#casting competent vs non-competent celebrities

[purecommemasolitude]

no but zaho killed it as morgane i was genuinely surprised when i found out she wasn't usually an actor

[sheacouleecametoslay]

Season 12 (2020)

Most rankings seem to put Season 11 towards the bottom and Season 12 towards the top, but I feel the exact opposite. Season 11 never had a dull moment, while Season 12 is nothing but dull moments. Especially the second half of it. This is blandest season (and cast) I've encountered so far, other than All-Stars 1 which barely even qualifies as a Drag Race season. The 90-minute runtime does not help either. The Werk Room portion of the episodes go on forever - all they talk about is the upcoming challenge, or their self-doubts, or the MANY, MANY mirror stories. This is easily the worst season of Untucked too – episodes 5 and 6 are the only ones worth watching. And once again, the guest judges appear on it every week. The giant shade button was wasted on this Untucked season. Season 12 really is “RuPaul's Best Friend Race”. Everyone gave supportive words to each other at one point or another. I'm not going to criticize the cast for being good people. But there's barely any drama or storylines. The only real storyline was Brita vs Aiden, which escalated into Aiden vs everyone. And honestly that rivalry was tiring by episode 6. You just know the producers wanted them to lip sync against each other. You could also include Widow's downward spiral as a storyline. And they tried to set up Nicky vs Gigi as rival fashion queens, but that went nowhere. And that's about it. The only other drama was from Widow and Jaida having attitude during the rehearsal of their respective premieres. And the Gigi vs Heidi tiff. I think the main reason why Season 12 is praised is because of the challenge performances. Almost everyone did well in both “Gay's Anatomy” and the Madonna Rusical, for instance. But I need more than just good challenge performances to fully enjoy a season. The Snatch Game was forgettable anyways, aside from Gigi and Jackie's performances. The Debate was a let down, but I get why Ru was pushing a political theme considering how important the 2020 election was to the drag community. I also don't like how they keep shoving the Ball to the beginning of the season. 36 runways in one episode was too much. But thankfully they skipped the late-season acting challenge. And the superfan Makeover was a nice moment; including the lip sync. Also, WTF was that cat mini-challenge? Oh, and apparently they didn't air the Reading mini-challenge because it was so bad. I will say the premiere was very hype. The first group was clearly the stronger one. “I'm That Bitch” might be the best girl group song they've done. Widow gave the best lip sync of the season. And the non-elimination felt justified. In past seasons, the first challenge was almost always a design challenge, unless it was All-Stars, so this was much more demanding. The split premiere fit the political theme of the season as well, as if they're competing political parties. I could do without the Fashion Show though, and the fake celebrities watching. The A-list celebrity guest judge was Nicki Minaj. She replaced Ru in the “Cover Girl” transition thing, and she was pretty harsh with Heidi. The editors also tried something new in the premiere where the producers interacted off-screen with the queens. The second group felt like a comedown though. I don't know why they did an odd number of cast members for a split premiere. I know Tamisha Iman and Kandy Muse were supposed to be on this season, but they were actually replaced. And then the producers had to erase Sh*rry P*e from the edit starting from episode 3, and DQ her from the finale. Her track record screamed favouritism. How did they let her talk for 17 MINUTES uninterrupted in that stand-up challenge? I've seen speculation that she would've won the season, but I don't think she was ever beating Jaida in a finale lip sync thankfully. Anyways, episode 3 starts off with some manufactured drama of the two groups coming together. Followed by Ru being a s**t-stirrer by making Widow and Jaida rank the other groups. Then an improv challenge that felt endless (“World's Worst”), where the winning team just did the same joke. Heidi winning would've been a much better storyline, since Jaida ranked her last that episode. Speaking of which, why were Sh*rry and Gigi winning everything for the first 7 episodes? They were even top 2 in their respective premieres. Also, Episode 3 aired on March 13, 2020, the same day a National Emergency was declared in the US. So maybe Drag Race was a comfort show to those stuck at home, adjusting to a "new normal", scared and uncertain about the outside world. It probably helps that this season didn't have a lot of negativity either. The restrictions only affected the reunion and the finale, because the show is filmed during the previous year. They did what they could given the circumstances, but Zoom call lip syncs ain't it.  Oh yeah, Leslie Jones might be the best guest judges ever? Not only was she funny AF on the panel, but she went on Untucked and asked Aiden why she's sour and signed Widow's shoe. Vanjie's cameo on the Snatch Game episode (and that Untucked) was fun too.

