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forestwater87 · 4 years ago

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Hey! It's the one who wanted fanfiction writing advice and how to sorta join the fandom. So, I am currently writing a werewolf! au for Gwenvid, and I was wondering if I could ask you something (well, multiple somethings lol)? One, what are things you would like to see in a Gwenvid fic? Two, do you have any advice for writing a good first chapter? Mine is kind of short and not too good, but yours are super good. Three, how would Gwen react to becoming a werewolf? Scared or excited? Thanks!

Oooh, fun! I don’t know if I’m the best authority on this, but I think I have a couple followers who might also have some good insights. Let’s see . . .

Things I personally go feral for in Gwenvid fics:

That UST. Pining, longing, yearning -- whatever you wanna call it, all those little glances at each other then looking away when they get caught staring, getting distracted by a brush of skin against theirs or the other one looking amazing just out of nowhere, standing too close without realizing it and then awkwardly coughing and backing away . . . all of it. These two goobers in love with each other and completely oblivious is just . . . idk, it’s obviously personal preference, but that will-they-won’t-they dance is one of my favorite things about pre-established-relationship Gwenvid, and something I never get tired of. (Also, just saying: werewolf transformations have the distinct side effect of the werewolf waking up partially or completely naked in the forest. It’s a scenario ripe for awkward and/or hilarious situations.)

If they’re in an established relationship already, it’s all about those little domestic things. I mean, there can be domestic things even before they’re dating, because they live together for like 3-4 months out of the year so they have a routine going, but things like one of them keeping the light on for the other without thinking, making coffee/tea and leaving everything laid out just the way the other one likes it, communicating (or even arguing) with just a look, all the casual lil touches of two people so comfortable with each other that it’s automatic at this point. It’s an essential part of fluff that I sometimes feel is overlooked in favor of more dramatic hurt/comfort (which is also excellent, to be clear).

BANTER! It’s not so much a canon thing as a fanon one, but the artist formerly known as Ciphernetics basically established flirty teasing and back-and-forth as a staple of Gwenvid’s charm in their earth-shatteringly beautiful fanfiction (that I can’t link because tumblr softblocks posts with links, but if you look at my blog for like 10 seconds you’ll be able to figure out what I’m talking about), and I think everyone’s writing, including my own, needs more banter. They’re so different, after all; why not have them butt heads in a fun way?

Please please please don’t do NSFW if you’re uncomfortable with it, but there is nowhere near enough of it in Gwenvid-land. Just because we’re wholesome doesn’t mean we can’t also be kinky! (Oh man, I just realized I have no idea how old you are. Uhhhh if you’re not an adult just skip this one on by! Or if you are an adult and this ain’t it. It’s like it wasn’t ever here! Poof! I should probably just delete this, but maybe it’ll awaken a spark of inspiration in someone. Lord knows I haven’t been driving the smut train for a while, so I’m just hoping someone else will do my job for me. Plus Gwen would want me to include this suggestion, especially if there are werewolves involved.)

You know, there’s not a lot of action-hero Gwenvid out there, is there? Most of it’s relationship melodrama and domestic fluff, which I love -- obviously, I write it literally all the time -- but with a werewolf AU you have the opportunity for gratuitous violence, and both David and Gwen have proven they can kick a whole lot of ass and deal out (or take) a lot of pain. If you need two people fighting monsters -- or fighting as monsters -- you could do a lot worse than those two. It’d be a fun change of pace that’d work well with their character dynamic.

Writing a first chapter:

I don’t have a ton of advice here that isn’t pretty common, but the biggest thing is to start in the middle of action. This can range in terms of drama: a camp activity going horribly wrong, a nightmare, maybe even David discovering Gwen’s a werewolf. Your story doesn’t have to go in chronological order, after all, so if you have to backtrack in later scenes or chapters that’s not a bad thing in the slightest!

It’s much better to start with a really exciting, gripping situation and then backfill in the information that matters than starting off with all that boring worldbuilding and exposition. Don’t get me wrong, that worldbuilding and exposition are necessary, but they’re also like . . . I dunno, salt. It’s essential to the recipe, but no one would say it’s their favorite part of a meal, and having to eat a whole pile of it before they get to the good stuff wouldn’t be enjoyable at all. It’s better sprinkled throughout to add flavor to your story as needed.

I like that metaphor! It’s kinda cliche, but I think it still gets the job done.

So yeah, start with something exciting and know it’s okay for your readers to go, “wait, what the fuck’s going on?” That’s kind of a great thing, actually; it establishes mystery and introduces higher stakes, and just gets your readers going. It’s also more fun to write, which is good! (For example, I just read a really great book call The Chill, which opened with a woman tying a bag over her head, weighting herself down with chains, and throwing herself into a river to “join the work.” Who is this person? What work? Did she know she was going to die -- it definitely doesn’t feel like a suicide, but what else did she think was going to happen?? I’m instantly on board, even if the next few scenes were focused on establishing exposition and actually kinda boring. It’s all about that hook.)

To be fair: I don’t do this all that often in my own fics. For every “starting the story with a botched assassination attempt,” we have “starting the story with waking up.” It’s important to have a first chapter that matches and sets the tone of your story; if it’s going to be a rip-roaring action/horror adventure, you’re going to want to start things off with all that stuff I mentioned before. If you’re writing cute fluff, there’s nothing wrong with your in media res chapter opening being an adorable fluffy scene. Compelling doesn’t have to mean scary or action-packed, but more serve as a teaser for what the rest of the story is going to bring. I’ve been leaning on action or thriller stuff because a werewolf AU implies some level of creature-feature monster spookiness, but any tone works as the start of a fic, as long as it’s not “here’s a laundry list of the universe’s rules,” because that’s boring and you can weave that into the rest of your story later.

As for your other comment, short isn’t bad at all; in fact, if you want to make your first chapter a really short, compelling scene, that can be a great way to draw people in. But I also am a proponent of writing until it’s done, and couldn’t stick to a page or word count to save my life. My chapters are all over the place, and sometimes I’ll randomly chop them up if I feel like it’s going too long but usually I don’t bother. The more you write, the more you develop a feel for when the story, chapter, or scene needs to end, but as you’re starting out you might wanna snag a beta to help you find that stopping place.

Wow, this is long! Awkward! Sorry about that! I’ll make this last one short:

Gwen the werewolf:

I can’t imagine any universe in which she isn’t psyched as hell. I think she desperately wants to be more special and important than she is, and having a sexy monster superpower would only be a good thing to her, regardless of whatever its drawbacks may be. She might get tired of certain aspects of being a werewolf as the honeymoon phase wears off, but in the beginning I think she’d be excited and maybe even relieved.

Anyway, I hope that helps! It’s a lot of rambling, but I imagine you’re used to that by now. :)

#ask forest #campcamp #gwenvid #yeah i'm putting this in the main tags even though it's long as balls #fight me #cc gwen #campcampfanfan

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sammy24682468 · 5 years ago

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Nehemiah Lesson 2

"Memory Text: “So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven. And I said: ‘I pray, Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments’ ” (Nehemiah 1:4, 5, NKJV)."

"To date, two groups of captives have returned to Judah in at least partial fulfillment of God’s promises to the Hebrew nation.But there is one more company of exiles that God is preparing. The last group of captives is commissioned to fix a problem. Although the first two groups returned to rebuild Jerusalem and to complete part of that project by finishing the temple, the rest of the construction was abandoned as opposition from the surrounding nations arose. The people from the surrounding area didn’t want the Israelites to build the city and its walls because they were afraid that the Israelites might become a mighty nation as they had once been (Ezra 4:6-24). Thus, the return of the Israelites appeared to be a threat, one that they were determined to stop. But God didn’t call His people in order to abandon them in the process of doing what He had called them to do."

"Thus, He was preparing another man to carry out His will and to accomplish His purposes. His name was Nehemiah, and to him and his work for the Lord we turn."

"The book of Nehemiah opens somewhat in the same way the book of Daniel did (read Dan. 1:1, 2), and that was with bad news. Yes, many had returned to their ancestral homeland, but things weren’t going too well for them there."

"Read Nehemiah 1:1-4. Why was Nehemiah so distressed? What was his response to the bad news he received?"

"Some Jews taken captive years earlier were brought to Shushan, one of the four administrative centers of the Persian Empire, where Nehemiah served in the royal palace as a cupbearer. The term used for “Hanani one of my brothers” most likely refers to a blood brother, because there is a similar but more familial-sounding reference to Hanani in Nehemiah 7:2, although it could be a reference to just a fellow Israelite. The conversation with Hanani most likely happened between mid-November and mid-December of 445 b.c., some 13 years after Ezra’s return to Jerusalem. Hanani reports that the situation in Jerusalem is dire. The people have not been able to rebuild Jerusalem, and the enemy had destroyed the walls of the city, leaving it defenseless and desolate."

"It bears mention that King Artaxerxes crushed the hope of the returnees by stopping the progress of the construction after the people beyond the river complained (Ezra 4). This allowed the enemies to destroy the walls of the city (Ezra 4:23). Nehemiah would have heard rumors of such disaster, but he didn’t have definite answers until this time."

"Even though the temple was rebuilt, it wasn’t fully functioning because the people needed for the temple service were unable to live in Jerusalem. The situation saddened Nehemiah as the implications of the news penetrated his soul: the Jews had not glorified God even though they had returned for that purpose. Instead, they had neglected the house of God and the Holy City, because of their fear of the enemy and oppression."

"Thus, Nehemiah automatically turns to God. He doesn’t complain that the people of Judah lack faith or put them down as cowards, nor does he just accept the situation as the status quo. Nehemiah just gets down on his knees and starts praying and fasting."

"Read Nehemiah’s prayer found in Nehemiah 1:5-11. What are the dif ferent components of the prayer? Why does he include himself in the prayer as those who are guilty?"

"1. God, You are great and have mercy (Neh. 1:5). 2. Hear me (Neh. 1:6). 3. Confession of sins (Neh. 1:6, 7). 4. Remember Your promises (Neh. 1:8, 9). 3. You have redeemed us (Neh. 1:10). 2. Hear me (Neh. 1:11). 1. God, grant prosperity and mercy (Neh. 1:11)."

"Nehemiah’s prayer is a beautiful composition recounting God’s greatness, their own sinfulness, and concluding with a cry for help. The prayer resembles the prayer of Daniel in Daniel 9, and it is possible that Nehemiah was familiar with that prayer. It is noteworthy that Nehemiah doesn’t begin with a cry for help, but rather first states the truth about who God is, great and awesome. He also points out that God keeps His covenant and has mercy on those who love Him, as if to remind God that He has always been faithful and cannot now be any other way."

"The prayer is in a special structure (depicted above) that centers on verse 8, where Nehemiah articulates God’s promises. Nehemiah says: “Remember!” In other words: Remember, God, that You promised that You will scatter us when we are unfaithful but that You also promised to bring us back and restore everything. Since the first one has happened, now it is time to fulfill the other because we are returning to You. Nehemiah is not afraid to claim God’s promises and to remind God of them. Of course, it is not that God doesn’t know or remember His promises. Instead, God takes pleasure in our willingness to claim His promises. He wants us to believe in them and thus speak them out loud to Him. By verbalizing what God has promised us, we can be strengthened in our own resolve to trust in those promises, especially at times when everything seems hopeless."

Nehemiah speaks out:

"Nehemiah 1:11 says that Nehemiah is the king’s cupbearer. To us this may seem like an unimportant job, but cupbearers could be men of powerful influence, since they had constant and close access to the king. Cupbearers tasted beverages for the king in order to prevent illness or death of the king. Herodotus points out that the Persians held cupbearers in high honor, as they were regarded as high officials. For instance, the cupbearer of the Assyrian king Esarhaddon also was the chief minister of the kingdom. Thus, Nehemiah holds a high position in the kingdom, and because of his access to the king, he pleads with God to use him in speaking to the king about the situation in Judah."

"Read Nehemiah 2:1-8. What happened as a result of Nehemiah’s prayers and fasting?"

"The prayer is answered in the month of Nisan, which is roughly the month of April of 444 b.c. Four months have passed since Hanani and the Jews brought the disturbing news about Jerusalem to Nehemiah. For four months, Nehemiah prayed and fasted, and every day it might have seemed to him as if God were not answering. But God’s timing is always perfect. God prepared the king to hear Nehemiah and to respond favorably."

"It was not an everyday occurrence to have the cupbearer relieved of his duties for a time to be a governor in a different land. God spoke through Nehemiah and impressed the Persian king Artaxerxes I to make Nehemiah a governor over the territory of Judah. The mention of the queen suggests that this was possibly a private occasion, as it was not customary for the queen always to be present for formal banquets. Nehemiah does not immediately mention Jerusalem, in order to keep the king from having preconceived ideas, but rather he makes an emotional appeal to the king about something personal to him. By the time the specific place is mentioned, the king has been won."

