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kitscutie · 2 years ago

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amicable (drew starkey x reader)

𝗉𝖺𝗂𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗀: 𝖽𝗋𝖾𝗐 ꜱ𝗍𝖺𝗋𝗄𝖾𝗒 𝗑 𝖿𝖾𝗆!𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋

𝗐𝖺𝗋𝗇𝗂𝗇𝗀ꜱ: 𝗉𝗎𝗋𝗉𝗅𝖾 ꜱ𝗎𝗂𝗍 𝖽𝗋𝖾𝗐 𝗅𝗈𝗈𝗄𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗁𝖺𝗐𝗍

ꜱ𝗎𝗆𝗆𝖺𝗋𝗒: 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗏𝖺𝗇𝗂𝗍𝗒 𝖿𝖺𝗂𝗋 '𝗁𝗈𝗐 𝗐𝖾𝗅𝗅 𝖽𝗈 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗄𝗇𝗈𝗐 𝖾𝖺𝖼𝗁 𝗈𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋' 𝗂𝗇𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗏𝗂𝖾𝗐 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖼𝖺ꜱ𝗍 𝗈𝖿 𝖮𝖡𝖷 ᖯ𝗎𝗍 𝗒𝗈𝗎'𝗋𝖾 𝖺𝗉𝖺𝗋𝗍 𝗈𝖿 𝗂𝗍 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖽𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 Ⅾ𝗋𝖾𝗐.

𝖺/𝗇: 𝖺 𝗅𝗂𝗍𝗍𝗅𝖾 ꜱ𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗂'𝗏𝖾 𝗐𝖺𝗇𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝗐𝗋𝗂𝗍𝖾 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝖺 𝗐𝗁𝗂𝗅𝖾 ꜱ𝗈 𝖨 𝗁𝗈𝗉𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖾𝗇𝗃𝗈𝗒. 𝖨 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝖺 ꜱ𝗅𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍 𝖽𝗋𝖾𝗐 𝖺𝖽𝖽𝗂𝖼𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝖺𝗍𝗆 :𝗉

Everybody in the cast was extremely excited for this interview as is included everyone together which very rarely happened sadly.

Drew was dressed in a lavender suit which made your heart swoon, he was so handsome and somehow suited any colour his stylists shoved him in, nevertheless he looked especially good today.

"You feeling okay?" He asked as he took his seat next to you in the top row of seats above Austin, Carlacia, Madison and Chase. He knew the nerves you got before interviews, sadly you didn't have the best experiences with interviews. Constantly picking yourself apart during and after.

You never knew if you had spoken too much or too little. Too loudly or too quietly. However, since you started dating a member of the same cast as you it became a lot easier, his presence enough to pull you back in times of need.

"Yeah, it's nice to have everyone together." You smiled, grabbing his hand to help him up into the seat.

He smiled back and took a sip from his water bottle, before putting it down he offered some to you which you gladly accepted while listening to the crew around you prepare.

"Good, we're on in a couple minutes." He replied, screwing the lid back on the bottle and placing it at the legs of the stools you sat on.

You watched as Madelyn was taken to the chair at the front, separate from the rest, and realised the interview was most likely starting earlier than expected.

Hearing the camera men begin to count down Drew sent you a comforting smile as well as two pats to your thigh which was partially exposed between the slit of your dress.

"I'm Madelyn Cline and we are the cast of Outer Banks, and we are here to test how well we know each other." She finished with a relieved sigh after multiple failed attempts.

Everybody in the room laughed all while clapping, Drew even let out a few wolf whistles which made you laugh ten times harder, he was one of those people that you found hilarious no matter what he did, and finally the interview began.

By the end of Madelyn's round you had one point for knowing her second favourite astrological sign though this was the round that would pull you in the most points. Drew.

"Purple Nurple, in the hot seat." Chase said as Drew sat down which made you burst into laughter all over again while Drew sent you a dirty look, but the fact he wasn't truly mad was given away by his smirk.

"First question, what's my secret talent?" He asked, deadpan. "Bonus, where did I learn my talent."

Everybody in the room turned to look at you though you were squinting in thought. "I'm not sure you have loads." You said innocently, though it seemed to sound dirty as everyone else began to laugh while Rudy repeated 'woah' for a couple of minutes.

"I just mean he has a lot of weird talents to it could be any!" You defended, blushing face buried in your hands as Drew reached over to rub your knee gently, though even he was laughing.

"Guitar, piano, it's an instrument." Madison said, which was true, he did play a few instruments but it could of been any of them.

"Write it down, cause what's happening right now is were just giving you ideas." Carlacia said, always the voice of reason.

"I feel like I should know this." You said under your breath, feeling a tad bad for having no clue which one he would write.

"You do know it baby, I do it around the house." He said while writing.

Your heart rate spiked hearing his use of the pet name in an interview, knowing it would be mentioned in the comments, but seeing as no one else mentioned it you relaxed and continued on with the game.

"All right my secret talent, I do think someone said it, uh- Rudy, it's juggling." He revealed and you could've kicked yourself in the face. Of course it was.

"Who's my favourite Outer Banks character?" Was the next question and you smirked while the rest of the cast all said y/c/n in unison, before bursting into laughter.

"No, it's Barry." You answered after the giggles had died down.

He began to write again, a smile on his face. "It's those gold teeth, they really get you going."

"Let's stop playing around." Jonathan said to the camera, everybody shipped Rafe and Barry so it had become a sort of inside joke.

"If I could live anywhere in the world where would I live." He asked, making direct eye contact with you and signalled to zip your lips. You chuckled before zipping your own and throwing away the key. This was one you very obviously knew seeing as you currently lived together and so you didn't want to give it away so easily.

"I'm tempted to say bikini bottom, but..." Carlacia started.

"North Carolina." Jonathan and Madelyn said at the same time, before laughing. They had seen the card.

"Ashville, North Carolina. That's my favourite place on earth. The Outer Banks." He smiled to the camera and you couldn't help but think he was adorable. You too cherished that place dearly and so you had both spoken about moving there.

Moving back into his seat next to you, he gave you a high five, signalling you had done well.

Finally, at the end of the interview it was your turn and the cast hooted as you got into the talking seat. You smiled at their antics before beginning your questions.

"Who is my celebrity crush?" You asked, smiling and trying not to laugh as Drew looked incredibly cocky, though he knew the real answer.

"Drew Starkey." Rudy shouted, making everybody laugh though they quickly went back to thinking.

"C'mon Maddy we watched one of his movies the other day." You hinted, her face twisted in thought and then realisation.

"Oh my god, I can't remember his name!" She yelled, desperately while everyone else laughed at her downfall.

"Drew please just spoil it." Chase asked after no one could remember and Madelyn was on the verge of an aneurism.

"Dylan O'brien." He revealed, a cheeky but pleased smile on his face as he was very comfortable in your relationship and knew it was something you had spoken about on live before.

"Tut tut, I expected better." You joked. "Okay, what is my birthmark and where is it?" You revealed the next question.

"This is rigged!" Carlacia shouted as they were all relatively intimate questions which Drew would most likely know.

"Hey! It's not my fault I'm a good boyfriend." He faux-pouted.

"Don't listen to 'em Joseph, they are just ashamed they're crappy friends." You sighed jokingly, bowing your head and pretending to be sad.

"No! I actually know it. It's on the inside of your arm and it's a heart." Rudy proudly stated, though everyone knew not to ask as he had seen it when your character and JJ were filming a not so PG scene. Awkward.

"Correct! A real friend." You grinned, blowing a kiss to him which Drew pretended to reach out and grab before it reached him which once again, gave everyone the giggles.

The winner was announced as Madison as you and Drew jokingly sulked at the back.

"This is blasphemy!" Carlacia yelled and then the cameras cut, just missing Drew picking you up bridal style and running away in protest of the loss.

#drew starkey x reader #drew starkey #rafe cameron #obx fanfiction #obx cast #interview #drew starkey x actress!reader #jj maybank

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freakygirlie · 4 years ago

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J2 are cute together and their chemistry is off the charts. However, I would never tinhat if it wasn't for the inconsistencies in their stories. IF they were just two best bros, there would be no need for the PR cover ups, therefore, there would be no slip ups. They could've just behaved like friends do. Wild idea, right? Maybe fans would still speculate but sooner or later they'd get used to J2 being affectionate buddies. Why try so hard if they're not together? What's there to hide?

EXACTLY ANON EXACTLY! There’s no denying that J2 have loads of chemistry. Supernatural ran so long because of it, the first episode-pilot when it was filmed, they immediately clicked, and everyone who has met them/watched them have said they have tons and tons of chemistry, like genuine actual chemistry and- The OmegaVerse was formed BECAUSE of J2′s chemistry!!! There’s no denying that part

Second the inconsistencies and slip ups and things that have happened. Lord if i started a list it would never end- but i’ll mention some of the most basic ones:

The Italy Date slip up <3, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pM-3ZKiItF4

Jared forgetting the specifics of his dating timeline, he mentioned in his Live With Kelly interview that he was single when he started Supernatural when he was actually dating Sandy then and had been for a while, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jwMN3nvZmE starts at around 4:25

the classic 2011 LA Con moment where Jensen blatantly insinuated he was sleeping with Jared, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKV1VkODR_w starts at 0:50 ish

the war that Danneel got into with gossip column writer Ted Casablanca when he said that Danneel and Jensen’s marriage might be fake, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWIfAOftcwk her interview with him and:

Gossip columnist Ted Casablanca once pretty much accused Danneel of her relationship with Jensen being fake. Previously to that spat, he had also written an article in response to double engagement rumors saying that “Jensen and Jared would sooner marry each other than who they’re currently rumored to be getting hitched to. If I’m wrong I’ll get Taryn Ryder a date with Ryan Gosling.” Years ago, Danneel got into a Twitter war with a Gossip Columnist named Ted Casablanca who used to work for E! when he publicly suggested that her relationship with Jensen was fake and basically that Jensen’s gay. The two of them argued back and forth and after the argument she disappeared from Twitter for a long while. Clearly embarrassed that she had just shown a huge light on a topic she and Jensen didn’t want discussed so publicly with someone who was so well-known in the celebrity gossip entertainment business in Hollywood.

the time Sandra favorited a tweet which called her a beard, this is a well known tinhat fact.

the time Jared liked an instagram post which mocked his wife, https://jaredandjensendaily.tumblr.com/post/154473801354/friendly-reminder-16-another-reminder-that

Jensen slipping up and almost saying he had ‘kids’ before moving to Austin when he only had JJ, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOkH2BChDZg starts at 0:24

the time Genevieve slipped up and used the words contract and negotiation while talk about her and Jared’s relationship, the video off of yt was deletedbut here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CMhc4UfBJt1/

Richard Lawson, film critic from Vanity Fair saying he heard from a source that the j’s were together, https://jaredandjensendaily.tumblr.com/post/152089621134/friendly-reminder-13-just-a-beautiful-reminder

the way Jensen’s proposal to Danneel was a complete replica of Jared’s proposal to Sandy, AND the way they proposed on the same weekend- the only thing different was the location, they both had taken their wives(or in jared’s case ex-fiancé) out, had wanted to propose but got nervous, the girls had asked what was wrong and they chickened out and proposed in the hotel room instead.

Speaking of the engagements, nearly everything about them was highly suspicious. Both occurred on the same weekend under the guise that each J had no idea the other was proposing, despite having said multiple times that they tell each other everything and showing that to be true through their actions as well. When asked on the spot what his proposal story was, Jensen retold the exact proposal story that had taken place a year earlier with Jared and Sandy, changing only the location.

THE MORTGAGE, THE HOUSE THEY TWO SHARED IN THE BEGINNING OF SPN- THE INCONSISTENCIES WITH THAT ONE WAS OFF THE CHARTS, https://jaredandjensendaily.tumblr.com/post/141213737219/friendly-reminder-3 and https://marrieddorks.tumblr.com/post/114910899842/j2-living-together

the most recent inconsistency! in the j2 panel, jared slipped up when talking about jackles’s birthday, saying ‘’i was with...on your birthday(he stops as if remembering himself then yells:) HAPPY BIRTHDAY ACKLES!’’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwXbSC-UWGs around 6:15

and then in the same panel: Jensen shows us a picture he sent to Jared which was supposed to be bear updates bc he’s growing his(GOD THEY DO BEARD UPDATES THE FUCKING CUTIES I CANT) and JENSEN IS SHIRTLESS??? IN THE PICTURE??? SCUSE ME??? also Jared editied it to WAP. God. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwXbSC-UWGs starts at around 44:40

the amount of times j2 have been seen together IN VANCOUVER ONLY DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEY’RE ON HIATUS AND SHOULD BE WITH THEIR WIVES??? (the entirety of 2015)

and the fact that they’ve been on so many vacations and trips without anyone else :)

or the way when one of them is narrating a story, the other knows exactly what happened as if they were there,

AND THE TOUCHING GOD THE TOUCHING THEY’RE SO AFFECTIONATE. https://www.tumblr.com/tagged/j2+touching?sort=recent

Now the PR cover ups. You’re right anon if they were two best buds just doing their thing, why would they try so hard to cover up and hide stuff? Why would PR immediately make j2 wife posts(AND THEY DO IT A LOT) immediately after someone or the other would post a theory about them that would be hit amongst tinhatters or find a fact or a photo that would imply/prove j2 are together? Why would the j’s themselves stumble over stuff that would be suspicious?(that moment when someone at a convention yelled ‘’Because you like like each other?” and instead of brushing it off, j2 delved deep and then they got all flustered and it was a huge thing basically). Why would they not just behave like normal friends who have absolutely nothing to hide???

spoiler alert: because they’re together kjdkjdjsf.

#anon ask #j2 #j2 tinhat #THIS WAS SO SO SO LONG #but like now ppl can use it #happy researching!!!

