Friendship signatures
Night Owl's Guide to Pune: After-Dark Adventures
2024.05.15 06:51 Zealousideal_Dirt464 Night Owl's Guide to Pune: After-Dark Adventures
For those who thrive after sunset, Pune offers a plethora of exciting evening activities. Here are some thrilling options for your next nocturnal escapade:
submitted by Zealousideal_Dirt464 to DatinginPune [link] [comments]
- High Spirits: Dive into Pune's nightlife at High Spirits, a vibrant nightclub known for its lively atmosphere and electrifying music. Dance the night away with your date and enjoy a diverse lineup of DJs and live bands.
- AER - Bar & Lounge: Elevate your date night experience at AER, Pune's highest rooftop bar located at the Four Seasons Hotel. Sip on signature cocktails and admire panoramic views of the city skyline under the starlit sky.
- Kiva: Indulge in some retro fun at Kiva, a popular pub with a nostalgic ambiance and a wide selection of drinks. Challenge your date to a game of pool or simply unwind with good music and great company.
- Vohuman Café: Satisfy those late-night cravings with a visit to Vohuman Café, a beloved 24-hour eatery famous for its delicious Iranian delicacies and bustling atmosphere. Enjoy a hearty meal or a cup of chai with your date amidst the lively ambiance.
- Pune Okayama Friendship Garden: Escape the city hustle and bustle for a romantic moonlit stroll at the Pune Okayama Friendship Garden. Admire the tranquil ponds, lush greenery, and Japanese architecture as you enjoy some quiet moments together.
pune #dating #love
2024.05.14 16:57 weeping_samael About Dark Magic and its misconceptions
What is Dark Magic?
That's the question, I'm sure, if not every single one, but the majority of readers asked themselves at least once. Dark Magic in general is described as magic malicious in nature, one that's used to cause harm. It doesn't really make sense: a good applied Incendio is just as well to kill you as a swift Killing Curse, even more painfully, in fact. Or why Imperius is Unforgivable, but love potions are totally fine and legal and not considered Dark? And I'm sure people here are painfully familiar with many such arguments.
Did you know that "Petrificus Totalus" spell Hermione used on Neville at the end of the first book is a dark charm? Apparently, according to "The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1" from Pottermore, jinxes, hexes and curses (though the last one is obvious) are all dark spells. And that includes such things as Ron's Slug-Vomiting Curse, Ginny's signature Bat-Bogey Hex, even Leg-Locking Curse that Draco used to bully Neville in first year. All because their purpose is to cause a negative effect.
So, some Dark Magic is bad, but other is used regularly in schoolyard fights, and no one bats an eye. Where's the line and who sets it?
Alright, Dark Magic in canon doesn't make sense. That means, that a lot of fic writers take it upon themselves to fill the gaps in logic and give their own definitions of what magic constitutes as dark. From the top of my head, I can remember a few, let me know if you recognize them:
What peeves me, however, is when authors use this fact, that there's no clear definition of Dark Magic or Dark Arts, as an excuse to basically do whatever they want. A character (more likely, main one) does or practices something that people don't like, so they just accuse them with an empty argument "it's bad, it's Dark Magic!". And no one can argue, because no one understands what Dark Magic even is! They don't have a box list of criteria to disprove. "I don't know what you're doing, I don't understand it - it's Dark Magic, it's bad."
It's one of the favorite arguments in Hermione or Order bashing stories when MC does something they do not approve of. Dumbledore bashing uses a bit different arguments, but this one can also be included.
It's just such a... I don't want to call it a bashing tool, because I can't say if every such story involves a heavy bashing, but it has potential to be, at least. I'd call it a bludgeoning tool. Just a blunt method to make characters do whatever they want without the need for any finer details: it's so much easier to just use the brand "Dark Magic" and get over it, why give any explanations.
Although, to be completely fair, canon does it as well to some extent.
The Chamber of Secrets can't be kept a secret without resorting to Dark Magic? If no one found it, so it must be something truly obscure and terrible, so it's Dark. But, I mean, she's a second year girl...
But Hermione surely disappoints here. Apparently, non-Dark countermeasures are all accounted for, so if they failed he must have used some Dark stuff.
It's very sad picture, which says about either ignorance on the matter, which is excusable for children but pity that it's not taught, or arrogance in the assumption that you know every bit of non-Dark magic there is and can be.
Anyway, we came back to the canon and it's understanding of Dark Magic. I spent some time thinking about it, what J.K.Rowling meant by it, without resorting to any headcanons.
No one can argue that Harry Potter series is filled with symbolism as any good fiction tends to be. It's a story for children, at least started as, and young adults, so besides a good adventure it also contains a moral message and more than one. The story of Boy-Who-Lived is about love and redemption, first and foremost. "Love is the most powerful thing in the world" is not just a preaching of a senile old man, but the most central point of the whole book series.
So, based on this, I believe that in canon Dark Magic at its basics is the magic that corrupts the soul. What it means is open to interpretation, as it often is when the topic of a human soul is involved. It's all based on the same moral messages between the lines: when you do bad things to others, it slowly but surely corrupts your soul, and if you fall into temptation, only love and compassion can heal the harm done to yourself. Harry vs Voldemort is basically the fight between Love and Hate, Soul and Soulless. That's why Patronus is basically an epitome of defense. And that's why Horcruxes are considered to be The Darkest of Magic, when it literally tears the soul apart. And that's why the cold blooded murder is even involved in the process of making one - metaphorical tear becomes literal.
To be completely honest, I find myself a bit resentful of the message, no matter how nice and beautiful it sounds. It somehow implies that soul is only about love, compassion, friendship and so on, that any negative feelings do not and must not have a part in it. But, I guess, it's a bit too much of a philosophical, ethical and psychological question to dive into in here.
submitted by weeping_samael to HPfanfiction [link] [comments]
That's the question, I'm sure, if not every single one, but the majority of readers asked themselves at least once. Dark Magic in general is described as magic malicious in nature, one that's used to cause harm. It doesn't really make sense: a good applied Incendio is just as well to kill you as a swift Killing Curse, even more painfully, in fact. Or why Imperius is Unforgivable, but love potions are totally fine and legal and not considered Dark? And I'm sure people here are painfully familiar with many such arguments.
Did you know that "Petrificus Totalus" spell Hermione used on Neville at the end of the first book is a dark charm? Apparently, according to "The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1" from Pottermore, jinxes, hexes and curses (though the last one is obvious) are all dark spells. And that includes such things as Ron's Slug-Vomiting Curse, Ginny's signature Bat-Bogey Hex, even Leg-Locking Curse that Draco used to bully Neville in first year. All because their purpose is to cause a negative effect.
So, some Dark Magic is bad, but other is used regularly in schoolyard fights, and no one bats an eye. Where's the line and who sets it?
Alright, Dark Magic in canon doesn't make sense. That means, that a lot of fic writers take it upon themselves to fill the gaps in logic and give their own definitions of what magic constitutes as dark. From the top of my head, I can remember a few, let me know if you recognize them:
- Dark magic is magic that's powered by emotions. Everyone knows that to properly use Killing or Cruciatus Curse, you have to fully desire to cause death and pain, so that fits. Also, by this definition, Patronus Charm is dark because it's powered by happiness. Why not, quite a good irony.
- Dark magic is powered by external source, while "light" magic is internal. I don't remember the details, but it was something to the effect that external makes it more powerful, and power corrupts, so it's feared. A bit strange but has a nice message behind it. Also, why I'm on the topic, a friendly reminder to those who are too deep in fanon and mix things up with canon. There's no such thing as "light" magic, just like there was no "Light" side in the war. There's Dark and there's everything else.
- Dark magic is one that is secret familial magic. People develop or discover new spells and for whatever reason decide not to share them, but to hoard them in their family grimoire, so other people don't know such a powerful spell or countermeasures against it. Usually this is followed by some heavy pureblood Houses politics, Lordships and such. Also, I've seen fics where bloodline gifts such as Tonks' metamorphmagus ability were considered Dark Magic for whatever reason (Bashed Dumbledore's propaganda to suppress pureblood Houses, more likely).
- Dark magic is the one that's forbidden by government. This is my personal favorite, as I prefer harder magical systems. In this case, it means that there's nothing inherently wrong in this magic, it's not different in nature from any other magic, just one that's seen as too dangerous. Of course, it also invites a heavy abuse by government to declare anything they don't want to as dangerous Dark Magic that's to be prosecuted for, but that's another story.
What peeves me, however, is when authors use this fact, that there's no clear definition of Dark Magic or Dark Arts, as an excuse to basically do whatever they want. A character (more likely, main one) does or practices something that people don't like, so they just accuse them with an empty argument "it's bad, it's Dark Magic!". And no one can argue, because no one understands what Dark Magic even is! They don't have a box list of criteria to disprove. "I don't know what you're doing, I don't understand it - it's Dark Magic, it's bad."
It's one of the favorite arguments in Hermione or Order bashing stories when MC does something they do not approve of. Dumbledore bashing uses a bit different arguments, but this one can also be included.
It's just such a... I don't want to call it a bashing tool, because I can't say if every such story involves a heavy bashing, but it has potential to be, at least. I'd call it a bludgeoning tool. Just a blunt method to make characters do whatever they want without the need for any finer details: it's so much easier to just use the brand "Dark Magic" and get over it, why give any explanations.
Although, to be completely fair, canon does it as well to some extent.
“Did something happen to it when Flint blocked him?” Seamus whispered.Non-Dark magic can't do something like that? What is Dark about taking control of a broom anyway? Though, admittedly it's Hagrid, no matter his virtues, not the most reliable or knowledgeable of sources on this topic.
“Can’t have,” Hagrid said, his voice shaking. “Can’t nothing interfere with a broomstick except powerful Dark magic — no kid could do that to a Nimbus Two Thousand.”
“Ask him,” shrieked Filch, turning his blotched and tearstained face to Harry.Again, I don't understand what the heck it is, so it must be Dark Magic. But, it is Dumbledore and highly knowledgeable wizard, plus it's clearly a harmful effect, so it's more assumption based on those, plus experience.
“No second year could have done this,” said Dumbledore firmly. “It would take Dark Magic of the most advanced — ”
“Nonsense, O’Flaherty,” said Professor Binns in an aggravated tone. “If a long succession of Hogwarts headmasters and headmistresses haven’t found the thing — ”“But, Professor,” piped up Parvati Patil, “you’d probably have to use Dark Magic to open it — ”
The Chamber of Secrets can't be kept a secret without resorting to Dark Magic? If no one found it, so it must be something truly obscure and terrible, so it's Dark. But, I mean, she's a second year girl...
Black jumped at being addressed like this and stared at Hermione as though he had never seen anything quite like her.“If you don’t mind me asking, how — how did you get out of Azkaban, if you didn’t use Dark Magic?”
But Hermione surely disappoints here. Apparently, non-Dark countermeasures are all accounted for, so if they failed he must have used some Dark stuff.
It's very sad picture, which says about either ignorance on the matter, which is excusable for children but pity that it's not taught, or arrogance in the assumption that you know every bit of non-Dark magic there is and can be.
Anyway, we came back to the canon and it's understanding of Dark Magic. I spent some time thinking about it, what J.K.Rowling meant by it, without resorting to any headcanons.
No one can argue that Harry Potter series is filled with symbolism as any good fiction tends to be. It's a story for children, at least started as, and young adults, so besides a good adventure it also contains a moral message and more than one. The story of Boy-Who-Lived is about love and redemption, first and foremost. "Love is the most powerful thing in the world" is not just a preaching of a senile old man, but the most central point of the whole book series.
So, based on this, I believe that in canon Dark Magic at its basics is the magic that corrupts the soul. What it means is open to interpretation, as it often is when the topic of a human soul is involved. It's all based on the same moral messages between the lines: when you do bad things to others, it slowly but surely corrupts your soul, and if you fall into temptation, only love and compassion can heal the harm done to yourself. Harry vs Voldemort is basically the fight between Love and Hate, Soul and Soulless. That's why Patronus is basically an epitome of defense. And that's why Horcruxes are considered to be The Darkest of Magic, when it literally tears the soul apart. And that's why the cold blooded murder is even involved in the process of making one - metaphorical tear becomes literal.
To be completely honest, I find myself a bit resentful of the message, no matter how nice and beautiful it sounds. It somehow implies that soul is only about love, compassion, friendship and so on, that any negative feelings do not and must not have a part in it. But, I guess, it's a bit too much of a philosophical, ethical and psychological question to dive into in here.
2024.05.14 09:09 hebycreepy I [18M, Senior HS] have a suspicion that a girl in a different school [18F, Senior HS] may have unspoken feelings for me, should I go for it or back off?
Based on your experiences and wisdom internet strangers, how should I approach this because I have feelings for her? Should I tell her, or back off?
TL;DR is that I think I might be getting hints and clues that this girl I know may have feelings for me, but graduation is in a few weeks, and the parting of ways is inevitable.
There is this girl who I have recently, in the past year and a half or so, gotten to know well. I live in a town across the valley from hers, and we are both 18, being seniors in separate high schools. We have been texting each other for what almost felt like daily or multiple times a week well since the beginning of the summer before our senior year, and have not lost any momentum. I don’t always initiate conversation, as she likes to spark conversations through texting, whether it’s the most recent adventure, anecdote, or cake she baked, I’m not talking to a wall. We also talk in person whenever we can. When we see each other at weekly church meetings, she always tries to sit next to me, or does so when she can, and since I tried out track this year, each meet our schools are both at, we both without asking each other, watch each others events and cheer each other on, and we talk just about anything and everything. I think her parents and family like me pretty well, and I have a good relationship with them, and my family adores her. The problem is where I think I stand with her.
That problem is exemplified by the fact that our graduations our quickly creeping up on us, and we’re going to be parting ways as I’m moving to a bordering state in the middle of the summer, and not too long after will be serving a 2 year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints all the way down in Mexico in late August. However, I’d be surprised to be “Dear John’d” as she is also going to serve a mission for our church before going to university, and is waiting to have her finished papers submitted. The timing would be perfect, as by the time she gets done with her mission, I’d be back home from mine oddly enough. We are also thinking about different universities which we both got accepted to, for me, USU and BYU Provo, for her BYU-I. The nice thing about the mission is that it’s like a 2 year gap-year, so if anything were to happen and be set into motion, we could try to go to the same school after. But I’m wondering if the fact that we are thinking about different schools and that I’m moving will make her fret if she does feel anything for me.
Some final preface is that we’ve been to homecoming together our junior year and that’s when our relationship kind of started. I also asked her to my senior prom in a fun, personal way for her, and she wasn’t weird about it, and was genuinely excited for it, saying yes, and that she was suspecting that I would ask her. We had a great time together and with the group we were with. When we took pictures with everyone, the photographer who was a mom asked our group to walk towards her for some cool shots, and for the couples to hold hands while doing so. Me being unsure and shy, didn’t grab her hand, but she sure grabbed mine and totally locked fingers with me (Mormon first base lol). At the dance, we slow danced to every song we could, when she wanted to, and I tried my best to match her energy the whole time (as a person who can’t dance, and is kind of introverted in stark comparison to her extroverted extreme nature). I later learned from my mom from her mom that she noticed and made mention of that, how I matched her energy intentionally. Afterwards, when it was time to go home and drop her off, I walked her to the door and she gave me what I can only describe in my mind as an intimate hug, which has happened between us before as well.
I’m leaning on the edge of her liking me back (rare glass half full view for me personally) because of a bunch of specific instances that blur the line of friendship between us, making it feel like we are more than just friends, and I’ll share a few key ones: (Sorry for making it look like a police report, that’s just the way my mind operates)
Exhibit A: On prom, I told her about the fact that I was moving in the middle of the summer because I needed to tell her in person, and it needed to come from me (weird time to tell someone that), but if I didn’t, she would’ve found out otherwise through town and church gossip. I was met with an immediate sad response, but that was quickly washed away and we had fun at the dance. What’s interesting is what she texted me after the fact: “What if we never see each other again…Sorry this is just crazy I'm going crazy I hate change and not sleeping so guna go to bed before this becomes a what if I die moments.”
Exhibit B: There are instances where I think she is trying to flirt with me, one of them being a response to me saying that I’m going to be somewhere where she thinks she’s going. The response in question was “I’m going now for sure [winky emoji, laughing emoji]”
Exhibit C: I have received 3 hugs from her that have stuck with me, and we’re all pretty intimate. Once after I gave her a meaningful gift after one of her favorite livestock she was taking care of died, which was pure luck and chance as I got a hat for her with a gag signature from my uncle called “the pig whisperer” which I was planning to give to her not as a cheering up gift, because I didn’t know her animal died. And once after I got my mission call, and once after dropping her off back at her house after Prom as mentioned before.
I don’t want to ruin our relationship because I value her a lot as a friend, but I think I’m seeing something more, and I don’t want to regret not doing anything.
Sorry for the long story, just looking for experienced insights. I don’t want to be “…falling in love as she’s walking away,” haha. Thank you for reading through my plight, and for those of you who respond.
submitted by hebycreepy to relationship_advice [link] [comments]
TL;DR is that I think I might be getting hints and clues that this girl I know may have feelings for me, but graduation is in a few weeks, and the parting of ways is inevitable.
There is this girl who I have recently, in the past year and a half or so, gotten to know well. I live in a town across the valley from hers, and we are both 18, being seniors in separate high schools. We have been texting each other for what almost felt like daily or multiple times a week well since the beginning of the summer before our senior year, and have not lost any momentum. I don’t always initiate conversation, as she likes to spark conversations through texting, whether it’s the most recent adventure, anecdote, or cake she baked, I’m not talking to a wall. We also talk in person whenever we can. When we see each other at weekly church meetings, she always tries to sit next to me, or does so when she can, and since I tried out track this year, each meet our schools are both at, we both without asking each other, watch each others events and cheer each other on, and we talk just about anything and everything. I think her parents and family like me pretty well, and I have a good relationship with them, and my family adores her. The problem is where I think I stand with her.
That problem is exemplified by the fact that our graduations our quickly creeping up on us, and we’re going to be parting ways as I’m moving to a bordering state in the middle of the summer, and not too long after will be serving a 2 year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints all the way down in Mexico in late August. However, I’d be surprised to be “Dear John’d” as she is also going to serve a mission for our church before going to university, and is waiting to have her finished papers submitted. The timing would be perfect, as by the time she gets done with her mission, I’d be back home from mine oddly enough. We are also thinking about different universities which we both got accepted to, for me, USU and BYU Provo, for her BYU-I. The nice thing about the mission is that it’s like a 2 year gap-year, so if anything were to happen and be set into motion, we could try to go to the same school after. But I’m wondering if the fact that we are thinking about different schools and that I’m moving will make her fret if she does feel anything for me.
Some final preface is that we’ve been to homecoming together our junior year and that’s when our relationship kind of started. I also asked her to my senior prom in a fun, personal way for her, and she wasn’t weird about it, and was genuinely excited for it, saying yes, and that she was suspecting that I would ask her. We had a great time together and with the group we were with. When we took pictures with everyone, the photographer who was a mom asked our group to walk towards her for some cool shots, and for the couples to hold hands while doing so. Me being unsure and shy, didn’t grab her hand, but she sure grabbed mine and totally locked fingers with me (Mormon first base lol). At the dance, we slow danced to every song we could, when she wanted to, and I tried my best to match her energy the whole time (as a person who can’t dance, and is kind of introverted in stark comparison to her extroverted extreme nature). I later learned from my mom from her mom that she noticed and made mention of that, how I matched her energy intentionally. Afterwards, when it was time to go home and drop her off, I walked her to the door and she gave me what I can only describe in my mind as an intimate hug, which has happened between us before as well.
I’m leaning on the edge of her liking me back (rare glass half full view for me personally) because of a bunch of specific instances that blur the line of friendship between us, making it feel like we are more than just friends, and I’ll share a few key ones: (Sorry for making it look like a police report, that’s just the way my mind operates)
Exhibit A: On prom, I told her about the fact that I was moving in the middle of the summer because I needed to tell her in person, and it needed to come from me (weird time to tell someone that), but if I didn’t, she would’ve found out otherwise through town and church gossip. I was met with an immediate sad response, but that was quickly washed away and we had fun at the dance. What’s interesting is what she texted me after the fact: “What if we never see each other again…Sorry this is just crazy I'm going crazy I hate change and not sleeping so guna go to bed before this becomes a what if I die moments.”
Exhibit B: There are instances where I think she is trying to flirt with me, one of them being a response to me saying that I’m going to be somewhere where she thinks she’s going. The response in question was “I’m going now for sure [winky emoji, laughing emoji]”
Exhibit C: I have received 3 hugs from her that have stuck with me, and we’re all pretty intimate. Once after I gave her a meaningful gift after one of her favorite livestock she was taking care of died, which was pure luck and chance as I got a hat for her with a gag signature from my uncle called “the pig whisperer” which I was planning to give to her not as a cheering up gift, because I didn’t know her animal died. And once after I got my mission call, and once after dropping her off back at her house after Prom as mentioned before.
I don’t want to ruin our relationship because I value her a lot as a friend, but I think I’m seeing something more, and I don’t want to regret not doing anything.
Sorry for the long story, just looking for experienced insights. I don’t want to be “…falling in love as she’s walking away,” haha. Thank you for reading through my plight, and for those of you who respond.
2024.05.13 16:52 Victoriansbarbecue Waco Barbecue Indulging in Tradition: A Culinary Journey at Victorian's Barbecue near Waco, TX
In the heart of Texas, where the sun beats down on vast plains and the air is filled with the aroma of smoky meats, there lies a culinary gem that captures the essence of tradition and flavor. Welcome to Victorian's Barbecue, a renowned establishment nestled near Waco, TX in Mart, where every bite tells a story of passion, history, and community.
A Slice of History
Victorian's Barbecue isn't just a place to eat; it's a destination steeped in history. Named after its founder, the pitmaster Joey Victorian, this barbecue joint has been serving up mouthwatering dishes since its inception in 2016. What started as a humble roadside trailer has now blossomed into a beloved brick & mortar, drawing in locals and visitors alike with its irresistible fare.
The Art of Barbecue
At Victorian's, barbecue isn't just a meal—it's an art form. Step inside, and you're greeted by the tantalizing sight of smoking pits, where seasoned meats are slow-cooked to perfection over a blend of red oak and post oak wood. From brisket to ribs, sausage to turkey, and delicious try tip from the Tri Tip King of Texas, every item on the menu is a testament to the craft and dedication of the pitmaster.
Taste Sensations
Prepare your taste buds for a journey of epic proportions as you explore the menu at Victorian's. Sink your teeth into their signature brisket, a melt-in-your-mouth marvel of tender meat and savory bark. Craving something with a kick? Opt for the jalapeno cheddar sausage, seasoned ribs, and Creole Jambalaya bursting with flavor and heat. And don't forget to sample their sides, from creamy gouda mac and cheese topped with Taki, to tangy cucumber salad, each one crafted with care to complement the main attraction.
A Feast for the Senses
But Victorian's Barbecue offers more than just great food; it's an experience for all the senses. As you savor your meal, take in the sights and sounds of the bustling dining room, where laughter and conversation mingle with the sizzle of meat on the grill and a touch of Star Wars and Dr Dre decor line up the shelves.
Community and Camaraderie
One of the most remarkable aspects of Victorian's Barbecue is its sense of community. Here, strangers become friends over shared plates of barbecue, bonding over their love of good food and good company. It's a place where stories are swapped, memories are made, and friendships are forged, all against the backdrop of some of the finest barbecue in Texas.
Plan Your Visit
If you find yourself in the vicinity of Waco, TX (419 E. Texas Ave. Mart, TX), don't miss the chance to experience Victorian's Barbecue for yourself. Whether you're a barbecue aficionado or just someone who appreciates a delicious meal, this hidden small town gem is sure to leave a lasting impression. So gather your friends, bring your appetite, and get ready for a culinary adventure unlike any other. After all, at Victorian's, every bite is a taste of Texas and Louisiana tradition, served up with a side of Texas hospitality.
Conclusion
Victorian's Barbecue near Waco, TX, isn't just a restaurant—it's a cultural institution, a haven for food lovers, and a testament to the time-honored tradition of Texas barbecue mixed with Louisiana cuisine. With its mouthwatering meats, welcoming atmosphere, and sense of community, it's no wonder that our beloved establishment has earned a place in the hearts (and stomachs) of locals and visitors alike. So the next time you're craving a taste of the Lone Star State and the Pelican State, make your way to Victorian's Barbecue and prepare for a dining experience you won't soon forget.
Victorian’s Barbecue
419 E. Texas Ave.
Mart, TX 76664 (Next to Waco)
(254) 300-6122
Victorian's Barbecue
submitted by Victoriansbarbecue to Barbecue [link] [comments]
A Slice of History
Victorian's Barbecue isn't just a place to eat; it's a destination steeped in history. Named after its founder, the pitmaster Joey Victorian, this barbecue joint has been serving up mouthwatering dishes since its inception in 2016. What started as a humble roadside trailer has now blossomed into a beloved brick & mortar, drawing in locals and visitors alike with its irresistible fare.
The Art of Barbecue
At Victorian's, barbecue isn't just a meal—it's an art form. Step inside, and you're greeted by the tantalizing sight of smoking pits, where seasoned meats are slow-cooked to perfection over a blend of red oak and post oak wood. From brisket to ribs, sausage to turkey, and delicious try tip from the Tri Tip King of Texas, every item on the menu is a testament to the craft and dedication of the pitmaster.
Taste Sensations
Prepare your taste buds for a journey of epic proportions as you explore the menu at Victorian's. Sink your teeth into their signature brisket, a melt-in-your-mouth marvel of tender meat and savory bark. Craving something with a kick? Opt for the jalapeno cheddar sausage, seasoned ribs, and Creole Jambalaya bursting with flavor and heat. And don't forget to sample their sides, from creamy gouda mac and cheese topped with Taki, to tangy cucumber salad, each one crafted with care to complement the main attraction.
A Feast for the Senses
But Victorian's Barbecue offers more than just great food; it's an experience for all the senses. As you savor your meal, take in the sights and sounds of the bustling dining room, where laughter and conversation mingle with the sizzle of meat on the grill and a touch of Star Wars and Dr Dre decor line up the shelves.
Community and Camaraderie
One of the most remarkable aspects of Victorian's Barbecue is its sense of community. Here, strangers become friends over shared plates of barbecue, bonding over their love of good food and good company. It's a place where stories are swapped, memories are made, and friendships are forged, all against the backdrop of some of the finest barbecue in Texas.
Plan Your Visit
If you find yourself in the vicinity of Waco, TX (419 E. Texas Ave. Mart, TX), don't miss the chance to experience Victorian's Barbecue for yourself. Whether you're a barbecue aficionado or just someone who appreciates a delicious meal, this hidden small town gem is sure to leave a lasting impression. So gather your friends, bring your appetite, and get ready for a culinary adventure unlike any other. After all, at Victorian's, every bite is a taste of Texas and Louisiana tradition, served up with a side of Texas hospitality.
Conclusion
Victorian's Barbecue near Waco, TX, isn't just a restaurant—it's a cultural institution, a haven for food lovers, and a testament to the time-honored tradition of Texas barbecue mixed with Louisiana cuisine. With its mouthwatering meats, welcoming atmosphere, and sense of community, it's no wonder that our beloved establishment has earned a place in the hearts (and stomachs) of locals and visitors alike. So the next time you're craving a taste of the Lone Star State and the Pelican State, make your way to Victorian's Barbecue and prepare for a dining experience you won't soon forget.
Victorian’s Barbecue
419 E. Texas Ave.
Mart, TX 76664 (Next to Waco)
(254) 300-6122
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2024.05.13 04:54 aleahtesfxye my pawlette from 2007 🎀
 | i named her rosalina because of the naked brothers band show. if that doesn’t speak 2007, idk what does! i still love her just as much as i did when i was 7 years old 🩷 submitted by aleahtesfxye to buildabear [link] [comments] |
2024.05.12 23:55 PolarLeopard Jason Voorhees NRS-Era Armageddon Overview/Brutality Poll
Series of Origin:Friday the 13th
Paula Shaw playing Pamela Voorhees' ghost for intros?
Starting intro is the same as MKX with Jason Voorhees dragging in a woman's body with his machete lodged in her skull before yanking it out.
Opposing Intro is Jason Voorhees not moving with a decayed appearance before his heart starts beating and brings back his regular appearance slowly.
Outro is Jason Voorhees dropping his machete or axe or opening up his hand before grabbing a fence post lying nearby and stabbing it through the camera with a loud scream, static, and bloodspatter as he kills the cameraman.
X-Ray:The Horror kept with Jason dropping his axe to draw a machete from the ground in the Improvised Weapons Variation before retrieving it afterwards.
Slasher and Unstoppable kept. When you think of Jason Voorhees, the machete is one of the most iconic things about him so that's a clear lock-in for one of the two kept Variations and the fact that he never stays dead for long makes Unstoppable the second clear choice for me. Relentless just lacks anything that iconic to Jason for me but feel free to say which two Variations you would keep in the comments.
I plan on keeping a move from whichever Variation gets cut so Slasher's Psycho Slash would replace Choke, Relentless' Lake Mist would replace Tight Squeeze, and Unstoppable's Resurrection would replace Killing Machine in the standard Signature Moves.
Throw is the same as MKX for the backwards throw except for the Improvised Slaughter Variation which has Jason Voorhees throw the opponent to the ground, chop into their groin with his axe, and then hack into their neck before kicking them in the face to slide them away.
The forwards throw has Jason Voorhees stab the opponent's chest with his machete before dragging it out and smacking them away from him with the blunt side in the Slasher Variation, grab both of their arms and pull as a loud tearing sound echoes before punching them in the chest to send them flying in the Relentless or Unstoppable Variations, and hacking into the opponent's side with his axe before yanking it out and throwing a dart in their eye to make them stagger back in the Improvised Slaughter Variation.
Gear-
Masks including the Battleworn Mask from Freddy vs. Jason, Blackgold Mask from Mortal Kombat X, Cracked Mask from The New Blood, and Classic Mask from Jason Lives.
Taunts-
Jason Voorhees leans his body forward to stare at the opponent before tilting to his head to the left and then the right before going back into his fighting position.
Jason Voorhees quickly looks at the downed opponent before walking away and turns back around to face them.
Jason Voorhees stares at his machete, clenched fist, or axe while Pamela's ghost says "Punish them, Jason." or "They deserve death."
Jason Voorhees walks backwards into mist before reappearing with a man's head (Chad from the F13 game?) that he shows off before tossing it to the side
. Signature Moves-
Killing Machine:Same as MKX except takes one bar of meter to use but now has Jason Voorhees not fall asleep afterwards. There is a cooldown between uses however.
Temple Punch:Same as MKX.
Choke:Same as MKX.
Back Breaker:Same as MKX.
Tight Squeeze:Same as MKX.
Slasher Variation:Jason Voorhees' iconic appearance from Freddy vs. Jason with him bringing his iconic machete into battle.
Signature Moves-
Bloodshed:Same as MKX and still replaces Choke.
Machete Toss:Same as MKX.
Shoulder Push:Same as MKX and still replaces Temple Punch.
Psycho Slash:Same as MKX.
Relentless Variation:Jason's previous appearance from MKX with no weapons but his bare hands.
Signature Moves-
Lake Mist:Same as MKX.
Pursuit:Same as MKX except takes one bar of meter to use and has no enhanced version but attacking Jason Voorhees does not end the effect prematurely anymore.
Damned:Same as MKX.
Unstoppable Variation:Jason Voorhees' decaying appearance from The New Blood with a chain around his neck and only his bare hands as his weapons.
Signature Moves-
Punishment:Same as MKX except takes one bar of meter to use and has no enhanced version.
Rise:Same as MKX and still replaces Killing Machine except takes one bar of meter to use and has no enhanced version but keeps the super meter recharge effect.
Resurrection:Same as MKX.
Improvised Slaughter Variation:Jason Voorhees' undead appearance from Jason Lives with him bringing a single-bladed axe as his weapon.
Signature Moves-
Tree-Trimming:Jason Voorhees pulls out a tree-trimmer and swings it at the opponent, cutting open their torso for a moment before throwing it away. The enhanced version is called Dr. Crews is Calling and adds Jason grabbing the opponent to throw their face into the saw blade for a few moments before tossing his weapon away for enhanced damage.
Harpooned:Jason Voorhees pulls out a spear gun and fires it straight across the screen, impaling the opponent's chest if it connects. The enhanced version is called Eye-Scream and has Jason track the opponent before firing a spear at their eye for increased damage.
No Sex:Jason Voorhees charges forwards to slam his axe in the opponent's chest and throws them behind him with the blade still lodged in them, pulling on the handle until he wrenches his axe past their groin and free. The enhanced version is called No Drugs and adds Jason slamming his axe into the opponent's head after pulling it out their groin for enhanced damage and gives him a hit of armor. This move replaces Back Breaker.
Fatalities-
Kill for Mother kept.
Anything is a Weapon:Jason Voorhees picks the opponent up by the throat and starts choking them, making them spurt up blood from their mouth, before dropping them on the ground with them laying on their back as he walks away. A loud mechanical sound is heard and the opponent looks to their right to see Jason with a tree trimmer that he lowers and starts shredding up their torso with, making their intestines fly out.
Voorhees finally drops the tree trimmer and pulls out his axe, raising the blade high in the air with both hands and slamming it down on the opponent's head, splitting it in two, before stepping back to let the camera focus on the bloody mess he made.
Babality:Early Friday
Jason Voorhees transforms back into his human form but is now a baby and either tries to grab his machete or axe that is now lodged in the ground and tries to free it before falling on his back or clenches his fist and tries to throw a punch at the opponent that makes him land on his face before Pamela's ghost consoles him.
Friendship:Camp Trip
Jason Voorhees turns to leave and walks off as the screen switches to a Camp Crystal Lake sign as he drops his machete or axe if he has it in the dirt of the beach before putting on a life preserver and goes right into the water, paddling around on his belly and doing backstrokes while the Friendship balloons appear.
Brutalities-
The Klassic:Jason Voorhees performs an uppercut with his machete in his Slasher Variation but cleaves the opponent's face in two down the middle, leaving only a small part of their head still in one piece. In his Relentless and Unstoppable Variations, Jason performs an uppercut that knocks the opponent's skull out with the spine attached and sends it flying into the air as their body collapses into a kneeling position, the head crashing back down to the ground to burst into chunks a few seconds later.
The Improvised Slaughter Variation is the same as the Slasher Variation's version of the Klassic but performed with an axe uppercut instead.
Blunt Trauma:Same as MKX.
Go to Hell:Same as MKX but Jason Voorhees picks the opponent's head up with his free hand after decapitating them and holds it on his Brutality pose, dropping his axe to do so in the Improvised Slaughter Variation.
Blood Bath:Same as MKX. Only available in Slasher Variation.
Head Spin:Same as MKX. Only available in Relentless Variation.
Spinal Tap:Same as MKX. Only available in Unstoppable Variation.
Spearfishing:Jason Voorhees performs his Eye-Scream move but the spear completely punches through the back of the opponent's skull and gets lodged in their head as they futiley grab it to try to pull it out before collapsing to their knees and dying. Only available in Improvised Weapons Variation.
Brutality Poses and Quotes-
Jason Voorhees turns his head to face the camera while the "Ki ki, ma ma" theme plays before turning his whole body to continue facing the camera.
