#13s era has some cool landscape shots

[rearranging-deck-chairs]

13/dhawan: too orange 12/missy: too blue 10/simm: too suits in offices

this is the burden of the thoschei shipper

[aion-rsa]

25 Best Sports TV Shows

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Sports stories have traditionally belonged to the movies. Something about the rhythms of competition, in which an athlete or team trains, plays, and then either wins or loses, is a natural fit for the film world’s three act structure.

Television, with its multiple episodes and seasons, is often more discursive and therefore less viable for truly great sports stories. Thankfully, that all seems poised to change. While some sports TV shows have found success in the past, now the medium has really kicked things up a notch. Sports stories like Brockmire, Ted Lasso, Cobra Kai, and more are not only welcome on television, but an essential part of the cable and streaming landscape. 

Read more

TV

The United States of TV High Schools

By Alec Bojalad

Movies

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By Scott Fontana and 2 others

With that in mind, it’s high time we pay homage to TV’s great sports programs. What follows is a list of 25 of the best sports TV shows of all time, hand selected by Den of Geek (i.e. me: the arms-crossed weirdo in the picture at the bottom of this article). 

It’s important to keep in mind that these are the best scripted sports TV shows. Television is, of course, no stranger to live sports and the various programs that surround them. Consider these unscripted American sports shows as honorable mentions: Hard Knocks, Last Chance U, Ken Burns’ Baseball, The Last Dance (and most other 30-for-30s), Cheer, Inside the NBA.

Enough of the undercard, now onto the main event. 

25. Red Oaks

Amazon Prime’s Red Oaks examines the bougie tennis lifestyle of the 1980s. It all comes through the lens of David Myers (Craig Roberts), a college student looking to pick up some cash by taking a summer job at an upscale Jewish country club in New Jersey. Sports stories and coming-of-age stories fit particularly well because the end goal of each one is usually growth. It’s hard to say whether David grows during his time at Red Oaks, but he certainly changes over the series’ three seasons. 

24. The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers

A TV show based on Disney sports movie behemoth franchise The Mighty Ducks was all but an inevitability, particularly when the major conglomerate secured its own streamer in Disney+. We’re all lucky then that The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers turned out to be quite good rather than completely perfunctory. The show is bold enough to recast its Ducks’ franchise as the villains and to rally around the radical idea that youth sports should be fun. 

23. One Tree Hill

At first glance, One Tree Hill doesn’t seem too different from the other teen shows of its era on The CW (though The CW was still “The WB” for One Tree Hill’s first two seasons). It’s about high schoolers in a small town, doing high school things. Where One Tree Hill excels (at least in its early, still high school seasons) is the introduction of basketball as a storytelling crutch. Half brothers Lucas (Chad Michael Murray) and Nathan Scott (James Lafferty) have a turbulent enough relationship to begin with. What better way to contextualize that relationship than through the high stakes lens of high school basketball?

22. Lights Out

Not to be confused with the 2016 horror film of the same name, Lights Out is a boxing series from FX that ran for one excellent season in 2011. Holt McCallany (best known now as Agent Bill Tench on Mindhunter) stars as retired heavyweight champion Patrick “Lights” Leary. Despite displaying signs of neurological trauma from his career, Lights can’t help but want to return to the ring for one more shot of glory (and to pay off his family’s many debts). Lights Out is a sad, elegiac little story about how one man who sees a sport that broke his brain as the only realistic option for success. 

21. Big Shot

Big Shot premiered shortly after its bigger-named Disney+ cousin The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers. And while Game Changers made a slightly bigger splash, Big Shot might be the better sports show. The story follows Marvyn Korn (John Stamos), a tempermental basketball coach who ends up at an elite all-girls prep school to shepherd its basketball program. Big Shot runs through all the tried and true tropes and beats of sports stories and does so with aplomb. Consider it Hardball meets Hoosiers with plenty of Stamos charm. 

20. Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper

Sports are somewhat incidental to Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper’s mission. Sure, lead character Mr. Cooper (Mark Curry) is a former Golden State Warriors basketball player turned PE teacher. But like its TGIF programming block peers, this show is a charming hangout comedy with few lasting conflicts to speak of. Still, you don’t spend that much time in a gym without some three-pointers and lay-ups. 

19. Coach

Before Craig T. Nelson was Mr. Incredible (or made this truly amazing televised statement), he was best known for portraying the title role in ‘90s ABC sitcom Coach. In fact, many of our archetypical perceptions of what makes a football coach likely come from Nelson’s portrayal of Coach Hayden Fox (who first coached for a fictional NCAA football team and later an NFL one). This is a man whose skill at molding young athletes belies his lack of skill at…well, everything else. Ultimately, Coach is a worthwhile multiseason experience in which a grown man grows up.

18. Kingdom

Kingdom is probably the best sports TV show that you’ve never heard of. Don’t worry, it’s not your fault. That’s just the kind of thing that happens when a show is damned to languish on AT&T’s ludicrous “Audience Network”. Kingdom is set in an MMA gym and captures all the drama provided in the heightened world of mixed martial arts combat. The show is blessed with some great characters and an even better cast. Frank Grillo (Captain America’s most annoying foe, Brock Rumlow), Kiele Sanchez (Lost), Matt Lauria (Friday Night Lights), Jonathan Tucker, (Justified)  and Nick Jonas (yes, that Nick Jonas) all make their mark on the series.

17. The White Shadow

Premiering in 1978, CBS’s The White Shadow was uncommonly progressive for its time. The series follows Ken Reeves (Ken Howard), a white NBA player who retires after a knee injury and elects to take up coaching at Carver High School in South Central Los Angeles. Coach Reeves’s team is made up primarily of Black and Hispanic players and the show deals with the social ills of life in the inner city. It’s also quite funny and charming and features a commitment to realistic basketball scenes.

16. The League

FX comedy The League works as a sports show (and as a TV show in general) because it has a deep understanding of sports from a fan’s perspective. Sure, fans watch collegiate and professional sports to marvel at the athleticism, training, and skill on display. But more importantly, they watch sports to have something to talk about with their friends. Though the participants in the titular fantasy football league at the center of The League grew up as friends, who’s to say they would have stayed friends so long without this league keeping them together? Ruxin (Nick Kroll) is an asshole. Andre (Paul Scheer) is annoying. And Taco (Jon Lajoie) is, well…Taco.

15. Rocket Power

If the ‘90s taught us anything it’s that extreme sports are sports too, man! Rocket Power is a lovely little slice of life Nick Toon that follows four kids in a fictional California surfing community. Otto Rocket, Reggie Rocket, Maurice “Twister” Rodriguez, and Sam “Squid” Dullard spend their days skateboarding, surfing, playing street hockey, and occasionally snowboarding. It’s a wonderful ode to childhood and all the athletic activities that make the day (and years) go by far too quickly. 

14. Luck

If things shook out differently, perhaps Luck could have been considered one of the five or so best sports shows of all time. All of the pieces were in place. This 2012 HBO series had the right creative team (created and run by Deadwood’s David Milch and starring Dustin Hoffman with a pilot directed by Michael Mann) to go along with an intriguing premise (complicated characters’ lives intersecting at a horse track). But alas…the dead horses. Oh so many dead horses. Despite stringent safety measures put in place, Luck lost three hoof bois during filming of its first season and was canceled shortly thereafter. May they all rest in peace.

13. All American

High school is a turbulent time in all our lives. And when the high stakes world of competitive football is added in, things can only get more intense. The CW’s All American opts to take the world of high school football and opts to add in a welcome dose of sociopolitical commentary. This series is loosely based on the life of former New York Giants linebacker Spencer Paysinger and follows his character “Spencer James” as he is recruited from South L.A. to play for the affluent Beverly Hills High. The show wisely understands that sports (particularly when they involve Black teenagers) are a marvelous portal to explore American society. 

12. Pitch

Cruelly cut short after just one season of 10 episodes, Pitch is the kind of sports show that will inspire sports stories for years to come. This baseball series for Fox comes from Dan Fogelman (This Is Us) and Rick Singer. It follows the saga of Ginny Baker (Kylie Bunbury), who becomes the first woman to play in Major League Baseball when she’s called up to pitch by the San Diego Padres. Pitch was blessed with an excellent cast including Bunbury and Mark-Paul Gosselaar as a veteran catcher nearing the end of his Hall of Fame career. More interestingly, it was blessed with an actual MLB licensing deal. There are no silly fictional teams in this show like the Tuscaloosa Barn-Burners or the Helena Hellcats. It’s all real MLB team names and logos, adding to the realism of a cool premise.

11. Ballers

Of course, Elizabeth Warren’s favorite show has to be on this list. Ballers has a bit of an unearned reputation for being cringe thanks to its ridiculous name and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s delightful cornball energy. In reality, this is an exceedingly watchable TV show and one that examines the corporate side of professional sports quite well. It’s also noticeable for being most viewers’ introduction to eventual Tenet star John David Washington. 

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10. GLOW

Is professional wrestling a sport? Vince McMahon would argue that it’s “sports entertainment.” I would argue that that’s more than good enough to get the excellent GLOW on this list. GLOW tragically fell victim to Netflix’s whimsical cancellation procedures. Why the almighty algorithm decided a show needed to be canceled after it was already renewed is beyond me. But don’t let that sour three seasons of superb sportsy storytelling. GLOW follows the fictionalized rise of the very real “Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling” and it centers it on the conflict between two former best friends, Ruther Wilder (Alison Brie) and Debbie Eagen (Betty Gilpin). GLOW differs a bit from the usual sports fare in that the “sport” at its center wasn’t necessarily plan A for the athletes. But the experience of watching the ladies train, grow, and succeed is pure and sublime sports story stuff.

9. Cobra Kai

Cobra Kai absolutely could have been phoned in. The streaming world runs on nostalgia and there’s nothing more sweetly nostalgic than The Karate Kid franchise. Instead, this Netflix series changes the original franchise’s perspective by focusing on the “villainous” Cobra Kai dojo and re-examines things from Johnny’s point of view. Ralph Macchio and William Zabka deserve credit for embodying realistically adult, yet flawed versions of their original characters. Equally deserving of credit though is a whole host of young actors bringing the martial arts to a whole new generation. 

8. Blue Mountain State

A lot of the shows on this list are, let’s say, reverential to the sports, teams, and athletes they cover. Spike comedy Blue Mountain State is decidedly…not. This series, following the Mountain Goats football team for the fictional college Blue Mountain State, understands that not all depictions of athletes have to be saints. Sometimes college football player can just be the big dumb animals you want them to be. Through three seasons, this show developed a cult following that would follow it over for a lifetime of reruns on Netflix. Blue Mountain State is crass, dangerous, and entertaining, not entirely unlike football.

7. Sports Night

Speaking of being reverential to sports…like all Aaron Sorkin-created TV series, Sports Night can be a bit full of itself sometimes. That only works when the topic at hand, like the federal branch of the U.S. government, is consequential. Thankfully, sports can be pretty important sometimes too! This late ‘90s show follows the goings-on at a Sportscenter-esque news program hosted by Dan Rydell (Josh Charles) and Casey McCall (Peter Krause). It has all the witty dialogue you’d come to expect from a Sorkin venture. And if you can make your way through the inexplicable laugh track of the early episodes, you will find a mature, entertaining show that properly understands and contextualizes professional sports’ role in American society. 

6. Survivor’s Remorse

Survivor’s Remorse came into the world with two strikes against it. One is a bizarrely overwrought name, and the other is that its home network, Starz, isn’t a given on many cable packages. Still, this LeBron James-produced comedy is shockingly one of the best sports TV shows ever (and perhaps still the best creative venture James has been involved in yet). This story follows NBA athlete Cam Calloway (Jessie T. Usher) as he tries to balance the business and basketball aspects of his life. At first the show focuses on Cam’s guilt for having got out of his impoverished neighborhood when so many couldn’t (hence, the show’s title), but ultimately it evolves into a family comedy drama featuring some truly remarkable characters and performances like Cam’s cousin and manager Reggie Vaughn (RonReaco Lee) and his baller half-sister “M-Chuck” (Erica Ash). Even Monica Rambeau herself, Teyonah Parris, is a part of the proceedings. 

5. Playmakers

Sometimes I can’t even believe that Playmakers is real. Surely, this ESPN series about a fictional football team in a fictional league that is clearly the NFL was just a post-9/11 fever dream we all endured together. Alas, Playmakers was real and it was awesome. This series follows the players on the Cougars as they navigate a football landscape filled with ripped-from-the-headlines strife including Performance enhancing drugs, good old-fashioned drugs, domestic abuse, concussions, and more. The series even introduces the outing of a gay player more than a decade before Michael Sam and Carl Nassib revealed their sexual orientations. Naturally, Playmakers was canceled when the NFL intimated to its broadcast partner ESPN that it wasn’t too pleased with the content of its show. And enraging the National Football League alone is enough to make this an all-time classic.

4. Eastbound & Down

Eastbound & Down creator and star Danny McBride isn’t necessarily a huge fan of baseball. But he is, thankfully, a huge fan of weirdos and creeps. When McBride discovered just how bizarre and poorly behaved certain flamethrowing relief pitchers could be, Kenny Powers and the show around him was born. The baseball “action” in Eastbound isn’t much to write home about. The show isn’t too concerned with the results of any given baseball game and McBride always looks like he’s throwing a javelin and not a baseball. It’s still a phenomenal saga about athletes that dives into Paul Bunyan-esque tales of legendary misbehavior that fame encourages. It’s no coincidence that in the follow ups to Kenny Powers, McBride has delved into megalomaniacal vice principals and bejeweled, sweaty televangelists – all different aspects of the white American male id.

3. Ted Lasso

Of all the sports shows in the TV canon, none feels more like a traditional sports movie than Ted Lasso. This Apple TV+ series plucks an American football coach-fish and gently places him out of water in the English Premier League. The affable Lasso (Sudeikis) is charged with reversing the fortunes of EPL side AFC Richmond. Little does he know, however, that spiteful owner Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddington) is counting on him to fail, Major League style. Ted Lasso isn’t interested in reinventing the wheel. Instead it perfects it. This is a tale of relentless optimism and unconditional positive regard. Ted breaks the mold for what we expect from coaches, which is probably why so many actual coaches are fond of the show. Simply put: sports stories can’t be done much better than this one. 

2. Brockmire

Sometimes commentators like to bemoan the modern state of baseball. What was once American’s pastime has now supposedly fallen behind things like football and videogames in the pop cultural pecking order. Then along comes something like Brockmire to teach us that baseball as a continuous, seemingly eternal American presence is just as vital as ever. In a career-defining role, Hank Azaria plays disgraced baseball broadcaster Jim Brockmire. Once at the top of his game, an on-air drunken meltdown loses him his job and his sanity. In season 1 of this superb IFC show, Brockmire returns to the booth, this time for an independent league team in Morristown, Pennsylvania. The four seasons that follow are one big love letter to not only baseball, but the messy human experience itself. It’s rare that you get something this funny and this affecting. The fact that it’s wrapped in a stylish diamond-shaped bow is just icing on the cake. 

1. Friday Night Lights

Not only is Friday Night Lights the best sports TV show of all time, it’s hard to imagine it ever being supplanted from its throne. Simply put, Friday Night Lights is a sports television masterpiece. Each of Friday Night Lights’ five seasons (save for the writer’s strike-shortened second) fully capture the ecstasy and agony of high school football in a small Texas town where high school football is the only thing that matters. Friday Night Lights doesn’t shy away from the unsavory institution that is big time high school athletics.

The series opens with a life-changing injury before following it up with tales of corrupt boosters and garden variety West Texas racism. And yet, the show never looks down on its characters. If winning state is important to Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler), Matt Saracen (Zach Gilford), Tim Riggins (Taylor Kitsch), Smash Williams (Gaius Charles), and Vince Howard (Michael B. Jordan), then it’s important to us too. In fact, when Friday Night Lights is really rolling and the W.G. Snuffy Walden’s Explosions in the Sky-style soundtrack is swirling, you might not recall anything ever mattering to you as much as the Dillon Panthers or the East Dillon Lions winning a football game. Clear eyes, full hearts, absolutely cannot lose.

The post 25 Best Sports TV Shows appeared first on Den of Geek.

