יונה / Yonah）- "Jonah" - 作者：未知 / Unknown
《以斯帖记》（אסתר / Ester）- "Esther" - 作者：未知 / Unknown
《耶利米哀歌》（איכה / Eicha）- "Lamentations" - 作者：耶利米亚 / Jeremiah
《传统犹太法律》（שולחן ערוך / Shulchan Aruch）- "Shulchan Aruch" - 作者：约瑟夫·卡罗 / Joseph Karo
《左拉传奇》（תקופות התבונה / T'kufot HaTevunah）- "The Legends of Luzzatto" - 作者：摩西·海因曼·卢扎托 / Moshe Chaim Luzzatto
《海洋之歌》（שירת הים / Shirat HaYam）- "Song of the Sea" - 作者：未知 / Unknown
《拉帕普札基》（רפפוז / Rappoport）- "Rappoport" - 作者：塞尔吉乌斯·拉帕普札基 / Sergei Rappoport
《传统犹太故事》（סיפורי חז"ל / Sipurei Chazal）- "Stories of the Sages" - 作者：未知 / Unknown
《悲歌》（קינות / Kinot）- "Kinot" - 作者：未知 / Unknown
《亚伯拉罕之歌》（שיר האבות / Shir HaAvot）- "Song of the Fathers" - 作者：未知 / Unknown
《战争与和平》（מלחמה ושלום / Milchama VeShalom）- "War and Peace" - 作者：阿米尔·吉尔博 / Amir Gilboa
《耶路撒冷的黎明》（שחר בירושלים / Shachar BeYerushalayim）- "Dawn in Jerusalem" - 作者：阿米尔·吉尔博 / Amir Gilboa
《维苏威火山》（הר הפיסות / Har HaPisgah）- "Mount Vesuvius" - 作者：亚努·埃尔兰 / Yano Erlan
《被遗忘的故事》（סיפור נשכח / Sipour Nashachach）- "Forgotten Story" - 作者：亚努·埃尔兰 / Yano Erlan
《日常生活中的诗歌》（שירי היום יום / Shiray HaYom Yom）- "Poems of Everyday Life" - 作者：扎尔米·斯特恩海默 / Zeremi Sternheimer
《朱拉山之歌》（שירת ג'ורה / Shirat Gura）- "Song of Gura" - 作者：约斯夫·阿戴尔曼 / Yosef Adelman
《失乐园》（גן עדן אבוד / Gan Eden Avud）- "Lost Paradise" - 作者：约纳斯·哈苏尔 / Jonas Hassel
《莎乐美》（שלמה / Shlomo）- "Shlomo" - 作者：德雷克·米尔敦 / Derek Milton
《塔尼亚》（טניה / Tanya）- "Tanya" - 作者：肖洛姆·多维贝尔 / Sholom Dovber

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2024.01.30 20:31 hyshen Where can I buy these Hebrew books (not English translation)?

Folks: a friend in China asks me to buy these books from USA or wherever else. I really got no clue! Can you guys tell me 1. where in USA can I get them, or 2. any web site in Israel? If you have personal connection with some book seller who carries these book, that would be wonderful.

Modern Literature:

"הסיפור שלי" (My Story) by Asher Reich [English: My Story Chinese: 我的故事]
"תפילת דרך" (Pilgrimage) by Yehiel De-Nur [English: Pilgrimage Chinese: 朝圣之旅]
"האדם בשח"צ" (Man in the Shadows) by Haim Sabato [English: Man in the Shadows Chinese: 阴影中的人]
"הבן מאודסה" (The Son from Odessa) by Aharon Appelfeld [English: The Son from Odessa Chinese: 来自敖德萨的儿子]
"בן המחזור" (The Cycle) by David Rokeah [English: The Cycle Chinese: 循环]

Art and Art Criticism:

"אמנות בישראל: מאורעות לניאריה" (Art in Israel: From Naharayim to Laniado) by Gideon Ofrat [English: Art in Israel: From Naharayim to Laniado Chinese: 以色列艺术：从纳哈赖姆到拉尼亚多]
"תיאוריות האמנות: גישות יסוד בתולדות החשיבה באמנות" (Art Theories: Fundamental Approaches in the History of Art Thinking) by Ziva Amishai-Maisels [English: Art Theories: Fundamental Approaches in the History of Art Thinking Chinese: 艺术理论：艺术思维史中的基本方法]
"כאן ועכשיו: אמנות ישראלית, 1960-1990" (Here and Now: Israeli Art, 1960-1990) by Gideon Ofrat [English: Here and Now: Israeli Art, 1960-1990 Chinese: 此时此刻：以色列艺术，1960-1990]
"מאמרים על אמנות יהודית וישראלית" (Essays on Jewish and Israeli Art) by Mordechai Omer [English: Essays on Jewish and Israeli Art Chinese: 犹太和以色列艺术论文集]
"הביצה השחורה: אמנות ישראלית וספרות עברית" (The Black Egg: Israeli Art and Hebrew Literature) by Gideon Ofrat [English: The Black Egg: Israeli Art and Hebrew Literature Chinese: 黑蛋：以色列艺术与希伯来文学]

Poetry:

"שירים נבחרים" (Selected Poems) by Yehuda Amichai [English: Selected Poems Chinese: 精选诗歌]
"שירי רחל" (Poems of Rachel) by Rachel Bluwstein [English: Poems of Rachel Chinese: 瑞秋的诗歌]
"שירים שנבחרו" (Selected Poems) by Leah Goldberg [English: Selected Poems Chinese: 精选诗歌]
"תהלים בתרגום לעברית עכשווית" (Psalms in Contemporary Hebrew Translation) by Yair Hurvitz [English: Psalms in Contemporary Hebrew Translation Chinese: 当代希伯来译本的诗篇]
"מולדת מילים" (Homeland of Words) by Nathan Zach [English: Homeland of Words Chinese: 词语的故乡]

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2024.01.29 15:44 BrainDeadMulti A message from me

Harry's Game is a British television drama mini-series made by Yorkshire Television for ITV) in 1982, closely based on the 1975 novel Harry's Game by Gerald Seymour, a former journalist.[1] Apart from brief scenes, it is set in and around Belfast during the Troubles.
Its lead actors were Ray Lonnen, Derek Thompson) and Benjamin Whitrow.[2] The series was well-received, and added to the channel's reputation for producing quality TV drama.[3]
The drama is noted for its closing music, "Theme from Harry's Game", by the Irish musical group Clannad. The music was used in trailers and later commercially released, reaching the top five of Irish and British singles charts, bringing the band its first major international exposure.[4] The drama, filmed in West Yorkshire, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland has been released under five other names in other countries.

Synopsis[edit]

The British government cabinet minister Henry Danby is killed by an IRA gunman, Billy Downes, in front of his wife and children outside his home in London. Downes then escapes to Belfast. Army officer Harry Brown is sent undercover into Belfast's Catholic community to track down the assassin. Brown is chosen for the mission because he is an Ulsterman who has previously done similar work in Oman.
Given the cover identity of merchant seaman Harry McEvoy, he finds lodgings in the Falls Road area and secures a job in a scrapyard. He dates a Catholic, Josephine Laverty, and unknowingly encounters Downes in a local club, which is raided by the British Army. A British soldier recognises Harry but ignores him and arrests Downes, who is interrogated but set free. Harry tips off his superiors that the killer was at the club and that Theresa, a girl at whose family home Billy stayed the night while on the run, knows his name. Theresa is arrested, but caught between the police interrogator Rennie and her fear of the IRA if she talks, she hangs herself in prison without revealing Downes' identity. When Josephine realises that Harry must have passed on the information about Theresa, she tells him to leave while he can, but he refuses, saying Danby's killer cannot be allowed to get away with the murder.
At a restaurant in Belfast, a waiter overhears two senior army officers discussing Harry's presence in the city, and passes this information on to the IRA. The local IRA leaders start checking all new arrivals, including Harry.
The IRA start to hunt Harry down. With two other gunmen, Downes ambushes Harry, who shoots the gunmen and forces a passing driver to chase their car as Downes escapes. Harry follows Downes to his own home, which is under surveillance by the army. Harry shoots Downes in the street in front of his wife before being shot himself by the soldiers watching the house, believing Harry to be a member of the IRA. Injured and bleeding in the street, Harry is confronted by Downes's wife, who then shoots him in the head using Harry's own revolver.
The series closes with a narrator reading a part of a poem written by the daughter of real-life IRA victim William J. Staunton, a 46-year-old magistrate shot dead in 1973: "Don't cry, Mummy said. They're not real, but Daddy was, and he's not here. Don't be bitter, Mummy said. They've hurt themselves much more. They can walk and run, Daddy can't."

