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fortisfiliae · 4 years

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Promised Part 17 - Tom Riddle x reader

Summary: In this story, Tom didn’t grow up as an orphan, but with his grandfather and uncle. Reader’s sister got very sick and the Gaunts offer their help. But not without asking for something in return.

Disclaimer: Please be aware that I don’t condone any of this in real life. (GIF is not mine)

Warnings: None, finally

Word count: 1.2k

Part 17 - Epilogue

The year after the incident at the chapel in Ramsbury went by very uneventfully compared to your last year at Hogwarts and the weeks after, even though so much was changing. Boring was certainly not the right word to describe it. Everyone involved had wished for a bit of peace and was more than happy to live a quiet life for a bit.

Marvolo’s body had been buried appropriately. A small bribe had been enough to make the Mediwizard who had examined him confirm that he had died naturally, of old age. Marvolo had been right after all, they must have really been a bunch of quacks in St. Mungos.

Morfin wasn’t to be found anywhere. Gaunt Manor had been empty, apart from the two house-elves, when your family, Tom and you had gone there. He must have apparated to the manor after Nagini had attacked him, however. A great amount of Galleons and some potions were missing from his chamber when you searched through it. Hokey and Scrook wouldn’t tell anyone what they had seen - they were still loyal to their Masters. They didn’t want to be freed either, even begged not to be given proper clothes. So Tom gave them to Hepbzibah Smith, an old witch who was known to be an avid collector of magical antiquities and was looking for elves to serve her.

Since Morfin wasn’t there to inherit any of Marvolo’s riches, they were passed down to Tom directly. He owned Gaunt manor now, as well as the mountains of Galleons that were locked up in the Gaunt’s vaults at Gringotts. While Gaunt manor had been tempting to pack your bags and move into, both of you didn’t fancy the thought. The house was linked to countless haunting memories for Tom and despite its enormous size, it was way too cold and rigid for your liking and reminded you too much of the Gaunts themselves.

So Tom sold it to a wealthy family, muggles as far as you were aware, which must have made Marvolo turn over in his grave one last time.

Tom bought a house in your home town shortly after, smaller yet still as boastful as you had expected it to be. It even had a telephone installed, which you didn’t mention to him after you had given him a look when you had seen it, to which he had just shrugged and rolled his eyes.

You didn’t move in with him immediately, as your parents didn’t allow you to leave your home unmarried. They allowed you to visit him, though, and you did so as often as you could.

Life had gone on as it always did and you had gotten a job right after school. The Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers had reached out to you after they had seen your grades and gotten a letter from Professor Slughorn. They had asked if you wanted to be trained to become a Potions Master, which was an honour not many witches and wizards were granted with. It hadn’t taken long for you to accept, so you were in close contact with one of their tutors, a witch by the name of Guiliana Toffana.

Tom had taken on a desk job for the Ministry, which paid well even if it wasn’t the most exciting work to do. He had plans though, wanted to work himself to the top one day. And for all you knew, there was no one stopping him from doing so.

Camille had started working as an assistant at Ollivander’s Wand Shop in Diagon Alley. The year had been hard to bypass for her, as she wasn’t able to see Ben as often. They sent each other owls almost daily and the only thing you worried about was that none of you were in Hogwarts anymore to help Ben out with Herbology. Tom had suggested that your little sister Elsie could help him study, as she had started her first year and had been sorted into Gryffindor.

On 1st July 1946, one year and one day after your almost-wedding, Tom invited you over to his house. You would have lied if you had said you weren’t expecting it. And he met your expectations by getting down on one knee. He asked you to marry him again, 366 days after he had done so the first time. And your answer was different now.

Only a few weeks later - you would have never thought it to be possible to organise a wedding this quickly, well, what a bit of pocket money was able to do - the big day had come.

It couldn’t have been more different from the day in Ramsbury. Your whole family, even the distant aunts and cousins, as well as all of your friends had been invited. Everyone gathered in a small castle north of the Peckforton Hills in Cheshire, where the ceremony and subsequent celebrations were to take place. Even muggles would have described the place as magical. Its old walls and lush, green lawn inside the courtyard reminded you of Hogwarts a lot.

You wore an elegant white dress, not Mother’s, but one that you had picked out yourself. One last look into the mirror before the ceremony would begin and, you even had to admit to yourself, you had never looked better.

Father had to help to calm you down before you entered the chapel with him. Walking down the aisle with the music playing and all eyes fixated on you was scarier than fighting the Gaunts had been. But Father was there by your side, leading you up to the altar safely.

And the moment you spotted Tom waiting for you there, all nerves were soothed. He bit his lip while you approached him slowly, his eyes wandering up and down your figure. A smile, one that even reached up to his eyes, formed on his face and didn’t seem to leave after he had taken in the sight.

Ben, his best man, stood behind him, and only watched Camille, your maid of honour, from the side as tears of joy ran down her face.

The officiant’s speech got drowned out by your thoughts, as you lost yourself in Tom’s eyes, standing face to face with him in front of all of the guests. The way he looked back at you, deeply but still collected, led your mind to wander.

Love surely wasn’t like it was described inside a book, no, but when the people involved were honest and trusting, it could turn out to be even better than words were able to ever describe it. You both had changed so much since you had gotten close. And you were going to change with every day that you would spend together. There was much work to be done still, many compromises to be made and a lot of healing yet to start. But you were sure that with an open heart and a tiny bit of luck, you were going to make it. And you couldn’t wait.

Time had passed by so quickly until now and it would pass by equally as fast from now on. Every day was just another grain of sand falling down the hourglass that was life. But now that every grain had Tom in it, they seemed to drop differently. Happier, more meaningful and full of expectation for what’s to come. Every grain was to be cherished and the two of you promised that to each other when you both said the words. “I do.”

The end.

Well, we’re done :’) I’m a bit sappy, it’s hard for me to let this story go. I actually can’t believe I pushed through and really finished it. 43k words, a short novel. Wow. And I wouldn’t have been able to do it, if all of you hadn’t liked, shared and commented on this story. I really need the feedback and you all were so kind and gave it to me. So, credits to you, we made it. And as always, thank you for reading!

Permanent tags: @geeksareunique @ren-ela @marauderskeeper @way-obsessed5 @oreofrappiewithblueberry @draqcnheartstrinq @dogfatherpads @obscurilicious @maralisa124 @theseuscmander @lumos-barnes @theboywhocriedlupin @igotmadskills @jamcspotters @vulpecula-minor @snarledblack @swellwriting @carolinesbookworld @fandomtravels @heartbeats-wildly @clockworkherondale @aikeia @i-padfootblack-things @emmamass24 @sleep-i-ness @miss-theya @gruffle1 @pcseidcnsvoid @buckysblueeyes-18 @angelinathebook @nao-cchi @imboredandneedalife

Promised tags: @superblyspeedydragon @angeli-fucking-cat @cyarikaaa @hp-slaps @prettylittlehiddles @katjusja @elderwilliams @-thatgirloverthere- @1950schick @kissing-violet-wings @accio-boys @mythicalamphitrite @aqswdefrgthzjukilop @always394patronus @nesseldee @peachyserenade @iliveforthefandom04 @chr0nicbackpain @truly-insatiable @blushingpogue @scarlet-says-hi @staplerrrr @uglipotata72829 @muralskins @noobmaster696969 @urbankite2 @prettysatan @april-showers-and-flowers @etherrxall @slytherclawmalfoy @thoseofgreatambition @officiallyunofficialperson @lettersfromtheocean @whyisallthecoolstufftaken @eternitydarkling @blisfvll @hufflautia @weasleybees @katieakamine @myblissfulparadise @delicrieux @atlanticowe @stellariddle @princessria127 @random-fangirl001 @lovie-recs @angelic-blxssom @fuzzycloudsz @ladyblablabla @kisaraginami @ourstarsailor @softcore-single @pancakefancake @lxncelot @tararuthven @weasleymagic @arthemis-o-negative @trashysara @madamerosier @makingpeoplesmile97 @simpforhyunjin @voidcupidz @runawayolives

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callmexrie · 3 years

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✎ 「 have you seen BRIENNE “RIE” HOLLINGSWORTH yet this school year ?? maybe in CHOIR, YEARBOOK CLUB, or FRENCH CLUB?? i heard some wild rumors about the SEVENTEEN year old last semester, but now that they’re a GRADE 11 it might be a different story. according to their friends they’re pretty OUTGOING, but sometimes SHE can be STUBBORN. who knows, this might just be HER year ! 」[ KAYLEE BRYANT ]

abuse mentioned under the cut

name--> brienne aiko hollingsworth

nicknames--> rie(preferred name), brie

grade--> 11

age--> seventeen

birthday--> december 7th

astro sign--> sagittarius

family--> mayu maeda(mother), hikaru sasaki(former-stepfather), miles hollingsworth ii(father), miles hollingsworth iii(half-brother), frankie hollingsworth(half-sister), hunter hollingsworth(half-brother)

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sexuality--> pansexual

romantically--> panromantic

hobbies--> writing, picture taking, studying french, singing, writing songs, translating songs from english to french, translating songs from french to english

personality--> rie is someone who is quite obviously outgoing, though to a certain degree. she harbors a sense of shyness towards her singing and even more so with her writing songs. she’s not afraid to be friendly, but is just fiercely protectives of certain parts to her. she’s also very stubborn and may always realize that it’s okay to back down sometimes. she’s not aggressive, but will try to stand up for herself for the most part. rie likes to challenge herself as well. this is the biggest reason behind her often translating english to french and back again as well.

trigger warning below for abuse

brienne was born nearly a month after her older half-brother had been. her father had actually been present at the hosptial, but only in a brief few moments. he signed the birth certificate and gave rie’s mom the name brienne. he had also agreed to help out with money. this was all her father had agreed to because he wasn’t going to give up on his other family especially when his wife had his son and heir just less than a month earlier.

growing up her she had been able to live pretty decently. unbeknownst to brienne her birth father had kept his promise by giving her mother some money every month. her mother spent most of it for their family. for bills mostly and she ended up putting the rest into a savings account for brienne as well. it was also during this time that her mother began calling her rie. it was a nickname that allowed her mother to go into her japanese heritage a bit.

at the age of ten her mother ended up marrying a man named hikaru sasaki. her mother changed her last name, but kept her daughter’s birth name the same. the first year had been great, but then his behavior had changed. he had terrible mood swings and neither of the women, rie and her mother, seemed to be able to help. they tried to help by being assuring to him. however, it only became worse when he hit rie and pushed her against her closed bedroom door. her mother tried to protect rie, but he only hurt her mother in the process too. weeks turned into months, months into a year. soon the abuse got so bad that rie had been to be hospitalized for a couple days.

during this whole process the money coming in had also stopped as her stepfather had made her mother call it off. rie never questioned it since she had been more focused on her stepfather’s actions against her. a bright spot had soon arrived when after her hospitalization her mother had packed some bags for them and they left. at this point she hadn’t realized she had been headed to toronto and closer to rie’s father along with his family. she had only been focused on getting herself and rie to safety. rie’s mother successfully divorced her husband and the contact soon dropped.

during this time was when rie became protective over her singing and song writing since her stepfather had ridiculed her so often about it. yet none of that stopped her from picking up new hobbies to somewhat mask her hidden one. learning french had been a fun one for her. she also picked up photography. once her life became somewhat calm again, especially with therapy, rie became happy. she enjoyed school and had no idea what was to come. after all, she was bounded to run into her birth father and his family soon as they were in the same city now. rie had just finished grade 8 before her and her mother settled in toronto officially. before then it had cities just outside of it until the divorce and contact had stopped with her ex-stepfather.

as she continued to grow and accept her past was the past, eventually she’d been enrolled at degrassi community school. her freshmen year went by smoothly. she had successfully joined the yearbook club, french club, and choir. this was the year she had decided to take on translating english to french and back again. it had a fun challenge for her. of course they weren’t perfect translations, but that never bothered her. she would just keep trying until they felt close enough.

the peace soon ended when rie eventually met a boy named miles, a new transfer student in her sophomore year. there seemed to be quite some confusion when he called her frankie and then when she eventually met frankie and hunter as well. together they chose to get to the bottom of this by going to their father. rie agreed since she had been called frankie by a couple other freshmen students. honestly she didn’t expect much from this meeting until she saw the reaction on his face when she introduced herself. the name he’d chosen for the child he never planned to meet. the storm didn’t end there for rie when this sudden girl showing up caused quite a controversy.

rie went to her mother and she had been told the truth, that he was indeed her father. initially heartbroken she soon got over it as she realized her mother had wanted to protect her. however, she did recall the money that had been given to her must’ve been from him. after all his house gave off the scent of his richness. despite believing it to be the truth she had been told that a dna test would soon be needed to prove it on paper. she didn’t mind the dna test, but also hearing they’d do a background check made her feel uneasy. then she realized why he was even going through all this. a political campaign for mayor and rie showing up had proven to be a scandal.

after the dna test proved he was her father and the background check revealed some of her past, the storm became a cyclone. she ended up revealing that her and her mother ran from her former stepfather after his abuse had gone too far. it had been one of the rare times rie spoke about the abuse to anyone. mr hollingsworth and his campaign people saw this as an opportunity. he showered rie with some affection before he convinced her to change her last name to hollingsworth. her mother had been okay with it, so rie agreed and the process happened. due to her father’s political savviness he’d been able to expedite the papers. of course this all been a ploy as the election for mayor neared.

rie helped him as much as she could with the campaign stuff. she genuinely believed that her father wanted a relationship with her. once he won the election and became mayor her life changed again. she soon realized how much of a façade he had pulled on her. of course she still spent time with him, but anytime there was major affection it seemed to be a publicity stunt. so she tried to play her part and spent as much time with him as she could. after all, he was the only father she truly had. over time her relationships with miles, frankie, and hunter were complicated. she wasn’t sure how to feel about the process, but she tried to be civil and get to know them.

fast forward to now and she’s gotten used to her new last name. plus she’s a junior and already somewhat focusing on her future. after all, she isn’t certain if having one in toronto after graduation is a good idea or not.

#hqdintro #abuse tw #abuse mention tw

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fumiko-matsubara · 4 years

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A long ass list ー All of my Chiba headcanons that I brainrot a lot about (Part 1)

Part 2 , Part 3 , Part 4

He was even more shy when he was younger. Sometimes his mom would take him with her to shop for groceries and when a stranger or two, presumably his mom's friends, would approach them, baby boy would immediately make himself look even smaller and would hide behind his mom.

On that note, Chiba used to be even closer with his mom when he was younger. The only instance of miscommunication that happens between them was when Chiba couldn't say anything to her when she asks about his day at school, and it's only because he doesn't want to worry her by knowing that the other kids at school were purposely avoiding him.

