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raeynbowboi · 3 years

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Building an Embodiment of the Fairytale Princess (2.0)

This is nothing new. I’ve done this build before, which I’ll link right [here]. The post did really well, and people seemed to love the concept. However, since then, Mythic Odysseys of Theros and Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything have both come out, bringing with them not only new subclasses, but new features, spells, mechanics, and elements that I couldn’t take into consideration the first time around. So, I decided that rather than just adding a tag on post like I did before, I’d just remake the build with the new features being taken into consideration. Like before, the focus of the build is to create an embodiment of the generic fairytale princess and not any one particular character. So without further ado, let’s get into it.

Like before, we’ll be choosing Variant Human for our race of choice. We’ll channel Sleeping Beauty to be gifted by the fey with blessings of Beauty, Grace, and Song for +1 CHA, +1 DEX, and Performance proficiency. We also get a bonus feat, and thanks to Tasha’s, we can now take Fey Blessed for +1 CHA. However, if she doesn’t cast with Charisma, then substitute those CHA bonuses with Wisdom instead.

The generic fairytale princess is a maid of purest heart, so we’re Lawful Good. But for your more rebellious princesses, Neutral Good or Chaotic Good are also valid.

Background is obviously Noble for proficiency with History and Persuasion.

CLASSES & SUBCLASSES

BARD

This one seems pretty obvious. Bards love to sing and dance, like your stereotypical princess. Because Charisma is their top stat, and they have expertise, it can make them great negotiators, and allow them to excel in dialogue interactions.

GLAMOUR

This college is very fitting for a fairytale princess, as it is focused on making oneself as beautiful and charming as the Fairest of Them All.

LORE

Lore bards share information, whether they tell stories, recite plays, share philosophy, or spread juicy gossip, the Lore Bard gets more magical secrets, and added expertise to make your princess an even bigger Mary Sue. In actual medieval history, princesses often learned to play instruments and sing, recite prayers or poems, or tell stories to visiting guests, and it was considered a part of her education and duty to do so.

CLERIC

While not every princess is a devout religious girl, their stories tend to be set in the medieval period when a good princess would have been expected to be chaste and pious. So on that front, worshiping a good deity would be befitting of such a character.

LIFE

The fairytale princess raises up those they care about, and nothing is more supportive and helpful than keeping your friends on their feet. The Life Cleric turns your princess into a kind soul who weeps for her friends and patches them up after the battle, turning your princess into a useful ally against the wicked witches and dangerous dragons.

LIGHT

Not all Fairytale Princesses are passive or support players. Those who lean toward Light are the princesses who stand as the Big Good of their story and battle the forces of Darkness with the power of the Light. Of the three Cleric options that fit the archetype, this is the best option for being a powerhouse in combat.

PEACE

Don’t get me wrong, I still hate this domain for wearing the skin of the Love Domain we were supposed to get, and you can absolutely still play it that way. How this domain went from Love to Togetherness to Pacifism is beyond me, but it’s a fairly strong subclass. The classic princess archetype is supposed to be gentle and kind, fitting for one who worships a god of mercy and forgiveness. It’s a value often toted as the strongest characterization of the early Disney princesses.

DRUID

My first time building the fairytale princess, I ignored Druid as an option because the wildshaping didn’t really make sense for a fairytale princess, but a lot of the Bardic Magical Secrets were used to steal Druid spells. However, thanks to the optional rules from Tasha’s, Druids can now use their Wildshape to summon fey that take on the shapes of animals instead of turning into the animals themselves, which makes Druid far more viable, as summoning animals is very in-character for a fairytale princess.

DREAMS

The Circle of Dreams has heavy Fey associations with references to the Summer Court ruled by Titania. It also is strongly focused on healing, and has a very Fairy Tale flavor to it. It’s an especially great option if you want to invoke Sleeping Beauty, as you can cloak your party while you sleep and send messages to people through your dreams.

SHEPHERD

The fairytale princess is strongly associated with animal buddies, and nothing makes better use of that than the Shepherd Druid, which focuses on amassing an army of critters. What’s more, the Unicorn Totem is very fitting, not only because Unicorns only approach maidens with pure hearts, but Shepherds of the Unicorn Totem get empowered healing.

SORCERER

The sorcerer is born with a spark of something special in them, and a lot of fantasy royalty have magical powers that other people in their world lack.

DIVINE SOUL

The princess doesn’t literally have to be the descendant of the gods, as the original name for the subclass was more about being favored by the gods. Still, if you want to lean into the idea of the princess as the Big Good against the Big Bad, then having her be born with the spark of the gods inside her makes for a neat characterization.

WILD MAGIC

With the new Sorcerer Shards as I’ve come to call them, we were introduced to the Feywild Shard, which was heavily geared toward Wild Magic Sorcerers, which seems to be WoTC’s way of saying that Wild Magic Sorcerers are the fey-linked sorcerous origin, so I’m including it because of our fey connection.

WARLOCK

This is the only class where there’s exactly one good option, but it’s one that works surprisingly well.

ARCHFEY

As a Warlock with a Pact of the Chain, your fairytale princess can choose to Find Familiar any cute little animal companion, or a Sprite to be your Fairy Godmother. Or rather, you can sign a pact with your Fairy Godmother, and use your Chain Pact to summon one of her emissaries to help you. The Archfey patron themselves can act as your Fairygodther, granting you and your party boons and aid where they need it.

WARLOCK INVOCATIONS

Agonizing Blast Armor of Shadows Beast Speech Eldritch Mind Eldritch Sight Gift of the Ever-Living Ones Shroud of Shadow Voice of the Chain Master

CHARISMA vs WISDOM

The big split in how you build your princess falls down the line between these two camps. The wise princess works better as a Druid/Cleric, while a charming princess is more of a Bardlock. For me personally, as much as the Cleruid fits the fairytale princess, the stereotype of the princess is usually that she is gullible, naïve, and overly trusting. Insight is a wisdom check, and something the classic princess archetype is usually bad at. Granted, Animal Handling is also Wisdom, but the Bard’s expertise can overrule a low Wisdom score. Think of it like a clash between Princess Zelda from the Legend of Zelda vs Princess Peach from Mario. Princess Zelda is wise and is much more focused on leadership and protecting her kingdom. Peach is more about the pretty dresses and having servants help her. They’re two very different camps on the princess archetype. Ultimately, which one you choose will depend on the type of princess you wish to invoke. The Classic Damsel or the Wise Matriarch.

SIDEKICKS

A new feature added in Tasha’s, sidekicks are secondary characters that can help the party and are basically simplified character builds with fewer bells and whistles. There are three main camps:

Expert. Experts are clever and knowledgeable, be they minstrels, librarians, pickpockets, merchants, or assassins. They can pick proficiency with DEX, INT, or CHA saving throws, and can be proficient or an expert with any five skills of your choice, and humanoids also gain proficiency with light armor, simple weapons, and two tools of your choice.

Spellcaster. Trained in the secrets of the Arcane, be they a priest, a fortuneteller, or a magical creature. They can choose proficiency with INT, WIS, or CHA checks, and can be proficient in Arcana, History, Insight, Investigation, Medicine, Performance, Persuasion, or Religion. They choose a roll to determine their spell list: Mage (Wizard), Healer (Cleric, Druid) or Prodigy (Bard, Warlock). The sidekick has access to the spell list of the classes their role aligns with, as well as casting with that stat.

Warrior. trained fighters, be they a soldier, a city guard, a trained animal, or a hired sword. They can pick proficiency with STR, DEX, or CON saving throws, and their skill options are Acrobatics, Animal Handling, Athletics, Intimidation, Nature, Perception, and Survival. Warriors can pick a fighting style: either Offensive to add +2 to attack and damage rolls, or Defender to impose disadvantage on hitting creatures other than them while within 5 feet of the princess.

Generic Princess Sidekicks

Humanoid Guard Warrior (bodyguard) Humanoid Commoner Expert (handmaiden, governess, etc.) Humanoid Magewright Spellcaster (court mage, or advisor) Any Beast-type Warrior (animal companion)

Fairytale Inspired Sidekicks

Seven Dwarves - Dwarf Warrior Fairy Godmother - Sprite or Pixie Spellcaster Prince Charming - Humanoid Noble Warrior Wicked Witch - Barovian Witch Spellcaster Beast - Gnoll, Jackalwere, Orc, or Troglodyte Warrior Puss in Boots - Awakened Cat or Tabaxi Warrior The Frog Prince - Awakened Frog or Grung Warrior Three Little Pigs - Awakened Pig Expert, Spellcaster, & Warrior Big Bad Wolf - Wolf Warrior or Awakened Wolf Expert Robin Hood - Redbrand Ruffian or Bandit Expert Djinn of the Lamp - Dust, Ice, or Magma Mephit Spellcaster Pinocchio - Giant Stone Statue Warrior White Rabbit - Awakened Rabbit Expert Cheshire Cat - Awakened Cat Expert or Spellcaster

There is no actual limit to the number of sidekicks your character can have, so in theory, your fairytale princess could have an entire posse of talking animals hanging out and helping her.

Skills, Spells, and Features

As a Variant Human, we got Performance proficiency alongside our Fey Touched feat, and as a Noble, we have proficiency with Persuasion and History. For everything else, we’re just looking to be a standard Fairytale Princess. So we should look to be proficient with: Animal Handling, Arcana, Religion, Nature, or Medicine.

BASIC FAIRIES

Dancing Lights Faerie Fire Healing Spirits Spirit Guardians Summon Fey Conjure Woodland Beings Conjure Fey

BASIC PRINCESS THINGS

Animal Friendship Command Heroism Speak With Animals Animal Messenger Calm Emotions Find Steed Warding Bond Zone of Truth Conjure Animals Mord’s Magnificent Mansion

SNOW WHITE

Armor of Agathys Mirror Image Beacon of Hope Aura of Purity Heroes’ Feast

CINDERELLA

Fabricate Creation True Polymorph Wish

SLEEPING BEAUTY

Sleep Phantasmal Killer Dream Wall of Thorns Dream of the Blue Veil

THE LITTLE MERMAID

Charm Person Shatter Suggestion Tidal Wave Compulsion Control Water Dominate Person Maelstrom Control Weather Tsunami Storm of Vengeance

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

Charm Monster Unseen Servant Tiny Servant Animate Objects Awaken Hold Monster Summon Fiend

Last time I built the fairytale princess, I gave her exactly 1 build. 18 levels of glamour bard and 2 levels of Archfey Warlock. But recently I’ve begun to instead put more stock in leaving builds open, showing instead the options that a player has to choose from. So, for this update, I’m not pushing for a specific build. I’ve laid out the appropriate spells, and the types of princesses that a player can strive to emulate with their spell lists. Consider this more of a guide to help you decide how you want to play your fairytale princess.

