#hoping that continues for the Atlanta production team

[shedontlovehuhself]

This is so interesting! Also just a reminder the costume designer for the pilot won an award for their work on The Handmaid's Tale on Hulu.

[tundrakatiebean]

This is such bullshit. They’ve decided that there’s too much money going to causes that don’t align with corporate interests so they’re going to only give to things they agree with - including their own disaster relief.

Transcript of the email under the cut

[image transcript:

Dear customer,

In 2013, we launched AmazonSmile to make it easier for customers to support their favorite charities. However, after almost a decade, the program has not grown to create the impact that we had originally hoped. With so many eligible organizations—more than 1 million globally—our ability to have an impact was often spread too thin.

We are writing to let you know that we plan to wind down AmazonSmile by February 20, 2023. We will continue to pursue and invest in other areas where we’ve seen we can make meaningful change—from building affordable housing to providing access to computer science education for students in underserved communities to using our logistics infrastructure and technology to assist broad communities impacted by natural disasters.

To help charities that have been a part of the AmazonSmile program with this transition, we will be providing them with a one-time donation equivalent to three months of what they earned in 2022 through the program, and they will also be able to accrue additional donations until the program officially closes in February. Once AmazonSmile closes, charities will still be able to seek support from Amazon customers by creating their own wish lists.

As a company, we will continue supporting a wide range of other programs that help thousands of charities and communities across the U.S. For instance:

Housing Equity Fund: We’re investing $2 billion to build and preserve affordable housing in our hometown communities. In just two years, we’ve provided funding to create more than 14,000 affordable homes—and we expect to build at least 6,000 more in the coming months. These units will host more than 18,000 moderate- to low-income families, many of them with children. In one year alone, our investments have been able to increase the affordable housing stock in communities like Bellevue, Washington and Arlington, Virginia by at least 20%.

Amazon Future Engineer: We’ve funded computer science curriculum for more than 600,000 students across over 5,000 schools—all in underserved communities. We have plans to reach an additional 1 million students this year. We’ve also provided immediate assistance to 55,000 students in our hometown communities by giving them warm clothes for the winter, food, and school supplies.

Community Delivery Program: We’ve partnered with food banks in 35 U.S. cities to deliver more than 23 million meals, using our logistics infrastructure to help families in need access healthy food – and we plan to deliver 12 million more meals this year alone. In addition to our delivery services, we’ve also donated 30 million meals in communities across the country.

Amazon Disaster Relief: We’re using our logistics capabilities, inventory, and cloud technology to provide fast aid to communities affected by natural disasters. For example, we’ve created a Disaster Relief Hub in Atlanta with more than 1 million relief items ready for deployment, our Disaster Relief team has responded to more than 95 natural disasters, and we’ve donated more than 20 million relief products to nonprofits assisting communities on the ground.

Community Giving: We support hundreds of local nonprofits doing meaningful work in cities where our employees and their families live. For example, each year we donate hundreds of millions of dollars to organizations working to build stronger communities, from youth sport leagues, to local community colleges, to shelters for families experiencing homelessness.

We’ll continue working to make a difference in many ways, and our long-term commitment to our communities remains the same—we’re determined to do every day better for our customers, our employees, and the world at large.

End transcript]

[csen]

Disappointed

Until Atlanta United kicked its first ball, I was pretty indifferent to club soccer. I didn’t grow up with it and never had a reason to care.

Atlanta United changed that. From the way they sold the club as a connective tissue for the demographics of Atlanta that were relevant to me — transplants, urbanites, and Millennials in particular — to the style and quality of the product on the field, to the ambition and communications from the front office, it was exhilarating to get swept away in those first few years.

That’s changed in a major way. The results on the field speak for themselves. Over the years players who were fan favorites left one way or another and were replaced by players who in many cases are skilled and hardworking but largely “beige” as personalities, particularly off the field. The front office has seemingly been hollowed out and over time has become more insular and less willing to communicate with the public, at first using the pandemic as an excuse but increasingly it’s become the way they choose to operate.

I’m not mad the way a sports fan is traditionally mad when their team is bad or the coach or GM has done a bad job. I’m disappointed that this cultural asset that came out of nowhere and became an important part of my life has withered, and been allowed to wither.

For a league that has struggled to grow its fan base and in a city that tends to be pretty fickle when its teams aren’t winning, Atlanta United retains an unusual level of support. Attendance figures are overstated because of no-shows but even this year they really do continue to draw 30,000+ people to games. In their occasional flashes of quality play there’s a palpable buzz at Mercedes-Benz Stadium — the club might be stuck in a rut but the fan support comes rushing back whenever there’s a glimmer of hope. You still see Atlanta United gear around town — the brand remains relevant as a vibe if nothing else.

What I want from ownership and the front office is knowing who’s in charge and accountable for what we see, honest communications about why the standard at the club has fallen so far, what they intend to do to fix it, or if that’s the intent at all.

[nytelocklabs]

Elevate Your Brand with Budget-Friendly SEO Solutions

In today’s digital age, having a strong online presence is crucial for the success of any business, regardless of its size. Small companies often struggle to compete with larger players in the digital arena due to limited resources and budget constraints. This is where Nytelock Labs comes to the rescue, offering affordable seo services for small company atlanta. In this article, we will delve into the world of Nytelock Labs and explore how their services can help small companies thrive in the competitive online landscape.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) plays a pivotal role in determining a website’s visibility on search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo. When potential customers search for products or services related to your industry, a well-optimized website is more likely to appear in the top search results. This increased visibility can lead to higher organic traffic, better brand recognition, and ultimately, more conversions.

Small businesses often face challenges that make investing in comprehensive seo services new york city seem like a luxury. Limited budgets, lack of in-house expertise, and uncertainty about where to begin can hinder their efforts to establish a strong online presence. Nytelock Labs acknowledges these hurdles and has designed its services to cater to the unique needs of small businesses.

Nytelock Labs understands that every business is unique, and their SEO strategies reflect this understanding. They work closely with small companies to develop personalized SEO campaigns that align with their goals and budget constraints. By conducting thorough keyword research, optimizing on-page elements, and implementing effective link-building strategies, Nytelock Labs ensures that their clients’ websites are positioned for success in search engine rankings.

The affordability of Nytelock Labs’ services doesn’t mean a compromise on quality. They prioritize transparency and communication, keeping their clients informed about every step of the SEO process. Their team of experts stays updated with the latest SEO trends and algorithm changes, ensuring that the strategies they implement are both effective and in line with search engine guidelines.

For small businesses targeting a local customer base, Nytelock Labs offers specialized local SEO services. This approach focuses on optimizing the website for location-specific keywords, managing online reviews, and ensuring consistency across online directories. By helping businesses appear in local searches, Nytelock Labs maximizes their visibility to potential customers in the vicinity.

Nytelock Labs believes in delivering measurable results to their clients. Through regular reporting and analytics, small businesses can track their website’s performance, keyword rankings, and organic traffic growth. These insights not only showcase the value of the services provided but also allow for ongoing adjustments to the SEO strategy, ensuring continuous improvement.

In a digital landscape dominated by large corporations with substantial marketing budgets, Nytelock Labs stands as a beacon of hope for small businesses. Their affordable SEO services empower these companies to level the playing field and compete effectively for online visibility. If you’re a small business looking to thrive in the digital world without breaking the bank, Nytelock Labs has the tools and expertise to make it happen.

[treeremovalpensacola]

Solid Ground Landscape Services joins Landscape Workshop

If you're in the Pensacola area, then you have probably already experienced the need for having to remove a tree or stump or getting your tree's trimmed. The cost of tree removal varies depending on a few factors, such as: - The type of tree that needs to be removed - The size of the tree - The location of the tree - The condition of the tree Pensacola Tree Removal offers competitive pricing for our tree removal services. For a full list of services Tree removal services visit Tree Services Pensacola Florida for a fast, friendly and reliable quote that you can count on. This will help not only beautify your property but also is the safest way to do it. Landscape Workshop, No. 39 on the 2022 LM150 list, acquired Solid Ground Landscape Services, a residential and commercial design/build and installation and maintenance operation in Atlanta, Ga. Landscape Workshop said Joe Christenberry and Andrew Kurstedt, owners of Solid Ground, will both join the Landscape Workshop team as well as Solid Ground’s employees. “We are very excited to announce the acquisition of Solid Ground and we look forward to incorporating their business into our existing operations in Greater Atlanta,” J.T. Price, Landscape Workshop CEO. “Joe and Andrew have devoted over 20 years into building a top- notch commercial landscaping company with a reputation of delivering excellent customer service and a superior product. We look forward to a smooth transition for customers and carrying on Solid Ground’s legacy as we grow our service capabilities in Atlanta.” Landscape Workshop said Tim Christie, its regional vice president will continue to oversee its Atlanta area maintenance operations. “Andrew and I have watched Landscape Workshop’s careful and deliberate growth in Atlanta, and we have been impressed and encouraged by their desire and ability to build upon each individual company’s strengths that they’ve acquired, all while creating a culture of motivated staff that delivers exceptional, professional service,” Christenberry said. “We’re hopeful and proud to be a part.” The post Solid Ground Landscape Services joins Landscape Workshop appeared first on Landscape Management.

