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chaotic-orphan · 5 months ago

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Intoxicating Fear (XVIII)

New Player on the board

Part one // Masterpost // Continued from here

This part is dedicated to @neongalaxiie for their comment that made me smile today, I hope you enjoy!

*~*~*~*~*

Ambrose got Kit into the car with relative simplicity. He was surprisingly lighter than before, which didn’t concern Ambrose. Not at all, it was just some information he stored in his head in case he needed it in future. Perhaps this time Ambrose can actually feed the hero properly…

Well, he could decide all that on the way. Right now he had to decide whether or not to throw the hero in the boot or in the backseat. He settled on the backseat, it was easier to keep an eye on the hero in case that red lightning guy came back.

Ambrose suppressed a shiver at the thought of that. That thing wasn’t Kit Mallory. Or, not the one Ambrose knew anyways. It did add to his curiosity about the boy, what kind of life he lived with Mentor. Ambrose set him in the backseat sitting up, hands cuffed in front of him with power dampeners just in case. He strapped the seatbelt over Kit and plugged it in before slamming the door shut and walking around to the driver’s side.

Ambrose didn’t exactly drive… under the radar. He was what his assistant would call a petrolhead, and it wasn’t a nickname he loathed. Ambrose had loved cars since he was five and his parents brought him to a vintage car show. He could still remember the first time he sat behind the wheel of a 1954 Bentley R-Type continental, he knew that he had to have one. A car that was, not a Bentley, he wasn’t some wedding chauffeur.

His obsession with cars only grew from there, from his first Volkswagen to now. His beast, his beauty, his pride and joy: a 2016 Rolls-Royce Wraith, with a monster 6.5 Litre Twin-Turbo V12 engine under the bonnet, custom painted black exterior. He had to get Tony to paint the door handles too (who almost cried when she saw it). Ambrose replaced the original wheels with forgiato wheels to add to the sleekness of the car. Original white, leather interior still as good as the day Ambrose bought it.

He loved it more than anything in the world.

And it was all his.

It represented everything that he wanted people to associate with him. Elegant, opulent, and functional, above all functional. The grace, style and status were just perks that came along with it.

It was late, close to ten when Ambrose got onto the main road. He could take the quick way through the backstreets to his house, but he hadn’t seen the city of like lights for what felt like a long, long time. He took the left into the city and drove along at a leisurely pace.

The radio was playing softly in the background, the Wraith’s purrs making up most of the background noise. Ambrose let out a soft sigh as he pulled up to a red light. He glanced in his rearview to see Kit still fast asleep. No red veins or blue ones, his head lolled against the window.

There was something so innocent about the gesture that made Ambrose look sharply away, eyes turning front again. He never had a little brother or sister, but in that moment, some small part of him — some delusional, sentimental part — wondered if this was what it was like. Checking the rearview to make sure that his brother was sleeping soundly, that he wasn’t showing any signs of pain or distress, or psychotic mania.

He wondered if he would be a good older brother in this hypothetical. Then he quickly disregarded the thought. Such a silly little thought experiment. Besides, of course he would be a good older brother. He would be the best, hands down, no doubt about it. Even if his passenger in the backseat would disagree.

His mind was wandering dangerously, simply because it was so quiet. It had to be because it was quiet, so Ambrose turned up the radio louder, but the song that was playing just ended. Instead a news reporter started speaking urgently.

Ambrose shook his head, tapping his fingers on the wheel when the light turned green just beside Hero plaza: well, Mentor’s memorial garden, more specifically.

“Stay out of the city tonight, there is a rogue Villain, perhaps Supervi—”

Ambrose didn’t get to hear the rest of the news report. When the light turned green he was already moving past the intersection, heading straight, driving through the Hero Plaza in the centre of the city.

His eyes were fixed forward so he didn’t see the hailstorm of debris from a shattered building coming from the right. He didn’t see the Supervillain levitating where Mentor’s statue should have been.

Ambrose didn’t see what was happening to his right. More like he heard it. A sudden onslaught of panicked thoughts that weren’t his raced through his mind and he panicked along with them.

What! They’re never this strong! Not unless— Ambrose glanced to his right and saw Villain levitating ten metres off the ground. As if meeting his gaze, the villain threw his hands forward and a hailstorm of debris went racing towards them.

Ambrose hit the gas, manoeuvring the gears quickly as he took off. The debris fell behind the Wraith, some stones clipping the tail end as he swerved a sharp corner, trying to cut off Villain’s eyesight from the car.

Of course, this was the same moment that Kit woke up. His head hit off the window of the car and he groaned, reaching his hands up to rub the bump. “Ambrose?”

Ambrose’s black eyes caught Kit’s in the rearview mirror. Something hard in them alerting Kit to the danger. “We have a problem.”

“A problem?”

Just as Ambrose was about to drive back into Villain’s sight line, debris like meteorites fell in front of them, tearing up the road ahead of the Wraith. Ambrose slammed his foot on the brakes and the pair jolted forwards in their seats.

“What’s going on?!” Kit demanded, searching the windows to try and see what the commotion was all about. Behind them Kit could see a pile up of cars, people screaming and sirens already blaring. “Ambrose!”

Ambrose’s grip on the wheel was white-knuckled, his face paler than usual as his chest heaved up and down. “There’s a Villain by Mentor’s memorial garden.”

“What?! Let me out!”

Ambrose didn’t reply. Kit went to unhook his seatbelt but Ambrose stopped him. “Kit! It looks like they have telekinesis,” Ambrose said through clenched teeth.

It felt as if the debris fell on Kit’s chest, crushing it from the inside out. A disbelieving what? fell from his lips. His vision seemed to narrow to a pinpoint, his lungs slowing his breaths. His voice raised a little hysterically: “what do you mean they have telekinesis?”

“It’s just what I saw.”

“Well you saw wrong!” Kit argued, his eyes wide and desperate. “The chances of another telekinetic—”

“I know—”

“Do you hear what you’re saying?! There’s no way—”

“I KNOW!” Ambrose barked. His own emotions thrown through a loop at the information.

