#if George got his speeding tickets here that’s a SKILL

[russilton]

Bruh the way some f1 fans fetishise Milton Keynes shows you’ve never been here-or even googled it,

Mk is a gridded hell of roundabouts and business parks, it is manufactured hell out of a businessman’s dreams and an architects nightmares. Pavement? Fuck you. Speeding? Sure you can speed 30 ft to the next roundabout.

[dc-earth53]

#0005: Captain Boomerang (George “Digger” Harkness)

Age at death: 37

Occupation: Criminal, former toy salesman.

Marital status: Single.

Known relatives: W.W. Wiggins (father), Betty Harkness (mother), Ian Harkness (stepfather), Tom Harkness (stepbrother), Owen Mercer (son).

Group affiliation: formerly Rogues, Suicide Squad.

Base of operations: Central City, Missouri, formerly Belle Reve Penitentiary.

Height: 5′9″

Weight: 167 lbs.

History:

42 years ago: George Harkness is born, the illegitimate offspring of Australian Betty Harkness and American toy magnate W.W. Wiggins. Hated by Betty’s husband, Ian, Harkness has a miserable upbringing.

29 years ago: 13-year-old Harkness crafts a boomerang at school and begins honing his skills with the weapon, using it to cause mischief alongside his best friend, Mick Wentworth. 

24 years ago: 

Harkness and Wentworth rob a convenience store, escaping with the aid of Harkness’s boomerang. Ian kicks him out of the house, and he’s given a plane ticket to America by Betty, with instructions to go meet his biological father in Central City.

Under the alias of “George Green”, Harkness meets Wiggins, and is given a job as a spokesperson for Wiggins’ toy boomerangs, using the name of “Captain Boomerang” and a costume to match.

23 years ago: 

Bored of his life as a toy salesman, Harkness begins using his boomerangs to commit petty crimes under the radar of the Central City Police Department. 

Harkness meets figure skater Lisa Snart, the Golden Glider, and the two have a one-night stand. Unbeknownst to Harkness, Lisa becomes pregnant with his child.

22 years ago: One of Harkness’s capers is foiled by police scientist Barry Allen, a new arrival in Central City, and he goes to prison. 

19 years ago: 

Harkness escapes from prison, committing a series of jewel thefts across Central City, and is stopped by the city’s new defender, the Flash.

Harkness first meets several other members of Central City’s criminal element: Captain Cold, Mirror Master, Weather Wizard, and Heat Wave. The five band together as the Rogues.

17 years ago: The Rogues induct Captain Cold’s sister, the Golden Glider, into their group. Her and Harkness have an uneasy reunion, and she never tells him about their son, whom she gave up for adoption.

11 years ago: Mirror Master and the Flash both die during the battle against the Anti-Monitor. Disheartened, the Rogues retire from crime, and Harkness is interred at Belle Reve Penitentiary. 

10 years ago: Harkness is conscripted by Amanda Waller to serve on Task Force X, known colloquially as the “Suicide Squad.” In exchange for a shorter sentence, he goes on several high-stakes missions for Waller, while also moonlighting as the new Mirror Master for a time. 

8 years ago: Harkness, along with the other Rogues, is contacted by Abra Kadabra, who presents them each with a green candle. Together, they summon the demon Neron, who takes each of their souls in exchange for empowering Kadabra.

7 years ago: Harkness, alongside the other deceased Rogues, is resurrected as a demonic avatar as part of a ploy by Neron to gain access to the Speed Force. Wally West and Linda Park defeat Neron, restoring the Rogues to life in the process.

5 years ago: Harkness meets Owen Mercer, his son, and the two work together, sharing the mantle of Captain Boomerang. Harkness and Mercer take a job for Jean Loring, possessed by Eclipso, and attempt to murder Jack Drake. Drake murders Harkness in self-defense, shooting him in the head with a shotgun.

Commentary:

On the flip side of the whole “legacy” idea, here’s Captain Boomerang, a lowlife through and through, but one who left a legacy behind nonetheless. Digger’s a jerk who doesn’t really care about anyone besides himself, and it’s a miracle the Rogues get along with him so well, as the members of the Suicide Squad who had the displeasure of working with him certainly didn’t.

There’s not much revision that needs to be done with Harkness’s history, thankfully. His little trip into the future in Rogue War doesn’t happen in this timeline, removing his connection to the Allen-Thawne family tree. Instead, Golden Glider is Owen’s mother, made possible by the insertion of a few years in the timeline between the time Harkness arrives in America and when he first fights the Flash. This also makes him a little older than in canon (I think), which contributes to his feelings of being old and washed-up by the time this universe’s version of Identity Crisis rolls around.

Brightest Day does happen in this continuity, but in the interest of maximizing legacy characters and limiting the number of resurrections that happen, Harkness isn’t among the characters who get brought back. Instead, Owen gets to carry forward the Captain Boomerang mantle, toeing the line between hero and villain.

Got questions? Asks are open!

Next up: Aquaman!

[brokenqueeen]

The royal matchmaker

Part 1

It was the moment in the wedding that everyone looked forward to... the cutting of the cake. No matter the person, I could see the glee in everyone’s eyes as they watched the large knife slicing in through the 4 layers of soft red velvet sponge. As the bride and groom fed each other I was approached by the mother of the bride. If her bright green eyes and the large smile on her face were anything to go by, she was happy her daughter had finally settled down. “Thank you y/n! Without you my darling Meghan would have never found Harry”. I smiled up at her as she reached in for a hug. “It’s my pleasure Mrs Adams. Meghan just needed to let go of the hurt from previous relationships so she could embrace love when it came her way”. Once she let go of me I excused myself and headed towards the doors but, as always, I have the worst luck. “Leaving already y/n?” I turned around to see my business partner Natasha. She was standing there with her fiery red styled to perfection and the black dress clinging to her amazing figure. “Yes. I have a meeting but you should stay! There’s plenty of potential men here”. Before she could further question me I headed out the doors and into the cold New York air. I pulled my coat closer to my shivering body as I reached into my handbag and pulled out a chocolate bar. Biting into the caramel deliciousness I moaned at the taste as I called a cab so I could retire for the night.

Upon arriving at my apartment I immediately headed for the bathroom. I tied my long brown hair up into a ponytail and proceeded to remove my makeup. I then changed into my oversized toy story t-shirt and slipped into my pug slippers. I had eaten at the wedding so I jumped straight into bed and grabbed pride and prejudice off my night stand.

‘It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.’ The line just speaks to me. It summaries my life’s work. A few years ago I quit my job at a major matchmaker in New York and started business with Natasha. It’s something I’m glad I did because I now have a list of 50 high profile clients we have successfully matched. I went back to reading the novel and soon I had drifted off with the novel lying beside me.

Waking up the next day I knew I was running late because I had pressed the snooze button 4 times! I rushed through my usual morning routine and by 9am I had arrived in my office. Working out of an office overlooking Central Park always seems surreal to me but I rarely get a chance to admire the beauty of the view. Today was no exception. Just as I had sat down at my desk, Natasha barged into the room carrying her laptop. “Y/n! Thank god you’re here! I received a call from someone and I think they may be our next high profile client, if you play your cards right”. Natasha is the perfect business partner. While I rely on my gut she relies on numbers and statistics. So together we are literally a match made in heaven. That’s why we’ve named our business, match made in heaven.

“What’s going on Nat? Who’s the client?” I ask her. She doesn’t say anything but places her laptop in front of me and resumes the call she was on. The face of an old man pops up on the screen. He wore an expensive looking suit and carries an aura which emits regal. “Hello miss y/l/n. I am King George Barnes of Sokovia and I am in dire need of your services regarding my son, Prince James Barnes”. I stared at the screen with bewilderment present in my expression. Is this real? Is Natasha pulling a prank on me? Could the infamous Prince James Barnes be in need on my services? He’s quiet the looker but does he really need a match maker?

