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ultraintrovertedgryffindor · 4 years ago

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Sweet Pandemonium - Gally (The Maze Runner) Part 8 of 16

Ugh...not proof read but yolo✌🏻

~~~~~~~~~~

You felt everything blur together as the days passed. Oh, weeks. Or was it months? Hell, years could’ve passed and you wouldn’t have been able to tell the goddamn difference.

You felt numb to most things. You were on autopilot, nothing made you happy. You felt like you could never smile ever again. The only thing making you feel was if the friends you had left were in danger, and that was almost all the time.

You didn’t have a chance to feel something other than panic.

Those were your only feelings most days, panic and numbness.

Mysterious people taking you to some foreign facility and still, you felt nothing and panic all at once. You weren’t even concerned about your feelings, you just wanted your friends safe. Not even the rich display of various foods made you feel happy. Even when a food fight broke out and everyone else was laughing, foolishly feeling like the torture was finally over.

You felt you didn’t have the right to enjoy anything, not even letting yourself relax under the shower head that ran actual hot water.

You weren’t really that surprised when Thomas discovered the horrifying secrets of the facility, that they were really W.C.K.D. Every inkling that Thomas felt was usually right. But you still followed him and Teresa, the only people that you felt truly connected to, out into the Scorch.

Miles and miles of sand and destroyed buildings.

You remember running, so much more than when you were in the Maze. The mall. The Cranks. The Flare. Everything felt fuzzy. Feeling so tired after realizing that W.C.K.D. would never stop searching for you and your friends. Winston getting infected...you didn’t shed a tear. You physically couldn’t, you didn’t have any more tears left to shed.

It’s like a part of your soul died with...

No.

...no.

You couldn’t think of it...

The thought would sent you into a crazy frenzy of tears...you couldn’t think of him. Not when your friends depended on you.

On the outside, you seemed fine. Not like a girl who just lost a person she cared about. You played the role well, you knew that. Despite never smiling or showing any other emotion then panic and concern, it was like nothing happened. Your friends were too wrapped up in everything to notice how you were. Not their fault, of course, you knew that too.

You didn’t really want anyone to worry about you, but Teresa did. She noticed, she cared. Even going out of her way to try and help you before you were chased by the Cranks in that mall. You told her just enough about your mental state without getting too specific, but she knew how bad it was and that there was nothing she could do to help you. It was appreciated though. She made sure to keep an eye on you when all your other friends thought you were fine, and almost grateful that you weren’t a mess, it motivated them in a way.

But how wrong they were. Everyday, on the verge of a breakdown whenever your mind would unconsciously drift back to that dreadful day. Your friends didn’t see you shed one tear after that day. Most of them just thought you got it all out that day. You wished that were the case...

Walking miles through the desert. Running through a lightening storm, and getting super freaked out when Minho actually survived getting struck with the volts of electricity.

Immediately not trusting Brenda and Jorge after they strung you upside down after finding out you all came from a W.C.K.D. facility. Then eventually coming around to them after they helped you escape from another attack. Being saved by the Right Arm, enemies of W.C.K.D., which meant they were allies to you, but you still didn’t allow yourself to feel safe. Everything was suspicious to you. But you were thankful that the doctor Mary was so willing to treat Brenda.

Seeing your friends sitting together, smiling and enjoying being in each other’s company was enough for you, you were happy for them, even if you weren’t happy yourself. Although, one friend was missing.

You looked around to see Teresa on a small cliff, overlooking the area. You made your way up the rocky hill until you found her. “Hey...” You voiced.

Teresa turned around a little startled, but soon weakly smiled when she saw you. “Hey.”

“What’re you doing up here?” You asked while sticking your cold hands into your new jacket pockets, coming to stand right beside her at the edge of the cliff.

You heard Teresa take a deep breath, taking the time to admire the sunset before speaking. “You know how I said I started to remember things...” You nodded, confused. “I remember everything now...I remember my mother...and you.”

You furrowed your brows. “Me? What-”

“In the Glade, after Thomas stung himself...he remembered more than what he said that we worked for them...he remembered you.”

You had no idea why you were tearing up, yet you were. “What did he remember?”

Teresa was tearing up as well, but she had a small smile growing on her face. “We’re family, Y/N...”

Your mouth with slightly agape, but you slowly started to shook your head as you backed away. “That’s not...”

“I didn’t believe it at first either. I truly didn’t until I remembered it myself...we’re cousins, Y/N. You’re all I have left, and I need you to believe me.”

Your head felt like it was running a million miles a second. “This is too much to take in, Teresa...”

“I understand, I just wanted you to know that. I don’t want you to hate me...”

“Hate you? Why would I hate you?”

Teresa looked away from you quickly. “Nothing...”

“Teresa-”

“Please, just go. I’m sure they’re wondering were you are.”

You didn’t want to leave, but if she needed her space, then you’d give it to her. Plus, you felt like you needed to go and take the time to think about what she told you. You didn’t remember things like her and Thomas...could she actually be right? Could you two actually be related?

“Y/N?” Thomas asked, causing you to jump a bit. “Is Teresa okay?”

“She just told me...she told me-” You stuttered, causing him to go wide eyed. “She said you remembered me, Teresa and I...is it true? I’m a Teresa’s family?”

Thomas walked up to you, placing a gentle hand upon your shoulder. “Yeah.” He whispered. “You are...” He sighed. “I’m sorry, I should’ve told you sooner, or convinced her to tell you.”

You suddenly smiled, genuinely, for the first time since the Maze. “I have family...”

Thomas smiled at you, ruffling your hair. “Yeah. I need to go check on her, okay? Why don’t you go back down? The boys were wondering where you went.”

You nodded. “She seemed upset about something, Thomas. Just letting you know.” He nodded, appreciative, and walked up the hill as you walked down.

You had a cousin, a cousin who was alive, and it was someone you already cared about. You didn’t think you’d actually have family after leaving the Maze, you thought they must’ve been dead. But you had one family member left, Teresa.

You smiled...you had family. Life was actually looking up now. Or so you thought.

You finally understood what Teresa meant by her saying that she didn’t want you to hate her. She actually betrayed the Right Arm, betrayed her friends, betrayed Thomas, betrayed you. She told W.C.K.D. were the group was located. The bombed the camp, killed Mary, captured so many kids, captured Minho...

You tried to save him, you really did. But all that did was get you captured in the process.

Being hauled into the large aircraft with Minho, you saw Teresa give you a sad look. But all you did was glare at her. Your only family betrayed you, only after minutes of telling you that you two were related. Some family...

You looked out to see Thomas, but the door of the ship soon closed.

You were trapped once again...

~~~~~~~~~~

oof, that was a bit rushed. even I hate it lmao sorry. next chapter will be better🙄

#the maze runner #tmr gally #gally x reader #gally #sweet pandemonium series

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thominho-incorrectquotes · 4 years ago

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Pizza boy

Characters: Thomas x Minho

2502 words

Tags: Modern AU, fluff, Pizza AU

Summary: Minho is this beautiful delivery boy. Thomas tries to ask him out. However, he wasn't excepting Minho to flirt with him.

You can also read it on AO3 and ff.net

_________________________________

Thomas felt lonely. It had been days now. Teresa, his sister, hadn't come to see since a long time and he couldn't even see her at the University. Ever since she started dating Aris, she spent all her time with her lover and didn't have time for her twin brother.

His best friend, Newt, went back to England to see his family and of course Alby - the blonde's boyfriend and also a friend of Thomas - went with him. It would be the first time he would officially introduce his partner to his family. Since there was a week off, they had decided it would be a good time to do it.

So, far from his family and his friends, Thomas felt lonely. And sad.

He hadn't eaten much for the past few days. He had no motivation or strength to prepare something to eat.

But that night, he was hungry. Very hungry. And he craved pizza. Deciding he deserved it - after all, he was doing well in school and he did more sport than necessary - he took his phone and choose the delivery app. He rarely used it, but during some party nights with his friends he had often ordered pizza from it.

He was about to confirm his order when he saw the little text box for special requests. He had never used it before, but he since he was bored and wanted to have fun, at least a little, an idea came to mind.

He wrote: "Send your cutest delivery boy."

After all, what's the worst that could happen?

........

Okay, that was maybe the best idea or the worst idea of the whole century.

When the bell rang, Thomas had almost forgot his little demand. He was playing a game on his phone and just didn't think about it again.

But when he opened the door, he found himself in front of the most beautiful man he ever saw.

He looked a bit older than him and was obviously of Asian origin. He was displaying a smile enhanced by beautiful dimples and his dark eyes were shining. His built was also quite imposing – his uniform seemed a little small on him, his arms and chest were stretching the t-shirt, which allowed anyone to take a look at his impressive muscles. His skin was tan and looked so soft that the temptation to caress it was almost uncontrollable.

Thomas was drooling in front of this Greek god. He was more than just cute – he was gorgeous.

He wanted to keep him to himself.

"Cheese pepperoni pizza's for here?" the delivery boy asked, making the young man snap back to reality. "Oh-h, yeah! Sorry!" he replied, cheeks burning.

He only hoped the man straight out of his dreams wouldn't notice it.

He took few bills from his pocket and without even counting them, gave them all to the Asian man, took the box, and closed the door as fast as possible. The moment the face of the delivery boy was out of sight behind the closed door, Thomas felt completely stupid. He was tempted to open it again to apologize for his rudeness, but the boy must have been gone by now. He had acted out of panic and he regretted not saying at least "Hi!" Yeah, why did he not at least said "Hi?"

He felt so dumb. The man of his life had been right in front of him and he acted like an absolute moron.

He ate his piazza, feeling even lonelier.

........

When Jorge had told him another order asking for the cutest delivery boy had just been sent, Minho had sighed. Probably some girls, again, who were desperately looking for a boyfriend or even just a one night stand. And since he was indeed the cutest boy of the pizzeria, it was always him who had to deliver those orders.

So, he had to continually reject the many advances he received. Let's just say that… girls weren't really what he was interested in.

Zart, another delivery boy and Minho's close friend, could easily do it, but Jorge was strict. They asked for the prettiest one, they'll get the prettiest one. It was a bit mean to his blond friend, but the Asian couldn't deny that he was cuter.

So, he was very surprised when, this time, it was a boy who opened the door. A boy… or rather an angel. With his golden colored eyes, his perfect cheekbones covered in moles, his brown tousled hair, his beautiful lips… The man in front of him could only be an angel. Someone so adorable couldn't exist.

He had been a bit disappointed when said angel had abruptly shut the door close, but given his red cheeks and the huge tips the boy gave him – he had given a lot more money than needed – Minho couldn't complain much. The angel must had fell for him.

He only hoped to see him again.

And his wish was granted faster than expected since, the exact next day, he found himself in front of the same door, with the same order, and the same special request in hand. He couldn't help his habitual smirk from coming up when the young man opened the door. He seemed even more beautiful than yesterday.

"Oh, great!" he said, seeming relived.

"What?"

"I was hoping it would be you" he continued. "I wanted to apologize for yesterday, I was rude."

"You ordered a pizza just to apologize?"

"U-uh… yes."

His cheeks were once again red and Minho knew his heart could not take it much longer. He was so cute. If it was up to him, he would take this angel in his arms and bring him somewhere safe to protect him from anything.

"I-I… Hum… You…" The young man looked uncertain.

"Yes?"

"U-uh, nothing, thanks for the pizza."

He then took some bills and, as a repeat of last time, gave the money to Minho before closing the door, pizza box in hands, leaving the latter surprised, but with a smile on his lips.

It was now certain that the young brown-haired man wasn't indifferent to Minho. He was tempted to knock at the door once again and kiss this irresistible angel silly, but told himself it was probably wiser to take it slow. Even if he didn't really know him, this young man was too precious to risk losing him.

.........

Thomas banged his head once again on his kitchen table. What an idiot. What an idiot!

Not even able to ask the man of his dream for his name. The best thing he had found was to order once again, so the Asian wouldn't think he was an asshole and at least try to start a conversation with him, but he had totally failed.

This perfect man made him so nervous. He was probably not even interested in men, so Thomas was already stressed about that, moreover, he also was losing all his means in front of this living god. He was totally screwed.

But he was determined. And even if it would result in failure, he wanted to try. That's why, the next day, he ordered again from the pizzeria. This time, he chose a salad. Yesterday's pizza was still half eaten in the fridge.

When the bell rang, Thomas ran to the door, hasty to see the beautiful delivery boy. He would at least get a name this time, he swore it.

Like expected, the Asian man was behind the door, a small box in hands.

"So tonight's Cesar salad?" the latter said, smirking. "Pizza was getting old?"

"U-uh, yeah… right."

Klunk, that wasn't a good start.

"Uh… You" he tried again, not with much success. He took a deep breath and said "What's your name?"

Yes! I did it!

The man raised an eyebrow, but his smirk stayed on.

"Why do you wanna know?" he asked in a mocking tone, as if he already knew the effect he had on Thomas.

"Uh… I-I…"

And there it goes again. His cheeks were hotter than ever.

"Name's Minho" the delivery boy answered, taking pity on the young man. "You?"

Minho… Nice name. And if Thomas remembered correctly, that was a Korean name.

"I-it's Thomas."

Bra-vo. Not even capable of answering a simple question without stuttering.

"Thomas" the young man repeated. "I quite like it, but I prefer calling you angel."

His heart skipped a beat. Angel?! It was now official, Thomas was going to die of love for this man. Feeling his knees going soft, he knew he wouldn't be able to stay in front of Minho staring at him much longer.

He couldn't do it. He repeated last night's events. He only let out the breath he was holding once the door was closed behind him, his heart shattered into pieces for another wasted golden chance.

........

Minho was back from a delivery when Jorge called out for him.

"Here, there's a special request for you."

Curious, he took the order and immediately recognized the address. Thomas. This time, in the request box, he had written "Send Minho", which made him smile. He couldn't wait to see his angel.

Now knowing the way perfectly, Minho arrived in front of the now familiar door even faster than in the past days.

Holding the Greek salad, he rang the bell. He showed his best smile when the door opened, making sure his dimples were on full display.

"You know, my beautiful angel" he started when Thomas was in full sight "I'm flattered you want to see me so much, but four nights in a row? I'll start wondering if you haven't started an obsession. Or do you just want to apologize once again for always slamming the door in my face?"

Of course, Minho was being sarcastic and knew very well that Thomas didn't do it out of rudeness. It was pretty clear that he was desperately trying to asking him out. Minho would immediately say yes, he wanted this boy so much.

"Uh-h, no… Yes!" Thomas said, seeming distraught once again.

So the pet name still had its effects.

"Sorry, I'm just…"

"Intimidated?"

"Uh… maybe, I don't know…"

The Asian smiled all the more. "Oh, my angel, don't be" he said while taking the youngest one's chin in his fingers. "Someone like you should be protected at all cost, you don't have to be intimidated."

"I-I uh… I-I don't know what to say…"

"Then don't say anything, angel."

Did Minho make sure to say "angel" as much as possible just to see the young man's reaction? Yes. And he wasn't ashamed of it. He was totally flirting with Thomas all while working, but who was going to stop him? Each day, he felt his heart beating even more for this angel. He was falling in love.

