#The Elite King's Club Series

[xoxoskai]

Before anything else, I want to make it abundantly clear that these are all speculations.

I have taken whatever I could from the books and little hints and crumbs and come up with this theory and in no way does it reflect what will really be in the book.

Before I present my theory as to who the White Mask is, I want to cover who it isn't.

1. Vaughn Morozov

For everyone who doesn't know who Vaughn is, he's Kirill and Sasha's son and was, until recently, prime suspect #1 but Rina confirmed he will not be a part of Legacy of Gods so that essentially votes him out of this immediately.

2. Remington Astor

Before I started reading this series and had only heard of the White Mask, my first immediate guess went to the most unsuspecting person, Remi. Simply because no one would expect that from him and also because chances were that my man had more demons in his closet than he was letting on (like his Dad). However, he is not getting a book and the White Mask mystery is too good to not be revealed in a book which made me rule him out (sorrows and prayers, RemiAri you will always be famous)

3. Eli King

First of all, why would a 26 y/o participate in a passtime game of tag with college students? He's preparing to inherit an entire kingdom and I can't see him chasing people around for shits and giggles or for a more bloodthirsty reason. He simply does not have the time for it. Besides, even if he's not part of the Elites, he's dedicated to the entire united front that the Kings love to showcase which he won't betray just to satisfy his bloodlust (he might have other methods for it that does not require him to join the Heathens).

Which brings me to my prime suspect,

Ava Nash

Over the course of the first three books (Legacy of; Malice, Pain and Wrath), there were a lot of things that were said about Ava or in connection to her that hinted on something far more than simply words tossed to the wind.

(I will be referencing all of them and going forward will refer to the White Mask as WM)

I think the first, most obvious conclusion most people made was that the White Masked Heathen could be a girl. While the four known Heathens are all described as tall and muscular, it was specifically mentioned that WM was leaner.

(God of Wrath, Chapter 1, pg. 10)

Comes and goes as they please.

(God of Malice, Chapter 19, pg. 1)

Cherry could seduce the guards but not WM.

(God of Malice, Chapter 38, pg. 13)

Choice of weapon: Chains.

I always found this the most interesting because Killian, Jeremy and Nikolai rely on their strengths to wield their weapons whether it's a bat or a golf club or bare fists. It takes a considerable amount of power to swing those and inflict enough damage and pain.

But chains are easier to maneuver if you do not possess the actual strength to physically overpower your opponent. They can be swung at someone, used to disarm them or trip people or effectively cut air supply without exerting too much energy.

(God of Wrath, Chapter 1, pg. 9; God of Malice, Chapter 16, pg. 2)

Yes, I hear you. All of this is nice and good and obvious but where does Ava fit in?

Remember when Ava Nash took a shot for having done illegal things but not elaborating? There is so much more to her than what meets the eye.

Time and again, Ava has displayed tendencies that depict that violence does not bother that. That she finds it fun.

God of Malice, Chapter 7, pg. 2; God of Wrath, Chapter 4, pg. 8; God of Pain, Chapter 5, pg. 3; God of Wrath, Epilogue 2, pg. 1; God of Wrath, Chapter 25, pg. 2 God of Wrath, Chapter 25, pg. 2

Most Heathens: Jeremy, Killian and Nikolai partake in the brutal initiation to satiate their bloodlust of some sort. While Ava might not necessarily have the same level of thirst for violence as them, she is definitely a rule-breaker, loves treading the line between what is allowed and what isn't and has the most inside knowledge about the Heathens, something I will discuss in more detail soon.

If it's not obvious enough still,

Rina Kent does not like going with the obvious. She loves surprises and plot twists and I love getting surprised and having my mind blown.

Ava finds the entire concept of the initiation "fun" when mostly everyone outside of the Heathens has expressed distaste.

The reason I brought up WM's weapon of choice is because it was fascinating to me how Rina didn't go the conventional way of making Ava a pianist or a violinist which are usually what music majors in fiction pursue. She's a cellist. So, she probably has experience lugging her instrument to and from places. It speaks of considerable strength that she probably has carrying an instrument that weighs roughly 5-7 pounds around the campus daily, for years.

Every LoG book so far has been a Heathen X REU pairing.

Killian Carson X Glyndon King

Annika Volkov X Creighton King

Jeremy Volkov X Cecily Knight

Mia Sokolov X Landon King

Nikolai Sokolov X Brandon King

And lastly, Ava Nash X Eli King.

MORE STUFF SOON<3

[mileapo]

Mile & Apo: It takes two to triumph

IN THE GLITZY REALM OF entertainment, where talent often shines like a beacon, there occasionally emerges a pair of stars whose chemistry transcends the screen. Such is the case with Mile and Apo, two charismatic Thai actors whose TV show KinnPorsche has become a global sensation, watched by millions of viewers from Russia and India, to Poland and Peru.

The two have risen from relative obscurity to become the new ambassadors of Dior, mobbed by teenage girls when they arrived in Mumbai earlier this year to attend a Dior fashion show.

On the surface, the Thai series KinnPorsche seems to have thrown the rulebook of “How to make a hit TV show” out the window. It is a mafia story filled with surly men, bloody gang fights and epic shoot-outs – which, yes, is a mainstay of TV programming. But the radical twist is this: the two main characters are a mafia boss’ son (played by Mile) and his male bodyguard (played by Apo) who – surprise, surprise – fall in love with each other.

In the history of TV, there has never been a hit crime series centred on a gay plot. But when KinnPorsche debuted in April 2022 on Thai TV and global streaming service iQiyi, it almost instantly became the top trending title in neighbouring countries such as Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Soon after, it claimed Europe, finding particular popularity in Poland, Turkey, Italy and France. Then it stormed its way into North and South America, where it was a top trending topic in the US, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador and Colombia.

No one – not even the cast and producers – thought the show would be this successful. It seems to have fed into some untapped market for female audiences who love action shows, but don’t care to see yet another threateningly perfect actress couple up with their fantasy man.

If you ask any fan what it is about the show that makes them sweat, swoon or quiver with delight, they’ll answer quite simply: Mile and Apo.

Double or nothing

At their photo shoot in Bangkok’s top restaurant Nusara, which overlooks the splendid temple complex Wat Pho, the models-turned-actors are in their element. They tailor their bodies and facial expressions instinctively for the camera, conveying a range of emotions, from sultry and mysterious to bright and playful. The slinky Dior suits, with their clean lines and minimal embellishments, don’t hurt either.

Mile (or Phakphum Romsaithong) and Apo (or Nattawin Wattanagitiphat) recently released their new film Man Suang in cinemas. It is a big-budget political thriller set during the 19th century reign of Rama III, replete with historically authentic sets and costumes.

Apo plays a traditional dancer who is recruited to spy in an elite club and uncover a plot to overthrow the order of the king. Finding a kindred spirit in the club’s taphon drummer (played by Mile), the two team up to stop the underground rebellion.

Speaking with the help of a translator, Mile, 31, explains: “We hope the movie reaches out to a wide audience. We wanted it to have both commercial and critical success, something that could show Thai history and culture to the world, but also be fun and entertaining enough to be a popcorn movie for the masses.”

