#technical school in philadelphia

[pttedu]

Sherman’s Soundbytes! Episode 2: Positivity Unleashed

In this uplifting episode, join us as PTTI Founder Sherman McLeod sits down with Brandon—an inspiring PTTI alumnus—to explore the transformative power of positivity. From wrenches to wisdom, they delve into life coaching, resilience, and the art of seeking light even in the darkest corners.

[carnivore-voyeur]

A Lengthy List of Per Eriksson Facts for Future Reference

(Based on the Live he did on Instagram. I rewatched it and made a list so you don't have to)

He's a t-shirt collector and he (allegedly) has more t-shirts than Jutty Taylor.

He says he barely paid attention in school b/c he was too busy playing guitar.

His favorite tattoo is the one on his chest. It was his first tattoo.

The back tattoo took several sessions and 30+ hours. It was very painful.

His stomach tattoo hurt the most. It's his least favorite and he wants to get it removed.

He took out his lip piercing b/c it was uncomfortable to eat with. He kept biting it.

He likes playing realistic first person shooter games. He's a PC and Xbox gamer.

His favorite guitar is the Fender Stratocaster. It's the one he uses in Ghost.

He was invited to see Rite Here Rite Now in LA.

He saw Ghost for the first time in 2011 when he was in Katatonia.

He started out as a touring guitar tech and worked for Opeth, Meshuggah, Dark Funeral, Katatonia, and more.

He's been playing guitar for 35 years and he thinks he's a mediocre guitar player.

Per started out learning how to play drums b/c his older brother was a drummer.

He had his necklace custom made in 1999/2000. He rarely takes it off.

He says his Finnish is not good.

He doesn't speak Spanish very well either. He understands more than he can speak.

He's a Snoopy fan b/c his mom got him a Snoopy plushie when he was two. He still has it.

His favorite horror movie is The Shining. He prefers the movie to the book.

His favorite Katatonia song is Sweet Nurse.

He loves animals.

He does enjoy black metal.

He thinks his hair sucks.

His favorite horror game is Silent Hill II.

He had an apartment in Barcelona, but he no longer lives there.

He was in a band called Genocrush Ferox that he says was a technical death metal band.

His favorite food is tacos.

His favorite band is Macabre.

His favorite colors are black, red, and purple.

He's seen Metallica live many times. It was his favorite band when he was a kid.

He says the hardest part of touring is traveling and boredom.

He loves true crime and he studied serial killers. He doesn't support them, just interested in their psychology.

He'd love to play with King Diamond some day.

He prefers still water to bubbly water.

He's seen SOAD live a couple times.

Toto was one of the first bands he saw live.

He's played Dead by Daylight but it gave him motion sickness.

He gets nervous playing live.

He loves good drummers.

He plays guitar, bass, and drums. He likes to sing too but says he's not great at it.

He says he had a bad experience meeting one of his heroes.

He's seen Rammstein and loves them.

He loves the word dong because they use it in his favorite show, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

He doesn't understand why he has fans.

He says he will never do anything with Bloodbath ever again.

He hates social media.

He absolutely loves his baphomet plushies.

He prefers dark evil horror than gore.

He likes it when people call him babygirl.

He doesn't like anime.

[modelsof-color]

About Willi Smith

Willi Smith was considered one of the most successful African-American designers in the fashion industry at the time of his death in 1987, and the inventor of streetwear. His label that launched in 1976, WilliWear Limited, grossed over $25 million in sales by 1986 according to The Guardian. Inspired by the fashion he saw on the streets and also his desire to shape it, Smith’s accessibility and affordability of clothing helped democratize fashion.

Born in 1948, Willi Donnell Smith grew up in Philadelphia with an ironworker father and a mother skilled in the creative arts. “I was Mr. Bookworm. I was the artistic child no one understood. But my parents supported me. If I was doing a little drawing, my father didn’t say, ‘Why don’t you play baseball?’... The family sometimes used to say there were more clothes in the house than food.” After his parents divorced, Smith’s grandmother, Gladys “Nana” Bush, stepped in to nurture him, a role she played throughout his life.

Smith studied commercial art at Mastbaum Technical High School and fashion illustration at the Philadelphia Museum College of Art. He found himself bored by the limits of illustration, always “changing the design of the dress [he] was supposed to be illustrating.” Through the connections of a family for whom she cleaned, Bush organized an internship for Smith with venerated couturier Arnold Scaasi. At Scaasi, Smith assisted in creating fashions for clientele like Brooke Astor and Elizabeth Taylor, learning form, fit, embroidery, and the power wielded by access to a certain type of dress—a crash course in elite levels of fashion and the clothes he didn’t want to make

His label, Williwear, was ahead of its time: mixing the relaxed fit of sportswear with high-end elements of tailoring. His clothes were not meant to be untouchable, catwalk-only designs. Although the term “streetwear” has been much chewed over recently, Smith’s more elastic definition of the term (bringing urban culture to the catwalk) has been incredibly influential.

His clothes were meant for everybody. He said: “Fashion is a people thing and designers should remember that. Models pose in clothes. People live in them.” Though he was inspired by New York City, he wanted people everywhere to appreciate the culture and inspiration of the city. “Being black has a lot to do with my being a good designer,” he said. “Most of these designers who have to run to Paris for colour and fabric combinations should go to church on Sunday in Harlem. It’s all right there.”

[lionleonora]

Reddie Fics for the Despairing It: Chapter Two Enjoyer

part of my unnamed "recommending non-classic fics for dead fandoms" series! this is a list of less well-known fics in the ITCH2 fandom, centered around reddie fics. these are all fics that i am passionate about, but you won't find them on the first three pages of ao3. if you're ready for something other than the classics, this is the list for you! organized in order of hits from least to most.

Revivified Death by ezlebe - something about me is that i love vampire fics, and vampire eddie. this features vampire eddie AND vampire richie—a treat! it's rated E, has some fun worldbuilding, and way fewer hits than i would expect (only 3,300!). some mentions of blood, but no crazy gore.

inertia and other properties of matter by skeilig - a “it’s always sunny in philadelphia” au, but not necessary at all to be familiar with the show! (i sure ain’t!) cool and seamless au worldbuilding, and some good mutual pining. plus, the gang is together and remembers each other! rated E.

your lips feel retro by kaspbrak_kid - the only T fic on here, but also teeth-achingly sweet! *stefon voice* this fic has everything—fake relationship, richie speaking at length about how much he loves eddie, multiple kiss scenes...plus some self-actualization + confidence boosts for eddie as he goes to his high school reunion!

push you out (pull you back in) by Anonymous - short, sweet, and sexy little one-shot! i don't usually go for established relationships, but i DO go for established relationships where each person has new and hidden depths of horniness that they have yet to reveal. enter this fic! rated E, and if you want more by this author, i'm preeeety sure i know who they are, but of course i'm just speculating.

the study of pathology by crescentluce - this is a sequel to crescentluce's fandom classic, the anatomy of a joke. this sequel is fantastic though! not as many people have read it, but it's absolutely worth it. told from eddie's perspective as he very quickly falls very hard in love with richie (though they've been dating for like, what. 30 minutes?). incredibly heartwarming and also super funny.

give a shape to this ache I have for you by youabird (nevulon) - i have a few all-time favorite fics that span multiple fandoms - this is one. this is a fic that i would take with me on a desert island. if this is the last reddie fic i could ever reread, it would be this one. featuring an eddie who is deeply unaware of his desires and desperately in love with richie. please please read this.

Health Improvement Planning for Dummies by glorious_spoon - a multi-chapter fic with a comparatively low hit count. dumbass for dumbass relationship, but also really hot. rated E!

hysteria when you're near by tempestbreak - this fic is fucking crazy, and i mean that in the best way. sex pollen is not common in this fandom (understandably - the worldbuilding is difficult) but this fic does it seamlessly and to great effect. an E-rated oneshot. this will literally change you.

Do you need anybody? by remusjohn - i am of the firm opinion that this should be a fandom classic. it's not quite there yet, but getting there! this is one of the first fandom fics i truly fell in love with, and also one of the only fics i've ever followed as it was posted! one of my favorite tropes is mutual pining WHILE they're having sex, and boy does this fic deliver. rated E. beautiful and fantastic.