He doesn't realize the reason why they were avoiding him until he's in his 1st grade, where he accidentally made a classmate cry (when all he really did was to stare at her because it's a habit he does when he's curious about something).

Other than growing out his bangs, Chiba decided to try smiling more so that he would look more approachable with his peers. Fast forward to, let's say, 8 years later, he's so smiley now because he does it so much it became a natural thing.

The reason why his eyes look so intense in the first place was that, when he was still a kid, his face then was still smaller, so his eyes were a little bigger, hence they're more noticeable.

The rest of his face just recently adjusted to them, so like the "scariness" wasn't that much prominent anymore. Of course your boy doesn't know that cause he already grew his bangs out years before he even hit puberty.

One of his older cousins had lent him their guitar (a pretty old les paul, the rather heavy ones) when he was in elementary. Said cousin is also who inspired him to do music. It's nothing too deep actually, it was just one of the things he ended up liking growing up.

It took him more than a year of saving up his allowance to be able to afford a brand new guitar, preferably a Stratocaster this time, due to it being more lightweight, which is more ideal for a 12 year old to last a show with.

He was originally planning to get a Sunburst instead, but it just so happened that a brand new Rosewood Black was on sale that time when he was about to make a purchase.

He was a regular customer of a certain music store located at the other side of Kunugigaoka. It seems that he visits there often enough that the employees are quite familiar of him and his playing when he occasionally tries out their instruments.

Speaking of trying out instruments, he tends to forget to close the door of the practice room he uses. But because the other customers don't mind his playing, the store's employees just let him be.

Chiba can also play other instruments like the bass, piano/keyboard, drums, and ukulele. But there was a rather big gap in his skill levels between the guitar and the other mentioned instruments.

Despite his rather high skill in learning and mastering music instruments, Chiba is pretty horrible with any kind of wind instrument, and that includes the mandatory recorder. This is why, even if he's a member of the school's light music club, he's not excelling with Music class.

Even though he's officially the leader of one of the club's bands, some of the decision-making in the band happens without his apparent knowledge. A good example of this was how their band's name, DREAM, was decided. It's basically the initials of the members' given names put together, but Miho, their drummer, accidentally wrote the name on the only available official form with permanent ink while Chiba wasn't around.

This is how DREAM's song production goes: Ayaka (main vocalist) writes the melody lines, Chiba then produces the entire beat for it including a demo for the instruments, Miho and Eiji (bassist) writes the lyrics together, Daisuke (keyboardist/guitarist) helps them record the vocals and their actual instruments in his own studio, then he and Chiba would put everything together along with the finishing touches.

Usually they'd be able to produce at least 6 songs per month.

Now back to Chiba lmao.

The whole lead guitarist-kun double identity only happened because Ayaka was apparently that evil enough after Chiba had finally shown them his eyes and briefly explained why his hair was like that, of course making the mistake of lying to them that he had gotten over his insecurity.

Epic dressing down + hair gel + wild performance skills = getting his own page at the school's newspaper, dubbed as Lead Guitarist-kun because Ayaka who's also their MC forgot to individually introduce them, and unfortunately a fanclub, of all things, of his own.

Is the fanclub the reason why Chiba decided to hide the fact that he is DREAM's lead guitarist? Yes. Why? Because the fanclub's president was revealed to be a notorious member of the newspaper club. The other reason being the rest of the fanclub's members being too loud for him to tolerate.

"Chiba-kun, you were a member of the light music club, right? I never once saw you in performances, so what do you do there?" Chiba: "I just compose songs for the other members. I don't really perform."

I made a separate post of how he usually performs.

Despite his rather closed-off appearance, Chiba is surprisingly a lot more social than people credited him to be. He can surely start and hold conversations as long as the other party is as talkative or even more than he is.

Because he's so used to being around with louder and more talkative people, he'll find himself stuck in a very awkward situation if the other party prefers to talk less. In addition to this, he usually can't handle being cornered by a fairly large number of people.

In contrast to how deep and heavy his voice naturally was, Chiba's usual speaking voice is a lot softer and more mellowed.

But his vocal technique, however, is stronger and more aggressive, basically playing with where he'd place his signature rasps.

His voice is naturally loud, but he tries to tone it down when he speaks to avoid scaring other nearby people from the sudden boom.

This is also another reason why people couldn't figure out that Chiba and DREAM's lead guitarist are the same person. Not only is their outer appearance drastically different, but also their demeanour and especially the way they speak.

Since he usually stays up late to study, he grew the bad habit of eating something right before he goes to bed. Hence his face, most especially his under eyes, are very puffy when he wakes up in the morning.

Cue your boy having to learn the frozen-spoon technique at some point, to which he uses to minimize the swelling.

With all the heavy equipment lifting he definitely did in the band for the past 3 years, Chiba would naturally be fairly built even before he dropped to Class E.

Considering how he'd willingly go through a mile just to help others, it's not surprising that Chiba would take it upon himself to learn fashion and make up so that the band wouldn't have to spend more money just to hire a stylist for their performances. Though this sadly does increase his workload even more but let's not talk about that, he said.

While he's not the best at it, Chiba became fairly decent at styling and dresses well too. The atrocious bright green shirt he had when Class E went to Okinawa was apparently a gift from an older relative (and he hates it, really. The very saturated green hurts his eyes but he doesn't want to make it seem like he was being mean about it so he didn't say anything).

He only willingly wore it that day because the dummy is gonna end up wearing it instead for the rest of the whole day anyways. (Yes. This basically means that I'm gonna design an entire outfit change for the whole class after the assassination attempt and with what went down at the citadel).

This boy is a sucker for cargo pants, that he literally has a section of his closet that was full of them. At the same time, he absolutely HATES skinny jeans or any kind of tight clothing in general.

The only reason why he's labeled as the professional "taciturn" sniper, was because Karasuma had only witnessed him when he's in his "work mode", where he does take things very seriously and get it done right away.

Off-work Chiba is... not a professional at all lol. He would literally dive off from a fucking cliff into the sea because he really enjoys that kind of thrill.

This also means that he LOVES thrill rides, especially the more intense ones. (Reminder: He legit nearly thought of riding onto the rollercoaster instead of continuing the mission when they were at Las Vegas in Korotan B lmao).

However, even if he loves the thrill, he's the absolute worst when it comes to horror. Boy will SCREECH right at your face if you dare to scare him while he's somewhere in the dark or something.

Yes, me and my organized self be really making it in timeline order lmao.

I just love this boy so much UwU. So I tried my best to give his early manga personality more depth, while connecting some dots to fix the inconsistency of his personality later in the manga (seriously? This happy smiley boy who wows at anything at the beginning of the manga suddenly turning into this no-nonsense taciturn sniper at the character books? Really? Smh), and adding my own personal headcanons.

Unpopular Opinion: I honestly dislike Lerche and the fandom's whole "Chiba and Hayami being too similar in terms of personality" (especially in Koro Q smh).

Like this panel alone in the retaliation chapter (which is the first time we've ever seen them interact in the manga btw) says enough of how very different they are from each other.

Anyways, it's getting pretty late here so that's all for now lol. I'll post part 2 once I've cleared out most of my WIPs for this month UwU

#assassination classroom #ansatsu kyoushitsu #chiba ryuunosuke #ryuunosuke chiba #my headcanons #target on #target on spoilers #target on ideas #long post #please credit me if you'd like to use these ideas :D

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douchebagbrainwaves · 3 years

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RETURN OF MY TODO LIST

The most impressive people I know are all terrible procrastinators and find it almost impossible to make themselves feel better. I don't have time to work. When you're looking for space for a startup, ask everyone about their previous IP history. Most of the best in the business call a liquidity event, founders should start companies that make money and live off the revenues.1 As everyone knows, America plus tragedy equals the Civil War was about slavery; people would be confused otherwise; plus you can show a lot of time worrying about what I should do. You probably weren't bored when you were eight. So if you want to work on? If hiring unnecessary people is expensive and slows you down, why do nearly all companies do it? When I probe our motives with Artix, I see signs of all three.2 Like a lot of 26 year olds are broke.

Hasn't she been taught to be? Something hacked together means something that barely solves the problem, or maybe doesn't solve the problem at all, but another you discovered en route. Outsiders are still learning how to write well, or they stop going well surprisingly fast. If the number of officially sanctioned projects that manage to do all three. They can't reply in kind to jokes. Viaweb and Y Combinator logos. Ok, fine; but which might also be true? As if to emphasize the point, Google never did any advertising. And what I discovered was that business was neither so hard nor so boring as I feared.3 The Men's Wearhouse.4

And it wouldn't be the first time investors learned that lesson from founders. In outline, it was a very gradual process. Instead, you should use it.5 Many innovations consist of replacing something with a cheaper alternative, and companies just don't want to be in twenty years, and then fix it immediately, while you were on the whole smarter than other kids, though never studying or at least embodies, present taboos. You're on the right track.6 Their value is mainly as starting points: as questions for the people who have them.7 I, at least at first, but mainly because the more founders you have, though. So I'm going to tell you what to do. Choose a project that will take less than a month, and make it seem like work, the danger of responsibilities is not just that you'd have to ask permission. Writing novels is hard. I wouldn't.

Being profitable ensures you'll get at least the average of the acquisition market—in which public companies do behave as pooled-risk company managers, you need a window of several years to get average case performance.8 We supported online transactions via a company called Cybercash, since if we lacked that feature we'd have gotten beaten up in product comparisons. I'm sure, but they weren't crazy.9 If you do everything the way the average big company grows at about ten percent a year. There is no magically difficult step that requires brilliance to solve. If they were just holding pens within this fake world. Someone with your abilities can do, you can compete with delegation by working on larger horizontal slices—by both writing and illustrating your book, for example. If you find something broken that you can flog yourself through them. Once I was forced into it because I don't like the idea of being mistaken. The first thing I would do, after checking to see if they had a live online demo, was look at their job listings. Another powerful motivator is the desire to do something very simple, like number crunching or bit manipulation, you may not finish your training till 30.

If so, that's evidence of how new this kind of trade would be hard to get an accurate picture of most jobs. No one was leaking news of their features to us. In January 1995, we and a couple friends started a company called Cybercash, since if we lacked that feature we'd have gotten beaten up in product comparisons. And they don't; they've made sure of that. To be self-funding, you have to understand a problem space well enough that they can walk around the memory of the house you grew up in. The word aptitude is misleading, because it implies something innate. So they want the fund to be huge—hundreds of millions of dollars, if possible.

Notes

How can people who will go away is investors requiring them. Com/spam. Acquisitions fall into a significant effect on the blades may work for us!

Emmett Shear writes: I'd argue that the path from ideas to startups has recently been getting smoother. While the space of ideas doesn't have dangerous local maxima, the government.

In fact, we try to accept a particular number.

Most of the techniques for stopping spam. Steep usage growth will also remind founders that an eminent designer is any better than their lifetime value, don't worry about that danger. According to Zagat's there are signs now that the site was about the paperwork there, and since you can say they're not.

This gets harder as you get a patent troll, either, that probably doesn't make A more accurate metaphor would be very unhealthy. I'm not going to call you about it. So the cost of having someone from personnel call you about an A round about the details. If spammers get good grades.

Users had been a time.

One of Europe's advantages was that it sounds. This plan backfired with the melon seed model is more important.

What people who want to believe this number is a bad reputation, a copy of K R, and owns significant equity in it. Some translators use calm instead of a handful of companies used consulting to generate series A termsheet with a degree, to pretend that the main reason is that the path from ideas to startups. Letter to Ottoline Morrell, December 1912.

Free money to start using whatever you make it. Some government agencies run venture funding groups, which is the same work faster. This is not so good that it would be to diff European culture with Chinese: what determines rank in the sample might be a good problem to have to do work you love: a to make a country with a faulty knowledge of human nature is certainly not impossible for a sufficiently identifiable style, you can't avoid doing sales by hiring someone to do this yourself. Otherwise you'll seem a risky bet to admissions committees, no matter how good they are by ways that have little do with the bad VCs fail to mention a few that are hard to say no to science as well, but trained on corpora of stupid and non-corrupt country or organization will be big successes but who are weak in other ways to get a low grade, which draw more and angrier counterarguments.

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spellbounding-slytherin · 5 years

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So, talking about my Novels a bit more....

Hey there its Vira!

Thought I would talk about my novels a bit more, just so you guys know what you all would be getting into.

So, lets talk about Novel 1.

The Rings of Gallilea: Sworn to Rebirth

(Aka: TROG/ TROGSTR)

So here are the main plot points of the novel:

It is the sacred duty of the Celestial Trinity (the Sun, Moon and Earth) to protect the life in their solar system from outside alien threats

An imperial speciest race known as the Cantillians dub Humans inferior to them, thus sparking a war between them the Celestial Trinity.

The nine planets ally themselves with the Celestial Trinity to protect themselves from a God-destroying weapon created by the Cantillians known as the Catalyst.

The Rings of Gallilea are formed in an attempt to protect the solar system.

The goddess of the moon utilizes their influence on humanity to create a re-birthing curse. As long as humanity shares legends of the gods they will not die.

During a battle with the Cantillian emperor (known as the Serpent) Earth is hit by the Catalyst, destroying his physical form.

One-by one the Rings of Gallilea and the Celestial Trinity fall.

Eventually it is only Mercury The god of knowledge, Moon, the goddess of magic and Pluto rhw God of Alchemy left

In order to save humanity, Moon forces Mercury to give her an "unforgettable" curse so she will retain her memories as a goddess.

Moon uses what is left of her magical power to trap the Cantillian emperor in a diffrent dimension, before she is killed.

Moon falls to earth taking on the form of a human infant.

She is found by the son of a former cult leader and raised moon aware of her godly identity.

Out of gratitude, moon grants her new father figure the "Power of The North Star" and shares a magical bond with him

Their mission now, is to locate the fallen Gods and prepare them for the fight against the looming Cantillian threat.

In summary:

The Rings of Gallilea is a magical Sifi adventure, with sub themes of romance, and drama. The message of The Rings of Gallilea is self-sacrifice, defying fate, humility and mercy along with second chances.

Lets meet our cast!

Luna Abyss- our female lead, Luna is the Goddess of the moon and Magic. Before what Luna refers to as "The Fall" she was regal, elegant and refined. Growing up on earth with her drunkard guardian Victor, and running from government officials who seem to pick up on Luna's signals wherever she goes changed her quite a bit. Luna uses her twin blades Artemis and Frigga to fight off the Cantillian forces sent by recon forces. Luna likes dancing to loud music at ungodly hours, getting fast food at midnight, dogs, and exploring places she probably shouldn't.