Both actors note how T-pop (the shorthand for Thai popular entertainment) has been hyped as the next global sensation after K-pop and J-pop, following the massive success of Thai stars such as Lisa Manobal, Bright Vachirawit and Win Opas-iamkajorn.

“And it can happen,” says Apo, 29, also through a translator. “Thai people are very humble, gentle, hardworking and friendly. We can blend into any culture. If anything, Thailand has served as a melting pot for different cultures – just as Singapore has. Our culture can be easily embraced by the world.”

The duo believes that the global audience has transformed in recent times. “They’re now more welcoming of stories from different parts of the world, especially if those stories involve characters going on a journey to discover themselves and make themselves better, stronger, wiser and happier,” says Apo. “That’s why when I look for new projects these days, I look for the ones that carry the messages of self-actualisation.”

Mile concurs, adding: “I’ve always believed in ‘high risk, high return’. KinnPorsche was a risky proposition, because it took a mafia crime genre and placed it in the Boy Love category (a niche genre involving gay romance). But I believed in the project’s potential from the start – even if I never thought it’d become the cultural phenomenon that it is today. Its success has only strengthened my belief in ‘high risk, high return’.”

One-two punch

The road to success has been winding for both actors. Though born with the magnetic allure of leading men, they’ve had to work hard to secure roles over countless rivals, as strikingly handsome as they are. Having appeared in smaller parts before, it was the smash success of KinnPorsche – a show that almost didn’t get made because of funding issues – that catapulted them into not just the Thai limelight, but the global stratosphere.

Asked what Dior’s artistic director Kim Jones thinks of KinnPorsche, the duo laughs. Apo says: “We don’t know if he’s seen the show – we didn’t ask him. But we do know that our fans had been bombarding his Instagram account for a while, telling him about us, asking him to check us out, before he signed us up – well, at least that’s what he told us when we met him for the first time.”

“But for all you know, he could be binge-watching the series right now,” quips Mile, prompting another round of chuckles.

As the two men trade jokes in Thai, it’s clear that they share a genuine friendship. Their camaraderie is palpable, adding an extra layer of authenticity to their on-screen chemistry. Their behind-the-scenes antics and playful banter in candid posts have become fan fodder, launching thousands of TikTok videos and memes.

Mile says: “We’ve only become better friends in these past two-and-a-half years. We’ve become more synchronised, and our mindsets and energies are moving at the same pace. I can look at Apo and more or less understand what’s going on in his mind. We have small conflicts, of course – it’s normal among friends – but it’s usually something so minor, we can resolve it quickly.”

The best part of their friendship? Their shared love of dad jokes – that genre of silly, cheesy jokes with predictable punchlines that fathers supposedly love to tell their kids.

But Mile confesses: “I don’t tell dad jokes because I like them, to be honest. What I really, really want to tell are smart jokes, witty jokes… But I’m so bad at making jokes that they always come across as dad jokes, no matter how hard I try.”

Apo interjects: “Do you wanna hear a good dad joke?” Then, switching from Thai to halting English, he says slowly: “Hey you… watch where you walk… or you will… fall… into… my heart.”

[absolutebl]

Hello! Do you track actors who switch from Seme to Uke roles in different series, or vice versa? If so, question: In Chains of Heart (which I can't believe I was able to get through), Haii plays Ken, who I'm assuming is the Uke. He was a (tsundere?) Seme in TharnType 2, no? And his partner on screen there, Title, wasn't he just playing a Seme as Ana's ex in Future, different from his childlike Uke in TharnType2? Did they both switch roles in different series or did I just get that all wrong (very possible). How common is this besides the guy from Advance Bravely?

Actors who have played both seme & uke in BL?

I don't really track it but I do find it unique and interesting. Lemme scrape the brain meats.

You are right they are really rare but Thailand is making inroads as they move off of an obsession with height discrepancy, so there are more than you think.

This is what I got off the top of my head:

Gong Jun - Advance Bravely (U) & Word of Honor (S)

Ba Vinh - Love Bill (U) & Mr Cinderella (U?) vs every other of his 1000 series (S) - thanks @squeakygeeky

Tay Tawan - Dark Blue Kiss (S) & 3 Will Be Free (U)

Haii Sarunsathorn - TharnType 2 (S) & Chains of Heart (U)

Title Tanatorn - TharnType 2 (U) & Future (S)

Marc Pahun - My Gear and Your Gown (S) & Chains of Heart (U), also played a BL side role in 3 BLs airing at the same time.

White Nawat - Love Sick (S) & Theory of Love (U)

Nammon Krittanai - SOTUS S (U) & Work From Heart (S)

Singto Prachaya - SOTUS (S) & Paint with Love (U)

Yacht Patsit - Between Us (S) & Paint with Love (U)

Mark Siwat - Love By Chance (S) & Bite Me (U)

Fiat Patchata - SOTUS S (U) & My Gear and Your Gown (S)

Han Gi Chan - Where Your Eyes Linger (U) & Ocean Likes Me (S)

Haii & Title are the only ones I know of who are a pair both of whom also played opposite archetypes.

Aun Napat shifts from seme to uke in the course of My Gear and Your Gown. Arguably.

A case could be made?

First Kanaphan - depends how you look at Not Me and Shipper

Fluke Gawin - depends on how you look at Not Me and Dark Blue Kiss

Khaotung Thanawat - Tonhon Chonlatee (U) & The Eclipse (S, but it's not really a S/u show)

Max Nattapol (YES of MaxTul) - Bangkok Love Stories 2: Innocence (U... maybe?) & Manner of Death (S)

Ja Phachara - UWMA (U, but it's unclear) & Don't Say No (S)

similarly, Na Naphat - UWMA (S, but unclear) & KinnPorsche (U) & forthcoming BL Wish Me Luck (S)

In that one Na will be opposite Fiat (above), at which point they will be part of the elite club of pair switches with Haii & Title.

I honestly can't remember which role Phuwin played opposite Neo in My Tee, and I'm NOT rewatching it to remind myself.

If anyone has any more to rec please do. I know I am missing some more obscure ones.

Oh right and this man, of course.

All hail the king. (Bah Vinh has been in like every Vietnamese BL, including one where he played a straight guy side.) He usually plays the seme roles but in Mr Cinderella he was not quite.

(source)

[shepherds-of-haven]

Pretty weird ask, but are there any established like knightly orders within the Shepherd's world?

Not weird at all! In fact, a version of this question has been asked before, albeit over in a Patreon Q&A! I'll copy-paste a more fleshed-out version here:

There are knightly orders (also known as chivalric orders) in Blest. The most famous nowadays are Norm, but in the days of yore, Elven knights were the big thing and kind of the legendary predecessors for all knights moving forward. The precursor of the Shepherds, in fact, originally started as an Elven knighthood that moved around the Continent, putting down demons and helping out people who needed their aid; their fame was such that they eventually attracted members of all races and stripes to their ranks, from Elementals to Mages to Changelings and whatnot, which would ultimately establish the concept of the Shepherds (albeit thousands of years later).

