Category Archives: Immortality

No Twilight dunks. No Teen Wolf gags. No tired references to any supernatural teen fiction of my bygone youth. Those are the promises I made to myself when I agreed to write about the new Sims 4 Werewolves game pack. And yet I accidentally wound up mating with an alpha werewolf, joining up with the rivals to his pack, and making plans to bite his new toddler.

The fanfic is writing itself and I am powerless to stop it.

My Sims 4 Werewolves session started appropriately. I created a young adult werewolf with an undercut, nose rings, the cute new patchwork baggy jeans in the Werewolves game pack, and allowed the randomizer to bestow her the name Margaret Ruff. Folks who have the Pets expansion will recognize the many fur color, pattern, and painting options available to make a rather unique werewolf with the same tools. I still think they look a bit like Jim Carey in a Grinch costume, but they did grow on me.

I expected (wrongly) that I would need to inject a bit of my own drama into werewolf life, so I made Margaret a vegetarian, a kleptomaniac, and set her up with a job as a night shift babysitter. Everything turned tails up very fast. Moonwood Mill's one affordable starter home is actually pretty cute as default homes go, showing off a bit of rustic cabin flare. I originally thought it odd that it came with neither TV nor computer, until I found out how prone werewolves are, even in human form, to wrecking their appliances at random with accidental superhuman strength. Margaret could barely browse the fridge for a snack without breaking it.

I quickly set aside concerns for Margaret's property because I couldn't be bothered with placing her on an eternal sink, stove, and fridge repair routine. Instead, she wandered Moonwood Mill. Frankly, I recommend spending as little time as possible at your own home because Moonwood is stacked with common spaces and community lots. I've always felt "eh" about Live Mode, but these areas actually felt worth spending time in.

There's a library and gym combo in an old warehouse, effectively a community center, where Margaret researched the secrets of werewolf lore. There's a bar with a secret clubhouse bunker beneath it where she snatched many a wolf nap. There are sewer grates full of secrets that she partially explored.

Most important are the Moonwood Collective pack's treehouse and the Wildfang trailer, popular hangout spots for their respective members. Margaret needed to get into one of these packs for a little stability: She couldn't stop breaking her sink and had just three simoleons to her name. Getting sent home from her only joba twice-weekly babysitting gigfor transforming into werewolf form in a rage certainly hadn't helped.

The Moonwood treehouse is where Margaret got to know Kristopher Volkov, chill alpha male of the Moonwood pack. He seemed like a decent guy, immediately choosing to help calm Maraget's rising werewolf fury when she showed up. Every werewolf has a fury meter that fills over time, especially under a full moon (every eight days by default), and when it finally maxes out they'll lose control, transform into a wolf, and go on a rampage around town scaring other Sims or smashing up their own homes.

Kristopher quelled her rage meter and delivered a bit of explanation: the Moonwood Collective wolves are all about mastering their rage and living in harmony with humans, unlike their rivals the Wildfangs who take pride in their wolf strength and see the Collective's attitude as cowardly. Margaret, vegetarian evangelist, babysitter, and lover of a good cable-knit, seemed like a perfect fit for the chill Collective.

The fanfic is writing itself and I am powerless to stop it.

Kristopher thought so too, because he started inviting himself over to her house. Often. Kristopher was so intent on spending time with Margaret, unbothered by her perpetually leaking sink, that I decided, what the hell, let her flirt with him. That one decision launched a drama worthy of a young adult paperback and now I have no idea how to stop it.

As soon as Margaret flirted with Kristopher I was notified that she'd found her fated mate, the one werewolf she's meant to be with. I tested the boundaries quickly, finding that she got tense flirting with anyone who isn't her fatemate. I scoffed. Of course my young adult Sim werewolf was destined to be with the grey-in-his-beard alpha, who was an unknown number of years older than her. Immortality is a high level werewolf skill in the tree, after all.

Though I mock my accidental YA novel setup, I rolled with it. Margaret and Kristopher had a whirlwind courtship the likes of which many Sims have experienced: flirting on the couch until 2am, a first kiss under a waning moon outside the library, and WooHooing in a bush across town.

But Margaret was still a growing wolf. She quickly went from a pup, to runt, to prime wolf. I used her ability points to unlock skills for treasure scavenging, enhanced smell, and night vision, while she gained passive abilities like control over when she entered her wolf form. At each new wolf rank she also gained a trait that I didn't pick. She started out excitable, gaining more fury while in a playful mood, which was fine.

