#Wildfire Restaurant Review

[krispyweiss]

Song Review: The Doobie Brothers feat. Mick Fleetwood, Jake Shimabukuro and Henry Kapono

As a song, “Lahaina” is nothing to get excited about. But it’s also a must-listen.

And that’s because the new Doobie Brothers single - a joint with drummer Mick Fleetwood, ukulele player Jake Shimabukuro and singer Henry Kapono - benefits the People’s Fund of Maui as the Hawaiian island recovers from devastating wildfires.

Set to a balladic, tropical arrangement that epitomizes the downside of yacht rock, the track finds Pat Simmons, Michael McDonald and Kapono harmonizing:

Deep roots of the banyan tree growing in the sand/are strong like the people of the island/ … it’s calling me Lahaina/carry me home/where I belong

So, yeah, it’s overwrought. But the island is overwhelmed and the sentiment and fundraising motivation is unassailable.

“I hope this song brings some peace and healing to those who need it,” Fleetwood, whose restaurant was destroyed in this year’s blazes, said in a statement.

Grade card: The Doobie Brothers feat. Mick Fleetwood, Jake Shimabukuro and Henry Kapono - C-

11/20/23

[williammcollins]

Hidden Gem Chronicles: The Heartwarming Journey of a Family-Owned Restaurant

Introduction: In a bustling city, tucked away amidst the vibrant streets, lies a hidden gem of a restaurant that has captured the hearts of those who discover it. Today, I want to share the remarkable story of this family-owned eatery that is not only serving mouthwatering cuisine but also battling against the odds to keep their culinary dreams alive. Join me as we dive into the heartwarming journey of this struggling yet extraordinary restaurant.

The Warmth of Family: This charming restaurant, lovingly run by a tight-knit family, immediately exudes warmth and a sense of belonging. As you step through the doors, you're greeted with genuine smiles, and the inviting aromas wafting from the kitchen embrace you like a comforting hug. The dedication and passion of this family are palpable in every aspect of their operation, from the meticulous food preparation to the personalized service.

A Culinary Adventure: The menu, crafted with love and generations of culinary wisdom, promises a captivating journey for your taste buds. The dishes draw inspiration from the family's heritage, blending traditional flavors with innovative twists. Each bite transports you to a realm of culinary delight, as flavors dance on your palate and the aroma tells stories of distant lands. Whether it's a savory dish that has been passed down for generations or a modern creation showcasing their culinary prowess, every plate tells a tale.

Struggles and Triumphs: Behind the scenes, this family-owned restaurant faces its fair share of challenges. In a world dominated by corporate giants, they battle to carve out a niche and remain relevant. Rising food costs, changing consumer preferences, and the ever-increasing competition pose constant obstacles. However, their determination and unwavering passion for their craft fuel their relentless pursuit of culinary excellence.

Community Support: One of the most beautiful aspects of this restaurant's story is the unwavering support they receive from their local community. Word-of-mouth spreads like wildfire, drawing in patrons who become not just customers but also loyal advocates. The locals recognize the value of preserving a unique dining experience that encapsulates the essence of family, heritage, and authentic flavors.

How We Can Help: As food enthusiasts and supporters of local businesses, we have a role to play in ensuring the survival of cherished establishments like this family-owned restaurant. By dining there, spreading the word through social media, and encouraging others to experience its delights, we can contribute to their continued success. Every meal shared and every positive review can make a world of difference in sustaining their culinary legacy.

Conclusion: This family-owned restaurant is not just a place to savor delicious food; it is a testament to the power of passion, resilience, and community. Despite the challenges they face, this restaurant remains a shining example of the indomitable spirit and unwavering dedication that defines family-run businesses. So, let's embrace the opportunity to support this remarkable eatery, savor their culinary masterpieces, and celebrate the triumphs of a struggling gem that continues to shine brightly against all odds.

[aurafms]

Commercial Pest Control: Safeguarding Businesses Against Infestations and Reputation Damage

In the intricate ecosystem of commerce, maintaining a pristine reputation is paramount. However, an overlooked menace can swiftly tarnish the most meticulously built image – pests. From rodents scurrying through restaurants to bed bugs infesting hotels, pest infestations pose not only health hazards but also significant threats to a business’s reputation. In this blog, we delve into the world of commercial pest control, exploring its importance in safeguarding businesses against infestations and the consequential damage to their reputation.

Understanding the Impact of Pest Infestations:

Pest infestations in commercial spaces can wreak havoc on multiple fronts. Beyond the immediate health risks they pose to employees and customers, pests can also inflict substantial damage to property and inventory. For instance, rodents gnawing through wiring or stored goods can lead to costly repairs and replacements. Moreover, the mere presence of pests can deter customers, tarnish a brand’s image, and trigger regulatory penalties or closures.

The Reputation Ripple Effect:

In today’s hyper-connected digital age, news of a pest infestation can spread like wildfire. Social media platforms, review websites, and online forums provide customers with powerful platforms to share their experiences – both positive and negative. A single mention of pests in a business establishment can spiral into a PR nightmare, resulting in diminished trust, loss of clientele, and lasting damage to the brand’s reputation. Rebuilding trust and credibility post-infestation can be an arduous and costly endeavor, underscoring the critical importance of proactive pest management.

The Role of Proactive Pest Control Measures:

Effective pest control in commercial settings goes beyond mere extermination; it requires a comprehensive, proactive approach. Businesses must implement robust pest management protocols tailored to their specific industry, location, and vulnerabilities. This may include routine inspections, sanitation practices, pest-proofing measures, and the strategic deployment of eco-friendly pest control methods. By investing in preventive measures, businesses can mitigate the risk of infestations, safeguard their assets, and uphold their reputation as safe and hygienic establishments.

Choosing the Right Pest Control Partner:

Selecting the right pest control partner is pivotal in the fight against infestations and reputation damage. Businesses should seek licensed, experienced pest management professionals with a proven track record in commercial settings. A reputable pest control provider will conduct thorough assessments, devise tailored treatment plans, and offer ongoing monitoring and support to ensure long-term pest-free environments. Additionally, businesses should prioritize sustainability and eco-friendliness when selecting pest control products and methods, aligning with growing consumer preferences for environmentally conscious practices.

Conclusion:

In the competitive landscape of business, reputation is currency. Protecting this invaluable asset requires a proactive stance against the pervasive threat of pest infestations. By investing in comprehensive pest control measures and partnering with trusted professionals, businesses can fortify their defenses, mitigate risks, and preserve their hard-earned reputation. Ultimately, a pest-free environment not only safeguards the health and well-being of employees and customers but also serves as a testament to a business’s commitment to excellence and integrity. Source: https://aurafms.wordpress.com/2024/05/25/commercial-pest-control-safeguarding-businesses-against-infestations-and-reputation-damage/

[arunrout123]

Case Studies: Successful Online Reputation Management Campaigns

In the digital age, where information spreads like wildfire, online reputation is paramount for businesses. A positive online image can lead to increased trust, customer loyalty, and business growth. Conversely, negative reviews or damaging content can have detrimental effects on a company's success. As businesses navigate the intricacies of the online world, many turn to online reputation management companies to safeguard and enhance their digital standing. In this article, we'll explore case studies of successful online reputation management campaigns, shedding light on the impact these campaigns had on businesses.

Case Study 1: XYZ Technologies

XYZ Technologies, a leading IT firm based in India, faced a challenging situation when a disgruntled employee posted damaging content on various online platforms. The negative information spread rapidly, tarnishing the company's image and affecting client relationships. Recognizing the need for swift action, XYZ Technologies enlisted the services of an online reputation management company based in India.

The strategy employed involved a multi-faceted approach. The first step was to address the root cause by resolving the internal issue with the disgruntled employee. Simultaneously, the reputation management experts actively engaged with the online community. They responded to negative comments, highlighting the company's commitment to resolving issues and emphasizing its positive contributions to the industry.

The team also implemented search engine optimization (SEO) techniques to push positive content higher in search engine results, effectively burying the negative content. Within a few weeks, the negative information was no longer prominently displayed, and XYZ Technologies saw a significant improvement in their online reputation. Client relationships were restored, and the company regained its standing as a reliable and trustworthy IT partner.

Case Study 2: ABC Restaurant Chain

ABC Restaurant Chain, a popular dining establishment with multiple locations across India, faced a crisis when a food safety incident went viral on social media. Images and videos depicting unhygienic conditions in one of their branches circulated rapidly, leading to a severe decline in customer trust and a noticeable drop in foot traffic across all locations.

To address this, ABC Restaurant Chain collaborated with an online reputation management company in India to devise a comprehensive strategy. The first step involved a sincere public apology from the company's leadership, acknowledging the incident and expressing a commitment to rectify the situation. The reputation management team then actively engaged with customers on social media platforms, addressing concerns, and providing regular updates on the steps being taken to ensure food safety.

Additionally, the team worked on promoting positive aspects of the restaurant chain, such as its commitment to quality ingredients and exemplary customer service. They encouraged satisfied customers to share their positive experiences online, creating a counter-narrative to the negative publicity.

Through these efforts, ABC Restaurant Chain not only managed to salvage its reputation but also witnessed a gradual increase in foot traffic as customers appreciated the transparency and dedication to improvement. The online conversation shifted from the negative incident to the positive changes implemented by the restaurant, showcasing the effectiveness of a well-executed online reputation management campaign.

Case Study 3: E-commerce Giant, E-Shop India

E-Shop India, a prominent e-commerce platform, faced a crisis when a technical glitch resulted in a temporary shutdown of its website, causing inconvenience to thousands of customers. The negative backlash on social media and review platforms was swift and impactful, posing a significant threat to the company's credibility.