[coghive]

Transparent Productions Presents Danny Gokey’s Spring Tour With Jordan Feliz & Blanca

Transparent Productions is thrilled to announce the spring leg of Danny Gokey’s “Jesus People” Tour. Tickets are currently on sale with three dates already being sold out. Danny Gokey’s “Jesus People” Tour is a continuation of the successful fall run, which sold-out six dates. Three-time GRAMMY® nominee and American Idol alum Danny Gokey will kick off the 25-city tour on February 16 in Jacksonville, FL, and will wrap on March 26 in Memphis, TN. Special guests Jordan Feliz and Blanca will join Gokey for 26 dates. See below for the complete list of tour dates and ticket links. “I can’t wait to head out on this spring leg of the Jesus People Tour!” says Danny Gokey. “What I love about Jordan and Blanca is that we’re all aligned with a similar heart for ministering to and encouraging believers to be the light that God has called us to be in the world around us!” Gokey’s live shows are full of non-stop energy and music that crosses genres and cultures alike. Jesus People, his last studio album, debuted at No. 1 with messages of love, gratitude, and truth that are reflected in both the tour’s title and mission. Gokey will also be taking that mission off the stage and into some of the communities where the tour is visiting. Through his organization, ‘Better Than I Found It,’ Danny and his team will be doing “Bus Stops” tailored to the needs of the area, partnering with local nonprofits to help residents in each area. “I am so excited to head back out on the second leg of the Jesus People Tour,” shares Jordan Feliz. “Being out with Danny and Blanca is gonna be so fun! I know we are so excited to see all that the Lord is going to do every single night. Grab tickets and come worship the creator of the universe with us!” Blanca adds, “On the top of my list of people I would love to tour with are Jordan Feliz and Danny Gokey, so you can imagine my excitement when I heard that I would get an opportunity to tour with them. This tour is going to be incredible!! I am such a fan of both artists and I know for a fact the night will be filled with such good music and encouraging messages that will lift up the name of Jesus and bring hope to all of our hearts. So honored that I get to be a part of it!” World Vision is the title sponsor of the tour. World Vision is an international partnership of Christians whose mission is to follow the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice, and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of God. TOUR DATES (*indicates “Bus Stop”) - 2/16/2023 | Jacksonville, FL - 2/17/2023 | Ft. Lauderdale (Boca Raton), FL - 2/18/2023 | Port St. Lucie, FL - 2/19/2023 | Atlanta (McDonough), GA* - 2/23/2023 | Wichita, KS - 2/24/2023 | Odessa, TX - 2/25/2023 | Houston (Webster), TX* - 2/26/2023 | Dallas (Sunnyvale), TX* - 2/28/2023 | Denver, CO - 3/2/2023 | Scottsdale, AZ* - 3/3/2023 | Redlands, CA - 3/4/2023 | Spring Valley, CA* - 3/7/2023 | Las Vegas, NV* - 3/9/2023 | Sacramento, CA* - 3/10/2023 | Salem, OR – SOLD OUT! - 3/11/2023 | Tacoma (Puyallup) – SOLD OUT! - 3/12/2023 | Coeur d’Alene, ID – SOLD OUT! - 3/16/2023 | Omaha, NE - 3/17/2023 | Minneapolis (Burnsville), MN* - 3/18/2023 | Minneapolis (Burnsville), MN – SOLD OUT! - 3/19/2023 | Milwaukee (Oak Creek), WI* - 3/24/2023 | Cinncinati (Mason), OH* - 3/25/2023 | Winston-Salem, NC - 3/26/2023 | Memphis, TN* Read the full article

[awesomeforever]

Home products International made plastic products for storage, home organization and laundry care, as well as ironing boards. CHICAGO — Home Products International – North America has filed for bankruptcy, citing rising resin and steel prices and an inability to sell the company, according to Crain’s Chicago Business. The U.S. manufacturer made plastic products for storage, home organization and laundry care, as well as ironing boards. “The debtors utilize resin to produce plastic storage products and steel to produce ironing boards. The price of resin and steel has been extremely volatile during the past two years, with resin prices doubling and steel prices tripling,” CFO James Auker said in one filing, according to Crain’s. “The debtors have had only moderate success passing along those price increases to its customer base.” Auker continued, “At this point, seemingly nothing will change the trajectory of the plastics and ironing board business lines. Neither resin nor steel prices are expected to moderate sufficiently in the near future. The supply chain crisis is not expected to change in the near future.” HPI was unable to sell either its plastics or ironing board lines, and its lenders were unwilling to cover its operating losses, Crain’s reported. Among its customers are Walmart, Target and Amazon, it said. Founded in 1952, HPI has estimated sales of $180 and is No. 52 on Plastics News’ list of North American injection molders, Crain’s reported. On LinkedIn, Honey-Can-Do’s Steve Greenspon said he was “saddened to learn of the closing of a company which I greatly admired … HPI was one of the leading companies in the category which I hoped to emulate when I started Honey-Can-Do International LLC and HPI was a gold standard for professionalism with an incredible team and product line … For many years (decades perhaps), HPI was the North American marketshare leader and the last U.S. manufacturer of ironing boards in addition to being a leading provider of plastic storage products. HPI has also been a valued longtime member of the International Housewares Association and their leadership in the industry will be missed.” Andrea is passionate about home design, and has covered the home furnishings industry for most of her journalism career. She is the Executive Editor, Design, of Designers Today; in addition, she also serves as the Managing Editor of HFN and Lighting Editor for Home Accents Today. Andrea lives in beautiful Brooklyn, where she could very well be the only person without a tattoo. Tabletop & Gifts Retail Industry News Atlanta Market Awards Industry News Sign up to get exclusive industry information delivered directly to your inbox. © 2022 BridgeTower Media. All rights reserved. Use of this website is subject to its Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell My Info/Cookie Policy Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. source

[thetoxicgamer]

Gumayusi’s Revenge Tour Continues As He Sends T1 Back To The Finals At Worlds 2022

