Bengals face paint ideas

Recently I have been working on my social skills by just taking days and going out to talk to people
But half the time I have no idea what to say
Does anyone know any links to conversation starters that are EASY GOING that will help break the ice and ease tension, not the super hard thinking ones like “What challenges would you face in a job you would never work” type
Thanks!

I posted this in offmychest too but I didn’t gain a lot of traction and I am honestly just looking for some advice, or validation.
I know this is like a thousand other posts on here, but I am chronically lonely and honestly have no one in my life to really talk about this with, and I just truthfully need someone to see me even if it is just a little bit. I don’t want to make this extremely long, so a quick synopsis of the events I’m going to be referring to; My boyfriend and I were together for a year, when I caught him cheating with his ex girlfriend, literally during our day together I found him texting her things that I still cannot unglue out of my mind, all while we were out of town. He told me a few months prior that he was thinking about her again, but assured me he would never cheat on me and she wasn’t that type of girl. This was then followed with us breaking up and getting back together like 4x in 2 days, and a very hard month for me. We were still together, but he was still cheating, and it got extremely obvious. She would post tiktoks about how he’s hers and she’s better than me, he brought her to my house? because she had sex with some guy (no I don’t understand either.), and lied to me to take her on dates, there was just so much. I made a separate post during the break up about this all in heavy detail, if you’re interested. Flash forward he tells me he’s going to break up with me, yet fills my head with he loves me and he’s not sure, and then eventually breaks up with me. He tells her we break up way before I even knew he was for sure going to do it. He brought me to tour an apartment with him, and told me he felt like it was a bad idea because “I would never see it.” We break up, he takes her on a date the night after, she’s posting about him already and how he’s her husband. And for the next few months, he spends all his time with her, has sex with her, posts her (like 2 weeks after we broke up when he promised he would wait two months.), let’s her subtweet me and look at my social media all day everyday, and I was alone. And heartbroken, and I felt absolutely worthless. I got back together with him in February. I know you think I’m stupid, but I wanted him back so badly. I love him so much. I feel so devoted and loyal to him because I love him for who he is deep down, and because I missed him. And also because I wanted to prove something to myself probably. But it’s been fine, it’s been really good at some moments and really not good others but for the most part, I have been okay. I just keep everything to myself. I still look at her social media every single day, I cry at least twice a week over how I don’t look like her, and every time I get naked in front of him I think about her, and I feel absolutely disgusting and have to do mental gymnastics in order to pull myself out of that feeling. I still have days where I sleep as much as I can because I will be faced with mental torment if I’m awake. I am still hurting. I feel like I should view it as a privilege I got to get him back or something, but I am still hurting so badly. So, without airing too much of his business. He found out that she cheated on him, and got sexual with some other guy(s) or something. And apparently talked badly about him too. So he has been really upset. Extremely upset. I can’t explain too much but he has been so upset that I feel absolutely useless and helpless and like the time I spend with him does not even matter to him. He assures me it does, and that being around me is the only thing helping him right now. But last night he told me a few things that really hurt me. I’ve been letting him express his emotions about it, because I don’t want him to feel alone or like I can’t be trusted. I did bring up my feelings a few times, about how embarrassed I’ve felt in the past over her, or how I wish she didn’t have to affect our relationship so badly, and all it does is lead to fights. Fights where I can’t be trusted or I’m all of a sudden super selfish or where he’s telling me to leave him alone because he can’t stand me rn. All for talking about my feelings. I barely get to talk about them with him, ever. So last night he’s talking about it again, and I tell him that everything he’s feeling I have felt tenfold. His response is “No you haven’t. You get to be in your healing process. The torment is over. I have it so much worse you can’t even equate our pain.” And “I just left you for my ex. It happens. That is all it was.” And I just don’t understand. I wasn’t trying to equate it, I was telling him that he has made me feel that way exactly so I DO understand what he’s feeling. But it hurt me bad. I don’t get to ever talk to him about how hurt I still am, or how hurt I ever really was. It always leads to belittling or invalidating or arguments. The torment is far from over. For months before he broke up with me, I would sob and bawl in his lap and ask him to please stay with me, or to please stop hurting me so bad or to stop letting her hurt me so much. I cried every single day. I was left like nothing, and treated like that. It was “I have to do this for her!” Or “it was my birthday I wanted to post her stop making it about you” or him talking about having sex with her. When all I wanted was to be enough for him and to be loved by him. I just feel like he doesn’t see me at all. And sometimes I don’t know what I’m doing this for. I feel so ugly and worthless and useless and disgusting. I have to watch my words with him and talk him down because he’s so possessive over her that he can’t handle her being with someone else or something. And it hurts. He’s shown so much possession over her he’s never shown for me, and he blames it on me being a “good girl” and “loyal” and that I would “never give his away” but it’s not that. It has to be my body is not important enough to be saved for him or make him that upset. I just am so alone. I can’t do anything because I am worried about this man I love so much who is worried about the same girl and the same relationship that has caused me so much pain and has put me in such a deep hole I’m still not out of. And all he has to say to anything I feel about it is that I’m healed and it’s over? That her cheating on him was worse and that I’m just selfish? I’m hurting so bad. I don’t know how to feel or what to do. I feel like he doesn’t see me or understand me or even care to. I just feel so indescribably alone in this. Thank you for reading if you did. Much love.

Howdy all!
My name's Katherine and I'm certainly not new to penpaling. I live in Texoma, which is the land around the Oklahoma/Texas border. 27F, she/her, and part of the alphabet army.
I'm shy. INTJ. Pisces. Avid reader. Witchy stuff always. This keeps sounding more and more like a dating profile. NOT LOOKING FOR ROMANCE. I'll take some romance book recommendations though.
Looking to send tattoo ideas maybe designs? I draw/paint/art so little doodles are a given in my letters.
I'm only wanting to ease my way back into penpaling, so maybe one or two people would be great.

AITA for not letting my wife be in an open relationship?
My wife (f25) and I (m32) have been married for 7 years. We have a typical marriage--ups and downs, common stresses (work, kids, family), but nothing out of the ordinary. We have a healthy sex life, but definitely not what it was (as can be expected working long hours with kids, etc.). We can generally talk about anything with mutual respect.
Recently, she's been on this kick about being in an open relationship and seeing other people. She's obsessed with the idea, but I am not onboard. The thought of it makes me cringe physically and emotionally. I have no desires for anyone else and would (and have) turned down women that came onto me.
She feels like I'm being old-fashioned and gets really upset that I won't consider it. It's definitely affecting our relationship. I have told her I don't want to hold her back and if she needs to see other people, then we have to face the consequences of those actions. I know I would be appalled by it and would divorce her, but I'd still keep it civil and co-parent responsibly. I love her incredibly, and want her to be fulfilled, but I just can't deal with that lifestyle.
She says she still loves me deeply and is attracted to me, but she still wants to explore. I told her that if that were true then this wouldn't be coming up. It makes me feel worthless.
Am I the asshole for not being ok with her to sleep around, and telling her I would file for divorce, so that she can have some sense of self-actualization or something?
edit ages were changed to provide anonymity. The age difference is correct. There is a 7 year gap. The marriage was legal as was our entire relationship.

My whole life I have been adamant I do not want kids. I've argued with so many people that I will not change my mind and I've heard "you'll change your mind when you get older" so much that I get mad instantly at this point. But recently I've been thinking about how nice it would be to have something that's half me and half my boyfriend and I feel as if I've trapped myself in a box. I don't think I can handle a single "I told you so" or I might just throw hands but at the same time, I might not have been so insistent about not wanting kids if my family wasn't trying to constantly push the idea onto me. I wish no one had cared about whether or not I ended up having kids cause this wouldn't be such a huge deal for me if they had just left well enough alone and respected me when I told them it wasn't my plan. Honestly I might just never have kids just to avoid the "I told you so" comments, but I don't know if that would make me miserable eventually. I can't just cut out everyone that makes a comment so I either face shame and taunting from the people who "just knew I'd change my mind" or I never have kids and forget that as a possibility. Help?

