#for new Tom Paris's to add

[muiromem]

Tom Paris Looks™ I wish were in Star Trek: Timelines

(because I like them and want more Tom Paris options to collect on a silly game, so I spend my time doing stuff like this)

Stranded outfit from "Gravity"

Polaric (to go with Polaric Janeway), from "Time and Again"

Akritirian Prisoner (to go with Prisoner Kim), from "The Chute"

Away Mission outfit from "Blood Fever"

Duplicate Tom's Groom outfit from "Course: Oblivion"

Fair Haven (to go with Fair Haven Harry Kim), from "Fair Haven" and/or "Spirit Folk"

Medic/Nurse Science Uniform from "Author, Author"

Grease Monkey jumpsuit from "Vis à Vis"

Brig outfit from "Thirty Days"

[herejusttosufferalong]

An updated WH key since we have some new players in our chats. I put everything after L & N in alphabetical order for ease of use.

L: Luke Newton

N: Nicola Coughlan (Nic for short)

A, 🐜, 🦀, 🥬: Antonia (Luke’s rumored girlfriend)

BM: Big Mood (show Nic starred in)

BTON: Bridgerton

BTS: Behind the scenes

C: Charmaine (Tom's girlfriend, one of the only friends of Luke that follows Nic)

CJ: Claudia Jessie (Eloise on BTON)

CW: Camilla (Nic's close friend)

DM: Deuxmoi (celebrity gossip site)

EB: Emily Bear (composer who co-wrote a Bridgerton fan album)

EF: Eamon Farren (Nic's Australian friend, was in Big Mood with her, has been rumors they maybe dated)

HB: Hailey Bieber (Antonia's idol)

HBS: hot boy summer

HD: Hannah Dodd (Francesca from BTON)

J: Jade (Luke's ex gf)

JB: Jonathon Bailey (Anthony from BTON)

JB when paired with HB: Justin Bieber

JD: Jake Dunn (Nic's friend who Deuxmoi has posted about her being out with multiple times implying they're dating)

JM: Jack Murphy (BTON choreographer, fellow Waffle House patron)

JR: Jack Rooke (Nic's friend)

JVN: Jonathon Van Ness (Nic's friend)

LF: Luke Fetherson (Nic's friend)

LT, Luke T: Luke Thomson (Benedict from BTON)

PFW: Paris Fashion Week

R: Rory (Luke’s friend since childhood)

RG: Ruth Gemmell (Lady Bridgerton)

RW: Ryan Wheeler (BTS videographer, our resident Michelin Star Chef)

S: Sienna (Rory’s girlfriend)

SATC: Sex and the City (Nic posted a video using a sound from SATC after the pap walk)

SF: Soho Farmhouse (member's only club/hotel Luke often takes his gf's and friends to)

SM: Social Media

T: Tom (Luke’s friend)

TSOT: The Shape of Things (play Luke was in)

WH: Waffle House (the restaurant we’re all in waiting on this ship)

adding in the original WH key for any newbies here

[fayevalcntine]

The whole framing of Lestat as the sole symbol of patriarchy that fandom is so desperate to put him in doesn't work unless you deliberately ignore how he was also a victim of rape and abuse before he was turned. People want him to be fit into this strict role of "father figure/violent husband/perpetrator" that is only that and not even a whole person, and in doing so they need to push aside the fact that despite being his family's provider, he was also pushed into that role when his father forbid him from joining a monastery or gaining an education that he wanted. Lestat wanted to run away with a theater group as a kid, and actually managed to do so once Gabrielle gave him her blessing and monetary support in order to go to Paris. He didn't always want to be the provider, he was forced into that role and became despondent when he thought he would never get a chance to leave his home.

His new life prior to being turned is pretty much the antithesis to the whole "Lestat is a manly man who would sooner throw up than be compared to a woman" spiel: he lived with another man in Paris while also being an actor, having left his family and "responsibility" to them. The only family member he was ever close to was his mother, all the other male members shunned or ridiculed him. Add onto that the fact that his turning firmly placed him within the role of the damsel/victim: he's kidnapped from his bed by a stranger, taken into a tower and left to rot while being fed on for a week, before then being raped and violently turned all while never even being asked if he would consent to it in any normal circumstance. But you of course have to ignore all of this if you want him to only represent the aggressor/patriarch while Louis is the helpless unhappy matriarch of the family.

My issue isn't that I think Louis isn't a victim, it's that it's not unrealistic for Lestat to be an aggressor/abuser while also displaying traits that aren't regularly assigned to stereotypical depictions of male characters. He's abusive to Claudia while also having been a victim of abuse from his own family. He's not a good maker/teacher, but he also didn't even have one when he was turned. He's the provider/attempted protector of the family and seemed to like being that, while also having run away from his own family prior to this to act in a theater in Paris. He's a rich white man while also being obviously effeminate in public spaces, even to Tom's own bigoted humor.

Like Louis' own complicated story with being his family's benefactor and provider, you can't firmly place Lestat as being one thing or another in terms of gender ideals without deliberately ignoring parts about him that don't fit this. And I don't think it's an absolute necessity, when even in Louis' own story, Lestat isn't stripped of his effeminate mannerisms or behavior while also being the abusive maker/father/lover.

[gale-gentlepenguin]

Gale's Thoughts: Derision

So the new Episode dropped a bombshell. It revealed just how much Marinette's past impacted her.

And before I write out everything

I will be talking the Good and the Bad

Spoilers obviously

So to make this as simple as possible.

Chloé bullied Marinette for years. While most of the school students were terrified of Chloé. Even the teachers and Principal were afraid to do ANYTHING regarding Chloé. Considering how much influence her father as Mayor had.

Socqueline was like an older protective sister to Marinette. During this time, Marinette developed a crush on Kim, his Himbo butt. Chloé found out about that and used it as an opportunity. Using Kim's inability to tell when something is too far, goes along with Chloé's idea for a prank.

This results in Marinette thinking Kim was serious about a relationship only to be offered a box full of bugs and causing her to fall into a pool as Chloé mocked her. Thus explaining Marinette's MASSIVE trauma on trust and why she plans out everything, why she distrusts any friend of Chloé and why she must know everything about someone before she can let herself confess.

Now this is sort of crucial as it explains why Marinette is how she is. As well as why even though things are going great with Adrien she cant fully embrace it.

