#randy at it with the double raids

[awful-roffle]

(`ー´)

[thosepoorsoulswhodwellinnight]

In other news i launched a 20 year old cow named Gretel with cataracts on both eyes into space yesterday so that was fun

[usafphantom2]

Randy’s Warbird Profiles: Grumman F7F-3P Tigercat

June 28, 2024 Angela Decker Warbirds News 0

By Randy Malmstrom

Since his childhood, Randy Malmstrom has had a passion for aviation history and historic military aircraft in particular. He has a particular penchant for documenting specific airframes with a highly detailed series of walk-around images and an in-depth exploration of their history, which have proved to be popular with many of those who have seen them, and we thought our readers would be equally fascinated too. If Randy’s last name seems familiar, it is because the U.S. Air Force’s present-day Malmstrom AFB, near Great Falls, Montana is named in honor of his cousin, Col Einar Axel Malmstrom. Col Malmstrom commanded the 356th Fighter Group during WWII, flying P-47 Thunderbolts, the first of Randy’s articles featured an example of the type, P-47D 45-49406 (N7159Z) at the Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum in Everett, Washington.

This installment of Randy Malmstrom’s aircraft profiles takes a look at the Grumman F7F Tigercat. On January 2, 1930, Grumman Aircraft Engineering Aircraft Corporation was founded by Leroy (“Roy”) Grumman three of his friends, Leon (“Jake”) Swirbul, William Schwendler, and Edmund Ward Pool, when they left Loening Aeronautical Engineering Corporation. First located in Baldwin, New York, the plant was moved to Valley Stream and Farmingdale before moving to Bethpage, New York in 1937. Initially nicknamed the “Tomcat” (but considered too suggestive), what became the “Tigercat” was designed as a carrier-based aircraft for the larger U.S. Navy Midway-class carriers.

Detail design began in 1941 but was delayed by including an “unsatisfactory” tailhook design and poor directional stability with only one engine operational, but the biggest delays came from the Navy asking Grumman to give priority to the development and production of the Hellcat. The Tigercat was powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney R-2800-34W Double Wasp radial engines and was fitted with four M2 cannons (two in each wing root) and four 0.50 cal. M2 Browning machine guns in the nose. It had a max payload of 2,000 lbs. and could be configured to as a single or two-seater.

XF7F 1 at Moffett Field 1946

XF7F-1 BuNo 03550, the second prototype, at Moffett Field, California in 1946. NASA photo

In November 1944, F7F-1 BuNo 80291 completed the type’s carrier qualification trials aboard USS Shangri-La (CV-38), but by that time the land-based VMF-911 had been training on F7F-1s at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina since the summer of 1944. After producing just 34 -1s, Grumman began turning out F7F-2s, which, at the Navy’s request provided space for a radar operator, which required the capacity of the reserve fuel tank to be reduced from 426 to 375 gallons.

The story of the Tigercat in World War II is a case of so close, yet so far. The first squadron to receive the F7F-2N was Marine Night Fighter Squadron Five three One (VMF(N)-531) Grey Ghosts, which embarked aboard USS Attu (CVE-102) on July 24, 1945. As the ship neared Guam, the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6. After unloading in Guam, the squadron arrived on Okinawa on September 1, the day before the Japanese signed the “Japanese Instrument of Surrender the following day. The same fate befell Marine Photographic Squadrons Two Five Four (VMD-254) and Three Five Four (VMD-354), both of which operated the F7F-3P. The combat debut of the Tigercat would have to wait five years just across the Sea of Japan. During Korea, VMF(N)-542 Tigers and -513 Flying Nightmares flew night interdiction and close air support sorties with the latter squadron shooting down a pair of Po-2 biplanes on night harassment raids. Combat operations for the Tigercat ended in April 1952, when the Flying Nightmares flew it final combat sortie, although a number of F7F-3N/-4N/-3Ps continued to fly in non-combat roles until the end of the war.

While 1,500 Tigercats were commissioned, fewer than 500 were delivered, and, to my knowledge, only eight remain airworthy. This particular F7F-3P, BuNo 80483, was delivered to the U.S. Navy on July 24, 1945 and was assigned to NAS San Diego. After 46 hours of non-combat flying time, it was relegated to the boneyard at NAS Litchfield Park, Arizona but became one of less than twenty Tigercats eventually rescued from Litchfield. This example flew for SIS Q Flying Services out of Santa Rosa, California. In 1962, SIS Q Flying Services of Santa Rosa, California won a National Forest Service contract to provide airborne forest fighting services in California and Oregon and acquired a number of Tigercats, including 80483, and outfitted them for aerial fire fighting operations. Registered as N6178C, this aircraft flew over 1,300 hours with SIS Q Flying Services before eventually being sold.

Grumman F7F 3N Tigercat Sis Q Santa Rosa CA March 3 1988 RuthAS

Our subject Tigercat in Santa Rosa, California on March 29, 1988 during its career with Sis Q Flying Services. RuthAS photo.

In November 1988, it was shipped to Duxford, U.K., and for a time was painted as a Tigercat of U.S. Marine Corps VMF(N)-542. It was then acquired by a John Sessions entity in 2003 for the Historic Flight Foundation which is now shuttered but was previously located in Spokane, Washington. In 2016, it was sold to Comanche Maverick Air, L.L.C., a Houston, Texas-based entity, owned by Dan Friedkin. It is currently painted as an F7F-3P with tail code “MW” of U.S. Marine Corps VMJ-1, and in the name of a former Tigercat pilot, aeronautical engineer and author Lieutenant Commander A.M. “Mike” Granat, United States Navy (Ret.), Lt Commander Granat flew over 30 aircraft, including the Tigercat.

About Randy Malmstrom

Randy Malmstrom grew up in a family steeped in aviation culture. His father, Bob, was still a cadet in training with the U.S. Army Air Forces at the end of WWII, but did serve in Germany during the U.S. occupation in the immediate post-war period, where he had the opportunity to fly in a wide variety of types which flew in WWII. After returning to the States, Bob became a multi-engine aircraft sales manager and as such flew a wide variety of aircraft; Randy frequently accompanied him on these flights. Furthermore, Randy’s cousin, Einar Axel Malmstrom flew P-47 Thunderbolts with the 356th FG from RAF Martlesham Heath. He was commanding this unit at the time he was shot down over France on April 24th, 1944, spending the rest of the war as a Prisoner of War. Following his repatriation at war’s end, Einar continued his military service, attaining the rank of Colonel. He was serving as Deputy Wing Commander of the 407th Strategic Fighter Wing at Great Falls AFB at the time of his death in a T-33 training accident on August 21st, 1954. The base was renamed in his honor in October 1955 and continues to serve in the present U.S. Air Force as home to the 341st Missile Wing. Randy’s innate interest in history in general, and aviation history in particular, plus his educational background and passion for WWII warbirds, led him down his current path of capturing detailed aircraft walk-around photos and in-depth airframe histories, recording a precise description of a particular aircraft in all aspects.

Author ProfileRelated Posts

Angela-Decker

Angela Decker, from McPherson, Kansas, discovered her passion for aviation after earning a Master’s in Military History from Norwich University in 2011. Since 2012, she has volunteered with vintage aviation groups, excelling as a social media content creator and coordinator. Angela has coordinated aviation and WWII events, appeared as Rosie the Riveter, and is restoring a Stearman aircraft. She is the Operations Logistics Coordinator at CAF Airbase Georgia and an accountant with a degree in Economics from the University of Georgia. Her son, Caden, shares her love for aviation and history and is studying Digital Media Arts.

@VintageAircraftNews.com

[myveryownfanfiction]

18+ Minors and those without age in bio DNI

Warnings: swearing, horror References

“babe?” Stu turned towards me and squinted at the sun. “how stupid Would it be if I asked for one, ONE, movie night without billy and sid?” Stu shrugged before looking over at the two love birds.

“I guess. I mean it might be nice to finally spend some time alone.” he leaned in to kiss my neck. “Just the two of us.”

“And some of the bloodiest, goriest movies we can get our hands on.” Stu laughed before getting up.

“sounds like a deal babe. Let randy know we’ll be in later to grab whatever he picks.“ I gave him a quick peck and nodded. “I’ll let the other two know it’s a solo night.” i watched as Stu ran off to do what he normally did.

“what do you see in that?” Randy sat down next to me. “Weren’t you into billy just last year? what happened?” I laughed.

“well I realized that I hung out with billy because Stu was with him 90% of the time.” randy rolled his eyes. “Besides billy has the looks for sure. But still has everything else.”

“again I just don’t see what you see in him.“ randy scooted closer to me and rested his head on my shoulder.

“well consider us even. I don’t see what your see in tatum.” Randy shrugged. ”anyway can you put aside some of the goriest movies you have at work? Stu and I will be in later to pick them up.”

”Sidney not going to be there tonight?” Randy and I stood up. I shook my head as we Headed towards my car.

“Nah. Just me and stu tonight. It’s at least one night where no one is sucking face. Or trying to do something more.” Randy laughed and hopped in the passenger seat. We discussed the types of movies that Stu and I should pick up later as I drove randy to the rental store. “See ya later randy.”

“don’t forget to tell Stu he owes me.” I waved him off as I took off towards stus house. He was supposed to meet me back there once he got off work. Using my key to get in, I immediately went to raid his fridge. “Hey Mrs. macher. What’s new?” Stus mom smiled and shook her head.

“nothing much. Are you and Stu going to be joined by billy and Sidney tonight?” I shook my head before opening the fridge. “Good. Those two need to work out whatever is going on between them before they can double date again.” I rolled my eyes.

“yeah. But it’s more likely that they will just continue to make out until one of them finally gets too fed up with the other and ends it.” Mrs. Macher laughed and reached over my head to grab the ketchup.

“that is true.“ she turned back to making her food for her break. “Are you staying here tonight or is Stu staying by you?”

“he’s staying by me. We figured since it is a school night and I’m closer it would be a better idea.“ I finally pulled out the pack of chocolates Stu usually kept hidden away for me. “Don’t worry we won’t stay up too late or do anything stupid.”

”oh I trust the two of you.” she reassured me. We continued to make small talk until Stu showed up. He walked into the kitchen with a massive smile on his face.

“thought I heard the two of you in here.“ he hugged his mom and kissed me on the cheek. “I already picked up the movies from randy. They all look good. We should have some fun tonight.” I laughed as I wrapped my arm around stus waist. We waved to his mom as we walked out to my car.

“ok I lied. The movies arent great. They are what you would expect randy to pick.” Stu said as I started down the road back to my house. I laughed.

“as if we’re actually going to be watching them.” I chanced a look over at him. “You and I both know that we’re just going to start making out halfway through anyway.” Stu laughed and nodded. Once we got to my house we put the first film in and settled down for a long night. About halfway through the third movie and true to my word we started making out. It wasn’t a bad night alone together after all.

[solarianradiance]

I played some Rimworld with Homestuck characters, here is what happened

Just a heads up, it gets to be really fucked up down the line, so you were warned. I also had pretty much nothing to do with how the fucked up shit happens, its just a random occurrence of the game. I can only respond to it when it happens.

I made the Alpha and Beta Kids, John, Jane, Jade, Jake, Dave, Dirk, Rose and Roxy.

I set them up to do specific jobs and have certain traits that were fitting of their personalities

Rose being our top researcher and negotiator.

Jade is good at Hunting and Farming and animal training

Jane is our Cook and Doctor, pretty much the house wife

Dirk is set to be our good at everything guy but slow to learn

Dave is bad at everything, but fast to learn

John is our miner and handyman, he build stuff and such

Roxy is moderate at everything and learn at a moderate pace

Jake is our main Hunter and fighter (gave him the masochist trait)

I also made them all related like they are in canon, Roxy and Rose are Mother and Daughter for example. Otherwise, everything is more or less normal, no other relationships were set

I chose a mountainous Redwood Biome and a brutal start tribal tech line and only basic supplies and a single gun. Rest were bows. Meaning that we had no technology of any kind and everything had to be researched at a slower pace.