A long, choking silence passed between them, though they were both thinking the same thing: that Villain can’t be Mentor.

~*~*~*~

Four blocks away a new Supervillain was making their mark in front of the Hero plaza. He was levitating off the ground, bits of debris from Mentor’s memorial statue circling around him like moons of Saturn.

Superhero tried not to think about how much this Supervillain reminded him of Mentor. He really tried not to think about it, but he couldn’t stop himself. The likeness was uncanny, and it was rare for two people with the same abilities to emerge in the same city. It happened but it was rare.

Telekinesis. And not just that, a mastery of his ability, how effortless the destruction seemed to him. An unwillingness to yield.

This must be Supervillain, and if it was Superhero was hesitant to engage. Which sounded terrible as the leader of the Heroes but, even leader’s get scared.

Supervillain was fighting four seasoned Heroes and Superhero all at once — not to mention Tides who was the only new recruit there — without breaking a sweat. Superhero had tried to call Kit, but no luck. Supervillain’s face was covered by a mask and he wore civilian clothes, as if this was a casual affair for him. Like he just walked off the streets and decided, why not cause some chaos? Sirens and emergency services rushed to the scene of people in need, people who had been hit by the debris.

Thankfully, it looked to be a small amount of casualties due to how late it was, but still. Something was wrong with the scene, and Superhero needed to find out what. If that Supervillain… was actually Mentor or not.

And if so, how? How was he here? Why had he escaped and turned out like this? What was going on?! A Supervillain? Threatening the city? That wasn’t Mentor’s way… unless this was Omen’s plan all along, to destroy the legacy of a great man. To make the great man a monster and destroy it himself.

Supervillain inclined his head at Superhero, raising his hand palm up and flexing his fingers goading Superhero into a fight. Superhero lunged for him, bouncing from one building towards Supervillain. When he was in mid-air, Supervillain made a wide sweeping gesture with his arm and a hurricane of rocks and concrete hurtled towards Superhero.

He dodged between the initial wave, but he didn’t expect the second. Mentor’s stone arm caught him around the waist and the pair went flying into a building.

While Superhero was distracted, Supervillain turned his attention to Tides. He aimed for the water under her feet keeping her in the air, wiping it away with a sweep of his arm. Tides cried out as she started to fall, but Supervillain caught her, keeping her suspended in mid-air.

Superhero recovered quickly, and went soaring again, taking the wind in his wings with a grin. It felt so good to let them out again. His eyes zeroed in on Supervillain, hoping he would realise Superhero was behind him too late and they could all go home and sleep in their beds tonight.

At the last second, right before Superhero made contact with Supervillain, Supervillain turned their head to Superhero. Superhero’s eyes widened but it was too late, they had committed to the movement, already in mid air. With a sweep of his hand, Supervillain sent Superhero back two blocks, tumbling onto a rooftop. His wings wrapped around him cushioning his fall as he rolled.

Supervillain turned back to Tides who was struggling in his hold and shot towards her. He grabbed her by the neck, and threw her down onto a roof behind her. Tides almost passed out from the impact, her entire body arching as breath was stolen from her lungs. Her body bounced off the concrete, like she was a rag-doll being thrown before rolling to a stop, gasping in air. Supervillain followed her with easy steps, before kicking her onto her back and standing above her. He pressed his foot down on her chest.

“Where’s Malyn?” Supervillain asked, tilting his head. Tides cried out as Supervillain’s foot gathered telekinesis behind it and forced her down into the concrete, cracking the roof around her. A small crater Tides shaped now etched on the rooftop.

“I won’t tell you,” Tides said through gritted teeth. The pressure increased and Tides screamed, her hands flying to Supervillain’s ankle and clawing at it, trying to get it to budge. Supervillain put his hands in his trouser pockets, as if this were a casual conversation, like he wasn’t even breaking a sweat.

“Tell me or I’ll break every bone in your body, Tides.”

Tides abandoned trying to dislodge Supervillain’s foot, and instead gathered a canon of water behind him. She splayed her fingers and the canon blasted towards Supervillain before losing momentum as Tides let out a blood-curling scream.

Her wrist snapped like a twig, leaving her arm useless as she tried to summon water. The pain was blinding, but Supervillain didn’t let up for a second, moving his foot idly from her chest to her broken wrist.

“Where,” Supervillain asked again, leaning forward so more of his weight pressed on Tides’ wrist. “Is Malyn?”

“I don’t know,” Tides cried out, her mind going blank as the pain burned through her, tears blinding her. “I don’t know! I don’t!”

“Hmm,” Supervillain hummed above her. “I don’t believe you.”

Tides screwed her eyes shut and looked away, not wanting to see the final blow coming. She wasn’t masochistic enough for that, quite happy to live in blissful ignorance.

Then the pressure was suddenly off her with a thump of body meeting body and Tides' eyes flew open. Supervillain was gone, and Tides took to sobbing. She glanced at her mangled wrist and felt bile climbing her throat. Every breath was an effort as she tried to sit up and failed, opting to just lay on the roof, motionless and cry.

Superhero shot like a bullet, barreling into the new Supervillain and flying away from the city to the local park instead where there would be far less casualties. Superhero threw Villain down to the ground with a terrifying force and floated down after him.

~*~*~*~

Ambrose kicked the car into reverse just as Kit saw two figures flying over the night sky. “Ambrose! We have to go after them! That’s Superhero!”

Ambrose hooked his arm over the passenger seat, turning to look back out the window as they reversed.

“Do I look like I care?” Ambrose asked, meeting Kit’s glare. “Genuine question, Mallory. Do I look like I give a shit what happens to the number one fuck up in the city? Cause if I do, I need to fix that.”

“This isn’t some joke! Stop the car. Let me out! Let me go, Ambrose.”

“No.”

“That could be Mentor!” Kit yelled after Ambrose turned front again and manoeuvred around the debris in the road. Kit huffed out a breath through his nose reaching for his seatbelt.

“Don’t touch your seatbelt if you know what’s good for you, Kit, I swear to God. I will knock you out again.”