"Here, your salad"

"Thanks" the boy whispered before giving Minho the money, once again leaving a good tip.

But the young man refused the tip this time. He felt bad to receive money from someone he liked. "No, take it back. Just seeing you is enough."

He couldn't hold back the wink that followed. Thomas's reaction was simply delicious. He shivered from head to toes before slamming the door once again, leaving Minho with a tender smile on his visage.

Thomas was too adorable.

........

It was the fifth night in a row. And it was ridiculous. He was probably even more of an idiot in Minho's eyes. Even if the Asian man seemed to be flirting with him, it could also be a way of making fun of him. He hoped it wasn't the case.

But he still wanted to try. He wasn't going to let it go that easily. A deep intuition was telling him that Minho was the man of his life. He couldn't let such an opportunity go to waste.

Still, when he opened to door that night, his knees almost failed him. The young man standing in the doorstep was even more gorgeous than the previous nights. His eyes were sparkling in joy and his hair was styled in a way that showed off ever details of his beautiful face.

"My angel" he started with a honeyed tone. "If you want to see me so badly, you just have to say so."

Thomas loved this pet name. He didn't know why, but every time this perfection of a human being pronounced this word with sweet voice, he melted. But now wasn't the time. He had a goal to accomplish. He took a deep breath and spoke clearly.

"A-actually, yes, I want to see you."

Okay, maybe not so clearly, but he did it! He did it!

By Minho's surprised, but satisfied, look, he knew that his boldness had its effect.

The oldest one, while keeping his eyes locked to Thomas, put the order – a pizza this time – on the small table near the door before coming closer to the young man. Seeing that he wasn't stepping away, he went a little further and gently slithered his arms around the brunet's hips.

Being this close to Minho was such a crazy experience. His heart was beating fast. Too fast. His smell intoxicated him and he was sure he was going to lose his mind.

"Yeah?" the delivery boy said, smirking. "Do you have something to tell me?"

His tone was a flirting one, indicating he was well aware of Thomas's attraction towards him.

But two could play this game.

Thomas put his arms around the Asian man's neck, bringing his face closer to his. He put on his best smile and completely dived into the beautiful dark eyes in front of him.

"Well…" he started with a tone he hoped sounded confident "I was wondering if you were free… someday…"

"Are you asking me out?" Minho replied while raising an eyebrow, grinning.

"Yes."

There wasn't a smile in existence more radiant than the one Thomas was seeing right now. Minho looked like the happiest man alive.

"Finally" he said "I was wondering when you were going to ask me, angel."

"Does that mean yes?" Thomas mocked in return.

The Asian boy got even closer. Their lips were almost touching, intertwining their breaths. It was so tempting to just cut the distance and kiss this man. He was sure the living god could feel his heartbeats resonating against his muscular body.

"I finish my shift in one hour" Minho informed "but once I'm done, I'll come back and I'll be yours, my angel."

Thomas couldn't resist anymore, he had to kiss him. Once his lips were on the attractive man one's, he knew. Minho was the man of his life. There weren't any doubts now.

The kiss was soft and short, lasting only few seconds. But it was the best kiss of his life. He already wanted more.

"Then go" Thomas said, reluctantly pulling away from Minho "and comeback quickly."

"As fast as possible." Before leaving, he added with a wink: "I know the way by heart now."

___________________________________

I'm pretty proud of my translation this time, I'm getting better!

Anyway, I hoped you liked it and sorry for that bad flirting, I really don't know how flirting works hahaha

Thanks for reading!

#tmr #tmr thomas #tmr minho #minho tmr #thomas #the maze runner #maze runner thomas #thominho #minho #maze runner minho #thomas and minho #thominho fanfiction #thominho fanfic #fanfiction

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wits-writing · 6 years ago

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Bumblebee (Movie Review)

Last night I managed to get into a preview screening for Bumblebee, a spinoff for one of the main robots from the Transformers franchise. Knowing this movie is directed by Travis Knight, who previously directed Kubo and the Two Strings, got my curiosity up despite the overall lackluster quality from the movies in the series that preceded it. Knight and screenwriter Christina Hodson deliver a soft-reboot for the live action Transformers movies more in line with the “Generation One” (or G1) aesthetic. The movie focuses on Charlie Watson (Hailee Steinfeld), a young mechanic in 1987 who gets caught up in the prelude to the Autobot and Decepticon’s conflict on Earth when she unknowingly comes in possession of the car serving as the alternate form of the Autobot soldier Bumblebee.

An important thing I want to lay down at the start of this review is that comparisons to the Michael Bay directed Transformers movies will be kept to a minimum. Everything that can be said about them has been and by smarter film analysts than me (I highly recommend Lindsay Ellis’s “The Whole Plate” video series.) It’s also important to not sell short what Knight, Hodson and the assembled cast and crew have accomplished with Bumblebee. Saying something is “better than one of the worst review film series of all time” is a low bar and this charming adventure deserves more credit than that.

[Full Review Under the Cut]

Bumblebee himself is introduced in an extended prologue sequence that’s as loving a tribute to Transformers G1 as possible. A good dozen recognizable Autobots and Decepticons cameo in a brief battle and escape sequence that gets described as the “Fall of Cybertron.” The part that takes place on Cybertron is brief but establishes a few things about who Bumblebee is before he gets launched to Earth for the remainder of the movie. While he does appear to have a rapport with Optimus Prime, voiced once again by Peter Cullen, it’s mostly as soldier and commanding officer rather than friends. At the start he doesn’t even have a proper title, as the others Cybertronians only ever call him “B127.” The movie uses his actions on Cybertron and in his arrival on Earth to establish his nobility as an Autobot soldier before a lot of who he was on Cybertron gets stripped away from him. In the first major Earth-based sequence of the movie, Bumblebee needs to fight off the Decepticon Blitzwing. While he’s able to defeat the other Transformer, it ends up damaging his memory circuits and costing him his voice putting him in the state he’ll be in for most of the movie afterwards.

It’s from that point on that the story’s focus shifts from Bumblebee to Charlie as the center of the movie. Her life and attitude get established quickly before her first encounter with Bumblebee, in his VW Beetle form. She’s kept herself at a distance from the rest of her family, particularly her mom and stepdad, since the sudden death of her father a few years ago. When she’s not working her menial job at a local pier amusement park, one of the ways she tries to keep her connection to her father alive within her is by throwing herself deeply into restoring a car they were working on together before his passing. Before any of her involvement with the Transformers story begins, Charlie’s relatable dilemmas and realistic depiction as a someone struggling to deal with trauma makes her a compelling character on her own.

The real heart of the movie finally comes in when Charlie, as an eighteenth birthday present to herself, manages to get the VW Beetle as her first car. The amnesiac, mute Bumblebee reveals himself to her quickly after she brings him home and the beginnings of their bond are immediate. Over the course of the movie, Charlie manages to give Bee his name, interest in music and the radio he ends up using to communicate as the story goes along. Most of the movie consists of Charlie and Bee hanging out, eventually alongside Charlie’s neighbor Memo (Jorge Lendeborg Jr.), and it’s some very endearing material. Bumblebee’s amnesia reflects on Charlie own loss of self in the wake of losing her dad and their shared arc shows how their friendship manages to help them both rediscover their identities. Seeing Charlie slowly come more alive as she gets out there and does more with her life after getting Bumblebee, from cruising down the highway to getting revenge on some of her bullies, adds to the overall lighthearted tone of this movie.

An overriding aspect of the aesthetics of this movie are how drenched it is in 80s nostalgia, thanks to the time period it’s set in. Musical cues, pop cultural references people make in dialogue and the band shirts Charlie wears for most of the movie are all appropriate and work to invoke the era of pop culture that gave the world Transformers in the first place. There are also points where, like other recent works banking on 80s-nostalgia, it feels like the movie almost leans a little too hard into reminding you of the time period. Even with the occasional problems involved with that aspect, it fits the kind of story Bumblebee is paying homage. It’s a movie in line with the aesthetic and tone of the family adventure movies of the 80s, the most obvious reference point being E.T. and all the movies that have tried to replicate it. Which is a strong point to hang everything else on and keeps things light.

There are two main antagonistic forces at play against Bumblebee and Charlie as the movie goes along. Introduced early on is Agent Burns (John Cena) from the top-secret agency Sector 7, one of the few explicit references to the other Transformers movies in Bumblebee. His interest in the Transformers comes from surviving after witnessing Bumblebee’s fight with a Decepticon right after Bee’s arrival on Earth. Burns’ motives are understandable in light of witnessing something he doesn’t understand and he gets to have an arc in terms of how he perceives Bumblebee as the movie goes on. On the Transformers side of the antagonists in this movie there are two main Decepticon villains, Shatter (voiced by Angela Bassett) and Dropkick (voiced by Justin Theroux). They arrive on Earth after detecting Bumblebee’s signal and hope to pry the location of Optimus Prime out of him by any means necessary. These two antagonists’ paths cross quickly as the Decepticons appeal to Sector 7 to allow them to use their technology to track the fugitive Autobot. Though Cena as Burns sees through their motive, getting to be the one in the movie to point out “They’re called Decepticons”, but his superiors end up going along with it on the assumption that eventually they’ll get the chance to destroy all the aliens.

Actions scenes in Bumblebee aren’t the focus of the movie’s priorities, but they are the one place where explicit comparisons between this movie and the Bay directed Transformers are the most unavoidable. The character designs for the Transformers present in the movie focus on communicating character, through movement, distinct silhouettes and color choice, so once the action kicks in everything’s easy to follow. The combat between the robots is mainly hand-to-hand grappling with the occasional use of a blade or blaster. Transforming mid-combat happens more often here than it ever did in the past movies and gets used in strategic ways to allow for certain movements or to build up momentum before coming in for the striking blow. Clarity of stakes and geography are kept throughout the movie, since these are close quarters combat encounters rather than massive, city wrecking shoot outs. None of these action beats outstay their welcome either, which can be a problem with modern blockbusters in general and not just the previous Transformers movies.

What mainly sells Bumblebee as a charming sci-fi blockbuster is the Charlie and Bumblebee dynamic. Running at under two hours and keenly focused about where to keep its priorities, this is a simple, fun movie for older G1 fans and potential newcomers to the franchise alike. If you were at all iffy on this one, know that it pulls off what it sets out to do in giving Bumblebee a compelling origin in the form of a soft reboot of the film series.

If you like what you’ve read here, please consider throwing some support my way at either Patreon or Ko-Fi at the extension “/witswriting”

#Bumblebee movie #Bumblebee TF #Bumblebee #Transformers #Wit's Writing #Movie Review #Travis Knight #Christina Hodson #Hailee Steinfeld #John Cena #Angela Bassett #Justin Theroux #Sci Fi Films #science fiction #Transformers G1

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the-scenic-route-stories · 6 years ago

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Lost the Plot: A Parenthesis

The Doctor is (politely) displeased.

This follows on from my ACGAS/Fifth Doctor crossovers The Scenic Route and Tea in Bed but do be warned that it is written in a very different style from those previous pieces and is a piece of utter absurdity, inspired by a plot point in A Very Peculiar Practice and my love for ‘Castrovalva’ and the fictional worlds of Jorge Luis Borge as well as for All Creatures. Now with minor revisions.

Features Tricki-Woo and Mrs. Pumphrey, offstage.

The Doctor gently swung his legs down to the floor and used one hand to slowly push himself up into a standing position. Tentatively, he padded in his red socks across the Persian rug, holding on to various items of furniture for support. After his previous attempts, he was anxious lest a wave of dizziness or nausea should hit him, but succeeded in crossing the room without incident. He arrived at the fourth wall and cleared his throat.

“Excuse me,” he said, attempting to bring a tone of polite authority to his voice. “I’ve been lying in bed for a couple of weeks now. It’s been wonderful to be looked after and everything, Mrs Hall is a very kind lady, and I do like that green quilt, but the thing is that I’m stuck here while everyone except me is having adventures and I feel that I’m not really living up to my job description. James and Tristan have been up in space and Turlough is out there on the Eye of Orion – sketching, supposedly – while I’ve been languishing here on earth coughing and collapsing whenever you wanted the readers to feel sorry for me. Now I’m feeling more myself again, it’s getting to be really rather tedious. If you had to give me space flu – what sort of an unoriginal name was that, anyway? You could at least have come up with some fancy Latinate terminology – to facilitate your frankly ridiculous plot mechanics and have young Tristan crash my TARDIS, can’t you at least let me recover properly now so that I can repair her and resume my normal life of dashing about the cosmos? He’s a decent enough young fellow, if a little reckless, but it’s rather trying to look at a mirror image of yourself and be constantly reminded that with regeneration, you never know what you’re going to get.”

“I’m very sorry, Doctor,” I told him. “I had some plot ideas but wasn’t sure how to put them together. It really is a very nice quilt, and I even rescued that dressing-gown from Lady Cranleigh’s for you to wear, although that wasn’t mentioned in the episode at all.” I stopped there, realising that the dressing-gown thing had been pure self-indulgence on my part, based on how absolutely ripping he had looked in it when he wore it in 1925. “Isn’t it better than languishing in a dungeon while the writer figures out how to get you out of there? I thought it would be nice to have someone looking after you for once. In most of your adventures, you end up getting bashed about, locked up or tortured with nobody to take care of you. You just have to dust yourself down and get on with the story. I thought you would appreciate the soft bed, tea and crumpets after all that.”

“That was indeed very considerate of you, and you know how much I love tea. The crumpets were delicious, too. Thank you very much. But I am beginning to suspect your motives in some of this. Can you genuinely say that you have never daydreamed about mopping my fevered brow? Or building your own benevolent version of Castrovalva for me to recuperate in? In which I am not ‘trapped’ in the strict technical sense but develop a strong disinclination towards leaving while there is honey still for tea?”

“Er, well…” I suppose you don’t get to be an intergalactic hero without having a good deal of insight into other people’s motivations, and such insight comes more easily when you’re being written by the person who has those motivations. (It’s almost like telepathy.) “OK, yes. I did want to look after you. But I’m not trying to keep you trapped in this story. I just haven’t got round to writing the next part yet.”

“The lady doth protest too much, methinks,” he said, arching his eyebrows. He really is such a smart aleck. Pretty much everyone quotes that wrongly, apart from him, of course. Probably picked it up when he was drinking with Shakespeare, or ghostwrote it for him, or something. “'Look how much nicer I am to you than the BBC was', eh? What about the space flu, though? That wasn’t pleasant at all!”

“I’m sorry about the space flu. But if nothing unpleasant happened to you, there wouldn’t be a story, would there? I’m afraid that’s an occupational hazard of being a hero.”

“I suppose you’re right,” he said, with a universe-weary sigh. “Writers of stories really do seem to have it in for one, sometimes. Tea and crumpets are certainly better than Cybermen and Daleks, and you have promised that you are going to give me a chance to play cricket. But as for making me wear this absurd dressing-gown again…”

“I have given you pyjamas too, you know. With your favourite question-marks on them. You haven’t had to spend most of an episode walking down corridors with the dressing-gown open to your chest in my story. Nor wear a Pierrot costume. And in any case, this is just prose, without any visuals. For all the readers know, you could actually be wearing a baggy old cardigan.”

