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Clarkson's Columns: 30 Years at the Sunday Times & The Red Trouser Mob Speaks Nimby

2023.05.30 01:22 _Revelator_ Clarkson's Columns: 30 Years at the Sunday Times & The Red Trouser Mob Speaks Nimby

30 years of this Motormouth
On three decades of cars, controversy, and cow dung at the Sunday Times (May 28)
By Jeremy Clarkson
Thirty years. That’s how long I’ve been writing for The Sunday Times. When I joined the paper, back in 1993, John Major was in power, Neil Kinnock was a fan of Ford Sierras, they were still digging coal out of the ground in Yorkshire and other columnists on the paper included AA Gill, Michael Winner and, not long afterwards, Tara Palmer-Tomkinson.
I’m the only one left now. Still here. Still bashing away at the keyboard. And still feeling like a fraud. I went recently to a party celebrating the newspaper’s 200th birthday and during a film that had been made to commemorate the milestone, I was left reeling at the amount of truly important stories it had broken over the years. And the journalistic colossuses who’d translated these shapeshifting events into readable, punchy prose.
Me? Well, I got a job in journalism — on the Rotherham Advertiser — simply because my grandfather, a doctor, had gone out during an air raid in the Second World War and delivered the editor’s first baby. “I’ve always wanted to pay him back,” he said, “so you start on Monday.”
He sent me on a block release course to learn the tricks of the trade and I was terribly shit at everything. I only managed to pass my 110-word-a-minute shorthand exam by using a two-speed tape recorder and very long hair to cover up the secret earpiece. But while there I did meet a chap from the Harrogate Herald who told me about a great gig. If you could get a motoring column in the newspaper, carmakers would send you a brand-new model every week, fully insured and brimmed with fuel. All you had to do to keep the gravy train running was say how brilliant it was.
So I became a motoring journalist — that’s the profession’s bottom rung, just below being a travel hack. And that was fraudulent too because I had no clue how a car works. Back then my peers and colleagues in the specialist motoring press would talk about gear ratios and steering racks and tread shuffle, and I had literally no clue what they were on about. In my mind you turned the key, witchcraft happened and you moved about. The gearbox? That was pure sorcery.
In some ways this ignorance helped, because if you know how a car works you aren’t all that surprised when it does. With me, I always have a boyish, tinkle-grabbing excitement when I push the throttle pedal and the whole car moves. It excites me. And I don’t think that excitement would be there if I were on some kind of a know-how par with the engineers who’d made it possible.
To get round the problem of not knowing what I was talking about, I wrote mostly about how a car made you look and feel. And that seemed to go down quite well, so pretty soon the gravy train became a foreign junket jus train as carmakers started inviting me to product launches. A lot of product launches. In the mid-Eighties I spent more time in Cannes and Barcelona than I did at home. And all I had to do in exchange for all the private jets and champagne was write a piece saying that the car made me feel and look very nice. And that it would do the same for you too.
At one of these product launches — for the Citroën AX, in case you’re interested — I bumped into a BBC producer who asked me to appear on Top Gear, and pretty soon I was so busy doing that, I didn’t have time to go to Cannes and Barcelona any more. Which meant I had nothing to lose and could say what I liked.
Many of the carmakers didn’t like me saying what I liked, so an association of car industry press officers despatched a chap from Ford called Harry Calton to speak to my bosses. They told him that my directness was bringing more viewers to Top Gear and that this was good for the motor industry. Which in turn was good for Ford. He agreed and pretty soon I was rushing about, refusing to review the Vauxhall Vectra because it was too boring. And likening the new Toyota Corolla to a fridge-freezer. And saying that the Ford Scorpio looked like a slightly melted waxwork model of Marty Feldman.
This brought me to the attention of The Sunday Times, which asked me to do something similar in print. Which is quite an achievement if you think about it. Being asked to write for one of the most prestigious newspapers in the world, on a subject about which I knew nothing.
I couldn’t even drive very well back then. This was a bit of a hindrance, because to write about how a car behaves “at the limit” you have to be able to take it to the limit, and to find out where that is you have to go beyond it, which meant doing some kind of skid. It was my old colleague Tiff Needell who taught me how to do that, at Kemble airfield, in a Lamborghini Murciélago.
I still don’t do it properly. Instead of using power to break traction at the back, which is what the professionals do, I use too much speed. I arrive at the corner far too quickly, lift off the throttle to pitch the weight of the car forwards and therefore reduce traction at the back, and then turn the wheel while rubbing some rosaries. It’s messy and smoky and scary sometimes, especially when you’re doing it three feet from the back of a camera tracking car. But it looked good on television, and it convinced millions of people that I was some kind of cross between Ayrton Senna and Adrian Newey, all wrapped up in a sandwich filled with idiotic metaphors and similes.
Soon The Sunday Times asked me to start writing about other things as well, which is how I ended up with Adrian Gill, in Baghdad, in 2005, reporting on the Iraq War. I was useless at this as well, choosing to use hyperbole instead of actually finding stuff out. “There were a hundred million soldiers” is so much easier than calling the MoD and finding out how many there really were.
I also had a terrible nose for news. Back in the autumn of 2013 — I did look that up — I was in Kyiv doing some kind of Top Gear live show when I received a call from a different editor of The Sunday Times, asking me to go down to Independence Square to see if the protests were as big as he’d been led to believe.
I was thrilled because this was my big chance to be a proper hack, at the pointy tip of a breaking story. So off I went with a notebook and no pen. No journalist ever has a pen. And having talked to the lone policeman and signed autographs for the six rather bored-looking protesters, I called the editor and said the whole Russia/Ukraine thing was a nonstory.
Incredibly, after 30 years on the paper, I’m still here. But will I still be kicking around after 40 years? With cars I think not. I recently borrowed a 2005 Ford GT and, on a beautiful spring evening, I took it from Chipping Norton to Badminton House, along some of the loveliest and quietest and fastest roads that Britain has to offer, and I truly loved it. But in the not too distant future drives like that will simply not be possible. And cars like that will be gone. It’ll all be 20 mph and giving way to cyclists and pulling over for 60 hours to fill up the batteries. And I want no part of that.
I may not know how proper cars work. But at least they interest me. The new breed? I have even less of a clue what makes them move along and I find them all to be more boring than Jane Austen giving a four-hour talk about Chaucer.
When I began doing this columnism lark you could say that the combustion engine was brilliant and that men can’t have babies. These days, though … you can still say those things. It’s just that now people get very angry with you. And I like that because I’ve always liked throwing rocks in ponds. It’s all I’ve ever done, really. Tried to mess things up. It’s been fun.
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Does the red trouser mob speak fluent nimby? You better you bet
By Jeremy Clarkson (Sunday Times, May 28)
I have some experience of not getting planning permission, and what I’ve come to understand is this: whether you want to build a conservatory, or a funeral home, or a nuclear power station, you’ve got to get the language right. Sustainable. That’s an important word. Your conservatory may feature window frames made from depleted uranium, but that doesn’t matter if you describe it as sustainable. And mental health. That’s critical. You need a sustainable sun room full of eco-plants because it’s good for your mental health. Plus you will empower the local building trade in a way that will be “transformative” to the low-income “community”.
Sadly, however, no matter how well versed you may be in modern government-speak, you will come up against a neighbour in red trousers who knows the even more powerful language of nimbyism. And he’s going to say that your new conservatory will cause more “pollution”, “traffic” and “noise”. That’s the holy trinity for those who worship at the altar of Laura Ashley. And if that isn’t working, they’ll wheel out the trump card: dark skies. They’ll argue that your new conservatory will cause light pollution, and then, I’m afraid, you’ve had it. Especially if there’s even a suggestion that you might harm a bat.
All of which brings me on to the Duke of Beaufort. He recently applied for permission to stage two summer concerts in the agreeable grounds of Badminton House — the Who and Rod Stewart, in case you’re interested. And I’m sure his representatives used all the right words.
They’ll have glossed over the fact that it’s bloody expensive to run a big house and new income streams are necessary, because that sort of argument doesn’t sit well in a country where anyone with a big house is wrong. That’s the law. So the duke’s advisers will have relegated the business angle to page 12 of the application and concentrated instead on how the sustainable, low-impact, green events will empower the low-income rural community and boost the mental health of the region’s bats.
Sadly, though, the duke’s neighbours are not just well versed in the language of nimbyism. They are fluent — they are past masters — in the art of objecting. So they started by pointing out there’d be increased traffic in the area and that noise would “reverberate” in nearby villages — presumably causing many bat deaths and “mental health issues”.
Naturally, they also said the concertgoers would engage in “rowdy behaviour”, even though it’s the Who and Rod Stewart we’re talking about. Most of the audience will be in their sixties, and when Roger Daltrey sings, “The kids are all right”, they’ll turn to one another and say, “They really are. Henry’s a commodity broker now, and Harriet is doing ever so well at Freuds.” Then, when it’s all over, they’ll go back to Stanton St Quintin in their Teslas, and Keith Moon will not head over to the local hostelries to blow up the lavatories because he died 45 years ago.
Fearing perhaps the council might cotton on to the fact the audience are extremely unlikely to drive their cars into the nearest swimming pool, the red-trouser people decided then to open up with sustained machinegun fire. Crime. Disorder. Public nuisance. Emergency services. Road safety. Pandora’s box. This was the Middle England playbook, and if they’d stuck to it, they might have got somewhere.
But they got high on their own supply and became silly, saying, “With 11 to 12 hours’ drinking licences, drunks will camp overnight . . . increasing the potential for a major fire incident.”
Right. I see. So this 65-year-old reveller overdoes it on the noon balloons and the Whispering Angel, puts up a tent he’s somehow smuggled into the venue and then, using some of the kindling he’s brought from the wicker basket in his snug, gets a fire going, which, despite the constant rain that goes hand in hand with British summertime concerts, somehow turns into a major Australia-style inferno that completely engulfs three neighbouring villages and ruins the dark skies for miles.
It’s the most preposterous argument I’ve ever heard. There was, once, a fire at an outdoor gig. It was caused by a faulty light on the stage and was quickly extinguished using stamping and a blanket. No one was injured and Bruno Mars was back at the mike eight minutes later. So the fire argument doesn’t wash.
And I’m delighted to say the duke’s local authority saw it for the nonsense it was and gave the gigs the go-ahead. And before you write in saying, “How would you like it if your neighbour invited the Who to perform in his garden?”, I’d say: “I’d like it a lot. Especially if they bring some lasers and do 'Baba O’Riley'.”
I fear, however, that this is not the end of the story, because now “sustainable” has been balanced out by “traffic”, and “empowering” by “light pollution”, the red-trouser brigade is going to become increasingly desperate in its constant battle to keep Britain as it was in 1957.
Mr Sunak announced recently that planners will be encouraged to look favourably on rural schemes, but they’re going to be up against a tub-thumping army that will quickly recognise that the fire argument was a bit of an oxbow lake and will start to argue that the new housing estate for the low-income community will cause a plague of luminous locusts that will spoil the dark sky. Or that it will attract immigrants who all have ebola. And that your longed-for barn conversion is actually a Russian missile silo capable of turning all of Chipping Sodbury into a nuclear desert for the next 10,000 years.
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The Driving website of the Sunday Times has also published a freely accessible interview with Clarkson, on his 30 years at the paper. It's part of a larger feature that also reproduces several old columns.
And here's the Sun column: "Three things bother us in the UK..."
Clarkson's columns are regularly collected as books. You can buy them from his boss or your local bookshop.
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2023.05.29 16:38 developmentwomens Women’s Rights in the MENA Region: Progress & Obstacles

Women’s Rights in the MENA Region: Progress & Obstacles
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A Background to Women’s Rights in the MENA Region

Gender equality is a fundamental human right and an imperative foundation which lays the groundwork for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. The development of women’s rights in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has seen much progress and obstacles over the past decade. However, the unequal status of women stands out as a particularly challenging problem.Following“International Women’s Day” last month, this article provides a snapshot of the development of women’s rights in the MENA region as of April 2023. MENA countries include Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.The MENA region has a reputation for struggling with gender equality. Development of women's rights Therefore, this article focuses on this region. However, it is important to emphasize that the MENA region is not the only place women experience inequality. Gender inequality is also seen in Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe, and North America. Undoubtedly, women continue to face discrimination and significant barriers to fully realizing their rights worldwide.

Any Progress in the MENA Region?

Governments are developing stronger laws and policies to support women’s rights.Significant laws, policies, and programming developments have focused on gender equality within the MENA region. Moreover, women’s representation in government has increased.Many countries in the region have established “national women’s machinery”. This machinery is used in government offices, departments, commissions, or ministries. All these provide government leadership and support in achieving gender equality.Furthermore, there have been notable improvements in education and health within gender-related indices. There has been an increase in specialized programming to support women’s rights and empowerment in this region.Women struggle to uphold their rights in places like Palestine. It is international human rights laws and conventions which are helping women in advocating for and strengthening their fight. Since the ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) by the State of Palestine in March 2014, civil society organizations and women human rights defenders have publicly advocated for the implementation of the Convention and the passing of a Family Protection Bill, pending since the early 2000s, which would specifically address gender-based discrimination and violence. In turn, this will help to edge women closer towards gender equality in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Women are increasing their role in civil society and advocating their rights

Women are increasing their engagement in civil society. Women’s and youth feminist civil society has started to dominate the political scene in advocating for and securing gains. In Iran, millions of young women took to the street following Mahsa Amini’s death in police custody for improperly wearing her hijab. These women risked their lives to change the system. Many were arrested and beaten and now face the death penalty for speaking out. This demonstrates women’s power in standing up against authoritarian regimes and fighting oppression.Caption: Thousands walk to the cemetery of MashaAmini’s funeral in Iran supporting women’s rights in September 2022.The Iranian government is brutally repressing women’s voices who courageously stand up for their freedom. The UN has called Iran a “gender apartheid” on women.Women’s civil society actively engages internationally with the “Women’s Peace and Security” agenda. Remarkably, women activists have testified before the United Nations Security Council. The UN Women highlighted the gender impact of conflict and occupation on women’s rights.

What Obstacles Hinder the Development of Women’s Rights in the MENA Region?

Women face many inequalities within the MENA society, correlating them as second-class citizens with little to no protection from violence. The COVID-19 pandemic has compounded existing inequalities. Moreover, factors significantly reducing space for constructive civil society engagement with governments include ongoing conflict, the revival of extremist religious groups, and increased political turmoil. These international crises created many setbacks in passing long-term legal change.The 2022 global poverty update from the World Bank reports that the MENA region is the only place worldwide where the extreme poverty rate increased between 2010 and 2020. Poverty has a detrimental impact on women’s rights.Gender-based violence is also one of the main challenges facing women in the region today, with devastating effects on their health and well-being and their economic and civic participation.Women protest for the development of women's rights in the MENA region.Caption: Egyptian women in Cairo protest against violence against women [EPA].Read more: Female Genital Mutilation in Somalia Reflects Deep-Rooted Gender Inequality.A striking example of gender-based violence was in 2022 when the Israeli forces shot dead Al Jazeera’s journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in the occupied West Bank. Abu Akleh, a longtime TV correspondent for Al Jazeera Arabic, was killed on the 11th of May 2022 while covering Israeli army raids in Jenin in the northern occupied West Bank.

Women have no right to nationality in the MENA region

The MENA region has the highest concentration of gender-discriminatory nationality laws. An estimated 50% of the 25 countries in MENA deny women equal rights to pass nationality to their children.Algeria is the only country in the region with nationality laws upholding complete gender equality, including women’s right to confer nationality on their children and noncitizen spouse on an equal basis with men. Thus, gender discrimination in nationality laws is one of the primary causes of statelessness in the MENA region, in addition to causing several other human rights violations.Lebanon, Kuwait, and Qatar deny women the right to confer nationality to their children and spouses in all circumstances. Other States, including Bahrain, Jordan, Libya, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Syria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), deny women the right to confer their nationality to children in most circumstances.

Malnutrition in women and girls increases by 25%

Malnutrition in women and girls increased by 25% in crisis-hit countries in the MENA region between 2020-2022. Over a billion women and adolescent girls are malnourished in the world. This has detrimental health, economic and well-being impacts. Most women and girls affected by this statistic live in the MENA region. Both local and global crises in 2023 could exacerbate the development of women and girls living there. Rising poverty and inequities increase the chances that people will turn to cheap, ultra-processed, unhealthy foods.ddressing malnutrition in women and girls is essential to reduce the gender health gap”Therefore, the world is making slow progress. Issues like soaring food prices, climate change and the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic risk making the nutrition crisis an even more significant problem in 2023. Nutrition is a widely overlooked issue; coordinated access and policy intervention are urgently needed.Read more: Children’s Rights in Yemen Are Teetering on the Edge of A Catastrophe.
The opinions and attitudes of citizens across the MENA region were recorded in the latest Arab Barometer survey from October 2021 to July 2022. This is the largest publically available survey published since the onset of COVID. Its results were shocking across 12 MENA countries, which collectively are home to 80 per cent of the citizen population in the Arab world. The findings give an unprecedented insight into the everyday lives of these citizens.
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2023.05.29 15:00 stonescoldtakes NFL Update: 05/22/2023 - 05/28/2023 - OTAs are Back!!!

Layout:
— Individual Team News + Stone’s Cold Takes
— Miscellaneous/Other NFL News
— Restaurant of the Week - Washington D.C.
Arizona Cardinals:
After some decent news the last couple weeks for this organization there wasn’t really anything great from this week besides maybe the fact that if WR DeAndre Hopkins was a distraction to the team he now no longer is one. It will be interesting to see how things play out this year.
Atlanta Falcons:
It sounds like the situation with Keith Smith should get resolved rather quickly and was more of a misunderstanding than anything else. It will be fun for this young team to have joint practices with Miami and it will be a good way for their defense to get an initial test from an elite offense. I am sure the Dolphins won’t reveal all of their tricks but either way they will have to worry about guarding an elite offense with elite playmakers.
Baltimore Ravens:
It is crazy to think about how just about a month ago the news around the Ravens was all negative and that it seemed like the relationship with Lamar was fractured. Now here we are and Lamar seems about as happy as can be and is excited about the offense that is being installed under new OC Todd Monken. It will be exciting for him as well to have WR Rashod Bateman back who I still think can be a key playmaker on the team. It appears the Ravens could be set for big things even in a tough division.
Buffalo Bills:
Great to see the that S Damar Hamlin was back out practicing. I know it has been some time since his collapse on the field but it still feels like yesterday that I was watching that game in complete shock at what I had witnessed and worry for him and his family. WR Stefon Diggs being absent at OTAs is not a big deal to me. QB Josh Allen has a lot of other guys he needs to get familiar and work in with anyways and a lot of star players don’t attend OTAs to either get rest/recovery or to do their own workouts with their private coaches. I imagine he and Kincaid will be deadly this year and who knows they may even have WR DeAndre Hopkins joining them as the Bills were one of two teams that inquired and had talks about a trade for him.
Carolina Panthers:
Not too much news here other than what we saw and heard from OTAs about Bryce Young getting to take most of the 1st team reps. It appears that he looked good and his teammates were saying great things about him. It is tough to judge any quarterback though in the offseason because no matter what folks always say their young or new quarterback is looking amazing and things are progressing nicely. I will say though I have heard the most good things coming out from camps about him and Anthony Richardson of the Colts.
Chicago Bears:
Good news for Chicago fans who are excited for their move. It seems that things are proceeding nicely with the process of moving to a new stadium. Also, great to hear that Chase Claypool may be able to make more of a difference this year. It would be hard to be less effective than what he was last year for this team. I still believe he can be a major impact player like many expected him to be when he entered the league. It will be key for him to become Fields’ go to receiver over some of the other talent they have on the team.
Cincinnati Bengals:
This team has a lot to do in terms of contracts that they need to get figured out. The team view Tee Higgins in very high regard and so does Joe Burrow as they should. They also really want to get Logan Wilson signed. However, what will come out to being the biggest of the contracts they do this offseason is that of Joe Burrow. What will continue to make things tough here is the longer it takes for Justin Hebert to get his deal done because Burrow will likely be the last of the 4 quarterbacks to sign his because it is presumed he will get the most money and has an agent who like to wait til the last minute.
Cleveland Browns:
All good news for Browns fans so far. The team is looking good and their appears to be a lot of good vibes coming out of practice. WR DeAndre Hopkins is even considering coming to Cleveland for the chance to play with his old QB. Also, WR Elijah Moore is looking crisp and at least for the moment it appears he is much happier. It will all depend on if he actually gets the ball thrown to him during the season though.
Dallas Cowboys:
Not too much news here which is good for this franchise because they are almost always the center of attention. The main thing I took away from this week was just that things seems to be going well with McCarthy and Dak working together on the offense but that there have been some growing pains at least initially getting used to new systems as expected.
Denver Broncos:
It appeared to shock just about everyone when the news broke about K Brandon McManus getting released because he had become a fan favorite over the years in Denver. QB Russell Wilson has lost a lot of weight and it is evident just from seeing him this offseason. I didn’t think his weight was the issue hindering him last year but hopefully he can feel he is playing at a healthier weight. What I think most Denver fans were excited to see was RB Javonte Williams back on the practice field. He is going to end up being the real difference maker this year and whether this team competes with the top of the AFC or not will largely depend on him making the rest of the offense’s life easy or not.
Detroit Lions:
A lot of news here. Let’s start with the bad news. It appears that they may be having more penalties come down on their team/players due to the league’s gambling policy as their is an ongoing investigation into a 5th player from the team. Also, David Montgomery and Malcolm Rodriguez left the field with injuries. It is still early though and they appear to be minor injuries so hopefully it won’t affect them in the long term. Now some good news. It sounds like WR Jameson Williams is progressing nicely and the team got a new kicker in Riley Patterson from the Jaguars who should help the improve there. Lastly and maybe the biggest news is that Calvin “Megatron” Johnson was at OTAs hanging out with coaches and players. Many are hoping those good vibes carry over into the season.
Green Bay Packers:
Exciting news that Green Bay will get the draft in 2025! I was thinking they would try and stick to more southern states but they clearly are willing to go North with Detroit and now Green Bay being the hosts of the next two. HC Matt LaFleur appears to be being honest with everything and trying to temper expectations a bit with Jordan Love taking over. This could be to help take pressure off of Love and also just be the flat out truth that with any young quarterback it is going to take some time.
Houston Texans:
I am not surprised about DeMeco Ryans hesitancy about pursuing Jadeveon Clowney. First of all he just may not want to reveal his cards to others in the league about what he is thinking. The other thing is that he is one that likes for his defense to have an identity and a really good work ethic. I am not saying that Clowney can’t fit that mold but it just makes the selection process for what Ryans wants on defense that much more thorough. The other news that surprised some but something I mentioned a couple of weeks ago is that QB Davis Mills will compete with Stroud for the starting job and is viewed as a desirable QB to other teams around the league. I know his stats haven’t been the best but I am not sure any of the young quarterbacks would have done well with what the Texans organization has been the last couple years. At the end of the day CJ Stroud will end up being the team’s starter due to draft status and probably will be the more talented, better option.
Indianapolis Colts:
Overall things seems to be good for the organization. The main thing we are all waiting on is when Shaq Leonard will be able to get back out there and start practicing. It makes sense not to have him practicing now since things are optional anyways. The hype has been there for QB Anthony Richardson thus far and it appears he may be closer to starting right away than a lot of people thought.
Jacksonville Jaguars:
Not too much news out of Jacksonville other than the change at the kicker position. Things got busy and they were able to trade K Riley Patterson to the Lions rather than release like the reports had said prior. Then they went out and got a proven veteran in K Brandon McManus who had just been released from the Broncos squad. This team is going to be interesting this year and will go as far QB Trevor Lawrence can take them. Does not hurt to have the veteran kicker for the big moments that could be coming for this organization.
Kansas City Chiefs:
HC Andy Reid who normally is pretty quiet and doesn’t get too involved was in front of the media a lot this week it felt like. First, he is not a fan of the new kickoff rule and it appears most coaches are not. Second, he talked about how the team will not be using a FB because they are being phased out of the NFL and he feels that the TEs they have on the team can play the role when needed. Overall it seems things are going well for the Chiefs and things could be a going a lot better here soon as they appear to be a top option for WR DeAndre Hopkins and one the few teams that had trade talks before he was released.
Las Vegas Raiders:
It appears there is never a dull week with the Raiders. The news this week about Jimmy seem to add context potentially to what Davante Adams’ comments were about recently. With Tom Brady recently joining the ownership group here it makes us all wonder if the injury is not cleared up is there a way for him to un-retire once again…only time will tell.
Los Angeles Chargers:
Big news here getting the deal done with Austin Ekeler even if it still only keeps him around for 1 year. Thankfully now he should be semi-happy for that one year before he can go out and chase a big contract if he wants to.
Los Angeles Rams:
Not much news here really. Sounds like Matthew Stafford has taken Stetson Bennett under his wing and started to work with him and help him learn more about the transition to the NFL compared to college.
Miami Dolphins:
I loved seeing Tua wearing the helmet cam. I had not thought about it before but it should be great for him to be able to show McDaniel exactly what he is/was seeing out on the field to add context and allow McDaniel to better coach him and understand what is going on. I think this should be something all quarterbacks do and especially the top ones because it could gives coaches that much more information and a better understanding of how to help young quarterbacks in the future.
Minnesota Vikings:
All signs appear to be pointing towards RB Dalvin Cook getting released. In other news it will be good for the defense to develop the aggressive mindset that Brian Flores wants and should bring in the attitude from Miami that wad established during his time there that was so effective and led to them winning games.
New England Patriots:
The Patriots seems to always be up to something. It sounds like they were penalized the 2 days of OTAs and fined because of a meeting that Joe Judge held that lasted more than the permitted amount of time. Other tough news came when Raekwon McMillan got injured.
New Orleans Saints:
What a story. TE Foster Moreau finds out he has cancer in a physical with the team a couple months and gets ahead of things and is now practicing with them at OTAs. Interesting story here about former HC Jon Gruden working with the team because during his time with the Raiders many said that he and Carr did not get along. This team has a big opportunity to take over the NFC South and is probably the bet setup to do it with the team they have.
New York Giants:
It seems that everything is going great except the Saquon Barkley situation. There isn’t much new insight into it either after HC Daboll refused to speak on anything contract related. In good news it seems like TE Darren Waller is really enjoying being with the team and working with QB Daniel Jones. This is a team to me that is going to play inspired football like they did last year no matter what is going on because their HC.
New York Jets:
I imagine Jets fans held their breath when they saw Aaron Rodgers get injured as well as Allen Lazard. The good news is that those are not going to be issues in the long run. However, it reminded us all that QB Aaron Rodgers is not a young guy anymore and there is always the possibility that he like any other player in the NFL can get hurt. Hopefully the deal with Quinnen Williams can get done sooner rather than later. I am looking forward to the joint practices with the Bucs because they have a solid defense and it will be fun to hear how they fare in the early phases of implementing a lot of things from both Nathaniel Hackett and Aaron Rodgers.
Philadelphia Eagles:
Jordan Davis is going to be a key piece for the team this year in my opinion so it is great to hear he has made major strides. He is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to his sheer size and the more he can be weaponized the better.
Pittsburgh Steelers:
Great move to get Markus Golden. He can be dangerous in this defense and is only one season removed from a double digit sack year. Also, good to see that Robinson and Pickett appear to be getting along. I am curious to see who shakes out to be the #1 receiver on this team but have a feeling it will end up being Pickens because of how good he was last year and the chemistry he and Pickett already have. A QB likes it when his receiver makes life easier and bails him out. Pickens has already done that on multiple occasions for him.
San Francisco 49ers:
It is official the 49ers will host the 2026 Super Bowl! After speculations and rumors it finally became official this past week. Also, there was a lot of good QB news this week with all 3 of the QBs on the roster. Sounds like Brock Purdy is healing properly and as expected, Trey Lance is looking really good in OTAs along with Sam Darnold. Once again this offseason no one is sure who will be starting for the team come week 1.
Seattle Seahawks:
Good news for Seahawks fan that Tariq Woolen will be back around training camp time after his procedure. Other than that there was not much news here. They got a solid rotational/depth player in Artie Burns though.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
Great to see that Tampa has joint practices with the Jets. They have a tough defense and it will be good for Baker and the offense to get some work against that defense early on. The Bucs have some great weapons on the offensive side of the ball to really compete with those top defenses and if they can all stay healthy this team could be a dark horse team to watch. Overall this should be a good all around team.
Tennessee Titans:
Interesting to see that S Kevin Byard was not at OTAs after earlier this offseason it was rumored he was asked to take a pay cut. Definitely a situation to watch. The main news that came from OTAs is that QB Will Levis appears to be looking good and some folks think he could be putting pressure on Tannehill early on and moving himself up the depth chart.
Washington Commanders:
Feels like a lot happened with the Commanders. First off, I think QB Sam Howell is in a great spot to learn and develop this year with mentors like Jacoby Brissett and then his OC Eric Bieniemy. They will hold him accountable like has already been happening and help bring out the best in him. Now it definitely is an organization surrounded by distractions. First off the trademark application for the team’s name was denied and they hope to get something figured out but could lead to another name change. Also, the team is still working through the Josh Harris bid and there need to be some adjustments in order for it to get accepted by the other NFL Owners and the league. These distractions even though they may not always be good for the team they probably do help a young quarterback because he is not the only thing to talk about at this point in the offseason.
Miscellaneous/Other NFL News:
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Restaurant of the Week: (Washington D.C. - TACOS 5 DE MAYO)
Don’t really have a great picture of this place but that may be a good thing. Often times I find that the places least advertised and that are holes in the wall is typically where you get the best Mexican food. This place is about a 10 minute drive from the stadium and probably closer to 15-20 minutes on game days depending on the time you go. Personally I recommend the Tacos Al Pastor. Those are basically a marinated pork taco that is slightly spicy with some sweet pineapple flavor in it. You cannot go wrong with Tacos Al Pastor and are by far my favorite. The other thing to keep an eye on is the Pupusas. While Pupusas are from El Salvador this place actually does a pretty dang good job of making them. For those that don’t know what Pupusas are they kind of resemble a stuffed pancake but are made of corn in most cases stuffed with either just cheese, cheese and beans, or cheese and pork. My order here would be 3 tacos al pastor and a cheese and bean pupusa. Enjoy!
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2023.05.28 12:35 teamcrazymatt Defending the Draft 2023: New England Patriots

