Went from Bookies bar > Modern Cathedrals > then ending my night at The Works. Got to Bookies at 5pm yesterday and now just getting back to my Airbnb place. Holy shit Detroit, I already love this place and the real parties haven’t even stared yet

And never leaves. He was killed by the bookie/bar owner named Mike.
Sadly, he left behind a loving wife and two teenage daughters.
I have a cousin named Mike who works at Subway and is working really hard to earn his G.E.D. Good guy.. Loves raccoons.

I figure that many of you may be unfamiliar with afterparty venues, especially since the number of events forces non-traditional spots to be used.. so here's the start of my list:
St Andrews Hall 431 E Congress, Detroit.
Huge venue walking distance from the fest. Generally serves as a small concert venue, but has hosted regular club-type nights in the past. One of the cleaner and safer afterparty spots in town (relatively speaking), expect tight security and a usually invasive pat-down upon entry.
TV Lounge 2548 Grand River, Detroit.
One of the regular spots in Detroit, TV Bar is home to some of the best EDM events in town all year long. Two rooms with a bar connecting the two, and a decent sized patio area. TV generally hosts some of the crazier Movement afterparties, and this year seems to be no exception. Security is pretty lax about say burning a joint on the patio, and I don't think I've ever been searched on entry. Short cab-ride from the fest.
The Works 1846 Michigan Ave, Detroit
Another of the regular spots year-round, The Works is one of the longest running after-hours bars in town. It's dirty, it's grimey, and it's dark. Two rooms + a patio area, one bar (although they usually put a temp. bar out on the patio for the fest) The Works has the best liquor license in the city, and is the only venue that can LEGALLY go until 7-8am or later. They've done patdowns in the past but it's been awhile... security here are generally hot-headed pricks.
Bleu 1540 Woodward Ave, Detroit.
Ugh. Shiny shirts, buckets of bad cologne, and ditzy staff with fake tits all over the place. If you're a douchebag asshole, this is your spot. Otherwise... just don't.
Northern Lights Lounge 660 W. Baltimore, Detroit.
I really like this bar. Only one room, no patio to speak of, and ample seating (although there's still a decent-sized dancefloor); it truly is a 'lounge'. Although not really in the regular rotation, I've been to plenty of damn-good parties at Northern Lights. Sound can be an issue here, as they don't have much to speak of for a house system (every afterparty will be bringing extra sound to their respective venue, but there's usually a house system to compliment, not so here). Just a few minutes by cab from Hart Plaza, and the nicest bathrooms you will see at any venue over the weekend (especially true for you ladies).
City Club 400 Bagley St., Detroit. Under the Leland Hotel.
Big, cavernous one-room club that spends most of its days catering to the local goth/industrial scene. It has held many a memorable techno party there, and was a favorite of the Plus 8 crew for a bit. The building sucks, the staff sucks, the security sucks, but it's pretty rare to have a bad time there. Walkable from the fest but it's a hike and I'd probably take a cab because I'm lazy. Events here usually run pretty late without a problem.
Foran's Grand Trunk 612 Woodward, Detroit.
Get to know Foran's. It will be your friend over the course of the weekend. The closest bar to the fest, Foran's is my go-to for sitting down and taking a break from the madness and the shit beer at Hart Plaza. The building itself is pretty cool (it's an old Grand Trunk rail ticketing office I believe..); long and narrow with vaulted ceilings...and a smoking area/patio out front along Woodward. They've got a second room that just serves as a dining area (their food is decent... another nice respite from the festival fare), and it does tend to get fucking packed in there as it's one of the smaller spots in town. Majority of the staff here is fucking awesome.
1515 Broadway 1515 Broadway, Detroit.
Smaller venue in the back of a cafe, very intimate setting. They do not serve alcohol there so bring a flask or a backpack of beers if you want to drink. They did not check bags and didnt give anyone a hard time for drinking even when the staff saw beers out. The air flow kind of sucks there and last year it was ridiculously hot. Luckily the music was amazing so I didnt mind the heat. They also have tables and chairs out front so if you get too hot you can duck out for some fresh air.(courtesy of udafx)
The Old Miami 3930 Cass Ave, Detroit.
This divey biker bar has become a favorite over the years for all day/night dance parties. The bar itself is dirty, dark, and divey as all hell.... and god help you if you need to use the restroom. But that back yard. They've got a huge outdoor area out back that makes for a fantastic place to party. Day parties at the Old Miami are the stuff of legend..mostly due to the back yard and an understanding and patient staff.
The Fillmore 2115 Woodward Ave, Detroit
The largest venue you will encounter all weekend (save for Hart Plaza, obviously), The Fillmore (formerly the State Theater) usually serves as a concert venue, but has hosted EDM events from time to time. One huge main room and a spacious lobby with a large bar area between the two. Bring earplugs.. sound will likely be booming. Fillmore protip: if the bar lines are a bitch, the State Bar connects to the lobby and you can usually duck in there to grab a drink and get back to the party with relative quickness.
Bookies Bar and Grille 2208 Cass Ave, Detroit
Huge, 3 floor bar a quick cab ride from the fest (I suppose you could walk it, but fuck that). First floor is spacious and open with a large bar area and a good number of tables, still with decent room to get down though. Second floor is much smaller and more intimate, a mezzanine level of sorts with a loungey feel and its own small bar area (generally limited stock at this particular bar). Third floor works as two rooms, one inside and one outside. Inside is fairly cramped with a large bar running the length of the room and stools/chairs taking up a good bit of space. The outside area rocks. Rooftop action with a temporary bar (limited stock here again) and a few seats along the edge, with plenty of room for raging. Who doesn't love a good rooftop venue..?
(to be continued)
General Notes for all venues
Detroit is a 2am city. Alcohol sales stop at 2 (but can start again at 7am for you hardcore partiers), and this is when most bars generally close down (The Works and City Club regularly stay open until 4am or later). During festival weekend the city is pretty lax and allows many venues to run late (4am seems to be the norm), primarily those hosting "Official" after parties. If you're at an 'Unofficial' party, don't be shocked if it gets shut down shortly after 2, either by the bar itself or the boys in blue.
Cheers!

After 9/11, I conquered my dependency problems and went on to earn my Journalism degree from the University of Florida. I have written two screenplays, numerous political columns, and now am publishing my first novel, Confessions of a Bronx Bookie. I am here to answer any questions on Self Publishing and talk about anything related (or not) to my prior experience in life. Here are a few:

*23 years on FDNY *5 years experience as a illegal bookmaker in the Bronx *Unioned truckdriver in the Bronx (Teamster) *Former Bar and Restaurant Owner in Queens as well as Flushing, NY *Vietnam Veteran 