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veilder · 3 years

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When you think back, do you remember what made you ship Convin in the first place? And can you tell me a bit more about the relationship you headcanon for them? (@connor-sent-by-cyberlife)

Gosh, okay, this is such a loaded question for me, lol! Because I love them so much. It’s gonna be hard to try and distill that into one post. But I’ll try my best! XD

So, right off the bat, there are the canon characters. And, while I find canon!Gavin pretty awful and think a relationship between him and canon!Connor would be a bad idea, there’s still a very real tension between them. It’s not rooted in anything positive, for sure, but there is a lot of passion behind it. They both fill the classic enemies/rivals roles for each other and, well... I’m a really big fan of the enemies (to friends) to lovers trope. So right off the bat, they’ve already kinda sparked my interest, yeah? There’s something there, something not fully formed, but dang, it has a lot of potential! Which is where fanon comes in. I think it’ll come as a surprise to absolutely no one that I absolutely adore a fanon Gavin Reed. A more nuanced take on him where he’s not just a racist caricature and is instead a real, human person with thoughts and feelings and motivations. And, while I don’t really remember my actual introduction to fanon!Gavin, one of the earliest things I read that I remember really sticking with me was the amazing fic, Mind-Blowing, by Redd000. That fic had such a wonderful iteration of a Gavin who not only had a very complicated backstory and a lot of interesting interpersonal relationships, but also a dynamic character arc that brought him from the canon douchebag we all know and hate to a more empathetic character who could learn and grow and admit that maybe he was wrong. Another very early fic I read that made me really fall in love with fanon!Gavin was A Scratched CD by consecrated. It was one of the first Convin fics I ever remember reading and just... really falling in love with. And it really went a long way toward making me just adore the potential relationship between the two of them. Now, this was still back in the early days when I was still giving other ships a try and seeing what I liked and didn’t, but between already having a sort of bias for the enemies to lovers dynamic and now seeing the absolute goldmine of potential that a relationship between them could deliver on, I was kinda sold. And I think maybe the final nail in that coffin was the esteemed Traces by berryblonde. It was... such a memorable fic for me. The twists and turns of it were amazing. The backstory the author built up. The slow paradigm shifts happening throughout. The case and the way all the players fit together. It was just... It was and is still one of my favorite fics on the Archive. Highly recommend to anyone looking for not just a good Convin fic, but a great casefic/mystery/drama in general. But the thing all of these had in common was just such a wonderfully built Gavin Reed. Seriously, I was quickly at the point where I couldn’t even read him as a villain anymore, it just seemed so strange to me. Because all of these fics painted such a nuanced, complicated man. One capable admitting he was wrong and doing his best to right his wrongs. Whether platonic or romantic, it was his interactions with Connor that always drove him forward towards becoming a better man. And, as a flawed human being myself, there is something so appealing about that. Of seeing a redemption arc play out like this again and again, of seeing that second chances can be had, that even the worst people can turn themselves around and get back on the right path. It was so... affirming. And it all just kinda tied things together in my mind, too. That Connor was this catalyst, this reagent that burst into Gavin’s cozy worldview and shook him up enough to have to reevaluate himself in the upheaval. But what’s more than that, I also think Gavin is a great catalyst for Connor’s character growth, too. Because, much like Hank, Gavin is someone who’s character growth and dynamic shift would be such a positive influence on someone like Connor. Connor, who spent so much of his short time alive being the villain. Doing bad things for bad people. Doing his best to shut down a movement that ultimately granted him and all his people freedom. I feel like Connor wouldn’t be a stranger to regret, to that urgent desire to change, and to the fallout left in the wake of that. I think, ultimately, Connor and Gavin’s arcs would almost mirror each other. That there’s a lot both of them could take away from the other in regards to forgiveness and maturing as people and second chances to do what’s right. I think Connor needs to let go of his hatred of his machine self just as much as Gavin does. And there’s something in that symmetry that just... It speaks to such a deep understanding between them. A shared experience between a human and a machine. Something they can both empathize with in each other. And that, more than anything, is the basis of a good, healthy, long-lasting relationship in my opinion. I think they would be very good for each other once they both move past their hangups. Two people who can grow both together and as individuals. I just think it’s a beautiful dynamic and such a strong foundation to base a relationship on. It makes me believe that they would be a couple who lasts. And then there’s the fact that they both are very competent people, too! (In fanon at least, lol! XD) I absolutely love that sort of buddy cop vibe these two would have (sometimes literally) where one of them is super analytical and the other is reckless and spontaneous? While being total badasses, too! But both working together would balance each other out perfectly. I feel like Connor would help make up for Gavin’s tactlessness while Gavin helps Connor feel more human. They’d both shake each other up, help each other out of their comfort zones and into a fuller experience of life. They’re such great foils for each other and I think it makes them so balanced in terms of a relationship, too. And that goes for the banter as well. They can both be sarcastic little shitheads and omg, it’s so funny the way some authors write that! Top tier banter is a sign of a great Convin fic imo, lol! They’re just the perfect characters for that sort of humor! XD But I really believe having a sense of humor you can share with a partner would be such a boon to a romantic relationship, too. And, y’know... seeing them laugh at and with each other just makes me smile. I love knowing they enjoy each other’s company so much and that they’re so happy together. Gah, it makes me absolutely melt. Ultimately, this is how I love to both read and write them. As two flawed individuals trying to move past their past transgressions. Growing. Changing. Learning that they’re not so dissimilar. Understanding each other more fully than they’d ever expect. Bonds deepening, affection growing, a language of their own developing between them. And then, the pin dropping. The realization. And a love that can and will last. All the while being quippy little badasses, lol! (And if you want a great example of all of this, I’d be remiss not to recommend perhaps my favorite Convin fic of all, Mission: Unexpected, by J11nxed. It’s so good. It’s the fic I always go back to when I need cheering up. And it’s absolutely the dynamic I try for when I write Convin myself. It’s a long fic but it’s so worth reading!) So yeah... That is... the most basic answer I could give to this, lol. I just... really love this ship a whole lot and I’m actually so glad you asked about it because I love sharing my thoughts on it with others. And, y’know, hoping that maybe my words would get them to give it a chance if they haven’t before. Hopefully, there aren’t too many typos, lol! There’s no way I’m going back through this freakin essay, omg. XD But yeah, hope this answered your question sufficiently, friend! :D

#dbh #meta #connor #rk800 #gavin reed #convin #reed800 #I just have a lot of feelings about them okay?#please no judge #there are a lot of #fic recs #in here #so perhaps y'all can enjoy those! :D #timebird84

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subspace · 3 years

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MORTAL KOMBAT (2021)

there has yet to be a truly capital-G Great movie based on a video game. There was hope that the latest stab at “Mortal Kombat” might stand a chance to break that trend. The short answer is a hearty “No,” but that doesn’t mean there isn’t fun to be had here.

If all you know of “Mortal Kombat” is that it’s a video game that, upon its debut in arcades in 1992, swiftly helped spur a national pearl-clutching tour by politicians and parents’ groups over the level of “realistic” gore and violence found within, you might be surprised to learn that the bones of the story and characters are actually pretty fun. It treads heavily from the roots of comic books and classic kung fu movies which inspired series creators John Tobias and Ed Boon. So while there’s nothing terribly original about a secret martial arts tournament where people with extraordinary powers duke it out to decide the fate of the universe, the sort of (mostly) straight-faced sincerity used to bring it all to life fits perfectly well within the cinematic landscape that regularly sees people with godlike powers traipsing across movie screens these days.

And to its credit, this take on “Mortal Kombat” never shies away from any of the incredibly outlandish aspects of the series: Warrior monks who can throw fireballs from their bare hands. Laser eyes. A sorcerer who can (quite literally) suck a man’s soul from his body. Another warrior monk but this one uses a razor-edged hat as a throwing weapon and teleportation device. It’s all here. There’s some nominal explanation as to how or why these characters get superpowers, but for the most part it amounts to “just because, now watch this guy with a New Jersey accent wearing a cyber mask use hook swords and run so fast he can teleport.”

Given the way audiences have simply come to accept comic book heroes and given the movie’s overall embrace of the outlandish, it then becomes somewhat baffling that someone along the line decided it was absolutely essential that we be guided into this world via a brand new character who can act baffled at all this weird stuff happening. It might have made more sense had any questions been truly asked or, more crucially, been answered, but we never even really get an answer as to why exactly a martial arts tournament is what decides the fate of Earth. At the very least it would have been worth it had this character, Cole Young, been played by anyone with even a hint of genuine charisma. Alas, despite his best efforts, Lewis Tan simply doesn’t have the juice to shoulder the weight given him.

Then again, he’s not really helped by Dave Callaham and Greg Russo’s script. It’s clear that there is an abiding affection for the legacy of “Mortal Kombat” and its world and characters. Fans of the games will have no trouble recognizing the likes of Liu Kang (Ludi Lin), Kung Lao (Max Huang), Sub-Zero (Joe Taslim) or Kano (Josh Lawson). But the story is so thin and gives the surprisingly large cast very little to do overall.

After losing an underground MMA match, Cole learns that he’s been chosen to take part in a tournament known as, you guessed it, Mortal Kombat. Shang Tsung (Chin Han), an evil, soul-sucking sorcerer, however is bound and determined to make sure a tournament never happens, thus making it that much easier for him to take over Earthrealm. Fights and fatalities ensue.

And that’s...pretty much it. Cole meets up with an eclectic group of other fighters as they attempt to train and prepare for the tournament, but this mostly relegates them and the film to a massive cave temple somewhere in Asia. Not exactly the most dynamic or exciting location, especially given how wild and vibrant so much of the video game’s fight locale’s have become over the years.

So if the film’s budget (clearly) held back its visual potential and its lead leaves much to be desired, how could I possibly claim there’s fun to be had? This is where checking your expectations at the door helps.

To put it succinctly: “Mortal Kombat” is not “The Raid.” It is not “John Wick.” It doesn’t rise to the fairly high standard that has been set since Paul W.S. Anderson directed the first “Mortal Kombat” in 1995. Simon McQuoid’s 2021 film doesn’t even hit the highs of a lot of Scott Adkins’ direct-to-DVD outings. (Although that’s not an insult to Adkins, as he’s a legitimately great movie martial artist and you should watch his movies.) This “Mortal Kombat” lies somewhere in between. It tries hard. It brings in accomplished martial artists like Taslim and even Tan, whose father, Philip, is an accomplished stunt performer and choreographer.

Could the combat (kombat?) have been better? Without question. But what’s here is fun. The fights are competent and not edited to shreds. But perhaps more importantly, it’s one of the first movies based on a video game to not only nail the iconic visual aspect of the characters, but to truly and fully lean into the fact that these people all do wild and silly things like shoot lasers from their eyes or throw fireballs. It also delivers in spades the games’ trademark, outlandish violence. To save my editor from sternly admonishing me for describing (even mildly) the things certain characters have happen to them, suffice to say it makes the digitized, roughly pixelated violence of the 1992 look positively PG-rated by comparison. No doubt this will turn off more than a few potential viewers, but there’s no denying that fans of the series flock to it in large part for this reason. So if you find entertainment in violence that’s so absurdly over-the-top it swings right around to being comical, this version of “Mortal Kombat” delivers to a satisfying degree.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t also single out actor Josh Lawson. His performance as Kano is hands down my favorite part of the film and he fills every scene he’s in with a delightfully smarmy energy, much as the late Trevor Goddard did playing the same character in the 1995 film.

Maybe my enjoyment (or soft judgment) of the film is due more to the fact that it’s just good to see new movies again, and to do so with friends. I got a few (fully vaccinated) buddies to come join me in my backyard, I set up an outdoor screen and projector and streamed “Mortal Kombat” from my laptop and we had a blast laughing at and with the movie and generally relishing the absurdity, the competent fights and some fun characters.

It’s entirely possible this movie won’t hold up on repeat viewing as such instances will inevitably be divorced from the context in which it was originally viewed, but that’s OK. This time out I got some very basic enjoyment out of it and had a good time with friends and sometimes that’s more than enough.

#mortal kombat #movies #movie reviews

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ewh111 · 4 years

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Annual List of Favorite Film Experiences of 2019

Happy New Year! All the best to you for a fabulous 2020 and new decade!

2019 was a busy year of traveling. Work took me back to China (three times), Japan, Korea, and first time visits to the Czech Republic and Australia.

I had the opportunity of a lifetime when I helped lead a group of Harvard-Westlake faculty members on a culture and food themed trip to China with James Beard Award-winning food writer/chef Fuchsia Dunlop. As a big fan of hers, I invited her to join us as our culinary tour guide and she accepted, leading us through three regions of China with distinct cuisines (Chengdu, Hangzhou, and Shanghai). Over ten days, she curated 19 meals with over 300 different courses! For more, go to my first annual food post: https://ewh111.tumblr.com/post/189972112494/2019-food-lists

And now, here are my favorite film experiences of the past year.