Bonus: Author Recommendations!

organized in order of most to least fics written in fandom!

skeilig has a solid number of fics and a really interesting repertoire of AUs! as a purveyor of niche aus (REFERENCE TO MY BLOG??) i am very fond of the way they reimagine richie and eddie in a grounded, three-dimensional way.

glorious_spoon technically has fewer fics than skeilig, but they have a bunch more written anonymously for a kinkmeme event (i believe. something of that nature!). they write fantastically kinky, funny, and sweet stuff. if you're looking for something quick and satisfying (ayyyy) look through their library!

ezlebe is another in the ranks of "cool niche au authors." if you like supernatural creature reddie, or even just normal reddie, definitely look through their stuff! they have a unique voice and should be way more famous in the fandom imo.

remusjohn has the fewest amount of works in this list, but every one of them hits like a goddamn truck. they've written classics, they've written unknown fics—they've done it all! definitely check out their stuff for emotional smut and mutual pining!

thanks for sticking around this long! reddie is quite dead, but it will always be very close to my heart. reddie matters to me. i'm glad it and its writers matter to you too!

[handeaux]

A Secret Organization Scoured Cincinnati For Bolsheviks But Found Only A Schoolgirl

It is inevitable, once you have created an organization to snitch on your neighbors, that you will find neighbors to snitch on. So it was with the American Protective League.

The American Protective League emerged from the jingoistic fervor that gripped America during the First World War. According to Steven L. Wright [Queen City Heritage, Winter 1988]:

“The American Protective League (APL) organized in Chicago in March 1917, had units in 600 cities and a membership roster of nearly 100,000. And by 1918 membership had grown to 250,000. Its membership consisted of bankers, businessmen, attorneys, chamber of commerce leaders and insurance company executives. Because of their ‘high’ position, they easily obtained information concerning ‘troublesome’ citizens, especially those who opposed the draft.”

Nationally, the APL received quasi-legal status as an affiliate of the federal Department of Justice. Locally, the Cincinnati branch of the APL was instrumental in arresting thirteen socialists who were charged with treason for circulating literature opposed to the military draft. Those charges would eventually be dismissed by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1924.

With the conclusion of hostilities, the APL technically disbanded on 31 January 1919 when Gerson J. Brown, the wholesale tobacconist who led the Cincinnati chapter, turned over all League records to Calvin S. Weakley, special agent of the Department of Justice. Even though the organization ceased to exist, however, some members insisted on carrying on the work of the League. Germany’s surrender had revealed, according to these men, a new and even more sinister enemy working to conquer America – Bolshevism. John L. Richey, head of the Cincinnati Association of Credit Men, announced through several very public speeches that his position as chief investigator of the American Protective League had revealed to him that Bolshevism was alive and well in Cincinnati. According to the Enquirer [9 January 1919]:

“Mr. Richey declared speakers at recent meetings in Cincinnati had advocated immediate revolution and deliberate assassination of public officials who could not be influenced as part of the Bolshevist doctrine. There has been an increase, Mr. Richey said, in the Bolshevist movement in Cincinnati from 500 members 60 days ago, to a membership of a few more than 3,000 today.”

Not quite a week later, the Cincinnati Post [14 January 1919] announced that Richey now estimated a Cincinnati cabal of Bolshevists, International Workers of the World, and various other radical fellow travelers had more than 7,000 members. Richey pledged to continue his investigative work in Cincinnati despite the dissolution of the American Protective League through a new “secret patriotic organization.” According to Richey:

“Members of these groups of radicals, or revolutionists, are guided by a national head, who directs from New York and Philadelphia. Cincinnatians in the organizations principally are foreign born. There are Germans, Italians, Russians, and Hungarians, with some malcontent Americans.”

In a statement that foreshadowed the Red-baiting tactics of Senator Joseph McCarthy thirty years later, Richey predicted that eight to ten Cincinnati officials would soon resign once the Justice Department digested the reports submitted by the American Protective League. By February 1919, Richey’s estimate of Cincinnati radicals had reached 10,000, holding regular meetings to urge the “seizure of banks, manufacturing plants, and private property.”

Richey repeatedly asserted that the Cincinnati Board of Education fanned the flames of Bolshevism here by allowing teachers to spread radical propaganda. After all his stomping and fuming, Richey had trouble producing a single Bolshevik. Nevertheless, he told the Cincinnati Post [3 February 1919], he knew exactly where to find one:

“The home of a Cincinnati school girl, the alleged meeting place of supporters of Bolshevism, is being watched by the secret patriotic organization of which John L. Richey is head, he said Monday. Richey told of existence of a Bolshevik school where students are taught principles of Bolshevism and urged to spread them in educational institutions. A Woodward High School pupil is leader in the movement, according to Richey.”

The moment Richey made that accusation, the city turned against him and his “secret patriotic organization.” The pupil in question was Rose Simkin, aged 19, who had immigrated from Russia six years earlier. Since that time, she had been employed at the Cross Overall Company while studying in the morning before work and in the evening after work at Woodward High School, hoping to earn citizenship. She told the Post [7 February 1919]:

“I hardly know what Bolshevism means. I am an American. I didn’t even know it was I who was being talked about until told so by the school authorities. Ever since I have been in America and lived in this free country I have thought of nothing except what a wonderful land this is.”

Miss Simkin pointed to her bookshelves, filled with volumes by Poe, Shakespeare and other classic authors and defied Richey to find any hint of subversive literature.

Helen T. Wooley of the Cincinnati School Board was outraged by Richey’s accusations against Rose Simkin.

“There has been excessive zeal in trying to uncover un-American plots and in this case they have hit an innocent girl.”

The American Israelite pointed out that Rose Simkin’s brothers were serving in Palestine as part of the British army there and that Richey may not have known the difference between Zionism and Bolshevism – a not-so-subtle accusation of anti-Semitism. Mainline organizations such as the City Club and the Women’s City Club passed resolutions condemning Richey’s accusations.

As the Simkin debacle faded, so did Richey’s “secret patriotic organization.” When Richey died in 1962, his obituary made no mention of the American Protective League or his secret organization.

In 1920, Rose Simkin married Edward Trieman, her father’s partner in a Race Street haberdashery. She lived to be 70 and gave birth to a son who became a doctor. Her tombstone identifies her as “A Devoted Daughter In Israel.”

[coffeeheartaddict2]

Shattered

Book: Open Heart (pre series- Hopkins years)

Characters: Ethan Ramsey, Tobias Carrick, F!OC Estelle Campion

Warnings: Language,

Rating: Mature end of PG

Category: Angst

Word count: 1524

summary: the fallout from Estelle and Tobias sleeping together and the impact it has on everyone.

Disclaimer: Characters (except Estelle) belong to Pixelberry

Authors note: Again, like with Instant regret, some of the dialogue will be lifted straight from part of my Medical school series. Enjoy the angst

🎭🎭🎭🎭🎭🎭🎭🎭🎭🎭🎭🎭🎭

Ethan made the walk to Estelle’s apartment. It was one that he had made quite a few times but never had it been done with such raw emotion. The closer he got the more angrier he got. Angry at himself for not going after her when she stormed out last night but anger towards her. He knew that by the time he left, she would be under no illusion as to where they stood, it should have saddened him but all he felt was anger. He took a deep breath, knocking on the door for the final time. She answered, she did not looked surprised to see him.

Is it true?”

Estelle knew what he was talking about. She thought about denying it but Tobias had already spoken to her and she knew that they must’ve spoken.

“Yes and, you said you had not imagined a future for us, how I was I supposed to interpret that?”

“Just because I haven’t seen it, does not mean that I thought it impossible.”

“Well you could have said that Ethan!”

“How? you stormed out before I had the chance to say and fucked Tobias.”

“Yes we had sex, but we were over.”

“Well to me we were not..”

“Were?…”

“We are over now.”

Ethan walks off and Estelle follows.

“Wait Ethan, can we discuss this?”

“What is there to discuss? Both of you betrayed a trust you know full well was difficult for me to give. We were together barely six months. Why do you think I was in a position to think big future thoughts given my issues?”

