#Historic Sports Car Club

[opelman]

Rallye de Trois-Ponts 2024 by Ste Tit

[cheriladycl01]

The month of winning - Alex Albon x ZimbabweanOlympicSailing! Reader

Plot: As an old money girl, having been part of your dads sailing club for years you become an athlete, getting a silver medal for your country and a new boyfriend!

You and Alex new it was going to be a busy few weeks, You'd been training hard for the Olympics your whole life. Your dad was part of a fancy yacht and sailing club in your home town. And he was a very very wealthy man, some of the yachts he sold ended up in places of the world like Monaco.

You'd grown up with just your dad, and were homeschooled and were constantly helping him with the boats and that started your love for sailing as a sport. You started to compete in championships when you were old enough and your father had taught you everything you know about the sport.

Everyone you grew up with and Alex came to watch you at the Paris Olympics. And it was a moment to remember getting silver. You were stood on the podium your flag flying in the wind making the biggest grin ever to appear on your face.

You could see Alex and your dad in the stands cheering loudly for you, making you wave and blow them a kiss.

After your win, you wanted to travel home to see all your old friends and family who couldn't go all the way to France for the Olympics, and wanted to congratulate you on your win. It was the off season for Alex too, so you both got to spend loads of time sightseeing Zimbabwe.

Alex loved animals, mainly pets but that didnt stop him from freaking out when you guys took a day to go on a safari and see all the animals your dad would take you to see in the reserves as a kid.

He used probably 3 sd cards for the digital camera he brought to take pictures and filled out storage on his phone too with the amount of pictures he'd taken on just the safari alone. It was crazy, and when you asked him to take a nice picture of you, it would take him ages scrolling through to try find it when you wanted him to send it to you so you could upload it to your Instagram.

"Baby, come on its a picture of me vs a picture of a cheetah how cant you pick me out!" you laughed looking over his shoulder as he's scrolling through trying to find the picture of you at the watering hole.

"Look, I took so many of all the animals and only like 4 of you because the rest were on your phone!" he exclaims before he gasps and see's a gorgeous picture of you.

"Awwww look at my pretty baby!" he grins showing you the picture making you shake your head in disbelief.

"Right, send that to me now... before you loose it!" you chuckle. And he does air-dropping it to you there and then.

After a beautiful week in your home country it was time for the end of Alex's summer break and for him to get back in the car racing. You were excited because he'd extended his contract with Williams and you knew that even though this year wasn't going very well for them, that each race the data they were gathering making it easier to predict which upgrades were needed and worth it.

Monaco, being as historic as it was came with a few upgrades that not only had Williams buzzing but the whole paddock because it looked like they might be in the position to fight for some points this weekend unlike Alpine and Sauber who unfortunately were still struggling with various issues.

You could sense in both Alex and Logan how excited they were for these huge next steps.

"How's the car feeling this weekend? It's looking nicer to drive, more steady on both of you" you questioned the boys who both nodded with grins on their faces.

"Yeah, it's an incredible change it feels so smooth now. Like it felt like we were fighting the car before but now it's complying with us, its a great feeling!" Logan answered only for Alex to nod in agreement.

"Yeah i can definitely see us grabbing points this weekend!" Alex smiles.

Two days later on the Sunday Alex was in P11 and Logan was defending P8 incredibly well and there was only a few laps left to go. Ahead of Alex was two drivers. Yuki Tsunoda in P9 right behind Logan and Lewis in P10.

Last lap action was every fans favrioute but as a WAG it was the most stressful. Especially for you as you knew Alex, even though he was a smooth driver would start to push more than he might be able to handle.

You were stood with his mum and sister and Logans girlfriend and parents biting your nails in anticipation as he pulled up alongside Yuki and Lewis, and taking the inside line managed to overtake both of them.

A cheer came through the paddock upon realizing that Logan also just made the overtake of his career getting him up to P7, placing Lance Stroll in between the two Williams drivers.

They crossed the finish line, Logan in P7 and Alex in P9, a double points finish for Williams, the first points they'd gotten this season and the garage and pit wall went wild as you all ran out to go find the drivers to celebrate.

Alex was grinning from ear to ear in his post race interview, his eyes kept meeting yours behind the camera and interviewer making him chuckle every now and then.

"Amazing race today Alex, first points for both you and Logan. How are you feeling having this and your girlfriend winning and Olympic medal all in the same month!" she asks and his grin widens if that's possible.

"Yeah, i mean I'm so thankful to everyone this weekend for making it happen, it was definitely a long time coming getting these points but we've done it. We're happy with this weekends progression and yeah we're gonna push harder next weekend in Montreal! Obviously I'm so proud of my amazing girlfriend as well, she has worked so hard for everything she's achieved and yeah she deserves the world for the support she's given me over this weekend" he answers.

"Thank you Alex!" she smiles before letting him go and getting ready for Logan.

"What a month" he sighs pulling you into a hug and kissing the side of you head.

"What a month indeed!" you grin back.

y/user

Liked by alex_albon georgerussell63 landonorris and williamsracing

y/user: From a weekend in Zimbabwe Sailing and winning Silver to a weekend in Monaco, Fast Cars and Formula One all w/ Boo 🔥

Tagged 1 Person

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y/dads/user: Amazing medal sweetheart! So proud please come back soon!

-> y/user: we will! Alex loved all the animals and seeing you guys again!

fan1: so proud of this woman for bringing silver home!

alex_albon: two weekends I’ll never forget! Big celebrations incoming 🫶🏼🇿🇼🇹🇭

-> fan2: omg he put their flags together!

-> y/user: Love you Alex and I’m so great full you were there! 🫶🏼❤️

fan3: she just looks expensive, you guys know what I’m saying?

-> fan4: she comes from old money so she has those vibes!

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[glitchlight]

Oh No! I got mad about something someone I dont know posted on the internet and I am brooding and angry about it! Instead of posting I will relax and reflect and do something more productive like:

Scuba diving

Yoga

National Park Travelers Club

Becoming A Nudist

Jigsaw puzzles

Wikipedia editing

Inventing A Time Machine

Woodworking

Masturbating

Succumbing To The Amulet

Genealogy

Masturbating

Dark Alchemy

Robot combat

Bungee jumping

Electronics repair

Beekeeping

Lego sets

Shuffleboard

Slacklining

Eating Lugnuts Off The Cars In the Walmart Parking Lot

Photography

Metalworking

Hacking

Golfing

Paintball

Transcending the Limitations of Flesh

Welding

Thrifting

Sleeping

Abolishing The Division of Night and Day

Pet fostering

Meteorology

Getting Gone

Bowling

Dumpster Diving

Book collecting

Amateur radio

Meditating On My Uncountable Failures

Weaving

Ice skating

Graphic design

Brewing

Masturbating

Car racing

Stealing

Camping

Teaching Crows How To Commit Tax Fraud

Getting Really Good At Beatboxing

Cooking

Getting My Stink Salted

Bird watching

Crocheting

Gymnastics

Screaming Into the Night Sky At God

Metal detecting

Masturbating

Driving Off A Bridge

Sleeping

Thinking about Masturbating

Revisiting Classics To See If They Hold Up

Origami

Drinking

Masturbating

Billiards

Chess

Sleeping

Geocaching

Bread making

Launching rockets

Calligraphy

Archery

Jewelry making

Smoking

Video games

Needlepoint

Water skiing

Animal breeding

Stealing

Podcasting

Fantasy sports

Learning Spanish

Wine tasting

Backpacking

Getting Way Too Into Sports

Alchemy

Karaoke

Stealing

Traveling

Turning Straight Women Gay

Taxidermy

Masturbating

Horseback riding

Fishing

Being a DJ

Quilting

Juggling

Record collecting

Baking

Glassblowing

Drones

Stealing Infant Teeth

Crossfit

Improvisation

Attuning Myself To Crystals For the Purposes of Psychic Attacks

Drinking

Playing a musical instrument

Stand-up comedy

Throwing Myself Into A Volcano

Skiing

Remote cars

Bonsai

Furniture restoration

Quitting While I'm Ahead

Drinking

Writing

Smoking

Meterology

Local historical society

Disappearing In A Mysterious Accident

Assassination

Painting

Handball

Masturbating

Cheese-making

Martial arts

Astronomy

App making

Table tennis

Web design

Letting All The Demons Out of Hell

Farming

Hiking

Home improvement projects

Swimming

Skydiving

Volunteering

Animal grooming

Forbidden Alchemy

Remote airplanes

Gardening

Burying A Bunch Of Eggs

Becoming The Worlds Preeminent White Maoist

Digging A Hole To The Center of the Earth

Trivia

Journaling

Video production

Masturbating

Drinking

Crossword puzzles

Vehicle restoration

Candle-making

Drinking

Reading

Art collecting

Drawing

Makeup

Smoking

Running

Dancing On the Graves of My Enemies

Sleeping

Kayaking

Poetry

Knitting

Sleeping

Designing clothing

Sailing

Acting

Rock climbing

Disc golfing

Scrapbooking

Winemaking

Wood burning

Running Away

Museum visiting

Pottery

Escape rooms

Soap making

LARPing

Freestyling

Flying

Smoking

Snowboarding

Board games

Just Eating A Bunch of Candy

Surfing

Masturbating

Mixology

Smoking

Card games

Kite surfing

Masturbating

Composting

Dancing

Creating The Perfect French Fry

Powerlifting

Model trains

The Rites And Rituals Forbidden To Me

Movie reviews

Frisbee Wizardry

[redgoldsparks]

January Reading and Reviews by Maia Kobabe

I post my reviews throughout the month on Storygraph and Goodreads, and do roundups here and on patreon. Reviews below the cut. You might notice the layout image looks different! I have switched to using the Storygraph wrap up and I'm now linking to the Storygraph reviews as well :)

The Sweetness Between Us by Sarah Winifred Searle 

Perley and Amandine are both readjusting to high school life after a major health crisis. Perley was diagnoses with diabetes; Amandine was turned into a vampire after a car crash nearly ended her life. They bond in remedial classes over just wishing their lives could go back to normal. Perley tentatively rejoins the knitting club; Amandine wants to rejoin a sports team but struggles with exhaustion; both of them have less energy than they had before. Their friendship develops into something more, but can they maintain a romance when they are both still figuring out their own shit? This is a very sweet slice of life story with a fun dash of the supernatural. I wanted a little more from some of the queer themes; I spent most of the book unsure of Perley's pronouns. But I was absolutely rooting for these two oddball teens to find their way back to each other.

LaserWriter II by Tamara Shopsin

This is a novel, loosely, but more so it's a little window back into a specific era of repairable technology and the people who were drawn to it. Set almost entirely in a (real, I think) Mac repair shop in New York City in the 1990s, this book jumps from backstory to backstory, introducing a range of self-taught computer fanatics. The cast and the story both feel wide but not deep. I didn't get to know anyone well, not even Claire, the newest hire and lead character. It did give me some serious nostalgia, even though I was really too young in this era to really have any meaningful relationship with it's technology. A weird but charming little book.

The City in Glass by Nghi Vo, read by Susan Dalian

The demon Vitrine has been nurturing, building, challenging and haunting the port city of Azril for hundreds of years when the angels come to burn it to the ground. She tries to defend her people from the heavenly attack but only succeeds in cursing one of angel, embedding a thorn of spite in his side. When his brothers leave, he is forced to stay, and since he has nothing else to do, he watches her begin the long, painful process of cleaning and rebuilding. This is a dreamy stream of consciousness book with less plot that I'm used to from Nghi Vo. I'll admit this one captured me less than her work usually does though the prose is very beautiful.

The Concierge at the Hokkyoku Department Store vol 1 by Tsuchika Nishimura 

Akino is a new hire at the Hokkyoku Department Store, a store build to serve talking animal customers including many unusual and nearly extinct species. Akino must find a way to be present, polite and helpful without hovering or intruding on the customers experience. This is harder than it sounds, especially with fussy managers always watching the store floors! Sweet, silly, and very warm hearted. I like the delicate, retro lineart style.

The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting by KJ Charles read by Cornell Collins 

Another fun historical m/m romance from KJ Charles, this one more in the comedy of manners genre. I had a good time with it, I liked the leads, and as usual the secondary characters really shown. I did wish the enemies part of the enemies to lovers plot had lasted a bit longer, and the overall silliness of the story isn't going to make this the first Charles book I rec to anyone unfamiliar with her work, but it kept me entertained.

Noodle and Bao by Shaina Lu 

Momo loves living in Town 99, a historically Chinese neighborhood where she knows everyone and all the best places to eat and hang out. But things are changing. Her parents are worried about making rent, and her favorite restaurant was kicked out of its location and now operates out of a cart. The owner of the new restaurant, Fancé Cafe, has big plans to buy out the whole block and upscale everything. Momo rallies her friends and neighbors to fight back against the gentrification. This is a very sweet book for young readers, with talking animal characters and whimsical food battles interwoven with community organizing. An epilogue explains the issues around gentrification for a child who might not have encountered it before.

Brownstone by Samuel Leer and Mar Julia 

Almudena grew up with her white mom, always wondering about the Guatemalan father she'd never met. Until one summer mid-high school when her mom heads off to Europe for a dance tour and drops her off at the Brooklyn brownstone her father, Xavier, is renovating. Almudena has to navigate around a language barrier, an through unfamiliar neighborhood, and into a close knit Latino community many of whom see her as not brown enough to count. But Almudena is determined not to let this opportunity to know her father slip away. This is such a warmhearted book, funny and kind, with a really well developed cast. The art and the writing make a perfect whole, capturing a deeply specific mid-1990s moment. I've been following the artist's self published releases for years and I'm so happy to see their work shine in a full length book!

Leap by Simina Pepesco 

Ana is a college student in a contemporary dance program in Budapest, but her heart has fallen out of dancing. She skips her own classes to spent time rehearsing with her secret girlfriend, Carina, an ambitious ballerina in the classical program. Her new roommate, Sara, transferred out of classical and into contemporary and is thriving in the new, more supportive environment. She's also starting to develop feelings for the kind teacher, Marlena, who helped her transfer. Both of them are struggling to figure out their relationships with their art, as well as their sexualities, as well as how safe or not safe it feels to be out at their private, gossip-prone school. This is a really well told and well drawn coming of age story; I also really appreciated it as a story of queer friendship which complicated some of the standard narratives around first crushes/first relationships/coming out being kind of anti-climatic, half affirming, half disappointing. Definitely recommend!

Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar 

What a book! Several of my friends called this one of their top reads of last year and I can see why. The book centers around Cyrus Shams, a poet and recovering addict, who was raised in the US by a single father. The pair left Iran when Cyrus was a baby after his mother was killed in a passenger plane, shot down by mistake by the US army. In his late 20s, Cyrus is mostly drifting through life, working weird part time jobs, sometimes writing, trying to stay sober. He wants to write about the concept of martyrdom, about dying for a cause, or what makes people consider a death meaningful. When he hears of a Persian artist literally hosting her last weeks as she dies of cancer in the Brooklyn Museum of Art, Cyrus flies to New York City to speak with her. Their conversations will impact him more than he could ever have dreamed. This is an usually structured book, full of flashbacks, alternate POVs, dream sequences. It's rich with layers of symbolism and meaning, especially with repeated references to names, to lineage, to legacy, the lingering trauma of violence and revolution, and what a life of art demands from the artist. This book surprised and moved me. I'm delighted that it was chosen by my book club, so I've got a lengthy conversation with friends about this book to look forward to!

