#like in football we did this exercise of a series of passes and everyone got it but me until a few tries like how is this harder

[marnie1964]

Karate Kid/Cobra Kai survey

i'm gonna consider myself tagged

It’s the year 2021 and you’re obsessed with The Karate Kid. How are you feeling?: an unexpected turn of events but it's passing the quarantine, i guess!

Did you grow up with TKK or are you new to the series?:  to be completely honest, i don't really like the movies? i didn't vibe with them as a kid and when i went back and tried to watch them this year i couldn't make it all the way through.* i think they're well crafted movies, but i've never liked relatable young boy wish fulfillment (i couldn't even get thru harry potter as a kid), and i think the first one is guilty of burying the lede twice over with regards to mr. miyagi and later the relationship between kreese and johnny. and lucky me--these are exactly the areas that cobra kai delivers on.

*except for the third one, which imo is a camp masterpiece and also genuinely heartbreaking. it's the only one that allows daniel to be an genuine pain in the ass. i think i've finally figured out what the target audience for cobra kai is: people who's favorite karate kid movie was tkk3 (me).

We gotta do the basics. Favorite character: johnny! what is a man but a miserable pile of bruce springsteen lyrics? or aimee mann lyrics? or mountain goats lyrics? or otis redding lyrics? or--fuck, have americans ever written songs about anyone else? i have an unreal amount of good will towards this man and his late-life struggle for recuperation. he's the heart of the show both in terms of his relationships with other characters and in terms of zabka's chemistry with the other actors.

my deep dark double secret fave is kreese. he makes me feel real anger in a way that's usually reserved for characters in vince gilligan shows. i'm a bit obsessed with him and his preoccupation with johnny and later johnny's teenaged son (I Have Thoughts). the show does a great job of making what he did to johnny--and all the years and years and years of fallout from that--feel really real, which makes him one of the most viscerally despicable villains i've ever come across . it's unironically among the best portrayals of domestic abuse i've seen, may god have mercy on our souls. the decision to pop out from behind a fucking cardboard cutout of himself to scare daniel in tkk3 was also a hilarious galaxy brain move. aspirational stuff.

also--shout out to daniel-san. the writers really had to work their asses off to make him into a character that appeals to me, and i think they did a great job of it. he's a cringey tool who's capable of displaying a surprising amount of integrity under the right circumstances! he's tom wambsgans! he's pete campbell! he's wonderful i love him!

Favorite ship:  johnny & daniel (what if mysterious skin was a sports comedy??)

Underrated character: the True and Correct answer to this question can only be aisha, although i don't think she was actually underrated by anyone besides the writers. chozen is also lowkey my favorite katate child because c'mon, he had everything (spear fights! ziplines! teen death matches! formfitting disco-era polyester button down shirts worn with gold chains!)

Underrated ship (don’t say therapy, lol):  uhhhh... the only teen couple that could have been interesting is tory/aisha. they were cute together and their friendship rang true to me. it's that thing where you're the new girl and you're conventionally attractive, but on the inside you know you're a freak so you immediately gravitate towards the most obvious female outsider. i lived it, bay-bey!

i also think there are interesting things to explore with carmen and johnny's relationship. i don't know if the writers are even aware of it (i lean towards no b/c men amirite) but the entire premise of carmen's character is that she chose to live in poverty to protect herself and her son from a bad man with power. she's thereby the exact opposite of johnny's mother, who (at least by his understanding) married hollywood film producer shmarvey shmeinstein to provide her son with a better life. so, there's a lot to unpack in his attraction to her. also they're super hot hur hur i like sexy nurse thing hur hur.

Wax On, Wax Off or Sweep the Leg?: i can't look directly at it, but sweep the leg. zabka what the fuck man.

Which of Daniel’s dumb little outfits is your favorite?:  i don't think i've seen anyone mention this one yet, but the football jersey with the sweatpants. it makes him look so small and huggable, i wanna pick him up and set him on my shelf or something.

Character from the films you most want to return, who’s not Terry Silver: bring back ali's lesbian girl gang!!! or else--dutch. he was funny and iconic, i loved his exaggerated offended reaction to everything daniel said or did in tkk. also, i'm tacky so i'm a sucker for aggressively bleach blonde hair. the SCANDALIZED wasp couple standing behind ali and johnny in the spaghetti scene will also do. or terry's secretary (an mvp--i believe the original actress has passed away so in my heart of hearts she's portrayed by j. smith-cameron).

Scene that lives in your head rent-free: the whole character development speed run that johnny does from sweep the leg to crying while handing daniel the trophy to getting strangled in the parking lot by his beloved teacher. i'm especially transfixed by that last bit--what's the thought process of a man who decides to publicly execute his teenage student via strangulation? why did none of the many bystanders call the police? johnny is the real kitty genovese, prison for everyone.

from the cobra kai series proper: daniel's decision to greet johnny with a big hug after not seeing him for 35 years and never actually being friends with him (I Have Thoughts), the heinously creepy scene where johnny is repeating the cobra kai mantra for miguel and his entire disposition completely changes (demonic possession shit), and johnny's tiny go-ahead-and-kill-my-abuser nod (his face is so stoney after being so animated at dinner) coupled with daniel's shaky little sign of relief (macchio is really the cutest when he looks scared).

it goes without saying that every johnny & miguel scene lives rent free in my HEART.

Will Anthony LaRusso ever be relevant?: anthony becomes relevant for one (1) episode next season when amanda and daniel finally get around to putting him up for adoption.

You live in The Valley and are forced into the karate gang war.  Which dojo do you join?:  i enter the cobra kai dojo decked out in all of my snake-themed clothing and jewelry (it's a lot). i approach kreese and explain to him that the open mouth of a snake, viewed head-on, is a yonic symbol. i am permanently banned from the cobra kai dojo.

(seriously though, assuming i'm a teen in this scenario i think i would have vibed with tory/miguel/aisha. dimitri and sam would have driven high school me up the fucking wall though. the cobra kai style looks like more fun/better exercise. do i also genuinely believe most young girls could actually benefit from someone yelling no mercy down their neck? maybe so 💖)

What’s your training montage song?:  50ft queenie - pj harvey (it takes place in the alison bechdel feminist karate dojo ofc)

It’s the crossover event of the century! Which TV show are you combining with Cobra Kai for an hour-long Saturday night special?: it's a full episode flashback to the time johnny got arrested in albuquerque, new mexico. johnny's court-appointed attorney is a weirdly hot babe who seems like a super straight laced killjoy at first, but soon reveals herself to be an unhinged woman. one thing leads to another, and johnny winds up in bed with her and her loser husband. there are lots of great themes about punitive justice, people's ability to change for the better (and worse), and what makes someone "good" or "bad" to begin with, but mostly it's just really hot sex. the husband tries to sell johnny a prepaid cellphone and johnny tell's him that cellphones are never gonna catch on, cause who want's to be bothered by people all the time like that?

better call saul. it's a better call saul crossover ep.

(fwiw think that greg 'hbo succession' hirsch should also be terry's cousin greg on the non-roy side. think about it--the roys are small people, but cousin greg is really tall?? and who else is really tall, and a blue eyed brunette to boot? terry silver. it all adds up! this never becomes relevant to the plot, in any case, i'm just considering it canon until the writers come to my house and explicitly tell me i'm wrong.)

Tagging: anyone who's interested 😘

[vampireharker]

Sunshine and Cigarette Smoke

Nervous Jonathan delays bringing up a relationship changing question by telling his girlfriend Mina of the time he unwittingly ruined a young lady's reputation when he was only fourteen. A writing exercise in relationship dynamic and worldbuilding for my upcoming Dracula webcomic. This series of exercises dig deeper into the details of the world that won’t fit in the comic.

Original universe. Dialogue heavy. Mature. Horny on main. There is no smut but the dialogue is a bit nsfw. 

Something about the sunny weather, the cool breeze, and the fact that there was no-one in this park made Mina feel particularly mischievous. Or maybe it was the wine Jonathan had brought along on their little spring picnic. Or the handsome way he lounged on the blanket against his elbows, head tilted back and cigarette hanging from his mouth as he took in the sunlight.

He was smoking again. He only ever did when he was stressing over something. Mina thought it had been his law exams this past winter, but he’d passed those with such high scores there was no way the Incorporated Law Society wouldn’t accept his Solicitor application even if they were taking forever to make a decision. But it was such a pretty day, and Mina didn’t want to ruin this nice moment by digging up a troubling subject so she sighed instead.

“Something wrong, babe?” Jonathan asked, popping the cigarette out of his mouth. He sat up, staring at her. “You sounded worried just now.”

Said the stress smoker.

Mina’s thoughts raced for an excuse, and then that mischievous mood she had been in came back full force. A proper lady had all the tools she needed in her frills to dig specific information out of a man, it was just matter of applying them with the right amount of effect. She smiled cutely, and her skirts ruffled as she scooted closer to him. The air was warm with late spring, so her gown had short sleeves and a low cut that revealed enough to be teasing, but covered enough to not be the talk of the town. She enjoyed pushing the boundary of modesty whenever she went out with Jonathan, mostly to tease him, and because she didn’t give a hoot about propriety when it came to him of all people. And it was hot out here. Sometimes the girls needed to breathe, too.

Mina snuggled against his shoulder, angling herself just right so that there would be little left to the imagination from his view. He smelled of warm musk and methanol and a natural sweetness just beneath his skin. His dark eyes, appreciating what she offered, suddenly narrowed in suspicion. “You’re up to something,” he said matter-of-factly with a slight frown.

“Mmmm, perhaps,” she replied coyly, not even bothering to feign innocence. Then her lips spread in a wide, playful grin. “I heard you last night.”

“Huh?”

“In the shower.”

Jonathan choked on the smoke he’d just inhaled, dark cheeks brightening with hot red. “I-I-I don’t know what you’re on about,” he wheezed.

“Oh, please. You were loud. Must have been quite the fantasy.” She pouted. “You could’ve invited me. We only get to stay with each other on the weekends, you know, when Tim's away.”

“It was all very quick, you wouldn’t have enjoyed it much,” Jonathan countered. He flicked the ash of his cigarette into the grass. “Sometimes you get the urge and have a go. Besides, you were busy grading essays, and I didn’t want to interrupt.”

“Sure, sure. What did you think about?”

He gasped. “My lady!” he cried in feigned shock. “I hardly think this is proper conversation. Also, nothing in particular. I told you, it was quick. It caught me by surprise.” He took a thoughtful drag, then flicked more ash away. “Damn, I don’t think I had that happen to me since I was in secondary school.”

“Wait, waitwaitwait, you wanked it back then?”

“Yes?”

“But you were so… so proper!”

“Um, I’m still proper, thank you, you’re the one bringing up an indecent subject like a Godless heathen, Miss Schoolteacher.”

She waved him away. “We’re focused on you, Mr. Harker. So bitch the pot. You can't just leave it at that.”

He shrugged. “What’s there to tell? I was your typical adolescent boy with healthy urges. …Why are we even going into this? Is it really that odd for you to picture it?”

“Yes.”

He burst out laughing. “Seriously? We had a tiff behind a dumpster once, the smell was quite awful.”