Be damned, doubters. T1 AD carry Gumayusi hushed the naysayers and turned Atlanta into a frenzy after his team's four-game victory over LPL champions JD Gaming in the 2022 League of Legends World Championship semifinals after spending the entirety of the previous split facing criticism. Many considered this to be the true finals: the champions of the previously-undisputed best region in the world in JDG in a tilt against T1, who looked like the most in-form team in the tournament coming into the series after another first-place finish in the group stage and a slaughter of reigning MSI champions Royal Never Give up in the quarterfinals. Even individually, this match-up featured the one-time consensus tournament MVP in JDG top laner 369 against the only player worth being mentioned in the same breath in his position: 18-year-old Zeus of T1, playing his first full professional season. For JDG, the method to their madness, the seemingly never-ending ability to push series to five games, had been the same all year: bend, don’t break, and let superior teamfighting win out. Stereotypically, this is a far cry from what champions of the LPL are known for at the hightest level. T1, on the other hand, had found the most consistent form of their success through either their bottom lane of Gumayusi and Keria or top lane wunderkind Zeus, with Faker the puppetmaster facilitating his fledgeling teammates’ success behind the scenes. For the first three games of the series, the teams “handshook” the bottom lane. JDG grabbed Aphelios and Lulu for Hope and Missing, and T1 selected Lucian and Nami across the lane. The two teams’ mid laners played facilitator in game one, with Faker on Galio and Yagao on Taliyah. And while T1’s composition was much easier to execute, it was one that, like a few of their forthcoming drafts, would require them to open up a tremendous lead early and close the game out before their opponents had a chance to get online. That did not happen in game one. And in game two, the anti-Gumayusi brigade were cracking their collective knuckles, ready to rip into him as Kanavi beat him into the ground early, feeding Hope three kills on Aphelios. But with Faker on another roaming playmaker in his signature Ryze, and Zeus on an equally iconic comfort pick in Yone, T1’s proactive play across the map was rewarded with a win. Able to select blue side for the first time all series, JDG used it to get Viego back for Kanavi, hoping for a similar outcome to that of game one. Perhaps taking more confidence from the prior game, and knowing that they could just out-firepower JDG, Zeus was put on another scaling carry, this time in Gangplank, and in the final Faker-led teamfight, the damage from his barrels onto his opponents’ own tried-and-true lategame options sent shock and awe through State Farm Arena. JD Gaming finally banned Lucian in game four, leading T1 to go with another lane-dominant pick, but also opting for the increasingly scaling champions that they’d been trending towards. Gumayusi continued his postseason revenge tour and made an oft-maligned pick in Varus look as good as he has all tournament long. T1 again kept pushing the pace on the back of their AD carry’s godlike performance, suffocating Kanavi’s Bel’Veth and Hope and Missing’s last-ditch Jhin and Karma picks into uselessness, and straight into the world finals. The series kept serving as an example that the meta at Worlds 2022 is a diverse one. Yes, as the tournament has gone on, pretenders fall away in theory in champion select, but to grossly oversimplify, it’s a good thing that despite a “better” stylistic way to play the game frequently emerges, different compositions with different win conditions are still, at minimum, viable. From a “superteam” to get Faker back to the pinnacle of the esport in 2019 that lost in the semifinals to now a team that includes four of the five youngest players in the tournament, all of whom besides Keria were T1 Academy products, T1 and Faker have defined a standard that will never be surpassed for talent development and longevity in League of Legends. Where Faker goes, history follows. For the first time in five years, the Unkillable Demon King will feature in the world finals—meaning that he will have played in five of the esport’s 12 World Championship finals. For the second time in three years, a Korean team will win Worlds, and no LCK representative will have lost a best-of-five to a team from outside its region. JDG’s loss also meant that for the first time since 2017, no LPL team will be in the world finals. Additionally, it’ll be the first time since then, when Faker was last in the finals, that two teams from the same region will face off for the Summoner’s Cup. T1 will face off against either DRX or their two-time domestic final opponents Gen.G in the world finals at San Francisco’s Chase center next Saturday night at 7pm CT. Read the full article

[wsidigital]

5 Best Atlanta Ga Content Advertising Corporations 2022 Rent Better With Credo

At the top of each month, we construct a report that highlights the efficiency of our advertising efforts. This way, we are ready to then figure out what works finest and what needs tweaking. This allows us to continually optimize your strategy and results. Every enterprise wants a social media strategy that compliments their business objectives. I may be the social media strategist for your corporation and help you fulfill that imaginative and prescient. This Atlanta-based advertising agency uses natural marketing and open-source intelligence to deliver distinctive outcomes.

With a Masters degree in Mass Media underneath her belt, Alyssa joined the Flock as an search engine optimization intern. Cardinal allowed her to find her ardour for working in off-site web optimization and digital advertising. Rather than just screaming your message or product out into the ether, blowing your budget, and hoping on the very least you are building brand consciousness, Inbound Marketing brings leadsto you. Sure, conventional advertising had plenty of success up to now and nonetheless can if used properly, nevertheless it spreads your message too extensive by limiting your concentrating on capabilities. There is absolutely no reason for gross sales and marketing to have a disconnect.

They’ve created a website, and so they produce 2–3 weblog posts per 30 days and refer the shopper to journalists seeking quotes for their articles. Panorama Press is a full-service marketing, gross sales, consulting, and communications firm centered on the particular needs of our shoppers. An efficient method atlanta inbound marekting agency to educate a potential buyer is to make use of interactive content on your web site. Interactive content is usually a big selection of items that anybody can swipe, click on on, or answer questions. New types of interactive content embody 360-degree videos and augmented actuality advertisements.

We invest a lot of time in our clients to ensure we all know your business as properly as you do. Learn extra from our trade specialists on how to improve your business and a few of the ways we've helped our clients stage up theirs. Well, we ask you to tell us how we would have the ability to enhance our companies and higher align them to meet your expectations.

Vision Works also offers help throughout crisis planning procedures and particular events. The firm has been in enterprise for greater than a decade and likewise caters to shoppers around the New York City area. Moxie is an Internet advertising agency that serves clients in Atlanta. It presents digital marketing providers that leverage the value of content, knowledge, and expertise to assist purchasers construct brand awareness and facilitate enterprise development. The agency also has the assist of its proprietor Zenith, a media firm with global operations.

Located in Atlanta, GA, LYFE Marketing is an agency that provides social media management, PPC, social media advertising, and web optimization providers. With lower than 50 team members, the agency goals to assist corporations enhance their gross sales by way of social media and advertising. Advanced Business Metrics was founded in 2007 in Atlanta to offer enterprise and mid-market companies atlanta inbound marekting agency with digital advertising services. Their staff of around 15 staff specializes in digital strategy, marketing technique, SEO, and different strategies. Digital Yalo is a digital advertising and advertising agency located in Atlanta, Cleveland, North America and past.

We work with revolutionary firms and partners in order to deliver the best quality service to our purchasers. Digital advertising is essential for staying related along with your audience/customers. With the right plan & technique, you'll find a way to easily reach out to your customers and acquire a extra extensive buyer base. Our Atlanta digital advertising team will help you in creating and maintaining all of your digital marketing campaigns in a hassle-free expertise. This is what units us other than the other inbound advertising agencies, who little doubt have stable resources and generate nice results themselves; we do every little thing under one roof, based mostly on confirmed processes. We develop the inbound advertising technique, the belongings, the websites and align them all, reporting down to the customers needs and revenue generated.

Ask other enterprise house owners within the area what corporations they use – An simple way to discover firms you could belief in Atlanta is to ask for referrals from other enterprise house owners you may know within the area. Let our professional-grade, custom-tailored voiceovers improve atlanta inbound marekting agency your movies and lift your company's online engagement. Bring your initiatives to life with prime quality 3D animation that informs and entertains your viewers. Make positive your web site is safe, reliable and working at maximum performance with our internet hosting companies.

[normanschmitt]

6 Romantic Technology Holidays

The laptop drawing tablets incorporating utilization of digital technology institute commenced inside 70s and 80s. The initial two industrial products released had been the BitPad as well as the ID from the Summagraphics Corporation. Moreover, our software keeps track of each participant and reminds readers when new episodes will be released. But the winner were two of my loyal readers (Bill and Jane) who witnessed Snook's Kelley's 500th win in 1972. I am as guilty as other people of glossing over what happened at BC prior to my own arrival, so I am glad these two reminded us how great BC's been at hockey. They are in a conference (Great River Conference) that is nowhere near the caliber of the CMC, however. Road trips of one hour or less, is that not an ideal conference? Every school is within one hour of the other. So they are another school that may not be interested either, especially now that they are back in their natural conference rivalry with Morris schools (that dates back to the Great Depression). As a sidenote, over the next week I'm going to research the list of the teams that made up the West Lake Conference during the late 1960s when it was at its peak.

It’s definitely going to be expensive so make sure to get an expert’s help to guide you into making the right decision for you. That’s the purpose of this guide. Quite honest, I'm stunned to see the topic of reducing travel costs on the radar of the MSHSL (high school league). While 안전카지노사이트 finished a third straight season at 2-6, they enter playoffs for the third straight year with high hopes of winning the playoff opener. The Jaguars crushed Ortonville 53-19 in the playoff opener last season. Lastly, I will add that Ogilvie finished this season 7-1, an incredible turnaround from their 3-7 season in 2006. Fans may remember the Jaguars taking apart the Lions in the '06 season opener 36-22 (leading 28-8 at halftime). They are a pass-happy team that will be tested by the Jaguars' 3-5 defense. Defense wins games, offense makes homecoming fans happy. In 바카라사이트 , the first year of the B-B-E sports pairing, the Jaguars destroyed Brandon-Evansville on Belgrade-Elrosa's Homecoming game 64-12. It was the final year of our local teams being in the Prairie Conference.