“But I love…”

“Don’t, just fucking don’t say that. if you fucking meant it, you would not have fucked Tobias last night. We are over Estelle.”

He storms off and Estelle starts to cry. The realization that it was all over started to sink in.

Despite knowing Tobias was home. He went back to their apartment. He was relieved to not find him there when he came home. A part of him wanted to have it out with him but he also needed sleep himself. Try as he might sleep did not come so he went into the kitchen and made a coffee and went back to his room to study. Between study and final exams both men found it very easy to avoid each other. Tobias could see how hurt his actions had caused Ethan but whenever he approached him he went in the opposite direction. It was summer vacation and it was not a pleasant one. Things were that tense in the apartment that Ethan went home to Providence for a few weeks. He did not overly enjoy the holiday but it was good to see his dad again and he was reminded again about the importance of communication. His dad had a point but he did question how he could trust Tobias again.

Tobias at this time decided to head to Philadelphia to visit his mum for a few days. Beth was happy to see him but became anxious when she saw how upset Tobias was. Tobias told the whole story and a part of her was disappointed in her son but she could see how badly the guilt was eating him and she hoped they could reconcile.

Meanwhile, back in Baltimore Estelle came to a realisation. She wanted Ethan back and she was going to do whatever she needed to do to do so. She knew she fucked up but she did not care. All she knew is that she still loved him and wanted to give them another shot.

Ethan returned to the apartment. Tobias was home to greet him.

“Are you ever going to forgive me?”

Ethan took a deep breath.

“I know technically You were lied too, but that does not negate the fact that you slept with my ex…”

“I would not have if I had known the truth!” Exclaimed Tobias

“That is beside the point, you stated to me that you find her attractive, how can I trust that you will not do so again, with her or any other girl.”

“And I also said I could see she only had eyes for you. If I wanted to pursue her seriously I would have gone for her then!”

“I hope we can get past this Tobias, I really want to…”

“So do I, buddy.”

Tobias was genuine in his desire for reconciliation but Ethan was still not sure. What had happened was a large betrayal of trust and he was not sure if it could be repaired.

The new year started. The men were in their third year and still did tutoring and research projects. This made it hard to avoid each other but to a degree Estelle. This was especially difficult for Ethan as Estelle was working on similar projects with him. He knew he had to speak to her for work related things only but it became quickly apparent that Estelle had other ideas. Estelle was determined to get Ethan back but he was not having a bar of it. It all came to ahead one night when Ethan was at home. There was a knock at the door and since he knew Tobias was due to come and collect his keys he assumed it was him so he called out that the door was open. To his astonishment, it was Estelle and not Tobias. Estelle made her move and it was swiftly rebuffed. Estelle was mortified and was even more shocked when Ethan more than stood his ground in firmly stating that he did not want her and told her to get out. She did and walked past Tobias. Tobias went to the apartment to grab his keys and was told by Ethan he could have her. Tobias was shocked. Yes he had slept with her, majorly violating the bro code in the process but the one thing he had been resolute on was to repair the friendship with Ethan. Tobias bid Ethan farewell and went out. The next few weeks were frustrating as they were uneventful. Try as he might to repair the friendship between himself and Ethan, Ethan kept putting up a wall. The wall did not seem to bother Ethan, at least on the surface, deep down he was hurting and he was seeing that Tobias was repentant and not wanting Estelle but the betrayal hurt and he was not sure that he could or even if he should try to trust him again. End of the year, they were still one and two, Estelle was gone, neither bothered to follow up on where and despite the drama they decided, mainly out of convenience to stay where they were.

With Estelle gone and another summer spent mostly apart, Tobias hoped that they could focus on repairing their friendship but it was not to be. Missing out on a summer study hurt but when Tobias continued to be overlooked he could not help but be curious about Ethan being behind it. Resentment kept growing and Ethan’s assurances that he was not behind Tobias missing out grew less and less convincing. This drove an obsessive streak in Tobias to topple Ethan at all costs. Just when Tobias was getting the upper hand, Ethan would find ways to thwart him. Then came residency interviews. Tobias was pleasantly surprised he was getting the chance at some of his preferred hospitals given the lukewarm recommendations from his professors and a part of him was annoyed that he did not hear from Edenbrook, he knew that was Ethan’s dream and a part of him wanted to get it just to spite him, until one day an opportunity presented itself. He had just returned home from a rather fractious tutorial when the checked the machine. It was a message for Ethan from Edenbrook. He knew he should not have but he hit delete and it was not accidental. He knew it was the final nail but at that stage he did not care.

Two days later the final nail was hammered in the coffin that was their friendship. This is when Ethan received a call from Edenbrook on his mobile. He was furious and was even more so when he confronted Tobias about it. There were still a few months left of school. Classes and finals flew by but outside of that time seemed to drag. Ethan got the coveted residency at Edenbrook and Tobias got Kenmore. Graduation came and went and Tobias was number two in his class. It was at that moment that the real regret at what he did that night and since fully set in. He knew that they should have been celebrating together but his foolishness and arrogance got in the way. He knew at the beginning he put all that he could into reconciling but it was not to be and this saddened him immensely.

Both men spent the summer before residency in their respective hometowns and both found somewhere separate to live. Both were looking forward to embarking on their careers but Tobias wished that they were to do so together.

———

Authors note: well that is the end of my little Tobias appreciation week inspired dalliance. I have always believed that Tobias always felt really bad about what had happened and I wanted to write a bit from his side. Yes he did some really not cool things but also it takes two to reconcile also and the feelings Ethan had were real, many stemming from Louise abandoning him. But as time goes on, they grow up and Ethan especially works through his issues and then they cleared the air and reconciled in the end.

Tagging: @jerzwriter @alj4890 @cariantha @jamespotterthefirst @genevievemd @tessa-liam @potionsprefect @liaromancewriter @bex-la-get @crazy-loca-blog @a-crepusculo @binny1985 @lucy-268 @schnitzelbutterfingers @youlookappropriate @socalwriterbee @choicesficwriterscreations @openheartfanfics

[cleverchildblizzard]

Payback (Destiny gets exposed lol)

@myvirtuallove time for Koko to get her revenge and tease Destiny!!! (Destiny about to loose her shit.) I DIDNT KNOW WHO TO SHIP DESTINY WITH SO HAVE SOME OC X CANON lol

It was a sunny afternoon in the park of Philadelphia Boarding School.Yet Destiny couldn't help but feel the warmth from the sun wasn't the reason for the continuous warmth brewing inside of her.Sighing,Destiny looked down at her hands,finding the scuffed love letter in her hands.

"Shit." Destiny muttered,struggling to ignore the growing heat on her face as she folded the love letter.Walking across the field of the school,Destiny made her way towards the school gates.School wasn't technically over,but the power of love has its ways,doesn't it?

With a swift motion,Destiny opened the gate;the security being to lazy to bother locking the gates,a bunch of idiots.Destiny closed the school gates,speedwalking down the street,crossing streets,passing corner shops (maybe buying some sweets for Koko.).Until she found herself standing in front of the building of Philadelphia School,wasn't as good as hers,but it still had it's good parts.

Destint squinted her eyes,attempting to find the familiar ginger blob admist the bustling crowd.Spotting the boy sat on a bench,Destiny took a deep breath,as she started to maneuver herself through the crowd. Okay, Destiny thought as she got closer, Just calm down,calm the fuck down.You've known him for years! No need to be nervous,just give him the love letter and-

"Destiny? Is that you?" A voice came behind,as Destiny felt a hand on her shoulder.Destiny whirled around,only to come face to face with Koko.Great,just great.

"Fuck." Destiny muttered.Koko tilted her head,her lips twitching into a smile.

"You snuck out of school again? I thought it ended around four?" Koko asked,as Destiny's breath hitched,clutching the love letter even harder.That didn't go unoticed by Koko.

"Also,what's with the letter? Looks Important." Koko asked,as Destiny stared at Koko.Her lips parted,but not a word came out,only a small sigh as Destint held her face in her hands.

