#i will put it up to the people! (aka a poll that hopefully at least like 10 people will answer?)

[mechsbrackets]

As a suggestion, mechanisms best dinner guest?

Oooo that's a really interesting suggestion! I shall put it on the list!

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

March 19, 2021

Heather Cox Richardson

When I see Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL), and other voices from our right wing, siding with Russian President Vladimir Putin in his demand that President Joe Biden debate him or pretending that the January 6 attack on the Capitol wasn’t a big deal, or Republicans voting to overturn a legitimate election or trying to keep Americans from voting, sometimes I despair of our democracy.

But a poll released by the Pew Research Center yesterday shows that these Republicans are out of step with the country. It reveals that the vast majority of Americans cares deeply about the preservation of our government. Asked about what happened at the Capitol on January 6, 87% percent of Americans say it is either “very important” (69%) or “somewhat important” (18%) for law enforcement officials to find and prosecute the insurrectionists.

Where those numbers fall apart is among Republicans who believe that former president Trump won the 2020 election. While 87% of Democrats think what Trump did was wrong and that he should have been convicted of inciting the insurrection, 66% of people who believe that Trump won the election say that the riot at the Capitol is getting too much attention. Eighty-two percent of them said Trump’s conduct leading up to the insurrection was not wrong and that the House should not have voted to impeach him.

The danger of the Big Lie—the false idea that Trump actually won the 2020 election-- was always that it would convince Trump supporters to fight for him not because they thought they would be fighting to overturn the U.S. government, but because they thought they would be defending it. If, indeed, the election were stolen from the former president by the radical socialists of whom he warned, it would be the part of heroism to rally to protect our system.

That is, apparently, what at least some of the insurrectionists believed they were doing. Today, a federal judge ruled that Jon Schaffer, an Indiana man arrested for his participation in the insurrection, must remain in jail because he poses a risk to the community. Schaffer had clearly embraced the Big Lie, telling journalists: “We’re not going to merge into some globalist, communist system, it will not happen. There will be a lot of bloodshed if it comes down to that, trust me…. Nobody wants this, but they’re pushing us to a point where we have no choice.”

Also today, court papers revealed that a federal grand jury has charged four leaders from the far-right gang the Proud Boys with conspiring to “commit offenses against the United States, namely… to corruptly obstruct… an official proceeding”—that is, the counting of the electoral votes—and to obstruct law enforcement officers engaged in putting down civil disorder. The four named are Ethan Nordean (AKA “Rufio Panman”), 30, of Auburn, Washington; Joseph Biggs (AKA “Sergeant Biggs”), 37, of Ormond Beach, Florida; Zachary Rehl, 35, of Philadephia, Pennsylvania; and Charles Donohoe, 33, of Kernersville, North Carolina.

At least three of the four were spurred to action by the Big Lie.

On November 5, 2020, Biggs posted on social media: “It’s time for f**king War if they steal this sh*t.”

On November 16, 2020, Nordean posted: “What’s more disturbing to me than the Dems trying to steal this election, is how many people… just accepted Biden won, despite the obvious corruption… Luke warm Patriots are dangerous.”

On November 27, 2020, Nordean posted: “We tried playing nice and by the rules, now you will deal with the monster you created. The spirit of 1776 has resurfaced and has created groups like the Proudboys and we will not be extinguished. We will grow like the flame that fuels us and spread like the love that guides us. We are unstoppable, unrelenting and now … unforgiving. Good luck to all you traitors of this country we so deeply love … you’re going to need it.”

On the same day, as news broke that the Trump administration was hoping to bring back firing squads, Rehl posted: “Hopefully the firing squads are for the traitors that are trying to steal the election from the American people.”

After the attack, during which, according to the charging document, “approximately 81 members of the Capitol Police and 58 members of the Metropolitan Police Department were assaulted,” Nordean posted a message on social media saying: “[I]f you feel bad for the police, you are part of the problem. They care more about federal property (our property) than protecting and serving the people.” Rehl posted, “I’m proud as f**k what we accomplished yesterday, but we need to start planning and we are starting planning, for a Biden presidency.”

Meanwhile, the lawyer for Schaffer, the Indiana man, is trying to get leniency for his client by arguing that the man was encouraged by Trump. “People have the right to believe the highest elected official…. My client is not responsible for what happened on January 6.”

—-

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

[aprillikesthings]

I have bought my con pass and reserved a hotel room and will probably tonight buy the plane tickets to fly out to the east coast in late October to visit Daci and (hopefully, finally) meet @malafight, and attend Empire City Con! (Aka the Steven Universe Con, which changed name/location.) 