No one can ever predict a Bill Belichick draft.
When people start assuming he’ll act based on his stereotypes (first-round trade down, OL early, no early WRs, all Alabama players or small school guys or guys from Rutgers), he’ll do the opposite. When the consensus is that he’ll shift away from those stereotypes, he’ll lean right into them.
So in observing mock drafts, both full and team-centric, there was a lot of accord that he would follow those stereotypes. (Adam Korsak, both a punter and from Rutgers, was EVERYWHERE.)
But then the end of April came.
Before then, New England had suffered a 2022 season full of embarrassment, from Matt Patricia and Joe Judge’s ineptitude at running the offense to a team that seemed to find new ways to lose in humiliating fashion (a certain ill-fated lateral sequence peak among them). The Patriots went from their dynastic reign as a team which would trounce their opponents in laughers to the team that everyone pointed and laughed at. Mac Jones’ Patricia- and Judge-sparked regression along with impressive cameo appearances by ‘22 rookie Bailey Zappe split the fanbase into Mac and Zappe camps, with sports media fueling the flame by spreading or outright fabricating rumors of Belichick shopping Mac, rumors which lasted through the first day of the draft. It was an ugly season and an uglier start to the offseason.
The franchise clearly needed to make changes in 2023, and changes started near the top. Patricia and Judge lost their roles, the former joining the Eagles coaching staff and the latter moving to lead special teams, a necessary move as this Belichick-led squad had plummeted to the lowest-ranked third unit. (More on that later.) Patricia had filled the dual roles of de facto offensive coordinator and facto offensive line coach, and filled both roles with the acumen of me designing plays in Backyard Football 2002, except I could actually design plays that resulted in touchdowns. Judge had manned the quarterbacks room, and given that Daniel Jones finally broke out for the Giants once Judge had been booted from mentoring him, you can guess how that went for Mac and the Pats. In his new role in charge of special teams, he has already cost the team two OTAs and Bill Belichick $50,000 for an offseason meetings violation, and has elevated his 2022 title of Co-Most Hated Man in Foxboro to Single Most Hated Man in Foxboro.
Anyway, New England needed to fill their old roles, and brought in:
Bill O’Brien, Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach A long-time friend of Belichick’s, O’Brien returns for his second stint as Pats OC, having dictated the offense in Rob Gronkowski’s record-setting 2011 season. Additionally, O’Brien comes by way of running the offense and the QB room at the University of Alabama, which spawned Mac Jones. Mac regressed in 2022 after an impressive 2021, but recall that 2022 was under the abysmal leadership of Patricia (calling his plays) and Judge (his direct coach), a situation in which no one could develop. By bringing in his old OC and QB coach, Mac has been put in the best possible position to develop in ‘23, a position which will much more clearly give fans a vision of his future as an NFL quarterback. (And the playcalling will be legitimate! It’s been but a year and we have already forgotten what creativity, route concepts, and misdirection have looked like!)
Adrian Klemm, Offensive Line Coach Belichick’s first draft pick after taking the helm in New England in 2000, Klemm has joined the team after coaching at Oregon last year. He comes with a strong reputation at that coaching position, having headed a Ducks O-line that allowed just five sacks in 2022. Last season, the Patriots saw a regression from their veterans on the line, most notably in Trent Brown’s newfound flag-happiness, and first-round rookie guard Cole Strange put forth a mixed performance. Bringing in an actual offensive line coach gives the team the best chance to fix any issues that showed in ‘22 and to develop their young linemen.
Of course, coaching was not the only issue last season, as New England was criticized for their lack of talent on the roster. Of New England’s high-cash free agent class of 2021, only edge rusher Matthew Judon shined in both his seasons in Foxboro: neither tight end Jonnu Smith nor wideout Nelson Agholor ever got off the ground, tight end Hunter Henry regressed after a solid ‘21, and wideout Kendrick Bourne found himself suddenly in Patricia’s doghouse and off the field. Moves needed to be made as the calendar turned to free agency.
Notable Departures
S Devin McCourty (retired) The most prominent departure from the ‘22 squad, McCourty is one of many who can be termed a quintessential Patriot. A first-round cornerback out of Rutgers in 2010, D-Mac made the switch to safety in 2012 and locked down the position for the next decade. When he was on the verge of leaving the team in free agency in 2015, even reaching out to Belichick to say goodbye, Belichick signed him to a top-valued safety contract and kept him in red, white, and blue. His leadership and personality made him a joy to watch on the field and off, his personality showing itself especially well recently through interactions with his twin brother Jason, who played alongside him for the Patriots from 2018 to ‘20. Statistically, D-Mac ends his career with 35 interceptions, one shy of the franchise record, and 4 touchdowns (two picks, a kickoff return, and a blocked field goal return). We miss him already.
P Jake Bailey (released; signed with Miami) What a drop. After an All-Pro season in 2020, Bailey signed a four-year extension in 2022 only to become the worst statistical punter in the league. After he was injured, the Patriots brought in Michael Palardy, who managed to be even worse (personally, I blame the team’s curse that comes with the jersey number 17). Neither punter remains with the team, Bailey joining an AFC East rival in the Dolphins and Palardy currently unsigned.
TE Jonnu Smith (traded to Atlanta) There is a strong case to be made that Smith is the worst free agency signing Belichick has made as Pats GM. In the two years since inking a 4-year, $50 million deal, Smith totaled just 55 catches for 539 yards and one touchdown, and a ‘22 restructure of his contract meant that Smith appeared to be a monetary albatross the Patriots would not be able to shake loose. What led to Atlanta agreeing to take on his whole contract, sending New England a seventh-round pick to get the player, I have no idea, but I think every Pats fan would agree that Smith didn’t work out in the least and a change was best for all sides.
WR Jakobi Meyers (signed with Las Vegas) Meyers’ departure was somewhat shocking, as the 2019 UDFA had worked his way up to the top of the Patriots’ wide receiver depth chart. More of a big slot guy than an outside #1, Meyers had a minor role in his rookie season and started 2020 at the bottom of the depth chart, but injuries to the players above him got him onto the field, and a 12-catch, 169-yard performance against the Jets that November meant he wasn’t leaving it anytime soon. While not possessing top-tier speed or explosiveness, Meyers was the team’s best route runner and separator, and his departure left another void that needed to be filled.
QB Brian Hoyer (released, signed with Las Vegas) Hoyer was third on the depth chart, Zappe having shown enough to take the #2 spot. While a fine veteran mentor, the Patriots chose to go a different direction with that third QB role.
WR Nelson Agholor (signed with Baltimore) Agholor was given a two-year contract in 2021 with the anticipation of his being the #1 receiver, something which did not happen due to his unreliable hands and separation abilities. For those two years and $22 million, Agholor produced 68 catches, 835 yards, and five touchdowns. Not worth it.
RB Damien Harris (signed with Buffalo) By far the most productive member of the Patriots’ atrocious 2019 draft class, Harris was good in New England but had been passed on the depth chart by sophomore Rhamondre Stevenson midway through 2022. Couple that with Belichick’s predilection to let running backs walk instead of giving them second contracts, sprinkle in a dash of two ‘22 draft picks (Pierre Strong Jr. and Kevin Harris) who will get more opportunities in 2023, top it off with the return of Ty Montgomery II from injured reserve, and it’s no surprise that Harris is no longer a Patriot.
T Isaiah Wynn (signed with Miami) Another former first-round pick, Wynn was all right as a left tackle though was criticized for frequent injury problems; with his fifth-year option picked up for ‘22, he was inexplicably switched to right tackle, where he was very bad. He never really earned the role of franchise tackle, so it was expected that the Patriots would let him walk.
But on the upside, the team now has:
Additions
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (via Kansas City) After Meyers signed with the Raiders, the Patriots worked quickly to bring in his replacement in the slot. Smith-Schuster revived his career in Kansas City and is now in position to be a primary target for Mac for the next three seasons, possessing more explosiveness and speed than his predecessor. The biggest concern with JuJu is his durability, but I believe the Patriots have made preparations in the draft (spoiler) in case that becomes a significant problem. The fanbase is excited for Smith-Schuster on the field in Foxboro, and deservedly so.
RB James Robinson (via New York (the green side)) A one-time breakout UDFA in Jacksonville, Robinson’s role diminished with the rise of Travis Etienne Jr.; after being traded to the Jets, Robinson never got settled into a role. In New England, Robinson is likely first in line for the #2 RB spot behind Stevenson, an important role given that Stevenson’s overwork saw his productivity decline as last season came to an end. Robinson also possesses the pass-catching versatility that Belichick loves, a role Harris was never used in but Stevenson is, further suggesting he can have a significant spot on the field for the Pats.
TE Mike Gesicki (via Miami) As Smith never worked out as the co-#1 TE, here comes Gesicki. A pure pass catcher at the position, Gesicki has the size and hands to be a reliable target in the red zone, and should pair nicely with Henry for a potential TE-heavy formation as the team approaches the goal line.
T Riley Reiff (via Chicago) T Calvin Anderson (via Denver) While neither comes with the contract expectation of being a long-term solution at either tackle spot, the hope is that Reiff (expected to start at RT) will be an upgrade over Wynn, while Anderson serves as a reliable swing tackle who can start if needed.
LB Chris Board Jr. (via Detroit) Remember that awful special teams unit? Board is one of the NFL’s top special teamers, a player Belichick singled out when New England faced the Lions last year. It’s unsurprising he brought in such a veteran to help solidify the unit after… just all of last year.
QB Trace McSorley (via Arizona) By bringing in McSorley in Hoyer’s stead, the team is showing a bit of a shift in philosophy with how it is using its backup QB spots. Both Mac and Zappe are pocket passers; McSorley does most of his work outside the pocket and can run with regularity, a trend more common among top-level quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. At minimum, he’s worth a camp spot, and that’s fine.
P Corliss Waitman (via Denver) Following the implosion of Bailey and Palardy at punter, the Patriots were on the verge of entering the draft with none on the roster. Waitman is a veteran addition there, but pretty much everyone expected New England to add a punter either as a draft pick or UDFA. (Another spoiler – my bad.)
After this free agency, many saw the Patriots as still having holes at the top of their depth chart at wideout, tackle, and cornerback. Tight end was also considered a need as New England, despite adding Gesicki to pair with Henry, does not have a tight end signed beyond 2023, entering the draft with only Matt Sokol and Scotty Washington behind their name duo.
Then they went on the clock, entering the draft with:
1-14 2-46 3-76 4-107 4-117 4-135 6-184 6-187 6-192 6-210 7-245
Here’s how it all went down.
Draft Picks
TRADE: 1-14 to PIT for 1-17 and 4-120 Although this trade was criticized for receiving too little back from Pittsburgh, it was not a major loss in capital according to the Rich Hill value chart (325 points to PIT, 320 to NE), and it came with enough high-level talent on the board that the Patriots were sure to get one of their targets. The way the board fell, fans most wanted Christian Gonzalez, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Zay Flowers, or Broderick Jones; when the Steelers took Jones, it became clear that the Patriots were not interested in him (reports came out that the Patriots had not been interested in Jones at all due to coachability concerns), but they were sure to land an exciting player after moving down only three spots rather than the seven-plus many mockers had predicted. Additionally, the Steelers landing Jones appeared to knock the Jets’ war room for a loop (though later video has shown that the Jets were expecting the trade), and the only thing New England fans love more than a victory is an opportunity to screw over the Jets.
1-17: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon The Patriots’ selection of Gonzalez received universal acclaim, and it’s easy to see why. Despite having strong CB depth, the Patriots lacked a true #1 corner; Gonzalez has the ability, length, and athleticism to be that from Day One. The first-round pick via Colorado and Oregon was widely projected as a top-10 selection, so for New England to land him at 17 is a tremendous coup. From his interviews and his play style, Gonzalez seems like a quiet guy off the field who wants to shut the opponent down when on the turf. He’ll be fun to watch.
2-46: Keion White, ED, Georgia Tech White is another player falling under the new Patriots draft umbrella under Belichick and Matt Groh: as athletic as can be. While he is raw, White has the athleticism to play three downs along the defensive line and the versatility to move inside when the situation calls for it. The Patriots thought so highly of him that he was a player they were considering drafting in the first round, even considering a move back into the last picks of the round to snag him, but landed him at 46 anyway. How much he will play as a rookie is uncertain as New England has a very good edge duo in Matthew Judon and Josh Uche, but even if White has to take a year to get acclimated to the NFL, that’s not unheard of in Foxboro and has produced success for highly-touted picks: neither Nate Solder (first round) nor Trey Flowers (fourth round) took on long-term starting roles as rookies (though Solder filled in at right tackle plenty), but were established starters in their second years. Similarly, Uche (second round) started off as an occasionally-used part of a pass rushing rotation before hitting double-digit sacks last year, his third season in the league. And if White earns significant playing time in 2023, all the better.
3-76: Marte Mapu, LB, Sacramento State Here’s that small-school selection that detractors tend to point at regarding Belichick, but Mapu has elite potential. I got tipped off to Mapu late in the pre-draft cycle, and watching film of him I was reminded a lot of Kyle Dugger, another small-school Day 2 player who has turned into an excellent Patriot. Mapu is going to play linebacker, likely his best position, and fill the role of coverage ‘backer that New England has lacked for several seasons. He’s also athletic and scheme-versatile, having spent time at safety and linebacker while at Sacramento State, so he will be able to move around the defensive formation if the situation calls for it. Add to that his tackling, his closing speed, and his containment, and you’ve got yourself a potential stud.
4-107: Jake Andrews, C, Troy The Patriots need their future long-term center with David Andrews now 31 and having an injury history, and Jake Andrews (unrelated) is set up perfectly to be that guy. Andrews the Younger is built in the same mold as Andrews the Elder: both exited college as smaller in stature than other centers but able to get a push on defensive linemen from below, meaning Jake can easily learn specific bits of technique from David. While not expected to play the role immediately, [anagram: Ned Was a Jerk] is now in position to spend time behind [anagram: Swan Diver Dad], preparing himself to take over at center in the near future.
TRADE: 4-120 and 6-184 to NYJ for 4-112 4-112: Chad Ryland, K, Maryland This is not the first time Belichick has selected a kicker in the fourth round, selecting Stephen Gostkowski with pick 118 in 2006; with the Patriots in desperate need for a strong player at the position, moving up to make sure they could land him makes sense (especially with Jake Moody being selected by the 49ers at 3-99). And Ryland is what Nick Folk is not: a big-legged kicker with kickoff ability. Folk has been appreciated in New England for his accuracy, but his distance and accuracy notably declined in 2022, and when forced to kick off, his lack of touchback distance led to trouble, the Patriots surrendering a league-high three kick return touchdowns (including two in the season finale). It’s clear an upgrade at kicker was a requirement this offseason; with Moody gone, giving up a sixth to move up eight spots is absolutely fine. In doing so, New England has hopefully landed their kicker for the next decade.
4-117: Sidy Sow, G, Eastern Michigan At this point, it may be considered confusing for the Patriots to have drafted a left guard in Sow when last year’s first-round pick Cole Strange is entrenched there and Mike Onwenu mans right guard at an elite level, but Groh’s post-draft comments indicated the team would give Sow opportunities at left tackle as well. And not only does Sow have experience at left tackle, he has the size at 6’5” and 326 pounds. New England’s projected starting tackles are veterans Trent Brown and Riley Reiff, both of whom are over 30 and are in contract years; if Sow returns to the position, the former mauling EMU Eagle (heh, two birds) offensive lineman could ease the need at tackle for next offseason.
TRADE: 4-135 to LV for 5-144 and 6-214 5-144: Atonio Mafi, G, UCLA Another interior lineman? Yes. Mafi is a guard whom the Patriots worked with at the Shrine Bowl, and has the versatility to move between left and right guard. As the aforementioned Onwenu is in a contract year, Mafi has a clear path to a potential starting job in 2024, and the most important thing right now for the development of Mac Jones is keeping him upright. By selecting three offensive linemen – using a quarter of their 12 selections on the offensive trench – Belichick and Groh have signaled their intent to do just that. From all accounts, Mafi, who met with New England in a pre-draft visit, is thrilled to join the team; now it’s about proving it on the field.
6-187: Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU Boutte is the epitome of a boom-or-bust prospect, his elite 2020 and ‘21 being overshadowed by a disappointing 2022 that dropped him from clear first-rounder to a middle-of-Day-3 selection. As a freshman and sophomore, Boutte looked to follow in the footsteps of highly-drafted LSU wideouts such as Odell Beckham Jr., Justin Jefferson, and JaMarr Chase, showing a complete package of agility, speed, and route running. Unfortunately, an injury plus conflicts with his new coach Brian Kelly led to underperformance, and a poor combine performance cemented his draft stock as having drastically fallen. But if he can get back to his earlier form, where his talent and athleticism led to a combined 83 receptions, 1244 yards, and 14 touchdowns in his first two college seasons, Boutte could become the steal of the draft.
6-192: Bryce Baringer, P, Michigan State While New England had signed Corliss Waitman so as to have a punter on the roster heading into the draft, none assumed he was the long-term answer; when the Patriots made Baringer the first punter taken in the 2023 draft, it became clear who was. A walk-on turned cut turned best punter in college football, Baringer has a booming leg that showed itself in an average punt length of 49.0 yards in ‘22; he also holds the Michigan State record for career punting average at 46.0 yards. As a bonus, he worked with Ryland at the Senior Bowl, so the two have already begun to develop chemistry in the holding game. As another bonus, he wore No. 99 in college, and that is awesome.
6-210: Demario Douglas, WR, Liberty When one imagines a typical Patriots slot receiver – small, shifty, and explosive with the ball in his hands – one might well be imagining Douglas. The five-foot-eight Liberty product can absolutely fly, moving all around the formation and catching balls at all levels of the field. New Englanders got a preview of what Douglas’ game might look like when rookie cornerback Marcus Jones began to take snaps on offense last year; Jones was often put in motion before the snap, worked out of the backfield, and assigned touches where his elusiveness was the spark to gain yards. Douglas has said he models his game after Jones, a claim that demonstrates itself when one views his collegiate tape. I had a third-round grade on Douglas, so the Patriots landing him at 210 is a thrill. (Even though the Giants took one of my draft crushes in Tre Hawkins III the pick before, for which I’m still irked.)
6-214: Ameer Speed, CB, Michigan State The unknown about Speed is whether he will develop on defense; that is not his skill at the moment. There are three things known: his size (6’3”, 210 lbs.), his speed (4.34s 40), and his special teams prowess. With longtime special teams captain Matthew Slater likely entering his last year, the Patriots need to develop a new crop of special teams standouts, long a hallmark of Belichick’s Patriots from the time of Larry Izzo. Last year’s UDFA Brenden Schooler looks like one of those players already; Speed will certainly be given every chance possible to be another.
7-245: Isaiah Bolden, CB, Jackson State More tall athletic cornerbacks! The only HBCU selection in the 2023 draft, Bolden is an incredible athlete who likely earned his way to a draft selection by lighting up his Pro Day. Though just a role player on defense, Bolden has developmental traits that any defensive coach would love, and has also been a top collegiate kick returner, leading all of college football in 2021 with a 36.9-yard average on kickoff returns. I don’t see the two late-round cornerback selections as “throw players on the field and see who sticks” à la the ill-fated dual tight end picks of Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene in 2020’s third round, but selecting players who might have longer chances to succeed, but if they do succeed can truly shine.
Though Bolden was the last of the Patriots’ 2023 draft picks, that did not conclude their rookie class as the period of UDFA signings immediately began. The Patriots have had an undrafted rookie make the Week 1 roster every year since 2004; with just a four-man class this season, chances are slim. They’re not impossible – their only 2021 UDFA, kicker Quinn Nordin, made it – but they’re definitely slimmer. Here are the four who can continue that streak.
Undrafted Rookies
Malik Cunningham, QB, Louisville The most expensive ($200,000) and well-known of the quartet, Cunningham’s slight build and arm as a quarterback led to piles of speculation of his switching positions. However, he has started off his Patriots tenure as a quarterback in rookie minicamp, so he remains a quarterback until further notice. Throughout college, Cunningham’s most intriguing asset has been his supreme athleticism at the position, something which showed up in testing, and it remains to be seen how the Patriots will use that athleticism to help the team. (It may be a good while until outside sources get a look, as minicamp and OTAs have thus far been closed off to the media.)
Johnny Lumpkin, TE, Louisiana-Lafayette After foregoing using a selection on a tight end in a deep draft class (another Belichick trend), New England instead brought in Lumpkin, who projects as a blocking tight end in the NFL. This offsets the biggest negative, his age (he’ll be 26 to start the season), as the Patriots lack a true blocker at the position. Whether Lumpkin can take advantage of this path to a roster spot remains to be seen, but his road to making the team as an undrafted rookie seems easiest at the moment.
Jourdan Heilig, LB, Appalachian State Like Board and Speed, Heilig joins the Patriots as a special teams standout, playing minimal defense as a Mountaineer (three snaps in 2022) but standing out in college on the third unit (210 snaps in 2022). He’ll have a chance to follow in the path of Schooler as a UDFA who makes his mark as a core special teamer.
Justus Tavai, DL, San Diego State The middle of the Tavai brothers (older brother Jahlani is a Patriots linebacker, younger brother Jonah signed with Seattle as a UDFA), Justus played alongside Jonah on the Aztec defensive line in 2022. While Jonah put up eye-popping numbers with double-digit sacks, Justus was a steady contributor as well, putting up 3.5 sacks and intercepting a pass. Tavai is the ninth man on the Patriots’ defensive line right now, so he has a difficult path if he wants to make the team.
He’s not an undrafted rookie, but the Patriots have also brought in veteran free agent Anthony Firsker, TE to compete with Lumpkin, Sokol, and Washington for the third tight end spot, the roster spot opened with their losing reserve Raekwon McMillan, LB to a partially torn Achilles tendon.
Projected Offseason Depth Chart (italics = rookie, (in parentheses = exclusively or primarily a special teamer)) (Note: the Patriots assign temporary jersey numbers in the offseason starting with 50 based mainly on draft position.)
QB 10 Mac Jones 4 Bailey Zappe 19 Trace McSorley 64 Malik Cunningham
RB 38 Rhamondre Stevenson 3 James Robinson 14 Ty Montgomery II 35 Pierre Strong Jr. 36 Kevin Harris 42 J.J. Taylor
WR 1 DeVante Parker 7 JuJu Smith-Schuster 84 Kendrick Bourne 11 Tyquan Thornton 58 Kayshon Boutte 60 Demario Douglas 82 Tre Nixon (44 Raleigh Webb) (18 Matthew Slater)
TE 85 Hunter Henry 88 Mike Gesicki 86 Anthony Firsker 87 Matt Sokol 17 Scotty Washington 65 Johnny Lumpkin
T 77 Trent Brown 74 Riley Reiff 76 Calvin Anderson 75 Conor McDermott 64 Andrew Stueber
G 71 Mike Onwenu 69 Cole Strange 54 Sidy Sow 55 Atonio Mafi 63 Chasen Hines 62 Bill Murray
C 60 David Andrews 53 Jake Andrews 65 James Ferentz 66 Kody Russey
DL 90 Christian Barmore 92 Davon Godchaux 91 Deatrich Wise Jr. 93 Lawrence Guy Sr. 95 Daniel Ekuale 98 Carl Davis Jr. 96 Sam Roberts 70 Jeremiah Pharms Jr. 67 Justus Tavai
ED 9 Matthew Judon 55 Josh Uche 51 Keion White 58 Anfernee Jennings (97 DaMarcus Mitchell) 51 Ronnie Perkins
LB 8 Ja’Whaun Bentley 48 Jahlani Tavai 52 Marte Mapu 30 Mack Wilson Sr. (45 Chris Board Jr.) 43 Calvin Munson 59 Terez Hall 47 Olakunle Fatukasi (66 Jourdan Heilig)
CB 50 Christian Gonzalez 31 Jonathan Jones 13 Jack Jones 25 Marcus Jones 27 Myles Bryant (61 Ameer Speed) 63 Isaiah Bolden 37 Tae Hayes 26 Shaun Wade 34 Quandre Mosely 39 Rodney Randle Jr.
S 23 Kyle Dugger 5 Jabrill Peppers 2 Jalen Mills 21 Adrian Phillips 24 Joshuah Bledsoe (41 Brenden Schooler) (22 Cody Davis) 29 Brad Hawkins
K 62 Chad Ryland 6 Nick Folk
P 59 Bryce Baringer 15 Corliss Waitman
LS 49 Joe Cardona 46 Tucker Addington
Conclusion Is this a perfect Patriots team? No. There are still long-term holes at offensive tackle and tight end, and there is a question mark as to who can be that pass catcher whom defensive coordinators have to plan for, a player the team has lacked for several seasons.
But is this an exciting Patriots roster, a team who has a chance to exceed their middling projections and expectations, a team worth watching and cheering for? Absolutely. Belichick and company have stabilized the coaching staff; added explosive, athletic players at nearly every position; brought in a new crew of players to take over special teams; and begun their draft with three players who could not only start in the NFL but have the potential to star. I fully believe that this is not an 8-9 caliber team, even in an AFC East with three other teams that have added big name after big name.
As Bill Belichick might say, we’re on to 2023.
We’re on to victory.
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2023.05.28 04:24 hashtagjlove Parents' probate is taking way too long and I'm getting frustrated

I just need some confirmation or maybe some relatable anecdotes about a pretty sad situation I'm dealing with because it's causing me major anxiety and I have no idea how to approach it and idk maybe I just need to vent and idk a more appropriate place for this post. I tried the AITA subreddit but it kept deleting my post.
So to set the stage; 2021 was an awful year for my family. Shortly before the pandemic my father was diagnosed with cancer of the mouth from his lifelong dipping tobacco habit. He was going through that while the pandemic took hold and not long into it my stepmother began to lose balance a lot and would fall and not be able to get back up frequently. My dad underwent treatment and went into remission very briefly before having to go back for a skin graft while my stepmom would slowly become wheelchair bound. Then in March of 2021 my dad went to the hospital for shortness of breath. The doctors put him into a medically induced coma to run tests, and the next day my stepmom had to go to the hospital for major stomach pain (bowel obstruction from the wheelchair). I lived in FL at the time, they lived in TX. I flew out and found that my dad had a mess of chest/heart/lung complications related to his cancer and the only options were hospice or numerous surgeries for a very long shot with lots of suffering so me, my stepsister, brother in law and her children all had to go to my stepmom's room across town and first explain the situation to her which crushed us, then she and I had to sit down and make the decision to let him go into hospice peacefully and we managed to get her to his hospital to say goodbye and I flew out shortly after. I flew back into town for my dad's funeral, my mom was now starting to lose her voice and upper body strength. I fly home, a few weeks later mom is back in the hospital and I get the call from my sister who also told me one of her sons had passed shortly after she went in and I got to fly in to town to see mom and we had to tell her as a family about my nephew which was heartbreaking. Another month goes by, we finally get mom's diagnosis: ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). By this time she has to be on a respirator and I'm flying into Texas every few weeks to visit her but she eventually became unresponsive in September and we had to let her pass, too, and to cap it off it happened on my dad's birthday. I flew back shortly after to scatter her ashes on the beach (which she made sure all of us knew she wanted before she lost her voice, she didn't want us to not know like we went through with dad). So to recap, Dad passes in March, nephew passes in June, Mom passes in September. I lost my parents and a nephew inside of six months. My biological mother is still alive and I've become a little worrisome about her now but still it was the hardest year of my life.
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After the worst year our family ever experienced I just wanted some time to process it all and grieve and I'm glad to say I'm at a point where I'll catch a glimpse of something that reminds me of them and I'll just think of whatever memory is attached to it for a minute and smile, though the anniversaries are still hard. Thank you for sticking with me so far. So during that time the process of probate was going on but I didn't much care about that, I just wanted to grieve and see my other nephew get married last year which was beautiful but..
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It's almost two years now since mom passed away. She named my brother in law as the executor of her will. I think he was the best choice bc he would be the one to get things done and stand up to my stepbrother who was kind of the black sheep of the family (long story) but still thinks he should have been the executor. He's started a few fights over it. Anyway, about a year ago I had managed to move past the grieving process and it felt like my sister and BIL had, too. We've grown a lot closer over this time so I didn't want to ask about probate besides keeping up with how my parents' house is holding up (and retrieving a wooden chest I had made in high school that mom cherished and my dad's ring that my mom left to me) because I trust them. I also feel like asking about money after someone has passed is in poor taste.. but like I said we're almost two years past that now.
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My mom left me, my stepsister and brother in law equal portions of her estate after the specific things like furniture, jewelry etc, and a small portion to my stepbrother. I haven't heard anything about that and until recently I was content to let it be bc I wasn't the only one that had a really hard time with so much loss so suddenly but the house hasn't even been listed for sale. I've tried asking what's going on with it, it seems there's a plumbing issue that needs to be addressed but the house is an hour and a half from their house so scheduling is hard. I get it but... stepsis doesn't work. She has health issues that slow her down but nothing that stops her from taking a day to go to the house to meet a plumber. Mom left her car to her so she definitely has her own transportation and she can do exactly what she does at home.. at mom and dad's house. She smokes cigarettes and does puzzles on her porch. She can bring her dogs for company. I don't understand how this plumbing issue has held things up for at least two months. I've tried suggesting ways to have someone meet the plumber and alert her so she can drive to the house (neighbor, friends, someone from the law office). The last option kind of put a little unwanted intrusive thought into my head, though. When I suggested just having someone from the law office as a throwaway bc I'm getting a little frustrated my sister told me "Oh, the lawyer's job was done a long time ago."
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What does that mean? Sister had to let me go before I could ask, claiming she had to go to the doctor for a possible infection (which is was but she's fine now). I haven't called since then because I'm more than a little frustrated after that last conversation. I'm assuming it means all my parents' debts have been paid, all insurance policies have been collected, savings/retirement accounts have been consolidated etc. The only thing that appears to be left is the house. That's a monthly mortgage payment, insurance, possibly utilities and probably the car. I'm not going to lie, I have thought about what I might do with my inheritance. Nothing concrete but I've considered using it for a house or to get some training to switch careers and I'm in no immediate rush to get it but my main issue is how in the dark I feel. Stepsis and brother in law have since bought their first house and have done extensive renovations to it. I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt bc BIL had been promoted at work shortly before everything happened and they were looking at houses.. but I'm not unconvinced their budget didn't get bigger? Like I don't think they're spending my portion of the inheritance... but it's a bad look isn't it? They're the only family I have left on my dad/stepmom's side and I don't want to cause tension with accusations but I don't even know how much the estate was. I'm still paying off the flights, rental car and hotel bills from all the trips to Texas. I have severe PTSD and chronic anxiety diagnoses and piling this on top has been keeping me up at night for a year now. WIBTA if I called the probate lawyer and asked to see all the statements? Is this normal?
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2023.05.27 22:43 FYREFLi_KNG My ideas for a Coven spinoff!