The other races, like the Hunters and the Mages, either briefly had knights on-and-off in their history (Mages) before the concept fell off altogether (different government structure: Mages almost never had monarchies, so the need for traditional knights as we conceive of them wasn't really a thing), or have the equivalent of knights in their culture today--they're just not called that. (The Black Shield is the equivalent of a knighthood or royal guard in the Reach, and Elinden has a version of knights or an honor guard, who are typically called Weapons).

Again, however, it's largely the Norms who form the majority of knights and knightly orders on the Continent today. Lavinet, for example, is a chevalier of the Order of the Rose: one of the many orders of chivalry that exist within the nobility. Most orders are descended from groups and alliances that existed either around the time the Autarchy was formed, or older, when the Norm Kingdoms were still a thing. Chivalric orders were usually formed by knights, bodyguards, advisors, merchant-lords, and other factions that served the various Norm kings and their courts--those mutated into the orders that exist today, which are basically like elite social ranks for various heirs and aristocrats to be accepted into.

The Order of the Rose was, until recently, a chivalric league meant only for men. Initiates attempted to enter its ranks through a series of tests, and it has more of a military-trained slant: fencing and dueling comprised a good portion of its trials, and members carry a special gilded dagger to signify their membership. When the Autarch was a young woman, she ordered the Order of the Rose (and all chivalric orders) to be opened to all genders, which caused a bit of a fuss. Prior to that change, members of the Order of the Rose had access to special lodges and private social clubs meant only for their ranks in almost every major city in Blest. (They still have these, it's just they're not male-exclusive anymore.)

The other Orders function much the same way: you either are born into their ranks by dint of your family's blood and prestige; you bought your way in; you were recommended in by an existing member (or several); you were granted knighthood by the Autarch or a Consortium member; or you proved your mettle by passing the order's various tests and trials as a rite of passage. It just depends on the Order--the Order of the Rose is exclusive and high-standing, and the first male heirs of families often have to apply to it as a way of proving their worth, while with other orders, it's kind of embarrassing if you have to take its trials (aka, you couldn't buy your way or be grandfathered in). 

There are countless chivalric orders, including the Order of the Lily (more focused on the gentle arts, such as singing, embroidery, and general well-rounded etiquette and impeccable manners) and the Order of the Thistle, or, as Lavinet calls it, "the horse-obsessed." If you're curious, Lavinet is a member of the Order of the Iron Cross (another military-orientated knighthood that was fairer to its members) as well as the Order of the Violet, which honors lovers of beauty and fine things like perfumes, parties, and painting (but which has been suspected of being the source of aristocratic orgies... Lavinet adamantly denies this, though, so don't bring it up to her). 

Finally, in case you're wondering, only about 30-40% of young nobles are part of any order!

Hope that all makes sense!

[school-of-all-time]

Qualifying Rounds

After 851 submissions and 346 total schools, submissions are now officially closed. The bracket rounds will consist of 256 schools. All schools that got two or more submissions are guaranteed a place in the bracket rounds. Schools that got only one submission will have to go through qualifying rounds to get to the brackets. There are 214 schools with only one nomination, and 125 available spots in the bracket. Following the qualifiers, schools will be seeded according to the number of submissions they received.

Qualifiers will consist of 43 polls, with each poll containing five possible schools. The polls were created using a randomizer. The two schools with the most votes will immediately advance to the bracket round. The school with the third most votes has a good chance of advancing as well, but not guaranteed. There are 38 spots available for the 43 third place winners. Thus, I'll be eliminating the 4 third place winners with the least number of votes (numbers as opposed to percentages).

(I know this all seems very convoluted, but I am an English major trying to do math, this is about as well as it was ever going to go.)

I'll be posting six polls a day (except for the last day where I'll be spicing it up by posting seven!) Below the cut you can see which polls will be posted each day. If the school you submitted doesn't appear in the qualifiers, then congratulations, that means it got two or more votes and has immediately advanced to the bracket stage.

Saturday:

Poll 1: Neptune High (Veronica Mars); St. Claire’s Boarding School (St. Claire’s); Ashford Academy (Code Geass); Miyamasuzaka Girls Academy (Project Sekai); X Middle School (Fillmore!)

Poll 2: The Elgen Academy of Pasadena (Michael Vey), The Magaambya (Pathfinder 2E: The Strength of Thousands Adventure Path), Karakura High School (Bleach), The Derek Zoolander Center for Kids Who Can't Read Good and Who Wanna Learn to Do Other Stuff Good Too (Zoolander), Magic School (Mahou Tsukai Precure)

Poll 3: Tanz Academy (Suspiria), Jade Mountain Academy (Wings of Fire), Seisho Academy (Revue Starlight), Drearcliff Grange School (Drearcliff Grange School), Blue Heron Institute (Pale)

Poll 4: Budo-ga Oka Middle & High School (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure), Furinkan High (Ranma ½), Malory Towers (Malory Towers), The Guild School (The Monster in the Hollows), Ericson's Boarding School (The Walking Dead: The Telltale Series)

Poll 5: Hemery High (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), The Academy of Unseen Arts (The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), Discipline Cottage (Circle of Magic), Lawndale High (Daria), Shiratorizawa Academy (Haikyuu!!)

Poll 6: Beekman College Center (Flowers for Algernon), Happy Harbor High (Young Justice), King's Dominion (Deadly Class), Brooklyn House (The Kane Chronicles), Raimon School (Inazuma Eleven)

Sunday:

Poll 1: Wammy House (Death Note), Elite Way School (Rebelde Way), Strange Hill High (Strange Hill High), Westbridge High (Sabrina the Teenage Witch), Namimori Middle School (Katekyo Hitman Reborn!)

Poll 2: Yokai Academy (Rosario + Vampire), The School in the Sky (Dragon Tales), P.S. 118 (Hey Arnold), A. Nigma High (Detentionaire), Themis Legal Academy (Ace Attorney)

Poll 3: Cat School (Cat School Worldwide Angkor Wat Secret), Harding-Pencroft Academy (Daughter of the Deep), S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), ACDC town Elementary (MegaMan Battle Network), Boring High (Everything Sucks!)

Poll 4: Welton Academy (Dead Poets Society), Miss Robichaux's Academy (American Horror Story), New Rome University (The Heroes of Olympus), Lanford High School (Roseanne), Shinonome Academy (Dream!ing)

Poll 5: Sinegard Academy (The Poppy War), Haunted High (Monster High), Mars University (Futurama), The Academy of Natural Philosophy (Dishonored), Akademi (Yandere Simulator)

Poll 6: Club Penguin University (Club Penguin), The Professor's School (La Casa de Papel / Money Heist), Seirin High School (Kuroko no Basuke), Sanshu Middle School (Yuuki Yuuna is a Hero), Kamiyama High School (Project Sekai)

Monday:

Poll 1: PK Academy (Saiki Kusuo no Sai Nan), Third Street School (Recess), St. Joseph's Prep (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia), Flashburn's School of Swordfighting (How to Steal a Dragon's Sword), Salt Middle School (Mob Psycho 100)

Poll 2: Wildcliff, School of the Arcane (Trials and Trebuchets), Mugen Academy (Sailor Moon), Video Game High School (Video Game High School) St. Olga's Reform School for Wayward Princesses (Star vs. the Forces of Evil), Edgar Allen University (All for the Game)

