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betweenthetimeandsound · 3 years ago

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Three Minutes to Eternity: My ESC 250 (240-231)

#240: Joci Pápai - Az én apám (Hungary 2019)

"Hallom őt, az ő szívét a húrokon Látom őt, múló idővel az arcomon Az ő hitét büszkeség vallanom Ezeregy dalból ezt az egyet dúdolom, dúdolom"

"I can hear him, his heart on the strings I can see him, bearing the passing time on my face I’m proud to confess his faith Of a thousand and one songs this is the one that I hum"

If there's anything I love at Eurovision, is when someone sings a song from their soul. And in both of Joci's entries, he does just that.

Az en apam is a bit more sedate than his first entry (which will come soon enough), but it's calming and serene with substance. The lyrics, talking about his relationship with his father, is a touching and poetic tribute, one that people should really speak to their loved ones that care about them.

It's just a shame this song was the one to break Hungary's impressive qualifying streak; I thought they were on a path to win soon (though not with this one...). And they left the contest too; hopefully they will steer the ship back to more open waters and come back.

Personal ranking: 5th/41 Actual ranking: DNQ (did not qualify)--12th in the first semi-final in Tel Aviv

#239: Anna Vissi -- Mono i Agapi (Cyprus 1982)

"Η ζωή μας περνά, κι ότι φεύγει πονά Πίσω δε γυρνά, κι όμως κάτι μας κρατά"

"Our life passes by, and whatever leaves, we’re in pain It doesn’t come back, but something holds us together"

In most cases, the first entry somebody has sent in the contest is their best, with a number of exceptions here and there. Anna is one of them; I never liked her first entry, but her other two are fantastic.

Mono i agapi is quite lyrically simplistic--it talks about how love remains between two people, as the world changes around them. But the melody has a very loungy sound--I've heard it being compared to a James Bond theme. While I don't hear why it would be the case (other than the alluring mystery of this piece), it does give a calming vibe, and stands out in the rather mediocre field in 1982.

Personal ranking: 3rd/18 Actual ranking: 5th/18 in Harrogate

#238: Yardena Arazi -- Ben Adam (Israel 1988)

בן אדם הוא רק בשר ודם,” אבק פורח במדבר, בן אדם, בדרך העולם, כצל עובר, כחרס הנשבר "

“A human being is only flesh and blood, Dust flying in the desert A human being, in the way of the world Like a passing shadow, like broken pottery"

Yardena's time at Eurovision 1988 is best known for the anecdote where she goes to a fortune teller who said that song #9 would win that contest. When the draw occurred, Israel was slotted into that place, but was shafted up to #8 when Cyprus withdrew from having an already-released song. #9 would go to Ne Partez Pas Sans moi, which would end up winning and make history thanks to its singer.

This ends up taking away from the song itself; Ben Adam is reminiscent of older folk songs, but it takes off with its own character and flair. I also love the lyrics, which recognizes humans as flawed, without berating them as such. (We need a little bit more of that in the internet world, haha)

The flurry towards the end of the song was well-executed too, and the instrumentation is just fantastic. It feels like one was in a festival!

Personal ranking: 2nd/21 Actual ranking: 7th/21 in Dublin

#237: Amandine Bourgeois -- L'enfer et moi (France 2013)

“Tu m’as fait pleurer à vif Mon cou porte encore ta griffe J’aimais échanger de peau”

“You made me cry a lot You can still see your mark on my neck I used to like exchanging skin”

I love the dark sensuality of this song—with its blues influences, it tells a story of a relationship gone awry, but does so with sophistication. It starts out with a slick guitar line, which later devolves into a full on outrage against the lover at question.

The harshness of this song probably clashed with its opening spot, which is why it’s so underrated. Or it was because of Amandine’s styling...

Either way, it has grown on me since I watched the 2013 contest, and it gets the right vibes going...except with the lyrical story...

Personal ranking: 5th/39 Actual ranking: 23rd/26 GF in Malmo

#236: Ambasadori -- Ne mogu skriti svoju bol (Yugoslavia 1976)

"Ne molim da se vratiš Al’ molim te da pamtiš Voljela tebe samo sam ja”

“I’m not begging you to come back But please remember I only loved you”

Ambasadori was one of Yugoslavia's biggest groups, and they have a long list of who's who in the Bosnia music scene. I'm not familiar with their other music, but Ne mogu skriti svoju bol definitely highlights their artistry, along with the dark-pop take Yugoslavia had in 1970s Eurovision.

This song was initally my fifth place of 1976, but it has steadily grown until it became my fourth (knocking out Portugal in the process) The instrumentation conveys a dark mood, despite the upbeat strings and the poppy sound. There’s a grooviness in it to contrast the sullen lyrics, mourning for a lost love. It definitely stands out in the crowd; along with Ismeta's lack of makeup.

It got rewarded with a second-to-last place, which is way too low for this. And Yugoslavia withdrew for five years, and came back with a new sound...

Personal ranking: 4th/18 Actual ranking: 17th/18 in Den Haag

#235: Zibbz -- Stones (Switzerland 2018)

"Sins of the father make us fall And I can’t do anything about it"

2018 had a number of staging errors which cost several countries qualification. In Stones' cases, this wasn't the case.

Corrine has incredible stage presence, with a sense of strength and attiude as she struts on the stage. She definitely adds substance to this powerful pop-rock song, fighting against bullying in all corners of society.

To further that, she lights a flare at the bridge, which definitely hits the tone of the song home. Plus, it was an awesome moment to behold.

Basically, Zibbz did everything right--great song, thoughtful message, simple but impactful staging, and it still didn't qualify...While it has outgrown me a bit, it's still a total jam.

Personal ranking: 9th/43 Actual ranking: DNQ -- 13th in the first semi-final in Lisbon

#234: Kalomira -- Secret Combination (Greece 2008)

“An open book An open book, well, I'm sorry, I am not Sometimes I'm acting like a lady Sometimes woman, sometimes baby.”

"You maybe an open book Spongebob, but I'm a bit more complicated than that"

One third of the female-bop grouping in the 2008 contest, Secret Combination takes Greek instrumentation and American production to produce quite the gem. I could imagine Britney Spears singing this, but I also thought of the Cheetah Girls when I was listening to it. With a bit of sweetness and a touch of sexiness, Kalomira plays the different roles well--and has a cute moment when the book actually opens, revealing her in a really nice silvery dress!

Personal ranking: 7th/43 Actual ranking: 3rd/25 GF in Belgrade

#233: Avi Toledano -- Hora (Israel 1982)

"וגם ההורה, ההיא עם הה”א קולה עוד עולה, קולה לא נדם"

"And also the Hora, the one with the Hey Its voice still rises, its voice has not been silenced"

Israel had a particular style with songs from the 1980s--they are usually really energetic, with fun choreography in which everyone joins along. It makes for good results and good energy, especially when it's done well!

Hora seems to embody it in many ways, from the celebratory lyrics to the fun dancing across the really tiny stage in Harrogate. It combines Israeli folk music with a sense of joie-de-vivre, celebrating the nation (which as you will see later, may not work today...)

Avi earns himself a strong second place, but he would write something even better the following year (again, will come later)!

Personal and actual ranking: 2nd/18 at Harrogate

#232: Raphael Gualazzi -- Madness of Love (Italy 2011)

"Ma vedrai un altro me in un sogno fragile Riderai come se non ti avessi amato mai Cercherai un altro me oltre all’ombra di un caffè"

"But you’ll see another me in a fragile dream You’ll laugh as if I had never loved you You’ll look for another me beyond the shadow of a coffee"

Between 1994 and 2010, Italy withdrew from Eurovision, with only one participation in 1997. Nobody knows why, with reasons ranging from the rise of a televote to Italian disinterest in the contest, but they were certainly missed. Thanks to the late Rafaella Carra and a bunch of other circumstances, Italy came back in 2011, and they did so in style.

"Madness of Love" is frequently overlooked amongst Italy's post-comeback entries, as some of us aren't into jazz. I don't listen to the genre often, but I like this song particularly. It's flirty and sweet, under a very sophisticated soundscape which reminds me of a 1920s speakeasy. And while people are put off by Raphael's vocals, the way he lets himself go at the end of the chorus is definitely a highlight.

Basically, it's one of those runners-up that should've won against the winner of its year. But it was nicely made up for ten years later.

Personal ranking: 2nd/43 Actual ranking: 2nd/25 GF in Dusseldorf

#231: Anneli Saaristo -- La dolce vita (Finland 1989)

“Minä sammutin elämän janoa vaan Minä osasin onnea anoa vaan Jälkeen kaiken nyt saatan sen sanoa vaan La dolce vita”

“I was just quenching life’s thirst I knew how to plead for happiness After everything all I can say is: The good life”

La Dolce Vita sounds more stereotypically ”Spanish” than “Finnish”, because of its flamenco influences versus the dark pop or metal we expect from the country. Apparently, a lot of Finns travel south for vacations, which makes a bit more sense here.

Either way, it springs a bit of life and joy into a dark heart. It embraces life in its tropical vibe and Anneli’s deep vocals, and conveys a comfortable mood. Apparently, it was also known for Anneli's slight choreography, but I only noticed her standing during the instrumental.

It would be Finland’s last top ten result for many years, but the 7th place it got in Lausanne was deserved (and they should've done better, actually!). A fitting send-off for their long-time conductor Ossi Runne (RIP).

Personal ranking: 3rd/22 Actual ranking: 7th/22 in Lausanne

#esc 250 #eurovision song contest #esc top 250 #esc hungary #esc cyprus #esc israel #esc france #esc yugoslavia #esc switzerland #esc greece #esc italy #esc finland #three minutes to eternity #vintage eurovision

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whatdoesshedotothem · 3 years ago

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Saturday 26 July 1834

6 50

11 ½

Her bed stocks creaked so that the people in the adjoining room being up I put Miss W-‘s bedding on the floor and we had a good long kiss about three quarters hour with her. Packing – breakfast at 9 to after 10 – dressed - A- and I out at 11 40 – went to Dérogis bought Bardons’ antiques costumes of the Greeks etc 2 volumes 4to bound Bailies’ histoire de l’astronomie 4 volumes 4to all for 35/. and the Dusseldorf gallery (fine old engravings) 30/. and the maps to Anacharsis 5/. and for A- Michelet’s abridgement of modern history (seems very good) 1 vol. broché 12mo printed at Bruxelles 4/. then little panorama of the lake 2/. and coloured print of Swiss costumes 8/. back at the hotel at 12 ¼ as the carriage came to the door and off at 12 20 from the hotel de Bergues – told the master of the house I was very well satisfied – then to the bank (Hentsch’s) and sent up for the money for £50 two circulars exchange 25/25 and sat in the carriage while it was brought – got 32 napoleons the rest in silver - having still Mt Blanc in my head – delayed 20 minutes – then took up the parcel of books and off from chez a Dérogis at 12 ¾ - pass thro’ the goodish ville of Carouge till 1816 belonging to the Savoy and capital of the district of the same name - given by the holy alliance to Geneva - At the little nice enough village of St Julien now capital of Carouge - at 1 40 and shewed my passport to the Sardinian carabineers who immediately and very civilly let us pass - At 2 42 at Frabe said the postilion and at Feigère [Feigères] according to 1 of the Douaniers and the map – the Douaniers very civil - said they were obliged to examine something, but would not look into the carriage and only just peeped into one of the imperials while we changed horses, and we were off in 12 minutes - excellent road along the foot of the Salève, the high singular calcareous, white, steepy mountain we looked upon from our windows at the hotel des Bruges – the Salève very fine - the Mt. de Sion a much lower mountain and all green and cultivated joins the end of it and closes the amphitheatre valley of Geneva - from the Mt. de Sion very fine views of the town and lake - at 3 35 began the descent of the Mt de Sion, and turn left round the foot of the Salève and fine view down into Savoy, everywhere shut in in the distance by high mountains – white, calcareous – the hoary rugged tops of many of them white as if streaked or covered with snow – very picturesque drive - at Cruseilles at 4 11 picturesque village at the bottom of the valley – no post horses kept here (we left the direct road to Aix and Chambery (right) just out of St Julien) but luckily the diligence had arrived a little while before and without stopping to bait the horses properly we were off with them in 18 minutes, driving 3 and letting the 4th follow - we could not have stopt comfortably at the Auberge at Cruseilles - from Cruseilles the white rocks mountains rather approach one and finely back the green wooded cultivated hills - very picturesque beautiful drive - narrow tho’ good road - at 5 25 after crossing the little river Fier (probably in winter a large stream) over the new wooded bridge of La Càlle [La Cale] stopt a few minutes at the little village of La Cale to water the horses – the fine white rugged mountains seemed at a little distance en face - at 5 50 to 6 and afterwards the fine white rugged mountains magnificent – finely standing-out like mountain headlands at [Sea] - at 6 10 fine beautiful magnificent descent up the hill-strewed plain and fine view of Annecy situated at the foot of Mt St Catherina qui’ fait partie de la chaine des Bauges but the lake not in sight, but the lake hid - At 6 47 view (near) of the nice town of Annecy with its 3 or 4 churches and fine large castle – at 6 47 1st view of the pretty little finely mountainous locked lake – at the hotel de Genéve à Annecy at 7 - walked ¼ hour along the handsome poplar and Platanus shaded avenue along the shallow reedy top of the lake finely surrounded by mountains - dinner at 7 50 to 8 ½ in the public salle manger but nobody there at 1st and only 2 gentlemen at last - man and girl (harp and she singing) came to us at dinner - sat writing in A-‘s room while she got into bed and fell asleep at 9 ¾ and wrote out yesterday and today till 11 - very fine day - F68° at 11 5pm.