Queens Ranking: 13. Sh*rry P*e Who? Didn't even notice she was there. 😂 12. Brita The inflated sense of self-importance. Brita mentioned New York City all the time. She was delusional; disagreeing with her placements, bragging about her improv skills, and saying “I am serving you looks every single time”. Aiden was right - Brita expected her NYC reputation to put her on top, but that's not how this works. Brita's confessionals had a mean vibe too. She wasn't throwing fun shade, it felt serious. She made condescending remarks about Aiden: “Aiden's like a lost little puppy”; “I don't want to babysit Aiden”; “Aiden isn't working hard enough” etc. And she borderline bullied Aiden to her face after the “World's Worst” challenge, and again on the episode 5 Untucked, and again on the red couch. Then she said “I love Aiden” after Aiden's elimination like what? Brita also thought Widow was milking her knee injury and cringed at Widow doing Ike/Tina. She called Rock M's outfit a “science fair project gone wrong”, as if hers was any better.  And then she cried on her last Untucked for being in the bottom so much. In the competition: Brita had the worst track record. She flopped 4 challenges in a row. She had no idea what she was doing in the Ball challenge; all 3 of her looks missed the mark, and the judges didn't know it was a pineapple. She also overacted in “Gay's Anatomy”. She just laughed for every answer as Jennifer Holliday in Snatch Game. And she messed up the choreo in the Rusical. She was fierce in “I'm That Bitch” though (“cause they be givin' up and I ain't even done!”), but her lyrics didn't really say anything. As for Brita's runways, meh. Frozen was her best one. Spring and Buttons And Bows were a “no”. I actually enjoyed her lip sync performances though. 11. Jackie Cox Too dry and overly professional for me. And seemingly snobbish? She couldn't believe that Aiden didn't know Mae West (“call my lawyer”). She was confused by Vanjie's Julia Roberts joke. She gave people a hard time for being “unprepared” for Snatch Game. She insisted that Jaida volunteered to go last when she didn't (“roll that tape” indeed). She questioned why Aiden was safe, but later gave Aiden a reasonable explanation for why she's getting heat. She made an issue out of Widow not making connections, but had a heartfelt chat with Widow afterwards. Otherwise, Jackie mostly talked about her parents, LGBTQ+ discrimination in her culture, and Islamophobia. She even had that speech with guest judge AOC. I respect her for using Drag Race as a platform for these important issues, but I wish she had more un-serious moments I guess? She did occasionally throw shady jabs in the Werk Room though. In the competition: Jackie placed “high” in several challenges but never won. Her “I'm That Bitch” showed her identity, but it wasn't as memorable as the others. She was a natural talker in “World's Worst”. I thought she was the funniest in Snatch Game as Lisa Rinna – how she rambled on and threatened Heidi. Her genie concept in the advert was great (“For you!”) And in the stand-up routine, she told a personal story while keeping it funny. But Jackie struggled in the latter half. She was boring in the Rusical. She kept doing Canada jokes in the Debate. And her Makeover outfits were basic. She knew her time was up at the end too. Jackie was comedic lip sync-er, but “Kill the Lights” was cringe. My fave Jackie runways were her Frozen snowflake, her Michelle Visage look, the Purple People Eater, and the hijab. 10. Nicky Doll Nicky came in as a fashion queen that will “bring you glamour without breaking my hip”. While the producers spent the premiere pointing out her mispronunciations. But ultimately, Nicky got in her head - she felt defeated by the language barrier, and didn't think she could live up to everyone else's level because of it. She even named herself to go home in episode 5. She seemed crabby too? She was unhappy about her “World's Worst” role, she was annoyed by Jan's dissatisfaction over being safe, she was relieved to work solo for once, and she was bewildered by Aiden's favouritism. She also fought with Aiden on Untucked; and told Aiden she should be in the bottom over Jaida. Meanwhile, the judges read Nicky for not showing personality. She did joke around in the Werk Room – it just didn't materialize in the challenges. Her confessionals weren't bad though (like the popcorn one, saying “are you ready?” in French, etc). In the competition: Nicky was the fashion queen that bombed the performance challenges. Her “I'm That Bitch” verse was my least fave – the lyrics were generic and she didn't sell it on stage. In “World's Worst”, she didn't really add anything to the skit, and she cut Widow off. While in “Gay's Anatomy”, she thought she tried something different, but her baby character wasn't fun. Then it seemed like she gave up in her last lip sync. But yeah, Nicky served Parisian high fashion on the runway. My faves were her Fall look, her Sparkle look, and all 3 Ball looks. My least fave was her Spring look. 9. Gigi Goode Falls into the bland category for me. Gigi mostly talked about wanting to be on top (who doesn't?) Or being excited for a Fashion Show. Or updating us on her Ball outfit. Or just hyping herself up: “I'm not just good, I'm incredible”; “I see my drag going to the cover of Vogue. Period.”; “I think this means that I'm the queen bee of this season right?” Gigi also struck me as someone who cares about her image. She didn't really give reads; aside from comparing Crystal's singing to Kermit smoking pot. She was terrified of politics. She apologized for not knowing Patti LuPone. And she only got involved in drama once – when she told Heidi that she wasn't listening to the judges; a comment that Heidi found unnecessary –  and she tried to smooth things over ASAP. She also later said “we've built a family and families fight and families get over it!” Sure. Otherwise, Gigi started showing vulnerability towards the end, when she cried over what to do in the stand-up challenge, and talked about repressing her self-doubts. She also came out as gender fluid on the show. And her mom making her outfits was so wholesome. In the competition: Gigi having 4 wins is excessive, especially 3 times in 4 episodes. They weren't undeserving wins, but there were other options: Jaida could've won the Ball, Jackie could've won Snatch Game, Jan could've won the Rusical. Gigi's Ball looks were polished but not that inventive. Her saucy robot in Snatch Game was funny but came off cocky. Her poses in the Rusical were compelling though. And her “I'm That Bitch” performance was fierce, even if I wasn't into the lyrics. I laughed when she read the audience members in her stand-up too. On the flip side, Gigi's stuck-up character in the advert didn't land. Her Debate was lacking (“why not”). Her Makeover outfits screamed safe. She was just a corpse in “World's Worst”. And her “turn it into comedy” bit in the “Starships” lip sync was cringe. Also, Gigi's runways were very well-constructed, but her style didn't excite me? The colonialism costume was a choice. My faves were the button outfit, her Black Wedding, the Daphne Blake one, and her pirate entrance. 8. Jan The blandest cast member of the blandest season. But still likeable enough. Jan was this positive, energetic Drag Race superfan who was excited to be there. There was even a complication of her chipper moments after she left. But Jan's confessionals didn't have much personality. The few Jan moments that stood out were: her being flabbergasted that Aiden didn't know her outfit was referee. When she talked about being a sports kid. When she assumed she'd win the Rusical because of her experience, resulting in the infamous face crack. And when she insisted that she was upset over Brita leaving, and not because of losing the Rusical. I call BS on that. I think Jan was moreso crushed that she didn't meet her own expectations. She later said “It's a good thing that Brita's gone because now I don't have to worry about her”, as if that was ever the issue. In the competition: Jan was highly ambitious, but I think this came off as desperation to impress the judges. The judges said she was doing too much. Jan sounded overeager in “You Don't Know Me”, but that attitude works well in a song. The point of the challenge was to introduce who you are, which she did. Her high energy was annoying in the “Droop” advert though, but I liked the Jan puns, and I understood her product better than Widow's or Gigi's. Otherwise, Jan was a solid actress in “World's Worst” and “Gay's Anatomy”. Her screaming at Sh*rry was funny in the latter. And her choreo was impressively smooth in the Rusical. Her Bernadette Peters in Snatch Game was forgettable though. As for Jan's runways, Buttons And Bows was amazing, and Black Wedding was my other fave. I enjoyed her in the lip sync too, even if it didn't match the song. 7. Dahlia Sin “I'm Dahlia Sin and I'm here to take your man”. I can definitely tell she's from the House of Aja. Dahlia was very chill in confessional, usually laughing at whatever she just said. She forgot to wear underwear in the premiere, she wanted to poke Rock M's butt, she “meh”-ed everyone out of drag, and she talked about her twin brother. Dahlia wasn't very chill during her exit, however, when she stormed off the stage without an exit line. She also had a problem with Crystal receiving encouragement on Untucked, and she was bitter that Crystal didn't lip sync. But Dahlia had the last laugh: she made cameos in the broccoli costume for the rest of the season! In the competition: Dahlia was a pretty obvious first boot. She just wasn't performing at the same level as the rest. Her girl group verse was the worst one across both premieres – her performance lacked conviction and Michelle exposed her lying in the lyrics. While in “World's Worst”, she hesitated and looked lost, playing this sensual-voiced broccoli that didn't land. Then she kept looking at the camera during the lip sync. Both of Dahlia's main stage runways looked unpolished too. Her best look was the Fall fashion show black fur. 6. Aiden Zhane I want to sympathize with Aiden. Brita borderline bullied her, and the cast tore her down, even when she did well, reaching a boiling point on the episode 5 Untucked. I'm glad she stood up for herself there. But I think Aiden was too standoffish and defensive: “I repeat I'm not a dancer”; “I guess I'm gonna have to be, aren't I?”; “well I'm not just going down there with my face painted, naked”; “when I did ask for my lines, I only asked once”; “I don't think so, I know so”. She tried to brush off their opinions, but I think they affected her. Like Leslie Jones pointed out, Aiden had this sour demeanour. She had to fight the perception she's the weakest. She felt disadvantaged for not coming from a big city. She got exposed in the premiere for calling herself an actress. And she finished her Ball outfit super early, which upset some people. That said, the only real storyline of the season revolved around Aiden so... In the competition: Aiden's “You Don't Know Me” verse gave us an idea of who she is. And she had that Mae West voice in “Gay's Anatomy”. She sold it with her facial expressions in those two challenges. But she looked unsure during “World's Worst”. While in Snatch Game, it was like she had no idea how to answer the questions as Patricia Quinn, someone she knew personally! She also gave up in the lip sync. I wasn't a fan of Aiden's simple outfits either - her Spring look, her Buttons And Bows, her Frozen one, and all 3 of her Ball looks. The referee outfit did need more time on it. Her Tulle runway was her best. Her face was what made her drag unique. 5. Widow Von'Du I'm not sure how to process the assault charges. But Widow had a presence to her during her introduction (“get into AAAAOOOOOOOOLLL of this”). In the premiere, she was voluntold to lead the choreo... until Brita and Jackie overstepped (insert deep sigh confessional). Then she gave up and gave attitude (insert “go ahead go ahead” confessional). Then they said she wasn't taking charge on Untucked. Lol. But yeah, Widow was enjoying herself so much in confessional: “I enjoy when bitches tell me what their weaknesses are”; “MF Sh*rry P*e that's my role”; “you can just taste the fakeness in the air”; “apolo-lie”; “...and now i'm laying eggs in you bitch”. She was devilish in the Rusical episode too (“Jackie, karma's a bitch ain't it”; “I got my first choice”; “well guess what bitch I'm a dancer”). But Widow was moody when she didn't get the “Gay's Anatomy” role she wanted. She was upset over Jackie's preparedness comments, and responded vindictively. And she self-destructed midseason, all because Ru pointed out she hadn't won lately. The inner saboteur took over! I think Widow felt pressured to impress Chaka Khan too. In her last episode, she got frustrated at the judges, and didn't know what they wanted. Otherwise, Widow shared stories of her mom's passing, her abusive relationships and getting kicked out. In the competition: Widow annihilated everyone in the premiere, between her side splits in “I'm That Bitch”, and her multitude of moves in the “Starships” lip sync. She then carried her disastrous team in “World's Worst” (“and this is barbecue sauce”). And she delivered personality in “Gay's Anatomy”. Her Tina and Ike in Snatch Game was whatever, but she had the cake joke. And she was great in the Rusical, just overshadowed. But Widow fell apart midseason. Her advert came off lifeless. Then the judges didn't understand her angry politician in the Debate. Maybe she played it too serious, but she was funnier than Gigi or Jackie. That said, I was disappointed by Widow's runways. Her Buttons And Bows clown, her Cape, her Frozen life-preserver, and especially her Michelle Visage look were a “no”. She was one of my least faves in the Ball too. I appreciated her Stars and Stripes message though. 4. Rock M. Sakura “Is it cultural appropriation? We'll find out”; “this song is dumb, I wanna do it like this and dress like a hot dog”; “feeling that steam [...] like some sort of hot pocket”; “you just walk down the runway and scream: high fashion”; “I want that apple!”. Rock M's high energy OTT personality was entertaining to me. She was so extra during her entrance. She loudly duct taped herself in the Werk Room. She flailed her arms in confessional. But I think this was her anxiety acting out. She explained how she uses humour to mask her insecurities. But I don't think Rock M was emotionally ready for Drag Race. She told Ru that she needed the girls for support. She had that emotional story about her mom's drug addiction. She meekly asked for that apple role. I'd love to see her growth on a future All-Stars though. In the competition: I enjoyed Rock M's “You Don't Know Me” verse. She gave us a character (the fart joke didn't bother me), but I can see how her performance came off intrusive. While in “World's Worst”, she told this joke that wasn't a joke at all... and that was the joke. I was more intrigued by Rock M's looks though. The anime outfit she drew herself was impressive. Her tulle runway was bold (I disagreed with Ross on that one). As was her Buttons And Bows. So it was surprising to see her bomb the Ball challenge. The tether ball was a gag (which is why I didn't put her bottom 2), but her second look had misshapen hip pads, and her third one just looked like garbage scraps. Then she couldn't get the skirt off during the lip sync... 3. Crystal Methyd Despite the quieter edit, and not being involved in any drama, and only having a few memorable confessionals - “I'm a little devil that likes to raise hell in Bible Belt”; “Own it baby! My husband is Harry Hamilton or something”; “I'm not too impressed that Gigi was able to make a pretty girl into a pretty girl”; “Jackie is meeping?” - there's just something about Crystal. She's so genuine and humble with a positive attitude. She was the underdog dark horse too. It seemed like Crystal was going to be an early boot. She cried in front of the judges in episode 3, and she couldn't get past her self-doubt at one point. But once she realized what worked for her, she was unstoppable. Such a good growth story. Crystal was living for the other girls during challenges too. She had a One Direction tattoo in Arabic, a language she doesn't even speak. Ru was obsessed with her mullet (cue “Rhythm of the Night”). And she talked about her conservative parents and her father's Parkinson's. In the competition: Crystal had a rough start, messing up her line in “World's Worst” and blanking on the questions, as well as her Buttons And Bows runway. The fork bit in “Gay's Anatomy” didn't land either. And the judges didn't get her Poppy impression in Snatch Game (but at least she tried unlike Brita or Aiden). Her “I'm That Bitch” verse was kinda bad, but that's why I like it (“I'll have you all screaming Crystal Methyd!”) Then Crystal slayed the second half. Her wacky comedy carried her through the Rusical (the echos; the checking of her pulse), the advert (magic mullet!), the Debate (another mullet joke!), and of course the fitness instructor. Crystal had the most interesting runways too. Her style was ugliness turned into beauty. That's exactly how I'd describe her Makeover. Her Freddy Krueger look, her Black Wedding, and her purple look were all amazing too. I also like her Capes and final 5 blue. 2. Jaida Essence Hall “Chile I'm not finna be this damn orange no”; “this is not RuPaul's excuse race”; “Antarctica's at the bottom ain't it?”; “If a robot and a Barbie and a cheerleader had an orgy...”; “dinosaur doctor”; “nobody wants the butt slice of bread”; “keep your ass right and your mind will follow”; “who is Rose Nylund?”. Yeah... Jaida's my fave winner since Bob. She was so fun in the Makeover episode too: “Let me see, run your split Jackie”; “Mic drop. Bow. Boom. Cat. Cow.”; “baby you gonna get rid of that pinky toe”. Plus there's her ball jokes in the Ball episode. Jaida came in calling herself a classy, boujee female impersonator. She was wise and didn't have time for other people's BS. She started off the season by giving attitude in rehearsal, because she wanted simpler choreo that she wouldn't mess up, and no one listened to her. She called this a “slight disagreement” next episode lol. Then she refused to give Rock M the role she wanted. She got heated at Aiden interrupting her. She schooled Aiden on making excuses. And she clarified to Jackie that she didn't have a say in going last. But Jaida also gave supportive words to Rock M. Same with Jackie about her mom. And she told Widow to get out of her head. She didn't get emotional until the end, first with her Makeover partner, then in front of Whoopi. In the competition: Jaida's only bad performance was her pee story in the stand-up, imo. Just dead air from the audience there. She was “middle of the pack” a few times, like her confrontational apple in “World's Worst”, or her Cardi B in Snatch Game, or when she struggled to say “Diver-dick-ulitius” in “Gay's Anatomy”. But all those performances were good enough. And when Jaida was on top, she slayed. Her “You Don't Know Me” verse made a confident statement (plus the booty slap!) She arguably had the best look in all 3 Ball categories. She sold sexiness in the Rusical. No one came close to her in the Debate (“LOOK OVER THERE”). No one stood a chance against her in a lip sync. And her Makeover looked opulent. My other fave Jaida runways were Tulle, Frozen, Michelle Visage, Stars And Stripes, and the purple one. 1. Heidi N Closet Whether Heidi was getting phrases wrong: “Leprosy print”; “like watching the walls dry”; “right up my avenue”; “as a political politician”; “hepiphany”; “the initialation”. Or simply joking around: “ARR MATEY”; “overall she delivered – literally because she was pregnant”; “maybe she's not the trade of the season – what if I'm the trade of the season?”; “Gigi? Cocky? I would've never guessed”; “and that was the right numbers of fingers honey”. Heidi charmed the viewers in such a cute and harmless way. She laughs with us, and at herself, and doesn't take things too seriously. In the premiere, Heidi had the trill entrance, she pushed through an allergic reaction, she made chicken noises in front of the judges, she exclaimed “I'll never eat kale again!”, and she confronted Nicki Minaj on Untucked. That critique made her so mad. Heidi would also banter with Ru during her walkthroughs, and oftentimes stole Ru's ideas. Ru hated her name too lol. Heidi also had her emotional moments: She seemed irritated during the Rusical Untucked. She felt insulted by Gigi saying she hadn't improved her make-up. And she yelled “f**k you” at everyone on Untucked to leave Aiden alone, which was iconic. But Heidi was there for Widow. She had the uncle passing from HIV story. And she proved Jaida wrong for ranking her last. In the competition: I'm declaring Heidi the Lip Sync Assassin of Season 12. She had funny and entertaining moves in each one until she faced Jaida. She was also bottom 2 in challenges where nearly everyone did well - “Gay's Anatomy” (that fork bit did not land) and the Rusical (for not emulating Madonna, but her moves were still impressive). That said, Heidi's Makeover outfits were basic, and her stand-up routine was messy. Still, she should've won “World's Worst”. And she had the Widow's shoe joke in Snatch Game, the “tears of a drag queen” in the advert, and Jackie's 5 O'clock shadow jab in the Debate. I thought she was one of the best in “I'm That Bitch” too. But Heidi's runways were kinda mediocre. My faves were her Fashion Show looks, even if the headpiece fell off. Her Ball looks weren't the best, but not the worst either. Favourite entrance look: Gigi Goode (night 1) / Rock M. Sakura (night 2) Challenge ranking: 1. “I'm That Bitch” (Girl Group #1) 2. Madonna: The Unauthorized Rusical 3. “Droop” Adverts 4. “You Don't Know Me” (Girl Group #2) 5. “One-Queen Show” (Stand-up) 6. The Ball Ball 7. Snatch Game 8. “Gay's Anatomy” (Acting) 9. “Viva Drag Vegas” 10. Superfan Makeover 11. Presidential debate 12. “World's Worst” (Improv) (this challenge felt endless) Lip Sync ranking: 1. Gigi Goode vs Widow Von'Du ("Starships") (Widow kept finding new moves to show off!) 2. Jan vs Widow Von'Du ("This Is My Night") 3. Brita vs Heidi N Closet ("Burning Up") 4. Jackie Cox vs Widow Von'Du ("Firework") 5. Heidi N Closet vs Jaida Essence Hall ("1999") 6. Jackie Cox vs Heidi N Closet ("Kill the Lights") (Jackie was cringe) 7. Heidi N Closet vs Nicky Doll ("Heart to Break") (Nicky wasn't trying, but Heidi's moves were cute ignoring the wig fail) 8. Jaida Essence Hall vs [Redacted] ("Call Your Girlfriend") (LOL at Jaida playing off the other person) 9. Jaida Essence Hall solo ("Get Up") 10. Brita vs Rock M. Sakura ("S&M") (Rock M's skirt wouldn't come off! but Brita was enjoyable) 11. Top 3 Lip Sync #2 ("Survivor") 12. Crystal Methyd vs Jackie Cox ("On The Floor") 13. Crystal Methyd solo ("I'm Like a Bird") (it's meme-worthy at least) 14. Aiden Zhane vs Brita ("Let It Go") (Brita very theatrical/Aiden looks dead) 15. Gigi Goode solo ("Take On Me") (without the set design, it's not all that) 16. Top 3 Lip Sync #1 ("Bring Back My Girls") (it's just their faces...) 17. Dahlia Sin vs Nicky Doll ("Problem") Season ranking so far: 9 > 5 > 6 > 11 > AS2 > 4 > 10 > 2 > 7 > AS3 > AS4 > 3 > 8 > 12 > 1 > AS1