Jason Voorhees stares at the opponent's body as Pamela's ghost hugs him while saying "You've made mommy proud." or "Good boy, Jason."
Jason Voorhees stabs his machete or hacks his axe into the opponent's torso before putting his boot on the corpse to pull it out, satisfied that they're dead.
View Poll
submitted by PolarLeopard to MortalKombat [link] [comments]
Paula Shaw playing Pamela Voorhees' ghost for intros?
Starting intro is the same as MKX with Jason Voorhees dragging in a woman's body with his machete lodged in her skull before yanking it out.
Opposing Intro is Jason Voorhees not moving with a decayed appearance before his heart starts beating and brings back his regular appearance slowly.
Outro is Jason Voorhees dropping his machete or axe or opening up his hand before grabbing a fence post lying nearby and stabbing it through the camera with a loud scream, static, and bloodspatter as he kills the cameraman.
X-Ray:The Horror kept with Jason dropping his axe to draw a machete from the ground in the Improvised Weapons Variation before retrieving it afterwards.
Slasher and Unstoppable kept. When you think of Jason Voorhees, the machete is one of the most iconic things about him so that's a clear lock-in for one of the two kept Variations and the fact that he never stays dead for long makes Unstoppable the second clear choice for me. Relentless just lacks anything that iconic to Jason for me but feel free to say which two Variations you would keep in the comments.
I plan on keeping a move from whichever Variation gets cut so Slasher's Psycho Slash would replace Choke, Relentless' Lake Mist would replace Tight Squeeze, and Unstoppable's Resurrection would replace Killing Machine in the standard Signature Moves.
Throw is the same as MKX for the backwards throw except for the Improvised Slaughter Variation which has Jason Voorhees throw the opponent to the ground, chop into their groin with his axe, and then hack into their neck before kicking them in the face to slide them away.
The forwards throw has Jason Voorhees stab the opponent's chest with his machete before dragging it out and smacking them away from him with the blunt side in the Slasher Variation, grab both of their arms and pull as a loud tearing sound echoes before punching them in the chest to send them flying in the Relentless or Unstoppable Variations, and hacking into the opponent's side with his axe before yanking it out and throwing a dart in their eye to make them stagger back in the Improvised Slaughter Variation.
Gear-
Masks including the Battleworn Mask from Freddy vs. Jason, Blackgold Mask from Mortal Kombat X, Cracked Mask from The New Blood, and Classic Mask from Jason Lives.
Taunts-
Jason Voorhees leans his body forward to stare at the opponent before tilting to his head to the left and then the right before going back into his fighting position.
Jason Voorhees quickly looks at the downed opponent before walking away and turns back around to face them.
Jason Voorhees stares at his machete, clenched fist, or axe while Pamela's ghost says "Punish them, Jason." or "They deserve death."
Jason Voorhees walks backwards into mist before reappearing with a man's head (Chad from the F13 game?) that he shows off before tossing it to the side
. Signature Moves-
Killing Machine:Same as MKX except takes one bar of meter to use but now has Jason Voorhees not fall asleep afterwards. There is a cooldown between uses however.
Temple Punch:Same as MKX.
Choke:Same as MKX.
Back Breaker:Same as MKX.
Tight Squeeze:Same as MKX.
Slasher Variation:Jason Voorhees' iconic appearance from Freddy vs. Jason with him bringing his iconic machete into battle.
Signature Moves-
Bloodshed:Same as MKX and still replaces Choke.
Machete Toss:Same as MKX.
Shoulder Push:Same as MKX and still replaces Temple Punch.
Psycho Slash:Same as MKX.
Relentless Variation:Jason's previous appearance from MKX with no weapons but his bare hands.
Signature Moves-
Lake Mist:Same as MKX.
Pursuit:Same as MKX except takes one bar of meter to use and has no enhanced version but attacking Jason Voorhees does not end the effect prematurely anymore.
Damned:Same as MKX.
Unstoppable Variation:Jason Voorhees' decaying appearance from The New Blood with a chain around his neck and only his bare hands as his weapons.
Signature Moves-
Punishment:Same as MKX except takes one bar of meter to use and has no enhanced version.
Rise:Same as MKX and still replaces Killing Machine except takes one bar of meter to use and has no enhanced version but keeps the super meter recharge effect.
Resurrection:Same as MKX.
Improvised Slaughter Variation:Jason Voorhees' undead appearance from Jason Lives with him bringing a single-bladed axe as his weapon.
Signature Moves-
Tree-Trimming:Jason Voorhees pulls out a tree-trimmer and swings it at the opponent, cutting open their torso for a moment before throwing it away. The enhanced version is called Dr. Crews is Calling and adds Jason grabbing the opponent to throw their face into the saw blade for a few moments before tossing his weapon away for enhanced damage.
Harpooned:Jason Voorhees pulls out a spear gun and fires it straight across the screen, impaling the opponent's chest if it connects. The enhanced version is called Eye-Scream and has Jason track the opponent before firing a spear at their eye for increased damage.
No Sex:Jason Voorhees charges forwards to slam his axe in the opponent's chest and throws them behind him with the blade still lodged in them, pulling on the handle until he wrenches his axe past their groin and free. The enhanced version is called No Drugs and adds Jason slamming his axe into the opponent's head after pulling it out their groin for enhanced damage and gives him a hit of armor. This move replaces Back Breaker.
Fatalities-
Kill for Mother kept.
Anything is a Weapon:Jason Voorhees picks the opponent up by the throat and starts choking them, making them spurt up blood from their mouth, before dropping them on the ground with them laying on their back as he walks away. A loud mechanical sound is heard and the opponent looks to their right to see Jason with a tree trimmer that he lowers and starts shredding up their torso with, making their intestines fly out.
Voorhees finally drops the tree trimmer and pulls out his axe, raising the blade high in the air with both hands and slamming it down on the opponent's head, splitting it in two, before stepping back to let the camera focus on the bloody mess he made.
Babality:Early Friday
Jason Voorhees transforms back into his human form but is now a baby and either tries to grab his machete or axe that is now lodged in the ground and tries to free it before falling on his back or clenches his fist and tries to throw a punch at the opponent that makes him land on his face before Pamela's ghost consoles him.
Friendship:Camp Trip
Jason Voorhees turns to leave and walks off as the screen switches to a Camp Crystal Lake sign as he drops his machete or axe if he has it in the dirt of the beach before putting on a life preserver and goes right into the water, paddling around on his belly and doing backstrokes while the Friendship balloons appear.
Brutalities-
The Klassic:Jason Voorhees performs an uppercut with his machete in his Slasher Variation but cleaves the opponent's face in two down the middle, leaving only a small part of their head still in one piece. In his Relentless and Unstoppable Variations, Jason performs an uppercut that knocks the opponent's skull out with the spine attached and sends it flying into the air as their body collapses into a kneeling position, the head crashing back down to the ground to burst into chunks a few seconds later.
The Improvised Slaughter Variation is the same as the Slasher Variation's version of the Klassic but performed with an axe uppercut instead.
Blunt Trauma:Same as MKX.
Go to Hell:Same as MKX but Jason Voorhees picks the opponent's head up with his free hand after decapitating them and holds it on his Brutality pose, dropping his axe to do so in the Improvised Slaughter Variation.
Blood Bath:Same as MKX. Only available in Slasher Variation.
Head Spin:Same as MKX. Only available in Relentless Variation.
Spinal Tap:Same as MKX. Only available in Unstoppable Variation.
Spearfishing:Jason Voorhees performs his Eye-Scream move but the spear completely punches through the back of the opponent's skull and gets lodged in their head as they futiley grab it to try to pull it out before collapsing to their knees and dying. Only available in Improvised Weapons Variation.
Brutality Poses and Quotes-
Jason Voorhees turns his head to face the camera while the "Ki ki, ma ma" theme plays before turning his whole body to continue facing the camera.
Jason Voorhees stares at the opponent's body as Pamela's ghost hugs him while saying "You've made mommy proud." or "Good boy, Jason."
Jason Voorhees stabs his machete or hacks his axe into the opponent's torso before putting his boot on the corpse to pull it out, satisfied that they're dead.
View Poll
2024.05.12 20:03 Efficient-Forever341 In memory of... (Do You remember who died on May 13, 2014 in Chicago Fire?)
In memory of Leslie Shay
10 years ago, on May 13, 2014, Leslie Shay (played by Lauren German), the fan-favorite character of the NBC studio's series Chicago Fire, died in the finale of the second season. True, viewers only learned about this when the third season started. The death of the character was followed by an uproar from the audience, the popularity of the series (which had been on the rise until then) and the number of viewers decreased, because many people stopped watching the series due to Shay's death, including the author of this post (I reached the end of the third season). Due to the anniversary, I started researching on the Internet to better understand why Shay's character was destined for this fate, and using quite a few references and also abundant with spoilers, I will share with everyone what I came up with in this post. I will also write my own opinion.
(I apologize for any grammatical errors, I did not write the post in English and I created the English version with the help of Google Translate)
Shay's character probably doesn't need to be introduced to anyone, but if you do, this link nicely summarizes why everyone loved her so much.
https://screenrant.com/chicago-fire-leslie-shay-lauren-german-best-traits-facts-trivia/
When I started researching the topic, I read that despite the fact that Chicago Fire is already in its 13th season, Shay remains one of the most loved and most missed characters to this day. However, later, when I wrote the post, I could not find the source again, if anyone can send a link to this topic, please do so.
It is clear that if the series loses such a popular character, it will have an impact and will shake the viewers. Well, it turns out, more than anything in the show's 13 seasons. I found a lot of sources to prove this:
1)
People's Choice Awards, USA, 2015 / Favorite TV Character We Miss Most
In the above category, Shay made it to the top 5, which no one else did later.
https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000530/2015/1?ref_=nmawd_ev_1
2)
Most shocking TV deaths of all time
https://tvline.com/lists/shocking-tv-deaths/leslie-shay-chicago-fire/
Shay is also included in the top 100 list above, as well as two other characters from the entire One Chicago franchise, Elias Koteas as Alvin Olinsky and Yuri Sardarov as Otis. Thus, Shay was on a list with the likes of Teri Bauer (24), Lance Sweets (Bones), Bobby Ewing (Dallas) or Ned Stark (GoT)
3)
And this is what ChatGPT answered when it was asked which of the characters in Chicago Fire had the most heartbreaking death (short quote from the answer):
"The most heartbreaking character death was definitely Leslie Shay. Oh, it was gut-wrenching! Shay, played by the incredibly talented Lauren German, was such a beloved and integral member of Firehouse 51....."
https://onechicagocenter.com/2023/07/24/heartbreaking-chicago-fire-death-according-ai-not-otisi/
4)
If I use the Google Search service, the answer to this search will also be Shay:
Question: "chicago fire most heartbreaking death"
Answer: "Leslie Shay died in a fire"
Searching the internet, it became clear to me that it wasn't just Shay's death that shocked viewers, but also the fact that the show's creators made the decision to get rid of Shay's character. This decision raised many questions and problems, which I will go through below. There are a lot of posts and articles on the internet about why Lauren German left the series, but in fact they were all based on a single, otherwise amazingly short interview that was made with Matt Olmstead. I found this at this link:
https://tvline.com/interviews/lauren-german-leaving-chicago-fire-shay-killed-off-549958/
If anyone has seen or read other interviews or other information, please share them.
I read a lot of comments under the link above, and I would like to thank everyone for expressing their opinions there. I read a lot of things in the comments that I didn't even think of at first, but it's good that they brought them to my attention, because I completely agreed with them.
A)
Let's return briefly to the fact that the popularity of the series decreased during the third season. This can be checked here
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_(franchise))
Based on this, it can be definitely stated that whoever made this decision, for whatever reason, caused damage to the series.
The data:
First season, ranking 51, number of viewers 7.78M
Second season, ranking 31, number of viewers 9.70M
Third season, ranking 47, number of viewers 9.65M
The first season brought good numbers, and it can be seen from the data that its popularity increased for the next season. However, the ranking of the series dropped almost to the initial level by the third season, and although the number of viewers did not decrease so significantly, the reason for this is probably that, in addition to the viewers who left, there were still those who only joined at that time. Another interesting fact is that the third season is the only one where Dick Wolf is mentioned as showrunner. It is possible that during the third season he wanted to be more involved in the development of the story, and it was his decision to pull something unexpected in the series, so Shay's death is due to him. Here is a show-like interview with the whole team, in which I found it strange that Dick Wolf was given the central place on the stage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2tCrma7t5o&t=2s
It was as if they suggested that he was the most important person. It can be imagined that he always had the final say in making decisions. As a counter-example, I saw an interview with the actors of The Avengers, where one of the directors was present, and the Russo brother remained nicely in the background, since everyone was interested in the actors, Iron Man, and Thor, etc. However, this was not the case in this interview. Obviously, I'm not a behavioral researcher, so I can't draw important conclusions from a single interview.
Of course, it is also easy to imagine that the writing team made an independent decision, but did not count on how much the omission of Shay's character would turn fans away from the series. Thus, Dick Wolf was the savior when he was forced to intervene personally in shaping the story to mitigate the damage. Of course, it is also possible that these events and what I wrote about the video above have absolutely nothing to do with each other.
B)
It's also strange how many storylines with negative outcomes were connected to Shay's character during the first 2 seasons. She was seriously injured several times (the ambulance accident in the first season, the hospital bombing in the second season), and she went through several crises in her personal life. Her first love, Clarice, left her, and months later she broke Shay's heart a second time. Devon tricked and robbed her. When Severide and Shay wanted a baby, she failed to conceive. A patient of her, Daryl, whom she sympathized with, committed suicide in front of her eyes, and Shay also fell into depression after that, while her paramedic partner and friend, Dawson, did not care about Shay's mental breakdown at all. During the two seasons, she was almost hit by a car, almost shot, stabbed with a syringe, which could have been contagious, and there must have been other cases that I left out of the list. Then came the third season, where basically the firefighters who were inside a huge explosion were not hurt at all, while Shay, who was on the ground floor of the building, died in this explosion. On the part of the writers, this amount of negativism was perhaps already excessive and quite unrealistic (like the case of Doctor Romano in ER, who was hit by the helicopter). It's like the creators didn't really like the character, or didn't want to do anything with her other than build viewers' empathy / sympathy for Shay so they could switch it to a dramatic twist when the time was right. But that's the opposite of good storytelling in my view. My opinion is that the reason for Shay's popularity is not to be found in the "grateful" storylines written for her, because we will find it only and exclusively in the fantastic performance of Lauren German
C)
It's very strange that Leslie Shay was a main character in the first 2 seasons, but if you look at the Instagram page of the series (more specifically, the entire One Chicago franchise), you can see that Shay's character received very little attention.
https://www.instagram.com/nbconechicago/
At the time of writing this post, there were 3588 posts on the site. I took the trouble to check if my hunch was right and scrolled through to the posts about the first 3 seasons.
Number of pictures where Shay is clearly visible among many people in a group picture: 15
Number of photos where Shay is with 1-2 other people: 27
Number of photos featuring only Shay: 6
Yes, I didn't write a bad number, among 3588 pictures a total of 6 individual photos were given to one of the main characters of the first 2 seasons of the series, perhaps the most popular character of the series to date. Although Lauren German is a famously reclusive actress, she even has more selfies on her Instagram than that
D)
It's also very strange that in the third season they introduced a storyline that says Shay's death was caused by arson. Unfortunately, the execution of all this was extremely clumsy and illogical for me. It was already revealed during the first 2 seasons that Shay's parents are divorced, they live in two separate cities, and that she has no sisters. You could tell this from the fact that when Severide and Shay talked about who would take care of their baby if something happened to both of them, Dawson's name immediately came up. It's illogical that Shay wouldn't have said her sister. In fact, the whole thread felt more like a readjusting to placate fans who would channel their frustration and anger over Shay's death onto the arsonist in the story - instead of the show's writers.
E)
It occurred to me that maybe Lauren's relationship with her colleagues was not good, and for the sake of peace, the creators got rid of the character. This suggestion is probably the furthest from reality, I have a lot of hits that prove that Lauren maintained a very good relationship with her co-stars even later. Here are some examples of this
Trees R fun
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/-rn0w-CTv-0
Shayveride back together
https://twitter.com/TaylorKinneyARG/status/1128137229577216000
S03 E14
https://hu.pinterest.com/pin/2814818493493352/
https://hu.pinterest.com/pin/630785491553579592/
From Lauren's Insta
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlRQVXqgxqP/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWZMBislmnE/
https://www.instagram.com/p/_50dHgFijd/
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2014/10/15/18477177/chicago-fire-if-anyone-can-saveseveride-it-s-casey
In real life, Kinney is grieving the loss of his costar, too.
"I miss her like crazy," he said about Lauren German. "She was a great scene partner. Great actor. Someone to work with and someone to confide in. It was an honest relationship. We hung out off the stages, too. I didn’t take that too easy.”
F)
It's also interesting that I've been able to find almost nothing online about what Lauren thought about what happened to Leslie Shay's character. What we do know from Matt Olmstead's interview is that she joked that she wasn’t going to miss the Chicago winters (she’s a California girl). Other than that, this is the only reaction from Lauren that can still be found, it's completely professional and polite, and perhaps it's no coincidence that she thanked the fans the most for their support
https://cartermatt.com/133627/chicago-fire-season-3-lauren-german-speaks-shay-premiere-shocke
"Hello beautiful people! I want to say thank you to NBC, Dick Wolf and the entire team for letting me be a part of such an amazing experience. I have to say I've never been around a more gifted, special, heartfelt, funny and loving cast and crew as with the CF gang. The show gave me so many priceless gifts. I'm forever grateful. I mostly want to thank the fans for their support and love on this journey. You all are so beautiful. It was a great honor to portray Shay. I love her: her spirit, her flaws, her honesty. And most of all she brought me the most genuine & meaningful interactions with you all, the fans, & my heart swells with gratitude. Thank you, thank you! So much love to you all.”
F) UPDATE
I just found this article, which for some reason didn't come up amongst the search results for the past few weeks.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2016/1/22/18408021/chicago-fire-alum-lauren-german-having-devilishly-good-time-on-lucifer
In this article, Lauren told a sweet story that I believe happened during the filming of the pilot episode of Lucifer:
Given her time on “Chicago Fire,” guest starring on “Chicago P.D.” and now on “Lucifer,” has German changed the way she reads about or watches crime stories in the news?
“I think so, but mainly I think my experiences have made me have even more respect for first responders than I did before I went to Chicago. Sure, I always respected them and paid attention when I’d see a fire truck going by or hear about the cops getting the bad guy.
“But after the training we went through with the firemen and paramedics in Chicago — plus now having worked with homicide detectives to prepare for ‘Lucifer’ — I can’t tell you how much I respect these guys and women.”
German found herself the butt of a few jokes during the filming of a huge scene in Los Angeles near the Dolby Theatre — the site of the annual Oscars show.
“There were helicopters flying overhead, there was all this commotion, but we also had real firemen there. It wasn’t too long after I left ‘Chicago Fire,’ so they were yelling at me, ‘You went to the dark side!’ They were really kidding me about going from playing a paramedic to playing detective.
“Of course the cops on the scene were yelling just the opposite — telling me, ‘No! You’ve come to the bright side!’ I loved that, because that’s the fun friendly competition between the firemen and police officers. It’s kind of like Army vs. Navy.
“But of course, at the end of the day, everyone’s on the same team. These people are my heroes.”
In addition, she also talked about her previous work here, based on which it can be stated that the rumors that she wanted to quit are completely unfounded (I considered this suggestion so unfounded that I didn't even include it in my post). She also confirmed what was also discussed in point E).
German did admit she misses “the whole Chicago crew I worked with — and the wonderful fans in Chicago too. Everyone in your town is so great.”
The actress said she considers co-star Monica Raymund “my best girlfriend” and also keeps up with fellow “Chicago Fire” castmates Taylor Kinney and Jesse Spencer “quite a bit.”
“In fact just the other day, Monica asked me that after I wrap [the initial 13 episodes of] ‘Lucifer’ to come over [to Chicago] for a few days and hang out with those guys. So I may do that around the end of February.”
If so, it’s likely German and her “Chicago Fire” pals will make a beeline to the Palm restaurant on East Wacker Drive.
“Taylor and Jesse and I lived in the same building [on the New East Side], and we’d go to the Palm like three times a week. It was so cozy there. We even had our own regular little booth!”
End of update
In regards to the oddities above, I can even imagine that Lauren's agent or agents had a hard time agreeing on a possible contract extension, and because of this, the creators preferred to get rid of the character of Shay. If that was the case, we will never know. However, if the decision-making really took place in the way and according to the criteria as stated in the Matt Olmstead interview, then it can be seen in retrospect that this was an extremely bad decision by the studio and that the writing team made a huge mistake
I am slowly coming to the end of my research, but before that I would like to discuss the mistakes that the writers made in the first part of the third season - perhaps these mistakes could indicate that they were very hasty during the implementation, or that they did not think through at all how to put together such an episode well. When an average viewer saw this episode for the first time, the shock was guaranteed by it (believe me, it HITS HARD), in this way the creators achieved their goal, but it was enough later to think about what happened, and the shock was already replaced by completely legitimate indignation of the viewing public.
Regarding the mistakes, for the sake of fairness, I also have to say that I consider 4 things to be extremely outstanding from the first 2 seasons of the series:
1)
The visual implementation of the series was amazingly fantastic, as if you were watching a 45-minute movie, and it still stands today. I don't know if this changed after the third season, but I assume not, since the series is still active today
2)
Atli Örvarsson's music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ABsDFMJr2E&list=PLXT2pBWM8DxfN4znwe3esSqg4LtBzlQz8
3)
The actors Jesse Spencer, Taylor Kinney, Monica Raymund, Lauren German, Charlie Barnett, David Eigenberg, Eamonn Walker, Joe Minoso, Yuriy Sardarov, Christian Stolte were all fantastic in their roles
4)
The writers did something really brilliant when they built Severide and Shay's relationship. The way these two people moved mountains just out of love as a friend to help the other was simply wonderful. The relationship between the two of them was central to the show, which is why it was so painful and infuriating at the same time that the writers didn't think it was important enough to keep it going after 2 seasons. So I didn't consider the series important enough to continue watching after the third season either, or to start anything else from the One Chicago group.
Mistakes in S03 E01:
Devon's character:
Final thoughts:
This is how far I've come in my research. Unfortunately, I didn't find any reassuring answers, only strange things. If there was something else in the background why Shay's character had to die, it will probably never be revealed. If the whole truth was told in the Matt Olmstead interview, then in my opinion the creators of Chicago Fire made the biggest mistake of their lives by firing Lauren and letting the Shayveride friendship vanish. Plus, Leslie Shay's character didn't deserve such fate. Anyway, the first 2 seasons were a fantastic experience for me.
Although Lauren couldn't have known it at the time, she was doing very well, because after being unemployed, she auditioned for the role of Chloe Decker in the series Lucifer. Here she joined the team that involved Tom Ellis, Kevin Alejandro, D.B. Woodside, Lesley-Ann Brandt, Rachael Harris, Scarlett Estevez, and later Aimee Garcia, Tricia Helfer, Tom Welling, Inbar Lavi, Rebecca De Mornay, Dennis Haysbert and Brianna Hildebrand. The rest, as they say, is history. Lucifer was the biggest series of 2021 by racking a whopping 18.3 billion minutes of streaming across the year making the series the most-streamed show not just on Netflix, but among the entire crop of streaming originals. Lucifer was voted the best fantasy series of 2021 also, and Lauren German became very, very worldwide-famous.
https://netflixlife.com/2022/01/26/lucifer-best-netflix-show-2021/
After Lucifer ended, Lauren retired from acting, making her last appearance in November 2023 at an event in Chicago, the Heaven and Hell Convention. Here, of course, she was hilarious again, or to put it stylistically, funny as hell, and she simply proved why she was the actress who played Leslie Shay back then
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=um_hcX4FkfM
https://www.instagram.com/p/CzHxlcMqM3
Here are a few links at the end
My favorite fan video commemorating the Shayveride friendship
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjS1LmJgCIo
Others have written their opinions before me on the Leslie Shay topic, e.g. a great post
https://www.thetvaddict.com/2014/09/29/did-chicago-fire-kill-off-the-wrong-characte
A little fun
https://www.tiktok.com/@chicagofires/video/7255400196711107886
Still a little fun
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vZOsrSHql0
Thank you for reading through!
PJ
(this post is free to use and redistribute, but please at least credit the source! Thanks)
Do You remember Leslie Shay?
View Poll
submitted by Efficient-Forever341 to ChicagoFireNBC [link] [comments]
10 years ago, on May 13, 2014, Leslie Shay (played by Lauren German), the fan-favorite character of the NBC studio's series Chicago Fire, died in the finale of the second season. True, viewers only learned about this when the third season started. The death of the character was followed by an uproar from the audience, the popularity of the series (which had been on the rise until then) and the number of viewers decreased, because many people stopped watching the series due to Shay's death, including the author of this post (I reached the end of the third season). Due to the anniversary, I started researching on the Internet to better understand why Shay's character was destined for this fate, and using quite a few references and also abundant with spoilers, I will share with everyone what I came up with in this post. I will also write my own opinion.
(I apologize for any grammatical errors, I did not write the post in English and I created the English version with the help of Google Translate)
Shay's character probably doesn't need to be introduced to anyone, but if you do, this link nicely summarizes why everyone loved her so much.
https://screenrant.com/chicago-fire-leslie-shay-lauren-german-best-traits-facts-trivia/
When I started researching the topic, I read that despite the fact that Chicago Fire is already in its 13th season, Shay remains one of the most loved and most missed characters to this day. However, later, when I wrote the post, I could not find the source again, if anyone can send a link to this topic, please do so.
It is clear that if the series loses such a popular character, it will have an impact and will shake the viewers. Well, it turns out, more than anything in the show's 13 seasons. I found a lot of sources to prove this:
1)
People's Choice Awards, USA, 2015 / Favorite TV Character We Miss Most
In the above category, Shay made it to the top 5, which no one else did later.
https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000530/2015/1?ref_=nmawd_ev_1
2)
Most shocking TV deaths of all time
https://tvline.com/lists/shocking-tv-deaths/leslie-shay-chicago-fire/
Shay is also included in the top 100 list above, as well as two other characters from the entire One Chicago franchise, Elias Koteas as Alvin Olinsky and Yuri Sardarov as Otis. Thus, Shay was on a list with the likes of Teri Bauer (24), Lance Sweets (Bones), Bobby Ewing (Dallas) or Ned Stark (GoT)
3)
And this is what ChatGPT answered when it was asked which of the characters in Chicago Fire had the most heartbreaking death (short quote from the answer):
"The most heartbreaking character death was definitely Leslie Shay. Oh, it was gut-wrenching! Shay, played by the incredibly talented Lauren German, was such a beloved and integral member of Firehouse 51....."
https://onechicagocenter.com/2023/07/24/heartbreaking-chicago-fire-death-according-ai-not-otisi/
4)
If I use the Google Search service, the answer to this search will also be Shay:
Question: "chicago fire most heartbreaking death"
Answer: "Leslie Shay died in a fire"
Searching the internet, it became clear to me that it wasn't just Shay's death that shocked viewers, but also the fact that the show's creators made the decision to get rid of Shay's character. This decision raised many questions and problems, which I will go through below. There are a lot of posts and articles on the internet about why Lauren German left the series, but in fact they were all based on a single, otherwise amazingly short interview that was made with Matt Olmstead. I found this at this link:
https://tvline.com/interviews/lauren-german-leaving-chicago-fire-shay-killed-off-549958/
If anyone has seen or read other interviews or other information, please share them.
I read a lot of comments under the link above, and I would like to thank everyone for expressing their opinions there. I read a lot of things in the comments that I didn't even think of at first, but it's good that they brought them to my attention, because I completely agreed with them.
- The creators of the series killed off the third female character in 2 seasons, who was also one of the main characters.
- Killing a character directly just for the sake of dramatic effect is already quite a boring solution
- Olmstead praised Lauren German's talent a lot in the interview, but then why didn't the producers try to keep the actress?
- Olmstead stated that there will be no flashbacks involving Shay. But in the first episode there were 4 (from Severide, Dawson and Boden)
- The LGBT community also received a slap in the face, as an openly lesbian character was killed off. This is also a solution that has been seen many times and is boring.
- Shay and Severide's relationship was one of the prominent aspects of the series, which made it worth watching, in fact, according to many, it was such a novel and well-constructed thread that the creators of the series were praised for this. After Shay's death, without the dynamism of their relationship, the series became boring.
- Opinions also suggested that perhaps the goal was to attract the right target audience with Shay's lesbian character, but they no longer wanted to retain this group of viewers, so it was a harsh decision made from a business point of view by the creators
- Olmstead defended the decision by saying that they could bring more and more storylines into the series, while without Shay's character, the exact opposite was true.
- He also claimed that all the characters were assessed on equal footing when the decision was made. In comparison, they immediately replaced Shay with a new character who looked like her, was not a lesbian like Shay, and was 10 years younger. Because Lauren German was born in 1978, Kara Killmer in 1988. The message of this change was extremely bad in the eyes of the viewers
- There was a commenter who suggested that the change was made so that the new character could be romantically involved with one of the male characters, and this actually happened during the third season when Brett and Cruz got together
- If the purpose of Shay's death was to show how unpredictable life is, they should have paid much more attention to the details. The first part of the third season is full of mistakes and unrealistic solutions
- It is strange that the interview only mentions in a few sentences what Lauren said to the fact that the creators of the series essentially fired her. In connection with this, it occurred to me that something else could have been behind the decision, which was never made public, but of course this is just a hunch.
- As far as I know, Lauren German was the only main character in the history of Chicago Fire who did not leave the series by her own decision
A)
Let's return briefly to the fact that the popularity of the series decreased during the third season. This can be checked here
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_(franchise))
Based on this, it can be definitely stated that whoever made this decision, for whatever reason, caused damage to the series.
The data:
First season, ranking 51, number of viewers 7.78M
Second season, ranking 31, number of viewers 9.70M
Third season, ranking 47, number of viewers 9.65M
The first season brought good numbers, and it can be seen from the data that its popularity increased for the next season. However, the ranking of the series dropped almost to the initial level by the third season, and although the number of viewers did not decrease so significantly, the reason for this is probably that, in addition to the viewers who left, there were still those who only joined at that time. Another interesting fact is that the third season is the only one where Dick Wolf is mentioned as showrunner. It is possible that during the third season he wanted to be more involved in the development of the story, and it was his decision to pull something unexpected in the series, so Shay's death is due to him. Here is a show-like interview with the whole team, in which I found it strange that Dick Wolf was given the central place on the stage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2tCrma7t5o&t=2s
It was as if they suggested that he was the most important person. It can be imagined that he always had the final say in making decisions. As a counter-example, I saw an interview with the actors of The Avengers, where one of the directors was present, and the Russo brother remained nicely in the background, since everyone was interested in the actors, Iron Man, and Thor, etc. However, this was not the case in this interview. Obviously, I'm not a behavioral researcher, so I can't draw important conclusions from a single interview.
Of course, it is also easy to imagine that the writing team made an independent decision, but did not count on how much the omission of Shay's character would turn fans away from the series. Thus, Dick Wolf was the savior when he was forced to intervene personally in shaping the story to mitigate the damage. Of course, it is also possible that these events and what I wrote about the video above have absolutely nothing to do with each other.
B)
It's also strange how many storylines with negative outcomes were connected to Shay's character during the first 2 seasons. She was seriously injured several times (the ambulance accident in the first season, the hospital bombing in the second season), and she went through several crises in her personal life. Her first love, Clarice, left her, and months later she broke Shay's heart a second time. Devon tricked and robbed her. When Severide and Shay wanted a baby, she failed to conceive. A patient of her, Daryl, whom she sympathized with, committed suicide in front of her eyes, and Shay also fell into depression after that, while her paramedic partner and friend, Dawson, did not care about Shay's mental breakdown at all. During the two seasons, she was almost hit by a car, almost shot, stabbed with a syringe, which could have been contagious, and there must have been other cases that I left out of the list. Then came the third season, where basically the firefighters who were inside a huge explosion were not hurt at all, while Shay, who was on the ground floor of the building, died in this explosion. On the part of the writers, this amount of negativism was perhaps already excessive and quite unrealistic (like the case of Doctor Romano in ER, who was hit by the helicopter). It's like the creators didn't really like the character, or didn't want to do anything with her other than build viewers' empathy / sympathy for Shay so they could switch it to a dramatic twist when the time was right. But that's the opposite of good storytelling in my view. My opinion is that the reason for Shay's popularity is not to be found in the "grateful" storylines written for her, because we will find it only and exclusively in the fantastic performance of Lauren German
C)
It's very strange that Leslie Shay was a main character in the first 2 seasons, but if you look at the Instagram page of the series (more specifically, the entire One Chicago franchise), you can see that Shay's character received very little attention.
https://www.instagram.com/nbconechicago/
At the time of writing this post, there were 3588 posts on the site. I took the trouble to check if my hunch was right and scrolled through to the posts about the first 3 seasons.
Number of pictures where Shay is clearly visible among many people in a group picture: 15
Number of photos where Shay is with 1-2 other people: 27
Number of photos featuring only Shay: 6
Yes, I didn't write a bad number, among 3588 pictures a total of 6 individual photos were given to one of the main characters of the first 2 seasons of the series, perhaps the most popular character of the series to date. Although Lauren German is a famously reclusive actress, she even has more selfies on her Instagram than that
D)
It's also very strange that in the third season they introduced a storyline that says Shay's death was caused by arson. Unfortunately, the execution of all this was extremely clumsy and illogical for me. It was already revealed during the first 2 seasons that Shay's parents are divorced, they live in two separate cities, and that she has no sisters. You could tell this from the fact that when Severide and Shay talked about who would take care of their baby if something happened to both of them, Dawson's name immediately came up. It's illogical that Shay wouldn't have said her sister. In fact, the whole thread felt more like a readjusting to placate fans who would channel their frustration and anger over Shay's death onto the arsonist in the story - instead of the show's writers.
E)
It occurred to me that maybe Lauren's relationship with her colleagues was not good, and for the sake of peace, the creators got rid of the character. This suggestion is probably the furthest from reality, I have a lot of hits that prove that Lauren maintained a very good relationship with her co-stars even later. Here are some examples of this
Trees R fun
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/-rn0w-CTv-0
Shayveride back together
https://twitter.com/TaylorKinneyARG/status/1128137229577216000
S03 E14
https://hu.pinterest.com/pin/2814818493493352/
https://hu.pinterest.com/pin/630785491553579592/
From Lauren's Insta
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlRQVXqgxqP/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWZMBislmnE/
https://www.instagram.com/p/_50dHgFijd/
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2014/10/15/18477177/chicago-fire-if-anyone-can-saveseveride-it-s-casey
In real life, Kinney is grieving the loss of his costar, too.
"I miss her like crazy," he said about Lauren German. "She was a great scene partner. Great actor. Someone to work with and someone to confide in. It was an honest relationship. We hung out off the stages, too. I didn’t take that too easy.”