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woollyslisterblog · 5 years ago

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1834 July Saturday 26th

Much entertained by Anna Choma interview tonight which prompted me to get another daily post up. Did rather like her evidence AL of wearing/giving blue as signifying interest in the ladies. Perhaps this shade could be the modern day signifier? (Makes a change from the lavender ribbons of the nineties -showing my age again)

Q 6:50 11 ½

her bed stock’s creaked so that the people in the adjoining room being up, I put Miss W[alker]s bedding on the floor and we had a good long kiss about three quarters hour with her- packing - breakfast at 9 to after 10 - dressed -

Anne and I out at 11:40 - went to Dérogis bought Bardon’s antique costumes of the Greeks etc two volumes quarto Bailey's histoire de l’astronomie 4 volumes quarto all for 35/. and the Dusseldorf Gallery (fine old engravings) 30/. and the maps to Anacharsis 5/. and for Ann, Michelet’s abridgment of modern history (seems very good) 1 volume broché duodecimo printed at Bruxelles 4/. then little panorama of the lake 2/. and coloured print of Swiss costumes 8/. -

back at the hotel at 12 1/4 - as the carriage came to the door and off at 12:20 from the hotel des Berges - told the master of the house I was very well satisfied - then to the bank (Hentsch’s) sent up for the money for £50 two circulars exchange 25/ 25, and sat in the carriage while it was brought - got 32 napoleons the rest in silver having still Mount Blanc in my head - delayed 20 minutes - then took up the parcel of books and off from chez Dèsrogis at 12 3/4 - pass through the goodish Ville of Carouge till 1816 belonging to Savoy and capital of the district of the same name – given by the holy alliance to Geneva – at the nice enough little ville of St Julie, now capital of Carouge , at 1:40 and showed my passport to the Sardinian carabinieres who immediately and very civilly let us pass at 2:42 at Frabe said the Postillion and at Feigère according to the Douaniers and the map - the douaniers very civil - said they were obliged to examine something, but would not look into the carriage and only just peeped into one of the Imperials while we changed horses, and we were off in 12 minutes -

excellent road along the foot of the Salève, the high singular calcerous white steppy mountain we looked upon from our windows at the hotel de Berges - the Salève very fine - the Mount de Sion a French lower mountain and all green and cultivated joins the end of it and closes the ampitheatrical valley of Geneva - from the Mount de Sion very fine views of the town Hahe - out to 3:35 began the descent of Mount de Sion and turn left round the foot of the Salève, and fine view down into Savoy - everywhere shut in in the distance by high mountains - white calcerous - the hoary rugged tops of many of them white as if streaked or covered with snow - very picturesque drive -

at Cruiselles at 4:10 picturesque village at the bottom of the valley - no post horses kept here (we left the direct road too Aix and Chambery (right) just out of Saint Julien) but luckily the diligence had arrived a little while before and without stopping to bait the horses properly we were off with them in 18 minutes, driving 3 and letting the 4th follow - we could not have stopt comfortably at the auberge at Cruiselle's - from Cruiselles the white rocky mountains rather approach one and firmly back the green wooded and cultivated hills - very picturesque beautiful drive - narrow though good road - at 5:25 after crossing the little river Fier (probably in winter a large stream) over the new wooden bridge of la Caille, stopt a few minutes at the little village of la Caille to water the horses - fine white rugged mountains seemed at a little distance en face - at 5:50 to 6:00 and afterwards the fine white rugged mountains magnificent - finally standing out like mountain headlands at sea – 6:10 find beautiful magnificent descent up the hill strewed plain, and fine views of Annecy situated at the foot of Mount St Catherine qui fait partie de la chaîne des Bauges but the lake not in sight, but the Lake hid

- at 6:47 view (near) of the nice town of Annecy with its 3 or 4 churches and fine larger castle - at 6:47 first view of the picturesque little finally mountain-locked lake - at the hotel de Genève at Annecy at 7 - walked 1/4 hour along the handsome poplar and platinus shaded Ave along the shallow reedy top of the lake - finely surrounded by mountains -

dinner at 7:05 to 8 1/2 - the public salle le manger but nobody there at first and only two guests at last - man and girl (harp and she singing) came to us at dinner - sat writing in Ann’s room while she got into bed and fell asleep at 9 3/4 and wrote of yesterday and today till 11 - very fine day F 68° at 11:05 pm

#gentleman jack #anne lister's diary #anne lister #ann walker

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buckylokistark · 5 years ago

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Paintings ~ Part II

Summary: Loki fled his home, too tired of being the cause of his father’s constant disappointment. With help from Heimdall, he escapes to Midgard, the last place his father would look for him. In dire need of a job, he meets Y/N, a struggling artist trying to be recognised for her work. Can they help each other or are they holding one another back?

Masterlist

previously on Paintings: “Depends, are you Y/N?” You opened and closed your mouth a few times. Having recognised his face, you realise you were standing right in front of none other than Tony Stark, former CEO of Stark Industries and billionaire.

__________

“Uhm, huh- yes, yes I am. Pleased to meet you, sir.” You held out your hand for him to shake, trying to stop stumbling over your own words. Seriously, it’s English, what’s so hard about that?!

Tony Stark then took your hand, shaking it with a firm grip before releasing it and sitting back down. Wait, when did he get up?

“So, you’re making the new artwork?”

“Yup, that’s me, I’m the one.” God, you’re still acting like a fool. Get it together!

“So modern art is your niche?” You nodded. "And you’ll do any modern style?"

“Well, I focus on expressionism, although I am not bad when it comes to surrealism, for example Salvador Dali and his melting clocks. Kubism, abstract expressionism, acrylic, watercolour, I can do almost all expressionistic art forms with most materials.” You take on a proud tone, happy to talk art. This is where your comfort zone lies, your escape route, your go-to topic for a safe conversation.

“You’re in luck, I want something expressionistic, never been one for surrealism. You had anything in mind?” He was completely down to let you handle anything, as long as he knew what 'anything' contains.

“Not really, I need to make a painting suitable for a person but also make it suitable for their home and perhaps other occupants of the room. Would you rather we schedule a time for me to come take a look or do you want to email me some photos?” You got out your agenda, having always preffered writing things down instead of typing. It might have something to do with forgetting typed things, only remembering them when on paper.

“I think a visit would be better, right? Makes you get a feel of the room, the space, a more in-depth experience for a better result.” He was just grasping at ideas now, sipping his coffee calmly and leaning back in his chair.

“Hmm, yeah, you’re right, but some people are too busy or aren’t comfortable in letting me in their house so they email me.” It was indeed more difficult, but they weren't comfortable so you just had to work with what you had.

"Not to sound like an absolute douchebag, but my team did a background check and everything, they wouldn't let me just choose someone, they had to check them thoroughly. You're very lucky, by the way. I had to persuade them to let you do your thing. I believe you know what part made them doubt you?" You did know what he was talking about, and shame filled you to the brim.

About twelve years ago, you had an enormous fall-out with your family, resulting in them sabotaging your income by spreading awful rumours about you. Your income did decline drastically, making you nearly bankrupt. In the desperate need of money, you ended up working for Strak Industries, a company solely focused on copying and faking Stark Industrie products. From securitysystems and phones to merchandise, everything was copied. You got a job of replicating the stuffed animals as close as you could get with cheaper materials. The pay wasn't great but it got you back on your feet, ready to continue painting. Stark Industries and Strak Industries got in a huge fight, legal authorities getting involved. Because you had workes your way up to manager of the production of all the stuffed animals, you were put in a bad spot.

"yeah, sorry, I was on the brink of losing everything," you ended up saying, cursing yourself as soon as the words left your mouth. "losing everything?!" You could've said anything and you chose that?

Stark gave you a look, but thankfully didn't comment on the words.

"So, when do you want me to come by? I would prefer as soon as possible, but it's up to you." He opened his phone, looking on his agenda for a possible date. Scratching his goatee lightly, he pursed his lips before sighing and saying, "Would coming thursday work? Two days away?"

"Yes, absolutely. Any time in mind? Perhaps early morning or afternoon?"

Stark tought for a moment, excusing himself to look more thoroughly on his phone to see when he'd have time.

“How about 5 o’clock in the afternoon? would that work for you?" He tilted his head, eyes so intense it seemed as if they were looking right through you.

After finetuning the details, you finished talking and drove back to the shop, cursing yourself for taking so long.

Soon you arrived at your atelier, seeing Loki through the glass window reading a book.

You smiled to yourself. Loki was the kindest soul you've met in your life, gentle and soft like nobody else could ever be. It made you wonder if there was a possibility for something more. something intimate.

a crow, as black as the night, flew past, snapping you out of your thoughts. Your eyes followed the black bird before wandering back to the shop. Finally you moved, slowly walking towards the entrance.

the bell above the door jingled softly, letting Loki know someone entered. He looked up and smiled, slowly closing his book and moving towards you with so much grace it was impossible to look away.

“Hi Loki, I got to go, still need to finish that two window piece for Mrs. Barton and the final sketch for the mural that one woman, what’s-her-name, wanted. The blue, winter, ice-y vibe?” You rushed to the back of your shop, throwing your bags in a corner and running up the stairs to put on your older clothes, the ones that were allowed to get a bit of paint on them.

“The woman’s called Idina Menzel, the one who voices the lead character in that new movie, Frozen?” Loki has listened to you praise the trailers with such emotion, he took it up himself and researched the main characters, discovering that the woman who ordered a mural two weeks ago from your shop. The mural made more sense now, as well.

The words Loki spoke made you halt. Lead character in Frozen? She asked you, a small, unexperienced artist, to paint a mural for her? A smile began to grow on your face. Spinning around, you ran back to Loki.

“Oh my- she- she ‘s famous and bought something from me? This is huge! I will be known by a few circles of famous people now that Tony Stark and Idina Menzel ordered from me! Do you understand what this means? I can finally get recognised for my work, I can finally earn enough to buy my own place!” You barrelled full force into Loki, hugging him close. Loki himself slowly hugged back, unsure of what exactly to do.