How the hell was I supposed to explain this shit?, Destiny thought,rubbing her temple.What she didn't notice was how her hands had relaxed,releasing the love letter from her grip as it fell to the ground.Koko glanced up at Destiny,before crouching down,picking up the note.Destiny's ears picked up the the sound of Koko's mumbled voice,and Destiny looked up,frozen in place when she saw the letter in Koko's hands.

"What the he-PICO?!" Koko gasped,dodging Destiny's hand as she tried to grab the note.

"KOKO. Koko,don't read it please." Destiny muttered,waving her hands.Koko looked at Destiny,a slow smile spreading across her face.

"Yet your teasing me about Darnell?" Koko quipped,trying to keep in her laughter at the sight of Destiny's red face.

"Koko stfu-"

"Ah,ah! Don't think trying to shut me up is helping you,Destiny >:D" Koko giggled,dangling the letter in front of Destiny.Destiny scowled.

"At least I ain't no lovey-dovey idiot." Destiny retorted as Koko grinned.

"But I bet you'll be all lovey-dovey with Pico once you tell him how much you love him, right?~" Koko chirped,Destiny gawking at her.

"Not gonna happen!" Destiny scoffed,turning away from Koko,crossing her arms.

"Sure..lover girl~" Koko mumbled as she turned her attention to the love letter again.Then,she suddenly turned to Destiny,grabbing her arm.

"That's it! I know what to do!" Koko squealed,dragging Destiny away. "I'll make sure you win Pico's heart in a flash!!"

Destiny paused,fighting against Koko's grip. "WAIT,I NEVER SAID I NEEDED YOUR HELP,KOKO HOLD ON-" Yet her complaints were drowned out as Koko continued to drag her away.

Unknown to the girls,a certain ginger had managed to eavesdrop on the conversation,a smile on his face as he witnessed Destiny being hastily dragged away from Koko.A blush formed on his face as he chuckled to himself.

"Cute."

♡

Yay @myvirtuallove I did it :)) Destiny is so silly man might make a PART 3!!!

[strawberryblondebutch]

This is my grand introduction

ABOUT ME

I go by Kiera, although I'll also respond to Ghost or River, as those have been my internet or IRL nicknames for well over a decade at this point. I use she/her pronouns and I'm a 24-year-old white cisgender lesbian based out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (aka the greatest city in the world, and I will hear no arguments to the contrary). My chronically offline fiancée is referred to here as "Mrs. Kiera" to protect her privacy.

I currently work in the tabletop role-playing game content and design space, but this is a stopgap before I go to law school to become a professional sports agent. Other industries in which I've worked or interned include music journalism, technical theatre, public school teaching, behavioral ecology, and literary criticism. My favorite thing is to hop from one dying field to another.

I'm pretty openly bipolar. Despite being on a good treatment plan, I still suffer from routine changes to my mood that impact my daily life. I'm happy to answer questions about my experience with BP2 or other health concerns if asked politely.

MY CONTENT

At this point, I'm not really in a fandom space. This is just the site where I scream into the void (and occasionally the void answers back). If you do associate me with a fandom, it's probably either Stranger Things or Scream. Like most people, I suffer from a few minor curses: I'm always in the worst line at the grocery store, technology likes to break around me, and I ship only the rarest of femslash pairs. This is my burden, and like Sisyphus, you must imagine me happy.

Other content that catches my fancy include comic books, emo music, sports, and Philly culture. My favorite bands are The Wonder Years, Say Anything, and Fireworks. My favorite athletes are Emily Clark, Taylor Heise, Brandon Marsh, Travis Konecny, and Tyrese Maxey.

Because of my job, I am also relegated to forever DM, but I have a few characters I routinely play. Rhaelara Rynwalsdottir is my pathetic wet cat paladin werewolf. Katya Volkova is like Evelyn Carnahan mixed with Daphne Kluger. I'm also working on some fiction works and love to talk about my lesbian werewolf OCs.

CAN I TALK TO YOU ABOUT...?

Yes, always. Ask me anything. If I'm having a bad brain day, I may not respond immediately, but that doesn't mean I don't want to hear about things like:

The Ronance hockey AU

Zatanna Zatara, pathetic bisexual meow meow

Why are all ginger lesbians such girlflops?

Emo, punk, and hardcore culture

The eternal pain of being a Philly sports fan

The latest stupid way I've gotten myself hurt

WHERE ELSE CAN I FIND YOU?

Legend has it that if you go to a basement hardcore show in South Philadelphia on the night of the full moon, you'll see a red-blonde werewolf absolutely tearing that shit up in the pit. Other than that, I'm also on AO3 as ClawedLoupGiroux.

BYF/DNI

TERFs and Nazi punks fuck off.

If you don't believe that addicts should be treated with compassion and care, I wish you a very die.

Trans men are men, and lesbians are not attracted to men. Do not ship trans men with lesbians or I will give you rabies.

I have the scary disorders your parents warned you about and sometimes they make me scary.

Despite it all, I remain a practicing Catholic. You keep your beliefs and I keep mine, eh?

Minors can follow, just don't be weird about it.

[thenationaltreasuregazette]

Does Ben Gates have Ph.D?

It depends who you ask.

The textual evidence in the first National Treasure movie suggests no. (Or at least doesn’t present direct evidence for yes.)

As we discussed in the Navy article, the first film lists Ben’s education as follows:

degree in American history from Georgetown

degree in mechanical engineering at MIT

Navy ROTC, Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center

Like I argue there, my instinctual reaction is that the degrees are read in order of acquisition. That’s just the most common way to read them, especially when you’re constructing the history of a person, be that on a resume or an FBI profile.

That would suggest that American history a bachelor’s degree and mechanical engineering is a masters.

But wait there's more! Text, drafts, titles, and headcanons below!

As I point out:

There’s also the difference between a bachelor’s and masters’ degree to consider. The higher you get in higher ed, the more specific you get. A bachelor’s in American history would give Ben the greatest breadth of study, and the freedom to explore any and all topics he was interested in. A masters’ degree in the same field would ask him to zero in on a topic, perhaps more than he’d want to. Likewise, I think that depth over breadth would benefit him in his engineering degree. That way he could focus in on the areas most relevant to him and treasure hunting.

It’s also plausible to read this list in reverse order. That would suggest Ben got a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering (perhaps in an attempt to get Patrick off his back by making it appear he was not directly pursuing treasure hunting?) and then master’s or doctorate in American history.

While this is completely possible, I don’t consider it as likely based on the way it’s presented in the movie. The inclusion of the Navy stuff last makes it sound like Ben is progressively narrowing his field of study as he hones in on his Charlotte-was-a-ship theory. He starts with a broad foundation in American history, then proceeds on to the more specialized technical skills once he realizes the ship is lost/sunk and he’ll need them.

I also think it squares with Ben’s personality and interests. I just

don’t see Ben putting off the history degree. It’s his real passion, and there’s always the risk that he wouldn’t get to go back for a second degree for any number of reasons.

That said, the 2003 script does make it clear that in that version Ben does have a Ph.D in history.

When the treasure hunt seems to be at a Declaration of Independence-induced halt early on, Ian says

IAN You have your PhD in History. Maybe you can teach high school history.

The National Treasure Wiki lists Ben’s education history as:

Ben went on to receive a Bachelors degree in archeology and cryptology at the University of Philadelphia, a Masters degree in mechanical engineering degree from MIT and a Doctorate in American History from Georgetown University. While in Georgetown, Ben also enlisted in the US Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps for the next four years and received official certification from their Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center before continuing the six generation family tradition of treasure hunting. 

But I don’t see a source for this, so take it as you will.

Ben having a degree in archeology and cryptology seems important for the FBI to mention in their profile of him. Also if he went to the University of Philadelphia that seems relevant to the Philadelphia foot chase? But it’s Ian and crew who seem to be familiar with the streets. Ben doesn’t try to lead them anywhere tricky or clever that would suggest he’s familiar with the area. Even Abigail and Riley go to the more Philadelphia-specific location of Reading Terminal Market than Ben, who seems to be running toward any random place he might be able to hide or escape.

Titles

There’s also the matter of how he’s addressed.

In the first film, the only time anyone calls Ben by a title is when he’s being arresting him in Philadelphia.

SADUSKY Hello, Mr Gates. AGENT JOHNSON Mr Gates, face your father's car and put your hands behind your back, please.

