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Honkai Character Analysis: Bronya and Silver Wolf (Part 2)
2023.05.28 14:45 DemiGodInsanity Honkai Character Analysis: Bronya and Silver Wolf (Part 2)
 | Hello trailblazers! submitted by DemiGodInsanity to HonkaiStarRail [link] [comments] After an admittedly very VERY long pause due to me getting sucked into a certain videogame that begins with "T" and ends with "he Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom", I'm finally back to writing now that I have some extra free time and can do both! I suppose it works out as now we're pretty close to Silver Wolf releasing meaning that her stuff will come right on time! But I digress, today we're here to talk about Bronya once again! https://preview.redd.it/deds2pdrek2b1.png?width=2048&format=png&auto=webp&s=308d196bc089963fde7ff5f202d1501c4113b153 But before, we have our disclaimer! The Honkai: Star Rail characters and Honkai Impact 3rd characters who have the same name and similar appearances, except for Welt Yang, are NOT the same person, but instead you may think of them as something akin of parallel versions of each other! I go into detail about this and how the Honkai universe works here! Also, big spoilers for Honkai Impact 3rd ahead, be warned! Now then, let's continue Bronya's story, which we cut off after Bronya and friends met up with Rozaliya and Liliya and then Bronya decided to go into the Sea of Quanta, after the Gem of Desire and to possibly find the long lost Seele! You can check out part 1 here! The Sea of QuantaAfter entering the Sea, Bronya was faced with multiple trials. As she hopped between Bubble Worlds, fragmented parallel worlds that floated in the Sea until they became nothing, she met with the one she wanted to see the most, Seele. Not a parallel Seele, but the one she had always known. She kept following her through many worlds, but these worlds would come to an end before she was able to do anything. As she dives deeper into the Sea, she meets with Joachim, a shadow of the current form of Welt Yang, who acted as a sort of "guardian" for the Sea after he had become lost there during an expedition him and Einstein had taken to explore the Sea.Bronya and Joachim Joachim reveals that Bronya currently finds herself in a labyrinth, which is Welt Yang's current form, with the different worlds being manifestations born of his memories. Bronya continues to travel onward, guided by a book that connected her and Seele. Through many worlds and corrupted memories, Bronya continued to move forward, no matter what. Seeing that she completed this trial, Joachim entrusted Bronya with Welt Yang's Herrscher core, that of the Herrscher of Reason. After doing battle with the evil being within Seele, who had made a deal with someone who used the form of a serpent to get Seele out of the Sea in exchange for Bronya's life, Bronya completes her metamorphosis. Bronya, the new Herrscher of Reason, with the remodeled Project Bunny After defeating the monster known as Tlaloc, Bronya continues to search for Seele, and she finds her after she exits a bubble world created by the Serpent, who is revealed to be Kevin, a man from the Previous Era. They are locked into battle, and Kevin steals the core from Bronya, whose movements are now slowed after she's done so much travelling within the Sea. However, Welt Yang's will allows him to reform from the core, stopping Kevin from taking it. Welt Yang reappears from the core, stopping Kevin Kevin takes the Gem of Desire and leaves the Sea. Welt chases after him, and Seele now brings a tired Bronya without powers with her to leave the Sea. After many tribulations (and a cool cutscene), they are able to leave. Kevin has escaped with the Gem. Welt decides to give Bronya the core to keep, as he believes she has more potential while using it. The next time Bronya is seen is when she and Kiana go to climb Mount Taixuan, where they find many of the memories of their class principal and mysterious girl Fu Hua. This arc, though very complex and important, does not give much to Bronya as a character, and I'll thus leave it with just this small mention (though I'll add something here if I've forgotten it!) Bronya's Training and Other ArcsLater, we find that Welt Yang is training Bronya in how to use the Herrscher core. As she trains, she also has recurring dreams, including finding herself in a wasteland and seeing a figure of a man, who she attempts to approach but wakes up before she is able to. This is Bronya experiencing the site of the First Honkai Eruption which originally gave birth to the Herrscher of Reason, Welt Joyce, the very man Bronya sees during the dream.Welt Joyce appears in Bronya's dream Welt Yang explains that the Herrscher of Reason can only contruct things that they know the composition of. For example, Bronya is able to replicate a gun she is familiar with perfectly, able to fire and all, but is unable to do so with a gun she is unfamiliar with, having to dismantle it to learn each component. He shares that he also saw the dream Bronya did, and it was more of a fragment of memories and the wills within the core, those of the 300,000 people that died during the First Honkai Eruption. From here, the Herrscher of Domination incident begins, and Bronya and Seele, along with many of their friends, battle against it and its unique powers. In the climax of the battle against this Herrscher, Bronya, who had been knocked almost unconscious, gives a fragment of the Herrscher of Reason powers temporarily to Kiana, allowing her to gain new powers and defeat the enemy. After this incident, Otto Apocalypse (Schicksal's ruler) begins his master plan to "revive" his fallen love, Kallen Kaslana. Though the entirety of the main cast and their friends are involved in this plan, Bronya is once again not given a great deal of importance or new developments. She and Seele work together most of the time, with Bronya showing her concern for Seele's safety. Though Bronya now controls the Reason powers properly, there is still much she is unable to do, and she has a limit to the things she can create, as some things require more energy than she can output. When she battles Rita Rossweisse, she remembers the path she has taken as the Herrscher of Reason, and doubts her ability to be the successor. But she understands that, even if she cannot carry the weight of the world, as the previous Herrschers of Reason had done, she can provide help and do it along with her friends. She is then able to create a copy of the Star of Eden, the Divine Key used by both Welts. Bronya utilizes the Star of Eden In order to use the Star of Eden's power, Bronya continues to create them as they are destroyed, as she cannot create a stable one with her current powers. After Otto creates a barrier around his location using the powers of the Herrscher of Binding, the cast attempts to shoot it down using the Selene, a high power cannon that neutralizes Honkai energy. However, the barrier regenerates too fast for the blast to be able to work due to the charging time of the weapon. In order to break the barrier, Bronya decides she will use the Reason powers to create an array of Selenes and blast it open before it can regenerate. To do this, she must reach into the core and communicate with the 300,000 souls that rest within it. She is able to convince them to help her, and is even able to approach Welt Joyce, and thus she is able to concentrate some of their power. Welt Yang, from within the core By synchronizing the thoughts of the 300,000 to a certain degree, the Herrscher of Reason's power is augmented by a fantastic amount, allowing Bronya to fulfill the mission she set out to do and create multiple copies of the Selene to break down the barrier, before fainting and coming close to death due to the amount of power taking a burden on her body. Bronya creates multiple Selenes Project Stigma and the MoonLater, Kevin and his organization World Serpent initiate the Project he had been in charge of for 50,000 years, since the Previous Era, a last resort to defeat the Honkai. Project Stigma consisted of creating a shared consciousness that would not be affected by the Honkai and could then pass on its powers to the next era of humans through becoming Stigmata engraved into them. Of course, this, despite being a plan that would not fail against the Honkai, was nothing short of immoral, as it would technically mean killing every human on the planet.Bronya along with Mei and Kiana, all of whom are Herrschers, are sent into the Sea of Quanta by Kevin to keep them from interfering with the plan. After the girls reunite, they find a bubble world where they meet Dr. MEI and Prometheus, a scientist and an AI from the Previous Era. These two want to help them stop Kevin's Project Stigma, and eventually help them leave the Sea. Here they meet Hare, an ally of Kevin who was in charge of sending humans into a "dream world", which connected to form the shared consciousness. She is not human, but instead a crystallization of a Stigma, basically the humanoid form of the Stigma's perfected form. Specifically, she is that of the Schariac Stigma, the purest representation of the Schariac bloodline, of which Kiana's mother, Cecilia, was a part of. We also discover that Hare, also known as Misteln, had actually met Bronya's mother. It seems that Bronya's mother had known what would happen to her upon Bronya's birth, and Hare had used her Stigma powers to keep her alive, but she had refused as that would mean the baby wouldn't survive. With a heavy heart, Hare took away the power she had infused her with and left before the mercenaries of the Silver Wolves arrived. She later returned to find nothing more than a grave with Alexandra's name. From here on, she kept an eye on Bronya since her early life. Hare and Gray Serpent (another of World Serpent's members) find Alexandra's grave Hare locks away Bronya's Reason powers by splitting the 300,000 wills from the core through her powers. Bronya takes the core, now with only 1/300,000th of its power, and battles Misteln, who has taken all the other souls into Project Stigma. Through defeating the soldiers Hare created from fragments of souls, she regained her power over time, and eventually, through the realization that the 300,000 are not the solution to every problem and that they are not the entirety of the core's power, she is able to surpass what she had done before, harnessing the complete power of the Herrscher of Reason, becoming the Herrscher of Truth. Herrscher of Truth, the perfected version of the Herrscher of Reason She defeats Hare, and from here, her, Mei and Kiana are able to gain new power and eventually defeat Kevin, putting a stop to Project Stigma and ending part 1 of Honkai Impact's story. 8 Years LaterAfter defeating Kevin, Kiana, through her newfound powers, was able to take most of the Honkai Energy on Earth and keep it concentrated on the Moon, where she would have to stay with it for around 10 years before she was able to make it into something that could be used by all of humanity, effectively ending the Honkai crisis. Meanwhile, Mei, Bronya, and the rest of humanity went back to their normal lives. Both Mei and Bronya would work with Schicksal, now ruled over by Theresa Apocalypse, to keep the world at peace and make sure nothing would once again threaten the world. Though there is not too much to speak of here, we do get to see Bronya 8 years after the end of part 1, through the side mode known as A Post-Honkai Odyssey.Adult Bronya Though not directly addressed in APHO, Kiana sealing most of the Honkai Energy means that Herrscher powers are almost completely lost, meaning Bronya no longer has access to nearly as much power as she did during the end of part 1. She is now acting as a squad leader for one of Schicksal's squads, and she helps he main character of APHO along with his friends fight against the Sky People, an alien race that invaded Earth to take its Honkai Energy and replace humans as the dominant species, with the aid of a "man" known as Void Archives. The EndBronya's story is one that goes through many phases. She begins as a stoic, almost robotic girl, both due to her being raised as an assassin and due to the loss of her brain functions pretty early on. Even here, she demonstrates her love for those she cares about, especially Seele. As she inherits the Herrscher of Reason's core, her destiny becomes inevitably intertwined with that of Welt Joyce and Welt Yang, having her become part of the history of their lineage. She becomes a pupil to Welt Yang, almost like his own family, and her journey revolves around finding her own path and realizing that she, unlike Yang, does not need to inherit the "name of the World" to be worthy of the name of the Herrscher of Reason. In the end, she surpasses all attempts before and perfects the core, being a fundamental part of the battle to save the world and all of humanity, as well as the efforts to rebuild after the Honkai crisis is over.Bronya Zaychik and Bronya RandFinally, we can think a bit about the similarities between Star Rail and Honkai's Bronyas!Both have a strong sense of duty and justice in their own way. Bronya Zaychik from HI3 always thinks of the lineage of the Herrscher of Reason and the duty she shares with the Welts that came before her, while Bronya Rand from HSR feels her duty as the leader of the Silvermane Guards (and later as the Guardian of Belobog) more than anything. Besides this, we can find that both were adopted by Cocolia and raised in an orphanage, where they both met the respective Seele of their world and created a strong bond with her. Besides this, Bronya Rand's relationship with ice, even in her art, can be connected to the fact that Bronya Zaychik, though only related with ice through her growing up in Siberia, has all her relevant battlesuits as Ice element (Herrscher of Reason, Herrscher of Truth and Silverwing, her adult form). Closing ThoughtsThank you for reading all this! It took a while to get here, definitely longer than I had originally expected lol, but hopefully it's a good read! As always, for any Honkai veterans or just anyone that knows, please let me know whatever I may have gotten wrong!I want to point out that perhaps these 2 parts may not seem as well put together as Welt Yang's analysis. This is because Bronya, though a very important character within Honkai Impact, is often shoved to the side and is considered the least relevant of the original main trio. Often times she will disappear from the main focus of the story for an extended period of time, meaning her story is more fragmented, and I had to show her most relevant moments, meaning that it feels more like talking about different sections of her life as if they were fully separated. It's a bit unfortunate, but hopefully it's to your liking anyway! Regarding Silver Wolf, I've decided to tackle her in part 3! There I will discuss Silver Wolf's origins in the HI3 world, along with discussing the very varied versions of Bronya that exist across all the HoYoverse games, because there are many and they can be quite confusing! This part 3 will (hopefully) be released on the date of Silver Wolf's release in Star Rail, so look forward to it! For now, thank you again for reading and give me any suggestions or opinions in the comments! |
2023.05.28 14:30 Darkseid_2021 Amend tax return on incorrect crypto loss? HELP please
Hello. I’ve been trading and selling crypto on Coinbase for a while and Cointracker didn’t update fully on my transactions.
In 2018 I have a reported loss report of -$47.59 I must’ve forgot or did not know to report on my tax return.
In 2021 I have a report loss of -$68.42. The reported loss report I sent to my tax accountant was -$37.59
In 2022 I have a report loss of -67.77. The reported loss report I sent to my tax accountant was -$3.79.
I haven’t received any IRS audit email or notified about this. I’m freaking out that I might get audited or fined. Do I contact my tax accountant file a amend on the my tax returns?
submitted by Darkseid_2021 to tax [link] [comments]
In 2018 I have a reported loss report of -$47.59 I must’ve forgot or did not know to report on my tax return.
In 2021 I have a report loss of -$68.42. The reported loss report I sent to my tax accountant was -$37.59
In 2022 I have a report loss of -67.77. The reported loss report I sent to my tax accountant was -$3.79.
I haven’t received any IRS audit email or notified about this. I’m freaking out that I might get audited or fined. Do I contact my tax accountant file a amend on the my tax returns?
2023.05.28 14:01 miarrial Sudan: Army chief blames UN envoy for war and calls for his dismissal
Link in French – Soudan : Le chef de l’armée fait porter la responsabilité de la guerre sur l’émissaire de l’ONU et réclame son limogeage
ACCUSATIONS UN Secretary General and Washington reaffirm support for Volker Perthes.
General Abdel Fattah al-Burhane, head of the Sudanese army, in Khartoum on December 5, 2022
In Sudan, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhane has found a scapegoat. The army chief is calling for the dismissal of UN envoy Volker Perthes, blaming him for the war that broke out six weeks ago with paramilitaries and left more than 1,800 dead, according to the NGO ACLED, and, according to the UN, more than a million displaced and 300,000 refugees.
In a letter to the UN, General Burhane accused Volker Perthes of "concealing" the explosive situation in Khartoum in his reports to the UN. Without these "lies", General Mohamed Hamdane "Daglo (paramilitary boss) would not have launched his military operations". The UN envoy to Sudan, the letter further accuses, has respected neither his duty of "impartiality" nor "national sovereignty", becoming "a party and no longer a mediator".
Guterres "shocked" by al-Burhane's request
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was "shocked", expressing his "full confidence" in his envoy. The US State Department also expressed its "strong support" and "confidence" in Volker Perthes, and its "concern" at the letter sent to the UN.
On April 15, the day on which the army chief and the paramilitary leader began hostilities, they were supposed to meet for negotiations. For weeks, the international community, led by the UN, had been calling for agreement on the integration of General Daglo's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) into the army. While many observers predicted that the talks would fail, the UN envoy to Sudan proclaimed his "optimism". On the day the war broke out, he admitted that he had been "taken by surprise".
Volker Perthes, who recently left for New York, "may not be able to return to Sudan and surely knew this when he left", assures researcher Kholood Khair. For her, the weight of the Islamists in Burhane's camp continues to grow, and whether or not Volker Perthes is granted an entry visa "will be a decisive test" of their resurgence.
However, the army camp seems divided: at the same time as General Burhane was calling for Volker Perthes to be sacked, his new number two, former rebel leader Malik Agar, was discussing a way out of the crisis with the UN envoy.
submitted by miarrial to International [link] [comments]
ACCUSATIONS UN Secretary General and Washington reaffirm support for Volker Perthes.
General Abdel Fattah al-Burhane, head of the Sudanese army, in Khartoum on December 5, 2022
In Sudan, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhane has found a scapegoat. The army chief is calling for the dismissal of UN envoy Volker Perthes, blaming him for the war that broke out six weeks ago with paramilitaries and left more than 1,800 dead, according to the NGO ACLED, and, according to the UN, more than a million displaced and 300,000 refugees.
In a letter to the UN, General Burhane accused Volker Perthes of "concealing" the explosive situation in Khartoum in his reports to the UN. Without these "lies", General Mohamed Hamdane "Daglo (paramilitary boss) would not have launched his military operations". The UN envoy to Sudan, the letter further accuses, has respected neither his duty of "impartiality" nor "national sovereignty", becoming "a party and no longer a mediator".
Guterres "shocked" by al-Burhane's request
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was "shocked", expressing his "full confidence" in his envoy. The US State Department also expressed its "strong support" and "confidence" in Volker Perthes, and its "concern" at the letter sent to the UN.
On April 15, the day on which the army chief and the paramilitary leader began hostilities, they were supposed to meet for negotiations. For weeks, the international community, led by the UN, had been calling for agreement on the integration of General Daglo's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) into the army. While many observers predicted that the talks would fail, the UN envoy to Sudan proclaimed his "optimism". On the day the war broke out, he admitted that he had been "taken by surprise".
Volker Perthes, who recently left for New York, "may not be able to return to Sudan and surely knew this when he left", assures researcher Kholood Khair. For her, the weight of the Islamists in Burhane's camp continues to grow, and whether or not Volker Perthes is granted an entry visa "will be a decisive test" of their resurgence.
However, the army camp seems divided: at the same time as General Burhane was calling for Volker Perthes to be sacked, his new number two, former rebel leader Malik Agar, was discussing a way out of the crisis with the UN envoy.
2023.05.28 13:58 temptationaus UFC Fight Night: Kara-France vs Albazi (Provide Picks Full Card Breakdown) [+92 Units in 18 months]
2023 Results (So Far): +18.78 UnitsFull transparency, I run a MMA betting service called Provide Picks. We have been operating for roughly a year and a half completely tracked and verifiable with a return of over 96 units in that short time. You can find our full tracking sheet history here and you can also see a bunch of customer testimonials and betting slips throughout that time here.
2022 Results: +73.185 Units
All Time: +92 Units
Me myself, I have watched MMA religiously for more than 10 years and trained for over 4.5 years, I love this sport so I figured why not help bring some insight and analysis to others! Now this isn’t a sales pitch, I know how Reddit works and I really enjoy the opinions shared on this sub-reddit so I genuinely want to help contribute and if you enjoy the output, please feel free to join the team! We are proven to be profitable long-term so if you have some spare change to invest at any level, you love the sport and are interested in improving your knowledge - come over and check us out at providepicks.com. As we have a fair base of paying members, it wouldn’t be fair to them to share every single one of our bets however I want to provide as much value for this betting community as people, hopefully to help you guys see a different angle in terms of MMA betting and long-term profitability and more importantly - sending these bookies broke.
Anyways enough waffle - let’s get into this week’s shenanigans. This is a surprisingly fun fight night card, I love these events that are lower on name value but just full of decent talent and exciting matchups. This is definitely one of them and generally when you have slightly lesser talent stacked fight nights, you have a night full of violence and finishes - let’s see if that continues in this one. Onto the breakdowns!
Maxim Grishin (32-9-2) vs. Philipe Lins (16-5):
Grishin is a tall, orthodox fighter who is just a real good mixed martial artist. He is a big frame for the LHW division, is strong and still has fairly slow, plodding style of movement and footwork. Is good in the clinch, very good at holding position by winning underhooks and using his big head to frame against the neck of his opponent and keep them in position for taxing knees to the body and just wearing on them with his big frame. I like his ability to keep the fight in his range, using slight forward pressure and a decent feint game to his advantage. Can be a little heavy set on the lead leg so should look out for the speedy outside leg kick of Lins in this one - Grishin is also pretty handy at catching the body kick and punishing. Personally, never been massively high on Lins in his career, admittedly he has looked better since dropping to his proper weight class post juice cycle but it is against weak competition. He is OK everywhere but not great anywhere, I do like his hand-speed with his boxing combos especially when pressuring forward. I think he mixes in takedowns well in his game at times but he can also be held against the cage. I probably slightly edge Lins in terms of cardio but I also do think this is a massive watch the scales fight due to Grishin’s size and propensity for bad weight cuts. This is a tough fight to call given both guys are fairly unimpressive. I favour the speed of Lins with the hand-speed and kicks definitely but he doesn’t set them up intelligently. I think Grishin can hold Lins against the cage, wear on him with his size and win minutes. I capped this fight 50/50 and I think we see a close fight, will take Maxim Grishin by UD but with very low confidence.
BET: No bet.
Luan Lacerda (12-2) vs. Da'Mon Blackshear (12-5-1):
I like what I saw on debut from Lacerda - he has a very Muay Thai style of fighting, very flat-footed with a high guard, move forward pressuring with the lead leg ready to pop up and check kicks quickly. He has sharp, fast hands and particularly his hooks to the body are very technically sound. Against Stamann he was able to mix some grappling in when it suited but it is clear he is more of an Aldo style fighter that prefers to stuff takedowns and keep it on the feet. Coming up against Blackshear here who I have been very impressed with even though he is off 2 losses. Da’mon is a super well rounded guy, I like his creative offence on the feet and I also like his offensive grappling ability on the ground too. Defensively, he leave a little more to be desired and can be a little comfortable with fighting off his back which I don’t particularly like. We haven’t seen too much grappling from Lacerda so will be interested to see how he fares in this one but I think the technicality of Lacerda on the feet, the ability to mix his targets to the head, body and legs and just land the more damaging strikes will edge him this one. Taking Luan Lacerda by UD.
BET: No bet.
Jinh Yu Frey (11-8) vs. Elise Reed (6-3):
I would be doing a disservice to everyone who reads this if I honestly told you with any level of confidence that you should put your hard earned money anywhere near this fight. Don’t, simple as that.
Daniel Santos (10-2) vs. Johnny Munoz Jr. (12-2):
This is a super fun matchup between two very efficient grapplers which should make for a exciting scrap here. Let’s start with Daniel Santos, if you knew nothing of this guy and watched him fight and had half a clue on MMA, you would know immediately that he is a Chute Boxe fighter. He has relentless forward pressure, irresponsible boxing defence and is a very kill or be killed style fighter. I like his stalking style, but he has little head movement besides the pull counter really, likes to pressure you until that back foot is up against the cage and then explode in with spinning attacks or elbows from weird angles. He keeps his hands high but then head on centre line and thus far has shown some crazy durability but this can only get you so far. Looks to have solid grappling, not accepting bottom position and constantly looking to invert and throw up submissions. Against Arce he looked good however Arce was able to be elusive with his footwork, stick and move and use angles well to counter in and out of range. I think against anyone who can effectively stay on the outside and use smart, straight shots effectively, he will struggle. I just don’t think that guy is Munoz JR on the feet - he is clunky, doesn’t throw in combinations and looks to parry alot of shots defensively which I really don’t like against a guy who throws wild, unorthodox strikes in Santos. He is a solid wrestler with some good offensive TD numbers but he has to be careful not to shoot unintelligently and throw himself into a submission which will make him hesitant and have to strike. I think Munoz’s wins have been against low level guys who aren’t in the promotion anymore and I think this is a bad stylistic fight for him. I think Santos will land the more damaging shots and I fancy he gets him out of here in under 2 rounds. Taking Daniel Santos via TKO RD 1.