Cast[edit]

Ray Lonnen as Harry Brown
Benjamin Whitrow as Davidson
Nicholas Day) as Bannen
Geoffrey Chater as Col. George Frost
Sean Caffrey as Insp. Howard Rennie
Derek Thompson) as Billy Downes
Ian Bleasdale as Waiter
Tony Rohr as IRA Brigade Commander
Linda Robson as Theresa McCorrigan
Charles Lawson as Seamus Duffryn

Production[edit]

Locations[edit]

Most of the time filming was spent in Leeds, in Yorkshire, England, on now-demolished housing of Meanwood and at Leeds Studios. This stood in for Northern Ireland.
The rest of footage, filmed in Ireland, include shots of the Falls Road, broader views as where Harry is frisked on entry to Belfast city centre (there was a permanent checkpoint for pedestrians there for many years) and the final scenes overlooking the cityscape were in Holywood, County Down and close to the military/MI5 barracks. Scenes were also filmed in South County Dublin including in Ballybrack.[citation needed]

Music[edit]

See also: Theme from Harry's Game
Clannad's closing music became an international breakthrough.[4] Incidental music was sampled or created by Mike Moran).[5]

Broadcast and distribution history[edit]

📷This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
The series screened on the ITV) network as three 52-to-54 minute episodes over consecutive nights from 25 to 27 October 1982, and was later edited into a single 130-minute programme titled Harry's Game – The Movie.
Outside of Britain and Ireland

The film was not widely seen in the US or widely available on video; sold in Canada titled Belfast Assassin. The original, unedited three-part serial was released on DVD in the United Kingdom in 2005.
The box set of DVDs has been distributed in the Netherlands and Belgium.
In Finland it has featured as Ajojahti (Chasing) and Vastaisku (Retaliation).
In France Harry's Game was released in 2008. Its DVD bears title Le tueur de Belfast (The Belfast Killer).
In Germany it was released before unification of Germany as Das tödliche Patt (The Deadly Stalemate).

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2024.01.04 19:28 Actual-Stand5012 8x8 compass of some books I have lying around my home

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2023.12.29 15:09 adulting4kids Black Ice and Rain

Michael Donaghy
Black Ice and Rain
Can I come in? I saw you slip away. Hors d'oeuvres depress you, don't they? They do me. And cocktails, jokes … such dutiful abandon. Where the faithful observe immovable feasts - boat races, birthdays, marriages, martyrdoms - we're summoned to our lonely ceremonies any time: B minor, the mouldiness of an old encyclopedia, the tinny sun snapping off the playground swings, these are, though we can't know this, scheduled to arrive that minute of the hour, hour of the day, day of every year. Again, regular as brickwork comes the time the nurse jots on your chart before she pulls the sheet across your face. Just so the past falls open anywhere - even sitting here with you.
Sorry. You remind me of a girl I knew. I met her at a party much like this, but younger, louder, the bass so fat, the night so sticky you could drown. We shouted at each other over soul and cold beer in the crowded kitchen and l, at least, was halfway to a kiss when she slipped her arm around her friend. I worked at liking him and it took work, and it never got any easier being harmless, but we danced that night like a three-way game of chess and sang to Curtis Mayfield pumped so loud that when I drove them home they could hardly whisper to invite me up.
Their black walls smirked with Jesus on black velvet - Jesus, Elvis, Mexican skeletons, big-eyed Virgins, Rodin's hands clasped in chocolate prayer - an attitude of décor, not like this room of yours. A bottle opened - tequila with a cringe of worm - and she watched me. Lighting a meltdown of Paschal candles she watched me. He poured the drinks rasping We're seriously into cultural detritus. At which, at last, she smiled. Ice cubes cracked. The worm sank in my glass. And all that long year we were joined at the hip.
I never heard them laugh. They had, instead, this tic of scratching quotes in the air - like frightened mimes inside their box of style, that first class carriage from whose bright window I watched the suburbs of my life recede. Exactly one year on she let me kiss her - once - her mouth wine-chilled, my tongue a clumsy guest, and after that the invitations dwindled. By Christmas we were strangers. It was chance I heard about the crash. He died at once. Black ice and rain they said. No news of her.
I can't remember why I didn't write. Perhaps I thought she'd sold the flat and left.
Some nights midway to sleep I'm six years old. Downstairs it's New Year's Eve. Drink and shrieks. But my mother's lit the luminous plastic Jesus to watch me through the night, which is why I've got my pillow wrapped around my head. I never hear the door. And when she speaks, her thick-tongued anger rearing like a beast I feel my hot piss spreading through the sheets. But when I wake, grown up, it's only sweat. But if I dream I bleed. A briar crown, a fist prised open wide, a steadied nail, a hammer swinging down - the past falls open anywhere… Ash Wednesday evening. Driving by, I saw her lights were on. I noticed both their names still on the buzzer and when I rang I heard her voice. Come in - her nose was broken, her front teeth gone, a rosary was twisted round her fists - - Come in. I've been saying a novena. Inside, each crucifix and candle shone, transfigured in her chrysalis of grief. She spoke about the crash, how she'd been driving, how they had to cut her from the wreck… and then she slipped and called me by his name.
Of those next hours I remember most the silences between her sobs, the rain against the skylight slowly weakening to silence, silence brimming into sleep and dawn. Then, having lain at last all night beside her, having searched at last that black-walled room, the last unopened chamber of my heart, and found there neither pity nor desire but an assortment of religious kitsch, I inched my arm from under her and left.
Since then, the calmest voice contains her cry just within the range of human hearing and where I've hoped to hear my name gasped out from cradle, love bed, death bed, there instead I catch her voice, her broken lisp, his name. Since then, each night contains all others, nested mirror-within-mirror, stretching back from then to here and now, this party, this room, this bed, where, in another life, we might have kissed. Thank you, my friend, for showing me your things - you have exquisite taste - but let's rejoin your guests who must by now be wondering where you've gone.
Michael Donaghy
Michael Donaghy's poem "Black Ice and Rain" is a narrative poem that explores themes of memory, loss, and the passage of time. It follows a reflective and introspective tone, revealing the speaker's thoughts and emotions as they recall a past relationship marked by both connection and eventual separation.
The poem utilizes vivid imagery, such as the description of the black-walled room, religious symbols, and the sensory details of the past relationship. It also incorporates elements of storytelling, recounting specific events and moments in a way that allows readers to piece together the narrative.
The structure of the poem is free verse, without a strict rhyme scheme or meter, allowing for a natural flow of language. The narrative unfolds gradually, and the use of enjambment contributes to the seamless transition between lines and stanzas.
Overall, "Black Ice and Rain" is a poignant and reflective exploration of personal history, relationships, and the impact of time on memory.
If you appreciate Michael Donaghy's style, you might enjoy the works of contemporary poets like:

Paul Muldoon: Known for his intricate wordplay and rich imagery.
Don Paterson: His poetry often explores themes of love, loss, and the human experience.
Carol Ann Duffy: Former UK Poet Laureate, her poetry combines wit and emotional depth.
Seamus Heaney: Renowned for his lyrical and evocative exploration of Irish landscapes and history.
Derek Mahon: His work often reflects on personal and historical themes with a keen sense of language.

Each poet has a unique voice, but there may be resonances with Donaghy's themes and stylistic elements in their poetry.

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2023.12.27 12:46 HeelsAlwaysWin Album of the Year #10: Marlon Craft - Homecourt Advantage, Vol. 2

ARTIST: Marlon Craft
ALBUM: Homecourt Advantage, Vol. 2
LINKS:
Spotify
YouTube
Apple Music
BACKGROUND:
I remember scrolling through Instagram one night back in the summer of 2021. I had gone down a rabbit hole and wound up on the Instagram page of Dante Ross, an A&R rep who made some waves in the 90s while working at Def Jam, Tommy Boy, and Elektra Records. He's a very “if you know, you know” kinda guy basically and I personally only knew the name because he's mentioned on “The Gas Face” by 3rd Bass, one of the earliest examples of successful white artists in hip hop. I guess that makes it appropriate that I saw him recommending a mixtape on his IG. I had seen the cover before while scrolling through YouTube Music, it was “Homecourt Advantage, Vol. 1” by Marlon Craft. There were a few song snippets included in the post and I liked what I heard, so I ended up giving it a listen and as it turned out, the project ended up being one of my favorites of the year when it was all said and done. There was jazzy boom bap production reminiscent of the famed New Yorkers of the 90s like Wu-Tang, Nas, and Jay-Z with a modern twist, not too dissimilar from what you might hear on an Action Bronson or Griselda joint. And Marlon can rap his ass off, with chilled out flows and dense rhyme schemes that make every verse smooth as butter.
2 years later, off the back of his 3rd album, “While We're Here”, New York MC Marlon Craft returns with the second volume of his “Homecourt Advantage” mixtape series and in my humble opinion, it's his best showing yet. His already great rapping is better than it's ever been and he's laying it down over some of his strongest production yet and if the track “Lessons” is to be believed, he's been taking singing lessons, which allow him to offer up some of his best hooks. I don't wanna get too far ahead of myself though, so let's dive in and see what exactly this project has to offer.
REVIEW
THE ANSWER
The opening track is a classic barred up intro track. Marlon has a simple jazzy beat that he proceeds to rip to shreds. The title is an Allen Iverson reference and as such, Marlon presents himself in a similar vein. Can a small score first point guard be successful in a league dominated by giants? Allen Iverson was the answer. Can a rapper be successful without being a cog in the major label machine and losing their artistic integrity? Marlon Craft is the answer.
Favorite Lyrics:

And y'all posturin' in cahoots on some toxic shit. Faux oxygen, y'all don't breathe the same as I do. Can't be the same as y'all, son, I tried to. Used to box me out, now they try to box me in. Find someone else to lie to.
You know I fuck with consent, but fuck a message that a con sent, my shit is God-sent. Speak the essence, what's a comment? Craft just got here, where the calm went?