Then she became prideful of her wolf abilities and also developed "wolf brain" making intellectual pursuits more difficult. Uh oh.

Much as I personally appreciated Kristopher's werewolf philosophy, I knew Margaret was meant to be a Wildfang. She made quick friends with the Wildfang alphaconveniently Kristopher's estranged adopted daughterand joined the crew. She got a weekly jerky allotment, a werewolf magazine subscription, and the expectation that she'd start spreading her werewolf prowess all over the world.

It didn't come between her and Kristopher at first, though I was fully intending for her to tell him Wildfangs rule pretty soon, and surely that was not going to go over well. Not two days later, Kristopher called to tell Margaret that he'd adopted a toddler, a little girl named Perry who almost immediately developed a grudge against her. Is Kristopher planning to turn her wolf when she's old enough? Or should I go behind his back and have Margaret do it herself? This furry family tree got pretzel-shaped in a hurry.

Sims 4 Werewolves may be billed as a Game Pack, not expansion, but the new neighborhood, skill tree, super customizable werewolf form, and the built-in drama of wolf life add way more than I expected to the game. I normally turn my nose up at Live Mode and go back to building my little houses, but I need to find out just how unhinged the next chapter of the Margaret Ruff series gets.

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I WooHooed an alpha wolf and then betrayed him in The Sims 4 Werewolves - PC Gamer

The Golden State Warriors are one win away from a seventh NBA championship in franchise history after they defeated the Boston Celtics in Game 5 of the NBA Finals to take a 3-2 series lead

Image: USA TODAY Sports)

The Golden State Warriors are just one win away from continuing their dynasty and securing a fourth NBA championship in eight years after Andrew Wiggins inspired them to a 104-94 home win in Game 5 against the Boston Celtics on Monday night.

In a crucial NBA Finals contest, Wiggins duly delivered the biggest performance of his eight-year career as he dropped 26 points and collected 13 rebounds. He and teammate Klay Thompson did most of the damage, with Thompson - who returned from back-to-back Achilles and ACL injuries earlier this season - contributing 21 points to give the Warriors a 3-2 series lead.

After producing a masterful 43-point game to level the finals at two games apiece, Steph Currys NBA-record streak of 132 successive postseason games with at least one three-pointer made ended, along with his NBA-best run of 233 consecutive matches with a three when accounting for regular season games too. The 34-year-old shot 0-9 from beyond the arc, but the Warriors overcame his poor shooting as the Celtics committed 18 total turnovers and missed 10 free throws at the Chase Center in San Francisco.

Curry finished with 16 points and eight assists, but Wiggins was undoubtedly the star man for the Warriors in Game 5 as the Canadian produced a terrific all-round display that highlighted his prowess in scoring, defending, and rebounding. Wiggins performance came 36 years after his father Mitchell came off the bench to lead the Houston Rockets to the win against the Celtics in Game 5 of the 1986 NBA Finals - but the Rockets went on to lose the series.

Wiggins - dubbed Maple Jordan as a highly-rated youngster - had zero turnovers and clearly has no intention to let the Warriors suffer the same fate as his father's Rockets. He capped his sensational night with an assertive one-handed slam dunk late in the fourth quarter.

Ultimately though, other Warriors outside of Wiggins stood up amid Currys struggles as he failed to make a three in an NBA game for the first time since November 8 2018. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr admitted the two-time MVP was probably due a game like this as Curry has starred in these NBA Finals and is the frontrunner to take home the Finals MVP award.

Draymond Green brought the energy, making an early play where he collided with an audience member - and an enormous cheer ripped through the arena when he checked if the woman involved was OK. The crowd then exploded into raptures when Green sold a fake to the entire Celtics defence, allowing the former Defensive Player of the Year to easily get to the basket.

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Thompson also hit some mega three-pointers, including a quick-fire double in the middle of a dominant Boston run in the third quarter after the Warriors had thrown away a 16-point lead. The 32-year-old went 5-of-11 from deep in the win.

As for the Celtics, it was a tough night. For so long, Jayson Tatum looked like he was set to unleash his best performance of the series for a spell in the third quarter but his wildly inconsistent play ensured he unravelled with poor decisions and erroneous shooting from the free throw line.