"The king sent letters with Nehemiah to Sanballat the Horonite and to Tobiah the Ammonite, the high officials of the region beyond the river, in order to pave the way for what Nehemiah was to accomplish. Additionally, the king commanded Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forest, to provide Nehemiah with all the timber necessary to rebuild the city, walls, and gates of the temple."

"Read Nehemiah 2:9, 10. What do these verses tell us about the opposition Nehemiah and the Jews in general were going to face?"

"Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem sometime in the second part of the year 444 b.c. Opposition appears to spring up even before Nehemiah attempts any action, as the request delivered to the governors stirs up problems. Although Tobiah is a Jewish name, which meant “the Lord is good” (his son Jehohanan also carried a Jewish name, “the Lord is gracious”), he served as a governor of Ammon. Thus, Jerusalem was surrounded by enemies: Sanballat, the governor of Samaria to the north; Tobiah, the governor of Ammon to the east; and Geshem, the Arab (Neh. 2:18, 19) to the south, who took hold of Edom and Moab. It is unfortunate that the leadership in that region shunned Nehemiah for being concerned about the “well-being” of the oppressed. Bullies don’t rejoice over the good fortune of those they intimidate."

"Nehemiah’s “arrival in Jerusalem, however, with a military escort, showing that he had come on some important mission, excited the jealousy of the heathen tribes living near the city, who had so often indulged their enmity against the Jews by heaping upon them injury and insult. Foremost in this evil work were certain chiefs of these tribes, Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian. From the first these leaders watched with critical eyes the movements of Nehemiah and endeavored by every means in their power to thwart his plans and hinder his work.”—Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings, p. 635."

Nehemiah prepares for his task.

"No question, the Lord had called Nehemiah to this task and would provide all that he would need. Armed with the knowledge of God’s promises and the certainty of the call by God, Nehemiah proceeded. But he moved ahead carefully and prayerfully. In other words, even though he knew God was with him, this knowledge didn’t keep him, basically, from thinking through what he would do."

"Read Nehemiah 2:11-20. What does Nehemiah do to prepare for the project of rebuilding the wall?"

"Leadership Lessons: Lesson 1—Nehemiah does not tell anyone what the plans are that “God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem” (Neh. 2:12). Not only does he not tell the enemy, but he keeps it from the Jewish leaders, as well. He is on a scouting mission to figure out what needs to be done. Lesson 2—Before presenting anything, Nehemiah does his homework and plans out all the work that will be required. Lesson 3—When he does speak of the task, Nehemiah first outlines what God has done so far to lead this expedition, and then he adds the words of the king. He encourages before he asks for commitment. It is nothing short of a miracle that the Jews respond so favorably and decide to build, despite the resistance that will come. God had prepared not only the king through Nehemiah’s prayers and fasting but also the Jewish people, so that they respond boldly and courageously."

"Read Nehemiah 2:19, 20. What do these verses tell us about Nehemiah’s faith? How might texts such as Deuteronomy 7:9, Psalm 23:1-6, and Numbers 23:19 have helped Nehemiah?"

"Our conversations demonstrate who we are and what we truly believe. Nehemiah tends to speak uplifting words. He is not afraid to include God in all that he says and to glorify Him as well, even when people jeer and laugh at him. Even though Nehemiah knows the contempt the enemies feel toward them, he doesn’t mince words or leave God out of the conversation. Like Joseph in Egypt many years earlier, Nehemiah is not afraid to promote his God among people who do not believe in Him."

"Nehemiah was a man of prayer: “Nehemiah had often poured out his soul in behalf of his people. But now as he prayed a holy purpose formed in his mind. He resolved that if he could obtain the consent of the king, and the necessary aid in procuring implements and material, he would himself undertake the task of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and restoring Israel’s national strength. And he asked the Lord to grant him favor in the sight of the king, that this plan might be carried out. ‘Prosper, I pray Thee, Thy servant this day,’ he entreated, ‘and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.’ Four months Nehemiah waited for a favorable opportunity to present his request to the king.” —Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings, pp. 629, 630."

"• Neither Ezra nor Nehemiah could have accomplished anything without the help of the king. In other words, these men of God worked in cooperation with the political authorities, who were pagans, as well. What lesson can we draw from this about when and how we as a church can work with the political powers that be, whoever they are? At the same time, when doing so, why must the church be very careful?"

#Sabbath School lesson #Sabbath #religion #Adventist #God #Jesus #faith

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dykecadence · 5 years ago

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A Dissertation to Prove that Alice Quinn from The Magicians is a Lesbian Experiencing Comp-Het

some of my twitter friends requested i post this on here so @alicequinnlove i hope this is good! (keep in mind this was written before the second half of season 4 so some things are out of date)

1. Her attraction to Quentin as compulsive heterosexuality

Alice only expresses attraction to Q once he has expressed attraction to her

Jumping into a relationship with the first guy to show interest in her despite knowing they don’t necessarily work (and that she is better than him)

Never feels sexual fulfillment in their relationship (until that one ep) but not saying anything about it

Rebounding quickly with another guy after Q cheats as if she is trying to prove something to herself/him

Every time she talks about sexual encounters before Q she says they were all uncomfortable and very impersonal

Look, as someone who struggled with comp-het for a LONG time and has dated guys because of it… Q is exactly the type of soft, nerd boy that is perfect for closeted lesbians to try and date as a means of making themselves seem straight. He’s non-threatening and when you don’t want to confront your sexuality it can be easy to trick yourself into getting crushes or turning friendships into something more.

Not entirely supporting my point because I do think opposite sex friendships are very important but; the fact that Alice was far more upset about her trust being broken and losing one of her best friends than the relationship ending

2. Her inherent unease around other women

Alice is uncomfortable around other women but not because she feels threatened by them. In fact, we don’t really know why she’s so uncomfortable with them at first.

Alice has no close female friends thus the way she views her interactions with women is skewed through Hetero Goggles

She would have no frame of reference for determining if there is a difference in her feelings toward women/patricular women

With Margo in particular, Alice is uneasy which I would chalk up to:

Margo compliments Alice/her body often

Margo being so comfortable with herself

Margo blatantly flirting with her at times

They have tension

I mean…… Margo/Alice Rights!

3. Magic often functions as an allegory for The Gay

Alice has always felt out of place

She fears her own “magic”

Her family didn’t teach her any magic she had to find it on her own

Magical found family narratives are for the gays only

Unaware of her own potential, still hasn’t unlocked it

She holds herself back in her magic, just as she does in every other aspect of life

4. Sex in this show is barely ever just sex

Basically everyone in this show uses sex as a coping mechanism

Especially Alice

Alice sleeps with Q because she’s stressed and worked up in Brakebills South

People had also been telling them to sleep together or speculating the would for months

She may have felt like it was what she was supposed to do

Her immediate distrust of the truth of her feelings once they get back is not something you would expect from someone who is getting what they want

She often says, “I love you” to Q but never says that she is “in love” with him. An important distinction as this show displays many different forms of love.

Alice sleeps with Penny when Q cheats. Why does she do this? To get back at him presumably but I don’t think she’s that petty. I think it was insecurity. Her trying to prove herself to herself.

Alice kisses Q/has sex with Q post-break up only in emotionally intense scenarios where she is overwhelmed by grief, power, or both.

Kissing him at the tree

Having sex with him when she gets back from being a Niffin

Carriage ride to the fight with the Beast

5. Alice has never really had friends

Her experience with comp-het and her inexperience with friendship would very likely lead her to misattribute close feelings of friendship with attraction.

I have personal experience with this so I feel this assumption is justified

Since she knows so few people and Q is the only one she has a close/friendly relationship with she clearly feels the strongest connection to him

She instinctively distrusts everyone and doesn’t let people in easily so it would be hard to know her true feelings

If we could see her in a close female friendship in this show I think she would bond quickly and strongly (as she did with Sheila)

It’s not that she doesn’t want friends, it’s that she has a hard time letting her walls down which ~gay~

It would be invaluable to see her have a close female friendship as we could compare that to her season 1 interactions with Quentin and decipher her behavior

Her few friendly interactions with Margo had a lot of tension before she and Q got together

6. Alice has not expressed attraction to anyone since her last encounter with Q in (I think) late season 2.

This encounter was an instance of sex not just being sex. It was her being overwhelmed after coming back from being a Niffin and seeking comfort/distraction in something familiar i.e. Quentin

Since then she has:

Not expressed in interest in getting back with Q

Not had sex with anyone

Not mentioned an attraction to anyone

Made no insinuation of lingering romantic feelings for anyone she has previously been involved with (with the exception of Timeline23!Alice but as she is not Our Alice she is not relevant)

Her attraction to and intimate interactions with Q have been nothing more than physical since season 1

They have slept together again multiple times but it was always because of some bigger emotional turmoil and not love

She said she didn’t want to get back together with him after the threesome and I think (in terms of a real relationship) she means that

But she used sex as a coping mechanism since Q was familiar/her closest friend and it made her feel like herself

I don’t think either of them have had genuine romantic feelings for each other for a while but U believe Alice’s went away faster (because she never really had them due to comp-het)

7. Gay Coding

A lot of aspects of this show are unambiguously queer-coded

There is no such thing as gay panic in this show so there is no need to be weirded out over gay stuff and if you are you are portrayed as the weird one (ex. Hymen)

Alice’s cold intelligence and manner is pretty lesbian coded

Her style is high femme and I will not be told otherwise

8. This doesn’t fit into a particular spot but…

When Q mentions the dream that Penny walked in to involving her and Julia kissing, her problem was not with herself kissing another girl or even that it was a kinda gross fantasy for Q but rather that Q was thinking about his former crush alongside her.

She doesn’t dwell on the gay of it all just the fact that Q is subconsciously thinking of his old crush

9. I would argue that Alice’s inability to find sexual pleasure with Q (until that one ep) is a ~problem~ on both of their parts.

Partially due to Quentin having no clue what to do

But I think mostly due to the fact that she doesn’t really feel sexually attracted to him

The one time it is “fulfilling” to them it is because they are trying to get Penny back

Alice is determined to get shit done so I’m sure she is capable of…. Fulfilling her part in getting Penny back even if she didn’t really feel as much as she should

As I’ve said, they never really have sex just because, there’s always an external factor (as far as we the viewer are aware)

10. She had more chemistry with Penny than with Q despite “loving” him

11. Her previous experiences

She was standing up and at a party for all of them according to her

These interactions are:

Impersonal

Likely the result of alcohol

Clearly not fond memories

12. Niffin!Alice and Dark!Willow are Very Similar in quite a few ways, enough said

13. Her feelings for Quentin feel like the “I’ve decided to have a crush now”

As I said, she only expresses interest in him once he has expressed interest in her

Crush comes out of nowhere

She seemed very professional with Q at first

She skips friendship and goes straight for crush

But the crush was really friendship

Her romantic feelings for him are contingent on how emotional she is

14. Alice awkwardly avoiding talking about the Incubus’ penis

She doesn’t wanna say penis lmao

15. New Addition: “But she and Q got back together!”

I felt the need to address this additional point and why it doesn’t effect my theory.

Once Alice left The Library she was a prop for the rest of the season.

Logically they have no reason to get back together as they’ve both been growing far more on their own than they did together.

I think her going back to him only serves to prove she is only with him because she desperately wants to feel loved even if she doesn’t quite understand her own feelings

Alice is reaching out to reconnect with Q in an attempt to gain some of her old self back

She knows she cares for him and that he cares for her and she automatically assumes that romance is the logical answer for those feelings

It’s comp-het babey

Them getting back together was a cheap ploy to add more emotional weight to Q’s death

If anything I feel it supports this theory

In conclusion, Alice Quinn is a lesbian. Send tweet

#this is a mess hopefully it's okay lol #watch me get hate on this even though i haven't actively done anything tm related since like april w egg nation #ill die on the lesbian alice hill #alice quinn #the magicians #tm #the formatting on this is so ugly on mobile I'm so sorry

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aion-rsa · 4 years ago

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Best PC Games to Play in 2021

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We’re entering a golden age for PC gaming. The next generation of graphics cards are capable of pumping out 4K graphics and high FPS on almost any big name release, and real-time raytracing is taking graphics to new heights that weren’t possible just a couple years ago.

Add in Sony bringing more PlayStation ports to the PC and nearly every Xbox exclusive making its way to PCs as well, and a high-end gaming computer looks to be the definitive way to play almost anything over the next few years.

The following is a list of the most anticipated games coming to home computers this year. While release dates are always flexible, these are only titles that have already been released or officially confirmed for 2021.