“That was after I took your innocence!” Mina cried. “Before I got my grubby mitts on you, you were this pure proper little virgin who didn’t know anything about anything, and now you're telling me that you wanked? Can't picture it, not with the way you were when we got together.”

“I wasn’t that bad, was I?”

“No, but that’s because I have fun teaching you. But I can’t help feelin’ a bit sorry for the poor girl that would’ve had to bear that responsibility if I hadn't came along.”

"Rude," Jonathan snorted. “Well, you came at a good time then because I had my eyes on someone else for a moment there, and it was all very humiliating.”

He took another long drag. “Okay,” he said, after turning his face to the side to release some smoke. “This should amuse you. I was fourteen so this was before you transferred to St. Joshua's. One of my mates had this older sister. Rebecca. Very pretty, smart like you; she was, I think, sixteen. Or almost sixteen. Anyway, her coming out was approaching very soon so I think she went a little wild before joining with high society.”

“Wild?”

“Did all kinds of improper things. The guys really liked her.”

“I think I would’ve liked her.”

“You two would’ve gotten on great because it gets worse. You know, I’m a young lad, weird body things are happening that I don’t know what to do with. I hadn’t became popular yet, so I was still a bit of a loser. Before the growth spurt.” It was true. Jonathan used to be below average in height until a growth spurt the summer he turned sixteen. Now he towered over most people at 188 centimeters. The top of Mina's head could barely reach his shoulder.

Mina nodded. “By the time I arrived, you had that gaggle of giggling girls at your heels and leaving notes in your locker.”

“And then you took them all away.”

“That I did. And we were rivals all the way up until our last year when you told me that you loved me.”

“But before then, everyone wanted us to date. They shipped us hard, it was weird. Little did they know…”  

Mina grinned widely. “The football team's shower room.”

“The bleachers.”

“The pool at night where I got that nasty UTI.”

“Sorry about that. Then there was behind the stage near the paint room.”

“And following that, the kitchen when we were on cafeteria duty.”

“The stables, but was that before or after the library?”

“Before the library, because then we moved on later that day to the dean’s office.”

“WE DID NOT.”

Mina laughed. “Oh, but we did, Mr. Harker. Right on his desk. You can block it from your memory all you’d like, but I have pictures to prove it. I wonder if he ever noticed the scratch marks on the wood?”

Jonathan sat there for a moment, looking completely mortified. “He had so much trust in me,” he finally said with a slight sob.

“Well, what else is the girl you’ve been playing at St. George with supposed to think when you invite her into an office alone?”

He paused, cigarette still in his hand. “…I don’t recall you being on top that time.”

“Oh, now the gentleman remembers.”

“I remember you on that desk, vividly, I just blocked out where that desk happened to be and now I know why. Did we clean up at least?”

“We're not animals. But now that we’ve gone over at least half the history of our canoodling, what about Rebecca?” Mina had to bring the conversation back to the original point before they started reminiscing too deeply about their very proper and not at all sexual relationship. “Within a few months, I had you in every way all over the school grounds, but you went absolutely nowhere with this girl?”

“Hey, fourteen-year-old boys are very intimidated especially by older women. Also, we’re getting to that. So there I am, before the growth spurt that would change my life, still kinda awkward and short and completely unnoticed by her. Or so I thought. Turns out, that wasn’t the case at all.”

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[abdifarah]

Clumsy Courage

Most of us would not recognize real courage if it looked us in the face, or if it stood up a few rows ahead of us during a college graduation. Three young students stood in the stands of the Superdome just as Tulane University President Mike Fitts entered the conclusion of his remarks to the graduating class of 2018. In call and response fashion they chanted, Black lives matter, Justice for Kenan! Black lives matter, Justice for Jalen! and so on, looping through three or four names. I did not recognize the names. Not the canonical Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Eric Garner roll call. I immediately felt shamefully out of touch. I intimated they were referencing events of discrimination specific to Tulane this past year and not incidents of national note. They interrupted the charismatic, jovial leader of the school as he encouraged the graduating class of 2018 to be fearless as they used their hard earned (and richly financed) educations to confront the world’s ills. The parents in my section were understandably, yet disproportionally, vexed by the nuisance of the protesters muddying up their big day of celebration. Some grumbled under their breath, more signaled to the ushers or swiveled their necks frantically in hopes of alerting security. They squirmed uncontrollably in their seats as if fire ants had magically manifested in everyone’s Hanes and Jockeys. Middle-aged white folks are allergic to breaks in the norm. One particularly unpleasant man yelled, “Shut the fuck up!” at the youngsters with a violence usually reserved for confronting the murderer of a family member. These parents and loved ones of the graduates gave nodding amens along with President Fitts as he anointed their children the next Ghandi or Martin Luther King Jr. However, when real, inconvenient civil disobedience stood up, they did not hesitate to squash the unwelcome intruders like cockroaches. After all, these families did not send their children to college to actually save the world, just to be told that one day they would.

I am sitting in the stands during this event – my own graduation – because I am a jaded artist getting his MFA. I could not be bothered to rent the cap and gown and actually participate in the ceremony, but I figured I would at least go and watch. Perhaps naive, or just “unbearably woke,” as me and the other grisled grad students would joke, these undergrad Black Lives Matter protesters were nonetheless heroes. Historical accounts do not convey the terror, bravery and awkwardness of genuine protest. Those students who stood in my section and were straightway mowed down by the parents and Mr. Shut The Fuck Up were not confident, charismatic revolutionaries. Their knees buckled and their voices quivered as they delivered their rehearsed lines. They were uncertain of if and when they made their point and how long to procede, how to hold their hands, and whether to acquiesce to the vitriol of the shouts around them. Through the guilding of time the marches and sit-ins and boycotts of the civil rights era seem like a no-brainer. Of course I would’ve been there, you convince yourself. When we read history we naturally envision ourselves in the place of the protagonists. We read the Bible, and see ourselves, not as the stubborn and timid Israelites or self-righteous pharisees, but rather as God or Christ himself. In real time courage is a divine revelation and dispensation, and not the least bit common.

Similarly, the television screen does not capture the preciousness of genuine courage. When Colin Kaepernick started his protest of the national anthem back in 2016 I was unimpressed. That’s it? What does kneeling do about the real deaths of innocent black men and women? An egregious case of armchair quarterbacking on my part. The gesture seemed too subtle and ineffectual. This assessment changed this past fall when I attended a high school football game between Holy Cross and Archbishop Rummel. I regularly attend high school football games in New Orleans, snapping reference photos of the players and onlookers for an ongoing series of artwork. But for the most part I attend games featuring predominantly black schools. At games featuring black schools both teams will usually have a few players who kneel during the anthem in solidarity, or at least in mimicry of Kaep’. Black football is a safe-space for this political self-expression. This Holy Cross vs. Rummel game was my first foray into the other side of New Orleans high school football; the white, affluent, private, Christian school side. The packed crowd in the colosseum bowl of Tad Gormley Arena thunderously arose at the PA announcers introduction of the national anthem. Hands white on both sides crossed hearts and hats were expediently removed to reveal red and blond and sandy brown hair. Standing on the field with my camera and looking around at the intimidating crowd – thousands of white people piously reciting the lyrics to the national anthem – I got chills at the thought of drawing any attention to myself, let alone purposefully attempting to extinguish the rapturous flames of this collective exercise in patriotism and self aggrandizement. The simple act of positioning one’s black body, forcing White Americans to reckon with what their nationalism (when full grown, a dogmatic faith in white supremacy) has purposefully and indirectly wrought upon other black and brown bodies throughout history became for me a capacious gesture.

Like those trembling Tulane students, Kaepernick expected to be crushed. The roach that instead of scurrying at the flood of light, pauses defiantly in the middle of the kitchen floor, resigned to its explosive execution at the bottom of grandpa’s slipper. Colin Kaepernick knew before everyone that the 2016 NFL season would be his last. Fans of his and his fight held out hope that one of the self-proclaimed “progressive” or “player-centered” franchises like the Seattle Seahawks would pick up Kaepernick, but he had already counted the cost. And like those fresh-faced, white Tulane coeds absorbing aggressive jeers in order to voice the names of their beleaguered black classmates, Kaep’ did not need to do it. He could have contently collected millions for years to come until his body eventually gave out. Instead he condescended and thought it not robbery to be equals with those named and unnamed victims of police violence (as well as the unemployed, the ranks of which he foresaw joining). During that Catholic school football game action paused a handful of times for medical personnel to attend to an injured man on the field. At first sight of a fallen player everybody on the sidelines, on both teams, immediately drops to one knee and bows their head in prayer. Likewise onlookers in the stands bow and pray. Somberly the packed stadium prays that the injury is not catastrophic and that the player will bounce up miraculously and rejoin the huddle as if nothing occured. To these teams and fans the act of kneeling or bowing one's head in prayer joins them with the incapacitated athlete as if to say when you hurt, I hurt. Sadly, the hypocrisy of kneeling in prayer for an injured player while denouncing similar gestures in solidarity with those injured not by helmet to helmet hits or blind-sided tackles but rather by systemic racism sailed over the heads of those conservative crowds of Louisianans at both the graduation and the football game like a terribly overthrown pass.

[flirting-with-psychology]

2014/2015/2016/2017/2018/2019/2020 New Years Survey

1: What did you do in 2014/2015/2016/2017/2018/2019/2020 that you’d never done before?

2014: Had sex

2015: Got further in my love life

2016: Went to the PAC 12 Championship, and about to go to a bowl game

2017: Graduated and moved in with friends

2018: Had a real film client

2019: Got a boyfriend

2020: Bought a car

2: Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? 2014: I don’t think I actually made any. I might try to this year

2015: I kept a lot of them, and I will probably make new ones

2016: I can’t remember what they were. I might make new ones

2017: I can’t remember what they were. I am making new ones

2018: I can’t remember what they are, and I might make a couple new ones

2019: I kept some, and yes

2020: I kept a few, and probably

3: Did anyone close to you give birth? 2014: No

2015: No

2016: My mom’s ex-boyfriend’s daughter

2017: No

2018: No

2019: No

2020: No

4: Did anyone close to you die? 2014: No

2015: No

2016: My friend Zach, although we hadn’t really talked much for a couple of years so we weren’t close anymore

2017: No

2018: My cat and my great aunt

2019: Not really

2020: No

5: What countries did you visit? 2014: I stayed in my home country this year, but hopefully I will travel more in 2015 or 2016, I am planning to study abroad

2015: I stayed in my home country but I am planning to study abroad in 2016

2016: I studied abroad in Italy :)

2017: I went to London with my mom

2018: I stayed at home

2019: I went to Israel on Birthright

2020: I stayed home

6: What would you like to have in 2015/2016/2017/2018/2019/2020/2021 that you lacked in 2014/2015/2016/2017/2018/2019/2020? 2014: A boyfriend, more confidence, and a more interesting personality

2015: A boyfriend and more confidence

2016: A boyfriend already goddamnit it’s time

2017: An official boyfriend and a film job

2018: A boyfriend, a film job, and probably a car

2019: An interesting job (finally got the boyfriend!)

