#brandon ream

[iwritenarrativesandstuff]

Trimax Thoughts Vol. 11 Pt. 1

Well, we're back after last week's suffering. Stream of consciousness ahead!

First off I find this a clever way to hide the hair! Dynamic posing! The poor unsuspecting fools who haven't read volume 10 would look at this and have no idea why we're sad.

Live Zazie reaction:

Augh, Livio driving the car... Vash asleep in the back... this does something to me.

He's so cute. He's not suffering or anything look at him.

Both Brad and Livio reaming him out for being too trusting that's so funny to me

To be quite honest, I feel like Livio was very much a victim in all this... that doesn't make him blameless in the situation but it was very much Chapel who grievously injured Wolfwood enough that he chose to take the double vials, and it was him who manipulated Razlo to be dependent on him and Livio to think serving was his only purpose. That said, there's something very heartwarming about Brad being so upset over Wolfwood's death considering his usual untrusting nature and the fact that he really didn't know him that well.

Livio apologizes for his body stopping the bleeding so soon after getting punched. Buddy. No. 😂😭

I feel so bad for the Plants in all this. However, much as it sucks for humanity, I'm very glad to know they can exert enough influence in order to resist killing their sisters and brother and are able to express their free will in some way... could they have refused commands before this point then? If so, that begs the question of why they didn't.

Someone arriving from space???

Oh, so the Plants feel an affinity with Knives. Is that because they agree with him and his methods? Is it because he's absorbed so many of their sisters already? Do they feel his pain and loneliness? I'm so curious.

Meryl!!! I missed yoouuuuu (and she immediately sticks out her tongue and flips a double bird at authority. love her.)

I love this... such a sweet and quiet moment with these two amidst the chaos. Milly putting her perceptiveness to good use to try and support Meryl as best she can. It makes me wonder about that 7-8 month gap and how these two survived not just what is basically the apocalypse, but also the struggle of Meryl's trauma from having Vash's memories dumped on her. I bet Milly was pretty instrumental during that period.

"It's too bad it will never be the same again." IN COMES VASH THE STAMPEDE SWINGING IN ON A LADDER

AUGHHHHHHH. This is so sweet aaaaaaa. Oh my god I just realized this is the first time they've actually seen each other since that town chased Vash out and Meryl had a breakdown. Where he thought she was scared of him. But she wasn't!!! He started to realize it after Marlon, but now he sees it!!! They are. so precious to me... :')

The Earth fleet is close!!! ...that's kind of bad actually.

Luida: "What happened to your hair?" Vash, very loudly: "ANYWAYS TIME FOR THE LAST STAND HUH?"

Oh Milly... I'm intrigued by the way she just plays along with it... she really is a lot like Vash. I wonder why Brad even did that though. I kind of feel like it was to keep people from acting aggressively towards Livio, as saying he died would lead to questions that would probably reveal Livio was at the center of it. Not for Livio's sake of course (I don't think Brad really cares about him) but Vash trusts him, Wolfwood sacrificed himself for him, and they really can't afford infighting at this point. ...never mind that Milly wouldn't have reacted that way anyways.

Ok lol I'd just been thinking "what happened to Zazie's arm and then..

hdjfhbvdjfvh

Oh, the coins are back. Interesting. Legato faceoff soon?

The hurt is palpable with poor Livio here...

Oh! I was right about Brad's reasoning! Cool! Also I think that's the friendliest we've ever seen Brad-

HJDHBJDHCBS???

BRANDON I'VE SAID IT BEFORE BUT EVERY INTERACTION YOU RISE FURTHER UP MY LIST OF FAVOURITE SIDE CHARACTERS

"Ya need to learn to let people help ya out" <-YES.

And of course Vash deflecting by playing up and overdramatizing what is probably a genuine reaction... I really think he knows this already but he's walled himself off so long. He appreciates everyone, he really does, but... them getting hurt is always going to be far worse than them being disappointed in him or himself getting hurt. It's not just because he cares about them... it's also just as much because he cares very little for himself. I also think he just... can't, right now. "Don't tell me something like that now" <- yeah because he's a gaping wound at this point. All he's done is put a stopper on his fresh grief, and he cannot afford to open it else he'll probably shatter and he can't right now.

??? Did Legato just kill Zazie? (Or I guess Zazie's body...) Also, he can walk again??? Huh???

Wow Zazie just took out Elendira and Knives... that's impressive actually.

AND THEY HAD A WORM IN THEIR VAGINA???

Oof, I don't actually want that to happen to Knives... that's pretty horrifying.

Ok. Ok Legato. I will readily admit you are one of the coolest people in this manga. That's incredibly badass. The amount of mental coordination he'd need to puppet himself around is incredible. And the reveal that he is literally puppeteering is fascinating. GIVE ME THE FORBIDDEN LEGATO LORE

So Vash is... making bullets with his powers? Ok... interesting. Wonder what they do? ...also he's using more of his powers. Hm. :/

Whjdfhsdfhb Livio jumpscare

Look at my dorky little guy

I'm so happy for him and his new haircut/outlook. (I bet Vash would know a little something about that huh? *cough cough* Eriks)

??????????? Hi Zazie. This was random...?

Oh, so this is Chronica! She's introduced pretty late in the manga. She's also an Independent it seems! And much more knowledgeable than either Vash or Knives. There's an entire generation of Independents from Earth! They have implanted neural blockers to prevent fusing??? Implications that fusing like what Knives is doing has happened before??? Hello??? Need to chew on this.

Vash WHAT are you doing freaking out like that hdfjhbsdfvh. Livio trying to calm him down like :|

Hjhsbjdfhbvs now they're all screaming at the bug... which. which is drawn like this.

...I wonder if Nightow-sensei was also upset by volume 10 and the rampant comedy right now is him coping...

Hjhdbfjhbfv they're so stupid

"...i'm gonna touch it" energy. HHDBSHCBHJBEJ VASH NO

...you know I do think there is something to be said about Vash acting like the irresponsible and foolish brother to... Wolfwood's brother. There's just. Yeah.

I love them both so much they are so stupid

Vash calling Elendira a bitch is so funny to me, especially because before the Ark he didn't seem to really know her at all. How much do you want to bet she dropped by just to annoy and vaguely threaten Vash and Legato while they were locked in that 7 month stalemate. Vash hears her walking into the room and is just like "GDI NOT AGAIN LEAVE ME ALONE".

Livio beloved... finally he's found purpose for himself... (please be careful against Elendira... I love you.......)

"Sometimes it's not easy to explain the power of someone's presence. Especially when it's someone so greatly and deeply connected to you. Some people can't even say it. But this helped Vash the Stampede realize... that he was feeling the same thing in his heart." <-he continues to haunt the narrative... but gosh what a thing to communicate to the reader here. what a thing, to realize how much you cared too late... but what a thing, also, to realize you had at all :') they both miss him so much… but he’s also their resolve

FINALLY we get to know how the Plants feel about all this!!! I feels so bad for them man. I feel they're similar to Vash in that they don't want anyone hurt really... but they're not able to fight their own fight. Pretty heartbreaking stuff.

Meryl... :'(

YES MILLY. CALL HIM OUT! Meryl is worried. Let her be worried.

AUGHHHHHHHHHHHH THIS IS SO CUTE!!! He's going to come back it means he's going to come back it means don't worry I'll find you again I'll come and find you this time I ahsjdcbhasjdvhbsjfhbv Vash you can be so sweet when you are not actively avoiding any and all emotional situations with people who care about you!!!

Chronica's going to turn off her limiter :O

Elendira: Hi :) *stabs you*

"I don't like nice men. They die so easily. He was like that too." <- Oh you did not just go there.

Elendira I think just has no faith in people. She looks actually a bit upset when she says "they die so easily" about "nice men". Then there's the "no matter what Vash the Stampede does, there will always be humans who ruin it." She's decided that while she wants Knives to succeed... if he doesn't, she'll just end the world regardless. Hm. Elendira you are so interesting to me.

Ohh... protecting the kids... Livio... :')

It's JASMINE???