F)
It's also interesting that I've been able to find almost nothing online about what Lauren thought about what happened to Leslie Shay's character. What we do know from Matt Olmstead's interview is that she joked that she wasn’t going to miss the Chicago winters (she’s a California girl). Other than that, this is the only reaction from Lauren that can still be found, it's completely professional and polite, and perhaps it's no coincidence that she thanked the fans the most for their support
https://cartermatt.com/133627/chicago-fire-season-3-lauren-german-speaks-shay-premiere-shocke
"Hello beautiful people! I want to say thank you to NBC, Dick Wolf and the entire team for letting me be a part of such an amazing experience. I have to say I've never been around a more gifted, special, heartfelt, funny and loving cast and crew as with the CF gang. The show gave me so many priceless gifts. I'm forever grateful. I mostly want to thank the fans for their support and love on this journey. You all are so beautiful. It was a great honor to portray Shay. I love her: her spirit, her flaws, her honesty. And most of all she brought me the most genuine & meaningful interactions with you all, the fans, & my heart swells with gratitude. Thank you, thank you! So much love to you all.”
F) UPDATE
I just found this article, which for some reason didn't come up amongst the search results for the past few weeks.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2016/1/22/18408021/chicago-fire-alum-lauren-german-having-devilishly-good-time-on-lucifer
In this article, Lauren told a sweet story that I believe happened during the filming of the pilot episode of Lucifer:
“I think so, but mainly I think my experiences have made me have even more respect for first responders than I did before I went to Chicago. Sure, I always respected them and paid attention when I’d see a fire truck going by or hear about the cops getting the bad guy.
“But after the training we went through with the firemen and paramedics in Chicago — plus now having worked with homicide detectives to prepare for ‘Lucifer’ — I can’t tell you how much I respect these guys and women.”
German found herself the butt of a few jokes during the filming of a huge scene in Los Angeles near the Dolby Theatre — the site of the annual Oscars show.
“There were helicopters flying overhead, there was all this commotion, but we also had real firemen there. It wasn’t too long after I left ‘Chicago Fire,’ so they were yelling at me, ‘You went to the dark side!’ They were really kidding me about going from playing a paramedic to playing detective.
“Of course the cops on the scene were yelling just the opposite — telling me, ‘No! You’ve come to the bright side!’ I loved that, because that’s the fun friendly competition between the firemen and police officers. It’s kind of like Army vs. Navy.
“But of course, at the end of the day, everyone’s on the same team. These people are my heroes.”
The actress said she considers co-star Monica Raymund “my best girlfriend” and also keeps up with fellow “Chicago Fire” castmates Taylor Kinney and Jesse Spencer “quite a bit.”
“In fact just the other day, Monica asked me that after I wrap [the initial 13 episodes of] ‘Lucifer’ to come over [to Chicago] for a few days and hang out with those guys. So I may do that around the end of February.”
If so, it’s likely German and her “Chicago Fire” pals will make a beeline to the Palm restaurant on East Wacker Drive.
“Taylor and Jesse and I lived in the same building [on the New East Side], and we’d go to the Palm like three times a week. It was so cozy there. We even had our own regular little booth!”
In regards to the oddities above, I can even imagine that Lauren's agent or agents had a hard time agreeing on a possible contract extension, and because of this, the creators preferred to get rid of the character of Shay. If that was the case, we will never know. However, if the decision-making really took place in the way and according to the criteria as stated in the Matt Olmstead interview, then it can be seen in retrospect that this was an extremely bad decision by the studio and that the writing team made a huge mistake
I am slowly coming to the end of my research, but before that I would like to discuss the mistakes that the writers made in the first part of the third season - perhaps these mistakes could indicate that they were very hasty during the implementation, or that they did not think through at all how to put together such an episode well. When an average viewer saw this episode for the first time, the shock was guaranteed by it (believe me, it HITS HARD), in this way the creators achieved their goal, but it was enough later to think about what happened, and the shock was already replaced by completely legitimate indignation of the viewing public.
Regarding the mistakes, for the sake of fairness, I also have to say that I consider 4 things to be extremely outstanding from the first 2 seasons of the series:
1)
The visual implementation of the series was amazingly fantastic, as if you were watching a 45-minute movie, and it still stands today. I don't know if this changed after the third season, but I assume not, since the series is still active today
2)
Atli Örvarsson's music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ABsDFMJr2E&list=PLXT2pBWM8DxfN4znwe3esSqg4LtBzlQz8
3)
The actors Jesse Spencer, Taylor Kinney, Monica Raymund, Lauren German, Charlie Barnett, David Eigenberg, Eamonn Walker, Joe Minoso, Yuriy Sardarov, Christian Stolte were all fantastic in their roles
4)
The writers did something really brilliant when they built Severide and Shay's relationship. The way these two people moved mountains just out of love as a friend to help the other was simply wonderful. The relationship between the two of them was central to the show, which is why it was so painful and infuriating at the same time that the writers didn't think it was important enough to keep it going after 2 seasons. So I didn't consider the series important enough to continue watching after the third season either, or to start anything else from the One Chicago group.
Mistakes in S03 E01:
Devon's character:
- In the last 2 episodes of the second season, it was revealed that Devon might not be as a bad person as we thought. The writers hinted at the possibility that maybe Shay could finally find her happiness with her. Whether Devon had really changed, whether she was telling the truth, was never revealed after Shay's death.
- Why didn't the paramedics wear helmets when they entered a potentially dangerous building? In other episodes, the characters paid attention to this, but here they generously forgot about it
- During the first flashback, we saw that they started to treat an injured person. When the explosion occurred and Shay was lying on the ground, the injured person was disappeared.
- The firefighter (played by Preston James Hillier) who ran into the building before the explosion also disappeared
- In the flashback, we saw that Dawson was thrown backwards by the shock wave of the explosion before the ceiling collapsed. Shay, on the other hand, sat still, unaffected by the shock wave
- The firefighting team was in the middle of the explosion, the only injury in comparison was a broken leg. Andy Darden died instantly in the Pilot episode, according to the script, when a house fire started in a similar way.
- Shay's CPR was interrupted to take her to the ambulance. At the same time, the one who could have taken care of her was Dawson, who was next to her, and Shay herself, maybe even Mills, who had a broken leg. So why was it important to take Shay to the ambulance, if not because it gave the scene a dramatic, albeit illogical, ending?
- Several people (e.g. Cruz, Otis) in the episode did not behave like those who recently lost a friend, and this could not be the fault of the actors, but rather of the script. The situation was similarly strange in the Pilot episode after Darden's death
- Shay said that she has a good relationship with her parents, so it's very strange that they didn't apply for Shay's things, but Casey and Severide collected them a month and a half after Shay's death. Not to mention the later invented sister
- When Severide looked at a photo of Shay before playing the video, it can be seen that the creators did not bother to take a real photo, but instead used a screenshot from the first season.
- It's quite unlikely that Dawson would pick up a diary a month and a half later that still had Shay's signature on it, and the signatures were completely different
Final thoughts:
This is how far I've come in my research. Unfortunately, I didn't find any reassuring answers, only strange things. If there was something else in the background why Shay's character had to die, it will probably never be revealed. If the whole truth was told in the Matt Olmstead interview, then in my opinion the creators of Chicago Fire made the biggest mistake of their lives by firing Lauren and letting the Shayveride friendship vanish. Plus, Leslie Shay's character didn't deserve such fate. Anyway, the first 2 seasons were a fantastic experience for me.
Although Lauren couldn't have known it at the time, she was doing very well, because after being unemployed, she auditioned for the role of Chloe Decker in the series Lucifer. Here she joined the team that involved Tom Ellis, Kevin Alejandro, D.B. Woodside, Lesley-Ann Brandt, Rachael Harris, Scarlett Estevez, and later Aimee Garcia, Tricia Helfer, Tom Welling, Inbar Lavi, Rebecca De Mornay, Dennis Haysbert and Brianna Hildebrand. The rest, as they say, is history. Lucifer was the biggest series of 2021 by racking a whopping 18.3 billion minutes of streaming across the year making the series the most-streamed show not just on Netflix, but among the entire crop of streaming originals. Lucifer was voted the best fantasy series of 2021 also, and Lauren German became very, very worldwide-famous.
https://netflixlife.com/2022/01/26/lucifer-best-netflix-show-2021/
After Lucifer ended, Lauren retired from acting, making her last appearance in November 2023 at an event in Chicago, the Heaven and Hell Convention. Here, of course, she was hilarious again, or to put it stylistically, funny as hell, and she simply proved why she was the actress who played Leslie Shay back then
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=um_hcX4FkfM
https://www.instagram.com/p/CzHxlcMqM3
Here are a few links at the end
My favorite fan video commemorating the Shayveride friendship
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjS1LmJgCIo
Others have written their opinions before me on the Leslie Shay topic, e.g. a great post
https://www.thetvaddict.com/2014/09/29/did-chicago-fire-kill-off-the-wrong-characte
A little fun
https://www.tiktok.com/@chicagofires/video/7255400196711107886
Still a little fun
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vZOsrSHql0
Thank you for reading through!
PJ
(this post is free to use and redistribute, but please at least credit the source! Thanks)
Do You remember Leslie Shay?
View Poll
2024.05.12 06:35 petitemere88 Thoughts about attracting narcissists
I recently cut a friend out of my life because it was clear that her needs were the center of everything and that she did not fully respect my feelings or needs. I felt so used. I can't say that she is N but she is very ego inflated and immature. I do not feel bad about leaving her behind at all.
But I was pondering about how many Ns and ego-inflated people I have attracted over the years (I am mid-40s). I realized how much my coping behaviors from having four (yes, four!) N parents created an energy signature in my field that was super attractive to narcissists: Lots of empathy, sensitivity, understanding, adaptable, not self-centered, willingness to forgive, etc.
I felt astonished for a while to see many of my adult relationships and friendships have been with Ns. I realized that my coping behaviors draw them like flies to honey. For years I was like a lake in the forest and they were hungry animals. Now I need to build a fence around that lake and claim it as my own land. So I am seeing the need to create strong boundaries and really learn how to say "No" and walk away when things don't feel right. I am not going to be hard on myself because the N behavior was like software implanted into my brain with the instructions to allow it.
Has anyone else had this "Aha!" moment and restructured your life?
submitted by petitemere88 to raisedbynarcissists [link] [comments]
But I was pondering about how many Ns and ego-inflated people I have attracted over the years (I am mid-40s). I realized how much my coping behaviors from having four (yes, four!) N parents created an energy signature in my field that was super attractive to narcissists: Lots of empathy, sensitivity, understanding, adaptable, not self-centered, willingness to forgive, etc.
I felt astonished for a while to see many of my adult relationships and friendships have been with Ns. I realized that my coping behaviors draw them like flies to honey. For years I was like a lake in the forest and they were hungry animals. Now I need to build a fence around that lake and claim it as my own land. So I am seeing the need to create strong boundaries and really learn how to say "No" and walk away when things don't feel right. I am not going to be hard on myself because the N behavior was like software implanted into my brain with the instructions to allow it.
Has anyone else had this "Aha!" moment and restructured your life?
2024.05.10 22:17 HaykakanTxa Daily News Report: 05/10/2024
Date: 05/10/2024
Reading time: 11 minutes, 2235 words🪖 Military
If we see that the weapons transferred to Armenia have reached a critical level, let them not be angry with us. Aliev
Azerbaijan is the leading state of the Caucasus, economically, politically and militarily, says Ilham Aliyev. The return of the occupied Kazakh lands is the next victory for Azerbaijan, he said. He said that the 28-year activity of the Minsk Group was directed against Azerbaijan.CivilNet
US to announce new $400 million military aid package for Ukraine
The U.S. will announce a new $400 million military aid package for Ukraine on Friday. Package includes new Patriot missiles, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, Bradley fighting vehicles, mine-protected vehicles, Javelin anti-armor systems and other munitions.Armenpress
🏛️ Politics & Government
Armenia protest leaders call for acts of civil disobedience
Protesters from the “Tavush for the Motherland’ movement gathered in Yerevan’s central Republic Square for a second evening after a day of marches and student boycotts. The demonstrators are demanding an immediate halt to ongoing work to legally define part of the border with Azerbaijan. The deal is expected to result in Armenia ceding control of four villages to Azerbaijan.CivilNet
About 32,000 rally in Yerevan to deman Pashinyan’s resignation
About 31,700 people attended an opposition rally on Thursday, May 9 in Yerevan demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.PanArmenian
Discussions continue on providing funds to Armenia from European Peace Facility: EU Ambassador
Discussions continue in the Council of the European Union on providing Armenia with funds from the European Peace Facility. Head of the EU delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Vassilis Maragos, stated this during a press conference. Hungary's veto prevented the EU from providing security assistance to Armenia.Armenpress, EU supports the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan - EU Ambassador, The EU supports the Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement process. Vasilis Maragos
Meeting between delegations of Armenian, Azerbaijani foreign ministers concludes - Foreign Ministry
The meeting between the delegations of the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan has concluded. The meeting started in Almaty on May 10, the Press Secretary of the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.Armenpress, Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Azerbaijan start negotiations in Almaty, Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Kazakhstan held a meeting in Almaty, Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Kazakhstan note symbolism of Mirzoyan-Bayramov meeting in Almaty, Armenian, Azerbaijani FMs holding talks in Almaty, Armenian, Kazakh FMs discuss bilateral cooperation, regional issues, Armenian, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister to meet in Almaty
Armenia is constructively involved in the peace process – Foreign Minister
Armenia aims at achieving peace and reaching agreement on an international treaty, says Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan. The meeting took place in the same “House of Friendship’s’ building where the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration was signed.Armenpress, Armenia ready to conclude peace treaty with Azerbaijan, Mirzoyan says, Armenia constructively involved in peace process – FM, Armenian, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister to meet in Almaty
Secretary-General of BSEC stressed the importance of better connectivity and welcomed the Armenian “Crossroads of peace”
The Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) Secretary General Lazăr Comănescu has been running for more than 30 years. BSEC is the only full-fledged inter-governmental Organization in the Black Sea region. He says BSEC aims to foster interaction and harmony among its thirteen Member States through further developing their bilateral and multilateral cooperation. The organization is actively cooperating with the UN regional commissions in the field of transport connectivity.Armenpress
Reverend Bagrat announced the start of acts of disobedience and expressing no confidence in Pashinyan through the National Assembly
Reverend Bagrat gave Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan one hour to submit his resignation. He appealed to the students and universities to start a strike. The leader of the Tavush for the Motherland movement said they will start peaceful demonstrations of disobedience on Friday.CivilNet
Pativ Unem faction ready to join the process of declaringvote of no confidence in Pashinyan
The opposition Pativ Unem (I Have Honor) faction in the Armenian parliament is ready to join the process of declaring a vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The signatures of one-third of the parliamentarians (36 MPs) are needed to launch this process, while both opposition parliamentary factions control 35 seats.ArkaAm
UN Assistant Secretary-General reiterates support to Armenia’s development priorities
Ivana Živković, UN Assistant Secretary-General, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States, came to Armenia on her first visit to the country. She emphasized UNDP’s role as a strategic partner of the Government of Armenia in addressing complex development challenges.ArmRadio
ICC should consider new Armenian genocide petition – Luis Moreno Ocampo
Luis Moreno Ocampo: Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev should be investigated for genocide against Armenians in Armenia. He says it's a bitter reality that more than a century after the first widely recognized genocide of the modern era, Armenians are again the victims of genocide.ArmRadio
Forests, wetlands, and landscapes to restore in Armenia with World Bank support
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved the RESILAND: Armenia Resilient Landscapes Project (RESILAND Armenia) The project aims to help the government to strengthen community engagement and improve the management of forests, wetlands, and protected areas in selected locations.Armenpress, World Bank helps Armenia strengthen management of forests, wetlands, and protected areas
Aliyev "honors" victory over fascism, at the same time destroying monuments dedicated to that victory - “Geghard” SAF
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva "visited the grave of Hazi Aslanov, a twice hero of the Soviet Union, to mark the 79th anniversary of the victory over fascism," says ‘Geghard’ Scientific and Analytical Foundation. “It is hypocritical that Azerbaijan's leadership claims to 'respect' the memory of those who died fighting against fascism, while at the same time destroying monuments dedicated to the same fighters in Artsakh.Armenpress
EBRD holds its 2024 Annual Meeting and Business Forum in Armenia
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will be hosting its 33rd Annual Meeting and Business Forum in Yerevan, Armenia next week. The event will be the largest of its kind ever held in Armenia. Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is expected to address the Board of Governors’ opening session.Armenpress, EBRD to hold its 2024 Annual Meeting and Business Forum in Armenia
Iran holds run-off parliamentary elections
A total of 90 candidates are running for the 45 remaining seats in the Iranian Parliament. The run-off elections are held in 22 constituencies where the candidates had failed to receive an absolute majority (more than 50%) of votes during the first round held on March 1.Armenpress
Enterprise Armenia Foundation: concierges and guarantors of business at the expense of the budget
Levon Khalatyan: Enterprise Armenia Foundation is an organization that claims to develop business, attract investments and exists, of course with taxpayers' money. Annual expenses for salaries and administrative expenses amount to about 550 million drams. He asks why is the fund’s activities not aimed at eradicating harmful phenomena? Why are there no legislative initiatives to ban illegal “truck stopping”?CivilNet
The candidate for the Prime Minister should be Bagrat himself. Vardan Oskanyan
Vardan Oskanyan believes that the prime minister candidate of the movement demanding Nikol Pashinyan's resignation should be His Holiness Bagrat. The Constitution requires that these forces also present their PM candidate, he says. I think it will be so, because this government will be temporary, maybe for a year.CivilNet, Archbishop Bagrat says protesters' candidate for prime minister is not Robert Kocharyan
Reverend Bagrat marched to universities, another rally is planned for the evening
Reverend Bagrat announced in the Republic Square that they are marching to Yerevan State University. In addition to YSU, the participants of the march went to the Polytechnic University and the Conservatory. During the rally organized in Republic Square, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was demanded to resign. In parallel with this, actions of disobedience are planned to force the Prime Minister to resign.CivilNet, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan leads march to higher educational institutions in Yerevan
EAEU is a successful, attractive and sustainable integration process. President of Cuba
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel announced this at the meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin expressed hope that Cuba's participation in the Eurasian Economic Union will be beneficial for all parties.ArkaAm
💵 Economy
AIM Congress 2024 Wraps Up in Abu Dhabi: Record Attendance, Strategic Partnerships, and Vision for Future Economic Growth
The 13th edition of AIM Congress (Annual Investment Meeting) concluded with resounding success after three days of dynamic discussions, innovative exhibitions, and fruitful networking sessions at ADNEC. The theme "Adapting to a Shifting Investment Landscape: Harnessing New Potential for Global Economic Development" AIM continues to serve as a pivotal platform, uniting leaders from diverse sectors to address pressing challenges and seize emerging opportunities in business, finance, and governance.Armenpress
Shrinking growth drivers will lead to slowdown in Armenia's economy in 2025 - IMF
IMF expects Armenia's economy to grow by 6% in 2024 and to slow slightly in 2025. The IMF's April World Economic Outlook report says growth will slow to 5.2% in 2025. Analysts also expect inflation in Armenia to be 3.1% and increase to 3.7%.ArkaAm
Service sector in Armenia grew by 5% to 745.6 billion drams in January-March
The volume of Armenia's services sector in January-March 2023 amounted to 745.6 billion drams (in current prices), increasing by 5% compared to the same period of 2023. In March 2024 alone, the figure amounted to 272.5billion drams, up 4.7%. Financial and insurance services amounted to AMD 237.4 billion with a 19.5% increase compared to same period last year.ArkaAm, Armenia's domestic trade up 26.5% in first quarter to over AMD 1.2 trillion, The volume of construction in Armenia increased by 11.7% in the first quarter to 72.2 billion drams
Overchuk: Membership in EAEU is very beneficial for Armenia
Acting Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexey Overchuk says membership in the Eurasian Economic Union is very beneficial for Armenia. Yerevan has been recording enormous rates of economic growth in the last two years.ArkaAm
🎭 Culture
Values and principles are more important than even life itself – Ruben Vardanyan's message from Baku prison
Veronika Zonabend, wife of Aurora Humanitarian Initiative co-founder, read Ruben Vardanyan's message from Baku prison. She expressed her deep and sincere gratitude to the Aurora community for support and compassion. The message reads: "Our world has not become kinder through your good work, but this means that what you do is more important than ever"Armenpress, Ruben Vardanyan deliversmessage to Aurora prize candidates from Baku prison, Ruben Vardanyan sends message to Aurora Prize candidates from Baku prison
Armenia's “Ladaniva” reached Eurovision Song Contest 2024 final
The second day of the competition's semi-finals took place on May 9 in the Swedish city of Malmö. “Ladaniva’s” group was founded by Jaklin Baghdasaryan and Louis Thomas. They perform Armenian, Balkan, African, Serbian and other music.Armenpress, Armenia to perform 19th in Eurovision Grand Final
Donations to Armenia:
HimnadramServicemenFund
Armenian Wounded Heroes
ArmeniaFund
2024.05.10 16:24 Tacitus2389b4h5ii405 FAQ for "Steel the Show", a PPT Official Strategy for 7* Primarina Tera Raid Event
 | Welcome one and all to the greatest show on Earth! In this post, we're going to talk about some common questions about the Steel the Show strategy. Be sure to see it live and in person in the Primarina Raids Chat Channel! submitted by Tacitus2389b4h5ii405 to PokePortal [link] [comments] Other Useful Resources:
Items and TMsWhere can I find the held items for this strategy?
The Ringmaster roleDoes it matter whether I use Copperajah or Metagross?
AlcremieMy Alcremie doesn’t look like the pink one in the infographic, is that okay?
PerrserkerWhere can I get a Perrserker in Scarlet/Violet?
What Could Go Wrong?Incorrect Builds/Pokemon
https://preview.redd.it/r347488aslzc1.jpg?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=62a384ae7d59698bbb24302fa55012fda2917235 |
2024.05.10 09:00 Such_Employee_6050 A new place for our fellow Hangzhou expats
Welcome to Café de Flore: Your Global Hub in the Heart of Hangzhou!
Are you an expat looking for more than just a caffeine fix? Step into Café de Flore, where the aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingles with the excitement of diverse cultures coming together.
Why Café de Flore?
Ready to make connections that transcend borders? Swing by Café de Flore and discover why we're more than just a coffee shop – we're a global family united by the love of exploring and experiencing. Join us in embracing diversity, fostering connections, and creating unforgettable memories, one cup at a time. ☕
Contact Inform:
📍Address
Hangzhou City · 凤凰 FORTUNE 美术馆 浙江省杭州市西湖区创意路双流1幢 1001室
The buildings surrounding the coffee shop are fascinating. This area used to be a cement factory in the 70s, so the architectural style is deeply nostalgic. However, just a 10-minute walk away, there's a picturesque natural scene with a lake and mountains. You can also immerse yourself in the beauty of nature. I'm looking forward to meeting you and showing you around.
submitted by Such_Employee_6050 to hangzhou [link] [comments]
Are you an expat looking for more than just a caffeine fix? Step into Café de Flore, where the aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingles with the excitement of diverse cultures coming together.
Why Café de Flore?
- Embrace Diversity:
- Social Hub:
- Fun Activities:
- Warm Hospitality:
- Sharing is Caring:
Ready to make connections that transcend borders? Swing by Café de Flore and discover why we're more than just a coffee shop – we're a global family united by the love of exploring and experiencing. Join us in embracing diversity, fostering connections, and creating unforgettable memories, one cup at a time. ☕
Contact Inform:
- Phone: 15848806812 Felicia
- WeChat: Felicialov15niania
- Website: https://huashen-vc6kycw.gamma.site/ordoflora
- Instagram: cafedeflorehangzhou
- Xiao hong shu 小红书 （“Little Red Book”）: https://www.xiaohongshu.com/useprofile/602f5f740000000001004e95?xhsshare=CopyLink&appuid=63179ab6000000000f007da5&apptime=1715324190
📍Address
Hangzhou City · 凤凰 FORTUNE 美术馆 浙江省杭州市西湖区创意路双流1幢 1001室
The buildings surrounding the coffee shop are fascinating. This area used to be a cement factory in the 70s, so the architectural style is deeply nostalgic. However, just a 10-minute walk away, there's a picturesque natural scene with a lake and mountains. You can also immerse yourself in the beauty of nature. I'm looking forward to meeting you and showing you around.
2024.05.09 14:33 mcm8279 [Opinion] CBR.COM: "J.J. Abrams’s Star Trek Is a Great but Flawed Reboot" "Star Trek (2009) felt more like a reverent movie about the USS Enterprise's crew that would be made in the characters' universe than a glimpse into their missions and lives."
"While controversial for many reasons, the first film in the so-called Kelvin Timeline is a solid movie that works as a great introduction to the universe — even if it didn't fully capture the heart and soul that made Star Trek endure for 60 years and counting.
Star Trek (2009) was meant to launch a new feature film franchise, but its filmmakers made a fundamental error in their strategy. By changing the characters so drastically, fans old and new didn't get enough time with the new USS Enterprise's crew to understand their friendships in the way that the films following Star Trek: The Original Series allowed. The original Star Trek movies benefited from a seasons-long TV show that endeared the characters to audiences beforehand, whereas the reboot relied more on the nostalgia and familiarity they evoked.
As a result, Star Trek (2009) felt more like a reverent movie about the USS Enterprise's crew that would be made in the characters' universe than a glimpse into their missions and lives. Longtime fans can easily imagine the reboot as a holo-film made with the time-travel conceit that the late-24th Century filmmakers would use to justify a cameo for the "real" Spock. Most of Star Trek's classic storytelling doesn't involve the big set pieces or breathless action one finds in an Abrams picture. It almost stands to reason that this blockbuster would be the way Federation citizens would dramatize and exaggerate the adventures of the most famous Starfleet crew. While the reboot's filmmakers didn't perfectly nail the spirit of Star Trek, the story they told is a well-made and fun adventure with enough recognizable elements for Trekkies to enjoy.
[...]
For Star Trek (2009), Leonard Nimoy's Spock served that role. He originated from the Prime Universe and failed to prevent the destruction of Romulus, which later played heavily into Star Trek: Picard. His presence — and that of the vengeful Romulan, Nero — meant that everything fans knew and loved about Star Trek was different or even non-canon here. Despite these major divergences from the beloved canon, Nimoy's presence, particularly his scenes with Chris Pine's Kirk and Zachary Quinto's Spock, were the reboot's highlights. By virtue of Nimoy's presence, this movie is a "real" Star Trek movie.
A version of this movie without Spock Prime would be worse, but it would've given the filmmakers license to let Vulcan survive. There is a massive narrative power to the destruction of Spock's home planet, especially given its nostalgic value among Trekkies and the future destruction of Romulus within the canon. For longtime Star Trek fans, it's almost too much to bear. The destruction of any planet would be too large a tragedy for a film's story — especially in a Star Trek story — but to have it be Vulcan? Audiences would be as emotionally compromised as Spock on the bridge of the USS Enterprise. Nimoy helplessly watching Vulcan be reduced to ashes while he was exiled on a barren planet is the most important moment in Star Trek (2009). It's tragic, and it also means that Spock's final mission failed (until Star Trek: Discovery, anyway).
Nimoy reprising Spock in a new Star Trek movie is undoubtedly going to be the best part of that film. Nimoy is a generous actor, and his performance as Spock is understated, which makes it all the more impressive. This is a Spock who's more in touch with his human side's emotions, living in balance with his logic and feelings. Seeing his planet destroyed devastates him. When he meets the Kelvin Timeline Kirk for the first time, he sounds ready to unburden himself of his despair. Yet, he quickly realizes that an emotional Spock was not the Spock who this particular Kirk needed at that specific moment in time. And so he becomes Star Trek's (2009) answer to Obi-Wan Kenobi, a stoic mentor who took a leap of faith with life-and-death consequences. Plus, Spock's improvised final line, "Thrusters on full," is full of hope and melancholy that its possible Nimoy wasn't even acting.
Star Trek (2009) Is Spock’s Movie, but James T. Kirk Makes It Work
[...]
Pine's version of Kirk is unique and distinct from Shatner's. This worked for the film, especially since the destruction of the USS Kelvin (which was named after Abrams's grandfather) was the inciting incident of the Kelvin Timeline that forced Jim to grow up without a father. Pine's take on Kirk is a perfect reinterpretation of the beloved character. He has no less swagger than the original, but none of the poise of a Starfleet captain.
However, Pine could've arguably evoked Shatner a little more, especially as Kirk gradually grew from cocky hotshot to the confident and reliable young captain Trekkies knew and loved. For comparison's sake, Quinto's Spock had many little touches that emulated Nimoy. Pine, in contrast, portrayed a mostly original take on Kirk who was far removed from the one seen in Star Trek: The Original Series. This didn't mean that Pine had to do a satirical impression of Shatner's famously exaggerated acting, like the ones that comedians like Kevin Pollak made famous. These caricatures didn't give proper credit to the skillful acting Shater did as Captain Kirk. His was a more nuanced performance than people think, especially in the films. Fans who were particularly connected to the noble leadership of the classic Kirk may fail to connect with his rebooted counterpart. The Kelvin Timeline Kirk eventually arrives in a place and state of mind similar to that of his Prime Timeline predecessor, especially in his closing scenes, but it's a long road to get there.
[...]
Star Trek (2009) is really Spock's movie in the way that no previous Star Trek film ever was. Kirk is still a vital part of that equation, even if he was more of Spock's supportive side-character, but the reboot almost missed the mark because of Kirk's vastly different characterization and Pine's performance.
[...]
Star Trek’s (2009) Look & Style Were Big Risks That Aged Well
As Modern Star Trek Looks to the Past, the Reboot’s Design Departures Work Better
So much of the look of classic Star Trek was redesigned for the 2009 film, and the reboot's barely changed USS Enterprise is a testament to how perfect Matt Jefferies's original design was. Designer Ryan Church was tasked with making the ship large enough for thousands of crewmembers to live and work in, and to update its design. However, he could not improve the saucer section, secondary hull and dual nacelle shape. He did redesign the nacelles with a "hot rod" quality, which was reportedly requested by Abrams himself.
From the outside, the USS Enterprise looked as beautiful as always. In fact, the Industrial Light and Magic VFX team seamlessly added the signature lens flares from the practical sets in all their digital designs. While even Abrams himself admitted he overdid the lens flares, they added an element of reality to the computer-generated shots. The ship's interior, however, does look like a sci-fi Apple Store. For better and worse, the reboot's designers tried to evoke the "clean future" aesthetic that Gene Roddenberry insisted on.
This was the first time Star Trek was done on such a big budget and scale, and the filmmakers put every penny they had on screen. Now that new Star Trek series like Star Trek: Srange New Worlds reimagined things again by skewing a bit closer to the aesthetic of the original shows, the Kevlin Timeline's different style becomes an even more welcome departure in hindsight. It expanded the visual vocabulary of Star Trek, pushing what's possible further than ever before. From the phasers to the uniforms, the modern design is sufficiently evocative of what came before. This welcome change of pace applied to every other facet of Star Trek (2009) as well. Although some parts will rub hardcore Trekkies the wrong way and even if the original Star Trek is still superior in some key ways, this reboot was clearly a labor of love that aged surprisingly better than anyone expected it to."
Joshua M. Patton (CBR.com)
Link (long read):
https://www.cbr.com/star-trek-2009-jj-abrams-review/
submitted by mcm8279 to trektalk [link] [comments]
Star Trek (2009) was meant to launch a new feature film franchise, but its filmmakers made a fundamental error in their strategy. By changing the characters so drastically, fans old and new didn't get enough time with the new USS Enterprise's crew to understand their friendships in the way that the films following Star Trek: The Original Series allowed. The original Star Trek movies benefited from a seasons-long TV show that endeared the characters to audiences beforehand, whereas the reboot relied more on the nostalgia and familiarity they evoked.
As a result, Star Trek (2009) felt more like a reverent movie about the USS Enterprise's crew that would be made in the characters' universe than a glimpse into their missions and lives. Longtime fans can easily imagine the reboot as a holo-film made with the time-travel conceit that the late-24th Century filmmakers would use to justify a cameo for the "real" Spock. Most of Star Trek's classic storytelling doesn't involve the big set pieces or breathless action one finds in an Abrams picture. It almost stands to reason that this blockbuster would be the way Federation citizens would dramatize and exaggerate the adventures of the most famous Starfleet crew. While the reboot's filmmakers didn't perfectly nail the spirit of Star Trek, the story they told is a well-made and fun adventure with enough recognizable elements for Trekkies to enjoy.
[...]
For Star Trek (2009), Leonard Nimoy's Spock served that role. He originated from the Prime Universe and failed to prevent the destruction of Romulus, which later played heavily into Star Trek: Picard. His presence — and that of the vengeful Romulan, Nero — meant that everything fans knew and loved about Star Trek was different or even non-canon here. Despite these major divergences from the beloved canon, Nimoy's presence, particularly his scenes with Chris Pine's Kirk and Zachary Quinto's Spock, were the reboot's highlights. By virtue of Nimoy's presence, this movie is a "real" Star Trek movie.
A version of this movie without Spock Prime would be worse, but it would've given the filmmakers license to let Vulcan survive. There is a massive narrative power to the destruction of Spock's home planet, especially given its nostalgic value among Trekkies and the future destruction of Romulus within the canon. For longtime Star Trek fans, it's almost too much to bear. The destruction of any planet would be too large a tragedy for a film's story — especially in a Star Trek story — but to have it be Vulcan? Audiences would be as emotionally compromised as Spock on the bridge of the USS Enterprise. Nimoy helplessly watching Vulcan be reduced to ashes while he was exiled on a barren planet is the most important moment in Star Trek (2009). It's tragic, and it also means that Spock's final mission failed (until Star Trek: Discovery, anyway).
Nimoy reprising Spock in a new Star Trek movie is undoubtedly going to be the best part of that film. Nimoy is a generous actor, and his performance as Spock is understated, which makes it all the more impressive. This is a Spock who's more in touch with his human side's emotions, living in balance with his logic and feelings. Seeing his planet destroyed devastates him. When he meets the Kelvin Timeline Kirk for the first time, he sounds ready to unburden himself of his despair. Yet, he quickly realizes that an emotional Spock was not the Spock who this particular Kirk needed at that specific moment in time. And so he becomes Star Trek's (2009) answer to Obi-Wan Kenobi, a stoic mentor who took a leap of faith with life-and-death consequences. Plus, Spock's improvised final line, "Thrusters on full," is full of hope and melancholy that its possible Nimoy wasn't even acting.
Star Trek (2009) Is Spock’s Movie, but James T. Kirk Makes It Work
[...]
Pine's version of Kirk is unique and distinct from Shatner's. This worked for the film, especially since the destruction of the USS Kelvin (which was named after Abrams's grandfather) was the inciting incident of the Kelvin Timeline that forced Jim to grow up without a father. Pine's take on Kirk is a perfect reinterpretation of the beloved character. He has no less swagger than the original, but none of the poise of a Starfleet captain.
However, Pine could've arguably evoked Shatner a little more, especially as Kirk gradually grew from cocky hotshot to the confident and reliable young captain Trekkies knew and loved. For comparison's sake, Quinto's Spock had many little touches that emulated Nimoy. Pine, in contrast, portrayed a mostly original take on Kirk who was far removed from the one seen in Star Trek: The Original Series. This didn't mean that Pine had to do a satirical impression of Shatner's famously exaggerated acting, like the ones that comedians like Kevin Pollak made famous. These caricatures didn't give proper credit to the skillful acting Shater did as Captain Kirk. His was a more nuanced performance than people think, especially in the films. Fans who were particularly connected to the noble leadership of the classic Kirk may fail to connect with his rebooted counterpart. The Kelvin Timeline Kirk eventually arrives in a place and state of mind similar to that of his Prime Timeline predecessor, especially in his closing scenes, but it's a long road to get there.