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde read by Susan Duerden 

The Eyre Affair is a mystery-crime-sci-fi-comedy novel for the literary nerd. It is set in England in an alternate universe version of the 1980s, in which cloning of extinct animals for household pets is common, time travel looked down on as wretched career choice, and literary crimes get their own whole division in the police force. Thursday Next is a veteran of the Crimean War (which has been running more than a century) and a Lit Crimes special agent- her expertise is immediately needed when a priceless Dickens' manuscript is stolen by a thief whose image does not register on film. Things quickly get strange- and also hilarious.

Re-read in 2025: I revisited this after reading and loving Jasper Fforde's stand alone sci-fi novel Early Riser last year. Unfortunately, The Eyre Affair suffered in comparison- the main villain of the book is very weak, and I can now see the pacing issues of this debut novel. I still found it very funny and probably caught more of the classic lit jokes than I did last time, but it's no longer the Fforde novel I'd suggest people start with. Try one of his more recent works! 

She Loves to Cook and She Loves to Eat vol 3 by Sakaomi Yuzaki translated by Caleb Cook

This series just keeps getting more and more adorable! This volume introduced two new characters, and I braced for a moment hoping they wouldn't be rivals to the main couple, who are very slowly beginning to flirt. I should not have doubted!! Both newbies immediately seen that Nomoto and Kasuga are interested in each other and begin to cheer lead/wing man from the sides. Plus, in the author's note, the author talks about selling merch for a Japanese organization supporting marriage equality. I can't wait to read more!

[gayforanthonyjcrowley]

So, I have this writing idea, but I might need some help from you guys.

I have this idea where Crowley and Aziraphale go on abc dates, but I need some ideas. This is the list I have so far:

A: alpha Centauri, amusement park, arcade, aquarium, …

B: baking, boat ride, botanical garden, berry picking, backyard camping, bowling, …

C: cooking, circus, concert, craft night, chocolate fondue, …

D: dinner order, drag show, drive-in movie, …

E: eventing, eating escargo, Everest, estate sales, escape room ( no miracles ), enchilada date, elephant back riding, Easter egg hunt, Eden garden, …

F: fishing, filharmony, fruit picking, firework show, …

G: gaming, getting matching tattoos, goat yoga, …

H: hair tutorial remaking, hiking, horseback riding, historical museum, …

I: ice cream, ice skating, ikea shopping, …

J: jazz club, jogging, jacuzzi, jigsaw puzzle, …

K: kayaking, Karaoke, …

L: live music, Lego building, …

M: movie night, museum, mini golf, magic show, …

N: national park, Nintendo game night, …

O: oven baked cookies, opera, open mic night, origami class, …

P: pancakes, planetarium, pottery, painting, picnic, …

Q: Queen concert, quiz night ( triple date ), … 

R: roller skating, Ritz, …

S: swimming, sushi, stargazing, …

T:  tour with the Bentley, thrifting, trampoline park, train ride, …

U: ugly sweater party ( triple date ), …

V: vintage car rally, vinyl record shopping, vineyard experience, volunteering, Venice trip, Venus, …

W: wildlife sanctuary, wine tasting, waltz lesson, …

X: Xylophone concert, Xylophone lessons, Xerox, X-Rays, Xbox gaming, xtreme sports, xylophone, …

Y: yacht ride, YouTube marathon, yoga, …

Z: zurich mini break, zero-proof cocktail making class, Zumba class, Z A Rob Zombie concert, zen garden, zoo, …

So let me know if you have another fun idea! I’ll post a poll on my tumblr, so you guys can decide what they are going to do on their date! ( If no one votes, I’ll choose myself, but I hope I’ll get at least some votes )

I’ll be posting this story on my AO3 account, same as my tumblr, GayForAnthonyJCrowley.

[scotianostra]

Happy Birthday Scotland’s most successful Olympian, Sir Chris Hoy.

Born in Edinburgh on March 23rd 1975,the 1982 film E.T the Extra Terrestrial inspired Chris Hoy to cycle. He was then a mere six year old boy. Between the age of seven and fourteen, Chris Hoy raced for BMX and was ranked two in Britain, ninth in the World and seventh in Europe. He then received a scholarship from Kwik-Fit and Slazenger to compete in the United States and in Europe.

Chris Hoy was also into rowing and rugby as a student. The first cycling club that he ever joined was Dunedin Cycling Club in 1992. Chris then started focusing on only track cycling from the year 1994 joining the City of Edinburgh Racing Club, his main events included the Team Sprint and the one kilometre Time Trial. It was Team Sprint that brought him his very first World Championship medal. His team came second in 1999. The first World Title for his team came in the year 2002 at Copenhagen in the Ballerup Velodrome. He also won the one kilometre time trial that same very year beating Arnaud Tournant. He was World champion in the years 2004, 2006 and 2007.

Chris won his first Olympic gold medal in Athens 2004 in the Kilo – an event that was dropped from the programme for Beijing 2008. Chris took this in his stride and switched his focus to three other track sprint events – the Keirin, Sprint and Team Sprint. He went on to win a gold medal in all three at the Beijing Olympics, cementing his name in the history books.

Following his historic hat-trick of gold medals at the Beijing Olympics, Chris was voted 2008 BBC Sports Personality of the Year. He was also awarded a Knighthood in the 2009 New Year Honours list, capping an extraordinary year. At the 2012 Olympics in London, Chris won his fifth and sixth gold medals – in the Keirin and Team Sprint – becoming OUR most successful Olympic athlete of all time with six gold medals and one silver.

In all he won 11 Gold medals, 6 Silver and 6 Bronze in World Championships, 6 Golds and a Silver at Olympics, and 2 Gold and 2 Bronze at Commonwealth games.

Chris retired from competitive cycling in 2013 he was the first Briton since 1908 to win three gold medals in a single Olympic Games, and one of the most successful Olympic cyclists of all time.

Following his retirement, Chris remains passionate about bikes and has successfully made the transition into the business world following the launch of his bike range HOY Bikes, cycling accessories and clothing. He has published a series of children’s books – Flying Fergus – and is currently working on a second series.

In June 2016, Chris added to his record list of achievements when he finished the world’s most demanding motorsport endurance race, the Le Mans 24 Hours, on his debut. Last year he had a miracle escape after crashing a racing car at more than 100mph at Silverstone race track.

Chris has become a polished public speaker and media presenter, and he was a key part of the BBC TV’s commentary and punditry team covering the 2016 Rio Olympics and 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Hoy has been Ambassador for SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) since 2009. In that time he has devoted many hours to raising awareness of and funds for the mental health cause.In December 2016 and December 2017, Hoy supported the Scottish Social Enterprise Social Bite by sleeping out at their Sleep in the Park events to end homelessness in Scotland..

Last year Chris revealed he was diagnosed with cancer, although he never said what type, he is upbeat regarding it in February he said;

"I'm optimistic, positive and surrounded by love for which I'm truly grateful. As you might imagine, the last few months have been incredibly difficult. However, I currently feel fine.

"It's an exciting year of work ahead, not least with the Paris Olympics in July. I can't wait to get stuck in, have fun and share it with you all."

[werentmarbella]

Beach vacation Marbella

Marbella is a fantastic choice for a beach vacation! With its stunning Mediterranean beaches, vibrant nightlife, and charming old town, there’s plenty to enjoy.

Here are some highlights:

Beaches

Playa de la Fontanilla: Popular and well-equipped, perfect for sunbathing and water sports.

Playa del Cable: Great for families with shallow waters and plenty of amenities.

Nikki Beach: Known for its beach club atmosphere, lively parties, and upscale dining.

Activities

Old Town (Casco Antiguo): Stroll through narrow streets, enjoy the beautiful plazas, and visit the historic sites.

Dining: Try local tapas at beachfront chiringuitos or upscale restaurants.

Water Sports: Consider jet skiing, paddleboarding, or snorkeling.

Nightlife

Explore lively bars and clubs in Puerto Banús or the charming lounges in the old town.

Tips

Visit during shoulder seasons (late spring or early fall) for pleasant weather and fewer crowds.

Rent a car for easy access to nearby attractions like Ronda or Málaga.

Are you looking for specific recommendations or activities?