The rest of the time he’s simply “Ben” to his friends and “Gates” to his enemies.

Now, not everyone with a Ph.D uses the title “Dr.” Not using it would fit with Ben’s personality as both a pretty humble person (he doesn’t flaunt his other degrees either) and someone on the outs with the academic community. More on that later.

However, I don’t know that that’s the case based on how other people are titled in the film.

Abigail is always “Dr. Chase.”

Her assistant, Ben, Agent Johnson, and Ian all refer to her as “Dr. Chase” at various points throughout the movie.

Ben obviously starts calling her “Abigail” as they get to know each other better, but even when he’s listing his requests to Sadusky at the end, he refers to her by title. And damn right. Respect her.

Maybe Abigail simply uses the title—as a result of her job, personal preference, or both—and Ben doesn’t. It does seem like the kind of thing that would come up both to her and in general to establish Ben’s credibility though.

There’s also the potential to ready Sadusky’s line as knowing Ben has a Ph.D but choosing to be disrespectful. As in:

SADUSKY Hello. Mr. Gates (derogatory)

This, I think, is the least likely option, though, because Peter Sadusky is unfailingly polite, even regarding the people he’s pursuing.

For example, he also always calls Ian "Mr. Howe." In the surveillance van near the Intrepid he says

SADUSKY If that's not Mr Howe, I want to know who it is.

And when he’s arresting Ian in Boston he says

SADUSKY You're under arrest, Mr Howe.

So my reading is that Sadusky always uses someone appropriate title. If he knows Ben has a Ph.D, I think he’d refer to him as “Dr. Gates” because he has no reason to know if Ben prefers not to use the title.

Book of Secrets

There is one time where Ben is referred to as “Dr.” on screen, and that’s in Book of Secrets.

When Abigail meets Mitch at the restaurant, she receives a call from Ben, finishes decoding the “Laboulaye Lady” clue, and hangs up because she can tell Mitch is overhearing. Regarding the call, Mitch then asks

MITCH Dr. Gates?

There are four possible readings of this line that I can think of.

Ben does have a Ph.D, it just wasn’t mentioned in the first movie for whatever reason

Ben does not have a Ph.D, but Mitch incorrectly assumes he does

Ben does not have a Ph.D, but Mitch is attempting to flatter Abigail by flattering her (ex) boyfriend*

*Is this a good strategy? No. Do I find it a plausible character action? Sure.

And finally there’s my preferred reading

Ben did not have a Ph.D during the events of National Treasure, but was awarded an honorary doctorate after finding the Templar treasure.

Why does he need one?

Ben is clearly piecing together a custom-built treasure hunting resume. It’s logical to me why he would want to start out studying history then pivot to more specific technical and engineering disciplines once he realized he would need those skills. I’m not sold on why he would go back for his doctorate.

A Ph.D is an incredibly specialized degree. Ben would be spending years writing a thesis on a single topic.

If that topic is the Templar treasure, Ben would have a nearly impossible time defending his thesis. We know that his surname alone is well-known enough in the historical community that Abigail knows about his family’s reputation just from hearing his name. Ben would be subjecting himself to years of derision, skepticism, and humiliation on a thesis he is not able to defend because we know he has yet to convince anyone but Ian and Riley of the existence of the treasure.

Or the topic is not the Templar treasure, in which case, what is he doing there? He’s spending years of his life studying a thing that he does not want to be studying. Maybe he thinks he can do his treasure hunting on the side, but graduate school is a black hole like no other.*

There’s the classes, papers, research, readings, not to mention that he’d probably be expected to teach as well. He’d might also need a part-time job to make ends meet, because while most Ph.D programs provide a stipend, it’s usually barely enough to live on and definitely not enough to fund treasure hunting on the side. Given the way Patrick frames the family's finances, I don't get the impression that Ben's big on saving up.

*I have a less intensive graduate degree in a less intensive field, and I could barely keep my head above water doing the literal thing I was there to do. I cannot fathom attempting to run another massive project on the side.

That’s not to say, however, that Ben didn’t attend a Ph.D program at some point though.

Headcanon time

First of all, I think the story is funnier the more Ben is just “some guy.”

Similar to how I think that “retired Naval officer Ben Gates” changes the flavor of the story for the worse, I think “rogue historian Ben Gates” changes the flavor, if not for the worse than simply for the less interesting.

My personal reading of the situation is this:

Ben gets his bachelor’s in American history, develops his Charlotte-is-as-ship theory while in school, then proceeds directly into the engineering degree + Navy ROTC because he’s discovered that the Charlotte wrecked and knows he’ll need to salvage her. (When he goes to MIT Patrick’s like, thank god he’s finally doing something sensible. When he learns Ben’s doing salvage diving he’s like, well fuck.)

After school Ben salvage dives to pay the bills, and treasure hunts in his spare time. At some point either the money or his free time takes enough of a hit that Ben needs to make a change. Thus, he starts applying to Ph.D programs. And/or he needs particular resources or expertise at this point and additional study is the best way to get them.

He stays in the program for a few years, but not being able to truly pursue the treasure grates on him. Constantly being told—directly or not—that you’re stupid for what you’re interested in or for the way you want to pursue the subject absolutely sucks. (See also: my time in academia.) The derision and the strain on his treasure hunting time ware down on him until the program isn’t worth it anymore. He got what he came for, so he leaves. Ben briefly wonders if finishing with a non-treasure thesis would finally make Patrick proud of him, but decides against it.

It’s during these next years that he refines his theory, discovers critical information needed to realize that the Charlotte never actually sunk, but went adrift in the Arctic circle, recruits Ian to finance the search now that he as a tangible plan, and pulls in Riley to do the computer modeling that Ben can’t do on his own.

After he finds the treasure, his undergraduate alma matter Georgetown awards Ben an honorary doctorate. Patrick, Abigail, and Riley attend the ceremony. They’re all very proud. Ben gets unexpectedly emotional, at least on the inside. He hadn’t realized before that moment that this actually was something he wanted, and that he’d actually felt pretty torn between academic study—which he does excel at and enjoy—and treasure hunting.

Conclusion

So, there you go.

Does Ben have a Ph.D?

Only if you want him to.

[freckleslikestars]

Love Bites

Based on the notes of this post, a look at Mulder checking Scully for vampire bites. @frogsmulder your wish is my command :D

1942 words, read here on AO3

1993

It wasn’t vampires. And, honestly, she was shocked that at twenty-nine she was having to insist to her colleague – technically her superior – that vampires didn’t exist. Of course, it was hardly the first time she’d come up against Mulder’s belief in fairy tales, but still, it surprised her the frequency that she found herself discussing monsters and nightmares of a fantastical variety.

How they found themselves traipsing through Bemidji, Minnesota, on the hunt for the culprit of a spree of night-time attacks, Scully had no idea. Nobody had been killed, just maimed and left drained almost exactly 38% of their blood each time. And, with no leads to follow, it felt more like they were chasing ghosts than vampires. Not that it was vampires. No, definitely not.

‘Mulder, there’s no such thing.’

‘Says who?’

She gave him the most disbelieving glance she could summon, ‘science? Reason?’

‘If they don’t exist, how come there are so many stories about them?’

Scully scoffed, ‘that’s not...Santa Claus doesn’t exist, but there are stories about him. It’s child’s reasoning.’

The same debate continued for two more days as they trudged through the humid streets. A pattern had been steadily emerging, attacks happing nearby community centres that had been holding blood drives, so, they drove the empty streets, watching for anything suspicious and parrying arguments of supernatural beings and scientific possibilities and improbabilities. It wasn’t until just before the break of dawn that they noticed it: the gaunt figure hunched over the slumped body.

They pulled to a screeching stop, drew their weapons as they gave chase. Scully dropped to her knee long enough to check the victim was still alive before rejoining Mulder in hurtling after their suspect. His longer legs held the advantage, and so she veered off, cut through a backstreet, cut across an alleyway. She broke onto the avenue they were running down ahead by barely five paces and went down in her attempt to tackle the long, shadowed frame, tousling with all her might to drag him down too. By the time Mulder reached them, the attacker was off again, and she waved to him to continue the pursuit.