[...]
Star Trek (2009) is really Spock's movie in the way that no previous Star Trek film ever was. Kirk is still a vital part of that equation, even if he was more of Spock's supportive side-character, but the reboot almost missed the mark because of Kirk's vastly different characterization and Pine's performance.
[...]
Star Trek’s (2009) Look & Style Were Big Risks That Aged Well
As Modern Star Trek Looks to the Past, the Reboot’s Design Departures Work Better
So much of the look of classic Star Trek was redesigned for the 2009 film, and the reboot's barely changed USS Enterprise is a testament to how perfect Matt Jefferies's original design was. Designer Ryan Church was tasked with making the ship large enough for thousands of crewmembers to live and work in, and to update its design. However, he could not improve the saucer section, secondary hull and dual nacelle shape. He did redesign the nacelles with a "hot rod" quality, which was reportedly requested by Abrams himself.
From the outside, the USS Enterprise looked as beautiful as always. In fact, the Industrial Light and Magic VFX team seamlessly added the signature lens flares from the practical sets in all their digital designs. While even Abrams himself admitted he overdid the lens flares, they added an element of reality to the computer-generated shots. The ship's interior, however, does look like a sci-fi Apple Store. For better and worse, the reboot's designers tried to evoke the "clean future" aesthetic that Gene Roddenberry insisted on.
This was the first time Star Trek was done on such a big budget and scale, and the filmmakers put every penny they had on screen. Now that new Star Trek series like Star Trek: Srange New Worlds reimagined things again by skewing a bit closer to the aesthetic of the original shows, the Kevlin Timeline's different style becomes an even more welcome departure in hindsight. It expanded the visual vocabulary of Star Trek, pushing what's possible further than ever before. From the phasers to the uniforms, the modern design is sufficiently evocative of what came before. This welcome change of pace applied to every other facet of Star Trek (2009) as well. Although some parts will rub hardcore Trekkies the wrong way and even if the original Star Trek is still superior in some key ways, this reboot was clearly a labor of love that aged surprisingly better than anyone expected it to."
Joshua M. Patton (CBR.com)
Link (long read):
https://www.cbr.com/star-trek-2009-jj-abrams-review/
2024.05.08 16:28 SpacePaladin15 The Nature of Predators 2-34
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Star Crossed [Multiple Free Sample Chapters] Patreon Subreddit Discord Paperback NOP2 Species Lore
Memory Transcription Subject: Tassi, Bissem Alien Liaison
Date [standardized human time]: June 29, 2160
Ambassador Loxsel had mentioned that the Sivkits wished to see humanity’s progress, as he phrased it, staking their claim to further-off thrones. With a fleet beelining its way from Paltan space toward the site of the incident, the theatrical Sivkit had graced us with his virtual presence. The entire Sapient Coalition was watching, uncertain how our ships would stack up against theirs. The humans would attempt to hail the unknown hostiles through their drones, from the border base, but I somehow doubted our new enemies would pick up. The research vessels had long since ducked away from the front lines, replaced by top-notch attack drones rushing toward an open class.
Gunning down civilian ships was easy, as Naltor put it to me. The weaponry did take them out with startling efficacy, but they hadn’t picked a target that could fight back. Onso had facilitated another meeting with Kaisal, and Zalk’s secure tech lines proved invaluable to setting up a back channel, cutting out the Yotul middleman. I found myself on edge, worried that our schemes would be discovered. Kaisal promised the Arxur were heading into the fray, as soon as news of the dead carnivores was leaked to him. It might’ve gotten Bissems a gift-wrapped fleet, but I was worried about complicating a situation that was already perilous.
“Now that they’re rushing off to war, and trying to save the Osirs, there’ll be no time to save Ivrana or look for the ghost exterminators,” Zalk complained. “We have to do this ourselves.”
The Osirs were the human’s chosen name for the extinct quadrupeds, crafted after a myth that had appalled several SC representatives. It was named after a god who’d been chopped into pieces by his brother, and brought back to life when the bits of his body were sewn together. Even I wasn’t sure I liked that analogy, but the Terrans found it fitting. They were trying to stitch the carnivores back together with pieces of genetic data; it was easier to obtain viable samples with the Osirs than other extinct races. They could be the race that led the way for others—researchers were hopeful to create a synthetic embryo for them within a few weeks, and start its development in an artificial womb.
I heaved a sigh. “The humans haven’t paused their work on our ecosystem, or the outreach with our diplomats to start peace talks. Between a global war at home and whoever killed the Osirs and the Sivkit expedition, are ghost exterminators really the biggest threat?”
“Of course they are,” the Tseia hissed. “They’re the ones who attacked us. We have no answers, but they’ll go to the ends of the galaxy for these Sivkits and Osirs!”
General Naltor narrowed his eyes. “Settle down, Zalk. Both tasks deserve attention, and with the magnitude of power needed to wipe out a spacefaring species…this is extremely worrying. We can’t expect them to care about us, if we don’t address their concerns. The Paltans are in immediate danger.”
“Which is why we need to keep them on the defensive, so they don’t wind up in our territory. You think they’ll spare Ivrana if they get that far? They already wiped out one carnivore race,” I spat.
“It doesn’t change that we’re on our own, Tassi!” The Tseia tugged at his headfeathers. “We have to figure out ways to be useful, to get anything from anyone.”
“That doesn’t have to be solely military. Be team players; offer aid and a safe haven to any who need it. That’d buy goodwill, so maybe one day, more than people-eating carnivores will back us.”
“What are you all whispering about?” Dustin’s voice made me jump, and the xenobiologist seemed to notice that his presence startled us all. I wondered what he would think if he knew we’d been skulking around to meet Kaisal, and drag the Collective into this to gain a fleet; somehow, I doubted he’d approve. “I haven’t said anything, but you lot have been acting strange ever since your visit to Leirn. What did the Yotul drag you into? It was strange how soon they flipped their tune on your SC bid.”
Naltor scowled. “You’re the one who tried to get us in touch with them to change our minds. We can do some things on our own.”
“Of course you can. I just…thought we were in this together, and would be more open with each other.”
“Dustin, you get regular memory scans. We can’t tell you anything we don’t want leaking to the galaxy, even if we do trust you to keep it in confidence aside from that,” I said, thinking quickly.
I never confronted him, but I don’t understand why he withheld so much about the Arxur. Dustin could say that it’s publicly available info…still, his version of events was much less flattering.
The human scientist frowned, but seemed to give in. “You have a point. I just wish I could help more. It’s hard to give advice when you’re being iced out.”
“You’re not being iced out, so much as the Yotul don’t want the Terran government involved,” Naltor offered a half-truth. “We can’t afford to have them turn on us. It doesn’t have to affect our friendship. We’ve been through some real shit together, nerd.”
“Yeah. We have, haven’t we? Now, we’re witnessing a new interstellar war. I know I’m supposed to provide reassurance, but that scares me a little. All hell’s broken loose since we met Bissems.”
“We feel the same about everything we learned about you; everything’s gone to shit. If you don’t beat these cloacabeaks today, then we’re doubly fucked.”
“Cloacabeak. You adopted my word?” Zalk gasped.
“Shut up, wanderbird. It’s time to see what the white and fluffy ball of drama has to say…and how the battle goes.”
Loxsel had finally moved close to the screen, after making a show of checking that his viewport was completely shuttered and his door was locked. Secretary-General Kuemper looked like she’d swallowed sawdust, as the Sivkit finally unmuted; she was worried what the character of an ambassador would have to say. On an adjacent screen, an alternating feed from the drone formation showed that they’d been booted from subspace. If the aggressors were still in the area, that would prove this system was of enough importance to defend. We’d find out whether they’d confront our inbound fleet soon; should they choose not to meet us, we’d get a read on the planet the Grand Herd had been bound for.
“Hello from c-captivity—for I am a free man in name only! The fateful day of your r-rampage has arrived. Prowl the fields where millions died!” Loxsel screeched. Wasn't it hundreds of thousands? “Salivate at what might have been. May your s-savage hunger carry you to victory!”
Kuemper managed to keep a straight face. “I hope we’ll get a proper assessment of the enemy capabilities, or better yet, contact them to understand why they attacked you. I also hope that the UN has been treating you well.”
“I am well-fed. Fattened for the s-slaughter! You should not talk to them, predator…yet you admire their b-butchery. You seek their massacre techniques for yourself. Generations of scrumptious bites gone, p-puffed out of existence. Don’t you savor to play with your food—the taste, excoriating their flesh?”
“Loxsel, we don’t consider Sivkits to be food. We’re here to lend a hand, like you asked us to. We’d like to have diplomatic relations with the Grand Herd, but we can’t manage that without a shred of…normalcy in what you say to us.”
“Then just kill them all. Whatever r-ruse you project toward these servile prey, your instincts howl for blood. Brethren of mine, slain by their craven debauchery, entrails scattered. We want these abominations off this world, and your almighty claws can deliver it!”
The Secretary-General’s pupils snapped toward him. “Why are you so set on this world in particular? Wouldn’t it be wiser for the Grand Herd to avoid this…craven debauchery by choosing another planet? It’s not like this one is brimming with vegetation; our long-range scans suggest it’s mostly desert.”
“You wouldn’t understand. All that matters to hunters is w-what lines your voracious stomach, and ruling over as much terrain as possible. We have purpose. We want what’s ours, yet is now blighted by vermin. It could not be b-bloodless, no! Despair at the infestation. I lament…what was snatched, wrenched from our pastures! It is an insult to have to turn to foul, rancorous b-beasts like you.”
“You came to us. You didn’t have to,” Kuemper hissed. “You insult us—”
“I am showering you with praises, odes to your c-cruelty! I apologize if I insulted you; I’ll step it up!”
“What does stepping it up look like?” Onso snickered from the crowd. “Go on, show us!”
“Rapacious m-menaces of Sol, ingesting war and death with insatiable appetite. Flayers of children, crushers of hope, terrors that flattened the cradle!”
“That wasn’t them. The humans fought to save us, and then rebuilt our home from scratch,” the Gojid Prime Minister interjected.
“The cradle was flattened, and that’s the part that matters! Where was I? Ahem. Unhallowed ones who stole the Arxur’s cattle for yourselves, who had Duerten minions perform the shadow caste’s execution…who broke our spines!”
Kuemper smacked her forehead. “We definitely didn’t do that. We could fix them even, if you stopped shunning us.”
“By fix, do you mean removing the bone altogether? Paralyzing us so it’s not a problem? I’m not so ‘Sivkit-brained’ to not see through your word lures!”
“If that’s what you truly think of us, then never mind. Humanity doesn’t want to be seen as monsters, and you hold us in such low regard. Why don’t we observe the battle in silence?”
“Yes, predator master! I won’t dare to raise my voice or interrupt your war cries again.”
Loxsel placed a paw on the top and bottom of his muzzle, as if manually holding it shut. The human leader’s exasperation was on full display, adding color to an otherwise tense and sober moment. Having been booted from FTL transit on the system’s fringes, the drones dispensed ammo on the disruptors to ensure they wouldn’t impede backup; that allowed them to tunnel slightly closer, before planet-based gravity distortions interrupted their progress again. Ship signatures appeared, warping in behind the UN armada from the direction they came. More automated foes crawled out of the woodwork throughout the system, thousands upon thousands of them waiting. There were also a colossal amount of hostiles marching out from the desert world.
Attempts to hail the foreign faction went unanswered; the Terrans even flashed blinking lights from the hull, in case traditional communications weren’t working for some reason. Our enemies zipped toward the SC fleet, this time not hiding that their guns were primed for the kill. While prepping for combat, our force spared a few resources toward scouring the system for signals, and trying to crack their encryption. Running their language through a translator matrix could help us gather intel—perhaps learning more about the attacks on the Sivkits and the Osirs. However, there was nothing of use we could pick up, besides the standard background radiation and our internal signals.
Why are these people so hostile to us, so adamant about driving anyone out of this system without any communication attempts?
It was evident that these murderous aliens had been expecting our return, judging by the uptick in ships stationed here. They started off by slinging particle beams, but the Terran spacecraft on the frontlines were generating strong magnetic fields—which could separate the charged rays. General Naltor was taking notes about the SC’s capabilities, just as he had during the general strategy briefing. It was a test of hurling offensive weapons at one another, and seeing if they could be parried or deflected. The enemy had numbers, having anchored themselves deeply to this system. Ambassador Loxsel should lose whatever attachment he had to this world in a hurry.
Our own particle beams weren’t countered by plasma or magnetic shielding, rather being absorbed by what appeared to be a layer of liquid armor; our weapons’ power fizzled within the water, as the simple medium scattered their heat. The battle of engineering appeared to be a stalemate so far, with each party finding a unique counter.
“Only predators could c-create such dastardly weapons!” Loxsel brayed, paws flying away from his snout. “They dreamed up the same base horrors as you. This is hunter against hunter, a contest of t-trickery. How primal…this can’t be my life! I want out!”
Kuemper raised a hand. “These aliens are clever, Loxsel. They figured out their own way to oppose our particle beams, but we have other weapons. The question is really who has the best weapon.”
“Bring out the antimatter! Launch them at the planet and hope it falls from the heavens like rain!”
“That is not how we operate, even if they did with the Osirs. If they somehow aren’t behind the Osirs’ deaths, then that’s not the signal we want to send about our terms of engagement.”
“Do you kill your prey by being boring? Because I’m about to…drop DEAD! Dead, I say!”
“You do that,” Onso heckled from the audience. “In silence.”
Kuemper’s comment about whoever would deliver the weapon that turned the tide rang true; someone needed to score major blows. These enemies must have the force to at least whittle us down with their superior numbers. In any other system, throwing twenty thousand SC drones would be enough to overrun the place, but this region of space was fortified to the teeth. As we crested to closer distances, each side tested the other’s ionic shields and armor with plasma, and point-defenses against mini-missiles. The deciding factor was indeed that home advantage, the terrain being familiar to our foes. The asteroid belt—and I mean all of it—came to life, with tens of thousands of giant rocks chucked at us with slingshots.
“Hey! That’s our move,” Dustin protested, as the SC drones reacted to the barrage of space rocks flying in all directions. “Maybe humans aren’t the craziest ones out there.”
Zalk gave him a perplexed glance. “The hostiles threw a plurality of their asteroid belt at you, and that’s your reaction?”
“What do you want me to say? That we probably don’t have enough explosive firepower, or time, to break them all up?”
“I see your drones desperately firing away from the ships, and weaving all about to avoid space rocks. How am I supposed to believe you can protect the Tseia when you are getting rolled?”
The human’s lips curved down. “There’s always a bigger fish, Zalk. They’re formidable…but we’ve ended bigger fish before, with a lot less at our disposal.”
“While I appreciate an attempt at a relatable metaphor, I wouldn’t go comparing yourself to fish. On Ivrana, all fish get eaten by us,” Naltor quipped.
“Fine. There’s always a bigger Bissem—and I’m looking right at him.”
“Half-feathered nerd.”
I looked toward the screen with worried eyes. “Is now the time for jokes and banter?”
“Gallows humor, Tassi,” Dustin sighed. “Beats doomspiraling, doesn’t it?”
I couldn’t help but to “doomspiral,” as the enemy seized our automatons’ moment of weakness. Our formation was scattered across all three axes, but each feed showed them under a similar asteroid siege. Recognizing that the Terran-led craft were on the back foot, the hostiles made use of their greater numbers at last; they hurled themselves at our front lines—ramming tactics that piled onto the existing debris barreling down on us. Our drones were being beaten into submission, flinging antimatter missiles at asteroid and foe alike.
The SC dispatched their nanodrones to attack by a thousand cuts, but dust guns smited these with equally small particles. Larger ships’ shielding could burn them in a heartbeat, yet the tiniest vessels struggled to reckon with them. Clearly, our enemies had a rotating arsenal for every situation. Asteroids crashed over the paltry physical shields, rendering them ineffective in blocking incoming fire. The humans looked a bit disheartened, seeing that the hostiles had an answer for every punch they threw.
Not hesitating to bring all of their friends to the party, space stations nestled within the asteroid belt revved to life. The enemy dumped warheads in our faces as well, just as our casualties were teetering on the edge of a catastrophic count. The Sapient Coalition was getting hit with everything under the ice shelf, all at once. I wasn’t even sure our nemeses had shown their entire hand, but they didn’t need to. Feeds across the drone fleet were going dead, limiting the rapidly alternating angles. Lights blinked out on the space map’s display feed.
The humans aren’t going to be able to avenge the Sivkits or the Osirs today. This is a swift, devastating loss. We can’t take them on their own turf…and I’m not sure we could, even outside of their territory!
Kinetics, lasers, particle beams, missiles, and asteroids vanquished SC vessels one by one, despite their last gasp of resistance. For all of Dustin’s gallows humor, I could see the human was internally doomspiraling—fearing a war on the scale of the one they put to bed twenty-three years ago. Ambassador Loxsel flopped to the floor as the last feed went dead, amid a sea of debris that marked all that was left of our fleet. The Sapient Coalition had some hard questions to ask themselves, about how they could stand up to an enemy on this level…and to consider whether it was worth it to engage at all.
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Star Crossed [Multiple Free Sample Chapters] Patreon Subreddit Discord Paperback NOP2 Species Lore
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Star Crossed [Multiple Free Sample Chapters] Patreon Subreddit Discord Paperback NOP2 Species Lore
Date [standardized human time]: June 29, 2160
Ambassador Loxsel had mentioned that the Sivkits wished to see humanity’s progress, as he phrased it, staking their claim to further-off thrones. With a fleet beelining its way from Paltan space toward the site of the incident, the theatrical Sivkit had graced us with his virtual presence. The entire Sapient Coalition was watching, uncertain how our ships would stack up against theirs. The humans would attempt to hail the unknown hostiles through their drones, from the border base, but I somehow doubted our new enemies would pick up. The research vessels had long since ducked away from the front lines, replaced by top-notch attack drones rushing toward an open class.
Gunning down civilian ships was easy, as Naltor put it to me. The weaponry did take them out with startling efficacy, but they hadn’t picked a target that could fight back. Onso had facilitated another meeting with Kaisal, and Zalk’s secure tech lines proved invaluable to setting up a back channel, cutting out the Yotul middleman. I found myself on edge, worried that our schemes would be discovered. Kaisal promised the Arxur were heading into the fray, as soon as news of the dead carnivores was leaked to him. It might’ve gotten Bissems a gift-wrapped fleet, but I was worried about complicating a situation that was already perilous.
“Now that they’re rushing off to war, and trying to save the Osirs, there’ll be no time to save Ivrana or look for the ghost exterminators,” Zalk complained. “We have to do this ourselves.”
The Osirs were the human’s chosen name for the extinct quadrupeds, crafted after a myth that had appalled several SC representatives. It was named after a god who’d been chopped into pieces by his brother, and brought back to life when the bits of his body were sewn together. Even I wasn’t sure I liked that analogy, but the Terrans found it fitting. They were trying to stitch the carnivores back together with pieces of genetic data; it was easier to obtain viable samples with the Osirs than other extinct races. They could be the race that led the way for others—researchers were hopeful to create a synthetic embryo for them within a few weeks, and start its development in an artificial womb.
I heaved a sigh. “The humans haven’t paused their work on our ecosystem, or the outreach with our diplomats to start peace talks. Between a global war at home and whoever killed the Osirs and the Sivkit expedition, are ghost exterminators really the biggest threat?”
“Of course they are,” the Tseia hissed. “They’re the ones who attacked us. We have no answers, but they’ll go to the ends of the galaxy for these Sivkits and Osirs!”
General Naltor narrowed his eyes. “Settle down, Zalk. Both tasks deserve attention, and with the magnitude of power needed to wipe out a spacefaring species…this is extremely worrying. We can’t expect them to care about us, if we don’t address their concerns. The Paltans are in immediate danger.”
“Which is why we need to keep them on the defensive, so they don’t wind up in our territory. You think they’ll spare Ivrana if they get that far? They already wiped out one carnivore race,” I spat.
“It doesn’t change that we’re on our own, Tassi!” The Tseia tugged at his headfeathers. “We have to figure out ways to be useful, to get anything from anyone.”
“That doesn’t have to be solely military. Be team players; offer aid and a safe haven to any who need it. That’d buy goodwill, so maybe one day, more than people-eating carnivores will back us.”
“What are you all whispering about?” Dustin’s voice made me jump, and the xenobiologist seemed to notice that his presence startled us all. I wondered what he would think if he knew we’d been skulking around to meet Kaisal, and drag the Collective into this to gain a fleet; somehow, I doubted he’d approve. “I haven’t said anything, but you lot have been acting strange ever since your visit to Leirn. What did the Yotul drag you into? It was strange how soon they flipped their tune on your SC bid.”
Naltor scowled. “You’re the one who tried to get us in touch with them to change our minds. We can do some things on our own.”
“Of course you can. I just…thought we were in this together, and would be more open with each other.”
“Dustin, you get regular memory scans. We can’t tell you anything we don’t want leaking to the galaxy, even if we do trust you to keep it in confidence aside from that,” I said, thinking quickly.
I never confronted him, but I don’t understand why he withheld so much about the Arxur. Dustin could say that it’s publicly available info…still, his version of events was much less flattering.
The human scientist frowned, but seemed to give in. “You have a point. I just wish I could help more. It’s hard to give advice when you’re being iced out.”
“You’re not being iced out, so much as the Yotul don’t want the Terran government involved,” Naltor offered a half-truth. “We can’t afford to have them turn on us. It doesn’t have to affect our friendship. We’ve been through some real shit together, nerd.”
“Yeah. We have, haven’t we? Now, we’re witnessing a new interstellar war. I know I’m supposed to provide reassurance, but that scares me a little. All hell’s broken loose since we met Bissems.”
“We feel the same about everything we learned about you; everything’s gone to shit. If you don’t beat these cloacabeaks today, then we’re doubly fucked.”
“Cloacabeak. You adopted my word?” Zalk gasped.
“Shut up, wanderbird. It’s time to see what the white and fluffy ball of drama has to say…and how the battle goes.”
Loxsel had finally moved close to the screen, after making a show of checking that his viewport was completely shuttered and his door was locked. Secretary-General Kuemper looked like she’d swallowed sawdust, as the Sivkit finally unmuted; she was worried what the character of an ambassador would have to say. On an adjacent screen, an alternating feed from the drone formation showed that they’d been booted from subspace. If the aggressors were still in the area, that would prove this system was of enough importance to defend. We’d find out whether they’d confront our inbound fleet soon; should they choose not to meet us, we’d get a read on the planet the Grand Herd had been bound for.
“Hello from c-captivity—for I am a free man in name only! The fateful day of your r-rampage has arrived. Prowl the fields where millions died!” Loxsel screeched. Wasn't it hundreds of thousands? “Salivate at what might have been. May your s-savage hunger carry you to victory!”
Kuemper managed to keep a straight face. “I hope we’ll get a proper assessment of the enemy capabilities, or better yet, contact them to understand why they attacked you. I also hope that the UN has been treating you well.”
“I am well-fed. Fattened for the s-slaughter! You should not talk to them, predator…yet you admire their b-butchery. You seek their massacre techniques for yourself. Generations of scrumptious bites gone, p-puffed out of existence. Don’t you savor to play with your food—the taste, excoriating their flesh?”
“Loxsel, we don’t consider Sivkits to be food. We’re here to lend a hand, like you asked us to. We’d like to have diplomatic relations with the Grand Herd, but we can’t manage that without a shred of…normalcy in what you say to us.”
“Then just kill them all. Whatever r-ruse you project toward these servile prey, your instincts howl for blood. Brethren of mine, slain by their craven debauchery, entrails scattered. We want these abominations off this world, and your almighty claws can deliver it!”
The Secretary-General’s pupils snapped toward him. “Why are you so set on this world in particular? Wouldn’t it be wiser for the Grand Herd to avoid this…craven debauchery by choosing another planet? It’s not like this one is brimming with vegetation; our long-range scans suggest it’s mostly desert.”
“You wouldn’t understand. All that matters to hunters is w-what lines your voracious stomach, and ruling over as much terrain as possible. We have purpose. We want what’s ours, yet is now blighted by vermin. It could not be b-bloodless, no! Despair at the infestation. I lament…what was snatched, wrenched from our pastures! It is an insult to have to turn to foul, rancorous b-beasts like you.”
“You came to us. You didn’t have to,” Kuemper hissed. “You insult us—”
“I am showering you with praises, odes to your c-cruelty! I apologize if I insulted you; I’ll step it up!”
“What does stepping it up look like?” Onso snickered from the crowd. “Go on, show us!”
“Rapacious m-menaces of Sol, ingesting war and death with insatiable appetite. Flayers of children, crushers of hope, terrors that flattened the cradle!”
“That wasn’t them. The humans fought to save us, and then rebuilt our home from scratch,” the Gojid Prime Minister interjected.
“The cradle was flattened, and that’s the part that matters! Where was I? Ahem. Unhallowed ones who stole the Arxur’s cattle for yourselves, who had Duerten minions perform the shadow caste’s execution…who broke our spines!”
Kuemper smacked her forehead. “We definitely didn’t do that. We could fix them even, if you stopped shunning us.”
“By fix, do you mean removing the bone altogether? Paralyzing us so it’s not a problem? I’m not so ‘Sivkit-brained’ to not see through your word lures!”
“If that’s what you truly think of us, then never mind. Humanity doesn’t want to be seen as monsters, and you hold us in such low regard. Why don’t we observe the battle in silence?”
“Yes, predator master! I won’t dare to raise my voice or interrupt your war cries again.”
Loxsel placed a paw on the top and bottom of his muzzle, as if manually holding it shut. The human leader’s exasperation was on full display, adding color to an otherwise tense and sober moment. Having been booted from FTL transit on the system’s fringes, the drones dispensed ammo on the disruptors to ensure they wouldn’t impede backup; that allowed them to tunnel slightly closer, before planet-based gravity distortions interrupted their progress again. Ship signatures appeared, warping in behind the UN armada from the direction they came. More automated foes crawled out of the woodwork throughout the system, thousands upon thousands of them waiting. There were also a colossal amount of hostiles marching out from the desert world.
Attempts to hail the foreign faction went unanswered; the Terrans even flashed blinking lights from the hull, in case traditional communications weren’t working for some reason. Our enemies zipped toward the SC fleet, this time not hiding that their guns were primed for the kill. While prepping for combat, our force spared a few resources toward scouring the system for signals, and trying to crack their encryption. Running their language through a translator matrix could help us gather intel—perhaps learning more about the attacks on the Sivkits and the Osirs. However, there was nothing of use we could pick up, besides the standard background radiation and our internal signals.
Why are these people so hostile to us, so adamant about driving anyone out of this system without any communication attempts?
It was evident that these murderous aliens had been expecting our return, judging by the uptick in ships stationed here. They started off by slinging particle beams, but the Terran spacecraft on the frontlines were generating strong magnetic fields—which could separate the charged rays. General Naltor was taking notes about the SC’s capabilities, just as he had during the general strategy briefing. It was a test of hurling offensive weapons at one another, and seeing if they could be parried or deflected. The enemy had numbers, having anchored themselves deeply to this system. Ambassador Loxsel should lose whatever attachment he had to this world in a hurry.
Our own particle beams weren’t countered by plasma or magnetic shielding, rather being absorbed by what appeared to be a layer of liquid armor; our weapons’ power fizzled within the water, as the simple medium scattered their heat. The battle of engineering appeared to be a stalemate so far, with each party finding a unique counter.
“Only predators could c-create such dastardly weapons!” Loxsel brayed, paws flying away from his snout. “They dreamed up the same base horrors as you. This is hunter against hunter, a contest of t-trickery. How primal…this can’t be my life! I want out!”
Kuemper raised a hand. “These aliens are clever, Loxsel. They figured out their own way to oppose our particle beams, but we have other weapons. The question is really who has the best weapon.”
“Bring out the antimatter! Launch them at the planet and hope it falls from the heavens like rain!”
“That is not how we operate, even if they did with the Osirs. If they somehow aren’t behind the Osirs’ deaths, then that’s not the signal we want to send about our terms of engagement.”
“Do you kill your prey by being boring? Because I’m about to…drop DEAD! Dead, I say!”
“You do that,” Onso heckled from the audience. “In silence.”
Kuemper’s comment about whoever would deliver the weapon that turned the tide rang true; someone needed to score major blows. These enemies must have the force to at least whittle us down with their superior numbers. In any other system, throwing twenty thousand SC drones would be enough to overrun the place, but this region of space was fortified to the teeth. As we crested to closer distances, each side tested the other’s ionic shields and armor with plasma, and point-defenses against mini-missiles. The deciding factor was indeed that home advantage, the terrain being familiar to our foes. The asteroid belt—and I mean all of it—came to life, with tens of thousands of giant rocks chucked at us with slingshots.
“Hey! That’s our move,” Dustin protested, as the SC drones reacted to the barrage of space rocks flying in all directions. “Maybe humans aren’t the craziest ones out there.”
Zalk gave him a perplexed glance. “The hostiles threw a plurality of their asteroid belt at you, and that’s your reaction?”
“What do you want me to say? That we probably don’t have enough explosive firepower, or time, to break them all up?”
“I see your drones desperately firing away from the ships, and weaving all about to avoid space rocks. How am I supposed to believe you can protect the Tseia when you are getting rolled?”
The human’s lips curved down. “There’s always a bigger fish, Zalk. They’re formidable…but we’ve ended bigger fish before, with a lot less at our disposal.”
“While I appreciate an attempt at a relatable metaphor, I wouldn’t go comparing yourself to fish. On Ivrana, all fish get eaten by us,” Naltor quipped.
“Fine. There’s always a bigger Bissem—and I’m looking right at him.”
“Half-feathered nerd.”
I looked toward the screen with worried eyes. “Is now the time for jokes and banter?”
“Gallows humor, Tassi,” Dustin sighed. “Beats doomspiraling, doesn’t it?”
I couldn’t help but to “doomspiral,” as the enemy seized our automatons’ moment of weakness. Our formation was scattered across all three axes, but each feed showed them under a similar asteroid siege. Recognizing that the Terran-led craft were on the back foot, the hostiles made use of their greater numbers at last; they hurled themselves at our front lines—ramming tactics that piled onto the existing debris barreling down on us. Our drones were being beaten into submission, flinging antimatter missiles at asteroid and foe alike.
The SC dispatched their nanodrones to attack by a thousand cuts, but dust guns smited these with equally small particles. Larger ships’ shielding could burn them in a heartbeat, yet the tiniest vessels struggled to reckon with them. Clearly, our enemies had a rotating arsenal for every situation. Asteroids crashed over the paltry physical shields, rendering them ineffective in blocking incoming fire. The humans looked a bit disheartened, seeing that the hostiles had an answer for every punch they threw.
Not hesitating to bring all of their friends to the party, space stations nestled within the asteroid belt revved to life. The enemy dumped warheads in our faces as well, just as our casualties were teetering on the edge of a catastrophic count. The Sapient Coalition was getting hit with everything under the ice shelf, all at once. I wasn’t even sure our nemeses had shown their entire hand, but they didn’t need to. Feeds across the drone fleet were going dead, limiting the rapidly alternating angles. Lights blinked out on the space map’s display feed.
The humans aren’t going to be able to avenge the Sivkits or the Osirs today. This is a swift, devastating loss. We can’t take them on their own turf…and I’m not sure we could, even outside of their territory!
Kinetics, lasers, particle beams, missiles, and asteroids vanquished SC vessels one by one, despite their last gasp of resistance. For all of Dustin’s gallows humor, I could see the human was internally doomspiraling—fearing a war on the scale of the one they put to bed twenty-three years ago. Ambassador Loxsel flopped to the floor as the last feed went dead, amid a sea of debris that marked all that was left of our fleet. The Sapient Coalition had some hard questions to ask themselves, about how they could stand up to an enemy on this level…and to consider whether it was worth it to engage at all.
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2024.05.08 04:26 its_whirlpool4 Events for Fri 5/10 - Sun 5/12 (Mother's Day Weekend)
** ALL WEEKEND (FRI 5/10 - SUN 5/12 *\*
Mother's Day Afternoon Tea Snapdragon Tea, 127 Harvard Dr. SE What better way to celebrate Mother's Day than with a tea party? We welcome kids of all ages, and provide children’s menus upon request. Special gluten free/vegan/vegetarian menus available upon request. Reservations are required and can be made through our website. Tea party cost is $18.50 for the children's menu and $34.95 for the full 3-course tea party
Sat AND Sun 8:30 AM - 3 PM Spring Garden Festival Rio Grande Nature Center State Park, 2901 Candelaria Rd. NW The festival will feature live acoustic music, craft vendors, guided walks, Discovery Pond Open House and presentations about the local plants and animals. Just in time for Spring planting! Garden Plant Sale. Locally grown, Great prices, Cash sales only. While you are at the park, check out the Nature Shop, managed by the Friends of the Rio Grande Nature Center. Purchases are tax-free and help to support the Park: books & field guides for adults & children ~ T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats ~ posters ~ jewelry ~ toys & games ~ gifts and arts & crafts by local and US artists. Day-Use Fee: Cost $3 per vehicle (exact cash or check) Friends of the RGNC permit holders and NM State Parks annual permit holders enter free with valid permit displayed
Sat 12 - 8 PM AND Sun 11 AM - 5 PM Let's Celebrate Mom Pinspiration, 6271 Riverside Plaza Ln. NW, Ste D1 Let’s celebrate Mom, dad or that special mother figure in your life! Looking for something fun and different to do with mom on Mother’s day? Why not spend some quality time with that very special mother figure in your life? Crafting together will bring lasting memories for years to come! All crafts, splatter, food and drinks will be 20% off for your entire group. We thought this would be a great way to honor and celebrate that special someone. A free non-alcoholic mimosa for mom or dad is our treat for them. We strongly encourage reservations, especially for Sunday. We are opening early on Sunday and closing an hour earlier so we can spend time with our families as well
Sat 7 - 9 PM AND Sun 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM Mother's Day: Chicago Flix Brewhouse, 3236 La Orilla Rd. NW Join us for a special Mother's Day screening of the timeless classic, CHICAGO. Treat your mom to a night of glitz and glamour as you sing along to hits like 'All That Jazz' and 'Cell Block Tango.' This event is sure to be a roaring good time with a glass of complimentary wine and an in-theater raffle! (tickets)
** Fri 5/10 *\*
Fri 11 AM - 9 PM Last Day of Teacher Appreciation Week D.H. Lescombes Winery & Bistro, 901 Rio Grande Blvd. NW, Ste B-100 Let's raise a glass to the real MVPs of education – our incredible teachers! From inspiring minds to shaping futures, they do it all with passion and dedication. Thank you for your tireless efforts, unwavering support, and endless encouragement. Here's to celebrating the superheroes in our classrooms every day! Dine with us and show your school ID for a special $10 thank you card
Fri 6 PM World Ballet Series: Swan Lake Kiva Auditorium, 401 2nd St. NW Swan Lake, the ballet of all ballets, will be performed one night only as a part of the World Ballet Series. See the iconic Dance of the Little Swans, count the 32 fouettés performed by Odile, and immerse yourself in magical Tchaikovsky's music. The production will feature richly detailed, hand-painted sets as well as over 150 radiant costumes that bring fresh representation to this timeless classic. World Ballet Series is a unique project that attracts many international artists and is composed of renowned professional dancers representing over ten countries who are united by a passion for entertaining audiences and enriching classical ballet traditions through brilliant, critically-acclaimed new productions of timeless ballet classics. Audience: For ages 5 & over. Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes (including 20-minute intermission) (tickets)
Fri 7 – 11:30 PM The Mango Cakes w/ Nosotros Sister, 407 Central Ave NW Get ready for an unforgettable night of music with The Mango Cakes and Nosotros! Join us for a spectacular show featuring the infectious pop sounds of The Mango Cakes and the sensational salsa rhythms of Albuquerque's own, Nosotros. Don't miss this dynamic musical fusion that promises to get your feet moving and your heart singing (tickets)
Fri 7:30 PM Doug Lawrence's Nuevo Mexicanos Outpost Performance Space, 210 Yale Blvd. SE Albuquerque’s own multi-Grammy-winning tenor saxophonist Doug Lawrence, the featured soloist with The Count Basie Orchestra for the past 25+ years, returns to Outpost with his New Mexican bandmates – Steve Figueroa, piano; Paul Gonzales, trumpet; Milo Jaramillo, bass; Ricky Carrido, congas and David Flores, drums – the group he has dubbed his Nuevo Mexicanos band. Always adding a new twist to their performances, for this show, they will be playing new material and featuring two special guests - "The Queen of New Mexico Salsa," Jackie Zamora with Liza Flores singing backup to Jackie, along with their signature hard bop and Latin jazz tunes they are known for. Besides his work with the Count Basie Orchestra, Doug Lawrence has also worked and recorded with a veritable “who’s who of jazz” including Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Goodman, Sarah Vaughan, Joe Williams, Nancy Wilson, Joey DeFrancesco, Aretha Franklin and many others. He continues to tour and record with many of today’s top names in jazz (tickets)
Fri 7:30 PM Freud's Talking Head Historic Lobo Theater, 3013 Central Ave NE Pink Freud and Start Making Sense team up for a night of funk, rock, spectacle, dancing and friendship, while we all celebrate Samantha and Tony's and all the other May birthdays! There will be booty shaking, lasers, too many cocktails maybe, and a night of fun to remember! (tickets)
Fri 8 PM Blue Lab Comedy Night! Brew Lab 101, 3301 Southern Blvd. SE, Rio Rancho Come out for our first outdoor "blue" comedy show of the season! The local comics will be bringing the thunder outside in the Beer Garden, and you won't want to miss it! We'll have the usual great selection of adult beverages and food trucks, but leave the kiddos at home for this one! No cover, but 21+ please!