2020: A job, an apartment, and a vaccine

7: What dates from 2014/2015/2016/2017/2018/2019/2020 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? 2014: 12/13/14, the day I had sex, and it was interesting because I had my first kiss on 11/12/13

2015: 9/3/15 was the day of the Old Chicago watch party where Hawaii flirted me.

2016: 6/8/16 the day I found out Zach had died

2017: 8/21/17, the solar eclipse

2018: 8/7/18 moving into the B Flat

2019: 3/3/19 My anniversary with my boyfriend

2020: 9/3/20, the day I bought my car

8: What was your biggest achievement of the year? 2014: I think my Blank Space video was cool. Also I got a job

2015: Maybe finally starting to go to the gym and get confidence

2016: My short film Pancakes, which had a full film crew

2017: Graduated college

2018: Did some film work for Sonic Octane

2019: Got a boyfriend lol

2020: Bought a car

9: What was your biggest failure? 2014: Letting myself remain unhappy instead of figuring out how to change it

2015: Losing some of the confidence I gained in the fall

2016: Kinda giving up on trying, in various ways

2017: Did not get back into working out

2018: Not letting myself try things and fail

2019: Let another year go by without getting anywhere in my career

2020: Gaining a lot of weight

10: Did you suffer illness or injury? 2014: I had a trifecta of stomach flu, pink eye, and common cold during finals week. I also cut my foot open at Water World and it got infected

2015: I was sick for a month from kissing Hawaii

2016: Yeah, that month-long Hawaii plague kinda turned into a year-long strike from my immune system. Also, I got a node in my thyroid. So far it’s benign, just a weird lump

2017: I had to get surgery to remove the thyroid node

2018: I had a cough for 2 months

2019: Stomach flu

2020: I hit my toe really hard on a table

11: What was the best thing you bought? 2014: A Netflix subscription

2015: My TV

2016: All my Italy souvenirs. Idk I can’t pinpoint one thing

2017: Sebastian the pirate merman ornament

2018: I think the gold Giani Bernini shoes were this year

2019: Maybe some jewelry? Idk, I din’t really buy anything big

2020: A car

12: Whose behaviour merited celebration? 2014: My mom’s boyfriend is finally apologizing to her and trying to make up for cheating on her last year, and he actually seems to be working really hard to change

2015: Vincent has become close friends with me and shows a lot of bravery in how he handles things

2016: The football team finally got good

2017: My film class for all we accomplished and helping each other on projects

2018: My coworker and I actually became friends even though I didn’t like her at first

2019: My boyfriend for being a sweetheart

2020: Everyone who took covid seriously

13: Whose behaviour made you appalled? 2014: There were a few guys who bailed on me without explanation, but the biggest one is my friend who stopped talking to me, apparently because I vented to her too much, but did not give me any chance to fix it and seems to hate me now

2015: All the guys who were too cowardly to text me back

2016: This one dude in Italy on my study abroad program made out, etc with me, then told me not to tell anyone because there was a different girl he wanted to get with

2017: My friend and his girlfriend got mad at me for seeking out another ride because they drove recklessly

2018: A guy who cheated on someone with me, and me a little for enabling it

2019: Customers

2020: Everyone who did not take covid seriously

14: Where did most of your money go? 2014: A lot went into camera and film equipment rentals. Unfortunately quite a bit also went into the vending machine

2015: Random stuff, and more than usual went to holiday presents

2016: Groceries and clothes and knick knacks

2017: Rent

2018: Macy’s

2019: Jewelry

2020: Rent and dice

15: What did you get really, really, really excited about? 2014: I went to the Telluride Film Festival with a school group

2015: Getting to go on a band trip

2016: Getting to go on 3 (three!) band trips

2017: Graduating and London

2018: Las Vegas film shoot

2019: Having a boyfriend

2020: D&D

16: What song will always remind you of 2014/2015/2016/2017/2018/2019/2020? 2014: Songs tend to remind me of people, and the songs that remind me of the people of 2014 are “Don’t Cha” for Captain and “Wildest Dreams” for Marble. Also, Blank Space for all of them

2015: Taylor Swift’s 1989 album

2016: Shut Up and Dance

2017: Not sure if I have one. Maybe the Anastasia soundtrack

2018: Maybe Waving Through a Window

2019: If I Were a Jolly Blacksmith

2020: Epiphany

17: Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? © richer or poorer? 2014: A) Maybe a little sadder. I’m just getting more desperate as more time passes with me single. B) About the same, maybe a couple pounds fatter. C) Richer, now that I have a job

2015: A) Happier. B) Thinner. C) About the same, maybe a little richer. I’m not excellent at saving

2016: A) Happier. I was about to say sadder, because I think this year as a whole I’ve been sadder than last year as a whole, but I remembered that in december I was trying to get over Hawaii and that sucked ass. B) Fatter. C) About the same, maybe a bit richer

2017: A) About the same. Maybe a little sadder, I kind of miss college. B) Probably about the same. C) Probably poorer because I actually have to pay rent now. But I also make a lot more money so maybe it evens out

2018: A) Maybe a little happier. B) Fatter. C) About the same

2019: A) About the same. B) Fatter. C) Poorer

2020: A) Definitely sadder. B) Fatter. C) Richer actually, because of the extra unemployment stimulus money

18: What do you wish you’d done more of? 2014: Adventures, swing dancing, and maybe a little more textbook reading

2015: Enjoying myself and trying new experiences, and getting the most out of school

2016: Exercising, making friends in Italy

2017: I wish I had done more in college as a whole

2018: Making friends and flirting, and learning how to work hard

2019: Looking for jobs

2020: Playing games with my friends

19: What do you wish you’d done less of? 2014: Fighting with my parents, perhaps, and maybe less being sad or worried around people because clearly it pushes them away

2015: Worrying about things

2016: Thinking about Hawaii

2017: Strategizing

2018: Overthinking

2019: Eating pasta

2020: OCD things

20: How did you spend Christmas? 2014: With my mom’s boyfriend’s family

2015: Oops awk, I’m doing this early. But I will spend it with my mom’s boyfriend’s family

2016: Lol I’m doing it early again. I think I am just gonna be chilling, I’ll probably do Hanukkah that night

2017: I keep doing it early. Idk maybe watch a movie or something

2018: I’m gonna chill and maybe see a movie with my mom

2019: I went home and had Hanukkah with my mom and vented about jobs and my boyfriend

2020: Chilled and watched New Girl

21: Did you fall in love in 2014/2015/2016/2017/2018/2019/2020? 2014: No, I don’t think so. Maybe, with Captain a little

2015: Not quite

2016: I stayed in love with Captain. I’m pretty sure that started before this year but maybe not. I told him that I loved him this year, though

2017: Almost maybe, but not quite

2018: No

2019: Almost but not quite there yet

2020: Still not quite there but felt close a number of times

22: What was your favourite TV program? 2014: Supernatural

2015: How to Get Away With Murder

2016: Suits

2017: Friends

2018: Dexter or Criminal Minds

2019: Dexter

2020: 3% or The Office

23: Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? 2014: My friend who hates me, I’m starting to hate her back

2015: I still don’t really hate anyone

2016: Don’t really hate anyone

2017: Yeah. Didn’t know her last year

2018: Not really

2019: Not really

2020: Trump and Mitch McConnell, I don’t think I had gotten all the way to hating them yet

24: What was the best book you read? 2014: Mistborn

2015: The Testing, maybe

2016: Mistborn series

2017: Mistborn series. Also not quite a book but the Choices game

2018: Here Lies Daniel Tate

2019: Didn’t really read anything good

2020: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

25: What was your greatest musical discovery? 2014: Blank Space

2015: Shut Up and Dance

2016: Collabro

2017: Anastasia the Musical

2018: Dear Evan Hansen

2019: Spotify

2020: Was Come From Away this year?

26: What did you want and get? 2014: A job, new experiences

2015: More confidence, losing weight, better friend relationships

2016: A bowl trip, a summer abroad

2017: I may be on the path to getting a boyfriend?

2018: Film work, good roommates

2019: A boyfriend

2020: A car

27: What did you want and not get? 2014: A boyfriend, to lose weight, more confidence and conversational skills

2015: A boyfriend

2016: A boyfriend

2017: Cadence

2018: A boyfriend, to lose weight

2019: A new job

2020: A new job, an end to the pandemic

28: What was your favourite film of this year? 2014: The Imitation Game or Guardians of the Galaxy

2015: The Martian or Inside Out

2016: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

2017: Coco

2018: A Star Is Born

2019: Rocketman

2020: I can’t even remember what came out this year

29: What one thing made your year immeasurably more satisfying? 2014: Being in college

2015: Better friend relationships

2016: The football team doing well

2017: Graduating

2018: The B Flat

2019: My boyfriend

2020: Leaving my retail job

30: How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2014/2015/2016/2017/2018/2019/2020? 2014: Lazy

2015: Thift-shoppy

2016: Lazy

2017: Lazy when I was in school except for the days I saw Cadence, and then more fashionable when I got my job

2018: Business Lazy

2019: Lazy

2020: Literally the same 5 outfits on repeat

31: What kept you sane? 2014: Hope for the future

2015: Belief in myself I guess

2016: Genetics and environmental factors that have not yet caused insanity

2017: Not sure

2018: Structure

2019: Not meeting the threshold for insanity

2020: Who says I’m sane

32: Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? 2014: Chris Pratt

2015: Still Chris Pratt I think

2016: Chris Pratt is a sexy, sexy man

2017: Yup. Or Kit Harington

2018: Maybe Tom Holland

2019: Tom Hiddleston

2020: Tom Hiddleston

33: What political issue stirred you the most? 2014: Probably the Leelah Alcorn suicide that just happened

2015: The presidential debates are happening

2016: The presidential election, first one that I got to vote in

2017: Maybe Net Neutrality

2018: ICE Internment camps for immigrant kids

2019: Trump as a whole

2020: Covid, stupid that it was a political issue though

34: Who did you miss? 2014: My friend who hates me

2015: Hawaii

2016: Hawaii and Zach

2017: I missed Jessie while we were fighting

2018: Kylie

2019: Shaina

2020: Everyone

35: Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2014/2015/2016/2017/2018/2019/2020. 2014: Let it Go

2015: Bravery means going after what you want

2016: The importance of storyboarding

2017: Strategizing just wastes time

2018: I don’t have to be the girl who never has a boyfriend

2019: Boyfriends have feelings too

2020: Learning to put up boundaries

36: Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. 2014: Got a long list of ex-lovers, they’ll tell you I’m insane

2015: I almost brought him up, but you start to talk about the movie that your family watches every single Christmas, and I’ll talk about that, for the first time, what’s past is past

2016: Buffaloes, Buffaloes, Go CU

2017: School’s out forever

2018: I’ve learned to slam on the brakes before I’ve even turned the key

2019: When will my life begin?

2020: Only 20 minutes to sleep, but you dream of some epiphany

[junker-town]

The most expensive video games right now might be sitting in your basement

These sports games are full of memories but the open market has other ideas.

Everyone has their favorite sports video game. The scuffed copy of NBA Jam Tournament Edition you jammed in your Super Nintendo more times than you can count, Madden NFL 2004 where Michael Vick was so broken you could rack up 300 yard rushing with ease, or NCAA Football 14, a final chance to remember how amazing college football games could be.