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kickingitwithkirk · 5 years ago

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Greetings From Austin

Pairing: Alpha!Jensen Ackles x Alpha!Jared Padalecki x Omega!OFC

Summary: Jensen and Jared are at odds over a monumental decision that changes their lives in a way they couldn’t have envisioned.

Word Count: 2616

Warnings: a/b/o, homophobia, bisexuality, biphobia, angst, cursing, self doubt, depression/anxiety, medical stuff, sexual dysfunction, infertility

*additional warnings to be added in future parts.

A/N: Here we go again with one my weird as hell dreams, series Inspired by this art.

A/N II: There is no intentional hate or malevolence intended towards any of the Ackles or Padalecki families. This is a purely fictional piece containing real and created persons/names/events set in the fictional A/B/O verse. Some dates/events altered to fit story.

*no beta-all mistakes are mine

*divider by @writeyourmindaway

*images found online

Prologue

Austin, TX

Mid July

“Babe,” Jensen softly says in a low voice to the person seated next to him in the waiting room, “Babe,” he says a bit louder, still getting no response. Leaning close, he blows into their ear.

Jared starts, his “what” muffled by the finger he’s been chewing on.

“You know you can’t do that, don’t want you getting sick.” Taking his hand Jensen pulls it away from his pretty pink lips, gently caressing the finger. Jared had finally stopped chewing on his hands when Covid-19 became widespread.

“Where’s your gum?” Jared bite his lip not answering.

Sighing, Jensen shifts retrieving his pack and hands a piece to him. “What’s got you masticating again?” He inquires as Jared pops the stick in his mouth.

Jared chews the gum nervously weighing how to answer the question knowing Jensen won’t accept anything less than the whole truth. “What if something goes wrong again because of me.”

Jensen’s brow furrowed. He learned years ago that while their relationship is one of equals, he had to be lead Alpha when Jared’s mental state overwhelmed him as it had the last few weeks.

***

After the public announcement in March 2019 that season fifteen would be Supernaturals last, they had agreed when finished with the pickups they would take an extended break, return to Austin and concentrate on their marriage.

Jared intended to stop acting indefinitely, pursuing other interests and Jensen wanted to concentrate on his music.

Of course, things didn’t quite end up how they planned.

Jared entered negotiations to star in the Walker, Texas Ranger reboot, along with being an executive producer. Jensen got a call from Kripke wanting him for the role of Soldier Boy in The Boys third season.

But by March of 2020, everything came to a halt thanks to the Corona-virus.

The shutdowns left Supernaturals final two episodes with no definitive filming date and their seemingly never ending last season put their other projects on hold.

For the first time in years they had the luxury of a leisurely schedule, not having to be somewhere on a timetable, they could communicate with friends and family uninterrupted, deal with their other businesses, charities, etc, leaving most days free to enjoy being together without constraint.

But even amazing, awesome, vigorous sex on every horizontal/vertical surface that could support the two big Alphas only filled so many hours and like many couples, they started getting each others nerves and looked for other ways to stay occupied.

By late May, Jared was unable to sleep or eat, even going out of the house became a chore. When he hit a consecutive fourth day in bed, Jensen bodily dragged him into the bath for a desperately needed shower and loaded him in his truck driving to his doctor's.

Upon checking in they were told patients only allowed in the facility. Jared started panicking, saying he was having chest pains and couldn’t breath. He was rushed in with Jensen hot on their heels after morphing into an overprotective Alpha mate no one was stopping.

Jared’s doctor deduced with the lock-downs prohibiting him from his routine checkups and periodic adjustments needed to his medications triggered this episode.

The first step was to wean him off his current prescriptions and change to a newly approved, alternative regime. He was checked in a facility for ten days under observation while detoxing off his meds.

His therapist switched his twice weekly tele-counseling sessions to daily for the foreseeable future and Kodas certification as an emotional support animal was approved. His progress was slow but he was returning back to his sweet natured, big hearted, exceptionally tactical, overgrown puppy self.

When the surprise call from the clinic came a few days ago about an appointment opening, Jensen initially didn’t want it, still in his overly excessive protective Alpha mode. Jared’s outburst made him relent, fearing they were on a collision course for a major setback if he didn’t.

And Jensen, being Jensen, went overboard to ensure the appointment was absolutely private.

Part I

Jared was about to speak when a woman in scrubs called out, “Mr. Bonham and Mr. Page.” they got up crossing over to her, “Hello, I’m Sissy, Dr. Rodgers nurse, please follow me.”

They pass through the doorway leading through a maze of halls like that of any other medical clinic except this one specialized in a very specific service.

The nurse opens a door near the back of the clinic gesturing for them to enter the spacious office, “Please have a seat, the doctor will be with you shortly.” She closed the door and they sat down in the pair of chairs directly in front of the large, dark mahogany desk.

Jensen, scenting Jared’s nervousness, lifts his right hand kissing his palm, making him chuckle at the tickle of Jen’s soft beard before twining their fingers together and setting them on his left thigh, smiling reassuringly.

There was a brief knock before the door opened and an older, silver haired Beta entered. “Hello, I’m Dr. Rodgers, how are we doing today?” He asks, moving to his chair behind the desk.

Jared gave him a tight smile and Jensen remained placid.

The doctor raises an eyebrow, “Relax Mr. Page, this is just a visit to go over the paperwork before deciding about how we proceed, not the Spanish Inquisition.” Jared releases his held breath but couldn’t completely calm himself.

“I know the process can be overwhelming but I must ask, is there something we’ve done to make you uncomfortable?” Dr. Rodgers inquires.

“No, everyone’s been really nice, very professional. It’s just we..we had issues the first time we attempted to do this.” Jared finished his sentence quietly, in the recess of his mind; something bad is gonna happen and it’ll be my fault.

Jensen squeezes his hand tighter, instinctively sensing Jared’s mind was trying to spiral again, “When tried this before someone leaked our plans to the media. It wasn't ever proven the clinic was involved but...”

“We do everything possible to keep our clients anonymity protected here. All of our staff have been thoroughly vetted and sign NDA, given your professions, you're familiar with how they work. Your real identities will remain completely confidential, even if you choose to not proceed. It is why you chose this particular clinic, yes?”

“Yes, it is.” Jensen replied.

“How about we get this bit of paperwork out of the way, then we can have a more relaxed visit. I’ve gone over the applications you both submitted and have noted a few discrepancies in the medical section that need clarification before we proceed,” He opens the top file, “Mr. Bonham, why did you omit Genu Varum from your medical history?”

Jensen kept his expression neutral as he felt his stomach automatically clench. He had been mercilessly teased throughout his childhood about his bowed legs by his older brother Josh and later his buddies from school when they’d come over to hang out. By the time he was in high school Jensen’s extraordinary looks and personality were what got people’s attention first. Nowadays, many a fanfic waxed poetic about those bowed legs.

“The questionnaire inquired about inherited genetic medical conditions and since mine isn’t, I didn’t think it was necessarily applicable.” Jared hears an edge creeping into Jensen’s voice and gives their tangled fingers a quick squeeze.

“Did you see an orthopedist and were they able to determine what caused the condition? Did they suggest any surgical procedures or therapies to straighten your legs?”

“I was born a preemie, the orthopedists my parents consulted decided my condition was attributable to that.” Jensen replies tersely, dropping his vocal range. Jared gripped his hand harder, telling him to cool the attitude. “The doctor didn’t recommend surgery but sent me to physical therapy, thought it would help them straighten as I grew.”

“So no others in your immediate family have this issue?”

“Everyone my family has straight legs, including my three children.”

Jared piped in, “He hates it but he does have an exercise regimen; stretching, strength training. Oh, he also takes several different vitamins, omega oils, turmeric and extra vitamin D to support his joints.” They watched the doctor scribble a few more notes in the file before closing it.

“Mr. Page,” Jared sits up straighter in his chair, “I appreciate that you went into detail about your mental health status. I see you’ve recently been hospitalized, your medications have been changed to an alternative regiment and you’ve also increased your therapy sessions?”

Jared’s interview continued for another twenty minutes as Dr. Rodgers questioned him in depth about his depression and anxiety, feeling said anxiety ratcheting up so he focused on Jensen’s thumb rhythmically moving over his hand and used every ounce of his acting skills to appear confident and in control.

Dr. Rodgers closed his file, “I only have a few general questions left then we can discuss how you wish to proceed.”

After a more relaxed, genial conversation with the doctor, Sissy took them to a couple private rooms with paraphernalia to help stimulate them into producing a couple semen samples.