Here is my Proof

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      “Well I’ve got to try something. I think Tenna’s going to try to face off against that robot and if she does it’s going to kill her unless I can convince it not to. I think she’s trying to work up the nerve. You saw her smoke that canne’ka stuff.”
      Sylnya gestured for Draevin to follow. “Let’s walk.” The pair headed off in a direction Draevin quickly realized was aiming for the betting cages. Though he knew where they were, Draevin tended to avoid that section of the arena. “Don’t you think it would be easier to talk Tenna out of fighting?” Sylnya asked.
      Draevin shook his head firmly. “I don’t think that would work. This is her first time making it to the second round and I know that’s a big deal for her. If I try to push her to drop out all I’m going to do is spoil our friendship.”
      Sylnya gave Draevin a sideways look. “That’s… surprisingly perceptive of you.” She reached out a hand and smacked him on the forehead.
      “Hey!”
      “Just making sure you’re not one of Peter’s illusions.”
      “What? You don’t think I know what it’s like to have veteran contestants doubting you when you’re still new?”
      “I just didn’t realize you knew how to put yourself in someone else’s shoes is all.”
      They reached the edge of the mass of people surrounding the betting cages. It was truly the most eclectic mix of races anywhere around. Lizard-kin, dwarves, elves, eldrin, orcs… even a few humans were milling about! And on closer inspection Draevin saw a few gnomes flitting around in the gaps several heads lower to the ground then others. Sylnya was the only dryad. Beyond the crowd was a long section of wall with a window of metal caging separating the crowd from the Guild bookies. The atmosphere was always frantic and loud and today was no exception.
      A tall orc stood on a platform among the crowd where he could cast a series of lithomancy spells to keep the board of numbers above the windows updated. As they approached someone from behind the window shouted something at him and he moved his hands in a practiced motion and Draevin saw the numbers next to his own name change. “They’re already taking bets on my match with Gro’shak? So soon? I just defeated Anise barely an hour ago.”
      Sylnya shrugged. “Then they’ve probably been taking bets for at least that long. But don’t worry. The odds are in your favor and climbing.”
      “Is that supposed to help me somehow?”
      “Well you can bet on yourself. If you buy in now you can probably get a better pay-out than they’ll be offering tomorrow.”
      Draevin wrinkled his nose. “That’s in bad taste.”
      “Suit yourself.” Sylnya waved an arm up high and one of the bookies behind the window gave her a friendly wave. It was the only dryad working behind the counter, and she shooed away the customers in front of her to make room for Sylnya. Compared to Sylnya’s stringy vines, this dryad’s hair was a spiky cluster of what looked like grass. “Hey, Nim!”
      “Syl! I saw your bet on that human go through this morning and I almost didn’t believe it!” The bookie, Nim apparently, reached her hands through the bar and Sylnya grabbed hers back and they started jumping up and down excitedly.
      “Isn’t it great?” Sylnya said with a huge grin. “That kid is smart as a whip, I just knew he was gonna come up with something for that werebeast!” Nim pulled her hands back through the bars and gave Draevin a questioning look. “You know Draevin, right Nim? He’s just tagging along.”
      “We haven’t been formally introduced, but I know of him, yeah.”
      Draevin gave an awkward smile. “Consider yourself introduced.”
      Sylnya put her ticket on the counter and Nim quickly snatched it up. “Right,” the slender grassy dryad said. “Let’s get you paid.” She studied the ticket for a moment and frowned. “Hmmm. It seems you’ve exceeded the cash limit.”
      “Wow! Really? I haven’t done that in ages!”
      In a moment Nim’s eyes went from the flat seriousness of business to wide with emotion. “Exciting, right? You can withdraw up to the cash limit now if you like and we can transfer the difference to your bank. We still have your account information on file from last time.”
      Sylnya shook her head. “That won’t be necessary—”
      “Betting on yourself?” Nim finished. Sylnya didn’t even look upset at the presumption.
      “You know it! I can chat more after my match, but Drae and I have one more errand to run before then.”
      Nim gave Sylnya a smile as she quickly filled out another ticket and handed it over. “Don’t worry about it, I know you’re busy.” She bobbed her head at Draevin. “Nice meeting you, Drae. Good luck on your match, Syl.” Without any further farewell Sylnya led Draevin in stepping away from the window and a seedy-looking dwarf quickly pushed forward to take their spot. “Weg!” Draevin heard Nim saying just as warmly as she had to them, “I heard about your bet on…”
      “I don’t like that girl,” Draevin grumbled as he pushed their way out of the betting crowd. “She’s too nice.”
      “Too nice?” Sylnya asked. “Really? Is that why you like me so much? Because I’m rude to you all the time?”
      “At least you’re honest about it.”
      They reached the edge of the crowd and Sylnya brought them to a stop. “They’re going to be calling my match soon; do you still want to go see that robot?”
      Draevin lowered his brow and pushed past Sylnya. It was time for him to lead now. “Of course I am. What made you think I was going to change my mind in the last five minutes?”
      “Hope?” he heard her say questioningly from behind while he forged ahead without her. “How do you even know you can have a conversation with that thing? You know it doesn’t have a handler, right?”
      Draevin headed into the main arena. He’d seen Unit-17 resting on top of some storage boxes right above the service tunnel the contestants used. It’d been there every day without fail observing the matches and so far he hadn’t seen anyone approach it. It was perched in an area not used for crowd seating but even the Guild had apparently not wanted to move the shiny robot. “Well if it doesn’t work it doesn’t work,” Draevin hedged as he walked down the steps to the quiet corner the robot was sitting in. “I hardly think it will hurt just to ask.”
      Sure enough, Unit-17 was sitting right where he’d expected to find it. It wasn’t floating like it normally did, but its single glass eye was glowing with a dim inner red light. The robot was an unremarkable roundish shape with thick plates of metal fixed to the surface all around to hide whatever was inside. It did seem to have a decent view of the grounds from where it had chosen to perch itself. Draevin approached the machine and cleared his throat. He waited what he thought was a polite amount of time but it did not react to his presence at all.
      “Unit-17, I would like to discuss something with you,” he tried instead. He wasn’t sure if it even cared about politeness, but he decided to play it safe.
      The red light behind its singular eye brightened a hair. “This unit will not discuss any classified information,” a hollow synthesized voice echoed out from within the machine. “Are these terms acceptable, contestant Draevin?”
      Draevin pulled his neck back a bit in surprise. “You already know my name?”
      “Are these terms acceptable, contestant Draevin?” the robot repeated.
      “Yeah,” Sylnya muttered in Draevin’s ear, “I can tell this conversation is going to be reeeeal productive.” She jerked her thumb behind her. “I’ll be close by, come get me when you’re done.”
      Draevin nodded his agreement and answered Unit-17’s question. “Yes, those terms are acceptable.”
      The red light in the robot’s eye flickered briefly. “Contestant Draevin has been given level zero access,” it announced. Draevin wasn’t really sure what that meant but it didn’t sound like a bad thing. “You may now proceed. What is your inquiry, contestant Draevin?”
      “I was hoping we could make a deal.”
      The robot slowly turned until its eye was looking right at Draevin before responding. “This unit is prepared to make any deals that increase its probability of success,” it finally said in its synthesized monotone.
      “Are you familiar with the concept of Mutual Assurance?” Draevin asked the robot.
      “Mutual Assurance: An agreement between dueling wizards to inflict non-lethal injuries on each other—sometimes insured through extra punitive measures by the Wizard’s Guild. This unit is familiar with the concept of Mutual Assurance.”
      “Great,” Draevin said. “So I want to make a Mutual Assurance pact between you and—”
      “Declined,” Unit-17 interrupted. “This unit calculates that a Mutual Assurance with contestant Draevin will reduce the probability of victory in the tournament by zero point three two percent.”
      Draevin scowled at the machine but got no reaction. “You didn’t let me finish. I wasn’t trying to arrange a Mutual Assurance pact with me.”
      The robot’s eye briefly flickered. “This unit is prepared to make any deals that increase its probability of success. What is your inquiry, contestant Draevin?”
      Draevin sighed. “Like talking to a brick wall. Uhh… will ‘this unit’ accept a Mutual Assurance Pact with contestant Tenna?”
      “Declined,” Unit-17 replied. “This unit calculates that a Mutual Assurance with contestant Tenna will reduce the probability of victory in the tournament by zero point one three percent.”
      Draevin rubbed his temple. His plan didn’t seem to be working. “You do realize that if Tenna agrees to this she’ll have to pull her punches against you, right? Wouldn’t that maybe increase your chances of winning?”
      The robot’s eyes flickered again before answering. “This unit’s assessment of contestant Tenna is classified. This unit calculates that a Mutual Assurance Pact with contestant Tenna—”
      “Yeah, yeah,” Draevin interrupted it right back. “I heard you the first time. Is there anything I could offer that would make you agree to a pact?”
      That got the robot thinking. The red eye flicked off and on for a long moment before it finally responded. “This unit has calculated that matching against contestant Gro’shak in round four will increase the probability of victory in the tournament by fifteen point six nine percent. If contestant Draevin will agree to concede his match against contestant Gro’shak this unit will agree to a Mutual Assurance Pact with contestant Tenna.”
      Draevin’s jaw almost dropped open. Was it really that easy? Did this robot not realize that it would face Tenna before he faced Gro’shak and that it had no way of enforcing an idiotic deal like that? “Uhh, yeah, sure. I can agree to that.”
      The robot’s eye flickered again while he considered his response. “What is your name?”
      “Draevin Getano.”
      “Do you desire victory in this tournament?”
      Draevin almost answered automatically before realizing the robot must be trying to size him up. “No,” he said cautiously.
      “Will you concede your match against contestant Gro’shak in exchange for this agreement?”
      Hell no. Not in a million years. “Yes.”
      “Will you verbally state your intention to concede before this unit faces contestant Tenna?”
      It had him there. “You know I can’t do that. How will I know you’ll hold up your end after you get what you want? Wouldn’t it ‘increase your probability’ to lie to me?”
      The robot paused to think for a bit. It was really nothing like holding a normal conversation. Draevin glanced longingly Sylnya’s way and saw her lounging in a nearby seat scratching her shadow stalker behind the ears. “This unit has calculated there is a four point one percent chance that contestant Draevin will comply with the terms of this agreement. This will increase the probability of victory in the tournament by zero point six five percent.”
      Draevin scratched his chin. Apparently it thought there was like a ninety-five percent chance Draevin was lying about conceding to Gro’shak yet it was still willing to make a deal. That suited Draevin just fine. He just wouldn’t have to feel guilty about not conceding to Gro’shak. “So you said accepting Mutual Assurance with Tenna reduced your chances of winning by point one three right? Point six five is bigger. Does that mean you’ll agree to the pact?”
      “Confirmed. This agreement will produce a net increase in this unit’s probability of victory in the tournament by zero point five one percent. This unit will agree to a Mutual Assurance Pact with contestant Tenna in exchange for a promise from contestant Draevin to concede his match against contestant Gro’shak.”