These memories are valuable. They’re worth everything to you — but the open market has other ideas. There are so old, bizarre sports games that could be sitting in a box in your parents’ attic right now worth enough to pay off your student loans, or at least a month or two rent. Similarly there are objectively some sports games so horrifically awful history deemed them to be worth absolutely nothing.

Kris Paine owns and runs “Well Played Games,” an arcade and vintage game store in Greenville, North Carolina. He uses a system shared by second-hand games stores across the country that tells him what stores charge on average for used games, and what absolutely nobody wants. It’s the best metric we have to truly determine how much we care about games as a society. I asked Paine for his list of the most (and least) valuable sporting games right now. This might result in you having the best day of the year, or just being grumpy about the $20,000 game you know got sold at a yard sale for a nickel.

The most expensive sports games right now.

No. 1: Family Fun Fitness Stadium Events (NES)

A video game Holy Grail, a loose copy of Stadium Events sells for over $9,000 on the open market. If you have it complete with box and manual you’re looking at a game which last sold for $29,251.

Released in September of 1987, Stadium Events is a game you have probably played — but never knew it by this name. Initially released in a very short run, Nintendo re-issued the game as World Class Track Meet to sell alongside the “Power Pad” peripheral. Players would run and jump on an often malfunctioning Power Pad, competing in Olympic-style races.

That version is probably the one you own. I’m sorry to tell you it’s worth nothing. However, if you somehow purchased the game before Nintendo re-branded it you’re sitting on one the rarest video games of all time. Nintendo typically did production runs of 10,000 units, though collectors believe far less copies of Stadium Events were created, due to the change in title.

No. 2: Exertainment Mountain Bike Rally/Speed Racer (SNES)

There have been some really, really weird video game peripherals over the years — but nothing quite compares to the ancient Peleton grandfather, the “Extertainment Life Cycle.” A crossover product between Nintendo and exercise bike manufacturer “Life Cycle,” this was really Nintendo’s first attempt at cornering the lifestyle/fitness market in video games. It flopped so spectacularly they didn’t try it again until the release of the Wii.

The big issue is that the bike cost $800 on its release in 1994. Accounting for inflation that makes it $1,384 today. There were also only two games that supported the Extertainment Life Cycle, the pack-in combo of Mountain Bike Rally and Speed Racer. Yes, that Speed Racer, from the anime — except you’d pedal to make the Mach 5 drive.

It’s unclear how many copies of the pack in game still exist, but a loose copy is worth $1,346, with a complete in box one selling for $2,683.

No. 3: Daytona USA Championship [Net Link Edition] (Sega Saturn)

DAAAAYTOOOOONAAAAAAAAA!

A relic of a now hilarious time, this edition of the iconic arcade game was released in the internet’s infancy and represents one of the first games that could be played online. This used the incredible looking “Sega Net Link,” which was a partnership between Sega and early internet service provider Planetweb, Inc. Using all the power a 28.8 kbps modem could muster, it allowed players to compete online for the relatively low cost of $199. Keep in mind, this was at a time where PC gaming was prohibitively expensive for most people.

Still, the Sega Net Link didn’t attract too much attention and the Sega Saturn was later replaced with the Dreamcast. Still, if you have a copy of the Net Link version of Daytona USA it’ll fetch $581 for a loose copy, and over $1,000 if you have it in the box.

And now the cheapest sports games right now

They can’t all be gems waiting to make you extreme amounts of money, and these games prove that in incredible fashion. Any chances of these ever being worth anything is nothing, and keeping them around your house just hurts any items they’re stored next to.

No. 1: Enduro Racer (Commodore 64)

You might have fond memories of this on the Sega Master System or the arcade, but the Commodore 64 version was a steaming pile of trash. Even Commodore 64 collectors tend to pass on this one unless they absolutely need to complete their collection.

The game sells for $1.95, and Paine said he doesn’t even both buying them for less than $1 when they come in, because nobody ever buys it.

No. 2: Major League Baseball 2K7 (PSP)

I love everything about writing that title. It takes a very specific person not only to want a copy of Major League Baseball 2K7, but absolutely has to have it available on the go with their PSP.

This game sucks, and if you have a copy it’s worth $1.99. Paine has never sold a single copy of this game.

No. 3: Super Play Action Football (SNES)

Released in 1992, this was supposed to be the pre-eminent football experience until the release of the Madden series. It’s a good thing Madden came along, because this game was horrible in every conceivable way.

Writes Paine:

“It says the price is $3.19, but in three years I have never sold a copy. Any trades I get that includes it is automatically worth slightly less, as the stink of Super Play Action Football infects other games.”

No. 4: Sports Illustrated Golf Classic (GameBoy)

“It says $3.19 as well as the loose base price. Like Play Action Football this game is terrible. It somehow manages to be worse than Golf, and less charming too — because at least Golf had Mario in it ... sort of.”

No. 5: Lee Trevino’s Fighting Golf (NES)

There is no fighting in Lee Trevino’s Fighting Golf. It’s just a bad golf game and worth $5.

[renatorizzuti]

Spotlight on Cleo Berry: Actor/Singer

Interview by Renato Rizzuti

Cleo Berry is known as “the funny guy.” During the course of this interview, Cleo is shown be much more than that! A well trained and passionate actor that has a great attitude towards acting and towards life! Cleo’s well thought out and thorough answers reveal a dynamic actor and a lover of life! 

Renato: You were born in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA, on February 10, 1984. This makes you an Aquarius from an astrological point of view. I was born on February 12 which also makes me an Aquarius. What qualities do people born under that sign possess that makes the person perfect for an acting profession? Is this personally true in your case? 

Cleo: First, Happy Belated birthday my Aquarian brother. As you know, Aquarians are known to be deep thinkers, very intellectual and generally just want to help the world be a better place. These are qualities that I bring into my everyday acting career. I have to think deeply about the character. What are their quirks? What makes them tick? What’s their motivation for life? What do they want most of all in the project? I fully believe that being an intelligent person is an asset as an actor. There’s tons of reading scripts and studying. It’s almost like full time college. We’re constantly preparing a group project that we have to perform in front of the class for a grade or in my case a job booking. But I absolutely love it. No complaining here. And I think we as actors are merely putting a mirror up to society and showing them parts of our humanity. Sometimes it’s a drama and sometimes it’s a comedy but we’re always trying to be as true to life and the character as possible. 

Renato: Was there a person or thing that inspired you to be an actor during the 18 years you spent in Little Rock? 

Cleo: I’ve always attended an Arts school. From first grade through college, I’ve been immersed in performing arts. So, I caught the acting bug in sixth grade when my elementary school took out our music class to a dinner theatre matinee show to see my music teacher perform Nancy in “Oliver!” It was there that I saw actors my age singing, dancing and acting. I instantly knew that I wanted to do that too. A few days later, while in music class, I asked my teacher how I could do it too. She helped my mom and I get me into a training camp over that summer. I’ve been on this path, since then. 

Renato: You moved to New York at age 18. What motivated you to make the move? How did you feel about the move? 

Cleo: Yes, I left LR for NYC at eighteen because I needed more training. The best trained there. So, I applied and auditioned and was accepted into the musical theatre training program at AMDA (NYC). I was excited about the move. The fact that 9/11 had just happened the previous year didn’t scare me at all. 

Renato: You graduated from The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (NYC). What is the most important thing you learned about acting there and was there a particular instructor who inspired you?                                   

Cleo: Most important things that I learned is how to break down a script and a song. I hated all the monotonous work of creating a character while in school but it definitely helped me with establishing my own short cut to getting to the heart of a character, scene. Darren R. Cohen is the acting instructor who I learned the most from. From my first semester there, Darren helped mold me. He absolutely let me be me and guided me through my schooling. He even created a cabaret show for me and three other students after we graduated. His belief in me is something that I still wear like a badge of honor.

Renato: You missed your graduation from the Academy to go to a feature film callback. What factors did you take into consideration when you made that decision?                                                                                                                   

Cleo: I was paying to attend a performing arts conservatory with the hopes of getting acting work once completed. I had the opportunity to land a lead in a film. It was something that I couldn’t pass up. I did not book the job but I proved to myself how bad I truly wanted my dream to happen.

 Renato: You made a name for yourself as “the funny guy” in numerous commercials and promos. What qualities do you possess that make you ideal as “the funny guy?” How do you personally feel about being “the funny guy?” What higher life purpose do “funny guys” serve or in other words what do “funny guys” do for the rest of humanity? 

Cleo: I’m a rotund guy with a big smile. I’m also quite funny, when prompted. Those are the qualities I possess to work in commercials. I love commercials. Great work, if you can get it. Being funny pays but I don’t think I’m serving any purpose other than selling a product. I certainly hope that if someone out there is having a bad day, and they see a hilarious commercial it brightens their day. Flips it around. But that’s pressure I don’t put on myself.

Renato: You also excel in dramatic roles and have worked with award winning actors such as Hugh Laurie, Glynn Turman and Ving Rhames. From an acting point of view how are dramatic roles different from comedic roles? I what ways are they similar? Given a choice, would you choose comedy or drama? 

Cleo: For me, dramatic roles are easier. I love being in that raw, real space of a role. With comedy, no matter what you do, it’s gotta be funny. With both drama and comedy you’ve gotta be open and readily available for what the scene and story demands. Sometimes, comedy gets to be a bit stressing to me. Coincidentally, it’s also the easiest for me to perform. If given a choice, I would pick drama 7 out of 10 times.

Renato: Name one of your favourite comedic roles.

 Cleo: Captain Chandler on “Young & Hungry!” I thought that character was absolutely hilarious. And I got to do a bit of physical comedy. Which is something that I love.  To view, click on link: https://www.imdb.com/videoplayer/vi2092219161

Renato: Name one of your favourite dramatic roles and explain why.

 Cleo: Daryl Fisher on Monday Mornings! I got to act opposite Ving Rhames. He’s been a favorite actor of mine for a very long time. Also, the character I played went through hell and back. Love playing those kinds of characters.To view, click on link: https://www.imdb.com/videoplayer/vi2092219161

Renato: You were in two Super Bowl commercials. As far as commercial acting is concerned that is quite an achievement! How did you feel being in a Super Bowl commercial? How do you feel about doing commercials in general? 

Cleo: Yes, I was in a Super Bowl commercial for Tide. It turned out great and was the big spot everyone was talking about. This year, I did a Super Bowl spot for Pampers. Got to act and sing with John Legend and Adam Levine. Super cool.  The Super Bowl is the top of the commercial realm. Something I always wanted to achieve. Very thankful to finally be able to cross it off my vision board.

Tide, to view click on link: https://www.imdb.com/videoplayer/vi2225322265

Pampers, to view click on link: https://youtu.be/S9A9Uw9e2p8

Renato: Your bio refers to your “stunning tenor singing voice.” Can you tell us which musical performance has been a highlight of your career?

Cleo: Playing Horton on a National Tour of “Seussical The Musical” was awesome! I loved traveling around the country to all the cities and towns and putting up a show. No performance video as it was over 10 years ago but it was a great show and cast.

