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post-itpenny · 4 years ago

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Magnetic

Decided to do some slasher writing. Continuing on with Chloe’s introduction and her first ever round of The Ringmaster’s carnival games. Poem excerpts from Christina Rossetti’s The Goblin Market.

Goblin Games

“Morning and evening

Maids heard the goblins cry:

“Come buy our orchard fruits,

Come buy, come buy.”

A foolish, young couple wandered in like flies to fresh cut melon, swatted at just as quick too.

Pulled from each other’s fingertips tossed in cages. The Ringmaster was almost disappointed how short this round of the game was, but at least the tigers would be well fed tonight.

The rest that would follow were just as quickly disposed of, blindly lured in by some unknown temptation. They were all given the rules, though most didn’t listen. The Ringmaster valued a fair game though, so the rules were given the same.

The screams that filled the air after- delicious.

But here now was the last one, The Ringmaster mused her to be much like the injured child who could not keep up with the others so blindly following the pied piper.

But this one was aware of the danger, she was afraid. It was a curious thing when she entered anyway.

She stepped past the ticket booth, the Ringmaster gently ushering her inside.

“We must not look at goblin men,

We must not buy their fruits:

Who knows upon what soil they fed

Their hungry thirsty roots?”

There was a snap, the midway lighting up. “Welcome! Welcome my dear! How glorious you could join us here at the greatest show on Earth!”

A scream cut through the air, the girl flinched, but did not run.

How curious indeed.

“I do believe you’re the last guest of the evening. Allow me to introduce myself as Mr. Blair P. Gheist. May I say I am utterly delighted to have you joining us.” The Ringmaster greeted as he took the girl’s hand with a light peck to her knuckles.

“C-Chloe.”

He arched an eyebrow, most didn’t introduce themselves. “It’s wonderful of you to pay my humble circus a visit Miss Chloe. Tell me, what is it you most wish to experience tonight Hmm? The acrobatics? Perhaps our fine collection of some of the most exotic animals here on Earth?”

The girl pulled her hand away, her breathing rapid as she looked off in the distance towards the screams.

The Ringmaster watched her intently, gently hooking his finger under her chin and turning her head to face him.

“Perhaps a game?”

The girl- Chloe- slowly nodded. Stepping just out of his reach. The Ringmaster did not pursue, merely leaning on his cane with a devilish grin. “Do you enjoy games then? Normally I place the rule that winners are allowed to leave. But perhaps we could switch things up? If you win I will let them go, all of them.”

“Alive.”

Blair blinked, then smiled again. “But of course. Now my dear, allow me to explain the rules.”

She listened, she actually listened to everything that was explained. She asked questions to clarify, timidly of course but she still asked. She was without a doubt most deserving of a favorite game here at the circus-

Hide and Seek.

“Remember now,” The Ringmaster prompted, “all you have to do is not get caught for thirty minutes.” He glanced at her leg, “of course you get a head start-“

“I don’t need it, I’m fast enough.”

“I would hope you are Miss Chloe,” he responded, “you’re going to need it.” But I do need a chance to count so-“

He grinned, a hand curling over his eyes as he began to count out loud.

She took off running, navigating stalls and tents as The Ringmaster’s voice rang across the circus grounds. Chloe turned a corner. Around her now shadows loomed from the booths and stalls. Clowns with homicidal grins, acrobatics whose joints didn’t look quite right. She nearly crashed into a stagehand who took a casual swing at her with a sledgehammer.

Chloe backpedaled and ran another direction. Ducking into a tent.

She climbed around storage boxes and into a small nook away from the tent sides.

It had grown quiet.

Chloe forced her breathing to steady. Listening intently to the sound of approaching footsteps. They stopped outside the tent, only a moment before moving on.

She breathed a sigh of relief-

There was a loud “bang!” As Chloe was surrounded by an explosion of light.

She shrieked and covered her head, hearing an insane laugh as she pulled herself together and ran out of the tent.

Down the isles for the Midway Chloe ran. Never far behind her was The Ringmaster who always seemed to know what she would go.

She was interesting to watch run, despite the given limp from her prosthetic leg the girl was athletic. Blair casually jogging behind, normally he would just walk but this one didn’t just run blindly. She truly was doing everything in her power to win.

She skidded around a corner and misjudged her speed. Stumbling into a booth with a terrible crash.

The Ringmaster giggled, reaching out with a hand. “Terrific job so far my dear, but you could stand to practice the landing.”

Chloe panicked, backing into the debre, trapped as he grinned down at her. “You’ve done very well, there’s no need to panic my dear Chloe.”

“Stay away!”

“Shh, hush now. The game is almost over, and you have been splendid. Take a deep breath my dear, rest a moment.”

Without thinking Chloe did as she was told. Breath slowing down but still watching a The Ringmaster inched closer. “Most don’t make it this far, it’s admirable really.”

She gripped the strap of her guitar, calming down but still weary.

Blair offered an encouraging smile and inched closer. “Let me help you up, no strings attached.”

“The rules were Mr. Gheist, if you tag me game over. That counts right?”

Oh.

Oh this one was-

Blair grinned. “You paid attention!”

“So it’s an out yes?”

“An exception just this once, trust me. The game is almost over anyways”

She was tired, he could tell. But she couldn’t tell there was still twenty minutes on the clock.

He held out his and again, delighted as she raised her own, fingertips just inches away. She was tired and oblivious. Perhaps he cou-“

WHAM!

If all the things that The Ringmaster had experienced in his carnival games over the years, being hit in the face with a guitar had never been one of them. She stumbled back as he stuttered between curses of pain and a sick laughter. She ran away as fast as she could.

It was delightful.

“One may lead a horse to water,

Twenty cannot make him drink.”

A fighter- a clever and resourceful thing, a fighter. He needed something like that, and if she wasn’t too broken by the end then perhaps he would add her to the troup.

Tossing his top hat aside, he ran after her.

The spectators were whipped into a frenzy. No longer silent watchers, they screamed and laughed. Shoving Chloe if she got too close. Applauding when their boss sprinted by. Her movement was a strange loping one, her speed hindered by the leg. But she did not stop running no matter how much it hurt.

Chloe turned a corner, not realizing her mistake as she entered a building.

The Funhouse.

The entry room was dark, a relief from the bright lights of the Midway, a place to actually hide.

The lights flashed on, she blinked away the spots from her eyes at the sudden light. Screaming at the sight of a corpse flayed and pinned to the wall.

She turned around, The Ringmaster grinning wickedly at her with his hand on the switch, around them whirled to life the sounds of gears turning and music picking up.

He waited, she still had fourteen minutes on the clock. Would she try to dodge around him, or go in?

Would she simply fall to the floor and beg like some of her friends did earlier?

Chloe turned, diving through the small door underneath the Corpse.

Stumbling through dimly lit and tilting hallways, trying doors that led to nowhere. The music was loud and lights would flash. Walls damp with blood as she entered one room that could only be described as an explosion of gore. The smell hit her and she had to stop and vomit twice.

Chloe kept going.

He followed her, shimmying through tight hallways and climbing over obstacles. He pulled something from his pocket, tossing it over her head and down the hall. Covering his own eyes before it hit the ground.

She screeched at the small explosion. Blinded by the sudden light and running without any idea where she was going.

SMACK

She screamed again at the feeling of The Ringmaster’s cane slamming into her back, to her credit she did not falter however. She kept running.

She regained her eyesight to find herself surrounded by herself. A hall of mirrors that twisted and distorted the world. Everywhere she turned was a dead end. Slamming into mirrors as trying desperately to get through. It was so loud here, and their air had changed; now sweet smelling but heavy. Lights an array of colors. She struggled to think, she struggled to breathe.

He found her there, collapsed and hyperventilating.

Blair eyed her before pulling out his pocket watch.

Five minutes.

He sighed, readying his cane much like a club.

Chloe glanced over her shoulder, crawling away best she could. Her prosthetic refusing to cooperate.

He chuckled and hooked the fake leg. Pulling her back towards him.

Four minutes.

“Color me surprised Miss Chloe but most don’t last this long. I would tip my hat to you but I left it quite a ways back.”

Using his cane he flipped her over by the leg. She looked up at him, eyes wide and lungs struggling for air.

“G-g-game?”

Blair grinned, “not over yet I’m afraid. But you’ve been such a sport, I’ll allow your little friends to live if you give up.”

“B-b-b-” she paused and took a massive gulp of air, she was sobbing now.

“But you? Well you lose, you don’t leave.”

Three minutes.

“It’s time to close out the show dear, don’t you think?”

She was in hysterics, her body exhausted and her mind losing to the assault brought on by the hall of mirrors. Chloe flipped herself over and dragged herself across the floor.

Two minutes

The Ringmaster cackled as he hooked her leg again with his cane and dragged her back. He winced, the room was getting louder, it wasn’t supposed to do that.

She kicked out at him, trying to scramble to her feet, hands clamped over her ears and eyes screwed shut.

One Minute.

It would dawn on him later that the volume was due to the loud whispers that had joined the cacophony of music and random sound he had intended for room to hold. But at this moment even the Ringmaster struggled as his ears were assaulted.

Later on her would argue that he had been cheated.

Underneath the racket came the soft chime of The Ringmaster’s pocket watch.

The sounds stopped.

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sincerelyreidburke · 4 years ago

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Can we hear more about the time nando got in a fight on the ice and got ejected 👀👀👀 and why this upset quinn?? 👀👀👀

Yes, let’s absolutely talk about this. And please do forgive me for the slight delay on this one, as I was getting my thoughts together.

Here’s the original post where I brought this up, in the context of a bunch of reasons Quinn would get mad at Nando. Since apparently “Quinn and Nando fighting or bickering” is a train of thought we’ve been on in the past 24 hours (this post went up yesterday, about their first Actual Big Fight), let’s go down this road now.

TW: on-ice homophobia, implied racism, and general hate. I won’t type out any slurs, of course, but I’ll imply some really shitty things being said by a Bad Guy.

(Ask me anything about the crickets!)

- So a little backstory. We’ve established that Nando is a walking target for some of the ugliest hate hockey culture can spew. Is this his fault? Of course not. Nando should not have to deal with so much awful just for being who he is in the sport he loves. But does this cause him difficulty growing up in the sport and playing in college, despite being unjust? Absolutely, yes.

- The thing about Nando is that while guys on opposing teams (and, pre-Samwell, sometimes his own teammates) won’t hesitate to throw hateful chirps his way, Nando is also a.) not afraid to stand up for himself, and b.) gigantic.

- Look, all I’m saying is, if I were an asshole on an opposing team, I wouldn’t make fun of the biggest guy on the ice. No matter how much my toxic urges were telling me to do so.

- But Nando also doesn’t like always having to be a ‘violent’ player on the ice. He’s a d-man, and an enforcer, and a lot of his retaliation for the hate he gets comes in the form of legal checks, concentration on defending one player, light tousles after whistles, that kind of thing.

- He’s always trying to find the balance between standing up for himself (and people like him who get the same treatment) and getting in trouble for fighting too much. We know Nando’s off-ice personality, and we know he isn’t aggressive in the slightest. On-ice Nando isn’t afraid to get in a scuffle, but he doesn’t like getting in huge fights on the regular.

- The one little confrontation he got in in this fic is pretty demonstrative of how he is on the ice, usually. In that situation, somebody makes a dirty move and trips Touille, and Nando jumps to defend him, then gets in a little tousle with the guy, winds up getting penalized, and is smug when he goes to the box. Nando is generally pretty shameless about fighting when it means he’s standing up for teammates or friends.

- He doesn’t really start fights unprovoked. There’s always a cause.

- Okay, so my point going through all of this is to establish that Nando walks a careful line between standing up for himself and others and trying not to constantly get penalized or thrown out because of the roughing he gets into. I don’t mean roughing in the technical hockey penalty sense of the word; I just mean fighting.

- Anyway. Nando doesn’t get thrown out of games often. Tousling on the ice is a part of hockey, and it has to get really bad for you to get ejected, at least from what I understand about the game. (I’ve never played, but I’ve grown up in some serious hockey country, and I’ve watched my fair share of NHL, college, and youth-level games.) I actually would say that at Samwell, Nando probably doesn’t get ejected more than maybe once before this incident that I’m going to talk about right now.

- It takes a lot for him to get into a fight that’s ejection-level. For the one time it happens prior to this, I think there was likely some kind of really awful racial hate speech being thrown around on the ice, and he just can’t not fight back about that kind of stuff.

- So finally, we reach the incident you actually asked about. This is junior year. It’s once the season has already been going on for a little while, probably one of the last games of fall semester or one of the first of spring semester.

- Quinn is manager. Therefore, he travels with the team and sits on the bench for games. This is notable because this is, although not directly, the cause of the incident.

- I wrote in this Quindo facts post about some little routines they adopt once Quinn becomes manager, and the one I want to bring to your attention now is the little pregame tradition they have where Nando skates over to him on the bench and gets a little kiss. It’s always just a quick peck and a few words of encouragement from Quinn to him, and it’s very very soft. It starts probably around the second or third game of the season, and they just wind up adopting it as a post-warmup pre-puck-drop ritual.

- Why? Look, there are several reasons. First, they love each other. So jot that down. But kissing on the bench, in plain sight of plenty of college-hockey-TV-broadcast cameras and potential NHL scouts and spectators and opposing team members, isn’t just about their own internal relationship. That’s a deliberate and intentional action that they take because they want to make the ice a safe place.