Poll 3: Austere Academy (A Series of Unfortunate Events), Roman Academy (Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun), Fukurōdani Academy (Haikyuu!!), Bayfield University (Happy Death Day), School House (Over the Garden Wall)

Poll 4: Strumlotts (BomBarded Podcast), John Adams High School (Boy Meets World), Easton Magic Academy (Mashle: Magic and Muscles), North High (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya), You Show Duel School (Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V)

Poll 5: Shirahamazaka High (Tari Tari), City College (Community), Itan Private High School (Komi Can't Communicate), Uranohoshi Girl's High School (Love Live Sunshine), Cackles Academy (The Worst Witch)

Poll 6: Royal Academy of Diavolo (Obey Me), Et Fran de Muse Academy (Fairy Ranmaru), Yancy Academy (Percy Jackson and the Olympians), San Dimas High (Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure), Academia (Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V)

Tuesday:

Poll 1: Galaxy Garrison (Voltron: Legendary Defender), Echo Creek Academy (Star vs. the Forces of Evil), Alice Academy (Gakuen Alice), Awakened Academy (Eleceed Webtoon), School of Friendship (My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic)

Poll 2: Point Blanc (Alex Rider), Spy School (Spy School), The School (Sparkle on Raven: The Life of Drillgirl), Deepdean (Murder Most Unladylike), Coolsville High School (Scooby Doo)

Poll 3: Barden University (Pitch Perfect), Ella Mentry Elementary (My Weird School), Inkblot Art Academy (Splatoon), Land of Departure (Kingdom Hearts), J.P. Wynne High School (Breaking Bad)

Poll 4: Shuchiin Academy (Kaguya-sama: Love Is War), Oxenfurt Academy (The Witcher), Chamberlain High (Carrie), Gallagher Academy (Gallagher Girls), The Fire Nation Academy for Girls (Avatar the Last Airbender)

Poll 5: Royal Academy (Ascendance of a Bookworm), Wu’s Academy (Lego Ninjago), Glasshouse Primary School (Bluey), Starlight Academy (Aikatsu), Clyde Nite’s Night Knight School (The Adventure Zone: Graduation)

Poll 6: Wellston Private High School (UnOrdinary), Princess Charm School (Barbie Princess Charm School), Avengers Academy (Marvel Comics), Phoenix Drop High (My Street: Phoenix Drop High), Bullworth Academy (Bully)

Wednesday:

Poll 1: Baxter High (The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), Sakuragaoka High (K-ON!), Ayanagi Academy (Starmyu), Pacific Coast Academy (Zoey 101), Ridgeway Junior High (iCarly)

Poll 2: Hillerska Boarding School (Young Royals), Chalet School (Chalet School), Groosham Grange (Groosham Grange), Kinzville Academy (Webkinz), Gravity Falls High School (Gravity Falls)

Poll 3: Doki Doki High (Doki Doki Literature Club), Massachusetts Academy (Marvel Comics), Tremorton High (My Life as a Teenage Robot), Clone High (Clone High), St. Vladimir's Academy (Vampire Academy)

Poll 4: Brookhants School for Girls (Plain Bad Heroines), Atlasdam Royal Academy (Octopath Traveler), Ikenfell (Ikenfell), Knight Academy (Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword), Whitechapel High (My Babysitter's a Vampire)

Poll 5: Crystal Cove High (Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated), The University of What It Is (Welcome to Night Vale), Bayside High (Saved by the Bell 2019), Assassins’ Guild (Discworld), Webster High (A.N.T. Farm)

Poll 6: Cherryton Academy (BEASTARS), Wunsoc (Nevermoor), Kamome Academy (Toilet Bound Hanako-kun), Charles Darwin Middle School (My Gym Partner is a Monkey), The Borderlands (In Other Lands)

Thursday:

Poll 1: Lydian Private Music Academy (Symphogear), Vincent Clortho Public School for Wizards (Key & Peele), Strixhaven School for Mages (Magic: The Gathering), BL University (Zettai BL ni Naru Sekai VS Zettai BL ni Naritakunai Otoko) The Fire Nation school from "The Headband" (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

Poll 2: Seiyo Academy (Shugo Chara), St. Pigeonations (Hateful Boyfriend), Hudson University (Law and Order), Yoba Academy (D4DJ), Forks High (Twilight)

Poll 3: New Mushroomton High (Onward), San Fransokyo Institute of Technology (Big Hero 6), H.I.V.E. (H.I.V.E.), Skolala Refujeyo (Curse Words), Warren University (Bunny)

Poll 4: North Shore High (Mean Girls), Ridgemont High (Fast Times at Ridgemont High), Winding Circle Temple (Circle of Magic), The University (The Kingkiller Chronicles), Spooky Academy (Monster Prom

Poll 5: Ban Ard (The Witcher), Magnostadt Academy (Magi), Blades Academy (Blades and Magic), Bronson Alcott High (Clueless), Moroboshi High (Megaranger)

Poll 6: CHERUB Campus (CHERUB), Haven Academy (RWBY), Nockfell High (Sallyface), Megurigaoka Private High School (School-Live!), Spenser Academy (The Covenant)

Friday:

Poll 1: Nekoma High (Haikyuu!!), Witch University (Return to Halloweentown), Stokely Grammar School (Young Dracula), Atlas Academy (RWBY), Crypt Grammar School for Orphans (Team Fortress 2)

Poll 2: Flying Rhino Junior High (Flying Rhino Junior High), Mayview Middle School (Paranatural), Miskatonic University (Lovecraft), Schoolhouse Rock (Schoolhouse Rock!), Aretuza (The Witcher)

Poll 3: James Buchanan High School (Welcome Back Kotter), St. Freya Academy (St. Freya Academy), James K. Polk Middle School (Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide), Split River High School (School Spirits), La Fiesta Tech (The Sims 2: University)

Poll 4: Konoha's Ninja Academy (Naruto), Suppalo (The Eclipse), Worm College (Adventure Time), Harper Hall (Dragonsinger), Yomiyama North Middle School (Another)

Poll 5: Totsuki Culinary Academy (Shokugeki no Soma), Shermer High (The Breakfast Club), Sycamore High School (The Hatchetfield Series), Creekwood High School (Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda), Dotheboys Hall (Nicholas Nickleby)

Poll 6: Lily Piper University (Musical Pipers Webtoon), North High (Malcolm In The Middle), Nevermore Academy (Nevermore Webtoon), Royale High (Roblox), Moperville South High (El Goonish Shive)

Poll 7: Saotome Academy (Uta no Prince-sama), Eleanor West's School for Wayward Children (The Wayward Children), Springfield Elementary (The Simpsons), Jae Won High (Lookism Webtoon), American Eagle Christian High School (Saved!)

[stupittmoran]

Babe Ruth is the single most famous baseball player in the entire world. Babe Ruth is also one of the greatest baseball players in the history of the game. The Bambino's slugging ability was so great, his last name became an adjective — "Ruthian" — used to describe performances of heroic proportion. We could effortlessly write an entire book (more books about Babe Ruth have been written than any other player) here, but will stick to a mere handful of career highlights.