Which means 92 days until I see Daci again. I can do this. We can do this. 

Lol this will be my first time at a con with a significant other--I have mostly not wanted my boyfriends to come with me to cons, since that was my space to squeal about fandom in-jokes and flirt with my friends. But Daci will fit in just fine--seeing as they’re in the same fandom (I think they started watching SU before I did lol) and the whole reason we met is that I was a fan of one of their wives’ SU fics and had already reblogged some of their other wife’s SU fan art before I knew any of them...also I wanna see them flirt with my friends.  

But yeah we’re getting a room to ourselves in the con hotel For Reasons instead of my usual con habit of being in a two-bed room with four people in it. (Pricier, even with us not arriving until Friday, but worth it.)

Anyway I put a survey on my twitter as to what cosplays I should bring, and the results are a little surprising. (You can vote here if you’re on twitter, until the poll ends.)

I’m cracking up. Y’all know this is a Steven Universe convention, right? Right???

(In previous years I was actually kinda surprised at how few non-SU cosplays there were? I’m used to Sherlock cons, where there’s always cosplays from a bunch of adjacent fandoms. I do know of at least one person who’s planning a She-Ra cosplay this year. My guess is that all the people voting are friends of mine who’ve already seen my Amethyst and Peridot in person at least twice but haven’t seen my Espeon or Akali other than in photos!)

[p-and-p-admin]

Interview given to The Severus Snape and Hermione Granger Shipping Fan Group.  (sharing here Admin approved)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/199718373383293/ Hello CRMediaGal and welcome to Behind the Quill, thank-you for letting us get to know you a little better.

Many of our members will know your Unquestionable Love series. 

We’re grateful you can spend some time with us today. 

Okay, so let's jump into it!

What’s the story behind your pen name?

CR is an abbreviation for “cracked rendition” and that comes from the excerpt from a poem I’ve loved since I was young. Years ago, to help put myself through art college, I did web design on the side and called my little company Cracked Rendition Designs. When I created my pen name, I combined all of these elements together to make CRMediaGal (for some illogical reason I thought it was a solid name at the time lol) and, to this day, I still think about changing my pen name altogether.  I figure it’s too late for that now, though. 

Which Harry Potter character do you identify with the most?

Luna Lovegood. I wish I’d had her self-assurance and confidence in who she is at that age but, that aside, I identify with how she’s a bit of a loner, an oddball, and tends to be left out (or does until she finds her Hogwarts friends). I’ve really struggled with being an outsider most of my life, so it’s comforting to see that representation in literature but through a young woman who possesses the self-confidence people like myself often lack. 

Do you have a favourite genre to read? 

I tend to love period dramas, so a lot of the classic novels are my favourites (i.e. Austen, Henry James, etceteras).  

Do you have a favourite “classic” novel?

The Portrait of a Lady is one of my favourite novels.  I reread it every couple of years.  

At what age did you start writing? 

I’ve been writing since I was very little, so probably seven, eight, nine-ish? I used to be much more of an artist/sketcher than a writer, so I’d make up stories and write and sketch and staple them together all day long lol. 

How did you get into writing fanfiction?

After watching Deathly Hallows: Part 2 at the cinema in 2011.  Severus Snape’s death hit me hard all over again (I hadn’t read the last book in a few years), and I decided that I desperately needed to change that for myself lol.  Unquestionable Love is the first fanfic (SSHG) I ever wrote and it’s become an ongoing series, so I’m grateful to have gotten the “spark” to write fanfic from somewhere around that time.  I decided in 2011 to try my hand at “fleshing out” my little Snape family that had been mucking about in my head for much longer than that.

What's the best theme you've ever come across in a fic? Is it a theme represented in your own works?

I’m a total sucker for the brooding, self-loathing male who thinks himself unworthy of love and redemption and the sunshine, kick-arse lady, aka Centre of His World, who loves him back to life. #GimmeMorePleaseandThankYou

What fandoms are you involved in other than Harry Potter?

I’ve written fics for Star Wars (ReyBen/Reylo is another one of my favourite ships outside of SSHG), The Hobbit (Thranduil/Tauriel), and Les Miserables (Enjonine). 

If you could make one change to canon, what would it be? Do you have a favourite piece of fanon?

Severus Snape’s death (he’s NOT dead! #nope #denial4ever). 

My favourite piece of fanon is probably Severus being Draco’s godfather. Regardless of where it originated from, I’m all for it. 

