Just rewatched season two. Now that was good! Did it ever come out that Danielle and Danny were hooking up? What was that relationship other than tv gold?

I got the good ending and i was mostly satisfied, there were a few problems i had with it (or better to say things my brain couldn't unwrap) and one of them was the ending with danielle. It was very confusing to me. basically danielle asked Lou if she wanted to live with her and build a family together but Lou hit her with "I've never thought of living with you. I wanna be free not to be stuck in a relationship" (obviously not this forward but basically what she said) then ignored her for two weeks. And it surprised me how danielle wasn't disappointed at all? When Lou came back she didn't even have to try to be forgiven. Is it because how awfully her "exes" treated her to the point she became desperate for affection? Or am I just overthinking it? And I think it was out of character for Lou cause the story made it clear that she had strong feelings for her (or she didn't know what was causing those feeling and thought she's just horny but then realised the horniness was actually love? Is that how it works cause I don't even know) anyway is it just me who was weirded out about this whole thing?

Daytime Emmys 2024: How to Watch the 51st Annual Awards Ceremony Online. Calling all soap opera fans! The 51st Daytime Emmys are being held Friday, June 7 at 8 pm ET. We’re outlining everything you need to know about the ceremony below, including how to watch it live online.
**Award Here*\[51st Daytime Emmy Awards live Free*](https://shorturl.at/Yg3G6)
Award Live\* 51st Daytime Emmy Awards live Stream
The Daytime Emmy Awards will honor outstanding achievement in television programming and crafts, as it has been doing since 1974. The ceremony recognizes categories such as daytime dramas, talk shows, instructional programming, hosting, culinary and legal/courtroom dramas. The 51st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards are produced by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS), and Associated Television International (ATI), which produced Daytime Emmy Award ceremonies on The CW in 2009 and on CBS in 2010, 2011, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Actress Melody Thomas Scott and producer Edward J. Scott will receive Lifetime Achievement honors for their contributions to the world of Daytime television. Public television host and cookbook author Lidia Bastianich will receive Lifetime Achievement Honors at the 51st Annual Creative Arts & Lifetime Ceremony June 8.
When Are the 2024 Daytime Emmy Awards? Can I watch with cable?
The telecast takes place live on Friday, June 7 at 8 p.m. Eastern time and delayed Pacific time on the CBS Television Network. The Daytime Creative Arts & Lifestyle Emmy Awards will be presented on Saturday, June 8.
The Daytime Emmy Awards have recognized outstanding achievement in television programming and crafts since 1974, honoring work in a variety of categories, including daytime dramas, talk shows, instructional programming, hosting, culinary and legal/courtroom programs.
According to recent reports, multi-award-winning actress Melody Thomas Scott, Daytime Emmy®winning producer Edward J. Scott and public television host and cookbook author Lidia Bastianich will be the Lifetime Achievement Honorees at the 51st Annual Daytime Emmy® Awards.
Who will be presenting at the 2024 Daytime Emmy Awards?
The lineup includes Kristos Andrews (The Bay), Lidia Bastianich (25 Years with Lidia: A Culinary Jubilee), Lauralee Bell (The Young And the Restless), Eric Braeden (The Young And the Restless), Steve Burton (General Hospital), Derrick Campana (“Wizard of Paws”), Kelly Clarkson (The Kelly Clarkson Show), Stefan Dennis (Neighbours), Zooey Deschanel (What Am I Eating with Zooey Deschanel), Scott Evans (Access Hollywood), Jackée Harry (Days of Our Lives), Amelia Heinle (The Young And the Restless), Annie Jones (Neighbours), Star Jones (Divorce Court), Christel Khalil (The Young And the Restless), Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (The Bold and the Beautiful), Eric Martsolf (Days of Our Lives), Kiara Liz Ortega (The Bay), Danielle Pinnock (Ghosts), Melvin Robert (Extra), Lawrence Saint-Victor (The Bold and the Beautiful) Jonathan Scott (Backed by the Bros.), Laura Wright (General Hospital), and Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant (Wild Kingdom). The Talk hosts Amanda Kloots and Jerry O’Connell will also make a special appearance. f

Daytime Emmys 2024: How to Watch the 51st Annual Awards Ceremony Online. Calling all soap opera fans! The 51st Daytime Emmys are being held Friday, June 7 at 8 pm ET. We’re outlining everything you need to know about the ceremony below, including how to watch it live online.
**Award Here*\[51st Daytime Emmy Awards live Free*](https://shorturl.at/Yg3G6)
Award Live\* 51st Daytime Emmy Awards live Stream
The Daytime Emmy Awards will honor outstanding achievement in television programming and crafts, as it has been doing since 1974. The ceremony recognizes categories such as daytime dramas, talk shows, instructional programming, hosting, culinary and legal/courtroom dramas. The 51st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards are produced by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS), and Associated Television International (ATI), which produced Daytime Emmy Award ceremonies on The CW in 2009 and on CBS in 2010, 2011, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Actress Melody Thomas Scott and producer Edward J. Scott will receive Lifetime Achievement honors for their contributions to the world of Daytime television. Public television host and cookbook author Lidia Bastianich will receive Lifetime Achievement Honors at the 51st Annual Creative Arts & Lifetime Ceremony June 8.
When Are the 2024 Daytime Emmy Awards? Can I watch with cable?
The telecast takes place live on Friday, June 7 at 8 p.m. Eastern time and delayed Pacific time on the CBS Television Network. The Daytime Creative Arts & Lifestyle Emmy Awards will be presented on Saturday, June 8.
The Daytime Emmy Awards have recognized outstanding achievement in television programming and crafts since 1974, honoring work in a variety of categories, including daytime dramas, talk shows, instructional programming, hosting, culinary and legal/courtroom programs.
According to recent reports, multi-award-winning actress Melody Thomas Scott, Daytime Emmy®winning producer Edward J. Scott and public television host and cookbook author Lidia Bastianich will be the Lifetime Achievement Honorees at the 51st Annual Daytime Emmy® Awards.
Who will be presenting at the 2024 Daytime Emmy Awards?
The lineup includes Kristos Andrews (The Bay), Lidia Bastianich (25 Years with Lidia: A Culinary Jubilee), Lauralee Bell (The Young And the Restless), Eric Braeden (The Young And the Restless), Steve Burton (General Hospital), Derrick Campana (“Wizard of Paws”), Kelly Clarkson (The Kelly Clarkson Show), Stefan Dennis (Neighbours), Zooey Deschanel (What Am I Eating with Zooey Deschanel), Scott Evans (Access Hollywood), Jackée Harry (Days of Our Lives), Amelia Heinle (The Young And the Restless), Annie Jones (Neighbours), Star Jones (Divorce Court), Christel Khalil (The Young And the Restless), Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (The Bold and the Beautiful), Eric Martsolf (Days of Our Lives), Kiara Liz Ortega (The Bay), Danielle Pinnock (Ghosts), Melvin Robert (Extra), Lawrence Saint-Victor (The Bold and the Beautiful) Jonathan Scott (Backed by the Bros.), Laura Wright (General Hospital), and Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant (Wild Kingdom). The Talk hosts Amanda Kloots and Jerry O’Connell will also make a special appearance. f

Daytime Emmys 2024: How to Watch the 51st Annual Awards Ceremony Online. Calling all soap opera fans! The 51st Daytime Emmys are being held Friday, June 7 at 8 pm ET. We’re outlining everything you need to know about the ceremony below, including how to watch it live online.
**Award Here*\[51st Daytime Emmy Awards live Free*](https://shorturl.at/Yg3G6)
Award Live\* 51st Daytime Emmy Awards live Stream
The Daytime Emmy Awards will honor outstanding achievement in television programming and crafts, as it has been doing since 1974. The ceremony recognizes categories such as daytime dramas, talk shows, instructional programming, hosting, culinary and legal/courtroom dramas. The 51st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards are produced by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS), and Associated Television International (ATI), which produced Daytime Emmy Award ceremonies on The CW in 2009 and on CBS in 2010, 2011, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Actress Melody Thomas Scott and producer Edward J. Scott will receive Lifetime Achievement honors for their contributions to the world of Daytime television. Public television host and cookbook author Lidia Bastianich will receive Lifetime Achievement Honors at the 51st Annual Creative Arts & Lifetime Ceremony June 8.
When Are the 2024 Daytime Emmy Awards? Can I watch with cable?
The telecast takes place live on Friday, June 7 at 8 p.m. Eastern time and delayed Pacific time on the CBS Television Network. The Daytime Creative Arts & Lifestyle Emmy Awards will be presented on Saturday, June 8.
The Daytime Emmy Awards have recognized outstanding achievement in television programming and crafts since 1974, honoring work in a variety of categories, including daytime dramas, talk shows, instructional programming, hosting, culinary and legal/courtroom programs.
According to recent reports, multi-award-winning actress Melody Thomas Scott, Daytime Emmy®winning producer Edward J. Scott and public television host and cookbook author Lidia Bastianich will be the Lifetime Achievement Honorees at the 51st Annual Daytime Emmy® Awards.
Who will be presenting at the 2024 Daytime Emmy Awards?
The lineup includes Kristos Andrews (The Bay), Lidia Bastianich (25 Years with Lidia: A Culinary Jubilee), Lauralee Bell (The Young And the Restless), Eric Braeden (The Young And the Restless), Steve Burton (General Hospital), Derrick Campana (“Wizard of Paws”), Kelly Clarkson (The Kelly Clarkson Show), Stefan Dennis (Neighbours), Zooey Deschanel (What Am I Eating with Zooey Deschanel), Scott Evans (Access Hollywood), Jackée Harry (Days of Our Lives), Amelia Heinle (The Young And the Restless), Annie Jones (Neighbours), Star Jones (Divorce Court), Christel Khalil (The Young And the Restless), Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (The Bold and the Beautiful), Eric Martsolf (Days of Our Lives), Kiara Liz Ortega (The Bay), Danielle Pinnock (Ghosts), Melvin Robert (Extra), Lawrence Saint-Victor (The Bold and the Beautiful) Jonathan Scott (Backed by the Bros.), Laura Wright (General Hospital), and Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant (Wild Kingdom). The Talk hosts Amanda Kloots and Jerry O’Connell will also make a special appearance. f