      Draevin couldn’t believe it was that simple. “Does that mean… the deal is set?”
      “Confirmed. This unit has agreed to—”
      “Cool, got it,” Draevin interrupted. He had no desire to hear the damn thing repeat itself endlessly. “See you later then.” He turned back to Sylnya and made a walking gesture with two fingers. She raised an eyebrow and popped out of her seat.
      “Finally got sick of trying to talk to that thing?” Sylnya asked as she joined Draevin in climbing back up the stairs to the main hall. “You know, I heard the Guild sent a dozen wizards to try to move that robot from where it’s sitting but it just kept going on about how having a good view would increase its probability of victory and they finally just caved and left it alone. I could have told you it was a waste of time.” Sylnya tapped her chin dramatically. “In fact, I’m pretty sure I did just that.”
      “What are you on about?” Draevin said with a shit-eating grin. “We reached an agreement. The robot agreed not to kill Tenna.”
      Sylnya actually stopped walking. “What? No way! How’d you get it to agree to that?”
      Draevin shrugged his shoulders. “All I had to do is lie and promise to concede my match against Gro’shak. Apparently it would much rather fight that old mystic than me, so it must think I’m the bigger threat.”
      The pair reached the main hall and it looked like the crowd had thinned out considerably. That had to mean the intermission was coming to a close. Just on time, Maeve’s announcement came. “Ladies and gentlemen. Please make your way to your seats, the next match between Shea and Sylnya will begin shortly.”
      “Oh, Syl! We never talked about your match! Did you have a plan? I seem to recall you beat Shea last time you fought but she didn’t have the Conch then, that’s a powerful item.”
      Sylnya sneered. “Don’t even get me started. The damn thing uses sea water! I can’t just drink it up like last time.”
      “So… you don’t have a plan?”
      They reached the Guild guards at the entrance to the service tunnel and Sylnya stopped there. “Of course I have a plan. Peter and I talked strategy this morning. Haven’t you noticed how shiny my skin is? Wax. It should keep me from wilting too badly, but I’m still not looking forward to getting that taste in my mouth.”
      As soon as she pointed it out Draevin could see there was a shiny gloss to Sylnya’s bright green skin that he hadn’t noticed. It was such a simple way to protect against salt water. “Glad to hear it. Good luck then.”
      Instead of gripping Draevin in a hug like she normally did Sylnya reached up to her ear and pulled off some kind of green bud. “Oh hey, can you hold this for me until I get out? I don’t want it to set off the wards on the fighter’s box.”
      Draevin held out his hand. “A magical item? What is it?” Once she’d pulled it out Draevin saw that it was a little ball of green the same color as her skin with a metal needle sticking out the back. He hadn’t even noticed it was there before she’d taken it off.
      “A Screecher. What else? You didn’t think I was going to walk around with no mental protections after what Tomrha did to me, did you?”
      Draevin looked again at the little earring. “But Screechers are pink crystals. Is this some kind of custom job?”
      Sylnya just chuckled. “Not really. Peter just covered it in green paint. He matched my skin tone perfectly. You basically can’t even notice it’s there!”
      “Paint?” It was so unsophisticated, but as soon as Draevin thought about it he realized it was actually pretty clever. If a cerebromancer didn’t realize she was wearing a Screecher they might unknowingly expose themselves when they tried to peek into her mind. Everywhere he looked Draevin kept seeing Peter’s influence.
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So you all meet in a bar. But which one? Night City is full of nightspots, legal and not. Here’s a few interesting places that may slake your thirst and scratch your various itches.
1: Smash/Cut. Smash/Cut is a dance club owned by the EDM band URBIS, and frankly, the place would have closed down entirely if it wasn’t for the fact that URBIS are propping it up with their royalties. This isn’t because Smash/Cut is unpopular. To the contrary, it is one of the most popular nightspots in Night City. No, it’s because most clubs and bars make their profits off alcohol sales and Smash/Cut’s main clientele are drugged-up neo-ravers.
The interior decor is perfunctory, with a few desultory chairs and tables arranged around an immense dance floor. 360 degree wraparound vidwalls and holoprojectors in the ceiling and dancefloor combine with strobe lights and mirrors to create an atmosphere described as “an armored truck having sex with a neon sign”. You do not go to Smash/Cut to talk, as most conversations are inaudible under the loud dance beat. You go to Smash/Cut to dance, and to have casual sex with people you haven’t spoken to. The staff at Smash/Cut are trained in American Sign Language to communicate quickly in a crisis, and many of them have dazzle compensation in their smart glasses or cybereyes. Noise-cancelling earplugs are standard issue.
Signature drink: None, but the bar always has energy and isotonic drinks available for the thirsty neo-ravers. €8 per 20oz bottle.
2: Fiddler’s Green. Fiddler’s Green is a popular Irish pub run by a veteran of the SouthAm wars, Kate Mulvaney, who can be seen mopping the bar with her medical-grade cyberarm. She, her wife Audrey, and their extended family staff the place, which is also open from 11:30AM on for lunch hours, as Fiddler’s Green also serves classic American-Irish food such as corned SCOP on cabbage. It’s a lively but not overwhelming place full of military and PMC veterans looking to unwind.
A former Panzergirl, Kate named Fiddler’s Green for the place cavalrymen supposedly go to after they die, while mere infantrymen have to go straight to their infernal rewards. It’s a good place for any Edgerunner to pick up the gossip and hear about jobs. Kate operates a poste restante service for various mercs, holding mail for them until they come to pick it up.
Signature drink: The Pint O’ Plain. Actual Irish Guinness imported from Ireland, with a softer edge than Canada-brewed Guinness. Kate has contacts. €10 per pint.
3: Kasim’s. Kasim’s is an unusual nightspot inasmuch as it does not serve alcohol, as its proprietor, Kasymbek, is a devout Muslim of Turkish descent. What Kasim’s has is strong thimble-size cups of Turkish-style street coffee and some of the best scented tobacco on the market, all compounded to be smoked in water-pipes, or nargile. Kasymbek’s thick, bitter street coffee (no actual coffee beans involved) is served in small cups, unfiltered, and flavored with cardamom, and drinkers are supposed to drain the liquid contents and leave the dregs behind.
As a compliment to guests, Kasymbek serves each pot of coffee with a plate of free sweets, sometimes loukum (Turkish delight) or baklava, made by Kasymbek’s mother Elif, who runs the kitchen. Elif will occasionally leave the kitchen to come out and greet favorite customers, and take a puff or two of rose-scented tobacco herself. If she really likes you, she might read your coffee grounds for you and try to tell your future. Kasim’s is closed on Fridays for Friday prayers.
Signature drink: Strong black street coffee, with a small plate of sweets. €10 per cup, to be refilled as long as you keep buying tobacco for your nargile, €8 per foil packet.
4: Bella Mia. Bella Mia is an exclusive club to see and be seen at, established by rockergirl and ultramodel Velvet Lux, who uses the place for PR and for soft releases of new clothing from her exclusive Lux Lines fashion label. The bouncers at Bella Mia’s are all issued with custom Wardrobe and Style skill chips that allow them to only let the best-dressed people in. In practice this means you’re probably only getting in the door if you were dressed by someone who has a Wardrobe and Style Base of 14 or better. Detractors call Bella Mia’s “Bulimia’s”, which is completely unfair, since part of Lux’s brand is an emphasis on healthy eating.
Signature drink: The Velvet Lush, Prosecco with passionfruit pulp. €20 per glass. Yes, Velvet’s just bad at naming things, but she tries her best, really.
5: Sakura’s. Sakura’s is an izakaya, an informal bar where customers may partake of beer or sake over a wide selection of Japanese drinking snacks. Marked by distinctive red paper lanterns flanking its door, Sakura’s is a Night City mainstay. The menu has been curtailed in recent times, but fans of edamame and yakitori can still find those old favorites, as long as they’re willing to accept fakemeat on the chicken skewers. Sakura’s was never really a hangout for Arasaka expats, who tended to frequent more upscale establishments. Instead, Sakura’s main clientele were Night City denizens of Japanese-American descent.
The original owner, Sakura Yamamoto, is long dead, and the bar is now run by her grandson Toru Evans.
Signature drink: Warmed sake, €25 per flask.
6: Greta’s. Greta’s was originally established as a lesbian bar back in the 1990s, but of recent nights its clientele has expanded, as it is now more famous for the quality of its amateur pool players, and the amount of betting that can take place over a single game. A pleasantly divey bar, Greta’s still attracts a healthy proportion of sapphics, each evening, especially because the top non-professional pool player in Night City is the butch and dapper Tech Jack Sawyer, and she will only play and drink at Greta’s.
Jack has her pride, and will not lose a game to please bookies. That has led to the armed lesbians among Greta’s clientele forcibly escorting injured Fixers out of the club after they dared make that suggestion to Jack Sawyer.
Signature drink: The Sunk Pocket, cherry infused vodka, Grand Marnier, and a splash of heavy whipping cream, topped with a Maraschino cherry. €15 per glass.
7: Chopper’s. Chopper’s is not a biker bar, despite the name. No, the name alludes to the fact that this bar used to be a local butcher’s shop, up until there just wasn’t any more meat to sell. The proprietor of Chopper’s, a slightly pouchy-looking man named Norman, has put the old chill-cases to good use by keeping booze cold in them. Customers sit on high stools up against the chill-cases, and Norman and his staff pour out the shots and slide them over.
Customers also come to Chopper’s because Norman’s nephew 80/20 runs a Fixer business out of the now-defunct walk-in freezer in the back. 80/20 got his nickname by what he’s willing to do to people who try to fuck him over, because unlike the walk-in, the meatgrinder still works… Enterprising Techs or Medtechs also come to Chopper’s for pre-owned cyberware. You just gotta clean it and fix it back up.
Signature drink: What kind of fancy place do you think we’re running? We got beer. We got rotgut. What do you want? €10 per glass of beer, €10 per shot of rotgut.
8: Redline. Redline IS the place to watch fights. Not bar fights, no. Redline brings the best in augmented and unaugmented mixed martial arts. The entire bar is built around a window-lined fighting pit. Customers willing to book the private viewing rooms (€200 to €1k depending on the fights) get to sit up against those big armored windows, watching people fight each other, while waiters and waitresses bring them their drinks and their bar snacks.
Less wealthy customers can hang out in the bar area, watching the fights from the caged top of the pit, or on screens mounted on the walls. The cage on top of the fighting pit is a new addition, installed after a cybered-up fighter threw her opponent clean out of the pit and onto some customers. Officially all fights are fought to the knockout, and Redline maintains a Trauma Team membership so fighters who get badly fucked-up can get treated. However, the rumor goes that there are deathmatches every month, on the new moon, for special guests and customers only.
Owner-proprietor Jenny Nails denies all of that, naturally.
Signature drink: The Winner’s Cup. Salty beef bouillon (made with a bouillon cube nowadays), cognac, worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, and a garnish of soy bacon, €20 per glass.
9: Red Oktober. Red Oktober is a Soviet themed bar and restaurant based on an old novel about a nuclear sub that went rogue. The bar, built in a defunct subway station, is done up to look like the inside of a Soviet bomb shelter, and its staff all wear replicas of Soviet military uniforms and speak with varying Russian accents. (Some good, some awful.) The walls are plastered with Soviet propaganda posters and the jukebox only plays patriotic Russian songs sung by the men of the Red Army Choir.