The 24-year-old twice missed his opportunity to score after fouls, and Boston finished a poor 21-of-31 from the line. Tatum scored a game-high 27 points to go with 10 rebounds, but he could only give the Celtics - who led these NBA Finals 2-1 - their first made three in the closing moments of the second quarter as the road team struggled to put the ball in the basket from deep.

Marcus Smart overcame a sluggish start to finish with 20 points, while Jaylen Brown put up 18 points after originally going 2-of-11 to start the game. Brown even finished without a three-pointer, as he missed each of his five attempts.

The Warriors have made exceptional third quarter performances their USP this season, but the Celtics used the period to conjure up their best basketball of the evening. Boston trailed Golden State 51-39 at the break before storming back with 35-point burst in the third.

Al Horford hit a huge go-ahead three-pointer with 6:28 left in the quarter that made it 58-55 as the Celtics appeared to finally find their shooting rhythm from deep. Grant Williams three with approximately four minutes remaining was Bostons eighth straight three after missing their first 12 attempts.

The erratic nature of the game was embodied by the Celtics deep shooting, with Tatum and Smart coming to the fore while Brown faded in and out of the game. On the other hand, the Warriors overcame an awful shooting display in the first half (17% from three) to play with more composure in the second half - and it paid dividends.

The key moment came in the third quarter when Thompson connected on a three after the Warriors had missed 14 straight efforts, and it allowed the five-time All-Star to find his rhythm for the remainder of the contest. Jordan Poole - who finished with 14 points - struck with a 33ft three to beat the third-quarter buzzer, giving the Warriors a slender 75-74 lead heading into the fourth.

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Do you think the Golden State Warriors will win the NBA Finals over the Boston Celtics? Let us know in the comments section.

With momentum back on their side, the Warriors cemented the massive win as Wiggins, the first overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, powered home a dunk with 2:10 remaining. The 2022 NBA Finals have proved to be a series defined by hard and physical defence, and Wiggins excelled as he unsettled Tatum throughout.

Throughout this campaign, the Warriors have insisted their current roster is different from the iconic side that clinched three titles and reached five NBA Finals between 2015 and 2019. It appears they are more similar than even the staff and players realise, as the Warriors continue to collect high-profile wins one way or another.

One more win in Boston on Thursday night and the Warriors will seal another championship, ensuring they will have that in common with their Kevin Durant-led predecessors. One more win to elongate the dynasty and secure NBA immortality.

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Andrew Wiggins shines amid Steph Curry struggles as Golden State Warriors move to one win from NBA immortality - The Mirror

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) director Destin Daniel Crettons secret Marvel Studios original series has been revealed to focus on Simon Williams/Wonder Man. He is working with Andrew Guest, a writer-producer on Brooklyn Nine-Nineand Community, to introduce one of Marvel Comics oldest characters yet to appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Related:Agent of SHIELD Star Takes Shots at Simu Liu, Reminds Fans She Was First

Simon Williams/Wonder Man first appeared in Marvel ComicAvengers #9 (1964) by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. As a young man, he inherited his fathers company, but thanks to Tony Stark/Iron Mans Stark Industries the company was losing money. So his brother tricked him into embezzling money and joined Baron Zemos Masters of Evil.

Simon Williams got his powers after Baron Zemo experimented on him. His powers include an ionic form the tissue and bones of his entire body were strengthed by Pym Particle charged iota in the ionic ray bombardment procedure. This gives him super strength, super senses, enhanced stamina, flight, and immortality.

His brother Eric Williams was the villain Grim Reaper. He tried to kill Earths Mightiest Heroes after Simon died and his brainwaves were used to create the Vision. Simon William would work as an Avenger and the West Coast Avengers for a while but left to try his hand at becoming an actor. He was disillusioned with the failures of the Avengers and turned down Steve Rogers/Captain America when he invited him to rejoin. He eventually formed the Revengers.

Simon was in love with Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch. Because his brainwaves were the basis of the Vision the three of them have had one of the strangest love triangles in Marvel Comics. Clint Barton/Hawkeye was another of Wandas love interests during this time.

Related:Marvel Destroyed, Tom Cruises Masterpiece Changes Hollywood Forever

The MCU has teased Wonder Man for a while. Nathan Fillion (Firefly) has campaigned to play Simon Williams for years. He filmed scenes for James Gunns Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2(2017), but he was ultimately cut from the film. He did get to voice Wonder Man in the now-canceled M.O.D.O.K. series on Hulu, which starred Patton Oswalt.