Lets start with

THE GOOD:

This allows us to explain a lot of Marinette's insecurity and mistrust. Marinette wanting to NEVER let herself be caught off guard also explains why she is so gunho about planning everything. It also give support on why she was so HARSH to Adrien in Origins. He embodies nearly everything she swore to be against falling for. Mysterious boy, Friend of Chloé, and hiding things. Adrien was Marinette's antithesis as a person to fall for... YET SHE DOES ANYWAY. Showing how good of a person Adrien is, and how Marinette's heart can feel that truth within her. It also explains why Marinette was so obsessive in learning EVERY single thing she could about adrien. It wasnt because she was obsessive or hyperfocusing, she was so traumatized from the pool incident she never wants to be caught in such a position again.

This also goes to show how Socqueline was more of an impactful person to Marinette. But does make me question why she would not even be MENTIONED in season 1 (aside from the obvious that this was tacked on this season). But also explains why Marinette keeps her hair like that, as a sign of respect to Socqueline.

This also shows how great Adrien and Marinette are together. Adrien is ready to defend Marinette, and he is willing to go to great lengths to protect her. (Even kill). It was great to see Adrien be so understanding and wanting to make sure she is comfortable every step of the way. And it just adds so much to Origins.

The Bad:

It really just makes almost everyone else involved seem really awful.

Chloé and Sabrina being such awful people to her that you would think Marinette would NEVER let them touch a miraculous, even if she was desperate. Kim too but... she never initially chose Kim and/or likely repressed that trauma filled moment as a mental defense mechanism. But definitely doesnt explain Chloé and Sabrina.

Damocles, Mendeleiev and even Sabine dont come off that good. Sabine only getting a few points by having Socqueline step in to watch over Marinette. Now I heard its hard to change schools in paris, but I think after 3 F***ING years Sabine and Tom would havve done something. So it really doesnt seem good here.

It also really lampoons all of season 2 and 3 for chloé's development. All those appeals of genuine emotion. Nope, always evil and vile. The fact Marinette and the rest of the class even TOLERATED Chloé is straight CAP.

Kim also just loses a ton of likability here. I dont care how oblivious you are, WHY would you think Marinette would enjoy a prank at HER expense, especially when suggested by someone like Chloé? Did Kim really not get Chloé was evil?

This episode also makes episodes such as Animaestro so much worse. Marinette KNEW Chloé's type of pranks and still went along with it. Like even if you repress that traumatic event, the 3+ years of bullying. Marinette's reason for NOT choosing her in Loveater suddenly feels WAY more justified and NOT a mistake. Girl has trauma.

Marinette's empathetic nature towards Chloé now seems completely foolish. Anyone that knew Chloé should be convinced she is a hell spawn.

The fact Lila is friends with Chloé should put everyone on red alert.

This really makes me wonder how Marinette can even be remotely understanding of Chloé. It also makes Maledikator SO MUCH WORSE. Everyone was completely valid in Partying. Like damn.

Though ignoring Chloé, I guess the main thing is that this flashback brings up things that clash so hard with previous seasons and episodes. In origins, it made it seem like marinette had no friends. But in truth, Marinette did have a friend, even if she wasnt in the same year. I know not everyone knows of the prank going too far thanks to Socqueline, but Kim seemed more than happy to talk about the prank. You dont think word spread through his dumbass mouth?

______________________________________________________________

Overall the episode brings up a lot of interesting tidbits about Marinette's character and is a net gain for the Adrinette relationship. But at the cost of previous canon and brings forth more problems than it solves.

I wish this was actually a two part episode where we could have gotten more to flesh things out. Maybe explain that Marinette feels guilty over Socqueline being suspended and stopped talking to her for a while. Or maybe that after the big prank. Socqueline showed up to Chloé's place and told her to back off since now there was NOTHING holding her back from an ass beating. There is more I feel like could have been done.

[randomvarious]

1997 London Playlist

Back with some dance goodies from '97 that came from the world's most musically vibrant city, London, where all sorts of electronic genres were able to flourish quite unlike anywhere else in the world at the time. This week I added a deep breakbeat banger to the Spotify version of this playlist by a duo called Drum Club, who in '92 released their original version of "U Make Me Feel So Good" on dance legend William Orbit's pioneering progressive house label, Guerilla. Five years later, though, Drum Club's own Lol Hammond, aka Girl Eats Boy, remixed the song for a re-release on another UK progressive house label called Jackpot too, which gave us this beaut that laid its drum breaks over a super soothingly satisfying backdrop of lush strings and soft, subtle horn, as the sampled vocal from the original version made its grand return 😌. Currently unjustifiably sitting at less than 1,000 plays.

The Drum Club - "You Make Me Feel So Good (Girl Eats Boy mix)"

And then for the YouTube update, I added that one, plus another couple Guerilla remixes that can't be found on Spotify too, including a trance take on West London group React 2 Rhythm's 1991 song, "Intoxication," that was done by the legendary duo of John Digweed & Nick Muir, aka Bedrock, that's currently only sitting at 3.6K+ plays; and a progressive house mix of UK duo Fuzzy Logic's 1992 tune, "Obsession," that was done by the trio of Shango and Danny Howells, which is pushing towards 4.3K plays. "Intoxication" has this lovely bed of colliding and stringy synths that Bedrock drop a bunch of bleepy and old school knob-twiddling acid on top of, and then "Obsession" is one of those tunes that's good for slotting into the middle of a mix to maintain a steady vibe before you really start to ramp up to a mesmerizing climax. It lingers for a bit, but after its breakdown, it adds some nice string pads to complete the whole thing. Vocalist Erire dips into some gravelly passion and some aquatic organ work is mixed in too 👍.

React 2 Rhythm - "Intoxication (Nick Muir & John Digweed's Bedrock mix)" Fuzzy Logic - "Obsession (Shango & Danny Howells' Illogical Infactuation mix)"

And this playlist is also on YouTube Music.

So, three new tracks added in total this week, from three separate dance genres, all of which were remixes of songs that were originally released on the great Guerilla label. Spotify version of the playlist is now at 14 songs that clock in at 91 minutes, but over on YouTube, we're now at 25 songs that clock in at 173 minutes. So if you want a whole lot more of that dope 1997 London underground stuff, check out the YouTube playlist!