I added a “Shelter wall and door” mod to grant myself a tiny bit of mercy.

We land and got a good position of geysers (useful for power later) and an an even better layout of the map, the entire southern mountain had an enclosure that created a perfect defensive location for a base.

Things are going well for the first couple of months, then Dirk starts getting depressed because of shit Jake said to him and he didn’t like John for some reason

He starts a fight with Jake, but is taken out. Jake is injured, crippled even, but alive. Dirk is dead because I gave Jake a knife due to him hunting animals for food and we could not save him from bleed out in time.

Dave goes berserk and tries to kill Jake

He succeeds, but at the cost of his own life.

In one day, Jake kills Dave and Dirk as they tried to kill him

Everyone else gets upset over this, but they get over it

By having an incestuous orgy

More or less, that is what happened No I did not try to make this happen, it occurred on its own

Rose and Roxy, out of the blue, a couple days after their boys died, they start banging and move in together, had to build a double bed or else they would get mad from their lack of Mother/Daughter special time.

Couple months after that, Jade gets the same idea to bang John

Which she does.

Then Jane joins in, because polyamory.

So John is banging both Jade and Jane, his Sister and Mother

While Rose and Roxy are banging each other.

This goes on for over a year in game

Then somebody new joins us, a 70+ year old man named Richard, which ironic and you’ll know why.

Apparently he doesn't mind the incest loving cave-dwellers, but he was kind of useless, and could only use him for dumb labor and cleaning.

Then we get news his daughter/best friend died, so he gets super depressed, to the point he has a mental break down and strips down naked to wander around in the snow until he collapses from hypothermia after a while.

This goes on for a while, cant do much for him unless I get him a ton of beer and stuff to keep him from breaking.

Got addicted to some drugs, and I have to use resources to cure him.

One day Richard has another break down, and wanders into Jades line of sight while hunting reindeer.

She accidentally shoots Richard

...

In the dick

Obviously, it was an accident, but that name is painful

Because Richard is often nicked-named to “Dick”

Anyways, we save Richard, but now he is perpetually depressed due to losing his daughter/best friend AND losing his dick, which was shot clean off.

So even with Catharsis (a buff after his mental break downs wore off) he was perpetually in the red.

Here is where things get weird.

You can perform surgery on your colonists, removing or adding bodyparts like that.

Including genitals, both male and female

I had Jane fashion Richard a wooden cock and implant it

It worked

At least, to the point of him not being upset over not having a dick anymore. Meaning he isn’t so depressed now.

Things are pretty quiet and we settle into a routine.

We grow crops, fend off raiders, trade with merchants, engage in diplomacy, I even learned how to Caravan, as in, send people out into the world to do stuff like trade and retieve items and complete jobs we were given (like as in quests)

John would mine and build things, have his incestuous threesomes with his Mother and Sister wives

Roxy and Rose broke up

Richard would still have his tantrums until we cured him of his depression (yes you can do that)

Then, one day, Randy Random (our storyteller) decides its time to end the story by causing a massive sapper raid attack (meaning they DIG through our defenses), land some evil robots inside our permeter, cause ANOTHER faction of raiders to lay siege to our base (deploying artillery and shelling us) AND THEN Bugs infest the place

Like giant bugs that attack everything

Needless to say, everyone died

Oh and he dropped us some wool and made a herd of guinea pigs join us after the fact before it game overed

GG

[stoneoferech]

Facelift is the debut studio album by the American rock band Alice in Chains. The album was released on August 21, 1990. "We Die Young", "Man in the Box", "Bleed the Freak" and "Sea of Sorrow" were released as singles. "Man In The Box" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance with Vocal in 1992. The album peaked at No. 42 on the Billboard 200 chart, was certified platinum and has gone on to be certified double-platinum by the RIAA for shipments of two million copies in the United States. Facelift became the first album from the grunge movement to be certified gold on September 11, 1991.

Local promoter Randy Hauser became aware of the band at a concert, and offered to pay for demo recordings. However, one day before the band was due to record at the Music Bank studio in Washington, police shut down the studio during the biggest marijuana raid in the state's history. The final demo – dubbed The Treehouse Tapes – found its way to managers Kelly Curtis and Susan Silver, who also managed the Seattle-based Soundgarden. Curtis and Silver passed the demo to Columbia Records' A&R representative Nick Terzo, who set up an appointment with label president Don Ienner. Based on The Treehouse Tapes (sold by the band at shows), Ienner signed Alice in Chains to Columbia in 1989.

Alice in Chains became a top priority of the label, who released the band's first official recording in July 1990: the promotional EP We Die Young. Its lead single and title song became a hit on metal radio. After its success, the label rushed Alice in Chains' debut album into production with producer Dave Jerden. "I told Jerry Cantrell, ‘Metallica took Tony Iommi and sped him up. What you’ve done is you’ve slowed him down again,’" Jerden recalled. "He looked at me and said, ‘You got it.’ That’s how I got the gig."

Drummer Sean Kinney claims to have played this album with a broken hand:

I almost didn't play on the record - they started rehearsing with the drummer from Mother Love Bone, Greg Gilmore. I was sitting there playing with one hand, guiding him through it. Dave Jerden came in and they started to try to do it. He was like, 'Screw it - pull the plug. This is not going to be the same.' Luckily, we took a tiny bit of time off. I had that cast on for a while, and was like, 'I can't miss this.' I cut my cast off in the studio and kept a bucket of ice by the drum set. Kept my hand iced down and played with a broken hand. I tried not to do that again - your first big break, and you fuck it up.

Facelift was recorded at London Bridge Studio in Seattle and Capitol Recording Studio in Hollywood from December 1989 to April 1990. Footage from the Facelift sessions can be found on Alice in Chains' Music Bank: The Videos DVD.

Guitarist Jerry Cantrell stated the album was intended to have a "moody aura" that was a "direct result of the brooding atmosphere and feel of Seattle." Regarding the music for "Man in the Box", Cantrell said, "That whole beat and grind of that is when we started to find ourselves; it helped Alice become what it was." Cantrell also credited "I Can't Remember" for helping the band find its sound. "It Ain't Like That" came out of a riff that Cantrell cited as a mistake, however he called it "a cool mistake."

Cantrell called "Love, Hate, Love" the "masterpiece of that record," adding about the song that Staley's vocals are "amazing" and that it features one of his favorite guitar solos he ever performed.

Regarding the lyrical content, Cantrell said he wrote "We Die Young" after "riding the bus to rehearsal and [seeing] all these 9, 10, 11 year old kids with beepers dealing drugs. The sight of a 10 year old kid with a beeper and a cell phone dealing drugs equaled "We Die Young" to me." In a recorded interview with MuchMusic USA, vocalist Layne Staley stated that the lyrics for "Man in the Box" are about censorship in the mass media, and "I was really stoned when I wrote it."

Discussing "Bleed the Freak", Cantrell stated that the lyrics represent "us against the world, those people who put you down."

Cantrell wrote "Sunshine" about his mother's death.

Facelift was released on August 21, 1990, peaking at number 42 in the summer of 1991 on the Billboard 200 chart. It was the first album from the grunge movement to reach the top 50 in America on the Billboard 200, and the first to be certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on September 11, 1991, followed by Nirvana's Nevermind on November 27, 1991.

Facelift included the singles "We Die Young", "Man in the Box", and "Sea of Sorrow", all of which had accompanying music videos. The album was a critical success, with "Hollywood" Steve Huey of AllMusic citing Facelift as "one of the most important records in establishing an audience for grunge and alternative rock among hard rock and heavy metal listeners."

Facelift was not an instant success, selling under 40,000 copies in the first six months of release, until MTV added "Man in the Box" to regular daytime rotation.

"Man in the Box" hit number 18 on the Mainstream Rock charts, with the album's follow up single, "Sea of Sorrow", reaching number 27, and in six weeks Facelift sold 400,000 copies in the US.

Alice in Chains was nominated for a Best Hard Rock Performance with Vocal Grammy Award in 1992 for "Man in the Box", but lost to Van Halen for their 1991 album For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge. The music video for "Man in the Box" was nominated for Best Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Video at the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards.

In June 2017, Ozzy Osbourne ranked Facelift at number 2 on his list of "10 Favourite Metal Albums".

The band continued to hone its audience, opening for such artists as Iggy Pop, Van Halen, Poison, and Extreme. In early 1991, Alice in Chains landed the opening slot for the Clash of the Titans with Anthrax, Megadeth, and Slayer, exposing the band to a wide metal audience. During the tour the band found themselves subject to some hostile audiences; however, Anthrax bassist Frank Bello recalls them earning the respect of others by standing up for themselves: "If there was a guy starting shit, Layne would jump into the audience and beat the FUCK outta that guy!" Michael Christopher of PopMatters observed "With 1990's Facelift, before Nirvana blew the scene wide open, Seattle’s Alice in Chains were getting a metal push, thrown on tour with the likes of Slayer and Megadeth, repeatedly booed off stage in a genre where they didn’t belong." The band later released the video compilation Live Facelift, which was filmed at the Moore Theatre in 1990.

[bountyofbeads]

Stone-Cold Loser https://nyti.ms/2S85c83

Roger Stone, who was arrested in a dawn raid at his home in Fort Lauderdale, has long been fond of the Somerset Maugham line that Florida is a "sunny place for shady people."

"Just as Nixon went down in history as a disgrace to the office of the president, so now will Stone go down as an accomplice to enemies of the republic," writes Eric Caine from Modesto in a comment on @MaureenDowd's column, "Stone-Cold Loser."

"Stone-Cold Loser"

By Maureen Dowd | New York Times Opinion | Published Jan. 26, 2019 |

Posted January 27, 2019 |

WASHINGTON — Roger Stone has always lived in a dog-eat-dog world.

So it was apt that he was charged with skulduggery in part for threatening to kidnap a therapy dog, a fluffy, sweet-faced Coton de Tuléar, belonging to Randy Credico, a New York radio host.

Robert Mueller believes that Credico, a pal of Julian Assange, served as an intermediary with WikiLeaks for Stone. Mueller’s indictment charges that Stone called Credico “a rat” and “a stoolie” because he believed that the radio host was not going to back up what the special counsel says is Stone’s false story about contacts with WikiLeaks, which disseminated Russia’s hacked emails from the D.N.C. and Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman.

Stone emailed Credico that he would “take that dog away from you,” the indictment says, later adding: “I am so ready. Let’s get it on. Prepare to die (expletive).”

As the owner of two Yorkies, Stone clearly knows how scary it is when a beloved dog is in harm’s way. When he emerged from court on Friday, he immediately complained that F.B.I. agents had “terrorized” his dogs when they came to arrest him at dawn at his home in Fort Lauderdale.

The last thing Stone posted on Instagram before his arrest was a video of a terrier, with a high-pitched voice-over, protesting, “Roger Stone did nothing wrong.”

Always bespoke and natty, living by the mantra that it’s better to be infamous than never famous, Stone looked strangely unadorned as he came out of court to meet the press in a navy polo shirt and bluejeans.

As the master of darkness who had been captured in darkness stepped into the bright light of Fort Lauderdale, he was his usual flamboyant, unapologetically meretricious self. He proclaimed his innocence, flashed the Nixon victory sign and reiterated the old saw from his mentor, Roy Cohn, that any attention is good attention.

But it fell flat. Being Roger Stone had finally caught up with him.

He has always said Florida suited him because “it was a sunny place for shady people,” borrowing a Somerset Maugham line. But now the cat’s cradle of lies and dirty tricks had tripped up the putative dognapper. And it went down on the very same day that Paul Manafort — his former associate in a seamy lobbying firm with rancid dictators as clients, and then later his pal in the seamy campaign of Donald Trump — was also in federal court on charges related to the Mueller probe. Manafort’s hair is now almost completely white.