“How May I assist you, your highness?” I managed to reply once I got over my initial daze. “We’ll miss y/l/n. My son is of marriageable age and he has yet to find a wife. I don’t trust his skills so I’m coming to you. I wish for you to work your magic and find him his true love. I would like you to find him his wife by the jubilee ball, in 4 weeks”.

“Well you’ve certainly come to the right place. My aim is to help people find their true love but 4 weeks? Love isn’t something you can put a time limit on, your highness”. I looked up to see Natasha glaring at me. She starts scribbling on a piece of piece as I look back to the king on the computer screen. “I realise your process but I would like for you to speed it up a little”. I look up at Natasha once again as the king awaits for my reply. She holds up a paper which reads ‘if anyone can do you this you can! Think about all the publicity we’ll get with this! AND you’d be helping an actual king!’ I looked back at the king and replied “I would be delighted to provide my services, your highness.” After saying out goodbyes the king left the computer screen with an instruction to an eye on my email for tickets and itineraries to fly out to Sokovia

[thephantomcasebook]

Wanted to spend another week with Chapter four of “The Wayfaring Stranger” so here’s a Preview.

County of Grantham March 1936 

In the Season of 1936 there were many topics of fascination that percolated through London. The Spanish War, the coming grandeur of the Berlin Olympics that the Third Reich was planning, and of course, the Grantham County Power Plant. It seemed a strange topic, all things considered, but it was the details that most people were interested in. It was the first, fully modern, electrical plant in all of Yorkshire, which was a feat in itself. But the more interesting aspect had been that the power coils and generators, which cranked out a much more powerful and efficient charge, had been designed by Ms. Sybil Branson herself.

Never before had such a thing been attempted by a grown woman, much less, by a girl who was yet to have even been presented to the king … which ever brother that might be these days. There were many that doubted the validity and safety of these mad plans presented. Some called it the very apex of what it is to spoil a child. What qualifications did Sybil Branson have to take on such an experimental task? They warned Lord Grantham of the perils. He being, not only the grandfather, but one of the patrons of the new plant, along with his daughter Mary and Grandson George Crawley, who also had his reservations.

But George’s troubles were for other reasons than a lack of faith in his best friend.

It had been an uphill battle for the girl. She worked long and hard on her plans and blueprints, living in the quiet exclusivity of Crawley House, away from the distractions of Downton Abbey life. There were many long nights, George hunched over the study table pouring over medieval maps and texts, while over at his desk a lovely girl scribbled her formulas and calculations. She sipped coffee, pencil behind her ear, soothing her doubts in the smiling picture of both her mommy and mama on George’s desk. Every time she had misgivings about the enterprise, feeling that George wasn’t voicing some objection, if only to spare her. She only had to see the two women that were everything to her, and remind herself that if they could be revolutionary in their time, than so could she. The only thing she wished was that there was someone to tell her she was on the right track. The old professors, like all good Englishmen, were afraid of change. The board of directors was biting their nails in anticipation, good or ill, of the young girl’s designs.

Her family wasn’t any help either. George had some idea of what she was talking about, but recused himself of opinion, much to her anger. Donk pretended he knew about what his gorgeous genius was talking about. And mama just smiled and blinked, making it seem all so encouraging by kissing her on the cheek with as much enthusiasm as Lady Mary Crawley showed anything. But Daddy didn’t hear a word. Tom Branson would soon glaze over at his daughter’s passion, spending more time glowing proudly at his rare and special girl rather than the plans spread out before them. God, in those moments, had he wished Sybil had been there to see what a marvelous creature she gave her life to bring into this world. But when he began stroking her hair, the girl would only huff and bump his chest with her shoulder in chastisement of his distracted mind.

When the time came to present to the board, she was going up against two other firms in the whole Empire. She fretted all night, wondering what she should wear. She had kept her Aunt Rose, Mrs. Baxter, and Granny up half the night, raiding her, Aunt Rose, and even their Granny’s wardrobes for just the right clothes. Just when it seemed all hope was lost, she came into her room to find that Mama and Anna were laying out a new outfit for such an occasion. Lady Mary told the girl, with great arrogance, that she might not know how her daughter’s “Contraptions” might work, but she jolly well knew how to dress for success. Both her mama and Anna swore it as “the ticket”, the secret weapon she needed to get over the top. It was true that when she stepped out of her daddy’s car with Thomas Barrow, her temporary assistant, there was not a snappier looking young engineer in the world. With legs born for those high heels, body meant for that satin skirt, and combination of sun glasses and hat that oozed young and professional.

When she arrived with Donk’s suitcase, rolled blue prints under arm, and coolly confident smirk, she was the talk of the Ripon office building.

The words of the day were affordable, modern, and easy to maintain. Sybbie, with Thomas’s help, presented her new machine to the world. Every weapon at her disposable was used on the board. She smirked at Donk, used Mama’s familiar turn of phrase to entice her. She near abused her credit as a daughter of a ‘working class bloke’ on those who valued such things. And for everyone else … well, Sybil Branson had been and would always be quite the fetchingly beautiful thing. But it was her charm that won the day, for it was considerable and inebriating once she got going. A girl raised by Ladies Cora and Mary Crawley was born to turn heads with her wit and social skills that rivaled the queens and princesses of old. But in the end, she found that the only hold out was George. He sat quietly, forefinger curled under nose, thumb under chin, elbow propped on the arm rest. He was a sphinx, unreadable, hardened to every trick employed by the lovely and fashionable girl. And when she was done, soaking in the standing ovation with a relieved smile, her heart sank to see that George was the only one still sitting, the weight of the world in his eyes.

For two days, the girl showed up to wait outside the deliberations. She paced the hallway, idly played a walking game of hopscotch with the linoleum tiling, and sat with her hand intertwined with Thomas’s in her lap as they stared at the door. But on the final day, suddenly, the door flew open to the sound of George matching shouts with their Donk and a waspish Lady Mary.

“Then, I’ll see you in Hell!”

The Earl and his pale and sleek business woman daughter looked shocked and deeply insulted at George’s final retort to Lady Mary’s parting words. Sybbie was also shocked watching a dark and furious George stalking away. His goggles were already on his forehead, while he shoved his hands into his long and supple leather gauntlets in disgust. Suddenly, papers and plans fell to the linoleum floor of the Ripon office building when Freddie Moorsum pursued the younger man down the hall. His glasses were obscured on a face in distress. He walked fast after George, though he was unable to keep up with the young racer.

“You can’t walk away, M’Lord! The county, the boys, they’re all counting on you to hold those toffy, high society, bastards, accountable! If you walk away from this you’ll damn yourself and it’ll haunt the county for generations! You know I’m right, you fool! Come back and fight damn ya! TAR YOUR HEELS COWARD!” He roared at the young man that disappeared around the corner, bumping a secretary whose files and papers went fluttering everywhere.

“Sir, I believe His Lordship is quite done with this conversation …” Thomas Barrow, ever the butler, and ever the guardian of Downton Abbey’s nursery, no matter how old the former occupants had gotten. He halted any further pursuit of a clearly enraged Master George.

“Get off me, Chump!” The pencil of a man with parted dark hair and his mother’s face under glasses slapped the svelte and athletic butler’s hand off his shoulder. He then turned to Sybbie who was watching in silent confusion. “Congratulations, and long live Morgana Le Fey, Queen of bones!” He snarled at the girl.

“I think that’s quite enough of that, Mr. Moorsum!” Lady Mary Crawley said with a dark look of rancor as she exited the room. It looked as if she might have left the conference room in order to go after George to continue their argument in private. But in his absence, and very outraged that someone would talk to her daughter in such a manner, Mary was cold and angry when the rest of the board exited.