I am a massive fan of the Coven and have always wished that Ryan would make a spin-off series devoted to the coven. I came up with a few ideas for what the show could look like, let me know what you think!
  1. American Coven Story: Pilgrimage
The origins of the Supreme, spanning from the late 1500s to the early 1600s. Scathach is already a several hundreds of years old powerful witch, surrounded by myth and legend. The old gods who bestowed her powers onto her are displeased with her wavering faith during an outbreak of witch trials, and offer her an ultimatum: Take pilgrimage to new lands and practice in their name; or lose her powers. She accepts the pilgrimage and flees to the New World, where she spends the next century on her pilgrimage while facing the rise of Puritanism.
  1. American Coven Story: Revolution
Prudence Mather is the Supreme. It’s the height of the Salem Witch Trials. The coven has managed to avoid suspicion of being witches, but their luck is running out. One of their own is caught and hanged by the townsfolk of Salem, and a traitor within their ranks is suspected responsible of betrayal. The coven must do everything that they can to avoid further suspicion and survive the witch trials. By the end of the season, Salem has become too dangerous to live in and the witches flee in search of a new home.
  1. American Coven Story: Hollow
In the aftermath of the Revolutionary War, the coven has relocated to the Hudson Valley, settling just outside of Sleepy Hollow. The townsfolk are welcoming of the coven, but at the same time unnerved - upon their arrival, a headless horseman has started to roam the streets and surrounding lands at night in search of soldiers. He is Death, the horseman of the apocalypse, sent forth by Satan at the behest of Benedict Arnold to wage war against Washington and the newly formed USA - and the coven itself.
  1. American Coven Story: Civil War
Set during the Civil War. The supreme is a traitor. She presents as an abolitionist and friend and ally to the union, but is in turn using her powers to help the confederacy and provide slave holders new slaves. Future supreme Mariann Wharton and a few other witches defect from the coven in an effort to take out the current supreme, allying with voodoo queen Marie Laveau to accomplish this. By the end of the season, Miss Robichauxs is established and Marie declares a life long feud between her tribe and the coven.
  1. American Coven Story: Visions
Set in the late 1800s to the early 1900s, during the height of the Spiritualism movement. A trio of witches arrive in San Francisco, under the belief the city is sitting on the source of magic which they wish to harness for themselves. The eldest opens a funeral home, where she performs experiments on necromancy. The middle sister opens a brothel that employs succubi. The youngest runs an apothecary, whose clients range everywhere from the poor to the social elite. The supreme and her Coven are called to San Francisco to combat the sisters before the trio succeeds in their plot for supremacy.
  1. American Coven Story: Crisis
Set after the events of Apocalypse. Mallory has successfully reset the timeline and the birth of the Antichrist has been delayed - but the existence of a second Supreme witch and her her actions has caused a disruption of the Supremacy line and a gradual breakdown of magical laws - ordinary people are able to preform small bursts of magic, rifts into other dimensions opens, and Madison Montgomery has returned from the dead with full knowledge of the other timeline. Together, Cordelia, Mallory, and Madison must work together to find the true cause - and source - of these bursts of magic chaos before they become out of control to the point of another apocalypse.
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2023.05.26 18:08 TheGooseGirl Pictures of Tina Turner

To my knowledge, there exist only TWO pictures of Tina Turner within the Ikeda cult context:
This is the ONLY image I'm aware of with her and Ikeda together:
From 1987
This one is from the September 1986 Seikyo Times magazine:
In the front row in the black and white patterned skirt sitting next to SGI-USA (then NSA) General Director George M. Williams - just look at all those Japanese faces!
That page includes a picture from "Soka University" at the Malibu Training Center - which intimates that it's obviously a nice California vacation for the privileged Soka Gakkai princelings and princesslings. Yet another benefit for the Japanese.
For context:
In contrast, California had 269,000 Japanese Americans constituting 1% of the state's population, with the overall Asian population, 1,247,000 constituting 5% of the state's population (Gardner et al., 1985). - JSTOR, Phylis Cancilla Martinelli, Richard Nagasawa, "A Further Test of the Model Minority Thesis: Japanese Americans in a Sunbelt State", Sociological Perspectives, Vol. 30, No. 3 (Jul., 1987), p. 268.
For the Tina Turner picture group to represent a cross-section of the population of California, there would be only ONE Japanese person in the group, tops, instead of MOST. SGI has always been a Japanese religion for Japanese people.
So BOTH of those images are from BEFORE the Ikeda cult's excommunication from Nichiren Shoshu, and Ms. Turner carefully acknowledged "The Liturgy of Nichiren Shoshu" (the title of the pre-excommunication gongyo book) in the dedication of her book "I, Tina" - NOT Ikeda or SGI! In fact, re: her latest book from ~3 years ago:
Interestingly she still describes her practice as "Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism" and says nothing about the SGI, let alone President Ikeda. Source
Must've slipped her mind ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Here is an image of Tina Turner with Amp Elmore on the right - I think it's from the late 1970s but I'm not sure. World-champion kick boxer Amp Elmore, a celebrity in his own right, now an outspoken critic of the Ikeda cult over at his Proud Black Buddhist site, was still "in" at this point, but as you can see, this wasn't at an Ikeda cult "activity" or show - the Ikeda cult here in the US has never featured advertising like the Pepsi banner behind them.
Here's a picture of Tina Turner in front of her altar - see the BIG NONO behind her?? And a SGI-USA top Japanese expat leader threw a fit when Blanche hung 2 large antique Nichiren Shu gohonzons in an out-of-the-way place in her home where any visiting SGI members would be unlikely to even see them! WHY did no one show the strict compassion to explain to Tina Turner why STATUES ARE EXPLICITLY FORBIDDEN (also here)??? As Greg Martin so thoughtfully pointed out, the art angle simply wasn't a valid reason when something was BAD and EVIL! Perhaps it's because Ms. Turner had already distanced herself from the Ikeda cult so none of its meddling-busybody-bullying "leaders" could "home visit" her for a scolding - and tell HER "You need to chant until you agree with me"!
Of course idolatry is perfectly FINE when it's Ikeda 🙄
In fact, after we were informed (misleadingly) that we'd ALL been insta-excommunicated at the same time as Ikeda (not true - the laity weren't excommunicated until 6 years later), I was told by the highest-ranking local leader that, since I was an SGI leader, I NEEDED to have a picture of Ikeda on my altar!

After 15 years, the 74-year-old self-described Buddhist-Baptist has reemerged to lend her voice to three songs on an album of Hindu prayers, traditional Indian music and Christian hymns, according to Noise11.

Turner contemplates herself a Buddhist-Baptist. Source

Tina Turner considers herself Christian FIRST AND FOREMOST. She just added the chanting on top of that without ever dropping the Christianity. I'll bet she'll be having a CHRISTIAN funeral.
Q: Are you finished now with the Christian religion?
TT: No, up until this day I pray ‘our father’. Buddhism, though, was a new dimension in my spiritual life, it touched a different spot inside, the subconscious.
On this CD we have Tina chanting Baptist prayers from her childhood and imparting the overall spiritual message "love within"... Source But NOT the SGI's magic chant, you'll notice. Is Tina Turner a member of SGI? And DOES IT MATTER?
Doesn't matter NOW - she daid ☠️
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2023.05.26 15:42 litcityblues Dreams of Hope

“I know how men in exile feed on dreams of hope”
-Aeschylus
IT WAS JUST PAST sunrise on Herenveen Prime and Charlotte Elizabeth Mackenzie-Nanda, Queen Consort of the Herenveen Staats-Republic, was still enjoying her coffee when she heard the distant rumble of a sonic boom that indicated an arriving shuttle had entered the upper atmosphere, bound for the spaceport. She set her cup down on the small table next to her.
“Grimsby?”
“Yes ma’am?” Her ever-present steward stepped forward.
“Do you have the omnioculars close at hand?”
“Always ma’am,” he replied. He stepped over to a small cabinet on the far side of the terrace, opened it, and, retrieving the omnioculars, brought them back to her. “Here you are, ma’am.”
“Thank you, Grimsby,” she said. Raising the omnioculars to her eyes, she began to scan the skies. Let’s see, she thought to herself. I’m on the eastern side of the palace, overlooking the gardens and that means the approach vector to the spaceport in Herenveen Town should be about… there. There was a faint trail of exhaust. She pressed a green button on top of the omnioculars and the readout confirmed her findings. There was a ship and it was- the readout directed her to move to the right and she did so, hoping that she would be able to catch a glimpse of the arriving ship before it disappeared behind the Palace and-
She froze and pulled back from the omnioculars. It couldn’t be. It couldn’t- she made herself look again. There was no mistaking it this time. It was a clipper ship, one of the ultra-fast pickets that the Star Union’s defense contractors were marketing to every buyer from here to the rim. Along its prow was its registration number (SU-76463) and its name, the Star Clipper. None of that was particularly of note. What was, however, was the red, white, and blue roundel of the Star Union’s space force and, she noted, the golden gryphon symbol of the Duchy of New Georgia underneath it.
She set the omnioculars down on the table and picked up her coffee again, staring out at the Palace Gardens. She was not ill-informed, of course. Even now, after decades in exile, she still had friends in the Star Union. She had heard about the failing health of her Grandfather, the King-Emperor, and- there’s only one reason why they would send a clipper ship. The thought whispered to her. Only one.
“Grimsby?”
A step forward. “Yes ma’am?”
“Where is she this morning? She usually tells you, doesn’t she?”
“I believe Her Majesty was convinced that the roses needed some attention this morning, ma’am.”
“Ah yes, Grimsby, but which roses? She has so many.”
“The Austins I believe were her primary concern, ma’am. She is worried about how they are adapting to our soil after the long journey from Terra.”
“Very well.” She made herself sit and finish her coffee, drinking in the view and soaking up the peace and serenity of the early morning. There was no better view than she could think of and if she was right- but what if you’re not? The Star Union has plenty of clipper ships. It could be anything.
Keep telling yourself that, she told herself, but no good news comes early in the morning. She drained the last of her coffee, placed the mug on the saucer and stood up, walking towards the edge of the grand staircase that lead down into the gardens, Grimsby just behind her, a constant presence at her side.
Decades before, she had been too young to know what was going on in the Star Union. She had been carefully shielded from the politics of it all. She knew the history. Everyone knew the history, but… she remembered the hands shaking her, waking her in the night. Urging her to get up, quickly, there was no time to pack. She remembered her mother’s face, creased with worry and realizing that she was afraid, seeing her fall behind on her little legs and sweeping her up into her arms. She was safe there. She was happy there.
There were only flashes of memory now, The sound of shoes echoing on the deserted hallways of the Palace. The night sky, so warm, so clear, the stars shimmering above her. She was placed in the transport, near the window and soon they were lifting off. The city was half cast in darkness, flickers of fire and columns of smoke dimly visible, split by the sinuous line of the River Nanda, running through the capitol city.
She remembered her face, pressed against the window, clutching her stuffed gryphon, Archie close as they reached the terminator line between night and day and she caught one last glimpse of the beautiful oceans and the green land of Astralis Prime, heart of the Star Union and then…
Then it was exile and her family had gone back to the Potentate of Cosmara once again, barely a generation after the First Restoration of their dynasty back to the great throne of the Star Union.
A delicate cough interrupted her train of thought. “Ma’am.”
“Hmm?”
“The roses are… that way,” Grimsby nodded to her left.
“Thank you, Grimsby,” she replied, annoyed at her absent-mindedness. It’s because it’s early, she told herself. No good news comes early in the morning. Father would say it all the time. Mother believed it. You believe it too, she admitted to herself.
Finally heading in the right direction, it was the work of a few moments before she finally came around the well-manicured hedge, ducked under a delicate moongate and stepped into the rose garden. There, she caught sight of her wife, Chief Stadtholder and Queen of the Herenveen Staats-Republic, Chief Executive Officer of it’s associated trading conglomerates and companies, Juliana Beatrix Oranje-Nassau, Fifth of her name.
“You bloody thing, I don’t know where you’re coming from, but I will find you and I will-” Juliana was on all fours, gloved hand buried deep into a rose bush, trying to trace back an offending weed of some kind. Charlotte stopped and just watched for a long moment. They were both getting older now. Their children were grown and in the case of their son, Eduardo had just secured the line of succession and made them both grandmothers. Even with the prolong treatments, streaks of grey were creeping into her hair now, but still-
“Enjoying the view?” Juliana asked archly, turning her head to notice her for the first time.
“You know I always do,” she replied. “You also do know that we have gardeners that can do things like this.”
Juliana growled and gave the offending weed an almighty pull before pulling her gloved hand out of the rose bush and holding it up triumphantly.
“We pay them quite a bit of money, you know,” she continued idly as Juliana stood up. “They’re experts at-”
“I know, Charlotte,” Juliana rolled her eyes. “It’s just, I like to sneak out-”
“-leaving me alone in our bed-”
“-and just get some gardening in before the tedious business of the day begins,” Juliana continued.
Charlotte smiled fondly at her wife, fully aware of how quickly she would abdicate should the Staats-General ever get around to deeming Eduardo to be a worthy successor to her. Juliana was a creature of nature, more than anything, far more at home puttering about the Palace gardens or strapping on big, practical waterproof boots to go tramping through fields. She was happiest getting her hands dirty. “I love you, wife.”
Juliana’s face softened and she stepped towards Charlotte, slipping her ungloved hand into hers and leaning forward to kiss her firmly on the lips. “And I adore you, my queen.” She creased her eyebrows, realizing something. “What brings you out into the gardens at this hour, anyway? You should be eating your breakfast still.”
“I started early when I woke to find an empty space in my bed,” Charlotte replied somewhat tartly.
“But, I came looking for you when I heard the ship coming in.”
“Is that what that was? I wondered, but I was…” Juliana raised her gloved hand, still clenched around the offending weed and looked a little sheepish.
“Preoccupied?” Charlotte finished.
“Yes, let’s go with that. So, a ship? It’s a little early for a ship.”
“I thought so as well, so I tracked it with the omnioculars.”
“Anyone important?”
“It was from the Star Union,” Charlotte said. “One of their new ultra-fast pickets. It…” she sighed. “It had the livery of the Duchy of New Georgia on it.”
“Your cousin. David, no, Dean, no-” Juliana frowned in irritation.
“Drake,” Charlotte supplied.
“Yes, him. That’s the one,” Juliana said. “Has he sent any messages? Any word that he’s coming?”
“No,” Charlotte admitted.
“So, it could be just another ship on urgent business for anything, right?” Juliana said. “There might be no need to worry at all.”
“Maybe,” Charlotte said. “But-”
“No good news comes early in the morning.” Juliana finished. She pulled the glove off of her hand and tossed it next to the pile of weeds she had placed to one side along with the garden implements. “Would it ease your mind if we went and find out what the ship wanted?”
“It would, my love, but…” she glanced pointedly at the mess and Juliana flapped her hand dismissively with a mischievous grin playing about her face. “The gardeners can get it.”
“Juliana!” Charlotte sounded scandalized.
“As you pointed out, my love, we do pay people- experts, some of them, to take care of things like this,” Juliana slipped her arm into Charlotte’s and with Charlotte rolling her eyes, but smiling as well, the two of them began to walk arm in arm back out of the gardens and toward the Palace, Grimsby an ever-present shadow in their wake. Charlotte was just about convinced that maybe Juliana was right and maybe she had nothing to worry about, but just as they turned the last corner and the terrace came into view, her heart sank. There was Mr. Vanderbeek, Juliana’s chief secretary, waiting at the top of the stairs for them.
Juliana felt her stiffen and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “Pieter,” she called as they made their way toward the steps. “Good morning!”
Mr. Vanderbeek bowed. “Good morning, your majesties.”
“You’re up early,” Juliana noted as they reached the bottom of the steps and climbed up onto the terrace. “What brings you to the Palace at this hour?”
“A delegation from the Star Union has arrived, your majesty. They’re requesting to meet with Queen Charlotte most urgently.”
“Did they say what about?” Charlotte tried to make the question sound casual but realized she probably failed at that and shook her head ruefully.
“They did not, your majesty,” Mr. Vanderbeek said. “But I am told that his Grace, the Duke of New Georgia is the head of their delegation.”
“Drake?” Charlotte broke in, surprised. “He’s here himself?”
“Yes, your majesty.”
“Who else?” Juliana asked.
“Intelligence is working on that,” Mr. Vanderbeek said. “But so far, we have identified the Archbishop of Astralis Prime, the Earl of New Shaftesbury and a Parliamentarian we believe to be Beatrice Boothroyd.”
“When do they want to meet?” Charlotte asked.
“As soon as possible, they say, your majesty,” Mr. Vanderbeek replied.
“Has the government been informed?” Juliana asked.
“Yes, your majesty.”
“Very well, since they’re still renovating Noordiende, we’ll have to receive them at the Voorhout Palace. See to it, please and prepare a ground car for her majesty and myself. We won’t keep them waiting long,” Juliana ordered.
Mr. Vanderbeek bowed. “As you wish, your majesty.” He retreated the requisite five steps, taking care not to turn his back on either woman before, having reached the appropriate distance, he turned and hurried away to make the arrangements.
~
Receiving an official delegation from a foreign power required more of the Queen than it did the Queen Consort, so while Juliana allowed herself to be herded away by various functionaries and ladies in waiting to be cleaned and dressed, Charlotte was left to her own devices. Having decided on a sonic shower over the more decadent option of a water shower, she soon found herself opening the door to her closet, robe wrapped tightly around her.
It was less of a closet and more of a room, but that was the privilege of being a Queen Consort. There were dresses and suits and uniforms for every occasion. The chattering classes tended to notice if she wore the same dress twice, which had bothered Charlotte when she was younger, but now, she no longer cared. Dresses could be worn more than once. She had done so throughout her childhood on Cosmara if for no other reason than her family's reduced circumstances had made it a necessity.
She walked down the length of the closet, lightly running her hands along the dresses, wondering what she should wear. Cousin Drake, the Archbishop, the Earl of New Shaftesbury, and whoever that Parliamentarian is… there is only one reason to send a delegation like that to see me. Her hand stopped and, reaching up, she pushed the dresses back to reveal a simple, unadorned red dress.
Even with the prolong treatments, humanity was not immortal. Her father’s cancer had advanced, inexorably, resistant to every treatment they had tried.
Grandfather even sent his personal physician, she remembered. The Doctor arrived in secret, towards the end, in the dead of night, and tried her best, but… Juliana, always so careful to never even give the appearance of asking for favors or getting special privileges had made a quiet call to the government and bundled her onto the fastest ship Herenveen Prime had. It had not been enough. She arrived an hour after he had gone, quietly, without much fuss, as was his way.
He had not wanted an elaborate funeral. Juliana had brought the children. Cousin Drake had arrived as well, which had been a surprise at the time. All of them, clad in their funeral red, on the lip of the hillside of their small farm, the towers of Cosmara City in the distance, watching as the flames of the funeral pyre climbed higher and higher.
She ran her hands over the red mourning dress, remembering. She had not worn it since that day. It seemed a lifetime ago, but there was only one reason they would be sending a delegation like this. Charlotte took the dress down out of the closet and carried it back into the bedroom laying it across her bed. Then she went back into the closet and walked all the way to the back where the jewelry was kept. She did not hesitate this time. Opening the top drawer, she pulled out her mother’s sapphire necklace, the famous Star of Astralis, the one thing she had taken from the Palace when they had fled into exile.
Charlotte held it up to the light and, leaning forward blew some offending dust from it before nodding to herself in approval. “Yes, this will do quite nicely.”
Half an hour later, Charlotte made her way down the grand staircase to the main entrance of the Palace, where Juliana was waiting for her. She was dressed more modestly- in her usual grey suit with a simple string of pearls and a matching purse, but her lips pursed appreciatively as she watched Charlotte descend, Grimsby behind her as always.
Reaching the bottom of the stairs, Juliana smiled at Charlotte and then said, “Grimsby?”
“Yes, your majesty,” Grimsby stepped forward.
“Can you check to see where our ground car has gotten to?”
“At once, your majesty,” Grimsby inclined his head and then crossed over to the front doors of the palace and, opening them, slipped through.
Once they were alone, Juliana, cocked an eyebrow at Charlotte. “Red? That’s the color of mourning in the Star Union.”
“There’s only one reason I can think of for them to send an urgent delegation to meet with me,” Charlotte replied. “If my Grandfather has finally died, I will not show anything less than the utmost respect for his memory.”
“Well, you look lovely,” Juliana said. “Every inch an exiled Princess of the Star Union.”
“I hope so,” Charlotte replied.
Grimsby was returning and Juliana stood up as they both walked over to meet him. “You said you can only think of one reason,” Juliana noted.
“What else could it be?” Charlotte asked.
Juliana looked as if she was about to say something, but instead, shrugged and gave Charlotte a reassuring smile. “You’re right,” she said. “Let’s go see what they have to say.”
~
It was half an hour later when they finally arrived in the grand hall of the Voorhout Palace. That wasn’t entirely unexpected. They were both Queens (well, Juliana was the Queen, Charlotte was the Queen Consort,) and as the two of them, arm in arm, walked out of the antechamber onto the dais of the Throne Room, Charlotte had to admit that they both looked the part. Juliana guided Charlotte to her throne at Juliana’s right, before stepping up onto the main dais and taking her place on the Oranjetanuki Throne.
Mr. Vanderbeek was already in place off to Juliana’s left and after a moment to smooth out her skirt, she nodded to him Mr. Vanderbeek stepped down off the dais and walked the length of the throne room before opening the door and vanishing for a moment onto the other side. Charlotte felt her heart begin to beat faster and forced herself to take a slow deep breath to calm down. Juliana is right. Let’s see what they have to say. Another slow, deep breath and she became irritated with herself. Why are you acting like a spoiled Princess? You’re a grown woman and Queen Consort
The doors opened and Mr. Vanderbeek lead the delegation into the throne room and walked about halfway down before stopping, bowing, and then saying: “Your Majesties, an urgent delegation from the Star Union wishes an audience.”
“Their request is granted,” Juliana replied.
Mr. Vanderbeek stepped smoothly aside and the delegation advanced. As they came closer, Charlotte recognized her cousin, Drake. He was grown now, of course, but even behind the beard, she could still recognize him. The delegation advanced and went down to one knee as both Charlotte and Juliana rose to greet them.
“Your majesty,” Drake said. “We bring sad tidings. Your grandfather, the King Emperor of the Star Union is dead.”
Even though she had been expecting the news, the words fell like a hammer blow and Charlotte was surprised at the surge of emotion she felt. After the Revolt that sent her family into exile, her grandfather had been dragged out of retirement as the only acceptable option to both warring factions in the Star Union. Quietly, he had done what he could to make sure her family was comfortable in exile but had never once contacted them. Her only memories of him were happy ones, from her childhood, before they were exiled. She couldn’t bring herself to resent the old man, even now– and if either of her parents had harbored any bitterness towards him, they had never shown it.
“These are sad tidings indeed, cousin,” Charlotte replied. “I appreciate you coming all this way to tell me in person, but a vid-message or a tight beam would have been just as welcome.”
“Your majesty,” Drake said. “While those tidings are the official reason for our visit, we have another purpose here. A purpose of great urgency and import.”
Charlotte frowned. “What other purpose could bring you here so urgently, cousin?”
“We are here to offer you the Crown of the Star Union.”
If the news of her grandfather’s passing had been a hammer blow, this was news that nearly made her stumble and Charlotte felt herself swaying in shock, her mouth open in astonishment. Suddenly, Juliana was there beside her, gently tucking her arm into hers and steering her safely back into her seat. Charlotte smoothed her skirts out, trying to compose herself as she grappled with the enormity of what Drake had just said.
Juliana stood beside her, hand on her shoulder. “On whose authority do you make such an offer, your Grace?”
“Your majesty, with me I have representatives from the nobility, the church, and the commons. Our common desire is that which her majesty’s father and those who came before fought for and represented: a Monarch who governs in the name of the duly elected Parliament of the Star Union.”
“And how is that different from what you have now?” Juliana asked. Charlotte was dizzy with shock, but still managed to nod in agreement, still not trusting herself to speak. This had to be a joke, a prank, something- whatever it was, it couldn’t be real. The Crown? Her?
You could go home. A whisper from deep inside of her.
Drake grimaced. “The succession is contested. My Uncle Phillip-” Drake smiled knowingly as he saw the expression of disgust flash across Charlotte’s face, “-believes that he has the strongest claim. He is opposed by my cousin Hubert-” and his smile was genuine now as Charlotte covered an incipient laugh with a well-timed if artificial cough. “Your majesty, may I…” he shifted uncomfortably. “May I speak freely to my cousin for a moment, not the Queen Consort of Herenveen Prime?”
Juliana glanced down at Charlotte who nodded her assent.
“Cousin, I understand your skepticism and even your hesitation, but…” Drake sighed. “Invite me to dinner tonight. We can have a real conversation about what this actually means.”
Charlotte and Juliana exchanged glances for a long moment before Charlotte nodded and Juliana looked at Drake. “Your grace, it will be our pleasure to have you join us for dinner tonight at our residence at Het Loo. Seven o’clock, sharp.”
Drake inclined his head. “Thank you for your most gracious and kind invitation, your majesty.”
“We will withdraw then and make preparations,” Juliana said slipping her hand from Charlotte’s shoulder. She stood and the two of them left through the entrance they had come in, arm in arm once again.
Charlotte felt like she was in a daze, but allowed Juliana to lead her back towards their ground car. Mr. Vanderbeek was waiting at the courtyard entrance. “Mr. Vanderbeek, I take it you heard?”
“I did, your majesty.”
“If you would inform the Prime Minister and ask him for a full briefing later tonight. I would like to know the government’s opinion of this… unexpected offer.”
“Yes ma’am,” Mr. Vanderbeek replied. “Will the two of you be returning to Het Loo?”
“Yes, we will. The Duke of New Georgia will be joining us for dinner as well,” Juliana said.
“Very well, ma’am.”
“Thank you, Mr. Vanderbeek.”
He bowed and then stood as still as a statue until they had both walked out into the courtyard proper and reached their ground car. Charlotte slid into the seat, still trying to process the offer that Drake had made back in the throne room. The crown? Me?
You could go home, that whisper again, tinged with hope. But where is home? Charlotte replied in the silence of her head as the ground car manuevered out of the courtyard and onto the city streets. She watched as they made their way down the row of embassies from across the galaxy and then a thought occurred to her.
“Juliana?”
“Yes, darling?”
“Did you know?” Charlotte said. “When I said I could only think of one reason why they would want to see me…”
Juliana said nothing for a long moment before finally taking a breath. “I wondered.”
“But did you know?”
“No,” Juliana replied. “I didn’t. I about fell over when he made his offer..”
Charlotte chuckled. “That makes two of us.” She pursed her lips again and stared out the window, the brief burst of amusement leaving her. “I just wish I knew how real it was.”
Juliana reached over and took her hand. “My love, as soon as we are back at Het Loo I am going to be making all kinds of vid-calls to all kinds of people to see if I can get you an answer to that question.”
~
It was much later. Juliana had withdrawn after the main course, informing them she had some late calls to make. The stewards cleared away the last of the dessert and Drake leaned back in his chair and emitted a loud groan. “God, that was excellent food. I haven’t eaten that well in years.”
“The position does have some privileges,” Charlotte smiled. “We pay our chefs very well.”
“How well?” Drake asked. “That chocolate mousse was to die for.”
“Hands off,” Charlotte said with mock ferocity. “You can’t have him.”
Drake raised his hands in mock innocence. “All right, I surrender,” he said. Charlotte pushed back her chair and stood up, making her way to a small cart of liquor bottles at the side of the dining room. “Shall we adjourn to the terrace?” Charlotte asked.
“With whiskey, one hopes?” Drake sounded eager but pushed his own chair out to stand up.
“Of course,” Charlotte said. She unstoppered a decanter and poured out two generous measures into a pair of elegant crystal glasses before putting the stopper back in the decanter and turning back to Drake. She held out a glass to him and he closed the distance between them and took it from her, Grimsby having heard her proposal and waiting patiently, holding open the door to the terrace, the two of them walked out onto the terrace, and the warm summer night. Charlotte lead them to a pair of lounge chairs and gestured for Drake to sit down before smoothing out her skirts and sitting opposite him.
Charlotte took a sip of whiskey, unsure of how to begin. Happily, Drake did it for her.
“Ask me the question, cousin.”
“What question?” Charlotte asked, a picture of innocence.
Drake snorted in derision. “The one you’ve been wanting to ask me all night. The one we’ve been dancing around through an appetizer, two main courses, a dessert, and now a glass of whiskey.”
“Direct as always, Drake,” Charlotte smiled. “But, very well.” She took a sip of whiskey. “Why me?”
“Why not you?” Drake leaned back in the chair. “Your claim is just as strong as Phillip’s and it’s certainly stronger than that idiot Hubert’s. You have just as much right to the throne as they do if not more.”
“That’s not enough of a reason,” Charlotte replied. “My family has been in exile from the Star Union for a lifetime now. My children grew up here. My life is here. To the people, I would be a historical relic trotted out to serve some political agenda at best and at worst… a foreigner.”
“You say that your life is here now, but you knew the news we were bringing you and still wore your funeral red. Your sleeves hide them well, but you wear the bidari bracelets as well. I’m willing to bet if asked your children, they would tell me of the food and the traditions you still practice as well-”
“So, we celebrate Diwali and Christmas,” Charlotte said. “What of it? There is a thriving emigrant community here and on a dozen other worlds as well. Maintaining and honoring my heritage doesn’t mean I’m fit to lead a country I haven’t seen in decades.” She took another sip of whiskey. “You need to work on your pitch, Drake. I’m not persuaded.”
Drake considered that for a moment, taking another sip of whiskey. “You could secure your father’s legacy, once and for all.” He sat up straight. “Grandfather’s health had been failing for the past five years. Phillip has been defacto regent the entire time and his regency has not been a happy one. Your father was ousted for backing a government that at the time was seen as dangerously radical.”
“I know the history.”
“Yes, but what you don’t know is that your father was ultimately right,” Drake said. “Back then, he knew the Radicals were right. The tax avoidance of the entire nobility was a weight around the neck of the Star Union. The people resented it. The government was drowning in debt because of it, but when the Radicals tried to move their bill through, it was blocked in the Lords, and the only remedy they had to get it through after the second reading was-”
“The Royal Prerogative?” Charlotte asked, surprised.
Drake nodded. “It was a risk, but one he felt worth taking- unfortunately the nobility disagreed- but after the banking crisis a decade back, even the most diehard of the Lords was forced to concede that the tax exemptions were fiscally ruinous and it ended up being a Conservative government that suspended them.”
“And what of it?” Charlotte asked. “My father took on the Star Union’s political elites and it touched off a rebellion that cost him his throne.”
“Phillip has made it clear that he views the suspension as temporary. More importantly, he’s indicated that he doesn’t believe Parliament has the authority to overrule him on the question of taxation and many are beginning to be concerned that he doesn’t believe in the necessity of a Parliament at all.”
“So he’s a would-be Dictator in the making?” Charlotte grimaced.
“That’s what I’m afraid,” Drake said. “But you, on the other hand, would be untouched by the politics of the Star Union. Your father is remembered with affection amongst the common people and Grandfather, to his credit, did nothing to discourage that. You would be able to preserve the Union without plunging us headlong into either an economic crisis or worse, a Civil War.”
“Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown,” Charlotte sighed. “You’ve fitted me for a crown that I have yet to agree to take and already my head itches at the thought of it.”
“It doesn’t have to be forever,” Drake said. “With prolong treatments these days you could a decade or two, secure your family's legacy, and then step aside for someone else. You could even unify the crowns of Herenveen and the Star Union if you wanted to.”
“Do you ever find the notion of crowns and all this frippery to be a bit ridiculous in this day and age?” Charlotte asked. “Humanity has become a space-faring civilization. We’re spreading further and further out every year, terraforming as we go, and yet they still want us to put crowns on our heads. I’m surprised we haven’t grown beyond it yet.”
“Human society organizes itself somehow into strata. Doesn’t matter what flavor or ideology. We have the titles we have merely because our family was amongst the first stakeholders of the original colony of Astralis Prime. Doesn’t make us better than anyone, not anymore.” Drake drained the last of his whiskey.
“Well said,” Charlotte chuckled.
Drake grinned ruefully. “I’m not selling you on this, am I?”
Charlotte said nothing for a long moment before she too drained the last of her whiskey. “Do you remember that summer lodge Grandfather had down by the coast? Near the village with the funny name?”
“Etretat?” Drake said.
“Yes, that’s the one… named after some old Terran painting.”
“I saw it once when we went to Terra,” Drake said. “The cliffs near that village look nothing like the ones in the painting. And they pronounce it differently too.”
“How do they pronounce it?”
“Etret-ah,” Drake said. He shrugged. “Some weird quirk of an old Terran language. They were surprised that the locals pronounced the ‘t’ at the end.”
“Anyway,” Charlotte said. “Do you remember the hill, right by the beach?”
“I remember it being more of a vertical climb,” Drake said. “But yes, I do.”
“I loved the view from the top,” Charlotte said. “It’s one of the clearest memories I have. You could see that whole stretch of the south coast…” she trailed off, lost in the memory.
“And?” Drake prompted.
“I think,” Charlotte said slowly. “I think it would be nice to climb that hill again.”
Drake smiled. “So you are thinking about it?”
“I might be,” Charlotte said. She stood up and Drake stood with her. “But now, cousin, I need to go to bed.”
“Until tomorrow, cousin.”
~
Charlotte slept better than she expected and still managed to slip out of bed the next morning and make her way out onto the terrace where Grimsby awaited her with her usual morning coffee. She wrapped her robe around her tightly, for the cool of the evening still hung in the air. In the light of the day, she was forced to admit the uncomfortable truth to herself: she didn’t know what to think.
Part of her was tempted: she hadn’t been lying to Drake last night and even though he had shamelessly tried to trade on her nostalgia for her childhood at first, his arguments about her father’s legacy had been more persuasive than she wanted to admit. Phillip would be a disaster for the Star Union and if several members of the extended Royal line were suddenly afflicted with terminal illness or enough of them dropped dead that Hubert’s claim went from punchline to reality, he might be an even worse choice for the Star Union.
There were others, of course, but no one had a stronger claim than she.
On the other hand, this was home. This was where she and Juliana had built a family, raised the children, and- the sound of footsteps behind her broke her reverie.
“Now it’s your turn to leave me alone in our bed, I see,” Juliana smiled as she pulled her robe tightly around herself and sat down in the lounge chair opposite her. Grimsby produced another cup and held it up questioningly for a moment before Juliana nodded and he poured a cup, placed it on a saucer, and handed it over to her.
“I was up late enough and still didn’t hear you come in,” Charlotte replied. “What were you up to last night?”
“Meetings,” Juliana replied. “Too many to count, I’m afraid. Did you and Drake talk?”
“We did.”
“And?”
“I don’t know,” Charlotte said. “It’s tempting. But-” she gestured around her. “We built all this together. It’s our life. Our home. I’m not sure I want to leave it, however tempting it might be.”
“Would it help to know that his offer does appear to be genuine?” Juliana asked. “Our intelligence people were working all night to confirm it, but they’ve got enough sources to be sure that he’s on the level.”
“That doesn’t solve the question of how we do it.”
“The General Staff is of the opinion it wouldn’t take much. Their best plan calls for a lightning-fast surgical strike. You isolate and blockade key points, proclaim yourself, and proceed to Astralis Prime to take the throne.”
“Oh, that easy, huh?”
Juliana shrugged. “That’s what they tell me, anyway. The government also doesn’t hate the idea and is frankly enthusiastic about the possibility of gaining more direct access to their markets.”
“But what about you?” Charlotte asked. “I can’t go to rule the Star Union by myself and leave you here alone. I would… miss you.”
“As I would miss you, my darling,” Juliana replied. “That’s why, if you decide to do this, the government would convene the Staats-General and appoint Eduardo regent in my absence. It’s well past time he was given some real responsibility, anyway, and that way- what? Have I done something-” Juliana looked concerned because Charlotte’s eyes were full and the first tears were beginning to roll down her cheeks.
“You would…give it all up? For me?” Charlotte asked, in a voice thick with emotion.
“Of course,” Juliana replied. “I love you, after all. For decades now, you’ve stood by me, had children with me, and been the best Queen Consort I could have wished for. It is more than past time for you to be Queen in your own right.” She smiled. “Besides, I hear the royal gardens on Astralis Prime are a mess. Your grandfather evidently did not have the greenest of thumbs.”
Charlotte smiled. “I think the real expert was my grandmother, to be totally honest.”
“The only question, my love, remains the biggest one of all. Our children are grown. I have been looking for an excuse to give Eduardo some responsibilities mainly so I could tend to the roses here, but I could just as easily fix up the gardens on Astralis Prime. Drake’s offer appears to be genuine. We can bring the military force to bear quickly enough and easy enough to put you on the throne. So, what do you want to do?
“It seems absurd. I haven’t been back there in decades. I’ve lived in exile my whole life. This is home.”
“It’s not absurd. It also doesn’t have to be forever.”
“Drake said that too,” Charlotte said. “Also said we could unify the crowns if we wanted to.”
“So you are thinking about it?”
Charlotte nodded. “Do you remember the first time we met?”
Juliana smiled. “How could I forget? I chased you up a hill near the University on Cosmara. There was a beautiful view at the top.”
“I loved that hill because it reminded me of a hill along the coast near my grandfather’s summer lodge,” Charlotte said. “If I- no, we do this… will you climb it with me?”
“Yes, my love, I will,” Juliana said. “I won’t ask you to decide now but know this. I think it is well past time for you to be Queen in your own right on a throne of your own. I think the people of the Star Union would welcome a ruler who will respect the government they elect and actually advocate for their welfare. I think everyone who lives in exile harbors a secret dream, a hope of returning home someday. But, my love, my home is with you. Wherever you go.”
It came down to that in the end. That one simple sentence decided it. Charlotte Elizabeth Mackenzie-Nanda, Queen Consort of the Herenveen Staats-Republic looked over at her wife, Juliana Beatrix Oranje-Nassau Chief Stadtholder and Queen of Herenveen Staats-Republic, Chief Executive Officer of it’s associated trading conglomerates and companies. She reached over and took Juliana’s hand in hers. “My Queen, my love, my life,” Charlotte said. “I think I would like to go home again.”
submitted by litcityblues to HFY [link] [comments]

