#it was like DT meets among us it was great they all had their little tasks while aliens attacked

[justaboot]

Had to run an on-the-fly, one hour session for my DnD class, and only half the kids were there.

Gave those suckers new sci-fi character sheets, assigned them jobs (engineer, pilot, medic), slapped down a battlemap of the Spear of Selene’s crash site and made them “escape the moon” before the bell rang.

Bonus moon mite, of course, and they ended up escaping with the baby (voluntarily on a nat20) the SECOND the bell rang. Lots of cheering and screaming.

[partly-cloudyskies]

Team Magic Star Wars AU

I mean, the thing about SW and DT is, like, lasers robots airspaceplanes. They’re a lot alike. They have completely ludicrous premises, a lot of the same cultural baggage, both owned by Disney and the characters in both of them have absolutely ridiculous names (ain’t none of you can say that “Darth Magica” is a silly name, not when “Darth Sidious” is a thing. “Plagueis”? Come on). So yeah, why not. Let’s do this.

First of all, setting is the Old Republic era. You know, when Jedi and Sith were plentiful and the entire universe didn’t revolve around a single Jedi bloodline lots of wild shit happened.

Also I still have some fond memories of the MMO

Webby

Like, Mandalorian. I tried to imagine her as a Jedi and just, like, no way. Most Ducktales character would make awful Jedi. Which isn’t a strike against any of them. But Webby? She’d be the least suitable. I mean, like, don’t get me wrong, she’s absolutely in love with their laser swords but she wears her emotions on her sleeve and being a part of a repressive monastic bunch would just be so unkind to her. 

she’s a Mandolorian through and through. She’s got a jetpack, a grapple hook, a wrist-mounted flamethrower, a cluster of mini-rockets in a special compartment in her shoulder pads. So many knives.

Also she customizes the hell out of her armor. A bit like Sabine from Rebels, if Sabine were allowed to have a character or an arc or development of any kind or...

Webby roughs it on hostile planets with her Granny who she trains under and basically blazes a white-hot line of fire through the galaxy having a great time as a mercenary-in-training. A tragic past? I mean, it’s Star Wars, so yeah, but Webby isn’t going to let that slow her down. She’s wide-eyed taking in every wonder the galaxy throws her way, alternatively punching or befriending every alien she finds at every galactic pit stop. Learning the ins and outs of mercenary work from her Granny while they cruise between stars in their little spaceship. As far as Webby is concerned, she is living the best possible life. She’s got a ship, a teacher, heavy munitions, a list of bounties. As far as she’s concerned she wants for nothing.

Lena

Until she meets Lena. At first glance the two couldn’t be more different and by rights the two would have nothing to do with each other, but the Mandalorians have been reliable enforcers for the Sith in the past, so when Darth Magica needs to hire some muscle for an expedition into Republic space she scrolls through her database of mercenaries and while Bentina has a reputation for being a bit stuffy for a merc, she also has a reputation for getting results and being unstoppable in battle.

Bentina’s annoying chirpy little student possesses more curiosity than a gun-for-hire really ought to have, but Magica is not about to concern herself with grubby little nobodies. This leaves wrangling the miscreant to Magica’s Sith apprentice, Lena.

Lena’s used to stomping out the fires that her master leaves behind. Darth Magica had always been more of a big picture kind of Sith Lord, leaving Lena to take care of little oversights before they become massive problems. Not that this would spare Lena from Magica’s wrath whenever a plan turned sour. Under Magica’s instruction, Lena has become furtive and resentful, her anti(auntie, haha)-authoritarian streak beaten down into a smoldering rebellion she expressed in little ways that skirted the line. Lena’s miserable under Magica, but her talents in the Force are undeniable. 

More adept at throwing lightning than swinging a saber, Lena taps into the wellspring of her emotions to twist the Force to do her bidding and she does it with a raw talent and strength that marks her as a rising star with the makings of a true Sith Lord.

If only she would focus her anger and stop being distracted by that pesky mercenary’s granddaughter. Her master would be fully within her rights to consign Lena to some torture chamber somewhere to instill some discipline except Lena has...

Violet

To cover for her and raise the alarm whenever Darth Magica is stomping down the corridor.

Initially thought to have only average Force potential, Violet was taken to the Sith academy at Korriban primarily to be tutored by its Sith archivists to catalog the archaeological finds among the tombs of the old lords. Brought to Korriban on the same shuttle as Lena, the two forged a bond surviving the nonstop backstabbing common among their peers as well as the abuse of their master.

It was in the backdrop of this brutal education where Violet demonstrated an unexpected knack in lightsaber combat that earns her a spot alongside Lena in more rigorous training. The two quickly earn the colorful title of “Saberwing Sisters” as they demonstrate excellent synergy together.

This synergy extends beyond combat, for while Violet has a talent for the saber and an aptitude for decoding ancient Sith artifacts, she lacks Lena’s instinct and ability to navigate the deadly politics of Sith intrigue. The two keep one another alive, and while basic survival is all Lena feels she can hope for, Violet  strives for more in life than servitude towards one master or another.

She sees her opportunity when Darth Magica hires the Mandalorian mercenary Bentina. Despite Lena’s best efforts, she can’t hide her fascination with Webby from Violet, and this gives Violet inspiration enough to plot a way to break Lena free of servitude from Magica and bring them both to freedom.

[junker-town]

2021 NFL Mock Draft: Complete first round

Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images

A complete first-round Mock Draft following the end of the regular season.

With the regular season in the rear view mirror we now turn our attention to the NFL Draft. There’s still a lot unknown about the format it will take, how the scouting combine will proceed (if at all), or whether the world will be in a place where we can have people attend live. But outside of those unknowns we do know what order non-playoff teams will be drafting, and today we dive into who may be selected.

No. 1: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson — Jacksonville Jaguars

The sweepstakes are over, the dust has settled, and the Jaguars have won the prize. Quarterback definitely isn’t Jacksonville’s biggest need, and Gardner Minshew has played pretty well in 2020, but chances like this don’t come along very often.

Lawrence is the most polished, lock No. 1 QB since Andrew Luck entered the league in 2012. The Clemson passer has proven he can work under pressure, make plays, and be the face of a franchise for years to come. The Jaguars are lucky.

No. 2: Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon — New York Jets

There was seemingly no doubt the Jets would end up with Trevor Lawrence for much of the season, but wins took them out of the No. 1 pick conversation. It’s temping to simply shuffle them down a peg and take the next best quarterback, but deep down I think New York know that just taking quarterbacks is like shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic.

Penei Sewell is a safe pick, and he’s ludicrously talented too. At the very least it’ll give the offense some support so they can determine if Sam Darnold has a future, or whether it’ll be time to cut bait in 2021.

No. 3: Devonta Smith, WR, Alabama — Miami Dolphins (via Texans)

The Dolphins are in one of the best positions in the NFL with a luxury almost nobody gets: Being a near-playoff team with a Top 3 pick. At this point Miami has its QB of the future, it has a solid base, now it’s time to get weapons.

Adding Devonta Smith is a dream come true. A receiver so good he’s Heisman worthy, with a history of working with Tua Tagovailoa. The handcuff is cute, but the pick makes too much sense. I think this is a piece of the puzzle that can really take the Dolphins to the next level.

No. 4: Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State — Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons have a lot of needs, especially in the secondary, but it’s important to realize all those comically blown leads also means this team is close as constructed. I don’t think Atlanta is really as bad as their record showed, so the smart move is to solidify the future.

Regime change is on the Falcons’ minds, but it doesn’t need to be immediate. Justin Fields could sit behind Matt Ryan for a year, get used to the NFL and get the development he needs to be ready to take over. It’s a great scenario for everyone involved, and getting a QB of this caliber without needing to trade is too good to pass up.

No. 5: Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU — Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals would love to get Sewell or Smith in this spot, but the draft didn’t quite break for them. It’s not like this is a sob story though, because Ja’Marr Chase is a heck of a player who we know has chemistry with Joe Burrow.

