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mostlysignssomeportents · 10 months ago

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Tabs give me superpowers

Berliners: Otherland has added a second date (Jan 28) for my book-talk after the first one sold out - book now!

"Lifehacking" is in pretty bad odor these days, and with good reason: a once-useful catch-all for describing how to make things easier has become a pit of productivity porn, grifter hustling, and anodyne advice wreathed in superlatives and transformed into SEO-compliant listicles.

But I was there when lifehacking was born, and I'm here to tell you, it wasn't always thus. Lifehacking attained liftoff exactly 19 years and 348 days ago, on Feb 11, 2004, when Danny O'Brien presented "Life Hacks: Tech Secrets of Overprolific Alpha Geeks" at the 0'Reilly Emerging Technology Conference (aka ETCON). I was there, and I took notes:

https://craphound.com/lifehacksetcon04.txt

O'Brien's inspiration was his social circle, in which people he knew to be no smarter or better or motivated than anyone else in that group were somehow able to do much more than their peers, in some specific domain. O'Brien delved deeply into these peoples' lives and discovered that each of them had merely ("merely!") gotten very good at using one or two tools to automate things that would otherwise take up a lot of their time.

These "hacks" freed up their practitioners to focus on things that mattered more to them. They accomplished the goal set out in David Allen's Getting Things Done: to make a conscious choice about which things you are going to fail to do today, rather than defaulting to doing the things that are easy and trivial, at the expense of the things that matter, but are more complicated:

https://gettingthingsdone.com/what-is-gtd/

One trait all those lifehacks shared: everyone who created a little hack was faintly embarrassed by it, and assumed that others who learned about their tricks would find them trivial or foolish. O'Brien changed the world by showing that other people were, in fact, delighted and excited to learn about their peers' cool little tricks.

(Unfortunately, this eventually opened the floodgates of overheated posts about some miraculous hack that turned out to indeed be silly and trivial or even actively bad, but that wasn't O'Brien's fault!)

I'm one of those people whom others perceive as very "productive." There are some objective metrics on which this is true: I wrote nine books during lockdown, for example. Like the lifehackers O'Brien documented in 2004, I have lots of little hacks that aren't merely a way of getting more done – they're a way to make sure that I get the stuff that matters to me (taking care of my family and my health, and writing books) done.

A lot of these lifehacks boil down to making your life easier. There's a spot on our kitchen counter where I put e-waste. Whenever I go out to the car, I carry any e-waste out and put it in a bag in the trunk. Any time I'm near our city dump, I stop and throw the bag into their e-waste bin. This is now a habit, and habits are things you get for free: I spend zero time thinking about e-waste, which means I have more time to think about things that matter (and our e-waste still ends up in the right place).

There's other ways I use habits to make my life easier: after many years, I learned how to write every day:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/01/22/walking-the-plank/

For longer-form works like novels, I "leave myself a rough edge," finishing the day's work in the middle of a sentence. That way I get a few words for free the next day, meaning I never start the day's work wondering which words I'll type:

https://locusmag.com/2014/01/cory-doctorow-cheap-writing-tricks/

One of the most powerful habits I've cultivated is to have a group of daily tabs that I open in a new browser every morning. The meat of this tab group is websites I want to check in with every day, either because they don't have RSS feeds, or because I want to make sure I never miss an update.

This tab-group habit started before RSS was widespread, when most of the websites I wanted to check in on every day didn't have feeds yet, and for many years, this group was just a set of daily reads. But over the years, I started throwing things in the tab-group that I needed to stay on top of.

My daily tabs are in a folder called "unfucked rota" (they were originally in a folder called "rota," which got corrupted and had to be reconstructed in a folder I called "fucked rota," until I finally took a couple hours off and got it in good running order, hence "unfucked rota"). As I type this, "unfucked rota" contains more than a hundred websites I visit every morning, but it also contains:

The edit-history pages for four Wikipedia entries I'm watching;

Chronological feeds of my books on Amazon and Audible, to catch counterfeits as they are posted;

The parent notification portal for my kid's school;

The mileage history for the airline I flew on yesterday (I'll delete this once the flight is posted);

The credit card history for a card I reported a fraudulent charge on (I'll delete this once the refund is posted);

The sell-pages for three products that are out of stock (I'll delete these once the products are in stock and ordered);

A bookmarked newest-first Ebay search for a shirt I like that has been discontinued by the manufacturer;

The new-survey-completed pages for my last two Kickstarters;

The courier tracking page for an item being shipped sea-freight to me from Asia.

The tail end of this unfucked rota changes all the time, but as you can tell, it's got a lot of stuff that would be time-consuming to build a whole new system to track, but which has a web-page that can be easily added to a daily, habitual check-in and then removed when it's not relevant anymore.

Some of these things have email notifiers or RSS feeds, but those are too easy to lose in the noise. I generally delete email from ecommerce sites unread, since 99.99% of the messages they send me are unsolicited marketing nonsense, not the "notify me when this is back in stock" message I do want to see (same goes for my kid's school, which sends me fifty unimportant messages for every message that I must reply to).

Most of the internet is still on the web, which means it can be bookmarked, which means that it takes me one second to add it to the group of things I'm staying on top of, and one second to remove from that group. I get up in the morning, middle-click the "unfucked rota" item in my bookmarks pane, make a cup of coffee, and then sit down and race through those tabs, close-close-close.

It takes less than a second to scan a tab to see if it's changed (and if I close a tab too quickly, the ctrl-shift-T "unclose" shortcut is there in muscle-memory, another habit). The whole process takes between one and 15 minutes (depending on whether there's anything useful and new in one of those tabs).

Tabs, like lifehacks, are also in bad odor. Everyone stresses about how many tabs they have open. It's even inspired Rusty Foster's excellent newsletter, Today In Tabs:

https://www.todayintabs.com/

But this is a very different way to think about tabs. Rather than opening a window full of tabs that need your detailed, once-off attention later, this method is about using groups of tabs so that you can pay cursory, frequent attention to them.

In a world full of administrative burdens, where firms and institutions play the "sure, we'll do that, but you're going to have to track our progress" game to get out of living up to their obligations, this method is a powerful countermeasure:

https://memex.craphound.com/2015/02/02/david-graebers-the-utopia-of-rules-on-technology-stupidity-and-the-secret-joys-of-bureaucracy/

My little tab habit is so incredibly useful, such a powerful way to seize back time and power from powerful actors who impose burdens on me, that I sometimes forget how, for other people, tabs are a symptom of a life that's spiraling out of control. For me, a couple hundred tabs are a symbol of a couple hundred tasks that I'm totally on top of, a symbol of control wrestled back from others who are hostile to my interests.

This isn't how tabs were "meant" to be used, of course. It's an example of the kind of "innovation" that comes from users repurposing things in ways their designers didn't necessarily anticipate or intend.

This is what Jonathan Zittrain meant by "generative" technology back in 2008, when he published his incredibly prescient The Future of the Internet: And How To Stop It:

https://memex.craphound.com/2008/07/22/zittrains-the-future-of-the-internet-how-to-save-the-internet-from-the-internet/

For Zittrain, "generativity" was the property of some technologies that let its users generate new, useful tools and solutions for themselves (this is very different from "generative AI!")

Zittrain described how "curated" computing systems, like mobile devices that relied on apps that couldn't be adapted by their users, were dead ends for generativity. 15 years later, the dismal world of apps has proven him right:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/01/24/everything-not-mandatory/#is-prohibited

To the extent that "lifehacking" is about doing more, rather than being more deliberate about what you accomplish, it can be harmful. I am not immune to the failure modes of lifehacking:

https://locusmag.com/2017/11/cory-doctorow-how-to-do-everything-lifehacking-considered-harmful/

But overall, using tabs as something I close, rather than something I open, is a source of comfort and calm for me. For one thing, ripping through a group of tabs every morning means that I don't have to worry about missing something if I go too fast. I'll get another chance tomorrow:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/05/27/probably/

Decades ago, Dori Smith dubbed her pioneering blog her "#Backup Brain":

https://web.archive.org/web/20020120231027/http://www.backupbrain.com/

At their best, our systems – be they physical, like a spot on the counter where the e-waste goes, or digital, like a tab-group – are "congitive prostheses." They allow us to move important things from the highly contested, busy and precious space between our ears and out there into the world:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/05/09/the-memex-method/

Like those lifehackers that O'Brien studied for his presentation in 2004, I confess to feeling a little silly about telling you all about this. For me, this habit of decades is so ingrained that it feels trivial and obvious. And yet, when I look at people in my life struggling to stay on top of a million nagging administrative tasks that could be easily watched through a morning's flick through a tab-group, I can't help but think that maybe some of you will find a useful idea or two in my unfucked rota.

I'm Kickstarting the audiobook for The Bezzle, the sequel to Red Team Blues, narrated by @wilwheaton! You can pre-order the audiobook and ebook, DRM free, as well as the hardcover, signed or unsigned. There's also bundles with Red Team Blues in ebook, audio or paperback.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/01/25/today-in-tabs/#unfucked-rota

#pluralistic #productivity #life hacks #mozilla #firefox #open web #systems #getting things done #externalized memory #outboard brain #generativitiy

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daisyswift3 · 5 months ago

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The Secret of Us 💛, Midsummer ☀️, and Dec 13 ✌️

So I was gonna point this out a while ago but I kinda forgot until I was reminded just now but I think now is a great time to bring it up anyway.

I’ve previously talked abt all the connections to Midsummer/Midsommar (x)(x). I learned abt a lot of these connections from this excellent twt thread and in this thread Melissa points out sth very interesting:

Taylor emphasized the number 174 during one of her eras tour speeches meaning it must be important (see this vid). The 174th day of this yr is June 22 which is Midsummer. This makes June 21 Midsummer Eve and obviously Gracie just released her album today that Taylor is featured on. Midsummer celebrates daylight so this lines up w the lover era failed coming out happening at the end of pride month and lover originally being called daylight. Plus the secret of us is very yellow and Gracie has been highlighting this w the yellow hearts lately 💛 which means yellow = daylight/sunshine/summer (Taylor uses summer as a metaphor in the same way she uses daylight as a metaphor).

Now if you double (✌️) the number 174, you get 348. And what is the 348th day of this yr?? OH IT’S FRIDAY, DEC 13 🙃

This date was displayed in the Spotify Library Installation. And as this account points out, Taylor was not born on a Friday so this Dec 13 is likely referring to Dec 13 of this yr which aligns w my theory that sth really huge is probably going to happen around Taylor’s birthday and New Year’s Eve this yr (see this post).

(x)

I believe that the end of this yr will be when Taylor (and probably several other celebs too) will finally step into the daylight and return to the 1989 era. And to add even more evidence, the literal meaning of Midsummer is “the middle of summer.” So you can also interpret it as being midway to summer. Half of 348 is 174 which means summer/daylight will happen Dec 13 so we are halfway there.

I’m not sure if I did a good job articulating that so I also drew a diagram explaining my thought process lol.