BET: Like the look of the Santos moneyline, fancy Santos Inside the Distance too but will wait to see what price this opens at. If we get anything in the realm of +125 to -120, I would look at a 1.5 unit play. Under 2.5 rounds is an option also depending on price, I think it will probably be around the -200 to -250 play so anything south of that will be a play too.
Andrei Arlovski (34-21) vs. Don'Tale Mayes (9-5):
Huge experience edge to the old-dawg here in Arlovski. Mayes has been everything but impressive thus far in his UFC career and I don’t know how you could be intrigued to play either side in this one. Mayes can hit hard and is reasonably athletic for the HW division but skill for skill outside the boxing, he doesn’t offer a lot. I couldn’t be confident on ever betting him to be quite honest. You know what you’re going to get with Arlovski and that is volume, if his chin can handle what is coming back at him. He is a special for split decisions so if you’re a degen and want action, look to that but for me, no interest here. Will take the side of Andrei Arlovksi via UD using his volume and experience but you couldn’t be more lower confidence.
John Castañeda (19-6) vs. Muin Gafurov (18-4) :
Gafurov taking this on short-notice with Castaneda set to take on Mendonca before that was cancelled and replaced with possibly the furthest opposite style of fighter. The Gafurov gameplan is simple, contest on the feet, use blitz attacks such as looping overhands when moving forward followed by a double leg against the cage and rely on his Sambo capabilities to hold top position and out-work his opponent. Castañeda is a guy that doesnt get a huge amount of spotlight but I like his game alot. He has nice footwork, good striking out of southpaw and orthodox, has good wrestling entries and is able to grapple competitively, just a solid all around mixed martial artist. In this one, I really favour the movement and footwork of Castañeda and I think the speed is going to give Gafurov issues. Castañeda is sitting at a 60% TD Defence rate which is concerning against a guy who will consistently shoot like Gafurov, but I think Castañeda will be hard to find, using the angles in and out of the pocket and throwing quick shots up the middle to dissuade and make Gafurov think. I like John Sexi Mexi Castañeda to win this one by UD.
BET: No lines opened yet but have capped Castañeda as a 60% winning chance.
Elizeu Zaleski (23-7) vs. Abubakar Nurmagomedov (17-3-1):
Zaleski is an interesting fighter to me. Good sprawl, solid TD Def against the cage, good balance and strength to win underhooks. Quite a flat-footed striker, not a massive amount of footwork but I like his rear leg power kick, he hits the body well and switches levels nicely. Relatively low volume and works single shots mainly without a massive amount of feinting. The frequency that he fights worries me but it has been the story of his career. Abubakr is the typical Dagestani fighter, limited stand up basically a quick overhand right and other single shots, tied in with a grinding, gruelling wrestling pace. He seems on the lower end of the Nurmagomedov scale in terms of skill, often leaving himself open to submission when in top control whether it’s knee-bars or even the common triangle. He is able to hold a good pace over 15 mins which is good given how top heavy and smothering he can be at times. He fights out of both stances, looks more comfortable out of OD but if he fights SP, I think he will lose this fight. Zaleski is too sharp on the feet especially with the body kicks and straight shots which will only be accentuated in the opposite stances. I also think the knees for Zaleski are going to be huge here, he throws them with bad intentions in the centre and against the cage which tied in with his teeps and front kicks are a dangerous sight for Abubakr. Abubakr is a good chance at smothering the fire power of Zaleski and just wearing on him but I think he is dangerous enough off his back to survive and challenge at times and I expect the damage will start to add up on the Zaleski side and I think we see a finish. Taking Elizeu Zaleski via TKO RD 2.
BET: Zaleksi ITD will be a play if over +200. Moneyline odds are probably bang on.
Guram Kutateladze (12-3) vs. Jamie Mullarkey (16-5):
Guram has a K1 kickboxing background and it shows, very high level on the feet with good head movement and sharp, unpredictable strikes set up with a smart feint game. He has really good distance management, uses great fundamentals and is super quick with his hand-speed and he finishes combos with kicks which I love, its that kickboxing mentality. He fights out of All Stars which shows in his TD Defence especially against the fence, he is clearly strong but has very good wrestling and counter wrestling technique. He has had a super high level of competition and performed very well in wins and losses, we just don’t see him active enough due to injuries and bad luck. Mullarkey is an absolute junkyard dog, pushing the pace and moving forward with intense pressure making you fight every second of that 15 minutes. He like to engage in the pocket, for better or worse, and in recent times we have seen his wrestling really shine through some of these tough scraps. He has a nice jab which I expect to be pumping prior to every combo and entry for Mullarkey. I just think at this point in his career this is quite a tough fight for Mullarkey. Guram is a super high-level striker with a good base for stuffing takedowns and keeping the fight in kickboxing range. I expect Mullarkey to want to close distance and engage, I just don’t think defensively he is strong enough to absorb and adapt to the speed and combinations of Guram and I think we see that chin tested for Mullarkey. I think this is a bit of a step down in competition for Guram although if Mullarkey can get some early takedowns it will be interesting to see the gastank of Guram tested. The activity is always a question mark but at this point I think Guram should win this handily, will be taking Guram Kutateladze via TKO RD 2.
BET: Wouldn’t touch Guram at -350 but he should win.
Karine Silva (15-4) vs. Ketlen Souza (13-3):
Silva should win here but at that price, even blind Freddie could see that this is a pass on the moneylines. Silva actually has a high finishing ability in terms of WMMA, so if we can get a good price on a fight doesnt go the distance line, that could be an option here.
BET: Wait for round lines to drop.
Tim Elliott (18-12-1) vs. Victor Altamirano (12-2):
Altamirano is a SP fighter, fairly unusual style of striking with sort of a Tony Ferguson style mixed in with some well timed takedown attempts. He has very little power in his strikes but OK volume. Defensively, he leaves a lot to be desired with a modified sort of philly shell style where his lead hand is low and near the hip, he does get hit and often but he has shown very good durability. His takedowns worry me at times because he is very content to dip his head to an advancing opponent and run a double or single leg, he is very open to knees and front kicks up the middle. Tim Elliott lives up to his nickname of “Awkward” extremely well. He has bizarre head movement, footwork and feints that all tie in to his sort of herky jerky style of fighting. He is able to tie his wrestling game in very well, I’d say technically he is far more technically sound than Victor. He does put himself into submission opportunities with some of his entries but im not too worried about that in this fight. This has the potential to be one of the worst fights we have seen TBH and only because of how weird and unorthodox these guys are, the awkwardness really has the potential to make this fight a strange one. I am pretty confident that Tim has the grappling/wrestling edge and also the more diverse and comfortable striker, the recent occurrence with Tim and Gina Mazany in the media does give me pause that he might be coming into this too emotional but I think it may fire him up to really perform. I think Tim is under his value here and can win in a multitude of ways, going to take Tim Elliott via UD.
BET: Tim Elliott Moneyline -175 (2 Units to win 1.14 Units)
Jim Miller (35-17) vs. Jared Gordon (19-6):
I will keep this one short and simple, Gordon is a really bad stylistic matchup for Miller and would win probably 7/10 times currently BUT he is returning way too soon after getting KO’d by that headbutt from Bobby Green. Gordon has good wrestling and generally good durability with a knack for pushing these grinding paces and outworking and outlasting his opponent. Pair that up with good submission defence and thats a horror fight for A10 Miller. But you can never count Jim out, he hits hard for a vet, he is unorthodox and he has the potential to catch you. For me, Gordon should roll here but I love to play Jim Miller round one given that is his money round - have cashed plenty on this through his career! Short breakdown and not a thorough one, I think Jared Gordon should win this fight but I think it is too soon. I will take Jared Gordon via UD**,** but take it with a pinch of salt.
BET: Jim Miller wins round 1 (price not available yet, .75 units)
Alex Caceres (20-13) vs. Daniel Pineda (28-14):
Haven’t had time to break this one down yet but will update if any bets come off it!
Kai Kara-France (24-10) vs. Amir Albazi (16-1):
KKF is a kickboxing fighter who we have seen develop nicely through his career in the UFC. He has worked tirelessly on his takedown defence and it shows in his huge improvement in ability to not only stuff shots but his ability to use the cage and his excellent balance to keep his feet underneath him. I think KKF’s hands are still fairly rudimentary and not necessarily in a bad way, he uses the jab decently well and relies on the 1,2 sometimes too much. For his weight, he has good power and one area I really like are his leg kicks, he has solid rear leg power kicks that he lands very efficiently off the back of his straight shots. Albazi is more of a grappler in nature with a majority of his victories by submission but I have liked what I have seen from him on the feet also. He has a sharp, snappy jab which he works off the back of and allows to dictate the fight. He has a pretty limited kicking game and in terms of kick defence, I expect KKF to really try and exploit the lack of checking and the heavy set stature of Albazi. In the grappling realm, I don’t think it’s close. Albazi has some elite scrambles on the mat and if you’re content to sit in his guard, he has some really damaging ground and pound in which he will equally target your head and body and punish you and wear on you. Albazi is far superior in terms of grappling but the question is will he be able to get it down to the mat? I think his timing going under the big right hand will be an option and I think he will be able to use his strength advantage when in close to muscle certain movements. This is a big step up in competition and his first venture into main event rounds which is a worry. This is going to be a fun fight and I am really looking forward to it but I think as long as everything looks good after weigh-ins, I will be on the Albazi side. He is improving with every fight and I think we see him get this fight to the ground and wear on KKF, eventually finding a submission, probably a RNC. Taking Amir Albazi via SUB RD 3.
BET: Will wait to see what round lines are set at. Will be looking at the Albazi Inside the Distance line also.
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And that wraps up the breakdowns for this week! We send our followers the full betting cards on Saturday morning here in Australia, post weigh-ins. Nothing worse than betting on a fighter pre weigh-in, just to see him look like complete shit on the scales. We will post some of our betting card here incase anyone is interested!
Good luck, always gamble responsibly and remember to hang around long-term because there will be ups and downs but trust the process and we will build some bankroll. Would love to know if you agree or disagree anywhere and let us know who you are riding with below. Enjoy the fights! - Dylan.
2023.05.28 13:55 _Triple_ [STORE] 900+ KNIVES/GLOVES/SKINS, 50.000$+ INVENTORY. M9 Fade, M4 Poseidon, BFK Freehand, Crimson Kimono, Nomad Fade, Skeleton, Kara Lore, Bayo Autotronic, AWP Fade, Kara Damas, BFK Ultra, Kara Freehand, Kara Bright, M9 Damas, Omega, Tiger Strike, Flip MF, Bayo Tiger, Deagle Blaze, Talon & More
Everything in my inventory is up for trade. The most valuable items are listed here, the rest you can find in My Inventory
Feel free to Add Me or even better send a Trade Offer. Open for any suggestions: upgrades, downgrades / knives, gloves, skins / stickers, patterns, floats.
All Buyouts are listed in cash value.
KNIVES
★ Butterfly Knife Freehand FN #1, B/O: $2500
★ Butterfly Knife Ultraviolet FT, B/O: $822
★ Butterfly Knife Scorched FT, B/O: $616
⎯★ Bayonet Tiger Tooth MW #1, B/O: $1300
★ Bayonet Autotronic FN, B/O: $1050
★ Bayonet Tiger Tooth MW, B/O: $629
★ Bayonet Bright Water FT, B/O: $326
★ Bayonet Safari Mesh BS, B/O: $233
⎯★ Karambit Lore FT, B/O: $1110
★ Karambit Damascus Steel FT, B/O: $840
★ Karambit Freehand MW, B/O: $784
★ Karambit Bright Water MW, B/O: $759
⎯★ M9 Bayonet Fade FN, B/O: $1801
★ M9 Bayonet Fade FN, B/O: $1801
★ M9 Bayonet Damascus Steel FN, B/O: $751
⎯★ Nomad Knife Fade FN, B/O: $1156
★ Nomad Knife Slaughter MW, B/O: $544
★ Nomad Knife Blue Steel WW, B/O: $318
⎯★ Flip Knife Marble Fade FN, B/O: $646
★ Flip Knife Doppler (Phase 4) FN, B/O: $574
★ Flip Knife Gamma Doppler (Phase 1) MW, B/O: $552
★ Flip Knife Case Hardened FT, B/O: $257
★ Flip Knife Freehand FT, B/O: $255
★ StatTrak™ Flip Knife Bright Water FN, B/O: $287
⎯★ Huntsman Knife Lore FN, B/O: $461
★ Huntsman Knife Gamma Doppler (Phase 4) FN, B/O: $436
★ Huntsman Knife Doppler (Phase 3) FN, B/O: $353
★ Huntsman Knife Autotronic FT, B/O: $212
★ Huntsman Knife Bright Water FT, B/O: $129
★ Huntsman Knife Forest DDPAT MW, B/O: $129
★ Huntsman Knife Forest DDPAT BS, B/O: $123
★ StatTrak™ Huntsman Knife Rust Coat BS, B/O: $127
⎯★ Bowie Knife Gamma Doppler (Phase 2) FN, B/O: $375
★ Bowie Knife Gamma Doppler (Phase 1) FN, B/O: $363
★ Bowie Knife Tiger Tooth FN, B/O: $269
★ Bowie Knife Crimson Web WW, B/O: $192
★ Bowie Knife Bright Water FN, B/O: $159
★ Bowie Knife Ultraviolet FT, B/O: $126
⎯★ Stiletto Knife Slaughter FN, B/O: $616
★ Stiletto Knife Crimson Web FT, B/O: $412
★ StatTrak™ Stiletto Knife Night Stripe FT, B/O: $227
⎯★ Falchion Knife Lore FT, B/O: $214
★ Falchion Knife Autotronic FT, B/O: $192
★ Falchion Knife Scorched WW, B/O: $105
⎯★ Survival Knife Crimson Web BS, B/O: $216
★ Survival Knife Case Hardened FT, B/O: $198
★ Survival Knife Scorched FT, B/O: $111
⎯★ Shadow Daggers Fade FN, B/O: $368
★ Shadow Daggers Doppler (Phase 3) FN, B/O: $228
★ Shadow Daggers, B/O: $201
★ Shadow Daggers Damascus Steel FT, B/O: $108
★ Shadow Daggers Ultraviolet FT, B/O: $105
★ Shadow Daggers Black Laminate FT, B/O: $99
★ Shadow Daggers Forest DDPAT FT, B/O: $85
⎯★ Gut Knife Doppler (Sapphire) MW #1, B/O: $1700
★ Gut Knife Gamma Doppler (Phase 1) FN, B/O: $223
★ Gut Knife Marble Fade FN, B/O: $203
★ Gut Knife Doppler (Phase 2) FN, B/O: $191
★ Gut Knife Case Hardened BS, B/O: $127
⎯★ Navaja Knife Doppler (Phase 4) FN, B/O: $199
★ Navaja Knife Doppler (Phase 4) FN, B/O: $199
★ Navaja Knife, B/O: $138
★ Navaja Knife Damascus Steel FN, B/O: $111
⎯★ Classic Knife Urban Masked FT, B/O: $146
★ StatTrak™ Classic Knife Stained BS, B/O: $168
⎯★ Ursus Knife Doppler (Phase 3) FN, B/O: $476
★ Ursus Knife, B/O: $375
⎯★ Skeleton Knife, B/O: $1137
★ Talon Knife, B/O: $608
★ Paracord Knife, B/O: $305
★ Survival Knife Forest DDPAT FT, B/O: $97
GLOVES
★ Moto Gloves Transport MW, B/O: $204
★ Moto Gloves Polygon BS, B/O: $142
★ Moto Gloves Blood Pressure BS, B/O: $84
★ Moto Gloves Blood Pressure BS, B/O: $84
★ Moto Gloves 3rd Commando Company BS, B/O: $63
★ Moto Gloves 3rd Commando Company BS, B/O: $63
⎯★ Specialist Gloves Crimson Kimono WW, B/O: $1215
★ Specialist Gloves Tiger Strike FT, B/O: $672
★ Specialist Gloves Lt. Commander FT, B/O: $305
★ Specialist Gloves Lt. Commander BS, B/O: $140
★ Specialist Gloves Crimson Web BS, B/O: $137
★ Specialist Gloves Buckshot FT, B/O: $75
⎯★ Driver Gloves Crimson Weave FT, B/O: $359
★ Driver Gloves Imperial Plaid BS, B/O: $229
★ Driver Gloves Overtake BS, B/O: $77
★ Driver Gloves Racing Green FT, B/O: $48
⎯★ Sport Gloves Omega FT, B/O: $739
★ Sport Gloves Amphibious BS #2, B/O: $733
★ Sport Gloves Arid BS, B/O: $292
⎯★ Hand Wraps Giraffe MW, B/O: $212
★ Hand Wraps Leather FT, B/O: $160
★ Hand Wraps Desert Shamagh MW, B/O: $101
⎯★ Broken Fang Gloves Yellow-banded MW, B/O: $185
★ Broken Fang Gloves Needle Point FT, B/O: $67
★ Broken Fang Gloves Needle Point WW, B/O: $59
⎯★ Hydra Gloves Case Hardened BS, B/O: $65
★ Hydra Gloves Emerald FT, B/O: $65
★ Hydra Gloves Emerald BS, B/O: $62
WEAPONS
AK-47 Case Hardened BS, B/O: $130
AK-47 Bloodsport MW, B/O: $79
AK-47 Fuel Injector BS, B/O: $76
AK-47 Fuel Injector BS, B/O: $76
AK-47 Bloodsport FT, B/O: $70
AK-47 Neon Rider MW, B/O: $60
StatTrak™ AK-47 Aquamarine Revenge FT, B/O: $72
⎯AWP Fade FN, B/O: $1039
AWP Asiimov FT, B/O: $139
AWP Asiimov FT, B/O: $139
AWP Wildfire MW, B/O: $95
AWP BOOM MW, B/O: $93
AWP BOOM MW, B/O: $93
AWP Duality FN, B/O: $81
AWP Asiimov BS, B/O: $79
AWP Asiimov BS, B/O: $79
AWP Chromatic Aberration FN, B/O: $60
StatTrak™ AWP Hyper Beast FT, B/O: $68
StatTrak™ AWP Hyper Beast FT, B/O: $68
StatTrak™ AWP Electric Hive FT, B/O: $55
⎯Desert Eagle Blaze FN, B/O: $623
Desert Eagle Emerald Jörmungandr FN, B/O: $241
Desert Eagle Cobalt Disruption FN, B/O: $81
Desert Eagle Cobalt Disruption FN, B/O: $81
Desert Eagle Cobalt Disruption FN, B/O: $81
Desert Eagle Printstream FT, B/O: $54
⎯M4A1-S Blue Phosphor FN, B/O: $434
StatTrak™ M4A1-S Bright Water MW, B/O: $55
⎯M4A4 Poseidon FN, B/O: $1465
M4A4 Asiimov BS, B/O: $55
M4A4 Hellfire MW, B/O: $50
⎯USP-S Kill Confirmed MW, B/O: $72
USP-S Printstream FT, B/O: $69
StatTrak™ USP-S Kill Confirmed FT, B/O: $139
⎯AUG Flame Jörmungandr FN, B/O: $234
P90 Run and Hide FT, B/O: $147
Five-SeveN Candy Apple FN, B/O: $61
Trade Offer Link - Steam Profile Link - My Inventory
Some items on the list may no longer be available or are still locked, visit My Inventory for more details.
Send a Trade Offer for fastest response. I consider all offers.
Add me for discuss if there is a serious offer that needs to be discussed.
2023.05.28 13:32 Lost_my_comB AITA for telling my dad to come to work?
For context, my father(47M)and I(26M) are both in Automotive Collision Repair. He and I use to work at different shops just a few minutes apart and in September of 2021, we were under the same business and in September of 2022 I made the decision to return to my previous employer for the sake of quality work, time and money. Between September of 2022 and January of this year, he realized he wanted the same as me. So I put in a good word (along with a few others I work with) and got him a spot in the shop.
We both went from working weekends, 10-12 hour days and shit pay… to a M-F, 8-5, more money/better quality work environment. But he’s gotten lazy. He’ll spend 2 hours of his day talking on the phone or just watching videos. Comes in late and sometimes leaves early as well. We both work on a flat rate pay (commission). He’s been complaining about money since September of last year. I’ve even helped him out a few times with no expectation of getting money back.
Well this past Thursday, he went and picked up a 2 steers (cattle, 2 bulls uncastrated, horrible combination). My grandmother has a farm, and between my father and 4 Aunts/Uncles, he’s the only one that takes care of the place.
Friday morning, one of them little bastards got out and had made a bee-line for a neighbors farm, quickly, my father had lost it. No track, no sight and no idea which direction. 8’clock came and went, then 9 o’clock, 10, 11. Management knew he was dealing with the issue, and there wasn’t any concern with it, but there are vehicles that have to go for months end. They came to me and asked me to do the work, meaning I’d get paid and not him. Already having enough work on my plate, I tried calling whim which got forwarded straight to voicemail. So I called his wife, my stepmother. I told her, to tell him fuck that cow, it’s not making him any money, if anything costing him money. In reply told me, cattle or no cattle, they’re out of money. All my Aunts and Uncles are doing well for themselves and all live in the same area. Why are you the one helping and struggling!? It’s completely unfair to him and he refuses to ask any of them to help. I do my part in mowing, cleaning and coming by when asked to help. I understand it’s a responsibility for him to take care of his mother and to make sure the farm is taken care of. But when he comes to me asking for financial help, when he could just come to work and make the money himself OR simply ask one of his brothers or sisters to give a hand, AITA?
I have ADHD, so apologize if this seems all over the place.
submitted by Lost_my_comB to AmItheAsshole [link] [comments]
We both went from working weekends, 10-12 hour days and shit pay… to a M-F, 8-5, more money/better quality work environment. But he’s gotten lazy. He’ll spend 2 hours of his day talking on the phone or just watching videos. Comes in late and sometimes leaves early as well. We both work on a flat rate pay (commission). He’s been complaining about money since September of last year. I’ve even helped him out a few times with no expectation of getting money back.
Well this past Thursday, he went and picked up a 2 steers (cattle, 2 bulls uncastrated, horrible combination). My grandmother has a farm, and between my father and 4 Aunts/Uncles, he’s the only one that takes care of the place.
Friday morning, one of them little bastards got out and had made a bee-line for a neighbors farm, quickly, my father had lost it. No track, no sight and no idea which direction. 8’clock came and went, then 9 o’clock, 10, 11. Management knew he was dealing with the issue, and there wasn’t any concern with it, but there are vehicles that have to go for months end. They came to me and asked me to do the work, meaning I’d get paid and not him. Already having enough work on my plate, I tried calling whim which got forwarded straight to voicemail. So I called his wife, my stepmother. I told her, to tell him fuck that cow, it’s not making him any money, if anything costing him money. In reply told me, cattle or no cattle, they’re out of money. All my Aunts and Uncles are doing well for themselves and all live in the same area. Why are you the one helping and struggling!? It’s completely unfair to him and he refuses to ask any of them to help. I do my part in mowing, cleaning and coming by when asked to help. I understand it’s a responsibility for him to take care of his mother and to make sure the farm is taken care of. But when he comes to me asking for financial help, when he could just come to work and make the money himself OR simply ask one of his brothers or sisters to give a hand, AITA?