12/3/22
Tonight was grocery night. My wife started in on me with the kids in the car about all the problems in our marriage. She says I blame her for the last year, that I no longer look at or tough her. Which is strange since she told me she is resentful of me and I remind her of her grandfather. Why would I initiate with someone who doesnt show me they love me or have any desire for me. I tried but I no longer love her and I don't desire her any longer. She commented on my weight loss, asking her how much more I wanted to lose, I told her another 20 pounds maybe. Then she said that I would look sick if I lost that much weight. She asked if there were any particular reason I wanted to lose weight. She also stated that I must despise her because she has no desire to lose weight. Then stated she had recently lost 13 pounds. She started to complain that I only talked about my boss, which is true because she is really the only person I speak to at work, besides Byron, but he is new. She doesn't seem to understand how isolated I am at work. She then started in on me about not helping around the house, which is funny because she has commented many times on how much I do, yet she always seems to forget it within a week or 2. She kept telling me how I never speak to her and I told her I cant because if I do I will just get in trouble because of my memory, then she proved me right by bitching at me because I ask questions about things she has told me. She also threw out a lot of excuses because she has been stressed and busy with college. She then asked if we could start over and I said yes. Why can't she ever start this shit when we are without the kids.
12/4/22
Today we went to church, then got some Little Caesars pizza. After lunch my wife went to the school to do some things. It is 9:00 pm as I write this and she has been gone for 8 hours. I bathed the kids, did the dishes, cooked the kids supper, and I did my laundry and put up 4 loads of laundry, 2 of which she had done but as usual she will not put up. I put up the childrens clothes from their luggage from Thanksgiving, one week later. I put up all the laundry except for my wifes. She still has clothes lying in the chair from over a month ago, and clothes lying in 2 piles on the bedroom floor that have been there for 3 months. I did some digging and found a conversation between my wife and MIL and SIL. My wife swept the hallway in Oct, the 1st time in a very long time, and posted the picture to a facebook messenger group the 3 of them are on. As usual MIL chimed in with why don't I help. My wife said because that would interfere with sitting on my but and playing video games. MIL then said its ridiculous because my wife works twice as hard as I do and I should help. My wife is lying to her MIL and either lying to herself or actually believes I don't do anything. She will find out eventually how much I do and dont do when she actually has to do all this shit herself. Also, I spent an hour or 2 outside trimming the trees away from the house, dead limbs, And then stacking them for bulk pickup. My wife just got home, I have the kids in bed and she gets mad because she now has to clean her desk because I am working from home tomorrow and she doesn't want me to touch her things. She then raised her voice at the state of the house because she is the only one that actually sees it, only one that cleans it, and the only one that doesn't have time to clean it. I haven't spent more than an hour today not working and she just belittled everything I did today.
12/7/22
Today didn't start out great. I am working from home today due to meetings and a dr appointment. I told my wife earlier in the week but she forgot and was upset that I didn't tell her. I had my dr appointment and then my meeting I couldn't miss. Afterwards, I started on dishes and supper. Wife and kids came home while I was doing that and the only person to come greet me was my ychild. My wife never came to say hello or see what I was doing, she didn't say thank you for cooking supper or what a great meal it was. In fact one of the first things she said to me was after I couldn't find the bbq sauce. She came into the kitchen, looked in the back at the top of the fridge and found it. I asked her where it was and she just looked at me and said somewhere I would have never found it. It was so dejecting and spiteful. After supper I finished the dishes and took out the trash while they were gone for church. Speaking of trash, every week i pick up the trash from my ochilds room. The vast majority of the trash is fast food drinks that my wife left on the side table when she sleeps there every night.
12/17/22
We have inlaws coming in for Christmas later this week. We had to pick-up groceries today and we are meeting up with SIL and BIL to look at Christmas lights, so I didn't have much time today to prepare. While my wife was gone to shop with her church friends I cleaned off the back porch and swept the front yard into a large pile for the kids to play in. I worked late doing so and barely managed to finish before she got back home before we left for the SIl’s. We were gone late and got back around midnight.
12/18/22
Had church this morning and ate lunch in town while running errands. After we got back my wife spent the rest of the day picking up and cleaning ychilds room. She ended up throwing away 3 garbage bags full of clothes and 5 large toys that were destroyed. While she was doing this I picked up the living room, did laundry, and put up 5 loads of laundry. Once again I refused to put up her laundry so instead I just moved it from there where it has been folded on the chairs since I folded then and put them there 4 months ago. I put them in her computer chair. Now she has those clothes plus the clothes in the laundry baskets on the bedroom floor that have been there for 8 months in a pile unfolded. I heard her enter the bedroom and make a comment about being happy that the chairs were clear until she realized I hadn't actually put up her laundry and just moved them. I then cooked supper but had to put up some groceries that she had gotten earlier and placed on the stove.
12/19/22
I woke up this morning to a question from my wife about a bag of treats that she said I put up from the kitchen table. I told her I hadn't seen them. She told me I shouldn't have put up the groceries the previous night and how I didn't put anything up from the table, just the groceries that were on the stove. She began to say she misspoke and meant the stove. She got angry and started to mock my answers. She was still angry and we got ready to leave for work. She started to walk past me out the door and I made kissy noises for a goodbye kiss. She got mad at me for that. We left for work and I got back in time to thaw something for supper. Around 5:50 she called me to tell me she was on the way home, which I thought was a little late but she had to stop at the store. I cooked sloppy joes for supper and the kids ate well. After supper I played a little bit on the computer with my ochild. I heard her looking for the kids special Christmas PJ’s for polar express day the next day at school. She was frantically looking for them and getting angry at me because I did the laundry last (haha like she has done it in a while) and didn't know where they were. I heard her in my ochilds room digging through his closet. I heard her ask him where they were and he said he didn't know daddy did the laundry last. She then said she knows “that's why shit gets lost.” It was very hurtful, disrespectful, and derogatory to say something like that, especially in front of my child and have him participate in the conversation. I helped look for them and found them under my ochilds pillows on his bed. There was no apology or any thankfulness when I found them. Later after I got the kids to bed my wife came and sat on her side of the couch using her phone and laptop. She muttered something about ‘that sounds about right.” I asked if she was talking to me and before I could finish “or was she talking to herself about a text” she answered me with a very angry look on her face and a very hurtful tone that “not everything is about you.” I was obviously very hurt by this so I got up to fill up on water and went to bed. She started to tell me it was a text from her mom about her dad but stopped talking when I was checking locks. She got irritated and refused to elaborate. I went to bed and refused to kiss her or tell her goodnight. This was not a very good day.
12/24/22
Christmas Eve. Wife and MIl went to town today for many hours, leaving me and my FIL home alone. I asked if he would be interested in 1883 since he had heard of it from one of his hands. He said yes and we started watching it. We were probably on episode 5-6 when they returned. I had checked several time if he wanted to keep watching it and he said yes. Wife and MIL returned around episode 6-7. SIL and BIl some over at about episode 7-8 and SIL asked him if he liked it. I didn't hear him but I was told he said it was fine, had a lot of action but sometimes felt like watching paint dry. After several more times of asking if he was ok watching the show he replied we went this far might as well watch it. MIL made several biting comments about wanting to watch something else. I find this funny because she never complains when he controls the TV at his house unless it is behind his back. She doesn't have the same limitations with me. I respected his wishes and continued to the end. After the show ended MIL cornered me in the hallway berating me for watching that show and trapping him all day watching it, saying that he didn't want to watch that show. I returned to the living room and asked him if he liked the show or was bothered by finishing the season. He said no and asked me why I asked. I said I just wanted to make sure.
12/25/22
Christmas day. After yesterday I was eager to finish this weekend but I am glad the kids had such a good time.
12/27/22
Today I had my 1st meeting with my new therapist. We went over some reasons why I was seeking a divorce and what/when to tell the kids. He did encourage me to speak to my wife about separating rather than filing prior like my lawyer suggested.
12/29/22
Tonight my wife confronted me about the use of towels to clean myself off after taking care of myself when I sleep alone. She mentioned how we hadn't had sex in 13 months. Which is hard to do when you are never alone together. I mentioned this and she talked about one time we had 4 days sleeping alone together when we took the kids to the inlaws a few months ago. I told her she didn't try anything either and I was tired of asking after being rejected for the past 7 years. We argued some more and eventually she got angry and started to leave. I then suggested that maybe we should discuss separating. She returned and asked me if that is what I wanted. I said yes and she got very angry and started yelling at me. She eventually left and went to sit on the couch for about 30 min. She eventually returned and we had a heart to heart. I told her all of the things that I was resentful about and she argued with me on every point. She seemed incredulous about splitting custody with the kids. Exclaiming how I wouldn't be able to afford living alone while paying child support. I asked for 50/50 saying did she just want me to become a weekend dad and she was upset at having to switch the kids every week. Eventually the kids woke up and came into the bedroom. She started talking in terms that my son could understand saying that everything is going to change and not for the good. My son can be very emotional and he started to cry. We couldn't get the kids to bed and eventually she lost it and started hitting herself in the head with a brush and then went to the bedroom door and started shaking it violently and I am not sure if she hit herself in the head with it. She left the room and I layed down with the kids to calm them. She eventually returned and we spoke amicably and she asked me to give us a chance and attend couples counseling. I agreed and she went to lay down with the kids.
I am so thankful I recorded it.
12/30/22
Today my wife spent the day with her sister and our kids at the zoo. She didn't get back until almost midnight and we didn't get a chance to talk. She went to sleep with the kids.
12/31/22
This morning my wife and I had a discussion. She admitted to almost everything that I said to her the other night. Saying that she was sorry and that she is going to try and not yell at me anymore or criticize me when I do the housework and it is not up to her standards. I am still skeptical but I am willing to see how things go.
Next Entry Jan 2023

Hi everyone, I wanted to reach out for some advice on improving the sound at my church. I'm a 19-year-old bassist/keyboardist based in Nigeria, and I've become really interested in the mixing/production aspect of our church sound.
I've attached some images to give you an idea of our current speaker setup. Please note that our auditorium is shaped luke an L with the altar being at the intersection. We have a combination of full-range speakers, mid-range speakers, floor monitors, and subs. However, we're facing some challenges with our acoustic environment. We lack soundproofing, and our church has a PVC ceiling, tiled floors, concrete walls, and plastic chairs. Additionally, the ceiling is quite high, and our current speaker placement doesn't work well in this space, resulting in a lot of reverb and delay issues.
Given our limited budget, we've had to make do with what we have. We recently managed to get an X32 Rack for sound control, but it took a while to get the budget approved due to the challenging economic situation here in Nigeria. Our FOH engineers are doing their best with the equipment available, but I'm curious to hear different perspectives on our setup.
What changes would you make to improve the sound if this was all you had to work with? Alternatively, if you had no choice but to work within a tight budget, what budget-friendly purchases or strategies would you consider?
I appreciate any insights or suggestions you can provide. Thank you in advance for your help!