Tank, the owner-operator of the joint, inherited 4 Green Box storage units full of Soviet propaganda posters and kitsch from his late granduncle Ollie, who had been a political science professor at Night City U. That inheritance was largely useless to Tank, up until he had the idea of opening the Red Oktober as a theme bar and restaurant.
The Red Oktober attracts Red Army posergangers, real Cold War veterans, and Soviet emigres alike, if only because Tank also managed to poach the kitchen staff of a defunct Russian restaurant before they left Night City altogether, and now The Red Oktober serves the best Russian cuisine in the city.
Signature drink: Vodka. €16 per double for the good stuff.
10: Bear’s. Bear’s is named for its huge, hairy owner, but also for the moth-eaten bear head sitting above the bar. Bear is a jolly giant of a man with forearms the size of hams, whose deep rolling laugh can be heard frequently over the clink of beer mugs and the low hum of conversation. If asked to, Bear will relate the story of how his great-grandfather shot that bear whose head is mounted above the bar, with many, many embellishments.
Bear’s is famous for its microbrew beers, and has a limited menu of SCOP burgers and fries, chili con kibble, and tofu hot wings. To Bear, a proper beer ought to be thick and rich, like a liquid loaf of bread, and he despises the practice of covering up inadequate flavor with excessive hops. Bear is an ale man, and he will die on that hill. Bear runs the place with several apprentice brewers — he seems disinterested in sex or romance, and he intends to continue his legacy by adopting an heir.
Signature drink: Bear’s Berry Beer, a strong ale with pureed blackberries poured into the wort for secondary fermentation, giving it a whopping ABV of 9%. €12 per mug.
11: The Randy Dandy. The Randy Dandy is built in a passenger ferry out in Flotsam, Night City’s floating district out past the harbor, and can only be accessed by swimming (ugh) or by boat. Occasionally, very rarely, she puts in to harbor herself to pick up important dignitaries when the Randy Dandy is booked for Nomad family meetings. Run by a sea Nomad known only as The Skipper, the Randy Dandy is the place to go to pick up harbor gossip or buy sweet lots of salvage before it makes it to the middlemen on land, who will mark it up as it passes through their hands.
The Skipper is a lean, leathery woman of middle age with iron-gray hair, and a harsh, low voice. She’s missing the two smallest fingers on her right hand — ”an accident with a coil of rope when I was young and stupid,” — but does well enough without prosthetics. Her rule for the Randy Dandy is “Don’t start none, won’t be none,” and disobedient customers will be swiftly tossed overboard by one or two of her burly crew. Business is the general atmosphere at the Randy Dandy, and the Skipper arranges matters so that the eddies keep flowing.
Signature drink: The Blackbeard. Rum, ginger oil, and a squeeze of lime, on the rocks. €15 per shot.
12: Yum Seng. Yum Seng is run by Alan Lam, a Chinese-American raconteur of Cantonese heritage. Lam’s grandfather fled Hong Kong with his sizable fortune shortly before Hong Kong left British control, and Alan has used his inheritance wisely, building a modest empire in the vice scene of Night City. Yum Seng (Cantonese for “cheers!”) is a host and hostess bar, but it’s also oddly one of the best places to get a seafood meal, because Alan Lam is also something of a gourmand. Customers to Yum Seng are asked to choose their seating by the host at the entrance. Customers who just want to eat are escorted to tables in the communal eating hall. Customers who want more personal attention are escorted to booths, where they will be attended to by pretty, pretty people.
Lam is smart enough that he’s not using Yum Seng as a money laundering front. No, that’s for the other businesses he controls in Night City. Yum Seng is just his personal hangout. He takes great interest in the comfort and satisfaction of his customers, stopping at their tables or booths to ask if all is well, and is very responsive to their concerns. The seafood is the best and freshest in Night City, the drinks are of high quality, and the hosts and hostesses are all beautifully and elegantly bodysculpted and trained in manners and etiquette.
There are also soundproof karaoke boxes, because Lam LOVES karaoke. Any Edgerunners wanting to do business with him will have to participate. He doesn’t expect them to sound good, but he wants them to have the balls to try.
Signature drinks: Anything expensive and showy. Veuve Clicquot, 18-year Scotch, all at least 150% of standard price, except when Alan Lam visits your table, then he comps you the drink after asking if you’ve had a good time.
13: Chatelaine’s. Chatelaine’s is a smoky old cabaret decorated and designed to look like it came out of the 1930s. The mirrors are scratched by hand and hazed with airbrushed pigment to look smoky and stained, the synthetic floors are treated to look like scuffed wood, and the staff all dress in period costume. Chatelaine’s is also one of the more popular gay bars in Night City, with a Friday Burlesque Night and a Saturday Drag Fest, to the point where some nights they have more heterosexual tourists than actual queer customers.
This has led to some murmurs that Chatelaine’s has “sold out”, and members of the Night City Queens gang have begun shunning Chatelaine’s Drag Fests. Owner and proprietor Lulu deLuz remains supportive of queer concerns, however, and she has allowed young homeless queer people to sleep in the club’s office space while she arranges for emergency housing for them.
Signature Drink: The Cocktease, peach schnapps, Cointreau, crème de cassis, €18.
14: The XX. The XX (pronounced “The Twenty”) is a raucous punk dive that serves no liquor. That’s because the punk band that owns and runs it, Breakfist, are straight-edge, partaking of no booze or drugs. The XX has a juice bar instead of a booze bar, and their smoothies are particularly good. That’s because Breakfist bassist Ten Ton used to be a pantry bitch at one of Night City’s finest eateries, Angelo’s, and she uses her restaurant contacts to pick up bruised and wilted fruits and vegetables before they get thrown in dumpsters. Her pickup runs save the back-of-house staff a drop-off trip, and she saves on ingredients for the bar’s juices. After all, nobody’s going to care how beat-up a fruit looks if you’re going to stick it in a blender.
The XX’s other draw is live punk music, every night. While the various members of Breakfist aren’t always available every night, they allow other acts to perform at the club with one caveat: Nazi Punks Fuck Off.
Signature drink: The Lean Mean Machine. Frozen bananas put in a blender with soymilk, chocolate-flavored syrup and peanut-butter flavored kibble to make a mean smoothie. €16 per cup.
15: Yewtree. Yewtree is a slightly overpriced neo-hipster bar near the new Night City U campus, and is therefore crammed with students most nights. The bouncers seem constitutionally incapable of recognizing a fake ID, and yet Yewtree has never been raided by NCPD. That’s because Yewtree was set up with the covert cooperation of NCPD. College kids will drink. They’re going to do it no matter how many enraged calls their parents will make. So why not make sure they can do so with a minimum of trouble? So Yewtree welcomes its fake ID wielding hordes, and waters the drinks down just enough. Bartender Stuart Hedley keeps an eye out for anyone trying to get someone drunker than they want to be, and he listens to the gossip, and if anything truly alarming reaches his ear, then he passes it on to the Lawmen.
Signature drink: Slightly overpriced, watered-down beer, €12 per mug.
16: Air is a sterile white cube with transparent glass bars, and uncomfortable brushed-steel stools, and it sells curated blends of scented, purified air to the afflicted masses of Night City. It’s an unfortunate truth that the air in Night City can be heavily polluted at times, and Air was established to make breathing a commodity.
Ranks of transparent oxygen masks hang above the bars at Air, and customers choose their blend of choice from a touch-screen embedded in the bars themselves. Then they put on the mask, insert their credchip, and the flow starts.
Signature drink: Alpine Mountains Blend, 20% oxygen in nitrogen with assorted herbal scents. €5 per minute.
17: Rusty’s Dive Shack. Need a drink while you prep your salvage dive? Need to rent mostly-safe dive equipment to do a salvage run? Want to trade salvage for booze and eliminate the middleman? Rusty’s Dive Shack is the place to go. Rusty is a sour old coot with the heart of a pawnbroker and the merciless gaze of a seagull, and he caters to those salvagers too poor to own proper kit, and too desperate to not work for him.
There’s all kinds of stuff out there in Night City Harbor. Most of the stuff on ships has already been cleared out by Families of sea Nomads, so it’s the stuff in the drink for the unconnected and ill-equipped. Rusty will rent would-be salvagers equipment for a share of the finds. He’ll also take their salvage if they want to trade it for booze.
Signature drink: Homemade shark liver oil, supposed to keep you warm in the cold depths €12 per cup. Tastes fishy and rancid.
18: Maria’s. Maria’s is a lively little beer tent with outdoor seating. The chairs and tables are loosely chained together so nobody can run off with individual pieces of furniture. Not without bringing bolt cutters, anyway. Maria’s is a popular hangout for road Nomads as it’s set up in the vast amount of parking space near several industrial workshops — an auto body shop, a couple chop shops, and a Tech workshop shared by two vehicle specialists.
The original Maria passed away five years ago, and now Maria’s is being run by members of her extended family, among them her niece, Lupita Garza, or Little Wolf. Little Wolf is a trained Medtech, but she comes around and tends bar in between jobs. The Nomad connection means that Maria’s is one of the few non-executive bars where you can get real tequila, as it gets trucked in by various Nomad families on a regular basis.
Signature drink: Real tequila. €20 per shot.
19: Buffalo’s. Buffalo’s is cursed. No two words about it. Track down a hospitality professional after shift and ask them, and they will tell you about the Bad Restaurant Curse. The Bad Restaurant Curse works like this: A restaurant will open in a space, and it will be a bad one. All future restaurants using that space will also be bad ones. This apparently applies also to bars.
The first bar opened in Buffalo’s space was Foxy’s, a topless sports bar and wing joint, which was acceptable enough except that the management got busted for using “illegal” meat in the boneless wings. A commonplace, in Night City. Foxy’s was replaced by Baby Grand, a piano bar and lounge, but their management got busted for money laundering. Baby Grand was replaced by Frezh, a juice bar that got shut down after it gave most of its customers food poisoning one night, and so on so forth, for the past sixty years.
The current management of Buffalo’s has lasted three months and there’s a healthy betting pool projecting its closure in timespans ranging from the next week to the next month.
Signature drink: The Buffalo Nose. Bourbon, pickle juice, lemon juice, Tabasco sauce. €16.
20: Anjelika’s. Anjelika’s is a host and hostess bar, and the destination for anyone who might have a cyberware kink. The hosts and hostesses are all bodysculpted with EMP lines and Chemskin to look like attractive androids and gynoids, and some of them have taken on employment at Anjelika’s so they can save for further cybernetic modifications to their bodies.
The most popular host at Anjelika’s is Gavin, a beautiful young man with bronze-tinted skin, custom cybereyes, and cybernetic arms and legs. He lost his organic limbs in a childhood accident and has spent his whole life with more chrome than some Solos. His cyberlimbs are custom designs from Rocklin, and he changes the casings to suit his wardrobe. Gavin’s popular not just because he’s the most cybered-up host in Anjelika’s, but because he has a warm, sympathetic manner with his clients, who just want to be pampered emotionally for an hour. He also does modelling work in the daytime, and has been solidly booked three months ahead for the past year.
Signature drink: The Coolant Flush. Midori, peppermint schnapps, seltzer. €16 per highball.
PS: And with this I'm taking the weekend off. (: More posts Monday.