In this case, E-Shop India sought the expertise of an online reputation management company in India to mitigate the damage. The reputation management team swiftly addressed the technical issues, ensuring a seamless online shopping experience for customers. Simultaneously, they launched a proactive communication campaign, informing customers about the steps taken to rectify the problem and prevent future occurrences.

The team also engaged with customers directly on review platforms, responding to negative reviews with personalized messages and offering compensation to affected users. As a result, the sentiment gradually shifted from frustration to appreciation for the company's commitment to customer satisfaction.

Through strategic content creation and promotion, including positive customer testimonials and success stories, E-Shop India not only recovered from the crisis but also enhanced its online reputation. The incident served as an opportunity for the company to showcase its dedication to customer service, turning a potentially damaging situation into a testament to its commitment to continuous improvement.

In conclusion, these case studies highlight the effectiveness of online reputation management campaigns in mitigating crises, restoring trust, and fostering positive perceptions. Businesses in India and around the world can learn valuable lessons from these examples and recognize the importance of proactive reputation management in the digital age. As the online landscape continues to evolve, investing in the services of reputable online reputation management companies becomes a strategic imperative for businesses seeking to thrive in the competitive digital marketplace.

[imperialapartment1]

Top 5 Service Apartments in Gurgaon for Business Travelers

Gurgaon is an urban district in the state of Haryana, India. It’s one of India’s most populous cities and was established as a planned city by the government of India in the 1970s. Located just outside New Delhi, Gurgaon has seen exponential growth in recent years due to its favorable location between Delhi and Mumbai on the busy National Highway 8. However, with this growth comes traffic congestion and other issues that make it difficult for business travelers to get around town. That’s where service apartments in Gurgaon come into play: they’re like hotels but with more space (and usually less noise).

Imperial Apartments, Gurgaon

Location: The Imperial Apartments are a 4-minute walk from the DLF Cyber City metro station, which is on the Yellow Line of the Delhi Metro. From there, you can easily reach Connaught Place in New Delhi or Gurgaon’s MG Road in 20 minutes.

Amenities: The apartment complex has a total of 14 units, 14 parking slots, and a large lawn that’s perfect for barbecues and parties. All units have internet access, cable TV with DTH connections and an intercom system as well as central air conditioning and heating facilities. You’ll also get maid service once a week or every alternate day depending on your requirement at no extra cost!

Price Range: For two people per night at peak season (November to March), it’ll cost you INR 11,250/- per night; for those traveling alone or in pairs during off-peak months (April to October), prices drop down to INR 6500/- per night; if you’re lucky enough not needing any accommodation whatsoever during these times then there is free parking available as well!

Reviews: With over 900 guests rating their experience here between five stars out of five stars possible on TripAdvisor alone which means that everyone who stays here loves it! In particular though I found one couple’s review particularly interesting because they said that they used this place over another nearby service apartment due “to its larger rooms.”

Leela Ambience, Gurugram

Leela Ambience is a 5-star hotel in Gurgaon, just north of New Delhi. The hotel has 382 rooms, including 40 suites, and a pool. It also has a spa and fitness center. The hotel is close to the DLF Cyber City and Golf Course in Sector 50.

The Leela Ambience boasts several restaurants including:

Leela’s main restaurant — an Indian buffet with Western dishes

barbeque — a casual outdoor grill restaurant that serves meat dishes like chicken tandoori or steaks from their charcoal grill

Wildfire Lounge — serving cocktails and light bites

Lemon Tree Premier, Gurgaon

Hotel Lemon Tree Premier Gurgaon is situated in Sector 50 and is known for providing a calm, relaxed environment that makes it ideal for business travelers. The hotel offers free WiFi throughout the property and free parking on site.

The rooms are decorated with warm colors and include a flat-screen TV with satellite channels and iPod docking station. Each room features air conditioning as well as tea/coffee making facilities, bottled water supply and ironing equipment.

Trident Gurgaon

Trident Gurgaon is one of the best service apartments in Gurgaon for business travelers. Located between Sector 28 and 29, this 2-star hotel is just 10 minutes away from MG Road Metro station. The apartment complex has its own private parking space, a swimming pool and gym facility located on the rooftop terrace with panoramic views of the city skyline.

The rooms have been renovated recently and are very comfortable to stay in with all modern amenities like air conditioning, Wi-Fi connectivity, cable TV etc. Trident Gurgaon offers affordable serviced apartments at an affordable price range that fits the budget of most business travelers visiting the city on official work assignments or leisure trips

Pullman New Delhi Aerocity

The Pullman New Delhi Aerocity is a newly opened hotel in Gurgaon. The hotel is located just 15 minutes from the Indira Gandhi International Airport, and about 30 minutes from downtown Gurgaon. It features 126 rooms, including 24 suites and business rooms. Some of the amenities include a spa, gymnasium, swimming pool and lounge bar. Additionally, there are different dining options on site including both fine-dining restaurants as well as coffee shops serving local cuisine such as Punjabi dishes (such as parathas) or Chinese food options like noodles and fried rice.

Conclusion

We hope this article gives you a better idea of the best service apartments in Gurgaon. We know that there are many other options out there and we would love to hear about them in the comments section below!

[cabomexico]

Bahamas Yacht Charter - Top Bahamian Marinas to Dock Your Yacht

It is already October and we are on the cusp of the Bahamas Yacht Rentals Season. The Bahamas is truly one of the most care-free escapes on the globe. While the lifestyle in the islands seems to move along at a slower pace than the hustle bustle of U.S. cities such as LA or New York, luxury and hospitality are never compromised. If you plan on heading South for the winter you should book your luxury yacht charter now. Here are my top picks for dockage spots that should definitely make their way into your Bahamas Yacht Charter itinerary. These spectacular "yacht spots" will have you moments away from luxurious spas, adventurous diving spots and exquisite dining. Full Service Marinas in the Bahamas provide first class amenities that enhance the charter experience for both the guests and crew.

The Bluff House, The Abaco's

This multi-million dollar marina completed its construction and renovation back in 2004. The 40-slip marina has been distinguished as the finest full service marina in the Abaco's and no details have been overlooked. The entrance channel has been professionally dredged for easy entry and there are Texaco fuels and lubricants available on site.

These exquisite docks have been decked with over 12,000 square feet of a Brazilian teak called Ipe. The marina has an angled design which allows each vessel to have its own deck space for privacy. The Bluff House marine facility offers fuel, electricity and water hookups. There is also a clean laundry and full service bathing quarters for convenience. For an angler, the Abaco's is a prime location for adventurous Bone Fishing. There are tenders and guides available on the island to facilitate a great experience.

Atlantis Resort and Marina, Paradise Island

The Atlantis Marina itself would probably be just like any ordinary marina if it weren't for the rave reviews of its dock master and deckhand staff who truly transform the docking and provisioning protocols into first class service. It is said by many, that the staff located at the Atlantis Marina are one of the resort's best assets. Many travel to the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island but few receive the unparalleled experience that is provided aboard a luxury yacht charter. Berthing at this marina has major perks with spectacular entertainment and attractions just moments away from the dock. Whether you are looking to dive and Jet Ski in the turquoise blue waters or view the unique marine life at the Atlantis Aquarium, this resort offers a vacation adventure that is second to none. Book early if you plan to arrive at Atlantis aboard a mega-yacht because this marina is booked year round.

Grand Bahama Yacht Club, Grand Bahama Island

When I think about the Grand Bahama Yacht Club, an understated elegance comes to mind. This exclusive yacht club's reputation has spread like wildfire through phenomenal reviews. Its reputation has put this yacht club on the map as a luxury travel destination. The marina offers 150 slips which may accommodate vessels up to 175 ft with all concrete docks. Fuel services are available. There are high speed pumps that deliver triple-filtered fuel. In addition to being able to stay aboard your luxury yacht there are special rates offered at the Pelican Bay Hotel. A complimentary water shuttle is available to bring guests to the five star rated Ferry House Restaurant which has received several great reviews from some of South Florida's toughest food critics. If you are seeking a more casual dining experience there is a pool bar and grill open for lunch and dinner. The two level swimming pool facilities allow adults to swim 25 meter laps while children may enjoy the separate children's pool. There are also clean, modern laundry and shower facilities on site.

One of the advantages of arriving to the Bahamas aboard a luxury yacht charter as apposed to a major cruise line is that the marina is located near the Bahamas port of entry which offer expedited customs and immigration services. Complimentary shuttle service is available between the marina and Port Lucaya Marketplace.

[manonblaqkbeak]

Dating and Goodreads

Back for Day 8-Blind date (how the hell do u guys come up with good title fics i struggle so bad lol). I wasn’t really going anywhere with this one, but when i read all of the others and saw how fun the fics were, i decided to finish this one.

also for Summertime and Fresh Strawberries, I deliberately left it blank but I can’t hold onto the secret bc two people were curious as to what happened, so i’ll let the rest of you know that aelin and rowan decided to keep summer and be a cute little family, bc im a sucker for happy endings lol (unless its angst, it’s safe to assume that all my rowaelin fics have happy endings bc they’ve all ready been thru so much and even in alt fics i need them to be happy lmao)

anyway, on to the next one. hope you enjoy!

1.8k words

cw: none

Aelin was a confident woman, something that she was proud of. But that didn't mean that there weren't times she didn't feel self-conscious or awkward and full of doubt.

Because right now, all those negative feelings were swimming inside of her.

And those feelings were just magnified today, especially since she had gotten fired only a few hours beforehand. It was utterly unexpected, she had never received any prior warnings, and while she was a fighter, Aelin didn't feel like stepping into the ring for this one. Not when her boss was a demon from hell that made life unbearable and she had to physically push herself into entering the work building.