Cheers, Ed

The Best and The Favorite of the Year

Parasite

The less you know before viewing this metaphorical, fiercely dark, genre-bending comedy/horror/social satire of haves and have nots where everyone is arguably a parasite, the better. Korean filmmaker Boon Joon-ho creates a memorable, twisty, thought-provoking film experience with exquisite storytelling, stunning visuals, sudden tonal shifts, unexpected turns, and a terrific cast. Just take the journey and enjoy this masterful work that may be the best film of the year. Trailer: https://youtu.be/isOGD_7hNIY

Jojo Rabbit

Appealing to my affinity for the quirky, this one is my favorite film of 2019. Who knew that a story during the waning days of WWII about a 10 year old Hitler Youth, his imaginary friend Adolph Hitler, and his single mom who is hiding a Jewish girl in their attic would be so sweet and funny. While an absurdist witty satire on the surface, it’s really an anti-hate, coming-of-age story as we experience the world through the eyes of 10 year old Jojo as he confronts and reconciles “the other” he’s been taught to hate in the world around him. Delicately balancing whimsy and seriousness, Jojo Rabbit is a beautiful and soulful film thanks to a great cast, including a terrifically endearing Scarlett Johansson (while likely to garner more attention for Marriage Story, this is the more memorable character to me), the audacious Jewish-Polynesian director Taika Waititi as the sophomoric Hitler bestie, Sam Rockwell as an SS officer with a heart, and a wonderful Roman Griffin Davis in the title role. Trailer: https://youtu.be/tL4McUzXfFI

Racing Against Time

1917

Wow. Daring and bold filmmaking in one of the most realistic and visceral war film experiences since the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan. In a role that may be overlooked during awards season, George MacKay is a standout as one of the two soldiers sent on an impossible mission through No Man’s Land to deliver a message to prevent British forces from entering a massive German ambush. Oh, and via pure movie magic, director Sam Mendes and master cinematographer Roger Deakins tell this story in what seems like one continuous shot. I was totally drawn in by the Gallipoli-esque race against time, the real-time pacing of 24, and the immersive POV of a video game. The result is breath-taking as the camera dances around the soldiers, trenches, bunkers, and towns in a beautifully choreographed dance without distracting from the gripping storytelling. Trailer: https://youtu.be/gZjQROMAh_s

Ford v Ferrari

An exhilarating, high octane, crackling thrill ride. The story of two obsessively passionate crazies, ex-racer and car designer Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) and British race car driver Ken Miles (Christian Bale), who join forces with American corporate titan Ford to defeat Ferrari at the 24 hours of Le Mans in 1966. It’s pure adrenaline that non-racing enthusiasts can enjoy because of the well-crafted story and performances. Trailer: https://youtu.be/I3h9Z89U9ZA

Unforgettably Creepy and Disturbing

Joker

Joaquin Phoenix disturbingly and completely transforms himself into the pathologically deranged, downtrodden, and delusional part-time clown/aspiring comic Arthur Fleck in this origin story of Batman’s arch nemesis. Joker is a deeply disturbing character study of how an emotionally fragile individual on the fringes of society gets pushed deeper and deeper into the downward spiral of insanity to the breaking point. Dark, edgy, and unsettling, Joker is not for everyone. But there’s no denying Phoenix’s brilliant, tour de force performance. (Unfortunately, my edginess was heightened in my screening by an audience member who was similarly laughing inappropriately like Phoenix’s character, which had me looking for the closest exit in the event of a disturbance). Trailer: https://youtu.be/zAGVQLHvwOY

In his sophomore directorial effort, Jordan Peele has gone beyond the horror and social commentary of Get Out, and into even deeper, more chilling existential territory. In Us, Peele has created an All-American family terrorized by a creepy scissor-wielding doppelgänger family and spirals into more terrifying and mysterious terrain with a fabulous dual performance by Lupita Nyong'o. Who is Us? Is Us them? I’ll leave the metaphorical debate for later. Trailer: https://youtu.be/hNCmb-4oXJA

**Midsommar deserves notable mention in the creepy category–a slow-burn, dark tale of a young American couple’s vacation in the remote Swedish hinterland at a once-in-lifetime summer festival that goes creepily and morbidly wrong. Trailer: https://youtu.be/1Vnghdsjmd0

Masterworks by Tarantino and Scorsese

Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood

Perhaps Quentin Tarantino’s most mature film, Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood beautifully captures in painstaking detail a specific moment in time: Hollywood, 1969. A passionate homage and love letter to Los Angeles and the Hollywood scene, Tarantino blends a concoction of history and fantasy (a la Inglourious Basterds) in a buddy movie with Leonardo DiCaprio as declining TV hero/star and an endearing scene-stealing Brad Pitt as his stalwart stunt double/best friend whose lives fatefully intersect with Sharon Tate and the Manson family. While at times meandering (it’s less plot and more a series of vignettes), it is also at times spellbinding (an on set encounter between DiCaprio’s character and a fellow 8 year old child actor; Margot Robbie’s Sharon Tate watching herself on screen inside Westwood’s Bruin Theater). As the title implies, this is a quintessential Tarantino fairy tale: funny, yet warm, and, of course, violent. Trailer: https://youtu.be/ELeMaP8EPAA

The Irishman

An epic, career-capping entry into Martin Scorsese’s mob-themed oeuve, The Irishman appropriately brings De Niro, Pacino and Pesci together in this elegaic saga, complete with de-aging technology to tell the story of mob hitman Frank Sheeran (De Niro) through multiple flashbacks. And for those of us old enough to remember, the story helps to answer the unsolved question, what happened to Teamster head Jimmy Hoffa. Trailer: https://youtu.be/RS3aHkkfuEI

Family Dramas

Marriage Story

Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver are top-notch in this raw, yet poignant, and ultimately life-affirming journey through the disintegration of a marriage and the logistical mechanics of the divorce process and custody fight seen from both sides as each struggles to reestablish priorities in their lives and redefine family. Trailer: https://youtu.be/BHi-a1n8t7M

The Farewell

We are told the film is “based on an actual lie” in the film’s opening titles; director Lulu Wang’s heartfelt, deeply personal, and charming film stars Awkwafina as a young woman whose grandmother (in China) has been diagnosed with terminal cancer but the entire family has decided to keep it a secret. Under the guise of a hastily planned family wedding, the family gathers to say goodbye to grandma. Capturing the uneasy tension between Chinese and American culture, questioning where one belongs and the role of family in our lives, Awkwafina shines in her first dramatic role, as does the rest of the supporting cast. Trailer: https://youtu.be/RofpAjqwMa8

Little Women

Director Greta Gerwig follows up Lady Bird with another achievement, giving the classic 19th century Louisa May Alcott period piece a thoroughly modern feel with an effervescent cast and 21st century non-chronological storytelling. Saoirse Ronan leads a fantastic cast. Trailer: https://youtu.be/AST2-4db4ic

Two Funny Smart Girls, Two Religious Guys, and Only One Baby Per Family, Please

Booksmart

More than just a female version of Superbad, Booksmart is an impressive directorial debut for Olivia Wilde with the fantastic duo of Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein (HW ‘11) as the “study hard” academic besties on a mission to “play hard” on the last night before graduation. Also memorable is the scene-stealing Billie Lourd (HW ‘10). This very funny and delightful coming-of-age pic stands out in the pantheon of teenage comedies not only for its quirky and smart tone, but for its inclusive and diverse three-dimensional characters, including LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming teens whose sexuality don’t define who they are. Trailer: https://youtu.be/Uhd3lo_IWJc

The Two Popes

I didn’t expect a film that is essentially an extended conversation between two people would be so intriguing and gripping. The imagined conversation in 2012 involves two very different men, one the sitting pope who finds himself standing increasingly in the way of progress, and the other, his eventual successor looking to retire from an institution he is increasingly frustrated with. But with spot-on casting and terrific performances from Jonathan Pryce as the ABBA-humming future Pope Francis and Anthony Hopkins as the stoic, humorless intellect Pope Benedict XVI, The Two Popes is a joy to watch. Trailer: https://youtu.be/T5OhkFY1PQE

One Child Nation

This one’s a doc. From 1979 to 2015, China instituted the “One Child Policy” as a means of population control to stave off mass starvation. Documentarian Nanfu Wang, herself an exception to the policy and now a first-time mother, explores the enduring ripple effects of the policy that included forced abortions, sterilizations, abandonment of baby girls, and child trafficking. This powerful and devastating documentary looks at the multi-layered trauma–how it was carried out and the heartbreaking human and societal toll it has taken. Trailer: https://youtu.be/gMcJVoLwyD0

**Other documentaries to check out: Cold Case Hammarskjold, Where’s My Roy Cohn, The Biggest Little Farm, Leaving Neverland.

All Out Pure Fun Movie Experiences

Knives Out

An enthusiastic bundle of joy, Knives Out is Rian Johnson’s stellar, intricately crafted, Agatha Christie-like whodunit with a stellar cast who seem to be having as much fun as the audience. Trailer: https://youtu.be/qOg3AoRc4nI

Rocketman

Can’t help but compare this to Bohemian Rhapsody, but Rocketman is the superior and more entertaining musical biopic (using the term loosely). It’s bold, magical, and fantastical, as befits Elton John. Trailer: https://youtu.be/S3vO8E2e6G0

Other notables: The King, Avengers: Endgame, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Honey Boy, Yesterday, Velvet Buzzsaw.

In the queue: Pain & Glory; Uncut Gems; Bombshell; Richard Jewell, The Last Black Man In San Francisco.

Favorite Binge-worthy TV Shows

Dark, Succession, When They See Us, Chernobyl, Mindhunter, Barry, Veep, Sex Education, Silicon Valley, Stranger Things 3, Don’t F**k with Cats

Special Shout Out to Dark

With elements of the mysterious strangeness of Twin Peaks and Stranger Things (minus the humor and camp) and the intricate intertwined storytelling and compelling characters of The Wire, Dark is the story of four families who live in a tiny German town situated next to a nuclear power plant (add a little of Chernobyl) who are inextricably connected through some strange cosmic phenomenon. Oh, and throw in a big dose of time travel. Dark is incredibly compelling and addictive. It is hands down the most complex and thoughtful (i.e., sophisticated and makes sense) time travel-themed story I’ve seen. Do yourself a favor and resist Googling anything about the show to avoid spoiling the experience. Just watch. There are two seasons worth at Netflix. And one more on the way. Trailer: https://youtu.be/S3vO8E2e6G0

#favoritemovies2019 #favoritefilms2019 #submission

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teddy-feathers · 5 years

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Prompt from @moss-flowers-trees not exactly fulfilled.

Up to No Good

Now it was well known that across the multiverse there was no Papyrus lazier than Stretch. After all, most took him as nothing more than a 'swapped' personality of Classic Sans and his brother.

That was their - a collective term here referring in a general way to the entirety of the multiverse and all of the alternates - first mistake.

Because a swapped Papyrus was still a Papyrus and all Papyri enjoyed a good jape.

Their second mistake was, as always, underestimating his brother.

Blue was a Sans in the way Stretch was a Papyrus, and from day one had resented being underestimated. Credit where its do, no one could do shenanigans like a Sans, especially his brother. It was as admirable as it was terrifying.

The last was more of a fortuitous boon, luck if one really wanted to be so crass, then a mistake on anyone's part and that was no one spoiled the fun.

So to set the stage, to really understand just how priceless the current situation of a nightmare carnival mirror image of him frothing in rage, you have to go back to the beginning.

Not the very beginning - though any good story should perhaps start there - for the sake of time, argument, and a joke that will only grow stale for having to wait for it, let it be assumed for the moment that Stretch is the center of the universe the second he and his brother stumble into a room full of strikingly unfamiliar faces in some sort of mirror maze of 'what ifs' and 'could have beens'.

Papyrus - one of many now, always? Apparently. - zones out, empty sockets not giving away his unfocused attention as Not his Brother Sans reluctantly and with much prodding from a much more handsome and friendly reflection Papyrus explains something about Universal Causality. What homeowners insurance had to do with this bowl of Flowey Flakes they found themselves in he missed, but at some point someone had pointed out that they couldn't all share the same name without even the most friendly of them wanting to dust the others like some bad Highlander reboot.

His brother, Blue now - cleverly claiming the Sans favorite color as his own - nudges him from a lovely little daydream back into the existential nightmare that was the current universe, and Papyrus folds his fingers together and lifts them above his head tilting this way with that until his back pops. This is met with disgusted looks from many faces around the room - most of them his own - and he slumps back comfortably into his hoodie. "Guess I'll go by Stretch."

Several voices protest of course, because life from now on was going to be lived by committee.

"Well That is certainly... unique Orange Me." Says Putting a Positive Spin on This With All His Might Papyrus - or Creampuff as he'd agreeably allowed Edgelord Papyrus to dub him.

"It is Ridiculous is what it Is." Protests the version of his brother that had wandered into a Hot Topic and had never left. "It doesn't Fit with the Already Established naming convention!"

It was times like this that he - The Papyrus who was going by Stretch for Spite now - was glad he had never bothered with the magic expenditure that was eyelights. Meant no one could see him roll his eyes.

There was no Convention - no real pattern for the group as a whole or even just through the pairs. Classic Sans - named such for his outdated old man jokes no doubt - seems to notice all the same and huffs out a laugh. "gotta say buddy, kinda agree - name like that seems like a stretch."

Blue looks as cross as Stretch feels but it would take someone who knew him well to see it. He grabs onto Strectch's arm in a show of solidarity and asks "Brother, why did you choose such a Unique name?" The way he says unique stands in tonal counterpoint to how Creampuff had said it, and Stretch smiles down at his older brother discarding the first three responses that come to mind.