“You’re all fools! You are all damned fools! They’ll die and all for a young girls pretty smile and tight arse in silk!” He shouted.

“How dare …!”

“Barrow, might you escort Mr. Moorsum out!” Lord Sinderby immediately bared Lord Grantham, who had made to aggressively stride forward in defense of his cherished and beloved little girl.

But there was not a hint of remorse in the man’s eyes for saying what he had. Somehow he thought, even for the friendship of his late mother, that Lord Grantham would see things clearly. Instead, he was infatuated with his genius granddaughter, believing that she could do no wrong. He took it as a slight and a betrayal to his mother’s memory.

“This way, sir!” Thomas Barrow’s hands were made out of iron in his angry grip on the lapels of the Engineer.

“You fools! The whole lot of ya! You’re all fools!” He raged in tears as he was dragged away by Mr. Barrow, Lord Sinderby following to make sure the accoster of his niece and nephew was truly gone.

For a long moment the raven haired young woman watched with a frown as her competitor disappeared with the strong arming Thomas, and a glaring Uncle Atticus with his hands behind his back. When she turned back her Donk looked incredibly rattled by the whole situation. But when she asked what had happened, Lady Mary only told her not to worry about it. But the girl saw that her mama’s eyes were cast down the hallway to the sound of George Crawley’s Indian Motorcycle revving angrily in the distance. They all flinched when they heard him speed off in a terrifying lit.

Sensing the trouble that was entering the girl’s mind, Lord Grantham ensured her, unconvincingly, that it was just the usual “Greek Drama” of the losing side of these local contract disputes. However, she had certainly not thought that George was one of these sore losers. But when she voiced this opinion, no one said a word for a long moment. Till, Lord Grantham assured his granddaughter that George wasn’t not on her side, it was only a question of something else entirely that had nothing to do with her. But she could tell that whatever George and Freddie Moorsum had fought with them over, for the last two days, had penetrated their Donk’s mind. And his heir’s point of argument, in particular, was entombed at the very center of his thoughts. Possibly, it even found incredible validity in the receding tide of the infighting. But Lord Grantham only smirked when catching Sybbie’s tenuously inquisitive eyes.

The old man took her in his arms paternally.

Suddenly, a big, toothy, grin came over the young woman’s pallid face when her grandfather whispered the word “Congratulations” in her ear while in their deep embrace. When she slipped back in his arms, mouth agape in shock, the old lord only nodded his head. It was just in time for Atticus and Thomas’s return. The girl gave a squeal and leapt into the butler’s arms, shouting to the roof tops that they did it. But Barrow only smoothed the girl’s hair back and corrected that she was the one who did it. To that the man got a kiss on the cheek. In fact, they all did, even those who were not her family. But when Lady Mary, half-teasingly, reminded her daughter that an excess of joy was as vulgar as an excess of tears, the girl jovially pounced on her mama. She swept her off her feet, pelting her entire face in a cascade of kisses in her arms as she rushed down the hall. The girl looked like a Hammer Film monster with its bride as she shuffled awkwardly with her mama in her arms. Before turning the corner, a resign but clearly annoyed Mary made a motion for everyone to follow.

When they got back home from Ripon, both family and staff were there to throw Sybbie a surprise celebration. The girl had never been so touched, getting suddenly weepy to see her granny standing with Marigold, Rachel, Aunt Edith, and Aunt Rose, along with all the faces of her happy childhood. All of them there to cheer and celebrate what she thought, at the time, would be her greatest accomplishment in her entire life. There was cake and punch, and a celebratory dinner planed with all of her and Marigold’s new friends for later. Her Donk stopped the festivities, momentarily, so that he might say a few words of his genius granddaughter. But all he could find in the moment, looking at her with such love, was that her mommy would be proud. She would be so very, very, proud of this day.

It was the only thing that Sybil Afton Branson had only ever wanted to hear all of her life.  

[republicstandard]

The White Man's Third Position

Eric Striker has noted that in the recent elections the Republican governor of Kentucky ran a campaign based on a 1980s Reaganesque style revulsion towards "socialism" and against teachers, and he got his head handed to him, justifiably so; in other elections that night affirmative action and sanctuary cities took a beating.  One needn't be skilled in the reading of tea leaves to understand which way the wind is blowing.

Richard Spencer's publishing house, Washington Summit Publishers, recently issued a translation of Armin Mohler's The Conservative Revolution In Germany (1918-1932). Out of that matrix came National Socialism and, while not everyone is a Nazi, embedded within that is the magical position, the third position: conservative on social issues and progressive on economics.  If any enterprising politician should ever want to carry everything and everyone before him he really ought to look into it.

The amazing thing is that Trump ran on a set of issues that were unheard of for a quarter century, and he pulled off a miracle.  One would think that he would have countless imitators but in fact he has none, not even himself.

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Capitalism overturns everything, uproots the world as it creates new ones every minute.  Exotic sexual ideologies expel nature, and fabricate an ersatz reality.  These aren't two sides of the same coin, they are the same coin, the coin of the realm of the ruling class.

By loosening economic controls the right destabilizes communities, by loosening social controls the left destabilizes human beings. Together they work as a pincer movement against our security, as everything that was solid melts into thin air.

The third position is protectionism for human beings and, as such, is inherently conservative.  It is fascism with a human face.  

A few years back Ashton Kutcher infamously declared that he was liberal on social issues and conservative on economics and his statement was hailed as the wave of the future.  He of course had it completely backwards, poll after poll shows a majority wants the exact opposite, wants the third position, wants a generous social democracy combined with an end to the tyranny of insidious social experimentation, be it that of an invasion of alien races or ever new frontiers in gender identity.  What they want is a tight knit and upright community, not a continued greasing of the skids of a no holds barred neo-liberal accelerationism.  They know in their hearts that the left got rid of social controls and the right got rid of economic ones, and that all sides conspired against them.

We forget just how much of a player David Duke was in the early 1990s, ideologically at least, people said oh but they're racists but others said maybe they like his platform.  Then Duke and Buchanan went back and forth accusing the other of stealing the agenda they had first.  But then they faded away, and no one picked up the mantle.

In the early 1990s the movie Falling Down became iconic, about a white man who had had enough and wasn't going to take it any more and proceeded to start mowing people down. This was adduced as an example of the growing phenomenon of the angry white male.  But really the map of this was clear by the time of George Wallace and his not a dime's worth of difference, or even way back in 1948 with Strom Thurmond.  Later Sam Francis cribbed Donald Warren's 1976 book The Radical Center and conjured up his legendary Middle American Radical, and Christopher Lasch diagnosed why liberalism was bad for the common man, and another liberal, Richard Rorty, gave two cheers not for capitalism but for social solidarity.  Later another Warren--Elizabeth--got into the act with her book The Two Income Trap, for by then the American Dream was over.

What was happening was clear enough.  After the war was a golden age for the American white working class.  While our enemies were wading through rubble our industrial plant was in pristine condition.  A man could work, the wife stay home to care for the children, vacations could be taken, retirements made, a good life had. But soon came the natural accelerants of open borders and open markets and the re-proletarianization of our people. This was done in the name of "freedom" and "openness", two things which are always the mortal enemies of decent folk everywhere.  They acted as agents of social sterilization, the jobs went out, the people came in, the housing prices went up, the neighborhoods became crowded, crime went up, as did the cost of living, the birth rates went down. In turn the money machine required more immigrants.  Wash, rinse, repeat, decimate, as is said.

Just in the middle of this deluge came figures who saw it clearly and wanted to arrest this wasting away of the social fabric.  The aforementioned Duke and Buchanan for sure, and also Ross Perot. Together they took what can be considered the white man's third position, against pointless foreign wars which bled our young dry, against the invasion by the colored races, against the free movement of goods across our borders, against moral and social chaos.  If you want to know more about it just listen carefully to that giant sucking sound.  

