#briscoe-garner

[sydsaint]

My fav evil bastard man is back!! <3

Summary: PAC returns to AEW and finds that his old friend/lover has been swayed by Malakai Black to join his crew.

It's almost time for the main event involving House of Black. Buddy, Malakai, and Brody are all doing last minute adjustments to their gear and plans while you are Julia wait for them.

"Malakai." You approach your leader cautiously, not wanting to distract him from the task at hand,

"Yes, YN." Malakai turns away from Brody who he was just talking too.

You twitch under Malakai's intense gaze as he peers down and waits for your question. It's been almost a year since he saved you from a dwindling singles career and recruited you into the House of Black. You and Malakai have become close in that time. But the man still scares you to some degree. Just like he does everyone else on the team.

"Are you sure that you don't want me and Julia to come out there with you?" You ask Black. "You know that it wouldn't be a problem. And we could help ensure that Mark Briscoe and his friends are dealt with once and for all." You add.

Malakai shakes his head and puts a hand on your shoulder. "We can handle Briscoe and his friends, YN." He assures you. "Besides, Julia needs time to recover from her shoulder injury. And as for you, my dear? Well, you should be focused on finding a way to garner Toni Storm's attention." He reminds you.

"Right." You nod meekly. "Good luck out there, then. To everyone." You nod to Buddy and Brody.

Buddy and Brody both nod and Malakai turns back around to them. You walk back over to Julia and take a seat next to her.

"Sorry, YN." Julia frowns. "I know that you hate being cooped up in here all night."

"It's alright, Julia." You sigh. "But it's like Malakai said. I should be using my time to figure out how I can mess with Toni the most." You assure yourself.

Over the past few weeks you've taken notice that Malakai has been confining you to the locker room more and more. Usually he's happy to have you at his side and ready to handle potential problems. You're a wild and free spirit. So being cooped up like a caged animal has been slowly driving you nuts. But you trust Malakai. He pulled you out of a dark place after your last faction fell to pieces.

A little over a year ago you were happily involved with the Penta, Rey, and most importantly, Pac. Together, the four of you were a faction making moves in AEW. But then Pac lost his international title to Orange Cassidy, Rey broke his arm badly, and everything fell apart.

On the other side of the locker rooms backstage, Eddie Kingston has rallied the troops for his latest multi-man feud and is busy greeting his newest recruit. Fresh off of a bad shoulder injury, Pac.

"Pac, man. It's good to have you back." Eddie greets the self-proclaimed 'bastard' with a friendly shoulder bump and handshake.

"It's good to be back, mate." Pac nods. "Rumor is that you're dead-set on taking out the Jackson brothers and their new best friend, Okada?" He asks Kingston.

Eddie nods as the two sit down to chat for a bit. "Yep, that's the plan. Penta is already on board with it." He nods to Penta talking to someone on the phone in Spanish on the other side of the room. "And we could use your specific brand of violence and cruelty for this, if you're down."

"Of course." Pac nods. "I'm happy to help an old friend. And speaking of old friends. I can't seem to find YN anywhere." He wastes no time in bringing you up to Eddie.

"YN, right." Eddie nods. "I forgot you and her used to be a thing." He chuckles. "YN...she's been going through some stuff lately, man." Eddie rubs the back of his neck.

Pac tilts his head, worry crossing his face. "What kind of stuff? She's alright isn't she?" He presses Eddie to clarify things.

"Umm, not exactly the words I'd use." Eddie replies, beating around the bush as much as he can for fear of Pac's response to the news. "Pac, you gotta understand something man. After you lost the International championship and Rey broke his arm. Well, everything kind of fell apart." He explains a bit. "I tried to look out for YN as best that I could man. But I had my own shit going on at the time. And well, you know, YN, man. You can't keep a leash on the girl."

"Eddie! You're rambling." Pac interrupts his friends babbling. "Just tell me where she is. What happened to, YN?" He asks Eddie again.

Eddie bites the inside of his cheek and shakes his head, guilt written plain on his face. "YN's with Malakai Black and his buddies now, alright?" He finally gives Pac a straight answer. "Black picked her up about a year ago and she's been with him ever since."

"What?!" Pac jumps out of his seat. "You let YN get pulled in by Malakai Black?" He aims an accusing look at Eddie.

"Now come on man!" Eddie sighs and gets to his feet as well. "I said I tried to look out for her!" He reminds Pac. "But the girl doesn't listen to anyone, you know that."

Pac's jaw twitches in annoyance and worry. But deep down he knows that Eddie is right. Pac knows better than anyone that you can be one stubborn woman when you want to be.

Eddie studies his friends face and watch as Pac begins formulating a plan in his head to get you back. "Pac, bro, say something." He tries to get Pac's attention off of you for a moment. "Come on. What's on your mind? Where are you going?" He asks when Pac turns toward the door.

"I'm going to get YN back." Pac replies matter-of-factly as he strides toward the door like a man on a mission.

"Pac, wait!" Eddie hurries around the table and steps into Pac's way. "YN ain't the same broad you were seeing a year ago, alright?" He warns Pac. "Malakai's turned the girl into an animal. Just like he did Julia."

Pac shakes his head and shoulders past Eddie. "YN was always an animal. She was just excellent at hiding it from people." He insists. "She's still the same, YN. My, YN."

Eddie groans in frustration as Pac storms off in search of his lost love. He grabs Penta from the locker room and the pair head out to assist Pac in case a fight against Malakai and his boys breaks out.

Back in the HOB locker room, you decide to head down to the ring and assist your friends when it looks like they are in trouble. Julia's shoulder is bothering her, so you go alone. You make it out to the ring without a hitch and assist Malakai with Mark Briscoe. Malakai delivers a finishing blow to Briscoe and HOB wins the match so you join Malakai in the ring to celebrate.

You are in the middle of celebrating with your team in the middle of the ring when suddenly a familiar voice sounds over the arena speakers. Your head whips to the top of the ramp just as someone comes through the tunnel.

"YN! Tell me it ain't true, love! You've abandoned your friends for these fools?" Pac comes through the tunnel like a man on a mission and a microphone in hand.

"Pac?" Your heart skips a beat in your chest.

Malakai clamps a hand down on your arm and you turn to look at him. "Look who finally decided to come back, YN." Black peers down at you with an intense gaze. "Remember what I told you when we first met?" He asks you.

You swallow and nod. "That my friends would try and blame me." You recall your first encounter with Black.

"Mhm. And look what's happened." Malakai points up the ramp. "Pac comes back to AEW finally and what is the first thing he does? He points fingers at you. He's the one that left, remember?" Black whispers in your ear.

"Right." You nod. "I didn't abandon my friends! They abandoned me!" You begin to feel anger rising up in your gut. "He abandoned me. Not the other way around." You point an accusing finger toward the top of the ramp.

A sinister smile crosses Malakai's face at his expert manipulation of you. "Atta girl, YN. Now, are you going to let that traitor stand there and blame you for his misfortunes?" He asks you.

"No. No, I'm not." You shake your head. "Brody, Buddy." You turn to the pair standing idly behind you. "Take care of him, please." You ask them.

Brody and Buddy both happily nod before quickly making their exit from the ring. You watch the pair sprint up the ramp to confront Pac. Luckily for Pac, Penta and Eddie arrive just in time to occupy Malakai's goons. Pac breaks away from the fight and makes a b-line for the ring. Malakai remains at your side as Pac steps into the ring, his gaze transfixed on you.

"YN, love. Come on now." Pac begins his speech with a soft expression.

"Don't!" You put a hand up. "Every abandoned me, Pac. You abandoned me. No phone call. No letter. Nothing. You were just gone. And I was left alone. Alone to face everyone and everything we did together!"

Malakai watches your speech with a pleased expression. He's done it. He's managed to take a broken girl with the passion to be the most dominate force AEW has ever seen and sowed hatred and mistrust into her heart.

He's made the perfect weapon. And now here's the test to ensure that you are past the point of redemption and ready to be wielded like the gilded sword Malakai needs you to be.

"YN, I'm sorry, love." Pac takes a cautious step toward you.

"You're sorry!" You laugh. "Sorry? You don't get to be sorry!" You shout at him. "You don't get to show up out of the blue and expect everything to go back to normal!"

Pac takes a step back at your outburst and turns his glare onto Malakai. "You! What did you do to her!" He confronts Black.

"What did I do to her?" Malakai laughs. "You should ask yourself that same question, friend. You're the fool that abandoned, YN. I saved her! I gave her friends! A family that loves her!" He puts a hand on your shoulder. "Tell me, Pac. What did you do for, YN? Pretend to care about her? Lie and claim you loved her once? Only to abandon her when she needed you most?" He raises his voice in a fake protective manner.

"YN, please." Pac tries one last attempt to reason with you. "You have to know that I never meant to hurt you." He asks you.

You stare at Pac with a cold look in your eyes. "Well you did hurt me." You inform him. "And now you get to live with that sin." You step back, eyes directed behind Pac as Buddy and Brody make their way up to him after dispatching Penta and Eddie.

Brody and Buddy descend on Pac and Malakai leads you off with a directing hand on your back.

"YN! YN! I know It's not over!" Pac shouts in-between hits as Brody and Buddy reign hits down on him. "The girl I love is still in there! And I won't stop until I get her back!"

[greensparty]

Blu-ray Review: A Simple Plan

Prior to the late 90s, Sam Raimi was already established for his genre work, especially the Evil Dead trilogy, but when he adapted Scott B. Smith’s 1993 novel A Simple Plan, it was a thriller filled with Shakespearean turns and really showed how skilled Raimi is with actors. It had elements of Raimi's genre skills here and there, but it was a awards-season dramatic thriller that garnered two Oscar nominations including Billy Bob Thornton for Best Supporting Actor. A few years ago when I did my Top Sam Raimi Movies, I named it my #2 Sam Raimi Movie! Now the 1998 film A Simple Plan that I saw opening weekend in the movie theater and have been a big fan of since, is getting a special blu-ray release from Arrow Video.

the 2024 Arrow edition

Set in rural Minnesota, Hank (Bill Paxton) is a local bookkeeper with a pregnant wife Sarah (Bridget Fonda), a local librarian. Hank goes for a drive with his dim-witted older brother Jacob (Thornton), who brings along his redneck friend Lou (Brent Briscoe). They chase a fox into the woods and stumble upon a crashed airplane under snow that appears to have some dead bodies in it and a bag with $4.4 million. They devise a plan to keep the money safe at Hank's house and sit on it until the Spring once they know it's safe to split it evenly amongst the three. Of course this is a simple plan that goes horribly wrong as crimes begin happening.

theatrical movie poster

This film raised a lot of questions about how far will you go for money and will it be worth it in the end. There is a lot going on here in terms of each character having their own motivations and how they coerce others to go along with their agenda. Sarah is clearly a reference to Lady Macbeth, convincing Hank to take action to protect their money that could come in time for their growing family. Jacob wants more than anything to get back to the family farm and if Hank can give him that, he'll go along with whatever plan there is for the money. Hank sees himself as a little smarter and above much of the townies including Jacob and Lou, but that doesn't change this opportunity that's fallen into his lap and the possibilities that cause him to go down a destructive path. This was a serious big swing for Raimi in proving how skilled he is at drama and not just a genre director. But it is always cool to see that old-school Evil Dead Raimi slip into his non-horror films, i.e. a massive gunshot in this. There's a very clear connection to Fargo, directed by Raimi's friends and early collaborators The Coen Brothers. Similar in that they are both film noirs set in the wintry Midwest. Only here there's no humor the way that the Coens intercut the noir with laughs. The ending of this is devastating in it's tragedy of one man's quest for the American Dream. Still guts me away each time I see it. In terms of the new Arrow DVD, there's some cool features here including featurettes with supporting cast and some commentaries from critics Glenn Kenney and Farran Smith Nehme and production designer Patrizia von Brandenstein with filmmaker Justin Beahm. There's some interviews and old on-set features too. This is an underrated film that deserves the massive DVD treatment!