One of Stone’s rules — along with soaking his martini olives in vermouth and never wearing a double-breasted suit with a button-down collar — is “Deny, deny, deny.” But his arrest for lying, obstructing and witness tampering raised the inevitable question about his on-and-off friend in the White House, the man who is the last jigsaw-puzzle piece in the investigation of Trumpworld’s alleged coordination with Russia: Is being Donald Trump finally about to catch up with Donald Trump?

Stone, who famously has Nixon’s face tattooed on his back, is the agent provocateur who is the through line from Nixon, and his impeachment, to Trump, and his possible impeachment.

As Manafort said in the 2017 documentary “Get Me Roger Stone,” Trump and Stone “see the world in a very similar way.” And that way is theatrical and cynical. Do whatever you have to do to get what you want; playing by the rules is for suckers.

In 1999, when I went on a trip to Miami to watch Trump test the presidential waters, Stone orchestrated Trump’s Castro-bashing speech to Cuban-Americans. The bodybuilding, swinging strategist, christened “the state-of-the-art sleazeball” by The New Republic in the 80s, said he was “a jockey looking for a horse.”

Stone, who was mixed up in Watergate at the tender age of 19, “made the transition from the Stone Age of dirty tricks to today,” as David Axelrod puts it.

He watched Nixon rally the silent majority with a law-and-order message and racial dog whistling. He helped Ronald Reagan create Reagan Democrats.

For decades, believing “past is prologue,” Stone urged Trump to be the successor to those pols, revving up angry, white working-class voters who felt belittled or scared of “the other.” It would be so easy to divide and stoke resentment, as Stone and Trump proved when they inflamed the birther controversy against Barack Obama.

“Hate is a stronger motivator than love,” Stone told the documentarians. “Human nature has never changed.”

The tribal tensions in America made Stone’s favorite tricks easier than ever; he didn’t have to operate in the shadows. He wore a T-shirt with Bill Clinton and the word “Rape” at 2016 campaign rallies. As Stone boasted in the documentary, his “slash-and-burn” tactics “are now in vogue.”

Trump has had periods of estrangement with Stone. In 2008, in an interview with The New Yorker, he called the strategist “a stone-cold loser,” a state Trump himself has been relegated to this past week, courtesy of Nancy Pelosi.

Stone will not go gently. When he is asked about the tattoo of Nixon, he says he got it to remind himself, “A man is not finished when he is defeated; he is only finished when he quits.”

At the moment, though, dogged by Mueller, Stone and Manafort are the dog’s breakfast. The pair has given practicing the dark arts a bad name.

"There's one piece of history about Roger Stone that never gets enough press, Ms. Dowd. That is, Roger Stone was involved in the "recount" in Florida and swinging it to George W. Bush. Specifically, he was behind a political group attacking three Democratic state Supreme Court justices threatening Bush's possible victory: https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2003/07/11/fla-may-fine-gop-figure-for-2000-recount-actions/af72ec6a-082e-4292-913c-f8ed14c2fc62/?utm_term=.9e4d3fc6c5f3 These sleazy political operatives, from Lee Atwater to Karl Rove to Paul Manafort to Roger Stone on the Right have been getting away with this disgusting behavior for decades. Trump is a direct result of this cancer. Lock them all up." V of LA

"The ghost of Nixon past still haunts us. Just when you thought it was safe to trust our democracy, we get the Nixon salute and see his face on Stone’s back, just not quite low enough, in my opinion. The president was bad enough, but now it looks as though he’s merely the apex of a vast pyramid scheme so vile and full of duplicity that only Betsy DeVos could fully appreciate it. But it’s clear that the president didn’t accomplish his takeover on his own. He was socially promoted to a position higher than he could have ever reached without dirty tricks, lies and conspiracies galore. If today’s events aren’t disgusting enough, we’re even picking up echoes of Roy Cohen. There’s even a faint whiff of Joseph McCarthy that you can just make out while watching the nightly news. It recalls a time when powerful people weaponized fear and ignorance, and nearly turned us into animals at each others throats. We can only hope that people who voted for the president were among those fearful of going broke during the government shutdown. You can talk to people all day about why an unread, crotch-groping narcissistic moron is not a good candidate for president of the United States, but until they feel it in their guts, and their wallets, they’ll never fully understand. Do we have your attention now? Have you taken note of the sleazy, lying manipulators who manufactured this presidency with your help? Mueller might undo some of the damage, but it's up us not to let it happen again." gemli of Boston

"Imagine assembling a clown show of Trump, Junior, Jared, Manafort, Bannon, Stone, Flynn, KA Conway and some sideshow characters like Carter Page and Papadopoulus. Deliver some memorable campaign promises for America's future like "Lock her up" and "Build the Wall", while encouraging mobs to beat up reporters. Toss in a few surprise tapes about assaulting young women. Then openly conspire with Russian intelligence to interfere in the US election while being watched by the FBI, CIA and 6 European country intelligence services. And make plain as day efforts to relieve sanctions on Russia, support the pro-Russian cause in Ukraine, make over 100 contacts with Russian government officials during the campaign and transition and attempt to set up a secret communication channel through the Russian Embassy that US intelligence cannot monitor. Even after all of this, the chaos and the soaring deficits of the first two years of the Trump Administration, around 40% of Americans still think he is doing a great job. Based on personal experience working in all 50 states, I don't believe that part of the population is going to change much. But we need to take back the government on behalf of future generations and do it soon." Look Ahead of Washington

"Like Trump, Roger Stone is a man with no redeeming qualities and no morals at all. Cohen and Manafort as well. They admire and emulate the tough guys of organized crime without actually BEING those tough guys. But the Russians working for former KGB agent Putin are those tough guys, and that's who the phonies chose to do business with. Stone is blustering but he's counting on a Trump pardon, not realizing 3 things: 1) Trump WILL throw him under the bus. A pardon is unlikely. 2) A Trump pardon means he cannot use the 5th Amendment to keep from testifying--meaning he must tell the truth or face contempt or perjury charges. 3) He will still be liable to state charges, and the new NY AG would love get him in her cross-hairs. Stone is finished and doesn't even know it!"Dad of 2 /NJ

"Roger Stone is a truly mean-spirited figure. No wonder he, like Trump, his soul mate if you will, were proteges of Roy Cohn. One thing is certain, nobody is going to feel sorry for Stone, Manafort or any of Donald Trump's merry band of mean, vindictive misfits. Once our national nightmare is over, it will take a long time to heal, if we ever can. Because Stone and Trump poked the racist beast of a certain segment of the nation, unleashing virulent emotions, conservative-fed conspiracy theories, and disdain for truth, fact checking, and critical thinking. The president, a man who doesn't read, aligned himself with a man who did but used his reading to polish his dark arts, and tries to make ignorance seem cool. As a result, they got an entire political party to totally overhaul its thinking on foreign policy goals, belief in climate science (indeed, belief in any science) and even, I venture to say, the biggie: immigration. Trump, egged on by Stone, has done more damage to our politics, rule of law, and views of government than any foreign invader could have. Stone, more than Trump, grasped an essential truth: the worst damage a country can undergo is from within."Christine McM of Boston

"If Stone and The Donald have used "revving up angry white working-class voters" as a tactic to win elections, one wonders whether they are themselves authentic racists or whether they believe in nothing but power for its own sake. Are they "merely" impersonating bigots or are they true believers? Either way they represent a pestilence that needs to be driven out of the body politic, and yet if they're being disingenuous with respect to their own feelings about white supremacy (a disease that normally infects only the feeble-minded) one wonders how they manage to live with themselves. Can one ever attain enough wealth and power to compensate for the loss of one's soul? Perhaps it's a moot point but I somehow can't get past it."

Stu Freeman of Brooklyn

"No Stone left unturned, no creatures hiding under rocks. Spring IS coming, the flowers will bloom, the stench will dissipate, the gloom will dissolve. Thank you, Mr. Mueller." Stu Freeman of Brooklyn

Phyllis Dalmatian of Kansas

"Stone is Johnny two-face: he threatens to harm a security dog then uses his own two dogs' reaction to his early-morning arrest as proof of the FBI's perceived heavy-handed tactics. He trumpets his dedication to "the truth" while lying (all his life) and throughout the Mueller investigation--threatening former criminal associates if they cooperate with--i.e. tell the truth to--the feds. He professes patriotism while working in league with his country's greatest adversary to undermine an American presidential election. It is no wonder anyone this duplicitous should be an acolyte of Richard Nixon and a life-long driving force in the Republican Party. That's the way the GOP grows its alleged leaders--by rewarding them for wrecking American values without demonstrating any consciousness of guilt. "CMary of Chicago

"Concerning stones method of arrest, he merely found out how it is to be treated by law enforcement in many zip codes in this county, no sympathy whatsoever."No Party of FLA

"Why is it so many Americans believe whatever they are told? People like Trump and Stone commit crimes and lie in plain sight and many of our countrymen lap it up like duck soup. Was it growing up in the era of Disney and Spielberg that has made so much of the public susceptible to political special effects? "Of course President Obama is a Muslim, my TV said so." You can't fool all of the people, but you certainly will have no trouble fooling half of them. These remain dangerous times."Socrates of NJ

" Looking back....as you do in this piece....there is really only one question “Was your desperate focus on stopping Hilary from being elected worth it?”

David Martin of Paris

"Meanwhile, Trump can't stop telling us about women in vans with duct tape on their mouths. Perhaps his past is catching up with him involuntarily." Jerry Summer of NC

Another day, another Trump associate is arrested... What was that you were saying about HRC's emails again, Ms Dowd? Nick Adam of Mississippi

[dustedmagazine]

Ceramic Dog – YRU Still Here? (Northern Spy)

Guitarist Marc Ribot has worn his leftist politics proudly and often vehemently throughout his four-decade career as a professional musician. His deep discography is spiced and layered with declarations and provocations rooted in a punk ethos, but oft channeled in the direction of agitating actual and lasting social change. Denunciations of religious intolerance and government overreach are common aspects of his projects. YRU Still Here? Sights ICE and the current Administration’s draconian immigration abuses in its crosshairs. Ribot distills the topical platform down to a three-point rallying cry: “Protect DACA. Stop the Raids. Fuck La Migra!”

Musically, the album draws on the versatility of his working trio with drummer Ches Smith, also doubling on electronics, and bassist Shahzad Ismaily, who brings Moog and percussion to the table alongside his regular axe. A crew of other colleagues also contributes in guest roles and four of the albums eleven pieces incorporate song lyrics. Expletives and aggression are regular ingredients throughout starting with the rawboned “Personal Nancy” that finds Ribot shouting over a swirling, miasmic mass of flanging guitar, gurgling electric bass and pounding drums that sounds intentionally amateurish and tenaciously catchy all at once.

Lo-fi Jon Spencer-ish rock numbers like “Agnes” alternate with more pointed ventures like “Muslim Jewish Resistance,” which exudes weird echoes of woke DC bands from decades earlier and some squealing guest sax from Briggan Krauss. “Pennsylvania 6 6666” steers sharply into a loungy one-drop groove and a story-song musing on state-specific racial and cultural homogenization with Ribot intoning in a cigarettes-coarsened croon, “When I lived in Pennsylvania, they beat me up almost every day.” Doug Weiselman adds some furry flute over Mauricio Herrera’s percolating conga and the players fully embrace the perverse humor of the piece as it morphs into a full-tilt rhumba line.

Convincingly tapping his inner Randy Newman while retaining his Downtown NYC No Wave edge is no modest achievement and though the results are frequently warts-and-all affairs, Ribot’s commitment and audacity is often infectious. Perhaps even more persuasively, his targets are legit and completely deserving of both withering ire and condemnation. That measurable reserve of earnest righteousness makes the frayed seams and cumulative excesses easier to overlook or simply endorse outright. Cases in point come with the album’s stadium anthem centerpiece “Shut That Kid Up,” which wears its irony openly by being the most instrumentally loquacious song of the set and the Hindustani-infused acid rock jam sardonically entitled “Orthodoxy.” Rimshot, Ribot.