- This is really important to Nando in particular. He grew up fully aware of how hateful hockey can be, and by doing this— kissing his boyfriend in plain sight before every game he plays— he’s making an active statement about himself and about the fact that there is a place for people like him in the game. He’s continuing, in a sense, what Jack and Bitty started.

- But. Of course, this decision comes with its own difficulties.

- I think Quinn is fully conscious, and a little wary, of the fact that being open about his relationship with Nando as he assumes the position of manager will mean that Nando could be targeted on the ice for even more hate than he already gets. Nando is openly gay, but this situation puts his specific relationship a bit more on display, and, well... okay, let’s just say I feel like it would be much easier to target a guy for his gay relationship when his boyfriend is literally sitting twenty feet away on the bench.

- My point is: Nando wouldn’t change his openness about his relationship with Quinn for a second, but it does create another way for opposing teams to jab at him.

- Look, hockey is, as a whole, a really cruel, really toxic sport, with an environment to match. And SMH is the most supportive team Nando could ask for, but that doesn’t mean that when they leave the confines of practice at Faber, everybody else is going to be just as loving and welcoming.

- So they’re at this game. It’s a home game. Nando and Quinn go about their usual pregame business, and some particularly assholish guy on the other team takes note of that.

- Samwell is losing the game. This guy, along with probably a few of his teammates, starts heckling Nando. It starts as just a few comments, and it grows steadily until he sort of ends up cornering him.

- Nando really tries so hard to let most things roll off his shoulders when it comes to the stuff that gets said to him on the ice. There’s so much of it, and he has so much practice just trying to brush it off. But this time is a little different. This time, the guy says something directly about Quinn.

- I don’t actually feel like typing out exactly what the guy says. Just use your imagination. There are a lot of really cruel words you can use, and he uses many of them. The details of the confrontation aren’t something I feel is necessary to lay out here.

- Something about this, combined with the pressure from the fact that they’re losing, and the way the guy is sort of threatening and menacing in the way he speaks, sends Nando over the edge.

- So they get in a fight. It’s your standard hockey fight; it’s just heated enough that they both get thrown out of the game.

- Quinn watches all of this go down from the bench, and the reason he gets mad is because they discussed the fact that Nando wasn’t going to get himself in trouble defending against cruel things said by people who don’t matter.

- That kind of thing gets lost in the heat of the moment. Quinn watches him get sent down the tunnel, and there are a number of things going through his head: one, that he really hopes he’s not injured too badly, and two, that he’s going to chew him out for getting himself in trouble.

- I think they have an argument after the fact — and I wouldn’t count this at all as a big fight but more just a chance for them to weigh their conflicting opinions. Quinn marches right up to him in the locker room and he’s sort of like, Sebastián, what were you thinking? You could be suspended! You know the disciplinary people aren’t going to go easy on you—

- And Nando is like, baby, but if you heard what he said—

- And they go back and forth for a minute, like: I couldn’t just stand there and let him say that shit about you / but Sebastián, you know people are going to be awful about us; why would you let that jeopardize your ability to play? / because I had to stand up for you, baby— / It’s not a matter of standing up for me when it’s putting your own hockey life in danger!

- And basically, the reason Quinn gets not exactly mad at him but more just frustrated is because Nando, who operates with his emotions as the first driver at all times, refuses to regret defending Quinn’s honor on the ice. Quinn really doesn’t understand the full toxicity of hockey culture quite enough to realize why this is so important to Nando.

- This isn’t the kind of argument that lasts a long time. They get it out and then they’re okay; they have a much softer talk after the fact. This is how basically all of their disagreements tend to go.

- But yeah, that’s what happens! Nando is a rough boy on the ice and it scares/concerns Quinn. We love to see it.

I hope this answers your question!

#oc taddies #crickets #nandoooooooo #mini quinny #quindo

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shepherds-of-haven · 5 years ago

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Are there any popular sports or board games in Blest? Do people have something that's similar to tic tac toe or Cluedo?

Yes, there are plenty of sports and games in Blest--I’ll detail some of the most common or popular ones here (I had to look up Cluedo, by the way: you must be from the UK or Europe, anon? 😃):

Gonen is a game that Ket children and adults play that involves sitting cross-legged in a circle and throwing curved blades or circular throwing razor disks (weapons) to each other as fast as possible, without stopping, as fluidly as you can until someone gets cut (whoever gets injured and whoever threw the weapon to them are both the losers and the game resumes with them “out” until the last man is standing). Very young children can play this game with flat throwing stones, but it’s really not as fun. This is very popular among the Ket but non-Ket people are usually horrified lmfao.

Sui is a very popular chess or checkers-like board game that involves using themed tiles to capture your opponent’s in a kind of rock-paper-scissors dynamic? (Of if you’re familiar with Fire Emblem, the weapons triangle.) The most popular variants are flowers or blades! Blade and Trouble are actually playing it when you’re asked about your mage specialization in the alpha, though I think in the demo I mistakenly wrote gonen, lol. (Sui is a simplification of an older and far more complex Mage game, Suisara, which Riel and Red prefer to play instead.)

“Elements” is also a popular tile-based Elvish game that you can actually play with Tallys in the story: you have a bunch of small tiles flipped upside-down and you flip one at the same time as your opponent, revealing a symbol: water beats fire, fire beats leaf, etc... again, it’s basically like rock paper scissors with a random element thrown in, lol. [SPOILERS] Tallys turns it more into a 20 questions drinking game, which is what a lot of people also do, lol.

Clash is a newer Norm card game that’s gaining popularity in the West and heading towards where the characters of ShoH live. You can collect different characters, who have different movesets and abilities that correspond to dice rolls, and different artists and merchants often carry specially-made characters/decks based on regional figures of popularity (one of Lavinet’s cousins, a young duke, has his own card, much to her deep annoyance). Caine owns a deck and his deepest wish is that someone makes cards out of the Shepherds lolol sometimes he and his friends play with their own doodled versions!

As for sports, there are lots to choose from, from spectator events like horse-racing and archery/jousting/sword-fighting/quarterstaff/boxing tournaments to more specialized games. Ket don’t really play games like soccer where they directly compete against each other (too much bloodfeud fljglfjg) but they do have very popular Olympic sports-like events that can run for days on end. Norm nobles sometimes play sports similar to golf, tennis, or bowling (though they all have different names), while commoners have been known to play variants of soccer and tackle football. There used to be a few magic-based sports among Mages (like racing via teleportation, using levitation to play Jenga or stacking with certain objects) but these aren’t played out in the open anymore!

Thanks for the great question! :)

#Shepherds of Haven #sports #worldbuilding #games

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seimeiyuzu · 6 years ago

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Yuzuru Hanyu- How popular he is in Japan?

David Fieldman

(Yuzu is popular all over the world, right?)

This text is touching and interesting:

“Japan's hero Yuzuru Hanyu has two Olympic golds - and eight bodyguards

Bishōnen is a popular term in Japanese anime, meaning a beautiful young man whose appeal is universal. In PyeongChang, a bishōnen returned to the ice rink with grace and made history by sweeping the gold in men’s figure skating in back-to-back Olympics, reenacting a feat achieved 66 years ago.

The beautiful young man from a “different dimensional world,” also a term from Japanese anime, was Yuzuru Hanyu. At the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, Hanyu, considered the prince of figure skating, rose to the stature of king. And in the PyeongChang Winter Games, Hanyu, despite the obstacles placed in his path and is close to becoming a legend.

This is a Tencent Sports exclusive on the behind-the-scenes life of the “figure skating prince” who resurrected a 66-year history in PyeongChang. The charismatic Hanyu, who was instrumental in the upsurge in the popularity of figure skating in Japan, was undoubtedly one of the the saviors of the box office of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, as well as the ‘cash cow’ of Japan’s sports sector.

Recreating a legend

The place was the Gangneung Ice Arena, the date February 17.

The ice was like a silver plate, giving off a bedazzling shine. Yuzuru Hanyu gracefully slid to the center of the silver plate, making the thousands of spectators at the site, together with his fans watching him perform on TV, catch their breath.

This was PyeongChang. The winner of the gold in men’s singles figure skating in the Sochi 2014 Winter Games was here to go for the second Olympic gold he had been long dreaming of. If he succeeded, he would reenact history after 66 years, becoming the sport’s first two-time men’s champion at the Winter Games since Richard Button of the United States in 1952.

Hanyu’s PyeongChang tour had a smooth start. In the short program on February 16, he stunned the audience by perfectly gliding to Chopin’s Ballade No.1. The zero-error performance fetched him a high score of 111.68, approaching his season’s best, 112.72.

After the event, Hanyu was deluged by Winnie-the-Pooh plush toys rained down on him by cheering fans. The number “111.68” instantly became the most searched word online in Japan. Figure skating fans across the world began to look forward to the birth of a legend. On February 17, when the free skating event would be held, would Hanyu make history?

In the free skating event, Yuzuru Hanyu chose classic Japanese music Seimei, the soundtrack from the film Onmyoji. It was a decision that he had made two seasons ago. Skating to Seimei, in every move that he made, even in every breath, Hanyu no doubt identified himself with the protagonist of the story, 10th-century astronomer Abe no Seimei, a character who was wise, valiant and ready to protect others.

“I am the onmyoji,” went the music, onmyoji literally meaning an embalmer. “If not me, who would be Seimei protecting the dead from evil spirits?”

When the music played, Hanyu’s delicate performance at the center of the silver plate was sheer magic, casting a spell on his audience.

He started with a quad Salchow, steadily landing on the ice on his right blade. It triggered a volley of applause. Most spectators did not realize that it was only one month ago that he had resumed training on ice and just three months since injuring his right ankle while preparing for the NHK Trophy.

A faultless quad toe loop followed. Then he made a triple Axel jump, which was also a success. After that, he reeled slightly while landing a quad toe loop but immediately steadied himself with competence, smiling.

After his final spin, Hanyu landed at the center of the silver plate and stood still. This was it! Then he clutched his fists, bent his head toward the ground and bowed to the stand. The judges showed their appreciation of his performance by awarding him a high score of 317.85.

Once the score of the last skater Shoma Uno was given, Hanyu clinched his championship with the highest tally. The brave but quiet young man burst into tears, murmuring “Thank you” in Japanese at the cameras.

‘A big heart under a lissome figure’

“In the past, I went through a lot, becoming almost like an amine book character that gets injured again and again. Even three month before the Olympics, I had a serious foot injury. I am a human being, not god. It was incredible how so much misfortune happened to me.”

At the press conference after the award ceremony, Yuzuru Hanyu said he had turned his own life into a passionate anime.

Born in Sendai in Japan, he still remembered the painful impact of the horrifying tsunami and earthquake that hit northeast Japan. Even on that joyful night when he successfully defended his championship in PyeongChang, he remembered the trauma.

“There was no water, electricity or gas,” he recalled.

What devastated him was the loss of the ice rink in Sendai. To a figure skater, losing his training ground means losing everything.

He had no choice but to turn to his primary school teacher in Yokohama. When he left Sendai, he cried and told his teacher: “I am tired. Is it possible for me to continue my career as a figure skater?” Since then, his teacher began taking him to compete in every game across the country to provide him with training opportunities. It was the support of the audience and ice rink operators that made him succeed in Sochi.

In Sochi, Hanyu realized his dream of winning an Olympic gold in figure skating. After that, he claimed two silvers in the World Championships in 2015 and 2016. In the 2017 World Championships, he stunned the world once again.

“A lonely king.” That was how Hanyu was seen among the global figure skating community before the 2017-2018 Olympic season.

However, fate never allows superheroes an easy and straight path to success.

During a practice session for the NHK Trophy on November 9, 2017, Yuzuru Hanyu injured his right ankle while attempting a quad Lutz.

On November 10, 2017, Hanyu missed the NHK Trophy. December 14 was the day he was supposed to return to practice on the ice. However, it was announced that the skater was suffering from inflammation of his Achilles tendon and ankle bone.

On December 24, the Japanese Olympic Committee released the list of figure skaters for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games. Yuzuru Hanyu had made it to the list with his impeccable performance. The others chosen along with him were Shoma Uno and Keiji Tanaka.

When Hanyu became injured, his fans across Japan went to the Go’o Shrine in Kyoto, a poplar shrine in Japan for those seeking good health or to ward off bad luck, to pray for his recovery.

Finally on January 16, 2018, the good news that Hanyu had resumed practice on ice came from Toronto, Canada, where Hanyu lives and practices. It was less than a month before the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games on February 9.

On January 13, Hanyu did his first practice on the official ice rink after arriving in Gangneung. During the 40-minute session, he made 21 jumps, eight of which were quads including the toe loop and Salchow. But he could execute only five of them successfully. On January 15, he did his free skating item to the accompaniment of the Seimei soundtrack. This was the first time he did a quad in front of the world media after the NHK Trophy accident.

Until 8:30 a.m. on February 17 when the free skating competition was held, he had not decided on the final composition and whether he should perform his best but the most difficult move, the quad loop. In five hours, he performed his full set of free skating moves, which included three kinds of quads for safety reasons, changing the quad loop planned in the beginning to a quad Salchow.

Even though he won, his right foot had not fully recovered. When jumping on the podium, he carefully avoided landing on his right foot. At the press conference, he expressed his appreciation of the people who had extended a helping hand to him over the past years. However, he didn’t say whether he would try to be the figure skating champion three times in a row by taking part in the Beijing 2022 Winter Games.

“I will have surgery and get my injured foot treated,” he said.