YES! Livio has found his resolve! The cloak from Jasmine, the hat from the little kid! You can do it buddy!

[authorsadiethatcher]

How would a man react to waking up one morning and not only being a woman, but a bimbo, too? That is what this series explores and now we get to see it from another new bimbo's perspective. Lex is no more and in his place, there is Lexi.

Searching for Answers is available from Amazon, Smashwords, Google Play, and Ream (Advanced Bimbo Tier).

Lex and his two friends, Ash and Brandon, have just graduated from college. But after Brandon offends a woman who turns out to be a witch, everything changes. When he wakes up the next day, he finds himself in the body of a woman named Lexi. But it’s not just being a woman that causes the new her problems. She looks like a bimbo and even finds herself acting like one, too. Lexi must navigate her new world, complete with being back in college again, as a bimbo, with all the desires and needs included, as she and her friends try to reverse the witch’s spell. Will Lexi manage to solve her predicament? Will she avoid falling to her body’s new desires? Find out in Searching for Answers.

[thenostalgicfront-blog]

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[iamjapanese]

Judith Brandon（American）

The Ream of All Possibilities Drawing    charcoal on paper  106.7×106.7cm   via     more

[soft-october-night]

The Love Interests in the Works of Jane Austen: An Assessment

This is an "extremely scientific" and "thoroughly researched" ranking based on personality, money, family and connections, and is a bit of a blend between the book characterizations and the film characterizations (and is in no way only based on my own opinions). Here we go, grouped by book but not much else.

Edmund Bertram: absolute trash. His family has treated you unbelievably shitty since day one and not only has he BARELY noticed, he ALSO has treated you shitty. Will fall in love with someone beautiful and fun and when she dumps him will come crawling to you for a rebound. His passion for you is so lackluster that even the esteemed author who wrote about it barely spared a paragraph on your relationship. Has a job but only because his dad owns the land the church is built on. You’ll gain no connections or family by marrying him, since he’s literally your cousin.  0/10

Henry Crawford: There IS such thing as too much fun, and that is never clearer than in this man, who will try to seduce you as a game, freak out when his middling overtures don’t work and then try and seduce you “for really real” this time. You will definitely move up in the world if you marry him, and if you play your cards right it seems like his sister is also just REALLY into you, so see how that goes. Life will be pretty okay until you find him in bed with one (or more, who knows) of your relations. 3/10, 8/10 if you’re into that

John Willoughby: Will be like something out of a romance novel, you’re thinking he’s going to propose and then he just fucking ghosts you and embarrasses the fuck out of you at a party by acting like he doesn’t know you. Somehow marry him (congrats on the inheritance you must have, btw) and get ready to take a backseat to the whims of his aunt for as long as she lives. 1/10, at least you get to live in a nice house.

Edward Ferrars: Oh Edward. He’s a bit of a mess, isn’t he? Super kind, your family loves him, he made a bunch of stupid decisions in his youth that are coming back to bite him in the ass. He is loyal to an absolute fault, but you luck out when his fiance turns out to be a bit of a gold digger and dumps him when his mom disowns him. He doesn’t have a job and neither do you, but his family doesn’t wanna speak to him (lucky you!) and you’ll be happy and poor together if you two can work on your communication skills. 7/10.

Colonel Brandon: He’s got a nice house, the respect of his friends and the community, and he has a LOT of passion. He’ll give your sister’s penniless husband a job, dramatically rescue you from a rainstorm, make sure his dead girlfriend’s daughter is happy and taken care of even after your ex fucks HER over too, and is all around a pretty decent guy. Just. Uh. Maybe, kinda, sorta, needs to go after women his own age and is probably with you because you remind him of his dead girlfriend. 5/10 with the wildly inappropriate age gap, 9/10 without it.

Mr. Wickham: Please don’t. He’s a thirsty bitch who lives for drama and you think he’s fun until you find out he tried to sleep with one teenage girl and is making eyes at your fifteen year old sister behind your back. Marry him (through the grace of mysterious benefactors, cause he ain’t marrying anyone unless he’s paid the right price) and get ready for a life of being surrounded by military men in the north of England while your husband tries to fuck everything that moves. Work that out somehow with him and you might actually be happy. 0/10.

Mr. Bingley: He is a softboi who will do literally anything his friends tell him to do. He is SUPER rich, and marrying him will throw your sister’s into the path of other rich men and he is REALLY into you, but get ready to be sucking up to his sisters for literally the rest of your life. Unless he can ship Miss Bingley off to live with Mrs. Hurst, have fun trying to wage a war of barely concealed insults over the breakfast table every morning, and if you’re marrying Bingley I’m sorry but that is a war you just cannot win. He doesn’t have a job but he does have five thousand a year, and neither of you can manage money. You’ll love simply and deeply and be happy as any two can be. 8/10.

Mr. Collins: Last resort to rescue yourself from a life of being a burden to your parents until they die and then having to become a governess or something. Has a job but never shuts up about his boss. You will have to rearrange everything in your house according to his boss’ will. 2/10

Mr. Darcy: Is a anxious disaster who doesn’t know how to talk to girls at parties and needs to learn how say no to going out when he’s just not feeling it. He doesn’t have a job because he’s a landlord; he owns half of Derbyshire and has ten thousand a year, but turns out that all of that money and land can’t buy tact or charisma. Doesn’t know how to flirt and thinks he’s doing a great job (he’s not). He’ll propose to you out of the fucking blue one day by insulting literally everything about you, but don’t worry! Reading his letter unlocks Darcy 2.0. This patched version gives him humility, a personality, and he WILL gain the ability to rescue your family from utter ruin. Marry him and enjoy a life of luxury and witty ripostes, but beware! You ARE going to have to deal with Lady Catherine until the day she dies, not to mention Caroline Bingley’s barely concealed contempt every time you meet in polite company. Darcy 1.0 3/10, Darcy 2.0 8/10.

Captain Wentworth: Absolutely top tier. Has a job, has earned everything he has, including a fortune and the respect of his peers, superiors, and subordinates. His sister and her husband are practically the only happily older married couple you know, his friends are super fun and nice (even the dour one with all the poetry knows how to have a polite conversation). If you dumped him ten years ago on the advice of your almost comically shitty family yeah, he’s going to hold a grudge, but he WILL NEVER STOP LOVING YOU and the MOMENT he gets over his pride will do everything and anything in his power (including leaping the bounds of propriety!) to win you back. Based on his love, money, and connections you should RUN, not walk, into his arms TODAY and allow him to rescue you from your family and whisk you off to see the world on his ship, at least until Napoleon busts out of Elba. 12/10

Mr. Eliot: Will lose all your old schoolfriend’s husband’s money in a bad deal, has debts out the ass, might be trying to get with either you or the woman your dad has been flirting with for the last few years, you’re not sure. Is totally ruining the rekindling relationship you’re trying to get going with your far superior ex. He wants the land and title your dad has and will stop at nothing to get it. Marry him and you can move back into your old house (maybe? it’s a little unclear what with all the debts) but have every single cent your mother left you immediately put into some dumbass scheme. 1/10

Henry Tilney: another softboi who just wants to act in the school play while his dad and brother plan to ship him off to military school and berate him for not joining the football team. Bring him shopping with you to pick out dresses, spend long nights over tea chatting about books. Has a job, but again, only because his dad owns the land the church is on. Loves you even though you have some very strange ideas about his house, and will forgive you when he realizes you thought his dad either murdered or imprisoned his mom. If he can find the courage to tell his dad to fuck off and let him live his own life, expect a long, happy marriage of snuggling together in a window seat somewhere, sipping tea and reading. 9/10

John Thorpe: Trash bastard man. Peaked in whatever equivalent of high school he had. Shitty and rude to everyone, would post racist memes on facebook and start fights if he could, all while being shitty and manipulative and CREEPILY possessive of you. -2/10

Robert Martin: A sweet himbo farmer who just wants to love and worship you. He has a job, is pretty rich, and while his connections may not be above his class, he’s an earnest boy who wants to take care of you and be taken care of in turn. Marry him the first time, absolutely do NOT let your friend influence you against him, because who KNOWS if you will get a second proposal! (You will, he likes you THAT much.) Marry him and enjoy a sweet, simple life of exactly zero drama (unless your friend is around). 7/10