For info on Arrow's A Simple Plan

5 out of 5 stars

[marcusbrisco]

Exploring the Green Legacy of Marcus Todd Brisco: A Steward of Nature from Maui, USA

In the heart of Maui, amidst the lush greenery and tranquil landscapes, resides a figure whose very essence seems intertwined with the vibrant pulse of the environment. Marcus Todd Brisco, a native of the United States, has carved out a name for himself not only as a citizen of Maui but also as a dedicated custodian of its natural splendor. His journey is one marked by a deep-seated love for the environment, a passion that has propelled him to the forefront of conservation efforts in his community and beyond.

Born and raised in the scenic landscapes of Maui, Marcus Todd Brisco's affinity for nature blossomed from a young age. Growing up surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of the Hawaiian islands, he developed a profound appreciation for the delicate balance of ecosystems and the importance of preserving them for future generations. As he embarked on his journey through life, this reverence for the environment became the guiding force behind his actions and aspirations.

Marcus's commitment to environmental conservation is not merely a personal endeavor but a philosophy deeply ingrained in his identity. Through his advocacy and activism, he has become a prominent voice for sustainable living and ecological preservation in Maui and beyond. Whether through community outreach programs, educational initiatives, or grassroots campaigns, Marcus tirelessly champions the cause of environmental stewardship, inspiring others to join him in his mission.

One of Marcus's most notable contributions to the environmental movement is his work in sustainable agriculture. Recognizing the vital role that agriculture plays in both shaping landscapes and impacting ecosystems, he has dedicated himself to promoting practices that prioritize environmental sustainability and biodiversity. Through initiatives such as organic farming, permaculture, and agroforestry, Marcus seeks to cultivate a harmonious relationship between humanity and nature, where the needs of both are met in equilibrium.

In addition to his advocacy for sustainable agriculture, Marcus is also deeply involved in conservation efforts aimed at protecting Maui's unique flora and fauna. As a fervent supporter of local wildlife sanctuaries and nature reserves, he actively participates in habitat restoration projects, species conservation programs, and efforts to combat invasive species. His commitment to preserving Maui's natural heritage is not just a passion but a responsibility he wholeheartedly embraces.

Beyond his contributions to environmental conservation, Marcus is also an avid proponent of renewable energy and clean technology. Recognizing the urgent need to transition towards more sustainable energy sources, he has been at the forefront of promoting solar, wind, and hydroelectric power in Maui. Through his advocacy and activism, Marcus seeks to accelerate the shift towards a greener, more sustainable future, where clean energy powers communities without harming the environment.

Marcus's dedication to environmental stewardship extends beyond his professional endeavors and permeates every aspect of his life. Whether it's reducing his carbon footprint, minimizing waste, or advocating for environmental policies, he leads by example, demonstrating that individual actions can have a significant impact on the health of the planet. His commitment to living in harmony with nature serves as an inspiration to all those who aspire to make a positive difference in the world.

In recognition of his contributions to environmental conservation and sustainable living, Marcus Todd Brisco has garnered widespread acclaim and admiration in Maui and beyond. He is revered not only for his passion and dedication but also for his unwavering commitment to making the world a better place for future generations. Through his tireless efforts, he has left an indelible mark on the landscape of Maui, shaping its future for the better and inspiring others to follow in his footsteps.

As we reflect on the remarkable journey of Marcus Todd Brisco, we are reminded of the power of one individual to effect meaningful change in the world. His story serves as a testament to the transformative potential of passion, perseverance, and a deep-seated love for the environment. In Marcus, we find not just a champion of nature but a beacon of hope for a brighter, more sustainable future for Maui and the planet as a whole. Click here

[wrestlingclubelite]

ROH Final Battle PPV to Feature Special Match in Tribute to Jay Briscoe, With Participation from Key AEW Stars

The approaching ROH Final Battle event has garnered significant attention as it now features the participation of notable AEW stars on Friday, December 15. Despite lackluster ticket sales, the event promises the culmination of enduring storylines in Texas, highlighted by the ROH Women’s World Championship clash between Athena and Billie Starkz, along with an intense “I Quit” Match pitting Ethan…

[uvalderadio]

Richelle Workman / Briscoe-Garner Museum

[tortuga-aak]

Goldman Sachs' new managing-director list is out — and it's the largest class in the firm's history (GS)

Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for The New York Times

Goldman Sachs announced its largest-ever class of managing directors.

Of the 509 promoted, 44% are millennials.

The firm announces managing-director promotions every two years.

It's one of the most coveted positions on Wall Street, a step below partner at the premier investment bank.

Goldman Sachs just announced a new class of 509 managing directors — the largest class in the firm's history.

The position is one of the most coveted on Wall Street, one step below partner at the prestigious investment-banking firm. The firm now has 2,148 managing directors, making up 7.1% of the company's workforce.

It's also one of the youngest classes the bank has promoted — 44% are millennials, up from 30% in 2015.

Other headline stats about the class:

66% started their careers as analysts or associates at Goldman Sachs.

24% of the class is women, down from 25% in 2015.

130 were promoted in the securities division, up from 102 in 2015.

101 were promoted in investment banking, up from 97 in 2015.

52 were promoted in technology, up from 38 in 2015.

Eight were promoted in consumer and commercial banking — the division that houses the bank's online-lending business, Marcus — compared with zero in 2015.

Here's the full statement:

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE: GS) today announced that it has selected a new class of Managing Directors, effective from January 1, 2018, the start of the firm's next fiscal year.

"Our new Managing Directors have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to our people, clients and culture during their tenures at the firm, and we wish them continued success as they take this important next step in their careers," said Lloyd C. Blankfein, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Goldman Sachs.

The following individuals have been promoted to Managing Director:

Gregg Abramson Sanjay Acharya Khalid Albdah Amal Alibair Karthikeyan Anbalagan Rolf Andersson Volker Anger Jonathan Armstrong Ken Ashley Lavanya Ashok Sebastian Ayton Jonathan Babkow Julio Badi Amitayush Bahri Soren Balzer Robert Barlick Jr. Philip Barreca Santiago Bau David Bauer Oksana Beard Lee Becker Virender Bedi Stuart Beer Christian Beerli Amanda Beisel Yumiko Bekku David Bell Pierre Benichou Andrew Benito Marco Bensi Laura Benson Stephen Bergin Daniel Berglund Greg Berry Shital Bhatt Dipanjan Bhattacharjee Anu Bhavnani Carissa Biggie Vineet Birman Daniel Bitel Anne Black Richard Blore Emmanuel Bodenstein Timothy Braude Sean Brenan Hugh Briscoe Nathaniel Bristol Leo Brito Troy Broderick Levee Brooks Eric Brothers Robert Bruns III Anthony Bunnell Meg Burke Susan Burt Sean Butkus Russell Byrne Edward Byun Adam Cahill Alessandro Calace Cristiano Camargo Ken Cawley Swapan Chaddha Patrick Chamberlain Richard Chambers Daphne Chan Lily Chan Ben Chance Ginger Chang Vikram Chavali Alex Cheek Jae Joon Choi Ken Choi Paul Choi David Clark Denis Cleary Daniel Cleland-James Ayanna Clunis Pamela Codo-Lotti Jesse Cohen Paul Coles Simon Coombes Jenny Cosco Philip Coureau Nathan Cowen Matthew Cox (Securities) Shaun Cullinan Christine D'Agostino Emile Daher Hiren Dasani Russell Day Pierre De Belen Merche del Valle Caitlin DeSantis Jack Devaney Thomas Devos Mats Dewitte Hristo Dimitrov Tim Dinsdale Isabella Disler Christian Ditullio Terence Doherty Yakut Donat Nicola Dondi Brian Dong Jason D'Silva Stefan Duffner Jane Dunlevie Marie Duval Julien Dyon Rohini Eapen Zach Eckler Sayaka Eda Jason Eisenstadt Chris Emmerson Tiffany Eng Chendan Esvaran Erkko Etula Liz Ewing Michael Fargher Matteo Farina Leigh Farris Sarah Faulkner Tom Favia Brett Feldman Jennifer Feng Jon Ferguson Alex Field Herbert Filho Alex Finston Dean Flanagan Greg Flynn Trip Foley Andrew Ho Kwon Fong Moran Forman Michael Fox Caroline Fraser Daniel Freckleton Tim Freeman Reto Frei Giles French Kirsten Frivold Michael Fu Rob Fuentes Kenji Fujimoto Carrie Gannon Chantal Garcia Akhil Garg Alex Garner Nick Gelber Andrew Gent Gizelle George-Joseph Andrea Gift Sean Gilbride Andreas Glaser Yong Suan Goh Sona Gohel Amir Gold Jeremy Goldstein Steven Gonzalez Jeff Gowen Adam Greene Tom Groothaert Hannes Gsell Ashwin Gupta Ali Haji Ayaz Haji Robert Hamilton Kelly Victoria Hampson Raja Harb Andy Harding Ryan Harster Selma Hassan Stephen Hawinkels Jacqueline Haynes Jason He* Craig Hempstead David Herrmann David Hickey Thomas Hilger Mitch Hochberg Jodi Hochberger Jane Hodges Peter Hodgkinson Dylan Hogarty Tim Holliday Naftali Holtz Amy Hong Jason Hudes Earl Hunt Joseph Hwang Yoshinori Ide Kazuya Iketani Daniel Jackson Ankit Jain (Risk) Gaurav Jaitly Jan Janssen David Jeria Alnawaz Jiwa Kim Johns Scott Johnson Elis Jones Neil Jones Robert Jones Philip Joseph Anand Joshi Shawn Joshi Ritu Kalra Michael Kaprelian Nadeem Kayani Alicia Keenan Neil Kelleher Tom Kennedy Aqil Khan Sarah Kiernan Daniel Kim Eugene Kim (IMD) Jason Kim (GIR) Sora Kim Kristy Kinahan Eugene King Laura Kirk Kunal Kishore Elliot Klapper Jayee Koffey Jason Koon Jennifer Kopylov Daniel Korich Ichiro Kosuge Vladimir Kotlyar Samuel Krasnik Katherine Krause David Kraut Sergey Kraytman Nitin Kulkarni Ram Kulkarni Dileep Kumar (Securities) Santosh Kunnakkat Wendy Kwong JP Lall Bill Lambert David Landman Yi Larson Niccolo Laudiero Nick Laux David Lee Phillip Lee Samuel Lee Shawn Lee Michael Leister David Lerner Naomi Leslie Matt Levine Na Li Haining Liang Nancy Licul Monica Lim Michelle Ling Srujan Linga Philip Linton Alan Liu Daniel Liu Eric Liu Heiman Lo Juan Lorenzo Tian Lu Wayne Lu James Lucas Dennis Luebcke Martin Luehrmann John Lynch Gina Lytle Leo Ma* Caesar Maasry Geoff MacDonald Robert Magnuson Toshiyuki Makabe Mariano Mallol Geydar Mamedov Kara Mangone Donna Mansfield Ajit Marathe Gilberto Marcheggiano James Marchese Michael Marcus Joshua Matheus Ann Mathews Chris Mathie Brian McCallion Graham McClelland Anne McCosker Michael Meehan (Compliance) Taylor Mefford Neil Mehta Adam Meister David Mericle Vitali Meschoulam Eric Meyers Alex Mignotte Andras Mikite Christopher Milligan Rahul Mistry Mike Mitchell Neil Moge Waleed Mohsin Babak Molavi Joel Monson Guy Morgan James Morris Antoine Munfa Aimee Mungovan Yuji Murata Dan Murphy Josh Murray Brian Musto Shehzad Nabi Devarajan Nambakam Ramanathan Narayanan Ganapathy Natarajan Danielle Natoli Murad Nayal Karim Nensi Scott Neu Dennis Ng Ken Ng Benjamin Ngan Joy Nguyen Salman Niaz Anders Nielsen (IMD) Howard Nifoussi Jun Niki Leah Nivison Laura Noble James Nolan Lauren Oakes Lynn Oberschmidt Allison O'Connor John O'Connor Shunil Ohrie Damian Ordish Leke Osinubi David Ossack Sathiya Padmanaban Danielle Pallin Salvador Pareja Dalmir Pasini Clorinda Pasqua Chris Pawson Paris Pender Patrick Perkins Philippe Perzi Wendy Peters Andy Phillips Flavio Picciotto Michael Pieck Sam Pirog Thomas Plank Joseph Plotkin Wade Podlich Ashish Pokharna Caitlin Pollak Charles Pollock Joe Porter Travis Potter Rohit Prabhu Richard Privorotsky Andrew Pucher Jay Rabinowitz Ankit Raj Harsha Rajamani Dmitry Rakhlin Yasser Rathore Edoardo Rava Elizabeth Reed Alexandre Reinert Stephen Reinhard Irfan Rendeci Christian Resch Andrew Rhee Riccardo Riboldi James Rinsler Caroline Riskey Helen Robinson Mark Rosen Amit Roy Joe Ryan Bernhard Rzymelka Takehiro Sakuramoto John Sales Rob Sarazen Vineeta Saxena Dominik Schaefer Andrea Scott Majid Sebti Bipin Sehgal Arseni Seregin Irma Sgarz Paulomi Shah Shreyas Shah Sunny Shah Faisal Shamsee Daniel Shapiro Mahesh Sharma Shripal Sharma Mai Shin Romy Shioda Toshimichi Shirai Mark Short Pankauz Shrestha David Shrimpton Obaid Siddiqui Mike Sidorov Scott Silverglate Stefani Silverstein Amy Silverzweig Jasdeep Singh Gabriella Skirnick Michael Sklow Maxine Sleeper Michael Slomienski Michael Sloyer Nicholas Smith (IBD) Ruth Smithson Christine Smyth Ben Snider Stacy Sonnenberg Cleaver Sower Ro Spaziani Brian Steele Johannes Steffens Duncan Stewart Stephen Stites Laurent Storoni Caroline Styant Joel Sulkes Mancy Sun Winnie Tam Nachiket Tamhane Ken Tang MK Tang Amish Tanna Melissa Teng Ross Tennenbaum Greg Thompson Fiona Thomson Justin Tobe Jason Tofsky Brad Tuthill Masahiro Uchiyama Nehal Udeshi Saad Usmani Meg Vaden Pramod Vaidyanathan Adam Van de Berghe Fred van der Wyck Suzanne van Staveren Andrew Vass Mahesh Vellanki Kadambari Verma Christopher Vilburn Iva Vukina Heng Vuong Ketan Vyas Joe Wall Jeffrey Wang Jiantao Wang Joshua Wang Lily Wang (Technology) Sherry Wang Victoria Ward (Compliance) Jeff Warren Noriko Watanabe Ramey Watkins Sam Watkins Heiko Weber Niki Webster Scott Weinstein Ryan Westmacott James Westwood Keith Wetzel Mark Wetzel James Whittingham Sabine Wick Robert Wieser Devin Wilde David Wilkins John Wilkinson Andrew Williams Ed Wong (IBD Technology) Eric Wong (Internal Audit) Kate Wood Amanda Wu Douglas Wu Joanne Xu Liang Xu** Rupam Yadav Kazushi Yamaguchi Hubert Yang Lisa Yang Basak Yavuz Zeynep Yenel David Yu Brian Zakrocki Thomas Zeppetella Yi Zhang* Adib Zouein Patrik Zumstein Piotr Zurawski Jonathan Zwart