No need to make his brother worry, or get labeled as the Depressing Papyrus right out the door - even if none of this did matter. "Cause bro, I'm the tallest one here."

Of course his brother immediately catches on, lights going to stars in a way that brightens his expression both figuratively and literally. "Nyeh heh heh of Course! How very Astute of you Stretch!"

Immediately several voices raise in protest, and boy did his own voice sound worse when amplified and played back a half dozen times, but it was worth it when his Blues cuts across the din to add with sly earnestness "I Knew my brother was the Coolest!"

This of course started a whole new argument that derailed the last and the rest should have been history.

But of course some part of him just couldn't let it go.

A universal constant for Papyri apparently was a vicious strain of competitiveness. And while Stretch could have let the jape die, it was nice to have something - no matter how fake - to lord over the other Oh So Talented versions of himself.

Literally in some cases.

Creampuff, if not a Perfect host, was unfailing in his attempts to fulfill that responsibility while the whole living arrangement situation was dealt with, that when Stretch's insomnia got the better of him he'd inevitably pop into the kitchen just to grab something off the top shelf for his better mirror's ungodly hours Breakfast Prep.

This was particularly satisfying as Creampuff apparently put everything up on the very top shelves and with the whole lot of them living there, something inevitably ended up pushed to the very back that he just Had to have. It was child's play - minus the murderer possessed doll - to time things that Stretch's arm could slip over his and pull done the item before he had a chance to grab it. Add that to some casual comment about the perks of being tall and...

It was inevitable that Edgy Mc My Chemical Romance would catch wind of the ongoing shenanigans. And unlike Creampuff who tried hard and was generally likable despite his Arrogance - another trait shared by those who shared his face . Edgelord didn't have a redeeming bone in his body. Made him insufferable... and a particularity sweet target for tomfoolery.

So when at some dinner or another that they all agreed to go to on occasion after they'd gotten their own places, and Edge once more started in about how obviously he was the Superior Specimen of the Skeleton Species, well Stretch wasn't going to take that lying down.

Or, well, he was laying on the Fell - the call sign they'd agreed to for their universe - Bro's couch. But he had lifted his hand and said in a deliberately matter of fact dry tone, "Not the tallest though."

It was like he had murdered their damn cat (who was a friendly surface beasty... if you didn't mind being considered a scratching post). Edge sputtered in rage and had dragged him upright by force, while Stretch uncooperative hug heavily like a rag doll in his unphased grip.

If Creampuff was the Handsome Papyus than Edge was the Strong Papyrus, it would have been easy to hate him just for that if he didn't so obligingly make himself as unlikable as he had. Of course with a little expended magic to give his brother the Babybones Look that worked every time, and Blue's quick intervention with a level and a bit of slight of hand - the fight was diverted and the Japery continued.

Perhaps the most agreeable of the versions that had clowned their way out of the Multiverse Machine that day was the one that went by Mutt. Agreeable in the sense he kept his head down, mouth shut, and kept away from all of them. That could be because his brother was annoying enough for the both of them, but Stretch thought an argument could be made that Mutt didn't consider himself a Papyrus at all - he'd already had the moniker long before the pageant had begun afterall.

Black combined the Worst of Stretch's brother and the Best - if that quality could even be ascribed to him - of Edge. A menace of a monster who honestly came across as the smallest of the Sans in a more convincing way than Stretch was the tallest of the Papyri... Not that anyone had dared mention it to him of course. Stretch was saving the observation for a special occasion.

For whatever reason the Tiny Tyrant had taken an exception to the idea that he was just the evil twin of Blue and went out of his way to be exceptionally petty about finding ways to make himself out to be the better version of his older brother.

Honestly it was a bother and Stretch tried to stay out if it since Blue Obviously could take care of himself but for whatever reason Black seemed to take Stretch's height as a challenge as much as any Papyrus... With the sole exception of Mutt.

Trying to recreate the circumstances of Edge's measuring contest between the Stretch and his own brother during a holiday social backfired spectacularly into Mutt curling even more into himself and Stretch - more than a little tipsy - actually challenging Mutt to see who could slump the most.

Mutt had shrunk so fast into his coat that his skull had almost vanished amidst the fluff like a turtle and Stretch had laughingly declared him the victor, pleasing Black and being the last time for years that anyone bothered with his height.

So now onto the present situation.

Edge had been so pleased when he ambushed him and his brother in the grocery store, smug about his six inch heeled boots and his mastery thereof, dying to show up Blue who also had an insatiable love of the damn feet death traps and he had turned to ice his cake by pointing out that with these he could be the tallest of the Papyri...

That annoying smirk whipped clean off as he met sockets - exactly level - with Stretch who didn't do more then smile back because this was the joke of the lifetime.

"How!" He choaks, the sweetest music to hear.

Stretch leans in even closer to whisper conspiratorially "I'm standing up straight."

This only makes Edge froth with rage and stomp off without ever noticing that Stretch had been standing on a divider on the floor giving him a physical lift along with the rise to his spirits when Edge's dropped like a man into a river with cement shoes.

Blue laughs, mood doing a 180 as quickly as Edge's. "You should have told him the Truth Stretch!"

"Mmm?" He hums curiously, moving to drap himself back atop the already half full cart. The other versions of himself were fun to get the goat of but they were exhausting even in small doses. "What that this place's floor is poorly designed? But he was being insufferable."

"Nope," His older brother says in an insufferable tone of his own - oh no, not one of his 'great' jokes. Those were the worst. "That the reason you're always going to be taller than the others is that you're always Up to No Good!"

Stretch groans and covers his skull with his arms, pushing the cart away with more vigor than he'd shown anything all day. "Title drops are the Height of bad comedy."

Of course that only makes Blue laugh harder.

#undertale multiverse #us papyrus #bad jokes and worse writing #actually pleased with this though it needs to be cleaned up some #prompt #drabble

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sheenawimmer81-blog · 5 years

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Tips On How To Eat Italian Vegetarian Dish

Even though the term vegan is a hit, there is no room for question that people still do believe and love eating staples which include meat and dairy products. With number of restaurants catering food with different meat varieties, some people with diet limitations feel a little left out. Many cuisines are renowned for heavy meat contents making it difficult for the people who love to dine plant-based diet. Italian restaurants are a wonderful accomplishment for such individual. With the veganism being accepted by most Italian restaurants like us, people can have food with meat products being veganised. What more you can ask for? Such wonderful, excellent cuisine with every dish persisting a twist of taste is what we all live for. So visit us on our journey of serving vegan food products and Buon Appetito!

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Medical value and nutrition content in vegan product are present abundant. Because of this many people adopt for vegan foods. According to scholars the people have more nutrition content and which make healthier for people. The Vitamin B12 content is likely to become obese and have a less cardiac problem. These have a rich nutrition content which can overcome the adolescence period. They even have the more fit and healthier content. Chances of hypertension, low cholesterol will be reduced in the children and for adults. Even children have a kind of type 2 diabetes which can be reduced by vegan eaters. Instead of simply serving our client's with savour vegan dishes we go for approaching our client's with gentle empathy. A simple name of a dish with the term vegan may sound a little unappealing. Since people eat with their eyes first instead of mouth they check and emphasize the name of the dish wandering how it may taste or look. So we rephrased our dish with subtle hints. That's where the kick was needed. A little bit of change and our restaurant became a hit. Pasta - the Best boon for the person who is going to the gym. Pasta can be a major food for gym al coholic person because it helps for lowering of BMI (Body Mass Index). S people don't be scared of carbs. It even reduces the blood sugar level and the carbohydrate absorption level. Pasta that is cooked in a traditional way contains bean and peas has a high rich in protein efficiency. So my gym buddies come to our restaurant to eat vegetarian pasta and enrich to stamina level. Stay Deals in cilento The major challenge a vegan restaurant faces is about making a difference. Earlier, when vegan term was new to public and vegan restaurants were not popular it was easy to increase market. But now vegan food and vegan restaurants can be viewed everywhere. What makes us different is our new interesting cuisine. Our idea of veganising meat and meat products are well appreciated by our customers. Instead of being a commoner we chose to serve common dishes with a hint of veganism. When the topic switches to food and its flavour with comfort nothing can beat the Italian cuisine. With modern day veganisation trend streaming high with Italian foods like Pizza, lasagnas, Focaccia, flavoured sauces and more cheese can be made vegan easily. No doubt, why Italian food promises its own holiday. Classic Italian food is all wrapped up with sizzling aroma, flavour, texture and lots of vibrant veggies. Home Style Baked Pasta - Everyone loves home cooked food. Here we come with Home styled baked pasta with spicy and tangy green, red tomato sauce and a profusion of cheese in it. To enhance its look clinch it with some crispy breadcrumbs and bake till it shows exquisiteness. Corn Cannelloni - This is our five-star dish which combines corn and pepper to give a rich taste. Bake it with lots of cream and cheesy cheese. We serve it with a twist of taste which is all due to salad, flimsy garlic bread and end it with classic white wine. Although the term vegan seems good there are still people who are fond of meat and pork cuisine and they cannot get rid of it. Many cuisines are left out with meat and they cannot able to rejoice the taste of original vegan products. This seems too good as of now. B ut Italian products have more wonderful individuality to make the customers happy and to be felt deserved. The only thing is that your customers have to change over the nutrition content. Our restaurant will surely help to change the view of vegans for this who has not tasted the vegan. Even now you have more questions to be answered? Take a visit to o ur restaurant and taste you will never forget the taste . Bon a ppetite! The introduction of vegan food has the avoidance of meat and dairy products. Meat products tempt to make the children towards veggies because of the color. But if you need the children to get to eat the fruits and green we have to make through the things in a different way. Vegan dishes have whole grain, vegetables which try to take away from another disease. The other side has the dairy product content of abundant fat products that help in the pumping of the blood vessel which makes to get a cardiac arrest in later time. The sodium amount present in the vegan food makes your fat more again. Due to obesity there more hazardous things that happen in your body. This will surely lead to dull life and you will not get to the routine work. After the intake of food, you will notice the increase the freshness and healthy points more.

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kaleyfleck2378-blog · 5 years

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The Leading 10 Best Italian Vegetarian Dishes