“Hmmm. But what about those illustrations of yours? To be fair, you haven’t done an illustration of me in the dressing-gown yet, but I suspect it’s only a matter of time. I wonder whether these illustrations aren’t something of a pretext for downloading a ridiculous number of pictures of me from the internet. Drawing references, indeed. How many drawing references does anyone need?”

“Have you been rummaging around on my hard drive while I’ve been asleep?”

“You’ve given me so little else to do, and one must keep oneself occupied somehow. There’s only so many hours one can spend doing crosswords. You still haven’t managed to draw me properly, you know, despite all your references. You’re nowhere near as good as Turlough. And you’ve started writing me out of character now, too. I’m not usually quite this sardonic.”

“In my defence, I’m not the first person ever to have done that, but I will try to do better from now on. So, what sort of plot do you want? How do you want me to get you out of here?” (First rule of plotting: consult your protagonist ahead of time about all important plot decisions. Except, perhaps, ones in which he is attacked by monsters that are made of rubber or green versions of Dobbin the pantomime horse from Rentaghost. Sometimes it is necessary to preserve the element of surprise, particularly when the special effects aren’t very convincing.)

At this point, Tristan came in and looked quizzically towards the Doctor.

“Authorial conference,” said the Doctor.

“Aha, I see. Good stuff. Perhaps I can contribute too. I used to read through some of Mr. Wight’s drafts and make notes for him, or rather the real person I’m based on did. Wonderful chap, Mr. Wight.”

“We’re discussing what should happen next in the plot,” said the Doctor. “I was feeling rather grumpy about not having had much to do in this story so far. It must have been the aftereffects of the space flu that made me feel so out of sorts and out of character. I’m feeling much better now, though. Quite my old self.” He rocked backwards and forwards on the balls of his feet to illustrate this, and grinned broadly.

“I didn’t cut a very good figure at all in the last section of ‘The Scenic Route’,” said Tristan, turning towards me. “Made rather an ass of myself sashaying around in the Doctor’s costume and then crashing the TARDIS. Any chance of a rewrite?”

“No, I’m afraid not,” said the Doctor, before I could answer. “Web of time, and all that.”

“Well, I think the first thing to do, since you’re feeling better, is for you to change back into your normal costume. You’ll feel much more like getting back into action, then! It’s laid out on the chair. Unfortunately, your celery buttonhole has wilted and Mrs Hall has had to throw it away. I think it might have caught the space flu from you. It's obviously a very important part of your outfit although no-one seems to have taken the trouble to explain why. But there’s no problem – I’ll bring you a nice new celery stalk from the vegetable rack. ”

“Ah, but my previous celery was imaginary,” said the Doctor. “It came from an Edwardian yacht in space. Imaginary space vegetables keep for much longer than real ones. My first stick of celery, which was produced by by block transfer computations, lasted for a year and a half before it started going a bit brown around the edges.”

“That’s no problem,” said Tristan, breezily. “The celery from downstairs is imaginary too. We’re imaginary. Well, I’m not entirely imaginary, but I’m a fictionalised version of a real person, and this conversation we’re having now certainly never happened in real life. It’s far too silly. We look so similar that we're clearly being played by the same actor - perhaps due to budgetary constraints at the BBC - and are only appearing together in these scenes thanks to CGI. Or smoke and mirrors, since I'm someone from the 1930s who hasn't heard of CGI."

“I meant imaginary in the context of this story. Things that we’re imagining. What we call in the trade second-order imaginariness or the doubly fictional. I would tell you to go and look up the entry on ‘Uqbar’ in James’s musty encyclopaedias in the cellar to give you an idea of what I mean, except that the episode in which James buys the encyclopaedias hasn’t happened yet and the encyclopaedia in question, despite being published in 1902, is the subject of a fiction that wasn’t written until 1940. Continuity can be rather confusing, sometimes, even when you’re not suffering from regeneration sickness.”

“Ah, I’m not sure how we’re going to manage to produce something that’s doubly imaginary in a veterinary practice in 1937. We do have quite a few interesting chemicals in the surgery…” mused Tristan. “Oh yes, I have an idea! I’ll ring Mrs Pumphrey, and ask her to ask Tricki-Woo to imagine one. I’m sure she won’t mind. She’s always been very forthcoming where food items are concerned.”

**********

“Here you are! To dear Uncle Doctor, from Tricki-Woo, Esquire,” said Tristan, bounding up the stairs with a very crisp-looking but entirely imaginary stick of celery. “Nothing but the best from Mrs. Pumphrey. She popped a very decent-looking bottle of port into the package, too.”

“Excellent,” I said. “Now, Doctor, if you’re ready to change, I’ll avert my gaze and insert a row of asterisks.”

Tristan gave a naughty grin. “If I were writing from the omniscient narrator point of view, I’d be sure to make full use of all the privileges that that afforded.”

“Yes, I rather imagine you would,” said the Doctor, with a raised eyebrow.

Tristan blushed and grinned again, a little sheepishly, realising that he must after all have left a copy of Health and Efficiency inside one of the more sedate publications that he had lent to his visitor.

“Tristan!” I said “Be more respectful! He’s very proper, you know. Hundreds of years old, and is supposed to be a good example to the young. No hanky-panky in the TARDIS, and all that.”

“I’m not supposed to be a good example to anyone. Quite the reverse, in fact!” said Tristan, laughing.

************

The Doctor, now back in his usual costume, turned to me: “Pleasant as this discussion has been, we don’t seem to have got much further with deciding on the plot.”

“There have been a lot of distractions. But look, I have got you better from the space flu, now. That’s progress.”

“Yes, indeed,” the Doctor said brightly. “No more shivering and shaking. Definitely an improvement.”

“I have a plot suggestion. You could write yourself into the story as a love-interest for me!” said Tristan. “Of course, our relationship would have to be ultimately doomed to failure because of a disapproving father or a strange obsession with goat dung, because the BBC has it in for me too, but we could have some fun first.” He gave me a very flirtatious look.

“Well… yes… I could do that…” I said, blushing and suddenly feeling very flustered.

“So, would your authorial avatar like to come to the Drovers’ with me this evening?”

It was very tempting, of course, but taking into account Tristan’s overdeveloped sense of humour and the presence of his exact lookalike, I was not at all convinced that I wouldn’t be the victim of some convoluted mistaken-identity prank sooner or later, even without the Doctor’s active collusion.

“Tristan. The author has to concentrate on writing the rest of the plot and doesn’t need this sort of distraction, and you know full well that Siegfried has forbidden you from going to the Drovers’ until we have finished mending the TARDIS,” said the Doctor. “Come on,” he added, putting his arm around Tristan’s shoulders, “Let’s go down to the paddock. While the author is working out where to go next with the plot, we can get started with the repairs, and then if the plot turns out to be too dull, we can fly off and have our own adventures instead.”

#lost the plot #fiction #doctor who #all creatures great and small #fifth doctor #tristan farnon #absurd and surreal humour #authorial avatar #celery #my fiction

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darrowbyeightfive · 7 years ago

Text

Lost the Plot

The Doctor is (politely) displeased.

Features Tricki-Woo and Mrs. Pumphrey, offstage.

(*) Just please don’t expect anything as good as AVPP, Castrovalva or, especially, Borges, or you will be very disappointed.

“Excuse me,” he said, attempting to bring a tone of polite authority to his voice. “I’ve been lying in bed for a couple of weeks now. It’s been wonderful to be looked after and everything, Mrs Hall is a very kind lady, and I do like that green quilt, but the thing is that I’m stuck here while everyone except me is having adventures and I feel that I’m not really living up to my job description. James and Tristan have been up in space and Turlough is out there on the Eye of Orion – sketching, supposedly – while I’ve been languishing here on earth coughing and collapsing whenever you wanted the readers to feel sorry for me. Now I’m feeling more myself again, it’s getting to be really rather tedious. If you had to give me space flu – what sort of an unoriginal name was that, anyway? You could at least have come up with some fancy Latin terminology – to facilitate your frankly ridiculous plot mechanics and have young Tristan crash my TARDIS, can’t you at least let me recover properly now so that I can repair her and resume my normal life of dashing about the cosmos? He’s a decent enough young fellow, if a little reckless, but it’s rather trying to look at a mirror image of yourself and be constantly reminded that with regeneration, you never know what you’re going to get.”

“I’m very sorry, Doctor,” I told him. “I had some plot ideas but wasn’t sure how to put them together. It really is a very nice quilt, and I even rescued that dressing-gown from Lady Cranleigh’s for you to wear, although that wasn’t mentioned in the episode at all.” I stopped there, realising that the dressing-gown thing had been pure self-indulgence on my part, based on how ‘absolutely ripping’ he had looked in it when he wore it in 1925. “Isn’t it better than languishing in a dungeon while the writer figures out how to get you out of there? I thought it would be nice to have someone looking after you for once. In most of your adventures, you end up getting bashed about, locked up or tortured with nobody to take care of you. You just have to dust yourself down and get on with the story. I thought you would appreciate the soft bed, tea and crumpets after all that.”

“The lady doth protest too much, methinks,” he said, arching his eyebrows. He really is such a smart aleck. Pretty much everyone quotes that wrongly, apart from him, of course. Probably picked it up when he was drinking with Shakespeare, or ghostwrote it for him, or something. “Look how much nicer I am to you than the BBC was, eh? What about the space flu, though? That wasn’t pleasant at all!”

“Yes, I’m sorry about the space flu. But if nothing unpleasant happened to you, there wouldn’t be a story, would there? I’m afraid that’s an occupational hazard of being a hero.”

“I suppose you’re right,” he said, with a universe-weary sigh. “Writers of stories really do seem to have it in for one, sometimes. Tea and crumpets are certainly better than Cybermen and Daleks, and you are going to give me a chance to play cricket. But as for making me wear this absurd dressing-gown again...”

“I have given you pyjamas too, you know. With your favourite question-marks on them. You haven’t had to spend most of an episode walking down corridors with the dressing-gown open to your chest in my story. And in any case, this is just prose, without any visuals. For all the readers know, you could actually be wearing a baggy old cardigan.”

“Have you been rummaging around on my hard drive while I’ve been asleep?”

“Yes, I’m sorry, I have. In my defence, I’m not the first person ever to have done that, but I will try to do better from now on. So, what sort of plot do you want? How do you want me to get you out of here?” (First rule of plotting: consult your protagonist ahead of time about all important plot decisions. Except, perhaps, ones in which he is attacked by large rubber monsters. Sometimes it is necessary to preserve the element of surprise, particularly on when the special effects aren’t very convincing.)

At this point, Tristan came in and looked quizzically towards the Doctor.

“Authorial conference,” said the Doctor.

“I didn’t cut a very good figure at all in the last section of ‘The Scenic Route’,” said Tristan, turning towards me. "Made rather an ass of myself sashaying around in the Doctor’s costume and then crashing the TARDIS. Any chance of a rewrite?”

“No, I’m afraid not,” said the Doctor, before I could answer. “Web of time, and all that.”

“Well, I think the first thing to do, since you’re feeling better, is for you to change back into your normal costume. You’ll feel much more like getting back into action, then! It’s laid out on the chair. Unfortunately, your celery buttonhole has wilted and Mrs Hall has had to throw it away. I think it might have caught the space flu from you. But there’s no problem – I’ll bring you a nice new celery stalk from the vegetable rack.”

**********

“Excellent,” I said. “Now, Doctor, if you’re ready to change into your costume, I’ll avert my gaze and insert a row of asterisks.”

Tristan gave a naughty grin. “If I were writing in the omniscient third person, I’d be sure to make full use of all the privileges that that afforded.”

“Yes, I rather imagine you would,” said the Doctor, with a raised eyebrow.

“Tristan!” I said “Be more respectful! He’s very proper, you know. Hundreds of years old, and is supposed to be a good example to the young. No hanky-panky in the TARDIS, and all that.”

“I’m not supposed to be a good example to anyone. Quite the reverse, in fact!” said Tristan, laughing. “Anyway, it was you who thought up that bit about the privileges of the omniscient narrator.”

“You said it, not me!”

“You put the words into my mouth! Trying to blame things on a fictional – or semi-fictional – character, indeed!”

************

The Doctor, now back in his usual costume, turned to me: “Pleasant as this discussion has been, we don’t seem to have got much further with deciding on the plot.”

“There have been a lot of distractions. But look, I have got you better from the space flu, now. That’s progress.”

“Yes, indeed,” the Doctor said brightly. “No more shivering and shaking. Definitely an improvement.”

“You could write yourself into the story as a love-interest for me,” said Tristan. “Of course, our relationship would have to be ultimately doomed to failure because of a disapproving father or a strange obsession with goat dung, because the BBC has it in for me too, but we could have some fun first.” He gave me a very flirtatious look.

“Well... yes... I could do that...” I said, blushing and suddenly feeling very flustered.

“So, would your authorial avatar like to come to the Drovers’ with me this evening?”

#all creatures great and small #doctor who #fristan farnon #fifth doctor #my fiction #absurdity #lost the plot #imaginary space vegetables

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workforitandjustdoit · 7 years ago

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Most people that know me would tell you that I’m kind of a nerd (but they always add… it’s a compliment… Hmm, sure!) I do love math though, I love numbers and I love analyzing them. So I thought I would start my 2017 triathlon season recap with a few numbers. This year I spent a total of 454 hours swimming, biking and running, and a few more strength training which is almost 19 complete days of just training for triathlon. I traveled 9700 km (6023 miles) which is the equivalent of running from Seattle to Miami and back!

Swim

Bike Run Total Time (hours)

237

148

Total Distance (km)

223.5 6859.7

2615

Swim

Bike

Run

I raced one half marathon, 2 sprint triathlons and 3 half Ironman, in which I ranked in all of them, including two division first place, and two top 5 overall. I’d say this season was a success and I’m proud of it even though my critical mind cannot push away all the fails, negative and steps I have to make in order to be better! This year was also my last season in the 20-24 years old age group and even though I’ll be 24 for almost the entire season next year I’ll be racing against girl 5 years older than me, but more importantly 5 years more of experience behind their belt. (That’s a lot of days and km of training!)

During one of the many long training rides

Let’s revisit this season’s major goal:

Qualify for Ironman 70.3 world Championship in Chattanooga, Tennessee (CHECK)

Race different length event and more than last year (Half CHECK, race the same amount)

Sub 5hrs Ironman 70.3 (NO)

Run a sub 1h40min half marathon in an Ironman 70.3 (Almost, 1h40min15sec)

Top 10 at worlds (NO)

Have fun and improve (CHECK)

Managed and keep a balance between training, working, grad school and life (NOT BAD)

Now I’d say I did OK in terms of my goals, I qualified for Worlds, but I didn’t have the race of my life there as I was still tired from Maine 70.3 13 days prior. One of the problem I had last year was my lack of motivation and enjoyment at the end of the season. I think it was mostly due to the fast that I was so focus on the Ironman that I barely raced anything else. This year I wanted to race more and not end up in the same position. I raced the same amount of events and I did found the last few weeks before Worlds hard as I was having trouble finding the motivation to train hard and push myself. This is a goal that will be on my list again next year as I want to find that balance of fun but also be competitive and push my body to the limit. And most importantly, not feel over-trained mentally and physically at the end of the summer.