Mr. Elton: Trifling gold digging trash who doesn’t know what the word no means. Do not marry, unless you want to be censured by decent, hardworking people -1/10

Frank Churchill: Knows how to have fun, but you know there’s something more going on. He won’t let you see his letters, he sends out secret notes, then he smiles and tells you that everything is totally a okay. Another boy with ANOTHER overbearing aunt, only this one doesn’t know how to say no. Marry him if you’ve got the money, but he will always be longing after the poor girl next door that auntie wouldn’t let him married, and would have cheated on you already if she was into it. 3/10

Mr. Knightly: He’s your brother in law and you’ve known him almost your whole life, so that’s a little sus, but he is also the ONLY person in your entire life who knows how to tell you no (and you really, REALLY need to be told no sometimes.) He is extremely wealthy, but more importantly he’s kind and caring about people who are considered “beneath” him. He will break his weird no dancing rule to dance with your shy friend, he will ream you out for being shitty to unwed spinsters who value your opinion, and somehow has the correct read on everyone all the time. You will gain no connections by marrying him, since the two of you already have the exact same connections anyway, but the two of you should be content in a test of wills that will last a lifetime. You’ll be very happy as long as he doesn’t get super pedantic and start correcting you about everything. 7/10

[tabloidtoc]

Globe, May 3

You can buy a brand new copy of this issue without the mailing label for your very own at my eBay store: https://www.ebay.com/str/bradentonbooks

Cover: Prince William and Prince Harry: Showdown at Prince Philip's Funeral

Page 2: Up Front & Personal -- Alec Baldwin, Kathy Ireland, Conan O'Brien grabs lunch in West Hollywood

Page 3: Meg Ryan, Heather Graham, Jon Voight steps out in Beverly Hills

Page 4: Kris Jenner says her role as momager of the Kardashian clan is like being a fireman because she has to put out so many heated squabbles -- satisfying daughters Kourtney Kardashian, Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner takes skill and Kourtney is often so fed up she fires her three or four times a day, but Kris believes she's done a good job, saying she's totally dedicated to her brood and spends oodles of time and energy going the extra mile for them

* Jailed Ghislaine Maxwell is raising a stink over federal lawmen's claims she's a prison piggy, saying the institution's busted sewer pipes, not her toilet habits, are responsible for the overwhelming stench in her cell -- lawyers for sex perv Jeffrey Epstein's accused madam and sex trafficker leveled the charge to flush out prosecutors' claims the socialite's cage stinks like a hog's pen because she doesn't flush her toilet -- her lawyer Bobbi Sternheim insists there was a pervasive stench of sewage in Ms. Maxwell's unit, necessitating guards to flush pipes by pouring water down open drains in an effort to trap and disperse gaseous emissions and at times the stench in Ms. Maxwell's isolation cell has been overwhelming due to overflowing of toilets in the cell block above -- as for Ghislaine flushing, she does it often, at the guards' bidding even, though she doesn't use the commode in her cell due to lack of privacy

Page 5: Kelly Clarkson's tacky tales of pooping in trash cans and other crude antics are grossing out her alarmed pals, who fear divorce stress is pushing the talk queen over the edge and while Kelly has loved to shock people, her cringeworthy behavior has gotten worse since filing for divorce from music manager Brandon Blackstock, father of her daughter River and son Remington -- now Kelly has many fearing she's finally flipped after recently telling talk show guest Clint Black on-air she destroyed a poor trash can by pooping in it during a quick backstage concert break and she's constantly making potty jokes and seems to get a rise out of shocking people and even by Kelly's standards, this was a step too far and people are urging her to scale back on the belching, farting and gross anecdotes because they're a turnoff and make her look trashy and her grueling workload and prickly divorce has manifested in this gross behavior where she can't seem to hold her tongue and blurts out whatever she's thinking without consideration for other people -- other stars like Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton are thinking twice before inviting her to social events and for talk show rivals like Ellen DeGeneres and Drew Barrymore, it's a dream seeing her push the boundaries of taste and Kelly doesn't have a filter and as long as she's got an audience she's just going to keep on doing it

Page 6: Macaulay Culkin is the daddy of a brand-new baby girl named Dakota, who is named after Macaulay's sister who died at 29 in a 2008 car crash, and she was delivered by Macaulay's lover actress Brenda Song

Page 7: Angelina Jolie has become a stressed-out single mom trying to care for her brood of six during the pandemic lockdown, and the strain is is showing on the 98-pound actress, but the 45-year-old, who shuns hiring a full-time nanny, still wants sole custody of her underage kids Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox and Vivienne, and is fighting tooth and nail with ex-husband Brad Pitt to get it; their oldest Maddox Jolie-Pitt is now 19 and considered independent although the university student frequently lives with his mother -- caring for the gang puts a big drain on Angelina's bank account and her custody war with Brad is costing a pretty penny -- Jolie and her children spend most of their time bunkered in a massive 7,500-square-foot Los Feliz mansion that boasts a huge library lined with resource books but the kids need to be separated so they can concentrate on their individual Zoom classes and someone is always hungry or needing help and at the end of the school day, when they are bored, they end up looking for Mom to find them something to do while she is trying to work on her own projects, and like most siblings, the kids fight or argue, and that can test any parent's nerves and Angie is with the kids pretty much 24/7 and it's taking a toll -- there is a glimmer of hope as schools are close to reopening and once the five youngest are back in school for several hours a day it will give Angelina the breaks she needs and hopefully she can hang tight until then

Page 8: Cover Story -- Prince William and Prince Harry bury Prince Philip, but not the ax -- despite their public displays of grief, bitter brothers William and Harry erupted in a raging royal screaming match behind the scenes of their grandfather's Prince Philip's funeral and Princess Diana's sons lashed out, accusing each other of ugly betrayals and destroying the royal family and the princes blamed each other's wives for igniting the family feud and their showdown was explosive and they're refusing to forgive or make peace and any hope Philip's death will end this feud is pie in the sky -- Harry and William were forced to reunite to mark the Duke of Edinburgh's passing and comfort their grandmother Queen Elizabeth, but that doesn't mean they're kissing and making up; far from it because Harry and his wife Meghan Markle have caused so much damage with their TV interview, it will take a lifetime to heal this rift -- sparks began flying almost immediately after Harry landed back in his homeland. He went straight to his former marital home Frogmore Cottage in Windsor to quarantine under COVID rules while William and his wife Duchess Kate Middleton and their three children were holed up at their country home Anmer House in Norfolk, about 100 miles away, but that didn't stop the once-inseparable brothers exploding in fury at each other during a video call finalizing funeral arrangements -- William and Harry knew they'd have to walk together behind the cortege to honor their grandfather, but that was where their reunion ended and while their grieving grandmother and royal relatives mourned the loss of the family patriarch, William and Harry's pent-up anger and frustrations exploded as, on the same side of the Atlantic for the first time in over a year, William blasted Harry and Meghan for bad-mouthing his wife Kate and selfishly trying to destroy the monarchy and he reamed Harry for not visiting their grandfather in his final days and using the funeral as a publicity stunt while Harry retaliated by accusing his brother of throwing him and Meghan under the bus and vowed never to talk to him again -- instead of an expected joint public statement praising their beloved grandfather, they issued separate tributes, which underlined their split as in their statement, William and Kate reminisced about Philip taking their children for horse-drawn carriage rides and they vowed to support the queen in the years ahead and that was a dig at Harry and Meghan, who can't help the queen due to their self-imposed exile to California and it was also a shot because Harry's son Archie has spent no time with his royal relatives since his birth almost two years ago -- Philip's death has only intensified this horrific feud and this war is far from over, and may never be