Do you listen to music when you write or do you prefer quiet? 

I used to need complete solitude and quiet to write, but nowadays I can write with some instrumental music playing in the background.  It depends on where my headspace is at. 

What are your favourite fanfictions of all time? 

I don’t read much fanfic anymore, as it’s hard enough for me to find time for my own writing…but off the top of my head, I’d probably have to go with a “classic” - The Tattered Man (SSHG) by Aurette.  It’s gutting and heart-wrenching and doesn’t have a happy ending, but it’s a hauntingly beautiful piece that stays with you. 

Are you a plotter or a pantser? How does that affect your writing process?

I’m somewhere in the middle. I tend to plot out certain points I want to hit from chapter to chapter (if it’s a multi-chapter fic and heavy on plot, for instance), but writing is an organic process and I enjoy allowing my muse to surprise me as well.

What is your writing genre of choice? 

A good mixture of Angst and Fluff (and nearly always with a HEA!) 

Which of your stories are you most proud of? Why? 

I’m proud of all my stories for different reasons, mainly technical milestones I was able to achieve with the writing or the emotional attachments I had to them at the time that I wrote them.

If I had to choose one (or two because I gotta cheat here haha!), I’d go with either Unto Their Own (SSHG) because the subject matter was so dark and took me to places mentally that were very tough for me to navigate (the fact that I finished that fic is an achievement for me because it could have very well been abandoned at various points in the story); or Unquestionable Love (SSHG), both the original and the series as a whole, because that story has my heart entirely invested in it.  That precious family means everything to me and the story, from beginning to present, is my headcanon for the SSHG pairing.  I really can’t see them any other way, though I’ve written other stories where their lives turn out quite differently. 

Did it unfold as you imagined it or did you find the unexpected cropped up as you wrote? What did you learn from writing it?

Sticking with Unquestionable Love here, the original story came together mostly as expected, though there were a couple darker turns the fic was supposed to take that I didn’t have the heart--or the stamina, I suppose--to end up developing.  

One of my dear OCs/one of the daughters was supposed to die at one point in the story and I realised that doing so would have ultimately changed Severus’s fate, as well as the entire course of the storyline.  (There is just no way that UL!Severus would survive the death of one of his children, so I guess I’m no JK Rowling or any other esteemed writer who can just ruthlessly kill off their characters haha!) I’ve learned through writing this series that I can tackle subject matters that are very emotionally tough for me and that’s a good feeling.  

I’ve also learned that I have something to say, even if it’s not much heard or well-liked, and that that still makes my storytelling worthy of being out there in the fandomverse; or, at least, I try to remind myself that it’s okay to exist.

How personal is the story to you, and do you think that made it harder or easier to write?

It’s intensely personal in some respects and those aspects are difficult for me to discuss.  I’m not sure if I’ll ever be ready to talk about them in depth, but I will say a couple scenes in the latter half of Unquestionable Love were incredibly trying to write due to personal experience. I pushed through those moments, though, and I think that, because of that therapeutic exercise, I’m able to tackle other tough subjects in my stories more easily. 

What books or authors have influenced you? How do you think that shows in your writing?

I admire various writers, mainly for the love of the language that’s reflected in their writing styles.  Anne Rice immediately comes to mind.  If I had an ounce of her talent, I’d write with so much confidence lol. I don’t think writers like her necessarily affect my writing style, but they’re certainly people I aspire to write more like.  

Do people in your everyday life know you write fanfiction? 

Only more recently.  I haven’t really allowed any of them to read my work, as so much of it is deeply personal, but just being upfront with my closest friends and family has been a nice development.   

How true for you is the notion of “writing for yourself”? 

I think this is something, as a fic writer, that’s essential.  However, I’m also of the mindset that fandom is about community, and fanfic writers want to engage with their audiences.  We want to feel less alone in these wacky and often times complicated scenarios we put our characters through, and we want people to respond to them...hopefully, with a positive reaction. 

That’s what it’s all about--interaction--and it can be rather heartbreaking, as a writer, when you don’t receive engagement because maybe your headcanons or takes on characters aren’t popular or are considered outside of the ‘norm’. 

For me, I find it too crippling anymore to continue sharing my stories with the fandoms I love when they’re met with silence or hate.  There’s nothing more soul crushing than just being dismissed or disliked or not accepted...and that’s why I’ve chosen to post my stories privately (for now, at least).

How important is it for you to interact with your audience? How do you engage with them? Just at the point of publishing? Through social media?