Chase totaled 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns with Burrow at LSU in 2019. A.J. Green is getting older (and growing weary of the rebuild), the Bengals need to upgrade their receiving corps, and need to get Burrow more help. This pick fits all those needs.

No. 6: Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State — Philadelphia Eagles

Photo by William Purnell/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Philadelphia needs help in a lot of areas, and while wide receiver might be the biggest area that needs improvement, I don’t have the mock breaking in a way where it’s in the team’s best interest.

Pass rushing is a key need for the Eagles as well, and getting Parsons from their own backyard will help in that regard. Arguably the best pure pass rusher in the class, I don’t think him skipping the 2020 season will really hurt. I think it’s a trap to think Parsons can only excel in a 3-4 base defense, with coordinators getting more creative in using weapons. With a player this good you just take him, and work out how to slot him in later.

No. 7: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama — Detroit Lions

Death. Taxes. The Lions taking first round receivers. I’m sure it’s a bummer that Detroit will have to settle for the third best in the class, but Jaylen Waddle fits what the team likes to do on offense.

A smaller, shiftier wide receiver, Waddle is a playmaker who just needs the ball in his hands to make an impact. That makes him a receiver who can fit with any quarterback, whether that’s Matthew Stafford or someone new.

No. 8: Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida — Carolina Panthers

I know there’s an allure to giving Carolina a quarterback here, especially with Zach Wilson still on the board, and Teddy Bridgewater looking like he’s not the guy, but ultimately I think Matt Rhule wants to get players he really believes in, and is willing to wait for them.

Years of Panthers success on offense were dictated by the receiving skills of Greg Olsen. Kyle Pitts has a similar skillset and could quickly become a league-defining tight end, among the best in the league. With the Panthers receivers set, I see this being a way to round out their offense, giving Bridgewater more time to prove if he can be the guy or not.

No. 9: Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern — Denver Broncos

Denver is a much better team on paper than a lot of people gave them credit for. Drew Lock is really developing into a nice quarterback, they have pieces on both side of the ball to make plays, but it’s the little things this team lacks that’s hurting them.

In a perfect world the Broncos would trade down a little with a team wanting a quarterback jumping up, but for the sake of this exercise I have they staying put and drafting a rangy, reliable offensive tackle to help fix their line. Rashawn Slater is an athletic, excellent tackle who won’t be a sexy pick, but it’ll be the right one.

No. 10: Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech — Dallas Cowboys

Dallas wasn’t bad against the pass, in fact, far from it — but this is a need meets BPA pick that can’t be ignored. The Cowboys are facing massive turnover in their secondary this offseason, and are in dire need of help. That help comes in the form of the best defensive back taken.

Caleb Farley has speed, strength, excellent football IQ and an ability to make plays. Virginia Tech were confident enough to give him little help, and still he excelled. The NFC East will be a mess for a while, but Farley is a difference maker who could turn the tide.

No. 11: Kwity Paye, DT, Michigan — New York Giants

This might be the safest, most obvious pick of the first round outside of Trevor Lawrence going to Jacksonville. The Giants need an elite defensive tackle to round out their burgeoning defense, and general manager Dave Gettleman has an endless love of big tackles.

Kwity Paye had the power to hold the middle, and the skills to get into the backfield. He’s not dissimilar to Kawann Short, who Gettleman drafted in Carolina and quickly became of of their best defensive players. Paye has even more upside, and could be an anchor on the line for a long, long time.

No. 12: Zach Wilson, QB, BYU — San Francisco 49ers

Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images

It’s been so tempting to give Zach Wilson to numerous teams before, but here we are. The 49ers are at a crossroads. They’re a year removed from being one of the best teams in the NFL, and 2020 really derailed everything.

That also means there’s an opportunity here, much like Atlanta, to draft higher than they probably deserve. It’s unclear if Jimmy Garoppolo can stay healthy enough to be a franchise player, but if anyone can unlock Wilson in the NFL it’s Kyle Shanahan. The foundation is in place to make him succeed, now it’s time to execute.

No. 13: Wyatt Davis, OG, Ohio State — Los Angeles Chargers

This was supposed to be a full rebuilding year for Los Angeles. Very little was expected, and 2020 was mostly about getting Justin Herbert reps, and making him feel comfortable. However, nobody expected Herbert to be as good as he was this season, which pushes the priority completely on protecting Herbert.

Los Angeles really needs a tackle more than a guard, but the talent isn’t quite there. Wyatt Davis is versatile enough to play along the line, and helps solidify the middle. I know this is early for a guard, but Davis is worth it.

No. 14: Patrick Surtain II, CB, Miami — Minnesota Vikings

Goodness, where do we begin on this one? The Vikings need a lot of help on defense. In fact, they need a lot of help everywhere — but with questionable options on the OL I have them addressing the mammoth problems with the secondary.

Minnesota gutted its secondary for seemingly no reason, allowing talented players to walk and hurting the team in the process. Patrick Surtain II has the pedigree, and the talent to start fixing those issues.

No. 15: Mac Jones, QB, Alabama — New England Patriots

I have this being my obligatory draft “shocker.”

I know everyone has Trey Lance ranked higher, but I can’t shake the feeling that a late-career Bill Belichick won’t be that interested in taking on a project QB, especially with someone as reliable as Mac Jones available.

The ceiling is definitely lower, but he’s a safe, proven commodity. The Patriots have no quarterback to speak of at this point, and there’s a scenario here where Jones can start from Day 1. It’s not like the Patriots to take a QB early, but these are weird times.

No. 16: Alijah Vera-Tucker, OG, USC — Arizona Cardinals

Similar to the Chargers, the Cardinals would probably rather a tackle be on the board. There’s a good chance they go defense here, but we know Arizona is an offensive team first, and that’s where the priority is.

Alijah Vera-Tucker will hold the middle, protect Kyler Murray, and solidify the base. This team has sizzle, now this is a beef.

No. 17: Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami — Las Vegas Raiders

It’s unheard of to have one of the best pure pass rushers in the draft go this low. That’s not a testament to Gregory Rousseau’s talent, but rather that other teams have bigger fish to fry.

Rousseau has the athleticism and speed we know Jon Gruden craves out of players, and he’s versatile enough to help across the board. A solid addition for a team that ranked 29th in sacks.

No. 18: Trey Smith, OG, Tennessee — Miami Dolphins

I’m a big time believer in Tua Tagovailoa, and don’t fully get why anyone is doubting him. At this point it’s all about putting gas on the fire, and after getting a top-tier receiver, now Miami can turn to helping the line and adding some protection.

This could easily be a tackle, like Christian Darrishaw or Jalen Mayfield, but ultimately I think this big, road-grading guard offers a little more top-end talent, something Miami needs.

No. 19: Christian Darrishaw, OT, Virginia Tech — Washington Football Team

Do you know who’ll quarterback this team in 2021? I sure don’t. Let that be a future problem.

Ron Rivera is a risk-averse head coach (despite his “Riverboat Ron” billing), and to that end I think Washington takes an excellent, unremarkable player who simply makes their team better.

No. 20: Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan — Chicago Bears

I have a hard time really knowing what the future holds for the Bears. Just when you think you have Mitchell Trubisky figured out, he wows you, then lets you down, then wows you again.

For now, I think Chicago banks on him being the guy for just a little longer. Part of that evaluation process involves getting him more protection, and Jalen Mayfield is a guy who can really help.

No. 21: Pat Freiermuth, TE, Penn State — Jacksonville Jaguars (via Rams)

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: Young quarterbacks need tight ends.

With Trevor Lawrence locked down, Pat Freiermuth seems like an amazing option here. He’s such a talented blocker that it’s easy to confuse him with a sixth offensive lineman, and the dude can catch when needed. That provided a hell of a lot of safety for a rookie QB, and someone who he can grow, and rely on.

No. 22: Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue — Indianapolis Colts

Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Rondale Moore definitely doesn’t have ideal size, but the Colts are used to working around that with T.Y. Hilton. This pick hinges entirely on whether Indianapolis brings back their top receiver, but even if they do, I think Moore is a solid pick.