Why are we emphasizing to eat vegan product is to avoid cardiac arrests. Many children already are detected with cardiac risks. When we surveyed it came out that children between ages 6 to 11 already persists high cholesterol level. This scale goes for 40% children. With high cholesterol comes high blood pressure which is also commonly prevailing in children. Among 1 in 3 Italian children who are facing obesity the ratio undoubtedly increases. Cardiac diseases which are the main reason for many innocent deaths all around can be minimized to some extent through vegan diet. Although many controversies related to vegan diet comes up, its role in framing health cannot be overlooked. The first dish when we say about Italian cuisine is about Pepperoni which is the most favourite dish of all meat lovers. What comes to your mind about Italian people and their cuisine ? Yes, the usage of pork and meat and that too products like Salami , prosciutto, Soppressata makes more delightful non-veg etarian seekers. But the true fact is that there is a number of restaurants for vegan people which have wide varieties of Italian cuisine. Products are served in a vegan manner with a plate full of cappuccinos, buggets, and gelato wh ich varies on different prices. Some of the best Italian vegan dishes like Lentil Bolognese, Vegan lasagne soup, Vegan rose sauce served with roasted veggies, pesto spaghetti with mean meatballs, Fettuccine with caramelized onion green and vegan feta, vegan garlic pasta are some of best recipes being found. But it seems bit boring. Isn't? But you can make a happy ending . When we dine those you surprised and amazed by the wholesome foods being dinned and best texture served. Caprese Salad with Pesto Sauce - The most awaited dish that everyone asks is because of its excellent flavour and canned tomatoes freshness. The tomatoes make with a soft texture along with the mozzarella and basil leaves in addition to the smell of balsamic vinegar. Here comes the final touch is when it is presented to the customers with the Italian flag. The eggplant Parmigiana is the next dish which makes you forget about meat. A dish pottage has parmesan cheese enveloped with brisk tomatoes is the best way to dine the eggplant. A refreshing salad and some garlic bread lobes are served for its best as its shutdown Instead of simply serving our client's with savour vegan dishes we go for approaching our client's with gentle empathy. A simple name of a dish with the term vegan may sound a little unappealing. Since people eat with their eyes first instead of mouth they check and emphasize the name of the dish wandering how it may taste or look. So we rephrased our dish with subtle hints. That's where the kick was needed. A little bit of change and our restaurant became a hit. Eat vegan food as it helps to make an avoidance of milk products and meat. The bright color of meat tempts many children and the risk by just eating them. The vegan diet involves usage of more whole grain and other staples which can help you to stay away from these dangerous items. The meat foods seem to be alright for today but when it grows for olden days they will surely have a symptom of cardiac diseases. The milk products over here seem to more richer they even have the clogging of the arterial blood vessel. The meat content has a high amount of sodium, thus imagine the risk of your life. Our Italian restaurant reduces all the risk and enhances your life with vegan dishes. Bruschetta - Are you seeking for a snack in our restraint and here we get you a plate full of Bruschetta. We will calm your hungry by the snack which contains spatter of garlic and a creamy coating of mushroom that also contain classic canned tomato. Panzanella - Enjoy the hot summer with dazzling white wine as spumante which is given chill which does not come under any recipe. Just if you are having round an Italian vegetarian product it goes with that as a savoury. Pasta - the Best boon for the person who is going to the gym. Pasta can be a major food for gym al coholic person because it helps for lowering of BMI (Body Mass Index). S people don't be scared of carbs. It even reduces the blood sugar level and the carbohydrate absorption level. Pasta that is cooked in a traditional way contains bean and peas has a high rich in protein efficiency. So my gym buddies come to our restaurant to eat vegetarian pasta and enrich to stamina level. You will be amazed with the whole new vegan dishes we serve. Vegan dishes although sounds a little boring when compared to meat, pork and turkey but our idea of serving veganised food will make your heart and mouth drool. With our excellent dishes like Lentil Bolognese with spaghetti, Vegan lasagne soup, Vegan rose sauce served with roasted veggies, Pesto spaghetti with vegan meatballs, Fettuccine with caramelized onions green and vegan feta, Vegan garlic pasta with a hint of roasted cajun cauliflower, If you enjoyed this write-up and you would certainly such as to get even more info relating to Read A lot more kindly check out the web page. Vegan Fettuccine Alfredo with mushrooms, Vegan cauliflower parmesan bake pasta, pasta all with veggie and white soup gives you just a flicker of what more do we have in our plate. Your way of thinking about veganism will surely take a step forward when you gulp our food.

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liam69168256-blog · 5 years

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How To Order Italian Vegetarian Products In Italy

Pasta - the Best boon for the person who is going to the gym. Pasta can be a major food for gym al coholic person because it helps for lowering of BMI (Body Mass Index). S people don't be scared of carbs. It even reduces the blood sugar level and the carbohydrate absorption level. Pasta that is cooked in a traditional way contains bean and peas has a high rich in protein efficiency. So my gym buddies come to our restaurant to eat vegetarian pasta and enrich to stamina level. Instead of simply serving our client's with savour vegan dishes we go for approaching our client's with gentle empathy. A simple name of a dish with the term vegan may sound a little unappealing. Since people eat with their eyes first instead of mouth they check and emphasize the name of the dish wandering how it may taste or look. So we rephrased our dish with subtle hints. That's where the kick was needed. A little bit of change and our restaurant became a hit. Eat vegan food as it helps to make an avoidance of milk products and meat. The bright color of meat tempts many children and the risk by just eating them. The vegan diet involves usage of more whole grain and other staples which can help you to stay away from these dangerous items. The meat foods seem to be alright for today but when it grows for olden days they will surely have a symptom of cardiac diseases. The milk products over here seem to more richer they even have the clogging of the arterial blood vessel. The meat content has a high amount of sodium, thus imagine the risk of your life. Our Italian restaurant reduces all the risk and enhances your life with vegan dishes. The major reason our Italian restaurant is hanging up to Www.Greenwhereabouts.Com products and vegan versions for various meat fares is because of increased in sales. By bringing veganise products our sales raised by 153% while cost of food reduced to 58%. And more 30% turnover is due to weddings. And we are sure that our sales will tend to increase in coming years because of trending vegan concept. Every single meat lovers who tried our vegan food were rather comfortable eating hereafter. Ravioli with Coconut Milk and Lemongrass - When you think of every time about it spreads water in your mouth. Ravioli is all set to nuzzle you with creamy coconut milk sauce, spring onions , and lemongrass. Yep, the taste of lemongrass gives you a sour taste that enters your mouth in straight. This makes a bountiful treat to your stomach and even to your eyes. Move on to next with Pasta Con Pomodoro e Basilico - Do you need any good thing to happen for you? Nothing will come near this dish. When you�re fond of Italian restaurant nothing can make your heart happy other than large plate pasta. This dish is made even brighter with a topping of fresh basil, roast tomatoes and cloves. Four Cheese Pasta -Yes, here comes the best combination of cheese for the customers who have a fondness for cheese. As the name predicts the combination involves Parmesan, Emmental a flavor of Gruyere, brie and also the yummy cheddar cheese. If you need a customization we have given with a chip of Rosemary and thyme which adds extra taste. Now we jump to Mushroom Risotto - The name itself depicts it has something done with mushroom. The smell of exotic mushroom and plump Arboric rice makes you flattered. Even you are not satisfied then ask us for some additional parmesan and butter layer. We assure that it will surely make fall you down and ask again for our dish . If you have even a little space in your stomach area here comes to a glass of white wine to cheer up. What happens when hearing about Italian food? yes, nothing can beat the flavor and texture of its taste. Dishes like Pizza, lasagnas, Focaccia makes you get more comfortable and mouth watery. The dishes are the most streaming food. Now there is a change over in it. The new Classic vegan Italian food is all wrapped together with a fantastic aroma and its texture. What happens when a major change over is being done in the cuisine of getting the flavor most satisfying. No doubt it will surely make through another own holiday. Www.Greenwhereabouts.Com Ravioli with Coconut Milk and Lemongrass - As the name depicts it has the sour taste of lemongrass and the green colo ur over it. Ravioli is one which contains creamy coconut milk sauce, spring onions. Now imagine the colo ur and the flavor of it. It's completely worth taking into your mouth. Move on to Pasta Con Pomodoro e Basilico - Are you a very much fond person of Italian dishes and cannot forget the aroma of its flavor. For those people, we get the best giant plate of pasta which contains fresh basil, roast tomatoes. This will su rely see about the decency of our restaurant. The first dish when we say about Italian cuisine is about Pepperoni which is the most favourite dish of all meat lovers. What comes to your mind about Italian people and their cuisine ? Yes, the usage of pork and meat and that too products like Salami , prosciutto, Soppressata makes more delightful non-veg etarian seekers. But the true fact is that there is a number of restaurants for vegan people which have wide varieties of Italian cuisine. Products are served in a vegan manner with a plate full of cappuccinos, buggets, and gelato wh ich varies on different prices.

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esthersnippe · 6 years

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In Brussels? Here are my top picks on what to do, see, drink, and eat

I am not going to claim to be an expert, but this winter I will be celebrating my 7th year in Europe’s Captial City—and I adore this city.

I have gone to hundreds of cities, I believe there is nothing quite like Brussels.

But it took me years to get here, and many tourists don’t immediately find it charming. And that’s ok. Because Brussels is small and too many tourists is not super good...and I am only partially joking.

It is a secret city. Non-obvious and full of delights.

Over the years, I have learned one or two things about Brussels, and today I present you with my list of top things to do, see, drink and eat. You can do all of this in 24hours.

My 10 favourite things to do in Brussels

Here we go!

1. Eat a waffle in the Grand Place.

It is best to see the Grand Place at night first, then in the day after.

For my vegan friends: Go to The Sister’s Cafe for vegan waffles WITH vegan ice cream.

For my non-vegan friends: Go to Maison Dandoy—they are simply the best waffles in the city. There are two kinds Brussels (light and airy) and Leige (thick and cakey) so if you are with someone else, get one of each, and if you are alone, choose wisely!

Once, Victor Hugo, who wrote Les Miserables, lived in an apartment in the place. He said it is “a dazzling fantasy dreamed up by a poet, and realized by an architect.”. There is so much history I would love to share with you about it, but I’ll save that for another time. Just go an enjoy it. It is truly spectacular.

2. Walk from Park Royal to Park Cinquantenaire. The whole walk takes about 35 minutes, and you will see three beautiful parks: Park Royal, Park Leopold, and Park Cinquantenaire, as well as the Royal Palace, the European Parliament, and the Triumphal Arch.

Its a much better way to spend your time than going to the Atomium—which will take 2-3 hours minimum and is ok, but really rather touristy.

3. Go and see the Palace of Justice at sunset Or any time, but it is the best at sunset. You can go to the grocery store and buy some drinks and snacks and sit up there to watch the sunset, it is chill and has a great view of the city skyline.

4. Eat chocolate at the Grand Sablon: My top picks are

Frederic Blondeel

Wittamer

Pierre Marcolini

How it works: you buy the chocolate by weight, so choose 2-3 different pieces from each place. 3-4 chocolates should cost between €4-€7. Usually, the people behind the counter are not very helpful, but I still ask for personal favourites and recommendations anyway. Either way, you should always try the “Grand Cru”, this is the best the chocolatier thinks they can do. Yum is usually the result. Plant-based buddies: most of the dark chocolate is vegan! But make sure you double check, because some of the other ingredients might not be, like caramel being made with butter, etc.

5. Go to the European History Museum in Park Leopold

It is free. And amazing. One of the best and most interactive museums I have been to: it has great tech, tons of ways to get involved with the exhibits, and tells a fascinating story.

6. Go see our national monument, the Manneken Pis Also... the Manneken Pis Museum. It is just up the street and guaranteed a right giggle.

7. Sit at the top of Mont des Art. Best in the early evening. then walk through the garden. There is always a lot of animation and things going on, but it is also very relaxed.

Make sure you check out the architecture on Rue Montagne de la Cour, like the Musical Instruments Museum and the Old English Pharmacy.

8. Do some unique shopping/browsing. I am not personally big on buying loads of stuff, but these little streets are jammed packed with the unique and wonderful. Here are my top picks:

Rue de Rollerbeek

Rue du Haute

the Royal Galleries (Actually, I have never bought anything here, but the buildings are amazing.)

9. Eat some fries.

I might be plant-based but I make an exception for the occasional frites treats, because they are the best in the world. There is no contest.

For the sauce: you can go:

Traditional with a dollop of Mayonnaise

Spicy with the Pili-pili (less spicy) or my favourite Samurai (more spicy).

Not spicy, but with a burst of flavour go with the Andalouse (which is kind of mayonnaise with tomato and basil) or Curry Ketchup (which is exactly what it sounds like.)

Aioli is another very popular sauce, but I find it too garlicky (but if you are into garlic, try it out. Just don’t try and kiss me after.)

Vegans + vegetarians: the frites definitely contain animal fat.

My top picks

Fritland right by the Grand Place

Friterie Saint-Josse

Frit Flagey

Which brings me to number 10! They are related.

In Brussels, there is a local phrase which goes “faire du gras” which translates to something like “lay down the fat” and means “eat something heavy”—and is good advice before you start drinking in Brussels. 2 strong beers on an empty stomach is almost a guarantee you will end up tripping on one of our many uneven, cobblestone roads.

10. Drink beer.

Also—the best in the world (Yes Germany, I have tried your beers, and I am sticking to what I said.) God, this needs a whole other post. But you are only here for a short time, so let’s get into it.

First: where to drink.

These are my favourite watering holes and their locations.

Le Coq in front of Beurs: Classic Belgian pub, and very fairly priced. (ie. cheap)

Zebra in St.Gery: This old island is the best spot to drink and people watch after work and on the weekend.

Bar Llanes or Café Charbon on Marche du Charbon in front of the Notre-Dame de Bon Secours. They are beside each other.

Monks in Saint Catharine: a bit overpriced, but great selection and cool ambience.

The Brussels Beer Project Brewery by the canal: They are constantly creating new brews, and you can test out the new flavours, then vote on them, which is fun.

Le Barboteur Bierothèque in St.Josse: Amazing selection and very unpretentious. (But only good if you are in the neighbourhood, because it is pretty far from the city centre.)

Le Verschueren in St.Gilles: Sit with the cool, Belgian artists. Great people and good prices, but also only good if you are in the neighbourhood.)

Café Belga and L'Amère à Boire in Place Flagey: Really different atmospheres, but both are fun, although a little hipstery. Don’t make a special trip out to see them, but if you are in Flagey, they are great.