Back 4 Blood

June 22 | Turtle Rock Studios

Despite persistent rumors of a third Left 4 Dead game entering development, it’s been more than a decade since Valve has released a new entry in the beloved co-op zombie series. Enter Turtle Rock Studios, the studio behind the original Left 4 Dead game, with a spiritual successor, Back 4 Blood.

By all accounts, Back 4 Blood plays a lot like Left 4 Dead. There are safe rooms, tons of melee weapons, an AI director who constantly changes things up, and zombies. Lots and lots of zombies. But there will also be perk cards that add interesting perks and buffs to the experience, making each playthrough unique. If Back 4 Blood can capture the spirit of the original Left 4 Dead, it should be fantastic.

Chivalry 2

June 8 | Torn Banner Studios

Chivalry was once considered one of the PC’s premier multiplayer titles. Could the sequel follow in its footsteps? We’ll find out pretty soon when Chivalry 2 launches exclusively on the Epic Games Store. According to Torn Banner Studios, the sequel aims to deliver combat that’s deep enough to keep players interested for awhile, yet easy for newcomers to pick up for the first time.

The latest gameplay videos show off lots of brutal medieval melee combat, with battlefields absolutely drenched in blood after a few minutes of 64 players hacking away at each other. This should be on your must-buy list in June!

Deathloop

May 21 | Arkane Studios

The best way to describe Deathloop is Hitman meets Groundhog Day. You play as Colt, an assassin stuck on a mysterious island, who must take out eight targets before midnight. If you die or fail to eliminate all targets, the day resets, and you’ll have to start all over again. And all the while you’re also being hunted by Julianna Blake, a rival assassin who doesn’t want you breaking the time loop. She can be controlled by either the AI or another player.

Arkane has a great track record when it comes to unique first-person games like Prey and the Dishonored series. If Deathloop’s heady concept can hold up, it could be another home run for the developer.

Diablo 2: Resurrected

TBA | Vicarious Visions

While Diablo III’s reputation has improved substantially since its controversial 2012 launch, there’s still a vocal group of gamers who prefer the second game in Blizzard’s genre-defining action RPG series. Knowing how much this game means to a lot of people, Vicarious Visions has said it’s not out to reinvent the wheel for Resurrected. The updated 3D graphics will display in 4K, but you can switch back to the original graphics at any point with the press of a button.

And while there will be some quality of life improvements like a shared item stash and automatic gold pickup, don’t expect any revolutionary changes that will spoil the original experience. This should be exactly what we need to tide us over until Diablo IV hits.

Evil Genius 2: World Domination

March 30 | Rebellion Developments

It’s taken 17 years to get a sequel to the criminally underrated Evil Genius, but it’s finally here. If you never had the pleasure of playing the original, imagine being a James Bond villain and managing your own secret lair to build a weapon of mass destruction and eventually take over the world. Yeah, it’s pretty awesome.

World Domination promises to be a bigger and better sequel. You’ll be able to pick from four different evil geniuses at the start of the game and one of three islands. Each minion in your lair now has their own personality and traits, so you’ll have to use them more strategically than ever to prevent the Forces of Justice from foiling your evil plans.

Far Cry 6

TBA | Ubisoft

Far Cry 6 was originally supposed to be out by now, but development has slowed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It’s still expected to be out in 2021, though. According to Ubisoft, the theme of the game is revolution against an oppressive government, with substantial research going into how and why revolutions are fought to better develop the game’s setting and story.

Ubisoft certainly picked the right actor to lead an oppressive government, with Breaking Bad and Mandalorian villain Giancarlo Esposito portraying the nefarious “El Presidente” who we’ll be looking to topple later this year.

Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker

TBA | Square Enix

After one of the worst MMORPG launches ever, it’s a miracle that Final Fantasy XIV is still around a decade later. Not only did Square Enix turn things around, this game is now regarded as one of the very best in the genre.

Endwalker, the game’s fourth major expansion pack will conclude the story of the warring gods Hydaelyn and Zodiark, which has been running since the game’s 2013 relaunch. This won’t be the end of the MMO, though. Square still says it has several years worth of stories to tell.

Along with the obligatory new zones and quests, Square has promised two new classes. The first one shown so far, the sage, is a healer who battles with floating swords.

Guilty Gear Strive

April 9 | Arc System Works

The Guilty Gear series has never quite received the same attention as fighting games like Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter, but the franchise has quietly earned a reputation as a technically sound alternative for the competitive fighting game community.

The footage of Guilty Gear Strive released so far looks stunning. Arc has perfected the 3D polygonal character on a 2D plane, and the gameplay promises to be more accessible than ever, with the addition of a new dash button and a “wall-stick hit-state” which allows characters knocked into walls to slide down and continue fighting back.

Halo Infinite

TBA | 343 Industries

Halo may be Microsoft’s flagship franchise, but it’s always had a complicated relationship with the PC, with entries only being ported years after their initial release on Xbox (if at all). Halo Infinite will be the first mainline entry in the series to show up on both console and PC at launch, and it’s currently expected some time in the fall.

Halo Infinite’s public unveiling last year didn’t quite go as planned, with footage receiving a rather frosty reception from most fans. There are a lot of rumors of development troubles online, but Microsoft has a good track record of pulling its Halo games together in time for release, so hopefully we’ll end up with another classic game in the series later this year.

Hitman 3

January 20 | IO Interactive

Hitman 3 makes murder fun. Yes, there’s a lot of murder in video games, but true to its namesake, Hitman is more about the setup than the execution. No other franchise has perfected the thrill of expertly sneaking into an area, tracking down a target, and setting up an unfortunate “accident” to get away unscathed. Or just go in guns blazing like a maniac if that’s your kind of thing.

With Hitman 3, you can even import levels from the previous two games to get the full “World of Assassination” experience, but expect further updates throughout the year, including ray tracing.

Humankind

April 22 | Amplitude Studios

As popular as the Civilization series has become over the last three decades, it’s surprising that few developers have been up to the challenge of developing a competitor to Sid Meier’s classic creation. Humankind could be up to the task, though. You’ll lead your civilization across six different eras of human history, selecting one of 10 different civilizations in each era. You can handle relations with other societies diplomatically, but if that goes south, combat is handled as a tactical RPG.

Developer Amplitude Studios has been dipping its toes into the 4X genre over the last decade with the well-received Endless Space and Endless Legend, and now the team are looking to apply everything they’ve learned from those games into Humankind.

Mass Effect Legendary Edition

May 14 | BioWare

Gamers have been clamoring for a re-release of the Mass Effect trilogy for years, and the Legendary Edition looks to exceed expectations. All three games will support 4K resolution, higher frame rates, and new graphical effects. The original Mass Effect in particular has seen a number of improvements akin to a partial remake, with improved combat, re-tooled enemy AI, and a faster Mako vehicle for traversing the Milky Way’s many planets.

While the Legendary Edition will include almost all of the DLC from the original trilogy (including some rather awesome add-ons like Lair of the Shadow Broker and Omega), BioWare has also announced a few omissions. Mass Effect 3’s lauded multiplayer mode isn’t going to make the cut, and Pinnacle Station, a much-maligned arena style add-on for the first game won’t be included either due to the loss of its source code.

New World

August 31 | Amazon Games

Amazon has had its sights set on the gaming world for quite some time, quietly pumping money into a number of projects, and New World could be its breakthrough hit. In this MMORPG set on an unnamed land in the Atlantic Ocean in the 1600s, you’ll wield bows, hammers, hatchets, magical staffs, musket rifles, spears, and swords against a variety of fantastical creatures. There will also be plenty of opportunities to gather resources, craft and build settlements. Best of all, there’s no monthly fee to play.

Launching a new IP is always difficult, and MMOs are a particularly difficult genre to break into, but if any company has the resources to succeed, it’s Amazon.

Resident Evil Village

May 7 | Capcom

There was already a ton of hype for the eighth main installment in the Resident Evil franchise following its initial reveal last year, but the introduction of antagonist Lady Dimitrescu aka “Tall Vampire Lady” has put the hype train in overdrive. We still don’t know a lot about the story, but we do expect there will be plenty of run-ins with the 9-foot tall lady and her vampiric daughters.

Village’s first demo gave us our first glimpse of stunning European manor rendered in 4K with ray tracing. The RE Engine was already a looker on last-gen hardware, but Village should be even more stunning when running on a newer graphics card.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2

TBA | GSC Game World

We still know remarkably little about S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, a game that’s scheduled to release by the end of the year. In December, GSC Game World released an in-engine teaser trailer that looked impressive, with a first-person view of someone running down a hallway in a dilapidated building around Chernobyl.

If the previous games in the series are any indication, we should be in for some truly terrifying encounters and harrowing firefights with twisted irradiated mutants. Here’s hoping we get more info soon.

Total War: Warhammer III

TBA | Creative Assembly

The trailer for the final entry in Creative Assembly’s Total War: Warhammer trilogy looks very cool, with humans mounted on horses and polar bears facing down chaos demons on a frozen battlefield.

The campaign is said to be twice the size of the one in Total War: Warhammer II, and those who own the DLC for all three games will have access to a combined map that will combine patches from maps from all three games for an absolutely massive strategy experience.

Valheim

February 2 | Iron Gate AB

Valheim came out of nowhere to become one of the big success stories of 2021, selling more than a million copies less than three weeks after its early access release. If you aren’t caught up on the latest Steam phenomenon, think of it as Minecraft mixed with Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. You and up to nine other friends are dropped off in the middle of a Viking afterlife to survive, craft, and battle mythical creatures.

Iron Gate AB has been vague about what exactly to expect from future updates, but the studio has teased future customization options for homes and ships, and eventually even a new biome to explore.

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide

TBA | Fatshark

There have been dozens of Warhammer video games over the years, but few have found the success and crossover appeal of Fatshark’s Vermintide games. It turns out that mowing down waves of enemies with three of your friends is just plain fun, no matter the setting.

Darktide features the same Left 4 Dead-inspired gameplay, but moves the battle to the futuristic Warhammer 40,000 setting, incorporating more gunplay along the way. If you liked the Vermintide games, this is pretty much a must-have.

Wrath: Aeon of Ruin

TBA | KillPixel

First-person shooters have come a long way in the last couple of decades, but some times you just want to run and gun in a dark fantasy setting as quickly as possible. And remarkably few modern games provide that experience. Enter Wrath: Aeon of Ruin, a spiritual successor to Quake, Doom, and Hexen, built on the 25-year-old Quake Engine.

cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530", }).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796"); });

Wrath has been in Early Access since November 2019, and what’s been released so far is very promising, looking and sounding like a lost PC shooter from the late ‘90s. The full game should be out later this year.

The post Best PC Games to Play in 2021 appeared first on Den of Geek.

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tekamedia · 5 years ago

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Carter Page: GOP just wanted the facts from Mueller but were stonewalled

New Post has been published on https://newsprofixpro.com/tekamedia/2019/07/25/carter-page-gop-just-wanted-the-facts-from-mueller-but-were-stonewalled/

Carter Page: GOP just wanted the facts from Mueller but were stonewalled

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Price: $95.95

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Condition: Used :

An item that has been used previously. The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear, but is fully operational and functions as intended. This item may be a floor model or store return that has been used. See the seller’s listing for full details and description of any imperfections. See all condition definitions– opens in a new window or tab

Seller Notes: “Used Camera in good working condition, camera body may have some marks or scratch; but LCD is clean no marks or scratch, there is no discernible dust inside on camera. There is no issue on Lens, Camera comes with Battery, Charger and flash only, I don’t have original box and other accessories.”