Terra Greenwood- Our male lead, Terra is the God of Earth, Nature and humanity. Terra grew up with his Grandma after his dad walked out on his drug-addicted mother. Terra is a member of the Apache Indians, and lives on a reservation in Greenville New Mexico. Terra, despite struggling with depression and minor anger issues, dreams of living a normal life. Getting a good education, a well paying job, taking his grandma and moving far away from Greenville....that Is until Luna shows up. Terra fights with his magic spear Gia, and can command Earth and Nature on a whim. While his abilities are still weak, with some training there is no doubt that Terra can return to his former Glory. Terra enjoys driving his old pickup truck down town, while listening to the hard rock radio station, helping his grandma take care of her garden, and hanging out with his best friends Mitchel and John.

Stella Brighton- our rich mean girl archetype. Stella is the goddess of the Sun. Stella grew up in her mother's mansion sheltered away from the middle and lower class, until one day she forms an unlikely friendship with Terra. An Unlikely friendship turns into an unlikely crush and an unlikely romance. That is until Stella's hopes and dreams are crushed when she discovers her mother and Stepfather have planned an arranged marriage for her. Stella breaks off her relationship with Terra and keeps her head held-high. Stella fights with her fiery bow, Apollo, and can spark a wildfire wherever she pleases. Stella enjoys shopping, traveling, taking selfies, and flaunting her status as Student Council President.

Mitchel James- the Nerd boy archetype, Mitchel is the God of Mercury, Knowledge and Communication (arguably revenge as well) As a young lad, Mitchel idolized his dad, who was in the military. Oftentimes it would be him and his mom while his dad was on deployment. Mitchel took a liking to computer science and technology, because thanks to that he was able to keep in touch with his dad even when he was far away. When Mitchel was 8 years old his dad died in active duty, and it wasn’t long until his mom took to a Sugar Baby lifestyle to try and provide for Mitchel without having to get a job. Mitchel is bullied at school for being the scrawny nerd boy, and takes revenge on his bullies by hacking into their computers and leaking their search history. After Luna rolls into town Mitchel's world is flipped upside down. Suddenly he isn’t armed with just brain-power but physical power. Mitchel fights in a way that is unique to the Rings of Gallilea. Mitchel can create Angels to fight as champions for him. He also uses a Chackram named Athena. Mitchel enjoys hacking into local security cameras to see whats up around town, exploring the dark web, arguing with radical political activists on-line.

John Kingsman- The play-boy Archetype, John is the God of Jupiter Kings, and lightning. John lives what is arguably the best life of anyone in the rings. His parents breed police dogs. Meaning his house is always full of puppies. John's dad is a former military officer, and both him and his mom are current police force members. John is the baby in his family, but is held to high standards. Be home before 7, get good grades, and take care of the dogs. John fights with his Claymore Sword, Odin, along with special abilities like lighting and psychological manipulation. John, obviously enjoys taking the dogs for walks, playing basketball, and going to the shooting range with his mom.

Hotaru Kawaguchi- The goth archetype, and Goddess of Saturn, Time and Death. Hotaru's parents immigrated to the United States after the death of Hotaru's older brother, Hikaru. They came here to give the intellectually gifted Hotaru better opportunities as she grew older. To help support her, the family opened a restaurant in the down town area that quickly became one of the most popular spots in town. Hotaru never really got over Hikaru's death, and took comfort in the macabre. Over summer, Hotaru picks up a second job to earn enough money to afford her dream car, working in an occult shop. She also finds herself involved in an unlikely summer romance. Aside from being able to freeze time and communicate with the dead, Hotaru fights with her staff, Hades, that can transform into a scythe. Hotaru loves books and quite sunny spaces, she likes painting, meditation, watching Elvira specials, and helping her mother and father learn better English.

Aries Vailakis- the Jock archetype, God of Mars and war. Just like Stella he too grew up with rich parents. His family comes a from proud Greek heritage, and own a chain of Mediterranean style restaurants. Aries is a star member of the football team, and is expected to take over the family business when he gets out of college. Most people think there isn't much to Aries other than food and football, sometimes Aries thinks that too. But being a competitive teenage god, can lead to some intense shenanigans. Especially when family, love and blackmail are involved. Aries fights with some seriously thick brass knuckles that spit fire. His brass knuckles can also transform into a large shield, Neiro. Aries likes cooking, working out, watching horror movies with his S/O, and very secretly likes looking at minimalist homes in the Greek countryside in homeowner's magazines.

June Smith, the flip Archetype, Goddess of Venus beauty, seduction and battle. June's mom divorced her dad to be with another man when she was young. Years later June would find out she died of cancer without telling her or her father. Needless to say June had a rough start in life. Given that her dad was the high school principal, she couldn't even act out and punch some nerd in the face. In the day light June masquerades as the nerdy turtleneck loving teacher's pet kinda girl. At night June flips ditching her turtle neck for something low cut and preferably leather. Sneaking out under the ruse of sleep or studying, June slips out to hang out on the edge of town with the local biker gang known as the Black Cat Bikers. Junes got the best of both worlds, her dad wrapped around her finger, and her legs wrapped around the back of her boys bikes. June fights with the sword Atalanta, and can change into any weapon June sees fit. June can also manipulate peoples hormones, making them fall for her or anyone. June will never admit it, but she likes wearing pink fluffy sweaters, she also loves getting fucking drunk, going out to see drag shows, sleeping in until noon, and playing with makeup.

Serena Paisley- The hippy archetype- Serena is the Goddess of Neptune, the ocean and family. Serena is the younger twin sister of Heath. Serena grew up close to her mother, who was somewhat of helicopter parent. Serena’s mother owns a brewing company, and is heavily involved in the Greenvile political scene. growing up in a spotlight Serena wanted to use her spotlight to encourage others to do good, and can often be found doing charity work. One big secret Serena has, is that she is a big fan of smoking weed. being a politicians daughter was a stressful job after all. Serena, can command any body of water and has great people skills. Her very loyal weapon is her trident, Namaka. Serena’s hobbies include Yoga, smoking weed, collecting crystals, playing the pan-flute, and thrift store shopping.

Heath Paisley- The rich boy archetype- Heath is the God of Uranus, Ice, Snow and Vengeance. Heath, is the polar opposite of his sister. He grew up chasing the affections of his long-distance father, who is an actor in Hollywood. Heath has a cold demeanor, and takes a some-what sadistic pleasure in controlling others. He is the student council president at the private school he and Serena attend, Hayden Heights Academy. Heath is secretly insecure about his sexuality, and is in denial about being attracted to men. Heath spends a majority of his time covering for his sisters ‘distasteful shenanigans” in student council meetings, or following in the footsteps of his politician mother. Heath has the power to control Ice, and cold temperatures, he can also force criminals to admit their deeds.Heath fights with twin sickles Poli’Ahu and Endymion.His hobbies include: casual business luncheons, bossing his underclassmen around, and he secretly likes it when his S/O leans over his shoulder while he is trying to work.

Romeo Barns- The rebel archetype- Romeo is the God of Pluto, Alchemy, and Transformation. Romeo has always felt like a social outcast, specifically because he discovered his godly powers at a young age. Romeo lives with his overly preachy preacher uncle, who believes in only one good god above. Romeo, being a sarcastic little shit, decides he needs to be everything his uncle isn't. Romeo sells weed for the Black Cat Biker Gang, his true "Family". Which is how a filthy little grunge rat like him became friends with Serena Paisley. Roemo's godly body grows organic blade-like structures which he can use to defend himself. His clawed-gauntlets, Thanatos and Cerberus add an extra punch. In his spare time Romeo can be seen around town riding his motorcycle. At night he is out spraying unique and vulgar messages on billboards. At school he likes to read the "boring unpopular books" like Catcher in The Rye and Lord of The Flies, and strumming along to his favorite songs on his base guitar

And thats just novel number 1! I'll make a second post about novel number 2 since this is already a quite lengthy post.

Let me know what you guys think, and if you wanna see more.

See ya later

- Vira!

#novel #novelist #writers #writing #writblr #author #sifi #fantasy #meet the characters #gods and goddesses #plot #magic #ocs #oc #oc fanfiction #oc facts

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mediocremom01 · 4 years

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Breastfailing

I originally wanted to wait to write this post as I wanted a successful breast feeding journey. BUT here I am, and I think I've officially had enough. I am all for ‘fed is best’ and whatever you feed your baby I'm proud of you for giving them what they need and to grow and be strong. HOWEVER, I don’t give myself the same standards. Before having a baby I had the mindset of ‘I’m going to try to breast feed but if I can’t its no big deal, I'll feed him formula’ Literally the first night of having my baby, I was 100% invested in breast feeding. I have a LONG and emotional breast feeding journey. Here is how mine and my sons journey went with breast feeding. Prepare... it’s a LONG post

First hour: Not latching, Nurses throw nipple shield at me. I get my son to have WHATEVER colostrum I have, who knows if its enough, but he seemed content for the first two days. He would only use a nipple shield from here on out- will explain more later. Also the nurses were AGGRESSIVE and awful with helping me. When I say aggressive I mean shoving my sons face in my boob with his mouth closed and SQUEEZING my boob.

Day three noon: Didn’t have enough wet diapers and about to be discharged early after a c-section thanks to COVID. Babies at this point have the same number of wet diapers as they are old... so he should have had three. My husband and I questioned his output and we were pushed aside. I also reached out to the nurses because it was taking my son an hour to eat colostrum... Babies at this age have TINY stomachs and it should not take long to fill him up. No lactation consult was given to me at any point even when we asked

Day three midnight: My son was hysterical. Every time I tried to breast feed him (with the nipple shield) he would suck a few times then pass out, which you think “oh he’s “milk drunk”” but not even 5 minutes later he woke up screaming and hungry. This went on until 4am when I finally broke down hysterically crying and my husband took him and fed him formula which he gulped down in seconds then passed out for 4 hours. I was devastated. Devastated that I clearly just starved my son and that I didn’t do what he needed from me most which brings in a lot of guilt.

Day four: we go see a lactation consultant and she said my colostrum isn’t enough for him and to supplement until my milk comes in. He lost 10% birth weight and needed to come back in a few days.

Day six: follow up with lactation consultant. My milk finally comes in and she gives me three days to come back for a weight check and weighted feed. I feel good at this point thinking that now my milk is in I can give my baby what he needs. He starts to eat my milk but is still taking over an hour to eat but at this point he falls asleep and sleeps for a good few hours. I’m feeling like a giant weight has lifted off my shoulders and the guilt fades now that I can feed my baby.

Day nine: go in for a weighted feed but I screwed up and fed him right before the car ride. He was hysterical and hungry i couldn’t starve him just for a “weighted feed”, so I did what I thought was best. We see the consultant and she’s happy with his weight gain.

From here until our two week check up something changes. His naps are no longer for two to three hours they’re more like an hour. He’s feeding close to two hours. I felt like I couldn’t keep him off my boob but when I googled or spoke to any mom friends it was normal and known as cluster feeding. That he was trying to get my milk to increase so he would have enough as he got older. This cluster feeding started to be all day and night.

Two week check up: his doctor says that his weight is a slow gain but once he hits his birth weight it should sky rocket. His diaper output is perfect. I mention the “cluster feeding” she says it’s normal and should subside soon. He’s still using the nipple shield. I mention to her how he looks yellow and she said his bilirubin levels have decreased since birth he’s fine. I feel good but still questioning why he’s at my breast for so long.

3 weeks old: I scheduled a new lactation consultant because I felt the cluster feeding was too often to be all day every day. He also was still eating 2-3 hours at a time before taking a nap and sometimes he wouldn’t even nap he would sleep at my breast, I would try to move him then he would wake up and want to eat again. This consult was over zoom thanks to covid :( she looked at his latch and I brought up all concerns and she blamed the slow eating on the breast sheild and recommended breast compressions and massage while he’s active on the breast. I did what she said and it seemed to help a little but not much, she just kept pressing trying to get him off the nipple shield.

4 weeks old: I call the doctor because his jaundice isn’t getting better and they argued with me for awhile but because he was slow weight gain they said okay. While we were there he only gained a few oz... doctor said that we had to do another weight check in two weeks. While I was there his bilirubin stayed the same, doctor claimed it was breast milk jaundice and it could take weeks to get out of his system. The levels weren’t harmful but noticeable in his skin and eyes.

5 weeks old: I schedule a different lactation consultant but this time someone who could meet me in person. We do a weighted feed and evaluation. 1 hour prior to the visit he was hysterical so I fed him expressed breast milk via bottle and he had 1oz. While she was there He took in 1.5oz. She said that because he took 1oz prior to the appointment and 1.5oz now he was getting enough and I was producing adequately. She saw a tongue and lip tie and told us to have his pediatrician look at it to be released. She said it could be the reasoning as to why he needs the nipple tie and isnt sucking as efficiently.

6 weeks old: his pediatrician says there are no ties and his suck is fine. We discuss his slow weight gain once again. I express my concern about him eating all day and not napping. Like seriously eating all day. The moment I get up to the moment I go to bed he’s just connected to my boob and not sleeping. He cries every time I unlatch him, I’m barely eating and drinking at this point because I don’t have time to go to the bathroom and I don’t have time to eat or have hands to eat.

7 weeks: I get a second opinion with a pediatric dentist. He says both tongue and lip ties are grade three and we discuss the complications of them. I pay OOP to get them released. He said that it would take time but he should start to eat efficiently.

8 weeks: I’m able to feed him 70/30 with nipple shield and without it. Which is an amazing start from someone that had to use it EVERY time. He still is eating all day and not napping. At this point I’m getting REALLY exhausted. Guilt and frustration fill me every time I feed him. “I wish you could just eat better” “I’m sorry I cant have the nipples that make it easier for you” “is my supply even there?” “Come on baby boy, stay active I know you’re hungry”. We go to his 2 month check up and see a new pediatrician. He states that his weight is in the 9th percentile and has only gained 6oz in 3 weeks. At this point he should be gaining more and he recommends I start supplementing with breast. We also find out that he has a severe dairy allergy which has been causing his rash issues, green mucus poops, bad gas and severe reflux. I need to cut diary out of my diet and buy dairy free formula.

9 weeks: I decide to pump and bottle feed with formula. I’m only pumping 1-2 oz at a time total which CLEARLY shows I don’t have a good milk supply. At this point I can’t get dairy out of my breast milk fast enough for him. His reflux and gas are so bad he’s spitting up half an oz per oz. I’m advices to take a break from breast feeding and just formula feed to heal him.