I thought getting into this that it was possible to make profit from doing this but the more i read the more i find the bookies have a monopoly that stamps out anyone who makes money off them long term, has anyone experienced this?

Albums

2 Chainz - So Help Me God Future & Lil Uzi Vert - Pluto x Baby Pluto Aesop Rock - Spirit World Field Guide Goodie Mob - Survival Kit (featuring Chuck D, André 3000, Big Boi & Big Rube) theMIND - Don't Let It Go To Your Head (featuring Saba, Phoelix, Kari Faux, Qari & Sun) Mr. Lif & Stu Bangas - Vangarde (featuring Murs, Blueprint, Blacastan & Reef Tha Lost Cauze) Lil Tracy - Designer Talk 2 (featuring Chief Keef, LUCKI, Cold Hart, Lil Keed, Yung Bans + more) Pa Salieu - Send Them To Coventry (featuring BackRoad Gee) Pink Siifu & Fly Anakin - FlySiifu‘s (featuring $ilkmoney, Liv.e + more) Kodak Black - Bill Israel (featuring Tory Lanez, Jackboy, Gucci Mane, Lil Yachty & CBE) Joey Fatts - G Way (featuring G Perico, Dave East, Slimmy B (of SOB x RBE) & Robtwo) BONES - FromBeyondTheGrave Tobe Nwigwe - THE PANDEMIC EXPERIENCE | LIVE GLOBAL BROADCAST Chris Crack - Haters Forget They Were Fans First Blueprint - Darkest Party Lowkey - Keymusic Merkules - Apply Pressure (featuring E40, Kevin Gates, Jelly Roll & The Game) Luh Soldier - Soldier Mentality 2 K Trap - Street Side Effects (featuring Giggs, Fredo, M1llionz, D-Block Europe, Wretch 32 & Abra Cadabra) Davido - A Better Time (featuring Nicki Minaj, Chris Brown, Young Thug, Lil Baby, Nas, Hit-Boy + more) Prof - Powderhorn Suites NBA Youngboy - Until I Return DJ Kay Slay - Homage (featuring Sheek Louch, Styles P, Benny the Butcher, Bun B, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, AZ, Papoose, Ransom, Memphis Bleek, Lil Fame, Dave East, Joell Ortiz, Saigon, Mistah F.A.B., Chris Rivers, Jon Connor, Twista, E-40, Mysonne, Sauce Money, Ice-T, Trick Trick, RJ Payne, Fred the Godson, Loaded Lux, Termanology, Locksmith, dadouks, Cassidy, Maino, Vado, DJ Paul, Cory Gunz, Melle Mel, Grandmaster Caz, Trae tha Truth & Royce da 5'9, Ghostface Killah, Busta Rhymes, Junior Reid, Conway the Machine, Juicy J, Jim Jones + more) Blac Youngsta - Fuck Everybody 3 (featuring Lil Baby, DaBaby, Swae Lee, Lil Durk, Yo Gotti, Stunna 4 Vegas, Moneybagg Yo & 42 Dugg) BENEE - Hey u x (featuring Grimes, Kenny Beats, Flo Milli, Bakar + more) Bari - F*@k It... Burn It All Down Tony Velour - 3M (featuring Injury Reserve, Danger Incorporated + more) Sosamann - Born to Drip (featuring Wiz Khalifa, Sada Baby, Sauce Twinz, Money Man + more) Salaam Remi - Black On Purpose (featuring Black Thought, Nas, Common, Busta Rhymes, CeeLo Green, Bilal + more) Meeco - We Out Here (featuring Smif-n-Wessun, Lil Fame, Termanology, A.G., Masta Ace + more)

EPs

Father - Come outside, we not gone jump you. Masego - Study Abroad Opioid Era - Dope Sick ONEFOUR - Against All Odds (featuring Dutchavelli) Femdot - Buy One, Get One Free Vol 1 (featuring Saba) Vinyl Villain - Aheadoftime Nelson Bandela - Black James Blake EP Lou From Paradise - 2020 Leaks K Camp - Kiss 5 (Deluxe Edition) Ransom & Nicholas Craven - Deleted Scenes Lecrae - Restoration: The Deluxe Album (featuring Rapsody + more) Hope Tala - Girl Eats Sun (fearturing Aminé + more) Ben Khan - Crimson (GEN2) Goya Gumbani & Oliver Palfreyman - Truth Be Sold Pamela D. Bruner (Thundercat's Mom) - Master of the Universe (featuring Thundercat)

Singles

Icewear Vezzo - Anthem Lil Nas X & Tay Keith - Holiday DJ Scheme - Soda (feat. Ski Mask the Slump God & Cordae) Run The Jewels - No Save Point (From "Cyberpunk 2077") JID - Killers* Loyle Carner & Madlib - Yesterday Rico Nasty - OHFR? Jaden - I'm Ready (From Spider-Man: Miles Morales) NAV & Wheezy - Pickney / Stella McCartney (feat. Future) NBA YoungBoy - Around Yung Simmie - Da Lyricist Freestyle Rod Wave - All Week Sheff G - Lights On tobi lou - OKAY (feat. Dreezy) Masego & Don Toliver - Mystery Lady Berhana & Mereba - Golden, Pt. 2 Wheezy - Guillotine (feat. Future & Yo Gotti) Mistah F.A.B. - That's Him (Remix) [feat. Snoop Dogg, T.I. & G-Eazy] th1rt3en (Cypress Hill project) - Fight Higher Brothers - Empire Cookin Soul - Kdot Frees Mozzy, 03 Greedo & Yhung T.O (of SOB x RBE) - Villain Drakeo The Ruler - Fights Don't Matter Warhol.SS - Stick Freestyle / Benihana (New Years 3) KXNG CROOKED I - Who Am I? Murs - South Central America Nick Hakim - QADIR (Extended) Supa Bwe & AUTUMN - Koolaide Man Kacy Hill & Micahtron - Unkind (Electric Guest Remix) Pharoahe Monch & Th1rt3en - Fight (feat. Cypress Hill) Consequence - Lost a Million Freeway - B.O.A. Story Duwop Kaine - Ben & Jerry Popcaan - TWIST & TURN (Instrumental) Savon - Cloes to the Space The Opioid Era - Passing Out Testers, Pt. 2 Ethereal - Heat and Cold DC The Don - Wait Your Turn POUYA & ROCCI - IT'S OVER DJ Kay Slay - Rolling 50 Deep (ft. Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Ice-T, Melle Mel, Benny the Butcher, Bun B, E-40, Trae The Truth, AZ, Royce da 5'9", and 40 others) Lil Pump, Aitch & The Plug - Goyard Batman Ying Yang Twins - Twerkin in the Mirror Phony Ppl - On My Shit (feat. Joey Bada$$) RJ Payne - Beautiful Murder (feat. Snyp Life & Sunnie Blac) Killah Priest - The Battle Of The Locusts Smoove’L - Period StaySolidRocky - Out Da Oven Jhay Cortez - Kobe en LA MAVI - SMH Lil Xan - My Girlfriend City Girls - Pussy Talk (Remix) [feat. Quavo, Lil Wayne, & Jack Harlow] Lil Mosey - Jumpin Out The Face WorkingOnDying - Find Me (feat. LUCKI) / Vxbe (feat. RussThe404) 645AR - RIDE 4 YOU Russ - Who Wants What (feat. Ab-Soul) Fetty Wap - Speed / White Linen Kanye West - Nah Nah Nah (Remix) [feat. DaBaby & 2 Chainz] Your Old Droog - Pravda (feat. Mach-Hommy, El-P, Tha God Fahim & Black Thought) Chris King - I Carry Mine (feat. Tyler Yaweh) French Montana - Wave Blues (feat. Benny the Butcher) Dear Silas - Belafonté Blueface & TruCarr - Outside (Remix) Disclosure & Kelis - Watch Your Step (Harvey Sutherland Remix) Zion I - The Most High (feat. Shirena Parker) Ymtk - Be Well (feat. Julius & Drew Banga) Ivy Sole - KISMET (feat. lojii) Yameen - Molasses (NEWBODY Remix) [feat. Chester Boyd & KY] Wynne - In the Morning 3OH13 & 100 gecs - LONELY MACHINES KSI, Craig David & Digital Farm Animals - Really Love (Blinkie Remix) Deniro Farrar - 3am (feat. HotBoy, Lil Shaq & Littlejohn4k) Kossiko (FKA 100s) - World of Trouble Ant Beale - Acai Berry Blay Vision - Kill Somebody

Features

Sylvan Esso - Ferris Wheel (Terrace Martin Remix) [feat. Robert Glasper] Tiago Frúgoli Ensemble - Ávore (lojii & Swarvy Remix) Chris King - A Kouple More Bars (feat. Trippie Redd) / I Carry Mine (feat. Tyler Yaweh) DJ Money & Wale - Lions, Bengals & Bears (Freestyle) Isaac Pelayo - Off the Canvas (feat. Benny the Butcher) Rae Khalil - War Freestyle Blo5k Lil A & Trouble - Atlanta Lox Huncho - No Hook (feat. Cdot Huncho) Paisa God - 5 5 9 * 3 6 5 (feat. Fashawn) Sky Flex Gunja & ZillaKami - Woah / Wolves March Madness - No VPN (feat. Babytron & 2girls1wayne) Bubba Mann - Money Run (feat. Skywalker Og & Problem) StarBoy - Talk (feat. Wizkid & Legendury Beatz) Milo187 - Guess What (feat. Nef the Pharaoh) Top$ide - Do he really (feat. Babyface Ray & 2Gs) Path - Bone Season (feat. Celph Titled & Apathy) Low Enzo - Drip (feat. JR Writer) Dro Fe - Twin Towers (feat. Q Da Fool) JAMIE - Apollo 11 (feat. Jay Park) Brasstracks - Swerve (feat. Pell) Baby D - 2 Much Flavor (feat. Young Dro & Spoony G) ScoGang DeeDee - Pressure (feat. OMB Peezy) Yancy El Jeffe - Where Da Gs at!? (feat. Project Pat) TeXFiles - Shake Whatcha Mama Gave Ya! (feat. Project Pat) A\Villian - The Government Is Lying (feat. Kuniva, Jon Connor, Nalij & MC ME) IGIR Woodiee - Hasta Luego (feat. Lil Durk) LAVA LA RUE - Angel (feat. Deb Never) Kiddo Marv - Real Drip (feat. Major Nine & City Girls) L NUN - No Fakin' (feat. Skilla Baby) AITF Ike - The Coldest Move (feat. Jadakiss) Saint Cassius - We Make It Look (feat. Jadakiss) WHYTRI & OG Maco - Pitch Perf Spadez, Nef The Pharaoh & Shady Blaze - Burnt (feat. Lil B) The Bad Seed & L.R. Blitzkrieg - Riot Music (feat. Planet Asia) Sir Veterano - Diadora (feat. Planet Asia) Brianna Shawnceé - Spoiled (feat. Kodie Shane) DAAM! - Autopilot (feat. Ebenezer & HEX) Morgenshern & Lil Pump - wathafuk? Roc Cousteau - Beto (feat. Rockie Fresh) Loski - Flavour (feat. Stormzy) Problem Child 5 - Da Tooly (feat. Young Thug) YNW BSlime - Nightmares (feat. Trippie Redd) Hotboii - Goat Talk 2 (feat. Polo G) Disposable Impressions - Corridor (feat. KOTA the Friend & tobi lou) Felicia Faye - History (feat. Rick Ross) Chavo & Pi'erre Bourne - Wyfw Rastahead - Rejected (feat. Teejayx6) Abe Linx & Tully C - 100 Carats (feat. Jay Worthy) Kid Bookie - In My Soul (feat. Tech N9ne) MORGENSHTERN & Lil Pump - WATAFUCK?! DJ Booker - Ayeee (feat. NLE Choppa) Sam Roberts Music - Mindstate (feat. Zion I) ItsBizkit - Outside Wit It (feat. Vado & Nino Man) Zubin - My J's (feat. YungManny) Avenue Beat - F2020 (Remix) [feat. Jessie Reyez] Wes Period - Dig It (Remix) [feat. DUCKWRTH] The Hunna - Lost (feat. OMB Peezy) Fatboycash - Gangsta (feat. Styles P) Twan da Dude - Check Me Out (feat. 38 Spesh & Tommy Black) Justin Brave - Solace (feat. Myka 9, Ashleigh Eymann & the Phonograff) Jeff Kush - The Ms (feat. Duke Deuce) K'ron - My Spot (feat. Lil Keed & IIAN RICH) Joe Goonie - 3:13 in Kali (feat. Damedot & EWM Kdoe) Diamond Pistols - Time Machine (feat. Rich Brian) End of the World - Forever (feat. NIKI) Aywy - Life of the Party (feat. BLESSED, I.E. & BRXNNY) Cuco & Breezy - U. (feat. Dawn Richard) Indubious - Neva Bow (feat. Zion I) Leona Berlin, Snoop Dogg & Rob Araujo - Wrong Lane (Underground Edit) $tupid Young, Blueface & Mike Sherm - Suppose To
* means not on streaming
project features are listed mostly just if the artist is recognizable
From KHDTX13 (will be updated):