If I leave a store and someone is walking out in front or right behind me, they are always the car next to me in the parking lot full of 50 cars. If I leave my house one of neighbors is bound to be walking out their door at the same time or very shortly after or before I do. I have heard my neighbors leaving their house and I hear it before I actually open my back door so I stop and just stand there thinking of the awkward timing I seem to experience daily. Sometimes at work in my office area, its kind of built in cubicle and it's in the hallway outside of other offices but I will be adjusting my shirt or pants or just scratching my leg or something and making a weird face and it's always at the moment someone comes walking down the hallway or pops into my office or the guy next to me but they have to walk through my little cubicle area to get there. Too tired to think of more example of the moment but that should get the idea across.

I have built a 5 Color Phyrexian Tribal deck with the new Omnath but it doesnt really have a good win con outside of beating peoples faces in with creatures. Dont really know if it would be better to lean into the Toxic/Infect/Poison counters strat or if i should go full tribal and focus on incubate tokens. Any ideas would be helpful, thank you in advance

I’m new to this group but i’m glad i found it because for the longest time since A2 was born pretty much, i’ve always noticed something very bizarre about the way she treated (and still does treat) A2 vs A1. When he was a baby it was just peculiar how much less excited she was about his presence as opposed to A1 because she rarely showed him and then as he got older i found it extremely weird how poorly groomed and kept he was .. his hair kept growing and growing not even brushed! I’m whatever about the idea of growing his hair out but it’s always been knotted and stragely!! all you got to do is brush it. and then she was putting it in partial buns, with the remained still unbrushed!! about showing him, first i thought oh maybe she’s not as for showing him because after the first born, sharing every detail they do is no longer the main focus being after the first, you’re not extremely excited anymore ? that’s not the case because she shares a lot about A3 as she does A1, but rarely anything about A2 and she doesn’t keep him groomed out taken care of well as much as she does the girls😪 ironic how the girls are always pampered and so cutely dressed but him he’s just thrown into long shirts and has food or dirt on his face 🤐

I cannot get my neck to relax, and when I relax my face muscles my mouth opens up so I can only breathe with mouth and when I breathe with my nose I don’t feel relaxed in my face. Issues like this is discouraging, do you have ideas on how to relax my neck?

The idea is simple since worker drones are made for humans to not do the hard work, as well as the disassembly drones… what about they did the same with infantry soldiers since they are an important part of the army but at the same time cannon fodders for the enemy it would make sense to replace them with drones. These drones would be bigger, faster, and stronger than a murder drone with the possibility of facing various shots and melee hits and even one or two grenade explosions. In fact, they would be way more menacing than a murder drone or even Solver Uzi because of a lack of a mouth and facial expressions being these replaced by a black screen that provides military data like the drone state, maps, etc., and some sort of microphone in were their mouth would be that allows them to talk, they would have the disadvantage of not being able to have attached guns and only being able to use normal weaponry as humans would do, lore-wise this would be because of a more tactical approach like changing weapons when they run out of ammo or even adding attachments to it like scopes or silencers, in between these drones there would also be a military hierarchy with privates, officers, and others and they can be affected by the Absolute Solver but they can’t regen with it as Murder Drones do.
In this “Au” I created these drones would also be in Cooper 9 in an inactive state but after Uzi or any other drone did something reactivating them, they would become a menace for both worker and murder drones since their programming failed and started attacking everything and everyone in front of them, V saves one of them from Solver Uzi and this makes this drone treason the rest of soldier drones and join the “murder gang” (I didn’t get a better name).