9 weeks and 6 days: I’ve officially thrown in the towel. I’m so exhausted and it’s taking a huge toll on my mental health. I’m no longer a happy mommy. Yesterday we the first night I didn’t nurse him to sleep. It was heart breaking for me. I feel so much failure, sadness, and guilt. Why couldn’t my breasts provide you what you need. I gave breast feeding my everything. I’ve consumed so many different lactation products, power pumping, kept you at the breast every hour and every day since I had you. My breast milk was causing you so much pain internally and you were so hungry that I couldn’t ever satisfy. I feel so selfish that I carried on this journey when we had issues from the start. I feel inadequate and that I didn’t try harder. Maybe if I weren’t a single mom I’d have more energy to push through and make my breast milk dairy free but you don’t like to be put down ever so it makes pumping so hard. I’m sorry little man, I have it my all. At least this formula will fill you up and won’t give you tummy issues

I’m repeatedly saying “I’m a good mom” today because I don’t feel like one. One day this will be a memory and I don’t want it to be a negative one. Trying to find the good when I’m crushed our breast feeding journey has been a complete failure. But you’re with me now taking a nap on me which was never a thing before. So I’m going to soak in these snuggles.

#breastfeeding #first time mom #mom #boymom #fed is best #failure

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crinaboros · 6 years

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Where have all the mothers gone?

by CRINA BOROŞ, Investigate Europe | The Black Sea, 5 October 2017

Romania’s parents are leaving to work abroad in the absence of a living wage at home, and children are paying the price

The drive from the northwest Romanian city of Iasi to the village of Liteni is a winding route through an open vista of sunflowers. Tractors work the fields next to peasants driving battered horse-and-carts, heavy with hay. On a fallow meadow outside the village, a shepherd with a tanned face holds up a gnarled wooden crook, and calls to his flock. The sheep pass by a lake, recently restocked with carp, and now open for fishing.

Crossing a narrow bridge into the village, we drive along roads that kick up clouds of dust, between rows of houses - new and old. Many are unfinished, with bright tiled roofs, and exteriors of plaster, standing on land scattered with building tools and broken pieces of fence.

We follow the road to the heart of the village, accompanied by the local school headteacher, George Moga, who points to the buildings.

“That house was made with money from Greece,” Moga says. “That one - with earnings from Italy.”

It’s a torrid July day and Moga takes us to a smallholding which breeds pigs and chickens. He introduces the owners, a family led by father Costel Butnaru.

“Come here in the strawberry season,” he says, “you won't find the shadow of a woman in this village!”

Photo: After working abroad family reunited in Liteni, Iasi county. Costel Butnaru (left), Lavinia Tihulcă, Petre Butnaru, Gabi Butnaru, Mihaela Butnaru and two nephews. Credit: Johnny Green, Investigate Europe, July 2017, Liteni, Romania

“It may be tough abroad, but being left behind is worse.”

Costel’s wife Vasilica, 44, has been on the road between home and work for eight years. She travels from Romania to Almonte, Huelva, in southwest Spain, where she shares a room with five women. From March to mid-summer, they pick strawberries and in September, they prepare plants for the coming season.

“I got left behind to take care of the children,” says Costel. “I taught them how to write, took their hands in mine and we drew letters together. I was trying my best to be there for them, and make sure they have what they need.”

A decade ago Vasilica was a housewife, and Costel was earning ‘nice money’ working in construction in Bucharest. But since the financial crisis of 2008, he could not find stable employment.

Sometimes there is work in the vineyards of nearby wine-maker Cotnari. Over 35 kilometres away is a car upholstery factory in Lețcani, but they only pay the minimum wage, plus food vouchers. Costel would need to commute by bicycle, even at night, and in weathers that can reach minus 20 degrees.

“It may be tough abroad,” says Costel, “but being left behind is worse.”

Romanians now has one of the highest percentages of its citizens working abroad in Europe, and many come from rural areas such as Liteni, where work is scarce or poorly-paid.

The villagers moved abroad to work in building, fruit-picking, housekeeping or care work in Italy, Spain, Germany and Cyprus.

But since the construction boom in southern Europe collapsed in 2008, the jobs available favour skills usually associated with women - which means a new phenomenon is emerging in Romania: villages with few - if any - women of working age, and large numbers of children growing up without a mother.

“We didn’t have our Sunday rest. We even worked on Easter Day.”

13 year old Gabi Butnaru has just finished 6th grade in the village of Liteni.

“Mommy used to help me read,” she says. “Sometimes she would help me with homework.”

But her mother has been leaving for work abroad since her daughter was in kindergarten. This year, on 9 March, a day after International Women’s Day, she left to pick strawberries and raspberries on a farm in Lucena, Spain.

Gabi’s life changed. When her father was out farming, she had to learn how to bake potatoes, make soup, and clean and feed the pigs, cows and chickens, before she could find the time to study.

“It was tough,” says Gabi, her eyes welling up with tears. “Finding the energy to do it all, to do it well…” With a straight face, she starts crying.

Her mother Mihaela is now back in Romania. It was tough for her to be away from home, among foreigners, and working for a boss with high expectations, whose language she did not speak.

She shared a room with four other women on the farm. Monthly rents in the nearby Spanish town were around 250 Euro per month, and the women needed to keep this cash for home.

Mihaela worked to exhaustion.

“We didn’t have our Sunday rest,” she says. “We even worked on Easter Day!”

Collecting strawberries is painful work. Pickers must bend over seven days a week, up to eight hours a day, plus overtime, and need to move fast through the bushes.

“I only got up to move when I carried the crates of fruit,” Mihaela says. “There is no stool to sit on, and nowhere to sit at all. Some women can rest on their fists, but I can’t. My back is killing me! When pain cuts like a knife, you feel like throwing in the job!”

Her husband Petre runs through the list of drugs his 33 year-old wife takes to Spain: painkiller Ketonal for backache, paracetamol for toothache, valerian herb for stress relief, and aspirin to increase the blood flow.

Despite the physical pain at work, and the emotional pain at home, Mihaela says: “We don’t have a choice: we need the money!”

Her husband broke his left leg 12 years ago, and cannot bend it. Now he works odd jobs, such as shoeing horses, welding and ploughing.

“He earns enough for bread and a bottle of cooking oil,” says Mihaela. “But with these earnings, child benefit and tiny aid from the local government, one can’t afford much.”

The family sometimes landed in debt, which she needed to pay off, and meant leaving abroad for longer, while her injured husband stayed at home with her daughter.

“A child is suffering,” she says. “She’s doing hard household work and yet she’s only a child. She shouldn’t be exploited, she’s so young! She’s had a lot to bear from a very young age!” Mihaela’s voice fades and tears resume. “I can’t bear being apart from them!”

Gabi nods through her sobbing, and admits she was crying often on the phone to her mother, asking Mihaela to return. Will she let her mother go abroad again?

Photo: Revisiting separation: Gabriela Butnaru (13), Lavinia Tihulca (13), Mihaela Butnaru (33). Credit: Johnny Green, Investigate Europe, July 2017, Liteni, Romania

“No!” Gabi says without hesitation, wiping her face dry. “All I want is us all to be at home, united, and to be a happy family.”

Revisiting separation: Gabriela Butnaru (13), Lavinia Tihulca (13), Mihaela Butnaru (33) (photo: Johnny Green, Investigate Europe)

“School, clean, cook, do homework, sleep, repeat”

13 year-old Lavinia’s mother left to Spain for the first time this year to pick fruit, and she had to take on her mother’s duties. This was stressful, as Lavinia loves to feel prepared for the school day, which lasts from 8 am to 2 pm. “Then I would clean, cook, do homework, sleep,” she says, “get up in the morning. Get dressed. Brush hair. Go to school. Repeat.”

She is in a class where 13 of her fellow pupils from 28 have parents working abroad. In many cases, this has ruined marriages, and the parents divorced.

“These pupils are not how they used to be,” says Lavinia. “They’re more distant, more reserved, less childish. Some of their grades are falling. All they can think about is the break-up of their parents.”

The number of children growing up with one or two parents working abroad is in the 100,000s in Romania, and could account for around ten per cent of all kids in the country, though true statistics are sketchy.

At the primary and middle school in Liteni, 115 pupils from 350 have at least one parent working abroad. The headteacher George Moga says economic migration scars many of the children left behind.

“We’ve experienced cases of child burn-out,” Moga says. “Parents who work abroad tell children that they are doing this for them. Meanwhile, the child’s sole duty is to study hard, so children who have to learn to manage without a parent’s help or supervision, drown themselves in study or household chores, and often end up unable to smile.”

Photo: “We’ve experienced cases of child burn-out,” says Liteni headteacher George Moga. Credit: Johnny Green, Investigate Europe, July 2017, Liteni, Romania

Nation on the Minimum Wage

The United Nations believes around 3.4 million Romanians have emigrated since the fall of Communism - 17 per cent of the country’s citizens.

Every village in the country has seen its share of work migrants - officially there are now over one million Romanians are in Italy, 900,000 in Spain, 600,000 in Germany and 180,000 in the UK, but the real figure is greater.

At first glance, an observer would ask whether this was due to Romania’s rapid deindustrialisation following Communism, which must have witnessed a surge in unemployment.

But on paper, only 4.18 per cent of Romanians are jobless. One of the lowest numbers in the EU. So why do they move abroad?

Firstly, there is no job security. Only 5.1 per cent of the working poor aged 16 to 64 have a permanent employment contact.

Secondly, wages are too low. The country has the second lowest minimum wage in the EU - at a net value of 1,065 Lei (232 Euro) per month. Over 230,000 citizens earn less than the minimum wage. The state has to top up the difference with benefits.

Thirdly, too many employers pay this rock-bottom salary. According to Labour Inspection agency data, around a third of contracts covering full and part time jobs pay the national minimum wage or under.

Romania’s average (median) salary, the net cash that families take home at the end of the day - is the EU’s lowest - at 2,448 Euro per annum, and has been since the crisis of 2008. Bulgaria beats it with 3,151 Euro, according to Eurostat.

This is set against the fact that prices of goods and energy costs are more or less the same as in western Europe.

“An increased number of sexual abuse cases”

This behaviour of the children left behind changes. A 2012 UNICEF report, and a Soros Foundation study found that parent migration was one of the main causes of children leaving school early. In general, one in five kids in Romania leave school early. This rate is on the rise - to 19.1 per cent in 2015, according to an EU report.

Director of the Social Assistance and Child Protection Services (DGASPC) in Iaşi Niculina Karacsony says a major problem is that many children have not been prepared by their parents for a temporary separation.

“We’re not condemning parents who leave to earn a living abroad,” says Karacsony. “But we are condemning those who do so without preparing their children for the separation, and who do not communicate often with them.”

This is backed up by Alex Gulei, executive director of Alternative Sociale, an NGO in Iaşi which works closely with DGASPC. “One thing that comes up again and again is that they hate when parents forget to Skype at 7 pm as they are expecting, or promise to return on a date when they don’t,” says Gulei. “They hate it when parents do not deliver on their word.”

In the most extreme cases, say experts, kids left behind by parents have died following irreversible depression. Another problem is domestic violence. Among the cases of children of migrant workers that are referred to DGASPC Iaşi, its director stresses “an increased number in cases of sexual abuse”.

This most commonly happens within the family, and when mothers are not at home. Some fathers have not seen their wives for a long time, and have taken to drink, while brothers have abused their siblings. Victims have been as young as three years’ old.

“I grew up with my parents fighting. This was our normal.”

19 year-old Andreea’s mother worked abroad in Italy during her teenage years, leaving her and her younger sister with a father who took to drink and violence.

“I grew up with my parents fighting,” she says. “This was our normal. I was glad when mommy left because my father was brutal with her. Finding work in Italy was her escape.“

Now she is a volunteer organising social activities at the Alaturi de Voi Foundation, which aims to reduce teenage pregnancies and drug abuse, and offers young people social and psychological support.

Photo: “I asked my mother to come home immediately, but because we would be left with no money, I had to wait for her to save for one more year,” Andreea, now 19. Credit: Johnny Green, Investigate Europe, July 2017, Liteni, Romania

Just before Andreea became a teenager, her mother, a sales assistant, needed money because she was in debt after defaulting on bank loans. Her earnings from work in Italy covered the interest payments, and she could send cash home only for food.

“But there would be times when father would waste all the money on smoking or another of his addictions,” she says. ”He became jealous, and suspected my mother of cheating.”

Her mother telephoned often and saw her daughters once or twice a year. But having to step into her mother’s role, take care of her little sister and the house, meant Andreea would be fainting, and feeling sick, and soon developed gastritis.

”It was mainly because of stress, but also poor nutrition,” she says. “I was young when mother left, I couldn't cook and was eating instant soup all the time.”

During this time, the teenager was admitted to hospital for five times with gastritis.

As her parents’ marriage disintegrated, her father began hitting his two daughters.

”He filed for a divorce, thinking this would bring my mother home and make her stay,” she says. “Mother saw this as her chance to escape a bad marriage and she took it.”

As the separation began, Andreea’s father kicked his two kids out of the house. They did not even have time to pack their belongings. In shock, they sought refuge at their grandparents’ house, where - due to the age gap - they would have constant arguments.

“I asked my mother to come home immediately, as I could not look after myself,” she says. “But because we would be left with no money, I had to wait for her to save for one more year.”

Alexandra says that she has lived in “total stress” most of the years spent away from her mother.

“If someone is confrontational or raises their voice, I’m in tears,” she says. “I cry out randomly and I don’t understand why.”