Desperation rose in Kit’s stomach as Ambrose took a backstreet shortcut to get out of the city. Kit could only watch as they passed the park. Superhero was hovering over the trees, throwing a body down into the grass when Ambrose sped past.

~*~*~*~

Supervillain rolled until he gained ground beneath his fingertips and got to his feet two metres away from Superhero.

“Who are you?!” Superhero demanded, voice livid.

Supervillain tilted his head but said nothing. Superhero’s lip curled back into a snarl and he shot off again, leaving a small crater where his feet were. Flying wasn’t exactly a great superpower, but it was what Superhero had and he learned to use it to his advantage in fights.

He flew at Supervillain, drawing his fist back with a roar and aimed for Supervillain’s cheek. Supervillain lifted his forearm, diverting the blow. He punched Superhero in the gut, a jab, then an uppercut. Superhero dodged back, pushing off his heels as his hands outstretched going for Supervillain’s porcelain mask.

Supervillain ducked, swiping Superhero’s legs out from under him. Superhero dropped, his back barely hitting the ground before he launched himself towards Supervillain.

Supervillain moved with speed and grace, as if he’d been fighting all his life, and he didn’t even seem to be breaking a sweat. Superhero, on the other hand, was tiring quickly, not used to the amount of power and focus he was using to try and land a hit on Supervillain.

Supervillain went to sweep his arm. Superhero caught it with a death grip, grinned and spun. Planting his left foot in the ground he pivoted and threw Supervillain as far as he could. Supervillain went flying backwards, getting caught in the leaves of a tree. The branches split and broke around him, a tear in the earth opening from where Supervillain had split the tree open to let himself down.

He wiped the leaves off his shoulders and Superhero grinned. Maybe he can be beaten. Superhero launched himself at Supervillain again, not giving him a chance to recover.

“Enough playtime.” Supervillain said.

Supervillain lifted a hand lazily and Superhero froze in mid-air, the air turned against him, freezing him in place. Superhero’s eyes widened. That’s not possible. There’s no way that he’s… that that’s Mentor, there’s…

Villain walked slowly towards Superhero, taking his sweet time about it. He stopped in front of Superhero, mask to face. “Don’t you recognise me, Superhero?”

Superhero flinched at the voice. It was disguised, which… no, there’s no way that was Mentor. Mentor was always transparent and never wore a mask. He wouldn’t.

But then again… that’s when Mentor was a hero, a symbol of peace and justice in the city.

Villain reached out and grabbed a fistful of Superhero’s hair, yanking his head back. Superhero grit his teeth but didn’t cry out. “Where’s Malyn?”

Superhero’s shock must have shown on his face. “What?”

Villain yanked their neck back farther and Superhero couldn’t contain the groan from the strain. “Malyn. I want him. Now. Where. Is. He?”

Superhero frowned. Surely Mentor would know where Kit lived? But then… no, he wouldn’t. Kit moved after Omen drove Mentor crazy.

“You won’t find him.” Superhero said, huffing a breath out through their nose. Supervillain hummed. He stepped back and clicked his fingers. Superhero’s body moved at an impossible speed, back snapping against the bark of a tree and Superhero cried out.

Supervillain didn’t stop. He was dragged back along the dirt by his ankle, as if being pulled by an invisible lasso. He blacked out from the blow, but his brain shot him back into consciousness as his back was dragged harshly over the terrain. Supervillain came into view again. Superhero’s body was forced up as if suspended from the air, hanging like a limp puppet.

“Malyn, Superhero. I don’t have the patience for this game of cat and mouse.”

“Why… why are you—” Superhero’s breath hitched as his body contorted against his will. “D-doing this?”

“I want the boy. If you don’t bring him to me in three days, I will destroy the rest of the city, and all of your pathetic heroes.”

Supervillain closed their hand into a fist and Superhero screamed. “Have him meet me at the Hero Academy, 10pm. Alone. Any funny business and I’ll make sure that Tides dies, do you understand?”

“T— Leave Tides alone! Take- take me!”

“Oh, I would,” Supervillain said, opening his fist again. Superhero fell to the ground, his head slapping off the dirt. Supervillain crouched down in front of him and with a gloved hand tilted Superhero’s chin up. “But you have the best chance of getting me what I want. The boy for Tides. Hero Academy. Three days. 10 O’clock, got it?”

Superhero let out a broken breath of air which Supervillain took to mean yes. Villain slapped Superhero’s cheek. “Good boy. At least you still know how to take orders.”

Villain disappeared after that, leaving Superhero shaking in the dirt.

~*~*~*~

Ambrose didn’t even bother to make Kit forget the way to his house. If he was honest, he was exhausted. This was not how tonight was supposed to go. They pulled up to Ambrose’s house, stopping in front of two giant gates. Ambrose pressed a button and the gates opened.

“What are you, Batman?” Kit asked as he took in the mansion they were driving into. Ambrose chuckled at the comment but didn’t reply. The gates closed behind them as they drove in. The driveway was long, like something out of a movie and had a fucking roundabout at the entrance to the house.

Ambrose opened the door and stepped out. He walked around to the passenger side and opened Kit’s door, pulling the seat forward. “You can get out now, child.”

“I’m not a child,” Kit grumbled, obeying the order.

“Yes, you are,” said Ambrose with a sigh. He slammed the door after Kit got out, locking the doors over his shoulder with a click of his keys and a flash of lights. “You don’t do anything without being told, and you push boundaries like a fucking toddler.”

“Yeah, your stupid enforced boundaries because you’re a fucking control freak, and everything has to go Ambrose’s way! Right?!”

Ambrose ignored him, unlocking the door to his house and holding it open from Kit to follow. Kit scoffed and walked inside.

“You know this whole silent brooding thing is really starting to piss me off!” Kit told him.

Ambrose shut the door and locked it. “Your irritation is duly noted. I’ll file it under I don’t give a fuck.”

Kit whirled on Ambrose again, about to tear him a new one but paused. Ambrose stood pinching the bridge of his nose, letting out a long, laboured sigh. Kit bit back his gripes.