Loki smiled. You were happier than you’ve veer been all year, even with the stress of performing good for famous people. Lost in his thoughts, Loki looked out the window. A black raven sat on the little bench across the street, looking right at him. No, he thought with a shock as his eyes grew large, not an ordinary black raven. This little bird was Diaval, loyal assistant to Maleficent, Loki’s distant relative. What is he doing here?

“Loki? Is something wrong?” His eyes flew back to yours when your words registered in his head.

“No, love, nothing’s wrong. I just realised I forgot to do something, could I be excused for a bit so I can go home and finish it?” He glanced outside, seeing Diaval still sitting there, quietly waiting. You let go of him, nodding your head.

“Of course you can, no problem. I got nothing planned for the rest of the day so the shop won’t be empty, you’re free to go.” With that, you hugged him one ast time, saying a quick goodbye before turning around and walking to your current project. One last look and wave, and Loki was out the door.

“Where is she, Diaval?” The raven flew to the right, landing in a small alley and morphing back to human.

“This way, she’s bought a new place down in Queens when she heard you were staying here.” Loki groaned. Ever since they found out about each other, Maleficent started acting as his big sister, watching all his moves like a hawk.

He followed Diaval into the alleyway, preparing for the inevitable Apparition he had to make.

“Alright, name the address, I’ll take us there,” Loki said, making his disdain clear in his voice. Diaval rattled the location, and off they were.

“Where are we?”

“The back of the diner a block away from your house, she put anti-Apparition-wards up, didn’t she?” At the last part, Diaval sheepishly nodded his head.

"Hello Loki."

"Maleficent." As was expected, Maleficent looked as stunning as the gods themselves, flaunting her body with a black. Maybe it was a family thing?

"I have come here to talk to you about important matters." As the words left Maleficent’s mouth, Loki's eyes flicked to hers. Important matters? With her resources it must be life-threatening to come to him for assistance.

"There have been... unusual sightings in Europe. It appears to be a form of magic, more powerful than I have ever seen in my entire life."

"You have any leads on the exact location?"

"It seems to be traveling. I have people running tabs on it. It started in England, then went off the radar for a while before reappearing in France, where it travelled through Belgium, into Holland. They're travelling east, getting closer to Germany as we speak."

What could there be in Germany, the northern part of it, that would be attractive to someone who possesses magic? You got the big cities, Dusseldorf, Berlin, maybe Hamburg? Or perhaps...

"Cologne. They're heading for Cologne." Maleficent looked at him weirdly.

"Why would they go to Cologne?"

"I visited this woman, truly magnificent, who took care of all mutants from Holland, Belgium and Germany. The school of Xavier was too expensive and small for mainland Europeans, so I helped set it up just outside the city," Loki admitted with a sigh. He had hoped to never see her again, one time was more than enough and he doesn’t know how she’ll react to him suddenly appearing out of nowhere after leaving her alone for eighty years.

__________

Taglist: @birdgirl90 @lunawitch19 @bird-with-pencils @shesakillerkween

#loki x reader #michelle's writings #paintings #loki

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omgokiguess · 5 years ago

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for my followers abroad that care about anthro and want stores in europe: some are definitely coming to the UK (i think like 6 with like 3 in london?) and one in dusseldorf and one in amsterdam very soon. they’re hiring now so if you live in europe and wanna work there you should apply now! they read all the applications that are submitted, even if the responses are automatic. they filter on 1. whether or not you seem pretty from your resume (they do not look you up online, i asked) 2. any prior retail experience you’ve had 3. anything artsy you can put on your resume is a huge plus 4. if they just like your resume they will bring you in for an interview, and if they bring you in for an interview and you’re cool you basically have the job 5. they honestly only hire people when they really need someone, so if they’re calling you for an interview they need you. if you apply and hear nothing, either your resume made you seem un-cool or not pretty or they aren’t hiring at that location (but they default consider you for all locations in your area).

i think the europe stores will probably actually open in 3 to 6 months, although it could be sooner. i doubt it’s later than 6 months.

i personally think anthro is going to have a hard time adjusting from a US market to a european market. we are SO customer service based here and so willing to go out of our way to please a customer even if it costs us money. and i feel like europe does not give a shit about that stuff. i feel like for europe the training process should be different. like stop trying to sell stuff to european women they don’t like that, they just want you to tell them they look skinny in whatever they’re wearing.

like european women love our clothes, they come in all the time like “i’m from europe i wish we had anthro there!!!!” so like clearly they like the clothes (who doesn’t) but i feel like when the european women come into US anthros they are really surprised with how much attention they’re getting. like the experience is supposed to be this:

customer walks in, associate greets every customer and informs them of sales. since it’s such a peaceful environment nobody minds that sort of advertising about the sales, they’re genuinely excited to hear them. i’m sure the europeans would be fine with that too. but the second a customer picks up and holds one article of clothing we’re supposed to ask if they want a fitting room, and if they pick up any home good or like non-clothing item we’re supposed to ask if they’d like us to hold it for them at the register (if you don’t see it, you’re not gonna contemplate if you actually need it you’ll just give us the money). and if we notice somebody is shopping for a certain thing we are supposed to ask about it and if there’s an event or not, and we’re supposed to suggest jewelry wherever it doesn’t seem too pushy (it’s so much easier now to push jewelry since we got some 14k gold items). and like i’ve noticed it does cause people to buy more if i tell them a stupid personal story about me and make them laugh. like in the west loop we get a lot of women coming in being like “i’m going on a date in an hour what should i do????” and i’ve even had women come in saying they’re going on a date with a beer in their hands and i immediately assure them that i do that all the time and guys like it if you’re a little loose and it’s fine. like if it’s a date situation i’m honestly the best person in the store to ask, sabrina has realized it and directs it towards me now.

but anyway the point of this is i feel like european women would be like why are these people talking to me so much? why are they being friendly i don’t know them? like kind of like how i was pissed at topshop for the opposite reason for literally never giving a single fuck about their customers. cause i guarantee they’re going to bring US employees over to europe to show the europeans how it’s done at anthro and the european employees will have to listen to the US managers and the US managers are gonna be like “why didn’t you talk to them?! engage them!!” and the europeans are gonna be like i hear you but they hate that????

they should have a different marketing strategy for europe but i just know that they won’t. and their customer service standard is really gonna steer europeans shopping in europe out of the store i feel like

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jbaeteng · 5 years ago

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Boa in the latest issue of Kicker 31 may 2019

"I was already gone in my head. When you get a clear promise and an adequate fee is paid then suddenly it's rejected, something breaks down in you"

"My first half of the season was not good. Then I was able to turn myself upside down and play well, but I was benched anyway. The justifications given to me by the coach left me with the question: Why am I the one who had to be left out?"

"I will attack again in the new season. At Bayern? I clearly imagine that I can continue at Bayern. I'm not going to run away, situations change quickly"

" I told Jupp Heynckes: I won ten titles with Bayern, I know the processes inside out, I needed a new impulse. I like being here, I love Munich, it was a great time, but I know when I have to go and that's what you would have to grant a player after so many years here"

"I know what I can do. When I have a club and a coach that gives me confidence, I know how to play"

"I'm a footballer, if you don't play a role, it hurts. I respect my teammates but I cannot pretend. I can't laugh around and pretend that I'm happy. And I know that when it mattered in the past years, I was always there in big games"

The season 2018/19 at Bayern is now over for him, but basically four weeks already: On May 4, against Hannover, Jerome Boateng was allowed to play for the last time. The remaining three games were followed by the central defender on the bench. "Of course I can not say that this season is good for me. I've lost a lot this year, my place in the national team and at Bayern, "says Boateng. "It was a negative year for both sides, for the club and for me." It's an unvarnished honest record.

This season began under obstructive circumstances. He said "in the summer of 2018, not in vain internally, that I absolutely wanted to leave" and got the assurance that he would be released from his contract until 2021, "if the right club comes and the money is right". These two conditions saw Boateng satisfied when Paris Saint-Germain wanted to sign him. But then the FCB officials refused. Three days before the transfer in late August 2018, Boateng learned "that they suddenly said no and I was not allowed to leave."

So he sought direct contact with the leadership - CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, sports director Hasan Salihamidzic and coach Niko Kovac sat at the table - and said: "Please, let me go! I have to go. I need a new challenge. "The position of the club sounded that way, Boateng says:" They said the coach really wants to hold you; for him you are number one in defense. "Rummenigge then repeated several times that he could not release Boateng under these circumstances. Boateng thanked "for the appreciation", but made clear: "I want to go anyway. Absolutely. "The answer:" No. Even if It's hard for you, you have to accept it so."

Boateng had already basically felt" that the club was no longer to me ". Because Rummenigge had put the 2014 World Champion in the showcase just before the 2018 World Cup with the words: "If a club comes and Jerome announces that he wants to change to this club, we will deal with it." Paris had now offered a transfer, the including bonuses would have added to 40 million euros. But the no remained.

"That was hard to work with," says Boateng today. "I was already gone with my head. If you get such a safe pledge and an adequate sum is paid, but suddenly it's called no, something collapses in you. So, without further ado, that did not leave me without a trace. "However, this abrupt change in the situation did not affect his general attitude to football and his job.

The relationship with the new coach Kovac, he found initially "all right, just like the other players". And he admits: "Sure, we had a bad phase in the fall, and I played badly," for example, when 3: 3 against Dusseldorf. So it came in those weeks to exchange with Kovac, "my first round was not good". During Christmas holidays, the defender telephoned the head coach and assured him that he had finally come to terms with the refusal to change clubs, "that I was fully focused and after the winter break totally wanted to fight for my place in the team". The Trainer's Response: In the winter training camp in Qatar, "everyone starts at zero".

There, Boateng notes, "I trained at top level". In the public training sessions, he was usually part of the A-Elf, Mats Hummels to the B-group. So Boateng "decided that I would start against Hoffenheim". But for the second half of the season, he was only substituted in the 90th minute for Javi Martinez. "I could not understand, I was angry, especially because of the statements of the coach, I would have trained super, he liked that, aggressive, I was headed, et cetera."

On top of that Kovac had announced shortly before the kick-off in Hoffenheim, Süle was Munich's center-back number 1, Boateng and Hummels would have to "match" behind her place. Boateng asked the coach about the background for this statement and learned: "He said that was a mistake."

Boateng locates the beginnings of this development in the second half already in the middle of December 2018, when he played against Nuremberg (kicker -Note 2.5) in Hannover suddenly had to experience 90 minutes as a substitute. "Since then, I felt I had no chance, because I could stand on my head and play well, I was still out in certain games," he says in a quiet tone. "It was very frustrating for me because I had worked hard." He supplemented the daily work with the team with an individual program: yoga, fitness, physio "to get me fit".

The appearance or accusation that he was too distracted from his profession as a professional footballer, he states objectively-determined: "All these side things, the glasses, the magazine, the party after the match against Dortmund - I do not have to do anything . "Boateng asks and says," What do I have to do for it? It is always put in such a way that I would have to travel through the world for it and would have any appointments or obligations for six hours. "Other players would also have photo shoots for PR purposes," why is this never discussed? "Jewelry, glasses, earrings "I've been wearing it since I'm with Bayern". So he became Triple Winner 2013 and World Champion 2014.

For his eyewear collection, he says, "every three or four months I spend an hour coming to develop the designs", on location in Munich. "Then there is a shoot for two hours, also in Munich, also every three or four months." For his magazine BOA he does "nothing, except a shoot over an hour or two, also in Munich, all three, four months ".