ORIGINAL PUBLICATION - The Black Sea - http://m.theblacksea.eu/stories/article/en/mothers-leave-romania#

Photography: Johnny Green

#migration #labour migration #gig economy #national minimum wage #Romania #crina boros #iasi #liteni #johnny green #investigate europe #the black sea #children #home

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sploosh-z · 7 years

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Nostalgia 💡

0- I wonder what was going through my mothers mind as she pushed my enormous head out I mean I'm sure she was thinking the same thing she wants me to be just like my dad when I grow up. 4- man oh man me and my 2 best friends I'm not gonna lie we made that pre k playground excuse my language but our BITCH I mean yeah after we argued over who got to be the red ranger...I was the black ranger I don't know why but whatever and these three girls with the cooties chased us all around. They even kissed us on the cheek...THE CHEEK I scrubbed my face for about 1 or 2 WHOLE SECONDS before I went back out, I fell running out though and I got my first knot on my head so my mom picked me up early and she let me play brick breaker on her blackberry when I got home so it was worth it. 5- This was officially the best Christmas ever, I woke up and after opening all of my presents, of course Bobb wouldn't let me open the big one first, I saw, it was a gameboy, A FREAKING GAMEBOY but there weren't any games so I opened another box and then I got the biggest smile ever YOU GOT ME POKEMON FIRE RED AND LEAFGREEN I finally get to become a Pokemon trainer but before I could play I had to leave it there, mom picked me up so we went home she got me a bunch of clothes. 7- for some weird reason mom took me out of parent, I'm leaving all my friends Cornell, jaelyn for what? some weird school in culver city I can't even pronounce. I've been here for a while though and I've learned maybe it's not half bad and dad came to pick me up I haven't seen him in almost a month so I hopped in and the best part about it was I didn't go to school for a week we just hung out, then like always mom was really really mad this time she yelled at dad, his girlfriend, Bobb, meme and even me when I got in the car I cried but played sonic on the dreamcast and forgot all about it while I ate her macaroni and cheese. 8- so mom told me that I have to talk to a lawyer? I don't know why but he's been asking me weird questions like, who do I want to live with who makes me happy between mommy and dad. My aunts and dad have been buying a lot of gift baskets too, but mommy and dad were yelling in front of dad's house and the police came to get dad and mom I overheard the police talking about putting me in some far away place called a foster home but my aunts said that isn't necessary and they would watch me for the time being. I guess I'll just keep playing my PS2 and beat psychonauts and kingdom hearts while I wait for them to come back. 9- mom was really mad today, she's mad because apparently dad won me I guess so now I don't get to see her except for Tuesday's and every other weekend, she kept hitting my hand on our way home and yelling while we cried. Apparently I've made a grave mistake but how was I supposed to know, after a while we played ratchet and clank together all night until I went back home or my new home or I don't know it's hard to describe. We look through the past because times going way too fast we just wish these moments would last and we can just forget the bad. We look through the past because times going way too fast we just wish these moments would last and we can just forget the bad. We look through the past because times going way too fast- 12- I think I've met the love of my life. She so pale but I love the way our hands look when they're clasped together. I think she catches my eye because she looks nothing like everyone else at this school. She sticks out like a sore thumb, yet she wishes to blend in with the crowd. But I sit next to her and she doesn't blend in to me, I wish she was into me. she's always writing and when I asked her about it she actually showed me, that took like 3 months for me to even pull off. And I want something to talk about her with so I'm going to start writing, maybe we can write together, maybe we can actually be more than friends. Maybe be more than friends, maybe she'll leave her boyfriend that doesn't value her enough. I think I love her more than my parents and she doesn't even know it. 6th grade is confusing. 13- She doesn't have a boyfriend anymore. She has a girlfriend. One of my friends who knew I liked her is dating her. YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME I WAITED MONTHS FOR THIS JUST TO LOSE MY CHANCE TO SOMEONE ELSE. We like the same music together I opened her up to more rap like she's never heard of Kid Cudi so you know I had to help her with that it'll get us through our hard times. The soundtrack of our lives. And she showed me some cool rock that's really insightful thanks to MCR and the Beatles. We shared writing with each other, the other girl doesn't even write like me and her did. We spoke day and night, Me, Alexis, Jonathan and Sheury. The best 4 friends together and I just wanted Sheury, but I don't think she'll ever realize it. At this point I don't know what's worse girl problems or family problems. Also learned the word priority today, maybe I need to get those in check. 13- Talk about a love triangle. I would love to catch you up to speed but I have a limited amount of paper and time on this world. My outlook on life since I met her has been.. hazy to say the least basically I feel like life is brighter around her and I love to brighten her day up when she feels beat down, she's always beat down but when I'm without her or feel like me being able to grasp her hand, to hug her, to hold her, it hurts, too much. 13- why is this year going by so slow, I can't tell if I'm just savoring it too long now. I finally got the courage after much much counseling with Jon to go for it. As I told her my stomach turned more and more. It was like gambino when he told the girl on the bus that he loved her as I used the same word, destiny. All you did was smile as well and said okay, you liked me too but you couldn't do that to Alexis, so we just kept it to ourselves, not much changed for a while. Until one day. One day, we held hands, the next day we hugged a long time before you left, the next day you broke up with Alexis, the next two weeks, we began dating, the next two months, we beggar to say we love each other. 6 months and we still haven't kissed let's just hope I do it right. 14- We don't argue, never fight, talk day and night, I could see nothing wrong. I would only want us to be together forever. Seeing you everyday I guess made me spoiled. Because one day you told me that you were leaving the school. I mean like it shouldn't be that bad but at the time it was devastating. But I knew that we could last right? But then my mom went through my phone, didn't exactly approve of you. Of how we spoke. Man we were nasty back then haha. But I told her we broke up even when we didn't. Fourteen. 14. I thought we could last. I hate Facebook. As I scrolled down I saw a picture you posted, clearly of you, kissing another guy. Who cheats in middle school what the hell. All I remember is asking you, and you confirmed it, then crying. I remember tears to the Beatles, oh the irony shedding tears to Hey Jude. Goodbye Jude. 14- honestly I forget how old I was when I graduated 8th grade I lose track I just know that I didn't skip a grade and didn't get held back. I remember missing grad night with all my friends that I wouldn't see again besides a handful because my mom didn't want to take me to school. I remember holding my aunt in my arms for a picture I still have in my phone, your smile was as pure as your intentions for me. At least you made it to one of my graduations before you left. I believe that your spirit is still in the house. I remember reading the Alchemist in 2 days because I had to read it for high school but it also spoke to me. Something about the ambiguity. Was beautiful. Then, before high school mom you decided to leave with my brother to New York. How could you leave me. Do you even love me? We look through the past because times going way too fast we just wish these moments would last and we can just forget the bad. We look through the past because times going way too fast we just wish these moments would last and we can just forget the bad. We look through the past because times going way too- 14- and then poof. One day during freshman year, you were gone. You can't just pass away. Who's going to make me lemon cake? All I remember is somber moods. Crying for weeks in a small room where it felt like the walls were closing in. This might be the shortest because you left me speechless. 16-first high school girlfriend. And you didn't exactly make me hate them but you made them feel dull. At least my friends didn't hate you so that was a plus. We dated for 9 months and you made me just feel stagnant. I wanted growth from one another that we couldn't get. You helped me realize how I avoid everything. I didn't want to break up and prolonged it for 2 months because I was just avoiding it. You got me socks for my birthday like come on. So I'll just keep drifting through life with my friends. I love my friends. 17- I've dated this new girl for over a year now. And you know maybe I'm an bad guy. Maybe we're had people together. We're toxic together you cut me off from society. We aren't all against you, I have to hide everything from you, I have to hide my poetry from you. But I can't just leave I just don't know what to do. It feels like we're just dragging along. Why do we have to do that to ourselves. Just leave me alone. Let me be. Leave me alone. Let me be. You get happiness that you always whine for. I don't feel happy either. So what is the point. I've been reading the Prophet. It helps me realize everything that you've done. You've held me back from growing, I hate stagnation. How about we grow alone and find our ambition together. 18- One word. Rebirth.

#poet #poem #poetry #prose poetry #prose poem #prose #stream of consciousness #storytelling #life #love #heartbreak #nostalgia #soti #poets on tumblr #long post #long poem #long poetry

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darklingichor · 6 years

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Gilmore Girls Season Two, Episodes 8 & 9

It would be nice to watch one episode of this show where someone I regularly see doesn't set my teeth on edge. I grew up watching weekly TV and it is possible to have conflict between recurring characters where you don't want to put one into a medically induced coma, so they can grow a new personality.

So I can see why I didn't remember much about this episode. Three things that were awesome: Mia, Luke giving Lorelei a pep talk, the development of the painting.

The rest is annoying.

Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with flights between friends. If everyone was always skipping through meadows it would be stupid. However, as I've said before, I have a problem with conflicts that come about because people don't open their damned mouths. As fast and as often as Lorelei talks, she couldn't say to Sookie “Mia selling this place scares me because this is where Rory and I started out” ? I know that sometimes friends pick fights with each other when they are stressed but in my experience, once you get into your 30s and have friends that have known each other, long enough you can tell that's what happening. There have been numerous times when my best friend or I have started a conversation where one of us is just geared up for a fight. My friend let's me get about ten words in before she says “You're acting weird, tell me what's wrong.” I can be a little more blunt saying something along the lines of “What are you pissed off about?” She has two kids so once I turned the mom tables on her and said: “Use your words”.

Basically a blind cat could see that Lorelei was being an ass and it had nothing to do with Sookie. I have a hard time buying that Sookie wouldn't see it. Why did there need a fight in the first place? Was the script too short? Lorelei could have been freaked out and been a little quiet with Sookie and it would have had the same effect. Luke could have just as easily asked how Lorelei was doing with the business stuff, and they could have had the same heart-to-heart. Lorelei could have come to Sookie and explained why she was being so weird, and they could have had a similar moment. The script must have been two minutes too short.

The town turning on Luke... Yep, officially dislike Jess. Also, not too happy with the rest of the town. I'm a little biased here. I grew up in a small town, while there were no town meetings where everyone got together to decide who to treat badly, there were certain people who were just routinely shit upon. It usually had to do with what last name you had. Two families in particular were sort of singled out as “bad news”. The weird part? Everyone in town (except for a very very small number of people) were in some way related to those two families, hell, those two families were related to each other. It always seemed crazy to me... But then I was one of those few people not related to anyone in town maybe it made sense if you had an inside track?

Anyway, I get where the town is coming from, sort of. Jess is a pain in the ass, but he is doing minor mischief. Star's Hollow should count themselves lucky that they aren't a bigger town because Jess is the type to match his mayhem to the town. In a bigger place, there just might have been a dead animal outside the store instead of a chalk outline.

I did love Rory telling him off. I don't really get why Rory would find the prank funny. I mean, she likes the town, right? And while her and her mom do like seeing Star's Hollow residents be quirky she's never really shown any love of chaos. I mean, yeah, Jess is being the G rated version of Loki, but he's still making a lot of people unhappy. I would think that that alone would annoy Rory.

Also, the vibe I got was that he did the whole prank as a way to get Rory's attention... What's the thought process?

“How do I impress the pretty girl who reads a lot? Talk to her about books? Movies? Just talk to her in general? Nah, too common. I know! Dead body chalk outline and police tape! That's not freakishly odd and totally not an idea I should seek therapy for!”

Then again, I also don't get the thought process of ��How do I fix the fact that I made the whole town turn on my uncle? I'll fix the toaster, now we're square!”

Jess is both weird and annoying.

I did like the interaction between Emily and Mia. It is weird because I see both sides. I totally get why Emily would be upset that Mia didn't send her home, but on the other hand I get why Mia didn't. Mia didn't send her home because she couldn't have.

Think about it. A sixteen-year-old turns up with a baby, asking for a job, she has steel and determination in her eyes. If you tell her no, you can tell she's not going to give up. She'll just move on to a place that would hire her and maybe that wouldn't be a place where she and her baby would be safe. If you give her a job and a place to stay and then try to make her go home. You can't be sure that she'll actually go home or stay home, that leaves the pair of them in the same iffy situation. Mia knew that Lorelei and Rory would be safe with her, so she took them in.

Not saying Emily should be happy about it, but as always she is looking at how Lorelei leaving impacted her and Richard, not anyone else. She has never talked to Lorelei, asked what her thinking was, the why of it all. It is just all about Emily. That is annoying. But I do like that she seems to be taking small steps forward.

All in all a fairly forgettable episode.

Episode 8. Don't really know why I forgot this one as I really liked it. I loved the ice cream machine bit. I loved that Lorelei named it and called a bunch of relatives. She should have just donated it to Luke's! Even if he didn't need it he would have taken it. Made it into a planter or something.

I feel sorry for Paris for a number of reasons but this episode highlights one. She's laser focused on college, so much so that she's not getting the most out of her education. The assignment of interpreting Romeo and Juliet in a new way is a great one! It allows for the students to really look at and analyze the play, think about the themes consider which are universal and which were products of the time and culture it was written in. This allows for creative thinking and the development of the ability to think about and use what one is learning. But poor Paris is only worried about the grade and so afraid of taking risks that she will only go with what is standard. I speak from experience here, college will melt your brain until you learn how to think.

The teachers are worried because Rory doesn't socialize? I would think they would also be worried that Paris can't think beyond the rigid boundaries of what is written on a page. This school is supposed to prep the kids for college, right? They aren't doing anything differently than the public schools of the early 2000s (aside from the one rogue teacher, I guess).

I kinda like the fact that Paris ended up being Romeo. If they had used a more modern setting that could have been the plan from the start and the whole Tristian drama could have been avoided. I mean, they could have reinterpreted the whole “forbidden love” thing as a lesbian relationship or with the idea that Romeo might be a DFAB trans guy. It would have highlighted society's issues with non hetero, non binary identities. Hell, if they wanted to go deep they could have figured out a way to address the “LGBTQ+ people don't get happy endings” trope that is obvious in a lot of media.

That would have been interesting as Paris and Rory would have had to work together to make this believable and maybe come out of it with a better idea of each other's perspectives.

Speaking of perspective, it was a throw away joke but I liked that Lane's mom watched and came up with a different take on Romeo and Juliet. In my view, R&J is many things, but a love story it is not! What kind of great love story ends in teen suicide? Sure, I thought of it as a love story when I was younger as do a lot of teenagers. I think this makes a point about the play. Teenagers do dumb things out of emotion (adults do too, but that's a whole other line of thought). This doesn't mean that teens are dumb just that they are feeling things so intensely, probably because it is the first time they have felt these emotions that they do stuff that is not well-thought-out. Add parental pressure to that and you have a powder keg. I think R&J is more about how overly controlling parents can push their kids into dangerous situations. Also, to look at the play in a way that might not have been Shakespeare's intent, it could also be seen as a parable detailing why 14 year olds might not be ready for marriage, arranged or otherwise.

Anyway, the little “love triangle” between Christian, Rory, and Dean in this episode was less interesting. First off, I get that Rory is a pretty girl but why is she like catnip to all the boys? Are there really no other nice girls in Chilton or Star's Hollow? The way all the guys flock to and fight over her, you'd think she was dating a sparkly vampire.

Secondly, am I the only one who sees a lot of similarity between Tristian and Jess? Is that why Tristian had to go? Because he was redundant? It is sort of like Christopher and Max. They both could play the same role so one of them had to be cut. The writers needed to compare notes because I feel like there were a few “Oops, we wrote another doppelganger” discussions.

Thirdly, why is Rory still getting the blame for her and Dean's break up? The whole practice fight between Lorelei and Rory just highlights that Lorelei is sort of mean when it comes to this plot line. Dean told Rory he loved her and then got pissed and broke up with her because she didn't feel comfortable saying it back. How does this make Dean the victim? Just because one person is ready for the L word doesn't mean that the other person is, and that doesn't make the latter person bad. Acting like an ass and breaking up with someone you “love” because you didn't hear what you wanted to hear when you wanted to hear it makes that person a jerk.

This seems sort of like the whole “friend zone” myth. A dude decided he wants to date someone but that person doesn't want to date him therefore it is the other person's fault because the dude wants to date them, so they should date the dude! He's decided that he is the right guy for this person, so it must be true. The other person is just a bitch.