*Employee of Goldman Sachs Gao Hua Securities Company Limited **Employee of Beijing Gao Hua Securities Company Limited

NOW WATCH: I spent a day trying to pay for things with bitcoin and a bar of gold

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[andrewscahill3-blog]

Purchasing Followers & Likes On Instagram (Don't Do It).

When it pertains to your Instagram account, it's really just as excellent as its popularity. Like Dolly, Mother Di reveals the affective implications of our ethics and gives humankind a various name: Homo generator. Determined by a self-generating activity, we need to reformulate what it implies to be human: death along with natality are called into question once again. With openness as our existential taste and co-evolutionary power as our style, Homo generator favors everlasting modifications and safeguards the liberty of creation. What we clone is precisely this attitude of open getting and never ever a mere copy of anything (we leave that to primitive makers). Therefore, a biological copy of Mozart will never ever re-create the author, and the media clone Mother Di has as many faces as people who feel themselves cloned by it.

The truth that several Instagram likes and followers helps in increasing the traffic for the product stimulates the chances of getting real and active followers for the business. It not just makes sure a potent relationship with Web users, but also leads to boost the sales opportunities as the ardent followers end up being possible clients. When the architects of the Internet designed the Internet protocol (IP), they offered the package header a bunch of additional bits, for use by yet unimagined services. All those extra bits have actually been parceled out-except one. That's the bit Briscoe wishes to use.

5. Social Wander: This Instagram supplier deal follower starting from the rate of $10.5 till $1132.5. Social wanders provide various plans and have defined shipment time. The greater number of followers requires a greater amount of time. Social wander deal services for trail basis also. The combination plan is designed for both fans and likes. While much of your bought followers are completely phony, others are fronts for spam. By purchasing these phony followers, you are opening up your account to containers of spam posts. This may not just be on your Instagram account either. If you offered your e-mail address when you purchased the accounts (or perhaps have it composed on your Instagram profile), you are offering another chance for these individuals to spread their spam. Boost Instagram likes to your posts and make them look like they are liked. Because everybody else is, when people see that your posts are getting lots of likes they can decide to like it. You can also streamline the whole process with our Automobile like Instagram service. I have actually always been an advocate of networking little and deep on social networks: as in life, social networks engagement works best when carried out in a devoted, targeted and strategic method. When my Instagram page was stagnant and didn't understand what to do to get my items moving, instagrowing pertained to my rescue. With simply a few dollars, my fans increased instantly, offering me a platform to promote my items. They are low-cost, yet offer high-quality services. They have an impressive client care services. http://gramcart.com/buy-instagram-followers/ will love every part of their services. Try them today too. Settling the campaign - The primary goal of this point is to increase acknowledgment of your brand, services, and items by web audience. This is made with the help of SMM improvements, increasing presence on portals, forums and other significant Internet sites. 47-year-old Zaklina has actually become an Instagram experience after her remarkably elegant snaps and younger looks garnered her almost 200,000 fans.

[mavrock1]

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

SUPER-SIX LIST: A JIM ROCKFORD WISH-CRAFT

With James Garner's death over the weekend comes the realization that we will never have any new movies or TV show appearances for either of his two most famous roles.

The Powers That Be should have done something about that while they had the chance.  (Yes, I know about the TV movies for Rockford and the big screen adaptation of 'Maverick'.  But what can I say?  I'm greedy.)

SIX TV SHOWS IN WHICH

JIM ROCKFORD COULD HAVE APPEARED

1)  'Columbo'

Martin Ross is a blogmate who has a fanfic site dedicated to stories about Lt. Columbo.  And one of his stories is about a case in which Columbo found himself working with a private eye named Jim Rockford.

A GOOD CIGAR IS A SMOKE-SCREEN

I could see the two of them meeting and eventually teaming up.  Probably against one of Jimbo's clients - but the Rockfish would have found a way to hold off the Lieutenant until he got paid.......

2)  'Remington Steele'

Steele would have exasperated Rockford but Jim would have continued the forced partnership for the sake of Laura Holt.  And that could lead to Steele's suspicions that Rockford was Laura's biological father.....

3)  'Hart To Hart'

I could see Jim having worked for Jonathan Hart in the past.  And he might have recognized Jennifer Hart as the twin sister to private eye Christine Dusseau (who once worked for U.N.C.L.E. using the code name "April Dancer".)

(I could also see Rockford getting in the middle of an SID case involving Al Mundy.  Rockford would be just Rockford's luck to be the only private eye who could foil a burglary and be arrested by the government for his troubles.)

4)  'Batman'

I used to argue that Toobworld's Gotham City had to be in California since the 1966 movie had those ocean scenes.  But I now accept the claim that it's to be found in Delaware - so it would be on the Atlantic and not the Pacific.

Jim Rockford had traveled to the East Coast in the past - in one episode he found himself in New Jersey.  So he may have come to Gotham City, Delaware, in pursuit of a villain who double-crossed him for his fee.  Or maybe it was a failed attempt to clear his name before he got sent to prison for five years.

I'm thinking Colonel Gumm as the man responsible.....

Colonel Gumm was played by Roger C. Carmel

5)  'Murder, She Wrote'/'Jake And The Fatman'

We got ourselves a three-way!  Hey!  Easy, boy.....

Jessica Baines Fletcher may have lived in Cabot Cove, Maine, and Jim Rockford lived in a trailer in a parking lot along the Pacific Coast Highway.  But J.B. Fletcher traveled all over the world because of her murder mystery books so a trip to Malibu would not have been unlikely for her.  

Perhaps their paths crossed due to District Attorney Jason Lochinvar McCabe, who lived in the same area as Rockford.  (His home was just beyond the pier restaurant seen at the other end of Rockford's parking lot location.)  Maybe Jessica had been consulting with McCabe for background information for a new book and he suggested she talk with the private eye who broke that case.....

6) 'The Saint'

Simon Templar is a world traveler and I'm sure Los Angeles would eventually have been on his itinerary for one reason or another.  With Templar, adventure usually fell into his lap and he may well have just stumbled into a case that was being investigated by Rockford.  (Perhaps it could have been a return visit by Kendall Warren.  At least it would make sense that her path might cross with that of Simon Templar's, with Rockford along for the ride in Kendall's wake.....)

As usual, I am restricted by naming this category after a cartoon show.  But I do have one more suggestion to share.....

BONUS!

'The Prisoner'

My "Don't Laugh!" entry for this list.....

In episodes like "The House On Willis Avenue", Jim Rockford doubled-talked himself into a lot of dangerous places and found out things that he was never meant to see.  Sometimes this information was classified by the government and if somebody found out.....

Well, there are places for people who know too much.  It could  be that Jim Rockford was abducted and found himself in The Village back in 1967 where they had given him a number and taken away his name.  

Eventually, Rockford would have been released.  (I think he would have been too smart/cautious to attempt an escape.)  And that whole story about him serving time in prison could have been a cover story to mask the truth.

At any rate, I just always wanted to see Patrick McGoohan and James Garner together in something.....

SUPER SIX LIST - A BRET MAVERICK WISH-CRAFT

With James Garner's death over the weekend comes the realization that we will never have any new movies or TV show appearances for either of his two most famous roles.

The Powers That Be should have done something about that while they had the chance.  (Yes, I know about the TV movies for Rockford and the big screen adaptation of 'Maverick'.  But what can I say?  I'm greedy.)