Singing video, to view click on link: https://youtu.be/4f5UGb_7Yls

 Renato: You studied Taekwondo and played football. Can you tell us how the discipline learned through sports can be carried over to acting?

Cleo: It’s all about practice and performing at your best. It’s goal driven as well. Block or tackle in football. Break the wood board in Taekwondo and Booking in the Acting world.

Renato: Acting involves mental and physical work. How do you keep prepared for both?            

Cleo: I work with a terrific acting coach when I need to tune up or need help with the development phase of a character. Physically, yes, I do have to get some exercise on my weekly calendar. It’s tough but I make it happen.

Renato: Are there any upcoming projects you would like to tell us about?

Cleo: Yes, I have a project that comes out February 13 on YouTube Premium called “Weird City.” I play an awesome character named Dirg. That’s about all I can say. It’s written and executive produced by Jordan Peele (Get Out) and Charlie Sanders (Key and Peele). Love the way that they write. Definitely give it a watch. I’m guest starring in the third episode of season one.

Trailer, to view click on link: https://youtu.be/raJJbbiKtlY

My episode, preview only, (the first two episodes of the series are free but  you have to pay to watch the 3rd and remaining episodes of the series), to view click on link: https://youtu.be/y-MnuR0n1R8

Renato: Any social media links or other links that you would like to include?

Cleo: Please follow me on my verified Twitter account: @CleoBerry I’m not on any other social media sites.

Renato: Your personal quotation is, “I’m like the Energizer Bunny…you tell me I can’t do something and I keep going and going… until I do it!” Was there a situation in your life that you put that into play?

Cleo: When I was venturing out on my own at eighteen and embarking on school and a professional career, I would always tell myself this. I knew I’d come up against a multitude of brick walls, No’s and who are you’d! So, I’d remind myself to keep going. 

Renato: In general, what is your philosophy of acting?

Cleo: To get to the heart and truth of the character without judgment. Sounds easy but we all have our prejudices and quirks. Sometimes it’s tough to put yourself on hold and put a character on. Buts it’s something that must be done to effectively live as that role.

Renato: In general, what is your philosophy of life?

Cleo: To live, love and explore.

Renato: You won a special recognition at The Boston International Film Festival. What was that for? 

Cleo: The film I was in won Special Recognition. The indie film was called “Mow Crew.” It was my first lead in a movie and we shot on location in Martha’s Vineyard for a month. At the time, it was the first film to shoot on the island since “Jaws.” The locals were amazing and I can’t wait to get back there.

Renato: Thank you very much for your time and all the best to you!

[fangirlinganditswonders]

Truth comes first ~P.2

► Summary:

Everything in Riverdale seems to be a big mess no one can descipher not just because of Jason Blossom’s mysterious murder, but other questions start to fill the air of the small town.

► Pair: Jughead Jones x Reader

►  Word Count: 1,864

► Warnings: none

► A/N: Thank you all for the welcome you did give to this series! I’m so happy to see that you like it. I have to say that maybe these first parts don’t seem that interesting but... Believe me when I say I’m just preparing everything for the surprises and the plot twist that’ll come ;) 

Tags are open!

► Tags:  @matchesarelit, @armafoxx

PART ONE

Half an hour later you were on your way back home.

Everything between you and Jughead had been settled; how you were going to work as a team, what each one of you were contributing with and of course the promise of being the most discreet you could.

A pair of familiar voices filled the air making your walking stop. You were standing in the sidewalk in front of Betty’s house. At the same door of the house you could see two persons; none other than Archie and Betty themselves, and they didn’t look happy.

They were both still wearing their ball outfits. Archie was giving you his back but from where you were standing Betty’s face told you that it was not a cute conversation. She was crying.

Words had stopped. They were just staring at each other, at least they were until the blonde girl broke the eye contact between her and Archie before entering her house.

What did you just witnessed? You were pretty confused at that moment. It seemed like the ball didn’t go as great as you think it would go.

Archie lowered his head before turning, moment when his eyes locked with yours. Suddenly a wave of shame and awkwardness hit you, making you feel like you shouldn’t have been there, that you shouldn’t have listened and seen what just happened between him and Betty. Not a single word came out of any of your mouths. The red-haired was just staring at you letting you perceive the sadness and regret his stare was filled with. In your head dozens of possibilities of what to say were racing, but none of them seemed convenient or good enough. Silence was the best option. He tried to give you a small don’t worry, everything is okay smile, but he obviously couldn’t achieve it.

 ~

 The next day started in a very shocking way. The first thing your mother told you when you went downstairs, even before her good morning honey of everyday, made the blood in your veins immediately froze.

Jason Blossom’s body had been found with a bullet hole in his forehead.

That little but significant information remained inside your head. You were sure he already knew but you wanted, you needed to talk to Jughead anyway. Also, what happened last night, what you did see, was also still in your head. Betty seemed so broken it even hurt you to see her that way. Maybe… Maybe it was time to leave everything aside, or at least try it.

 “Have you heard the news?” Okay, you wanted to talk to him, but you were not expecting him to appear so early and suddenly so when Jughead’s voice sounded right behind you, you turned to him obviously startled.

“Would you mind not to do that again?” You asked with a hand in your chest while you closed your locker. “Who hasn’t heard about it…?”

“Do you know what this means? It changes everything!”

“I know…” You sighed “Now it’s a murder case what we’re trying to figure out… what is way more complicated.”

“Do you want to quit already?”

“This fast you want to get read off me Jones?” Your words thread was cut when the red-haired girl everyone was talking about that morning appeared on the corridor you and Jughead were. Both of you stared at her while she walked towards her first class in the morning. Before you or Jughead could say a word the bell ringed. Class time.

“We’ll meet later. At the library” He proposed, you nodded.

 ~

 The two first classes passed quicker than you were expecting. Just another one more and you would be free for a needed while.

The idea of having math class was unbearable but when you entered the classroom and saw Betty there your thoughts changed. Perhaps you could make good use of that hell of a class after all.

 “So… you’ve finally made it uh?” The day before, when you saw Betty with the vixens’ uniform it shocked you but you were gladly surprised. After all she had wanted to be in the cheerleading team for a while. The blonde girl turned to you and surprise was all over her face.  Her blue eyes lowered to her uniform and then back to yours, as if she was asking if the uniform and the whole vixen thing was what you meant.  “Do you mind if I sit with you?”

“Really?” Wrong move, she was not interested. You felt deception a little bit of pain hitting you “I mean…” She sighed “Sorry… It just took me by surprise”

“Don’t worry. I’ll go seat somewhere else”

“No, no!” She had grabbed your wrist before you started turning “Please, seat here”

“So… Finally a vixen” All you wanted was to ask about last night, but it would have been very harsh to ask directly for that.

“Yes… I joined them yesterday along with… With Veronica.” The change in her voice tone said it all.

“Have you had any problem with her?”

 Betty looked at you, not sure if she should explain if she should explain last night’s events but she told you everything at the end. Now you could understand what you saw. In that moment, when you saw Betty almost tearing up again, it felt like nothing happened between you two. It was like when you used to meet in one of your houses to gossip and spend some time together.

 “Actually… I saw Archie and you… at your home’s door.” She didn’t say a word “I don’t want you to think that I’ve just approached you because I wanted to…”

“I know Y/N” She interrupted you.

“I… Look I know I probably won’t be your first option but… Erh… If you… if you need anything… I’m here” How did it went from best friends to this level of awkwardness when trying to comfort the other one? “I mean, just if you want to. You’re not obligated to…” Betty’s hand rested on one of yours, cutting your words again.

“Thank you” she said with a soft smile.

 ~

 After an hour that seemed endless the bell ringed giving all the students the freedom they were waiting for. Betty and you started to walk through the corridors while comparing the different results you both get in some exercises.

Your destiny was the library at first, but you found Jughead before you expected.

He was at the student lounge, the room where you can go and chill between classes. There were some comfortable sofas and machines where you could buy sodas or snacks.

When you entered the room Betty went to sit with Kevin, seconds later you realized that Veronica was there. She greeted you with her hand and smiled to you. You saluted her back unable to let the fact that she was sitting almost in Chuck Clayton’s lap pass. Part of the football team was there as well, and you dislike almost all of them.

 “I thought we were meeting somewhere else Jones”

“Listen to them” He said taking a sip from a soda can before leaning against the machine where he had bought it. You remained silent, looking at him but paying all of your attention in what those guys were saying.

 Your eyes rolled when you heard that they were talking about Jason and making his own theories, stupid theories.

 “Why is this interesting to us?”   You whispered

“You tell me” He looked down at you “The one with the knowledge to analyze their words it’s not me” You rolled your eyes again in annoyance. A deathly math class was way better than listening to them.

 You grabbed Jughead’s can and took a sip without asking. If he was making you listening to those asses at least it was fair that it was him who provided you with something that made your task of swallow their stupidity easier as well.

 “They’re just talking about it. Do you really think they could be involved in it?”

“Everyone here is a suspect Y/L/N”

“Including us?” His eyes met with yours after you made that question but Reggie started with his speech before he could answer.

“What exactly were you and Kevin doing at the river, uh?” He asked to the guy who they use to call Moose “Or just being with the sheriff’s son gives you a free pass… Keller? I mean… let’s think about it. If a kid in Riverdale killed Jason… It’s not going to be a jock, right? No. Let’s be honest. Isn’t it always some… spooky, scrawny, pathetic, internet troll too busy running his manifesto to get laid?” You knew where he was going and it really pissed you, especially when some of his monkey minions laughed. “Some smug, moody, serial killer fanboy freak… like Jughead!” Jones seemed pretty indifferent about his words, but you were not. “What was it like, Suicide squad? When you shot Jason”

“Reggie, darling… Stop using the few words you know to attack him unless you want to be the next corpse in Riverdale” You almost blustered.

“Come on Y/N, I’m just talking to him. Hey Jughead, you didn’t do stuff with the body, did you? Like… after”

“It’s called necrophilia, Reggie” He answered “Can you spell it?”

 Apparently Jughead’s words made Reggie snap because he jumped over one of the sofas to attack Jughead but Archie stopped him.

That’s how the fight started.

 ~

 The day was finally over. It had a few good moments but also a very intense ones. You were feeling exhausted.

Nobody was homes and actually you felt thankful about it. A little while just for yourself was all you needed that day.

You were just a few meters away from your house when your attention got attracted by an unknown lime car parked in front of your house. Your mother wasn’t home, you knew it and that was not even her car, actually it was the first time you saw that car. No one parked there except your mother and you were not expecting visit.

Suddenly the car’s front lights went on showing that the vehicle got started up. When the aforementioned started to move you tried to see who was inside but the crystals of the windows were tinted. The vehicle didn’t have license plate either.

Who the hell was that?

 ~

 Jughead was sitting at his usual place at Pop’s with his laptop in front of him but his fingers were not in the keyboard. Words were not coming to his head, he was experiencing what is called a writer’s block.

Everything about Jason was still a mystery that seemed unsolvable. There were no new clues or hints. Not a single spot of light, everything was immersed in the deepest darkness.

 Two members of the football team entered the dinner making Jughead remember the fight between Archie and Reggie. It was kinda weird for him when Archie confronted Reggie to defend him. But Andrews was not the only one who did so that day, Y/N had done it too. Why?