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[eyesarelikethejunglee]

ME! Theory master list

This crackhead is taking a stab at all the theories. Let’s do a deep dive. Before you tell me I have too much time on my hands, YA GIRL KNOWS, but I’ve been at this since the day of cracking the capital letter codes of Taylor Swift in 2006 and I’m in too deep to stop now. I tried to tag any supplemental ‘evidence’ and friends who has similar theories.    Feel free to reblog and add your own theories!

1. Sidewalk chalk - Perhaps  and allusion to  "Why She Disappeared". "When she fell, she fell apart. Cracked her bones on the pavement she once decorated as a child with sidewalk chalk." 

2. The Blue-eyed snake

Of course we all know the snake symbolism, however, the fact that the snake has blue eyes could be particularly (and fittingly important). If you've ever noticed a snake with blue eyes, you've caught a glimpse of a natural phenomenon: the snake is about to shed. The color change is often referred to as "going opaque" or "going blue," and it's a sign that a snake is ready to unveil his new skin.  (source:  https://animals.mom.me/snakes-blue-eyes-8098.html) . Furthermore, it has also been claimed that butterflies mimic SNAKES and FOXES to fool predators (source: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/wildlife/8082739/Butterflies-and-moths-mimic-snakes-and-foxes-to-fool-predators-claims-researcher.html). Maybe it’s just me, but looking at the snake skin I can almost see letters -- definitely the shape of an L and and A next to each other (see Palm trees below) and if I convince myself hard enough, perhaps even the word Palace?

3. The Butterflies In the past few days, Taylor has really been pushing the butterfly imagery which obviously invokes a metamorphosis theme, calling back to that snake’s blue eyes. Let’s also keep in mind the 2006 album that had butterflies on the cover. 

4. The argument Urie calls Taylor dramatic, which she feeds in to with the bit about her daughters. They use the word calm 3 times. 5. The French Speaking Language of love or is this video her Love Language? 6. The Christmas Tree We know T is OBSESSED with Christmas and this year is her 30th birthday, just 12 days before. This could be related to Joseph Kahns tweet - credit to u/pedsnurse88 and u/kylour 7. Cartier

u/xedralya

discovered the book on the shelf beneath the cool chick photos is Cartier in the 20th Century. Something about diamonds?

8. Meredith and Olivia (and tons of cat imagery)

Cats pop up quite a bit here, surely reinforcing Taylor’s love for them.

8. Blank Space nods Her hair and makeup and entire first chorus seem to have the same #mood 9. A treacherous dress Her dress looks eerily similar to the RED tour outfit.  10. The Damn Palm trees Here we are again with the palm trees, which Taylor had posted an individual shot of. 11. Cool Chicks vs Dixie Chicks Probably the most talked about Easter egg in this video is the painting of the classic country girl group in the mix. We know Taylor is a HUGE fan so this might be a hint of some kind of collaboration, potentially on the new album. 11. 13 Clouds As Taylor walks in the foyer, there are 13 clouds around her.  There are also 4 stair cases -- 4/13 being the day in which the teasing began. 12. LWYMD Phone I’m sorry the old Taylor can’t come to the phone, and neither can this one cause she breezes right by it.

13.  6 Shadows Stepping into the daylight and letting go of the old Taylors?  14. Chrysalis If you watch the distance closely, it looks as though the whole video takes place in a chrysalis (similar to how the grinch takes place on a snowflakes). Can we say it together? Metamorphosis 15. 7 Bags, 10... fingers? 7 pops up yet again. 

16. 8:30 The clock on the desk says 8:30, could she be hinting at an 8/30 release for something?

17. Mary Poppins and all the umbrellas. Urie rides down to see Taylor on an umbrella. In fact, umbrellas make quite the appearance in the video. Curious enough, Taylor’s dress begins to have a liquid effect in this scene as well. It certainly reminded me of some of the How You Get the Girl Choreo. 18. Lover Sign In the distance we can see a ‘lover’ sign, perhaps a title of another song? 19. 1989 again Kaleidoscope of loud heartbeats under coats takes full effect here.

20. Stupid cupid We can see her band players all donning wings and cupid-like attire.  There are also 7 steps on the stage (reddit user cosmicLWR)

21. Marching Band Leader Could this be in honor of You Belong With Me? 22. OZ Themed Sure does look a lot like Oz. 22. The Landscape In the background, you can clearly see Big Ben, St. Paul's Cathedral, and the Tower Bridge. 

23. THE FREAKIN BOOTS She wears White cowboy boots, again invoking her past Taylors. 24. The Umbrella Isn’t it funny how Taylor has invoked rain throughout all of the eras, and again in me, and at the end she is dancing in colors and he protects her from the impending color storm? Perhaps the metamorphosis is beginning to take full effect. What are your thoughts? @taylorswift

[mortyandcarlsbespokesalvage]

Day 2 Sequence 0

Oh you Nameless!

 You, children of the world outside of time. You, forgotten subjects of Kings long gone. 

Stay but a while, and be welcome. 

No mere beasts of land or sea or air are you. No mere sprites of elemental chaos! 

You are our brothers! 

You who toil here alongside us. You who sweat and burn under the same sun, the same sky! 

Are you not also children of the Great Storm? 

Stand with us! Let us make our stand upon this cast off, forgotten isle. 

Let us make a New World!

Attributed to Shakeer Matumla, at the ceremony of ground-breaking of the temple of the Four Kings.

Year 0, of the New Common Era.

****

To the reader,

It may be to your further benefit, to provide you with some grounding in the social fabric of the city beyond this archive. A vital point of clarification that may be helpful to you, is that in Artisan, humanity may not be as you know it. Phenotypes within the same human genus remain within a single classification. Ergo, the Oruk, Gobbish, Dwarphen, Elvan, Bestal, Iowan, and other peoples, are merely ethnic subgroups of humans that have mixed among one another for generations in the city.

****

The dawning sun rose into a clear sky, shining over city and glinting off the Barrier Wall like a blinding beacon across the far horizon. The Wall towered over the city, its bronzed, coppery surface rising a thousand feet towards the sky, and casting a long shadow over the inner ring. In the early morning mist, the curved, circling wall filled like a colander, vents slowly steaming as the fans pushed the cloudy air from the inner ring to the outer rim and the sky beyond. 

For three hundred years since its emergence, the wall has shielded the inner ring from the wind and waves of hurricanes and ruinstorms. Its emergence yet another of the city’s mysteries. Three centuries past, the founders of the city of Artisan prepared for the worst as a grand wave appeared from the south, poised to wipe the city clear of its people. As all gathered inland, scrambling and in panicked distress, a deafening klaxon sounded from the citadel, and the earth shook as the wall, once thought a highway around the city, pushed up through the piled jetsam and arose, roaring into the air. The wave broke hard against the wall, flowing swiftly around the shielded inner ring.

Generations hence, the Wall still shields the city proper. Piled against it are mountains of scrap, pushed from across the island into three massive Yards that encircle the inner ring. Only the Three Ports persist outside its protective embrace, gambling against the mercurial odds of another great wave.

Within the Wall itself are the domains of the protectors and stewards of Artisan. The precincts of the Artisan Sanitation Enforcement Corps (A.S.E.C) and the Artisan Mechanical Engineering Corps (A.M.E.C). Each corps with its own vital contribution to the maintaining of a city in constant need. Artisan is alive, in a thousand different ways; the vibrant colors of its people and their crafts, the lush gardens of its high towers, the surging life of its waterways. But the city is dangerous; the beasts of the lower Undercity, the behemoths of the Deep-Down, and the shifting lifelines of the city itself.

If the Department of Sanitation acts as a bulwark against the monstrous terrors below, then the Engineering Corps are the stewards of the precocious landscape above. Artisan has power, water, and natural gas for a thousand years and more, but none of it given freely. The city as it stands, its towers and streets, were grafted by the founders onto the Citadel and shifting plates of the floor of the inner ring. An entire grid of utilities, built atop, around, and spreading from a powerful beating heart of unknown providence. 

Perhaps then it is fitting that the price paid for this plentiful bounty, is that the lines of water and power and fuel, like wild vines, must be carefully pruned and realigned whenever they shift or grow outside their bounds.These departments of Sanitation and Engineering are the glue that holds Artisan together, the soul of the Barrier Wall.

****

The main street of Southport was broad. Wide enough for a pair of Heavy Sweepers to pass through with their attendant squads at full spread. It shot like a ray from the Barrier Wall, meeting the base at the massive South Gate, and continuing through Southport to the harbor. The morning mist was thick, cascading down the Wall, and billowing over and through the Port and the surrounding Yards. The gate had opened before dawn, time for fishmongers and merchants to pass through on their way to the markets of the Inner Ring. Squads of Trashmen and Engineers from the nearby precincts had passed through the gate and begun to assess damages in the dark hours, taking statements about both the storm, and the artillery damage. The streets were still marred by  craters from the previous day’s attack, and the Heavy Sweepers and repair teams of the Engineering Corps would not arrive until after the assessments were complete. 

Raven stood in the morning mist, the colossal South Gate towering before him. He could still smell the sea air and feel the winds of Southport at his back, he felt the rising sun burning away the lingering fog and heating up the day.

He was going home. It was a relief, but also strangely sad; like he’d come to the end of some adventure. Like nothing was going to be the same…. What was he getting so mushy about? It had only been a day! A long, busy day, sure, but a day nonetheless. He turned back to look down the road to the harbor, just a mile away. The sea was still there, blue green and vast beyond reckoning. Looking up from it he saw the open sky, uncluttered by the towering buildings of his home borough, or the long, deep shadow of the Barrier Wall. He felt the slightest of pulls, somewhere deep in his gut. Thinking of the people who had bought him drinks and cheered him, the people who had worked and fought so hard for their homes… he would have to come back. And it was not even that far? Now that he thought of it, he had never ventured beyond the Southwest Quarter where he and Abby had grown up. Never crossed the Southern Spoke. It had never occurred to him. And was it that unusual? There were plenty of people in the Old Quarter who never left it. But was that going to be him? 

“Kid. You awake there?” Carlos’ question stirred Raven back to the world like a prod in the ribs. That’s right. He had to get back to the Third Precinct and report on the old man and the Walkers. He had to see if Cortez was alright. His thoughts again veered to reflection as he stepped forward. Beyond the wall was so different. How had he never heard of the Griefers? And he still did not understand why Marie had talked about them the way that she had. He would ask the Chief about it once things were settled, he decided as he strode towards the massive gate.

Raven had been woken that morning by Carlos, who had shushed him as they had navigated through the unconscious patrons and towards the door. Some ways down the road they had been joined by Marie, who had appeared at their side on a motorcycle drawn rickshaw with “Fortuna’s” painted on the side. How had she managed to appear so abruptly riding something so loud? How half awake had he been to have missed that engine? 

She dismounted and began walking the bike alongside them. Raven moved to help but Marie grinned like his Captain again, like she was going to bite part of him off. “Gotta restock after a party like that!” She had said with a smile. And that was that.

The three of them approached the Gate. They passed several Trashmen as they entered the dark of the Barrier Wall. The Trashmen had been surprised to say the least to see Raven in his battered Sweeper Armor coming in from the Outer Rim. One had begun to open his mouth when Raven interrupted, frantically asking to use their radio. They obliged.

Raven was fit to burst with anxiety. With his heart in his throat, he called in. “Ahem, this is Sweeper Raven Daniels. Squad 13 Trash Panda. I,hm, I’ve been separated from my Squad. Has anyone from Trash Panda made it back to the Precinct?... Over?”

Static. And then…

“Daniels?” asked an incredulous voice. “You- you’re listed MIA, presumed deceased! Good to hear that isn’t the case! Over.”

“Yes, um, thank you? I washed up in the Outer Rim. I’m just now getting in through the South Gate and am enroute to Precinct 3 to report. Is Commander Hobbs going to be available at all, today?” Raven choked down his excitement; Carlos had at least taught him that it wouldn’t do to go off like he’d been drinking with the merpeople in the canals. A little restraint would be wise. A little less panic. Even if he was panicking. Just a little. “Some of my report, well, it’s better if he hears it sooner rather than later. Over.” 

“We’ll pass along the request asap, Sweeper Daniels. For now, just get back to your precinct. Over.”

“Thank you, … um,over.” Raven breathed. He’d just have to hope Hobbs would see him today. He didn’t know how much longer his news could wait. He thanked the Trashmen for their radio, then returned to Carlos and Marie. They’d stayed with him, standing a few feet away to give him privacy, but they were watching him and Raven could tell by their glower and smile respectively that they’d been talking about him.

“Got that squared away?” Carlos asked with a raised eyebrow.

“That was very nicely put. I’m sure if you keep your cool just like that, they will take you very seriously when you give your report.” Marie nodded with apparent satisfaction. Raven felt comforted… but also patronized? Like she was about to offer him a sticker for keeping his bunk tidy.

Nevertheless, he felt a measurable decrease in his tension. His message delivered, Raven resumed walking. The South Gate passed through the Barrier Wall, across the bridge that spanned the seemingly bottomless chasm below the wall. He spared a glance for the abyss. Only a day before, he had stood on a platform, being lowered into the Deep-Down. Even that deep, he still hadn’t seen the bottom. And then, with a few more steps, they were in the Inner Ring. 

All at once, Raven could smell the rich, sweet air of the Inner Ring. Its many blended scents of food and worship and industry came together to form a smoky, fragrant musk, that was altogether different from the salt air of Southport. He had never noticed before just how thick the air was in the city he had always called home. Raven had missed it. But, he realised with a twinge of regret, he’d miss the sea air as well. He would visit. He had to.

Carlos and Marie were being awfully quiet, he realized suddenly. He spun swiftly to look at them. Marie was smiling benignly at him. Carlos was very pointedly looking at the road. He noticed Raven’s narrowed gaze and acknowledged it with a mild eye roll. “You’re certainly set on chasing down this guy, aren’t you?”

“Of course!” Raven struggled to understand why this was even a question. “I know what I saw was unbelievable, but it’s true. It’s happening right now, and even if I don’t understand...most of it, I can recognize that this has the potential to put everyone in danger. I have a responsibility to, to at least tell people about that danger. Even if that lands up being all I can do.”

“And if they don’t believe you,” Carlos asked leadingly.

“I’ll make them,” Raven said.

“And when that fails,” Carlos said.

“Then I’ll go down there and stop him myself if I have to!” … Raven stopped, considering his own words. He caught himself looking away for just a moment, but quickly returned his gaze to Carlos, who seemed to be regarding him carefully.

Finally, Carlos said, “you’re going to get yourself killed.”

“This is my home. It’s in danger. I’m probably gonna die from it anyway and I’d rather do so on my feet, helping.”

Carlos considered him, then threw his head back and groaned. “Four Kings, Kid. You’re something else.” The older man seemed to shift through a series of emotions as he looked down, shaking his head, scowled at Raven, then looked away to hide a half smile. “You, Kid, had better hope you didn’t use up all your luck getting washed down the right storm drain.”

They had come to a stop in the middle of the road. Raven was vaguely aware of traffic moving around them, the influx of morning merchants and refugees making their way into the city, but he was waiting for the old man. Somehow, he knew, this was important. 

Carlos looked Raven squarely in the eye. “You’re set on this.” It was not a question. “May the Great, the Strong, the Wise, and the Just watch your back, Kid.”

Raven stood agape for a moment, then smiled toothily. “You take care of yourself too, .. Pops” 

“Pops?!” Who are you calling ‘Pops?’” Carlos snorted.

“Would you rather I called you ‘Old Man’?” Raven laughed.

“Hey, HEY! I’m 37, dammit,” Carlos snapped. Marie chortled behind him. “I’m not old,” he said in a smaller voice, scowling. Marie exploded in laughter.

“Thanks for everything, Miss Fortuna. Bye, Pops!” Raven smiled as he waved, then turned towards the municipal entrance to the engineer’s stair and began his ascent into the heights of the Barrier Wall.

“You okay with letting him go like this, Carl?” Marie said quietly as they watched Raven make his way up the stairway and out of their sight.

Carlos’ face was somber. Contemplative. “Kid has to do his own growing up.” He said flatly. “You alright with your inquiries today?”