Jensen was getting close to finishing with his favorite spank-bank fantasy when he felt Jared’s frustration across their bond.

~~~

Jared couldn’t get aroused.

He felt as useless as his flaccid cock.

His doctor warned him that loss of sex drive could be a possible side effect of his new regiment until his body adjusted to it. He had struggled with temporary impotence a few times on his old meds, always fearful Jensen would finally see him as undesirable, no longer a satisfactory mate.

Rationally, he knew it was his illness causing these exceptionally hard to deal thoughts recently and the nagging idea this wasn’t the right thing for them to attempt again continually kept creeping in.

Jensen’s unspoken reluctance about having more children at his age was also weighing on his conscience, warring against his own biological longings.

They had a humongous argument when he told Jensen about taking the appointment. Jen thought this was the wrong time to attempt it again, pointing out he was just getting his equilibrium back setting Jared went off on a rant about how he no longer wanted him and would leave him like Genevieve had because he was too broken to deal with anymore.

Unmitigated anguish was written across Jensen’s beautiful features, the very notion that Jared could conceivably believe that he’d ever abandon him made his soul hurt in such a way no verbal language on earth could ever express his devastated feelings traveling across their bond.

***

Everything they’d been through; from that bar fight solidifying their friendship, Jared’s first breakdown, the years of living as roommates while secretly a couple to finding wives who understood their unique relationship and still married them both in 2010.

The joyous arrival of JJ three years later that unfortunately exacerbated Genevieve's frustration of not being able to conceive coming out with a vengeance at Jared. His unexpected breakdown in Switzerland was the final nail in their marriage. Gen was there for him but in the end it was all too much and she filed for divorce.

Shortly after, Jared’s iCloud account was hacked. It was believed, but never conclusively proven, that Gen was behind it since her lawyer was trying to break their prenuptial agreement, the videos documenting his private and explicit sexual relationship with Jensen were legally considered adulterous. In the end, the court upheld the legal document but the ramifications...

They were summoned to L.A. for the meeting from hell with WB executives, both convinced it was the end of Supernatural and their careers.

After the reaming out, they each received a weeks pay suspension to cover some of what it was gonna cost PR in time and money to deal with the inevitable repercussions and placate the show's sponsors.

How would the show’s fans react? Would they still be able to accept them as brothers only on TV while in real life they were involved in a highly stigmatized relationship?

When they returned to work there was an atmosphere of tension that hadn’t existed before. It was an open secret that all shows had their share of bitchiness and backstabbing behind the scenes. Jensen may have the thicker skin, keeping tighter control on his emotions, but Jared knew it hurt him just as deeply the loss of some of their friends because of prejudicial, social beliefs that two Alpha males shouldn’t be involved.

Jensen’s parents showed up unexpectedly in Vancouver a few weeks later. What started out as a not quite comfortable visit quickly deteriorated with his religiously conservative parents. They had not raised him like this and blamed Jared, saying he had corrupted him, leading him into a sinful lifestyle. He needed to repent and return to his wife to whom he had made a commitment before god.

Jensen blew up, replying it was none of their business, it was between them and oh, yeah, Danneel knew about them before marrying him and they better not say anything to her. Without another word his parents left. When he later called them to make amends, his mother coolly stated that he was no longer part of their family and to never contact them again.

Three months after the twins were born in 2016 came the finalization of Jensen’s divorce from Danneel, painful but congenial. They easily agreed on joint custody and still spent most holidays together. Jensen gave Dani financial security in their settlement, he wanted to make sure she didn’t have to worry about working again unless she wanted to.

All these years later, Jared continually has nagging thoughts that they had let everybody down. They received support when they publicly came out as bisexual then lost some of it when they married, being mocked for not coming out as gay.

***

There was another knock at the door and Jared ignored it, it was that nurse checking on his lack of progress again. The knock turned into pounding, “Jared, open this door now dammit!” He flinched realizing Jensen knew what was going on with him. Releasing the privacy latch and opening the door a crack he saw concerned green eyes only.

“Sorry, I thought you were that nurse,” he stepped away and sat back down as Jensen came in and re-latching it behind him. “She came to get me when you stopped answering,” Jensen said, walking over to him and started running his thick fingers through his husband’s long hair, “what’s going on babe?”

He glances up knowing that Jensen already knew, “It’s okay Jay, take as long as you need.” He paused at the unpleasant scent wafting around him. “If you’d be more comfortable we could do this at home…” Jared shakes his head, “There’s the risk of damage, contamination and or not able to get it back in time that could make the semen unusable.” Jared quotes from a website.

Jensen softly chuckled, “Nerd.”

Jared notices the bulge in his jeans, “You didn’t...”

“Drain the snake..choke the chicken..spank the monkey.”

“Fuck, okay, you didn’t! Stop using old man slang.” He shook his head smiling at Jensen intentionally goading him.

Jared reached up for the hand playing in his hair, grasping it to draw Jensen down next to him.

“Jack, I don’t want to wait any longer on doing this. I love JJ and the twins, you know I do, but they'll always be yours and Danneels. I know the timing could be better... but I'm almost thirty-eight and I want my..our own pups running around the house driving us crazy.”

“For the next eighteen years?”

“Minimum.”

tbc

Part II

SPN: @donnaintx @lyarr24

GFA: @babypink224221 @waywardjoy @let-me-luve-you @all-4-wincest

Sam/Jared @idreamofplaid

Dean/Jensen: @flamencodiva

#J2 #alpha!jensen ackles x alpha!jared padalecki #jared x jensen #a/b/o #alpha!jensen x alpha!jared x omega!ofc #alpha!jensen ackles #alpha!jared padalecki #a/b/o ofc #Jensen Ackles #Jared Padalecki #spn au #husbands

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enz-fan · 6 years ago

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‘Split Enz On The Road’ story written for ‘Rip It Up’ magazine by lighting director, Raewyn Turner. Circa 1982.

“SPLIT ENZ – ON THE ROAD STORY

Raewyn Turner has been lighting director for Split Enz since 1975. She painted the cover for Frenzy and last year at Dennis Cohn Gallery exhibited drawings in her show entitled ‘On The Road Again’. Raewyn has written for Rip It Up, about behind-the-scenes- staging the 1982 Time And Tide tour of New Zealand.

Six months in a leaky boat and that story nears its end for the second time in two years, as Split Enz round the bend on their last lap of touring, finishing in New Zealand. The past five months have been a variety show, the star hosts mingle with us, briefly, from their conveyer belts, flanked by the extras who are directed to have walk-on and bit parts for the day. The many famed and fabled buildings and cities roll on the big rollers past the car windows, and lots of people pass us, in a hurry, to and fro, people with different accents, different smiles, clothes, lifestyles. While we sit and stand, walk and work, moving from car to aeroplane, airport to motel to theatre, the big rollers roll in the world’s projection room, on to the screens, which are our windows.

Split Enz, the audience, the judge, in the van with the video sensurround windows. The selection committee. In a chartered plane, seated in rows until a kind man appears and opens the exit door, ushering us into another windows room. We sit there, breathing in the muted greens and browns and admiring the blue sky, until we’re told to get out and into another room, where soft musak whispers that life is a breeze. Water flows from taps, milk is instant non-dairy whitener, food is but a phone call and an hour’s wait away, all-night television to lull to sleep, air comes from an air conditioner.

10.00 am on Monday, August 16 in Melbourne, and the band are making a film clip, ‘Never Ceases To Amaze Me’, that Noel has worked out with the director over long phone calls from Darwin. It doesn’t finish until 6.00 pm. Last night at the same time, the band had just come off stage, completing the last date of their Australian tour, an ‘Under-18s’ show in Melbourne.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 17

Melbourne, 7.00 am. Grant Thomas, the tour manager, dutifully makes wake-up calls and in six homes scattered over Melbourne, the entourage is busily preparing and packing to make the flight, leaving at 10.00 am to Auckland. 9.00 am we’re at the airport, tired and grizzly, only to learn that the plane has been delayed for five and a half hours. Back home for some more sleep, while the road crew opt to stay at the airport and busy themselves making badges to display their membership of an exclusive social club – the crew’s very own ‘Split Enz Sports And Social Club’ – crew only.

The same day, 10.30 pm, ‘arrive Auckland and proceed to Hamilton, going by the itinerary. Oops. Noel has left his bag at the airport, so we have to double back. Check into hotel, and the band settle for some sleep while I go down to the Founders Theatre to set up for the first show of the NZ tour. The stage set, which has some technical peculiarities, has to be explained and put up and the special effects projectors babied out of their case and wheeled around. Although the lighting plot was sent over a month in advance, the rigging, cabling and colouring of lamps takes forever on the first set up, so we do all but focus tonight. 6.00 am we call it quits and go back to the hotel for a few hours’ sleep. Laurie Bell, the production manager works on, there are many details to be taken care of before the stage and sound people begin work at 9.00 am.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18

Sound check is early, everyone expecs the first show to be difficult because of the new, unfamiliar NZ equipment – PA, foldback and lights. The Finn elders arrive, Finn cousins playing with the beach balls backstage.

The dressing room is newly painted and most of the band find they have severe headaches the next day. But battle dress donned, they take the stage with enthusiasm and anticipation, because it’s great to be on home soil. The audience is quiet, polite and serious. It’s been a whole year since Split Enz toured NZ and they’re playing new material, working hard. There are a few technical difficulties, but only minor ones. Back to the hotel for some hot chocolate with friends, before retiring.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 19

1.30 pm. Wake up, and Eddie and I go down to the theatre to work on improving our computer programmes (Eddie’s synthesisers are digitally controlled and store many different sounds in computer memories). Computers and synthesisers are relatively new developments and computers, like humans, were not designed for the rigours of the road. Just as Eddie wanders around his hotel, wondering where he is and what he is doing there, these computers become similarly vacant and he is often to be found in a state of panic, trying to reprogramme his sounds minutes before a show. The lighting desk computer is but 120 channels of memories which can be reprogrammed for particular lighting scenes or progressions of lighting changes. However, it too has a habit of becoming vacant, or worse, storing more than its share, which means it could reveal the total lighting show at the press of one memory button.

The sound crew have been working all day, trying ti iron out the creases in last night’s sound.

Ed and Noel go off for a walk into town, looking for water pistols. The Ed Water Pistol Collection has swelled to number 120 over three years.

Soundcheck, dinner – Noel enthuses over the six veges – back to the paintstricken dressing room an hour before the show, to put on the ‘cossies’ (costumes), paint the faces, discuss song lists, tell a few jokes, wet the whistle (or sip a lemonade), do armstretches and leg raises, eat some peanuts or whatever is offering in snacks. The show goes ‘averagely well’ (probably ‘very good’ in another’s words), but we have our own rating system.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 20

6.00 am, get up and drive to Auckland. The car breaks down on the way, but is fixed by a kind mechanic, free of charge. We feel that this could only happen in NZ. The production crew have been waiting outside the Logan Campbell Centre since 8.00 am, but the truck doesn’t arrive till 10. They begin work frantically and irritably, but still able to make light-hearted jokes, and the stage set slowly appears.

Meanwhile, Noel has gone to visit his folks. Tim and Neil arrive in Auckland with theirs, to spend the day together. Nigel, being the most boring (he is aware of the fact) member of the band, has experienced nothing of any interest whatsoever since arriving in NZ, not on this day, except for a sleepy interview with Colin Hogg. Eddie visits his sister and his friend Paul Crowther and they spend the rest of the day babbling about synths.

Backstage in the dressing room the champagne arrives – a greeting from the record company. The band have another of their ‘average’ performances, the crowd was ecstatic but the band are tired. The sound men aren’t feeling happy, so they make plans to spend all day tomorrow on improvements, to further dampen the echoes.

Back to the White Heron, now affectionately known as the Red Herring (no offence meant), for a few drinks with friends in the Carriage Bar. This is the first piece of glamorous living I’ve experienced for about a month or more – other people might call it just having a drink – but it means a lot being able to have the luxury of changing from work clothes to casual and being with friends.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 21

1.30 pm. Wake up and with Noel and Eddie go to Parnell Village where we have breakfast with Noel’s folks, who are in Auckland for both shows. A flying visit to a friend strapped in traction in hospital and it’s on to soundcheck and an early show.

Nigel has spent the day sleeping, jigging and walking, his three favourite pursuits. Neil and Tim are having dinner with their folks at the table over from us. They bribe the resident pianist into playing ‘Feelings’ as an after-dinner tribute to the band. (This song was on the top of the list for singing at the top of one’s voice while bumping along in a van through North America.)

SUNDAY, AUGUST 22

9.00 am. Depart the hotel for the airport, 9.55 flight departs Auckland for Palmerston North, without breakfast.

Tim feels detached from everything, and so opts for the hair-of-the-dog treatment, which will see him through until the end of the performance. The drinks backstage in the dressing room are there to be a starter motor, to kick a tired man into action. It’s an early show again, and it feels good to commence the performance about an hour after soundcheck. It’s still early enough to relax afterwards over dinner and watching TV.

MONDAY, AUGUST 23

10.30 am. Bags are being loaded into five cars, room bills are being paid, and we’re off to Christchurch. It’s a day off, everyone is anticipating what they’ll do, and probably they’ll do nothing. We’ve taken all the back seats in the plane and Ian Magan’s (tour promoter) Air New Zealand voice (fondly remembering “Ladies and gentleman, have you seen this?” on flights to London) booms from three seats away. Tonight he has promised the entourage a free dinner.

Eddie and I miss the free dinner – we’ve been invited to his brother’s house. This is one of the advantages of this job – seeing family and friends in all corners of the world at least once a year – where distance and fares would normally prohibit this. The visits are, however, usually too short and sweet.

The band enthuse over the selection of old cars in ‘perfect condition’ being driven around Christchurch, reeling off the makes as we drive around. Austin, Morris, Zephyr, Vanguard… Tim’s been after a Studebaker and is delighted to hear that people in the entourage have spotted three so far. Back home the Split Enz Club boasts a green FJ Holden (Neil’s), a black Mark II Zephyr (Tim’s), a pink Morris Major Elite 1963 (Eddie’s), a 1950 Black Triumph Renown (Noel’s) and a brown 1954 Fiat station wagon (Nigel’s).

Today Noel went shopping and got the costumes drycleaned. Nigel went for a five-hour walk along the Avon, Neil joined the road crew for a trip to the snow, there they used big plastic rubbish bags for sliding down hills and threw snow at each other.

Tim stayed in and did an interview, then cruised around, went for a walk, I think. Ed, Clark Flannigan (Polygram Records’ man on tour) and I finally got ourselves away from the hotel and went swimming at the QEII pool. It’s the first day of the school holidays and Ed and Clark get swallowed up in the crowds queuing for the hydrotubes. Clark can do 50m overarm in 35 seconds, he tries out the high diving board, but Ed and I only manage the lowest. End of day off.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 24