Optical Zoom: 3x Type: Digital SLR Weight: 15.9 Oz. Connectivity: USB Features: AF Lock, DPOF Support, Direct Print, AE/FE Lock, Auto Power Save, Histogram Display, PictBridge Support Megapixels: 10.1MP Color:

Black

MPN:

2762B003

Series: Canon EOS Modified Item: No Model:

Rebel XS

Brand:

Canon

Dimensions: 4.96 x 3.8 x 2.4 in. Battery Type: Lithium-Ion Manufacturer Warranty: None Custom Bundle: No Manufacturer Color: Black Screen Size: 2.5″ UPC:

0013803099249

About this product

Product Information Whether you’re new to photography or you’ve spent years honing your skills, Canon has a solution for you. If you have a love for the art of photography, look no further than the Canon EOS Rebel digital camera. Over the years, Canon has made a name for itself as a brand that delivers supreme products and great results. The Canon EOS Rebel XS 1000D DSLR camera offers users a tool for taking detailed, high-quality images. The photographic process is easy, fast, and simple and includes powerful features like the 10.1 megapixel CMOS sensor.Canon’s DIGIC III processor and fast shooting afford you the opportunity to take as many photos as you want. This digital powerhouse is still easy to use and simple to learn. The camera’s compact design includes a 2.5-inch LCD monitor and a live view function. Additionally, you can view each shot to ensure clarity by using the viewfinder feature. The Canon EOS camera has flash control and an auto lighting optimizer so that you can take shots in any lighting environment. It works by letting the lens detect darkness and then adjusts automatically to provide optimal brightness and contrast.This Canon digital camera has an EFS-S IS 18–55mm lens, so you can change focus with ease. The digital seven-point AF system uses a 450D algorithm. The body of the Canon Rebel EOS SLR camera is small and light, making it easy to take with you anywhere you need it. This Rebel model comes with batteries and has an SD/SDHC memory card slot to meet all your needs.The Rebel 1000D SLR can take any type of photo you want with its versatile system. When setting up each shot, you can search for the perfect angle before shooting. With the 3.0 frames per second continuous shooting option, you can capture a series of shots for creating a time lapse effect. This feature also allows you to choose the best from many shots. The auto adjusting settings allow you to capture all of the fine details and natural colors of your subject. This model can use any of Canon’s EFS lenses to give you the control you desire, allowing for more versatility in professional photography. Another advantage of this product is that it has a self-cleaning function to help ensure you get quality shots each time. This camera can shake off dust particles, making it easy to maintain. Also, post production is easy to learn with its included digital photo processing software. This product has an added battery grip for your convenience. There is an assortment of remote control, viewfinder, and other accessories including various lenses available to enhance your photography experience.You can zoom in on your subject by up to 1.6x with this camera’s built-in lens. Each shot exhibits extreme clarity and tonal range and maximized light to its fullest capacity. This very durable product can fulfill your photographic needs and desires. Whether you’re a beginner looking to explore the technical aspects of photography or you’re a professional looking for an additional tool, try the black Canon EOS Rebel XS. Product Identifiers Brand Canon MPN CANON/EOS1000D/220EX, 2762B003 UPC 0013803099249 Model Rebel XS / 1000D eBay Product ID (ePID) 100112985 Product Key Features Optical Zoom 3x Features AF Lock, DPOF Support, Direct Print, AE/FE Lock, Auto Power Save, Histogram Display, PictBridge Support Color Black Series Canon EOS Modified Item No Battery Type Lithium-Ion Custom Bundle No Screen Size 2.5″ Type Digital SLR Connectivity USB Megapixels 10.1MP Dimensions Weight 15.9 Oz. Width 4.96in. Height 3.8in. Depth 2.4in. Additional Product Features Light Sensitivity MAX 1600 Viewfinder Magnification 0.81x Optical Viewfinder Type Eye-Level Mirror Pentaprism Focal Length Range 18mm-55mm Exposure Compensation ±2 Ev Range, in 1/2 or 1/3 Ev Steps Min Shutter SPEED 30 Sec Sensor Size 14.8×22.2mm Red-Eye Reduction Yes Light Sensitivity Iso 1600, Iso 400, Iso 100, Iso Auto (100-800), Iso 800, Iso 200 Exposure Metering Center-Weighted, Evaluative, Partial (10%) Exposure Modes Bulb, Depth-Of-Field, Manual, Shutter-Priority, Automatic, Program, Aperture-Priority Battery Form Factor Manufacturer Specific MAX Shutter SPEED 1/4000 Sec Lens for Sd EF-S Is 18-55mm Additional Features Auto Lighting Optimizer, Depth-Of-Field Preview Button, USB 2.0 Compatibility, Ae/Fe Lock, Direct Print, Highlight Point Display, Rgb Primary Color Filter, Mirror Lock, Auto Power Save, Orientation Detection, Dpof Support, Brightness Control, Histogram Display, PictBridge Support, Af Lock, LCD Live View Mode Focal Length Equivalent to 35mm Camera 29-88mm Special Effects Monochrome Supported Flash Memory SDHC Memory Card, SD Memory Card Flash Type Pop-Up Flash Min Operating Temperature 0°C Auto Focus Type TTL Phase Detection Lens Type Zoom Lens Viewfinder Type Optical Exterior Color Black Exposure Range Ev 1-20 (Iso 100) Dioptric Correction Range -3 to +1 Continuous Shooting SPEED 3fps Still Image Format JPEG, Raw + JPEG, Raw Lens System Features Aspherical Lens Sensor Resolution 10.1MP Operating System Supported Mississippi Windows 2000 Sp4 or Later, Apple Mac OS X 10.3 or Later, Mississippi Windows XP Sp2, Mississippi Windows Vista Camera Type Digital SLR Display Type LCD Sensor Type Cmos Shooting Programs Sports Mode, Landscape, Night Portrait, Close-Up, Portrait Mode MAX Operating Temperature 40°C Camera Flash Features Flash +/- Compensation, Af Illuminator, Flash Exposure Bracketing Display Rotation Built-In Viewfinder-Field Coverage 95% Screen Details LCD Display-Tft Active Matrix-2.5″-Color Flash Modes OFF! Mode, Fill-In Mode, Rear Curtain Sync, Red-Eye Reduction, Auto Mode Display Size 2.5in. Lens Filter Size 58mm Expansion Slot 1X SD Memory Card Lens Construction 9 Group(s) / 11 Element(s) Connector Types 1X USB, 1X Remote Control, 1X Composite Video Output Microphone Type None Focus Adjustment Manual, Automatic, Autofocus & Manual Focus

$95.95 End Date: Friday Aug-23-2019 12:17:48 PDT Buy It Now for only: $95.95 Buy It Now | Add to watch list

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Compatible Brand: For Apple Weight: 0.4 lbs Wireless Technology: Bluetooth Color:

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Connectivity: Wireless Features: Waterproof Manufacturer Color: Green Dimensions: 4.3×4.5×1.5 UPC:

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$39.90 End Date: Saturday Aug-24-2019 17:30:21 PDT Buy It Now for only: $39.90 Buy It Now | Add to watch list

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srtringbean · 8 years ago

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First Love pt. 4

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 prev Part 5

Word count: 3643 Warnings: smut, I hate myself oh god A/n: okay I was going to post this awhile ago but I had like 6 versions of this and finally came up with this and my computer would crash a lot. I hope you like this part and I’ll hopefully have part 5 before the concert next week! Also I’m working on a new fic and will probably upload a preview soon~

“Are you scared that you’ve possibly fallen in love with me y/n?”

Oh how you wished you weren’t a complex asshole. You did feel the same as he did, but you were being the biggest wimp. Your concept of love was nothing but an illusion. Many told you to suck it up and get over it though really if they were to be in your shoes, they’d understand why you’re so hesitant.

“Joon what are you-” “You know exactly what I’m talking about y/n.” He cut you off. “Joon can we please not talk about this. Just go to sleep.” The last thing you wanted to do was get into an argument with him but knowing Namjoon, he wasn’t going to leave you alone until you answered him. “Y/n when will we talk about it then huh?” He scoffed, “you said to give you time and I’ve given you nothing but plenty of time so why the hell are you doing this again?” Letting go of the door knob you turned to face him, “Namjoon what do you mean do this again? I just need time I don’t understand why you’re so worked up about it?” “Seriously? When I try to talk to you now, it’s like I’m not there and you walk away. It’s been weeks now and you still need time?”

The frustration running in your head made you want to bash your head into a wall. Of all people he had to confess it just had to be you. Why? Yes you needed time because six years of not dating did you no good and your boy skills weren’t the greatest. Having an upset Namjoon wasn’t fun at all, he likes to keep things bottled up and he doesn’t realize the effect he has on others. When he’s upset, it trickles down to everyone else around him. Like the day Yoongi yelled at you- which he still hasn’t apologized for since you’ve been salty towards him and he’s been avoiding you. Point is, Namjoon was a very complex person just like you. Yuri would tell you all the time how you guys were basically made for one another but you brushed it off feeling embarrassed. She was right though, both of you were equally as stubborn but the second one of you broke it was like all hell broke loose.

“God can we please not argue about this? It’s almost 10:30 and I just want to get some rest.” “Seriously? That’s all you have to say? I want to rest too but no I dragged my ass here getting tired of this avoiding thing going on.” Sighing in frustration you spoke up, “Look, if you came here to just bicker at me then please I suggest you leave. Why can’t you just leave it as it is Joon?” It wasn’t you intention so come off as rude but it was too late as he raised his voice at you for the first time. “Because y/n you don’t just fucking ask someone to kiss you and then walk away from them because you’re conflicted between your feelings! God don’t you get it? For weeks I’ve done nothing but ask myself if I had done anything wrong to make you feel uncomfortable and it’s done nothing but eat me alive. I can’t sleep I can’t eat I can’t do anything because all I think about what I did to make you walk away from me!” Oh, you thought. The room fell silent as you looked at how upset he really was. It was evident in his face how distressed he really was noticing the bags under his eyes and his aura screaming nothing but desolation.

“I-I… I don’t know.” It was all you can say to him. Suddenly you just didn’t want to be here, possibly from the overwhelming truth hitting you ten fold. The tears going down his face told you how sincere he was being with his feelings, he wasn’t lying to you. That’s probably what scared you the most, for once someone actually wanted to be a part of your life for it was the most foreign feeling and the thought of giving yourself to someone became harder as the years passed. It was when you found out about your own feelings the reason you started to become distant. You didn’t even notice him walking towards you until he was less than a foot away from you avoid his eyes.

“I’m sorry,” he sighed trying to calm himself down, “ I didn’t mean to yell at you. I just-” “It’s okay. I’m not mad, I don’t blame you either.” Your voice was soft he had forgotten how shy of a person you really were especially when being put on the spot. That’s what he loved the most about you, although being obnoxious and child like around the boys you were a very shy and quiet girl working her dream job stealing the heart of an idol, it made him melt inside.

“I should be sorry, I’m the one who hurt you.” Gallons of regret drenching you as everything you’ve wanted was right in front of you, hurting him was like a slap to the face realizing how fucked up you could be.

Namjoon finally broke the silence, “Can I ask you something?” You simply nodded looking down at the floor. “How do you really feel? About me or any of this?”

“I feel scared,” you didn’t hesitate as you looked up at him, “ do you know what it’s like to be physically used? You’d think that it wouldn’t hurt but it does, especially knowing that it was the first time you’ve given yourself to someone. I’m not the same y/n I was six years ago but the fear of being with someone still lingers inside of me.”

He didn’t interrupt you, you were opening yourself up and you knew that, It was and always will be the fear of not being wanted because of your past. That’s partially why you suddenly started to become distant with Namjoon, he was persistent but it was a good quality he had. He wasn’t the type to give up so easily and normally you would hate people like him but he became an acception. You don’t even remember when you started to feel the silly butterflies in your stomach when he smiled or the electrical spark igniting when he’d touch you but god you realized how much you did care the second he kissed you. It was every nerve in your body telling you that it was okay but your mind playing games with you holding you back.

“You know you can trust me.” His tone now calmed down after yelling at you not moving from his spot letting you process your thoughts. “I know Joon, and I thank you so much for never leaving. It’s just a big step for me to go further into something that could work.” “Wait what?” Were you giving him the chance or what? Should he be happy or ready for a rejection? You let out a slight chuckle noticing his reaction. “You want to know how I feel? I feel happy yet upset, I feel scared but confident, I know I can move on but I’m still afraid to. My feelings towards you,” you took a deep breath, “ my feelings for you were foreign. It was never my intention to hurt you nor will it ever be Joon and you had every reason to be upset with me. If I’m being honest, the pain I’ve held onto started to evaporate into nothing since the whole incident. You stayed when I was at my worst, surprisingly you didn’t give up on me. I feel okay.”

It was the first time in a long time you felt content with yourself, no more running, no more fear, you were willing to face the truth and admit it.

“I feel okay knowing that whatever happens, it’ll be for a reason. I told you not to fall in love with me and you did it anyways, for some reason I’m okay with that. I’m angry at myself for hurting someone like you, for ignoring you instead of talking, for not being there for you when you were there for me, I’m angry at myself for pushing you away because I’m a coward.”

“So what do you want then?” He was getting nervous since you didn’t fully answer his question. “I want to forget everything,” he frowned but you continued, “ the pain, the fear, everything. I want to know what it means to be loved, the feeling I’ve wanted was bare and raw love. I want you, Kim Namjoon to show me and continue to do so because,” you held back the lump in your throat, “ I know I can say those three words again and mean it.”