It’s pretty essential to me to be able to engage with readers.  I absolutely love it and I wish it happened more often haha.  I used to run polls and interact with readers on my fanfiction.net and AO3 accounts (both now inactive) and through my still active Tumblr account (http://crmediagal.tumblr.com/ ).  I now have my own website - www.crmediagal.com - where I can fully control the flames and negativity. 

It may be temporary but, so far, it’s working out pretty well.  It’s made my readership a lot smaller but, at least, I know the people who are there genuinely want to read more of my work and won’t leave me hate comments.  That’s so comforting and encouraging.  

What would you most like your readers to take away with them when they've finished your stories?

A powerful message of some kind...remembrance...perhaps, suggest one or two of them to other readers and shippers out there.  

That’s the only way our stories survive, really. 

What is the best advice you’ve received about writing?

That you need to protect your “voice”, no matter how unpopular it may be, and that there is no one else who writes like you and that you should take pride in that.  

I try to remind myself of these important pointers when I’m feeling particularly down about my storytelling abilities. 

What do you do when you hit writer’s block?

Watch my favourite films or television shows to help re-spark my creativity.  I come back to the writing when it ‘speaks’ to me.  I no longer press myself to push out writing because, more often than not, the result is going to get tossed and reworked anyhow.  

Has anything in real life trickled down into your writing?

Yes, certain experiences and people I’ve encountered in my life have definitely wound up in some of my stories.  

Many of my OCs in different stories are examples of that. 

Do you have any stories in the works? Can you give us a teaser? 

I’m working on a new SSHG story that’s based off of a fun prompt from a dear, long-time reader.  

It will start posting at my website - www.crmediagal.com - in the coming weeks/months, so if anyone would like access to it, you can contact me there.  

Here’s a short excerpt:

Cradling his head in his hand, Severus stomped to his front door and opened it a crack, jostling the handle loud enough that it caught three people’s attention, the woman firstly before the others.  

“What’s the bloody idea?” he snarled, shouting above them.  

Each individual—two wizards and one witch—went mute and turned to stare from the neighbouring sidewalk.  

“I’ll have you know that this is a quiet street!  And I was sleeping!”  When the guests next door to him, who were just towing the property line and about to get themselves knocked out, offered no response, he prodded, grinding his teeth together, 

“Are you daft, you fools?  Do you not comprehend?  HEY!”

The two gentlemen, who appeared to be fresh out of Hogwarts—or maybe they hadn’t gotten that far in their magical studies, judging by the stupidity on their expressions—startled and nodded in unison.  

“Yes, sir!”

“Oh, my...” the witch, in turn, murmured, seemingly more to herself than anyone else.

Severus identified her vacant, open-mouthed expression at once: she recognised him.  As of yet, he had little recollection as to who she might be and didn’t give a damn.  He kicked his door open the rest of the way with his boot, jostling the three near trespassers backward a few more paces, and stalked down his steps and onto his sidewalk. 

That was when he finally understood the reason behind all of the commotion: one of the branches to the old oak tree that shielded his stoop, and had been there since the earliest days he could recall of his childhood, had crashed onto the pavement, cracking the sidewalk in half. 

A part of his iron fence, too, had crumbled under the weight of the broken branch, and there was an assortment of boxes, some severely banged up, scattered across his property. 

“What the...?  That’s my tree you idiots hit!  And my bleedin’ fence...!”

“I - I’m sorry, sir,” stammered the witch with wildly curly hair and worrisome brown eyes, hastily stepping forward to intervene.  

“I’ve been trying to figure out how this happened—”Severus turned his glare on her.  

“And who are you?”  The seemingly thirty-something woman blushed to her roots, which he couldn’t account for, until she spoke in a faint, insecure whisper, 

“Um, Hermione, sir...  Hermione Weasley.  Oh, gosh, I mean, I - I was Hermione Weasley until...”  She cleared her throat and attempted to reintroduce herself, flushing in such a manner that it flaunted dainty-looking freckles that dotted her cheeks and nose.  Had she always had those?  Severus couldn’t remember.  

“Oh, bother!  It’s Hermione Granger, Professor.  Surely, you...you remember me?”Severus went as rigid as a column.  

“Oh, for fuck’s sake...” he blurted aloud before he could stop himself. Hermione blinked, taken aback.  

“I’m sorry?”Severus’s shock morphed into a tight-fitting sneer.  

“I thought I was done with the lot of you.”

Any words of encouragement to other writers?