A perfectionist’s regrets

“I love that powerful heart under his enchanting appearance,” Japan’s Sankei Shimbun’s figure skating correspondent told Tencent Sports in PyeongChang. Yuzuru Hanyu is “a real different figure from a different dimensional world,” the journalist said.

“NO MISS!” “111.68 points!” “Perfect!” On February 16, after the men’s singles short program, these entries made their way in quick succession to the list of Japanese hot words on Yahoo. After the free skating, Hanyu had been saying repeatedly that he had failed to come up with a zero-error performance. “I still have too many shortcomings,” he said with regret.

But within 24 hours of February 16, his performance was described by the Japanese media as being “zero error,” “perfect,” and even “top-ranking,” which must have been the perfectionist’s revenge for his lapses in Sochi four years ago.

“I know the taste of the Olympics.” “I’m going to avenge myself for the Sochi Winter Olympics tomorrow,” Hanyu said animatedly many times during interviews after the men’s short program.

The 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games saw the 19-year-old crowned in his Olympic debut. He performed gracefully and calmly, garnering the highest score in the men’s singles short program at the Winter Games (101.45). However, in free skating, he was slightly nervous and made some mistakes. So his performance could not be described as perfect. Though he finally defeated Canadian Patrick Chan, who had bagged three consecutive world championships, Hanyu said after the Games that he was not satisfied about his performance, even “very depressed.”

The night at Sochi revealed Hanyu’s perfection complex. He admitted that he wanted to know “the taste of being a real champion.” “No matter when and where in the future, I will have a perfect interpretation with zero error like Evgeni Plushenko did.”

After the Sochi Olympics, Hanyu published his autobiography Blue Flames II, in which he further explained his “ideal.” The reason why he held Plushenko as his idol and hero was that the Russian never lost in any contingency or won on the basis of a miraculous one-time victory. Hanyu was obsessed with being supreme and invincible.

In this book, Hanyu shared a rarely shown old photograph. It was of him standing before a Christmas tree, a personable young boy with a touch of melancholy in his eyes.

That was the winter of 2004. The nine-year-old was obsessed with Plushenko, showing his admiration by even having a retro mushroom haircut like the Russian’s.

The young boy was fascinated by the idol’s performance in the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympic Games though at that time, Hanyu was only seven years old. Five years later, when he took part in the Japan Junior Figure Skating Championships, he looked to carry himself in the graceful style of Plushenko.

Hanyu moved up to the seniors at the age of 17. Whenever he met the Russian emperor of figure skating, Hanyu would quietly consult Plushenko on the secrets of the quad jump or the Biellmann spin. Plushenko always encouraged Hanyu, saying, “Beat me!” “Overtake me!” In Sochi, Plushenko was injured in an accident before the short program, but he accidentally witnessed the rise of the Japanese figure skater.

“Perhaps I used to be his idol, but now, Hanyu is my idol. He is a genius!” Plushenko remarked.

On hearing that Hanyu was injured before the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics, Plushenko, by then a loyal Hanyu fan, rooted for him, firmly believing Hanyu could retain his title.

After Hanyu succeeded in defending his title, Plushenko, who won the Olympic gold medals twice but could not defend his championship, sent his best wishes, saying, “I am proud of Hanyu! He is amazing.” When Hanyu was asked at the press conference whether he had finally overtaken his idol, he replied modestly, “I am still far behind.”

Winnie-the-Pooh

To what extent can a sports star’s popularity impact certain events and the development of the related economy? Hanyu is a sterling example.

In PyeongChang, Hanyu was undoubtedly the hottest and most sought-after name.

Figure skating has a tradition of the audience throwing plush toys at the end of a skate. After his performance on February 16, his favorite cartoon character Winnie the Pooh began to rain down on him.

“This is not rain, it is hail! A storm!” It almost turned the Gangneung Ice Arena into a sea of plush toys, making even veteran sports journalists from all over the world speechless.

Hanyu, Asia’s first Winter Olympic champion in men’s singles figure skating as well as the youngest Olympic gold medalist in that category, won the title of “Japan’s most favorite male athlete” in 2017 by virtue of his formidable strength, winsome appearance and the support of his large number of fans worldwide.

On February 11, Hanyu was mobbed by a large number of fans as soon as he arrived at Incheon International Airport. The next day, during his first official public training, Hanyu stayed at the ice rink for only 15 minutes, but attracted more than 100 reporters. Half an hour before the training, more than 50 cameras from 15 television stations from around the world were in place, and the latecomers didn’t even have a place to stand.

On the third day, Hanyu held a press conference. The conference hall, which could accommodate 100 people, was crammed with more than 150 media outlets, and the crowd spilled over into the corridor. Such spectacular scenes have long been a commonplace for the Japanese media. In the summer of 2017, Hanyu’s new season programs disclosure conference held at his perennial training base in Toronto, Canada, attracted dozens of Japanese media outlets all the way from the other side of the globe.

In the short program on February 16, Hanyu made his official appearance for the first time since disappearing from the public for 100 days due to his injury. His fans from Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam and Japan turned the stadium into his home court and showcased a magnificent cosplay.

“Hanyu has fans all over Japan, and even the world, from all genders and ages. There are also spontaneously formed fan clubs in countries like Italy and Russia,” a loyal fan of Hanyu said.

In PyeongChang, there was a feeling of family solidarity among his fans though they came from all over the world.

On the day of the short program, a girl from Taiwan got up at 3 a.m., left her hotel at 4, and began to line up to see Hanyu’s official training from 5. During the break, she got a surprise gift - a Winnie the Pooh plush toy, given by Hanyu’s fans from the Chinese mainland.

After the special press conference, journalists from the BBC, Japanese television stations and Chinese media outlets began to interview each another, turning the conference to a “global fans (journalists) meeting.” In order to interview Hanyu, media outlets worldwide, including the BBC and Reuters, sent Japanese-speaking journalists.

Entourage

On February 17, when the press conference for the gold, silver and bronze winners was held, after the 30-minute question answer round, it was finally time for the photo session. As photographers flocked to the champions, Hanyu swiftly pushed aside the nameplates and water bottles in front of them, then put his arms around Shoma Uno and bronze winner Javier Fernandez of Spain, flashing his signature ingenuous smile.

It was not just removing the nameplates and water bottles for photographers’ cameras; it was the manifestation of his natural character, unpretentious and spontaneous.

He doesn’t regard himself as someone special, even though crowned double Olympic champion.

How does Yuzuru Hanyu win so many fans across the world? One small gesture may hold the answer.

While 1,000 readers may have 1,000 interpretations of Hamlet, Yuzuru Hanyu has one universal evaluation. The Hanyu reporters met in PyeongChang was an icon who regarded himself as an ordinary person, a heartthrob who was humble and polite.

After the short program on February 16, a photograph taken by the Japanese media went viral among Chinese online users, who exclaimed, “Hanyu is so wonderful!” It was during the interview of Hanyu’s fellow skater Shoma Uno. Hanyu sought to avoid taking away the limelight from Uno and to avoid the cameras, the Sochi gold medalist, the most shining star on that day, bent down and literally crept away from the stage, smiling shyly when he stood up finally.

And in another gesture, after the short program, Hanyu gently picked up a strawberry cake from the sea of Winnie the Pooh bears. “I will eat well, save energy and prepare for the free skating tomorrow,” he said. At the press conference, he considerately looked after Shoma Uno, who sat next to him, quietly telling him, “Don’t be nervous.” From time to time, he also helped Uno adjust his headphones which was relaying the simultaneous interpretation.

Every time Hanyu attended a press conference after a competition, he would always show consideration for the reporters who had been waiting for a long time and rush to meet them. “Please give me a minute,” he would say, bending down to remove the blades still attached to his boots. Then he would look at the media with a smile, and begin to answer every question seriously and sincerely.

“I cannot compare myself with Plushenko or Uno,” Hanyu said, calmly responding to the overwhelming applause he received after winning his second Olympic gold.

“Uno is three years younger. It seems I am in a slightly awkward position. Rather than competing, I would like to enjoy skating for as long as possible and hope other top skaters come up with more perfect performances,” he added.

His clear vision and crystal-transparent soul has won him numerous fans.

Unlike other athletes, Yuzuru Hanyu came to PyeongChang flanked by eight bodyguards. To ensure Hanyu’s safety, the Japanese Skating Federation had specifically requested the Japanese Olympic Committee to accord him “the highest Olympic privileges.”

Yuzuru Hanyu was the only athlete who came to PyeongChang with bodyguards. When his flight landed, he himself was taken aback by the treatment. As some foreign media commented, it was like escorting some invaluable gem.

Besides bodyguards, the Japanese Olympic Committee also arranged a press officer and a professional nutritionist team exclusively for Hanyu. The nutritionist team was formed in 2012 with professionals from the Japan Institute of Sports Sciences to ensure Hanyu took sufficient nutrients to be able to undertake the high-energy practice sessions. To the best of this writer’s knowledge, Yuzuru Hanyu is the only winter sports athlete who enjoys the privilege of having a press officer exclusively for him. Previously, only Kosuke Hagino, Japan’s competitive swimmer, had such a press officer. Even the famous Japanese footballers Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa did not have such a privilege.

His popularity is also reflected in The New York Times. After the short program, a New York Times reporter grabbed the opportunity to interview Hanyu at the media section. In an unprecedented move, the media officer of the Japanese delegation permitted the reporter to ask two questions.

It was not the first time that Yuzuru Hanyu made headlines in The New York Times. The first time was in the Sochi 2014 Winter Games when the 19-year-old won the gold in men’s figure skating, creating a sensation among his fans worldwide. Later, the magazine hailed him as “Michael Jackson on the Ice.”

Box office hit

After Yuzuru Hanyu won his second Olympic gold, Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) immediately put up an advertisement featuring him on Japan’s largest website Yahoo, saying there must be some reason for his power, like the reason ANA was the ideal airline for everyone.

When Yuzuru Hanyu claimed the gold in the Sochi 2014 Winter Games, he signed up with ANA as his sponsor, and endorsed Procter & Gamble products and Sendai Tourism. His fee for shooting a single advertisement rose to 50 million yen ($470,000) and recently, to 80 million yen ($752,000), equaling the fee of famous Japanese female figure skater Mao Asada.

On 2017 New Year’s Eve, Yuzuru Hanyu debuted on television as the judge of the 66th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen, or Japan’s New Year singing contest. This further increased Hanyu’s popularity in Japan, giving him the potential to overtake Japanese tennis player Kei Nishikori in popularity in the future.

The charismatic Hanyu is not only the cash cow of Japan’s sports sector, but also the savior of the box office of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games.

As a result of his overwhelming popularity, anything he does not only affects the mood of his fans around the world, but also impacts the organizers, sponsors and suppliers of every major figure skating event. Hanyu’s withdrawal from the NHK Trophy, the ISU Grand Prix and Japanese national championships because of his ankle injury caused direct losses for these events.

Within 48 hours of his withdrawal, the rating of NHK Trophy’s prime time broadcast dropped sharply. The average rating declined to 6.7 percent from the 16 percent in the previous year, when Hanyu was the champion. In December that year, the ISU Grand Prix held without Hanyu also witnessed a decline in rating from 17.6 percent in the previous year to 14 percent. The sales of the sport’s derivatives also suffered.

Under such circumstances, Hanyu’s fans, eager to watch the brilliance of the figure skating maestro again, could only pin their hopes on the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games.

Since the beginning of 2018, the South Korean media had been reporting that Yuzuru Hanyu may not compete in the group games or the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Games revenues may face a bleak prospect as a result. However, the International Olympic Committee answered this by presenting a clip, titled Yuzuru Hanyu, who is your opponent? on its official television station, which was well-received. Obviously, the purpose was to increase the revenue of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games.

According to previous reports by Lanxiong Sports, a Chinese online sports industry services provider, only 61 percent of Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Games tickets -- or 655,000 -- had been sold by the end of December 2017. However, the organizing committee said tickets for figure skating sold out as early as March 2017, bringing in revenue of 680 million South Korean won ($637,800).

During the Pyeongchang Games, over 10,000 Hanyu fans came to Gangneung, where the figure skating events were held. The 2,000 tickets sold out within hours of being up for sale.

“Hanyu’s remuneration is expected to rise by 1.5 times at least, if not be doubled, after he won the gold in PyeongChang,” a journalist from Asahi Shimbun, one of Japan’s largest daily newspapers, told Tencent Sports.

Although new figure skaters will come to the fore one after another, the emergence of the next Yuzuru Hanyu is still a distant possibility. Will Yuzuru Hanyu take part in the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games? It depends on whether his injured right ankle fully recovers in the coming years.”

www.quora.com

#yuzuru hanyu #the best figure skater ever #yuzu #winnie the pooh

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itisaghost · 6 years ago

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Want to Know More About Volleyball Training Equipment?

Whatever They Told You About volleyball training equipment Is Dead Wrong...And Here's Why

When you need to search for the Golf gear you can merely find incredible bargains on the internet. So as to play any game you have to have the equipment necessary. You need to supply the essential equipment to help in development and training. Also remember to be sure you've got the most acceptable equipment or support which you want.

Whatever They Told You About Volleyball Training Equipment Is Dead Wrong...And Here's Why

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In case you haven't played volleyball before there are town leagues that play in many municipalities and you'll often have the ability to discover church teams and recreational centers that likewise have teams out there which you join. Apart from that, it's likely to play volleyball. If you are a newcomer to volleyball, take a while to learn concerning the principles. Should you wish to join in and try beach volleyball, then all you need to do is get to the shore and play with!