SIX TV SHOWS IN WHICH BRET MAVERICK

COULD HAVE APPEARED

1)  'Downton Abbey'

Bret Maverick was born April 7, 1847.  I'd like to think that he lived as long as James Garner did, which would mean that he died in 1933.  (Bret Maverick is one of those characters, like Archie Bunker and Lt. Columbo, who should be considered as having died around the same time as the actors who portrayed them.  It's inconceivable to imagine anybody else stepping into those roles - at least on TV.)

So it's feasible to think that he could have made the ocean voyage to England at any point during the 'Downton Abbey' timeline which began onscreen in 1912 and so far has reached 1923.  (Maverick would have been 76 in 1923.)  

But why/how would he have met anyone from Downton Abbey, whether upstairs or downstairs?  Perhaps he got himself invited to one of Lord Grantham's clubs for a friendly game of cards.  Or at some other social function like the running of the horses at the Derby.....

2)  'The Murdoch Mysteries'

Again, Bret Maverick would have been still hale and hearty at the turn of the 20th Century.  And as Maverick wandered all over the West looking for a game, perhaps he went to Toronto in hopes of joining in on one with a big pot there.  Or maybe he was looking up somebody who owed him a sizable debt.  That would be a great kick-off to an episode in which the debtor winds up dead and Maverick is blamed.  It would take William Murdock to find the real killer.

BRET MAVERICK AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY AND BEYOND

3)  'The Adventures Of Brisco County Jr.'

I've always said that if only Robert Conrad had been hired to reprise his character of James T. West in 1891 for the show, then it ight have brought in enough ratings to justify a second season.  Having Bret Maverick playing poker against Brisco and Lord Bowler would have done the same thing in - ahem! - garnering ratings.....

4)  'The Wild Wild West'

A lot of the small towns visited by Bret Maverick over the course of his series - like Duck 'n' Shoot - would have been the perfect backdrop for some Old West despot to establish his base of power.  And I can just imagine Dr. Miguelito Quixote Loveless being driven to exasperation by Maverick's constant quoting those Pappyisms.....

5)  'Nichols'

What a fantastic Sweeps Week episode it could have been for Garner to play two roles in the same episode - but unlike the final episode of 'Nichols', at least we would see the two of them together, thanks to special effects.  Yes, there would have been an age difference - by 1914, Bret Maverick would have been 67 years old, while Garner was just 43 at the time.  But he resorted to old age make-up in the past in order to play Pappy Beauregard Maverick, so why not again?

6)  'Doctor Who'

Don't laugh!  With the TARDIS, anything is possible, so the Doctor could easily have visited the Old West while Bret Maverick was alive.  He did so in "A Town Called Mercy", but the time period would not have jibed with Garner's physical appearance at that point.  (Not that he was healthy enough to play the role at the time.)

By the way, "The Gunfighters" storyline wouldn't count as a possibility because the Doctor and his companions were not really at the OK Corral.  They never did realize they were in a holographic projection created by the Melkotians from 'Star Trek'.

Why would the Doctor have met Bret Maverick?  Besides the random chance always considered whenever the TARDIS comes to a stop, Maverick might have been knee-deep in some scenario that cried out for the intervention of a Time Lord.

The return of the Master?

Some apocalyptic weapon devised by Dr. Loveless

The Orb sought by both Brisco and time traveler John Bly

An invasion by aliens a bit more threatening than those seen in the Old West of a 'Time Tunnel' episode

Of all the Doctors' regenerations, I think it would have been fun to see Maverick interact with either Pertwee's Third Incarnation or Tennant's Tenth.  (And again, Garner could have done an episode in that time period of 2006-2010.)  Unless they did a lot of location filming, I don't think the production quality of the episodes during the tenures of Hartnell and Troughton would have been acceptable for an appearance by Garner.  (And that's not even taking into consideration that his movie career was beginning and that his imbroglio with Warner Brothers would have prohibited him from playing the role again at that time.)

Geronimo!

BRET MAVERICK, CIRCA 1921 GOOD NIGHT AND MAY GOD BLESS

THE HAT SQUAD: JAMES GARNER, NOT A BARBARIAN AT THE PEARLY GATES

As I wrote up my tribute to James Garner for Facebook very early Sunday morning, I got this image in my poor excuse of a noggin which I think would have amused the actor.....

As in my favorite Bret episode of 'Maverick' ("Shady Deal At Sunny Acres"), I picture James Garner sitting outside the Pearly Gates, that celestial Sunny Acres, whittling a stick without a care in the world. "You think you're getting into Heaven?" asks St. Peter.

"I'm working on it...." he replies.

And damn (Sorry, Lord!) if he wouldn't have pulled it off.....

Good night and may God bless......

THE HAT SQUAD: REMEMBERING JAMES GARNER, A TOOBWORLD GIANT

"You're not going to cry, are you?

I can't take that before breakfast."

Jim Rockford

When I saw the news about James Garner online while at work, I quickly dashed off how I was feeling for Facebook; shared on my personal page as well as on the Toobworld Dynamic page.  I say I "dashed it off", but some time was spent in putting it together as I wrote, editing and adding details as I went along.

James Garner was one of my big TV idols since I was a kid.  And for me, this may turn out to be the heaviest hit the Toobworld pantheon will suffer this year.  So I poured a lot of my heart into that piece for Facebook.

I've looked it over and I figure I'm going to let it stand as my tribute to the tall dark stranger there in the plaid sports jacket who works for 200 dollars a day plus expenses and who always has a "Pappyism" at the ready.  (Yes, there's no separating Bret Maverick from Jim Rockford for Garner's biggest accomplishment.)

So here's what I wrote in memory of the late great James Garner, who saw himself as Crusader Rabbit......

This one hits me hard. Just the other day when his official page mentioned "Murphy's Romance" as his only Oscar nomination, I thought to myself it would be unlikely that there would be any more. This is a case where I hate being right. Reports coming in from TMZ and picked up by the Daily News are saying that James Garner passed away on Saturday at the age of 86.

Every movie I saw him in I enjoyed, even when he played the villain (only twice that I can think of) although I never thought it was the type of role that suited him. 'The Americanization of Emily' (Of course! Should be required viewing!), 'The Great Escape', 'The Art Of Love', 'Marlowe', even 'The Lipstick Jungle', the combo of 'Hour Of The Gun' and 'Sunset', 'Twilight', and that Atlantis cartoon with Michael J. Fox......

But it was his TV work I treasure most, as many of you would expect. When I first discovered Bret Maverick in high school, it was like finding finally the "hero" who spoke to me, one whom I could admire and wish to emulate. And then that was heightened by the too short run of 'Nichols', a truly craven character not seen in Toobworld before and none to match him since. (It's my holy grail to finally see the last episode of that show which I had to miss due to an altar boy meeting - probably the first step in causing me to lapse. LOL)

And of course during my college years it was Jim Rockfish - er, Rockford. I don't think a month goes by I don't try to catch an episode on ME-TV. (I'll probably watch the one tonight in his memory.)

Before his stroke, he was doing quite nicely as the go-to guy to give a show the jolt it needed if it was flagging in the ratings ('Chicago Hope') or because of an emergency situation ('8 Simple Rules'.)

Bret Maverick is already a member of the Television Crossover Hall Of Fame.  (July 2007)  It's only a matter of time before the Rockfish joins him......

"My Pappy always said:

'A coward dies a thousand deaths, a hero dies but one.'

A thousand to one is pretty good odds."

Bret Maverick

Good night and may God bless......

[rabidwrestlingfan]