If you want to see some breathtaking architecture from the turn of the century and drink some rather overpriced beer, visit:

Le Cirio

Cafe Metropole

Mort Subite

There are 1150 Belgian beers, which is an overwhelming number. Even if I had drank a new beer every other day since arriving, I still wouldn’t have tried them all. So don’t feel bad if you don’t know where to start. Here is a quick and dirty guide to some of my favourites. For something heavy that will get you drunk almost immediately, try the Trappist beers. There are only 6 breweries in the world, and the beer is brewed in the traditional style by monks! (Note: Proceed with caution)

Rochefort 10: Hold on to your hats, you are heading to drunk town on a smooth chocolate river.

Westmalle Tripel: This is a very good, bitter, mega strong beer.

Chimay Bleu: A sweet, dark, internationally-known bestseller! Stop at one though, it gives a vicious hangover after you’ve had 3.

For something unique only to Belgium, and is stupidly delicious, like a refreshing beer-lemonade, try the gueuze:

Gueuze Boon: This is my all time favourite drink in Belgium. Possibly the world.

Oud Beersel: Also a hella delicious gueuze, but brewed in the old style, without wheat.

Mort Subite Kriek: a gueuze sweetened with cherries. I can only have one of these at a time because they are intense, but a good occasional treat.

If you are not even sure you like beer, but are in Brussels so what the hell:

Faro Lambic: light and sweet and way too drinkable. Like juice.

Tripel Karmeliet: a delicious, well-balanced crowd pleaser

Chouffe: very light tasting, but watch out! Strong in effect.

Saison Dupont: a very popular, classic Belgian beer.

You are not a fan of stong or heavy beers, and really want a pils (once again Germans, I am looking at you.) we have three very popular pilsner brands that you’ll be able to get just about anywhere.

Jupiler: mildly sweet, and the most popular beer in Belgium (especially with sports fans).

Maes: a little closer to a lager than a pils, but if I am going to drink a pils, I choose this one.

Stella Artois: This is Belgian, not Italian beer! It is a pretty easy drinking beer and also available just about everywhere....including the country you are coming from.

Like Stella Artois, I have a tendency to tell guests to avoid Duvel and Leffe—while they are fine beer brands, they are available around the world, and you will probably be able to find them in your home country, although perhaps for a much higher price.

There is a lot more I could say about Brussels, but I hope this is enough to get you started! See you soon.

Want to read stuff I’ve written about Belgium?

Here are a few other posts about life in Europe’s Capital.

21 Reasons to love Belgium

20 Canadian/British Habits I Lost When I Moved To Brussels

An Adult Tour of the Beaux Art Museum Part 1: The history of Belgium Part 2: Because art is awesome

I am safe: A post about what it felt like to be in Brussels after the Brussels Attacks.

#Brussels #like a local #belgium

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stewblog · 3 years

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MORTAL KOMBAT (2021)

There has yet to be a truly capital-G Great movie based on a video game. There was hope that the latest stab at “Mortal Kombat” might stand a chance to break that trend. The short answer is a hearty “No,” but that doesn’t mean there isn’t fun to be had here.

And that’s…pretty much it. Cole meets up with an eclectic group of other fighters as they attempt to train and prepare for the tournament, but this mostly relegates them and the film to a massive cave temple somewhere in Asia. Not exactly the most dynamic or exciting location, especially given how wild and vibrant so much of the video game’s fight locale’s have become over the years.

#moral kombat #mortal kombat movie #movies #movie reviews

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realtimebros · 4 years

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Little Richard, Trailblazing Rock ‘n’ Roll Pioneer, Dead At 87: Reports

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA/AP) — Little Richard, the trailblazing rock ‘n’ roll pioneer, has died at the age of 87, his pastor confirmed to the Associated Press.

Born as Richard Wayne Penniman, Little Richie died Saturday morning of unknown causes, according to pastor Bill Minson, who was a good friend of his. Rolling Stone was the first publication to report on his death, citing confirmation from his son, Danny Penniman.

Musicians and celebrities alike took to social media following news of his death to pay their respects:

A couple weeks ago I randomly decided to read up on the legendary Little Richard on wiki. I learned then about how he developed The Beatles and saved The Rolling Stones pic.twitter.com/lUEvYG1Mew

— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) May 9, 2020

Rest In Peace To One Of The True Creators Of Rock And Roll. This Is The Commercial I Directed With Little Richard And Michael Jordan, 1991. pic.twitter.com/51bEV1eYKB

— Spike Lee (@SpikeLeeJoint) May 9, 2020

Let’s get the facts straight rock and roll & pop music would not be what it is today without Chuck Berry & Little Richard May he Rest In Peace one of the best performers of all time

The influencer of James Brown, Prince & MJ & Ric Wilson. pic.twitter.com/Ua9zUXHhU6

— disco ric (@RicWilson) May 9, 2020

Sadly, Little Richard passed away today. A founding Father of Rock And Roll, his contributions simply can’t be overstated. I had the honor of meeting Richard in his later years and was awed by his presence. He told me, “I am the architect of Rock And Roll.” Amen! ..Rest In Peace. https://t.co/ceQuNU6pkF

— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) May 9, 2020

God bless little Richard one of my all-time musical heroes. Peace and love to all his family.

pic.twitter.com/H2lzKbX3tm

— #RingoStarr (@ringostarrmusic) May 9, 2020

Little Richard was one of rock ‘n’ roll’s founding fathers who helped shatter the color line on the music charts, joining Chuck Berry and Fats Domino in bringing what was once called “race music” into the mainstream. Richard’s hyperkinetic piano playing, coupled with his howling vocals and hairdo, made him an implausible sensation — a gay, black man celebrated across America during the buttoned-down Eisenhower era.

He sold more than 30 million records worldwide, and his influence on other musicians was equally staggering, from the Beatles and Otis Redding to Creedence Clearwater Revival and David Bowie. In his personal life, he wavered between raunch and religion, alternately embracing the Good Book and outrageous behavior.

“Little Richard? That’s rock ‘n’ roll,” Neil Young, who heard Richard’s riffs on the radio in Canada, told biographer Jimmy McDonough. “Little Richard was great on every record.”

It was 1956 when his classic “Tutti Frutti” landed like a hand grenade in the Top 40, exploding from radios and off turntables across the country. It was highlighted by Richard’s memorable call of “wop-bop-a-loo-bop-a-lop-bam-boom.”

A string of hits followed, providing the foundation of rock music: “Lucille,” “Keep A Knockin’,” “Long Tall Sally,” “Good Golly Miss Molly.” More than 40 years after the latter charted, Bruce Springsteen was still performing “Good Golly Miss Molly” live.

The Beatles’ Paul McCartney imitated Richard’s signature yelps — perhaps most notably in the “Wooooo!” from the hit “She Loves You.” Ex-bandmate John Lennon covered Richard’s “Rip It Up” and “Ready Teddy” on the 1975 “Rock and Roll” album.

When the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame opened in 1986, he was among the charter members with Elvis Presley, Berry, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Sam Cooke and others.

Few were quicker to acknowledge Little Richard’s seminal role than Richard himself. The flamboyant singer claimed he paved the way for Elvis, provided Mick Jagger with his stage moves and conducted vocal lessons for McCartney.

“I am the architect of rock ‘n’ roll!” Little Richard crowed at the 1988 Grammy Awards as the crowd rose in a standing ovation. “I am the originator!”

Richard Wayne Penniman was born in Macon, Georgia, during the Great Depression, one of 12 children. He was ostracized because he was effeminate and suffered a small deformity: his right leg was shorter than his left.

The family was religious, and Richard sang in local churches with a group called the Tiny Tots. The tug-of-war between his upbringing and rock ‘n’ roll excess tormented Penniman throughout his career.

Penniman was performing with bands by the age of 14, but there were problems at home over his sexual orientation. His father beat the boy and derided him as “half a son.”

Richard left home to join a minstrel show run by a man known as Sugarloaf Sam, occasionally appearing in drag.

In late 1955, Little Richard recorded the bawdy “Tutti Frutti,” with lyrics that were sanitized by a New Orleans songwriter. It went on to sell 1 million records over the next year.

When Little Richard’s hit was banned by many white-owned radio stations, white performers like Pat Boone and Elvis Presley did cover versions that topped the charts.

Little Richard went Hollywood with an appearance in “Don’t Knock the Rock.” But his wild lifestyle remained at odds with his faith, and a conflicted Richard quit the business in 1957 to enroll in a theological school and get married.

Richard remained on the charts when his label released previously recorded material. And he recorded a gospel record, returning to his roots.

A 1962 arrest for a sexual encounter with a man in a bus station restroom led to his divorce and return to performing.

He mounted three tours of England between 1962 and 1964, with the Beatles and the Rolling Stones serving as opening acts. Back in the States, he put together a band that included guitarist Jimi Hendrix — and later fired Hendrix when he was late for a bus.

In 1968, Richard hit Las Vegas and relaunched his career. Within two years, he had another hit single and made the cover of Rolling Stone.

By the mid-1970s, Richard was battling a $1,000-a-day cocaine problem and once again abandoned his musical career. He returned to religion, selling Bibles and renouncing homosexuality. For more than a decade, he vanished.

“If God can save an old homosexual like me, he can save anybody,” Richard said.

But he returned, in 1986, in spectacular fashion. Little Richard was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and appeared in the movie “Down and Out in Beverly Hills.”

A Little Richard song from the soundtrack, “Great Gosh A’Mighty,” even put him back on the charts for the first time in more than 15 years. Little Richard was back to stay, enjoying another dose of celebrity that he fully embraced.

Macon, Georgia, named a street after its favorite son. And Little Richard was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In August 2002, he announced his retirement from live performing. But he continued to appear frequently on television, including a humorous appearance on a 2006 commercial for GEICO insurance.

Richard had hip surgery in November 2009 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, and asked fans at the time to pray for him. He lived in the Nashville area at the time.

#Real Time Bros HVAC contractor HVAC Heating Air-Conditioning

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moldybreadguys · 7 years

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how the dillyio did I not notice this survey I was tagged in almost a month ago

@lunatics-on-the-grass was kind enough to tag Danny V in a survey, and now he must answer these 92 statements and tag 20 people some cool folk!

THE LAST:

1. Drink: almost a full gallon of milk

2. Phone call: the homie Cory, who needed to know about an irresponsible thing I did last Monday

3. Text message: eh Stevie!, who I’m gonna be collabbing with on a song soon

4. Song you listened to: the theme from The Journeyman Project cuz it’s soooo good

5. Time you cried: Saturday night, in the midst of a very bad emotional night

HAVE YOU:

6. Dated someone twice: yes. 10/10 do not recommend

7. Kissed someone and regretted it: yeppers

8. Been cheated on: yupperoni

9. Lost someone special: oh yeah

10. Been depressed: Yes | Definition of Yes by Merriam-Webster

11. Gotten drunk and thrown up: several times, typically means imma be hungover for the next day lol

LIST 3 FAVOURITE COLORS:

12. blues

13. reds

14. silvers

IN THE LAST YEAR HAVE YOU:

15. Made new friends: very yes

16. Fallen out of love: it’s been a long time since I’ve felt like I was in love with someone, bub

17. Laughed until you cried: not this year

18. Found out someone was talking about you: wouldn’t be surprised

19. Met someone who changed you: several actually. one in particular hurt me really badly, but another has been a real good boon for me

20. Found out who your friends are: to an extent

21. Kissed someone on your Facebook list: once

GENERAL:

22. How many of your Facebook friends do you know in real life: a decent majority of them, though there are those that know me only by association

23. Do you have any pets: I wish. my apartment woulda charged me a deposit fee if I had and my parents won’t let me have one now, sooo

24. Do you want to change your name: nahh, I like being dan vallerand

25. What did you do for your last Birthday: read the entry for 7/2 here, but on my actual birthday I visited parents, met up with a girl from Patterson at a coffee shop (but it didn’t go well) and cracked open many cold ones with the boys later that night

26. What time did you wake up: 7am, cuz lol, busy morning today

27. What were you doing at midnight last night: succumbing to sleep deprivation

28. Name something you can’t wait for: honestly, a better life where I’m actually successful with my music, people like me, I have a better job, my own condo, and am with someone that genuinely cares about me and won’t disappear after 3 months