Daytime Emmys 2024: How to Watch the 51st Annual Awards Ceremony Online. Calling all soap opera fans! The 51st Daytime Emmys are being held Friday, June 7 at 8 pm ET. We’re outlining everything you need to know about the ceremony below, including how to watch it live online.
**Award Here*\[51st Daytime Emmy Awards live Free*](https://shorturl.at/Yg3G6)
Award Live\* 51st Daytime Emmy Awards live Stream
The Daytime Emmy Awards will honor outstanding achievement in television programming and crafts, as it has been doing since 1974. The ceremony recognizes categories such as daytime dramas, talk shows, instructional programming, hosting, culinary and legal/courtroom dramas. The 51st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards are produced by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS), and Associated Television International (ATI), which produced Daytime Emmy Award ceremonies on The CW in 2009 and on CBS in 2010, 2011, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Actress Melody Thomas Scott and producer Edward J. Scott will receive Lifetime Achievement honors for their contributions to the world of Daytime television. Public television host and cookbook author Lidia Bastianich will receive Lifetime Achievement Honors at the 51st Annual Creative Arts & Lifetime Ceremony June 8.
When Are the 2024 Daytime Emmy Awards? Can I watch with cable?
The telecast takes place live on Friday, June 7 at 8 p.m. Eastern time and delayed Pacific time on the CBS Television Network. The Daytime Creative Arts & Lifestyle Emmy Awards will be presented on Saturday, June 8.
The Daytime Emmy Awards have recognized outstanding achievement in television programming and crafts since 1974, honoring work in a variety of categories, including daytime dramas, talk shows, instructional programming, hosting, culinary and legal/courtroom programs.
According to recent reports, multi-award-winning actress Melody Thomas Scott, Daytime Emmy®winning producer Edward J. Scott and public television host and cookbook author Lidia Bastianich will be the Lifetime Achievement Honorees at the 51st Annual Daytime Emmy® Awards.
Who will be presenting at the 2024 Daytime Emmy Awards?
The lineup includes Kristos Andrews (The Bay), Lidia Bastianich (25 Years with Lidia: A Culinary Jubilee), Lauralee Bell (The Young And the Restless), Eric Braeden (The Young And the Restless), Steve Burton (General Hospital), Derrick Campana (“Wizard of Paws”), Kelly Clarkson (The Kelly Clarkson Show), Stefan Dennis (Neighbours), Zooey Deschanel (What Am I Eating with Zooey Deschanel), Scott Evans (Access Hollywood), Jackée Harry (Days of Our Lives), Amelia Heinle (The Young And the Restless), Annie Jones (Neighbours), Star Jones (Divorce Court), Christel Khalil (The Young And the Restless), Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (The Bold and the Beautiful), Eric Martsolf (Days of Our Lives), Kiara Liz Ortega (The Bay), Danielle Pinnock (Ghosts), Melvin Robert (Extra), Lawrence Saint-Victor (The Bold and the Beautiful) Jonathan Scott (Backed by the Bros.), Laura Wright (General Hospital), and Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant (Wild Kingdom). The Talk hosts Amanda Kloots and Jerry O’Connell will also make a special appearance. f

Greetings fellow CFers
I'm a 31 year old Caucasian man located in Western Canada, seeking my Furiosa for a life on the childfree highway. Dating out here, as a progressive man who doesn't want children is so much fun /s
I have been snipped for approximately 7 years, and 100% do not want children. This includes fostering, adoption, surrogacy, etc.
Politically, I am a center leftist. Proud LGBTQIA Ally. Pro choice. I am pro science as well. The earth is not flat. Vaccines do not cause autism. I hate Danielle Smith and the UCP. I am not a MAGA or Trump supporter.
In my spare time, when I'm not obsessed about my furchild, a three year old Aussiedoodle named Coco, I read books, watch hockey (Go Oilers go!), keep up with American politics and current events. I like taking walks and being out in nature. I want to make an effort to hike and camp more.
I am a full time student currently pursuing a second degree. I am not a free loader or a leech. I am also financially stable. I also have a valid passport.
My love languages, if you believe in such a thing, are words of affirmation and physical touch. Once I'm comfortable with someone, I can be quite physically affectionate.
I consider myself an old soul, who believes that romance is not dead. I'll hold the door, bring flowers to your work, and spontaneously give you handwritten cards.
In terms of what I'm looking for:
I prefer something that works towards an relationship, be it long distance or local to Alberta, or Western Canada, but I am fine with friendship as well. I do not have many friends out here who get the CF mindset. Just to expand on this; For relationships, I prefer Western Canada or reasonably close. For friendship, communication, etc, you can be anywhere.
I am cis/het so I am romantically attracted to women.
Height and weight are largely irrelevant, but please be proportionate.
Ideally, you are sex positive and kink friendly. I'm, quite simply, not vanilla.
Please, if you are interested in me romantically or want a relationship, be emotionally available and ready to date.
I apologize if this is all over the place, and welcome messages from anyone, be they interested in friendship or something more.
Please don't let the flair discourage you. Anyone can message me. Messages and chat requests are both accepted.
Here's to not paying child support and sleeping in on the weekends,
M

So I was actually single & living with my mom. I had options but I knew I wanted true love and I would rather be alone than with someone who makes me unhappy or feel alone! (Thoughts at the time) so One night I had just got sick of it & I remember sitting on the side of my bed ( I unconsciously manifested my husband, but the point is reflection shows me I did indeed did manifest him). So I remember sitting on the side of my bed & thinking, OK God im ready just place me down into the middle of a man who has it all together I’ll, play wife I’m ready! That was it! Never thought about it again! As far as I know! So a few months goes by maybe 2-3 and my dad asked me to go to this blue grass festival with him for father day. I didn’t care to but I did it for him! So I went up there & as my dad’s showing me around he says. “ you never know who you might know here!” We ran into a guy I’ve known my whole life who has just lost his wife! We said hello I gave my condolences and that’s it! Through out the weekend we chit chatted here or there but he was volunteering at the festival so not a lot. I come home and I redownloaded Facebook as I had got rid of it and I had a few men messaging so I made plans with one and then the gentlemen’s we seen at festival reached out. He just needed a friend and that’s it. Now I had known him for years and always felt closer than we were. Now I know why. But of course I had no expectations. Another guy had actually asked me to go on a boat, but my mom was like Danielle didn’t you make plans to go with that guy? He just lost his wife you better go be a friend. So I said OK so we hung out nothing happened. I thought nothing. Now back in the day he liked me but he called me, dear and I just was not attracted to that. Long story short, the more we hung out we could not stay away from each other. We literally just had we were drawn and we didn’t expect it here. Had this whole house full of stuff you know just lost his wife three months prior… but when it’s meant to be it’s meant to be!!! We got engaged and within a year actually a year to our first “hanging out” we were married. It was so easy because I had no expectations, didn’t over think it and went with the flow! Next time I’ll tell you how we manifested our wedding ceremony without restrictions during middle of pandemic and a free honeymoon to Mexico all inclusive for 2!!