Aelin told herself that it was for the best. She was miserable there and hated working in an office typing up the worlds most boring reports and working in a space that was entirely too drab.

But she wasn't looking forward to job hunting. Aelin was aware that she could ask her friends for favours, but if Aelin did something wrong, she didn't want it reflected back onto whoever helped her.

And she was still a little peeved over the damned argument she had online again with that haughty prick on Goodreads. Aelin wasn't sure why those arguments kept going, but each time she would post a review, White Tailed Hawk would respond, telling her that she read the book wrong and this and that and blah blah blah.

Aelin repaid the favour each time, telling him how he was wrong and he had no reading comprehension skills. And on and on it went until Aelin or whoever the fuck that guy was went back to their own lives.

Depressingly, it was the most fun she had some days.

Shaking her head, Aelin forced herself to think of the now and not of her shitty day. Still she sighed, not quite believing that she had agreed to this blind date. Couldn't believe that she had let Aedion convince her it was a good idea.

Aelin had said no at first, after Aedion had voiced his offer, and her cousin left it at that. But days went past, and he would bring up the topic of Rowan, about the things he had said that day, how his dry sense of humour took some time to get used to but once you figured it out, he was actually pretty funny, how he had finished a project perfectly and this and that.

But it got to her, annoyingly. So the other day when he was helping her out with some housework that was a two person job, Aelin told him to set up this date. Aedion cheered as if it was the best thing he had ever heard, telling her how she and Rowan were the perfect match for each other.

Aelin rolled her eyes, but didn't say anything of the assessment.

She had only agreed because it was getting frustrating being asked at every family event if she was dating someone, when she was going to give her parents grandchildren (that question pissed her off the most, as if Aelin was nothing but a birthing machine and that was all Aelin could contribute to society), and who was going to look after her when she was old if she didn't have children (because apparently carers didn't exist).

Aelin was also lonely—she could entertain herself just fine, but she did like the idea of coming home and talking to someone that could respond. She loved Fleetfoot and her enthusiasm when Aelin came home, but human companionship would be nice.

But Aelin didn't have high-hopes for this date because the universe liked to kick Aelin's ass from time to time, she suspected that they were going to hate each other.

Taking a deep breath, Aelin got out of her car, smoothed down her romper and went inside the restaurant, head held high.

X X X X X X

Rowan couldn't believe that he was about to go on a blind date. That Aedion had convinced him to go out with his younger cousin. He hadn't dated anyone since Lyria and he knew that his dating skills were going to be rusty as hell. He had been with Lyria since they were nineteen, married at 23 and divorced at 31; he had been single for the last two years.

It had been...fine, a little strange, after being with someone for so long to find himself a bachelor. Rowan never thought that he would apart from Lyria, but their relationship had just faded. Long before the divorce, it had been more like a housemate relationship than a marriage. He wasn't surprised when his ex-wife had come home after work with divorce papers. He had only stared at the paperwork for an hour before he signed the forms. Truthfully, Rowan was just glad that he was still on good terms with Lyria, that they could still talk to one another from time to time.

Rowan had almost called her earlier today, to ask how the hell dates went, but felt that it would have been crossing some invisible line, so he didn't call and instead had Googled the questions instead.

They didn't really help.

Rowan drummed his fingers against the steering wheel, telling himself that if things went wrong, then it wasn't the end of the world. That if he had to be a bachelor for the rest of his life, then that was fine. He had plenty of ways of keeping himself busy—he had a good career, a nice house, plenty of books to read and to argue online about them with.

He had one earlier today, actually, with Queen of Wildfire about a new release that Rowan had eagerly read within days of its release. And once again, he ended up with an argument with the woman about the messages and themes within the book.

It was stupid, he knew, to be at his age and to be fighting online with a stranger, but something about this woman just had his fingers flying over the keyboard.

Some days he looked forward to it, as embarrassing as that was to admit. He didn't really want to look into himself to figure out what it all meant.

Eyes drifting to the dashboard, Rowan realised that his date was about to start. Popping a mint into his mouth and smoothing out his clothes, Rowan took a deep breath and left the car and went to his first date in twelve years.

Hopefully, it wouldn't be too bad.

X X X X X X

The date had started out a little awkward, but that wasn't a surprise to Aelin, because what blind date started smoothly?

It picked up after Rowan admitted that he was divorced and that he had no idea what the hell he was supposed to do. Aelin appreciated that stark honesty and admitted that she too had no idea what to do.

Since then, the conversation went well, the food was good and Aelin had even swiped a few bites of his dinner because it just looked so much better than hers. Rowan had playfully grumbled underneath his breath, but smiled as he said it.

It was going really well. Maybe the universe had decided to give her a break for the rest of this evening. There was a part of her that maybe wondered if they would have sex, because the man did look fucking fantastic, but at the same time, she didn't want to rush anything in case this actually turned into something more.

“What's the dumbest thing that you've done recently or in the past?” Aelin asked. There was no such thing as small talk between them—Aelin had all ready asked if he believed in aliens and was glad when he said yes, because “it's ridiculous to think that we're alone in this wide universe of ours. It makes sense that there'd be other lifeforms out there.” Which was pretty damned close to Aelin's reasoning as well, so asking him about stupid moments felt like nothing in comparison.

Rowan smirked at the question and took a moment to think before answering. “I engage in online arguments.”

“Really? About what, exactly?”

“It's stupid. But my all my arguments occur on Goodreads of all places. Not Facebook, or YouTube, or Twitter, but Goodreads. It's never anything insulting but just arguments about how wrong some people's in depth reviews are.”

“Fair enough,” Aelin said, “I've been known to do the same thing as you. There's this one user on there, White Tailed Hawk—a stupid name if you ask me—and he just never...” Aelin stopped when she noticed that he stopped eating and was just looking at her weirdly. “Rowan? Are you okay?”

“Do you, by any chance, go under the name of Queen of Wildfire?”

Aelin blinked, and then blinked again, and once the pieces fell into place, she knew right then and there that the universe really hated her. She let out a harsh laugh, the sound echoing throughout the space. Aelin wasn't really sure what to say, because it was true what he said; it had never been insulting, but ending up on a date with the man she had regularly arguments with was just...she had no words, other then, “It really is a stupid name.” She took a sip of her wine, needing to do something other than wanting to bang her head against the table.

“I couldn't think of anything else to write.” And it wasn't also his favourite animal, he had told her that earlier.

They lapsed back into the awkward silence of earlier, both picking at their food.

But Aelin didn't want this night to go to waste. “It'd be stupid to let something as small as this get in the way of whatever this could be,” Aelin said, deciding to be blunt.

Rowan nodded. “It would be. Although I have to be honest, you really have no idea what you're talking about when it comes to Call of the Wild Winds.”

Aelin just about stormed off when she noticed his playful smile, his eyes sparkling bright. Laughing, Aelin threw a bread-roll at his handsome face, and once he caught it and split it in half for them to share, they went back to their earlier conversation.

And when Rowan walked her to her apartment door and kissed her on the cheek goodnight with a promise to text her later, Aelin couldn't help herself by telling him that all his opinions sucked and that he had no idea what he was talking about—all with a big smile on her face as Rowan sputtered as she closed the door on his face.

They spent the rest of the night texting, and all of Aelin's earlier woes faded away. And she looked forward to tomorrow, despite the horror of job hunting. Maybe the universe will finally let things turn around for the better for her.

Aelin went to sleep with a smile on her face, all because of White Tailed Hawk.

And on the other side of the city, Rowan also fell asleep with a smile on his face.

[choicesenthusiast]

Baby Bump 2, Ch. 1 AKA Twins and Tiddies

What happened this week:

Some time after the events of the last book (as sequels tend to be), we’re walking down the street with our favourite sister, chatting about how there is not one, but two human beings growing in our stomach at the moment. That’s right, everyone. We’re having twins.

Somehow nobody figured this out until a week before the sex reveal party, held at our friend’s restaurant (I can’t remember her name). At least this sex reveal didn’t start a state-wide wildfire, so I’ll give them points for that. It’ll be a boy and a girl.

The quilt collectibles are back, and so is the pregnancy gift package of 9 gifts for 45 diamonds, so five diamonds apiece. I really don’t care if any of you actually bought it, but I’d like to know why. What value does it bring to this book?

Craig, whom apparently we sent to jail last book, is out and popping, and currently intruding our party to film a few pity shots for some sort of mini documentary. It’d be a lot funnier if everybody pretended that he wasn’t there at all, but alas, we must have a small town antagonist in this small town setting.

A private afterparty with your LI, in which you can get it on, and they appreciate your fabulous new pregnancy boobs. Yes, that seems to be the hot topic for this week. More on that later.

Meeting the parents comes early (early? Or late? This can be interpreted either way), and Clint’s parents are in town, so I guess we’re dealing with daddy issues rather soon.

Thoughts:

The way I read this chapter and immediately blacked out on what happened after. I thought I did a review but apparently not. It felt like a fever dream.

Someone please tell me if it’s possible to miss an entire twin until twenty-eight weeks into a pregnancy. Until they can actually tell the sexes? Google suggests that in the early stages it’s possible, yet still rare, but by the end of the 2nd/start of the 3rd trimester it shouldn’t be unnoticeable. Maybe if Dr. Marinara stopped ogling Furniture Sanders for one second this wouldn’t have happened.

I keep misreading Mariana’s name as “Marinara”. It makes her time on the screen a lot more tolerable and funny.

“My pregnancy is the most important thing that ever happened to you” says MC to Anna, implying that Anna needs to get a fucking life.

If you pick both of the “I hate you” options when Craig is doing his whatever, like I did, a popup card appears that says “You really hate Craig!”. Nice touch, PB.