Fri 8 PM Live Salsa with Son Como Son Juno, 1501 1st St. NW Dance to live Salsa with Son Como Son, hosted by DJ Solovino. Authentic Cuban Salsa with Son Como Son on Juno's patio. 21+. Come early and get a pizza or another item from Juno's menu; kitchen stays open until 9:45p (tickets)
Fri 8 – 11 PM Orange Lala Vinyl Club Spins Out Tractor Brewing, 122 Tulane Dr. SE @ the_orange_lala vinyl club with Biscodots, DJ Boggle, Dusty Breaks, and night_cruiser spinning an eclectic assortment of all-vinyl tracks and curating wild videos for the night
Fri 8 – 11 PM Goth Night & Dark Market: Summer Goth Edition Tractor Brewing - Wells Park, 1800 4th St. NW We're celebrating summer as it was intended to be celebrated, with Goth music. Time to break out your Doc Martins, black nail polish, eyeliner, choker, and red lip stick because we're hosting a night of beautiful music for you dark hearts. DJ Riff Rat and DJ Batboy will be spinning one the ones and twos, Pepe El Monstrito will be providing sound, and Spectral Youth will be featuring some amazing local vendors
** Sat 5/11 *\*
Sat 8 AM – 12 PM Downtown Growers' Market Robinson Park, 810 Copper Ave NW The Downtown Growers' Market happens every Saturday! This vibrant community event connects local farmers, growers, artisans, wellness makers, and hot food vendors with the local community from mid-April to early-November. Bring friends / family or come solo to enjoy fresh food made on sight, a variety of seasonal produce, unique arts and crafts, live music, and special programming all in the heart of downtown
Sat 9 AM – 12 PM Bosque Restoration Field Day Tingley Beach, Tingley Dr. SW Help us restore Bosque habitat, Yerba Mansa, and other native plants. Our restoration work includes the removal of invasive non-native Ravenna Grass from the understory along with the replanting and reseeding of native grasses, herbs, and shrubs. These events are open to all members of the community so bring your family and friends. Work takes place at our Albuquerque restoration site located along Tingley Drive, south of Central. Park in the lot at the south end of all the fishing ponds, which is .8 miles south of Central. Wear protective long sleeve clothing and bring plenty of water as well as work gloves and a shovel, if you have them. City of Albuquerque Open Space will be there to train our work crew and provide gloves and tools for anyone who needs them. Please RSVP so we know how many volunteers to expect. Thank you!
Sat 9 AM – 12 PM Spinning at the Market Robinson Park, 810 Copper Ave NW Meet us at the center lawn at the Downtown Growers Market. Come and see us, chat with us, or bring something soft to put your wheel on and a chair if you want to spin with us. If planning on spinning, please RSVP through the website
Sat 9 AM – 1 PM Mother’s Day Sip and Shop Rust is Gold Coffee, 3732 Eubank Blvd. NE Join us for our 5th Annual Mother’s Day Market, featuring local vendors with Mother’s Day inspired gift ideas including: • Flower Bouquets • Greeting Cards • Jewelry • Baked goods • Music (Vinyl Albums). Coffee Drink specials for Mom too!
Sat 10 AM – 2 PM Paws & Pedals: A Pet Adoption Day with Cross My Paws Animal Rescue Bike In Coffee, 949 Montoya Rd. NW Don't miss out on puppy cuddles, coffee, and the chance to meet your new best friend!
Sat 10 AM – 3 PM Shop Local Market Cabezon Park and Community Center, 2307 Cabezon Blvd. SE Rio Rancho If you are a local vendor, come out to Cabezon Park’s local market! We support all things local! Everything must be handmade, or homegrown. No franchise companies. No resale of items. No political booths. No prepared food from Big Box Stores! No premade items re-branded and resold as homemade! No products containing non-sustainable oils. No products containing preservatives, colorants, etcetera, that are artificial, chemical or contain carcinogenics. No sale of weapons or alcohol. Please call the Cabezon Community Center at 505-892-4499 for more information. No admission fee for shoppers
Sat 11 AM The Mama Bear Market Boxing Bear Brewing, 8420 Firestone Ln. NE Get ready for a fun-filled day of shopping, eating, and celebrating your Mama Bear! Join us to explore a variety of unique vendors offering everything from handmade crafts to delicious treats. Whether you're a mom looking for some well-deserved pampering or just looking for a fun day out, this event is perfect for everyone. We will also have a FREE photobooth available to help capture a special moment for your mama bear. Don't miss out on this opportunity to support local businesses and connect with the community. This event is FREE and open to the whole family
Sat 11 AM – 12 PM Animal Tales with the ABQ BioPark International District Library, 7601 Central Ave NE Dive into the captivating world of animals with "Animal Tales" presented by the ABQ BioPark! Join us for a delightful reading session featuring an animal-themed book. Experience the magic as the BioPark brings along real animals and biofacts that connect to the story, giving kids an exciting opportunity to meet these creatures up close! Don't miss this engaging and educational adventure for young animal enthusiasts!
Sat 11 AM - 3 PM Lemonade Day Albuquerque Old Town Plaza Join us for Lemonade Day, where young entrepreneurs showcase their business skills by running lemonade stands across the city! From budgeting to marketing, they'll be serving up delicious drinks while learning valuable lessons. Mark your calendars to support our budding business leaders!
Sat 11 AM – 3 PM Multicultural Arts Festival 13200 Wenonah Ave SE Last year, the festival featured around 30 artists, outdoor activities for the family, food trucks with a range of options, and resource tables for the community. This year, the City is looking forward to building upon the success of the event and creating more opportunities for artists and families to come together to celebrate the talent within our community
Sat 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM Adoption Event Rio Bravo Brewing, 1912 2nd St. NW Join us and our BernCo pets for an adoption event. Come find your new best friend! All adoptions include rabies vaccine, spaying/neutering, and microchips. Did we mention there is no adoption fee? Adopt, don't shop!
Sat 12 PM Mosaic Bird Ornament Rise and Shine Mercantile, 8208 Menaul Blvd. NE $20 all materials included (no refunds). We will practice making a coaster first and then we will make an ornament. Very beginner class. Must stop in and register and pay for class first
Sat 12 – 1:30 PM Mother's Day Cookie Class Poulin Marketplace, 8600 Pan American Fwy NE We'll have an afternoon of fun with friends and partners (or come solo and make new friends). I will walk you through decorating these three beautiful cookies. This class will not cover outlining and flooding skills. Instead, we will work on leaf techniques and floral techniques using two piping tips. (Piping tips will be provided but will not be taken home) Tickets include: -Drink from the venue -Personalized cookie in a different flavor -Materials for class (Cookies, icing, etc.) -Guided instruction from a professional cookie decorator -Giveaways -A percentage of every ticket is donated to Shine, a local organization working in local schools
Sat 12 – 5 PM Mothers Day Market Bow & Arrow Brewing, 608 McKnight Ave NW Mother’s Day Market featuring fine art, home decor, sweet treats, clay works, pottery, flowers, jewelry, & eats by Four Corners Navajo Tacos!
Sat 12 – 10 PM Party In the Park Roosevelt Park, 500 Spruce St. SE Line Up: 12p Moxie, 1p Vic, 2p Number 9, 3p Scin.Til.Late, 4p Walter, 5p B12, 6p the Rev, 7p Sin Seven, 8p Swift Money, 9p 8th Wonder
Sat 1 – 3 PM Basics of Distilling Class Southwest Grape & Grain, 3401 Candelaria Blvd. NE A beginner level class covering the distilling process and the ingredients that go into various spirits. Enjoy some good craft spirits? Always wanted to make your own? In addition to discussing the various types of spirits and the ingredients that go into them, we will cover the basic distillation process, various types of stills, and everything else you will need to start making your own whiskey, rum, vodka, or moonshine! (tickets)
Sat 1 – 4 PM Birthday Party for Sebas w/Mala Maña! A Kid-Friendly Brewery Fundraiser to Fight Childhood Cancer Canteen Brewhouse, 2381 Aztec Rd. NE Join us in celebrating our sweet Sebas' 5th birthday! • Canteen Brewhouse will generously be donating $1 per beer, wine, cider or root beer sold during the event! So come thirsty! • Live music by Mala Maña (1:30-2:45PM) and DJ Pancho! • Kid-friendly activities. • Buy Besos for Sebas Merchandise. • Join Chuy Martinez in singing "Happy Birthday" to Sebas and make a donation. This Mother's Day, help us spread hope and make a difference in the fight against Myoepithelial Carcinoma (MEC). If you are unable to join in person you can still send Sebas a "beso" (a kiss) with a contribution to the "100k Besos for Sebas" Facebook fundraiser. All proceeds will benefit cureMEC to support cancer research for Sebas
Sat 1 – 5 PM Carne Asada Sabado! Bike Day Hangout! 1119 Candelaria Rd. NW Your Rebels just want y'all to come hang out! It's a Rebel event, so who knows what can and will happen? We do know that there will be Fun, Drink, Camaraderie, and a Food Truck. Red Taco Shop will be there serving Carne Asada Specials (Asada Nachos, Asada Tacos, Asada Quesadillas and Asada Bowls). Please bring your Friends and your whole Family. More information will be added as The Rebels figure out what they want to do. They can be quite secretive at times lol. Remember, it's all about the cause
Sat 2 – 4 PM Pre-Mother's Day Show Sawmill Market, 1909 Bellamah Ave NW Burque Jazz Bandits are Celebrating all the mommas at Sawmill! This event is outdoors, so be prepared for the sunshine! Tips appreciated! Bandit merch will be available for purchase!
Sat 2 – 6 PM Birds of a Feather Fundraiser Bosque Brewing Cottonwood Public House, 10250 Cottonwood Park Dr. NW Join us and the amazing folks at Birds of a Feather Parrot Rescue of New Mexico for a special fundraiser! Meet several exotic parrots and learn all about their incredible mission! They will be raffling awesome prizes and a percentage of drink sales during the event will be donated to BoaF
Sat 3 – 10 PM Pints for Parenthood Marble Brewery, 111 Marble Ave NW Join Dar a Luz Birth & Health Center for our Pints for Parenthood event at Marble Brewery Downtown! Donations for Dar a Luz are welcome at the door. Along with Marble's renowned libations and food, we'll have live music from incredible local artists: All Thicc, Red Light Cameras, Willa Jay, Sweet Roll, Sun Sounds, Trillbot. Dar a Luz Birth and Health Center is the only nationally accredited & state licensed freestanding birth and health center in NM. We are dedicated to providing compassionate and holistic prenatal care for birthing people, reproductive health services and a safe alternative to hospital birth for birthing people and their families
Sat 4 PM Make-A-Wish Sand Volleyball Tournament Charlie’s Sandbox, 4335 Paseo del Norte NE Come support the Make-A-Wish Foundation! We will have multiple snack bar items and prizes for 1st and 2nd place! $20 per person. 2-6 players per team (sign up)
Sat 4 – 5 PM Concerts @ the Library: The Enchanters Taylor Ranch Library, 5700 Bogart St. NW Join us for Concerts @ the Library featuring The Enchanters! Experience the magic as this ten-member choral ensemble takes you on a musical journey through the decades, singing favorites from the 30s to the 90s in beautiful four-part harmony. With a diverse repertoire that includes holiday and patriotic numbers, The Enchanters have been delighting audiences for over four years. Don't miss their enchanting performance at the Taylor Ranch Library, the latest installment of our monthly concert series - all for FREE!
Sat 5 PM Mother's Day Celebration Osuna Nursery, 501 Osuna Rd. NE Whether you're searching for a heartfelt gift, indulging in a little self-care, or simply creating cherished memories with your loved ones, Osuna Nursery is the place to be. As you browse our blooms from beautiful ornamental trees to attractive annuals you'll enjoy: • Live music from award-winning cellist Ryan Smith 11am-1pm •Scenic photo opportunities •Osuna University Residential Irrigation with Chris Schlouski of Dekker Perich Sabatini from 11am to 12pm. There is no gift more meaningful than the gift of life. Come find the perfect pairing of plants and pottery to be a personalized reminder of how much she matters for years to come
Sat 6 – 9 PM Annual Bach Society Concert Hope in the Desert Episcopal Church, 8700 Alameda Blvd. NE It’s nearly time once again for our annual Bach Society performances. The New Mexico Bach Chorale and the New Mexico Bach Orchestra will perform J.S. Bach’s full St. John Passion. Tickets for the performance can be purchased online or by calling Hold My Ticket at 877-466-3404. Day-of tickets may be purchased at the door with cash or check
Sat 6 – 9 PM Gone Country Saturdays with DJ Clout Ponderosa Brewing, 1761 Bellamah Ave NW The evening starts with complimentary dance lessons at 5 pm, followed by family-friendly entertainment until 9 pm. Get ready to groove and have a blast!
Sat 6:30 – 9:30 PM Mother's Day Dance Skidmore's Holiday Bowl, 7515 Lomas Blvd. NE Join us for a night of bowling, food, drinks, and a Mother's Day dance to celebrate everything they do for us
Sat 7 PM Mother’s Day Concert Bandido Restaurante, 2128 Central Ave SE A special Mother’s Day concert with Micky Cruz. $10 cover, all ages
Sat 7 – 9 PM First Floor Highway Tractor Brewing, 118 Tulane Dr. SE ABQ band blending original music & reimagined covers w. an 80s inspirited New Wave / Post Punk sound
Sat 7:30 – 9 PM Studio Night Out Dirty Bourbon Dance Hall & Saloon, 9800 Montgomery Blvd., Ste 4 Get your boots ready because we're going out! Come join us for a fun night out on the town. Come as you are and get your groove on. It's a great chance to put those dancing skills to good use. Feel free to invite anyone to come join the party. This event is free other than the cover at The Dirty Bourbon. There's no cover if you arrive before 8PM. Let us know if you have any questions at either 505-750-0011 or 520-261-1223
Sat 8 PM Emo Nite Live Bama's 1865, 6007 Osuna Rd NE Welcome to the electrifying world of Emo Nite Live! Hailing from the vibrant landscapes of Albuquerque, we are a dynamic band dedicated to bringing the spirited sounds of pop-punk and emo music to life, coupled with a unique karaoke experience that lets YOU be the lead singer! Signups to sing start at 8pm. Get there early if you want to participate. No door cover. 21+ only. Come and check out Albuquerque's newest southern style restaurant. Hear or sing some of your favorite pop-punk and emo anthems with us
Sat 8 – 10 PM Hops & Dreams: Star Wars Edition Tractor Brewing - Wells Park, 1800 4th St. NW Join us in a galaxy far, far away… The Desert Darlings return with Raqzia for an epic Star Wars belly dance show! Free show, but tips appreciated!
Sat 8:30 PM – 1 AM SABOR Latin Night - Saturdays with guest DJ ITALIA Bama's 1865, 6007 Osuna Rd. NE DJ Gabriel Goza will be serving you the saucy Salsa, Bachata, Cumbia, Merengue y Mas! Ample Parking, Safe Environment, Beautiful Venue, Good Food, Good Music, Good Vibes. 21+ / $10 cover
Sat 9 PM Back in the Saddle 90's Country Cover Band Backstage at Revel, 4720 Alexander Blvd. NE Doors open at 8 pm, no cover. Show starts at 9 pm! All Ages are welcome! We will have giveaways! Come prepared to two-step and country dance to the 90's country music you love!
** Sun 5/12 ** -- Mother's Day
Sun 10 – 11 AM Yoga & Tea Lost Cultures Tea Bar, 1761 Bellamah Ave NW, Ste C Starting in May, we will be doing our event EVERY SUNDAY. It's a special space where you can release what no longer serves you and rejuvenate your soul. Join us for a truly enriching experience. The first 3 Sunday's will be with @ yoga.birch and the last Sunday of the month will be with @ curvaceousmermaidgoddess. $25 per person, 1 drink from the menu included (tickets)
Sun 10 AM – 2 PM Seeds & Starts Day Rail Yards Market, 777 1st St. SW Ready, Set, Grow! The Rail Yards Market is the best local destination of plants for your garden, blooms for mom, and fresh spring produce for your table. Get your seeds and starter plants from your favorite local growers! Free for all! Everyone is welcome! EBT doubled with Double-Up-Food-Bucks. Senior and WIC programs welcome. Fresh local produce! Breakfast & lunch prepared food options. Handmade Art. ADA Accessible. Free Parking. FREE :: LOCAL :: FAMILY FRIENDLY :: PET FRIENDLY
Sun 10:30 AM – 2:30 PM Mother's Day Brunch Sheraton Uptown, 2600 Louisiana Blvd. NE Treat Mom to all her favorite brunch foods, including made-to-order omelets, garden salads, and of course elegant desserts. $55 per adult, $28 children 5-10 (plus tax & gratuity), children 0-4 complimentary with a paid adult. Reservations are required: 505.349.2520 (menu)
Sun 11 AM Mother's Day Special D.H. Lescomes Winery & Bistro, 901 Rio Grande Blvd. NW, Ste B-100 Celebrate Mother's Day with a special meal! We’re excited to introduce two mouthwatering specials that are sure to delight her taste buds: Baked Penne Rustica and Pan-Seared Chilean Sea Bass. Plus, add a glass of any of our 631 Signature wines to one of these specials for only $7 Reservations recommended, please call your location (more info)
Sun 11 AM – 4 PM Mother's Day Sunday Rally Sunday Service Motor Co, 2701 4th St. NW Join us for May's Sunday Rally - cohosted by Indian Motorcycle and the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride 2024. This month, we will be meeting at Indian Motorcycle off of Alameda for coffee and pastries. We will then cruise back to Sunday Service for live music, food, and raffles. Drop in and learn more about Indian Motorcycles, The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride, and donate to Mothers in need this Mother's Day!
Sun 11:30 AM Mamma Mia! Historic Lobo Theater, 3013 Central Ave NE Showing Starts at 11:30 am Tickets are ONLY $10 for General Admission $25 Brunch and a Movie Ticket $21 Brunch Only ticket. Grab your ticket online or call for reservations today!
Sun 12 PM Mother's Day - Moms play for free! Empire Board Game Library, 3503 Central Ave NE Let Empire treat you to some free play time! If you're a mom, then come in this Sunday and play any of our 1,000 games without paying for table time on your special day
Sun 12 – 8 PM Mother's Day Seared Bistro, 119 San Pasquale Ave SW Brunch 12-3 PM (click link for full menu), Dinner 12-8 PM
Sun 1 – 5 PM Mother's Day in Old Town 2000 N. Plaza St. NW The City of Albuquerque presents this free event celebrates Mom on her special day in Old Town and features food, shopping, kids’ activities, and more. Enjoy live music on the Gazebo with performances by Nathaniel Krantz, Baila! Baila!, and Picoso. Grab a bite to eat from local food trucks Craft Q BBQ, Tikka Spice, and Pack’n Bowlz or enjoy a sit down meal from one of the Old Town restaurants. Eat, dance, and enjoy time with the family in Historic Old Town! (more info)
Sun 1 – 5 PM Animated Iris: Mother's Day Iris Show Albuquerque Garden Center, 10120 Lomas Blvd. NE Open to the Public. Free Admission. Public Invited to Submit Entries 8-9AM
Sun 2 – 5 PM May Swing Sanctuary Retreat Enchantment Ballroom, 337 San Pedro Dr. NE Do you love West Coast Swing? Do you compete or would you like to start competing? Have you been looking for a community of like-minded, supportive dancers to push your boundaries and empower you to reach your full dance potential? Join Melissa for The Swing Sanctuary Retreat, a competitors community focused gathering for those of us looking for a safe space to foster positive change in our dancing with like-minded community members. The only requirements to join are a positive attitude and having competed or planning to compete a West Coast Swing Jack and Jill within a year. If you competed at Rio Grande or are planning to compete at Dance Fiesta, those count! If you'd like to join the group but aren't sure about competing, let us know, we're happy to talk to you about it and help you plan an event within the next year, that's all it takes! This will be a regular monthly gathering. If you have any questions as to if this is a good fit for you and your goals, please let us know. Cost: $20
Sun 4 – 5:30 PM Paint Your Own Pot Mrs. Sprinkles Ice Cream, 3107 Eubank Blvd. NE Paint Night with Susan Gomez is your chance to grab your pals, the fam or just yourself and paint the night away. Have fun while creating lasting memories to take home and enjoy forever! Join us for my very first Paint Your Own Pot event! Mrs. Sprinkles is the newest addition to the charming Scottsdale Village Shopping Center. Come see the beautiful shop, have some fun with Mom or Grandma and have some amazing treats! What a wonderful way to spend Mother's Day! Enjoy buy one, get one half off the full menu that day! All supplies are included and all are welcome for this event. Seating is Limited. Please arrive a few minutes early for a 4pm start time. NO NEED TO PICK UP A TICKET AHEAD OF TIME, CHECK IN AT THE EVENT
Sun 6 – 9 PM Sunday Funday Karaoke Tractor Brewing - Wells Park, 1800 4th St. NW What brings the fun better then karaoke? Nothing! We got an all new night of karaoke for you singing addicts! Come amp up your Sunday Funday and sing a song with us! The Pop Up will be on hand serving up eats!
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Mother's Day Afternoon Tea Snapdragon Tea, 127 Harvard Dr. SE What better way to celebrate Mother's Day than with a tea party? We welcome kids of all ages, and provide children’s menus upon request. Special gluten free/vegan/vegetarian menus available upon request. Reservations are required and can be made through our website. Tea party cost is $18.50 for the children's menu and $34.95 for the full 3-course tea party
- Fri 10 AM - 2 PM
- Sat and Sun 10 AM - 4 PM
- Fri 2 PM and 7:30 PM
- Sat and Sun 7:30 PM only
Sat AND Sun 8:30 AM - 3 PM Spring Garden Festival Rio Grande Nature Center State Park, 2901 Candelaria Rd. NW The festival will feature live acoustic music, craft vendors, guided walks, Discovery Pond Open House and presentations about the local plants and animals. Just in time for Spring planting! Garden Plant Sale. Locally grown, Great prices, Cash sales only. While you are at the park, check out the Nature Shop, managed by the Friends of the Rio Grande Nature Center. Purchases are tax-free and help to support the Park: books & field guides for adults & children ~ T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats ~ posters ~ jewelry ~ toys & games ~ gifts and arts & crafts by local and US artists. Day-Use Fee: Cost $3 per vehicle (exact cash or check) Friends of the RGNC permit holders and NM State Parks annual permit holders enter free with valid permit displayed
Sat 12 - 8 PM AND Sun 11 AM - 5 PM Let's Celebrate Mom Pinspiration, 6271 Riverside Plaza Ln. NW, Ste D1 Let’s celebrate Mom, dad or that special mother figure in your life! Looking for something fun and different to do with mom on Mother’s day? Why not spend some quality time with that very special mother figure in your life? Crafting together will bring lasting memories for years to come! All crafts, splatter, food and drinks will be 20% off for your entire group. We thought this would be a great way to honor and celebrate that special someone. A free non-alcoholic mimosa for mom or dad is our treat for them. We strongly encourage reservations, especially for Sunday. We are opening early on Sunday and closing an hour earlier so we can spend time with our families as well
Sat 7 - 9 PM AND Sun 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM Mother's Day: Chicago Flix Brewhouse, 3236 La Orilla Rd. NW Join us for a special Mother's Day screening of the timeless classic, CHICAGO. Treat your mom to a night of glitz and glamour as you sing along to hits like 'All That Jazz' and 'Cell Block Tango.' This event is sure to be a roaring good time with a glass of complimentary wine and an in-theater raffle! (tickets)
** Fri 5/10 *\*
Fri 11 AM - 9 PM Last Day of Teacher Appreciation Week D.H. Lescombes Winery & Bistro, 901 Rio Grande Blvd. NW, Ste B-100 Let's raise a glass to the real MVPs of education – our incredible teachers! From inspiring minds to shaping futures, they do it all with passion and dedication. Thank you for your tireless efforts, unwavering support, and endless encouragement. Here's to celebrating the superheroes in our classrooms every day! Dine with us and show your school ID for a special $10 thank you card
Fri 6 PM World Ballet Series: Swan Lake Kiva Auditorium, 401 2nd St. NW Swan Lake, the ballet of all ballets, will be performed one night only as a part of the World Ballet Series. See the iconic Dance of the Little Swans, count the 32 fouettés performed by Odile, and immerse yourself in magical Tchaikovsky's music. The production will feature richly detailed, hand-painted sets as well as over 150 radiant costumes that bring fresh representation to this timeless classic. World Ballet Series is a unique project that attracts many international artists and is composed of renowned professional dancers representing over ten countries who are united by a passion for entertaining audiences and enriching classical ballet traditions through brilliant, critically-acclaimed new productions of timeless ballet classics. Audience: For ages 5 & over. Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes (including 20-minute intermission) (tickets)
Fri 7 – 11:30 PM The Mango Cakes w/ Nosotros Sister, 407 Central Ave NW Get ready for an unforgettable night of music with The Mango Cakes and Nosotros! Join us for a spectacular show featuring the infectious pop sounds of The Mango Cakes and the sensational salsa rhythms of Albuquerque's own, Nosotros. Don't miss this dynamic musical fusion that promises to get your feet moving and your heart singing (tickets)
Fri 7:30 PM Doug Lawrence's Nuevo Mexicanos Outpost Performance Space, 210 Yale Blvd. SE Albuquerque’s own multi-Grammy-winning tenor saxophonist Doug Lawrence, the featured soloist with The Count Basie Orchestra for the past 25+ years, returns to Outpost with his New Mexican bandmates – Steve Figueroa, piano; Paul Gonzales, trumpet; Milo Jaramillo, bass; Ricky Carrido, congas and David Flores, drums – the group he has dubbed his Nuevo Mexicanos band. Always adding a new twist to their performances, for this show, they will be playing new material and featuring two special guests - "The Queen of New Mexico Salsa," Jackie Zamora with Liza Flores singing backup to Jackie, along with their signature hard bop and Latin jazz tunes they are known for. Besides his work with the Count Basie Orchestra, Doug Lawrence has also worked and recorded with a veritable “who’s who of jazz” including Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Goodman, Sarah Vaughan, Joe Williams, Nancy Wilson, Joey DeFrancesco, Aretha Franklin and many others. He continues to tour and record with many of today’s top names in jazz (tickets)
Fri 7:30 PM Freud's Talking Head Historic Lobo Theater, 3013 Central Ave NE Pink Freud and Start Making Sense team up for a night of funk, rock, spectacle, dancing and friendship, while we all celebrate Samantha and Tony's and all the other May birthdays! There will be booty shaking, lasers, too many cocktails maybe, and a night of fun to remember! (tickets)
Fri 8 PM Blue Lab Comedy Night! Brew Lab 101, 3301 Southern Blvd. SE, Rio Rancho Come out for our first outdoor "blue" comedy show of the season! The local comics will be bringing the thunder outside in the Beer Garden, and you won't want to miss it! We'll have the usual great selection of adult beverages and food trucks, but leave the kiddos at home for this one! No cover, but 21+ please!
Fri 8 PM Live Salsa with Son Como Son Juno, 1501 1st St. NW Dance to live Salsa with Son Como Son, hosted by DJ Solovino. Authentic Cuban Salsa with Son Como Son on Juno's patio. 21+. Come early and get a pizza or another item from Juno's menu; kitchen stays open until 9:45p (tickets)
Fri 8 – 11 PM Orange Lala Vinyl Club Spins Out Tractor Brewing, 122 Tulane Dr. SE @ the_orange_lala vinyl club with Biscodots, DJ Boggle, Dusty Breaks, and night_cruiser spinning an eclectic assortment of all-vinyl tracks and curating wild videos for the night
Fri 8 – 11 PM Goth Night & Dark Market: Summer Goth Edition Tractor Brewing - Wells Park, 1800 4th St. NW We're celebrating summer as it was intended to be celebrated, with Goth music. Time to break out your Doc Martins, black nail polish, eyeliner, choker, and red lip stick because we're hosting a night of beautiful music for you dark hearts. DJ Riff Rat and DJ Batboy will be spinning one the ones and twos, Pepe El Monstrito will be providing sound, and Spectral Youth will be featuring some amazing local vendors
** Sat 5/11 *\*
Sat 8 AM – 12 PM Downtown Growers' Market Robinson Park, 810 Copper Ave NW The Downtown Growers' Market happens every Saturday! This vibrant community event connects local farmers, growers, artisans, wellness makers, and hot food vendors with the local community from mid-April to early-November. Bring friends / family or come solo to enjoy fresh food made on sight, a variety of seasonal produce, unique arts and crafts, live music, and special programming all in the heart of downtown
Sat 9 AM – 12 PM Bosque Restoration Field Day Tingley Beach, Tingley Dr. SW Help us restore Bosque habitat, Yerba Mansa, and other native plants. Our restoration work includes the removal of invasive non-native Ravenna Grass from the understory along with the replanting and reseeding of native grasses, herbs, and shrubs. These events are open to all members of the community so bring your family and friends. Work takes place at our Albuquerque restoration site located along Tingley Drive, south of Central. Park in the lot at the south end of all the fishing ponds, which is .8 miles south of Central. Wear protective long sleeve clothing and bring plenty of water as well as work gloves and a shovel, if you have them. City of Albuquerque Open Space will be there to train our work crew and provide gloves and tools for anyone who needs them. Please RSVP so we know how many volunteers to expect. Thank you!
Sat 9 AM – 12 PM Spinning at the Market Robinson Park, 810 Copper Ave NW Meet us at the center lawn at the Downtown Growers Market. Come and see us, chat with us, or bring something soft to put your wheel on and a chair if you want to spin with us. If planning on spinning, please RSVP through the website
Sat 9 AM – 1 PM Mother’s Day Sip and Shop Rust is Gold Coffee, 3732 Eubank Blvd. NE Join us for our 5th Annual Mother’s Day Market, featuring local vendors with Mother’s Day inspired gift ideas including: • Flower Bouquets • Greeting Cards • Jewelry • Baked goods • Music (Vinyl Albums). Coffee Drink specials for Mom too!
Sat 10 AM – 2 PM Paws & Pedals: A Pet Adoption Day with Cross My Paws Animal Rescue Bike In Coffee, 949 Montoya Rd. NW Don't miss out on puppy cuddles, coffee, and the chance to meet your new best friend!
Sat 10 AM – 3 PM Shop Local Market Cabezon Park and Community Center, 2307 Cabezon Blvd. SE Rio Rancho If you are a local vendor, come out to Cabezon Park’s local market! We support all things local! Everything must be handmade, or homegrown. No franchise companies. No resale of items. No political booths. No prepared food from Big Box Stores! No premade items re-branded and resold as homemade! No products containing non-sustainable oils. No products containing preservatives, colorants, etcetera, that are artificial, chemical or contain carcinogenics. No sale of weapons or alcohol. Please call the Cabezon Community Center at 505-892-4499 for more information. No admission fee for shoppers
Sat 11 AM The Mama Bear Market Boxing Bear Brewing, 8420 Firestone Ln. NE Get ready for a fun-filled day of shopping, eating, and celebrating your Mama Bear! Join us to explore a variety of unique vendors offering everything from handmade crafts to delicious treats. Whether you're a mom looking for some well-deserved pampering or just looking for a fun day out, this event is perfect for everyone. We will also have a FREE photobooth available to help capture a special moment for your mama bear. Don't miss out on this opportunity to support local businesses and connect with the community. This event is FREE and open to the whole family
Sat 11 AM – 12 PM Animal Tales with the ABQ BioPark International District Library, 7601 Central Ave NE Dive into the captivating world of animals with "Animal Tales" presented by the ABQ BioPark! Join us for a delightful reading session featuring an animal-themed book. Experience the magic as the BioPark brings along real animals and biofacts that connect to the story, giving kids an exciting opportunity to meet these creatures up close! Don't miss this engaging and educational adventure for young animal enthusiasts!
Sat 11 AM - 3 PM Lemonade Day Albuquerque Old Town Plaza Join us for Lemonade Day, where young entrepreneurs showcase their business skills by running lemonade stands across the city! From budgeting to marketing, they'll be serving up delicious drinks while learning valuable lessons. Mark your calendars to support our budding business leaders!
Sat 11 AM – 3 PM Multicultural Arts Festival 13200 Wenonah Ave SE Last year, the festival featured around 30 artists, outdoor activities for the family, food trucks with a range of options, and resource tables for the community. This year, the City is looking forward to building upon the success of the event and creating more opportunities for artists and families to come together to celebrate the talent within our community
Sat 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM Adoption Event Rio Bravo Brewing, 1912 2nd St. NW Join us and our BernCo pets for an adoption event. Come find your new best friend! All adoptions include rabies vaccine, spaying/neutering, and microchips. Did we mention there is no adoption fee? Adopt, don't shop!