Fresh Singles

Fresh Albums & EPs

We are desiring a platform of exchange of energy and information. Free the knowledge from the creeps who steal your dollar.
Bookies will eat you alive in sports played in non English speaking countries if you aren’t fluent. Even if the sport is a global game.
This is why I’m so successful in Russian and Korean Basketball. I am fluent in English,Spanish, Korean, Russian and Portuguese.
I’m currently tinkering with ideas around Novo Basquete currently as the 3rd league I will do regular tips on (Nearly done with a Russian Super Liga A model)
However, I’m not perfect (surprising right?) and we could receive some help from some more bright individuals.
Anyone is free to post their due diligence. On drugs? Cool, me too we don’t give a shit. I post all the time barred and drunk. You might not understand a word I say, but you know we don’t do bread lines we do fucking Filet mignon lines here.
However, I see some good potential markets for bets just ripe for picking with good info.
Maybe some Brits can help get info for BBL picks? I’m sure there has to be more local information out and about, as there is basically no real game changing info that I can readily find.
People fluent in Chinese for the CBA. This is where I think the gold is honestly, even more so than the KBL, especially if they can get local news about injuries and such first. There is just such a huge barrier between China and the Western world.

Original article can be found on drinkfive.com
 
Welcome to Statistically (in)Significant, the place to find great stats that probably only matter at the water cooler (or bar). Each week I'll dig through the stats of the week gone by and deliver you some choice conversation starters. All fantasy stats are half PPR scoring unless otherwise noted.
 
37+ Fantasy Points
 
A trio of quarterbacks leads the NFL in fantasy points for week 15. At the top of the group is Eagles rookie Jalen Hurts, who had his first start last week after seeing a handful of snaps in almost every game this season. Hurts’ debut was not bad, he had over 100 yards passing and the Eagles upset the Saints, but this week showed that he’s a legit QB. Hurts threw for 338 yards with 3 TDs, adding 63 yards and another TD on the ground for a total of 37.82 fantasy points. Zero turnovers, despite the loss, is probably the most important stat to the coach, and it’s clear that this job is about to be his to lose, and Wentz might be looking for a new home next year. Meanwhile, Josh Allen and Ryan Tannehill both eclipsed 37 fantasy points while leading their teams to 48 and 46 points respectively. Between them, they threw for 632 yards, 5 TDs, and ran for 4 touchdowns – two apiece. Both Tannehill and Allen are probably on lots of teams that are going to the finals, but if you managed to start Hurts and are going to the finals, well, just exactly how do you get around with those giant brass balls of yours?
 
1106 Days
 
There were three wide receivers of note that scored their first touchdown in a year or more on Sunday, but none of them had a gap like Dez Bryant, who scored for the Ravens. It was his first touchdown in 1,106 days, more than 3 years ago on December 10th, 2017 – which was a 50-yard strike from Dak Prescott. Bryant was joined by fellow veteran WRs Antonio Brown (462 days) and Larry Fitzgerald (364 days – ok ok not technically a year). Both of whom caught touchdowns last year and today from the same QB, though Brown (and Brady) have the distinction of both moving to a new team. Honorable mentions go to Jake Kumerow (426 days) and Marcus Mariota – 445 days since his last passing TD and 772 days since his last rushing score. While we’re at it, might as well congratulate those who have never scored before - Lil’Jordan Humphrey (NO), Quez Watkins (PHI), Darrynton Evans (TEN), and Jalen Hurts (PHI) getting his first rushing TD, the only way the bookies count a real TD scored.
 
1,679 Rushing Yards
 
Derrick Henry, or El Tractorcito if you’ll help me propagate his fantastic nickname a little bit, is absolutely crushing everyone in rushing yards this year. He’s averaging 120 yards per game (ok, 119.9, but this is about gushing here…) and only needs to average a bit over 160 yards the last 2 games in order to reach the fabled 2,000-yard season. Through 14 games this year, he’s already passed his total from last year where he led the league with 1,540 yards in 15 games. Henry has nearly doubled up the 10th highest rushing total on the year, Jonathan Taylor’s 842 yards. Henry’s only real competition at this point is Dalvin Cook, with 1,484 rushing yards. Cook actually leads the league in yards from scrimmage with 1,833, on pace for 2,256 total yards on the season. Cook has now cracked 300 points on the season, Henry is third with 278 and there’s a huge gap between him and 4th place. Both Cook and Henry have gone over 300 touches for two years in a row, so be careful drafting next year
 
27 Passing Touchdowns
 
Justin Herbert tied the rookie passing touchdowns record this past Thursday, adding two more to his season total and tying Baker Mayfield’s record of 27 he set in 2018, and hasn’t yet matched in his career. Herbert still has two games left in the season in order to assume the mantle all on his own, though it should be noted that Mayfield started only 13 games in 2018, matching Herbert’s total so far this year. Herbert’s OT win over the Raiders probably put him back firmly in the lead for offensive rookie of the year, especially with the one-yard rushing touchdown to seal the game at the end of overtime, and despite Anthony Lynn’s apparent attempts to get his quarterback killed. Herbert is truly putting together an impressive rookie year, especially when one takes into account that the plan was not for him to start much, if at all this year. He has a 27:10 TD to INT ratio, something that QBs like Kyler Murray, Jared Goff, and Matt Ryan cannot boast. His 4 rushing TDs is also something that Mayfield could not match in his rookie year – he did not find the end zone on his own until his second season.
 
88 Total Rushing Yards
 
Who says you need a running game to be balanced or have success in this league? On Sunday, the Buccaneers and Falcons combined for a whopping 88 rushing yards between the two teams. Leonard Fournette led the way with a blistering 49 yards (and 2 scores, giving him a new fantasy day in the end), and 3 players wound up with negative rushing totals on the game, keeping us below 90. Brian Hill really helped that along, with 5 attempts for -2 yards. He added 2 catches for 9 yards, meaning he averaged exactly 1 yard per touch on the day. So, what did this lack of a rushing attack mean for the game as a whole? Well, the game blew the Vegas total out of the water, with 58 total points – under bettors were counting their winnings after a whopping 17 points in the first half. 22 teams passed the 88-yard mark and 5 players did it all on their own. In fact, those 5 all went over 120 rushing yards, leaving this game in the dust.
 
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Chippling down the sidewalk I ran, off to visit my friend Seran:
I grovel on the cobble, hobbling like your mom begging for change until I see stars in my face. You’re undressed for the occasion and I’ll take advantage of this vantage point I’ve managed to get into, land a right hook before you even turn around bubbling spittling choking on thine tongue while you’re on the ground surrounded by my ultra sound. Next time you come around you’ll be spitting bars like this:
Ca Pwingey! On lack a fottida back, Gomani lani a coobie a drrrat ga bookie goo gaa.
I boil with sweat, you look unready. I grimace and contort my face, you look unsteady. I scream and laugh, your life’s been all for nothing already it’s petty that you go around begging for pennies in your twenties. Next time you come around I’ll throw you some change like it’s confetti. You’ll say:
Agooba gwiba a djizza shooga bla blebag bwigga gabba rigga a THANK YOU SIR!
I’m an experiment from DARPA while you scrounge around larping you’re a grand wizard- it’s tripe. Fuck this… this sucks. Fuck this rapping bullshit lol
Now I dance in the time square, alone and in the zone.
Dance like there’s music coursing through the air,
Dance like there’s music coursing through the water,
Dance like there’s music coursing through the dirt,
Dance… (musical break) LIKE YOU’RE ON FIRE!