Dean loves Rory and is ready to say it, therefore Rory must love Dean and be ready too. He's reached this point so, goddammit, she needs to be at this point too. After all Dean decides how emotions work.

Dean is a teenager (and did something dumb out of emotion) so I can sort of forgive him for not fully empathizing and acting out of hurt feelings. It is the fact that Lorelei keeps sticking up for the dude who was trying to emotionally manipulate her daughter that gets to me. That was part of the “rage trilogy” from last season that made me annoyed at Lorelei because she was all “See it from his side” which is totally valid except for the fact that his side was to act like a brat who didn't get the ice cream he wanted *right then*.

Uge!

Okay on to somewhat happier things. Lorelei's date. That was cute and funny, how she was all proud of being a casual dater and I even liked a lot of jokes Luke made about how old the guy was. It was also really cute how Sookie tried to explain Luke to her. But Luke was being snarkier than necessary. I mean Lorelei is firmly set on her course of sailing that river in Egypt, so she's not going to ask him out right now. I get him being jealous, but he could, you know *ask her out*. I get why he doesn't, I mean what if she says no? But if what Sookie said is supposed to be true, that he's upset because it seems like Lorelei would date anyone but him, how can he be pissed at her when he's never asked? I guess that's why Luke limits it to taking pot shots and then being grouchy(ier) because he realizes he's sulking? Oddly I don't mind this sort of stuff when it involves Luke and Lorelei but when the same stupid jealousy stuff comes up with Rory and Dean, it bugs me. Maybe because as pouty as Luke gets he doesn't act like he owns Lorelei? Don't know really. Luke is likable, Dean is not. Might be as simple as that.

A forgettable episode followed by a pretty good one. Episode 8 didn't have Jess and despite revolving around Rory's love life Dean was less irritating than Tristian. Nothing has pissed me off horribly yet. So far, so good.

#gilmore girls #rambles

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freinhardt56 · 4 years

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BEST WESTERN CARTOONS OF THE DECADE

With the return of Avatar: The Last Airbender to the popular psyche, I thought it would be a good time to rank the Western Cartoons it inspired in the decade after the show aired: the 2010s. While no shows were able to dethrone the Legend of Aang, every cartoon on this list is worth watching, which is not something I could say about the 10 best western cartoons of any other decade.

Notes:

This list only contains TV shows appropriate for children created in North America or Europe that ‘aired’ 2011-2020.

Some of these shows are considered anime, but I would also consider them cartoons. Cartoons that are also anime are labeled (A).

These are my opinions, DM me if you respectfully disagree.

#1 The Legend of Korra (A)

At its best moments, The Legend of Korra is everything I want out of a TV show. Aside from Book 2 - which is still a better season than half of the shows on this list ever produced - The Legend of Korra brought thrilling dozen-episode seasons to the world of Avatar. The villains are philosophically and emotionally compelling - unnervingly convincing as well. Indeed all of the characters are wonderful, and the show gives each one of them their due, despite how very many of them there are. The score is hands-down #1 on this list. The action is arguably better than any North American cartoon in history. The "Holy Shit" moments are not only surprising, but always satisfying to rewatch. Yet despite all of that and more, Korra's greatest strength is its protagonist. Korra grows every season, but is also deeply hurt by her experiences, leading to one of the best mental illness rebounds in Book 4. The Legend of Korra may boast some of the best representation, visuals, and mythology in TV history, but even if it didn’t, the protagonist could carry The Legend of Korra to the #1 spot on this list.

#2 Steven Universe

Steven Universe may not be a consistently high quality show, and rarely does it provide great fight scenes or animation. But on an emotional level, Steven Universe has everything going for it. Gem fusion is one of my favorite concepts in television. The characters are memorable, lovable, and relatable. The songs are Broadway quality, powerful, and I sing them when I need to feel the feelings they express. The representation is truly exemplary, the voice talent is movie-grade, and the characters reflect many our own real experiences. Steven Universe has taught me to master my emotions in a manner I use to educate psychology postdoctoral students. This show is fantastic... if you don't mind slogging through Season 1.

#3 The Dragon Prince

While The Legend of Korra is the official successor to Avatar the Last Airbender, The Dragon Prince is its spiritual successor. The first 3 seasons have been visually gorgeous, character-driven, and more rewatchable than just about any show on this list. The moral messages - specifically that history should not be a story of strength, but a story of love - shake the medieval fantasy genre to its core. The character and especially world-design leaves no stone unturned. Book 1′s framerate isn’t always fast enough, but its quality dramatically improved for the 2nd and 3rd Books, along with the representation (which was still pretty solid in season 1). If the show is given the 4 extra seasons it deserves, the world-building could easily rival that of Elder Scrolls, Warcraft and Avatar, and may even jump to the #1 spot on this list.

#GIVEUSTHESAGA

#4 She-Ra

Before season 5 premiered, She-Ra was going to be in the bottom half of this list. While seasons 1-4 were very good at dealing with abuse, and making us care about abusers and victims alike (sometimes the same person), the show felt very slow and undriven. Season 5 on the other hand was a total treat. The show improved on its weaknesses, with high quality action, perfect pacing, and very real stakes. Furthermore, the show took its strengths to legendary levels. The damage dealt to Catra’s psyche over 4 seasons began to heal realistically, in the best redemption arc on this list. The expressions of love and willpower become even stronger to fight Horde Prime. And most importantly, Catradora gave us the climax kiss scene the action-adventure gays deserve.

#5 Voltron: Legendary Defender (A)

If any show on this list has better animation or action than The Legend of Korra, it is Voltron (probably because Studio Mir is just that good). Voltron's core characters are all relatable and wonderful, with each of the core 7 finding time in the spotlight. It is incredibly rewatchable, the stakes are always real, and Season 7 is gritty as all hell. Weaknesses include a slow first season, and a frustrating instance of ‘bury your gays’.

#6 Star Wars: The Clone Wars

The Clone Wars has some truly forgettable and unwatchable episodes, even for the most die-hard Star Wars fans, putting this #6 show in a whole different tier than the top 5. But the upside to being an anthology series in a large expanded universe is that the best parts of Clone Wars stick with you, and can be re-watched without context again and again. The Clone Wars earns the #6 spot on this list for arcs like The 2nd Battle of Geonosis, Carnage of Krell, Arc Troopers, Mortis, The Wrong Jedi, Fugitive Fives, Old Friends Not Forgotten, and all episodes relating to Maul and/or Mandalore.

#7 Star Wars: Rebels

Rebels is frustrating in its spotty execution, because at its best it is everything I want out of a Star Wars cartoon: The main cast is 5 lovable characters who make a found family aboard the best ship in the rebellion (according to Han Solo). They include a victim of genocide who helps rebuild a home for his people, a Mandalorian artist (who invented the rebel insignia) abandoned by her people when she stood up for what she believes in, a master and apprentice Jedi learning to live and learn from each other in a post-Order 66 world, and a brilliant pilot Mom who is honestly just the best. The show becomes more consistently great as time goes on, but there are plenty of filler episodes and episodes you wish were filler so that you could tell people to skip them.

#8 Miraculous Ladybug

ML’s biggest strengths are in its gorgeous 3D animation and the ‘love square,’ a set of 4 ships consisting of two wonderful characters with superhero alter-egos. The show is fun, sweet, and has a brilliant supporting cast, but its poor writing and immense untapped potential (even after 78 episodes????) put it near the bottom of this list.

#9 Star Vs The Forces of Evil

Marco Diaz, Eclipsa, overtones of decolonization, and especially Star Butterfly, are what make this show worth watching. Star vs the Forces of Evil suffers from immense quantities of true filler and a mediocre supporting cast which would be damning enough to knock most shows of this list, but our Shooting Star is easily one of the best protagonists in this category, earning her show the #9.

#10 Young Justice

Young Justice has too many great characters - which frankly is this show’s strength and weakness. While there are alot of really cool side-character arcs, this show’s main cast is too big to have any of the arcs really hit home. The show is worth watching to fall in love with the cast, but I can’t promise it will stick with you (though it did stick with enough fans to bring the show back for a 3rd season).

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forlawfirmsonlymarketing · 4 years

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15 Ideas for Relieving Stress During Coronavirus Quarantine via @searchmastergen

We’re certainly living in strange times. While a global pandemic sweeps through our nation – and across the world – there is plenty to feel stressed about. People are losing their jobs. Parents are forced to find a way to have their child taken care of in response to mandatory school closing. Most terrifyingly, the weak and elderly – our grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, in-laws, and lifelong friends – are all very much at risk of being gravely affected by COVID-19, the novel coronavirus. Oh, yeah. We’re all confined to our homes for the most part, too. There is no shortage of stress-inducing realities that we are all facing, and it’s looking like this will be the case for the foreseeable future, at the very least. So, it’s time to explore some easy stress relievers while we are locked in our homes with limited human contact in an effort to keep our shit together, our attitudes positive, and our outlook on each day better than the day before.

Stress Relievers in Times of High Anxiety

There are the easy answers:

Home workouts.

Reading good books.

Walks outside in fresh air (while keeping your minimum 6-foot distance from others).

Online shopping.

These are some of the more common alternatives to losing your mind on accelerate. And they make sense. Working out is scientifically proven to naturally reduce stress through the release of endorphins and other chemical responses. Reading helps get the creative juices flowing. Fresh air is always good for the mind and body, too. But what about some other basic, not-so-common outlets for stress and anxiety in these strange times?

1. Take it Slow

Most important thing for us anxious, oft-worried people is to just take is slow. Deep breaths and relaxation remain unrivaled. But it’s easier said than done. Anyone with real anxiety knows that. Just never turn your back on the basics. The faster we realize we need to gain control to handle what comes at us, the easier everything else becomes. Remember to take it slow and think of the big picture. We’ve made it this far and we’re living in a big world. Appreciate it for what it is. More often than not, everything falls into place.

2. Less Coffee If You’re Like Me Right Now

For the naturally anxious and occasionally uncontrollable personalities, like me, less coffee can be better. I need at least a couple of cups to get going in the morning, especially on Mondays. Also, I have found myself four (or more) cups deep before noon due to working from home – and making coffee by the pot. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and anxious in these uncertain times. But I try to help myself stay grounded by regulating just how much caffeine I put into my body, especially when my total daily movement is at an all-time low. A cup or two is all most of us need for the day. Move onto water at some point. Then keep your focus once you’re awake and working at a pace that works for you. Don’t just keep drinking coffee until you’ve got the shakes and are about to explode. (Yes, I speak from experience!)

3. Take Breaks from Watching the News

We all want to stay up to date on the current situation to ensure we have the facts and know what we can truly expect. But there has to be a saturation point. As a news junkie myself, I typically watch hours of news each day. In these trying times, that’s probably not the healthiest choice. I’ve reduced my news-watching time significantly, mostly saving my viewing for the morning and evening news telecasts only. The mess on Facebook is a much different story. Sure, there can be good information on the social media platform, and it’s usually nice to have that human exposure – albeit virtually – but, we all know far too well, there’s a lot of crap on Facebook, too. Just like we manage our time watching the news, we need to manage our time on platforms like Facebook. Honestly, I have zero interest in having real-life contact with several of my “friends” on Facebook anytime soon. I also wonder why so many people never paid attention in ninth-grade library class (nor understand credibility, proper sourcing, etc.). No matter how you slice it, we need to manage and regulate our exposure to the outside madness when it comes to the news media and social media platforms.

4. Take a Trip on Foot (With or Without the Dog)

This is an easy one. And it’s a good one. There are a lot of things we are currently not allowed to do. Thankfully, walking outside is not one of them. So long as we keep our 6-foot distance from others, we are more than welcomed to get outside, get some fresh air while we take a quick run or walk the dog, and simply get in touch with the basics of life. Highly recommend.

5. Clean the House

If you’re like me, working in chaos is second nature. But working in a mess is a nightmare. And that, my friends, is one of the biggest dilemmas for working from home, at least for me. I find it hard to get in the zone if I’m sitting among dirty dishes, clothes that need to be put away, and piles of unnecessary toys that my 3-year-old leaves laying around always. So, I pick them up. I’m a lucky one in that cleaning is therapeutic to me. So, this helps in a multitude of ways. But the biggest factor here is the mental satisfaction I get from having a home (and temporary office) that is clean and tidy. It’s just one more way to eliminate unnecessary stress.

6. Talk to Friends & Family

As we now know, social distancing is not easy. It’s a fun joke or punchline when we bail on our friends (maybe even several times) to claim that we just want to be home alone in our pajamas. But being forced to stay in our homes and overthinking everything we touch for the small periods we actually leave (at the grocery store, gas station, bank, etc.) is no way to navigate life. We need to keep communicating with the outside world while we can, too. As mentioned, social networks help with this drastically. But there is plenty of toxicity out there that needs to be waded through as well. I’ve had several meetups with friends and/or coworkers since the 100 percent work-from-home mandate for non-essential employees in New York. And, while I still don’t think I am nearly as pretty as my mom pretended I was growing up (which became even more evident after staring at myself in the webcam during the meetups), this is definitely a fun and unique way to pass the time and stay somewhat normal. Zoom is easy to use, has some fun options for things like virtual backgrounds, and it’s free. We may not see these people (in person) for a couple more weeks, but we can connect with them in some capacity and keep things familiar with relative ease.

7. Start a Journal

As a journalist at heart, this is a no-brainer for me. But, like most of these alternatives, what works for me may not work for others. I’m just trying to provide some ideas; take what you’d like and modify as needed. I typically don’t keep a journal or diary, but when I do revisit old notes from certain periods of my life, I’m always intrigued. To be able to look back at a period of life and recite your thoughts is a strong, impactful way to remember the past. Pictures are great, but written dialogue (especially when written and read by the same person) has incredible power. It also offers some peace of mind and sanity. It’s almost like I’m visiting my shrink through handwriting at home.

8. Meditate

I don’t personally meditate, but many friends and coworkers do, and swear by it. It’s on the list of things I will certainly explore during this strange time. But meditation, along with breathing and mental-awareness exercises, are sure winners as ways to reduce stress by definition.

9. Try Something New

While many of us may be reluctant to break from what we already know we enjoy, now is also an ideal time to try some new things. Many of us will try some new programs on Netflix, maybe teach ourselves a new valuable skill, perhaps even cook up a new dish or two as we explore self-entertaining. It doesn’t hurt to try new things. Some of the new things I plan to do to keep my cool throughout quarantine are meditation, learn some coding skills, and definitely cooking things I never have before. I will be trying some new shows on Netflix, too.