It was also rumored Wonder Man could show up inWandaVisionwhen leaks revealed concept art for him. However, he never appeared in the MCUs first original series for Disney+. WandaVisionsspinoffAgatha: House of Harkness is also in production.

The Hollywood Reporter confirms that Simon Williams/ Wonder Man is headed to Marvel Cinematic Universe. It seems to dash Nathan Fillions dreams of playing Wonder Man in live-action as other outlets have thrown out names like Evan Peters as being in contention.

Related:MCU Actor Might Leave Marvel Behind to Play James Bond

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness left Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) with an uncertain future. Head writer Michael Waldron will not even confirm if she is alive or dead. So her return could come in Crettons new series. And Marvel fans will remember that White Vision (Paul Bettany) is still somewhere, just waiting for the Marvel Universes strangest love triangle.

Let us know in the comments if you are excited about the Wonder Man series.

You can stream Scarlett JohanssonsBlack Widowand the six series inMarvels Phase Fourso far Elizabeth Olsen and Paul BettanysWandaVision, Anthony Mackie and SebastianStans The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Tom HiddlestonsLoki, MarvelsWhat If?,Jeremy RennersHawkeye, and Oscar IsaacsMoon Knight on Disney+ anytime.

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Newly Announced Marvel Show to Focus on Scarlet Witch's Long Lost Love - Inside the Magic

In many parts of the United States, there's a much anticipated time of year: the peach season. However, any peach lover knows that not all peaches are created equal. If you're not familiar with the different varieties, take a few minutes to better understand them and their uses. Widely grown in the United States, yellow peaches have a fuzzy, pinkish-orange outside and bright yellow flesh. Compared to white peaches, they have a strong, sometimes slightly acidic flavor. Cook's Illustrated reports that their hardy flesh and strong flavor make them ideal for baking.

While white peaches look similar on the outside, the flesh is soft and white. According to Specialty Produce, the fruit originated in China, with a long history of cultural significance. In Chinese mythology, peaches represent health and longevity as they grow on the tree of life and are eaten by the gods to retain immortality. It's easy to see why. Chock-full of vitamin C with a sweet, delicate flavor and a scent that is sometimes described as floral, the white peach is a healthy food with a heavenly taste.

While 80% of peaches grown in China are white, they're less popular in the West partially because they bruise easily and are harder to transport. In addition, while yellow peaches taste great in pies, cobblers, and even grilled, white peaches are too soft and easily turn to mush. However, they're great for eating raw; you can also use overripe peaches for sweet, refreshing ice creams and smoothies.

While the worst thing that can happen if you decide to bake with white peaches is a mushy cobbler, PennState Extension states that canning them can be downright dangerous. With a pH of above 4.6, white peaches are considered low-acid fruits. That's what causes the sweet, delicate flavor that makes them so delicious. However, it also means that the bacteria which cause harmful and sometimes deadly infections like botulism, aren't destroyed in the canning process. So while yellow peaches can be canned with a water bath or pressure canner, PennState Extension warns that you should avoid canning white peaches altogether.

However, you still have options if you want to preserve white peaches for colder months: PennState Extension suggests freezing them as an alternate preservation method. The Spruce Eats reports that you can also experiment with dehydrating peaches but keep in mind that dried fruit has been linked to salmonella outbreaks.

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Is There A Real Difference Between White And Yellow Peaches? - Tasting Table

TEEN Mom Kailyn Lowry has fans thinking she is pregnant with her fifth child after she drops another clue.

The mother-of-three recently debuted her new boyfriend, Elijah Scott, 23.

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Kailyn, who has several podcasts and now owns a whole podcast network, is pictured in a photo on Instagram with co-host with Lindsie Chrisleyfor their Coffee Convos Podcast.

The two pose under a neon sign that reads, "The show must go on."

In a second photo in the series, the Teen Mom 2 star and former Chrisley Knows Best star pose on top of a couch holding microphones.

Kail is seen wearing a tan, loose-fitting button down shirt and black ripped jeans.

Fans were quick to pick up on her choice of attire, noticing that her arm in the second photo slightly conceals her stomach as she leans forward.

The new Instagram photos come after Kailyn recentlyposted a screenshot of her Google search, which read, "symbolism of snake."

And according to the search, a serpent represents fertility and rebirth.

The description went on to say that a snake could mean a creative life force, transformation, immortality, and healing.

Fans onRedditwere quick to jump to conclusions.