2023.05.26 07:24 amaraluna274 Find Your Perfect Home for Sale in Montgomery Al

Are you searching for the perfect home in Montgomery, Alabama? Look no further than Aronov Realty, your trusted partner in finding the ideal property to call your own. Our team of experienced agents is dedicated to providing exceptional service throughout your home-buying journey. Whether you're a first-time homebuyer or looking to upgrade to a larger space, Home For Sale In Montgomery Al, helps every potential for a diverse range of properties to suit every taste and budget. Our agents are committed to providing personalized service and ensuring a seamless experience.
submitted by amaraluna274 to u/amaraluna274 [link] [comments]

2023.05.26 06:01 Proletlariet Staten Island Vamps Saved

Respect The Staten Island Vampires

"It's like the old adage, you know. Co-workers die, vampire roommates...they're forever."
Overview: Three centuries-old vampires named Nandor Laszlo, and Nadja immigrated to the United States over 50 years ago, arriving in Staten Island where they decided to make their home. They came to inhabit a house with an energy vampire known as Collin Robinson, and together the 4 lived as housemates with various familiars over the years.
Powers: Vampires enjoy an abundance of physical prowess and otherworldy abilities. Most can fly, transform into animals or mist, hypnotize humans and animals, and enjoy centuries of continued existence sustained by the blood of humans.
Limitations: Vampires require human blood to maintain their full strength. They are harmed by sunlight and religious symbolism or phrases. They cannot enter buildings without invitation, they do not have reflections, and human food causes them to violently projectile vomit.

Nandor

"They would call me Nandor the Relentless because I would never relent."
Born in 1262, Nandor was a soldier for the Ottoman Empire before coming to lead the now-dissolved nation of Al Quolanudar. He had many wives and created an infamous reputation for pillaging and destroying villages. Eventually he became a vampire and was driven from his country, coming to inhabit the United Sates in the modern day.
He now considers himself the leader of the Staten Island vampires and often calls house meetings to maintain order. Over the past 10 years he developed a close relationship with his familiar Guillermo de la Cruz who also occupies the house.
Strength
Durability
Flight
Transformation
Hypnosis
Skill
Misc. Powers/Limitations

Laszlo Cravensworth

"Why on Earth would you do that? Why would you walk home when you could turn into a bat? BAT!"
Born in England and considered the most handsome man in a village afflicted with leprosy, Laszlo became a vampire when a beautiful woman visited his 3rd story window in the middle of the night. That woman was Nadja, and after turning him the two entered a wild love affair that lasts for centuries.
Laszlo's many creative endeavors led to him inadvertently writing several hit songs like "Come on Eileen" and becoming a prolific porn actor. Through it all he remains with Nadja who often assists in getting him out of trouble when he needs it most.
Strength
Durability
Speed
Flight
Hypnosis
Transformation
Misc. Powers

Nadja

"Do you remember that first time we made love? It was so passionate, I accidentally cut off your head."
Nadja made a meager living as a throat singer after being born into a village suffering centuries of famine and poverty. While singing to the snakes one night a serpent transformed into a vampire and bit her on the neck, turning her into a creature of the dark. Nadja was then chased from her village by the villagers and her own family.
Sometime after marrying Laszlo the two were driven from Europe due to anti-vampire prejudice and arrived in the United States. Nadja supported Laszlo in many of his creative endeavors and over the years maintained an on again/off again relationship with the reincarnated spirit of her past lover Gregor.
Strength
Durability
Speed
Flight
Climbing
Transformation
Hypnosis
Misc. Powers/Limitations

Collin Robinson

"When it comes to zoning ordinances, I have a few thoughts."
Though his origins remain a mystery, the energy vampire Collin Robinson "came with" the Staten Island house when the other vampires moved in. Able to walk freely in the sunlight and capable of blending in more effectively than his fellows, Collin works a bland office job that serves as a fertile feeding ground.
Collin sustains himself by draining the energy of others through boredom, frustration, and annoyance. Though he most often feeds off coworkers, roommates, and those he trolls online he occasionally ventures out to city council meetings or places of worship. Despite often aggravating them he considers his housemates friends and has come to their assistance and multiple occasions.
Energy Draining
Misc. Info/Limitations
Promotion-empowered
For a brief period Collin was promoted to a managerial position in his company, offering him an unprecedented ability to feed on the energy of others. This amplified his abilities and granted him wholly unique powers until the company when bankrupt once everyone was too drained to do any work.
submitted by Proletlariet to u/Proletlariet [link] [comments]

2023.05.26 03:08 Proletlariet Staten Island Vamps Saved

Respect The Staten Island Vampires

"It's like the old adage, you know. Co-workers die, vampire roommates...they're forever."
Overview: Three centuries-old vampires named Nandor Laszlo, and Nadja immigrated to the United States over 50 years ago, arriving in Staten Island where they decided to make their home. They came to inhabit a house with an energy vampire known as Collin Robinson, and together the 4 lived as housemates with various familiars over the years.
Powers: Vampires enjoy an abundance of physical prowess and otherworldy abilities. Most can fly, transform into animals or mist, hypnotize humans and animals, and enjoy centuries of continued existence sustained by the blood of humans.
Limitations: Vampires require human blood to maintain their full strength. They are harmed by sunlight and religious symbolism or phrases. They cannot enter buildings without invitation, they do not have reflections, and human food causes them to violently projectile vomit.

Nandor

"They would call me Nandor the Relentless because I would never relent."
Born in 1262, Nandor was a soldier for the Ottoman Empire before coming to lead the now-dissolved nation of Al Quolanudar. He had many wives and created an infamous reputation for pillaging and destroying villages. Eventually he became a vampire and was driven from his country, coming to inhabit the United Sates in the modern day.
He now considers himself the leader of the Staten Island vampires and often calls house meetings to maintain order. Over the past 10 years he developed a close relationship with his familiar Guillermo de la Cruz who also occupies the house.
Strength
Durability
Flight
Transformation
Hypnosis
Skill
Misc. Powers/Limitations

Laszlo Cravensworth

"Why on Earth would you do that? Why would you walk home when you could turn into a bat? BAT!"
Born in England and considered the most handsome man in a village afflicted with leprosy, Laszlo became a vampire when a beautiful woman visited his 3rd story window in the middle of the night. That woman was Nadja, and after turning him the two entered a wild love affair that lasts for centuries.
Laszlo's many creative endeavors led to him inadvertently writing several hit songs like "Come on Eileen" and becoming a prolific porn actor. Through it all he remains with Nadja who often assists in getting him out of trouble when he needs it most.
Strength
Durability
Speed
Flight
Hypnosis
Transformation
Misc. Powers

Nadja

"Do you remember that first time we made love? It was so passionate, I accidentally cut off your head."
Nadja made a meager living as a throat singer after being born into a village suffering centuries of famine and poverty. While singing to the snakes one night a serpent transformed into a vampire and bit her on the neck, turning her into a creature of the dark. Nadja was then chased from her village by the villagers and her own family.
Sometime after marrying Laszlo the two were driven from Europe due to anti-vampire prejudice and arrived in the United States. Nadja supported Laszlo in many of his creative endeavors and over the years maintained an on again/off again relationship with the reincarnated spirit of her past lover Gregor.
Strength
Durability
Speed
Flight
Climbing
Transformation
Hypnosis
Misc. Powers/Limitations

Collin Robinson

"When it comes to zoning ordinances, I have a few thoughts."
Though his origins remain a mystery, the energy vampire Collin Robinson "came with" the Staten Island house when the other vampires moved in. Able to walk freely in the sunlight and capable of blending in more effectively than his fellows, Collin works a bland office job that serves as a fertile feeding ground.
Collin sustains himself by draining the energy of others through boredom, frustration, and annoyance. Though he most often feeds off coworkers, roommates, and those he trolls online he occasionally ventures out to city council meetings or places of worship. Despite often aggravating them he considers his housemates friends and has come to their assistance and multiple occasions.
Energy Draining
Misc. Info/Limitations
Promotion-empowered
For a brief period Collin was promoted to a managerial position in his company, offering him an unprecedented ability to feed on the energy of others. This amplified his abilities and granted him wholly unique powers until the company when bankrupt once everyone was too drained to do any work.
submitted by Proletlariet to u/Proletlariet [link] [comments]

2023.05.25 05:09 Icy-Appointment1673 Kristopher Maddigan's Linear Notes Translated Part 1

I went through Kris's linear notes included in the Songs and Sketches CD set, and the recent DLC CD included with the Japan physical edition. This took a super long time to translate, fix incorrect grammar structures, and triple check over 80 songs, so hopefully it's all worth it. I also added all of the sketches included with these bundles, because why not.
Don't Deal with the Devil (Demo)
From the early stages from writing Cuphead, we knew we wanted a vocal track that would represent the game's story. It was my first time writing for a song set in the 1930's. I thoughly studied barbershop tunes and analyzed the structures and mechanisms so that this song would feel more authentic. In this demo you can hear alot of the learning process that was later reflected in the final version.
Don't Deal with the Devil
At this point in writing this song, I didn't know Cuphead and Mugman's relationship between eachother. Were they brothers, or just friends? And so I left it vague in the lyrics and simply refer to Mugman as Cuphead's pal, just in case I got it wrong. Micheal Black, Joel and Micheal La Scala, and Tom Mifflin deliver great harmonies here.
Lyrics:
Well Cuphead and his pal Mugman they like to roll the dice By chance they came upon Devil's game and gosh they payed the price Payed the price... And now they're fighting for thier lifes on a mission fraud with dread And if they proceed but don't succeed Well... The Devil will take their heads!
Don't Deal with the Devil (Instrumental)
The genius Christina Faye nailed this song first try!
Tutorial
Jonathan Dyck's freewheeling performance of this song is the first 4-note chord "Inkwell Theme" heard in the game. This song was originally created as a theme for Elder Kettle, but as a result of replacing various songs with others, it ended up fitting into the game's tutorial.
Elder Kettle
I got the idea for this song while reading a great book by Andrew Shertman about the music for Koji Kondo's "Super Mario Bros. 331/3". At the same time, I happened to attend a lecture by Rob Curry, an active composer in Toronto, and he wrote for the famous Canadian TV drama "Murdoch Mystery: Detective Murdoch's Investigation File." I wasn't feeling well on the day of the lecture, so I almost had to cancel my plans, but listening to Rob's talk gave me enough inspiration to write a song that day! Koji Kondo's "Underwater" theme and this song have connections because I originally wrote this as a track for an underwater world map, which was later cut. I liked the idea of waltz music accompanying a water backdrop, and so I came up with a three-time signature, and the song was completed.
Inkwell Isle One
The first ragtime piece written for Cuphead, (and the prototype for the four note Inkwell Theme) dates back to 2013. The music was always going to focus on big band jazz, but I knew from the beginning that I didn't want the whole game to be limited to that genre. This thought came up once I started work on Inkwell Isle One. What I've always liked about this song is the swing-style New Orleansian polyphony suddenly unfolds in the middle of the song with mostly Scott Joplin-esque tunes that sound pretty acrobatic. The Cuphead soundtrack was a fun and challenging way to fuse these different styles.
Botanic Panic
Swing jazz great Jimmy Lunsford influenced this song heavily with his own "Jazznocrazy", which is why they both have a light swing feeling, and the same intermission near the middle. Alex Dean and Mike Murley on tenor sax, Neil Swainson on bass, Mark Duggan on vibraphone, and piano by Jeff McLeod.
Threatnin' Zepplin
I love the combination of clarinet and vibraphone made famous by the legendary Benny Goodman and Lionel Hampton. The Cuphead Soundtrack also uses this instrument combo several times, but this is the first song I wrote that uses it. I also think the solo part around 1:47 is esspesially exciting. Vern Dorge and John Johnson on clarinet, Mike Murley on tenor sax, Mark Duggan on vibraphone, Steve McDade on trumpet, and Al Kay on trombone.
Die House (Demo)
I wrote this Die House demo all the way back in 2013, and I still think it holds up on it's own, and paved the way to the song we know now. Speaking of which...
Die House
When writing this song, I imagined the character of King Dice in my own way, and reflected it in both the lyrics and singing style. I always thought that King Dice would make for the classic "right hand man" type of character. The lyrics reflected King's penchant for using loose words like "assiduously". I also made him sound more angry towards the end of the second verse to show he's the type of person who can't control his irritation. He doesn't want anyone to see he can't keep his composure, and he doesn't want to lose his cool, but he's definitely frustrated and on the verge of exploding. To tell the truth, I may have been thinking too much about his character. But from an artist's point of view, it raises a number of important questions that inspire my choice of words in the performance. Speaking of performance, no one can imitate Alana Bridgewater's performance! Because of her singing and raspy voice, this song was truely able to take shape.
Lyrics:
I'm Mr. King Dice I'm the gamest in the land I never play nice I'm the Devil's right hand man I can't let you pass 'cause you ain't done everything Bring me those contracts, come on bring 'em to the king If you haven't finished your task haven't worked assiduously No, I cannot let you pass Don't you mess with me!
Don't mess with King Dice (Don't mess with King Dice) Don't mess with me (Don't mess with him) Don't mess with King Dice (Don't mess with King Dice) Don't mess with me!
I'm Mr. King Dice heed just what I say The Devil has his price and I'll make sure you pay I don't have time to mess 'round and I hope you will agree Bring me those contracts, pronto! Don't you mess with me
Don't mess with King Dice (Don't mess with King Dice) Don't mess with me (Don't mess with him) Don't mess with King Dice (Don't mess with King Dice) Don't mess with me!
Aviary Action
This was a fun one to write. As many have noticed, around a minute in, Rise of the Valkyries plays. (an infamous classical piece by german opera composer, Richard Wagner)
Porkrind's Shop
Who is Porkrind and what is his purpose? Is he an ally? Is he on the Devil's side? There were a lot of questions when composing Porkrind's theme. Jonathan Dyke plays the piano, and I play the drums.
Floral Fury
In 2016, I was able to travel to Brazil to see two carnivals in Sau Paulo and Rio de Janeiro with a group led by percussionist extraordinaire Alan Hetherington. At that time, we had a discussion about the Cuphead project that was in progress at the time, and he asked if I could write a song featuring him. And that's simply how Floral Fury began. Early on, we wanted to combine the percussive energy of Carnival with a beautiful melody by Brazillian samba singer Carmen Miranda. (also featuring a unique friction drum called a cuica!) Alan Hetherington on drums and percussion, Mike Murley on tenor sax, and Mark Duggan on vibraphone.
Clip Joint Calamity (Piano Ver. 1)
During production, this song, as well as the 2nd version were planned to play on the world map when you were near Ribby and Croaks' boat. I thought it would be cool if the piano played a western saloon-like tune when you approach the level. Sadly, the concept wasn't implemented. Thankfully, Jeff McLeod's tune can finally see the light of day in this CD release.
Clip Joint Calamity
This is one of my favorite songs in the game, and I was really pushing for this song to be in the vinyl; "Selected Tunes from Cuphead" back in 2019, but we couldn't due to length limitations. This time, we will unveil for the first time a version with new solo parts. Jeff McLeod on piano, Steve McDade on trumpet, Ted Warren on drums, Mark Duggan on vibraphone, Al Kay on trombone, and Alex Dean and Mike Murley on tenor sax.
Inkwell Isle Two
This song is based on Scott Joplin's Ragtime March in 6/8. The music in Cuphead is heavily influenced by Joplin, so I wanted to incorporate as much of the standard ragtime format (2/4 march, 6/8 march, waltz) as possible. Joplin was inspiringly graceful, every song has a superfluous sound. I don't think you can add or remove anything and make it sound any more perfect.
Carnival Kerfuffle
This song is usually grouped together with Clip Joint Calamity. I personally prefer Clip Joint, but I'm glad that this one seems to be very popular with fans! Andy Ballantyne and John Johnson on alto sax, Steve Mcdade on trumpet, piano by Jeff McLeod, trombone by Al Kay.
Fiery Frolic
This was another song that was cut from Selected Tunes. But now you can finally hear the new solo sections that were recorded for that record! This may be the fastest song in the entire soundtrack, it never slows down, and keeps on escalating. Jeff McLeod on piano, Steve McDade on trumpet and Al Kay on trombone.
The Mausoleum
Very few people know this, but the theremin was patented back in 1928, so the instrument fits the era of Cuphead. (For backround, I highly recommend the 1993 documentary film; "Theremin") This is a song that uses MIDI, which is esspesially rare for this soundtrack. Organ played by Jonathan Dyke, and I played the drums and percussion.
Legendary Ghost
A short little ditty that was a lot of fun to play on the xylophone.
Pyramid Peril
This is my favorite song in the game. It was a song I came up with near completion of the game. It's heavily inspired by Duke Ellington's song "Congo Brava". I was really pushing for this song to match the movements and forms of the boss, like how the waltz part plays when the marionette shows up. I wrote it with the thought that it would sync up to the bosses phases and transformations, which was impossible to implement, but please try to imagine that while listening! This is another song that didn't fit on Selected Tunes, but here it is in all it's glory, complete with new solo sections. Vern Dorge and Andy Ballantyne on clarinet, Neil Swainson on double bass, Ted Warren on drums, Steve McDade on trumpet, Mark Duggan on vibraphone, Al Kay on trombone, Jeff McLeod on piano, and tenor sax by Mike Murley.
Sugarland Shimmy
I also used the clarinet and vibraphone combo for this song. This song might be the strangest, as it always changes shape. Ted Warren on drums, Bob Leonard on baritone saxophone, Vern Dorge and John Johnson on clarinet, Mark Duggan on vibraphone, and Jeff McLeod on piano.
Victory Tune
A new solo part was added for the release of this CD. The song is based on the jazz standard "rhythm change" (a chord progression based on the song "I Got Rhythm" by George Gershwin.) Another inspiration was Raymond Scott's "Powerhouse". Tenor sax by Mike Murley and trombone by Al Kay.
A Quick Break
The director of Cuphead, Chad Moldenhauer, wanted a song that congratulated the player for beating the game on expert mode, and apologized for all of the delays of the game. I wasn't a fan of how meta that was, and instead wrote a song that payed homage to games in the past that reminded players to take a break and refresh themselves in the best way possible.
Lyrics:
It's nice to rest your eyes and maybe go outside Grab a book and get some air So what are you waiting for?
Why not take a quick break Tune the radio There's chores to do there's leaves to rake Strum the old banjo You can practice your Lindy Hop And maybe later sing with your barbershop
Why not take a little quick break And come back for more Then come back for more Please come back for more
Aviary Action (Demo)
MIDI format demos of the songs on this CD (including this song, Botanic Panic, Clip Joint Calamity, Honeycomb Herald, and Inkwell Isle One) were recorded for the first demo released at the 2015 GOC. Chris Gale, who was active in Toronto, gives a wonderful tenor saxophone performance in all of these beta tracks, aside from Inkwell Isle One.
Cuphead's Coming to Switch!
A short but fun song composed for the Nintendo Switch annoucement trailer for Cuphead. It features choruses by Heather Bambrick, Shannon Butcher, and Rique Franks.
Inkwell Isle Three
This urban area has a slightly shady feel to it, so I composed a song featuring a tenor sax playing a sly theme, which was done by Alex Dean.
Honeycomb Herald
This was one of the first songs I wrote when I started work on Cuphead, and it was the first song recorded for the soundtrack. At the time, I mistook "Herald" for the name of the character "Harold" and thought it was the name of the security gaurd. Ted Warren on drums, Steve McDade on trumpet, Al Kay on trombone, Jeff McLeod on piano, John Johnson on clarinet, and Bob Leonard on baritone saxophone.
Shootin' n' Lootin'
Personally, I think this is one of the most underrated songs in the games soundtrack. The performance of this song, especially in the second half, is full of energy. New solos were added for this release. Al Kay on trombone, Neil Swainson on double bass, Steve McDade and Jason Logue on trumpet, Mike Murley on tenor sax, Jeff McLeod on piano, and Ted Warren on drums.
Perilous Piers
Narrowing down the songs from the run and gun stages for this release was tough. I decided to choose from the works that were painstakingly cut from the Selected Tunes record. Jonathan Dyke on piano, Laura Chambers on piccolo, and myself on percussion. The composition of these instruments is heavily inspired by the excellent performance footage of the trio featuring Tom Briar, Julia Riley, and Kitty "Washboard" Wilson. Search online for them if you'd like!
Dramatic Fanatic
After seeing footage of the Nicholas Brothers combining tap and acrobatic dances known as "flashdancing" I knew that a song featuring tap dancing was required in the Cuphead soundtrack. Luckily, we have a great tap dancer in Toronto named Alison Toffan. Dramatic Fanatic features Bob Leonard on baritone sax, Mike Murley on tenor sax, Jeff McLeod on piano, and Ted Warren on drums.
Murine Corps
This song was inspired by the stunning "Lindy Hop" Dance scene by Whitey's Lindyhoppers from the movie Hellzapoppin'. Recently, the footage has been restored to full HD, so please check it out. I wanted to make a riff-based song like the one used in the scene, (which must have been written by Charles Previn) rather than a typical big band song. Bob Leonard on baritone sax, Ted Warren on drums, Jeff McLeod on piano, and Steve McDade on trumpet.
Rugged Ridge
This was the first song I composed for Cuphead. Because this run and gun stage wasn't planned yet, I originally wrote this song for an arcade stage, which was cut during development, so when the run and gun stages were introduced, I reworked it to how it is now. (Try to find Cuphead and Mugman's theme in this song! Hint: You can also hear it in Victory Tune, Admission to Perdition, and Introduction!) Jonathan Dyke on Piano, and myself on drums.
High Seas Hi-Jinx
At first I didn't like High Seas Hi-Jinx, but it ended up being a top 10 favorite for me. There's a cool behind the scenes video of the recording of this song, so check it out. Ted Warren on drums, Jeff McLeod on piano, Dave Dunlop on trumpet, Mike Murley on tenor sax, and Peter Hysen on bass trombone.
Railroad Wrath
The train sounds weren't there when I sent the first version to the directors, Chad and Jared Moldenhauer. They said it sounded like it fit the train stage, so incorporated the train sounds in post. In fact, most songs in the soundtrack were made that way. I wrote a song, they assigned it to a level or area, and I added something extra to make it feel more like the level. Neil Swainson on double bass, Alastair Kay on trombone, and Steve McDade on trumpet.
Inkwell Hell (Piano)
While I do like the full band version, I feel this version is underappreciated, so that's why I included the piano version of Inkwell Hell on this CD. The gradual buildup of energy and intensity in the middle part starting around 1:35 is esspesially exciting. I think I did a good job here, even if you can hear my chair creaking a little bit!
The Kings Court
What I esspesially like about this song is the part after 3:14. Ted Warren here shows an example of the drums that flourished during the golden age of the great Gene Grupa. Other participating musicians are Steve McDade on trumpet, and John Johnson on alto sax.
Chief Evil Officer
This is essentially a jazz version of 2001: A Space Odyssey, an extremely iconic tune.
Admission to Perdition
I really liked the idea of a melody of previous boss songs appearing in the Devil's fight. This was the very last song composed for the game. The new version I made for this CD features Mike Murley on tenor sax, Vern Dorge on clarinet, Dave Dunlop on trumpet, Al Kay on trombone, Allison Toffan on tap, all of the band members are participating here, even me!
Ominous Interlude
A short and spooky track that sadly didn't make the cut.
One Hell of a Time
Despite this song being the final boss's theme, I wrote this before Admission to Perdition. I really wanted to go all out for the Devil's fight song. Please listen carefully as we look back at the melody used in one of the oldest Cuphead trailers, it all comes full circle. One hell of a vibraphone solo by Mark Duggan.
The End
A song inspired by and with utmost respect for the traditional New Orleans funeral parade. We have tried to stay true to this tradition as possible, and have also included clothes hangers, often used as sticks for sticking symbols.
Winner Takes All
This song is inspired by a very early song by Duke Ellington. We wanted to recreate the sound of late 1920s and early 1930s hot jazz. (Just listen to Rob Pilch playing the banjo!) Originally, this song was planned to be used for the tutorial. (As mentioned previously, Elder Kettle's theme was meant to be used as the underwater stage, and the Tutorial theme was going to be Elder Kettle's theme.) Robert Venables on Cornet, Tom Richards on trombone, and Sasha Boychouk on clarinet. I love this song because the band is really good at improvising in groups, which made the song feel that much more lively.
The Bitter End
An unreleased song! This was a canidate song for the bad ending where Cuphead and Mugman choose to become the Devil's minions and sacrifice their souls.
Closing Credits
If you couldn't tell, this is a slower tempo version of Shootin' n' Lootin'. I wrote Shootin' n' Lootin' first, but while writing it I realized it could work as a slower paced song as well. Alana Bridgewater sings, and Allison Toffan plays a softshoe tap dance.
Lyrics:
Well Cuphead gambled with the Devil Thought he'd win a hefty purse Mugman came along to help him but things just got worse
That's all there is There isn't anymore Or is there?
Tombstone Tango
This is another unreleased song, so please listen to it! This was a while ago, but the Cuphead team was planning out a cemetary world map, and I thought a minor tango would fit. Jeff McLeod on piano, Aaron Schwebel and Emily Hau on violin, Moira Burke on viola, and Liza McLellan on cello. Use it when you dance to milonga at home.
Clip Joint Calamity (Piano Version 2)
Another version of Clip Joint Calamity inspired by bar piano music. Played by Jeff McLeod.
submitted by Icy-Appointment1673 to Cuphead [link] [comments]