He cradled your face swiping the tears away, automatically you gave into his touch and he leaned in gently pressing his lips onto yours. They were soft like he remembered, you smelled like roses and lavender filling his nose intoxicating him, your skin was as smooth as a peach you were the most delicate being he’s ever seen. His lips were plump and soft like you remembered, he didn’t rush into it but was taking his time. Deepening the kiss you rest your hands on his firm chest as he wrapped his arm around your waist, he smelled like a nice spring day mixed with pine making you want more. His scent and touch was already driving you insane feeling the fireworks go off one by one inside for he felt the same way.

Finally he pulled away pressing his forehead on yours looking at you. The color on your cheeks started to turn a few shades red the longer he stared at you so you buried your face into his chest. “Yah I forget how shy of a person you were.” You groaned in response while he laughed at your actions. “You keep staring at me~” “Well I can’t not look at you y/n, have you seen yourself? You’re the most beautiful woman I’ll ever lay eyes on.” “Oh god that was really cheesy.” Hitting his chest you laughed. “Hey,” he lifted your chin to look at him, “ you trust me right?” you nodded wondering what he was thinking until he picked up off the ground out of nowhere. “No no no no no no no no Joon what no I hate being picked up! Put me down!” “Whaaa you’re so light you feel like nothing.” “Ha Ha Ha very funny put me down or-” “Or what?” You didn’t even know you were in your room until he placed you on your bed hovering over you. Has he always been this strong or has he been working out? Damn he looked so attractive you forgot how to speak for a moment. “Cat’s caught your tongue?” Your fingers were outlining every part of his face, the beautiful tan skin reminding you of summer with his sharp fierce eyes and bold brows, his pink hair was now a sandy blond shaved down on the sides but longer in the middle. He looked so good it should be illegal, you grabbed his face bringing it to yours kissing him smiling on his lips and he took that as an opportunity to deepen it while nestling between your legs. His hands started to roam every inch of your body feeling your curves drinking up every part of you. “Is this my shirt I left?” He wondered where his Rolling Stones shirt went but seeing you wear it, he didn’t mind it. “You can have it back if you want.” You were going to give it back but it was really comfortable so you made it your sleepwear forgetting to give it back. “No no, keep it you look really sexy in it.” The color on your cheeks went from pink to crimson red in a few seconds you covered your face. If Namjoon was good at anything, it was flirting- he was the biggest flirt you’ll ever know not even Jungkook or Jimin can beat him.

“Shut up you flirt.” He winked at you and kissed you before you could say anything. His hand rest on the side of you head while the other under your shirt rubbing small circles on your stomach giving you shivers down your spine. You let your hands play with his hair slightly tugging it earning a soft groan as he started trailing kisses to your neck.

Your weak spot. Specifically right under your ear.

The room started to get warmer by the second and when he bit you oh so sweet spot a slight moan left your lips. He smiled against your neck and you could feel him smirking to himself but you didn’t even argue when he went back to what he was doing while his hand went up to palm your bare chest surprised you weren’t wearing a bra. It wasn’t your cup of tea because really you had to let the ladies go after being held in a cup all day, being the best part of your day. To him though for starters, you were a foreigner and he only dreamed of what it would be like to date one.

He hasn’t even done much and you were already aroused just by his touch turning into putty, while he took off the big shirt he saw the marks forming smiling to himself knowing he marked what is his. In a short amount you were getting so worked up and felt embarrassed the longer he looked at you but he stopped you from hiding.

“God you’re so beautiful.” Hearing him compliment you had your stomach doing flips and heart running marathons at the same time you couldn’t help but wonder how you haven’t passed out. You tugged his shirt for him to take it off which he did and damn your throat suddenly became drier than California in a drought. He was definitely working out more, his abs seemed more defined and you wondered why he wouldn’t show them but getting to see them up close, you’d rather have him not reveal them. Namjoon was a whole different of attractive, you unconsciously swallowed at his drop dead gorgeous body.

“H-have you been working out with Kookie lately?” Way to go for stuttering y/n. Giving you a smirk you were suddenly being flipped over now straddling him and his arms wrapped tightly around your waist. Bare chests against one another feeling his warmth transferring to your body, your were certain he could feel how fast your heart was going.

“Yeah I have.” How the hell was he able to get you going so quickly? You felt a pool of heat form and you were sure he could slip in without hesitation. All your senses were being heightened, his mouth now on your bud making you arch into him more from the pleasure. You couldn’t even form proper words while slight moans left your lips, you’ve done a few one night stands and you weren’t a very vocal person maybe from it not being good but he hasn’t even done much and you were already a mess. He made sure you were enjoying yourself giving both buds equal attention and your hips started to slightly grind against his and you could feel the growing bulge from below.

“Don’t do that baby or I won’t hold back.” He growled while biting your collarbones. Letting a chuckle you said, “ It’s a little too late to go back now baby boy,” continuing to grind on him. The sudden confidence in your voice threw you off but had Namjoon rock hard already unable to contain himself flipping you over again you yelped but his eyes were blown out full of lust dominating your lips. Teeth clashing and lip biting so he brought his hand down to your lower abdomen playing with the hem of your shorts you started to grow wetter by the second.

He started leaving trails of kisses down your neck to the valley of your breasts to your lower stomach right at the hem of your shorts biting them teasing you while his hands roamed your legs and body leaving trails of fire behind. Slowly, -real slow- he pulled your shorts down and the cold air hitting your wet heat had you sighing in relief while he looked at how much he’s affected you.

“God why would an asshole use someone as beautiful as you…” Forming proper words was the last thing you were able to do, you started to forget what month it was with the kisses he’d leave down your leg getting closer to the area you needed him at. He took his time appreciating every part of you, the softness of your skin picking up what had you squirming under his touch.

“Namjoon please~” you couldn’t take it anymore nor could he, your desperate voice was like music to his ears and he wanted to make you beg but that could wait for another time. Finally he put his mouth where you needed him to and the contact had you arching your back while grabbing onto the sheets letting out a soft cry.

“You taste so sweet I could do this all day.” You were weak already, borderline fucked up. He continued to lap your fluids licking and sucking at your nub with the right amount of pressure then slowly using his finger to enter your walls slowly moving them in a come hither motion. You knew he would watch porn but what in the name of hell did he find as he was fucking you with his hands leaving you a moaning mess. The endless profanities escaping your mouth had him groaning into your heart sending vibrations through your body you had to grab his hair slightly tugging it.

“N-nam-joon I’m-” and before you could finish he added another finger. You were passed borderline fucked by now as you rolled your eyes back closing them while you reached your limit clenching your walls around his skilled hands. He rode out your high and removed his fingers licking up your fluids as the sight already brought another wave down to your core, the way you looked laying there post orgasm got him worked up. You could hear him removing the rest of his clothes and as his pants and boxers were gone in one go letting his member sprang free and he was bigger than you thought- the members weren’t very good at keeping a clean mouth but you didn’t blame them. While hovered over you taking your lips and you could taste yourself on as he brought your body closer to his you could feel his tip rubbing against your core and you were more than ready by now.

He started to grind against you letting out a hiss from the feeling, you were both in need of more and he placed a soft kiss on your lips resting his head on your neck. “Are you ready?” You nodded wrapping your arms around his neck biting his earlobe. “Y-yes fuck.” Slowly he entered your tight walls as both of you sighed in relief, until he was fully inside of you now. He stayed in place letting you adjust kissing you everywhere making sure you weren’t in pain. “Are you okay baby?” He swiped a few hairs out of your face and you gave him a smile assuring him you were okay. Slowly he pulled back to the tip then went back in, keeping a slow pace feeling every part of you marking your neck letting a mix of your name and profanities leave his mouth. Trying to speak became a struggle it was like being in kindergarten all over, “f-faster,” You managed to choke out which he complied now picking up the pace. The sound of skin slapping, moans and groans filled the room and your nails were going down his back leaving marks or red lines while he continued to leave marks on your neck slipping out I love you’s and you’re beautiful like a mantra. You started you attack his neck marking him up then biting a certain area slightly behind his earlobe when he groaned into your lips picking up the pace even more muffling you moans.

“J-joon I’m close.” Finding your sweet spot he continued to thrust while hitting that spot over and over again there were white stars everywhere.

“Fuck I love you so much.” This is what love was supposed to feel like and having him be the one, you felt happy for once and took his took his lips between your teeth reaching your climax within seconds. While riding through your high his thrusts started to stutter and he hid his face in you neck finally coming undone with three to four more thrusts releasing his seed inside of you. Both of you stayed in place catching your breath as he left a trail of kisses up your neck then taking your lips into his molding perfectly into each other. He pulled out and fell right next to you pulling you closer while uncovering the sheets to cover your bare body.

“Are you okay?” He said while you cuddled up closer to him. “Never been better. Thank you… for everything.” Your eyelids felt heavy and next thing you knew you fell asleep. Your dream wasn’t black and empty anymore, there was light and a field of flowers. Namjoon was standing there in front of you and you couldn’t help but smile. All the worries you’ve had suddenly disappeared. You fell asleep tangled in each other's arms it felt like home, he was your new home. What lies ahead is something you weren’t prepared for.

{ To be continued~}

#namjoon smut #namjoon fanfic #bts namjoon #bts fanfic #rap monster fanfic #Rap monster smut #bts scenarios #bts smut

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clairedmaddox · 5 years ago

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How to Do MetaTrader 5 Manual Backtesting

MetaTrader 5 is a solid automated backtesting platform. But did you know that it's also a pretty good manual backtesting platform?

In this post, I'll show you how to use this free software to manually backtest your strategies. This is a great option if you don't want to purchase software like Forex Tester.

I'll give you all the tools that you need and the exact steps on how to do it. If your broker only has MT4 available, then that will work in a very similar way.

Why You Should Backtest

Backtesting is an excellent first step in helping you determine if a strategy has an edge or not. Since you can run through historical data very quickly in backtesting, this gives you a lot more data than if you only traded in a demo or live account.

Testing that might take months or years in demo trading, can be completed in a matter of days or weeks with backtesting.

You can also practice a strategy when the markets are closed, making it an ideal training tool.

So it's extremely beneficial to learn this skill and MT5 is a good software to start with because it's free.

This is the beginning of the roadmap to successful trading. To get a copy of the Trading Success Roadmap, read this post.

Here we go…

Download MetaTrader 5

The first step is to download MetaTrader 5.

You can get the software from your broker or you can download it directly from the MetaTrader website. It's usually best to get it from your broker, but if you don't have a broker yet, the MetaTrader version will do just fine. Once you have a broker, you can connect to your broker through the MetaTrader version.

When you get the software from your broker, it's automatically setup for that broker, so it can be a little easier to get started. Either way, you can get the complete MT5 installation instructions here.

Download Your Data

In order to do a valid backtest, you should have as much historical data as possible. Over the years, I've tried several backtesting solutions that only allow you to test a couple of years of data.

That's totally useless because you won't have enough trades to make a valid decision about a trading strategy.

So get as much data as you can. To download additional data, go to: Tools > History Center

Then highlight the pair and timeframe that you want to download and click on the Download button.

That will give you the data you to do your backtesting.

If there isn't enough data from your data source, then consider downloading additional data from this provider.

Open Your Spreadsheet

Before you get started, you'll need a spreadsheet to record your results. This is one of the biggest benefits of Forex Tester, all of this information is automatically recorded for you.

But if you would like to continue using MT5, then create a spreadsheet with the following columns:

Open date

Close date

Currency pair

Lot size

Open price

Close price

Profit/Loss ($)

Profit/Loss (%)

Reward/Risk ratio

TraderEvo members get this spreadsheet as part of their membership. Once you've built your spreadsheet, then move on to the next step.

Keep Your Trading Plan in Front of You

When you're backtesting, it can be easy to deviate from the plan. If you're like most people, you'll start tweaking the strategy in the middle of the test.

I've done this before too, so that's why I keep my trading plan in front of me while I'm testing.

It will keep you on track and ensure that you are sticking to the plan.

You can get a free PDF download of the Trading Plan Worksheet I use here.

Once you have your plan in front of you, it's time to begin your testing.

Start Testing

Now it's time to get started!

First select the pair and timeframe that you want to test.

Next, add any indicators that you'll be using to your chart.

Then scroll your charts back to a point in time that you want to start from. If you are testing the H4 chart or higher, I would recommend going back as far as possible.

You can usually test all of the data for a Forex pair on a H4 chart or higher.

When testing lower timeframes, you should pick a few timeframes and test on those timeframes only. Pick a good mix of timeframes that have the following characteristics:

Strongly trending market

Strongly ranging market

Neither strongly ranging or trending

That will give you a good idea of how your strategy will perform in different market conditions.