"Oh f**k, here we go. [Kailyn] found a snake so that automatically means fertility. Baby daddy #4?" the Reddit user captioned the thread.

Fans reacted to the news of a possible pregnancy.

"I swear to God if this bish has another kid while I sit here with my cats Im gonna LOSE IT," wrote one user.

"Is she announcing #5?" another wondered.

Fans also noticed shecovered her stomach with a football jerseywhile posing with son Lincoln, eight, in a sweet photo.

She shared photos concealing her stomach as she supported her son Lincoln at his football game.

TheMTVstar also posted a series of videos to her Instagram stories promoting personalized vitamins.

he told fans how she took an online quiz to "update her health goals" and to figure out her needs.

Kailyn was then sent the daily vitamins and revealed Elijah also took the test.

"My health goals were different than my boyfriend's," Kailyn explained holding up their different packets of pills.

"So he has different vitamins and he's been doing this for a couple of months too."

The reality TV star then shared a photo of her dinner which included a big bowl of meaty mac 'n' cheese with a slice of garlic bread.

"IYKYK [if you know, you know]," she captioned the Story and tagged her friend Tasia Alexis.

Tasia then shared the photo to her own Instagram Stories adding the caption, "period", alongside a series of crying/laughing emojis.

Kailyn's "updated health needs" and the hearty meal fueled rumors among fans that she's expecting her fifth baby.

TheTeen Mom 2 alum, was recently asked about expanding her brood during an appearance on another podcast,Love & Order.

Kailyn said: "Ah, I don't know. Like the idea of starting over. My youngest [son, Creed] is about to be two.

"I had a really hard time bonding with him - like the circumstances surrounding the pregnancy.

"Now we are so close, we cuddle. To think about starting over, I don't know..."

The MTV alum then added: "But my boyfriend doesn't have kids of his own so it could go either way."

She also addressed how quickly her romance with her neighbor Elijah, 23, has progressed.

"We've only been together like three months. It happened pretty quickly, I will admit that," the reality star said.

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Teen Mom Kailyn Lowrys fans think she dropped ANOTHER clue shes pregnant with 5th child in new photos... - The US Sun

Move over Hot Girl Summer: 2022 is shaping up to give us Unexpected Album Summer after famed honorary lesbian Drakeone single day after the life-saving announcement of a new Beyonc album and a surprise single from FKA Twigsgifted us with a surprise album last night. Honestly, Nevermind is a instant classic in the Drake genre, even if its missing some of the bombast of last years Certified Lover Boy in which he famously outed himself as a he/they lesbian.

In classic Drake fashion, the album gives us a look into the romantic fears and vulnerabilities of one of the worlds most iconic lovers of womenwhile flawlessly upholding his doomed romantic persona. Its mellow, hilarious, and sexy all at once: another classic Drake combination. Here are a few of the most important truths we uncovered while listening:

This one seems obvious, but theres some deep wisdom buried in here. You cant buy love, and you also cant buy ambition. But you can be an honorary lesbian if you try hard enough.

2. He Doesnt Go to the Met Because They Only Provide a Plus One (Sticky)

A longtime mystery solved at last! Who would Drake bring to the Met if they did give him more than a plus one? And more importantly: what would he wear? The mind boggles.

3. His Mother Wanted Him to Go Corporate (Sticky)

Okay but why work for a corporation when you can BE a corporation, Sandi?

4. He Speaks Beautiful French (Sticky)

Not exactly a surprise because, you know, Canada, but very hot. Imagine Drake calling you cherie. Tell me thats not lesbian culture. Also the fact that the song is called Sticky, I rest my case.

5. His Funeral is Going to Be Lit (Massive)

Thats how he treated people! This is definitely something we already knew, since I personally cant imagine Drakes funeral being anything less than a stadium-filling event with lots of fireworks and possibly a 50-foot Drake hologram. But I dont want to spend too much time on this thought because the idea of a world without Drake is too sad for me to contemplate. More life, naythe most possible life for Drake! Immortality for our favorite honorary lesbian.

6. He Loves the Way They Hang (Jimmy Cooks)

F*ck the silicone! Honestly, this is the energy that makes Drake a beloved honorary lesbian to begin with. He likes you just the way you are, babe, and never forget it. That said, lets not forget that Drake is very surgery-positive. Hes a fan of an enhanced butt (who isnt?) so dont ever fall into the trap of thinking that Drake is trying to surgery-shame anyone. Hes just saying that hes a fan of those big naturals. What dyke isnt?