2023.05.24 23:03 KarlosHungus36 3 day cycle; room 323 vs 314

3 day cycle; room 323 vs 314
Part one: 3 day cycle
P5, Phil Bisby brings up coffees to the staff meeting at Lucky 7 Insurance; most are labeled with first names 'Frank' 'Phil' 'Darren' 'Rhonda.' One with what looks to be 'Bonnici' on it? [It is clearly not 'Bushnell']. Link to 'Monica Bellucci?' Woman in the elevator next to Dougie is Mary. Clue to the name 'Mary Bonnici?' She exits the elevator and meets with a man in the lobby. This scene might be alt to the scene described by Gordon from his dream, where he met Monica Bellucci at a café, daytime. In his dream Cooper was there but Gordon couldn't see his face. Cooper in P5 from the back a partial view of his face. Phil Bisby - "Damn good Joe, huh Dougie?...Pretty damn good" seems alt to smiling Gordon "It's a good one!" and "Damn good coffee!" in P7. Gordon's description of the Bellucci dream shifts to a memory - a scene at the Philly offices where Jeffries appeared; Jeffries got off the elevator on the 7th floor similar to the 7th floor of the Lucky 7 offices.
Gordon link to Bisby.
Cooper in Lucky 7 lobby, similar to the dream sequence; man meets with Mary alt Gordon meeting with Monica.
Man in the lobby that provides coffee for Mary combines with Phil, into a younger version of Gordon? ('Gordon Bisby' or Biggby, coffee brand). This Gordon remembers seeing Phillip Jeffries or some mystery man in the old offices, who walked by them (got out of the elevator and went to the receptionist, insert into P5 scene)? Albert "I'm starting to remember that too." Albert, backwards t - a, Tina. The secretary, who also remembers? (Tina, big ole butt, with BOB?). Bushnell P5 "alright let's get started." "He's lying" - thoughts inside Tina's mind? The man talked to her at the receptionist's desk and he was lying about something? Jeffries - bathroom links. Man P13 using the urinal in a white suit, seems like an alt Jeffries. Man in Argentina shits his pants. Dougie P5 (alt Jeffries) is escorted to the bathroom. Scenario - Tina, the receptionist gave the mystery man a key to use the bathroom (link to Rhonda in P5)? He never returned? P1 Sam, knocks on the bathroom door looking for Bittner, not there. "Weird." ['Sam Bisby' alt Colby checks bathroom in P1; Tracey alt Mary, woman in elevator link]
Cooper prior to using the bathroom, link to Jeffries (7th floor Philly offices alt Lucky 7 offices); 'man in urinal' linked?
How could a man disappear in the bathroom (assuming there aren't windows, and/or they are on the 7th floor)? Flushing the toilet creates an alt 'vortex.' Swirl, similar to what Janey-E says - "the whole thing is a downward spiral." (link to NIИ; Trent Reznor - this is who plays the mystery man? P1 NYC glass box place seems like the setting of NIИ's Closer video, industrial place; 'industrial' alt 'insurance'; industrial also link to 'federal', Sam link to Stanley & Tracey link to Lil?). MrC P17 following the coordinates, in a black leather jacket, vanishes at the portal site when the sky vortex appears (the stone circular well at the site, alt a toilet? or a 'pit latrine'). Alt - mystery man ends up at the Jones (alt goes inside toilet, like escaping prison via the sewer system; link to "he smelled funny"), corresponding to Dougie delivered 'home' P4 to Janey-E? (alt comes out of a manhole on the street, in front of the Jones house; link to Raising Arizona, Cooper & driver alt Goodman & partner, from underground; alt carries in a bag of shit; link to Nadine "shovel yourself out of the shit," more below) [He's immediately slapped by Janey-E, alt he said something inappropriate, "I want to fuck you like an animal"]. Goes back to regular life or replaces other version of himself who had been missing for 3 days?; office job, suit etc; 3 day repeating cycle? Third day he shows up to work in a black leather jacket or goes into another office, vanishes etc? [Jeffires linked to #8 - he's in motel room 8, creates a figure 8, alt the company on the other side of L7 offices? where this alt Gordon remembers seeing him pass by years ago]. Link to Groundhog Day where Bill Murray's character wakes up in a repeating day - longer version, a 'St. Patty's Day' version? Janey-E alt with thick Irish accent? ('Jane MacLachlan', paired with 'Kyle Watts?').
[P7 at Diane's apartment, another version of the lobby scene at Lucky 7? Albert & Gordon in the place of Mary & the man; 'federal' might be alt to 'industrial' (NIИ; P1 setting), where Sam checks the bathroom; link to MrC P5 in his cell, toilet etc alt he's locked in the bathroom, escapes via 'vortex' linked to the toilet/sewer system; another version of the scenario where a mystery man vanishes from the bathroom in office #8; Rolex alt vortex? Guard alt brings him one, link to Andy, alt version of the Yankton guard? visualization: wears the watch and then gets sucked inside of it, and it falls to the ground, similar to the blue box scenario at the MD transition point].
3 days - Dougie had been missing for 3 days, which is a repeating theme between characters (Judy's waitress off work, Ruth away, Billy missing). Cooper's room was 315; 3/17 is St. Patty's Day (alt Irish Janey-E "tomorrow is a big day" alt the night before; Murphy link, alt she's the warden of a prison for Cooper). [Groundhog Day, Bill Murray's character wakes up on the same day repeatedly {Pennsylvania 6-5000 vs Pennsylvania Polka?}. Don Murray plays Bushnell. Murray alt Murphy, the warden, "this prison thing with Warden Murphy." (Bushnell was going to send Anthony away for a "long, long time" = 2 weeks? Diane, MD wakes up after 3 weeks, alt in a prison; parallels between Bushnell & cowboy & related characters; 3 weeks alt to 3 days - link to 'the other waitress' who hadn't been to work in 3 days, waitress theme in MD, Diane). Prison thing alt pig; or 'pretty girl' in MD who is sleeping and the Cowboy tries to wakes up {Cooper in P17, sees Naido alt the pig and knows he's in a time loop and/or a dream?}; Nicholas Cage, pig link; also in Raising Arizona; MrC is delivered to the station in P17 from a cage, coming for alt his stolen pig? Naido makes animal noises [Babe (1995), Bushnell alt Farmer Hoggett (link to Mr. Blodgett?; what happened in the barn? Andy was 'crying' alt Anthony 'lying' in P5?)]; Raising Arizona - Cage's character steals a baby; alt MrC carries one, in a version where he arrives alt with Naido? with the picnic basket in place of Andy, basket alt with a baby]. {Sam Colby, "I can stop by tomorrow on my way in" seems to suggest he goes to her workplace every day; alt Sam Murray or Sam Murphy; 'ph' alt in Philly instead of NY?} [P6 "poor thing" (Miriam) alt the pig?; blends with Naido ("she's alive"; Diane emerges from Naido, Diane's large bracelets alt the size of her wrists; Fat Diane & Fat Cooper in P17?; Diane's apartment, similar architecture as the Fireman's place, she's alt Senorita Dido or Santino (Carrie alt)? P13 Walter "hey girl" to Norma, link to "hey pretty girl"; Norma not in the P6 scene where Miriam ('the pig?') is]
Bushnell linked to characters in Mulholland Dr. (also Wally Brown - 3?); Cowboy watches over \"pretty girl\" alt the pig? Farmer; link to Mr. Blodgett?
March 15-17th, repeating 3 day sequence? Night of 14th: man taken home, Dougie to the Jones house in P4. 15th his first day back to work (P5) at Lucky 7; brought home at night P6. The second work day (16th) while at work, Jane meets thugs at the park, picks him up in the evening in P7. Third day (17th), the Jones couple at the police station, then taken to Dr. Ben. Continues week. Or alt: on the night of P7 (second day, 16th), MrC speaks with Murphy (Irish) and blackmails his way out (of the loop?). Next day (17th; day of P9) - the mystery man (ReznoNIИ, 'nine inches' link to part nine? the day following their RH performance in P8) shows up to work, or the neighboring office (#8 - again link to NIИ), in black leather jacket, then vanishes (in the bathroom) etc? MrC - to the portal site in P17, sky vortex, on the 17th of March? Then scenes at the station - alt the same day of Cooper being seen by Dr. Ben? The clocked stopped just before 2:53 PM in P17. Blood pressure cuff on Dougie's arm, '25-35 cm' link to 2:53? The Arm also says 2:53 in P2 (Gerard and the Arm, alt Dr. Ben and Janey-E; "something's wrong" with his vitals alt the electricity in the red room?) [P10 Janey-E to Dr. Ben "as I told you Dr. Ben, it started last week" vs the P16 scene "I just heard what you've been telling me" - Bushnell & Dr. Ben alt versions of each other? Gerard also appears when Cooper wakes up]. So on the night of the 16th (P7), MrC 'flies the coop' and escapes a longer version (of the week?) and on the 17th he loops back to the 14th, the day before it starts {week, link to 'Mrs. Houseman'}. If the longer version continues: Dougie sees Dr. Ben on the 17th and sex with Janey-E that night; 18th in the morning Janey-E says she can't stop thinking about last night (P10), Cooper that night is sent to Santino's (P11). 19th he arrives to work with the Mitchums after partying all night and gifts are delivered to the Jones house (early P13), that night they watch Sonny Jim play on the gym set; 20th he arrives to work, Sinclair waiting and he tries to poison Dougie (P13) (man in urinal, link to the pig? "that bad huh?" alt "that'll do, pig"); later that night he electrocutes himself? (P15, a Chantal and Hutch scene before that, they also have a scene before the P13 scene with Sinclair, 20th); 21st the FBI hotel daytime scenes connect with the P16 2:53 scene (one part of Cooper already there from 3/17 (Dr. Ben), alt on 3/21 - 4 day collapse?); FBI in the hotel room, days/time frozen until P17? (from P14-P17, or 3/14-3/17). In total - one week, 15th-21st? {so Cooper's room: 315; alt a date of 3/15}
-Dougie's green jacket, linked to St. Patty's Day.
Dr. Ben scene discontinuity: one version/perspective, Dougie is touching the cuff, '25-35' visible, signifies it's 2:53, on 3/21?; the other version, he's not touching it - 3/17? 'U1880S' - link to Pennsylvania 6-5000? (which would be alt to Pennsylvania Polka, Groundhog Day, single day repeat), and thus in one version it's St. Patty's Day at Dr. Ben's? {Green rose in his jacket pocket alt to blue rose? Dr. Ben link to Ben Horne, has the 'green key.' P1 Jerry alt comes from the Parade; link to Freddie, green glove, he told the doctor the story; Hornes alt the 'MacLachlan Brothers' and 'Beverly Watts'? [P1 'mother' is alt Sarah? (McLachlan link; "sure is a mystery"); P17 call to Ben about Jerry, alt about 'mother' - in prison?); 'Beverly Watts' P1 meets Jerry alt Judy ("nice to meet you"), link to P15 to MrC "you already met Judy" he's alt 'Billy Watts'}. This discontinuity, link to P16 after Dougie wakes up in the hospital - two versions spliced, one where Janey-E touches Dougie's face and the other where she remains at a distance (alt - 'Janey-D?' Davenport in place of Evans? husband alt 'Bill Davenport?'). Alt to P16 going to the casino on 3/21 - they go 'directly' home on 3/17?
​
Days. A Day 1 to work (3/15); B Day 2 at work (3/16); C Day 3 (3/17); D Day 4 to work (3/18); E Day 5 (3/19); F Day 6 to work (3/20); G Day 7, hospital (3/21); H - I - J: alt, 'flies the coop,' direct loop to portal on 3/17, back to 3/14. K - L: MrC figures it out and creates a clone, sends back into loop (night of 3/15, integrates with previous version already there).
Schematic for days. Long week: A) 3/15 Day 1 (Dougie's first day to work); B) 3/16 Day 2 (Janey-E picks up Dougie after a long day); C) 3/17 Day 3 (Janey-E takes Dougie to Dr. Ben); D) 3/18 Day 4 (day after sex; Dougie to Santino's later at night); E) 3/19 Day 5 (Janey-E receives gym set and car; watches SJ play at night); F) 3/20 Day 6 (Anthony meets Dougie for coffee; Dougie electrocutes himself at night); G) 3/21 Day 7 (Dougie at the hospital). Short MrC loop - Cooper flies the coop: H - I - J (MrC from the night of P7 (3/16) on Day 2 to Day 3 on 3/17; takes direct route to the portal in P17; which takes him back to 3/14, before Day 1). Alt longer route, MrC: K - L (from 3/17 in P9, he goes to MT on 3/18 {SJ playing with the gym set at night before MrC arrives in MT - is the gym set equivalent to the Silverado truck that MrC gets? gift from the brothers alt?}, MrC goes to see Jeffries the night of 3/18, takes Richard to the rock on 3/18? which sends him (after being disassembled and made into a new Cooper?) to P6 on the night of Day 1, 3/15? (Cooper's arrival to Janey-E in P6 an alt version of P4 arrival) {link to P16, Janey-E takes SJ to the little boys room, links with Rhonda sneaking Dougie into the bathroom on 3/15; discontinuity with the white key chain; which could tie into a scene in P4, where there's a sharp cut/POV switch before Janey-E takes Cooper to the bathroom); this links the two versions of Dougie first arriving home, P4 vs P6; receptionist in red linked to the P6 version (character 'Red's big scene is in P6; link to earlier in the part "big day tomorrow;" Cooper alt Red? 'sparkles' on the case file documents link to Red's sparkle?)} [P6 version of Dougie arriving home (linked to P16 breakdown of Richard), an alt and non-linear version of sending himself back into the loop that he escaped from, integrating two versions). So the MrC alt route: instead of going to the portal P17 (and back into the 3-day cycle to 3/14), he uses Richard to clone himself, sends him to Day 1 night of 3/15 and integrates 'seamlessly' with previous Dougie (link to 'dream weaver'; Janey-E guiding Cooper to the bathroom alt to Rhonda in P5 (two versions spliced) - which might be associated with the mystery man version, where he uses the bathroom, vanishes, back to the Jones house in P4).
The cloned Cooper who is sent back into the loop by MrC (partially with Cooper's soul?), is equipped with something that makes him stay inside the 'long week?' Bypasses the 'Mr. Strawberry/blackmailing' scenario that leads to his escape (P7) - like he forgets or misses a meeting (link to Andy being stood up P7, just before the blackmail scene), and thus stays with Janey-E until 3/21? (doesn't get the Rolex alt vortex from the guard?) {P18 events - represent a different perspective of the prison escape scenario [direct + indirect loop (associated with 'Richard'), merged]? Cooper leaves the red room (alt prison) on the night of 3/16 {Mrs. Strawberry alt Diane? Cooper link to Joe McKluskey? Before crossing at 430 "are you sure you want to do this?" alt Joe Messing to Diane in MD "are you sure you want this?"}; 3/17 in daytime travels with Diane, sex at the motel at night (which corresponds to the same day he had sex with Janey-E); 3/18 picks up Carrie (the day he's sent to Santino's in P11), the night of 3/18 is the end of P18 (corresponds to P2, Darya killed, day before MrC is set to leave?); to 3/19 to MT? (a day later? so 3/18 and 3/19 versions of the MT scene; one where there's no elevator? he's alt Mr. Strawberry in the late version? in the 3/18 version he goes to Jeffries; alt no Jeffries in the 3/19 version and link to the 'imposter' caller in P2? 'yesterday' alt 'tomorrow'); gets coordinates 3/19, 3/20 alt goes into Twin Peaks (MrC driving on his own, merges with Cooper arriving in the Pilot; after he crosses the portal site; alt with 'Diane' as a tape recorder instead of P18 in person; MrC has a recorder in P2)? 'Lewis Fork' link; P15 Dougie puts the fork in the outlet alt on 3/20, then 3/21 daytime in hospital? So the entire S1/S2 is put into one day along this framework? 3/20, nickel link 5 + 315; MrC goes into the bathroom after killing Darya, blends with Hawk from P6, so he's in 320 or 3/20; used her as a placeholder for the entire S1/S2 story? follows that her sidekick Ray is S3?; Darya's body alt on the table in conference room (Frank/fish screensaver same picture in the motel room P2; alt autopsy room); P4 the Laura Palmer prom picture out, 'face of the franchise' (alt her face with Darya's body); link to P9 and Albert's 'season 2' comment, alt they are taken into the conference room to see Laura's body; 3/20 corresponds to Day 6, alt 'Darya 6' like a Motel 6; in room 6 at the Motor Lodge Motel; There are 30 episodes in S1 & S2, link to #30 on the Silverado truck, alt 'are you gonna crash me now?' [Therefore Ray is the P18 car? same as Gene's car P3? his partner with the sniper alt Darya, black car alt the Silverado? "See you at Mikey's" alt the Farm, Ray & Darya alt the two hitmen; Buella alt Lorraine?].
-so essentially: MrC/alt Gerard made an alt version of himself (using Richard, detour from the 3/17 portal loop), integrated into the story that was already underway, deceptively so we can't tell the difference, to stay with Janey-E; otherwise the 3 day loop repeats indefinitely (he escapes/splits but tricked to 3/17 portal, takes him to start of loop or day before), Or detour - makes alt version, integrates, avoids 3/17 portal (involving something to manipulate memory?; similar to Memento, at the end, Leonard stops at the tattoo parlor to continue his memory loop; alt keeps going? link to Richard at the intersection in P6, alt "Fuck Sammy Jankis"; electrical pole 6 34800 link to Penn 6-5000, Richard goes through where he would stop at the end of the 3-day cycle? alt trucker decides to keep going rather than stop at rest stop and use bathroom?). {Portal at 253 site - sends back 3 days? 3/17 to 3/14, or 3/18 to 3/15. So Cooper from the end of P18, alt perspective of the prison escape scenario, goes to P6, out front of the Jones house (on 3/15)? Carrie alt case file(s), with Cooper at the Jones door; alt in P18 Cooper turns around and goes back to Alice's door, link to two Chalfonts and Chet going back. {Alice's husband alt Frank, "what is this?" alt to Cooper "what year is this?" Janey-E P4 "what is this?" as well; P4 and P6 seamless blending, Owls in front of Jones house, "not what they seem."}
The night of the 20th - Dougie watches Sunset Blvd. Link to Mulholland Dr., Rita on the run. Time loop - Ruth leaves on the 21st (morning) but Rita opens the box on the 20th? (suitcases in Ruth's closet when Rita retrieves the key for the box, clue to this); 3/21 - the day Ruth leaves and Betty arrives? Also when the FBI are at the hotel, watch/calendar stopped; 321, Orlando area code. Betty alt arrives to Universal (alt to Paramount Studios; Disney World; Irene's companion: "All the luck in the world" alt they shared a cab with her; Gordon alt excited for Disney World unlike cranky Albert); link to Orlando Magic, in Wally's office - "voila!" (magic); "where the hell did you find her? it's a slam dunk" (321: a universal code? Betty's arrival alt to MrC, P17 to the station on 3/21?). [P10, "what a world" Rodney, alt sees Ike arrested at Disney World?]
​
Betty alt arrives to Disney World \"all the luck in the world.\" Corresponding to 3/21 (321 is Orlando's area code). Ruth leaves that morning and Rita loops so that she opens the box on 3/20.
-One week, link to Mrs. Houseman's one week stay? Alt 'Ruth Houseman' leaves the GN on the 21st? Arrived 3/15, link to room 315? Cooper vs Mrs. Houseman, two versions? (one is room# and one is the date?). Valerie and her Week of Wonders (Vogue, 1 week); after 21st - Cosmopolitan? (time stopped?) [alt 'compassion,' Albert E4 has it running out of his nose (like to 'dolts' comment, tying into P4 the back room all the 'd's and the drunk's nose mentioned); alt comes from a place with no time, P17 link to watch stopped]
-month of March link to Nadine (backstory: Laura is Feb; Bushnell is June (poster), Cooper takes over as July (alt Judy), Albert is August, P6 he goes to Diane September; Red is October, Richard is November; MrC is January (alt Judy imposter?); Nadine marches down the road, Al the driver is April, takes Dougie to alt Mary or Mary). Nadine link to Janey-E P10 ("he's so beautiful" "last night was so wonderful"), alt Nadine P4 comes out the old Hurley home, is angry at Dougie (alt Ed); hits with shovel instead of slap? (alt 'log splitter').
-Babe (1995); Bushnell alt Farmer Hoggett (link to Mr. Blodgett?); Dougie alt the pig, or blends with Phil (guiding him around)? director Chris Noonan alt Christopher Nolan. Pig alt the dreamer? (Inception link).
-Bonnici, link to Filippo Brunelleschi; built a dome alt Dougie (P18 Cooper is produced in a bubble or clear dome, sent to residential neighborhood, Simpson's link?); P17 Andy picnic basket pattern alt bricks, 'bricklayers'; link to "they want to build a study" alt statue or cathedral; Andy alt Art Vandelay (Frank alt the judge? judge P1 was 'up the mountain' link to Frank, fishing), MrC alt 'George'; ('Bonnici' is a Maltese name; link to Maltese Falcon, Bushnell visual with Murphy; statue).
-'good joe' link to Joe McKluskey? ('late' Mr. Strawberry as in late for a meeting); Becky P11 "he's good inside" about Steven (he's alt Joe M, P5? Mike alt Mr. Strawberry in that scene?); MrC in prison is alt 'bad Joe' seen by Diane? (suggesting a blend of Becky & Diane, and Gordon & Bobby); link to P1 "you're a bad girl, Tracey" elevatocoffee links; Hey Tracey in place of Joe or Jude.
- 3/20 in P15, link to the end of S2?; Cooper goes in to the bathroom to brush his teeth link to P6 when Cooper goes into the bathroom and the SJ says that he already brushed his teeth ('upstairs' is 5 days later? from night of 3/15 to 3/20; link to: "did you call me 5 days ago?" alt the call downstairs; then Richard in P15 alt 'son' SJ); alt a cake was brought home from Sonny Jim’s Bakery (alt Gentlemen Jim’s); Shelly S1 brings home a piece of pie for Leo; Cooper blends Leo into role (Memento links, etc). Blends with 3/20 scenario of Anthony trying to poison Dougie [sugar dispenser on the table P13 alt tip of alcohol bottle, Bobby in S1 with Jack Daniels bottle at Leo's alt bartender]. So Leo sitting alt sitting up at the table (alt in P2 motel room), companion to Darya (in bed, dreamer), dream vs memory losses, placeholders for worlds/seasons of the show?
-Dougie P3 with 315 'green' key, Jade finds and mails to Washington state; alt Freddie who discovered that he 'already had a ticket' to Twin Peaks, WA; alt 315 is a date for the next day (again supports Dougie arriving into loop on 3/14, P3); Jade alt works at airport or travel agency ('triple A' link; alt rent-a-car).
-P18, alt telling of 'fly the coop' scenario (direct & indirect combined into one story?); Cooper leaves red room into the version where he loops back from 3/14 to 3/17, but travels to the 'Richard' version (portal) where he is sent back to 3/15; end of P18 continues via early P6.
-MrC driving alone alt on 3/19 (P3), takes portal to Feb 24th, 1989 (2241989)? 319 to 419; '2289' surrounds. Link to 2240 Sycamore; 49 difference.
Part two: Room 323 vs Room 314; #49
End of P4, Albert: "I know where she drinks" about Diane then an abrupt cut to the neon Roadhouse sign; similar to the abrupt cut to the Elk's #9 Point neon sign in P14 after James walks toward the basement door. Alt P4 - cut to P14 Elk's instead of the Roadhouse, "she" is Sarah (10 shift, link to dime, Gordon & Albert, alt Red vs Richard) ['one certain person' link to 'certain Major Briggs', who says "blue rose"; this person alt 'Sarah Briggs?']. On the flip side, James in P14 walks towards the 315 door then a cut to the P4 RH sign and Au Revoir Simone performing Lark inside (on their second song?); the first song would be in P9 before that (icicles; cold room link, James; two songs link to two slices of pie in P11, trio of girls in pink alt the 3 synth players; champagne on ice). So James from P14, alt walks into a room with 3 players; 3 + 14 = 314, link to room 314. Tammy in P4 was told to wait inside the restaurant (prior to the 3 synth players performing {Tammy blue lips, alt frozen in 314?}, so is she linked to that room? (James & Freddie alt the two officers in P1 who go into Ruth's room, alt go into Tammy's room in 314). [P10, Tammy knocks on Gordon's door at the hotel; alt her room is across the hall and P4 Gordon alt tells her to go back to her room; she's alt 'woman across the hall' dining with Bobby vs Albert dining with Constance in P10; loud Richard RH scene prior to Tammy in P5, alt she comes to tell him to turn music down].
-Flip side of 314 (from alt James P14 going into room with Au Revoir Simone); from P4 the cut to Elk's Point #9 = 49. Or Sarah is 'Person 49?' (link to 'certain person'; Sarah Briggs?). P1 "show Mr. Hastings to his new room" - Bill, is 43 years old. Alt - 'show Mrs. Houseman to her new room'. 49 years old version? 49 link to room #47 (IE - Sarah/Grace Z. numerous links, rabbits on her TV stand; her scene in P13 is at 49th minute, link to 1349 and Ruth). [P4 alt: Jane McLaughlin, heavy drinker, in Sarah's place, goes into her bar, meets 'Kyle Watts' alt the trucker, link to P14 Jimmy (James) wants to hear the story, continuous from P4 when Janey-E goes upstairs to Sonny Jim, alt reads to him]
-49 + 2240 (address of the place that Hastings takes the FBI to in P11) = 2289. This might be linked to a transition of MrC driving (P3), under the portal (link to P18, similar stretch of highway that Cooper & Diane travel on) to Feb 1989, morphs into Cooper driving into TP in the Pilot Episode. 2289 a 'buffer zone'?
-"it could make a difference" Lucy to the insurance man P1, link to "once we cross it could all be different." 3 POVs of the Lucy scene link to 3 versions of Diane & Cooper kissing, based on subtle discontinuities in P18. Sarah ('49') link to Lucy at the front desk? (Sarah alt Bev, P7 gets angry at Tom, dinner link to P14 Sarah "I'll eat you"), alt this Sarah went back to work (from a version of the old story where Sarah was a dispatcher? calling around asking about her own daughter in Pilot alt). 'Buffer zone' alt 'auto zone'; parallels station vs Arnie's in Lost Highway (alt MrC stops in with truck and leaves with Towncar; 'Andie's' alt to 'Trader Jack's' where he trades in Mercedes).
S2E21 (Miss Twin Peaks), Annie goes to Cooper's room for help about her speech and they end up getting it on. When he lets her in, the door across the hall is seen as room 323. Earlier in S2 it was seen as room 314. P17 Cooper returns to Twin Peaks, gets the 315 room key from Frank, then Diane appears from Naido, and they kiss amorously. If Cooper is a continuation from S2 it follows that this should be Annie. Alt - there's a different version of the love making scene with Diane (and with room 314 across the hall). Also, in the Annie version Cooper should be in room 324 (across from 323) (although 315 is visible when Annie enters). {Annie Hall link; Diane Keaton, who is of course TP-associated}
Room 323 (Annie version) vs 314 (Diane version?) across the hall from Cooper's room.
So Cooper might alt be in 324. If Cooper was in 325 (315 + 10; dime, Richard link; P18 Cooper wakes up as 'Richard'): 325 adds up to 10 ('level of completion'); link to 2:53, time in P16 at the hospital; so let's say there's another version of the love making scenario with Janey-E in place of Annie (Watts sort of looks like the 'new girl' in S1 with Ben, alt call girl sent to room 325?). 3 possible girls - link to the scenario where 2 sets of coordinates match? Audrey & Janey-E versions (in room 325) vs Diane ('314') version? (which merges in P17 with the Annie '324' version?). [S1 Cooper comes into this room, Audrey in is bed naked, "don't make me leave" link to "make me" Richard P5; Cooper in 315 vs 325 - discontinuity, alt turns head to the left, version where he sleeps with Audrey, link to Bill P1 "to the left here Bill" (alt to MrC going to the right and upstairs; Jeffries says "oh, it's you"; Bill is alt 'Tom Banks?' food critic [link to Teresa Banks/MT Wentz connection, alt Cooper on the floor]; alt Tom Hanks or Twin Peaks, alt with Jenny, alt Judy), picked up alt for sleeping with underaged girl?); Cooper's pinky ring signifies the extra 10? Garland link; alt gold/silver bead or dime inside him]. Cooper in 324: the person across the hall in room 314 swallowed dime or has a ring? Tammy? Alt - Tammy & Annie have an affair and love making scene (like Rita and Betty, brunette & blonde; a Tammy with purely black hair).
-so: Cooper in 325, sex with Audrey, equivalent to Janey-E (adds to 10; both 'matching' scenarios destroyed, early P16?). Cooper in 315 with Diane ('314' version). Cooper in 324 is an alt-Tammy, hall side reversal, paired with Annie (Tammy's presence P17 linked). Scenario where Tammy goes to a place to save Annie? P7 Annie Blackburn "a girl that went into that place" "he owns this place." MrC looking for "the place." MrC alt Tammy, looking for where Annie is? Place alt 'Palmer House?' (MrC's original destination before the Fireman shifted it). Betty & Rita played detectives in MD, they snuck into Diane's apartment; alt a scenario where Betty went alone (like Anthony P10), snuck into the Palmer house, was found and held captive? ('Annie in chains' alt Alice). In the attic or basement? Link to GN, room in the basement, James hears noise (he's alt a repairman, checking furnaces). Gets put into the room too? (with Candie alt Annie; 'cold' room version?) (link to Lucy P4; has been there all through the years, thermostat). James + Candie; JC, John Candy (alt Judy), behind the door P17 in place of Gerard? (alt Jacoby); Uncle Buck, link to Burt, Memento; alt man with symbol on his jacket in P13; psychiatrist who helps MrC remember? Link to Memento, Leonard ('remember' alt to dismember); P17 events, Diane remembers, then sudden black out, link to the black symbol? Blackout represents that someone is forgetting? [Leonard, Memento, can't form new memories; link to Dr. Craig, alt neuroscientist studying Leo's brain; Frank gets a 'memento' earlier]. [P5, MrC cuffed to the desk in Yankton (link to Denny Craig; 'Tammy Craig?'), alt Chad P17 cuffed to the cell, makes a call link to the blackout upstairs?] {P2, MrC kills Darya, goes to the bathroom, towel ring but no towel; link to P6, Ike murders Lorraine, then Richard cleans off the front of the truck, throws a towel in the field, then Hawk washing his hands (link to S2, Hawk found the bloody towel at Glastonbury Grove); Hawk alt MrC, in the stall, turns and freezes, alt forgets where he is/what he's doing, link to Memento (Leonard) (Nez Perce link to Guy Pearce, alt Glastonbury; Hawk alt 'Leo Shelly,' long gray hair link to Phyllis P1, wife alt blends with husband? MrC P2 alt 'Shelly Cooper'); MrC P2 pauses/confused after getting a call from the mystery caller, alt he forgets afterwards? Link to John G. manipulating Leonard in Memento; 'you're still in Buckhorn' alt Butte; P5 a towel in MrC's prison cell, "food is coming" alt "shit he's coming, I gotta get off the phone." Hungry Horse vs Butte versions? one version of Leo can't form new memories, other can't remember his past? One is alt the farmer, who forgets about the meeting?}
-key to what this is all about, P12 Frank gets a literal key, a 'memento.' Alt - Ray sees it in 'Leonard Cooper?' alt Miriam seeing Richard P6, the key that makes him forget alt remembering something; and break out of loop? Drives past the stop sign; reverse of key, link to elk? Sarah/Grace, she talks about "forgetfulness" in IE.
-Diane's place P7, overhead light fixtures like seen in the hallway, 314 door at the GN. Fella leaving P7, alt 'Frank Truman' (Fireman?). or Fred Truman, linking with Freddie who visited the Fireman (and link to events in Frank's office, defeating BOB link to P8 Fireman sees him) (the 'pig' or 'pretty girl' link to Miriam & Dido? She's in apartment 17, link to part 17, Frank with the cowboy hat alt the cowboy; alt Harry in the barn, owned by alt Bushnell?).
TAMMY in room 314: 314 adds up to 8; link to Jeffries in room 8 at the convenience store motel. Alt it's Tammy's room, she's on the phone with him? Scenario where the FBI are on to her (P10 "keep her close") in place of Diane with MrC; alt the airport P4, the restaurant is the room across the hall; Gordon & Albert alt Red & Richard, dime scene; Red with the dime; red-room link [he's alt Gerard with the seed, something to do with a shift of '10']) ('Tammy Watson?'; P4 Dougie is delivered to Watts on 3/14; from 30 jackpots to 31 + P4 = 314). Room 8, "who is Judy?" "you already met Judy"; link to Bev P1 "nice to meet you" to Jerry; 'Tammy Paige' (alt to Watson)? linked to P18 the return of Dougie (and Carrie, 'did you find him')? her son was missing? Little Jerry? (Big Jerry was missing and eventually found) [so Tammy Paige is missing her son, Tammy Watson across the hall in 314]. [324: Tammy Elms with Annie Rhodes? 'Annie Rhodes' held captive in the basement of the Palmer house; anagram: Rhonda niees alt 'niece'; Rhonda sweaty palms (P7) like Audrey, Jerry's niece; alt 'Audrie Rhodes.' Rev of Laura scenario: the daughter of Ben (Rhodes) is killed by Leland? hit and run? buried under his house? {Audrey "I'm hungry" link to GnR (Appetite For Destruction) and P13 GnR links (Used To Love Her); Charlie in Kill Bill, burying scene} (alt 'Annie Rose' (young Glenn Close) sent to the room of Tom Banks, food critic alt MT Wentz, room 325? looping back or forward to the arrest of Bill P1)].
-P5 MrC makes his one phone call, the previous scene Tammy at her desk; link to 'TAMMY' turning her 'turning inside-out' (from the ms) to make Miriam (with 'aTy' inside; Audrey + Clark [Middleton]). So Miriam is 'made' at the end of P5, alt in room 314? (akin to the restaurant in P11? piano player link; quiet setting vs Roadhouse/315 alt across the hall?) {P1, similar sized character Marjorie at Arrowhead apartments, room 218; Miriam (and Marjorie) are also similar to 'Heavy Set Woman' in Mulholland Dr., who is shot by the hitman and then dragged into Ed's room and killed}. Miriam sees Richard drive off after the hit-and-run and he attacks her in her place in P10. P5, Richard at the noisy Roadhouse, then a very quiet contrasting scene with Tammy - alt she's attacked in room 314? [Miriam alt 'mom;' Audrey link to Richard; so Audrey & Miriam blend identities, alt mom sees what Richard did]. Then or alt, turned inside-out to Miriam (in the hospital bed, P12)? {slam noise during Richard's attack in P10, alt piano slammed; 'Henry Lawson' alt piano player? link to Harry; who had run-ins with Richard}. So the piano/player is inside-out Tammy inside 314 (with Audrey held inside? alt inside the piano, or note/song? alt to scream; 'Judy Finn'). Audrey alt gets the dime/seed and becomes 'Tammy Elms' (in 324)? [MT, M-Tammy Wentz; 'M' adds 1 to make 325? link to penny found by girl in P8? alt Tammy Elms or Evans]. {Richard 'force-feeds' the dime to Miriam or mom? Audrey alt goes into a loop related to Cooper being returned to Janey-E? Audrey in red, Valentine's Day version? (alt to Groundhog - 1 day, and St. Patty's Day - 3 day); 2 days? P11 Santino's night, alt Valentine's Day dinner; Billy & Judy?}
-"Did you get my note?" P5 link to MD "we'll leave her a note." Ruth's apt, alt the inside of a piano? Mailboxes show at her place, link to PO. Piano inside out - n [ ] a, alt Norma. P6 she's not in the scene with Miriam (involved in other inside-out framework with Tammy; pig vs piano versions?. {Norma rearranged to make Moran (Lucy)}. {piano ash tray in MD, Diane's place (apt 16?) alt to 'pretty girl' (or the pig)'s place, apt 17; 1617 combined, alt 1516 Carrie's?; P18 alt Albert goes, dry/dusty scene vs wet scene in P6}. Albert alt picks up a version of Lucy from the dinner? Norma doesn't understand Walter's proposals, alt dumb. Albert blends with Walter, sent for this Norma/Lucy so she can see alt Andy? [brings Havenhurst/Sierra Bonita to see 6980 MD? Adam alt Andy; P1 Bill in 'glass' interrogation room (alt the box), 6845 address Buckhorn station; glass/plastic vs wood/earth?]
-P10, Tammy alt Lady Across the Hall (alt to the 'Lady at the Morgue'); alt dinning with Bobby (napkin visual); shift so Gordon is with Constance? (alt the French woman).
-P13, Au Revoir Simone alt the 3 girls in Bushnell's office, Cooper alt James? (accident link with Dougie).
submitted by KarlosHungus36 to twinpeaks [link] [comments]