That season was also the only post-1988 season in which the Jaguars finished with a winning record (5-3 regular season, 7-4 after playoffs). Also, the section has nine teams, meaning a winless season will shut the last-place team out from post season play. The Jaguars are already a contending team, but with the section having at least two other contending teams, only continued hard work in practice and smart play on the field will keep their hopes of playoff success alive. In tonight's game for Parents' Night, the Jaguars played a superb first half of ball, trailing 14-7 at halftime. Clark Atlanta captured the 2017 SIAC tournament title, downing Fort Valley State 64-62 in the championship game. The 6th-seeded Jaguars will face the 3rd-seeded Vikings (5-3) at Minneota next Tuesday, October 26th, at 7:00. It mirrors the seedings in 2005, when they traveled to Wabasso for a 27-6 loss (though they trailed only 14-6 with 9:00 left in the game).

In other Jaguars sports action next week, the Cross Country teams host the annual B-B-E Invite at the Prairie View Community Golf Course on Thursday, September 6. The meet will begin at 5:00. Also, the Jaguars girls tennis team travels to St.John's Prep on Thursday. After looking over season previews for other section teams, and looking at the Friday night scores, it is apparent that the Jaguars will have to win at least three or four games for any hope of earning a top-four seed for playoffs. The hope is that by going public, having the money and keeping it well within BC's current athletic footprint, it can move fast. However, tactical solutions are not where the big amounts of optimization money get left on the table. However, it would be easy to throw in a Minnewaska or Kimball, to top it off at eight schools (an ideal number). The Work from home Technology institute might be identified in a number of approaches. ITT Technology Institute delivers plans in six divisions: organization, criminal justice, drafting and layout, electronics technology, wellness solutions and details technology. With their placement in the West Central South beginning this past fall (2007), they're not in bad shape travel-wise.

[restaurantsguide]

Presenting a Taste of Home Cooking - Soul Food Restaurants Near Me

Alright so you don't have the expertise, time or persistence to concoct that ideal soul food supper? Odds are a soul food eatery in your space is presenting home cooking very much like mother or grandmother used to make.  Offer yourself relief from kitchen commitments and here is the inspiration driving why.

Soul food cafés or Soul Food Restaurants Near Me have never been more well known. Today you have more choices than any other time in recent memory, truth be told. Dark superstars, prepared culinary experts and extraordinary cooks around the nation have teamed up to offer you a special eating experience and recognizable soul food menu.

On the off chance that you live in or near significant urban communities with a critical African American populace, anticipate that the opposition for your business should be savage. This is extraordinary information for you in light of the fact that generally you will have a chance to partake in a full scope of feasting encounters at a few distinct kinds of eateries including: soul food coffee shops, upscale establishments, buffets, cooked occasions, mother and pop burger joints, cafeteria style cafés and substantially more.

Urban communities like Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Las Vegas, Memphis, New York, Philadelphia, St Louis, Oakland and Washington DC all proposition remarkable feasting experience including: live jazz exhibitions, comedy shows, superstar appearances, modernized soul food, work of art displays, gifts and memorabilia and cooking items.

When you get out and begin getting a charge out of establishments in your space, it will be not difficult to see that the soul food eatery industry takes special care of a different gathering.

Now that you're sold on offering yourself a reprieve from kitchen obligations, the undeniable inquiry is "What are big name soul food cafés and renowned gourmet specialists concocting?". This question isn't the least bit simple to reply to. The straightforward reality is, everything relies upon area and the kind of clients the eateries in your space are attempting to draw in.

The main concern front and center is that generally speaking you can find a soul food eatery in your space that gives the kind of solace foods and home cooking you have become accustomed to as well. Right now you ought to feel better about eating foods anytime that are customarily served exclusively during Sunday supper and on unique events like family gatherings, family grills, birthday celebrations, and so forth.

So what kind of dishes could you at any point hope to track down on a soul food menu? That relies upon the sort of eatery you visit. For instance at a grill eatery you can encounter the flavour of grilled ribs, chicken, brisket, prepared beans, macaroni and cheddar, coleslaw, potato salad; banana pudding, yam pie; and that's only the tip of the iceberg.

At an upscale café you would without a doubt see many changes of conventional soul food and southern top choices. These cutting edge meals will be more interesting to the present taste. Likewise, you'll see soul food combinations, the blend of African American, Caribbean and Jamaican cooking. Ultimately, on the menu you'll most likely see NEO Soul Food also known as New Soul Food arranged to fit the sound way of life. 

You'll be charmingly astounded while eating at Cafeteria style eateries, alongside cafés including buffets. Here you can taste and test an assortment of solace foods including meats like covered chicken, grill, meatloaf, fish; vegetables, for example, collard greens, cabbage, sweet potatoes, okra; heavenly pastries like peach shoemaker, red velvet cake, walnut pie; and considerably more.

The Mom and Pop sort cafés will be restricted to day to day specials and need assortment when contrasted with enormous establishments. This can actually benefit you since you'll continuously be served new vegetables and treats with organic products that are in season.

OK this present time is the opportunity to enjoy some time off, do some exploration and rush out to partake in some soul food at a soul food café near you. Simply remember there are a lot of cafés to browse, that offer an assortment of soul food menus. Single word of mindfulness, not all soul food eateries are made equivalent.

The soul food bistro is a training in the African American social class. From Atlanta to New York City and all in the middle between, everybody has a conviction about where the best soul food is.

Yet, how would you pick the best soul food bistro or  Soul Food Restaurants Near Me  in the event that you're new to a city or a region. For instance, imagine a scenario in which you're an extended get-away or only going through for a brief time frame. How might you advise the puts to get your grub on? Or on the other hand who has the best collard greens?

There's many focuses to consider while picking a decent soul food eatery, like environment, great costs, history and notoriety, for instance. Those are generally the indications of good solace food.

Yet, hands-down the most ideal way to pick a decent soul food café that keeps on enduring for the long haul is informal. One thing you can constantly rely upon. The one subject individuals like to gloat about is great spots they've eaten at. Assuming that you get some information about it. Isn't that right? Consider it.

[itsbeaconhillsbaby]

distractions || tom holland x reader

a/n: I cannot believe I've now written three of these and actually posted them on here but I've had such lovely responses and you guys are such wonderful readers, so if you’ve liked misty morning, CLPS or this fic - thank you so much for reading! means the world. I still have a bunch of ideas I want to tackle, but thought I'd see what you guys felt about me possibly opening up requests in the future? would anyone be interested in that? let me know, and as always don’t be afraid to send me a message, lets be friends yo x  word count: 1127 warnings: none, its just fluffy summary: tom completes a day of zoom interviews whilst you work upstairs, except its the first day of your trip in atlanta and you haven't seen your boyfriend in weeks...

