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baroquebucky · 4 years

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request: Hi. Can you write something about being in the movie with Timmy and he made an agreement with managers about being in relationship with you to increase the popularity of the movie. And you start dating but you dont know about agreement. And then you get to know the truth and you are heartbroken. Timothee is heartbroken too because he really falls for you. With happy ending

a/n: i hope you guys enjoy this and let me know what u all think !! sorry for any typos heh send in some requests :-)

You arrived on set for the last time, smiling at everyone as you entered the trailer for your makeup and talked to your stylist as usual, filled with giddy and sadness as the production wrapped up. You weren’t sure what you more more upset about, the finishing of a movie with a cast you so deeply loved, or the fact that you wouldn’t see a specific curly headed french boy everyday.

The thought of drifting apart from timothée lingered in your mind as you filmed the final shots for the movie. Over the course of several months you had developed a crush on him, I mean who wouldn’t? He was damn near perfect. He was sweet to everyone on set which was more than you can say for other actors you’ve worked with, he was funny and down to earth, he loved almost all the music you did, and he was so articulate.

As you snapped out of your thoughts you heard the director call for a quick break, you sighed, squeezing your eyes shut and taking a breath before going to get a bottle of water.

“are you excited that it’s almost over?” Timothée asked you. Looking over at him you shot him a smile, “bittersweet” you replied, leaning on the table and looking at the whole set, everyone was running around getting things done, fixing things or trying to make sure nothing messed up. “I hope you don’t forget me when you win an Oscar or something” timmy laughed and you rolled your eyes, “please if it’s gonna be one of us it’s gonna be you” you replied, hearing the director calling everyone back to set. “I’ll catch you later yeah?” You spoke, waving at te boy, he smiled back at you nodding.

Timothée smiled as he saw the way you greeted everyone around you, despite being an award winning actress you were always so down to earth and humble. “Timothée we need to speak to you” his agent spoke up next to him, motioning for him to go to his trailer so they could speak.

As he entered the trailer he saw another man sitting down, papers by his side. “What’s all this?” The boy asked, confused and looking at the two men in the trailer with him. “Timothée this is Robert” his agent spoke up. “We want you to date y/n for publicity” Robert said, handing timothée the papers. He was shocked, sort of offended too.

“I’m sorry what? No!” He scoffed, pushing the papers back to the man, not even wanting to read them. His agent spoke up, “listen man, it’s gonna be good PR for the both of you, the movie will get more recognition. It’s a win win for everyone” he pointed out and timothée thought about it for a second. He didn’t like you like that, right? I mean sure he thought you were pretty but you didn’t even know each other. He knew your favorite colors and things like that, he didn’t really know you like that.

“What did she say?” Timothée asked, looking at the man across from him. “We didn’t tell her, we knew she would reject it and we all know when she’s firm about something there’s no swaying her” the man spoke and timothée smiled a little, you were very hard headed.

“Timothée think about it, it benefits everyone” his agent pushed, and he shook his head. “I- I don’t know I have to think about it” he furrowed his brows and his agent nodded, the two men leaving, leaving him and the papers alone in his trailer.

Timothée had read over the papers, he couldn’t tell anyone that it was fake, not even his mom. He groaned and ran his hand through his hair. It would only be six months before the release of the movie, he could get to know you by then.

He was in his trailer for hours contemplating every possible pro and con, the sun had already set and he could hear the set winding down. “Fuck it,” he sighed. Before he could change his mind he signed the agreement, shutting the small Manila folder and walking out of his trailer to hand his agent the papers.

“hey timmy t” you smiled, falling into step with him, he almost choked on his spit, quickly hiding the papers from your view. “hey y/n” he replied, eyes searching for his agent. “what’s that?” You asked, looking at the papers he was poorly concealing. “Nothing, i have to give it to my agent, have you seen them?” You nodded pointing to your right and he thanked you quickly, speeding off before stopping after a couple seconds.

“what time are you done filming today?” He turned on his heels and your heart rate sped up. “What time is it?” You asked. “8:53” he spoke and you smiled, “9:25 ish?” You smiled, he nodded. “Wanna go get some food after?” He smiled sheepishly, you felt yourself flush, nodding slightly before speaking up, “yeah! That sounds great” you replied, he smiled at you and nodded, walking away. You bit your lip, smiling at the ground and holding back a squeal.

As you finished filming you quickly went to trailer, packing up a couple of your things and changing for your dinner with timmy.

Dinner was amazing, the two of you laughing the whole tome and getting to know each other better, you were confused as to why all of sudden he was making a move but you brushed it off, not wanting to ruin something you’ve always wanted.

After that night the two of you went out a lot more over the course of several months, going on small little dates, picnics, watching movies, going to game nights together, sending each other memes, the two of you even went roller blading one time. It was going so well, you noticed the way he would text you more often and the way the two of you hung out a lot more. So did the media.

You’re doing great with y/n, wish the holidays coming up maybe introduce her to your family, post about it and such.

Timothée stared at the message, his heart sinking. He locked his phone and smiled back at you, putting his phone in his pocket and joining you on your couch. “thanksgiving is coming around” he spoke up and you looked away from the TV screen. “uh huh” you replied, heart racing as you realized what he wanted. “I think we’re doing great you know and- well I want you to meet my family” he spoke quickly, nervous as to what you would say.

“as what?” you frowned, slightly hurt that the boy had never asked you to be his girlfriend despite acting like a couple. Timothée smiled at you, leaning in to kiss your nose.

“As my girlfriend?” He blushed, a smile breaking into you face as you squealed and jumped on him, kissing all over his face. He laughed and caught your lips in his, smiling into the kiss. He pulled away for a second, “so is that a ‘yes I’ll be your girlfriend and meet your family’ or” you smiled at him, “it is” you replied, kissing him once more.

By the time the holidays came every magazine, talk show and social media had been posting your relationship, “co stars turned lovers” was their favorite phrase for the two of you. You didn’t care though, both you and timmy were falling deeper and deeper everyday, you were overjoyed, he was scared. The six months began next week. Six months suddenly seemed much too short.

So many dates, so many little gifts, so many funny messages, so many memories and so much love.

Anytime you saw him you got butterflies, a blush would rise on your cheeks when he checked you out or complimented you, usually in that order. Anytime he saw you and you would stare at him in awe he would blush, getting nervous as you hyped him up. Anytime the two of you were together both of your stories had at least on picture of the other with a teasing caption. It was all so real. Until timothée realized it wasn’t. Right?

“Angel, do you wanna get pizza tonight?” Timothée asked you, looking up at you as you played with his hair. You thought about it for a second, nodding your head and a smile broke onto his face. “okay, can you order it? I really have to pee all of a sudden” he laughed, getting up from his position on the couch and heading to the restroom.

Your phone was still in your room so you decided to grab timothées, waking the screen up, a small smile on your face as you see a picture of the two of you laughing with the sunset behind you, both of you in sweats. You remembered that you had told him you wanted to take pictures during sunset, and so that same day he had dragged you out of your apartment and suprised you with a picnic date, making some random lady take pictures of the two of you during sunset.

You were brought out of your thoughts as the phone vibrated in your hands

Only two more weeks with y/n and you’re free from the agreement. Thank you for doing this, the movie is doing great and getting great reviews already. Told you this would work out! Have faith next time.

Your heart dropped, agreement? What agreement? Before you could stop yourself you unlocked the phone, clicking on the conversation and seeing all the messages between timothée and the unregistered number.

Thank you for agreeing to this, by faking a relationship this will 100% get the movie amazinf publicity.

Take her out to dinner, I can send you an address for a nice place, we will pay for it.

When do I have to ask her out?

Whenever you’d like, it has to be before the six months start.

There’s a nice roller skating arena, it’s open tomorrow take her, we will make sure there’s cameras there after a couple hours.

Make her meet your family.

I don’t see her like that, why would she have to meet my family?

Every real relationship has that, make it feel real.

Your eyes watered as you continued to read through the conversation. So it wasn’t real? None of it?

You felt your chest tighten and your breathing grew shallow. Your heart physically hurt, you wanted to break down, cry, scream, punch him. You heard the sink water start in the restroom. Before he came out you rushed to the room, getting your phone, and rushing out of the apartment, turning into an alley before you broke down into silent sobs.

“mon amour where’d you go?” Timothée asked, a smile on his face, excited to spend the nights cuddling with you. “y/n quit playing cmon i miss you” he pouted, checking every room. He furrowed his brows and went to check his phone. It was unlocked. And opened was the conversation with Robert and him. His heart fell. He wanted to break his phone, throw it across the room. He wanted to punch Robert in the face, fight his agent for talking him into this.

Most of all he wanted you. He wanted you when you just woke up and were angry because you had fallen asleep late last night despite knowing you had to get up early. He wanted you when you accident burned food trying to make fancy dinners. He wanted you when you were all glammed up and ready to attend an event. He wanted you when it was just the two of you on a rainy day, cuddling in bed and sharing stories. God, he wanted you. He loved you.

You called an Uber, quickly climbing in and heading straight to your apartment. When you got home you quickly locked the door, turning on the shower and letting the hot water run. You grabbed an over sized shirt you had bought a couple years back and some shorts and fuzzy socks. Without thinking you undressed and got into the shower, letting the hot water burn you for a second before adjusting the temperature. You stood there for a minute before sobs racked your body once again.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck!” Timothée groaned, pacing in his living room, looking at the spot where you once were. What the hell was he gonna do now? Sure it started out as nothing but he loved you now, he couldn’t live without you. But there was no way you were going to believe that. How can he prove it to you? He stopped mid-step, rummaging through his closet until he found the small box.

You stepped out of the shower, steam floating about in your restroom as you changed, you let out a shaky breath, you can get through this.

You had so much of timothées things in your room, you decided to curl up on your couch, mindlessly flipping through channels before stopping on National Geographic, half paying attention to the cheetah hunting a gazelle. Your mind wandered to timothée, was he relieved you were gone? Did he ever mean anything he said?

New hot tears streamed down your face, letting out a quiet sob. You didn’t care about your neighbors hearing you anymore, letting out sob and after sob, trying to catch your breath. A knock on your door made you get quiet. Quickly you grabbed a tissue from besides you and blew your nose, rushing to the kitchen to splash water on your flushed face. Before opening the door you looked in the mirror, your eyes were puffy and red, your nose was tinted red and your cheeks were a light pink. Your hair was frizzy, you didn’t bother putting it up.

You opened the door, not wanting to see anyone, however you put on a smile. It quickly fell when you saw a certain curly headed french boy. You went to slam the door it he was quicker, stopping it before it closed, easily over powering you and opening it wider.