2023.05.24 04:11 DodgerBot Postgame Thread ⚾ Dodgers 8 @ Braves 1

Line Score - Game Over

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB
LAD 1 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 8 9 1 7
ATL 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 2 6

Box Score

ATL AB R H RBI BB SO BA
RF Acuña Jr. 3 0 0 0 1 1 .337
1B Olson 4 0 0 0 0 2 .233
C Murphy, S 3 1 1 0 1 1 .275
3B Riley, A 4 0 1 1 0 1 .255
LF Rosario, E 3 0 0 0 0 1 .243
PH Pillar 1 0 0 0 0 0 .256
2B Albies 4 0 2 0 0 0 .257
DH Ozuna 4 0 0 0 0 3 .208
SS Arcia, Or 3 0 1 0 0 0 .319
CF Hilliard 3 0 0 0 0 2 .246
ATL IP H R ER BB SO P-S ERA
Strider 6.0 5 4 2 3 11 104-70 2.97
McHugh 1.0 2 1 1 1 0 20-11 3.00
Tonkin 2.0 2 3 3 1 0 37-22 3.42
LAD AB R H RBI BB SO BA
2B Betts 3 3 1 0 2 1 .251
1B Freeman, F 4 1 1 0 1 0 .327
C Smith, W.D. 5 0 3 3 0 0 .310
3B Muncy 4 1 1 1 1 2 .211
DH Martinez 5 1 1 3 0 2 .261
RF Heyward 4 1 2 1 1 0 .227
LF Peralta 4 0 0 0 0 2 .207
CF Outman 4 0 0 0 0 3 .245
SS Rojas, M 4 1 0 0 0 1 .207
LAD IP H R ER BB SO P-S ERA
Miller, B 5.0 4 1 1 1 5 95-63 1.80
Almonte 1.0 0 0 0 0 3 20-12 7.71
Graterol 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 19-13 2.18
Phillips, E 1.0 0 0 0 1 1 18-11 1.89
González, V 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 14-8 2.13

Scoring Plays

Inning Event Score
T1 Will Smith singles on a ground ball to center fielder Sam Hilliard. Mookie Betts scores. 0-1
B1 Austin Riley doubles (8) on a sharp line drive to center fielder James Outman. Sean Murphy scores. Austin Riley to 3rd. Austin Riley advances to 3rd, on a throwing error by shortstop Miguel Rojas. 1-1
T2 Jason Heyward homers (5) on a fly ball to right center field. 1-2
T2 Will Smith doubles (7) on a line drive to left fielder Eddie Rosario. Miguel Rojas scores. Mookie Betts scores. Freddie Freeman to 3rd. 1-4
T7 Max Muncy singles on a sharp fly ball to right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. Mookie Betts scores. Will Smith to 3rd. 1-5
T9 J.D. Martinez homers (9) on a fly ball to left center field. Freddie Freeman scores. Max Muncy scores. 1-8

Highlights

Description Length Video
Bullpen availability for Atlanta, May 23 vs Dodgers 0:07 Video
Bullpen availability for Los Angeles, May 23 vs Braves 0:07 Video
Fielding alignment for Los Angeles, May 23 vs Braves 0:11 Video
Starting lineups for Dodgers at Braves - May 23, 2023 0:09 Video
Measuring the stats on Jason Heyward's home run 0:15 Video
Visualizing Jason Heyward's swing using bat tracking technology 0:09 Video
Breaking down Bobby Miller's pitches 0:08 Video
Bobby Miller's outing against the Braves 0:25 Video
Breaking down Spencer Strider's pitches 0:08 Video
Spencer Strider's outing against the Dodgers 0:22 Video
Breaking down J.D. Martinez's home run 0:16 Video
Will Smith hits an RBI single to left-center field 0:24 Video
Austin Riley hits an RBI double to left-center field 0:37 Video
Jason Heyward hits a solo home run 0:48 Video
Will Smith hits a two-run double to left field 0:30 Video
Ronald Acuña Jr. records his 20th stolen base 0:27 Video
Max Muncy makes a diving stop for the second out 0:22 Video
Bobby Miller's first career K 0:20 Video
Bobby Miller strikes out five batters in his debut 1:24 Video
Max Muncy hits an RBI single to right field 0:32 Video
Spencer Strider strikes out 11 over six innings 1:41 Video
J.D. Martinez hits a three-run home run 0:32 Video

Decisions

Winning Pitcher Losing Pitcher Save
Miller, B (1-0, 1.80 ERA) Strider (4-2, 2.97 ERA)
Game ended at 7:11 PM.
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2023.05.24 04:11 Blooper_Bot The Braves fell to the Dodgers by a score of 8-1 - Tue, May 23 @ 07:20 PM EDT

Dodgers @ Braves - Tue, May 23

Game Status: Final - Score: 8-1 Dodgers

Links & Info

Dodgers Batters AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG OBP SLG
1 Betts - 2B 3 3 1 0 2 1 0 .251 .363 .508
2 Freeman, F - 1B 4 1 1 0 1 0 2 .327 .399 .563
3 Smith, W.D. - C 5 0 3 3 0 0 1 .310 .406 .552
4 Muncy - 3B 4 1 1 1 1 2 3 .211 .353 .520
5 Martinez - DH 5 1 1 3 0 2 3 .261 .306 .575
6 Heyward - RF 4 1 2 1 1 0 2 .227 .343 .477
7 Peralta - LF 4 0 0 0 0 2 2 .207 .250 .324
8 Outman - CF 4 0 0 0 0 3 3 .245 .333 .497
9 Rojas, M - SS 4 1 0 0 0 1 2 .207 .255 .250
Totals 37 8 9 8 5 11 18
Dodgers
BATTING: 2B: Betts (14, Strider); Smith, W.D. (7, Strider). HR: Heyward (5, 2nd inning off Strider, 0 on, 0 out); Martinez (9, 9th inning off Tonkin, 2 on, 2 out). TB: Betts 2; Freeman, F; Heyward 5; Martinez 4; Muncy; Smith, W.D. 4. RBI: Heyward (10); Martinez 3 (30); Muncy (35); Smith, W.D. 3 (27). 2-out RBI: Smith, W.D. 2; Martinez 3. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Muncy 2; Heyward. GIDP: Rojas, M. Team RISP: 4-for-8. Team LOB: 7.
FIELDING: E: Rojas, M (3, throw).
Braves Batters AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG OBP SLG
1 Acuña Jr. - RF 3 0 0 0 1 1 0 .337 .427 .588
2 Olson - 1B 4 0 0 0 0 2 1 .233 .364 .517
3 Murphy, S - C 3 1 1 0 1 1 1 .275 .398 .549
4 Riley, A - 3B 4 0 1 1 0 1 2 .255 .333 .413
5 Rosario, E - LF 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 .243 .274 .414
a-Pillar - PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256 .289 .487
6 Albies - 2B 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 .257 .300 .481
7 Ozuna - DH 4 0 0 0 0 3 2 .208 .301 .433
8 Arcia, Or - SS 3 0 1 0 0 0 2 .319 .373 .521
9 Hilliard - CF 3 0 0 0 0 2 2 .246 .307 .449
Totals 32 1 5 1 2 11 11
Braves
a-Flied out for Rosario, E in the 9th.
BATTING: 2B: Riley, A (8, Miller, B); Albies (10, Miller, B). TB: Albies 3; Arcia, Or; Murphy, S; Riley, A 2. RBI: Riley, A (23). 2-out RBI: Riley, A. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Rosario, E; Riley, A 2; Arcia, Or. Team RISP: 0-for-7. Team LOB: 6.
FIELDING: E: Olson 2 (4, fielding, fielding). DP: (Albies-Arcia, Or-Olson).
Dodgers Pitchers IP H R ER BB K HR P-S ERA
Miller, B (W, 1-0) 5.0 4 1 1 1 5 0 95-63 1.80
Almonte (H, 5) 1.0 0 0 0 0 3 0 20-12 7.71
Graterol 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 19-13 2.18
Phillips, E 1.0 0 0 0 1 1 0 18-11 1.89
González, V 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 14-8 2.13
Totals 9.0 5 1 1 2 11 0
Braves Pitchers IP H R ER BB K HR P-S ERA
Strider (L, 4-2) 6.0 5 4 2 3 11 1 104-70 2.97
McHugh 1.0 2 1 1 1 0 0 20-11 3.00
Tonkin 2.0 2 3 3 1 0 1 37-22 3.42
Totals 9.0 9 8 6 5 11 2
Game Info
WP: Miller, B; Phillips, E; Strider.
IBB: Freeman, F (by Strider).
Pitches-strikes: Miller, B 95-63; Almonte 20-12; Graterol 19-13; Phillips, E 18-11; González, V 14-8; Strider 104-70; McHugh 20-11; Tonkin 37-22.
Groundouts-flyouts: Miller, B 7-2; Almonte 0-0; Graterol 1-0; Phillips, E 0-1; González, V 1-1; Strider 3-3; McHugh 0-2; Tonkin 3-2.
Batters faced: Miller, B 20; Almonte 3; Graterol 4; Phillips, E 4; González, V 3; Strider 27; McHugh 6; Tonkin 9.
Umpires: HP: Jim Wolf. 1B: Mike Muchlinski. 2B: Sean Barber. 3B: Alan Porter.
Weather: 70 degrees, Cloudy.
Wind: 8 mph, L To R.
First pitch: 7:21 PM.
T: 2:48.
Att: 36,731.
Venue: Truist Park.
May 23, 2023
Inning Scoring Play Score
Top 1 Will Smith singles on a ground ball to center fielder Sam Hilliard. Mookie Betts scores. 1-0 LAD
Bottom 1 Austin Riley doubles (8) on a sharp line drive to center fielder James Outman. Sean Murphy scores. Austin Riley to 3rd. Austin Riley advances to 3rd, on a throwing error by shortstop Miguel Rojas. 1-1
Top 2 Jason Heyward homers (5) on a fly ball to right center field. 2-1 LAD
Top 2 Will Smith doubles (7) on a line drive to left fielder Eddie Rosario. Miguel Rojas scores. Mookie Betts scores. Freddie Freeman to 3rd. 4-1 LAD
Top 7 Max Muncy singles on a sharp fly ball to right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. Mookie Betts scores. Will Smith to 3rd. 5-1 LAD
Top 9 J.D. Martinez homers (9) on a fly ball to left center field. Freddie Freeman scores. Max Muncy scores. 8-1 LAD
Team Highlight
ATL Bullpen availability for Atlanta, May 23 vs Dodgers (00:00:07)
LAD Bullpen availability for Los Angeles, May 23 vs Braves (00:00:07)
LAD Fielding alignment for Los Angeles, May 23 vs Braves (00:00:11)
ATL Starting lineups for Dodgers at Braves - May 23, 2023 (00:00:09)
LAD Measuring the stats on Jason Heyward's home run (00:00:15)
LAD Will Smith's RBI single (00:00:24)
ATL Austin Riley's RBI double (00:00:37)
LAD Heyward's solo homer (5) (00:00:48)
LAD Will Smith's two-run double (00:00:30)
ATL Acuña Jr.'s 20th stolen base (00:00:27)
LAD Max Muncy's diving stop (00:00:22)
LAD Bobby Miller's first career K (00:00:20)
LAD Bobby Miller's five strikeouts (00:01:24)
LAD Max Muncy's RBI single (00:00:32)
ATL Spencer Strider's 11 K's (00:01:41)
LAD Martinez's three-run homer (9) (00:00:30)
LAD González strikes out final batter (00:00:31)
LAD Heyward's diving catch (00:00:27)
ATL Spencer Strider poncha a 11 (00:01:41)
LAD HR de 3 rayas de J.D. Martínez (00:00:30)
LAD Jonrón solitario de Heyward (00:00:46)
LAD Smith de 5-3 con 3 impulsadas (00:00:54)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB
Dodgers 1 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 8 9 1 7
Braves 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 2 6

Decisions

Division Scoreboard

AZ 4 @ PHI 3 - Final
SD 7 @ WSH 4 - Final
NYM 2 @ CHC 7 - Final
MIA 4 @ COL 5 - Game Over
Next Braves Game: Wed, May 24, 07:20 PM EDT vs. Dodgers
Last Updated: 05/23/2023 11:11:33 PM EDT
submitted by Blooper_Bot to Braves [link] [comments]

2023.05.24 01:05 Blooper_Bot Game Thread: Dodgers @ Braves - Tue, May 23 @ 07:20 PM EDT

Dodgers @ Braves - Tue, May 23

Game Status: Final - Score: 8-1 Dodgers

Links & Info

Dodgers Batters AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG OBP SLG
1 Betts - 2B 3 3 1 0 2 1 0 .251 .363 .508
2 Freeman, F - 1B 4 1 1 0 1 0 2 .327 .399 .563
3 Smith, W.D. - C 5 0 3 3 0 0 1 .310 .406 .552
4 Muncy - 3B 4 1 1 1 1 2 3 .211 .353 .520
5 Martinez - DH 5 1 1 3 0 2 3 .261 .306 .575
6 Heyward - RF 4 1 2 1 1 0 2 .227 .343 .477
7 Peralta - LF 4 0 0 0 0 2 2 .207 .250 .324
8 Outman - CF 4 0 0 0 0 3 3 .245 .333 .497
9 Rojas, M - SS 4 1 0 0 0 1 2 .207 .255 .250
Totals 37 8 9 8 5 11 18
Dodgers
BATTING: 2B: Betts (14, Strider); Smith, W.D. (7, Strider). HR: Heyward (5, 2nd inning off Strider, 0 on, 0 out); Martinez (9, 9th inning off Tonkin, 2 on, 2 out). TB: Betts 2; Freeman, F; Heyward 5; Martinez 4; Muncy; Smith, W.D. 4. RBI: Heyward (10); Martinez 3 (30); Muncy (35); Smith, W.D. 3 (27). 2-out RBI: Smith, W.D. 2; Martinez 3. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Muncy 2; Heyward. GIDP: Rojas, M. Team RISP: 4-for-8. Team LOB: 7.
FIELDING: E: Rojas, M (3, throw).
Braves Batters AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG OBP SLG
1 Acuña Jr. - RF 3 0 0 0 1 1 0 .337 .427 .588
2 Olson - 1B 4 0 0 0 0 2 1 .233 .364 .517
3 Murphy, S - C 3 1 1 0 1 1 1 .275 .398 .549
4 Riley, A - 3B 4 0 1 1 0 1 2 .255 .333 .413
5 Rosario, E - LF 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 .243 .274 .414
a-Pillar - PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256 .289 .487
6 Albies - 2B 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 .257 .300 .481
7 Ozuna - DH 4 0 0 0 0 3 2 .208 .301 .433
8 Arcia, Or - SS 3 0 1 0 0 0 2 .319 .373 .521
9 Hilliard - CF 3 0 0 0 0 2 2 .246 .307 .449
Totals 32 1 5 1 2 11 11
Braves
a-Flied out for Rosario, E in the 9th.
BATTING: 2B: Riley, A (8, Miller, B); Albies (10, Miller, B). TB: Albies 3; Arcia, Or; Murphy, S; Riley, A 2. RBI: Riley, A (23). 2-out RBI: Riley, A. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Rosario, E; Riley, A 2; Arcia, Or. Team RISP: 0-for-7. Team LOB: 6.
FIELDING: E: Olson 2 (4, fielding, fielding). DP: (Albies-Arcia, Or-Olson).
Dodgers Pitchers IP H R ER BB K HR P-S ERA
Miller, B (W, 1-0) 5.0 4 1 1 1 5 0 95-63 1.80
Almonte (H, 5) 1.0 0 0 0 0 3 0 20-12 7.71
Graterol 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 19-13 2.18
Phillips, E 1.0 0 0 0 1 1 0 18-11 1.89
González, V 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 14-8 2.13
Totals 9.0 5 1 1 2 11 0
Braves Pitchers IP H R ER BB K HR P-S ERA
Strider (L, 4-2) 6.0 5 4 2 3 11 1 104-70 2.97
McHugh 1.0 2 1 1 1 0 0 20-11 3.00
Tonkin 2.0 2 3 3 1 0 1 37-22 3.42
Totals 9.0 9 8 6 5 11 2
Game Info
WP: Miller, B; Phillips, E; Strider.
IBB: Freeman, F (by Strider).
Pitches-strikes: Miller, B 95-63; Almonte 20-12; Graterol 19-13; Phillips, E 18-11; González, V 14-8; Strider 104-70; McHugh 20-11; Tonkin 37-22.
Groundouts-flyouts: Miller, B 7-2; Almonte 0-0; Graterol 1-0; Phillips, E 0-1; González, V 1-1; Strider 3-3; McHugh 0-2; Tonkin 3-2.
Batters faced: Miller, B 20; Almonte 3; Graterol 4; Phillips, E 4; González, V 3; Strider 27; McHugh 6; Tonkin 9.
Umpires: HP: Jim Wolf. 1B: Mike Muchlinski. 2B: Sean Barber. 3B: Alan Porter.
Weather: 70 degrees, Cloudy.
Wind: 8 mph, L To R.
First pitch: 7:21 PM.
T: 2:48.
Att: 36,731.
Venue: Truist Park.
May 23, 2023
Inning Scoring Play Score
Top 1 Will Smith singles on a ground ball to center fielder Sam Hilliard. Mookie Betts scores. 1-0 LAD
Bottom 1 Austin Riley doubles (8) on a sharp line drive to center fielder James Outman. Sean Murphy scores. Austin Riley to 3rd. Austin Riley advances to 3rd, on a throwing error by shortstop Miguel Rojas. 1-1
Top 2 Jason Heyward homers (5) on a fly ball to right center field. 2-1 LAD
Top 2 Will Smith doubles (7) on a line drive to left fielder Eddie Rosario. Miguel Rojas scores. Mookie Betts scores. Freddie Freeman to 3rd. 4-1 LAD
Top 7 Max Muncy singles on a sharp fly ball to right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. Mookie Betts scores. Will Smith to 3rd. 5-1 LAD
Top 9 J.D. Martinez homers (9) on a fly ball to left center field. Freddie Freeman scores. Max Muncy scores. 8-1 LAD
Team Highlight
ATL Bullpen availability for Atlanta, May 23 vs Dodgers (00:00:07)
LAD Bullpen availability for Los Angeles, May 23 vs Braves (00:00:07)
LAD Fielding alignment for Los Angeles, May 23 vs Braves (00:00:11)
ATL Starting lineups for Dodgers at Braves - May 23, 2023 (00:00:09)
LAD Measuring the stats on Jason Heyward's home run (00:00:15)
LAD Will Smith's RBI single (00:00:24)
ATL Austin Riley's RBI double (00:00:37)
LAD Heyward's solo homer (5) (00:00:48)
LAD Will Smith's two-run double (00:00:30)
ATL Acuña Jr.'s 20th stolen base (00:00:27)
LAD Max Muncy's diving stop (00:00:22)
LAD Bobby Miller's first career K (00:00:20)
LAD Bobby Miller's five strikeouts (00:01:24)
LAD Max Muncy's RBI single (00:00:32)
ATL Spencer Strider's 11 K's (00:01:41)
LAD Martinez's three-run homer (9) (00:00:30)
LAD González strikes out final batter (00:00:31)
LAD Heyward's diving catch (00:00:27)
ATL Spencer Strider poncha a 11 (00:01:41)
LAD HR de 3 rayas de J.D. Martínez (00:00:30)
LAD Jonrón solitario de Heyward (00:00:46)
LAD Smith de 5-3 con 3 impulsadas (00:00:54)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB
Dodgers 1 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 8 9 1 7
Braves 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 2 6

Decisions

Division Scoreboard

AZ 4 @ PHI 3 - Final
SD 7 @ WSH 4 - Final
NYM 2 @ CHC 7 - Final
MIA 4 @ COL 5 - Game Over
Last Updated: 05/23/2023 11:09:18 PM EDT
submitted by Blooper_Bot to Braves [link] [comments]