Try not to get too discouraged by lack of reviews or not making the recommendations lists.  Keep persevering and know that someone out there, even if it’s just one reader, will love what you have to share with the world.  

Thanks for spending some time with us today CRMediaGal, we’ve enjoyed getting to know you.

[livingcorner]

Fact or Fiction: Do Moth Balls Really Keep Snakes Away?

If you’re a fan of Samuel L. Jackson (and who isn’t?), you may think about snakes on a plane nearly every single time you board. Luckily, the chances of your next flight to LAX being filled with a thousand slithering serpents is unlikely. However, the odds of one showing up in your amazing and beautifully planned garden is much more likely. When you’ve put a lot of time and money into your tricked-out backyard, the last thing you want to do is be too afraid to enjoy it.

And plenty of people are afraid of snakes. According to a 2001 Gallup poll, a fear of snakes (aka “ophidiophobia”) tops the list of our nation’s greatest fears—51 percent of the population reports shivering in their gardening boots if they espy one wriggling by. And while getting rid of snakes may not be as easy as getting rid of fruit flies or ants, the process doesn’t have to be too scary. Read on to get every single snake question you’ve ever had answered.

You're reading: Fact or Fiction: Do Moth Balls Really Keep Snakes Away?

Are all snakes poisonous?

For the most part, snakes are not your enemy! The vast majority of snakes are harmless and most, even those that are poisonous, can be beneficial. Snakes are a key species in the food chain. They eat rodents, such as mice and rats. So if you can stomach it, leave them to do their thing. And keep in mind, they are probably just as afraid of you as you are of them!

How to get rid of copperhead snakes

If you see a copperhead or any poisonous snake in your yard, gather up the kids and pets and retreat to the house immediately! Do not try and kill it on your own. In some areas animal control or the local fire department may help remove the offending critter. If this isn’t an option where you live, do an internet search for a pest removal company. Make sure that they have expertise/experience in dealing with snakes.

How to get rid of garden snakes

Don’t! But if you must, start by giving the snake a chance to move on. If he insists on sticking around give him a squirt with the garden hose. This will usually encourage him to wiggle away.

What is a natural snake repellent?

Your best bet is to keep your yard clean and tidy. Other than removing their preferred habitat, there are no proven natural snake repellents.

Read more: Life after bowel cancer – Bowel Cancer Australia

What smell do snakes hate?

Rumor has it that snakes hate the smell of ammonia, and if you soak rags in it, put them in plastic bags, and scatter them outside your house, it will cause snakes to stay away. This is highly unscientific and untested. Again, probably best to just keep your yard neat.

Do moth balls really keep snakes away?

Nope. This is a myth. All they’ll do is stink and fill your yard with poisonous chemicals.

How do you get rid of snakes inside your house?

If you have a snake inside, you likely have a mouse, so the first step would be to call a pest control company. They can safely remove the snake, determine if you have a rodent problem, and then take the necessary steps to solve it.

How do you make a DIY snake trap?

Don’t use glue traps. They are cruel and can harm pets. To determine the best trap for your offender, call your local animal wildlife officer or state wildlife agency.

Once you’ve caught and removed the snake, find and seal any cracks in the foundation that are greater than 1/4 inch. Make sure all windows and doors are tight, including screens. Cover vents and drains with a tight galvanized mesh screen.

Andreas AltenburgerGetty Images

Okay, I hear you. Anything else I should know?

Before you reach for the garden hoe, head to the book shelf and grab a copy of your snake identification book. Don’t have one? The internet can help, too. You need to determine whether your snake is poisonous. If he’s not, you could simply head back inside the house, lock the door, and wait for him to go on his merry way. As stated above snakes, are an essential part of a healthy environment.

But if you want that snake gone right now, here are a few tricks for keeping them out of your home.

Tidy up the yard. A snake’s favorite snack is a rodent. Remove the food, and the snakes won’t come around anymore. Additionally, snakes like to burrow, so eliminate rock and wood piles and keep sheds orderly. Keep the grass short. Not only are snakes are less likely to lounge in short grass, but they will also be easier to spot.

Read more: 6 Tips for Painting a Metal Shed | DoItYourself.com

Get rid of the bird feeder. Mice love bird seed. Snakes love mice.

Feed pets inside. Any stray bit of kibble may attract mice. As we’ve mentioned, mice attract snakes.

Install a snake-proof fence. If you live in an area that has a high number of venomous snakes, you can install a snake-proof fence or snake-proof an existing one. This process can vary depending on the kinds of snakes you’re attracting and the region where you live.