Derek Taylor

[mechagalaxy]

Sten Hugo Hiller - 627184: Mountain Climbing Mecha Combat #1438

(By Sten Hugo Hiller - 627184) Mountain Climbing Mecha Combat #1438 Brought to you by ANN Highlighting the June 3368 Lightning Strike The Gaming Authorities decided that an event where only the light Mechs was allowed to compete was just the thing. I noticed this, and hoped they would stay off another lightweight event in the near future, -at lest until we had finished the post-war raid. As this was a sudden death event, there were no need to bring the formation to the mountains right away. The time might instead be profitably spent in circuits, waves and missions. Or one could use this breather to take advantage of the improved AI in the hangars and get some delayed upgrades of the various formations done. I choose to do the latter. After scrapping all of the Shocklites from my 25 ton formation and adding in a line of Commissars instead, the performance was notably improved. Question was if it had been improved enough to come out on top of K3? The only way to find out was to go there and hammer away, so a bit before the scramble we signed in. As usual, we were the only contestant from the 100 club. There were some 300 club members there as well, but most were members in good standing of the 200 club. On the face of it we stood little chance, but as several of the opponents still had their main formations there some surgical strikes soon saw us on the upper end of the foothills. Then, in rapid succession two of the 300 members felt our wrath. Don Lindley from Spirit of Bunny had lots of Anzus, but their targeting was too poor to take out my rides before they was blown up. Tim Williams from M&L Black Cats was a somewhat harder nut to crack, but while his Hoplites was better protected and shielded than Lindleys Anzu`s, their targeting was still not good enough to win the contest. Which left just one opponent between me and the Gold. Chong Chin of the Heroes held the top, and his Shocklites had plenty of good targeting solutions. My forces melted away before we could quite get to grips with his two last lines. Then the situation took a turn for the worse. Darryl Proctor of Northwind Dragons is a true master of  all mountain fighting, and when he claimed the top our hopes for a win were totally dashed. The few half-hearted strikes we launched failed to get past his fourth line, so we just sat and prepared to defend the spot we held. In addition some footage was taken, so later it was easy enough to find that this events winners had been: Div 1 445+ (25 Commanders): Claude Poirier, Knights of Avalon (1h,52m) 2: Jeff Haas 3: Sherriff Leary Wretham 4: Fabio Favaro 5: Were Wolf 6: Bernard Johnson 7: Gary Muenzel 8: Sal Vezzosi Jr 9: Dan Ross 10: Carlos Chin Div 2 -444 (12 Commanders): Randy Taylor, Omegas (3h,57m) Div 3 -340 (16 Commanders): Darryl Proctor, Northwind Dragons (16m,22s) Div 4 -222 (18 Commanders): Ken Fuchs, T.B. BlackWatch (21h,33m) Div 5 -159 (15 Commanders): Whitney Averill, Omegas (2h,20m) Div 6 -130 (19 Commanders): Siegfried Gust, Black Star Bandits (6h,36m) Div 7 -99 (22 Commanders): Mike Andrews, Black Star Bandits (6h,28m) Div 8 -69 (19 Commanders):  Matt Helm, Mini Murdermechs (3h,42m) Div 9 -38 (37 Commanders): Kimmy Dattilo, Mini Murdermechs (1h,1m) 4+8(1S)+5+4+7+5+3(G)+5+1= One Gold, one Silver and thirty-eight Bronzes were awarded to Commanders who obviously had overweight Mechs in their formations. Total Contestants: 183 Total medals claimed: 132 (of 135 possible) Compared to the Oggun event we had last month, fifteen additional Commanders showed up to compete for the prizes. But even this influx was not enough to ensure all the prizes were claimed. A trio of Bronzes from K3 had to be returned for resmelting after the award ceremony. The last half-hour saw only one Gold changing hands. Six of the other Golds were held for at least six hours. Which makes one wonder. Was this due to strong winners, or a general lack of fighting spirit? Hard to say, but an indication can be found by counting the number of medals held for more than 30 minutes in this event: .............Silvers......Bronzes Div 1 ....3 of 4.........4 of 10 Div 2 ....4 of 4.........7 of 10 Div 3 ....3 of 4.........7 of 10 Div 4 ....2 of 4.........6 of 10 Div 5 ....4 of 4.......10 of 10 Div 6 ....4 of 4.........9 of 10 Div 7 ....3 of 4.........7 of 10 Div 8 ....2 of 4.........4 of 10 Div 9 ....3 of 4.........6 of 10 We had two tops (K2 and K5) without any succesfull medal attacks. Only K8 had sufficient action to redistribute the majority of the medals. A total of eight Silvers(22%) and twenty-seven Bronzes(31%) changed hands. Not exactly unlimited fighting, but at least both had a better turnover than the 11% the Golds had. This time a trio of clans brought home double Golds, Omegas from K2 and K5, Black Star Bandits from K6 and K7, while Mini Murdermechs took the Golds on K8 and K9. There were no unaligned winners this time, but Claude Poirier from the Knights of Avalon secured a follow-up win on Mount Olympus. Upcoming event: Cannon Strike Here we gat another unlimited event with benefits. This time, just like back in April, it is the projectile weapons that get an 80% boost to their output. But, it is not quite identical. This time it is a sudden death event, not a Chrono like back then. Event ends February 19 between 2200 and 2230 New York Time

[bixgirl1]

The Sexual Awakening Of An Innocent Pureblood, Dating The Randy Prat Who Lived - Ch. 33

And so, after last chapter’s remarkably boring round of sex, @l0vegl0wsinthedark and I would like to present you with an equally boring dinner out with friends.  It’s super formal, and everyone is absolutely on their best behavior. Then again, the “everyone”s involved are Slytherins and a Gryffindor, so-- Well.

masterlist

Chapter Thirty-Three: A Declaration With Friends (and the rest of the world, too)

~The Silver Dragon, Diagon Alley, Saturday Night~

Harry, leading Draco to the table on his arm: *nods at Pansy and Blaise* Parkinson. Zabini.

Pansy: Potter, you're looking well healed. *glances at Draco, does a double take* Draco, my God, you’re-- What's wrong with your hair? Why do you look so--? *mouth opening and closing in bewilderment*

Draco, instantly turning bright pink and glaring at Pansy: *hurriedly smooths his hair down* I-- I ran out of Sleakeazy, Pans. Merlin, give a man a break. *sits down with an irritable huff when Harry pulls out his chair for him* *winces heavily, biting his lip over a gasp, before settling awkwardly, leaning forward a little*

Blaise, watching him with eyes narrowed thoughtfully: *turns to Harry as he takes a seat beside Harry, slightly curious about the badly concealed smugness in his expression* So, Potter... I see you kicked death in the balls yet another time. *grins lazily at Harry's wry eyebrow lift* Congratulations.

Harry: Thanks. I manage. *narrows his eyes a bit when Blaise grins.too widely* I may not be a Slytherin, but I can usually wiggle out of most anything. I hear down at the MLE that you're good at that too.

Blaise, hastily: You know what they say, Potter. Don't believe everything you hear and all that. Say, are those new glasses? *smiles a slow, burning smile* You look rather dashing in those, Potter. The robes aren't half bad either.

Draco, snapping: Oh for fuck's sake, I can't do this while sober. *looks around for a waiter*

Harry, a bit confused by the change in tone: Thank you? Draco picked them out. My only real good taste is in men, I think.

Pansy, rolling her eyes and gesturing to the waiter: Well thank Merlin someone finally took you in hand.

Harry, still looking back and forth between Blaise and Pansy as Draco orders their drinks curtly: *cautiously* Um, you both look good too. *smiles wryly* It's a bit easier to know what to expect from the parents who hate you, though.

Draco, curtly: They don't hate you. Right? *glowers at his friends*

Blaise, with a soft 'tsk': Really, Draco. Look at the man. Only a fool would hate him… *leans back in his seat and lets his gaze rake unapologetically over Harry's frame* *eyes lingering on his chest, the way Harry's robes stretch across the muscled breadth* *sighs longingly* And you're sure Draco's the one? Definitely don't want to indulge in a little frolicking with another good looking bloke? Say, one with-- *shrugs, overtly casual* --i don't know, Italian roots?

Harry, astonished: *glances sideways and sees Draco's glower* *huffs a laugh, eyes twinkling* *quirks one wicked eyebrow at Blaise; amused* I'm sure Draco’s the one. But... I've heard that Italians make good lovers, that's true enough. *slyly, to Draco* Maybe we could consider--

Pansy: *laughs so loudly she almost spills her wine* Why, Potter! How perfectly scandalous....

Draco, turning wordlessly to Harry, expression deceptively calm: *crooks an eyebrow at him, mouth in a thin line*

Harry, sheepishly settling back in his chair: *a bit meekly* Of course I don't want to indulge. Draco indulges me more than enough. *smiles at Draco tentatively, relaxing when Draco's eyebrow lowers and his lips soften into an upward curve* *picks up Draco's hand from the table and kisses the inside of his wrist*

Pansy, sighing: And just when I thought you might be more interesting than Draco's led us to believe.

Harry, shoulders squaring a bit and taking a sip of his scotch as it’s brought.over: *mildly* Really? I was under the impression.that he'd been rather....complimentary.

Draco, inhaling sharply: *shoots Harry a scorching glare* *picks up his whiskey and downs it in a single gulp* *leans back agitatedly in his chair, before hissing lightly and straightening back up* *shoots Harry another glare, this time with his cheeks colouring*

Blaise, watching in mild bewilderment: What in the name of Salazar is wrong with you?

Draco, scowling: Nothing. I need another drink is all.

Pansy, flapping a hand: Let him, Blaise. After all, formal courting magic dictates that Potter's not allowed to kiss him again after this meeting if we don't approve. He's a bit stressed.

Harry, horrified: What? *turns to Draco, aghast* I'm not allowed to mouth press you again if they don’t approve? *flushes and bites his lip at Pansy's peal of laughter* *attempts a laugh of his own* *uncertainly, under his breath to Draco* That was a joke, right?

Draco, rolling his eyes and grabbing his drink right off the tray before the waiter knows what's going on: Of course she's joking, love. You can kiss and touch me however much you like regardless of whether these wretches approve or not.

Blaise, affronted: I'm sorry, wretches? We're going to be godparents to your children someday, you know?

Harry, blushing: I think we're getting ahead of ourselves a bit. We haven't even officially talked about the-- *bites lip, glancing at Draco* About the future. *frowns at Draco's huff* Are you alright, love? *leans in, lowers his voice to a whisper* If you're drinking to anesthetize we can go to the loo; I can cast a quick healing charm... *inhales against Draco's temple for a moment, failing to repress a shudder at the smell of sweat and sex*

Pansy, drawing her eyebrows together: What? What did he just say to you, Draco? What kind of charm? Why do you look--

Draco, turning his head by a fraction and staring openly at Harry's mouth: *husky whisper* I'm drinking to keep my erection at bay. *smirks slightly at Harry's choked exhalation* But I'll take that offer to adjourn to the gents' for a quick little romp? You can take me up against the wall while I--

Blaise, impatiently: What are you both murmuring to each other? Really, this is hardly polite. Draco, you're supposed to be getting us to like your boyfriend. Draco's boyfriend, you're supposed to be falling over yourself trying to get us to like you.