2023.05.24 00:20 DodgerBot Game Chat 5/23 - Dodgers (30-19) @ Braves (29-18) 4:20 PM

Dodgers (30-19) @ Braves (29-18)

First Pitch: 4:20 PM at Truist Park
Team Starter TV Radio
Dodgers Bobby Miller (0-0, -.-- ERA) SNLA 570, KTNQ (ES)
Braves Spencer Strider (4-1, 2.96 ERA) BSSO 680 AM
MLB Fangraphs Reddit Stream Discord
Gameday Game Graph Live Comments /baseball Discord

Line Score - Game Over

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB
LAD 1 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 8 9 1 7
ATL 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 2 6

Box Score

ATL AB R H RBI BB SO BA
RF Acuña Jr. 3 0 0 0 1 1 .337
1B Olson 4 0 0 0 0 2 .233
C Murphy, S 3 1 1 0 1 1 .275
3B Riley, A 4 0 1 1 0 1 .255
LF Rosario, E 3 0 0 0 0 1 .243
PH Pillar 1 0 0 0 0 0 .256
2B Albies 4 0 2 0 0 0 .257
DH Ozuna 4 0 0 0 0 3 .208
SS Arcia, Or 3 0 1 0 0 0 .319
CF Hilliard 3 0 0 0 0 2 .246
ATL IP H R ER BB SO P-S ERA
Strider 6.0 5 4 2 3 11 104-70 2.97
McHugh 1.0 2 1 1 1 0 20-11 3.00
Tonkin 2.0 2 3 3 1 0 37-22 3.42
LAD AB R H RBI BB SO BA
2B Betts 3 3 1 0 2 1 .251
1B Freeman, F 4 1 1 0 1 0 .327
C Smith, W.D. 5 0 3 3 0 0 .310
3B Muncy 4 1 1 1 1 2 .211
DH Martinez 5 1 1 3 0 2 .261
RF Heyward 4 1 2 1 1 0 .227
LF Peralta 4 0 0 0 0 2 .207
CF Outman 4 0 0 0 0 3 .245
SS Rojas, M 4 1 0 0 0 1 .207
LAD IP H R ER BB SO P-S ERA
Miller, B 5.0 4 1 1 1 5 95-63 1.80
Almonte 1.0 0 0 0 0 3 20-12 7.71
Graterol 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 19-13 2.18
Phillips, E 1.0 0 0 0 1 1 18-11 1.89
González, V 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 14-8 2.13

Scoring Plays

Inning Event Score
T1 Will Smith singles on a ground ball to center fielder Sam Hilliard. Mookie Betts scores. 0-1
B1 Austin Riley doubles (8) on a sharp line drive to center fielder James Outman. Sean Murphy scores. Austin Riley to 3rd. Austin Riley advances to 3rd, on a throwing error by shortstop Miguel Rojas. 1-1
T2 Jason Heyward homers (5) on a fly ball to right center field. 1-2
T2 Will Smith doubles (7) on a line drive to left fielder Eddie Rosario. Miguel Rojas scores. Mookie Betts scores. Freddie Freeman to 3rd. 1-4
T7 Max Muncy singles on a sharp fly ball to right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. Mookie Betts scores. Will Smith to 3rd. 1-5
T9 J.D. Martinez homers (9) on a fly ball to left center field. Freddie Freeman scores. Max Muncy scores. 1-8

Highlights

Description Length Video
Bullpen availability for Atlanta, May 23 vs Dodgers 0:07 Video
Bullpen availability for Los Angeles, May 23 vs Braves 0:07 Video
Fielding alignment for Los Angeles, May 23 vs Braves 0:11 Video
Starting lineups for Dodgers at Braves - May 23, 2023 0:09 Video
Measuring the stats on Jason Heyward's home run 0:15 Video
Visualizing Jason Heyward's swing using bat tracking technology 0:09 Video
Breaking down Bobby Miller's pitches 0:08 Video
Bobby Miller's outing against the Braves 0:25 Video
Breaking down Spencer Strider's pitches 0:08 Video
Spencer Strider's outing against the Dodgers 0:22 Video
Breaking down J.D. Martinez's home run 0:16 Video
Will Smith hits an RBI single to left-center field 0:24 Video
Austin Riley hits an RBI double to left-center field 0:37 Video
Jason Heyward hits a solo home run 0:48 Video
Will Smith hits a two-run double to left field 0:30 Video
Ronald Acuña Jr. records his 20th stolen base 0:27 Video
Max Muncy makes a diving stop for the second out 0:22 Video
Bobby Miller's first career K 0:20 Video
Bobby Miller strikes out five batters in his debut 1:24 Video
Max Muncy hits an RBI single to right field 0:32 Video
Spencer Strider strikes out 11 over six innings 1:41 Video
J.D. Martinez hits a three-run home run 0:32 Video

Decisions

Winning Pitcher Losing Pitcher Save
Miller, B (1-0, 1.80 ERA) Strider (4-2, 2.97 ERA)
Attendance Weather Wind
70°F, Cloudy 8 mph, L To R
HP 1B 2B 3B
Jim Wolf Mike Muchlinski Sean Barber Alan Porter
Game ended at 7:11 PM.
Remember to sort by new to keep up!
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2023.05.23 22:14 Dr_Occisor The 1936 Election - PSUS History

The 1936 Election - PSUS History
​
Map of the United States, c. 1935
A summary of the Second Term of President Herbert Hoover
President Herbert Hoover (1929-1937)
Vice President Calvin Coolidge (1929-1933), Quentin Roosevelt (1933-1937)
Secretary of State Grace Anderson (1929-1937)
Secretary of the Treasury Henry Ford (1929-1933), Alf Landon (1933-1937)
Secretary of Commerce Jay S. Crawford (1929-1937)
Undersecretary ofCommerce for Labour Al Smith (1929-1930), John L. Lewis (1930-1937)
Secretary of Defense Omar Bradley (1929-1931), Patrick Hurley (1931-1932), Leonard B. Trumbull (1932-1937)
Undersecretary of Defense for Army Affairs Patrick Hurley (1929-1931), Dwight F. Davis (1931-1937)
Undersecretary of Defense for Naval Affairs Charles F. Adams III (1929-1937)
Undersecretary of Defense for Aerial Affairs Mason Patrick (1929-1937)
Undersecretary of Defense for the Marine Corps George Barnett (1929-1937)
Attorney General William D. Mitchell (1929-1937)
Postmaster General Frank B. Kellogg (1929-1937)
Secretary of the Interior Robert Henderson (1914-1923, 1925-1937)
Bureau of Agriculture William N. Doak (1929-1937)
Secretary of Health Henry Goddard (1929-1937)
Secretary of Transportation Ray L. Wilbur (1929-1937)
Secretary of Education Carl C. Brigham (1929-1937)
Federal Bureau of Investigations J. Edgar Hoover (1929-1937)
National Health Service Guy D. Goff (1929-1937)
United States Mint Odgen L. Mills (1929-1937)
The 1932 Election & 1936 Democratic-Labour Primary & 1936 Liberal Primary
“And we can now call the state of Michigan for Herbert Hoover, the President of the United States. The new total stands at 574 for the President, none for the Senator”, were the aghast words that rang out from the mouth of New York Times Reporter Hugh Richard, into the homes of every American in the country. Former President Eugene Debs sat in silence, his trembling hands covering his mouth from screaming at Senator Thomas Pope, the party’s nominee for President, sitting adjacent to him. Al Smith sat next to him, comforting the Senator as he looked down with his hands in his head. Former President Upton Sinclair had already downed a full bottle of Jack Daniel’s, passing out on the sofa next to the campaign staff. Speaker of the House William Green had to refrain himself from strangling every man in the room, while Andrew Lattimore sat quietly in the corner of the room, laughing to himself. For, President Herbert Hoover had not only won, he had won 54 of the country’s 55 states, the largest landslide in American History. The Liberals had taken back the House and Senate with sizable majorities in both chambers, state governorships, and had flipped states thought unflippable.
“I swear to god, Tom, if you lose Sauk, you are banned from this goddamned party” Debs warned the now terrified Senator. Richard’s voice returned on air, the words he stated only horrifying the men in the room even more. The state of Sauk, the most Democratic-Labour state in the Union, where over 76% of the public identified with the party, was to go to a recount, as only 82 votes separated President Hoover and Senator Pope. The men retired to their rooms --except for Sinclair, passed out on the couch-- awaiting the news of the recount in the morning, although none actually slept. Luckily for the party, the recount proved to be in their favour. It was announced in the morning that Senator Pope did indeed receive the electoral votes from the state, winning by a margin of just 100 votes, the final tally standing at 574 to 12, the single largest landslide in American history, the President receiving 57.75% of the popular vote. Pope received just 28.34%.
When, in December, a reporter asked the President for his Christmas time wish, Hoover responded “In my opinion, Sauk would have been nice”
In the shadow of two back-to-back landslide losses, one of which being the largest in history, the 1936 Democratic-Labour Convention was bleak. Al Smith, a rising star in the party who had served as the Mayor of New York from 1925 to 1929, was the party’s nominee for Vice President in 1928 before abandoning the ticket. He had been the presumptive nominee since the moment Pope’s embarrassing defeat was announced nationwide. While still a part of the mainstream left wing wing of the party, Smith was by no means a radical. With all three moderates the party had nominated all losing in landslides in 1920, 1928, and now 1932, members of the more radical Sinclairite wing, who had carried the radical former President to his narrow victory with 36% of the popular vote in 1924, pushed for a less mainstream candidate. They found their man in Earl Browder, the Governor of Illinois and figurehead of the radical wing.
Charged by the events of 1932, Browder and Smith remained incredibly close in the polls leading up to the primary, Browder behind by around 5 points. Marion Butler and Harry Baals, members of the southern and moderate wings respectively, trailed the two candidates. Smith, however, backed by the majority of party members, pulled ahead, receiving 99 delegates and 36.4% of the popular vote. Browder came second, with 86 delegates and 30.9% of the vote.
The gloomy convention served as an affirmation of the unifying support for Smith, now the Governor of New York, having been elected in 1934. However, with the party nominee now given the authority to choose the candidate for Vice President, the question remained of who would occupy the second half of the ticket. In the end, despite passionate speeches from Representative Francis E. Woodman in favour of Marion Butler, Smith ultimately chose primary opponent Harry W. Baals as his running mate.
Over at the Liberal Party, there were ultimately no doubts over who would be the nominee. President Hoover, still widely popular among the party and still marginally popular among the public, was easily renominated over primary opponent and personal adversary Bryan L. Whitman. The question of the Vice President, however, remained open. Quentin Roosevelt, the incumbent, still suffered the effects of the 1932 Vice Presidential Controversy, and with the merger with the Federalist-Republicans, the anti-Roosevelt base grew within the party. Nevertheless, President Hoover still supported the Vice President, and chose him as his running mate for confirmation. As per Liberal Party procedure, the delegates would have to vote on the nominee for Vice President and confirm him or her with a majority vote.
During the vote, the anti-Roosevelt coalition consolidated, successfully getting a majority of the party’s delegates to vote nay on the confirmation of the Vice President. Panic arose, especially among Hoover and the rest of the establishment. Fearing a split in the party, leading figures such as Senator Ulysses S. Grant III and Senator Nathaniel Richardson reached an acceptable deal, in where Roosevelt would receive endorsements for President in the open year of 1940. Hoover would choose Secretary of the Treasury Alf Landon as his running mate, and the party confirmed him for the position.
The 1936 Democratic-Labour Primary, Smith in red, Browder in purple, Butler in blue, and Baals in yellow
The war in Madagascar
Throughout the Roosevelt administration, anti-semetic remarks and attacks continued to rise, ever since William Jefferson’s 1884 bid for President, where he received 16.7% of the vote and 37 electors, and Herbert Hood’s 1872 burning of several synagogues. This fact led to the passage of the New Zion Act, a program to build a jewish settlement on northern land on the U.S. colony of Madagascar, which it had been granted during the Berlin Conference of 1890.
Fast forward over three decades. The Jewish population of the island had grown to a whopping 250,000 thousand, with many coming from Europe in tandem with Americans, and although not as high as the native Malagasy population, the so-called “Allenites”, named for jewish President Bartholomew Allen, held significant power among the legislative proceedings of the island. The Allenites, led by Mayor Chaim Weizmann of New Zion, a devout zionist, differed on their opinions on the status of the city. Some called for separation into a new territory, some called for independence from America, however, all united around the common enemy of the native Malagasy. Led by Radama III, the claimant to the Merina throne, the Malagasy had united behind the claimant to resist their common enemy, the United States. Unlike other colonial powers, the United States made no attempt to subjugate or oppress their colonial citizens, treating them under the same law as the mainland. As such, ideas supporting independence, freedoms, and revolution spread across the island state. Hatred for the new northern neighbours, who had taken the city of Antsiranana and made it their own, was chief among the ideas to spread.
Tensions between the Malagasy and the Allenities grew throughout the decades. After President Hoover proposed an act to separate the two regions into two new territories, the Senate struck it down, demanding different goals. With an apparent deadlock between the Executive and Legislative branch, many presumed the resolution of the Madagascar conflict would come from violence.
Soon after, a bill proposed by Thomas Pope, that would have made Radama III a monarch from within the United States as a compromise, was vetoed by the President, to the significant dismay of the claimant of the throne. In order to consolidate power for future independence movements, Radama III began the deployment of private militia officials across the south of Madagascar with the intention of providing protection to the local tribes and deporting Allenites to the New Zion settlement.
In retaliation, Mayor Weizmann announced his intention to increase the size of the New Zion settlement, into neighbouring territory controlled by the Malagasy, citing the rapid population expansion of the city due to mass immigration from European Jewish settlers as reason for the move. Fearing increased Allenite influence over the island, Radama III sent 5 militia regiments to the border of New Zion, Weizmann responded by placing the entire New Zion Defence Force on the border to “protect Allenites on the outskirts of the city”.
It is not entirely known who fired the first shot, both sides claiming it was the other, but conflict between the groups soon arose. In the end, the NZDF, in home territory, emerged victorious, claiming the lives of 63 Malagasy militia while losing 39. The Malagasy forces retreated to a nearby village.
After news of the Malagasy defeat reached Radama, stationed in the south, the furious would-be King reportedly stated to his advisors “They have left me one option”. Radama immediately called for the drafting of a new constitution and proclaimed the formation of a new, independent republic. Activating his reserves across the island, Radama subdued the dissident from the local tribes, reluctant to support the claimant due to fearing American retaliation. Mayor Weizmann responded by stationing the entire NZDF on the border, and openly advancing into Malagasy territory.
Both of the men’s actions violated the Madagascar Oversight Act, which required committee approval from Congress for any action either territory could take. The Government immediately declared a state of emergency on the island. However, wishing to avoid further conflict between Madagascar and the United States, the Government authorised negotiations for peaceful secession of the Malagasy State from America.
In the eventual treaty signed by both parties, the to-be-established Malagasy State would become a puppet state of the United States, with Congress having control over foreign policy and economic decisions. The Malagasy State would also recognize the hard border President Hoover had advocated for, and support the existence of New Zion. Many in Madagascar, especially those who had been removed from their homes by the Allenites, condemned this treaty, however, with support from both President Hoover and the soon-to-be King Radama III, the treaty passed the House.
However, the proposal would not be in place for long. In 1933, documents pertaining to the finances of Radama III were leaked to the public. In these documents, it was revealed Radama III had been stealing millions of dollars in public aid money to Madagascar to fund his militias, his bid for control over the island, and his personal lavious lifestyle. The treaty was immediately voted down by the Senate and condemned by President Hoover, stating it would “give a claimant the keys to the Kingdom”. An investigation into the documents was conducted, proving their legitimacy, and Radama III was arrested, being taken to the mainland to stand trial.
As of 1936, the future status of Madagascar is still unknown. With the cancellation of the treaty, and the arrest of Radama III, the local tribes of leaders have usurped control, using the remnants of Radama’s once centralised militia to defend their territory. Conflicts wage across the border with New Zion, as America works to draft an alternative solution.
Madagascar Crisis, 1932
End of the Haitian Civil War
In 1865, the government of the state of Haiti was overthrown by a US-backed militia led by James F. Reed. After bringing in 10,000 white civilians to the island, Reed instituted programmes of slavery and segregation, becoming rich on the backs of exploitation of the people of the island, an estimated 800,000 dying from starvation and disease by 1875, over half of the island’s population.
In 1878, President Rockefeller negotiated for the Haitian island to join the union as a territory, however, Reed would remain on as dictator of the island and illegal slavery continued. Giving himself a 12 year long term, Reed would lose re-election in 1890 to J. C. Foley. Foley would end the practice of slavery, end segregation, reduce the term length, and begin working to integrate Haiti as a state, a dream that would be accomplished in 1892 upon Haiti’s entrance into the Union. However, in 1894, James Reed rigged the election to regain power, starting the First Haitian War that saw the short lived independence of Haiti before Theodore Roosevelt worked to reconquer the territory, which resulted in the 9 year long Second Haitian War finally ending with integration back into America in 1917.
Unlike Cuba, or Culiacan, or Ontario, Haiti never integrated into the United States. The thousands dead under the thumb of an American ruler and American compliance in the near 30 years of genocide, and the two invasions, kept the idea of fully joining the United States from popularity. For the past few decades, support for independence has averaged 68% popularity in the territory. One radical group, seeking immediate action, turned to political violence. Under the command of Darrel François, the 37-year-old son of a plantation worker and Second Haitian War veteran, the Haitian Liberation Organization spread their message of radical, immediate secession across the island territory. However, the mainland refused to consider the island as a threat, relying on the fear of further panic and chaos to keep the land in check.
François was not deterred by the threat of American invasion. The weak and disorganised Haitian army managed to keep the American’s at bay for 9 years, and with proper organisation he thought, actual independence was achievable. However, François’ biggest advisory would not be the United States, but his own people. The Haitian populace, fearing ramifications for revolt, supported efforts of peaceful secession from the Union, like that of the Philippines in 1898. François’ no-compromise immediate revolution was not popular, especially due to his heavy socialist leanings, an ideology in decline on the island after the United States assisted private organisations in creating hundreds of jobs in the territory.
The young revolutionary, however, recognized that his initial base of support was enough for some action. In late 1932, while in the south of Haiti, François proclaimed the formation of the Haitian Free State and independence from the mainland. President Hoover immediately condemned the actions of François, replacing the incumbent Territorial Governor, Lawrence M. Judd, with Louis Borno, a native Haitian. Borno worked closely with President Hoover to oversee the deployment of military forces on the island, under the command of General Leonard B. Trumbull. By October, 1933, the war was over for François. Trumbull and Borno had forced the now 38-year-old into hiding, many suspecting the revolutionary fleeing to Colombia after a Haitian vessel was found in a Cartagena port.
The Dust Bowl
With prolonged drought conditions starting in 1932 and the recent collapse of Bison populations in the Great Plains, it was only a matter of time until the region would face a catastrophic environmental crisis. The combination of poor farming practices, prolonged drought, and severe windstorms had left hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland barren and vulnerable to erosion. This, in turn, led to massive dust storms that ravaged the Great Plains region, suffocating livestock, crops, and people alike. A second wave in 1936 only worsened the situation.
With so much farmland ruined and crops destroyed, farmers were forced to abandon their livelihoods and migrate elsewhere in search of work. Many headed west to California, and Culican where they hoped to find employment in the vast agricultural sectors there. Others simply gave up and joined the ranks of the unemployed surfing their dust choked homes waiting for a chance to regain their livelihoods. In response, President Hoover petitioned Secretary of the Interior Robert Henderson, who had been given the power to allocate a yearly sum of $350 Million USD to construction projects under the “Henderson-Hoover Fund”, to use his budget for the year of 1934 to assist in alleviating the effects of the dust bowl. Henderson followed suit, investing millions into sustainable irrigation projects and shelterbelt projects. Hoover, having chaired the Commission for Relief in Bavaria during the Great War, focused on food production, bolstering production in the Mexican breadbasket and importing Eastern grain to keep America’s shelves stocked in the meanwhile. Democratic-Labourites in the Senate, like Senate Minority Leader Harry Baals and Liberal Majority Leader Nathaniel Richardson passed aid and subsidies bills.
The Dust Bowl proved to be one of America’s most unifying moments during the otherwise polarised and divisive past decades, with politicians from all sides of the aisle coming together to assist the American family in ensuring food was brought to the table. However, turmoil abroad would put strain on the feelings of unity.
A photo of a dust storm in Spearville, Gerry. 1933
The Great Crash and the Long Halloween
Following the end of the Great War, the German Empire and his allies enjoyed a period of wealth and excess, with the British Republic also becoming a prosperous European nation. However, out-of-control spending from the German government to maintain his spheres of influence, combined with the decline of the money supply had severely endangered output. Despite the inherent risks of speculation, it was widely believed the market and economy would grow forever, with a sense of invincibility washing over the investors of Germany and Britain. Despite warnings from the German Government about speculation, a small crash in March caused a rapid sale of stocks at an alarming rate. An infusion of $25 million from the Government stopped the crash, but the warning signs did not go away. Production declined, construction lagged, sales began to go down, and debts were accrued with no care as credit was so easy to come by.
Steel Production, construction, retail turnover, automobile registration, and railway receipts hit record highs month after month. In the first 6 months of 1931 alone, the leading 500 Anglo-German companies saw a profit increase of 36.6%, led by iron and steel. A bubble of speculation was created, and because of margin buying, investors stood to lose large sums of money if the market turned downward. Hundreds of thousands of Americans became heavily invested in the stock market, many borrowing money to buy more stocks. By 1931, $8.6 billion was out on loan, more than the entire amount of currency circulating in Germany at the time. However, by late May, the market returned on its unstoppable climb upward, and celebrated a ten-fold increase over the past decade, with the industrial average peaking at 381.17.
The period of events that would spell trouble for the world began with the arrest of Heinz Thyssen, a dual British-German citizen and major investor, who was jailed in late August along with a number of associates for forgery and fraud, leading to a suspension of his companies, weakening confidence in the market and began a chain reaction of instability. As October came around, selling intensified, until Black Thursday, when market values plummeted by 11% within minutes of the opening bell. Leading Anglo-German investors and bankers met to attempt to stabilise the market by placing bids on blue chip stocks well above the current market, the German finance minister assuring the public that “This financial crisis shall be, with no doubt in my mind, resolved by Halloween”. Such strategies had worked in the past, and the slide indeed halted for a while, even recovering slightly. But as the market opened the following Monday, more record losses were felt, and over the course of just 2 days the Average dropped nearly 70 points, 23%. The Anglo-German Financial giants stepped in buying massive quantities of stocks to demonstrate confidence in the market, however this strategy no longer seemed to work. The Industrial Average began a 2 year slide which would culminate in an 89.2% loss in less than 3 years.
By the Monday after Black Thursday the crisis went global. Anglo-German banks suffered runs and ran out of cash, businesses shuttered their doors and suddenly millions were without jobs. And so began the Long Halloween.
The United States, which had been isolated from the Anglo-German market following its commitment to neutrality and refusal to help, which, in the past, had contributed to unemployment averaging 10-13% and GDP growth under 1% throughout the entire Slouching 20s, was left mostly unaffected by the massive crash, having only taken steps to reconnect during the Hoover administration. Instead of a 30% contraction in industrial production, the United States saw a 10% contraction. By no means good, but the United States was left better off than most powers.
The United States banking system also did not immediately collapse, the FDIC and the Federal Reserve Banking Board saving thousands of small community banks from collapse, preventing a major bank run. In order to prevent a bank run among the nearly 2,000 banks across the United States not insured by the FDIC, President Hoover used the Treasury’s $3.5 Billion USD reserve, which had been building since the United States payed off its debts in 1930, and was planned to be used to invest in the economy and deliver tax cuts, to immediately bail out the banks, buying toxic assets from all of them across the nation.
With the beginning of the Dust Bowl, and the economic meltdown of the Long Halloween, many long standing economic issues in the United States came due. Every state was forced to tighten its fiscal belt or raise taxes. Despite the grants and loans from the Government directly to states and the myriad of programs designed to alleviate the worst of the crises, the damage could not be avoided, only mitigated.
West Virginia and the Haiti Territory both declared default in January, and the Treasurer of Alabama reported the same would be occurring very soon, with the Arbiter System collapsing and revenue drying up almost completely. Workers in Textile Mills, already subject to horrific conditions, saw a massive decline in wages and food. Strikes seemed imminent.
As of 1936, the United States is still suffering the effects of the Long Halloween. However, the Hoover Administration and Senator Nathaniel Richardson have gotten the American markets to stabilise, and unemployment has declined by 2% since its peak. The economy and GDP is back to a period of slow, small growth.
New York City in particular has seen several massive waves of crime since the Long Halloween began. Many “Professional Criminals” began and ended their careers in this period such as John O. White, Oscar Dorrance, and William Summerhouse, the latter being involved in a mass shooting earlier this month which led to the deaths of a dozen officers and Summerhouse himself. The crime spree also gave rise to the career of Benjamin Wayne, a New York City detective who successfully arrested several notable criminals and mobsters. Wayne eventually mounted an unsuccessful campaign for mayor of the city on a Law and Order platform, narrowly losing to New York State Attorney Harry Dental.
A line outside a soup kitchen in Chicago, 1935
Annexation of Australia
In 1927, the United States and Britain reached an agreement to have the United States annex the island of Australia and Tasmania in exchange for relieving 70% of the debts owed by the British to America. The United States even managed to convince several Australian politicians to support the measure, promising massive investments in irrigation and harvesting of resources while allowing self governance and the right to opt out of conscription programs. However, Britain, confident in its ability to pay off the debt, denied the treaty.
When the Long Halloween struck Britain, the United States demanded back its outlying debts, totaling approximately $1.2 Billion USD. However, the United States also presented an alternative solution. In exchange for the enactment of a 5% reduction of tariffs and a mutual alliance, the 1927 Treaty would be enacted by Britain. Reluctantly, the Herbert Morrison labour government accepted, and on January 1st, 1936, the islands of Australia and Tasmania became official American land, President Hoover dividing the land up into appropriate territories. Morrison’s acceptance of the treaty helped contribute to his landslide defeat in the 1936 General Election, which saw a Conservative-National Labour Coalition headed by Stanley Baldwin come into power.
Collapse of Arbiterism
The history of slavery in the United States has always been complex. Although the Civil War ended in 1841, and President John C. Calhoun had issued an emancipation proclamation after pressure from foreign powers, the President and the Democratic-Agrarian Party actively obstructed any attempts to extend any sorts of rights. Slavery, as a matter of fact, remained completely legal until the passage of the 10th Amendment in 1848. By that time, over 98% of freedmen from the proclamation found themselves back into slavery.
Even after the 10th Amendment, Slavery as we know it did not end. Southerner’s adopted the policies of “Arbiterism”, a practice where individuals were made to work to pay off a debt owed to a factory or plantation owner, inherited from birth that included all the costs of childhood. Named after Donald Arbiter, the authoritarian Governor of Alabama who used corruption and intimidation, along with electoral fraud, to secure the mansion as a dictator, the workers were often given no wages, and the debt they owed was far greater than what they made in profit. Arbiterism would remain widespread across the South until 1868, when President William F. Sarge and Senator Steve Marshall passed a series of civil rights legislation and regulation that made Arbiterism simply unprofitable. By 1870, all states but one had abolished the practice, the last being Alabama.
Doubling down on his system, the now 77-year-old Donald Arbiter extended the programs of Arbiterism to all citizens of Alabama, the white population included. The punishment for failing to work to pay off your debts was death.
Despite numerous efforts by national politicians to protect the citizens of Alabama, almost all efforts made proved unsuccessful. When Donald Arbiter eventually died, his son, Donald Arbiter Jr, took power, ruling until his own death in 1930. Donald Arbiter III, only the third Governor of the state in 90 years, took power the same year.
It would not be the federal government to bring an end to Arbiterism, however. In 1936, after decades of oppression and violence, the workers under Arbiterism finally rose up, emboldened by the struggling police forces due to the Long Halloween. In what came to be known as the Montgomery Massacre, 97 workers were slaughtered by police forces with weaponry as protests for better food and the abolition of the debt system turned violent. Using the opportunity, President Hoover declared a state of emergency in Alabama and deployed the national guard. As soon as forces arrived in Alabama, the Department of Justice announced that they would be charging Governor Donald Arbiter III for electoral fraud in the 1932 Gubernatorial Election, after a supposed heavy investigation. Other members of the Arbiter family were also charged.
Kicking down the door of Arbiterism, the political machine of bribery and intimidation that had kept the family in power for 92 years had collapsed, and in 1936, the Arbiter family could no longer hold the floodgates of democracy back. Thousands of workers came out in droves to vote, with a new political party, the Workers Party of Alabama, taking the mansion with newly elected Governor Orville Hawking. The state legislature was also taken by the WPA.
While awaiting trial in a DC prison, Donald Arbiter III was executed by a group of prisoners and guards alike, with no prisoner or staff testifying as to who the men were. The Arbiter Family mansion became the subject of many attacks and bombings, several being thrown over the gates of the plantation. Two other members of the family, implicated in the electoral fraud case, were found dead, and Governor Orville Hawking finally ended Arbiterism shortly after the Justice Department found 5 members of the family guilty.
The approval ratings of both parties, now at all time lows due to failure to act the past century, has caused the Workers Party of Alabama to become, by far, the largest and most influential of the Alabama political parties. William Miller, a State Senator, is the party’s nominee for President in 1936, however, is only on the ballot in Alabama
Clash between protesters and Alabama State Police, 1936
Situation in Mexico
Ever since the beginning of the Mexican Civil War back in the Debs Administration, Mexico had faced political turmoil and instability which continues to today. During Fitzgerald's administration, the Mexican Civil War largely ended with the successful intervention of the Golden Circle Company, which installed the Cristeros as a puppet monarchy in the newly established Fourth Mexican Empire. The Empire was an aristocratic, traditionalist absolute monarchy that largely served as a mercantile colony of the GCC. Yet, a socialistic, fascist group known as the Nacionalistas survived all attempts of conquest by the Empire, forcing a ceasefire and treaty that granted it independence as the "Chilpancingo Social Republic".
By 1936, the Mexican Empire was in a weak position. The Long Halloween cut trade and starved Mexico of resources and wealth, while the death of GCC chief Aurelian Shaft sent the company into a succession dispute, preventing it from giving support to the Empire.
Taking advantage of this, the Social Republic launched a surprise invasion of the Mexican Empire, declaring it a "national revolution"; the circumstances have allowed the Social Republic to gain major success, reaching the outskirts of Mexico City. The war is ongoing, and in the Social Republic's favour, by election day. Worries grow as a vividly anti-capitalist, anti-American state may emerge directly south of the United States.
Situation in Mexico, 1936
The Candidates
Herbert Hoover is the 62-year-old incumbent President of the United States, and Liberal nominee for President. Although re-elected in the largest landslide in history in 1932, Hoover’s odds in these elections have been narrowed by heavy campaigning from Al Smith and the Long Halloween. He runs on the “National Recovery Plan”, the establishment of a sovereign wealth fund to invest in businesses and resources, decreasing taxes, opening the economy to “facilitate a global market”, building shelterbelts, continuing massive public works projects, and . With Majority Leader Nathaniel Richardson steering the Senate and championing economic legislation, the party has begun to enact some of its policies, which have seen some successes, unemployment falling by 2% and the markets stabilising back to growth. However, the President has been criticised by members of the Democratic-Labour party for his opposition to social security. His running mate is Alf Landon, the Secretary of the Treasury, replacing Vice President Quentin Roosevelt. Landon is the head of the Federalist-Republican wing of the party.
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Al Smith is the 63-year-old incumbent Governor of New York, and Democratic-Labour nominee for President. A champion of civil rights and author of many pieces of workers legislation, Smith runs on a platform of a farm subsidies bill, further nationalisation of key industries such as the railroads, unemployment insurance, social security, utilising the Henderson-Hoover fund for national infrastructure development, and nationalisation of the GCC. Having the support from the party, he has the backing of former Presidents Debs and Sinclair. He is the incumbent chairman of the National Association for the Advancement of Minorities, an activist group advocating for the end of segregation and advancement of rights for minority populations, and incumbent chairman of the National Federation of Workingmen, a moderate labour activist group. However, he has been criticised for his stances on foreign policy, especially his hawkish attitude towards Japan, and for some financial troubles encountered by the NFW during his tenure. His running mate is Harry William Baals, a U.S. Senator for Tippecanoe, President Pro Tempore, and de-facto head of the moderate wing of the party.
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Other Candidates
Ettore Boiardi is the 39-year-old New York pasta chef, better known as Hector Boyardee. Making his third bid for the Presidency, Boiardi runs with Andrew Lattimore, the former Senator for Louisiana and Democratic-Labour Party nominee for President in 1928.
Written by u/Dr_Occisor, u/u01aua1,
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2023.05.22 20:29 StacysBlog Twin Peaks: Season 2, Episode 6 "Demons" Review: Gordon Cole!!!!!!!