You can find all these activities, accommodations, and dining options at werentmarbella.com. It's a great resource for planning your beach vacation, with plenty of tips and local insights to help you make the most of your time in Marbella. If you need help with anything specific, feel free to ask!

[classicvirus]

Unveiling History: 1960 Porsche 356B T5 Roadster

In the realm of motorsports, certain vehicles carry more than just a racing pedigree; they embody a rich tapestry of history, skill, and passion. Such is the case with a piece of automotive history currently up for grabs: a historic SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) race car with an illustrious past dating back to its inception. This race car, adorned with the scars of battles fought on…

[constelationprize]

your quiet out loud snippet has me feral has me foaming at the mouth I need tsc2 to come out so that I can read ur fic lmao !

Raven exposé leading to kevjean ??!!! I’m SAT.

thank you!!!!

quiet out loud is actually going to be compliant only up until TSC1, most likely, because I have the strong suspicion most of the plot beats I want to explore in the fic are going to be brought up in the kevjean reunion, and I want to give them my own spin. So the only thing stoping the world from seeing this fic is that I write reeeeeal slow, and divided through multiple projects.

But I've been trying to write every day in August (to... mixed results) and quiet out loud is one of the projects that came back into rotation for that. So who knows.

And while you sit and wait, here's another snippet:

The Fall of the House of Moriyama by Mia Han In September of 1974, Irish college student Kayleigh Day started a semester abroad in the University of Fukui. A star women's lacrosse player and lover of all sports, she had always been revolted by the higher standard and yet lower pay all female career athletes deal with. Following her suspension from the University of Galway's lacrosse team (the real reason which still remains unconfirmed, but Day's biographer Stephen Jackson points as probably being her involvement on a protest for better funding for the female student's sports clubs, that reportedly turned violent when she broke rugby then-rising star Aidan Kelly's nose, indisposing him for a game that cost the University's team the season), Day went to Fukui in a sort of self-imposed exile as part of a sports exchange program. But she did not have the intention of simply staying away licking her wounds; Kayleigh Day meant to make her own path. Over the course of the next two years, Day would proceed to create, fund and launch a bastard co-ed sport by the name of exy, that approaching its fortieth anniversary, can be confidently stated by both admirers and critics to be here to stay. Along exy's meteoric rise came Kayleigh's own historic career, as she is to this day considered one of the sport's best players. Day was known for her notion of fairness and her exploratory spirit; over her decade-long career, she never stayed in the same team – and often the same country – for more than a season, wanting to teach the sport as far and wide as possible. Her life was tragically cut short in a car accident in May of 1994. When I started this piece, my intent was to open a discussion about Day's legacy, and if her aims of an equal-opportunity sport had truly come to be. And, while that is still certainly something that must be talked about, during the course of my research and interviews, I stumbled upon a much darker, much larger story that puts into question exy's true values.

[eastcoastboyos]

Awestruck

Assembing in the kitchen of our airBnB, the boyos scarfed down leftovers and cereal. Blake tackled last night's taco meat like a champ despite waking up with the snifffles. The disease has spread.

Zipping over to Kennedy Space Center, the boys hustled to the bus tour line having learned the night before that it is a must do according to Reddt. The tour takes you around the massive shuttle assembly building via roads lined with canals (where I saw my first gator!) and deposits you at the Saturn V rocket building.

Not really knowing what the Saturn V was, the boys and I went through an introductionary video and mock control room, which simulated the first launch of USA into space. Absolutely incredible. The windows chattering with the rocket launch, the lights flickering on the actual control panels as operator voices echoed simultaneously, you really did feel like you were there in the launch room on such of a historic moment.

Exiting this room with a horde of blind folk, the boys were gob smacked, rounding a corner and coming right up to the massive rear engine boosters of an actual Saturn V rocket above our heads. Jaws dropped as we marveled at the scale and complexity of the machine.

Exploring the area, we encountered another phenomenal theater simulating the moon landing and marveled at the moon rocks, space suits, and lunar buggys around us. Blake and I joked about the Apollo 11 error code 1202 with our own error codes: 8008 for boob and 9009 for making a poop.

Finishing our exploration of Saturn V, the boys bussed back to the main compound and headed into the Atlantis Space Shuttle Building. Representing the next phase of NASA spacecraft, we were treated to another informative video on the origin of the vessel and an appreciation for the decade of engineering to design the shuttle. To our awe once again, after the imerisve shuttle launch video finished, the video screens rolled up to reveal the actual Atlantis space shuttle behind. 🤯

If our brain chunks weren't already sxattered enough, beside the large space shuttle Atlantis was a small glass box containing the actual wood and paper concept model for the shuttle built ten years prior of the first shuttle launch. Having this massive machine and simple model side by side was such an incredible symbol of engineering design to creation. We all agreed how inspirational everything was.

Goofing around, the boys played with space toilets, I reviewed some employment contract details, and we discussed favourite roller coasters while in line for the cockpit launch simulator, another winner. Some somber moments were had looking at the Challenger and Discovery debris and Joel remarked how KSC had you like "Shittttttt" and then the next moment, a quiet and reflective "shit....".

Taking a quiet snooze in the car, some of the boys recuperated as we made the final stretch to Miami Beach: 2200km in total. Discussing the long term debt cycle, toll road uncertainty, the abundance palm trees and canals, and the worst traffic and drivers we've seen thus far, the boys made it to Miami as the sun was setting. Dylan remarked at the endless lawyer billbords such as "I heart my attorney, 300k" and noted: " Half this country's entire economy is lawyers sueing everone".

Our airBnB is in a cool Latin area, and after obtaining some missing sheets, the boys downed some Corona's, slapped each of with tortillas, placed Georgie on the mantel, and head out on the town. Miami Beach is saturated with art Deco and our heads swiveled as we looked at them lit up in the night with color. Miami Beach is bumping.

Sports cars, fancy outfits, mango strip clubs, gangs on ATVs and motor bikes, the place's energy seem to match New York. Things seem full circle. After resting on the grass for a moment to process everything, (#fiveIntroverts) the boys grabbed margaritas and nachos at Oh Mexico. Letting the night fall late to the sound sof Latin musc, we savored reminiscing about the trip while periodically singing Happy birthday in Spanish.

We miss you Ben.

Derek

[kicksaddictny]

Jordan Brand Introduces District 23: A Celebration of Basketball and Community in Paris

Jordan Brand Unveils District 23: A Cultural Celebration of Basketball and Community in Paris

Jordan Brand is excited to introduce District 23, a transformative celebration of Paris' vibrant 18th arrondissement, elevating it into a global hub for sports and culture.

District 23 is Jordan Brand’s homage to the diverse cultures and international youth that shape basketball and its many dimensions. It is a living example of how sport can be a catalyst for lasting community impact, especially for the next generation.

This unique initiative features a six-week program, curated by District 23 Creative Director Youssouf Fofana, centered around the historic former Tati Barbès department store, which has been renovated to become a space for creativity and community.

“This entire project is dedicated to the youth of this neighborhood and similar neighborhoods around the world,” says Youssouf, a frequent Jordan Brand collaborator and founder of the Maison Château Rouge fashion brand. “By amplifying the 18th arrondissement to the world, we hope to empower community members to create a new legacy for themselves and future generations.”

Youssouf has designed an immersive “summer school” for young creatives, focusing on design, technical skills, and brand creation. This intensive program is inspired by Youssouf’s journey to becoming a designer while growing up in Paris’ African diaspora.

His path included a pivot from a banking career to founding a nonprofit with his brother, supporting local artisans in Senegal. This work led to the creation of Maison Château Rouge and collaborations with Jordan Brand on the AJ1 Mid SE Fearless and an AJ2.

“The coolest kids in my neighborhood wore Jordan Brand, and Michael Jordan was our hero, so working with Jordan on the AJ1 and AJ2 was a dream come true,” says Youssouf. “District 23 feels like our biggest collaboration yet, bringing our story full circle.”