You stumble in between Tom’s legs, laughing as he pulls you closer into him until you end up perched on his knee; ring lights, cameras, phones and a laptop all set up on the counter in front of him. “Don’t touch the hair!” Rachel warns. You hold your hands up in mock innocence as she smirks, winding up the hairdryer and gathering her brushes before sneaking out and into the smaller room next door. A small station was set up just out of shot with all the products she’d used, as they would be needed to touch up Tom later during his long day of interviews. You wind your arms around his neck, as he curls his around your waist. You restrain yourself from playing with the tendrils of slightly curling hair sitting at his nape. “Good to see you dressed appropriately this time, Holland,” you tease. He tilts his head back and to the side, pretending to be offended, eyes creasing slightly at the edges giving away how amused he was. “Oh yeah?” You press your lips together, mouth twitching as you nod in response. He sighs, “Sorry about all this, when I flew you out here I completely forgot how much time press would take up. You wanna decide what you want for dinner and we’ll order in tonight?” Keeping one hand firmly around your waist, he brings the other to brush some of your hair out of your face, tucking it into place behind your ear instead, sweeping a thumb back along your cheekbone. You felt your face lean into his touch. The minute Harry had text you regarding Tom’s latest on-set injury, after checking it was nothing dangerously serious, you asked him to make sure Tom called you that night. Despite the reassurances, you wanted to see for yourself that everything was fine. As well as that, you knew he wouldn’t be too happy with an injury especially if it was going to push production back, and you knew he would need to vent. You’d be lying if you said you were surprised when he asked you to come and spend the week with him. It wasn’t long until he was home for good, and whilst on a tight deadline with your own work, you thought you’d bite the bullet anyway and before you knew it you were being flown to Atlanta. “I have plenty to keep me busy. I just like knowing you’re here, plus I can nip down in between interviews-” you softly nudge his nose with your own, before gently sweeping his mouth with yours. You feel those flutters in the depths of your stomach, continuing to speak as you speckle kisses across his jaw, “-as you do make a pretty good distraction.” This time he took control, bringing your lips together again, pushing further and harder this time. Your eyes fluttered shut, and you pressed closer, you’d twisted your body round enough that your torsos were pressed into each other. Landing late last night, you knackered from your flight and Tom sleepy from his previous busy day at work, plus slightly drowsy from some pain medication, you had both basically curled around each other and fallen straight into bed, sleep coming almost instantly. “Hey, you are not going to use me as an excuse to procrastinate! You have a deadline.” he says, in between peppering kisses along your jaw and down your neck slightly. “Oh, really?” you pull back, before fully shifting off his good knee and standing up. “I’m going to procrastinate with or without you around, Holland,” you said with a wink, opening the door to the hallway, “let me know what you prefer.” Tom stared at you slack jawed, your laugh ringing out in the hallway as you left him to his interviews. //// You were deep in concentration. Your brow furrowed, as you frowned at your laptop screen, gliding the cursor back and forth trying to find that perfect sweet spot to cut the video. You were editing a promotional video for a big theatre down in London and it had to be perfect. This was a big digital marketing gig for you, and you wanted to prove that you were good enough to take a chance on, despite the fact you had only graduated from your degree 10 months ago. Headphones on and back to the door, sitting on the desk chair legs folded underneath you, you didn’t hear the creek of the door opening. You jumped slightly at the arms that wound themselves around your shoulders, “Hey.” You slid the earphones off your head, resting them on the desk, saving your project before spinning round in your chair to face him. “Hey, you!” You’d already headed downstairs a couple of times, on a drink or snack run. You popped in on Tom every so often, smiling in support as you watched him charm countless interviewers before leaving him to it. You looked at the time on your phone, noting it was now past six. “We’re all done down there, how are you getting on?” “I had a breakthrough on it earlier, now it’s just getting it perfect...” you couldn’t put your finger on what it was but there was a different sort of glint in Toms’ eyes. “Can i see?” he asked, excitedly, leaning against the back of the chair. 

You laugh, nodding - unplugging the headphones, letting the video and sound play as you leaned back in your chair. Instead of the screen you were focussed on Tom’s face, who was giving your video his full attention. “That was sick!” he says, as it comes to an end. “You think so? I just hope they’ll love it when it’s done,” you take your lip between your teeth, worrying at it slightly. He brushes a thumb over your lip, stopping you from biting, “Of course they’ll love it, you’re amazing.” He takes your hand allowing you to uncurl yourself from your seated position, “Hungry?” You listen as people leave out the front doors, the styling team all had their own digs and you were pretty sure most people were gone now that the interviews were finished. “I dunno...feel like we could work up a bit more of an appetite?” “I’m so glad you said that, knowing you’ve been up here the whole time has been killing me...” You yelp slightly as he fireman lifts you out the room you were in and into the master bedroom you were sharing together. You were both laughing as he did so and you took the opportunity, as he put you down on the bed, to finally mess up his perfect styled hair, finally running your hands through those curls at the back of his neck. “Would you say I was a good distraction?” you whisper.  “You have no idea.”

[twh-news]

Loki director Kate Herron and star Jonathan Majors on his pivotal character's wild debut

The director/executive producer and surprise finale guest-star discuss He Who Remains' grand entrance, the actor's clown training, and which moments were improvised.

Warning: The following contains spoilers from the season 1 finale of Disney+'s Loki.

Like the Sacred Timeline, Loki's end point was determined from the beginning: The multiverse would be born after Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino) reached the Citadel at the End of Time and met He Who Remains, the mysterious and potentially villainous figure who created the Time Variance Authority and lorded over the Sacred Timeline.

"It was always our North star," Loki executive producer and director Kate Herron told EW Friday morning, two days after the chaos-creating finale arrived on the streamer. "What happened [between] when they met him and when the multiverse was born was still on the table, that's something obviously me, the writers, Michael [Waldron, the head writer], and the studio discussed and worked on.... I think honestly, for me and the writing team, we were just like, 'Okay, we'll just keep assuming we're going to get to introduce him until we're not allowed to.'"

Thankfully, no one told them no. Thus, Loki's first season ended with the introduction of Lovecraft Country's Jonathan Majors as He Who Remains — a variant of Kang the Conqueror, the supervillain Majors will play in 2023's Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania.

"We got to do it and what an honor it was to bring him into the MCU. It was a big secret to sit on," said Herron.

"It was one of those moments in one's life, depending on one's occupation, where you go, 'Ah, this is it. This is it,'" Majors told EW when we spoke to him for an upcoming piece about his Emmy nomination for Lovecraft Country. "'All the s--- you talked about wanting to do, [now] there's a door in front of you. Be brave, walk through the door, and leave it on the field.' That was my mentality."

From Herron's point of view, the trickiest part about pulling off the He Who Remains reveal was casting the right actor, because this is the first time the audience would meet this pivotal character.

"[The character's appeal is] in the writing, in the sense that we want to know who is behind the Citadel and who could be there. I think the exciting thing was he tells this story about his past and who he is. For me beyond that, then, it's, which actor are we going to bring in? Because it's got to be an actor with presence that immediately grabs you, because not every actor can do that, and Jonathan is one of the best actors out there. The fact that we got him to do this, I was just so happy because I was like, 'We're gonna be in really safe hands now.' He just commands attention. That for me was the real key thing for me, just getting the casting right," said Herron. "I was so excited that I got to be part of the conversation about the casting of his character with the studio and Peyton [Reed, Ant & The Wasp: Quantumania's director]. It was a massive honor and very exciting, and he's just an actor that we all loved."

Once Majors was cast as He Who Remains (and Kang), Herron thought of a way to integrate him into Loki before we ever saw his face on-screen: Through the Time Keepers.

"Something that was really fun for me was we hadn't, for example, cast the voice of the Time Keepers yet, because you know Wizard of Oz was an obvious reference of ours. I was like, 'Oh, let's get Jonathan to do it, because he's an amazing character actor,'" she said. "We sent him the art of all the characters and it was really fun [because] he was sending us all of these different voices he could do for each character, which was great."

The other obstacle they faced was Majors' availability, because he was working on Netflix's upcoming western The Harder They Fall in New Mexico when Loki was in production. "That was the hard part: preparing [He Who Remains] while leading The Harder They Fall," said the Da 5 Bloods actor, who arrived on set for Loki's final week of production in Atlanta. "It was wild."

"We finished with Loki, Sylvie, and He Who Remains, and it was kind of beautiful in a way because it is also how our story ends. So we filmed with Jonathan for a week," said Herron, who held read-throughs with Hiddleston, Martino, and Majors via Zoom before they started shooting. "Working on He Who Remains, it was really interesting because I started production filming so much of the Time Theatre with Loki and Mobius [in the premiere], and I love how it almost starts with a conversation and ends with one with He Who Remains."

As He Who Remains, Majors was intimidating, for sure, but he was also charismatic, eccentric, and very funny. The actor loved playing the role because it allowed him to draw on the clown/commedia training he learned at the Yale School of Drama.

"There's more smiling in that one performance than there has been in my other performances combined. It's just what it calls for." he said. "I'm a classically trained clown. That's part of my training. I've been at it for a long time, and to be able to exercise that was a lot of fun."

For her part, Herron wanted to do everything in her power to give Majors the room to play, experiment, and forget about the schedule, and the actor took full advantage of that and improvised. For example, the moment when He Who Remains rattles off what his variants said to each other when they met for the first time — "'I love your shoes.' 'I love your hair.' 'Oh, man, nice nose.' 'Thanks, man.'" — wasn't scripted, nor He Who Remains dramatically standing on the desk at the end of his tale.

"He was never meant to get on the desk," Herron recalled. "That was the fun thing with the improvisation. [The camera team] saw him start to move, and Autumn [Durald, the cinematographer] was like, 'Okay…" and then you saw the cameras start to move; it was almost like a dance with him. But that was not planned. It just blew us away because it was just so cool. That was the fun thing with him: I love the way he brought movement to the character in different ways, because I think that was really important as well. Where are we going to go for that big energy moment? Where are we going to draw people in?" She continued, "I love the bit when he sinks into the chair and he's like, 'I'm old and I'm tired,' and you feel his frailness in a way, you feel his aging, [even though] he's obviously a young man."

"The things that come out that aren't scripted only come out because the script is the way it is, and the world is what it is," said Majors. "A lot of it was through collaboration with Tom, Sophia, Kate, and Kevin Wright, the producer. They really let me run. And that's the best thing you can hope for."