I have ADHD, so apologize if this seems all over the place.
2023.05.28 13:28 GJW2019 9 Days in Rome
Just back from a glorious 9 days in Rome. There's no other place like it and I felt so lucky to be able to go, My three initial aims in this trip were: (a) see my hometown hero Bruce Springsteen amongst my ancestral people (they literally sing along to not just the lyrics but the guitar riffs etc too) as well as (b) sink or swim as I continue to practice my Italian language skills (I've been taking lessons with a tutor for 2 years but there's nothing like just being thrown into the world of the language to sharpen up and get very comfortable conversing) and (c) do hours upon hours of photo walks (I ended up averaging 30k steps a day every day aside from the two sick days).
In brief, I split the trip up into two halves: the first half I stayed up on Avantino hill (it's very close to the Circo Massimo, so it was an easy spot for the concert) and the second half in a quiet pocket of Trastevere a block or two west of the river south of Ponte Paladino. My Avantino air bnb host gave me some great neighborhood places in nearby Testaccio (another wonderful neighborhood that tourists don't seem to wander into very much), and I found a fantastic and slightly quirky place for espresso also in Testaccio (I'm an espresso fiend). If you haven't been to Avantino, it almost reminded me of the Italian Beacon Hill (for those familiar with Boston). It had the feeling of a Tuscan village that just happened to be somehow in the middle of Rome. It's where the famous key hole is that frames St. Peters, as well as the Giardino degli Aranci and Santa Sabina's, which is a gorgeous church from 422 AD. Staying here felt very relaxing and peaceful and even though some tourists did make their way to the keyhole every day, it had a very tranquil vibe, despite the fact that Circo Massimo was 5 minutes north and Testaccio was 5 minutes south.
Given that my favorite thing to do on vacation is just wander around with my Ricoh GR, I would begin every day in Avantino thusly: Get up, have an espresso at Tram Depot (always at the bar), walk around for a few hours and just see what I can find. Maybe I'd get a quick breakfast bite at the outstanding Casa Manco in the Testaccio market. Then I'd go to for a big lunch at the wonderful Pecorino (also in Testaccio). This lunch would usually last an hour or two. It's a very cozy restaurant and the waiters are all very nice and so I'd often bring a book along with me or a notebook or I'd transfer pictures from my camera to my phone for editing in between courses. Lunch was often my largest meal of the day and sometimes my only "meal" of the day. (In normal life I train for marathons and am in the gym often and I'm super on top of my macros and making sure I get X amount of protein etc...on this trip, this was not the case.) If I couldn't get into Pecorino for lunch or didn't end up in that area for lunch time, I'd either go there for dinner when they opened, or another excellent Testaccio spot called Perilli's. (There's also Piato Romano, which had excellent food but not quite the same cozy ambience as Pecorino.) I pretty much mainlined Amatriciana and Carbonara along with involtini, braised oxtail, and as much tiramisu as I could politely hurl into my maw. I like establishing some routines or rituals when I travel, especially when I travel solo, to help give the trip some grounding. It's also nice when you are far from home to be able to walk into a place where people begin to recognize you and accept you into their little circle, even if it is temporary. For the second half of the trip in Trastevere...I got COVID! Sort of. The day after the concert, I noticed a heavy feeling in my upper airway/chest, but I figured it must have been all the second hand smoke I inhaled during the concert (from my observations, Romans thoroughly enjoy cigarettes). I wear an oura ring and while my HRV was low, nothing else stood out. That night though I developed a fever and spent the entire next day in bed. I was bummed, but frankly, after 5 nights in a row of being out from 8am to midnight, I needed a rest day anyway, so it wasn't bad timing. (How's that for spin?) Not sure what my actual temperature was, but my oura ring said I was 4.3 degrees above my nightly average baseline, so I'm guessing my temperature was around 100-101 as my normal temperature on a thermometer seems to be around 96.6. I spent a good chunk of the next day in bed also, just napping (which was fairly pleasant as the cool breeze came in through the window, carrying the sounds of the three churches on Avantino, not to mention the bird calls and the pleasing sounds of people enjoying their meals on the street below). My baseline temp deviation was only +2 degrees the second night and by the end of the day, I felt good enough to have an appetite, but not quite good enough to stand upright, so I ordered some Trapizzino on uber eats (the polpetti/sugo and the melanzane were both glorious) and that revived me. By the next morning I was better! (In the end, I think this was covid because while I only had the fever for the two sick days, I lost most of my sense of smell sometime Thursday afternoon despite feeling fine. So maybe Covid? In the end, I missed out on a trip to Ostia Antica and a food tour, but the trip still felt extremely full of experiences.) The rest of my time in Trastevere was great. Just wandering all around those crazy little winding streets, snapping away, always fueld by a caffè from the gruff but character-rich Bar San Calisto or the one across from my apartment, which was called "404 Name Not Found." I did eat lunch one day at Da Enzo which was good but not sure it's worth the hype given how much excellent food I had at restaurants with very little fanfare. Da Enzo ended up being a great experience though because when they asked me how many and I said, "da solo," they asked if I would share the table if there was another single. I said sure, and ended up being paired up with a fellow endurance athlete, this one from France. Just one of the many fanciful moments that can happen when you travel solo. We also hung out again the next day for most of the morning and afternoon, and this was a sort of theme for my trip: running into people left and right, connecting, and making fast friends. This is how I found myself getting invited to a Roman birthday party at the Piazza Testaccio one night for what felt like my 10th "out past midnight" night of the trip (again, a far cry from my normal life of "in bed at 9"). In the end, what I will take away from this trip are a few things: -the magic of learning a second language, and noticing your skills improving with every chat. Just the pleasure of hearing the Italian language and getting to practice it all day, every day (while making many mistakes). If you're going to Rome or Italy in general, I highly recommend you try and get yourself up to A2 in Italian. It's such a pleasurable language to speak and embrace, even if it's just at a beginner's level. -the many conversations I had with shop owners or fellow bar patrons and the high-five I would give myself in my head when they would ask "if you're American, how come your accent is so good?" (Again, I'm a B1 speaker on my best day, but the compliment would always make my day given my beginner's nervousness at the start of the trip). A few times, people even just began talking to me, assuming I was Italian. (I am Italian-American, but having a Roman just start talking to you as one of their own meant a lot to the part of me that loves being Italian and feels a strong connection to the country, even from afar.) -The Italian crowd at the Bruce show. Just a blast to sing along with them into the Roman sky, surrounded by ruins. -Mornings in Avantino spent in quiet contemplation in Santa Sabina or St Anselmo. A few times, the respective organists were practicing and I got my own concert. -After my two days sick in bed, when I returned to the Tram Depot and Casa Manco for sustenance, the proprietors both asked me one version or another or "tutto bene?" (as if to say, where ya been?). The man at Casa Manco blurted out "buon tornato!" when he saw me approach. Very warm-hearted people and they made me feel at home (along with the Pecorino staff, who were very kind to me and likely a little amused, wondering, why is this random American dude here every day eating for 2 hours?) -A basic observation: I appreciated how people across seemingly different walks of life all talk to each other as equals. I saw street sweepers chatting with businessmen in the street in a way that would seem less likely in America. Maybe this is a class thing? Perhaps the gap in salaries is not so large like it is in America, and therefore people feel like one giant middle class together? Related: many younger Italians I spoke to told me how hard it was to live in Rome as a young person, as salaries were not very good, and unless you had 1-2 roommates or parents who could pay your rent, you would most likely have a longer commute coming into the city every day. -The fact that behind every nook and cranny and around every corner, there is something spectacular to see. Whether it's the ruins that stand adjacent to the jewish ghetto in a reminder of the layers upon layers of civilizations that once existed in this city, or just the way the morning light creates a shaft down some medieval cobblestone street, it is a magical place to walk around. By the end of each very long day, my mind was just fried, both from working overtime with trying to speak Italian and from the sheer overstimulation of seeing so much beauty. Anyway, this was not my first trip to Rome, but it was my first trip in MANY years, and it was precisely the life affirming and humanity affirming trip I needed this year after a rough and precarious start to 2023. Next trip, I will likely fly into Rome, spend 3-ish days there, and then head somewhere to the southern coast. As much as I love Roman food, it would be nice to be inundated with fresh sardines the same way this trip found me OD'ing on carbonara.
To me, this trip really captured the beauty of solo travel: I had plenty of experiences to enjoy my own company, but my enjoying the language and culture, I was eager to seek out interactions, and many of those interactions lead to further interactions. Whether it was helping an older Italian woman find the church she was looking for and the ensuing 20 minute conversation in Italian as we navigated, or wandering into a green juice place in Rome and expressing my shock and appreciation at the sight of vegetables to the owner that lead into a conversation about my union's current strike or finding an amazing children's book store while searching for a gift for my nephew and talking to the owner of the shop about books for an hour, just seeking ways to meaningfully engage and having a curiosity about the people and places I encountered really made for an enriching solo travel experience, because as Rolf Potts points out, had I been with a friend on this trip, we would have created our own bubble, and this bubble would have kept others out.
Anyway, thank you to Rome and it's people for one of the best times in my 39 years. (If anyone is curious, I'll be posting many photos from this trip at my IG@ rovinglumix.
submitted by GJW2019 to solotravel [link] [comments]
In brief, I split the trip up into two halves: the first half I stayed up on Avantino hill (it's very close to the Circo Massimo, so it was an easy spot for the concert) and the second half in a quiet pocket of Trastevere a block or two west of the river south of Ponte Paladino. My Avantino air bnb host gave me some great neighborhood places in nearby Testaccio (another wonderful neighborhood that tourists don't seem to wander into very much), and I found a fantastic and slightly quirky place for espresso also in Testaccio (I'm an espresso fiend). If you haven't been to Avantino, it almost reminded me of the Italian Beacon Hill (for those familiar with Boston). It had the feeling of a Tuscan village that just happened to be somehow in the middle of Rome. It's where the famous key hole is that frames St. Peters, as well as the Giardino degli Aranci and Santa Sabina's, which is a gorgeous church from 422 AD. Staying here felt very relaxing and peaceful and even though some tourists did make their way to the keyhole every day, it had a very tranquil vibe, despite the fact that Circo Massimo was 5 minutes north and Testaccio was 5 minutes south.
Given that my favorite thing to do on vacation is just wander around with my Ricoh GR, I would begin every day in Avantino thusly: Get up, have an espresso at Tram Depot (always at the bar), walk around for a few hours and just see what I can find. Maybe I'd get a quick breakfast bite at the outstanding Casa Manco in the Testaccio market. Then I'd go to for a big lunch at the wonderful Pecorino (also in Testaccio). This lunch would usually last an hour or two. It's a very cozy restaurant and the waiters are all very nice and so I'd often bring a book along with me or a notebook or I'd transfer pictures from my camera to my phone for editing in between courses. Lunch was often my largest meal of the day and sometimes my only "meal" of the day. (In normal life I train for marathons and am in the gym often and I'm super on top of my macros and making sure I get X amount of protein etc...on this trip, this was not the case.) If I couldn't get into Pecorino for lunch or didn't end up in that area for lunch time, I'd either go there for dinner when they opened, or another excellent Testaccio spot called Perilli's. (There's also Piato Romano, which had excellent food but not quite the same cozy ambience as Pecorino.) I pretty much mainlined Amatriciana and Carbonara along with involtini, braised oxtail, and as much tiramisu as I could politely hurl into my maw. I like establishing some routines or rituals when I travel, especially when I travel solo, to help give the trip some grounding. It's also nice when you are far from home to be able to walk into a place where people begin to recognize you and accept you into their little circle, even if it is temporary. For the second half of the trip in Trastevere...I got COVID! Sort of. The day after the concert, I noticed a heavy feeling in my upper airway/chest, but I figured it must have been all the second hand smoke I inhaled during the concert (from my observations, Romans thoroughly enjoy cigarettes). I wear an oura ring and while my HRV was low, nothing else stood out. That night though I developed a fever and spent the entire next day in bed. I was bummed, but frankly, after 5 nights in a row of being out from 8am to midnight, I needed a rest day anyway, so it wasn't bad timing. (How's that for spin?) Not sure what my actual temperature was, but my oura ring said I was 4.3 degrees above my nightly average baseline, so I'm guessing my temperature was around 100-101 as my normal temperature on a thermometer seems to be around 96.6. I spent a good chunk of the next day in bed also, just napping (which was fairly pleasant as the cool breeze came in through the window, carrying the sounds of the three churches on Avantino, not to mention the bird calls and the pleasing sounds of people enjoying their meals on the street below). My baseline temp deviation was only +2 degrees the second night and by the end of the day, I felt good enough to have an appetite, but not quite good enough to stand upright, so I ordered some Trapizzino on uber eats (the polpetti/sugo and the melanzane were both glorious) and that revived me. By the next morning I was better! (In the end, I think this was covid because while I only had the fever for the two sick days, I lost most of my sense of smell sometime Thursday afternoon despite feeling fine. So maybe Covid? In the end, I missed out on a trip to Ostia Antica and a food tour, but the trip still felt extremely full of experiences.) The rest of my time in Trastevere was great. Just wandering all around those crazy little winding streets, snapping away, always fueld by a caffè from the gruff but character-rich Bar San Calisto or the one across from my apartment, which was called "404 Name Not Found." I did eat lunch one day at Da Enzo which was good but not sure it's worth the hype given how much excellent food I had at restaurants with very little fanfare. Da Enzo ended up being a great experience though because when they asked me how many and I said, "da solo," they asked if I would share the table if there was another single. I said sure, and ended up being paired up with a fellow endurance athlete, this one from France. Just one of the many fanciful moments that can happen when you travel solo. We also hung out again the next day for most of the morning and afternoon, and this was a sort of theme for my trip: running into people left and right, connecting, and making fast friends. This is how I found myself getting invited to a Roman birthday party at the Piazza Testaccio one night for what felt like my 10th "out past midnight" night of the trip (again, a far cry from my normal life of "in bed at 9"). In the end, what I will take away from this trip are a few things: -the magic of learning a second language, and noticing your skills improving with every chat. Just the pleasure of hearing the Italian language and getting to practice it all day, every day (while making many mistakes). If you're going to Rome or Italy in general, I highly recommend you try and get yourself up to A2 in Italian. It's such a pleasurable language to speak and embrace, even if it's just at a beginner's level. -the many conversations I had with shop owners or fellow bar patrons and the high-five I would give myself in my head when they would ask "if you're American, how come your accent is so good?" (Again, I'm a B1 speaker on my best day, but the compliment would always make my day given my beginner's nervousness at the start of the trip). A few times, people even just began talking to me, assuming I was Italian. (I am Italian-American, but having a Roman just start talking to you as one of their own meant a lot to the part of me that loves being Italian and feels a strong connection to the country, even from afar.) -The Italian crowd at the Bruce show. Just a blast to sing along with them into the Roman sky, surrounded by ruins. -Mornings in Avantino spent in quiet contemplation in Santa Sabina or St Anselmo. A few times, the respective organists were practicing and I got my own concert. -After my two days sick in bed, when I returned to the Tram Depot and Casa Manco for sustenance, the proprietors both asked me one version or another or "tutto bene?" (as if to say, where ya been?). The man at Casa Manco blurted out "buon tornato!" when he saw me approach. Very warm-hearted people and they made me feel at home (along with the Pecorino staff, who were very kind to me and likely a little amused, wondering, why is this random American dude here every day eating for 2 hours?) -A basic observation: I appreciated how people across seemingly different walks of life all talk to each other as equals. I saw street sweepers chatting with businessmen in the street in a way that would seem less likely in America. Maybe this is a class thing? Perhaps the gap in salaries is not so large like it is in America, and therefore people feel like one giant middle class together? Related: many younger Italians I spoke to told me how hard it was to live in Rome as a young person, as salaries were not very good, and unless you had 1-2 roommates or parents who could pay your rent, you would most likely have a longer commute coming into the city every day. -The fact that behind every nook and cranny and around every corner, there is something spectacular to see. Whether it's the ruins that stand adjacent to the jewish ghetto in a reminder of the layers upon layers of civilizations that once existed in this city, or just the way the morning light creates a shaft down some medieval cobblestone street, it is a magical place to walk around. By the end of each very long day, my mind was just fried, both from working overtime with trying to speak Italian and from the sheer overstimulation of seeing so much beauty. Anyway, this was not my first trip to Rome, but it was my first trip in MANY years, and it was precisely the life affirming and humanity affirming trip I needed this year after a rough and precarious start to 2023. Next trip, I will likely fly into Rome, spend 3-ish days there, and then head somewhere to the southern coast. As much as I love Roman food, it would be nice to be inundated with fresh sardines the same way this trip found me OD'ing on carbonara.
To me, this trip really captured the beauty of solo travel: I had plenty of experiences to enjoy my own company, but my enjoying the language and culture, I was eager to seek out interactions, and many of those interactions lead to further interactions. Whether it was helping an older Italian woman find the church she was looking for and the ensuing 20 minute conversation in Italian as we navigated, or wandering into a green juice place in Rome and expressing my shock and appreciation at the sight of vegetables to the owner that lead into a conversation about my union's current strike or finding an amazing children's book store while searching for a gift for my nephew and talking to the owner of the shop about books for an hour, just seeking ways to meaningfully engage and having a curiosity about the people and places I encountered really made for an enriching solo travel experience, because as Rolf Potts points out, had I been with a friend on this trip, we would have created our own bubble, and this bubble would have kept others out.
Anyway, thank you to Rome and it's people for one of the best times in my 39 years. (If anyone is curious, I'll be posting many photos from this trip at my IG@ rovinglumix.
2023.05.28 13:28 metsnewyork19861969 My latest short story
It was the summer of 2005, and Rodrick Bird was dying of boredom. The 19 year old college sophomore had returned home to San Francisco for the summer, and he had found himself unsure of how to keep himself entertained. It was frustrating to him. If he was smart enough to get into UCLA, he should be able to come up with some sort of scheme to cure him of his unbearable boredom.
Rodrick’s first thought was to call up his best friend Paulie Dio. Paulie was always coming up with crazy ideas to have fun. Sometimes, they even got him and Rodrick in trouble. It was never anything serious, they never got arrested or anything, but they often got warnings from the cops. They didn’t care, though. They were young and having a good time. Life was too short anyway.
And so, Rodrick called Paulie. Twenty minutes later, Paulie showed up at Rodrick’s parents house in his ‘98 Honda Civic. Rodrick could already tell from Paulie’s grin and the look in his eyes that he had cooked up something rad. Rodrick got into the car, and Paulie hit the gas pedal. They blasted Rob Zombie for the entire ride. They ended up in Oakland.
Once they arrived in Oakland, Paulie had the crazy idea to shout the N word in a black neighborhood and see them go crazy. Paulie wasn’t a racist, he just had a messed up sense of humor, and Rodrick loved him for it. Despite how funny it sounded, Rodrick didn’t think it was a good idea. Paulie didn’t listen, and so they pulled into a black neighborhood, and sure enough, Paulie shouted out the N word. As soon as the word left his mouth, he hit the gas pedal before anyone could process what had just happened.
Paulie was laughing maniacally the whole way back to San Francisco, whilst Rodrick didn’t know whether or not to be amused or horrified. He knew Paulie was crazy, but he didn’t think for one second that he would go through with it. Nevertheless, it was pretty hilarious, and Rodrick also laughed his head off. He hoped nobody was offended, though he doubted it. Paulie uttered possibly the most offensive word known to man, though it was as a joke.
Rodrick had made the right call by phoning Paulie to help relieve him of his boredom. Maybe it wasn’t what he would have suggested, but it was still fun nevertheless. It was a day he’d never forget.
submitted by metsnewyork19861969 to teenagers [link] [comments]
Rodrick’s first thought was to call up his best friend Paulie Dio. Paulie was always coming up with crazy ideas to have fun. Sometimes, they even got him and Rodrick in trouble. It was never anything serious, they never got arrested or anything, but they often got warnings from the cops. They didn’t care, though. They were young and having a good time. Life was too short anyway.
And so, Rodrick called Paulie. Twenty minutes later, Paulie showed up at Rodrick’s parents house in his ‘98 Honda Civic. Rodrick could already tell from Paulie’s grin and the look in his eyes that he had cooked up something rad. Rodrick got into the car, and Paulie hit the gas pedal. They blasted Rob Zombie for the entire ride. They ended up in Oakland.
Once they arrived in Oakland, Paulie had the crazy idea to shout the N word in a black neighborhood and see them go crazy. Paulie wasn’t a racist, he just had a messed up sense of humor, and Rodrick loved him for it. Despite how funny it sounded, Rodrick didn’t think it was a good idea. Paulie didn’t listen, and so they pulled into a black neighborhood, and sure enough, Paulie shouted out the N word. As soon as the word left his mouth, he hit the gas pedal before anyone could process what had just happened.
Paulie was laughing maniacally the whole way back to San Francisco, whilst Rodrick didn’t know whether or not to be amused or horrified. He knew Paulie was crazy, but he didn’t think for one second that he would go through with it. Nevertheless, it was pretty hilarious, and Rodrick also laughed his head off. He hoped nobody was offended, though he doubted it. Paulie uttered possibly the most offensive word known to man, though it was as a joke.
Rodrick had made the right call by phoning Paulie to help relieve him of his boredom. Maybe it wasn’t what he would have suggested, but it was still fun nevertheless. It was a day he’d never forget.
2023.05.28 13:20 megaboto shared knowledge
Lydia gives off a soft groan as she turns, no longer asleep but wishing that she was. There were no duties today, she thought to herself, so why wake up early? rubbing her face on the pillow she smiles, enjoying the comforting warmth of Caldera. It is not long ago that she started sleeping in the dungeon, but she cannot think herself stopping anymore, being outside now feeling cold and empty compared to the feeling she gives her. Lydia stretches, knowing she cannot lie in bed and enjoy the feeling forever, even if she'd like to, and opens her eyes, ready to great Caldera a good morning
for a mass of eyes and meat to greet her instead
jumping up immediately, Lydia's instincts took over and delivered a knee kick to the mass, for her leg to simply sink into the malleable mass, the strike not yielding any results except stopping the eyes from looking at her. shaking, she looked around the room just to find it an amalgam of flesh, sinew and bone, somewhat resembling the shape of the room she fell asleep in, her bed itself being a tumour whose warmth she confused for that of her partner. dashing towards the exit, her Ki enhanced jumps leaving plopping and squelching sounds in her wake, she found herself outside, her short lived hope that the aforementioned room was an exception shattered as she looked upon Caldera's territory.
The whole area was covered by unnatural growths, stalks consisting of multiple sinewy bones with a bulb of opaque liquid as well as meaty tendrils writhing towards the sky making up most of the "flora", if it can be called as such, every one of them different than the last, the lake that was once filled with frogs and lunar lilies now a putrid pond of gastric juices with a mix of brown, red and green, an occasional bony star floating above it, like a solidified explosion. She turned around, her horror only growing as she saw where she just came out of.