She watched as in the distance Mulder caught up to him, and she wondered briefly if he ran track at school. She could see the glint of cuffs under the streetlamp, saw the guy struggle and wrestle as Mulder started leading him back to her. When he was safely locked in the back of the car and backup was on the way, Mulder looked up at her, ‘you okay?’

‘I- yeah I think so. I rolled my ankle when I went down, but otherwise-‘ she jerked away from him when he reached a hand out to brush her hair away from her neck, looking at the pale flesh there, ‘Mulder, what the fuck are you doing?’

‘Did he bite you?’

‘I- Mulder, he’s not a vampire.’

‘Is too,’ he murmured, tugging her collar down. He flashed his gaze up to her, smirking at the sceptical frown she was giving him.

‘Is not.’

‘Is too.’

‘I’m not playing toddler games with you Mulder, he’s not a vampire. I mean, look at him.’

Mulder cast a glance over at the man in the car, who under the light of the street lamp they were parked under looked rather pathetic, ‘looks can be deceiving.’

She sighed and rolled her eyes, ‘let’s go, Mulder.’

~~~

1997

She’d been back from Philadelphia a week, her bruises still fading, when he whisked her away on another bogus case, hollow bodies dropped left, right, and centre in the town of Midwest, Wyoming, whose only claim to fame before their stay there was being the birthplace of a tenor Scully had never heard of. The population of the town had taken a sudden dive from 403 people to 398, and the Midwest Police department – a department of two located within the town hall – had called in the FBI when the coroner’s office in Casper had declared that, yes, the deaths of these five people who seemed to have been dehydrated were, indeed, suspicious.

They’d arrived in the town of clapboard and cinderblock houses, snow still clinging to the ground, to find that the accommodation that had been arranged for them was not, as they’d been told, just outside the town but, in fact, in the next town over.  The Teapot Motor Lodge, with its faded sheets and whining HVAC, had left Scully feeling almost as drained as the bodies she had to examine when she dropped her bag in her room with a sigh. Whilst they had both agreed to draw a line under the events of the past week, to move on from their - it wasn’t really a fight, but it wasn’t exactly not a fight, either – it was plain to see that neither really had moved on. A restless turmoil broiled just under her skin whilst he leeched possessive jealousy that smothered the moments they were together. 

The acrid stench of the oilfields permeated every moment of their stay, seeping into their suitcases and wafting through the town as they studied each of the crime scenes and conducted each of the interviews, turning her stomach and decreasing any appetite she’d been able to summon lately to nothing. It hadn’t helped that Mulder had not once shut up about vampires and vampire lore.

It had taken three days for all leads to point to the forty-six-year-old neighbour of the first victim who, after one too many times of being called a washout, had decided to use the year of training he’d had when he was studying to be a mortician before he had been kicked out for improper practice with corpses. Mulder had sulked, insisted they were missing something as they slumped off to their rooms to get a couple of hours sleep before their flight home in the morning.

She’d woken to blood on her pillow again, and the doctor’s appointment she had next week lingered ominously on the horizon like some hulking monster, dread filling each and every thought about it. She showered in an attempt to rid herself of the pervasive burnt oil smell, failing miserably, and joined him out by the car, shaking her head when he suggested they stop to get breakfast at the diner in town before they drove to the airport. He’d furrowed his brow at her, muttered how pale she looked, and reached out to palm the side of her neck, tug the collar of her blouse aside to reveal the hollow just above her clavicle, ‘Scully, there’s...there’s something here...’ he leaned in closer and rubbed his thumb across the bruise that marred her porcelain skin.

Abject horror flushed her face, and she jerked away, clamping her hand over the mark, ‘that’s, uh, that’s not...I...it’s not vampires, Mulder.’

He batted her hand away, taking a closer look, ‘there’s definitely a bruise or someth- oh,’ realising just what it was marking her neck, his cheeks flushed, and his jaw tensed.

‘Mulder-‘ she’d been so careful, so very careful, to keep her necklines higher than the hickey that still coloured her neck.

‘It’s fine, Scully,’ he gave a dismissive wave, stalking around the car to slump into the driver's seat, slamming his door behind him.

She sighed and climbed in next to him, looking over at the way his hands flexed on the steering wheel, ‘Mulder-‘

‘Who you do in your spare time is none of my business.’

‘Mulder!’ she scolded, her chest tightening as her eyes pricked, and she grit her teeth as she willed herself not to feel the barb that he threw at her, ‘you’re right; it is none of your business. But you cannot hold one night against me for the rest of my life. I’m not yours, Mulder: I’m a grown woman; I had sex with a man; that is all that happened.’

‘Well, it’s not exactly all that happened, is it? He beat you half to death after. You know, I’d think you, of all people, seeing what you do every day, would be more discerning in your choice of partner.’

‘You know what? Yeah, maybe I should have been. But I made a mistake. How many mistakes have you made in the time we’ve known one another, Mulder? Because it’s certainly not none.’

The silence that settled over them after that was tense and seething, blanketing them throughout the car ride and breaking at the airport only after she returned from making a call, ‘I’m taking a few days off next week. Skinner just signed off on it.’

‘Scully...’

‘I don’t want to hear it, Mulder. I’ve got some things that need doing, and I don’t want to be disturbed.’

He looked lost, bottom lip creeping out into a pout, ‘I don’t know how to fix this.’

She sighed, dropping down into the hard, vinyl seat, ‘I don’t know if it can be fixed right now.’

A week later, she’d be calling him to the oncology ward, showing him the mass pressing on her brain, spelling out her demise.

~~~

2000

They’d spent their night coiled around one another, their cries echoing off the flimsy walls of his motel room. Just like the night before. And the night before that one. And every night for the past two weeks. And, God, she just couldn’t get enough of him.

Classic vampirism, Scully. That’s what he’d lured her out there with. That, and the wicked glint in his eye that told her he knew exactly what she was doing. There wasn’t a vampire, of course, there wasn’t, because they don’t exist, but he’d been playing this game for years.

Eureka, California. The obvious place for vampires.

There wasn’t any evidence. There weren’t even any bodies. Just missing people and a local legend. And, surprisingly, Mulder didn’t seem overly bothered about that.

‘Are you okay?’ she asked, a smile playing around the corner of her mouth as he hit snooze on the radio alarm and rolled back over to face her, ‘you don’t seem so eager to go vampire hunting as you usually are.’

‘Well, that probably has something to do with the very beautiful, very sexy woman in my bed.’

She chuckled and shook her head, ‘Mulder...’

‘It’s true,’ he said with an eager nod, running his hand up the curve of her waist, ‘I’m warm and comfy here.’

‘And you don’t care about the vampires out there? At all?’

‘Vampires, Agent Scully? I thought they didn’t exist?’

She sighed and rolled her eyes, ‘they don’t. But there are people going missing, and we really should investigate that.’

‘Mm, I can think of something I’d much rather investigate,’ he rolled her onto her back, pressing a kiss to her collarbone, her sternum, her stomach.

‘Mulder!’ she cackled, wriggling in his arms and pulling him back up to capture his lips with her own.

‘Wait, what’s that?’ he tilted her cheek to the side with furrowed brow, brushed his fingertips down the side of her throat, and lingered over her carotid.

‘What is it? Mulder, what is it?’ she twisted in his grasp.

He flicked the light on, peered closer, before ducking in and pressing a kiss to her pulse-point, ‘it’s a hickey.’ A wide grin spread across his cheeks.

‘Mulder!’ she sat bolt upright, clamping a hand over her neck and scrambling to get to the mirror. He tackled her back to the bed, laughing loudly.

‘I think it’s hot.’

‘We have rules, Mulder. No marks above the neckline.’

He grinned into the soft flesh of her stomach, ‘if anyone asks, Scully, tell them it’s vampires.’

Tagging @today-in-fic

[pttedu]

In this uplifting episode, join us as PTTI Founder Sherman McLeod sits down with Brandon—an inspiring PTTI alumnus—to explore the transformative power of positivity. From wrenches to wisdom, they delve into life coaching, resilience, and the art of seeking light even in the darkest corners.