For a new fence: Snakes can climb, so install your fence at an outward angle (The North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension recommends a 30 degree angle from top to bottom) with the supports on the inside of the fence. Attach a tight wire mesh (1/4-inch openings or less) to the fence and make sure it extends at least 6 inches into the ground and 30 inches up the fence.

For an existing fence: Keep in mind that this works best with a fence that is made from tight wood slats. Start by installing the wire mesh as mentioned above. Next install a slick surface (such as metal flashing) at the top, outside, and edge of the fence. This will cause a snake trying to climb up and over the fence to lose its grip and (hopefully) fall to the ground.

Keep branches at bay. As mentioned, snakes can climb, so prevent them from dropping into your yard from branches (talk about heebie-jeebies!) by trimming away any overhanging tree branches.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

Source: https://livingcorner.com.au Category: Garden

source https://livingcorner.com.au/fact-or-fiction-do-moth-balls-really-keep-snakes-away/

[vileart]

Gun Dramaturgy: Texas Woman’s University @ Edfringe 2017

Guns, Colleges and Texas…What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

July 10, 2017 – DENTON – As of August 1, 2016 it became legal to carry a concealed weapon on a college campus in Texas.  Every private campus in Texas declined the “privilege.”  Every public campus was forced to comply in spite of universal resistance from university administrators.  

What was the inspiration for this performance?

We were inspired by the passage of Texas Senate Bill #11 aka Campus Carry.  SB 11 went into effect on August 1, 2016.  Over the summer prior to that, horrific acts of gun violence seemingly occurred at weekly if not daily intervals.  This violence hit particular close to home in July of 2016 when Micah Johnson used a Black Lives Matter rally in downtown Dallas as an excuse to assassinate five police officers.  

We wanted to have an opportunity to say something in the public sphere about the insane logic that seems to have gripped all American conversations and debates regarding guns and gun control. 

As all public campuses in Texas were opposed to the Campus Carry law and all public campuses were summarily ignored and silenced during the legislative process that brought about the law, we saw the theatre as a place where, in our own small way, we could add our voices.  

Is performance still a good space for the public discussion of ideas? 

We certainly think it is.  But I think it requires both actors and audience to understand that part of discussion means active listening.  In a world where it has become absurdly easy to only listen to your own opinion echoed back to you this is perhaps a very big thing to ask. 

At least within the creation process, I know that the actors and designers were put into a position wherein they had to listen past their own biases to try and get at a point being made by a colleague.  

In and of itself I think that is valuable. 

There is something volatile and alive about the performance space that makes it work as a site of discussion too.  Before we debuted Gun Show in November of 2016, we produced Anouilh’s  Antigone in October. This was in the run up to the presidential election.  However, the production did not have an “American” or “election” setting. 

After one performance, an audience member, moved by what she had seen, stood up in front of the house and reminded everyone to vote, that the stakes were too high not too and that she would personally drive anyone in the house to the polls if they needed the ride. 

The actors, still on stage from the curtain call, were caught off guard, as was the audience.  Yet, that engagement and public interaction can only occur in the theatre.

How did you become interested in making performance?

I became involved in performance at a young age through a community arts center. I think my story is reflected in the stories of my students.  

Many of them too were first exposed to the live performance through a community theatre or arts center. I think it is the desire to create and tell stories and to connect with others that motivates us all.  In the case of the theatre program at Texas Woman’s University, I decided a long time ago that we would be as committed to creating new works as we are to revisiting the classics.  This means that devising and new play development play a fairly central role in our curriculum and programmatic offerings.

Is there any particular approach to the making of the show?

This show was devised by the theatre students and faculty.  A summer was spent in researching the topic and creating various scenes, vignettes and scenarios.  After that, our playwright (Steven Young) took many of the ideas from the summer and shaped them with some of his own ideas coming into play as well.  During the fall, I organized a devising theatre course and we took all of the material and began to workshop it in class.

Does the show fit with your usual productions?

It does and it doesn’t.  We do try to devise a new theatre piece once every three years or so and we do have a dedication to bringing new works to the stage. That being said, this piece is perhaps a bit more politically engaged than other works we have done.  In terms of a style again it fits

and it doesn’t.  We try to offer our students exposure to many different styles in there time studying with us.  As such, it certainly fits.

What do you hope that the audience will experience?

I hope the audience gets a sense that the opinions on guns held by Americans is so much more varied than is commonly seen in the public forum.  Hopefully , there is a sense of how these students wrestle with this issue and find it incomprehensible that a civil debate about guns and gun control is seemingly impossible.  I think many people in the UK look at the American obsession with guns and just scratch their heads in bewilderment.  