A tree of meat stood tall, the eyes that replaced it's leaves gazing at it's surroundings lazily, bright red spores dispersing from it's bursting pustules, the sickening miasma spreading throughout the air, covering the sky in a red mist. the light of the pulsating red stars in the night sky left just enough light for Lydia's enhanced eye sight to make out the veins that covered the tree, all running toward it's center, her improved ears picking up the pulsating that permeated throughout the tree, the ground, and the world as a whole; the stars themselves beating in unison with the expansion and contraction of the veins, the pustules syncing their release with each beat.
whatever this substance is, it is in the Air, and though she cannot feel any direct effects on her body, she does not want to find out what will happen to her if she gets more of these spores inside of her so she slows her breathing, her ki flow slowing down as well, in an attempt to buy time from whatever was happening potentially happening to her too.
Lydia slowly starts to walk around in search of anything familiar, something or someone to ask what was going on, how to change her partner back - if she even was still in Caldera's dungeon, that is. but how could it not be? it is all in the same forms and places, though twisted beyond anything but recognizing the most basic semblances. What if this is how it would remain? what if that is what Caldera became? What if she was dead or subsumed? or even worse, what if this is what she became, unrecognizable and without a way to return?
Lydia wipes the tears off her face, her professionalism focusing her on the task at hand: to find anything with a semblance of reason. continuing the walk that her train of thought stopped, she walked along the Lake of fluids, the smell of digestive acid, sweet rot and decaying blood making her want to throw up, each breath as shallow as can be. walking along it, she notices the two forms in the middle above the lake, the former twin scions swimming in the air
one of them was covered in diseased scales, the green infection that permeated their whole body leaving them a bloated whiteish green carcass that yet moved, the infectious substance decaying with proximity to the other form, which had it's flesh melt and fall of in chunks and drip off in a brownish-black liquid, yet always regrowing just as fast as it fell off, the two continuing their existence in an unholy balance of growth and decay.
reaching the spa that now had burning blood as it's water, with hearts beating in the aforementioned synced pulse to pump the liquid corruption, she found the corpses in it, still in a form as if they were just conversing in a casual talk, with some showing signs of panicked exits. there were no expressions on any of them, their eyes and mouths covered in scar tissue as if someone gouged and cut them out just to leave them regrow. unable to hold it in, Lydia vomits on the ground, the nightmare only worsening - whatever this was, it was not just a twisted version of Caldera, but it also was murderous - or had a sick sense of humor replicating that scenario.
"This isn't funny, Caldera!" Lydia shouted shortly after emptying whatever her stomach had. "If this is another one of your weird horror attractions, then you really went to far with this one!! please, just stop, if you can hear me...". yet her only answer was the continuous pulsating of the place, uncaring about the tears streaming on her face or the sobs from within her chest. so she cried for some time, before breaking up to continue her search.
just as she walked out, she saw Jackie, staring at the dungeon entrance. with renewed hope, Lydia sprinted towards the Jackalope, the tears that flew now being those of relief, as she called out to her. right before she reached her though, one of her legs sunk into the fleshy ground, and any attempt at pulling it out failed. "Jackie! help me, please! what is going on with this place? " there was no answer, the hope slowly turning into doubt and suspicion, as the jackalope which was staring at the ground slowly raised it's head, the front still not visible.
"We...we have to save Caldera! you see the flesh too. don't you have any Idea how to free her from it? why are you not doing anything?"
The Jackalope simply turned to face her, And Lydia's blood froze. staring at her was a skull only half covered with flesh, some of it melting and some spreading out from the eye sockets, as a gurgling, deep voice came from within it. "Why...Would I Want To Return To What I Was Before..?", no comprehensible sounds being heard yet the meaning still blasting through her mind. She tried to run away, panic holding her mind prisoner, but she just sank deeper into the molasse made out of fat and muscles, restricting her movement further and further as the jackalope started slowly approaching, each step consisting of tendrils forming between her and the ground, pushing and pulling her where necessary to allow the unnatural movement.
"NO! DON'T COME CLOSER! GET AWAY!! GET AWAY!!!!" the screams doing nothing to stop Jackie's approach, she now stood above the body of Lydia, the lower part of it being swallowed by the ground. reaching out, the fur peeling back to let her uncovered flesh hold Lydia's face gently, the touch burning marks into her cheek, she spoke It Is All Right. There Is No Need To Be Afraid. You Will Join Us Too, And We Will Be One" Lydia simply screamed and trashed around, as the paws started melting together with her face, Jackie standing above her with her melting flesh flowing upon Lydia, Threatening to drown and burn her at the same time as Lydia's world spun, the eyes, The very stars pointing their looks at her and piercing her with their glares, a chorus of "Join Us" and "We Will Be One" filling her ears and heart, her whole body aflame, Her spirit feeling like it was being pulled from her body as "Lydia!" joined the chorus, repeating and repeating, "Lydia!" "Lydia!" "Lydia!!"
"LYDIA!!"
I Scream, my lungs feeling hoarse as if that is all I was doing, My body aching all over as I jump towards the corner with a battle ready stance. green, white, light brown, colors in my blurry vision as the only Instinct is just survival, fight against the enemy. the enemy. what enemy? I shake my head to clear my vision, My Brain in too much turmoil to focus my Ki willingly, and see a fearful and the dungeon core, the one meter diameter Emerald giving off a green light in pulses, it's focus entirely on me as her panic bleeds through, though said panic is about me and nobody else. An Involuntary Whimper comes out of my mouth as my body tries to speak yet my brain is frozen in shock as my legs give out and I collapse on the floor of the hollowed out tree trunk, feeling the hot tears flowing on my face as I bawled, the terrible feeling still inside my chest.
In my peripheral vision, I see the beast moving towards me, wrapping it's paws around me - and immediately having my knee land in it's face as I push the monster away. no, nonononono, not again, you will not do that to me! the panicked thoughts stop as my mind seems to catch up with reality, as I see the somewhat malformed snout of Jackie covered in blood from my strike, a mix of surprise, shock, worry and hurt together on her face. I just hurt her. she probably was trying to comfort me, and I just retaliated by trying to kill her. oh shield, what am I doing? what happened to me? The sickness in my stomach now makes itself even more noticeable and I find myself sitting on the floor, still in the corner, bawling my eyes out as my body tries and fails to say something, only making some unrecognizable noises like those of a dying animal. I see Jackie standing up, approaching me carefully, as if still trying to comfort me, but feel myself tensing up and trying to back away even further, an unnatural panic holding me prisoner in a way that even my training cannot keep up with. seeing this, she stops, a wounded yet mostly worried expression still on their face, their mouth moving yet no understandable sound being processed by my head, as if hearing itself was dangerous to my very being.
this went on, as I sat in the corner and continued to cry as my body produced sweat without end, the lingering sensation of being burnt alive enough to cause it to go into disarray, my coarse, dry throat signalling me that it was strained before hand and is strained even more now as I waited, unable to do anything else against the panic except let it wash over me, a loss of control I hated but had no choice in, as any attempt at saying something or moving towards them was met with incomprehensible noises or another wave of panic as my tense, shaking body refused to move, instincts triumphing over logic as emotions, which I thought I had in check, overpowered me instead. their gazes remained on me, not being distracted by anything else for a second, worry, sadness and anxiety remaining throughout the whole time.
at last, I eventually was able to get up, moving towards the core and Jackie slowly as my body burned through most of the energy it could have used to holding me in the state of panic, and I fell into the arms of the mostly healed Jackalope, her magic having mostly patched up the wound I inflicted upon her, her paws immediately wrapping around and holding me. I was still shaking, though now just as much due to exhaustion, and simply let Jackie comfort me in silence. That was a terrible nightmare, and I was quietly wondering how it even came to be, considering that I never saw something like that before nor read about such a thing, neither as an account of reality nor even fiction. and why did it feel so real - why why do I still feel as if it actually happened, as if my body is about to melt? and...could it ever become true?
Would Caldera ever do something like this? _Could_ she ever do something like this? I want to answer yes, but something tells me that what I was was the result of a life affinity too, though I do not understand, actually, how a life affinity, something associated with plants and balanced eco systems could turn into flesh, since flesh does not even fall into the domain of life. I look upon Caldera's core, which is glowing with a reassuring green light, as if she never could do serious harm upon anyone who did not deserve it through their own actions.
yet while my head told me it could physically not be, my emotions still harboured fear, the affinity acquisition by her scions already being a development not speaking favourably for the impossibility for such a happening.
As I thought this, I felt myself drifting away, becoming more tired by the second. I guess being in such an emotional state leaves you exhausted, no matter how much endurance you have... I should...probably ask her... if the dream.....has any........meaning.........
***
deep inside the trunk, Alexa and Giorno were discussing the details of the latest development. "We cannot bring her into the network again" stated Giorno, Alexa nodding in affirmation. "She got knowledge and information that she should not be able to after being connected through us. We cannot take what she has seen, and it is likely that she only saw it subconsciously, but we cannot reveal anything more to her, especially considering the importance she has for the Don". thinking for a moment, he added "and the Don herself cannot know about it either, if possible. it's best if she continues her life as is, without having this to occupy her mind" "that is what we are here for" agreed Alexa, sharing the order to keep quiet to everybody except the core and Jackie, the voice being too connected to Caldera to hide information that the Jackalope herself has from her master.
submitted by megaboto to u/megaboto [link] [comments]
for a mass of eyes and meat to greet her instead
jumping up immediately, Lydia's instincts took over and delivered a knee kick to the mass, for her leg to simply sink into the malleable mass, the strike not yielding any results except stopping the eyes from looking at her. shaking, she looked around the room just to find it an amalgam of flesh, sinew and bone, somewhat resembling the shape of the room she fell asleep in, her bed itself being a tumour whose warmth she confused for that of her partner. dashing towards the exit, her Ki enhanced jumps leaving plopping and squelching sounds in her wake, she found herself outside, her short lived hope that the aforementioned room was an exception shattered as she looked upon Caldera's territory.
The whole area was covered by unnatural growths, stalks consisting of multiple sinewy bones with a bulb of opaque liquid as well as meaty tendrils writhing towards the sky making up most of the "flora", if it can be called as such, every one of them different than the last, the lake that was once filled with frogs and lunar lilies now a putrid pond of gastric juices with a mix of brown, red and green, an occasional bony star floating above it, like a solidified explosion. She turned around, her horror only growing as she saw where she just came out of.
A tree of meat stood tall, the eyes that replaced it's leaves gazing at it's surroundings lazily, bright red spores dispersing from it's bursting pustules, the sickening miasma spreading throughout the air, covering the sky in a red mist. the light of the pulsating red stars in the night sky left just enough light for Lydia's enhanced eye sight to make out the veins that covered the tree, all running toward it's center, her improved ears picking up the pulsating that permeated throughout the tree, the ground, and the world as a whole; the stars themselves beating in unison with the expansion and contraction of the veins, the pustules syncing their release with each beat.
whatever this substance is, it is in the Air, and though she cannot feel any direct effects on her body, she does not want to find out what will happen to her if she gets more of these spores inside of her so she slows her breathing, her ki flow slowing down as well, in an attempt to buy time from whatever was happening potentially happening to her too.
Lydia slowly starts to walk around in search of anything familiar, something or someone to ask what was going on, how to change her partner back - if she even was still in Caldera's dungeon, that is. but how could it not be? it is all in the same forms and places, though twisted beyond anything but recognizing the most basic semblances. What if this is how it would remain? what if that is what Caldera became? What if she was dead or subsumed? or even worse, what if this is what she became, unrecognizable and without a way to return?
Lydia wipes the tears off her face, her professionalism focusing her on the task at hand: to find anything with a semblance of reason. continuing the walk that her train of thought stopped, she walked along the Lake of fluids, the smell of digestive acid, sweet rot and decaying blood making her want to throw up, each breath as shallow as can be. walking along it, she notices the two forms in the middle above the lake, the former twin scions swimming in the air
one of them was covered in diseased scales, the green infection that permeated their whole body leaving them a bloated whiteish green carcass that yet moved, the infectious substance decaying with proximity to the other form, which had it's flesh melt and fall of in chunks and drip off in a brownish-black liquid, yet always regrowing just as fast as it fell off, the two continuing their existence in an unholy balance of growth and decay.
reaching the spa that now had burning blood as it's water, with hearts beating in the aforementioned synced pulse to pump the liquid corruption, she found the corpses in it, still in a form as if they were just conversing in a casual talk, with some showing signs of panicked exits. there were no expressions on any of them, their eyes and mouths covered in scar tissue as if someone gouged and cut them out just to leave them regrow. unable to hold it in, Lydia vomits on the ground, the nightmare only worsening - whatever this was, it was not just a twisted version of Caldera, but it also was murderous - or had a sick sense of humor replicating that scenario.
"This isn't funny, Caldera!" Lydia shouted shortly after emptying whatever her stomach had. "If this is another one of your weird horror attractions, then you really went to far with this one!! please, just stop, if you can hear me...". yet her only answer was the continuous pulsating of the place, uncaring about the tears streaming on her face or the sobs from within her chest. so she cried for some time, before breaking up to continue her search.
just as she walked out, she saw Jackie, staring at the dungeon entrance. with renewed hope, Lydia sprinted towards the Jackalope, the tears that flew now being those of relief, as she called out to her. right before she reached her though, one of her legs sunk into the fleshy ground, and any attempt at pulling it out failed. "Jackie! help me, please! what is going on with this place? " there was no answer, the hope slowly turning into doubt and suspicion, as the jackalope which was staring at the ground slowly raised it's head, the front still not visible.
"We...we have to save Caldera! you see the flesh too. don't you have any Idea how to free her from it? why are you not doing anything?"
The Jackalope simply turned to face her, And Lydia's blood froze. staring at her was a skull only half covered with flesh, some of it melting and some spreading out from the eye sockets, as a gurgling, deep voice came from within it. "Why...Would I Want To Return To What I Was Before..?", no comprehensible sounds being heard yet the meaning still blasting through her mind. She tried to run away, panic holding her mind prisoner, but she just sank deeper into the molasse made out of fat and muscles, restricting her movement further and further as the jackalope started slowly approaching, each step consisting of tendrils forming between her and the ground, pushing and pulling her where necessary to allow the unnatural movement.
"NO! DON'T COME CLOSER! GET AWAY!! GET AWAY!!!!" the screams doing nothing to stop Jackie's approach, she now stood above the body of Lydia, the lower part of it being swallowed by the ground. reaching out, the fur peeling back to let her uncovered flesh hold Lydia's face gently, the touch burning marks into her cheek, she spoke It Is All Right. There Is No Need To Be Afraid. You Will Join Us Too, And We Will Be One" Lydia simply screamed and trashed around, as the paws started melting together with her face, Jackie standing above her with her melting flesh flowing upon Lydia, Threatening to drown and burn her at the same time as Lydia's world spun, the eyes, The very stars pointing their looks at her and piercing her with their glares, a chorus of "Join Us" and "We Will Be One" filling her ears and heart, her whole body aflame, Her spirit feeling like it was being pulled from her body as "Lydia!" joined the chorus, repeating and repeating, "Lydia!" "Lydia!" "Lydia!!"
"LYDIA!!"
I Scream, my lungs feeling hoarse as if that is all I was doing, My body aching all over as I jump towards the corner with a battle ready stance. green, white, light brown, colors in my blurry vision as the only Instinct is just survival, fight against the enemy. the enemy. what enemy? I shake my head to clear my vision, My Brain in too much turmoil to focus my Ki willingly, and see a fearful and the dungeon core, the one meter diameter Emerald giving off a green light in pulses, it's focus entirely on me as her panic bleeds through, though said panic is about me and nobody else. An Involuntary Whimper comes out of my mouth as my body tries to speak yet my brain is frozen in shock as my legs give out and I collapse on the floor of the hollowed out tree trunk, feeling the hot tears flowing on my face as I bawled, the terrible feeling still inside my chest.
In my peripheral vision, I see the beast moving towards me, wrapping it's paws around me - and immediately having my knee land in it's face as I push the monster away. no, nonononono, not again, you will not do that to me! the panicked thoughts stop as my mind seems to catch up with reality, as I see the somewhat malformed snout of Jackie covered in blood from my strike, a mix of surprise, shock, worry and hurt together on her face. I just hurt her. she probably was trying to comfort me, and I just retaliated by trying to kill her. oh shield, what am I doing? what happened to me? The sickness in my stomach now makes itself even more noticeable and I find myself sitting on the floor, still in the corner, bawling my eyes out as my body tries and fails to say something, only making some unrecognizable noises like those of a dying animal. I see Jackie standing up, approaching me carefully, as if still trying to comfort me, but feel myself tensing up and trying to back away even further, an unnatural panic holding me prisoner in a way that even my training cannot keep up with. seeing this, she stops, a wounded yet mostly worried expression still on their face, their mouth moving yet no understandable sound being processed by my head, as if hearing itself was dangerous to my very being.
this went on, as I sat in the corner and continued to cry as my body produced sweat without end, the lingering sensation of being burnt alive enough to cause it to go into disarray, my coarse, dry throat signalling me that it was strained before hand and is strained even more now as I waited, unable to do anything else against the panic except let it wash over me, a loss of control I hated but had no choice in, as any attempt at saying something or moving towards them was met with incomprehensible noises or another wave of panic as my tense, shaking body refused to move, instincts triumphing over logic as emotions, which I thought I had in check, overpowered me instead. their gazes remained on me, not being distracted by anything else for a second, worry, sadness and anxiety remaining throughout the whole time.
at last, I eventually was able to get up, moving towards the core and Jackie slowly as my body burned through most of the energy it could have used to holding me in the state of panic, and I fell into the arms of the mostly healed Jackalope, her magic having mostly patched up the wound I inflicted upon her, her paws immediately wrapping around and holding me. I was still shaking, though now just as much due to exhaustion, and simply let Jackie comfort me in silence. That was a terrible nightmare, and I was quietly wondering how it even came to be, considering that I never saw something like that before nor read about such a thing, neither as an account of reality nor even fiction. and why did it feel so real - why why do I still feel as if it actually happened, as if my body is about to melt? and...could it ever become true?
Would Caldera ever do something like this? _Could_ she ever do something like this? I want to answer yes, but something tells me that what I was was the result of a life affinity too, though I do not understand, actually, how a life affinity, something associated with plants and balanced eco systems could turn into flesh, since flesh does not even fall into the domain of life. I look upon Caldera's core, which is glowing with a reassuring green light, as if she never could do serious harm upon anyone who did not deserve it through their own actions.
yet while my head told me it could physically not be, my emotions still harboured fear, the affinity acquisition by her scions already being a development not speaking favourably for the impossibility for such a happening.
As I thought this, I felt myself drifting away, becoming more tired by the second. I guess being in such an emotional state leaves you exhausted, no matter how much endurance you have... I should...probably ask her... if the dream.....has any........meaning.........
***
deep inside the trunk, Alexa and Giorno were discussing the details of the latest development. "We cannot bring her into the network again" stated Giorno, Alexa nodding in affirmation. "She got knowledge and information that she should not be able to after being connected through us. We cannot take what she has seen, and it is likely that she only saw it subconsciously, but we cannot reveal anything more to her, especially considering the importance she has for the Don". thinking for a moment, he added "and the Don herself cannot know about it either, if possible. it's best if she continues her life as is, without having this to occupy her mind" "that is what we are here for" agreed Alexa, sharing the order to keep quiet to everybody except the core and Jackie, the voice being too connected to Caldera to hide information that the Jackalope herself has from her master.
2023.05.28 13:18 The_Dude1412 furry🐐irl
 | submitted by The_Dude1412 to furry_irl [link] [comments] |
2023.05.28 12:41 Obesity-Won-Kenobi Nature of Abandonment (1/?)
Feeling Xenophobic lately... time for a story!
(First Fanfic on the sub! Feedback appreciated.
Memory Transcription Subject: Harold K. Clarkson, UN mobile headquarters comms officer
Date: [Standard human time] October 17, 2136
It wasn’t enough… for days our forces hounded away at this nightmare trying to stop it from reaching us… in and out of warp constantly, needing to stop at checkpoints where we blasted all the ships we could. But despite all our best efforts nothing we did was enough… and now? We have genocide approaching our doorstep.
There are so many of them, and they’re closing in fast with the intent to kill people that have done nothing but want to help them… they claim that this is all “Inatala’s will”, a “Righteous act against the predator menace”. I can’t believe this is happening, I can’t understand how the universe decided to simply go about and give us this fucking filth…
I didn’t like the response I saw at Noah’s Summit of Aafa. There were too many species.
Not the fact that there was 300…
Sorry… 299...
Species that saw humanity as so much of a blight… that 24 of the entire collection of species are going to slaughter us, for all their “empathy”, are going to attack us intending to bring us to ashes…
Oh God, please be with us… They’re closing in, but all our guns are trained on them they’re gearing up their plasma lances to attack us, but they’re not too high in terms of numbers, we might stand a fair chance against them, it’s not like we’re alone… The Venlil, or at least their government, have sent us support in aiding in our defense… they were fearful folk, but they had the potential to really help us kick those bird-brain’s beaks straight into the-...
… No…
This isn’t happening…
This comms chatter is absolute chaos right now, Ladar detection systems are showing that 67% of the Venlil’s forces are breaking away from formation… Reading the chatter I see messages like, “I’m not fighting the Krakotl for a predator’s life”, “This isn’t worth it”, "We're meant to defend the republic! Not the predator savages!”
…
The exterminator’s fleet has us within their firing range, and unleash their plasma Lances full force into our formation, the blasts are visible from our viewport, and we return to sender all we can… but with the Venlil’s forces gone, we are far more outgunned than was acceptable… We launched everything we had in the magazines, we fired our railguns as fast as we physically could, but no matter how much we tried, bombs were beginning to run through our defenders.
We couldn’t do anything about it, we were outnumbered 2-1…
Well, looking at the comms chatter we were actually outgunned even more… the 33% that didn’t flee with the other Venlil Forces were practically flailing about, I could hear them screaming in fear through the comms chatter. They barely resemble anything coherent enough for the translator to properly… translate.
This is so much worse… so much worse than anything I could ever conceive… The terminal was beginning to flood with information regarding where bombs were dropping on our capitals, our major cities, our bunkers… they targeted the largest populations with each bomb. They were determined to see us extinct, rather than the actual predators responsible for all of their problems. They thought it was oh so genius to rally behind the flag of their WORTHLESS GODDESS and see us fall despite us not doing ANYTHING TO THEM!
So many bombs… so many cities… Our surface to air defense isn’t enough to stop all the bombs dropping! Soon enough there won’t be any surface to air defenses! Why us?! WHAT DID WE DO TO DESERVE THIS?! I can’t take this!
This shouldn’t have happened when the Odyssey’s grand journey took place! Extraterrestrial life shouldn’t be this moronic! This is illogical! To think all predators were evil when they only met one? ONE? And to use them as an example? The worst of the worst… comparing us to those baby-eating-Nazi-Gators?!
I can’t help but cry, others join me as we watch as all our achievements, all our culture, our history, is being wiped before our very eyes…
…
…
Why is it like this?
WHY LIKE THIS!
This whole situation could have gone so much better! I’m not even talking about how our first contact could have been actually competent ETs! If those Venlil weren’t such cowardly brainwashed fucks! If they weren’t such racist fools! If they weren’t so… so…
Herd-like…
…
…
…
I hope all this filth burns in a hell of our own making… that is what they all deserve…
Burn! BURN!!!