[pttiedu]

Unlock Your Future: Career Week at Philadelphia Technician Training Institute

Take a trip down memory lane as we look back on the incredible Career Week at Philadelphia Technician Training Institute! From insightful workshops to engaging seminars, our past event was a whirlwind of opportunities for aspiring professionals. Participants delved into in-demand skills, connected with industry leaders, and charted their paths to success in diverse fields like engineering, healthcare, IT, and more. Relive the excitement and inspiration of Career Week - a pivotal moment where dreams took flight and futures were shaped!

[beardedmrbean]

DREXEL HILL, Pa. (AP) — In the hours before he’s due at Upper Darby High School, senior Khalid Doulat has time to say prayers, help his mother or prepare for track practice.

It’s a welcome shift from last year for him and thousands of students at the school, which pushed its start time back by more than two hours — from a 7:30 a.m. start time to 9:45 a.m. One goal for the change: to ease strains on students that were more visible than ever coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’ll be honest, I’ve been much happier in the mornings,” Doulat said. “I’ve been more positive, and I’ve come to school smiling more rather than, you know, grudging out of bed and stuff like that at 7:30.”

The idea of later school start times, pushed by many over the years as a way to help adolescents get more sleep, is getting a new look as a way to address the mental health crisis affecting teens across the U.S.

For some schools, the pandemic allowed experimentation to try new schedules. Upper Darby, for one, initially considered later start times in 2019. Ultimately, it found a way to do it this year by using distance learning as a component of the school day.

As students first came back to in-person learning, many dealt with mental health struggles and behavioral issues, Upper Darby Superintendent Daniel McGarry said. Officials saw a breakdown in students respecting the authority of teachers in the classroom.

“We had a lot of those things that we were facing and we’re still working our way through it; we’re in a much better place,” McGarry said. “I think our kids feel better. They’re not 100% better.” But, he said, much of the social anxiety students felt after being in online school has dissipated.

During the pandemic, soaring numbers of high school students expressed persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, with girls and LGBTQ+ youth reporting the highest levels of poor mental health and suicide attempts. It doesn’t help that research suggests middle and high school students aren’t getting enough sleep.

“These mental health challenges are already going to happen and then, with the absence of sleep, are much worse,” said Orfeu Buxton, director of the Sleep, Health & Society Collaboratory at Penn State University. “The same with decision making, suicidal ideation, those kinds of things.”

The reasons why high schools start as early as they do — many begin their day before 7:30 a.m. — are “lost to the sands of history,” Buxton said. But now, he said, ”everything is baked into that: traffic light patterns, bus schedules and adults’ work.”

Nationally, at least nine states are considering legislation related to school start times, up from four the previous year, according to the National Conference on State Legislatures. California in 2019 became the first and only state to dictate school start times.

Large school systems including Denver, Philadelphia and Anchorage, Alaska, have been looking into later start times.

It can require innovation to forge a new schedule.

At Upper Darby High, the school day technically still begins at 7:30 a.m., with students assigned coursework to be done remotely that ties into their lessons for the day. But they can use the early morning hours as they see fit — they can meet with teachers during office hours, sleep in or finish other homework. Ultimately, the work assigned for the early morning needs to be done, but when is up to students.

“I think getting more sleep is definitely helping,” Elise Olmstead, a junior. “I would be more irritable throughout the day, especially later, because I have a lot of after-school things. I would just have a harder time getting through the day.”

The school day still ends by 3 p.m.

Fatima Afrani, a freshman, said that when she gets home, she’ll usually relax, then help her mom or do homework.

“If I’m tired I go to sleep, which was not something I was able to do last year. Last year I just had to get my homework done because there wasn’t an option of being able to do it later,” she said. “And so I liked that if I was tired, I could listen to my body and just let myself sleep.”

Principal Matthew Alloway said educators have noticed fewer students sleeping in class. The new schedule also has allowed “kids to go to school for exactly what they need,” he said. About 400 of the school’s 4,250 students attend only through virtual learning — an option it offered to compete with online schools.

Critics have argued students have less instruction time in the new schedule. The original 80-minute periods have been shortened, but Alloway said that it’s not as if lectures always took up the full 80 minutes.

“It was sometimes a 60-minute concentrated instructional time. But then there was time to write. There was time to read. There was time to view a video,” he said.

Other challenges wrought by the pandemic — teacher shortages, for one — have also benefitted from the schedule change, administrators said. Teachers can take care of themselves and their families in the morning. Administrators have more time to replace staffers who call out sick.

Doulat, the Upper Darby senior, said that even if students can’t see the effects every day, there’s been a big positive impact.

“It’s such little changes in our daily lives that we don’t notice it,” he added. “But they slowly start building up, and we actually see the difference within our own lives.”

[inxthexshadowxofxdeath]

(Luka Sabbat) [THE MOMENT]. Please welcome [SYDNEY CLIFFTON ROWE (HE/HIM/SHE/HER)] to Huntsville, WV. They are an [27]-year-old [VISITOR] who lives in [TOWN]. You may see them around working as a [HAIR STYLIST AT BEST CUTS/DRAG QUEEN]. Poor unfortunate soul. We’ll see if they survive.

(Luka Sabbat) [THE MOON]. Please welcome [SOL ELIJAH ROWE (HE/HIM)] to Huntsville, WV. They are an [27]-year-old [VISITOR] who lives in [TOWN]. You may see them around working as a [PAINTER/POET/TAILOR AT THE BOUTIQUE]. Poor unfortunate soul. We’ll see if they survive.

Syd first because he's technically the oldest and won't let Sol forget it...

Full Name: Sydney Cliffton Rowe Nicknames/Aliases: Syd, Candice B. Love (his drag name) DOB: TBD (But I feel like I've said they're Gemini) Birthplace: Philadelphia, PA Orientation: Homoromantic, Homosexual

-Unlike his brother Sydney he got into far less trouble (even if he had a bigger mouth). Sol used his fists Sidney used his words… So maybe he did get into just as much trouble just not with the LAW. He's always had a sharp tongue.

-Both he and Sol are artists at heart. Whereas Sol focused on poetry and visual arts, Sidney pursued dance and music. He got into drag from a young age. He was meant to preform. Sol didn’t want to be in the spotlight, that was fine; Sydney would gladly soak it all up.

-The drag scene in Philly was fine but he wanted to see the world. Syd left the nest earlier than Sol, bouncing around from city to city and eventually moving to Hollywood in the hopes of making it. He did well for himself. Forming relationships always came far easier to him. He’s charming and confident and it didn’t take long for him to get engaged.

-He was with his ex fiancé (who acted duelly as his manager) since he was 18. While Syd's experience with him was no where near what Sol went through, there was still a lot of emotional manipulation and weird power dynamics. It often left Syd feeling out of control of his own life but he often found himself going back because his ex was consistent and rebounds were never the real love Sydney wanted.

-Speaking of, Syd and his ex fiancé split recently — they’re “””taking a break””” — hence why Syd moved back in with Sol and agreed to come to Huntsville with him after they inherited their grandmother's house.

-He’s calmed down a lot from the wild teenager that he was. He still likes a party, still likes to fuck and drink and be a mess, don’t get me wrong, but he works just as hard. He's a business woman at heart and at the time of getting stuck in Huntsville he was a pretty well known Drag performer and makeup artist on Instagram, TikTok, etc.

-He can do hair, he can do nails, but baby don't ask him to sew nothing.

-Sydney’s drag name is Candice B. Love. I imagine his style is very Shea Coulee/Naomi Smalls. He is an excellent dancer/performer and often incorporates stand up in his act. Sometimes he’ll just do comedy, sometimes he’ll dance, it depends on what the venue calls for.

-10s 10s 10s across the board; a very kind warm disco energy with this one. He does lack a filter, but doesn’t go out of his way to be nasty to people. That’s bullshit. Syd’s the friend that wont mince words or coddle you because he cares deeply about you. And he will be the first to come to your or a strangers defense. He loves his friends fiercely and openly.

Sol...

Full Name: Sol Elijah Rowe Nicknames/Aliases: N/A, Syd calls him variations of Sun or Sunny occasionally DOB: TBD (But I feel like I've said they're Gemini) Birthplace: Philadelphia, PA Orientation: Aromantic(?), Homosexual (he could MAYBE be pan? But also I'm not sure. I don't think he is either. Who knows. Miracles happen every day.)