Sat 12 PM Mosaic Bird Ornament Rise and Shine Mercantile, 8208 Menaul Blvd. NE $20 all materials included (no refunds). We will practice making a coaster first and then we will make an ornament. Very beginner class. Must stop in and register and pay for class first
Sat 12 – 1:30 PM Mother's Day Cookie Class Poulin Marketplace, 8600 Pan American Fwy NE We'll have an afternoon of fun with friends and partners (or come solo and make new friends). I will walk you through decorating these three beautiful cookies. This class will not cover outlining and flooding skills. Instead, we will work on leaf techniques and floral techniques using two piping tips. (Piping tips will be provided but will not be taken home) Tickets include: -Drink from the venue -Personalized cookie in a different flavor -Materials for class (Cookies, icing, etc.) -Guided instruction from a professional cookie decorator -Giveaways -A percentage of every ticket is donated to Shine, a local organization working in local schools
Sat 12 – 5 PM Mothers Day Market Bow & Arrow Brewing, 608 McKnight Ave NW Mother’s Day Market featuring fine art, home decor, sweet treats, clay works, pottery, flowers, jewelry, & eats by Four Corners Navajo Tacos!
Sat 12 – 10 PM Party In the Park Roosevelt Park, 500 Spruce St. SE Line Up: 12p Moxie, 1p Vic, 2p Number 9, 3p Scin.Til.Late, 4p Walter, 5p B12, 6p the Rev, 7p Sin Seven, 8p Swift Money, 9p 8th Wonder
Sat 1 – 3 PM Basics of Distilling Class Southwest Grape & Grain, 3401 Candelaria Blvd. NE A beginner level class covering the distilling process and the ingredients that go into various spirits. Enjoy some good craft spirits? Always wanted to make your own? In addition to discussing the various types of spirits and the ingredients that go into them, we will cover the basic distillation process, various types of stills, and everything else you will need to start making your own whiskey, rum, vodka, or moonshine! (tickets)
Sat 1 – 4 PM Birthday Party for Sebas w/Mala Maña! A Kid-Friendly Brewery Fundraiser to Fight Childhood Cancer Canteen Brewhouse, 2381 Aztec Rd. NE Join us in celebrating our sweet Sebas' 5th birthday! • Canteen Brewhouse will generously be donating $1 per beer, wine, cider or root beer sold during the event! So come thirsty! • Live music by Mala Maña (1:30-2:45PM) and DJ Pancho! • Kid-friendly activities. • Buy Besos for Sebas Merchandise. • Join Chuy Martinez in singing "Happy Birthday" to Sebas and make a donation. This Mother's Day, help us spread hope and make a difference in the fight against Myoepithelial Carcinoma (MEC). If you are unable to join in person you can still send Sebas a "beso" (a kiss) with a contribution to the "100k Besos for Sebas" Facebook fundraiser. All proceeds will benefit cureMEC to support cancer research for Sebas
Sat 1 – 5 PM Carne Asada Sabado! Bike Day Hangout! 1119 Candelaria Rd. NW Your Rebels just want y'all to come hang out! It's a Rebel event, so who knows what can and will happen? We do know that there will be Fun, Drink, Camaraderie, and a Food Truck. Red Taco Shop will be there serving Carne Asada Specials (Asada Nachos, Asada Tacos, Asada Quesadillas and Asada Bowls). Please bring your Friends and your whole Family. More information will be added as The Rebels figure out what they want to do. They can be quite secretive at times lol. Remember, it's all about the cause
Sat 2 – 4 PM Pre-Mother's Day Show Sawmill Market, 1909 Bellamah Ave NW Burque Jazz Bandits are Celebrating all the mommas at Sawmill! This event is outdoors, so be prepared for the sunshine! Tips appreciated! Bandit merch will be available for purchase!
Sat 2 – 6 PM Birds of a Feather Fundraiser Bosque Brewing Cottonwood Public House, 10250 Cottonwood Park Dr. NW Join us and the amazing folks at Birds of a Feather Parrot Rescue of New Mexico for a special fundraiser! Meet several exotic parrots and learn all about their incredible mission! They will be raffling awesome prizes and a percentage of drink sales during the event will be donated to BoaF
Sat 3 – 10 PM Pints for Parenthood Marble Brewery, 111 Marble Ave NW Join Dar a Luz Birth & Health Center for our Pints for Parenthood event at Marble Brewery Downtown! Donations for Dar a Luz are welcome at the door. Along with Marble's renowned libations and food, we'll have live music from incredible local artists: All Thicc, Red Light Cameras, Willa Jay, Sweet Roll, Sun Sounds, Trillbot. Dar a Luz Birth and Health Center is the only nationally accredited & state licensed freestanding birth and health center in NM. We are dedicated to providing compassionate and holistic prenatal care for birthing people, reproductive health services and a safe alternative to hospital birth for birthing people and their families
Sat 4 PM Make-A-Wish Sand Volleyball Tournament Charlie’s Sandbox, 4335 Paseo del Norte NE Come support the Make-A-Wish Foundation! We will have multiple snack bar items and prizes for 1st and 2nd place! $20 per person. 2-6 players per team (sign up)
Sat 4 – 5 PM Concerts @ the Library: The Enchanters Taylor Ranch Library, 5700 Bogart St. NW Join us for Concerts @ the Library featuring The Enchanters! Experience the magic as this ten-member choral ensemble takes you on a musical journey through the decades, singing favorites from the 30s to the 90s in beautiful four-part harmony. With a diverse repertoire that includes holiday and patriotic numbers, The Enchanters have been delighting audiences for over four years. Don't miss their enchanting performance at the Taylor Ranch Library, the latest installment of our monthly concert series - all for FREE!
Sat 5 PM Mother's Day Celebration Osuna Nursery, 501 Osuna Rd. NE Whether you're searching for a heartfelt gift, indulging in a little self-care, or simply creating cherished memories with your loved ones, Osuna Nursery is the place to be. As you browse our blooms from beautiful ornamental trees to attractive annuals you'll enjoy: • Live music from award-winning cellist Ryan Smith 11am-1pm •Scenic photo opportunities •Osuna University Residential Irrigation with Chris Schlouski of Dekker Perich Sabatini from 11am to 12pm. There is no gift more meaningful than the gift of life. Come find the perfect pairing of plants and pottery to be a personalized reminder of how much she matters for years to come
Sat 6 – 9 PM Annual Bach Society Concert Hope in the Desert Episcopal Church, 8700 Alameda Blvd. NE It’s nearly time once again for our annual Bach Society performances. The New Mexico Bach Chorale and the New Mexico Bach Orchestra will perform J.S. Bach’s full St. John Passion. Tickets for the performance can be purchased online or by calling Hold My Ticket at 877-466-3404. Day-of tickets may be purchased at the door with cash or check
Sat 6 – 9 PM Gone Country Saturdays with DJ Clout Ponderosa Brewing, 1761 Bellamah Ave NW The evening starts with complimentary dance lessons at 5 pm, followed by family-friendly entertainment until 9 pm. Get ready to groove and have a blast!
Sat 6:30 – 9:30 PM Mother's Day Dance Skidmore's Holiday Bowl, 7515 Lomas Blvd. NE Join us for a night of bowling, food, drinks, and a Mother's Day dance to celebrate everything they do for us
Sat 7 PM Mother’s Day Concert Bandido Restaurante, 2128 Central Ave SE A special Mother’s Day concert with Micky Cruz. $10 cover, all ages
Sat 7 – 9 PM First Floor Highway Tractor Brewing, 118 Tulane Dr. SE ABQ band blending original music & reimagined covers w. an 80s inspirited New Wave / Post Punk sound
Sat 7:30 – 9 PM Studio Night Out Dirty Bourbon Dance Hall & Saloon, 9800 Montgomery Blvd., Ste 4 Get your boots ready because we're going out! Come join us for a fun night out on the town. Come as you are and get your groove on. It's a great chance to put those dancing skills to good use. Feel free to invite anyone to come join the party. This event is free other than the cover at The Dirty Bourbon. There's no cover if you arrive before 8PM. Let us know if you have any questions at either 505-750-0011 or 520-261-1223
Sat 8 PM Emo Nite Live Bama's 1865, 6007 Osuna Rd NE Welcome to the electrifying world of Emo Nite Live! Hailing from the vibrant landscapes of Albuquerque, we are a dynamic band dedicated to bringing the spirited sounds of pop-punk and emo music to life, coupled with a unique karaoke experience that lets YOU be the lead singer! Signups to sing start at 8pm. Get there early if you want to participate. No door cover. 21+ only. Come and check out Albuquerque's newest southern style restaurant. Hear or sing some of your favorite pop-punk and emo anthems with us
Sat 8 – 10 PM Hops & Dreams: Star Wars Edition Tractor Brewing - Wells Park, 1800 4th St. NW Join us in a galaxy far, far away… The Desert Darlings return with Raqzia for an epic Star Wars belly dance show! Free show, but tips appreciated!
Sat 8:30 PM – 1 AM SABOR Latin Night - Saturdays with guest DJ ITALIA Bama's 1865, 6007 Osuna Rd. NE DJ Gabriel Goza will be serving you the saucy Salsa, Bachata, Cumbia, Merengue y Mas! Ample Parking, Safe Environment, Beautiful Venue, Good Food, Good Music, Good Vibes. 21+ / $10 cover
Sat 9 PM Back in the Saddle 90's Country Cover Band Backstage at Revel, 4720 Alexander Blvd. NE Doors open at 8 pm, no cover. Show starts at 9 pm! All Ages are welcome! We will have giveaways! Come prepared to two-step and country dance to the 90's country music you love!
** Sun 5/12 ** -- Mother's Day
Sun 10 – 11 AM Yoga & Tea Lost Cultures Tea Bar, 1761 Bellamah Ave NW, Ste C Starting in May, we will be doing our event EVERY SUNDAY. It's a special space where you can release what no longer serves you and rejuvenate your soul. Join us for a truly enriching experience. The first 3 Sunday's will be with @ yoga.birch and the last Sunday of the month will be with @ curvaceousmermaidgoddess. $25 per person, 1 drink from the menu included (tickets)
Sun 10 AM – 2 PM Seeds & Starts Day Rail Yards Market, 777 1st St. SW Ready, Set, Grow! The Rail Yards Market is the best local destination of plants for your garden, blooms for mom, and fresh spring produce for your table. Get your seeds and starter plants from your favorite local growers! Free for all! Everyone is welcome! EBT doubled with Double-Up-Food-Bucks. Senior and WIC programs welcome. Fresh local produce! Breakfast & lunch prepared food options. Handmade Art. ADA Accessible. Free Parking. FREE :: LOCAL :: FAMILY FRIENDLY :: PET FRIENDLY
Sun 10:30 AM – 2:30 PM Mother's Day Brunch Sheraton Uptown, 2600 Louisiana Blvd. NE Treat Mom to all her favorite brunch foods, including made-to-order omelets, garden salads, and of course elegant desserts. $55 per adult, $28 children 5-10 (plus tax & gratuity), children 0-4 complimentary with a paid adult. Reservations are required: 505.349.2520 (menu)
Sun 11 AM Mother's Day Special D.H. Lescomes Winery & Bistro, 901 Rio Grande Blvd. NW, Ste B-100 Celebrate Mother's Day with a special meal! We’re excited to introduce two mouthwatering specials that are sure to delight her taste buds: Baked Penne Rustica and Pan-Seared Chilean Sea Bass. Plus, add a glass of any of our 631 Signature wines to one of these specials for only $7 Reservations recommended, please call your location (more info)
Sun 11 AM – 4 PM Mother's Day Sunday Rally Sunday Service Motor Co, 2701 4th St. NW Join us for May's Sunday Rally - cohosted by Indian Motorcycle and the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride 2024. This month, we will be meeting at Indian Motorcycle off of Alameda for coffee and pastries. We will then cruise back to Sunday Service for live music, food, and raffles. Drop in and learn more about Indian Motorcycles, The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride, and donate to Mothers in need this Mother's Day!
Sun 11:30 AM Mamma Mia! Historic Lobo Theater, 3013 Central Ave NE Showing Starts at 11:30 am Tickets are ONLY $10 for General Admission $25 Brunch and a Movie Ticket $21 Brunch Only ticket. Grab your ticket online or call for reservations today!
Sun 12 PM Mother's Day - Moms play for free! Empire Board Game Library, 3503 Central Ave NE Let Empire treat you to some free play time! If you're a mom, then come in this Sunday and play any of our 1,000 games without paying for table time on your special day
Sun 12 – 8 PM Mother's Day Seared Bistro, 119 San Pasquale Ave SW Brunch 12-3 PM (click link for full menu), Dinner 12-8 PM
Sun 1 – 5 PM Mother's Day in Old Town 2000 N. Plaza St. NW The City of Albuquerque presents this free event celebrates Mom on her special day in Old Town and features food, shopping, kids’ activities, and more. Enjoy live music on the Gazebo with performances by Nathaniel Krantz, Baila! Baila!, and Picoso. Grab a bite to eat from local food trucks Craft Q BBQ, Tikka Spice, and Pack’n Bowlz or enjoy a sit down meal from one of the Old Town restaurants. Eat, dance, and enjoy time with the family in Historic Old Town! (more info)
Sun 1 – 5 PM Animated Iris: Mother's Day Iris Show Albuquerque Garden Center, 10120 Lomas Blvd. NE Open to the Public. Free Admission. Public Invited to Submit Entries 8-9AM
Sun 2 – 5 PM May Swing Sanctuary Retreat Enchantment Ballroom, 337 San Pedro Dr. NE Do you love West Coast Swing? Do you compete or would you like to start competing? Have you been looking for a community of like-minded, supportive dancers to push your boundaries and empower you to reach your full dance potential? Join Melissa for The Swing Sanctuary Retreat, a competitors community focused gathering for those of us looking for a safe space to foster positive change in our dancing with like-minded community members. The only requirements to join are a positive attitude and having competed or planning to compete a West Coast Swing Jack and Jill within a year. If you competed at Rio Grande or are planning to compete at Dance Fiesta, those count! If you'd like to join the group but aren't sure about competing, let us know, we're happy to talk to you about it and help you plan an event within the next year, that's all it takes! This will be a regular monthly gathering. If you have any questions as to if this is a good fit for you and your goals, please let us know. Cost: $20
Sun 4 – 5:30 PM Paint Your Own Pot Mrs. Sprinkles Ice Cream, 3107 Eubank Blvd. NE Paint Night with Susan Gomez is your chance to grab your pals, the fam or just yourself and paint the night away. Have fun while creating lasting memories to take home and enjoy forever! Join us for my very first Paint Your Own Pot event! Mrs. Sprinkles is the newest addition to the charming Scottsdale Village Shopping Center. Come see the beautiful shop, have some fun with Mom or Grandma and have some amazing treats! What a wonderful way to spend Mother's Day! Enjoy buy one, get one half off the full menu that day! All supplies are included and all are welcome for this event. Seating is Limited. Please arrive a few minutes early for a 4pm start time. NO NEED TO PICK UP A TICKET AHEAD OF TIME, CHECK IN AT THE EVENT
Sun 6 – 9 PM Sunday Funday Karaoke Tractor Brewing - Wells Park, 1800 4th St. NW What brings the fun better then karaoke? Nothing! We got an all new night of karaoke for you singing addicts! Come amp up your Sunday Funday and sing a song with us! The Pop Up will be on hand serving up eats!
2024.05.07 22:51 Agreeable_Diver564 Thoughts on this?
 | submitted by Agreeable_Diver564 to KendrickLamar [link] [comments] |
2024.05.07 22:12 houseofball00ns Wait a min....
 | submitted by houseofball00ns to Drizzy [link] [comments] |
2024.05.07 21:11 BarisChan ABD tarihinin kara lekesi: Trablus Antlaşması
 | Bu anlaşmaya göre ABD, Cezayir'deki esirlerin iadesi ve gerek Atlas Okyanusu'nda, gerekse Akdeniz'de ABD sancağı taşıyan hiçbir gemiye dokunulmaması karşılığında, tek sefer mahsus 642.000 altın ve yılda 12.000 Osmanlı altını ödeyecekti. submitted by BarisChan to TarihiSeyler [link] [comments] Dili Türkçe olan ve 22 maddeden oluşan anlaşmaya, Amerika Birleşik Devletleri adına Joseph Donaldson ve Osmanlı adına Cezayir Beylerbeyi Cezayirli Hasan Paşa, namıdiğer Hasan Dayı, imza attı. Bu, ABD'nin iki asrı aşkın tarihinde, yabancı bir dille imzalanan tek anlaşması olduğu gibi, yabancı bir devlete vergi ödenmesini kabul eden tek ABD belgesidir. ABD, 22 maddelik bu antlaşmaya 1818 yılına kadar bağlı kalmıştır. |
2024.05.07 20:53 SocialDemocracies Megapost: A list of statements, press releases, and other sources reporting and expressing concern and criticism about Israel's war in Gaza and related aspects of the war. (Part 2)
Megapost: A list of statements, press releases, and other sources reporting and expressing concern and criticism about Israel's war in Gaza and related aspects of the war. (Part 2)
Notes: This is a work that is currently in progress; please check back for updates. Titles have been edited to provide details.Part 1 is here: https://www.reddit.com/Social_Democracy/comments/1clx1uc/megapost_a_list_of_statements_press_releases_and/
Part 3 is here: https://www.reddit.com/Social_Democracy/comments/1coups2/megapost_a_list_of_statements_press_releases_and/
Part 4 is here: https://www.reddit.com/Social_Democracy/comments/1crvrde/megapost_a_list_of_statements_press_releases_and/
British Association of Social Workers (BASW) and the Social Workers Union (SWU) statement on situation in Israel and Palestine/Gaza (November 15, 2023): https://swu-union.org.uk/2023/11/basw-swu-statement-on-situation-in-israel-and-palestine-gaza/
More than 50 UK Labour Party lawmakers defy leader to back Gaza ceasefire (November 15, 2023): https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/more-than-50-uk-labour-lawmakers-defy-leader-back-gaza-ceasefire-2023-11-15/
RESOLUTION: THE VERMONT PROGRESSIVE PARTY CALLS FOR A CEASEFIRE IN GAZA (November 15, 2023): https://www.progressiveparty.org/progressive-news-and-updates/resolution-the-vermont-progressive-party-calls-for-a-ceasefire-in-gaza
Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors (JHL) condemns all strikes targeting civilians: Trade Union JHL appeals to the Government of Finland: Demand a ceasefire in the Gaza war. JHL will donate EUR 5,000 to Doctors Without Borders. (November 15, 2023): https://www.jhl.fi/en/news/trade-union-jhl-condemns-all-strikes-targeting-civilians/
Humanist Society Scotland calls for ceasefire in Gaza (November 16, 2023): https://www.humanism.scot/2023/11/16/humanist-society-scotland-calls-for-ceasefire-in-gaza/
Irish Congress of Trade Unions calls for humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza (November 16, 2023): https://www.ictu.ie/news/congress-calls-humanitarian-ceasefire-gaza
Longtime Israeli policy foes are leading US protests against Israel’s action in Gaza. Who are they? (November 16, 2023): https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-college-protests-c94bb0cd246bcc692de86b76b9b2a8cf
Cori Bush: Calls for Ceasefire Grow in Month Following Introduction of Ceasefire Now Resolution ["A growing coalition of over 100 organizations has also endorsed H.Res 786, the Ceasefire Now Resolution. Endorsing organizations include: 350.org, About Face: Veterans Against the War, ActionAid USA, Action Center on Race & the Economy, Adalah Justice Project, American Center for Justice, American Federation of Ramallah, Palestine (AFRP), American Muslims for Palestine, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), Americans for Justice in Palestine Action, Amnesty International, Arab American Civil Rights League (ACRL), Arab American Institute, Arab Resource & Organizing Center (AROC), Avaaz, Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC), Center for Constitutional Rights, Center for Jewish Nonviolence, Center for Popular Democracy Action, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Churches for Middle East Peace, Common Defense, Communities United for Status & Protection (CUSP), Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), Defense for Children International - Palestine, Demand Progress Action, Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), Democratic Socialists of America, Detroit Action, Dream Defenders, Emgage Action, Freedom Forward, Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), Gen Z For Change, Grassroots Global Justice Alliance, Highlander Research & Education, Hindus for Human Rights, The House of the Lord Churches, IfNotNow, Institute for Middle Eastern Understanding (IMEU), International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), IRAP Osgoode Hall Law School, IRAP Rutgers, IRAP UVA Law, IRAP University of Virginia School of Law Chapter, IRAP The George Washington Law School Chapter, Institute for Policy Studies New Internationalism Project, International Refugee Assistance Project at Berkeley Law, Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis, The Jerusalem Fund for Education and Community Development, Jewish Voice for Peace Action, Just Foreign Policy, Justice Is Global, Leadership Conference of Women Religious, MADRE, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, Michigan United, Migrant Roots Media, Movement for Black Lives, Movement Law Lab, Movement Generation, MoveOn, MPower Change Action Fund, Muslim Advocates, Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), Muslims for Progress, National Campaign for Human Dignity, National Domestic Workers Alliance, National Iranian American Council Action, National Lawyers Guild, Detroit & Michigan Chapter, National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC), NYC-DSA, Pax Christi USA, Peace Action, Peace Action Montgomery, Peace, Justice Sustainability NOW!, Progressive Democrats of America, Progressive Jews of St. Louis (ProJoSTL), Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED), Project48, Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Refugee Council USA, ReThinking Foreign Policy, Rising Majority, RootsAction.org, Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Institute Justice Team, Southeast Asian Freedom Network, Sunrise Movement, Transgender Law Center, UndocuBlack Network, Union of Palestinian American Women, Unitarian Universalist Association, United Church of Christ, United We Dream Network, Until Freedom, US Campaign for Palestinian Rights (USCPR), US Council for Muslim Organizations, Vietlead, Women Cross DMZ, Women for Weapons Trade Transparency, Working Families Party, Zero Hour."] (November 17, 2023): https://bush.house.gov/media/press-releases/calls-for-ceasefire-grow-in-month-following-introduction-of-ceasefire-now-resolution
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and Anglican Church of Canada: Church leaders urge Prime Minister Trudeau to call for a ceasefire and open corridor for humanitarian aid (November 17, 2023): https://www.anglicanlutheran.ca/statements/church-leaders-urge-prime-minister-trudeau-to-call-for-a-ceasefire-and-open-corridor-for-humanitarian-aid/
Jewish American Calls for a Ceasefire Highlight Divisions in the Community (November 17, 2023): https://time.com/6335528/jewish-american-ceasefire-progressive-jews/
Jews for Ceasefire holds demonstration outside Schwarzman, demands Yale divest from weapons manufacturing (November 17, 2023): https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2023/11/17/jews-for-ceasefire-holds-demonstration-outside-schwarzman-demands-yale-divest-from-weapons-manufacturing/
Josh Ruebner, adjunct professor in Justice and Peace Studies at Georgetown University: Israel is threatening a second Nakba — but it’s already happening (November 17, 2023): https://thehill.com/opinion/international/4313276-israel-is-threatening-a-second-nakba-but-its-already-happening/
I Am the Grandchild of Holocaust Survivors, and I Am Calling for Ceasefire Now (November 18, 2023): https://truthout.org/articles/i-am-the-grandchild-of-holocaust-survivors-and-i-am-calling-for-ceasefire-now/
Diseases spread in Gaza amid water and sewage crisis, cholera feared (November 19, 2023): https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/19/diseases-spread-in-gaza-amid-water-and-sewage-crisis-cholera-feared
Association of Black Anthropologists Statement on Solidarity with Palestine (November 20, 2023): https://aba.americananthro.org/aba-statement-on-solidarity-with-palestine/
With the world’s eyes on Gaza, attacks are on the rise in the West Bank, which faces its own war (November 20, 2023): https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-israel-west-bank-war-gaza-hamas-settlers-army-raid-militants-c1386ab6a633971cc18b2497169210d3
Derek Duba: Army veterans like me know that 'war is hell.' Let's push for a ceasefire in Gaza (November 21, 2023): https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/2023/11/21/gaza-ceasefire-only-way-forward-israel-palestine-veterans/71660423007/
Middle East Studies Association Board Letter to Biden Administration on Ceasefire in Gaza (November 21, 2023): https://mesana.org/advocacy/letters-from-the-board/2023/11/21/mesa-board-letter-to-biden-administration-on-ceasefire-in-gaza
This Union Is Famous for Opposing South African Apartheid. Now It’s Standing With Gaza. In 1984, ILWU Local 10 refused to unload goods shipped from South Africa. Today, it’s demanding a cease-fire. (November 21, 2023): https://www.thenation.com/article/activism/ilwu-unions-ceasefire-israel-gaza/
‘Not in my name’: Jews in UK take a stand against Israel’s Gaza assault (November 24, 2023): https://www.aa.com.ten/europe/-not-in-my-name-jews-in-uk-take-a-stand-against-israel-s-gaza-assault/3063568
British Sociological Association: Sociologists’ Letter on Gaza (November 27, 2023): https://es.britsoc.co.uk/sociologists-letter-on-gaza/
Opinion by Ermina Mustafic-Harambasic: As the daughter of Bosnian genocide survivors, I stand with Palestine: There are many parallels between the denial of the Srebrenica genocide and the denial of the Palestinian genocide (November 27, 2023): https://www.sltrib.com/opinion/commentary/2023/11/27/opinion-daughter-bosnian-genocide/
Changing course, Senator Peter Welch calls for ‘indefinite’ cease-fire in Gaza (November 28, 2023): https://vtdigger.org/2023/11/28/changing-course-peter-welch-calls-for-indefinite-ceasefire-in-gaza/
National Council of Churches in the Philippines: An Urgent Statement on the Situation in Gaza, Pray for Peace and Justice in Palestine and Israel (November 29, 2023): https://nccphilippines.org/2023/11/29/an-urgent-statement-on-the-situation-in-gaza-pray-for-peace-and-justice-in-palestine-and-israel/
Rae Abileah: Never Again means Never Again for Anyone, including Gazans (November 9, 2023): https://www.hmbreview.com/opinion/matters_of_opinion/never-again-means-never-again-for-anyone-including-gazans/article_a8447418-8ecb-11ee-8df5-4bb3d40e681a.html
Public Services International: International Trade Unions Urgently call for Ceasefire in Gaza amidst Ongoing Human Rights Violations (November 30, 2023): https://publicservices.international/resources/news/international-trade-unions-urgently-call-for-ceasefire-in-gaza-amidst-ongoing-human-rights-violations?id=14308⟨%3Den
Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez says he doubts Israel is respecting international law (November 30, 2023): https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/30/spain-pm-pedro-sanchez-israel-hamas-terror-attacks-gaza
Open Letter from Professionals at Jewish Organizations to President Biden and Congress [850+ signatures] (December 2023): https://docs.google.com/document1/d/e/2PACX-1vQ1EFVMTDvaxvWXldzbZvr60BE5o3UQeU_WfiXX3ivcUVU1SAYU13wZsBhDVbmtbXmKejMNajY1xSQ1/pub
Bubba Fish, Culver County Democratic Club: A Jewish Case for an End to the War (December 1, 2023): https://www.c-c-d-c.com/a-jewish-case-for-an-end-to-the-wa
United Auto Workers Statement on Israel and Palestine (December 1, 2023): https://uaw.org/uaw-statement-israel-palestine/
Jane Fonda: "I join with millions of others in calling for —in the words of the UN Secretary General —‘a true humanitarian ceasefire’ in Gaza." (December 2, 2023): https://www.instagram.com/janefonda/p/C0XIXkUJhI1/
Daanish Faruqi: Israel is using the same tactics in Gaza that al-Assad employed in Syria (December 3, 2023): https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2023/12/3/israel-is-using-the-same-tactics-in-gaza-that-al-assad-employed-in-syria
Catholic Workers Speak Out for Ceasefire, Peace (December 4, 2023): https://catholicworker.org/cws-speak-out-for-ceasefire-peace/
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières: The US must call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza: An open letter to President Biden from MSF-USA executive director Avril Benoît (December 4, 2023): https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/us-must-call-immediate-ceasefire-gaza
Greta Thunberg and Fridays for Future Sweden activists Alde Nilsson, Jamie Mater, and Raquel Frescia: We won’t stop speaking out about Gaza’s suffering – there is no climate justice without human rights: Young climate activists haven’t ‘been radicalised’ – solidarity with marginalised people has always been at the heart of our message (December 5, 2023): https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/dec/05/gaza-climate-justice-human-rights-greta-thunberg
National Union of Journalists condemns unprecedented death toll of journalists in Gaza (December 5, 2023): https://www.nuj.org.uk/resource/nuj-condemns-unprecedented-death-toll-of-journalists-in-gaza.html
‘These are very hard times’: Pastor of Gaza Catholic church gives update on Christians’ plight (December 6, 2023): https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256192/these-are-very-hard-times-pastor-of-gaza-catholic-church-gives-update-on-christian-s-plight
Catholic progressives in Brazil call Gaza war a ‘true genocide’ (December 7, 2023): https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-americas/2023/12/catholic-progressives-in-brazil-call-gaza-war-a-true-genocide
Corporate Europe Observatory: Gaza: Ceasefire now (December 7, 2023): https://corporateeurope.org/en/2023/12/gaza-ceasefire-now
Faculty and staff members in American University’s School of International Service call for ceasefire in Gaza: “We now call on our governments and campuses to bravely Wage Peace instead.” (December 8, 2023): https://www.theeagleonline.com/article/2023/12/sis-staff-and-faculty-call-for-ceasefire-in-gaza & https://sites.google.com/student.american.edu/american-university/home
International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group statement: Canada Must Oppose Genocide in Gaza and Defend Free Expression at Home (December 8, 2023): https://iclmg.ca/canada-must-oppose-genocide/
Senator Bernie Sanders: AIPAC is a right-wing organization that supports extremist Republican election-denier candidates. Now, they want to spend $100 million to defeat Progressives. Whether AIPAC likes it or not, the U.S. must not give a blank check to Netanyahu’s horrific war policies. (December 10, 2023): https://twitter.com/BernieSanders/status/1733932123357085759
Ahead of White House Hanukkah celebration, a wave of faith-led cease-fire demonstrations (December 11, 2023): https://religionnews.com/2023/12/11/jewish-christian-activists-head-up-another-wave-of-faith-led-cease-fire-demonstrations/
Edward P. Djerejian Center for the Middle East, James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy: Israel’s Mass Displacement of Gazans Fits Strategy of Using Migration as a Tool of War (December 11, 2023): https://www.bakerinstitute.org/research/israels-mass-displacement-gazans-fits-strategy-using-migration-tool-war
Letter: What 'pro-life' justification can Hoeven, Cramer and Armstrong offer for opposing a ceasefire? "Thousands of dead children in a few weeks seems like an obvious pro-life issue," writes Mercedes Saylor. (December 11, 2023): https://www.inforum.com/opinion/letters/letter-what-pro-life-justification-can-hoeven-cramer-and-armstrong-offer-for-opposing-a-ceasefire
International Federation for Human Rights (Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l'homme): The unfolding genocide against the Palestinians must stop immediately (December 12, 2023): https://www.fidh.org/en/region/north-africa-middle-east/israel-palestine/the-unfolding-genocide-against-the-palestinians-must-stop-immediately
Unitarian Universalist Women's Federation: Statement on Gaza/Israeli conflict (December 13, 2023): https://www.uuwf.org/blog/13290680
Exclusive: Nearly half of the Israeli munitions dropped on Gaza are imprecise ‘dumb bombs,’ US intelligence assessment finds (December 14, 2023): https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/13/politics/intelligence-assessment-dumb-bombs-israel-gaza/index.html
Los Angeles Times Editorial Board: U.S. should join the world’s nations in demanding a Gaza cease-fire (December 14, 2024): https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2023-12-14/gaza-ceasefire-israel-united-states-civilian-deaths
1199SEIU, nation’s largest healthcare union, calls for Gaza ceasefire (December 15, 2023): https://www.1199seiu.org/media-cente1199seiu-nations-largest-healthcare-union-calls-gaza-ceasefire
A Long History of Antifascism Is Driving the Jewish Demand for Gaza Cease-Fire (December 15, 2023): https://inthesetimes.com/article/chanukah-jewish-antifascism-israel-palestine-jvp-ifnotnow-gaza-ceasefire
Senator Bernie Sanders Introduces Resolution to Investigate Israel’s Indiscriminate Bombing Campaign in Gaza (December 15, 2023): https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sanders-introduces-resolution-to-investigate-israels-indiscriminate-bombing-campaign-in-gaza/
Union for Reform Judaism Alumni and Current Members for Ceasefire (December 16, 2023): https://urjceasefirenow.wordpress.com/2023/12/16/urj-alumni-and-current-members-for-ceasefire/
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ President Pleads for Peace as Innocent People are Killed in the Land of Jesus' Birth (December 16, 2023): https://www.usccb.org/news/2023/us-bishops-president-pleads-peace-innocent-people-are-killed-land-jesus-birth
Auschwitz Museum Decries Israeli Mayor's 'Sick' Call to 'Empty' Gaza: "We do hope that Israeli authorities will react to such shameful abuse, as terrorism can never be a response to terrorism." (December 18, 2023): https://www.commondreams.org/news/israel-genocidal-statements
Jews for Racial and Economic Justice: Stop the Bombs! Ceasefire Now! (December 18, 2023): https://www.jfrej.org/events/2023/12/stop-the-bombs-ceasefire-now
Nontombi Naomi Tutu and Nompumelelo (Mungi) Ngomane, respectively the daughter and granddaughter of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu: We have failed in the fight for justice — we need ceasefire in Gaza now (December 18, 2023): https://thehill.com/opinion/international/4365307-we-have-failed-in-the-fight-for-justice-we-need-ceasefire-in-gaza-now/
Representative Betty McCollum: AIPAC Dangerously Trafficking in Hate Speech Amid Israel-Gaza War (December 18, 2023): https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-aipac-dangerously-trafficking-hate-speech-amid-israel-gaza-war
Association of Legal Aid Attorneys, United Auto Workers Local 2325: Resolution Calling for a Ceasefire in Gaza, an End to the Israeli Occupation of Palestine, and Support for Workers’ Political Speech (December 19, 2023): https://www.alaa.org/media-releases/resolution-calling-for-a-ceasefire-in-gaza-an-end-to-the-israeli-occupation-of-palestine-and-support-for-workers-political-speech
Joint Statement by Current and Former Australian Elected Representatives on the Situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories [300+ signatures] (December 19, 2023): https://apan.org.au/joint-statement/ & https://docs.google.com/document/d/182u4eJnJUZ_Uruf1GlchLnF8XotnpnAX/
Liberal International bureau supports humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza (December 19, 2023): https://liberal-international.org/news-articles/li-bureau-supports-humanitarian-ceasefire-in-gaza/
Fox News host Mark Levin's hateful defenses of civilian casualties, calls for war crimes, and xenophobic attacks on Palestinians (December 20, 2023): https://www.mediamatters.org/mark-levin/mark-levins-hateful-defenses-civilian-casualties-calls-war-crimes-and-xenophobic-attacks
I’m a Palestinian Christian in Gaza. I want peace—for my homeland and my family. (December 20, 2023): https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2023/12/20/christian-gaza-wartime-church-community-246754
Israel Defense Forces and Yom Kippur War veteran from Woodstock urges ceasefire in Gaza [Israeli veteran Mark Hammel on Israel's war in Gaza: “It's an unmitigated horror story ... It's literally on the cusp of genocide."] (December 21, 2023): https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/news/2023/12/21/israel-defense-forces-veteran-from-woodstock-urges-ceasefire-in-gaza
Public Citizen Statement on the Violence in Gaza and Israel (December 21, 2023): https://www.citizen.org/news/statement-on-the-violence-in-gaza-and-israel/
Franciscans International: Amid rising death toll, Security Council must call for a ceasefire in Gaza (December 22, 2023): https://franciscansinternational.org/blog/amid-rising-death-toll-security-council-must-call-for-a-ceasefire-in-gaza/
Holy Land: Caritas Internationalis joins today’s Global Day of Action calling for a Ceasefire Now (December 22, 2023): https://www.caritas.org/2023/12/holy-land-caritas-internationalis-joins-todays-global-day-of-action-calling-for-a-ceasefire-now/ & https://www.change.org/p/sign-and-share-this-urgent-petition-calling-for-a-ceasefirenow-in-gaza-and-israel