7.00 am. Get up, shower and down to the Christchurch Town Hall by 8.00 am. It’s a beautiful day, warm with blue, blue skies, the smell of blossom, cold air and woodsmoke, peculiar to NZ.

The stage set is constructed quickly and looks good. I’d anticipated, with sinking stomach feelings, that as far as equipment and organisation of technical details go, the NZ section would be the worst and most difficult of this six-month tour (probably because it has previously been that). However, there have been vast improvements made in the expertise of the hired technical personnel and in the equipment to be found here since we toured last year. It has taken a lot of hard work to elevate it to this level, and although the equipment is different to the systems currently available in Australia, this in no way makes for a compromise situation.

At 10.30 am, I offer to get the food – three dozen donuts, one dozen cream buns, three dozen filled rolls, a bag of apples. We work on until 4.00 pm and soundcheck is at 4.30. After a while, the band drift into playing their oldies, searching for the perfect replacement for ‘Hard Act’, which they’re sick of.

The band are tired. After five months of constant touring and only two weeks off in the period – no weekends – they are finding it hellish to think clearly and with enthusiasm about their shows. They want to try a new set, a different way of playing particular songs, but the energy somehow keeps being channelled the same way. They shone for the Auckland shows and will probably shine for the rest, but they try to break out of their feelings of exhaustion and automatic gear.

Tonight’s performance is once again good, although lacking the fire that the band are striving hard to produce. The audience is enthusiastic. The band and crew and managers return to the hotel bar, where we tell each other jokes until the small hours, winding down for sleep after a long day.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25

8.00 am. Woken by chainsaws, jackhammers and the noise of concrete being made in a wheelbarrow. These are quite regular occurrences in hotels where we have stayed, so I drift back to sleep. But Eddie has had enough and has decided to move over to the posh hotel, where Tim and Neil have recently moved, to escape the noise. The hotel is twice the price and offers a complimentary morning newspaper, but we prefer the squat NZ motels, having spent too long in high-rise hotels, with Coffee-Mate (powdered non-dairy whitener) for ea milk.

Soundcheck at 4.30, still the search for the perfect song replacement. ‘In The Wars’, ‘Jamboree’, ‘Under The Wheel’ and a few others are fiddled with and discarded.

Tim, Neil, Eddie and I drive off for dinner and discuss our fatigue and the artistic value (or not) of the song produced under pressure of having to be sold by a record company. The issue of touring arises and they talk about giving it up in Australia and NZ for two years, except for the occasional ‘spectacular’ – an alternative that would provide opportunity for lots of ideas to be exercised. Or perhaps they’d like to do a film, taking a year off to make it and write songs, using that period to develop their musical ability as individuals.

Showtime, the crew are lying around on couches drinking coffee and the first band are pounding away. Eddie is in the dressing room playing his other favourite song, ‘Loving You’ by Minnie Ripperton, accompanied by Neil singing. He breaks away into Chopin.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 26

A day off for some, but the three lighting technicians leave Christchurch at 9.00 am and arrive at Invercargill at 7.00 pm. (The truck has a sleep and they take turns at driving.) The rest of the crew fly down at 11.00 am and spend the rest of the day in the hotel’s spa pool. At 8.00 pm, Laurie, Glen (the set and projects man) and three loaders unpack the truck, having first to remove a fleet of five city council vans that were parked across the stage door. Glen gets to work putting up the stage set and is back at the hotel by 11.00 pm.

Tim, Neil, Clark, Eddie and I have made plans to drive to Akaroa for some fish and chips and scenery, but Eddie and I spend until 2.00 pm buying second-hand furniture for future use, by which time Clark isn’t to be found. The free day has just about slipped away. We make rearrangements with the cars and Tim and Neil go to Akaroa. Noel, Eddie and I take a drive that meanders along a peninsula beyond Lyttleton, and we end up driving along a tractor path up a mountainside. The green pastures, trees in blossom, the mountain and valleys, we can’t wait to settle back here and enjoy the countryside. Tim and Neil return with tales of spectacular scenery, quite in awe of the beauty of the countryside. Neil, in surprise, says it’s always so much better than he’s remembered. Of course, all this talk about ‘nature’ crops up in our conversations especially after a few months on the road, staying in orange and purple hotel rooms. At the same time, the touring lifestyle has another advantage – it provides the blinkers and forces a total commitment to work.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 27

9.00 am. Wake up call from Grant, we move quickly and tiredly into the day.

Arrive Invercargill and greeted by an over-officious officer on the sidewalk at the airport. Magan has an argument with him and Neil throws him a coin as we drive away. Later, Magan receives a speeding ticket from the same officer.

Stop off on the way to the hotel, at the art gallery for a typical photo of the band posing next to a huge anchor for the local papers.

I go straight to work. The crew, having become accustomed to the equipment, are working very fast these days and focus is early. The set works well in the Civic Centre, because the tiers of balconies tower over the stage, which is shallow and therefore the sail has a steep incline. I don’t have a good show, getting my fingers jammed in the faders, despite a grand performance by the projector operators, Glen and Keith, who are by now quite skilled.

Noel apparently just about falls backwards off his drums, fatigued and the rest of the band are tired. But there are only 11 more shows to do, so they attack each one with enthusiasm.

After the show, the musos’ club is less than hospitable, hassling the band at the door. Eddie, Tim and Neil leave and end up helping Magan, who is hosting a three-hour radio show.

The road crew have busily packed clean socks for the Saturday soundcheck before heading off to Queenstown in search of the thrillseeker jetboats. Bed.

Part two of this feature will appear in next months ‘R.I.U’.”

#splitenz #live/tour #1982

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ecsundance · 3 years ago

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Drinking In Sundance's Delectable Selection of Virtual Experiences.

This being my second virtual Sundance Film Festival, I felt better prepared for the virtual components than last year, since I knew what to expect and how to navigate the interfaces. Nonetheless, I was still exposed to new aspects and experiences due to the class I’m taking, whether attending various talks and panels or making my first real foray into the realm of VR. This year’s New Frontier lineup also provided me with opportunities to engage with non-filmic projects beyond VR, allowing me to enjoy similar kinds of works without the complexity of VR technology, which was rather hefty bane.

Most recently, I joined the Calling All Artists: The Climate Crisis is Recruiting discussion, detailing the power of art, media, and entertainment in inspiring climate justice. Guests included Andrea Ixchíu Hernández, an indigenous journalist and filmmaker, and Geeta Persad, Assistant Professor of Climate Science at The University of Texas at Austin. Each guest laid out the critical groundwork for creating art about the climate crisis and made very compelling arguments for how attendees and viewers could join in. At the end, they sent out an application link to join the Global Climate Storyteller Network, which I bookmarked for later use.

Upon entering the Sundance spaceship where New Frontier is located, I immediately sought out Surrogate, which earlier captured my attention with its description that highlighted an app that can “control the movement of [the lead artist’s] body”. Sadly, there was no more availability for this part of the experience, though I still watched through the audiovisual presentation of the artist’s interest in the world of surrogate parenting, an intriguing exploration of the who, why, and what of its multifaceted process. I concluded the project feeling enlightened about the concept of surrogate parenting despite being unable to engage with the app.

The New Frontier project On the Morning You Wake (To the End of the World) was my first true VR experience and was therefore a rather difficult setup, as I was unaccustomed to the technology. Once the headset was ready and the program loaded, though, I was immersed in vibrant colors, crisp sound, and threat of nuclear annihilation, as the project in question reflected on the 2018 Hawaii missile threat alert. Through haunting interviews, graphics, and recreated Hawaiian environments, I also felt the tension of impending doom that citizens faced that day, thanks to the vicarious experience of virtual reality.

Seven Grams is the most accessible New Frontier project, as it’s just a downloadable app that reveals the dark origins of smartphone technology through augmented reality. A story of human rights, exploitation, and yearning for change, the app’s detailed graphics provide a literal inside look at an iPhone, while lead artist Karim Ben Khelifa’s calm narration describes the dire situation in the material mining sites of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The experience concludes with an ex-miner detailing his horrifying experiences at such sites and a shareable pledge to support ethically manufactured and refurbished phones, which I absolutely supported.

While I am avoiding further expenditures after purchasing my film tickets, I nevertheless traipsed virtually through the Sundance Festival Village to see what the fest’s partners had in store. Turns out, quite a lot. Jacket brand Canada Goose confirmed the long-awaited The Expendables 4 is actually happening, Rabbit Hole Distillery offered a Sundance-themed cocktail recipe, and VisitUtah.com provided an interactive map of the state’s numerous filming locations. Additionally, IMDb curated a list of every feature and episodic series premiering this year, while Variety’s daily newsletters discussed recent acquisitions, reviews, and other news from the festival. My virtual visit was well-warranted.

--Conall Rubin-Thomas

#sundance #sundance2022 #sundancefilmfestival #newfrontier #virtualreality #vr #cocktails

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webuyhousessanantoniotx-blog · 7 years ago

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jacklesrpg · 7 years ago

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Interview || J2 (June Task)

Jensen woke up early in the morning and took care of the kids before bringing them to Gen's house for a few hours. By the time he got back to the ranch Jared was pulling up. "Hey man."

Jared had no desire to get up and do an interview, but he knew it was something he had to do. He dragged himself out of bed about ten minutes before he was supposed to be to Jensen's. He washed his face, brushed his teeth, changed his clothes, and walked out the front door. It was a quick drive to get to the ranch. Truth was, he could have walked it in the same amount of time, but he just didn't have the energy. He had his sunglasses on as he stepped out of his car. "Hey." he grumbled. "The interviewer here yet? I just want to get this over with."

"I just got back from dropping the kids with Gen so I don't think so. You wanna load up that keg before she gets here though?"

"Did you ever tell Ash you were leaving Tristan with Gen?" he chuckled, pushing his sunglasses up on top of his head. "Yeah, let's do that."

"No," he said flatly and headed to one of his other cars that had the keg in the backseat. He pulled it out and brought it to Jared's. His phone buzzed and when he looked at it he saw a message from the lady saying she was ten minutes away. "Guess we should go inside and get ready for this."

Jared knew from the tone in Jensen's voice, not to say anything else about him talking to Ashley. He opened the back door of his car for his brother to put the keg in. "Yeah." he sighed. "Let's just hope this doesn't take too long and she doesn't get too personal, ya know?"

"They always get personal." Jensen said and in the house he made sure the living room was appropriate in case they decided to take any pictures to go along with the article. When the bell rang he looked at Jared, "You wanna get that?"

"Maybe this one will be different?" he shrugged. Jared went into the kitchen to grab some bottles of water to have out when the lady got there. He had just set them down on the table when the bell rang. "Yeah, I got it." He walked to the door and took a deep breath, forcing a smile on his face as he turned the knob.

Jensen wasn't in the best mood so he needed an extra few seconds to compose himself. When Jared walked into the room with the lady she introduced herself and Jensen did the same, shaking her hand. Once introductions were done they all sat down and Tiffany turned on her tape recorder, "I'm sitting here with Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles, stars of the hit CW show Supernatural. How are you guys doing today?" Jensen smiled, "I'm doing good, thanks."

Jared offered Tiffany one of the bottles of water as he grabbed one for himself and sat down. "Happy to be here." Jared smiled, twisting the cap off and taking a drink.

Tiffany took the water but put it down, not needing it yet. "I have some questions for you both so let's get right into it. This might be an obvious one but what are you doing career wise right now?" "We're on hiatus from filming right now," Jensen said, "But we'll be starting season fourteen before the end of the summer. I also opened a brewery here in Austin so I've been spending a lot of time there." "What about you, Jared? Are you doing anything aside from Supernatural?"

"I'm just enjoying spending this time with my kids and helping out at Jay's brewery when I can." Jared chuckled.

"When have you helped?" Jensen joked with a laugh. Tiffany laughed too, "Where do you guys see yourselves in five years?" Jensen thought about how he wanted to answer the question. He knew that when Ashley heard it, it wouldn't go over well, but he wasn't in the mood to lie. "In five years I'd like to still be doin the show, expanding the brewery, raising my kids. I'd like to have more kids too, maybe some with my girlfriend." He stopped talking so Jared could answer.

"Hey, I help all the time!" Jared defended. He listened as Jensen's answer and his eyes got wide. He wanted to say something, but knew better than to say anything, especially in front of a reporter. "Oh man, in five years I absolutely want to still be doing the show. I think I'd also like to get back into doing movies if I can."

Jensen wondered if Tiffany was going to ask Jared about his personal life in five years but instead she went into the next question, "If you guys couldn't do your current profession what would you do?" Jensen answered right away, "Aside from acting and running a brewery? I don't think there's anything else I'd like to do. Maybe retire." He laughed.

"I think maybe I'd like to work at a youth center. Help kids who are feeling down and out, to let them know that they're not alone." he shrugged.

"That's a really good idea," Tiffany commented, "Maybe you should look into volunteering now?" She looked down at her notes, "What would you say is the hardest part about being a celebrity?" Jensen took a sip from his bottle of water then answered, "I love my fans but sometimes it gets a little overwhelming getting stopped for pictures and autographs all the time. Especially when I'm out with my kids."

"Yeah. Most of our fans are really cool, but we do have the occasional ones who can get a little over zealous. I think for me though, it's having everyone comment on our private lives, like they have a right to tell us what to do."

Tiffany finally opened her own bottle and took a small sip. "Can you describe your ideal soulmate?" Jensen took a deep breath as they were now getting into the personal questions. "Blonde, feisty, a little competitive, loves to ride horses, great cook, good mom."

It was a question that Jared had hoped would never come. He hated talking about personal stuff. He was a very private person, so being asked this stuff gave him anxiety. He ran his hands up and down his pants, trying to dry them from the nervous sweat he could now feel as he listened to Jensen, wondering if he was talking about Ashley or Katie. When it was his time to answer, Jared just took a deep breath. "I don't know if I believe in soulmates anymore." he admitted. "Don't look at me like that Jay. It's true. I used to think I knew what I wanted, but now, I have no idea. I just don't think soulmates exist."

Tiffany nodded at their answers, "That's a nice transition into our next question, how has your relationship changed in the last year?" Jensen knew that Jared was going to struggle with this question so he was thankful he was answering first. "I've celebrated my one year wedding anniversary with my wife and I've been with my girlfriend for almost a year," he said as if it was a normal thing to have a wife and girlfriend.

Jared shifted in his seat as he felt the room start to close in on him. He tried to take slow deep breaths to keep himself from passing out. "I uh...celebrated my one year anniversary, and got divorced all in the same year. I uh...don't really want to talk about any of that though, if you don't mind."