Harry, strained: Shut up, Zabini. *takes a long sip from his own drink, panting slightly* *pastes oh a smile* Sorry. Thirsty. *quietly, heatedly glancing back at Draco* Watch it, Malfoy

Pansy, leaning into Blaise: *hushed, almost in awe* Are you seeing this dynamic? How Potter...? And the way Draco is--

Blaise, steadily dawning realisation in his eyes: *nods distractedly* *low, so only Pansy can hear* Just when I thought Draco had him completely whipped-- *eyes widen impossibly as he watches Draco shift around uncomfortably in his seat once more, throwing Harry a glance that's half resentment half pure lust* *under his breath* Holy shit. *smirk playing about his lips* Something wrong with your chair, Draco? You're awfully twitchy. Narcissa would be so displeased.

Draco, sneering at him: *catches the knowing gleam in his eyes* *turns red and throws his drink back again, panic clear in his eyes*

Harry, scowling a bit at Draco's reaction, then at Blaise's smirk when he notices: *shortly* He slipped, earlier. He's fine. Aren't you? *laces his fingers through Draco's*

Pansy: *studies Draco as the server comes over; watches him order for the two of them*

Harry, tentative: I've never had scallops, love. I don't usually like seafood.

Pansy: *raises her eyebrows at Draco's simple reassurance that he will* *laughs aloud when Harry acquiesces immediately* *gloatingly* What, exactly, did you slip on Draco? *grins as two sets of eyes swivel to her*

Draco, visibly fighting to remain calm: Pansy, put the bitch away, love. I don't have it in me to deal with it tonight. *raises Harry's and his interlaced fingers and holding it against his chest, breathing out steadily*

Blaise, on the verge of a laugh: Would you like a cushion, Draco dear?

Draco, gritting his teeth: Fuck. Off. *gestures impatiently for another drink* *glares when Blaise sniggers openly, whispering something in Pansy's ear* *slumps down in his chair as Pansy's eyes go very wide and she turns to face him, mouth falling open as she watches him squirm in his seat* *leans fully into Harry with a tired sigh* Fucking order me another drink before I go raid the bar, Harry.

Harry, concerned: Love, they're just teasing you-- *casts an uncertain eye across the table* --I think. I've told you a million timers it's nothing you should be embarrassed about; I've even said it's okay to talk about with them. Just-- let's try to have a nice time, okay? I'm sure I'll like the scallops, then we can go home--back to my place. *sighs when Draco remains quiet and gestures the server for a refill of their drinks*

Pansy, mouth drawing down sourly: *mutters* Potter, you're making my oldest friend an utter bore. He used to at least give back when we gave him a hard time.

Harry, rolling his eyes: *ironically* Yes, that's exactly it, it's all me, please accept my many apologies for making Draco boring. *squeezes Draco's thigh under the table, wringing a surprised laugh from him* *nods* Oh. Look...dinner. Maybe we should eat?

~Three courses and... several more drinks later~

Draco, nuzzling into Harry's neck, one leg thrown across his lap: *whining* Do you think I'm boring, baby?

Blaise, heaving with silent laughter: Er, Draco? What're you doing to Potter under the table? I only ask because his face is as red as your arse probably is--

Harry: *chokes and carefully removes Draco's hand from his prick* Er, no, babe, of course not. *lamely* He's just tired. We should be going soon.

Pansy, delighted: Oh, no. The last few minutes have made the first forty worth it. *in a start whisper to Harry* Draco never has been good at holding his drink. Let alone a whole bottle. *brightly* Neither do I, love. In fact, I find you positively fascinating right now! Tell me, is Blaise right? How red is your arse? As red as Potter's face?

Harry, warningly: Parkinso--

Draco, carefully inspecting Harry's face: *confident* My arse has more purple in it. *brightly* Right, Harry?

Pansy, cheerfully: I don't know, Potter's face is getting pretty purple...

Blaise, whistling low: I don't know whom I'm more impressed with? How hard did you go, Potter? And how hard can you take it, Draco? *smirks as he picks up his wine* And how the hell are you sitting down right now?

Harry: *submitting to a highly lengthy, incredibly inappropriate kiss from Draco* *eases Draco away when starts moaning* *glances at Blaise* That’s not your business. If Draco wanted you to know, he'd have told you. *removes Draco's wandering hand from his lap again*

Draco, sucking noisily at Harry's earlobe: Oh he went-- pretty hard-- not that it's any of your-- business-- Blaise-- *starts kissing a line down the side of Harry's neck* And I can take a lot-- *fumbles with Harry's fly* *neatly slips his hand in* Did you hear that, Harry? I can take a lot-- *kisses him again as Harry almost moans aloud* Like...a lot a lot.

Blaise, shifting uncomfortably: Okay, I know I was teasing until now, but this is-- *discreetly adjusts himself* *looks imploringly at Pansy* Get them to fucking stop.

Harry, removing Draco's hand again: *tersely, under his breath* I'm willing to go home with you, Draco, but not fuck you on the table in the middle of the restaurant... *hurriedly stuffs himself back into his trousers*

Pansy, patting Blaise's hand: *huffs a light laugh* Darling, can you please remove Potter's skin from between your teeth?

Harry, arousal and embarrassment etched tightly across his face: *desperate* Please!

Pansy, on a giggle: *reminding* We need to discuss something about.your relationship directly if this dinner is to be official, right Draco?

Draco, pulling back with a pout: *leans his head against Harry's shoulder with a sigh, reaching out for his drink and cradling it* What do you want to discuss about our relationship? *without waiting for her to answer, proudly* We have a lot of sex.

Blaise, weakly: ...Clearly.

Harry, clearing his throat and discreetly exchanging Draco's drink for a glass of water: *debates for a moment; swallows* *tries to brave it out* Yeah, baby, we do...

Pansy, clapping her hands once: How wonderful. Very important in a relationship, that. What kinds do you have? *leans her chin on her fist, eyes bright* *waves her free hand* Like tonight. I gather Draco's arse is a bit tender for more reasons than a nice buggering?

Draco, gazing tenderly at Harry: Harry spanked me. And then he-- and then he whipped me-- *running a hand in a soft caress across Harry's chest* Didn't you, baby? *licks over the hickey he left on Harry's neck* *mumbling as he slips a hand through the front lacings on Harry's robe and pops open a few shirt buttons* And then he...fucked me...and fucked me-- *pulls back, expression dreamy* And fucked me some more-- *sighs, rubbing his cheek against Harry's* And then he put his fingers in me--

Blaise, accidentally spilling his glass of water: *urgently hails a waiter over* *wildly* And what do you do on weekends?!

Draco, giggling: Have more sex, of course. With Harry on top of me, and behind me and--

Harry, catching himself mid face-palm: And under you, yes, I think they get it, we have lots of sex. *cringing* I know I said it's okay to talk to them, but you don't have to. *mumbles* It wasn’t actually whipping--

Draco, loudly: Harry's manhood is very large! *notices the waiter who'd frozen mid-way reaching for the tumbled over glass* *turns determinedly to him* You. Serving...man. Do you know who this is? *gestures imperiously to Harry*

Waiter, looking terrified: *looks from Draco to Harry to Pansy to Blaise* *nods jerkily* H-Harry Potter...?

Draco, smugly: That's right. He is. He's Harry Potter. He killed the Dark Voldemort. He-- he killed death - thrice. He courted me and-- and he mouth-presses me a lot and also has a very large manh-- penis. *low* Do you want to see it?

Blaise, jerking upright from where he'd been hiding his face: I think we'll take the cheque, Louis, thank you--

Draco, happily: I know a lot about sex, Louis, ask me anything!

Harry, starting to cross over from mortification to amusement out of the sheer improbability of the situation: *glances at waiter and snorts* You're going to hate yourself tomorrow, Draco....

Pansy, interjecting as Louis stands there gaping: How large is it?

Harry: *chokes on his water* You're an awful friend, Parkinson.

Pansy, grinning: So Draco tells me all the time.

Draco, tilting his head thoughtfully: *turns to Louis* Bring back that pepper grinder, Louis, my friend needs a visual aid-- *when Harry makes a shrill, strangled sound and tries to clamp a hand over Draco's mouth* Mmmffpp-- *tugging away his hand* *flirtatiously* You know the best way to shut me up is to mouth press me, Harry--

Blaise, massaging his temple while trying to tamp down a laugh: Louis, the cheque?

Draco, suddenly grabbing Louis' arm: Are you gay? Do you like a good, thick manhood in your bum? You seem like you like a good, thick manhood in--

Harry, lowering his voice commandingly: Draco stop. Leave the man alone; he's not volunteering information--you are. You're being rude, pet. *softens his voice when Draco subsides* Thank you. Talk about us all you want, okay? But don't demand others to talk too? *more calmly when Draco nods primly and sits up straight* Louis, please get the cheque. *smirks*

Pansy:  No fair changing the subject! I was going to bet you over how many owls you'd be receiving. *turns to Draco* So tell me everything you've learned…

Draco, leaning forward as if about to impart great knowledge: Now, I know you women have it real easy with the natural lubrication of your-- *shaking off Harry's restraining hand on his arm* --but with us men it's a whole process, you see. And I've learned that the secret is to relax-- *a tad impatient* What, Harry, what do you want, love?! *ignoring Harry's pleading stare* And one of the best ways to relax-- oh Pans, you don't know true pleasure until you've been rimmed. Is it the same for women? Have you been rimmed, Pans? But then sometimes Harry slips in a finger or two alongside his tongue and well, the prostate is a whole other story! Merlin! *grins brightly* Blaise, you filthy degenerate! How many arses have you eaten out? It doesn't matter. It's a given that Harry eats arse better than you do-- *smacks a loud kiss to Harry's vividly red cheek*

Harry, closing his eyes for a moment: *helplessly* I'm sure he's er, fine, too. *looks around* Draco, your friends are one thing, but your voice is carrying a bit I think and--

Pansy, glancing around, disappointed: *sighs* Yes, you might want to quiet down a bit. Not that I'm not fascinated. Have you returned this illustrious favor? *takes a slow sip of her wine*

Draco, face falling: No. *looks at Harry, lip trembling* Are you going to leave me because I haven’t eaten out your arse, Harry?

Blaise, slumping down in his chair, cringing at all the stares they’re attracting: *mutters* There’s still time, Draco; go home tonight and--

Draco, smugly: I played with his arsehole the a couple weeks ago while I sucked his--

Harry, squirming: *cuts him off firmly* I will never leave you, no matter what we do or don't do in bed together. *lower, blushing* And that was.a a very nice surprise, thank you; I like it when you show initiative. *looks at Blaise and Pansy evenly* And now you know about as much of our sex life as I do. Please don't hold this against him.

Pansy, truly offended for the first time: You really don't know us, Potter. *relaxing a touch when Blaise clumsily pats her shoulder and whispers something in her ear* *nods* Besides, Draco always talks about sex when he gets really drunk.

Harry, perplexed: But he was a-- But, Draco, you were a--

Pansy, sighing when Draco brightly waves at a couple passing, then holds his hands apart about nine inches and beams, then points to Harry: *shakes her head* He barely remembers it in the morning. But.it was the only way we were able to give him.any kind if sex education in school. *more slyly* And it's how we found out that he thought your hair was "beautiful" and thought of it occasionally while he "shamefully self-delighted," back in fifth year. He's been--*looks at him doubtfully as he makes a lewd gesture with his fist and then happily points to Harry again, to an old woman at a neighboring table*-- repressed. It's the only way he's ever been able to let it out without embarrassment. Just let him get it off his chest, he'll be fine in the morning.

Harry, unable to hold in a snicker: Well, he's not repressed anymore... He's going to know something happened.

Pansy, shrugging: So? *turns to get Draco’s attention: Draco. Draco! Anything else?

Draco, sighing and winding his arm through Harry's, resting his head on his shoulder: *sappy grin* I love him so much, Pansy, it scares me sometimes how much. He's so caring and warm and spoils me and gives me so many orgasms-- *breaks off to rest his chin on Harry's shoulder and smirk at him* Do you like that? I taught myself that word. Orgasm. *as Louis appears again* Orgasms, Louis.