 That was the moment when he realized how much he knew about his teammate; absolutely nothing.

PART THREE

Series Masterlist

[ktrsss1fics]

AU Art School One Shot Series

Do you know what’s more fun than sitting through a lecture about Cubism?

Just about anything. Actually I take that back. Sitting in a crowded lecture hall while some middle-aged art history professor drones on and on about the stylistic differences between Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso is more fun than any course involving letters disguised as numbers. I don’t understand why anyone would want to pursue studies in maths. Another thing I don’t understand is why in the hell Harry Styles is so keen on being my friend. We first met in our First Year Drawing course. He made some idiotic joke about pencils and I unfortunately laughed at it. It’s been two years and I still can’t go anywhere art related without his stupid face popping up. It’s ridiculous. Harry is the type of guy that probably should be down in the liberal arts wing studying literature or psychology. He should be the leader of the decathlon team and president of the anti-bullying club. He should be spending his weekends hanging out by the pool before doing a pub crawl. He shouldn’t be buried knee deep in plaster gabbing on about how fantastic the Italian Renaissance actually was. He shouldn’t be sleeping on the floor of the printmaking building on a Friday night because his orange just isn’t right. He shouldn’t be walking in the door of this overstuffed lecture hall with his perfectly sculpted man-bun and a spool of chicken wire under his arm. But he was. “Hey Huckleberry.” He chirped slipping into the empty seat beside me. “That’s not my name Harry.” I mumbled annoyed. “For me it is.” He laughed grabbing his notebook from his bag. “Did you do the reading last night?” I shook my head before yawning, “Spent the entire night planning out my piece for Davidson’s final.” “You haven’t done that yet?” He asked shocked. Harry and I were taking an intermedia course that attempted to bridge the gap between various mediums. For our final project, we had to do some sort of performance piece around campus. Performance art might seem easy but it’s the real deal. Every ounce of energy in your body is poured into performing your piece. The projects performed so far had been brilliant. “I had the gist down but after yesterday I feel like I’m not doing enough.” I explained. “When’s your performance date?” He asked searching for a pen. “Next week.” “Lucky.” He sighed. “When’s yours?” “Uh an hour after this lecture.” Harry stated. “It’ll be out in front of The Hub.” I turned my full attention to him. “Well shit that’s quick.” “Tell me about it.” He smiled. I couldn’t imagine having to perform today. I still hadn’t truly finalised mine yet. Or gotten it approved for that matter. “What are you doing for it?” I asked throwing an extra pen at him. “I can’t tell you.” He smiled graciously. “You know the rules.” “I didn’t think Harry Styles played by the rules.” I smirked. His smile grew. “He doesn’t… usually. Davidson is making me.” “Oh right.” I nod. “ Blame it on him.” “Its true. He said its a genius plan and he doesn’t want any of you procrastinators to steal it.” Harry teased earning himself a dirty look. “I’m only joking Huck.” “All I can really say is that it’s going to make me look like a modern day Abramović.” He shrugged. I couldn’t fight the urge to roll my eyes. There was no way in hell this guy was going to create something that could even be compared to Marina Abramović. No offence to him but she is like the queen of performance art and Harry, well, doesn’t like doing Davidson’s warm up exercises. “I can already see the judgement in your eyes Sawyer Smith.” He smiled. “Go ahead and judge me.” “I’m not judging you Harry. That’s just a bold statement.” I explained. “Well I’m a bold lad.” He winked. I groaned. “Oh gag me.” He wiggled his eyebrows playfully. “If you come to it, maybe I will.” “Why do you keep trying to make this happen?” He looked confused. “What?” “Us.” I said pointing between us. “Being friends.” Before he could reply, the lights dimmed and our professor started to speak. I readjusted myself in my seat and prepared for what was going to be another hour of boredom. The TA started up a discussion about the reading assignment from the night before and as usual, the three aggressively opinionated kiss asses of our class fought for the spotlight. A battle of the pretentious perspectives had begun. Harry fidgeted in his seat. I could tell he wanted to say something. I did my best to focus all of my attention on the screen in the front of the room. I hadn’t meant to be offensive or rude but it was true. He was constantly making an effort to form some type of friendship with me and I never understood why. We were two different people. He was loud and friendly and I just wasn’t. I kept to myself and got my work done. I didn’t see how we could make it work so I always kept my distance. Apparently that didn’t sit well with him. A pause in the conversation came and I felt the boy beside me start to move closer. His arm rested on the back of my chair as his mouth moved towards my ear. “Sawyer, you know I like you right?” His husky voice whispered softly. “Like you are really really cool.” “Harry…” I sighed. “No don’t ‘Harry’ me. I’m trying to explain myself because obviously me wanting to be friends is such a horrible concept.” He stayed annoyed. “I never said that.” I glanced at him. “Well I’m pretty sure it’s been painted across your fucking forehead for years.” He said frustrated. “Look I’m not really asking for much. I just want to be friends with you. I want to be able to make late night coffee runs with you while we are waiting for our canvases to dry.” “That’s oddly specific.” I replied dryly. “Will you please just stop? This is hard enough for me. You already are the most intimidating girl in this entire department.” He blushed. “What?” “You’re scary.” “No I’m not.” “Yes you are. You always have been.” I could feel my cheeks starting to grow warm. Was I really that scary? “It’s because you are quiet but have a really profound opinion. Don’t try to fight me on that because its true. You have one of the most unique perspectives on life and um I just want to pick your brain sometimes because I think it’d help me grow as an artist and a person for that matter.” He admitted shyly. “You know that human form sculpture we had to do for Kinney’s class? I still can’t get over how you made it.” A full fledged blush attacked my face. I wasn’t one who took compliments well especially from guys like him. “It wasn’t that tough to make.” “Yeah because you’re the one making it. I’ve attempted it three times since then and it’s never worked out.” He laughed. “You’re something else, Sawyer.” “I’m really not.” I shook my head. “And I’m not intimidating either.” “And I’m not the funniest person you’ve ever met.” He said crossing his arms over his chest. “You aren’t.” “Funny you should say that because if my memory is correct you were the one dying from laughter at my hilarious pencil joke way back when.” “Oh fuck off.” I said fighting back a smile. He leaned in close once more, “Hour after class. The Hub. Be there.”

++

The hour long lecture flew by. As I left the building, I realized I had two options. The first being a selfish decision to head home and sleep. The second being the more obvious choice. I grabbed myself a warm coffee and a muffin before searching for a seat outside The Hub.

I wasn’t here because I wanted to be friends with Harry Styles.

I was here because I appreciated art and, as much as I hated to admit it, Harry was a great artist. I don’t know how he did it but he always seemed to put a quirky spin on things.

And that was admirable.

I bit into my muffin and scanned the quad. Familiar faces started to appear as the anticipation started to build. For many of us art students, this was the equivalent to a football match. All of our energy and spirit was poured into watching whomever was performing.

It wasn’t long before a sign appeared. The message was simple, “Pick your weapon and induce war.”

Piles of pens, tubes of paint, and mounds of markers lay at the feet of a man who was Manchester’s version of Christ the Redeemer. With arms outstretched, he was dressed in white from head to toe. His hair was pulled into a perfectly sculpted bun and a blank stare adorned his features.

It was game time.

A few of our classmates were the first to make their move. It wasn’t long before random people passing by stopped to contribute to the chaos. They gathered round Harry with pens and markers hoping to create something great. They didn’t though because that wasn’t the point.

This wasn’t about the things that were created or the way his clothes looked in the end. This was more than that. Harry was the Messiah bringing modern art to the masses. He was educating a stubborn class of people on the beauty of creation and that was nearly mindblowing.

The boy who made a lousy joke about pencils first term had assembled one of the most thought provoking pieces in our entire class and I really couldn’t believe it.

The pain in the ass who always tried to get my attention finally had in the best way possible.

A good hour into the piece, there was a lull in the activity. No one had come up and scribbled something on him in a while. Everyone just sat watching and waiting. Waiting for him to move or speak or breathe wrongly.

The size of the crowd that had formed and the amount of whispers being shared throughout the quad really said something about the way our culture was. As people, we rarely investigate things on our own. If something abnormal is taking place, we don’t try to find out what it is. We stand back and gossip about what we think is going on.

And I think that was one of things Harry was trying to talk about.

Our ancestors were adventurers and thinkers and doers. They didn’t sit around waiting for things to be explained to them. They went out and sought answers. They dug in the dirt until artifacts were found. They swam in the sea until things made sense. They went into the world and thought for themselves.

They weren’t glued to their computers or mobiles or trashy magazines. They were glued to their imagination and life and curiosity.

At the end of it, isn’t that really what art is? Life, imagination, and curiosity wrapped into a single piece. It’s doing something to make others think. It’s getting a reaction from a planned out action. It’s standing in front of the busiest building on campus with your arms outstretched while people attack you with words and actions. It’s attempting to befriend the one girl in class that everyone’s afraid of. It’s proving that you’re worth it.

And after seeing the concentration on his face, I had a feeling that Harry was. Being his friend wouldn’t be as horrible as I originally intended. He wasn’t just that annoying guy in all of my classes. He wasn’t the know-it-all with the obnoxiously perfect hair. He was a serious artist trying to make the world a little less shitty and that in itself was somewhat appealing.

He closed his eyes. The pain of keeping still was obviously started to set in. This was the perfect time to make my move. I threw away my trash before heading towards the table to find a tool to use. I settled on an orange calligraphy marker and walked towards Harry’s back. After a few moments of planning, I decided on what I was going leave scrawled on his body. A simple “Huck” and a string of numbers that I knew Harry would appreciate took up the space between his shoulder blades.

I dropped the pen off at the table, sent the focused boy a nod, and was on my way.

++

My phone buzzed loudly on my desk. A text message from an unknown number appeared across the screen. A tiny smile formed as I read what it had said.

I knew you’d come around Huck x

[theblueskyphoenix]

And got more for the challenge. This time, mine and Storm's main OC Kathleen Coleman along with her two siblings, Charlie and Alice. Her siblings were long over due for a redesign and Kathleen just needed some minor tweaks. She's come a long way since Storm and I first designed her both in appearance and personality. Heck, she used to be an only child before we decided that she needed siblings and that's where Charlie and Alice came in. So, yeah. Now, on to the short bios.

Name: Charlie Coleman

Age: 20

Fandom/Series: Big Hero 6

Short Biography: Charlie is the oldest of the Coleman siblings. He grew up in Dublin Ireland for part of his life before his family moved to San Fransokyo when he was five. He misses the place but he grew to love San Fransokyo just as much as he did his original home. Helped that he became friends with Tadashi Hamada who helped him feel more welcomed. The two were thick as thieves as young boys, even they do get into arguments about which sport is better. (Football or Baseball.) They’re still go friends even as adults. While Charlie doesn’t go to SFIT, he still tried to see Tadashi as much as possible between his own schooling and football games. Least back when Tadashi was alive. He was hit pretty hard when he heard about the accident. He does his best to carry on but he won’t deny he misses his buddy.