A small, shifty receiver — he’s able to find gaps and make big plays, just like Hilton. This is a case where the team match could be all the difference, and I see Indianapolis being able to use him.

No. 23: Nick Bolton, LB, Missouri — Cleveland Browns

The Browns are back in the playoffs, and that’s glorious. The one thing this team still lacks is consistency. Sure, there’s a lot of excitement on both sides of the ball, but that tends to wax and wane from game to game.

Nick Bolton is the kind of player who will help solidify the defense, and allow players around him to shine. That’s a characteristic often underrated.

No. 24: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame — Baltimore Ravens

I don’t know where Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah will end up in the NFL. Will he be a linebacker? Will he move to safety? It doesn’t really matter in the long run, as long as he goes to a team willing to embrace his talent.

Perhaps nobody is better suited to finding a place for him to play than the Ravens, who are less concerned with archetypes, as they are making plays. Owusu-Koramoah makes plays by the bunches, and I think that will be enough to get him into the first round. Heck, if he had a more solidified size I think he’d go Top 10.

No. 25: Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama — Tennessee Titans

The Titans are the best playoff team without a pass rush. Christian Barmore doesn’t exactly solve that problem, but he makes everyone’s line on the line easier.

Tennessee doesn’t really have a lot of needs outside of the defensive line, so let’s sort this out quickly.

No. 26: Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota — New York Jets (via Seahawks)

I’m applying a lot of the same logic here as I did the No. 2 pick. My money is on the Jets taking one more year under a new coach to evaluate Sam Darnold, and to do that effectively, he needs weapons.

Bateman is one of those guys who doesn’t burst off the screen with every play, but you see how many ways he can excel in the NFL. He’s similar to Michael Thomas in that way, and that’s a hell of a compliment.

No. 27: Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State — Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tom Brady won’t last forever. In fact, he might not last another full season, depending on who you ask. There’s no doubt we’ve hit the twilight years of No. 12’s career, which means it’s time to have a plan in place once he’s gone.

Tampa Bay is still firmly in “win now” mode, but that doesn’t mean they should ignore the future. Trey Lance is a little raw, but if he can find his way in the NFL the sky is the limit. Give him a season to sit behind Brady and learn the NFL, and if that turns into a couple of years, you still know the future is secure.

No. 28: Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson — Pittsburgh Steelers

Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

It’s so bizarre to see a Steelers team in the playoffs without a ground game identity. Pittsburgh has tried, and failed a few different experiments since saying goodbye to Le’Veon Bell, and now it’s time to fix the issue.

Travis Etienne isn’t the classic, bruising Steeler running back we’re used to, but we saw what the team was able to do with DeAngelo Williams as his career winded down. Etienne has elite speed at the position, and an ability to make plays from the backfield. Pittsburgh needs that.

No. 29: Derion Kendrick, CB, Clemson — New Orleans Saints

New Orleans may be living on borrowed time when it comes to quarterback, but this is too low to take a risk and the team is still too good. Getting a cornerback like Derion Kendrick helps keep the Saints competitive in the division, and shut down the next generation of quarterbacks entering the NFC South.

No. 30: Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas — Buffalo Bills

At this point Buffalo is simply looking for the last pieces of the puzzle. They have the quarterback, the talent all over the roster, and getting some future protection for Josh Allen has to be the priority.

Samuel Cosmi might not have elite athleticism, but he’s incredibly smart. When you have an athletic quarterback like Allen you don’t need raw power, as much as you need someone who won’t make mistakes.

No. 31: Jevon Holland, S, Oregon — Green Bay Packers

Holland is a little difficult to project at the next level, but what he has can’t be taught: An innate ability to local, and play the ball in the air — paired with a willingness to take part in run defense.

A bit of a Swiss Army Knife player, Holland projects well into the Packers’ defense.

No. 32: Deonte Brown, OG, Alabama — Kansas City Chiefs

I cannot believe I’m having four guards go in the first round, but here we are. This is a talented position in 2021, loaded with good players, and I think the Chiefs have a knack for just getting great picks.

At a listed 6’4, 350, Brown is simply a monster of a man. He’ll eat up a lot of space, and time on the offensive line. When you have players like Patrick Mahomes and Clyde Edwards-Helaire they just need that time to get an edge. I think this is a sound, solid pick by a team already dominating.

[orangememory]

Nirvana in Fire 2, Episode 4: Recap

We are onto Episode 4 now. Thankfully the wonderful subbers at Viki (Yay Gone with the shirt Team!) have very quickly subbed 6 episodes. For the first 2 weeks, we will get 6 episodes on Viki and DF, whereas in the mainland 12 episodes have already been released.

I will be saving my thoughts till the end of this recap. An idea by a friend on Discord was also to include screencaps of new characters so I will try my best as I am on mobile. Onto the recap!

Last Episode:

In Episode 3, Pingjing and Lin Xi start their investigations into the military boat accident aided by Pingjing's cousin Xiao Yuanqi. They have a few nice martial arts fights, and now race against time and baddies Magistrate Zhang, Policeman Qian and Smug-as-fuck Private Assistant to one Minister Song Fu, PA Qin (whose real name is fire-wielding martial artist Duan Tongzhou). The clue to unraveling the case lies in material evidence - and in the one ship that is still sunken in the river.

Episode 4 recap:

- Pingjing and Lin Xi make their way over to the river to find the sunken ship, where Pingjing very casually takes his clothes off in front of Lin Xi. I know its fanservice to the audience at least a little bit, but credit to (the writer and) Lin Xi for not turning all hot and awkward like all asian-drama heroines usually do. Well, she is a doctor, not some blushing maiden, and she has had her hands up and around the gorgeous abs of Xiao Pingzhang which are much better than his brother's....you can see how easily I am distracted here.

- Lin Xi's focus however, is the ridic Bollywood betrothal longevity locket Pingjing is wearing, and she flashes back to her sickly mother with the same locket, telling Lin Xi to not care about the position of a noble's wife, but gain a husband she could live long with.

- Our little Divine Diving Dragon Pingjing has been in the water too long, which disconcerts Lin Xi, so the brat comes up to declare that he can dive for longer but he knows 'softhearted' Lin Xi will worry so he wants to show his face. Not a smart thing to say to women who can fling darts and poison you, little Dragon. Learn from great-grandpa's mistakes.

- However, Pingjing's diving abilities are no joke when he indeed brings up some evidence from below, including some wooden parts of the ship. Later, our trio of smols including Yuanqi, investigate the wood piece and find that it was covered with some sort of jelly, which is hardened when submerged underwater - but becomes brittle when struck with force. Translation, someone coated the ship's wood with this jelly knowing there would be a collision, and the jelly helped exacerbate the impact and cracks, finally sinking ships that should not have sunk. Yuanqi becomes angry and indignant at people who would dare play with people's lives like this. Oh honey, in the future it's gonna be you, it will be sad to see you on the dark side.

- In the meantime, PA Qin/Duan Tongzhou calls over Evil Policeman Qian, and makes him an offer - because he can feel that Magistrate Zhang has not been entirely truthful in their dealings and has kept some buried proof to find his own way out of this mess. PA Qin reminds Qian gently that he is different - which means that Zhang has family and would likely confess, where Qian would lose his life. However if Qian helps destroy the threat that Zhang poses, he can keep his head. Points to Qian however, because there is honour among thieves, and he asks PA Qin not to hurt Zhang who he has served for 8 years. In the night, Qian spies on Zhang removing and burning some secret correspondences he has saved under the floorboard.

- The next day, Yuanqi and Pingjing take stock of all the spies dressed as beggars outside Jifeng Hall, knowing that they are being watched and followed. The most important course of action now, is to wait and watch - however they worry about one witness who is yet to be protected, Magistrate Zhang himself, who Pingjing believes will be crucial to the investigation. Pingjing goes to meet Zhang.

- PA Qin/DT pays a visit to Zhang and threatens him sweetly by burning his letters to complete ashes in his hand just by crushing them! I found this so dangerous and cool, like this dude has so much power that he can burn shit at will. Zhang has no choice but to agree to these conditions.