In addition to waging the culture war against the forces of moral decay Buchanan made a hard edged moved toward economic autarky and economic nationalism. While in Reagan's White House Buchanan once sent a businessman looking for tariffs packing but the former doctrinaire free trader got Dick Gephardt religion, and promoted industrial policy (which by then had become dirty words).  He wanted to make it impossible for goods made outside America to be sold here by throwing up massive tariff walls.  At the same time his corporate tax was zero. Haul up the drawbridge, make it enticing and necessary to produce here, and watch the middle class revive.  It could have worked.

But by the time he came around neo-liberalism was coming into its own, history was declared over, the free movement of goods and people across all barriers was ascendant.  Former hippie Bill Clinton was all for global capital, took the baton from that old internationalist traitor George Bush Sr. and pushed through NAFTA (see giant sucking sound, above).  Earlier Reagan and Thatcher were said to have been running some kind of supposed counter-revolution in the name of the decent folk, but they were not even speed bumps on the road to the loosening of all controls, threw gasoline on the accelerants, tossed on the match, and greased every skid on the way to disaster. Capitalism is nothing less than the overturning of everything at every instant, it says so in the brochure.

And the left came around all the way soon, became outriders of capital. Mass immigration is nothing but a transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich but the ones who rail most against income inequality are its biggest supporters, in another time we would have called that false consciousness. Former hippie Hillary Clinton's dream was a unified market from Tierra Del Fuego to the Arctic Circle, and the free movement of everything throughout it.  This too is the dream of our ruling class.  The money spigots of the new world order are open borders and open markets which when the epitaph of America is written will be seen to be its death blow.

Old Socialists knew better.  It was always Nationalism in one country. Bernie Sanders once famously, or infamously, told Ezra Klein that open borders and mass immigration were Koch brothers' ideas (as are freeing all prisoners and eating away at the substance of America). While in his heart of hearts it's doubtful Bernie wants to build Fortress America (alas) it seems reasonable to think that he does want reasonable controls on immigration.  If he could get his base to go along with it he could walk away with the election.  Problem is, he's got the endorsement of Alexandria ("this is occupied land") Ocasio-Cortez.  That crowd hates white people and, contrary to what you read in the papers, they are no friends to the working class, but do the dirty work of corporations, wittingly or unwittingly, take your pick.

It wasn't always that way.   Old socialists knew better.  Dick Gephardt championed industrial policy, the notion that government and business can cooperate in tandem for what's good for the nation, Ralph Nader showed us what evil unregulated corporations will do, Barbara Jordan knew what was good for the worker and it wasn't a mass influx of cheap labor.  Cesar Chavez had his goons bust the heads of border jumping wetbacks who undercut the wages of his men, though the growers wanted brown serfs for their growing world-wide plantation.  And recently in American Affairs Angela Nagle made the left wing case for closed borders and for her trouble was made a pariah, and Aimee Therese regularly reviles all forms of neo-liberalism, or most of them, at least.

Liberal icon Eugene McCarthy wrote a book saying that America was fast becoming a colony of the world, arguing that economically and culturally, colonial status is evident in loss of control over borders, religion and language. Major investment in a colony is from outside, with control held by the investing powers.

Pat Buchanan said he fell out of his chair when he heard Trump's announcement speech and it's true, Trump ran on a straight up ticket of Buchananism.  He took on the three pillars of the ruling class cash machine, war, free trade, and open borders, and he also took away their shield, political correctness, the you can't say this, and you better not say that.  It's what spooked them so very terribly.  An angel mom said that when she heard Trump's speech she sat down and cried.   But as it turned out Trump became obsessed with blacks, gays, Jews, Israel, everything and everyone but what elected him.  The ruling class needn't have worried, he was no traitor to his class, he was one of them and, for that, may his memory forever be met with violent howls of execration.

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The odd thing is that for a position so inherently appealing there's not a single public official who will touch it with a ten foot pole.

So why would such a popular ideology go begging for suitors?  Why the wallflower at the dance?  The problem is that it's what Sam Francis called a strange amalgam of left-right, it's neither this nor that, not one thing nor the other, an ambidextrous ideology and, as such, it's a gossamer world-view, a unicorn position, chimerical. Who would espouse it?  The left demonizes borders while promoting social democracy; the right has its tax cuts while ostensibly preaching morality; they are an inverted mirror image of the other, right where the other is wrong, wrong where the other is right;  yes, the third position is an odd brew.  Add to that that the donors have a stranglehold on the parties and that whoever would take up its cudgel would find himself in the cross hairs of the ruling class and the distaste with which it is viewed by our leaders becomes explicable. Treacherous, but explicable.

This democracy of ours, owned by this ruling class, does have an Achilles heel.  It's that if enough of the people want something, and want it badly enough, they can get it, or at least they can make life very difficult for their enemies.  If Trump proved anything it's that a hostile takeover of a party from the very top is possible, with the right person, at the right time, with the right message.  If the difference between the rank and file of a party and its rulers becomes too great and a canny enough, a forceful enough, and a presentable enough person comes along to exploit and explain it, miracles can occur.  This is not the infiltration of the party, it is a coup de main, a knockout blow.  No one knows what the future holds.  A leader can arise.

In the meantime, of course, every man to his post.  

What that leader would advocate is simple: no wars, no immigration, no free trade, bring up the drawbridge, create Fortress America, become a hermit kingdom, disentanglement from Israel, pro guns, social democracy, pro unions, massive infrastructure spending, social solidarity, anti-degeneracy, public health care, a wealth tax, natalism, pro family formation, pro marriage, pro traditional American heritage, pro traditional gender roles, anti-corporate measures.

Apply social and economic controls, in a word.   Practice fascism with a human face.   To let the middle conspire against the traitors in our midst.

Someone really ought to look into it.

from Republic Standard | Conservative Thought & Culture Magazine https://ift.tt/2Khdzci via IFTTT

[socalsojourner]

Las Vegas - Things to do with kids - Part 3

Want even more things to do with kids in Las Vegas? I think some of these will keep ‘em happy - I’ve done a lot of these and they are really cool:

SlotZilla Zip Line

SlotZilla at Fremont Street Experience is a 12-story zip line and is one of the best things to do in Vegas. There are two ways to fly, the lower "Zipline" and upper "Zoomline."

The Stratosphere Tower

At 1,149 feet, the Stratosphere Tower is the tallest freestanding observation tower in the United States and the tallest building west of the Mississippi River. From the observation decks you'll enjoy panoramic views of the Las Vegas Strip and the Las Vegas valley. Thrill seekers can enjoy excitement over 100 stories above the ground on the Big Shot thrill ride and the High Roller roller coaster. For the less daring, there is the Strat-O-Fair midway attraction. The Stratosphere Tower is located in the Stratosphere hotel

The Toy Shack

FreeThe Vegas Toy Shack specializes in vintage toys from the 80’s. Transformers, GI Joe, TMNT, M.A.S.K and much more. The Toy Shack is located at the Fremont Street Experience

GameWorks

FreeBlast away at GameWorks. GameWorks has 47,000-sq. ft. entertainment with over 250 games, the world's tallest free-standing rock-climbing structure, a full-service restaurant, and two snack bars. GameWorks is located Town Square.

High Roller

This 550-foot tall observation wheel has a 360 degree view of Las Vegas. Instead of those old two seaters that seem to rock back and forth precariously, you'll be stepping into a state-of-the-art air-conditioned pod that's roomy enough for 40 people. You may walk around and take pictures from every possible angle. Tickets here.

Eiffel Tower Experience

The Eiffel Tower Experience, located at the Paris hotel, is one of the top things to do for Las Vegas visitors. Take a glass elevator to the 50th floor for a panoramic view of Las Vegas from this half-scale replica of the Eiffel Tower. Along the way, your tour guide, will point out can't-miss Vegas landmarks.