"COOPER, YOU REMIND ME TODAY OF A SMALL MEXICAN CHIHUAHUA!" -Gordon Cole
"Demons" picks up with James Hurley (James Marshall) bursting into Harold Smith's (Lenny Von Dohlen) house to get Donna Hayward (Lara Flynn Boyle) and Maddy Ferguson (Sheryl Lee) out of the house. They fail to get ahold of Laura Palmer's (Sheryl Lee) diary. Donna and James repair their relationship. Donna tells Sheriff Truman (Michael Ontkean) about the diary, while Maddy tells James that she is going to go home to Montana.
Agent Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) gets Audrey Horne (Sherilyn Fenn) to the Bookhouse to recover from being drugged with heroin. The Sheriff figures out that Jean Renault (Michael Parks) is behind all of this and that Cooper was his true target. Later, Cooper returns the money to Ben Horne (Richard Beymer) and they take Audrey home.
Bobby Briggs (Dana Ashbrook) and Shelly Johnson (Mädcheb Amick) bring Leo (Eric Da Re) home, but learn their insurance money is not nearly as much as they thought it would be. Later, they throw a party to mock Leo's new state and nearly have sex in front of him, but when Leo's head moves, Shelly gets scared and they stop.
Jonathan (Mak Takano) tells Josie (Joan Chen) that they will be heading back to Hong Kong that night, but Josie hasn't received the money Ben owes her, so she doesn't want to leave. Jonathan threatens to kill Truman if she doesn't. She goes to get the money from Ben and ends up walking away with the check for 5 million dollars from Mr. Tojamura (Fumio Yamaguchi). Truman finds her and Jonathan preparing to leave and tries to convince her to stay, but she ends up leaving.
Cooper's supervisor, Gordon Cole (David Lynch) arrives in Twin Peaks to check in on him. He was sent an anonymous letter to deliver to Cooper. It's the opening move of a chess match from Cooper's old partner, Windom Earle (Kenneth Walsh).
Ben brings Leland Palmer (Ray Wise) back into the fold to help him stall the Icelandic investors while he looks into Tojamura's offer.
Deputy Hawk (Michael Horse) tracks down Phillip Gerard (Al Strobel) and brings him to the police station. They withhold his medication, which allows the spirit of MIKE to take over. He reveals that he and BOB (Frank Silva) used to be partners, but MIKE has been reformed and wants to stop BOB, who is also possessing someone and very few can see his real face. He helps Cooper realize that BOB is currently at the Great Northern.
What Works:
I love the scene where Bobby and Shelly throw a party for Leo just to make fun of him. The scene is an emotional roller coaster. It's goofy, creepy, disturbing, and funny. It ends up being a very unsettling scene, but very effective. It definitely makes you worried for Bobby and Shelly as they continue to have Leo living with them.
This is the episode where we finally get Gordon Cole in person. I love that David Lynch put himself on the show as a deaf FBI agent who has to shout all the time. I find that hilarious and I always smile when Cole is on screen. I love whenever he and Cooper interact. It's shockingly wholesome a lot of the time, especially when you look at how government agents are usually characterized on TV shows.
Michael Ontkean gives a great performance here and you can really feel his heartbreak as he confesses his love for Josie, but she still leaves anyway. Truman is such a wonderful character and it sucks to see him get hurt like this, but Ontkean really sells it.
Speaking of Josie, we get my favorite scene of the series with her. I love how she and Ben Horne play off each other during their negotiation and that they both have evidence against the other. It's playful and I really like that Ben isn't mad that he loses the negotiation. He's simply impressed with Josie's play.
Finally, the conversation with MIKE is a great way to end the episode. We finally get the law enforcement team, besides Cooper, interacting with the supernatural for the first time. Al Strobel gives a phenomenal performance and sets up an awesome cliffhanger with us knowing BOB is at the Great Northern.
What Sucks:
We still have Mr. Tojamura hanging around. While I do like the conversation between Tojamura and Pete (Jack Nance), I still don't love this character's inclusion in the show, especially when they bring up Nagasaki. It has aged very poorly.
Crystal Coffee:
Crystal Coffee Award goes to the most competent character of the episode. For "Demons," this Award goes to James Hurley for getting Maddy and Donna out of Harold's house before it got more violent. This is his 1st time winning this Award.
Verdict:
"Demons" is another great episode of Twin Peaks. The stuff with Leo is unsettling, we get Gordon Cole's proper introduction, Michael Ontkean and Al Strobel are on point, and we get my favorite Josie moment of the series. The Mr. Tojamura storyline really needs to end, but the rest of the episode has absolutely got it going on.
9/10: Great
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2023.05.21 06:39 backtoseenatural115 Denver Post depositions article

Families' questions linger despite Columbine accord
By Howard Pankratz, Denver Post Legal Affairs Writer Four days of depositions with the parents of Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold left the families of five slain Columbine High students still seeking answers and often astonished by what they heard, the group said Thursday in confirming they had reached a confidential settlement with the killers' parents.
"This case was never about money or a desire for vengeance against the Klebolds and Harrises," said Dawn Anna, the mother of slain student Lauren Townsend. "We simply wanted to know how this could happen." As a result, a lawsuit was filed, she said in a statement released on behalf of the five families. Three weeks ago, the families listened to Wayne and Katherine Harris and Thomas and Susan Klebold give answers over four days to questions "that have been burning in our hearts for 4 1/2 years," Anna said in the statement. "Time doesn't heal all wounds. The truth heals all wounds," Anna said Thursday night at her Highlands Ranch home.
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In the statement, Anna said, "We were not satisfied with many of the answers they gave, and we left the depositions shaking our heads in wonder at some of the things they said. But at least we got some answers, and after that we saw no point in continuing the litigation." Anna issued the statement on behalf of herself; Don and Diedra Fleming, parents of Kelly Fleming; Joe and Ann Kechter, parents of Matthew Kechter; Al and Phyllis Velasquez, parents of Kyle Velasquez; and Brian Rohrbough and Sue Petrone, parents of Danny Rohrbough.
First word of a settlement came last week, but the parents of the slain students said they would wait before commenting until all the documents were signed and approved.
Harris and Klebold shot and killed 12 students and a teacher before killing themselves on April 20, 1999. In May 2001, retired Colorado Supreme Court Justice William Erickson described the two killers as above-average students and outcasts who took months to plan the attack. Erickson, chairman of the Governor's Columbine Review Commission, said there were many warning signs that were missed. The red flags included: Harris' hate-filled website, where he described how he intended to kill people, including fellow student Brooks Brown, and boasted he was making pipe bombs. The discovery of a pipe bomb near the Harrises' home, and their knowledge of the website, led investigators to prepare a search-warrant request for the Harris home in 1998. But the warrant was never executed.
Anna said Thursday the same questions went through the minds of the families of the dead students. Anna said they included: "Were the shootings the act of a random unpredictable blowup by these two? Were there warning signs that alerted the Klebolds and Harrises about what their sons were doing?" She said the group believes they now know the answers to those questions. But because of a court-imposed protective order, she said, the information they've learned may never be made public. "We paid out all this money and worked so hard for so long just to obtain closure for ourselves. We also wanted to shed light on the events that led to this terrible tragedy so that our nation could learn lessons from the failures that occurred prior to and on April 20, 1999," Anna said. "It is too late for our children, but it is not too late to prevent the next shooting, and our hearts ache to know that the next shooting might not be prevented."
She said it might be prevented if the families could reveal what the Harrises and Klebolds said. The Harrises and Klebolds have never commented to any extent on the shootings. "We believe we know the answers to these questions, but because of the court's order, we must now live with the almost unbearable frustration of not being able to tell anyone else," she said. Anna likened the confidentiality of the settlement, in particular the sealing of the depositions, to knowing that a bridge is out but not being able to tell approaching motorists about it. Anna urged the public and media to seek release of the depositions because of the benefit and insight it would provide the community at large.
Litigation against the families is largely completed now, though the family of slain student Isaiah Shoels is contesting whether they agreed to be part of a $2.8 million settlement with 30 other families. The law firm representing the Klebolds said they would have no immediate response to the statement. Mike Montgomery, the lawyer representing the Harrises, is out of town.
Found here:https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/signofthetimes/depositions-t868.html
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2023.05.21 06:30 Candr3w (NEED) - Looking to complete a couple of 2023 Topps Series 1 Base Sets for me and a couple of buds!

Hi these are all the cards we need to complete all of our sets. If any of you have a lot of Series 1 base you want to get rid of for (hopefully) a cheap price, please let me know! Figured it would be a lot cheaper to do buy it in a group rather than going on eBay(The minimum buy-it-now price is $1 per card)
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Quantity Card
3x #1 Juan Soto San Diego Padres
5x #2 Zach Thompson Pittsburgh Pirates
3x #3 Bryce Harper Philadelphia Phillies
6x #4 Yadier Molina St. Louis Cardinals
3x #5 Albert Pujols St. Louis Cardinals
5x #6 Paul Blackburn Oakland Athletics
8x #7 Bobby Witt Jr. Kansas City Royals
3x #8 Sam Moll Oakland Athletics
1x #9 Scott Barlow Kansas City Royals
7x #10 Trevor Story Boston Red Sox
6x #11 Rafael Devers Boston Red Sox
4x #12 Jeffrey Springs Tampa Bay Rays
6x #13 Giovanny Gallegos St. Louis Cardinals
3x #14 Brandon Drury San Diego Padres
6x #15 Michael Grove Los Angeles Dodgers
7x #16 Nolan Gorman St. Louis Cardinals
6x #17 Shohei Ohtani Los Angeles Angels
5x #18 Tanner Scott Miami Marlins
3x #19 Joey Votto Cincinnati Reds
5x #20 Pete Alonso New York Mets
4x #21 Max Scherzer New York Mets
4x #22 Clayton Kershaw Los Angeles Dodgers
1x #23 Fernando Tatis Jr. San Diego Padres
4x #24 Miguel Cabrera Detroit Tigers
6x #25 Byron Buxton Minnesota Twins
4x #26 Trent Grisham San Diego Padres
8x #27 Mike Trout Los Angeles Angels
2x #28 Corey Knebel Philadelphia Phillies
2x #29 Trevor Rogers Miami Marlins
5x #30 Kenley Jansen Atlanta Braves
8x #31 Riley Greene Detroit Tigers
2x #32 Jordan Montgomery St. Louis Cardinals
3x #33 Kyle Farmer Cincinnati Reds
7x #34 Zack Thompson St. Louis Cardinals
7x #35 CJ Abrams Washington Nationals
5x #36 Brandon Lowe Tampa Bay Rays
4x #37 Josh Smith Texas Rangers
5x #38 Jorge Mateo Baltimore Orioles
5x #39 Adam Wainwright St. Louis Cardinals
4x #40 Keegan Thompson Chicago Cubs
5x #41 Brian Serven Colorado Rockies
5x #42 Franchy Cordero Boston Red Sox
5x #43 NL Avg Leaders Various
5x #44 Jesus Sanchez Miami Marlins
3x #45 Gerrit Cole New York Yankees
5x #46 Jorge Alfaro San Diego Padres
3x #47 Ryan Mountcastle Baltimore Orioles
6x #48 Jacob deGrom New York Mets
7x #49 Mitch Haniger Seattle Mariners
5x #50 Mookie Betts Los Angeles Dodgers
4x #51 Chas McCormick Houston Astros
7x #52 Matthew Liberatore St. Louis Cardinals
5x #53 Dylan Cease Chicago White Sox
4x #54 Marcus Stroman Chicago Cubs
3x #55 Cristian Javier Houston Astros
6x #56 Jermaine Palacios Minnesota Twins
2x #57 Ha-Seong Kim San Diego Padres
7x #58 Iván Herrera St. Louis Cardinals
7x #59 Eduardo Rodriguez Detroit Tigers
7x #60 Josh Rojas Arizona Diamondbacks
6x #62 Aaron Judge New York Yankees
1x #63 C.J. Cron Colorado Rockies
5x #64 Josh Donaldson New York Yankees
7x #65 Triston McKenzie Cleveland Guardians
6x #66 Brandon Crawford San Francisco Giants
5x #67 Travis Swaggerty Pittsburgh Pirates
6x #68 William Contreras Atlanta Braves
6x #69 Caleb Kilian Chicago Cubs
5x #70 Darin Ruf New York Mets
6x #71 Merrill Kelly Arizona Diamondbacks
5x #72 Jon Berti Miami Marlins
4x #73 Jon Gray Texas Rangers
4x #74 Tarik Skubal Detroit Tigers
2x #75 JT Brubaker Pittsburgh Pirates
7x #76 Josh Winckowski Boston Red Sox
3x #77 Kyle Bradish Baltimore Orioles
7x #78 Sonny Gray Minnesota Twins
7x #79 Tyler O'Neill St. Louis Cardinals
3x #80 Tanner Rainey Washington Nationals
5x #81 Ozzie Albies Atlanta Braves
4x #82 AL Wins Leaders Astros/BlueJays
7x #83 Tylor Megill New York Mets
5x #84 Toronto Blue Jays TC Toronto Blue Jays
6x #85 Max Stassi Los Angeles Angels
5x #86 Gregory Soto Detroit Tigers
5x #87 Ethan Small Milwaukee Brewers
4x #88 Luis Robert Chicago White Sox
7x #89 Brett Baty New York Mets
6x #90 Korey Lee Houston Astros
7x #91 Josh Naylor Cleveland Guardians
6x #92 Triston Casas Boston Red Sox
5x #93 Los Angeles Angels TC Los Angeles Angels
6x #94 Oswald Peraza New York Yankees
6x #95 Jonah Bride Oakland Athletics
5x #97 Brandon Hughes Chicago Cubs
5x #98 Mike Yastrzemski San Francisco Giants
2x #99 Antonio Senzatela Colorado Rockies
6x #100 Paul Goldschmidt St. Louis Cardinals
3x #101 Tyler Mahle Minnesota Twins
4x #103 Taylor Ward Los Angeles Angels
2x #104 Keston Hiura Milwaukee Brewers
5x #105 Seth Beer Arizona Diamondbacks
3x #106 Willy Adames Milwaukee Brewers
5x #107 Sandy Alcantara Miami Marlins
6x #108 Alex Cobb San Francisco Giants
3x #109 Eric Lauer Milwaukee Brewers
4x #110 Randal Grichuk Colorado Rockies
5x #111 Hunter Brown Houston Astros
5x #112 Baltimore Orioles TC Baltimore Orioles
5x #113 Star Power CC CL Los Angeles Dodgers
6x #114 Ian Anderson Atlanta Braves
5x #115 Raisel Iglesias Atlanta Braves
7x #116 Steven Kwan Cleveland Guardians
6x #117 Emmanuel Clase Cleveland Guardians
6x #118 Eduardo Escobar New York Mets
6x #119 Oscar Gonzalez Cleveland Guardians
6x #120 Patrick Wisdom Chicago Cubs
3x #121 Luis Garcia Houston Astros
2x #122 Yonathan Daza Colorado Rockies
5x #123 Zach Davies Arizona Diamondbacks
5x #124 Nathaniel Lowe Texas Rangers
6x #125 Marcell Ozuna Atlanta Braves
4x #126 Harold Castro Detroit Tigers
6x #127 Shea Langeliers Oakland Athletics
3x #128 Alec Bohm Philadelphia Phillies
5x #129 Nolan Jones Cleveland Guardians
2x #130 Keibert Ruiz Washington Nationals
6x #131 Cody Bellinger Los Angeles Dodgers
1x #132 Gavin Sheets Chicago White Sox
3x #133 Roberto Pérez Pittsburgh Pirates
3x #134 Kansas City Royals TC Kansas City Royals
6x #135 Buddy Kennedy Arizona Diamondbacks
6x #136 Dylan Bundy Minnesota Twins
4x #137 Kyle Hendricks Chicago Cubs
6x #138 Marcus Wilson Seattle Mariners
7x #139 Joe Barlow Texas Rangers
6x #140 Lenyn Sosa Chicago White Sox
5x #141 Jonah Heim Texas Rangers
4x #142 Lucas Giolito Chicago White Sox
3x #143 Nestor Cortes New York Yankees
4x #144 Marco Gonzales Seattle Mariners
1x #145 Noah Syndergaard Philadelphia Phillies
7x #146 Alex Verdugo Boston Red Sox
6x #147 Daniel Vogelbach New York Mets
7x #148 Seth Brown Oakland Athletics
8x #149 Josiah Gray Washington Nationals
4x #150 Ronald Acuña Jr. Atlanta Braves
1x #151 Tyler Wells Baltimore Orioles
6x #152 Nick Pivetta Boston Red Sox
3x #153 Kevin Gausman Toronto Blue Jays
6x #154 Jonathan Aranda Tampa Bay Rays
5x #155 Hunter Greene Cincinnati Reds
4x #156 Kyle Stowers Baltimore Orioles
4x #157 Christian Vazquez Houston Astros
3x #158 Kris Bryant Colorado Rockies
7x #159 A.J. Minter Atlanta Braves
7x #160 Cal Raleigh Seattle Mariners
6x #161 Carlos Carrasco New York Mets
1x #162 Isiah Kiner-Falefa New York Yankees
7x #163 Miguel Vargas Los Angeles Dodgers
5x #164 Dany Jimenez Oakland Athletics
6x #165 Jeter Downs Boston Red Sox
3x #166 Tyler Stephenson Cincinnati Reds
3x #167 Michael Massey Kansas City Royals
7x #168
6x #169 Gabriel Moreno Toronto Blue Jays
4x #170 Michael Chavis Pittsburgh Pirates
5x #171 Mychal Givens New York Mets
6x #172 Jazz Chisholm Jr. Miami Marlins
7x #173
6x #174
3x #175 Liam Hendriks Chicago White Sox
7x #176 Kody Clemens Detroit Tigers
3x #177 Kendall Graveman Chicago White Sox
6x #178
5x #179 Carlos Rodon San Francisco Giants
6x #180 Dominic Leone San Francisco Giants
5x #181 Yordan Alvarez Houston Astros
4x #182 Nick Pratto Kansas City Royals
5x #183 Seiya Suzuki Chicago Cubs
6x #184 Beau Brieske Detroit Tigers
7x #185 Brayan Bello Boston Red Sox
6x #187 Seth Lugo New York Mets
2x #188 Davis Martin Chicago White Sox
3x #189 Brad Keller Kansas City Royals
4x #190
7x #191 Caleb Smith Arizona Diamondbacks
3x #193 Luis Garcia Washington Nationals
1x #194 Josh Staumont Kansas City Royals
7x #195 George Kirby Seattle Mariners
2x #196 Jordan Romano Toronto Blue Jays
2x #197 Andrew Benintendi New York Yankees
5x #198 Vladimir Gutierrez Cincinnati Reds
6x #199 Starling Marte New York Mets
5x #200 Freddie Freeman Los Angeles Dodgers
7x #201 Trevor Larnach Minnesota Twins
6x #202 Tony Gonsolin Los Angeles Dodgers
7x #203 Gary Sanchez Minnesota Twins
4x #204 Manuel Margot Tampa Bay Rays
8x #205 JJ Bleday Miami Marlins
8x #206 Gunnar Henderson Baltimore Orioles
5x #207 Paul Sewald Seattle Mariners
2x #208 Blake Snell San Diego Padres
3x #209 Darick Hall Philadelphia Phillies
6x #210
6x #211
6x #213 Owen Miller Cleveland Guardians
2x #214 Graham Ashcraft Cincinnati Reds
7x #215 Wander Franco Tampa Bay Rays
3x #216
7x #217 Luis Arraez Minnesota Twins
7x #218 Jhoan Duran Minnesota Twins
6x #219
5x #220
1x #222 Jose Altuve Houston Astros
6x #223 Eli Morgan Cleveland Guardians
5x #224 Jake Cronenworth San Diego Padres
4x #225 Corbin Burnes Milwaukee Brewers
7x #226 Michael Harris II Atlanta Braves
6x #227 Yandy Diaz Tampa Bay Rays
3x #228 Ryan Pressly Houston Astros
4x #229 Ryan Helsley St. Louis Cardinals
3x #230 Albert Almora Cincinnati Reds
5x #231 Rony Garcia Detroit Tigers
6x #232 Ian Happ Chicago Cubs
4x #233 Taylor Rogers Milwaukee Brewers
6x #234
4x #235 Robbie Ray Seattle Mariners
6x #236 Shane McClanahan Tampa Bay Rays
7x #237 Brandon Marsh Philadelphia Phillies
3x #238 Liover Peguero Pittsburgh Pirates
4x #239 Ketel Marte Arizona Diamondbacks
5x #240
5x #241
7x #242 Jarren Duran Boston Red Sox
4x #243 Evan Lee Washington Nationals
3x #244 Cesar Hernandez Washington Nationals
4x #245
5x #246
6x #247 Gavin Lux Los Angeles Dodgers
2x #248
5x #249 Frank Schwindel Chicago Cubs
7x #250 Adley Rutschman Baltimore Orioles
4x #251 Max Castillo Kansas City Royals
5x #252 Austin Meadows Detroit Tigers
7x #253 Max Kepler Minnesota Twins
5x #254 Jimmy Herget Los Angeles Angels
4x #255 Cal Quantrill Cleveland Guardians
7x #256 Jose Ramirez Cleveland Guardians
2x #257 Yadiel Hernandez Washington Nationals
1x #258 Erick Fedde Washington Nationals
6x #259 Mark Appel Philadelphia Phillies
6x #260 Matt Chapman Toronto Blue Jays
5x #261 Martin Perez Texas Rangers
7x #262 Camilo Doval San Francisco Giants
4x #263
7x #264 Steele Walker San Francisco Giants
3x #265 Anthony Santander Baltimore Orioles
4x #266 Tommy Pham Boston Red Sox
3x #267 Dean Kremer Baltimore Orioles
4x #268 Yasmani Grandal Chicago White Sox
5x #269 Steven Matz St. Louis Cardinals
6x #271
5x #272 Kevin Kiermaier Tampa Bay Rays
6x #273
6x #274 Matt Duffy Los Angeles Angels
7x #275 Vaughn Grissom Atlanta Braves
7x #276 David MacKinnon Oakland Athletics
6x #277 David Villar San Francisco Giants
4x #278 Aaron Nola Philadelphia Phillies
6x #279 Yu Darvish San Diego Padres
5x #280 Julio Urías Los Angeles Dodgers
3x #281 Aaron Ashby Milwaukee Brewers
2x #282 Tim Anderson Chicago White Sox
5x #283 Matt Strahm Boston Red Sox
3x #284
6x #285 Oneil Cruz Pittsburgh Pirates
6x #286 Ezequiel Duran Texas Rangers
4x #287 Brendan Rodgers Colorado Rockies
1x #288 Jack Suwinski Pittsburgh Pirates
5x #289
5x #290 Max Fried Atlanta Braves
5x #291
5x #292
2x #293 J.T. Realmuto Philadelphia Phillies
5x #294 Tommy Edman St. Louis Cardinals
8x #295 Bryson Stott Philadelphia Phillies
6x #296 Cristian Pache Oakland Athletics
5x #297 Abraham Toro Seattle Mariners
5x #298 Shane Bieber Cleveland Guardians
3x #299 Gleyber Torres New York Yankees
3x #300 Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Toronto Blue Jays
4x #301 Ryan McMahon Colorado Rockies
7x #302 Vinnie Pasquantino Kansas City Royals
5x #303
5x #304 Alex Wood San Francisco Giants
5x #305 Ji-Man Choi Tampa Bay Rays
5x #306 Jesse Winker Seattle Mariners
3x #307 Danny Jansen Toronto Blue Jays
7x #308 Christopher Morel Chicago Cubs
6x #309 Sean Murphy Oakland Athletics
4x #310
3x #311
5x #312 Pavin Smith Arizona Diamondbacks
4x #313 Cal Mitchell Pittsburgh Pirates
6x #315 Corey Seager Texas Rangers
4x #316
4x #317 Cedric Mullins Baltimore Orioles
5x #318 Jerar Encarnacion Miami Marlins
5x #319 Brad Miller Texas Rangers
2x #320 Cade Cavalli Washington Nationals
6x #321 Garrett Cooper Miami Marlins
2x #322 Luis Urias Milwaukee Brewers
4x #323 Adrian Houser Milwaukee Brewers
3x #324 Santiago Espinal Toronto Blue Jays
4x #325 German Marquez Colorado Rockies
5x #326
5x #327 Patrick Sandoval Los Angeles Angels
5x #328 Brady Singer Kansas City Royals
4x #329 Mark Canha New York Mets
8x #330 Julio Rodríguez Seattle Mariners
submitted by Candr3w to baseballcards [link] [comments]

2023.05.19 01:35 Egyptian_Dumbass Umar and the Christians of Ash-ham

I am a non Muslim looking into Islam. This one thing is really bothering me. Ibn Kathir tafsir of the Surah 9:29: He quotes a Hadith of your Prophet saying, Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: “Do not greet the Jews and the Christians before they greet you and when you meet any one of them on the roads force him to go to the narrowest part of it.” (Sahih Muslim 2167)
Then Ibn Kathir then explains how Umar followed the Hadith of Muhammad. This is why the Leader of the faithful Umar bin Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, demanded his well-known conditions be met by the Christians, these conditions that ensured their continued humiliation, degradation and disgrace. The scholars of Hadith narrated fromAbdur-Rahman bin Ghanm Al-Ashari that he said, "I recorded forUmar bin Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, the terms of the treaty of peace he conducted with the Christians of Ash-Sham: In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. This is a document to the servant of AllahUmar, the Leader of the faithful, from the Christians of such and such city. When you (Muslims) came to us we requested safety for ourselves, children, property and followers of our religion. We made a condition on ourselves that we will neither erect in our areas a monastery, church, or a sanctuary for a monk, nor restore any place of worship that needs restoration nor use any of them for the purpose of enmity against Muslims. We will not prevent any Muslim from resting in our churches whether they come by day or night, and we will open the doors of our houses of worship for the wayfarer and passerby. Those Muslims who come as guests, will enjoy boarding and food for three days. We will not allow a spy against Muslims into our churches and homes or hide deceit or betrayal against Muslims. We will not teach our children the Qur'an, publicize practices of Shirk, invite anyone to Shirk or prevent any of our fellows from embracing Islam, if they choose to do so. We will respect Muslims, move from the places we sit in if they choose to sit in them. We will not imitate their clothing, caps, turbans, sandals, hairstyles, speech, nicknames and title names, or ride on saddles, hang swords on the shoulders, collect weapons of any kind or carry these weapons. We will not encrypt our stamps in Arabic, or sell liquor. We will have the front of our hair cut, wear our customary clothes wherever we are, wear belts around our waist, refrain from erecting crosses on the outside of our churches and demonstrating them and our books in public in Muslim fairways and markets. We will not sound the bells in our churches, except discretely, or raise our voices while reciting our holy books inside our churches in the presence of Muslims, nor raise our voices with prayer at our funerals, or light torches in funeral processions in the fairways of Muslims, or their markets. We will not bury our dead next to Muslim dead, or buy servants who were captured by Muslims. We will be guides for Muslims and refrain from breaching their privacy in their homes.' When I gave this document to Umar, he added to it,We will not beat any Muslim. These are the conditions that we set against ourselves and followers of our religion in return for safety and protection. If we break any of these promises that we set for your benefit against ourselves, then our Dhimmah (promise of protection) is broken and you are allowed to do with us what you are allowed of people of defiance and rebellion."'
How can Muslims say Allah is the Most Merciful (الرحمن) or the Peaceful one (السلام) and that Muhammad is a Mercy for the Worlds when this what Allah and His Messenger taught? I want clear answers, not things like “Hadiths are man made so not reliable” “Wahabi” etc.
submitted by Egyptian_Dumbass to islam [link] [comments]