Heather McDonald had the hairstylist Karyn (not the one on RHoNJ last week, a different one Danielle also screwed over) on Juicy Scoop yesterday and she talked about what happened between her and Danielle- essentially Danielle using her for free services with the promise of “growing together” and being promoted on Danielle’s social media (the same stylist from the Bravocon debacle).
1.) Before I say anything else, what Danielle did is disgusting. It’s never ok to use someone. I believe this woman. She sounds like she has genuine intentions and trying to make a name for herself in a cutthroat business. That being said….
2.) I was dumbfounded at how much this woman gave away. You wanna do a free trial or a complimentary service? Fine. But free services 2 or 3 times a week throughout all of Danielle’s 1st season and half of 2nd season? Girl, know your worth!!
She said she moved brides and other clients around to accommodate Danielle’s filming schedule- for free! She said she almost got divorced over it because her husband was so mad at her for losing money… honestly I don’t blame him because I was getting annoyed just listening to it. Danielle was blatantly using her, but she allowed it- never ok for anyone to do this but esp not a brand new housewife with no following.

1. I believe in karma and Danielle has made a horrible reputation for herself. This woman said she has already started working with Dolores- who pays AND promotes her work- imagine that! I hope she has learned a very valuable lesson and never does excessively free stuff like this again. If someone doesn’t value you, there’s someone else that will 💗

I just turned 14 and no longer require a babysitter to stay home with me and my little brother and sister (5/7).
I have a step sister that never once babysat us.she is 20 and off for the summer. She isn't working and her dad is paying for her to go to Europe for two weeks.
My mom and dad are making me babysit now. Which I do not have a problem with. I even took the babysitting course. But they won't pay me. They said it's my job as a big sister. My step dad even said it's how I earn my keep.
I asked why Danielle never had to babysit us? And how the littles are going to earn their keep since I know they won't be having more kids. I actually know why Danielle didn't have to babysit. They tried and she called her mom to come get her. It was a huge fight.
So I have just made sure the littles are safe and not much more. I don't help them with homework or keep them away from screens. Last weekend I let them watch infinity war with me.
I got in trouble for not being responsible and doing a bad job. I said people with jobs got paid. They said I had to do it properly or I would be in trouble. I said that they could always just pay our old babysitter and leave me out of it.
They decided to pay me but they aren't happy. My dad set up an account for me and I put my money in there.
My mom said I'm causing problems where there don't need to be any. She says her husband supports us. I said I would do it for free if she gave me all the child support my dad pays. That didn't go over well.
I don't think I'm wrong but maybe I just don't understand their view.

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Can anyone please clarify for me why Danielle keeps harping on about being “thrown under the bus” and being “set up”.
Set up… to do what? Melissa isn’t angry at Danielle; in fact nobody is? So what is it exactly Danielle believes she was set up to do?
I’ve watched RHONJ for years and many other reality shows and I’ve never seen such a hyper focus on whether the person repeating the rumour was aware who knew INSTEAD OF the actual couple themselves. Melissa and Joe seem unbothered and Teresa and Jen aren’t taking about it, no one is. So what is Danielle so bothered about? Can someone maybe show me another perspective because the math ain’t mathing for me.
Side note; All I can think is that the Gorgas did not want to talk about it and they managed to convince producers and the rest of the cast to focus on Danielle being betrayed instead.. all other couples on RHONJ have had to face cheating rumours (true or not) head on for years on the show so why do the Gorgas get a free pass?
EDIT: I’ve just written this to another comment but want to put it here as I feel like it summarises the HYPOCRISY of the show and why it is turning fans away.
Danielle made the choice herself to tell Melissa and as I have said considering she didn’t know Melissa knew then it makes her look worse… she was more than prepared to have Melissa find this out on the show. I’m sorry Danielle is her own person and has her own mind and blaming Jen for her choice is ridiculous. Everyone is responsible for their actions and I don’t think it’s right to let what Danielle did slide because it was “all Jen”.
And when Teresa was used to repeat the rumour of Jackie (cause she clearly heard from the other cast) it was all on Teresa and she’s still getting heat for it. You can’t chastise one housewife for something and then give a free pass to the next. Jen absolutely had a part to play but let’s not act like Danielle is this naive little victim, the woman clearly has a mind of her own and was happy to run her mouth at the boujee brunch. Everyone is just happy for the heat to fall back on Teresa and Jen because they don’t like them and it’s boring.
Let’s hold each housewife accountable for their own actions instead of blaming others, that’s what has got the show into this mess.

So, I got curious while listening to a kpop group with a bi-racial (Wasian) member and decided to look into the different Blasian, Wasian, and Hispanic-Asian kpop idols who have been in the industry. I also stumbled across some interesting bonus info included at the end of this post. Therefore, I made this list of all the idols/pop singers who promoted in korea that I could find searching online who fit these criteria.
I was wondering if I missed anyone? Specifically, I wonder if I missed any kpop singers from the 70s, 80s, 90s, and early 2000s who are Blasian, Wasian, or Hispanic-Asian? (If I missed any from more recently as well, feel free to comment). Additionally, from the list I compiled it seems like the overwhelming majority of Wasian kpop idols (who constitute the majority of Bi-racial kpop idols) are girls. Any ideas as to why that is?
Asian-Hispanic or Latin:

1. Kim Samuel - was a soloist under Brave ent, ranked highly on Produce101 S2, pre-debut member of Seventeen
2. Chanty - in the MLD group Lapillus
3. Tia - (Puerto Rican specifically), was in the Paramount music/Universal Music girl group Chocolat
4. (technically) Carlos Galvan - more khip-hop than Kpop
5. Leia/Larissa - was a member of the girl group Black Swan

Chamorro-Guamanian (indigenous pacific islander)-asian:

1. Perry Borja - more khip-hop than kpop, but he was also an influential producer at YG ent throughout the early 2000s; HE IS CURRENTLY MISSING???? (apparently he hasn't been seen for more than 10 years)

Blasian:

1. (technically) Insooni - really more of a Diva pop singer, but was in a fun kpop project group called "Golden Girls" and in the 70s proto-kpop girl group Hee Sisters
2. (technically) Yoon Mirae - more khip-hop than kpop
3. Lee Michelle - soloist, competed on Kpopstar tv show, was supposed to be in a YG girl group called SuPearls but debut fell through
4. Lee Manbok - (also has german and native american ancestry), was in the 90s kpop group INK
5. Kpop adjacent model Jenny Park - model but hosts youtube interview show talking with different kpop idols
6. Kpop adjacent model Han Hyun-Min - model but was an MC with Daehwi for a kpop music show
7. (technically) Sonya - (quarter black) soloist and musical actress, but not really traditional "K-pop"

Notable Blasian survival show contestants who haven't debuted:
Bae Yujin - competed on Mnet's Cap-Teen, eliminated in round 1, also a model and has competed on other singing shows (oh my part, you), active on insta. She also did an interview with Asian Boss on youtube!
Francisca - competed on Mnet's Cap-Teen, was a student at seoul school of performing arts, eliminated in round 2
*Japan has a lot more Blasian representation in its music industry than korea, including several the blasians with korean ancestry (e.g. Crystal Kay). It seems a bit more accepting of blasian singers in general tbh
Wasian:

1. Isak - she was in the SM ent duo Isak n Jiyeon
2. Vernon - in the Pledis/Hybe boy group Seventeen
3. Danielle - in the girl group AdoHybe New Jeans
4. Shannon Williams - was a soloist under MBK ent
5. Somi - soloist under The Black Label, was in the group I.O.I
6. Lily - in the JYP girl group NMIXX
7. Nancy - was in the MLD girl group Momoland
8. Kyla - was in the Pledis girl group Pristin
9. Huening Kai - is in the Hybe boy group TXT
10. Huening Bahiyyih - is in the Wakeone girl group Kep1er
11. Huening Lea - was in the girl group Viva
12. Juliane - was in the girl group Chocolat
13. Melanie - was in the girl group Chocolat
14. AleXa - soloist who competed on Produce48
15. Nina - is in the kpop girl group Irris
16. Sam Carter - in the now-inactive male kpop band Lunafly from the same label as Brown Eyed Girls
17. Yoon Soo-il - was an 80s and 90s kpop singer
18. Jay Chang - soloist and in the boy group OnePact, competed on Boys Planet, finishing 10th
19. Alex - was in the Woollim boy group Drippin but later left
20. Tony - was in a duo who debuted in 2000 as a collab between SM ent and Cia ent (along with a fully white guy named Eddie) called Golbaengi (only ever released 1 album then gave up being singers)
21. Alexander - (quarter portuguese from Macau) was in the boy group U-Kiss
22. Dok2 - (quarter spanish), more khip-hop than kpop though
23. Mackiah - is in the FNC ent kpop boy group Ampers&One,
24. (technically) Nina Hillman - in the JYP group Niziu who are mostly a Kpop adjacent Jpop group, but who have also released korean songs and won on korean music shows
25. (technically) Harvey - in the kpop adjacent japanese group XG
26. (technically) Maki - in the kpop adjacent Jpop group &Team under Hybe Japan
27. (technically) Kendall - (half vietnamese interestingly!) in the kpop adjacent JYP girl group VCHA
28. (technically) Megan - in the kpop adjacent Hybe girl group Katseye