Should you compare volleyball to golf you will understand that you're saving a lot of money. It is important to get a volleyball that's lasting and sturdy. Volleyball is a fantastic way to create friends, improve your wellbeing and exercise levels, and perfect your game playing skills. It's gained a lot of popularity through time, which is played in virtually every country around the globe. Beach volleyball isn't quite different to standard volleyball.

Together with the expanding speed of interest by both genders, Volleyball was eventually permitted to reach its whole possibility of popularity. Locate a classic volleyball you don't use too frequently. The volleyball should be of the ideal dimensions and the suitable material. Indoor Volleyball usually has steel poles which may be corrected in line with the grade of the net which you're playing on.

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freckles-with-green-eyes · 6 years ago

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The Volleyball Training Equipment Cover Up

When you should shop for the Golf equipment you can merely find incredible bargains online. So as to play any game you have to have the gear necessary. You need to supply the critical equipment to aid in training and development. Also remember to be certain you have the most acceptable equipment or support which you want.

The War Against volleyball training equipment

The gear isn't costly, and frequently, there'll be volleyball courts set up on popular beaches, so you're likely to have the ability to combine very easily. It is also accessible to protect the wrist, hand, and fingers, which can get seriously injured when the goalie is trying to protect against the soccer ball from making its way to the goal post. From that point, the gear may get increasingly more complicated, but it actually is determined by how much you've got to spend and how many times you play in the very first spot. Next you'll discuss how to monitor adequate gear whilst jointly with this you could also consider decent price deals to make a better purchase. It's critical to wear the proper Volleyball gear, largely from a security standpoint. The beach volleyball gear that you want is determined by where you're playing and what's provided already. One of the absolute most important exercise equipment employed in the sport is boxing gloves.

The Foolproof Volleyball Training Equipment Strategy

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When it has to do with coaching, you don't need to worry! If you are entirely inactive rather than training whatsoever, the GYM is a really great place to begin. Training rarely requires the use of free weights since they're used for muscle building purposes. When it has to do with on-ice training, the ideal thing a player can do to help their speed is to concentrate on their form. Formal training indicates they've fulfilled the prerequisites that are essential to educate the golf subjects to others. Trainer is your secret to excellence in every game and boxing isn't a exception.

For a newcomer, looking to adopt the straightforward boxing skills, it's important to bear in mind that sport isn't to be disregarded. It is possible to also consume energy or sports beverages, but just a few occasions. Fitness in Australia It isn't only sports which are at the center of fitness training. Some sports are a excellent deal more costly than many others like golf for example. If you must have a look at the sports from the spectators standpoint, perhaps it will not necessarily appear to be a sport where one can be seriously hurt.

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Together with the expanding rate of specialist interest by both genders, Volleyball was eventually permitted to reach its entire potential for popularity. Locate a classic volleyball you don't use too often. The volleyball should be of the perfect dimensions and the suitable material. Indoor Volleyball generally has steel rods that may be corrected in line with the grade of the net which you're playing on.

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cdrforea · 5 years ago

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Call of Duty: Warzone Review: The Definitive Battle Royale

New Post has been published on https://bestedevices.com/call-of-duty-warzone-review-the-definitive-battle-royale.html

Call of Duty: Warzone Review: The Definitive Battle Royale

Call of Duty: Warzone Review: Looting the Competition

"Call of Duty: Warzone is the final Battle Royale experience right now."

Enough unique aspects to stand out from the crowd

Decades of foundation ensure a solid experience

The looting mode is a welcome surprise

Position audio is somewhat overblown

Existing players may have a small charging advantage

After an embarrassing number of rumors and leaks, Call of Duty reentered the Battle Royale scene with Warzone for the second time. a free portion of the larger 2019 release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.

The first attempt to get on the train with the heavily marketed blackout was largely forgotten in the weeks after it started. Activision, probably worried about trying again, then sold its next annual shooter release without mentioning the mode that would eventually fill the empty space in its main menu.

However, Warzone doesn't just refer to the game's belated Battle Royale experience. A separate mode called Plunder is also available and could turn out to be the next big thing.

Since the advent of PUBG and Fortnite, the industry has been practically floating in Battle Royale variants. I wouldn't blame you for having all Battle Royale titles created equally, but the industry knows that blatant imitators don't float. Not if you need large numbers of players to get a single game going. Those who survive adhere to the defining characteristics of the genre: around a hundred players struggle to be the last to be on a battlefield that is gradually shrinking to the size of your average community allocation.

Warzone sticks to that, but brings decades of industrial polish and a few new ideas to the table.

Good morning Verdansk!

In the Warzone version of Battle Royale, the usual limit of 100 people is increased to 150 to allow the three-man team to line up. Just like EA's response with Apex Legends, Activision seems to be pushing for longevity through social interaction. The more the better and all of that. Camping is not a good spectator sport, and the bigger the squad, the more likely a hot-headed soldier will go against the grain. Pressing a forced group scenario won't help the scared lone wolf, but a "Mute All" button is clearly visible to rule out all of this potential negative energy.

Solo mode was introduced in a post-release patch, but since it can be removed at any time, get ready to roll the dice in a squad queue at some point in your career. After all, you can't expect every player to want their time to be at the command of a predetermined team. Form a ready-made strategy if you are looking for a maritime strategy and fraternal pats on the back and only deal with the fact that games are for some entertainment. no job.

What will help the conscious player, however, are the numerous respawn options that are available after taking a few too many on the chest. Squads can take seriously injured teammates, but even if you succumb to your injuries, it doesn't mean you're not in the game. Step into the bucket and you'll be kidnapped to the Gulag – a card that current Modern Warfare players are undoubtedly aware of – to win their freedom in a one-on-one game. The loadouts are chosen randomly each time. So you have to change your usual duel tactics to have a chance of winning. Live and you get a second chance on the field. Waste your chances or fall again, and surviving allies can throw some cash into a local donor box to bring you back again.

Competition creates innovation

The battle royale genre secured a place in the video game's hall of fame through its survival aspect at a time when sandbox survival simulations were making decent numbers. The idea that death means death resonated with those tired of the running and weapon tactics of most online shooters. It's interesting to see that competitors are gradually deciding to upset the delicate balance of the genre, but this second chance mechanic should make a huge contribution to promoting player loyalty.

Without a ranking season, top players will always mix with the less experienced and relative newcomers, so the 99% have little hope of ending a game. Where is it fun to step into the bucket faster than is required to load a lobby? What Call of Duty has done here may not seem to be in the best interests of the professionals, but in reality it is a way to give the less competitive people a reason to stay with them. Big esports players don't rely on respawns to get to the top. The only thing that should do this is to give more people the chance to enjoy the action while filling up the champions' points.

Constantly supplying the grinder with meat is not the only thing Warzone does to mix up the well-known formula. Do you feel selfish or don't you have a buddy who brings you back to life? With this money, you can collect your favorite killstreaks, extra ammo, or even extra armor if you expect a big brawl. The unpredictable nature of long-range killstreaks, drawn from nowhere, will prove to be just as annoying as any regular match, but it's hard to deny that gameplay spices that buy killstreaks can add to the otherwise predictable experience. Battle Royale fanatics have worked out a carefully orchestrated script for success over the years, and anything that shakes the status quo will give Warzone a definite reason to coexist with the established titles over time. And there is more to it than that.

Loadouts that come into play regularly reward a high-risk play style. They are similar to airdrops in the famous Battle Royale titles, but they do not offer random, high-level loot that everyone can argue about, but a selection of predefined loadouts, full kits with combat-ready tools and equipment to get you back in the fight. Warzone, like the others, also offers tiered loot. It is not immediately clear what rarity one weapon has over another, but expect those found in caches scattered around the site to have more accessories than the average assault rifle.

Finally, there are contracts and missions that you can find on site and that can be completed for a bit more money on the road. These mark targets (such as loot caches or even enemy squads) on the map and give the teams even more reasons to risk life and limb outdoors and actively look for ways to start a fight. Exploration is a big part of the Battle Royale experience, and Warzone is doing everything in its power to facilitate and promote the outbreak of violence. It sounds stressful, but it's another reason why I see it as an advantage over the competition when it comes to engaging players and viewers. It is rarely boring.

Looting is not a mistake

Aside from the Battle Royale aspect, there is another 50% of the Warzone experience – and that's the best part. At a time when we can't take two steps without falling from a plane into a life or death battle over a desert island, Plunder is here to offer something completely unique. The best parts of modes like Kill Confirmed and Search & Destroy are required to offer a huge cat and mouse game in the same expansive environment as its older siblings.

You won't find that many players in this mode, but it's the best. Groups of three players fall on the island (with their full loads) and sprint to get cash and deposit it for safe keeping. This is done by expensive balloons or by risking everything with a helicopter. If you die in cash on yourself, a substantial amount will be deducted with the aim of securing the best before the long timer expires. Respawns are activated here. While you don't want to die and drop your money for the most part, it isn't the end of the world if you have some gross spawns.

It's like The Weakest Link, only Anne Robinson has a gun.

Just like in Battle Royale mode, there is a lot going on to advance the match. Contracts are everywhere, helicopters can be shot for big splashes of money, you can raid your enemies' wallets, and there is huge amounts of money stowed in caches strewn across the map. To improve competitiveness, top earners pinged their locations on the map throughout the game, resulting in a messy pursuit that will undoubtedly result in the types of montages you'll only see in a hype trailer before release . Rather than fear for your own life at every step, fear for the money you couldn't throw into a helicopter or fancy balloon. It's like The Weakest Link, only Anne Robinson has a gun.

Like it or not, the Battle Royale "madness" is unlikely to go anywhere. Each. The good news here, at least, is that Activision's second try is currently one of the best – not only because of what it adds to the genre, but also because of the foundation on which it is based. PUBG, the one who triggered this whole gold mine rush, is still struggling with groundbreaking errors and inconsistent spatial audio cues three years after its release. Warzone has largely avoided these audio problems with the exception of a few thundering steps in a skyscraper.

With nearly two decades of releases, Call of Duty had the foundation for the perfect Battle Royale experience long before the idea became mainstream – Activision just had to show it some love. There is a reason why the series attracts the trigger-minded player type. It just nailed the feeling of firing a round. It's not quite as authentic as Battlefield, but it's clear that Activision's rotating developer teams have developed an addictive sense of shooting over the years that ensures that most players know what to expect before they do take the plunge. It's tense, but fair and oh so rewarding.

Conclusion

Our opinion

I'm inclined to say Call of Duty: Warzone is currently the final Battle Royale experience. I'm not afraid to say that Activision used the best of Call of Duty's extensive history to create a more complete Battle Royale experience, but Plunder is currently the standout piece of the package, and I'm a firm believer in it is convinced that in the near future it will not only become a popular pastime for fans, but also an integral part of the Twitch and Mixer websites.

Is there a better alternative out there?

It won't appeal to the Fortnite builders out there. Neither will it reach those who enjoy the slower pace and survival-oriented practicality of something like PUBG. But if you are looking for a serious shooter with a real shine, this is the one for you.

How long it will take?

Hopefully as long as the other big names in the game right now. Both modes appear to be specifically designed for spectator sports where the money should flow into development. Given the experience that existing Call of Duty weapons and maps are used to flesh this out, we can't be sure how much new content will come, but since Activision is always working hard on the next iteration of the series we hope that Warzone will borrow from his brothers in the coming years.

Should you buy it

It's free. Its value as a product cannot be compared. Given that trying the closest competitor (PUBG) still costs a penny or two, this is a no-brainer for those who want to take part in the latest and greatest role. The only thing that stands in your way is a long download.

Editor's recommendations

#battle #Call #Definitive #Duty #Review #Royale #Warzone #Product Reviews

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torentialtribute · 5 years ago

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All you need to know about Manchester United target Bruno Fernandes

Bruno Fernandes has become one of Europe & # 39; s most wanted midfielders after his incredible season for Sporting Lisbon.

The Portuguese star even surprised José Mourinho with his rapid rise to the top, so it is certainly worth taking a closer look at the 24-year-old.

Here, Sportsmail delves deeper into Fernandes' playing style, why he could be invaluable to Manchester United and how he is such a target threat.

<img id = "i-c966396f0c56e09" src = "https://ift.tt/30BGxJF -40_1563356407935.jpg "height =" 429 "width =" 634 "alt =" <img id = "i-c966396f0c56e09" src = "https://ift.tt/2xNdHd4 10 / 16155356-7256083-image-a-40_1563356407935.jpg "height =" 429 "width =" 634 "alt =" Bruno Fernandes helped Portugal to win the UEFA Europa League this summer "class =" blkBorder img-share " helped Portugal to win the UEFA Europa League this summer "

Bruno Fernandes helped Portugal to win the UEFA Europa League this summer

How Fernandes rode his way to the top?

Last season was the outbreak campaign of Fernandes with a record of 32 goals from midfield.

But before that time, few will have known about the man from Maia in northern Portugal.

And he went grinding his craft in the Series A with Udinese, where he played 86 games before joining Sampdoria in 2016.

So really, out of the blue Fernandes has taken a prominent place and is now valued at around £ 70 million.

<img id = "i-78412cfb64d66821" src = "https://ift.tt/2xQxKY1 -43_1563356729852.jpg "height =" 446 "width =" 634 "alt =" <img id = "i-78412cfb64d66821" src = "https://ift.tt/2xNdHd4 10 / 16155992-7256083-image-a-43_1563356729852.jpg "height =" 446 "width =" 634 "alt =" Fernandes broke through at Udinese and gained a lot of experience in the Serie A through to Udinese and gained a lot of experience in the Series A "

Fernandes broke through at Udinese and gained a lot of experience in Series A

Jose Mourinho was staggered as Fernandes & Rise. He was capped previous season winning the UEFA Nations Cup with the national side and even fellow countryman.