“Leave. Now” you spoke firmly, your voice cold and stern. His heart broke at the sight of you, you couldn’t even look at him. “ma cherie please let me explain” he spoke, wanting nothing more then to pick you up and carry you to bed, kissing all your problems away. “Don’t you fucking dare call me that Timothée.” You snapped.

Timothée.

His heart fell once again, no pet name. Of course not, he would be furious too.

“y/n please, let me explain please.” He begged, bottom lip quivering, you could tell he wanted to cry. All it took was one look into his eyes, god. You fell in love with his eyes the moment you saw them. They made your knees weak and made you smile like nothing else. You let out a sigh, taking your hand off the door and walking into the living room. Timmy smiled slightly, following you in.

“You have 10 minutes” you spoke, sitting down. Timothée nodded, sitting next to you, keeping some distance for your comfort.

“I know you think that this was all fake but i swear to you on my mom that it wasn’t. Yes it was an agreement but that was before i knew you. Before i actually knew you. Do you remember that day on set, the last day of filming and i walked with you and asked you to dinner?” He looked at you and you nodded.

“The paper in my hands, that was the agreement, they told me about it only a couple hours before and my agent kept talking me into it, saying it would help both of us and that it would help the movie and I thought it wouldn’t be that bad you know?” He paused looking at you.

“faking a relationship with someone ‘wouldn’t be that bad?’ Are you serious?” You scoffed, crossing your arms over your chest. He sighed before continuing.

“After i took you to dinner i texted my agent, i told him i wanted out of the contract, i felt bad, but he wouldn’t let me, Robert- the guy i gave the contract to- would ruin my career and yours too. So of course i kept going, i wasn’t gonna let you fall for something I did. I felt bad, i thought ‘whatever it’s only six months’ but then we got closer and i spent so much time with you and i fell for you, so fucking hard. God y/n i fell in love with you. I’m still in love with you.” He smiled, he wanted to hold your hands, but he stopped himself.

“I remember exactly the moment when I realized I was in love with you. We were at the park, it was a Friday and there were so many dogs, and everytime one passed us you would catch up to their owner to ask to pet them, we were there for hours because of you, and i realized that I didn’t want to be anywhere else but with you.” His eyes watered, looking at you, a year left your eye and you quickly wiped it away.

“Y/n please, you have to believe me, fuck the contract, fuck Robert. I love you. I love you so much and i hate myself for even doing this and for putting you through this, please, one more chance and I swear to you i won’t fuck it up” he pleaded, scooting closer to you and taking one of your hands in both of his.

“how do i know you aren’t doing this because robert said you had to?” You whispered, looking into his eyes and looking all over his face to try read his emotions, you could tell he was being sincere.

He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small box. “You always talked about this ring you loved, how it meant so much to you for no reason. You told me that at 3:27 am, you were so woozy from not having slept at all because you wanted to see how long you could last without sleep. You told me you would only sleep if i sang you a lullaby and so when i started singing Mary had a little lamb you stopped me, and told me the only song ‘available’ was statistics. And so you made me sing statistics to you four times before you passed out.” He smiled at you, you couldn’t stop the smile that broke onto your face, he was so embarrassed that night but you knew he would do anything to make you sleep.

“After you fell asleep i ordered you the ring, I hid it in my closet because i knew you would get so mad at me if you found out i bought it for you.” He smiled sheepishly and you laughed, nodding your head, sniffling a little. “I’m giving it to you now as a promise, I promise you that i love you. All of those little moments, the stolen kisses, the messy sheets, the intense aracde rivalry we have- everything, they mean so much to me. You mean everything to me. It was real for me, it was so real and i can’t lose you, not now, not ever.” He finished, looking at you to try and read your emotions, he was scared shitless, his hands shaking, still holding your one hand tightly.

You pulled your hand out of his, wiping your face before you looked at him. “I love you too timmy” you spoke softly, he let out a small sigh of relief. “you have to understand that I’m hurt, that we can’t just automatically go back like nothing happened” you spoke, looking at the boy as he nodded frantically.

“I know, i know we can go at your pace” he reassured, a smile on his face. You looked at him, a grin on your face. “then ask me, for real this time” you spoke up, staring into his eyes, memorizing every little detail of them.

“y/n y/l/n, will you be my girlfriend?” He asked, a smile on his face as he leaned in slowly, you nodded quickly, a smile breaking onto your face. “of course i will, little timmy t” you giggled and he scrunched his face up, his hand cupped your cheek and pulled you in for the kiss, the two of you stopping because you kept giggling.

“I love you” you whispered, resting your head on his chest. He smiled at you, responding within a heartbeat, “i love you mon amour.”

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maisondenachtai · 4 years

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Oscar Darling (2/??)

Paring: Chris Evans x Black Female Reader (but honestly everyone can read it) Previous Chapter

summary: a man will do seriously desperate things to get what he wants. (author’s note: ....I seriously don’t think chris would do this. This is not Chris behavior...but this is fiction...and I love it. Okay read!)

taglist: @chaneajoyyy

Like Peter to Jesus in the bible, you denied him three times.

The first time came four days after he messaged you the first time, after you stewed over the fact that Chris Evans was messaging you and that everything in your body told you that you would be committing a crime if you told him no.

The second time came two days after that, and you didn’t feel so horrible about it that time. In fact it was kind of flattering that a man would want to go to dinner with you that bad.

The third time was completely satisfying, not only had you denied him but he had sent with his request a picture of him and his dog with the caption, ‘Dodger would really like it if you had dinner with me.’

You replied, and you felt so badass for it:

I hate to let Dodger down, since he is a good boy, but I must decline. Please tell Dodger that my people will send his people (i.e: you) the best doggie treats for such a good boy.

It made you feel even better when on Twitter, Chris put up a simple picture of your doggie treat basket with the caption,

Dodger gets more love than I do.

You were walking on the moon, if you weren’t afraid of looking a fool you would walk down the street like Tobey McGuire in Spiderman 3. Not only had Chasity and the PR team spun your little drunken tirade into relatable gold, but you had gained an endorsement deal with a dating app. You were making bank because you were a drunken mess, and isn’t that everyone’s dream?

You stuck a spoonful of cookies and cream ice cream in your mouth as you strutted around your apartment. Your best friend Diana was watching you with amusement as she absentmindedly thumbed through an Ebony Magazine that you were on the cover of.

“I can’t believe you’re so happy that you denied Chris Evans.” Diana’s eyes followed you as you went over and kissed your Oscar and then flopped out on your couch.

“It’s not that I’m happy about that…but it’s the fact that I could do it Diana.” You said looking up at the ceiling. “Like…I made it. I won an Oscar, I’m turning down dates from hot guys. I have endorsement deals, I’m on the cover-

“Wait.” Diana put the magazine down and stood up crossing from the dining room to your living room. “You said guys…plural. Who else have you turned down?”

You sat up, “Seriously, I said all of that and all you got was the ‘guys’ part?”

“Stop changing the damn subject. Who else?”

You smirked, “Well, I might have gotten a call from Drake.”

“DRAKE?” Diana said mimicking Soulja Boy. “Champagne Papi? 6god? Jimmy in the wheelchair?”

“Yeah all three. He invited me to cheesecake…you know he loves to go there.” You joked and then laughed at your own corniness. “But I said no. I mean, he’s cute and all…but no thanks. I don’t want to be the girl in Hollywood that just dates everybody.”

Diana rolled her eyes, “Plus you like the attention.”

You grinned, “It is nice.” Your phone dinged, and then dinged again. Then there were several dings. Even Diana’s phone started to ding. Your mood dropped. What could it be now? What did you do this time? Was Rose McGowan finally calling you out for your attempted sexual harassment of Chris Evans?

Before you could even grab your phone, Diana was already laughing slightly.

“What?” You looked over at her.

“You might want to check out Facebook. …oh and put some pants on, maybe.” Diana smiled.

“Wait what?” You pulled out your phone and clicked on Facebook where you were tagged in a live story by none other than Chris Evans.

He, in all his bearded glory, was in a hallway that looked quite familiar and smiling brightly.

“Hey guys, just wanted to let you know some updates about my day. First off, my beard is coming in nicely, thank you for noticing. Also, Dodger is well and loved the treat basket that he got so much that he wanted to thank the girl that sent it to him in person. Isn’t that right Dodger?” Chris kneeled down to get Dodger in the frame and on cue Dodger barked and licked his phone.

The bark echoed loudly, too loudly.

“Oh my fucking god, he’s in my hallway.” You stood up, in just your panties, ice cream on your face and shirt.

“No shit Sherlock.” Diana smirked at you.

“Guys wish Dodger luck, he’s totally nervous about meeting her. He’s been waiting for a long while…like since Oscar weekend.” He smirked in the camera, but you wouldn’t know because you were rushing around your apartment like a mad man trying to look decent for your unexpected guest.

“I mean, I invited this girl out to dinner with me and Dodger of course, three times.”

Thump.

“Motherfucker! Ow!” You cried out as you fell down in a tangled web of pants that were around your ankles. Diana just sat there halfway watching you act like an idiot and halfway watching her phone in amazement at Chris’s boldness.

“She said no. Isn’t that awful? She said no to poor Dodger three times! Who could say no to this face?” He rubbed Dodger’s face which made the dog excited. “So Dodger told me to call her people and see if we could get her address because that basket deserved a thank you in person. …I know it’s kind of creepy guys, but Dodger was desperate.”

“I can believe he’s using his dog for sympathy. And playing down the fact that he used his connections to get my personal info. That is pathetic.” You were sliding Fenty Lip Gloss on your lips in your hallway mirror.

“So pathetic.” Diana said sarcastically.

“I’m gonna kill Chasity.” You fluffed up your hair and then picked up your breath spray and sprayed three times. One for the father, the son and sweet baby Jesus.

“Totally murder her.” Diana was so amused. For someone who had so ruthlessly denied someone else, you sure were doing a lot.

“So, guys I’m gonna go now. We’re almost at her door and she’s not expecting us…I want it to be a surprise.” He whispered comically. “Love you guys! And remember to buy Love and Murder* on DVD/Blu-Ray and Digital.”

The phones went silent for a moment and you waited on bated breath for the knock on the door. When after five minutes it didn’t come, you released a sigh of slightly disappointed relief.

“Maybe he was just bullshitting. There are a lot of these apartments in LA.” Diana said when you looked over at her. “Look at you, you got dressed for-“

Knock. Knock. Knock.

“Nothing.” Diana finished jumping up herself.

You took a deep breath and unlocked the door slowly, not wanting to seem like you were over-zealous for his arrival. He was the thirsty one, not you. When you opened the door, he was there in a bomber jacket, looking as gorgeous as he always was grinning like the Cheshire cat.

“Nice to finally see you, Y/n.”