“Tell you what,” Ambrose said eventually. His voice soft and so un-Ambrose like. Tired, Kit realised. It was as if all energy had been zapped from him after the drive, and maybe it was. Adrenaline had a habit of doing that to you. Ambrose took the key for the cuffs out of his pocket and tossed it. “You can sleep on all of the names you want to call me, and tell me over breakfast tomorrow.”

Kit caught the key, eyes wide with surprise as he unlocked the cuffs around his wrist. He glanced up at Ambrose, but Ambrose was already making for the stairs with tired movements. He lifted a hand without turning back to face Kit.

“Take whatever room you want. I honestly couldn’t care less.”

Kit stood shocked as he watched the villain ascend the staircase straight from the titanic to the second floor. Disbelief ebbed to his own wave of sleep that overtook him and he followed Ambrose up the stairs. He could think more tomorrow. Sleep would bring clarity. He could think logically in the morning.

Kit took the door closest to him and kicked off his shoes. He pulled his jacket off, unzipping his jeans, stepping out of them as he fell into— fuck this was probably the most comfortable bed he ever lay on.

That was his last thought before the blackness swallowed him, eyelids falling heavy over his eyes.

*~*~*~*~*

Continued here

Orphanage roll-call (lmk if you wanna be added or removed): @beatenbruisedandbloody @404lunar1216 @whumpyworld @nameless-beanie @andithewhumper @annablogsposts @whumpasaurus101 @0eggdealer @rejectedbytheempty @sleepy-pearl @n3rv0usn0v4 @whumpatize-me-captain @sunshiline-writes @burningkittypoet @honeyed-euphrates @sacredwrath @theonewithallthefixations @acer-gaysimpstuff @m3rakii @xxgalgurlxx @princess-bubble-blossom @blood-enthusiast @steh-lar-uh-nuhs @andtheysaidspeaknoww @dutifullykrispyland @mononeigbour @tippytappytyping @stefaniesblogs @shinokoro @bedtimescenarios @whatwhump

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harrisonarchive · 1 year ago

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George’s Radford Mini De Ville GT (in photo 1, outside Kinfauns); photo 1 by fan Michael Herring.

“Painted metallic black when Harrison bought it in 1965, the Cooper was sprayed red before Dutch art collective The Fool gave it a custom ‘psychedelic’ paint job that included images adopted from the book Tantra Art: Its Philosophy and Physics, in early 1967. This Mini was featured in the Magical Mystery Tour film. Distinctive Radford custom features include a full-length sunroof, horizontally mounted Volkswagen tail-lights, and hood-mounted rally fog lamps.” - Guitar Aficionado, Vol. 4, No. 1 “Mini created a Harrison-inspired 2009 Special Edition to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2009. The car was auctioned to benefit the Material World Charitable Foundation, an organization that Harrison founded in 1973. At the time, Harrison’s widow, Olivia, said of the one-off, ‘George was a huge Mini fan and he would have enjoyed this new version.’ […] [The car’s] styling features included a full-length sunroof, horizontally mounted Volkswagen taillights and hood-mounted rally fog lamps. The Mini’s transformation continued when Harrison commissioned Dutch artists Simon Posthuma and Marijke Koger — known collectively as ‘The Fool’ — to paint it bright red and add mystical signs taken from the book, ‘Tantra Art: Its Philosophy and Physics,’ in 1967. […] Shortly after production wrapped for ‘Magical Mystery Tour,’ Harrison gave the head-turning Mini — with reg plates LGF 5960 — to close friend and fellow musician Eric Clapton. Clapton returned it to Harrison in the 1970s, but not before it was completely repainted.” - Hagerty, April 26, 2016 You can also spot George’s Mini in the “Any Road” music video.

#George Harrison #quote #quotes about George #Harrison cars #Olivia Harrison #1960s #Kinfauns #fits queue like a glove

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nicoscheer · 1 year ago

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Just Alex replying to the tattoo question with don’t forget who you are and then that Miles has followed him is just 🤪

-you’re living in Los Angeles too now, miles?

…because Alex lives there…

-That was one of those times I took the plane to LA to visit Alex. (Like me and my friends most of the time can’t even manage a 40 minute drive and then bitches just casually cross the Atlantic, on a regular basis it seems to see each other)

-Neither I, nor Miles have orchestral arrangements on our records, right? (🤣think again, guess he liked it very much and I’m glad he did

-MK Not that long ago I removed a painting from Alex’s apartment. I was driving around in my yellow Volkswagen Beetle, and I passed a street stall where a hippie woman was selling very ugly paintings. Mostly portraits of celebrities, but I noticed this one, rather large painting of an entire lion family. So I was driving past there, together with Zach, and we just had to stop and buy this painting. Alex wasn’t home at that moment, so we took the big painting in his living room off the wall and put this weird oil painting up in its place. When he got back home…

AT … It freaked me out.

MK Nah, I put a lot of work into something you barely noticed. It was a bit of a faff really.

(Alex so preoccupied with other things/people that he doesn’t notice the big living room picture is totally different and Miles just waiting for his reaction and not getting any, also not Miles not even owning a drivers license at that point )

- If you want to steam your vegetables like a hipster while listening to Slade, Miles’ is the place to be.

-MK He has written a lot of songs – a lyrical wonder, this boy!

-MK I find that so classy: he kept things hidden, didn’t he? His private life. (Talking about Bowie, so he thinks Alex is classy mhm 😭)

#them mercilessly teasing each other and leaving the interviewer absolutely lost is my favorite genre #but then also complementing each other over the moon #alex turner #miles kane #interview #the last shadow puppets #Sheffield rose tattoo #oh am I glad that neither of them is (properly) media trained

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georgegraphys · 3 months ago

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Timeline of George Russell to Mercedes

2014: His manager got a hand of Toto's e-mail, gave it to George, he sent his CV to Toto after winning British F4. Toto answered several weeks later, they met up alongside other racing executives in Mercedes, George came there alone and presented his CV to Toto. Toto invited him to join the junior programme but could only offer him a seat at Mücke Motorsport (based in Germany which could mean him moving to Germany) due to Mercedes limited seat connection (wants to put George on PREMA but is a Stroll focused team). George rejected the offer but Toto and George kept in contact for the future. He joins Carlin Volkswagen, a british team (currently Rodin Motorspot)

2015: George enters F3 European with Carlin Volkswagen. Finishes 6th. Due to financial problems, he was driven to the edge because he could no longer continue Formula careers with his own funding. As a back up, he tested for BMW in DTM series. He tops the testing, beating Mercedes and Audi's time (even beating BMW's drivers) and BMW offered him a $$$,$$$ contract. At the same time, he was already an unofficial test driver for BMW.