[studio-360]

Studio-360’s Celebrity Endorsements in Advertising

Celebrity endorsements are a marketing approach by brands that promote a product or service through many celebrities. Brands casting stars in their endorsements have a distinct impact on the patrons owing to several factors. Every celebrity brings the other audience type as its fan base and reaches them; brands push for celebrity endorsements.

Conception and today’s endorsements-

In India, this kind of marketing strategy commenced with LUX, where the brand showcased Bollywood actresses in their endorsements to influence a larger audience. LUX placed itself as the ‘beauty soap of the stars’, and it has been so powerful that the brand maintains to sustain that concept. Print ads with their pretty faces, short copies explaining the impact of Lux and celebrity’s beauty and their relation were begun and printed over the nation.

Such advertisements strongly offer a sense of pride to consumers as they feel they obtained the status quo when they purchased a product backed by a star. Various brands develop such types or endorsements, which help them stand more comprehensive audience & it is the most common way of selling the product.

How does a brand introduce-

It gets more comfortable for the customer to relate to a brand, create confidence, and communicate when it is synonymous with a well-known face. New products or services can take longer to grow in this highly aggressive market. In contrast, the unveiling of a celebrity brand sets the tone for safety and confidence. It also encourages and strengthens a company’s authenticity, letting it have a more significant effect. Endorsements of celebrities often last to register the commodity in people’s minds for a more extended period.

Competing Celebs vs Non-Celebs Endorsements

Celebrity vs non-celebrity endorsements show a great deal of variation in their impressions, reach and success. Often the viewer prefers to miss simple advertising; however, the ads with their celebrities in them draw interest. It attracts the audience’s eyes and engages them for a prolonged period as their favourites surface on the television. Not all non-famous endorsements struggle to impact; others make a substantial impact with their clutter-breaking campaigns, others appeal for openings. However, an endorsement by celebrity casting is an assurance of more traction and dedication than celebrity vs non-celebrity endorsement.

Result-oriented perspectives

Celebrity endorsements are expensive, but they are potent for giving better results than other kinds of endorsements. The ad expenditure goes higher when signing celebrities and promoting on a more prominent platform/channel. Celebrities usually charge less when it comes to advertising for govt. As it is a public initiative and choose to set higher for personal ads.

Celeb Endorsements at Studio 360-

At STUDIO-360, one of the demanding advertising agencies in Delhi/NCR, we have been successful in doing some results in producing celebrity campaigns for our clients. One of our celebrity campaigns highlights our work for – Spectrum Metro (Real Estate). The campaign featured Bollywood celebrity, Malaika Arora. We also crafted a series of 5 YouTube commercials for client Saya Homes that helped a client reach a larger audience. Both the campaigns received an overwhelming response and helped the clients skyrocket their sales after the launch. At Studio360, our team analyzes the needful for any given brand, ideates, crafts a strategy around it and then presents the best possible routes for any advertisement. This process helps our clients choose the best and grow better.

[dragonnan]

WIP Challenge

WIP Challenge!! Tell your blog the titles of all the WIPs you are currently working on right now and a little about them and then tag five other writers.Another posting challenge I saw that appeals to meTagged by: nobodyDisclaimer: I'm only "actively" working on a handful of these.  I deeply want to finish all of them but some that have lingered for years are of a lower priority.  I also can't write for more than 2 fandoms at any given time and right now the two that interest me are MCU related and Sherlock.

1.  Sed Diabolus (MCU)

Takes place soon after Endgame.  Due to the nature of the multiverse it is both compliant and non-compliant to the film as well as being both a fix-it as well as making shit significantly worse.  The story is structured around Peter Parker - who returned, with everyone else, with the snap that restored everyone to life.  The difference is that he won't wake up.  Meanwhile, in another universe, Peter Parker has recently returned from from Europe.  Left to skulk around Queens at night, now that his identity has been revealed, he is feeling more lost than ever before.  Meanwhile Doctor Strange, back in the other universe, has been called upon to rescue the comatose Peter - and a startling truth is revealed!  What will it take to restore Peter once again?  Worse still, an old enemy of Stephen's has returned.  And a new enemy threatens to destroy everything they'd won with the defeat of Thanos.

2. Avengers: New Beginnings (MCU)

This is also an Endgame fix-it.  This is actually the first fix-it idea I had but then @kitcat992 and I started brainstorming Diabolus and I got extremely side-tracked.  In this one, the focus is more specifically on Tony Stark and the fact that he's been having horrific nightmares.  The thing is, according to Stephen Strange, they aren't nightmares but memories that come from another universe.  The story will involve repairing the fractures in the universe caused by the use of the gauntlet as well as looking at the various Avengers as the go forward from the defeat of Thanos.  There will also be the introduction of Kamala Khan and how, exactly, her powers came to be.

3. The Fire in Which We Burn (Sherlock)

Molly Hooper-centric.  Set immediately after TFP (with a thick dose of establishing history in the first chapter).  In essence this story developed from the question "what was upsetting Molly just before Sherlock made That Call"?  It also provides context for how she could go from speaking about Tom in glowing terms during TEH to stabbing his hand in TST.  Snatching back terminology from the jaws of obscurity this story relights on a ton of UST (unresolved sexual tension for the fandom young).  There is also a lot of Mycroft and Anthea involvement.  As to the actual story-line it involves an ex of Molly's who got dangerous.  The story will be about her dealing with said ex and the shit going on between herself and Sherlock.  Is anything salvageable from all of this?  Is it even worth discussing?  

4. Oompa Loompa Doom-Pa-Dee-Die (Psych)

Originally this story was part of a huge Virtual 9th Season set after the end of the series.  Myself and about 6 or 7 other writers had plotted out in tremendous detail a connected story arc that would carry through 8 episodes (originally 16).  This story was set to be the 5th episode.  Sadly, after many years of trying to make the VS happen, I finally contacted the various writers and we agreed to let it go.  However, as this story was fully plotted and was a bit of writing that I remain very proud of, I reworked it to function as a stand-alone story.  Basically, Shawn and Gus end up finding themselves involved in a murder investigation at a chocolate factory.  As is likely evident from the title, the themes in this fic draw very heavily from the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory film.  There are actually two rival chocolate factories run by two sisters who have been rivals since their youth.  Their father, the former owner of the first factory, is fan-cast as, of course, Gene Wilder.  There are a lot of mysterious elements, humor, and hopefully a decent twist by the end.

5. Simon and Simon and Psych (Psych and Simon & Simon crossover)

In spite of letting this thing linger so long I’m actually pretty excited about it still.  The basic story plot is that Rick and AJ Simon travel to Santa Barbara so that AJ can compete in the annual (and real) half marathon.  Of course things go sideways when Rick gets caught up in a drug trafficking scheme with him as the accused.  To make matters worse, Shawn, Gus, and AJ all get caught and kidnapped while investigating the drug traffickers.  The one thing I’m especially excited about this story is bringing Rick and AJ into modern times with a few changes to their personal history.  It’s a lot of fun having them banter about websites and politics and stuff of that nature.

6. The Big Stink (Supernatural)

My very first foray into fanfic for this fandom I started this thing years ago when I had already become frustrated by the direction of the series.  I wanted to recapture what had originally made me love the show and that was the story of two brothers fighting monsters - no more no less.  The story is built around Dean being cursed to constantly have a terrible smell in his nose - which also affects his sense of taste.  While initially humorous the side effects of something like that become gradually worse as if not only makes eating and drinking awful but also leaves him constantly nauseous.  The story is about the boys backtracking their movements to figure out who or what put the whammy on Dean as well as trying to work out how to break the curse.  

7. Asgårdsreia (HTTYD)

Right off the bat I made the mistake of starting this fic before properly plotting out the story first - thus the initial reason why it was left hanging.  Then the third film hit with its swath of disappointment and I’ve been somewhat less than eager to get back to it.  So the story, as it stands, is that the Viking clan is in the midst of celebrating Fyr Bal (basically “fire festival”).  Most of the clans join together at this time with each clan taking a turn to host on their year.  That year it’s Berk’s turn to host - much to Hiccup’s dismay.  He’s especially off-put by certain visiting clans eyeing him like a side of beef for their eligible daughters.  So, needing some escape, he takes Toothless out to survey some unexplored islands in search of new dragon species (basically the typical shit he’s been getting up to in Race to the Edge as well as the second movie).  Things go severely awry, however, when he comes across some dragon hunters and is hit with a bolo - breaking his left leg and making it impossible to operate the pedal used to fly Toothless.  Forced to shift on his side and fly by using one hand on the pedal, he and Toothless eventually crash land on a deserted island.  Now, badly injured and with no way to escape, they’re forced to run from the dragon hunters who followed in their wake.  

Tagging: @hanuko @ceruleanmindpalace @kitcat992 @sgam76 @mizjoely @ariaadagio @aelaer    

[calliecat93]

Top 5 Likes of Red vs Blue: Season 1

(Top 5 Dislikes)

Alrighty, the first Dislikes post is up. Which even calling those things Dislike is stretching it, to be honest. So let’s get to the Likes! Which there s honestly a lot to like in this season. Even though the Blood Gulch seasons are my least favorite and as a saga it’s just barely over Freelancer, these seasons are very endearing. I always enjoy going back over them, and I’m glad to be able to talk about a few of the reasons why. So let’s get to it~

#5. Early Installment Weirdness

You know everything I listed on that Dislikes list? That’s all due to Early Installment Weirdness. That essentially means things early on were quite strange when you compare it to a show’s current standard. It’s only natural that a show needs time to find it’s footing and not everything will work out or be done well. Especially for a webseries like this made by a bunch of video game nerds for what was originally planned for a miniseries, but the more ideas they got, the longer it went. So as I said, many of these things are very forgivable.