Page 10: Prince Philip went to his grave regretting he couldn't stop Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle from ripping the royal family in a bombshell TV interview -- The Duke of Edinburgh called the explosive tell-all madness and he had some sympathy for Harry and Meghan's desire to do their own thing, but he thought they were wrong and he hated Harry and Meghan's preoccupation with their own problems and their willingness to talk about them in public; one of his rules was give interviews but don't talk about yourself -- Philip loved Harry and thought him a good man, but he did not believe they were doing the right thing for the country or themselves when they quit royal duties and Philip died worrying the explosive interview permanently damaged the monarchy and he deeply regretted he wasn't able to prevent the scandal

* Outraged Prince Philip shunned his son Prince Andrew's ex-wife Duchess Sarah Ferguson for the last 19 years of his life after she was caught cheating in raunchy photos that went public -- Philip considered Fergie beyond the pale and refused to have anything to do with her and when Sarah was staying at Balmoral Castle with her daughters, her ex-father-in-law would run from a room she'd entered and Fergie said it was ridiculous because as soon as she came through one door, he'd be falling over the corgis to get out of the other and she added it was very funny, except, of course, it wasn't -- the only time they appeared together in public was at Prince Harry's 2018 wedding, 26 years after Fergie was photographed lounging topless while her then lover John Bryan sucked on her toes on the French Riviera; she and Andrew were separated at the time

Page 11: Marie Osmond is getting the last laugh on rival Sharon Osbourne after the big-mouthed Brit, who chased off Marie from The Talk, was booted from the chat show in a racism scandal -- while Marie doesn't wish ill on anyone, she certainly isn't feeling any sympathy for Sharon's plight -- in public, Marie has never said a harsh word about Sharon, and never blamed her co-star with pushing her off The Talk, but behind the scenes, Sharon made mild-mannered Marie's life hell, which chased her away and Marie still cringes from the whole experience of working with the brash former reality diva, more than seven months after leaving the show and Marie doesn't want to stoke the fire, but it's kind of satisfying in a way that Sharon's finally being exposed for what she is: a snippy, smug phony

* Chaka Khan was the first celeb booted on Season 21 of Dancing with the Stars in 2015, and it's no wonder because she was a lousy partner, claims pro hoofer Keo Motsepe -- Keo slammed the singer for demanding they only rehearse around midnight, because that's when the night owl was used to going to the record studio and laying down tracks -- Keo accepted the challenge but now calls Chaka his worst partner ever

Page 12: Celebrity Buzz -- Jane Lynch eats lunch in West Hollywood (picture), Khloe Kardashian is getting called out for her attempt to erase a bathing suit snap that revealed some very real body dimples and famous for posting airbrushed and filtered photos depicting her as flawless she went berserk over the unedited pic summoning legal eagles to get the image scrubbed off the internet but she drew colossal backlash, Sutton Stracke of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills got promoted to series regular and impressed producers by making ousted castmate Teddi Mellencamp cry by branding her boring, fired New York Housewife Dorinda Medley has lost 14 pounds, Lil Nas X's limited-edition designer Satan Shoes which commanded $1,018 when they hit the market are now deader than a doornail after legal pressure from Nike

Page 13: Dean Cain sports a Superman-style logo on his hoodie as he bums around Malibu (picture), Annabella Sciorra shoots an episode of Blue Bloods in NYC (picture), co-anchor T.J. Holmes shows his tongue on the Good Morning America set (picture), Olympic champ Lindsey Vonn admits skiing was a slippery slope when she started mingling with the beautiful people of Hollywood

Page 14: Brooklyn Decker proves she going gray at just 34 and she's kinda digging it, Kathryn Dennis trying to prove she's comfortable in the natural skin she's in shared pics from her first-ever bikini photo shoot and actually points out imperfections

* Fashion Verdict -- Zoe Saldana 6/10, Kelsea Ballerini 3/10, Jessica Madsen 7/10, Joy Bauer 2/10

Page 17: Eddie Cibrian is incredibly proud of wife LeAnn Rimes for baring the truth about her battle with psoriasis in a naked photo -- Eddie applauds how LeAnn let it all hang out for a photo shoot to show solidarity with other people with the scaly skin disease who are ashamed and want to hide it -- LeAnn has described the horrors of hiding her painful, crusty rashes, saying onstage she'd wear two pairs of pantyhose or jeans, even in 95-degree heat and underneath her shirt, her whole stomach would be covered in thick scales that would hurt and bleed, and the pandemic worsened her condition because stress is a common trigger for psoriasis, and with so much uncertainty happening, her flare-ups came right back

Page 19: 10 Things You Don't Know About Catherine O'Hara

* Sylvester Stallone may have gone his final round as boxing great Rocky Balboa as his reps reveal the actor has thrown in the towel and won't reprise his iconic role in the upcoming Creed III -- in the Creed spinoffs, retired fighter Rocky trained Adonis "Donnie" Creed, the son of his onetime rival

* Dr. Dre hit back against the abuse claims of estranged wife Nicole Young, slamming her allegations as appalling in recently filed court documents in their ugly $1 billion divorce -- in the docs, Dre charges Nicole hurled the accusations only after realizing their prenup may prevent her from getting half his money, but Nicole insists the rapper forced her to ink the agreement, a charge he also denies

Page 23: Caitlyn Jenner is refining her image ahead of her run for governor in California by reducing her massive breasts to look more conservative -- she wants to downgrade her E cups to a more respectable C cup because she's been worried for a while they are way too big within the context of her body and draw unflattering stares and running for the California governor's office is serious and she wants people to listen and look at her face, not her boobs and the truth is, the implants have been weighing her down and giving her back pain too, so this makes sense in more ways than one -- Caitlyn will be slowly abandoning other cosmetic procedures and she would like to wean herself off filters and Botox too, but that'll be a gradual process that she'll do as time goes by and the big thing here is that she wants to look more natural and relatable for voters

* Nearly half of America is ready to vote Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson into the White House -- 46 percent of voters are ready to rock and roll with the 49-year-old former WWE wrestler as their prez -- in his new sitcom Young Rock, Dwayne plays himself as a future candidate for the Oval Office, but in real life he has admitted he is seriously considering a run for the top job

Page 24: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, now facing two separate investigations into sexual harassment charges made by at least eight female staffers, is accused of cheating on longtime love Sandra Lee -- there's obviously a reason Sandra moved to California; she literally could not have moved farther away from Andrew; she's on the edge of the Pacific

Page 30: Grace Kelly died nearly flat broke -- the Hollywood starlet gave up millions to marry Prince Rainier of Monaco, and when she died at the age of 52, her only assets were a cottage in Ireland, owned by her grandfather, and $10,000 -- in 1956, she married into Monaco's royal family after coughing up a $2 million dowry, which is about $20 million today, and walking away from a glittering career -- according to a new documentary, her Hollywood earnings have disappeared as during her film career, Grace's total earnings could have reached $1.5 million, earnings that appear to be entirely missing from her will, but thanks to Grace, Monaco's royal family has cashed in big-time as her son Prince Albert II has an estimated net worth of $i billion and his wife Charlene Wittstock is rumored to be worth $150 million -- most people think of Grace Kelly's story as a fairy tale, going from Hollywood and suddenly being whisked off to a lot of wealth, but what is so poignant is that she had to pay to become a princess

* LeVar Burton may soon be helming a new enterprise: Jeopardy! -- nearly 200,000 people have signed an online petition supporting LeVar to replace the game show's late host Alex Trebek and LeVar supports the idea himself

Page 32: Kirstie Alley had two husbands and once claimed she was crazy about John Travolta, but for decades she secretly carried a torch for a married man: Patrick Swayze -- Kirstie described Patrick as the one that got away and truly believes they would have been together until his 2009 death at age 57 if things worked out differently and she says her love for Patrick began on the set of the 1985 miniseries North and South where she thought he was the most handsome, sexy, kind person she'd ever met, and each day on the set, she began to fall more and more in love but at the time they were married to other people: Patrick had his wife Lisa Niemi and Kirstie was married to Hardy Boys actor Parker Stevenson, her second husband -- Kirstie and Patrick shared a deep emotional affair and confessed their love, but never actually cheated on their spouses and Kirstie said they had an affair of the heart -- Patrick and Kirstie played lovers on the series and you can see the chemistry and at least once a year Kirstie watches the series and reminisces about the time she spent with him -- she says she cried for months after his death and she and his wife Lisa eventually became friends and even today, Kirstie wonders what would have happened if she and Patrick had not been married to other people