“We shall see!” She grinned. Her smile faded. “If a Mercer Consortium foreman has been making new friends inside the ring, then they’ll be outside the normal movements. I just need to find out who’s been breaking routine, and we can go from there.” 

Carlos nodded. “Just you -”

“I’ll be discreet!” She smiled again. “Honestly, that boy has you worrying all over, hasn’t he?”

“I always worry.” Carlos growled. Then he looked back over his shoulder after Raven. The young sweeper had vanished into the heights. “Seems these days I just have more urgent things to worry about. I have a stop to make, then I have to go see Henrie. Meet you at the Tower when you’re done?”

Marie nodded. “You mentioned that last night. You said it could be related to Raven’s story about the man controlling walkers?” She looked worried. “Then you be careful too.”

Carlos nodded and started walking. He could hear Marie’s engine as it faded into the distance. She was right. He was worried. He had a lot to worry about right now. And it was already looking to be a long day ahead.

[olliefilm]

Films of the Decade (1 - 10)

10. Bait

Bait slips onto the list in the nick of time It is a 90 minute, black-and-white film, shot on 16mm with a fully post-dubbed soundtrack, set in a Cornish fishing village. As a technical exercise, Bait is enrapturing. The village is trapped in a filmic past, with a Pathé-like atmosphere tied with a bygone era of thick fog and a thriving industrial landscape. This stylistic choice pares back the clutter of modern soundtracks and brings to the fore an elegiac and foreboding mood. Bait is a wonderfully strange film, and let’s hope the enthusiastic reception in Britain spreads internationally.

9. Mad Max: Fury Road

Mad Max: Fury Road has become the model/rebuttal for how high octane action should work. I don’t think it’s an original model. I still think a lot of the giddy nut-and-bolts foundations of Ozysploitation is carried on into Fury Road. Of course, this time the budget is larger and the audience is wider. Fury Road will be on many people’s list due to many technical elements coming together - believe or not - carefully and with precision. No big wonder that it was the most awarded film of the 2015. George Miller brings out the eccentricity of the characters and the cars with the same glory as we’d expect from a Tex Avery cartoon. So often we are used to action fatigue that when something like Mad Max: Fury Road crashes in, it’s like fresh oxygen. Too right, good action is the hardest feat to pull off.

8. Araby

Araby is a 2017 Brazilian film I just saw this year. A few critics have mused whether what they saw is the Film of the Decade (this claim was initiated by The Hollywood Reporter’s Neil Young, and followed up by Guy Lodge of The Guardian). It would probably be a stretch for me to include it as one of my Films of 2019, but no matter how many cinemas it missed, I still think Araby is indicative of the one-man’s odyssey through worn-down labour. What astounded me is how the film itself stumbles into a story: the first twenty minutes is a kitchen sink drama until a young boy finds a journal of a recently deceased factory worker. From there, it is a film about somebody else; the factory with a more lyrical story than expected. It’s a simple turn which makes sense. Araby is that journal; a precious story stumbled upon.

7. The Master

There Will Be Blood was the film of the Noughties. Over this decade, there were two end-of-year lists which had a Paul Thomas Anderson film at the top. Last year it was Phantom Thread, and back in 2012 it was The Master. The coolness of The Master is that most of the cinematic elements displayed have a drift to them - the hypnotic Jonny Greenwood score, the near-floating camera movements, and the frames which show Joaquin Phoenix as a character who could fly into an explosive rage or lie aimlessly hanging off a ship. It is, indeed, a demonstration of a filmatic masterclass. Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman are the compelling acting duo ever put to film this decade.  

6. Burning

South Korea has built a reputation of making some of the most warped psychological thrillers of the 21st Century. This year, Bong Joon-Ho’s simmering social treatise Parasite became the first Korean film to win the Palme d’Or at Cannes. The year before, Burning was touted as the being the frontrunner at the same festival. It is a film which is beautifully mysterious and an outstanding example of side-swiping the audience. What starts off as a love story turns into social critique, but then becomes a film about a possible murder mystery. It might be asking more questions than answering them, but all the questions are tactfully scintillating. Burning is two-and-a-half hours long, I was gripped enough to yearn for an extra hour.

5. The Act of Killing / The Look of SIlence

Joshua Oppenheimer’s double bill The Act of Killing and The Look of Silence make up for the most revealing documentaries of the decade. Both are gut-wrenching, devastating, and mentally exhausting. Especially in The Act of Killing. In what could’ve been a chargeless stunt, the participants of the Indeonesian Communist Massacre are given the resources to produce a film depicting their crimes. The end result is something disorientating, gleeful, and utterly grotesque. Something that lets us, the audience, into their callous ego. By the end, something manages to penetrate. One of the massacre orchestrators find introspection. It is an extraordinary moment. Unforgettable.

4. La Quattro Volte

La Quattro Volte is a made up of four segments, each encompassing the Pythagorean “Four Turns” of life: the human realm, the animal realm, the plant realm, and finally the mineral. As the synopsis indicates, it is a film with a lot to project. Deep thought, awe, and contemplation; the wonderful thing about La Quattro Volte is that it is dialogue free, only an hour-and-a-half long, and spatially aware without coming across as sparse. It’s a methodical film with room for humour. In fact, one long static shot of an uphill street gave one of the biggest laughs of 2010. It will be known as That Goat Film, but La Quattro Volte has more to say than most films twice its length.

3. The Social Network

For half the decade it seemed that The Social Network was set to be the defining film of the decade on the basis of social relevance and evocation. Yet Facebook grew exponentially and so are its issues and, arguably, its dangers in modern society, to the point that the Facebook of 2019 is not the Facebook of 2004. Yet David Fincher has a grapple on the foreboding; of what is lingering in the air. With Aaron Sorkin’s script, the characters are intimidating in their quick-fire smartassery. In the end, there is an inclination that they are stepping down into a rabbit hole. The Social Network is expertly crafted and understands that it need not be a film about Facebook. It’s a film about reputation, legacy and control.

2. Boyhood

For the last three years of the decade, I knew that the toss-up for the top spot was between Moonlight and Boyhood. It was pretty close to being a tie, and part of me wishes it would be. However, Richard Linklater’s Boyhood is an epic which lives up to its broad title. Better yet, it doesn’t follow through just one person’s navigation through life and phases: it follows the mother, the father and the sister. Linklater does it on a level which is without any hint of labour. Even with music and technological cues, it is still hard to pinpoint any jarring moments where the boy has gotten a year or two older. So take this as being indicative to Boyhood’s effortless brilliance: only now am I mentioning how the director filmed it over the span of twelve years.

1. Moonlight

Frustratingly, the envelope mix-up at the ceremony overshadowed any right Moonlight had to bask in prestige. It should’ve been a moment of pure celebration, because Barry Jenkins’ film is tremendous: a semi-tragic parable of a boy in three stages of inner turmoil. It is about sexual awakening, parental guidance and, yes, racial preconceptions of manlihood. On a stylistic level, Moonlight has a wealth of cinematic hues; Nicholas Britell’s poignant score feels like a boy trying to float on the surface of the ocean, the lighting is beautiful and it heightens those interludes in between the fights and shouting. Far from me to fawn over what has already been trumpeted, but Moonlight is extraordinary. The Academy may never be this right again. 

Top 20 Films of the Decade

1. Moonlight

2. Boyhood

3. The Social Network

4. La Quattro Volte

5. The Act of Killing/The Look of Silence

6. Burning

7. The Master

8. Araby

9. Mad Max: Fury Road

10. Bait

11. O.J. Made In America

12. A Separation

13. You Were Never Really Here

14. Force Majeure

15. Paddington 2

16. Girlhood

17. Under The Skin

18. Dreams Of A Life

19. Song Of The Sea

20. Locke

[peonyrice]

20 Things to do & love about Hong Kong right now

What’s not to love about Hong Kong? Our designer Pauline, shares her top 20.

What inspires you in Hong Kong?

So so much, daily sightings – heritage buildings, architecture and Art, HK is a very abundant place for art. From street art and random sightings in old neighborhoods to discovering a whole range of local independent artists who work in different mediums. And of course the international art scene that is also present here. If you need a change of scenery you can jump in a cab or bus and you are on the beach in half hour.

A lot is getting lost here in the way of the the old Hong Kong as we know it – neon signs, buildings, makers, crafts so it’s incredible if we are lucky enough to see it even for a moment, so it’s important to me to get a sense of that now. 

1.     Favorite place in Hong Kong?

So so many – endless list. I am in love with this city.  Being so close to the outdoors with an unexpected view of the mountains, city and sea all together in a perfect light. Lush Nature sitting right next to the density of high rise. That’s pretty unique. Walking distance too.

2.     Favorite food?

Has to be discovering traditional Cantonese and ethnic foods that remind me of being an immigrant Chinese with a childhood in England not really knowing where they came from. Love seeing that little old lady or man selling something homemade -  Hakka bun or dumpling or a village shop selling local honey in a  pop bottle. Happy local bites have managed to stay and most of it is quite healthy. You feel the love that went into making it.

My favorite area for this is Sham Shui Po – an older district – total gem sitting next to the hole in the wall food spots with it’s electronics, secondhand markets and off course fabrics. In contrast there’s lots of cool new places also popping up. Art & Coffee. Interesting to see how neighborhoods are changing in this new era. Another place worth a mention - is Dignity Kitchen - a Singaporean social enterprise that serves up yummy Singaporean food housed in a renewed heritage building at 618 Shanghai street -  i love their Pandan cake!

3.      Favorite Drink

Freshly squeezed sugarcane juice. Nothing beats the thirst but this. Better than any bubble tea. Bring your own container or bottle even better. Look out for the few drink vendors selling it and the traditional Chinese herbal teas which are great for cooling and keeping your body heat in check during the summer months. My fav spot is Kung Lee Sugarcane Store on Hollywood road, Central, intersection near Lyndhurst. It’s a family business spanning a few generations.

4.     Favorite mode of transport

Has to be the Star Ferry, 5 minutes on that after a long day – just takes every thing away. It’s very therapeutic. That really hasn’t changed for me since the early mid 90’s traveling here for work.

5.     Favorite place to shop

More of a browser than a shopper these days. I have everything I need. Love all the antique shops along Hollywood road in my neighborhood with all their unique offerings. Unfortunately many are no longer operating since this tough year. I look out for special exhibitions to learn more about Chinese antiques. My fascination with craftsmanship done the old way. There’s always little surprises down the side streets. Love all the nostalgic & random stuff. Sometimes there’s a few treasures to be found.

6.     Favorite HK artist

I love dimension and have an obsession with typography and textured works. I have been quite intrigued by the local artist Michell Lie and her Chinese brushwork inspired pieces mixed with some contemporary elements. There’s a beautiful fluidness in her work that i can just get lost in for a short while. Currently exploring ceramic artists in the city.

7.     Favorite place to explore

Old industrial neighborhoods around HK – the Mills are fantastic – repurposed textile mill now focusing on the history of HK textiles, sustainability, supporting local projects. Such a great place to hang with it’s shops, exhibitions and museum.

8.     Favorite temple in HK

The Chi Lin nunnery in Diamond Hill, very different from the other traditional temples you see in South China, I feel very calm when I am here and it’s not far to get to. If you need a couple of hours out. It’s perfect and there’s a lovely landscape oriental garden next to it too. For a further out trip– Tsz shan Monastery is quite special and a must .

9.     Favorite sighting

Often you will see parts of movies or TV series being shot. People don’t really bat an eyelid to it. It’s great to see a part of the neighborhood lit up with lights, cameras and crew and you know there’s some action going down.

10.  Favorite place that doesn’t feel like HK

Some of the Hikes –Cape d'aguilar, Cape Collison, some of the further out little islands that you can only access by boat. The landscape and vegetation here is so diverse.

11.  Favorite night time spot

Has to be the peak – but anywhere with a clear night view of the Harbor I am happy with. A sunset hike via the many paths to the peak is perfect way to soak in the city.

12.  Favorite fashion discoveries

PoHo neighborhood has lots of small design boutiques, some fashion, lifestyle and accessories. PMQ is another fab little area full of small boutiques and workshops. Love checking out the side streets in Central too and some of the other districts. The side alleys are the best places to discover something. Mongkok behind the ladies markets has a few vintage stores i love rummaging around in too.

13.  Favorite Lifestyle store

Still has to be G.O.D .. love all the little nuances and humor in the heritage inspired products.  Small items that are perfect memories of HK.

14.  Favorite season in HK

September on wards till March. Weather’s cooler and you can get out to do more hikes…and not turn up in places sweaty. Many people do not realize HK has seasons, complete contrast to other 4 season countries as winter here is like 1 month of 12 degrees and people running around in Puffas.

15.  What do you love most about HK

Convenience. This city was built on that. I haven’t had to drive since I left the UK more than 20 years ago. Most places can be walk-able, if not jump on the MTR which is super clean and efficient or bus or grab a taxi. Most places are 15 mins to under 2 hours away. You can be in 3-4 places a day if you plan right. Shops in some districts are open late 7 days a week. It’s really a city that never sleeps. …. And I am never too far from seeing water.

16.  Favorite day trip

Jumping on a ferry to one of many the islands – 30 minutes and you would have landed elsewhere. Can’t decide which I love better.. have so much to discover still on Lantau, Cheung Chau, Lamma, or go inland to the islands around Plover Cove. You can never get enough sunsets.

17. Favorite Smell

Can’t decide if it’s the Kowloon or Hong Kong Candle created by BE Candle and Tiny island maps. But I love both for a different daily mood and the Terrazzo holder.. all locally made. Love that.

credit:tinyislandmaps

18.  Current favorite hang out place.

Central market just finally finished get renewed. It was a 4th generation building old modern style market that first came about in the 1850’s . Super cool with a well curated bunch of shops and food hangouts.

19.  Favorite thing to do in HK

Eat, hang out with friends, visit a museum, see an exhibition somewhere hidden. Just be inspired.

20. Favorite place to decompress?

My 24/7 Gym or has to be home. After all the running around - the new way of working and the past pandemic year made me appreciate being still and chill.

[mldrgrl]

The Madeleine Moment

by: mldrgrl Rating: PG-13 (language) Summary: For @thexmasfileschallenge Gingerbread prompt.  Revival era fic.

Scully didn’t have any qualms about selling her mother’s house.  Charlie was the only one of the Scully kids to have lived in it for any amount of time - their parents having moved into it when he was a junior in high school.  It had never been home for Scully, just the place where her parents lived once her father retired.  She’d come “home” for holidays from school for the first few years, but after Charlie left, there were years where Scully was the only one there at Christmas.  If she really thought about it, the last time they’d been together as a whole family, she was 15.

The house had been on the market for over a month.  The realtor had warned her that the market was slow between Thanksgiving and New Years’ and not to expect much.  It didn’t matter much to her.  She’d already taken weeks to clear out the house in between cases with Mulder’s help.  It felt like she’d spent more time there since her mother died than she had when her mother was alive.  There wasn’t much there that held any significance to her.

When the house had been emptied, the realtor she chose suggested staging certain rooms to give people an inviting feel.  Whatever the woman wanted to do to sell the house, Scully was fine with.  She gave her the keys and thought nothing of it until the weekly texts came with questions or updates.  It had been nearly six weeks since Scully had been to the house, but a few days prior, when she had been in Missouri on a case, the realtor called and told her that on one of her tours, some boxes were discovered beneath the cellar stairs and did she want to pick them up or dispose of them?

So, Scully found herself attending the regularly scheduled Sunday open house to pick up the mystery boxes from her mother’s cellar.  Mulder drove her in case it required heavy lifting - a bit of a pretense since they both knew he’d have driven her regardless.  They hadn’t spent a weekend apart in three months.

“They changed the landscaping,” Mulder noted as he parked the car in front of the house.

“Took out the rose bush mom always liked though,” Scully said, her eyes shifting over the changes that had been made to the front yard.  It was tidier and less dense.  A lot of the overgrown shrubbery had been cut back or removed.

Mulder got out of the car, bouncing the keys in his hand as he waited for her on the sidewalk.  She got out and buttoned her jacket up against the cold wind.  With only a glance over his shoulder, Mulder held his hand out to her and she took it as they strolled up the walkway to the front door.  For the first time, she did feel rather odd knocking on her mother’s door, knowing that someone else was going to answer.