I think the biggest, and, honestly, the only valid takeaway from this chapter is MC’s pregnancy body is fantastic, thank you PB for finally giving her an actual baby bump. And the tiddies. Let’s not forget about those.

[mirkwoodshewolf]

Graduation surprise; BoRhap cast x reader

*Author’s note*

Hey ya’ll well I promised this fic when I posted the Queen prom fic so here it is. Now I know it’s not as long as the last one is but I felt like this didn’t need to be super long. Also as another special little fact for ya’ll I was gonna make this a Queen fic as well but then I decided to change it to a BoRhap CAST fic since I hadn’t done one of just them in awhile. 

So to all seniors whether HS or college, the class of 2020 CONGRATULATIONS I know it’s not what you hoped it would be but still try to find celebration in this pandemic, you all achieved probably the greatest milestones in your life. So stay safe, stay healthy, stay sane, and be happy :) Lot’s of love from me my darlings!

Taglist:

@waddles03​

@psychosupernatural​

@plethora-of-things​

@jd-johndeacon-or-jackdaniels​

@ixchel-9275​

@simonedk​

@queensdivas​

@platawnic​

@queendeakyy​

@geek-and-proud​

@kairosfreddie​

_______________________________________________________________

Goddamn this year! Just when we think the new decade would be worth our wild, now we’ve got all this shit going on! First there was the threat of WW3, then the next month we’re dealing with wildfires in Australia, and finally to top it off why not add a global pandemic?!

The Coronavirus has literally been all over the news for months, and the fact that our government knew about it since late last year and didn’t warn us about it!? Then when they told us to be on lockdown, everyone starts hording toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and food that no one can buy said items for weeks on end.

But of course my main problem is the fact that I, along with so many other kids and adults around the world can’t participate in their own graduation ceremony.  As a college student, I was just longing to finally participate in my final graduation ceremony ever.  This was supposed to be my final chapter in school life and now because of this damn virus, that’s gone.

I mean yeah my diploma will be coming in the mail but I wanted my family to all be there to see me reach the end of my school life before I finally begin a new chapter.  Plus my cousin’s friends said that they would come and see me and I’ve missed seeing those guys, I hadn’t seen them all since the Bohemian Rhapsody premiere.

I sat there in my old room of my house (cause since the University closed down back in March, all students had to leave the college campus and go home so that way we could reduce the spread of the virus. So I ended up moving back in with my parents) just finishing up my final paper for class.

That’s when my Zoom video chat blew up with my cousin’s profile pic.  I grinned and clicked on the answer button and soon enough my cousin’s face took over my screen.

“Hey poppet.”

“Hey Gwil, how you holding up?” he let out a sigh.

“As best as I can. Though I should be asking you that, you are the one really dealing with this whole Coronavirus adjustment than I am. How’d you do on your classes?”

“For those that have said online classes are easier, they’re dirty rotten liars and completely incompetent.” He softly chuckled. “But thankfully I finished my last exam paper and submitted it just now.”

“Your dad look over it for you? Cause I know you’re a terrible editor.”

“Oi not all the time. Just when I’m lazy.” He hummed as he raised his brow at me. “But yes I did have dad review it for me. Cause before we got to submit the rough draft and my professor said I needed more analysis to my quotes on why I quoted that specific source. God I don’t know why I took that class to begin with?”

“Because you’re a criminology nut and you have been since you turned 16. God and I thought my horror movie tastes were bad.”

“Hey it’s good to be aware of shit like that!”

“Language missy!”

“Okay Cap.” I teased.  He gave me his stern look which made me laugh as I fell to my side on the bed. “Oh by the way I saw that little dating app video you did.”

“And what did you think?”

“I liked it. Kinda makes me wish an app like that did exist in real life.”

“You not just pulling my leg on this?”

“No. Honest and swear to god you had me moved by your performance. Well next to you being Brian May of course.” He grinned. “I swear I still can’t get over when I first saw you in the full hair and makeup, I literally almost had a freakin panic attack.”

“And the fact that Brian was also there to witness that.”

“Oh god don’t even go there!” I groaned as I hid my face in embarrassment.

“So—now that you’re all done with school, what’s next for you?”

“Well any plans I had are put on hold till this whole crisis goes away. And I really thought 2020 was gonna be my year. This sucks!”

“I know poppet, I know. But believe me that it’s not just you whose affected by this. Everyone in the whole world is suffering exactly the same way you are.” I sighed solemnly.

“I know. I mean I should be feeling for you and the guys right now, I mean all of you are out of work till further notice. And all the restaurants that I love going to. Did you know that the little ice cream parlor you and I used to go to when we were kids shut down?”

“No!”

“Yeah, the owner couldn’t keep up the payments because hardly anyone was ordering from them anymore, even with online delivery. So she closed it down.”

“Damn, that sucks. I really loved going to that place with you. That was always our special little time together without the grownups around.” I nodded remembering all the fun times we had together in that little shop.

It was then someone suddenly popped into our conversation.  The extra person now on my screen was none other than Joe Mazzello.

“Hey Gwil, mini-Lee!”

“Hello Joe.” Answered Gwil.

“Hey Joe been a long time.”

“How you two holding up?” he asked us.

“As best as we can, how about you? I’ve seen those Youtube videos you’ve been doing on your page.” Gwil said.

“You know those were jokes, especially that last one. I just wanted to get a laugh out of everyone, or have them hate me.”

“No one could hate you Joey.” I said with a smile.

“Aww thanks mini-Lee. How’s classes been?” I let out a groan as I once again flopped on my bed which made Joe laugh.

“I am just thankful that this is all over. At first I thought online classes would be easy but one of my professors was technology challenged. Another one would sometimes forget to do a lesson, and then of course blackboard could barely operate long enough for me to submit an assignment which caused some of them to be late.”

“Well like you said it’s over now.” Joe assured me.

“Oh hey I saw that Jurassic Park livestream you did.”

“Oh did you? How come I didn’t see you submit a question or just say hello? I’ve seen your Youtube page so I know your username by heart.”

“Cause I may or may not have also been working on a project. But chose the livestream over the project.”

“Nice going Joe, you’ve turned my cousin into a procrastinator.” Gwil complained.

“Hey at least she has Jurassic Park unlike you Gwilym Lee! Serious shame on you for not owning it! This is why mini-Lee is the coolest out of the two of you.” I snarked out a mock laugh as I stuck my tongue out.

“Ganging up against me okay I see how it is you two.”

“Oh come now cousin dear, we’re just messing around.”

“Messing around? If we’re messing with Gwil then I want a part of it.” Soon another picture came up and there lying on his side was Ben Hardy.

“Benjamin!” Joe screamed joyously.

“Hi Ben.” I sung out.

“Hey (y/n).” he waved at me with a wink. “Now going back to teasing Gwilym.”

“You guys are officially gonna be blocked right after this.” My cousin groaned.  We all laughed when I told him.

“Again cousin, we’re teasing you. So Ben, what brings you here?”

“What can’t I pop in and say hello?” I giggled.

“I see nothing wrong with it. Oh hey get this; I finally got around to watching 6 Underground.”

“And what did you think of it?”

“The first 10 minutes were insane! And truthfully I never really understood Michael Bay films, but this one—definitely my favorite. I loved it Ben, really.”

“Well thank you (n/n). Thank you.”

“Never did I think I needed to see both you and Ryan Reynolds on screen together….”

“Whoa okay easy there (n/n)!” Joe interrupted me.

“Oi you get your mind out of the gutters! And you say it’s the fans that make what you say to the extreme.” I scowled him.

“Trust me, I’ve known him for over 10 years and he still doesn’t grow up.” Another voice stated and soon two more familiar faces popped up on screen, stuck in quarantine together in LA were Rami and Lucy. And then a split second later another face came on the screen, it was none other than Alan Leech.

“Hey, Rami, Lu-lu, Alan!” I cheered.

“Hey (y/n)!” the three of them said as they waved.

“God I feel like I’m getting spoiled, got the entire BoRhap family together for the first time in like—forever.”

“It’s crazy.” Alan said.

“Definitely.” Agreed Rami.

“Maybe when this whole thing blows over we should all get together some time in New York.” Offered Joe.

“I’m down with it.” Ben said.

“Me too.” Lucy agreed with a nod.

“Yeah, (n/n), Ben and I could fly out together.” Said Gwil.

“I’m down with that. Now that I’m done with school, I can do what I want now.”

“So guys now that we’re all here shall we begin?” Lucy said.

“Begin what? Gwil what’s going on?” I asked.

“Well (n/n), when this whole quarantine shutdown and school cancellations started affecting the class of 2020 we all felt bad that you couldn’t graduate the way you hoped you would.” Gwil said before Joe continued.

“So Gwil called all of us up via the Whatsapp chat, as well as our daily zoom calls. To gather us all together on your ‘last day’ of college.”

“To celebrate your own Virtual college graduation party!” Rami cheered.  At that point everyone either threw confetti, blew on graduation blowers, or holding up signs that said CONGRATS 2020 GRADUATE!!!

I covered my mouth with my hands speechless and tried to hold back the tears.

“Ohh you guys.”

“Since you couldn’t have a college graduation party, we figure we’d bring the party to you. See not even this pandemic can stop us from celebrating our Mini-Lee’s ultimate milestone.” Ben said as he set down his congrats sign.

“And also expect some gifts within the next few weeks, depending on how the mailing services do with overseas gifts.” Alan said.

“Aww thanks you guys, you didn’t have to.”

“We know, but we wanted to. Let us spoil you even through this pandemic.” Said Joe.

“Thanks guys, this—really means a lot to me.” I wiped a hidden tear that strayed down the corner of my eye.  They all awed at me that’s when Gwil lifted up a small graduation cake.