Training camp in Lake Placid with the

I did have a lot of fun this year, a few strong moments were racing with my entire family at Maine 70.3, the training camp in lake placid, the Harvest Sprint triathlon where I had to fight against 2 of my teammates for a podium spot, and the list could go on forever. As for the balance it’s probably something I will have to work on and tune up for the rest of my life as responsibilities change and my life evolves, but that’s OK.

Family Picture

Between moving to Boston, going to grad school, working full time and trying to figure out what I want to do for the rest of my life, this year has been pretty packed and I had to get creative and organized myself well in order to be able to train and achieve my goals this year. Being surrounded by people that believed in me and pushed me to get better definitely helped and I wouldn’t have been able to do a lot of it without my coach Jorge at E3coaching, and the entire team, my boyfriend Spencer who woke up with me plenty of times at 4am to come to the races with me and take amazing photos, my parents who have been supporting me from the beginning and still do from afar and all the people I trained with, and met this summer. This years has been full of surprised, unforeseen events, challenges, but also victories and personal accomplishments. While I’m already starting to train for next year, my race schedule is not yet finalized, but I can’t wait for new challenges, maybe some different type of events and a lot of fun with teammates, fellow triathletes, friends (and of course, my bike!)

The End of a great season

Thanks for reading all the way to the end and for taking interest in this part of my life. Cheers to a great 2017 and to an even better 2018!

I will write about my 2018 plan and goals in my next blog post.

2017 Season Recap Most people that know me would tell you that I’m kind of a nerd (but they always add… it’s a compliment… Hmm, sure!) I do love math though, I love numbers and I love analyzing them.

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timeforalongstory · 7 years ago

Note

I don't know if you've already had these from someone else, but 3, 7, and 12 from Ye Heirs, please? :)

Certainly!

3 What’s the part of the fic I’m most proud of?

That’s tough - there are a lot of things about the fic that I really like :) The Trevilieu flashbacks in act 3 are my favorite writing of the entire fic, and I’m doubly proud of them because I came up with them mostly on the fly - the original plan hadn’t been to show the courtship in any kind of detail. But I think I really have to go with the last chapter/epilogue, the way the entire thing came together at the end and delivered an ending that was (I hope) both happy and realistic - justified. Many comments throughout the fic said some variation of “there’s just no way this could ever be happy, there’s no happy ending I could find believable” and I think I managed to pull it off regardless. So I’m very proud of that.

7 Were there any major decisions I made about the fic that could have made it go a whole different direction?

Definitely Rochefort. This requires a bit of context…

Cast your mind back - when I started writing heirs it was December of 2014, which was one month BEFORE the second season of the show started to air. I started writing heirs, and plotted it out, in the doldrums after S1. We didn’t even know how they were going to handle Richelieu at that point! We knew Peter Capaldi had been cast as the new Doctor, but it wasn’t certain that they were going to kill of Richelieu. A lot of us were hoping that he’d continue to make the occasional guest appearance, that he’d be called off to Rome for a year and send back lots of letters, etc, etc. And most crucially, although Marc Warren had been announced as Rochefort, we all thought that - like in the book - Rochefort would be Richelieu’s henchman; that Rochefort was going to be essentially running Richelieu’s empire while Richelieu was conveniently ~off in rome~ or even dead.

So when S2 started to air, and Rochefort had no connection to Richelieu whatsoever and was an entirely new and different villain, it threw us all for a pretty good loop. And I was worried about my fic, because my fic (at that time) had no Rochefort in it! That’s right - he hadn’t been in S1, so there was no Rochefort. The villain was the essentially OC “Inquisitor of Lille”, who had all the plot moves that later became Rochefort’s but none of Rochefort’s personality. I was thinking I had to find some way to work this guy in now, but how to do it without upsetting the whole applecart?

The big, game-changing decision happened somewhere mid-January, when I realized that, holy cow, Rochefort is the Inquisitor of Lille! And that realization came from the episode that starts with Rochefort role-playing sex with Queen Anne using a prostitute as a stand-in. The show gave us a Rochefort who was obsessed with Anne, driven insane by his obsession, evil and willing to persecute - he WAS the OC I’d invented, only even better, because now his motivation wasn’t just hatred of throwbacks, it was a specific focus on the “purity of womanhood” bullshit that all racist movements like to pull out, with an even more specific focus on Anne herself - who, of course, as was always true from the start, was herself a hidden throwback. I could immediately see how the final confrontation would be THAT MUCH MORE intense with Rochefort woven into Anne’s life from a young age.

So I pulled up a wikipedia page, slapped a Spanish title on Rochefort (Toreno), looked up his given name from the books (George, or Jorge, as Ana calls him) and we were off to the races with a villain TEN TIMES BETTER than I had envisioned.

And it’s all thanks to the lucky timing of when the show aired! If you go back and look, you’ll notice that Rochefort-as-Lille doesn’t get introduced until after that episode - and that’s why; before then, Lille was just a guy.

12 Did any thing about this fic’s reception surprise me?

I was so so happy to see everyone who came along for the ride. Shout-out to Elenduen, the OP, who was the first poster for virtually every chapter and never stopped being a huge cheerleader. And, too, people who came to read the fic - they STAYED. They didn’t just read a few chapters and then move on or stop commenting. They kept commenting. That hasn’t been true since the old days on FF.net, but here it was again. And people started talking to each OTHER. THAT hasn’t been true since LJ - and yet here it was again. And so I guess the fic’s reception felt very old-fashioned - like a throwback itself :) In all the best ways! When I got to the end of the fic I said in one of my notes that it felt like the last night of summer camp, where we’d all spent this time together and forged this community, but now it was ending.

In a way I was wrong about that - a lot of us still talk to each other even though we’ve moved on to other fics and other fandoms - and I’m grateful for that too. So there were surprises, but all good ones!

#ask meme #kyele writes #heirs #heirsverse #team trevilieu #the musketeers

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fierce-little-miana · 8 years ago

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Tag Game!-10 Favorite Characters

Rules: Tell me your favorite character from 10 fictional works (Shows, Movies, Novels, Etc.) and tag 10 people!

I was tagged by @bulletofeducation a long time ago. And I don’t know if I should thank him or curse him… I mean, I am terrible at this sort of thing! (just kidding, thank you, I am terrible at this but I also adore doing it).

So let’s do it:

10. Padmé Amidala Naberrie (Star Wars) and yes it takes an accent even in English. I don’t care what you say about the prequels, they were written with the ass yes, they are childish yes (which is strange for the arc with the most ambitious story) but I enjoy those movies. And most of all I love Padmé, she deserved better and I can’t wait to see her acknowledged in the sequels. Do it cowards!

09. Claudia (Interview with the Vampire). I like vampires, I think it’s obvious by now. However, even if I understand the appeal, I am sort of tired of the ‘I am entirely human in moral and way of thinking but I am cursed because I must drink blood’ trop. What can I say? I like my vampires bigger than life. And that’s the case with Claudia who has zero moral dilemma about killing humans but is cursed by an unchanging limiting body. And of course she goes full mythologically vengeful on the ones who did that to her. Great character. + Kristen Dunst interpretation in the movie was impeccable.

08. Empress Chabi (Marco Polo). Marco Polo might not have been a perfect show but really enjoyed it (and I am forever salty about its cancellation) especially for its female characters who were treated as, well, actual characters. Chabi was the best. Merciful but ready to do awful things for her family, strict but warm, diplomat but also ready to fight… I want more of her. 

07. Belial, Michael, and Raphael (Tenshi Kinryōku). I know I ranked them higher last time. I know. But I am so bad at this top thing. Anyway they all have questionable morals, they all have issues which blossomed from their insecurities, they all have questionable sens of fashion. I love them, they would probably not love me. Not a problem, they are the reason why I still come back to Tenshi Kinryōku, despite its many many flows, today.

06. Max (Black Sails). Max was a tie with nearly all the major characters of Black Sails minus few exceptions. Because let’s face it, Black Sails is awesome principally thanks to its really solid characters who are emotionally engaging. However Max manages to be at the same time the most rational and peaceful character of the show while staying the one I was the more emotionally linked to. Sorry others, Max wins.

05. Medea (from Pierre Corneille’s play and from Seneca’s one, I really have to read Euripides and Anouilh’s ones). I really love theater, especially french classic theater and it’s 20th century rebirth. At first I wanted to put Clytemnestra here (because Jean Giraudoux) but then I remembered how much I love Medea. I don’t know what this tell about me but Oh boy! do I like this vengeful woman in a quest to reclaim her independency and truth through an unforgettable crime.

04. Arthur (Kaamelott). Okay I know, Kaamelott is a comedy. Don’t I have something more academically serious to propose? Well first let’s reaffirm that Arthur is a deeply tragic character, struggling with emotional isolation and depression who still tries to be a positive supportive figure for everyone that might look up to him (even if they are really, really dumb). + How often do you see a male character having the culmination of his tragic arc with the discovery of his infertility? Infertility is a tragedy for women, men normally just find a random orphan for whom they become a father figure (god I hate this trops put next to each other). They do not attempt suicide because of their infertility. Anyway Kaamelott is a masterpiece and I will write about it one day (@thefandomentals considers yourself warned).

03. Askeladd (Vinland Saga). Vinland Saga features a lot of very good characters but Askeladd really left the biggest impression on me. Is he deeply flawed? Oh boy yes? A terrible person? Yes. Did he destroy lives? Re-Yes. But his motivations, his relation to the Viking’s culture, his way of manipulating people easily, and his great political skills certainly make him deeply endearing.

02. Seras Victoria (Hellsing). I have talk about this already but I say it again: it is a really close tie with Integra. They are both young women thrown into a hyper violent world which will take a lot from them but they ultimately will be triumphant. However I guess it’s because we see more of Seras’ struggle, and that she actually came from an even lowest point than Integra, that I ultimately find her to be the superior character. But I loveeeeeeeeeeeee Integra.

01. Jorg Ancrath (The Broken Empire trilogy): ultimate little shit. 100% terrible. Will be the archetypal personal favorite white boy if he wasn’t conscient of this himself. Jorg Ancrath is saved by the fact that he doesn’t like himself and doesn’t make excuse for his shitty behavior. Finally a character who knows the difference between excuses and reasons. Finally a character who knows he is petty and feels shame for some of his action. And he has an amazing character’s growth. Go read the Broken Empire trilogy, it is a very good fantasy.

Bonus: Rincewind (Discworld), I really like Rincewind because he is a coward put in situations where he has to be courageous but he is so reluctant about all of this. + his easiness at reading people and situations without appreciating most of them strikes really close to home. But he is in Bonus because I have only read two tomes of the Discworld novels and I have enjoy all the characters so far, so I really think that it’s possible that I will find a character whom I like more than him in a very near future.

So it’s my turn to curse tagg people: @sirvoodoosamedi, @lesmismignon, @lesmotsincompris, @bythegardengate and @helshades. (as always if you don’t mind)

Don’t worry it doesn’t have to be that long, you just have to give characters’ names. The monstrosity above is just due to my general inability to shut up. It sometimes make my life difficult.

#character #fav

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bountyofbeads · 5 years ago

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How we will remember our boss, Chairman Elijah Cummings: Moral clarity in all he did

He listened to us, respected us, trusted us and was truly proud of us. He had so much left to accomplish, but he has left it for us to complete.

Current and former staff of Rep. Elijah Cummings | Published October 25, 2019 | USA Today | Posted October 25, 2019 |

As current and former congressional staff of the late Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, we had the great honor and privilege of working with him over the course of more than two decades.

Many public figures have praised the chairman in recent days, extolling his unmatched integrity, courageous leadership and commitment to service and justice. To these well-deserved tributes, we would like to add our own eulogy, based on our experience working by his side.

He was inspiring, both in public and even more so in private. He brought moral clarity to everything he did, and his purpose was pure — to help those among us who needed it most. He taught us that our aim should be to “give a voice to the voiceless,” including families whose drinking water had been poisoned, sick patients who could no longer afford their medicine and, most of all, vulnerable children and “generations yet unborn.”

'WHAT FEEDS YOUR SOUL?'

Whether in a hearing room full of members of Congress or in a quiet conversation with staff, his example motivated us to become our best selves in the service of others.

He was genuine. He insisted on personally interviewing every staff member he hired so he could “look into their eyes.” Each of us has a personal memory of sitting down with him for the first time, and it was like nothing we had experienced before. He would ask why we were interested in public service, how we thought we could contribute and what motivated us.

Then he would lean in and ask in his low baritone voice, “But … what feeds your soul?”

More than a few of us left those interviews with tears in our eyes, perhaps feeling that we had learned more about ourselves than about him. He made that kind of personal connection with everyone he met, from the people of his district, to witnesses who testified at hearings, to whistleblowers who reported waste, fraud or abuse. Since his passing, we have been inundated with messages from many whose lives he touched.

BE EFFICIENT AND SEEK 'HIGHER GROUND'

He was demanding. He would boast that he had the hardest working staff in Congress and that he sometimes would call or email us in the middle of the night, which was absolutely true. His directive to be “effective and efficient in everything you do” still rings in our ears.

In exchange, he listened to us, respected us and trusted us. He made sure we knew he was truly proud of us — memories we each now cherish. The result of his unwavering support was fierce loyalty from every member of his staff. We committed to doing everything in our power to fulfill his vision.

He was a unifying force, even in this era of partisanship. He would command order with a sharp rap of his gavel, elevate debate by noting that “we are better than that” and urge all of us to seek “not just common ground, but higher ground.”

Guided by his faith and values, he would look for and bring out the good in others, forming bridges through human connection.

WE ARE HERE 'ONLY FOR A MINUTE'

He fully grasped the moment in which we are now living. He invoked history books that will be written hundreds of years from now as he called on us to “fight for the soul of our democracy.” As he said, this is bigger than one man, one president or even one generation.

He was acutely aware of his own transience in this world. He reminded us repeatedly that we are here “only for a minute” and that all of us soon will be “dancing with the angels.”

He would thunder against injustice, or on behalf of those who could not fight for themselves, and he would vow to keep battling until his “dying breath.” He did just that. His final act as chairman came from his hospital bed just hours before his death, as he continued to fight for critically ill children suddenly in danger of deportation.

He had so much left to accomplish, but he has left it for us to complete. As he told us presciently, “These things don’t happen to us, they happen for us.”

Grateful he was part of our destiny

It is difficult to describe the emptiness we now feel. His spirit was so strong, and his energy so boundless, that the void is devastating.

But, of course, he left us with instructions: “Pain, passion, purpose. Take your pain, turn it into your passion, and make it your purpose.” He lived those words, and he inspired us to do the same.

Sometimes, after a big event, he would take us aside for a quiet moment and say, “I just want to thank you for everything you do and for being a part of my destiny.”

Today, we thank him for being part of ours. And we commit to carrying forward his legacy in the limited time allotted to each of us — to give voice to the voiceless, to defend our democracy, and to always reach for higher ground.