- Yun-jie, the nurse from Jifeng Hall, delivers supplies to an old, dilapidated winery which is hiding our main witnesses, the physicians and the military boat captain. But she has been followed by PA Qin's lackey! He reports this to PA Qin, who looks smug as usual (I hate his face) and decides to take action. He asks Lackey to undertake another mission for him.

- PA Qin leads Qian and his men to the hideout, and Qian again asks if Magistrate Zhang will be all right. I know this is a small, possibly negligible detail of a minor character - but this is what I love about this show or NIF in general. Even the minor characters have ideas, behaviours and agendas. Qian could have been shown as a mindless lackey but he has a brain, he has conflicted emotions about this business and he is loyal to his master. These characters seem real and fleshed out, no matter how small their screen time.

- The Jifeng Hall spots Qian leading his men to the hideout, and immediately inform Lin Xi and Yuanqi. They are slightly at a loss what to do - when Yuanqi offers to risk his life, taking a few men to the hideout while Lin Xi gets Pingjing. The smols are in action mode!

- At the Magistrate's office, Zhang receives the news with resignation that Pingjing is here. But before he can meet him, PA Qin's lackey comes with a white silk cloth and we know what that means. As Magistrate Zhang is taking his last breaths, wham!bam! Pingjing appears and saves the day. He knocks out lackey in one blow, I am impressed!

- Yuanqi and a band of his men rush to the winery juuuust in the nick of time and face off against Qian and smug-looking PA Qin. He uses his royal status and declares the hideout/winery to belong to him, and how dare Qian come and infiltrate his land! PA Qin does not seem worried or fazed by Yuanqi, entering into a battle of laws (yawn, boring) but he needles some sort of hidden anger in Yuanqi, by declaring that the Emperor has not bestowed a feudal land upon him, so Yuanqi does not know the difference between imperial property and personally-purchased property.

- Now this could be a trifling detail, but Yuanqi gets so angry that when Leader Qian asks his men to go forth and search, he kills a man in cold blood, declaring that just because he is idle nobility does not mean he cannot take action. You go boy! Also another interesting detail, Yuanqi's hands are shaking and his eyes fill with moisture, indicating he is actually afraid of this whole situation but yet he is standing strong. It shows the nature of his character who gets pissed off when he is told he cannot do anything. Interesting.

- Pingjing and Lin Xi arrive! They bring Magistrate Zhang as a hostage and Leader Qian is a bit taken aback. Pingjing shows his official badge from the House of Changlin, but PA Qin even dares question it. A tense stand-off ensues (with a great comic moment where our favourite brat raps Zhang hard on the butt with his sword lol) but it is broken up by the arrival of reinforcements!

- It is General Yuan of the Changlin Army (who PJ calls Uncle Yuan) and General Ji of the Shanliu Army stationed in Qizhou. Vastly outnumbered, Duan Tongzhou puts his skills to the test, throwing steel darts at everybody. Pingjing and Lin Xi manage to avoid them, but Duan Tongzhou kills Policeman Qian specifically before wuxia flying away. Lin Xi looks at Magistrate Zhang and narrows her eyes, suspecting something.

- Pingjing is verrrry put out by the arrival of Uncle Yuan, because this means his dad has not trusted him and has been plotting behind the scenes! His father had suspected the imperial envoys would be scholarly ministers who could not deal with the situation, and he felt that local forces near to Datong could be colluding with Zhang and Duan, hence he dispatched Uncle Yuan to seek the help of high-ranking General Ji of faraway Qizhou who came to help. This family, oh my god. I swear I smell bits of Uncle MCS in Tingsheng and Pingjing - those Lin family genes!

- Lin Xi offers to accompany the doctors of Jifeng Hall who are witnesses as they have received a shock. Yun-jie (Princess Liyang NIF2 version) also asks to go with her to Jinling to see the city, but the soft music in the background is the sliiiighest bit ominous. Yun-jie don't go bad on us please!

- General Ji is unable to capture Duan Tongzhou after a night of searching, so the retinue finally departs for Jinling with the witnesses, Magistrate Zhang in cuffs and the smol trio of investigators. Pingjing is wary throughout the journey, suspecting something may happen soon. At one rest stop, Pingjing goes to interview Zhang, who has been very quiet but General Ji is already talking to hom - and weirdly distracts Pingjing by going - Oh look theres Lin Xi! Talk to her. Alarm bells start ringing, tra la la la la

- Pingjing spots Yuanqi who is having an unfortunate bout, trying to cope with shock and trauma. He has never killed a man before, he never knew blood was so warm. He asks Pingjing if he has killed before and the answer is silence - because Pingjing has already been in 2 battles unofficially. The cousins bond over a drink, and its kinda nice to see this kind of detail as well - a man dealing with his own struggles. I like this broship, its only gonna get sad from here. *sigh*

- The next day, they are travelling through the plains. Nothing much happens except Pingjing gives Lin Xi his cloak. Its sweet again, but not in a blushing, cute manner. Pingjing is perfectly natural in the way he acts, offering a coat to a friend and benefactor, and Lin Xi accepts it casually as well. Although we see signs that Lin Xi is warming up to him, its not a contrived romance, so +1 for that.

- Pingjing and Yuanqi hold another discussion where he elaborates to him how he smells something fishy. Duan Tongzhou had the opportunity and skills to kill Zhang at their last fight, but he ended Qian instead. What was the motive? Yuanqi and Pingjing both wonder.

- In the Palace, The Emperor, cute Crown Prince Xiao Yuanshi and the Empress are looking over his progress in studies as every Asian parent does. :P The Empress praises Rasputin/High Priest Pu to the Emperor, citing evil spirits were removed from the Crown Prince's body. The Emperor is unimpressed to the moon and back, and gently rebukes the Empress saying that he has allowed for altars and all this hocus-pocus (much more politely than me, I might add), but its not only the CP she should be thinking about, but the thousands of brave soldiers who died in the recent war, and to pray for Pingzhang's health. The Empress' face sours a bit but she has already planned some prayers.

- I must take a moment to say how beautiful and supremely graceful Mei Ting is in this Empress role. Her comportment is very regal, the way she moves her hands and all the subtle actions make her seem very very grand and impressive.

- So Pingjing and the retinue are now in a wooded area near the Capital, and Pingjing is waiting for something to happen. And so is bro Pingzhang, having reached the capital already and convalescing, thinking about where and when Pingjing will be attacked. We are introduced to his wife Meng Qianxue (the ridiculously attractive Tong Liya) who takes care of his health and his mind it seems, puzzling over the matter with her husband. End episode in the same way as NIF, abruptly - but at least they know how to do it better somewhat, and end near a cliffhanger.

Tong Liya as Meng Qianxue, wife of Xiao Pingzhang.

Thoughts:

A more plot-heavy episode definitely, and also some moments of the budding camaraderie between Lin Xi and Pingjing and Yuanqi.

What I am liking about NIF2, or maybe it is something NIF1 taught me to observe- are the details. There are many beautiful aesthetic details sure, but there are these tiny plot points and acting minutiae that catch me. As I stressed on the recap, Qian's loyalty to Zhang, Yuanqi dealing with the effects of his actions, Lin Xi's subtle observations and the Empress' very perfect demeanour hiding her ill will - its all very well executed.

I would also like to state how ridic and amazing Tong Liya is in the one scene she appears now. I have only seen her in two melo romcoms where she was a very sad heroine beleaguered by life and slapped around by men, and to see her smiling and so cute! Her chemistry with Huang Xiaoming is very natural too.

I think I wont stop raving about the Xiao family's natural warmth with each other. It doesnt seem forced at all.

That being said, now the pacing is a bit sedate for me. I discussed this with a friend and she indicated that if I go back and watch NIF there are many episodes where much doesnt happen in the foreground, but the wheels are always spinning in the background. I am all for giving NIF2 a chance - and I dont think it is required to live up to NIF, considering how classic that show is, and How personally the UST and pain between MCS and Jingyan is a very very main driver of the show for me.