But did this boa party have to be the PR for the second edition of his lifestyle magazine in the Munich Nobel Club P1, right after the possibly decisive hit against Dortmund? And how inappropriate would this party have been in a defeat? "Then I would have turned up there from 11 pm to midnight because of the sponsors and then home," replies Boateng. "We have clearly communicated that to Bayern." In addition, the FCB makers knew what sponsors expected from a partner. "I had to be there for them." And no concerns were expressed to him by the club. "We could have discussed it and made a statement to the outside." Six, eight weeks before the BVB game, this party was planned.

Before Thomas Muller headed for P 1 that night, he said on social media, "Boa, do not let it get you down! Are a horny guy. "Hummels, Ribery, Lewandowski, Gnabry, Alaba, Tolisso came, allegedly twelve players. "If we had lost, nobody would have come," says Boateng. "But none of us thought that we would lose." The Bayern won 5-0, Boateng sat 90 minutes on the bench.

And are not there - another reproach - his constant short trips to Berlin? "Only if we had no English week and were free, I flew to Berlin," countered Boateng. "But it was always said: Jerome is in Berlin." For other players who also travel by air on days off, there was this topic not: David Alaba jettete known to often to Vienna, Javi Martinez to Spain, Franck Ribery to Paris. Boateng may not understand this different rating, "but that just fits in".

Where so far his deep tone remained the same, Boateng is now emotional and says louder: "I'm a footballer. I'm still burning. I'm hot. But I was slowed down because I was unfairly not used for me, as I deserved it. "Okay, he admits, football is never fair," but I feel like I'm upside down everything was set in stone since December ".

The second half-series began for him with a three-week delay, at home against Schalke, on 9 February. Before the match in Leverkusen, the third in the second half, in early February, Boateng had a one-hour conversation with coach Kovac. Again, he received praise for his good training performance - but sat outside again. But in the upcoming English weeks, the coach has promised him, "you're immediately on hand, if one does not bring his performance, because you deserve it, you train great". Four days later, in the cup at Hertha BSC, he still remained 120 minutes substitute. In the next league match against Schalke Boateng defended next to Hummels "neat", as he judges - the kicker rating 3.5 supports his self-assessment. On the next matchday in Augsburg he had to watch again for 90 minutes and today asks: "But on what grounds?" Two weeks later Kovac had told him that he would not change a victorious team. "Why am I the one who has to go out?"

Boateng takes a deep breath. "It was hard for me to accept that I was not used regularly and was only allowed to play when the coach just needed me." He leads the cup semi-final in Bremen, where he was stable (kicker note 3 ). "After that, I had to get out again", in Nuremberg, "and without explanation." Boateng emphasizes: "I'm the last person who can't take criticism when someone is better".

In the Hinserie, "I also told the coach, I had no problem with him taking me out." But in the second half he sees no reason for his supporting role "because of the training and the games". Kovac even indirectly confirmed it recently when he said to him, "You have not played that much, even though you may be the best defender." Boateng replied to Kovac, "How am I supposed to take that statement? You do not set me up, why ever. "The two are talking.

The 76-time international, early in March by coach Joachim Loew from the DFB selection retired, but would like to blame for the unsuccessful season 2018/19 not alone looking at others. He gives himself self-critical. "I let myself be pulled down too much by the whole situation," he says. But does not a World Champion and Footballer of the Year for which he was elected in 2016 have to defend himself against such attacks? "Sure, I know what I can do," he says, "but at the touch of a button I can not say, now I'm laughing again, it's all peace, joy, pancakes again. I am not. "He reclaims for himself original human feelings and reactions. "It was about my personal happiness, I just had to go."

In 2018, he repeated what he had experienced at the age of 18. At that time he felt that he had to get out of Berlin, "from this comfort zone, where everyone knocked on my shoulders." So it was again: "I needed a new challenge. I know how I am. Here I fall asleep, I told Jupp Heynckes, when he asked me a year ago what I would like to do. "The former Bayern coach understood, but wanted to know the reason. "I've won ten titles with Bayern, know the processes inside out," Boateng told him. "I needed a new impulse." To avoid giving the wrong impression, Boateng hastily emphasizes: "I like being here, I love it Munich. They were great times. But I know when to go. And that would have to have been granted to a player after so many successful years. "

How does it go from here? President Uli Hoeness described the professional with the jersey number 17 last Sunday as a "foreign body". Boateng names as counterargument Niklas Süle. To his immediate opponent in the defense he has "a super wire because the boy is absolutely okay". In the cabin, Boateng addresses things directly to everyone, including the superiors. "Because I want to be successful." In the summer preparation 2018, in the training camp, pleaded the two captains Manuel Neuer and Müller internally that Boateng should necessarily remain. And yet: Was his behavior at the celebrations and the cup win not unquestionable?

At the master celebration in the stadium he kicked off with his two daughters, afterwards he went to a friend's wedding, not the team party. "I'm a footballer," he says. And explains his point of view: "If you do not play a role, it hurts you. I respectfully respect my fellow players. But I can not pretend, do not laugh and pretend I'm so happy. And I know: If it was important in the last few years, I was always there in the big games. "An exception he leads immediately and without asking: The 2: 5-clap in the Cup final against Dortmund in May 2012," the is years ago ", kicker rating: 5.5. "Otherwise, I was always one of the players in the crucial games to stand out." In the 2014 World Cup final kicker made him the player of the game, grade 1.

And yet again the question: Does a team athlete not attend a club or team event? "It was not the last season game, there was still the double celebration on Marienplatz," says Boateng. "And when one of my friends marries, I go to the wedding. It had nothing to do with my mood. Even if I had played, I would be at the wedding. "He serves examples of his identification with Bayern. For the club, he had shortened his vacation, came to New York, did PR shoots for Audi and opened with Rummenigge the stock market. "I was the driving force, I did everything for Bayern."

In contrast, he felt at his shoulder injury in 2016/17 by the club not supported at all. The usual during an operation accompanying an FCB doctor was missing, afterwards there were no visits club official in the hospital or asking for his health. And he was never informed about his removal from the players' council this season: Suddenly Lewandowski was third captain, even Thiago got in a friendly match the captain's bandage - before Boateng.

A first crack suffered on 1 July 2011 started, long perfect relationship FCB-Boateng in November 2016. The Munich lost in Rostov in the Champions League with 2: 3, Boateng was danced in the first goal, before the second he committed a foul , Penalty, 1: 2-residue (49th). He was injured ten minutes later. Boateng would have to come back more "back to earth", so on the ground, said Rummenigge back then in the icy-cold Russia night. Boateng considers such public criticism as a breach of trust, especially because he had a few days earlier in a personal conversation with the CEO pointed to some athletic maladies and Rummenigge had criticized him in private, not in the approach. Boateng did not feel protected by the board boss. The sequel followed before the now ended season and immediately afterwards with Hoeness' public recommendation to change. Of course, Boateng is still ready to do that.

But the future employer must fit. "I have very clear sporting expectations and goals," says Boateng emphatically. He rejects a transfer to China or the USA with a decided no. He said it was about the personal esteem in a new club, he emphasizes: "I would like to prove once again my class after the disappointments of this season and show that I belong to the three top center-backs in the world. I know what I can do. And if I have a club and a coach that gives me confidence, I know how I play. "Despite the recent development, however, Boateng can" clearly imagine that it can continue at Bayern ". He asks: "Why not?" And answers: "I'm a footballer, Bayern is a big club." He also had to take into account that his children go to school in Munich. "I will not run away here for sure. Situations change quickly. "

Once again he clarifies:" I do not want to end my career, on the contrary. "He wanted" one hundred percent success as a footballer. Just after having been slowed down so much this season, I want to show that I am still fully occupied. I'm going to attack fully in the next season. "

After this season 2018/19, which at least spared him major physical injuries, he feels ready for new exploits. "Jerome has not finished yet and still has huge potential for the next three years," says Jupp Heynckes. In the triple year 2012/13, "he shot into the world class," said Boateng's former coach in Munich, "at the 2014 World Cup, he was the best center-back in the world." Boateng is "an easy to run player who needs trust and understanding "Heynckes says," working with him was a pleasure ". Peter Hermann, who saw Boateng as an assistant coach in Munich in daily operations, adds: "Nobody plays out from the back like Jerome does. He has to be fit, then he can play for a few more years at top level - if he wants it. "Boateng wants. He says. Determined.

On vacation, he will - as usually in the past years - go through a private preparation. For this he sets his own fitness trainer and physiotherapist on his own account. "For the five-week vacation, I have a well-planned plan," he says. The exercises are designed specifically for him. For the last 14 days of this individual work "full throttle" is programmed. Boateng wants to start "prepaired" in preparation for 2019/20.

#jerome boateng #kovac is such a loser #sorry some sentences may sound stupid because it's translated with google translator #:)

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themusicenthusiast · 6 years ago

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Single Review: “wonderful life” by Bring Me the Horizon

The second single from amo (out on January 25th, 2019 via Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited) -- “wonderful life” – continues to showcase the creativity Bring Me the Horizon possesses and just how daring they’re willing be as they put more distance between themselves and the original metalcore sound that was crucial to their early successes. That makes them one of the more intriguing bands currently in existence, due to the fact that breaking a mold you’ve cast yourself in runs the risk of alienating longtime fans; and for those fans who thought their previous record was a vast departure, it seems that this forthcoming one will be even more eclectic. “wonderful life” alone incorporates a plethora of genres, even subtly hinting back to BMTH’s initial sound while also splicing it with some hard and heavy rock and alternative styles as well as a catchy pop tone. In regard to that pop influence, it relies heavily on a synth as well as some programming aspects, the electronic components generating an undeniable vibe that draws the listener in. All of that culminates with the breakdown. Done in the vein of what one might typically hear in EDM or even hip-hop, it still fits with the exuberant display that defines the track. Primal yet polished, it’s teeming with raw power. The use of some horns in the final moment isn’t to be overlooked, either. As out of place as it may sound, upon hearing it, it just sounds so behooving of the track, allowing it to pull off a triumphant, overwhelmingly positive tone as it finishes strong.