PENSION
A consistent trend will be my praise of the production on this album. Now, a few producers worked on this project, but the most consistent is Arbus Beats who creates these beautiful jazzy soundscapes for Craft spit on top of. The beat here is a bit faster than most of the others here, making Marlon speed up his flow, but it's just as buttery as ever and when paired with some seriously well written lyrics, it makes for a great listen. The lyrical content isn't breaking new ground, it focuses on Craft's disillusionment with mainstream rap and the capitalist system it upholds as well as the fire he's found within himself making independent underground rap that allows him to be his true self. I do quite like the general song concept of working for his pension, unconcerned with the lights and glamor because he doesn't like what that turns people into.
Favorite Lyrics:

I'm such a rarity these days amidst the fog, what's rare is the clarity these days. Dudes soundin' same, lot of parity these days to the point that it's become a parody, jeez, wait
The grooviest of flows, it behoove you to oppose any lunacy supposin' be aloof to how he flows
How you gon' speak on behalf of this but couldn't be half of this? How you gon' tell me when I mastered this? When without the money, I made it cool to be passionate? Your faves try to do what I do, just with a capitalist twist. Their applause might be louder, but it's blood on the hands that they clappin' with, shit

UPSNDOWNS
This beat is so good y'all. It's just a simple vocal sample flip, but it's done so cleanly, not to mention it's just straight ear candy. This song has a simple concept: weather the storm and be yourself, no matter what. It's an uplifting message that genuinely makes me smile when I hear it. It's also a great vocal performance as Craft spits what are essentially battle rap diss bars, but does so in such a way that it feels like a loved one expressing genuine concern because he knows you can do better than you are if you just accept who you are and see it through to the end. It's not a song I've revisited a ton throughout the year, but it's one that whenever I have, I'm left wondering “Why am I not listening to this more often?” Great track all around.
Favorite Lyrics:

Hedo Türkoğlu how I work the magic
Cause y'all mad famous for years and still broke, ooh
Y'all chase bills, I Bill Russelled the shit. Led myself to a chip, who coached you? I see that pain in your eyes, who owns you? Know you don't know me, but fam, do you know you?
And dudes would rather die than to be themselves

DISTANCE
This is the first track of the album not produced by Arbus, but King Chino still provides a smooth jazzy beat for Craft that's almost reminiscent of something you might hear from The Roots. I'm rooting for Marlon to get the means to perform this track with a live band. Lyrically, we're treated to two verses that work to offer separate perspectives on the chorus, which is appropriate given that the first bar is literally “I don't got bars, I got perspectives.” The first verse explores his self doubt and some of the toxic narratives that drive some of the music discourse online, but he finds the positives such as using those negative thoughts to create art and the ability to work through those low moments with the people you love. The second verse is another musing on the importance of being your true self and not sacrificing your art for a success that's likely fleeting. Like I said, these verses offer dual perspectives on the hook of “I'ma keep my distance” with the first verse referring to those negative thoughts and discourse and the second of course referring to the mainstream music industry. He doesn't want to cut it out completely, but an arm's length away is more than close enough.
Favorite Lyrics:

I don't got bars, I got perspectives. I don't make art based on incentives.
All of my negative impulses, they try to corner me, but on the corner's where I learned the shit I be performin', see
While y'all somewhere pretendin' all this mids is piff, used to put the orange peels in that, sell it as tropical haze. That's what your favorite rapper did to you that got him some fame

TOO YOUNG
This next track is produced by Haqq and the beat is a nice love letter to the chipmunk soul era of the early 2000s with a pitched up R&B sample and hard hitting drums. Here, we find Craft rapping about the state he reps: New York. This isn't a particularly uncommon topic for him to touch on, but he comes at from an angle of label reps questioning whether the average New York rap fan would identify with a scrawny white guy. This culminates in the chorus where he chastises these reps as having never been outside because otherwise, they would see the respect shown for him around the city. The second verse is such a short little braggadocious rap about why he's so well equipped with some great lines that'll be included in the favorite lyrics section. Definitely one of the highlights of the project for me.
Favorite Lyrics:

Connecticut prep stars is givin' out the deals, bookin' all the shows, tellin' me I won't appeal, but where the fuck was you when I was livin' just to prove? Closed fists on the train just stiff enough to move. Baby Craft with a lil' rhythm and some groove, bled for this legacy, that's dividends to you
Uptown, Downtown, Midtown, side, Y'all motherfuckers never been outside. Uptown, Downtown, Midtown, side, Y'all motherfuckers never lived that ride. Uptown, Downtown, Midtown, side, Y'all motherfuckers never felt that pride. Uptown, Downtown, Midtown, side, Y'all motherfuckers never lived that ride
It's been a long road, now I could write a manual quickly to show you how to come off the bench and be a man of the city. Man, I'm out here shootin' shots, fuck who handle is pretty. My petty is polished, my flow handsome and gritty
I'm Bruce Lee in Foamposites

ALL THAT
Aw shit, it's my favorite track. This is another Arbus Beat, but rather than smooth, this goes in a grittier direction, with guest rapper Flee Lord saying “This beat sounds like Reasonable Doubt” which I'd say is a pretty apt comparison. The concept is simple: Marlon is that motherfucking guy on the mic, he really is all that and a bag of chips. Well, actually no, it's fuck your bag of chips. I'd also be remiss to not make a further mention of the feature here, Griselda affiliate and underground rap veteran Flee Lord. He's a perfect fit for the grimy production here with his voice pairing wonderfully with the discordant piano that serves as the main basis for the beat here. As I said, this is my favorite track on the project and one of my favorite songs of the whole year, period. If I can only recommend one song from this mixtape, it's this one.
Favorite Lyrics:

You should shut the fuck up when you talk to me
Diehard Knicks fan but support the Warriors closetly. Don't tell my people!
Derek Jeter of the Neumann microphone
I'm really outside, y'all type of clones type of home I man up, even when I'm in this type of fuckin' zone I'm type prone to type a poem, type to own all the shit I'm typin' So get the fuck out my face!
Bitch, I'm all that! Fuck your bag of chips!
Been broken, been poor, now it's evenin' out (Now we up)

SODA CLUB
The next joint is the second track produced by Haqq and features a similar early 2000s Kanye vibe in the production with its uptempo drums and triumphant horns sounding like they've been pulled directly from “The College Dropout” or “Late Registration” and I absolutely mean that as a compliment. Structurally, the song is reminiscent of many classic lyrical rap tracks from the late 90s with Marlon and guest rapper Skyzoo each getting a long verse to spit their shit with no chorus in between them and in my opinion, they both deliver. Marlon mostly raps about the value of hard work and enjoying the fruits it's brought him and he ends his verse with a nice Godfather 3 reference, which you always love to see. Skyzoo, for lack of a better word, fucking rips this shit. It's a true love letter to New York and the hip hop and basketball culture it's bred and I can't imagine a guest verse that could ever better fit the themes of this mixtape. Major shout out to him.
Favorite Lyrics:

Flow like I invented butter, Washington Carver
You make the album in an hour, probably spend more time pickin' out which caption you should write
But every time I think I'm out, they keep approachin’
My only pronouns is I'm him and he's it
I'm Snow Beach pullovers in verse form, I'm Angelettie beat tapes, Penny Hardaway handles