Babe Ruth the "champion": Ruth was a World Series champion seven times (1915, 1916, 1918, 1923, 1927, 1928, 1932), the American League home run champion twelve times (1918, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1923, 1924, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931), the RBI Champion six times (1919, 1920, 1921, 1923, 1926, 1928), the On-Base Percentage Champion ten times (1919, 1920, 1921, 1923, 1924, 1926, 1927, 1930, 1931, 1932) and the Slugging Average Champion thirteen times (1918, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931)!

Babe Ruth the "home run king": Ruth was the first player in Major League history to hit 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 and 700 home runs. In 1919, Ruth hit 29 home runs becoming the all-time single-season home-run leader. A year later Ruth hit 54 home runs, breaking his own record as the all-time single-season home run leader and became the first player to hit over 50 home runs in a season. The very next year, he hit 59 home runs, breaking his own record yet again. Finally, in 1927, The Sultan of Swat hit 60 home runs, breaking the mark and establishing a plateau that was legendary for decades. Currently, Ruth still holds records for most home runs in any decade (467 in the 1920s), fastest player to hit 600 home runs (2,044 games) and fastest player to hit 700 home runs (2,418 games).

Babe Ruth the "best left-handed pitcher in baseball": Ruth was 18-8 with a 2.44 ERA his first full season on the mound (1915), twenty-wins club (23-12) the very next year (and the ERA Champion, 1.75), and twenty-wins club (24-13) the year after that. Ruth still holds pitching records for most shutouts in a season by a lefty with 9 (tied by Ron Guidry in 1978) and most innings pitched (14) in a World Series game, on October 9, 1916, a complete game 2-1 victory.

Babe Ruth the "postseason prince": Ruth set World Series records with 3 homers in a game (and did it twice) and 12 total bases in a game. His 15 postseason home runs, all hit during World Series games, were a record until Mickey Mantle tied him in 1963 then eventually passed him in 1964. And let us never forget the 1932 World Series, legendary and debatable still to this day, courtesy of "The Called Shot".

Babe Ruth the "nickname collector": Babe (which some actually believe is his real name due to its use) probably had more well-published nicknames than any other player and here are but a few we have seen in print: The Bambino, The Sultan of Swat, The Colossus of Clout, The Wazir of Wham, The Maharajah of Mash, The Rajah of Rap, The Caliph of Clout, the Behemoth of Bust, The Mammoth of Maul, The Mauling Mastodon, The Mauling Monarch, The Wali of Wollop, and to his teammates, Jidge.

Babe Ruth the "hall of fame legend": Ruth was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on February 2, 1936, by the Baseball Writers Association of America, as part of the inaugural class of inductees. At the time of his induction, Ruth held literally hundreds, and we mean hundreds, of baseball records. The single most prolific hitter in baseball history, a key component in "Murderer's Row" and a charismatic personality — both on and off the field — that made him a larger-than-life figure and one of the greatest sports heroes, not just in baseball, but in American culture.

Babe Ruth is part of an elite set of pitchers in Major League history whose career on the mound spanned at least ten seasons and NEVER once included a losing record! The other aces: Spud Chandler (11 seasons), Dizzy Dean (12 seasons), Dave Foutz (11 seasons), Joe McGinnity (10 seasons), Andy Pettitte (18 seasons), Deacon Phillippe (13 seasons), Jay Powell (11 seasons) and Urban Shocker (13 seasons).

[morningdawnknight]

My Duel Academy Life is Wrong as I Expected Chapter 2 - We Opened the Map of Youth and, on a Ship without a Compass, Headed to Uncharted Waters

Fandom: My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU, Yu-Gi-Oh!

Series Summary: Having zero passion for Dueling or even Duel Monsters, Hachiman Hikigaya is the last person you would expect to even attempt to enter the most elite high school for upcoming Pro-Duelists and Card Designers in Japan and yet here he is. Wielding an Ojama Deck, this loser loner is forced to but into the lives of other students after his dorm Resident Advisor, forces him to join the Service Club along with Yukino Yukinoshita, the Ice Queen of Obelisk Blue. Together, their clashing personalities and viewpoints must compromise as they attempt to solve problems around Duel Academy Island.

Chapter Summary: Having passed the Duel Academy Admission Test, Hachiman Hikigaya heads to Duel Academy Island where he watches the school year’s inaugural Duel between Yukino Yukinoshita, the freshmen representative, and Meguri Shiromeguri, the student council president, and the subsequent aftermath of such a Duel.

AO3 Link

Excerpt:

The Duel Academy entrance ceremony was the same as any other senior high school entrance ceremony: a long, boring speech by the superintendent and a long, boring speech by the person who got the highest score in the admission test.

“Thank you,” Yukino Yukinoshita, the supposed smartest and most talented student of our batch, concluded her speech. With icy blue eyes, stormy black hair, and skin like freshly fallen snow, there wasn’t a single girl more objectively beautiful than her even if she was lacking something. Well, she was the most objectively beautiful girl in Duel Academy. I was certain my own super cute little sister cleared her by light years.

Just as people were beginning to clap, she interrupted them with an icy glare and a cold voice, “Now the inaugural Duel of the school year between me, the freshman student representative, and the student council president, Meguri Shiromeguri.”

Of course. This was Duel Academy.

She went off to one side, putting on her royal blue Obelisk Duel Disk and Duel Gazer, as a girl with shoulder-length brown hair in braids, with similar Duel gear, entered the stage.

Yukinoshita bowed her head, saying something.

The President said something back, smiling. 

Yukinoshita twitched.

They both readied their Duel Disks as everyone put their Duel Gazers on.

“Advanced Duel!” they both shouted, as my Duel Gazer connected to their Duel and mics.

“The freshman always begins, Yukino!” the President said.

“Thank you, President Shiromeguri,” Yukinoshita said. “Draw Phase. Standby Phase. Main Phase 1. I’ll start by Normal Summoning Sky Striker Ace – Raye.”

A young blonde girl in a white school uniform appeared on her field.

“A Sky Striker Deck, huh?” the President said aloud. “That’s a Midrange Spell Deck.” She closed her eyes, crossed her arms, and tapped her feet. “Something, something… a low floor but a high ceiling, huh?”

It was expected for our batch’s number one. The Sky Striker archetype is a Deck that truly discriminates. Its consistency and ability to have every out is nearly unmatched but virtually useless in unskilled hands.

Opening her eyes she exclaimed, “You really are Haruno’s little sister!”

I stared at the video feed of Yukinoshita, examining her. The way her eye twitched and her lips lightly pursed. The way she placed her hand on her chest as she lightly breathed.

“I’ll use Sky Striker Ace – Raye,” she continued, “to Link Summon Sky Striker Ace – Shizuku.”

A Link Circuit appeared over her Left Extra Monster Zone. Raye, instead of turning into a red arrow and going to the top right Link Arrow, jumped through the Circuit. She was suddenly wearing a white bodysuit as the Shizuku blue mech armour started attaching itself onto her body.

“I set four cards face-down.”