Do the following to scroll back quickly on your chart:

1. Turn off the Autoscroll

2. Hit Enter on your keyboard.

3. A small box will appear in the lower left corner.

4. Enter the date that you want to scroll back to on the chart in dd.mm.yyyy format, then hit Enter again.

5. The chart will scroll back to the date you specified.

Once you have scrolled back to the historical data that you want to start at, then hit F12 on your keyboard to move the chart forward, one candle at a time.

Record Your Results

Every time your setup fires off, place a trade and record it in the spreadsheet. You don't have to take screenshots at this point because you don't even know if the strategy works or not.

So just keep testing as fast as you can, so you can get as much data as possible. Creating screenshots will only slow you down.

Review Your Results

Now take a look at your spreadsheet and calculate the following:

Win Rate (%)

Return (%)

Number of Trades

Maximum Drawdown

This is enough data for now. It will help you understand if you want to pursue this strategy or not.

If you want to be extra sure, do another round of testing to verify your results.

Sometimes you might be distracted or not in the right mindset when you do a test. So if you get the same result with a second test, that will give you much more confidence that a strategy has an edge and you should move forward to the next step in your testing.

Test Another Pair

If you're satisfied with the results of a currency pair, then move on to testing another currency pair.

Not all currency pairs behave in the same way, so you can't assume that it will work on other pairs too.

Some pairs are more volatile than others. Each individual currency is influenced by different economic factors.

You might be surprised at how differently a strategy performs with different strategies. This is why you need to test each pair individually.

Things to Avoid

Here are a few things to be aware of when doing backtesting with MetaTrader 5. These tips will help you get the most out of your MT5 testing sessions.

Moving Too Fast Through the Charts

When you move too quickly through a chart, there's the tendency to move past an entry point on the chart. That leads to hindsight bias because you already know what's going to happen.

If you already know how a trade will turn out, then you'll have biased data.

So find the testing speed that will allow you to get a lot of testing in, but also won't give you advanced knowledge of each trade.

Changing Your Strategy in the Middle of a Test

It's really tempting to start tweaking your strategy in the middle of a test because you see a new advantage. But stick with the strategy, or you won't have a valid test.

When you change a strategy in the middle of the test, you won't know how good the original rules really are. You also won't know how good the new rules are either because you are only doing a partial test with them.

So finish a test with one set of rules. Then create a new test with your new testing idea.

Otherwise, your testing data is useless.

Stopping Too Early

If you win 10 trades in a row in the beginning of a test, you might be tempted to stop the test and call it a success.

Don't.

The strategy may have just hit a really profitable streak that isn't normal for that strategy. Stopping early won't allow you to see the entire picture and can lead to losses later.

Giving Up on a Low Return Strategy

It can be tempting to give up on a test if it's only returning 1% per year. However, consider what would happen if you compounded that return with multiple pairs or timeframes.

If the strategy has a high win rate, it's certainly worth considering.

You might give up on an otherwise profitable strategy and find yourself jumping from strategy to strategy, when the first strategy would have met your goals.

Don't Keep Testing if the Results are Obvious

On the other hand, if it's obvious that the system doesn't work, then quit and save your time. For example, if your strategy has lost 80% of the account, then it's probably time to stop.

There's no way you would continue with that strategy in real life.

Forcing the Strategy to Work

People also tend to be too optimistic about a trading strategy. So they will subconsciously pass on losing trades and only take the winning trades, just to prove that the strategy works.

I was guilty of this when I first started backtesting. When I reflect back on this, I did this partially because I wanted to get the backtesting process over with (and trade live) and I didn't like being wrong.

I'm not sure why others do it, but those were my reasons. They're very odd reasons in hindsight, because they didn't help me become a better trader.

But our actions aren't always logical and we need to continually reflect on our behavior to progress.

Conclusion

Although backtesting can be very beneficial, not all strategies can be backtested. Learn more about this limitations of manual backtesting in this blog post.

But if you can backtest a strategy, it's a great way to test a trading idea, get hard data and build confidence in your skills.

This tutorial will give you a good starting point, be sure to read the Complete Backtesting Guide for more details. Once a strategy tests well, the Forward Testing Guide will show you how to take your trading strategy into the next phase of testing.

If you would like help with anything mentioned in this post, be sure to sign up for the TraderEvo Program. It will take you through this process and provide the support you need to get through it.

The post How to Do MetaTrader 5 Manual Backtesting appeared first on Trading Heroes.

How to Do MetaTrader 5 Manual Backtesting published first on your-t1-blog-url

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broussardfxaugustere15insur-blog · 5 years ago

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itsworn · 7 years ago

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There’s No Trailer For This 9-Second Street Hemi GTX!

True car guys will always tell you that they’re never finished with their rides; there are always upgrades on the horizon. Sometimes, an upgrade can mean ditching the current mount to buy something bigger and better. Back in the late-1990s, Brian Fink was looking for such an upgrade. His fixation was with a “big-tire car.” At that point, he was tooling around in a 1971 Plymouth Duster with a warmed-over 340 small-block. It had a lumpy cam, a Holley carb mounted on an aftermarket intake, and a set of headers, but it clearly wasn’t a weapon of mass destruction. That aside, Brian really liked the Duster; you could almost say it had become a member of the family. That attachment made saying goodbye difficult, but when the decision was made to look for a car that was further along in the performance ladder, the A-body was sent to a new home with some regrets.

His mind was set on having a Pro Street car, so all options were put on the table, and as he recalls, “I was open to other cars, as long as they were Mopars.” When the 1967 Plymouth GTX came into the picture in 2001, it was indeed further along. It had a full rollcage, and the rear was already back-halved with a four-link setup and a narrowed Dana 60 rear, which fulfilled his primary desire, and as he points out, “I fell in love with that body style, and it was tubbed.” It also came with a well-massaged 440 big-block backed by a 727 Torqueflite that was a huge improvement over the 340 in the Duster. The guy who sold him the car was responsible for much of the work that had been done to it. He, too, needed to send the GTX to a new home. His son had a freshly minted driver’s license and he had his eyes set on the GTX. For fear that the lad would kill himself at the wheel of the car, it was sold off.

Like a kid with a new toy, Brian started using the GTX regularly, which meant doing some shows and, of course, some clandestine street racing. He also hit the track with it numerous times where it laid down consistent high-11-second passes. As with the Duster, it didn’t take long for the bigger-and-better syndrome to set in, and in the Mopar world, it often means one thing: a Hemi. The opportunity to get one at a decent price fell into his lap in 2004 when one of his buddies embarked on a ground-up restoration of a 1970 Hemi Super Bee. It had a 1968 date-coded 426 and he was looking for a 1970 block and a set of heads.

The Hemi purchase fulfilled the desire to take things to the next level, but the reality of the financial needs for what he wanted was much larger than he was ready for. Running his business and supporting a family meant that large sums of disposable income didn’t fall out of the sky. For a number of years, the 426 sat. Nonetheless, it didn’t mean other things weren’t getting done to the car. The interior was upgraded with the installation of new front seats found at the Carlisle swap meet; the rear setup was also freshened with a Detroit locker spool.

Unfortunately, not everything always moves forward in a linear fashion. At one point, it was sidelined for a long stretch when it was damaged at his shop. Brian’s buddy had his truck parked inside, and he mistakenly let his foot slip off the clutch pedal, which launched the truck directly into the back of the GTX. The outcome wasn’t pretty. It ended up being sandwiched between static shop equipment and the front of the truck, with extensive damage at both ends of the car. Since parts for 1967 Plymouth’s aren’t the easiest to come by, and dealing with clueless insurance companies can sometimes have its difficulties, tracking down good replacement pieces became a challenge, with the trim items being the most difficult to find. They were eventually found and the car was repaired, which set it toward its next chapter.

That chapter started when he was ready to have the Hemi done. Brian’s goal was to crate it up and send it off to Ray Barton Racing Engines. They know a thing or two about getting power from the Hemi, and he was looking to get as much as his pile of cash allowed. The foundation was the 1968 block and heads, but everything else would be fresh, right down to the stroker crank that pushed the displacement to 492 ci. The Barton crew did all the machine work on the block and heads, and when it came time to spend some of the money he had saved up, things like the magnesium intake and Barton valve covers were on the must-have list.

The entire process dragged out for almost two years until it was back in his shop. Along the way, there were recurring mechanical issues when the engine was put on the dyno, which they eventually solved. Once they were able to get a good pull, it yielded 610 horses at the crank at 5,400 rpm and 750 lb-ft of torque, which Brian estimated would drop him below the 10-second mark.

With the Hemi ready to drop into the engine bay, he sent the 727 Torqueflite out for a full rebuild, which included internal upgrades to handle the additional power. He also realized that the need to stop was actually more important than going faster, and drum brakes were the weak link in the equation, so a Wilwood disc-brake setup at the front was installed, with plans for the rear at a later date.

Once everything was buttoned up on the car, Brian wasted little time before taking it back out on the street and giving it a good shakedown at the track. So far, he has clocked a 9.30 time at 143 mph, which is a vast improvement over the 440. Looking forward, most of the heavy lifting has been done on the car, and Brian regularly takes it out on spirited drives and squeezes as much enjoyment as he can. He’s also fond of pointing out that it is not a trailer queen and is officially a member of the family—one we don’t think will be sent packing any time soon.

TECH NOTES

Who: Brian Fink What: 1967 Plymouth GTX Where: Coplay, PA

Engine: The 426 Hemi tucked between the fenders in the GTX originally came out of a 1968 Mopar, with the block and heads sharing the same year of manufacture. When Brian shipped it off to Ray Barton Racing Engines for the rebuild, he decided to go with a stroker crank, which pushed the displacement to 492 ci. Along with that new forged steel stroker crankshaft, they also added new H-beam connecting rods and Diamond 10.5:1 forged pistons. The Hemi cast-iron heads were also gone over and treated to all new valves, springs, and titanium retainers, while a Ray Barton custom grind was dropped in. Exhaust duties are handled via a set of TTI headers.

Induction: A Ray Barton Magnesium cross-ram intake adorns the top of the Hemi, along with a pair of Holley 770 Super Stock Hemi carburetors. This intake choice is very robust and easily supports 800-plus horses without any porting.

Electronics: Spark production and distribution for the 492 Hemi comes from an MSD Blaster HVC II coil wired to an MSD Pro-Billet Distributor. This type of MSD distributor has been designed for use with aftermarket valve covers like the ones from Ray Barton Racing Engines.

Fuel: Brian keeps the hungry Hemi fed with Sunoco Standard leaded fuel rated at 110 octane, which he purchases by the drum.

Transmission: A 727 Torqueflite handles shifting duties on the GTX. Brian had his friend Nate Berk in Schnecksville, PA, do the work on the automatic. He installed a TCI 8-inch converter with a 4,500-stall speed. Other improvements include a reverse manual valvebody and upgraded race clutches.

Rearend: The choice of a rear didn’t stray in the Ford camp. When Brian purchased the GTX, it was already sporting a narrowed Dana 60, which he opted to keep. He took out the spool and installed a Detroit Locker unit with a set of 5.13:1 gears.

Chassis/Suspension: The rear of the GTX has been back-halved and uses a four-link setup with QA1 coilovers, while the front still retains the stock 1967 Chrysler torsion bars. The manual steering box is also vintage 1967, but has been mated to a Flaming River steering column.

Brakes: When Brian purchased the GTX, it was wearing the stock drum brakes at all four corners. The installation of the 492 dictated that better stopping was needed, so up front the drums were replaced. A set of Wilwood spindles, rotors, four-piston calipers, and a Wilwood master cylinder were installed. In the pipeline is a switch to rear discs in the near future.

Wheels/Tires: Front and rear wheel choice on the GTX was confined to Weld Racing. Brian went with a set of 15×4 Prostars up front wrapped in 205/70R15 American Silver Premium Edition tires. The rears are also 15×15 Prostars fitted with 33×18.50 15LT Mickey Thompson ET Street tires.

Paint/Body: The body on the GTX wears a 1967 color called Turbine Bronze Metallic, which is the original shade it rolled out of the factory in, but it has had a re-spray over the years. When Brian purchased the car, the hood and trunklid were both fiberglass lift-off pieces, which he has since partially changed back. The hood is still fiberglass, but it has been put on hinges and the massive scoop added.

Interior: The back seat gave way to the massive tubs that were installed, along with the rollcage. The original front seats were still in place when purchased, but were eventually replaced. The replacements that are now installed were purchased at the Carlisle Fairgrounds swap meet. They are a no-name brand that, according to Brian, “really looked good and are quite comfortable.” Other additions also include the Simpson five-point harnesses, Cheetah SCS shifter, and AutoMeter Sport-Comp tach. The dash is still in its original configuration, minus the original AM radio.

The post There’s No Trailer For This 9-Second Street Hemi GTX! appeared first on Hot Rod Network.