Notable Wasian trainees from survival shows/social media who haven't debuted:
Guinn Myah - ranked 11th in Girl's Planet 999 and is from Top Media
Chanelle - was a popular trainee on Hybe/Be:Lift lab's RUNExt
Gina - was a trainee under JYP ent for 11 months, competed on A2K, now a soloist in the US
JJ (also known as Trainee A) - prominent Pledis/SM trainee who has yet to debut
Gabi - was on Universe Ticket and made it until the Finale where she was eliminated
______________________________________
Bonus Info not relevant to my questions:
black idols:
Alex - was in the girl group BP Rania (the predecessor of Black Swan), (bi-racial black and white)
Fatou - is in girl group Black Swan (which also has Sriya, one of only 2 indian kpop idols alongside X:IN's Aria)
Nvee - is in girl group Black Swan (bi-racial black and white)
Mickey Romeo - was a member in the popular 90s kpop co-ed group Roo'ra for ~1 year
Middle Eastern kpop idols:
Mike Amiri - more khip-hop than kpop, was in the group Drunken Tiger
white kpop idols:
Sophia - was in the short-lived girl group O My Jewel
Olivia - was in the girl group The Gloss although they didn't had a proper debut (no music shows or anything) and had only 1 digital single
Lana - soloist who released and promoted some songs; she's a bit nuanced in that Russia borders large parts of Asia (Mongolia, China, and some Japanese Islands) and so she definitely could be Eurasian/more genetically similar to those of asian descent depending on her family lineage
Nova - is in the girl group X:IN
Gabi - (brazilian of german descent) is in the girl group Black Swan
Eddie - from that Duo Golbaengi that only had 1 album and was a collab between SM ent and Cia ent
Brad Moore - was the drummer and percussionist for the group Busker Busker (!)
(technically) Chad Future - soloist (calls it A-K-pop) who literally collabed with Vixx's Ravi, Bestie's U.Ji, and Nu'est's Aaron
(technically) Romina - soloist, although not sure if she's released official songs, she's also stated she's more into traditional ballad and trot singing, so not really kpop
"International" kpop-style groups with non-asian members:
UHSN (project group from Mnet)
VCHA (JYP)
Katseye (Hybe)
EXP Edition (what a thesis project)
Kaachi (oof)
Bonjour (an oldie from 2006)
Esquire (ESQ) (duped by a shady company)
CoCo Avenue

Ignore the beans, don't use them - until you get the hang of it - each day after noon you'll get a batch of people you can like on the left most tab, go through them, and then wait for matches - adjust your preferences for the next day, but until you match, ignore the other tabs, and once you do match just use the chat tab and the daily batch tab, you don't get the beans back unless you pay $
With more dating sites and apps launching every year, it’s easy to get lost in the sheer volume of swiping choices out there. This Coffee Meets Bagel review will tell you how the dating app works — and hopefully help you decide if the app is right choice for you.
And if it’s not, our dating experts have a few alternatives you can check out that offer similar features and benefits for serious daters. Use the links below to navigate the article and find the information you’re looking for about Coffee Meets Bagel (aka CMB).
Founding Story: What is Coffee Meets Bagel?
Founded in 2012 by three sisters, Coffee Meets Bagel set itself apart from dating site and app options that primarily focused on hookups and casual dating. The three sisters brought their app idea to national attention by appearing on Shark Tank and garnering the attention of Mark Cuban.
While they ultimately turned down Cuban’s investment offer, CMB cofounders Soo Kang, Dawoon Kang, and Arum Kang leveraged the appearance into real excitement for their new dating platform, and the app has continued to grow ever since.
The major focus for the three Coffee Meets Bagel cofounders was the fact that historically, dating sites and apps have historically had trouble retaining women. As Dawoon Kang explained in an interview with Forbes, “The industry has been coined a ’sausage-fest’ because of the 65% men/35% women gender ratio (of users). Things even get more lopsided when you consider the activity level of men and women, where men are typically 2x more active than women on a dating app.”
So the three sisters set out to launch an app that would solve the problems they saw in the industry. They did this by focusing on women daters and finding a way to bridge the gap they see in the way that women date and the way that men date. While the three sisters turned down Mark Cuban’s $30 million offer, the San Francisco-based brand has continued to grow to become strong competition for mainstream dating platforms.
Overall Rating: 3.3 out of 5 Stars
Our dating experts have explored everything that Coffee Meets Bagel has to offer, and the overall rating for the dating app is 3.3 out of 5 stars. The CMB app has some specific advantages and benefits, but overall our experts conclude that other more popular apps offer substantially the same experience without some of the drawbacks. Coffee Meets Bagel is a good app, but not the best dating app you can use.
The CoffeeMeetsBagel app pioneered woman-led matching algorithms before even Bumble came onto the scene, setting it apart in the crowded online dating space. The Kang sisters built the app with the idea that women and men date differently: Women seek out quality matches, while men tend to browse for quantity.
Instead of a virtually unlimited number of matches for men and women on the platform, CoffeeMeetsBagel users each receive a limited number of curated matches each day. Women receive six “Bagels” or matches, while men receive up to 21 potential matches. The matches drop at noon every day. Men get to peruse their suggested matches and decide which they’re interested in, and then female users choose from a curated list of six matches.
It’s important to note that Coffee Meets Bagel isn’t an app for singles interested in a hookup or a casual encounter. A good 70% of users are on the app to find a serious relationship, with another 11% looking more specifically for a spouse. If you’re not looking for something more serious, a hookup app is a much better option.
The CMB app is available for free through the Google Play Store and App Store, but one of the major drawbacks our experts note is that, despite its big promises, Coffee Meets Bagel doesn’t have a very large user base. Although the app focuses on quality matches over volume, a small number of users still creates hurdles, especially for people living in small towns and rural areas.
Coffee Meets Bagel is better if you’re in a major city, especially cities that have a strong Asian community. Cities in California, especially San Francisco and Los Angeles, have strong CMB user bases. For East Coast singles, New York City is another major hotspot for the app. But the farther away from major cities you are, the lower your chances are of finding a local match on the app. If you’re in a smaller town, an app or dating site with a bigger member base is a better option.
One area in which Coffee Meets Bagel outshines much of its competition is in the creativity of its founders. The Kang sisters began hosting live, in-person events in 2018 called Coffee Meets Bagel Experiences, aimed at getting members to meet up in real life. The Covid-19 pandemic made things like adult summer camps and 5k marathons difficult to plan, but the sisters behind the popular dating app hope to bring back the events in the future.
All in all, the CMB app has some perks, including the fact that you can download the app for free and use the basic features without paying. But the small user base and a few other issues don’t make it the perfect platform for everyone — especially if you live far away from a major city.
While the app is free and most of the necessary features come with the basic membership, Coffee Meets Bagel offers perks to members who are willing to pay. Compare what you get from both the free and premium membership models to truly dig into whether the popular dating app is right for you.
Cost Breakdown: Free vs Premium Membership
As mentioned before, the CMB app is free to use. You can download the app and set up a CMB profile and chat with your matches without paying anything. Coffee Meets Bagel differs from paid dating sites and apps that require a premium membership to make contact beyond winks or likes.
It’s worth noting that your timeframe for communication is limited: You get eight days to make contact and see where it goes after you and your potential match swipe right, and then the contact option expires. Although the time limit may be pressing for busy professionals, it does give you ample opportunity to exchange phone numbers or email addresses to keep things going off the platform.
While you can get everything you want from Coffee Meets Bagel without paying, the premium membership comes with some distinct benefits. Each special feature in the paid option works to make it easier to find and connect with a quality match.
For example, by prioritizing your Coffee Meets Bagel profile to other members, the monthly profile boost gets you up to five times more views than you would receive organically. The Activity Report feature lets you play private detective and look into your potential match’s activity, including how recently they were last online. Special features that allow you to “rewind” previous matches and see who has already Liked your profile help you get to a match more quickly and step up your dating game.
In addition to the premium membership option, you can expand some of your options on the platform with in-app purchases of coffee beans. Beans allow female users to unlock extra bagels and allow everyone on the app to access rewinds, and reopen or extend the deadline on chatting with a potential match, among other benefits.
The cost for the premium subscription, at $34.99, can be a bit steep for users who only want one month of access. But if you go for the annual rate, the fee evens out to $15/month. That puts CMB at about even footing with other similar apps and dating sites, even if it does require a longer commitment.
You can earn coffee beans for free by inviting friends to the app, following Coffee Meets Bagel on social media, signing in every day of the week, and doing other basic tasks. Users also get a bonus of free beans just for signing up. But if you run out of free beans, you can purchase bags of beans at the bean store in the app: $2.99 for 200 beans and $24.99 for 3,000 beans.
The CoffeeMeetsBagel Profile & Other Special Features
Setting up your Coffee Meets Bagel profile differs from setting up on some other dating platforms because CMB uses your Facebook information to help jumpstart the matching process. You do have to link your Facebook account to Coffee Meets Bagel to sign up, but the app doesn’t post to your social media accounts so as to keep things private.
In fact, Coffee Meets Bagel uses the information from your social media both to authenticate your dating profile (which helps weed out fake profiles) and to start setting you up with people on the basis of mutual friend profiles. Your matches will come from friends of friends in the network of each male user and female user on the platform.
Once you’ve linked your Facebook profile, you can input other details like what you’re looking for (men or women), and provide some details that CMB can’t really get from your social media, including your answers to open-ended questions like “I am…” “I like…” and “I appreciate when my date…” The app guides you through the process, so it doesn’t take much time.
In addition to premium membership features, Coffee Meets Bagel gives free members a few features and tricks that the platform uses to focus on quality rather than quantity of potential matches. The first is the “Icebreakers” the app encourages each member to submit: These are subjects or interesting tidbits that potential matches can base their first contact on.
You aren’t limited to just your daily set of beans or bagels, either. The Discover section on the app allows you to browse people in your area you might be interested in and like the profiles you find there to potentially find a match that way. There is a limit on how many likes you get per day, but it’s a good alternative if you aren’t finding what you’re looking for in your day’s suggested matches.
You can also “give” a match to a friend if you don’t find the person a good fit for your desires, but you think your friend will. You will earn free coffee beans for the suggestion. If you “Take” a match in the Discover section, your profile will appear in the other person’s Discover matches for the following day, and you can establish a mutual match without having to spend coffee beans.
The CMB team frequently requests feedback , for example, on why a female user may have rejected a particular bagel or whether a feature is working as planned. A lot of the special features for Coffee Meets Bagel really do set it apart, despite some user reviews that report the overall app experience to be somewhat mixed.
User Feedback Includes a Mix of Success Stories & Complaints
As mentioned before, user success on Coffee Meets Bagel is not exactly guaranteed: a lot of singles living in smaller towns or more rural areas don’t seem to have as much luck compared to users in major cities. But there are definitely success stories to be found out there, some of them proudly displayed by Coffee Meets Bagel and other mentions showing up spontaneously on other social media platforms.
Based on app reviews in the Google Play Store, Coffee Meets Bagel has kind of spotty performance: there are tens of thousands of 5-star reviews that sing the app’s praises, even for users who haven’t found their happily ever after just yet.
User Esther Paulson wrote, “Low anxiety app. Straightforward and simple, I usually check it once a day. I used the free version. I appreciate that it isn’t set up for eternal swiping, which can turn into a black hole of woe lol. The layout is good and overall it is pretty intuitive. It is not super detailed and lets users add what is important to them which can be a con. I have enjoyed my experience over all though.”
“It was like we had known each other forever. We dated for 9 months, got engaged, and 10 months later we’re married! […] And are now expecting our first child!” –Tony & Megan, CMB couple
Danielle L wrote of her CMB experience, “Definitely my favorite dating app I’ve ever used (and I’ve tried many) and has plenty of free functionality. I have found the most people that I’m actually interested in meeting on this app, who are like me and looking for something longer term, and who I can have actual conversations with. The only complaint I have is the messaging doesn’t always send notifications until you open the app.”
As you can see in the positive reviews, even people who enjoy the app say it has some flaws. The negative reviews highlight this as well, with reviewers pointing out issues around the bugginess of the app, a lack of notifications, and technical issues that make the app slow, unresponsive, and unreliable.
One Google user wrote, “The app is constantly breaking. Messages don’t go through or they disappear and then reappear. (I have no idea if I’m being ghosted or if the app is just broken.) New bagels don’t show up at noon, even though you receive a push notification saying otherwise. The discover page doesn’t update each day. The photo lab doesn’t work. The dating service itself is fine, but it’s hard to use when nothing on the app works.”
If you’re willing to be patient with the app, users with an overall positive experience say that they’ve definitely met higher-quality matches, whether that’s for friends or long-term relationships. But it seems like a lot of users get frustrated with the technical issues and a low number of potential matches, so be wary of that possibility.
Bonus: 4 Similar Dating Sites for Single Professionals
These four dating sites provide a lot of the same environment as Coffee Meets Bagel, with the emphasis on finding a real person to have a real relationship with. These sites also tend to offer at least limited free messaging options, and have the benefit of large member bases, giving you more options when seeking a compatible partner.