“I know, I know this’ll be ridiculous but just humor me will yah?” I smiled and nodded.  He lit up the 2020 candles and held it just high enough for me to see the top part of the candles.

“CONGRATS (Y/N) LEE! CLASS OF 2020!!!” everyone proclaimed at once which made me smile and I blew out towards the screen.  Gwil then blew out the candles for me as everyone else cheered and clapped.

“Thanks so much you guys. Really, you have no idea how much this means to me.”

“We’re happy to do it (y/n). If it makes your day a little bit brighter in these dark times.” Rami said.

“It did Rami, it really did.”

“Well hope we can make this even better cause I’ve also got a part 2 to this little surprise. But in order for that to happen, everyone else has got to go otherwise you won’t really be able to see it as clearly.” Gwil said.

“Aww man.” I whined.

“No worries mini-Lee, your cousin added you to our BoRhap Whatsapp chat and I’ll send you a link to our zoom channel if you ever wanna chat with us again.” Joe said with a wink.

“Thanks Joe. And thanks everyone take care and stay safe.” They all waved and bid me goodbye with waves or blowing kisses at me and one by one they signed off till it was once again just Gwil and I.

All I could see across his bearded face was that cheeky grin he does whenever he’s trying to hide something.

“What are you grinning about?”

“Just the fact that I’ll be the best cousin once you see part 2 of your special surprise.”

“What did you do?”

“If I told you it won’t be a surprise now would it? Now let’s see, god I hope they get it.” He muttered the last part to himself. It took a few minutes till finally another screen popped up and standing there in his room was Adam Lambert.  I fangirled in my seat and covered my mouth trying to contain my squeals.

“Hey girlfriend!” he greeted with a wave.

“Adam oh my god!”

“How’s it going?”

“It’s been going. Finally submitted my last paper. So I’m officially done with school forever.”

“Yaas Queen!” he snapped. “So how’s it feel to be a college graduate?”

“Well it’d be better if we weren’t in the middle of a pandemic.”

“Understandable, but hey you’ve worked hard for this so be proud of yourself no matter what’s going on in the world right now.” I nodded with a shrug. “And to celebrate your graduation, your cousin whipped up another little surprise for you.”

“Oh my god Gwil you didn’t!” I gasped.  He merely raised a brow at me cheekily as he bit his lip back from a smile.

“Hey guys you there?!” Adam called out and soon enough two more screens came on and the picture revealed to be both Brian May and Roger Taylor.  Brian sitting on his couch while Roger looked to be in his basement with his drumkit.

At this point, I had lost my shit.  I was fangirling to the max at this rate but tried to calm down.

“Hi (y/n), congratulations of graduating.” Brian greeted me.

“Major achievement there love. Congrats.” Roger added.

“Oh my god…..Gwil this is—how……”

“I knew you’d love it (n/n). Plus I knew this would cheer you up after our last conversation we had last week. You really needed some cheering up.”

“So guys are we ready to do this?” asked Adam.

“I’m ready to go if you both are.” Said Brian as he took his Red Special and set it on his lap and Roger twirled his drumstick.

“(Y/n), this is for you love. Hopefully when this whole mess is over, you can finally go out there and reach your dream job. Till then we hope you enjoy this.” Roger said.

It was then both Roger and Brian began playing the tune for ‘we are the champions’ but as Adam began singing the song, it turns out that they were actually singing their new song, ‘You are the champions’ dedicated to the first responders worldwide.

But now they were playing it in my honor as a college graduate.  As they continued to play the song, I allowed the tears to flow down my face as I laced my hand over my heart.

God—never did I think that through this pandemic would I be happy.  From having to never see any of my friends I made in college again, to not having my whole family come to the house to celebrate, or going out to party with some of my friends.  But this—right here and now, my cousin made it all up to me all the way from London.

At this point, I knew that I was officially the luckiest person in the world.  All thanks to my favorite cousin, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

[adwdwd]

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[highqueenofelfhame]

when we were kids, one.

Lightning flashed outside and drew her attention away from the window she had been staring out of ever since she had arrived to the hair and makeup trailer on set. Aelin had always loved the rain, loved the pitter-patter against windows and loved the way it knocked the tin roof when she sat in the chair. It was soothing, but it also took her back to a more complicated time and place that she wasn’t always ready to think about. Most days she spent deliberately avoiding thoughts of that time, that place. 

Pulling her further from her reverie, thunder shook the makeup trailer so hard it was almost alarming, and the door swinging open as a sopping wet Elide rushed inside made Aelin startle where she sat. 

“Sorry, sorry. I didn’t mean to be so late,” Elide said, shrugging off her jacket and tossing it over the back of an empty chair beside Aelin. The golden blonde shook her head, waved it off. It wasn’t a big deal, and Aelin wasn’t one to have diva moments. Especially when it involved one of her closest friends. Most days, though, she would give her a little bit of shit for being late, but not today. Not when her thoughts were a thousand miles away when she wanted them to be anywhere but there. “You look… not the best.”

“I’m just tired,” she admitted. Not wanting to get into the why, she added, “Chaol wants to spend two weeks in Ellwye for Yulemas. He asked me yesterday.”

“Imagine what else he’ll ask you once you’re there.” Elide gave her a knowing smile as she began to work on Aelin’s makeup, and her stomach flipped. Hard. So hard that it shot nausea through every fiber of her being. She managed to scrounge up a half-smile, wondering if indeed there was something else he intended to ask her this summer. 

They had been dating for almost a year, and everything had been going great. Better than great, even. She loved him, and he loved her. Sometimes she wondered if he loved her too much, if there was a fault to it, but it didn’t matter. Aelin, for the first time in quite some time, was happy. The answer to an unspoken question would be yes, she knew that much. But it was complicated for about a thousand reasons, one of those reasons… 

No. She wouldn’t let thoughts of that ruin everything. Not when things were going so well for her in Rifthold. 

~*~

“Hey you,” Aelin ducked her head down to press a kiss to the side of her boyfriend’s neck. Chaol was leaned over the desk and likely reviewing tomorrow’s schedule, but he held out a hand for her anyway and wrapped it around her waist when she leaned into his side. His eyes only stayed on the paper for a few more seconds before he leaned back and looked up at her. “Hi,” she said again, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. Chaol grinned, his hand slipping into her hair so he could kiss her again and Aelin couldn’t help the small laugh that bubbled out of her. 

“I was thinking we could go out tonight. Celebrate tomorrow just the two of us before it gets too crazy.” Aelin’s eyes flicked to the screen of his laptop, it was early evening. She had been blessed with a short set day because everyone she worked with on her TV show knew that with tomorrow being her first movie premiere, she needed the time to unwind. And she did need the time to unwind, but a night out with Chaol didn’t sound so bad either. 

“I would love to.” She kissed him again. “Let me shower and get changed.”

An hour and a half later, they were winding their way through a pack of paparazzi. They barely managed to get inside the building  that lead to their favorite  rooftop restaurant. It would be no different than every other date and for that she was grateful. 

Except that when they got to the rooftop garden, it was illuminated with so many lights she didn’t know where to look first. At the trees, bathed in light, or at the thousands of kingsflame that covered every available surface, the petals that were sprinkled over the walkways. The waiter that stood at the only empty table (the rest were covered in flowers) had a kingsflame pinned to his lapel, and on the tray he held there were three little boxes. To call her speechless was an understatement. She didn’t know words at this point. 

Chaol was holding both of her hands in his, thumbs stroking the back of her hands. Aelin was crying as she looked back at him, shaking her head to try to clear the fog that had taken over but it didn’t help. 

“Marry me,” he said simply, kissing her knuckles. “Be my wife.” Wife. That word rang like a bell between her ears but she found herself saying yes anyway, nodding and kissing him with such a fervor she hadn’t known in years. Years, every since --

No. That wouldn’t ruin this moment. 

This moment was about her and Chaol. About the question he had asked and she had answered, and after a moment of gleeful kisses he pulled back and the waiter approached. Chaol opened all three boxes and shrugged a bit when he took in her bewildered expression. 

“I couldn’t pick one, so I thought you might help me out,” he teased, kissing her temple. With shaking hands, Aelin picked up the most simple of the three, the middle box, and Chaol removed it and slid it onto her finger. 

Engaged. She was engaged. 

~*~ 

After dinner and on their way back to their apartment, Chaol brought up the notion of telling her parents and Aelin almost blanched. They’d not yet met Chaol. Aelin had never taken him home, and they had never visited Adarlan in the eight years she had lived here. So when he brought it up, Aelin had pulled her mouth from his neck and chewed on her bottom lip for a moment before sighing. 

“I haven’t seen them in so long that I think… I think I should go home. Tell them in person and then maybe you can come out a few days later and meet them? I think it will be such a shock that if you’re with me when I tell them my mother might faint.” Chaol had laughed, not knowing just how true that statement was, and agreed. She would go home herself and tell them, and once she gave the okay he would join her in Orynth. Until then, they would keep things subtle and not release a statement until they were back in Adarlan. Two weeks until they broke the news to the world, tops. But… 

Chaol. In Orynth. With her family. With… No. 

Urging her thoughts away, her mouth had descended on his again and she let him kiss all her worries away. 

~*~ 

“Aelin! Aelin over here!” So many voices were shouting every which way as she stood in a glittering floor length gown. It was gold and beaded from top to bottom and weighed a ton. It almost felt like an effort to keep her shoulders back, but as soon as Chaol joined her for a few photos the tension between her shoulder blades lessened somehow. 

“You look like you need me to hold you up,” he quipped, pressing a kiss to her temple. Aelin’s left hand fell to his chest as she looked up at smiled at him, ever the picture-perfect couple, and it was then that she realized her mistake.