If You Were Smart

A/N: The wait is over! This was actually a first for me in the aspect of writing a nameless character. I will apologize for my bad case of Wall-Of-Textitis, I can't properly format to save my life. I really hope it's as good as you hoped. I tried my hardest not to change any of the anon sections, but I did have to change the wording of one. -------------------------------------- She had always loved PWG shows. Of course she loved the other promotions she worked with, mainly ROH, as well. There was just something about the Reseda crowd that you couldn't find anywhere else. Her match had started the night, so that left her backstage with an ice pack pressed to her ribs. She had sat through five minutes of Adam Cole's blabbing before she had enough. He thought that he was God's gift to mankind. She thought he was the exact opposite. That was her last thought before she walked out of the curtain. Adam stopped mid-sentence when he seen the woman appear. "Well hello there, beautiful. Come down here to get a better look at a God?" He asked with his signature smirk. Once she was inside the ring, and had a microphone, she laughed. "Actually, I came out here to save the crowd from having to listen to you praise yourself even more. Is it even possible for your ego to get any bigger?" She asked with a smirk of her own. The two had never formally met in or out of the ring. She had always stayed as far away from him as she possibly could. "Are you saying you don't think I deserve the praise, baybay? Is somebody a little jealous that she's not in the spotlight? Sorry to break it to you, but you never have been. You went from a mediocre loner to a mediocre Briscoe sidekick. Only attention you've had is because of your body, princess." He seemed incredibly confident that she'd run off after that. In fact most women probably would have. "Do you regularly regurgitate what you hear backstage, or am I an exception? You could of at least put your own spin on it!" The woman exclaimed with a laugh. It was all things that had been said almost constantly over the last two and a half years. Before he could even try to respond she got an idea. "Why don't you show me just how great you are? Fight me right here and now without your bitch club buddies." Adam chuckled at her words. "Princess, I'm not going to fight you. And before you start the hoorah of being stronger than any man, let me explain. I ain't getting between those gorgeous legs today if you lose. I can't just give out a victory, either. You see my problem?" The woman in question rolled her eyes before getting to work. In mere seconds she had hit him with a solid kick followed by a hurricanrana. "That's the only way you're getting between my legs, handsome." Upon seeing the commotion Nick and Matt made their presence known, running to the ring. Before they could so much as move towards the woman Adam held his hand up. "Boys! She's just playing hard to get. Fiesty little thing, I'll give her that. I guarantee by the end of the night she'll be in my bed." The woman rolled her eyes with a sigh. "I'd rather sleep with Kyle, thanks. I'm just not that into you." Before she could leave the ring she heard it. "That's what they all say, princess." When she finally got to the locker room she felt like she was crawling out of her skin. How could one man be so frustrating? Luckily none of the other women were there to see the tantrum she threw afterwards. Her plans of getting under his skin had totally backfired. Almost against her will she went searching for him. He was leaned against her car when she made her way to the parking lot. "Knew it'd be a matter of time before you came looking." With a growl she pulled him into a rough kiss. Adam let out a huff of laughter once they broke apart. "Still think I'm too cocky, princess?" He whispered against her lips. She kissed his jaw with a sigh. "Please, just shut up." The begging tone in her voice made a smile spread across his face. Before she could continue her decent down his neck he pulled her into another kiss, tongue invading her mouth. Her senses were filled with Adam Cole. Her will to leave growing dimmer as the seconds passed. Without a second thought she pushed his unzipped hoodie from his body, letting it drop to the pavement. She vaguely heard cars door starting to shut, meaning the show was over. It was when she started pushing his shirt up that Adam finally pulled away. "If I let you do that I'll fuck you right here, princess. Get in the car." She followed his orders immediately. Somewhere in her mind she knew it was mistake, but she was too far gone to listen. The first thing she seen when she opened her eyes were her clothes strewn everywhere. There was undoubtedly garments missing from the pile. The woman rolled over gingerly, everything in her body protesting. It had been a rough night. The other side of the bed was empty. With a huff of frustration she grabbed the note lying on the empty pillow. "Didn't want to wake you. Hope you had as much fun as I did. We'll have to do this again real soon, baybay. Left tab open so you could eat. - Adam" The woman read over the note multiple times before sitting up in the bed. Her bags were sitting beside the bathroom door, meaning Adam had brought them up before he left. His mood swings almost gave her whiplash by just thinking about them. One second he was outrageously cocky and the next he was being sweet and kind. She quickly shook the thoughts away before getting up and grabbing her shower essentials. No matter what the numerous hickeys littering her body seemed portray, she knew better. Adam was known for the mob of women he blew through. He had never been a one woman man. She was sure the marks were meant to make her life more miserable. Their parking lot tongue battle had garnered a lot of stares. It got to the point that she had to turn her phone off before they even got to the hotel. She was honestly afraid to turn the device back on. There weren't a ton of people that she trusted, but there were enough that knew this was out of the ordinary. She had never been known to be promiscuous, which had started a lot of rumors. It seemed like everything started rumors though. It took her four hours to turn her phone on. Seven weeks later she was sitting on another hotel room floor with tears streaming down her face. This absolutely could not be happening. The day after the Adam incident she had sprained her wrist during a session of angry training. When that had pretty much cleared up she started traveling with the Briscoes once more, only to immediately get hit with the flu. The last two weeks had been hell. She couldn't keep much down, had horrible dizzy spells, and generally hadn't gotten out of bed unless necessary. All the sleep in the world hadn't seemed to help it in the least. But she had powered through and continued traveling with the argument of definitely needing the paycheck when she was well. That, and knowing she had no one else to watch after her, made the brothers reluctantly surrender the argument. Yet the night before had been the last straw. Jay made it very clear she had twenty-four hours for her condition to improve before he would force her to the hospital. It was a dark realisation that lead her to her current predicament. While she had always been irregular she had never gone this long without a visit from aunt Flo. Without so much as changing out of her pajamas she made her way to the closest pharmacy as fast as possible. About an hour later and here she was. Unable to stop crying with her back against one of the two beds in the room. Of course that's when the door opened. "Well, I'll be damned! Look who fin-" It took Mark a second to see her, and he stopped talking as soon as he did. "What's wrong?" Jay asked before pushing past his brother. Mark was never lost for words and it automatically alarmed the older Briscoe. Jay took in the multiple objects by her feet before his eyes slowly drifted to her. "Oh shit..." He whispered quietly. He knew exactly what was laying next to her. It wasn't a flu. In the flash of an eye the door was closed and the brothers were next to her, bags haphazardly shoved aside. Jay pulled her into his arms tightly as soon as he was next to her on the ground. She had always been closer to him. "I don't know much about this stuff, but I know all these tears ain't good. You can't be all stressed out like this. It's gonna be alright, girl." He told her quietly. Mark quietly sat on her other side and gently rubbed what he could of her back. It was clear once the brothers looked at each other that they were only certain of one thing. They were going to fucking kill Adam Cole. "We'll figure it all out. I promise." It was about two months after their "special night" when he seen her again. She was backstage talking to Dalton Castle. "You're looking nice, princess." Adam told her as he walked past them to the locker room. The Bucks looked both relieved and worried when they seen him. Before he could ask Matt held up a plastic stick. "Know who this could belong to? 'Cause it's not here for either of us, and we're pretty sure it's not for the others." Adam grabbed it and examined it. It was positive. Adam's heart jumped in his chest. This couldn't be real. He didn't know her at all outside the ring. Hell, he barely knew her name. Without another word he flew out of the locker room and back to where he had seen her moments earlier. Paying no mind to the other man, he grabbed her wrist and dragged her to the nearest empty room he could find. Once they were both inside the closet, and the door was locked he started talking. "Don't worry, Adam. I'm on the pill. Those were your EXACT words." A sad chuckle escaped her lips when he spoke. "You really think I was looking to get knocked up by a pretentious asshole? I'd die before I crossed that line." It was nearly impossible to look at anything but each other in the cramped space. She subconsciously wrapped her arms around her midsection, like she was protecting herself. "Nobody even has to know it's yours. I just thought you deserved to know before it got obvious." He didn't tell her he wasn't the one who found the test. "So you're keeping it?" He asked bluntly. The woman tightened her grip on herself before responding. "Yeah, in fact I am. Nothing you can say that's going to change that." She peered up at him almost as if she was daring him to protest. He ran his hand down his face with a sigh. "You really think no one's going to expect something. Bucks found the test and I just pulled you away from Castle like you were on fire. Besides everyone seen you basically undress me in the parking lot that night." The woman couldn't help but laugh at his words. "You know you could at least pretend to care about YOUR child. But since you're so worried about your reputation, and getting your dick wet, I'll let you in on a secret." She stood on her tip toes to whisper in his ear before speaking once more. "I kinda valet for these guys, you should know them. The Briscoes. Well Jay has already agreed to publicly tell everyone it's his to help me out." Adam's eyes grew wide. Of all people it had to be Jay. Once she was flat on her feet again she seen the look of shock on his face. "Jay would rather die then do anything to remotely help me. Was our romp just to make the big hick mad? Have you been sucking his dick this whole time?" Anger filled every vein in her body. Jay and Mark had basically saved her career when she started giving up on herself. Her knee abruptly connected with his groin, fists hammering on his back as he went to his knees. "How dare you!" She yelled as she continued swinging. She couldn't be happier Adam had taken them so far away from the main hubbub backstage. If he hadn't someone surly would have bust in upon hearing the literal growls leaving her throat. Suddenly her hands were caught in his bigger ones, wrists twisted just enough to cause a twinge of pain. "You're lucky you're knocked up. Bet your good ol' country boy was just crushed when he found out I was the one who got the job done. Has he ever made you feel as good as I did that night?" She knew there was no way to break his grasp in the position, and small space, they were in. With anger still buzzing around her body she went with her instincts and spit in his hair. He let out a groan of disgust before getting back to his feet. "Is it really my kid? Or is all this just something elaborate to get in my head? Are you even pregnant, princess?" He asked with a sneer. The anger was starting to shine in his blue eyes. When he didn't immediately get a response he chuckled. "Why don't you go ask Jay and Mark? Or better yet go ask Dalton, who found me crying after I left the test. I'd never stoop to your level to get in your head. I didn't even do that when I was in the ring with you." She could have gotten that match with him if she really tried. Instead she tried to work up to that point, which obviously backfired. "All of my hard work is put on hold. All my momentum vanished when I told the higher ups I was pregnant earlier." Somewhere deep inside he felt a slight twinge of guilt upon hearing her last words. Any future she had in wrestling was, at the very least, temporarily uprooted. It was everything else that made him open his mouth. "This isn't all on me even if it is my kid. It was a joint decision to go on after the condom broke." He justified harshly. The woman sneered at him. "It IS your kid. You're the only person I've slept with in the last five months, asshole. I never expressly said it was either our faults, but it's happening whether you like it or not." After a solid minute of tense silence Adam let her hands go. She instantly covered her midsection once more, only this time he realized what she was doing. "You really think I'm that fucked up, princess?" The sour look on his face helped voice his displeasure at the thought. "Everyone handles stress differently. You'd be surprised." The woman answered timidly. He pried her arms apart and set them against her sides. What had she been through that made her expect him to attack? "Well, I don't deal with it like that." It hurt that this woman automatically thought he'd swing on her. Even if he absolutely despised children he couldn't imagine doing THAT. "What's the plan?" The woman felt like it was a loaded question. "If you decide to walk out? Whenever I tell everyone I'll tell them it's Jay's. Then I do what I can to take care of me and my child. I mean you didn't have a hard time believing I was sleeping with him. I'm sure he'll be there for all the milestones anyways, so that helps with keeping up appearances. If you decide you want to help, we'll tell everyone the news and go from there." She answered truthfully. They were complete strangers thrust into a messed up situation. Adam voiced the first thought he had. "You've always seemed closer to Jay. And you always room with them." The way he said it sounded so judgemental that she had to restrain from hitting him again. "I met him first. This girl's friends tried coming after me in the ring and he saved my ass. We just clicked after that. I love Mark too, don't get me wrong, but Jay's always been the first one there when I need anything. They're the older brothers I never knew I wanted or needed. Rooming with them makes since when you think about it. I don't have to chance anyone messing with my shit, and I get to hang out with my best friends." She didn't know what made her feel the intense need to explain the situation. The hatred between Jay and Adam was something she knew would never end. While she was trying to stay on good terms with Adam she wasn't going to let him drag her family in the dirt. It was seconds later that she felt her phone vibrating wildly in her pocket. "You have a month to think things over, Cole." Her eyes met his before she spoke once more. "Every kid deserves a dad. I know most who don't have one end up find. But some of them... some of them accidentally end up in bed with a stranger." Just like that she was gone. Later that night Adam found himself stepping outside. He needed the fresh air to help clear his mind before his match. He didn't know he wasn't alone. "If you were smart, you'd take the out my brother gave you. It's the only thing you'll ever get from him." A voice that was undeniably the younger Briscoe said. He was leaning against a wall looking at the sky, shadowed in the fading light. "Is this supposed to intimidate me?" Adam asked with a laugh. He should have known something like this would happen. "It's supposed to remind you that you're dealing with other people's lives. She doesn't need to constantly worry about WHEN you'll be tired of being a dad. That baby shouldn't grow up not knowing who it's dad will bring home next. Let Jay take the fall for your stupidity and let us clean up the mess. If you were smart you'd back away." Adam couldn't even respond before Matt was sticking his head out of the door telling him they were almost up. "Be smart." Was the last thing he heard before entering the building with even more questions.

[arcticdementor]

The clownish antics of Tex Kennedy, that drunk driving furry and El Paso punchline, are much less funny now that he is promising to convert millions of Americans into felons and send armed government agents to their homes to steal their constitutionally-guaranteed property. Maybe he doesn’t know – whether due to pharmaceuticals or simply because he’s stupid – that two Democratic administrations ago, right up the road, the feds sent a bunch of armed men to take the forbidden guns of some people who were minding their own business and it turned out poorly. That debacle resulted in four dead ATF agents and over 70 dead civilians – including dozens of kids the feds burned alive.

Too bad that ridiculous dwarf George Stephoplatypus didn’t query The Waco Kid on how many Waco reruns he and his fascist friends are willing to accept to show us rubes who’s boss.

After all, that’s what this AR-15 immoral panic is all about. There are 20 million scary fake “assault weapons” out there in the safest of all possible hands – that of American citizens for use in defending themselves, their families, their communities and their Constitution. How many of them were used this year by scumbags to hurt other people in the mass shootings that get exponentially more coverage than the blue city bloodbaths that are exponentially worse?

We had what? Two recent incidents? Two? In Chicago, two shooting incidents is a slow hour. Two in 20 million – I like those odds.

…

As part of Scat Francisco’s continuing campaign to convert my novels into nonfiction, its local Politburo declared that the NRA is a “terrorist organization” and promised all sorts of nasty consequences for firearms dissenters. That’s right – a government body in a progressive cesspool explicitly outlawed a group of American patriots because the goosesteppers-by-the-Bay dislike these Americans’ political views. Since the Bill of Rights is now the Bill of Suggestions, what other thoughts and opinions will they outlaw? Christianity seems pretty unprogressive – how about banning that? Everyone but those insufferable pinko Unitarians are terrorists!

But hey, if we Normals disarm the elite will suddenly do a 180 and start totally respecting our civil rights.

…

Beto, as if that’s his real name, got the fussies because someone from Texas named (of course) Briscoe Cain responded to the Fascist Furry’s threats to send armed people to steal his property by observing that his AR-15 would be ready and waiting. Whether or not this was an appropriate thing to say is not the point, which is why Drinky O’Runfromthescene and his media cheerleaders tried to make it the point. The point is that an awful lot of armed people – many of them vets – feel really strongly that sending folks with guns to rip away their Constitutional rights is a tyrannical act of war. And that reality has consequences most Americans are unwilling to accept to bring about the nation of defenseless sheep our alleged betters desire.