The riff that kicks “wonderful life” off is as classic as could be. A hybrid of rock and nu metal, it’s euphoric in a way but also haunting, alluding to the chaos that’s about to unfold; and when the track cuts loose, it makes sure that it’s an all-out assault, being unrelenting for the next four minutes or so. Self-described as being “mostly word vomit” by vocalist and songwriter Oliver Sykes during one interview, the singer also remarked that the lyrics were done freestyle in the studio. At times you can tell that, specifically during the intro where Sykes sounds as if he’s embarking on a train of thought and just seeing where it goes. Other than that, though, as unorganized as some of the lyrics may seem at times, it could be argued that never has such randomness sounded as significant and meaningful as it does during “wonderful life”. From that intro where he is pondering the gradual decay of the brain that begins when people are still just in their twenties Sykes moves on to an array of topics that constantly feel cohesive. In what some could view as being a bit disturbing, he likens his current disposition to that of an infamous killer, at least in regard to the fact that he wears a smile, masking the deeper feelings he’s experiencing from those around him. That’s crucial to the narrative, though, this latest single addressing the multiple feelings often raging within a person. In this instance, that seems to focus on the desire to be home and simultaneously still wanting to go out and enjoy a night on the town, enjoying the former to an extent but also needing to be a part of the action along with not wanting to be fully “domesticated” just yet. There’s a sort of sad irony about the chorus that works in contrast to the song’s title, Sykes proclaiming “Oh, what a wonderful life!” immediately after singing “…Nobody cares if I’m dead or alive…”. However, it’s difficult to discern if it’s meant to be slightly tongue-in-cheek or rather legitimate feelings that have come to be the new normal; and helping to give the track a little something extra is Cradle of Filth's Dani Filth, the vocalist being brought in to spice up the bridge. His throaty growls are absolutely chilling, and brief as his guest spot may be, it is unforgettable. It doesn’t seem that fans will be able to find any middle ground with this new material, either bound to love it or hate it. Nevertheless, it deserves recognition for what it is. And what it is, is Sykes, Matt Kean, Lee Malia, Matt Nicholls and Jordan Fish continuing to redefine themselves as musicians and a band. Thus far with the released singles there’s barely a thread even connecting this to 2015’s That's the Spirit, just proving that when they got to work writing for amo they didn’t have any self-imposed restrictions. Everything was allowed to flow as it may, and the result has been something that wields a universal appeal while also being a bit edgy. Parts of “wonderful life” do sound a bit more mainstream with more commercial undertones, though at other moments, if you listen carefully, there’s no arguing that Bring Me the Horizon is still very much in touch with roots. Whether he’s screaming or singing (in a surprisingly pristine manner in this instance) there’s a constant ferocity about the ever impassioned Sykes; the music casually bridging together genres that typically wouldn’t even be associated together, which just speaks to the artistry of the musicians that they could pull off a massive soundscape like this in such a cohesive way. Personally, “MANTRA” didn’t connect with me that much, but “wonderful life” is a brilliant piece that challenges preconceived notions of what can and can’t work in music. And hopefully BMTH will continue to push that envelope throughout the remaining tracks of amo. Pre-order amo on: iTunes | Google Play | Amazon MP3 Visit Bring Me the Horizon’s websites: Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube Current Shows: 2018 November 5--Stuttgart, Germany--Schleyer-Halle 6--Hamburg, Germany—Sporthalle 8--Berlin, Germany--UFO Im Velodrome 9--Chemnitz, Germany—Messe 10--Vienna, Austria—Stadthalle 12--Zurich, Switzerland--Samsung Hall 13--Milan, Italy—Forum 14--Munich, Germany—Zenith 16--Antwerp, Belgium—Lotto 17--Frankfurt, Germany—Jahrhunderthalle 18--Dusseldorf, Germany--Mitsubishi Electric HALLE 20--Amsterdam, Netherlands--AFAS Live 21--Paris, France--Le Zénith 23--Birmingham, United Kingdom—Arena 24--Leeds, United Kingdom--First Direct Arena 25--Glasgow, United Kingdom--SSE Hydro 27--Cardiff, United Kingdom--Motorpoint Arena 29--London, United Kingdom--Alexandra Palace 30--London, United Kingdom--Alexandra Palace 2019 January 23--Nashville, TN--Nashville Municipal Auditorium 25--Orlando, FL--CFE Arena 26--Atlanta, GA--Coca-Cola Roxy 28--Fairfax, VA--EagleBank Arena 29--Manhattan, NY--Hammerstein Ballroom 30--New York, NY--Hammerstein Ballroom February 1--Boston, MA--Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell 2--Montreal, Canada--Place Bell 4--Detroit, MI--Fillmore Detroit 5--Chicago, IL--Aragon Ballroom 6--Minneapolis, MN—Armory 8--Dallas, TX--South Side Ballroom 9--Houston, TX--Revention Music Center 11--Denver, CO--The Fillmore Auditorium 13--Los Angeles, CA--The Forum 15--Phoenix, AZ--Comerica Theatre 16--Las Vegas, NV--The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino April 10--Brisbane, Australia--Entertainment Centre 12--Sydney, Australia--Qudos Bank Arena 13--Melbourne, Australia--Rod Laver Arena

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myrecordcollections · 7 years ago

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Gary Numan

Dance

@ 1981 US Pressing

******

Dance is often seen as the point where it all started to go wrong for Gary Numan. It is however, says Ned Raggett, one of the most interesting albums he ever released...

It's happened before, it'll happen again, and it seems most noticeable with guys, the men too often privileged and centered in humanity's roar. Loud guys - not always loud themselves in day to day conversation, but maybe known for big thoughts, sweeping gestures, a 'presence' - have a moment. Something happens that they can't brush off or brings them up short, makes them wonder what to do with themselves, and then they do something a little out of character. Then they seem a little smaller, withdrawn, perhaps humbler, perhaps bitter, maybe both. You've known them, you've seen them, you could be them. Maybe you changed your life, maybe you remember it as something embarrassing you try to forget. Maybe your friends and family see something good in what you did. Maybe they think you're not all that changed, that you had it all planned. Maybe nobody knows exactly what to think, even the person who had that moment happen to them.

Often Dance, his fifth album in five years counting the Tubeway Army releases, makes me think of two later albums, made by musicians who have openly spoken of Numan as an inspiration - Kanye West's 808s And Heartbreak and the Smashing Pumpkins' Adore. Both West and the Pumpkins' Billy Corgan had become massively famous after years of woodshedding and then a series of higher profile breakouts. But then both death - West's mother after complications from surgery, touring Pumpkins member Jonathan Melvoin after an overdose - and drawn out romantic collapses (West's engagement, Corgan's marriage) shadowed their follow-up efforts, albums that seemed to go against all that they'd already achieved. It's an exaggeration to say that but not entirely: West's shift to singing with vocal treatments, a Roland TR-808 and a quieter approach and the Pumpkins' shift to a more audibly spacious and electronic sound with less guitar shredding all around, neither were what had gotten them to where they were at before. That is definitely the story of Dance and Gary Numan.

There's a key difference between those two later albums and artists, of course - whatever initial confusion resulted, 808s still turned into a solid commercial success, with massive hit singles and, over time, an absolutely clear impact on so much music, hip hop and beyond, in its wake, not to mention continuing fame for and high profile work from West, who will now be famous for being famous for decades to come. Adore in contrast was the clear turning point of the Pumpkins' and Corgan's fortunes, never again quite getting as big as they had before; the tours got a little smaller all around, and Corgan began his drift into the cult artist status he's held since - high profile enough in turn, a known figure, a part of popular musical history, but the hits aren't there any more, and new work gets endlessly compared to the past first and foremost. That too is the story of Dance and Gary Numan, in a different time and a different scale.

It's worth remembering the exact context of where Numan was in his life and the role he held when Dance was released. Setting aside the question of personal upheaval for now - thankfully, unlike West and Corgan, no death was involved - Numan had, almost out of nowhere, singlehandedly hotwired a mass audience to consider an approach in pop music that embraced and interpreted 70s science fiction, glam's lingering impact, punk's brawl and, above all else, synths used not as excuses for neoclassical flourishes or for inspired funk workouts but, taking open cues from German pioneers like Kraftwerk, as chilled, blunt elements, simultaneously atmospheric and centrally melodic and, in Numan's hands and combined with his amazing ear for the right rhythms and beats for his songs, totally anthemic and huge in sound and feel. At the start of 1979 he was 20 years old and utterly unknown beyond a small clutch of listeners, mostly in Greater London, thanks to Tubeway Army's debut singles and album. By the release of Dance a little over two and a half years later he was 23, had toured the world, broken America with one big hit, topped the UK chart with two, not to mention having three chart-topping albums as well, and had played what he'd already termed his farewell shows with a three-night stand in London's then-biggest indoor venue, the Wembley Arena. (And a further illustrative note of comparison if you'd like: the Smashing Pumpkins' first album Gish came out when Corgan was 24, Kanye West's first mixtape Get Well Soon… when he was 25.) Numan was fully appreciative of what had brought him that far so fast already, but he openly wanted to try something more.

It's worth remembering that this all happened in a huge rush not merely to a very young man but, as he's freely noted in later years, a very young man who wasn't merely a loner growing up but also had and has Asperger's. With a loving and supportive family all the while he wasn't ever completely at sea but where human interaction exists on a slightly different level beyond the comfortable and familiar, things can be unsettling to say the least, the more so in a time and place when the two major outlets for any public announcements - the tabloids and the music press, especially wherever the one might bleed into the other - required that kind of interaction. Numan, freely and happily able to lose himself in the studio for as long as it took to get to grips with the initial rush of electronic possibilities, found himself less comfortable with the situations like he described later with his then-girlfriend Debbie Doran's friendliness with characters in the London criminal underground. When after their breakup Doran approached the tabloids with her side of the story, it didn't help his mood in the slightest.

Dance grew out of all of that and more - as any number of other musicians and DJs rapidly realised what further pop and dance possibilities Numan's approach had opened the door to, following fall 1980 dates in the US for Telekon he laid low and created what in essence was his first real solo album. Even as past albums had had guests and experiments in arrangement, a core group had followed through in studio and live settings, and still would the following year at the Wembley shows, his only dates all that year. Dance is much more of a fluid affair, with regular standbys like bassist Paul Gardiner and drummers Cedric Sharpley and Jess Lidyard appearing here and there along with others, including, very notably, Queen's Roger Taylor - laying down some of the few big brawling beats on songs like 'Crash' and 'Moral' - and two members of Japan: guitarist Rob Dean on 'Boys Like Me' and, even more crucially, bassist Mick Karn, whose immediately recognizable fretless work appears off and on throughout the album right from the start, as well as his saxophone playing.

Dance isn't a crypto-Japan album by any means, though David Sylvian himself was tentatively approached for the sessions as well, but Numan clearly appreciated how the act had similarly transformed themselves over time and brought even more individual touches to their work together. It was a recognition of others who were generally simpatico with Numan’s musical background as well, in the same way that Ultravox's keyboardist Billy Currie had joined Numan for The Pleasure Principle sessions and tour, and how Numan openly acknowledged John Foxx's impact on him in turn. Ultravox, Japan and Numan weren't the only Bowie-and-Berlin (and Dusseldorf) obsessed acts in the country but they'd put themselves out there and everything was suddenly sparking, everyone levelling up and refocusing. Numan didn't completely mothball an approach, but he fractured his own model dramatically, and did so via numerous changes at once: minimal electronic percussion reminiscent of Cluster and Brian Eno, two of the longest songs he'd ever done, a visual shift from vague futurism to fedoras and suits to go with even more makeup, and a general sense, one or two songs aside, that everything had gotten calmer, quieter, more introspective, but no less electronic or textured. It's not a sound of exhaustion, but one gets the sense that, creatively, Numan wanted to at least take a deep breath and pause.

There were other changes as well. Perhaps aside from Tubeway Army's debut, Numan had managed the pretty sharp trick of concept albums that weren't labelled as such from Replicasthrough Telekon - the storylines could be there more vividly if you cared to focus, most notably on Replicas, but he'd spent even more effort at near-perfect sequencing and larger concepts instead. The albums all had a perfect flow to them, their respective visual designs marked each as different, and even something as simple as The Pleasure Principle's one-word-only songtitle restriction helped to create a sense of self-contained universes. Dance throws that overboard entirely, and the result is weirdly thrilling - it's not simply a random collage, but it's intentionally imbalanced (the two long songs both end up on the first side) and if there's a storyline it's unclear.

But there are stories. (And 'Stories,' per a song title: a near-winsome number about a long-separated mother and song meeting by chance in a restaurant setting with the suggestion of something out of a film, a scenario constantly retold.) To say Numan partially used the album to process his breakup from Doran puts it mildly - indeed, from the perspective of 2018, some sentiment feels especially curdled. 'Slowcar to China,' the opening number and one of the two near-ten minute numbers, is a beautiful and mysterious track musically, a statement of purpose for the album as a whole and utterly unlike anything he'd released up until that point. Though apparently the story of a prostitute, to some degree it feels like a vehicle for his collapsed romance, however unfairly, and lines include 'She'll pay the rent for the use of you tonight' and 'In love with this elegant bitch... and here am I just a shy young fool' are especially vicious. Yet there's also a suddenly affecting line like 'We'll sing without voice, without heart, and leave no address.' If it's indeed a young fool's feelings, they can resonate just as strongly decades down.