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fiveredlights · 7 months ago

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there's glitter on the floor after the party: the deleted scenes

i'm sure it'll make someone happy because i think we all need it! just as a note, this is all unedited so some of it might make no sense and that's okay.

(i recommend the google doc for easier reading otherwise the whole thing is under the cut)

Chapter one: 2023

I don’t have anything to show…anything I did cut has already been long deleted. My bad. The first two are very sparse because I was cutting unwanted things as my Google docs was lagging whenever I opened it. The only thing I remember writing that chapter was that it was meant to coincide with Daniel’s return to COTA in real life but I ran out of time so I pushed it back to Las Vegas.

Chapter two: 2024

CUT: Daniel winning the championship

WHY: Felt too rushed and easy. No emotional pay off, you were only just introduced to Daniel in RBR again. Also don’t ask me what happened to Max for him to not just clean sweep 2023-2027. Also don’t ask who won the championship in 2026. I declare that your favourite driver won it and I definitely did not forget to give a championship.

DANIEL: Oh my god, it’s just surreal like I don’t know how to describe it. Especially after the past couple years, it’s just—yeah. And to do it with Max too, it’s just something special for me and the team.

MISCELLANEOUS:

73 Questions With Daniel Ricciardo | Vogue

3.3M views 2 days ago …more

Vogue 4M

[00:00:00]

DANIEL: Hello Vogue, didn’t see you there. Welcome to my home away from home.

[00:13:33]

PRODUCER: One sentence you could tell your younger self?

DANIEL: Doors are meant to be opened.

[00:15:09]

PRODUCER: Worst thing about racing in Formula 1?

DANIEL: Accidents, hands down. It’s horrifying as a driver to watch someone crash, because that’s when everything sort of gets a reality check in the cockpit. Like we are racing around at three-hundred kilometres an hour, and there is a real chance that something could go wrong. I’ll never forget Max’s Silverstone accident, just—yeah it just a horrible thing to witness.

—

emotionalsupportredbull

not daniel fidgeting with his necklace when he talks about max’s silverstone crash… you ain’t slick boy

#yes i have deluded myself into thinking it’s from max #i’m already depressed i don’t want to hear it #join team emotional support redbull delusions

348 notes

frenchpine

qu'est-ce que tu sais, espèce de salope française qui aime l'érable et qui parle bizarrement ? sors avec ça (What do you know you maple-loving weird speaking French bitch? Come out with it)

#je ne veux pas te traiter de salope #ou peut-être que c'est le cas (#i don’t mean to call you a bitch #or maybe i do)

392 notes

(i promise i wrote this before he decided to rear end daniel in china. i pinky promise.)

landando

daniel “doors are meant to be opened” ricciardo

#what is my man on #doors are meant to be opened 😭😭 #he didn’t open a door one time and it’s haunted him for life

78 notes

Chapter three: 2025

CUT: Red Bull marketing video

WHY: Chapter was already very long. Also I couldn’t find any good questions.

Daniel and Max play the F1 newlywed game 💒💍

827K views 10 hours ago #Gives you wings #F1 … more

Oracle Red Bull Racing 1.58M

INT. RED BULL RACING HOSPITALITY - DAY

[00:00:00]

MAX: Hello everyone and today we are playing the newlywed game.

DANIEL: Are you excited?

MAX: I mean I have to say yes otherwise I look like I’m in an unhappy marriage.

DANIEL: Wow—

MAX:—Also the name doesn’t even make sense. Newlywed? That isn’t us.

DANIEL: [To off screen] Guys, I would get someone to approve your overtime, we’re gonna be here a while.

[00:02:01]

OFF SCREEN: Who is more likely to overpack for a holiday?

DANIEL: Don’t look at me!

MAX: We have three suitcases.

DANIEL: It takes effort to look this good.

MAX: Three suitcases every single race weekend.

DANIEL: What’s the next question?

CUT: Lucinda’s vaguely threatening email

WHY: Broke the fourth wall. Glitter on the floor is meant to be solely a third POV view and I couldn’t justify it.

CONFIDENTIAL: PRESS STRATEGY REGARDING MAX VERSTAPPEN AND DANIEL RICCIARDO

From: lucindasalzar@/press.redbull.racing

To: maxverstappen@/redbull.racing, danielricciardo@/redbull.racing

CC: christianhorner@/redbull.racing, teamdaniel@/press.redbull.racing, teammax@/press.redbull.racing

Date: 21 Nov 2025 at 3:04am

Hi all,

Please see attachment below for finalised details regarding your press strategy and talking points this weekend. Media have been advised to not ask any questions about the ring and we’d like to keep it that way. Remember to keep it vague if you do get asked, and if you don’t feel comfortable a simple no comment will suffice.

Please email for any further clarification or questions and good luck this weekend. (And please no spur of the moment Las Vegas—Elvis impersonator weddings you two.)

Best regards,

Lucinda Salzar (she/her)

Head of Communications, Red Bull Racing.

E: lucindasalzar@/press.redbull.racing

P: +44 ** **** *****

CUT: The chaotic Abu Dhabi super seat swap

WHY: I had to cut this because I altered the timeline, Las Vegas was going to the second last race. In an earlier version Max and Daniel were gonna come back in 2026 and also drop the Matilda news at the same time but I wanted more content just out of Maxiel so I had to leave this on the cutting board. Some of it made it into the published fic but the original thing was more chaotic. (Also I changed the Red Bull junior driver at least once a week because they kept dropping them. It went from Hauger, to Crawford, to Maloney and then I just gave up because I could not keep up.)

lights-out-away-we-go

red bull needed to replace two drivers and they did in THE MOST CHAOTIC way possible. okay, just listen:

the official red bull reserve driver is liam lawson (of alpha tauri, so he obviously gets pulled up)

alpha tauri then call on zane maloney to replace liam (alpha tauri’s reserve driver)

BUT, daniel’s car still needs to fulfil the mandatory rookie free practice session (max’s was completed in mexico when maloney drove)

red bull can’t get zane in daniel’s car again cause he’s got to drive liam’s… so they’ve got to find someone who has the super licence points … we’ll come back to this

so right now car 3 is being driven by liam lawson, car 40 is driven by zane maloney. i hear you ask… who is driving car 1? it’s none other than yuki tsunoda (of alphatauri)

I KNOW, but red bull have quite literally run out of contracted reserve drivers and i believe because every driver is technically employed by red bull (whether they drive for RB or AT) they’re able to pull them up or down without the FIA kicking up a fuss

i’ll wait for why red bull pulled up both AT’s

this means yuki tsunoda’s alpha tauri will be without a driver and once again, red bull call Pepe Marti

#i don’t even know if this is 100% correct i could be so wrong

13,482 notes

—

SKY F1 SPORTS- 2025 ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX - FREE PRACTICE 1

David CROFT: Welcome ladies and gentlemen to our final race of the 2025 season, to our first free practice session under the blistering sun of Abu Dhabi and if this is your first time watching, welcome along cause this will certainly be an interesting race weekend. Now, eagle eyed viewers may have caught that AlphaTauri driver Yuki Tsunoda is in the Red Bull, and his team mate is sitting in the next garage over not in a car. Anthony Davidson is with me—Ant, care to explain to our viewers at home the driver seat swap chaos that’s happening down at Red Bull?

Anthony DAVIDSON: Hello everyone, wherever in the world you may be watching and yes, chaos is the right word for it isn’t it? I’ve got about five pieces of paper and I’m going to do my best to explain, what I think, is the most complicated driver situation in F1 history.

CROFT: Yes, for those who didn’t join us last time out or who may be new to F1, I promise driver seat talk usually isn’t this complicated but we’ll do our best to make sense of it all. Now we’ve got to start at the last race for it all to make sense. Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo had a nasty crash with Enzo Fittipaldi of Haas that left him with a concussion and bruised ribs, which is why presumably he isn’t racing today, and we wish him well in his recovery. Red Bull’s other driver Max Verstappen was also not able to race this weekend for an unspecified reason, so Red Bull are left with two empty seats.

DAVIDSON: We know that Red Bull’s official reserve driver is Liam Lawson, so that’s no problem there. He’s driving Daniel’s number 3 car, but here’s where the trouble starts. Car number 3 still needs to complete its mandatory FP1 session, which Zane Maloney was planning to do this session. But you’ll notice that Zane is in Liam’s car right now, the Alpha Tauri—and this is because he’s Alpha Tauri’s reserve driver.

CROFT: Still following everyone? So far, car number 3 is being driven by Liam Lawson, car number 40 is being driven by Zane Maloney. But Liam Lawson isn’t even in car number 3 at the moment, it’s Pepe Marti, who is currently racing in Formula 2 and part of Red Bull’s junior academy. He’s competing the mandatory rookie FP1 session for car number 3.

DAVIDSON: So now we move onto Max Verstappen’s car, which is being driven by the other AlphaTauri driver, Yuki Tsunoda. Which now means AlphaTauri needs a driver to replace him and it’s Red Bull junior driver, Isack Hadjar who is in car number 22.

CROFT: Right, so it’s Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson in Red Bull for the race, Zane Maloney and Isack Hadjar in the AlphaTauri’s and Pepe Marti in Liam or Daniel’s Red Bull for FP1. Confused? Don’t worry, so are we so bare with us if we accidentally get names and teams wrong because I believe this is possibly the biggest driver change in F1 history.

DAVIDSON: Yes and because I know people will be asking, “Why didn’t Red Bull just put Maloney in Daniel’s car for the whole weekend?” and we have an answer and officially, it’s because of contracts. Whatever behind the scenes isn’t allowing him to drive that Red Bull which is why they called up Yuki instead. Maloney has also said he feels more confident driving the AlphaTauri all weekend rather than the Red Bull, so that also may play a factor in this.

CROFT: But also this is a perfect opportunity for Red Bull to compare both drivers, should the opportunity for one of them to make the move into Red Bull when the time arises.

Chapter four: 2026

CUT: Netflix Drive to Survive script

WHY: Once again, I was lazy and didn’t want to write a script. I kinda wish I did though, I think it would’ve given Las Vegas 2025 more substance, especially because you only see it through a fan perspective whereas DTS allows you to get the driver’s perspective, but I do plan to finish this off…. eventually….

Netflix- Drive to Survive

Season 9, Episode 3 “Redemption”

The Las Vegas Grand Prix is back in town but it’s not all good fortunes for those driving. The biggest paddock secret is unveiled.

—

INT. KITCHEN - MORNING

We see scrambled eggs on a frying pan.

OFF SCREEN: Daniel? Where is my jumper? The blue one?

The camera zooms out from the eggs to see Daniel, wearing a light blue jumper, grimacing at the camera.

DANIEL: (Under his breath) To be fair it was my jumper first.

The camera swings to Max in the doorway, arms crossed as he narrows his eyes at Daniel.

MAX: I heard that.

(In the garage, during the crash.)

RED BULL TEAM MEMBER #1: Has anyone told Max?