*Sorry if the formatting isn't great* Reddit's text editor is butt cheeks.
The draft is less than a month away. After the combine, we've seen a shift in prospects. The following is my completely unqualified and unprofessional opinion of the current power rankings. This is not in general, but keeping the Jazz in mind completely and basing it off their needs and fit. So here ya go...
​
1) Victor Wembanyama (8'7" 105lbs Unicorn - Deltron 750)
Victor wouldn't drop to 9 even if it cured cancer.
2) Scoot Henderson (6'3" PG - G-League Ignite)
Hoping that Scoot falls to 9 is like hoping the Celtics come back to take their series against the Heat in game 8 of the ECF
3) Brandon Miller (6'9" SF - Alabama)
Yeah I wish...
4) Amen Thompson (6'7" PG/SG - Overtime Elite)
Amen falling to 9 is about the same odds as me getting a girlfriend in the next 6 months. Basically zero.
5) Ausar Thompson (6'7" SG/SF - Overtime Elite)
Wishful thinking to get him at #9 but not impossible. He's an amazing athlete that seems to have a well-polished game with star potential. Some scouts are claiming he's better than his brother Amen, but only time will tell.
6) Taylor Hendricks (6'8" PF - UCF)
The guy is rocketing up the board and at this point, grabbing him at 9 might end up being a stretch. Great 3 point shooter, scorer, and hyper-athletic big. The guy at one point seemed to be a sleeper hit, but is now getting good attention and is climbing fast.
7) Anthony Black (6'5" PG/SG - Arkansas)
Admittedly I am still a little hesitant on Black, but I'm coming around to him. There's a good chance he'll be available at #9. He's a great defensive combo guard that needs to polish his shooting. Seems like a good locker room guy and he has good size.
8) Cason Wallace (6'2" PG - Kentucky)
Probably my favorite player in the draft. He has less star potential than the players listed above, but seems to be one of the lowest-risk players in the draft. I get a Marcus smart/mike conley vibe from him, though he likely won't reach the peak that Conley did. Love the lockdown defense and potential to become a great playmaker in the future.
9) Jarace Walker (6'9" PF - Houston)
Arguably the best big in the draft after Wembanyama. He's developing a 3 point shot to have him help stretch the floor. Place this guy next to Walker Kessler and we could have an extremely young and unstoppable 4-5 combo down in the paint. I just have him lower because he is slightly derivative of Kessler. But still worth taking at 9 if he's available.
10) Cam Whitmore (6'5" SF - Villanova)
The more time goes on, the more worried I get about Whitmore. We've seen players similar to him that rely on athleticism and natural talent that ended up bombing in the NBA. Guys like Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Anthony Bennett, Josh Jackson just to name a few. Not saying that's guaranteed, but the guy just doesn't have a knack for the game that others above in this list do. I genuinely hope he does well for whoever he ends up with though.
11) Gradey Dick (6'6" SG/SF - Kansas)
I'm not rock solid on Dick at #9. His ability to score is impressive and his ability to fit right up into a tight system and satisfy his teammates is worth noting. He is going to have to soak for a little bit before we know how big he can be long-term. He is also known to work long and hard to make sure he does his part. But he also comes across as one that can only do so much long-term, sometimes you want something with a little bit more of a natural feel.
12) Leonard Miller (6'9" PF - G-League Ignite)
He's a long guy with some raw talent that's climbing up the board fast. One of the most intriguing things about Miller was his jump from last year to this year. Last year looking lost, this year he's looking like he could be the real deal. Good amount of potential here that could fit as a good stretch 4 in Utah's system. Rumors have it that the Jazz are pretty high on him and my prediction is that if he's available at 16 we'll take him.
13) Kobe Bufkin (6'4" PG/SG - Michigan)
Another player who has been climbing quickly and has gone from a mid-to-high twenties player up to the late lottery. He shows a lot of promise to develop into a good player in today's NBA being a good scorer with quickness and agility to get the ball to the hoop. He's my guy at 16 if we go for a big guy at 9 and if he's available which is no longer a guarantee.
14) Keyonte George (6'4" SG - Baylor)
A player who was starting to fall before having a good showing at the combine. Seems to have a pretty solid shot and ability to score. He's a decent 2-way guard that seems like a more built and less explosive Jordan Clarkson.
15) Nick Smith Jr. (6'5" PG/SG - Arkansas)
Another big question mark. Seemed to be one of the most hyped prospects going into college and due to injury had a shortened and unimpressive season with Arkansas. Seems to have the body and mindset for the NBA, but talent just hasn't been proven yet.
16) GG (Gregory) Jackson (6'9" PF - South Carolina)
A very intriguing pick at 16. He has some growing up to do mentally but he also impressed at the combine and in his first and only season with South Carolina. Seems to be a prospect that will either shine and be a steal or sink and be a bust with little in between. He's an incredible offensive talent with the ability to hold his own on the defensive end. Comparable to Taylor Hendricks but he's also a higher risk than Hendricks.
17) Brice Sensabaugh (6'6" SG/SF - Ohio State)
Comes across as a guy that needs the right coach to develop well. Immaculate offensive game with some major concerns on the defensive end. If a coach can help him on D, he could be an absolute steal. But it's important to understand that his defense needs some work if he wants to stay in the league.
18) Jett Howard (6'7" SG/SF - Michigan)
Good strength an shot maker who because of his upbringing has always been around NBA minds (His dad is Juwan Howard, one time all star and 18 year NBA player). He doesn't seem to be a shoe-in fantastic player but has the work ethic and the mindset to succeed in the NBA. Needs to work on consistency on the offensive end if he wants to be a difference maker in the league.
19) Jordan Hawkins (6'5" SG - Uconn)
I'm not 100% sold on Hawkins at 16. He's a solid player with good intangibles but does give some pretty strong Jalen Suggs vibes. Good enough player, but also not quite built for the NBA. He has the heart and effort to make it in the league, but there are definitely higher upside players available at 16.
20) Jalen Hood-Schifino (6'6" PG/SG - Indiana)
Solid guard with some hype and some naysayers. Seems to be somewhat decisive. He absolutely has the heart and size to compete, but consistency on the offensive end is a problem. Some games he's looking incredible, and other games he looks like a benchwarmer. It's hard to predict how he's going to pan out. (Also the latest ESPN mock draft have the Jazz taking him at 9??? Horrible take in my book, I think there are better players available at 16)
21) Kris Murray (6'8" SF/PF - Iowa)
One of my favorite players in this year's draft, though one that I have to admit probably isn't a great pick at 16. He has a higher floor but lower ceiling than a lot of other guys around this point in the draft making him a safe but probably not earth shattering pick. All around solid player that could be a valuable bench piece on a good team.
22) Sidy Cissoko (6'7" SF - G-League Ignite)
A possible sleeper who was outshined by his teammate Scoot Henderson who's a guaranteed top 3 pick. He's a solid sized wing who can also play a small ball power forward. His effort on defense makes him likely to get playing time early on. Athleticism isn't fantastic and tends to use his size to get what he wants on the court. A risk at 16, a no-brainer at 28. Hard to predict where he'll land.