Mercedes heard of this through an ex-BMW employee who moved to Mercedes and Gwen Lagrue contacts George for the second time (For reference, Gwen Lagrue. Not Toto. Gwen Lagrue has known George since karting and helped him to get a seat in Eurocup Formula Renault while Gwen was at Lotus, but couldn't bring George to Lotus Junior Academy due to financial problems). Mercedes met up with him and explains if George picks BMW, Mercedes will close their door on George and he will no longer be their option.

George and Gwen sat down, agreed on one-year testing period in which George will do sims for Mercedes and they will see his performance on and off track before accepting him as a junior driver. In 2016, he became an unofficial Mercedes Junior Driver and signed up with HiTech GP, a Mercedes powered team for his second season in F3 European, leaving Carlin Volkswagen (because it's powered by VW and Merc don't want that). George finishes 3rd in a completely new team and behind two PREMAs.

2017: George was officially signed as a Mercedes Junior Driver. He got his first F1 test at Budapest 2017 and he joined ART Grand Prix for his GP3 and F2 stint.

#ari's tea #note for me

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zheniakirsikkalove · 11 months ago

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Ville Valo hemmotteli Christel-rakastaan yli 30 000 euron mustalla lahjalla - kuva! HIM-ikoni ja mallinuraa tehnyt Christel ovat olleet jo 8 vuotta yhdessä. Legendaarisen HIM-yhtyeen nokkamies Ville Valo on ollut jo peräti seitsemän vuotta yhdessä Christel Karhun kanssa. Kaksikko viettää seesteistä parisuhdearkea Villen hulppeassa lukaalissa Helsingin Meilahdessa.

Seiskalle on tulvinut jo jonkin aikaa vinkkejä siitä, että Ville hemmotteli rakastaan hiljattain avokätisesti. Rokkari nimittäin hommasi rakkaalleen tuliterän menopelin. Tällä autolla Ville ja Christel kruisailevat. Christelin ja Villen ensiauto on Volkswagen T-Cross -merkkinen menopeli, joka maksaa uutena yli 30 000 euroa. Erikoisvanteilla varustettua menopeliä vie eteenpäin 1,6-litrainen bensamoottori, joka tuottaa peräti 150 hevosvoimaa. Kaunotar sujautti Muumi-kassin takakonttiin "Auto voi olla minkä värinen tahansa, kunhan se on musta" totesi jo vuonna 1922 Fordin perustaja Henry Ford. Gootti-henkinen Ville tuskin on eri mieltä, sillä hänen rakkaansa uusi peltilehmä on tietenkin musta. Christelin käsilaukku on vain noin 400 euron arvoinen. Christelistä huokuu myös tietynlainen rock-henkisyys. Kaunotar nimittäin suosii puolisonsa tavoin mustia vaatteita. Hän ei selvästikään ole ökyilyyn taipuvainen, sillä hän suosii Vivienne Westwoodin käsilaukkua, jolla on hintaa noin 400 euroa. Salakuvat paljastivat kohusuhteen vuosia sittenP Seiska paljasti Villen ja Christelin suhteen vuonna 2016. Kaksikon yhteiselo on kestänyt jo yli 8 vuotta.

photos: Panu Hörkkö

31.01.2024 - seiska.fi

#Ville Valo #Christel Karhu #Helsinki #Finland

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awesome-casuallyfamouscollector · 2 months ago

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youtube

Anger and concern among Volkswagen workers rise as potential plant closures loom | DW News

Germany — Europe's biggest economy — has been facing growing headwinds, and today workers at Europe's biggest carmaker — Germany's Volkswagen — learned their future could be on the line. Staff representatives announced on Monday that VW intends to close at least three plants in Germany, and slash tens of thousands of jobs. VW currently employs more than 100,000 workers at ten plants here in Germany, mostly in the country's north. So far, management has not confirmed the plans. But ahead of the next round of wage negotiations later this week, CEO Thomas Schäfer issued a statement hinting at deep cuts. If the company were to go ahead with this plan, it would be unprecedented in the German automaker's 87-year history. Such plant closures had been considered off the table until now.

P.S. No surprises here! This was to be expected after looking at how much dealers are asking for a VW Golf or VW ID.3...Almost nobody can afford to buy them, let alone operate or repair...badly overpriced and overengineered ICE vehicles or their EVs!

Take a look at the news archives when Tesla only produced about 75,000 electric cars and the development strategy for domestic EV manufacturers in China was released...! Look at how arrogant VW management, company employees and German politicians treated the new affordable electric car manufacturing technology back then in 2016/2017...! Electric cars are definitely not to blame for VW's problems, but only the wrong actions (dieselgate) or inaction of the company's management...

#Gemany #VW #Volkswagen #anger #competition #demise of legacy automakers #Youtube

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wheelsgoroundincircles · 2 years ago

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Studebaker Manta Ray

Owner: Donald and Lori Lacer, Junction City, Kansas

History of This Car

Studebaker Foundation

Both Hire and Antione worked in aircraft design at North American at the time, and they had a vision of a fighter jet-like automotive design, so they purchased a 1951 Studebaker Commander to serve as the foundation for their new space age concept car they decided to call the Manta Ray. They stripped down the stock body design and added a three-seater roadster body made of fiberglass. Hire and Antoine then began adding designs of the jet-age. The first addition was the nosecone which they designed from scratch by first building a wooden cone mold and then they cast a ¼ - inch shell. Next, they added a triple tail lamp feature which they borrowed from the 1952 Lincoln design. They kept the Studebaker 232 cu.-in. V-8 engine and the Studebaker chassis, but they did chop off some 3 inches from the frame rails in their design.