LESSONS
Shout out to my brother's favorite track off this tape. I don't quite agree, but I very much understand where he's coming from. Arbus kills the production yet again with a slowed down soul sample setting a perfect soundscape for Craft to wax poetic about self improvement, the faults within the mainstream rap industry and its audience, and some New York Knicks basketball. This song has my favorite chorus on the project and the refrain of “I been in the daaaaaarrrk too long” gets stuck in my head constantly, some true earworm shit from a lyrical rapper, you love to see it. Furthermore, this second verse is one of the album's best moments, you can go to the song's Genius page and find a comment from me during its release where I'm going crazy about it. It was fun to find that while relistening and going over the lyrics once more.
Favorite Lyrics:

My cries for help could win GRAMMYs for best vocal performance
Did the math, y'all just who they told you be, minus you
They like, "These rappers lyin'," y'all the ones they lying to
They never picked me the pop, no Kurt Thomas
I'm screamin' rest in peace to Willis Reed. Metaphors aside, you motherfuckers ain't as real as me
I been taking giving lessons, bitch. I feel like Michelle Obama, ooh

NEED!
“NEED!” finds Haqq and Marlon both in their Dipset bag, which you love to see. It's impossible to not imagine yourself in a pink mink jacket when that beat drops and Marlon drops a couple great bars about personal growth and self love, concepts further illustrated by the chorus and the bridge, which is a Damien Lillard sample discussing his path from unranked high schooler to NBA superstar. It's a nice message and I think a lot of people can certainly get a lot from it, but I'm admittedly not super into it. It's not a bad song by any means, but it's probably the worst song by default due to being a 7 on a mixtape full of 8s, 9s, and 10s in the tracklist.
Favorite Lyrics:

Birds of a feather ain't too Larry in the game. Stay the same, only thing scarier than change
Childish but deadly, I'm a gambino
So if I die of natural causes, don't believe 'em! Ain't nothin' natural 'bout the causes they believe in

BASMATI
This track marks the final song on here for Haqq and he delivers a great beat reminiscent of “Burden” by Amine, though this track embraces the no drums trend, which I know can be quite divisive, but I'm a big fan and the vibe it creates here when paired with the smooth flows and deliveries of Marlon and lojii is absolutely immaculate. This is the most Earl Sweatshirt the album gets and I love it a lot. This track focuses on the both rappers stopping to smell the roses and enjoying the comforts in life such as watching Curry drop 40, Embiid win MVP, and basmati rice, which the track of course takes its name from. Both guys are great here, but I've talked about Craft enough and I still have some more to go, so let me focus on lojii for a smidge. He has a super chilled out delivery here which reminds me of whenever the Alchemist raps and it's great. This is another track where everytime I hear it, I'm wondering why I don't listen to it more.
Favorite Lyrics:

Eatin' curry, watchin' Curry have a forty-spot probably
Probably blowin' weed, watchin' Embiid get MVP
My hustle bigger than rap, I let my life speak
So if you feel the music, I need you to move your body

MARATHON
Alright, here we are, last track. Unsurprisingly, it's produced by Arbus who does a stereotypically great job. The track opens with Kobe Bryant discussing why he listens to music before games and his answer is simple: he wants to feel a certain way before he plays and nothing brings out those strong emotions better than music. This sets the stage for Craft who raps about the benefits of no longer repressing his emotions and letting them bleed through in his music, resulting in something much more special than he'd ever made before, something much more human, and something much more himself.
Favorite Lyrics:

Used to think I needed enemies, just wanted some empathy. Turns out, I actually am tough as I pretend to be
'Cause what's a feelin' but a moment? Yeah, all these feelings I was holdin' in. Baby, that's just time lost. Baby, that's a high cost
Yeah, everybody get tired in a marathon, yeah, But we gotta carry on. Thank God it's a marathon. Lot of baggage in that carry-on, yeah

CONCLUSION:
This is an album I've spent a lot of time with this year. I've been following Marlon pretty closely since discovering him through the first “Homecourt Advantage” when that dropped back in 2021 and I have to say, it's been immensely rewarding. I remember the excitement I felt when he announced this project and for something to not only live up to your hype for it, but surpass it is a truly magical thing. I even bought the sick ass physical release of this album that comes in a PS2 case based off of NBA Street, Vol. 2, which the cover art in general of course takes its inspiration from. This isn't the deepest and most conceptual album of the year, far from it in fact. However, while it might not hit the same highs as something like McKinley Dixon's absolutely amazing “Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!?”, I believe it's an extremely effective project that celebrates the rap and basketball culture of New York, where those cultures basically began for all intents and purposes, and moreover, it's a project that celebrates artistic integrity and being yourself, maybe above all else, which I believe is still a very important message to spread in 2023. Marlon is a great rapper and I can't wait to see what he does next.
QUESTIONS:

How do you think this album performed as a sequel to the 1st Volume of Homecourt Advantage? Was it better? Worse? About the same?
Would you like to see a more conceptual effort from Marlon Craft next or has he found his niche with these track collections that focus on similar themes like Griselda or Action Bronson have?
What was your favorite track and why?
How would you like to see Marlon follow up this project?
Is there anyone you'd love to see him collaborate with?

submitted by HeelsAlwaysWin to hiphopheads [link] [comments]

2023.12.25 07:46 CeIIuIose A Reason to (Cel)ebrate

It was a beautiful Christmas Eve night. The weather, perfect. The camp's magic weather allowed for a bit of light snowfall to elegantly make it's way down to the ground. As the flakes fell, they blended in along with the glimmering stars of the night sky. Each holding their own unique pattern, alike none other in the universe. This night was beautiful, perfect for sleeping the night away with dreams of chestnuts roasting on an open fire and the presents promised in the morning. While St. Nick made his way around the world delivering presents (and lumps of coal) to worthy and unworthy children alike, Cel had his own plans. And there was no time like the present for putting them into action.
While the loss of the past three months had certainly put a damper on the son of Eros' glow, he couldn't let that detract from his love of the holidays. Yes, he had been in a slump. Yes, he felt lost and a little scared. Yes, he and Seth hadn't really spoken in a couple of days. But that didn't mean Cel couldn't continue to traverse the barren path that was healing. And what better way to continue on his healing journey than to focus on the celebratory spirit of the holidays. On this night, Cel had his own presents to deliver. With a list in hand, a festive outfit on his person, and a Santa hat on his head, Cel set out to deliver a set of gifts to his close friends and family. Invisibility certainly came in handy for a holiday caper. Each of his friends would find their gifts underneath their respective beds and bunks. Covertly and lovingly placed by the invisible son of Eros after everyone has drifted off into a good nights sleep.

Austin and Jason Reynolds

The first to receive a gift were none other than Cel's half-brothers, the Reynolds twins. They'd been at camp nearly as long as Cel had. As such, the boys had grown very close. Cel had grown up as an only child, but he'd always dreamed of siblings. Jason and Austin filled that dream. While there had been other children of Eros that had came and gone from Camp, the Reynolds stayed. They'd always been there when Cel left and he knew they'd be around when they got back. It's only fitting that Cel got his favorite half-brothers a gift.
Jason's Gift:

A hockey puck signed by Henrik Sedin

Austin's Gift:

A vintage guitar songbook

Both gifts for his brothers were found by Cel at a local thrift shop. His dazzling charm make bartering with the lady behind the counter very easy. It must have been fate that a gift for the hockey-loving Jason as well as the guitarist Austin would be found in the same spot. However, that wasn't the only gift for the twins. Cel left a note on both of their wrapped presents. It read; "Merry Christmas to my favorite brothers! Your next dates are on me, whatever you guys want to do (within reason). -Love, Cel"
The gifts were placed underneath the Christmas tree in the living room of the Eros cabin as Cel left into the winters night to deliver more gifts.

David Ruiz

The next to receive their gift was none other than David, Cel's mentee and close friend. They'd spent many days together in the arena, at the dining pavilion, and (most recently) trapped in the void which held them for the greater portion of 3 months. Needless, to say, they had built quite a bond. It was one that was much stronger, and healthier, than the one Cel shared with his old mentor (Derek Ward would have never given Cel a Christmas gift, unless it was another sword to the stomach). David and Cel had gone through a lot together in the last few months, so Cel thought his friend could use a good pick-me-up.
David's Gifts:

A new pair of joggers and a matching hoodie.
A gift card to David's favorite Mexican restaurant in Montauk (With enough money to buy not one, but two tamale platters!).

On top of the neatly wrapped present was a note with relatively decent/legible handwriting. It read; "See you in the morning at the Arena! - Love, Cel"
Seems that even Christmas couldn't save David from the shortening of his Styx timeline. With the Ares Counselor's gifts out of the way, Cel journeyed on to the next cabin.