The harsh fact is that when you send people with weapons to steal other people’s stuff there’s a huge potential for violence – especially if 1) the intended victims strongly (and correctly) believe that they have the Constitutional right to do what they are doing, and because 2) by definition, the people being oppressed have guns. Eric Garner was just trying to peddle some loose cigs and the cops killed him – when you pass a law you resolve to use force to enforce it, and whenever you use force there’s a risk someone ends up in a body bag. Beto is willing to take that risk. Are you?

…

The fact remains that the plan to take our guns – you know, the intention the Democrats kept denying having until The Waco Kid got off message in a play to break the one percent ceiling – will lead to dead Americans. That’s not a wish. That’s a warning. Beto advocates violence, while we say the violence he would inflict is unacceptable.

So, the question remains – a question our much-worse betters most definitely do not want you asking because its answer will make every Normal American less likely to support our garbage elite’s scheme. The question, you furry freak and all you bloodthirsty leftist Venezuelaphiles, is how many Americans are you willing to see die to realize your dream of an America composed of disarmed serfs?

My answer is, “None.” I am willing to accept precisely zero Wacos.

But I bet our elite’s answer is, “As many as it takes.”

[topbeautifulwomens]

#Flo-rida #Biography #Photos #Wallpapers #anime #dancehall #famous #fashion #makeover #makeupobsessed #mascara #memes #punjabidance #worldstar

Discovering new talent is often a daunting task; however, when the formula is complete, all parts, synergetic, the sky is the limit. With a noted machine behind him, coupled with his distinct originality, Flo Rida has captured the attention of numerous while simultaneously making significant impact early in the game. This reserved persona is a renewing addition to the Poe Boy Entertainment family. Explosive on his tracks and indomitably riding his flow, FloRida is entrenched in the “Movement,” which, yet again, dons Miami as a hub for endless talent; FloRida is primed to burst on to the scene with his versatile lyricism in tow.

FloRida’s exceptional creativity-a fresh and energetic flow, escorted by a melodic delivery- ensures there is never a dull moment. With a tone analogous to that of Nelly and on par with the vivacity of Outkast , FloRida’s uniqueness will undoubtedly set him apart, defying any standard expectations. Whether singing his hooks or writing his own lyrics, this multi-talented artist embraces tenacity like no other.

Recently returning from a three-year stint in Los Angeles, California, the 24-year old Carol City, Florida native and former basketball player is on a mission. He has always had a penchant for writing and vibing to beats and being inspired by his family’s musical influence. As a 15-year old he began working with his brother-in law who, at the time was involved with Miami’s pioneer of bass music, Luke Skywalker- founder of 2 Live Crew.

His focus and persistence are the direct result of realizing his passion and a discernible revelation, “When my sister passed away, I woke up and realized what I had to. As the only boy of seven other siblings [sisters] and growing up without my father, I realized that I necessary to make the most of my time here on earth. I need to utilize of all of my God-given talents and give back in a way that others can advantage. My mother is so strong and I admire her for her power and showing me that by sacrifice and being level-headed anything is possible.”

In 2001, he hit the road, performing at shows with Fresh Kid Ice of 2 Live Crew. While amassing significant exposure nationwide, he garnered the attention of DeVante Swing formerly of famed R&B group “Jodeci” as well as “The Blind Boys of Alabama.” As a result of this budding relationship, FloRida departed to Los Angeles, California to work on his music with them also along side the now reality TV star and Public Enemy member, Flavor Flav and producer Rich Harrison.

“I had to leave school [UNLV and then Barry University] my music took precedence, I had to do it total time if it was going to pop off. I took a trip to LA to promote myself. I was literally on the streets– at times, promoting myself by myself— I always had the drive to push own music… People tend you help you much more when they see that you promote yourself, they know your serious then.”

FloRida captivates his audience with tales from the hood some of which he has seen and experienced. His experiences are channeled through a medium, which everyone from all backgrounds can relate to.

Additionally, FloRida has been a member of a home-grown group, “The Groundhogs” since the 9th grade. FloRida, one of the group’s four members, is intent upon paving the way and opening doors for his comrades. The name The Groundhogs FloRida says is significant because “without being grounded, you have absolutely nothing to stand on and nothing lasts long if you don’t start from the ground up.”

His versatility overflows into all aspects of his life. As a former basketball player and all around athlete, who has dabbled in a bit of acting, he is intentional in his quest to emerge as leader and an inspiration to those from his neighborhood or those who might benefit and learn from his example. He has taken heed of what could happen by circumstance and in this case he is taking advantage of what destiny already intends.

Signing to Miami’s hottest listing label, Poe Boy Entertainment in early 2006, was a no brainer for FloRida. The independent record label has demonstrated its ability to make things happen in and out of the studio. (P.O.D, Cognito, Brisco, Jacki-O, Rick Ross, Carol City Cartel and many more) Being supported by the marketing and managing genius of Poe Boy Entertainment owner, E-Class and his team, presents generous opportunity. He is suited up, ready to work and going for the ride.

Name Flo-rida Height Naionality USA Date of Birth December 16, 1979 Place of Birth Opa-Locka, Florida, USA Famous for Rapper

The post Flo-rida Biography Photos Wallpapers appeared first on Beautiful Women.

source http://topbeautifulwomen.com/flo-rida-biography-photos-wallpapers/

[daleisgreat]

2017-18 TV Season Recap: Part Three - Bonus Summer TV Edition

Previous TV Season Recaps - (2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17) 2017-18 TV Season Recap Part One (Gotham, Arrow, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, Jessica Jones, Punisher) 2017-18 TV Season Recap Part Two (South Park, Roseanne, Evil Genius, Orville, Riverdale) Greetings and welcome to my summer TV blog recap! Like last year I am back with a bonus addendum to my 2017-18 TV Season recaps (links above!). It seems more and more shows are getting dropped in Netflix throughout the summer so it gives me some entertainment to indulge until the onslaught of comic book licensed shows from CW and FOX hit in the fall. I only was able to make time for three shows throughout the summer, so let us make haste to my thoughts on them below.

Glow - The ‘Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling’ return to Netflix for a second season after the runaway success of its debut last year. Like its first season, GLOW comes up with new behind-the-scenes storylines and characters inspired by the roster of the actual GLOW promotion that existed in the mid-to-late 1980s. The show focuses on Ruth Wilder and Debbie Eagan as the main stars as GLOW, or as they are known by their character names ‘Liberty Belle’ & ‘Zoya the Destroya.’ Watching their polarizing relationship develop in and out of the ring was intriguing throughout the entire binge-friendly season that consisted of just ten, half hour long episodes. Eagan has a moment when facing Wilder in a main event match on GLOW when their legit past squabbles get to her head too much in the middle of a match and she winds up legit hurting Wilder that leads to a heated confrontation between the two at the hospital. Bash and Sam are killer as the two lovable scumbag promoters. Both have excellent periphery arcs with the GLOW ladies and both are great at making me root and jeer for them many times throughout the season. The wrestling fan in me was stoked to see a bigger emphasis on the actual wrestling this season. Most episodes features a match or two being taped for the latest episode of GLOW, and one of the bigger arcs for the season is the future of the show is at stake and there is a lot of buildup for the season finale of GLOW where all the ladies bring their best efforts to the ring in order to save the show. Grade: A-

Arrested Development - I was a huge fan of the first three seasons of this show on FOX, and was excited for its return on Netflix after several years of it being off air in 2013. That changed when I saw the first episode of season four and did not watch another one once I realized each episode was going to focus on a small amount of characters because of the limited availability of the star-studded cast. I was then surprised to learn earlier this year that series creator Ron Howard painstakingly ‘remixed’ and re-released season four shortly before the first half of season five launched on Netflix earlier this year. The ‘remix’ is Howard re-ordering scenes from multiple episodes to give the illusion that the entire cast was there for each episode. Somehow, Ron did a masterful job at pulling it off and it resulted in a more enjoyable season. Highlights include the love/hate relationship between Gob and Tony Wonder, Michael & George Michael both chasing the same woman, Tobias’s love for the unreleased Fantastic Four film from the 90s, Lindsay’s devout-caring for people with face-blindness and the demise of a boy-band due to Gob’s neglect to his bee colony. Netflix released the first half of season five earlier this year, with the second half set to release by the end of 2018. Even though there are five years between the release of seasons four and five, season five picks right up where four left off. That made me glad I held out for the unexpected and awesome ‘remix’ version of the far more watchable season four to jump in and watch seasons four and five back-to-back. Season five deals with the fallout of the Cinco de Quatro season four finale and it seems like every member of the Bluth family is facing jail time at one point or another due to their terrible deeds throughout the series. Lindsay is now trying to run for congress, the banana stand is revealed to have a tragic fate, Buster has a stint in the military that goes about as well as expected and Gob gets addicted to ‘forget-me-nows’ and even forces them on Michael at one point. Everything culminates in an unforgettable 2nd of July parade headlined by a tear-jerker of a magic act. Grade: B

Luke Cage - What a big letdown from its debut season. The balance is 100% out of whack for the second season. There are too many scenes of people shooting Cage at point blank range and Cage just absorbing it in a gratuitous moment every episode. Only one time does someone shoot for his head, and when they do, they miss! Almost all the characters that had demises in the first season are replaced with far inferior versions the second season (Tilda, Comanche & D-Dub are painful to endure). Simone Missick is horribly casted as Misty Knight. I thought no one could eclipse Jennifer Garner with her ridiculous overacting facials, but Misty brings it in the worst ways all season long. To top it off, they give her a bionic-arm and have her teaming up with Luke in fight scenes that I could not buy into whatsoever. I could have done with half the musical montages throughout the season, they were effective initially, but were played out halfway through the season and overstayed their welcome by tempting me to fast forward through them every time. Shades was a stellar supporting character last season, and they bump him into a main player in season two and he cannot pull off that big of a role. Mariah is a tremendous foil and has a couple powerful exchanges with other characters, and the introduction of Bushmaster was another interesting new villain for Cage to duel with. Part of me wanted to let this season slide with a D, but there are far too many gut-wrenching moments each episode to sit through that it is too much to overcome, so Luke Cage, season two winds up as one of the first individual seasons I rate with a….. Grade: F Past TV/Web Series Blogs 2013-14 TV Season Recap 2014-15 TV Season Recap 2015-16 TV Season Recap 2016-17 TV Season Recap 2017-18 TV Season Recap Adventures of Briscoe County Jr: The Complete Series Baseball: A Ken Burns series Angry Videogame Nerd Volumes 7-9 Mortal Kombat: Legacy - Season 1 OJ: Made in America: 30 for 30 RedvsBlue - Seasons 1-13 Roseanne – Seasons 1-9 Seinfeld Final Season Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle Superheroes: Pioneers of Television The Vietnam War: A Ken Burns series X-Men – The Animated Series: Volumes 4-5

[365footballorg-blog]

US U-20, U-19 national teams call in 12 MLSers for international tournament

USA Today Sports

September 4, 20184:45PM EDT

The U.S. U-19 and U-20 sides will play in the 2018 U-20 Men’s Invitational tournament at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida from Sept. 7-11, and 17 players with MLS clubs have been called into the two sides. 

Six players called have MLS experience, some more extensive than others. Philadelphia’s Mark McKenzie leads the way in MLS minutes among those called up; he’s started 13 games this season for the Union. Others who have made their MLS debuts: Atlanta’s Andrew Carleton (pictured above), Sporting Kansas City’s Jaylin Lindsey, FC Dallas’ Paxton Pomykal, Toronto’s Ayo Akinola and LAFC’s Shaft Brewer Jr.