As of right now, Majors couldn't say much about how playing He Who Remains affected his performance as Kang in Quantumania, which is currently in production. "You take it a day at a time. That's all I would say about that," he said. "You take it a day at a time and clean your plate and see what tomorrow brings. See what the next story is, and then take it from there."

Loki will return for a season 2, but when? Only time will tell.

[treeremovalpensacola]

Companies in the News: Updates and more from Sod Solutions Stihl Belgard and more

If you're in the Pensacola area, then you have probably already experienced the need for having to remove a tree or stump or getting your tree's trimmed. The cost of tree removal varies depending on a few factors, such as: - The type of tree that needs to be removed - The size of the tree - The location of the tree - The condition of the tree Pensacola Tree Removal offers competitive pricing for our tree removal services. For a full list of services Tree removal services visit Tree removal service in Pensacola for a fast, friendly and reliable quote that you can count on. This will help not only beautify your property but also is the safest way to do it. Sod Solutions will host a Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association (TOCA) internship in the summer of 2023. During the 8-10 week long internship, the company says the student will work with its sales, marketing and customer service teams to understand the company’s four business units, shadow multiple roles and learn about the turfgrass industry. The intern will have the opportunity to shadow and learn about multiple roles at Sod Solutions in Awendaw, S.C., including educational content writing and editing, marketing content, creative and strategy development and customer service communication and problem-solving. The internship will be worth $5,000 — $4,000 as a stipend and $1,000 to attend and assist in the execution of the TOCA Annual Meeting in Portland, Maine, April 25 – 27. The deadline to apply is Feb. 24. Stihl acquires muffler manufacturer The Stihl Group will acquire Cosmos Manufacturing, a U.S.-based manufacturer of mufflers. Cosmos, a current Stihl development partner and a major supplier of mufflers, is headquartered in South Chicago Heights, Ill., and employs 200 people in the development, production and sale of muffler systems and stamped components for small and medium-sized engines. “This acquisition will deepen our expertise in the development and manufacture of mufflers and other exhaust components,” said Martin Schwarz, Stihl executive board member for manufacturing and materials. “This represents a major step forward in achieving increasingly strict emission standards and also reinforces our supply chain resilience.” The transaction will take place as an asset deal, with Stihl founding a new company in the U.S. called CS Comsmos Stihl Manufacturing. The new enterprise will take over employees, existing customers, and suppliers and continue COSMOS’ business. Lawn in Order recognized Find Local Landscapers, an online directory that identifies local contractors and companies that have received top reviews based on service and performance, recently recognized Atlanta-based Lawn in Order as a 2022 Top Client Rated Atlanta Lawn Care Service. “We are honored to be recognized with this distinguished award, as our number one priority is always making our clients happy,” said Jon Farazmand, co-founder of Lawn in Order. Belgard to sponsor HGTV Dream Home Belgard will sponsor the HGTV Dream Home 2023 in Morrison, Colo. This is the company’s eighth consecutive year as the hardscape sponsor. The home will feature Belgard’s product lines throughout the home’s outdoor living areas. “Colorado is known for its great outdoors, so it was important the home’s hardscapes complemented the terrain of the surrounding views,” said Joe Raboine, director of residential hardscapes at Belgard. “Our hardscape products are featured in the outdoor kitchen, firepit living room, lounge grotto and paver driveway to help create the ultimate mountain living experience. We hope the winner spends as much time outside as they do indoors to relax and disconnect in the Colorado mountains.” Got news? Let us know! Have news about your company? Send it to DiFranco at rdifranco@northcoastmedia.net, and we’ll feature it in an upcoming Companies in the News. The post Companies in the News: Updates and more from Sod Solutions, Stihl, Belgard and more appeared first on Landscape Management.

[rina-writes]

The Dress

A/N: The friend!reader consoling Ethan reminded me of this drabble I had in my drafts of Ethan comforting gf!reader when feeling insecure.  Kinda short, but I think it’s cute :D  

Warnings: Fluff, sexual references (at the end), insecure!reader

You chewed on your lower lip as you stood on line for the register.  You picked up the velvet, green dress that was draped over your right arm with your left hand to pull it into view.

“Are you sure it looked good?” You asked your best friend who was standing next to you, sending a quick text.

“Yes!” She said, with a laugh. “100 times yes.  I think it will look great for the red carpet.”

“It’s not really a red carpet.” You argued, your eyes still analyzing the dress.  “It’s more of like a gala.  Think the turn of the 20th century, where aristocrats would be invited to a new exhibit at the museum. Everyone would wear their best, strolling through the galleries with a glass of champagne in hand, occasionally nibbling on the hors d'oeuvres being passed around on delicate, silver trays.”

Your best friend paused and a little smirk formed on her lips.  “Your boyfriend hired you to do the PR his event again?”

You laughed. “Is it that obvious it’s my idea?” You smiled to yourself.

The Dolan Twins were huge fans of “putting people on,” so to speak.  If someone in their circle had a knack for something, they employed them to do it.  It wasn’t only that Ethan trusted your creative direction, but he AND Grayson thought your ideas were a great fit for their event.  Just like any other person who would organize an 100+ scale event, they paid you very well to do it. So, there was a lot of pressure to make this the best launch celebration ever.  

To be honest, you knew you nailed it.  You just couldn’t help, but feel like you didn’t fit your own event.  You weren’t a big YouTuber or a celebrity or anything remotely famous.  Your relationship with Ethan was on the DL, so you didn’t even feel pressure to keep up a certain image.  Unlike the boys, you definitely had a “whenever I feel like it” work out regimen and a “whatever taste good” kind of diet. You did try to eat relatively healthy and at least move during the day, but it wasn’t enough to maintain a Instagram-worth physique.

Which brings us back to the dress in your hand that you were now about to purchase...for quite a bit of money.  The dress fit the aesthetic of your event: an off the shoulder dress with a sweetheart neckline that dipped down the center of your chest, with long sleeves that started at the top of your arm and ended at your wrist.  The velvet material hugged your body, leaving nothing to the imagination, and stopped just about your knees.  The dress was classic, and one that you could wear again and again...if you had the confidence.  Your best friend hyped you up in the dressing room, but you hated the way your stomach looked in it. But, your best friend looked so disappointed that you didn’t like it.  Not because she particularly liked the dress, but because she knew your distaste for the dress was about your feelings towards you body.

“We’ll jack you up.” Your best friend said with a wink as you put the dress in the trunk.  She had been watching quite a bit of “Say Yes to The Dress Atlanta” lately and often quoted Monty and Lori.  “The party is tomorrow so, let’s continue our glam day where we just relax and pamper ourselves.  Then tomorrow, I’ll help you get dressed.”

“Thanks, Y/F/N,” You smiled softly, getting into the passenger seat of her car and buckling your seat belt. 

“Trust me, Ethan is going to love it.” Your best friend assured as she backed out of the parking spot.

But, what if I don’t.... You thought, but bit your tongue.  You didn’t want to make a big deal about it anymore.

The night of the event, you were buzzing around like a bee.  You loved the rush of making sure everything was going right, and the even bigger surge of energy when something was going wrong. 

The setting was perfect.  Each fragrance had it’s own gallery with a video clip on loop that showed the natural inspiration for the fragrance.  There were testimonies from the twins about the fragrances written on plaques placed beside the display of the fragrance bottles.  There were also several stations in the gallery to try the fragrance and pick up goodie bags.

You had successful ensured that all food was labeled for vegan, non-vegan, vegetarian, kosher, halal, and marked for allergies.  You also did your best to inform the wait staff of who had specific dietary restrictions to know to go to them with the options they could eat first before opening it to the rest of the floor.  

You had even ensured that the photographers got people when they came in through the door and let people know about the photo booth in the back.  

This was going to be your event to top.  Once people knew that you organized it, your office was going to be full with requests. But if there was anyone you wanted to impress, it was Ethan.  

And he was.  Ethan walked in, his hair styled neatly, his body clad in a black tailored suit with a white button down and a red tie.  Grayson, also wore a similar tailored suit and a white button down, but he opted for a green tie.  They intended to do the twin thing, and unintentionally did the Christmas color thing...but they could roll with it. When Ethan saw you, his jaw dropped.  He had never seen you like this before.  For one thing, everyone was running up to you with different issues. You kept a pleasant smile on your face as you calmed people down and told them what to do.  You made it look easy.  Then there was the dress...oof.  It was like he was seeing your curves for the first time.  He felt like he would need to holler at you all over again.