& # 39; I was surprised by the Bruno & # 39; season, he told Eleven Sports. & # 39; easy to predict quality, he is a very good player, but scored a very high g number of goals for a midfielder player.

& # 39; It shows that you have to have instinct and qualities to score and he has everything

& # 39; He hits the ball well, heads well, cool when he is one on one with the goalkeeper. I found the space in the penalty area. It is all there. "

After gaining a lot of high-level experience from a young age, it seemed that Fernandes had simply clicked on him.

<img id =" i-2d4beafb35611f81 "src =" https://ift.tt/30BGyNJ "height =" 423 "width =" 634 "alt = "<img id =" i-2d4beafb35611f81 "src =" https://ift.tt/30BGyNJ "height =" 423 "width =" 634 "alt =" The Sporting Lisbon midfielder has done great damage to the defense of the opposition last year "

The Sporting Lisbon midfielder caused destruction last year for resistance fighters

What is his style? of the piece?

The 24-year-old is not a bruiser on 5ft 10 but has the frame to keep possession of the ball in the last third and this gives him all the time he needs to play a killer pass or choice the right option .

He is someone who must constantly follow opposition defenders as a duel threat, both creative and as a predator around the target.

With an average of 3.1 key passes and 3.5 shots per game last season, he was the most consistent weapon in the Sporting team and is always looking for a radical change, rather than a change easy way to choose play along.

He has a lazy running style, is not afraid of trying to shoot or nutmeg and will hardly ever miss an opportunity to put his shoelaces through and test the keeper.

Sporting offered him relative freedom and he often picked up the ball from deep to launch attacks as well as close to Bas Dost in front

[24459012] 24 year old can hit the ball with both legs and is a huge goal score threat <img id = "i-4d6264201b8a4d09" src = "https://ift.tt/2xQxLv3 /16155620-7256083-image-m-42_1563356538519.jpg "height =" 457 "width =" 634 "alt =" The 24-year-old can hit the ball with both feet and is a huge goal score threat <img id = " i-4d6264201b8a4d09 "src =" https://ift.tt/30HPDor "height =" 457 "width =" 634 "alt =" <img id = "i-4d6264201b8a4d09" src = "https://ift.tt/30HPDor" height = "457" width = "634" alt = "The 24-year-old

How high is your attack output?

Fernandes has a magic wand tervoet and has something on that side, but also scored a bucket with goals with his left last season.

Defenders really have to choose their poison by showing him on both sides, because he can injure the team from anywhere and also delivered 13 assistants to teammates last season.

The fact that Frank Lampard-like skill runs out of time in the box ensures that midfielders follow an absolute nightmare and his number was also reinforced by the fact that he took penalties, free kicks and turns. ] As a spectator you can see him running away in dangerous areas with a kind of nonchalance that makes it seem like there is no immediate danger, but when he gets the ball he is already plotted the next move and that fast thinking is also responsible for such incredible numbers of attacks . The Portuguese midfielder has become one of the most impressive talents in Europe

<img id = "i-216c1a4dd2149b34" src = "https://ift.tt/2CqCUN8 07/17/10 / 16155622-7256083-image-m-46_1563356836596.jpg "height =" 426 "width =" 634 "alt =" <img id = "i-216c1a4dd2149b34" src = "https: //i.dailymail .co.uk / 1s / 2019/07/17/10 / 16155622-7256083-image-m-46_1563356836596.jpg "height =" 426 "width =" 634 "alt =" The Portuguese midfielder is one of the most impressive talents Midfielder who has become Europe has become one of the most impressive talents in Europe "

The Portuguese midfielder has become one of the most impressive talents in Europe

What could he offer United

Paul Pogba was Midfield's main scoring threat at Old Trafford last season, but the player scored more than one goal from outside of 16.

The threat of Fernandes out of reach that could remedy that and free up more space for other teammates in and around the area.

Marcus Rashford in particular would enjoy connecting with the Portuguese, the neat little twos are very much part of his repertoire.

Fernandes has the kind of midfield deception that United missed and occasionally the season ended with ideas when confronted by a team that sat deep in front of them. His addition would certainly help in choosing a few stubborn locks.

<img id = "i-389554d721975a1" src = "https://ift.tt/2xQtHe7 -48_1563356945556.jpg "height =" 413 "width =" 634 "alt =" Fernandes plays with a lot of passion and enjoys the chance to change a game "plays with a lot of passion and enjoys the chance to change a game to change "

Fernandes plays with great passion and enjoys the opportunity to change a game

Are there weaknesses?

Just Like a boxer trying to land that one concussion, Fernandes is always on the lookout for the murderous game.

This can lead to him biting more than he sometimes chews or takes too much risk.

The rewards were worth it at Sporting but with a higher caliber of opposition in the Premier League, I could not get such a tolerance if it is a waste.

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thatsnotcanonpodcasts · 5 years ago

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Apollo, E3 2019 & The Division

5, 4, 3, 2, 1 – Nerds Amalgamated Go! We are here once again with your irregular dose of fun, news, entertainment and educational synopsis that we like to call a show. We hope everyone is surviving the rigours and tortures of university, college, school, work, life, or whatever else it is you do. This week we have another exciting show for you all filled with space, games, and some viewing material to look forward to. We hope you enjoy and let us know what you think, we do listen.

First up it is the 50th anniversary of the Apollo missions and Buck has brought us links to a number of different stories regarding them. Also, some of the myriad events that are happening around the world involved in the celebration for everyone to enjoy. We also talk about the movies inspired by events and documentaries about the rock stars who ride the bullet into space. What is your favourite Apollo story, movie, mission, or general piece of trivia? Drop us a line or post in the comments on the facebook page.

Next up we look at this year’s less than stellar E3. The major highlight moments were the Keanu Reeves appearance at the launch of Cyberpunk 2077. Where he showed once again that indelible charm that makes everyone love him when people yelled out from the crowd. Why can’t he be the President of America? He would be a darn tooting sight better than almost everyone they have had for a long time. We also take a moment to acknowledge the fabulous Ikumi Nakamura, the director of Ghostwire Tokyo who just had fun. We also take a moment to glance at Devolver Studios and the madcap mayhem that is the ongoing saga of their E3 show. It is still so much more fun then must be legal. The biggest failure was the announcement that Bethesda is making Fallout 76 a battle royale (yayyyy, another one…yawn) in an attempt to save the game from becoming a complete failure (too late).

This week the DJ has the story of Netflix planning a new series based on Tom Clancy’s The Division. The discussion runs through the idea, worrying at the potential failure of yet another game to cinema/television cross over. Further the potential overload of too many post-apocalyptic shows (no, not with zombies either, we discussed that). We do know two of the cast members Jessica Chastain and Jake Gyllenhaal, so it starts with two beautiful people surviving… or do they?

This week’s games are:

Buck is playing Assassins Creed 2 (Not Unity).

Professor is still playing Cataclysm: Dark days ahead (Listen in for how he dies this week).

DJ is once again playing Apex Legends

We have the usual list of shout outs, remembrances, birthdays and special events. Hidden somewhere in the show is Buck telling us about a delightful Pug that doesn’t like being licked in return. Listen out for that, we have the link provided, it is funny. Other than that, we just wish to say thank you once again for listening and supporting us. We do appreciate it. Please remember to take care of yourselves and look out for each other, and drink lots of water to stay hydrated. Peace out.

EPISODE NOTES:

Apollo 50th Anniversary

- http://www.astronomy.com/bonus/apollo_home

- https://www.nasa.gov/specials/apollo50th/events.html

E3 2019 - https://www.theguardian.com/games/2019/jun/10/e3-2019-biggest-news-xbox-bethesda-ubisoft-nintendo-square-enix

The Division now on Netflix - https://variety.com/2019/film/news/jessica-chastain-jake-gyllenhaal-the-division-movie-netflix-1203238700/

Games Currently playing

Buck

– Assassin Creed 2 - https://store.steampowered.com/app/33230/Assassins_Creed_2_Deluxe_Edition/

Professor

– Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead - https://cataclysmdda.org/

– Apex Legends - https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/apex-legends-ps4/

Other topics discussed

[un]featured Articles (That’s Not Canon Podcast)

- https://thatsnotcanon.com/ufapodcast

Margaret Hamilton (Software engineer)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Hamilton_(software_engineer)

The Dish (2000 Australian movie)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dish

Past Apollo programs

- Apollo 8 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_8

- Apollo 13 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_13

List of Apollo missions

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Apollo_missions#Crewed_Apollo_missions

Funny Flat Earth and Anti Vax Shirt

- Picture - https://image.spreadshirtmedia.com/image-server/v1/mp/products/T812A1MPA3140PT17X10Y30D1021097368FS5253/views/1,width=550,height=550,appearanceId=1,backgroundColor=F2F2F2,modelId=1237,crop=list,version=1557984561,modelImageVersion=1554797138/anti-vax-flat-earth-mens-premium-t-shirt.jpg

- Purchase Link - https://www.spreadshirt.com/shop/design/anti+vax+flat+earth+mens+premium+t-shirt-D5c662501f937645575149bc8

Mars One

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_One

How long does it take to go to Mars from Earth?

- https://www.universetoday.com/14841/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-to-mars/

Falltout 76 battle royale: Nuclear Winter

- https://www.gamesradar.com/au/fallout-76-battle-royale-mode-nuclear-winter/

Legend of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild 2

- https://www.gamespot.com/articles/legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild-2-revealed-for-/1100-6467700/

Keanu Reeves in Cyberpunk 2077

- https://www.gameinformer.com/e3-2019/2019/06/11/keanu-reeves-is-more-than-a-cameo-in-cyberpunk-2077

Battle Royale game from Devolver Studios: Fall Guys

- https://techcrunch.com/2019/06/12/fall-guys-is-a-kinder-gentler-battle-royale/

Devolver Bootleg

- https://store.steampowered.com/app/1066260/Devolver_Bootleg/

Ikumi Nakamura captures internet hearts

- https://www.cnet.com/news/e3-2019-ghostwire-tokyo-director-ikumi-nakamura-captures-the-internets-heart/

Netflix games announced on E3

- https://www.techradar.com/au/news/netflix-teases-new-games-at-e3-2019-including-a-location-based-stranger-things-mobile-rpg

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Tactics

- https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/06/11/dark-crystal-age-of-resistance-tactics-announced-e3-2019

Collection and Trials of Mana now available on the Switch

- https://www.forbes.com/sites/olliebarder/2019/06/12/collection-of-mana-is-now-available-on-the-switch-and-trials-of-mana-is-released-next-year/#4b9cd85b4876

Revolution (TV Series)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolution_(TV_series)

Prince of Persia : The Sand of Time (2010 film)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_of_Persia:_The_Sands_of_Time_(film)

Prince of Persia (game franchise)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_of_Persia

Movies Jake Gyllenhaal acted

- City Slickers (1991 movie) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_Slickers

- Zodiac (2007 movie) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zodiac_(film)

- Nightcrawler (2014 movie) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightcrawler_(film)

Movies Jessica Chastin acted

- Lawless (2012 movie) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawless_(film)

Pug doesn’t like being licked

- https://www.reddit.com/r/Whatthefuckgetitoffme/comments/77pqrb/pug_doesnt_like_to_taste_its_own_medicine/

Michael Jordan (American former professional basketball player)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jordan

Wayne Gardner (Australian former professional Grand Prix motorcycle and touring car racer)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_Gardner

Lady Godiva, Countess of Mercia

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Godiva

Shoutouts

8 Jun 2019 - Ashleigh Barty Wins the French Open - https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/08/sports/french-open-ashleigh-barty-marketa-vondrousova.html

11 Jun 1955 - The 1955 Le Mans disaster occurred during the 24 Hours of Le Mans motor race at Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France on 11 June 1955. A major crash caused large fragments of debris to fly into the crowd, killing 83 spectators and French driver Pierre Bouillin (who raced under the name Pierre Levegh) and injuring nearly 180 more. It was the most catastrophic crash in motorsport history, and it prompted Mercedes-Benz to retire from motor racing until 1989.