The Manta Ray Changed Hands

The finished design was showcased in several automotive magazines in 1953 and 1954, like Rod and Custom Magazine, but Hire and Antoine sold the Manta Ray to jet car builder Bob Yeakel They received permission from him to continue working on the car’s design. Their hope was to get the vehicle into circulation as a limited-edition model with two changes. First, add the body molding to a steel-tube chassis and second, replace the engine with a Cadillac V-8 engine. The production idea did not go beyond the plan to circulate the car, and it was never cultivated for mass production.

Completed Design

The original car was believed to be completed in late 1952 and was debuted before the Chevy Corvette. By 1959, the car found its way into the hands of a used car dealer in Kansas where it was traded for a Volkswagen and a Crosley by collector, L.L. “Peanuts” Lacer of Junction City Kansas. He brought the vehicle to his home and put it into his warehouse full of unusual cars that nobody wanted and there it stayed until he died in 1990. Lacer’s son D.E. received the vehicle when his mother Darlene, the widow of Peanuts Lacer, began liquidating the 120-car collection. D.E. has set to the task of getting the Manta Ray up and running again in recent years. In the years since his father died and D.E inherited the vehicle, some work had been done to it. For one change he noted was the replacement of the old Studebaker engine for a dual quad Cadillac V-8 engine and the car was repainted from gold to pink.

The Future of the Manta Ray

The car will eventually be fully restored by D.E. but for now it is still in the state it was when he inherited the vehicle. It will show up in many concept car auto shows in years to come but the last time this vehicle was known to be seen or even discussed was back in 2016.

#Studebaker Manta Ray #car #cars #studebaker

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sims4cars-breezemotors · 11 months ago

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“Starter” February

Here we go! Preview of February "Starter"! These 9 cars available for Patrons!

Cars will be available since February 1'st.

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2020 Lamborghini Sian Roadster 🇮🇹

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2016 BMW 1 Series 🇩🇪

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#the sims custom content #the sims 4 #sims 4 #sims4 #sims4car #the sims 4 cc #the sims 4 custom content #thesims4cars #the sims 4 cars #sims4vehicles #the sims

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aurianneor · 5 months ago

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La imprecisión artística de los coches ecológicos

I) ¿Qué significa esta tabla sobre coches ecológicos?

Los fabricantes de coches más serios tienen distintos enfoques para reducir las emisiones tóxicas:

Mejorar la eficiencia del motor y la combustión con una mejor calidad de construcción (por ejemplo, Mazda Skyactive-G).

Ayudar a un motor de gasolina o diésel con una batería autocargable. Son los coches híbridos (por ejemplo, el Toyota Auris).

Alternar entre gasolina y electricidad utilizando una batería para cargar el enchufable a la red eléctrica. Son los coches híbridos enchufables (por ejemplo, el Toyota Prius o el Volvo V60).

Carga 100% eléctrica en el punto de recarga (por ejemplo, el Nissan Leaf).

El Nox es el gas de escape responsable de la niebla tóxica en las grandes ciudades. Se debe principalmente a la combustión incompleta del combustible. Eche un vistazo a esta explicación TED-Ed del fenómeno del smog: https://youtu.be/CdbBwIgq4rs?si=39OCCQvY8WW_69v3

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Las emisiones de CO2 deben medirse no sólo en el tubo de escape, sino también en la central eléctrica si el coche utiliza electricidad de la red. Hay grandes diferencias entre países según la fuente de energía. Países como Francia recurren a la generación de energía nuclear, que no emite C02, pero traslada el riesgo al de una catástrofe industrial y la contaminación creada por los residuos nucleares. Puede consultar aquí las emisiones de CO2 por kilómetro de los coches eléctricos por países: http://shrinkthatfootprint.com/electric-car-emissions

Algunos fabricantes optan por utilizar aluminio para la carrocería. Esto hace que el coche sea más ligero y, por tanto, consuma menos combustible en carretera. Pero producir aluminio requiere 20 veces más combustión de petróleo que producir acero. Fabricar un coche de aluminio equivale a 2 ó 3 años de consumo de combustible en carretera en términos de emisiones de CO2. Así que, a la hora de comparar vehículos, hay que reevaluar las cifras de los coches de aluminio.

Para la elaboración de este cuadro se ha optado por utilizar datos de «conducción real», es decir, realizada por grupos de científicos independientes.

II) Cuando l’Open science cruza con la industria automovilística

No hay que olvidar que el escándalo Volkswagen fue el resultado de un enfoque de Open science. Investigadores universitarios midieron y compartieron su trabajo sobre la medición de las emisiones de CO2. Hasta entonces, sólo lo habían hecho los fabricantes de automóviles. Los científicos de la Open science comparten sus técnicas y resultados en línea. Este nuevo fenómeno ha pillado por sorpresa a Volkswagen, pero también a otros fabricantes como Fiat y Renault. Ya no pueden jugar con las cifras todo lo que quieran.

Si quieres saber más, lee estos artículos:

– This is the testing rig that caught Volkswagen riding dirty – The Verge: https://www.theverge.com/2015/9/23/9387613/volkswagen-emissions-test-photo-scandal

– Researchers Who Exposed VW Gain Little Reward From Success – New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/25/business/vw-wvu-diesel-volkswagen-west-virginia.html

– Exhaust particles of modern gasoline vehicles: A laboratory and an on-road study – Science direct: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1352231014006190

III) No dejes que los gobiernos te avergüencen. Los individuos no son ni mucho menos los únicos culpables.

Aunque la búsqueda del coche más limpio es un objetivo importante, el transporte sólo representa el 14% de las emisiones de gases tóxicos. Para poner estas cifras en perspectiva, compare este porcentaje con los de la industria agrícola y los sistemas de calefacción doméstica, que juntos representan el 49% de las emisiones de CO2. Los datos están disponibles en este documento: Emisiones por sector económico: https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/global-greenhouse-gas-emissions-data

Hagamos un paralelismo con los antibióticos. La gente debería usar los antibióticos con sensatez, pero el 50% de la producción mundial se administra a animales de granja(http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/93/4/15-030415.pdf) y el 70% de la producción en Estados Unidos (http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/fact-sheets/2016/12/antibiotics-and-animal-agriculture-a-primer).