- He was bullied heavily in school. While Syd seemed to own who he was from a young age - was popular and bright and charismatic - Sol struggled. He was the quiet, mute, shy boy. It resulted in a lot of fights in the school yard with much bigger boys.

- In high school he got into more serious trouble. And though he excelled in his art and english classes he skipped a lot of school and hung around the wrong crowd. Ultimately, he ended up fucking one of his classmates who’d been the main perpetrator of this violence against him for years so that’s one way to lose your virginity. It was a whole internalized homophobia thing on the other dude's end, and a self loathing on Sol's. Bad, bad vibes.

-Sol doesn’t regret much, but he regrets that ^. It was a toxic on and off thing that went on for far too long. There was physical and emotional abuse involved. Things like yelling, or loud noises, sudden movements etc. make him very nervous.

-Despite graduating High school by the skin of his teeth Sol is one of the most well read, intelligent people. Books have always been an escape. He independently studies philosophy and anthropology and poetry. It was his writing that got him a full ride to get a higher education and college was truly the best thing that could have happened to him. He has a duel degree in literature & creative writing and sociology & anthropology. He later went on to get his masters in philosophy.

-After cleaning up his act he got serious about community work and activism. Urban agriculture, homelessness advocacy, Harm reduction etc. He's written countless essays and used his poetry and art to break out of his shell a little. He was working as something of a community leader, organizing events at an anarchist book store and gallery space when he left Philly to come to Huntsville with his brother.

- He's a radical little socialist and was always yelling about or demanding something or causing trouble or riots. again this put him in precarious situations and he has spent many a nights in jail for things including but not limited to: resisting arrest, causing public disturbance by means of protest, trespassing, vandalism, defacement of statues etc.

-He's always helped Sydney with his drag, finding solace with working with his hands. Since they were in high school, Sol had been sewing Sydney's garments. It was a skill he learned from their mother. It's not his passion. But there's little work for a paint/philosopher/poet in Huntsville.

-He doesn't mean to be standoffish. His face is just naturally looks disinterested.

Fun facts about the twins...

-They've been in Huntsville a couple of months having come here to go through their grandmother's house.

-Telling the twins apart tip #1: Sol has finger, palm, and back of hand tattoos. While Syd does have some tattoos he has far less than his brother.

-Telling the twins apart tip #2: They both smoke but Sol smokes far more than Syd. In the off chance you see both with a cigarette, the one in pink is Sydney.

-Telling the twins apart tip #3: If you can hear him, it's probably Syd. If his hair is pulled up and out of his face, it's probably Syd. If he's talking to you willingly, it's probably Syd.

-Open connection (for both): They have 5 younger siblings (a pair of which are also twins)

-Open connection (for Sydney): His on/off fiancé who he's been engaged to for like 6 years now. It's not a good situation so we can chat about that if you're interested. They're currently on one of their breaks.

[mynameischalie]

@eckspress tagged me to do this survey and since I have some down time on this Sunday lets do it! Thanks Alexis

1. are you named after anyone?:  Yes. I’m named after my dad, Charles, so technically I’m a junior.

2. when was the last time you cried?: I can’t recall, that’s not to sound like I’m some extra masculine guy over here because it’s OK to cry and feel sad but I’m not one of these dudes that will sulk in my bedroom.

3. do you have kids?: Nope

4. do you use sarcasm a lot?: I don’t use sarcasm frequently and I’ll tell you why. First, sarcasm doesn’t go over well when you’re speaking to someone via text and if you really overuse sarcasm it just makes you look like a total dick. 

5. what sports do you play/have played?: I played baseball all four years of high school but that’s a decade ago so my playing days are over.

6. what’s the first thing you notice about people?: Their appearance and if they are someone who takes care of themselves. For example, if you look like a disheveled mess wearing pajama pants out in public I’ll probably notice that.

7. scary movies or happy endings?: I was watching the 90s teen comedy “Can’t Hardly Wait” so with that in mind lets go happy endings.

8. any special talents?: I’m a walking encyclopedia when it comes to music. Sometimes, people don’t have to use their phones to look up a song and will just ask me. I have a freakish memory and am really good at attention to detail when it comes to people who interest me.

9. where were you born?: Philadelphia, PA

10. what are your hobbies?: I feel like my hobbies should be pretty compatible with others but who even knows anymore. I go to way too many concerts, I love watching baseball, I collect vinyl records, I enjoy reading a good book, and I love the beach and the ocean.

11. do you have any pets?: not currently sadly

12. how tall are you?: 6′1″.

13. favorite subject in school?: history

14. your dream job?: I would love to be a beat writer for the Philadelphia Phillies but in the meantime I’m happy working with kids and helping them achieve their dreams.

15. eye color: blue

I won’t tag anyone for this

[prettyhennytea]

Dawn Staley, the esteemed head coach of the South Carolina Gamecock's women's basketball team, has left an indelible mark on the sport. Her journey from humble beginnings to becoming a prominent figure in the league is nothing short of inspiring. Let's take a closer look at her childhood years, high school experiences, how she entered the league, and her remarkable career.

Childhood Years Born on May 4, 1970, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Dawn Staley grew up in a challenging environment. Raised by her mother and grandmother in North Philadelphia's Raymond Rosen housing project - a neighborhood known for its economic hardships, Staley faced adversity from an early age. However, it was during these formative years that she developed resilience and determination that would shape her future success.

High School Years Staley attended Dobbins Technical High School where she quickly made a name for herself as an exceptional athlete. Excelling not only in basketball but also track and field and tennis, she showcased versatility and raw talent across multiple sports. As a standout point guard on the basketball court with unmatched skills and leadership qualities, Staley caught the attention of college recruiters nationwide.

Entering the League After graduating from high school in 1988 as one of Pennsylvania's most highly recruited players ever seen at that time. Dawn Staley faced numerous offers from top-tier universities across America. Ultimately choosing to attend the University of Virginia under legendary Coach Debbie Ryan was a physical decision that would set her on course for greatness.

Career in College Basketball During her time at Virginia (1998-1992), Staley became one of college basketball's most electrifying players. She led her team to three Final Four appearances (1990-1992) while earning All-American honors each year - an impressive feat indeed! Known for her exceptional ball-handling skills and court vision, Staley's ability to control the game and make her teammates better was unparalleled. Her leadership qualities were also recognized when she was named ACC Female Athlete of the Year in 1991 and 1992.

Professional Career Following her illustrious college career, Staley transitioned into professional basketball. In 1996, she joined the American Basketball League (ABL) as a member of the Richmond Rage. Her impact on the court continued to shine as she earned All-Star selections and led her team to an ABL Championship in 1997.

When the ABL folded in late 1998, Staley seamlessly transitioned to the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She was selected with the ninth overall pick by the Charlotte Sting in its inaugural draft. Throughout her WNBA career, which spanned from 1999-2006, Staley played for both Charlotte and Houston Comets. Known for her tenacity on defense and play-making abilities on offense, she left an indelible mark on each team she represented.

Coaching Career After retiring as a player in 2006, Dawn Staley embarked on a new chapter of her basketball journey, coaching. She began as an assistant coach at Temple University before taking over as head coach at South Carolina in April 2008. Under her guidance, South Carolina has experienced unprecedented success. Staley has transformed South Carolina into a powerhouse program that consistently competes at the highest level. The Gamecocks have won multiple Southeastern Conference (SEC) regular season championships and SEC Tournament titles under her leadership. Most notably, Staley guided South Carolina to their first-ever NCAA National Championship victory in women's basketball during the historic season of 2016-2017.

Beyond coaching at South Carolina, Dawn Staley has also made significant contributions internationally by serving as head coach for Team USA Women's Basketball since March 2017. Under her guidance, Team USA won gold medals at the 2018 FIBA World Cup and the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Dawn Staley's journey from a challenging childhood to becoming a revered figure in women's basketball is a testament to her unwavering determination, resilience, and exceptional skills. As she continues to inspire both on and off the court, Staley remains an influential force in shaping the future of women's basketball for generations to come.