Plus, like I also said on that list, these things make the show endearing. The Blood Gulch Chronicles are very comedic driven compared tot he later seasons that are plot-driven. Things like the amateur voice acting, the weird stuff like the afterlife, and even the audio quality adds to the charm. It’s this weird show being made via a video game by some video game nerds. It feels like a newcomer’s indie project… which I guess it kinda is. And while machinima has been around before this, no one quite did it like how RvB did it. These things, as well as the other things I’ll get to soon, just help make it stand out.

Plus, if anything, it helps show how far we’ve come. Every dislike I listed has been improved. The voice acting is stellar, the audio is much better, the characterizations are stronger, and while there are still the occasional continuity issues many of them have gotten reasonable explanations. It’s fun to go back and see the lesser developed parts. You don’t feel annoyed with it, you have fun watching it not just because it’s funny, but because we’ve seen the evolution of the show. We can have fun with the older stuff, and that’s a great thing. It’s why I think these things should be celebrated, not mocked. I only put them on a Dislikes list out of necessity, but I love these things. I don’t want them to go back to it cause production standards are higher, but I’ll always enjoy revisiting it.

#4. Church Dies

Okay maybe phrasing it like that is kinda mean, but it is what happened so…

So I knew this was coming because Ten Little Roosters had this fact as a joke in Episode 2. But despite knowing about it, it was still a surprise to me. I mean they killed a main character? In Episode 7? And the character of the creator to boot?! Wow, that is ballsy. But the part I didn’t know about was that Church came back as a ghost. I guess I should have known since I had seen people talking about Church and he was still listed as a main character on Wikipedia when I was looking up stuff about the show. But tbf I didn’t know he died this soon or that it was only the first time.

It was certainly a thing that took me by surprise. Especially since IIRC, Burnie hadn’t planned on doing it. He just came up with it since I guess at this point they knew it was going to go for longer than intended. Honestly knowing that a lot of this season was made up on the spot explains a lot of the weirder stuff like the afterlife scene… anyways! Yeah, it was something that legit shocked me. The ghost thing confused me for the longest time, but I was just glad to have Church around soon since he has easily become my favorite (sorry Grif, it wasn’t always you…) and this one on the spot decision? It lead to some of the best parts of RvB. BOth comedically and once it was time to become more plot-driven, it made some of the best drama and lead to my favorite saga in the show with Recollection. It’s a minor thing, hence hwy it’s at 4, but it lead to so much more and I love it~

#3. The Tex Twist

Adding Tex to this season was a great move. For one it allowed a lot of great things for later, like the Freelancers and the plot after Blood Gulch. Even before all the Freelancer stuff came out, having these agents who were pretty much paid mercenaries added plenty of potential for stories and even comedy down the road. It also helped that we had someone who was actually competent among the main cast, adding an actual threat level. Not to mention she has a very blunt sense of humor that helps her stand out despite being the only female character aside from Shelia.

Heck, making Tex be Church’s ex-girlfriend was a great move. It adds something a little more personal and also helps Church’s character. He was the grumpy, snarky one among the Blues and then he died not even halfway through. But this helps give him another dimension as a character since he clearly still cares about Tex and wants to free her of the AI. Sure he’s still grumpy, being dead will do that to anyone, but he showed some competence once Tex got captured and again still cared about her. Tex’s bluntness and non-caring attitude about these things as well as owning her bitch-like personality helped her not just be ‘the girl’ either. She’s the competent one, but she isn’t just there cause she was Church’s girlfriend. She’s tough, takes no shit from anyone, but she never really gets annoyed or exasperated by the others either. Her straightforward personality is not only funny, but lets her shine as her own character and the later seasons only help.

While IDR if Tex was planned, her being Church’s girlfriend I remember Burnie saying was not. This is kind of a precursor to something I always admired about the show, taking small things and weaving them into the story. Like taking the joke that the teleporter turns armor black and the Blues using that to their advantage to trick the Reds. You almost can’t tell that this wasn’t going to be nineteen episodes cause they did so well finding ways to extend the story by using what they had. Tex is a perfect example of this. Not just because of later, but even for this season it added some more humor, added to her character when she could have easily been this standard tough guy, and also helped Church’s character. It’s probably the best decision that Burnie made for this season, and I’m glad that he did.

#2. Character Interactions

On Dislikes, I talked about how the characters were not very fleshed out. This, as well as the show being machinimated, meant that the comedy and dialogue had to be really good. Fortunately, that was by far the thing that they nailed most in this season. As I said while the characters aren’t fleshed out, they /do/ still have character. Heck Burnie basing them off the people he cast was a very good mood in this regard. People like Gus and Geoff have known each other for years, for example. So this made for a lot of natural character chemistry and a lot of really good interactions. I mean people love having Grif and Simmons together for a reason. They just play off of each other so freakin’ well..

The interactions and dialogue are really good and even funny. Sure sometimes maybe they dragged a joke out a little too much. Like when Church was starting to talk about Sidewinder and Caboose kept interrupting, you just wanted Caboose to shut up so Church could get to the point. But at the same time, Caboose’s interruptions and Church’s annoyance felt so natural and funny. Or how Grif and Simmons messed with Donut and tricked him to get headlight fluid, and everything that led to. Not only were the contrivances funny, but the characters just bounced off each other so well. They didn’t need to be deep in this season because they all balanced each other out so well, which is pretty key when it comes to comedies.

I think that this is what allowed the show to thrive. People didn’t mind the machinima or how bizarre things got because we liked seeing these characters together. We enjoyed seeing them bicker and them getting themselves into something stupid. The dialogue was funny, the jokes, while some could drag, were timed well, and it just felt so natural. Despite most of the cast recording from different parts of the country (and in Gus’ case another country), you wouldn’t know it going off the interactions. It just worked very well and is very much what helped the show endure for this long, and it’s something I don’t feel has ever faltered even at it’s lowest point. That is saying a lot I think.

#1. Memorability

“Hey?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you ever wonder why we’re here?

You already heard the voices the second you saw the screencap, let’s be real. You look at Season One, and it’s clear that it’s not exactly a cinematic masterpiece. It’s made by people who had no idea what they were doign. Everything is pretty amateur. The comedy, while good, is pretty much aimed more at middle/high schoolers and some probably would not pass today. I know if I tried to watch the show when it came out when I was nine years old, my mom probably would have banned me from it. So then… why did it succeed?

Like I said, it’s flaws and character interactions made it endearing. There’s a lot in this season that we still remember. ‘Why are we here’ is the most obvious one, but this led to so much. Church being a ghost got us Recollection. Tex got us Project Freelancer. There are so many quotable moments, like Tucker’s Voltron line or picking up chicks in a tank. Moments like the first scene, Church’s death, Tex’s arrival, Donut’s pink armor/awesome throwing arm. We always remember these things. We always end up going back to Season One in one way or another. Sure, some stuff is jarring, but we don’t care. 

Season One is just fun. No one knew that it would lead to one of the longest-running webseries made, including RT themselves. I mean this allowed RT to exist period. It’s just got so many moments that we remember and still quote to this day. Even the show will call back to several moments. I mean how many ways have they incorporated ‘why are we here’ into the show now? Not only is it still funny, but it shows how far we’ve come since. We wouldn’t have the rest or RvB or anything else we enjoy from RT without this season. As such, I think that it’s memorability and just general existence is the best part about it, and is my pick for Top Like of Season One~!

Okay, one season down. Fourteen more to go. Thank you for reading everyone~! This is done, but I’m just getting started! So stay tuned for Season Two~!

[wolfliving]

Struggles in chip-land

The Death of Moore’s Law has cast a mighty shadow across the land.

https://mondaynote.com/intel-fights-for-its-future-6498f886992b

Intel Fights For Its Future

by Jean-Louis Gassée

The Smartphone 2.0 era has destroyed many companies: Nokia, Blackberry, Palm… Will Intel be another victim, either as a result of the proposed Broadcom-Qualcomm combination, or as a consequence of a suicidal defense move?

In November 2017, Broadcom (revenue $17.6B, market cap $104B) announced its intent to acquire Qualcomm (revenue $22.9B, market cap $93B). Simplifying for today’s purposes, these two companies make a range of competing and complementary chips used in networking and wireless applications. Notably, Qualcomm makes Snapdragon CPUs for smartphones and wireless modems that connect mobile devices to cellular networks. Broadcom fields an impressive (if indiscriminate) product portfolio, the result of a series of corporate accretions:

In spite of its successful record of Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A), Broadcom’s proposal didn’t go over well.

First, it looks very expensive: Broadcom’s opening bid was $130B. Qualcomm recently let it be known they’d consider $160B.

Second, it raises national security concerns. Avago, a Singaporean company, acquired Broadcom — and assumed the more recognized name — in 2016. To conciliate US objections, Avago/Broadcom now promises to redomicile itself in the US.

Finally, the combined entity might be too big, anti-competitive. Of course, this is the idea, combine corporate bodies to achieve better “supply harmony” a.k.a. pricing power. But is it really “too big”? The combined revenue of the two companies is in the $40B range; compare that to the $200B or more achieved by real giants such as Amazon or Apple.

Or let’s see that $40B next to the $63B earned in 2017 by Intel, the subject of this examination.

Intel sees the Qualcomm+Broadcom combination as an existential threat, an urgent one. But rather than going to the Feds to try and scuttle the deal through a long and uncertain process, Intel is rumored to be “working with advisors” (in plainer English, the company’s Investment Bankers) on a countermove: acquire Broadcom.

Why the sudden sense of urgency? What is the existential threat? And wouldn’t the always risky move of combining two cultures, employees, and physical plants introduce an even greater peril?

To begin with, the threat to Intel’s business isn’t new; the company has been at risk for more than a decade. By declining Steve Jobs’ proposal to make the original iPhone CPU in 2005, Intel missed a huge opportunity. The company’s disbelief in Apple’s ambitious forecast is belied by the numbers: More than 1.8 billion iOS devices have been sold thus far.

Intel passed on the biggest product wave the industry has seen, bigger than the PC. Samsung and now TSMC manufacture iPhone CPUs. Just as important, there are billions of Android-powered machines, as well. One doesn’t have to assume 100% share in the smartphone CPU market to see Intel’s gigantic loss.

One may wonder why then-CEO Paul Otellini didn’t make Apple an offer they couldn’t refuse: Access to Intel’s superior silicon manufacturing technology. At the time, Apple had nothing; Intel held all the cards.

But a poison had infected Intel execs’ minds, creating a durable Reality Distortion Field. The poison was the company’s rightfully celebrated history — Intel put the silicon in Silicon Valley, after all — and, even more poisonous: Wintel. The company didn’t have a complete Windows CPU monopoly but they depended on Microsoft for its margins.

(...)

Intel execs aren’t completely blind. Year after year they’ve tried other product avenues, from server farms to bubble memories and, more recently, IoT, Wearables, Autonomous Vehicles technology…but they’ve yet to find an outlet that has the size and “juice” of chips running Windows (and now cloud servers).

As a result, Intel products may seem haphazard — non-volatile memories, programmable chips, IoT products, self-driving technology (MobileEye was dumped by Tesla and acquired by Intel last year) — but they’re powered by a single workhorse: The x86 chips that make up more than 80% of the revenue and close to 100% of Intel’s profit. How would an acquisition of Broadcom/Avago’s truly random product portfolio — wireless “solutions”, storage adaptors, fibre channel networking — fit into Intel’s monomaniacal culture?

But perhaps the ultimate source of urgency for Intel is the resolution of Qualcomm vs Apple....