The authors of this tribute are current and former staff of the late House Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings, D-Md., whose funeral is Friday. Their names are below:

Aaron D. Blacksberg, Abbie Kamin, Ajshay Charlene Barber, Alex Petros, Alexander M. Wolf, Alexandra S. Golden, Aliyah Nuri Horton, CAE, Amish A. Shah, Amy Stratton, Andy Eichar, Angela Gentile, Esq., Anthony McCarthy, Anthony N. Bush, Aryele N. Bradford, Ashley Abraham, Ashley Etienne, Asi Ofosu, Asua Ofosu, Ben Friedman, Bernadette "Bunny" Williams, Beverly Ann Fields, Esq., Beverly Britton Fraser, Brandon Jacobs, Brett Cozzolino, Brian B. Quinn, Britteny N. Jenkins, Candyce Phoenix, Carissa J. Smith, Carla Hultberg, Carlos Felipe Uriarte, Cassie Fields, Cecelia Marie Thomas, Chanan Lewis, Chioma I. Chukwu, Chloe M. Brown, Christina J. Johnson, Christopher Knauer, Dr. Christy Gamble Hines, Claire E. Coleman, Claire Leavitt, Courtney Cochran, Courtney French, Courtney N. Miller, Crystal T. Washington, Daniel Rebnord, Daniel Roberts, Daniel C. Vergamini, Darlene R. Taylor, Dave Rapallo, Davida Walsh Farrar, Deborah S. Perry, Deidra N. Bishop, Delarious Stewart, Devika Koppikar, Devon K. Hill, Donald K. Sherman, Eddie Walker, Elisa A. LaNier, Ellen Zeng, Emma Dulaney, Erica Miles, Fabion Seaton, Ferras Vinh, Fran Allen, Francesca McCrary, Frank Amtmann, Georgia Jenkins, Dr. Georgia Jennings-Dorsey, Gerietta Clay, Gina H. Kim, Greta Gao, Harry T. Spikes II, Hope M. Williams, Ian Kapuza, Ilga Semeiks, Jamitress Bowden, Janet Kim, Jaron Bourke, Jason R. Powell, Jawauna Greene, Jean Waskow, Jedd Bellman, Jenn Hoffman, Jennifer Gaspar, Jenny Rosenberg, Jess Unger, Jesse K. Reisman, Jessica Heller, Jewel James Simmons, Jill L. Crissman, Jimmy Fremgen, Jolanda Williams, Jon Alexander, Jordan H. Blumenthal, Jorge D. Hutton, Joshua L. Miller, Joshua Zucker, Julia Krieger, Julie Saxenmeyer, Justin S. Kim, K. Alex Kiles, Kadeem Cooper, Kamau M. Marshall, Kapil Longani, Karen Kudelko, Karen White, Kathy Crosby, Katie Malone, Katie Teleky, Kayvan Farchadi, Kellie Larkin, Kelly Christl, Kenneth Crawford, Kenneth D. Crawford, Kenyatta T. Collins, Kevin Corbin, Jr., Kierstin Stradford, Kimberly Ross, Krista Boyd, Kymberly Truman Graves, Larry and Diana Gibson, Laura K. Waters, Leah Nicole Copeland Perry, LL.M.,Esq., Lena C. Chang, Lenora Briscoe-Carter, Lisa E. Cody, Lucinda Lessley, Madhur Bansal, Marc Broady, Marianna Patterson, Mark Stephenson, Martin Sanders, Meghan Delaney Berroya, Michael F Castagnola, Michael Gordon, Michell Morton, Dr. Michelle Edwards, Miles P. Lichtman, Mutale Matambo, Olivia Foster, Patricia A. Roy, Paul A. Brathwaite, Paul Kincaid, Peter J. Kenny, Philisha Kimberly Lane, Portia R. Bamiduro, Rachel L. Indek, Rebecca Maddox-Hyde, Regina Clay, Ricardo Brandon Rios, Rich Marquez, Richard L. Trumka Jr., Robin Butler, Rory Sheehan, Roxanne (Smith) Blackwell, Russell M. Anello, Safiya Jafari Simmons, Sanay B. Panchal, Scott P. Lindsay, Sean Perryman, Senam Okpattah, Sonsyrea Tate-Montgomery, Susanne Sachsman Grooms, Suzanne Owen, Tamara Alexander Lynch, Theresa Chalhoub, Timothy D. Lynch, Todd Phillips, Tony Haywood, Tori Anderson, Trinity M.E. Goss, Trudy E. Perkins, Una Lee, Valerie Shen, Vernon Simms, Wendy Ginsberg, William A. Cunningham, William H. Cole, Wm. T. Miles, Jr., Yvette Badu-Nimako, Yvette P. Cravins, Esq., Zeita Merchant

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Widow of Elijah Cummings says Trump’s attacks on Baltimore ‘hurt’ the congressman

By Jenna Portnoy | Published October 25 at 12:44 PM ET | Washington Post | Posted October 25, 2019 |

BALTIMORE — The widow of Rep. Elijah E. Cummings said at his funeral Friday that attacks by President Trump on the congressman’s beloved hometown “hurt him” and made the final months of his life more difficult.

Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, who is chairwoman of the Maryland Democratic Party, said her husband was trying to protect “the soul of our democracy” and fighting “very real corruption” as chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, where he played a central role in investigating the Trump administration.

Trump lashed out at Cummings this summer, calling Baltimore, the heart of his district, a “rat-infested” place where no one would want to live. Cummings did not respond directly to the attacks, but his wife said Friday that they left a lasting wound.

Rockeymoore Cummings spoke near the end of a lengthy funeral program at New Psalmist Baptist Church, where Cummings worshiped for decades — showing up regularly on Sunday mornings for the 7:15 a.m. service. Still to come were eulogies by former presidents Bill Clinton — who visited the church with Cummings in the 1990s — and Barack Obama, the nation’s first black commander-in-chief.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a 2020 presidential contender, recited the 23rd Psalm at the start of the service, which Rockeymoore Cummings said her husband planned down to the last detail.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who also grew up in Baltimore, gave remarks, along with former congressman and NAACP leader Kwesi Mfume (D-Md.), Cummings’s daughters, brother, mentors, friends and a former aide. Attendees included former vice president Joe Biden, also a 2020 Democratic presidential contender, and Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R).

Former U.S. senator, secretary of state and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Rodham Clinton called Cummings “Our Elijah,” thanking his family and constituents of Maryland’s 7th District for sharing him “with our country and the world.”

“Like the prophet, our Elijah could call down fire from heaven. But he also prayed and worked for healing,” Clinton said. “Like the prophet, he stood against the corrupt leadership of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel.”

The people in the packed sanctuary clapped and cheered.

Cummings was “a fierce champion of truth, justice and kindness ... who pushed back against the abuse of power,” Clinton added. “He had little tolerance for those who put party ahead of country or partisanship ahead of truth.”

A schedule showed that each speaker was allotted about five minutes at the podium — a time limit that several quickly ignored.

The congressman’s oldest daughter, Jennifer Cummings, 37, delivered a powerful eulogy extolling her father as a seasoned political leader whose most important role was as a dad.

Cummings told her he was amazed he could hold her in one hand when she was born. “This life, my life, in your hand,” she said. He wanted her to know her “rich brown skin was just as beautiful as alabaster, or any color of the rainbow” and insisted on buying her brown dolls so she could appreciate what was special about her.

His other daughter, Adia Cummings, asked the dozens of members of Cummings staff to stand. “I’m so sorry you lost someone who was so much more than a boss to you,” she said.

James Cummings, the congressman’s younger brother, said the family called Elijah Cummings by the nickname “Bobby,” and recalled how the congressman was haunted by the death of his nephew, a student at Old Dominion University, up through his final days.

Mourners began lining up at the church at 5 a.m., the Baltimore Sun reported. By 7 a.m., traffic was backed up a half-mile away from the church, which seats nearly 4,000. A choir sang and clapped as mourners filed into the concert hall-like sanctuary.

A pastor read Bible passages through the public address system, and one of the white-gloved ushers recited the words along with him, from memory. Clips of Cummings speaking in Congress played on huge video screens above the open casket, which was surrounded by massive sprays of flowers.

“In 2019, what do we do to make sure we keep our democracy intact?” he said in one video.

Cummings, who had been in poor health in recent years, died Oct. 17 at age 68. He often said he considered it his mission to preserve the American system of government as the nation faced a “critical crossroads.”

But Cummings, the son of sharecroppers, was also a lifelong civil rights champion known for his efforts to help the poor and the struggling, and to boost the fortunes of his struggling hometown.

Just after 10 a.m., mourners at New Psalmist sprang to their feet and waved their hands as the Clintons and former vice president Joe Biden, also a 2020 candidate, walked in. The cheers grew louder when Obama followed, taking his place next to Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, the congressman’s widow, in the front row. Together, they sang along to the opening hymn.

As gospel singer BeBe Winas performed, a woman near the back wiped her eyes with a handkerchief. He sang: “Tell me, what do you do when you’ve done all you can / And it seems, it seems you can’t make it through / Well you stand, you stand, you just stand.”

The crowd obeyed.

Cummings was honored Wednesday at Morgan State University in Baltimore, a historically black research university where he served on the board of regents.

On Thursday, he became the first African American lawmaker to lie in state at the Capitol, a rare honor reserved for the nation’s most distinguished citizens. Congressional leaders held a memorial ceremony for their former colleague at the Capitol’s ornate Statuary Hall, after which the coffin, was draped in an American flag, was escorted to a spot just outside the House chamber. Thousands of members of the public came to pay their respects.

For more than two hours, Rockeymoore Cummings, personally greeted the mourners, shaking hands, sharing hugs and engaging in extended conversations. A former gubernatorial candidate who chairs the Maryland Democratic Party, she is considered one of the potential contenders for her late husband’s seat.

Rockeymoore Cummings greeted the last mourner at 7:39 p.m. Minutes later, a motorcade escorted Cummings’s body out of Capitol Plaza for the final time.

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Dear President Donald Trump, let me tell you about my ex-boss Elijah Cummings

He goes home to Baltimore every night. He is the same person on camera and off. And everyone knows his cell number, you should call him and talk.

By Jimmy Fremgen | Updated 9:56 a.m. EDT Aug. 2, 2019 | USA TODAY | Posted October 25, 2019 |

Dear Mr. President,

Just over six years ago I was sitting in the gymnasium at Woodlawn High School in Gwynn Oak, Maryland, and I was very unhappy. You see, it was a weekend and as I’m sure you’d agree, I would have much preferred to spend the day playing golf. Instead, my boss had ordered his entire staff, myself included, to drive to this town outside Baltimore on a muggy 93-degree day to help run an event to prevent home foreclosures.

I know you’re wondering whom I worked for, Mr. President. It was Rep. Elijah Cummings. And it is safe to say that on this day, we would have had something in common: I really didn’t like him much.

I worked for Mr. Cummings both on his Capitol staff and for the House Oversight and Reform Committee from August 2012 to February 2016. When he called me to offer the job, he was hard on me immediately. He told me that my salary was non-negotiable, that if I did something wrong he would be sure to tell me, and that he expected me to meet the high standard he keeps for himself and his staff.

Same Man At Podium, In Grocery Store

What I quickly learned about him is that he is the same person on camera and off. The passionate soliloquies that he delivers from behind the chairman’s podium in the Oversight hearing room are very similar to the ones that I often heard from the other end of the phone after he ran into one of his neighbors in the aisle of the grocery store back home. If someone came to him for help, he wouldn’t let any of his staff tell him it wasn’t possible. He’d push us for a solution and give his cellphone number to anyone who needed it — even when we wished he wouldn’t.

In March 2014, then-Oversight Chairman Darrell Issa cut off Mr. Cummings' microphone during his closing remarks, a massive break in decorum that left Cummings reading his statement aloud as the TV feed abruptly stopped. The incident hit cable news in seconds, and I remember coming back from a meeting to find every single person in the office answering phone calls.

joined them on the phones, enduring nonstop racist epithets, cursing, threats and language that I had never imagined. I remember one vividly, a call from a Colorado area code on which an older female voice told me that Cummings better “sit down and shut up like the good boy someone should have taught him to be.” The phones rang this way for three days.

At Home In Baltimore Every Night

Sir, I won’t defend Baltimore, I’m not from there, and there are many who have already stood up to do so. Instead, let me correct you on one last thing: Unlike almost every other member of Congress, Congressman Cummings goes home every night. Honestly, when I worked for him, sometimes I wished he wouldn’t. There were times when I would want him to attend an early morning meeting, take a phone call or approve a document and he couldn’t, because he’d be driving the 44 miles from his house in Baltimore to the Capitol.

During the protests after the death of Freddie Gray in 2015, I couldn’t get hold of Mr. Cummings. Gov. Larry Hogan had called in the National Guard, and I was trying to relay an update about the soldiers that would soon be standing in the streets. It turned out that the congressman was in the streets himself, marching arm-in-arm with community leaders, pastors, gang members, neighbors, anyone who was willing to peacefully protect his city. He walked back and forth, bullhorn in hand urging people to be peaceful, to respect one another, to love each other and to get home safely.

Mr. President, I know you are frustrated. I, too, have been dressed down for my own mistakes by Congressman Cummings. I know how rigorous he can be in his oversight. I agree it can be extensive, but it certainly does not make him a racist.

Instead, let me offer this: I met you once in Statuary Hall of the Capitol, amid the sculptures of prominent Americans, and gave you my card. If you still have it, give me a ring. I’d be happy to pass along Congressman Cummings’ cellphone number so the two of you can have a conversation. Or better yet, swing through the aisles of one of the grocery stores in West Baltimore. I’m sure anyone there would be willing to give you his number.

Yours Sincerely,

Jimmy Fremgen

Jimmy Fremgen is a Sacramento-based consultant specializing in cannabis policy. He handled higher education, firearms safety, defense and foreign affairs as senior policy adviser to Rep. Elijah Cummings from 2012 to 2016.

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Elijah Cummings knew the difference between winning the news cycle and serving the nation

By Eugene Robinson | Published October 24 at 5:00 PM ET | Washington Post | Posted October 25, 2019 |

There are moments when the U.S. Capitol feels like a sanctified space, a holy temple dedicated to ideals that transcend the partisan squabbles of the politicians who work there. The enormous paintings that tell the story of America, normally like wallpaper to those who work in the building, demand attention as if they are being seen for the first time. The marble likenesses of great men — and too few great women — seem to come alive.

Thursday was such an occasion, as the body of Elijah E. Cummings, the Maryland congressman who died last week at 68, lay in state in one of the Capitol’s grandest spaces, Statuary Hall. There was a sense of great sadness and loss but also an even more powerful sense of history and purpose.

Cummings was the first African American lawmaker to be accorded the honor of lying in state at the Capitol. That his casket was positioned not far from a statue of a seated Rosa Parks would have made him smile.

Something Cummings once said seemed to echo in the soaring room: “When we’re dancing with the angels, the question we’ll be asked: In 2019, what did we do to make sure we kept our democracy intact?”

Cummings was able to give an answer he could be proud of. What about me? What about you?

He was the son of sharecroppers who left South Carolina to seek a better life in the big city of Baltimore. When he was growing up in the 1950s and 1960s, Jim Crow segregation was still very much alive. Angry whites threw rocks and bottles at him when, at age 11, he helped integrate a previously whites-only swimming pool. He attended Howard University, where he was president of the student government, and graduated in 1973. A friend of mine who was his classmate told me it was obvious even then that Cummings was on a mission to make a difference in people’s lives.