Her cards had Neko Mane King sleeves, a clear intimidation tactic.

“End Phase,” Yukinoshita declared. “I use the Monster Effect of Sky Striker Ace – Shizuku to add Sky Striker Mobilize – Engage! to my hand.”

And now the combo was complete. Her set Spells would cripple the President and, next turn, Engage would get the exact card she’d need. Depending on what the President played, Yukinoshita basically already won the Duel.

[newsintheshell]

✨ A proposito di Crunchyroll, ecco qualche aggiornamento su alcune delle serie in catalogo:

THE CAFÉ TERRACE AND ITS GODDESSES - La serie proseguirà con una seconda stagione, in programma per il 2024.

RANKING OF KINGS - Confermata la produzione di un film.

LOVE LIVE! NIJIGASAKI HIGH SCHOOL IDOL CLUB - Annunciato un film in tre parti; la prima è attesa nei cinema nel corso del 2024.

THE ANCIENT MAGUS’ BRIDE - La seconda stagione tornerà con la seconda parte a partire dal 5 ottobre.

CLASSROOM OF THE ELITE - La terza stagione non arriverà più quest'anno, ma andrà in onda da gennaio 2024.

NIER:AUTOMATA VER1.1A - Gli ultimi episodi, dal 9 al 12, verranno trasmessi il 23 luglio, tutti assieme. Finalmente.

[raccoonskoodilypoopdungeon]

My Duel Academy Life is Wrong as I Expected Chapter 2 - We Opened the Map of Youth and, on a Ship without a Compass, Headed to Uncharted Waters

Fandom: My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU, Yu-Gi-Oh!

Series Summary: Having zero passion for Dueling or even Duel Monsters, Hachiman Hikigaya is the last person you would expect to even attempt to enter the most elite high school for upcoming Pro-Duelists and Card Designers in Japan and yet here he is. Wielding an Ojama Deck, this loser loner is forced to but into the lives of other students after his dorm Resident Advisor, forces him to join the Service Club along with Yukino Yukinoshita, the Ice Queen of Obelisk Blue. Together, their clashing personalities and viewpoints must compromise as they attempt to solve problems around Duel Academy Island.

Chapter Summary: Having passed the Duel Academy Admission Test, Hachiman Hikigaya heads to Duel Academy Island where he watches the school year's inaugural Duel between Yukino Yukinoshita, the freshmen representative, and Meguri Shiromeguri, the student council president, and the subsequent aftermath of such a Duel.

AO3 Link

Excerpt:

The Duel Academy entrance ceremony was the same as any other senior high school entrance ceremony: a long, boring speech by the superintendent and a long, boring speech by the person who got the highest score in the admission test.

“Thank you,” Yukino Yukinoshita, the supposed smartest and most talented student of our batch, concluded her speech. With icy blue eyes, stormy black hair, and skin like freshly fallen snow, there wasn't a single girl more objectively beautiful than her even if she was lacking something. Well, she was the most objectively beautiful girl in Duel Academy. I was certain my own super cute little sister cleared her by light years.

Just as people were beginning to clap, she interrupted them with an icy glare and a cold voice, “Now the inaugural Duel of the school year between me, the freshman student representative, and the student council president, Meguri Shiromeguri.”

Of course. This was Duel Academy.

She went off to one side, putting on her royal blue Obelisk Duel Disk and Duel Gazer, as a girl with shoulder-length brown hair in braids, with similar Duel gear, entered the stage.

Yukinoshita bowed her head, saying something.

The President said something back, smiling. 

Yukinoshita twitched.

They both readied their Duel Disks as everyone put their Duel Gazers on.

“Advanced Duel!” they both shouted, as my Duel Gazer connected to their Duel and mics.

“The freshman always begins, Yukino!” the President said.

“Thank you, President Shiromeguri,” Yukinoshita said. “Draw Phase. Standby Phase. Main Phase 1. I’ll start by Normal Summoning Sky Striker Ace – Raye.”

A young blonde girl in a white school uniform appeared on her field.

“A Sky Striker Deck, huh?” the President said aloud. “That's a Midrange Spell Deck.” She closed her eyes, crossed her arms, and tapped her feet. “Something, something… a low floor but a high ceiling, huh?”

It was expected for our batch’s number one. The Sky Striker archetype is a Deck that truly discriminates. Its consistency and ability to have every out is nearly unmatched but virtually useless in unskilled hands.

Opening her eyes she exclaimed, “You really are Haruno’s little sister!”

I stared at the video feed of Yukinoshita, examining her. The way her eye twitched and her lips lightly pursed. The way she placed her hand on her chest as she lightly breathed.

“I’ll use Sky Striker Ace – Raye,” she continued, “to Link Summon Sky Striker Ace – Shizuku.”

A Link Circuit appeared over her Left Extra Monster Zone. Raye, instead of turning into a red arrow and going to the top right Link Arrow, jumped through the Circuit. She was suddenly wearing a white bodysuit as the Shizuku blue mech armour started attaching itself onto her body.

“I set four cards face-down.”

Her cards had Neko Mane King sleeves, a clear intimidation tactic.

“End Phase,” Yukinoshita declared. “I use the Monster Effect of Sky Striker Ace – Shizuku to add Sky Striker Mobilize – Engage! to my hand.”

And now the combo was complete. Her set Spells would cripple the President and, next turn, Engage would get the exact card she’d need. Depending on what the President played, Yukinoshita basically already won the Duel.

[quotesfrommyreading]

Considering all the upsides, where does the social climber’s bad rap come from? People who seek to improve their station in life have been the objects of suspicion or the butts of jokes since the dawn of social mobility itself.

Molière’s Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, performed for King Louis XIV’s court in 1670, may feature popular culture’s first social climber. The play satirizes Monsieur Jourdain, the son of a rich merchant, whose aim in life is not to accumulate more wealth, but to be accepted by the aristocracy. The title itself is an oxymoron: A member of the middle class can never become a gentleman. A joke, but one of great comfort to the audience at court. Yes, they have more money than the rest of you here, but they will never have access to this room. These relationships.

By the close of the 17th century, aristocrats, merchants, and servants were crowding into theaters to see bawdy satires like John Vanbrugh’s The Relapse, in which a buffoonish Sir Novelty Fashion squanders his fortune purchasing the more impressive title of Lord Foppington. The joke had evolved: Okay, maybe they can access this room, but everyone (including the servants) knows they still can’t buy class.

In 1722, Daniel Defoe published Moll Flanders, about a woman who cons and sleeps her way into the middle class. Moll might have been seen as unscrupulously obsessed with improving her station in life, but as a widow with no social standing or means, she was also desperate. She wasn’t posing as a gentlewoman to get into great parties; she was climbing to survive.

The social climbers I’m talking about are more like Moll than Sir Novelty. Motivated by economic necessity, we see access as a means to an end, not as an end in itself. We would never squander money to get into the party; we get into the party so that other people might squander money on us.