[robininthelabyrinth]

Legends of Tomorrow Rewrite Recap

So we had some brainstorming sessions to discuss what people might want to see from a re-write of season 2, both in terms of overall plot, specific suggestions, character arcs, new characters, new timelines, etc.

I know not everyone managed to make it, so here's the recap of what we discussed, boiled down a bit. Even if you didn't make it to a brainstorming session (or if you did and have thought of something else to add), feel free to reblog with additional suggestions or comments! The more comments, the better!

If people really want to, we can maybe do another brainstorming session tomorrow at a convenient time. Let me know!

I'm going to try to @ everyone who was there but...there were a lot and not all the names I was sure about for tumblr. so I'm going to miss people. Sorry!

@kickingshoes @daughterofscotland @delkios @pretzel-log1c @prouvairablehulk @pedestrianfootbridge @lacommunarde @agentmarymargaretskitz @hotforcaptaincold @hippothebrave @airydoorway @marywisdom @wacheypena @rubylis @pansexualfandomqueen @sanctuaryforalluniverses @cyberdigital @drownedinlight @cyberdigioriginal @its-like-looking-in-3d @screaming-towards-apotheosis

Recap under the cut:

Overarching plot: • Keep the spear plot, but make it good – just make it make sense and with consistent characters • Throw out the JSA, have the fragments show up earlier – the Legends don’t know what they are, just that they cause anomalies, but later they figure it out and have to race for the pieces • Keep invasion • Keep things gen with shipping “moments” for assorted ships so everyone can have fun • Plot theme: last season was destiny v free will; this season: free will and consequences • Emotional arcs: team bonding over their grief, team deciding that free will DOES trump fate and developing their own view of the timeline (what has to stay, what doesn’t) not just accepting Rip’s policy of non-interference, all the characters becoming less arrogant and realizing they can trust and rely each other resulting in team bonding and mutual reliance • Legion: comes together earlier, but as the team’s trust in each other grows the Legion’s distrust in each other is their downfall in the end (i.e. possible Mick betrayal but the team gives him the benefit of the doubt, thereby being able to work together to defeat the Legion which is destroyed when they each try to stab each other in the back for the spear)

Suggestions for plot/episodes: • Intro: once the Legends are scattered throughout time, one of them bumps into one of Kendra’s past selves and tells her the story, causing present!Kendra to remember it and go to tell Oliver; she meets Nate while she is there and the two of them go to rescue Mick from the sea (bridge from previous season) • Rip gets brainwashed and he is the one who directs the Legion to go get Len because he knows it would cause the Legends grief • More episodes with the Legion to learn more about the bad guys – let them be scarier and also take advantage of their humor; swap out Merlyn for female Legion of Doom member • Episode where the team has a moment to honor their dead (plot of the week related: Day of the Dead, Viking funerals, etc.), moment for them all to think about all the people they’ve lost – impromptu funeral/remembrance for Len • Possible experimental episodes (other POVs, time travel loops, etc.) • NO “time travelers inspire historical person to do a thing” episodes • Explanation of what happened with Rex Tyler, how he was sent back by Mick, have them look him up historically before going back to 1942 so they can deal with him appropriately • Utilize all the characters’ abilities (Ray as a businessman, Mick remembering Kronos and using his abilities as a thief for good, Jax’s skills at impromptu planning from being a quarterback, etc.) • New characters are told about Len and Kendra • Characters ask for information when reasonable (Gideon for facts, ask Constantine magic-related questions, ask Team Flash when they discover they’re dealing with a speedster – fine to have Flash team go “man, we have SO MANY speedsters, hard to really tell” in response, but they should ask); more interactions with characters from the rest of the DCTV-verse • More focus on the team as a team – group planning, disagreements on decisions, etc. instead of a captain dictatorially giving orders to their crew • More Easter egg references (Wonder Woman in WWII, Jason Blood in Camelot, Bat-fam in Gotham, etc.) even if the characters don’t show up • Actual confirmation, repeatedly, that Sara is bisexual, that Len is queer/pan, etc. • Multiple people as pilots/having skills used on the team

Individual Character Arcs: LEN: • Possible plot: If we keep hallucination Len, he should start earlier – possibly have that be Oculus!Len uanble to fully manifest, but Mick can see him for reasons relating to his time at the Vanishing Point or otherwise • Possible plot: 2014!Len is initially willing to join the Legion but eventually they cross a line and he refuses, leading to a Legion v Len standoff that they win, resulting in his brainwashing and eventual hard turn against the main cast • Possible plot: Oculus!Len vs. past!brainwashed!Len fight • Possible plot: trying to come back from the Oculus and from brainwashing (mirror Rip’s arc, Kronos’ season 1 arc); possibly needs to be put together from various pieces scattered through timeline • Suggestion: Have an actual funeral for Len; Lisa is actually told • Suggestion: gets carried by Mick at one point

MICK: • Still depressed, but the team sympathizes with his grief – he keeps others at a distance • Hallucinations highlight actual mental health issues he has – more references to his pyromania actually being a mental illness • Still gets a pet rat; uses his skills (fire, theft, Kronos, etc.); acts as the battle pilot of the ship • Possible arc: recovery from the events of season 1 (Kronos, Len); starts off distancing people but comes to open up/rely on others who are emotionally supportive of him; regaining his self-confidence and pride in his skills and sense of self; bonding with the team • Actually develops friendships with Ray, Sara, Amaya, etc. that persist across multiple episodes • Initially antagonistic with Rip and Stein, who are dismissive of him; eventually get over it

SARA: • Continues to sleep through history, both men and women; explicitly referenced as bisexual • Grief over Laurel is balanced against the burden of her new responsibility as Captain – balancing her instincts as a stand-alone hero vs. a team • Conflict between her duties vs. her desires (desire to kill Darkh and eventual decision not to actually makes sense and seems like she’s thought about it; NOT suddenly fanatical for the timeline) – develops a nuanced analysis over time • Arc: bond with team, recover from grief, struggle with how she feels about the timeline and modifications thereof, dealing with the burdens of stepping up to be captain of a team instead of following her own interests by herself • we can have Sara save Laurel, but then have to deal with the consequences and fallout, potentially kick-starting season plot points (trading spear pieces? Causing bad changes in history and innocent people die? Moral debate as to when you can bring someone back?); possibly Laurel is doomed to die sometime after in a worse way – is it worth bringing her back for that other death? Is it selfish? Sara actually struggling with this

LAUREL: • Some are in favor of bringing her back, others aren’t • If she comes back: gets dropped off elsewhere (Bludhaven? Possibly Earth-2?) to prevent paradox because bringing her back right away would cause a time quake • Need to figure out her role insofar as she’s coming back

JAX: • Arc: Growing up, more independence, confidence in himself and asserting his boundaries against the team, possibly a romance for an episode • More episodes not related to his race, all the brotps, possibly flirting with Lily Stein, more mechanic stuff, possibly a 21st birthday celebration

STEIN: • Arc: Needs to stop assuming his degree means he’s better, learning humility, academic learning isn’t everything, being helpless, compassion, ability to rely on people in the team • Stein's arc is learning humility, compassion, academia isn't everything, learning to rely on other people; learning to trust other people's forms of intelligence • Suggestions: crashes the ship when he tries to fly; more about Lily, more about Clarissa, with who they are as people - gets some perspective, gets his privileges checked; possible amnesia episode/overthinking episode; • Initially antagonistic with Mick but eventually they get over it and Stein actually apologizes • play up Stein being an ass earlier on, only for him to have a 'fall' and have to learn by season end • Possibly Lily as part of Stein’s arc: something in which he can’t help her but someone else can in part because they have a totally different set of skills

RAY: • Better partnership with Mick, bonding over losing a loved one • Arc: learning that he doesn’t have to change himself to be a hero; Lose the suit for a while and get to be the hero without it – uses other skills (science, business); realizes he doesn’t need it to be awesome; he can be the researcher while the suit is down; growing up and becoming less arrogant about knowing everything learning listen to other people instead of walking over them (privilege check); Ray trying out new “personas” – cold gun, etc. – and none of them fitting right • Comes to terms with the fact that he likes the idea of being a hero more than reality; he needs to learn the difference between what will help people and doing what HE thinks will help people • More competence, more geeking out • More Ray v Gertrude, people being impressed by Ray surviving in Dinotopia with nothing but boy scout experience   RIP: • Arc: Finding out who he is now that time masters are gone – discovering what they taught him were lies – not being the one with all the answers anymore; figure out what he wants • Interactions with other Time Masters that act just like him; bounty hunters, etc. – facing up to terrible things he did that he thought were just normal adjustments • Rip doesn’t know about the spear in full because Time Masters were secretive/part of his story arc of not knowing everything – makes finding the compass more important • Recovering from long-term indoctrination – bonding with Sara over her time in the League; dealing with losing his family, starts off antagonistic but eventually bonding with Mick • Has to actually deal with being brainwashing – repercussions, actual emotional trauma about what he did (i.e. leading them to Len, hurting the team), etc. – him going from being disdainful of Mick, realizing that what happened to Mick was actually really awful, bonding with Mick about it • Learning to be a team player instead of in charge – in season 1, he treated everyone like lackeys, in season 2, he was saying he wasn't a time master anymore but still acting like one • New role with team: advisor, researcher, possibly navigator, guide to future; Should still go on walkabout at the end – needs to find himself; Possible lead-up to season 3 arc of becoming guide to all the lost time masters who maybe didn't know they were manipulated, like he didn't • Rip's arc: who is he without the time masters, learning that what he knew was lies and starting from scratch, being willing to try new things/learning to listen to and rely on others/team player

AMAYA: • Actually forms friendships with the team – Mick, Sara, etc. – no romance subplot; gets to grieve Rex • Actually from the 1940s colonized Africa; impressed by some modern tech but not all • Keep intro: Eobard kills Rex before he can go back to warn them, she goes onto ship and attacks Mick, but have the team call her out on that ALSO keeps the revenge motivation throughout • Arc: black and white morality goes to gray; less mission-oriented, goes from teammates to friends; could tie in with learning about colonization – less condescending about people doing things differently from her • Arc: recovery from grief, black/white morality to gray (learning nuance), learning to be friends not just teammates, learning to listen to others with different styles • She can be a historian instead of Nate if his role is reduced, based on her experience with the oral traditions of her village and having to learn British and American history to fit in better with the JSA – upon her return, becomes a historian/anti-colonialization activist

NATE: • Appears as a guest star for several episodes (the start, then maybe recurs later) – history grad student who was sheltered growing up who dreams of being a superhero, only to realize he actually prefers his life as a historian instead  • Keeps his hemophilia but is heroic despite it • He was a history grad student working on his PHD – he has a piece of the spear and is therefore aware when history changes and is SUPER PISSED OFF because he has to re-write his whole thesis because history is different now, which is like a laptop wipe but worse; he is the ONLY person who remembers his thesis used to be ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE (history based on his grandfather who he idolizes so he KNOWS it’s wrong)

KENDRA: • They get scattered to the past, one of them finds an older version of Kendra and explains the situation, Kendra in the future remembers, she goes to tell Oliver (possibly meeting Nate there) and vouches for Mick and others – Oliver remembers her from the joint intro episode; sets up the crossover interactions • Possibly recurs again, possibly they meet a past version of her

LISA: • Comes on for an episode or two, possibly only marginally related to Len (end of her episode: find something of Len to indicate that he’s scattered through time?) • Could be brought in during Invasion and stays on board for an episode OR gets picked up for a job then gets dropped off during the Invasion episode • Picked up for a Lisa-specific skill like ice skating or theft

Suggested new characters: • More Jonah Hex • Jason Blood in Camelot • Constantine • Zatara • Dr Fate (helmet in Constantine’s place) • Booster Gold (possibly just references to him repeatedly) • Future versions of Flash characters • Endless – possibly with characters meeting them but not realizing what they just met • Mentions of Batfamily • La Maupin • For an episode set in the future: meeting the group that is Commander Cold, Mirror Monarch, etc. and seeing Mick’s reaction

Suggested new time periods: • Keep Chicago and American Revolution • Pirate episode – Ray loves pirates, Mick loves ninjas, they bitch at each other about it; possibly Ching Shih or at least Anne Bonny • Japanese Feudal era (ninjas) but better – address issues with language (kakopumpkin) • Camelot but better • Tudors – Kit Marlow • Stonewall episode • Great Fire of London or Paris Commune or Library of Alexandria – possibly Mick has to re-start • Vikings • Aztecs but not horribly stereotypical • Past of Amaya’s village, Ibn Battuta • World’s Fair • Boxer Rebellion, Marco Polo • More in 20s/30s – mobsters, flappers, Eleanor Roosevelt • More in the future • Ancient Roman Republic (ancient Greece/Atlantis) • Nicola Tesla • WWII – possibly Rommel instead? Or Japanese front? • Six Day War/Raid on Entebbe episode • Austro-Prussian war – Luxembourg sending 80, returning with 81 • Red Scare episode? • Something in Latin America • Ottoman empire? • Crusades but fighting alongside Saladin or against the Fourth Crusade • New Zealand stuff • Episode with Jax going out drinking for 21 birthday and everyone else having to explain why they wrecked the ship, flashbacks to them being attacked Alien style, but it turns out it was just the rat which accidentally got into some of Ray’s shrink/grow tech (based on JLI episode?)