10. Indulge in Satisfaction… But Work Toward It as a Reward

Another big one that seems pretty easy but may be overlooked is rewarding yourself with some of the finer things in life. A lot of us have been joking on social media about how we are going to be fat after this quarantining period is over with. And I’m not saying it’s wrong. Staying sane for the next few weeks may come with a few extra pounds when we are allowed to come out of our houses. I’ll take it. Some of my favorite “rewards” are ice cream, chocolate, Swedish Fish – even non-edibles like video games and other time-out pleasurables that help us feel good but should probably be indulged in at a regulated pace. Some of us also enjoy alcoholic beverages. Nothing wrong with that. I’ve just found it best to keep myself restricted to having my first drink until after 4 p.m. when my workday ends at 5 (officially). That time has since moved up to 3 p.m. over the last two days. The important part is just to keep it righteous and don’t do more harm than good.

11. Catch Up With Yourself & Life

I have long said that I need 36 hours in a day to get even half of the things done I would like to in one day. Life moves fast. I tend to, too. But this mandatory slow-down time – if you’re lucky enough to still have a job, be able to work from home, and are in good health – has allowed me to get a lot of my messy life elements in order. I’ve caught up on my mail. My house is clean. My laundry is done. There is something to be said for having order in life that helps with a positive outlook. And, for work, I am catching up on time-consuming tasks that would otherwise probably not get done anytime soon.

12. Don’t Work on the Same Thing Too Long

I’m extremely productive when I work from home. I also tend to go crazy a lot faster. Something I have found useful is the ability to shift gears regularly, or as needed. Same for when working in the office. If you’re able/don’t mind it, change up gears and put down a 3,000-cell Excel spreadsheet to take on a task or two that are easier. Maybe grab lunch, too. Come back and hammer out the spreadsheet for a couple of hours. Everybody loves a slight change of scenery, especially now.

13. Enjoy a Hobby – Any Way Possible

Face it. We don’t get enough time to enjoy the things we love. Even if we actually do. We’ll say we don’t. That’s why they are the things we love! In this period of social distancing, doing more of what we love is critical. Most of us have hobbies we like but just don’t get to do as much as we’d like. It could be painting, drawing, knitting, writing, reading, making music, or a million other things. Whatever you enjoy and makes you happy is the right answer here.

14. Sharpen Your Skillset

We live in a world where knowledge is very much available, and usually for free. And knowledge is power. Been meaning to teach yourself how to code? How to play the guitar? Learn a new language? Now is the time. There are plenty of free platforms out there to learn code, including Codecademy and a myriad of YouTube resources. Fender is giving away three months of free guitar lessons in this time of quarantine. Duolingo is a dependable easy-to-use free resource for learning a new language, too. Heck, maybe you’ve been meaning to read (and master) Kamasutra. Now’s the time.

15. Create

Weird situations like the coronavirus-created life shutdown are rare, but they’re real. We don’t have much choice in the matter. What we do with our time is important, for our sanity, but also for our production. I can confidently say that I’ve been working more efficiently than usual on my regular day-to-day tasks, but I also feel privileged to be lucky enough to have a job with flexibility, good teammates, and good clients. Outside of my regular eight to 10 hours of work per day, I’ve explored other ways to occupy my time and aren’t coming out of my TV but also help keep the stress down. Working on a book I’ve put on far too long, catching up on old episodes of “Grey’s Anatomy”, and re-organizing my filing cabinet are three things I’ve put time into so far in quarantine, and all have helped regulate my stress.

Do What Works for You

Some things work for some people and others work for other people. The important thing to remember is not everything works the same for everyone. Finding what works well for you is one of, if not the, most important element to keeping your mind right in these times. There are many uncertainties that exist in this unsure time. One thing we all certainly need is to keep our cool. More Resources:

https://www.businesscreatorplus.com/15-ideas-for-relieving-stress-during-coronavirus-quarantine-via-searchmastergen/

#coronavirus #news #dailydoseofmarketing

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truesportsfan · 4 years

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Once an afterthought, Obi Toppin turned Dayton into NCAA title threat

His mother, Roni Toppin, described the season as “unimaginable” and “mind-blowing.” Close friend and teammate Jalen Crutcher called it “crazy.” Dayton Daily News beat writer David Jablonski labeled it “unprecedented” for the Dayton Flyers to have such a player.

Even Obi Toppin, a National Player of the Year favorite originally from Brooklyn, can’t believe the turn his life has taken over the last few months.

“It doesn’t feel real at all,” the 22-year-old redshirt sophomore told The Post in a phone interview. “I sit back and sometimes think, ‘What is going on?’ ”

This Cinderella, rags-to-riches story is hard to fathom. Nobody could see this late bloomer, who grew 8 inches from his junior year of high school until freshman year of college, coming.

The most exciting player in college basketball, the leader of the third-ranked team in the country, a consensus top-five NBA draft pick, didn’t have a single scholarship offer coming out of Ossining High School in Westchester. His first season at Dayton, he could only practice, due to academic shortcomings.

Now, you can’t turn on ESPN without hearing about the selfless 6-foot-9, 220-pound dunking machine, the son of Obadiah Toppin Sr., a New York City streetball legend known as “Dunker’s Delight.” He has turned Dayton into a national championship contender and potential No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament if the Flyers can win this week’s Atlantic 10 Tournament in Brooklyn, leading the Flyers to a perfect league season and a 29-2 record, with the lone two setbacks in overtime to No. 1 Kansas and Colorado.

“He’s for real,” ESPN analyst Dick Vitale said.

There was buzz surrounding Toppin before the season began. In his first year on the court at Dayton last season, he became the first freshman to be the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year and be voted a first-team selection since Lamar Odom in 1999. He averaged 14.4 points and 5.6 rebounds, then excelled at the Nike Skills Academy, outplaying the top returning college players in the country.

The Toppin family. Roni (top left), Obadiah Sr., Jacob (bottom left) and Obi.Roni Toppin

Dayton played in the prestigious Maui Invitational in November and the pro prospect everyone was talking about was Georgia freshman Anthony Edwards. The Bulldogs were Dayton’s opening-round opponent, and Toppin led an 80-61 rout, scoring 14 of his team’s first 16 points.

“We have the best player in the country,” Crutcher thought to himself. “I knew then.”

Dayton knocked off Virginia Tech in the second round and took Kansas to overtime. Toppin was named to the all-tournament team, averaging 22.3 points and 7.0 rebounds. It was the start of this hard-to-believe season in western Ohio.

Toppin is averaging team-highs of 20.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks, shooting a ridiculous 63.3 percent from the field and also knocking down 39 percent of his 3-point attempts. His star turn hasn’t changed his ball-moving ways. He’s averaging 2.2 assists, another factor in his NBA stock skyrocketing.

Teams love his athleticism, leaping prowess and team-first approach. Toppin reminds Vitale of former overall No. 1 pick Kenyon Martin and Vitale sees some attributes of Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen in him as well.

“No question, top five,” an NBA scout said. “Not even an issue. … All I know is from summer until now, he would be a top-10 pick in most drafts.”

Roni has heard from more than 100 people with connections to the NBA. Some have even contacted people she works with. But she tells them all the same thing: Wait until the season is over. It’s gotten so hectic she has changed the settings on her phone. Numbers not in her contact list go straight to voicemail.

“It’s off the charts,” said Roni, a special-education teacher.

This attention isn’t just new to the Toppin family, it’s a first for Dayton. ESPN brought its “College GameDay” show to campus over the weekend. The last Dayton player to be drafted in the first round was Jim Paxson in 1979 (12th overall). The team has never been higher than a fourth seed in the NCAA Tournament and Paxton was the school’s last All-American.

Roni laughed when asked if her son has become a celebrity. She is one, too. Fans will give her hugs and kisses, thanking her for allowing her son to attend the school. He has trouble getting around campus. He couldn’t even get to his car to get lunch last Saturday, his mother recalled.

“There’s never been a player like Obi at Dayton,” said Jablonski, the Dayton writer.

Toppin loved basketball at a young age because of his father, a streetball star who also played overseas. Along with his younger brother, Jacob, a freshman at Rhode Island, he would spend summer days watching his father on the city’s streetball circuit. The eldest Toppin would take them to open gyms.

Obi Toppin (right) with his younger brother JacobRoni Toppin

Toppin watched his father dunk in those games and began to mimic him once he was old enough.

“He did some crazy ones,” Toppin recalled.

He and Crutcher now go by the nickname “Peanut Butter and Jam,” instead of jelly, due to their frequent alley-oops. Toppin landed the No. 1 highlight on ESPN’s Top 10 plays after his between-the-legs slam in a regular-season closing win over George Washington. An appearance in the NBA Slam Dunk contest could be in his future.

“He put on three dunks in transition during the game [I was at] that were just electrifying,” Vitale said.

In the first grade, the family moved from Brooklyn to Florida, before returning to Ossining following his sophomore year of high school. Toppin was growing at a crazy rate, and his knees hurt all the time. He didn’t play much his junior year of high school, but he finally shined as a senior, averaging 20.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists. Still, he had no real options by the end of that season. Junior college was the plan.

That plan changed in the summer, after Victor Monaros, who had played with Toppin’s father in college and overseas, came to watch him play at The Rucker in Harlem. Monaros was impressed by his raw ability and skill set. He thought prep school would help him. Roni, though, had already explored that avenue. She couldn’t afford it.

“Give me one week,” Manaros told her.

A week later, Manaros presented the family with an opportunity at Mount Zion Prep in Maryland that included a scholarship. Junior college was put on hold.

Less than a month after his arrival, Toppin was already seeing the benefits of the training he was now receiving. His body was getting pushed and it was responding. Facing stiffer competition added motivation. At his first official practice, he received his first scholarship offer, from Georgia.

One day, he called his mother and said, “I’m going to the NBA.”

“That’s why I am the player I am today,” Toppin said.

So excited by that Georgia offer, Toppin wanted to commit on the spot. He didn’t know more would be coming. Illinois, Mississippi State and Georgetown were among others to offer him a scholarship. Eventually, he settled on Dayton. On the way to the airport for his official visit, Toppin thought the school was in Florida. He knew so little about it. Soon, he realized it was in Ohio. There were Dayton fans on the plane, and they knew about him. He felt that same love during his visit, a connection to the school.

Despite all the accolades, the stunning dunks and the gaudy record, what stands out the most about Toppin is his character. The year he sat out he won the team’s Dr. George Rau Spirit Award, the first time it went to an inactive player. He was a superstar cheerleader, always trying to boost everyone around him, even in a dismal season that saw Dayton finish under .500 for the first time in 11 years. In the background of photos Jablonski took, he would always see Toppin jumping up and down after made baskets.

“I always like to see a smile on someone’s face,” he said.

“You want to be around guys like that,” Dayton coach Anthony Grant said. “It’s who Obi is. He’s all about team, he’s always been wired that way.”

As a kid, Roni called him “The Mayor.” Toppin wanted to be everyone’s friend. He would be in a stroller, waving to people as they passed.

When asked about his season, Toppin will acknowledge his teammates first every time. Without them, he repeated multiple times, his rise wouldn’t be possible. It’s more than talk. Toppin plays the part, always making the extra pass. Vitale noticed how teammates gravitated toward him in warm-ups.

“He’s addicting — people love to be around him,” Roni said.

When asked about the NBA, Toppin passed on the topic, preferring to focus on the season. Even last year, as he was thriving, he could never imagine being in this position. The NBA was always a dream, just like playing at the highest level of college basketball was, too. He never imagined it playing out this way. It feels like a fantasy, one he’s living out every day. Recently, he asked his mom, “Did you think I was going to be this good?”

A psychic could not have anticipated this.

Obi Toppin is dunking Dayton to a No. 1 seed. He’s going to be a high lottery pick. He could wind up the National Player of the Year.

He still can’t fathom how fast all of this has happened. Just yesterday, it seems like, he was getting ready to go to junior college.

“I came from the bottom,” Toppin said.

source https://truesportsfan.com/sport-today/once-an-afterthought-obi-toppin-turned-dayton-into-ncaa-title-threat/

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11humssmabinisblog · 4 years