“Dana,” Suzanne Wheatley said with a chipper smile as she opened the door.  “And Mr. Mulder.  It’s good to see you.”

Scully stepped into the foyer, Mulder behind her, and silently took in the front room.  The staged decor was minimalist and sleek.  The walls were bare, yet strategically placed floor lamps, even a large, silver mirror placed just so, gave the room an oddly cozy feel despite it being so stark.  Stark compared to her mother’s taste.

“The boxes are in the closet in the laundry room,” Suzanne said.  “Feel free to have a look around.  I was actually just about to call the office to have my assistant book a second appointment with a couple that expressed a lot of interest in the house.  Fingers crossed!”

Scully unbuttoned her coat and looked back at Mulder when Suzanne walked away.  “Different,” he mouthed to her.  She nodded.  He followed her deeper into the house, towards the formal dining room.  She paused and her heart began to pound rapidly against her chest with sudden intensity.  She breathed shallowly through her nose.  The scent of gingerbread hung in the air.

*****

Her first Christmas home from college, and the first at the new house, Mom wanted to throw a party.  It would just be church friends, of course, as they really hadn’t gotten to know any of the neighbors yet.  Charlie had better things to do and got out of it, but Dana felt obliged to help.  Melissa had just moved back in with their parents, sort of, having just returned from Europe on a trip to ‘find herself’ though all she really found was another boyfriend.  She was gone most days, and nights, at this new boyfriend’s apartment, the irony being she’d met him in Spain while he was in an exchange program from American University.  

For the four days she’d been home, Dana had had to endure her father’s continual ranting about Melissa’s irresponsibility and Charlie’s foolishness while he praised Bill Jr.’s determination, singling her older brother out as a role model, but saying nothing about his youngest daughter’s 4.23 GPA her first semester of college or the fact that she’d accomplished it while being a year younger than the rest of her classmates.  He’d only gruffly commented that she’d better not lose focus since before she knew it, med school would be around the corner.

At two a.m., after sending her mother to bed, Dana sat at the dining room table amongst dozens of gingerbread cookies.  She’d helped in the kitchen, rolling dough and cutting cookies for at least six batches, all of which were now cooled and in need of icing.  As it grew later, her mother had gotten more distraught about the time it was taking and how she needed to be up in mere hours to dress the turkey, not to mention all the other cooking that needed to be done.  Dana told her mother just to go sleep, that she would do the icing.

Dana had only gotten through four cookies when Melissa slipped in through the back door.  She was as stealthy and quiet as a mouse, having learned the fine art of sneaking in at the wee hours of the morning quite early on.

“Jesus,” Melissa hissed, dropping her bag on the table before pulling off her jean jacket.  “What in the hell are you doing making cookies at two a.m.?”

“Watch it!” Dana whispered, putting her arm out to protect the cookies from the contents of Melissa’s bag, which were dangerously close to spilling out over the table and ruining at least one plate of gingerbread men.

“This is insanity.  Mom is fucking insane, you know that, right?”

“She’s not insane, she just wants to have a nice party.”

“Insane.”  Melissa shook her head and then disappeared into the kitchen.  She came back out a few minutes later with two shot glasses and a bottle of whiskey.

“Missy!”  Dana chastised.  “Put that back!”

“Oh, Dana, lighten up.  You’re in college now, you can’t tell me you haven’t had a drink or two at a party.”

“I don’t have time for parties, I need to study.”

Melissa rolled her eyes and poured out two shots anyway.  She sat down in the chair next to Dana and slid one of the glasses towards her.  Without waiting, she downed her own shot, winced and hissed, and then picked up one of the cookies, cut into the shape of a tree, and grabbed the green tube of icing.  Dana stared at her.

“I need fortification if I’m going to spend all night icing cookies for our insane mother,” Melissa said, and then nodded to the shot glass in front of Dana.  “You do too.  Drink up.”

Dana hesitated, but then threw the shot back.  She coughed and her eyes watered.  She had to wipe her mouth with her sleeve to rid the stinging from her lips and then she went back to work icing the snowman cookie in front of her.  She got through two more cookies, in silence, before Melissa poured them another shot.

“This sucks,” Dana murmured, staring at the imbalance between iced and plain cookies in front of them.  The second shot had gone straight through her like fire, liquefying her muscles and loosening her tongue.  “It really fucking sucks.”

“I’m helping.  We’ll get through it in no time.  Tell me about school.”

“School fucking sucks too.”

“Why?”

Dana sighed.  “I don’t know.”

“There has to be a reason.”

“I…”  Dana stopped herself.  She was about to start spilling secrets she swore she wouldn’t tell, but she ached to tell someone.  She was never very close to her sister.  They were too different.  Melissa was cool and sophisticated in a way Dana would never be.  She’d idolized her older sister when they were kids, but as they grew up, they also grew apart.  She didn’t know much about Melissa’s life beyond the judgmental disdain their parents had for how she lived it.

“Fine,” Melissa said, reaching across Dana for one of the gingerbread men to ice.  “I probably wouldn’t get it anyway, right?  Since I’m the irresponsible fuck-up who never went to college.”

“It’s nothing like that.”

“I’m sure.”

“I...I lost my virginity,” Dana whispered, sudden tears pricking her eyes which she blinked away.

“Well, fucking finally,” Melissa answered, but she put down the icing and turned to her sister.  “Don’t worry about it, Dana, it’s not that big of deal.  You’re not a whore and you’re not going to hell, despite what those idiot nuns have tried to pollute your brain with.  It’s natural, completely nat-”

“That isn’t it,” Dana interrupted, shaking her head.  She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment and then bit her lip.

“Look, if you’re pregnant, I’ll help you deal with it.”

“That’s not it.  I...he hasn’t spoken to me since it happened.  I’m afraid maybe I did something wrong or...or…”

“Listen, men are assholes.  He hasn’t talked to you because he’s an asshole, not because you did something wrong.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Oh, but I do know.  Trust me.  I’m sorry, babe, if you think he broke your heart, but he won’t be the last.  It’s only the worst because he’s the first.”

“That’s not really that comforting.”  Dana’s voice squeaked as her throat closed and a hot tear rolled down her cheek.  Melissa reached over and brushed it away.

“You are so fucking amazing, Dana.  You deserve someone so much better than...what was his name?”

“Miles.”

“Miles?  Jesus, Dana, you’re crying over some tool named Miles?  You are definitely better than any asshole named Miles.”

Dana could help the soft laugh that bubbled up from her chest and then she wiped her eyes.  The sting of rejection lifted a little, but it was still painful to think about.  She had a sudden terrifying thought that her parents would find out and she nervously licked at the side of her lip as she glanced at the doorway to the front room.

“You...you won’t tell Mom, will you?” she asked.

“Oh come on, Dana.”

“I don’t think she would understand.”

“Huh.”  Melissa arched her left eyebrow and picked up the tube of icing again.  “Have you ever taken a look at Billy’s birth certificate?”

“No.”

“June 1, 1960.”

“I know that.”

“Date of parents’ marriage, January 22, 1960.  I know I’m not great at math, but that doesn’t add up to nine months to me.”

It was Dana’s turn to raise her brow.  “Are you serious?”

“Listen, if Mom ever tries to lecture you about premarital sex being a sin, you just drop that little fact on her and see how fast she shuts up.”

“Oh my God.”

“Look.”  Melissa held up the gingerbread man she’d been icing.  Dana’s cheeks darkened.  Her sister had iced genitalia between the cookie’s legs.

“Melissa!”

“I’m calling him Miles.”

Dana’s cheeks grew even redder.  “We can’t put that cookie out for Mom’s church friends.”

“We’re not going to.  You’re going to take this cookie and bite his dick off.”

“Melissa!”  Dana gasped, but then she started laughing as Melissa waved it in front of her face.

“Come on, Dana.  He deserves.  Bite it right off.”

“Oh my God.”  Dana took the cookie and after a few moments of hesitation, she closed her eyes and bit it in half.

“There you go.  Fuck you, Miles, and your dumbass name.”

Dana brushed cookie crumbs from her lap and gave Melissa the other half of the cookie.  She supposed the loss of one gingerbread man would go unnoticed.  There were still so many to ice though, and it was almost three in the morning.

“Why did she have to make so many cookies?” Dana murmured, sighing as she picked up a plain one to ice.

“Because she’s fucking insane,” Melissa answered.

*****

Mulder put his hands on Scully’s shoulders and gave them a squeeze.  She blinked and tipped her head back to look up at him.  He gave her a quizzical look and she reached up to cover one of his hands.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Yeah.”

“Thinking about your mom?”

“No, actually.”  She shook her head.

“You want to grab those boxes and get out of here?”

“Yeah?”

Mulder gave her another squeeze and then dropped his hands.  He moved through the kitchen and she followed, pausing at the oven to bend and peer into the window.  She remembered reading once that a trick of selling real estate was to make the house smell like cookies.  Sure enough, a sheet of gingerbread men were baking inside.  She breathed deep and closed her eyes.

“Usually I do chocolate chip,” Suzanne said from behind her.  “But, my daughter has a holiday party at school tomorrow and I needed to do gingerbread men.”

“They look good,” Scully said, straightening.

“Found the boxes,” Mulder, coming into the kitchen with the two boxes stacked on top of each other in his arms.

“We have to get going,” Scully said to Suzanne.

“Well, I just made a second appointment with some buyers for Tuesday.  Hopefully I’ll have good news for you!”

“Thanks.”

Scully went out ahead of Mulder and guided him down to the car.  She popped the trunk with her set of keys and he placed both boxes inside.  He was about to close the door, but she stopped him and asked for his pocket knife.  He pulled it out of his pocket and then broke through the tape on both boxes before stepping back to let Scully open them.

“Huh,” Scully said.

Mulder looked over her shoulder and pulled the flaps of the boxes open.  “Jelly jars?”

“Boxes of jelly jars.”

“Was your mom big into canning?”

“Not at all.  Not that I know of.”

“Huh.”

Scully started to laugh.  “Sometimes she was just fucking insane.”

Mulder turned his head towards her and raised his brows.  She chuckled and put her hand on his arm.  “Come on,” she said.  “Let’s go home.”

The End

[littlehouseonthewater]

“Never think that God’s delays are God’s denials.

Hold on; hold fast; hold out.  Patience is genius.” ~Comte de Buffon

“Have you sold your Cruise-a-home yet?” someone with a cheerful disposition asks me.  “Not yet,” I sigh, “we’re still waiting.”

Truly we could not have chosen a better boat than our Cruise-a-home to transition from foundational home to hull home. Now, at the end of 2019, our children are ages 13, 11, 9 and 6.  They have grown at least twelve inches since we began our nautical lifestyle three years ago.  Proud mama moment, my children are amazing.  Their “bedrooms”, if you could call it that, are 29″x68″.  Their bed takes up 27 1/2″x63″, leaving 5″ for knickknacks, treasures, stuffed animals and books.  Like when Alice grew too big in the Wonderland home, the six of us have most literally reached capacity of our Cruise-a-home.

Keeping the dream to cruise alive, Ryan and I have looked at hundreds of sailboats online.  May 2019, a dear friend of ours excitedly found the most probable sailboat candidate to be our next home.  We walked aboard as a family, and felt the “yes, this seems right!” feeling in the pits of our hearts.  Tripling our current living space with three state rooms, two heads (bathrooms) and a walk-in engine room for Ryan to store his tools and me to have a washing machine, how could this not happen quickly for us? We came back to our cruise-a-home and taped up a “For Sale” sign. I just knew all the puzzle pieces would click into place quickly for us.

“I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s many times about the person he calls – not about the calling itself.  He’ll take anyone with an obedient spirit, no matter how green, messy or ignorant they may be.  But once you sign on, he’s got to put you through basic training to get you in shape to operate with his high standards, methods and ways.  Perhaps you don’t have the mental knowledge, the spiritual maturity, or the emotional depth needed to accomplish what he has in mind.  Maybe you want to call the shots in how things proceed – and God knows you’ll fall flat on your face unless he’s the one in charge. He’s got to test your commitment, your endurance – to see what kind of stuff you’re made of for the long haul.  Perhaps it is for you to see what you’re made of…for God already knows.  This basic training always, always grows you in maturity, self-confidence, and ultimately, dependence on God.

So while we’re waiting and getting upset at God for not doing anything, could it be that we are the hold up?  Is it us that he’s waiting on?  To show we trust him – so he can trust us with what he’s about to do?  To prepare us mentally, having thoroughly thought things through?  To prepare us emotionally, with a solid resolve and conviction to move ahead?  To just grow up a little?  Or a lot?  Spring showers can pop up in an afternoon.  Hurricanes take days.  I think God makes us wait because he’s got bigger ideas in mind.  Plus, his timing is always perfect – he can see what’s coming down the pike in eternity, and he knows the right moment in time to get you moving.” ~ Jenny L. Cote (Now I Sea p. 29)

I wept when I read this.  Waiting IS SO HARD!!  But in the months of waiting, I have succumbed to the conclusion: I would rather patiently wait for God’s timing, than try to manipulate something premature and make a chaos of decisions.  That being said, our life continued.

This last summer we cruised 10 days in our 27′ sailboat.  It was our first long sail, overnight, cooking…anything longer than a sunset sail.  Amazingly enough…our kids are crazy.  It was unanimously agreed by our four (not of this world children) that they actually preferred the cramped close cockpit quarters of our 27′ sailboat to our spacious 40′ cruise-a-home (at least when cruising).  They enjoyed snuggling and reading in the cockpit, taking naps in the V-birth, and never once complained.

Our kids are resilient and adaptable.  We spent our first night rocking and rolling (not exceptionally pleasant), moored at Blake Island.  The view of Mt Rainer to the south and Seattle to the east, were beautiful.  The following morning, we walked the island and found treasure while geocaching.

Later, we met up with our friends and cruising companions from our yacht club…and then one boat was not like the others.  I’ll admit, jealousy is hard to combat when I feel I’m lacking…and forced to wait.  But if I remained unsatisfied with what I do have, and stubbornly put my foot down that a 27′ sailboat is just too small for me to even give it a try, how many wonderful memories my family would have missed out on. So, I put forth my best “I got this, let’s figure this out” attitude.  Pleasantly, I’m amazed how well we’ve all adapted to such tiny spaces.  And I thought 238 sq ft for a family of six was tiny!  The memories we’re making, the experiences we’re having, and the bonding and growing we’re doing…strengthens our resolve to keep waiting for the right timing for our one-day bigger sailboat.

A few months after our summer cruise; we felt Ryan had reached all he could learn working on the ferry.  Before his transition to his new job, we decided to seize the opportunity and take a road trip halfway across the United States to visit family.  In typical Taisey fashion, we made this decision with two days planning.  Packed into our 2007 Toyota Highlander, we realized the joy is in the journey, not just zipping to the destination.  Contentedly we passed the hours and miles by listening to Focus on the Family’s radio drama of all seven Chronicles of Narnia series.  Watching the changing landscape as we climbed the Rockies and drove across the Great Plains, I couldn’t help but think of the courageous pioneers, wagon trains and families traversing this ruggedly beautiful terrain so slowly.  Such courageous people of long ago, willing to take the risk in search of a better life and adventure.

On our way to Illinois and Indiana, we drove I-90 and had 3 twelve-hour days to get to our final destination, Elgin, Illinois.  We visited with three sets of great grandparents, made yummy cookies with my favorite Auntie and Uncle, and reconnected with a beloved cousin and her family. When our time was up, our hearts were filled to the brim with love after reconnecting with loved ones we haven’t seen in years.

On our way back west, we decided to take the meandering two lane country roads.  One stop was in Arthur, Illinois where we happened to meet a very nice Amish family who kindly answered all our enthusiastic questions.  They shared how they make buggies (the family business), how they function off the grid, and their fascinating way of life.  We delighted spending a whole afternoon with them, ending with Arianna becoming pen pals with their youngest daughter!!  Now, how cool is that!!  I connected most with their love for family, enjoying the slower pace of life, and putting their whole heart into their craftsmanship and homemaking.  We left with hearts full, and strangers who quickly became friends.