In partnership with Foot Locker, Jordan Brand will provide Parisian youth access to basketball courts and outdoor spaces for sport, with programming that uses movement as a gateway to learning creative skills. Key spaces include Paris Basket 18, a women’s basketball club, and Square Leon, a central park in the 18th arrondissement.

Youssouf and Jordan Brand family member Easy Otabor, owner of Chicago's Anthony Gallery, have curated the Diaspora Renaissance exhibition. This exhibition invites visitors to explore the interconnected nature of diasporic communities through works from 23 artists, including Gabriel Moses, Alvin Armstrong, and Maty Biayenda. Six artists were commissioned to interpret the AJ1 through a diasporic lens, showcasing the cultural significance of this iconic shoe.

District 23 will also celebrate the gastronomy of the 18th arrondissement, highlighting recipes, restaurants, and food collectives that honor cultural traditions. Mam’ayoka, known as the mothers of the 18th arrondissement, will serve crowd favorites like Thieboudienne, a West African dish. Emerging diasporic chefs will share contemporary takes on traditional dishes.

Around the corner from the Tati Barbès building, sneaker enthusiasts and basketball fans can visit the region’s first Foot Locker x Jordan store, featuring the best of Jordan Brand’s products and community experiences.

The significance of District 23’s setting, at the former Tati Barbès space and throughout the 18th arrondissement, is profound. Founded by Jules Ouaki in 1948, the Tati department chain transformed the fashion industry with its low-cost textiles and distinct gingham branding, debuting in the 18th arrondissement, home to many immigrant communities.

Following the store’s closure in 2020, Youssouf transformed the space into the headquarters for his design-development program and collective, United Youth International, providing technical skills, mentorship, and community for Parisian youth aspiring to creative careers.

Jordan Brand is proud to partner with Youssouf to revitalize this historic space, serving young creatives and athletes this summer and beyond.

“It’s hard to imagine what’s possible without the knowledge and references to look back on,” says Youssouf. “District 23 is a memento for the youth of the 18th arrondissement to inspire them to achieve their dreams.”

Local community members can explore District 23 using an immersive guide available on the Nike App. Stay tuned for more updates on Jordan’s celebration of basketball culture this summer in Paris.

[bilbobagginsomebabez]

i love kendrick lamar so much for how clearly he sees rap and how intentional his actions are when it comes to upholding and honoring it. the drake diss saga is so fascinating to me because that's exactly what he did AGAIN.

rap is the most intellectual and literary genre of music because in no other genre does the musician also assume the role of speaker, of orator. it's a speech that's also a poem that's also a song that's also often a history--a tool to raise consciousness, to give voice to and teach its information-starved people what harm was done and sometimes chart a path to undoing it. and you can dance to it! it's multipurposed and embedded in the daily life of the culture that created it, using the full complexity of music as technology for a communication highway. if rap was a car and i slapped it on the hood, it would be to express "there's so much going on under here, i don't think anybody understands all of it, but goddamn does she go so so so fucking fast." I genuinely believe that we should respect and interact with it as an oral history tradition. perhaps early in its development, but it's not just another type of music.

and lamar loves rap like rap loves lamar; rap is his perfect ecological niche and his presence strengthens the ecosystem in turn. in interviews, he talks about the wordplay, assembling bars and songs like puzzles, literally playing with the meanings and how the words influence each other. embedding different messages that require you to listen to it over and over to catch all the meanings, that require it to age with along you and accrue its true depth in your mind as you accrue experience and comprehension. i couldn't imagine a more involved and complex demonstration of pure literary skill or a mind more suited to take the challenge and treat it like his elementary school playground.

whole fuckin books could be written about Euphoria, Meet the Grahams, and Not like Us individually. like Not Like Us is the least complex of all of them and it's STILL this perfect distillation of the soul of hiphop. a club track on a classic west coast beat denouncing an injustice/exploitation and affirming the values of its people while describing and educating on a historical context of extraction. the others hit a different height of the genre or create a new one. euphoria is a classically great song that gets better in the aftermath of the battle when lines that didn't make sense are revealed to be direct statements about future events. the complexity of the wordplay and the strategy it describes epitomize the competitiveness and sport of the genre.

in meet the grahams, kendrick invented the epistolary diss in order to double a diss track as an evocation of Black generational trauma. he ripped drake's character to shreds by addressing every member of his family and explaining the ways in which uniquely Black trauma that drake ignores and preys on and extracts is destroying his own soul and his family. how his lack of respect and connection to his people translate to a lack of respect and connection to himself, to disconnection from his children that they will have to puzzle over and recover from in their own adulthood. demonstrating its cyclical nature, and how vicious that cycle is. enunciating through drake the step by step process of generational trauma caused by rejection and alienation, building a bed of empathy and comprehension for the listener while denouncing drake for the cowardice and betrayal of his response to it, for his selfishness and decision to hand the trauma down again. by addressing it first to adonis, showing both how necessary and culturally embedded it is to step in and provide mentorship when parents are dropping the ball.

a lot of the reactions were almost scared by it and immediately distanced themselves from it. someone on dead end hip hop said "he's talking directly to drake, he's not talking to us anymore." (around the same time as he had his head in his hands and said "i think this might help this dude.... later" which made me laugh so hard i cried.) but kendrick is so much smarter than that. it's not just for drake. it's a mirror to the pain and dissonance that made drake, the culture that allowed drake, and the living futures he and men like him destroy.

and i haven't even talked about the music. how embedded his music is in Black art, how he pulls forward greats from previous musical eras like George Clinton and embeds the literal soundscape of Black musical history. it's incredible. this isn't to say other genres of music are worse in any way. music doesn't need to be a song that's also 17 other things in a trench coat. rap just did something else that we haven't begun to really take stock of. and tbh i think it's fun to have somebody run circles around you when you can admire the sheer awe-inspiring skill of the loops.

[i-am-still-bb]

1 / 12

First Kiss | Mission Fic | Fake Dating | “Whenever I look at you…” | Snow | Historical AU

--

Pairing: Fili/Kili Rating: T Universe: Fast Car (formerly Dead Batteries) Words: 3346 words

--

Kili tugged at his sweatshirt and checked his appearance in the mirror. He frowned, considering. Then he yanked the sweatshirt off over his head, balled it up, and threw it in a corner where it joined the other shirts that he had tried and discarded. He wanted to look nice, but not like he was trying to look nice. Because if he looked like he was trying someone would definitely comment on it and then the teasing would start. T-shirts and flannel shirts were crumpled in that corner as well.��

He sighed considering the inside of his closet. Only a handful of sweatshirts were left on their hangers. And they were the ones that he always wore, so they were frayed and soft with oil stains, bleach spots, small holes, and soft with memories. 

He pulled another one from its bent metal hanger. The hanger swung wildly when the sweatshirt came free. Sweatshirt on he pulled at the frayed cuffs that fell to his knuckles and checked his appearance again. Hands tucked under the sweatshirt, he stretched the fabric before taking another look. It would do. He scratched at a bit of dried something on the sleeve until there was nothing left but a light colored smear on the black fabric. 

This sweatshirt had been in his closet the longest. He remembered when he got it. It had been too big then; he’d had to roll up the sleeves more than once. He had forgotten a jacket and it was cold. Fili had flung open a closet door of a hall closet that smelled of leather and rubber. It had bins for shoes lined up along the wall, baskets for hats and gloves—one basket dedicated to mittens that had lost their mate—and jackets and coats of all sorts. 

“This one should fit,” Fili said, pushing aside other jackets. 

It was black with the worn and cracked logo of a sports team on the front. 

Kili nodded and Fili pulled it down. “I’ll give it back at school on Monday.”

Fili shrugged. “Keep it. I don’t think it’s been worn in years. I think it might be one of Uncle Thorin’s.”

At some point later Kili found Dwalin’s name written on the tag.

Kili’s phone vibrated in his pocket. 