1. Match

★★★★★
4.9/5.0
Match
Match.com Dating Website
Relationships: Friends, Dates, and Relationships
Match System: Browse by zip, age, appearance, more
Our Experts Say: “Match has facilitated the most dates and relationships of any dating site, and its large audience and high success rate make it our top review…”
Like Coffee Meets Bagel, Match provides a basic membership level that’s completely free, with no expiration date. The setup process is almost as simple and doesn’t require you to attach your social media to your dating profile. It does require you to fill out more details about yourself individually, which may take a little more time compared to CMB.
Once you’ve signed up, you have some limited free messaging options when you make a mutual match with another member. You’ll also be able to send messages to Top Picks. You’ll need a premium membership to have access to unlimited messaging and other benefits, but most Match users discover that they can find dates without paying for the premium access.

1. EliteSingles

★★★★★
4.7/5.0
EliteSingles
EliteSingles.com Dating Website
Relationships: Serious Relationships
Match System: Search, Receive Partner Suggestions
Our Experts Say: “EliteSingles is a leading dating site just for busy, single professionals. More than 80% of members have earned a college degree, and most are looking for a serious commitment…”
Elite Singles boasts an average member profile very similar to that of Coffee Meets Bagel, with over 80% of Elite Singles members boasting a Bachelor’s degree or above. The dating site also sends you daily, verified matches based on your preferences and the platform’s matching algorithm. Members can also encounter additional match options through Wildcard matches, “Have You Met,” and the search function.
Contact options are fairly limited with the free membership, but the site features strong privacy and security protocols and offers users a lot of benefits to go with premium membership. Here is a price breakdown and assessment of the premium features.

1. Zoosk

★★★★★
4.7/5.0
Zoosk
Zoosk Dating Website
Relationships: Fun Dates, Serious Relationships
Match System: Search and get match recommendations
Our Experts Say: “Zoosk is integrated with social media sites, like Facebook and Google+, so it’s very popular with singles on the go…”
Like CMB, Zoosk links up with your Facebook account to make profile setup and account verification simple. Also like CMB, Zoosk offers a lot of free communication features, as well as several options for expanding your abilities on the site, either through on-site currency or premium membership. You can use Zoosk coins to send virtual gifts or gain access to premium features without the commitment.
Zoosk has a larger user base than Coffee Meets Bagel, and its monthly rate for premium membership access is lower, starting at $29.95 for one month. Our Zoosk review has more details about the online dating site and app.

1. ChristianMingle

★★★★★
4.5/5.0
ChristianMingle
ChristianMingle Dating Website
Relationships: Dates and Serious Relationships
Match System: Search by gender, age, education, more
Our Experts Say: “ChristianMingle is among the largest dating sites in the industry that only caters to single Christian men and women, and the site has some of the best search filters and safety features…”
If you’re committed to dating within your faith, Christian Mingle provides the platform to meet with single people of the Christian faith from around the world as well as locally. According to a survey of American Christians, 29% of all marriages that started with an online dating platform began on Christian Mingle, so the success rate is very high indeed!
Communication options for free members are limited, but the premium membership rates are on par with those of Coffee Meets Bagel. The user base is larger and more targeted for Christian singles – and people who are interested in dating a Christian single – particularly those with serious dating intentions.
Coffee Meets Bagel is a Good App, But Not the Best
Although Coffee Meets Bagel talks a big game with its emphasis on quality dating versus high volume matching, there are some definite yellow and red flags that make the experience less than ideal for many singles. If you’re looking for a hookup app, CoffeeMeetsBagel is definitely not it. And if you live in a small town, you’re less likely to find a lot of high-quality matches.
Despite the platform having technical issues and some quirks, the online dating app provides a good experience for a lot of people and remains relatively popular in major cities, especially in California where the app’s cofounders live. But our dating experts agree: The CMB app is definitely not the very best dating app for singles, and with so many options out there, you may want to try other platforms with a larger user base.