He got his law degree from the University of Maryland, went into private practice, served in the Maryland House of Delegates and was elected to Congress in 1996. At his death, he was the powerful chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee. But the reason he was so influential, and will be so sorely missed, has less to do with his title than with his integrity and humanity. In floor debates and committee hearings, he fought his corner fiercely. But I don’t know any member of Congress, on either side of the aisle, who did not respect and admire him.

A roster of the great and the good came to the Capitol on Thursday to pay their respects. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called Cummings “our North Star.” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell spoke of Cummings’s love for Baltimore. Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina, an ideological foe, teared up when he spoke of Cummings as a personal friend. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer said “his voice could shake mountains, stir the most cynical heart.”

The scene was a sharp contrast with what had happened one day earlier and two floors below. The House Intelligence Committee was scheduled to take a deposition from a Pentagon official as part of the impeachment inquiry into President Trump’s conduct. The closed-door session was to take place in a basement room designed to be secure from electronic surveillance. Before the deposition could get started, more than two dozen members of Congress — including some of Trump’s staunchest and most vocal defenders — made a clown show of barging into the room, ostensibly to protest that the deposition was not being taken in an open session.

Some of those who participated in the sit-in had the right to attend the hearing anyway; some didn’t. But the protest had nothing to do with substance. The point was to stage a noisy, made-for-television stunt in Trump’s defense that could divert attention, if only for a day, from the facts of the case. The interlopers ordered pizza and brought in Chick-fil-A. Some took their cellphones into the secure room, which is very much against the rules.

I have deliberately not mentioned anyone’s party affiliation, because the contrast I see between the juvenile behavior in the basement and the Cummings ceremony in Statuary Hall is more fundamental. It is between foolishness and seriousness, between nonsense and meaning, between trying to win the news cycle and trying to serve the nation.

Cummings knew the difference. We have lost a great man. The angels must be lining up to dance with him.

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Elijah Cummings, Reluctant Partisan Warrior

The story of the veteran lawmaker is one more example of how, in Washington, appearances deceive, and public performances and private relationships often diverge.

RUSSELL Berman | Published OCT 17, 2019 | The Atlantic | Posted October 25, 2019 |

The image many Americans likely had of Representative Elijah Cummings, who died this morning at the age of 68, was of a Democrat perpetually sparring with his Republican counterparts at high-profile congressional hearings.

There was Cummings in 2015, going at it with Representative Trey Gowdy of South Carolina while a bemused Hillary Clinton sat waiting to testify about the Benghazi attack. Two years later, the lawmaker from Maryland was clashing with Representative Jason Chaffetz of Utah, who would not countenance Cummings trying to inject the investigation into Russian interference into an unrelated Oversight Committee hearing. “You’re not listening!” the Democrat shouted at one point. And then this February, Cummings found himself bickering with Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio, who accused Cummings of orchestrating “a charade” by calling President Donald Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen as one of his first witnesses when he became chairman of the panel.

Yet the story of Cummings, at his death the chairman of the House Oversight Committee and a key figure in the impeachment inquiry against Trump, is one more example of how, in Washington, appearances deceive, and public performances and private relationships often diverge. In the hours after Cummings’s death was announced, heartfelt tributes streamed in from the very Republicans he had criticized so passionately. The contrast in tone with these memories of bitter public battles was jarring, even perplexing.

“I am heartbroken. Truly heartbroken,” Representative Mark Meadows of North Carolina, the founding chairman of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, told CNN. Chaffetz called Cummings “an exceptional man.” “He loved our country,” tweeted the former Oversight Committee chairman, who jousted with Cummings when the Democrat was the panel’s ranking member. “I will miss him and always cherish our friendship.” The House Republican leader, Representative Kevin McCarthy of California, hailed Cummings as “a leader for both parties to emulate.”

It’s easy, of course, to find a kind word for the deceased—even Trump, who just a few months ago called Cummings’s Baltimore congressional district a “disgusting rat and rodent infested mess,” lauded him as a “highly respected political leader” in a tweet this morning.

Yet by all accounts, the reactions from Republicans on Capitol Hill were no crocodile tears, and Cummings had genuine personal relationships with several of them. Cummings himself described Meadows as “one of my best friends,” and came to his defense after Representative Rashida Tlaib of Michigan accused the Trump ally of pulling a “racist” stunt at the Cohen hearing.

Perhaps no tribute—from a Democrat or a Republican—was as reverential as that of Gowdy, who said Cummings was “one of the most powerful, beautiful, and compelling voices in American politics.

“We never had a cross word outside of a committee room,” Gowdy, another former GOP chairman of the Oversight Committee, said in a lengthy Twitter thread this morning. “He had a unique ability to separate the personal from the work.” He recalled a story Cummings often told of a school employee who urged him to abandon his dream of becoming a lawyer and opt for a job “with his hands not his mind.” That employee would later become Cummings’s first client, Gowdy wrote.

“We live in an age where we see people on television a couple of times and we think we know them and what they are about,” the Republican said.

Cummings died at a Maryland hospice center from what his office said were “complications concerning longstanding health challenges.” He had spent months in the hospital after heart and knee surgeries in 2017 and got around in a wheelchair, but there was little public indication of how serious his condition was in the weeks before his death.

In Baltimore, Cummings’s legacy will extend far beyond his work on the House’s chief investigatory committee. He was first elected to Congress in 1996, after 13 years in the Maryland state legislature. After the death of Freddie Gray in the back of a police van in 2015, Cummings walked through West Baltimore with a bullhorn in an attempt to quell the unrest from angry and distraught black citizens. In March 2017, at a time when most Democrats were denouncing the Trump administration on an hourly basis, Cummings met with the new president at the White House in a bid to work with him on a bill to lower drug prices. As my colleague Peter Nicholas recounted earlier this year, the two men fell into a candid talk about race, but little came of the effort on prescription drugs.

Democrats tapped Cummings to be their leader on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee in 2010, after Republicans retook the House majority. He was not the next in line, but the party pushed out the veteran Representative Edolphus Towns of New York over concerns that he’d be too laid-back at a time when Republicans were preparing an onslaught of investigations into Barack Obama’s administration.

The oversight panel is a highly partisan committee in a highly partisan Congress, and Cummings had no illusions about his role. Still, he tried to forge relationships with each of his Republican counterparts, and some of those attempts were successful. As the combative Representative Darrell Issa of California was ending his run as chairman in 2014, Cummings traveled to Utah to bond with Chaffetz, Issa’s likely successor. “I want a relationship which will allow us to get things done,” Cummings said during a joint appearance the two made on MSNBC’s Morning Joe. After Chaffetz left, Cummings got along well—at least in private—with Gowdy and Meadows.

Yet time and again, the cordiality behind closed doors succumbed to rancor in front of the cameras. The relationships Cummings and his Republican counterparts had were no match for these deeply divided times; they yielded few legislative breakthroughs or bipartisan alliances in the midst of highly polarized investigations.

By early 2019, any hope that Cummings may have had of working with conservatives in Congress, or with the Trump administration, seemed to have given way to frustration, and occasionally anger. At the end of Cohen’s testimony, he delivered an emotional plea to his colleagues. “When we’re dancing with the angels, the question will be asked: In 2019, what did we do to make sure we kept our democracy intact?” he said, his voice booming. “C’mon now, we can do two things at once. We have to get back to normal!”

As for Trump, two years after their candid talk on race, the president was viciously attacking Cummings as a “brutal bully” and blaming him for Baltimore’s long-running struggle with poverty and crime.

Two months later, Cummings joined the growing chorus of Democrats calling for Trump’s impeachment. “When the history books are written about this tumultuous era,” he said at the time, “I want them to show that I was among those in the House of Representatives who stood up to lawlessness and tyranny.”

In truth, he had long since realized that the effort to work with the president had been futile. “Now that I watch his actions,” Cummings told Nicholas, “I don’t think it made any difference.”

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Elijah Cummings Was Not Done

The House Oversight chairman died too soon at 68, while working on his deathbed to ensure this country measured up to his standards

By JAMIL SMITH | Published October 18, 2019 | Rolling Stone | Posted October 25, 2019 |

Even with the deaths of our elders today and the 400th anniversary of chattel slavery, we are often reminded that this terrible American past is within the reach of our oral, recorded history. Elijah Cummings, who died Thursday at 68, was the grandson of sharecroppers, the black tenant farmers who rented land from white owners after the Civil War.

Cummings once recounted to 60 Minutes that, when he was sworn into Congress in 1996 following a special election in Maryland’s 7th District, his father teared up. A typical, uplifting American story would be a son talking about his dad’s pride at such a moment, and there was that. But Cummings’ father, Ron, also asked him a series of questions.

Isn’t this the place where they used to call us slaves? “Yes, sir.”

Isn’t this the place where they used to call us three-fifths of a man? “Yes, sir.”

Isn’t this the place where they used to call us chattel? “Yes, sir.”

Then Ron told his son Elijah, according to the story: Now I see what I could have been had I had an opportunity. Forget the Horatio Alger narratives; that is a story of generational ascendance that actually sounds relatable to me as someone who has grown up black in America.

Sixty-eight should be too early for anyone to die in the era of modern medicine, but it somehow didn’t feel premature for Cummings. It wouldn’t feel premature for me, either. Racism kills us black men and women faster, that much has been documented. Cummings had seen the consequences of racism in the mirror every day since he was 11, bearing a scar from an attack by a white mob when he and a group of black boys integrated the public (and ostensibly desegregated) pool in South Baltimore. Perhaps a shorter life was simply an American reality to which he had consigned himself. Or, he had just read the science.

When speculation rumbled about whether he would run for the Senate in 2015, Cummings spoke openly about his own life expectancy.

“When you reach 64 years old and you look at the life expectancy of an African-American man, which is 71.8 years, I ask myself, if I don’t say it now, when am I going to say it?” Cummings said, referring at the time to combative rants and snips at Republicans whom he perceived to be wasting the public’s time and money with nonsense like the Benghazi hearings.

He continued to speak up for what he considered was just, not just when president did wrong but also when it involved the police. The bullhorn seemed to never leave his hand and his voice never seemed to die out in the wake of Freddie Gray’s death at the hands of Baltimore cops in 2015. His willingness to speak up not just in defense of America but of us black Americans is why the passing of Cummings was a puncturing wound for anyone hoping for this nation to be true to what it promises on paper to all of its people.

Worse, Cummings’ death leaves a void. Only a few members of his own party have been as willing to speak as frankly as Cummings, or take as immediate action against the grift and madness that Republicans pass off as governance. “We are better than this!” was one of his frequent exhortations, and I am not sure that we were.

It is tempting, and lazy, to encapsulate the Cummings legacy within the last few years. Pointing to his deft handling of his Republican “friend” Mark Meadows’ racist call-out of Rashida Tlaib in February or his grace in dealing with President Trump’s petulant insults about his beloved Baltimore even as he used his House Oversight powers to help begin perhaps the most significant impeachment inquiry yet launched into an American head of state. But there was more to the man and his patriotism than his pursuit of a corrupt president.

Cummings was, as his widow, Maryland Democratic Party chairwoman Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, put it in her statement, working “until his last breath.” In a memo just last week, as he was ailing, Cummings stated he planned to subpoena both acting USCIS Director Ken Cuccinelli and acting ICE Director Matthew Albence to testify on October 17, the day he would later pass away. (Both men agreed to testify, voluntarily, but the hearing has been postponed until the 24th.)

Cummings also signed two subpoenas driven to him in Baltimore hours before his death, both dealing with the Trump administration’s coldhearted policy change to temporarily end the ability for severely ill immigrants to seek care in the United States.

One of the young immigrant patients who had testified to a House Oversight subcommittee about this draconian Trump measure, a Honduran teenager named Jonathan Sanchez, told the assembled lawmakers, simply, “I don’t want to die.”

Cummings knew all too well that this is a country that kills people with its racism, and saw this president trying to do it. He went to his deathbed trying to change that America. His untimely death left that work undone, but that task is ours now.

*********

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torentialtribute · 5 years ago

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Vasyl Lomachenko goes through final public workout ahead of Luke Campbell bout

Vasyl Lomachenko goes through last training in York Hall as pound-for-pound king admits he & # 39; extra motivation & # 39; has for O2 Arena match against home favorite Luke Campbell

Vasyl Lomachenko takes over Luke Campbell in the O2 Arena on Saturday evening

Both hunters took part in a public training on Wednesday at York Hall

Campbell's trainer Shane McGuigan believes his man can defy all expectations

by by Jeff Powell for Mailonline

Published: Published: 11:03 PM BST, August 28, 2019 | Updated: 23:07 BST, August 28, 2019

The great Vasyl Lomachenko returned to the homely surroundings of York Hall, Bethnal Green for his last public training before defending his unified world lightweight title in the more beneficial O2 arena this Saturday night.

Loma fought in the spiritual home of East End boxing a year after winning in London He second his second Olympic gold.

That visit was for a hybrid pro-am tournament – which of course he won – before embarking on his full professional career.

Vasyl Lomachenko received a roaring reception for his last public training in London

The pound-for-pound king makes his preparations before Luke Campbell picks it up

The British hunter insists he can beat Lomachenko on Saturday

Now the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world, he enjoyed the pilgrimage and said: "I have memories of everything in London.

"At this place there were hundreds of Ukrainians roaring and waving the Ukrainian flag.

& # 39; Thank you to the one who came again tonight. They will be there again at the O2, but I expect that they will be in the minority by thousands of Englishmen who support their famous English boxer. No problem That gives me extra motivation. & # 39;

Lomachenko has found memories of London after his success as an amateur hunter

He showed his hand speed in various exercises, including hitting a ball attached to a string

Lomachenko also showed his coordination when he impressed spectators with his juggling skills

Lomachenko was welcomed by the York Hall rafters Londona also, which he did on Saturday & # 39; a pleasant fight & # 39; promised. Campbell made a similar promise when he briefly followed him into the ring.

Campbell and his new trainer Shane McGuigan tell each other that the Great Lomachenko & # 39; just another fight & # 39; is.

This is an exercise to strengthen Campbell's self-confidence before competing with the No 1 pound-for-pound hunter in the O2 arena on Saturday night in the London ring road.

Lomachenko is the extraordinary talent that won the world featherweight and super featherweight titles on its way to becoming the united world lightweight champion.

McGuigan says: & # 39; There is no point in going in there unless you think you can win. We believe that Luke has the size, the power, the experience now at 31 and especially the belief that he will beat the man who others think is unbeatable. & # 39;

Campbell admits that & # 39; a certain extra excitement generated by the public view of this as a huge fight and I enjoy the great opportunity & # 39; but adds: & # 39; I prepared anticipate this in the same way as I do for all my fights. & # 39;

The Ukrainian hunter shook hands with boxer Anthony Crolla side of the York Hall ring

Campbell has the size advantage and is convinced that he can deliver an exciting fight on Saturday n

Campbell's trainer Shane McGuigan (L) believes his husband has the experience of beating Lomachenko

McGuigan feeds that story, saying: & # 39; Luke is sometimes at the level of smaller opponents dragged, but when he is against an elite hunter, he brings out the best in him. That's what will happen Saturday night.