RED BULL TEAM MEMBER #2: We’re not telling him.

RED BULL TEAM MEMBER #3: Seriously?

RED BULL TEAM MEMBER #1: He thinks his husband is dead, we’re telling him!

INT. HOTEL ROOM

PRODUCER: Do you have some fears about allowing the world to know about your relationship?

DANIEL: God, of course I have. We both have. But we spent so long being—not scared, but worried let’s say about the consequences of us just being together. But then Las Vegas happened and all I wanted was Max to sit by my bedside and make a stupid joke about me being in hospital again. And it was when Christian literally had to fight multiple people to get Max into that hospital I realised that what we were doing was unsustainable.

PRODUCER: Unsustainable?

DANIEL: Are you married?

PRODUCER: Yes?

DANIEL: Have you ever watched your partner crash into something at three hundred kilometres an hour and no one telling you if they were even alive? Because I’ve done that. We’ve done that. Multiple times.

Montage of different Max & Daniel accidents.

DANIEL: And then you have to go on with your day, going to debrief, doing press but all you really want to do is go to them and make sure that they’re even alive?

PRODUCER: …

DANIEL: So yeah. Unsustainable.

—

333 update account @/official333

📺 | Drive to Survive (Netflix)

Daniel talking about his relationship with Max on and off the track:

Q: Do you think it’s been challenging to balance out the relationship given your unique relationship with Max?

Daniel: No, and I think people over dramatise the complexity of it all. I mean sure, it has been somewhat difficult, especially at the beginning but in the end it is just racing, you know? We’re both aware that we are something different from the other drivers, but I like that. Not many people get to do what they love with their partner right next to them, so I definitely take every race we do together for granted.

476 replies 88 reposts 8,372 likes

CUT: Alternate ‘M’ reveal

WHY: I genuinely spent like half an hour thinking if fictional Max and Daniel would show Matilda, I had earlier drafts where they hide her face until I was like okay, this is fictional. Bad things do not exist in this universe, so it’s fine. Plus, Matilda is so cute I can’t hide her.

[Video: Daniel, standing in front of a door.

DANIEL: I know a lot of you guys might have noticed that I’ve been dropping clues towards who this mysterious M is and it’s finally time to reveal who it is.

He opens the door and pans the camera to Max.

DANIEL: M stands for Max. Sorry to break the news, it’s not that exciting. Wait, who’s that?

The camera pans further down to show Max holding a baby, she’s sleeping soundly in Max’s arm.

Photo: A baby. She’s wearing a light blue onesie, and her hand is wrapped around a mini honey badger soft toy.]

Liked by lucsalzar and others

danielricciardo Everybody meet Matilda. Matilda, this is everybody.

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georgerussell63 They learnt what hard launching is and said we’re going to do it for everything… Congrats 🙌

landonorris be prepared for the onslaught of driver themed onesies coming your way…

1 March

CUT: The half-completed TIME article about Daniel

WHY: I did not have it in me to write another 1000 word article. I spent around a week just writing Daniel’s The Players’ Tribune article. But what I did write, I did like. Was also around the time TIME named Taylor Swift as their person of the year, so that’s where I got that inspiration.

How 2025 was the year of the Honey Badger—Daniel Ricciardo on winning his first Formula 1 Championship during a historic year.

by Tylda Rune-Liberi for TIME

February 15, 2026 9:33AM EST

It’s 2017 and F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo was asked in a press conference what race he would like the new owners of F1 to host. His answer? Las Vegas. In 2023, five years on, his wish was granted. Two years later, in 2025, the race he had proclaimed as a dream race would turn into stuff of nightmares.

Leading the race and looking like he would take a first win at Las Vegas after a podium in 2023, it looked like everything was going Ricciardo’s way until a bizarre accident with Kick Stake Sauber’s Theo Pourchaire causes a major accident, leaving Ricciardo wedged in the cockpit for over half an hour.

Pourchaire had given way to Ricciardo as he was being lapped, before attempting to unlap himself, choosing the wrong moment as Ricciardo was heading into the pitlane. Radios released after the accident have Pourchaire admit he “didn’t think he was going into the pit lane.”

It’s a horrifying crash to watch—even with the knowledge that both drivers would be okay, and it would soon be clear that no one felt it more in the pitlane than Ricciardo’s own teammate: Max Verstappen.

Formula 1 drivers all drive with the knowledge that a crash could happen at any given moment, but this accident was different.

[Photo: Daniel, in a dark navy denim blue overshirt and jeans.]

Ricciardo and Verstappen have had a long and varied partnership throughout their career, first starting in 2016 where Verstappen was brought up mid season from then-Red Bull junior team Toro Rosso (now Visa Cash App RB), winning his debut race with the team, where it looked like the win would go to Ricciardo instead. They would go on to be teammates for another two seasons, before Ricciardo announced a shocking move to Renault (now Alpine).

One thing that stood out about their initial partnership was how their off track friendship never seemed to waver, even in their most turbulent of times (see Hungary 2017 or Azerbaijan 2018). In an era where friendships between teammates seemed to famously end in failure, in the likes of fan dubbed ‘Brocedes’ (Nico Rosberg & Lewis Hamilton; best friends growing up who’s friendship ended in rivalry fighting for a championship) or former Red Bull teammates Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber (Multi-21 Seb?), it was an outlier that the two remained such good friends, even after Ricciardo had departed Red Bull.

Even Ricciardo mentions that Lewis Hamilton had gone up to him to ask how Verstappen and Ricciardo had managed to keep their friendship going even though they had tussles on track. “I don’t really know,” Ricciardo says. “I mean it’s definitely all in hindsight now, but I think it was because we—or at least I—knew that our friendship was really important. Like it was no matter what happens I don’t go and screw up this friendship I have with Max.”

Ricciardo would go through a bumpy time in his post-Red Bull career, going through two seasons at Renault, two seasons at McLaren before a 6 month break where he was named ‘Third Driver’ for Red Bull, a 6 month stint in Red Bull sister team AlphaTauri (formerly Toro Rosso, now Visa Cash App RB) which was marked with Ricciardo missing 5 races due to a hand injury during a free practice session in Zandvoort before returning back to the very seat he left six years earlier, Red Bull announcing Ricciardo’s return at the 2023 Las Vegas race.

A move that was then deemed as a surprise move by many pundits, all was put to rest when Riccardo finessed his AlphaTauri in the podium position, grabbing the team 3rd place and their first podium since Pierre Gasly in 2021.

Something was different about this second stint, and it wasn’t the journeys they’ve both gone on since they both parted ways. There was something different about them together.

[Photo: Max and Daniel laughing in the Red Bull garage.]

Nine years on since their first race together, it was oddly reminiscent of their first. Verstappen crossed the line to win a race his teammate had been poised to do so. Only this time, the celebrations were much different.

With Ricciardo in hospital, Verstappen quickly left the race track after a tuned down podium ceremony, skipping out on mandatory post-race media duties, where competitors and team can attract fines for doing so. (The FIA opted not to fine Verstappen and Red Bull in this instance.)

Even during the red flag it was clearly Verstappen was antsy, with his radio calls after finding out his teammate was in an accident conveying his state of worry. Leaked video from inside the Red Bull garage has Verstappen mention not finishing the race, wanting to be by Ricciardo’s side instead.

///

“I remember I posted the post and people were like ‘Oh, maybe he meant it in a friendly way’ and I was like f***, I’ve got to actually spell it out for them.” Hence, the iconic post that broke the F1 world was born.

[Daniel’s tweet.]

It’s 2020, and the Australian Grand Prix has just been cancelled due to COVID.

All the drivers and teams are left scrambling to try and leave the country before the borders close, and Daniel Ricciardo has just invited Max Verstappen to stay over at his house in Perth.

“I don’t think I can even call it a friendly gesture, because as much as I like the other guys on the grid, there’s no way I would’ve invited them over.”

///

“Yeah, I won a championship. But I’m still the same person.”

Ricciardo’s often been somewhat of an open book, he says—whether it was for the better or for the worse. Every aspect of his life has been so highly publicised, from winning races to what it looks like when he’s not, it’s remarkable how he still holds nearly the same candour, even if his name and career has seemingly been dragged through the mud a thousand times over by the media.

Last year he publicly came out in a F1-related podcast, to what he says was very unplanned. “I didn’t plan to come out, let’s say, it just kind of happened.

“I didn’t even plan to come out, let's say, it just kind of happened? I was recording a podcast and I was talking about 2022 and how it unfolded, the support systems around me and I said “my partner”, and a part of me went Oh, shit! I hadn’t talked about my relationships at length before that, and I knew people were going to absolutely run with it and then I was like—well, might as well just go the whole nine yards, so then the second reference to my partner I very deliberately dropped in he. And that was it.”

“I remember so vividly, I went home that night and I told Max, oh I think I did something stupid and his mind immediately went to me accidentally leaking like team secrets or something big like that, and I was like no, I may have accidentally came out and within like three seconds you could see is brain just switch.

“There is no we found the elephant in the room or whatever. The elephant has always been in the room and it’s just decided to make its presence known.”

“Look, I definitely understand some of the criticism that some people may have with F1 or Red Bull or us capitalising on our relationship or whatever, but I think now more than ever there’s a need to perhaps know who the drivers are when they aren’t driving.” Ricciardo adds.

“Because it’s all fine and good if John Smith is winning races and driving amazingly, but if you know next to nothing about the person because it seems like they’re packed up and shipped race to race, you’re not going to root for the guy because they’ve made no connection.”

Ricciardo quickly clarifies that it’s not a negative for sports people or celebrities to maintain their personal lives, but he sees it more as a way to express or show what he wants to show in his own lives. “We spent nearly five years it near complete secrecy from the outside world and whilst I’m not saying that we should’ve just been public right from the start—we probably wouldn’t have survived—I was just wanting to post a photo of Max burning dinner or something and not have gossip magazines or Instagram accounts dissect every pixel of it.”

Did Ricciardo get pushback from the FIA or his team? It’s a difficult question to answer, he tells me. NDAs and whatnot. He says, “The team was wonderful about it, though. Had multiple team members come up to us willingly to fight the higher powers if needed which was very sweet.”

“Let’s just say there were conversations that I had been made aware of that had made me feel like we weren’t even allowed to look at each other when we were in the paddock. I felt like they were asking me to only refer to him as my teammate, stuff along those lines.”

///

“One of our friends told us at our wedding something along the lines of for F1 drivers, you did move pretty fucking slow in your relationship! And Max was like yeah, did you know who we were in 2018?” Ricciardo laughs loudly, scaring one of the cats who seemed ready to take a nap.

///

“I used to rely so much on what other people thought of me, it wasn’t enough that I thought I was the best guy out there, you also had to think I was the best guy out there.”

///

Racing has always been part of Ricciardo’s life, but he doesn’t want it to be the only thing now in his life. He wants you to ask about things not related to racing, like how much he loves his family or how he thinks the Buffalo Bills are the greatest NFL team on earth.