"Is it true that your wife left you for her ex fiance?" Tiffany asked but Jensen cleared his throat, "How about the next question." He practically demanded trying to protect his brother. Tiffany got the hint and looked down. "Um, what's your guilty pleasure?" Jensen thought about it and laughed, "I haven't in awhile but I used to watch One Tree Hill before bed. Danneel got me into it." He had never admitted that to anyone but after seeing Sophia and Lucy talking about Brooke Davis on Twitter the show had been on his mind.

Jared felt his hands immediately ball up into fists and his eyes squint into a glare as he stared straight ahead. He was about to go off on the reporter when he heard Jensen's voice. He looked over at his brother, trying to fight back the tears he could feel forming in his eyes. He laughed when he heard Jensen's guilty pleasure. "Danneel made you watch it? Yeah right." he teased, shaking his head. "I think my guilty pleasure would be..." he reached over and held his hands over Jensen's ears. "...bubble baths." he whispered to Tiffany.

Jensen fought to get Jared off him, "I heard that bubble bath boy!" he teased and the interaction caused the interviewer to laugh. "Okay guys, who is your favorite person in your group?" This question could get Jensen in trouble if he didn't answer correctly. If he said Ashley then Katie would get pissed and if he said Katie then Ashley would get pissed so he did the one thing he knew would resolve the problem, "It's Jared."

"I'd like to say this guy right here, but he's a jerk so I'm gonna say Misha." Jared teased, sticking his tongue out at Jensen. "I'm kidding though. I love Misha, but Jensen will always be my favorite person. He's my rock, my brother, and my best friend."

"How about your least favorite person in the group?" Jensen knew the answer to this immediately, "Amell." He crossed his arms as he thought about the man.

"What the hell do you have against Amell? He's a great guy, and he's always been nothing but nice to you." Jared said, defending his friend. "For me, it's Ian Harding. That little...never mind. I shouldn't say anything." Jared said, stopping himself from going off onto a bad rant.

Tiffany looked excited when Jared mentioned Ian. "I think you totally should say something."

"Nice try. I'm not saying anything."

"Darn," Tiffany looked at her paper, "Oh, this is the last question. Do you regret anything you've done in the last six months?" Jensen shrugged, "I do shit I shouldn't all the time."

"Very much so." Jared nodded. "But we learn from our mistakes, right?"

"Could either of you elaborate?" Tiffany fished and Jensen decided to give the girl something. "I regret keeping things from my girlfriend. I thought I was protecting her by keeping it to myself but it made things worse."

Jared stood up and shook his head. "I regret ever falling in love." he suddenly said. "If you'll please excuse me..." he said politely before walking out of the room.

Jensen wanted to follow his friend but they were still on the clock here. "Uh, I think that'll be it. Thanks for your time." He showed Tiffany out and once she was gone he went in search of Jared. "You okay?"

Jared found himself a beer and walked out the back door and down to the stable. He was leaning against the fence, watching the horses when Jensen came up behind him. "Nope." he said flatly, bringing the beer to his lips and taking a long drink.

Jensen walked up along side him and saw Lucy's horse, Riptide, running around with one of his. "You want me to sell him?"

"Nah...Sammy's gonna need a horse so she can go riding with her Uncle Jay when she's older."

Jensen smiled, "Sounds good." He looked at his brother, "Do you really regret falling in love with her?"

Jared just shrugged his shoulders and drained what was left in his beer bottle. "Does it really matter anymore?" he asked, handing the empty bottle to Jensen. "I gotta go. Gotta clean the house before mom brings the kids home later."

"I'll drive ya, I can walk back." He said and started heading towards Jared's car.

"I'm fine to drive. It was one beer." he said.

Jensen knew Jared was fine to drive but he was trying to find an excuse to go see Katie. "Okay. I'll go pick up Brady then."

"Thanks for the keg." Jared said as he got into his car.

#cdcrpgtaskjune18

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sinceileftyoublog · 5 years ago

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Whitney Rose Interview: The Story Thief

BY JORDAN MAINZER

In our interview conducted a couple months ago and since on Twitter, Austin-via-Canada country singer-songwriter Whitney Rose has joked about the ill timing of an album called We Still Go To Rodeos, released on her own artist/management-run label MCG Recordings back in April. The joke’s on us, though: As is par for the course for Rose, throughout the record, she uses the symbol of the rodeo, and first-person narratives of interpersonal devotion and depression, as metaphors for and tributes to the twists and turns of the human condition rather than literal autobiography. A woman ruins her life for a man on rollicking, jangly opener “Just Circumstance”; a different woman ruins a man’s car after he cheats on her on “Believe Me, Angela”. Someone ironically uses the excuse of a breakup to finally get a king-sized bed on “Through The Cracks”. There are songs devoted to life’s simple pleasures--companionship and sex on the breezy “Home With You”, snow cones on the harmonica-laden, swaying title track. We’re not going anywhere, but we need stories more than ever.

Read my interview with Rose below, during which we talk about the writing and recording of the record, Forensic Files, live streams, and how she saved a baby blue jay during quarantine.

Since I Left You: Do you feel especially fortunate to have been able to release We Still Go To Rodeos, given the current economic climate, on your own label?

Whitney Rose: Yeah, absolutely. The biggest reason for that is I didn’t have to have a conversation with anybody. It was completely up to me. I have friends on record labels who for various reasons ended up having to have very long discussions slash arguments figuring out whether or not to release it on the date and when to release it. We don’t know when we’re gonna have the green light to get back on the road, which all of my musician friends are dying to do, myself included. Not knowing how long this is gonna go on, and why not give people new music right now? Hopefully, let it marinate, and it’s not too old by the time we’re able to get back on the road again. At this point, because this is so unprecedented, I have no idea whether it was a good decision or a bad decision, but I don’t regret it.

SILY: From a listener standpoint, I feel like people are pretty happy to get any kind of new art, whether music or shows or books or films. Not even just as a way to spend time, but if something has something to say, it can definitely be comforting to people right now.

WR: That was my hope. I hope my new record was able to do that for some folks.

SILY: In terms of the songs themselves, throughout the whole album, you seem to be singing from a number of different times in your life or to or about different people, if not from different points of view. Does the album follow a concrete narrative? Are songs about specific people?

WR: The record as a whole is a narrative, but I make fun of myself and call myself a story thief. I’m really close with my family, and I’m really lucky to have a lot of close friends who tell me things about their lives, and I definitely steal their stories. I do enjoy writing in the third person, but writing in first person comes more naturally to me. I draw from my own experiences, too. I tell my own stories. But even if I’m telling someone else’s story, I prefer to tell it in the first person. In terms of there being an overall [narrative], I like to think it’s cohesive enough, but it’s definitely not telling one story.

SILY: Do you find that people often assume you’re singing autobiographically?

WR: 100%, as soon as you say the word “I.” I would even go so far as to say [singing autobiographically is] not usually the case. Sometimes, it is, but definitely, people make that assumption.

SILY: The first track, for instance, is inspired by the different stories you’ve watched on Forensic Files.

WR: Not only that, but I don’t know if you’ve seen Orange Is The New Black, but I got really interested in the criminal justice system, specifically for females. It’s pretty incredible the stuff that goes on. Obviously, not only the female experience...the criminal justice system is pretty fucked.

It’s amazing, because I don’t know how much you travel, but I travel a fair bit, and [Forensic Files] is one of the only constants. I can count on it being on HLN when I get home from a gig or when I get to a hotel after a 15-hour drive. The narrator’s voice has become somewhat of a lullaby for me. Sometimes, I put it on and I’m asleep within 30 seconds. It’s that calming. It’s one of those constants you can depend on.

SILY: Do you think you’ve watched every episode?

WR: I don’t know about that, because they always go on loops. But I can tell you I’ve seen some episodes 4 times. I tend to exaggerate, and I’m trying to do that less, but I would not be surprised if I’ve seen 500 episodes of Forensic Files...but I don’t know how many episodes there are. I should be on Wikipedia right now [looking it up.]

SILY: My girlfriend and I are at the point where we can’t go on Netflix or anywhere it’s streaming and find an episode we haven’t seen. For a long period of time, it was exactly that: something to fall asleep to.

WR: Absolutely. And I only watch it on Netflix when I’ve been trying to sleep for an hour or two and I can’t. It’s that thing that will put me to sleep when it’s important for me to go to sleep. We always need rest when we’re on the road. But at home, when I can’t fall asleep, I go straight to Netflix and put on Forensic Files. It usually works pretty quickly.

SILY: The track “Believe Me Angela”, I’ve read that you started out wanting to write a revenge tale, but it ended up being one where the two women at the bad end of infidelity find solidarity with one another. The song is structured the same way: You think it’s gonna go one way, but on the final verse, the narrator talks it over with her friends and keys the guy’s car instead of the other girl’s. Was that trick intentional, or did it just happen that way?

WR: It absolutely just happened. But not easily, because--[sighs]--I don’t know, that day--you know some days, you’re not angry or enraged about anything, but you’re a little more spunky than normal. I was just in this really awful mood and felt like writing an angry song and calling someone out on their shit. So I thought, “Okay, I’ll write a cheating/revenge tune.” I sat down, and was writing it but I was not feeling it. The more I wrote, the less angry I got. I started feeling compassion for the characters. I got derailed, and it happened.

SILY: Does writing songs in general have that almost therapeutic quality to you?

WR: Absolutely. Even just strumming a guitar. It’s effectively my medication. Even if it’s just three chords over and over and over again for half an hour to an hour. I find it really really soothing. Usually, when I do that, I start thinking of melodies, and that’s how a lot of my song ideas come to me.

SILY: In terms of your lyrical delivery, the one that stands out most to me is “In A Rut”, especially the way you say the title really quickly. Did you do it that way to have it fit within the tempo?

WR: It’s funny; when I wrote that song, it’s probably the best example of what I just described, playing the same three chords over and over again. In this particular instance, I had just come off the road, and I wasn’t feeling the best. This isn’t how I approach every song--I don’t just write when I’m angry, I swear. But it actually started out a lot slower, and picking up my guitar for the first time in a few days, which doesn’t usually happen. Usually, even if for a few minutes, I play every day. But I was in a weird mindset, and I started playing these chords and singing these three words. It was a lot slower. But when we were in the studio, I thought it should be a little bit more of a rocker. I didn’t want to be sad, but a little more frustrated. The most effective way I could do that was try it as a rocker. My band on this album is amazing. They could have done anything--that could have been a ballad and they would have done an incredible job. But when I heard them playing that at a faster tempo, I fell in love with it. We just moved forward with it. We didn’t even go back to the country shuffle.

SILY: It’s almost an anthem, the way it turned out.

WR: Thank you! It’s really fun to play live. It’s one of the only tunes I got to play live with my band before this happened. I always have a lot of fun with it.

SILY: Your band is pretty steady throughout the whole record, but I do love that there’s an overall palate that occasionally introduces something new, like the banjo on “I’d Rather Be Alone” and the harmonica on the title track.

WR: Every musician on the record is so versatile. They can play any style. That’s one of the biggest reasons why they were hired. Matt Hubbard and Rich Brotherton, when they came to the studio, they were involved in the base tracks, with Lisa Pankratz on drums and [Dave Leroy Biller] on guitar and [Brad Fordham] on bass. It was all pretty much within the same week. When the piano and extra guitar player came in, they had a truck full of instruments. When we were helping them load in, we were like, “Holy shit! How many instruments do you have in here?” They didn’t know what we were looking for. Playing around with the extra instruments was so much fun. I’m sure that’s super nerdy. But Matt Hubard on harmonica on the title track, Rich Brotherton on banjo and acoustic guitar on “I’d Rather Be Alone”. Matt Hubbard on the Wurlitzer. Watching Gurf Morlix do his thing on two or three tracks was incredible. One of my favorite guitar players, Nichol Robertson, who is based in Toronto--timing didn’t work out for him to come down here, so I sent him a couple tracks, and he sent back some amazing stuff, like the outro for “I’d Rather Be Alone”.

When I write, I write alone, so I have to imagine how it’s going to sound in my head. I’m just a strummer. I’m by no means a good guitar player. I enjoy it, and obviously I play guitar a lot, but by no means am I a maestro. Seeing people care about these little songs I’ve written, and having them listen to me and listen to what I want, and having it become a musical conversation. They are maestros, and they know so much more about that world than I do. Seeing what they bring to the table. I wish I could be in the studio all of the time. It’s such a learning experience. It’s so inspiring. The only thing it hasn’t inspired me to do at this point is actually get really good at an instrument.

SILY: The line on “I’d Rather Be Alone” that gives it its title seems to be prescient right now: “I’d rather be alone than lonely.”

WR: There are a lot of things on this record that aren’t the best timing. Everybody in the world right now just wants to be out in public. “I’d Rather Be Alone” is socially responsible, but what people really want is to be able to go out to dinner with their friends, go to a park, go out for coffee, go to a beach, go to a pool. That one is telling a story of a friend of mine who basically said half of the line. I was listening intently, trying to be a good friend and listener, but I couldn’t wait to get off the phone and write that song. [laughs]

SILY: The line on “Through The Cracks” about finally getting a king size bed after becoming alone again differentiates being alone and being lonely, too. You can be lonely, but not be alone. And part of aloneness can be these things that give you comfort.

WR: There is such a difference between alone and lonely, and a lot of people don’t realize that. I don’t think it’s groundbreaking or anything, but it could be helpful for people who hate being alone to have a better understanding of people in their lives who don’t need people around, to the point where they’re uncomfortable having people around. It’s something you can realize within yourself. “I’m alone right now, but holy shit, I’m not lonely, I’m actually really happy.” Vice versa, “I’m lonely right now, but I’m not alone, so what does that say about me.” Understanding people in your life who are different than you.

SILY: What’s the story behind the cover art?

WR: It’s kind of embarrassing, actually. I wanted to do something really simple. In the past, my artwork hasn’t been glamorous, but this time, I wanted to do something a little more natural and simple. My fella and I just went out for a drive one day. He took that photo, and I saw it, and I thought, “Let’s use this. That’s the album art.” My friend Tom Ionescu put the borders on. We worked together to maintain that simplicity with the fonts and how everything appears. I wanted something not really flashy. I have one hand behind my head. It was free. Why not?

SILY: Have you done any live streams?

WR: I haven’t, and it’s not for any reason except it’s gonna be the first time that these songs are for the most part being presented, and I want to present them properly. If I were to live stream just me and my guitar, I feel like it would be sending kids off to preschool but not putting any clothes on them. It doesn’t feel right. I’ve even recorded myself doing a live stream, and I’m not happy with where it is. Also, one of the times I did a test of a live stream, I knocked over my microphone. I couldn’t stop giggling. It feels really, really weird. To execute it really well is really, really difficult. The space in between songs is dead air unless you have something really clever to say. But I don’t want to say anything. I just want to play my songs. Basically, I’m just waiting out the really strict quarantine, and when I have all of the gear and cameras to have my band over to my house and practice distancing and do a live stream that way, instead of doing it just on my own. The best that I can go for with just me and my guitar is endearing, and I want better than that.