NIF2 does not have that UST for me, but it does have detailed characters, plots that seem reasonable and are exposed very well, a whole galaxy of competent characters. (can i mention how much I love competence kink? But I am shit at writing it!)

I don't know what I will take away from NIF2 towards the end, but right now its the competent men and women, and the lovely family bonds we never got to experience in NIF BECAUSE THEY ALL DIED. (Okay Nihuang and Mu Qing you are an exception).

Thanks for reading, if anybody is reading that is! :)

[judgepaper19-blog]

The Linc - Ed Oliver’s visit in Philadelphia didn’t go well?

Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links ...

Eagles Draft Rumors: Ed Oliver leaves bad impression - Inside The Iggles One potential target the Eagles may consider trading up for is a defensive tackle in Ed Oliver, who the team welcomed to their facility this past Tuesday. But Philadelphia ended up coming away unimpressed after their meeting with the University of Houston product. Oliver tested poorly during his team interviews, a team source tells Inside The Iggles with direct knowledge of the situation. The results could impact Philadelphia’s interest in the defensive tackle.

Why the Eagles will trade up for a defensive lineman - BGN If you’re Howie Roseman and Joe Douglas, your history tells you that being aggressive pays off. Graham, Cox, and Ngata were huge hits. The Ravens stayed put and landed Suggs, but he was the 10th overall pick and the first edge defender drafted. And Derek Barnett was the end result of being aggressive and trading Sam Bradford on the eve of the season starting, which catapulted Carson Wentz to starting. Meanwhile the one time they moved back and took a DL, he sucked. So when the Eagles move up to take a defensive end or tackle, I not only won’t be surprised, I’ll be expecting it.

Finding the Right First Round Fit - BGN Radio John Stolnis and Brandon Lee Gowton mull over options at #25 overall, discuss needs entering the draft, debate trade up scenarios, and ask who was the best Eagles’ draft pick of all-time! Presented by SB Nation and Bleeding Green Nation.

Eagles 2019 NFL Draft preview: Wide receiver - PhillyVoice Howie Roseman has stated on multiple occasions that he believes that wide receivers take a year or two to develop. By taking Marquise Brown while already stacked at wide receiver, the Eagles could be patient with his growth, as opposed to throwing him to the wolves like they did in 2015 with Agholor. Brown has slot/outside receiver versatility, so he could take over in the slot for Agholor in 2020, and eventually for Jackson on the outside. In the meantime, if he is ready to produce as a rookie, then great, opposing defensive coordinators will to have to worry about an offense that can put both Brown and Jackson on the field at the same time. On the downside with Brown, because he is so small, durability concerns will always persist, and as it is, he’s still recovering from surgery to repair Lisfranc injury.

What About NT? - Iggles Blitz Do the Eagles need to draft a NT? The team has shown a lot of interest in pass-rushing DTs, but not so much with big guys. In today’s NFL, you don’t need mammoth DTs who can hold the point, play after play. You do need DTs that can play the run effectively. As Jernigan did. And Bennie Logan before him. Interestingly, both are still available as free agents. The Eagles could sign one of them, or some other veteran, after the draft. Once May 7th comes, you can sign free agents and not have it affect the compensatory pick formula. I think that is why there has been so little movement in the past couple of weeks. Teams are focused on the draft, but also hesitant to sign players until May. I do expect some signings around the draft. Not all teams are going to be in the hunt for comp picks so they don’t all have a reason to wait.

Eagles fans, once again you are recognized as the best - PE.com Eagles fans, since the time I started covering this football team in 1987, have been nothing if in love with their football team. They are passionate, they are invested, they are beyond loyal, they are educated, and they have opinions. And they aren’t afraid to express themselves. Eagles fans are loud, yes, and thank goodness for that, because we’ve seen for decades how Eagles fans take over road stadiums and turn it into a pro-midnight green venue. And now it’s out there for everyone to digest, thanks to Manning: The Linc is a tough place for opposing teams. That’s just a fact.

Re-drafting the First Round of the 2018 NFL Draft - Sports Illustrated 32. Eagles: Phillip Lindsay, RB, Colorado (ACTUAL PICK: RAVENS TRADED UP, DRAFTED QB LAMAR JACKSON). Yeah, I know, I know. The Eagles don’t take running backs in the first round. This guy is special, though, and saves them some trouble down the line shifting backups and assets around just to get by.

Eagles have intriguing depth at WR beyond Alshon Jeffery, DeSean Jackson, Nelson Agholor - NBCSP CJ2 was a seventh-round pick of the Packers in 2013 and is 30 years old, so kind of unusual for a camp body. He bounced around with the Packers, Browns, Vikings, Panthers and Jets, piling up 60 catches for 834 yards and two TDs in three seasons in Minnesota. Charles Johnson spent this past winter with the Orlando Apollos of the AAF, where he caught 45 passes for 687 yards. In a game against the Commanders, he had seven catches for 192 yards and a touchdown from Apollos QB Garrett Gilbert. Keep an eye on Johnson. The Eagles gave him a $25,000 workout bonus, which is a sign that they really wanted him.

NFL draft: Ben Fennell breaks down tight-end prospects - Daily News THE SLEEPER: Trevon Wesco, West Virginia — “He had a great week at the Senior Bowl, but wasn’t a big part of West Virginia’s passing game last year. They used a lot of ‘10’ personnel [1 RB, 0 TE, 4 WR], so he wasn’t on the field a lot. Caught just 26 passes. Was used on very simple routes. Pop passes, things like that. So people are questioning what he can do at the next level. But he’s someone who has a chance to be a better pro [than he was college player]. Projection is a big part of the draft process with guys like Wesco. There are just things he wasn’t asked to do in college. It’s not that he can’t do them. He just wasn’t asked to do them. So teams have to figure out whether he can do them at the next level. He’s definitely one of the top blockers in the class. Just like Hockenson and Tommy Sweeney from Boston College. A guy you can seal off backside defensive ends with and really add some mismatches in the run game because of his ability to block.’’

Despite size, wide receiver Marquise Brown’s speed fits a changing NFL - ESPN “Once he got the ball in his hands, it was over,” said his mother, Shannon James. “He was really tiny, always smaller than everyone else. But he moved like lightning once he got that ball. He never stopped from there.” Even with a few roadblocks in his way. He created cone drills on his own to hone his speed for an entire year when no scholarships came after high school. He operated a roller coaster appropriately named “Full Throttle” to help make ends meet while in junior college. And he arrived at Oklahoma weighing an unbelievably light 144 pounds. ”I’ve learned to appreciate everything,” he said. “I’m living in the moment, just having fun.” Having fun. Going fast.

The perception/production gap: WRs and TEs - PFF Zach Ertz and Kelce have each been in the league for six years, with Kelce missing his entire rookie 2013 to injury. So in 11 chances they’ve had for a win here, they have … 11 wins. Despite being drafted second and third at the position in 2018, they still improved on it, finishing first and second. Other than Kelce going from TE6 to TE8 in 2014-2015, they’ve held steady or improved their position from one year to the next every year of their careers. There’s not much more room for them to climb now, as the two are going first and second in early ADP among tight ends, but there’s every reason to expect them to finish at or near those levels again.

Tim Tebow struggling at Triple-A - PFT Unfortunately, Tebow has moved up to Triple-A this year, and the early returns are ugly. The stats for the Syracuse Mets, Tebow’s team, tell the story. He’s last on the team with a .120 batting average, last with a .185 on-base percentage and last with a .200 slugging percentage. He has struck out a team-high 10 times and hasn’t hit a home run. “He’s still learning how to hit some of this pitching,” Syracuse manager Tony DeFrancesco told ESPN. “I mean, these guys are throwing 97, 98 miles per hour. They’re spinning the baseball. He’s making some adjustments.”