Jules Morgan

This maniac of a Forgemaster had been quite the difficult one to procure a present for. Jules and Cel met the day the son of Hephaestus arrived at Camp. Cel helped him with the motorcycle incident, which Cel heard was still a sore subject for his friend. They'd slain an empousa disguised as a schoolteacher together, as well as fought on opposite sides of Capture the Flag as opponents. Jules had given Cel what has become one of the son of Eros' prized weapons; A tracking compound bow. Finding something that could replicate the feeling Cel had received from that gift would be difficult, but not impossible. Now, Cel had thought about manipulating a salesman into giving him a free motorcycle. However, that posed many ethical and legal risks that Cel was not currently willing to undertake. So, Cel went smaller in scale with his gift. Something that would, hopefully, be both meaningful and useful to his friend who was both practical and handy.
Jules' Gift:

A brand new motorcycle radiator.

It was wrapped in fiery red wrapping paper. On the inside of the box was a note that read; "I hope you haven't already found/stole/made one of these for your bike. Hopefully you'll be able to get her up and running soon. -Love, Cel"
While Jules may have found himself a new romantic interest to occupy the tempest that was his mind, Cel knew that his first love (that being his motorcycle, of course) could never be replaced. He only wished to help his friend reignite the flames that drove their engines together. As he left the Hephaestus Cabin, Cel couldn't help but laugh to himself. A guy who loved a machine... hopefully Lucy could handle her competition!

Quincy Rockford

A troublemaker, rabblerouser, and irritant by every sense of the word. This troubled child had been abrasive the moment they stepped foot into Camp's boundaries. Not only did Cel know they were prone to violence, he'd experienced it first hand. They had a little bout in the forest during one of his infamous 'Cel Games,' which ended with Quincy being knocked unconscious due to the younger demigod going into a berserker rage. While Cel didn't know the kid's past, he did know they were troubled. The shouting match between them and their father certainly illuminated some things to the son of Eros. It was Cel's father's job to spread and inspire love for all people, so Cel thought he'd take the initiative to the same for those who needed it. So, while he didn't know Quincy all too well, Cel picked out a gift for them.
Quincy's Gift:

A bunny mobile

Not the best gift of the night, but Cel had very little to go off of when it came to the child of power. At most, he knew the kid's rabbit, Zoom, was their most prized companion. So, Cel figured he couldn't go wrong with gifting them a contraption that Zoom would love. He left a note on this box as well. It read; "You've always got a friend if you need it. -From, Cel"
Their gift was left near Zoom's sleeping quarters in the Nike cabin, which just so happened to be the close to Cel's final stop on his giving spree.

Seth Westley

The final recipient of a gift from Celestial Aria for this night. It was their second Christmas together. Although the first was spent with Seth in a coma and during the recovery period after the Son of Metis war. So, technically, you could count this and Cel and Seth's first Christmas together. But, in true Greek romance fashion, that did not come without trials. Seth seemed to be dealing with his own emotions since Cel's return from the void that trapped him for months. These feelings had kept the two boys from truly interacting in a worthwhile manner. Even Eros noticed that the boys had been avoiding one another. Cel knew that Seth must need time to process things, so he didn't want to press his boyfriend to speak with him until he was ready. But that didn't mean Seth wouldn't be receiving anything from Cel for Christmas. They had already had a missed holiday to make up for, after all! Cel made sure to go all out for this one.
Seth's Gifts:

A brand new sweater vest to add to Seth's already massive collection.
Black hair dye along with a sticky note that read: "We can do this together later, although I do kinda like your hair right now"
A box set of books from one of Seth's most favorite authors.
Homemade Pão de Queijo (Brazilian Cheese bread), baked with love by Cel's mother.
A small box labelled "The Happiest Moments of My Life" with various photos of Cel and Seth together. All taken on a disposable camera and recently printed on the trip to Olympus.

Finally, there was a handwritten poem. Seth was definitely the writer between the two of them. However, Cel decided he'd try his hand at his boyfriend's craft.
"A Sweet Dream"
You've shown me colors I cannot see on my own And every day I wonder How was I ever alone? Without you keeping me from falling under
In the nights while you sleep I think about the days Where your smile outshines the sun golden rays And think about the feelings that you keep
While I don't know what you've seen Or the things you can't bring yourself to say It's my hope that one day I can help you dream a sweet dream
- Love, Cel
Not the best poet in the world, but Cel just felt like he should try. Maybe they weren't communicating verbally, but Cel had to make sure that Seth still knew of his boyfriend's love in some way (not that there should ever be a question of that). With the final gift left near Seth's bedside, Cel exited the Hermes cabin with a wistful smile on his face as the invisibility magic faded from his body for the final time that night. It seems there was still one gift left to open.
.
.
.
Atop the roof of the Eros cabin, Cel sat with his feet dangling over the edge. They swung on the air carelessly as he mindlessly fiddled with the wrapping paper of a small box. It was gifted to him by his father, Eros, during their meeting on the Winter Solstice at Olympus. Cel had elected to wait until Christmas to open the present from his dad. After all, it was the first Christmas present Cel had ever received from his father. Luckily, the time seemed to be just past midnight as Cel considered opening his present. Well, since it's Christmas day, he might as well get on with the unwrapping.
The small box was simple. Rosy wrapping paper with flecks of gold dust that may have come off the wings of Eros himself. Cel couldn't help but smile as he peeled back the paper delicately. It wasn't every day a god gave you a gift... yet Cel had received a gift from Eros twice! The peeled wrapping paper revealed a small box. Inside the box, a teddy bear. Cel laughed a bit as he smelled the familiar, comforting smell of Brazilian hot cocoa. It brought warm memories of winter nights with his mother and she told him stories of what his father was like. A breath of content found its way out of Cel's lungs as he looked up at the night sky.
"Merry Christmas, Dad."
(This is open for only the characters mentioned to respond. If your character did not receive a gift, please don't reply to this post! Merry Christmas, Camp Half-Blood RP!)

submitted by CeIIuIose to CampHalfBloodRP [link] [comments]