11 Jun 1963 - Buddhist monk Quang Duc publicly burns himself to death in a plea for President Ngo Dinh Diem to show “charity and compassion” to all religions. - https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/buddhist-immolates-himself-in-protest

Remembrances

11 Jun 1979 - John Wayne, nicknamed 'Duke', was an American actor, filmmaker and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient. He was among the top box office draws for three decades. He starred in 142 motion pictures altogether. According to one biographer, "John Wayne personified for millions the nation's frontier heritage. Eighty-three of his movies were Westerns, and in them he played cowboys, cavalrymen, and unconquerable loners extracted from the Republic's central creation myth." He appeared with many important Hollywood stars of his era and made his last public appearance at the Academy Awards ceremony on April 9, 1979. He died of stomach cancer at 72 in Los Angeles, California - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wayne

11 Jun 1999 - DeForest Kelley, known to colleagues as "De", was an American actor, screenwriter, poet and singer known for his roles in Westerns and as Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy of the USS Enterprise in the television and film series Star Trek (1966–1991). He died of stomach cancer at 79 in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeForest_Kelley

12 Jun 2003 - Gregory Peck, was an American actor. He was one of the most popular film stars from the 1940s to the 1960s. Peck received five Academy Award for Best Actor nominations, and won once – for his performance as Atticus Finch in the 1962 drama film To Kill a Mockingbird. Peck also received Oscar nominations for his roles in The Keys of the Kingdom, The Yearling, Gentleman's Agreement, and Twelve O'Clock High. Other notable films in which he appeared include Moby Dick (1956, and its 1998 mini-series), The Guns of Navarone, Cape Fear (1962, and its 1991 remake), How the West Was Won, The Omen (1976), and The Boys from Brazil. U.S. President Lyndon Johnson honored Peck with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969 for his lifetime humanitarian efforts. In 1999, the American Film Institute named Peck among Greatest Male Stars of Classic Hollywood cinema, ranking him at No. 12. He died in his sleep at home from bronchopneumonia at 87 in Los Angeles, California - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregory_Peck

13 Jun 1871 - Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin, was a French magician. He is widely considered the father of the modern style of conjuring such as second sight, the ethereal suspension, the marvelous orange tree, robert-houdin's portfolio, the light and heavy chest. His reputation was so great that he was requested during the 1850s by the French government to help put down a tribal rebellion in Algeria using his skills. This is surely a feat that not many magicians can boast about. He died of pneumonia at 65 in Saint-Gervais-la-Forêt - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Eug%C3%A8ne_Robert-Houdin

Famous Birthdays

11 Jun 1910 - Jacques Cousteau, French naval officer, explorer, conservationist, filmmaker, innovator, scientist, photographer, author and researcher who studied the sea and all forms of life in water. He co-developed the Aqua-lung, pioneered marine conservation and was a member of the Académie française. Cousteau described his underwater world research in a series of books, perhaps the most successful being his first book, The Silent World: A Story of Undersea Discovery and Adventure, published in 1953. Cousteau also directed films, most notably the documentary adaptation of the book, The Silent World, which won a Palme d'or at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival. He remained the only person to win a Palme d'Or for a documentary film, until Michael Moore won the award in 2004 for Fahrenheit 9/11. He was born in Saint-André-de-Cubzac - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Cousteau

11 Jun 1933 - Gene Wilder, American actor, screenwriter, director, producer, singer-songwriter and author. Wilder began his career on stage, and made his screen debut in an episode of the TV series The Play of the Week in 1961. Although his first film role was portraying a hostage in the 1967 motion picture Bonnie and Clyde, Wilder's first major role was as Leopold Bloom in the 1967 film The Producers for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. This was the first in a series of collaborations with writer/director Mel Brooks, including 1974's Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein, which Wilder co-wrote, garnering the pair an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. Wilder is known for his portrayal of Willy Wonka in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory and for his four films with Richard Pryor:Silver Streak, Stir Crazy,See No Evil, Hear No Evil, and Another You. Wilder directed and wrote several of his own films, including The Woman in Red. He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Wilder

11 Jun 1959 - Hugh Laurie, English actor, director, singer, musician, comedian and author. Laurie first gained recognition for his work as one half of the comedy double act Fry and Laurie with his friend and comedy partner Stephen Fry. The duo acted together in a number of projects during the 1980s and 1990s, including the sketch comedy series A Bit of Fry & Laurie and the P. G. Wodehouse adaptation Jeeves and Wooster. Laurie's other roles during the period include the period comedy series Blackadder (in which Fry also appeared) and the films Sense and Sensibility, 101 Dalmatians, The Borrowers and Stuart Little. Laurie portrayed the title character in the U.S. medical drama series House on Fox, for which he won two Golden Globe Awards. He was listed in the 2011 Guinness World Records as the most watched leading man on television and was one of the highest-paid actors in a television drama, earning £250,000 ($409,000) per episode of House. He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2007 New Year Honours and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2018 New Year Honours, both for services to drama. He was born in Blackbird Leys, Oxfordshire - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Laurie

11 Jun 1969 - Peter Dinklage, American actor and producer. Dinklage studied acting at Bennington College, starring in a number of amateur stage productions. His film debut was in Living in Oblivion (1995) and his breakthrough came with the comedy-drama The Station Agent (2003). He has since appeared in movies like Elf (2003), Underdog (2007), Death at a Funeral (2007),The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008), X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), Pixels (2015), and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017), which earned him his first Screen Actors Guild Award. In 2018, he appeared as Eitri in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Avengers: Infinity War among other movies. Dinklage received universal acclaim for portraying Tyrion Lannister on the HBO television series Game of Thrones, for which he won three Primetime Emmys from seven nominations. He also received a Golden Globe for the role in 2011. He was born in Morristown, New Jersey - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Dinklage

Events of Interest

11 Jun 1959 - Postmaster General bans D H Lawrence's book, Lady Chatterley's Lover (overruled by US Court of Appeals in Mar 1960) - https://www.onthisday.com/history/events/june/11

11 Jun 1976 - Australian band AC/DC begin their 1st headline tour of Britain - https://www.onthisday.com/date/1976/june/11

11 Jun 1982 - "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial", directed by Steven Spielberg, starring Henry Thomas and Drew Barrymore, is released in the United States. It opened at number one with a gross of $11 million, and stayed at the top of the box office for six weeks; it then fluctuated between the first and second positions until October, before returning to the top spot for the final time in December during a brief Holiday Season re-release of the film. - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E.T._the_Extra-Terrestrial#Release_and_sales

12 Jun 1942 – Anne Frank receives a diary for her thirteenth birthday. - https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/anne-frank-receives-a-diary

Intro

Artist – Goblins from Mars

Song Title – Super Mario - Overworld Theme (GFM Trap Remix)

Song Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GNMe6kF0j0&index=4&list=PLHmTsVREU3Ar1AJWkimkl6Pux3R5PB-QJ

Email - [email protected]

Twitter - https://twitter.com/NAmalgamated

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6Nux69rftdBeeEXwD8GXrS

iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/top-shelf-nerds/id1347661094

RSS - http://www.thatsnotcanonproductions.com/topshelfnerdspodcast?format=rss

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debbimacktoo · 7 years ago

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A Detailed Analysis Of Realistic Strategies Of Iso Xp Grass Fed Whey

Useful Guidelines For Fundamental Issues For Whey Protein New Zealand Canada

Consider your dietary requirements and training goal Your dietary needs will play a big part in what protein is the best fit for you. "Firstly, it's important to identify your training goal and need for protein as a supplement in the first place. Different goals will call for different ingredient requirements," Clark said. "Also, if you suffer from any food allergies or intolerance, that will determine what protein powder you should choose, as well." If you don't have any food intolerances, Dennaoui recommends a "multidimensional" protein powder. "However, if that is not the case, an economical way to go about choosing a protein powder would be to look for a multidimensional brand that contains fast and slow digesting proteins. That way you keep your blood sugar levels stable and avoid binge eating, increase nutrient absorption from food and avoid unnecessary storage of fat." Your diet should be the first place to get protein, while powders should always supplement. 2. Take time to research the brand and product When choosing a particular brand, it's important to take the time to compare ingredients, nutrition information and claims, as well as research the credibility of the company and to not let hype influence your decision. "It's also important to recognise that supplement manufacturers are notorious for hyping up their products with unrealistic claims and promises," Clark said. "Don't buy into the hype of major companies that price their product well above what you really need to pay because you can probably gain the same benefits from a cheaper protein powder." In Clark's opinion, the quality of the protein supplement is more important than the total quantity you consume. When in doubt, think of the old saying 'you get what you pay for'. "Always look at the label when deciding on a protein powder and make sure it doesn't contain any more than 7-10 ingredients and try and find a powder with more natural ingredients," Clark told HuffPost Australia.

For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2016/09/12/your-ultimate-guide-to-choosing-the-best-protein-powder_a_21469917/

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Making The Most Of Fitness: Suggestions For An Optimal Fitness Lifestyle

While millions of people are interested in starting a fitness program, few are sure how or where to begin. This article contains some great tips and tricks to get you started without feeling discouraged. Follow what you learned from reading this article if success is your number one priority. Stay motivated about fitness by using a variety of fitness classes. Rotating among different types of exercises can give you the opportunity to find several that you love and keep you going back for more. You have options ranging from dancing to spinning to yoga. If you really want to get creative you could try a kickboxing class. Remember you only have to try each class once, and you'll be losing weight along the way. Endless crunches are not a way for you to obtain a six pack. You aren't going to lose tummy fat with abdominal exercise, but you can make your muscles stronger. If you desire to have washboard abs, you need to improve your diet and also take part in cardiovascular exercise and resistance training. You need to have good footwear when you are working out. Wearing the right kind of shoes is key to getting the most out of your workouts. In addition, it will make you feel uncomfortable when you're done, which can make you not want to exercise as much. Wear whatever you feel most comfortable in during workouts. Do not give in to peer pressure and wear fancy clothes to the gym. Buy some clothes you feel good about working out in. Wearing comfortable clothes keeps your mind focused on fitness. As a way to strengthen the muscles in your forearms, try an excellent tip from people who play racquet sports. Start by placing an open newspaper on the floor or on a table. Take your dominant hand, and just crumple up the paper four about 30 seconds. Repeat the crumpling exercise twice then switch hands, finally switch back to your dominant hand for two more repetitions. Flex your glutes when you lift weights above your head. This gives your butt a great workout, while also exposing you to less of an injury risk due to your body being in a better position. Holding this position keeps your spine more stable. Wear exercise shoes that fit. Your feet tend to swell a little during the day, so you should shop at night for shoes; your feet will be a little larger than normal. The toe-box of the shoe should allow one half inch of wiggle room for all of your toes. Make sure you have some toe movement. Improve your volleyball game by working on your contact skills. You can play foosball to achieve this. When you are playing foosball, you need to have excellent hand-eye coordination, and that is a great skill for a volleyball player to have. The same skills that you perfect to win at foosball can also help you play a better game in volleyball. You must plan ahead if you want to see results. Take the concepts in this piece to craft a fitness plan of your own. Not knowing where to begin is no longer an excuse. This information will get you started.

Some Simple Guidelines For Practical Tactics For Canada

Gallery: Canada’s spring classic, Paris to Ancaster 2018 Nearly 2,500 participants roll-out for a beautiful day of spring riding across farm tracks, gravel and recreational trails. April 30th, 2018 by Canadian Cycling Magazine | Posted in Rides+Events Gunnary Holmgren, 19, won his third straigth P2A title. Riders dig deep to make it to the top after 70 grueling kilomters. Riders use an assortment of bikes for the 40 and 70 km rides. 10-time British cyclocross champion Helen Wyman was second. The winner of the fat bike category, Jeff Shikaze. The finish line was packed with spectators on hand to cheer on friends and family on a beautiful spring day. Covered in mud, riders made their way to the finish line in Ancaster. The 25th edition of Paris to Ancaster was raced on a beautiful spring day. With sunny skies and mild temperatures, participants raced across farm tracks, recreational trails and gravel. Through thick mud and on fast pavement, nearly 2,500 participants enjoyed a fun day on the bike. An early mishap at the startline as wave 4 rolled out saw the barrier come down on the road but thankfully no riders were injured. The ride finishes with a steep run into the line.

For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit https://cyclingmagazine.ca/sections/ridesevents/gallery-canadas-spring-classic-paris-to-ancaster-2018/

Great Advice About Vitamins And Minerals That Anyone Can Easily Follow

How do you feel today? Do you have as much energy as you used to? Are you able to get out of bed easily? Do you feel like you are in shape? If you are feeling lackadaisical, vitamins may be the best solution for you. This article will show you more on this fascinating topic. If you want the most from your workout and the body you desire, remember to take your vitamins. Your body needs appropriate nutrition to both recover from workouts but also fire up the metabolism you need to shed pounds and build lean tissue. To promote good bone health, it is important to take calcium. If you wish to have your body more ready to absorb the calcium, you need to have enough vitamin D in your system. You can get it in a lot of ways, including multivitamins, other foods, and even a little sun time. These all improve your body's ability to absorb calcium. When taking a supplement that lists fat as an ingredient, take it with food. Vitamins E, K and A are vitamins that do not absorb into the body without the help of food. These fat soluble vitamins need fat to be properly absorbed. Iron is an essential nutrient to build red blood cells. These red blood cells deliver oxygen through your system. Women need more iron than men do, and many women's supplements are designed with this in mind. Iron deficiency often causes exhaustion and breathing problems. To get more B2 vitamin into one's diet, eat foods like diary and bananas. A deficiency will reduce the quality of your skin texture. It has been said that B2 can help to ward of anemia and some types of cancer. When it comes to our diet, we don't always know how to get healthy foods without breaking the bank. Vitamins and minerals taken regularly can help your body work the way it's supposed to in order to better burn the junk food you consume to stay healthier. Supplements are very important to keep your vitamin and mineral intake at the proper levels. Most store-bought food is over processed, which causes the nutrients to deplete. Taking a natural multivitamin is one way to make sure you're getting essential nutrients. If you are past the menopause stage in life, avoid taking prenatal vitamins. Some women take these vitamins when not pregnant for their positive effect on hair and nails. This is generally a good idea, but often means too much iron for women that have already reached menopause. Take several children gummies if you are older. Children's supplements contain a lower dose of vitamins, and more than one will typically be needed for an adult. However, be careful that you do not take too many, as that can also be bad. It's true that your body requires fruits and veggies for their nutrients; however, know that fresh products are much better than those that are canned. A mineral supplement is something that you will want to add as well. Visit your doctor to learn if you have deficiencies. Deficiencies are the first thing you need to target with supplementation, so it's good to know just which ones you need first. In today's difficult economic times we often neglect our bodies by eating from the dollar menu at our favorite fast food restaurant depriving it of the vitamin and minerals we require. Grab a few bottles of primary vitamins to ensure that you are getting what you need to fight off colds and allow the body to convert fat to Whey Protein energy. No matter how you are feeling right now, tomorrow is always a new day. You just have to figure out how to utilize the vitamins and minerals to make sure that occurs. You should start right now because the sooner you begin, the sooner you will feel better.