8th: Cirie Fields 1.0 (Panama - 4th)

big brother legends (i know jared was not great on bb25 but still he's a fields)
u/SMC0629:
What else is there to say about Cirie 1.0 that hasn't already been said? This is THE definitive Cirie and she's incredible. One of the best narrators in the show, having just amazing confessionals everytime
The best part about Cirie though is her interactions with everyone on the cast. Whether she's just in the background, giggling her ass off, or in an actual argument by acting as the foil for Terry throughout the merge.
Cirie 1.0 gems:
-"wait I'm on the wrong team"
the fear of leaves
-her cf in the middle of a rainstorm
-her catching a fish
-her argument with Terry in the F4

• many more

Amazing character, but I'm more of a Shane and Courtney person
~
u/DryBonesKing:
Okay, the coast is clear everyone! We are at Endgame, we’re free to be as rude about Panama as much as we like. Regnis won’t be able to stop us! So without further ado, time to talk shit about Cirie Fields! Cirie is… is… only an 11/10 character. Ha! Take that Regnis!!!
… In all seriousness, it is weird to be around him regarding Cirie because he does make me feel like I don’t love Cirie enough, and frankly, I love Cirie 1.0 quite a lot. Hell, even without the deal where I penciled an idol with her name on it, I would have strongly considered idoling her if she missed Endgame. Survivor has never had such an amazing underdog before and watching her grow from a person afraid of the outdoors into being one of the most cutthroat players who was extremely close to winning the game… it honestly is just so fucking good.
There probably isn’t a single thing I can praise Cirie about that Regnis won’t already say. So in an attempt to practice brevity for the first time in my life, all I’m going to say is that I’m proud she made it this far. I think she’ll probably have the highest percentage overall after this Rankdown and it will be well-deserved.
Overall Rank – 12/821
~
u/Zanthosus:
Cirie might just be my favorite human being to have ever played the game of Survivor, and that personality that I just love so much translates so incredibly into the show. Watching her slowly grow from being scared of leaves to one of the best and most cunning masterminds the show has ever seen is such a gripping and engaging story that never gets old no matter how many times I rewatch Panama. She’s an all-time great and she’s one of my favorites of all time.
~
u/Tommyroxs45:
The lady who got off the couch! Her story is unparalleled and this first iteration perfectly sets up her character while also being able to tell a killer story of her own. Not even mentioning her dynamics with the rest of Casaya are literal TV gold. She runs the game top to bottom but it never feels slow because she has such a charm that we see in no other character that she can be a gamebot without actually being a gamebot and I love that.
~
u/ninjedi1:
So...yeah...if you're wondering why Cirie isn't higher, it's most likely because of me. First of all, I understand why people really like Cirie. She is pretty funny and does have her moments (the fact that everyone talks about the 3-2-1 vote and not Cirie catching a fish is a CRIME), but that's really it for me. She talks too much about how she's on the bottom of swap Casaya throughout her time there even though that doesn't seem to be the case by the Bob Dawg boot episode. I also fell like other players in the season that outshine her, so I don't have her this high up. I'm now gonna let Regnis explain how my takes are bad and wrong now.
~~~~~
u/Regnisyak1:
Cirie Fields 1.0 (Panama, 4/16)
*giggles*
What makes Cirie so magical? A beloved character by all, she is one of the most important people to ever play the show. Is it her excellent narration style? Her view of Casaya and their lunatic behaviors? What about the classic growth arc? Her strategic play? A great social game? Is it because she has some of the greatest relationships on the show? Well, what about the fact that she created the 3-2-1 vote? Or maybe it’s because she contributed to all the themes of the season? And I mean… H.B. has to factor, right? The GOAT right there…
Obviously, those are leading questions for this write-up because I truly believe that Cirie is undeniably the best character in the history of Survivor. She brings so much to the table, whether it is her charm, rootable nature, intelligence, social relationships, or that god damn giggle that makes the tectonic plates shift whenever it happens. Watching Cirie go from someone who was completely underestimated, due to her fear of leaves, to rising from the ashes and forcing votes for herself, and playing one of the best strategic games, all while laughing her ass off at the other lunatics she is forced to live with makes her one of the strongest characters the show I have ever seen. Cirie Fields is the moment, she is the star, she is everything.
There are a million directions I want to go with this write-up, but I think I just want to talk about her story. We all know the meme of Cirie in the community, where she got off the couch to play the game of Survivor. Beaten to death by the community at large, I do think that is a fair assessment, but there’s more underlying complexity to it. Cirie’s main focus in the game of Survivor is her family, top and down. We see this several times throughout her iterations on the show, whether it was her tragic final words in Micronesia where she really thought she lost it for her kids, to her son Jared coming out on the beach, and having the full circle moment about the kid that we knew she was playing for. Cirie knows that she is out there, and is ready to play a game that will make her children proud, while also understanding that she is playing for more than just stardom.
Cirie’s other prominent character trait throughout the series is her belief of maintaining a sense of loyalty with those she creates an alliance. Again, this is a common thread that we see throughout so many iterations of Cirie on Survivor. Cirie and the couples alliance, Cirie and Michaela, Cirie and the Micronesia peeps. Even on Big Brother, Cirie stated that she was loyal to Izzy and Felicia, and thus the alliance between them was born. Don’t cross Cirie, or she’ll come for you, and she knows that is true. We see her build alliances up with people in Micronesia that she trusts. She likes Aras, she knows Danielle because they are somehow the most down-to-earth members of the tribe, which Cirie exudes. Hell, even when it is Melinda, she still encourages Shane to quit because she was loyal to Melinda from the bat after she was kept from the first vote at Casaya. It’s clear she doesn’t love Shane from the start (JUST QUIT!) nor Courtney (Cirie’s reaction to Courtney’s fire dancing continues to be a favorite of mine). Her loyalty bridged a gap, and it is something that she prides herself in when discussing other characters.
That’s why I’ve always been personally drawn to Cirie more than anything. I love characters who are down-to-earth, and Cirie is a rock, solid at the bottom of the ocean when it comes to her ego and gravitas in the game. There’s something so authentic about the way she is playing the game, and her cutthroat moves feel more real like her actually trying to struggle and make a step in the game, one person at a time. Her dismay with the Casaya tribe and their lunatic behaviors also emulates that because somehow the person was terrified to step foot on the beach. Her loyalty, devout to Aras especially, plays a role too where she is playing a more old-school game and creating relationships with those around her. It is her game awareness as well, where she knows that she is on the bottom, so she has to do anything to stay in the game, whether it is to stroke the egos of Casaya, know when to shut up or be forced to look at the crotch of a certain cigarette smoker. She’s out there because of her family, she’s not trying to play up her game, and she knows what she came out there for.
Cirie has a certain sense of self-awareness where she knows that she is perceived as the weaker member of the tribe, but can create inroads easily to make people clamor around her. The most obvious example of that is Cirie and Tina, the first episode of Panama. Tina, actively being judgmental of Cirie and her like of outdoor experience (no shade on Tina either), Cirie knew that she had to flip the script because all eyes were on her. She made Tina seem like a bossy and controlling tribe member, and that the women on the tribe were able to fend for themselves because they can make fire and get fish - who needs survival when you have loyalty?
She also knows how to stay out of the way to protect the loyalty that she created with other players. Touchy Subjects showcases this feat with Cirie because she does the coconut chop where she protects those she likes least more than the other way around. Further, at this point, the established relationships with Cirie, where she is beloved by the rest of the cast, is indicated by her being the last person chopped and winning the challenge. Her social game is strong, but it’s her reward picks (Aras and Danielle) that are telling for other people in the game, and it becomes clear that Cirie is out there to play. Shane and Courtney know they are on the outs, but Cirie decides to protect those she is closest with rather than people she would not enjoy going on a reward. Her loyalty is a force in the game, and through her established reactions to Shane and Courtney, the decision makes complete sense but there is a simmering back at camp as she awaits to come back.
I also gravitate toward Cirie’s strategy because of her characterization as the “mom” of the tribe. It makes a lot of sense that Cirie is seen as the matriarchal figure in the tribe, and I think that relates heavily to the themes of Panama, and how age and gender play a role within the tribal dynamics of Casaya. At first, Cirie was seen as easy fodder for the tribe, but she knew to keep her head down, support others when they needed to be supported, and put herself into a role where she was the focal point of the tribe, and where people trusted her enough to feed her information and at least hear her out when discussing options with other players. The additional context of Cirie being an RN too, helps understand that her role with strategy was to play a more caring, nurturing role on the season while being willing to cutthroat at any cost.