[thegreatmercutio]

Shadowhunters Drama-O-Rama...(a long rant and reflection)

First…the Malec Kiss was adorable…can’t wait to see the FULL Content…there better be a FULL content!!

…and now let’s rant about the drama. There’s two 10 seconds teasers…2 teasers…which means…it’s just a tease, not a full trailer…That’s all we’re getting at the moment…a tease. And yes, there’s more “seconds” of contents on some characters vs. others…and yet somehow a war began!!!…and old wounds are open again…and to be truthful the contents are not a surprise at all. (Jace is not Clary’s brother, Simon and Clary are dating…Malec relationship is expanding…Izzy is pushing Raphael away…Luke is standing intensively…nothing was really new, just random clips, don’t get me wrong as a Malec shipper, the kiss was sweet).

I am going to say this…because I feel like I need to put another side out there…agree or not, it’s doesn’t really matter to me at the end of the day…so here it’s goes…this show is not about JUST Clary…and her name might go first in the credits but it’s called “Shadowhunters”…not something like “Buffy the Vampire Slayers”…and even in Buffy, there were episodes that focused on the other characters and their development. It’s not, Clary the Shadowhunter…she is NOT the only main character and yes it’s not the Malec Show…but it’s NOT the Clace show either. True, the relationships are important and the characters are essential. But, this show does have a bigger theme. In general, it’s a supernatural show, about good vs evil…, etc. One of the plots coming up is the Downworlders going to be treated with restrictions…like today’s reflections on the immigration laws that we are currently living in.

This is not the books. It’s “based” off the books. I understand this might piss off a lot of the loyalists of the books, but they did attempt to do a movie franchise…but they failed. Even the movie took some “artistic license” and change things. It had the potential to be the next Twilight or Hunger Games…but it didn’t make the cut. Even with the failure of the movie, it’s still holds some potential to be something. So, When a series of books get pick up as a show, it opens more doors, meaning things are going to change even more. It’s also means there’s more room for more characters development and more storylines.

The books centered on mostly Clary…Jace, and Simon perspectives with Izzy, Magnus, Alec, Luke…etc…as the supporting characters. That’s the author’s choices. That was the books, this is not the books. The show will take parts and influences of the books, but it’s going to shine more light in other perspectives that wasn’t explored in the books…that’s a given. The creators, showrunners, writers, producers, directors…are going to make choices that will and “has” made many people either happy or really fucking pissed. That’s a given. Even the author called the show, “a fanfiction.” She knows what she sign her rights off to. Like Marvel, Star Wars…Disney owns them now. She has to know that, things will change. And her loyalists should know that too.

A lot of key aspects made it into the show…it’s not like the show abandon everything…like the main ships are there…they are in development. Climon did happen in the books before Clace. Clary is discovering and exploring her rune creating skills…Jace has Daddy’s issues…Alec is out and openly gay…Magnus and Camille trouble relationships…the Shadowhunters discrimination against the Downworlders…it’s not like it’s not there, it’s just delivered with different tones and directions.

So, yes it’s Clary’s perspectives and Clace is THE relationship in the books…but yet every popular polls, awards, and marketing has centered on the two LGBT characters. There’s a reason why and it’s very clear, very…VERY clear reason why…they are the most popular characters on the show, some people don’t have to like it but it’s fact. They are what most people want to see. Even non-fans, are aware of them. They are getting noticed, competing with big ships like Olicity and Stydia…basically…THEY ARE BEING CELEBRATED just like those other ships. And they should be.

So, if the Malec fandom is making some of you mad, that’s you’re prerogative. Most of the “negativity” comes from years and years of hurt. I know it’s just a show and it’s for entertainment, but you must understand that a picture say a thousands of words. When you were little and all those heroes and characters that you grew up reading about in school, watch on TV…in the movies,…on stage…they were always in the characteristics of the “default.” White and Straight…but you look at them and you look at you…sure you might relate to their morals, their journey…their struggles…but no matter what, you still never be their equal. You’re different and people won’t treat your story, the same as them. When will someone that looks like you get to be the hero, the main character? And when you see a guy like Magnus and a guy like Alec…as individuals and as a couple, it’s something special and the reactions to them, is heart warming and welcoming.

Do you know in 1989…when they created a new Robin for the Batman comics after the death of Jason Todd, Tim Drake…the creators wanted him to be Asian, but were told that the public won’t respond to him…won’t relate to him. So, he’s not. You heard about it before, we can’t get this person, they won’t sell tickets..that’s why in 2017, Scarlett Jo can play Japanese..and guess what? Her movie flopped and they lost $60 millions dollars in profit. And one of the executives of paramount even had admitted that their failure was due to the Whitewashing controversy and blamed the audience for spreading “the truth”. I am sure it was really hard for them to admit to that.

Now, currently the new Robin is Damian Wayne, Bruce Wayne’s blood related son…he is canonically…Caucasian, Arabic, and Chinese…yet I have seen fan dream casting him…as White. That’s how some people respond…to years of being told that this is what the people want to see…but recently with the talks about the bat-family being created for the DCEU movies…and a possible Tim Drake being casted…fans are positively rooting for Ryan Potter…who is Japanese and White. See, people are speaking and demanding for change…just how people wanted Donald Glover to be the next Spider-Man…yet it didn’t happen but the people wanted him to be. It was massively trending. And he got a lot hate too, but there was a louder and positive support for him.

Alright, back to the program…

This isn’t new, there’s multiple fandoms with that one ship that’s stands out. This one ship is a big deal because, it’s an LGBT and an interracial relationship…and true, there’s other LGBT and interracial couples out there in the media, but are they getting the press, the mass acknowledgement, winning awards,…do they have a big fandom like this? A fandom that would trend them on multiple social media outlets. Name another couple with this representations with this massive love?…And they have been popular since the books, but they were never this popular until Malec were given flesh and pulses.

The most important thing is perspectives…telling people and reminding people that this show is about this person or that person, is meaningless and stressful. Because people are individuals with their own perspectives and they going to support what they want. If you’re there for Clary and Clace, you will get them…season 1 was very Clace focused…and Clary focused and if you’re there for Malec and want more Malec, you will get Malec…how much of it (we will see) and there are people who is still very angry with the choices that was made with Malec in 2a and some are not.

For me, I watch the show, I saw too much Clace…but another person will tell me…this is becoming the Malec Show. That’s what they saw vs what I saw. I saw 1 minute of Malec interaction scene in 1 episode and I was pissed. There was literally an episode where Harry had one scene…he called Alec for drinks…and that’s it. The rest was centered on Alec, Clary, and Simon interacting. And Luke…literally do I need to remind you about the treatment there. So, if you’re going to compare this and that. If you’re going to get Mad, because Clary isn’t getting the fair treatment because it’s apparently the Clary’s show, you jumping to privilege thinking and that’s a dark place to go…trust me, there’s plenty of Clary and Jace in the show…but the fame light is on Malec. It’s because the people, the fans that shined...that light on them.

So, I can be mad if I choose to be, when I did see less of this character and of this relationship…and yes, you also tell me that this is the Clary’s show and the Clace’s show…and that’s your perspective. That’s you. Be you. But also be open minded, Shadowhunters is a diverse shows…it’s aiming was to be open. It’s still has its flaws, but I hope it’s a show that’s listens to the fans. That’s a whole bag of another drama.

You can choose to be mad or passive, you can avoid the negativity, just scroll on by or follow people that think like you. It’s your choice. But why not be open minded…you are watching a diverse show. Why not understand that their aim is bigger now?

I wanted more Malec, to be honest…I had a good serving of Clace while reading the books. I like them, I ship them…and I care about them…and they will be there as much as the other characters are, but I want more characters to shine now. And there is room for more development for the other characters. It’s ambitious, but why the hell not!

When Leonard told Sheldon…don’t go thinking outside the box, but then go rub your ass against the side of the box…that Isn’t progress.

(This is nothing against the actors of the show, they really are sweet people and have been openly supportive of the representations…and my aim wasn’t to anti- this person or this ship…I just wanted to say this…if you don’t agree…scroll on by, might be a long scroll though).

[brajeshupadhyay]