“Gray, quick, switch ties with me.” Ethan said, slapping his brother on the arm with the back of his hand.

“No, green is my favorite color.” Grayson said, narrowing his eyes. “I’m also not doing this in the middle of our event.”

“Green’s my favorite color now too.” Ethan said, gesturing to you talking to one of the wait staff.

The green velvet dress looked amazing on your complexion. You had taken the green elements into other parts of your outfit as well as part of your best friend’s “jacking up.” Your hair was decorated with faux emerald and cubic zirconia hair pieces (because this dress already cost you a fortune).  You were wearing black pumps, but they had green bottoms that your friend helped you dye yourself.  You were also wearing a mix of green and silver jewelry including dangling earrings and a bracelet.  Ethan made a mental note to get you a watch for your birthday, one that could go with this dress and any other dress you decided to grace him with in the future.

“Oh wow...” Grayson said, trying not to oogle his brother’s girlfriend.  “Okay, you win. Take my tie...”

Grayson removed his tie and Ethan did the same.  If you had turned around and seen them, it would have been comical.  It was like they were racing to see who could tie a tie the fastest and they were both losing.  Finally, they both looked decent enough to mingle.  Ethan walked straight towards you.

“Excuse me, miss?” Ethan said, licking his lips as he spoke to you. 

You looked up from the table you were re-arranging and smiled softly. This was one of your favorite bits. When Ethan pretended to not know you and ask you out again.  It was funny because Ethan was Mr. Slow and Steady when going into a relationship.  He never just hollered at a girl, he always became her friend, got to know her and then finally asked her out. It made this all the more fun to act out.

“I just wanted to say that I think you are the most beautiful woman in the room.”  Ethan rolled his hands and licked his lips flirtatiously. “And, if you don’t have a man, I’d be happy to apply for the position. If you do, I hope you don’t mind us doing this quietly.”

You laughed, and placed a hand on his chest. “Babe, stop.”

Your hand ran along his tie and you smiled.  You loved how you two always unintentionally matched...completely unaware of how much effort Ethan put in to do it.

“Alright, I’ll control myself.” He hugged you tightly, kissing your cheek. 

“Ethan...” You blushed. “People are staring.”

“They already were.” He leaned back and smiled at you. “Got to let them know you’re mine.”

Ethan gave your side a squeeze, resisting from giving your butt a little slap, before stepping back.  “This event looks amazing, Y/N.  I’m so proud of you.”

“I’m proud of you!” You exclaimed.  “Your product lent itself to this design.  I am even wearing one of your scents now.”

“I know...” He grinned. “...it’s one of my favorites because I made it with you in mind.”

You were about to say something cheesy when someone walked up to Ethan.  He introduced them as someone from their management team.  You waved, at them, and then paused, suddenly remembering what you were wearing.  Your hands danced between covering your stomach and your chest, and you constantly looked at your reflection in one of the dark windows behind them.  Your focus on your appearance made it hard to join the conversation.  You answered most questions curtly and in a quiet voice.  

When you interacted with the catering staff and your team, you weren’t nervous.  They had seen you come into the office in sweatpants and coffee stains on your shirt on multiple occasions.  You didn’t have to pretend for them. They knew you were good at your job and what you wore didn’t matter.

For Ethan’s colleagues, you felt more pressure.  Although the public didn’t know about your relationship, most people in the twins’ circle knew he was dating someone.  Eventually, someone would tell someone else that the girl in the green dress was Ethan’s girlfriend, and you couldn’t help, but worry about how that would reflect on Ethan. 

Ethan was surprised to see you clam up like this.  This wasn’t like you normally, and it definitely wasn’t like you a few moments earlier.  At first he thought it was just because you were caught off guard. It wasn’t until the third person he introduced you to did he notice that something was up.

“Baby,” Ethan whispered in your ear as the person excused themself. “Come with me for a second.”

Ethan laced his fingers in yours and pulled you to the back of the galleria where there was a back room used to house the extra supplies like toilet paper and tools.

“Is everything okay?” Ethan asked, once he was sure you were both alone and the door was closed.

“Yeah!” You smiled, thinking he was the one worried. “Everyone loves the launch, Ethan! It’s going well.”

“Not the event,” Ethan said, wrapping his arms around you and pulling you toward him.  “I mean you.  You’re not acting like yourself.”

“What do you mean?” You asked, putting your hands on his shoulders.  “I’m fine.”

“You’re acting all shy and awkward.” He rested his forehead on yours. “You only do that when something is bothering you.”

“No I don’t.” You argued in a monotone voice.

The silence was awkward and bone chilling.  Ethan just stared at you until you cracked. 

“It’s the dress...” You admitted with a sigh. “I look like a whale.”

“Wait what?” Ethan asked, almost yelling.” Are you nuts? Y/N, baby, you look amazing.  I’ve been planning to pull you in here and plow you in this dress. I am holding back everything inside of me right now...how could you say that?”

You blushed. “It’s my stomach.” You backed up so you could show him the outline of your stomach. Your hands then went to the neckline of the dress.  “And this is cut in such a weird spot.”

“Your stomach looks fine, I didn’t even notice it. And your tits look amazing in that weird spot.” Ethan used air quotes when he said weird spot.  His hands then immediately went to your lower back to pull you closer to him.

“I just don’t feel like this dress is right for me.” You sighed again.

“Why?” Ethan asked, running hands up your sides. “Because this dress looks so amazing on you, I almost don’t want to take it off. Almost...”

You smiled softly. “I dunno...it just doesn’t look right. Maybe I should work out or something....”

“I mean if you want.” Ethan kissed your forehead. “Or you can change what you see in your mind.  Everyone here is impressed with you.   They want to hear more about you and book you for their events. I’m sure they’d ask if you didn’t seem so...out of it.”

You seemed unsure so Ethan continued, “Hey, I’ve even heard compliments on your dress.  I can’t change what you think of yourself, but I want to help you to love yourself the way I love you.”

“I love you too, E.” You sighed, “You really think it looks good?”

“Yes.” Ethan nodded so quickly you thought his head would roll off.

“Thank you.” You said, looking down at yourself.  Suddenly, your stomach didn’t look that big and your boobs did look pretty nice.  You realized, it wasn’t the dress. It was the whole being Ethan’s girlfriend thing that threw you off.  

“I guess, I just felt like this was the kind of dress that someone like you would like to see your girlfriend in.” You said, still looking down.

Ethan narrowed his eyes. “Yes, hence why I like seeing you, my girlfriend, in this dress.”

“I know, it’s just sometimes I feel like there is Ethan Dolan’s girlfriend...this image i have in my head.” You paused. “And then there’s me.  Which sometimes is a different image.”

“Well guess what...” Ethan kissed your cheek. “That image in my head is always you.  So, whatever we have to do to match up the images in your head, I’m ready to do it together.”

“Aww, E...” You kissed him softly and he deepened the kiss.

His hands roamed from your shoulders to your backside, giving your body little squeezes. As the kiss got sloppier, you realized that Ethan wasn’t going to be satisfied by a little frenching.

“Quickie before we go back out?” You suggested, breaking the kiss.  

You walked over to one of the shelves and put your hands on top of it. You turned so your butt was up and facing Ethan, one of his favorite positions.

“Yes ma’am,” He smirked, unbuckling his belt as he walked over.

“But make sure you don’t ruin my dress.” You said, looking back at him with a wink.

“Yes, ma’am.”

[onestowatch]

Lowertown Is Growing Up [First Look + Q&A]

Photo: Shamshawan Scott

Olivia Osby and Avsha Weinberg always knew they wanted to make music. The difficult part came when the inevitable questions of how and with who would arise. At least that was the case until a chance encounter in a high school math class in suburban Atlanta, which would eventually serve as the birthplace for Lowertown. Now, a few odd years later Olivia and Avsha find themselves signed to Dirty Hit, home to the likes of The 1975 and beabadoobee, and aiming to make their most ambitious project to date.

“The Gaping Mouth,” a sprawling confessional that blends soft-spoken lyricism bordering on avant-garde poetry and experimental indie rock instrumentation, arrives as the first taste of that ambition. The titular single from their forthcoming EP, set to release September 16, feels like a daring call to arms, a single firework shot in the dark, impossible to ignore and indistinguishable. Most notably of all, it feels like a noted maturation for the duo, a step forward into new, uncharted territory.

