#love emily dickinson forever & ever and this feathered thing is beautiful

[myhahnestopinion]

THE AARONS 2019 - Best TV Show

Last year, I said that I had become content with knowing that there are far too many streaming service with far too many great TV shows for me to ever watch everything worthwhile. This year, I signed up for a bunch of free trials and canceled immediately before they billed me. I’m not sure where the contentment went, but I do know that I found a bunch of great contenders. Here are the Aarons for Best TV Show:

#10. Evil (Season 1) - CBS

Why, yes, Evil is good. The rare CBS show able to make such a list, the procedural hailing from The Good Wife creators Robert and Michelle King twists the languishing network-TV formula into the devil’s playthings. A spiritual spiritual-successor to The X-Files, Evil blurs the lines between skepticism and belief as its trio of investigators unravel a series of uncanny phenomenon, while asking the viewer if supernatural malice looks any different from human cruelty. The show’s attempts to incorporate modern technology can sometimes be a bit clueless, but overall the show is sold by its ambition. The devil’s not in the details. 

#9. The Good Place (Season 4) - NBC

Why, yes, Good is good as well. The NBC comedy had questionable long-term sustainability when it first premiered, but thanks to nimble inventiveness, it’s tough to imagine saying farewell four seasons later. The Good Place has been a safe haven during uncertain times as an exaltation of the virtues of forgiveness, kindness, and self-improvement. While less structurally ambitious than past seasons, the fourth season was the show’s most thematically ambitious as the creators played god by crafting a whole new afterlife. In this philosophical debate over the concept of justice, the show more than justified its long-term existence.

#8. Arrow (Season 8) - CW

Arrow truly became something else over the course of its run, growing from a gritty Batman Begins-inspired melodrama into a network-dominating superhero universe that just powered-through its most ambitious crossover yet. With a shortened season order and an ominous prophecy of death hanging over its hooded head, Arrow pulled out all the greatest hits from its quiver in a rapid-fire revisitation of settings and reunion of cast members. Bringing Oliver Queen face-to-face with his adult children from the future, the show finally made its litigating of legacy literal. The Green Arrow is gone, but the hero left quite a mark.

#7. When They See Us (Limited Series) - Netflix

Representation matters. The stories we choose to tell and the stories we choose to listen to make a powerful impact on the betterment, or worsening, of equality and justice. When They See Us shows us a failure, and hopes for an uplifting. Director Ava DuVernay’s intimate, authentic recreation of the tragedy of the Exonerated Five, boys wrongfully imprisoned for a violent assault in Central Park, unravels the prejudice, malice, and laziness that upend our justice system and destroy lives. The story’s true-to-life intersection with the currently-in-power, forever impeached President is all the more reason that now is the time to see When They See Us. 

#6. Mr. Robot (Season 4) - USA

The early episodes of Mr. Robot were met with trepidation that it would be little more than an infantile Fight Club rip-off. In its final episodes, creator Sam Esmail codifies that he is no hack. The show’s well-researched technological thievery is as thrilling as ever (Experimental episode formats this season include an entirely dialogue-free heist), but its real endgame boils the conflict down to one of mind and soul. With its final season, the ever-elusive show finally brings all its various string-pullers into the light in gut-wrenching yet deeply-empathetic reveals. Who could have guessed Mr. Robot possessed such humanity? 

#5. Dickinson (Season 1) - Apple TV+

I would not have stopped for Apple TV, but I would gladly stop for thee, Dickinson. Though inspired by the life and poetry of Emily Dickinson, Alena Smith’s comedy mixes the artist’s love of the macabre with a sense of millennial malaise. Throughout its 19th Century-set trials, tribulations, and guest spots from John Mulaney as Henry David Thoreau, the cast behave as modern teenagers and are backed by a contemporary soundtrack. The approach laces the sitcom’s situations with a delightful ironic wit, but, more preciously, forges a sense of camaraderie across eras. In the relatable burdens of past lovers, we find ourselves, and Dickinson find immortality.