FC Dallas lead the way for player representation with four, including on-loan Bayern Munich defender Chris Richards. LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders each had three players called up.

The U-20s and U-19s will play Venezuela and Jamaica as well as each other, with the winner of the tournament decided by total points after three games apiece. Matchdays are Sept. 7, 9 and 11 with games at 11 am ET and 4:30 pm ET.

U.S. U-19 MNT Roster by Position:

GOALKEEPERS (2): Sam Fowler (Seattle Sounders FC; Issaquah, Wash.), Johan Penaranda (University of Pittsburgh; Long Beach, N.Y.)

DEFENDERS (6): Julian Araujo (LA Galaxy; Lompoc, Calif.), Khai Brisco (Seattle Sounders FC; Renton, Wash.), Jean-Julien Foe Nuphaus (University of California, Berkeley; San Jose, Calif.), Nathan Harriel (Chargers SC; Oldsmar, Fla.), Carlo Ritaccio (University of Akron; Westbury, N.Y.), Akil Watts (Unattached; Fort Wayne, Ind.)

MIDFIELDERS (5): Isaac Angking (New England Revolution; Providence, R.I.), Taylor Booth (Unattached; Eden, Utah), Blaine Ferri (Unattached; Southlake, Texas), Chris Goslin (Atlanta United FC; Atlanta, Ga.), Declan McGlynn (Seattle University; Kirkland, Wash.)

FORWARDS (6): George Acosta (Boca Juniors; Miami, Fla.), Ulysses Llanez (LA Galaxy; Lynwood, Calif.), Joshua Penn (Sockers FC; Naperville, Ill.), Jacobo Reyes (CF Monterrey; Monterrey, Mexico), Bryan Reynolds (FC Dallas; Frisco, Texas), Manuel Terrazas (Club Santos Laguna; El Paso, Texas)

U.S. U-20 MNT Roster by Position:

GOALKEEPERS (2): CJ Dos Santos (S.L. Benfica; Philadelphia, Pa.),  Brady Scott (FC Köln; Petaluma, Calif.)

DEFENDERS (8): Sergino Dest (AFC Ajax; Almere-Stad, Netherlands), Chris Gloster (Hannover 96; South Orange, N.J.), Jaylin Lindsay (Sporting KC; Charlotte, N.C.), Lennard Maloney (Union Berlin; Berlin, Germany), Mark McKenzie (Philadelphia Union; Bear, Del.), Manny Perez (N.C. State University; Garner, N.C.), Chris Richards (Bayern Munich; Hoover, Ala.), Sam Rogers (Seattle Sounders FC; Seattle, Wash.), Sam Vines (Colorado Rapids; Colorado Springs, Co.)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Frankie Amaya (UCLA; Santa Ana, Calif.), Christian Cappis (Unattached; Katy, Texas), Andrew Carleton (Atlanta United FC; Powder Springs, Ga.), Andres Jimenez (Envigado FC; Miami, Fla.), Alex Mendez (LA Galaxy; Los Angeles, Calif. ), Paxton Pomykal (FC Dallas; Highland Village, Texas), Brandon Servania (FC Dallas; Birmingham, Ala.), Juan Torres (K.S.C. Lokeren; Lilburn, Ga.)

FORWARDS (4): Ayo Akinola (Toronto FC; Detroit, Mich.), Shaft Brewer Jr.(LAFC; Sacramento, Calif.), Griffin Dorsey (Indiana University; Evergreen, Col.), Sebastian Soto (Hannover 96; San Diego, Calif.)

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US U-20, U-19 national teams call in 12 MLSers for international tournament was originally published on 365 Football

[uvalderadio]

Music On The Porch: James Garner, Steve Anthony, Garrett Talamantes

[tortuga-aak]

Goldman Sachs' new managing director list is out

Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for The New York Times

Goldman Sachs just announed a new class of managing directors.

Here's the statement:

NEW YORK, November 8, 2017 -- The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE: GS) today announced that it has selected a new class of Managing Directors, effective from January 1, 2018, the start of the firm’s next fiscal year.

“Our new Managing Directors have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to our people, clients and culture during their tenures at the firm, and we wish them continued success as they take this important next step in their careers,” said Lloyd C. Blankfein, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Goldman Sachs.

The following individuals have been promoted to Managing Director:

Gregg Abramson Sanjay Acharya Khalid Albdah Amal Alibair Karthikeyan Anbalagan Rolf Andersson Volker Anger Jonathan Armstrong Ken Ashley Lavanya Ashok Sebastian Ayton Jonathan Babkow Julio Badi Amitayush Bahri Soren Balzer Robert Barlick Jr. Philip Barreca Santiago Bau David Bauer Oksana Beard Lee Becker Virender Bedi Stuart Beer Christian Beerli Amanda Beisel Yumiko Bekku David Bell Pierre Benichou Andrew Benito Marco Bensi Laura Benson Stephen Bergin Daniel Berglund Greg Berry Shital Bhatt Dipanjan Bhattacharjee Anu Bhavnani Carissa Biggie Vineet Birman Daniel Bitel Anne Black Richard Blore Emmanuel Bodenstein Timothy Braude Sean Brenan Hugh Briscoe Nathaniel Bristol Leo Brito Troy Broderick Levee Brooks Eric Brothers Robert Bruns III Anthony Bunnell Meg Burke Susan Burt Sean Butkus Russell Byrne Edward Byun Adam Cahill Alessandro Calace Cristiano Camargo Ken Cawley Swapan Chaddha Patrick Chamberlain Richard Chambers Daphne Chan Lily Chan Ben Chance Ginger Chang Vikram Chavali Alex Cheek Jae Joon Choi Ken Choi Paul Choi David Clark Denis Cleary Daniel Cleland-James Ayanna Clunis Pamela Codo-Lotti Jesse Cohen Paul Coles Simon Coombes Jenny Cosco Philip Coureau Nathan Cowen Matthew Cox (Securities) Shaun Cullinan Christine D'Agostino Emile Daher Hiren Dasani Russell Day Pierre De Belen Merche del Valle Caitlin DeSantis Jack Devaney Thomas Devos Mats Dewitte Hristo Dimitrov Tim Dinsdale Isabella Disler Christian Ditullio Terence Doherty Yakut Donat Nicola Dondi Brian Dong Jason D'Silva Stefan Duffner Jane Dunlevie Marie Duval Julien Dyon Rohini Eapen Zach Eckler Sayaka Eda Jason Eisenstadt Chris Emmerson Tiffany Eng Chendan Esvaran Erkko Etula Liz Ewing Michael Fargher Matteo Farina Leigh Farris Sarah Faulkner Tom Favia Brett Feldman Jennifer Feng Jon Ferguson Alex Field Herbert Filho Alex Finston Dean Flanagan Greg Flynn Trip Foley Andrew Ho Kwon Fong Moran Forman Michael Fox Caroline Fraser Daniel Freckleton Tim Freeman Reto Frei Giles French Kirsten Frivold Michael Fu Rob Fuentes Kenji Fujimoto Carrie Gannon Chantal Garcia Akhil Garg Alex Garner Nick Gelber Andrew Gent Gizelle George-Joseph Andrea Gift Sean Gilbride Andreas Glaser Yong Suan Goh Sona Gohel Amir Gold Jeremy Goldstein Steven Gonzalez Jeff Gowen Adam Greene Tom Groothaert Hannes Gsell Ashwin Gupta Ali Haji Ayaz Haji Robert Hamilton Kelly Victoria Hampson Raja Harb Andy Harding Ryan Harster Selma Hassan Stephen Hawinkels Jacqueline Haynes Jason He* Craig Hempstead David Herrmann David Hickey Thomas Hilger Mitch Hochberg Jodi Hochberger Jane Hodges Peter Hodgkinson Dylan Hogarty Tim Holliday Naftali Holtz Amy Hong Jason Hudes Earl Hunt Joseph Hwang Yoshinori Ide Kazuya Iketani Daniel Jackson Ankit Jain (Risk) Gaurav Jaitly Jan Janssen David Jeria Alnawaz Jiwa Kim Johns Scott Johnson Elis Jones Neil Jones Robert Jones Philip Joseph Anand Joshi Shawn Joshi Ritu Kalra Michael Kaprelian Nadeem Kayani Alicia Keenan Neil Kelleher Tom Kennedy Aqil Khan Sarah Kiernan Daniel Kim Eugene Kim (IMD) Jason Kim (GIR) Sora Kim Kristy Kinahan Eugene King Laura Kirk Kunal Kishore Elliot Klapper Jayee Koffey Jason Koon Jennifer Kopylov Daniel Korich Ichiro Kosuge Vladimir Kotlyar Samuel Krasnik Katherine Krause David Kraut Sergey Kraytman Nitin Kulkarni Ram Kulkarni Dileep Kumar (Securities) Santosh Kunnakkat Wendy Kwong JP Lall Bill Lambert David Landman Yi Larson Niccolo Laudiero Nick Laux David Lee Phillip Lee Samuel Lee Shawn Lee Michael Leister David Lerner Naomi Leslie Matt Levine Na Li Haining Liang Nancy Licul Monica Lim Michelle Ling Srujan Linga Philip Linton Alan Liu Daniel Liu Eric Liu Heiman Lo Juan Lorenzo Tian Lu Wayne Lu James Lucas Dennis Luebcke Martin Luehrmann John Lynch Gina Lytle Leo Ma* Caesar Maasry Geoff MacDonald Robert Magnuson Toshiyuki Makabe Mariano Mallol Geydar Mamedov Kara Mangone Donna Mansfield Ajit Marathe Gilberto Marcheggiano James Marchese Michael Marcus Joshua Matheus Ann Mathews Chris Mathie Brian McCallion Graham McClelland Anne McCosker Michael Meehan (Compliance) Taylor Mefford Neil Mehta Adam Meister David Mericle Vitali Meschoulam Eric Meyers Alex Mignotte Andras Mikite Christopher Milligan Rahul Mistry Mike Mitchell Neil Moge Waleed Mohsin Babak Molavi Joel Monson Guy Morgan James Morris Antoine Munfa Aimee Mungovan Yuji Murata Dan Murphy Josh Murray Brian Musto Shehzad Nabi Devarajan Nambakam Ramanathan Narayanan Ganapathy Natarajan Danielle Natoli Murad Nayal Karim Nensi Scott Neu Dennis Ng Ken Ng Benjamin Ngan Joy Nguyen Salman Niaz Anders Nielsen (IMD) Howard Nifoussi Jun Niki Leah Nivison Laura Noble James Nolan Lauren Oakes Lynn Oberschmidt Allison O'Connor John O'Connor Shunil Ohrie Damian Ordish Leke Osinubi David Ossack Sathiya Padmanaban Danielle Pallin Salvador Pareja Dalmir Pasini Clorinda Pasqua Chris Pawson Paris Pender Patrick Perkins Philippe Perzi Wendy Peters Andy Phillips Flavio Picciotto Michael Pieck Sam Pirog Thomas Plank Joseph Plotkin Wade Podlich Ashish Pokharna Caitlin Pollak Charles Pollock Joe Porter Travis Potter Rohit Prabhu Richard Privorotsky Andrew Pucher Jay Rabinowitz Ankit Raj Harsha Rajamani Dmitry Rakhlin Yasser Rathore Edoardo Rava Elizabeth Reed Alexandre Reinert Stephen Reinhard Irfan Rendeci Christian Resch Andrew Rhee Riccardo Riboldi James Rinsler Caroline Riskey Helen Robinson Mark Rosen Amit Roy Joe Ryan Bernhard Rzymelka Takehiro Sakuramoto John Sales Rob Sarazen Vineeta Saxena Dominik Schaefer Andrea Scott Majid Sebti Bipin Sehgal Arseni Seregin Irma Sgarz Paulomi Shah Shreyas Shah Sunny Shah Faisal Shamsee Daniel Shapiro Mahesh Sharma Shripal Sharma Mai Shin Romy Shioda Toshimichi Shirai Mark Short Pankauz Shrestha David Shrimpton Obaid Siddiqui Mike Sidorov Scott Silverglate Stefani Silverstein Amy Silverzweig Jasdeep Singh Gabriella Skirnick Michael Sklow Maxine Sleeper Michael Slomienski Michael Sloyer Nicholas Smith (IBD) Ruth Smithson Christine Smyth Ben Snider Stacy Sonnenberg Cleaver Sower Ro Spaziani Brian Steele Johannes Steffens Duncan Stewart Stephen Stites Laurent Storoni Caroline Styant Joel Sulkes Mancy Sun Winnie Tam Nachiket Tamhane Ken Tang MK Tang Amish Tanna Melissa Teng Ross Tennenbaum Greg Thompson Fiona Thomson Justin Tobe Jason Tofsky Brad Tuthill Masahiro Uchiyama Nehal Udeshi Saad Usmani Meg Vaden Pramod Vaidyanathan Adam Van de Berghe Fred van der Wyck Suzanne van Staveren Andrew Vass Mahesh Vellanki Kadambari Verma Christopher Vilburn Iva Vukina Heng Vuong Ketan Vyas Joe Wall Jeffrey Wang Jiantao Wang Joshua Wang Lily Wang (Technology) Sherry Wang Victoria Ward (Compliance) Jeff Warren Noriko Watanabe Ramey Watkins Sam Watkins Heiko Weber Niki Webster Scott Weinstein Ryan Westmacott James Westwood Keith Wetzel Mark Wetzel James Whittingham Sabine Wick Robert Wieser Devin Wilde David Wilkins John Wilkinson Andrew Williams Ed Wong (IBD Technology) Eric Wong (Internal Audit) Kate Wood Amanda Wu Douglas Wu Joanne Xu Liang Xu** Rupam Yadav Kazushi Yamaguchi Hubert Yang Lisa Yang Basak Yavuz Zeynep Yenel David Yu Brian Zakrocki Thomas Zeppetella Yi Zhang* Adib Zouein Patrik Zumstein Piotr Zurawski Jonathan Zwart