Dont take these personally cuz I’m just referring to the sucky ones of each mbti so just visualize your worst enemy instead of looking for yourself! Some were from personal experiences, others from speculation. I’ve included my own personality type to roast too. Feel free to discuss whether u think they’re right or wrong, add to any etc 😀 (also if this was a dick move i dont mind being reported or confronted. Not my intention to hurt anyone!)
Also might be fun to see yall try to guess my mbti if yall want hehehe
Entp- smart but rlly gregarious and embarrass themselves with their intellectual superiority complex. Think condescending middle school genius with smart 100% common sense 0% tryna mansplain to a phd student
Intp- same as entp but internalizes their intellectual superiority complex
Infj- either mistyped pick me girl or the bookie who thinks they know everything in life but people are somehow too stupid to comprehend your deepthoughts™️. For guys its usually a self righteous niceguy™️ type at least in my experience
Isfj- usually what the mistyped infj actually is. Cant piece 2 and 2 together and thinks they are special and “not like other girls”
Infp- most likely sjw and is usually rlly dumb cuz everything goes in one ear out the other while they daydream. Always late and is uwu quirky/clumsy™️. Oversimplifies complicated issues in their favor based on how they feel.
Enfj- luv the leadership qualities hun but seriously so high strung and high maintenance like yes ill do wat u ask but ur kinda bossy and nitpick a lot
Isfp- usually stuck up gatekeepers of the fine art kingdom and think ppl are too dumb to understand art or differentiate between posers (wow im rlly bringin that word back from the dead) and the more refined things in life. (Think i go THRIFTING not shopping, i watch FILMS not movies) Like yeah theres a diff but idk how noticing makes u superior in any way
Istp- somehow super hardheaded/dogmatic in things like politics and see issues black and white (regardless of political affiliation). They see only what is right in front of them but arent organized enough to put 2 and 2 together. If religious, too rigid in beliefs. If atheist, a real pain in the ass about attacking religion.
Enfp- super fun but either manipulative or just dumb (or just good enough at feigning ignorance in order to be manipulative). usually the one in the group project who will not help out, or maybe the “friend” who talks about themselves 24/7 without others letting a word in. Probably the class president or sumn that the introverts hate.
Esfp- usually airheads and will support things like gender roles, patriarchy, white supremacy etc wholeheartedly even if you don’t fit into the categories (either airhead popular cheerleadejock type or the internalized racist poc, internalized sexist female, etc)
Esfj- most likely a karen/a baby boomer in general. Easily brainwashed by whatever society they grew up in and have dogmatic ideas based on tabloids and gossip
Intj- honestly dont have as much experience with intj but i imagine its similar to intp but will try to micromanage others
Entj- manipulative version of estj. While estj wont give a shit abt what ppl think entj will use the public opinion in their favor
Estp- literally zero moral code. Probably the kid who thinks theyre cool for stealing/sneaking into bars/skipping classes. Stereotypical bully trope in movies
Estj- they can only WISH they had the leadership skills of an enfj but they look at things in a way thats too head on and calculating. Their reign ends up being dictatorial due to their disregard for the general masses. Most likely objectifies women if male.
Istj- prob part of the ap kids circle, has no personality cuz they were raised by super strict parents. No fun stick in the mud. (Edited cuz I forgot this I actually dunno istj that well either rip)

So, as a non-Irish, I don't entirely understand the ins and outs of this conflict (any Irish or otherwise knowledgeable comrades feel free to fill us in). But basically, you had the Irish Republicans (biggest faction was the IRA) made up of a lot of left-wing people who wanted to unite Ireland. The Loyalists who wanted Northern Ireland to remain a part of the United Kingdom, and the British military, who just wanted to murder as many people as they could (like in Malaysia in the 50s)
For any Americans (and maybe Canadians) reading this, pub is bar
Just skimming through Wikipedia to assembly a timeline:

• 1971: Undercover British soldiers shot 3 people from their observation point on top of a supermarket after they suspected them of being Republican-linked bank robbers. Witnesses dispute this, claiming the 3 people were arguing with bank workers [Link]
• 1972: It's really ambiguous here, but the British army killed 5 people - 3 of whom were teenagers. Republicans claim the British soldiers shot two passing cars as they set up a sniper nest. The British army claims the cars shot at them. Given the lack of an official investigation, I'm inclined to believe the Republicans [Link]
• 1972: Loyalists walked into a pub full of Republicans watching football/soccer and shot 5 people, killing them [Link]
• 1972: British soldiers shot a crowd of peaceful protesters, killing 13 instantly (another person later died from injuries) and injured 15 [Link)]
• 1973: Loyalists and the British army shot 6 people on a street and inside a Chinese restaurant [Link]
• 1975: Republicans bombed a pub, killing 5 people and injured 60 [Link]
• 1975: Loyalists bombed a pub of mainly old people, killing 6, in revenge for Republican pub bombings [Link]
• 1975: Loyalists dressed up as British soldiers set up a fake military checkpoint, stopped a bus carrying a local band, ordered them out, lined them up by the road and shot them. A bomb they (the Loyalists, not the band) were carrying also killed two of the Loyalists, suggesting they planned to plant the bomb in the bus to make the band look like Republican terrorists [Link]
• 1975: Republicans attack a meeting hall of Loyalists, killing 5 and injuring 7 [Link]
• 1976: Republicans stop a bus carrying 11 civilians, order them out and execute all but one [Link]
• 1982: Republicans bombed a disco frequented by British soldiers, killing 17 people and injuring 30 [Link]
• 1983: Republicans shot people leaving a church, killing 3 and injuring 7 [Link]
• 1987: Republicans bombed a war memorial service, killing 11 people and injuring 63, mostly the elderly. They claimed it was a mistake and they intended to kill soldiers [Link]
• 1992: Loyalists walked into a bookies and shot 6 people, including 2 teenagers [Link]
• 1992: Republicans bombed a van carrying 14 construction workers who were going to a repair a British military base, killing 7 of them and a nearby soldier [Link]
• 1993: Loyalists walked into a pub hosting a Halloween party with assault rifles and shot 27 random civilians, killing 8 [Link]
• 1994: Loyalists walked into a pub with assault rifles and shot 11 random civilians, killing 6 [Link]

Conclusion
Fuck the British Empire... Unite Ireland...
Also, we should never try to pull shit like this. Never ever fucking kill civilians even if they are the same ethnicity/religion/political opinion as the people you're fighting. I know the police and army can't fucking figure this out, but we can.

My 2019 was wild. But with everything finally on the up and up, I feel I can tell this story here.

After uni (late 2018), I fell on rough times and was forced to move back to my home town. I tried to transfer my job to a branch in my area but failed, thus I needed to get a new job.
I settled for a 20 hour a week job at a bookies, with a second bar tending job in the evenings. The bookies is the target for my revenge, which was entirely accidental.
Involved are the following:

• Janelle - My managers manager
• Shay - My manager
• Jorge and Gordan - my co-workers

^and,

• Kara - a co-worker at another store (who is relevant later)

^\NAMES CHANGED AND/OR REDACTED])
I ended up working behind the counter as a customer service manager, basically a step up from a cashier. It’s fancy when seen on a CV but there’s nothing really to it. I took bets, chatted with customers, helped people with machines and (for the vast majority of my shift) sat around waiting for something to do. I got on well with my co-workers (or so I thought) and had no major issues.
It was 20 hours a week, about £1 more than minimum wage with a lot of overtime required of me and irregular shift patterns. Though I had no issue with the job, beyond how difficult it was to juggle the schedules of both of my jobs.
In February of 2019 (after working for the company for 6 months) I was invited to a Probation hearing. It cannot be emphasised enough that it was a Probation hearing in which I would have my performance reviewed and (as informed in training) was entitled to a pay rise at the end of it.
I arrived that morning to a Disciplinary Hearing where, without even a shred of evidence, I was accused of 11 different cash discrepancies dating back to early November of 2018 (shortly after I’d started) which all amounted to £271.36. All but one of which I’d never heard of before.
These had apparently been reported and logged by my manager (Shay) and my co-workers, despite no one saying a word to me at all. Not a whisper in the 5 months this had apparently been occurring.
I was told that it was unacceptable, a call was made to HR and I was terminated on the spot and forced to hand over my keys and to never set foot in the store again. To my protests I was told the decision could not be appealed and I would eventually receive written confirmation of my employments termination in the post.
I didn’t let myself slump around and feel sorry for myself, so (on the way home) I opened up Indeed and applied for a bunch of jobs and (before I arrived home) had an interview set up for the next week at what is my current place of work.
Now, I was FURIOUS. Fuming at having gone to what I thought should have been a normal probation meeting and having (effectively) been called a thief and been banned for life from a place I’d never go to anyway. But somehow, my parents were angrier and ordered me to let them know when they got into contact with me again.
Almost two weeks later I received an EMAIL from the companies HR which reiterated the accusations and stated (again) that I was terminated. My mum sat me down in her kitchen and walked me through a letter response that was two parts professional and three parts scathing. Ripping into them about their unprofessional conduct, their ludicrous claims, their lack of evidence, the holes in their story (because their were quite a few) and finally, the cherry on the cake...
The employment laws they’d broken.
Now I didn’t want much, just a nice reference. A promise that not a whisper of these accusations would turn up when my new job asked them for a reference (because, by then, I’d already been offered the job). I then attached the letter to an email to fire back at their HR department.
Then I added Janelle’s work email. Then her bosses email and finally, the holding company that owned the brand. Cause I wanted to make sure this was seen.
A bit of background, the bookies I worked for is a brand that is owned by an international company, their name (behind the scenes) is slapped on everything and they pretty much dictate everything we did. I’m not sure if holding company is the correct term, but I’ll stick to that for now.
Anyway, I sent this email with a fourty-eight hour window for a response. I received a reply the next day from the same email that my demands were being met. I smirked victoriously and moved on with my life, happy to wash my hands with the entire ordeal. However, I’d set off a chain reaction that I wouldn’t know about until three months later.
Three months on, I’d settled into my new job, a call centre position with double the hours and well over double the pay.
I’d gone through training and was settling into my new position when I see a new set of trainees settling in near my team. Among them was Gordan, one of my co-workes from the bookies.
I was stunned. Gordan had been at the bookies for six years when I joined. He was well liked, good at his job and a favourite of the managers. There was no way he’d been fired.
Though I didn’t really want to talk to him (as I was of the impression that he, Jorge and my manager had likely set me up) I did want to know what happened.
Luckily, on seeing me in the break room one shift, he sought me out and told me everything.
Apparently my email had been read by the higher ups in the holding company and had caused a lot of scrutiny to fall onto the bookies in our town (of which there were three in our area that Janelle was responsible for, two in my town and a third in a neighbouring one). Someone in HR passed a message down to the Area Manager (Janelle’s boss) claiming they wanted things investigated and they wanted results yesterday, causing him to drop everything and descend on our little town with the panic and aggression of a man who’s superiors were watching his every breath.
He went to Janelle wanting to know: why he hadn’t been made aware previously that I was apparently stealing money, why I had been given keys to the shop and shifts on my own when allegations of that nature were attributed to me AND why I hadn’t been put under investigation. Turns out, Janelle HAD in fact put in my ‘employee file’ that I was under investigation but had never actually gone through with any of the official procedures for monitoring and investigating me ^{(shock horror}). Thus she had fired me for the accused crime without looking into it at all, falsely claiming otherwise.
Thus, the Area Manager took the dates and amounts of the cash discrepancies, confirmed that they had been reported on those days (without my knowledge) in Shay’s own log book of the shops cash, and sent that information onto our security team to investigate.
Another little detail is that the CCTV for every shop in the brand is outsourced to a private security company who monitors each shop remotely and has access to all the camera’s and video. As was procedure, they looked into the dates mentioned to see if I’d been doing anything untoward. I know I wasn’t and nothing was ever said to me.
But they DID find something...
Turns out, money WAS going missing from the shop but (surprise surprise) it wasn’t me, but Jorge and Shay. They not only set me up (for reasons I will never know) but were also falsifying numbers and cash checks on the system to hide it. One thing Shay was caught doing was deliberately short changing customers by taking portions of their winnings without them even knowing it (bear in mind, a lot of our customers were elderly men and women).
Gordan claims that he once opened the shop (after I and Shay had closed the night before) and noticed a cash difference but had been told not to say anything to me as I was under investigation and it could compromise it. He did apologise and I let it go.
Needless to say, Jorge and Shay were fired.
But it doesn’t end there.
Our team was small, including me there were a total of four people working at the store. As they hadn’t been able to hire anyone to replace me, Jorge and Shay’s termination meant Gordan was the only employee at the busiest shop in our area. Even if they’d been able to get other colleagues from the two other shops to help out, it wouldn’t have been enough to keep the shop open and manage the amount of customers. So they closed the location down until they could get the staff to run it.
It was at that point that Gordan handed in his resignation and applied for his job at my work. Meaning they had no one.
On top of that, Gordan’s girlfriend worked in the same shop as Janelle and she relayed that she was rarely at their store (in the other town) for the next few weeks before the Area Manager reported she was fired as well. No reason given to her.
I was later issued an apology for everything by the Area Manager and informed she (Janelle) was no longer with the company in an email some time later.
But SOMEHOW, it doesn’t end there.
With the store I worked at closed (this one being on the high street and where most people preferred to go), the only other location in town was the MUCH smaller location in the suburbs. The one where Kara worked. ALONE.
She suddenly received an influx of customers into her tiny store space and absolutely no support from other staff or upper management. Thus, for her own mental health (having already been overworked and underpaid, running an entire store by herself) she quit, meaning that location had to be closed down too.
All of this at the worst possible time, March, when the Cheltenham Festival was occurring. Which is a HUGE money maker for the gambling industry, even in a small town like ours.
An opportunity the three other bookies on the high-street reaped the benefits of instead of my old place, as the former customers went to them instead.
As it currently stands, just over a year later, both shops remain closed and I’m currently entering a job in cyber-security, the training for which I paid for with my current job.
Thanks for firing me dumbasses, you did me a favour.
(TL/DR: I was fired for false claims of theft. I complained to the higher ups. The real culprits lost their jobs, every shop in town closed down and they lost out on a bunch of money and customers)