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coups-critiques · 7 years ago

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A Detailed Analysis Of Realistic Strategies Of Iso Xp Grass Fed Whey

Useful Guidelines For Fundamental Issues For Whey Protein New Zealand Canada

For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2016/09/12/your-ultimate-guide-to-choosing-the-best-protein-powder_a_21469917/

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Making The Most Of Fitness: Suggestions For An Optimal Fitness Lifestyle

Some Simple Guidelines For Practical Tactics For Canada

For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit https://cyclingmagazine.ca/sections/ridesevents/gallery-canadas-spring-classic-paris-to-ancaster-2018/

Great Advice About Vitamins And Minerals That Anyone Can Easily Follow

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careergrowthblog · 7 years ago

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Teachers describe their worst injury at work

For some reason, when I ask a question about people’s worst experiences I get far more clear answers to the question, alongside complaints about that I have a sinister agenda and demands that teachers be silent.

My latest question was:

What’s the worst injury you’ve suffered while working as a teacher?

I’ve had fewer complaints about this one, although somebody did sarcastically ask why I didn’t ask for people’s best injury. I’ve ignored the many responses where people discussed damage that was only to their pride, credibility or dreams. I haven’t included discussion of mental health as that’s been covered in previous posts. Also most (but not all) of the people telling me about their paper cuts have been left out. As ever, I followed up the more suspicious ones, but may still have been fooled. The thread can be found here.

I shot myself in the arm… though it wasn’t with a firearm. With the top of an exploding 2 L[itre] bottle. Lab coat had the bloodstains to prove it. I was utterly, utterly mind-bendingly stupid and learned a very great deal in about a third of a second

30 mini whiteboards fell out of cupboard onto my head – 1 at a time – 4 hrs in A&E and head glued back together – very painful … my fault for not putting them away properly

Caught a ring on a door handle and it cut into my finger so deeply it needed to be cut off by a mechanic at the garage across the road.

Paper cut… on my eyeball. Child did it by accident. It was horrific! Needed anaesthetic drops for a few days.

Basketball hit me full in the mouth…whilst I had a whistle in it…lost two teeth. The cost of getting them replaced was the real shock of the whole ordeal. My savings took as much damage as my mouth did.

Last Friday of this half-term – college laptop trolly rolled into my 2 biggest toes on left foot. Same foot as plantar fasciitis & Achilles tendinitis issues. I didn’t use the ‘f’ word as student was with me.

Hypermobility + a few months of sitting on tiny children’s chairs caused lower-back go into semi-permanent spasm. Had to ask for adult chair Policy was for child-centred classrooms with no adult desk or chairs- teachers to be ‘working with group or individuals at all times’ Was told ‘If we give a teacher a chair, the problem with that is that they will sit down and not get up from it’ So, the ideal was for T[eacher] to stand or kneel near a table, or sit on a child’s chair, or sit on the floor.

As new H[ead]T[eacher], went to U[pper]K[ey]S[tage]2 Xmas party, vaulted over bench to leave hall and removed 4 square inches of skin from bald head on door frame. Was away at a meeting with the L.A. the next day, by the evening local rumours were that I was in hospital with head injuries

1) Staple in my finger. 2) Banged my knee a few times.3) Catching my arm on door handles.4) Heart attack.5) Trapping my finger in a drawer.

1) got tangled in cables like a giant fly in a spider web 2) slipped down a muddy slope in front of the entire school while on bus duty. Massive bruising and huge embarrassment both times. Although a kind Year 11 helped me up out of the mud & didn’t laugh while the other 1499 students pissed themselves.

nearly lost my left hand in a horrendous accident on school trip! 10 ops later it’s as good as it will be. there’s the proof. …had hold of the seat in front as the coach rolled and then slid down m6… window broke…. Had to have it stitched into my stomach for 4 weeks for a flap to cover I know even I gulped when the doc suggested it! I was a ‘little teapot for a month. it was a nightmare!! They needed the blood vessels to join… 9 hour op too! I should add the NUT were fab … Their solicitor was superb

Slipped a disc lifting student into water ambulance during school trip to Venice. Contracted TB (possibly not at school, but sounds good).

I was hit by falling scaffolding once.

Grade 3 tear of gastrocnemius. Happened on sports day. Exactly coincided with pistol to start 100 m[e]t[re]s. I thought I had been shot. True story.

Broke a burette off in my thumb last year and severed a nerve. Still no feeling in it.

Definitely a student moving chair onto foot whilst sat on it

Concussion- could see children messing around for TA & glared at them-ch[ildre]n stopped- missed footing on last 5 steps…cue pratfall/f[ore]w[ar]d roll

Exhausted by overworking and unreasonable demands, I completely missed a step and fell down stairs. Thought “Didn’t get a degree for this”.

Pulled my back celebrating a spectacular comeback by the Y[ear] 8 football team was coaching back in the day. Took 3 month’s chiropractic to sort.

Missed a step covered in a drift of leaves & fell full length.Usual hilarity from students tempered by fact that I was 8 months pregnant.

Broke a finger attempting to stop a rugby ball from hitting a spectator. Still hit her, but on the back rather than on the head.

Crashed my motorcycle on the way to school. Still got in. My form saw the blood on my leg. Got ambulance. Came back from hospital to teach.

Ruptured my thigh muscle taking a penalty against a year 7 on lunch duty. Went top corner though so not all bad [this was from my former form tutor, but I’m assuming I’m not implicated as it was “1st year” not “year 7” back then]

Prolapsed disk when the caretaker used the wrong polish on the floor turning it into a skating rink!

Husband snapped achilles tendon, teaching football on astros…

Temporarily blinded as lid came off the copydex mid shake. Shouted “Shit!” loudly which shocked kids more than my eyes covered in glue.

Spine surgery from writing too many schemes of work without good back support. I took on a dept[artment] in 2nd y[ea]r of career, managed all of SLT and there was nothing. Had an op in 2009 and learned a lot about life in that year!

Accidental broken toe. Me vs. heavy box of music stands. Helpful child said ‘you can swear if you like miss – looked like it hurt’. It did.

I scraped my shin and badly injured my pride falling-off a chair balanced on a table, as I put up a display… as a class quietly worked… and I dislocated my knee in a Staff Vs Parents hockey match.

Almost broke fingers and arm, grassboarding down a slope on y[ea]r 7 activity holiday session!

being bitten. Also having a chair leg land on my foot (sandals

Molten jelly baby flew out of boiling tube onto my hand during open evening demo. I kept smiling

Sort of injury, kidney stones from not drinking enough water during school day. Agony for 2 days. Now I know opioids REALLY work.

slipped on a wet corridor and broke a finger pride also suffered considerable injury. After year 11 stopped convulsing with laughter following my very slapstick slip they did show great concern and sympathy

Sewed through my finger on a sewing machine whilst helping Year 11. Just about managed not to bleed on her coursework!

Ice skating lesson with a school group in 1988 & stuck the rear right boot spike through my left boot. Stab wound & 2 broken bones in foot!

Fractured my arm after falling off a ladder putting Christmas dec[oration]s up or scalded my foot after dropping an urn of hot water.

Electric shocks from various electricity experiments, and falling over and hurting my thumb.

Ran a ski trip to Italy and chair lift bar fell on my head, lots of blood and was taken down the slope in the blood-wagon. Tried to walk through a swing door which was normally well oiled, unfortunately this time it wasn’t and I went head first into the glass!

Stitches in a finger due to a stubborn classroom locker. Expletives were used. Entire Year 4 class were shocked. Hospital swiftly attended.

cracked patella jumping rope with 3rd graders

Mild concussion. Projector screen fell from roof hit me on head.

A bruised backside when I slipped on ice taking Tutor group to Xmas carol service. They kindly picked me up.

Slipped a disc standing up from my chair whilst teaching a PSHE lesson. Needed [other teachers] to carry me away from class!!

Fell off a table whilst putting up a display. Did my knee good and proper

I stapled my finger when putting up a display. Ive also caught thousands of colds (but that’s illness not injury).

My funniest injury at sch[ool]: stapled my fingers together whilst holding a stapler & teaching.

Electric shock off a whiteboard…it certainly made me jump!!

Torn my knee ligaments jumping on a trampoline

During my PGCE I dislocated my shoulder from stopping a pass in a lunchtime basketball game.

Fractured my humerus, two ribs and cut my eyebrow… I fell

Trapped arm in a door while restraining a student (Special needs School) [went to] A&E

Regularly I have bruises mid thigh from walking into tables

I slipped in the dining hall on a sausage and did a strange somersault, a plate crashed to the floor bounced up & and sliced open my cheek

Tripped up stairs on the way to a lesson, laptop went flying, smashed my head on the handrail, knocked myself out, in front of students

Punched in the temple by a y[ear] 8 boy. Headbutted (didn’t connect) by an angry y[ear] 11. Wallet nicked by a y[ear] 11 that I had spent hours supporting.

Lice, scabies and flea bites. All in a days work. Oh yes. And a tub of black powder paint with no lid, fell off a shelf on my head. Scary sight.

Torn [anterior cruciate ligament] in right knee whilst separating two Year 9 boys fighting!

Once thought it good idea to remove OHP bulb immediately after it blew. Fingerprints returned after a few months

I ripped a muscle in my lower back moving a filing cabinet. Had waited for the site agent for 5 days and got tired of waiting. won’t make the mistake again, will just wait nicely!

Bumped into a table (fixed to the floor). Bruise on my thigh is about 10 cm long, 5 cm high. Done this almost every month, for 20 y[ears].

Broke a tooth on school pitta bread…

Dropped a recycling bin on my foot and lost a toenail.

Got slapped around the face and then kicked twice one morning.

Burnt most of my hand when I didn’t use a long enough fuse for a flash powder demonstration

I fell off my bike in front of the main entrance, causing moderate but prolonged reputational damage.

Put a staple through my finger while putting up a display.

Badly cut knee and ripped suit after attempting to show Y[ear] 6 boys,playing football on the playground, ‘how it’s done’.

Took an “accidentally released” rounders bat to the gentleman’s area. If I wasn’t the recipient it would have been funny.

Partially tore ligaments while mucking about being a wolf in the playground

Tripped on cracked car park tarmac, burst knee wide open. Lots of stitches

I broke my foot at 7am at school on a dodgy paving slab and then walked around on it for the rest of the day before getting an X-ray. I also once dropped molten hot sulfur on my hand while doing a demo,had to teach the rest of my lesson with my hand in a bowl of cold water

Fell 2 steps walking down unlit stairs and twisted ankle. Had an xray and 2 days off work.

Cut my finger open whilst shutting a toilet door I spotted was ajar. Kid in my class provided me with loo roll from his bag that he kept there with a torch in case he needed to go for a poo in the dark! Not sure which event was the weirdest.

Fell off a chair doing a display- Huge bruise black on arm…despite just saying to students always use a chair for its intended purpose!

I broke my ankle in the middle of one of my [physical education] classes.

Broke bone in coccyx. Also got pneumonia from sewage has when basement flooded. Illness rather than injury really.

My eye got cut from a student’s nail when playing basketball with them. Lost a high % of peripheral vision in my right eye.

I’ve suffered a cut lip when a child I was sitting next to shot his hand up a little enthusiastically. Still think he did it on purpose

There have been a couple of reasonably serious injuries in the staff-sixth form football. Not to me though.

Banging my head – It’s not easy being a giant.

[From a school business manager] There was the time I was walking along a corridor & a teacher opened an outward opening door & pole-axed me. They were mortified..

Got punched by a parent, but wasn’t injured, and in retrospect she was probably in the right. Who was I to tell her son to tuck in his shirt?

Shut the filing cabinet in my classroom and trapped my nipple in it. No idea how I managed that..

Teachers describe their worst injury at work published first on http://ift.tt/2uVElOo

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wellmeaningshutin · 8 years ago

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Short Story #71: Boxer.

Written: 3/19/2017 Backwards Week

Half of the crowd had wanted blood, and so they screamed for it, but these were not typical boxing fans, they only showed up to see the Orca himself, Bruce the Killer Whale, a heavyweight boxer who suffered from alopecia, and had gained a lot of attention from the media not only after he had killed a man in the ring, but also when, only two days before, he killed two other men in self defense. People had showed up to see carnage, but the standard boxing fans had been put off be these new comers, these blood lusted trend hoppers who would forget about the sport in a matter of hours after the match, and so arguments began, about whether or not boxing was brutal or civilized. Being unaware of the rules, and the defensive styles employed by some heavyweights, the fifteen minute fans began to use wrestling to back up their arguments, which led insults like “dumbass” or “shit head” to be thrown around, and even though they were unoriginal they still angered plenty of people. However, not a single fight broke out, and instead there was just a large amount of tension and hurt feelings, because even though so many had showed up with the intent to see a man get beaten to death, they were not aggressive people themselves, only voyeurs of violence, containing the same curiosity that would lead one to slow down to examine the aftermath of a bloody and mangled car wreck. Some of them believed that this made them civilized.