Marvel Avengers STATION

Dive into the world of The Avengers, where you can explore the history and scientific origins of the Marvel characters. From interactive minigames to exhibits featuring Captain America's uniform, to a green-screen photo experience with several Avengers-themed backgrounds. Best yet might be the interactive experience that allows guests to try on Iron Man's suit and go for a drive via virtual reality. Tix here.

Hot Air Balloon Rides

If you always wanted to go up, up and away on a hot air balloon ride, now's your chance. For 180 minutes, you’ll soar like an eagle on THE scenic tour of Las Vegas. Your tour also includes a snack and champagne toast (for those over 21). Vegas Balloons.

ATV Hidden Valley

Suitable for beginners and experienced riders, this ATV tour takes you to places in the Mojave Desert seldom seen. Come prepared for adventure -- this is the longest ATV adventure offered in Southern Nevada. You will be escorted in a van to the staging area in Jean, Nev., where your ATV will be waiting. After a short safety briefing, you will begin a two-hour ride through rugged desert and mountain terrain, riding through historic Hidden Valley, near extinct lava beds and across dry lakes. You also will enter the rugged McCullough Mountain Range for more trail riding. This tour covers anywhere from 20 to 50 miles of desert terrain, depending on group size and riding level. This tour includes bottled water. The morning tour includes a stop in Primm, Nev. for a short break.  Note: Guests must wear closed-toe shoes. Sandals and high-heeled shoes are not allowed. Hats and sunglasses are recommended. For cooler temperatures, a long-sleeved shirt or jacket is recommended. Tix here.

Zero 1 Desert Adventures

It's time to get dirty, and one of the best ways to do it is off-roading through the Mojave Desert in a Polaris RZR XP1000. After your complimentary drop-off at Base Camp, there's a short training course that will polish your driving skills to expert levels. You've got a choice of a two hour, three hour, half day, or seasonal night tour that'll have you riding through the most scenic spots Vegas has to offer.  The terrain is full of surprises, but that's not a big deal because your new driving skills will prepare you for all the rugged terrain Mother Nature throws your way. From twisty sand-washes to high-speed trails, you'll experience all the unspoiled desert has to offer.  All the gear is provided, so the only thing you need to bring is your adventurous spirit. You'll even get to wear a state-of-the-art helmet with a PCI radio system so all your friends can hear your trash-talking as you leave them in the dust. Tix here.

Dig This

Perfect for the big kids at heart (14 years and older), this tour will have you operating a a state-of-the-art bulldozer or hydraulic excavator.  After a brief safety and equipment orientation, you'll be given a hard hat, safety vest and radio. Once you climb aboard, you'll be operating an excavator or bulldozer in no time. And don't be intimidated by all the switches and gears. An experienced instructor will talk you through step-by-step via radio. In no time you'll be rolling gigantic boulders across the dirt, excavating trenches, stacking tires and playing "excavator basketball." Choose either the excavator or bulldozer ride, both missions are challenging and fun. With five acres of a super-sized sand box, you'll definitely have room to get down and dirty. Whether you grew up reading "Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel" or watching the cartoon show "Bob the Builder," Dig This will soon have you exploring the fun of this adult sand box. Tix here.

Pole Position Raceway

Whether you're a novice or experienced racer, Pole Position Raceway will send your heart racing. Located just off the Las Vegas Strip, this state-of-the-art, 60,000-square-foot facility features indoor race karts that zoom faster than any of their kind in the country.

The racing karts are approximately 18-horsepower and capable of going up to 45 miles per hour. These electric-powered karts are also environmentally friendly, emitting no exhaust.

Your adventure begins when you choose from a variety of packages -- including 2-Race Adult, 2-Race Junior, 3-Race Adult or All-You-Can-Drive packages. Join the ranks of celebrities like Star Wars creator George Lucas, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and NASCAR champion Kyle Busch, as you navigate the quarter-mile track through long straightaways, hairpin turns and other unique elements. Busch and seven-time AMA Supercross champion Jeremy McGrath are part of the team that brought Pole Position Raceway to Las Vegas.

At the end of each race, you'll receive a scorecard, which includes details like your lap time, position and overall race stats. Compare your results with other racers to see where you stand.

Pole Position Raceway offers an arcade, which includes a variety of racing games. The upstairs game room features two pool tables, a pinball machine, plasma TVs and a great aerial view of the track. Catch the excitement below and pay attention to how the experts execute the tricky turns.

Guests can stroll through the facility and see race cars, motorcycles, helmets and racing suits on display worn by professionals, including Dale Earnhardt Sr. Pole Position Raceway also sells memorabilia, including T-shirts and hats, so you can take a piece of your experience with you.

There is a complimentary shuttle service between 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. daily (subject to availability, guests must call to confirm availability).

Flightlinez Bootleg Canyon Zipline

You've probably had dreams of flying, right? But did you ever think of actually doing this (and not by plane or helicopter) on your next Vegas trip?

Flightlinez Bootleg Canyon's zip-line tour in Boulder City gives you the chance to "fly" and experience the beauty of the Southwest desert mountains.You'll sit in your own paragliding harness that's suspended from cable wires. Travel from one point to another by flying over the desert ecosystem from the top of Red Mountain. Some riders have reached speeds of 50 miles per hour.

After a brief safety orientation, your guides will take you on a quick drive up to the canyon. From here, you'll take a half-hour hike uphill. Upon reaching your destination, you'll coast through four runs, each providing a different kind of experience, including a 450 foot plunge. Each run's takeoff platform provides a unique view of the mountainous terrain from a different elevation, showcasing the variety and beauty of the desert.

Nervous about flying? Don't worry -- the tour guides help make everyone feel comfortable. And if you're afraid of heights, let this be the ride that helps you overcome your fear.

West Rim and Hoover Dam

See two of the most amazing sights in the world on one tour -- the Grand Canyon and the Hoover Dam. Start out by driving through the scenic Mojave Desert, dotted with Joshua trees, visit the community of Dolan Springs and then head to the West Rim of the Grand Canyon. The West Rim displays the Grand Canyon's natural beauty with no crowds, no guardrails and stunning views as far as the eye can see.You will have a guide on the tour who will teach you about the history, culture, geology and flora of the Grand Canyon. Your transportation on the tour is a 10-passenger Tour Trekker, a vehicle that is ideal for sightseeing and off-road adventures. This tour also includes a two-hour stop at Hoover Dam, which includes photo opportunities of the Hoover Dam bypass bridge, the Colorado River and Lake Mead. You'll have time on your own to explore this engineering masterpiece including visiting the exhibit gallery and the observation room in the power plant that houses massive generators. Lunch is included on the tour.

DOME at Container Park

The glowing sphere in Container Park isn't just a pretty sculpture—it's a portal to other worlds. Inside The Dome, 4K Ultra HD video stretches across the ceiling, creating 360° imagery that immerses viewers in the worlds of dinosaurs, aliens, and more. The family-friendly theater is decked out with 25 reclining seats, which comfortably cradle guests as they bask in the all-consuming visuals of shows such as these:

Dinosaurs at Dusk: Travel back in time to the land of dinosaurs to watch Tyrannosaurus rex, Pteranodon, and Triceratops in their natural habitat.

Earth Defender: In this game, players take lasers in hand and venture into space to defend Earth against the evil Metamorphs.

Led Zeppelin: '70s kids can stare in awe as stunning visuals dance in time to classic Zep tracks such as "Kashmir" and "Stairway to Heaven.”

More Info here.

What's the Container Park? The Container Park, located in Downtown, is an open-air shopping center built from repurposed shipping containers. Located just a few blocks away from the Fremont Street Experience, this open-air shopping center filled with boutique retail shops, restaurants, and live entertainment.