Another interesting stop was at Vandalia, IL.  This city was Illinois’s second state capital from 1819-1839.  This particular building was capital from 1836-1839, before the capital was ultimately moved to Springfield.  Abraham Lincoln was a delegate here.  The wood beams and floors upstairs are still original to 1836.  I get so excited touching and walking where history happened!

Behind the old Vandalia Capital building was an old church turned into a historic museum with 1800 era artifacts.  One reason I love homeschooling, my children naturally exhibit an intellectual curiosity to learn.  In times like these, my heart swells with pride and thankfulness for the museum lady delighted in allowing our responsible children to respectfully hold and handle historical artifacts from this time period.  Textbook history became multi-dimensional with weight, time and place. Experiences like this is what excite and draws us to continue to work hard toward our future voyage.

“Treading alongside the men folk, were women with dainty calloused hands who, after giving birth, would tote water from a brook, never seeking sympathy or aid; but, boldly under bonnet brim her beaming eyes looking far into the future, she’d thrust her dainty feet into sturdy books, never dreaming of the History she made…” (Written by Deloris Lynch in honor of the Madonna of the Old National Trail)  Madonna of the Trail is a series of 12 identical monuments dedicated to the spirit of pioneer women in the United States.  The monuments were commissioned by the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR).  They were installed in each of the 12 states along the National Old Trails Road, which extend from Cumberland, Maryland, to Upland, California. (Wikipedia) Wives and mothers of such high character inspire me to be a bold and courageous helpmate to my husband and example to my children.

An unseasonable blizzard hit the Dakotas, so we headed south through Missouri.  We visited the Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis.  Ryan delighted in bringing our children to a place he went when he was a child.  The mighty Mississippi was close to flood stage.

“The Compromise of 1850 and the Fugitive Slave Act, and the Dread Scott Decision proceeded the succession of the southern states.” We memorized this history statement from Classical Conversations.  The Dread Scott case and decision was conducted at this St. Louis Courthouse.  One of my favorite book series I read as a youth, which has become a favorite of my children, has its plot line about the Underground Railroad and its setting along the mighty Mississippi and the St. Louis Courthouse.  I feel so privileged to be walking along the trail of our nation’s history with my children.

“We met the advance company of Oregon emigration…It is remarkable how anxious these people are to hear from the Pacific country and strange that so many…should sell out comfortable homes…pack up and start across such an immense, barren waste to settle in some new place of which they have at most so uncertain information, but this is the character of my countrymen.” James Clyman (June 24, 1846)  At one museum in Independence, Missouri, we learned about one gentleman, Ezra Meeker, who traveled the Oregon trail via ox-driven wagon as a child, again along the trail via automobile as an adult, and flew over it a third time before he died.  My mind was blown as I thought through the timeline in my head of all the things that transpired throughout his lifetime from 1830-1928.  Incredible!

We celebrated Felicity’s 9th birthday visiting Bear Country, and Mt Rushmore.  It was a bucket list item for Ryan and I.  Our kids enjoy being Jr. Rangers, filling out different informational pamphlets regarding different national parks.  The girls outlined our road trip route, marking our different stops along the way.

A very sobering Memorial, we visited a piece of the Berlin Wall and read its history to our children.  I know this quote is regarding a different battle, but it touched my heart, and made me ponder. “The price of Liberty.  Let me ask you something.  Did the men of D-Day sacrifice themselves because you and I had earned it and deserved it?  No.  Many of us weren’t even born yet.  Even so, those men realized how precious and valuable we were.  Liberation is not dependent on the action of the imprisioned – it is dependent on the Value of the imprisoned in the eyes of the Liberator…” (Jenny L. Cote Now I Sea! pg 132)

Soldiers, First responders, Men and Women of Valor…my family and I, Thank You.

Continuing west, we visited Kansas’ Capital building. One of two capital buildings where you can take a free guided tour and walk up all 239 steps to the top and outside of the rotunda.  This capital building held significance for our history memory sentence regarding the court case, Brown vs. Board of Education where segregation by race in public schools was deemed unconstitutional.  Until the 1960s, this building was completely open to the public.  Unchaperoned youth would climb throughout the highest heights of the dome and write their names and dates on the brick and steel supports.  It is illegal to do so now, but has been preserved as part of the building’s history.  Amazingly, there are no reports of injuries for such escapades.

The last major place we visited was the Badlands of South Dakota.  What an amazing landscape!!  Buffalo blocked our road.  Prairie dogs played hide and seek with our kids as they ran from hole to hole as if playing Whack-a-Mole.  Taking a break from listening to Chronicles of Narnia, we listened to Jenny L. Cote’s audio book, The Ark, the Reed and the Fire Cloud.  This story is about Noah’s Ark.  It is amazing to see the strata of the rock and read of the fossils they have uncovered in the Badlands ranging from fish and birds to rhinoceros and saber tooth tiger…all fossilized together in the Badlands.

Our spontaneous two and a half week road trip took us across eleven states, from Washington State to Indiana and back again. We indeed have a beautiful country, and we’d spontaneously do it all over again in a heartbeat!!!

“So while we’re waiting and getting upset at God for not doing anything, could it be that…he’s waiting for us to trust him – so he can trust us with what he’s about to do? To prepare us mentally, having thoroughly thought things through?  To prepare us emotionally, with a solid resolve and conviction to move ahead?” ~Jenny L. Cote

The weeks have turned into months of waiting. Our living quarters are as cramped as ever. My emotions have tumbled from wanting to just give up and quit this adventure, to resolved determination that another stubbed toe will not break me and to just hang on…this waiting cannot last forever. Ryan began his new job late in October and absolutely loves it!!  In November, we switched docking places with another member from our yacht club, so we could be right next door to our best friends who are another live-aboard family.  What a blessing it has been to do this live-aboard life with another family with kids!!!  Lastly, with the dawn of 2020 right around the corner, we have saved enough to make an offer on the sailboat we walked aboard in May 2019!! This season of waiting has been a hard season, but it has left me with a solid resolve and conviction that God’s delays are not God’s denials, and His timing will always be perfect. The future adventure is worth the pain of waiting.

Blessings,

Jacy

  The Future Adventure is Worth the Pain of Waiting "Never think that God's delays are God's denials. Hold on; hold fast; hold out. Patience is genius." ~Comte de Buffon…

[floresgavriil-blog]

With a plethora of things to do in Florence and considered one of the important cultural and historical hubs of Italy it’s easy to see why so many travelers flock to this city. what

Florence, or Firenze in Italian, is the quintessential Italian riverside city filled with some of the countries best sights and foods. It’s famed for world-class cuisine, museums, classic works of art, and the surrounding Tuscan countryside. The architecture in Florence pulls you in and begs for you to get lost in its historic heart.

Florence is known for being the birthplace of the Renaissance period and packed full of history. When you walk the narrow cobbled stone streets it appears as if little has changed with marble basilicas, dark chapels, gas lanterns, and enchanting frescos. Florence is a located in the central-north of Italy known as Tuscany, halfway between the landlocked country of San Marino and the world’s most iconic leaning structure, Pisa.

When many think of Italy, it’s generally the Colosseum, Leaning Tower of Pisa and the canals of Venice along with delicious treats of gelato, pizza and pasta and while that’s generally a true statement, places like Florence are becoming more and more popular to those wanting to see the other side of Italy.

Florence out of all the places I visited in Italy had the most charm about it with a constant relaxed vibe from the river Arno to the gardens of Boboli and beyond. This Italian city is easily a highlight of any trip to Italy!

Table of Contents

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11.) Eat Your Way Through Tuscany

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1.) Wander Through Boboli Gardens

Giardino di Boboli or The Boboli Gardens tops the list of the most impressive gardens I have visited anywhere in Europe and I am generally not fond of heavily mowed lawns, manicured hedges, and water fountains, but the caretakers of The Boboli Gardens do an exquisite job in maintaining an extremely large area of land to such perfection.

I was born and raised on a farm, 500 kilometers from the closest city and often feel overwhelmed by the chaos of cities, to cope I often seek out the botanical gardens for peace and quiet. For me, it takes the top spot for what to do in Florence.

Located behind the Palazzo Pitti a grand Rennaisance palace that was built in 1458. The historic gardens date back to the 16th century and are considered the first of the grand Italian gardens famed for the century.

There is a certain charm that lay over Giardino di Boboli that reminds of the movie ‘The Secret Garden’. Giardino di Boboli is also a great place to watch the sunset over The Arno River as the last rays of light hit Piazza Del Duomo.

Price: €10 Full / €5 Reduced (Summer March 1st – October 31st) €6 Full/ €3 Reduced (Winter November 1st – February 28th)

Hours: Open every day from 8:15 a.m. — Closing times vary from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Location: Plaza Piti

2.) Gaze Upon Duomo di Firenze (Florence Cathedral)

Florence’s most famous building, Piazza Del Duomo

The beating heart of Florence has to be Piazza Del Duomo and the Florence Cathedral. The cathedral is one of the world’s largest cathedrals built in the late 12th century and is an icon of Florence and visible throughout the city.

The interior of the Duomo is fascinating the dome was the largest in the world until the modern era with new construction materials. is great seeing from the inside with ancient monuments and artifacts, this cathedral is best seen from various vantage points throughout Florence especially during sunset and sunrise as the roof and dome of the cathedral turns a bright orange and red which dominates the city landscape.

If you want to explore the cathedral, you might want to do so early as possible to avoid the lengthy wait times. Entry into the cathedral is free; however, if you wish to visit the crypt dating back to the 15th century, the dome, baptistery, and the museum are all combined into the cumulative ticket for €18. If you’re for a more in-depth experience you can book a guided tour along with an expedited ticket to avoid the lines here

Price: Free — €18 Combined Ticket (Entry to crypt, baptistery, dome, and museum)

Hours: Everyday 8:30 a.m. — 7:00 p.m. (Saturday until 5:40 p.m.)

Location: Duomo di Firenze

Book Your Guide for the Cathedral!

3.) Explore the Arno River

Exploring the Arno River

The waterways of Europe were the original highways and sources of the trade so many classic European cities and towns are based along waterways. Florence sits on the Arno River and it is the central point of the city. A walk along the central waterway is an awesome way to take the historic city.

A walk here is wonderful for photographs of Florence and provides great viewpoints of the famed Ponte Vecchio Bridge. The Arno is a classic Italian river with an array of bridges some few hundred meters apart meaning you can walk from one side to the other with ease to catch views from a different perspective.

Quick fact: if you follow The River Arno for long enough, it will lead almost directly to the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Mediterranean!

4.) Cross the Ponte Vecchio Bridge

Florence’s most famous bridge

Just as the rivers of cities were vital lifelines of cities so were the bridges. With its long history, Italy is filled with famed bridges such as the Rialto Bridge of Venice and Ponte Vecchio of Firenze. The Arno River has more than one bridge that crosses its flow yet none of those bridges hold more attention that the famed Ponte Vecchio.

The original bridge was constructed by the Romans and dates back millennia, but the current bridge dates were constructed in 1345 after several versions were swept away in floods. Its historical significance was even spared by Hitler as the Germans destroyed all the bridges in the region during their retreat in 1945, except for the bridge under explicit instructions.

Over the centuries the Ponte Vecchio has been home to a number of shops that line the bridge. Originally the shop fronts were occupied by butchers who would cut and chop up meat to sell while discarding the scraps into The Arno. Now, the shops are occupied by jewelers and art dealers. Each storefront has its own distinct color which can be viewed from standing upon the Ponte Santa Trinita Bridge or roads running adjacent to The Arno River.

At one point in time, Ponte Vecchio was the only bridge to connect the north and south sides of the river and a daily commute past the butcher storefronts wasn’t exactly an ideal thing to do, especially early in the morning. During the rule of The Medici, they ordered that jewelry stores replace the butchers and the throwing of the meat into The Arno be ceased.

Location: Ponte Vecchio Bridge

5.) Enjoy the view from Piazzale Michelangelo

Florence has few viewpoints as good as the lookout high about the banks of the Arno River; however, getting there is a bit of a burner on the calves or if you prefer, take a bike or Vespa to the top as the views are the best anywhere in Florence.

If you know what Florence looks like, it was probably taken from Piazzale Michelangelo. Getting that epic shot of the city can be tricky due to it being one of the most photographed places in Italy so get there extra early for sunrise shots or early for sunset shots. One of our favorite times to photograph in busy spots is what is commonly referred to as the blue hour just after sunset as most photographers leave once the sun drops below the horizon. If you’re a photographer wondering what to do in Florence at sunset this is a solid photo spot.

Location: Piazzale Michelangelo

6.) Climb the Tower at Palazzo Vecchio

Walking the streets of Florence

One of the cool things about Florence is that most of its main tourist attractions are within 10 minutes walking distance of one another and if you go to the famous lookout of Giardino del Bardini, you will see just how close everything is together.

The Palazzo Vecchio is the only other structure in Florence that will give the Piazza del Duomo a run for its money in size. Like most cathedrals and churches in Italy and Florence, the Palazzo Vecchio is one of the oldest and dates back to the late 12th century.

What you will notice about Palazzo Vecchio is its castle-like tower or torre d’Arnolfo which stands almost as tall as the dome on Duomo. The tower itself is nearly the height of a football field, 94 meters to be exact which can be climbed from the inside revealing a spectacle of views once at the top.

If you are keen to take the narrow staircase to the top of the tower, make sure to get there early as crowds build to lengthy ques early.

Price: €14 Full / €12 Reduced Museum & Tower

Hours: Everyday 8:30 a.m. — 7:00 p.m. (Saturday until 5:40 p.m.)

Location: Palazzo Vecchio

7.) Explore the Palazzo Pitti

If you are planning to walk around the manicured gardens of Boboli, be sure to spend an hour or so discovering some of Florence’s most delicate treasures and artifacts in Palazzo Pitti. The palace and gardens at one point belonged to the Medici Family who are credited with the birth of the Rennaisance.

Expect to see a lot of old Renaissance era paintings framed with gold to jewels that were worn by the Medici family. Most notable are a large collection of Raphael paintings and

When I visited Palazzo Pitti, it was not as busy as Duomo or Vecchio so it doesn’t matter what time you arrive but a quick tip if you are traveling on a budget, buy your ticket before 9 am to save 50% on the normal price! Also, it’s important to note that the gardens and palace are separate tickets.

Price: €16 Full / €8 Reduced (Summer March 1st – October 31st) €10 Full/ €5 Reduced (Winter November 1st – February 28th)

Hours: Open every day from 8:15 a.m. — Closing times vary from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Location: Plaza Piti

8.) Scoppio Del Carro – Exploding Cart of Fireworks

During Easter, a tradition lives strong and vibrant with the annual Scoppio Del Carro or explosion of the cart which basically sees a cart jam-packed full with fireworks set alight in a glorious display of whizzing and bangs, you might want to bring ear and eye protection, things get crazy.

If you’re interested in attending the festival Visit Florence has a great post with the details and history of the festival here.

Date: Easter Sunday. The procession starts at 10:00 a.m. and fireworks begin at 11:00 a.m.

Location: Piazza Del Duomo (Between baptistery and cathedral)

Cost: Free (expect large crowds)

9.) Admire David by Michelangelo

France has the Mona Lisa, Australia has the Big Banana and Nepal has Mount Everest but one thing these countries do not possess is a chiselled man standing in a glorious pose known to Florence as David.

David is possibly the most famous sculpture of all time now and long into the future. Why go and see David? David was made from a single piece of marble by a 29-year-old way back in 1504 to which it once stood outside in the streets of Florence.

Today David by Michelangelo can be seen (still posing) at the Galleria dell Accademia on the southern side of The Arno River.

Price: €12 Full / €2 Reduced (+€4 prebooking fee)

Hours: Closed on Monday. Open from 8:15 a.m. – 6:50 p.m.

Location: Galleria dell’Accamdemia

Fast Track Tickets to the Galleria

10.) See Florence at Night

Most things at night look that little bit better and seeing Florence turn on its lights is truly incredible.

Florence’s streets at night especially in the warmer months have a certain vibe about it making it ideal to get out and see some of Florence’s cathedrals and cobble stoned streets under a shade of orange and yellow.