This piece can in no way undo that confusion (no piece can, I think) but perhaps it can at least show that there are Americans just as flummoxed and frustrated by the situation and who would like to see the problem handled honestly.

What strategies did you consider towards shaping this audience experience?

We knew that some references and characters that we employed in November before an American audience would not read in front of a non-American audience.  We took some time in revisiting the show to clear up those references.  We also thought long and hard about some aspect of audience participation as a way of making a statement about guns.  

In the end we decided this was way too manipulative (in an issue that is already too prone to questionable manipulation) and kept the audience as traditional observers to the action onstage.

In response to the political pretzel logic that brought about “campus carry” Texas Woman’s University Drama Program devised Gun Show, an original play created with the collaboration of TWU Drama students, director Patrick Bynane and Associate Professor Steven Young. 

The ensemble researched America’s love, obsession and anxiety with guns and gun culture focusing on two of the most infamous mass shootings in state history: the 1966 tower shooting in Austin and the 2016 Dallas police ambush.  

Gun Show presents a kaleidoscopic collection of scenes and vignettes that explore our sometimes funny, sometimes scary and frequently reason-defying relationship with guns. 

Previews are Aug 4th and 5th and performances run Aug. 7-14.  All performance times are 10.20 and are located at Lime Studio at Greenside at Nicolson Square, Venue 209.

from the vileblog http://ift.tt/2vwd9oL

[leonardsali]

Mother’s Day: Expectations vs. Realities

Melissa

Most mothers have some expectations about our Mother’s Day plans and celebrations. Many of us envision sleeping in, being served breakfast in bed by the kids and handed flowers by our doting husband or partner. Everyone is all smiles and ready for a perfect day..….until a dose of reality hits as soon as we walk out of the bedroom door and the day really begins!

Our Dreams

Each year, my husband and a few of his friends try to plan a guy’s weekend. When he tells me that they finally found a weekend where everyone was free, I had to send him right back to the calendar. The weekend appeared open to all four men because the weekend they had in mind was Mother’s Day weekend. That would certainly not be a dream Mother’s Day for me!

I polled some fellow mothers about what their “dream” Mother’s Day would bring. Here’s what a few had to say:

With a 3 year old and 3 month old at home, all I want is a full night of sleep, for the kids to nap and go to bed with ease, and some extra help taking care of the “can you help me…” and “I wants…” – just for the day, hah!

Wake up in a swanky hotel that I slept in alone, ordering room service that I eat while it’s still hot with no one touching me, and then spending the day alternating between the hot tub with a good book and Netflix.

Breakfast in bed, spending the day at the beach with kiddo and husband where I get to sit with my eyes closed in the sun and don’t have to toddler-wrangle or put sunscreen on anyone other than myself.

The dream would be brunch at an over-the-top brunch place, mimosa are a must! Then I would spend the whole afternoon at the spa getting a massage, mud soak, and manicure/pedicure.

Personally, my deepest desire year after year is to simply crawl out of bed, drink a large cup of hot coffee and tackle the LA Times Sunday crossword puzzle, which is my guilty pleasure. Usually the outcome is plopping that cup down on the crossword puzzle so I can head off to play referee between the kids..…only to come back to a cold cup of coffee and a crossword puzzle with a big coffee ring mark!

Our Realities

I want to believe that if our husbands/significant others and children had all the power in the world, they would try to offer us our dream day. Reality is….that isn’t reality. This is reality:

One year our fridge broke on Mother’s Day. All the plans I had to relax were gone as I quickly shopped for a new fridge. This stressed my husband out, which in hand stressed me out and I think I yelled at him that he was ruining my day.

Our elementary school has a “Mother’s Day Boutique” each year for the students to purchase small gifts. There were two years where my children both attended the school before my son graduated. Two years in a row, I received the same “I LOVE MOM” pens from both kids! I realized that I took it for granted because during my son’s first year of middle school, I jokingly asked him what he was going to buy me and he said…”Nothing – middle school doesn’t have a Mother’s Day Boutique.”

I’m thrilled to have my own mother and mother-in-law to celebrate with. It’s truly a blessing, but often the day is split in two – half with my mom and half with my mother-in-law. Selfishly, I want to raise my hand to say “I’m a mom too!” By the time I get home that night I’m exhausted and feel a little bit neglected!