// OMW. ETA 5m. - FeeD //

// i’ll be on the porch - KiliO //

Kili checked his pockets—phone, wallet, keys—before closing his bedroom door firmly behind him. 

It was barely 6, but it was already dark outside. The only light on the house was the flickering glow of the television. Kili could see his father’s silhouette, black against the flickering flashes of primary colors on a field of green.

“Where are you going?” 

Kili froze, foot only halfway on the floor, midstep. “It’s the first Saturday? It’s movie night at the club house.”

His father turned his head. “Why do you look like you’re sneaking out?” he barked when he saw Kili’s hunched shoulders and unsteady feet.

“I don’t,” Kili shot back. He squared his shoulders and planted both feet firmly on the floor. ‘Too little, too late, too defensive.’

His father grunted. The television switched to a dark commercial, but Kili still saw his father lift the green glass bottle to his lips and take a drink, eyes still fixed on the tv rather than looking at Kili. 

“What movie?”

“I don’t know. Nori said he was going to bring something.”

“When will you be home?”

“The movie might be a long one, or people will want to play games—”

“What time—”

Kili gave a short answer, “Before curfew.”

“That’ll be after midnight. How will you be getting home?”

Kili shrugged helplessly, “Someone will drive me, maybe Nori?”

“How old is he?”

Kili quickly tried to do the math in his head, “He’s in college,” he offered.

His father’s head snapped in Kili’s direction.

“19, I think,” Kili quickly offered. “He’s like 3 and a half years older than me.”

“Fine,” and he turned back to the television. “You should comb your hair every once in a while,” was his parting shot at Kili darted down the hallway to the front door, eager to escape before his dad changed his mind. 

“I do brush it,” he muttered to himself as soon as he was out of earshot. 

Fili’s sedan was idling noisily by the mailbox.

Kili pulled open the passenger door and was greeted by the crackling music courtesy of the only alternative rock radio station near enough to be picked up, but not near enough for perfectly clear music, the cherry air freshener, and a smell that Kili always associated with Fili.

“What took so long?” Ori asked from the backseat where he was squished between Gimli and Gimli’s older sister Emily.

“I figured that with you in the car 5 minutes meant 10 minutes.”

“I’m not even driving!” Ori protested. 

“Still.”

Fili met Kili’s eyes, raised an eyebrow, and looked to the closed front door of Kili’s house in a silent question.

“Let’s just go,” Kili said. 

—

The clubhouse was as familiar to Kili as his own house. And tonight, like each first Saturday, it was overrun with people, friends and family of the members of the Line of Durin motorcycle club, and of the people who worked for Durin and Son’s Garage. The main room was filled with card tables set up for poker and there was already a serious pawl over the room despite the occasional laughter. Many of the adults and older teens who wanted to be part of the “upstairs people” were playing cards already while others were standing in clusters watching the games of cards and pool. There was a room for the much younger kids which would largely clear out by 7 or 8 when parents said their goodbyes. It was then that the music would get louder and the drink would flow faster.

Their little group went to the basement to join the others who were in the “in between place” of not being little kids that needed to be supervised and not being grown enough to be interested in card games with stakes. The basement were shelves of boardgames, a table, and mismatched, donated couches and chairs that all faced a projector screen. 

—

“Do you know what you should do, Gimli?” Emily asked in a sing-song voice.

“The answer is no.” Gimli had been watching the whispering taking place at the other end of the table and had decided that he wanted no part in it. 

“You don’t even know what it is.”

By this point they had all consumed far too much soda and eaten plates of food that consisted of far too many desserts and cookies. Most of the kids were gone leaving a group of 8 in the basement. And Gimli was the youngest.

Nori threw an arm around Gimli’s shoulders.  “If you go upstairs and get some beers from the cooler we might even let you have one,” he wheedled. 

Gimli ducked away. “I thought we were going to watch a movie.”

“We will, but—”

Gimli sat down on the couch and crossed his arms. “No. If you want them, go get them yourself.”

Nori looked at the rest of the group and shrugged. And everyone else shrugged back. None of them were willing to risk it because if caught they might get sent home, plus the stuff didn’t taste good anyway, it was more the rebelliousness of it. 

“What movies do you have?” Kili asked, changing the subject and taking the attention away from Gimli. 

“Too many. Here,” Nori opened his laptop and pulled up a folder before handing it over to Kili. 

“Wow.” Kili started scrolling. “Where did you get all of these?”

Someone started humming the Pirates of the Caribbean theme song. They laugh. 

“What do you think?” Kili addressed Fili.

Fili shrugged. “Something with action, or something funny, or—”

“You’re not weeding much out there.”

Fili smiled and lifted one shoulder. 

Eventually Kili handed off the laptop and someone else selected a movie and Nori hooked the computer up to a projector while Kili claimed one of the armchairs.

Someone had dimmed the lights and Kili had ended up sitting in an armchair that had a bit of duct tape near the seam to repair a spot that had frayed from too many hands and drinks resting there. Most of the furniture in the basement were cast offs from various members when they acquired something new and the something old was still in decent condition. None of it matched, most had minor to major repairs, but they were all worn in and comfortable, especially with the abundant throw pillows and fleece blankets that had made there way to the clubhouse over the years. 

In the blue glow of the opening credits Fili perched himself on the arm of Kili’s seat and draped himself over the back of it.

“What are you doing?” Kili whispered. 

“Everywhere else was taken.”

“And the floor is made of lava?”

Fili shrugged. 

Kili tried to focus on the movie, something was exploding, but he was distracted by Fili’s fidgeting. And then Fili poked him in the ribs. 

“Hey!”

Someone shushed him. 

Kili reached up and poked Fili somewhere near the armpit. 

Fili squawked and almost slid off the back of the chair onto Kili. He righted himself before he launched a tickle campaign that had Kili gasping for breath.

“Jesus, get a room,” Nori snapped. 

Fili stopped and said something back. But Kili was too busy trying to breath and overly aware of his reddening cheeks to catch what was said. He pressed the back of his hands to his cheeks to cool them. 

Then Fili slid down to squish into the chair alongside Kili.

They were pressed together tightly, thighs, hips, sides, shoulders. Fili draped his arm over the back of the chair behind Kili. It made the seating arrangement more comfortable, but expanded their points of contact. 

Any hope Kili had for actually understanding what was happening in the movie was long gone. And he had to actively focus on controlling his physical reaction with Fili adjusted and draped one of his legs over Kili’s. Neither of them moved when the lights came on. Kili struggled to focus on the conversation when he was surrounded by the smell of Fili and could feel Fili’s body heat emanating from each place they were touching. 

“What should we do now?”

There was some half-hearted suggestions for more movies, Emily suggested RISK but that was quickly shot down on account of the time. 

“What about Sardines?” Gimli suggested.

There was an altogether positive reaction to that option. 

“Who’s it first?” someone asked. 

“Oldest!” Nori said.

“Youngest!” Gimli shot back.

“Come on!” Fili grabbed Kili’s hand and pulled him up from the chair. And he did not let go once Kili was standing. He dragged Kili towards the stairs to follow the rest of the group that was pounding up the steps. 

“Let me get my jacket!” Kili protested. Only then did Fili release Kili’s hand. His palm was warm and damp from where they had been touching. Kili regretting his forethought for a second, but grabbed his jacket anyway. Fili waited on the bottom step. 

“Ready?”

“Always,” Kili shot back. “You’re not the greatest hider.”

“We’ll see,” Fili smirked. 

There was far more giggling and shoving than normal on account of the alcohol they had consumed. It came out to only half a can per person (some having more and some having a bit less), so it was really just an excuse to be more boisterous than normal. They were talking loudly, pushing up against each other, laughing at anything and everything. 

“So who’s going to collect the sticks?” Fili asked.

“Who can we trust not to cheat?”

“Definitely not Nori,” Ori said.

Nori caught Ori around the neck and gave him a good natured head rub that left his red hair standing on end. “It can’t be Ori then,” Nori said. “He will take the last piece of cake and lie about it.”