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6 Things We Learned from Honorary Lesbian Drake's New Album - INTO

UFC 275 gave us so many electrifying moments that we cherished as fans of mixed martial arts. The main event between Glover Teixeira and Jiri Prochazka becoming an all-time classic, the unexpectedly tough challenge for Valentina Shevchenko from Taila Santos, the highlight reel spinning back fist finish by Weili Zhang, and the emotional announcement of the long-reigning former strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk after her loss to Zhang.

Jedrzejczyks retirement from MMA competition will affect the UFC landscape. Even though she wasnt as active towards the end of her career, all of her fights were extremely impactful for womens MMA. Not only did she always fight high-ranking opponents such as Michelle Waterson and Tecia Torres, she was part of many classic fights in her unsuccessful journey to recapture her title against Rose Namajunas and Weili Zhang. Lets not forget that she was going for UFC immortality by moving up a weight class and fighting for the vacant 125-pound title against Valentina Shevchenko. No matter who her opponent was or where she was fighting, Jedrzejczyk always had many fans around the world watching her when she stepped into the Octagon. The absence of this important figure for womens MMA will definitely leave a void for MMA, but her retirement may be part of something bigger.

We might be witnessing the passing of the torch for many fighters who are part of the key groups that propelled UFC into the mainstream around 2015. Many of those fans grew up watching Joanna reigning over the 115-pound weight class during that time and now retiring in 2022. Also retired in 2022, just the past couple of months ago, are former strawweight contender and title challenger Claudia Gadelha and UFC veteran Felice Herrig.

In addition, fans and media are constantly talking about the future plans of Tony Ferguson and Frankie Edgar, a pair of fighters who were pivotal figures for their respective weight classes and were at the pinnacle of their careers around the same time as Jedrzejczyk. Fans are also persistently questioning how many more fights Conor McGregor has in him, a figure who started the UFCs entrance into mainstream culture.

All sports have eras that are defined by the athletes who are in each respective period, so seeing a changing of the guard like this is only natural. However, since MMA is so new, many fans are experiencing this type of shift for the first time. Witnessing this journey of old faces appearing less and less and new fighters gaining prominence and being inspired by those legends in the past will be very interesting as a fan of this sport.

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UFC 275 Began a Changing of the Guard - MMA Sucka

The Milwaukee Bucks are no longer reigning NBA champions.

After dispatching the Boston Celtics in six games, the Golden State Warriors have reclaimed the NBA title, their fourth time seizing the crown in eight seasons. Steph Curry didnt need it, but he earned his first ever Finals MVP award, adding yet another accolade to the greatest-shooter-of-all-times collection. The Dubs dynasty appears to be alive and well, and a fair portion of Bucks fans are viewing the achievement with a mix of admiration, jealousy, a bit of pride due to the Milwaukee connection, and the slightest hint of schadenfreude.

First things first: most, if not all Bucks fans, are perfectly pleased that the title went to a team thats NOT the Celtics. Milwaukee and Boston have butted basketball heads before, but this last series brewed a fair amount of bad blood between the two fanbases. In particular, the antics of Marcus Smart, Grant Williams, and head coach Ime Udoka rubbed most of us the wrong way, so seeing them fall short of basketball immortality feels...right. Of course, given that the Bucks are only one season removed from their title and the Celtics just made the Finals, this rivalry should remain in good health in 2023 and beyond. Boston and Milwaukee might not be the only teams in the Eastern Conference next year, but it feels like theyre the only two teams that will matter.

All that said, its difficult to shake the shoulda, coulda, woulda that comes with Milwaukee having been knocked out in the second round, despite being favored by many to return to the championship. Were it not for their All Star forward getting injured in the previous series, Milwaukee would have been at full strength, they could have met the Miami Heat in the conference finals, and they would have returned to the Finals and overwhelmed Golden State with their size. But the game isnt won by hypotheticals, so sooner or later Bucks fans will have to cope with the disappointing ending to yet another promising year within Giannis Antetokounmpos prime. The good news is, so far, that Khris Middleton should be ready to go next season...and the additional time off means some well-deserved rest for the rest of the Bucks roster.

Theres always next year. Thats what weve been saying since last month, what the Celtics have been saying since last night, and what all 29 teams tell themselves when they fall short. Its the necessary coping mechanism of fanbases everywhere. In the case of the Milwaukee Bucks, though, I have a feeling that its more than just talk.