#4. Tuca & Bertie (Season 1) - Netflix

While its shared style caused many comparisons to a certain other Netflix series, Tuca & Bertie was in fact a horse of another color. Confident in its voice, and the voices of its stars Tiffany Haddish and Ali Wong, from the get-go, the show stretched the wings of its animation with more substantial surrealism than its sister show. While a scintillating showcase of cartoon buffoonery, the series’ content is not just for the birds; Tuca & Bertie find courage in the face of addiction, power in the face of trauma, and persistence in the face of sexist power structures. Coupled with Bertie’s boyfriend Speckle, perhaps my favorite character from all of TV, these birds of a feather have impeccable chemistry and insight. Who knows what heights it could have soared to had it not been cancelled after one season?

#3. Green Eggs and Ham (Season 1) - Netflix

With unusual grandeur for a project its size, Green Eggs is a show that’s one of a kind. It’s hand-drawn animation (Expensive, I’m sure) gives this adaptation a can’t-miss allure. With an all-star cast, cute jokes, and surprising twists too, you’ll want to follow the Chickeraffe’s road-trip escape from the zoo. And don’t forget the very best part! This TV serves up a whole lot of heart! If you want a show whose theme song is a jam, you surely will love Green Eggs and Ham.

#2. Watchmen (Season 1) - HBO

The original graphic novel has long been an essential read for the genre; the new sequel TV show is now a must-watch, man. Respectful of its source material but not beholden to its ideas, Lost co-creator Damon Lindelof’s ‘remix’ revitalized Watchmen’s power by substituting Cold-War nuclear anxiety for the insidious threat of entrenched white supremacy. With a harrowing recreation of the Tulsa Massacre and ingenious retcons to a few comic characters, Watchmen provoked complicated questions on race relations. In true Lindelof fashion, it also wisely left many things unanswered. The quality is good enough that the comic’s writer might just have to rethink his stance on adaptations of his work, and good enough that the viewer might want HBO to rethink their decision to end the show after one year. Yet the retroactively limited series ends on a perfect note, and there is no more.

AND THE BEST TV SHOW OF 2019 IS...

#1. You’re the Worst (Season 5) - FXX

Evil is good, and The Worst is the best (What a list I have this year!). Of all the series on this list that capped their run in 2019, You’re the Worst has always had the lowest stakes, but its ending by far hit the hardest. In season five, the whirlwind will-they/won’t-they resistant romance between narcissistic writer Jimmy Shive-Overly and self-destructive PR executive Gretchen Cutler reached its decisive culmination. To suggest the show reached an ending, though, would be a disservice to the beautiful decisions made. Such decisions were a perfectly imperfect solution for two imperfect people, striving each day to be better and do well by one another, meeting each other where they are. In the end, the show’s initial billing as an “anti-rom-com” was proven a mismarriage; the laugh-out-loud show had a profound outlook on what it means to love another person. Hilarious and heartful from beginning to end, You’re the Worst will go down in history as one of TV’s greatest.

NEXT UP: THE 2019 AARON FOR BEST TV EPISODE!

[thegingerwriter]

Feathers, Leaves and the Unspoken Promise of Never Letting Me Go

A short story by L.J Hanslow

Based on the poem by Emily Dickinson, ‘”Hope” is the thing with feathers’

PG13

The small shine of blue immediately catches my eye the second I finally step foot into my chambers. I know what it is before I even approach it, but the excitement and the tiny flutter in my stomach that never fails to make my heart pound, never leaves me. I pray that feeling will never go away.

A long, blue, and green peacock feather sits in front of me, the end tucked safely under the door of my window so as to prevent the wind from stealing the precious treasure from me. My stomach eases as I pick it up, holding it up to the sun, presenting it so the rays can shine through and I can appreciate the beauty of it even more.

A silent promise and a reminder to myself to get through the day so when the moon rises instead, I may see the person who so graciously tucked a peacock feather under the door of my window.

I was especially conscious of the time today, the hours ticking by painfully slowly. I could feel the knot in my stomach tighten every time I glimpsed the shine of the peacock feather in my hair when I walked past a particularly reflective window. If I could just pretend today was like any other day, get through the lessons, through the lunches and the meetings and then to the only comfort I received nowadays.