& # 39; We won't be surprised when Luke wins, but boxing will see it as the biggest upset by a British boxer since Lloyd Honeyghan went to America and the welterweight titles of the so-called unbeatable Donald Curry. & # 39;

While McGuigan is the psychological support of his hunter, Campbell helps his trainer come through personal grief similar to his own suffering two years ago.

Cambell's father died prematurely fourteen days before his previous world title fight, the loss to Jorge Linares. McGuigan's sister has just succumbed to cancer.

Campbell says: & We help each other. It's better for Shane than he has the big fight to think about in this sad time. & # 39;

Vasyl Lomachenko v Lakue Campbell in the O2 Arena will be broadcast live this Saturday evening on Sky Sports Box Office.

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takenews-blog1 · 7 years ago

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These Athletes Have Pre-Recreation Secrets and techniques That Maintain Their Heads In The Recreation

New Post has been published on https://takenews.net/these-athletes-have-pre-recreation-secrets-and-techniques-that-maintain-their-heads-in-the-recreation/

These Athletes Have Pre-Recreation Secrets and techniques That Maintain Their Heads In The Recreation

Sports activities video games are lengthy. MLB and NFL video games usually final 4 hours and NBA video games can push three. It might’t be straightforward for athletes to maintain their focus, particularly once they’re huffing and puffing on the sidelines. The important thing for a lot of athletes to remain targeted is to first hone their focus with their pre-game rituals. Listed here are a few of the finest, worst, and weirdest.

You gained’t imagine what Yankees catcher Jorge Posada used to do earlier than squatting behind the dish!

Mike Powell/Allsport/Getty Photos

Michael Jordan is arguably the best NBA participant to ever play. There are rumors that as a baby he would shoot 100 free throws in a row in his driveway earlier than going to mattress. Whether or not that’s true or not, one factor is true, Jordan by no means forgot his previous. In truth, the rationale he performed in such dishevelled shorts was that earlier than each recreation he would placed on his College of North Carolina shorts for good luck. That’s proper, Michael Jordan would play in each his faculty workforce’s shorts in addition to his Bulls’ shorts! There isn’t a affirmation whether or not he would additionally put on his House Jam shorts.

Chris Graythen/Getty Photos

Ray Lewis was an unbelievable linebacker and workforce chief. Successful the Tremendous Bowl in each his rookie and closing season within the NFL was no small process. Lewis, to his credit score, was not a small persona both, utilizing his vitality, lion volumed yell, and sheer presence to pump himself up, in addition to his Baltimore teammates throughout his pre-game speech. Requested about it, quarterback Joe Flacco claimed he by no means understood a factor Lewis yelled however knew the fiery linebacker meant each phrase. In Lewis’ case, his quantity spoke louder than his phrases ever may.

The linebacker developing subsequent didn’t have time to talk between cookies.

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Photos

Brian Urlacher recorded 1,229 profession tackles in his NFL profession. At 6’four″ and 258 kilos, each a kind of tackles should have harm. Earlier than video games, nevertheless, Urlacher was a delicate large, selecting rest over adrenaline. What was his weapon of selection? Chocolate chip cookies and nation music, after all! How else do you assume he made eight Professional Bowls? Figuring out he needed to watch his determine, Urlacher additionally practiced self-control, limiting himself to 2 cookies pre-game. He had his preferences too, solely munching on Well-known Amos snack cookies whereas jamming to Keith City. Actually a diabolical union that helped result in a sure-fire Corridor of Fame profession.

Billy Weiss/Boston Pink Sox/Getty Photos

One of the crucial superstitious Baseball superstars of all time was Wade Boggs. The Boston Pink Sox Corridor of Fame third baseman had the identical pre-game ritual for all 162 video games he performed a season. Sitting at his locker earlier than a recreation, Boggs would eat fried hen and write the phrase “chai” over and over. The Jewish phrase interprets to life, one thing the fried hen should have crammed him with as he completed his profession with greater than three,000 hits.

Whereas Boggs was scarfing down fried hen, one other athlete had a a lot weirder ritual a couple of hundred miles north.

Ezra C. Shaw/Allsport/Getty Photos

Steven “Turk” Wendell should have believed within the energy of the Easter Bunny throughout his enjoying days for the New York Mets. The quirky reliever didn’t have a pre-game ritual per se, however he did have a pre-appearance superstition. For an MLB reliever, that’s principally the identical factor. As he would come out to the mound to pitch, Wendell would leap over the baselines. Stepping over the white line and messing it up would have been again luck. Even stranger, Wendell wouldn’t go an inning with out brushing his tooth.

Then once more, brushing one’s tooth is extra sanitary than what our subsequent athlete did…

Mark Cunningham/MLB Pictures/Getty Photos

In the course of the Yankees dynasty of the 1990’s and early 2000’s, two issues had been sure; Mariano Rivera would shut the sport and Jorge Posada would catch the ultimate out. Posada, for his half, would inform you there was a smelly motive he was so good. Earlier than each recreation he would urinate on his palms, claiming it helped construct calluses. Oddly sufficient, Moises Alou would do the identical factor, however solely within the offseason. Who is aware of if the science behind the speculation is sound, however Jorge Posada behind the plate was completely sound because the ball would hit his glove for strike three.

Mitchell Leff/Getty Photos

Kobe Bryant’s identify will reside on for so long as the NBA exists, possibly longer even. The “Black Mamba” grew to become greater than only a participant in his 20-year profession, he grew to become a legend. His greatness prolonged the size of his profession, which he ended by scoring 60 factors in his closing recreation. Earlier than that recreation he carried out his pre-game ritual one final time, strolling on the stadium ground 4 hours earlier than tip-off. It’s there, alone, he may focus, solely caring concerning the sound of the ball hitting wooden, the backboard, the rim, and the web. This was Kobe Bryant’s peace, his “calm earlier than the storm.”

Kobe Bryant by no means performed a recreation with out his ritual, similar to this subsequent athlete would by no means begin a recreation earlier than consuming his signature meal.

Jason O. Watson/Getty Photos

The San Francisco Giants gained their second World Collection in 2012, and journeyman pitcher Ryan Vogelsong was a giant a part of that. Initially drafted by the Giants in 1998, he shuffled across the minor and main leagues earlier than coming again residence in 2011 and cementing his spot within the workforce’s rotation. In 2012 he would reside out his childhood dream, pitching 5.2 shutout innings in recreation three of the World Collection. When requested concerning the secret to his late profession success, Vogelsong thanked the ability of enchiladas. The evening earlier than each begin, together with the postseason, Vogelsong would eat the identical enchiladas from the identical restaurant. In 2018 he shall be inducted into the Giants wall of fame, proving his pre-game meal was price each calorie.

David Banks/Getty Photos

Retiring from the NFL whereas nonetheless in his prime, former Lions vast receiver Calvin Johnson was the perfect at his place for brief time within the league. He credit yoga as the rationale he tortured opposing workforce’s secondaries. Launched to Johnson by Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton, Johnson is aware of yoga isn’t for everybody however says it labored for him. He would apply yoga earlier than video games and through warm-ups, utilizing it to loosen up, stretch, and relieve bodily ache. The one ache it didn’t relieve was shedding, which is the rationale it’s believed he retired at simply 30-years-old, lacking out on his probability to get into the Corridor of Fame.

David Madison/Getty Photos

Simply the best ladies’s soccer participant of all time, Mia Hamm can also be one of many best athlete’s of all time. Being the face of American soccer couldn’t have been straightforward, and Hamm reportedly had fairly the superstition to take care of her anxiousness, particularly earlier than video games. When she would lace up her cleats she must tie them proper lace over left lace each time. If the ritual was damaged she must begin over or face the results of enjoying a horrible match. Contemplating her two World Cup championships, that mishap not often occurred.

In case you assume that’s obsessive, simply wait…

Francois Nel/Getty Photos

Not a reputation acquainted to American sports activities followers, Neil McKenzie is a well-known South African cricket participant whose pre-game ritual was too unusual to not share. As a solution to put together himself for a recreation and rid himself of any unhealthy luck, McKenzie would tape his cricket bat to the ceiling of the locker room and put the bathroom seat down on each rest room. What’s actually nutty is that he wouldn’t simply do that earlier than each recreation, he would do it earlier than each at bat! In 2004 he was minimize from the nationwide workforce and returned in 2008 claiming he had recovered from his self-diagnosed obsessive-compulsive dysfunction.

Andrew Weber/Icon SMI/Icon Sports activities Media/Getty Photos

LeBron James is nothing if not probably the most polarizing figures in sports activities at this time. The Cavaliers homegrown famous person as soon as belted the town of Cleveland for the sunnier seashores of Miami. After enduring years of hate, he returned to open arms and introduced the town its first skilled championship within the fashionable sports activities period. When he initially left Cleveland, he additionally left behind his pre-game ritual, a powder toss designed to pump himself up. Not discovering the success he wished in Miami, James introduced the powder toss again and gained a number of NBA championships. In truth, LeBron James has appeared in each NBA finals for the final eight years. It’s clearly all as a result of he chooses to toss powder earlier than each recreation to rid the air of unhealthy mojo!

Nonetheless, some basketball gamers take their rituals a step additional.

Barry Chin/The Boston Globe/Getty Photos

Kevin Garnett will make the NBA Corridor of Fame, he simply won’t bear in mind the profession that received him there. You see, Garnett has one of many extra violent pre-game rituals, selecting to bang his head into the padding across the hoop earlier than each recreation. Whereas that may not sound very concussion-inducing, it’s in actual fact repeated head trauma for 82 days a yr, extra if his workforce made the playoffs, which they normally did. In truth, Garnett made the playoffs 14 occasions in his profession, profitable one championship. He may need a violent pre-game routine, nevertheless it unquestionably helped him earned his spot within the NBA Corridor of Fame.

Deal with Sports activities/Getty Photos

Curtis Martin is the fourth-leading rusher in NFL historical past with 14,101 profession yards. Over the course of an 11-year profession, he averaged 12,800 yards per season. If somebody had been to ask him what the important thing to his success was he would give the plain athlete reply of “God.” Not like most athletes, nevertheless, Martin took his devotion to the lord a step additional. Sitting at his locker earlier than video games, Curtis Martin made it his common apply to learn Psalm 91, a extra passive entry within the Bible asking followers to declare their belief within the lord. That belief helped lead Martin to one of many best careers for a working again in league historical past.

Our subsequent athlete believed one thing apart from God helped him run quick.

Michael Steele/Getty Photos

Usain Bolt’s legacy is simple. He usually made monitor races non-competitive along with his blazing velocity. He was, in any case, the quickest man on this planet. Earlier than a race, although, Bolt wished to speak about something apart from the game he was revolutionizing. A number of of his favourite issues to speak about had been music, ladies, and vehicles. We assume he favored his vehicles quick, however gained’t ask to be secure. The rationale Bolt refused to speak about racing earlier than a race was easy, he didn’t need to overthink it. All he wanted to win was his pure velocity, a really particular bodily reward.

Mead Norton/Getty Photos

One other lesser-known star with a giant pre-game routine, Jill Kintner is a BMX Olympic medalist and four-time BMX world champion. She retains her routine easy and tight, prepping together with her coach, she drinks half an vitality drink and rides up the chairlift to the place the race will begin. As soon as there she checks her gear; goggles, elbow pads, and footwear. After the fundamentals, she flicks rocks with the entrance wheel of her bike, actually getting herself within the zone. Proper when all that ends she strikes to the gate and begins her race. Possibly not the craziest pre-game routine, however the satan is all within the particulars on this one, and people particulars imply all the pieces to Kintner.

Hyoung Chang/The Denver Submit/Getty Photos

Three-time mountain biking 24-hour solo world champion Rebecca Rusch places on a present for her neighbors earlier than each race. Undoubabltly among the finest aggressive mountain bikers on this planet, Rusch takes her routine straight again to when she was child imagining herself profitable the large race. We’re not mendacity both, sitting on her bike within the driveway exterior her home, Rush pretends two little stone pillars are the end line. She visualizes the win as she rides via, going so far as to lift her arms in celebration of her pending victory.

Not a nasty solution to get able to race, not as bizarre as kissing your teammates earlier than video games both…

Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Photos

France is soccer world energy. Probably the most recognizable face of French soccer is Zinedine Zidane, who as soon as headbutted an opponent within the chest through the World Cup. A lesser-known French participant is Laurent Blanc, a member of the 1998 French workforce who had among the finest pre-game rituals ever. Earlier than each match, Blanc would seek out the workforce’s goalkeeper, Fabien Barthez, and plant a giant fats kiss on his bald head. Barthez should not have minded, and the pre-game routine labored because the 1998 French males’s membership gained the World Cup that yr. This routine goes down within the pre-game ritual Corridor of Fame!

Brandon Wade/Getty Photos

Texas Rangers pitcher A.J. Griffin is multi-talented and makes use of his many abilities to assist put together for a recreation. Very similar to Usain Bolt and Brian Urlacher, Griffin doesn’t need to take into consideration the sport earlier than he has to. To assist take his thoughts off issues he performs guitar. Whereas his teammates heat up on the sphere taking batting apply and enjoying long-toss, A.J. Griffin hangs again and lays down a couple of candy licks. Considered one of his favourite bands to play is Led Zeppelin, whose tabs preserve him targeted on something however Baseball. The technique labored whereas in Oakland for the primary two years of his profession, though his final two years in Texas may need him strumming a brand new tune with an ERA over 5.00!

Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Photos

Ending up our listing of pre-game rituals that vary from the distinctive to the bizarre is three-time world Ironman champion Chrissie Wellington. Figuring out how critically she takes her sport, she prefers to remain lighthearted and unfastened throughout her pre-game ritual, watching family-friendly motion pictures and writing poetry. Her favourite film to observe earlier than a race is “Seabiscuit,” the identical identify she gave her race bike. When she wants a bit of further assist, she writes down the phrases to Rudyard Kipling’s poem, If on her water bottle. The inspirational poem by the writer of The Jungle E book tells the reader to think about themselves it doesn’t matter what. The religion that Wellington has in herself, and this pre-game ritual, has taken her far in her occupation. In truth, all of the athletes on this listing used their pre-game rituals to attain success of their extremely worrying and aggressive sports activities. Who is aware of, possibly certainly one of their rituals will be just right for you too!

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usatrendingsports · 7 years ago

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The tanking development has hit MLB, however figuring out when to cease tanking is the actual trick

Baseball is, and all the time has been a copycat sport. When Babe Ruth despatched the Useless Ball Period crashing down with a barrage of titanic homers for the Yankees, different groups chased sluggers to name their very own. When Jackie Robinson smashed the colour barrier and have become a star for the Dodgers, different groups began mining the Negro Leagues for expertise, having been spared the duty of being the primary to take a stand in opposition to Main League Baseball’s segregationist methods.

Welcome to baseball’s newest copycat scheme: How one can tank your technique to glory.

The Cubs and Astros are the brand new poster groups for that method. Each stripped their main league roster to the bone, buying the younger expertise and monetary flexibility they’d want to begin their climb again to competition. Each executed their plans so completely — and nabbed sufficient luck alongside the way in which — to interrupt unfathomably lengthy World Collection droughts.