“I’m not going to do this forever, you know?” He says, finishing the can of Red Bull he’d been slowly sipping throughout the course of this piece. “I hope when I look back at these years of my life I’m going to be equally proud of what I did in the car and what I did outside of it.” — With reporting done by Tylda Rune-Liberi and Nicolas St. Revelate.

CUT: Max and the team getting called up to the FIA

WHY: The FIA seems like an organisation who might send me a cease and desist if I wrote them as quietly homophobic. I don’t have money for a lawsuit. Also wanted to keep the universe happy because the real one is not. Still think my Mad Mex reference is funny.

Autosport @/autosport

Breaking: Max Verstappen summoned to the stewards after allegedly breaking parc ferme rules.

12 replies 90 reposts 821 likes

—

F1 - 2026 AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX - POST RACE PRESS CONFERENCE - TRANSCRIPT

23.3.26

Q: Sorry, Daniel just coming back to you now. We’ve just received word that Max Verstappen has just been summoned to the stewards for breaking parc fermé conditions, any reaction on that?

Daniel RICCIARDO: For what?

Q: Uh, we think it might be related to post race procedures around weighing. Not entirely sure yet, his meeting is at 6:15pm.

DR: Well there goes our dinner plans. To be fair our dinner plans were literally just Mad Mex in our hotel rooms before flying to Perth, but still.

Jack DOOHAN: Mad what?

DR: Mad Mex? You know, the Mexican fast food place. Surely you’ve had it.

JD: Oh, I thought you said Mad Max and I was like, “He finished P4 that doesn’t seem too bad.”

DR: Did Max not do the weigh in or what?

Q: He did, after your podium. Sorry mate, even more bad news for the team, they’ve been summoned to the stewards as well.

DR: If I find out I’m going to lose another podium about ten years on after the race here I’m gonna be pissed.

Q: This one is related to Article 26.13 b, where “Unless authorised by the FIA, no one under the age of 16 is permitted in the pit lane at the following times: b) The period commencing fifteen (15) minutes before the pit exit is opened to allow cars to cover reconnaissance laps and the time when the last car enters the parc fermé after the sprint session or the race has ended.”

DR: What cause we had our daughter with us at the podium celebration?

Q: Quite possibly, yeah.

DR: That’s interesting. I—yeah, I’m just gonna say that’s interesting.

Oscar PIASTRI: Kevin had his kids with him in Monza twenty four, didn’t he?

DR: Yeah, I’m sure the team will have a lot to say so we’ll just leave it at that.

CUT: Reaction to Australia winning

WHY: Timeline changes. Original timeline was Australia 2026 being their first race back after Las Vegas and relationship/kid reveal. I apparently also cut the all Australian podium. Can't remember why.

[Photo 1:

Photo 2:

Photo 3:

Photo 4: Lucinda holding the constructor trophy on the podium, Daniel giving a big grin next to her.]

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danielricciardo Never thought I’d be able to share a podium with two other Aussies but what better time than at our home race. @/jackdoohan @/oscarpiastri @/redbullracing 🇦🇺❤️

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ausgp Surely this gets us a public holiday?! @/auspm

oscarpiastri We’re about to get even more annoying…

—

Oracle Red Bull Racing @/redbullracing

Don’t mind us, we’re just in a puddle of tears over how cute @/Max33Verstappen and @/danielricciardo are 😍😭🫶

[Video: Taken from behind the parc ferme barriers, Daniel holding Matilda as Max hugs him, one hand around his waist and the other around the back of his neck.]

—

jeanie 🤠 @/COTADANIEL

flabbergasted about how well max and daniel hid their relationship from the world because man that he looks at daniel like he hung the moon stars and the sun and we’ve just been blind to notice

jake @/381racers

Maxiel admin logged on today thank you universe 🙏

—

DANIEL: Yeah, I just didn’t think I was able to have this, you know? If you had told me like seven years ago that hey, “You’ll be winning again and Max and your kid will be right along with you”, I would’ve laughed in your face. There is still absolutely more work to do, but I’m just glad I get to have my little moment without like some of these outside factors screaming and kicking at us.

CUT: Jake @/381racers meeting Daniel

WHY: Felt too indulgent. Loved it, but I think the idea pushed the boundaries/fourth wall maybe A Little too much, even for my low standards.

jake @/381racers

Only felt right that I get this signed

[Photo: Jake’s infamous tweet “Max Verstappen can you fight?” printed out and framed. Max has signed it and wrote “Yes he can.”]

—

jake @/381racers

First photo really Daniel did you have to shame me further . I thought we had a promise. Anyways, here's the video of me meeting them.

[Video: Jake meeting Daniel, in Red Bull hospitality. They’re both sitting down in chairs, and Jake has his hands on top of a frame placed face down on the table.

JAKE: Do you remember like two years ago in COTA you wore a leather jacket outfit and basically the internet blew up because of how good you looked?

DANIEL: Yeah, with the cowboy hat and everything!

JAKE: And there was a tweet that trended on that weekend—

Daniel sits up in his chair, eyes widening in realisation of who Jake is.

DANIEL: Oh my god you’re “Max Verstappen can you fight?” guy?!

JAKE: Embarrassingly, yes.

DANIEL: (offscreen) How did you find him?!

OFFSCREEN: Remember when I said I was going to bring my boyfriend this race?

Daniel looks back and forth behind the person offscreen and Jake multiple times before bending over and laughing hysterically.

OFFSCREEN: Yeah, I’m not happy about it either.

DANIEL: Oh my god did I like cause you two to meet?

jake @/381racers

No I too am not happy about my internet history coming back to bite me

CUT: Interview with Lawrence Baretto

WHY: I ran out of time. I had planned to post this at the end of Jan, but since I didn’t post that NYD bonus fic, I didn’t wanna go a month without an update so this got culled. Also my vague illusions to Max’s dad felt a little weird.

Exclusive: Daniel Ricciardo on retirement, 15 years of F1 and family with Lawerence Barretto

When I ask about his daughter and if they have any interest in making her follow in her parents footsteps, he shuts down my line of questioning pretty quickly.

“No,” he immediately says. “I’m not going to write out a path for her to follow, or put expectations for her to go into karting because of a family legacy. I think Max knows it a little bit more than me, how the expectations of someone who’s meant to take care of you can tarnish the thing you love.”

Jos Verstappen, Max’s father and former F1 driver hasn’t been seen in the paddock since 2023. Both declined to comment when asked.

“If she wants to start karting, then we’ll probably have a very long conversation about how it’s important that she finds it fun and if she doesn’t then she doesn’t. It’s not important to me that she wins or whatever, I just want her to enjoy it.”

Chapter five: 2027

CUT: Drive to Survive script

WHY: I did not have the energy to write a full script, and I felt like there were too many events to write about and I could not do it justice. Also I would like idk if Max and Daniel would show Matilda on DTS which is crazy because Matilda is not real…

—

Drive to Survive

Season 10 Episode 10 “One final rodeo…”

After fifteen years in the sport, Formula 1 says goodbye to Daniel Ricciardo.

[00:20:26]

INT. HOTEL ROOM INTERVIEW

PRODUCER: We don’t have to talk about Las Vegas.

DANIEL: No, it's fine. Probably should. Uh—yeah.

PRODUCER: We can take a minute.

DANIEL: Yeah, thanks. I didn’t talk about it last year did I?

PRODUCER: No. Okay, we’ll cut.

CUT TO BLACK.

Sound of car crashing into wall, before it fades in to show the Red Bull in the pitlane wall. Cuts to people reacting—Red Bull employees, fans in the grandstands and then a birds eye aerial view of the crash, showing the medical and extraction crew.

PIERRE HAMLIN (V.O): Daniel, are you okay?

Cuts to Max’s T-CAM footage, him driving past the car.

MAX (V.O): What the fuck happened?

PIERRE: Daniel, please just press the radio button so we know you’re okay.

Cuts to Daniel’s T-CAM footage, his helmet leans against the left side of the halo, indicating he’s unmoving.

PIERRE: Daniel, can you hear me?

Cuts to showing the Red Bull pitwall, everyone looking at each other worried.

DANIEL (V.O): The first thought I had was: Shit. This is really bad timing. Second thought I had was: Max is going to kill me.

Cuts to Daniel's forward facing cockpit onboard, him moving his head and looking up and down the cockpit.

PIERRE: Daniel?

DANIEL: Yep. Fuck. My chest, fuck. Shit, is um the other driver okay?

PIERRE: Yes, he's okay but don't worry about him. Do you think you can get out of the car?

DANIEL: Yeah no, I don't think that's happening with breaking something. Fuck, my ribs. Oh god. I think something's broken.

PIERRE: Okay Daniel, the medical team are nearly there but do not move if you think it will cause more damage. The car is safe, so do not worry about anything else.

DANIEL: Yep, okay. Um, will someone tell Max I'm okay? Just, don't freak him out yeah?

PIERRE: Copy Daniel, it will be okay, it will be okay. Just keep radio on please.

DANIEL: Okay. Fuck, this sucks.

INT. STUDIO

TEXT: Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing driver

MAX VERSTAPPEN: Been a while.

PRODUCER: Didn’t think you were going to agree.

MAX VERSTAPPEN: Would be a big thing if you made it look like we hated each other again!

PRODUCER: We asked Daniel what his first thought was when he had that accident. He said “This is really bad timing” and that you were going to kill him. Why?

MAX: Well, because of Matilda.

EXT. PORT HERCULES, MONACO— MORNING

Long shot of Port Hercules, Monaco, filmed from a balcony. It’s peaceful, quiet—the city sounds filling the background before we hear a baby scream in joy.

DANIEL: Matilda!

Matilda is on the floor in the living room, on a playmat and she plays with wooden blocks. Max is next to her on the ground, with his back leant against the couch, Daniel is on the couch.

DANIEL (V.O): Yeah, she’s one of the best things to happen to me. For a long time my whole life was just racing, but now she’s my whole life. Like it’s okay if I have a bad race or whatever, I’ve got to move on quickly because she’s there at home waiting.

MAX: Having a kid does change you, I think. Daniel will not say his driving has changed, but it has.

PRODUCER: In what way?

MAX: I think now he is more focused on winning every race, not that he wasn’t before. But because maybe he knows that every race matters more now. You hope that the others around you will not be too reckless so that you can go home after the race.

EXT. CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS — MIDDAY

TEXT ON SCREEN: 2025 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX

RED BULL EMPLOYEE #1: Hey, welcome back Danny!

DANIEL: Thank you, thank you. Hope you didn’t miss my handsome face too much.

RED BULL EMPLOYEE #1: I didn’t know Jake went on holiday!

DANIEL: I’m gonna crash the car just for that.

RED BULL EMPLOYEE #2: No, we’re just kidding. So how’s the baby?

DANIEL: She’s great, do you wanna see a photo?

RED BULL EMPLOYEE #1: Oh, she’s adorable. Matilda was her name?