Old Design: BH6: Alice and Charlie Coleman

Name: Kathleen Coleman

Age: 14

Fandom/Series: Big Hero 6

Short Biography: Kathleen has grown up in San Fransokyo for as long as she could remember. She loves her family and friends with all her heart. Her first love is cooking as she puts it. She enjoys coming up with recipes and sharing them with others when she feels she has perfected them. (Acacia and Tomino are certainly overjoyed when she shares.) She also enjoys violin and a bit of Irish Tap. But if there is anything that sends her to the moon with joy, it is when she gets to spend time with her childhood friend, Hiro Hamada. She admires everything about him, from his smarts to his kindness. She loves seeing him happy and tries to do what she can to see that smile. Especially after Tadashi’s passing. She knows she’ll never understand entirely what he’s going through, but she at least wants to help Hiro get past it just like everyone else has.

Old Design:

First: BH6: Kathleen Coleman

Second: BH6: Hiro and Kathleen

Third: BH6: Kathleen Profile

Name: Alice Coleman

Age:19

Fandom/Series: Big Hero 6

Short Biography: Alice also spent some of her life in Dublin Ireland like her brother. They moved when she was young and used to be quite shy in regards to new people. It wasn’t until Charlie started to hang out with Tadashi that she started opening up. She and Tadashi were close as well. Especially after Alice took up dancing and found that many of the boys in her class refused to partner up with her due to her temper. Then one thing lead to another and Tadashi found himself roped into it. Not that he minded, it was good exercise and it made Alice happy. They won many a local competition as a team right until the one he had to miss. Alice was devastated when he died and while she’s carrying on as best as she can. It still gets to her now and then but she’ll never forget him. She dances in his honor, as she puts it.

Old Design: BH6: Alice and Charlie Coleman Fun little fact about Kat's siblings, we originally had no plans on touching on them. The most they were supposed to get was mentions and that was about it. But then... well, development happened and now they were best friends with Tadashi back when he was alive and they play a huge part in Kathleen's life. And Kat herself? Goodness, she is nothing like she was in her first drafts. Originally she was just a regular at the Lucky Cat that had a crush on Hiro and well just didn't know Hiro all that well. Also she was extremely shy and a panicker. Now, she's a childhood friend who knows Hiro really well and is a confident young lady. (And still has a crush on Hiro, she just won't say it because she doesn't want to ruin their friendship.) So yeah, this particular set of OCs has gotten the most love out of our Big Hero 6 set. Doesn't help they're the mains so there ya go. And that's it for this set. See you next set!

[thisdaynews]

Breaking News: Launch abort? Trump tries to get his 'Space Force' off the ground, but not everyone is on board

New Post has been published on https://www.thisdaynews.net/2018/05/22/breaking-news-launch-abort-trump-tries-to-get-his-space-force-off-the-ground-but-not-everyone-is-on-board/

Breaking News: Launch abort? Trump tries to get his 'Space Force' off the ground, but not everyone is on board

In a ceremony earlier this month honoring the Army football team, President Trump took a rhetorical detour to the military’s potential future in outer space.

“You will be part of the five proud branches of the United States Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and the Coast Guard,” Trump said. “And we’re actually thinking of a sixth, and that would be the Space Force. Does that make sense? Because we’re getting very big in space, both militarily and for other reasons. And we are seriously thinking of the Space Force.”

It wasn’t the first time he had mentioned the idea, which he first broached while speaking to Marines in California in March.

“You know, I was saying the other day because we’re doing a tremendous amount of work in space, maybe we need a new force,” Trump said. “We’ll call it the Space Force. And I was not really serious, and then I thought, ‘Maybe that’s a great idea. Maybe we’ll have to do that.’ ”

As Trump’s offhand comments implied, there is no official plan for something called “Space Force,” and there is opposition within the administration itself, including from Defense Secretary James Mattis. But the idea is popular with some in Congress. While the Air Force has had a Space Command division since 1982, some legislators and analysts believe the military needs a new branch devoted to warfare beyond the atmosphere.

The immediate future of space combat will almost certainly be less romantic than it sounds, less about X-wing vs. TIE fighter dogfights between rocket-jockey pilots than about protecting America’s military satellites in orbit and incapacitating an enemy’s. Satellites are expensive but critical to the U.S. effort, providing GPS, reconnaissance, communications and early detection of missile launches. But they’re also difficult to maneuver, almost impossible to repair and would likely become key targets in any future war. A 2000 report assessing the country’s space capabilities warned of the danger of a potential “Pearl Harbor in space.”

The race to find a technology to destroy satellites started shortly after the Soviet Union launched Sputnik I in 1957, raising fears of a nuclear attack from space. Over the ensuing decades the military researched various approaches, including a 1985 test in which the Air Force shot an American satellite out of the sky with a missile from an F-15 fighter plane.

The USS Lake Erie launches a missile at a nonfunctioning satellite as it traveled in space at more than 17,000 mph over the Pacific Ocean in February 2008. (Photo: U.S. Navy via Getty Images)

The anti-satellite arms race hasn’t slowed since. In 2007, the Chinese successfully tested a surface-to-space guided missile, destroying one of their own weather satellites, alarming the Pentagon. The following year the American military showed a similar capability, modifying a missile from the USS Lake Erie to take out an inoperable spy satellite in a decaying orbit. Officials said they were concerned that the toxic chemicals in the satellite’s fuel tank could survive reentry and present a danger on the ground.

These tests leave debris in space, making it more difficult to find room for additional satellites and occasionally threatening the International Space Station. If a number of satellites were destroyed in a conflict, the resulting debris would make space difficult for anyone to use for any purpose, be it government or commercial.

But a missile strike isn’t the only way to take out a potential adversary’s space capabilities. Intelligence officials have raised the possibility of jamming transmissions or using a laser to temporarily dazzle or permanently blind reconnaissance satellites, burning out sensitive optical sensors. Earlier this year an anonymous Russian official said the country had developed a plane with a laser system on top capable of blinding enemy satellites, a potential danger described by Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats in 2017 Senate testimony.

What are some potential counters? One suggestion is simply to put up more and smaller satellites, decentralizing the network and making it more likely that a country’s imaging capabilities would slowly fade rather than go blind. Other possibilities include a movable shutter on the satellite lens to protect it from a laser attack, and additional shielding and maneuverability.

Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., and Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn. (Photos: Zach Gibson/AP,  Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, the battle is taking place in Congress. The most recent skirmish was over last year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., and Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn., senior members of the House Armed Services Committee, included language that would have mandated the Air Force to create a United States Space Corps. It would constitute a separate wing of the military that would function the way the Marines operate within the Navy but with its own seat on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The congressmen believe the Air Force has been negligent in modernizing its space capability, raiding funds allocated to Space Command to pay for cost overruns in other projects.

Analysts said the new focus is needed because America’s rivals in space are catching up.

“It’s easy to just delay space programs and not give them the funding increases that were planned in future years,” said Todd Harrison, a director and aerospace expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, “and the military’s been able to do that for many years because we haven’t really been matched in space. There weren’t a lot of countries that could put our systems at risk, and now that’s changed. There are an increasing number of countries that can hold our space systems at risk, so we’ve got to change the culture and mindset within the military [so] that this needs to be a higher priority.”

Rogers and Cooper’s amendment passed the House but failed in the Senate. It was opposed by Mattis, who said he shared concerns about the Department of Defense’s space capabilities but wanted to maintain the current structure. In a letter to Rep. Michael Turner, R-Ohio, provided by Turner’s office, Mattis wrote: “At a time when we are trying to integrate the Department’s joint warfighting functions, I do not wish to add a separate service that would likely present a narrower and even parochial approach to space operations.”

Air Force brass Heather Wilson, center, and Gen. David L. Goldfein, right, prepare for a hearing on on the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2018 and the Future Years Defense Program in June 2017. (Photo: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

At the urging of Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson and others at the Pentagon, Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., stripped the Space Corps language from the NDAA. Brian Weeden, a former officer in Space Command who is now a director at the Secure World Foundation, told Yahoo News the Air Force was engaging in some old-fashioned bureaucratic maneuvering.

“If the space mission goes somewhere else, that means the Air Force loses X billion of dollars from their budget and presumably somewhere around 40,000 people from their personnel list,” said Weeden. “And in bureaucracies, budget and people are power.”

The final version of the NDAA did include a few concessions to those pushing for the creation of a Space Corps. There were management and procedural changes meant to streamline the existing space programs and language calling for a study on the creation of a separate branch, which an official recently said would be done by August.

“The Air Force will no longer be able to treat space as a third-order priority after fighter jets and bombers,” said Rogers and Cooper in a joint statement after the NDAA passed in December with the revised language.

Thisday News photo Illustration; photos: AP, Getty

The United Nations attempted to address some space war concerns in 1967 when it urged members to sign on to an agreement known as the Outer Space Treaty. The treaty addressed a wide array of issues, including everything from classifying astronauts as “envoys of mankind” to banning the placement of nuclear weapons in orbit, on the moon or other “celestial bodies.” The treaty states that space should be used for “peaceful purposes,” but peaceful doesn’t necessarily mean nonmilitary; in terms of the treaty, it means nonaggressive in space. Satellites collecting intelligence, handling communications and guiding terrestrial weapons with their GPS have come to be allowed, but under the treaty no country can fire satellite-to-satellite or engage in space-to-surface warfare.

As legislators and administrators debate the space division’s structure and budget, preparations for a future space conflict continue. Space Command officials have set up virtual reality simulations for satellite technicians to practice their response if there were attacks on the U.S. network, an attempt by the Air Force to instill a “war fighting mentality” in veteran space operators. There are also the annual Schriever War Games, an exercise set a decade in the future that attempts to predict the evolution of space-based combat. And while the technological focus is mainly based around satellites, there are a few more fantastical advances, such as a potential new fighter-based laser weapon system, like the one Lockheed Martin was contracted to develop last year, and the X-37B, an unmanned spaceplane capable of flights lasting two years that has been partaking in a series of classified missions and experiments.

Whether under the rubric of a “Space Force” or the existing Air Force Space Command, it seems certain that the militarization of space will continue.

[yahoo-shutdown-corner-blog]

2017 NFL Preview: Will the Jaguars' anticipated breakout ever come?

Shutdown Corner is previewing all 32 teams as we get ready for the NFL season, counting down the teams one per weekday in reverse order of our initial 2017 power rankings. No. 1 will be revealed on Aug. 2, the day before the Hall of Fame Game kicks off the preseason.

The Jacksonville Jaguars were supposed to break out last season, or at least improve. In Week 1 they played the Green Bay Packers tough, and lost after a bad fourth-down play call in the final minute. They seemed to be on schedule.

“Jacksonville’s going to be a good football team this year. I really believe that,” Fox analyst John Lynch, now the San Francisco 49ers general manager, said as the broadcast ended.

The Jaguars weren’t a good football team last year. This isn’t picking on Lynch. Many believed the Jaguars were on the rise. Instead, they went 3-13.

It’s tough to believe the Jaguars haven’t gotten any better. They keep drafting high. To owner Shahid Khan’s credit, he keeps spending in free agency. And over the last five seasons the Jaguars have won two, four, three, five and three games. Last season was troubling. The Jaguars were supposed to improve. Instead, they were awful.