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(a/n: ...I hope you like. Love and Murder is the name of the movie that won you the Oscar. also...Chris’s facebook has not been active since ‘15 or ‘17...so use some imagination. thank you for reading! leave me comments! I love reading them!)

#chris evans x reader #chris evans x y/n #chris evans x you #chris evans fandom #chris evans fanfiction #chris evans x b!reader #chris evans x poc!reader

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mgkconfessions · 3 years

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AMAs 2020 2/2

The tattoo

Actually she got the gunman as a tattoo, because the gunna or gunner would be el artillero. I guess that didn’t sound as nice so she went with el pistolero, but it isn’t really his nickname and with everything that she pretends to know about Kells, it makes me laugh that this is what she wanted on her body to honor him! Says a lot about who she is as a person and what version of Kells she cares about in this relationship. She got a nickname of his stage name, not his real name. She’s all about MGK and doesn’t give a fuck about Colson. Even Col would have been better for a love tattoo and would have been a lot more personal and shown him that she accepts and loves Colson too and not just MGK. But el pistolero only makes her look like a groupie who is excited to date her favourite singer and she’s obviously living out her bad boy fantasy with him. It’s even more tacky, because she’s supposed to be his real first love and serious girlfriend, but all she cares about is his public fame side and she only needs Colson to make MGK depending on her.

It’s embarrassing and she should get it removed as quickly as possible! Maybe she can get Brian’s tattoo removed together with Kells’ then :). Don’t feel bad for her, first time it’s a mistake, but second time it’s a choice. She or they want to be stupid, let them be stupid. They have to live with the tattoos and public humiliation.

No, she said that she got his nickname, but we only ever heard her call him Buddha and Lamby, so we joked around which one she would choose and for her own sake she should have gone with Buddha, because that would have been the one that people would associate the least with Kells.

We talked about the tattoos and Banyan Tree before, but absolutely not planned at all Megan properly revealed the tattoo for the first time on her red carpet debut with Kells to get more attention for it. And even less calculated she started rumours about it only shortly before with the fan pictures. I assume that Kells is next with a public love declaration, maybe we will see his M.F. tattoo for her that I will forever read as mother fucker ^^! I assume it’s somewhere near his crotch or hip or on his butt cheeks. If it’s on a body part that we have seen then it’s very unnoticeable. The tattoos are real, but I believe that they didn’t show them on purpose to reveal them at the best time for the most media coverage. Imagine that’s how your relationship is like. Everything is planned to fit into your PR strategy! Sorry to say this, but Kells isn’t smarter than this. He does and says stupid things all the time and whatever you thought about Kells doesn’t apply to his 2020 Megan Fox version. This isn’t Kells anymore, this is Richard! Old Kells would have never done that, but Richard surely does these things and calls the paparazzi to become more famous. Kells has a tattoo for Casie and got it quite early on. It’s right under his nipple, close to his heart :)! I don’t think that Megan has any tattoos for her kids tho, she seriously got a tattoo for Kells before she got one for her own children!

Apparently neither of them learned anything from the past tattoos and relationships. Megan got the second time a tattoo for a man who she knew around 3 or 4 months at that time although her last relationship and marriage didn’t last either despite having a tattoo of Brian’s name. An anon said that the woman on Kells’ side is about a comic figure, but I couldn’t find a picture of that comic figure with a mole on her face which Kells’ woman has and Hedi has one too. Then with the caution band around it, I still believe that it means that he should be careful with women like Hedi and still with that tattoo on his body he’s dating someone even worse than her now. Neither of them learned anything from their past mistakes, we can only hope that they will do it now when their relationship ends. I don’t think that the fang tattoo has anything to do with Megan, because his Instagram caption was “take me away from all this death” and I think that it’s more about how he has lost so many friends and important people in the years that he wants to be taken away from it and vampires are also dead but still alive.

It’s so many things this year that made him incredibly unattractive! I honestly can’t even imagine them having a normal conversation with each other, so I don’t think that there was any discussion about their tattoos for their exes. I don’t see them bringing up topics that might be a sensitive spot for the other one so that they will never fight.

She did this the second time now. I don’t know why after Brian she didn’t realize that tattoos for your boyfriends aren’t a good idea and especially not for guys who majority of people believe to still be capable of cheating, because they’ve done it in the past all the time.

They were already doomed when Megan decided that he was her twin flame on the second day, but the tattoo is an amazing symbol for a relationship that will fail too. :)

It’s just Megan trying to be edgy and cool. From all of his nicknames and symbols she could have got for him as a tattoo, the wrong version of the gunna just shows that she’s obviously living out her bad boy fantasy and she wants to be the hot chick at the side of this bad boy MGK LMAO! ^^ It doesn’t fit to her caring about his well being tho and that he calmed down, which I doubt he has, and since she’s pouring him Tequila and emotionally manipulated him from the beginning, I don’t think that she truly cares about him either. She’s dating his image and his celebrity, but not the real Colson. Kells struggled so much with accepting that there’s Colson too and his own girlfriend gets his “nickname” as a tattoo, but even she only cares about MGK. Megan hasn’t seen Kells’ party and wild side yet when he’s on tour and on stage performing. Would she still want to date him if he was sucking on girls’ boobs on stage, hip thrusting them into the crowd and have sex inside the tour bus with multiple girls? I don’t think so, because remember Megan was the one who got him out of the fast lane and Colson Baker doesn’t need more women anymore or that whole party lifestyle. No, he’s an obedient lamby to Megan now :)!

Pregnancy rumours

Megan isn’t pregnant. At the AMAs she had a little belly, but she’s a mother of three and even skinny people can have a small belly. The shiny fabric only emphasized it. Last year in December she had a little belly too and wasn’t pregnant. It’s probably just her figure or she was bloated. Also it doesn’t seem like Kells got any other girl pregnant since Casie’s mum and he has been smoking a lot of weed every day for years too. I think he takes children quite seriously and I don’t really see him accidentally get a girl pregnant, not even Megan. And Megan didn’t sound like her body could take another pregnancy either or like she wanted more.

Kells’ post

I honestly think that her finger was the only thing that he could grab of her lmao! ^^ With all the other pictures from that day and the way Megan announced him, it looked like she didn’t even want to take one of their couple mirror selfies with him that day. Kells was ready to take the picture and trying to get her in front of the mirror too, but she didn’t want to. Even her smile isn’t really a smile. It’s like she was awkwardly saying “yeeeaah” to appear like she wanted to take a picture and was having fun too, although she hated being there or maybe she wanted to give us a different facial expression, because they always look so serious in their mirror selfies and now she wanted to show how much fun she can be in a not very convincing way tho. It looks awkward and they seem off in that picture too.

I think that he did sleep with a gun right next to him, however not all the time, because Casie has been sleeping in that bed too and who took the gun away then? Not Megan! Because she wasn’t even around that time! He needed an Instagram caption that again would make everyone believe how real and deep their love is and how much she changed him into a new man :’). I can’t take anything seriously that he says about them, because he’s always doing too much and it’s always the same old story just with different words. Also what does it matter if she made him put the gun away when she’s enabling him in his alcohol excesses. For the boys sharing their pictures, I don’t believe that anyone of them cares a lot about Megan and is very interested in getting to know her, because she’s dating their friend. Kells went to the AMAs with Megan of course they will choose their couple pictures to post about it.

Watching AMAs

I believe that Megan only came to watch the show and then left, because her signature water bottle left the table eventually and Megan wasn’t on any of those pictures anymore either and when Kells was in the kitchen with many others too, Megan wasn’t there and she’s usually where Kells is. I assume that the food wasn’t organic and sushi enough for her and instead of bringing something as well that she and others could eat from too, she didn’t eat there and left early. I believe that she really only came to watch it. She doesn’t seem to like his friends anyway. It must have been embarrassing for her to see her announcing Kells and Travis on television in front of everyone! It’s funny how nobody filmed that part of their performance to put it on Instagram ^^.

Twitter Trends

You know what’s sad? When Megan Fox and Sydney Sweeney were both trending on the day of the AMAs, but Kells the guy and reason for them to even have the opportunity to be trending on Twitter, wasn’t. Kells’ performance wasn’t amazing and one time he even sang the wrong lyrics and overall he seemed quite out of breath too, but it’s obvious that whenever Megan will be there, everyone focuses on Megan and not him. Regardless of that I don’t think he needs Megan, because he’s the one who is getting all these opportunities to be seen and heard and not her. So yes, she has to insert herself into everything to get her 5 minutes of fame and Kells allows it, because her name gets him more attention and he can show everyone that he’s dating her for his own ego.

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simplelinesunfashiond · 5 years

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Highway to Hellsite

Because @abalonetea low-key encouraged me to finish an AU scene despite not knowing what it was, and @idreamonpaper and @drabbleitout actually encouraged this weirdness at one point, and I have no willpower when it comes to both spoiling and embarassing the hell out of Jackson Alistair Lewis. A short non-magical AU about blogging and your obvious crush on a celebrity going viral.

Jackson Alistair woke to the sound of his phone obsessively buzzing in his ear. He moved, stretched, felt something pop in his back and slowly lowered himself back onto the pillow, blinking at the ceiling for far longer than he supposed he really needed to. He had some things to consider, though nothing so much to worry about, he thought. He had survived the gala, uploaded a decent number of shots, and, overall, not completely flopped at his first press event. Good. It all faded out, a little, in comparison to the real reason he was even invited. Being the administrator of the first known DawnShadow fan page wasn’t much for a marketing resume, but damn if it wasn’t good for getting in close with DawnShadow’s marketing team when the band reformed and started catching on. So, maybe his interests hadn’t been one hundred percent professional.

The event certainly had been, at any rate. A fundraiser, a big deal. He hadn’t actually known much about the organization up front, just that it was run by the founder of a network of medical facilities. He knew who that man was, though. And he knew who that man’s second-in-command on his medical staff was. And if there was one thing that was bound to get Nathaniel Ettonridge out into the world, it was his crazy-genious daughter. Even if the band hadn’t been contracted to perform at the more public part of the event (which, thank whatever powers, they had), Nat would be sure to make an appearance. And what an appearance it had been, though the tailored coat was nothing compared to the guitar god on his arm. There had always been rumors, but this was…Well, whatever it was, it felt important. Maybe just because he'd spent so long looking at ancient pictures and wondering, but...maybe not that, really.

The phone buzzed again, and he finally bothered to look at it. A lot of new notifications, more honestly than he’d expected – in fact, suspiciously many. And a few messages from Sydney, who hadn’t dragged herself clear across the country just to watch him snap pictures at an event she wasn’t actually invited to. Understandable. The messages were about what he expected. How was the event, was it exciting meeting everyone, how did he end up getting on stage? And then, a little bit of a different one.

“Did you bring anyone back with you? ;)”

Of course not, and what sort of strange question was that? He asked her as much.