Page 36: Sally Struthers reveals she quit Save the Children charity after she was nearly murdered by a gang of bloodthirsty rebels during a trip to visit African orphans -- Sally was a roving ambassador for the charity for 35 years until a terrifying incident in Uganda where she was filming ads with a boy, who'd come from a remote village, when suddenly a roving band of guerrilla warfare guys came out of the bushes and asked the boy where he was from and he named his village, which was far away, and they decided they had kidnapped him, and they were going to shoot all of them and Sally was terrified and figured she was a goner, but a priest with her group told her to slowly walk off while never turning her back on the terrorists and as she walked, he convinced the gunmen to let them alone and at that point, Sally, who had a daughter Samantha from her six-year marriage to shrink William C. Radar thought she's been on so many little airplanes that could have crashed and in so many horrible situations and she's got a child, a real-life child of her own, and she can't do it anymore

* Usher is being accused of stiffing Las Vegas strippers by tipping them with fake money with his moniker and mug on the bills -- the flap exploded with a Twitter post slamming the singer for handing out Usherbucks in $100, $20 and $1 bills at the club Sapphire Las Vegas but club honcho George M. Wilson denies the charge, saying Usher, who stars at Caesars Palace stating in July, was a true gentleman and great guest and he and his crew converted thousands of real dollars to tip the girls dancing on the stage and left a generous tip for staff and apparently someone in his team left some Usher dollars on the floor to promote his Vegas residency and that is where it seems the confusion came in

Page 40: Val Kilmer is shooting for more than a career comeback after bouncing back from throat cancer; he is also looking for love -- Val admits he doesn't sound like he used to following a tracheotomy, but he insists he feels a lot better than he sounds but his voice is a raspy, grating sound, and he's forced to eat through a feeding tube, but he feels that shouldn't matter with the right woman -- the actor, who is slated to appear in the upcoming Top Gun: Maverick, is pumped up about working again, but it's dawned on him that he's missing one other thing, love, and the single star feels more energy now than ever before and there are things he'd like to do with a partner, like travel more -- Val regrets some of the things he did in the past and he was difficult and selfish, but his whole cancer ordeal has made him a better man and more open and giving but it's been a long, long time since he had a girlfriend, let alone even kissed a woman, but with the support and encouragement of his kids and friends, he's ready to put himself out there

* Fans are saying Christopher Meloni has one of the most remarkable rears on TV after a photo surfaced showcasing his awe-inspiring ass-ets -- a shot of the Law & Order: Organized Crime star in skintight jeans sparked a Twitter-storm where fans of his fanny let loose about his sculpted caboose

Page 44: Straight Talk -- Holly Madison is blabbing about her eight years as Hugh Hefner's No. 1 squeeze in the Playboy Mansion, and, if he were still alive, the king of skin mags would hate that he pretty much comes off as a dirty old lech

Page 45: Paula Abdul was a nervous wreck during her American Idol comeback, but she was not so jittery she couldn't brand her former co-judge Simon Cowell an STD -- special guest Randy Jackson and Simon previously teamed with Paula in the 2000s to make the talent show the biggest hit on TV, and Paula temporarily resumed her role after Luke Bryan tested positive for COVID-19, but when Randy told Paula seeing her on set seems like old times, she blurted "We're just missing the STD," and the remark caught host Ryan Seacrest off-guard as he held a computer device linking Paula and Randy, who was not physically present and Ryan exclaimed, "The what?!" and at that point Paula joked she meant it was an abbreviation for Super Talented, Debonair not sexually transmitted disease -- Paula also referred to Simon, who's only three years her senior, as a grandfather and while Paula seemed in the swing of things, joining the current Idol panel of Katy Perry and Lionel Richie, she was reportedly a bundle of nerves backstage before her comeback show and it was like she'd never done it before, and her pals couldn't believe it; they told her she had more experiencing judging than anyone out there

[lyo24boi]

In a hypothetical second American incarnation, Skam SD (or Skam San Diego) Season 3 would focus on Luis Rosario. The story deals with Luis' sexuality, as well as his relationship with Tyler Ream. The international iterations of the “boy squad” typically have a niche about them; I imagine this crew to be college freshmen (maybe community college?) and forming a break dance squad (had actual friends that were part of a college club).

[addc10]

A Guide for Keeping Track of Americans in Europe

I have outed myself as an American on this site and so, to fully embrace this identity, I have decided to do some research about Americans who play in Europe, so perhaps fellow Americans or anyone interested in American footballers, can keep track of those playing in European Leagues. I am also doing this just for my own reference, but I thought I would share it in case anyone else is interested! I have included on here those playing in any of the big leagues, any usmnt players, and the usmnt U20 players playing abroad (as they just won CONCACAF Championship). I have bolded players who I have been watching already and players who, as a result of my research, I will be looking out for! You’ll notice it is mostly young players, but that is just a personal preference. If I’ve missed anyone or you think I should watch someone, let me know!

The Youths:

Christian Pulisic (20): GERMANY: Bundesliga -Borussia Dortmund - winger

Weston McKennie (20): GERMANY: Bundesliga - Schalke - midfielder

Matt Miazga (23): FRANCE: Ligue 1 - Nantes (on loan from Chelsea) - defender

Josh Sargent (18): GERMANY: Bundesliga - Werder Bremen U-23 - striker

Tim Weah (18): FRANCE: Ligue 1 - PSG - striker

Julian Green (23): GERMANY: Bundesliga - Greuther Furth - attacking midfielder

Antonee Robinson (21): ENGLAND: Championship - Wigan (on loan from Everton) - defender

Cameron Carter-Vickers (20): ENGLAND: Championship - Swansea City (on loan from Tottenham Hotspurs) - defender

Lynden Gooch (22): ENGLAND: League 1 - Sunderland - midfielder

Ethan Horvath (23): BELGIUM: First Division - Club Brugge - goalkeeper

Emerson Hyndman (22): SCOTLAND: Premiership - Hibernian (on loan from Bournemouth) - midfielder

Kenny Saief (24): BELGIUM: First Division - Anderlecht - midfielder

Gedion Zelalem (21): NETHERLANDS: Eredivisie - Venio (on loan from Arsenal) - midfielder

Luca de la Torre (20): ENGLAND: Premier League - Fulham - midfielder

Brandon Austin (19): ENGLAND: Premier League - Tottenham Hotspurs - goalkeeper

Matthew Olosunde (20): ENGLAND: Premier League - Manchester United - defender

Gboly Ariyibi (23): ENGLAND: Championship - Nottingham Forest - winger

Jordan Siebatcheu (22): FRANCE: Ligue 1 - Rennes - striker

Haji Wright (20): GERMNAY: Bundesliga - Schalke - winger

Nick Taitague (19): GERMANY: Bundesliga -Schalke U-20 - midfielder

Zyen Jones (18): GERMANY: Bundesliga - Schalke U-19 - winger

Chris Gloster (18): GERMANY: Bundesliga - Hannover - defender

Isaiah Young (20): GERMANY: Bundesliga - Werder Bremen - forward

Johnathan Klinsmann (21): GERMANY: Bundesliga - Hertha Berlin - goalkeeper

Chris Richards (18): GERMANY: Bundesliga - Bayern Munich (on loan from Dallas FC) - defender

Timothy Tillman (19): GERMANY: Bundesliga - Nuremberg - midfielder

Erik Palmer-Brown (21): NETHERLANDS: Eredivisie - Breda (on loan from Manchester City) - defender

Keaton Parks (21): PORTUGAL: Primeira Liga - Benfica - midfielder

Mukwelle Akale (21): SPAIN: La Liga - Villarreal - midfielder

Shaq Moore (22): SPAIN: Segunda Division - Reus Deportiu (on loan from Levante) - defender