BUUUURRR-
Error: Memory transcription Failure… Emotional imbalance disruption…
Likely emotion for failure: Wrath
(It's shorter than I expected for a first Chapter... Sorry, I'm still trying to figure out my Rhythm...)
submitted by Obesity-Won-Kenobi to NatureofPredators [link] [comments]
(First Fanfic on the sub! Feedback appreciated.
Memory Transcription Subject: Harold K. Clarkson, UN mobile headquarters comms officer
Date: [Standard human time] October 17, 2136
It wasn’t enough… for days our forces hounded away at this nightmare trying to stop it from reaching us… in and out of warp constantly, needing to stop at checkpoints where we blasted all the ships we could. But despite all our best efforts nothing we did was enough… and now? We have genocide approaching our doorstep.
There are so many of them, and they’re closing in fast with the intent to kill people that have done nothing but want to help them… they claim that this is all “Inatala’s will”, a “Righteous act against the predator menace”. I can’t believe this is happening, I can’t understand how the universe decided to simply go about and give us this fucking filth…
I didn’t like the response I saw at Noah’s Summit of Aafa. There were too many species.
Not the fact that there was 300…
Sorry… 299...
Species that saw humanity as so much of a blight… that 24 of the entire collection of species are going to slaughter us, for all their “empathy”, are going to attack us intending to bring us to ashes…
Oh God, please be with us… They’re closing in, but all our guns are trained on them they’re gearing up their plasma lances to attack us, but they’re not too high in terms of numbers, we might stand a fair chance against them, it’s not like we’re alone… The Venlil, or at least their government, have sent us support in aiding in our defense… they were fearful folk, but they had the potential to really help us kick those bird-brain’s beaks straight into the-...
… No…
This isn’t happening…
This comms chatter is absolute chaos right now, Ladar detection systems are showing that 67% of the Venlil’s forces are breaking away from formation… Reading the chatter I see messages like, “I’m not fighting the Krakotl for a predator’s life”, “This isn’t worth it”, "We're meant to defend the republic! Not the predator savages!”
…
The exterminator’s fleet has us within their firing range, and unleash their plasma Lances full force into our formation, the blasts are visible from our viewport, and we return to sender all we can… but with the Venlil’s forces gone, we are far more outgunned than was acceptable… We launched everything we had in the magazines, we fired our railguns as fast as we physically could, but no matter how much we tried, bombs were beginning to run through our defenders.
We couldn’t do anything about it, we were outnumbered 2-1…
Well, looking at the comms chatter we were actually outgunned even more… the 33% that didn’t flee with the other Venlil Forces were practically flailing about, I could hear them screaming in fear through the comms chatter. They barely resemble anything coherent enough for the translator to properly… translate.
This is so much worse… so much worse than anything I could ever conceive… The terminal was beginning to flood with information regarding where bombs were dropping on our capitals, our major cities, our bunkers… they targeted the largest populations with each bomb. They were determined to see us extinct, rather than the actual predators responsible for all of their problems. They thought it was oh so genius to rally behind the flag of their WORTHLESS GODDESS and see us fall despite us not doing ANYTHING TO THEM!
So many bombs… so many cities… Our surface to air defense isn’t enough to stop all the bombs dropping! Soon enough there won’t be any surface to air defenses! Why us?! WHAT DID WE DO TO DESERVE THIS?! I can’t take this!
This shouldn’t have happened when the Odyssey’s grand journey took place! Extraterrestrial life shouldn’t be this moronic! This is illogical! To think all predators were evil when they only met one? ONE? And to use them as an example? The worst of the worst… comparing us to those baby-eating-Nazi-Gators?!
I can’t help but cry, others join me as we watch as all our achievements, all our culture, our history, is being wiped before our very eyes…
…
…
Why is it like this?
WHY LIKE THIS!
This whole situation could have gone so much better! I’m not even talking about how our first contact could have been actually competent ETs! If those Venlil weren’t such cowardly brainwashed fucks! If they weren’t such racist fools! If they weren’t so… so…
Herd-like…
…
…
…
I hope all this filth burns in a hell of our own making… that is what they all deserve…
Burn! BURN!!!
BUUUURRR-
Error: Memory transcription Failure… Emotional imbalance disruption…
Likely emotion for failure: Wrath
(It's shorter than I expected for a first Chapter... Sorry, I'm still trying to figure out my Rhythm...)
2023.05.28 12:35 teamcrazymatt Defending the Draft 2023: New England Patriots
No one can ever predict a Bill Belichick draft.
When people start assuming he’ll act based on his stereotypes (first-round trade down, OL early, no early WRs, all Alabama players or small school guys or guys from Rutgers), he’ll do the opposite. When the consensus is that he’ll shift away from those stereotypes, he’ll lean right into them.
So in observing mock drafts, both full and team-centric, there was a lot of accord that he would follow those stereotypes. (Adam Korsak, both a punter and from Rutgers, was EVERYWHERE.)
But then the end of April came.
Before then, New England had suffered a 2022 season full of embarrassment, from Matt Patricia and Joe Judge’s ineptitude at running the offense to a team that seemed to find new ways to lose in humiliating fashion (a certain ill-fated lateral sequence peak among them). The Patriots went from their dynastic reign as a team which would trounce their opponents in laughers to the team that everyone pointed and laughed at. Mac Jones’ Patricia- and Judge-sparked regression along with impressive cameo appearances by ‘22 rookie Bailey Zappe split the fanbase into Mac and Zappe camps, with sports media fueling the flame by spreading or outright fabricating rumors of Belichick shopping Mac, rumors which lasted through the first day of the draft. It was an ugly season and an uglier start to the offseason.
The franchise clearly needed to make changes in 2023, and changes started near the top. Patricia and Judge lost their roles, the former joining the Eagles coaching staff and the latter moving to lead special teams, a necessary move as this Belichick-led squad had plummeted to the lowest-ranked third unit. (More on that later.) Patricia had filled the dual roles of de facto offensive coordinator and facto offensive line coach, and filled both roles with the acumen of me designing plays in Backyard Football 2002, except I could actually design plays that resulted in touchdowns. Judge had manned the quarterbacks room, and given that Daniel Jones finally broke out for the Giants once Judge had been booted from mentoring him, you can guess how that went for Mac and the Pats. In his new role in charge of special teams, he has already cost the team two OTAs and Bill Belichick $50,000 for an offseason meetings violation, and has elevated his 2022 title of Co-Most Hated Man in Foxboro to Single Most Hated Man in Foxboro.
Anyway, New England needed to fill their old roles, and brought in:
Bill O’Brien, Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach A long-time friend of Belichick’s, O’Brien returns for his second stint as Pats OC, having dictated the offense in Rob Gronkowski’s record-setting 2011 season. Additionally, O’Brien comes by way of running the offense and the QB room at the University of Alabama, which spawned Mac Jones. Mac regressed in 2022 after an impressive 2021, but recall that 2022 was under the abysmal leadership of Patricia (calling his plays) and Judge (his direct coach), a situation in which no one could develop. By bringing in his old OC and QB coach, Mac has been put in the best possible position to develop in ‘23, a position which will much more clearly give fans a vision of his future as an NFL quarterback. (And the playcalling will be legitimate! It’s been but a year and we have already forgotten what creativity, route concepts, and misdirection have looked like!)
Adrian Klemm, Offensive Line Coach Belichick’s first draft pick after taking the helm in New England in 2000, Klemm has joined the team after coaching at Oregon last year. He comes with a strong reputation at that coaching position, having headed a Ducks O-line that allowed just five sacks in 2022. Last season, the Patriots saw a regression from their veterans on the line, most notably in Trent Brown’s newfound flag-happiness, and first-round rookie guard Cole Strange put forth a mixed performance. Bringing in an actual offensive line coach gives the team the best chance to fix any issues that showed in ‘22 and to develop their young linemen.
Of course, coaching was not the only issue last season, as New England was criticized for their lack of talent on the roster. Of New England’s high-cash free agent class of 2021, only edge rusher Matthew Judon shined in both his seasons in Foxboro: neither tight end Jonnu Smith nor wideout Nelson Agholor ever got off the ground, tight end Hunter Henry regressed after a solid ‘21, and wideout Kendrick Bourne found himself suddenly in Patricia’s doghouse and off the field. Moves needed to be made as the calendar turned to free agency.
Notable Departures
S Devin McCourty (retired) The most prominent departure from the ‘22 squad, McCourty is one of many who can be termed a quintessential Patriot. A first-round cornerback out of Rutgers in 2010, D-Mac made the switch to safety in 2012 and locked down the position for the next decade. When he was on the verge of leaving the team in free agency in 2015, even reaching out to Belichick to say goodbye, Belichick signed him to a top-valued safety contract and kept him in red, white, and blue. His leadership and personality made him a joy to watch on the field and off, his personality showing itself especially well recently through interactions with his twin brother Jason, who played alongside him for the Patriots from 2018 to ‘20. Statistically, D-Mac ends his career with 35 interceptions, one shy of the franchise record, and 4 touchdowns (two picks, a kickoff return, and a blocked field goal return). We miss him already.
P Jake Bailey (released; signed with Miami) What a drop. After an All-Pro season in 2020, Bailey signed a four-year extension in 2022 only to become the worst statistical punter in the league. After he was injured, the Patriots brought in Michael Palardy, who managed to be even worse (personally, I blame the team’s curse that comes with the jersey number 17). Neither punter remains with the team, Bailey joining an AFC East rival in the Dolphins and Palardy currently unsigned.
TE Jonnu Smith (traded to Atlanta) There is a strong case to be made that Smith is the worst free agency signing Belichick has made as Pats GM. In the two years since inking a 4-year, $50 million deal, Smith totaled just 55 catches for 539 yards and one touchdown, and a ‘22 restructure of his contract meant that Smith appeared to be a monetary albatross the Patriots would not be able to shake loose. What led to Atlanta agreeing to take on his whole contract, sending New England a seventh-round pick to get the player, I have no idea, but I think every Pats fan would agree that Smith didn’t work out in the least and a change was best for all sides.
WR Jakobi Meyers (signed with Las Vegas) Meyers’ departure was somewhat shocking, as the 2019 UDFA had worked his way up to the top of the Patriots’ wide receiver depth chart. More of a big slot guy than an outside #1, Meyers had a minor role in his rookie season and started 2020 at the bottom of the depth chart, but injuries to the players above him got him onto the field, and a 12-catch, 169-yard performance against the Jets that November meant he wasn’t leaving it anytime soon. While not possessing top-tier speed or explosiveness, Meyers was the team’s best route runner and separator, and his departure left another void that needed to be filled.
QB Brian Hoyer (released, signed with Las Vegas) Hoyer was third on the depth chart, Zappe having shown enough to take the #2 spot. While a fine veteran mentor, the Patriots chose to go a different direction with that third QB role.
WR Nelson Agholor (signed with Baltimore) Agholor was given a two-year contract in 2021 with the anticipation of his being the #1 receiver, something which did not happen due to his unreliable hands and separation abilities. For those two years and $22 million, Agholor produced 68 catches, 835 yards, and five touchdowns. Not worth it.
RB Damien Harris (signed with Buffalo) By far the most productive member of the Patriots’ atrocious 2019 draft class, Harris was good in New England but had been passed on the depth chart by sophomore Rhamondre Stevenson midway through 2022. Couple that with Belichick’s predilection to let running backs walk instead of giving them second contracts, sprinkle in a dash of two ‘22 draft picks (Pierre Strong Jr. and Kevin Harris) who will get more opportunities in 2023, top it off with the return of Ty Montgomery II from injured reserve, and it’s no surprise that Harris is no longer a Patriot.
T Isaiah Wynn (signed with Miami) Another former first-round pick, Wynn was all right as a left tackle though was criticized for frequent injury problems; with his fifth-year option picked up for ‘22, he was inexplicably switched to right tackle, where he was very bad. He never really earned the role of franchise tackle, so it was expected that the Patriots would let him walk.
But on the upside, the team now has:
Additions
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (via Kansas City) After Meyers signed with the Raiders, the Patriots worked quickly to bring in his replacement in the slot. Smith-Schuster revived his career in Kansas City and is now in position to be a primary target for Mac for the next three seasons, possessing more explosiveness and speed than his predecessor. The biggest concern with JuJu is his durability, but I believe the Patriots have made preparations in the draft (spoiler) in case that becomes a significant problem. The fanbase is excited for Smith-Schuster on the field in Foxboro, and deservedly so.
RB James Robinson (via New York (the green side)) A one-time breakout UDFA in Jacksonville, Robinson’s role diminished with the rise of Travis Etienne Jr.; after being traded to the Jets, Robinson never got settled into a role. In New England, Robinson is likely first in line for the #2 RB spot behind Stevenson, an important role given that Stevenson’s overwork saw his productivity decline as last season came to an end. Robinson also possesses the pass-catching versatility that Belichick loves, a role Harris was never used in but Stevenson is, further suggesting he can have a significant spot on the field for the Pats.
TE Mike Gesicki (via Miami) As Smith never worked out as the co-#1 TE, here comes Gesicki. A pure pass catcher at the position, Gesicki has the size and hands to be a reliable target in the red zone, and should pair nicely with Henry for a potential TE-heavy formation as the team approaches the goal line.
T Riley Reiff (via Chicago) T Calvin Anderson (via Denver) While neither comes with the contract expectation of being a long-term solution at either tackle spot, the hope is that Reiff (expected to start at RT) will be an upgrade over Wynn, while Anderson serves as a reliable swing tackle who can start if needed.
LB Chris Board Jr. (via Detroit) Remember that awful special teams unit? Board is one of the NFL’s top special teamers, a player Belichick singled out when New England faced the Lions last year. It’s unsurprising he brought in such a veteran to help solidify the unit after… just all of last year.
QB Trace McSorley (via Arizona) By bringing in McSorley in Hoyer’s stead, the team is showing a bit of a shift in philosophy with how it is using its backup QB spots. Both Mac and Zappe are pocket passers; McSorley does most of his work outside the pocket and can run with regularity, a trend more common among top-level quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. At minimum, he’s worth a camp spot, and that’s fine.
P Corliss Waitman (via Denver) Following the implosion of Bailey and Palardy at punter, the Patriots were on the verge of entering the draft with none on the roster. Waitman is a veteran addition there, but pretty much everyone expected New England to add a punter either as a draft pick or UDFA. (Another spoiler – my bad.)
After this free agency, many saw the Patriots as still having holes at the top of their depth chart at wideout, tackle, and cornerback. Tight end was also considered a need as New England, despite adding Gesicki to pair with Henry, does not have a tight end signed beyond 2023, entering the draft with only Matt Sokol and Scotty Washington behind their name duo.
Then they went on the clock, entering the draft with:
1-14 2-46 3-76 4-107 4-117 4-135 6-184 6-187 6-192 6-210 7-245
Here’s how it all went down.
Draft Picks
TRADE: 1-14 to PIT for 1-17 and 4-120 Although this trade was criticized for receiving too little back from Pittsburgh, it was not a major loss in capital according to the Rich Hill value chart (325 points to PIT, 320 to NE), and it came with enough high-level talent on the board that the Patriots were sure to get one of their targets. The way the board fell, fans most wanted Christian Gonzalez, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Zay Flowers, or Broderick Jones; when the Steelers took Jones, it became clear that the Patriots were not interested in him (reports came out that the Patriots had not been interested in Jones at all due to coachability concerns), but they were sure to land an exciting player after moving down only three spots rather than the seven-plus many mockers had predicted. Additionally, the Steelers landing Jones appeared to knock the Jets’ war room for a loop (though later video has shown that the Jets were expecting the trade), and the only thing New England fans love more than a victory is an opportunity to screw over the Jets.
1-17: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon The Patriots’ selection of Gonzalez received universal acclaim, and it’s easy to see why. Despite having strong CB depth, the Patriots lacked a true #1 corner; Gonzalez has the ability, length, and athleticism to be that from Day One. The first-round pick via Colorado and Oregon was widely projected as a top-10 selection, so for New England to land him at 17 is a tremendous coup. From his interviews and his play style, Gonzalez seems like a quiet guy off the field who wants to shut the opponent down when on the turf. He’ll be fun to watch.
2-46: Keion White, ED, Georgia Tech White is another player falling under the new Patriots draft umbrella under Belichick and Matt Groh: as athletic as can be. While he is raw, White has the athleticism to play three downs along the defensive line and the versatility to move inside when the situation calls for it. The Patriots thought so highly of him that he was a player they were considering drafting in the first round, even considering a move back into the last picks of the round to snag him, but landed him at 46 anyway. How much he will play as a rookie is uncertain as New England has a very good edge duo in Matthew Judon and Josh Uche, but even if White has to take a year to get acclimated to the NFL, that’s not unheard of in Foxboro and has produced success for highly-touted picks: neither Nate Solder (first round) nor Trey Flowers (fourth round) took on long-term starting roles as rookies (though Solder filled in at right tackle plenty), but were established starters in their second years. Similarly, Uche (second round) started off as an occasionally-used part of a pass rushing rotation before hitting double-digit sacks last year, his third season in the league. And if White earns significant playing time in 2023, all the better.
3-76: Marte Mapu, LB, Sacramento State* Here’s that small-school selection that detractors tend to point at regarding Belichick, but Mapu has elite potential. I got tipped off to Mapu late in the pre-draft cycle, and watching film of him I was reminded a lot of Kyle Dugger, another small-school Day 2 player who has turned into an excellent Patriot. Mapu is going to play linebacker, likely his best position, and fill the role of coverage ‘backer that New England has lacked for several seasons. He’s also athletic and scheme-versatile, having spent time at safety and linebacker while at Sacramento State, so he will be able to move around the defensive formation if the situation calls for it. Add to that his tackling, his closing speed, and his containment, and you’ve got yourself a potential stud.
4-107: Jake Andrews, C, Troy The Patriots need their future long-term center with David Andrews now 31 and having an injury history, and Jake Andrews (unrelated) is set up perfectly to be that guy. Andrews the Younger is built in the same mold as Andrews the Elder: both exited college as smaller in stature than other centers but able to get a push on defensive linemen from below, meaning Jake can easily learn specific bits of technique from David. While not expected to play the role immediately, [anagram: Ned Was a Jerk] is now in position to spend time behind [anagram: Swan Diver Dad], preparing himself to take over at center in the near future.
TRADE: 4-120 and 6-184 to NYJ for 4-112 4-112: Chad Ryland, K, Maryland This is not the first time Belichick has selected a kicker in the fourth round, selecting Stephen Gostkowski with pick 118 in 2006; with the Patriots in desperate need for a strong player at the position, moving up to make sure they could land him makes sense (especially with Jake Moody being selected by the 49ers at 3-99). And Ryland is what Nick Folk is not: a big-legged kicker with kickoff ability. Folk has been appreciated in New England for his accuracy, but his distance and accuracy notably declined in 2022, and when forced to kick off, his lack of touchback distance led to trouble, the Patriots surrendering a league-high three kick return touchdowns (including two in the season finale). It’s clear an upgrade at kicker was a requirement this offseason; with Moody gone, giving up a sixth to move up eight spots is absolutely fine. In doing so, New England has hopefully landed their kicker for the next decade.
4-117: Sidy Sow, G, Eastern Michigan At this point, it may be considered confusing for the Patriots to have drafted a left guard in Sow when last year’s first-round pick Cole Strange is entrenched there and Mike Onwenu mans right guard at an elite level, but Groh’s post-draft comments indicated the team would give Sow opportunities at left tackle as well. And not only does Sow have experience at left tackle, he has the size at 6’5” and 326 pounds. New England’s projected starting tackles are veterans Trent Brown and Riley Reiff, both of whom are over 30 and are in contract years; if Sow returns to the position, the former mauling EMU Eagle (heh, two birds) offensive lineman could ease the need at tackle for next offseason.
TRADE: 4-135 to LV for 5-144 and 6-214 5-144: Atonio Mafi, G, UCLA Another interior lineman? Yes. Mafi is a guard whom the Patriots worked with at the Shrine Bowl, and has the versatility to move between left and right guard. As the aforementioned Onwenu is in a contract year, Mafi has a clear path to a potential starting job in 2024, and the most important thing right now for the development of Mac Jones is keeping him upright. By selecting three offensive linemen – using a quarter of their 12 selections on the offensive trench – Belichick and Groh have signaled their intent to do just that. From all accounts, Mafi, who met with New England in a pre-draft visit, is thrilled to join the team; now it’s about proving it on the field.
6-187: Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU Boutte is the epitome of a boom-or-bust prospect, his elite 2020 and ‘21 being overshadowed by a disappointing 2022 that dropped him from clear first-rounder to a middle-of-Day-3 selection. As a freshman and sophomore, Boutte looked to follow in the footsteps of highly-drafted LSU wideouts such as Odell Beckham Jr., Justin Jefferson, and JaMarr Chase, showing a complete package of agility, speed, and route running. Unfortunately, an injury plus conflicts with his new coach Brian Kelly led to underperformance, and a poor combine performance cemented his draft stock as having drastically fallen. But if he can get back to his earlier form, where his talent and athleticism led to a combined 83 receptions, 1244 yards, and 14 touchdowns in his first two college seasons, Boutte could become the steal of the draft.
6-192: Bryce Baringer, P, Michigan State While New England had signed Corliss Waitman so as to have a punter on the roster heading into the draft, none assumed he was the long-term answer; when the Patriots made Baringer the first punter taken in the 2023 draft, it became clear who was. A walk-on turned cut turned best punter in college football, Baringer has a booming leg that showed itself in an average punt length of 49.0 yards in ‘22; he also holds the Michigan State record for career punting average at 46.0 yards. As a bonus, he worked with Ryland at the Senior Bowl, so the two have already begun to develop chemistry in the holding game. As another bonus, he wore No. 99 in college, and that is awesome.
6-210: Demario Douglas, WR, Liberty When one imagines a typical Patriots slot receiver – small, shifty, and explosive with the ball in his hands – one might well be imagining Douglas. The five-foot-eight Liberty product can absolutely fly, moving all around the formation and catching balls at all levels of the field. New Englanders got a preview of what Douglas’ game might look like when rookie cornerback Marcus Jones began to take snaps on offense last year; Jones was often put in motion before the snap, worked out of the backfield, and assigned touches where his elusiveness was the spark to gain yards. Douglas has said he models his game after Jones, a claim that demonstrates itself when one views his collegiate tape. I had a third-round grade on Douglas, so the Patriots landing him at 210 is a thrill. (Even though the Giants took one of my draft crushes in Tre Hawkins III the pick before, for which I’m still irked.)
6-214: Ameer Speed, CB, Michigan State The unknown about Speed is whether he will develop on defense; that is not his skill at the moment. There are three things known: his size (6’3”, 210 lbs.), his speed (4.34s 40), and his special teams prowess. With longtime special teams captain Matthew Slater likely entering his last year, the Patriots need to develop a new crop of special teams standouts, long a hallmark of Belichick’s Patriots from the time of Larry Izzo. Last year’s UDFA Brenden Schooler looks like one of those players already; Speed will certainly be given every chance possible to be another.
7-245: Isaiah Bolden, CB, Jackson State More tall athletic cornerbacks! The only HBCU selection in the 2023 draft, Bolden is an incredible athlete who likely earned his way to a draft selection by lighting up his Pro Day. Though just a role player on defense, Bolden has developmental traits that any defensive coach would love, and has also been a top collegiate kick returner, leading all of college football in 2021 with a 36.9-yard average on kickoff returns. I don’t see the two late-round cornerback selections as “throw players on the field and see who sticks” à la the ill-fated dual tight end picks of Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene in 2020’s third round, but selecting players who might have longer chances to succeed, but if they do succeed can truly shine.