The Container Park, located Downtown, is an open-air shopping center built from repurposed shipping containers. Located just a few blocks away from the Fremont Street Experience, this open-air shopping center filled with boutique retail shops, restaurants, and live entertainment.

Marking the entrance is a 55-foot metal preying mantis sulpture which shoots flames during special evening occassions. Once inside the park you'll be surrounded by restaurants, bars, and retail outlets.

55-Foot Preying Mantis The feature attraction for kids is the children's park. Located in mostly a shaded area (key for those hot summer months) the park contains a 33 foot tall slide sure to delight the adventurous child in your group as well as a NEOS playground, an electronic game that requires kids to chase after flashing lights. Also at the children's park are large foam blocks, sort of like giant sized Lego, for building, throwing and jumping on! There's a one-of-a-kind interactive play area where both children and adults can have fun and be active while exploring their creativity.

Be sure to try SasaSweets Chillspot's one-of-a-kind frozen treats and Sweet Spot Candy Shop's vintage and classic candy. Children are not permitted after 9pm, even still, Downtown Las Vegas doesn't get much more family-friendly.

Twilight Zone Mini Golf & Arcade

Looking for an affordable, yet extraordinarily unordinary experience in Vegas? Twilight Zone by Monster Mini Golf is a unique 10,000 sq. ft themed attraction featuring an extraordinary custom-designed indoor glow-in-the-dark 18 hole miniature golf course entertainment venue.

This course is surrounded by custom designed out-of-this-world props, phenomenal artwork & a live on-course DJ blasting music straight from the past right into the 5th dimension with trivia, contests, and prizes creating a destination embraced by locals, tourists, and earthlings of all ages!

The arcade features new and retro games such as Space Invaders, The Walking Dead and more.

Area 51 Tour

The truth is out there and now you can conduct your own search when you visit a number of famous locations frequented by UFO enthusiasts.

Your tour begins with a quick stop near McCarran International Airport where you can see the planes for Janet Airlines. This fleet of unmarked jets transports workers to and from Area 51.

Enjoy a scenic drive by SUV through the desert on your way to view some very unusual ancient Indian petroglyphs that resemble aliens. Next you will explore a mysterious dry lake bed, the site of a number of UFO sightings.

Back on the road, you'll enjoy a beautiful drive along the "Extraterrestrial Highway" on your way to the famous Little A'le' Inn and plenty of photo opportunities. This store and restaurant has been the host of numerous documentaries and movies including "Independence Day." Here you will find a wealth of information on this top-secret area. Captain Chuck Clark, an ex-air force captain, has written a manual on Area 51, which is available for sale.

After a great lunch, which includes "Alien Burgers" you will travel to the infamous black mailbox that marks the entrance to Area 51, a sacred meeting place for UFO enthusiasts. You arrive at the absolute perimeter of Area 51 after traveling through the Joshua Tree forest.

At Area 51's perimeter you will see guards, detection devices, listening devices and cameras mounted among the cactus. Signs reading, "Top Secret Military Facility, Keep Out, Use of Deadly force Authorized" are scattered along the facility's border and guards stand watch behind the tinted windows of their SUVs.

Enjoy this extreme tour to the world's most famous military facility and inspiration for the "X-Files."

[judefan827-blog]

playing with Pominville and Niederreiter

FORGET about the politicians and retired politicians trying to sound important by calling themselves statesmen.Certainly it shouldn't be President Barack Obama, however popular he may be globally. Even if he has already got a Nobel Prize for merely delivering good speeches or has just been named Time's Person of the Year.For sure, it should not be Kim Jong un. He's too mysterious, needs a good haircut and we really Cheap Jerseys free shipping ought to know his wife better first.Also ignore the super rich footballers who have been taking us for a ride those who kiss the club badge on their jerseys after scoring a goal and the next thing you know, they are kissing the money notes after they join a new club.For me, the Man of The Year has to be South Korean hip hop star Psy.

"It was a dream come true," Lagunas said, of the last week. "I almost cried when I saw how beautiful it was, and how many people came and paid for a ticket to watch women play soccer. Especially that I come from the old days, when there was not more support, and we had to fight so hard to be where we are at now.".

Haven played good, consistent baseball night in and night out, for nine consecutive innings, Forney had said before Sunday game. Overlook a lot of little mistakes at the end of the day www.cheapjerseysofchina.com coming out on top We fortunate to be where we at, but I don think we played our best baseball yet. Yes, it nfl jerseys still early and there still some tinkering to be done.. wholesale nfl jerseys

Coyle, on moving back to center, said, was different. I felt like I had a lot of speed in the middle and playing with Pominville and Niederreiter, it clicked right away. A few little 3 on 2 quick rushes, we just get the puck to the net and it goes in.

All the small game species seasons are open. Dads and sons are both on days off. Participation in the outdoor that has been part of the Pennsylvania culture for hundreds of years intensifies. It's when I wholesale nfl jerseys become too, you know, too worried about how it has to be and, you know, that's when, you know, God spends a lot of time chuckling wholesale jerseys at me. You know? He's rolling over laughing all the time with me. He's just like, hey, check him out, there he is again.

The Supersonics had a shaky 18 wholesale nfl jerseys from china 18 start during the 1991 92 season. Jones was fired and replaced by assistant Bob Kloppenburg on an interim basis. Kloppenburg coached for four games before the Sonics hired George Karl as head coach of the team. The BCCI's email correcting the spelling of Suyal's name also mentioned that Jharkhand batsman Ishank Jaggi, originally included in the squad, was now excluded because of an injury. Jaggi's state association said he was fit and had been practising with the state team in their pre Ranji camp. The selectors thought he was unfit because the NCA physio had reported to them that he needed surgery.

After that, the dresses manager, in addition to other managers wholesale jerseys continued to insult her skills as an employee, meanwhile every customer was complimenting her. When she www.cheapjerseys-football.com started to cry, all the customers even gave her hugs because they felt so bad. Christmas Eve morning, she brought in the handbook, and presented it to the manager of dresses.

You're still lost in thought when a bunch of thugs kidnap you, fill you with booze, and gang bang your vote out of you. That was a common practice of the time called "cooping." The targets were usually drunk or homeless men, who were filled with liquor until they could barely stand, and then threatened with torture or death unless they voted the right way. Cooping usually involved as well, since it wholesale nfl jerseys from china would start to seem fishy if the same inebriated hobo kept coming back and voting at knifepoint..

Time was, when home made Christmas presents were a predictable affair: jars of jam or chutney with jaunty fabric tops, trays of squishy fudge or maybe even hand knitted socks. Making your own presents was not a particularly smart or fashionable option. How things have changed.

Played on some really good teams, Griffin said. Played with a great bunch of guys, great coaches, great city, great fans. You couldn ask for a much better situation than I had here. The game wholesale nfl jerseys of Dots, also known as Amigas, is played among a foursome, with partners being decided at the beginning of each hole's play. wholesale jerseys Players take cheap jerseys their tee shot and teams are formed according to where the balls land, with the cheap jerseys hole serving as a divider. The two balls landing to the right of the hole are designated as one team and the balls landing to the left of the hole represent the other team.

Fifth year right tackle Christian Lombard appears unlikely to play because of a bulging disc in his back. Kelly didn't rule Lombard out but said sophomore Mike McGlinchey has been practicing in Lombard's spot. Irish Illustrated reported Lombard won't play Cheap Jerseys china in the bowl game and won't pursue an NFL career because of the injury..

Mumbai, on the other hand, don't have to peer into the past too much, given how their form has progressively ebbed. They might not read too much into home advantage, though, having www.cheapjerseyssalesupply.com won only four of their seven games at the Wankhede. Mumbai captain Rohit Sharma said his team approached their last league game, against Sunrisers Hyderabad, like the final.