29. When was the last time you saw your mom: like a few mins ago

30. What is one thing you wish you could change in your life: my issues with self-doubt

31. What are you listening right now: the many song fragments rumbling about in my head

32. Have you ever talked to a person named Tom: several, lol

33. Something that is getting on your nerves: I don’t want to talk about it publicly

34. Most visited Website: idk, I never really pay attention to that

LOST QUESTIONS. I JUST PUT IN RANDOM INFO ABOUT ME

35. Mole/s: one big one, but it’s been there forever

36. Mark/s: just heart surgery scars

37. Childhood dream: having friends, siblings, a bigger family, fitting in with classmates better, etc

38. Haircolour: a light brown

39. Long or short hair: eh. I don’t look good with short hair

40. Do you have a crush on someone: i doubt she feels the same

41. What do you like about yourself: my singing voice for sure!

42. Piercings: nah, i’m cool

43. Bloodtype: I genuinely don’t know but I can say I can’t give blood due to being on blood thinners

44. Nickname: Danny is most folk’s preferred one

45. Relationship status: permasingle, your choice of 7″ or 45

46. Zodiac: cancer

47. Pronouns: he/him

48. Favourite TV Show: classic Doctor Who for life, son

49. Tattoos: if I wasn’t terrified of needles then I’d have something to say here lol

50. Right or left hand: righty-tighty

51. Surgery: four heart surgeries and my wisdom teeth removed

52. Hair dyed in different color: nah, I’d look goofy af in differently colored hair

53. Sport: I like watching pro wrestling and the Raiders when they have a good season, but that's about it

55. Vacation: lol, wage slaves can’t afford nice vacations

56. Pair of trainers: i’m not one to wear those tbh

MORE GENERAL:

57. Eating: it was quesadilla night last night and damn son was it gooooood~

58. Drinking: milk

59. I’m about to: go eat brekkie and collab with some buddies today!

61. Waiting for: things to go right for a change

62. Want: to have a better everything, honestly. a better job, a better circle of friends, etcetera

63. Get married: it’d be nice someday, but i’m very sure the next time i’ll ever end up in a relationship is a very long time form now

64. Career: successful musician with burgeoning writing life

WHICH IS BETTER

65. Hugs or kisses: hugs

66. Lips or eyes: eyes, I guess?

67. Shorter or taller: not important

68. Older or younger: also unimportant, cuz to me how you talk to me defines that for me

70. Nice arms or nice stomach: son of unimportant

71. Sensitive or loud: i’m leaning more towards sensitive, but not too sensitive

72. Hook up or relationship: relationship, all the way. hooking up makes me uncomfortable

73. Troublemaker or hesitant: a mix of the two

HAVE YOU EVER:

74. Kissed a stranger: nope, not my sorta thing

75. Drank hard liquor: a handful of times

76. Lost glasses/contact lenses: i have lost plenty of sunglasses in my time and it’s always thE BEST ONES O:

77. Turned someone down: yeah, a handful of times, and typically cuz i feel like it’s being forced on me

78. Sex in the first date: no, cuz if you do it too soon things get weird

79. Broken someone’s heart: i’m hoping not, but I prolly have at least once

80. Had your heart broken: *finger guns* ayyyy

81. Been arrested: nope

82. Cried when someone died: yeah

83. Fallen for a friend: yeah, several times. sometimes it bites me in the ass

DO YOU BELIEVE IN:

84. Yourself: it varies day by day

85. Miracles: also varies, but i’m more apropos to call certain events miracles instead

86. Love at first sight: not necessarily, but if someone is very much like myself i’m more apt to connect sooner

87. Santa Claus: the age of clausability was passed a long time ago, friends

88. Kiss on the first date: deffo, if things go well and lean that way

89. Angels: *shrugs*

OTHER:

90. Current best friends name: i have a rotating circle of friends, but usually it’s the people that talk to me the most. permanent ones include kenny, phil, and colton for sure though

91. Eyecolour: hazel eyes, you’re standing close to me~

92. Favourite movie: i don’t have a specific fave, so let me give you several of them - ghostbusters 2, xanadu, blues brothers, army of darkness, scary movie 2, etc *finger guns* letsa go @bilbao-song @nightingalemillo @deschaines @psi-groovin @veillees @misterkingdom @thinkingfilthy @whatdoesfriendmeantoyou @ihideinmymusic @xshot-in-the-dark

#oh this was fun!!#surveys #i love surveys #survey time #always tag danny v in surveys

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ulyssessklein · 6 years

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Steve Cropper – On the Road with Dave Mason with the Rock and Soul Review Tour 2018

By: Rick Landers

Steve Cropper – Photo credit Dawn Studios

It’s uncanny how someone with the legendary musical chops, legacy of songwriting masterpieces and world-class reputation can fly below the radar of popular culture.

Steve Cropper has moved in the world of music with with such popular icons as Elvis Presley Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Johnny Cash, Booker T. Jones, Dave Mason, Little Richard, and hundreds of other well-known musicians, yet he’s mostly known within music celebrated circles.

Cropper is one among them and a highly respected equal in the pantheon of musical inventiveness and hip, hepcat coolness, but he appears to be quite comfortable without the whirl of celebrity that can wrestle one away from the freedom of a private life.

When a teen in high school, Steve and his friends formed a band called The Mar-Keys, a group that had an instrumental, “Last Night” that charted at #3 on Billboard. He and his childhood best friend, Duck Dunn, would also later find themselves trading or conjoining guitar licks, with Booker T. and the MGs, a milestone group that gave us a groove jazz raunch called “Green Onions”. The song has a magnetic groove and an occasional cat-like turgid growl of a riff from Cropper’s Telecaster. Today, over fifty years later, the dual bass lines of Dunn and Cropper remain cool and timeless.

Steve would hang with Otis Redding and co-write “Sitting on the Dock of a Bay”, work with Wilson Pickett as a co-writer of “In the Midnight Hour”, Sam and Dave’s “Soul Man” has the ink marks of Cropper embedded in it and as a Stax session player his Telecaster can be heard on scores of releases.

And later as a member of The Blues Brothers with John Belushi and Dan Ackroyd, Cropper and Duck would rub shoulders with such luminaries as, Aretha Franklin, John Candy, Ray Charles, Cab Calloway, Carrie Fisher, James Brown, Twiggy, John Lee Hooker and other musician-actors.

There’s more, there’s much more, but we can only hope for an autobiography of the man Mojo magazine ranked as the best guitar player in the world.

Today, we find Steve Cropper out on the road with another guitar master and singer-songwriter, Dave Mason (Traffic), who has his own fascinating story to tell. Their Rock and Soul Revue launches this week. We can expect to hear many of the hit songs that they’ve appeared on, like “Green Onions”, “Dear Mr. Fantasy”, “All Along the Watchtower”, “We Just Disagree”, or at least we can hope that they’ve included songs that will pull back the curtain of time for many of us and introduce the best of classic rock and soul to a new generation of fans.

Steve Cropper and Dave Mason Rock & Soul Review Tour 2018

TICKETS ON SALE HERE

******

Rick Landers: I was hunting around while researching for our interview for an autobiography of you, but it looks like you haven’t written one. Is there a book out on your life, that’d be pretty cool to read?

Steve Cropper: No, people they’ve been asking me that for 25 years I don’t know if I do or not, I’ve thought about it several times and about taking off a month or two and write a book.

I know, I should have been writing and done it a long time ago, all the time.

I’d like to take the project and do it. That’s how I am. Like great painters who paint one painting an hour here and on this painting an hour, move it around and never get bored.

I don’t think of it that way, I’d rather start from scratch and wind up with an end result. I can kick my own butt, because people ask me all the time, “Is there a book?” “When you gonna write a book?”.

Rick: A friend of mine, bassist Mark Gougeon, played with Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, recently told me he loved Duck Dunn’s bass playing and recalled playing “Liberty” while on tour with Mitch. Do you remember the song?

Steve Cropper: Liberty! Absolutely. Those guys are great.

Rick: I recall seeing you guys at Detroit’s Cobo Hall with Wilbert Harrison and Creedence Clearwater Revival and you guys got a standing ovation from that huge crowd, and blew everyone away. You guys were great, so I just want to say a belated thank you!

Steve: Absolutely!

I wanted to do some more, and his people made him (Booker T. Jones) a big offer, but he went off to do something else.

Steve Cropper: I was in a band that use to play in garages, In high school we were already playing jobs in our senior proms in our junior year. We were pretty good, I like to think we were, because we also played all the hits of the time. So, the schools in Memphis would hire us because we’d play all those song. They couldn’t afford those bands they were listening to, The Royales and Hank Ballard and the Midnighters. They could afford us and we was just glad to play.

Rick: Early on you and your high school band, the Mar-Keys had a hit “Last Night”, that was a number one hit, wasn’t it?

Steve Cropper: It was number three. I couldn’t figure it out. I don’t know, forty odd some years to figure out why it was a hit. I recall the first time I played it in the living room on the console record player, my mom started doing the twist!

I’d have to say it was probably one of the first twist instrumentals. Because Hank Ballard and the Midnighters did it, Chubby Checker on American Bandstand did it. I never thought of “The Twist” when we did ”Last Night”. Pat Boone covered it. (Steve sings the two notes) It’s that simple, two notes.

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Rick: I understand that some people don’t think you were on that record. Want to set the record straight here?

Steve Cropper: Ah, history books say Steve Cropper wasn’t even ever in the Mark-Keys, because there’s no guitar on the record. Aha, but I was on the session, on the record. If you listen to the record you can you can hear a hold down on the organ. One C note I think, I’m holding it down.

So Smoochy, being Jerry Lee “Smoochy” Smith could play, Smoochy who wrote the lick (Steve sings the lick) That was his lick. We knew it was a hit lick. He wanted to play it. And, they wanted to play a piano solo. So, I held that note down for him when he played.

Rick: So, you were in The Mark-Keys and you’re definitely on that record and we’ve got that done.

Steve Cropper: Playing together in band together in high school.

Rick: Were you surprised to hear Screaming Jay Hawkins sing “Bite It”?

Steve Cropper: I was more surprised when Little Richard, he took “Green Onions in ’62. It just had Penniman as the writer. He probably didn’t know who the writers were.

They turned it around real easy. I mean, Little Richard turned out to be a friend of mine and I never mentioned it to him. I know he didn’t do it on purpose. But, he took “Green Onions” and wrote some kind of verse to it.

Rick: Let’s talk a little about guitar. When you were first drawn to guitar I recall that a lot of bands, their lead instrument wasn’t guitar, it was saxophone. So, what drew you to the guitar?

Steve Cropper: Ah, that’s a good question. I think because some of my buddies in school played guitar.

You reminded me of Joey Dee and the Starlighters and “The Peppermint Twist” and their saxophone player use to hang from the ceiling in this club they played in Philly or wherever it was. He’d play that solo upside down. [Laughs].

But, I don’t know we’re influenced by Chuck Berry, people like that, and influenced by Lowman Pauling from the Five Royales, because Duck and I went out and saw them one night. We played this little club downstairs and the guy who owned ite said, “Nobody will come see you guys.” So we had the night off. So, Duck and I got tickets and it was the Beverly Ballroom and we got to see Lowman Pauling play live and it just blew us away.

I went home and he use to hang his guitar way down by his knees. Well, Chuck Berry did that too, but Chuck would take a regular strap and hang the guitar down there. So, I get home that night and I’m rouncing through my closet and my Mom gets up and asks, “Steve what ya doing?” and I say, “I’m trying to find some old belts.” And I did that. I finally found them, put them together and had a long strap.

Rick: Do you still have it?

Steve Cropper: Ah, no wish I did. Wish I had the guitar too. I’ve got pictures of it.

Rick: What kind of guitar?

Steve Cropper: A Byrdland at that tine.

Rick: What got you into Teles?

Steve Cropper: Well, I started doing sessions and I found out that the Tele worked a lot better, it was more versatile for sessions than a Gibson was. Nothing to do with Gibson.

If you hit chords on a Gibson, it’s gonna distort slightly and with the Telecaster, it didn’t. Now, I never picked up on the Strat, because that’s more a player’s guitar. And that’s what Dave Mason does, most of his guitars are built on the Strat.

I’m a Tele guy, always been one. Even though the one I play now wasn’t made by Fender. I have several. Nothing against Fender, not at all, there’s nothing political there or anything, nothing against those guys. I love those guys and they love me. And I know Henry Juszkiewicz. He lives down the road and I can walk to his house.