23) Noah Clowney (6'10 PF/C - Alabama)
Likely not an immediate impact in the NBA but has the potential to be really good down the road. He's primarily a stretch 4 who can also play center if he puts on some weight. He moves well and has a raw game that's worth taking a chance on. Unfortunately he's too high risk for 16 but probably won't fall to 28 either.
24) Maxwell Lewis (6'7" SG/SF - Pepperdine)
A possible sleeper pick. He's a solid 3&D player with good length that needs to add a little more weight. Not an elite athlete, but he's still able to score by making smart plays getting to the basket. His 3 point shot is looking solid, and if it translates to the NBA he could be an impact player off the bench pretty quick. Another one that likely won't be there at 28 but also may not be worth taking at 16.
25) Dariq Whitehead (6'4" SG/SF - Duke)
Poor guy has had bad luck. Talent of a top 10 pick, but 2 foot surgeries have set him back from reaching his potential. Has a knack for the game and is a good perimeter defender, but recent play shows that he may just end up being a 3&D type guy. But injury history and questions regarding how he'll recover from existing injuries put him back on the list.
26) Dereck Lively II (7'1" C - Duke)
This is one that is higher than 26 on regular power rankings, but for the Jazz he just doesn't make a ton of sense unless he somehow falls to 28 which likely won't happen.
27) Bilal Coulibaly (6'8" SF - France)
One of the bigger question marks in this draft. Taking him at 16 is a definite stretch but at 28 might be worth it. He's long but skinny and has consistency issues making him the question mark he is. It's really hard to know if his game will translate to the league or not.
28) Brandin Podziemski (6'5" SG - Santa Clara)
I really like the idea of taking a risk on Podziemski at 28. He's another player that won big time at the combine. After his first year in the NCAA he was thought to be a nobody before transferring to Santa Clara where he dominated. He's far from athletic, but has good Basketball IQ and is a deadly scorer. He's a slight risk at 28, but one I think worth taking if he's available at 28. Could be a Kyle Korver type player in the future.
29) Trayce Jackson-Davis (6'9" PF - Indiana)
One of the most physically gifted athletes in this draft, 6-9 with a 7-2 wingspan weighing in at 240, this guy is ready for the NBA in that way. In terms of play, probably not as much. His play style is traditional center, but he's a little undersized and that style of play is on its way out. He seems to be highly competitive and wants to be successful which will help him in the next level, just needs to start developing a shot if he wants to be a long term piece in the league. But if he does that, he could be a steal at 28)
30) Colby Jones (6'6" SG/SF - Xavier)
A safer pick at 28 if he's available. His play style has been compared to Josh Hart as the type of player that does a little bit of everything without being incredible at any one thing. A safe bet if we're looking for a role player off the bench at 28.
31) Olivier-Maxence Prosper (6'8" PF - Marquette)
One of the biggest winners from the combine. He was thought to be a mid-to-late second rounder that has blasted into late first discussions. He played extremely well against his peers and is now looking to be more polished than once thought. High energy and great size contributes make him worth seriously considering if available at 28.
32) Julian Phillips (6'7" SG/SF - Tennessee)
Phillips is slowly working his way up the draft ladder, once thought to be a mid second rounder is now cracking the late 1st. He has good length but needs to put on some weight if he wants to stay healthy. He's not a good 3 point shooter and would really need to develop on that end to get playing time, but the athleticism and explosiveness make him really intriguing at 28.
33) Jamie Jaquez Jr. (6'7" SF - UCLA)
The last on the list here that I would be okay with the Jazz taking a chance on at 28. He's an all-around solid player that proved to be one of the best with UCLA over the last 4 years. He has good size and seems to be fairly polished. Reason he's this low is potential ceiling doesn't seem to be very high. Could be a good bench piece for us, but also doesn't seem to be one that has the potential to be a long-term player for any team in the league.
34) Bobi Klintman (6'10" PF - Wake Forest)
High risk, high reward type player. There are others I like better at 28, but Bobi wouldn't be a waste. He's a 6-10 stretch four with a great 3 point shot but does not quite seem to be NBA ready. With the right development staff he could turn out to be solid, but I expect him to spend some time in the G-league for his first year or two.
35) Rayan Rupert (6'7" SG/SF - New Zealand)
I do not understand the hype behind Rupert. He's athletic, has a great wingspan and he's young. On the other hand, he played backup minutes in New Zealand averaging barely over 6 points a game. That on top of injuries and I don't see why he's projected to go as high as our 16th pick.
36) James Nnaji (6'10" C - Barcelona)
I like Nnaji, but I'm not sold on him for our 28th pick. He gives me Azibukie vibes but with more potential. He he has great athleticism and size, but would need a lot of time to develop. I feel like we would be better off finding a backup center in free agency.
37) Andre Jackson Jr. (6'6" SF - UConn)
A definite project player that was a good piece in UConn's national championship run. He would be worth investing in if we had a second round pick, but he's just not quite NBA ready yet.

The sun blazed relentlessly upon the bustling streets of the capital city of the DRC, its scorching rays adding an extra layer of tension to the already heated atmosphere. As the beads of sweat trickled down the brows of the crowd, a sea of anxious faces turned towards the makeshift stage where President Tshisekedi was about to deliver a pivotal speech.
The President stood tall on the stage, his demeanor calm and composed. What would he say about the recent events with Rwanda? Was war on the horizon?
News crews poised like vultures, assembled strategically in order to capture every moment of the President's address. Cameras captured every angle while microphones dangled precariously from booms, ready to transmit the President's words to millions of eager viewers. Within the crowd, a mother clutched her child's hand tightly, her eyes searching for a glimpse of hope.

I have a dream today!

His voice, a steady baritone, cut through the stifling air like a knife, commanding the attention of all who listened.

I dream of a day when food trucks roam the bustling streets of the Democratic Republic of Congo, serving savory burgers to a hungry nation. I dream of a time when people from all walks of life, united by their love for good food, can gather around these mobile kitchens and share in the simple pleasure of a delicious meal.
I have a dream that one day, the aroma of grilled patties will fill the air in every village, town, and city across this great nation. That the sizzle of juicy meat on a hot grill will resonate as a symbol of hope, resilience, and unity. In this dream, the food truck becomes a beacon of joy and prosperity, where dreams are nurtured with every bite.
I have a dream that the people of Africa will embrace this culinary revolution. That they will see beyond the confines of sketchy dining establishments and find nourishment and empowerment in the future -- empowerment in food trucks. These mobile eateries will not only satisfy their physical hunger but also nourish their souls with the spirit of entrepreneurship and community.