2023.12.23 00:28 BennyOcean Some Thoughts on the Marianne Williamson Episode

Firstly I wanted to say that I thought it was a very good episode and the aftershow was one of the best in recent memory. They got a lot out of her and pushed back enough but not so much as to come off as "attack dog", which is what happened when she was on the recent Jimmy Dore episode that she mentioned not enjoying. You don't want a guest to feel like they're being ambushed.
The points about Derek Chauvin that tied in with the Ahmaud Arbery case and tangentially the J6th cases were well made. While it doesn't seem like the ideas landed well with Williamson it's still worthwhile spelling out the details of what's going on for the sake of the audience. The key idea is that Americans can no longer expect a fair trial. Due Process is guaranteed by the Constitution and this is being ignored, either willfully or due to criminal negligence.
Tim mentions how this is contributing to the possibility of a coming civil war because if all other options are exhausted and if people have lost faith in police and courts, a civil uprising and mass violence becomes much more likely. All you need is the narrative "your government has turned against you" and a spark. For example something regarding Trump and his supporters. Trump killed or thrown in prison. His supporters thrown in prison as "collaborators", which is already happening.
Ian made a point about "toxic compassion" that I thought was a good one but the conversation quickly moved on. I think the more common phrasing of this idea is toxic empathy, but the best encapsulation of the idea is pathological altruism.
Some altruism or empathy or compassion is fine, but there's a point where it goes to far and becomes toxic and pathological. For example if a man is so compassionate that he gives away all his money and can no longer afford to pay his mortgage, or to pay for food for his children, you've crossed from healthy altruism to it being too much and unhealthy. This could be compared to the idea "secure your own mask before trying to help others" in an emergency situation. Feed your own kids before worrying about feeding all the underprivileged children of the world.
I would have liked someone on the show to ask Marianne, "is the United States obligated to take in all the world's poor? And if not, what are the limits?" I think that her attitude is that their should be no limits and that the US should indeed take in all the world's poor, and give them free money for an indefinite period of time. This would create a perverse incentive, telling any poor person from anywhere in the world, come to the US and we'll give you free housing, healthcare, education and spending money.
The problem with this is that it would increase the quality of life for underprivileged foreigners at the expense of making life worse for those already here. Williamson doesn't seem to have much care or concern about that, not to mention national security concerns. Her only concern seems to be helping everyone outside "the tent" with no regard for what this would do for the people already inside the tent. This is pathological and is the kind of thing that can lead to a nation's economic collapse, which makes this way of thinking very dangerous.
A 19th century french politician famously once said, "To not a socialist at twenty is to have no heart; to be one still at forty is to have no brain." This basic idea continues on into the present, and it might be a stereotype but the basic idea holds true: Left/liberals are all heart no brain. "Open borders! Free stuff for everyone!" Conservatives on the other hand are more cerebral and less feeling. These roughly mirror female and male characteristics, with Democrats displaying the toxic feminine characteristics with men displaying the toxic masculine. Too much compassion at the expense of logic at reason, compared with over-valuing reason while neglecting compassion. We actually do need both but it's difficult to strike the right balance.
I find Williamson to be a nice person but the type of person who would be dangerous to have as President. Open borders immigration policy is neither rational nor economically feasible in the long term. It's not our obligation to try to absorb the most desperate people from all over the world. Just because some immigration is good doesn't mean more will always be better. There's a point where it's too much and we're past that point.
Last thing I wanted to add, if you've seen the movie Coach Carter, this famous scene was adapted from one of her poems.
~~~~~

Our Greatest Fear —Marianne Williamson

it is our light not our darkness that most frightens us

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other
people won't feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, Our presence automatically liberates others.
—Marianne Williamson

submitted by BennyOcean to TimPool [link] [comments]

2023.12.20 21:49 lswolfy Community Update - December 20th, 2023

Hello, everyone. 👋🏻 It's Brandi, honored to be writing you for our last community update of the year. Things are starting to quiet down around Launch School as people turn away from their screens and towards the beaming faces of their friends, family, and pets(pictured below we have Honey, Hudson, and Tommy all getting into the festive spirit 😍). My launch date was November of 2022, and I'm finding that after over a year at Launch School, I have many friends who exist within the realm of my computer screen. I'm so grateful for the wonderful community here, whether it's the familiar faces I get to cheer on through the curriculum, my study buddies pushing me further, my coworkers constantly inspiring me with their ideas and commitment to a student-focused education system, or the pets I've come to know and love. I see you all, and it brings me so much joy! In terms of gifts, Launch School has been a darn good one that I'm happy to have under the tree again this year. 🥲

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Gosh, that was sappy. Moving on to Launch School News!

Winter Holiday Hours

Lovely time of year for a break, huh? Much of the LS staff will be stepping out both for Christmas and the New Year. This means that the general 'within 24 hours' window that you're accustomed to for grading, code reviews, and scheduling may be longer than normal. Some of us will still be around, though, so if you're feeling particularly compelled to submit your assessment on Christmas Eve, go for it! I'm wishing you an A+ under the tree when you awake. 🥹
More info here.

New Podcast Episode

We have a new podcast episode up! This time, Chris chats with JD and Daniel, two SPOT Admins and current students. They chat about what the SPOT is, who it's for, and how it can complement your Launch School studies. They also show of a demo of GatherTown, the virtual meeting space. If you're a new or potential student, this a great episode to tune into for an idea of what the community is like here.

Listen here or on most podcast apps.
Watch on YouTube to see the demo here.

SPOT Lead Recruiting

Speaking of #the-spot, they need more leads! If you want to solidify content from the previous courses as well as increase your retention, being a lead is the gig for you. Aside from pushing yourself technically, it's a huge boost in the realm of soft skills and communication. They're in particular need of JavaScript track leads as well as Front-end curriculum leads, but happy to take on anyone eager to help. Check out JD's post for more information.

Capstone Presentation Recordings

We're excited to share that the recent Capstone presentations have been recorded and are available to watch on YouTube! Get a peak into what the hard work of Capstone can turn into:

Curriculum Update: LS220

Lesson 1 of the Introduction to Data Structures and Algorithms course has been updated! If you aren't there yet, no worries. If you're in this course or already past it, you may wish to revisit lesson 1 for more information on time complexity and extra practice problems.

Curriculum Update: TS240

By popular demand, we've added a TypeScript Exercises Group for TS240. These exercises will help prepare you for the TS240 assessment, and also help you practice what you've learned in TS240. Have fun!