And here's the list of comps and mixes that I've used so far to put this playlist together:

Goth's Undead (1997, Cleopatra Records) 00 : 50 (1997, Soma Quality Recordings) Monsieur Dimitri's De-Luxe House of Funk by Dimitri From Paris (1997, DMC Publishing Ltd.) Jackpot Presents Guerilla by Phil Perry & Danny Howells (1997, Jackpot) Skampler (2001, Skam) Soma Quality Recordings - Volume 4 (1997, Soma Quality Recordings) Club H Vol.2 by Harry the Bastard (2000, Statra Recordings) Hi:Fidelity Lounge - Volume One: Subterranean Soundtracks (1999, Guidance Recordings) Eclectic Electric (2000, eMusic) Spundae Presents Interpretations by Jerry Bonham (1998, Spundae) DJ-Kicks: by Kid Loco (1999, !K7) 4am Eternal (A Truly Twisted Post-Club Chill-Out Selection) by Osymyso (2000, Mixmag) Amberdelic Space II: Angel of Ecstasy (1997, Dressed to Kill) Alt. Frequencies Presents Disco Moonlight (1997, Worm Interface) Essential Selection, Vol. One by Fatboy Slim & Paul Oakenfold (2000, London Records 90) E=wMC2000: The Equation For Quantum Groove Theory (2000, eMusic) A Jedi's Night Out by Tom Middleton (1999. DMC / Mixer) Architecture Volume 2 by Terry Francis (1998, Pagan Records)

And here's some links to more 90s London playlists too:

1992: YouTube / YouTube Music 1994: YouTube / YouTube Music 1995: YouTube / YouTube Music 1996: Spotify / YouTube / YouTube Music 1998: Spotify / YouTube / YouTube Music 1999: YouTube / YouTube Music

Breakbeat update next week!

Enjoy!

More to come, eventually. Stay tuned!

Like what you hear? Follow me on Spotify and YouTube for more cool playlists and uploads!

[riv-kaulitz]

my fucking brother?!

tom&bill kaulitz x reader

a/n (before writing): this is my first post on here and i wrote it with my sister ( @weepingtheoristflower ) we basically share one braincell between both of us so i apologize if it doesn’t make sense or if there spelling/grammar issues bc we’re dumb.

a/n (after writing): this is probably the longest thing i’ve ever written. i might have missed some warnings so if you think i should add more lmk. and i’m probably making a part 2.

warnings: cheating (kind of but not really), threesome (with siblings, no incest they don’t touch each other at all), yelling, fingering, p in v, oral (m! and f! receiving), basically they go to paris. lmk if i missed any

summary: basically bill likes y/n, but tom and y/n are dating. tom goes to the store and bill shoots his shot, telling y/n how he feels which leads to some interesting activities. let’s just say they did not finish before tom got back.

(disclaimer: obviously this is fictional and you probably shouldn’t cheat on your bf with his brother. and obviously bill wouldn’t do something like this.)

“bye babe, love you” tom said grabbing his keys and kissing y/n goodbye.

“bye tom��� she smiles at him

tom leaves and a few minutes later bill knocks on tom and y/n’s door. y/n gets up to answer “oh hey bill” she says and walks back over to her and toms bed, sitting down and making room for bill.

bill sits next to her “y/n… can i talk to you about something?”

“of course” y/n says and looks at bill

“ok… just… you have to promise not to hate me…” he says nervously.

“what? why would i hate you?” y/n tilts her head slightly in confusion.

bill looks away slightly embarrassed. “i just… i know it’s selfish… i just can’t help it… i’m sorry” he says quietly, tears forming in his eyes.

“hey… what’s selfish..?” y/n asks softly, gently putting her hand on top of his.

“i like you y/n… so much… and seeing you with tom… it hurts so much…” he says, still talking quietly, his voice wavering slightly.

“bill… i… don’t know what to say…” y/n says softly, trying not to show how shocked she is and make him more upset.

bill hesitates a second before leaning in and kissing y/n softly on the lips, before he can pull away and apologize y/n gently grabs his face and kisses him back.

their hands wander around eachothers bodies, exploring the new territory between them. after a few minutes bill pulls y/ns shirt over her head, then pulls his shirt off too. thier hands explore the newly exposed skin as bill reaches to unhook her bra.

“you’re so pretty y/n” he mumbles and kisses down her neck, his hands moving to her waist to press his body against hers.

he reaches to undo her pants and underwear, pulling them down slowly. she gasps at the cold air but it quickly turns into a moan when he starts rubbing her clit softly.

“so so pretty…” he mumbles, going to kiss and nip along her neck, careful not to leave any marks.

she moans quietly and he moves his fingers down slightly to push two fingers in her slowly. he kisses her again, moving his fingers in and out slowly. he pushes her down on the bed lightly and kisses down her body til he gets to her thigh, he looks up at her for permission.

she nods. “please bill…” she moans quietly.

he quickly attaches his mouth to her clit, sucking lightly and pushing his fingers back in her again. they both get lost in the feeling and the both of their sounds.

too lost in the feeling to hear the front door open.

tom pov

i walk in the door, shutting it behind me. i put my stuff from the store on the table and lock the door quickly.

i hear something coming from the bedroom. moaning..?

“b-bill… i-i’m gonna…” i hear y/n moan and my heart drops and my fists clench. i quickly walk over to the room and open the door.

“seriously?! with my fucking brother? of all people?” i yell “and my girlfriend?”

the both quickly sit up, bill wiping his mouth and y/n covering herself. i just stand there waiting for an answer.

“tom.. it’s not wh-“ y/n stutters out.

“not what it looks like? don’t fucking tell me it’s not what it looks like.” i yell.

“tom don’t..” bill starts

“don’t what? i just walk in on you going down on my girlfriend and you don’t expect me to yell?” i yell, my fists clenching tighter.

“don’t yell at her..” bill says. “it’s.. my fault.. i should’ve… i just couldn’t help it…” bill tries to explain.

“you couldn’t help it?! what sleeping with my girlfriend?!”

“i’m sorry tom…” bill says quietly.

“sorry?! you seriously think sorry is gonna fix this?”

“i don’t know i just..” bill says before i cut him off.