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jesusvasser · 7 years ago

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Touring the Best of Southern California in the Volkswagen T6 California

LOS ANGELES, California — In case you weren’t aware (we’re guessing most of you aren’t since it’s no longer sold here) the Volkswagen T6 is the sixth generation of VW’s long-running Transporter van series. It’s a vehicle whose lineage can be traced back to that of the Type 2—otherwise known as the world-famous Microbus. We recently had a go in a version of the T6 called the California, in Southern California of all places (clever, VW, clever).

The primary reason Volkswagen shipped a group of brand-spanking new T6 camper vans to the Golden State was to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the California trim level as part of the global launch of the latest Transporter model. Given that it was taking place in SoCal, VW thought it would be fun to let a bunch of us Americans loose with them for a couple of days. We would quickly come to curse them for letting the rest of the world have them and not us.

We got a go an Ocean trim level, the highest spec model in the T6 California hierarchy, save a plethora of special editions. It included a stove, cabinets, drawers, power outlets, lighting, and yes, even a kitchen sink.

Our particular T6 California was a German-market specification vehicle powered by a version of VW’s long-serving 2.0-liter turbo four driving all 4Motion wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The engine delivers 204 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, potent enough to haul the near-7,000 pound van to 62 mph in a tick less than 10 seconds.

From the pickup location at LAX we slogged our way through some classic L.A. traffic to Venice Beach to meet up with Martin Squires, a surfer who runs a surf school out of his classic VW Microbuses. Driving a T6 in this area attracted more looks than a supercar. Windows down, an excited onlooker shouted: “Hey when are they bringing those here?!” Preaching to the choir, bud.

After snapping some shots of Squires’ classics alongside our most up-to-date Transporters, we join the traffic once more for a coastal drive to Malibu, stopping first at a Vintage Grocers store alongside the freeway, where we pick up some coffee and refreshments to stash in the on-board fridge. On the way back to the van, a pair of local boys—already stoked out of their minds to get a glimpse of our T6 Ocean-liner—almost have a stroke when we give them a tour. These campers are an extrovert’s dream.

During the final stretch of the first day’s drive, we work our way up the coast to a camping spot in Carpenteria, just south of Santa Barbara. From the ocean-adjacent site on a hillside, our hosts give us a walkthrough of our homes for the night.

After showing us around the kitchen, we learn about some of the other cool kit equipped on our California Ocean campers. Its pop-up top tent feature is electronically operated from the control unit over the driver and front passenger seats. Once the tent is up, the upper level can be raised and lowered to allow adults to stand on the bottom floor. The rear seats flip down to make a second bed.

There’s a folding table inside the van, and the front two seats swivel around to allow four people to sit around the surface. Other hidden furniture includes folding chairs stashed in compartments in the rear hatch, and a camping table stowed inside the sliding door. Hidden among the door frames are shades that allow for complete privacy. The driver and passenger windows don’t get hidden shades, but Volkswagen includes cloth window covers that stick to the steel door frames to conceal the forward cabin.

Once the feature walkthrough is complete (our VW hosts also point out the 30-gallon tank for onboard water storage, waste water receptacle, and gas tank to heat the stove), our crew enjoys a seafood dinner and a warm campfire. We use the foldout chairs from our vans and chat until it’s time to retreat to our vans. Once inside, we use the full suite of LED lighting and the onboard heater while enjoying some music using the Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatible infotainment system.

I personally bunk on the upper-level bed, which has a wooden slat support underneath. The thick cloth walls of the tent are wind resistant and ventilated, which kept me warm and protected for the duration of the night. The following morning we have breakfast at the camp and then break down the camper’s setup in preparation for the day’s journey.

Our next leg is a quick jaunt to Ojai, a free-spirited town inland from Santa Barbara. Along the way, we hustle the Californias along some of the area’s winding roads. For what amounts to a rolling bed and breakfast, the T6 handled the twists and turns remarkably well. Thanks in part to its optional adaptive chassis control system we tackled several aggressive corners with something actually approaching confidence.

The T6 Transporter’s steering proved direct and very tactile, its powertrain accelerates smoothly, and the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters work great for picking the right gear on inclines or declines.

After a hearty vegetarian meal for lunch, we take in some local color with a visit to Poco Farm. The fields and orchards are located in the town, and farmer Grace Malloy explains how her operation varies drastically from most other farms in the U.S. because of its small size and sustainability practices.

Following a final photo shoot in Ojai, we head out to the Songdog ranch in Maricopa for another night of camping. It turns out to be a breathtaking drive, not just for its sweeping vistas but also because it cuts through land torched by California’s recent devastating wildfires. The scorched trees, homes, and road signs along the way serve as a reminder of the ferocity of nature and how it can impact our lives, as well as the importance of getting out there and experiencing the things the world has to offer.

Our camp is in the high desert and the wind rips through our campsite, causing the tiny windmill on the roof of the adobe-walled ranch to spin feverishly. We set up the exterior-mounted awning, a feature that serves as one of the biggest points of contrast between the T6 California and Volkswagen’s other Transporter variants.

A crank, cleverly stowed in one of the drawers hidden under the passenger seats, is used to unwind the canopy. The weather-resistant tarp is supported by two folding braces and a pair of legs that swing out from the outside edge and the fully extended setup holds fast in the face of the whipping winds.

Our dinner is a barbeque, enjoyable partially because of the irony of Germans grilling excellent hamburgers for Americans but also because the protein-heavy meal is a welcome contrast to our meatless lunch. We hide from the gusts in the cabin as Christian, our host from VW, regales us with stories of the previous year’s Nordic adventure.

The next day we pack up the camper and hit the road back to Los Angeles without stopping. The round trip was close to 350 miles total, and the T6 California did it all on one tank of gas. On the way back, we tested out some of the vehicle’s new school tech, including its start/stop feature, lane-keeping assist, forward collision detection, and adaptive cruise control systems.

All of them generally performed as well as similar systems we’ve sampled from other automakers. Forward collision did intervene one time and although we thought the application unnecessary, given that it never occurred again it seemed to be on the less-intense side of the sensitivity spectrum. The adaptive cruise feature proved welcome during a stretch of the infamously boring Interstate 5, easily maintaining speed and following distance.

While it certainly seems to us like a no brainer for Volkswagen to bring the T6 to the U.S., there are several hurdles, chief among them price. Our California Ocean vans were optioned up to somewhere in the neighborhood of a whopping $110,000 (converted from Euros to dollars by Volkswagen). That said, several, less expensive variants could probably be had in the mid $40k range if brought here, but you wouldn’t be getting the kitchen sink.

Further making the case for VW to bring the T6 to the States was that we were stopped by everyone from beach bums to the finer folk of Malibu during our journey. They peppered us with questions, wondered aloud where they could get one. It proved an eye-opening experience that reinforced just how much the Volkswagen van has been seared into the national consciousness—at least out here on the left coast. Volkswagen gave the California a proper 30th anniversary bash, and now we’re more eager than ever to see the German camper make a return. Thanks a lot for whetting our appetite, Volkswagen.

2018 Volkswagen T6 Transporter California Ocean Specifications ON SALE N/A PRICE $43,800/$110,000 (base/as tested) ENGINE 2.O turbocharged DOHC 16-valve inline-4/204 hp @ 4200 rpm, 258 lb-ft @ 1500 rpm TRANSMISSION 7-speed dual-clutch automatic LAYOUT 4-door, 5-passenger, front-engine, AWD van EPA MILEAGE 19/23 mpg (city/hwy) L x W x H 193.1 x 75 x 78.3 in WHEELBASE 114.4 in WEIGHT 6790.2 lb 0-62 MPH 9.9 sec TOP SPEED N/A

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bestautochicago · 7 years ago

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Collectible Classic: 1992-1997 Subaru SVX

Think of Subaru today and, besides the excellent BRZ sports car it codeveloped with Toyota, you most likely envision outdoorsy owners happily shuttling Fido around in a boxy, all-wheel-drive wagon. But long before the BRZ, there was another three-letter Subaru sports coupe: the SVX. Never heard of it? You’re forgiven.

Subaru’s U.S. roots date to 1968, when the brand was established as a contrarian, would-be alternative to Volkswagen, Toyota, and Datsun. That’s when Malcolm Bricklin founded Subaru of America in the celebrated automotive hotbed of Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania. Bricklin is the same wildcatter who later produced a gullwing-doored sports car bearing his name in New Brunswick, Canada, and later imported the much-vilified Yugo to these shores.

By the early 1990s Subaru’s automotive business was taking off, and the automotive division of Fuji Heavy Industries decided to build a halo car to take on BMW. Yes, the brand associated with all-wheel-drive economy cars, most of which were station wagons, conceived a plan to offer a Subaru that could be a German luxury coupe competitor. And while the car maker was at it, Subaru figured it might as well poach some Lexus SC sales and maybe a few Mercedes-Benz SL intenders.

Subaru’s secret weapon was the SVX, an angular design by Giorgetto Giugiaro whose resume includes the BMW M1, DeLorean DMC-12, and Maserati Bora. How could Subaru miss with Italian design, seating for four, a very plush interior, a responsive six-cylinder boxer engine, and all-wheel drive? And smaller, operable windows within its larger stationary windows, like the DeLorean and Lamborghini Countach? The car was aerodynamically sleek, with an impressive drag coefficient of 0.29.

Giugiaro’s initial concept made its debut at the 1989 Tokyo Motor Show. Response was enthusiastic, and the Alcyone SVX—the name a reference to the brightest star in the Pleiades cluster as seen on Subaru’s logo—entered production for the 1992 model year, looking very much like the original show car. In the U.S., the car was simply badged SVX (Subaru Vehicle X) for its five-year run.

The SVXs were uncommon, but they weren’t flamboyant in an exotic-car way, so the stir Subaru hoped to cause never really came.

As it happened, the SVX didn’t really bring that star glow to the rest of the line. It was something of an orphan within its own family, having little in common with the more run-of-the-mill Legacy and Impreza models. One of the car’s perceived shortcomings was the fact it came only with a four-speed automatic transmission, Subaru not having a manual gearbox capable of handling the 3.3-liter engine’s 230 hp and 228 lb-ft of torque. But the real problem was that the SVX retailed for almost $10,000 more than any other Subaru despite rumors Subaru lost roughly $3,000 on each one. Those unsustainable economics led to the car’s cancellation at the end of the 1996 model year with no successor planned. Subaru sold a little more than 14,000 in the U.S. despite expected sales of 10,000 per year. Cars were sold Stateside into the following year as 1997 models.

The SVXs were uncommon, but they weren’t flamboyant in an exotic-car way, so the stir Subaru hoped to cause never really came. But that’s changing. Scott King and Sandy Edelstein own the SVX finished in Polo Green seen here. “It’s an intriguing car, different and weird,” King says. “You’re a celebrity when you drive this car. People have no idea what it is, and the Subaru badging just adds to the confusion.”

Their car is a top-of-the line 1996 LSi that still looks somewhat anonymous after all these years, though that rear spoiler seems to have lots in common with the configuration seen on the Lotus Esprit, another Giugiaro design. The exterior is pleasing and smooth but visually engaging, while the interior is absolutely sumptuous. The seats are upholstered in buttery beige leather, but there are also rich brown suede-swathed door and dash panels.

That six-cylinder boxer engine might foster Porsche thoughts, and driving an SVX does offer a solid, almost Stuttgartesque experience. The steering gives weighted assurance without any jitters, irrespective of road surface. It’s a pleasant car to drive, accepting of an active driver’s input or a more laissez-faire approach. It is quick enough, scooting from 0 to 60 mph in a tad more than 7 seconds and onward to a top speed of 154 mph (reduced to 143 mph via a speed limiter in post-1993 cars). Torque-split for U.S. market cars is up to 50/50 front/rear in low-grip situations and 90/10 in normal driving; Japanese versions were more rear-biased. A handful of front-wheel-drive SVXs were sold in the U.S. for the 1994-’95 model years in lower trim models as a cost-cutting measure, but the option was unpopular and discontinued after just two years.

Italian DNA: The SVX’s look was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, who also penned the DeLorean DMC-12. Note the window-in-window feature and a sleek interior with hidden stereo system.

King and Edelstein bought the car from the original owners with just 53,000 miles on the odometer, and to most eyes it’s quite flawless. Edelstein, however, says it’s one paint job away from perfection. The SVX is best appreciated on highways and interstates, which is, after all, where grand tourers are meant to be. “It’s just a joy to drive, and you get a panoramic view you don’t get in any other car,” King says.