“I’m just teasing. But we’ve talked about this. You can tell me anything. I did figure it was probably a joke, though…” A joke? What was a joke? After a minute of him not answering, another alert snapped him back. “…” And then another. “You haven’t seen it yet?”

He flipped on instinct back to the notifications. A lot of new traffic, likes, reblogs, retweets, notes from all over the series of pages he’d been maintaining across their different platforms. And then, before all that, the ominous truth of the matter.

“Kim ‘at’ed me in something?” he asked, out loud, and then paused to consider the odd sensation of trying to say “@” out loud. What was more, it was a post from another blog, someone he had met the night before. He paused, thought about it before he even attempted to open it, and couldn’t recall anything that had occurred between him and Sarra being interesting enough to go viral. Finally, he went to her account, and stared for a long moment at the odd gradients that served as placeholders for what must have been a completely unreasonable amount of pictures. He glanced over his shoulder to his laptop, and wondered if it was worth another attempt to connect to the hotel’s terrible wifi. Finally, after far too long, the images began to materialize. He scrolled around a little, not looking, just moving the screen up and down, and wondered in an aggravatingly sincere confusion how someone else’s hellsite post had managed to send that much attention to him not just on said hellsite, but across the board.

He scrolled back to the top.

It had only one line of explanation. “The most interesting thing that happened all night.” And the first picture under that wasn’t one she had taken. It was a screenshot of one of his. And so were a few of the ones after that. And there were a few of her pictures, of him, usually of him taking pictures, of…Well, until he saw them all in one place, he hadn’t realized just how many pictures he had taken of the same person. The first large swath of reblogs were all Sarra, adding more pictures to the string.

People, at first. It was just a very striking image, one he couldn’t possibly pass up. The fact that Dr. Orion Lourandera’s other main celebrity contacts were royalty in the fashion industry, and his own siblings, was too good to be true. At first glance, the twins were almost indistinguishable from each other. Jackson wasn’t totally sure if the garments they were wearing would be considered gowns or coats, but the long gauzy material, all blue and green and teal with glints of gold, trailed to the floor like peacocks’ feathers. The sister was the one with her hair swept up and pinned, the one who never took her sunglasses off. The other, with short hair swept back and impractically high heels, was the brother. At some point, his outermost layer – apparently some sort of jacket – was discarded, to reveal that the rest of whatever sort of couture clothing item that was, was open down most of the back. Intricate scrolling tattoos of very small text ran from the base of his neck down his spine to the small of his back, and Jackson remembered wondering just how close one would have to get to actually be able to read it. He did not, on the other hand, remember just how many pictures he'd tried to get of it. Or how long he'd actually stared while wondering, though that was apparently long enough for Sarra to notice and snap a few pictures of Jackson frozen like a statue with his camera half forgotten as the rest of the guests moved around him. It was a decently long exposure, if the motion blurs on everyone else were anything to judge by.

He finally managed to scroll past the vast swath of his pictures of Anderson Lourandera, with its handful of pictures of himself, before the next section started. This one was all pictures of Jackson, posted by an instagram account he'd never heard of before. Something private maybe? The first one had managed to clearly catch the moment the doorman had IDed him, and how much taller everyone else around him was, and was simply captioned, “Whose baby is this??? Why is he here alone???” with a teary-eyed emoji and a random selection of hearts. The one after was Jackson, as well as a few other camera-wielders, and based on the small lock of blonde hair in the corner of the image, this was a picture that Anderson had discreetly taken over his own shoulder while leaning dramatically on the bar. “These media boys think I'm posing for them. They must never learn the truth. #too drunk for these heels #i will literally fall over #no srsly #someone #stop ogling and help me #dammit."

The captions weren't all exactly coherent, but there were…Well, there were a lot of pictures of Jackson. Including a very zoomed in one of him showing his ID to the bartender. His info had, thankfully, been blurred out, but based on the small excited-looking key smash, whatever had been seen was exciting. Oh, Jackson realized, thinking back to the first picture, the fact that this man had thought he was a child, my age I guess.

And then, there was one of him talking to Sarra, who was pointedly side-eyeing the camera. “Askfbsi I've been caught,” and then a very distraught little emoji.

Then, there were the concert shots. A couple of Jackson in the crowd, looking particularly giddy, and captions pointing it out. Then, a few posts with no pictures, just black, with very over-excited and unspecific captions. And finally, the part where he ended up on stage, himself.

Jackson still remembered the feeling of awe, like a coronation, when the strap of the PRS was lowered over his head, the feeling of the strings under his finger, the mother-of-pearl inlays glinting under the stage lights. Nix, with the same ancient red Fender, cluing him in on the set, testing his knowledge on a couple things. No problem. That's why Jackson was here – he was the guy who knew it all.

It was only screenshots but it was clearly a series of videos. When he got to tear into his favorite solo. The moment of shock he'd hoped nobody had noticed when Nathaniel hit that note in Firebird. Nathaniel daring Jackson to do the vocals for Twilight Angel. People cheered, good-natured but egging him on, until he agreed. Sarra had interjected in the next post to add the link to the full video, with a struck-through comment of “no but for real he was amazing go watch it.”

And, in glorious conclusion, a picture Sarra had taken herself, a panoramic view of the scene, of the over-dramatic rapturous look, head tossed back, laughing out loud, of Jackson killing the last solo in the outro of Visions of Midnight on one edge of the image, and, on the other side, Anderson Lourandera, gaze locked on the stage, skin tinted with a faint alcohol-induced blush. One shining with energy, and with the aid of stagelights, the other a vibrant beacon standing out of a sea of dark suits and satin and velvet winter dresses. It was, Jackson concluded, a very odd scene, and it suggested that people had shown up with the image of a more political event in their minds. That seemed like it should have been important, but he couldn't place why. Couldn't quite care. Found himself forgetting, failing to notice, a little more every time he looked back at the picture. He did manage to notice that the artistry of it put every one of his shots to shame.

A few other comments came up under that, a lot of people gushing about various aspects, and a few repeating the demand to know who this kid was. And then, the conclusion, which had been reblogged back to Sarra's page as well. A screenshot of a select few of the posts from Jackson's “house of light" tag, which had existed long before the gala but which now included a couple of last night's pictures, and a screenshot of part of the House of Light's official blog, including a couple of shots of Jackson walking out in a long-hemmed vintage velvet coat that, now that he thought about it, was actually from HoL. The tags underneath included the phrase “#if you see this #call us.” And that was where the “@” appeared. Kim's commentary read, “Admins for @visionsofdawnshadow and @houseoflight-courtofshadow need to quit being horny on main.”

Jackson stared at it for a long moment, then took a screenshot of the whole thing and, after another minute if hesitation, sent it to Sydney.

“Is this what you meant?” he asked.

“Don't freak out,” Sydney answered. “Besides, like I said, I was already pretty sure nothing happened…”

“Why?”

“Well, I know who you are so…I called? The west coast shop. Mostly talked to Eva. (Cuuute accents, by the way).”

Jackson's brain failed to formulate more than “…,” so that was what he sent her.

“It's no secret they work a lot with the band, so he's heading back east with them.”

…

“Aaand it wouldn't hurt to have an assistant/photographer/model/killer musician on board for that kind of project?”

. . .

“…We sort of figured…you might want the job. She thought maybe you could meet with them before you leave? If you don't want to I can totally call her back!”

Jackson switched back to the page of Sarra and Kim's pictures, stared at that panorama for a minute. Saved it. Looked again. Reblogged it to his own page, added a relevantly embarrassed-looking gif. Wrote back to Sydney, “Just tell me where to go.” Then, a second later, “Also, I love you.”

#tsp au #characters: jackson #not gonna lie #this is a weird one

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thereviewsarein · 5 years

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Moments and memories, 2018 has been full of them. It’s been a hell of a year.

As the year comes to an end, it’s time to take a look back and reflect on the opportunities that have been placed in front of me.

2018 has had no shortage of moments, the hard part will be narrowing down the list. Some stick out in our minds more than others, so instead of trying to number them, I’m listing the top moments and memories of 2018 in chronological order.

Crown Lands

This band. This music. These guys.

Watching their success unfold has been my absolute pleasure. Crown Lands caught my attention when I first saw them in Toronto at Rivoli opening for American Opera. This somewhat unlikely pairing was a coup for me, and I haven’t looked back. I feel like Crown Lands was instrumental in turning my eye back to rock music, period. I’m grateful for that. It’s been a good year for rock music and Crown Lands. In the last twelve months, they’ve toured with some of the biggest names in the business, meeting their heroes and sharing some bucket list stages with acts like Jack White, Coheed & Cambria, Primus and more.

When we chatted with the guys before their Horseshoe set, I found out that thereviewsarein.com was the first outlet to ever write about the band. That’s pretty cool in my books and that moment will always be in memory.

Big things are coming, and I can hardly wait to see what 2019 brings for these talented, hardworking musicians.

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Matt and Kim with Monowhales and Goodnight, Sunrise – Monday, May 7th – The Phoenix

Kicking off Canadian Music Week is no small feat, and this lineup was filled with positive energy that rocked from note one.

In 2016, we did a preview Q&A with Matt and Kim who were scheduled to play WayHome. Sadly, because they played a late night set at WayHome, we didn’t get the chance to see them live then. But, let me say that I was blown away by this act live. The energy and connection with the audience is incomparable. Those are the most important things for me at live shows, if I feel you, you win.

This was also the first day that we met MONOWHALES. We had the opportunity to chat with Sally and Jordan, before the show, and their excitement was contagious. Once the band hit the stage, they had me. A live show is more than delivering your songs as recorded and Sally won the crowd over quickly. With a crowd dive over the barricade to end the set, she cemented her place in people’s memories. It was spectacular and ballsy. MONOWHALES has become one of my favourite bands this year, and this performance played a big part.

Also on this bill was Goodnight, Sunrise. I first saw this band in December of last year, and I was impressed by their energy and unique sound. They’ve continued to work hard, and that hard work was rewarded this past year by being selected as the band to open for Bon Jovi at the Air Canada Centre.

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Mad Caddies – Tuesday, May 8 – The Mod Club

There’s a weird thing that happens when, as a music journalist, you get to interview a band or an artist that you’ve been a fan of. I’ve been listening to Mad Caddies for longer than I care to admit, so to get the chance to interview Chuck Robertson was kind of surreal. To dial the phone and have Chuck answer was very cool. We chatted about the upcoming album, tour and his fondness for Toronto. And when Mad Caddies came to Toronto for Canadian Music Week, I was there for their sold-out show at The Mod Club.