“you don’t know? you know exactly what you did. i can’t believe either of you would do this to me… i mean seriously… you know how much i love her…” i say to bill, still pissed but not yelling anymore.

“ok well i love her too!” bill yells

“you do..?” y/n asks quietly but he doesn’t answer her.

i laugh slightly. “no you don’t”

“yes i do… i always have.” bill admits. “do you understand how much that shit hurts? seeing you with her?”

“so you hurt me back by sleeping with her?” i ask, looking at him confused.

“no… i just… i couldn’t keep it a secret anymore and… it just happened…” bill says

“seriously? it just happened?” i ask, my voice raising again

“tom please… don’t yell…” y/n says “he kissed me and i should’ve stopped him… i’m sorry”

i look over at her. “why didn’t you?” i ask, and when she hesitates to respond i feel my heart drop again and my voice raises again. “don’t tell me you like him too!”

“i love you tom…” she says “i know that… i don’t know how i feel about him…”

“prove it.” i say, my voice slightly deeper.

y/n pov

“prove what..?” i ask as tom walks over to me.

“prove it.” he says sitting in front of me. ignoring bill sitting next to me, he pushes me down on the bed kinda roughly. “show him i can make you feel better.”

“tom… i…” i start.

“if you’re really uncomfortable you can tell me to stop you know” he says, as max as he is he won’t do anything im uncomfortable with.

when i shake my head no he quickly puts two fingers in me and starts sucking on my clit. i moans loudly and my hands immediately go to his hair. “hands to yourself” he groans and keeps going.

he moans softly but i grab onto the sheets instead. “sh-shit tom.. i’m gonna..” moan and he stops. i whine in protest but he just moves me so i’m on all fours, tom behind me and bill in front of me. he quickly pulls his pants down and enters me. i gasp loudly and moan.

he starts thrusting fast, giving me no time to adjust. “go ahead baby,” tom says “you were having so much fun with him earlier why don’t you help him out?”

i look up at bill hesitantly and when he nods i undo his pants, and quickly wrap my hand around him, moving it up and down slowly.

bill let’s put cute little noises as he bites his lip trying to stay as quiet as possible.

“good girl, mein hübsches mädchen” (my pretty girl <at least according to google translate i don’t speak german😭>) tom groans softly.

i moan quietly causing bill to buck his hips into my mouth. he taps my arm lightly “y-y/n i-i’m” bill says before finishing in my mouth. i swallow and moan again. “t-tom… i-i’m gonna cum too..” i say

“come on… me too..” tom says and picks up the pace, both of us finishing together. we all catch our breath and get dressed.

tom turns to bill “next time you wanna pull some shit like that, i’ll kill you.”

[warrior-cats-rewritten]

Multi Animatior Projects (because I'm not typing that acronym on this website) in associate with WCR if it was The Real Canon (which it should be) (I will add to this)

Jesus He Knows Me (Ghost) - Ashfur possessed Bramblestar reveling in his new power, promising to Thunderclan that everything will be fine, they'll all go to Starclan if they just believe in him hard enough :) also showing him getting more dangerous, like throwing around Squirrelflight, snapping at Hollyleaf, and murdering Ferncloud.

Labour (Paris Paloma) - Sky Petal looking back on how much Clear Sky has saddled her with as he loses his mind, the work she has had to do for him, the abuse she has had to deal with and how much she genuinely fears the cat she once loved so much, culminating in her throwing him out of his own camp.

Introduction to the Snow (Miracle Musical) - Mapleshade, as she dies, seeing an image of her children in Starclan, grown into the cats they would have become, practically crying with pride over who they could have been. When the music changes (after "You'll live forever tonight.") The scene very suddenly changes to the Dark Forest, Mapleshade panicking and realizing she has well and truly Fucked It.

The Nowhere King (Centaurworld) - The trapped and brainwashed spirits singing to Shadowsight, Rootspring, and Bristlefrost, both a boast, and a desperate warning.

I Love You So (The Walters) - Yes Sky Petal again. Her relationship with Clear Sky is not the happiest, but he always promises to be better and tells her "I love you so". It cuts to Sky Petal realizing that he will never change, and putting her foot down. She remembers his promises and internally begs for him to let her go and leave. His "I love you" is met with an angry "so?" Before he finally leaves the camp to the new Skystar.

Little Girls (Cameron Diaz) - Mapleshade in the Dark Forest VERY unhappy with the many young apprentices running around that she is forced to deal with as part of their "Don't break their Innocence yet" phase (like Hawkfrost meeting Ivypaw in the field in canon) and wanting to be more than "the Dark Forest Queen".

What If I Forget Your Face (Cover by Jacob Sutherland) - Waspwhisker terrified that he is going to forget the little details of his beloved Fallowfern (and children but she is the focus) as he makes his very long journey back home to her with the other captured Skyclan cats and a few kittypets, not knowing what is happening to his beloved clan.

LosT (Bring Me The Horizon) - Hollypaw and Maple Cloud navigating the Dark Forest trying to get home after her soul is wrongfully imprisoned, accidentally causing an uproar in the DF as she accidentally helps some of its inhabitants find each other. Ends with her waking up back in the Tunnels, having made it back to her body, relieved.

weapon (Against The Current) - Cloudsnap wrestling with her dark thoughts as she trains in the Dark Forest, not wanting to be a bad cat but it's the only way to get out her frustration and anger towards others. She gets stronger and more powerful, but Darkwater (daughter of Tangleburr and Waterfern (Leopardstar's sister) helps soothe her rages, and she turns on the Dark Forest, who only saw her as a weapon.

The Wanderer (Dion) - Jake being a wandering slut, featuring Nutmeg, Tallstar, Henry, Quince, Pixie, Bess, Pinestar, and MANY other toms and mollies. Ending would hilariously feature his many... many offspring. But Tallstar by his side, his truest love.

[grits-galraisedinthesouth]

Why Harry's 'near catastrophic' car chase story doesn't add up by Tom Rogan

May 17, 2023 02:48 PM

A spokesperson for Prince Harry says that he and his wife Meghan suffered a "near catastrophic car chase" in New York City on Tuesday evening.

The spokesperson said that the chase was provoked by paparazzi who followed the couple and Meghan's mother without regard for traffic laws. The implication: Harry's party narrowly avoided the fate of his mother, Princess Diana, who was killed in a 1997 Paris car crash as she was pursued by the paparazzi.