Meantime, the barely restrained hints of homoeroticism that had permeated so much of his earlier work take a further turn here as well on any number of the songs - if admittedly a voyeuristic homoeroticism, Numan talking about it later as someone who had observed situations and been approached, and nearly always shot through with an air of seediness as a default. 'Boys Like Me', with a truly slippery and compellingly weird arrangement via Numan and Rob Dean, has pride of place thanks to the title, but 'A Subway Called 'You'', 'You Are, You Are' and 'Night Talk' among others contain further instances, the latter also addressing drug addiction with an air of anger and desperation. An even more striking combined lyric along those lines originally appeared as a guest appearance for a solo single by his regular bassist Gardiner, included here among the extra tracks. 'Stormtrooper In Drag,' released by Gardiner a couple of months before Dance and featuring both Numan and his brother John Webb, is a glistening monster of a song, sounding like something that should be on a playlist with, say, Laura Branigan's version of 'Self Control,' an urban nighttime vibe that's both threatening and compelling. Numan's lyric is a compounding of both sexual suggestiveness - the title alone, but also lines like 'obsessions with boys on the floor,' 'love cries like some boys cry,' 'I could call and make you crawl into bed' - and drug horrors, itself likely pointed at the heroin-using Gardiner, who would die of an overdose three years later, and suggesting further undercurrents. 'It's so disgusting, I'm so tired of the rhythm/And needles in arms/And I don't want your point of view' sings Numan near the centre of the song, and the whole feels like a way for him to communicate what he couldn’t as openly or easily say to Gardiner otherwise - not necessarily love, but a companionship ultimately cut short.

Musically, throughout Numan seems to be not merely subverting expectations but finding ways to recontextualise his immediate musical past and look beyond it - most obviously on the concluding bleak rock crunch of 'Moral,' a murky as hell remake of 'Metal' from The Pleasure Principle that's a sarcastic trashing of the New Romantics in his wake right from the start of the lyric. (An extended version of 'Moral' is the one wholly new track on this reissue - all other bonus cuts and contemporaneous B-sides appeared on the 1999 CD reissue of the album.) Yet it's also heard in the way that the majestic keyboard swoops on 'Are 'Friends' Electric' are echoed in the distant and spectral shades on 'Night Talk,' or how the album's one single, 'She's Got Claws,' is as directly catchy as what had become notable hits before, but with Karn's saxophones, calmer midsong breaks and a more overt suaveness all around - even while Numan's lyric, as the title indicates, is a clearly pointed one aimed at Doran. Perhaps above all else it's heard in the way that Numan's obsessive love of strong rhythms plays out - the soft bursts and beats of electronic pulses, often touched with gentle echo, are nearly always played first and foremost in the mix, and he hangs the song's hooks around them with the same catchiness as he had readily demonstrated over nearly everything he'd already released. It's not art-rock, it's art-pop, but transformed, extended.

Perhaps no song shows this best on Dance than the other lengthy one, 'Cry The Clock Said', capturing deep blue melancholia with precision and skill, a further processing of heartache. With its steady beats almost like a rhythmic patter of raindrops, a guest appearance by Canadian prog figure Nash The Slash on violin adding delicately mournful touches, keyboards softly sparkling then withdrawing, a lead melody played with calm deliberation, Numan's clipped lyric delivered with a wounded yearn, it's easily one of his most affecting numbers then and now. His spoken-word break can barely be heard, a self-rumination, and if the joke is to say that the robot is finally human, a better take is to say that there aren't many songs like it anywhere that capture the shocked emptiness after a decisive break, like the heart steadily beats but there's not much to warm it or comfort it.

When Numan played those Wembley Arena dates a few months before Dance came out, he and his band played 'She's Got Claws,' but there's also a shortened 'Cry The Clock Said' sonically arranged with the same understatement as the studio version, with Nash the Slash performing his violin part. You can hear that on the Living Ornaments '81 album released years later, and quite literally it's like nothing else during the entire show. The otherwise vocally charged up crowd is given to individual cheers here and there - you can definitely hear some 'GARY!' moments - but they're more generally silent, probably somewhat unsure about what was on offer on the one hand, but perhaps just as easily entranced by its unfamiliarity on several levels. A slow, steady clapping along begins about halfway through that lasts for a bit, until a sudden burst of cheers heralds Numan's short vocal turn towards the performance's end. The loud-by-implication guy, the big-sounding band, the huge music, the experience they're singing along with for nearly every other song (even the otherwise more familiar quiet ones - check the full throated roar on 'Please Push No More,' and that was an album cut) has effectively undercut expectations across the board and forced a different kind of response. If this, more than anything else, was the sign made visible that's when things would forever change for Numan, then quite honestly, it couldn't have been more beautifully done.

Ned Raggett

#Gary Numan #Dance #Electronic #Ned Raggett #Pop #Rock #kanye west #Billy Corgan

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lookwhosfhtagn · 7 years ago

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The Adventures of Argus Armstrongman - Lone Star Detective

Case 637435: Attempted Murder, Breach of Trucking Contract, Breaking and Entering, Assault, Gross Sexual Misconduct, Trespassing, Unlicensed Gang Warfare, Unauthorized Corporate Espionage

The annoying hum of florescent lights droned on overhead as I fidgeted in the hard, plastic chair of the Lone Star Security Services Indianapolis Division Headquarters. I hated being at HQ. Every minute I spent among the paper pushers and the boot lickers was a minute that I wasn’t catching my perp. But sometimes, you have to play ball if you want to see results. So like a good little detective, I’d come to speak to the boss. Deputy Chief Ignatius Ferrero Moon Dusseldorf had never been a fan of my methods; I’d crossed one too many lines for that fat, greasy dwarf. If it weren’t for the fact that my numbers were so good, he’d probably have fired me years ago. And now here I was, ready to come hat in hand to the bloated, beady-eyed vermin.

But if that’s what it took to catch Dak, then so be it. Nobody gets away from me. Nobody.

The svelte piece of elven eye candy he called a secretary strolled out, her almost inappropriate skirt hugging those hips. She was gorgeous, but there was a sadness in her eyes that spoke volumes: discontent at days, weeks, months of having a vile little toad drooling over you, making comments, possibly worse. As I studied her, she noticed my gaze and we had a silent moment. Her expression changed and I tried my best to soften my usually stony features.

She just gave me a nod, then slipped back into the persona all good secretaries adopted: bubbly enthusiasm. “The Deputy Chief will see you now, Detective Armstrongman.”

My knees creaked as I stood up. With fifteen of my forty years spent walking beats and chasing down gangers and tweaked-out burners, I’m surprised they still worked as well as they did. And now that fifteen years of hard work, effort, and sacrifice was being put on the table. The debt was being called in.

As I opened the door to Dusseldorf’s office, the scent of cheap aftershave hit me like the first of a troll bouncer during a bar fight. It was a powerful, pungent, citrus monstrosity that offended as many senses as it could. “Argus, come in. Mavis gave me the deets on your latest case. Seems like this is getting interesting. Trucker fight turns into gang brawl and-”

I cut him off right there, my voice level, volume forceful but not aggressive. “It’s more than that, Deputy Chief. This Dak Rambo case has layers. Like some kind of seven layer dip, but we ran out of salsa and started using blood.”

Dusseldorf pursed his fat lips together. Maybe he thought it made him look pensive, but to the world it just made him look like a duck. A fat, smelly, worthless duck. “As much as I enjoy your flair for the dramatic, Argus, I’m not seeing why you needed to speak with me. I’m very, very busy.”

“Sure you are.” I choked down my contempt and vitriol, feeling them settle in my gut like a pound of lead. “But I’ve been doing research. Keeping my ears open, calling in contacts and informants…you know, real police work.” There was an emphasis on the word real.

The pudgy dwarf crossed his arms curtly, feeling the sting of my veiled insult while not wanting to blatantly reveal his indignation. “Well, by all means, tell me what the best damn detective in Indianapolis has found out.”

I pulled out my vape and adjusted the settings for maximum flavor and maximum stimulant. This had been an all-nighter and it was catching up to me. With Dusseldorf scowling at me, I took an absurdly strong pull of that sweet, rolling cloud of uppers. A plume of lemon flavored mist left my mouth in a slow, billowing fog. “This Rambo team, they’re not just some joke. After the Monk, Colby, Dulet-Johnson scene, I found them taking part in some death fights, the kind that Marco is inv-”

“Big Marco.”

“Huh?”

“We’ve been over this, Argus. He wants to be called Big Marco. And he makes a sizable contribution to the Lone Star Security Services Widows Fund, so we call him Big Marco.”

My fist clenched tightly. “Fine. They’re the kind Big Marco is involved in. Here.” I showed him some pictures from a camera feed, showing Dak’s crew, obviously masquerading as death fighters.

Those beady dwarf eyes surveyed the screen. “Wait a sec…no, hold on. That’s Dr. Zef Wongburger, Mustachio, Skull Kid, and Fist Wizard! I saw their pics on the death fight feed roster. Good shit.”

“It’s a disguise, damn it! They’re the for real deal. They’re dangerous. Deadly. And more than that, I think they’ve got some strings attached. Serious strings. Gangs from all over, possible black ops, the Chicago Illuminati, the Anti-Wizarding Association, and I’m pretty sure that there ties to an honest to god dragon.”

Dusseldorf had a faint glimmer of recognition. Maybe that tiny crumb of grey matter in his head was actually firing. “Sweet TechnoChrist, this is serious.”

“It is. Which is why I need this.” I tapped the screen of my commlink and showed him the outline I’d made. “A taskforce of serious players. Mando Mombopolis, the augmented elf close-quarters combat expert. Talia Smock, the dwarf decker who burned the Chrome Dome network on a weekend. Shandalee Shanana, the troll arms and explosives savant who held off Salish militants out west. And Dinkly to be our rigger.”

The Deputy Chief looked grim. I’d given him a tall order, that was for sure. I inhaled the lemon vapor and let it burst from my nostrils while he spoke. “Argus, this is going to take every favor I have ever made in this job. And let’s be crystal clear…I don’t like you. I hate you, Argus.” There was a pause. “…But god damn it, I respect you.” He pulled out his own commlink and started to type up a message. “I’ll get the ball rolling and by this time tomorrow we sh-”

He was cut off by both our commlinks chiming at the same time. He looked at the screen and blinked. “Well, looks like it’s a moot point, Armstrongman.” His stubby dwarf hand turned the screen to me. “Looks like Rambo just iced that trucker Beans…in Chicago. That’s a whole lot of not our jurisdiction anymore.”

And as I looked at the report, the cold, dispassionate words on the screen made my blood run cold. He’d gotten away. He’d escaped.

<- PREVIOUS NEXT ->

#neoscum #shadowrun #fanfic #noir

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salygainen · 5 years ago

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Ticket fail, UX fail, nie ist in Ordnung.

Hello, hello, hello.

Sometimes I happen to visit the glorious area of western Germany. Sometimes I happen to use their public transportation without anyone local (and German speaking). I prefer to pay for my tram rides (as much as I believe in common responsibility for the vehicles we’re using, I also enjoy not getting fined), so first thing I do is searching frantically for the ticket machine, so NOBODY can suspect me of mischievous ride stealing.

And then it happens – the machine doesn’t work.

But I don’t see it. I did the WHOLE process: I changed language to English, I selected the ticket, I confirmed the purchase, I took the card out of my wallet and bam, the card input is blocked.

I panicked.

I tried to click my way through ticket hell again, but it started giving some communicate IN GERMAN. Finally, I stepped back and I asked someone for help – luckily, they spoke English. That guy just took a look and said “oh, it’s out of order, you’re lucky, you get a ride for free! Just take the picture of the machine”.