《▪︎》《▪︎》《▪︎》《▪︎》《▪︎》《▪︎》《▪︎》《▪︎》 

UPDATE

^{This massively blew up, thanks for the support and everything x}
Gordan and I got in touch with our old Area Manager and we were able to get a bit more information:
The security team rifled through about three years worth of footage after they found out about Jorge and Shay and have estimated that (in that period alone) they both stole nearly £4,000 through various means. The parent company also got involved and searched through years worth of their cash checks and till checks and noted plenty of irregularities.
The parent company persued criminal charges and the two were arrested but, as far as our Area Manager knows, the case is still ongoing. He thinks it's because they are still looking into how much they actually stole (as they've both been there a while, Jorge about 8 years and Shay 10 years). I doubt they'll have security footage of all that time, but I bet they're trying to get a more accurate figure to really nail them.
And in comes a new character: Tammy (obviously not her real name). She is an employee who was hired and fired shortly before I was, at the same store. She lasted just past her probation before she was fired, wait for it, for months worth of cash differences and false till checks she wasn't made aware of prior.
HOWEVER, her situation is FAR worse than mine. Tammy is in the process of suing the company for wrongful termination (alongside financial and emotional damages) as she was put under a lot of stress whilst in the job by Shay (who apparently left her to fend for herself and would refuse to step in when customers got aggressive) and then had a miscarriage shortly after her employment was terminated.
Our Area Manager doesn't know anything more, as it's escalated and gone way above his head and I doubt I'll be able to get any more information on it. But I doubt the company's doing too well on that front and I wish her the best.
Gordan and I are considering reaching out to some of the other fired employees (of which he can name a few who were terminated for similar reasons) to get their side of things. But it seems very clear that what Shay and Jorge were doing was going on for a long time and I was only the latest scapegoat.
Janelle, unfortunately, is perfectly fine as far as I'm aware. Her husband and her opened a taxi company several years ago and she seems to have just got more involved with that. I haven't seen her so I wouldn't know. But she was terminated for gross misconduct and for not following procedure, which is kinda what I expected.
And Kara, who our Area Manager actually really dislikes (but is lovely and did not deserve what she went through) is doing okay. I've messaged her and she and her partner recently bought a house. She also got a job as an Events Manager at a local historical site. She's happier there as she actually has people to talk to at work and isn't alone anymore.
(TL/DR: Jorge and Shay are being prosecuted after stealing thousands, a former employee is suing after going through the same thing as me (but worse), Janelle is fine and so is Kara.)
Thank you again for all the awards, updoots and support x

Since thee are less champions that take omnistone than there has been unique champion designs in 2020, I say get rid of it. I have a few ideas of what could possibly replace it. It's in the inspiration tree, so the ideas will be inspirationy. Idk what I'm looking for in response, but maybe a rioter will see this and be..... INSPIRED HAHAHAHA. Don't worry I'll off myself after I write this. I'm just bored at work. Anyway yeah here they are:

• WardLord- every 2 minutes you get a ward that reveals +50% of the area of a regular ward, and functions like a control ward (reveals stealth/ disables regular wards, no effect on control wards tho). Also has the range of a blue ward. It is visible, shows on the enemy minimap including an outline of the vision it gives (just the ward and outline, doesn't grant vision for the enemy team), but cannot be destroyed or disabled by any means. Lasts 1 minute. You use the ward by clicking an icon that shows up near your inventory only if you take this keystone. Or the keybind is 7. Additionally, increase your max normal ward limit by 1, your control ward limit by 1, and add 1 bar of hp to your wards once you reach (20?) Vision score. Idk what would be a balanced number for that.

This would be good for engage support players that would win lane naturally, but if the enemy picks like a lee sin jungle or something that ganks early, they can take this to see ganks coming. Dragon control. Baron control. Balanced by the fact that it doesn't actually help you directly in lane though.

• rift gambling ring- start the game with an extra inventory slot (keybind 7) that contains a bookie card. The bookie card cannot be sold or moved. Upon pressing 7 or clicking it, a window pops up that says place your bet, showing an icon of each of your teammates. You pick a teammate, and if that teammate gets a kill at least 1 minute after you picked them, you get 50% of gold that they earned on that kill, and on announced multikills (if your bet on champion gets 5 kills, and the announcer says penta kill, you get 50% of the gold they earned on all those kills) (the champion that got the kill does not share with you, on a 300 gold kill, the killer would get 300, and you would get 150). 100% gold on assists. Can be used again if the champion you bet on gets a kill. Gets put on an x second cd if the champion you picked dies.

Kind of an rng memey keystone but I thought the concept was cool. Might be good to take on early game comps on a supportty/late game champion, would add another type of skill to the game (predicting who has the best chance to get a kill). Or if you have like a katarina/zed or some pop off champion.

• hextexh spectacles- increase the range on all of your abilities (NOT BASIC ATTACKS) by 10% @ level 1 to 25% @ level 18. (Not sure about the numbers balancewise, but basically just less range early game hella range late game)

Good on long range artillery mages that might want to be back a little further (lux xerath ziggs velkoz). Might be mandatory on Zoe cuz it would increase her q damage.

• hextech spring boots- allows you to jump over any wall. Works exactly like talon e, but with a slightly shorter cd, and different animation. (Cannot be taken on casseopia)

Good on immobile champs that can't get over walls without flash when against mobile enemies.

• hextech translocation device- start the game with an extra inventory slot (keybind 7). In this inventory slot is the hextech translocation device. It cannot be moved or sold. Additionally right outside the fountain there will premenantly be a teleportation pad. Upon activating the translocation device (pressing 7) after changeling for 3 seconds, your champion puts down a hextech translocation device that is linked to the teleportation pad in base directly in front of themselves. When you or an ally right click the pad in base, you will be rooted in place until you right click the hextech translocation device, or move to cancel the effect. Once you choose which hextech translocation device you want to teleport to, you will teleport there same as the summoner spell teleport. (Channel time, animation visible to enemies, movement speed). Once an ally uses it, the device you put down is destroyed and is put on cd (a bit lower than tp). Enemies can stand on the device you put down for 3 seconds to destroy it, and put it on cd. Lee sin can jump to it.

Good for a support to take if you have split pushers or are against split pushers. Or if you have a shit matchup bot with like a vayne or something. Or no gank set up, you could sneak it in the alcove and have the jungler gank with it after you get pushed in. You could speed up your junglers clear too.

• amplification ring- empowers your summoner spells and active items, and reduces their cds by 10%. Whatever effect the item or summoner spell has, it just gets better. For example:

Flash flashes further
Ignite does more damage
Teleport tps faster, and you move faster after.
Barrier barriers more
Hourglass lasts longer
Yoummus goes faster
Glp bigger slow more damage
Exhaust makes them move slower, attack slower, and deal less damage.
Good on pretty much anybody. Mandatory on Zoe. Prolly take it for bad matchups.

• redo- once every x amount of seconds if you cast a damaging non ultimate spell, and it doesn't hit an enemy champion, its cooldown resets, and may be cast again within 3 seconds.

Good on champions that have long cooldowns on skillshots that they are heavily reliant on hitting (lux, morgana, velkoz, xerath, anivia). Also buffs wave clear. Also good on champions that have effects that persist but don't go on cd like Zoe e.
Hope you enjoyed the read. Give me your thoughts on how broken or useless these would be.