Even if it was a different record that I put out, it might make sense for me to do some solo live streaming, but for this record, I’m gonna wait until I can have my band.

[Editor’s note: Since this interview was conducted, Rose has been featured on two SiriusXM channels.]

SILY: In the meantime, is anything else coming up for you? Are you finding yourself writing?

WR: Yeah. I’ve been writing, and I’ve been practicing, and I’ve been doing what everyone else has been doing. And just like everyone else, some days, you wake up really inspired, and you read, and you exercise for a while, and I’ve been practicing French, so I’ll do 4 or 5 French lessons, and make a really nice meal. And then the next day, I’ll be like, “Oh, yeah, I’m gonna watch 5 episodes of The Office.” It ebbs and flows. The other day, a friend of mine said, “This is a really weird time. As long as you’re getting by, great. You don’t have to master that third language. Great if you do, but if you can just get through this, that’s enough.” I really appreciated her saying that. It really spoke to me. I’m sure there are a lot of people out there who feel the pressure to keep being productive. I’m not coming down on that mentality at all because it’s ideal. But for me, I’ll readily admit that it’s not sustainable.

SILY: Is there anything you’ve been listening to, watching, or reading during quarantine or before that’s caught your attention, inspired you, or comforted you?

WR: I love the new [Lucinda Williams] record. She released it on the same day as [I released mine]. Two days after she released it, I listened to it 4 times. Right now, I’m reading Becoming by Michelle Obama. I can’t wait to watch the Netflix special. I’m almost done with that book. We rescued a baby blue jay, which took up about a week. The baby fell out of his nest in my yard, and the nest was too high to put him back. He was about to get eaten by a feral cat, so we took him inside. The next morning, we were gonna take him to animal rescue, but we saw his parents in the yard, so we ended up making a makeshift nest for him. By the end of that first day, his parents were coming to visit him and feeding him every 20 minutes. About a week after that, he flew away with his parents and I think one or two siblings as well. That was great. That took up some time.

SILY: Do you have any pets?

WR: I do not, no. I love animals, but with my old lifestyle, spending so much time on the road, it wasn’t really feasible. For a few months of the year, I’d have to find alternate care for a pet. It hasn’t felt right since I started touring full-time. Right now, I would even kill to have Ace back. I’m glad he flew away, and it had a happy ending, but I loved having him around.

We Still Go To Rodeos by Whitney Rose

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utwatergroup-blog · 6 years ago

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Homeless Access to Water

By Ryan Gebrael

Water access and consumption has never been something I have had to think about in my day to day life. There was always a shower in my bathroom that sprouted out a seemingly infinite amount of water. Showering felt more akin to a task rather than a privilege, and feeling unclean was only a sign that it was time for a shower. Because of this, when thinking about things that homeless people need, access to a shower isn’t something that would immediately come to my mind. My individual research question pertains to how access and consumption of water resources can affect Austin’s homeless population. Everyone in my group’s research looks at water consumption, and in my research these observations look at the practical and functional uses of Austin’s water, as well as the psychological effects that access to water can have on individuals. This access has long been desired by Austin’s homeless population, and can open up opportunities, restore dignity, and create a sense of community for all of Austin’s residents.

Laura and James Ritchie are a couple who began providing food to homeless people last year. After asking these people what more they could do to help, some of the homeless people brought up that they struggled to maintain their hygiene without a means to clean themselves. To these people, not having a home also meant that their access to water was limited, and they were unable to shower or clean their clothes. Laura and James did some searching and found a nonprofit organization that provides people with access to a shower trailer, and after contacting them they decided to raise money to purchase a similar trailer. This was the beginning of Light Loads, a non-profit organization run by the Ritchies aiming to provide homeless people with the utilities they need to get back on their feet and live a better life.

This past October I attended the block party for the opening of the first Lighter Load’s shower trailer. I arrived to a church parking lot where I saw tables set up with clothes on them. There were multiple stands set up under the shade, each with different signs. There was a stand with baskets containing hygiene items such as toothpaste and mouthwash, as well as stands with food, drinks, and snacks. The shower trailer was attached to a pickup truck parked by the sidewalk. At the event, volunteers worked to help provide homeless people with various services that they may need. I helped at the barber shop that was set up by the shower trailer, making a sign in sheet for the people in need of a haircut and finding and bringing them over when it was their turn. I noticed the whole event felt like a family get together, and the volunteers appeared to have known all the homeless people who attended for a long time. While helping with the barber shop, I was able to overhear as well as participate in some of the conversations that took place. Many of the homeless people would tell their stories, and from that I learned a lot about what an opportunity like this event meant to them.

One by one, each of the homeless people at the event went in to try out the shower trailer. They made it clear that places to shower are hard to come by for them. One man mentioned that he had only taken two showers in the past 3 years. Without access to a shower, the water consumption of most homeless people is limited to whatever public bathroom they could find where the staff don’t ask for them to leave. The difficulty finding a place to shower does not appear to be unique to Austin, as Karim mentions the homeless population in Indianapolis having similar issues in his master’s thesis. He uses the term “bird bathing”, which is taking a quick body bath in whatever facility they have available, to describe how homeless people clean themselves. At the block party when one woman was asked what she thought of the trailers, she said that she could’ve really used it 10 years ago but she appeared happy to be able to have it now. After getting a haircut, a man went back to the bathroom and looked at himself in the mirror for a while before leaving the trailer with a smile. There was no question as to whether the homeless population had a demand for water infrastructure.

The trailer itself is attached to the church by a hose, where the water supply comes from. The hose can be disconnected, and there is a 300 gallon water tank that can be filled so that the trailer operates without being attached to a water source. For disposal, the trailer has greywater and blackwater tanks that allow for the waste to be easily separated and disposed of. It includes a shower, a bathroom, and a mobile laundromat where homeless people can bring their clothes with them to wash. At the event one man brought a glad bag with all of his clothes to wash with the laundry machine. The inside of the trailer reminded me of a motel bathroom, with an emphasis on functionality as opposed to space and comfort. The trailer functions as a form of mobile water infrastructure, and can be brought to different private locations where homeless people can use the water facilities.

Although the water consumption of homeless people is limited, a little bit of it seems to go a long way. I interviewed James Ritchie a couple weeks after the block party, and asked him about the impact of the shower trailer on the homeless people who he has been helping. He told me that two of the people who attended the block party were able to find jobs. A different man who was a felon that was released and enrolled into a second chance program told James that after showering and fixing himself up he enrolled in pipefitter recertification classes. Access to water utilities helps people in many different ways, and sometimes the effect can be mental instead of physical. James said that one of the goals of Lighter Loads was to bring back dignity to these people. When I showered after the interview, I noticed that the shower felt like a fresh start and brought a sense of cleanliness that couldn’t be physically measured. Bringing cleanliness back into people’s lives through water utilities gives them a chance to get back on the right track in life.

Something I noticed while at the block party was the sense of community that was present during the event. The homeless people there already had a relationship established with the founders of the organization. They had been providing food to the homeless for over a year, and in that time had gotten to know each of the 20 or so people that they helped. During the event, I watched as everyone greeted each other with familiarity, and being the only one who hadn’t met any of the volunteers or homeless people before, I felt like the odd one out. I asked James if he believed that as many of the homeless people would have shown up if he hadn’t previously established a relationship with them. He explained that when Lighter Loads first began feeding the homeless, many of them were doubtful about if the organization was really willing to help them. “Yeah right, nobody comes back to us, nobody cares about us” was the tone of the responses when James and Laura outlined their plan of purchasing the shower trailer. He had to work to gain their trust, but helping them access water infrastructure resulted in a family-like relationship between the organization and many of the homeless people. At the end of block party I even noticed that some of the homeless people stayed to help them pack up.

Austin’s homeless population has a very limited access to water utilities, and this results in less water consumption than what these people need to get themselves back on their feet. Homeless people who have the means to keep themselves clean have access to opportunities to improve their lives, such as getting job interviews, as well as helping bring people their dignity back. They have a limited interaction with Austin’s watershed, and their water consumption comes from whatever facilities people allow for them to use. Lighter Loads is an example of an organization working to provide homeless people with access to showers and laundry service so that they can overcome some of the barriers they face and live a normal life. The interactions between this non profit organization and the people who desired water utilities helped build relationships and created a community of people who are all trying to ensure that homeless people have access to the water infrastructure required to improve their lives.

#ANT324LAnthropologyofInfrastructure2019

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junker-town · 6 years ago

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Brook and Robin Lopez reunited on the Bucks is a dream for their mother

The Lopez brothers are reunited again. | Deborah Ledford

The two are playing on the same team for the first time since college.

Deborah Ledford would sit in her living room, repeatedly pressing the “last channel” button on her remote control.

When this television conflict first began in 2008, she switched back and forth from Nets games to Suns games, quickly changing the channel during timeouts or free throws. Last year, with mobile devices having become hand-held high-definition televisions thanks to streaming, Ledford would put the Bucks on her TV and the Bulls on her cell phone, or vice versa.

On game nights this upcoming season, though, her remote control and cell phone will remain on the coffee table in the living room of her Central California home. Her seven-foot twin sons, Brook and Robin Lopez, will be playing on the same channel and the same team: the Milwaukee Bucks.

“I would always have to hope their games would be on different days or different times,” Ledford says. “When they were on at the same time, sometimes we simply missed what the other did. It will be much easier now.”

And much more enjoyable for a mother who, for 11 years, has watched her nearly identical sons square off against one another multiple times a season.

The twins playing alongside one another for the Bucks adds something of a final chapter to the family’s history in Milwaukee, the city in which their mother was born. In 1949, Ledford’s father, Bob, was invited to try out for a recent start-up league called the National Basketball Association. At the time, Ledford said, the NBA paid $300 a month, and Bob Ledford, with a baby on the way, needed a more secure income. He instead accepted a job as an engineer for Allen-Bradley, a factory automation equipment company, and from 1949 to 1951 played center for the Milwaukee Allen-Bradleys of the National Industrial Basketball League, which was comprised of teams sponsored by large companies and players employed by said companies.

“So, it’s kind of like a circle that has been completed with the twins now coming to play in Milwaukee,” Ledford says.

The twins’ height mostly comes from the Ledford family, said Deborah, who is 6-0 and whose father was 6-7. Brook and Robin’s eldest brother, Alexander, who is a teacher and also serves as the twins’ personal trainer, is 6-10. Their older brother Christopher, who Ledford said is writing and producing a basketball graphic novel, is 6-7.

Raising four growing boys presented certain challenges, one of which was feeding them. Ledford said that shortly after dinner was served and the dishes were loaded into the dishwasher each night, at least one of the boys would invariably ask, “What’s there to eat, Mom? I’m hungry!” She kept plenty of cereal and milk on hand for those post-dinner appetites.

“I would estimate three or four boxes of cereal a week,” Ledford said. “They ate well.”

While many of the twins’ similarities remain, such as their appearance and their affinity for all things Disney and Star Wars, as Brook and Lopez grew older, the differences in their personality, preferences and playing style began to develop. Ledford would take the twins to the barber to get haircuts together until junior high school when Robin said he wasn’t going because he wanted long hair.

“I said fine because he saved me some money,” Ledford said with a laugh. “It’s his head and as a parent you always have to choose your battle.”

To this day, Robin’s unkempt curly locks and beard - as well as his ongoing feud with NBA mascots - are defining characteristics that make it easy to tell him apart from his short-haired, clean-shaven, mascot-friendly twin brother.

The twins’ difference in temperament became clear while playing one-on-one in the driveway. Ledford said if Brook beat Robin, no damage was done. If Robin beat Brook, basketballs were thrown, screens were torn, lights were shattered. (Robin’s penchant for breaking glass continued during his rookie season when he shattered a door after losing a game of 3-on-3, sending shards onto the court and echos of what sounded like the open to Stone Cold Steve Austin’s theme music reverberating through the Phoenix Suns practice facility).

The twins have since played against one another in 22 regular season games in the NBA, with Brook having gone 13-9 against Robin. And Ledford has been in attendance for all of them, wearing the jersey of the home team and the hat of the road team to equally support her sons. Knowing that one of her boys would lose each time, she was placed in something of a constant no-win situation.

“Whenever they played each other, I didn’t have fun because I knew that one’s success would be at the expense of the other,” Ledford said. “If one got a dunk on the other or one blocked the other’s shot, it was good for one and bad for the other.”

The days of playing against one another are now over, meaning they’ll win together and lose together. For the first time since they played for Stanford University, the Lopez twins will wear matching outfits when they put on the green and white of the Bucks (unlike when they were younger and Ledford dressed the twins in color-coded clothing so people could tell them apart -- blue for Brook and red for Robin). Robin, who signed a two-year deal with Milwaukee this summer, now joins a team that his older brother - one minute older, to be exact - helped lead to a 60-win season and the Eastern Conference Finals in his first season with the Bucks.

“Since Brook has been playing the center spot for his whole NBA career, and there aren’t that many seven-footers around, I had almost resigned myself to the fact that they would never be on the same team,” Ledford said. “And then for this to occur, it was the most wonderful thing. The people who are running the Bucks are just really astute people because when you have Brook and Robin play together, you have a synergy.”