President Tshisekedi spoke of unity, of progress, and a vision for a brighter future. His words resonated deep within the hearts of the crowd, stirring emotions that had long been suppressed.

I have a dream that the burger will empower the people of this great nation, providing opportunities for aspiring chefs, young entrepreneurs, and those seeking to make a difference. It will be a vehicle for economic growth, where dreams can be realized through hard work, determination, and the pursuit of excellence.
I have a dream that burgers will transcend the boundaries of ethnicity, language, and social status. It will become a melting pot of flavors, cultures, and ideas, fostering understanding, respect, and unity among the diverse people of the Congo.
I have a dream today!
I dream that one day, every food truck in this nation will stand as a testament to the indomitable spirit of the Congolese people. They will serve as a reminder that dreams, no matter how small or seemingly ordinary, can inspire greatness, ignite change, and transform communities.
So let burgers fling from food truck windows! Let the aroma of burgers be a catalyst for progress and equality. And let us all join hands and feast upon the dream that one day, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, every burger served will be a symbol of unity, opportunity, and the pursuit of a brighter future.

As the President concluded his speech, his aide Mr. Kabila unveiled a glorious food truck from underneath a velvet covering. Its shiny metals glistened in the sun, a symbol of health, progress, and a path forward out of poverty.
The President's message was clear. Their dreams were not some far flung fantasy. Not some far flung hope. Their dreams were today! Their dreams could be achieved, here and now! The Congo only needed to dream big enough, work hard enough, to achieve its greatest aspirations!
The crowd erupted into applause, their faces beaming with a newfound sense of hope.

And I hate it.
I guess from a rather young age this idea about me being different and odd has ben rooted in my mind.
I have ADHD and have never really had that much friends. I have always had trouble socialising.
It has perhaps made me try to please others to get validation.
But the older I got, the more my looks were to blame. Eventually I became this loser people pleaser who knows that he'll be treated like shit by others but will still try to get acceptance and not raise too much his voice (except for some situations).
I am literally a walking pathetic pile of shit. I try to get acceptance but will never get it. It's my face. Perhaps it was my face in my childhood even more than I thought.

Sup guys. I'm presenting business ideas for feedback. Sorry in advance because this post is long, so I've labeled the important parts if you want to skip the extras!
To preface: I am going to be attending a business seminar on Friday. In this seminar, we are to go over ideas for startups. Those with the best ideas will have an opportunity to have support from the city we live in. In addition, the seminar attempts to encourage job growth in our area because the demographics need to look better. I am confident in sharing ideas because it usually comes down to execution, and good ideas are a dime a dozen. Still, I wanted input exploring the implications of three business ideas to establish a clear direction on which idea I will actively pursue. 1st idea- MODERN What it is: Modern is a home remodeling and design service where you remodel your home the way you want before you ever do anything. Imagine you have a day off, work from home, and want to reimagine your home. First, you take a few pictures of your home and then select some popular design templates that we have on tap. Next, you'll be able to come to our website. We then formulate that design in your existing space and provide you with the right furniture or lighting supplier. For extra service, we could have a beautiful location in major metropolitan areas with a few designs in person so you can see and feel. You can work with an actual person, and then we would take care of all of that extra work on the back end by setting up all of the renovations in the order it needs to be done. After we develop a design that works for your home and your budget, we connect you to the contractors that can supply that work. We order the necessary supplies and bundle the project in a single financed option or payment to simplify it. We make money from contractors who give us a cut; you get your first design for free. We then collect your data and sell it to our overlords (kidding). Why: Home Renovation and Remodeling is estimated to be a 500 billion to 700 billion dollar industry in the United States. If one were to guess the most prominent industry players on the consumer side of the market, Home Depot and Lowe's would have a strong presence with relatively no viable competitors. These companies remain strong but cater to a dwindling demographic. The problem is that I'm less handy than my father and the generations before him. So when I walk into Home Depot, I'm quickly overwhelmed. Our current home improvement sector no longer suits the most significant needs of my generation and the generations that will come after me. I need to learn about 50 rows of products and materials before I touch them, and no one has the time to know everything necessary to renovate their home. Initial Motivation: I recently moved into an old fixer-upper home. I have all these grand ideas for improving it, but I need to figure out where to begin. I need help figuring out where to start, what design I like, or having the time to figure out every minor detail because I'm swamped these days. Home Depot will not cut it; I have different needs and want things to look manageable. If there were a service where I could design how I want my home to be and use it as a conduit to give me my desired result, it would save so much time. It would also be designed with the big picture in mind. Then, I could create my dream space. In addition, I would get better pricing because I'm bundling, and the marketplace would enforce a new style of contractor competition. 2nd idea: Flow Genie What it is: Flow Genie creates Cash flow templates for specific business sectors and order flow templates for different types of service businesses. Think AC/Plumbing companies to flooring and home goods providers. It's software that compartmentalizes revenue and delegates it evenly so that you can make sure your business is managed correctly. You input your company data and goals, which Flow Genie will then take and segregate your funds appropriately. We do this for existing businesses by analyzing your data and separating funds from the beginning instead of randomly having massive outflows and inflows. For example, you own an AC or Plumbing company every time you receive a payment. In that case, part of the payment goes to the cost of goods sub-account, another portion to the payroll account, and another to miscellaneous or tax sub-accounts-no more need to have one pool of funds with no apparent direction. For new businesses, we could establish a proper pricing structure that suits your needs and is in control before it ever has the opportunity to get out of hand. This type of turn-key business management hasn't existed for millennia. So much knowledge about managing cash flows is lost in the ether. Flow Genie will also establish how much to order and when to prevent you from being overweight on the production side vs. the customer-facing side. It creates a nice flow that can bring much-needed stability in otherwise chaotic environments. Why: The most significant part of my job as an entrepreneur is spent thinking about cash flows and payments. Unfortunately, it is also the most overwhelming and treacherous part. The time spent thinking about cash flow and material/labor costs can act as a prison preventing growth due to fear and uncertainty. When moving around millions of dollars, the mistakes become more and more costly and can even compound over time. It's taken five years to grasp the little I know now. But, first, hundreds of thousands of dollars were lost because of my mistakes with cash flow and thinking I had more or less working capital than I did. Suppose people had a resource just a layer just above the Quickbooks Onlines' of the world. In that case, they might feel more confident running and growing their business. They could focus on providing better service rather than stress about finances. Initial Motivation: My business ran into an issue where I had 200 units ready in a warehouse and 100k due. The problem was that my accounts only had 80-100k at the time. The money would replenish after servicing those units for customers, but I had a big situation. On the one hand, I could pay most of this balance to get the new units in. But, still, I need the warehouse space, the extra cash reserves when that cash is gone, and installers to install those units quickly enough, and I have none of those at this time. So essentially, I'd put myself in a position that could go bad soon if I didn't navigate it correctly. Enter in the little spot between a rock and a hard place. The damned if you do and damned if you don't because now the supplier suspends any new orders until that backlog is resolved and my account is suspended. On the other hand, if I had proper procedures and processes in place to ensure that a bottleneck of that nature wouldn't occur in the first place, I wouldn't have this problem. These are things that Flow Genie would see before I do because I enter my input capacity, space capacity, and average gross margin percentages to create a proper balance and flow. 3rd idea: MRW What it is: A window and door replacement company that provides lower prices and an easy self-quoting tool so people can estimate their projects. Consider incorporating solar glass that can also power parts of your home. Why: Windows and doors are costly. Some companies charge upwards of $3-$5k per unit. When people have homes with 25 windows, they shouldn't have to take out a second mortgage to replace them. During the home building boom of previous decades, the builders' materials were cheap and, unfortunately, not built to last. The incentive was to make it fast and affordable. So where did these builders sacrifice the most quality? Things like windows and doors and siding. The parts of a home that are not superstructural or over-regulated. If the big box retailer is selling 25 windows to a homeowner, it can cost upwards of $70-$100k We can do it for $30k or less with the same glass. As far as solar glass goes, this technology is still being developed, but here's some food for thought. . Hypothetically, we could power the world's current electricity consumption by covering just 3.27% of the US with solar power plants. However, the issue is a gaping security risk because everyone would need to drop a bomb on that area, and the world would be in a pickle. However, if our windows were solar panels, they could cover a portion of our energy consumption while also being decentralized and ubiquitous. One would have to destroy all homes to sabotage only part of our power supply. In Arizona, for instance, The power generated from solar windows could directly power AC units, almost 25% of all energy usage in Arizona homes. They could also mine Bitcoin, but that's a whole other story. Initial Motivation: I had no idea people replaced their windows when I fell into this industry. I worked for a company for a few years and thought I could do it better, so I did. I want to provide a reputable service at a fair price, so I did. Oddly enough, this is the business model I'm using right now. It works because it's a simple service that people need without too much competition. To conclude: I know that was long. If you read all of that, thanks; you're a trooper. Feel free to let me know which one you're drawn to or any obvious rebuttals to the validity of those ideas. I have yet to think through these rough ideas, so there will be critical difficulties to overcome. Thanks!