One of the best night time scenes is Florence’s Piazza Del Duomo shrouded in a bright array of lights which is best observed from up close or if you fancy going for a night stroll, head to the famous lookout point at Giardino del Bardini, high above the river Arno.

11.) Eat Your Way Through Tuscany

Without a doubt, Italy has the best cuisine on earth. Italy’s influence on the rest of the world comes in the form of food. No matter which town or city you go to in the world, Italian food is available and although you might think it’s good, it’s always better when it’s eaten in the country of origin.

Each region in Italy has its own delicacy and seasonal produce which can be found at local restaurants and market stalls. These small locally run and locally grown stalls provide you with the best taste of Florence. Buying from a market stall is going to save you loads if you are traveling on a budget or for a longer period of time.

I fratellini is all about the Panini, a marvelous creation often over indulged by myself and I am sure a lot of others.  A Panini is a toasted sandwich with tomato, fresh basil and melted mozzarella cheese.

Nerbone is one of a few market stalls remaining in Florence since the 18th century and the reason it continues to thrive is through its tasty local produce and a specialty which can make tongues turn, Tripe.

For those who are hungry one of Florence’s most notable dishes is the Bistecca alla fiorentine. It’s a large porterhouse steak, or T-Bone, that is perfectly seared rare to medium rare over a wood fire. The steaks are generally massive and meant to be shared with the table like many dishes in Italy — family style.

12.) Live out Under the Tuscan Sun

Views like this are only a short drive from Florence

Florence is situated in one of the most breathtaking countryside’s in Italy known as Tuscany. It’s easily the most well-known region of Italy and famed for its wine and food featured in a countless number of films and books.

Tuscany is known for rolling green hills and lush farmlands that produce some of the best produce anywhere in Italy. One of the best ways to explore Tuscany is to base yourself in Florence and do day trips around the region.

Tuscany is one of the most photogenic regions in Europe but to its equal is the local produce ranging from olives, grapes, salami, beef, and cheese or basically my food pyramid.

If you en-route to Pisa or just want a taste of Tuscany while staying in Florence, San Miniato is the place to be with 360 degree views of beautiful farmland, the Arno River as it flows to the Mediterranean and an opportunity to sample Tuscany’s finest produces.

Book A Tour Around Tuscany

13.) Witness a Game of Italian Football

Italy has some of the most talented football players and teams in the world and pretty much whoever you talk to in the streets of Florence will be a fan or plays the world game.

Florence over the past few years has had great success with their local team, ACF Fiorentina who play in the prestigious Serie A. When rival teams roll into town, the whole town talks football especially when rivals Juventus are in town.

If you happen to be in Florence during one of their games, don’t miss this epic opportunity to attend alongside 43,000 football fanatics! Stadio Artemio Franchi isn’t the biggest of stadiums in Italy, but it stands out with a gorgeous Tuscany backdrop dotted amongst the evergreen hills while holding a rich history through World Cup tournaments to Madonna performing live!

Location: Artemio Franchi Stadium

14.) Hire a Vespa

This is probably the most Italian thing you can do in Italy, ride a Vespa otherwise known as a scooter.

If you don’t fancy peddling a bike around the cobble stoned streets, Vespa’s are another alternative and allow you to cover more ground than you would on a bike.

With there being so much to do in Florence, a Vespa can take you from the old town to the vineyards of Florence within 15 to 20 minutes making it a better option than hiring a car or going on a bus tour.

Make sure to hire a helmet when collecting your Vespa, cobble stoned roads are common and can be rough on the suspension.

15.) Learn About Art at the Uffizi Galleria

As you may have already noticed reading this article, Florence is home to some of the most treasured paintings from the Renaissance era.

The Uffizi Gallery, by all means, remains the most popular of galleries in Florence where paintings dating back to the 17th century are hung for all to see. By far the highlight of Uffizi is the works of Leonardo Di Vinci.

Like most cathedrals and galleries in Florence, Uffizi tops the list as the busiest so purchase your ticket well in advance or online to avoid Florence’s endless queues.

Price: €20 Full / €10 Reduced (Summer March 1st – October 31st) €12 Full/ €6 Reduced (Winter November 1st – February 28th)

Hours: Closed on Monday. Open from 8:15 a.m. – 6:50 p.m.

Location: Uffizi Gallery

Timed Ticket to Avoid Lines

Best Time to go to Florence?

Italy is seriously perfect all year round which is amazing! With the mountainous Alps to the north of Italy and the Mediterranean to the south, Florence is situated in the most idyllic places, Tuscany.

Although Florence experiences perfect summer days, things can get very overcrowded and that’s not a good thing if you have to wait in line to enter a museum. Summer days are perfect for exploring Tuscany and its coastal areas.

For a more mellow experience, going in September to late October means a cooler climate with fewer crowds as prices drop for accommodation and tours.

How to Get around Florence?

Florence isn’t the biggest city in Italy and it’s also not the busiest making it a few options viable for freedom of exploration. I am a big fan of walking around cities and often throughout Europe, there will be one or two companies that have walking tours!

Walking tours are a fantastic way of learning about the city’s history, food, people and culture and the tour guides are awesome as well! Walking tours are generally cheap and you can spend anywhere from 1 hour to a whole day tour.

By far my favorite thing to do is hiring a bike which is so easy in European countries. Most hotels and backpackers have bikes readily available for hire for as little as 10 Euros. If you decide to hire a bike, be sure to get a bike lock as bikes often go missing if left unattended. 

Villa Cora, Florence

With all of the bells and whistles of a modern hotel, this new-comer on the Italian hotel scene places guests in their very own Tuscan dreams. The centerpiece here the 19th-century villa constructed by Baron Oppenheim, one of the principal financiers of the Suez Canal.

The villa is Italian decadence with parquet floors, monstrous mirrors, crystal chandeliers and a whole series of reception rooms. Guest at Villa Cora will not have to worry about being pampered because the hotel also houses one of the best spas in Florence offering a wide range of services.

The services and amenities do not stop there with a free shuttle bus that will pick you up anywhere in the city and an outdoor heated pool open year round. In the summer, the rooftop buzzes with guests and outside visitors at the champagne bar there to enjoy the warm Tuscan evenings.

Agoda.com

Booking.com

Hotels.com

Throw Everything You Know About Italian Food Out the Window

Spaghetti bolognese is not everywhere and cannolis are only popular in Sicily, also you will never ever see pepperoni. Instead, you will find the real Italian staples like bruschetta al pomodoro, delicious prosciutto layering a pizza, and spaghetti alla carbonara instead of fettucini alfredo. And cheese!

Oh, don’t even get me started on the cheese in Italy. It’s delicious and fresh and nothing in your average supermarkets will ever compare. I worked at the American restaurant food chain Carrabba’s Italian Grill for 4 years. Trust me, the “Italian” food we think we know doesn’t even compare.

There is likely no region more famed for its food than Tuscany.

“Ciao,” “Grazie,” and “Non-Capisco” will go a long way

The Italians are extremely friendly and polite people, but I still found that learning a few words in their language will get you a long way. It’s easy too! “Ciao” can be used for hello and goodbye, “Grazie,” is used everywhere to give thanks, and when a local mistakenly make you out for an Italian just simply say “Non-Capisco” (I don’t understand).

Read my full list of what to pack for Italy here.

Choose Your Gelato Wisely

There is good gelato and crap gelato – even in Italy. Read your reviews online, and be sure to test out a few different shops. When you find the best, you will know. Our favorite gelato in Italy was hands down in Florence and was called Gelateria Della Passera.

How to travel around Italy?

Getting to Italy has never been cheaper with budget airlines such as RyanAir operating out of many Italian cities. If you are flying from a different continent the main hubs are Rome, Florence, and Milan. Once in Italy, the best way to get around is via train.

For long-distance routes it’s best to book beforehand with Trenitalia and reserve a seat. If you are traveling shorter distances it’s also possible to show up at the train station a buy a ticket there. Or get around Europe with a Eurail.

We’ve rented a car numerous times in Italy and it’s a great way to get around on your own schedule. An automatic rental car can go for as low €15 a day in the low season up to €45 a day in the higher seasons and will ensure you get to all the best places in Italy.

Knowing how to drive a manual car will often get you cheaper rates in Europe. If you’re traveling as a group it is worth your while to hire a car for your trip. Our best experiences have been with SiXT. Check car rental prices here.

Travel Water Bottle

Plastic pollution is a problem around the world so it’s best not to contribute to the problem buying plastic water bottles everywhere – plus the water from the taps here is perfectly safe to drink. We’ve shifted to using an insulated aluminum water bottle as it handles the hot sun well. However, we also love filtered water bottles in areas we’re uncertain of the water supply. Read more about favorite water bottle for travel in our post.

Sun Hat

It gets sunny in Italy, and unless you’re walking around museums you will be outside most of the day. Make sure to protect your face with a nice sun hat.

Buy a Sun Hat

Italian Guidebook

We love to have a physical guidebook when traveling. We spend enough time attached to our phones in everyday life and planning our trips. Once we reach a destination like Italy we put the phone away and pick up a guidebook to help with our trip.

Lonely Planet — Italy

Read: What to Pack for Italy!

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About the Author

Calumn Hockey

G’day! My name is Calumn Hockey and I am a keen adventurer, traveler, and photographer from Bowraville, Australia. I have a huge passion for the mountains of the Himalaya in Nepal to the Southern Alps of New Zealand while being one who loves to become immersed in local culture. Over the past few years, I have been fortunate enough to travel to some pretty epic locations such as Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Nepal, and South East Asia. I might not have a high tally of countries under my belt but there is nothing better than exploring somewhere you love in depth and becoming connected with the sights and sounds. Keen to follow my adventures? Follow me on @CalumnHockey

The post 15 Best Things to Do in Florence, Italy appeared first on The World Pursuit.

[jtvizion]

The Night America Fell

By: J. R. Torres

The night America fell will forever be seared into the depths of my mind. I was awoken in the dead of night by the harrowing sound of lawlessness. Sirens blared, shots rang, and thousands of distressed voices echoed into the night. It was the sound of America dying.

As I peered out the window of my 3rd story apartment, I witnessed pure chaos in the streets. Flashes, smoke, and people running from their homes. There were militarized police officers firing rounds at masked men who were also heavily armed. I even witnessed a police officer executed by a masked man in cold blood. That was when I realized that if I didn’t hide, I would probably meet the same fate as the slain officer. Without thinking I grabbed what I could and immediately made my way into my attic and once there, I placed my loaded trunk on the attics latching door, and stayed up the whole night listening to the chaos echo into the cold winter night.

It’s been 44 days since America fell. The only reason I know it’s been 44 days is because there are 44 carvings in the floorboard of this dank, bone-chilling attic which has since become home. To this day, I still can’t believe how quickly it all came crashing down.

Everyday I wake up hoping this new reality is just a dream, and everyday I wake up realizing that this living nightmare is reality. ​Everyday I wonder if it will be my last...

As I sit here corroding away in desolation, I will try to find solace by writing out my thoughts and feelings in hopes that maybe someday, someone will read my words and come to some sort of understanding as to how America, the greatest most powerful country in the history of the world, became a war-torn nation.

I remember learning about Anne Frank when I was in Middle School. I remember always wondering how she met the fate she did. How could the people of the world allow innocent people to be rounded up and slaughtered? I, like many others, always demonized Hitler and the Nazi’s because they were the “bad guys”. They were the ones who set the bar for evil in the 20th century, and never had it ever crossed our minds that we would top the heinous evil that was the Holocaust. That was perhaps our biggest mistake...

...

The months and weeks leading up to the fall were unthinkable. It felt like a roller coaster ride to hell. Everyday there was some new hate crime being committed, each more vile than the last. Ghetto’s were starting to look like war zones between militarized police forces and black men. There was also a sharp rise in anti-semitism caused by the resurgence of white supremacy. It had become OK to hate, and it was our newly elected leader who made it OK. Protests against his authoritarian rule turned into riots and then riots turned into chaos. It was as though the seams that kept this chosen land together were starting to stretch and snap caused by this growing suppressed anger that had been festering deep from within since the founding of America in 1776.

The major media outlets were constantly being denigrated by the administration. An administration whose obvious purpose in retrospect, was to promote the welfare of the economic elite. Truth was becoming harder and harder to discern. False stories being propagated on social media networks became more and more common. I truly believe that this brief era of misinformation was one of the cruxes that brought us to where we are now. Another crux was our worship of the almighty dollar. It was the dollars in our pockets that afforded us happiness, the less we had the less happy we were or so it seemed. It wasn’t until the hyperinflation set in that we all began to lose faith in the dollar. We all lost faith in those green pieces of paper that we worked our lives away to acquire. During that loss of faith was when our nation hit terminal velocity.

...

After the fall, I couldn’t sleep for what felt like weeks. If you could only imagine what it’s like to have your mind on a constant state of heightened alert. If you could only understand the damage too much adrenaline will do to you. It permanently alters you, creating some sort of PTSD, where just the littlest things will set you into this pure flight or fight, kill mode. You don’t feel human. And imagine something as simple as the creak in a floorboard being able to put you in that mind set. The simple sounds of a settling house. Howling wind. A roach as it scatters around in darkness. I know I am clinically insane by now, but it’s not like that really matters much anymore.

I remember the first time I was able to somewhat comfortably fall asleep, and it was during the day. A surprisingly warm and bright morning for being in January. There hadn’t been any gun shot’s fired for what felt almost like a full 48 hours. The last thing I remember seeing as I drifted off was the crystal blue sky through a small hole in the attics conjoined ceiling. It was the greatest feeling in the world as a ray from the sun slowly started to creep in, warming my face. That day I dreamed the most vivid dream I’ve ever had in my life.

This dream featured full sensation, and vibrant color and detail. I could clearly see the sweat as it dripped from Alexis’s breast as she rode me like a wild southern cow-girl. The way her breast dangled around as she worked her thick warm squishy hips around and in that motion she knew would extract my seed from deep from within. The ripe aroma of just me and her as we made the kind of love that babies are born from. In that pinnacle moment, I was awoken by the loud deafening boom caused by a nearby explosive that rattled my soul. I was in a state of petrification for days.

...

Starvation is the most peculiar motivation. You’d be surprised at how quickly your fears and priorities change once your stomach has begun to eat itself. I had only heard a few gunshots ring out in the distance throughout the day. It was my plan that once night fell I would venture out of this dreary attic and go down to collect what remained in my apartment. Unfortunately I had not gone shopping before the fall. With the starvation settling in I remembered I should have some stale bread in the pantry and maybe an old box of pasta noodles. As I climbed down, my apartment felt desolate, and it no longer felt like home. When I peered out the window, I was mortified by the the landscape. The once affluent neighborhood full of homes with exotic architecture had been degraded and ruined to look like an abandoned ghost town.

Homes had been hollowed out, some burned. Debris and abandoned cars littered the street. I also no longer could see the steeple of the Lutheran Church that used to sit in the sky only a couple blocks away. This mere glimpse from my window painted a very grim picture of what had become of the world and I could not believe my eyes. I could not believe that Norfolk Virginia, now looked similar to how Syria looked during the height of their recent Civil War.

As I made my way to the kitchen to scavenge what was left, I came to the conclusion that I would soon have to leave the safety of my apartment if I was going to survive. But where would I go? Who could I call? Cell phone and internet service had not worked since the fall. It looked like a war zone outside, and most likely there were still hostile insurgents residing in some of the houses in the neighborhood. The thought of not having anywhere to go was paralyzing. As I made my way up the attic with a can of black beans, a box of cereal dust some mayo and 3 slices of stale bread, I started to hear voices at the back door. Luckily I had just shut the attic door when they kicked in my back door and started sacking my apartment. I nearly passed out from the fear and anxiety as they moved about my place throwing around my belongings. My stomach churned with knots as I heard the hostile voices below. One of the guys swore he saw something... If they had surveillance over my apartment complex so heavy that that they could see me moving about at night, I knew my chances of successfully making any kind of escape were close to none.

13 nights later, driven by a psychosis derived from starvation and acute thirst, I made my way out of my apartment to find any kind of nourishment. I stealthily creeped down the back fire escape checking each busted-in apartment unit for anything edible. You’d be surprised at how good dog food tastes... I’m sure if you had served the meaty paste on some fancy crackers with a garnish at a party, most probably wouldn't even know the difference. My ultimate low point was when I discovered the ultimate source for water. Toilets. With no more running water, toilet reservoirs became a source of life.