On the new single, Osby ponders on the object of her affection, or rather attention, repeatedly uttering the lines “You are the iris in my eye” until they no longer seem to be coming from her, taking on the weight of a mantra spoken outside herself. It’s only one such instance of the duo’s newfound stream-of-conscious lyrical approach, which sees them ruminating on the fallacy of growing up and the associated fantasies that come with it. All of this is complemented by the duo’s fearless instrumentation and production flourishes, which call to mind everything from experimental ‘90s indie rock to the sonic detours that permeated Sufjan Steven’s early works. 

We had the chance to speak to Lowertown via e-mail about the difficulties of shifting from “teenagerdom” to adulthood, the advantages of having a french fry fork and their bold new musical direction.

You two originally met in a high school math class. How did the discussion of music first get brought up and how did it lead to forming Lowertown?

Avsha: Olivia was a new student at the school, and I was shy, so we had sat next to each other for some time before we really had any conversation. After some months, I would look at the music Olivia would listen to over her shoulder and make small excited comments or jokes. That’s how our friendship began, through comments about Olivia’s love of emo music or my insufferable judgment on some new music I had heard. It took a year for us to start thinking about doing music together. The eventual forming of Lowertown happened on a beach in Ottawa, where I was again making a judgment on some new song I had found and decided to show Olivia some of my demos. That was where we decided to work together. Those demos and others eventually formed our first record Friends

Were there ever any thoughts about pursuing music before that fateful meeting?

Olivia: I’d always hoped to be able to do music professionally, but it had always seemed like it was so far away from being possible. I always knew that even if my solo music did not work out as a career, I wanted to work in the music field. Whether that was becoming a manager for other musicians or becoming a booking agent, I knew for a long time I wanted to be surrounded by music no matter what I ended up doing.

A: I had spent almost my entire life hoping to be a musician. I started playing classical piano at age four, and up until two years ago, was planning on going to a conservatory and becoming a concert pianist. As my taste expanded, I taught myself guitar, drums, bass, and production, all with the hopes of continuing professionally. Growing up, I was exposed to many different artists and genres, and I always wanted to give people what the music that I grew up with gave to me. The demos that I had recorded in middle school were the ones I showed Olivia and the ones that led to us knowing that we had to start a band.

What was it like signing to Dirty Hit?

A: The process of signing was definitely a difficult one as we had begun talking with the label only a few months before COVID, and as we were narrowing down on the decision to sign, it became incredibly difficult to see a scenario where we would be able to meet anybody on the label. We ended up having many, many FaceTime and Zoom conversations, wherein we were able to talk in-depth with the team and get a good sense of the label. These conversations were really great, and it was a great signifier of the relationship to come as we have had a really great relationship with the label. Although the signing process was tumultuous, we were able to grasp that the relationship between Dirty Hit and their artists was a familial one, and that made us incredibly excited to work together.

If you could have one thing in the world at this very moment, what would it be?

O: A good night’s sleep. I have terrible insomnia and can’t remember the last time I had one.

A: A french fry fork. I’m pretty exhausted with how messy eating french fries is.

Has the past year affected how your approach music at all?

A: In the past, I knew that the more I worked, the better I became, but this year has shown me that the times that you choose to completely leave some things alone are just as important as the times that you focus all your energy on them. I was completely drained of inspiration and motivation until I was able to sit and do absolutely nothing. The lack of music helped me realize that there was a lot about myself that I wasn’t thinking about. I was able to learn more about myself and have new sources of inspiration and thought.

O: For sure. This year has given me an excessive amount of time to get better at playing music in general since I’ve been on my own so much. It has also given me too much time to sit and think by myself, which can be beneficial for music but also pretty detrimental at the same time. I’ve ended up feeling like my old sound and writing process was really stale, since I had been writing songs the same way for years. I’ve ended up experimenting a lot with new sounds and approaches to songwriting, which has been extremely refreshing and I feel like it’s brought out some of my best work. I used to put way less emphasis on instrumentation, but now that I’ve progressed a lot musically, I’ve written a lot of instrumentation that I’m very proud of and that has ended up developing into Lowertown work. I also learned a lot about production over this past year which has been extremely inspiring and helpful for my solo work.

How did you approach the songwriting on “The Gaping Mouth?” The lyricism and experimental instrumentation are honestly breathtaking.

A: When composing the instrumentals, I wanted to write a song that was very expressive and unique but that worked entirely on feeling rather than a traditional verse and chorus song. I wanted to write the piece with points that I knew the guitars would push Olivia’s voice to the forefront and points that raised the energy around Olivia’s words. Olivia’s lyrics are so personal, and she always has so much to say, so I wanted the whole song to ebb and flow together with the identical, and occasionally reciprocal, emotion and intimacy.

O: Avsha sent me this beautiful guitar piece one day and it immediately connected with me, and I stayed up all night working on it. I recorded a demo take of the vocals, just singing/talking over the song where it felt right and natural. That first take I took at home at four in the morning actually ended up being used in the final song because it felt so emotive and raw. The first vocal take had an unmatched authenticity that we couldn’t capture again in the studio no matter how many takes we tried. Our producer Catherine ended up falling in love with it as well and did not want to try to replicate something that was already amazing as it was.

There’s a real sense of maturation present not just in the delivery of the single but in the lyrics, “Being stupid and being 15 / Being older and think I know who I am and what I want… / The way I stay the same and I never change.” Is growing up or rather the idea of growing up a central theme to the music you’re currently working on?

O: I had just graduated high school when we were writing this new project, and I was feeling extremely anxious about the trajectory of my life. I kept thinking about if I was doing all that I should be doing at this age and how much had I really changed since the beginning of high school. I felt like a lot of mannerisms and detrimental ways of thinking that had plagued me when I was 14-15 were still incredibly present in my life, and it felt pathetic to think that I had not made much progress on some of my biggest shortcomings since I had first become a teenager. I feel like at 18/19, you’re not quite an adult, but you’re no longer just a teenager. You begin to shoulder real responsibility and have a lot of agency over your life. It’s quite terrifying being the one who has the power to make important personal decisions. If you screw up, it’s on you and no one else. The transition from high school where you have assignments to turn in every day and tests and a crazy amount of structure (you wake up and go to bed the same time every weekday) to making music and creating with a self-made schedule can be extremely jarring. I’m still grappling with that transition, as my workflow can sometimes trail into six in the morning which sometimes becomes a problem.

“The Gaping Mouth” is the eponymous single from your forthcoming EP. What can people expect from your new EP?

O: It’s gonna be leveled up from anything we’ve dropped before! This is our first project recorded in a studio setting as well as working in-person with a producer. We’ve matured since our last project as musicians and we’ve simply grown more into adults. A lot of this was written when we were 18 and when we’d just turned 19, and a lot of things happened at that point in our lives to write about. Our producer Catherine really helped push me to my full potential while working together. There are some louder songs mixed with some instrumentally dense and beautiful songs. There’s a good amount of experimentation as well in this project that I’m excited for everyone to hear.

A: We’ve focused so much on our songwriting and composition; I think people will be able to hear how we’ve matured. I think this EP reflects our need to always change our sound and grow it. It’s exciting because I think it’s really fresh and still has our musical roots sewn into the core.

And what’s one thing you hope people take away from this next stage of your music?

A: I hope people are able to see the world and the story that we want to create with our music. I hope people can see that our sound will always be maturing and that our music can be surprising and exciting.

O: I feel like our fan base has grown alongside us. Lowertown has been a project since we were 16 and it feels like it has already come so far, which is so amazing and I’m really thankful for everything that’s happened thus far. I hope our music can continue to authentically capture each stage of life Avsha and I live through while making music together. This record was written fresh after graduating high school, so I hope those who are grappling with the jarring transition from teenagerdom to adulthood can find some solace in the feelings expressed in this record.

What is your go-to fast food order?

O: We’re both pescatarian so sometimes finding easy fast food can be annoying. I’m a big burrito person so I’ll always get a bean burrito with a ton of veggies.

A: A universal choice for me in any fast food place would be an extra large order of fries, or however many is the most they offer, and a large Diet Coke. There were points during this year where every day of the week was punctuated with an absurd amount of McDonald’s fries and hot sauce.

Who are your Ones To Watch?

O: Pretty Sick , Horse Jumper of Love, N0v3l

A: Uboa, OOIOO, Donzii