And it was all about endorsing. I’m just one of those guys. I don’t endorse things. You know, I go down and buy my own strings.

I did endorse a guitar for a long time, with Peavey. And the reason I did it was Harley Peavy said he’d make me a guitar for under a thousand dollars. I said that’s what I’ve gotta have. It’s called a Cropper Classic, made for about six or seven years – it’s a good guitar.

Dexterity-wise they’re not fast. They’re a very tight guitar if you play it properly. And a lot of the rock guys did the Les Paul and the other ones did the Strats, because it’s a faster instrument. You can play more notes faster. The Tele is real tight, but it’s great for chords and rhythm lines and that kind of stuff. And you can play a lot of notes.

Especially in the Stax days, and before the Stax time, I use to double the bass lines a lot. There was a lot of them like that. Even on “Last Night”, on “Green Onions” I basically doubled the bass on it, it’s basically a Fender bass (Duck Dunn) and an Esquire (Steve Cropper).

The one I used on “Dock of the Bay”, the single stuff, is in the Smithsonian now. I gave it to them,. The other one, I think they got on display already. The other one is the frog inlay guitar. And it’s a the blonde neck Telecaster I used on Rod Stewart’s Atlantic Crossing album. On “Tonight’s the Night” and on all of those songs, I used it on the whole album and I think he had four or five hits on that one.

Rick: I was watching a video of you guys and back in the day a lot of bass players used big thick picks, but Dunn is playing finger style. I was a bit surprised to see that.

Steve Cropper: With Duck what people don’t know was his sound is like he’s playing with pick, but he had real, real stiff fingernails and he’d play the upstroke and would pop it. He’d start with a finger and he’d pop off and the last thing you’d hear was his fingernail hitting the string and it sounded like he was playing with a pick.

He came up with some pretty great bass lines. He was good when he played with other people he played with too. Duck was something. He knew a lot about music. He didn’t know whole hell of a lot about bass [Laughs] But, he could play these lines!

He played so solid and create these lines and and when he played with a good drummer he was dead on. You put him on his own and he’d go “Where do I go?”. I asked him in to do some handclaps one time. I realized, I won’t do that again!

I needed some handclaps, so Duck was out there in the hall and I said “Hey man, come in hear and do some hand claps.” Oops! [Laughs]

Rick: I was listening to Nudge it Up A Notch with Felix Cavaliere. And on “To Make it Right” You got a really cool groove going and in the first couple of bars I heard this Curtis Mayfield thing.

Steve Cropper – Photo credit: Dawn Studios

Steve Cropper: There ya go, yeah. I loved Curtis. He was great. Booker knew more about what Curtis was actually doing. I would stand down stage and watch him play and still couldn’t figure out everything he was doing. And one of the neat things was we got to do a tribute one time for the Grammies and they did a tribute after he passed away

Rick: Les Paul had a tribute for his 95th birthday at Carnegie Hall, were you there?

Steve Cropper: Naw, unfortunately. We did a thing here at the Ryman, And they had bunch of musicians come in and play, and his own band was there. I did go down and play on that.

Rick: Can you tell us about your own studio?

Steve Cropper: The thing about the studio, the old one it’s not there, [Laughs] they finally ran me out of a town or made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. And I said,”Okay”, We moved to a 22-story high rise, however, we are now in the RCA building the one RCA built for Elvis Presley in ‘64. And we took over the little room in the back, called Studio C and I think Dave Cobb has Studio A, and B is a museum and has been for a long time.

First session I ever did in Nashville, and I was still in high school or just out. I drove up here and played a little session, another session in that Studio B. I don’t even remember what the song was, I remember the time doing it and all that, but don’t remember the who the artist was.

Rick: Did you ever go swimming in Webb Pierce’s guitar shaped swimming pool about a block away?

Steve Cropper: No, I know where that is, at the motel up there? I can walk to it from RCA real easy. There’s a room Billy Burnette stayed in and they told him that Elvis stayed in that room one time.

Rick: How long have you known Dave Mason?

Steve Cropper: Forever. But, I’ve been Europe working and he’s here. so there you go.

He told me the other day that he was at the concert I did in ’67 at Hammersmith Odeon. He was there with a bunch of guys. I don’t know how old he was, he’s younger than me, a little bit. I was 26 then, Elvis and I were both 26 then.

Rick: Let’s talk about your Rock and Soul Revue tour with Dave?

Steve Cropper: I think my pr guy Dennis Bootright, I didn’t tell him I wasn’t going back to Europe, he might have taken it that way. We had a new album out with the Blues Brothers band and we put it out around October, November and it ran about four months, usually albums today now run about four days.

This one kept going because colleges kept picking it and playing it,

And, I said maybe this is the one they’re looking for. Well, it’s kind of run its course now, I guess. I don’t know if you’ve seen it, it’s called, The Last Shade of Blue Before Black. It did real good. We were all surprised it did as good as it did.

And I had mentioned on a gig last year, and told the guys I know we need some work in the States, but we don’t want to stop playing Europe. And they only way to do that is to get a new album and the guys jumped on it. We had more songs than we could possibly record for three albums. So, we recorded it they mixed it and it turned out real good,

Rick: On the tour with Dave Mason are you going to be recording for a DVD?

Steve Cropper: We will and we already did one, up in North Carolina, recorded a show which someone will edit and turn it into a DVD that fans can buy as merchandise, if they want. And it will be basically the same show, I don’t think we’ll change it that much.

After we finish we said, “Well, that was fun!” And there was nothing about changing things. There was no comments on the ride home about changing things, or doing this first or doing this last, or changing the arrangements. Just keep the show going.

I don’t know if we’ll do it for some show. There’s some songs we took out that Dave might want to put back in, which is okay. We’ll just do that, do that and with the band, and some days we do have to rehearse again before we open.

We open up in Kansas City I think on the Fifth (July), and Dave wants to rehearse again on the Fourth. My wife says, “The Fourth!?” I think I’ve actually only stayed at home only three or four times in some thirty odd years. We’re usually in Europe and they don’t celebrate it, of course! [Laughs]

So, we just stick around the hotel and find something on tv, sometimes bicycle racing. They show a lot of that over there. And the Grand Prix, they cover that a lot. We watch either bicycling or cricket, and sometimes tennis.

Rick: Did you ever play the Grande Ballroom in Detroit?

Steve Cropper: I don’t think we ever played we did that, we went to a few shows with the Mar-Keys, I went back to recording, then we went out with Booker T and we went out to rock festivals,

Rick: I think of “Green Onions” in terms of Dave Brubeck’s “Take Five”, Santo’s and Johnny’s “Sleepwalk”. It was very cool and slinky song, a real classic. I’ve gotta say that I’ve much preferred it when it’s played at a slower tempo.

Steve Cropper: I think when we played it too fast, Duck and I would look at each other, but then where’s the fire? So, we just had a rule, if it starts fast, you keep it fast, you don’t slow things down back to where it’s suppose to be. You just keep it up there. That’s all you can do. If you play it too slow, it’ll stay that way. We were sticklers on that. The groove was what counted.

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Rick: Do you play acoustic much?

Steve Cropper: I don’t. I did a little but, now days it really hurts my dexterity. I can’t play one. All those country guys, they know how to string it with looser strings.

I don’t play with a capo either. So, it’s a stretch for me.

About the Royales, on my album I’d written that all of the songs were written before 1958. But, I did some research later and found out they were all written prior to 1953. Lowman wrote most of those songs in the ‘40s.

So, what happened, I grew up on those songs and what had happened was King Records bought them and bought the masters and re-released them.

Rick: They were on Appolo before that, right?

Steve Cropper: Something like that, a lot of those guys came out of spiritual groups. Church groups. Lowman probably did too, probably came out of church. But after that hit run, the Royales went back to the church.

Rick: To wrap this up, let me ask you one more question. How’s your golf game compared to your wife’s? And be honest!

Steve Cropper: [Laughs] Well, my wife is on the golf course course right now and my daughter’s a sub-scratch golfer.

I am and have played all my life. And I thought, you know I married this girl and she’s a scratch golfer which is great, her Dad’s a scratch golfer, which is great and I thought maybe some of that knowledge will rub off. It didn’t. [Laughs]

I walk with them and their caddies and I know the world they live in, they’d rather be a guitar player than hitting a golf ball. I don’t know what it is. It’s funny. Most of those golfers are frustrated musicians and most musicians are frustrated golfers.

Rick: I’d like to mention a few names and get some quick responses from you. Let’s start with Otis Redding.

Steve Cropper: Well, my definitive thing is he was the most non- prejudiced human being I’ve ever came in contact with. I mean that sincerely. You really gotta understand the word prejudice and how they talk about other people, and Otis was just the opposite. One of the nicest guys you’d ever want to meet. And then Allen (Allen Jackson) said one time, “You know Otis had a million dollar smile”. What he meant by that, he said that if you saw him and you was a hundred yards away, he was already smiling at you and by the time you got up to him you were his new best friend. That’s how Otis was. A good guy, best I’ve ever met.

Rick: Duck Dunn.

Steve Cropper: Well what do you say about a guy you were with from the sixth grade on? He was your best friend. It would take books to describe it. Real great.

He’s the “go to” guy, and you know if you wanted something, if you wanted somebody to talk to, you get on the phone and talk to him. We were pretty close.

Rick: So, you found your values were right on with his.

Steve Cropper: Very much. We agreed on everything. Music and everything.

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Rick: John Belushi.

Steve Cropper: Well, he had a heart of gold, a very talented guy and he also had a big appreciation for music. I don’t think a lot of people knew that he was a drummer and a singer and he was good at both, and an actor, all those things, Never refused an autograph, that’s one thing about his stardom. He never sent anybody away never, never said he didn’t have time. Takes a big heart.

Rick: Jeff Beck:

Steve Cropper: The most talented musician I think I’ve ever worked with. .

Rick: A lot of people put him up at number one or two, with Hendrix.

Steve Cropper: As a guitar player, that’s hard to say. [Chuckles]

Rick: Of course, well that would be Steve Cropper right?

Steve Cropper: [Laughs].

Incredible guitar player. From the time I produced him, what I observed was that he got better with age

But, I get asked all the time in interviews if we’re talking about guitar stuff, I get asked who’s your favorite guitar player and I say, Jose’ Feliciano. And they go: “Well he plays acoustic player, guts stings.”

And I say, “Yeah, but you’ve never heard him play, and I did.”

Rick: A monster guitar player.

Stever Cropper: He’s a MONSTER, big word, all in capitals. You got it. There’s no one better than Jose’. But, he didn’t make it as a guitar player, he made it as a singer. And playing his flamenco style guitar.

Rick: Mitch Ryder.

Steve Cropper: What do I say about Mitch? Very famous guy, a lot of hit records, a lot of talent. We became really, really good friends when he came down to Stax, down in Memphis and I think I told you I ran into him many, many years later and it was like nothing had happened and it was like “Wow!, here ya are!” [Laughs]

Rick: Jerry Wexler.

Steve Cropper: Well, he’s probably one of the most knowledgeable guys and he really did devote his time and appreciation to great musicians.

And to give you an example of that; He called me one night and I was still living in Memphis and this was many years ago and he said, “Steve I recorded a guy last night, and I promise you he played every lick you ever thought of playing. [Pauses]

It was Mark Knopfler and it was after “Sultans of Swing”!

And I never get tired of listening to it. I don’t listen to it often, but when I hear it on the radio I go, “Wow!”. He is so good and didn’t they get inducted this year, didn’t they?

Rick: I’m not sure, but I was going to say he doesn’t use a pick.

Steve Cropper: Yeah, You know, I slow myself down, but I do both. I play a lot of things with a pick, I have to play those chords with a pick to get those shanks, you know we call “shanks” those real sharp, like on “Green Onions” and all that. And I learned to, instead putting it in my teeth, I learned to cradle it and then play with my fingers. But, then it kind of slows me down, but I’m still playing with my fingers a lot. Call myself a fingerpicker, Knopfler can play it all. Knopfler can play everything! I love the way he [Mark Knopfler] went with his music, I really enjoyed that. And I got to play with who he played drums with, Terry Williams, and went and played a show with Dave Edmunds.

Rick: Getting back to Jerry Wexler, do you know what he wanted on his tombstone?

Steve Cropper: Nope.

Rick: More bass! [Both laugh]

Steve Cropper: More cowbell!

Steve Cropper and Dave Mason Rock & Soul Review Tour 2018

TICKETS ON SALE HERE

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