Meetups

There was a two-person meet-up in Bangalore with Arjun and Bharat. Way to make it happen, guys! The #india slack channel is pretty quiet right now, but maybe this will inspire some new activity!

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#california-south had a nice turnout last week!

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Women's Group

Always on top of the planning, the Women's group already has their next meeting set for the new year! Join them on January 7th at 12pm ET/9am PT to talk new year's intentions and goals. Make sure you join their slack channel, #ls-womens-group to stay in the loop.

Down Low

Time for my favorite segment of the Community Update, the ⬇️ down low ⬇️ Here's what's been brewing in minds of the Launch School community:

Fellow student and career transitioning Scott wrote a lovely article perfectly articulating what abstraction is. It's kind of the secret sauce to programming and computers in general, so go have a read! The analogies are on point, so this is a great article even if you haven't encountered the concept before.
PEDAC: Peh-Dack or Pee-Dack. We've all wondered, and Derek asked. How do you pronounce PEDAC? The consensus is a hard 'e'. As of now, the 'Pee-Dack' votes are at 59 and 'Peh-Dack' votes are at 19. See for yourself here. Though we may be divided on this, I think we can all agree that we need more voting-via-emojis. That's super fun.
A true conundrum most of us face, how do you explain Launch School to those on the outside? I reckon it depends on how suspicious your audience is to begin with, but there are a ton of helpful suggestions on this thread.

Some of our busiest threads in the past few weeks have been new student introductions. So if you're new, don't be shy! There are oodles of us eager to get to know you and cheer you on.
Below we have my Advent of Code calendar as complete as it's going to get for a bit. Great job to everyone who managed to earn even a single star thus far! If you made it out of the trebuchet, you did us proud. These are tough, and I met my match on day 17. I'm absolutely tickled to have made it 16 full days before meeting a challenge that I couldn't manage in the day. I'll certainly be returning to these puzzles in the months to come, but for now, I can relax a bit, and by relax I mean return to my neglected studies 👀. We have some incredibly impressive problem solvers here at Launch School. If these puzzles feel out of reach for you or you were hoping to make it further, look forward to next December, when you can start anew and be positively blown away by the growth you can have in a year of dedicated mastery-based learning. My goodness, how did I end up all mushy again?

https://preview.redd.it/tleri5aofd7c1.png?width=800&format=png&auto=webp&s=86d2a64ed14357578bde3b398b7dc6ad56ec4f41
Well, that's it for now. Something about this all feels like it should end in a poem. Sadly, I'm not a poet, so here's a haiku (With an incorrect syllable count) from ChatGPT:

Yuletide code compiles,
Snowflakes of syntax descend,
Debugging in peace.

❄️ See ya next year. ❄️

submitted by lswolfy to launchschool [link] [comments]

2023.12.19 12:03 newmusicrls Traxsource Top 200 Melodic and Progressive House of 2023

https://minimalfreaks.co/2023/12/traxsource-top-200-melodic-and-progressive-house-of-2023/

Made By Pete, Zoe Kypri – Horizon Red (Original Mix) 07:07 122bpm 9B
Ajna (BE), Samm (BE) – Does It Matter (Ajna (BE) Remix) 06:44 120bpm 6A
Cari Golden, Newman (I Love) – Missing Feat. Cari Golden (Extended Mix) 07:32 123bpm 8A
Pig&Dan – Make You Go Higher (Original Mix) 07:28 122bpm 2A
Alberto Hernandez (MX), Dulus – Skywriting (Original Mix) 07:22 122bpm 8B
Double Touch, Reigan – Storm (Original Mix) 07:22 122bpm 7B
Nicolas Masseyeff, Parallelle – Renegade (Adam Ten & Mita Gami Remix) 05:33 123bpm 4A
Frigid Armadillo, Njivinator – Penga (Original Mix) 06:13 124bpm 11A
Made By Pete, Zoe Kypri – Horizon Red (Pete’s Dub) (Original Mix) 07:38 122bpm 6A
Trilucid – Take Me Higher (Extended Mix) 06:28 124bpm 6A
&ME – L.I.F.E (Original Mix) 07:29 120bpm 3A
Gorje Hewek, Amonita, Makebo – Never Been (Original Mix) 07:36 122bpm 9A
Bob Sinclar – Adore (Extended Mix) 07:48 124bpm 8A
Underworld – Two Months Off (Tim Green Remix) 11:07 121bpm 4A
Made By Pete, Zoe Kypri – Horizon Red (Damian Lazarus Re-Shape) (Original Mix) 08:49 120bpm 6A
Oxia – Hold The Night (Original Mix) 05:59 124bpm 3B
Moderat, &ME, Rampa, Keinemusik – More Love (Rampa &ME Remix) 07:22 122bpm 10A
Anyma (ofc) – Explore Your Future (Extended Mix) 05:10 124bpm 12B
Annabell Kowalski – Hey Boy Hey Girl (Original Mix) 06:59 123bpm 10B
Mijangos, GARC!A – Born (Extended Mix) 05:17 124bpm 6A
Grum, Tigerblind – Shout (Extended Mix) 05:33 125bpm 6A
Virak, TCKS – Siento Libre (JJ Rework) (Extended Mix) 06:59 122bpm 8A
Adam Port, Monolink – Point Of No Return (Extended Mix) 06:34 122bpm 8A
Inamo – La Llama feat. Niña indigo (Super Flu Remix) 07:42 124bpm 8B
Tom Novy, Abigail Bailey – Touch Me feat. Abigail Bailey (Tom Novy The Unexpected Remix) 08:01 124bpm 12B
Yotto, Something Good – Rhythm (Of The Night) (Extended Mix) 06:35 122bpm 4A
Dilby, Liv Campbell – Trippin’ (Extended Mix) 07:33 125bpm 9A
Delerium, Sarah McLachlan – Silence feat. Sarah McLachlan (Kryder Extended Remix) 06:32 125bpm 8A
Sandy Rivera, Sara Kirby – Don’t Play Around (Club Mix) 06:55 124bpm 5B
Solu Music, Kimblee – Fade (Jonas Blue Extended Vocal Mix) 05:08 126bpm 9A
Amonita, Makebo – Back To The Roots (Extended Mix) 09:43 122bpm 11B
RY X – Borderline (Carlita Remix) 06:29 125bpm 5A
Planet Funk, Makebo – Chase The Sun (Makebo Remix – Extended Mix) 07:29 122bpm 11B
Maceo Plex – Nu World (Solomun Extended Mix) 07:06 126bpm 9A
Tim Green – The Night is Blue (Original Mix) 08:22 120bpm 9B
DJ Pierre, Chic Loren – I Feel Love feat. Chic Loren (Monkey Safari Remix) 09:16 125bpm 8B
Darmon, Eran Hersh, BLOND:ISH, Madonna – Sorry (with Madonna) (Original Mix) 04:55 124bpm 8B
Nora En Pure – Spring Embers (Extended Mix) 06:04 122bpm 8A
Mika Olson – Tomorrow (Extended Mix) 06:06 124bpm 11B
Joplyn – Speak To Me (Original Mix) 06:42 125bpm 10A
Sebastien Leger – Extassy (Original Mix) 09:43 122bpm 7A
Passenger 10 – A Better Day (Extended Mix) 07:03 123bpm 11B
Kevin de Vries – Dance With Me (Original Mix) 06:31 124bpm 2B
Jamie Jones, AMEME – Pliva (Extended Version) 07:02 123bpm 4A
Brett Rubin, Vibonacci – Addikted (Kevin McKay & Milos Pesovic Extended Remix) 06:31 127bpm 6A
Newman (I Love) – The Moon and the Stars (Original Mix) 08:05 123bpm 8B
Argy, Omnya – Aria (Extended Mix) 05:14 122bpm 8B
Argy, Goom Gum – Pantheon (Extended Mix) 06:22 120bpm 10B
Cari Golden, Marc Lenz – Woman In The Wild (Album Version) 06:19 124bpm 9A
CamelPhat, Anyma (ofc) – The Sign (Extended Mix) 06:27 122bpm 9B
Yves Murasca, Rosario Galati – Inner World (Extended Mix) 06:38 123bpm 12A
Fahlberg – Wytal (Original Mix) 07:40 122bpm 5B
Roy Rosenfeld – Kala (Original Mix) 08:33 120bpm 8A
&ME, Rampa, Adam Port, Keinemusik, Cubicolor – Before The Flood (feat. Cubicolor) (Ankhoï Remix) 07:25 121bpm 6A
Sandeep Pai – Mirrors (Jerome Isma-Ae Remix) 07:08 124bpm 7B
Greenage – Sands of Goa (Original Mix) 06:52 121bpm 5A
Volen Sentir, Makebo – Alchemist (Original Mix) 08:35 123bpm 8B
Helsloot – Let’s Pretend (Tube & Berger Remix) 08:12 125bpm 12B
Essence of Time, Break Knote – Pura Vida (Original Mix) 07:08 120bpm 7A
Evren Furtuna – Stars (Original Mix) 07:00 121bpm 7A
Joeski – For So Long (Original Mix) 06:58 125bpm 9A
Tim Engelhardt, Maga – Lev (Original Mix) 05:57 124bpm 6A
Hot Since 82 – Love Me (Extended Mix) 06:48 124bpm 6B
Dee Montero – Aria (Newman I Love Remix) 08:15 123bpm 8A
Adam Port, Alan Dixon – Forms Of Love (Original Mix) 07:28 122bpm 6B
Chris Avantgarde, Anyma (ofc) – Eternity (Extended Mix) 05:20 125bpm 5A
Guy J – State Of Trance (Original Mix) 08:23 122bpm 8B
VONDA7, Mopao Mumu – Till The Morning (Extended Mix) 06:15 124bpm 4A
Kevin McKay, Amal Nemer – Family Affair (Extended Mix) 05:32 122bpm 3B
Dilby – Barricade (Extended Mix) 06:51 124bpm 7A
DJ Chus, Tosz, Olly Klars – To The Moon feat. Tosz (Extended Mix) 06:32 124bpm 9B
Simone Vitullo, Cammora – It Feels So Good (Extended Mix) 07:40 123bpm 7B
Jonatan Bäckelie, Ten Walls – Anything But This feat. Jonatan Backelie (Original Mix) 07:00 120bpm 7A