My peace.

The clock finally ticks to 6:00 and I am out of the room faster than I think I have ever respectfully left a room. Her hands, her warm beautiful hands on my skin is all my mind can come up with as I sweep through the twists and turns, which I have memorised over the countless many times I ditched a lesson to explore. Before more thoughts can cross my mind, I am stopped by another presence. One, I regrettably admit, will never be able to give me the same amount of peace.

“Edwin.” I say breathlessly, seeing the man in front of me leaning a little too casually against my door. I know what he wants. Of course, I know. “Need something?”

“Eliza.” He pauses, running a hand through his already tousled dark waves, a look of grief on his face as if he is dreading the words that are about to spill out of his mouth. I didn’t realise I was holding my breath until he spoke again.

“Of course, you know what’s happening tomorrow- everyone knows. But I just wanted to… make sure that you-well-.”

“Edwin, if you’re asking me what I’m going to say before you even ask-.” I don’t know why I say it when I know that is exactly what he’s asking.

“Neither of us need that embarrassment. And I get we don’t want this, but we don’t have any-.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Edwin.” I cut him off softly, giving my best, kind smile so he nods his head before brushing past me down the hall.

Once I am sure Edwin is far gone, I push my door open, letting that stupid giddy feeling overcome me as I push it closed behind me and turn to the girl standing in the middle of my room.

“My lady.” She curtsies at me, a soft smile across as her face as a giggle bubbles inside me.

I don’t know what comes over me but in an instant, I am no longer standing by the door and am instead holding her in my arms as we fall to the bed together, the laughter rising from us both as we shift to wrap our arms around each other in a comfortable embrace.

For a second, I think this, right here, will last forever. But then she speaks, and I feel as if my entire world has been plunged underwater.

“Will you marry him?”

“My dear Winnifred-.”

“Will you?”

I pause. “I-.”

She looks away and for a moment, I convince myself I saw the gleam of tears on face.

I am overcome by the need for her words.

“Promise me you’ll meet me tomorrow night. One last time. Before I must leave you.”

She does not answer and I can hear the words she refuses to say. Never has she asked me to stay, or to run with her. Or to promise my love. All she has asked, through the way she holds me in her embrace is that I never let her go. I don’t know how I ever could.

Instead of words, she gives herself to me. Memories flood my brain and suddenly I can hear her singing. Ukulele in hand, sitting in the empty kitchen late at night as she sings without the knowledge I am stood behind her. Her song. For me.

Higher than the high, higher than us all.

She lights up all the skies and deep within my soul.

Princess, I ask this one small simple thing. if you could take the task and please fall in love with me.

As if she had to ask.

She is all I feel, all I taste, all I need in this life or another.

I hold onto that, my dear Winnifred’s voice, and her unspoken words and all that she never asks of me. Oh, how I wish sometimes she would just ask.

I hold onto that when I wake up the next morning and my bed is bare, though I can still feel her against me.

I hold onto that when I am in front of a crowd of thousands the next day, smiling the way I am supposed to as Edwin is down on one knee.

But all trace of her beautiful words leave me when I entire my chambers at midday once again, my heart sinking as I find my window ledge empty and bare, her unspoken words louder than ever.

[savethetvdonotforgettovote]

MESSAGES FROM HEAVEN

GOD LOVES THE BEAUTIFUL

PALESTINIAN PEOPLE OF

PALESTINE GAZA WEST BANK

GOLAN

JERUSALEM

I AM

PETER MAX AKMANS

VIRGIN MARY/JESUS CHRIST

GOD

I AM PALESTINE

I AM ISRAEL

GOD SAYS IT IS CLEAR TO SEE A

GREAT INJUSTICE WAS WRITTEN

BALFOUR DECLARATION

SIGNED BY LORD ROTHSCHILD

QUEEN ELIZABETH II ARE YOU

BLIND DEAF DUMB

UNEDUCATED UNABLE TO READ

ROYAL MONARCHY ANCESTRY

ROTHSCHILD ANCESTRY

ISRAELI ANCESTRY

ALL THREE GENERATIONS OF

ANCESTORS MUST TAKE

RESPONIBILITY

YOUR MESSIAH

IS HERE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE OF

ISRAEL YOU ALL SANG TO ME

https://youtu.be/cOmIaqL3WmQ

LOVE IS THE ONLY THING WORTH

FIGHTING FOR , NEVER EVER FIGHT

EACH OTHER FOR ANY OTHER

REASON !