Brook and Robin will now look to turn their sibling rivalry into sibling royalty as they attempt to become the second set of brothers to win an NBA championship, joining Pau and Marc Gasol. Unlike the Gasols, the Lopezs have an opportunity to win the title together, as do their teammates Giannis Antetokounmpo and his older brother Thanasis, who also signed with the Bucks this summer.

“I don’t want to count my chickens before they hatch,” Ledford said. “But that would be awesome.”

As close as they are in bond and proximity, the Lopez twins will not be living together, although shortly after reaching an agreement with the Bucks, Robin did tweet a clip from “The Simpsons” of brothers fighting over the top bunk. Nor were they roomies when Brook played for the Brooklyn Nets and Robin for the New York Knicks during the 2015-2016 season. For that they blamed their cats, who couldn’t possibly live under the same roof because they didn’t get along. This time around, Ledford said that Robin simply prefers a downtown apartment while Brook enjoys his private house (no word on the cats’ real estate preferences).

“So, no, they won’t be living together,” Ledford said, “but I suspect they’ll be hanging out at Brook’s house quite a bit.”

In the past when the two played against one another, Ledford said, the road twin would often stay at the house of the home twin. The two would discuss everything but basketball and play board games deep into the night, just as they did as kids.

“To this day they have huge collections of board games that I’ve never ever heard of,” Ledford said. “And they know all the detailed rules.

When the board games are packed up, and the cameras are turned on, the brotherly love dissipates. When playing against one another, from opening tip to the final buzzer, there was a mutual silent treatment between the two. While doing interviews, they endearingly teased one another and exchanged verbal jabs, often sounding like wrestlers recording a promo for their upcoming match.

That hostile side of their relationship didn’t develop until the two were in the NBA, separated for the first time.

“They had always been on the same team, always on the same side,” Ledford said. “Barbs at each other was not a part of it.”

Now back on the same team and the same side, the barbs haven’t stopped just yet.

When Brook was asked By HoopsHype what he thought of the Bucks’ offseason, he said, “I thought we made all the right moves...pretty much. Except for signing Robin.” After the Bucks’ media day, Robin retweeted photos of himself and teammate Kyle Korver saying, “Two best looking guys on the squad no question.”

That nemesis behavior, though, is something of a facade. A crowd-pleasing act by a pair of witty, seven-foot performers. Off the court and away from the spotlight, Ledford says, the twins are no less a tandem than the kids who grew up creating stories together, with Brook doing the writing and Robin the sketches, and planning their next trip to Disney Land, charting their itinerary for each ride following their 8 a.m. arrival at the theme park.

“In reality,” Ledford says, “they are always really supportive of each other.”

Their supportive mother will will be traveling to Milwaukee once a month this season to visit her sons and attend home games. When not in attendance, she’ll be watching from afar, just as she always has. Only this time, her sons will be playing on the same court, in the same city, and on the same channel.

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rickhorrow · 6 years ago

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10 To Watch : Mayors Edition 42219

RICK HORROW’S TOP SPORTS/BIZ/TECH/PHILANTHROPY ISSUES FOR THE WEEK OF APRIL 22 : MAYORS EDITION with Jacob Aere

Networks have unveiled their plans for this week’s NFL Draft, which begins April 25. Disney’s presentation of the event will feature over a thousand production elements, with over 600 player highlights, and 57 cameras covering the action. ESPN’s traditional draft telecast, presented for the fourth year by Courtyard, features host Trey Wingo, NFL Draft analysts Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay, and many others. Meanwhile, ABC’s differentiated coverage will focus on the journey of NFL Draft prospects, and feature “Good Morning America’s” Robin Roberts, host Rece Davis, and ESPN’s “GameDay” crew: Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, David Pollack, Tom Rinaldi, Maria Taylor, and Chris “The Bear” Fallica. Meanwhile, NFL Media will deliver more than 76 live hours of Draft Week coverage, including a record 23 draft war room cameras. Before the first round on Thursday, NFL Draft Red Carpet airs with NFL Network's Melissa Stark and Michael Irvin interviews prospects as they arrive. By harnessing everything from hardcore sports to lifestyle coverage, both the Disney family of networks and the NFL itself demonstrate their awareness that the Draft is now must-see TV and the NFL is now a 52-week sport.

Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber has announced that the league will expand to 30 teams in the coming years, up from the previous expansion target of 28. In 2006, MLS had 11 teams. This season, there are 24, with another three on the way: Inter Miami CF (2020), Nashville SC (2020), and Austin FC (2021). Garber also anticipates selecting the 28th and 29th expansion teams in the coming months with no timetable set for the 30th team. Sacramento and St. Louis appear to be the frontrunners for slots No. 28 and 29, as they've both been asked to make formal presentations to the MLS Expansion Committee. The MLS Board of Governors also set the expansion fee for those two spots at $200 million apiece. Other cities whose expansion hopes may now be reignited include Charlotte, Detroit, Indianapolis, Phoenix, Raleigh, and San Diego, according to Sports Illustrated. Pro soccer is thriving in the U.S. and Canada, and expansion during the last decade has been a key driver of MLS' growth. Investors continue to be enthralled. So why not keep it going?

The Indiana Pacers have agreed to a deal keeping them in Indianapolis for the next 25 years. The agreement includes $295 million in public subsidies for renovation and expansion of Bankers Life Fieldhouse, the Pacers’ home arena. A further $360 million will be used for capital improvements, comprising $270 million from state and CIB sources, and $65 million from private investment. As part of the deal, the city of Indianapolis will also contribute $25 million for public infrastructure needs. Approved by the House of Representatives, the greenlighted bill now goes to the Senate to be voted on and secure final approval. Construction will be completed in three phases. Phase one will focus on interior renovations, scheduled for February-October, 2020. While this won’t disrupt Pacers’ home games, the WNBA Indiana Fever, who play their games during the summer, must play home games during the 2020 and 2021 seasons at another venue. Herbert Simon, the team's 84-year-old owner, has said he wants to keep the Pacers in Indiana and that his son, Steve Simon, will take over the franchise, which has been in their family since 1983.

After winning his fifth green jacket on Sunday, Tiger Woods learned last Monday that he would also be receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Donald Trump, the highest civilian honor in the United States. Trump announced in a tweet that he had spoken to Woods and would be presenting him with the prestigious honor. The honor is not one to be taken lightly. Woods will become just the fourth golfer to receive the medal, joining Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Charlie Sifford. While Nicklaus and Palmer were given the medal by President George W. Bush during his presidency, Sifford, who was a mentor to Woods, was honored five years ago by President Barack Obama. When Sifford was awarded the medal, Woods tweeted his congratulations. Woods will be the fourth athlete to receive the award during President Trump’s time in office, joining Babe Ruth, Roger Staubach, and Alan Page.

Tiger Woods’ comeback Masters win delivered $22.5 million in exposure to Nike, according to sponsorship analytics firm Apex Marketing Group. As Tiger made his final round charge towards the title, he is estimated to have generated more than $23.6 million in total exposure for his sponsors. While AT&T, Gillette, and Tag Heuer left Woods as he suffered image issues related to marriage infidelity, substance abuse, and injury, that opened the door to new partners such as Monster Energy – Woods’ golf bag sponsor – which saw $960,000 in exposure during his final round at Augusta. CBS News noted Nike's stock price rose 2% after The Masters began and "continued to edge up Monday" following Woods' victory, adding more than $2 billion to Nike's market value. The "Tiger effect" was also "enough to boost the stock prices of other golf brands." Callaway Golf "spiked as much" as 4% from the start of The Masters through Monday. Acushnet Holdings, which owns Titleist, "jumped nearly" 5% in the same period. However, not even Tiger trying to chase down Jack Nicklaus’ record 18 major wins can change golf’s trajectory – more than ever, it is a game for the aging and not the more desirable demographic, the young.

It’s never too early to get in the Games. NBCUniversal has teamed with the Olympic organizing committee LA 2028 to offer brands advertising opportunities ahead of the 2028 Olympics, to be held in Los Angeles – the first Summer Games to be held in the U.S. since 1996. A sales team is being built by NBCU and LA2028 (plus the USOC) that will begin presenting opportunities for brands to associate themselves with four sets of games crowned by the 2028 Summer Games in L.A. With the first summer games in the U.S. in more than three decades set to arrive in 2028, this partnership marks a new type of opportunity for marketers to get involved in the Olympics — which is shaping up to make an unrivaled economic and cultural impact. “At no other time in Olympic and Paralympic history have the stakes been higher…We are at an inflection point in the sports, lifestyle and live event business that demands a complete reimagining of the model and approach to embracing and involving marketers,” said LA2028 Chair Casey Wasserman. The move is highly unusual, as normally the Olympic organizing committees and broadcast partners pursue sponsorship deals independently.

MLB is bringing the 2026 All-Star Game to Philadelphia, as part of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred last week said the league’s typical process of awarding All-Star games “went out the window” with the move to award the 2026 game to the Phillies. Manfred has sought to make competitive bidding and sequential awarding of All-Star Games key tenets of his tenure since his 2014 election. However, during an event at Independence Mall last week to announce the selection, Manfred said the move to tie the 2026 game to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence was a personal decision that followed more than two years of repeated requests from Phillies Chair and close friend Dave Montgomery. Said Manfred, “Dave never asked for a favor for the Phillies or for himself. But two years ago, he began asking for this game and to announce it soon.” Fittingly, awarding the 2026 MLB All-Star Game to Philadelphia mirrors the 1976 event that was played at Veterans Stadium, and tied into America’s bicentennial.

Port of Oakland says A's waterfront ballpark would pose safety risks. The Port of Oakland’s maritime industry is "raising red flags" over the A’s waterfront ballpark plan, claiming that the 34,000-seat venue and housing project "would pose both a safety risk to ships and a threat to the port’s future as a major, regional economic engine," according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The A’s counter that the project "wouldn’t endanger any port jobs or adversely impact the port’s shipping business." The commission "finds itself having to balance the needs and future of the third-largest port on the West Coast with the desire" of Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and the A’s to "create a new neighborhood" along the waterfront. Unlike the Giants’ Oracle Park, which "sits on a relatively quiet stretch of waterfront," the A’s ballpark "would be perched right on the edge of the port’s Inner Harbor turning basin." The basin is a "key waterway where each week bar pilots turn around an average of 25 ships" after the vessels "unload and load cargo at two nearby terminals." The pilots are very concerned about the ballpark’s lights, which they claim can act like a car’s high beams and interfere with a navigator’s vision.

A Bay Area high schooler creates a charity to help sports communities around the world. Shevali Kadakia suffered a concussion at age 15 that put her on the sidelines, unable to play soccer or basketball for a long period of time. She realized that she had accumulated a surplus of uniforms during her time playing sports over the years, and that those jerseys could be put to good use. After visiting the impoverished neighborhood of Cite Soleil in the Port-au-Prince section of Haiti, she decided to not only start donating her old jerseys, but also to start a charity. According to KRON 4, the non-profit SKCharities has been contacting colleges all across the U.S. asking athletics departments to donate old uniforms with many happy to help. The nonprofit also organizes free introductory basketball and soccer camps for children and has helped over 4,000 kids worldwide to date.

The world gets a helping hand with a MLS and Adidas Earth Day celebration. According to Hypebeast, Major League Soccer‘s social responsibility platform will run its fourth annual Greener Goals Week of Service through Earth Day. MLS Works’ Green Goals initiative explores ways to reduce the soccer body’s greenhouse gas footprint while raising awareness about environmental issues throughout the sports community. MLS has also worked with Adidas and others to create special limited edition eco-friendly kits from recycled marine plastic uniforms with all 24 clubs sporting these outfits during their games on Earth Day weekend, which took place April 19-21. Additionally, MLS clubs and staff will also be volunteering and partnering up with local charities to give back to the community. Overall, the new environment-friendly jerseys encourage soccer fans to decrease single-use plastic usage, raise awareness for plastic pollution, and generally connect sports fans with eco-friendly practices.

#10 #10towatch

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227snewfacebookfries · 7 years ago

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227's™ Facebook Fries!¡' (aka YouTube Chili' NBA) #Nike'Spicy'Tunes Star Wars Trending News! Happy Star Wars'liciously' Spicy' Day! Here are 6 ways to celebrate #MayThe4th and get ready for Spicy' 'Solo'liciously' #Walmart'Spicy'Tunes #Nike'Spicy'Tunes

Holy Sith, you guys, Star Wars Day is upon us again. "May the 4th" is a day for all lovers of Jedi, the Resistance, the Skywalkers, the Hutts, Boba Fett, Gamorrean guards, Maz Kanata, General Grievous, Rancor Keeper and Snap Wexley to unite and celebrate all there is in the galaxy far, far away. (Why May 4, you ask? Why, it's right there in the date, a play on "May the Force be with you.") Young Han Solo (Alden Ehrenreich) and Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo) hang out in the galactic underworld of "Solo: A Star Wars Story."© (Photo: JONATHAN OLLEY) Young Han Solo (Alden Ehrenreich) and Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo) hang out in the galactic underworld of "Solo: A Star Wars Story." This Star Wars Day is kind of special because it's arriving just before the next film to hit the big screen, the young Han Solo tale Solo: A Star Wars Story (in theaters May 25) with Alden Ehrenreich as the cosmic smuggler and Donald Glover as the smooth gambler Lando Calrissian. (Tickets are on sale now at Fandango.com, Drafthouse.com and more theater chains.) The franchise has remained beloved to generations of fans since George Lucas' original 1977 Star Wars, which means more than 40 years of various ways to get your "May the 4th" on. Here are some of our favorites: Rey (Daisy Ridley) and her lightsaber in "Star Wars: The Last Jedi."© (Photo: LUCASFILM) Rey (Daisy Ridley) and her lightsaber in "Star Wars: The Last Jedi." Watch the movies. Or, more likely, watch them again. If you can believe it, there are some people who've never seen Star Wars. So now's the time to get busy and watch all nine movies to get ready for Solo. For the rest of you nerds, revisit them any way you want. They're on digital platforms now. (Fun fact: According to Amazon Prime Video, the original 1977 Star Wars is the most repeatedly streamed film of the saga.) Blu-rays and DVDs, too. Chances are, some of you still have old VHS cassettes. To go really old school, dust off the laser discs. And we do suggest you watch the original 1983 edition of Return of the Jedi, rather than the later special edition that took out the Ewoks' celebration song and inserted Hayden Christensen (aka prequel Anakin "Darth Vader" Skywalker) into the Dead Jedi Club at the end. "Yub nub." Never forget. Check out the early days of the Rebel Alliance with "Star Wars Rebels."© (Photo: DISNEY XD) Check out the early days of the Rebel Alliance with "Star Wars Rebels." Binge out on various Star Wars animation. Don't sleep on the cartoons that have been busy expanding the Star Wars universe over the years. Six seasons of Star Wars: The Clone Wars on Netflix showcase a pre-Vader Anakin and other Jedi during the prequel era, while the more recent entry Star Wars Rebels focused on the Rebel Alliance just prior to the events of the first Star Wars film. Start catching up on all four seasons on iTunes, Amazon or YouTube before the pilot-centric Star Wars Resistance premieres in the fall. Blue milk is the staple of a growing Jedi Master's breakfast.© (Photo: LUCASFILM) Blue milk is the staple of a growing Jedi Master's breakfast. Let the blue milk flow. Luke Skywalker's Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru had blue milk on their breakfast table back on Tatooine, and you can enjoy it as well with these recipes. StarWars.com has a whole section of food-related fun for those who want to party hearty, from Chewbacca noodle rolls to Crystal Fox scones. And the folks at Genius Kitchen have put together some eats including Millennium Falcon Pizza and Porg Rice Balls. https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/happy-star-wars-day-here-are-6-ways-to-celebrate-supernumbermaythe4th-and-get-ready-for-solo/ar-AAwHWcD