The scorn for the climber is rich—literally. It isn’t that the wealthy don’t utilize social capital for advancement; they just do so quietly. Or, perhaps more accurately, it’s perceived as their right. Wealth, and the things it can procure—elite education, invitations to private clubs, stays at exclusive resorts—come with a cascade effect of trust, merited or not. “If you are in this space, you must be one of us.” This was precisely the genius of Shonda Rhimes’s series Inventing Anna. You get to watch the character discover—just by dropping the right name or stepping onto the right yacht—what people were willing to offer her. No questions asked.

  —  The New Case for Social Climbing

[laresearchette]

Friday, September 27, 2024 Canadian TV Listings (Times Eastern)

WHERE CAN I FIND THOSE PREMIERES?: WOLFS (Apple TV+) AGENT RECON (Paramount+ Canada) APARTMENT 7A (Paramount+ Canada) RIDICULOUSNESS (Seasons 37 and 38) (Paramount+ Canada) DATELINE NBC (CityTV) 9:00pm SOCIAL STUDIES (FX Canada) 10:00pm

WHAT IS NOT PREMIERING IN CANADA TONIGHT? 37th HISPANIC HERITAGE AWARDS (PBS Feed)

NEW TO AMAZON PRIME CANADA/CBC GEM/CRAVE TV/DISNEY + STAR/NETFLIX CANADA:

AMAZON PRIME CANADA LOS INICIADOS: EL DIARIO DE LAS SOMBRAS PAMILYA SAGRADO PAMILYA SAGRADO PREVIOUSLY SAVED VERSION

CBC GEM AMMONITE

CRAVE TV BEING THE RICARDOS CHRIS REDD: WHY AM I LIKE THIS? DALLAS BUYERS CLUB EXISTENZ FLY AWAY HOME FOOLPROOF THE GARFIELD MOVIE HARRY AND MEGHAN: ESCAPING THE PALACE MONA LISA SMILE PROBLEMISTA SO LONG, MARIANNE STEPMOM

DISNEY + STAR AYLA & THE MIRRORS (five-episode premiere) SHE TAUGHT LOVE

NETFLIX CANADA LISABI: THE UPRISING (NG) REZ BALL WE WERE KINGS (MX) WILL & HARPER

WBC CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING (SN1) 12:30pm: Walsh vs. Runowski

2024 PRESIDENT’S CUP (TSN/TSN4) 1:00pm: Day Two

POINTSBET INVITATIONAL CURLING (TSN3) 3:00pm: Elite 8 (TSN4) 10:00pm: Elite 8

MLB BASEBALL (SN) 6:30pm: Marlins vs. Jays (Apple TV+) 6:30pm: Phillies vs. Mets (Apple TV+) 6:30pm: Tigers vs. Orioles (SN1) 7:00pm: Pirates vs. Yankees (SN Now) 8:00pm: Dodgers vs. Rockies (SN1) 10:00pm: A’s vs. Mariners

WNBA BASKETBALL (TSN3/TSN4) 7:30pm: Sun vs. Fever - Game 3

CFL FOOTBALL (TSN/TSN5) 8:00pm: Elks vs. Blue Bombers (TSN3) 10:30pm: Ti-Cats vs. Lions

ABOUT THAT (CBC) 8:30pm

FRIDAY NIGHT THUNDER (APTN) 8:30pm: Ashton VanEvery, #77E, faces immense pressure with a new car and independent team; when an early-season race goes badly, his emotions rise, leading to tensions among the family team.

CRIME SCENE KITCHEN (CTV) 9:00pm (SEASON PREMIERE): Six pairs of family members put their culinary forensic skills to the test by putting together clues from the kitchen to recreate desserts that were baked there.

20/20 (CHCH/Check Local Listings) 9:00pm (SEASON PREMIERE)

THE JANE MYSTERIES: MURDER AT MOSEBY (W Network) 9:00pm: Jane goes undercover at her alma mater to help her college boyfriend solve a crime he may have witnessed years ago during the annual Edgar Allan Poe Festival.

MY HAUNTED HOMETOWN (T&E) 10:00pm: Getting close to lost souls that have been distorted by their trauma; braving the paranormal energy left behind in an abandoned sanitarium; exploring a strip club filled with restless spirits; confronting a couple's shadowy housemate.

DEFENDING EUROPE (Nat Geo Canada) 9:00pm (SERIES PREMIERE): Finland's impressive defence in the Second World War and the nuclear age.

PROBLEMISTA (Crave) 9:00pm: Alejandro, an aspiring toy designer from El Salvador, tries to bring his fanciful ideas to life and chase his dream in New York City with the help of his erratic employer.

WTA 1000 TENNIS (TSN2) 11:00pm: Beijing - Early Round Coverage Day #3

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 4/5

Book Blurb:

Stalk me once, take me twice.

But only if you’re my King.

Callie Carter

Choosing to work at a new club might be risky, but moonlighting under the alias Brandy makes it comfortable enough for me. This is the type of work I love, and who doesn’t jump on an invitation to work at a highly-elite adults only club in the mile high city? I want to play and have all the fun and rough experiences that I’ve dreamed of but never had a partner who I trust enough to let me be used that way.

Nate Everstein

It’s one thing working at the Sins and Secrets club as a favor to my friends, but bartending on the night the new girl walks in is both a punishment and reward. She’s my type of crazy, and even if she thinks my name is Jacob like the nametag says, I’ll get her screaming the right one soon enough. She might think she’s being followed, but she has no idea who’s watching through her window at night, and to what end I’ll go to ensure I’m forever the only one doing so.

A club workplace, free-use BDSM club book.

Review:

Callie has been looking for the right partner... and her new stalker just might be everything she could ever want. Callie is a dancer and fresh out of a job after leaving her last one, but an invitation to work at a highly elite club could be the opportunity she's been looking for. Callie has also been hoping to find someone who can match her, and all her previous partners definitely have not. Then she meets Nate, the new bartender at the exclusive club who might have nearly hit her car... and who is completely obsessed with her. Nate knows he is perfect for Callie, he just has to prove to her that he is the one for her. This was a easy to read intro into the series and definitely can be read as a standalone. It deals with a lot of topics of consent, exploring your preferred kinks, and choosing the right partner for yourself. I appreciated how much the author focuses on defining boundaries and setting hard rules for yourself and your partner, and how striving to have a safe and consensual relationship in such a work setting is important. Callie and Nate work really well together and overall I had fun reading this.

Release Date: September 13,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Happily Booked PR for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

[mrssweethomealabamareads]

💀LIVE EARLY 💀

❥

War and His Queen, book one of the Carpe Noctem series, is AVAILABLE NOW!!

Read FREE with Kindle Unlimited!

❥

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3Sbrhkx

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3tAqOPn

Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/47tEbyB

Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/3vtoxGg

Paperbacks COMING SOON!

❥

Blurb:

The Elite Kings Club left a trail of fear behind every person who whispered their names throughout the centuries that they’d existed. They were the product of every nightmare you were told as a child, only now, they don’t go bump in the night. They race modified cars, throw parties to conceal their morbid games, and leave behind the kind of chaos that can never be tamed.

They were from an ancient bloodline of the three Founding Fathers, and it was almost time for them to plunge deeper into the depths of hell. Now that they were all on their motherland, and even closer to an island with history as dark as it was ruthless, no one had a say in the carnage of what was to come. And in this case, with War and Halen. Until now, they were nothing but exactly as they appeared on the outside.