CAN YOU OPEN YOUR HEARTS MAKE

PEACE !

GOD SAYS NOTHING IS MORE

BEAUTIFUL THAN SHARING !

IT IS TIME FOR PEACE

FIRST THERE MUST BE TRUST

THEN EVERYTHING IS NEGOTIABLE

PLEASE COMPROMISE WITH EACH

OTHER ! SHOW THE WHOLE WORLD

GODDESS MOTHER FATHER GOD

TRUTH CHANGE SHARE !

THE ALTERNATIVE

IS A NEVER ENDING STORY

https://youtu.be/lHytjEj7B9g

https://youtu.be/UEgCv7fLoiQ

FOREVER FIGHTING

NO PEACE ON EARTH

CERTAINLY A MODERN SOCIETY CAN

ACHIEVE PEACE !

METAMORPHOSIS

GOD SAYS CHILDREN

TURN INTO ADULTS

BUILD A ROAD TO PEACE

BRICK BY BRICK

JUST LIKE THE SONG

ALWAYS REMEMBER A ROAD IS

MEANT TO BE SHARED

PEACE IS A TWO WAY STREET

PATH TO PEACE

GLOBAL CITIZENS ARE THE FUTURE

TEACH THE WORLD WHAT SHARING

PEACE IS ALL ABOUT , IT IS TIME !

ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW IT ALL

STARTED OVER TWO YEARS AGO

FLOCKING LIKE GODS BIRDS ,

SWARMING LIKE GODS BEES ,

MARCHING LIKE GODS ANTS ,

THE MESSIAH FIXED US ALL

BRICK BY BRICK

IT IS OKAY TO USE GODS NAME IN

VAIN CALLING GOD TO HEAR YOUR

PAIN , INJUSTICE , ANGUISH

https://youtu.be/uZdv-TtiMkg

https://youtu.be/MjWowgUWinQ

https://youtu.be/5cOAP0ThpXI

https://youtu.be/ekoHxB4idmg

https://youtu.be/ked9y0TWpjc

https://youtu.be/DyxkjYmlzhg

POET EMILY DICKINSON

HOPE IS THE THING WITH FEATHERS

https://youtu.be/6XtBE2uXF34

https://youtu.be/Rikg2LrWrOM

https://youtu.be/fe8qRj12OhY

BORN DURING A THUNDERSTORM

WE ARE ALIVE

WE ARE AWAKE

WE ARE ALIVE AWAKE

BEHIND THESE CONCRETE WALLS

BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE OF ISRAEL

BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN OF GOD

AROUND THE WORLD

HEAR OUR CRIES SCREAMS

INJUSTICE

HEAR OUR THIRST FOR FREEDOM

HEAR OUR THUNDER

TEAR DOWN THESE CONCRETE

WALLS

WE CAN’T SEE GOD

GOD CAN’T SEE US

ALWAYS REMEMBER

GODDESS MOTHER FATHER GOD

NEVER LET YOU DOWN

YOU THE CHILDREN OF GOD

BROTHERS AND SISTERS

CONTINUOUSLY LET EACH OTHER

DOWN !

STOP THE FIGHTING WITH EACH

OTHER !

A FAMILY DOESN’T ACT THIS WAY !

YOUR ALL MY CHILDREN , ALL

EQUAL TO EACH OTHER IN

EVERY WAY !

I WATCH , I DON’T KNOW WHO YOU

ARE ANYMORE , IT MAKES ME CRAZY

ANGRY WHEN ALL OF YOU ACT

CRAZY ! CONTINUE AND ONE DAY

SOON THERE WILL BE NOTHING

LEFT OF YOUR EXISTENCE ANYMORE

TRUST YOURSELVES

YOUR ALL NOT CHILDREN

ANYMORE

THOUSANDS OF YEARS

HAVE GONE BY IT IS TIME ALL MY

CHILDREN GROW UP !