*Employee of Goldman Sachs Gao Hua Securities Company Limited **Employee of Beijing Gao Hua Securities Company Limited

NOW WATCH: We talked to the chief investment strategist at $920 billion fund giant Invesco about where you should invest right now

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[daleisgreat]

RoH Supercard of Honor XI

Welcome all to my yearly recap of Ring of Honor’s Supercard of Honor (SoH) event. It is the one RoH show I make sure to catch every year, so click here to check out past installments. 2017 marked the 11th edition of the show and like most previous SoH cards, it transpired within the same vicinity as where Wrestlemania occurred that same weekend. As a result, the announcers for this show (Kevin Kelly, Colt Cabana, Ian Riccaboni) stated SoH XI had one of the largest attendances in RoH history. RoH is about in the same place as it was a year ago, owned by TV conglomerate Sinclair. One new addition to RoH since the prior SoH was bringing back their own women’s division and branding it as ‘Women of Honor.’ They aired a handful of women-only shows since the summer of 2016 and women matches spotlighted on the RoH YouTube channel are among their videos that garner their highest traffic. RoH still has their weekly syndicated TV show that can be found on your local Sinclair affiliate or on a few day delay on the official RoH website. I am impressed to see they have maintained their step up in ring and arena lighting that I noticed last year as it brings their overall production values up to a more professional level. They even added a few video-trons to their entrance area and have near-WWE quality matchup and banner graphics throughout the event. Big ups to Sinclair these past two years for doing those little things that go a long way!

The four prelim matches are included as bonus material on disc two and are all Women of Honor bouts. On one hand this is great seeing four women matches on a show, but to see them all relegated to the preshow is disheartening. Tasha Steelz bested Brandi Lauren in the opener with a Butterfly Suplex in a basic opener while the arena was still filing in. Next, Mandy Leon & Jenny Rose beat Sumie Sakai & Faye Jackson in a bout that engaged the crowd with a few more dives and high-flying maneuvers and saw Mandy get the pin with her Unprettier finisher. The best of the four women’s matches featured talent on loan from Mexican promotion CMLL. Marcela and La Amapola are two sound veterans who had a main event caliber match with many impressive holds and moments, and eventually Marcela got the victory with a Michinoku Driver. The final women’s match saw the undefeated Kelly Klein defeat Deonna Purrazzo with a Northern Lights Suplex. The announcers kept hyping Klein as a big deal for being undefeated for 525 days going into the match, so I anticipate only big things for her ahead. The opener for the main SoH XI card was for the TV title and featured Marty Scrull defending the strap against Bullet Club member Adam Cole. Yes, the same Adam Cole who left for WWE a few months later and is now the head of the NXT faction, Undisputed Era with Bobby Fish and Kyle ‘o Reilly. This bout had a lot of good exchanges and counters and vicious-looking piledrivers. The exception however was Cole botching two attempts at a Tombstone, but the duo quickly found their footing not too long after. Eventually Scrull successfully defended the title with a rear naked choke submission. My man, Silas Young (AKA AWA Scott Hall) and Beer City Bruiser teamed up next against The Kindgom, and after some chicanery involving a cigar, Young hit his version of the TKO and got the pin while puffing away on the stogie in a fun match.

A nice highlight package recapping Bully Ray’s involvement in RoH and becoming a triple tag team champion along with the Briscoes helped set up their title defense versus Bullet Club’s Hangman Page & Gorillas of Destiny. If you recall my past RoH recaps, I am not a big fan of the lack of officiating in RoH tag bouts, but considering the participants involved here I will allow a little leeway in this match that had a ton of chaos and crowd pleasing madness. I am still a little surprised to see Bully Ray competing in an RoH ring, but he seems like a good fit with the Briscoes as they successfully defended their titles with a double Doomsday Device and Super 3D for the win. Another former WWE star made his SoH debut next with Bullet Club’s Cody Rhodes taking on Jay Lethal in a Texas Bullrope match. Oh yeah, I forgot he is just called ‘Cody’ here because WWE owns the ‘Rhodes’ trademark. Another video package and the announcers helped set the stage for their rivalry and why the Bullrope match is a big deal for the Rhodes family. There were some big moments here that saw Cody dawn the crimson mask and a sweet-looking spot from Cody where he popped up and toss Lethal through a table. Eventually Cody got his first RoH loss here after Jay pinned him with the Lethal Injection. The next match was a triple threat tag team match with the Motor City Machine Guns, the Rebellion and Will Ferrara & Cheeseburger. This contest was more of a cluster-mess with all kinds of hijinx in the opening half and the tag rules being practically non-existent. Once I got past the craziness, there were a few decent spots that culminated with the Motor City Machine Guns getting the win with their finish. The last match on disc one saw Punishment Martinez take on Frankie Kazarian. Martinez can fly for a big man, and he eventually got the victory with his South of Heaven Chokeslam after Hangman Page distracted Kaz.

The aforementioned Bobby Fish came out next and called out Jay Lethal, but instead Silas Young came out and the two had an impromptu match that featured a cringe-inducing ref bump. The match got thrown out after a few minutes when Silas attacked the replacement ref for the DQ. More CMLL talent was showcased in the next bout with Dragon Lee & Jay White taking on Volador Jr. & Will Ospreay. These guys can go, and their acrobatics puts a vast majority of the cruiserweight action on 205 Live to shame. Ospreay delivering a Shooting Star Press to the outside of the ring was the standout highlight, but it was his partner Volador Jr. who got the pin with a body scissors from the top rope. The first half of the double main event followed with Christopher Daniels defending his RoH World Title against Dalton Castle. It was a nice feel good story earlier this year with Daniels winning his first World Title gold after over 20 years in the business. Dalton dialed back his act enough so it is not as obnoxious as before, but despite his efforts in this match a well executed counter-exchange had Daniels getting the surprise roll-up win. After the match Cody attacked Daniels to set up their title match several weeks later.

The final match saw the Hardy Boyz defending their tag titles against the Bullet Club’s Young Bucks in a ladder match. Since my previous SoH recap, I have since ‘got’ the Young Bucks ‘too sweet/superkick party’ personas. It was a bit too over-the-top initially when first exposed to it last year, but I kind of get it now and am not as mortified by it as I once was. I still think they forever ruined the superkick as a finish, but to be fair so did the Usos in recent years to a lesser degree. The match did not disappoint, and while the Hardyz are 25-year vets, they nearly stayed on pace with the Young Bucks throughout. A couple OMG moments were the Bucks putting Jeff Hardy through a table with a 450 Splash and the Hardyz shoving one of the Bucks off a ladder in a specific way that he wound up inadvertently putting his own brother through a table. I am not kidding when I state that at least 10, maybe even 15 tables were broken throughout the match. Ultimately, the Young Bucks emerged as the new tag champs when they simultaneously superkicked both Hardyz off a ladder and grabbed the belts for the win. If you recall how this weekend went down earlier this year it was the final day for the Hardyz in their short RoH stint after a lengthy run in Impact/GFW/TNA. They would proceed to return to WWE the next night at Wrestlemania 33, but more on that in a future blog! SoH XI was a major improvement from the two night split SoH X lineup from last year. The overall show was better paced and they did not go excess on the comedy or highspots overkill like in some previous years. The continued bump in production quality and convenient storyline highlight packages that preceded most matches added a lot for a casual RoH fan like myself who only catches just a few shows a year. I would have liked to have seen at least one of the women’s matches on the main card, and I had a few other nitpicks noted above, but for the most part this was the best SoH show in quite a few years. My picks for matches of the night are the Bullrope match, the CMLL tag match and the tag titles ladder main event that delivered! Definitely go out of your way to add Supercard of Honor XI to your RoH collection! Past Wrestling Blogs Best of WCW Clash of Champions Best of WCW Monday Nitro Volume 2 Best of WCW Monday Nitro Volume 3 Biggest Knuckleheads Bobby The Brain Heenan Daniel Bryan: Just Say Yes Yes Yes DDP: Positively Living Dusty Rhodes WWE Network Specials ECW Unreleased: Vol 1 ECW Unreleased: Vol 2 ECW Unreleased: Vol 3 For All Mankind Goldberg: The Ultimate Collection Its Good to Be the King: The Jerry Lawler Story Ladies and Gentlemen My Name is Paul Heyman Legends of Mid South Wrestling Macho Man: The Randy Savage Story Memphis Heat OMG Vol 2: Top 50 Incidents in WCW History OMG Vol 3: Top 50 Incidents in ECW History Owen: Hart of Gold RoH Supercard of Honor 2010-Present ScoobyDoo Wrestlemania Mystery Sting: Into the Light Straight to the Top: Money in the Bank Anthology Superstar Collection: Zach Ryder TNA Lockdown 2005-2014 Top 50 Superstars of All Time Tough Enough: Million Dollar Season True Giants Ultimate Fan Pack: Roman Reigns Ultimate Warrior: Always Believe Warrior Week on WWE Network Wrestlemania 3: Championship Edition Wrestlemania 28-Present The Wrestler (2008) Wrestling Road Diaries Too Wrestling Road Diaries Three: Funny Equals Money Wrestlings Greatest Factions WWE Network Original Specials First Half 2015 WWE Network Original Specials Second Half 2015 WWE Network Original Specials First Half 2016 WWE Network Original Specials Second Half 2016 WWE Network Original Specials First Half 2017