One problem with Harry's story?

The NYPD said that while the paparazzi behaved in a "challenging" manner last night, it has no record of a chase or any collisions. But here's another question: Why did a chase occur in the first place? Why did Harry's security team, which was either directly or indirectly operating under his authority, attempt to escape the paparazzi rather than maintain normal driving conditions?

Perhaps the paparazzi were occasionally blocking the couple's vehicle. Harry's spokesperson has suggested as much. But if that's the case, the appropriate response would have been for Harry's security team to call the NYPD. I understand that Harry's private security team is extremely well resourced and staffed by former police officers and close protection specialists. Those personnel likely had personal contacts with the NYPD via which they could expedite an effective NYPD response.

Again, the central question must be asked: Why did Harry allow a chase to occur?

Even if, as seems likely, the paparazzi were breaking traffic laws without regard to public safety, that does not mean Harry gets to do the same. On the contrary, vehicle-based close protection tactics suggest that where a lawful escape plan is impossible, or a threat is primarily that of nonviolent crowds (a la paparazzi), the appropriate response is to establish a static defensive position and wait for backup. That might not be preferable for Harry, but it is what the circumstances and the law would seemingly demand.

So, what's really going on here?

I suspect two things.

First, Harry likely seeks to use this incident to bolster his case for greater privacy against uncomfortable media attention. Harry and Meghan revel in positive media coverage and high-profile engagements such as that which they attended on Tuesday evening. At the same time, they demand protection from the less fun privileges granted to the public by the First Amendment. While Harry and Meghan are highly litigious in their approach to the U.K. media, they cannot apply that same strategy to the U.S. media by virtue of America's far freer speech laws, laws that Harry has described as "bonkers."

Second, Harry may well hope that this incident will provide him with an excuse to have his U.S. government Diplomatic Security Service detail restored. That security detail was pulled by the Trump administration following criticism from some, myself included, that a nonactive U.K. royal was being provided an expensive U.S. government protection. The advantage for Harry, however, is that a DSS detail would allow him to move without the need to suffer paparazzi pursuit and pesky traffic laws. Regardless, the already greatly overstretched DSS does not have the resources to support a full-time detail for Harry. Evincing his preference for government-provided security, Harry has engaged in legal action with the U.K. government over its removal of his Metropolitan Police service protection team.

Top line: Whatever Harry says should be judged carefully.

[darkangel1791]

Tom Cruise's Olympics Closing Ceremony Stunt Wasn't Applauded by Everyone on Social Media

Kristyn Burtt Mon, August 12, 2024

SheKnows Yahoo News

Article and my view on Tom Cruise and Scientology below

Tom Cruise gave the Closing Ceremony at the Paris Olympics a very Hollywood ending when he rappelled down from the top of Stade de France and into the crowd of athletes. It seemed like a picture-perfect ending to the European games as they handed it off to Los Angeles, that is sure to add a touch of Hollywood sparkle in 2028. However, not everyone was pleased with the A-list star’s presence.

Social media jumped into the conversation with mentions of Cruise’s controversial ties to Scientology, which is considered a cult in France. “How does Tom Cruise manage to be held in highest public esteem when he is a leading player in Scientology?!?! I don’t get it at all. Just remarkable,” one user on X questioned the 62-year-old star’s presence at the event. Another account added, “I love how America just acts like Tom Cruise isn’t like the icon of Scientology.” Then, of course, there are his issues with his ex-wives, Nicole Kidman and Katie Holmes.

The social media critic pointed out, “I’m sorry. Tom Cruise stole his adopted children from Nichole Kidman because she didn’t want anything to do with Scientology and his 2nd wife had to plan an escape from the marriage to protect her child from Scientology. THIS is who we chose to represent LA 2028 Olympics?” Even though they forgot Cruise’s first wife, Mimi Rogers, whom he did not have a family with, the point is well taken.

Still, Cruise was a huge presence during the two weeks of the Paris Games. He was seen at gymnastics events and taking selfies with fans — Cruise was doing what he does best, being a movie star. The tousle of the hair, the hop on the motorcycle with the Olympics flag — that’s all Cruise. And that moment became about him, not the athletes who spent the last two weeks competing their hearts out on the field or in the swimming pool. They didn’t seem to mind as they hugged him, grabbed video, and screamed at the mere sight of him.

And the warning was there all along. Le Parisien noted that the Church of Scientology was “more visible than ever” at the games. They built a new headquarters in April very close to the State de France and “deployed a major communication campaign during the Olympics.” The move makes Cruise’s presence seem a little more sinister because, as TMZ reported, the Closing Ceremony stunt was his idea. But we have to ask: Was it really the Church of Scientology’s idea? It makes you wonder.

<^**^><*><*^**^><*><^**^>

When I saw Interview with the Vampire the film (1994) I knew nothing about Tom Cruise beyond the movies he had done. In reading about him after IWTVTF I was under the impression that he was still a Roman Catholic, and I don't think I even knew what Scientology, but it wasn't considered a religion. When Going Clear was released in 2015, I had a new understanding of Scientology, and an instant change in my feeling for Tom Cruise. (Though I still love the film and I still love that Lestat, I now love 3 different Lestats).

Scientology horrified, but intrigued me and I have watched many more documentaries as well as Leah Remini's series.

I have a hate for Scientology that burns with the heat of a thousand suns, and at least 200 of those suns are my hate for Tom Cruise alone.

I have no idea why people still see his movies. I have no idea why he is still invited on talk shows/chat shows. His popularity at this point just baffles me.

So when he does shit like this, I tend to post it. If you don't want to see it block the tags scientology and tomcruisescientologist.

[head-post]

Last day of the Paris Olympics: closing ceremony, no Romanian PM, flag bearers

After weeks of intense competition, international athletes are set to say “au revoir” at the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Games on Sunday, 11 August.

Romania’s Prime Minister will not be in attendance

Marcel Ciolacu will not attend the final ceremony. He was not pleased with the way the women’s gymnastics individual event ended. After the competition, Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu and spectators thought she was winning the bronze medal. She and her coaches even raised their country’s flag and started celebrating. Meanwhile, US gymnast Jordan Chilis’ coaches appealed to the judges, which was successful. This raised Chilis’ score by 0.1 points, which was enough to knock Barbosa out of third place.