YOUR ALL ADULTS NOW ,

NOT CHILDREN ANYMORE !

DO I MAKE MYSELF YOUR

FATHER MOTHER

GOD

VERY CLEAR TO EVERYONE OF YOU

MY CHILDREN DOWN THERE ON

EARTH !

INSOLENT UNGRATEFUL CHILDREN

RUINING EVERYTHING I CREATED

FOR ALL OF YOU !

SPOILED CHILDREN KILLING EACH

OTHER FOR WHAT ? THERE IS NO

OTHER PLACE YOU CAN GO !

I FORBID IT ! EARTH IS THE ONLY

PLACE ALL OF YOU WILL EVER CALL

HOME !

CHANGE NOW !

OR ALL OF YOU WILL BE DESTROYED

BURNED TO A CINDER !

NOTHING OF YOUR EXISTENCE WILL

REMAIN !

A FORGOTTEN CIVILIZATION !

THE ANSWER IS YES ! I WILL CRY FOR

ALL OF YOU AS YOU WILL ALL CRY

FOR YOUR DYING CHILDREN !

IF YOU THINK I WON’T KILL YOU

DESTROY ALL THE EARTH THINK

AGAIN , KEEP TEMPTING YOUR GOD !

I DARE YOU TO TAKE THESE WORDS

FROM MY MOUTH , I AM VERY CLOSE

TO A DECISION , ALL OF YOU SHOULD

BE SHIVERING IN FEAR BY NOW FOR

ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE RUINED

YOU THINK YOU KNOW ME YOUR GOD

TEMPT ME , CONTINUE TO

MISBEHAVE INSOLENT CHILDREN ,

I AM ALMOST OVER IT ALL YOUR

INSOLENCE , ONCE I NO LONGER

REMEMBER KNOW WHO YOU ARE

ANYMORE THE DECISION I WILL

MAKE YOU WON’T KNOW WHO I

AM YOUR GOD , YOU THINK YOU

KNOW ME

NONE OF YOU KNOW ME AT

ALL ! DO ALL OF YOU HEAR ME YOUR

GOD ! ANYMORE , NOTHING OF YOU

WILL BE LEFT ANYMORE , YOU THINK

YOU KNOW ME , TEMPT , YOU WILL

NO ME NO MORE ! I SEE NOTHING

LIKE YOU ALL DO , I AM OVER

GETTING OVER

YOU ! CHANGE AND CHANGE FAST !

BREATHE ALL THESE WORDS INTO

YOUR INSOLENT MOUTHS , BURN

THESE WORDS INTO YOUR BRAINS

MY CHILDREN , I SEE ALL , YOU HIDE

NOTHING FROM ME YOUR GOD !

THERE WILL BE NO OTHER PLANET

FOR YOU TO FIND ! DO ALL OF YOU

THINK I DON’T KNOW WHATS ON

YOUR MINDS WHAT YOU ALL ARE UP

TOO ! NOTHING YOU DO NO WHERE

YOU CAN GO WITHOUT ME SEEING

EXACTLY WHERE ALL OF YOU ARE !

JUST BECAUSE YOU MAY THINK I

AM NOT AROUND DOESN’T MEAN I

CAN’T SEE WHERE YOU ALL ARE

WHAT YOU ALL ARE PLANNING TO

DO ! I AM WARNING ALL OF YOU NOW

STOP WHAT DECEIT YOU ALL ARE

PLANNING IT WILL NOT WORK WITH

ME YOUR GOD , YOU ALL THINK YOU

KNOW ME BUT YOU REALLY DON’T

KNOW ME YOUR GOD ! CONTINUE

YOUR DECEIT AND I WILL SEE YOU

ALL NO MORE ! I KNEW WHO YOU

WERE FROM THE START BUT NOW I

DON’T KNOW ANY OF YOU NO MORE

SOON I WILL SEE YOU NO MORE

SOON THERE I WON’T SEE YOU

NO MORE NOTHING OF YOU LEFT

NO MORE , I DON’T TRUST ANY OF

YOU ANYMORE . CHANGE TELL THE

TRUTH YOU HAVE NO MORE

EXCUSES

I WANT PEACE ON EARTH

THERE IS NO WHERE ELSE TO GO

THERE IS NOTHING ELSE TO FIND

WHEN YOU DON’T SPEAK I KNOW

WHAT YOU THINK

[cookiesandcreame1983-blog]