DANIEL: Yeah, yeah. We had a list but I think Matilda was the only one that stood out to us. She just looks like a Matilda you know?

///

The camera swings to the right, as Daniel’s head sticks out from the door.

DANIEL RICCIARDO: You aren’t talking shit about me, Maxy?

MAX VERSTAPPEN: Of course I am.

///

MAX: I have raced with Daniel in every single year of F1. I think it will be weird.

DANIEL RICCIARDO I think I was a pretty good darn car mechanic.

CUT: Max’s interview with GQ

WHY: If you haven’t learnt by now, I am very lazy. Honestly, I just wanted this chapter out and I knew I didn’t have the time to write a whole article. Also I don’t think Max would be this open about this relationship but maybe Daniel made him more open in this universe. I still stand by the first sentence, it is possibly the truest thing to come out of the fic.

You can’t talk about Max Verstappen without eventually talking about Daniel Ricciardo, and you can’t talk about Daniel Ricciardo without eventually talking about Max Verstappen. This was a true statement in the earlier part of Verstappen’s career, but now perhaps even more so. “He’s made me a much better person,” Verstappen comments when I ask him about his husband. “I maybe wasn’t the best person to be teammates with when I was first in Formula 1, but he stayed friends with me. Even after he left and I was not being nice to him, he still stayed. That was very important to me.”

There’s a certain aura of happiness that comes from Verstappen when he starts talking about Ricciardo, and he says it’s probably one of the most documented love stories of F1.

It started in the early morning after the final race of the 2018 season, and a drunk voicemail to Ricciardo kicked things off. “I was still mad that he was going, and I had too many gin and tonics and I called him at like 12 am or something. Obviously he didn’t answer because he was sleeping but I said really embarrassing stuff in that voicemail.” He left one more a couple hours later, asking Ricciardo not to mention it.

“He really took that to heart.” Verstappen laughs. “I don’t really know why, we would talk when we saw each other on race weekends and pretend that everything was fine between us.”

They were seemingly friends only when it was the race weekend, but off track they had never been further apart. There was a lot of resentment and unsaid conversation from Verstappen’s side, self proclaiming that his stubbornness had put a pin in their relationship. “It’s easy to say now looking back, but I thought Daniel leaving Red Bull was also leaving me. And I didn’t take it well.”

But a little bit of push and shove from his fellow friends made him realise that having Ricciardo in his life was more important than whatever feelings he had towards him leaving.

///

Verstappen proposed two years later in December 2022 at that same house. “Coordinates of the house and everything on the ring,” Ricciardo comments when he drops in to grab something from the office. “Cried like a baby when I realised.”

Deleted Epilogue:

WHY: I still can’t decide if Matilda would go down the F1 path. If she did, she is definitely a Ferrari driver. Just to mess with her dads. I think she would sign with Red Bull in the junior seasons, maybe do two seasons with Red Bull then switch to Ferrari. A Sebastian Vettel if you will…let’s hope it turns out better for her than him.

[Photo 1: A Ferrari car crossing the chequered flag.

Photo 2: Matilda on the third step of the podium, holding the trophy in the air, the Australian flag wrapped around her shoulders.]

Photo 3: Matilda hugging her parents in parc ferme.]

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mvr one home race down 🇦🇺, one more to go 🇳🇱 😉

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scuderiaferrari 👏🎉

23 March

—

SKY SPORTS: 2048 AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX

David CROFT: And Matilda Verstappen-Ricciardo absolutely sends it down the inside and makes it stick, and what a move! Gosh, I was not expecting her to pull it off but she absolutely does and gets a roar of a cheer from the home crowd, Verstappen-Ricciardo is currently in P3.

Jenson BUTTON: I mean, we should not be surprised. Daughter of Max Verstappen, a six time World Champion and Daniel Ricciardo, another World Champion. A lot of racing talent in that family, I thought the last of the late breakers was Daniel but she has really put a new meaning on late!

DC: And speaking of there is Max and Daniel Verstappen-Ricciardo, who I imagine are probably the most nervous parents in the paddock right now! A lovely nod and clap of encouragement as we watch the reaction of Matilda’s overtake for P3.

—

matilda verstappen-ricciardo @/MVR

if you’re wondering if it’s embarrassing to have your parents show up at work to congratulate you just wait till one of them interviews you in front of the tv…. thanks dad i’ve never felt so uncool before

138 replies 98 reposts 20,482 likes

—

POST RACE: PARC FERME INTERVIEW

Daniel RICCIARDO: Matilda!

Matilda VERSTAPPEN-RICCIARDO: Oh my god, please be cool about this.

DR: Just wait till I convince F1 to let me and Max double host it.

MVR: This is actually my worst nightmare. Like maybe three other people will understand what I’m feeling right now.

DR:

///

MVR: I mean I’m not worried about a legacy, if people think I’m here to start or continue a legacy then they can think that, but I’m here to race. Not carry on whatever my parents did.

#maxiel #glitter on the floor #candle wax and polaroids verse

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mysticstronomy · 1 year ago

Text

WHAT IS THE FARTHEST THING WE CAN SEE IN SPACE??

Blog#348

Saturday, November 11th, 2023

Welcome back,

Current observations suggest that the Universe is about 13.7 billion years old. We know that light takes time to travel, so that if we observe an object that is 13 billion light years away, then that light has been traveling towards us for 13 billion years. Essentially, we are seeing that object as it appeared 13 billion years ago.

With every year that passes, our newest technology enables us to see further and further back.

The image used for this stop on our journey is the Hubble Ultra Deep Field (UDF). The UDF is one of the deepest views of the visible universe to date; certainly it was the deepest when it was originally created in in 2003-2004. There are approximately 10,000 galaxies in this view, which is a sort of "core sample" of a very narrow patch of sky near the constellation Fornax. The smallest, reddest galaxies in the image, of which there are about 100, are among the most distant known objects!

The UDF looks back approximately 13 billion years (approximately between 400 and 800 million years after the Big Bang). Galaxies that existed in that time period would be very young and very different in structure and appearance than the grand spirals we see nearby today.

In December of 2012, astronomers announced a Hubble Space Telescope discovery of seven primitive galaxies located over 13 billion light years away from us.

The results are from survey of the same patch of sky known as the Ultra Deep Field (UDF). This survey, called UDF12, used Hubble's Wide Field Camera 3 to peer deeper into space in near-infrared light than any previous Hubble observation.

Why infrared? Because the Universe is expanding; therefore the farther back we look, the faster objects are moving away from us, which shifts their light towards the red. Redshift means that light that is emitted as ultraviolet or visible light is shifted more and more to redder wavelengths.

The extreme distance of these newly discovered galaxies means their light has been traveling to us for more than 13 billion years, from a time when the Universe was less than 4% of its current age.

Their discovery, which you can read more about in the NASA feature is exciting because it might give us an idea of how abundant galaxies were close to the era when astronomers think galaxies first started forming. (Phil Plait has a good column about this discovery too.)

As of this writing it seems that one of the galaxies in this recent Hubble discovery may be a distance record breaker - it was observed 380 million years after the Big Bang, with a redshift of 11.9. This means the light from this galaxy (pictured below) left 13.3+ billion light years ago.

Just under a month ago, the current candidate was this object: a young galaxy called MACS0647-JD. It's only a tiny fraction of the size of our Milky Way - and was observed at 420 million years after the Big Bang, when the universe was 3 percent of its present age of 13.7 billion years. To spot this galaxy, astronomers used the powerful gravity from the massive galaxy cluster MACS J0647+7015 to magnify the light from the distant galaxy; this effect is called gravitational lensing

Originally published on imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov

COMING UP!!

(Wednesday, November 15th, 2023)

"WHERE DID WATER COME FROM ON EARTH??"

#astronomy #outer space #alternate universe #astrophysics #universe #spacecraft #white universe #space #parallel universe #astrophotography

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bratshaws · 9 months ago

Text

through the hourglass 365. brb x oc

a/n: sorry for not possting guyssss(comments and reblogs are super welcome and encouraged!)

pairing: plus size!oc x rooster

warnings: none uwu

goodness gracious (pls read this one to know more what this fic is about!!)

chapter

/316/317/318/319/320/321/322/323/324/325/326/327/328/329/330/331/332/333/334/335/336/337/338/339/340/341/342/343/344/345/346/347/348/349/350/351/352/353/354/355/356/357/358/359/360/361/362/363

(pls let me know if you want to be added to the taglist! )

taglist: @mirandastuckinthe80s @roosterschanelslut @wiipes @lcahwriter @novastories @gretagerwigsmuse @frenchtoastix @lizzie-rdj @fanboyluvr @atarmychick007 @comebacktoearthpls

@peachiicherries @mak-32 @lizziespidiepridie @roosterswifey @ollyoxenfrees @piceous21 @sqrlgrl22 @hofficoffi @lexhalstead3 @lorilane33 @legendarydreamersharkparty @luckyladycreator2

@emilybradshaw @louisahale @leobabbyyy @booklover2sblog @winter-run @ktjmac @graciereads @bigpoppajes @taytaylala12

@caitsymichelle13 @becks-things @caatheeriinee07 @fanboyswhore9 @jesfreedark @katiemcrae @lilmonstrjedi @hobiismyhopeu @teacupsandtopgun @insominac23 @gh0stsgoodgirl @mygyn @chavivaelisheva @kmc1989 @enchantingharmonyalpaca @callsign-magnolia @mrsbradshaw01

Beatrice wasn’t waiting for anyone and she was busy pulling the Halloween decorations from the attic when she heard the doorbell. The dogs immediately perked up and Nicole stopped sitting on top of Jack to stare at it, “...mama?”

Bea frowns, then clears her throat, “Roos?” she calls and her husband’s footsteps thud over, he looks from her to the door, “...could you…uh…open it?”

Rooster glanced at Beatrice, "What, are you scared it's a trick-or-treater?"

Beatrice rolled her eyes, a smirk playing on her lips. "No, I just have my hands full with these decorations," she replied, gesturing to the box of Halloween decorations in her arms. "Besides, you're the one with the muscles, remember?"

Rooster chuckled, shaking his head as he made his way to the front door. "Alright, alright, I'll handle it," he said, flexing his arms to her, “Only because you asked nicely.” He reached for the doorknob and pulled the door open, then he paused, furrowing his brows…”Hello?”

“Bradley Bradshaw?”

He frowns, straightening his posture so he could appear bigger to this man…he felt…like he knew him. He also had a mustache, he was as tall as he was and they did look like a similar “...how’s it going man.” he smirks, ‘Been a while,knucklehead.”

Wait.

Rooster widens his eyes, “Holy shit,John?!”

John's eyes lit up with recognition as he grinned at Rooster. "Damn right, it's me! Can't believe it took you that long to figure it out, Bradshaw," he teased, “Took you so long,huh?”

Rooster laughed, stepping forward to pull John into a tight embrace. "Man, it's been too long," he exclaimed, clapping John on the back. "What brings you here?"