On a practical note, it has a big trunk with folding rear seats for trips to Home Depot. And even the window-in-widow design isn’t much of a hindrance. “We actually owned a DeLorean, and the SVX’s windows are much better for a drive-through restaurant. You can theoretically crawl out of it in an emergency.” Well, maybe if you have a 28-inch waist. With all that glass, it’s a literal comfort to hear King boast, “It has the coldest AC we had in any of our cars.”

The SVX is a rolling paradox. It is more than capable of providing the kind of enhanced driving experience associated with traditional prestigious makes, but its eccentricity is partially its charm. Today, it’s one of the better classic-car values going, and the odds of parking next to another one at cars and coffee are slim to none. With classic Japanese sports cars becoming ever more collectible, now is a great time to jump on the SVX bandwagon.

Living with the SVX

A positive aspect of SVX ownership is the active community of owners who keep each other posted on parts, service tips, and events. Mark Schneider, who lives in the Houston area, is one such enthusiast who runs the SVX Nation group on Facebook. His ’95 LSi had more than 189,000 miles on the clock when he bought it, and he immediately proceeded to use it on his 100-mile daily commute. He says he’s seen an SVX with 300,000-plus miles, one of 30 that showed up for the most recent national meet in Lafayette, Indiana, where Subaru builds the Outback, Legacy, and Impreza.

Schneider remembers being a child when a neighbor bought an SVX and—you could see this coming—“The windows blew me away. I was infatuated.” That love affair has blossomed now that he’s had a chance to spend quality time on the other side of those windows. “They’re just beasts on the highway,” Schneider says. “You can park it at 85 mph for thousands of miles. That’s its happy place.” Which is just what he did when he drove his car more than 2,000 miles to Lafayette and back.

The automatic transmission remains an image problem, but it can be a mechanical issue as well, especially on early production cars. There is, however, a solution that addresses both concerns: Remove it. Schneider fitted his SVX with a five-speed manual sourced from a later WRX. “The original intent and design precluded a manual,” he says, “but with one installed it’s a completely different animal and a hoot and a half to drive.”

As with just about any collectible, you are well advised to spend a bit more to get a well-cared-for example. Parts availability is getting to be problematic since there’s not a whole lot of interchangeability with lesser Subies. The throttle positioning sensor for a ’95 Legacy will set you back $55, and one for an SVX could be as much as $350. That said, SVX Nation is a great source if your local Subaru dealer isn’t. As Schneider notes, “A lot of the younger Subaru techs have no idea why this strange spaceship has rolled into the dealer’s service bay.” As a result, he urges new owners to find someone “who actually knows what it is” when it comes time to work on it.

The Market Perspective

With the SVX’s rarity and the uptick in general values for collectible Japanese cars, you might think that these sporty Subies have taken off in value. You’d be wrong; the market has remained virtually flat for the SVX, regardless of year or trim level. That means you should be able to find a solid example for well under $10,000. Start looking at the $5,000 price point to avoid bottom-feeder examples needing lots of overdue maintenance.—Rory Jurnecka

The Specs

ENGINE 3.3L DOHC flat-6/230 hp, 228 lb-ft TRANSMISSION 4-speed automatic DRIVE All wheel or front wheel SUSPENSION Struts BRAKES Discs WEIGHT 3,580 lb

The Info

MODEL YEARS 1992-1997 NUMBER SOLD 24,379 (globally, including 14,257 in U.S.) ORIGINAL PRICE (U.S.) $24,445 (’91 base SVX L), $36,740 (’96 SVX LSi) VALUE TODAY $3,900-$4,700*

*Hagerty average value (www.hagerty.com)

Source: http://chicagoautohaus.com/collectible-classic-1992-1997-subaru-svx/

from Chicago Today https://chicagocarspot.wordpress.com/2017/12/22/collectible-classic-1992-1997-subaru-svx-2/

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eddiejpoplar · 7 years ago

Text

Collectible Classic: 1992-1997 Subaru SVX

The SVXs were uncommon, but they weren’t flamboyant in an exotic-car way, so the stir Subaru hoped to cause never really came.

Italian DNA: The SVX’s look was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, who also penned the DeLorean DMC-12. Note the window-in-window feature and a sleek interior with hidden stereo system.

Living with the SVX

blem, but it can be a mechanical issue as well, especially on early production cars. There is, however, a solution that addresses both concerns: Remove it. Schneider fitted his SVX with a five-speed manual sourced from a later WRX. “The original intent and design precluded a manual,” he says, “but with one installed it’s a completely different animal and a hoot and a half to drive.”

The Market Perspective

The Specs

ENGINE 3.3L DOHC flat-6/230 hp, 228 lb-ft TRANSMISSION 4-speed automatic DRIVE All wheel or front wheel SUSPENSION Struts BRAKES Discs WEIGHT 3,580 lb

The Info

MODEL YEARS 1992-1997 NUMBER SOLD 24,379 (globally, including 14,257 in U.S.) ORIGINAL PRICE (U.S.) $24,445 (’91 base SVX L), $36,740 (’96 SVX LSi) VALUE TODAY $3,900-$4,700*

*Hagerty average value (www.hagerty.com)

The post Collectible Classic: 1992-1997 Subaru SVX appeared first on Automobile Magazine.

from Performance Junk Blogger 6 http://ift.tt/2BevFtd via IFTTT

#IFTTT #Performance Junk Blogger 6

0 notes

jonathanbelloblog · 7 years ago

Text

Collectible Classic: 1992-1997 Subaru SVX

The SVXs were uncommon, but they weren’t flamboyant in an exotic-car way, so the stir Subaru hoped to cause never really came.

Italian DNA: The SVX’s look was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, who also penned the DeLorean DMC-12. Note the window-in-window feature and a sleek interior with hidden stereo system.

Living with the SVX

The Market Perspective

The Specs

ENGINE 3.3L DOHC flat-6/230 hp, 228 lb-ft TRANSMISSION 4-speed automatic DRIVE All wheel or front wheel SUSPENSION Struts BRAKES Discs WEIGHT 3,580 lb

The Info

MODEL YEARS 1992-1997 NUMBER SOLD 24,379 (globally, including 14,257 in U.S.) ORIGINAL PRICE (U.S.) $24,445 (’91 base SVX L), $36,740 (’96 SVX LSi) VALUE TODAY $3,900-$4,700*

*Hagerty average value (www.hagerty.com)

The post Collectible Classic: 1992-1997 Subaru SVX appeared first on Automobile Magazine.

from Performance Junk Blogger Feed 4 http://ift.tt/2BevFtd via IFTTT

#IFTTT #Performance Junk Blogger Feed 4

0 notes

jackroseblogs-blog · 7 years ago

Text

Film and Television level 3 year 2

Unit 9

Making a documentary

Today we got into groups to make one of the ideas individuals have created. Our group decided to create Joe’s idea which is a short documentary on how sport effects young peoples lives. It will mainly focus on the sports; rugby, football and golf. I took up the role of camera operator. Joe is director. Elliot is editing and production assistant.

Pre-production

Today we started the pre-production. I had the paperwork of; a call sheet, equipment list, locations and recce shots, and a shot list. I found most difficulty in the equipment list as a lot of the equipment we wanted to use was unavailable such as a shoulder mount and a second camera. We wanted to take a second camera for the interview scenes to have a close up and a mid shot to make the documentary more professional. We leant that although we can’t have two cameras we close have the same effect but we will have to film the interview twice which might not work as the second time it could become fake.

Production Diary

Day 1

Today we went to Braintree rugby club to film the rugby scenes and interview for the documentary. I took part as camera operator. The shots taken were framed and taken very well but when the clips were taken back to the edit it was clear that a few of the shots were over exposed. It was clear that the cameras iris was open to much and needed to be closed. I had a talk with the teacher and learnt to pay close attention when setting up the camera as the iris was on manual and for this you need to be adjusting the iris for each shot. In future to prevent this from happening I must pay more attention when setting up the camera. Either have the iris on automatic or have it on manual and keep adjusting the iris to fit the lighting.

Day 2

Today we went and reshot the over exposed images. This time i had the iris on automatic so I could focus on the framing of the work. The shots came out all good and what we wanted. We worked well with the time scale we had.

Experimental research

Today me and the team took out a track and dolly kit with a camera to learn how to use it professionally so we can use it for projects. I took the roll of camera operator. We was just doing a few shots of an actor walking toward the camera. I found it partially hard to keep to speed with pace of the actor walking. We tried asking the actor to slow down the walk but it look unnatural. In the end to get a good shot; I was on the camera controlling the framing and recording, a person controlling the speed of the camera moving along the dolly and a person standing at the back of the track to make sure we don't run the camera off the track.

Planning a short documentary.

My short documentary is going to be about the sport of rugby and why I am unable to play anymore. It will feature old footage of me playing rugby. The documentary will start of some clips of Braintree rugby club playing some rugby then cutting to some shots of the changing room talks and team tactics, then following this clips of fans and supporters having fun and watching the games. While these clips are being shown there will be a voiceover of information about rugby e.g. when it started, where it started, where it is leading today. This opening sequence will show the reasons for the love of the game. In the rest of the documentary will be an interview where I will get asked loads of questions about my love for the game and the reasons for not playing anymore.

Research ; Rugby started in 1886 at a school named rugby. A boy from the school was playing football and picked up the ball and started running with it. It was then developed into the 15 a-side game we see now on TV. England are the second best team in the world. Only won the world cup once in 2003 with the world famous captain Jonny Wilkinson. Rugby is a game for any size, any weight players.

I took this shot as practise for my documentary. I edited the clips into 4 different colour grades. I asked 10 people which colour grade they found to be the most fitting given the context. The results came back that the bottom left one was the best by results of 8/10. I also was given advise to add a slight blue hint to fit the sad mood.

The camera angles for the start of the opening sequence are going to be very abstract. Shots from inside the scrums, on the line outs and loads of other angles. In the changing room shots will be point of view to allow the audience to get a real feel of what it will be like to be involved with the rugby. The shots of the supporters and fans will be long and wide shots to show the numbers of people who love the sport. In the second part of the documentary the camera angles will be stationary mid shots for the interview. The framing should allow the whole face and shoulders in shot. Whichever direction the interviewee is facing should be more room in frame.

My documentary will be shown on tv channels such as BBC 4 or BBC 5. It could also be posted on youtube. The rating will be PG as it contains controlled violence in the game of rugby.

Unit 11

Research and self analysis job role you want to do in the film and TV industry.

I want to be a camera operator as I love to capture the moment through the lens of a camera. A camera operator is part of a film crew consisting of the director of photography and one or more camera assistants. The camera operator is responsible for physically operating the camera and maintaining composition and camera angles throughout a given scene or shot. In narrative filmmaking, the camera operator will collaborate with the director, director of photography, actors and crew to make technical and creative decisions.This job interests me as there is a lot of detail and knowledge that is a necessity to know in order to well at this job. Important camera operator skills include choreographing and framing shots, knowledge of and the ability to select appropriate camera lenses, and other equipment such as dollies, camera cranes and more to portray dramatic scenes. According to Prospects.ac.uk “While many television camera operatives have a degree, it's more important to have a showreel to demonstrate your passion for photography”. This showed me that to become successful I need to create a successful showreel. A showreel is a short videotape that contains examples of your work. In order to have a good showreel I need to have a lot of successful work to show my experience.

I looked on indeed.co.uk and looked up camera operator jobs and there was only 5 I could find. I then searched runner jobs in the film and television industry and many jobs came up. It is a know fact that a runner job is a very good place to start in the industry to get experience and gain contacts. It would be a smart decision to go down this route as I do not aim to go to university so I will need to get as much experience as possible. When looking further into the runner jobs I noticed that the jobs all where in London or Salford.

The responsibilities I need to be a television camera operator:

assemble, prepare and set up equipment prior to filming, which may include tripods, monitors, lighting, cables and leads and headphones

offer advice on how best to shoot a scene and explain the visual impact created by particular shots

plan shots, for example when filming an expensive drama scene, such as an explosion, there may be only one chance to get things right, so shots need to be meticulously planned beforehand

practise the camera moves required for pre-arranged shots

study scripts

find solutions to technical or other practical problems (for an outside broadcast, for example, the natural light conditions need to be taken into account when setting up shots)

be prepared to innovate and experiment with ideas

work quickly, especially as timing is such an important factor

take sole responsibility in situations where only one camera operator is involved in the filming

keep up to date with filming methods and equipment

repair and maintain equipment

demonstrate a good awareness of health and safety issues

drive crew, actors and equipment to and from locations.

HAVARD REFRENCING

Prospects. 2017. Television camera operator job profile | Prospects.ac.uk. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/television-camera-operator. [Accessed 14 September 2017].

Camera operator - Wikipedia. 2017. Camera operator - Wikipedia. [ONLINE] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camera_operator. [Accessed 14 September 2017].

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