Blaise, rubbing his forehead: Merlin, I can't decide if I want to put this night in a Pensieve or not--

Harry, resting his cheek against Draco's head for a moment: *dryly* You can borrow mine. *looks at Louis* That's right, I do, love. You give them to me, too. *to Pansy* He's not going to remember much?

Pansy: Nope. A vague feeling of humiliation, and he'll know something happened and beg you for details, but--no. *grinning* He'll find the details in the paper soon enough this time, though.

Harry: *chuckles; bites his lip* *turns to consider Draco's bright eyes and loose smile for a moment* *leans into him, close to his ear; whispers* Can you keep a secret, Draco?

Draco, immediately serious: I will take any secret you tell me to the grave, Harry Potter. I would rather cut my own tongue off than betray your trust and you can be sure of the fact that--

Harry: *softly, still in his ear* I'm mad about you. I'm going to ask you to marry me soon, if that's okay. *pulls back at Draco's sharp inhale with a fond, tender smile* Is it?

Draco, breathing very fast, eyes impossibly wide: You are? *at Harry's nod* Wow... *after a pause* Of course it's okay-- *stares at him, lower lip trembling* *grabs his napkin and bursts into loud tears with his face buried in it*

Pansy: *sighing again* I should have mentioned how melodramatic he gets over nothing. But-- *waves a hand*

Harry, grinning: Right, then. *removes some Galleons from his pocket* Pansy. Blaise. It's been a pleasure. I, er, apologize for the amount of owls you'll be receiving after tonight. *gathers a still-sobbing Draco close* *waves at the other patrons staring at them and Apparates* *lands neatly in his bedroom as Draco sags against him* Let me just... I'll get you a hydration potion to ease the effects in the mor--

Draco, volume of his sobs escalating as he throws his arms around Harry's neck and holds him in a choke hold: I love you, Harry Potter! How d-do I deserve you?! Harry Potter wants t-to marry me--

Harry, only slightly panicked: *pats Draco's back* Uhm, yes, I do. I haven't been exactly subtle, honey. I love you too... *grumbles under his breath* Pansy'd better be right about your memory or I swear to Merlin... *looks down with exasperated affection and continues patting*

Draco, pressing sloppy, open mouthed kisses all over his face: Make-- make sex with me, Harry Potter-- *starts roughly tugging at Harry's clothes* *mumbling under his breath* Many sex-- Oh, Harry Potter--

Harry, allowing Draco to kiss him messily, but squirming away from his grasping hands: Um, you're not really in any shape for-- *squeaks when Draco grabs his cock and clumsily rubs it through his trousers* Draco, fuck! *exhales loudly, then extricates himself and begins efficiently undressing Draco* We'll celebrate after I ask, okay? Let’s just get these off you and get you into bed so you can sl-- Jesus--ah! Stop, babe!-- this can't have come as a surprise... *gets Draco's robes off and tosses them aside*

Draco, teetering dangerously on his feet as his attempts to undress Harry get more and more rough: Can't believe I get to make sex with Harry Potter... God, but he's annoying sometimes, but Harry Potter has a fantastic body-- *starts to moan as Harry snorts and drops a kiss onto his ducked head* *suddenly slaps a hand over his own mouth, backing away from Harry and staring at him with wide, horror filled eyes* *shakes his head when Harry looks at him with a mixture of confusion and concern* *dashes to the en suite, slamming the door behind him* *proceeds to vomit noisily*

Harry, sighing: *raising an eyebrow* Aaand there it is. *a bit louder* Harry Potter will be right there, Draco... *rolls his eyes and heads off to get the medicinal potions*

[knightofbalance-13]

https://rwbycrit.tumblr.com/post/165523430532/i-feel-this-needs-its-own-post-its-an-expansion

this is one of the most dumbass, vile, and insidious things I’ve ever seen kob say, particularly about lgbt issues. which is saying something.

This coming from the person who treats LGBT people as a hivemind. Yeah, why should anyone listen to you.

Yeah, it’s 2017. Last year, it was the “deadliest year on record for the LGBTQ community”

Wanna know what else happened in 2016? Conversion therapy become unbanned in over thirty states and openly gay people can actively join the military. If homophobia was as wide spread as you say, this would not be a thing. Especially if it was reported by USA Today, the third largest newspaper company in the world and a cornerstone of news. 

In 2017, at least 20 trans people have been killed in the US alone. That may not seem like a lot, but trans people make up less than 2% of the population.Â

You wanna know how much is 2% of the US population? 6.4 million and that’s cutting off two digits which if rounded up is 6.5 million people (323.95 million X .02= 6.479 million). So you wanna know the percentage of trans people killed? .0003% (20/6,479,000) Suddenly your numbers don’t look so serious. ESPECIALLY since your source outright says                                                        “Some of these cases involve clear anti-transgender bias. In others, the victim’s transgender status may have put them at risk in other ways, such as forcing them into homelessness.” Which contains weseal words and nota shred of evidence itself. So your point and source are invalid here.

According to the NY Times, “L.G.B.T. People Are More Likely to Be Targets of Hate Crimes Than Any Other Minority Group”. That article was published June 16, 2016.

Yeah...That’s because LGBT also includes racism and religious violence since LGBT people are not a race but ender and sexuality. A black gay man attacked for being black would count towards both statistics. Not to mention the source outright says the country as a whole is more accepting and the people who are doing this were radicals anyway. SO that actually supports my point that it’s being demonized.

The deadliest mass shooting in the US was at the Orlando gay night club Pulse in June of 2016. Snopes notes that, when going by common definition of “mass shooting”, Pulse was “indeed by far the “deadliest mass [public] shooting in U.S. history”. Even when it happened, people refused to believe that the fact that it was at a gay bar had anything to do with it.

Then prove it. Show sources and proof he was motivated by homophobia. Since the event is so serious, it should be easy. Burden of proof is on you. Considering you have shown to use weseal words, omit facts, outright lie and such: Your word is worth nothing.

Oh yeah, the AIDS crisis. Reagan underfunded AIDS research again and again, despite thousands of people dying. In the critically acclaimed “And the Band Played On” by Randy Shilts, he notes that “In the first twelve months of the epidemic… the CDC had spent $1 million on the outbreak, compared with the $9 million on Legionnaire’s disease”, of which far fewer people had died by that time. On top of that, Reagan didn’t even speak on the AIDS epidemic six years into his presidency, after over 20000 people had died from the epidemic. But it wasn’t the 1960s.

No...it was early 1970′s which would still be affected by the era of the 1960′s (Regan being appointed in 1971.) ( And it was only in 1965 that LGBT people started campaigning for equal rights. For reference, African americans didn’t get equal rights until 1968, a whole CENTURY from when the slaves where freed in 1865. So you expected to get equal rights within 6 years that an entire race only got in 100. And this all becomes you took a potshot seriously. I referenced the 1960′s because it was the most famous period of inequality in American history: I consider anything up to the 1990′s to be a dark age of equality and strife for equality.    

Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in the US, was assassinated in November 1978, and his killer only got sentences seven years and was released after five. This sparked the White Night Riots, which resulted in an unauthorized raid on the gay bar the White Elephant, where police officers allegedly called patrons “fagg*ts” and “c*cksuckers” and celebrated later that night. But hey, it wasn’t the 1960s.

Still 1970′s which is only a decade after the first campaign. The fact that LGBT rights have gotten THIS far since then is a testament because, may I remind you, it took African americans 103 for the beginning of equality. The fact that an openly gay senator was elected in the 1970′s is a testiment due toThe fact that the first African American Senator to be elected before the Jim Crow laws (Edward Brooke) was elected in 1967 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_African-American_United_States_Senators), which is 89 years as opposed to the 12 it took for Harvey Milk. Your point. Still does not. STAND.

Sodomy laws that criminalized same sex activity didn’t get repealed in Texas, and subsequently 12 other states, until 2003. I was 7 in 2003. But it wasn’t the 1960s.

And how heavily ENFORCED where those laws? Because there is a shit ton of gun control laws but no one ever enforces them. How many people were pun ished because of this law? No answer? Not my burden of proof. And yet again, that 38 as opposed to 103. The fact THAT was allowed within 50 years is an example of what I was saying.

To this day, the president of the United States spews homophobia and transphobia, working to ban transgender people from the military again after just being allowed to serve while out in 2015. But it’s not the 1960s.

A. Proof. You gotta show proof otherwise no dice.

B. I looked it up, his reasoning wasn’t that they are inferior or anything ACTUALLY transphobic but rather medical costs and time that it would take for transitioning individuals. Was it a smart move? No, it wasn’t. he should tried cutting a little of military funding for medical costs but you are the one lying here.

C. Still taking a potshot and hyperbole seriously huh? Even after you stop giving sources, all but one of your sources actually proves your point while one of them actually proves MY point and you’ve been caught manipulating facts.           

@knightofbalance-13 your ignorance is not just laughable, it’s dangerous. Its because of willfully ignorant people like you that casual and overt homophobia exists to this day. You’re disgusting and pathetic.Â

Which in every source you’ve given has been demonized and looked down upon. It’s the social norm now to look at homophobia and be disgusted. Nowadays, if you say something homophobic, the news will be all over you and you will eb driven away. You’ll be the butt of every late night comedy show. 

And about yur point “How dare you say homophobia does not exist”: I never said that. All I said was: “It’s not as bad as you are making it.” If you take a look at LGBT rights: you’ll see that you’ve gone farther in 52 years than African americasn did in nearly double the tme. Get some god damn perspective, I can feel the collective rage of every person who lived in the time of slavery and Jim Crow.

And you wanna know what doesn’t help? Attacking people for their sexuality, denying people are LGBT or that they count if they don’t agree with you, screeching homophobia at anyone you don’t like and trying to speak over other LGBT people. That’s all shit that forces LGBHT rights BACK and gives homophobes a right to exist. It’s also all shit YOU’VE done and CONTINUE to do. So you ain’t got any right to complain about equal rights when your group is actually AHEAD of the curb and you’re HOLDING THEM BACK because you can’t realize that you are no better than the people you screech at.

Only person here that is ignorant is the one who can’t see their own reflection.

[nehistripesseattle]

29 YEARS AGO TODAY! Facelift is the debut studio album by the American rock band Alice in Chains , released by Columbia Records on August 21, 1990. The tracks "We Die Young", "Man in the Box", "Sea of Sorrow" and "Bleed the Freak" were released as singles. "Man In The Box" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance with Vocals in 1992. Facelift became the first album from the grunge movement to be certified gold on September 11, 1991. The album peaked at No. 42 on the Billboard 200 chart, was certified platinum and has gone on to be certified double-platinum by the RIAA for shipments of two million copies in the United States. BACKGROUND - Local promoter Randy Hauser became aware of Alice in Chains at a concert, and offered to pay for demo recordings. However, one day before the band was due to record at the Music Bank studio in Washington, police shut down the studio during the biggest marijuana raid in the state's history. The final demo – dubbed The Treehouse Tapes – found its way to managers Kelly Curtis and Susan Silver, who also managed the Seattle-based Soundgarden. Curtis and Silver passed the demo to Columbia Records' A&R representative Nick Terzo, who set up an appointment with label president Don Ienner. Based on The Treehouse Tapes (sold by the band at shows), Ienner signed Alice in Chains to Columbia in 1989. Alice in Chains became a top priority for the label, who released the band's first official recording in July 1990: the promotional EP We Die Young. Its lead single and title song became a hit on metal radio. After its success, the label rushed Alice in Chains' debut album into production with producer Dave Jerden. "I told Jerry Cantrell, ‘Metallica took Tony Iommi and sped him up. What you’ve done is you’ve slowed him down again,’" Jerden recalled. "He looked at me and said, ‘You got it.’ That’s how I got the gig.” Drummer Sean Kinney claims to have played this album with a broken hand: (cont. below) (at London Bridge Studio) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1bq5SCJhPL/?igshid=1hb3bkuvrd4as

[tsuchinoko-piledriver]

Great Balls of Fire!