Quotes for Sunday February 5,2017

Strength quotes If we are strong, our character will speak for itself. If we are weak, words will be of no help.--John F. Kennedy (undelivered address, Dallas, November 22, 1963) It is for us to pray not for tasks equal to our powers, but for powers equal to our tasks, to go forward with a great desire forever beating at the door of our hearts as we travel toward our distant goal.--Helen Keller It is sometimes the most fragile things that have the power to endure and become sources of strength.--May Sarton (May Sarton: Excerpts from a Life) It’s not in numbers but in unity that our great strength lies.--Thomas Paine Know your strengths and take advantage of them.--Greg Norman Life is very interesting. In the end, some of your greatest pains become your greatest strengths.--Drew Barrymore ***************************************************************************** Love quotes Love isn't something you find. Love is something that finds you. -Loretta Young This is one of the miracles of love: It gives a power of seeing through its own enchantments and yet not being disenchanted. -C. S Lewis To the world you are one person, but to one person you are the world. Every time we love, every time we give, it's Christmas. -Dale Evans Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver. -Barbara De Angelis Immature love says: 'I love you because I need you.' Mature love says 'I need you because I love you.' -Erich Fromm Love involves a peculiar unfathomable combination of understanding and misunderstanding. -Diane Arbus A life lived in love will never be dull. -Leo Buscaglia ************************************************************************** Attitude quotes I believe life is to be lived, not worked, enjoyed, not agonized, loved, not hated." Leland Bartlett  "Happiness is not by chance, but by choice."  Jim Rohn  "Live with passion." Anthony Robbins  "A man without a smiling face must not open a shop." Chinese Proverb  The state of your life is nothing more than a reflection of your state of mind." Dr. Wayne W. Dyer  "To different minds, the same world is a hell, and a heaven." Ralph Waldo Emerson  "Always look at what you have left.Never look at what you have lost." Robert H. Schuller "If you believe you can, you probably can. If you believe you won't, you most assuredly won't. Belief is the ignition switch that gets you off the launching pad." Denis Waitley  Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it."  Lou Holtz ***************************************************************************** Hope quotes Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Everything that is done in the world is done by hope. Alexander Dumas  All human wisdom is summed up in two words - wait and hope. Titus Maccius Plautus Things we not hope for often come to pass than things we wish. Aristotle Hope is a waking dream. Terence While there's life, there's hope. Stephen Ambrose The past is a source of knowledge, and the future is a source of hope. Love of the past implies faith in the future. Barbara Kingsolver Hope is a renewable option: If you run out of it at the end of the day, you get to start over in the morning. Emily Dickinson Hope is the thing with feathers - that perches in the soul - and sings the tune without words - and never stops, at all. ****************************************************************************** Prayer quotes Don't pray when it rains if you don't pray when the sun shines. ~Satchel Paige, 1974 The value of consistent prayer is not that He will hear us, but that we will hear Him. ~William McGill Prayer may not change things for you, but it for sure changes you for things. ~Samuel M. Shoemaker Two hands working can do more than a thousand clasped in prayer. ~Author Unknown We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties. ~Oswald Chambers When at night you cannot sleep, talk to the Shepherd and stop counting sheep. ~Author Unknown ******************************************************************************* Friendship quotes The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart. -Elizabeth Foley I'm glad friendship doesn't come with price tags. For if it does, I'd never afford someone as great as you. Friendship means understanding, not agreement. It means forgiveness, not forgetting. It means the memories last, even if contact is lost. Friendship is the only cement that will ever hold the world together. -Woodrow T. Wilson A true friend is the person who walks in when the rest of the world walks out. A friend is someone who lets you have total freedom to be yourself. -Jim Morrison