A couple days later I attempted to make a run for it, even though I didn’t know where “it” was. Maybe I could make it to my parents house, they only lived 30 minutes away by car, which would only take a few hours by foot. It was so nice to feel the cool wind of the night brush against my face as a trekked through my decimated neighborhood. There was an eerie stillness and a quietness that night. Every little sound effect was amplified with high fidelity. I made it

about 6 miles before I ran into the most horrifying thing I had ever seen. The on-ramp to 264 east from Norfolk to Virginia Beach had been blocked off and partially destroyed. In front of the blockade were several beams interconnected with razor blade barbed wire, and strung up on the beams were bodies, some women, some men, and some children... Ever since that day I’ve never tried leaving again. I have accepted the fact that I will probably die in this dusty attic in Norfolk. It’s only a matter of time now...

...

Crispy fried chicken with stuffed shells, garlic bread, lumpia and a side of peas and jasmine rice with a scoop of fresh guacamole on top and a large cold glass of chocolate milk is what my body yearns for. My hallucinations have gotten so vivid that I can almost taste the thought of real food. Thank god for this newly acquired vivid imagination or else eating roaches would be unbearable. Yes I’ve fallen this low... But I do what I have to do. Contrary to popular belief, roaches actually don’t taste that bad if you eat them properly. If you think you can just chomp into them then you’re going to be greatly disappointed when remnants of the shell get stuck between your teeth like popcorn kernel skin. There’s a proper process, kind of like eating crawfish, except with roaches, you bite the heads off and suck on the bodies.

I’ve been really tired lately. So tired that I slip in and out of consciousness throughout the day. The sleep is very deep and very dark and dreams are few and far between. This may be due to the mental fatigue from the vivid daydreams I’ve been having. While awake, certain moments keep replaying through my mind like an old VHS tape stuck on repeat. One is of my first memory, of me yelling at a news channel 3 anchor on television, angered over the fact she was ignoring me. I remember my first real kiss, and how happy I was, and how for a week straight I would just randomly smile from thinking about it. I also remember the pain from when she left me to be with someone else. I remember our wonderful family reunions in Miami Florida. My cousins and I laughing into the tonight, almost getting kicked out of hotels, and eating authentic puerto rican food til our bellies were the fullest of full. Arroz con gandules and slow roasted pernil with the salty savory skin that tasted like crispy heaven. Usually my mouth would water when thinking these thoughts but now the inside of my mouth is as dry as a desert and my throat feels like sandpaper.

I was skinny before the fall, now my body is an emaciated pile of skin and bones. My knees are knobby and shake when I try to stand. I can barely pull myself up off the floor anymore, but it’s fine. I know that I will probably never leave this attic again. The only thing left for a while was hope, but that hope has eroded away like my mind, body and soul. I’m tired. All of my memories are starting to fade except for one that I can’t stop thinking about. The memory is of me and my mom shopping at the commissary and we stop to get sherbert ice cream. Orange with pink swirls was always my favorite.

[associatevidiot]

Things I, a Moderate Liberal, Actually Like Quite a Lot About America

Hello! Moderate liberal here. I happened upon this post detailing a list of things that I, a liberal, supposedly hate about America. So I thought I’d quickly run down it, point by point, to see how it checked out. 

1. The U.S. Constitution I love the U.S. Constitution so, so much. The First Amendment in particular. I love the Constitution so much that I even respect the parts that make very little sense to me. (The Second Amendment could, at the very least, have used a decent copy editor. So much confusion just from a couple of awkwardly placed commas.)

2. Liberty Love it! 

3. Freedom Same thing as liberty, but hey, I also love it!

4. Success I have no problem with success! Success is great! I wish success for all who strive for it. Now, conflating success with virtue -- saying that you must be a good person just because you succeeded, or a bad person because you didn’t? Not a fan of that.

5. Big Trucks Eh. I don’t see the point of them unless you need one for your job, in which case I’m all for big trucks. But I don’t hate them so much as roll my eyes at them. Also, I think we can all agree that monster trucks are awesome, and the world is a better place for having them.

6. Capitalism It’s got its downsides in its rawest, least fettered form, but it’s also been responsible for unleashing unprecedented human prosperity, and lifting millions out of poverty. And it’s way, way better than, say, the idiocy that is Communism. Capitalism, like pro sports, simply needs good referees.

7. Free Markets I love free markets! I’d like to see more of them. Free markets in health care. Free markets in broadband. Free markets everywhere, without regulations designed to protect established incumbents at the expense of scrappy up-and-comers. I’d like to see free markets filled with companies that work hard every day to do right both by their employees and their customers, lest a competitor swoop in and outperform them.

8. Wealthy People I like wealthy people! Good for them! I don’t begrudge anyone the ability to live in comfort. And, hey, if they’ve got a little money left over to reinvest in the country that helped them become wealthy, that’s great, too!

9. Economic Prosperity You caught me. I actually favor grinding poverty and misery for all! Ha. No. I love economic prosperity. I’d like more of it for myself and, well, for everyone. Which is why I favor things like single-payer health care and investments in education and infrastructure to help said economy prosper.

10. The Rule of Law I love the rule of law! I love the way it protects the powerless from the powerful. I love the way it allows appellate courts to overrule bad laws made by bad or misguided people! I’d like to see the rule of law applied equally to every citizen of our great nation.

11. Traditional Values As a married guy and a father, I have to say, I love devoting my life to the woman I adore with all my heart, and working with her to raise our children to be kind, thoughtful, polite, compassionate, inventive, thrifty, and hard-working.

12. The American Flag Love it. The stars. The stripes. The color scheme. The swell of pride and awe at the thought of all the sacrifices made and all the greatness achieved and all the hope inspired by that banner. 

13. The Founding Fathers They certainly weren’t perfect. But they gave us the Constitution, which was pretty amazing. Also, Ben Franklin alone is impossible not to love. Dude took air baths in the nude and slept his way through the wives of the French aristocracy, AND invented bifocals. 

14. Guns As a fan of firearm-intensive cinema from John Woo to John Wick, I can confidently say that guns are freaking awesome. In real life, I prefer my guns in the hands of people who’ve been thoroughly trained in how to use them in defense of others, and not, say, indiscriminately placed in the hands of troubled people who might shoot up a movie theater or an elementary school or their families or themselves.

15. Limited Government Depends on your definition of “limited,” but I can certainly see places where too much government is both possible and undesirable. Next!

16. Religious Freedom A Mormon acquaintance of mine recently posted about how her stake had opened their place of worship to Muslims who needed a place to pray because someone who didn’t like religious freedom had burned down their mosque. That story choked me up. I love religious freedom, and the moment someone proposes a law to dictate what you can and can’t say or do in church, I’ll be right there to oppose it.

17. Homeschooling Eh. Doesn’t seem necessary to me, but hey, it’s a free country. 

18. Private Schools See No. 17.

19. Christian Schools See No. 17. Plus, if your faith is so strong that you need to shield it from the outside world wherever possible, maybe your faith is not that strong?

20. Entrepreneurs Steve Jobs, whatever his failings, is a hero of mine. Ditto Jim Sinegal, founder of Costco, and Warren Buffett, head of Berkshire Hathaway. I love people who take risks, start businesses, and create jobs. 

21. Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan is, alas, kind of a dirtbag. The Screen Actors Guild elected him to lead them, and he promptly sold them out to get a sweetheart deal for himself. Then he spent the Blacklist era casually tossing his professional rivals to the Congressional wolves to further his own career. That said, he had the guts to advocate for reasonable gun control after being shot, and he really got the danger of nuclear war and worked hard to prevent it. For that especially, I’ll always be grateful to him.

22. Donald Trump Guilty as charged. Mostly because Trump has a demonstrated history of treating other people horribly. But you can’t get that messed up without a really awful childhood, so deep down, I just sort of feel sorry for him. He doesn’t seem like a truly happy person. I wonder if he ever got down on the floor and played with any of his kids when they were little. I really hope he did.

23. Mike Pence Guilty as charged, but again, mostly because Pence has a documented history of not taking good care of the people he was elected to serve. But that said, I hope Mike Pence lives a long, happy, and prosperous life! I just hope he does so far from any position of political power.

24. Country Music Johnny Cash is a freaking genius. June Carter Cash is amazing. Patsy Cline is gorgeous. Darius Rucker has an amazing voice. Garth Brooks’ “We Shall Be Free” gives me a lump in my throat every. Dang. Time. Hank Williams was awesome. I could go on.

25. Rush Limbaugh That poor, sad man.

26. The Tea Party I may disagree with them, but hey, good on them for engaging in democracy! That’s the way to do it.

27. Lower Taxes I would love lower taxes. I just don’t want anyone else to suffer so that I can have more money.

28. Old-Fashioned Light Bulbs Actually, yeah, I do hate these! Why would anyone want to waste money on something designed to break way, way sooner than it needs to?

29. Jesus The idea that one man would lay down his life to redeem the sins of all mankind awes me to my core, and inspires me to try to lead a more Christlike life myself. I wish everyone acted more like Jesus!

30. The Bible There’s some pretty good stuff in there! Definitely don’t hate it.

31. The Christian Faith I was married in a Baptist church by a Methodist minister who is, no foolin’, one of the best people I know. Christians can be really great people, and any faith that inspires them to be that way is A-OK in my book.

32. The Drudge Report Well, OK, I’m not a fan, but I also roll my eyes at the Huffington Post, so...

33. John Wayne I can’t recall a more thrilling introduction to a character than the way the camera swoops across the landscape to reveal young John Wayne in “Stagecoach.” And “The Searchers” is just fantastic. Like Vin Diesel, Wayne simultaneously manages to be a kind of bad actor and a really good actor, and I love him for that.

34. Alex Jones ... Yeah, guilty as charged. Mostly because he claims murdered kids were fake actors. That’s not cool, man! I know you’re a red-faced amalgam of beef sweats and conspiracy theories, but have a little decency.

35. NASCAR ... They just go around in a circle! Over and over and over! 

36. Tupperware Why would anyone hate Tupperware? It’s great!

37. Big Cheeseburgers I will fistfight anyone who maligns big cheeseburgers. They’re one of my favorite food groups.

38. Football Three words: “Friday Night Lights.” So good.

39. Clint Eastwood If for nothing else, I’d love Clint Eastwood for “Unforgiven.”

40. The Army

41. The Navy

42. The Marines

43. The Air Force I’m the very proud son, brother, and grandson of Air Force vets. My grandfathers flew with bomber crews in WWII and Korea. My dad was a fighter pilot for 30 years. I grew up on Air Force bases with the Sound of Freedom overhead. If you say I hate the Air Force, you and I are going to have words. I love the other branches of the service only slightly less. (: Also, does this mean liberals love the Coast Guard? Because those guys are great.

44. Ron Paul Eh. I don’t think he means any harm.

45. Rand Paul Even a stopped clock is right twice a day, especially about government overreach in regard to the surveillance state.

46. Marriage

47. Family

48. Babies For the above three, please see answer 11. Also, don’t these kind of overlap with “traditional values”?

49. Wal-Mart Every Wal-Mart cashier I’ve ever spoken to has a story that will break your heart. Every single one. Every time. 

50. Flag Pins I have no problem with wearing the flag, as long as you act in ways that honor it.

51. Steakhouses For my bachelor party, I went to a steakhouse and ate a tomahawk ribeye the size of my head. Don’t you dare tell me I hate steakhouses. I’m from Texas. Them’s fightin’ words.

52. Chuck Norris Seems OK to me.

53. Bottled Water  I drink it all the time!

54. George Washington Owning slaves is about the only blemish I can think of for this otherwise sterling example of humanity. And he was at least less of a jerk about that than most people at the time. On the whole, Washington was a great man who truly loved his country and did right by it.

55. The 1st Amendment

56. The 2nd Amendment

57. The 10th Amendment We have already established that I love the Constitution. All of it. Even the parts I disagree with.

58. The Pledge of Allegiance Eh. It’s kinda silly when you learn the history behind it, but it does no harm, and I like the idea of having shared cultural touchstones that unite us as Americans.

59. McDonald’s I applaud their clean restrooms and tasty smoothies.

60. Coca-Cola Not my favorite, but I don’t hate it.

61. Fried Food Fried okra is perhaps the best possible form of any vegetable.

62. Muscle Cars I’ve seen all but one of the “Fast & Furious” movies. Muscle cars are awesome.

63. Charlie Daniels I would prefer not to live in a world that didn’t have “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” Come on, that song is great.

64. Dolly Parton Who hates Dolly Parton? Who could possibly hate Dolly Parton? She’s great.

65. Duck Dynasty Eh. Kinda dumb idea for the TV show, but hey, good on those folks for starting a successful business and enjoying its benefits.

66. Johnny Cash We have previously discussed this. 

67. Sarah Palin I’m very happy that Sarah Palin can live her life in freedom and ease, far from the levers of power. I wish her and her family nothing but the best.

68. Cheesesteaks Again, who could possibly hate cheesesteaks? They have meat! And cheese! And bread! 

69. Sean Hannity ... yeah, guilty as charged.

70. Rodeos They’re pretty fun! And man, it takes a LOT of skill and hard work to be good enough to compete in one.

71. Cadillacs What am I supposed to hate?

72. Barbie Dolls Shrug. 

73. Ted Cruz ... Okay, for real now, does anyone like Ted Cruz? I mean, John Boehner called him “Lucifer in the flesh.”

74. Fiscal Sanity I love fiscal sanity so much. I’d like to see more of it. I try to practice it in my own life and budget.

75. Charlton Heston Ben-Hur and Touch of Evil exist. Your argument that I hate Charlton Heston is invalid.

76. Israel I’m of Jewish descent, and I’ve seen pictures of Dachau just after it was liberated. Nope. Don’t hate Israel.

77. Benjamin Netanyahu Don’t hate the guy, but fine, I dislike him -- mostly because I think he’s bad for Israel.

78. Miners Brave, hardworking folks doing an awful job to dig up stuff we need? Good on them.

79. Loggers As long as they plant more trees than they cut down, we’re cool. People need wood. I get it.

80. The Coal Industry The folks who dig coal out of the ground? Nope. The folks who profit off their misery while cutting corners on their safety? Kinda, yeah.

81. National Sovereignty In order to hate this, I would have to fully understand what it implies.

82. National Borders Well, I mean, I’m not dying to return to the age of the supercontinent Pangea, so no, I don’t hate borders.

83. Uncle Sam Love him.

84. The Washington Redskins The name, yes. The actual players, no. Lotta Redskins fans among my in-laws. I respect that!

85. Small Businesses Love ‘em. Want to do more to help them thrive.

86. Self-Employment My brother’s self-employed. I love my brother. Ergo, I love self-employment.

87. Harley-Davidson Motorcycles They’re pretty cool. And made in the USA. Don’t hate ‘em.

88. Military Veterans Please see 43 above,

89. The Phrase “Islamic Terror” Well, yes, but only because it makes life more dangerous for the soldiers trying to protect us from radical Islamists like ISIS.

90. Big Families Eh, it’s a free country. They can do what they like!

91. The Bible Belt Is this even a thing anymore? Whatever. Don’t hate it. Free country.

92. The Creation Museum Mostly I just think this is kinda dumb. But then, I think ignoring science gives God and his majesty short shrift.

93. The 10 Commandments I love ‘em! Especially “thou shalt not kill” and “thou shalt not bear false witness.” 

94. Anyone That Is Pro-Life I have dear family friends who are pro-life. They adopted two kids and gave them a fantastic, loving home, and they volunteer to help give other babies that same chance. I couldn’t be prouder of them.

95. Anyone Who Disagrees With Them See above. Also, I’ve had some great discussions with people who disagree with me on Facebook. If you really listen to people without trying to judge them or change their minds, you can learn a lot!

96. Hard Work It’s not, you know, always fun, but it’s definitely a good thing!

97. Patriotism I refer you to the Sound of Freedom above.

98. Winning I like winning! It’s fun! I just think when winning becomes your highest goal, you’ve lost sight of more important things.