Para más información, consulte mi artículo Le parapluie à cachetons: https://www.aurianneor.org/le-parapluie-a-cachetons-la-recherche-sur-les/

Es importante volver a centrarse en lo que más contamina: la fabricación de bienes de consumo, el sector inmobiliario y la ganadería intensiva.

How to Avoid a Climate Disaster – The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need – Bill Gates

IV) El alquiler social es una subvención camuflada para los fabricantes

Cuando el Gobierno ofrece un coche eléctrico a 100 euros al mes, el dinero público paga la diferencia con el precio de venta al fabricante, que puede subir el precio a voluntad porque el cliente final siempre pagará la misma cantidad. Con la excusa de ayudar a la población, es dinero de los impuestos que va directamente a los bolsillos de los vendedores.

V) El proteccionismo no siempre es virtuoso

El Gobierno francés impone un recargo a los coches eléctricos producidos en China. La medida llega tras el enorme éxito de MG, que ofrece modelos de bajo coste con una tecnología de baterías menos contaminante y más resistente al frío. Esta medida proteccionista significa que los fabricantes europeos no tendrán que innovar y seguirán vendiendo caros vehículos eléctricos de litio que pueden incendiarse cuando hace frío y que se explotan en condiciones ecológicamente deplorables para extraer litio en tierra o bajo el mar.

Es más, estos coches tienen ajustes que contaminan: por ejemplo, el aire acondicionado se enciende cuando no hay nadie en el Tesla, automáticamente porque Elon Musk así lo ha decidido.

Sería mejor concentrarse en los coches eléctricos que utilizan sal o hidrógeno.

VI) Contaminación de los neumáticos

Los neumáticos producen una media de 1850 veces más partículas que los tubos de escape. Con la tecnología actual de coches eléctricos de litio, que tienen una autonomía de unos 500 km, los vehículos necesitan una gran batería, lo que los hace más pesados. Las emisiones de partículas de los neumáticos están relacionadas con el peso. Esta contaminación relacionada con los neumáticos es más importante que la de los tubos de escape. Esta contaminación por partículas aumenta el riesgo de cáncer y actúa como disruptor endocrino para la fauna. El 87% del Mediterráneo está contaminado por microplásticos.

Car tyres produce vastly more particle pollution than exhausts, tests show – The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jun/03/car-tyres-produce-more-particle-pollution-than-exhausts-tests-show

Do electric vehicles produce more tyre and brake pollution than their petrol and diesel equivalents? – RAC: https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/electric-cars/running/do-electric-vehicles-produce-more-tyre-and-brake-pollution-than-petrol-and/

VII) Si quieres comprobar las cifras de mi tabla, aquí las tienes:

– Registre néerlandais des émission de CO2 pour les véhicules routiers: https://www.emissieregistratie.nl/erpubliek/documenten/Lucht%20(Air)/Verkeer%20en%20Vervoer%20(Transport)/Wegverkeer/TNO%20(2016)%20Dutch % 20CO2% 20emission% 20factors% 20for% 20road% 20vehicles.pdf

– Émissions de Nox et de Co2 testées sur la route: https://www.theicct.org/sites/default/files/publications/ICCT_RoadTested_201709.pdf

https://www.test-achats.be/auto-velo/autos/dossier/dieselgate-faites-vous-partie-des-gens-trompes/telecharger?ressourceUri=F3D9F3DFD8B55DCFD01E8D383C55963C0BDACB40

– Calculateur d’analyse des émissions: http://www.nextgreencar.com/tools/emissions-calculator/

– Émissions liées aux carrosseries en acier et en aluminium: https://www.oecd.org/env/cc/2483490.pdf

http://www.electroheatinduction.com/how-to-calculate-electricity-cost-for-melting- métal-dans-induction-fusion-four

Electric cars grab almost half of sales in oil-producing Norway – Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-autos-electric-norway/electric-cars-grab-almost-half-of-sales-in-oil-producing-norway-idUSKCN1TW2WO

La Tesla Model 3 obtient la note maximale au test européen de sécurité des passagers – @phonandroid : https://www.phonandroid.com/tesla-model-3-obtient-note-maximale-test-europeen-securite-passagers.html

TESLA Model 3 vs BMW M3 Track Battle | Top Gear: https://youtu.be/DSRWKxytW40

youtube

Arnold Goes Undercover as a Used Car Salesman to Prank Customers: https://youtu.be/rXodSqMpuUQ

youtube

Deep-Sea Mining – Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO): https://youtu.be/qW7CGTK-1vA?si=7wHLB_cxPz4nx3jb

youtube

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Transportes públicos gratuitos: https://www.aurianneor.org/transportes-publicos-gratuitos/

Piste scooter / Moto: https://www.aurianneor.org/piste-scooter-moto-healthy/

Le Paon Scooter: https://www.aurianneor.org/le-paon-scooter-econoniques-par-rapport-a-une/

Healthy Road: https://www.aurianneor.org/healthy-road-etre-en-meilleure-sante-etre-plus-a/

Aviones propulsados con hidrógeno: https://www.aurianneor.org/aviones-propulsados-con-hidrogeno/

Le transport zéro émission: https://www.aurianneor.org/le-transport-zero-emission/

Fund: https://www.aurianneor.org/fund-selon-le-dernier-rapport-du-fonds-monetaire/

Consumption: Dream & Reality: https://www.aurianneor.org/consumption-dream-realitymore-love/

Le parapluie à cachetons: https://www.aurianneor.org/le-parapluie-a-cachetons-la-recherche-sur-les/

Tomorrow – Chap 2: L’énergie: https://www.aurianneor.org/tomorrow-chap-2-lenergie-demainlefilm/

Energy and Civilization – Vaclav Smil: https://www.aurianneor.org/how-energy-makes-life-possible-bill-gates/