When the Orca finally came out, the crowd set their differences aside and all began to cheer him on, but he seemed to not notice the crowd, and only walked to the ring as if it were business as usual. His body was covered in bruises, but this didn’t seem to worry the man, and he took his place in his corner. Hardly anyone cheered for his adversary, Gerald, who was unknown to the temporary fans, and was generally unpopular with the long term fans, because the guy had been the most generic boxer in the history of the sport. The only fans he had in that arena, which amounted to a fourth of the crowd, were painfully average people themselves, a mass of people who all were eerily similar to one another, and who thought of him as a hero for the average man. Too long had exceptional people tried to play themselves as average, and Gerald was one of the first unrememberables to make it big, even if most boxing fans forgot who he was, like he was some background character in the large scheme of things.

Gloves touched, the bell dinged, and the crowed watched in silent anticipation, waiting to see what would happen. Orca moved in, threw a jab with the left, immediately hitting whats-his-name in the face, causing him to stagger back, nose bleeding, expression blank. The large man came in for another strike, faked left hit right, Gerald ducked, and in an astounding display to everybody in the crowd, began to pummel the Orca with such speed and precision that most spectators only processed half of what happened, and before anyone knew it, and long before anybody knew how it happened, Gerald clocked his opponent right in the face, causing him to drop to the ground.

The referee scurried over to count to ten, most of the crowd chanted for Bruce to get up, but he just lied there, unmoving. The countdown reached its end, it was a knock out, and the most forgettable members of the crowd stood up and cheered, seeing this as a win for the average man, the age of great men had finally come to an end.

However, the Orca never got up, and when he was checked on it turned out he did not have a pulse, and within a short amount of time he had been declared dead. Reactions were mixed. The average members of the audience began to loath Gerald, started to boo, because since he had killed the killer, that had made him somebody noteworthy, somebody exceptional, and it lead the boxer to turn out to be just another noteworthy person who tried to appropriate their marginal culture. Some of the temporary fans were upset, because it had been upsetting that the killer had been killed, but the others just wanted to see a man die either way, and were cheering on the winner, who they would forget about only moments after leaving the arena. The standard fans were mortified, they just wanted to see two men beat the ever loving shit out of each other, or even two men try to beat the shit out of each other, while one prevented himself from being hit, but this was too much. ———————————————————————————————————

Waiting for the match, hearing the faint roar of the passionate crowd, Bruce decided to call his wife before he began. He figured that she would appreciate this, mainly because he had a ritual of staying out of contact with her, hours before he stepped into the ring, since he loved her too much and needed to have full focus. This match, he figured, would be the first and last one that didn’t require much focus, so he made the call. “Hey.”

“Hey,” she tried to sound blase, but he could hear the suppressed excitement in her voice.

“I’m going to step into the ring any moment now, and I was thinking-”

“Why not call your amazing wife?”

“Yeah, that was it. I was also thinking, after I win this thing, we should go somewhere. Lets go out of the country, me and you, lets actually enjoy ourselves for once.”

“What about your training, its not like this is going to be your last match, and you always talk about how you always have to stay in shape, how you-”

“Forget about that, I have the rest of my life to keep fighting. I just want to spend some time with you, see the world, have some fun, you know. I want to enjoy life at some point. If I can’t do that, then what’s the point of all of this fighting, what’s the point of all of this money? Is this supposed to be my life, I mean, is this all there is? Am I supposed to wait until my body craps out on me, and all of the sudden we’re two old shits, trying to have fun with our brittle bones, too weak to do anything more than-”

“Shit, Bruce, are you having a mid life crisis?”

“No, I-”

“Just buy a new car or something, get some bedazzled clothing, what’s with all of this? Why does this all have to be so complicated?”

“I just figured we should leave the country at some point. The only reason I’ve even left the state was just to fight, there has to be something else to do.”

“I don’t buy this, this is way too sudden. Where do you want to go?”

“I was thinking we could go to Russia.”

“Russia, what the fuck is in Russia that you want to see?”

“I heard that it can be beautiful there, its just-”

“If you want to see a beautiful country, then why not somewhere like Vietnam? Why do you want to go to a country that is mainly just wastelands of snow and ice? What the hell as gotten into you, what’s your reason for this? I know damn well that you hate the cold, and you know that there is nothing we could do there that would be better than any other part of the world. What did you get yourself into, Bruce?”

“I didn’t get myself into nothing, don’t worry about it! I just want to go on vacation god damn it!”

“Did you go talk to those god damned gangsters? Have you gotten yourself wrapped up in something shady?”

“Of course not, you know that I would never fucking do that. And besides, those guys are fucking Russian, there’s no way they would have me go all the way to their own country to do any shady shit that you think I’d get involved in. That’s not how those guys work, they would just do it anywhere, they’re everywhere so why would I have to go there? Why would I leave a god damned trail? Did you think this through at all, or did you just want to bust my balls before I have to bust some punks face in? I go through all of this effort to call you before a match, and now you’re-”

“Well you didn’t have to call me Bruce! Anyways, you’re the one who’s wanting me to buy tickets to Russia, and who are you fighting anyways? I thought you always had to focus? The fuck is going on here?”

“Nothings going on, how many times do I have to fucking say it?” His coach walked in the door, heard Bruce yelling into his phone, and walked back out, deciding that he would come in when the fighter had cooled down.

“Whatever! Whatever! I’ll buy the tickets, that make you happy, huh?”

“Of course it makes me god damned happy. Nothings made me happier. I love you.”

“Love you too, now go bash that guy’s face in, make sure to knock a tooth out for me.”

“I’ve told you, it doesn’t work like that, we have bite guards.”

“Well, knock that out then. Who are you fighting anyways?”

“You know, they keep telling me, but I can’t remember.” ———————————————————————————————————

Bruce always had a specific routine in the days before fights, which would include him taking his wife out to dinner the night before, usually to some big Italian place, and the night before that he would stay late in his private gym, training. Those nights were lonely, but the isolation was something he needed. So, to make it a little more bearable, he would usually leave a radio on, which would play show tunes, mainly since Bruce had a soft spot for musicals. When he was a teenager he would constantly audition for roles, but he was always turned down since he was a bit tone def, but in those self conscious years he was always worried that it was really because he was completely hairless, not wanting to face the facts that the kids who got roles over him really were better, even if he did want it more, and that’s just how life was. Although, musical theatre did serve as his gateway to boxing, because when he had waited in a parking lot for the kid who played Captain Von Trapp, a role young Bruce thought he was destined for, and beat the guy so badly that he never had the chance to raise a fist in defense, the director of the show, who was a former golden gloves boxer, had seen it all and knew that Bruce had great potential in the world of boxing.

The man quit his directing career, persuaded the injured lead into not pressing charges by threatening to tell the theatre community that he was horrible to work with, and that they should look elsewhere for male talent, he called up his old boxing associates, and surviving on his savings, he became Bruce’s coach and helped direct that tone deaf youth to play the lead in the heavyweight championships.

As Bruce swung away at the punching bag, more for ritual than actual practice, and sung along to the lines of Hard Knock Life, a man, armed with a wooden bat, had entered the gym, undetected by the large boxer. Only when the radio was smashed, with a swing of the bat, did Bruce discover the presence of the other man. “The fuck is your problem, you want me to punch you so hard that I’ll knock your shadow off?” He normally wasn’t this aggressive, he just hated when people messed with his music.

“I’ve come here to,” the man tried to explain, twitching, staring the larger man down.

“I don’t give a fuck why you came in here,” pointing with a glove, “now you better get the fuck out before I lay your ass down.”

“You better-”

“No, you better realize what the fuck you’re doing. I’m a professional fighter, I’ve killed a man with my barehands, who the fuck are you to come in here and think-”

Beating the bat against the ground, furious at being interrupted, “Gerald sent me mother fucker! I’m here to make sure that you won’t be able to fight.”

“Who?”

“Gerald.”

“Gerald who? You sure you got the right guy?”

“He’s the guy you’re supposed to, aren’t you the killer whale?”

“Yeah, but I don’t remember having to fight nobody named Gerald, and, hell, I don’t know a boxer by that name. So get the fuck out, be-”

Screaming, the man beat the bat against the ground again, trying to look threatening, but he ended up cracking the bat in half. Then, confused, he dropped it to the ground, put his fists up, and twitched as he said, “Shut up, you’re trying to confuse me. I’m going to beat the shit out of you and thats that.”

As the mad approached, and Bruce entered his fighting stance, he asked, “What makes you think you can take on a man like me, hand to hand.”

“A shit ton of cocaine, that’s what.” The drugged up man ran towards Bruce, fists swinging, and the heavy weight knocked him clean in the jaw before the man got very close. However, he was surprised when he felt a hard object slam into his hip, causing him to drop to one knee. On his right, there was a short man, about 4’9”, holding a lead pipe, about to bring it down onto the head of the Orca, who also had to worry about the man in front of him, who was now running to attack him, about to do something unpredictable due to his stimulated state. As he considered his options, the pipe came down onto Bruce’s head, and, to nobody’s knowledge, dislodged his brain a tiny bit, and when the taller man drew near, he decided to jump against the nearby practice ring, bounce himself off of the ropes, and then use that momentum to send a well placed boot right into the asshole boxer’s jaw.

However, this plan was not well thought out, or executed, and the man ended up getting an arm stuck in the ropes, giving Bruce enough time to punch the shorter man, full force, directly in the face, knocking him flat on his ass. Then, he grabbed the prone man by his ankles, and threw him against the tangled man, which caused their heads to knock together, and before he could drop Bruce was up on his feet again, and began to send a flurry of blows into the men on the rope. Enraged, mainly because the unfinished melody of Hard Knock Life was stuck in his head, Bruce kept sending out punches for two minutes straight, and by the time he cooled off he realized that he had killed the both of them, and that he would have to get rid of his gloves, which were now covered in all sorts of viscous fluids. ———————————————————————————————————

When Bruce first scored free box seats to the opera, he thought that a wealthy fan had donated the tickets, but when he arrived at the balcony, he realized that the gift had significant strings attached. Seeing those scumbags made him want to leave the building, but he was a sucker for these kinds of shows, so he decided to bear through whatever the men would have to say. Waiting for him were three men who had been trying to get in contact with the boxer for quite some time, but he never messed with any sort of mob business, so they had to get creative if they wanted to talk with him.

“We see you have accepted our gift. Come, sit with us, we’ve heard this show is very good.” Said a toad like man with a thick, Russian accent.

“If I sit down,” Bruce asked, “are you going to try to get me to buy a time share or something?”

“Very clever, you are a clever man. No, we are not in the time share business, we are not interested in petty scams. We are interested in bigger ideas. How much money do you make from pugilism?”

“Its not about the money, I just like boxing.”

“Bullshit,” a large, bespectacled man piped up, “We know this is a big lie, Bruce.”

Attempting to make up for his impatient associate, “We have learned a lot about you, we may even know you better than you know yourself. Now, don’t interrupt, just hear us out. We went through all of the trouble to get in contact, we even gave you these great seats, didn’t we? All you have to do is hear our offer, and then we will leave you alone for the rest of the show.

“Now, you are a big deal in the boxing world, but of course this is no secret. You are scarier than prime Tyson, and only the toughest of boxers could stay standing in a match against you, while the rest get knocked out. You are an animal. Yet, we know that you do not really enjoy this, we know this is not your true passion. It is just a job for you, and maybe this is what makes you an even better boxer, the fact that you sometimes get angry that this is what your life has turned into, the fact that you have to fight to lie to yourself and say that you are really happy. I’m not here to analyze you, though, I’m just here to get to the offer, and I can see that I’m losing you so I’ll-”

“Just get to the point!”

“I was about to do that. You have quite the temper today don’t you? Anyways, Bruce, forgive my associate. You must know that it would be foolish to bet against you, correct? Especially against somebody as lackluster as your next opponent, what was his name? Jerry?”

“Wait,” Bruce interrupted, “are you saying you want me to take a fall for you? You want me to Lamotta myself? Are you fucking crazy?”

“Now now, wait till the end. But, yes, we do want you to fall, but there is more than money in it for you. Now, answer me this, out of all of the ways we tried to get in touch with you, why was the opera house the one that you couldn’t resist. No, that was rhetorical, you do not need to answer. See, we can make life better for you if you let things go our way, because there is, what is the term? A fuckload of money in it for us if you take a dive, but for you, we can give you a lot.

“See, in Russia it is easy to make it big in the theatre business. You do not need talent, you only need connections, and we have just that. Imagine you on the big stage, finally being able to do what you want, wouldn’t that be nice Bruce, wouldn’t you like that?”

Mulling it over for a second, “Are you saying you can make me a star in Russia?”

“Maybe, maybe, but that much is not guaranteed. We can get you the lead role in several shows, but we cannot promise you to have a career that would last longer than a year or two, since, in the grand scheme of things, you would not be bringing in too much money, just enough for us to do you this favor.” As the overture began to play, “Now, think this over, and you can give your answer after the show. Lets enjoy this, yes?”

Sitting with that untrustworthy group, Bruce’s first instincts told him to get out of there, but he was compelled to stay for the show. Then, as the show went on, he sat there in a trance, engrossed in the way he always was when he watched shows, completely captivated by the performance. And as leaving ceased to become an option, as time seemed to fly by, he started to imagine himself as the lead role. Then he started to think about other shows that he could lead, until all of the sudden it was intermission, and he stared at the curtain, imagining that the show was still going on, with him in the lead, and by the time the show resumed and ended, as the opera house filled with applause, the crowd rose in their enthusiasm, and roses were thrown onto the stage, all Bruce could think about was that all of this could be his, and the more he thought about it, the less of an option it became.

It would have been impossible to refuse.

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