What, how, really? In Poland nobody cares you couldn’t buy a ticket, you get fined. Obviously, I assumed it works that way in Dusseldorf as well. Obviously, it’s not my fault – it’s never user’s fault when the service is not self-explanatory. In that case it was a double misfortune: the service is used by someone not local, someone for whom German is already a third language, and who’s not aware of legal regulations. Sucks to be that person, right? :D

The designers (probably the tram service) tried to manage the crisis and support service user, but they did it badly. How badly? Well, they let me proceed with at least four unnecessary taps (gasp!), but they also could follow my advice and focus on the arrows below:

First, the green line. That is an absolute border of my eye focus. I have my ticket-purchasing-task, I don’t think about the coin input, I think only about the screen, period. Therefore, I can’t really be helped by…

Purple arrow: Auβer Betrieb (Out of Order) sticker. Personally, I love the idea. I like that it’s so easy, a driver can just put it there and inform… well, only German speakers who use coins. Dusseldorf might not be very big, but it’s quite international, especially during fairs (so pretty much: all the time). Why there was no secondary sticker with the message in English? Why there was no icon, common for every language? Why did you almost let me have a heart attack, guys?

Pink arrow: I did the whole process and only then the machine stops me to say “ticket was already cancelled”. Thanks. FYI, I took the pic while trying to buy again, this time in German 😉

Blue arrow: red screen is good, it already alerts. Also, you have “Out of Order” written in five languages: awesome! Where’s the problem then? Well, in inconsistency: these are two different ticket machines (believe it or not, on my way back I took a different line with another broken magic box…), and both of them inform about the problem differently. It’s a small issue, as long as both are, in fact, informing properly. But do they? I’d still add some icon. Iconic out of order, yes. And lack of stickers saddens me, even though it’s not a mistake per se. This is how we get to…

Yellow arrows: as I said already, one sticker above my head wasn’t sufficient to alarm me about the problem. Why there was no sticker on the card input? Germans might not be that addicted to cashless payments as Poles are, but come on. There were no stickers on the second machines and I get it, we have the red screen already. But stickers are great and might be the only help for the visually impaired people: I’m not sure if there was any option to listen to the communicate out loud, for sure there was no Braille card. Still, if we make stickers a thing, then it’s easy to check if the machine is working just by touching the inputs. That’s my biggest recommendation: give the drivers sticker with Out of Order international icons and Braille points, damn it!

Last, but (as we all wrote in school essays) not least: white question mark. White as my terrified face, low as my spirits. Question without a clue, cause there’s no hint what to do next. I was lucky, I had a local, friendly and English-speaking person to instruct me, that it’s ok to continue my ride and it’s smart to take a picture. Otherwise, I’d haven no idea. I’d bother the driver, who’s busy, responsible for passengers’ safety and probably doesn’t speak English very well. My advice is: tell us what to do. Manage our crisis. Improve the public transportation User Experience.

Ciao!

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bendictmont · 5 years ago

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An Insane Explosion

A bomb

It all started with a bomb on Sunday the 22nd of November at 2 am.

It was not a single explosive but a series of them.

It shook the city.

And the dam....

The Dam of Berlin, the poor victim of this accident fell and turned into billions of small pieces.

How did it happen? Nobody knows. But who did it? Everybody knows. John S. Trandos. An English man.

He was captured just hours after the incident and surprisingly enough he didn't try to resist his custody.

A few hours with the local police proved his insanity and as the habit of the landespolizei of Berlin in such cases,

Dr. Denzel Straumbach, the great psychologist and the unofficial interrogator was called to lead the suspect's investigation.

..............................................................................................

-Mr. John Smith Trandos. 49 years old. Born in Liverpool city from English parents Richard Smith and Margaret Smith. Have only one daughter. Liza. 21 years old. Lost his wife Angelica to cancer 7 years ago. No medical history and Clean crime history. Shows great psychological stability yet since he got captured he was acting insane.....

Do you object on anything of what i said?

-No.

-Great then, let's start. My Name is Dr.Denzel and i am your psychiatrist interrogator. Feel free to talk to me about anything. This is not a recorded interrogation , consider it a small chat......

How have you been feeling during the last three days?" Dr. Denzel concluded his talk.

For a monent or two John didn't answer and instead looked at the doctor dead in the eye.

Finally he replied :" John!"

-Excuse me!

-My name is John

-Yes, i pretty well know that. But my question was how did you feel during the last three days? Not what is your name!

-I blew up the dam.

-Yes, you di so. And that's exactly why you are here. Now that you have mentioned it Let me ask you .... why did you blow it?

-Blow what?

-The dam! the dam of Berlin! You just confessed that you have blown it.A bomb

It all started with a bomb at on Sunday the 22nd of November at 2 am.

It was not a single explosive but a series of them

It has shook the city

And the dam....

Dam of Berlin, the poor victim of this accident fell and turned into billions od smaller pieces.

How did it happen? Nobody knows. But who did it? Everybody knows. John S. Trandos. An English man.

He was captured just hours after the incident and he didn't even escape or resist as if he wanted to be caught.

A few hours with the local police proved his insanity and as the habit of the landespolizei of berlin in such cases,Dr. Denzel Straumbach, the great psychologist and the unofficial interrogator was called to lead the suspect's investigation.

................

Do you object on anything of what i said?

-No

-great then, lets start. My Name is Dr.Denzel and i am your psychiatrist interrogator. Feel free to talk to me about anything. This is not a recorded interrogation , consider it a small chat........

How have you been feeling during the last three days?" Dr. Denzel concluded his talk.

For a monent or two John didn't answer and instead looked at the doctor dead in the eye.

Finally he replied :" John!"

-Excuse me!

-My name is John.

-Yes, i pretty well know that. But my question was : how did you feel during the last three days?

- I blew up the dam.

- Yes, you did. And that's exactly why you are here. Now that you have mentioned it Let me ask you ...why did you blow it?

-Blow what?

-the dam! Dam of Berlin! You have just confessed blowing it up.

-How could it be me if i am in Lester city?

-Lester city?! Sir you are in Berlin, Germany.

-No.

-Excuse me!

-I am not in Berlin.

-Then where are you ?

- I am in Dusseldorf.

- But good sir, you just said you are in lester city."

At this the dr. Wrote a few notes .

-isn't it beautiful?! " Said john interupting the doctor's writing.

-i cannot agree on what you say if you don't share with me what you are talking about. "Said Denzel smiling kindly.

John smiled back and replied

-Cairo! Isn't it a beautiful city. But so crowdy you know!

- have you been there recently?

-well, i am there right at this moment. "

The doctor was puzzled but he sensed john tricking him and as an expert in his field he conducted the conversation in another way.

-you have a daughter. Can you tell me about her?

-she is beautiful. Green eyes. Long Curley red hair. She has grown up so much. She is almost the height of her mother before her death. About 175 cm.

-that's pretty tall! What it is your height by the way?

-me? I am 180.

-great. Now lets talk about something else. Your blood test shows no trace of any drug. And your file says you have a clean medical and crime history and that you show great emotional stability. May i know why are you acting fool and faking you insanity?

-faking! I have once faked my death and everyone, even my wife believed it.

-don't change the subject and answer my question. Asked the dr politely.

John kept his cool.

-how is Elizabeth doc?

-what?!

-what?

-what did you just say?

-what did i say?

- you said Elizabeth? Who is Elizabeth?

-you know who is Elizabeth. Thats why i am asking you about her.

-why on earth whould a terrorist like you ask about my wife? Snapped dr denzel rising from his chair.

-your wife ? Who is your wife?

- Elizabeth.

-who is Elizabeth?

At this the doctor got furious .

- you bloody British scum!

-language doc!

-talk to me like a grown up man. Cut this childish crap! " yelled the doctor.

-Am I a man?! Maybe i am just a kid."He said looking around. Then suddenly he turned to the psychologist and asked."Who did you me tell you were good sir?"

The doctor didn't reply and sat back on his chair quietly. He removed his round glasses and.wiped them in a white handkerchiefhe had in his pocket. Placing it back on his eyes he took a deep breath and calmed himself.

- i am asking this again and quitely. Why did you mention my wife?

- you have a bad temper doc.

-i am sorry for it. Sometimes i loose it. Now can you please answer my question?

-bad temper is not an advantage in our mission

-your mission? What mission? Talk to me about it! Is it another terrorist attack somewhere else?

- don't rush up things doc. You will know when it is time.

- what do you mean."

Dr Denzel was a smart man and he could sense something suspicious in john's speech especially after he examined the later's body language, which showed that he was, and for the first time since the beginning of the conversation not lying.

-i beg your pardon. But i am not following with you. What are you talking about.

- how is you book doc. Is it still there under the toolbox? "

The interrogator was shocked. "How did that man know about the book. No one on earth knows about that book. Not even my wife. I am 100% sure that no one have ever discovered my secret. How come this English man knows about it! "he asked himself .But he always plays it the cool way when he is under pressure, so as if he was not shaken by the question he answered calmly and with the same kind smile.

-what book you are talking about. I don't get it.

-you known exactly what book i am talking about doc. Said john and smiled for the first time."

Suddenly the police alarm rang. And the sound of people running and screaming outside could be easily heard. As quickly as it started as quickly as it ended by a sudden darkness and silence. As if life has stopped.

This lasted for only few seconds. Light came back but everything was still quite. Dr. Denzel found himself fallen on the ground... he stood up and found john standing with his handcuffs removed and next to him a 175 tall green eyed curley red haired girl almost in her 20's. John's daughter the psychologist concluded. He was in a shock. He understood nothing. He was unable to speak but he didn't have to. Before he could bring his thoughts to balance again, john interrupted by saying with a serious voice, staring at him: " dr Denzel straumbach, we need your help!"...........

#writing #suspense #suspicious #berlin #explosion #interrogation #police #l writes #free write #writeaway

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torentialtribute · 5 years ago

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‘Date nights with my wife keep us going!’ Family man Fury opens up in build-up to Schwarz showdown

Never again Mr. Nasty. No more shadows for pantomime. No longer the man behind the mask.

Meet the real Tyson Luke Fury.

So who exactly would that be? He explains himself.

& # 39; I am a loving person & # 39 ;, says the heavyweight world champion linearly. & # 39; I am a family man. I am a caring person. & # 39;

<img id = "i-159268110f8d96ea" src = "https://dailym.ai/2wPNdXZ -image-a-17_1560366682586.jpg "height =" 429 "width =" 634 "alt =" Heavyweight Tyson Fury sits at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas "

Heavyweight Tyson Fury Court at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas

Not that he was the mantle of completely shake off irony.

& # 39; Everyone thought I wasn't kind & # 39 ;, he says, I don't know what to say. & # 39; Here you have accepted me for what I am. There is no pressure to be anything. They just want me to lead myself the way I am happy. Just to be myself.

& # 39; I don't feel like I need to impress someone. & # 39;

With the strange, very special exception. Like his wife, the mother of their five children. Paris and Tyson have been entangled since their teenage years

<img id = "i-84e569eadb9d9da5" src = "https://dailym.ai/2XIxk11 /14710180-0-image-a-18_1560366687981.jpg "height =" 495 "width =" 634 "alt =" Fury is completely focused on beating Tom Schwarz in the MGM Grand Garden on Saturday "class =" blkBorder img- share "

<img id =" i-84e569eadb9d9da5 "src =" https://dailym.ai/2XIxk11 /14710180-0-image-a-18_1560366687981.jpg "height =" 495 "width =" 634 "alt =" Fury is completely focused on beating Tom Schwarz at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday focusing on beating Tom Schwarz at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday

& # 39; She knows me better than I know myself In the other woman I would tolerate it for more than half an hour. & # 39;

There is hardly a man on the planet with more masculine facial expression struggles with mental illness are just as heroic as Lazarus from the dead after being knocked unconscious by Deontay Wilder, to plot a draw with the WBC world champion.

But remind him how he was sung from the center of the Dusseldorf stake after he defeated Wladimir Klitschko to win his world titles and he smiles.