Though Bolden was the last of the Patriots’ 2023 draft picks, that did not conclude their rookie class as the period of UDFA signings immediately began. The Patriots have had an undrafted rookie make the Week 1 roster every year since 2004; with just a four-man class this season, chances are slim. They’re not impossible – their only 2021 UDFA, kicker Quinn Nordin, made it – but they’re definitely slimmer. Here are the four who can continue that streak.
Undrafted Rookies
Malik Cunningham, QB, Louisville The most expensive ($200,000) and well-known of the quartet, Cunningham’s slight build and arm as a quarterback led to piles of speculation of his switching positions. However, he has started off his Patriots tenure as a quarterback in rookie minicamp, so he remains a quarterback until further notice. Throughout college, Cunningham’s most intriguing asset has been his supreme athleticism at the position, something which showed up in testing, and it remains to be seen how the Patriots will use that athleticism to help the team. (It may be a good while until outside sources get a look, as minicamp and OTAs have thus far been closed off to the media.)
Johnny Lumpkin, TE, Louisiana-Lafayette After foregoing using a selection on a tight end in a deep draft class (another Belichick trend), New England instead brought in Lumpkin, who projects as a blocking tight end in the NFL. This offsets the biggest negative, his age (he’ll be 26 to start the season), as the Patriots lack a true blocker at the position. Whether Lumpkin can take advantage of this path to a roster spot remains to be seen, but his road to making the team as an undrafted rookie seems easiest at the moment.
Jourdan Heilig, LB, Appalachian State Like Board and Speed, Heilig joins the Patriots as a special teams standout, playing minimal defense as a Mountaineer (three snaps in 2022) but standing out in college on the third unit (210 snaps in 2022). He’ll have a chance to follow in the path of Schooler as a UDFA who makes his mark as a core special teamer.
Justus Tavai, DL, San Diego State The middle of the Tavai brothers (older brother Jahlani is a Patriots linebacker, younger brother Jonah signed with Seattle as a UDFA), Justus played alongside Jonah on the Aztec defensive line in 2022. While Jonah put up eye-popping numbers with double-digit sacks, Justus was a steady contributor as well, putting up 3.5 sacks and intercepting a pass. Tavai is the ninth man on the Patriots’ defensive line right now, so he has a difficult path if he wants to make the team.
He’s not an undrafted rookie, but the Patriots have also brought in veteran free agent Anthony Firsker, TE to compete with Lumpkin, Sokol, and Washington for the third tight end spot, the roster spot opened with their losing reserve Raekwon McMillan, LB to a partially torn Achilles tendon.
Projected Offseason Depth Chart (italics = rookie, (in parentheses = exclusively or primarily a special teamer)) (Note: the Patriots assign temporary jersey numbers in the offseason starting with 50 based mainly on draft position.)
QB 10 Mac Jones 4 Bailey Zappe 19 Trace McSorley 64 Malik Cunningham
RB 38 Rhamondre Stevenson 3 James Robinson 14 Ty Montgomery II 35 Pierre Strong Jr. 36 Kevin Harris 42 J.J. Taylor
WR 1 DeVante Parker 7 JuJu Smith-Schuster 84 Kendrick Bourne 11 Tyquan Thornton 58 Kayshon Boutte 60 Demario Douglas 82 Tre Nixon (44 Raleigh Webb) (18 Matthew Slater)
TE 85 Hunter Henry 88 Mike Gesicki 86 Anthony Firsker 87 Matt Sokol 17 Scotty Washington 65 Johnny Lumpkin
T 77 Trent Brown 74 Riley Reiff 76 Calvin Anderson 75 Conor McDermott 64 Andrew Stueber
G 71 Mike Onwenu 69 Cole Strange 54 Sidy Sow 55 Atonio Mafi 63 Chasen Hines 62 Bill Murray
C 60 David Andrews 53 Jake Andrews 65 James Ferentz 66 Kody Russey
DL 90 Christian Barmore 92 Davon Godchaux 91 Deatrich Wise Jr. 93 Lawrence Guy Sr. 95 Daniel Ekuale 98 Carl Davis Jr. 96 Sam Roberts 70 Jeremiah Pharms Jr. 67 Justus Tavai
ED 9 Matthew Judon 55 Josh Uche 51 Keion White 58 Anfernee Jennings (97 DaMarcus Mitchell) 51 Ronnie Perkins
LB 8 Ja’Whaun Bentley 48 Jahlani Tavai 52 Marte Mapu 30 Mack Wilson Sr. (45 Chris Board Jr.) 43 Calvin Munson 59 Terez Hall 47 Olakunle Fatukasi (66 Jourdan Heilig)
CB 50 Christian Gonzalez 31 Jonathan Jones 13 Jack Jones 25 Marcus Jones 27 Myles Bryant (61 Ameer Speed) 63 Isaiah Bolden 37 Tae Hayes 26 Shaun Wade 34 Quandre Mosely 39 Rodney Randle Jr.
S 23 Kyle Dugger 5 Jabrill Peppers 2 Jalen Mills 21 Adrian Phillips 24 Joshuah Bledsoe (41 Brenden Schooler) (22 Cody Davis) 29 Brad Hawkins
K 62 Chad Ryland 6 Nick Folk
P 59 Bryce Baringer 15 Corliss Waitman
LS 49 Joe Cardona 46 Tucker Addington
Conclusion Is this a perfect Patriots team? No. There are still long-term holes at offensive tackle and tight end, and there is a question mark as to who can be that pass catcher whom defensive coordinators have to plan for, a player the team has lacked for several seasons.
But is this an exciting Patriots roster, a team who has a chance to exceed their middling projections and expectations, a team worth watching and cheering for? Absolutely. Belichick and company have stabilized the coaching staff; added explosive, athletic players at nearly every position; brought in a new crew of players to take over special teams; and begun their draft with three players who could not only start in the NFL but have the potential to star. I fully believe that this is not an 8-9 caliber team, even in an AFC East with three other teams that have added big name after big name.
As Bill Belichick might say, we’re on to 2023.
We’re on to victory.
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When people start assuming he’ll act based on his stereotypes (first-round trade down, OL early, no early WRs, all Alabama players or small school guys or guys from Rutgers), he’ll do the opposite. When the consensus is that he’ll shift away from those stereotypes, he’ll lean right into them.
So in observing mock drafts, both full and team-centric, there was a lot of accord that he would follow those stereotypes. (Adam Korsak, both a punter and from Rutgers, was EVERYWHERE.)
But then the end of April came.
Before then, New England had suffered a 2022 season full of embarrassment, from Matt Patricia and Joe Judge’s ineptitude at running the offense to a team that seemed to find new ways to lose in humiliating fashion (a certain ill-fated lateral sequence peak among them). The Patriots went from their dynastic reign as a team which would trounce their opponents in laughers to the team that everyone pointed and laughed at. Mac Jones’ Patricia- and Judge-sparked regression along with impressive cameo appearances by ‘22 rookie Bailey Zappe split the fanbase into Mac and Zappe camps, with sports media fueling the flame by spreading or outright fabricating rumors of Belichick shopping Mac, rumors which lasted through the first day of the draft. It was an ugly season and an uglier start to the offseason.
The franchise clearly needed to make changes in 2023, and changes started near the top. Patricia and Judge lost their roles, the former joining the Eagles coaching staff and the latter moving to lead special teams, a necessary move as this Belichick-led squad had plummeted to the lowest-ranked third unit. (More on that later.) Patricia had filled the dual roles of de facto offensive coordinator and facto offensive line coach, and filled both roles with the acumen of me designing plays in Backyard Football 2002, except I could actually design plays that resulted in touchdowns. Judge had manned the quarterbacks room, and given that Daniel Jones finally broke out for the Giants once Judge had been booted from mentoring him, you can guess how that went for Mac and the Pats. In his new role in charge of special teams, he has already cost the team two OTAs and Bill Belichick $50,000 for an offseason meetings violation, and has elevated his 2022 title of Co-Most Hated Man in Foxboro to Single Most Hated Man in Foxboro.
Anyway, New England needed to fill their old roles, and brought in:
Bill O’Brien, Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach A long-time friend of Belichick’s, O’Brien returns for his second stint as Pats OC, having dictated the offense in Rob Gronkowski’s record-setting 2011 season. Additionally, O’Brien comes by way of running the offense and the QB room at the University of Alabama, which spawned Mac Jones. Mac regressed in 2022 after an impressive 2021, but recall that 2022 was under the abysmal leadership of Patricia (calling his plays) and Judge (his direct coach), a situation in which no one could develop. By bringing in his old OC and QB coach, Mac has been put in the best possible position to develop in ‘23, a position which will much more clearly give fans a vision of his future as an NFL quarterback. (And the playcalling will be legitimate! It’s been but a year and we have already forgotten what creativity, route concepts, and misdirection have looked like!)
Adrian Klemm, Offensive Line Coach Belichick’s first draft pick after taking the helm in New England in 2000, Klemm has joined the team after coaching at Oregon last year. He comes with a strong reputation at that coaching position, having headed a Ducks O-line that allowed just five sacks in 2022. Last season, the Patriots saw a regression from their veterans on the line, most notably in Trent Brown’s newfound flag-happiness, and first-round rookie guard Cole Strange put forth a mixed performance. Bringing in an actual offensive line coach gives the team the best chance to fix any issues that showed in ‘22 and to develop their young linemen.
Of course, coaching was not the only issue last season, as New England was criticized for their lack of talent on the roster. Of New England’s high-cash free agent class of 2021, only edge rusher Matthew Judon shined in both his seasons in Foxboro: neither tight end Jonnu Smith nor wideout Nelson Agholor ever got off the ground, tight end Hunter Henry regressed after a solid ‘21, and wideout Kendrick Bourne found himself suddenly in Patricia’s doghouse and off the field. Moves needed to be made as the calendar turned to free agency.
Notable Departures
S Devin McCourty (retired) The most prominent departure from the ‘22 squad, McCourty is one of many who can be termed a quintessential Patriot. A first-round cornerback out of Rutgers in 2010, D-Mac made the switch to safety in 2012 and locked down the position for the next decade. When he was on the verge of leaving the team in free agency in 2015, even reaching out to Belichick to say goodbye, Belichick signed him to a top-valued safety contract and kept him in red, white, and blue. His leadership and personality made him a joy to watch on the field and off, his personality showing itself especially well recently through interactions with his twin brother Jason, who played alongside him for the Patriots from 2018 to ‘20. Statistically, D-Mac ends his career with 35 interceptions, one shy of the franchise record, and 4 touchdowns (two picks, a kickoff return, and a blocked field goal return). We miss him already.
P Jake Bailey (released; signed with Miami) What a drop. After an All-Pro season in 2020, Bailey signed a four-year extension in 2022 only to become the worst statistical punter in the league. After he was injured, the Patriots brought in Michael Palardy, who managed to be even worse (personally, I blame the team’s curse that comes with the jersey number 17). Neither punter remains with the team, Bailey joining an AFC East rival in the Dolphins and Palardy currently unsigned.
TE Jonnu Smith (traded to Atlanta) There is a strong case to be made that Smith is the worst free agency signing Belichick has made as Pats GM. In the two years since inking a 4-year, $50 million deal, Smith totaled just 55 catches for 539 yards and one touchdown, and a ‘22 restructure of his contract meant that Smith appeared to be a monetary albatross the Patriots would not be able to shake loose. What led to Atlanta agreeing to take on his whole contract, sending New England a seventh-round pick to get the player, I have no idea, but I think every Pats fan would agree that Smith didn’t work out in the least and a change was best for all sides.
WR Jakobi Meyers (signed with Las Vegas) Meyers’ departure was somewhat shocking, as the 2019 UDFA had worked his way up to the top of the Patriots’ wide receiver depth chart. More of a big slot guy than an outside #1, Meyers had a minor role in his rookie season and started 2020 at the bottom of the depth chart, but injuries to the players above him got him onto the field, and a 12-catch, 169-yard performance against the Jets that November meant he wasn’t leaving it anytime soon. While not possessing top-tier speed or explosiveness, Meyers was the team’s best route runner and separator, and his departure left another void that needed to be filled.
QB Brian Hoyer (released, signed with Las Vegas) Hoyer was third on the depth chart, Zappe having shown enough to take the #2 spot. While a fine veteran mentor, the Patriots chose to go a different direction with that third QB role.
WR Nelson Agholor (signed with Baltimore) Agholor was given a two-year contract in 2021 with the anticipation of his being the #1 receiver, something which did not happen due to his unreliable hands and separation abilities. For those two years and $22 million, Agholor produced 68 catches, 835 yards, and five touchdowns. Not worth it.
RB Damien Harris (signed with Buffalo) By far the most productive member of the Patriots’ atrocious 2019 draft class, Harris was good in New England but had been passed on the depth chart by sophomore Rhamondre Stevenson midway through 2022. Couple that with Belichick’s predilection to let running backs walk instead of giving them second contracts, sprinkle in a dash of two ‘22 draft picks (Pierre Strong Jr. and Kevin Harris) who will get more opportunities in 2023, top it off with the return of Ty Montgomery II from injured reserve, and it’s no surprise that Harris is no longer a Patriot.
T Isaiah Wynn (signed with Miami) Another former first-round pick, Wynn was all right as a left tackle though was criticized for frequent injury problems; with his fifth-year option picked up for ‘22, he was inexplicably switched to right tackle, where he was very bad. He never really earned the role of franchise tackle, so it was expected that the Patriots would let him walk.
But on the upside, the team now has:
Additions
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (via Kansas City) After Meyers signed with the Raiders, the Patriots worked quickly to bring in his replacement in the slot. Smith-Schuster revived his career in Kansas City and is now in position to be a primary target for Mac for the next three seasons, possessing more explosiveness and speed than his predecessor. The biggest concern with JuJu is his durability, but I believe the Patriots have made preparations in the draft (spoiler) in case that becomes a significant problem. The fanbase is excited for Smith-Schuster on the field in Foxboro, and deservedly so.
RB James Robinson (via New York (the green side)) A one-time breakout UDFA in Jacksonville, Robinson’s role diminished with the rise of Travis Etienne Jr.; after being traded to the Jets, Robinson never got settled into a role. In New England, Robinson is likely first in line for the #2 RB spot behind Stevenson, an important role given that Stevenson’s overwork saw his productivity decline as last season came to an end. Robinson also possesses the pass-catching versatility that Belichick loves, a role Harris was never used in but Stevenson is, further suggesting he can have a significant spot on the field for the Pats.
TE Mike Gesicki (via Miami) As Smith never worked out as the co-#1 TE, here comes Gesicki. A pure pass catcher at the position, Gesicki has the size and hands to be a reliable target in the red zone, and should pair nicely with Henry for a potential TE-heavy formation as the team approaches the goal line.
T Riley Reiff (via Chicago) T Calvin Anderson (via Denver) While neither comes with the contract expectation of being a long-term solution at either tackle spot, the hope is that Reiff (expected to start at RT) will be an upgrade over Wynn, while Anderson serves as a reliable swing tackle who can start if needed.
LB Chris Board Jr. (via Detroit) Remember that awful special teams unit? Board is one of the NFL’s top special teamers, a player Belichick singled out when New England faced the Lions last year. It’s unsurprising he brought in such a veteran to help solidify the unit after… just all of last year.
QB Trace McSorley (via Arizona) By bringing in McSorley in Hoyer’s stead, the team is showing a bit of a shift in philosophy with how it is using its backup QB spots. Both Mac and Zappe are pocket passers; McSorley does most of his work outside the pocket and can run with regularity, a trend more common among top-level quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. At minimum, he’s worth a camp spot, and that’s fine.
P Corliss Waitman (via Denver) Following the implosion of Bailey and Palardy at punter, the Patriots were on the verge of entering the draft with none on the roster. Waitman is a veteran addition there, but pretty much everyone expected New England to add a punter either as a draft pick or UDFA. (Another spoiler – my bad.)
After this free agency, many saw the Patriots as still having holes at the top of their depth chart at wideout, tackle, and cornerback. Tight end was also considered a need as New England, despite adding Gesicki to pair with Henry, does not have a tight end signed beyond 2023, entering the draft with only Matt Sokol and Scotty Washington behind their name duo.
Then they went on the clock, entering the draft with:
1-14 2-46 3-76 4-107 4-117 4-135 6-184 6-187 6-192 6-210 7-245
Here’s how it all went down.
Draft Picks
TRADE: 1-14 to PIT for 1-17 and 4-120 Although this trade was criticized for receiving too little back from Pittsburgh, it was not a major loss in capital according to the Rich Hill value chart (325 points to PIT, 320 to NE), and it came with enough high-level talent on the board that the Patriots were sure to get one of their targets. The way the board fell, fans most wanted Christian Gonzalez, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Zay Flowers, or Broderick Jones; when the Steelers took Jones, it became clear that the Patriots were not interested in him (reports came out that the Patriots had not been interested in Jones at all due to coachability concerns), but they were sure to land an exciting player after moving down only three spots rather than the seven-plus many mockers had predicted. Additionally, the Steelers landing Jones appeared to knock the Jets’ war room for a loop (though later video has shown that the Jets were expecting the trade), and the only thing New England fans love more than a victory is an opportunity to screw over the Jets.
1-17: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon The Patriots’ selection of Gonzalez received universal acclaim, and it’s easy to see why. Despite having strong CB depth, the Patriots lacked a true #1 corner; Gonzalez has the ability, length, and athleticism to be that from Day One. The first-round pick via Colorado and Oregon was widely projected as a top-10 selection, so for New England to land him at 17 is a tremendous coup. From his interviews and his play style, Gonzalez seems like a quiet guy off the field who wants to shut the opponent down when on the turf. He’ll be fun to watch.
2-46: Keion White, ED, Georgia Tech White is another player falling under the new Patriots draft umbrella under Belichick and Matt Groh: as athletic as can be. While he is raw, White has the athleticism to play three downs along the defensive line and the versatility to move inside when the situation calls for it. The Patriots thought so highly of him that he was a player they were considering drafting in the first round, even considering a move back into the last picks of the round to snag him, but landed him at 46 anyway. How much he will play as a rookie is uncertain as New England has a very good edge duo in Matthew Judon and Josh Uche, but even if White has to take a year to get acclimated to the NFL, that’s not unheard of in Foxboro and has produced success for highly-touted picks: neither Nate Solder (first round) nor Trey Flowers (fourth round) took on long-term starting roles as rookies (though Solder filled in at right tackle plenty), but were established starters in their second years. Similarly, Uche (second round) started off as an occasionally-used part of a pass rushing rotation before hitting double-digit sacks last year, his third season in the league. And if White earns significant playing time in 2023, all the better.
3-76: Marte Mapu, LB, Sacramento State* Here’s that small-school selection that detractors tend to point at regarding Belichick, but Mapu has elite potential. I got tipped off to Mapu late in the pre-draft cycle, and watching film of him I was reminded a lot of Kyle Dugger, another small-school Day 2 player who has turned into an excellent Patriot. Mapu is going to play linebacker, likely his best position, and fill the role of coverage ‘backer that New England has lacked for several seasons. He’s also athletic and scheme-versatile, having spent time at safety and linebacker while at Sacramento State, so he will be able to move around the defensive formation if the situation calls for it. Add to that his tackling, his closing speed, and his containment, and you’ve got yourself a potential stud.
4-107: Jake Andrews, C, Troy The Patriots need their future long-term center with David Andrews now 31 and having an injury history, and Jake Andrews (unrelated) is set up perfectly to be that guy. Andrews the Younger is built in the same mold as Andrews the Elder: both exited college as smaller in stature than other centers but able to get a push on defensive linemen from below, meaning Jake can easily learn specific bits of technique from David. While not expected to play the role immediately, [anagram: Ned Was a Jerk] is now in position to spend time behind [anagram: Swan Diver Dad], preparing himself to take over at center in the near future.
TRADE: 4-120 and 6-184 to NYJ for 4-112 4-112: Chad Ryland, K, Maryland This is not the first time Belichick has selected a kicker in the fourth round, selecting Stephen Gostkowski with pick 118 in 2006; with the Patriots in desperate need for a strong player at the position, moving up to make sure they could land him makes sense (especially with Jake Moody being selected by the 49ers at 3-99). And Ryland is what Nick Folk is not: a big-legged kicker with kickoff ability. Folk has been appreciated in New England for his accuracy, but his distance and accuracy notably declined in 2022, and when forced to kick off, his lack of touchback distance led to trouble, the Patriots surrendering a league-high three kick return touchdowns (including two in the season finale). It’s clear an upgrade at kicker was a requirement this offseason; with Moody gone, giving up a sixth to move up eight spots is absolutely fine. In doing so, New England has hopefully landed their kicker for the next decade.
4-117: Sidy Sow, G, Eastern Michigan At this point, it may be considered confusing for the Patriots to have drafted a left guard in Sow when last year’s first-round pick Cole Strange is entrenched there and Mike Onwenu mans right guard at an elite level, but Groh’s post-draft comments indicated the team would give Sow opportunities at left tackle as well. And not only does Sow have experience at left tackle, he has the size at 6’5” and 326 pounds. New England’s projected starting tackles are veterans Trent Brown and Riley Reiff, both of whom are over 30 and are in contract years; if Sow returns to the position, the former mauling EMU Eagle (heh, two birds) offensive lineman could ease the need at tackle for next offseason.
TRADE: 4-135 to LV for 5-144 and 6-214 5-144: Atonio Mafi, G, UCLA Another interior lineman? Yes. Mafi is a guard whom the Patriots worked with at the Shrine Bowl, and has the versatility to move between left and right guard. As the aforementioned Onwenu is in a contract year, Mafi has a clear path to a potential starting job in 2024, and the most important thing right now for the development of Mac Jones is keeping him upright. By selecting three offensive linemen – using a quarter of their 12 selections on the offensive trench – Belichick and Groh have signaled their intent to do just that. From all accounts, Mafi, who met with New England in a pre-draft visit, is thrilled to join the team; now it’s about proving it on the field.
6-187: Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU Boutte is the epitome of a boom-or-bust prospect, his elite 2020 and ‘21 being overshadowed by a disappointing 2022 that dropped him from clear first-rounder to a middle-of-Day-3 selection. As a freshman and sophomore, Boutte looked to follow in the footsteps of highly-drafted LSU wideouts such as Odell Beckham Jr., Justin Jefferson, and JaMarr Chase, showing a complete package of agility, speed, and route running. Unfortunately, an injury plus conflicts with his new coach Brian Kelly led to underperformance, and a poor combine performance cemented his draft stock as having drastically fallen. But if he can get back to his earlier form, where his talent and athleticism led to a combined 83 receptions, 1244 yards, and 14 touchdowns in his first two college seasons, Boutte could become the steal of the draft.
6-192: Bryce Baringer, P, Michigan State While New England had signed Corliss Waitman so as to have a punter on the roster heading into the draft, none assumed he was the long-term answer; when the Patriots made Baringer the first punter taken in the 2023 draft, it became clear who was. A walk-on turned cut turned best punter in college football, Baringer has a booming leg that showed itself in an average punt length of 49.0 yards in ‘22; he also holds the Michigan State record for career punting average at 46.0 yards. As a bonus, he worked with Ryland at the Senior Bowl, so the two have already begun to develop chemistry in the holding game. As another bonus, he wore No. 99 in college, and that is awesome.