5 NFL teams that could use a 1st-round pick on Duke QB Daniel Jones - SB Nation The 17th overall selection appears to be Jones’ terminus if the latest rumblings are correct. Adding a young quarterback, any young quarterback, is paramount to Pat Shurmur’s second year at the helm in New York. While Eli Manning was acceptable last season — his efficiency numbers were significantly higher than his career averages, though still not great — he’s also 38 years old and winding down a Giants tenure that’s been equal parts incredible and incredibly frustrating. Jones could be the answer if he lasts into the latter half of the draft. But that would presume the team isn’t interested in Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins, who is the most commonly mocked pick for New York at No. 6. There are plenty of game-changing defenders who would be available with the club’s first selection, including the kind of pass-rushing presence who could offset the departure of Olivier Vernon. General manager Dave Gettleman could target one of those players to rebuild the league’s 24th-ranked defense while hoping Jones (or Missouri’s Drew Lock) slides to him at No. 17. The Giants could also trade up a few spots from No. 17, though the QB-hungry teams ahead of him (Broncos, Dolphins, Washington) may be uninterested in his offer. Plus, the Giants have a connection with drafting Duke quarterbacks and the number 17 — even though it’s not a good connection.

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Source: https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2019/4/14/18310204/eagles-news-ed-oliver-visit-philadelphia-didnt-go-well-defensive-tackle-houston-nfl-draft-rumors-dt

[altusfl]

22. Lead up to the 1986 Season --- Expansion: Team 17 --- the New (New) Chicago Blitz

Based on a recommendation by Peter Hadhazy, the league hired Bill Polian back from the Buffalo Bills at double his salary to be the GM/President of the Chicago Blitz.  Polian was told up front it was a 1 to 2 year job that would likely lead to much better ones in the future.  

He was tasked with making the Blitz competitive immediately. He was told that the league would assure Chicago would get the number one pick overall and the league office would work with Polian to sign Bo Jackson after the end of the college baseball season.  

Polian was told that the league owners had no problem with him signing one more first-round pick level talent in support --- ala the original George Allen Blitz --- as that is the talent level that will be required to re-earn the fan trust in Chicago — a requirement if the league was going to find a buyer.

Denver backup QB Vince Evans would also be assigned back to Chicago.  Evens had lost his job in Denver to Doug Flutie, but had learned a lot about quarterbacking from Mouse Davis.  Polian laid out the plan and Evans was eager for a second shot in Chicago.

Polian set about securing his other rookie star.

“I think they were expecting me to sign a wide receiver or something but you know they told me 'We’re going to give you the greatest running back in college football… but a guy who wants to play baseball half the time!  And you don’t get him in this, your key season, until the college baseball season is over!’ I had these visions of Bo quitting the team around week 10 each year and us not having a running game.”

“I could totally see that tearing the team apart with players picking sides. So it was a total no-brainer when I looked at the regional assignment and saw that I had Ohio State [because Oklahoma was going to keep Notre Dame as their territorial assignment] that I was going to sign Keith Byers to play fullback. Byers was a beast as a junior and had really made an impact on the fans in the area.”

“Getting that done took some doing. The Byers signing was not popular among the league owners I can assure you… but people don’t understand the potential the Jackson signing had to rip apart a roster.“

Usher had a problem with the league owners.  They felt he favored Oklahoma owner J. Walter Duncan and had given Duncan far too much talent the previous off-season.  Usher and Duncan decided to eliminate that by pushing Outlaw defensive Coordinator Jim Bates and several players who fit Bates’s scheme to Chicago.  

The league needed Chicago to succeed.  They told Bates that while he was good enough to be a head coach in the league, the league itself needed him in Chicago because it needed the franchise to be good from day 1.  Bates felt some loyalty to Haphadzy who had recommended him to Duncan.  

Bates was not high profile enough in the area to curry Chicago area fans who for the most part had been actively ignoring the USFL and had not seen Oklahoma’s run, but his ability to produce as a coordinator was unquestioned by Polian.  Bates would be rewarded with a very large contract that mirrored what USFL head coaches were making to do the job for a year.

The Chicago Bears had done a similar thing paying their Defensive Coordinator Buddy Ryan a very large salary that rivaled a head coach’s salary to stick around.  Defense mattered to Chicago fans, so it was good business.

Outlaws LT Duane Wilson, DE Mike St. Clair, DE Ken Gillen, NT Bob Nelson,NT Paul Hanna, DT Tony Suber, ILB Jeff Leiding, OLB/DB Jim Bob Morris, OLB/DB John Barefeild, OLB/DB Larry James, DB Mike Ulmer, would be reassigned to the new Blitz. Outlaws owner J. Walter Duncan who had gotten quite close to all of the players would personally decide to meet with each of the 11 players to explain the situation and personally apologize.  They were after all having to uproot their families in part because Duncan was embarassed.  He would hand each of the 11 players a $10,000 check to help with relocation costs. (St. Clair would thank Duncan, but refuse the relocation check and chose to retire.) 

Nelson would recount the meetings later.  “Man, it was emotional.  Mr. Duncan explained that if things stayed the way they were NONE of us would ever get the credit we deserved for our hard work. Mr. Duncan really liked Coach Faibanks and Coach Bates.  Neither one would get any credit for anything we did if we kept that team together.  It sucked, but he was right.”

“I’ll tell you this. I have never had an owner look me in the eye and give me the straight truth like that. I appreciated it and I know everyone else did. And no other players in the history of the USFL who was reallocated ever got any relocation money prior to that day. Mr. Duncan started that.  He was a standup owner.”

Polian would want to bring back Blitz coach Marv Levy but the USFL owners would insist that he could not. While they all agreed Levy was a fine coach who did a great job in Chicago, they felt they needed to create excitement with the coaching hire so they provided Polian with a short list of successful area coaches — former Notre Dame coaches Ara Parseghian, Dan Devine, and current Illinois coach Mike White — Polian quickly decided that White was the choice.

“The first two seemed vaguely interested but seemed to want to drag out negotiations haggling about control and the length of their contracts. White on the other hand had a situation where all his best talent had graduated and the cupboard was looking pretty bare. I needed a coach who could accept the Bates situation without taking it out on the Oklahoma players and who could work with Jim and I.”

The league wanted the team to be competitive fairly quickly, so Polian decided that White would be the right hire. “He was a fantastic young coach who had unprecedented success at a really tough location.  White was the perfect mix of ‘great coach’ and ‘easy to work with’. ” 

The new Blitz would build the core of their team around the former outlaws and  members of the historically unprecedented 10-2 1983 University of Illinois team that went 9-0 in the Big Ten conference. That team would end up producing 21 players who would go on to be drafted by the NFL. Most of them did not make the NFL rosters, leaving a large contingent of almost NFL caliber players who knew what Mike White wanted.

The Blitz signed them all.

Highlights included flamboyant unanimous All-American wide receiver David Williams (the Bears 3rd round pick), 

QB Jack Trudeau, 

T Jim Juriga, 

All-American S Craig Swoope, 

Big Ten MVP DT Don Thorp, TE Cap Boso, and RB Thomas Rooks.  Rooks and Byers would carry most of the rushing load when Jackson was unavailable.

"Those Illinois kids were a cocky bunch.  That’s probably why so many of them made it. They just refused to be bad. But in our plan it really didn’t matter if all 21 of those illini made the roster or even most of them,” Polian would state in an interview years later.

“The first time we did the Blitz, we were in a bad spot because there was no culture on that roster. Arizona was a failed franchise and they gutted the franchise and broke the player’s focus by moving across the country before they gave it to us. A total lack of expectations really screwed Marv over. I was determined that was not going to happen again.”

“Having those 21 Illini in camp created a ‘Mike White culture’ and gave White shot to hit the ground running. The fact that only 12 of them made the final roster is really almost irrelevant. That opportunity, I felt, gave White the edge as a coaching candidate in a situation where we needed the team to be competitive immediately. The league didn’t afford me the time to argue with a coach about the right way to do things, so it made a lot of sense to do it the Mike White way.”

The team would also sign a key young All-American who had quickly fallen through the NFL system’s cracks.

WR Steve Bryant had been a star and All-American at Purdue but was just a part time player for the Oilers.  Bryant had a couple of productive years in the NFL but now it looked like his NFL career was done at 27.  