Juan Pablo Torres (19): BELGIUM: First Division - Lokeren - defender

Alexis Mendez (18): GERMANY: Bundesliga - Freiburg - midfielder

Sergio Dest (18): NETHERLANDS: Eredivisie - Ajax - defender

Konrad de la Fuente (17): SPAIN: La Liga - Barcelona U-19 - winger

Sebastian Soto (18): GERMANY: Bundesliga -Hannover - forward

Jalen Hawkins (17): GERMANY: Bundesliga 2 - Ingolstadt U-19 - winger

Owen Otasowie (17): ENGLAND: Premier League - Wolves U-18 - midfielder

Stuart Ritchie (17): NETHERLANDS: Eredivisie - Groningen U-19 - defender

Romain Gall (23): SWEDEN: Allsvenskan - Malmo - midfielder

25+ Year-Olds

Geoff Cameron (33): ENGLAND: Championship - Queens Park Rangers (on loan from Stoke)

Danny Williams (29): ENGLAND: Premier League - Huddersfield Town - midfielder

Bobby Wood (25): GERMANY: Bundesliga - Hannover 96 (on loan from Hamburger SV) - goalkeeper

John Brooks (25): GERMANY: Bundesliga - VfL Wolfsburg - defender

DeAndre Yedlin (25): ENGLAND: Premier League - Newcastle - defender

Terrence Boyd (27): GERMANY: Bundesliga 2 - Dramrstadt - forward

Timmy Chandler (28): GERMANY: Bundesliga - Eintracht - defender

Aron Johannsson (27): GERMANY: Bundesliga - Werder Bremen - forward

Fabian Johnson (30): GERMANY: Bundesliga - Borussia Monchengladbach - defender

Eric Lichaj (30): ENGLAND: Championship - Hull City - defender

Alfredo Morales (28): GERMANY: Bundesliga - Fortuna Düsseldorf - defender

Tim Ream (31): ENGLAND: Premier League - Fulham - defender

Caleb Stanko (25): GERMANY: Bundesliga - Freiburg - defensive midfielder

Josh Gatt (27): AUSTRIA: Bundesliga - Rheindorf - winger (Austria)

Chris Konopka (33): ENGLAND: Premier League - Cardiff City - goalkeeer

[munispeaks]

USMNT releases September friendly rosters ahead of World Cup

USMNT releases September friendly rosters ahead of World Cup

Gregg BerhalterPhoto: Getty Images Mark it down now. John Brooks, one of the two Americans in any severity of contention to claim one of the 26 United States men’s national team spots on the plane to Qatar, will be watching the games on a TV screen. Brandon Vazquez, the 23-year-old FC Cincinnati striker with 16 goals this season, won’t make his national team debut until at least 2023. Tim Ream,…

[authorsadiethatcher]

It's been a while since I wrote a TG story and this series should prove to be some fun. It starts with Ash, who wakes up one morning and is a woman named Ashley. Only she's not just a woman now. She's a bimbo, too. And that means she must come to terms with her new reality while dealing with her new mental and physical abilities and needs. Plus, Ash's two best friends are in the same boat.

Seeking Help is available from Amazon, Smashwords, Google Play, and Ream (Advanced Bimbo Tier).

Ash and his two friends, Lex and Brandon, have just graduated from college. But after Brandon offends a woman who turns out to be a witch, everything changes. When he wakes up the next day, he finds himself in the body of a woman named Ashley. But it’s not just being a woman that causes the new her problems. She looks like a bimbo and even finds herself acting like one, too. Ashley must navigate her new world, complete with being back in college again, as a bimbo, with all the desires and needs included, as she and her friends try to reverse the witch’s spell. Will Ashley manage to solve her predicament? Will she avoid falling to her body’s new desires? Find out in Seeking Help.

[thenostalgicfront-blog]

Subscribe on itunes!

[widefiveaaron]

Steering box preservation for Brandon's '66 #13window #deluxe New shaft seal, new shaft bushings reamed to fit. All other bearings were in beautiful shape. #widefive #widehatchjunk #preservedontrestore #doyouevensteeringboxbro #ogornog #yourvanagonsucks (at Wide Five, LLC)

[shirtlesssammy]

Bad Day at Black Rock: 3x03 Recap

Then:

Dean gets the shittiest demon deal ever.

Now:

Michael Massee visits our old friend Gordon Walker in prison (Completely off the map note: Michael Massee fired the gun that killed Brandon Lee. All these years, I had no clue. He was also a victim of 2016. Truly Sad.)

He let’s Gordon know that the Devil’s Gate was opened in Wyoming, unknown amounts of demons roam the Earth now. He confirms that the Winchesters were there, but through a friend of a friend of a friend of Bobby Singer’s: they’re good. Sam Winchester is a good bean. Gordon dismisses Kubrick’s assertion. Gordon tells Kubrick to track Sam down. “Sam Winchester must die.” Dun-dun-DUN.

(Season 3’s title card is kinda pretty. It’s been awhile since I’ve visited these episodes.)

The brothers are cruising down the road and Dean is reaming Sam out for trusting the demon, Ruby. She can help them out! (And Boris believed that straight through season 4, such regrets. Always trust Dean’s intuition!) In Sam’s defense, he’s desperate to find a way to help Dean out of his crossroads deal. The Brodependency is strong this season. Sam feels justified in taking the risk of using Ruby for help.

A phone rings, interrupting this heated BM scene. It’s one of John’s phones --someone broke into a storage place of John’s.

Meanwhile, Kubrick and his hunter buddy, Creedy, are cleaning guns and talking shop about the whereabouts of one Sam Winchester. Also, Kubrick has a lot of Jesus goodies around.

Once at the storage place, Dean laments their lack of really knowing who their father was. <Hugs that boy so tight> They find a demon trap and blood and a trip wire. While looking around they also find an old soccer trophy of Sam’s and Dean’s first sawed-off shotgun. He made it in the sixth grade. <Hugs that boy so tight> They also find that the only thing missing is a cursed object box. Dean hopes they didn’t open it.

Cut to our friendly thieves: Grossman and Wayne. Wayne is BLEEDING TO DEATH, and Grossman just really wants to open the box. It seems that they were hired by “her” to steal the item, but Grossman believes that they can sell it themselves for a lot more money. They crack the box open and find a rabbit’s foot. A RABBIT’S FOOT, GROSSMAN. “I’m gonna die for a damn rabbit’s foot,” Wayne prophesizes.

There’s a pounding at their door, and Grossman answers it to find a fellow apartment dweller upset about their noise. However, when he sees the state of Wayne’s bleeding shoulder, he tells Grossman to get his medic’s kit. He can fix Wayne right up. “I guess this is your lucky day.”

Outside, the brothers have tracked down the thieves. As they stealthily enter the apartment, Wayne keeps kicking Grossman’s ass in cards. He can’t lose! Just then Sam and Dean burst in, guns drawn. In a heated exchange, the boys ask about the box, and realize they already opened it. And since Wayne can’t lose, he knocks Dean’s gun out of his hand, causing the gun to fire, sending the bullet to ricochet off of Sam’s gun, causing him to drop it. Wayne and Grossman tackle the brothers, the rabbit’s foot goes flying. All’s going their way until Sam grabs onto the rabbit’s foot. Wayne tries shooting Sam, but Dean’s gun jams (Dean’s gun don’t jam). Wayne trips, and knocks himself out. Then Grossman falls and knocks himself out, while Sam ends up with his gun. This was all a beautifully funny bit of physical comedy.

With that bit of luck, Dean buys lotto! Sam does research. He knows it has to be cursed. Dean’s just pleased with the $1200 Sam just scratched to win.

Wayne and Grossman come to --with some very bad luck trailing them. Or Wayne at least since he ends up with a steak knife in the head.

Sam checks in with Bobby, who gives him the lowdown on the rabbit’s foot --it’s cursed.

“See, you touch it, you own it. You own it, sure, you get a run of good luck to beat the Devil. But, you lose it, that luck turns. It turns so bad that you're dead inside a week,” Bobby informs Sam. (Meanwhile Dean is counting with his hands again <hugs that boy so tight>) Bobby also lets Sam know that everyone loses the foot. Sam needs to find a way to break the curse (and then stupidly puts the foot in his unzipped coat pocket.)