John pulled back, “I’ve been trying to find you, you left Virginia and you just disappeared because of the Navy,right?” his eyes drop to Rooster’s hand,”...and you got married too?”

“Well,yeah, I joined the Navy after high school," he confirmed, his eyes dropping to his wedding band. "And yeah, I got married a few years ago."

"I heard about your deployment overseas," he said quietly, his tone sympathetic. "I tried reaching out, but I guess I didn't have the right contacts."

“...right contacts?”

“Yeah, guess they wouldn’t allow me to talk to you unless we’re family.”

A very long pause followed. So long that Beatrice herself leaned back to see what was going on.

Rooster licked his lips as he propped his hand on his hip “...you…you are the John we were told about?”

John's expression shifted, surprise flickering across his features. "Told about? What do you mean?"

Rooster hesitated, unsure of how much he should reveal. He exchanged a glance with Beatrice, silently communicating with her before turning back to John. "We were...told that someone named John was saying to be my uncle and wanted to talk to me," he explained carefully, choosing his words with precision.

“Oh. Ohhhh,hah that…yeah I mean I said it as a joke.”

Rooster raised an eyebrow, his expression incredulous. "A joke?" he echoed, in disbelief.

John scratched the back of his head, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "Yeah, you know, just messing around," he replied, his voice slightly strained. "I didn't think you'd take it seriously."

Rooster's jaw tightened as he processed John's words, and he…didn’t know how to feel about that. Clearing his throat, Rooster forced a tight smile. "Well, you got me," he said lightly, though there was a hint of disappointment in his voice. "So, what brings you here, John?"

John's grin faltered slightly as he sensed Rooster's tension, but he quickly regained his composure. "Oh, you know, just passing through town and thought I'd drop by," he replied casually, his tone overly nonchalant. “And you know, wanted to see one of my best friends from school, ‘cause of the reunion.”

“...reunion?”

“From High School!” John smiles, “Didn’t you get anything in the email?”

Rooster blinked…did he? Honestly he often skimmed over his emails so quickly he probably missed it entirely, “...I’m not sure.”

John's smile faltered at Rooster's response, disappointment flashing in his eyes. "Oh, uh, well, maybe it got lost in your inbox or something," he replied, "But yeah, there's a high school reunion happening next month. I thought you'd be interested in catching up with everyone."

Rooster's mind raced as he tried to recall if he had indeed received an email about the reunion. "Yeah, I must have missed it," he admitted,"But thanks for letting me know."

Beatrice stepped forward, offering John a warm yet careful smile. "It's nice to meet you, John," she said politely, extending her hand. "I'm Beatrice, Rooster's wife."

John's eyes lit up with surprise as he shook Beatrice's hand. "Nice to meet you too, Beatrice," he replied, his tone friendly. "Wow,he's a lucky guy." he chuckles,”Never thought you’d go for–” neither Bea or Rooster breathe, both expecting John to say something about Beatrice’s curvy body, “-brunettes.”

Oh.

Whew.

Rooster managed a strained chuckle, though inwardly, he bristled at John's comment. He shot a quick glance at Beatrice, silently communicating his discomfort, before turning back to John with a tight smile.

"Right, well, I'll keep that in mind," Rooster replied, his tone guarded. "Anyway, it was nice seeing you, John. How…did you get our address again?”

John's grin widened, seemingly oblivious to Rooster's discomfort. "Oh, I just asked around," he replied casually, his tone nonchalant. "Figured someone in town would know where to find you."

Rooster's brows furrowed slightly at John's response, a flicker of unease stirring in the pit of his stomach. He exchanged a glance with Beatrice, silently communicating his concern, before turning back to John with a forced smile.

"Well, I'm glad you…found us," Rooster said diplomatically, "But we're actually in the middle of something right now, so..."

John's smile faltered at Rooster's abruptness, his expression shifting to one of disappointment. "Oh, uh, yeah, no problem," he replied, "I didn't mean to interrupt, I just wanted to say hi. It’s been so long!"

"It's fine," he said curtly, gesturing towards the parked car not far from there. "We'll catch up another time, okay?"

“Yeah, sure. Of course.” John hesitated for a moment, then gave them a small wave before turning to leave. As he walked away, Rooster couldn't keep his eyes off of him, wanting to see him enter the car and leave.

Beatrice watched John go with a furrowed brow, her mind racing with questions and concerns. She turned to Rooster, "Do you think he's telling the truth about just passing through town?" she asked quietly, her voice laced with uncertainty.

Rooster sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "I honestly don't know," he admitted, his tone heavy with frustration. "I haven’t seen the guy in years and to find out he is the one saying to be my uncle? Kinda creepy.”

“Were you two close?”

“We had friends in the same groups.” Rooster says, “Back when we were like, fourteen maybe? He was a funny guy but,I don’t know why he thought this whole idea was hilarious.”

Beatrice nodded, her gaze lingering on the spot where John had disappeared. "It's just strange that he would show up out of nowhere like that," she mused, her voice tinged with concern. "And claiming to be your uncle? That's...unsettling."

"Yeah, it doesn't sit right with me either," he admitted, his tone tight with unease. "I mean, why would he suddenly decide to reconnect after all this time? Just because of the reunion– which I’m not going by the way.”

“You are not?”

“No,I’m enjoying my extended leave with you, not with those people.” he mutters, “The kids are growing and I’m not here to see it, the dogs are starting to grow old too, I’m not going to waste my time in a reunion.”

"Family time is more important than any reunion."

Rooster's tense expression softened at Beatrice's words, a wave of gratitude washing over him. He squeezed her hand back, offering her a grateful smile. "Thanks, Bea," he murmured, his voice sincere. "I'm glad you understand."

They stood in silence for a moment, the weight of John's unexpected visit hanging heavy in the air. Beatrice's mind raced with questions and concerns, but she pushed them aside for now, focusing on the warmth of Rooster's hand in hers.

After a moment, Rooster cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "Well, let's head back inside," he suggested, his tone gentle. "We can talk more about this later, once the kids are asleep."

Beatrice nodded in agreement, but looked over her shoulder one last time before stepping in.

“So,John.”

“Mhm.”

She leans back on the couch while holding her wine glass, “You two were friends.” Rooster nods, “Did you stop being friends or…time separated you guys?”

Rooster took a sip of his own drink before replying, his gaze distant "We drifted apart," he admitted, "Life took us in different directions, I guess."

Beatrice nodded, her expression thoughtful as she processed Rooster's words. "That happens," she agreed, her voice soft. "People change, circumstances change. It's just a part of life."

"Yeah," Rooster agreed, pursing his lips. "But it's still strange to see him after all this time. I never expected him to just...show up out of nowhere…or how he did. I don’t think what he did is even legal."

"So," Beatrice leans on a hand, "what do you think we should do about John?"

Rooster furrowed his brows in thought, his mind racing with possibilities. "I'm not sure," he admitted, his tone troubled. "I don't want to jump to any conclusions, but...I also don't want to ignore the fact that he showed up unannounced,kind of."

“It does seem weird he just wanted to…uh…revive the friendship.”

“Honestly, he was always…uhhh…”

“Eccentric?”

“Weird.” Rooster says, “He did have this weird,I don’t know, idea he was the leader of our group or something.” he gently scratches Jolene’s head with his free hand, the pittie huffing happily below him, “And,maybe,well…well maybe he does want to meet everyone again?”

Beatrice nodded slowly, "Maybe," she agreed, her tone cautious. "But even if that's the case, his approach was...questionable, to say the least. It's not like he reached out beforehand or anything."

Rooster sighed, his shoulders slumping with frustration. "Yeah, you're right," he admitted, his voice tinged with irritation as he spun the glass in his hand. "I just wish he had handled things differently. If he really wanted to, you know, meet again."

"I know, Roos," she said softly, her gaze filled with empathy. "But we can't change what's already happened. All we can do is figure out how to move forward from here." she smiles, “That won’t cause you any trouble,right? Especially with your promotion ceremony this weekend?”

Rooster's expression softened at Beatrice's concern,"I'll figure it out, gorgeous," he replied, his voice steady. "I won't let anything or anyone ruin this weekend for us."

Beatrice smiled, a sense of relief washing over her at Rooster's words. She leaned in closer to him, her hand finding his as she squeezed it gently. "I know you will, Roos," she murmured, her voice filled with confidence. "You always do."

‘Aw,” he smiles, “Keep that up and I might fall in love with you.”

Beatrice chuckled "Careful, LC," she teased, her tone light and teasing. "You might just find yourself head over heels."

Rooster grinned, his eyes sparkling with affection as he met Beatrice's gaze. "Wouldn't be the first time," he replied, his voice soft with adoration. "But seriously, Bea, I’ll be okay. I can always talk to Mav and Cyclone,say this whole thing was……a huge misunderstanding because of a former friend of mine.”

Beatrice nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "That sounds like a good plan," she agreed, her voice filled with reassurance. "Having Mav and Cyclone's support will definitely help."

“Yeah…” he blinks, “But…I might talk to John again.”

“...really?”

“Yeah…” he frowns, “...I just remembered something…and i think it’s important.”

#im happy yall are still here #bradley rooster bradshaw #rooster bradshaw #bradley bradshaw x oc #top gun maverick #bradley bradshaw x reader #bradley bradshaw x female reader #bradley bradshaw x named reader #tgm oc #tgm fic #tgm fanfiction

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yankstrash · 1 year ago

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1 year!

liked by gabeperreault44, grumpy.boldy and others

amelia.ln: my gabriel, a whole trip around the sun with you 🤍 how lucky am i to get to love you & to be loved by you. you make each & every day better & i can't wait for forever with you <3 happy anniversary baby,, i love you forever & always

view 203 comments

gabeperreault44: i love you more than anything ❤️

gabeperreault44: happy one year pretty girl

grumpy.boldy: oh this is ADORABLE!! happy anniversary to my favs

_sunny: AWWW my favorites 🥹🥹 happy one year you two, i miss you both so much

↪️ amelia.ln: WE MISS YOU!!!! come see us so soon <<3

_willsmith2: i love this couple wow

↪️ amelia.ln: wow thanks

ryan.leno_4: now this is very cute

drewf2: i take full credit for this relationship and expect to be invited to the anniversary dinner.

↪️ amelia.ln: well duh

↪️ gabeperreault44: oh sure forts

paulfischer7: ONE YEAR OF GABE AND MEEL ONE YEAR OF GABE AND MEEL!!!!

paulfischer7: happy anniversary you two!!!!

↪️ amelia.ln: THANK YOU FISHY!! 🥰🥰

_eliana: YOU TWO!!!! the sweetest, i love you guys ❤️ happy anniversary

schulzyy_: how sweet ❤️ happy one year gabe-o and miss amelia!!