Polian thought Bryant would immediately be at least a solid second starter in the USFL with a chance to get a lot better with consistent playing time. “He was a good talent but not an elite one.  He didn’t have great speed and wasn’t a tall strong possesion receiver, but he just made more out of every opportunity than most with his skill level.  He reminded me a little of (Philadelphia Stars star WR) Scott Fitzkee.”

The territorial draft would yield three very good linebackers from Ohio State in Pepper Johnson, Byron Lee, and Larry Kolic. 

“It was a great setup.  With the league support, I was able to give White one of the League’s best running games and the league gave us the core of that defense. Bates had a defense that everyone struggled with in the USFL.  White really understood the passing game and could teach it. Trudeau was a solid Talent and available at the right price and while Vince Evans was inconsistent and the times inaccurate, he had a confident swagger and no ceiling on his talent – and the Bears fans loved that. I felt very comfortable that White could deliver a passing game that would be effective in our league. That team was pretty much ready to challenge for a playoff spot from day one.”

The Blitz would sign the league’s fourth Heisman Trophy winner in a row in Auburn’s Jackson after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers purposefully caused Jackson to lose his collegiate baseball eligibility.  The Bucs had done so to try to steer Jackson towards a football-only future in Tampa Bay. The Bucs were dead set on picking Jackson number one overall in order to force the issue.  The USFL was able to take advantage of that animosity.

“We always in the driver’s seat vs. the NFL in the Jackson negotiation anyway.  It is harder to get physically ready for football. We were able to offer a situation where Jackson could come to camp allowing him to get properly conditioned for football and play the entire USFL season.  He would only miss the beginning of the baseball season. Jackson would be able to pay in the playoffs in both leagues with no animosity on our part.”

“The whole Bo thing worked out much better than I thought it would. We led the league in rushing that year and Bo and Keith were phenomenal. We were able to keep Bo’s workload in check with Keith and Thomas, and I think that kept Bo healthy with the strain he was putting on his body playing two sports. Bo never missed a regular season or playoff game while he was healthy in his years with the Blitz. The guy was a beast on the field. The fans loved him.  Pretty good baseball player too.”

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[kelsusit]

Computer Workstation Standards

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[junker-town]

13 realistic 2018 NFL MVP candidates

Is Drew Brees finally going to claim his place among the immortals?

Week 12 saw the Rams and Chiefs take to the sidelines for a well deserved bye week after last week’s instant classic on Monday night. That gave the rest of the league’s MVP candidates an opportunity to make their mark on the league.

Drew Brees used a Thanksgiving night showcase to sling four touchdown passes. Russell Wilson continued to prove the Seahawks aren’t rebuilding by rallying Seattle and knocking an opponent out of the NFC playoff race for the second straight week. Philip Rivers completed 25 straight passes to kick off a dominant win over the Cardinals.

But it wasn’t all good. Ben Roethlisberger threw for 462 yards and was, statistically, the Steelers’ second-most efficient passer. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers took another step toward making last year’s playoff-less January a streak. Matt Ryan joined the fray with a monster performance but spent 33+ minutes of his Thanksgiving trailing the Saints by 14 points or more.

The week added a little more intrigue to what once looked like an open and shut case for Patrick Mahomes. Here’s how the 12 men left standing in the race shake out with five weeks to play.

2018 NFL MVP odds

A lot of names on this list are either people we’d like to see win it and/or truly deserving names, but we all know that only goes so far when it comes to the actual voters this spring. So before we dig into a closer look at the candidates, let’s make a quick scan of the odds.

These are the top 10 from OddsShark, and were last updated prior to Week 13.

Drew Brees: -400 Patrick Mahomes: +250 Andrew Luck: +1400 Philip Rivers: +2500 Jared Goff: +2800 Todd Gurley: +2800 Ben Roethlisberger: +4000 Tom Brady: +4000

Meet the MVP candidates

Now, let’s look at the candidates — starting with a pair of playmakers from one of the league’s top teams.

The Saints

Drew Brees, QB, Saints

Alvin Kamara, RB, Saints

New Orleans’ fell victim to the same curse as the rest of the league’s Thanksgiving day participants — the Saints got stuck in an entirely uninteresting divisional game. But unlike Bears-Lions and Washington-Cowboys, Thursday’s late game featured a handful of MVP candidates who provided a bit more incentive to watch.

Brees had his second-lowest passing output of the year, but still threw four touchdown passes as the Saints cruised to a 14-point victory that should pretty much extinguish the Falcons’ playoff hopes. Kamara fell into a similarly un-prolific track, gaining 98 total yards on 15 touches (14 rushes, 1 reception).

While Kamara is close to sliding off the MVP list — this year’s quarterback play is just too prolific — Brees is quickly becoming a heavy favorite. He’s the biggest standout on the league’s top team and both on pace for a historically great season even by his own lofty standard. Only a catastrophe could keep him out of the running over the final five weeks of the season.

The Rams’ three-headed monster

Jared Goff, QB, Rams

Todd Gurley, RB, Rams

Aaron Donald, DT, Rams

The Rams had a full week to bask in the afterglow of their record-setting 54-51 win over the Chiefs. The rest of the league had a chance to catch up to LA in Week 12, but Gurley still leads the NFL in total yards from scrimmage and touchdowns scored. Donald still leads the league in sacks. Goff is still a top four quarterback when it comes to passing yards, passing touchdowns, and yards per attempt.

When Arthur C. Clarke wrote “My god. It’s full of stars,” he may have been predicting the rise of the Rams.

The young gunslinger

Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs

Mahomes had the week off. He’s still leading the league in touchdown passes and is throwing for nearly 330 yards per game to pace the AFC’s top offense. He’ll get three more opportunity to prove himself — games against the playoff hopeful Ravens, Chargers, and Seahawks are sandwiched between layups against the obviously tanking Raiders.

The older gunslingers

Russell Wilson, QB, Seahawks

Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons

Andrew Luck, QB, Colts

Seattle was supposed to be rebuilding in 2018. Wilson has made that impossible. The 2013 Super Bowl champion has been a playmaking godsend, pairing with a resurgent rushing attack to give the Seahawks a clutch offense that’s much better on the field than it looks on paper.

On Sunday, Wilson rallied his club twice to turn a seven-point deficit with four minutes to play into a three-point road win in Carolina. His biggest play came on a fourth-and-three bomb to David Moore — a touchdown that would later set up his third game-winning drive in 11 2018 games.

CLUTCH! #GoHawks | #SEAvsCAR pic.twitter.com/cxuw0lpn9F

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) November 25, 2018

Ryan makes the list even while his Falcons slide to the periphery of the playoff race thanks to an exceptional season behind center. He threw for 377 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a losing effort against the Saints on Thanksgiving, giving him the league lead in passing yards in the process. He’s currently on pace to set career bests in completion rate (71.4%), passing yards (5,357), and interception rate (1.2%).

Ryan’s got a chance to be even better than he was in 2016’s MVP season. And he may not even garner a vote when the season-end awards are announced.

Luck has dragged a rebuilding Colts team up from a 1-5 start to a spot in the playoff race by returning to his 2015 form. He’s thrown three touchdown passes or more in each of his last eight games, but also has beaten just one team with a winning record (6-5 Washington) this fall. Still, he’s helped Eric Ebron reach his potential and turned a deficient roster into a postseason contender, two major accomplishments that deserve recognition.

The oldest gunslingers

Tom Brady, QB, Patriots

Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers

Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers

Roethlisberger threw away Pittsburgh’s comeback chances with an awful goal line interception late in a 24-17 loss to the Broncos:

Which Steelers receiver would you throw the ball to here? If you answered "none of them," then you're better at this than Ben Roethlisberger was pic.twitter.com/wpoOVv8eMM

— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) November 26, 2018

While his two interceptions were costly, he still proved to be the engine behind the Steeler offense with 462 passing yards.