Cirie as the mother figure relates to the main theme of Panama I have been preaching this rankdown too - she knows that she is the “older” woman on the tribe (I am old? I thought I was young!), and her placement as that figure means that she has to start playing a game where she has to reaffirm those principles of what is expected of the women who are older on Survivor. She has to work hard around camp, be the comforting character for the kooks on Casaya, and understand that she will be a threat to win at the game because who would ever vote out their island mom? Her gender and age immediately force her into a box of nurturing, and I think it is interesting and a testament to Cirie’s game awareness of how she immediately jumps into this after Melinda’s early ouster.
Cirie was prepared to come to the island, specifically for the social relationships that she had to build. Sure, she never has been camping in her entire life and probably accepted the fact that it would be difficult for her to win immunities, but she knew that she could do one thing, and that created the relationships needed to maintain her way in the game. Often, she gets the women who got off the couch to go on Survivor moniker, but I think her more important description is Oprah in a gangster suit. She comes out with a smile on her face and a knife behind her back. She is a welcoming, caring figure that people find themselves trusting, and then she squeezes the life out of them at the last minute. It’s great narratively because we begin to see Cirie have conflict about who to choose to go out and when, and further we see the heartbreak as mom votes them out of the game.
Further, we know that Cirie acting as a mom or a caring individual for the egotistical Casayans is really hard for her to do with a straight face. Undeniably, Cirie’s largest strength is her ability to create a compelling narrative through her narration of the tribe, involving people that she is forced to like. But Cirie knowingly takes a sideline with the tribe, just doing the work around camp and staying out of the way as the new alliance of Aras, Courtney, Shane, and Danielle implodes. I love her little confessional about witnessing the drama on the tribe (I love it, love it, love it! *giggles*), but it’s in other situations too where we see how the mom role can both be incredibly taxing for her and also a benefit as she creates lifelong friendships on the island.
Three relationships in particular highlight the mom strategy with Cirie - Terry, Shane, and Aras. Aras and his broad characterization in the show is “momma’s boy.” He quickly becomes entranced by Cirie’s calm ways, and they quickly form an alliance, where they take each other's rewards and such. I love Aras because he is such a child at this point, and the edit doesn’t shy away from showing that, I think Cirie brings out the best, most firm characterization in Aras. Basically, Cirie is his island mom, and we know that he respects his mom more than anything through the beef with Terry, so their relationship is telegraphed well and makes complete sense.
Shane is another one of Cirie’s patients that she has to take care of on the island because in a lot of senses he’s a grown man who has no idea what is going on on the island, and lacks a lot of common sense. Cirie having to stare at Shane’s diaper rash on his crotch is probably one of the funniest scenes ever in the history of Survivor but it also demonstrates her importance on the tribe and the role that she was able to integrate herself into. She garnered enough trust from those around her on the beach, and people liked her so much they were comfortable showing some skin around her and asking for some medical advice.
With Terry, we obviously have the scene where Terry insinuates that Cirie smacks her kids around after he tripped on her torch when she laid it down in the incorrect place. Cirie’s shock at Terry’s incendiary words is incredibly well-earned because we have characterized that Cirie loves her kids and would probably never do such a thing with them, in terms of punishment. But it’s how the rest of the people on the tribe come to her defense unabashedly because she has created that position for herself. Aras and Terry obviously beef for a while after, but Danielle is also disappointed and starts to yell back. It’s a really interesting dynamic there, and I think with Terry specifically, it also represents his pent-up anger at Cirie, especially with her turning down his constant attempts to strategize with her.
With the culmination of these stories, with Cirie’s preserving loyalty, ability to transition into a caring and trustworthy member of the team, despite the conflicts she has to navigate around and her ultimate goal of being a supportive mother for her children and play to make her family proud makes Cirie a nuanced character that I think people often misrepresent because of the ease of being able to establish her as a figure of growth, rather than one of competence.
However, I would be wrong to ignore the growth storyline completely with Cirie because it does have true elements of perfection. One key example of Cirie and her ability to become “one with nature” was her ability to find a fish for Shane on his birthday. I love that scene so much because it is easy to forget to watch Cirie as she so seamlessly becomes a fluid strategic player, that she is still dealing with the elements. Her catching a fish demonstrates that she has come a long way after flipping over leaves with bugs under them and running away, and I love the character development in the situation.
H.B.’s appearance on the show also demonstrates that Cirie was completely authentic with her fears on the beach and that she really did come off her couch from New Jersey. Panama’s family visit is easily my favorite (surprise, surprise!) but I don’t think that’s even a stretch to say. Besides getting to see Boston, the famous fight between Deitz and Baskauskas, and Trish motherfucking Deitz, we also get to see H.B. navigate the island and more importantly, take pride in how far his wife came along on the beach. H.B. clearly also has no idea what’s going on the beach and is shocked that Cirie made it that far anyway, I just love their interactions with each other and how they interact on the beach and contrast how Cirie looks, being the jungle woman, versus H.B. being fresh out of water.
Cirie’s growth arc is nice because it does not dominate her entire story. I would be much lower if it was about Cirie trying to survive the elements, but it really is not, and it’s more of her background story. The strength of Cirie is watching her survive the social game, and how she can push forth a 3-2-1 vote with ease, integrate herself into the tribe, and establish strong principles for how she plays as the game goes forth. She’s one of the most magical players in the history of the show, demonstrating how a strong social game can allow someone to get further into the game and I just adore her for that.
Her final moments, in her fire-making challenge loss to Danielle and her suggestion to not get off the couch, I think truly came from a place of hurt and disappointment in herself. Cirie, when discussing her family, always gets emotional, and watching her get wrecked over losing the money for her family is really effective. I think people often judge her final words of staying on the couch to be a detractor from her character, but I see it as a place of immediate frustration and catharsis that she is done with the crazy people on the island that she was forced to live with for days. Someone she was loyal to (Danielle) ultimately stabbed her in the back and I think that was a really fascinating angle for her and Cirie. And it’s not the fact that Cirie lost the game of Survivor at that point; it’s incredible just the fact that she was able to navigate herself to the end with ease, get the opportunity to prove herself in fire and become one of the show’s largest tragic figures.
Ultimately, I am not sure I have to say much more for Cirie at this point, except for the fact that she is my #1 of all time, and I am really happy that she was able to get to the endgame for her seventh time. It’s kind of weird how this is the last write-up I am writing for the rankdown (currently writing it at 6 AM on its due date YAY), but I am overjoyed I got to express my love for Cirie and some underrated parts of her character. Her growth is incredible, but it is her understanding of social relationships, recognition of her role as an “older woman on the tribe,” her underdetermined loyalty, and the fight for her family that creates such a complex character that is much more nuanced than one perceives.
SMC0629: 16
DryBonesKing: 11
Zanthosus: 2
Tommyroxs45: 7
Regnisyak1: 1
DavidW1208: 11
ninjedi1: 22
Average Placement: 10.000
Total Points: 70
Standard Deviation: 7.483 (4th Highest)

These are some of the new free-to-buy books on Amazon, all are linked to Amazon US. I dug through the pile and checked reviews, some of these are brand new releases.
• Chasms Between Us by Kussy Gonzalez debut, friends-to-lovers, second chance, spans 15 years, angst, hurt/comfort, on-page relationship w/others, strict roles, double queer-awakening, somnophilia, grief check CWs in the comment below. 30/05/2024, 371 pages.
• The Magpie Lord by KJ Charles historical fantasy, enemies to lovers, aristocrat/mage pairing, power difference, forbidden relationship 2013, 204 pages.
• Love Without Reservations by Gabbi Grey Interracial relationship, novella, Black MC (and on cover), American motorcycle rideCanadian entrepreneur 2023, 154 pages.
• A Con Affair: A Rom Con - A Gay Romcom at Comic Con by Joe Glass Aspiring comic book writeavid cosplayer, romcom, friends-to-FWB-to-lovers 2024, 327 pages.
• Autopilot by Candice Evans Erotica novella, SciFi, friends/rivals, lonely explorers 2024, 60 pages.
• Dominick (Grimm's Coven #1) by Kurai Akuma Fated mates, novella 28/05/2024, 127 pages.
• Finnegan and Leonidas (Grimm's Coven #2) by Kurai Akuma Fated mates, vampires 28/05/2024, 171 pages.
• The Groom's Best Man by Heidi Austin Friends-to-lovers, unrequited love, open relationships, bi-awakening, *cliffie** ending* 28/05/2024, 110 pages.
• Drive to Feel Alive (Formula Q #2) by CS Rachels Ace-awakening, racing action, video game conventions, waffle dates, first time exploring intimacy, friends-to-lovers, motorsports celebrity 2023, 210 pages.
• Drop Dead (Drop Dead series #1) by Danielle Bird Debut, vampire/vampire hunter, newly turned vampire, duology (new book is out on KU) 2023, 389 pages.