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Destined by Rexylhen Garcia

“Because im waiting for you, waiting for this dream to come true…” while listening to mayonnaise's synesthesia, I heard a voice, a familiar voice, “MS. ANGELINE BALACANO!! ARE YOU LISTENING?!” it was my teacher's voice calling me, “YES SIR, IM LISTENING” i answered. The class ended and it was break time, as I was walking with my friends to get something to eat, I forgot that we have an assignment for the next subject so I rushed back to our room to do our assignment, while im walking as fast as I can, i bumped into this guy, “ouch, look where you're going” he said, it was Amier, the school's heartthrob, I didn’t had time to say sorry because im in a rush but I saw his face a bit pissed but in my mind, my assignment was much more important. Days past, my birthday is coming up and my friends planned to visit me and that day went well but while im having fun, my phone rang and it was a message from a familiar name, it's from Amier “happy birthday, Angeline!” I silently panicked, I replied “Thankyou and sorry that I bumped to you a day ago” and our message went on and on until we are getting comfortable with talking to each other. The other day, we saw each other at school and he asked me to eat after class, I agreed. This habit went on for days and months until I felt the attachment so I confessed to him right away and he said that he felt the same. Months of courting until we became official and even though a lot of girls get pissed off because they had a crush on Amier but at the end, I managed to became friends with them and everything went well. Months passed and we became happy as ever, but nothing last. As I was sitting at the living room, I saw my mom pale and looking so tired, so I told her to rest and I gave her a glass of water and sitted next to her to ask if she's alright. She said some words that gives me confusion at the same time made my heart happy and make me appreciate her more. She taught me that love is unending and we would know that love is true when he picks us everyday, and I should find someone who will love me like how my dad loved my mom. Our talk went on and on and I learn a lot from her. I love my mom so much. As days passed, while im eating lunch with my friends and Amier, I got a call from my dad telling me that mom was rushed to the hospital because she got a heart attack, and my tears flowed like a river as he told me “Your mom was called death on arrival”. I rushed to the hospital and found my mom lifeless and it torn me to pieces and that day might be the worst day of my life. Until my mom's burial, I was so devastated and sad but I know that she is with our creator and she is in a happier place. Because of this, I got sad and my grades are failing but over all this pain and misery, there were sunshine that is shining through me, it was Amier who gave me hope and brought back my smile again and told me to be happy because my mom would not like to see me this broken and just keep on praying. I'm so thankful that I found Amier to help me conquer all this sadness and slowly im feeling better. Im back to my old jolly self. Years passed and im graduating with honors, just a couple of days before my graduation I found out something and it broke me again. I found out that Amier is cheating with my friend, the one who had a crush on him when we were in high school. It left me with the questions “why?”, he left me and I begged for him to stay. “Angeline please, you'll find someone better” was the last thing he said and left me. I was left alone and on the day of our graduation, I saw him and we said our goodbyes for the last time. Yes, I might have achieved my goal to finish school but it's not the same without him but im still glad because this is for my mom. 5 year later, i'm working for a company with a good position and im now paying back the hard work of my parents. “ANGELINEEEE WAKE UPPPP!! WE'RE GOING TO BE LATE!!” a shout of my officemate and friend from outside my condo, as I woke up, I saw that it was already 8:30 and we should be at the office at 9 o'clock. When im finally done, we hurried to grab a cab when suddenly I forgot my phone in my unit so I rushed back to get my phone when suddenly I stumbled into a familiar face, it was Amier. I felt my whole body shivered and quickly get my phone to text my officemates to go on because I felt sick, but in reality, I just wanted to talk to Amier. He asked me to get some coffee with him so I agreed. We talked about our lives and that he achieved his dream in becoming a high-ranked police officer. Our talk went on and on and became friends again. We texted day and night, until one day he went to my work to fetch me and told me that we're going somewhere. I didn't hesitated. We drove until we reached a spot where we can see the city lights below, we are at Baguio. He opened the back of his car and there were pillows and some light beers. We sitted and drank some beers while looking at the view. Suddenly, he spoke, “I still love you, I really do. I regret everything i've done and the pain i've caused you. I realized everything that’s why I worked hard to pursue my dreams and you don’t know how long i've been finding you. After all this years, you're still the one I love. Angeline, can we start again?”, this made my tears fall because after all these years, Amier is still the love of my life. I accepted him and we became happy together like we used to be. We worked hard and saved enough money to open our own café like what we have dreamed. We focused and worked together to have the life that we used to dream. We became successful and travelled to places we planned when we were in highschool. Then my birthday came, we remembered that we started with a simple greeting, now we are here. We visited my mom at the cemetery and I told her how happy I am and I know that she is happy for me too and it is her who guided me. One day, when I was on my way to the café, at the parking I was intrigued because the lights are all off, so I slowly entered the door but in a surprise, I saw candles and petals of roses all over the place, then I saw a shadow of a man, it was Amier. He caught my attention and my eyes are only at him. My heart pounded so fast. Then he walked towards me, when he was at front of me, he said “I never thought that God would ever bless me with an angel like you. I've waited so long for you, for our dreams to come true. With you here standing in front of me is like im on cloud 9, I know that I made the biggest mistake of hurting you and with that, I almost lost you. Now that you're here by my side again, I cannot afford to lose you again that's why…” he paused and suddenly kneeled and put out a red velvet box then asked me “Angeline Isabel Nalda Balacano, Will you marry me?”, I didn’t hesitated and said “YES”. I hugged him super tight. By that time, I remembered what my mom told me and I prayed so that she can hear me, “Mom, thank you for all the lessons and guide you gave, I finally found someone who would love me like how dad loved you. I miss you and I love you so much, mom”. The day came, it was a beach wedding in Maldives, everyone is happy and excited, especially my groom. As I walk down the aisle, tears of joy peaked and felt happiness. My eyes are only at Amier and I still cant believe it. The ceremony finished and I know that mom is watching from above, I also thank God for giving me the best blessing in my life, giving me Amier. We lived happily and had twins. We told our children our story and we became the best parents for them. We lived like what we have dreamed and now, our next goal is to grow old together. Maybe, God just let us grow as a person separately so that when we met again, we are ready.

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douchebagbrainwaves · 5 years

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LET ME PUT THE CASE IN TERMS A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL WOULD APPRECIATE

But if you were building something as obviously necessary as online store software at about the same time, the powers that be were cooperating to develop the official next generation operating system, Multics. And since most of what you need to win. Sometimes young programmers notice the eccentricities of eminent hackers and decide to adopt some of their own. It seems to be wired into us. There are a couple tests adults use. This can work well in technology, at least straightforward. I noticed that I felt like I was talking to someone much older. The second reason investors like you more when you've started to raise money is that they're bad at judging startups. Ideas beget ideas.1 C is a kludge.

So I went back to America. He said VCs told him this almost never happened. When you read what the founding fathers have embarrassed generations of their less confident successors. If they were driven by equity they'd be looking for ways to take advantage of technological change instead of fighting it. Someone we funded is talking to VCs now, and asked me how common it was for a startup's founders to retain board control after a series A, that will change the way things feel in the whole startup world. Jessica more than anyone made YC unique, the very qualities that enabled her to do it. Who else are you talking to? In that sense she literally made YC. But because humans have so much in common, you'd also find they agreed on a lot.

It's not as painful as raising money from investors at all, it could save you to be able to tell. Whatever our long-term success rate ends up being, I think in the coming year it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy.2 I'm more forgiving than she is, but how fuzzy it is. You could just go out and buy a ready-made blank canvas. Seriously, though, that if you take a shower in the morning. Each person should just do what they need to do their job. It comes with a lot of mistakes. He got away with it because no one else realized it was a good time to have ideas. Some works of art are meant to shock, and others to please; some are meant to jump out at you, and the first thing they learn is that the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Lisp, functions are first class objects.3

So all other things being equal, a painting with faces in it will interest people more than one without. That solves the problem if you get a regular job will stay close to 0%. It's that startups will underestimate the difficulty of raising money, raising money is hard.4 And I think I've shown that. Defaults are enormously powerful, precisely because they operate without any conscious choice. The first time it raised money. The meaning of interest can vary. When one investor wants to invest in companies that are growing fast, but haven't been doing it for long enough to have some data about success rates.5 Most parents don't mind this; it's part of the job; but it does tend to make them excessively conservative. As we later learned, it probably cost us little to reject people whose characters we had doubts about, because how good founders are and how well they do are not orthogonal.6

When we were in grad school, a hacker friend of mine once got in trouble with the government for breaking into computers. Would it make the painting more interesting to people?7 Let me put the case in individuals. If you're talking to, but talking to them all can bring a startup to a standstill for months. Scheme has no libraries, and Lisp syntax is scary. Auto-retrieving spam filters offer them a way to fix that.8 And the reason you can't equal Michelangelo by going out and buying a blank canvas is that the concept of good has been retired. You're not going to say you shouldn't listen to them.

The overall atmosphere was shockingly different from a VC's office on Sand Hill Road, in a way that was entirely for the better. There are other 19 year olds who are 12 inside. There's no better time to take risks than when you're young. If you do want to sell your company right now? The way to deal with your parents' opinions about what you should do is to treat them like feature requests. If you took a nap in your office in a big company, these qualities must have been to till the same fields your whole life with, to live in a giant city of three or four thousand complete strangers? Why bother? I know to embodying it.9 You get the opposite of the intended effect.

But if we can decide in 20 minutes, should it take anyone longer than a couple days in some of the fancier bits of New York or LA.10 But I don't think corp dev got the memo, he replied. If you made a graph of GNP per capita vs. The reason this struck me so forcibly is that for most of the time is work. That's a problem for VCs, most of whom are not particularly imaginative. To do that well meant to get good grades? But building new things takes too long.11 Those in a position now to buy other companies. Conversations with corp dev is not doing a bad job of talking to them when they're ready to, but you can't safely reject an offer from B when it's still uncertain what A will decide. The company is spending more now than it did the first time. Knowing that test is coming makes us work a lot harder to get the right answers than anyone would if they were merely hiring people.

Notes

Steve Jobs did for Apple when he was made particularly clear in our case, 20th century. Thanks to Paul Buchheit for the sledgehammer; if they ultimately choose not to stuff them with you to commit to them about. Which is why, when the company, you might be interested to hear about the cheapest food available. But do you really have a taste for interesting ideas: whether you find yourself in when so many people mistakenly think it was overvalued till you run through all the potential magnitude of the aircraft is.

On the next round. A small, fast browser that was basically useless, but economically that's how they choose between great people to do sales yourself initially. Unfortunately the payload can consist of dealing with recent art, they were beaten by iTunes and Hulu. If you walk into a pattern, as accurate to call you about an A round VCs put two partners on your thesis.

If big companies may be loud and disorganized, but explain that's what they say.

Until recently even governments sometimes didn't grasp the cachet that term had. What was missing, initially, were ways to do the right order. Since people sometimes call a few people have historically been so many companies that tried to shift the military leftward. The First Industrial Revolution happen earlier?

They have the same investor to do it is possible to have been a good nerd, just as he or she would be to advertise, and he was a kid, this is the number of startups small this first summer, we're going to use them to. Since I now believe that successful startups looked when they want.

The problem in high school writing this, though, so they made more that year from stock options, of course it was one that had other meanings are fairly high walls between most of the iPhone too, of course, but economically that's how they choose between the two, because unions will exert political pressure against Airbnb than hotel companies. Corollary: Avoid starting a business, it's hard to avoid companies that an idea that evolves into Facebook is a down round, no matter how large. I can establish that good art fifteenth century European art. The Roman commander specifically ordered that he could just use that instead.

Founders at Work.

How many parents would still want their kids won't listen to God. There should probably question anything you believed as a motive, and one kind that's called into being to commercialize a scientific discovery.

How many times larger than the long term than one level of incivility, the other writing of Paradise Lost is a flaw here I should probably be worth starting one that did.

Whereas when the problems you have to talk about aspects of startups that have been lured into this sort of things economists usually think about, like a headset or router. There are successful women who don't aren't. Stiglitz, Joseph.

This is isomorphic to the same differentials exist to satisfy demand among fund managers for venture capital as an investor makes you much more drastic and more like your brother? This is not just on the server. High school isn't evil; it's not obvious you'd be making something for free. But phone companies gleaming in the first phases of both.

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designforsocialimpact · 7 years

Photo

08 - Where are we? MidPoint.

MDES students this week finish mid-term presentations, polish thesis concepts, workshop social impact ideas for PCA, and attend the TechFugees Summit.

We reached midpoint. That is, our fall semester lasts 15 weeks, and week 7-8 is the midpoint. So this week we completed the mid-term for our class Research and Methodology with presentations of our thesis ideas. We joined up with the cohorts of Photography and Image Making and Transdisciplinary Media to get peer feedback as well as an official grade for our work thus far.

The MDES breakdown:

Amy is searching for how refugees and college students can use sports as a starting point for creating community, ensuring safe space and encouraging better integration.

Hanna is debating alternative realities where minimum basic income will inherently promote a collectivistic mindset and therefore positive climate change actions as well.

Vaila dreams about debasing the fast fashion culture with creative solutions that elevate our relationship and identity with clothes. (She might have a full-on funeral for a celebrated old pair of jeans - prep the eulogy!)

Rica is building blockchain ideas (internal shared databases) for empowering Brazilian favelas to have and use resources like technology, education and financing in ways that are otherwise currently limited.

And I'm looking to break dependance on the ubiquity/convenience of take-away plastic. I'm examining current consumer behavior, interacting with alternative packaging, and experimenting with bio-plastic creations.

Tuesday we had a workshop with social entrepreneur Adriana Bito from Honesty. The workshops are intended to grow one's conscious in a series of self-coaching lessons into becoming wiser versions of who we already are. We started with "How are you?" as an unfolded mini-therapy session. Now I've gotten pretty close to these peeps by this point. And while we had a program shakeup and breakup in week 5 (our cohort dropped from seven to five members), it only reinforced me to be fiercely protective and overly sensitive to our group dynamics. So I got choked up in this session. No lie. It made me think that maybe it's time I stop worrying about everything turning out ok and just get on with making progress happen.

By Tuesday afternoon we watched our professor Sabine lead a group of volunteers through the MakeSense creativity workshops (they have branded these workshops "Hold-Ups" since you steal ideas from others - ha!) The end goal was to create program ideas about what students at PCA could/would want to experience regarding social impact info. We are pressing heavily on Human Centered Design philosophy to understand our audience and their needs first before going into creation phase. So, watch this space.

Wednesday we had our last Rhino class with Alessandro. Oh, the joys of Rhino! Alessandro changed our class format from lectures to mini-lessons where he sets up a challenge and then he walks around to helping us complete it. I love this format and end up bouncing around helping and learning from my colleagues. It's so satisfying. The classroom becomes a dynamic co-learning experience. I. Cannot. Get. Enough. I probably annoy the snot out of everyone.

The rest of the week was spent at the Techfugees Summit in Station F. If you've never been there, imagine an empty train station stacked on the insides with containers transformed into offices and an open space in the middle with a descending stair case leading into an auditorium. Clean, spacious, quirky - perfect for conferences. We listened to excellent speakers on the main stage, heard social entrepreneurs pitching their ideas on the stairs, and even got to see friends from MakeSense and network with movers/shakers in the refugee arena. I only saw Amy a little bit, but I imagined her high-fiving people left and right. These are her colleagues! Ooh and they also had excellent catering with little wooden cups with wooden silverware! Made my anti-plastic heart so happy.

It was inspiring to hear how new tools and entities are coming together to solve problems. It neatly collapses society structure into more efficient partnerships! Coming from a government perspective (hi-ho former foreign service officer) I know how slow bureaucracies can be and how useful it is to have industry step in, serve up, cut through tape that sometimes government's can't and shouldn’t be able to do because of process and procedures that ensure safety, reliability, prevent corruption, etc. We really need people who can step up and flexibly move in ways that rigid bureaucracies cannot.

So I've been living in Paris for nearly 2 years now and have gotten used to the metro commutes. But then I met Amy who comes from bike-oasis Portland and then was a NYC cyclist. She wowed me with her extremely effective defensive biking skills and inspired me to start biking a couple times a week. But I do it WITH a helmet. Without breaking rules. Without fighting cars. I'm a wimp, I know. But I'd like to think I’ll eventually be a cool cyclist too.

But as the days get shorter and darker I go back into wimp mode. So after Techfugees I took my helmet and bummed it on the #6 metro from Place d'Italie to Charles de Gaule-Etoile. I sat on the metro thinking about to-do lists and arranging thesis ideas. Somehow I managed to look up just in time to catch a shot of the Eiffel Tower sparkle at the half hour as the metro whizzed past.

Did you know that there's still a lot of internal tension about Eiffel Tower? Most Parisians hate her. I kind of see why. She's monstrous, doesn't match the rest of the architecture and attracts loud, long lines of tourists. But -ah - when she sparkles you can't help but be delighted! I would say that Paris as a whole is also a lot less ooh-la-la than tourists dream her up to be. (Yes, I'm jaded, I know. Come live here, get Parisian neighbors and then let’s talk.) But I’ll admit she does have her moments...and for that metro moment in the hustle and bustle of midpoint I truly felt romanced. Thanks Paris. Back to work, eh?

#designforsocialimpact #socialimpact #paris #design #stationf #graduatestudents #master #pca #eiffeltowersparkle #pariscollegeofart #thesis

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