↪️ amelia.ln: aw thank you zachary!!!!

coleeiserman: *sigh*, but i guess this is cute

↪️ amelia.ln: aw colton, i will give you a big squeeze when i see you 🥰

↪️ gabeperreault44: no you won't.

olivermoore11: love this, happy anniversary you two ❤️

liked by amelia.ln, _willsmith2 and others

gabeperreault44: we've come a long way from you rejecting me at the coffee shop,, i told you i'd take care of you ❤️ happy one year to the prettiest face to wake up to. you were too easy to fall in love with <3 my princess, my meels, my best girl.. i love you more than anything

view 348 comments

amelia.ln: i should've listened the first time 🤍

amelia.ln: can't believe you've put up with me for this long

↪️ gabeperreault44: and i will do it for a lot longer ❤️

ryan.leno_4: how sweet gabriel. didn't know you had these kind of words in you

↪️ gabeperreault44: well you know

aram_minnetian: YAAA GABE-O

jacob_fowler24: best couple around

grumpy.boldy: this only means me and amelias one year is also coming up

↪️ _eliana: mm so true

↪️ gabeperreault44: no.

drewf2: "drew, you've gotta help me man. i need this girl to go out with me. please. please help me."

↪️ gabeperreault44: 😐 you've been holding that one in for a while huh

↪️ drewf2: since the day the conversation took place

↪️ amelia.ln: OH!!!!

paulfischer7: i love this

_willsmith2: one whole year of annoying amelia 😁😁

↪️ amelia.ln: you are so annoying

_willvote: this is going to be the wedding of the century

↪️ gabeperreault44: damn right

alex.musielak: thank god one year ago you asked amelia to be your girlfriend idk what i would do in english without her

↪️ amelia.ln: mmhmm so true

↪️ gabeperreault44: you're so welcome

#princess!gf x gabe perreault #g + m timeline !#g + m insta edits !

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loppori · 6 months ago

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(on vampire TIFU) obligatory this happened 348 years ago

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omgpostsplease · 2 years ago

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1000 Roaches or A Person? - A History

Origin: Sophomore Year #12 - Post I: Roadie

Continued: Notes on Year 2, Comic 12 - Post I: Roadie

“ ✓ And, that conversation. Um. Again, weird conversations–part of hockey? I did a poll a few nights ago to see what people thought. Because it was a poll, I took the opportunity to ask another question.

1. Would you rather discover a person in your attic or 1000 roaches? You do not know if the person is a murderer or not. They might want to harm you; they might not. They might mess with your stuff (move it around when you’re not at home) or eat your food. (2) You open the attic when the roach population hits 1000. This population may move to other locations in your house. You can hire an exterminator.

Jack Zimmermann’s Playoff Beard?

Now, 740 people responded in the hour or so that it was open and the results were interesting. The smallest group was 1000 roaches/NO BEARD with 86 people , and the largest group was person/YES BEARD with 348 people. ”

#omgcp #omgcheckplease #check please #attic debate #look i'm not saying that 66% of the original poll are wrong but #YOU DO NOT KNOW IF THE PERSON IS A MURDERER OR NOT

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broomsticks · 2 years ago

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atyd fic popularity stats

can't seem to find the post anymore, but @fanlore-wiki had the MsKingBean89 All The Young Dudes fanlore page as their featured article a week or two ago. it is a divisive fic in some circles, but i did think the fact that it became the #1 kudosed fic on AO3 a month or so ago(?) was notable!

a chat on the wolfstar discord reminded me that i've been curious to expand upon some of the stats in the fanlore article, so here are some stats courtesy of the wayback machine:

the fic finished updating on 12 Nov 2018, or ~620 days after it was first posted

a pity that there were only three snapshots captured in the entire period of 2018-2019 (2 Feb 2018, 13 Feb 2018, and 25 Jun 2019 -- 337, 348, and 845 days after the fic was first posted, respectively)

that said, it seems this did manage to capture the period when this fic first began exploding in popularity -- 1350-1400ish days after the fic was first posted (March 2017) would be Nov-Dec 2020.

The fic was still relatively modestly popular in early Nov 2020, until the number of hits, kudos, and bookmarks more than doubled in the two months between 5 Nov 2020 and 9 Jan 2021 -- more than two years after the fic finished posting!

(if anyone has any insights into what exactly might've caused or contributed to this explosion in popularity (beyond a general "tiktok" please!) -- lmk!)

as of Feb 2023, it also does not show signs of stopping or tapering off anytime soon, which is... certainly something, hahaha.

#all the young dudes #atyd #wolfstar #fandom stats #hp fandom stats #fandom history #fanlore

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jula483 · 10 days ago

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I'm new to Randl and was wondering what the context is behind Rhett and fanfiction? It seemed people were annoyed he brought it up on that recent podcast, is this a reoccuring thing? Thanks

Okay. I had to dig a little bit and refresh my memory of how it all went down because it's been two years ago lol

but basically the main catalyst was Ear Biscuits episode 348 from September 2022. at the end of the episode Rhett throws a comment about "what are those people on tumblr are gonna do about this (rhett using a butt plug and not telling link about it)".

important note: audio ear biscuits episode used to come out on monday and video version on sunday.

and in the audio version after adding this random comments he goes on and says "(shipping) it's like a religion, people who believe certain thing, regardless of evidence" and in the same sentence compares shippers to flat earthers.

in the video version - that whole part was suddenly gone. all that was left was rhett asking "what are those people gonna do" and link answering "i don't think about those people". they cut rhett calling shippers flat earthers.

and since back then more people would listen to the audio version than wait for the video version of EB, some of us listened on monday and immediately had some thoughts about what rhett said. I found some good posts that happened in the middle of that discourse: here and here

I was always wondering if they cut that from the episode because they got some feedback? the discourse happened mainly here on tumblr and we know mythical or r&l don't really touch this place (or do they?), but I also remember seeing maybe 2 or 3 tweets about that directed at them when it happened.

So yeah, that comment Rhett said about shippers just left a bad taste in everyone's mouths, especially since at the same time they kept mentioning fanfics and kept doing the craziest rhinky things on the show.

Since then Rhett kinda changed the way he talks about shippers, it's more of a - if they keep watching, then I can't say a bad word and might even encourage them to stay engaged. And that's why that comment he said in the Bert Kreischer video was so odd. To me it just seemed he wanted to "impress" the host with some crazy fact like - I have fanfiction written about me 😂

#anon #ask #discourse #negativity #?#maybe #i'm so sorry this is so long #hopefully coherent enough #lol #i love the fandon lore #I've been here for so long that i jist remember random stuff like that #lmao #my post

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quillandqueer · 4 months ago

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Weekly Reading Update | 14th July

Read This Week:

A Novel Love Story: I'm not a romance reader, but I loved the idea of the main character finding herself in the town of her favourite book series. Sadly, I was let down by a weak plot and a lack of emotion. 2/5

The Letters We Keep: I was so invested in the mystery of the couple who disappeared years ago, but the story was more interested in the badly written romance. 1/5

Demon In The Wood: I'm trying to clear out a 300+ physical TBR and I could have done myself a favour by not even reading this. Great art though. (is he mewing?) 3/5

What Moves The Dead: I finally bit the bullet and picked up a Kingfisher book, and this was everything. Mushrooms with neopronouns and Beatrix Potter's fictional aunt? 5/5

In An Absent Dream (Wayward Children #4): Based on the Goblin Market, a story I love, I fully just closed the book and sobbed for a solid minute at the end. 5/5

The Silver Chair (Narnia): The penultimate book I read before The Last Battle, I think this may be my new favourite in the series. Eustace and Jill make a solid team. 4/5

Currently Reading:

Green Rider: I fully convinced myself I would finish this last week.

The Honeys: I'm getting less and less interested in the mystery, admittedly. All the action was in the first chapter, the rest is just, wandering around camp.

The Only Light Left Burning: If I ever work out why I'm not enjoying this I'll get back to you.

Always Emily: Another one from the old TBR stacks, this is about the Brontes and surprisingly good!

Sleep Like Death: I'm picking up some Snow White stuff, though I had to double check this wasn't about Sleeping Beauty... Unless?

Dallergut Department: I wanted something more fantasy whimsical and not "capitalism bad" but we'll see. Already disappointed though.

Physical TBR Last Week: 351 This Week: 348

#booklr #books #currently reading #weekly reading update #what moves the dead #green rider #sleep like death #the dallergut dream department store #kalynn bayron #t. kingfisher #leigh bardugo #shadow and bone #grishaverse

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books-in-a-storm · 3 months ago

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Snowflake Book Review’s

Title: Dublin Falls' Archangel's Warriors MC #20 Law's Valkyrie

Author: Ciara St. James

Pages:348

Snowflake Rating:❄❄❄❄(4/5)

Synopsis:

Law has been alone and hurting from the loss of his fiancée for years. He finally feels like it’s time to get some happiness back in his life. His first step is to join the Archangel's Warriors as a prospect, which is definitely not something you see every day from a police officer. As he navigates, learning more about the club, and works toward his patch, he meets for a second time a woman he met two years ago. Only this time, she grabs his attention and won’t let go.

Tonya has been through hell these past two years. She survives finding out her husband cheated on her, gets a divorce while pregnant with her third child, and has her entire world turned upside down. Thank God for her friend, Soleil. Moving back to Dublin Falls is for a lot of reasons, and being close to Soleil is only one of them.

Law’s not happy when he discovers Tonya has been mentally beaten down by her ex. He’s acting strange and it’s causing her to fear him. As Law gets to know her and protects her and her children, he realizes they’re what he’s been missing from his barren life.

He’ll have his hands full convincing her to let him in, to disbelieve the things her ex said, and to accept that he’s not in love with his dead fiancée. She’ll learn something about him she never expected but intrigues her in so many ways.

As Tonya and Law work together on growing their relationship, her life is endangered. The enemy isn’t who they expect. One of their pasts has come back to haunt them and Law will do whatever he has to do to eliminate the threat to his new family and his Valkyrie, even if it means breaking the law he serves.

#contemporary romance star review #booklr #bookblr #books #book nerd #law's valkyrie #ciara st james #book recommendations #bookworm #recommendations #adult booklr #august 2024

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bratshaws · 8 months ago

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through the hourglass 372. brb x oc

a/n: this fucking gif should be illegal (comments and reblogs are super welcome and encouraged!)

pairing: plus size!oc x rooster

warnings: kinda suggestive,nothing more

goodness gracious (pls read this one to know more what this fic is about!!)

chapter

/316/317/318/319/320/321/322/323/324/325/326/327/328/329/330/331/332/333/334/335/336/337/338/339/340/341/342/343/344/345/346/347/348/349/350/351/352/353/354/355/356/357/358/359/360/361/362/363/364/365/366

/367/368/369/370/371

(pls let me know if you want to be added to the taglist! )

taglist: @mirandastuckinthe80s @roosterschanelslut @wiipes @lcahwriter @novastories @gretagerwigsmuse @frenchtoastix @lizzie-rdj @fanboyluvr @atarmychick007 @comebacktoearthpls

@peachiicherries @mak-32 @lizziespidiepridie @roosterswifey @ollyoxenfrees @piceous21 @sqrlgrl22 @hofficoffi @lexhalstead3 @lorilane33 @legendarydreamersharkparty @luckyladycreator2

@emilybradshaw @louisahale @leobabbyyy @booklover2sblog @ktjmac @graciereads @bigpoppajes @taytaylala12

1 hour before the ceremony.