Brady was quietly efficient against the Jets, throwing a pair of touchdowns without an interception and staying upright throughout a zero-interception day. He’s trailing behind his 2017 MVP numbers, but he’s still

a) pretty good, and b) Tom Brady

so he’ll remain in the running until he regresses into late-stage Peyton Manning. This could happen either next week or sometime in 2032.

Then there’s Rivers, who picked apart an efficient Arizona passing defense en route to a record-setting start in Los Angeles. He started his day with 25 straight completions, turning a 10-0 deficit into a 45-10 win in the process.

He ended the day with a 28-29 passing line, 283 yards, and three touchdowns. He’s in the middle of, statistically, the best season of his career in a year where he’s about to turn 37 years old. A lot will have to break his way with Mahomes and Brees ahead of him, but Rivers should receive MVP votes if he can pilot the Chargers to their first playoff berth since 2013.

The comeback kid

Deshaun Watson, QB, Texans

Watson demolished the Titans to give Houston a two-game lead in the AFC South with five games to play — an astonishing number considering the club’s 0-3 start. Not only did he carve up the Titans’ rebuilt secondary for 210 yards and two touchdowns (on just 24 passes), but he also ran for 70 more yards and a score, putting together his best rushing performance since suffering a torn ACL last fall.

Watson has pushed himself back to the level that made him one of the league’s most exciting rookies in 2017. A little more growth will ensure the Texans’ a spot in the postseason — and keep Watson in the MVP race through the end of the season.

The guys who fell off the list (for now)

Kirk Cousins, QB, Vikings

Khalil Mack, DE, Bears

Carson Wentz, QB, Eagles

Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers

[dev-hub4fixfict-ut]

PAPYRUS’ PAST (sansx2 future)

((divergent from my canon because this is an au where there are no takesie-backsies and sans underestimated his own importance))

its sad

/bad memory loophole; /denial; /self hatred; /meltdowns; /death; /suicide.

Papyrus was born an adorable skeleton, all wiggling and a little slimy, but definitely smily, in the arms of his brother.

He has no solid recollection of those far away days, but he can distinctly remember the muffled sound of high pitched sobbing, and of grey silvery magic on the white sterile ceiling, and of another sounds, less sobs like, and closer to far away howling, someone grieving. He does know that it was at The Labs. Not that he knows what The Labs are anymore now.

He thinks that. A pod was involved ? He tries to not search his mind too much for that. It will come back gradually, as it always did.

But now is a little too late. He’s got no one left to share the memories with.

His father -sans never got to be able to call him that, the word is so lonely- was gone for so long, and he can barely make sense of the few things his brother let out slipping during bad times, and he understands he will never know the entire truth. But that is okay, as he has the present now to make a new one.

He remembers a looming figure, who he scared away when reaching to him, a kind king, (King Asgore ?), who pet his skull while letting him play among golden flowers and cinnabuns crumbs, and a kind green souled skeleton, that did not quite feel like a skeleton, but still did, who told him tales of heroic and cowardly battles, and of pursuing peace. A grand Vice Captain, with sharp teeth but a soft smile, tending to her cubs. A loud fishgirl with bright yellow eyes, (Undyne ?), who went on about striking down humanity and beating the monarch, and running, running from fell down children, empty of LOVE but DesesperaTe, and of a mean spirited yellow plant, (Flowey ?), who chanted about stupid and stupids and humans and stupid stupid STUPID. A growing hotter and hotter Hotland, an orchestra of explosion, and a lot of dust, and a quivering big brother hiding with him under bed sheets in an Inn, (Miss BunSnowdin’s ?).

Muddled, long faded images, who only resurface stronger now that Mister Gaster has come back.

He remembers running in the snow, not very right, because his long legs were always hazarduous, and his sight always blurry, and playing alone, because his voice was always loud, and the dogs, always scared, and the bunnies, always fidgety, because he reminded them of… Something ? Someone. Following a loud, bright yellow, one-eyed fishwoman in the depths of Waterfalls, because she felt of something distant but familiar, of heroic promises and pounding fists on a blurry glass like surface, and of a big looming figure that shied away no matter how long he runned after. Waiting one day and one night straight in front of her house, because she said to stay put, and of jumping in a lake to save a courageous but still young bird, of not knowing how to swim himself, and of strong noodles arms carefully hauling him out of the celurean waters. Before suplexing him hard on the dark grass.

He remembers seeing a lot of stars that day. And then he had to break a fight between his sick brother and new best friend !! He quite much swoop the floor with his talents, that day ! Before falling asleep and in the river again.

He remembers training, a lot and hard, at the arts of pasta making, and at fighting too ! Against a dummy, who he never dared to strike down really. Of praises, but shy ones, from his boisterous friend, of all ! As if something was held back.

He remembers a lot of lone nights, once his brother judged himself too bad old to sleep with him in the room, and moved to the once makeshift laboratory, and then to Grillby’s. He had to instaure a new night ritual then, with the help of his great trusted friend, Fluffy Bunny ! That won him a few nights of a sleeping brother, who fell to his own storytelling devices, for a few hours at least, on a racecar bed.

He remembers digging for robot figures, for his brother who loved science so much, and robots were the best science, right ? in the dumps of Waterfall, and crossing gazes with a yellow monster with sweaty scales and a lost look in the black nothing of the eponymic rushing waters.

He remembers that look on his brother’s face, digging in his eye sockets a sad lazy look, that he didn’t like at all, and made him ask for some more sugary, weird quiche, instead.

He remembers hinting at Undyne, who is such a Heroine, to go look in the Dumps, even if she didn’t like that place because “it reeks of HUMAN TRASH”, as she said, in HoPe she’d find the lost monster there.

He remembers days passing, and feeling déjà-vu, and his brother more and more absent.

He remembers badly again from here.

He remembers a human coming in Snowdin.

He isn’t so sure after that.

He remembers becoming friends with the human. Best friends.

He remembers seeing the sun for the first time, but remembering that too.

He remembers harsh days on the surface with humans being mean and not listening.

He remembers moving in a big town with his brother, and having more meltdowns again like he did as a child.

He remembers meeting that silver souled human, who seemed to know everything but still was very lost, and had a complicated relationship with Frisk, and Flowey and that floaty image.

He remembers getting his dad back, and a lot of headaches with it.

He remembers working his bones off, with his brother, for a cool car (and a cool motorbike, sans didn’t know he had seen him covet that one), and a good house for everyone.

He doesn’t remember riding that car. He doesn’t remember buying it.

He doesn’t remember his brother’s soul crumbling suddenly as he jumped his own bones on himself, because he wasn’t there, and Frisk wasn’t there either, away on a long class trip, where they said they had died ?? And had saved ?? And couldn’t save Sans anymore.

He didn’t understand what those blubbering hands told, but he did the tears, and he told them it was okay.

He didn’t remember meeting that other Undyne, all dark, voidlike shining armour, dripping DT and obscure, obscure eyes, whose shine pierces the fabric of space itself. But he did anyway

He used to think he’d always have past and present to look to the future.

Obviously he was wrong. But that’s okay !! The Great Papyrus also makes mistakes, it is the obligatory step to further greatness, after all !

Now with the Knowledge of a confusing multiverse, he flees travel from his world to others, in HoPe of… Something ? Someone.

[cutewhitefishmontanabarbers-blog]

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[myfoxny]

Retreating after Trump tweet, GOP won't gut ethics office

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The new GOP era in Washington got off to a messy start Tuesday as House Republicans, under pressure from President-elect Donald Trump, abruptly dropped plans to gut an independent congressional ethics board. The dizzying about-face came as lawmakers convened for the first day of the 115th Congress, an occasion normally reserved for pomp and ceremony under the Capitol Dome. Instead, House Republicans found themselves under attack not only from Democrats but from their new president, over their secretive move Monday to neuter the independent Office of Congressional Ethics and place it under lawmakers' control. With all that Congress has to work on, do they really have to make the weakening of the Independent Ethics Watchdog, as unfair as it-- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2017 ........may be, their number one act and priority. Focus on tax reform, healthcare and so many other things of far greater importance! #DTS-- Donald J. 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