He was a brother’s best friend, and a boy Halen had never not known.

She was the daughter of one of the most feared families known to man, and the only girl who ever kindled his rage. They’d push and pull until it tore them apart…if only to feel the shell of their bodies close.

Halen knew crossing that line with him was dangerous ground, yet she yielded her weapon and did it anyway. But history was being challenged, and The Kings were about to learn that not all enemies are discovered on a battlefield.

Some are the ghosts of what was left behind.

❥

#carpenoctem #warandhisqueen #amojones #amojonesbooks #availablenow #romancetbr #darkromance #antihero #brothersbestfriend #secretsocietyromance #forbiddenromance #possessivehero #frenemiestolovers #toucherandievibes

[momentosdelfutbol23]

THE INCREDIBLE SEXTET OF FC BARCELONA

Before we begin, let's define what a sextet or sextuplet is. A sextet consists of winning the six titles for which a team competes in the span of one year. In the case of FC Barcelona, this meant having triumphs in the Spanish League, the Copa del Rey, the UEFA Champions League, the Club World Cup, the Spanish Super Cup and the European Super Cup in 2009.

Apart from Barça, there has only been one team that has managed to match this moment, Bayern Munich. This team managed to obtain victories in the Bundesliga, the DFB-Pokal, the Champions League, the European Super Cup, the German Super Cup and the Club World Cup during the year 2020.

What has become of the protagonists of the Barcelona sextet? The FC Barcelona team that won these six titles was made up of:

Victor Valdes

Currently, the former Spanish goalkeeper is not facing any team. His last time as his strategist was with UA Horta, a team in Spain's 3rd division, in May 2020.

Daniel Alves

Considered the best right back in history, Dani Alves now plays among the ranks of the UNAM Pumas.

Rafa Marquez

The Mexican Márquez retired from professional football in 2018. Currently, he works as technical director of Barcelona Atlètic.

Eric Abidal

After staying with FC Barcelona until 2013, he retired with the Olympiacos club. Some time later he became sports director of the Blaugranas until 2020.

Maxwell Scherrer Cabelino

Known simply as Maxwell, the player from Brazil retired in 2017 after spending six years with Paris Saint-Germain in France.

Carles Puyol

Considered the heart and captain of Barça, Puyol retired in 2014. Currently, he carries out activities as an ambassador of La Liga, in charge of promoting the principles and values of the Spanish league.

Gerard Piqué

The Spanish player is still among the ranks of Barcelona, where he demonstrates his abilities as a defender and captain.

Yaya Toure

The former Ivorian footballer, who belonged to the club during 2007 and 2010, retired from professional football in January 2020. Currently, he is preparing to become a coach.

Xavi Hernandez

The midfielder left the Spanish team in 2015 to play in Qatar, where he continued until 2019. Since 2021 he has been performing his role as technical director of the Barcelona Football Club in its First Division.

Sergio Busquets

Busquets continues to play among the FC Barcelona lineup as a midfielder and also fills the role of first captain.

Andres Iniesta

The nicknamed “Fantasmita” left the Spanish clubhouse in 2019, after 15 years playing among its ranks. After this, he headed to Japan where he plays for Vissel Kobe of the J1 League as a midfielder.

Seydou Keita

The former Malian footballer was with Barcelona from 2008 to 2012, from there he followed Chinese football and later returned with Valencia CF. Keita closed his career with AS Roma and El-Jaish Sports Club of Qatar in 2017.

Lionel Messi

Considered one of the best footballers today, Messi currently plays for Paris Saint-Germain as a striker. The legendary player was in the ranks of FC Barcelona for almost 20 years.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Swede Ibrahimovic currently plays his role as a striker for the Associazione Calcio Milan of Serie A in Italy. Despite his age, he still demonstrates his power in the elite of European football and is considered a central player for the Rossoneros.

Pedro Eliezer Rodríguez

One of the key players for the culé team, he left the team in 2015. Currently, he is in the Società Sportiva Lazio of Serie A playing as a forward.

Thierry Henry

Last but not least, Henry was considered one of the best strikers in the league; However, he spent only three seasons with Barcelona. Currently, he works as a technical advisor for the Belgium national team.

He got the sextet with the 6 desired glasses

KING'S CUP It was won on May 13, 2009 in Mestalla (Valencia). Barça beat Athletic (1-4) after coming back from 0-1 down.

LEAGUE Guardiola's team celebrated without playing on May 16, 2009, after Real Madrid lost at Villarreal. CHAMPIONS LEAGUE It arrived on May 27, 2009, in Rome. Barça beat Manchester United 2-0 with goals from Eto'o and Messi (header). SPAIN SUPERCUP On August 23, 2009, at the Camp Nou, the Catalan team won the fourth crown after a double duel against Athletic (1-2 and 3-0). EUROPEAN SUPER CUP The fifth title came on August 28, 2009, in Monaco and against Shakhtar Donetsk (1-0). The goal was scored by Pedro, in extra time. CLUB WORLD CUP The icing on the cake, on December 19, 2009, in Abu Dhabi and against Estudiantes de La

[literarytourist-blog-blog]

Gerry Butts and John Duffy on How Canada Works

Last year when John Duffy, a Canadian political strategist and writer, died at the age of 58, I noticed an outpouring of genuine love, and sadness, on Twitter, along with frequent references to his book Fights of our Lives. It was called one the best ever written on Canadian politics. So I picked up a copy. It's filled with dozens of old photographs, and images of period posters, and flyers, buttons, correspondence, and other fascinating bits and pieces of ephemera and memorabilia: the 'confetti of history' as Walter Benjamin liked to put it, plus it features these great 'diagrams' of game plans, 'playbooks,' that John came up with to explain the strategies and tactics used in what he considered to be the five most consequential elections in Canadian history. It was visually captivating, and a fun informative read, so I decided to feature it on The Biblio File Book Club. But who to engage with?

  Several people suggested Justin Trudeau's close friend and advisor, Gerry Butts. After a bit of toing and froing, and my prematurely and, as it turns out, quite erroneously, dismissing him as a typical political bounder, it all came together. Gerry agreed to play ball. We met in person several days ago at the Chateau Laurier hotel in Ottawa. 

  Gerry is currently Vice Chairman of The Eurasia Group, a risk management firm with offices around the world. We talk here about John Duffy's optimism, about whether or not elections matter; about cynicism, championship debating, Canada's business elite, the PBO's report on income inequality, the urban-rural divide, 1300 Dollarama stores, lifting children out of poverty, the King-Bing Affair, SNC Lavalin, the Manitoba School crisis, Wilfred Laurier and Justin Trudeau's 'Sunny Ways,' kicking the can down the road; Lament for a Nation, and Mel Hurtig. There's a James Joyce quote. Gerry tells a joke about Franz Kafka on the way out the door, and I recommend that he reads Nora Krug's illustrated edition of On Tyranny. 

  Plus another thing: we're both convinced that John Duffy's Fights of our Lives (egregiously it's both out of print and published by an American multi-national) should be made into a TV Series as soon as possible.  

Check out this episode!