“That was one time! And I really did forget that I ate it!”

“Gimli?” Kili suggested. 

“Any objections or dirty laundry that you’d like to air about your dearest baby brother?” Nori asked.

Gimli elbowed Nori who dodged it expertly.

“Well…” Emily dragged out the word.

“Don’t you dare,” Gimli threatened. 

“What’s this?” Kili asked. “Gimli has done something he shouldn’t?”

Emily smiled sweetly, “I can’t think of anything at the moment.”

Gimli was dispatched to gather sticks and break them off so that one was half the length of the others. 

“So where are you going to hide?” Fili asked when they all drifted into little group conversations.

“Like I’d tell you,” Kili teased.

“I’ll tell you where I’m hiding,” Fili replied.

“Why would—” Kili started to ask, but then Gimli was back with a fistful of sticks. 

Nori reached for a stick but Fili bated his hand away. “There should be a system for who draws first.”

“Oldest to youngest,” Nori answered automatically. 

“Who won last time?” Gimli asked, but no one could remember. 

Emily had a suggestion, “How about the next person to have a birthday draws first and then we go clockwise from there?” 

Each person held up their stick once it was drawn, comparing them.

“Are you sure you made one shorter than the rest?” Nori asked skeptically.

Gimli was defensive, “Yes!”

When it was Kili’s turn his stick was obviously shorter than everyone elses.

“See!” Gimli said. 

Nori set a timer on his watch for five minutes and then everyone except Kili went back inside to wait while Kili found a place to hide. 

Kili stuffed his hands in his pockets and walked around the club house considering his options. They had played this game often and most of them knew the regular hiding place. Ori liked to hide in the copse of pine trees, Gimli near the building, but Kili did not have a regular spot because (1) that made the game to easy for those who played together regularly and (2) it ignored different weather conditions. If it was raining he would want to be somewhere with at least a little bit of cover. Tonight he walked into a field of tall grass. As he walked he trailed his hand along the tops of the grass. He considered just laying down in the grass and just having the others stumble upon him, literally. But then he encountered a stone wall that he did not remember. He climbed over it and sat down, leaning his back against the stone.

The wall was far enough away from the club house that the light did not reach him, but it was still close enough that he heard the door bang open followed by everyone trooping out into the darkness to find him. There was shouting and laughing at first, but eventually silence took hold as they broke apart to hunt for him. 

Kili pulled the hood over his ears and settled in to wait. 

He heard footsteps and swooshing of the grass a couple of times, but then they turned away, missing him entirely.

“There you are!” Fili said quietly when he looked over the wall. 

Kili tipped his head back to look at Fili. “You’re the first.”

Fili grinned. “Yes!” Then he clambered over the wall and lay down in the grass. 

“How long has it been?” 

“Maybe ten minutes,” Fili said.

“Hmm. How long’s our longest game lasted?” 

Fili shrugged.

Kili looked over the wall to see if he could spot the others.

“It could be a while,” Fili said. “Most of them were up by the club house.”

“Darn,” Kili said, turning back to Fili. He considered a moment and then stretched out in the grass beside Fili.

“Yeah.”

Occasionally they could hear laughter and yelling from a distance, but no one even came close to Kili’s hiding spot.

“I almost didn’t come back here,” Fili said quietly, so as to not attract the attention of the others.

“Oh?”

“I just had a feeling.”

“Must have been a good one.”

“KILI!!” Someone shouted. “WE GIVE UP!”

Kili and Fili looked at each other in the dark. Neither of them stand or say anything.

“WE’RE GOING INSIDE!”

“WE’RE GOING TO LOCK THE DOOR!” Nori threatened. This is followed by the distinct sound of scolding.

“KILI?” they shouted again when there is still no reply from him.

Then Fili grinned at Kili, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. 

“Don’t—” Kili started. 

“KILI?” Fili shouted so loudly that Kili jumped even though he suspected what was coming.

“Shush!” Kili hissed, elbowing Fili. 

“KILI!” Fili shouted again laughing. 

Kili rolled over and covered Fili’s mouth with his hand. “Be quiet!”he hissed.

They stared at each other for a moment, listening to the others. 

Kili jumped, startled when Fili half bit, half licked Kili’s hand. “You dick!” he swore in surprise. He pulled his hand back to pull the cuff of his sweatshirt down over his hand. Fili took advantage of Kili’s distraction to sit up, dislodging Kili.

“No,” Kili tackled Fili to the ground and they tussled until Kili had his hand over Fili’s mouth again. But this time instead of Kili lying beside Fili he is half laying on top of Fili. Their chests pressed together. Kili can feel each breath that Fili takes. 

The others are still talking.

“Where’s Fili?”

“He probably found Kili. Bastards,” Nori grumbles.

“NO BEER FOR YOU GUYS!” one of the girls that Kili does not know very well shouts. There was more laughter. 

The door clatters against the frame. Then there is silence. 

Kili pulls his hand away slowly. Otherwise he does not move. They stare at each other. And Kili becomes increasingly aware of every molecule of his body, the rough ground beneath his knees, the annoying twist of his hoodie from their grappling, the damp spot on the cuff from Fili’s mouth.

Fili’s mouth.

Kili was never able to figure out which one of them moved first. The tension bled out of his body when their lips touched. A hesitant touch, a question. And then a firmer press. It was warmer than Kili had expected and far better than he had imagined while laying in his bed late at night. Then Fili’s tongue was on his lip, then in his mouth. 

Kili groaned. And he moved to a more comfortable position without breaking away from Fili. Fili sat up, wrapping his arms around Kili’s waist. Kili ended up straddling Fili’s lap. He had his hands in Fili’s hair. 

When they finally broke apart Kili was gasping for breath. And then as he came down from the high he became overly aware that their hips were pressed together. Kili looked down between their bodies.

“Okay?” Fili asked.

Kili moved his focus to Fili’s face. He brushed his nose against Fili’s. Then kissed the tip of Fili’s nose, before kissing him on the lips. “I’m okay. You?”

Fili nodded.

“I’ve been thinking about that for a while,” Kili admitted in a whisper.

Fili smirked. “You have?”

Kili furrowed his brows, “Yes.”

Fili’s smile widened and then he flipped them so that Kili was beneath him.

It was late when Fili finally dropped Kili off. Kili wanted to stay in the car with Fili. He worried that if he went inside his house, crawled into his bed, and went to sleep that he would wake up to find that it had all been a dream. But he dared not linger too long, because there was a chance that his father would come check on them.

“I’ll call you tomorrow,” Fili said after the last kiss.

Kili nodded.

“Don’t think about it too much.”

“Okay,” Kili nodded again. He started to get out of the car, but ducked back into to kiss Fili one more time.

A few minutes later Kili got into bed wearing a pair of sweatpants and that old hoodie that now had another memory to its name and smelled of Fili.