6-210: Demario Douglas, WR, Liberty When one imagines a typical Patriots slot receiver – small, shifty, and explosive with the ball in his hands – one might well be imagining Douglas. The five-foot-eight Liberty product can absolutely fly, moving all around the formation and catching balls at all levels of the field. New Englanders got a preview of what Douglas’ game might look like when rookie cornerback Marcus Jones began to take snaps on offense last year; Jones was often put in motion before the snap, worked out of the backfield, and assigned touches where his elusiveness was the spark to gain yards. Douglas has said he models his game after Jones, a claim that demonstrates itself when one views his collegiate tape. I had a third-round grade on Douglas, so the Patriots landing him at 210 is a thrill. (Even though the Giants took one of my draft crushes in Tre Hawkins III the pick before, for which I’m still irked.)
6-214: Ameer Speed, CB, Michigan State The unknown about Speed is whether he will develop on defense; that is not his skill at the moment. There are three things known: his size (6’3”, 210 lbs.), his speed (4.34s 40), and his special teams prowess. With longtime special teams captain Matthew Slater likely entering his last year, the Patriots need to develop a new crop of special teams standouts, long a hallmark of Belichick’s Patriots from the time of Larry Izzo. Last year’s UDFA Brenden Schooler looks like one of those players already; Speed will certainly be given every chance possible to be another.
7-245: Isaiah Bolden, CB, Jackson State More tall athletic cornerbacks! The only HBCU selection in the 2023 draft, Bolden is an incredible athlete who likely earned his way to a draft selection by lighting up his Pro Day. Though just a role player on defense, Bolden has developmental traits that any defensive coach would love, and has also been a top collegiate kick returner, leading all of college football in 2021 with a 36.9-yard average on kickoff returns. I don’t see the two late-round cornerback selections as “throw players on the field and see who sticks” à la the ill-fated dual tight end picks of Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene in 2020’s third round, but selecting players who might have longer chances to succeed, but if they do succeed can truly shine.
Though Bolden was the last of the Patriots’ 2023 draft picks, that did not conclude their rookie class as the period of UDFA signings immediately began. The Patriots have had an undrafted rookie make the Week 1 roster every year since 2004; with just a four-man class this season, chances are slim. They’re not impossible – their only 2021 UDFA, kicker Quinn Nordin, made it – but they’re definitely slimmer. Here are the four who can continue that streak.
Undrafted Rookies
Malik Cunningham, QB, Louisville The most expensive ($200,000) and well-known of the quartet, Cunningham’s slight build and arm as a quarterback led to piles of speculation of his switching positions. However, he has started off his Patriots tenure as a quarterback in rookie minicamp, so he remains a quarterback until further notice. Throughout college, Cunningham’s most intriguing asset has been his supreme athleticism at the position, something which showed up in testing, and it remains to be seen how the Patriots will use that athleticism to help the team. (It may be a good while until outside sources get a look, as minicamp and OTAs have thus far been closed off to the media.)
Johnny Lumpkin, TE, Louisiana-Lafayette After foregoing using a selection on a tight end in a deep draft class (another Belichick trend), New England instead brought in Lumpkin, who projects as a blocking tight end in the NFL. This offsets the biggest negative, his age (he’ll be 26 to start the season), as the Patriots lack a true blocker at the position. Whether Lumpkin can take advantage of this path to a roster spot remains to be seen, but his road to making the team as an undrafted rookie seems easiest at the moment.
Jourdan Heilig, LB, Appalachian State Like Board and Speed, Heilig joins the Patriots as a special teams standout, playing minimal defense as a Mountaineer (three snaps in 2022) but standing out in college on the third unit (210 snaps in 2022). He’ll have a chance to follow in the path of Schooler as a UDFA who makes his mark as a core special teamer.
Justus Tavai, DL, San Diego State The middle of the Tavai brothers (older brother Jahlani is a Patriots linebacker, younger brother Jonah signed with Seattle as a UDFA), Justus played alongside Jonah on the Aztec defensive line in 2022. While Jonah put up eye-popping numbers with double-digit sacks, Justus was a steady contributor as well, putting up 3.5 sacks and intercepting a pass. Tavai is the ninth man on the Patriots’ defensive line right now, so he has a difficult path if he wants to make the team.
He’s not an undrafted rookie, but the Patriots have also brought in veteran free agent Anthony Firsker, TE to compete with Lumpkin, Sokol, and Washington for the third tight end spot, the roster spot opened with their losing reserve Raekwon McMillan, LB to a partially torn Achilles tendon.
Projected Offseason Depth Chart (italics = rookie, (in parentheses = exclusively or primarily a special teamer)) (Note: the Patriots assign temporary jersey numbers in the offseason starting with 50 based mainly on draft position.)
QB 10 Mac Jones 4 Bailey Zappe 19 Trace McSorley 64 Malik Cunningham
RB 38 Rhamondre Stevenson 3 James Robinson 14 Ty Montgomery II 35 Pierre Strong Jr. 36 Kevin Harris 42 J.J. Taylor
WR 1 DeVante Parker 7 JuJu Smith-Schuster 84 Kendrick Bourne 11 Tyquan Thornton 58 Kayshon Boutte 60 Demario Douglas 82 Tre Nixon (44 Raleigh Webb) (18 Matthew Slater)
TE 85 Hunter Henry 88 Mike Gesicki 86 Anthony Firsker 87 Matt Sokol 17 Scotty Washington 65 Johnny Lumpkin
T 77 Trent Brown 74 Riley Reiff 76 Calvin Anderson 75 Conor McDermott 64 Andrew Stueber
G 71 Mike Onwenu 69 Cole Strange 54 Sidy Sow 55 Atonio Mafi 63 Chasen Hines 62 Bill Murray
C 60 David Andrews 53 Jake Andrews 65 James Ferentz 66 Kody Russey
DL 90 Christian Barmore 92 Davon Godchaux 91 Deatrich Wise Jr. 93 Lawrence Guy Sr. 95 Daniel Ekuale 98 Carl Davis Jr. 96 Sam Roberts 70 Jeremiah Pharms Jr. 67 Justus Tavai
ED 9 Matthew Judon 55 Josh Uche 51 Keion White 58 Anfernee Jennings (97 DaMarcus Mitchell) 51 Ronnie Perkins
LB 8 Ja’Whaun Bentley 48 Jahlani Tavai 52 Marte Mapu 30 Mack Wilson Sr. (45 Chris Board Jr.) 43 Calvin Munson 59 Terez Hall 47 Olakunle Fatukasi (66 Jourdan Heilig)
CB 50 Christian Gonzalez 31 Jonathan Jones 13 Jack Jones 25 Marcus Jones 27 Myles Bryant (61 Ameer Speed) 63 Isaiah Bolden 37 Tae Hayes 26 Shaun Wade 34 Quandre Mosely 39 Rodney Randle Jr.
S 23 Kyle Dugger 5 Jabrill Peppers 2 Jalen Mills 21 Adrian Phillips 24 Joshuah Bledsoe (41 Brenden Schooler) (22 Cody Davis) 29 Brad Hawkins
K 62 Chad Ryland 6 Nick Folk
P 59 Bryce Baringer 15 Corliss Waitman
LS 49 Joe Cardona 46 Tucker Addington
Conclusion Is this a perfect Patriots team? No. There are still long-term holes at offensive tackle and tight end, and there is a question mark as to who can be that pass catcher whom defensive coordinators have to plan for, a player the team has lacked for several seasons.
But is this an exciting Patriots roster, a team who has a chance to exceed their middling projections and expectations, a team worth watching and cheering for? Absolutely. Belichick and company have stabilized the coaching staff; added explosive, athletic players at nearly every position; brought in a new crew of players to take over special teams; and begun their draft with three players who could not only start in the NFL but have the potential to star. I fully believe that this is not an 8-9 caliber team, even in an AFC East with three other teams that have added big name after big name.
As Bill Belichick might say, we’re on to 2023.
We’re on to victory.
2023.05.28 12:31 casapulapula Why Are We in Ukraine?: On the dangers of American hubris HARPERS MAGAZINE est 1850
Excerpt: "To what degree would Washington even be interested in a negotiated resolution to the war in Ukraine? After all, a good deal of evidence suggests that the administration’s real—if only semi-acknowledged—objective is to topple Russia’s government. The draconian sanctions that the United States imposed on Russia were designed to crash its economy. As the New York Times reported, these sanctions have ignited questions in Washington and in European capitals over whether cascading events in Russia could lead to “regime change,” or rulership collapse, which President Biden and European leaders are careful to avoid mentioning.
By repeatedly labeling Putin a “war criminal” and a murderous dictator, President Biden (using the same febrile rhetoric that his predecessors deployed against Noriega, Milošević, Qaddafi, and Saddam Hussein) has circumscribed Washington’s diplomatic options, rendering regime change the war’s only acceptable outcome. Diplomacy requires an understanding of an adversary’s interests and motives and an ability to make judicious compromises. But by assuming a Manichaean view of world politics, as has become Washington’s reflexive posture, “compromise, the virtue of the old diplomacy, becomes the treason of the new,” as the foreign policy scholar Hans Morgenthau put it, “for the mutual accommodation of conflicting claims . . . amounts to surrender when the moral standards themselves are the stakes of the conflict.”
Washington, then, will not entertain an end to the conflict until Russia is handed a decisive defeat. Echoing previous comments by Biden, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin declared in April 2022 that the goal is to weaken Russia militarily. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has repeatedly dismissed the idea of negotiating, insisting that Moscow is not serious about peace. For its part, Kyiv has indicated that it will settle for nothing less than the return of all Ukrainian territory occupied by Russia, including Crimea. Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba has endorsed the strategy of applying enough military pressure on Russia to induce its political collapse.
Of course, the same momentum pushing toward a war in pursuit of overweening ends catapults Washington into pursuing a war employing unlimited means, an impulse encapsulated in the formula, endlessly invoked by Washington policymakers and politicians: “Whatever it takes, for as long as it takes.” As the United States and its NATO allies pour ever more sophisticated weapons onto the battlefield, Moscow will likely be compelled (from military necessity, if not from popular domestic pressure) to interdict the lines of communication that convey these weapons shipments to Ukraine’s forces, which could lead to a direct clash with NATO forces. More importantly, as Russian casualties inevitably mount, animosity toward the West will intensify. A strategy guided by “whatever it takes, for as long as it takes” vastly increases the risk of accidents and escalation.
https://harpers.org/archive/2023/06/why-are-we-in-ukraine/
submitted by casapulapula to antiwar [link] [comments]
By repeatedly labeling Putin a “war criminal” and a murderous dictator, President Biden (using the same febrile rhetoric that his predecessors deployed against Noriega, Milošević, Qaddafi, and Saddam Hussein) has circumscribed Washington’s diplomatic options, rendering regime change the war’s only acceptable outcome. Diplomacy requires an understanding of an adversary’s interests and motives and an ability to make judicious compromises. But by assuming a Manichaean view of world politics, as has become Washington’s reflexive posture, “compromise, the virtue of the old diplomacy, becomes the treason of the new,” as the foreign policy scholar Hans Morgenthau put it, “for the mutual accommodation of conflicting claims . . . amounts to surrender when the moral standards themselves are the stakes of the conflict.”
Washington, then, will not entertain an end to the conflict until Russia is handed a decisive defeat. Echoing previous comments by Biden, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin declared in April 2022 that the goal is to weaken Russia militarily. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has repeatedly dismissed the idea of negotiating, insisting that Moscow is not serious about peace. For its part, Kyiv has indicated that it will settle for nothing less than the return of all Ukrainian territory occupied by Russia, including Crimea. Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba has endorsed the strategy of applying enough military pressure on Russia to induce its political collapse.
Of course, the same momentum pushing toward a war in pursuit of overweening ends catapults Washington into pursuing a war employing unlimited means, an impulse encapsulated in the formula, endlessly invoked by Washington policymakers and politicians: “Whatever it takes, for as long as it takes.” As the United States and its NATO allies pour ever more sophisticated weapons onto the battlefield, Moscow will likely be compelled (from military necessity, if not from popular domestic pressure) to interdict the lines of communication that convey these weapons shipments to Ukraine’s forces, which could lead to a direct clash with NATO forces. More importantly, as Russian casualties inevitably mount, animosity toward the West will intensify. A strategy guided by “whatever it takes, for as long as it takes” vastly increases the risk of accidents and escalation.
https://harpers.org/archive/2023/06/why-are-we-in-ukraine/
2023.05.28 12:21 aaronhereee A. Sabalenka [2] def. M. Kostyuk 6-3, 6-2 / French Open - 1st Round
women’s singles
marta played pretty well in the first set, consistent and was able to hit clean winners aryna at points. she was able to return her serves quite well!
aryna, as usual, just blasted throughout the entire match. CRUCIAL plays on break points. did have a bit of a flat spot at 5-1, but congrats to her!
submitted by aaronhereee to tennis [link] [comments]
marta played pretty well in the first set, consistent and was able to hit clean winners aryna at points. she was able to return her serves quite well!
aryna, as usual, just blasted throughout the entire match. CRUCIAL plays on break points. did have a bit of a flat spot at 5-1, but congrats to her!
2023.05.28 12:18 Newts-magic-beasts Is my landlord obligated to return overpaid rent?
I moved into my current house in September 2022. We had a 6 month contract and paid £400 deposit. Our original date to pay rent was the 5th, but after a couple of months i contacted him and it was agreed i could move the payment dates to 10th of each month if i paid the extra days as well, meaning i paid 585 that month instead of the regular 500.
In march, we were issued with a section 21 notice as he is selling the house and the buyer wants the property empty. We are expected to be out by/on 4th June. I paid the rent this month on 10th May, and that will technically take me up to the 10th June.
Is he obligated to return the days that i overpaid for (so if i leave on the 4th, thats 5 days ive overpaid)?
submitted by Newts-magic-beasts to LegalAdviceUK [link] [comments]
In march, we were issued with a section 21 notice as he is selling the house and the buyer wants the property empty. We are expected to be out by/on 4th June. I paid the rent this month on 10th May, and that will technically take me up to the 10th June.
Is he obligated to return the days that i overpaid for (so if i leave on the 4th, thats 5 days ive overpaid)?
2023.05.28 12:00 Far_Assist_4528 scammer decided to be 'anonymous' before placing back her (i hope i'm correct) pfp
submitted by Far_Assist_4528 to scammer [link] [comments]
2023.05.28 11:21 Numerous-Wishbone-76 The Double-Pronged Snake Alternate Arizona & New Mexico
 | submitted by Numerous-Wishbone-76 to imaginarymaps [link] [comments] |
2023.05.28 11:18 backseatgiveafuck Confusion while traveling
I really don't know if this is an ADHD thing or not but I'm starting to get worried.
Example: In 2018 I went to a concert in Brooklyn Steel (New York). In 2022 I go see the same band, but that time it was in Kings Theatre. I remember distinctively reading over and over that it was in Kings Theatre, but my mind kept thinking that it was in Brooklyn Steel. I realize the day before the concert that it was in a different venue.
Today, however, it was much worse. I had to take a train to the airport, but I missed the train. I missed it because my first train ride was at 11 AM and my return train trip was at 9 AM. So, today, I didn't take the 9 AM trip thinking it was at 11. I have no other means to make it to my flight today and might have to stay an extra day. Since both tickets were stapled to each other, I confused the times without paying attention to the dates.
Idk a one-time incident is fine, but this time I was livid with myself. Again, idk if this is an ADHD thing or not, but I suffer from misophonia and my audiologist hinted that it might be ADHD. I would appreciate it if kind internet strangers would point me in the right direction.
submitted by backseatgiveafuck to ADHD [link] [comments]
Example: In 2018 I went to a concert in Brooklyn Steel (New York). In 2022 I go see the same band, but that time it was in Kings Theatre. I remember distinctively reading over and over that it was in Kings Theatre, but my mind kept thinking that it was in Brooklyn Steel. I realize the day before the concert that it was in a different venue.
Today, however, it was much worse. I had to take a train to the airport, but I missed the train. I missed it because my first train ride was at 11 AM and my return train trip was at 9 AM. So, today, I didn't take the 9 AM trip thinking it was at 11. I have no other means to make it to my flight today and might have to stay an extra day. Since both tickets were stapled to each other, I confused the times without paying attention to the dates.
Idk a one-time incident is fine, but this time I was livid with myself. Again, idk if this is an ADHD thing or not, but I suffer from misophonia and my audiologist hinted that it might be ADHD. I would appreciate it if kind internet strangers would point me in the right direction.
2023.05.28 11:18 sonrises2 A fan roster breakdown: Barcelona Dragons.
We are less than a week away from kick off, and I thought to be a good idea that we ,as a fans, could share in this fantastic community our views of the teams we support. Rather than an expert breaking down all ELF rosters for us, we could break down and analyze the team we support for the others in this community to have a different view of ELF teams than those published in the "official/expert" websites.
I will start myself with Barcelona Dragons. Please join me and share in this thread the roster breakdown of the team you support.
BARCELONA DRAGONS
*COACHES
HC: 🇲🇽 Gabriel "Black" Sanchez
OC: 🇲🇽 Miguel Angel "Micky" Romero
DC: 🇲🇽 Gabriel "Black" Sanchez
🇲🇽 Coach Black is promoted to HC/DC from last year's DC duties. He brings along quite a few countrymen to take on key coaching positions this year. The likes of 🇲🇽 Coach Micky Romero to lead the offense, 🇲🇽 Eduardo Yagues to develope the Offensive Line or 🇲🇽 Genaro Alfonsin, former CFL player, as DB coach. Some familiar faces are back for another run too like 🇺🇸 Chase Baker, former NFL player, as a Defensive Line coach or 🇪🇸 Victor Martin to take again on WRs. 🇺🇸 Alexander Durazo signs this year to take the lead of special teams & LBs unit.
Dragons fans are very excited with coach Black promotion to HC position while keeping DC duties. Coach Black made an amazing job last year by unexpectedly building a proficient defensive unit at ELF level. Arguably, one of the best defenses in the league. His comeback has also been cheered by the players themselves who talk wonderful things of his leadership, football knowledge, passion and coaching style. The franchise has heavily invested in the coaching staff this season. Special mention to coach Eduardo Yagues. Over two decades coaching OL players at City College of San Francisco, brings over his knowledge to make the OL to grow and perform at its best. It is well known that Spanish football is not overloaded with homegrown talent and the departures of key Spanish players to other ELF teams added salt to the injury. Therefore, it was time for an audacious approach: Develope better and faster the rich young but somehow raw talent available in the country. Conclusion is that some of the biggest Dragons signings this Offseason are not in the field but by the sidelines. Be ready, dear readers, for a "spicy" Mexican branch of American Football.
*IMPORTS
🇺🇸 Imports: QB-WR-DL-S
🇪🇺 Imports: OL-OL-WR-WR-DL-S
*OFFENSE
Quarterback: Big change of style in this position. Dragons move from the athletic and open play specialist in Zach Edwards to a more classic pocket QB in 🇺🇸 Connor Miller. It is well known the capacity of Zach in extending broken plays and run for his life when necessary. Instead, Connor will most likely provide a different approach to the offense, exploiting multiple reads within the security of the pocket. Unlike Zach, Connor has proved in his successful career in Europe to be a vocal leader that has the ability to gather individuals towards a common objective. Dragons fans are willing and excited to embrace this shift of paradigm in the most important position in football, QB.
Wide Receivers: This unit has been almost entirely revamped. Only young local star and fan favorite 🇪🇸 Jordi Torrededia comes back to the team to continue his solid progression in his 3rd season in the league. Kyle Sweet is a sensible lost for Dragons. To fill this shoes comes 🇺🇸 Josh Johnston right off from Denver Broncos mini-camp. Johnston finished his college career this last season with Colorado School of Mines (NCAA D-2) where he posted top stats and earned multiple awards. 🇸🇪 Theodor Landstrom and 🇫🇷 Melvin Palin complete the poker of aces to follow in this unit. Palin has a long experience playing college football in Canada. Last year he moved to GFL to play with Dusseldorf Panthers. Landstrom comes from Telfs Patriots (AFL) where he posted 55 rec for 888 yds and 9 TD in 12 games.
Tight Ends: Big hopes and excitement around newly signed 🇪🇸 Raul Cernuda from Badalona Dracs (LNFA). A top Spanish player who finally makes the move and joins Dragons to showcase his skills at ELF level. Very good hands adds to his big size and body frame. Disciplined and good blocker, stands out for his goods hands to catch any pass coming his way. On the cons...lacks speed. Youngster 🇪🇸 Elias Rodriguez moves from 3rd string RB to TE in his 3rd season with the team.
Running Backs: 3rd year veteran 🇪🇸 Toni Monton returns to the team. Elusive once he gets his wheels spinning, brings good hands to the mix too. New signing 🇪🇸 Eduard Molina will be Toni's partner in crime in this unit. Eduard comes from having a monster season with Badalona Dracs (LNFA) this last year. Very good stats with 1121 run yds and 13 TD in 8 games.
Offensive Line: Most likely the line most affected by departures of homegrowns players this offseason. The losses of last year starters Eduardo Sanchez and Celestin Ngimbi to Musketeers and Gabriel Rodriguez to Guards called for bold action from the franchise. Last year's starters 🇪🇸 Elvys Núñez who most likely will take on C duties and 🇪🇸 Jose Ariza return to the team. Rotation player 🇪🇸 Mikel Gómez will be promoted to the starting unit as per sources. After that, new faces all over. 🇳🇴 Jonas Hagerup has already 2 years experience in the league after stints in Leipzig Kings (2021) and Wroclaw Panthers (2022) and 🇬🇧 Ben Dixon comes from Hamburg Huskies (GFL2). Youngsters 🇪🇸 David Culebras and 🇪🇸 Diego Varela from reigning Spanish Champs Las Rozas Black Demons should add depth to the line. 🇪🇸 Enzo Biasizzo from Dragons Academy (LNFA Jr) could be an unexpected surprise as season moves along. Nonetheless, the biggest signing this Offseason in this unit is coach Yagues. He has been given the mission of crafting the interesting material he has been given into a proficient unit at ELF level.
OFFENSE FINAL COMMENTS: Many new faces in this side of the ball. Only 6 players returning from last year's roster. The capacity of coaches Black, Micky and Yagues to swiftly develope chemistry and glue this unit will determine Dragons fate this season. We can expect Dragons to remain pass focused but we also expect to be far more unpredictable than previous years by moving away from the one-dimensional, Zach to Sweet/Constant, approach of previous coaches. Coaching staff is fully determined to implement a much richer offensive approach and get more players involved in offense. Overall, good vibes coming from training camp...