They then head into the nearest Biggerson’s for some grub.

Dean enjoys a nice brain freeze courtesy of his free ice cream sundae. Sam stresses about his looming doom. The waitress refills Sam’s coffee, spilling it in the process, and uh, makes a show of the cleanup. Sam is confused, if not a bit flattered. The waitress keeps their attention as she saunters away. 

Dean encourages Sam down that path, but he spills his coffee everywhere, and a platter of food from a passing waiter. “How is that good?” Dean wonders.

The waitress heads outside, whips off her wig, and tosses it in a dumpster. She tucks the rabbit’s foot, carefully folded in a napkin, into her apron pocket and walks away. Sam and Dean race from the restaurant only to have Sam trip and fall flat on his face almost immediately. So now it’s time for Sam’s bad luck. “I wonder how bad?” Dean says.

Pretty bad as it turns out. Our hunter-hunting duo Kubrick and Creedy are surfing the internet looking at restaurant options when they see the latest photo of Sam and Dean with their Biggerson’s coupon.

Back at the Grossman’s house he pours one out for his dearly departed companion in crime when Dean and Sam burst in. Dean looms threateningly, asking about the woman who hired him to steal the rabbit’s foot. Meanwhile, Sam has...issues.

Dean tells Grossman that the rabbit’s foot is cursed and the luck turns on people and kills them. That foot could kill his brother and a whole lot of other innocent people. Dean leans in and uses his beautiful eyes - I mean words - to convince Grossman to help. “I can read people. And I get it. You’re a thief and a scumbag. That’s fine. But you’re not a killer, are you?” Grossman slowly shakes his head. 

Back with Kubrick, he’s exultant in his own faith. Even though the restaurant turned up no clues as to the current Winchester whereabouts, God’s looking out for his hunt.

Sam and Dean, utterly unaware that they’re being hunted, get a call from Bobby. Bobby’s got a lead on how to destroy the rabbit’s foot. While Dean talks over the case with Bobby, Sam devotes all his concentration to trying to scrape bubblegum off of his shoe, the precious angel. Sam uses the bars of an old sewer grate as a scraper mat, eventually knocking his shoe into the sewer. Meanwhile, Bobby guesses at the identity of their mystery waitress who was going by the name of Bela Lugosi. (Har) Bela Talbot is her real name and she’s in the supernatural game, but not a hunter. Bobby tells Dean that he needs to be careful and, “look out for your brother, ya idjit.” Aw, Bobby. They love you, too.

Bobby gives them a lead on Bela’s whereabouts so Dean parks Sam in a motel room while he drives a few hours out to Queens to steal back the rabbit’s foot. Sam should just sit in a chair and not move until Dean returns. “Don’t even scratch your nose,” Dean orders.

In Queens, in a lavish apartment, Bela bargains with someone over the phone over a sale. She picks up the rabbit’s foot with serving tongs and places it on the counter then, sensing an intruder, she grabs a gun. The door is open and the security system is disarmed with a sticky note on it that reads “turn around.” It’s Dean, motherfucker.

At the hotel, Sam sits quietly in his chair when the air conditioner starts to malfunction, spewing  smoke into the air. It bursts into flames and Sam tries to put it out with the bedspread. Only to realize he’s on fire.

He pulls the curtains down in an attempt to put out his flaming arm, falls down, and knocks himself out. Outside Kubrick and Creedy, just happening to stroll past, stop and smile at his prone body, Kubrick silently thanking God for his intervention.

Bela and Dean enjoy a sexual  standoff while Bela tells Dean he wastes his time hunting when he could be getting rich, bee-yotch. “You know the truth about what’s really going on out there and this is what you decide to do with it? You become a thief?” Dean asks.

Bela says fuck yeah, I’m a friggin’ great thief. Dean tells her that his brother’s life is in danger. She says that he can have the foot for 1.5 million. When she refuses to help him, Dean drops his gun and lifts up the rabbit’s foot which he managed to purloin. “Looks like you’re not the only one with sticky fingers.” Bela fires at him and he dodges her wild bullets.

Back in Sam’s motel room, Kubrick tells Sam that Gordon told him to shoot him but that now he’s on a mission from God. He’s convinced that Sam is colluding with demons. “This is destiny,” Kubrick says gleefully, preparing to kill Sam.

“No destiny. Just a rabbit’s foot,” Dean says, bursting in. Kubrick warns him to put down the gun and, emboldened by luck, Dean does so. He casually grabs a pen from the table. “See, there’s something you don’t know about me.” He tosses the pen and it lands in the barrel of Kubrick’s gun. Creedy takes himself out by rushing at Dean, missing, and bashing his head against the wall. Dean whips a remote at Kubrick’s head and the hunter goes down. “I’m Batman.”

In a cemetery, Sam finishes preparing the bespelled fire to destroy the foot while Dean happily scratches lotto tickets. Bela shows up and trains her gun at them. Dean gives her a variant on the same speech he gave to Grossman. He happens to be able to read people, you see, and he knows she won’t shoot... Bela shoots Sam in the shoulder.

Dean moves to put the rabbit’s foot on the ground then tosses it at her. Surprised, she catches it. Bela knows she’s toast and she helps them destroy the foot then saunters away. Until next time, boys! Dean and Sam stump back towards the car when Dean remembers they’re up $46,000 from scratch tickets. Bela peels off in her car and...ah, yes. Bela “Sticky Fingers” Talbot just made out with the winning tickets.

Back at the prison, Kubrick chats with Gordon over the prison phone. He’s determined that Sam Winchester is The Adversary. Gordon doesn’t care what motivates Kubrick as long as he’s got an ally to help break him out of prison and destroy the Winchesters.

I Lost My Quotes:

Sam Winchester must die.

Don't play with my Jesus.

I guess this is your lucky day.

I’m on a mission from God.

Being a hunter is so much more noble? A bunch of obsessed, revenge driven sociopaths trying to save a world that can’t be saved.

We’re all going to Hell, Dean. Might as well enjoy the ride.

What the hell is wrong with you? You don’t just go around shootin’ people like that!

Oh, don’t go away angry. Just go away.

I mean the second you find out this Ruby chick is a Demon you go for the holy water! You don't chat!

Just Dad. You know him and his secrets. Spend all this time with the guy and it's like we barely even know the man.

Oh, was that is, huh? It was wasn't it? What is that thing?

Until then I say we hit Vegas, pull a little Rain Man. You can be Rain Man.

[zukoscomet]

Merciful and Merciless

The King in the North stood beside Daenerys, stony-faced as he stared at the newly forged dragon’s crown. The Reluctant King, the people in the capital called him. This strange, dark boy, the true heir of House Targaryen, the chosen of House Stark. 

He could rule the world if he wanted.

Daenerys was perplexed by him. This nephew of hers, despite being older than she. The last piece of the fallen brother she had never met.

“The crown is yours.” Daenerys admitted softly. “We both know it.”

“I don’t want it.” Jon replied simply, his eyes detached as he looked on his birthright. 

Daenerys knew what kind of answer she was going to get, but she asked the question anyway: “Why?”

If it were possible, Jon’s expression grew harder still. “Rhaegar Targaryen, my . . my father,” He spat the word out. “He started a war for his own selfish desires. He manipulated my mother, a girl younger than my sister Arya, into becoming a vessel for his get. She died and she wasn’t the only one either; my grandfather Rickard. My uncle Brandon. His wife, Elia. Hell, even his own father.” 

Jon flinched before he managed to force out the next two names. “His own children, Rhaenys and Aegon, my brother and sister.”

He turned to face her as the heavy winter snow fell on the windows of the throne room. “My blood may be the blood of dragons, but I am a Stark and I will always be a Stark.”

Daenerys looked into her nephew’s eyes. Deep, brown Northern eyes like the house of his raising. “You are far more like him than you’d care to admit.”

His body stiffened in anger. “What do you know about him?” Jon snarled. “Nothing. He died before you were born. You know nothing except what your mad brother told you-”

“Enough.” Daenerys said sternly. “Viserys may have been wicked, but he was still my brother, as was Rhaegar.”