The cameras were flashing wildly, more so than they had been before as everyone started to completely, well and truly freak out. She had forgotten to take her engagement ring off when they got out of the car. Initially, she had planned to drop it into her handbag, but here she was, ring blazing like fire on her finger. Aelin swore, but Chaol merely took her hand and kissed the top of the ring before leading her inside. 

The thought of everyone back home finding out about the engagement through the internet made her so nauseous that, during the movie premiere, she booked her flight to Orynth and texted her assistant to start packing. 

Aelin Ashryver Galathynius was going home.

@starseternalnighttriumphant​ @musicmaam​ @city-of-fae​ @kandasboi​ @the-regal-warrior​ @empire-of-wildfire​ @tangledraysofsunshine​   @lorcansalvaterree​ @valarian-trash @hey-its-grey​ @sleeping-and-books​ @thephilosophyofblank​ @breezyfreezey @westofmoon​ @tonystarksbish​ @mariamuses​ @thereaderandfangirl​ @silvermindedwarrior @rosesandglass​ @xxhopelesspeachesxx​ @maraadyyer @flowerspringsea​ @the-bookloving-girl @vartineh @mis-lil-red @but-she-was-aelin-galathynius​ @dreamcatchersimss​ @chemicha​ @vi0let-femmes​ @ttakeitbacknoww​

[dustedmagazine]

Jennifer Kelly 2020: I’m done expecting next year to be better

Not to belabor the point, which has been covered everywhere, but 2020 sucked. My last live concert was on March 7th. It was 75 Dollar Bill in a beautiful reconfigured industrial space on the Amherst College campus, and I already had questions about whether I should be there or not. The show was worth it, absolutely riveting, and no one I know got sick from it, but a couple of weeks later, Amherst College shut down and then, basically, the world.

When I think about 2020, I think about bands that don’t fully make sense unless you see them live, and how, this year, no one got to see them live. I think about musicians who were barely making it before, now cut off from concert revenues and, in a lot of cases, day jobs at restaurants, coffee shops and bars. I think about six-digit medical bills from multi-week COVID-19 treatments, and how my insurance will only cut that to low five figures. I think about the constant spew of bile and nonsense, the willful destruction of American institutions and the persistent sense that we will never recover from any of this, and I look for refuge.

Most of the time in music. Because the music kept coming even when everything else shut down. Even the artists who were holding back for better conditions ended up releasing EVERY ALBUM ON EARTH starting about September 18th. There was always music, good music, interesting music, beautiful music, and while that doesn’t compensate for a terrible year, it was something.

Here are 10 albums I loved best from 2020, with links to reviews or other articles I’ve written about them.

1. Gunn-Truscinski — Soundkeeper (Three Lobed)

Soundkeeper by Gunn-Truscinski Duo

A gorgeous exploration of mood and tone, this double CD set includes two extended live cuts and ten more recorded just down the road in Easthampton, Massachusetts. (And I thought nothing ever happened up here.) “Pyramid Merchandise” punches the hardest, John Truscinski balancing rock solid beat keeping with abstracted sculptures of percussive experiment, while Gunn finds the sweetness and the growl in his blues-touched guitar sound. But “Ocean City” is pure lovely respite, with big rounded notes dropping slowly and with grace through wavering transparencies of sustained tone. Long, searching, “Soundkeeper” will rekindle your longing for live improvised music, while the closer “For Eddie Hazel” vibrates with supercharged intensity, the notes and the steady rhythm too bright and beautiful to look at straight on.

2. Six Organs of Admittance — Companion Rises (Drag City)

Companion Rises by Six Organs of Admittance

Chasny imbues the down-home with wonder and the inexplicable with natural grace in this album inspired by stargazing. The album’s name references the way Sirius appears close to Orion, and the rollicking “The Scout Is Here,” commemorates the appearance of the Oumuamua asteroid, but this is no squiggle-y space opera. The music is mainly made of clean, all-natural picking, blues bends, and rambling jangle, though ruptured, periodically, by rushing, whooshing, amplified electronic sounds. Warm, simple clarity is tipped with awe in finger-picked “Black Tea,” while mists and mysteries predominate in evanescent “Worn Down to the Light,” but the joy comes in the balance between the ordinary and the unknowable shimmering like stars in a black sky.

3. Gil Scott-Heron and Makaya McCraven — We’re New Again (XL Recordings)

When the estate of Gil Scott-Heron asked Chicago composer, percussionist and hip hop chopper Makaya McCraven to reimagine the artist’s last, most personal album, McCraven jumped at the chance to tackle its themes of black struggle, black family and perseverance. McCraven surrounded Scott-Heron’s words with shimmering, post-jazz arrangements that incorporated some of his father’s recordings (his dad is jazz drummer Stephen McCraven) in an ongoing tribute to the blood relatives who shape and equip young black men for a challenging world. The music is wonderful, very different from the original, spare, blues-based arrangements, but they open out the master’s words in an illuminating way. I like, especially, the hustling, shuffling movement of “New York Is Killing Me,” which summons the city’s energy as clearly as the feel of heat rising out of a subway grate in August.

4. Obnox — Savage Raygun (Ever/Never)

Savage Raygun by Obnox

Obnox’s psychedelic mayhem roars like a California wildfire, setting a torch to rock, soul, hip hop, jazz and punk with fuzz-crusted abandon. Icons like Hawkwind flare out and curl into white-hot ash, while even Neil Young’s lick from “Southern Man,” is consumed in the all-encompassing heat of Lamont Thomas’ onslaught (“Young Neezy”). A double album, Savage Raygun covers a lot of ground, but in such a kinetic rush that it seems like one entity that stretched from end to end.

5. Anjimile — Giver Taker (Father/Daughter)

Giver Taker by Anjimile

Anjimile sounds beautifully comfortable with their new vocal range in this second full-length, which follows a gender transition. Pitched low and warm, their voice effortlessly navigates subtle melodies, integrating complex, African-leaning rhythms into songs about love, identify, family friction and the possibility of redemption through embracing one’s authentic self.

6. Osees — Protean Threat (Castleface)

Protean Threat by Oh Sees

John Dwyer has fronted bands called The O.Cs., The Ohsees, Thee Ohsees and now just Osees, evolving from a one-man bedroom pop outfit to a gleefully slopping garage pop project to a droning, krautrocking motoric monster along the way. This newest iteration takes a little of this, a little of that, from the repertoire, putting Dwyer’s best Bo Diddley-esque stomper in years (“If I Had My Way”) next to a wiggy psychedelic freak bomb called “Toadstool” which is adjacent to the dub-scented, narcotic head trip called “Gong of Catastrophe.” The mix works because Dwyer and his band commit to all of it, sequentially and within tracks. It’s the best Osees in years, all the good things in one package.

7. Sam Amidon — S-T (Nonesuch)

As always, Amidon starts with traditional, mostly folk and blues material and, as always, he transforms it into something more adventurous, spiritual and faintly otherworldly. With Shahzad Ismaily and Antibalas’ Chris Vatalaro to back him up, he breaks down the unyielding contours of pre-modern banjo tunes and porch blues, finding steady drones and complex afro-beat syncopations in their steady melodies. You can hear “Cuckoo Bird” a million times in a million different voices and never hear it as luminous and open-ended as here.

8. James Elkington — Ever Roving Eye (Paradise of Bachelors)

James Elkington is always pressed for time, maybe because he works regularly for so many other people’s bands (Richard Thompson, Jeff Tweedy, Spencer Tweedy) and collaborates with others (Steve Gunn). And yet his second solo album brims with balm and solace; he finds time in the interstices between warm, jazz-scented, Pentangle-esque verses and intricate flurries of picked and strummed and electric guitar. Even “Nowhere Time,” which exhorts “It is time for you to move,” has an ease and calm to it, while “Moon Tempering” is as still and lovely as winter starlight. Ever-Roving Eye is an album that assures us we’ll get it all done somehow, but just stop for a minute and listen.

9. Jehnny Beth — To Love Is To Live (Arts & Crafts)

This riveting solo debut from the Savages frontperson is both quieter and more intense than her full-band compositions, juxtaposing incendiary spoken word with the hedonistic thump of the dance floor. Guests are varied—Joe Talbot of IDLES at one pole, the actor Cillian Murphy at the other—but the music never drifts from Jehnny Beth’s singular viewpoint. Compare her to PJ Harvey or Beth Gibbons or Bobby Gillespie as you will (I did), but this is her 100%, and there’s nothing else like it.

10. Cable Ties — Far Enough (Merge)

Far Enough by Cable Ties

Australia churns out quality punk bands like the Hershey factory makes kisses, and Cable Ties, formed in Melbourne by four young rebels, ranks as one of the best to surface here in America this year. “Tell Them Where to Go” is the money track here, all rust-crusted bass crunch and ragged estrogenated vocal energy. But let’s not put them in the “girl band” ghetto. As I said in my review, “The easy thing would be to compare McKechnie’s vibrato-zinging vocals with those of Sleater-Kinney’s Corin Tucker or her verbal agility to Courtney Barnett, but the blunt force and agile violence of the music, brings to mind post-punk bands like the Wipers, Protomartyr and Eddy Current.”

Honorable mention

I also really enjoyed these albums in 2020.