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from Jamaal Al-Din's blog 227's™ YouTube Chili' NBA Mix! http://hoops227.typepad.com/blog/2018/05/227s-facebook-fries-aka-youtube-chili-nba-nikespicytunes-star-wars-trending-news-happy-star-warsliciously-sp.html via http://hoops227.typepad.com/blog/

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savetopnow · 7 years ago

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2018-03-13 13 MUSIC now

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your-dietician · 4 years ago

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2021 Football Opponent Previews: North Texas Mean Green

New Post has been published on https://tattlepress.com/ncaa-football/2021-football-opponent-previews-north-texas-mean-green/

2021 Football Opponent Previews: North Texas Mean Green

Catch up on previous 2021 opponent previews!

Central Michigan

Kentucky

Southeast Missouri State

Boston College

Tennessee

Whenever I played Dynasty mode on all the various iterations of NCAA Football, I would always inevitably end up 30 years into my coaching career and constantly wind up in two or three National Championship games against North Texas. As improbable as that is in real life – because, until the recent Playoff expansion to 12 teams, G5 teams were never allowed to play for a National Championship – at least in the game it made sense! Denton is located right in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, which is the prime recruiting ground for Texas, as well as only being a four-hour drive to the other main recruiting turf of Houston. North Texas as a school has an annual enrollment of over 40,000 students with a nice alumni base for donations and booster-corps. And it’s located in the football-crazed state of Texas, so of course on paper (and in the game) a solid Mean Green football team was a totally feasible outcome.

That’s rarely been the case, however. They were pretty good back when “Mean” Joe Green was leading a dynamite defense in the 60s but they dropped down to the FCS level in the 70s and weren’t really even competitive at that level. They came back to the FBS level in the 90s and only really saw success in two instances since then: Darrell Dickey’s four consecutive Sun Belt Championship runs of 2001-2004 and then current coach Seth Littrell’s back-to-back 9-win seasons in 2017 and 2018.

Since then the Mean Green have been in a bit of funk, including last year. Check it out:

2020 North Texas Schedule Results

North Texas basically played two seasons in last year’s COVID season: from September 5th through October 17th the Mean Green went 2-3, beating Middle Tennessee and FCS Houston Baptist in shoot-outs while nobly falling to SMU and faceplanting against bad Southern Miss and Charlotte squads. Then they had a forced month off due to COVID cancellations before once again scraping out two wins against struggling Rice and UTEP teams and getting blown out by UTSA and Louisiana Tech. Because all teams were eligible for a bowl last year, North Texas had the honor of being a 4-5 bowl team, getting pantsed by Eli Drinkwitz’s old team, Appalachian State, 56-28 to close out the year.

North Texas’ wins were ugly and their losses were uglier. What does 2021 hold in store for them?

Coaching Staff

Seth Littrell

Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Seth Littrell – 6th Year – 31-31 (21-18)

Back in the far away land of 2018, Seth Littrell was the hottest name in the fast-riser category of college football coach. The former North Carolina OC was 40 years young, was considered an excellent offensive mind, and built a program that had won 9-games twice in a row at a school that hadn’t seen success in quite some time. He interviewed for the Kansas State job but was told that he would have no say in who he could hire for his assistant coach staff. Given how incredibly rare and awkward a situation that is – and also the fact that he had an absolutely loaded offense, led by record-breaking quarterback Mason Fine and offensive coordinator Graham Harrell, returning in 2019 – Littrell rebuked the Wildcats and elected to wait another year to try the coaching carousel after the 2019 season.

The Mean Green lost Harrell to USC and proceeded to go 4-8. Then went 4-6 last year for good measure.

Now, Littrell is firmly on the hot-seat in Denton, TX. This might be one of those ghost stories coaches tell each other at conventions about waiting too long to “make the jump” to the P5 level, but also, Kansas State gave Littrell a dirty deal so I don’t blame him for turning them down. He just happened to regress in the one year he couldn’t then had issues trying to rebuild during a COVID season. It doesn’t look great that his offenses without Graham Harrell have noticeably regressed, but this season will be the first where he has a solidified starter at quarterback in two years. I don’t know how this season will end up or how itchy the North Texas trigger finger is, but it would be in Littrell’s best interest to at least make a bowl this year. The anxiety is certainly palpable with his recent DC hire so it’s clear he feels the pressure to succeed quickly as well.

Coach Littrell’s Resume

Assistant Staff

Mike Bloesch & Tommy Mainord – Co-Offensive Coordinators: These two had the unenviable task of replacing offensive wunderkind Graham Harrell has coordinators for the Mean Green and, reader, the difference was noticeable. Harrell’s offenses excelled in the passing game, ranking 65th and 67th overall in the two years under his watch. Without Harrell calling the shot the Mean Green became more run-oriented as their quarterbacks lost their accuracy and the passing game became ever more reliant on the deep ball. Bloesch and Mainord juggled between two quarterbacks last year but the transfer portal has given them a single answer to the position for now. If they can help develop some reliable receivers – and Mainord doubles as the wide receivers coach so the pressure is double on him – then they can get the Mean Green back to competence in both aspects of offensive production.

Phil Bennett – Defensive Coordinator: Fun fact: Phil Bennett hasn’t coached a down of football since 2017 when he retired as Arizona State’s defensive coordinator. Before then he had spent six years as Baylor’s defensive coordinator under Art Briles, bringing an blitz-heavy, turnover-reliant scheme to pair with the Briles’ warp-speed offensive attack. The hire makes sense: Seth Littrell has only once fielded a defense that ranked better than 92nd, and with his up-tempo air-raid-ish offensive attack, he needs someone familiar with producing havoc-friendly defenses that can create a few turnovers, cause a few explosions, and build a two-three possession cushion for the offense to work with. At 65, Bennett certainly isn’t a fossil but he retired because of health reasons and one has to wonder how much he has recovered – and how much he’ll be into it – as he inherits a defense that could barely stop FCS Houston Baptist.

Chris Petrilli – Special Teams Coordinator

Blake Joseph – Quarterbacks

Patrick Cobbs – Running Backs

Adrian Mayes – Tight Ends

Matt Passwaters – Defensive Line

Jim Gush – Linebackers

Jarred Holley – Cornerbacks

Offense

Yes, the Mean Green offense ranked 83rd overall in SP+ last year but this is still a damn good offense when it’s clicking. Last year’s version did two things: run the ball for efficiency and sometimes connect on the deep ball. If they could do that then it was a race to score 60 first; if they couldn’t then they fell behind by three scores and could never make up the difference.

North Texas wasn’t the most explosive on the ground but was Top 30 in every other ground metric and excelled at both standard down success rate (37th) and passing down success rate (22nd). The issue? They were successful by running the ball on those downs. If they couldn’t get it on the ground then their surprisingly bad passing offense (62nd) couldn’t reliably make up the difference since it needed to hit on deep balls downfield (or have Jaelon Darden take a 1-yard screen and make magic happen). The quarterback, line, and running backs all return so expect another heavy-dosage of the quick-hitting run game; how the passing game develops, however, will tell the tale of how successful the ‘21 offense can be.

Austin Aune

Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Quarterback – Austin Aune – Redshirt Sophomore

Austin Aune Stats

Originally a 3-star prospect in the 2012 recruiting class, Aune spent six years in the New York Yankees farm system after being drafted in the 2nd round of the MLB Draft. After not making it past the High-A Tampa affiliation he decided to go back to school and walked-on at Arkansas. He then transferred to North Texas and is now a 28-year old fourth-year sophomore: a combination of age, eligibility, and classification that I will confidently assume has never been achieved before (thanks COVID!). Last year Aune and Jason Bean split time at quarterback but neither gentleman really set themselves apart: both had 54% completion rates (yuck) while Bean threw one more touchdown and interception and Aune took way fewer sacks. Bean hit the transfer portal at the end of 2020, however, and is now trying to salvage the kansas Football Jayhawks so Aune is the lone QB with any experience on the team now. It’ll be interesting to see what he can do with a full season of being “the guy”: does he level out with more snaps and knowing he’s the one quarterback that UNT rolls out? Does he keep the same scatter-shot accuracy and suck out loud for another season? UNT returns a ton of receivers but not a lot of production so the passing game might struggle for another season unless Aune can magically cover for that inexperience.

DeAndre Torrey

Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Running Back – DeAndre Torrey – Graduate Student

Torrey is the “lightening” of Mean Green running backs while Oscar Adaway III is the thunder. The two combined for 212 carries, 1,228 yards, and 9 touchdowns on the ground. At 5’7” and 195 pounds, Torrey is seemingly the faster, quicker back to Adaway’s 6’0”, 215-pound build but they both averaged nearly the same yards per carry (5.8) and yards-per-carry on inside runs (5.9) and zone-read runs (both over 7.0 YPC). The difference is that Torrey was stuffed 6% more of the time and struggled in 7-man boxes while Adaway averaged over 5-yards per run in a 7-man box or greater. Regardless, either is a home-run threat if they can get outside and will be relied upon to steady the UNT offense until a passing threat is found.

Deonte Simpson

Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Wide Receiver – Deonte Simpson – Sophomore

First, let’s appreciate what North Texas receiver Jaelon Darden did in 2020:

112 targets, 74 catches (66% catch rate), 1,190 yards, 19 touchdowns. And that was with two inaccurate quarterbacks throwing to him!

But Darden is a Tampa Bay Buccaneer now. So let’s look at Deonte Simpson, UNT’s second best receiver last year:

45 targets, 25 catches (56% catch rate), 517 yards, 4 touchdowns.

Yikes.

Darden was seemingly the first, second, and third read in the passing progression and, occasionally, Simpson would get a look as the deep threat guy (20.7 yards per catch, 11 yards per target). Unfortunately the Mean Green’s third-leading receiver hit the transfer portal so it’s Simpson and then a pu-pu platter of dudes with less than 25 targets for the entire season. Unless a freshman or underclassman from last year makes an immediate impact it’s hard to see the passing game carving up the Tiger secondary, even with all the new faces occupying the starting spots.

Defense

Let’s cut to the chase: the North Texas stunk last year. Let’s list all the metrics that North Texas was not in the bottom 30 for:

Passing Downs Success Rate: 31.9% (64th)

End of list.

Literally everything else was 80th or worse, including allowing nearly a 50% success rate on running plays (103rd), a 44% success rate on passing plays (83rd), and a whopping 54% success rate on standard downs (116th). And that was was with a play-making defensive tackle, two solid linebackers, a legitimate shutdown corner, and a do-everything safety in the lineup.

So what gives? Former kansas Defensive Coordinator Clint Bowen (the architect of those killer Jayhawk defenses from ‘06-’09) joined the Mean Green right before the pandemic hit, inheriting the 91st best defense of 2019 and crashing it into a wall as they tumbled to 121st. Whether it was a lack of practice time or just an inability to game plan well, Bowen’s 10-game run as DC ended as quickly as it began and Littrell brought former Baylor DC Phil Bennett out of retirement to salvage what he can from last year’s defense.

The good news, as it were: almost everyone comes back. “The 121st-best defense returns everyone” might not elicit much hope or enthusiasm but Bennett is known for his aggressive, attacking defenses and a tactical shift – or at least a different voice in the room – paired with some legitimate talent might be enough to turn this thing around.

…or they could continue to get blown the hell up every week in a similar fashion that every other Littrell-era defense has done. We’ll find out soon enough!

Dion Novil

Photo by Douglas Stringer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Defensive Line – Dion Novil – Graduate Student

Novil is a rarity: a 3-4 nose tackle that lead the team in tackles for loss (7). Now, that probably speaks a lot more about the talent (or lack thereof) on the roster around him, but it’s still damn impressive for a 6’4”, 330-pound guy eating double teams every play to still log a team-high level of tackles for loss. The two other top linemen return for 2021 as well but, combined, their stats didn’t even come close to the production Novil put up. Mike Maietti and Case Cook will have their hands full on October 9th.

Larry Nixon III

Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Linebacker – Larry Nixon III – Redshirt Sophomore

The Mean Green have their own Larry Threesticks! Their version, Larry Nixon, had a breakout year last season, ending up third on the team in tackles and third on the team in tackles for loss. Every linebacker from last year’s team returns and, while they weren’t the best unit last year, they certainly got plenty of experience and are deep enough to provide a solid rotation throughout the year. Keep an eye on Gabriel Murphy as well: the redshirt freshman only logged 11 tackles but was second on the team with 5 tackles for loss.

Makyle Sanders

Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images

Defensive Back – Makyle Sanders – Graduate Student

Sanders seemingly never left the field from his safety position, leading the defense in snaps (709), tackles (38), and interceptions (2). Like every other defensive position previewed here, most of the defensive backs return, including both starting corners and safeties (and Quin Whitlock is an excellent #1 cornerback). I’m not sure how much improvement one-year can make – ranking 83rd in passing success rate allowed and 97th in passing explosiveness doesn’t magically improve with 10 games of experience – but continuity should mean that they could probably get out of the 100-area ranking…for whatever that’s worth…

So what does it all mean?

2021 North Texas Schedule

You schedule these games to win them. The obvious statement is obvious but when you’re a middling SEC team you need to schedule an easy non-conference slate to gain experience and build up wins to get to a bowl game, get ranked, earn a little primetime tv time, and increase your recruiting by building the brand into a culture of winners.

So when you pay a North Texas or Central Michigan to come to your house you need to not only get the W but really put the hurting on them to show your athleticism and ability to be a cut above other teams at your peer level.

North Texas is vulnerable: their head coach is on the hot seat and making some desperate changes to save his job on the side of the ball that he’s never had success with. They have good players, yes, but the depth behind them absolutely sucks and their best offensive weapon last year is currently in the NFL.

Yes, some youth will step up and be good, and yes, a defensive-philosophy change that champions havoc and disruption will hit home a few times and cause a quick three-and-out or a bad turnover that causes some clinching among Missouri faithful. But if Eli Drinkwitz and this team are what we think they are – and the talent he’s bringing in is as good as we think they can be – and the weaknesses on this team have been sufficiently plugged through the transfer portal, then this should be a butt-kicking that we can collectively enjoy from halftime on.

Again, Missouri is too young and not good enough to ever give a C+ effort and expect a win. This game comes right after Tennessee and right before Texas A&M and UNT will be coming off of a Bye week. But even with all of that, this should be a comfortable 14-point win at a minimum. I foresee that coming to fruition.

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