DRAG RACE!
Chronologica struts the runway wearing a lace lingerie set, with long, blonde hair.
Hello world!
Welcome to Drag Race.
German Expressionist Painter Hugo Lang, are you ready for the Snatch Game?
Hugo gasps.
Hugo cannot speak, as he is currently doing an art project.
Hugo nods.
“The fuck?” Rachelle says.
Rachelle, this is your 4th Snatch Game, how does it feel?!
“Amazing.” Rachelle grins.
Floss Michaels, who would you play in the Snatch Game?
“RuPaul!” Floss cheers.
Ahh, my good friend.
Floss nods. “Mine too, baby.”
For our Challenge, our racers were tasked with competing in the SNATCH GAME!
And on the runway, they’ll be wearing Disco Legend looks.
It’s TIME!
~
Category is… Disco Legend!
Aguacate does the hustle down the runway, wearing a sparkling purple slip-on dress. With golden accessories, including sparkling shoes, earrings, and a belt, she is the queen of this disco party. And her sick moves only prove this!
Hugo does a thumbs up.
Haja Hubiani enters the stage in a big afro with a golden chain that spells out “DRAG”, white corset and gold bell bottoms, with white and golden bracelets and a whole lotta disco moves as she shakes and shimmies through the stage.
“Look at that Southern Belle bottom!” Floss cackles.
Jaslene Bangus wears a pretty little mini dress that looks as if it is made of disco balls themselves, a gorgeous little thing that shows off all of her body, with brown hair that nearly hits the floor and a matching pair of heels.
“She’s ready to do some…?” Rachelle laughs. “I can’t say that on camera.”
Granny Gorgeous arrives straight out of the 70s, wearing a gold bodysuit that’s covered in glitter. She’s got a flared pant, with the words ‘Granny’ sprinkled in white writing, and big fluffy hair that really adds to her look with a smile.
Granny at the disco, baby!
Yasmin pokes her head onto the runway from around the corner, revealing her perky blonde bob, pink headband, and chunky white Ray Bans, grinning. Then she “Soul Trains” onto the runway, revealing that she is in her element in a stunningly patterned, pink, white and black mini-dress with alternating checkerboard and flower designs, paired with chunky black and pink wedge heels.
“Pretty in pink.” Rachelle adds.
Crayola Boxx enters the stage in a huge silver cloak that glitters as she walks through the runway. She’s got a big, big wig that she combs as she walks through the stage, strutting and twirling around.
Hugo puts his thumbs down.
Referencing Sylvester, King Omari Star has frizzy shoulder length hair and a firm gaze. He’s got a yellow jumpsuit, with various cut-out sections as he stomps through the stage with platinum boots, and he’s ready to dance, baby!
You make me feel MIGHTY real.
Zazu walks out with a sleek and fitted jumpsuit in a shimmery silver fabric, adorned with sequins, and a dramatic and voluminous wig in long and flowing dark hair and feathered layers, chunky chains and a bold pendant as she has a big smile upon her face.
“Metallic princess.” Floss smiles.
Fiore Stravaganza has long, gorgeous blonde hair and enters on a white horse, flung by the pit crew. She’s got a sleek metallic bodysuit, and the judges gasp as she trots through on her white horse.
Hugo gasps.
~
Hi Racers.
I’ve made some decisions.
King Omari Star.
Granny Gorgeous.
Jaslene Bangus.
Please step forward.
You are…. Safe.
The three nod.
You may untuck in the platinum lounge.
The three enter the lounge.
King Omari Star: “I am safe, which is… fine. It is still a solid placement, nonetheless.”
King Omari grabs a drink, before handing another to Granny and Jaslene.
“Look at you, a true gentlemen.” Jaslene smirks.
“Thank you, Omari.” Granny smiles.
“Gentlemen?” Omari raises an eyebrow.
“You’re all stilted, specific and always intentional with your words.” Jaslene says. “Specific, like a real gentleman.”
Omari takes a sip of his drink and leans back, crossing his legs and giving Jaslene a side-eye.
“Well, Jaslene, I do pride myself on being intentional with my words. It's important to communicate effectively, don't you think?" Omari responds.
Jaslene rolls her eyes dramatically.
"Oh, honey, communication isn't the issue here. It's about having fun! Drag is all about letting loose, being expressive, and embracing the joy of performance. Sometimes, it looks like you're not being real." Jaslene sips her drink.
"Being real? I assure you, I am fully committed to my craft. I may not express it in the same flamboyant manner as some, but that doesn't mean I'm not having fun." Omari looks on, slightly annoyed.
Jaslene smirks and takes a sip of her drink. "Darling, there's more to drag than just technique and precision. It's about connecting with the audience, letting them see the fire within you. When you portray someone like Nelson Mandela, for example, it's essential to embody his spirit, his charisma. But sometimes, you come across as... well, a bit icy."
Omari scoffs. "Icy? That's not how I see myself. I strive for authenticity in my performances. If I'm playing a historical figure, I want to honor them and bring their essence to the stage."
"Jaslene has a point, dear. I feel like it is important to embrace, that it's okay to let go, to allow yourself to feel the energy and excitement of the crowd. Drag is about self-expression, and that includes embracing the fun and spontaneity of the art form." Granny grins.
King Omari Star: “I am having fun with drag. I…” Omari purses his lips. “I don’t see it.”
“This isn’t meant to hurt.” Granny puts her hand on Omari’s leg.
“I mean…” Jaslene chuckles.
“I just…” Omari looks flustered. “Have never heard that.”
“You have now.” Jaslene shrugs.
Omari nods.
Jaslene Bangus: “I’m just here to deliver facts.” Jaslene shrugs.
~
You represent the tops and bottoms of the week.
Starting with… Crayola.
Crayola waves with a smile on her face.
“I really wanted to like this.” Rachelle says. “But… this Elmo was rough.”
Crayola gulps.
“Simply put, it did come across like you were… cringy. I wanted to see a lot more then what you were doing. You hit all the wrong nerves, for me.” Rachelle responds.
“I did want to go outside of my box, as directed.” Crayola looks at the judges.
Well, not like this. I wanted to see you go outside of the box. Elmo wasn’t that.
Crayola frustratingly nods.
Fiore.
Fiore smiles.
You didn’t go outside the box… and in this instance, it worked.
Fiore looks proudly.
It was hilarious, it was campy, it was a real talented showcase and truly, I was living.
“Thank you.”
I want to say, you’re showing up and deliver. Keep it up. I also love, love, love these looks.
Fiore nods. “I will.”
Zazu.
“Hiya.” Zazu waves.
“I know Charlize. This was not Charlize.” Rachelle says.
“You know Charlize Theron?!” Zazu gasps.
Rachelle looks at Zazu.
…
“It was just a strange portrayal. I feel as if you were not delivering where I needed you to be, because I was hoping- wow, a nuanced portrayal but you were appealing to the lowest common denominator.” Rachelle responds. “It was bad.”
Zazu nods. “I’m sorry.”
Yasmin.
“Hiya!” Yasmin smiles.
“I loved this choice.” Floss grins. “You know I am a top chef myself.”
“Tops unite!” Yasmin cheers.
Floss chuckles.
“It was a real charming choice, and I do feel like you’ve come here and really begun to show yourself.” Floss nods.
Yasmin tears up. “Fabulousities.”
Floss laughs. “You okay?”
“I feel like… people who see me often don’t get me. They think I don’t have anything behind me, that I am just a silly little Drag artist who loves to cook. And that is me. But being here, I feel seen.” Yasmin clutches her chest as Floss smiles. “Thank you.”
“Those bitches are dumb.” Floss laughs.
Yasmin chuckles.
Haja.
Haja looks on nervously.
I really wanted you to slay this. And sadly… you bombed.
Haja nods.
There was a lack of humor, of wit, of comedy- the portrayal was off, and I feel as if you were trying too hard- not in the right way, either.
“I really wanted to show myself. Because I am…” Haja tears up.
Fiore looks over.
Fiore Stravaganza: “Are we all crying this week? Oh Dio.” Fiore sips her drink. “I never cry.”
“Really wanting to be here. And I hope you see that.” Haja says. “Because, I am a fighter.”
I’m going to need you to show it, because I will say to you now, you will be up for elimination.
Haja looks concerned for a second, then nods.
Aguacate!
“I promise I will not cry.” Aguacate laughs.
Aguacate: “I am not a LOSER!”
Hugo mouths the word ‘Star’.
Aguacate smiles.
Hugo holds up a picture of Aguacate with a plus sign on it.
“It was a masterclass in drag.” Rachelle responds.
“Thank you very much.” Aguacate nods.
Thank you, racers. Whilst we deliberate, you may untuck backstage in the Crystal Lounge, sponsored by Princess Papaya Tropical Drinks.
~
The racers enter the Crystal Lounge.
“Drinks time…” Aguacate smiles. “My favorite part.”
Yasmin, Haja, Zazu, and Crayola make their way to the lounge, all looking emotional.
Yasmin wipes away a tear, her voice trembling. "I just can't believe I finally feel seen. This competition means so much to me, you know? To be recognized… it's everything."
Fiore looks over uncomfortably.
Fiore Stravaganza: “Are we doing this again?”
Haja sniffles, her eyes glistening with tears. "I wanted to prove myself, to show everyone that I have what it takes. But now... I'm worried. I don't want to be up for elimination."
Crayola, sitting next to Haja, puts a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, don't worry, Haja. We all have our off days. It doesn't define who you are as a queen. You're talented, and you'll bounce back. Just keep believing in yourself."
Zazu bursts into tears.
Fiore and Aguacate stare.
"I... I just wanted to prove that I'm not dumb, you know? People always think I'm stupid because I'm ditzy, but I really worked hard on this challenge. And now... now I feel like a failure, too.." Zazu says, wiping her eyes.
Yasmin pulls Zazu into a hug. "Oh, sweetie, you are not a failure at all. Look at how far you've come already. You have a heart full of passion and a spirit that shines. Don't let anyone's judgments define you. We all believe in you, Zazu." Yasmin smiles.
“I feel stressed.” Crayola says. “I feel as if I am giving my heart and soul, and I don’t know how to deliver my brand, because they’re not…” Crayola exhales, her eyes welling with tears.
Fiore Stravaganza: "Emotions won't get you far in this competition. It's about talent, strategy, and staying focused on the prize. Crying won't change the outcome."
“This is a lot.” Aguacate rolls her eyes playfully. "Alright, enough with the sob fest, my darlings. Let me tell you a little story to lighten the mood."
Everyone turns to look at Aguacate.
"One time, I was dating this guy," Aguacate begins with a mischievous grin. "And I found out he cheated on me. Now, most people would just break up and move on, but not me. I decided to take matters into my own hands."
Crayola raises her eyebrows.
"I faked my death." Aguacate continues dramatically. "And then for a whole week, I would knock on his door with ghost makeup on, crying, acting as if I was haunting him!”
Yasmin bursts into laughter, followed by the others. Even Fiore can't help but crack a smile.
"Oh, Aguacate, you never fail to surprise us." Yasmin grins, wiping away her tears of laughter. "You certainly have a unique way of dealing with things."
Aguacate shrugs. "Well, darling, life is too short to dwell on negativity. I prefer to add a little spice and drama to it. Plus, it taught that guy a lesson he'll never forget."
Haja smiles. "You're right, Aguacate. We shouldn't let our setbacks define us. We're strong, talented queens, and we'll bounce back from this."
Zazu sniffles, wiping her tears away. "I guess... I just need to remember that I'm more than what others perceive me to be. I can be ditzy and passionate and still excel in this competition."
"You're absolutely right, Zazu. We all have unique qualities that make us special. We just need to stay true to ourselves and keep pushing forward." Crayola nods.
The safe racers enter the werkroom.
“How are you, my sister?” Jaslene smiles, looking at Fiore. “How are you going?”
“These girls…” Fiore gulps. “They’re too much.”
Jaslene cackles.
~
Welcome back, racers.
I’ve made some decisions.
Fiore, well done this week. You’re… safe.
Fiore grins.
Yasmin Raiz, keep it up. You’re… safe.
Yasmin bows.
Aguacate.
Aguacate shimmies a little.
This week, you made us laugh, you made us cheer, and we ATE. IT. UP.
Condragulations, you are the winner of this week’s challenge.
Aguacate smiles as everyone claps for her.
Aguacate: “Look at me! I am a CHAMPION!”
…
…
Crayola, you’re safe.
Crayola exhales sharply. “Thank you so much.”
That means Haja Hubiani and Zazu Nova, I’m sorry my dears, but you are up for elimination.
The time has come… for you to lip sync to your life!
**Your Disco Needs You by Kylie Minogue starts to play**
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqtzMue6Izw
Good luck… and don’t fuck it up!
Zazu Nova: “I love to perform. I want this, so bad… and I am giving everything.”
Haja Hubiani: “I know I can survive this. There’s no other option.”
~
Next Time!
Racers, it’s time to HOST YOUR OWN FESTIVAL!
“...Don’t you love this idea?” Jaslene looks at Fiore, wearing a huge hat.
“No.” Fiore responds.
I need you to have fun with it, Omari.
King Omari Star: “Don’t I look like I am having fun?!”
“Will you marry me?” Aguacate looks at Granny, who screams.
~
Stats
Voting
Spreadsheet