• Watch Me Drown by Autumn Winchester Very painful hurt/comfort, age-gap, Daddy kink, conversion therapy, past abuse 2023, 398 pages. Check CWs in the comment below. Looks like this is part of a series but can be read as a standalone.
• Dead Draw (Perfect Play #1) by Layla Reyne Special agent pairing, cowboys, single dad, widower, marriage of convenience 2022, 282 pages.
• Saving Alex (Unexpected 1&2) by Chris McHart Mpreg (non-shifter, non-omegaverse), kidnapping 2015, 226 pages. (This may only be valid for Amazon US)
• When Skies Have Fallen by Debbie McGowan Histrom, WWII 2015, 296 pages.
• Letters to Half Moon Street by Sarah Wallace Epistolary Regency romance, historical fantasy, low-angst, sickbed hurt/comfort, low stakes, magic, courting, AU 2022, 262 pages.
• God of Death (Deviant Lore #1) by ZS Storm Hades/Persephone retelling, dark, violent, dubcon, light horror elements 2021, 178 pages.
• Unwrapping the Truth by Victoria Denault Hockey players, brother's best friend, teammates, pierced nipples, bi-awakening, Nevada. 2023, 75 pages.
• Lure (A Hitman's Bait #1) by Gianni Holmes Grumpy hitman, exhibitionism, kitten play, sex worker (prostitution), bi-awakening 2022, 315 pages.
There are more freebies since last week's posts, you can browse by using this link using the desktop version Amazon Top 100 Free Gay Romance
On Sale - Smashwords
All of Wendy Palmer's books are 50% off on Smashwords until 30/06. Wendy Palmer - SW
Fiorenzo by Sebastian Nothwell 50% off - Smashwords Through 3rd of June* (sales start and end in Pacific timezone - PT)
ETA: Letters to Half Moon Street and God of Death.

Do we remember that time during a Calgary Stampede event last year when media and social media went bananas over the Premier posing for a picture with some guy wearing a green t-shirt?

Premier Danielle Smith is again in the hot seat after she posed for a photograph next to a man wearing a “Straight Pride” T-shirt. https://dailyhive.com/calgary/danielle-smith-photo-straight-pride-shirt

It was literally national news. Global News went with this headline: "What message does the Danielle Smith 'straight pride' photo send to Albertans" Global lined up all the usual suspects in their article, political opposition, university professors, various lefty advocates of every stripe, all of them ripping Smith for having her picture taken with some guy with words on a t-shirt. The Premier had to put out a statement saying she has her picture taken with lots of people and didn't know the guy, and didn't agree with his t-shirt. It was a huge deal.
Contrast that, with this. Here is a May 27th post from 'Fatima' a pro-Palestine activist leader in Edmonton: "Abolish Israel. Free Palestine." And here is a post of Irwin in what appears to be very friendly terms with that same particular protest leader on the right. "We don't care. rain or shine. We show up for Palestine." So... shouldn't someone be asking Janis a few questions as well? Something like, I don't know... Hey Janis, do you also want to 'Abolish Israel'? It seems like that would a valid question to ask and I can't for the life of me understand why not one reporter or anyone else seems to be curious enough to ask it.
From that same Palestinian protest leader we have a post of her leading a chant of: "We don’t want no Zionists here. There is only one solution. Intifada Revolution.” It's not clear if Janis was at this particular march and chanted these exact words but since she has attended many protests with this same leader, wouldn't it be prudent to ask Janis if she is part of the "we" that "don't want no Zionists here"?
Also, responding to a post on X where someone asks: "What about the rights of Jews and all Torontonians to live in our city w/out the constant threats, harassment, intimidation and violence of the anti-Israel mob?" 'Fatima' responds with: "I know he isn't talking about impunity" Which leads to another useful question for the elected representative from Edmonton-highlands-Norwood. Does Janis agree (along with 'Fatima') that Jews in Canada should be forced to let themselves be set up as targets because of some real or imagined connection to Israel? Inquiring minds would like to know, especially in light of the firebombing of a Vancouver synagogue and the shootings at two Jewish schools in Toronto and Montreal that happened lately.
So just to recap, Premier Smith got destroyed by the media for having her picture taken with someone she didn't know, who was wearing a t-shirt with the words: "Thank a straight person today for your existence”. But Janis Irwin gets no blowback for promoting and pledging solidarity with someone who openly says: "Actually, Zionists deserve to be bullied." Is this not hypocritical?
Now in some respects, it is hard to blame a person like 'Fatima' for having the the views that she has. She is clearly of Palestinian descent and is understandably angry at the devastation that is happening in Gaza at the hands of Israel, the long-standing enemy of her people. We should bear in mind though, that it is her type of mindset, along with the Israeli equivalent that has produced generations of war and suffering between the two peoples. For example, Palestinians like 'Fatima' are horrified at the death and suffering raining down on innocent Palestinian civilians and they demand action from anyone and everyone around the world to put an end to Israeli attacks on Gaza. When it comes to Israeli death and suffering though.. there is significantly less concern and (let's be honest) more jubilation from the Palestinian side at the death and suffering of Israeli civilians.
So even though Israelis and Palestinians are killing each other in somewhat similar ways, they view their own violent actions toward the enemy as 'justified' in their own minds. In the Palestinian mind, the attacks from Israel on Gazans are 'genocide' (bad) and the attacks by Hamas on Israel are 'resistance' (good). And while Israel is proportionally more restrained than Hamas - in their zeal to destroy Hamas, the Israeli disregard for Palestinian civilians caught in middle has also been demonstrated numerous times including an incident where Israeli forces executed 3 of their own unarmed hostages in Gaza ,the%20best%20of%20their%20understanding) after mistaking them for Palestinians. In other words you have two sides who don't really value the lives on the other side of the conflict which, (obviously) leads to endless, irresolvable violence than goes on forever. Canada would clearly rather not have the warring sensibilities that are prevalent in Israel and Gaza, become prevalent in Canada. Correct? We don't want Israelis and Palestinians killing each other in Gaza/Israel to become Israelis and Palestinians killing each other in Canada.
So when we have that kind of violent partisan mindset being imported into this country by the 'Fatimas' of the the pro-Palestinian movement, isn't it a problem that we also have our own elected representatives supporting and promoting those views? Is that not a fast-track to escalating violence between Jews and Palestinians in this country? If Palestinians are chanting to 'Zionists' that there is only 'one solution' (wink, wink) do we not know what they are really saying? I think we do. And the media and politicians turning a blind eye to thinly-veiled hate speech seems to be emboldening some in the movement to get closer to full blown violence with the targeting of Jewish businesses and the fires and shootings at synagogues and Jewish schools.
Now it is possible that Janis is really just a peace-loving beatnik who just wants everybody to get along, but the fact that she is aligning herself with factions that are clearly not peaceful should prompt concern and probably condemnation of her stance. But first, someone has to ask her to please clarify what she really believes. We know from her social media posts that she is against Israeli violence in Gaza but she was strangely silent on Oct 7th and the days after. Is she cool with Palestinian violence in Israel? Is she a fan of the so-called 'resistance'? Would she be overjoyed if Israel disappeared off the face of the earth? There is a lot at stake here including the safety of Canadians, so someone, anyone should probably get an answer before we start to see more imported violence here.

"A reunion is meant to have resolution and it's clear in the season final that there is no path forward in that type of setting," an insider familiar with the situation tells PEOPLE. "So the network is figuring out a different concept to wrap up the season."
Direct quote from PEOPLE. They aren’t doing a tradition reunion, but they WILL be doing something instead. My bets are on some kind of cast-wide intervention with Andy to finally put the cold wars to rest. Maybe they could ask Danielle Staub to swing by and saving the show once again?

AmericanAncestors.org is the website of the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS). In addition to their paid offerings, they offer many free webinars and downloads. You do not have to join as a member for these benefits, but you will need to establish an account (email and password, etc.) in order to take advantage of them. You can also request notifications of their upcoming webinars and other events.
Thursday June 6, 2024 – from 3:00 – 4:00 PM (Eastern time)
Free Paths to Freedom: Tracing Enslaved Ancestors to Emancipation online lecture, presented by Danielle Rose.
NOTE: After each webinar they make available a syllabus for $10 which you can download. They have all been at least 12 pages and contain a wealth of information and links. They also have quite a few free Author lectures and not-strictly-genealogy events that sound really interesting.
Here is a list of the free “Getting Started” downloads available on their home page:
· African American Genealogy
· Catholic Research
· Church Records
· City Directories
· Civil War Veteran Records
· Colonial New England Research
· Compiled Genealogies
· County Histories
· Handwriting
· Irish Records and Irish Research
· Massachusetts Research
· New England Planters to Nova Scotia
· Newspapers in Family History Research
· Organizing Your Research
· Passenger Arrival Lists
· Proving Mayflower Ancestry
· Quaker Records
· Revolutionary War Records
· Tools to Organize Your Family History
· U.S. Federal Census Records
· U.S. War of 1812 Records
· U.S. World War I Records
· U.S. World War II Records
· Vital Records
· Your Family Histories