This particular story is a significant one for me because not only did I get to cover this band, that means so much to me, I also met a charming, remarkable human being in the process. My hat is off to Melanie Kaye of Melanie Kaye PR who became very, very important to me, not only professionally, but personally, as the year progressed. She’s a gem and has opened doors to fun, exciting bands and experiences for our outlet. I expect we’ll be making memories together for years to come.

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Lindsay Ell – Thursday, May 10 – The Phoenix

This particular memory also made Joshua’s list. Lindsay Ell made quite an impression on both of us on May 10th. Lindsay was charming, unassuming, friendly and eager to share her story with us. I hovered in the background during our interview taking photos and when I was done, Joshua motioned me over so that Lindsay could tell me that she liked the photo I’d taken of her while she was performing on the main stage at Boots and Hearts in 2016. It was a lovely gesture.

The day just got better as we covered her set at The Phoenix and got to watch her do her thing. There’s something about her that I can’t quite put my finger on, but she touches my heart. That night there were full out rocking moments, but there were also moments that brought tears to my eyes. Lindsay Ell is a star and an amazing human. These things are the reason this day will be in my memory forever.

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Joey Bada$$ – Friday, May 25 – The Phoenix

For those of you who are regular readers, you’ll know that I’ve been a giant fan of Joey Bada$$’s All-Amerikkkan Bada$$ album. The music, the message and the delivery, all speak to me. So when tickets went on sale, I grabbed a pair. When show day arrived, we were not approved, but I was still there, up front and centre at the sold-out show.

To this day, I get goosebumps thinking about this show. A man and his DJ, owning the entire venue. It was spellbinding, and while I didn’t get shots of Joey for our outlet, I did get to feel the energy and witness as everyone in attendance sang along to every song. It was magical, and sometimes it’s nice to just be a fan.

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Alan Jackson – Saturday, August 11 – Boots and Hearts

Alan Jackson is a legend of country music. As a photographer, having the opportunity to shoot a legend has it’s own level of excitement, but this moment was more than that. Standing in the photo pit with many other photographers, and friends, I was hit with memories of my mom who was a giant Alan Jackson fan. There was a moment during his pre-performance video where I knew that my mom would understand that this was big and that she’d be proud of me. Moments and memories, don’t get any better than that.

Mr. Jackson then proceeded to deliver a great performance, which in and of itself, was memorable.

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FME – August 30 – September 2

FME 2018 was a festival that brought a lot of firsts and with that, a lot of memories. This was my first time on a charter plane for work, it was the first time a festival took such good care of me, it was the first time I travelled in a pack of music journalists, and it was the first time that I realized that I’m a music journalist. I know that might sound crazy but up until this festival I didn’t really put two and two together.

If you’ve never heard of this festival you should check it out. It’s located in the beautiful city of Rouyn-Noranda on Osisko Lake in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region of Quebec and when the festival starts, the city is transformed. The locals are the best and embrace the influx of music lovers. There were interviews and live performances all over the city, but all within walking distance of our hotels. Acts of all genres performed and I really hope I get to go back. If you’re looking for a festival to add to your summer, consider FME.

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Keith Urban – Sunday, September 9 – CCMA Awards

First, let me say that being approved to shoot the red carpet and the awards show is a memorable moment all on it’s own. Having Keith Urban show up on the red carpet as a surprise guest was mind blowing. He was, as you would expect, gracious and the consummate professional. He made sure everyone on the carpet got their angle and took his time chatting with fans and taking selfies.

One of my favourite shots of the year came later in the evening, during his live performance. It’s a moment in time and one I haven’t seen anywhere else. I like this shot so much, it now lives on the back of my MacBook.

Keith Urban

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Wu Tang Clan Reunion – Sunday, September 30 – Rebel

Sometimes the hip hop gods smile on us. On September 30th I made the trip to Rebel to shoot Wu Tang Clan. I had previously shot Wu Tang at Riot Fest, but all members weren’t present. This time around, we had the honour of shooting all of the living members of Wu Tang coming together to play their 1993 debut album, 36 Chambers in its entirety. It was unreal and fantastic. This show was one for the memory banks.

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Oddisee – October 26 – The Mod Club

One of the perks of this job is access to shows, but sometimes, as a fan, you just want to watch. When I work a show it’s a completely different mindset. Don’t get me wrong, I do still get to enjoy shows that I’m working but during the first three songs, my brain is somewhere else. I often couldn’t tell you what the first three songs were when I come out of the pit.

Oddisee is an artist that I didn’t want to miss a single second of, so I bought a ticket. I went to the show with other people, but I sat up in the balcony by myself. I wanted to be focused on just the music. There were gentlemen on either side of me throughout the set who were also alone. We were there for the music. The last time Oddisee came through Toronto, he brought a full band, Good Compny. This time, it was him and a DJ and it while it was different, it was no less amazing.

If you’re a hip hop fan, and you haven’t heard this artist, I highly recommend giving him a listen. I’ve included the videos I took that night below. I still watch those videos and remember how I felt. Enlightened and joyous.

When Oddisee comes back, I’ll be there.

A little @oddisee wizardry for y’all. This music fills my heart with joy and love and happiness. Conjuring positivity and the best energy, thank you @Oddisee. #livemusic #torontonightlife #toronto #hiphop #performance #oddisee #themodclub @themodclub

A post shared by Trish Cassling Photography (@trishca) on Oct 26, 2018 at 7:49pm PDT

2018 was amazing and here’s hoping 2019 is even better!

Trish’s Top Musical Moments and Memories of 2018 Moments and memories, 2018 has been full of them. It's been a hell of a year.

#Alan Jackson #Crown Lands #FME #Goodnight Sunrise #Hubert Lenoir #Joey Bada$$#Keith Urban #Lindsay Ell #Mad Caddies #MATT AND KIM #Milk & Bone #Monowhales #Wu Tang Clan #YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN #Year End #Year in Review

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zeroviraluniverse-blog · 6 years

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Kim Yo-jong and North Korea's secret weapon

Visit Now - https://zeroviral.com/kim-yo-jong-and-north-koreas-secret-weapon/

Kim Yo-jong and North Korea's secret weapon

Image copyright Getty Images

Image caption Kim Yo-jong’s visit to Pyeongchang mesmerised the crowds

It turns out North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un doesn’t need to fire off a missile to get the world’s attention. He has a number of far more powerful weapons in his arsenal: his female envoys.

And on this latest so-called charm offensive, he saved the best for last. His sister.

Kim Yo-jong mesmerised South Korean audiences. As she strode into the presidential palace carrying a handwritten note from her brother, every detail was scrutinised live on television. Her sparkly top, how she wore her hair, each small gesture. The news networks even decided to discuss her freckles, rather than mention that she is on a US blacklist for human rights abuses.

You could almost feel the ripple of excitement as she walked into the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang. Necks craned and mobile phones were held aloft to catch a glimpse.

I found myself, along with others, leaning as far as I could over the balcony to try to see her in the VIP box below. The faces around the stadium all said one thing. She’s here. On South Korean soil.

She has given the secretive regime a human face.

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Media captionKim Yo-jong presented President Moon Jae-in with a folder holding a handwritten note from her brother, the leader of North Korea

“It’s strange and wondrous. I’ve never seen a North Korean before,” one young man tells me.

“My heart is melting,” says another.

Pyongyang’s PR queen

But let’s not forget, Kim Yo-jong is a Pyongyang’s PR queen. She is the master of her brother’s image, and on this occasion, she has mastered the media’s portrayal of her country.

“To see a member of the Kim family in the flesh like that is so unusual for South Koreans that it’s not surprising they were fascinated by her,” explains Jean Lee, former Pyongyang bureau chief for the news agency Associated Press.

“But it does also show how savvy the North Koreas are,” he says. “They sent their prettiest women. Frankly when you go to North Korea, you have these guys who are drop dead gorgeous. They have told me sometimes that their job is to seduce us, so that in turn we are like, the country and the people, they’re not that bad.”

The seduction began several weeks ago as North Korea despatched the former lead singer of Moranbong, an all female music group. Hyun Song-wol sashayed through Seoul to find a venue for her arts troupe to perform.

Again, more mention was made of her fur stole than the fact that only five months ago North Korea conducted its latest nuclear test.

Then came the famed “army of beauties”. This group of women, handpicked for their good looks, talent, and loyalty to the regime stepped off the bus in single file in matching black fur hats, red coats and ankle boots.

Image copyright AFP/Getty

Image caption Pyongyang’s cheerleaders, dressed to impress

Heavily guarded, most merely smiled as reporters tripped over themselves to try to get near them.

In looks-conscious and skin-care obsessed South Korea, these young North Korean women are held up as examples of natural beauty or innocence and it appears to have prompted a sting of nostalgia in the older generation. One of the group’s most famous members is Ri Sol-ju who joined when she was 16 and eventually became the wife of Kim Jong-un.

‘Fighters on the frontline’

One North Korean defector told me it was her job to go out and conquer with a smile. Han Seo-hee is a former member of both the North Korean cheerleading squad and the arts troupe.

“We were supposed to promote the Juche ideology (North Korea’s ideology of socialist self-reliance). We were fighters on the frontline. We thought we were going into the heart of the enemy to show how proud we are. We were to show that we were better than others. I was quite proud and confident and I thought that was what we were going to do.”

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Media captionNorth Korean ‘cheer team’s’ amazing support

Han Seo-hee had to leave North Korea because her brother defected. If she’d stayed she and her family could have ended up in prison. She enjoys the freedom she has in South Korea as she recalls the three months of ideological training she went through with her fellow performers.

“We were told we should not be surprised and shocked by the unknown world and that we shouldn’t forget our home country even for a minute. We shouldn’t forget that we are there to honour General Kim.

“Some of my fellow performers said that because they didn’t want to forget their homeland they would grab a handful of earth to put in their suitcase. Another packed a portrait of Kim Jong-il (the father of the current leader) wrapped in a red silk scarf in her bag.”

Image copyright Getty Images

Image caption Anti-North Korea protesters demonstrate against the arrival of their art troupe

This kind of idolisation of a leader is alien to South Korea’s younger generation who are not so easily seduced by North Korea’s arrivals.

Protests sprung up on social media by an outraged group in their 20s and 30s who felt that South Korean President Moon Jae-in was wrong to integrate North Koreans into the women’s ice hockey team. The president’s popularity ratings have not fully recovered.

North Korea’s cheerleading charm offensive

North v South: A history of sport, bombs and diplomacy

‘Like a religious cult’

And the culture gap became glaringly obvious during the ice hockey match itself.

The South Korean cheerleading group at the Olympics had rehearsed sexy routines to the song Uptown Funk in mini skirts and knee high boots while waving pom poms. But the rows of North Korean cheerleaders below them seemed almost oblivious to whatever pop or rock hit was booming around the stadium.

In matching red tracksuits their performance consisted of quirky hand movements and chants all done in perfect unison. Their traditional songs were about uniting the Motherland. “We are one” was the cry.