DRAG RACE!
Chronologica struts the runway wearing a lace lingerie set, with long, blonde hair.
Hello world!
Welcome to Drag Race.
German Expressionist Painter Hugo Lang, are you ready for the Snatch Game?
Hugo gasps.
Hugo cannot speak, as he is currently doing an art project.
Hugo nods.
“The fuck?” Rachelle says.
Rachelle, this is your 4th Snatch Game, how does it feel?!
“Amazing.” Rachelle grins.
Floss Michaels, who would you play in the Snatch Game?
“RuPaul!” Floss cheers.
Ahh, my good friend.
Floss nods. “Mine too, baby.”
For our Challenge, our racers were tasked with competing in the SNATCH GAME!
And on the runway, they’ll be wearing Disco Legend looks.
It’s TIME!
~
Category is… Disco Legend!
Aguacate does the hustle down the runway, wearing a sparkling purple slip-on dress. With golden accessories, including sparkling shoes, earrings, and a belt, she is the queen of this disco party. And her sick moves only prove this!
Hugo does a thumbs up.
Haja Hubiani enters the stage in a big afro with a golden chain that spells out “DRAG”, white corset and gold bell bottoms, with white and golden bracelets and a whole lotta disco moves as she shakes and shimmies through the stage.
“Look at that Southern Belle bottom!” Floss cackles.
Jaslene Bangus wears a pretty little mini dress that looks as if it is made of disco balls themselves, a gorgeous little thing that shows off all of her body, with brown hair that nearly hits the floor and a matching pair of heels.
“She’s ready to do some…?” Rachelle laughs. “I can’t say that on camera.”
Granny Gorgeous arrives straight out of the 70s, wearing a gold bodysuit that’s covered in glitter. She’s got a flared pant, with the words ‘Granny’ sprinkled in white writing, and big fluffy hair that really adds to her look with a smile.
Granny at the disco, baby!
Yasmin pokes her head onto the runway from around the corner, revealing her perky blonde bob, pink headband, and chunky white Ray Bans, grinning. Then she “Soul Trains” onto the runway, revealing that she is in her element in a stunningly patterned, pink, white and black mini-dress with alternating checkerboard and flower designs, paired with chunky black and pink wedge heels.
“Pretty in pink.” Rachelle adds.
Crayola Boxx enters the stage in a huge silver cloak that glitters as she walks through the runway. She’s got a big, big wig that she combs as she walks through the stage, strutting and twirling around.
Hugo puts his thumbs down.
Referencing Sylvester, King Omari Star has frizzy shoulder length hair and a firm gaze. He’s got a yellow jumpsuit, with various cut-out sections as he stomps through the stage with platinum boots, and he’s ready to dance, baby!
You make me feel MIGHTY real.
Zazu walks out with a sleek and fitted jumpsuit in a shimmery silver fabric, adorned with sequins, and a dramatic and voluminous wig in long and flowing dark hair and feathered layers, chunky chains and a bold pendant as she has a big smile upon her face.
“Metallic princess.” Floss smiles.
Fiore Stravaganza has long, gorgeous blonde hair and enters on a white horse, flung by the pit crew. She’s got a sleek metallic bodysuit, and the judges gasp as she trots through on her white horse.
Hugo gasps.
~
Hi Racers.
I’ve made some decisions.
King Omari Star.
Granny Gorgeous.
Jaslene Bangus.
Please step forward.
You are…. Safe.
The three nod.
You may untuck in the platinum lounge.
The three enter the lounge.
King Omari Star: “I am safe, which is… fine. It is still a solid placement, nonetheless.”
King Omari grabs a drink, before handing another to Granny and Jaslene.
“Look at you, a true gentlemen.” Jaslene smirks.
“Thank you, Omari.” Granny smiles.
“Gentlemen?” Omari raises an eyebrow.
“You’re all stilted, specific and always intentional with your words.” Jaslene says. “Specific, like a real gentleman.”
Omari takes a sip of his drink and leans back, crossing his legs and giving Jaslene a side-eye.
“Well, Jaslene, I do pride myself on being intentional with my words. It's important to communicate effectively, don't you think?" Omari responds.
Jaslene rolls her eyes dramatically.
"Oh, honey, communication isn't the issue here. It's about having fun! Drag is all about letting loose, being expressive, and embracing the joy of performance. Sometimes, it looks like you're not being real." Jaslene sips her drink.
"Being real? I assure you, I am fully committed to my craft. I may not express it in the same flamboyant manner as some, but that doesn't mean I'm not having fun." Omari looks on, slightly annoyed.
Jaslene smirks and takes a sip of her drink. "Darling, there's more to drag than just technique and precision. It's about connecting with the audience, letting them see the fire within you. When you portray someone like Nelson Mandela, for example, it's essential to embody his spirit, his charisma. But sometimes, you come across as... well, a bit icy."
Omari scoffs. "Icy? That's not how I see myself. I strive for authenticity in my performances. If I'm playing a historical figure, I want to honor them and bring their essence to the stage."
"Jaslene has a point, dear. I feel like it is important to embrace, that it's okay to let go, to allow yourself to feel the energy and excitement of the crowd. Drag is about self-expression, and that includes embracing the fun and spontaneity of the art form." Granny grins.
King Omari Star: “I am having fun with drag. I…” Omari purses his lips. “I don’t see it.”
“This isn’t meant to hurt.” Granny puts her hand on Omari’s leg.
“I mean…” Jaslene chuckles.
“I just…” Omari looks flustered. “Have never heard that.”
“You have now.” Jaslene shrugs.
Omari nods.
Jaslene Bangus: “I’m just here to deliver facts.” Jaslene shrugs.
~
You represent the tops and bottoms of the week.
Starting with… Crayola.
Crayola waves with a smile on her face.
“I really wanted to like this.” Rachelle says. “But… this Elmo was rough.”
Crayola gulps.
“Simply put, it did come across like you were… cringy. I wanted to see a lot more then what you were doing. You hit all the wrong nerves, for me.” Rachelle responds.
“I did want to go outside of my box, as directed.” Crayola looks at the judges.
Well, not like this. I wanted to see you go outside of the box. Elmo wasn’t that.
Crayola frustratingly nods.
Fiore.
Fiore smiles.
You didn’t go outside the box… and in this instance, it worked.
Fiore looks proudly.
It was hilarious, it was campy, it was a real talented showcase and truly, I was living.
“Thank you.”
I want to say, you’re showing up and deliver. Keep it up. I also love, love, love these looks.
Fiore nods. “I will.”
Zazu.
“Hiya.” Zazu waves.
“I know Charlize. This was not Charlize.” Rachelle says.
“You know Charlize Theron?!” Zazu gasps.
Rachelle looks at Zazu.
…
“It was just a strange portrayal. I feel as if you were not delivering where I needed you to be, because I was hoping- wow, a nuanced portrayal but you were appealing to the lowest common denominator.” Rachelle responds. “It was bad.”
Zazu nods. “I’m sorry.”
Yasmin.
“Hiya!” Yasmin smiles.
“I loved this choice.” Floss grins. “You know I am a top chef myself.”
“Tops unite!” Yasmin cheers.
Floss chuckles.
“It was a real charming choice, and I do feel like you’ve come here and really begun to show yourself.” Floss nods.
Yasmin tears up. “Fabulousities.”
Floss laughs. “You okay?”
“I feel like… people who see me often don’t get me. They think I don’t have anything behind me, that I am just a silly little Drag artist who loves to cook. And that is me. But being here, I feel seen.” Yasmin clutches her chest as Floss smiles. “Thank you.”
“Those bitches are dumb.” Floss laughs.
Yasmin chuckles.
Haja.
Haja looks on nervously.
I really wanted you to slay this. And sadly… you bombed.
Haja nods.
There was a lack of humor, of wit, of comedy- the portrayal was off, and I feel as if you were trying too hard- not in the right way, either.
“I really wanted to show myself. Because I am…” Haja tears up.
Fiore looks over.
Fiore Stravaganza: “Are we all crying this week? Oh Dio.” Fiore sips her drink. “I never cry.”
“Really wanting to be here. And I hope you see that.” Haja says. “Because, I am a fighter.”
I’m going to need you to show it, because I will say to you now, you will be up for elimination.
Haja looks concerned for a second, then nods.
Aguacate!
“I promise I will not cry.” Aguacate laughs.
Aguacate: “I am not a LOSER!”
Hugo mouths the word ‘Star’.
Aguacate smiles.
Hugo holds up a picture of Aguacate with a plus sign on it.
“It was a masterclass in drag.” Rachelle responds.
“Thank you very much.” Aguacate nods.
Thank you, racers. Whilst we deliberate, you may untuck backstage in the Crystal Lounge, sponsored by Princess Papaya Tropical Drinks.
~
The racers enter the Crystal Lounge.
“Drinks time…” Aguacate smiles. “My favorite part.”
Yasmin, Haja, Zazu, and Crayola make their way to the lounge, all looking emotional.
Yasmin wipes away a tear, her voice trembling. "I just can't believe I finally feel seen. This competition means so much to me, you know? To be recognized… it's everything."
Fiore looks over uncomfortably.
Fiore Stravaganza: “Are we doing this again?”
Haja sniffles, her eyes glistening with tears. "I wanted to prove myself, to show everyone that I have what it takes. But now... I'm worried. I don't want to be up for elimination."
Crayola, sitting next to Haja, puts a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, don't worry, Haja. We all have our off days. It doesn't define who you are as a queen. You're talented, and you'll bounce back. Just keep believing in yourself."
Zazu bursts into tears.
Fiore and Aguacate stare.
"I... I just wanted to prove that I'm not dumb, you know? People always think I'm stupid because I'm ditzy, but I really worked hard on this challenge. And now... now I feel like a failure, too.." Zazu says, wiping her eyes.
Yasmin pulls Zazu into a hug. "Oh, sweetie, you are not a failure at all. Look at how far you've come already. You have a heart full of passion and a spirit that shines. Don't let anyone's judgments define you. We all believe in you, Zazu." Yasmin smiles.
“I feel stressed.” Crayola says. “I feel as if I am giving my heart and soul, and I don’t know how to deliver my brand, because they’re not…” Crayola exhales, her eyes welling with tears.
Fiore Stravaganza: "Emotions won't get you far in this competition. It's about talent, strategy, and staying focused on the prize. Crying won't change the outcome."
“This is a lot.” Aguacate rolls her eyes playfully. "Alright, enough with the sob fest, my darlings. Let me tell you a little story to lighten the mood."
Everyone turns to look at Aguacate.
"One time, I was dating this guy," Aguacate begins with a mischievous grin. "And I found out he cheated on me. Now, most people would just break up and move on, but not me. I decided to take matters into my own hands."
Crayola raises her eyebrows.
"I faked my death." Aguacate continues dramatically. "And then for a whole week, I would knock on his door with ghost makeup on, crying, acting as if I was haunting him!”
Yasmin bursts into laughter, followed by the others. Even Fiore can't help but crack a smile.
"Oh, Aguacate, you never fail to surprise us." Yasmin grins, wiping away her tears of laughter. "You certainly have a unique way of dealing with things."
Aguacate shrugs. "Well, darling, life is too short to dwell on negativity. I prefer to add a little spice and drama to it. Plus, it taught that guy a lesson he'll never forget."
Haja smiles. "You're right, Aguacate. We shouldn't let our setbacks define us. We're strong, talented queens, and we'll bounce back from this."
Zazu sniffles, wiping her tears away. "I guess... I just need to remember that I'm more than what others perceive me to be. I can be ditzy and passionate and still excel in this competition."
"You're absolutely right, Zazu. We all have unique qualities that make us special. We just need to stay true to ourselves and keep pushing forward." Crayola nods.
The safe racers enter the werkroom.
“How are you, my sister?” Jaslene smiles, looking at Fiore. “How are you going?”
“These girls…” Fiore gulps. “They’re too much.”
Jaslene cackles.
~
Welcome back, racers.
I’ve made some decisions.
Fiore, well done this week. You’re… safe.
Fiore grins.
Yasmin Raiz, keep it up. You’re… safe.
Yasmin bows.
Aguacate.
Aguacate shimmies a little.
This week, you made us laugh, you made us cheer, and we ATE. IT. UP.
Condragulations, you are the winner of this week’s challenge.
Aguacate smiles as everyone claps for her.
Aguacate: “Look at me! I am a CHAMPION!”
…
…
Crayola, you’re safe.
Crayola exhales sharply. “Thank you so much.”
That means Haja Hubiani and Zazu Nova, I’m sorry my dears, but you are up for elimination.
The time has come… for you to lip sync to your life!
**Your Disco Needs You by Kylie Minogue starts to play**
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqtzMue6Izw
Good luck… and don’t fuck it up!
Zazu Nova: “I love to perform. I want this, so bad… and I am giving everything.”
Haja Hubiani: “I know I can survive this. There’s no other option.”
~
Next Time!
Racers, it’s time to HOST YOUR OWN FESTIVAL!
“...Don’t you love this idea?” Jaslene looks at Fiore, wearing a huge hat.
“No.” Fiore responds.
I need you to have fun with it, Omari.
King Omari Star: “Don’t I look like I am having fun?!”
“Will you marry me?” Aguacate looks at Granny, who screams.
~
Stats
Voting
Spreadsheet