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. joined the Supreme Court’s liberal justices to deal a surprising setback to abortion opponents on Monday, striking down a restrictive Louisiana abortion law and reaffirming the court’s past rulings that have upheld a woman’s right to choose. By a 5-4 vote, the court threw out a Louisiana law that would have required abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. If put into effect, it was expected to result in the closing of all but one of the state’s abortion providers. It came as no surprise that the four liberal justices opposed the law since they struck down a similar Texas law four years ago. But the chief justice, a conservative who has consistently opposed abortion rights in the past and had voted to uphold the Texas law, cast the fifth vote with them, citing precedent as his reason. It was the court’s first abortion ruling since President Trump’s two appointees took their seats, and it dashed hopes of abortion opponents who expected the more conservative court to move to repeal Roe vs. Wade, or at least give states more power to narrow it. It also marked the third major decision in the past two weeks in which the chief justice joined with the court’s four liberals. The court extended workplace protections for LGBTQ employees and blocked Trump’s repeal of the Obama-era policy that protected so-called Dreamers from deportation. A statement from the White House press secretary called the decision “unfortunate,” adding that “unelected justices have intruded on the sovereign prerogatives of state governments by imposing their own policy preference in favor of abortion to override legitimate abortion safety regulations.” Anti-abortion advocates cast the loss in political terms, saying the ruling underscored the need to reelect Trump in November so he could appoint another conservative justice to provide the fifth voted needed to repeal Roe vs. Wade. “Today’s ruling is a a bitter disappointment,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, which opposes abortion. “It is imperative that we reelect President Trump and our pro-life majority in the U.S. Senate so we can further restore the judiciary, most especially the Supreme Court.” Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, said the November election would be critical to protecting abortion rights. “Let’s be clear: Republicans in state legislatures will stop at nothing to get rid of Roe — and we have to be just as strong in our defense of it,” Biden said. “They are trying to get these laws appealed to the Supreme Court in the hope that Trump’s justices will vote to overturn Roe v. Wade. It’s wrong. It’s pernicious. And we have to stop it.” Roberts, in a 16-page concurring opinion for June Medical Services vs. Russo, said he did not agree with the legal reasoning in Justice Stephen Breyer’s ruling, joined by the three other liberal justices, which said that the court should balance the health costs and benefits of each abortion regulation. A similar argument was used to strike down the Texas law. But Roberts concluded nevertheless that the court should honor the outcome of the Texas decision. “The legal doctrine of stare decisis requires us, absent special circumstances, to treat like cases alike. The Louisiana law imposes a burden on access to abortion just as severe as that imposed by the Texas law, for the same reasons. Therefore Louisiana’s law cannot stand under our precedent,” he said. Roberts’ decision to cross the ideological divide to support a liberal precedent is in keeping with his stated concerns that the court is increasingly viewed by Americans through a partisan lens. In public statements, Roberts likes to say the justices do not decides cases as Republicans or Democrats. Some Senate Republicans turned their ire on the chief justice. “If the court cares about preserving its legitimacy as a non-political institution, then it shouldn’t make decisions based on how its judgments will be perceived politically,” said Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.). “The problem with today’s decision is absolutely terrible jurisprudence. Simply, bad lawyering.” Roberts’ opinion on Monday suggested he would uphold some abortion regulations, but not those that greatly hamper women. Roberts also described as precedent the court’s 1992 ruling in Planned Parenthood vs. Casey, which reaffirmed the central principle of Roe vs. Wade that states may not put a “substantial obstacle” in front of women seeking abortions. But in a line that might worry abortion rights advocates, Roberts also noted that in the Louisiana case, “neither party has asked us to reassess the constitutional validity of that standard.” That left open the possibility that he would be open to overturning Roe vs. Wade and the right to abortion if that question were squarely presented to the court. Roberts’ defection does not bode well for at least a dozen Republican states that have enacted laws in the past two years that would severely limit or entirely ban abortion. For years, former Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, a moderate Republican appointee, had cast the deciding votes with liberals to maintain the right to abortion. Four years ago, the court struck down a Texas law nearly identical to the Louisiana law on the grounds that it put a heavy burden on women seeking abortions because it had the effect of closing more than half of the state’s clinics that provided abortions. Women who lived outside the state’s major cities would be forced to travel hundreds of miles to find an open clinic. By a 5-3 vote, with Kennedy, the court said the burdens of the state’s restrictions greatly outweighed the claimed benefits to health. Roberts was among the conservative dissenters at the time. After Kennedy retired in 2018, he was replaced by the more conservative Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh. Last year, four members of the court — Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel A. Alito Jr., Neil M. Gorsuch and Kavanaugh — voted to allow the Louisiana law to take effect once it had been upheld by the 5th Circuit Court in New Orleans. But Roberts joined with the four liberals to put the law on hold while its constitutionality was reviewed. Abortion rights advocates were relieved by Monday’s decision, but not ready to claim a final victory. Kathaleen Pittman, administrator of the Hope Medical Group for Women in Shreveport, La., described the mood at the clinic Monday morning as “absolute giddiness.” But she added, “This week, we’re winning the battle, and that means we can stay open to fight another day. But as a provider, I’ll tell you, I’m celebrating today, but I’m still worried about our future.” Others said the court narrowly avoided a devastating setback for women of color. Dariely Rodriquez, director of the economic justice project for the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, said, “Louisiana’s law would have had an especially stark impact on low-income Black women who have long faced systemic and structural barriers to healthcare, including abortion.” The court heard arguments in the case during the first week in March, shortly before the court, like much of Washington, shut down because the coronavirus outbreak. The justices sounded closely split, and the chief justice did not signal how he would vote. Lawyers for Louisiana defended the admitting privileges rule as a health and safety measure. They said it would help assure that only competent and trusted physicians were performing abortions and that their patients could be quickly transferred to a hospital in an emergency. Abortion rights lawyers called the rule a sham and a deceptive scheme designed to shut down already embattled abortion clinics. They said that because early abortions are very safe, patients rarely are sent to a hospital. Typically, hospitals extend admitting privileges to doctors who regularly send patients there. And because abortion remains controversial, many hospitals, and especially in small towns and rural areas, are wary of having an affiliation with a doctor who performs abortions. During the March argument, they told the justices that if the Louisiana law were upheld and the clinic in Shreveport closed, pregnant women could be forced to travel several hundred miles to New Orleans to see a doctor who provides an abortion. Times staff writer Jenny Jarvie in Atlanta contributed to this report. window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({ appId : '119932621434123', xfbml : true, version : 'v2.9' }); }; (function(d, s, id){ var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) {return;} js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "https://ift.tt/1sGOfhN"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); The post Supreme Court ruling strikes down Louisiana abortion law appeared first on Sansaar Times.

http://sansaartimes.blogspot.com/2020/06/supreme-court-ruling-strikes-down.html

[georgianamcbrien-blog]

Weekend break Caning.

Southeastern Outings is a non-profit association dedicated to funding outings for individuals that delight in taking part in basic outdoor experiences. The affability from the bed suggested that it was actually difficult to maintain my balance in an upright placement. The The big apple dinner was probably the final time they are going to be in the exact same room prior to Political election Time. Metformin ER is universal so you may attempt phoning among the other pharmacy establishments and also inquire the pharmacist if they possess a system where you can register for to get low-cost common drugs. After naps and also showers, our company goinged to my moms and dad's property for a tasty supper from filet mignon, twice baked potato covered dish, goofy bread, mixed greens, and reddish velvet cake! Stuffed with background, background, a little technological information (yet certainly not too much), folklore and also portraitures from legendary boozers such as Oliver Reed, Sir Kingsley Amis, Winston Churchill and also Peter 'Toole, there is actually a lot to read within this volume besides which container of economical plonk to require to a supper celebration (though that remains in there too). Lose consciousness biscuits with happy notes on slips up used the Confetti Background template observing a supper gathering, birthday party social event or even holiday gathering. I have also found on lots of occasions after walking out to dinner if I had a meal from meat, veggies as well as a draft beer that I might consume a desert and also not possess much impact, like a BG og 140 to 150 2 hours after consuming. Americans typically aren't willing to spend a higher portion from their throw away revenue on food items when that's economical to import out-of-season plants from various other countries, as well as this may be near difficult for nearby planters to compete with these rates. JESSICA: There was actually that aged movie we located online where the Piper happily spins around the village, which was actually everything yet creepy and sulky. The in the past unpopular outgoing president, Francois Hollande, cannot accomplish comparable intentions in Europe and stands up as a noticeable instance from just how difficult it could be for Macron to convince the French to back him. Apparitions from skinny detainees flicker in and out from the dark darkness from holding cell, kepted deep in the innards from the building. The annual supper is a charity event for the powerful Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nyc, and also throughout governmental vote-casting years, both candidates generally talk. The 2 innovators satisfied for a working dinner before together participating in a France vs England pleasant football suit at the Stade de France coliseum in Paris. I like the coziness that the baskets give what could possibly look like a chilly utilitarian room. Our company have booked a Grabcar back to our resort to put all our buying loots prior to scheduling an additional Grabcar once again to Siam Square, where our experts are going to be meeting a Thai leniblog-diets4u.info friend from hers for dinner. Cold and moist, our boots massive along with dirt, constantly watching for snakes, our experts trudged on. I assume they had left behind the kids with a sitter and pursued dinner and also little bit of visual excitement. So, three of them merely returned coming from a stress-camp, and I am making it once again for supper tonight, so I expect to become The Hero. The Head of state and also I had supper on Friday, January 27 at 6:30 pm in the Environment-friendly Area at the White Property.

[gunboatbaylodge]

Things To Do In Vancouver This Weekend: January 5, 2017

Happy 2017! It’s time to dig yourself out of the pile of cheese rinds, chocolate wrappers and wine bottles (if you want, I’m not judging) and head out for the first weekend of the year. ‘Tis the season for outdoor ice skating – either at Robson Square or up on Grouse Mountain, the holiday lights are still up at Capilano Suspention Bridge, and the Vancouver Italian Film Festival begins.

  Friday | Saturday | Sunday | Ongoing

Friday January 6

Vancouver Italian Film Festival | Roma

Vancouver Italian Film Festival Where: Various locations What: Contemporary films from the past two to three years are merged with Italy’s rich history of classic avant-garde, and neo realism cinema. Runs until: Thursday January 12, 2017

And Bella Sang with Us

And Bella Sang with Us Where: Firehall Arts Centre What: A stylish play with a dark and wicked sense of humour with a shot of song that celebrates two of Canada’s unsung pioneers: Constables Lurancy Harris and Minnie Miller, Vancouver’s first female police officers. Runs until: Saturday January 14, 2017

Ellis Hall: Soul Unlimited

Ellis Hall: Soul Unlimited Where: The Orpheum What: Superstar vocalist and instrumentalist Ellis Hall channels the greats in a concert with soul. Get your groove on to classic music by Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, the Temptations, Smokey Robinson, Otis Redding, and Ray Charles. Runs until: Saturday January 7, 2016

My American Cousin

My American Cousin Where: The Cinematheque What: A free screening of a classic of our national cinema. An affecting coming-of-age tale and a witty meditation on Canadian-American cultural tensions.

The first RAPP BATTLEZ of 2017 Where: The Fox Cabaret What: A comedy showdown, where some of the city’s best comedians face-off in high concept, no-holds-barred spit fests.

Vancouver Canucks vs. Calgary Flames Where: Rogers Arena What: Western Canadian cities compete in a game of hockey.

  Saturday January 7

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The Wheelgrinders

The Wheelgrinders Where: The Emerald Supper Club What: Local rockabilly.

Tim Hicks and Chad Brownlee

Tim Hicks and Chad Brownlee (show 1 of 2) Where: The Commodore What: Two Canadian country singers.

The Shooting

The Shooting Where: The Cinematheque What: With Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus as avowed influences, the odd, existential Western — written by Five Easy Pieces’ Carole Eastman — casts Warren Oates as an ex-bounty hunter escorting a mysterious woman (Millie Perkins) across the desert to settle a score.

  Sunday January 8

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The Enchantment Theatre Company and the VSO: The Firebird

The Enchantment Theatre Company and the VSO: The Firebird Where: The Orpheum What: An enchanted tree bears golden apples and an evil magician conjures a terrible storm in this imaginative production about Prince Ivan and the fabulous Firebird.With puppets, masks and magic, Enchantment Theatre Company presents the classic Russian tale The Firebird set to the evocative music of Igor Stravinsky.

Golden Globes at The Rio Where: The Rio Theatre What: Dress up and get ready for trivia, prizes, good times and more as you watch the Golden Globes on the big screen. Admission is free.

No Pants Skytrain Ride

No Pants Skytrain Ride Where: The Skytrain, 2:30pm What: Ride the Skytrain with no pants with a group of other pantless people.

Tim Hicks and Chad Brownlee (show 2 of 2) Where: The Commodore What: Two Canadian country singers.