More like Great Thralls of Mire! Just kidding, this show was really good. The only match I missed was the pre show but honestly, Neville isn’t losing that belt any time soon. Just about every match was hot fire (sorry) and here are some pros and cons

Pros

Bray won a match! His feud with Seth is stupid but Bray won a match! Good for him

Big Cass murdered Enzo! Enzo spits magma on the mic, so WWE needs to utilize him, maybe as a manager if not a wrestler. Cass looked like an apathetic monster so that’s good.

Tag Team Iron Match was stunning throughout. There is a collective 80 years of wrestling experience between the Hardyz and Sheamas & Cesaro, they know how this works. Easily one of the best matches of the year, paced and timed phenomenally, and the teasing of Broken Matt was great (especially with that busted head).

The women’s division! Bliss needed this, she has been stiff in the ring but this was her best match. Any time women’s matches go over 10-15 minutes it’s a plus. The double jointed arm thing freaked me out, Sasha is amazing and has the best smile, and teased the feud hopefully going to Summer Slam with that spot after Bliss COWARDLY HEEL COUNTOUT.

Bo Dallas dressing like Lieutenant Dan after ‘Nam. Did he raid Bray’s closet? I love it.

I can’t believe I am saying this but Roman should have main evented this one. The ambulance match would have been a good one to end it on, especially if this is going to be an official Roman heel turn (it fucking better be he tried to actually kill a person). Both men looked tough going out, a fun double turn if true. HOPEFULLY we get Reigns v Angle at Summer Slam, as he did lose, and shouldn’t be #1 contender.

Hawkins and Slater just confused walking out for a 2 minute match while firemen try to get Braun out of the crushed ambulance.

Joe interrupting Heyman’s promo by just FUCKING UP Lesnar before the match.

Cons

Boy oh boy can Dean feud with anyone else. His match with The Miz was serviceable, the Miztourage (puke) did what they needed to do, the knee thing was good. But he needs a breath of fresh air.

That pro about Joe getting the jump on Brock? The only good part about the main event. It was short, Lesnar just did his limited offense of many suplex and F5, match over. I won’t say the WWE buried Joe, but they didn’t do themselves any favors by having Joe lose to one F5 and get suplexed a lot. Joe looked good while on offense, Lesnar looked boring. Get that homophobic redneck with a squirrel voice out of the main event scene, these matches should be longer than 6 minutes. 

All in all, a very good PPV and worth checking out if you’re into pro wrestling. People are saying it’s going to be the best B show PPV of the year and that’s understandable, as I highly doubt Battleground is going to top it with shitty Randy Orton in a shitty PUNJABI PRISON MATCH.

[iky92791]

So FINALLY I get to show these two pieces off. 

The originals can be found on my DeviantART here and here:

http://fav.me/dau0alj

http://fav.me/dau0fpy

After doing a lot of the art for Renegade Rhetoric and Echoes and Fragments, I was on a GoBots high…probably mostly because before all this I knew little to nothing about GoBots, so it was fun breaking into something new and being a part of breathing new life into this underdog franchise. I had expressed to Jim Sorenson my overly ambitious goal to eventually draw and redesign every GoBots character, if for no other reason, just for fun. Eventually Jim approached me with just the opportunity, except for something actually canon…so that was a huge plus. He told me that Andrew Hall was interested in a huge poster of literally everybody from GoBots…so I was down.

While it still wasn’t exactly clear WHAT the poster would be used for, the project evolved into a set of two posters: one for all the Guardians and one for all the Renegades. And more specifically, they were to homage the “Goodbye Convoy” and “Goodbye Megatron” posters that came with the respective gift sets.

http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/attachments/10-jpg.27332166/

So my mission was to complete both of these posters, include every GoBots character, and makes them all recolors/retools of existing Transformers designs so as to avoid any copyright/trademark fiascos. (Actually, any Hasbro-owned design was at my disposal, though I was able to manage sufficiently within the realm of Transformers.) Oh, and the amount of time I originally had to complete the posters decreased significantly, offering me only two months to complete them both. (And having a family, full-time job, and not being an amazingly quick/efficient artist made this quite the challenge.) But I sold my soul, and got to work…and HOO BOY did I work, but - dear fragging Primus - I actually did it! Finished each one in exactly a month…and I must say that these posters have been my most grandiose artistic undertakings, and I was quite astounded and impressed with myself for actually completing something so damn huge AND doing it on time (OK, well…each one went like a day over my deadline, but whatevs :P) Drained as I was at the end of it all, I was also at the same time super invigorated to start doing some more art to help out with Beast Wars: Uprising, and my confidence in myself as an artist had increased drastically. Also, with the enormity of these projects, everything after that seemed thoroughly achievable. (Oh, and I later found out these posters would actually be used in the Spatiotemporal Challengers finale…so that was really exciting…and then literally 10 minutes before the story went live, they were apparently cut from the story. But Jim was still so kind to use them for Renegade Rhetoric. So either way, I’m still quite enthused!)

But I won’t get into everything else regarding my adventures doing Fun Pub art right now. The focus of this post is on the GoBots posters and some things I’d like to share about them.

So I did a ton of research and did my best to include every (or nearly every) GoBots character in these two posters. I made sure to include every Guardian and Renegade from the Challenge of the GoBots cartoon (including show-exclusive characters) as well as every toy-exclusive character as well - and not just the ones from the “main” toy line, but the obscure, miscellaneous ones as well. I specifically begged Jim to include Scooter Bot (which he fortunately supported), so I threw in the other weirdos like “AM Radio”, “Laser Gun”, “Trans AM”, and the other non-RoGun Arco GoBots. Considering these guys were factionless, Jim and I had to group them accordingly…so they’ve now been sorted onto their appropriate for these posters. We also agreed that the model kit character “Turbo Teen” was TOO weird to justifiably include, so he’s been left out.

Jim said I didn’t HAVE to include Rock Lords, Jewel Lords, and Fossil Lords, but I was feeling REALLY ambitious (and I’m a self-destructive completionist at heart), so I did my best to include them. In the end though, due to time restraints and the fact that it would visually be very difficult to include THAT many additional characters that weren’t even GoBots proper, only the major ones made the cut. Boulder, Nuggit, and Magmar were the most significant Rock Lords, so they got to squeeze their way into this cacophony, and Solitaire was the representative Jewel Lord. Sadly, none of the Fossil Lords or Narlies made it.

Regrettably, its been several months since I’ve finished these posters, and I’ve very recently discovered some more super obscure characters from play sets and other merchandise that I would’ve included had I known about them previously. There’s A-Tak from the HO Train Set, the little dude from the Mystery Tunnel Roller Coaster, the four different colored Bubble Blowers, the 3-in-1 Communication System, and some little guy that literally turns into the GoBots logo. (OK, so that one would probably have been too weird to use too…but still.) I’m sure one day I’ll draw them, though.

Now more specifically regarding everyone I did draw, I’ve compiled a guide to who’s who and what bodies they’re modeled after. Also to note, in order to resemble the original GoBots characters as much as I could beyond just a paint job, I chose different heads from OTHER Transformers characters that most resembled the original heads of the GoBots characters…or at least the ones that most readily came to mind when I referenced the GoBots characters’ original designs.

So here’s a list of everybody (with numbers matching the above images):

Guardians

1. Command Center - CW Sky Lynx (with the legs out) 2. Flip Top - CW Alpha Bravo 3. Guide Star - Generations Payload with G1 Beachcomber’s head 4. Bent Wing - CW Powerglide 5. Ace - DotM Powerglide 6. Bolt - TF 2010 Highbrow with Armada Oval’s head 7. Bullseye - G1 Windsweeper with G2 Hooligan’s head 8. Sky Fly - Armada Ramjet 9. Steamer - Go-Bots Randy with G1 Bumper’s head 10. Blaster - Armada Wreckage 11. Baron/Professor Von Joy - Alternators Camshaft (modified so the top of the car becomes his head) 12. Solitaire - Armada Thunderwing with Animated Red Alert’s head 13. Bullet - G1 Shouki 14. Night Ranger - Cybertron Lugnutz 15. Boulder - BW Under-3 with Infiltration Ratchet’s head (specifically Guido Guidi’s cover for issue #2) 16. Nuggit - BW Eggbot with MTMTE Fulcrum’s head 17. Good Knight - TF 2010 Hubcap with Armada Incinerator’s head 18. Small Foot - G1 Gears 19. Dive-Dive - Cybertron Deepdive 20. Shotgun - WFC/FoC Shockwave with MTMTE Rung’s head 21. Rifle - TR Galvatron (modified to have G1 Sentinel “guard” head) 22. Scope - Universe 08 Nightstick 23. Squirt - CW Shockwave with Armada Stormcloud’s head 24. Pistol - AM O.P. 25. Tic Toc - Movie Meantime 26. Scooter Bot - Generations Metroplex (with a modified face) 27. Spay-C - OC Raker with TF 2010 Sea Spray’s head 28. Path Finder - G1 Cosmos 29. Royal-T - CW Quickslinger with Prime Vehicon head 30. Treds - G1 Warpath 31. Man-O-War - G1 Seaspray 32. Beamer - G1 Windcharger 33. Dart - RotF Knock Out 34. Raizor - G1 Rotorstorm with Armada Gunbarrel’s head 35. Road Ranger - G1 Huffer 36. Motosan/Mr. Moto - Armada Sureshock 37. Defendor - Movie Brawl with Classics Jetfire’s battle mask head 38. Dumper - CW Long Haul 39. Dozer - CW Bonecrusher with CW Scrapper’s head 40. Tri-Trak - DotM Backfire with Cybertron Ransack’s head (with an added mouthplate) 41. Jack Attack - Classics Bumblebee with Armada Iceberg’s head 42. Rest-Q - G1 Hubcap 43. Leader-1 - CW Air Raid with CW Quickslinger’s head 44. Twister - Energon Bulkhead with CW Onslaught’s head 45. Hitch Hiker - G1 Omega Spreem 46. Courageous - OC Sky Sweeper 47. Mach-3 - CW Fireflight 48. Wrong Way - G1 Spinister 49. Space Hawk - Prime Star Hammer 50. Major Mo - Universe 08 Prowl with his head from Echoes and Fragments 51. Super Couper - TF 2010 Hubcap 52. Rumble - BM Blastcharge 53. Tail Pipe - Masterpiece Sideswipe with Cybertron Red Alert’s head (with an added mouthplate) 54. Zeemon - G1 Firecracker (modified so the top of the car becomes his head) 55. Turbo - CW Breakdown 56. Scratch - G1 Trailbreaker with G1 Arcee’s head 57. Throttle - Cybertron Offshoot with CW Counterpunch’s head 58. Hi-Way - modified TF vs. G.I. Joe “Bus Decepticon” 59. Scooter - CW Groove 60. Hans-Cuff - CW Streetwise 61. Van Guard - G1 Skids 62. Sparky - G1 Runamuck with Universe Roulette/Universe Shadow Striker’s head 63. Street Heat - Universe 08 Sunstreaker with MP Ironhide’s head 64. Trans AM - G1 Roadhandler with RID01 Hot Shot’s head 65. Wrecks - Armada Scavenger with Timelines Strika’s head 66. Ridge Runner - Spittor’s Cybertronian form from BW: The Gathering 67. Heat Seeker - G1 Dreadwind 68. Spy-Eye - Classics Jetfire with G1 Whirl’s head 69. Apollo - Armada Sky Blast 70. Pumper - CW Hot Spot with CW Hook’s head 71. Staks - CW Optimus Prime with his head tucked in 72. AM Radio (who I’m calling Radio-Head) - Spychanger Prowl 2 (modified so the top of the car becomes his head) 73. Tork - Cybertron Dirt Boss with Armada Spiral’s head