Solar Oven: https://www.aurianneor.org/solar-oven/

La vivienda: https://www.aurianneor.org/la-vivienda/

Les intermédiaires: https://www.aurianneor.org/les-intermediaires/

The artistic blur of ecological cars: https://www.aurianneor.org/the-artistic-blur-of-ecological-cars-i-what-this/

Le flou artistique des voitures écologiques: https://www.aurianneor.org/wp-admin/post.php?post=1118&action=edit

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dreaminginthedeepsouth · 8 months ago

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Tom Toles

* * * *

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

April 26, 2024

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

APR 27, 2024

Yesterday, in a long story about “the petty feud between the [New York Times] and the White House,” Eli Stokols of Politico suggested that the paper’s negative coverage of President Joe Biden came from the frustration of its publisher, A. G. Sulzberger, at Biden’s refusal to do an exclusive interview with the paper. Two people told Stokols that Sulzberger’s reasoning is that only an interview with an established paper like the New York Times “can verify that the 81-year-old Biden is still fit to hold the presidency.”

For his part, Stokols reported, Biden’s frustration with the New York Times reflects “the resentment of a president with a working-class sense of himself and his team toward a news organization catering to an elite audience,” and their conviction that the newspaper is not taking seriously the need to protect democracy.

A spokesperson for the New York Times responded to the story by saying the idea that it has skewed its coverage out of pique over an interview is “outrageous and untrue,” and that the paper will continue to cover the president “fully and fairly.”

Today, Biden sat for a live interview of more than an hour with SiriusXM shock jock Howard Stern. Writer Kurt Andersen described it as a “*Total* softball interview, mostly about his personal life—but lovely, sweet, human, and Biden was terrific, consistently clear, detailed, charming, moving. Which was the point. SO much better than his opponent could do.”

Also today, the Treasury Department announced that the pilot program of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that enabled taxpayers to file their tax returns directly with the IRS for free had more users than the program’s stated goal, got positive ratings, and saved users an estimated $5.6 million in fees for tax preparation. The government had hoped about 100,000 people would use the pilot program; 140,803 did.

Former deputy director of the National Economic Council Bharat Ramamurti wrote on social media, “Of all the things I was lucky enough to work on, this might be my favorite. You shouldn’t have to pay money to pay your taxes. As this program continues to grow, most people will get pre-populated forms and be able to file their taxes with a few clicks in a few minutes.” Such a system would look much like the system other countries already use.

Also today, the Federal Trade Commission announced that Williams-Sonoma will pay a record $3.17 million civil penalty for advertising a number of products as “Made in USA” when they were really made in China and other countries. This is the largest settlement ever for a case under the “Made in USA” rule. Williams-Sonoma will also be required to file annual compliance certifications.

FTC chair Lina Khan wrote on social media: “Made in USA fraud deceives customers and punishes honest businesses. FTC will continue holding to account businesses that misrepresent where their product[s] are manufactured.”

In another win for the United Auto Workers (UAW), the union negotiated a deal today with Daimler Trucks over contracts for 7,300 Daimler employees in four North Carolina factories. The new contracts provide raises of at least 25% over four years, cost of living increases, and profit sharing. This victory comes just a week after workers at a Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, voted overwhelmingly to join the UAW.

Today was the eighth day of Trump’s criminal trial for his efforts to interfere with the 2016 election by paying to hide negative information about himself from voters and then falsifying records to hide the payments. David Pecker, who ran the company that published the National Enquirer tabloid, finished his testimony.

In four days on the stand, Pecker testified that he joined Michael Cohen and others in killing stories to protect Trump in the election. Trump’s longtime executive assistant Rhona Graff took the stand after Pecker, and testified that both Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels were in Trump’s contacts. Next up was Gary Farro, a bank employee who verified banking information that showed how Michael Cohen had hidden payments to Daniels in 2016.

Once again, Trump appeared to be trying to explain away his lack of support at the trial, writing on his social media channel that the courthouse was heavily guarded. “Security is that of Fort Knox,” he wrote, “all so that MAGA will not be able to attend this trial….” But CNN’s Kaitlan Collins immediately responded: “Again, the courthouse is open [to] the public. The park outside, where a handful of his supporters have gathered on [trial] days, is easily accessible.”

Dispatch Politics noted today that when co-chairs Michael Whatley and Lara Trump and senior campaign adviser Chris LaCivita took over the Republican National Committee (RNC), they killed a plan to open 40 campaign offices in 10 crucial states and fired 60 members of the RNC staff. According to Dispatch Politics, Trump insisted to the former RNC chair that he did not need the RNC to work on turning out voters. He wanted the RNC to prioritize “election integrity” efforts.

The RNC under Trump has not yet developed much infrastructure or put staff into the states. It appears to have decided to focus only on those that are key to the presidential race, leaving down-ballot candidates on their own.

While Trump appears to be hoping to win the election through voter suppression or in the courts, following his blueprint from 2020, Biden’s campaign has opened 30 offices in Michigan alone and has established offices in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, New Hampshire, and Florida.

Finally today, news broke that in her forthcoming book, South Dakota governor Kristi Noem wrote about shooting her 14-month-old dog because it was “untrainable” and dangerous. “I hated that dog,” she wrote, and she recorded how after the dog ruined a hunting trip, she shot it in a gravel pit. Then she decided to kill a goat that she found to be “nasty and mean” as well as smelly and aggressive. She “dragged him to the gravel pit,” too, and “put him down.”

Noem has been seen as a leading contender for the Republican vice presidential nomination on a ticket with Trump, and it seems likely she was trying to demonstrate her ruthlessness—a trait Trump appears to value—as a political virtue. But across the political spectrum, people have expressed outrage and disgust. In The Guardian, Martin Pengelly said her statement, “I guess if I were a better politician I wouldn’t tell the story,” was “a contender for the greatest understatement of election year.”

—

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

#Tom Toles #American Values #political cartoons #Letters From An American #Heather Cox Richardson #election 2024 #South Dakota governor Kristi Noem #Ugly American #A. G. Sulzberger #NYTimes #Biden's accomplishments

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