Marianne Williamson on her US presidential campaign, the economy and Gaza: ‘The death of a Palestinian child is no less horrifying than the death of an Israeli child,’ author tells Al Jazeera. (December 22, 2023): https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/22/marianne-williamson-on-her-us-presidential-campaign-the-economy-and-gaza
The Human Rights Institute of the International Bar Association condemns the indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks on Gaza and reiterates the call for an immediate ceasefire (December 22, 2023): https://www.ibanet.org/The-Human-Rights-Institute-of-the-IBA-condemns-the-indiscriminate-and-disproportionate-attacks-on-Gaza-and-reiterates-the-call-for-an-immediate-ceasefire
Who Is Funding Canary Mission? Inside the Doxxing Operation Targeting Anti-Zionist Students and Professors (December 22, 2023): https://www.thenation.com/article/world/canary-mission-israel-covert-operations/
Rebecca Alpert, Reconstructionist Rabbi and Professor Emerita of Religion at Temple University: “Ceasefire Now!” Means Peace for All and Justice for Palestinians (December 28, 2023): https://truthout.org/articles/ceasefire-now-means-peace-for-all-and-justice-for-palestinians/
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov appears to liken Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine: FM Labrov praises Netanyahu since ‘he never dared’ to criticize Russia, says Israel’s campaign against Hamas ‘sounds like denazification,’ echoing Moscow’s justification for its war (December 28, 2023): https://www.timesofisrael.com/lavrov-appears-to-liken-israels-war-on-hamas-in-gaza-to-russias-invasion-of-ukraine/
Palestine: Intersectional Solidarity: Statements from Afghans, Iranians, Hongkongers, Tibetans, Kurds, Syrians, Taiwanese, Uyghurs, and Ukrainians (December 28, 2023): https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/anonymous-palestine-intersectional-solidarity
Physicians for Social Responsibility: Urgent Call for Ceasefire and Humanitarian Aid in Gaza (December 28, 2023): https://psr.org/urgent-call-for-ceasefire-and-humanitarian-aid-in-gaza/
World Council of Churches calls for immediate end to brutal violence in Gaza (December 30, 2023): https://www.oikoumene.org/news/wcc-calls-for-immediate-end-to-brutal-violence-in-gaza
Database of Israeli Incitement to Genocide (January-February 2023): https://law4palestine.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Database-of-Israeli-Incitement-to-Genocide-including-after-ICJ-order-27th-February-2024-.pdf
Muslims for Progressive Values: Never Again? (January 4, 2024): https://www.mpvusa.org/blog/never-again
Social workers send letters from Gaza (January 4, 2024): https://reimaginingsocialwork.nz/2024/01/04/social-workers-send-letters-from-gaza/
Anti-Defamation League staff decry ‘dishonest’ campaign against Israel critics (January 5, 2024): https://www.theguardian.com/news/2024/jan/05/adl-pro-israel-advocacy-zionism-antisemitism
"We Support South Africa's Genocide Convention Case Against Israel": Over 1,000 popular movements, political parties, unions, and other organizations call on states around the world to support South Africa's genocide case against Israel. [Including: Amazon Labor Union, USA; American Friends Service Committee - AFSC, USA; AFSCME Local 526, USA; Antipoverty Centre, Australia; Australian Unemployed Workers' Union; Black Workers for Justice (BWFJ), USA; Boycott from Within (Israeli citizens for BDS); Canadian Friends Service Committee, Canada; CGT - Confederación General del Trabajo, Spain; Church Women United in New York State, USA; Civil Engagement Group of Seanad Éireann (Senate of Ireland), Ireland; Coalition Against Fascism in India (International); CODEPINK, USA; Columbia Law Students for Palestine (CLSP), USA; Community Peacemaker Teams; Confederación Intersindical, Spain; CUNY for Palestine, USA; Defence for Children International; Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN); Democratic Socialists of America, USA; Egyptian Social Democratic Party, Egypt; Faculty for Justice in Palestine at Syracuse University, USA; GEO-UAW Local 2322, USA; GSOC-UAW Local 2110, USA; Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers, London; Harvard Jews for Palestine, USA; Hindus for Human Rights, USA; International Peace Bureau (IPB), International; Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions USA; Jewish Voice for Labour (UK); La France Insoumise, France; Labour For Palestine - Canada; Labour International, UK; Landless Workers Movement MST, Brazil; Medical Association for Prevention of War, Australia; Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC), USA; Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance (MIRA), USA; National Lawyers Guild, USA; National Single Payer, USA; Nonviolence International; NYC City Workers for Palestine, USA; NYU Alumni for Palestine, USA; Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace, USA; Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions, PGFTU, Palestine; Pax Christi Canada; Pax Christi USA; Physicians for Social Responsibility Kansas City (PSR-KC), USA; Physicians for Social Responsibility/Sacramento, USA; Progressive Democrats of America, Oregon Chapter, USA; Progressive International; Sarah Lawrence Faculty for Justice in Palestine; Scholars Against the War on Palestine, Canada/International; Science for the People - Canada; Science for the People, USA; Secours Catholique, France; Servicio Internacional Cristiano de Solidaridad con America Latina (SICSAL Mexico); Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Enseñanza de Cantabria (STEC), Spain; Sínodo Luterano Salvadoreño, El Salvador; Transnational Institute; Trinity Lutheran Church, Brooklyn NY, USA; Tunisian General Labor Union UGTT; UMass Amherst Faculty for Justice in Palestine, USA; UMKC Students for Justice in Palestine, USA; Union Juive Française pour la Paix (UJFP - French Jewish Peace Union); Unionists for Palestine, Australia; United Church of Christ Palestine Israel Network, USA; United Jewish People's Order, Canada; United Methodists for Kairos Response (UMKR); US Committee to End Political Repression in Egypt] (January 8, 2024): https://progressive.international/wire/2024-01-08-we-support-south-africas-genocide-convention-case-against-israel/en
Etan Nechin: The far right infiltration of Israel’s media is blinding the public to the truth about Gaza (January 9, 2024): https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/jan/09/israel-media-gaza-benjamin-netanyahu-settler-movement
Michelle Goldberg in the New York Times via U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett: America Must Face Up to Israel’s Extremism (January 9, 2024): https://doggett.house.gov/media/in-the-news/new-york-times-america-must-face-israels-extremism
Q&A: Former Biden appointee Tariq Habash says US policy is ‘dehumanising’ Palestinians (January 9, 2024): https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/9/qa-former-biden-appointee-says-us-policy-is-dehumanising-palestinians
State and Local Elected Officials Open Letter to President Biden Calling for a Ceasefire [350+ signatures] (January 9, 2024): https://www.jvpaction.org/state-and-local-elected-officials-open-letter-to-president-biden-calling-for-a-ceasefire/
I led strike cells against ISIS — Israel’s strike campaign in Gaza is unacceptable (January 10, 2024): https://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/4397982-i-led-strike-cells-against-isis-israels-strike-campaign-in-gaza-is-unacceptable/
Naomi Klein: We have a tool to stop Israel’s war crimes: BDS (January 10, 2024): https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/jan/10/only-outside-pressure-can-stop-israels-war-crimes
Revealed: Congress backers of Gaza war received most from pro-Israel donors: Guardian analysis finds top recipients of pro-Israel contributions in last elections were centrist Democrats who defeated progressives in primaries (January 10, 2024): https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/jan/10/congress-member-pro-israel-donations-military-support
Why I Resigned: Meet Tariq Habash, First Biden Appointee to Quit over U.S.-Backed Israeli War on Gaza (January 10, 2024): https://www.democracynow.org/2024/1/10/tariq_habash
Robert C. Koehler: The Cry of the Wounded and the Dead: End the War! End the War! (January 13, 2024): https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/when-will-the-war-in-gaza-end
On MLK Day, Representative Ayanna Pressley and Interfaith Coalition Call for Ceasefire in Gaza ["Rep. Pressley joined over 90 leaders from the Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist and other faith traditions in signing the statement, including Rev. Nikira Hernandez, Brighton Allston Congregational Church, Rev. Darrell R. Hamilton II, The First Baptist Church in, Jamaica Plain, Imam Ahmad Barry, Rev. Aisha Ansano. Rev. Otto Concannon, First Parish in Malden, Rev. Ashlee Wiest-Laird, First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain, Imam Abdullah Faaruuq, Mosque for Praising Allah, Rev. Elizabeth Nguyen, Community Justice Exchange, Chaplain Ylisse C. Bess, Rev. Jo Murphy, Rev. Shea Thompson, Rev. Rob Mark, Rev. Erica Rose Long, Rabbi Rebecca Zimmerman Hornstein, Boston Workers Circle, Imam Taalib Mahdee, Masjid Al Qur’an, Rev. Art J. Gordon, St. John Missionary Baptist Church, Rev. Fred Small, Rev. Heather Concannon, Rev. Miniard Culpepper, Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church, Rabbi Leora Abelson, Rabbi Leah Nussbaum, Rev. Willie Bodrick, II J.D., M.Div., Twelfth Baptist Church, The Very Rev. Amy McCreath, Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston (Episcopal), Rev. James Harrison Jr., Southern Baptist Church, Rev. Bernadette Hickman-Maynard, Rev. Erica F Richmond, Arlington, MA, Rev. Arrington Chambliss, St Mary’s Dorchester, Rev. Dr. Michelle A. Walsh, Tuckerman Creative Ministries for Justice & Healing, Rev. Dr. Clyde Grubbs, Tuckerman Creative Ministries, Muslims for Justice, Rev. Isaac P. Martinez, The Allston Abbey, Rev. Ashley Popperson, Rev. Lindsay Popperson, Old North Church, Marblehead, Rev. Myozen Joan Amaral, Zen Center North Shore, Rev. Dr. Andre K. Bennett, Marc Fredette, UU Minister, Rev. Edmund Robinson, First Parish in Hingham/Old Ship, Chaplain Christie Towers, Rev. Kenneth Read-Brown, Rev. Martha Schick, Cassandra Montenegro, Esq., First Parish in Cambridge, Unitarian Universalist, Rev. Dr. William J. Gardiner, Rev. Wendy Page, Rev. Elizabeth Bukey Saunter, Rev. Mel Pace, Rabbi Becky Silverstein, Rev. Katie Omberg, Rev. Rali M Weaver, First Church and Parish Dedham, Rev. Anne M. Rousseau, Rev. Brett R. Johnson, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Wakefield, MA, Rev. James Leavitt, Rev. Daryn Bunce Stylianopoulos, Mohanad Mossalam, Khateeb, Malden Islamic Center, Daniela Harrigan, Movement Chaplain, MC Miller, Candidate for Ordination in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, University Lutheran Church, Cambridge, MA, Allison N Brown, Pastoral Candidate for Ordination , The Episcopal Church, India Wood, Seminarian, Boston University Theological School, Rhea Brown-Bright, Director of Faith Formation, First Parish Dorchester, Boston University School of Theology, Linden Jenkins, St Cecilia Parish Social & Racial Justice Ministry, Vincent Ware, Director of Public Affairs & Civic Engagement, MAS Boston (Muslim American Society), Becca Heisler, Rabbinical Student, Jayce Koester, Rabbinical Student, Hadar Ahuvia, Rabbinical Student, Sam Tygiel, Rabbinical Student, Alex Bailey Dillon, Rabbinical Student, Hannah Limov, Rabbinical Student, Chaim Spaulding, Rabbinical Student, Aaron Berc, Rabbinical Student, Rivka Nechemya Thrope, Rabbinical Student, Max Davis, Rabbinical Student, Sivan Piatigorsky, Rabbinical Student, Rayden Marcum, Rabbinical Student, Rumni Saha (MDiv, MEd), Ian Evans, Clergy in training, McKayla Hoffman, Ministerial Intern, Nichole Mossalam, Muslim Activist, Elizabeth Claggett-Borne, Friends (Quakers) for Racial Justice, Carole Rein, Quaker, North Shore Friends (Quakers), Polly Attwood, Quaker, Friends Meeting Cambridge, Isabella Bates, Quaker, North Shore Quaker Meeting, Dr. Esther Ngotho, Zen Center North Shore, Nora Williams, Zen Center North Shore, Michael Carey, Peace and Social Justice Committee, Friends Meeting Cambridge, Don Gianniny, Peace and Social Justice Committee, Friends Meeting Cambridge, Holly Aloha Jaynes, Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead, Ehab Hilali, Community Organizer, Independent Drivers Guild, Nicole Moore, UU Church of Marblehead & Zen Center North Shore, Sarah Manasrah, Community Organizer, Salimah Adawiya, Educator, Rabbi Victor Reinstein, Dr. Jamal Carlos Saeh, Palestinian Catholic, Friend Kristina Keefe-Perry, Three Rivers Worship Group, Rev. Carrie Ballenger, University Lutheran Church, Rev. Tricia Brennan, and Rev. Dr. Christopher Ney, United Church of Christ."] (January 15, 2024): https://pressley.house.gov/2024/01/15/on-mlk-day-pressley-and-interfaith-coalition-call-for-ceasefire-in-gaza-2/
Canadian Labour Congress Executive Committee reiterates its support for International Trade Union Confederation's call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza (January 16, 2024): https://canadianlabour.ca/clc-executive-committee-reiterates-its-support-for-itucs-call-for-an-immediate-ceasefire-in-gaza/
Bosnia war, genocide survivors back ICJ Gaza genocide case against Israel (January 18, 2024): https://www.newarab.com/news/bosnia-war-genocide-survivors-back-icj-gaza-genocide-case / https://docs.google.com/document/d/1M5J0MK5LlKjlAZX4cPNNiEGMJZHLM8Qa/
Unions tell Starmer of members’ anger over Gaza ceasefire position (Members of Britain’s biggest unions used a regular meeting with Starmer this week to urge him to be more critical of Israel, following weeks of tension within the Labour party over the issue. [...] “Several people at the meeting were pretty clear with Starmer,” said one person with knowledge of what happened at the meeting. “They told him, ‘Your position on Gaza is alienating working people, you are out of step with the majority’.”] (January 18, 2024): https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/jan/18/unions-keir-starmer-gaza-ceasefire
Anglican Bishop Christopher calls for ceasefire ‘to end appalling suffering’ in Gaza (January 19, 2024): https://southwark.anglican.org/news-events/news/latest-news/bishop-christopher-calls-for-ceasefire-to-end-appalling-suffering-in-gaza/
Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor: Israel kills dozens of academics, destroys every university in the Gaza Strip (January 20, 2024): https://euromedmonitor.org/en/article/6108/Israel-kills-dozens-of-academics,-destroys-every-university-in-the-Gaza-Strip
Gaza activist tells of beating and abuse in Israeli detention: Human rights worker Ayman Lubbad is among the Palestinian prisoners claiming abuse in Israeli custody, where six have died (January 21, 2024): https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/21/gaza-activist-tells-of-beating-and-abuse-in-israeli-detention
Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) calls for ceasefire in Gaza (January 22, 2024): https://www.sak.fi/en/whats-new/news/sak-calls-ceasefire-gaza
Service Employees International Union (SEIU) President Mary Kay Henry's Statement on War in Gaza (January 22, 2024): https://www.seiu.org/2024/01/seius-mary-kay-henry-statement-on-war-in-gaza
‘I just want to run’: Mental health care yet another casualty of Gaza war (January 23, 2024): https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2024-01-23/i-just-want-to-run-mental-health-care-yet-another-casualty-of-gaza-war
Progressive Baptists Call for Gaza Ceasefire (January 23, 2024): https://wordandway.org/2024/01/23/progressive-baptists-call-for-gaza-ceasefire/
Israeli police repressing anti-war protests with ‘iron fist,’ say activists: Since October 7, Israel's police have systematically banned, restricted, and attacked protests against the army's assault on Gaza, instilling a sense of fear among Jewish and Palestinian citizens alike. (January 24, 2024): https://www.972mag.com/israel-police-repression-protests-gaza/
More than 250 humanitarian and human rights organisations call to stop arms transfers to Israel and Palestinian armed groups: An open call to all UN Member States to stop fueling the crisis in Gaza and avert further humanitarian catastrophe and loss of civilian life. [Including: ActionAid France; American Baptist Churches USA; American Friends Service Committee (AFSC); Amnesty International; Anglican Church of Canada; Anglican Church of Mexico; Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development; BDS Berlin; Belgian Academics and Artists for Palestine; Cameroon Youths and Students Forum for Peace (CAMYOSFOP); Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD); Center for Jewish Nonviolence; Christian Aid; Christian Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament; Christian Jewish Allies for a Just Peace in Israel/Palestine; Church and Peace – Ecumenical Peace Church Network in Europe; Colombian Campaign to Ban Landmines; Community of Christ; Danish Refugee Council; Doctors Against Genocide; Episcopal Peace Fellowship-Palestine Israel Network; Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada; Federation Handicap International – Humanity & Inclusion; Finnish-Arab Friendship Society; France Palestine Mental Health Network; International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH); Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions – UK; Japan International Volunteer Center; Jewish Network for Palestine; Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns; Mercy Corps; Muslim Delegates and Allies Coalition; Muslim Peace Fellowship; National Organization of Yemeni Reporters SADA; Norwegian Refugee Council; Oxfam; Palestinian Farmers Union; Pax Christi England and Wales; Pax Christi International; Pax Christi Italia; Pax Christi Scotland; Pax Christi USA; Presbyterian Church in Canada; Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.); Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft; Salam For Yemen; Save the Children; Socialist Movement of Ghana; Syrian Network for Human Rights; United Church of Canada; United Church of Christ; United Methodist Church – General Board of Church and Society; War on Want; Women for Peace and Democracy Nepal; Young Christian Students Movement South Africa] (January 24, 2024): https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/01/more-than-250-humanitarian-and-human-rights-organisations-call-to-stop-arms-transfers-to-israel-palestinian-armed-groups/
2024.05.07 17:08 MamaYamascoochie The Crane-Wife
Dearest reader,
The story of the Crane Wife comes from Japanese folklore. It's a story of a crane who tricks a man into thinking that she is a woman. Nightly, she plucks her feathers out one by one with her beak to appear as a woman to the man during the day. It's a grueling ritual that leaves her exhausted all in the hopes that the man doesn't know what she truly is: a bird capable of graceful flight, who has the needs of an animal not a man. Every morning the crane-wife is exhausted. It's exhausting to become a woman and the self-erasure needed to do so takes everything out of her. So nightly, she plucks her feathers out one by one.
This is not simply a story about the need for love. It is also a story of self destruction to fit the confines of other's realities. As a child I coached myself nightly on how I could fit better into my family. Fairly often these were words of encouragement under the guise of self punishment. Tucked in my sheets, nestled into the corner of my room, I told myself that next time I would take the blow for someone so they wouldn't have to hurt so much. Next time I would learn to distract or talk someone down before they took it too far. Next time, I would not react, would not cry, and would not show them that I am different. I told myself that I could take on the same load everyone else did. I was no less capable of managing my way through this house than any of the grown adults were.
This began when I was very young. Every day I was exhausted, barely attentive in class. I didn't have the effort to put into cultivating friendships or the patience towards treating them as one should at our age. Nightly I plucked out my feathers. During school I dazed through hours of absence. Home was where I was the Crane-Wife.
I danced gracefully through impossible scenarios, smiling and pandering to who needed my energy most at that moment. When things didn't go as planned, when the day was set to be doomed from the beginning, I was over-exposed and sullen with the notion that I'd failed miserably. The nighttime again would be filled with ruthless plucking until I could pass for a perfectly invisible but ever present heroine.
This became a part of my soul. I needed nothing and I was loved for being the easy child. I gave and asked nothing in return. Being unnoticed, cup empty in hand translated to love. I was given many names over the course of my life: Sidekick, little ears, mature. All of which are there to be present in aid and not heard or seen.
As an adult I began to notice the beautiful women around me who made choices. They were loved for their decisiveness, their needs and wants. They were loved for their preferences and opinions. They had a signature way about them that drew others into their orbit. It was intoxicating to witness this pull, even more so to try and emulate. I wanted to be loved that way now but I came up empty when it came time to ask myself what I wanted. What I preferred.
I'd become the Crane-Wife and now my feathers weren't growing back. In every photo I was perfectly unnoticeable. In every relationship I was entirely complacent. I had no wants or needs but no one to dance for. I became decisive about my opinions but they came out harsh and unforgiving. My grace had left me for something twisted and profound.
Like a child learning to read, the first sentences of my journey to fly again were jagged and mispronounced. Often I couldn't hold my own weight to begin with. I couldn't follow along as others took off. Soon, I made peace with being the Crane-Wife.
I'd completed my task and failed at home and this was not home. I'd accepted my fate that a featherless shivering bird could not be nourished into growing feathers again. I stopped eating, stopped trying to fit in, stopped reaching out for love, and withdrew entirely. Love to me felt like emptiness. The hunger itself was a manifestation of that feeling. It was tangible and a measure for how well I was doing in the absence of that validation at home. It was a soothing, cleansing process. To be loved is to be gone entirely.
I still do to this day. I stand by the shore looking for someone to be the Crane-Wife for. When people shout out to me to visit, I retreat knowing I can't possibly put on the show I once did. Knowing in my soul that I can't possibly fail again. I have love now, but not the love I was raised to adore. And at night I preen if only for myself. I am my own Crane-Wife now, one of a kind.
All my love,
Bird
submitted by MamaYamascoochie to UnsentLetters [link] [comments]
The story of the Crane Wife comes from Japanese folklore. It's a story of a crane who tricks a man into thinking that she is a woman. Nightly, she plucks her feathers out one by one with her beak to appear as a woman to the man during the day. It's a grueling ritual that leaves her exhausted all in the hopes that the man doesn't know what she truly is: a bird capable of graceful flight, who has the needs of an animal not a man. Every morning the crane-wife is exhausted. It's exhausting to become a woman and the self-erasure needed to do so takes everything out of her. So nightly, she plucks her feathers out one by one.
This is not simply a story about the need for love. It is also a story of self destruction to fit the confines of other's realities. As a child I coached myself nightly on how I could fit better into my family. Fairly often these were words of encouragement under the guise of self punishment. Tucked in my sheets, nestled into the corner of my room, I told myself that next time I would take the blow for someone so they wouldn't have to hurt so much. Next time I would learn to distract or talk someone down before they took it too far. Next time, I would not react, would not cry, and would not show them that I am different. I told myself that I could take on the same load everyone else did. I was no less capable of managing my way through this house than any of the grown adults were.
This began when I was very young. Every day I was exhausted, barely attentive in class. I didn't have the effort to put into cultivating friendships or the patience towards treating them as one should at our age. Nightly I plucked out my feathers. During school I dazed through hours of absence. Home was where I was the Crane-Wife.
I danced gracefully through impossible scenarios, smiling and pandering to who needed my energy most at that moment. When things didn't go as planned, when the day was set to be doomed from the beginning, I was over-exposed and sullen with the notion that I'd failed miserably. The nighttime again would be filled with ruthless plucking until I could pass for a perfectly invisible but ever present heroine.
This became a part of my soul. I needed nothing and I was loved for being the easy child. I gave and asked nothing in return. Being unnoticed, cup empty in hand translated to love. I was given many names over the course of my life: Sidekick, little ears, mature. All of which are there to be present in aid and not heard or seen.
As an adult I began to notice the beautiful women around me who made choices. They were loved for their decisiveness, their needs and wants. They were loved for their preferences and opinions. They had a signature way about them that drew others into their orbit. It was intoxicating to witness this pull, even more so to try and emulate. I wanted to be loved that way now but I came up empty when it came time to ask myself what I wanted. What I preferred.
I'd become the Crane-Wife and now my feathers weren't growing back. In every photo I was perfectly unnoticeable. In every relationship I was entirely complacent. I had no wants or needs but no one to dance for. I became decisive about my opinions but they came out harsh and unforgiving. My grace had left me for something twisted and profound.
Like a child learning to read, the first sentences of my journey to fly again were jagged and mispronounced. Often I couldn't hold my own weight to begin with. I couldn't follow along as others took off. Soon, I made peace with being the Crane-Wife.
I'd completed my task and failed at home and this was not home. I'd accepted my fate that a featherless shivering bird could not be nourished into growing feathers again. I stopped eating, stopped trying to fit in, stopped reaching out for love, and withdrew entirely. Love to me felt like emptiness. The hunger itself was a manifestation of that feeling. It was tangible and a measure for how well I was doing in the absence of that validation at home. It was a soothing, cleansing process. To be loved is to be gone entirely.
I still do to this day. I stand by the shore looking for someone to be the Crane-Wife for. When people shout out to me to visit, I retreat knowing I can't possibly put on the show I once did. Knowing in my soul that I can't possibly fail again. I have love now, but not the love I was raised to adore. And at night I preen if only for myself. I am my own Crane-Wife now, one of a kind.
All my love,
Bird
2024.05.06 16:11 hnwcs Meet the Heroes, Day 10: Bloodseeker
One hero you definitely don't want to cut yourself shaving around. Today's hero is Strygwyr, the Bloodseeker!
Dota 2 Wiki page.
Attribute: Agility
Canon Alignment: Dire
Official lore:
Bloodseeker is voiced by Jon St. John, who I previously covered in my Axe write-up.
Other appearances:
submitted by hnwcs to valve [link] [comments]
Bloodseeker forces difficult decisions on his enemies. Able to drive his foes to a retreat by bathing a large area with a damaging ritual, his gruesome ultimate asks his opponents to hold still, or die.Official website page.
Dota 2 Wiki page.
Attribute: Agility
Canon Alignment: Dire
Official lore:
Strygwyr the Bloodseeker is a ritually sanctioned hunter, Hound of the Flayed Twins, sent down from the mist-shrouded peaks of Xhacatocatl in search of blood. The Flayed Ones require oceanic amounts of blood to keep them sated and placated, and would soon drain their mountain empire of its populace if the priests of the high plateaus did not appease them. Strygwyr therefore goes out in search of carnage. The vital energy of any blood he lets, flows immediately to the Twins through the sacred markings on his weapons and armor. Over the years, he has come to embody the energy of a vicious hound; in battle he is savage as a jackal. Beneath the Mask of the Bloodseeker, in the rush of bloody quenching, it is said that you can sometime see the features of the Flayers taking direct possession of their Hound.Artifact lore:
My homeland is a place of beauty and grace... of crystal streams and bountiful harvest... it is undeniably a gift from the gods. But when such a gift is bestowed upon you, it is right to give thanks... and there is only one way to show gratitude to the Flayed Twins. With blood.Voice actors:
Bloodseeker is voiced by Jon St. John, who I previously covered in my Axe write-up.
Other appearances:
- Bloodseeker appears as a Black hero (Path of the Cunning) in Artifact Classic and Artifact Foundry. His Classic signature card is Blood Rage, while his Foundry signature card is Exsanguinate.
- He appears as a Tier One hero in Dota Underlords, with the Blood-Bound and Deadeye alliances.
- Survived an attack by Axe in the original Gamescom trailer.
- His Dota 1 model was a Shaman.) However, in Dota 2 he has more of an Aztec-inspired design, making him arguably one of the most removed heroes from his Dota 1 appearance, and one of my personal favorites.
- Bloodseeker is a servant of the Flayed Twins, a pair of gods that require regular blood sacrifices. This role gives him an odd friendship with any similarly violent heroes, such as Pudge and Necrophos, along with a hatred of any heroes that serve a different religion, such as Omniknight or Chen. Mars in particular seems to want the Flayed Twins dead, despite (or maybe because of) being a violent god himself.
2024.05.06 07:02 commercial_ape I asked chat gpt to write me a crossover episode where Frasier Crane comes to central perk
Title: "Cheers at Central Perk"
[Scene: Central Perk. The usual gang - Ross, Rachel, Chandler, Monica, Joey, and Phoebe - are hanging out, chatting and sipping coffee.]
Monica: (excitedly) Guys, have you heard? There's a new coffee connoisseur in town!
Chandler: Oh, great, as if we needed more competition for the best coffee spot in New York.
[The door swings open dramatically, and in walks Frasier Crane, looking impeccably dressed and carrying an air of sophistication.]
Frasier: (in his signature voice) Good day, citizens of Central Perk. I've been on a quest for a decent cup of coffee, and I've been told this establishment may provide respite from the dreadful swill I've encountered thus far.
Rachel: (starstruck) Oh my God, you're Frasier Crane!
Frasier: (smirking) Guilty as charged. And you are?
Rachel: (gushing) I'm Rachel, and these are my friends - Ross, Chandler, Monica, Joey, and Phoebe.
Frasier: (nodding) Charmed, I'm sure. Now, if you'll excuse me, I shall partake in your finest brew.
[As Frasier makes his way to the counter, the gang exchanges excited whispers.]
Monica: (whispering) This is huge! We have to impress him with our coffee.
Chandler: (jokingly) Yeah, no pressure or anything. Just don't mess up, Rachel.
[Rachel nervously starts preparing Frasier's coffee while the others observe anxiously.]
Frasier: (taking a sip) Ah, finally, a semblance of civilization in this chaotic city. Well done, my dear.
[Rachel blushes with pride as the gang cheers quietly.]
Joey: (whispering) We should invite him to hang out with us.
Ross: (nodding) Yeah, he seems cool. Plus, he's famous!
Phoebe: (excitedly) Ooh, maybe he can analyze our lives like he does on his show!
[The gang approaches Frasier, who is enjoying his coffee in peace.]
Monica: Hi, Frasier! We were wondering if you'd like to join us.
Frasier: (smiling) Why, I'd be delighted. It's not often I find myself in such stimulating company.
[The gang and Frasier spend the afternoon exchanging witty banter, sharing stories, and enjoying each other's company.]
Chandler: (raising his coffee cup) To unexpected friendships and excellent coffee!
All: Cheers!
[As the sun sets on Central Perk, Frasier bids farewell to his newfound friends, promising to return for another stimulating conversation.]
Frasier: Until we meet again, my friends. And remember, the world is your stage - make each moment count!
[With that, Frasier exits Central Perk, leaving the gang feeling inspired and grateful for the unexpected encounter.]
[End scene.]
submitted by commercial_ape to howyoudoin [link] [comments]
[Scene: Central Perk. The usual gang - Ross, Rachel, Chandler, Monica, Joey, and Phoebe - are hanging out, chatting and sipping coffee.]
Monica: (excitedly) Guys, have you heard? There's a new coffee connoisseur in town!
Chandler: Oh, great, as if we needed more competition for the best coffee spot in New York.
[The door swings open dramatically, and in walks Frasier Crane, looking impeccably dressed and carrying an air of sophistication.]
Frasier: (in his signature voice) Good day, citizens of Central Perk. I've been on a quest for a decent cup of coffee, and I've been told this establishment may provide respite from the dreadful swill I've encountered thus far.
Rachel: (starstruck) Oh my God, you're Frasier Crane!
Frasier: (smirking) Guilty as charged. And you are?
Rachel: (gushing) I'm Rachel, and these are my friends - Ross, Chandler, Monica, Joey, and Phoebe.
Frasier: (nodding) Charmed, I'm sure. Now, if you'll excuse me, I shall partake in your finest brew.
[As Frasier makes his way to the counter, the gang exchanges excited whispers.]
Monica: (whispering) This is huge! We have to impress him with our coffee.
Chandler: (jokingly) Yeah, no pressure or anything. Just don't mess up, Rachel.
[Rachel nervously starts preparing Frasier's coffee while the others observe anxiously.]
Frasier: (taking a sip) Ah, finally, a semblance of civilization in this chaotic city. Well done, my dear.
[Rachel blushes with pride as the gang cheers quietly.]
Joey: (whispering) We should invite him to hang out with us.
Ross: (nodding) Yeah, he seems cool. Plus, he's famous!
Phoebe: (excitedly) Ooh, maybe he can analyze our lives like he does on his show!
[The gang approaches Frasier, who is enjoying his coffee in peace.]
Monica: Hi, Frasier! We were wondering if you'd like to join us.
Frasier: (smiling) Why, I'd be delighted. It's not often I find myself in such stimulating company.
[The gang and Frasier spend the afternoon exchanging witty banter, sharing stories, and enjoying each other's company.]
Chandler: (raising his coffee cup) To unexpected friendships and excellent coffee!
All: Cheers!
[As the sun sets on Central Perk, Frasier bids farewell to his newfound friends, promising to return for another stimulating conversation.]
Frasier: Until we meet again, my friends. And remember, the world is your stage - make each moment count!
[With that, Frasier exits Central Perk, leaving the gang feeling inspired and grateful for the unexpected encounter.]
[End scene.]
2024.05.05 17:05 AppleCritter723 [Thank You] The Biggest Thank You (and Apology)
If I’ve made any mistakes, let me know! Here’s a mod list before the long, typo-infested, rambly bits!
u/lonelytwatwaffle (x3)
u/Jane_Q
u/JaimeKJ
u/kittycatcon
u/babyraspberry (x6)
u/bluedecemberart (x5)
u/comingtogetyoubabs (x5)
u/constructionlower549 (x7)
u/cswl (x6)
u/DoraDoodle (x4)
u/ez330 (x4)
u/isar-love
u/Jdoodle7 (x4)
u/jvanct88 (x2)
u/korewrites (x2)
u/libertyprogrammer
u/LeeElla
u/mikepenpal6 (x5)
u/mlks00 (x2)
u/monetmonkey
u/mydinosaurdidit (x8)
u/onelittlericeball (x4)
u/pinkpengin (x7)
u/TigerLady13 (x4)
u/travel4me22
u/umeshufan (x14!)
I’ll start this with a huge apology. It was never my intention to take so long on my break or to post a thank you for all the amazing mail you’ve been sending. A few months were super… not stellar, and I just kind of wanted to hide under a rock so I wouldn’t bother anyone until I could feel a bit more like myself, and with all of that, you guys have just been the sweetest. I got so many sweet messages checking in and felt so loved despite the fact that it’s taken me half a year to get back on here. Thanks for all your patience with me. You guys are the absolute greatest! <3
An additional thanks to u/pinkpengin for sending a card basically inviting me to come back to the cool kid’s table to play this week! :D
Allsssooo also, I wrote half of these in January if any of them are odd, and I’ve also not detailed the cards that have been sent to family members as I didn’t read them myself, just added them on my count here, and sorry if the formatting is a bit wonky. I'm copying this from a document, so I might edit if it's terrible.