Rooster fixed his tie with less nervousness than when he got married, flip,tug, pull, it’s done. He takes a look at himself, then fixes his collar before he runs his fingers through his hair. Beatrice was getting done outside, letting him know she was checking on the kids while he busied himself.

He inhales, running his hands down his crisp white shirt and then exhaling once he was done looking at himself. It’d be fine. He knows that, it’s just another promotion in his life…a promotion that, honestly he always hoped for but now it was hard to imagine.

Lieutenant-Commander.

Fuck.

He clears his throat, tightening his belt around his waist as he tugs his white pants up. He just looks outside the bathroom window, seeing the loose leaves falling from the trees. It was October after all,seasons were changing…and he kept looking. He just stared at it, time went by so fast, he made peace with Mav, then met Bea, they dated then got married and now had three kids…and his oldest was one year old already.

He just flexes his hands, then looks back at his reflection. His tie was crooked…damn it.

Rooster let out a frustrated sigh as he reached up to straighten his tie once more, the fabric feeling unfamiliar and stiff against his fingertips. He couldn't shake the nerves that prickled at the back of his neck, the weight of the impending ceremony bearing down on him like a heavy burden.

Lieutenant-Commander.

The title still felt surreal, a dream he had always imagined coming true. And here he was, on the brink of achieving one of the highest ranks in the military.

But with the excitement came a wave of apprehension, the fear of the unknown creeping in as he stood there alone in the bathroom. What if he wasn't ready for this level of responsibility? What if he failed to live up to the expectations placed upon him?

Rooster shook his head, banishing the doubts that threatened to cloud his mind. He had worked too hard to let self-doubt derail him now. He had proven himself time and time again, rising through the ranks with enough determination and stubbornness it’d put a mule to shame.

As he stared at his reflection in the mirror, Rooster couldn't help but feel a swell of pride in his chest. He had come a long way from the young recruit who had first stepped foot into the Navy all those years ago. He had faced adversity head-on, overcoming obstacles and challenges with resilience and…well, enough perseverance he wouldn’t lose his mind.

And now, as he stood on the cusp of a new chapter in his career, Rooster knew that he was ready. Ready to lead, ready to inspire, ready to make a difference in the lives of those under his command.

And his tie was still crooked. “Fuck.”

“Roos.” Bea knocks on the door, “You okay in there?”

Rooster's heart skipped a beat at the sound of Beatrice's voice,and he took a deep breath, willing himself to push aside the lingering nerves as he turned to face the door.

"Yeah, babe, I'm okay," Rooster replied, "Just... struggling with this damn tie."

Beatrice's gentle laughter echoed through the bathroom door, her warmth seeping through the cracks as she spoke. "Let me help you with that," she offered, her tone filled with affection.

Rooster felt a rush of gratitude flood his chest at Beatrice's offer, the weight of his anxiety lifting slightly at the thought of her by his side. He quickly undid the knot of his tie and opened the door, stepping out into the hallway to find Beatrice waiting for him with a soft smile.

"Thanks, gorgeous–woah.," he widens his eyes, leaning back to see her full outfit. A beautiful,beautiful, dark red sheath dress that hugged her curves like a vice and went down to her feet,lace cap sleeves on her shoulders and her soft brown hair pulled up into an elegant bun with tiny little pearl pins keeping it together “...damn, look at you.”

Her cheeks reddened under the peach colored blush, and she gives a little turn, “Do I look nice?”

Rooster's breath caught in his throat as he took in the sight of Beatrice, his heart skipping a beat at her beauty. He couldn't tear his eyes away from her, the way the dress clung to her curves in all the right places, the way her hair was pulled up, the way her eyes sparkled with warmth and affection.

"You look absolutely stunning, Bea," Rooster breathed, his voice filled with awe. "Like a vision."

Beatrice's cheeks flushed even deeper at Rooster's words, a shy smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She fidgeted with the hem of her dress, suddenly feeling self-conscious under Rooster's intense gaze.

"Thank you," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "I wanted to look nice for you, for this...for your big day."

Rooster's heart swelled with love at Beatrice's words, his chest tight . He reached out to gently cup her cheek, his thumb brushing over her soft skin as he leaned in to press a tender kiss to her lips.

"You always look beautiful, Bea," Rooster whispered against her lips, his voice filled with love. "But tonight, you've outdone yourself. You take my breath away." he holds up his hand while clasping hers, “One more turn?”

She laughs but obliges, giggling as she turns and he immediately whistle quietly, furrowing his brows with an appreciative ‘woo’ under his breath, “Stop.” she playfully swats his chest, “I’m here to help you with your tie,LC.”

Rooster couldn't help but chuckle "Sorry, sorry," he said with a grin, "I just can't help myself when I see you looking so beautiful."

Beatrice rolled her eyes affectionately, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she reached up to adjust Rooster's crooked tie. She worked quickly and skillfully, her fingers nimble as she deftly straightened the fabric and tightened the knot.

"There," she said with satisfaction, stepping back to admire her handiwork. "Perfect."

Rooster smiled gratefully at Beatrice, feeling a rush of gratitude wash over him. "Thanks, babe," he said, his voice filled with appreciation. "You always know how to make everything better."

Beatrice's smile softened, her eyes shimmering with love as she gazed up at Rooster. "I just want everything to be perfect for you," she replied softly, her voice filled with warmth. "You deserve the world, Roos."

"I already have everything I need with you by my side," Rooster murmured against her skin, his voice filled with sincerity. "You're my guiding light. I couldn't do this without you."

Beatrice's eyes shimmered with tears at Rooster's heartfelt words, her heart overflowing with love for him. She wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close as she buried her face in his chest - thant god for setting spray or else his white shirt would be ruined -, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath her fingertips.

"I love you, Roos," Beatrice whispered, her voice barely above a whisper. "More than words can express."

Rooster held Beatrice close, his arms wrapped protectively around her as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "I love you too, Bea," he whispered back, his voice filled with emotion. "More than you'll ever know."

“More than I’ll ever know?”

“Yes ma’am.”

She smiles, looking back at him and cupping his cheek, “The kids are alright, watching tv with Mav,right now. He got here early.” she says ‘And I came in to check on you…how are you feeling,Roos?”

He leaned into her touch, his eyes meeting hers as his brows furrow "I'm feeling... nervous," Rooster admitted, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "But also excited. This is a big moment for me, and I want to make sure I do everything right."

Beatrice's eyes softened with understanding, her fingers gently brushing against Rooster's cheek in a soothing gesture. "You'll do great, Roos," she reassured him, her voice filled with confidence. "You've worked so hard for this, and you deserve every success that comes your way,remember?"

“I know,gorgeous.”

“Good.” she smiles, smoothing his shirt a bit, “Now, remember, inhale,” she inhales for emphasis, “Exhale, smell the flower, blow the candle.”

Rooster chuckled softly at Beatrice's reminder, her calming presence helping to ease the tension that had settled in his chest. "Right, right," he replied, taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly. "Smell the flower, blow the candle."

Beatrice smiled, her eyes shining with pride as she looked at Rooster. "That's it," she said softly, her voice filled with encouragement. "You've got this, Roos. Just take it one step at a time."

“I know,Bea," Rooster said gratefully, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Beatrice smiled, her heart swelling with love for her husband. "You'll never have to find out," she replied softly, her voice filled with warmth. "Now, we still have some time before we leave.” she says, “Is there anything else I should know? That my parents should know?”

Rooster leaned back slightly, back touching the sink, considering Beatrice's question. He appreciated her concern and attention to detail, knowing that she always had his best interests at heart. "Hmm, well," he began, tapping his chin thoughtfully, "I don't think there's anything else they need to know specifically. But if they have any questions or concerns, I'll make sure to address them."

Beatrice nodded in agreement, her expression thoughtful. "That sounds good," she replied, her voice soft. "I just want everything to go smoothly for you, Roos. You've worked so hard for this moment, and I want your special day to be perfect."

“It will, you’ll be there,right?” and he winks and her insides melt.

She just huffs softly, playing with the little necklace he gave her - the movement making his eyes lock on the shining pendant, “I’m kinda nervous myself.”

“You are?”

“Yeah,I mean,’ she shrugs, “I…just want everything to go well for you…and I want the kids to be okay too,I…I just don’t want to mess anything up.”

Rooster's smile softened albeit his brows were worried and he reached out to gently cup her face in his hands, his thumbs brushing against her cheeks as he looked into her eyes.

"Hey, it's okay," he murmured softly, “You’ll do fine.” she grumbles quietly, “Hey,gorgeous,you won’t be alone there, Mav will be there, as will Shells and the Daggers. You’ll be okay.”

“...what do I do if some…Admiral's wife comes to talk to me?”

Rooster's smile widened at Beatrice's question, touched by her vulnerability. He could see the apprehension in her eyes, and he wanted nothing more than to ease her worries.

"If an Admiral's wife comes to talk to you, just be yourself," Rooster reassured her, his voice gentle. "You're charming, witty, and intelligent. Just engage in conversation like you would with anyone else. And if you're unsure about anything, you can always lean on me or Mav for support."

Beatrice nodded, her expression softening as she absorbed Rooster's words. "Okay, I can do that," she said with a small smile, "Thank you, Roos."

Rooster leaned in to press a tender kiss to Beatrice's forehead, his heart swelling with love for her. "Anytime, gorgeous," he murmured, his voice filled with warmth. "I'll always be here for you, no matter what."

“I know.” she sighs, then looks back at the window, “...do we need to be fashionably early?”

Oh she was still worrying.

She’s so cute.

Rooster couldn't help but chuckle at Beatrice's concern, finding her adorable in her worry. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

"You're adorable when you worry, you know that?" he teased gently, his voice filled with affection. "But no, we don't need to be fashionably early. It's better to be on time than to rush and stress ourselves out."

Beatrice smiled up at Rooster, her worries easing at his reassurance. She leaned into his embrace, finding solace in his comforting presence. "Okay…if you say so LC.”

“I know so.” he smirks, “...it’ll be fine. it’ll be okay,Bea. If you feel uncomfortable, then we can leave as soon as my ceremony is done.”

“...I don’t want to do that though… I mean unless the kids want to go and–”

"Okay, then we'll stay for as long as you feel comfortable," he agreed, his voice soft and reassuring. "But just know that if you ever need to leave, we can do that too. Your comfort and well-being are my top priorities, always."

"Thank you, Roos," she murmured, her voice filled with emotion. "You always know how to make me feel better."

Rooster pressed a gentle kiss to Beatrice's forehead, his heart swelling with love for her. "That's what I'm here for," he whispered, his voice soft and tender. He looks back at their reflection in the mirror and for a brief second…he was sure he saw a speck of blonde hair moving on the glass.

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