“You are pensive. Eternally melancholic. Born with doom and the mantle of the world pressing down on you. A natural warrior, gifted at playing war. A leader so great, so loved, that men would gladly follow him into Death’s arms. The object of female desire and many a man’s jealousy. Both driven by their hearts. Never truly content, but merciful to his people and merciless to his enemies.”

“You may take your mother’s looks, Jon, but you are all your father on the inside. To deny that would be to deny yourself.”

Jon shut his eyes at her words, his jaw clenched stubbornly. “I still don’t want to be king, Dany. You fought, you won.”

“So did you.”

“If you won’t take the throne by your blood, then I will have you take it by right of conquest. I only ask that you leave the North to me.”

Daenerys didn’t offer him an answer. He knew that she would give him his homeland willingly. She didn’t understand the North well enough to rule it. Not accepting that had been the failings of all the kings before her. 

“By your word, I will leave for Winterfell in the morning.” the Northern king sighed, and turned away from his aunt.

He barely made a few steps before Daenerys called him back. “Jon,”

The Silver Queen faced up to the White Wolf, once and for all. The Lost Dragon and the Dragon Queen. “I will grant you the North and the kingship that comes with it. You can abandon all your responsibility to House Targaryen.”

Jon may not have been raised in the royal court but he’d always been a pawn. He’d learned the hard way that there was always a price to any good deed.

“In return for what?” he asked suspiciously.

For the first time in the conversation, Daenerys struggled. It took her a few moments to steady herself, gather her words and order them in something remotely tactful to her nephew.

“I’m infertile.” The attempt to keep her voice even made her voice come out high and strangled, as if she were fighting back tears. She wasn’t. Daenerys had come to terms with this news and its connotations a long time ago. 

It didn’t take many moments before Jon realised what his aunt was trying to ask him but she said it anyway.

“I will never ask you to be king yourself but I ask that you have children. Bear them on whatever woman you choose, name them what you want, raise them as you see fit. One or many, it doesn’t matter, so long as there is a child of your siring ready to ascend when my time comes, I am happy.”

“Daenerys-”

“My life’s work has been to restore the Targaryen dynasty. I can no longer do it myself,” the queen cut him off. “You are all that I, that this house, has left.”

Jon studied her for a moment. She would be the last pure Targaryen, with the silvered hair and lilac eyes. She was like him, too. A figure bound up in reams of myth and rumour and legend, until they resembled something less than human. Immortalised power, but no one else saw this version of Daenerys Stormborn. Damaged, sensitive and mournful. 

A girl that the man he used to be would have wanted to help.

A curt nod from Jon, the dragon raised in the den of wolves, sealed history.

[gostaks]

concept: ya novel but it’s just the protagonist dealing with a shitty bureaucracy and conspiracy theorists for 500 pages

Everyone gets a mate assigned to them at birth but due to clerical error I had seven. I’ll just fill out this ream of paperwork so I can ditch them all and marry my girlfriend

Everyone takes an aptitude test and I got multiple aptitudes. How about I just do it again and it should all work out (six hours of paperwork later it does)

“The government is trying to censor us and prevent us from learning about poetry” no holy shit brandon have you ever been to a library come on I’ll show you

[aion-rsa]

Cormoran Strike: Why Now is the Right Time for the TV Detective’s Return

https://ift.tt/2Qfhnxu

Contains spoilers for Strike: The Cuckoo’s Calling, The Silkworm and Career of Evil

The more incomprehensible and unsettling the real world gets, the more we welcome TV characters who make us feel safe. BBC One’s Cormoran Strike, a Cornish war veteran turned private investigator who operates out of a shabby Soho office, is reassurance personified. He’s a good man with sad eyes and a tragic past, the kind of TV detective you want to feed a shepherd’s pie and send away with a Tupperware full of leftovers. 

Everything about Strike, from his smoking habit to his hidden pain and carbs-n-booze diet, is a throwback to a different age. It’s not just the scratched cine film of Strike’s opening credits that speaks of nostalgia for the past, it’s the character’s crumpled, masculine solidity. Strike may be a returnee from a 21st century war, but his lonely takeaway nights in front of the TV and seedy London digs could be from any point in the last 50 years. Kind-hearted, tortured by his past, bad at looking after himself but committed to helping others, he’s a classic romantic hero. Think Sense & Sensibility’s Colonel Brandon with a glamorous provenance, a prosthetic leg and a reputation as an excellent shag.

Even Strike’s will-they-won’t-they frisson with investigative partner Robin Ellacott is nostalgia in action. It’s such an old trick you wouldn’t think audiences would still fall for it, but down we topple. They’re both clever and likeable, each dealing with their own demons (him: a dead mother, absent rock star father and near-death experience in Helmand Province that lost him a leg, her: a violent campus assault by a serial rapist that caused her to drop out of university). We’ve seen versions of it all before, many times over, which is precisely what makes Strike comforting to watch. We know the drill. We know the stakes. And we know that, unlike in real life, by the end, evil will always be found out and punished. 

On BBC One, Strike and Robin are played by the choice cast of Tom Burke and Holliday Grainger, a pairing that runs on chemistry and charm. Robin first arrived at Strike’s office as an agency temp in the first book, but proved invaluable and loved the work, going from assistant to partner at the end of the second.   

They’re the stars of four – soon to be five – detective novels by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling). The first The Cuckoo’s Calling is set in the Hello Magazine world of supermodels, fashion designers and musicians. The second The Silkworm takes place in the rotten, back-stabbing heart of the UK literary publishing industry. The third Career of Evil is themed around misogyny and violence against women, and the fourth Lethal White looks at hypocrisy in both the politics of Westminster and radical activism.

Read more

TV

Strike: The Cuckoo’s Calling episode 1 review

By Louisa Mellor

TV

Strike: The Cuckoo’s Calling episode 2 review

By Louisa Mellor

That though, is just plot. It’s the comforting sound of puzzle blocks gradually slotting together to form a satisfying shape. Strike’s real motor is Robin and Strike’s radiant and unexpressed love for one another. And it is love, not just the major hots. These two chime on a deeper level. Fundamentally, they’re both kind and capable and know right from wrong. They love their work and value the pursuit of justice over high salaries and chic living. They don’t just fancy the pants off each other; they respect and care about each other. It’s so vanilla, it’s almost a kink in itself. 

The fact that both of them glow like lightbulbs in each other’s company hasn’t escaped Robin’s childhood sweetheart and – since the surprise closing moments of series three – new husband Matthew. Unsurprisingly, Matthew’s no fan of Strike. He makes cracks about his missing leg and takes regular swipes at Robin’s less-than-extravagant salary. He also cheated on Robin while she was recovering from a serious, life-altering trauma with a colleague who definitely votes Tory. We don’t like Matthew, and we especially don’t like that he blocked Strike’s number from Robin’s phone at the end of Career of Evil. When she finds out, Robin won’t like that either.

Strike has an ex from his university days (Oxford, but he dropped out to join the army after his supermodel mum died of a heroin overdose – administered, he’s always suspected, by his reprehensible musician stepdad played by Super Hans from Peep Show). His break-up from socialite Charlotte Chapman (Natasha O’Keeffe) is what found him crashing at his Denmark Street office in series one to three. Their history is sketchy but through flashbacks we learn something about a lost pregnancy and doubts over the identity of the father. Charlotte is now married to a man named Jago but, having taken the trouble to post her wedding photos to Strike, is clearly not over him.

Were Strike and Robin ever to give in to what their hearts want and work off all their sexual tension over the course of a decades-long relationship filled with thoughtful gift-giving and romantic perp chases in Robin’s Land Rover, buoyed up by the everlasting gratitude of all the people their work has helped, the whole show would spin off its axle and bounce away. Fans desire it, yet we resist it. It’s an eternal – and comfortingly familiar – dilemma. Just the distraction we need.

Four-part series Strike: Lethal White starts on Sunday the 30th of August at 9pm on BBC One. The previous series are available to stream on BBC iPlayer. 

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