Stay tuned.

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Missed Out: Ruminating on the Milwaukee Bucks-less NBA Finals - Brew Hoops

Cannabis indica, the euphonious Latin name for Spanish marijuana, is a pointer to the weed's hoary history in India.

Called the 'food of the Gods' by Vedic immigrants, it is braided into people's lives. Holi and Shivratri would be mirthless without bhang pakoras and thandai. Shiva himself was partial to bhang it was not 'rang mein bhang' for Shiva, but its flip side, bhang mein rang.

So the news that Thailand becomes the first Asian country to legalise cannabis, native to south Asia, won't cause such a frisson on the banks of the Ganges, where chillums have long been puffed with pleasure.

In the Atharva Veda cannabis is listed as one of five sacred plants along with tulsi, sandalwood, jasmine and neem. Puranic legend has it that Shiva slept under the cannabis plant, and on eating its leaves in the morning felt very energised.

Another charming story narrates the tussle between Asuras and Devas to extract the divine nectar for immortality. Shiva drank the poison Halahala that emerged after the churning of the seas. His throat turned blue, and Shiva became Neel Kanth, adding yet another name to his awesome collection of titles.

Mahadev was a 'cool dude' way before Millennials appropriated the term. No 'Superman' can top this 'Super God' with a Third Eye. And one with a 'boho' appearance and the ability to roll a 'spliff'!

Soon the happy weed spread far and wide. The Nizari Isma'ili of 11th century Persia would smoke hashish before killing the Christian invaders of the Crusades. They were called the Hashishiin from whence the word assassin. Elsewhere Sufis, African cults and Jamaican Rastafari smoked cannabis as an article of faith to create a mystic vision.

The sixties were the golden era of the Hippies, those counter-culturists who made it cool to smoke pot and delve into Oriental mysticism. US college dropouts made Haight-Ashbury, a San Francisco neighbourhood, and Greenwich Village in Manhattan their own Meccas for hanging out.

The first Woodstock Festival over four days in August 1969 in a local farmer's field in upstate New York saw half a million hippies gather to listen to Joan Baez, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and many other iconic singers perform in a haze of hashish. Our own sitar maestro Ravi Shankar too mesmerised the listeners with his magical playing.

It was the British rock band The Beatles in the sixties that attracted more proselytes to this lifestyle. Introduced to the drug by Nobel legend Bob Dylan, they visited Rishikesh in 1968 with an entourage of high-profile friends that included the actress Mia Farrow. To practise transcendental meditation under Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and soak in the peace was their express intent. George Harrison even learnt to play rudimentary sitar under Ravi Shankar for a while.

Unfortunately there was trouble in paradise, with allegations of sexual assault made against the Maharishi. The Beatles left variously much earlier than the three months decided upon. This phase was their most creative and includes the classic White Album carrying eighteen of their compositions. It openly castigates the Maharishi in a song called 'Sexy Sadie' that tarnished his image as a global guru.

Bollywood also tuned into the happy theme in the movie Hare Rama Hare Krishna, made in 1971. Zeenat Aman gyrating to the tune of 'Dum maaro dum' in a smoke filled pub still attracts likes on social media.

These days Uruguay, Canada, the Netherlands, South Africa and Spain are the leaders in making grass legal medically and also for recreation with some restrictions. Many other countries are going the same way.

Celebs like Justin Bieber are endorsing weed in business ventures with legit companies. Bieber is truly in a joint venture, with a company in California to market pre-rolled premium joints named after a song of his 'Peaches' while many others including the Dalai Lama are endorsing the use of medicinal weed.

You should try a puff in Goa!

Just a thought, maybe our Sadhus with their dreadlocks and ash smeared bodies and chillums could make an exotic brand endorsing the weed with the name you guessed it Nirvana! And the tagline 'Dum maaro dum'?

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Cannabis, Indicas Gift to the World - The Citizen

(The Conversation) Voyager 1 is the farthest human-made object from Earth. After sweeping by Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, it is now almost 15 billion miles (24 billion kilometers) from Earth in interstellar space. Both Voyager 1 and its twin, Voyager 2, carry little pieces of humanity in the form of their Golden Records. These messages in a bottle include spoken greetings in 55 languages, sounds and images from nature, an album of recordings and images from numerous cultures, and a written message of welcome from Jimmy Carter, who was U.S. president when the spacecraft left Earth in 1977.