Closing Ceremony

In contrast to the rather ambitious, controversial and caused a lot of misunderstandings and nuances of the opening ceremony, the closing ceremony will follow a more traditional path. First, the head of the host nation’s state enters along with the president of the International Olympic Committee. Then the national anthem of the host country is played or sung as the host country’s flag is raised. Other traditional elements include a parade of flags, a parade of athletes and the handing over of the Olympic flag to the representative of the host city four years later.

The closing ceremony takes place at the Stade de France stadium, north of Paris, where the rugby and track and field events took place. The ceremony will include several traditional elements, among them final medal presentations, a parade of athletes and the handover of the Olympic flag to Los Angeles for the 2028 Games. The stadium has hosted several events during the Games, including record-breaking track races and a historic first leg for the US women’s rugby team.

The artistic director of the event is Thomas Jolly, the man responsible for the unique opening ceremony, however many details are secret, but Jolly has indeed offered something of a sneak preview, stating the ceremony will be a visual, very choreographed, very acrobatic show with an operatic dimension. In addition, viewers can expect to see over 100 acrobats and aerial performers, and the closing ceremony should also feature big-name musicians.

Since the United States, in the face of Los Angelas, will take on the role of the next host for the 2028 Olympics, Tom Cruise, who is currently in Europe on a film shoot, is set to play the lead role in the closing ceremony. He is due to perform an impressive sequence of stunts to mark the passage of the Games from Paris to Los Angeles, which will feature the passing of the Olympic flag from one city to the other. The cast list will see Californian A-list performers Billie Eilish and the Red Hot Chili Peppers performing from Los Angeles.

US Team flag bearers

Swimmer Katie Ledecky and rower Nick Mead will be the flag bearers during the closing ceremony. Ledecky is the most decorated female Olympian of all time, winning her 14th medal after running the 800m freestyle on August 3. She won the gold medal in the event, securing her ninth gold overall. Mead won the gold medal along with teammates Liam Corrigan, Michael Grady and Justin Best in the men’s rowing event. It was the first time since 1960 the US team won the tournament, CBS News reported.

Last day of the Olympic Games: Results

The United States, one gold behind China in the battle at the top of the medals table, can add another when they face Italy in the women’s volleyball final.

The US women’s basketball team is chasing a historic eighth consecutive gold against French rivals fuelled by the “love” of their fans. US women have won basketball gold at the last seven Olympic Games, starting with Atlanta in 1996.

Weightlifting concludes with the battle to become the strongest woman at the Games in the over-81kg category, led by China’s world record holder Li Wenwen.

Old rivals Serbia and Croatia meet for gold in men’s water polo in what could be a feisty affair.

Four golds have yet to be decided in track cycling, while the title could be taken in the modern pentathlon.

In the men’s handball final, Germany are in their first gold medal match in 20 years, where they will meet Denmark, who are in their third consecutive final.

The Danes were champions in Rio 2016 but finished runners-up to France in Tokyo three years ago.

Read more HERE

[intothedysphoria]

My completely subjective list of the best moments of Paris 2024

Nicky Doll at the opening ceremony

Fred Sirieux interviewing his daughter Andrea after she won the bronze in the 10m syncro final with Louis Toulson and how happy he was for her.

Clare Balding giving the Olympic mascot tiny swimming goggles

Every time Becky Adlington got emotional during commentary in the swimming

Daniel Wiffen winning the 800m freestyle

Any time the Palestinian, Sudanese, Congolese or Refugee team competed in an event

Simone Biles. End of sentence.

Tom Daley. Also end of sentence.

Julian Alfred winning St Lucia’s first ever gold medal in the 100m

The volume of men with mullets competing for Australia

That one Norwegian swimmer who really loves muffins

How happy and supportive all of the skateboarders were of each other

Matthew Hudson-Smith after just missing gold getting a hug from his dad for like 5 minutes

Watching the bouldering, which is now my new favourite sport

Watching the kayak cross, which is also my new favourite sport

All the places I spotted Snoop Dog

Matt Baker, Christine Still and Craig Heap’s elite commentary of the gymnastics

Please feel free to add to the list

[teeth--thief]

Have you seen Tetris (2023)? Unrelated: what music do you like, or listen to?

-R

I have seen Tetris, yes! Just a few weeks ago, sometime in March, matter of fact, so your timing is particularly incredible. It first haunted me in music form, believe it or not, I kept getting songs from its soundtrack recommend on Spotify.

While I usually really don't like the KGB is in your walls stuff that the Western films always insist on showing, I'll make an exception for this movie because it's pretty fun. I actually liked the Evil Liar KGB had going on, I thought it was very funny. I do have one complaint about the whole thing, though. I wish the pixel animation was utilised throughout the whole movie, not just in That One Scene... :( Just small, little bits (ha) would have been fine...

Fun (not really) fact: I was first introduced to the character of Robert Maxwell through this movie (you have to forgive me for not giving many fucks about the aristocrats of Britain). I have then immediately learnt that his daughter is Ghislaine Maxwell. The Ghislaine Maxwell. Jeffrey Epstein's partner (in crime). How delightful...

What music do I like... That's a terrible question to ask me because I'm very passionate about music... I have playlists for everything I like, even Chernobyl related one... there's not a free minute in my day that I'm not listening to something. I associate music with everything.

I mean, judging solely by the fact that my wardrobe consists of one too many Sabaton and Rammstein shirts, I'd have to say I'm particularly fond of metal. And punk. And rock. I occasionally listen to Hollywood Undead because I discovered it when I was a... young teen, much too young to be listening to that kind of stuff lmao, and so I feel oddly nostalgic about them.

I really like the... weird and experimental stuff? If it has some kind of a connection with nature, I will probably like it. I've been a long time fan of Cosmo Sheldrake - and he just released a brand new album Eye To The Ear on the 12th of April AND a new single just a few days ago... it's everything I could have expected and more, truly. His brother, Merlin (whimsical names is the theme) is a biologist and he wrote a book about fungi, which I really like, but haven't finished because I didn't have the time nor brain capacity to take in all that new information.