[altusfl]

13. The 1985 Season ---

With no shift to the fall, ownership groups in Michigan, New Orleans, Philadelphia, and Miami (Washington) did not opt to relocate their franchises for 1985 and the Championship game remained scheduled for the Silverdome.

With no more talk of a move to the fall, the perception of the league improved dramatically.  Season ticket sales bounced back dramatically.

Even with the departure of two teams (San Antonio and Chicago) and the early perception of Los Angeles being a weaker team, the 1985 season was significantly stronger than anyone expected, especially at the gate, as the fall shadow over franchises like Denver and Houston did not exist in this universe.

Usher would be pleased with the way Haphadzy’s reallocation efforts helped parity in the league.  All teams would finish with at least 6 wins, a good total for franchise survival.

The return of J. Walter Duncan relaxed the league leadership.  With three of the four ridiculously rich owners (Taubman, Duncan, Trump, and DeBartalo) in the league favoring calmly waiting it out in the spring, the influence of Einhorn and Trump fades as the season progresses.

Team by team breakdowns

With Anthony Carter back healthy, the Michigan Panthers roar back to form tying the Stars for the best record in the league and edging them out for the division title.

With no ridiculous commute times and the championship attendance bump in this reality, the 1985 Stars look more like the Stars in this alternate universe with only a brutal conference pulling their record back down to the pack.

With Steve Young and Herschel Walker, Trump fully expected to win his division, but Young struggled with a non-threatening receiving corps and went down with an injury late.

The contraction reinforced Pittsburgh Maulers hung around every week, but the division was just too tough for them.  Rozier and Carano looked significantly better in year two, but the team’s conservative play calling was blamed.

Birmingham was dramatically improved  and ran away with their division, but in this alternate reality Michigan & Philadelphia's players did not have weird travel hardships and new teammates to adjust to, so Birmingham again fell short of the elite level.

In our reality, a late-season collapse cost the bandits a playoff spot in Bassett's last year. In this reality, a loaded division would knock the Generals out of the playoffs instead.  Bandits minority owner Donald Dizney would purchase the team late in the 1985 season.

Lindy Infante was never able to consistently win as a head coach. The unfortunate injury to quarterback Brian Sipe would end up costing him his job. Despite the signing of very highly regarded San Diego Chargers backup quarterback Ed Luther and a strong season by former Heisman Trophy winner RB Archie Griffin and RB Kevin Mack, the Bulls just cannot win enough games.

Mike Hohensee would open the season as the team’s starter as Miami went hard after Bernie Kosar.  The team would eventually lose out on the Miami star when Kosar’s hometown Cleveland Browns staked a claim. Hohensee would be a very solid, but unspectacular starter.  Schenellenberger would turn Miami into a live underdog some weeks, but the defense although quite deep, seemed to be missing a player or two. Rookie Willie Broughton would have a good year at DE, but that would not be enough.  Joey Walters, Eddie Brown, and Curtis Bledsoe would be in the thousand yard club at season's end.

Despite scoring a ton of points, Houston would barely hold off Oklahoma for the division title due to a very forgettable record in division. The loss of key players QB Jim Kelly and WR Ricky Sanders (to Injury) and RB Todd Fowler would hurt the team. 

In the USFL’s first season, Chuck Fairbanks grossly underestimated the quality of the other coaches in the league.  In his second go around, he does not. Ernest Anderson has a breakout year at RB with 1300 yards, helping keep the load off Doug Williams.  No longer overburdened and gifted with a full range of targets with proven possession receiver Kris Haines joining holdovers deep threat WR Al Williams and TE Ron Wheeler, Williams does enough to get Oklahoma into the playoffs just ahead of Memphis.  The Outlaws shutdown “Gunslinger Defense” under Jim Bates is the story of the season, holding Jim Kelly to a total of 40 points in their two regular season matchups.

Pepper Rodgers took it up a notch in 1985 but there were still too many teams that were just better than the Showboats. Still no one wanted to face the Minister of Defense and this game team in the playoffs. Rodgers benching of dynamic young QB Walter Lewis for veteran Mike Kelley is somewhat controversial with the fans.

With Marcus Dupree not blowing out his knee on Portland's lousy turf as he did in our reality, New Orleans offered the League's most devastating one-two punch on the ground. Dupree’s combination of size and speed reminded many of Hershel Walker, but many felt Dupree had a lot more flexibility and RB skills and might be better down the road as his game matured. Reggie Collier was the same unpolished, often injured QB despite the coaching of QB whisperer Dick Coury. Still...Collier and Dupree sold a lot of season tickets. Sadly the wins weren’t there and Coury was let go at season’s end.  To try to solve his QB problem, Carnizario would pursue Collier’s collegiate coach, Bobby Collins.

Alan Risher struggled a bit in his return as Arizona's new starting quarterback. It was clear there were passes old QB Greg Landry could make that Risher struggled with a bit.  Risher played better in a scheme that incorporated his mobility than he did in the Allen offense. The loss of Tim Spencer is noticeable, despite very strong seasons from HB Mack Boatner and FB Kevin Long. The fans don't care.  They embrace the Wranglers. The return of Risher to the starting lineup and Keel to the team allows George Allen's team to recover fans of the Year 1 Wranglers. The team also sees an attendance bounce from the run to the championship game the previous year.

Doug Flutie takes over the starting role in Denver by mid-season and Denver streaks to the playoffs squeezing by Oakland on the season’s last day. Denver fans don't like how their legacy Bronco guys are getting cycled out, but with no head-to-head competition with the Broncos they're willing to buy into Mouse Davis's success.

Fred Besana, Eric Jordan, Tim Newton, Gordon Banks and Charlie Sumner have a very good season with the offense reaching new heights, but the team falls short of the playoffs due to some late injuries.

The departure of Steve Young and the star offensive linemen is oddly a non-factor.  Neuhesiel is a competent replacement and the new offensive line plays well.  Season ticket sales go up with the arrival of the UCLA vets TE Tim Wrightman and QB Rick Neuheisel and the move to Anaheim Stadium.  The arrow is generally pointing upwards on what the LA media is now calling “The Anaheim Express”.  The Tathams are not thrilled with John Hadl though as the Los Angeles offense is more methodical and solid then dangerous, plus second-year quarterback Rick Neuheisel throws a few too many interceptions. The story of this team is it’s dominant young defensive line that guts any team with offensive line issues.

Playoffs???!!!!...

Houston continued to struggle in the post season against ball control teams with good defenses.  

Oklahoma held Doug Flutie below 28 for the first game in 2 months. 

Philadelphia rallied late to beat Birmingham. 

Michigan got a surprisingly tough game from an inspired Tampa Bay squad.

The Philadelphia/Michigan game was a game for the ages with a late no-call at home allowing the home town Panthers to put the game away in front of 65,712 fans.  There was a lot of controversy in league offices before and after the game as Usher got killed for insisting the league adopt a western and eastern conference that has the Stars and Panthers in the same conference.  Tad Taube sent a letter railing on the commissioner for “costing the league the ideal championship game from a rating perspective”.  He also went on to attack the league for “Handing the western conference to Duncan”, voicing what many of the less successful teams were thinking....that Oklahoma was made too competitive by the league’s allocations.  

Oklahoma’s “Gunslinger Defense” throttled Alan Risher, sacking him 8 times and intercepting him a season high 3 times as Oklahoma defeated the defending Western Conference Champions to advance to the title game.

With minimal TV ratings expected with small market Oklahoma in the final and a perception that Michigan would run away with the title game, the story of the game may have been the story before the game. 

Michigan owner Al Taubman followed through with his promise to slash the price of remaining tickets for the championship game.  In front of a very noisy capacity crowd of 80,638, the Panthers dominated early, with the fan noise causing several Outlaw offsides and delay of game penalties. Michigan took an 18 point lead into halftime as the Panthers held the Outlaws to 70 total yards in the first half.  