Image copyright Getty Images

Image caption North Korean cheerleaders have been the centre of attraction at the Pyeongchang Olympics

Han Seo-hee feared the cheerleaders might be seen as a curious spectacle. She remembered an incident in 2003.

“When the cheerleaders arrived in South Korea it was raining and Kim Jong-il’s portrait on the main flag got wet. The whole group of cheerleaders were horrified and came out of the bus and gathered around the picture to protect it. South Koreans were quite shocked to see this behaviour because it looked like a religious cult.

“It only served to highlight the differences between the South and the North.”

Political Scientist Ian Bremmer noted on Twitter that “N Korea’s cheering squad is an amazing spectacle. But they’re human hostages of a criminal regime. It’s the most heartbreaking thing we’ll see at the Olympics”

It seems North Korean’s power to seduce has its limitations.

#Kim #Koreas #North #secret #weapon #Yojong #News #Random News

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fashiontrendin-blog · 6 years

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Period Cramps and Pesto Pasta: A Day in Haley’s Life During Fashion Week

http://fashion-trendin.com/period-cramps-and-pesto-pasta-a-day-in-haleys-life-during-fashion-week/

Period Cramps and Pesto Pasta: A Day in Haley’s Life During Fashion Week

I suppose my Saturday technically started at 12:01 a.m., at my brother’s apartment in Bushwick, as I sat on his couch waiting for my SIM card to breathe life into his old phone. It was old and wouldn’t stay charged for more than six hours, but it didn’t have a shattered camera lens as mine now did after my attempt at a fashion week hat trick: leave a show, put on a coat, whine on the phone about my period migraine. Suffice it to say, it didn’t work out and everything was going great. Here’s how the next day went.

Saturday, February 10th, 7:48 a.m.: Friday was so long and I stayed up so late working that I decided to treat myself to an 8:30 a.m. alarm., but I woke up before 8 a.m. due to sleepy delusions that I’d ruined Man Repeller. My subconscious knew we had two stories going live that morning that I had yet to edit.

8:30 a.m.: After fake-sleeping for 42 minutes, I got up, grabbed my computer, and brought it back to bed to work from there, which I sometimes do on the weekends, even though I know I’m not supposed to.

9:44 a.m.: I ‘ve just finished editing and scheduling the stories. I close my laptop and pretend to sleep for five more minutes, then get the hell up because I have to do an outfit recipe for Man Repeller’s Instagram.

9:50 a.m.: I send my boyfriend packing to get us coffees because I don’t want him creeping in the background of my filming and also the thought of him watching stresses me out. The cat can stay though.

10:05 a.m.: I jump in the shower.

10:20 – 11 a.m.: I get dressed on Instagram, which sounds creepy but involves no skin. I end up wearing this:

The answer to my caption is yes.

11:15 a.m.: I do a final edit on another story, email the writer to let her know, then respond to other emails.

11:30 a.m.: Avi comes back with coffees like the angel that he is. We head out to get some food, preferably somewhere with wifi so I can get a little more work done.

11:35 – 1 p.m.: Our joyous morning outing entails:

-Avi getting anxious about stuff he needs to do, I think possibly as a direct result of my being anxious about stuff I need to do.

-Us passing our anxieties back and forth, empathizing with each other and discussing realistic solutions like hopping on a flight back to California where we were last weekend. (It was 70 degrees.)

-Stopping for breakfast at a cafe in Williamsburg where the food is bad and the wifi sucks, which improves our moods a great deal.

1:20 p.m.: It dawns on me that I’m already running late for a show — Eckhaus Latta — which starts at 2 p.m. but which is luckily close to my house. We rush home.

2:05 p.m.: I get to Eckhaus Latta on time. It’s in a huge and beautiful warehouse space in Bushwick.

There are cool looks and camel coats aplenty. A baby in the front row cries in the middle of the show and has to be rushed out like a tiny, hungry prince.

2:45 p.m.: The show ends. I mentally note how much I’ve enjoyed the casting so far this season; it’s felt less box-checky than usual, in regards to race and age, and I’ve seen a lot of makeup-free models and bodies similar to those I see in the wild.

3 p.m.: I walk home nearly doubled over with period cramps. I decide they are the worst period cramps I’ve ever had (but I always say that).

3-4 p.m.: I crawl back into bed like Gollum. I don’t move for an hour, I feel genuinely relaxed and like I could stay there until Monday. (I know I’m dramatic but, after a week of 12-hour work days and poor sleep, I feel tired in the marrow of my bones.)

4:15 p.m.: I map how long it will take me to get to Spring Studios by train for Jonathan Simkhai: 40 minutes. Given I am in bed, I am basically already late.

5:25 p.m.: I get to Jonathan Simkhai and it’s a madhouse! Intimidating, but thank god Harling is here. I find my seat next to her and we spy one Joan Smalls in the front row while we wait for the show to start. Later I see this amazing video of Phoebe Robinson feeling awkward sitting nearby and am utterly tickled, because I felt like that sitting near her just two days prior at Creatures of Comfort.

5:55 p.m.: Harling and I regrettably part ways (she has a show uptown), and I have a two-and-a-half-hour break, for which I have nothing to do.

6 p.m.: I call my sister to see if I can come hang out with her — I miss her and she lives in Nolita — but she doesn’t answer. I decide to walk to Man Repeller HQ instead, like a loser. I call my mom, she doesn’t answer.

6:05 p.m.: I call my friend Adrea and apologize for missing her birthday party the night before. We talk for awhile and it’s really nice.

6:30 p.m.: I get to the office. It’s dark and empty and silent. Since I live in a basement with no door and have three roommates upstairs who are home a lot, I never feel totally alone, and I never quite get the satisfaction of closing a door on the world to complete solitude. Right now, the office offers that, and after a week of overstimulation, it feels like ecstasy. I’m suddenly so excited I have two hours to kill until Pyer Moss at 8:30 p.m.

I don’t even have my laptop, so I can’t work! I take a selfie.

6:42 p.m.: I get a big-ass bowl of pesto pasta from across the street. I’m really hungry after mostly not eating all day. (Remember, breakfast was bad and I gave most of it to Avi.)

6:48 p.m.: I put on David Letterman’s new Netflix show and watch him talk to George Clooney for an hour, which is surprisingly entertaining. I decide that I, too, would have changed my whole life for Amal. I eat some of Edith’s ice cream cake. This is a really cool Saturday night.

8:05 p.m.: Time to go! Should be a 20-minute walk or so. I realize my phone is dying so I steal Matt’s charge cord (sorry Matt, I’ll bring it back!) and head out.

8:25 p.m.: As I approach Spring Studios, I run into Aemilia (Madden, not Diamond), who I like and know through various industry events. She indicates I’m walking the wrong way and I panic and say I have to make a phone call, which is an anxious lie.

8:28 p.m.: I come to my senses and meet Aemilia in line and remember how nice it is to know people at fashion events. Her friend knows someone in PR who is working Pyer Moss and gets us to the front of the line, which is fun but I feel undeserving.

8:35 p.m.: I’m in my assigned seat now, feeling slightly awkward but enjoying all the good outfits in the front row. I decide to introduce myself to the guy next to me.

Me: Hi! I’m Haley.

Him: Hi! I’m Josh.

Me: Nice to meet you, where do you work?

Him: *turns away and talks to his one million friends*

Me: *pretends to cough*

9 p.m.: Show starts. Holy shit there is a live gospel choir here!

9:15 p.m.: The show is moving, political and beautiful. The clothes are so good, but they’re almost secondary. Robin Givhan says it best:

9:35 p.m.: I’m outside, it’s raining, and I realize I left my umbrella under my seat. (Good thing I’m wearing a detachable hood!) I hurry to the subway — I have 45 minutes of trains to take home. I spend them reading Maureen Dowd’s New York Times piece on Uma Thurman, which is great.

10:22 p.m.: I’m home, I’m home!!! I immediately put on sweats, do my skincare routine and brush my teeth. Just as I’m about to get in bed, I remember we have two stories going up tomorrow that I haven’t edited. I go to my desk and work for an hour.

11:35 p.m.: OKAY now I’m ready to sleep.

11:37 p.m.: I get in bed and have never been more comfortable in my whole life. I’m such a baby — this day wasn’t even that crazy, but I decide I just might sleep forever. Good night!

Photos via Haley Nahman.

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ryanlight0317 · 7 years

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NOWFoods Immersion Session & Unbelievable Giveaway

I had the good fortune to be selected by NOWFoods to be part of a wonderful 2 day #NOWGetFit Immersion event a few weeks ago. I assumed that during this event we would learn more about NOWFoods – their products, facilities, testing procedures, etc…you know the boring stuff. How I was shocked! Yes, we learned about their products, facilities, and testing procedures, however I was not expecting their passion, care, service and mission as it relates to us their consumers. I have to be honest, I was absolutely blown away by what I saw as they live out their CORE values, “Since 1968 NOW’s mission has been to provide value in products that empower healthier lives, and this mission is summed up in our company’s core values.”

When I heard about the opportunity to to visit NOWFoods I was super excited as I have been using the NOW brand over over 10 years. I was turned onto the brand from a friend of mine that was a health nut, but to be honest, broke. He would tell me, “If I could only find a health company that had great quality at affordable prices.” I remember him being so excited when he came across NOWFoods. He told me that he had done the research and found that NOWFoods had some of the best quality products for the money. After doing some of my own research and using a few of their products I was sold. After visiting them for the #NOWGetFit immersion event, I’ll be a customer for life.

The Event

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Thursday’s Agenda

Friday’s Agenda

Thursday

Most that know me know that I hate to fly, so much so that I have to take something to calm me down. In fact- this was why I started to use NOWFoods. Some of their products help ease my tension, especially when I fly. I flew out on a late Thursday morning. I was shocked to get through the Atlanta security and at my gate within 15 mins of arriving at the airport. This obviously put me in a great mood, and eased my tension. I arrived at Chicago 2 hrs later, where I met some other folks attending the event. NOWFoods had a car waiting to pick us up – First Class! We were staying at the beautiful Eaglewood Resort, in Itasca, IL.

View from room, Eaglewood Resort

We were met by NOWFoods reps when we got our room keys, and had a few hours before the festivities began. When opening up my room, I was welcomed with this incredible amount of products – it was so generous and wasn’t expecting that whatsoever.

WOW…SWAG bag!