Lewsberg — In this House (12XU)

Damien Jurado — What’s New Tomboy (Mamabird)

Bill Callahan — Gold Record (Drag City)

Mike Polizze — Long Lost Solace Find (Paradise of Bachelors)

Destroyer — Have We Met (Merge)

Decoy w/ Joe McPhee — AC/DC (otoROKU)

Thurston Moore — By the Fire (Daydream Library)

Tobin Sprout — Empty Horse (Fire)

FACS — Void Moments (Trouble in Mind)

Elkhorn — The Storm Sessions (Beyond Beyond Is Beyond)  

Howling Hex — Knuckleball Express (Fat Possum)

Wendy Eisenberg — Auto (BaDaBing)

Xetas — The Cypher (12XU)

Califone — Echo Mine (Jealous Butcher)

Chouk Bwa & The Ångströmers — Vodou Alé (Bongo Joe)

Shopping — All or Nothing (Fat Cat)

Bonny Light Horseman — S-T (37d03d)

Tashi Dorji — Stateless (Drag City)

The Slugs — Don’t Touch Me I’m Too Slimy (2214099 Records DK)

Dr. Pete Larson and his Cytotoxic Nyatiti Band — S-T (Dagonetti)

[woman-loving]

Why Stonewall?

Why did the police raid on Stonewall end in a riot, and why was this riot so significant to gay liberation? Dick Leitsch, then president of the New York chapter of the Mattachine Society and witness to riot, answered the first question in this way (quoted here):

[...] Why the Stonewall, and not the Sewer or the Snake Pit [two other Village bars that had recently been raided]? The answer lies, we believe, in the unique nature of the Stonewall. This club was more than a dance bar, more than just a gay gathering place. It catered largely to a group of people who are not welcome in, or cannot afford, other places of homosexual social gathering. The "drags" and the "queens", two groups which would find a chilly reception or a barred door at most of the other gay bars and clubs, formed the "regulars" at the Stonewall. To a large extent, the club was for them. . . . Apart from the Goldbug and the One Two Three, "drags" and "queens" had no place but the Stonewall. . . . Another group was even more dependent on the Stonewall: the very young homosexuals and those with no other homes.  You've got to be 18 to buy a drink in a bar, and gay life revolved around bars. Where do you go if you are 17 or 16 and gay? The "legitimate" bars won't let you in the place, and gay restaurants and the streets aren't very sociable. Then too, there are hundreds of young homosexuals in New York who literally have no home. Most of them are between 16 and 25, and came here from other places without jobs, money or contacts. [...] That was the one advantage to the place—for $3.00 admission, one could stay inside, out of the winter's cold or the summer heat, all night long. Not only was the Stonewall better climatically, but it also saved the kids from spending the night in a doorway or from getting arrested as vagrants. Three dollars isn't too hard to get panhandling, and nobody hustled drinks in the Stonewall. Once the admission price was paid, one could drink or not, as he chose. The Stonewall became "home" to these kids. When it was raided, they fought for it. That, and the fact that they had nothing to lose other than the most tolerant and broadminded gay place in town, explains why the Stonewall riots were begun, led and spearheaded by "queens".

(Dick Leitsch, "The Stonewall Riots[:] The Gay View," Mattachine Society of New York Newsletter, pp.13-14, August 1969)

In "Movements and Memory: The Making of the Stonewall Myth," the authors also identify similar groups as involved in both the Stonewall riot and an earlier riot at Compton's Cafeteria in San Francisco. In explaining why the former gained historical significance while the other did not, they discuss how the Stonewall riot was capitalized on by higher-resource activists, and how this affected the politics of the movement:

The notion of Stonewall as the "spark" of gay liberation cultivates a "wildfire myth" of movement development. People often suggest that the riots "ignited" gay liberation, which spread spontaneously across the United States. Other movements, including the civil rights movement, have also been described as "spontaneous" (Polletta 1998a). These accounts, according to Meyer (2006:213), make activism seem "inevitable or mystical," possibly undermining future mobilization. Gay liberation did not spread like wildfire—it spread through the numerous, deliberate activities of individuals and groups.

The popular account does not distinguish between the processes generating riots and those attributing significance to them. This conflation conceals complex class, race, and gender dynamics in the development of gay politics. Street queens and hustlers—marginalized by class, gender-presentation, and often race—were more willing than others to confront police, and were important in the riots at both Compton’s and the Stonewall Inn. What Stonewall had, and Compton’s did not, were activists able and willing to capitalize on such rioting: high-resource, radical gay men. This hints at the role that variation in social resources has played in gay movements more generally. More affluent, educated, and politically connected gays have supplied and mobilized resources, run newspapers, and engaged in extended legal challenges. Less-privileged individuals have often served as a source of innovation and a "radical flank" of the movement (Haines 1984). At Stonewall, the openness of white gay men to radical ideas enabled them to recognize a riot as an opportunity. These radical impulses moderated quickly, however, as the movement coalesced around a gay rights/gay pride political agenda (Armstrong 2002). Moderation was already underway by the first parade, which was framed as a display of cultural pride. As the movement took shape, it centered the experience of middle-class white gay men and marginalized the concerns of less privileged individuals.

(Elizabeth A Armstrong and Suzanna M Crage, "Movements and Memory: The Making of the Stonewall Myth," American Sociological Review, Vol. 71, pp. 724-751, October 2006)

[realeyesrealizereallies4036]

I’m officially a Wildfire stan.

JUST KIDDING!

After 27 years it’s here. The dreaded review!! I doubt anyone is going to be as nuts as me and actually watch the show, but anyways, SPOILERS AHEAD.

Overall, I’d give the show a 4/10 - There is no substance. The writers introduces potential drama then it’s gone with a snap. Plotlines last for 2 episodes tops then it’s off to the next unresolved thing.

First off, I can see how Jennifer felt a bit taken advantage of. The first 5 episodes have various scenes of her undressing, dressing, showing torso and it’s creepy. Kris is a TEENAGER for god’s sake.

EXAMPLES.

After episode 6, it’s night and day. She stays dressed and even has a tomboyish style. 

So, onto the meat and potatoes - the lack of plot! Kris is a recently released juvenile delinquent. For some reason, she’s released with this huge 2000s boombox but I digress. She’s hired by the Raintree Ranch to work with their horses, including the ever so iconic Wildfire. 

Here’s Kris and her mustache for the hell of it.

Shortly after arriving, she gets thrown into a wack ass love triangle with the owner’s son and his friend, Junior. They make a bet to see who can get her first. The 2000s were wild.

Shortly after Kris arrives she steals Wildfire and leads the police on this huge televised chase that OJ Simpson WISHES was his chase. (If you get a chance please watch the scene bc it's pretty great.) Wildfire gets scared of the helicopter and throws Kris off. She’s caught and taken back to juvie for 90 days.

The news airs the story along with her mugshot. I love it so much that I made it my icon.

She gets out, gets a job at a restaurant that has teenagers walking around in a skimpy outfit serving grown-ass men - it’s in the clip above. It’s creepy. JAIL. They’re not adults working at hooters, they’re kids. Gross.

In the next episode, Kris agrees to the offer Junior gives: fuck him so he’ll bet on Wildfire -  who at this point is a loser and hasn't won a single race. WTF.

While this is going on, Junior’s sister Danielle starts dating this guy years older than her. Underage girl dating a 30 something year old! Not cute! Wildfire writers were fucking nuts.

Later on in the season, Dani goes on a mission to find her mom who walked out when she was little and finds out her mom is Latina. When I tell you Dani is seriously shook to the core I mean it.

She looks like this and is fucking shocked that she’s mixed. SIS.

Kris’ old friend from Oakland tracks her down and comes to a party the owner’s son is throwing. TURNS OUT HE SET HER UP. Kris is really a good kid who went to juvie because of this dick. She runs off like dork (seriously. watch the clip and watch how she runs off) and he follows her back to her trailer. The friend pulls out a gun and tries to kill himself.... Right in Kris's trailer. But because this show is anti climactic AF nothing really happens and the driving point of the whole fucking show is swept under the rug.

More clips in part deux.

[jungkookjaan]

List of things that will always remind me of wtfock:

Murals

Art of any kind

Doc martens

Illustration T shirts

Wildfire

All other wtfock songs

Croissants

Black leather jackets

Stoomboot

Santa claus/Sinterklaas

David Bowie

The word 'Come'

My phone because I use SAMSUNG and because I have almost the same phone as robbe

Graffitis

Croques

Paintball and Laser tag

The review cards that restaurants give

Soup of the day

Skateboards

Gin and tonic

Christmas

Cucumbers and sugar cubes

Beige sweaters

Recycling dumpsters

Shopping carts

TV series Chernobyl

Maroon beanies

[newstfionline]

Headlines

Declining Western birth rates (Nikkei Asian Review) Births in many developed countries are poised to crater next year amid the economic turmoil caused by the pandemic and, in many cases, the botched response. Japan is projected to see births drop 10 percent in 2021, accelerating a decline. Last year there were 860,000 births in Japan, the first time the level dipped below 900,000 since tracking began. Babies in the U.S. could decline by 300,000 to 500,000 next year, a 10 percent drop in the 3.7 million average annual births. According to the International Labor Organization, 17.1 percent of people aged 18 to 29 around the world have not worked since the pandemic began, and those who did saw their hours shrink an average of 23 percent.

Mean streets (Bloomberg) Mean streets are getting meaner, and more than 700 cities have said they may cut infrastructure spending due to budget shortfalls. Potholes caused $15 billion in damages to cars over five years, and some states are in a particularly rough stretch of road: in Rhode Island, 48 percent of urban streets are in poor condition according to the Federal Highway Administration, followed by California (46 percent), New Jersey (42 percent), and South Dakota and Hawaii (36 percent each). In some metropolitan areas in particular, most roads are bad: San Francisco-Oakland (71 percent of streets are poor), San Jose (63 percent) and Los Angeles (63 percent).

Big California wildfires burn on as death toll reaches 7 (AP) Firefighters battling three massive wildfires in Northern California got a break from the weather early Monday as humidity rose and there was no return of the onslaught of lightning strikes that ignited the infernos a week earlier. The region surrounding San Francisco Bay remained under extreme fire danger until late afternoon amid the possibility of lightning and gusty winds, but fire commanders said the weather had aided their efforts so far. The three big fires around the Bay Area and many others burning across the state have put nearly 250,000 people under evacuation orders and warnings and authorities renewed warnings for anxious homeowners to stay away from the evacuation zones.