99. The Truth I went to journalism school. The truth is my religion. 

100. The American People How could I hate myself? I’m an American person, too! In fact, last I checked, 53% of the American people either were liberals or were willing to vote for one to be President. We are large. We contain multitudes. And that’s beautiful.

[junker-town]

20 things you may have forgotten from Tiger Woods’ iconic 1997 Masters win

The most dominant Masters win in history launched a new world for golf. Here are 20 facts, photos, and quotes on the 20th anniversary of Tiger’s first major.

I was in elementary school when Tiger Woods won the Masters in 1997. It was the moment I became hooked on golf. Tiger was a bad ass, which was a weird thing to say about a golfer when you’re a young kid. He was just as cool as other sports heroes like Tory Aikman and Emmitt Smith. He had a style that I didn’t think was allowed in golf. As a result of those four days in Augusta in 1997, I’ve played the game ever since. Each day I become more and more addicted to it and that’s all due to that first Masters win for Tiger. And if you ask many of the guys on Tour today, they will tell a similar story.

It has been 20 (!) years since Tiger took over the golf world. In honor of that anniversary, here are 20 moments, facts, photos and miscellany you may not remember from the 1997 Masters.

1. Tiger was a skinny dude

In the past few years, it has become fashionable to criticize Tiger for bulking up too much. Sure he’s ripped now, but that’s not the point. Back in 1997, Tiger looked like he was 155 pounds. He still blasted it some 23 yards, on average, farther than the second longest hitter in the field. His power was derived from unbelievable club head speed and it wasn’t because he was working out like a madman.

Getty

Tiger follows through in the final round of the 1997 Masters.

2. Opening Nine 40

It’s hard to believe this even happened. We all know that Tiger blitzed the field at the 1997 Masters, but many forget that Big Cat’s historic win got off to an awful start that threatened to end his week two days early with a missed cut. Bogeys on Nos. 1, 4, 8, and 9 led to a front nine 40 for Woods. After only nine holes, it was hard to believe we were witnessing anything historic.

As Rick Reilly noted, however, “something happened to him as he walked to the 10th tee, something that separates him from other humans. He fixed his swing, right there, in his mind.”

3. Back Nine 30

After that front nine 40 on Thursday, a switch flipped. Tiger birdied four of his final nine holes and added an eagle en route to a back nine 30. It was a signal to the world that the Tiger era was going to be different. His overwhelming length and pinpoint short iron play was a sign of things to come. He made the once intimidating Augusta National into a pristine pitch and putt. He never looked back.

4. Fuzzy Zoeller

Not everything was positive during that week in 1997. There were several negative stories to come out of Augusta, most notably the comments made by Fuzzy Zoeller. When asked about Tiger, Zoeller made his infamous comments about next year’s Champions Dinner. Eventually the two would reconcile, but it was a bad, bad, bad look that will forever be attached to Zoeller.

5. A win at the club of Clifford Roberts

Fuzzy’s comments may have been out of line and a stupid mistake, but the truth is, Augusta National wasn’t exactly the friendliest place for minorities. The club’s co-founder Clifford Roberts was known for saying, “As long as I'm alive, golfers will be white, and caddies will be black.”

Woods winning the 1997 Masters had far-reaching consequences and carried incredible weight happening at a club with such history. African Americans and women are now members at Augusta National. It’s likely the success of Tiger Woods contributed to making the membership of the club more diverse.

6. 37 bogey-free holes

During the second round, on the third hole, Tiger made a bogey. He wouldn’t make another one until the fifth hole during the final round. That’s 37 holes of bogey-free golf on the vaunted Augusta National layout. During that stretch, Tiger pulled away from the field by playing those holes in a remarkable 14-under par. It was ova.

7. The Tiger Swagger becomes a thing

We knew early on that Tiger was going to be a different golfer. The crowds from the very beginning were unreal. But Tiger was different in the way he carried himself on the golf course. Remember the Phoenix Open where he raised the roof all the way down the fairway? That was just a precursor to the signature Tiger swagger that would be a staple of his career. At the ’97 Masters, the Big Cat’s signature fist pump was on full display, along with club twirls, pimp steps, and thousand-yard stares.

It’s possible these moves might have been inspired by the Golden Bear. According to his recent book, Woods, who was 10 at the time, recalled seeing Jack Nicklaus celebrate before the ball was in the hole at the 1986 Masters and the memory resonated.

All week long, Woods would uppercut the sky in a way that traditionally reserved golfers never did. He would club twirl. He picked up his tee before the ball hit the ground. He would start stalking after great shots. He walked in putts. He was becoming a star.

8. MONTY!

Always one for a sound byte, Colin Montgomerie provided one of the best during the 1997 Masters. Referring to Greg Norman’s 1996 collapse, Monty dropped this gem.

“There is no chance humanly possible that Tiger is just going to lose this tournament. This is different. This is very different. (Nick) Faldo is not lying second for a start, and Greg Norman is not Tiger Woods.”

Did not know of the Stankowski quote, but I'll always remember Monty http://pic.twitter.com/OLg8QtSEi3

— Brendan Porath (@BrendanPorath) March 22, 2017

9. Tiger played Mortal Kombat

Maybe one of the lesser-known anecdotes to come out of that week at Augusta was Tiger’s love of playing video games. You may know Tiger is a big ‘Call of Duty’ guy, but back then it was ‘Mortal Kombat.’

According to Reilly’s aforementioned game story, after play was done for the day and while the who’s who of the sports world were sent positive notes, Tiger was busy playing ping pong and video games. According to the story, Tiger (as Motaro) enjoyed ripping his buddy Jerry Chang’s (as Kintaro) head off.

10. Finishing in style

Most golfers with a large cushion will play a conservative game in order to secure victory. Tiger either didn’t do that or he was just so good at the time, he didn’t need to. Either way, his back nine on Sunday put an exclamation point on his historic win. He made birdies on 11, 13, and 14. The gas pedal was down and it wouldn’t let up until Nick Faldo slipped that green jacket over his shoulders.

11. Tiger almost missed setting the scoring record

Tiger was set on cruise control coming to the 18th hole. He wasn’t going to lose, but he wanted to best Jack Nicklaus for the all-time Masters scoring record. On the 18th tee someone shouted during Big Cat’s swing and he pulled his tee shot way left.

But, come on, this was Tiger’s week. He found his ball in an advantageous spot. He put his second shot on the green and two-putted his way to the best score in Masters history.

12. “A win for the ages”

We often joke about Jim Nantz’s love for extended family trees and clever puns at the end of golf tournaments, but this line was one of his best. As Tiger Woods drained his putt on the 72nd hole, Nantz called the monumental victory a “win for the ages.”

It remains one of the most memorable calls from years of Masters highlights, but it also signaled a new era in the golf world. Yes, that win by Tiger may be the most impressive in the tournament’s history, but it also put golf in a new place in the sports landscape. In the coming years, TV ratings soared. Purses skyrocketed to a level never thought possible. And maybe most importantly, golf was seen as cool for a change. It was indeed a win for the ages. The moment Nantz uttered that line serves as a clear line of demarcation in the game’s history.

13. Earl and Tiger embrace

If you have followed Tiger at all in the past 20 years, you will know the impact that his father had on his life. Earl Woods taught his son the game and instilled a mental toughness in his son that would make him one of the best to ever play the game. When Tiger won in ’97 he found his father beside the 18th green and their embrace is one of the unforgettable images from that week.

Tiger Woods hugs dad after record Masters win http://pic.twitter.com/JL7OyhkEPY

— Epic Sport Pics (@epicsportpicts) November 12, 2013

14. 270

Tiger blew away the field in 1997. But you knew that. His score of 270 or 18-under par was the tournament record and he also won by TWELVE shots. That major championship record stood for a few years until Cat won the U.S. Open in 2000 by an even more absurd 15 shots.

15. 21

Tiger became the youngest winner of the Masters at age 21. Winning the Masters is an impressive feat no matter a player’s age, but the fact that Tiger was doing it at this age and in an era when young talents did not make waves like this put the rest of the golfing world on notice.

16. 43 Million Viewers

Tiger emerged as a transcendent star of the game and that was reflected in the TV ratings. A record 43 million viewers tuned into to watch the coronation of golf’s new superstar. This still remains the high point for CBS’s coverage of the event. The final round of the ’97 Masters also remains the highest rated final round and major championship of all time. If anyone asks you why Tiger is so important to the game of golf, point to these numbers.

17. Tiger played a different game from the tee

You know that Tiger beat the crap out of everyone in ’97, but how did he do it? He overpowered Augusta National. That week, Cat averaged over 320 off the tee. He smoked every other player in the field by 25 yards. That advantage allowed him to beat up Augusta in a way that was never seen before. This was especially evident on the par-5s where Woods was a crazy 13-under par and often playing a short iron or wedge into the green. His fellow pros could simply not keep up.

18. The impetus to “Tiger Proofing”

Tiger rewrote the book on how to play Augusta National. He dominated the course in a way that that the green jackets had not seen. So the club eventually lengthened the course in an overhaul that was dubbed “Tiger-proofing.” Sure, this didn’t happen until a few years later, but you better believe the talk of changes started in 1997. This one win forever changed the setup of the National.

19. Cheeseburgers, fries, and milkshakes

One of the great traditions of the Masters is the Champions Dinner the following year. After his historic win, Tiger was entitled to pick the menu for the dinner in 1998. Being that he was still a kid, Tiger went with what he ate at home: burgers, fries, and milkshakes. It was a huge hit with the other past champions, including Byron Nelson who remarked, “I’m glad you ordered cheeseburgers, Tiger, because I don’t get this at home.”

20. The New Master

After his historic win, Tiger took over the cover of Sports Illustrated. The headline read “The New Master.” We often rush to proclaim something the new “era” after a super talent wins only to see that era never get off the ground. But this was foreshadowing for the man that would rule the game for the next decade and then some.

[junker-town]

NHL playoff race report: Calgary, Chicago pressuring their conference bunkmates

Our weekly look at the Western Conference playoff stretch.

Welcome to the post-trade deadline NHL world! It’s a hellish landscape full of streaky teams battling each other for a handful of playoff spots. It’s a Great Time To Be Alive™.

So each Monday we’ll hit the reset button, take a step back and look at how the playoff race in each conference has changed. Who’s up. Who’s down. What changed since the previous week. What games teams need to take care of this week. You get the idea.

Onward!

Playoff Primed

Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Minnesota Wild (42-15-6, 90 points)

Leads the Central by one point, 19 games left (11 vs. quality teams)

Outlook: Better now that Zach Parise and Jason Pominville are clear of the mumps crisis.

Goal for this week: Keep the pace up. As we’ll point out in about five seconds, the Wild have more Western competition at this point than they have had in about two months.

Chicago Blackhawks (42-18-5, 89 points)

Holds second in the Central by 16 points, 17 games left (12 vs. quality teams)

Outlook: Rolling hard. The Blackhawks only lost one game in February, going 12-2 since the All-Star break.

Goal for this week: Keep up the pressure on the Wild for the top seed in the Western Conference. That didn’t seem possible a month ago, but now it’s a real possibility.

San Jose Sharks (38-19-7, 83 points)

Leads Pacific by five points, 18 games left (11 vs. quality teams)

Outlook: That loss in Minnesota on Sunday wasn’t great, but otherwise the Sharks are heading in the right direction. They should get news about Jannik Hansen’s visa situation on Monday.

Goal for this week: Take care of business on a back-to-back pair of home games this weekend, and hopefully work Hansen into their lineup soon.

Nashville Predators (32-24-9, 73 points)

Holds third place in the Central by four points, 17 games left (12 vs. quality teams)

Outlook: Holding steady despite two losses late last week. A strong finish to February gives Nashville some breathing room as they try to hold off the Blues and the other wild card chasers.

Goal for this week: Get two points in Los Angeles on Thursday to keep the Kings at bay for another week.

Edmonton Oilers (35-22-8 , 78 points)

Holds second place in Pacific by two points, 17 games left (11 vs. quality teams)

Outlook: Mixed bag. Wins against the Red Wings and Blues last week were nice, but dropping games to the Capitals and Predators weren’t.

Goal for this week: Capitalize on Jordan Eberle’s resurgence. For much of this season, Connor McDavid has had one or two guys chipping in alongside him. None have the scoring ability of Eberle, who has seven points in his last eight games.

Anaheim Ducks (33-22-10, 76 points)

Holds third place in Pacific by zero points, 17 games left (13 vs. quality teams)

Outlook: Not winning enough to keep the Flames at bay. The good news is that falling to the wild card isn’t a bad thing yet; the Ducks have at least seven points up on the Kings.

Goal for this week: Survive. The Predators, Blues (twice) and Capitals are on the schedule this week, no easy task for any team in the league. Anaheim has excelled this year in claiming overtime points, and they should try to keep that up.

Calgary Flames (36-26-4, 76 points)

Holds first wild card by seven points, 16 games left (13 vs. quality teams)

Outlook: Arguably the hottest team in the NHL (no pun intended, for once) with eight straight wins. In fact, Calgary is 12-2-1 since the end of January.

Goal for this week: Easy. Keep it up against the Canadiens and Jets.

In trouble

Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

St. Louis Blues (32-27-5, 69 points)

Holds second wild card by one point, 18 games left (9 vs. quality teams)

Outlook: Sliding fast. St. Louis followed up a post-coach firing surge (six straight wins) with a quick cool-down (five straight losses). So nothing gained. same position they were in last month, with hungry teams chasing them.

Goal for this week: Find some offense. Over the last six games, Blues have yet to score more than two goals in a game against a non-Avalanche team. Games against Minnesota, Anaheim and the Islanders are up this week and could decide their season.

Los Angeles Kings (31-28-6, 68 points)

Trailing wild card by one point, 17 games left (12 vs. quality teams)

Outlook: The more Calgary wins, the less likely a Kings playoff appearance becomes. And, lately, their games against Western competitors have gone poorly: 1-3-2 in their last five games. L.A.’s loss to Vancouver in Ben Bishop’s debut on Saturday was particularly demoralizing.

Goal for this week:

Have a shot

Winnipeg Jets (30-30-6, 66 points)

Trailing wild card by three points, 16 games left (14 vs. quality teams)

Outlook: Trending up! Winnipeg has five wins in eight games and is within striking distance of the Blues for third in the Central. But they’ve got a gauntlet this week with games against San Jose, the Penguins and Calgary.

Goal for this week: Get points in all three games. Somehow. An overtime loss is worth it this time of year, especially with one heck of a tough schedule ahead of the Jets.

Vancouver Canucks (28-30-7, 63 points)

Trailing wild card by six points, 17 games left (14 vs. quality teams)

Outlook: Looking better after two wins over the weekend. But the four straight losses before that really hurt them. And so will the loss of Loui Eriksson, who left after a big hit on Sunday.

Goal for this week: A trio of Eastern Conference opponents visit this week: the Canadiens, Islanders and Penguins. Vancouver would love points in all three, but they’ll settle for two before the Penguins roll in. Just to keep pace.

Pretty much done

Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images

Dallas Stars (26-29-10, 62 points)

Trailing wild card by seven points, 17 games left (12 vs. quality teams)

Outlook: Better after a rare weekend road win (their eighth ) in Florida. But still not great. They still essentially have to win out to make the playoffs. Now that Antoine Roussel is done for the year, that’s a little more unlikely.

Goal for this week: See what you have in rookie Remi Elie. Sustain some sort of successful momentum. Keep Braden Holtby winless against you on Monday night. Squeeze some optimism out of the next three games.

Arizona Coyotes (23-25-7, 53 points)

Trailing wild card by 16 points, 17 games left (12 vs. quality teams)

Outlook: Safely all but eliminated from the playoff race.

Goal for this week: Take advantage of weak(ish) visitors at home (Senators, Devils) before a long road trip on the horizon.

Were done in December

Photo by Francois Laplante/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images

Avalanche (17-44-3, 37 points)

Trailing wild card by 32 points, 18 games left (12 vs. quality teams)

Congrats to Colorado for essentially locking up the first overall pick before the final third of the season. They might be the worst team in the modern era.

Goal for this week: I don’t know. Have fun? Go see a movie? I hear Logan is pretty good.