And continuing with the theme of slighly weird, I also enjoy video games/movies OSTs. The creepier the better. Little Nightmares (I&II) soundtrack? Perfection. I talk a lot of shit about HBO's Chernobyl but that show's OST is phenomenal (and that's the last nice thing I have to say about it 🙄). From not horror-esque soundtracks: stuff from DOOM.

I've also been mesmerised by the Polish folk music used throughout The Peasants and have been regularly listening to the whole soundtrack. I need to rewatch that movie ASAP... more on movie tracks, I also really like Mad Max: Fury Road's and Moon (2009)'s OSTs.

I also like older, classic bands... Pet Shop Boys, Soft Cell, Bronski Beat, Depeche Mode... Kult, if we're talking local... And because I AM beating the toxic masculinity allegations: MARINA, Paris Paloma, Caro Emerald and sometimes even Lana Del Rey and Mitski. Other than that, I'm rarely attached to one particular artist or band, I usually like two or three songs and hate the rest haha

I'm gonna add a bunch of songs I like under the cut as a little treat, just because:

[movedto-fiercengineer]

i gotta make graphics. transfer my pinned post. new promo.

but hey. JAYLAH IS HERE.

i will do that all later.

after a shower and dinner.

also. who do you think i shoul add to @starsbelonged... already considering.. bones.... and then absolutely adding gwyn from prodigy and zero.... and tom paris from voyager. which i need to get back to watching.

also goes w/o saying all drafts/asks transferred.

[adastrafanfic]

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Ad Astra News - 7/9 - 7/14

State of the Archive

We're spending July well--posting stories, celebrating reviews, building community.

Weekly Challenge #12: Missing Moments

This week we're going to spend between 100 and 700 words exploring a missing scene, a moment, a character beat between the ones we see on screen or in between pages of a book! Interpret it as liberally or strictly as you like!

If you post it to the archive, add it to the Weekly Challenge collection with the freeform tag Weekly Challenge #12: Missing Moments

**Challenge closes at 11:59PM Eastern on 7/21/23.**

Stories Archived

Star Trek: Discovery

By Pixie The First Rule of Command - T - Gabriel Lorca/Katrina Cornwell, Philippa Georgiou/Commodore Paris I'm the star in this disaster movie - T - Katrina Cornwell, Multiple Pairings Snow - G - Gabriel Lorca/Katrina Cornwell Ondine - G - Gabriel Lorca/Katrina Cornwell Written in the Stardust - T - Katrina Cornwell, Sarek

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

By Pixie Ready or Not - T - Christine Chapel/Spock

Star Trek: The Original Series

By ChrisQ The Breaking of the Bridge - T - Matt Decker, James T. Kirk, Ensemble Cast

By kalima Arrhythmia - M - Nyota Uhura/Spock Before We Were Brittle - T - Spock/T'Pring The Assumption of Risk - M - Spock, Christine Chapel, James T. Kirk, Leonard "Bones" McCoy

By SLWalker Fire and Shore - G - Andrew "Corry" Corrigan & Montgomery "Scotty" Scott, Peter Preston Processing - G - Montgomery "Scotty" Scott

Star Trek: Alternate Original Series

By daraoakwise Not Until We Are Lost - T - Nyota Uhura (AOS)/Spock (AOS), Montgomery “Scotty” Scotty (AOS) & Nyota Uhura (AOS) Again - G - Montgomery "Scotty" Scott, Montgomery "Scotty" Scott (AOS)

By Kennel_Boy Live Life As It Happens - G - Goodnight Robicheaux/Billy Rocks, Magnficent Seven fusion - 🔒

By lah_mrh Your Own Kobayashi Maru - T - Reader

By Pixie Language - G - Nyota Uhura (AOS), Amanda Grayson (AOS)

Star Trek: The Next Generation

By jamaharon Imzadi - G - Deanna Troi/William Riker When the Rain Goes - T - Deanna Troi/William Riker

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

By nostalgia Vanilla - E - Julian Bashir/Ezri Dax Three Point Eight - T - Julian Bashir/Miles O'Brien, Keiko O'Brien The Common Thread - G - Jadzia Dax, Ezri Dax, Curzon Dax Five Things That Might Have Happened To Julian Bashir (If Anyone Had Asked) - M - Multiple Pairings Bring Something Back - T - Julian Bashir/Miles O'Brien, Keiko O'Brien/Miles O'Brien

Star Trek: Voyager

By CelticRomulan A Name Well Earned - G - Chakotay, Harry Kim, Tom Paris, Jal Karden

By nostalgia Four Times They Didn’t And One Time They Did - T - Kathryn Janeway/Chakotay Provocation - T - Ensemble Cast

By Pixie I am the soft stars that shine at night - T - Gabriel Lorca/Kathryn Janeway Written in the Stars - T - Kathryn Janeway/Kira Nerys

Multiple Series

By Pixie This Will Be Our Year - T - Multiple Relationships

Expanded Universe

By DavidFalkayn A Moment of Calm - M - Ensemble Cast Convergences: Clouds over Illium - M - Ensemble Cast Convergences 2: Lighting the Fuse - M - Ensemble Cast Convergences 3: The Explosions Commence - M - Ensemble Cast

By Gibraltar Oh No, She Didn't - Unrated - Rachel Garrett

By Hawku Hop, Skip and a Jump - G - Ensemble Cast

By Omicrex46 Star Trek: Fortitude - G - Ewan Llewellyn, Valerie Archie, Jason Armstrong

[rollforjackass]

WHOOOOOO MISSION IMPOSSIBLE!!! dead reckoning spoilers under the cut

what mission impossible does in terms of fucking with my PTSD, it makes up for with hot women. amen