*DEFENSE
Defensive Line: One of the units where Dragons fans are more eager to see on the field. Although the key losses of homegrowns Alejandro Fernandez to Fire and Yago Rivero to Potsdam Royals (GFL) plus Michael Sam retirement from football, big things are expected from the DL. Key DTs 🇪🇸 Sebastian Bowen and 🇪🇸 Daniel Franco are back for another season. DE/rusher 🇺🇸 Darius Slade has impressed in training camp with his technique, athletics and implication with the team. Experienced 🇸🇪🇺🇸 Benjamin Egbudiwe brings more fire power to the line. Newly signed youngsters 🇪🇸 Mamadou Ka Thiobane from Terrassa Reds (LNFA), 🇪🇸 Diego Paz from Las Rozas Black Demons (LNFA) and 🇪🇸 Leo Rovesti from Alcobendas Cavaliers (LNFA) have already made some eyebrows rise in training camp. Other signings in 🇪🇸 Francisco Olivas from Mallorca Voltors (LNFA) and 🇪🇸 Rodrigo Sanz from Osos Rivas (LNFA) seems to point towards a deep and exciting DL for Dragons this season.
Linebackers: Good news here too. The LBs Corp are back almost in full for another season. 🇪🇸 Cesare Brugnani, 🇪🇸 Alex "Posito", 🇪🇸 Victor Albarracin and 🇪🇸 Sebastian Castañer, not only they proved to fully belong to this league last season but actually shine. To add more gun power, Dragons signs experienced LB 🇪🇸 Manuel Fernandez from Ravensburg Razorbacks (GFL)
Safeties: Another unit ready to brightly shine this season. 🇺🇸 Luke Glenna comes right off the University of St Thomas Minnesota (NCAA D-1) where he earned All American team and All Conference first team honors in 2022. Fan favorite 🇦🇷 Lautaro Frecha comes back for his 3rd season with the team and 🇪🇸 Jorge Félix Velasco is back too to complete the transition to S from LB that coach Black already envisioned last season. 🇪🇸 Hugo Minguez from Las Rozas Black Demons (LNFA) is another addition that might surprise as the season evolves.
Cornerbacks: Good talent in this unit but it might be the thiner unit in defense at this moment. Team captain 🇪🇸 Jordi Brugnani and 🇪🇸 Lucas Masero return to lead this unit for a 3rd season in a row. Experienced DB 🇪🇸 Julio Aguado from Las Rozas Black Demons (LNFA) and young but very promising prospect 🇪🇸🇩🇪 Pascal Sendelbach from Dragons Academy (LNFA Jr) will need to adjust quickly to the league and step up to help consolidate this unit.
DEFENSE FINAL COMMENTS: Defense has been reloaded and ready to go again after an already good performance last year. Defense will need to take the lead early in the season so that the offense earns time to get fully oiled in the first games of the season. Many team veterans are back, key import signings are giving out good vibes in training camp and a loaded promotion of promising young players seems a good receipt for success. And above all, defensive mastermind in coach Black ruling them all.
*SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker: 🇪🇸 Luis Cereceda. After year and a half under Giorgio Tavecchio wings as a mentor, he is now ready to take charge of this position.
Punter: 🇦🇺 Sam Higgins. Former Australian rules player, took on football by joining Badalona Dracs (LNFA) a couple of years ago. Joins Dragons this season.
Long Snapper: 🇪🇸 Pep Tricas comes back for his 3rd season as long snapper specialist.
submitted by sonrises2 to elf [link] [comments]
I will start myself with Barcelona Dragons. Please join me and share in this thread the roster breakdown of the team you support.
BARCELONA DRAGONS
*COACHES
HC: 🇲🇽 Gabriel "Black" Sanchez
OC: 🇲🇽 Miguel Angel "Micky" Romero
DC: 🇲🇽 Gabriel "Black" Sanchez
🇲🇽 Coach Black is promoted to HC/DC from last year's DC duties. He brings along quite a few countrymen to take on key coaching positions this year. The likes of 🇲🇽 Coach Micky Romero to lead the offense, 🇲🇽 Eduardo Yagues to develope the Offensive Line or 🇲🇽 Genaro Alfonsin, former CFL player, as DB coach. Some familiar faces are back for another run too like 🇺🇸 Chase Baker, former NFL player, as a Defensive Line coach or 🇪🇸 Victor Martin to take again on WRs. 🇺🇸 Alexander Durazo signs this year to take the lead of special teams & LBs unit.
Dragons fans are very excited with coach Black promotion to HC position while keeping DC duties. Coach Black made an amazing job last year by unexpectedly building a proficient defensive unit at ELF level. Arguably, one of the best defenses in the league. His comeback has also been cheered by the players themselves who talk wonderful things of his leadership, football knowledge, passion and coaching style. The franchise has heavily invested in the coaching staff this season. Special mention to coach Eduardo Yagues. Over two decades coaching OL players at City College of San Francisco, brings over his knowledge to make the OL to grow and perform at its best. It is well known that Spanish football is not overloaded with homegrown talent and the departures of key Spanish players to other ELF teams added salt to the injury. Therefore, it was time for an audacious approach: Develope better and faster the rich young but somehow raw talent available in the country. Conclusion is that some of the biggest Dragons signings this Offseason are not in the field but by the sidelines. Be ready, dear readers, for a "spicy" Mexican branch of American Football.
*IMPORTS
🇺🇸 Imports: QB-WR-DL-S
🇪🇺 Imports: OL-OL-WR-WR-DL-S
*OFFENSE
Quarterback: Big change of style in this position. Dragons move from the athletic and open play specialist in Zach Edwards to a more classic pocket QB in 🇺🇸 Connor Miller. It is well known the capacity of Zach in extending broken plays and run for his life when necessary. Instead, Connor will most likely provide a different approach to the offense, exploiting multiple reads within the security of the pocket. Unlike Zach, Connor has proved in his successful career in Europe to be a vocal leader that has the ability to gather individuals towards a common objective. Dragons fans are willing and excited to embrace this shift of paradigm in the most important position in football, QB.
Wide Receivers: This unit has been almost entirely revamped. Only young local star and fan favorite 🇪🇸 Jordi Torrededia comes back to the team to continue his solid progression in his 3rd season in the league. Kyle Sweet is a sensible lost for Dragons. To fill this shoes comes 🇺🇸 Josh Johnston right off from Denver Broncos mini-camp. Johnston finished his college career this last season with Colorado School of Mines (NCAA D-2) where he posted top stats and earned multiple awards. 🇸🇪 Theodor Landstrom and 🇫🇷 Melvin Palin complete the poker of aces to follow in this unit. Palin has a long experience playing college football in Canada. Last year he moved to GFL to play with Dusseldorf Panthers. Landstrom comes from Telfs Patriots (AFL) where he posted 55 rec for 888 yds and 9 TD in 12 games.
Tight Ends: Big hopes and excitement around newly signed 🇪🇸 Raul Cernuda from Badalona Dracs (LNFA). A top Spanish player who finally makes the move and joins Dragons to showcase his skills at ELF level. Very good hands adds to his big size and body frame. Disciplined and good blocker, stands out for his goods hands to catch any pass coming his way. On the cons...lacks speed. Youngster 🇪🇸 Elias Rodriguez moves from 3rd string RB to TE in his 3rd season with the team.
Running Backs: 3rd year veteran 🇪🇸 Toni Monton returns to the team. Elusive once he gets his wheels spinning, brings good hands to the mix too. New signing 🇪🇸 Eduard Molina will be Toni's partner in crime in this unit. Eduard comes from having a monster season with Badalona Dracs (LNFA) this last year. Very good stats with 1121 run yds and 13 TD in 8 games.
Offensive Line: Most likely the line most affected by departures of homegrowns players this offseason. The losses of last year starters Eduardo Sanchez and Celestin Ngimbi to Musketeers and Gabriel Rodriguez to Guards called for bold action from the franchise. Last year's starters 🇪🇸 Elvys Núñez who most likely will take on C duties and 🇪🇸 Jose Ariza return to the team. Rotation player 🇪🇸 Mikel Gómez will be promoted to the starting unit as per sources. After that, new faces all over. 🇳🇴 Jonas Hagerup has already 2 years experience in the league after stints in Leipzig Kings (2021) and Wroclaw Panthers (2022) and 🇬🇧 Ben Dixon comes from Hamburg Huskies (GFL2). Youngsters 🇪🇸 David Culebras and 🇪🇸 Diego Varela from reigning Spanish Champs Las Rozas Black Demons should add depth to the line. 🇪🇸 Enzo Biasizzo from Dragons Academy (LNFA Jr) could be an unexpected surprise as season moves along. Nonetheless, the biggest signing this Offseason in this unit is coach Yagues. He has been given the mission of crafting the interesting material he has been given into a proficient unit at ELF level.
OFFENSE FINAL COMMENTS: Many new faces in this side of the ball. Only 6 players returning from last year's roster. The capacity of coaches Black, Micky and Yagues to swiftly develope chemistry and glue this unit will determine Dragons fate this season. We can expect Dragons to remain pass focused but we also expect to be far more unpredictable than previous years by moving away from the one-dimensional, Zach to Sweet/Constant, approach of previous coaches. Coaching staff is fully determined to implement a much richer offensive approach and get more players involved in offense. Overall, good vibes coming from training camp...
*DEFENSE
Defensive Line: One of the units where Dragons fans are more eager to see on the field. Although the key losses of homegrowns Alejandro Fernandez to Fire and Yago Rivero to Potsdam Royals (GFL) plus Michael Sam retirement from football, big things are expected from the DL. Key DTs 🇪🇸 Sebastian Bowen and 🇪🇸 Daniel Franco are back for another season. DE/rusher 🇺🇸 Darius Slade has impressed in training camp with his technique, athletics and implication with the team. Experienced 🇸🇪🇺🇸 Benjamin Egbudiwe brings more fire power to the line. Newly signed youngsters 🇪🇸 Mamadou Ka Thiobane from Terrassa Reds (LNFA), 🇪🇸 Diego Paz from Las Rozas Black Demons (LNFA) and 🇪🇸 Leo Rovesti from Alcobendas Cavaliers (LNFA) have already made some eyebrows rise in training camp. Other signings in 🇪🇸 Francisco Olivas from Mallorca Voltors (LNFA) and 🇪🇸 Rodrigo Sanz from Osos Rivas (LNFA) seems to point towards a deep and exciting DL for Dragons this season.
Linebackers: Good news here too. The LBs Corp are back almost in full for another season. 🇪🇸 Cesare Brugnani, 🇪🇸 Alex "Posito", 🇪🇸 Victor Albarracin and 🇪🇸 Sebastian Castañer, not only they proved to fully belong to this league last season but actually shine. To add more gun power, Dragons signs experienced LB 🇪🇸 Manuel Fernandez from Ravensburg Razorbacks (GFL)
Safeties: Another unit ready to brightly shine this season. 🇺🇸 Luke Glenna comes right off the University of St Thomas Minnesota (NCAA D-1) where he earned All American team and All Conference first team honors in 2022. Fan favorite 🇦🇷 Lautaro Frecha comes back for his 3rd season with the team and 🇪🇸 Jorge Félix Velasco is back too to complete the transition to S from LB that coach Black already envisioned last season. 🇪🇸 Hugo Minguez from Las Rozas Black Demons (LNFA) is another addition that might surprise as the season evolves.
Cornerbacks: Good talent in this unit but it might be the thiner unit in defense at this moment. Team captain 🇪🇸 Jordi Brugnani and 🇪🇸 Lucas Masero return to lead this unit for a 3rd season in a row. Experienced DB 🇪🇸 Julio Aguado from Las Rozas Black Demons (LNFA) and young but very promising prospect 🇪🇸🇩🇪 Pascal Sendelbach from Dragons Academy (LNFA Jr) will need to adjust quickly to the league and step up to help consolidate this unit.
DEFENSE FINAL COMMENTS: Defense has been reloaded and ready to go again after an already good performance last year. Defense will need to take the lead early in the season so that the offense earns time to get fully oiled in the first games of the season. Many team veterans are back, key import signings are giving out good vibes in training camp and a loaded promotion of promising young players seems a good receipt for success. And above all, defensive mastermind in coach Black ruling them all.
*SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker: 🇪🇸 Luis Cereceda. After year and a half under Giorgio Tavecchio wings as a mentor, he is now ready to take charge of this position.
Punter: 🇦🇺 Sam Higgins. Former Australian rules player, took on football by joining Badalona Dracs (LNFA) a couple of years ago. Joins Dragons this season.
Long Snapper: 🇪🇸 Pep Tricas comes back for his 3rd season as long snapper specialist.
2023.05.28 11:17 Numerous-Wishbone-76 The Double-Pronged Snake Alternate Arizona & New Mexico
 | submitted by Numerous-Wishbone-76 to mapmaking [link] [comments] |
2023.05.28 11:02 KnifeShoe (dumb) question about re-entry into the US on an F1 visa
I'm an F1 student and I'll be re-entering the US late June after 5 weeks overseas on vacation. My DSO has signed my I-20 under the travel endorsement section and has written the date issued as 10/06/2022. I panicked for a second because I thought it meant 10th of June 2022, but obviously Americans write their dates differently so this means 6th of October 2022, thus giving me until 6th Oct 2023 to return, right?
I know it's dumb but I'm anxious hahaha
This shouldn't be a cause for concern at all, right? Additionally, other than my passport, F1 visa and I-20, is there anything else I need to bring with me? Thank you! :)
submitted by KnifeShoe to f1visa [link] [comments]
I know it's dumb but I'm anxious hahaha
This shouldn't be a cause for concern at all, right? Additionally, other than my passport, F1 visa and I-20, is there anything else I need to bring with me? Thank you! :)
2023.05.28 11:02 Spooky_Mennonite The Day the Martians Invaded
I'm a horror writer, by professional, and although I typically dabble in fiction and the occasional true crime; the following story has been passed down to me by my grandmother from her childhood during the Great Depression. It's one of my favorite stories that she's shared with me but to her, this is one for the archives of the "Twilight Zone" as it's one of the scariest things she's ever experienced.
Down in the hollers of Tennessee in 1938, my grandma was 8 years old and the eldest girl of the 7 kids. They didn't have much as far as possessions went but the one thing that was beloved by all of the family members was their large oak radio that was in the sitting room closest to the kitchen. After dinner, the kids were allowed one hour of radio time while my great-grandpa sat in his chair and my great-grandmother was cleaning up the kitchen from supper.
They enjoyed programs like "Little Orphan Annie", "Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy", and "The Lone Ranger" but on this night, the show they thought they were going to listen to was "interrupted" by a special bulletin from an unknown source. The younger kids were getting restless until Pa told them to 'hush up'. Grandma said that the look on Pa's face made her scared and her hands started trembling...She knew something was very wrong.
As a lull of quietness crept over the house, the man's voice spoke in a tone that was very unsettling. Her pa leaned forward as the news broke that Martians had landed in nearby cities and were attacking its citizens and buildings. Suddenly, her Ma dropped a plate on the wooden floor that broke everyone's concentration as their dog barked loudly outside on the porch.
Pa bolted from his chair, took the shot gun off the wall, and slammed through the screen door. The younger kids were starting to whimper and cry as my grandma held them tight. A loud firing of a shot gun blast pierced through the night as the dog's barking became more erratic. Pa busted in through the door with a worried expression on his face. He hadn't seen anything but the fact was... was that it was a matter of time that the Martians would be moving out of the city and making their way towards the countryside where their farm was. For Pa, there was no time to lose. There were already rumors of impending war and now that idea that some unknown creatures were taking over the planet was enough to make him want to take his wife and kids to some place until they could return home and hopefully, the farm would be intact.
He told Ma to get the kids ready and to be out in the truck in 5 minutes. The younger kids didn't know what to do; they've never seen their daddy like this before and they never wanted to again. The older boys, as well, as my grandma got their coats and shoes on, grab their blankets off their beds and jump into the bed of the truck. All the while, she could hear her parents arguing back and forth about what to take, what not to take.
"Leave it! Leave it all! We don't have much time! Get in the damn truck and do as you're told!"
From what I've been told about my great-grandpa, he never drank nor swore, but on that chilly October night, that man had cursed enough to make a good "Christian" blush but he knew that his wife and kids' lives were in danger. Slamming the door of the truck, she could hear my great-grandma muffle quiet sobs as she looked up towards the sky. They all did...as Pa drove like a bat out of Hell down the dirt road and deeper into the back country.
Nothing...nobody saw a thing. No bright lights or loud noises from the sky. Only the sound of the wildlife and the cracking of branches in the woods; suddenly the truck stopped and turned off. They were consumed by darkness and the kids began to cry. My great-grandma got out of the truck to check on them as their Pa got out and walked toward the edge of the woods, gun in tow. He just looking up at the sky and wiping his brow with his handkerchief.
As Pa came back, he told the kids they were going on a camping trip to keep them from getting scared and he was going to head back to the house and check on the radio for any further updates. She knew this was a bad idea...She was so afraid she would never see her Pa again. As the kids piled out of the truck, they leaned up against nearby trees and laid their heads back as their Pa drove back towards the farm; my great-grandma was walking around with the youngest to get her to calm down.
Grandma looked at one of my uncles (I forget which one she said) and asked him if they were going to die. He shook his head and said, "Of course not! We're your brothers. We're the men of the house while Pa's gone. Nothing's gonna happen as long as we're here!" This made her feel a lot better as he got up from his spot against the tree and walked around over to their Ma. Grandma remembers her Ma brushing her brother's head and kissing it with a light 'thank you'.
She wasn't sure how much time had passed but she was getting sleepy and closed her eyes. Before she knew it, everyone saw headlights coming down the road and towards the edge of the woods. Everyone was startled and she wanted to cry but her voice was caught in her throat. "Martians...they're coming for us...". Thankfully, it wasn't; it was just their Pa returning back to them with a relieved look on his face. She knew her mother had to be expecting the worst. But her Pa just hugged her
Ma and told her it was all over and they could come back home. As she rounded up the kids, she told them that everything was okay and it was safe to come home. It wasn't until the next day that they found out through the radio, that the "Martian Invasion" was actually a radio show just in time for Halloween and it was the telling of the book "War of the Worlds". Mr. Orson Welles had fooled them all and scared an entire nation into thinking that the world was being taken over by creatures from another world.
My grandma said she could laugh at it now, and that her Pa often considered getting rid of their radio because it made him out to be a fool in front of his family. She was just thankful that it was just a story but she had always wondered if there really was creatures from another planet that could wipe out the entire human race, and alter the world as we knew it. Even as she got older, Grandma couldn't watch any movies or shows that had to do with aliens. One of my uncles actually bought her a copy of the book"War of the Worlds" as a joke for her birthday; obviously she didn't think it was funny at the time. When she passed, I inherited the book and still sits in my library to this day.
Needless to say, her story inspired me to become a writer and shares a piece of my family's history that made me into the horror enthusiast I am today.
submitted by Spooky_Mennonite to LetsReadOfficial [link] [comments]
Down in the hollers of Tennessee in 1938, my grandma was 8 years old and the eldest girl of the 7 kids. They didn't have much as far as possessions went but the one thing that was beloved by all of the family members was their large oak radio that was in the sitting room closest to the kitchen. After dinner, the kids were allowed one hour of radio time while my great-grandpa sat in his chair and my great-grandmother was cleaning up the kitchen from supper.
They enjoyed programs like "Little Orphan Annie", "Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy", and "The Lone Ranger" but on this night, the show they thought they were going to listen to was "interrupted" by a special bulletin from an unknown source. The younger kids were getting restless until Pa told them to 'hush up'. Grandma said that the look on Pa's face made her scared and her hands started trembling...She knew something was very wrong.
As a lull of quietness crept over the house, the man's voice spoke in a tone that was very unsettling. Her pa leaned forward as the news broke that Martians had landed in nearby cities and were attacking its citizens and buildings. Suddenly, her Ma dropped a plate on the wooden floor that broke everyone's concentration as their dog barked loudly outside on the porch.
Pa bolted from his chair, took the shot gun off the wall, and slammed through the screen door. The younger kids were starting to whimper and cry as my grandma held them tight. A loud firing of a shot gun blast pierced through the night as the dog's barking became more erratic. Pa busted in through the door with a worried expression on his face. He hadn't seen anything but the fact was... was that it was a matter of time that the Martians would be moving out of the city and making their way towards the countryside where their farm was. For Pa, there was no time to lose. There were already rumors of impending war and now that idea that some unknown creatures were taking over the planet was enough to make him want to take his wife and kids to some place until they could return home and hopefully, the farm would be intact.
He told Ma to get the kids ready and to be out in the truck in 5 minutes. The younger kids didn't know what to do; they've never seen their daddy like this before and they never wanted to again. The older boys, as well, as my grandma got their coats and shoes on, grab their blankets off their beds and jump into the bed of the truck. All the while, she could hear her parents arguing back and forth about what to take, what not to take.
"Leave it! Leave it all! We don't have much time! Get in the damn truck and do as you're told!"
From what I've been told about my great-grandpa, he never drank nor swore, but on that chilly October night, that man had cursed enough to make a good "Christian" blush but he knew that his wife and kids' lives were in danger. Slamming the door of the truck, she could hear my great-grandma muffle quiet sobs as she looked up towards the sky. They all did...as Pa drove like a bat out of Hell down the dirt road and deeper into the back country.
Nothing...nobody saw a thing. No bright lights or loud noises from the sky. Only the sound of the wildlife and the cracking of branches in the woods; suddenly the truck stopped and turned off. They were consumed by darkness and the kids began to cry. My great-grandma got out of the truck to check on them as their Pa got out and walked toward the edge of the woods, gun in tow. He just looking up at the sky and wiping his brow with his handkerchief.
As Pa came back, he told the kids they were going on a camping trip to keep them from getting scared and he was going to head back to the house and check on the radio for any further updates. She knew this was a bad idea...She was so afraid she would never see her Pa again. As the kids piled out of the truck, they leaned up against nearby trees and laid their heads back as their Pa drove back towards the farm; my great-grandma was walking around with the youngest to get her to calm down.
Grandma looked at one of my uncles (I forget which one she said) and asked him if they were going to die. He shook his head and said, "Of course not! We're your brothers. We're the men of the house while Pa's gone. Nothing's gonna happen as long as we're here!" This made her feel a lot better as he got up from his spot against the tree and walked around over to their Ma. Grandma remembers her Ma brushing her brother's head and kissing it with a light 'thank you'.
She wasn't sure how much time had passed but she was getting sleepy and closed her eyes. Before she knew it, everyone saw headlights coming down the road and towards the edge of the woods. Everyone was startled and she wanted to cry but her voice was caught in her throat. "Martians...they're coming for us...". Thankfully, it wasn't; it was just their Pa returning back to them with a relieved look on his face. She knew her mother had to be expecting the worst. But her Pa just hugged her
Ma and told her it was all over and they could come back home. As she rounded up the kids, she told them that everything was okay and it was safe to come home. It wasn't until the next day that they found out through the radio, that the "Martian Invasion" was actually a radio show just in time for Halloween and it was the telling of the book "War of the Worlds". Mr. Orson Welles had fooled them all and scared an entire nation into thinking that the world was being taken over by creatures from another world.
My grandma said she could laugh at it now, and that her Pa often considered getting rid of their radio because it made him out to be a fool in front of his family. She was just thankful that it was just a story but she had always wondered if there really was creatures from another planet that could wipe out the entire human race, and alter the world as we knew it. Even as she got older, Grandma couldn't watch any movies or shows that had to do with aliens. One of my uncles actually bought her a copy of the book"War of the Worlds" as a joke for her birthday; obviously she didn't think it was funny at the time. When she passed, I inherited the book and still sits in my library to this day.
Needless to say, her story inspired me to become a writer and shares a piece of my family's history that made me into the horror enthusiast I am today.