To start, I received a fun Meet-Up card from some now irl friends on here! Thank you guys! I really wish I could have made it to this one:
u/lonelytwatwaffle (x3)
u/Jane_Q
u/JaimeKJ
u/kittycatcon
u/babyraspberry (x6), You sent such happy mail with your world postcard day envelope! I love the picture of a beach in Portugal. It makes me want to take a vacay ASAP! I also loved the fun little fact you put about the Peach Springs, AZ USPS! So cool! You also included cute star cut-outs, a little packet of stickers, and washi on what looks like a fun space cat playing card! I’m seriously giddy to get to the pic!
Thank you so much for the sweet hot cocoa and New Year’s card you sent! You also included a pretty saguaro cactus card and lovely pastry scrapbook paper, because you’re so thoughtful like that! I love how pretty every single envelope and card is that you send! I’m also excited to hear that you’re getting settled into the new(er) place a bit more! I hope you had a great time with the family visits!
Oh, my goodness, the wintery cards you sent my way were just stunning! I really liked hearing about your walk on the frozen lake and what an adorable “Cake of Friendship” recipe! The stamp stickers are always just the perfect colotheme, too! It always gives me heart eyes!
u/bluedecemberart (x5), Your Halloween card was adorable! You made it even cuter with the stickers. You mentioned “catching up on mail someday”........... Lol! You sent me about 50 cards to my…. ahem… completely non-existent ones. You’re a treasure, friend!
Thank you so much for my massive care packet of cards in an envelope that was just the cutest, with cats and Totoro stickers! It was beautiful! Every single bit in the envelope was so thoughtful!
You sent a “You’ve Got Mail” postcard, which reminds me… I should rewatch that movie someday so u/comingtogetyoubabs can stop laughing at the fact that I mix up all the Meg Ryan/Billy Crystal movies. I can’t be the only one… or maybe I am?!
You also sent the cutest envelope and added little address cardstock labels to add some zest to my envelopes along with so many cute stickers of cats, dogs, and squirrels! So sweet! I really loved the “Support Your Local Librarians” sticker! We are so lucky to live close to a very nice library with super active librarians who really care about the community, and it breaks my heart that they’re being given extra nonsense to add to their worries right now. :(
I especially love the card that has “You can do anything! Just not Everything” on the front. What a perfect reminder. You are so caring and thoughtful, and I’m so thankful for you!
u/comingtogetyoubabs (x5) How do you always find the perfect cards and things to say?! I love the whole envelope filled with citrus-themed cards, stickers, washi, all of it! Your puns were cracking me up! You even made the address label with little lemons! Super cute!
Then you also sent cards that were bee-related and stickers galore! I’m pretty sure that’s the first cat bee return label I saw in-person! They are adorable!
You sent a fun fall card with such pretty watercolor animals on it! The little hedgie sticker matches perfectly! It’s giving me heart eyes! Thank you, m’dear!
u/constructionlower549 (x7) Ugh, your holiday postcards are always so cute! I love the pic with you and the pupper (both smiling) on the front! It’s seriously so sweet and happy! I also loved the sweet card you sent with the New Year’s plans/updates. It’s seriously been entirely too long since I’ve sent an update! I definitely agree… Christmas is a bit overwhelming for me every year, tbh. I always look forward to the New Year knowing that we’ve made it through another hectic season of cooking/visits/everything! XD I always feel like I drop so many balls and last year was one of the biggest times I’ve done that. I didn’t even send holiday cards last year. :/
What a cool Starbucks postcard! I had no idea they even had postcards, but I love the gold and white on this one! The sparkly purple pen you used on it is just chef’s kiss perfection! Thank you!
I loved hearing about your bday trip! It sounds like such a fun adventure! I know you mentioned you did a lot of HUGE things, but I saw, “hung out by the pool,” and for some reason that part was the bit that I was like, “WHOA! WHAT?! IN FEB?! …living her best life by going somewhere beautiful!” XD
Then I got the most cards (I really, really love the hydrangea ones) with backstories from some of the postcards you sent! <3 I loved hearing about your dog-sitting adventure! Ugh, I need to send you a recipe for ice cream when you’re there next time! It’s blueberry pie-flavored, and it’s basically the only one I make in the summers, though I haven’t made it for a few summers now. I was laughing at the “behind-the-scenes” stories from your trips! It’s so funny catching up with people from school, especially when they’ve become parents! It almost feels like a secret club sometimes, knowing things about them but only discussing it in front of kids basically in code language! XD Oh! You asked at the end… I think the postcard lady would definitely be the highest contender for my demise! Lol! I’d totally take an entire litter of rabid cats over her! :D
u/cswl (x6), Thank you for the lovely Halloween card with the glittery witch skirt and the little cat on a walk! So cute! Our cat actually loves taking walks on his harness, but it’s been too cold to go out with him recently, and our old sweet old man of a dog thinks it’s a bit of a pain to go out on big walks now too. Can’t wait for spring! (I wrote this part of your thank-you in January! Spring has been nice indeed!)
The school supply postcard is so cute! I love LouPaper designs and the little rounded edges! The bright rainbow colors on it is just so happy! <3
Such a great “M” card made out of mustaches, too! Very cool design!
What a cool Veteran’s Day card you sent my way! I haven’t seen very many for the holiday, so it was super fun to get one! Thank you!
I also liked your secret “Walt Whitman” card. I have been wondering how work has been going for you. I have done some “extra” work tidying myself at old jobs when I’ve been feeling less than good about them myself.
It was also fun hearing about the 2 festivals in one weekend… was super happy you didn’t have to cook that weekend! That’s kind of a mini-vacation in itself!
u/DoraDoodle (x4), You sent such a pretty Halloween card as well as such adorable cats in costume stickers! They were so sweet! You even finished off the card with a tiny skull and crossbones stamp on the back. Your attention to detail makes everything so perfect! I always love seeing how you perfectly coordinate the papers to make such nice designs!
We all loved your gorgeous handmade Christmas card! It was displayed with the ones we received from family! I definitely missed out on the fun and didn’t send a single holiday card last year. :(
Oh, my goodness, I loved getting your beautiful watercolor card from your trip. That is actually one of our family’s bucket list places! Were you able to catch the Northern Lights while there? I hope you were treated with a lovely view!
u/ez330 (x4), I loved the colorful tulip card you sent and hearing about what had been happening with you. Thank you for checking in with me! You also included such sweet stickers, one of a corgi cupcake that I absolutely adore! Our dog is red with the cute Dorito ears like a corgi, so I’m a little partial to those types of breeds because of him! <3
Oh, my goodness, how was your trip to the National Postal Museum?! My grandma was a retired postmaster, and I think she would’ve loved traveling there! I hope you had the best time!
I loved getting your sweet flower heart postcard too! Thank you so much for caring and sending notes my way. You’re so thoughtful!
What a gorgeous handmade Valentine’s Day card! The light aqua blue with red were actually my wedding colors, so every time I see them together, it just makes me smile! Thank you for thinking of me! It made my day!
u/isar-love, I loved your dragonfly postcard! I love learning differences in language and I really think “dragonfly” is much prettier in yours! My son has a book about bugs from close-up views, and the dragonfly picture is on the cover! I always thought that photograph was especially pretty! He’s terrified of bugs now, unfortunately, but every time I see a dragonfly now, I think of when he first asked if they were actual dragons as a preschooler, and I thought it was just so cute!
u/Jdoodle7 (x4) Thank you so much for sending such sweet cards my way to check on me! My birthday card was just so pretty, and I really like how you did the washi on a diagonal. It really set off the envelope! You even have birthday return address labels, and I just absolutely adore them!
I have out another card you sent recently, the one mentioning Monty Python! Oh, my word! I am so excited to meet someone who gets my references now! :D Poor E, I had to introduce him to it years ago when he mentioned he’d never seen it (can you believe it?!), but now he grudgingly chuckles or rolls his eyes when I quote it in passing!
u/jvanct88, Thank you so much for the super pretty I’m thinking of you card with a holo cat silhouette! I loved getting the life updates! Just so you know, I can’t use the tea you sent because the little packets are so cute! Oh, they’re in with my tea, yes, but only for showing off the cute designs on display! :) Thank you! <3
u/korewrites (x2), thank you for the postcards you’ve been sending my way! I liked hearing about your travels to visit friends. The place you went in January sounds particularly exciting! I hope you had the best time catching up with them!
u/libertyprogrammer, thank you for the lovely card with the super fun stamps on them! What a good idea to send it before the price increased (again), too! The stickers match the pretty dusty rose color of the envelope and I love how you made the card inside with such cute Snoopy washi! It is so good hearing from you! Oh, I might have mentioned in the last post, but I have finished all of your book recs, and I was absolutely blown away by one series in particular! Kind of bouncing up and down over the fact that a certain author has new author pics!!! Did you see?! I know everyone online is saying not to get our hopes up, so OF COURSE MY HOPES ARE SKY HIGH that we get a new book ASAP! :D I can’t believe there are some people who have been waiting for decades when I’ve only been excited for a few months!
u/LeeElla, thank you for the sweet card with the cherry blossoms and cute washi and stickers! I loved getting to hear about your travels. I feel like my family and I will start doing a small bit more of that this year finally, and I love hearing where others have been!
Also, your writing is lovely!
u/lonelytwatwaffle, I loved hearing about your beach trip! What a nice getaway! My family took trips there when I was little. I think it was maybe the first time I saw the ocean! It sounded like such a nice, relaxing time! I hope you had a blast!
u/mikepenpal6 (x5) I loved your purple Halloween card with the pumpkin and owl! What pretty scrapbook paper in the background, too! You always find the most festive and adorable carding supplies!
What a gorgeous handmade Christmas card! I love how glitzy it is with the little rhinestones and all the cute stickers and washi you used! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas!
Ooh, I loved hearing about the concert you saw! That would’ve been so incredible! I’m super jealous and also really excited that you could go! I saw that one of my faves is going to be about 2 hours away from me very soon, so I went on the ticket site to buy them. E said that I definitely should, but I told him, “Meh, it’d be way past my bedtime.” lol I’m such an old lady now.
Your handmade Valentine’s Day card was absolutely stunning! I always love seeing the cute little gemstone stickers ppl use! I actually didn’t do a ton for this Valentine’s Day. I usually bake for our littles, make them a heart-shaped pizza for dinner, and cook something for E that he likes, but this year, our tiniest got covid (on my birthday! boo!), so we were all sick by Valentine’s Day, and we basically stayed at the house for the rest of the month to make sure we didn’t spread the joy to anyone else. Yuck! I really am glad you were able to do fun things and enjoy the weather with the family!
u/mlks00 (x2), Thank you so much for the sweet Christmas card you sent to the fam and me, especially with the handmade snowflake! How cool! I feel like I haven’t done those in too long. Have you seen the ones you can print online with Star Wars characters snuck into the designs?! They look so cute!
I always love getting your check-ins and updates! I really like this “hello” card stationery too! How classy! I hope you’re doing well, friend!
u/monetmonkey- Oh, what an adorable avocado holiday card! Thank you! Not only that, but you included such cute stickers with a sweet fox and snowy day scene! I loved all of it as well as how you decorated the inside of the card with the diagonal washi. Such a cool effect!
Of course I loved the fun stamps, especially the Maine Coon one! Our kitkat isn’t quite as massive as that, but he’s close, at over 7.5 kg/17ish lbs!
Loved the way you addressed the envelope vertically, too! It really made it stand out!
u/mydinosaurdidit (x8) You sent such happy mail to me last FALL (it’s been way too long since I’ve been here), and it was just so touching that you thought of me for it. It’s beautiful, thoughtful, and I was so taken aback at your generosity! Know that I have it set out for my next project now! I’ve been waiting to make something with it for the summer, and I’m so excited! I’ll send pics when I get it finished! I’ve had a pattern I’ve been wanting to make, but I’ve not had the right materials…until now, and the fact that it’s sentimental is just the cherry on top!
Oh, you gave me ideas for my bullet journal by sending me a sample-type page, and I really like how you have it set up! I’ve been book journaling a bit more lately and still use a bullet journal for my busier months, but I’ve been converting most of the dates to a wall calendar and still using a bullet-style on there for the tasks. It’s so helpful!
What a pretty holiday card you sent with tea and everything! I loved the adorable little paper stars to match the color of the font, and the message made me laugh!
I got the sweetest check-in card from you, typed and everything. It made me a bit teary-eyed. You even included journaling pages and stickers. You are so thoughtful, friend. A few months there were super not super, and I just kind of wanted to hide, and there you were telling me it was okay to just exist. You’re an absolute treasure. <3
Then you sent a kitty postcard with “You’re alive!” on it, and I burst out into laughter! It made me think of Schrödinger's cat, and it just made me ridiculously happy on top of it just being so freakin’ adorable! Thank you, friend!
Such a cool state card you sent! I like the ones with the different flowers/flags/birds on them to see how many I remember from my fourth grade class! :D We visited our state capitol building (where I lived growing up) during school, and the only part I remember was being so nervous that I’d be too loud walking around the halls with the echo-y marble floors… and then I suddenly stopped fretting over that when I realized how slippery the stone made the stairs and imagined falling down them making way more noise than walking funny ever would. XD I was a nervous child… glad I’m not anymore….ummm :D
Thank you for the sweet birthday wishes as well! You handmade a gorgeous pop-up card with a rainbow quilt, and it just blew me away!
The second (!) kitty postcard you made with all the rainbow writing/washi/stickers was just so happy! It made me smile!
u/onelittlericeball (x4), thank you so much for the gorgeous cards you send! I always love seeing your handwriting and the pretty washi/sticker combos you use!
I really liked getting updates on things that have been going on with you lately. It's so nice hearing from you, and I have your latest in my "reply ASAP" stack now!
u/pinkpengin (x7) The fam loved our cute black cat purpley Halloween card! The Halloween donut washi you have is top notch!
Your Jane Goodall Institute card is so cool! She’s one of my heroes (as are you, of course)! I actually bought this little amigurumi book where you could make little feminist icons, mostly because one of the characters is her! I digress… Okay, so as of that card, you had 22 kitters… have there been any more foster fails since then (bc I can absolutely say I’d be such an enabler about that! I nearly got another one myself last month)?
Oh, what a cute little fox riding a bike! I think these notecards are just adorable! You absolutely did not need to write a thank-you, but of course you’re just super sweet and thoughtful like that, and it made me smile! :)
Your sweet holiday card was displayed with the family cards we received this year, and it was so cute! Thank you! We all really enjoyed it. Maybe I’ll get my act together by winter and send some myself this year?! Here’s to hoping!
You also sent such a sweet Valentine with two additional mini cards inside! You are so thoughtful. The envelope was so pretty with how you decorated it! I think Valentine’s Day might be my favorite holiday… I don’t really do anything to celebrate other than baking, but I think that’s maybe why I like it! It’s low stakes! :D
You also sent an extra special holiday card VERY recently… but I’ll be commenting on that one elsewhere. ;)
u/TigerLady13 (x4), I really loved the Christmas card you sent! The stamps were so cute on the envelope, and the Santa in the woods feeding apples to the horses were so just so pretty! Thank you so much!
You have been sending such sweet cards my way! Thank you! My birthday cards were so super sweet. Both were decked out with the cutest washi and stickers galore! You are so very thoughtful! I really like the envelopes! They both had ribbon streamers on the insides of them! How festive!
u/travel4me22, thank you for the fun Blue Ridge Parkway postcard saying hello and checking in! That was so thoughtful! I hope your year has been great so far!
u/umeshufan (x14!) Your pop-up llama card (so cute!) along with an additional note was so cute to get! I really liked the signatures that you and a family member added to it! It was from 15 Nov, so I had the biggest smile reading about a recent event that happened there! <3
The Christmas card you sent made me laugh! I’ve seen shirts with that sentiment on motorcycle drivers, and to see it on the back of a reindeer was just the absolute best! XD You find the most hilarious cards! I definitely need to up my card game!
Thank you so much for the beautiful cards from all your travels over the past 6 months as well as sending notes to other family members! You have been to so many places already this year, and it’s always fun getting to live vicariously through your descriptions of each place!
The NZ sheep postcard is adorable with the little sheep, and I loved hearing about each stop along the way. The “Where’s Wally/Waldo?” one is extra cool! Thank you for sharing it with us! You’re always so thoughtful!
Oh! One of the cards you sent from NZ had another person added to the card, and I don’t know if I’m mentioned, but I think their handwriting is just beautiful! I especially like their A’s! That was so sweet hearing from them as well!
During one of your trips, you were in the same time zone as I was, and I was so excited to get FOUR cards from there! It was so fun getting cards that arrived so very quickly! I always love seeing The Snooty Bookshop cards! They’re hilarious!
You also sent 6 cards just last month, completely putting me to shame! I have them out for a reply just as soon as I pick up some different cards from the store. I think part of my extra long hiatus has made me not want to dig out the perfectly fine old cards I had but start fresh… capitalism at its finest, I suppose… :/
Thank you for sending so many cards to the family over the past half year as well. Your cards always brighten our day! You’ll be getting some replies from E soon, too. He’s not been on RAoC recently either, so I’m adding some of his on my post for him.
submitted by AppleCritter723 to RandomActsofCards [link] [comments]
u/lonelytwatwaffle (x3)
u/Jane_Q
u/JaimeKJ
u/kittycatcon
u/babyraspberry (x6)
u/bluedecemberart (x5)
u/comingtogetyoubabs (x5)
u/constructionlower549 (x7)
u/cswl (x6)
u/DoraDoodle (x4)
u/ez330 (x4)
u/isar-love
u/Jdoodle7 (x4)
u/jvanct88 (x2)
u/korewrites (x2)
u/libertyprogrammer
u/LeeElla
u/mikepenpal6 (x5)
u/mlks00 (x2)
u/monetmonkey
u/mydinosaurdidit (x8)
u/onelittlericeball (x4)
u/pinkpengin (x7)
u/TigerLady13 (x4)
u/travel4me22
u/umeshufan (x14!)
I’ll start this with a huge apology. It was never my intention to take so long on my break or to post a thank you for all the amazing mail you’ve been sending. A few months were super… not stellar, and I just kind of wanted to hide under a rock so I wouldn’t bother anyone until I could feel a bit more like myself, and with all of that, you guys have just been the sweetest. I got so many sweet messages checking in and felt so loved despite the fact that it’s taken me half a year to get back on here. Thanks for all your patience with me. You guys are the absolute greatest! <3
An additional thanks to u/pinkpengin for sending a card basically inviting me to come back to the cool kid’s table to play this week! :D
Allsssooo also, I wrote half of these in January if any of them are odd, and I’ve also not detailed the cards that have been sent to family members as I didn’t read them myself, just added them on my count here, and sorry if the formatting is a bit wonky. I'm copying this from a document, so I might edit if it's terrible.
To start, I received a fun Meet-Up card from some now irl friends on here! Thank you guys! I really wish I could have made it to this one:
u/lonelytwatwaffle (x3)
u/Jane_Q
u/JaimeKJ
u/kittycatcon
u/babyraspberry (x6), You sent such happy mail with your world postcard day envelope! I love the picture of a beach in Portugal. It makes me want to take a vacay ASAP! I also loved the fun little fact you put about the Peach Springs, AZ USPS! So cool! You also included cute star cut-outs, a little packet of stickers, and washi on what looks like a fun space cat playing card! I’m seriously giddy to get to the pic!
Thank you so much for the sweet hot cocoa and New Year’s card you sent! You also included a pretty saguaro cactus card and lovely pastry scrapbook paper, because you’re so thoughtful like that! I love how pretty every single envelope and card is that you send! I’m also excited to hear that you’re getting settled into the new(er) place a bit more! I hope you had a great time with the family visits!
Oh, my goodness, the wintery cards you sent my way were just stunning! I really liked hearing about your walk on the frozen lake and what an adorable “Cake of Friendship” recipe! The stamp stickers are always just the perfect colotheme, too! It always gives me heart eyes!
u/bluedecemberart (x5), Your Halloween card was adorable! You made it even cuter with the stickers. You mentioned “catching up on mail someday”........... Lol! You sent me about 50 cards to my…. ahem… completely non-existent ones. You’re a treasure, friend!
Thank you so much for my massive care packet of cards in an envelope that was just the cutest, with cats and Totoro stickers! It was beautiful! Every single bit in the envelope was so thoughtful!
You sent a “You’ve Got Mail” postcard, which reminds me… I should rewatch that movie someday so u/comingtogetyoubabs can stop laughing at the fact that I mix up all the Meg Ryan/Billy Crystal movies. I can’t be the only one… or maybe I am?!
You also sent the cutest envelope and added little address cardstock labels to add some zest to my envelopes along with so many cute stickers of cats, dogs, and squirrels! So sweet! I really loved the “Support Your Local Librarians” sticker! We are so lucky to live close to a very nice library with super active librarians who really care about the community, and it breaks my heart that they’re being given extra nonsense to add to their worries right now. :(
I especially love the card that has “You can do anything! Just not Everything” on the front. What a perfect reminder. You are so caring and thoughtful, and I’m so thankful for you!
u/comingtogetyoubabs (x5) How do you always find the perfect cards and things to say?! I love the whole envelope filled with citrus-themed cards, stickers, washi, all of it! Your puns were cracking me up! You even made the address label with little lemons! Super cute!
Then you also sent cards that were bee-related and stickers galore! I’m pretty sure that’s the first cat bee return label I saw in-person! They are adorable!
You sent a fun fall card with such pretty watercolor animals on it! The little hedgie sticker matches perfectly! It’s giving me heart eyes! Thank you, m’dear!
u/constructionlower549 (x7) Ugh, your holiday postcards are always so cute! I love the pic with you and the pupper (both smiling) on the front! It’s seriously so sweet and happy! I also loved the sweet card you sent with the New Year’s plans/updates. It’s seriously been entirely too long since I’ve sent an update! I definitely agree… Christmas is a bit overwhelming for me every year, tbh. I always look forward to the New Year knowing that we’ve made it through another hectic season of cooking/visits/everything! XD I always feel like I drop so many balls and last year was one of the biggest times I’ve done that. I didn’t even send holiday cards last year. :/
What a cool Starbucks postcard! I had no idea they even had postcards, but I love the gold and white on this one! The sparkly purple pen you used on it is just chef’s kiss perfection! Thank you!
I loved hearing about your bday trip! It sounds like such a fun adventure! I know you mentioned you did a lot of HUGE things, but I saw, “hung out by the pool,” and for some reason that part was the bit that I was like, “WHOA! WHAT?! IN FEB?! …living her best life by going somewhere beautiful!” XD
Then I got the most cards (I really, really love the hydrangea ones) with backstories from some of the postcards you sent! <3 I loved hearing about your dog-sitting adventure! Ugh, I need to send you a recipe for ice cream when you’re there next time! It’s blueberry pie-flavored, and it’s basically the only one I make in the summers, though I haven’t made it for a few summers now. I was laughing at the “behind-the-scenes” stories from your trips! It’s so funny catching up with people from school, especially when they’ve become parents! It almost feels like a secret club sometimes, knowing things about them but only discussing it in front of kids basically in code language! XD Oh! You asked at the end… I think the postcard lady would definitely be the highest contender for my demise! Lol! I’d totally take an entire litter of rabid cats over her! :D
u/cswl (x6), Thank you for the lovely Halloween card with the glittery witch skirt and the little cat on a walk! So cute! Our cat actually loves taking walks on his harness, but it’s been too cold to go out with him recently, and our old sweet old man of a dog thinks it’s a bit of a pain to go out on big walks now too. Can’t wait for spring! (I wrote this part of your thank-you in January! Spring has been nice indeed!)
The school supply postcard is so cute! I love LouPaper designs and the little rounded edges! The bright rainbow colors on it is just so happy! <3
Such a great “M” card made out of mustaches, too! Very cool design!
What a cool Veteran’s Day card you sent my way! I haven’t seen very many for the holiday, so it was super fun to get one! Thank you!
I also liked your secret “Walt Whitman” card. I have been wondering how work has been going for you. I have done some “extra” work tidying myself at old jobs when I’ve been feeling less than good about them myself.
It was also fun hearing about the 2 festivals in one weekend… was super happy you didn’t have to cook that weekend! That’s kind of a mini-vacation in itself!
u/DoraDoodle (x4), You sent such a pretty Halloween card as well as such adorable cats in costume stickers! They were so sweet! You even finished off the card with a tiny skull and crossbones stamp on the back. Your attention to detail makes everything so perfect! I always love seeing how you perfectly coordinate the papers to make such nice designs!
We all loved your gorgeous handmade Christmas card! It was displayed with the ones we received from family! I definitely missed out on the fun and didn’t send a single holiday card last year. :(
Oh, my goodness, I loved getting your beautiful watercolor card from your trip. That is actually one of our family’s bucket list places! Were you able to catch the Northern Lights while there? I hope you were treated with a lovely view!
u/ez330 (x4), I loved the colorful tulip card you sent and hearing about what had been happening with you. Thank you for checking in with me! You also included such sweet stickers, one of a corgi cupcake that I absolutely adore! Our dog is red with the cute Dorito ears like a corgi, so I’m a little partial to those types of breeds because of him! <3
Oh, my goodness, how was your trip to the National Postal Museum?! My grandma was a retired postmaster, and I think she would’ve loved traveling there! I hope you had the best time!
I loved getting your sweet flower heart postcard too! Thank you so much for caring and sending notes my way. You’re so thoughtful!
What a gorgeous handmade Valentine’s Day card! The light aqua blue with red were actually my wedding colors, so every time I see them together, it just makes me smile! Thank you for thinking of me! It made my day!
u/isar-love, I loved your dragonfly postcard! I love learning differences in language and I really think “dragonfly” is much prettier in yours! My son has a book about bugs from close-up views, and the dragonfly picture is on the cover! I always thought that photograph was especially pretty! He’s terrified of bugs now, unfortunately, but every time I see a dragonfly now, I think of when he first asked if they were actual dragons as a preschooler, and I thought it was just so cute!
u/Jdoodle7 (x4) Thank you so much for sending such sweet cards my way to check on me! My birthday card was just so pretty, and I really like how you did the washi on a diagonal. It really set off the envelope! You even have birthday return address labels, and I just absolutely adore them!
I have out another card you sent recently, the one mentioning Monty Python! Oh, my word! I am so excited to meet someone who gets my references now! :D Poor E, I had to introduce him to it years ago when he mentioned he’d never seen it (can you believe it?!), but now he grudgingly chuckles or rolls his eyes when I quote it in passing!
u/jvanct88, Thank you so much for the super pretty I’m thinking of you card with a holo cat silhouette! I loved getting the life updates! Just so you know, I can’t use the tea you sent because the little packets are so cute! Oh, they’re in with my tea, yes, but only for showing off the cute designs on display! :) Thank you! <3
u/korewrites (x2), thank you for the postcards you’ve been sending my way! I liked hearing about your travels to visit friends. The place you went in January sounds particularly exciting! I hope you had the best time catching up with them!
u/libertyprogrammer, thank you for the lovely card with the super fun stamps on them! What a good idea to send it before the price increased (again), too! The stickers match the pretty dusty rose color of the envelope and I love how you made the card inside with such cute Snoopy washi! It is so good hearing from you! Oh, I might have mentioned in the last post, but I have finished all of your book recs, and I was absolutely blown away by one series in particular! Kind of bouncing up and down over the fact that a certain author has new author pics!!! Did you see?! I know everyone online is saying not to get our hopes up, so OF COURSE MY HOPES ARE SKY HIGH that we get a new book ASAP! :D I can’t believe there are some people who have been waiting for decades when I’ve only been excited for a few months!
u/LeeElla, thank you for the sweet card with the cherry blossoms and cute washi and stickers! I loved getting to hear about your travels. I feel like my family and I will start doing a small bit more of that this year finally, and I love hearing where others have been!
Also, your writing is lovely!
u/lonelytwatwaffle, I loved hearing about your beach trip! What a nice getaway! My family took trips there when I was little. I think it was maybe the first time I saw the ocean! It sounded like such a nice, relaxing time! I hope you had a blast!
u/mikepenpal6 (x5) I loved your purple Halloween card with the pumpkin and owl! What pretty scrapbook paper in the background, too! You always find the most festive and adorable carding supplies!
What a gorgeous handmade Christmas card! I love how glitzy it is with the little rhinestones and all the cute stickers and washi you used! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas!
Ooh, I loved hearing about the concert you saw! That would’ve been so incredible! I’m super jealous and also really excited that you could go! I saw that one of my faves is going to be about 2 hours away from me very soon, so I went on the ticket site to buy them. E said that I definitely should, but I told him, “Meh, it’d be way past my bedtime.” lol I’m such an old lady now.
Your handmade Valentine’s Day card was absolutely stunning! I always love seeing the cute little gemstone stickers ppl use! I actually didn’t do a ton for this Valentine’s Day. I usually bake for our littles, make them a heart-shaped pizza for dinner, and cook something for E that he likes, but this year, our tiniest got covid (on my birthday! boo!), so we were all sick by Valentine’s Day, and we basically stayed at the house for the rest of the month to make sure we didn’t spread the joy to anyone else. Yuck! I really am glad you were able to do fun things and enjoy the weather with the family!
u/mlks00 (x2), Thank you so much for the sweet Christmas card you sent to the fam and me, especially with the handmade snowflake! How cool! I feel like I haven’t done those in too long. Have you seen the ones you can print online with Star Wars characters snuck into the designs?! They look so cute!
I always love getting your check-ins and updates! I really like this “hello” card stationery too! How classy! I hope you’re doing well, friend!
u/monetmonkey- Oh, what an adorable avocado holiday card! Thank you! Not only that, but you included such cute stickers with a sweet fox and snowy day scene! I loved all of it as well as how you decorated the inside of the card with the diagonal washi. Such a cool effect!
Of course I loved the fun stamps, especially the Maine Coon one! Our kitkat isn’t quite as massive as that, but he’s close, at over 7.5 kg/17ish lbs!
Loved the way you addressed the envelope vertically, too! It really made it stand out!
u/mydinosaurdidit (x8) You sent such happy mail to me last FALL (it’s been way too long since I’ve been here), and it was just so touching that you thought of me for it. It’s beautiful, thoughtful, and I was so taken aback at your generosity! Know that I have it set out for my next project now! I’ve been waiting to make something with it for the summer, and I’m so excited! I’ll send pics when I get it finished! I’ve had a pattern I’ve been wanting to make, but I’ve not had the right materials…until now, and the fact that it’s sentimental is just the cherry on top!
Oh, you gave me ideas for my bullet journal by sending me a sample-type page, and I really like how you have it set up! I’ve been book journaling a bit more lately and still use a bullet journal for my busier months, but I’ve been converting most of the dates to a wall calendar and still using a bullet-style on there for the tasks. It’s so helpful!
What a pretty holiday card you sent with tea and everything! I loved the adorable little paper stars to match the color of the font, and the message made me laugh!
I got the sweetest check-in card from you, typed and everything. It made me a bit teary-eyed. You even included journaling pages and stickers. You are so thoughtful, friend. A few months there were super not super, and I just kind of wanted to hide, and there you were telling me it was okay to just exist. You’re an absolute treasure. <3
Then you sent a kitty postcard with “You’re alive!” on it, and I burst out into laughter! It made me think of Schrödinger's cat, and it just made me ridiculously happy on top of it just being so freakin’ adorable! Thank you, friend!
Such a cool state card you sent! I like the ones with the different flowers/flags/birds on them to see how many I remember from my fourth grade class! :D We visited our state capitol building (where I lived growing up) during school, and the only part I remember was being so nervous that I’d be too loud walking around the halls with the echo-y marble floors… and then I suddenly stopped fretting over that when I realized how slippery the stone made the stairs and imagined falling down them making way more noise than walking funny ever would. XD I was a nervous child… glad I’m not anymore….ummm :D
Thank you for the sweet birthday wishes as well! You handmade a gorgeous pop-up card with a rainbow quilt, and it just blew me away!
The second (!) kitty postcard you made with all the rainbow writing/washi/stickers was just so happy! It made me smile!
u/onelittlericeball (x4), thank you so much for the gorgeous cards you send! I always love seeing your handwriting and the pretty washi/sticker combos you use!
I really liked getting updates on things that have been going on with you lately. It's so nice hearing from you, and I have your latest in my "reply ASAP" stack now!
u/pinkpengin (x7) The fam loved our cute black cat purpley Halloween card! The Halloween donut washi you have is top notch!
Your Jane Goodall Institute card is so cool! She’s one of my heroes (as are you, of course)! I actually bought this little amigurumi book where you could make little feminist icons, mostly because one of the characters is her! I digress… Okay, so as of that card, you had 22 kitters… have there been any more foster fails since then (bc I can absolutely say I’d be such an enabler about that! I nearly got another one myself last month)?
Oh, what a cute little fox riding a bike! I think these notecards are just adorable! You absolutely did not need to write a thank-you, but of course you’re just super sweet and thoughtful like that, and it made me smile! :)
Your sweet holiday card was displayed with the family cards we received this year, and it was so cute! Thank you! We all really enjoyed it. Maybe I’ll get my act together by winter and send some myself this year?! Here’s to hoping!
You also sent such a sweet Valentine with two additional mini cards inside! You are so thoughtful. The envelope was so pretty with how you decorated it! I think Valentine’s Day might be my favorite holiday… I don’t really do anything to celebrate other than baking, but I think that’s maybe why I like it! It’s low stakes! :D
You also sent an extra special holiday card VERY recently… but I’ll be commenting on that one elsewhere. ;)
u/TigerLady13 (x4), I really loved the Christmas card you sent! The stamps were so cute on the envelope, and the Santa in the woods feeding apples to the horses were so just so pretty! Thank you so much!
You have been sending such sweet cards my way! Thank you! My birthday cards were so super sweet. Both were decked out with the cutest washi and stickers galore! You are so very thoughtful! I really like the envelopes! They both had ribbon streamers on the insides of them! How festive!
u/travel4me22, thank you for the fun Blue Ridge Parkway postcard saying hello and checking in! That was so thoughtful! I hope your year has been great so far!
u/umeshufan (x14!) Your pop-up llama card (so cute!) along with an additional note was so cute to get! I really liked the signatures that you and a family member added to it! It was from 15 Nov, so I had the biggest smile reading about a recent event that happened there! <3
The Christmas card you sent made me laugh! I’ve seen shirts with that sentiment on motorcycle drivers, and to see it on the back of a reindeer was just the absolute best! XD You find the most hilarious cards! I definitely need to up my card game!
Thank you so much for the beautiful cards from all your travels over the past 6 months as well as sending notes to other family members! You have been to so many places already this year, and it’s always fun getting to live vicariously through your descriptions of each place!
The NZ sheep postcard is adorable with the little sheep, and I loved hearing about each stop along the way. The “Where’s Wally/Waldo?” one is extra cool! Thank you for sharing it with us! You’re always so thoughtful!
Oh! One of the cards you sent from NZ had another person added to the card, and I don’t know if I’m mentioned, but I think their handwriting is just beautiful! I especially like their A’s! That was so sweet hearing from them as well!
During one of your trips, you were in the same time zone as I was, and I was so excited to get FOUR cards from there! It was so fun getting cards that arrived so very quickly! I always love seeing The Snooty Bookshop cards! They’re hilarious!
You also sent 6 cards just last month, completely putting me to shame! I have them out for a reply just as soon as I pick up some different cards from the store. I think part of my extra long hiatus has made me not want to dig out the perfectly fine old cards I had but start fresh… capitalism at its finest, I suppose… :/
Thank you for sending so many cards to the family over the past half year as well. Your cards always brighten our day! You’ll be getting some replies from E soon, too. He’s not been on RAoC recently either, so I’m adding some of his on my post for him.