Each Voyager spacecraft carries a Golden Record containing two hours of sounds, music and greetings from around the world. Carl Sagan and other scientists assumed that any civilization advanced enough to detect and capture the record in space could figure out how to play it.NASA/Wikimedia Commons

The Golden Records were built to last a billion years in the environment of space, but in a recent analysis of the paths and perils these explorers may face, astronomers calculated that they could exist for trillions of years without coming remotely close to any stars.

Having spent my career in the field of religion and science, Ive thought a lot about how spiritual ideas intersect with technological achievements. The incredible longevity of the Voyager spacecraft presents a uniquely tangible entry point into exploring ideas of immortality.

For many people, immortality is the everlasting existence of a soul or spirit that follows death. It can also mean the continuation of ones legacy in memory and records. With its Golden Record, each Voyager provides such a legacy, but only if it is discovered and appreciated by an alien civilization in the distant future.

Religious beliefs about immortality are numerous and diverse. Most religions foresee a postmortem career for a personal soul or spirit, and these range from everlasting residence among the stars to reincarnation.

The ideal eternal life for many Christians and Muslims is to abide forever in Gods presence in heaven or paradise. Judaisms teachings about what happens after death are less clear. In the Hebrew Bible, the dead are mere shades in a darkened place called Sheol. Some rabbinical authorities give credence to the resurrection of the righteous and even to the eternal status of souls.

Immortality is not limited to the individual. It can be collective as well. For many Jews, the final destiny of the nation of Israel or its people is of paramount importance. Many Christians anticipate a future general resurrection of all who have died and the coming of the kingdom of God for the faithful.

Jimmy Carter, whose message and autograph are immortalized in the Golden Records, is a progressive Southern Baptist and a living example of religious hope for immortality. Now battling brain cancer and approaching centenarian status, he has thought about dying. Following his diagnosis, Carter concluded in a sermon: It didnt matter to me whether I died or lived. My Christian faith includes complete confidence in life after death. So Im going to live again after I die.

It is plausible to conclude that the potential of an alien witnessing the Golden Record and becoming aware of Carters identity billions of years in the future would offer only marginal additional consolation for him. Carters knowledge in his ultimate destiny is a measure of his deep faith in the immortality of his soul. In this sense, he likely represents people of numerous faiths.

For people who are secular or nonreligious there is little solace to be found in an appeal to the continuing existence of a soul or spirit following ones death. Carl Sagan, who came up with the idea for the Golden Records and led their development, wrote of the afterlife: I know of nothing to suggest that it is more than just wishful thinking. He was more saddened by thoughts of missing important life experiences like seeing his children grow up than fearful about the expected annihilation of his conscious self with the death of his brain.

For those like Sagan there are other possible options for immortality. They include freezing and preserving the body for future physical resurrection or uploading ones consciousness and turning it into a digital form that would long outlast the brain. Neither of these potential paths to physical immortality has proved to be feasible yet.

The Golden Records contain a snapshot of Earth and humanity.

Most people, whether secular or religious, want the actions they do while alive to bear continuing meaning into the future as their fruitful legacy. People want to be remembered and appreciated, even cherished. Sagan summed it up nicely: To live in the hearts we leave behind is to live forever.

With Voyagers 1 and 2 estimated to exist for more than a trillion years, they are about as immortal as it gets for human artifacts. Even before the Suns expected demise when it runs out of fuel in about 5 billion years, all living species, mountains, seas and forests will have long been obliterated. It will be as if we and all the marvelous and extravagant beauty of planet Earth never existed a devastating thought to me.

Voyager 1s path, in white, has taken the craft well past the orbits of the outer planets into interstellar space, where aliens may someday come across the relic of humanity.NASA/JPL via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

But in the distant future, the two Voyager spacecraft will still be floating in space, awaiting discovery by an advanced alien civilization for whom the messages on the Golden Records were intended. Only those records will likely remain as testimony and legacy of Earth, a kind of objective immortality.

Religious and spiritual people can find solace in the belief that God or an afterlife waits for them after death. For the secular, hoping that someone or something will remember humanity, any wakeful and appreciative aliens will have to do.

(James Edward Huchingson, Professor Emeritus and Lecturer in Religion and Science, Florida International University. The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect those of Religion News Service.)

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What the Voyager space probes can teach humanity about immortality and legacy as they sail through space for trillions of years - Religion News...