Typically, if you have a good coach-quarterback combination, you’re in good shape (which makes the New Orleans Saints’ inability to make the playoffs recently tough to figure out, but we’ll talk about them later in this series). The Jaguars can tell you, if you have a bad coach and bad quarterback it doesn’t matter how many other pieces are in place. It’s a death sentence in the NFL.

Gus Bradley wasn’t a good coach. Bradley’s .226 winning percentage is the second-worst in NFL history among coaches with 50 games, and it’s a long way to David Shula in third place, at .268. Bert Bell is the only coach who ranks below Bradley, and his last season as coach was 1941. Khan was patient, which is commendable. Bradley just wasn’t the right coach. He was fired, and Doug Marrone was hired off his staff to permanently replace him. It would have been nice to see Jacksonville get a little more creative with that hire, but we’ll see how it goes.

As for the quarterback, all the Jaguars can do is swallow hard and hope Blake Bortles gets better, or figure out a way to win despite him. Judging by the Jags’ offseason moves, they’re betting on the latter. The drafting of running back Leonard Fournette fourth overall indicates the Jaguars know they have to marginalize Bortles in the offense.

Bortles had a decent stat line in 2015, though it was almost entirely propped up by empty calories in garbage time. While anyone looking beyond the numbers understood Bortles wasn’t great in 2015, he wasn’t terrible either. He was terrible in 2016.

Everything fell apart. Bortles’ mechanics were awful. It was hard to watch him throw the ball. Bortles was winding up like a baseball pitcher most of the season. His production plummeted even though he had good receivers like Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns and Marqise Lee to throw to. Rock bottom came in Week 15. Bortles completed 12 of 28 passes for 92 yards and an interception against the Houston Texans. The Jaguars blew a late lead and lost 21-20. If Bortles resembled an NFL quarterback in that game, the Jaguars would have won. That was the story of their season.

The Jaguars, with former New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin now in charge of football operations, will have a different look this season. Fournette will play the Ezekiel Elliott role, though the Jaguars’ line is far, far worse than the Dallas Cowboys’ line. The defense looks great on paper. Plenty of teams have won through defense and a strong run game. Maybe Jacksonville can too. And maybe taking pressure off Bortles and turning him into a secondary piece, with an occasional big play to Robinson or Hurns, will turn around his career.

When you look at the Jaguars’ roster, there’s no reason they should be this bad, especially in the mediocre AFC South.

“Guys are sick and tired of being below average and not being successful when we feel as though we have the ability to be a good team,” Bortles said, according to Jacksonville.com. “We haven’t been [successful]. It’s time to make a change. It’s not going to happen overnight. You have to do something about it.”

Bortles being a serviceable quarterback is the biggest piece to the Jaguars becoming something more than a double-digit loss team. Time is running out for Bortles to do that.

Blake Bortles slumped in 2016 and the Jaguars went with him. (AP)

Two non-quarterbacks got at least $13.5 million per year in free agency this offseason: Calais Campbell and A.J. Bouye, both signed by the Jaguars. Last season, only one player got a deal worth more than $85 million total. It was Malik Jackson, signed by the Jaguars. You can’t say Jacksonville isn’t trying. The Jaguars also signed safety Barry Church, traded for left tackle Branden Albert and drafted Leonard Fournette, offensive tackle Cam Robinson and receiver Dede Westbrook, who has a bad off-field history the Jaguars were willing to ignore. Some talent departed this offseason, too. The Jaguars didn’t pick up the option on left tackle Kelvin Beachum, and moved on from cornerbacks Prince Amukamara and Davon House, safety Johnathan Cyprien, tackle Luke Joeckel and tight end Julius Thomas. A lot of those players were disappointing, so maybe the Jaguars didn’t lose too much. And if you’re the Jaguars, you have to believe Bouye, Campbell and Fournette – and perhaps a few others – are immediate impact players. Grade: B-plus

The Jaguars keep adding pieces to the defense. Calais Campbell and Malik Jackson are dominant defensive linemen. Telvin Smith, Myles Jack and Paul Posluszny are a potentially fantastic trio of linebackers, especially if the talented Jack breaks out as Jacksonville’s full-time middle linebacker while Posluszny’s role is reduced. Second-year cornerback Jalen Ramsey is a future star, and Bouye’s $67.5 million deal was the largest given to an unrestricted free agent switching teams this offseason. Barry Church is a very good in-the-box safety and free safety Tashaun Gipson has the capability of being much better in his second Jaguars season. Pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue had a strong rookie season and maybe there’s still better days ahead for Dante Fowler, the third overall pick in 2015. The defense was solid last season (13th in Football Outsiders’ DVOA per-play metric), and when you look at the starting lineup it’s easy to envision the Jaguars making the jump to become a top-five defense.

Is Doug Marrone the right man for the job? He was 15-17 in two seasons leading the Buffalo Bills, and it’s hard to get over how he left the Bills hanging when he had a chance to exercise an out clause after the 2014 season. How can the Jaguars trust he’ll be loyal to them? As far as offensive X’s and O’s go, Marrone’s two Bills teams finished 19th and 26th in total offense and 22nd and 18th in points. Maybe this go-around will be different. It’s a small and perhaps meaningless sample but when Marrone was Jacksonville’s interim head coach the final two games, Bortles had two 300-yard games. One of those games was a 38-17 win over the Titans, by far the Jaguars’ best offensive game of the season. Still, it’s not the type of hire that should excite anyone. The Jaguars should be happy if Marrone doesn’t leave them in the middle of the night, like he did to the Bills.

Blake Bortles had his fifth-year option for 2018 picked up, but that isn’t a vote of confidence. That salary is only guaranteed for injury, so the team can move on after this season. Bortles has one more chance to establish himself. Teams repeatedly make their worst mistakes due to desperation at quarterback. Coaches and general managers know that when they start over at quarterback, there’s a good chance they aren’t going to be around much longer. The Jaguars will give Bortles every benefit of the doubt, hoping he takes a significant turn so they have their quarterback going forward. Perhaps the work on Bortles’ mechanics this offseason sticks. But if Bortles plays like he did last season, the Jaguars probably have no choice but to start over. That’s a rough spot for everyone involved to be in.

Leonard Fournette could change the entire outlook of the franchise. It’s an old-school approach to build around a running back. It’s risky to put so much on a rookie’s shoulders. But it might work. Reshaping the offense around the run game was clearly the offseason plan. Fournette was the fourth pick, a huge investment. He’s a physical marvel and a potential superstar. The second-round pick was 322-pound tackle Cam Robinson, who should be a punisher in the run game. The Jaguars didn’t carry a fullback the last two seasons, but signed fullback Tommy Bohanon and drafted fullback Marquez Williams out of Miami (Fla.) in the seventh round. Branden Albert has dealt with injuries, but the former Miami Dolphins left tackle should upgrade the line assuming he’s in the right mindset. Albert has skipped voluntary activities due to displeasure over his contract (and he could easily be the Jaguars’ most important player after Bortles). The Jaguars want to play complementary football, with a strong defense and a physical run game. It will be successful only if Fournette is an instant star.

From Yahoo’s Brad Evans: “Leonard Fournette, the highly touted rookie from LSU is a football Frankenstein of sorts. Pre-Draft, many scouts compared him to generational talents like Bo Jackson and Adrian Peterson. Though he battled through injury last season, his 2015 tape is evidence the hype is real. That year, he led all NCAA backs in yards after contact and forced a missed tackle on 28.3 percent of his attempts.

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“Jacksonville, according to most, is a running back wasteland. Bortles’ persistent wobbly passes and a below average offensive line explain the distrust. However, without much competition for touches and given the Jags’ stout on-paper defense, Fournette is a near lock for 300-plus grips. Suit up 16 games and he finishes with 1,300-1,400 combined yards and 7-9 TDs. He may not be Zeke the Sequel, but he’s worth every penny in Round 2 of 12-team drafts (23.1 ADP, RB11). Don’t fear the unknown, gamer. Follow the volume.”

Four defenses allowed 5 yards per play or better last season: Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals, Jacksonville Jaguars and Seattle Seahawks. You might not have put the Jaguars in the same category as those brand-name defenses, but there is some real talent on that side of the ball. And they added Calais Campbell and A.J. Bouye, who got the two of the three largest contracts of the offseason along with Chicago Bears quarterback Mike Glennon. The Jaguars’ defense suffered from an incapable offense that couldn’t win field position or sustain drives. As a result, the Jaguars were 25th in scoring defense and nobody took note of how good the defense was beneath the surface. But the defense is good, and might get even better if a run-based offense helps out.

CAN ALLEN ROBINSON REBOUND?

Allen Robinson was one of the NFL’s stars in 2015. He had 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns. He did all of that at 22 years old. There was nothing fluky about his breakout season.

In 2016, he fell off the map. He had 883 yards and six touchdowns. His yards per catch dropped from 17.5 to 12.1.

“The most frustrating part of [last] year was that I was an improved player coming in,” Robinson said, according to Jacksonville.com. “I was a better route runner, I thought I was creating more separation. Even though the outcome wasn’t there, I knew that.”

Robinson can’t come out and say what happened, which is that Bortles was suddenly incapable of getting him the ball. Bortles is still the quarterback, so what becomes of Robinson? He is a fantastic size-speed receiver and there aren’t many people alive who have posted 1,400-14 in an NFL season. The Jaguars’ new offense isn’t conducive to Robinson putting up big numbers, but volume isn’t what matters most. Robinson’s value will come from his big plays, especially in the red zone. That’s all dependent on Bortles returning to at least his 2015 form. Stay tuned.

The Jaguars have a long way to go. It’s hard to go from 3-13 to playoff contender. However, you can talk yourself into a dramatic turnaround. The defense is really talented. The offense could benefit from Leonard Fournette, and not Blake Bortles, being the focal point. And even though it was in garbage time, Bortles showed two years ago that he can make some things happen. It isn’t a very 2017 way of doing things, but perhaps running more and passing less is the key. And it’s not like the Jaguars play in a tough division. One good reason to believe Jacksonville improves significantly this season: According to Warren Sharp’s strength of schedule metric, which uses Las Vegas’ over/under win projections, the Jaguars have the easiest schedule in the NFL this season.

The defense should be fine, though perhaps a big breakthrough won’t happen. Then there are a lot of potential issues on offense. Leonard Fournette is still a rookie. The line has been a mess, and it might be in real trouble if Branden Albert isn’t happy (or healthy). And we’ve all seen the floor for Blake Bortles. The Jaguars have won 17 games in five years. Everyone knows the downside.

The Jaguars had to be ranked this low. Again: 17 wins in five seasons. And 22 wins in six seasons. But maybe this is finally the year all those additions pay off. It’s incredibly rare to see a three-win team with this many blue-chip players. I’m not sold on Doug Marrone, but he has to be an upgrade over Gus Bradley. If Blake Bortles can just be decent – and that’s a big if right now – this could be the NFL’s most improved team this season. Maybe by the time they play the Baltimore Ravens in London on Sept. 24, which will be streamed on Verizon, we’ll already see the seeds of that long-awaited breakout.

32. New York Jets 31. Cleveland Browns 30. San Francisco 49ers 29. Chicago Bears 28. Los Angeles Rams

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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdown.corner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YahooSchwab

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