Thursday Night

NOWFoods took us out to dinner to meet some of their employees. I was expecting, you know the PR guy, the social media gal, and someone from maybe middle management. Nope, again blown away, the CEO, the who was the nicest man, social media and public relations ladies, who were again, some of the nicest, down-to-earth people, and last but not least one of the owners- Yes! The owners of the company, who actually sat at our dinner table! We had the best conversation about the company. The CEO, Jim Emme explained to us some of the history, present, and future plans for the NOWFoods brand. What I found to be amazing was that he spent about 5 mins talking about the company and spent about 20 mins talking about his people – NOWFoods employees. His passion and thoughtfulness for his people showed the care that he has for them. He also talked about us, the consumer and how their brand always strives to meet the needs of their consumers with the best possible price without cutting the quality. For someone that has been in the corporate world for almost 20 yrs, it was refreshing to hear a CEO talk about his employees, brand, and customers is such a way.

Friday Morning

Here where some of the real fun begins! We started out with HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) workout. Where we were lead by a Eaglewood Resort trainer on various exercises. I got a real sweat on. After which we were delighted to receive a NOWFoods protein/recovery shake which was made up of a number of NOWFoods products. Next on the agenda was a outstanding presentation from Tina Tews on the NOWFoods extended line – beauty & health along with essential oils. She not only went through the line of products, but backed up the brands research, testing, and innovations in these spaces. To see the presentation please link here – Fitfluential Bloggers 2017. I didn’t realize, even after using their supplements for 10 years that they have a long list of these types of products – I was blown away. We also did a DIY kit using a number of their newly released essential oils. I of course made an oil for sports recovery mixture.

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Waiting on others so we can get our buts kicked at HIIT.

HIIT Sign

HIIT instructor…kicked my…

RIPPED aka HIIT workout bout ready to go on up in here!

The Facility (Where the Magic Happens)

After the HIIT workout and a light breakfast, we were off to visit the facility where the magic happens. At first glance there is nothing magical about it. It looks like a regular old building with the NOW sign hanging off the side. We entered a room where we were greeted by the NOW team– including some of their scientists, back office folks, and of course their CEO (again shocked). Some of the scientists gave us a short presentation on the company, their founding, the mission, their purpose, and testing standards. Interesting enough I was actually listening and felt very engaged in the presentation. You know how some of that stuff goes, why we are the best, why everyone needs to use us, blah, blah, blah. But it was nothing like that.They simply shared with us the background of the NOW brand.

The Tour

After the presentation, we started on our tour of the facility wearing our smocks and goggles. I felt like a real “scientist”, but the smocks were that jail color orange, not that pretty starchy [doctor office] white. We were off on the tour. The very first thing I noticed was the CLEAN air I was taking in. I felt as though I back in Seattle climbing Mount Rainier.The air was crisp, dry, and clean. As we walked through the intake (where the packages come in) I noticed the cleanliness- no dust, open boxes, no garbage at all. Again, I was amazed at their standards. Even their intake was quite impressive.

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Intake- notice the skinny aisles, everything is automated

Intake where the product comes in

Next up, we visited the processing section of the facility. In this section they have various rooms where they are mixing the multiple elements to make up their product. The rooms are air tight and very controlled. Each room had numerous people sampling through quality control tests to ensure what NOW puts on the label is actually in the product. After each change in product, the room is cleaned thoroughly, to guarantee no cross contamination within their products. We continued on, passing the mixture rooms where processing, packing, labeling, and boxing happens. The system is mostly automated; however, there are a few individuals that oversee the conveyor system process and they do random sampling on bottles. One thing that blew me away was when we were walking around, Jim the CEO knew everyone’s name. He would stop, say” Hello”, ask how they were, and made sure they were doing OK. What a testament to not only him, but his employees and the company as a whole. Sorry, back to the tour….At the time we were visiting, cinnamon was being packaged and through every step you could see tests, validation, checks, and sampling being done – amazing!

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Processing start

Processing middle

Processing end

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Demo of the processing line

Infrared scanning

Labels

Our next stop on the tour was the with the scientist – in the “Lab”. Here we learned the various testing mechanisms and the quality control measures in which the NOW brand takes to make certain they are providing the best quality products. They have various labs from food, health & beauty to supplements.

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After the tour is was on to to lunch and the main office. Here we learned about the NOW Sports vertical. As I already noted I have been taking their products for some time so I was quite familiar with a lot of their sports products. However, I came to find out they they have a wide selection of sports related supplements, protein powders, and foods. Their line of sports nutrition has grown over the years, and there were many I didn’t know they carried – I look forward to trying and using many of these products. Here is more information on their sport line – 2017 Sports OpenHouse.approval FDA

Last but not least we headed to the Chef’s Kitchen where we got to taste the wide selection of NOWFoods nuts, oils and ready made soups. I must admit after lunch I wasn’t that hungry, but after smelling these soups and oils, I justcouldn’t help myself – they were delicious!

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Wrap Up

In closing, I’d like to say Thank You to my friends over at NOWFoods and FitFluential for giving me the opportunity to see first hand what I knew for years– how great this brand is!

Engage with NOWFoods

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NOWFoods Immersion Session & Unbelievable Giveaway NOWFoods Immersion Session & Unbelievable Giveaway I had the good fortune to be selected by NOWFoods…

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sxminfo · 7 years

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David Redor: 52nd marathon of his incredible 2016 challenge – A marathon that should have been the last but wasn’t!

52 marathons in 52 weeks in the 50 states, plus Washington D.C. and the Bahamas: This was the challenge that David Redor – -Crazy Dave– had set himself for 2016. And on December 17, 2016, he completed his challenge! The 52nd marathon in Little Rock, AK was supposed to be the last of his 2016 challenge, but it wasn’t… In September 2016, while he was running the marathons of his initial Challenge, Redor realized that taking the dietary supplement Immun’Âge® allowed him to recover faster. And he started running “extra marathons”, as he called them, with 100 marathons within a year in mind. On December 31, 2016, after having run one marathon a day during the last weeks of the year, his 100-marathon-challenge was also completed!

David Redor has managed an amazing feat by running not 52 but 100 marathons within a year!

Endowed with extraordinary physical and psychological abilities, David Redor was able to manage – for a full year – all difficulties that come with long distance running, such as terrible weather conditions, dehydration, and many more. Never failing, he was able to avoid getting hurt or worn-out. Despite the very many trips that he had to take to get to each of the 50 states after each race, he never lost energy and completed both challenges in great shape, ready for new adventures.

Below are some interesting facts and numbers regarding the 100 marathons that David Redor ran in 362 days:

• 2,621.8 race miles, i.e. 4,500,000 strides (40 years of marathons for a reasonable runner!) • 6 pairs of running shoes • 26.6 lbs. lost • 1,130 packets of Immun’Âge®, a fermented Papaya dietary supplement with unique antioxidative and immunostimulant properties. • Some 80 gallons of Gatorade while racing • Biggest difference in elevation change while ascending: Manitou Springs-Pikes Peak Summit (CO) 6,358 ft-14,114 ft. • Biggest difference in elevation change while descending: Madison-Enny (MT) 8,599 ft-4,941 ft. • 1 marathon run in underwear (suitcase was lost)! • 1 lost suitcase • 1 bag forgotten in a plane • 125 flights • 97,413 miles traveled by plane • 11 airlines: American, United, Delta, JetBlue, Frontier, Southwest, Westjet, Suncountry, Alaska, Ravn, Hawaiian • 8 trains • 625 miles traveled by train • 5 long distance buses • 693 miles traveled by bus • 36 rental cars • 12,762 miles traveled by car • Stopped twice by the police: one for speeding, once for driving without headlights. (I did not receive any ticket and offered a signed David Redor postcard to the officers.) • 1 saved deer! (He was stuck in a fence.) • 49 Airbnb rentals • 35 hotels

Below is the text that David Redor wrote for his 52nd marathon.

Little Rock Marathon: Two gifts to end with a flourish!

After two weeks on the magnificent Hawaiian Islands, I went back to the continent experiencing a drastic change of temperature: It was 30° F when I got to Little Rock, AK. Tough change especially as I had to take several flights during the night. As soon as I landed, I first got my bib and then went to my hotel for a good rest.

After a good night’s sleep, I woke up at 5:15 with the alarm clock. I took three packets of Immun’Âge® as always before a marathon, and a few minutes later I had a fresh fruit juice and a cereal bar for breakfast. As I was getting ready, I checked the weather outside and got a great surprise! Some sort of miracle had happened: the temperature went from 30 to 68° F during the night! The first gift of the day.

I went to take the shuttle bus that took five minutes to get us to the start: we arrived around 6:30. I chatted with a few runners who were congratulating me… In a few hours, indeed, I was to complete my 2016 Challenge! 52 marathons in 52 weeks in the 50 states, plus D.C. and in the Bahamas…

After the national anthem, the run started: it was 7 o’clock. We started along the Arkansas River with a good pace. We crossed the Big Dam Bridge and ran on the other bank. I reached km 5 in 30 minutes. The sun was rising, the weather was good and the course flat and fast. Everything was well. We were running on the trail along the river and this was quite engaging.

I reached km 10 in 59 minutes feeling that I was going to accomplish a good marathon time. There were a few decent hills but nothing drastic. My pace was good. We headed towards Little Rock. At km 15 (reached in 1:29) we ran uphill across the second bridge, the Clinton Presidential Bridge. We turned around on the other bank of the river and took the same course back towards the start/finish line.

It was a beautiful hike. There were not too many people to encourage us but the volunteers working at the Aid stops created an exciting ambiance as it had often been the case this year! I really felt well. I reached km 20 in 2:00 and the half marathon in 2:06. I was on the pace to reach my personal best, which motivated me even more. I was in good spirits and was psyched up for doing a good time. We crossed the Big Dam Bridge back. I reached km 25 in 2:32.

We passed by the start/finish line at km 30 (reached in 3:06) and ran up the third bridge, the Two Rivers Bridge. We took the trail back on the other bank towards a park for a large loop. My back started hurting but nothing severe. The run was soon over: I was not going to let anything get in the way of me doing a good time for my 52nd and last marathon. I reached km 35 in 3:41. Steve, whom I met while running the marathon in Kansas, joined me but I left him behind after a short while.

It started to drizzle a bit, but I could see the finish line. There was no way that the light rain would stop me. I sped up from km 40 – reached in 4:18 – until the finish line which I crossed in 4:36:15 (marathon distance in 4:33:58). This was the second gift that I got that day.

They took my picture and congratulated me. I grabbed something to eat for later and rushed to the shuttle to get back to my car. I had to hurry up as I had to catch a flight to Jacksonville where I was to resume my other challenge! While performing my 52-marathon-in-a-year challenge, I realized that I could reach the magical number of 100 marathons and had started to run many extra marathons. I still have to run one marathon every day to complete this second challenge by December 31.

My initial 2016 Challenge is done: one marathon in each of the 50 states, DC and Nassau in 52 weeks!

I had a wonderful year in this beautiful country where I have discovered magnificent places and met wonderful people. It’s time to be thankful and take stock.