But the game wasn’t over.  Chuck Fairbanks made some adjustments at the half and Oklahoma got their running game going a little at the start of the second half.  

That opened up the deep passing game and Doug Williams came alive at the start of the fourth quarter.  With three minutes to go Williams had the Outlaws down by only three points but that was as close as they could get. 

Michigan RB John Williams was the game’s MVP with 40 rushes for 129 yards and 2 TDs.

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[thehungrykat1]

City of Dreams Manila Holds Media Appreciation Lunch at Dreamplay

City of Dreams Manila held a very special, one-of-a-kind Media Appreciation Lunch last November to celebrate another fruitful year for the integrated luxury casino resort. While most hotels and big establishments usually host elegant lunch or dinner events for their established media partners, City of Dreams Manila took it one step further as they prepared a unique and memorable event that put all the adults in charge at one of the happiest places in the city, Dreamplay.

Dreamplay Manila is the country’s first Dreamworks-themed activity center featuring characters from DreamWorks films highlighted in a state-of-the-art theme park for kids and the young at heart to enjoy. It is located on the upper ground floor of City of Dreams Manila, a luxury resort complex inside Entertainment City with three international hotel brands and a multitude of dining establishments and entertainment options. I have been to Dreamplay Manila before to accompany my younger brother, but on this occasion, there were no children around as the place was reserved only for the exclusive use of the media guests.

For one joyous afternoon, it was the adults’ time to run around and play their hearts out as Dreamplay Manila was the venue for City of Dreams Manila’s 2017 Media Appreciation Lunch. I remember attending the previous year’s exquisite edition at Nobu restaurant (read about it here) where I even won one of the featured prizes, but this event was going to be totally different. One thing was sure though, there would still be amazing raffles and prizes to be given away to lucky guests so everyone was really excited.

The fun starts at the ticket counter where invited media guests were given their Dreamplay wrist tags to serve as their ticket and identification inside the theme park. A Weekday Pass at Dreamplay costs P680 per person while a Holiday and Weekend Pass costs P880. Dreamplay Manila is a great venue not just for kids, but also for corporate team building events as guests will have a totally different kind of experience.

Guests with a sense of adventure can head over to the Thread of Enlightenment where their speed and balancing skills will be put to the test. You don’t have to be an expert in Kung Fu to conquer this obstacle, but you definitely need to be quick and nimble.

To make it more interesting, there were a few attractions where the best and fastest guests at the end of the afternoon will win special prizes from City of Dreams Manila. That encouraged everyone to do their best to claim the trophy. The Wall of Destiny was one of these attractions which will test your warrior skills as you make your way to the top of the wall.

Since I was diagnosed with Avascular Necrosis last year due to complications with my Lupus medications, I am not able to do strenuous activities anymore, especially climbing and running. So I was content with watching my other friends complete these very tough courses. 

Stairway to Heaven really takes a lot of skill to finish, especially getting to that topmost post. Mr. Jeng of Food in the Bag did his best Po impersonation as he Kung Fu Panda’d his way to the top.

But there was still one particular activity I could still join, and this was the Fast as Lightning Kung Fu Fighting at the Kung Fu Panda Dojo. All I had to do was to follow Po’s instructions on the screen and do my best synchronized Kung Fu moves. I think The Hungry Kat did pretty well and can really become a true Kung Fu master alongside Po and The Furious Five. 

The other areas at Dreamplay Manila were open for all the media guests to enjoy. This included a trip to Gingy's Kitchen where we all learned how to make a gingerbread man from Gingy himself! Together with Mr. Jeng and Bea Acosta from Clickthecity.com, we prepared our own gingerbread man and then ate him up afterwards.

There are many places to explore at Dreamplay Manila. You can go inside Shrek’s Treehouse, play with dragons at the How To Train Your Dragon activity, or climb up the many slides and stairs you can find, even when the sign says not to.

We even got to see Shrek himself as he was proposing to his love, Fiona! Everyone felt like kids again and took turns taking photos with all the friendly characters from Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar, Shrek and other Dreamplay movies.

After doing all those activities, it was finally time for a grand lunch at Chez Gingy, the colorful cafe outside Gingy’s Kitchen which was converted into a showcase for City of Dreams Manila’s distinguished restaurants.

Nobu Manila had its own section filled with delicious items that I fondly remember from my visits to this prestigious restaurant. 

I particularly liked the Bigeye Tuna Sashimi Salad with Matsuhisa Dressing that gives it that distinct Asian Peruvian flavor. They also served a Philippine Style Seafood Ceviche with Coconut Vinaigrette that was also an interesting item.

I was so happy to find the creamy 52 Degree Egg with Truffle which I had before at The Tasting Room. The rich egg yolk cooked in olive oil is enhanced further as it is coated in a potato mousse topped with caramelized onions, salty bacon bits, Iberico ham and finally, truffle. Incidentally, The Tasting Room has just reopened at its new location inside Crown Towers with a new Chef de Cuisine. I will have to visit this Michelin-starred restaurant again soon.

The Salmon Wellington was also a great dish with its light puff pastry covering a well-cooked salmon.

For desserts, a Grand Chocolate Fountain was set up in the middle of the cafe with fresh strawberries, melon, marshmallows, plus Vanilla and chocolate pound cake.

Guests could also have all the ice cream that they wanted from the many available ice cream flavors. I had some scoops of Salted Caramel ice cream together with Cookies and Cream then topped with cookies.

The highlight of the dessert station was definitely the liquor-infused chocolates. These bite-sized chocolates were filled with various liquors including Macallan 12 Years, Morangie 12 Years, Royal Salute 21 Years, and Chivas Regal 25 Years.

During our Media Appreciation Lunch, the guests were also treated to a couple of entertaining performances from City of Dreams Manila and the Dreamplay characters. It was like having a children’s party, but for adults!

It was then time to announce the winners for the special prizes and the raffles. Mr. Jeng ended up winning the Best Social Media Post Award and got himself a Nobu Sunday Brunch buffet for two persons. Many exciting prizes were also raffled off including free buffets, party packages, overnight stays at Nobu Manila and the grand prize of an overnight stay in the Presidential Suite!

It was also time to announce the best players for Dreamplay. I only joined one of the activities, but would you believe that I ended up winning the Kung Fu Panda challenge? That’s even with my limited mobility. Maybe I do have potential to be a Kung Fu warrior. Property President Geoff Andres handed over my prize of a One-hour treatment at the Nobu Spa good for two persons. Someone was very happy with my prize.

City of Dreams Manila Vice President for Public Relations, Charisse Chuidian, closed the fun and exciting Media Appreciation Lunch with a few words from playwright George Bernard Shaw, saying that “we don’t stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.” Even as adults, I don’t think that we should ever stop playing, because there is always that kid inside of us that appreciates the beauty of life. Congratulations to City of Dreams Manila and I’m looking forward to another fruitful partnership in 2018.

Related Links

Hyatt City of Dreams Manila: A Luxurious Escape From the City

Sunday Brunch at The Cafe in Hyatt City of Dreams Manila

Nobu Hotel at City of Dreams Manila

Luxurious Japanese Buffet at the Nobu Sunday Brunch

A Majestic Stay and Dine Experience at Crown Towers Manila

Cantonese Cuisine Fit for an Emperor at Crystal Dragon

Royal Cuisine of Thailand at Red Ginger in City of Dreams Manila

Jing Ting at City of Dreams Manila Introduces Northern Chinese Cuisine

Dreamplay Manila

Upper Ground Floor City of Dreams Manila, Entertainment City, Paranaque

808-0909

Mon-Thurs: 10am-9pm

Weekend & Holidays: 9am-10pm