Fideles, CamelPhat, Be No Rain – Night After Night (CamelPhat Remix) 06:58 124bpm 11B
Vincenzo – The Witching Hour (Original Mix) 07:25 125bpm 4A
Alberto Hernandez (MX), Mario Eighta – Coming Down (Original Mix) 07:56 123bpm 1B
Panama, Nils Hoffmann – Far Behind (Jeremy Olander Extended Mix) 07:54 123bpm 6A
Maxim Lany, Sylvain Armand, Davina Malek – Trippin feat. Davina Malek (Extended Mix) 05:54 125bpm 12B
Claptone, Alison Goldfrapp – Digging Deeper (Extended Mix) 06:09 125bpm 4B
Eric Prydz, Chris Avantgarde, Anyma (ofc) – Consciousness (Eric Prydz Extended Remix) 07:58 95bpm 9B
Awka, Baya – As The Stars Fall (Original Mix) 07:00 120bpm 1B
Gorgin – Principal Agent (Sunrise Version) 06:28 124bpm 5A
Marsh – Little Darling (Joris Voorn Remix) 06:13 126bpm 1A
Nordfold – Catalyst (Extended Mix) 06:16 124bpm 1B
Bedouin – Tijuana (Vintage Culture Remix) 05:58 125bpm 12B
Kevin de Vries, Mau P – Metro (Extended Mix) 05:55 125bpm 11B
Alex Mase – Aurora (Vocal Mix) 07:49 128bpm 11B
Simon Doty – Lady Danger (Extended Mix) 07:37 128bpm 3A
Tinlicker – Just To Hear You Say (Joseph Ray Extended Mix) 06:19 124bpm 1A
Amonita – Jungle Blues (Makebo Remix) 08:29 122bpm 8B
Kinky Sound, Accent (ofc) – Doom (Original Mix) 07:09 122bpm 11B
G.Pal, Simon Vuarambon – 3rd Of July (Simon Vuarambon Retouch) 08:51 121bpm 10B
Nu, Jo.Ke – Who Loves The Sun (Rodriguez Jr. Remix) 05:37 124bpm 2A
Emi Galvan – Around the World (Original Mix) 08:28 122bpm 8A
Gorge, Greater Than Us, DÉ SAINT. – Wasted Time (feat. DÉ SAINT.) (Gorge Extended Remix) 06:49 122bpm 9A
Robert Miles, Tinlicker – Children (Extended Mix) 07:09 124bpm 4A
Sebastien Leger – Ariana (Original Mix) 08:09 122bpm 7A
Hot Since 82, Ed Graves – Sinnerman (Henrik Schwarz Remix (Extended Version)) 08:12 149bpm 4A
WhoMadeWho, Rampa – Abu Simbel (Original Mix) 06:34 118bpm 6A
Estiva – Aylu (Extended Mix) 05:42 124bpm 1A
Eli & Fur, Meduza – Pegasus (Extended Mix) 06:06 125bpm 5A
Wassu – Dusk (Original Mix) 07:01 119bpm 10A
Nico de Andrea, THEMBA (SA), Tasan – Disappear feat. Tasan (Franky Wah Extended Remix) 05:44 124bpm 8A
Torpedo (SA) – Arrows (Original Mix) 07:30 91bpm 10B
Ben Böhmer – Purple Line (Original Mix) 08:00 122bpm 9B
Tim Green – Tears (Original Mix) 08:47 121bpm 6A
Alexey Romeo – Tropical Rain (Extended Mix) 06:49 122bpm 10A
Martin Waslewski – Switch (Original Mix) 04:56 123bpm 10B
Maz (BR), Evokings – Amber (Original Mix) 06:08 126bpm 3A
Kings Of Tomorrow, Jimmy Supreme, Ria Mar – DIFERENTE feat. Ria Mar (Original Mix) 05:44 123bpm 2A
Gorge – Sleepless (Extended Mix) 06:35 122bpm 4A
Guri, Eider, Guri & Eider – Dreams (Original Mix) 08:02 122bpm 10A
Forrest, Sterling Grove – Trust (Extended) 05:24 122bpm 4A
WhoMadeWho, Rampa – UUUU (&ME Remix) 06:57 120bpm 8A
Marsh – Reminiscent (Extended Mix) 06:08 126bpm 10B
Dee Montero – Freedom (Original Mix) 06:46 123bpm 10B
Solu Music, Kimblee – Fade (Jonas Blue Extended Club Mix) 04:38 126bpm 9A
Reset Robot – Duplicate (Original Mix) 06:19 122bpm 8A
Marsh – Pneuma (Extended Mix) 06:14 124bpm 2A
Fake Mood, DIBIDABO – Coconana (Original Mix) 06:56 120bpm 7B
Joseph Ray – Cos Of You (Original Mix) 06:13 126bpm 6A
Duke Dumont, Solomun, Purple Disco Machine, Nothing But Thieves – Something On My Mind (Solomun Remix) (Extended Version) 07:33 124bpm 10B
Minus & Zianos – As One (Original Mix) 06:20 124bpm 11B
Moby – Why Does My Heart (Oxia Dub Mix) 06:34 122bpm 9A
Moeaike – Everyone Else (Original Mix) 07:30 121bpm 6A
Kings Of Tomorrow, Alex Mills – WHITE FLAG feat. Alex Mills (Michael Anthony Remix) 07:05 124bpm 8A
Magic System, Francis Mercier – Premier Gaou (Extended Mix) 06:22 122bpm 6A
WhoMadeWho – Never Alone (Patrice Bäumel Remix) 08:56 124bpm 12A
Tal Fussman – Children Of 95 (Original Mix) 05:57 124bpm 9A
Shai T, Tamir Regev – The Captain (The Neighbors Remix) 07:22 122bpm 9B
Tal Fussman – Oh, Ok (Original Mix) 05:41 124bpm 9B
Safar (FR) – The Lost Tribe (Original Mix) 06:32 90bpm 7B
Above & Beyond – Surge (PROFF & Igor Garanin Extended Mix) 08:35 122bpm 5A
Amonita – Jungle Blues (Original Mix) 08:02 121bpm 5A
Da Capo, Karyendasoul – Gemini’s (Extended Mix) 06:49 123bpm 3A
Oliver Koletzki, Andhim – Branka (Original Mix) 06:16 123bpm 5A
DIM KELLY – Mangrove (Original Mix) 05:57 122bpm 7A
Jonas Rathsman – Mystery Man (Original Mix) 07:01 119bpm 10B
EREZ, Yulia Niko – I’m Everything (Chemical Surf Extended Remix) 05:16 124bpm 3A
Agassi – Sun (Original Mix) 06:40 120bpm 10B
KeeQ – Such A Loneliness (Nick Curly Remix) (Extended Mix) 06:06 126bpm 10B
Guy J – Illusions (Original Mix) 08:25 122bpm 8A
JEWELS, SOMMA, Jabulile Majola – Delakufa (Extended Version) 07:31 122bpm 8A
Estiva – Via Infinita (Extended Mix) 06:46 124bpm 11A
M.A.N.D.Y., Booka Shade – Body Language (Patrice Bäumel Remix) 08:23 126bpm 11A
Downpour – Deeper Below (Steve Bug Re-Twist) 08:24 124bpm 7B
Booka Shade – Out In The Rain (Original Mix) 04:49 121bpm 6A
Rebuke, Anyma (ofc) – Syren (Extended Mix) 04:53 125bpm 8B
Joris Voorn, Monkey Safari – Safe (Joris Voorn Remix) 06:40 126bpm 4B
Matan Caspi – Ritmo De La Luna (Original Mix) 07:21 123bpm 8A
Deep Lo – Quantum (Original Mix) 03:37 124bpm 2B
Sunset Derek, Themis Georgoudis – Elevate (Original Mix) 06:29 93bpm 2B
Kaskade, deadmau5, Hayla – Escape (John Summit Remix) (Extended Mix) 05:10 126bpm 8A
Zeca Veloso – Todo Homem (Antdot & Maz (BR) Remix) 07:16 124bpm 3A
Pig&Dan – Make You Go Higher (David Morales Red Zone Mix) 06:59 122bpm 4B
Danny Tenaglia, Sasha Carassi – Automatik (Original Mix) 07:17 125bpm 4B
The Journey – Games (Original Mix) 07:19 123bpm 11A
Arema Arega, PAUZA – Caliente (Monkey Safari Remix) 05:56 120bpm 10A
Khainz – Stranger Things (Original Mix) 06:32 124bpm 7B
Marsh – All Night Long (Extended Mix) 05:38 125bpm 7B
DJ Koze – Candidasa (Original Mix) 10:21 122bpm 7A
Freuds – Why I’m Here (Extended Mix) 05:15 122bpm 11A
Jim Rider – Two More Days (Original Mix) 08:03 124bpm 11B
Amonita, Makebo – Savage (Original Mix) 07:58 121bpm 5A
Silver Panda – We Call This Acid (Original Mix) 05:53 124bpm 1B
Malandra Jr. – Sveva (Original Mix) 07:20 122bpm 11B
Maz (BR), Luke Coulson, JP Castro – All For You feat. Luke Coulson (Extended Mix) 06:52 122bpm 1A
Tim Green – Sequoia (Original Mix) 10:06 122bpm 10A
Khlystov – Go Deeper (Extended Mix) 06:35 122bpm 7B
Lee Burridge, Lost Desert – Somebody up There Likes You (Original Mix) 08:00 122bpm 11B
Calamar Crew, Leon (FR) – Rise (Original Mix) 08:20 120bpm 3A
Nordfold – A Different Life (Extended Mix) 06:26 122bpm 4B
Darmon, Eran Hersh, BLOND:ISH, Madonna, Miss Monique – Sorry (with Madonna) (Miss Monique Remix) 06:12 125bpm 8B
Gorje Hewek, Dulus – Forever (Original Mix) 06:57 122bpm 9A
Double Touch – Chasing Sunsets (Original Mix) 07:52 123bpm 4A
Edu Schwartz – A Poem for Every Day of the Year (RIGOONI Remix) 07:02 121bpm 5A
Labuke – Going Back (Extended Mix) 04:54 124bpm 7A
Choopie, Golan Zocher – SAO (Hernan Cattaneo & Simply City Extended Remix) 08:52 123bpm 9B
Stan Kolev – Uasi (Original Mix) 07:29 123bpm 9B
Shouse – Love Tonight (Vintage Culture & Kiko Franco Remix) 06:26 123bpm 8B
Marsh – Hymn (Hernan Cattaneo & Simply City Extended Mix) 08:45 122bpm 4A
Tinlicker – Perfect Mistake (Extended Mix) 06:45 124bpm 3B
Classic Desire, Kgzoo – Bantu’s Dreams (Original Mix) 06:46 118bpm 3B
Emi Galvan – Samsara (Original Mix) 08:37 122bpm 12B
mredrollo – Follower (Original Mix) 07:26 121bpm 8A
Carlos Pires, Retro Station – Silence (Original Mix) 07:56 128bpm 8A
Bedouin, Delaram Kamareh – Hokema feat. Delaram Kamareh (Made By Pete Remix) 07:12 91bpm 11B
Max Milner, Layla Benitez – Fizzy Pop feat. Max Milner (Extended Mix) 06:36 120bpm 5A
Lubelski – Dreaming (Yulio Niko Remix) 06:12 124bpm 9B
Ajna (BE) – On My Mind (Original Mix) 06:28 120bpm 5A
Lydmor, anamē (SE) – Someone We Used To Love (Extended Mix) 05:25 122bpm 5A
Marsh, Simon Doty – Touch The Sky (Extended Mix) 06:43 124bpm 3A
Yves Murasca, Rosario Galati – Lo Que Siento (Dilby Extended Remix) 06:34 124bpm 1B
Emanuel Satie, Maga – Flores (Original Mix) 07:37 122bpm 6A
Masšh, Ninae – Hold Me Down (Original Mix) 06:08 119bpm 8A
Gorge – Almost There (Extended Mix) 06:59 122bpm 4A
Matan Caspi – The Roar (Original Mix) 07:18 122bpm 4A
Fairplay – Latlal (Hyenah Remix Instrumental) 06:59 122bpm 7A

submitted by newmusicrls to HypeTracks [link] [comments]

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