One year, we spent hours upon hours at the zoo on what had to be the hottest Mother’s Day in record. I’m telling you – the giraffe at the zoo received more attention than I did. And I don’t even think she was a mom.

My husband works in retail management, so he works on Mother’s Day to give the women/mothers he works with the day off. So it’s just me and my toddler hanging out for the day. Last year we went out for breakfast and went to the mall for a bit of shopping. I grabbed some of my favorite Lebanese food on the way home, put my son down for his nap and enjoyed my 2-hour nap break with some yummy food and Netflix! I am pretty sure this is 100% what we will be doing again this year… falafels included!

Afternoon tea and golf with the kid and husband sounded like a good idea. Unfortunately, they argue when they play golf and don’t know how to sit still for a decent cup of tea.

Anyone who has children in spring sports knows that the schedules are hectic and the weather is unpredictable. Games often get rained out – which results in make-up games at the crack of dawn on Mother’s Day.

Let’s face it. Mother’s Day is on a Sunday. The weekends are our time to do errands. Raise your hand if you’ve done laundry and food shopping on Mother’s Day.

Honestly, I don’t even care that much. But for the love of all things, make them stop asking me, “What do you want to do for Mother’s Day?” “What do you want for Mother’s Day?” I’m not that hard to please, people. Do I have to plan this too?

I think I leave enough hints around and mention things that would be fun to do. But, already thinking I should make the reservations for the “what I want to do” before it is all booked up!

My 3 year old is generally a good sleeper, but somehow she knows when it’s a special occasion or a big day the next day and surprises us with a middle of the night wake-up!

An attempt at me sleeping in, but me being woken up by my husband shouting, “Be quiet! Don’t wake up Mommy!” followed by “brunch” somewhere kid-friendly (AKA fast food). Later I might get to close my eyes for a second while some cartoon is on in the background only to wake up to a messy house. The day will probably end with me stepping on a Lego. But with hugs and kisses reminding me it’s all worth it.

My husband gave our then 10 year old some money to buy a Mother’s Day present. He sent him into the drugstore and said to purchase something nice, but useful. He proudly emerges with a box of hair dye. When my husband questioned him, our 10 year old’s response was…”You said to buy something useful. Mom uses this.” Needless to say, that “gift” was not presented to me.

About 15 years ago my family gifted me with a gadget as seen on TV called the Perfect Pancake. I spent MY special day cooking for them. The best part was, when I used the handle to flip the pan, the device split into pieces, with screws and batter flying all over the place. Some gift

Last year was my first Mother’s Day and it monsooned the entire day. We got at least 100 inches of rain in 12 hours and it was in the 40’s out. I had dreamed up a beautiful day spent in the park with my husband and almost 1 year old where we’d have a picnic and play all day. Instead, we had a picnic in our basement near the litter box and the running washing machine and my son ate almost all of the best cheese that my husband had picked out. We still had a fun day, but it wasn’t quite what I was expecting.

For my first Mother’s Day I received a bag of coffee beans because my husband said I looked like I could use the caffeine (we didn’t even have a grinder, but we did have a baby who never slept). Known for his “jokes” I waited all day for my real gift to surface…I’m still waiting. I have, however, received 22 years worth of priceless handmade cards and gifts from my kids. It doesn’t let their dad off the hook for that obvious lapse in judgment, but it does make every Mother’s Day complete.

As many a mom can attest to, Mother’s Day itself does not always turn out as magical as we would have hoped. If you happen to experience an event similar to some of the “realities” above know that you are not alone. Hopefully you can smile and laugh about it one day too. Even if it is tough to believe at the time, it is all out of love. Your family just wants to be with YOU to celebrate all that YOU mean to them. At the end of the day, I know that I wouldn’t trade any of it. I don’t think any of us would. Happy Mother’s Day to all! I hope your day is a special as you are!

My name is Melissa – I’m a native New Yorker and the mother of two school-aged children. My son is in middle school and my daughter is in elementary school and they are both Bright Horizons alumni. I love working for an organization that has meant so much to our family. As an Enrollment Counselor, I assist families with the enrollment process for our centers in NYC. What a way to pay it forward! Having been through the incredible Bright Horizons experience as parent, from infants all the way through Kindergarten Prep, I’m so happy to be able to share some of my views and experiences with The Family Room community.

What to Read Next:

Read more posts about Mother’s Day from The Family Room bloggers including mom Lisa’s tribute to motherhood: the adventure of a lifetime.

Read more posts from Melissa including The Return to Work Challenge: Helpful Hints for New Parents.

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