    Ongoing

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Ellis Hall: Soul Unlimited

Ellis Hall: Soul Unlimited (this weekend only) Where: The Orpheum What: Superstar vocalist and instrumentalist Ellis Hall channels the greats in a concert with soul. Get your groove on to classic music by Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, the Temptations, Smokey Robinson, Otis Redding, and Ray Charles. Runs until: Saturday January 7, 2016

Canyon Lights

Canyon Lights (ends this weekend) Where: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park What: The suspension bridge, Treetops Adventure, Cliffwalk, the rainforest and canyon are transformed into a world of festive lights in the trees, over bridges, and in the little village.  See the world’s tallest living Christmas tree (153 feet) go on a Snowy Owl Prowl, decorate gingerbread cookies and make your own Christmas card. Runs until: Sunday January 8, 2016

All Together Now: Vancouver Collectors and Their Worlds

All Together Now: Vancouver Collectors and Their Worlds (ends this weekend) Where: The Museum of Vancouver What: 20 beautiful, rare, and unconventional collections, with something for everyone including corsets, prosthetics, pinball machines, taxidermy, toys, and much more. In this exhibition both collector and collected are objects of study, interaction, and delight. Runs until: Sunday January 8, 2016

White, Steel, Slice, Mask

White, Steel, Slice, Mask (ends this weekend) Where: Contemporary Art Gallery What: Working together for over a decade, the duo’s interdisciplinary practice typically instigates community-based models of participation in order to re-imagine a material record of the present. They investigate tactics of cultural representation while utilizing the methods of anthropology to examine various forms of collecting, interpretation and display. Runs until: Sunday January 8, 2016

Vancouver Italian Film Festival | Roma

Vancouver Italian Film Festival Where: Various locations What: Contemporary films from the past two to three years are merged with Italy’s rich patrimony of classic avant-garde, and neo realism cinema. Runs until: Thursday January 12, 2017

STOMP Out Hunger Where: Red Truck Brewery What: Everyone who drops off a cash or non-perishable food donation at the Red Truck Brewery before January 13th will receive a coupon good for $ 5 off a ticket to see the touring production of STOMP during its January 13th-15th run at Queen Elizabeth Theatre. In addition, Red Truck Beer will donate $ 1 from each pint of its seasonal beers sold in the Truck Stop during the month of December to the Vancouver Food Bank. Runs until: January 13, 2016

And Bella Sang with Us

And Bella Sang with Us Where: Firehall Arts Centre What: A stylish play with a dark and wicked sense of humour with a shot of song that celebrates two of Canada’s unsung pioneers: Constables Lurancy Harris and Minnie Miller, Vancouver’s first female police officers. Runs until: Saturday January 14, 2017

Walker Evans: Depth of Field

Walker Evans: Depth of Field Where: Vancouver Art Gallery What: The American photographer Walker Evans (1903–1975) is among the most influential artists of the 20th century. Covering the full arc of his career, Walker Evans: Depth of Field presents the most comprehensive look at Evans’ work ever mounted in Canada. Runs until: January 22, 2017

Alexine McLeod

Alexine McLeod Where: Monte Clark Gallery What: The artist presents wall-mounted abstract compositions that combine everyday materials including plastic, fabric, found objects, and light. Runs until: January 30, 2016

In the Footprint of the Crocodile Man

In the Footprint of the Crocodile Man Where: UBC Museum of Anthropology What: The Sepik River of Papua New Guinea is one of the largest river systems in the world, extraordinarily beautiful, but seldom visited. It is here that the Iatmul people, who live along its banks, have created internationally renowned works of art primarily inspired by stories of the majestic crocodile as the primordial creator. This unique exhibition will showcase the most comprehensive collection of contemporary Sepik art in North America for the first time. In addition to highlighting the exquisite carvings of Papua New Guinea’s latmul people, the exhibition will delve into their economic, cultural, and spiritual connections to the river system, drawing urgent attention to the logging and mining operations that pose environmental threats to the region. Runs until: January 31, 2017

Juxtapoz x Superflat

Juxtapoz x Superflat Where: Vancouver Art Gallery What: A manifesto for new creative practices that can no longer be adequately described by the traditional categories of art and production. Presenting the work of more than 30 artists from Japan, China, Korea, Europe and the United States this remarkable exhibition offers a unique insight into contemporary art and its place in cultural life. Runs until: February 5, 2016

As Heavy as a Feather

As Heavy as a Feather Where: Centre A What: Indigenous Taiwanese artist Chang En Man is having her first exhibition in North America. Chang’s practice is characterized by a dynamic interplay between story, tradition, and the struggles of indigenous peoples in the face of ongoing experiences of colonization. Runs until: February 11, 2016

Robson Square Ice Rink

Robson Square Ice Rink Where: Robson Square What: Ice skate for free or rent a pair for $ 4 on this outdoor, covered public rink right downtown. Runs until: February 14, 2017

Judy Chartrand, What a Wonderful World Where: The Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art What: Her beautiful and provocative work presents her own personal history and insights into life in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, and commentary on racism and post–colonial relations between Indigenous and non–Indigenous cultures. Runs until: February 19, 2016

Layers of Influence

Layers of Influence Where: UBC Museum of Anthropology What: This stunning exhibition will explore clothing’s inherent evidence of human ingenuity, creativity and skill, drawing from MOA’s textile collection — the largest collection in Western Canada — to display a global range of materials, production techniques and adornments across different cultures and time frames. Runs until: April 9, 2017

Vancouver Special Where: Vancouver Art Gallery What: The first iteration of this series and it features works by 40 artists produced within the last five years—Vancouver’s post-Olympic period. The exhibition includes many emerging artists as well as those who are more established but whose ideas were prescient. Some are recent arrivals to Vancouver, while others are long-term residents who have already made significant contributions. Others are nomadic, less settled in one place and are working energetically between several locations. Runs until: April 17, 2016

Nat Bailey Stadium Winter Farmers Market

Nat Bailey Stadium Winter Farmers Market Where: Nat Bailey Stadium What: Don’t fret the summers Farmers markets packing up – winter is here, and you can still shop local for fresh produce, preserves, baked goods, and crafts. Runs until: April 22, 2017

Hastings Park Farmers Market

Hastings Park Farmers Market Where: Hastings Park (near the PNE) What: The Hastings Park Farmers Market features a great selection of local produce; nursery items, fish, meat & dairy; artisan prepared foods, baking and treats; local crafts, and of course, food trucks. Runs until: April 30, 2017

What are you up to this weekend? Tell me and the rest of Vancouver in the comments below or tweet me directly at @lextacular

Inside Vancouver Blog

[brajeshupadhyay]

Supreme Court ruling strikes down Louisiana abortion law

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. joined the Supreme Court’s liberal justices to deal a surprising setback to abortion opponents on Monday, striking down a restrictive Louisiana abortion law and reaffirming the court’s past rulings that have upheld a woman’s right to choose.

By a 5-4 vote, the court threw out a Louisiana law that would have required abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. If put into effect, it was expected to result in the closing of all but one of the state’s abortion providers.

It came as no surprise that the four liberal justices opposed the law since they struck down a similar Texas law four years ago. But the chief justice, a conservative who has consistently opposed abortion rights in the past and had voted to uphold the Texas law, cast the fifth vote with them, citing precedent as his reason.

It was the court’s first abortion ruling since President Trump’s two appointees took their seats, and it dashed hopes of abortion opponents who expected the more conservative court to move to repeal Roe vs. Wade, or at least give states more power to narrow it.

It also marked the third major decision in the past two weeks in which the chief justice joined with the court’s four liberals. The court extended workplace protections for LGBTQ employees and blocked Trump’s repeal of the Obama-era policy that protected so-called Dreamers from deportation.

A statement from the White House press secretary called the decision “unfortunate,” adding that “unelected justices have intruded on the sovereign prerogatives of state governments by imposing their own policy preference in favor of abortion to override legitimate abortion safety regulations.”

Anti-abortion advocates cast the loss in political terms, saying the ruling underscored the need to reelect Trump in November so he could appoint another conservative justice to provide the fifth voted needed to repeal Roe vs. Wade.

“Today’s ruling is a a bitter disappointment,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, which opposes abortion. “It is imperative that we reelect President Trump and our pro-life majority in the U.S. Senate so we can further restore the judiciary, most especially the Supreme Court.”

Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, said the November election would be critical to protecting abortion rights.

“Let’s be clear: Republicans in state legislatures will stop at nothing to get rid of Roe — and we have to be just as strong in our defense of it,” Biden said. “They are trying to get these laws appealed to the Supreme Court in the hope that Trump’s justices will vote to overturn Roe v. Wade. It’s wrong. It’s pernicious. And we have to stop it.”

Roberts, in a 16-page concurring opinion for June Medical Services vs. Russo, said he did not agree with the legal reasoning in Justice Stephen Breyer’s ruling, joined by the three other liberal justices, which said that the court should balance the health costs and benefits of each abortion regulation. A similar argument was used to strike down the Texas law.

But Roberts concluded nevertheless that the court should honor the outcome of the Texas decision.

“The legal doctrine of stare decisis requires us, absent special circumstances, to treat like cases alike. The Louisiana law imposes a burden on access to abortion just as severe as that imposed by the Texas law, for the same reasons. Therefore Louisiana’s law cannot stand under our precedent,” he said.

Roberts’ decision to cross the ideological divide to support a liberal precedent is in keeping with his stated concerns that the court is increasingly viewed by Americans through a partisan lens. In public statements, Roberts likes to say the justices do not decides cases as Republicans or Democrats.

Some Senate Republicans turned their ire on the chief justice. “If the court cares about preserving its legitimacy as a non-political institution, then it shouldn’t make decisions based on how its judgments will be perceived politically,” said Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.). “The problem with today’s decision is absolutely terrible jurisprudence. Simply, bad lawyering.”

Roberts’ opinion on Monday suggested he would uphold some abortion regulations, but not those that greatly hamper women. Roberts also described as precedent the court’s 1992 ruling in Planned Parenthood vs. Casey, which reaffirmed the central principle of Roe vs. Wade that states may not put a “substantial obstacle” in front of women seeking abortions.

But in a line that might worry abortion rights advocates, Roberts also noted that in the Louisiana case, “neither party has asked us to reassess the constitutional validity of that standard.” That left open the possibility that he would be open to overturning Roe vs. Wade and the right to abortion if that question were squarely presented to the court.

Roberts’ defection does not bode well for at least a dozen Republican states that have enacted laws in the past two years that would severely limit or entirely ban abortion.

For years, former Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, a moderate Republican appointee, had cast the deciding votes with liberals to maintain the right to abortion.

Four years ago, the court struck down a Texas law nearly identical to the Louisiana law on the grounds that it put a heavy burden on women seeking abortions because it had the effect of closing more than half of the state’s clinics that provided abortions. Women who lived outside the state’s major cities would be forced to travel hundreds of miles to find an open clinic. By a 5-3 vote, with Kennedy, the court said the burdens of the state’s restrictions greatly outweighed the claimed benefits to health.

Roberts was among the conservative dissenters at the time. After Kennedy retired in 2018, he was replaced by the more conservative Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh.

Last year, four members of the court — Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel A. Alito Jr., Neil M. Gorsuch and Kavanaugh — voted to allow the Louisiana law to take effect once it had been upheld by the 5th Circuit Court in New Orleans. But Roberts joined with the four liberals to put the law on hold while its constitutionality was reviewed.

Abortion rights advocates were relieved by Monday’s decision, but not ready to claim a final victory.

Kathaleen Pittman, administrator of the Hope Medical Group for Women in Shreveport, La., described the mood at the clinic Monday morning as “absolute giddiness.” But she added, “This week, we’re winning the battle, and that means we can stay open to fight another day. But as a provider, I’ll tell you, I’m celebrating today, but I’m still worried about our future.”

Others said the court narrowly avoided a devastating setback for women of color. Dariely Rodriquez, director of the economic justice project for the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, said, “Louisiana’s law would have had an especially stark impact on low-income Black women who have long faced systemic and structural barriers to healthcare, including abortion.”

The court heard arguments in the case during the first week in March, shortly before the court, like much of Washington, shut down because the coronavirus outbreak. The justices sounded closely split, and the chief justice did not signal how he would vote.

Lawyers for Louisiana defended the admitting privileges rule as a health and safety measure. They said it would help assure that only competent and trusted physicians were performing abortions and that their patients could be quickly transferred to a hospital in an emergency.

Abortion rights lawyers called the rule a sham and a deceptive scheme designed to shut down already embattled abortion clinics. They said that because early abortions are very safe, patients rarely are sent to a hospital. Typically, hospitals extend admitting privileges to doctors who regularly send patients there. And because abortion remains controversial, many hospitals, and especially in small towns and rural areas, are wary of having an affiliation with a doctor who performs abortions.

During the March argument, they told the justices that if the Louisiana law were upheld and the clinic in Shreveport closed, pregnant women could be forced to travel several hundred miles to New Orleans to see a doctor who provides an abortion.

Times staff writer Jenny Jarvie in Atlanta contributed to this report.

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