VERY funny chase sequences, 2 new characters who pulled their weight in gold from the second they stepped onscreen. the airport scene was immaculate, from luther & benji trying to solve shit on their own and roping ethan in in the most cryptic way possible (the bomb scene with benji broke my fucking heart) to the constant sleight of hand that reminded me of the first movie. kittridge and the white widow's semi-familial relationship was very unexpected and sweet

also, AI AS A VILLAIN!!!!!!! bitch i did not have my brain chemistry rewired by person of interest and a warforged dnd character i made just to not enjoy that. benji's voice being used to misdirect ethan fucked me up in so many ways, and its insistence on stories was very fun because as we all know, there are many different stories out in the world, and many different versions of each one. i loved that pom fulfilled the AI's prophecy that she would betray gabriel NOT BECAUSE OF THE REASON IT THOUGHT, but because it betrayed HER over a possible course she hadn't even taken yet

i AM very worried about benji for the second part, they made a point of showing him on EVERY line of that epilogue that referenced death. "the closer someone is to you, the harder to keep them alive" > benji's face (watching ethan, which says as much about benji as it could foreshadow for ethan); "should your agents be captured or killed" > benji's face. it also showed his face on a line similar to "do it alone", which makes me TERRIFIED that he'll take on the entity in the sevastapol sphere by himself and have to make a grand heroic sacrifice in the process, at which point i'll fill my pockets with stones and toss myself bodily into the nearest lake

that said, dead reckoning might be my least favorite of the franchise, and not just because it was overblown and grandiose and a two-parter. it feels like they saw the john wick movies and went 'That's what the people want', when the reason people love mission impossible in the first place is because of its rock solid ensemble cast and the elaborate deceptions that make it a Spy franchise, not just an Action one.

now the big issue. ilsa my love. i don't think ilsa is actually dead - she simply would Not lose to gabriel, she has been fighting to stay alive every second of her life - but i do think her sacrifice was necessary to get grace on their side. so i think that's a plan that we'll see pay out in the second movie.

but if it's Not a plan and they just killed her like that........girl what the fuck is happening on this day

(also the way that benji reacted to her death, and the way he hid it from the team and slapped the tears away to get back to work, thanks i hate it)

like i won't be generous with the franchise and say it's always done its female characters right - in fact i feel like 90% of the praise i see for characters like jane carter and ilsa faust comes from the fact that we as a fandom scooped them up and said 'you deserve better' and created art and fics and meta that fleshed out the parts of them that weren't created to add sex appeal/romance tom cruise. but the franchise has at least done Better for them than dead reckoning did. they didn't even give pom's character a name, dude (EDIT YES THEY DID I’M A FOOL HER NAME IS PARIS)

i think their problem is that they are Very Very good at creating wonderfully complex and obviously flawed female characters, but when they don't know what to do with them anymore, they fall into a box that says Ethan's Love Interest. and by god i will wrest grace from that box so long as i am breathing i can tell you that

that said, i can see why they made the creative choices that come across to me as bad faith. pom being a nameless henchman but ethan Still goes out of his way to save her life hammers home the ways that humans are different from AI, and how unique ethan is as an agent. grace's name being a random throwaway alias that she is then trapped with bc she keeps being chased by the people she used it with is reminiscent of her stealing the key and then being trapped in an epic struggle she never wanted. even ilsa dying is a way for her to take her story into her own hands: after so long of being treated as dispensable by MI-6 and the syndicate, she is the one who decides when and who she dies for, and why she dies. (even though she's not dead)

anyway, complaints aside, always a fun movie. extremely funny car chase. women are hot. pom klementieff is feral and i adore her. i have thoughts for days and that mission impossible fic i've got going is about to take OFF

[randomvarious]

1990s Trip Hop Playlist

Bad news and great news with this week's playlist post, folks. The bad news is that, once again, a Spotify version of one of these has shrunk because a song was removed from the platform, but the great news is that over on YouTube, I finally found a song that I've been looking to add for well over a year now to my 90s trip hop playlist. I'd actually tried to upload this track to my own channel before and was forbidden from doing so, but today, while I was updating, I managed to find it: the "Instrumental Mix" of Washington, D.C. duo Thievery Corporation's "Lebanese Blonde." In case you're familiar with the vocal version of this song, this isn't just a version that strips out the singing; this one has slightly different instrumentation to it too—namely Spanish guitar—and is really reflective of what the TC guys have always been about: weaving together different sounds from various parts of the world in order to yield some terrific cosmopolitan lounge beauty 😌.

I also learned this week that a handful of other songs that are in the YouTube version of this playlist had been taken down since the last time I updated it too: three from Paris' DJ Cam ("Mad Blunted Jazz," "Life," and "Gangsta Shit"), and one from Edinburgh's Boards of Canada ("Everything You Do Is a Balloon"). But fortunately, I was able to find other uploads of those same songs and retain them for the playlist.

Also in this update comes a couple adds from the pioneering German label that I've been writing about for weeks now in these playlist posts too: Harthouse, which was co-founded and run by the legendary Sven Väth in the early 90s, and began as a big outlet for trance and hard trance, but then broadened its horizons by the mid-to-late 90s before shutting down for good. There's Frankfurt group Hacienda's organ-jazzy "Nightmare of Max," whose title may be a play on the great Nightmares On Wax—whose own "Mission Venice" and "Fishtail Parker" also appear in this playlist too, by the way—and some chunky and groovy trip hop-blues from Berlin's Jiri.Ceiver called "Ycool," which also appears in my 90s downtempo and German downtempo YouTube playlists too. "Nightmare of Max" has under 300 YouTube plays and "Ycool" has a little over 140.

Hacienda - "Nightmare of Max" Jiri.Ceiver - "Ycool" Thievery Corporation - "Lebanese Blonde (Instrumental Mix)"

And this playlist is also on YouTube Music.

So while the Spotify version of this playlist has been pared down to a mere 34 songs that clock in at a little over 3 hours, the YouTube one has now grown to 61 songs that clock in at 5 hours and 50 minutes 😯. Lots and lots of super dope and rarer trip hop goodies to be found in that YouTube one, including:

a song by the great Squarepusher (operating under his government name, Tom Jenkinson) called "Vogon & I," that was once on Spotify, but isn't anymore

a remix by legendary IDM duo Autechre of their own nebulous and mysteriously related project Gescom's "Mag"

an incredible track from that same Gescom project called "Leritue (Gibber MIx)"

and a cinematic British breakbeat-trip hop interpolation of famed New York street poet Gil-Scott Heron's "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised," by an act called Genaside II.

And lastly, if 5 hours and 50 minutes of trip hop sounds a bit too overwhelming for you, I've got a couple shorter playlists that focus on specific years of the genre too.

1996 Trip Hop: YouTube / YouTube Music 1998 Trip Hop: YouTube / YouTube Music

Enjoy!

More to come, eventually. Stay tuned!

Like what you hear? Follow me on Spotify and YouTube for more cool playlists and uploads!