I would like to thank: • Pierre MANTELLO for his sponsorship and huge contribution to my challenge. Many thanks for introducing me to his extraordinary product Immun’Âge®. Without Pierre, and without the properties of his fermented papaya dietary supplement, this challenge would have certainly been way more difficult. • My friends Thierry POMIES, Peggy MILLARD and LINKWORK VENTURES for their welcome, logistic and technical help around the clock, their PR work and the great dinners that helped me put back some kilos when I needed them the most! • Florent LETUVEE at SXM INFOS for his huge PR work with the media as well as his work as Webmaster for my site and my Facebook page, and for many more contributions! The man can do everything! • Soufiane BAKADA at Immun’Âge® for his efficient reactivity. He was a solid and invaluable help particularly when it came to logistics and when I did not have time to take care of bookings. • Elizabeth KRISEK and Scott GOODRICH for their editing and translating my texts, as well as for their welcome. They were a great help. • Gilles DUFOUR, McDonald’s AVIGNON, for his generous financial contribution. • Ludovic MOUNIER, EGD FINANCE, for his friendship and financial support (not the first time): a loyal sponsor! • Stéphane and Yoan PEYRONNY for their financial contribution as well as for the great evenings every time I came back to Saint Martin! Thanks for the good beers that perked me up! • Claudia and the SPORTECH store for the high-quality sports gear they supplied me with. • Vincent JACQUEMIN and the LOUBSOL co for their high-quality runner’s glasses! A fantastic product… made in France! • Fadi HASBANI and HARLEY DAVIDSON SUPERBIKES SXM for their jacket that I wore almost every day. Great product! • Florian MANIERE, Vincent VERGEZ and CUBE co for their financial contribution. • MARCO at the YELLOW BEACH RESTAURANT for his kind financial contribution. • Pascal CASTAING, SERIGRAPHIX co, for his screen printing work on my runner’s outfits. • Fabrice LAUTEL of the organic bar restaurant SUSHIS N JUICE for his invaluable contacts. • Patrick BELISE at MB COACHING for his kind financial contribution. • Lévy TONY for his kind financial contribution.

Many thanks to all of you, friends and family, who have followed me, motivating and encouraging me all year long: that was such a great help!

To conclude, I chose a quotation that I found great. It reflects very well what I have experienced this year as well as life in general.

Happy New Year to all of you!

“… There is no happiness without courage nor virtue without struggle.” Jean-Jacques Rousseau

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David Redor: 52nd marathon of his incredible 2016 challenge – A marathon that should have been the last but wasn’t! David Redor: 52nd marathon of his incredible 2016 challenge - A marathon that should have been the last but wasn’t!

#2016 #chalenge #Crazy Dave #David Redor #Immun’Âge #Little Rock Marathon #marathon #sxminfo

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growingupguidepup · 4 years

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Growing Up Guide Pup: From Idea to Reality

Amie and I have learned so much over the last several years. We have matured a lot as puppy raisers, as well as learned an awful lot about the video business. Moreover, what it is going to take to make Growing Up Guide Pup viable long term. Still in the interum of progress, I felt the need to write a new blog on Growing Up Guide Pup as its been several months. As of how we got to where we are today. I hope our fans enjoy and thanks to all for your continued support.

Back in 2009, I was creating how-to videos released under my moniker “ChappyShowcase” which were videos about low budget film making. Although I released all kinds of videos in different genres, the how-to film making seemed to resonate more than any other types of videos I made. The economy had collapsed, video creators had no money, and low budget film making spoke to that. Consistently I found good feedback and people offering to pay me to make my “$30 Steadicam” for them; named after a how-to video of the same subject. I was not interested in doing this, but found it a pleasant experience to get so much feedback. It was amazing making a video rendition of a recycled design I had learned about nearly 7 years earlier back in the dial modem days of the internet. This single video got me more serious about doing more although I had already put out a few dozen videos scattered over a few months.

After a few years of freelancing as a cinematographer/editor, as well as producing an exhausting amount of wedding videos with my production company, I was deeply affected by the crash of my video business in late 2007. I lost nearly all my clients, however took the opportunity to look for other avenues to do video. I recently had read about sites like Youtube, Metacafe, Revver, and Crackle in Videomaker Magazine. I had really wanted to tell my own stories, not work for other people, but this idea was kind of a dream. What had seemingly been good as a videographer, no longer existed in a flash so what did I have to lose? Up to that point Youtube and other “user generated sites” had only been around for months not years. These sites seemed to have a stigma of only containing crappy videos from amateurs. I remember the sentiment that respectable filmmakers didn’t do that sort of thing. No one I knew in the video business was making videos and putting them up for free on these unique sites, I thought I might as well put up a few I had created since they had screened and then died. I put “Nerves of Steel” and “In Case of Emergency” up. Two films I had screened at some smaller film festivals.

After figuring out a dozen “user generated” sites or so, I instantly loved the fact that there was immediate feedback and fulfillment from an audience. Before I had to find a place to screen a film and it could take months if not years to find a festival. By the time that happened, I may hardly remember why i made the film in the first place. What an amazing thing this “user generated online distribution” was for producers. I uploaded the same videos to all the sites and was able compare the views and reactions. Not only did I learn about what videos were most popular, I also learned the value of working with the right distribution partners. One week in the summer of 2008 I had the opportunity to film Streaming Media West at their annual conference which took place in Silicon Valley. This conference put together by Dan Rayburn featured one panel about a new thing called a web series. Show creators with titillating new brands included Rocketbook, and Political Lunch spoke about what they were doing. The market for such an idea was really immature, but the opportunity was good according to them. The web series was to be the next big thing in their estimation. The internet was the wild west where there were no rules to speak of. No technical specifications, no close captioning, no format restrictions, and the list went on and on. A video creator could do whatever they wanted and tons of sites like Youtube would host the videos for free too. This seemed to be a no brainer for me to experiment with more.

I though more and more about producing a web series in 2008 after a year of distributing videos all over the internet. My documentary “Nerves of Steel” featured on Crackel for nearly a year, then ChappyShowcase became a partner producer with Metacafe. Shortly after that Youtube accepted my application to be a “producer partner” as well. These events really got my hooked into the possibilities of what a web series may present. Especially now that i had learned the value of intellectual property and money working for you and not the other way around. I felt a web series was a better idea because it was serial or episodic in nature. This sort of distribution approach could be a better way to build an audience. I experienced that my videos were often one-off and not serial even if some of them were getting pretty good hits. The one-off videos were not seemingly connected from one upload to another. Perhaps this gave my viewers no reason to necessarily check back in and watch new videos. One week I may put up a Samoan music video from a guy who had not payed me (so this was my way at some sort of monetization) for the work. Another week I may put up a grease monkey video of a time lapse car repair I did. Yet another time I would release a parody I made with my brother years earlier; shot on analog video. Although I did find many would simply binge view my content all at once for a day or two, a serial show may bring people back by the nature of the release and continual story forward. This could go on for months, or maybe even years. More and more people (on Youtube especially) were starting to put out a web series of some sort. Some releasing a new episode once a month, or once a week, or even some did it once a day.

Some years before all of this, my wife and I started raising guide dogs for the blind in 2002. Over the following decade we really started to enjoy it and couldn’t believe how fulfilling it was to help other people. “Could we make a web series about this guide dog stuff?” We became good friends with the visually impaired partner who received our first guide pup Macklin. Her genuine appreciation and ability to raise her level of productivity in life was so apparent that it just smacked me in the face. “This is a whole new narrative world I have hardly seen in tv or movies” I thought. After a few days of talking about it, my wife Amie and I decided to give it a shot and make a web series. At least we figured we would try putting out a video once a week for a little while.

Growing Up Guide Pup was to be the name of the series. We really didn’t have much of a plan as we decided to experiment and remove conventional production bureaucracy so we could move quickly. We had a new puppy arriving shortly. Two days after the idea, I already had camcorder in hand and was filming cause a puppy had become available. That first episode we decided to design a format that even the visually impaired could enjoy through colorful description. At first we focused on story, not production value. We filmed with a cell phone for the first time so we could get footage in the grocery store without a hassle. We focused on spontaneity and decided to keep the amount of oversight and cost to a minimum. My in kind equipment from my video business would be fine to make the series, and my prior online distribution experience with ChappyShowcase made me comfortable enough to move forward with a once a week video release approach. We released a video every week as our new puppy Ricki matured. Episode after episode we couldn’t believe how fun the process was for us. We also got more feedback and appreciation than we had anticipated. We started hearing from people who lived in other parts of the US, and even other countries. The service dog school we were working with at the time caught wind of what we were doing and starting promoting our videos and writing blogs so get more PR for themselves. The next thing we knew, our series was not an experiment anymore. it seemed to be working as a moving story piece and the puppy appeal was undeniable.

Our series was accepted in the New Media Film Festival in 2010 while we were still filming the first season about Ricki. This was about 8 months after we had started. It was amazing how fast things work with the internet. Before we knew it, we had made a relationship with Nylabone dog toys and did our first contest giveaway. After a year, we had several thousand loyal fans as we continued to make the series and grow our core followers of dog lovers, puppy raisers, service dog people, and the visually impaired. Eventually this landed us an invitation to screen our series at the first and still largest web series festival in the world. Its called the LAWebFest and was founded by Michael Ajakwe Jr. It rendered awards for many things, but most importantly “Outstanding Non-Fiction Series” two years in a row in 2011 and 2012. In 2013, we also received an award at CreaTV Awards in Silicon Valley for “Outstanding CreaTiVe Award Feature Winner”. After we finished our 2nd season with our dog Pilaf, we decided to stop for awhile and focus on our eldest states dog. Our career changed guide dog pup named Eli had cancer and we wanted to focus on his last months. He recently passed just shy of his 10th birthday, which was tough, but gave us a lot of time to reflect. We had for the first time experienced the entire life-cycle. One of our guide dog puppies had been with us from the beginning all the way to the end. This was the last part needed to give us complete perspective.

It is 2014, and we are now ready to get serious with Growing Up Guide Pup once again. Older, wiser, more experienced, and full of a renewed passion for storytelling my wife and I are excited about the endless opportunities Growing Up Guide Pup presents. In 2013 we spent six moths and hired consultation to build a business plan for Growing Up Guide Pup which would allow us to create a sustainable brand. We also have done a lot of research about non-profit formation as well as making it a opportunity for investors. Both are possibilites and we will rule nothing out as neither has taken hold. We are now prepared after years of homework and study to implement a tv show addition to our already established web series program and move both forward together. Growing Up Guide Pup is ready to go from web series to beyond!

For more details on our products and services, please feel free to visit us at: service dog info, service dog education, service dog in training, sdit, service dog in training acronym.

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