--

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Everything @silvermoon-scrolls @metztlilua @i-am-pinkie

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[f1]

Isotta Fraschini WEC Hypercar team completes first run without a hitch | World Endurance Championship

The Isotta Fraschini team, which aims to participate in this year’s World Endurance Championship with its new Hypercar, says it has successfully completed a two day run of its Tipo 6 LMH machine. The historic Italian manufacturer whose team is operated by Vector Sport – which already runs an LMP2 entry in the championship – completed a two-day test at the Vallelunga circuit in Italy over Tuesday and Wednesday. Michelotto Engineering test driver Maurizio Mediani was at the wheel. The team intends to join other LMH entries to WEC this year – Ferrari, Porsche, Vanwall and Cadillac – which have arrived to compete against existing manufacturers Toyota, Peugeot and Glickenhaus. However, Isotta Fraschini have only been permitted to join the championship on a race-by-race basis, rather than a full season entry. The team will not compete in June’s Le Mans 24 Hours but may have the opportunity to compete in this year’s championship in the later rounds. That effort will have been boosted by the team completing its first run with its new Hypercar, the Tipo 6. The team reported on social media the two-day test had been completed “without a hitch”. Its motorsport managing director Claudio Berro said the team’s first laps with its hybrid system passed without issue. “The first time of our car with wheels on the asphalt is obviously an exciting sensation for everyone,” said Berro, “starting with the technicians who built it who were present and thus finally saw it on the track. The team completed two days of running “For all of us it was a good moment also because the day went according to plan, with major stops to fine-tune the car and analyse the data. I would say the last few laps with the hybrid system activated completed the first day with satisfaction for all.” Vector Sport team principal Gary Holland said he hoped the team’s successful run would help their bid to join the championship in the later rounds of the season. “The first roll-out of the test car that went relatively trouble-free and that’s very impressive,” Holland said. “We’re now looking forward to get the performance-running done and hopefully the homologation process, looking forward to the race-by-race entry until the end of the year. “I hope the ACO [Automobile Club de l’Ouest – Le Mans organisers] can see the effort and the trajectory we’re on and can grant us the entry, so we can go and compete against the other LMH teams.” The second round of the WEC season, the Six Hours of Portimao, takes place this weekend at the Autodromo do Algarve circuit in Portugal. World Endurance Championship Browse all World Endurance Championship articles via RaceFans - Independent Motorsport Coverage https://www.racefans.net/

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Happy 45th Birthday Scotland’s most successful Olympian, Chris Hoy.

Born in Edinburgh on March 23rd 1975,the 1982 film E.T the Extra Terrestrial inspired Chris Hoy to cycle. He was then a mere six year old boy. Between the age of seven and fourteen, Chris Hoy raced for BMX and was ranked two in Britain, ninth in the World and seventh in Europe. He then received a scholarship from Kwik-Fit and Slazenger to compete in the United States and in Europe.

Chris Hoy was also into rowing and rugby as a student. The first cycling club that he ever joined was Dunedin Cycling Club in 1992. Chris then started focusing on only track cycling from the year 1994 joining the City of Edinburgh Racing Club, his main events included the Team Sprint and the one kilometre Time Trial. It was Team Sprint that brought him his very first World Championship medal. His team came second in 1999. The first World Title for his team came in the year 2002 at Copenhagen in the Ballerup Velodrome. He also won the one kilometre time trial that same very year beating Arnaud Tournant. He was World champion in the years 2004, 2006 and 2007.

Chris won his first Olympic gold medal in Athens 2004 in the Kilo – an event that was dropped from the programme for Beijing 2008. Chris took this in his stride and switched his focus to three other track sprint events – the Keirin, Sprint and Team Sprint. He went on to win a gold medal in all three at the Beijing Olympics, cementing his name in the history books.

Following his historic hat-trick of gold medals at the Beijing Olympics, Chris was voted 2008 BBC Sports Personality of the Year. He was also awarded a Knighthood in the 2009 New Year Honours list, capping an extraordinary year. At the 2012 Olympics in London, Chris won his fifth and sixth gold medals – in the Keirin and Team Sprint – becoming OUR most successful Olympic athlete of all time with six gold medals and one silver.

In all he won 11 Gold medals, 6 Silver and 6 Bronze in World Championships, 6 Golds and a Silver at Olympics, and 2 Gold and 2 Bronze at Commonwealth games.

Chris retired from competitive cycling in 2013 he was the first Briton since 1908 to win three gold medals in a single Olympic Games, and one of the most successful Olympic cyclists of all time.

Following his retirement, Chris remains passionate about bikes and has successfully made the transition into the business world following the launch of his bike range HOY Bikes, cycling accessories and clothing. He has published a series of children’s books – Flying Fergus – and is currently working on a second series.

In June 2016, Chris added to his record list of achievements when he finished the world’s most demanding motorsport endurance race, the Le Mans 24 Hours, on his debut. Last year he had a miracle escape after crashing a racing car at more than 100mph at Silverstone race track.

Chris has become a polished public speaker and media presenter, and he was a key part of the BBC TV’s commentary and punditry team covering the 2016 Rio Olympics and 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Hoy has been Ambassador for SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) since 2009. In that time he has devoted many hours to raising awareness of and funds for the mental health cause.In December 2016 and December 2017, Hoy supported the Scottish Social Enterprise Social Bite by sleeping out at their Sleep in the Park events to end homelessness in Scotland.

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HUgE May 2010

Preaching Blues

Good-for-nothing man's blues

Bad Boy Forever

Jack Johnson

Text by Kunichi Nomura

Illustration_SkateThing

Edit_Hiroshi Kagiyama (EATer)

When you hear the name Jack Johnson, you think of only one thing: a Hawaiian surfer with an acoustic guitar who knocks out men and women of all ages with his mellow tone. A peaceful world loved by everyone. But before he left Hawaii and made his mark on the world, Jack Johnson always referred to the first great black boxing heavyweight champion, a man who was hated to the core by white people. His presence as a heel was greater than that of Asashoryu, the Kameda brothers, Tiger Jetsin, The Destroyer and Butcher, all put together. ■Johnson was born in Galveston, Texas in 1878, and began boxing in his teens, where he quickly rose to prominence with his unique fighting style. He didn't just rely on his blessed physique of nearly 190 cm and power, but instead watched his opponent's movements and gradually intensified his attacks, winning fight after fight against both white and black people to become the world black champion. But that Not satisfied with that, Johnson pursued and provoked white champions around the world in search of the prestigious title of world heavyweight champion, an honor reserved for whites only, and finally succeeded in bringing the then champion, Tommy Burns, into the ring in Sydney. The match was held under overwhelmingly unfavorable conditions, with Burns' manager acting as the referee. The 20,000-strong crowd was all white people hoping for Johnson to lose, and in this atmosphere began Johnson's first-class revenge drama, which has been called a public lynching. He relentlessly tormented his opponent, but was unable to finish him off, and the match played out one-sidedly for 14 rounds, making it a spectacular fight to watch.

The match continued until the police, unable to bear the sight, stopped the game. It was a historic event for black people, but a humiliating and historic event for white people.

From then on, Johnson became the biggest enemy of the white community, and many strong white fighters were sent against him, but he defeated them one by one. Then, the great former world champion James Jeffries, who had retired undefeated at the time, rose up to defeat Johnson. It was no longer just a boxing match, but a proxy war of racial discrimination at the time. Johnson once again quickly crushed the hopes of the white people in front of a large crowd. The fact that riots broke out that night across America, with ecstatic blacks and enraged whites, resulting in many deaths and injuries, shows the great presence of Johnson as a person.

If Johnson had been a serious, simple, hardworking black champion, he might not have been so hated. But Johnson was too radical for his time. He had no reservations about using his powers to his advantage. As a pioneer of sports celebrities, he lived an extravagant life in white society. Johnson earned huge income from various investments, and enjoyed a life of luxury that surpassed that of wealthy white men. It was Johnson who founded car racing, opera, and the legendary Cotton Club in Harlem. And women. Johnson openly dated white women and didn't care at all about the anger it caused the public. He hit on every woman he could, won matches, Johnson, who had acquired wealth, was the greatest champion in history in every respect, and a tyrant. Black people saw him as a hero, but he had no interest in improving the status of black people. If he didn't like someone, he would sell his power to them, regardless of whether they were black or white. He was a complete egocentric person. Even after losing a match against a white champion, Johnson continued to get in the ring and live his life the way he wanted to, doing what he wanted to do. He was even thrown in prison for having a white girlfriend. Johnson's very existence was considered a threat to society. After him, it took many years for black people to challenge for world titles. Society was afraid of an uncontrollable black champion like Johnson.

Johnson died in a car accident at age 68, after angrily running away from a restaurant that had refused him service. But his simple way of life, believing only in his own strength, inspired many black boxers to follow him, including Muhammad Ali and Miles Davis. In 104 official matches, Johnson had 23 wins, 13 losses, 9 draws and no contests. That's the record, and he is still remembered in the boxing world as the greatest heavyweight champion of all time, due to his presence.

Black Hole Sun, The Strong One