Watching these groups leaping round like 10-year-olds after the ultimate out of the Fall Traditional stokes the fireplace for the ballclubs that are actually within the thick of main rebuilding jobs. A few of these rebuilding groups are actually taking that motivation to the following degree, spending (or threatening to spend) gigantic sums of cash on veteran gamers, even when they look like years away from even having a shot to duplicate what Chicago and Houston have achieved.

The Phillies and Padres misplaced 96 and 91 video games respectively in 2017. Now, each golf equipment appear desperate to dig deep into their conflict chest to amass brand-name gamers. The query is, does that method make any sense?

For the Phillies, this is not a hypothetical state of affairs. On Dec. 15, they dealt veteran shortstop Freddy Galvis to San Diego for minor league pitcher Enyel De Los Santos. That meant the staff’s highest wage dedication for 2018 was Odubel Herrera, the proficient and bargain-priced outfielder who’ll make simply $Three.35 million subsequent season. In reality a few of Philly’s greatest gamers, together with workers ace Aaron Nola and rookie sensation Rhys Hoskins, will make in regards to the league minimal in 2018. This regarded like a staff that was bottoming out, able to construct round its younger expertise, with the hope of including key veteran items a 12 months or two down the street, as that younger core began to mature.

Seems that wasn’t the plan in any respect. On the identical day the Phillies shipped Galvis out of city, additionally they ponied up for 2 veteran, high-priced relievers. Two-time All-Star Pat Neshek and hard-throwing righty Tommy Hunter immediately grew to become the staff’s two highest-paid gamers (by far), and can make a mixed $16.75 million within the coming season.

The coup de grace got here 5 days later. Regardless of seemingly having their reply at first base for the following six years, and being years away from difficult the Nationwide League’s elite, the Phils took the plunge on veteran slugger Carlos Santana. The fee? A clean three years, $60 million. Man, that was a scorching one. Like, seven inches from the noon solar.

Heading into this winter, the Padres regarded even thriftier, and additional away from competition, than the last-place Phillies. San Diego rolled out baseball’s third-lowest Opening Day payroll final 12 months. The membership’s solely gamers signed past 2018 had been low-priced lefty Clayton Richard, and Wil Myers, who’s owed simply $10 million mixed within the subsequent two seasons earlier than his wage balloons to $22.5 million in 2020. Just like the Phillies, the Padres owned a well-regarded farm system, however in contrast to the Phillies, San Diego’s greatest prospects had been (and are) possible years away from difficult for large league gigs.

Then, the spending began. First, the Padres did the Yankees a colossal favor, taking Chase Headley’s $13 million 2018 wage off New York’s ledger in a puzzling three-player deal. A pair of low-cost, two-year offers for aid assist adopted. Now, the Padres are reportedly going onerous after Eric Hosmer, doubtlessly dangling as a lot as $140 million on a seven-year megadeal.

Is now the fitting time for the Padres to splash some money on free agent Eric Hosmer? USATSI

For the Phillies, the strikes for Santana, Neshek, and Hunter signify an aggressive and optimistic learn of the panorama. There’s some logic behind the strikes, although.

Think about how properly some loaded-bullpen groups with vital roster flaws have fared in recent times. Most famously, the Royals overcame iffy beginning pitching and an absence of energy to win two straight American League pennants and a World Collection, thanks largely to a three-headed beast of a pen. Neshek and Hunter had been two of the perfect relievers within the league final 12 months, and their presence may assist each shorten video games and ship extra wins in shut contests, each of which might be extremely welcome developments for a ballclub with a younger beginning rotation.

Additionally, the Phillies is likely to be nearer to contending than you may assume simply by glancing at their horrific 2017 document. They play in a division with just one top-notch staff in it, the Nationals. Washington apart, you’ve got bought the Braves (a staff with an ideal farm system that is nonetheless mild on main league expertise), the Mets (nice younger pitching, but additionally tons of query marks), and the Marlins (hoo boy). Given that the majority of Philly’s greatest younger gamers have already arrived within the majors, issues may flip for the higher in a rush, and keep that method for some time. Suppose on this: Nola, Hoskins, J.P. Crawford, Jorge Alfaro, Nick Williams, and Herrera are all 26 or youthful, and Santana is the one member of the projected lineup older than 27.

The Padres have a harder street to navigate. Their secure of main league-ready younger place gamers lags properly behind Philly’s. Nonetheless, you would attempt to play satan’s advocate a bit, with the satan on this case being indefatigable normal supervisor A.J. Preller. Hunter Renfroe and Manuel Margot are uncooked however expert outfielders who may fare higher of their second full massive league seasons. Younger right-handers Dinelson Lamet and Luis Perdomo did showcase some potential final season, providing extra hope.

Nonetheless, the play for Hosmer appears to be like totally different than Philly scooping up Santana, for 2 causes. First, Hosmer is simply 28 years previous, providing hope that he may have a number of prime years in entrance of him … even when his energy is not all that spectacular for a primary baseman, and superior defensive metrics do not deem him worthy of the 4 Gold Gloves he is gained. Second, it is the Padres. What number of recognizable stars have the Pads had since Tony Gwynn retired? Hell, what number of franchises have gone a half-century with this little success, toiling on this a lot anonymity? A greater-than-average first baseman who’s a notch beneath the sport’s greatest in all probability is not promoting many tickets on his personal. However the Padres have cash to spend, a bone that wants throwing at their long-suffering followers, and the faint hope that Hosmer’s middling energy may someway blossom within the place the place left-handed energy hitters go to die.

We have seen different rebuilding groups instantly spend massive cash earlier than the lots would’ve anticipated, after all — beginning with these blueprint-setting 2016 Cubs. Following the 2014 season, the North Siders made an enormous splash in free company, reeling in lefty ace Jon Lester on a $155 million deal. The calculus was a bit of totally different in that case, with the Cubs profitable a barely extra respectable 73 video games that 12 months, their second straight season of enchancment after bottoming out at 61-101 in 2012. Additionally, the Cubs did not cease there, buying Dexter Fowler, Miguel Montero, and Jason Hammel that winter, whereas additionally hiring Joe Maddon to handle the staff. If you are going to attempt to goose your rebuilding course of, it is in all probability greatest to essentially go for it moderately than make an remoted deal or two.

Return via the years and you will find a blended bag of outcomes with regards to rebuilding golf equipment hoping to search out their very own model of Lester. Two years earlier, the Cubs fired $52 million at Edwin Jackson, a transfer that failed spectacularly each for its untimely signing, and easily getting the flawed man to assist. The long run-champion Astros misplaced 111 video games in 2013, then tried to rid themselves of humiliation and Zero.Zero native TV rankings by signing a number of veterans, together with Scott Feldman on a three-year, $30 million. Once more, too little, too early.

Elsewhere, the Royals misplaced 100 video games in 2006, then determined that waving $55 million at Gil Meche would someway remedy their issues (it didn’t). On the plus facet, the Nationals took a beating for inking Jayson Werth to a $126 million deal recent off a 69-93 marketing campaign. Accidents and age would in reality make that deal a bust, although Werth did no less than financial institution two top-20 MVP finishes in 2013 and 2014 because the Nats improved right into a perennial contender. And if you need two phrases that completely encapsulate the dangers concerned when a awful staff throws a bunch of money at a veteran free agent, I’ve two phrases for you: Operation Shutdown.

Probably the most excessive latest case of spending at all-time low is likely to be the post-2003 Tigers. Detroit fielded one of many worst groups in baseball historical past in ’03, dropping an incomprehensible 119 video games. How dangerous was that membership? The workers chief in innings pitched and ERA was Nate Cornejo. Bonus factors when you have any concept who Nate Cornejo was, or can learn his stat line of 194 2/Three innings, 236 hits, 58 walks, and 46 strikeouts and never turn into gravely in poor health.

Factor is, the Tigers’ GM in these days was Dealin’ Dave Dombrowski, some of the aggressive and least refined baseball operators of all time. Moderately than comply with the previous playbook of obsessing over prospects and ready years to do something attention-grabbing, Dombrowski instantly swung for the fences, luring future Corridor of Fame Ivan Rodriguez from the defending World Collection-champion Marlins to the staff that simply missed tying the post-1900 document for many losses in a season. That shocker of a transfer paved the way in which for a passel of different multi-year offers, with veteran outfielders Magglio Ordonez and Rondell White, lefty ace Kenny Rogers, and others becoming a member of by way of free company. Add in a shrewd commerce for slugging infielder Carlos Guillen and the event of high prospects like Justin Verlander and Curtis Granderson, and the Tigers stormed their method from near-record futility to the World Collection in a span of simply three years.

So say your prayers, Phillies and Padres followers. By winter’s finish, you would find yourself with a galvanizer like Pudge who guides your technique to postseason glory, or the following Edwin Jackson. No strain.

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aion-rsa · 8 years ago

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INTERVIEW: Old Enemies Band Together in Bunn’s X-Men Blue

The ever changing nature of the Marvel Universe means old friends can suddenly find themselves at each other’s throats, while bitter enemies find common ground and are thrust into uneasy alliances. It’s something the modern day incarnation of the X-Men have gotten used to, but this spring the time-displaced original X-Men will deal with this for the first time as they find themselves reuniting and working with their oldest foe: Magneto.

Writer Cullen Bunn and artist Jorge Molina will begin documenting the relationship between these strange bedfellows in “X-Men Blue,” an ongoing series that launches in April as part of Marvel’s new RessurXion line of X-Men and Inhuman books. We spoke with Bunn about the dynamic between the titular team and their new ally, how the group will operate, and some of the classic X-Men foes they’ll run afoul of in their initial adventures.

CBR: “X-Men Blue” will be new reader friendly, but it will also be the third book you’re written featuring Magneto. How does it feel to get a chance to continue your look at the Master of Magnetism?

EXCLUSIVE: Jorge Molina and Matt Milla’s art from “X-Men Blue” #1

Cullen Bunn: For every book I’ve written featuring Magneto, I’ve had the chance to explore different facets of his very complicated personality. Every incarnation is a little different, but they are all leading somewhere.

As “X-Men Blue” kicks off, we’ll see that Magneto is in a very different place thanks to recent events. Mutants have a second (or is it third or fourth or fifth?) chance to really thrive in the world, but if they are going to survive they’ll have to co-exist with humans. Magneto’s old methods no longer work. He still believes there are threats to mutants that must be dealt with. He has some very specific targets in mind. But he does not believe that he can be the mutant to stand against them, at least not publicly. The world at large fears Magneto, so he is laying low. He needs someone to fight his battles, and it can’t be a squad of scary X-Men. The Original Five becomes his team.

Of course, he has ulterior motives, which will start to be revealed early on in the series.

Will Magneto accompany the Original Five into field on missions? Or is he acting in more of an advisory capacity?

Magneto is offering the X-Men guidance and resources, but he is definitely not joining them on field missions. One thing to keep in mind is that the other X-Men — the other heroes of the world — have no idea that the Original Five are working with Magneto. It’s a dirty little secret.

It seems like both Magneto and the Original Five might find their alliance more than a little awkward.

Awkward” is a great way of describing it. Make no mistake, the Original Five are not just blindly following Magneto. They have many, many reasons not to trust him. He was, after all, the first “evil” mutant they ever faced. They have a fairly clear idea of who Magneto is and what he is capable of doing. That lack of trust is one of the reasons the X-Men have agreed to work with Magneto. “Keep your frenemies close.” That said, the team is a little at odds with each other over the alliance with Magneto, and Magneto has plenty of secrets that he’s keeping from them.

When the original X-Men reunite in “X-Men Blue” Jean Grey will be the leader instead of Cyclops. How are Jean and Scott initially dealing with the change in leadership?

It’s Jean who brings the team together to work with Magneto, and the rest of the team pretty much agrees that she should be in charge. Cyclops himself would say that he’s got too much going on to worry about being team leader. Old habits die hard, though, and Cyclops sometimes tries to take a leadership role. Beast, Angel and Iceman are quick to put him in his place when that happens.

I really like the way the dynamic is shifting with Jean as the team leader. Being in charge is giving her some insight into who she is and into some of the mistakes she’s made. She’s relying on Scott to help her and offer advice on leadership. It changes their relationship in some really interesting ways.

Leadership shake ups aren’t the only changes the original X-Men have endured during their time in the present day. Characters like Iceman, Beast and Angel have all gone through a lot. What aspects of these characters are you especially interested in exploring?

EXCLUSIVE: Jorge Molina and Matt Milla’s art from “X-Men Blue” #1

I’m embracing these changes and running with them. These aren’t the same X-Men they were when they jumped into the modern timeline. I love that these characters are so different than they were before. I’m definitely not throwing any of that out the window. Beast’s interest in magic is going to be important; Iceman’s relationship with Romeo is key to where I’m taking him; Angel’s hotheadedness and impulsive nature will guide him toward being a different kind of man. These changes are important, and there are more on the way!

But what do these changes mean for this group of X-Men? Obviously, they are so different now than they were before they came to our time. How can they ever go home again without completely destroying the time line?

What can you tell us about how your cast will operate and the missions they’ll undertake? Will they be part of the larger X-Men organization run by Kitty Pryde over in “X-Men Gold?”

This group of X-Men is on their own. When “X-Men Prime” comes out, you’ll see in my section that the Blue team starts out with Kitty, but they quickly determine they have to strike out on their own. They have their own X-Mansion, their own Blackbird, and their own operating guidelines.

You’ll be seeing them jetting all over the world on missions to help mutants and strike at specific enemies.

You’re working with artist Jorge Molina on “X-Men Blue,” who’s got a knack for teams and big action. What do you enjoy most about Jorge’s style?

I love how Jorge takes these classic characters and breathes new excitement into them. Just look at his Juggernaut in issue #1! He’s terrifying! Jorge is making sure this is a fun, lively series. Sure, there are moments of darkness, but this is not meant to be an oppressively dark series. This is fun X-Men superhero adventure! Jorge’s style is perfect for that!

Your mention of Juggernaut is a great segue way into my final question — can you talk any more about some of the villains you have plans for?

Anyone who has read my “Uncanny X-Men” knows that I love classic X-Men villains, and I’ll be chasing that in this series. These are classic X-Men adventures, so of course you will be seeing some fan-favorite villains.

In their first adventure, they face Black Tom Cassidy, who is challenge enough on his own. But Black Tom has joined back up with his partner in crime — Juggernaut! And Juggernaut is definitely going to be a challenge for our heroes.

That’s not all, though! Wait, there’s more! How’s Mojo strike you? How about the most super of super-Sentinels? Do you think I��ll totally forget the Hellfire Club? How about a real “sinister” enemy?

There are some surprise returns coming in this book, as early as the first issue, and there are some totally unexpected foes showing up that will change the mutant landscape in more ways than one.

There are so, so many characters I’m excited about, both enemies and allies, both new and established. The coolest characters of the X-Universe are alive and well in this series.

Keep in mind, these X-Men are time lost and reality lost. I’m not letting that go, either, so expect this team to meet some X-characters of the past and of the future. Some of them might even stick around.

EXCLUSIVE: Jorge Molina and Matt Milla’s art from “X-Men Blue” #1

The post INTERVIEW: Old Enemies Band Together in Bunn’s X-Men Blue appeared first on CBR.com.

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