National Guard called out after police shoot Black man (AP) Wisconsin’s governor summoned the National Guard for fear of another round of violent protests Monday after the police shooting of a Black man under murky circumstances turned Kenosha into the nation’s latest flashpoint city in a summer of racial unrest. The move came after protesters set cars on fire, smashed windows and clashed with officers in riot gear Sunday night over the wounding of 29-year-old Jacob Blake, who was hospitalized in serious condition. In a widely seen cellphone video made by an onlooker, he was shot [by police seven times] in the back, as he leaned into his SUV while his three children sat in the vehicle. The shooting happened around 5 p.m. Sunday and was captured from across the street on video that was posted online. In the footage, Blake walks from the sidewalk around the front of his SUV to his driver-side door as officers follow him with their guns pointed and shout at him. As Blake opens the door and leans into the SUV, an officer grabs his shirt from behind and opens fire while Blake has his back turned.

Marco collapses, sets stage for Laura to hit US as hurricane (AP) Tropical Storm Marco began falling apart Monday, easing one threat to the Gulf Coast but setting the stage for the arrival of Laura as a potentially supercharged Category 3 hurricane with winds topping 110 mph (177 kph). While Marco weakened, Laura’s potential got stronger, and forecasters raised the possibility of a major hurricane that would pummel western Louisiana and eastern Texas from late Wednesday into Thursday. The two-storm combination could bring a history-making onslaught of wind and coastal flooding from Texas to Alabama, forecasters said. State emergencies were declared in Louisiana and Mississippi, and shelters were being opened with cots set farther apart, among other measures designed to curb infections.

In Mexico's televised 'return to classes,' parents turn to state schools (Reuters) Millions of students return to classes virtually in Mexico on Monday after a hiatus lasting months caused by the coronavirus pandemic that has sparked an exodus from private schools. Mexico has yet to publish official data, but private-school bodies consulted by Reuters said almost 2 million students at all levels were expected to quit private schools because of the crisis to join an already overcrowded public system. The lack of both in-person teaching and access to facilities has left many parents unwilling to shoulder private-school costs. Supporters of private schools worry the turmoil could stretch the education system, especially after President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador last year canceled a reform that the previous government said would improve teaching standards in Mexico, one of the worst-performing countries in the 37-nation Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). As state schools reopen, students will start the new academic year with a home-learning program broadcast by major television networks until infection rates are deemed sufficiently low.

Mexico’s coronavirus toll (Financial Times) Mexico has surpassed its “catastrophic” worst-case scenario of 60,000 Covid-19 deaths and is shaping up as one of the worst health and economic casualties of the global pandemic. Latin America’s second-biggest economy, which has the world’s third highest overall coronavirus death toll, hit the grim milestone on Saturday, when the health ministry reported 60,254 and 556,216 confirmed cases. But officials have long acknowledged that the government’s data is an underrepresentation and the health ministry and private studies say the real death tally could be some three times higher.

Sweden’s success in fighting the coronavirus (London Times) Sweden is beating many European countries in the fight against new coronavirus infections, possibly because of its decision not to implement tough lockdown measures. As cases surge across Europe, leading to new restrictions such as the mandatory wearing of masks in many public areas, the infection rate in Sweden is falling. “Sweden is doing fine,” Arne Elofsson, a professor in biometrics at Stockholm University, said. “Strict rules do not work as people seem to break them.” Figures from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control show that the infection rate in France is more than 60 per cent higher than that of Sweden. France implemented a strict lockdown in the spring and requires masks to be worn in many public areas but has a fortnightly infection rate of 60 cases per 100,000 people. Sweden, which decided not to implement compulsory measures at that time and which rejected the use of masks, has a rate of 37 cases per 100,000 people. The government is recording between 200 and 300 new cases a day, with deaths down to three last Friday.

German doctors say tests indicate Kremlin critic Navalny was poisoned (Reuters) German doctors said on Monday that medical examinations indicated that Russia opposition figure Alexei Navalny, who is in a Berlin hospital after collapsing on a plane in Russia last week, had been poisoned. The specific substance was not yet known, German doctors said. The outcome remains uncertain but long-term effects, especially to the nervous system, could not be ruled out, it said.

European job cuts coming (The New York Times, McKinsey) A tsunami of job cuts is about to hit Europe as companies prepare to carry out sweeping downsizing plans to offset a collapse in business from the new coronavirus outbreak. Government-backed furlough schemes that have helped keep around a third of Europe’s work force financially secure are set to unwind in the coming months. As many as 59 million jobs are at risk of cuts in hours or pay, temporary furloughs, or permanent layoffs, especially in industries like transportation and retail, according to a study by McKinsey & Company.

At least 100 feared trapped in building collapse south of Mumbai (Reuters) At least 100 people are feared trapped in the debris of a five-storey building that collapsed on Monday in an industrial town in western India, a lawmaker said. Not all the roughly 200 residents of the building in Mahad, about 165 km (100 miles) south of India’s financial capital Mumbai, were at home when it crumbled in the evening, Bharatshet Maruti Gogawale, the local lawmaker, told Reuters. Authorities have yet to ascertain the cause of the collapse and the number of casualties, but about 30 people were pulled out by rescue teams and local residents. Old creaky structures and illegal constructions in India often lead to collapses, typically during torrential rain.

In China, Where the Pandemic Began, Life Is Starting to Look … Normal (NYT) In Shanghai, restaurants and bars in many neighborhoods are teeming with crowds. In Beijing, thousands of students are heading back to campus for the fall semester. In Wuhan, where the coronavirus emerged eight months ago, water parks and night markets are packed elbow to elbow, buzzing like before. While the United States and much of the world are still struggling to contain the coronavirus pandemic, life in many parts of China has in recent weeks become strikingly normal. Cities have relaxed social-distancing rules and mask mandates, and crowds are again filling tourist sites, movie theaters and gyms. The return to normalcy has made China an outlier in the global economy. The United States is facing a potentially long and painful recession, as some places have reimposed restrictions to contend with a surge in cases this summer. Several countries in Europe have been experiencing fresh outbreaks, putting additional pressure on an already weak economy. By contrast, China has been slowly recovering in recent months and its factories are humming again, although its growth is still weaker than before the pandemic and job losses are significant.

COVID-19 scary? Japan group offers coffins, chainsaws for stress relief (Reuters) Finding the pandemic scary? A Japanese group is trying to take people’s minds off COVID-19—by putting them in coffins surrounded by chainsaw-wielding zombies. Customers this weekend in Tokyo can lie in a 2-metre (6 1/2-foot) windowed box, listening to a horror story, watching actors perform and getting poked with fake hands and squirted with water. “The pandemic is stressful, and we hope people can get a bit of relief by having a good scream,” said Kenta Iwana, coordinator of production company Kowagarasetai—“Scare Squad”—which is putting on the 15-minute shows.

With Delay in Afghan Peace Talks, a Creeping Sense of ‘Siege’ Around Kabul (NYT) Mornings in the city begin with “sticky bombs,” explosives slapped onto vehicles that go up in flames. With night comes the dread of hit-and-run assassinations in the nearby suburbs—government employees shot dead by motorcycle-riding insurgents who roam free. As peace talks to end Afghanistan’s long war face delays, the Taliban may be sparing Kabul, the capital, from mass-casualty attacks as part of an understanding with the United States. But the insurgents have instead shifted to a tactic that is eroding the Afghan government’s standing with each passing day: frequent targeted assaults that the country’s security forces seem unable to control. The city has taken on an air of slow-creeping siege. At least 17 small explosions and assassinations have been carried out in Kabul in the past week, according to a tally by The New York Times. Three magnetic bombs went off within one hour on Saturday morning, and at least two more targeted attacks followed before the end of the day.

More U.S. troops pull out of Iraq (Foreign Policy) U.S.-led coalition troops withdrew from Iraq’s Taji base located north of Baghdad on Sunday and transferred control of the facility to the Iraqi security forces, part of a larger drawdown of U.S. troops in the country. The base has held up to 2,000 troops in the past, but most of those stationed there have departed this summer. The final troops are due to leave in the coming days. Sunday’s withdrawal comes as the Trump administration has been working with the Iraqi government to coordinate the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country. On Friday, after a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, Trump reiterated his desire to pull out of Iraq. “Frankly, I didn’t think (the Iraq War) was a good idea,” he said. “Now we’re getting out, we’ll be leaving shortly.” The handover of Camp Taji is the eighth such transfer of an Iraqi base to Iraqi security forces.

Beirut faces mental health crisis after blast (Reuters) More than two weeks after a massive explosion tore through Beirut killing 181 people and leaving entire neighbourhoods in ruins, Sandra Abinader still jumps at the slightest sound. “The other day, I was trying to open a jar and the popping sound made me jump back and scream. I felt for a second I needed to run away.” The blast caught Lebanon at an extremely vulnerable point following months of severe economic crisis compounded by the coronavirus pandemic. Now practitioners are warning of a national mental health emergency as people begin to show signs of trauma from the explosion, including nightmares, flashbacks, crying, anxiety, anger and exhaustion. Psychologists say this is being exacerbated by the constant stream of images on Lebanese TV and social media showing the blast and its bloody aftermath. “Every time we say it can’t get worse in Lebanon, it somehow does,” said Jad Daou, a volunteer with Lebanese mental health NGO Embrace, who mans the phones at its crisis clinic. “A lot of people are feeling hopeless about the entire situation here in Lebanon.”