& # 39; That is one of the best moments I have shared with my wife & # 39 ;, says the giant who will attempt to climb further into heavyweight dispute by German opponent Tom Schwarz in the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Saturday.

& # 39; Going through difficult times together can be for a couple. She assisted me through thick and thin. I have sometimes not been the best man in the world, but she is still there. We can find it very well. & # 39;

The 6ft 9in Gypsy King has clearly evolved from the traditions of the travelers community

6ft 9in gypsy king has clearly evolved from the traditions of the traveler community

A family man & # 39 ;, he repeats.

& # 39; A family man & # 39 ;, he repeats. & # 39; A good father, son, brother, uncle, cousin. I'm trying to be that. & # 39; And spouse. & # 39; I help Paris with the children all I can. & # 39;

He ticks off his daily routine at home in Morecambe. At 7 o'clock. Wash, dress, feed the children. School is running. An hour in the gym. Breakfast. Daily jogging. Lunch. Chat with friends and family. More gym (& # 39; twice a day keeps me happy & # 39;). Back to school. Time with children. Put them in bed. Dinner.

The 6ft 9in Gypsy King is not above the duties of man, though he sees it this way: & I spend as much time with the children as I do when I am home. As a full time father. Because, like this weeks away in training camp and here, there may be months when I don't see the family. & # 39; Boxer Tyson Fury and his wife Paris have been intertwined since their teens "

Tyson Fury and his wife Paris have been intertwined since their teens

Boxer Tyson Fury and his wife Paris have been intertwined since their teens

Fury has clearly evolved from the traditions of the traveler community, so is the last of the bald fights fought by Furys?

& # 39; I believe so, "he muses. & # 39; I don't think there's much use to it now. Today, you're getting all kinds of trouble.

& # 39; I'm still a naturally born fighter I will break Schwarz's jaw if I knock him out I will break his ribs I will leave him in a heap in the corner of Las Vegas But I want my children to grow up from trouble and getting healthy.

& I left school at ten o'clock and started selling cars and I would like the first Fury to follow a university course. It is not easy to follow a world champion, with all sacrifice but no certainty of it. Just do something else. My oldest daughter loves to dance. My oldest hates boxing, but wants to become the Crystal Maze champion. & # 39;

Nobody removes all contradictions during the night.

<img id = "i-f2797910cf570576" src = "https://dailym.ai/2wZVZml /2EE458DA00000578-0-Tyson_Fury_serenaded_Paris_in_the_ring_after-a-29_1560370550371.jpg "height =" 436 "width =" 634 "alt =" Tyson Fury serenaded Paris in the ring after beating Wladimir Klitschko in Düsseldorf in 2015 ring after beating Klitschko Wladko in Düsseldorf in 1945

Tyson Fury serenaded Paris in the ring after defeating Wladimir Klitschko in Düsseldorf in 2015

In the same stream of consciousness, Fury says: & # 39 "I played the ghost of the pantomime pretty well, but it is a relief that I no longer have to act. It had become monotonous and always tried to think of something that could be controversial.

& # 39; But I still enjoy being as entertainer as I like to fight.

I want people inspire with the story of how I came back from my problems to be able to move and fight like I did from the. The fans are important. I don't have much filter for what I do and they see the reality of me. & # 39;

He sees a reality for his children that is different from that of the common man like the names he and Paris have chosen for him: Venezuela, nine years old; Prince John James, seven; Prince Tyson Luke, three; Valencia, one; Prince Adonis Amazia, five months.

The legendary and paternal origin of most names is clear. Amazia?

& # 39; Hebrew in the Hand of God & # 39 ;, he explains. & # 39; Found in the Bible. & # 39; Family, fighting and trust are three constants. But the comic is part of his common sense? & # 39; It's as if my mind is lit up with the lights in Las Vegas, & # 39; he says.

& # 39; And it's fun and games inside. Call me a crazy genius if you want. I consider it a compliment. & # 39; Better yet, be happy for him. This enormous spirit that has found its emotional self at the end of a dark tunnel.

Fury v Schwarz live at BT Sport Box Office late Saturday night.

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#‘Date nights with my wife keep us going!’ Family man Fury opens up in build-up to Schwarz showdown"

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lipwak · 6 years ago

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VHS #361

7 Mountain Stages *** Robert Cray & Maktub2003video noise Robert CrayBack Door Slam (https://youtu.be/GVbaSNRB4PE) Not this clip.The One In The Middle (https://youtu.be/frA3W6_Nxic) Not this clip. MaktubYou Can’t Hide (https://youtu.be/q4VH3Ajtsi8) Not this clip.Mama SaidJust Like Murder (https://youtu.be/1rokq6mt8Fk) Not this clip.Where I Want To Be (gets crowd to whisper the lyrics!) Robert CraySurvivor! (https://youtu.be/D9QAnjZ-Hiw) Not this clip.Time Makes Two (https://youtu.be/h53va2AIuYU) Not this clip.Smoking Gun (https://youtu.be/XkHICTE6JIE) Not this clip. ***Joan Armatrading 200335:00video noiseaudio is weak See also #357 In These Times (https://youtu.be/6rlB--hY0zs) Not this clip.Let’s Talk About Us (https://youtu.be/ROi3gA8LiTE) Not this clip. Joan talks about her start in music Join The Boys (https://youtu.be/HGZY2ZfexYk) Not this clip.She talks about being a songwriter and performer Love & Affection! (https://youtu.be/oag3I4VRXyM) Not this clip. Lovers Speak (https://youtu.be/Uv3O9WLyl9Y) Not this clip. Me Myself I! (https://youtu.be/GfpcM0komnA) Not this clip. *** Loudon Wainwright III & NRBQ! 2003(see also #357) Loudon Wainwright III Nanny! (https://youtu.be/N01nLeoWO7c) Not this clip. ("Give a shit" not bleeped out.) Half Fist (about his grandfather) (https://youtu.be/GMblSDDmfaA) Not this clip. So Damn Happy (https://youtu.be/hwWFnMcsOKk) Not this clip. Julie Adams & Larry and the band - Call It Falling NRBQ Puddin' Truck (https://youtu.be/S39waHLZVn4) Not this clip. Come Softly (https://youtu.be/8qtDOgjvcyk) Not this clip. Hey Good Lookin’ Joey and Johnny talk about their music Wandering Star (https://youtu.be/C9LG2EKe5tg) Not this clip. Paree (listed as Puree!) Too Much How Can I Make You Love Me (https://youtu.be/iSrp-DkdQR8) Not this clip. Loudon Wainwright III Here Come The Choppers (https://youtu.be/tNy5YSOPwTo) Not this clip. Hank and Fred (https://youtu.be/4evLJIxyzf0) Not this clip. Guilty Conscience and Broken Heart (https://youtu.be/AYtS2LfhVyw) Not this clip. *** Asleep at the Wheel & Robinella and the CC Stringband & Steve Forbert 2003(rec 1/10/??, 11 pm) Asleep At The WheelChoo Choo Ch'Boogie (https://youtu.be/xhTk9R9DlRY) Not this clip.Don’t Fence Me In (https://youtu.be/QjDGNjRUums) Not this clip.Ray talks about the band's start.You’re From Texas (https://youtu.be/zg4zJXB_sbA) Not this clip. Robinella and the CC StringbandMan Over (https://youtu.be/_fFA-uvweOs) Not this clip.Tennessee Saturday Night (https://youtu.be/ORbBpV4nDfw) Not this clip.Dress Me Up, Dress Me Down (https://youtu.be/DJgt6FMRR4c) Not this clip. Steve ForbertIt’s Been A Long Time (https://youtu.be/CJbIT3jhWpg) Not this clip.My Rough And Rowdy Ways (https://youtu.be/zsx3md6t68M) Not this clip.Miss The Mississippi And You (https://youtu.be/w4yWDVrh038) Not this clip.Steve talks about music he likes.Desert Blues (https://youtu.be/YFnq1ZqSQQ8) Not this clip.My Blue-Eyed Jane (https://youtu.be/WgxN2-ctGw0) Not this clip. Asleep At The WheelSorry Ray talks about country music today.Hang Up My Spurs And Saddle (https://youtu.be/l_gbKQhfR5s) Not this clip.Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens (https://youtu.be/B_637Lvh9wY) Not this clip. *** Kim Wilson, EG Kight, Don Dixon 2003 Kim WilsonYou Put The Hurt On Me (https://youtu.be/eiFIRilGp8E) Not this clip.Money, Marble and Chalk (https://youtu.be/L60sk9pJHj4) Not this clip. EG KightIf You Ever Touch Me (https://youtu.be/_hgkab7zFu0) Not this clip.She talksAt Last (https://youtu.be/ANcySdgWVHU) Not this clip.Southern Comfort (https://youtu.be/dLp7_B3XFms) Not this clip. Don DixonIf I Could Walk Away (https://youtu.be/RQGEql_i44I) Not this clip.Don talks about his taste in music.Then I Woke Up (https://youtu.be/0KNvNLMYleg) Not this clip.Never Slow Down (https://youtu.be/fqKELW-Jpgk) Not this clip. Julie Adams and the Mountain Stage Band - Lightning Strikes Kim WilsonKim talks about who he’s played with.Love Attack (https://youtu.be/lWSmqaXc4uE) Not this clip.Lookin' For Trouble (https://youtu.be/axoSzh0I2Hs) Not this clip. *** Best of: The Great PickersJerry Douglas, Ricky Skaggs, Sonny Landreth, Mark Selby, Derek Trucks Band, Leo Kottke with Mark Gordon, The John Pizzarelli Trio2003 Jerry DouglasSenta’s Lament (https://youtu.be/WQRvYkLm0QI) Not this clip.We Hide & Seek (https://youtu.be/Dk6eH3U7IPo) Not this clip. Ricky SkaggsAmanda Jewell (https://youtu.be/sxaOWFrBoLo) Not this clip. Sonny LandrethIoana (https://youtu.be/mtjc7PC8H2A) This clip but without the long intro. Mark SelbyDown By The Tracks (https://youtu.be/LQbpcaBRcec) Not this clip. Derek Trucks BandCheesecake (https://youtu.be/LO_-AwXBWdk) This clip. Leo Kottke with Mark GordonDisco (https://youtu.be/usxEITQ4ri0) Not this clip.familiar (not credited) The John Pizzarelli TrioThey Can’t Take That Away From You (https://youtu.be/38Z3po46G7w) Not this clip.I Got Rhythm! (Fast scat singing!) (https://youtu.be/mkuM77npcoY) Not this clip. *** Best of: "The world is what you make it” (World music)- all repeatssome video noise Richard Thompson (solo acoustic) - Galway to Graceland (https://youtu.be/SLSZXHXFsss) This clip. Jeff Lang - You Tremble Tommy Emmanuel - Train To Dusseldorf (https://youtu.be/oB3iqb93xOc) Not this clip.- Waltzing Matilda (https://youtu.be/YUqgniVGYrk) Not this clip. Stephan Fearing - Like The Way You Said (https://youtu.be/7BnXHo0iJDE) Not this clip. Richard Bona - Djombwe (https://youtu.be/NVqX9jmdiQA) Somewhere in this clip. Habib Koite & Bamada - Fatma (https://youtu.be/iYDSNUX-ANY) Not this clip. Paul Brady - Oh What A World (https://youtu.be/dO9slR8ZyB8) Not this clip. Karan Casey - Buile Ma Chroi Madness of My Heart/Beat of My Heart (https://youtu.be/zUVJNwcIN0Y) Not this clip. Alejandro Escovedo - About This Love (https://youtu.be/0cW0U0fYe1k) Not this clip. Pedal steel! Beausoleil - Ma Vie C'est Arroter (Should be Ma Vie S'est Arrêtée) (https://youtu.be/RTeHMPMc3pY) Not this clip. (Cut off in the beginning.)

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