Renegades:

1. Thruster - Victory Thunder Arrow 2. Twin Spin - PCC Searchlight 3. Quick-Step - Hero Mashers Grimlock 4. Traitor - Animated Waspinator with G1 Ransack’s head 5. Geeper-Creeper - Energon Strongarm 6. Grungy - OC Sky Sweeper 7. Bad Boy - G1 Powerglide 8. Bug Bite - Classics Bumblebee 9. Nemesis - Prime Bumblebee Battle Suit 10. Chaos - G1 Flywheels with Armada Jetstorm’s head 11. Decker Decker - Bendy-Bus Prime 12. Scales BM Thrust (modified so the cycle-mode’s head becomes the robot mode’s head too…except it’s G1 Rippersnapper’s head) 13. Slicks - G2 Double Clutch with Cybertron Hardtop’s head 14. Pow Wow - G1 Crankcase with Armada Blurr’s head (with the “side wings” removed) 15. Psycho - TR Blurr (modified so his cockpit becomes his head) 16. Magmar - Protoform Optimus Prime with LSotW Impactor’s head 17. Stinger - Masterpiece Tracks with G1 Searchlight’s head 18. Destroyer - Classics Broadside (with his turret turned around so he has a cannon for a face) 19. Fly Trap - RB Salvage 20. Herr Feind/Doctor Go - G2 Blowout (modified so the top of the car becomes his head…and added a monocle) 21. Fitor - Classics Ramjet 22. BuggyMan - G1 Beachcomber 23. R-Navi (BM Technorganic Waspinator) 24. Laser Gun - Masterpiece Shockwave with G1 Onslaught’s head 25. Crasher - Classics Mirage 26. Cy-Kill - Generations Wreck-Gar with CW Dragstrip’s head 27. Monsterous - IDW Monstructor with BW Tripredacus’ head (specifically based on Don Figueroa’s design): — Fright Face - Slog — South Claw - Wildfly — Weird Wing - Bristleback — Heart Attack - Birdbrain — Gore Jaw - Scowl — Fangs - Icepick (They’d probably all have different heads, but obviously I didn’t need to figure them out for this project.) 28. Sky-Jack - G1 Talon with Armada Jolt’s head (with no mouthplate…as per his appearance in the PS2 game and pack-in comic) 29. Zero - RotF Ransack with SotW Ostaros’ head 30. Breez - PCC Searchlight with G1 Pipes’ head 31. Puzzler - modified CW-styled Combiner with RB Chase’s head: — Tic Tac - TF 2010 Tracks (modified to transform into a Combiner body) — Pocket - CW Breakdown — Crossword - CW Dead End — Zig Zag - CW Streetwise — Rube - CW Wheeljack — Jigsaw - CW Blackjack (They, also, would probably have been given different heads had it been necessary.) 32. Water Walk - CW Powerglide (with modified “sunglasses-styled” eyes/visor) 33. Stallion - G1 Trip-Up with BW Manta Ray’s head 34. Gunnyr - Armada Jetstorm 35. Evil One - RotF The Fallen 36. Tank - BM Tankor with MTMTE Trailbreaker’s head 37. Destroyer (the other one) - RotF Depthcharge 38. Clutch - Movie Dropkick 39. Cop-Tur - Energon Bulkhead with Universe 08 Jolt’s head 40. Vain Train - G1 Yukikaze 41. Crane Brain - CW Hook 42. Screw Head - UW Nosecone (modified so his drill becomes his head but with G1 Soundwave’s face 43. Binoc - Movie Longview 44. Odd Ball - RB High Tide with Armada Thrust’s head 45. Tux/Stretch - Animated Stretch (without the mustache) 46. Spoons - RoTF Dirt Boss with G1 Hook’s head (with an added mouthplate) 47. Gong - Movie Meantime 48. Re-Volt - G1 Doubledealer with Action Master Treadshot’s head 49. Blast - BM Blastcharge 50. Night Fright/Blades - TF 2010 Tomahawk with Armada Dune Runner’s head 51. Snoop - Armada Terradive with MTMTE Nautica’s head (without the antenna) 52. Zod - G1 Trypticon 53. Warpath - Classics Divebomb 54. Rogue Star - Prime Sky Claw 55. Spoiler - G1 Freewheeler 56. Dactyl - Armada Laserbeak 57. Loco - RoC D-Go 58. Block Head - CW Mixmaster 59. Bladez - Cybertron Unicron (slightly modified so his claws extend on the side of his hands and not over them) with BM Thrust’s head 60. Hornet - Animated Slapper (with added wings) 61. Scorp - Energon Scorponok (with a slightly modified head design) 62. Pincher - Energon Slugslinger with BW Manterror’s head (specifically based on his design from The Gathering) 63. Klaws - Energon Sharkticon with G1 Venom’s head 64. Vamp - Cybertron Megatron with G1 Chop Shop’s head 65. Bugsie - BM Scavenger with BW Retrax’s head 66. Creepy - Cybertron Scrapmetal with BW Tarantulas’ head

Additional notes:

Anyone who had already been given a design in Spatiotemporal Challengers kept it.

With Courageous, Grungy, and Nemesis…due to the fact that they’re really just combining battle suits rather than the characters themselves actually combining, it wouldn’t have really carried over properly to represent them as recolored Transformers Combiners. But instead, since they all have vehicles modes as well, we found some TF molds that fit the bill decently enough. And since the Sky Sweeper is made up of Combiner kibble, the design still hints at the notion of combining. And using the Bumblebee Battle Suit for Nemesis carried the whole…well, battle suit theme. So I think those worked out pretty well.

While it it’s PRETTY difficult to tell in the poster, Scales in actually in Thrust’s “3-wheeled robot mode”…since that would be more fitting for Scales than having legs. In a similar vein, Rumble and Blast are in Blastcharge’s “wheels-for-legs” robot mode.

Tic Toc and Gong display a little Easter egg. Tic Toc diplays 10:29 1984, which (after Jim and I did some digging to make sure it was actually accurate despite other reported information) is the original air date of the first episode of the Challenge of the GoBots cartoon. Also his pose is lifted from the 12th Doctor’s iconic stock pose. Gong’s display date of 10:27 1986 is (according to Vector Prime) the air date of “season 2” of Challenge of the GoBots, as recounted by Cy-Kill himself in Renegade Rhetoric. To parallel Tic Toc’s pose, I wanted to give Gong an iconic pose of The Master…but there doesn’t really seem to be one. But I did kind of use this as reference:

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/themasterthumbsup_8908.jpg

Oh, also I’m an idiot and just noticed a couple days ago that I didn’t color Geeper-Creeper’s right arm all the way. I’ll fix that eventually.

But I guess that’s about everything I can think of currently that worth mentioning about this project. It was quite a momentous undertaking, but it was a blast to do, and I’m super grateful to Jim, Andrew, and Fun Pub for giving me the opportunity to do it!

- IKY

[fullspectrum-cbd-oil]

Let It Burn: U.S. Fights Wildfires With Fire, Backed by Trump

It was the kind of fire that has terrified communities across the drought-ridden U.S. West in the past few years: a ponderosa pine forest ablaze in the mountains of New Mexico filling the air with thick, aromatic smoke.

Except this fire was deliberately set by state penitentiary prisoners, dressed in red flame-resistant clothing and dripping a mix of gasoline and diesel around trees and scrub.

The managed burn — a low-intensity controlled fire – was meant to clear undergrowth and protect the Santa Fe National Forest, and surrounding villages, from future wildfires that are growing more frequent and severe across the West with climate change.

After a century of trying to extinguish blazes within hours, U.S. forest managers are increasingly starting them or letting natural fires burn to clean out fuel that can turn a wildfire into a catastrophe that destroys watersheds and homes.

Above-average moisture levels this summer have reduced the number of large wildfires across the country and allowed more controlled fires that mimic lightning strikes.

“We learned from our mistakes of putting fires out, building up a continuous fuel base,” said James Casaus, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) official running the managed fire near mountains where his grandfather used to burn forest clearings to improve sheep pasture.

The federal shift took on new urgency after wildfires burned over 10 million acres in both 2015 and 2017, the highest rates since 1952, according to National Interagency Fire Center data. At the same time, federal and state firefighting costs more than tripled to more than $4.5 billion in the decade to 2018.

The tipping point came last year when flames engulfed Paradise, California, killing 86 people in the state’s deadliest wildfire on record as the number of homes and structures destroyed nationwide more than doubled from 2017.

Walking around the ruins of Paradise, President Donald Trump blamed the tragedy on California’s poor forest management, even though the blaze began in an area of federal forest.

In December, he signed an executive order to speed projects to reduce “hazardous fuels” through forest thinning, burning and a nearly 20% increase in USFS timber sales.

Environmentalists generally welcomed the shift towards “forest restoration”, but were alarmed by Trump’s tactics, especially increased logging.

LOG JAM OR EXCUSE TO LOG?

The USFS, distrusted by some environmentalists for its role as a giant timber agency during much of its history, in June proposed a change to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to exclude certain projects from environmental assessments (EAs) and public comment to speed hazardous fuel and restoration work.

Controversially, these categorical exclusions included projects to log up to 6.6 square miles (17.09 square km) of forest and were not limited to areas near communities but applied to all national forests.

“What this rule does is it is an excuse to ramp up damaging logging and road building on national forests,” said Randi Spivak, public lands director for the Tucson, Arizona-based Center for Biological Diversity, who expected the move to be challenged in court.

In an emailed statement, USFS Chief Vicki Christiansen said logging played a role in fuel reduction work, but most of it was achieved by other means.

“While timber production does contribute to hazardous fuels accomplishments, the majority of our annual fuel reduction comes from activities such as non-commercial mechanical treatments, prescribed fire, federally funded state assistance programs, and naturally occurring wildfires,” said Christiansen, a former wildland firefighter.

She said studies of hundreds of past USFS projects showed activities earmarked for exclusion from EAs and public comment posed no significant impact to forest health.

“We found we do more analysis than we need, take more time than we need and slow down important work to protect communities, livelihoods and resources,” she said.

GETTING IT DONE

Christiansen expects the 2020 budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1 to drive hazard fuel reduction long held back by the cost of fighting fires.

USFS fire suppression costs have skyrocketed since the 1980s as the agency found itself defending the mushrooming number of U.S. homes in areas at risk to wildfires.

Firefighting consumed 57% of the USFS budget in 2018, up from 16% in 1995, forcing the agency to raid other internal programs to pay for rising suppression costs.

Christiansen expects USFS hazardous fuel and restoration work to remain at around 3.4 million acres in 2019 but sees projects increasing in 2020 when “fire borrowing” ends following creation of a disaster fund to pull from should suppression costs go over budget.

“This will make our agency budget more stable and will free up funds to accomplish critical on-the-ground work that creates healthy, resilient forests,” Christiansen said.

U.S. states, which share the burden of frontline and prescribed burns, want some of those liberated funds, given forecasts that wildfire acreage and severity will continue to climb, said Jay Farrell, executive director of the National Association of State Foresters.

Back in New Mexico, Daniel Lara sloshes burning fuel onto scrub oak as fellow New Mexico State Penitentiary inmates torch trees and scrub that, if left to grow, can send fires into the forest canopy, creating a blaze that is difficult to contain.

“It needs to be thinned out, all of it,” says Lara, who received a week’s classroom training, as he started his 12-hour shift in the forest. “Hopefully we’ll get it done.”

(Reporting By Andrew Hay in Coyote, New Mexico; Editing by Bill Tarrant and Paul Simao)

from IJR https://ift.tt/2PziY3N via IFTTT

[updatedc-blog]

New Post has been published on http://www.updatedc.com/2018/10/21/nikon-z7-field-review/

Nikon Z7 field review

Nikon Z7 field review by Stuart Palley (stuartpalley.com, terraflamma.org | @stuartpalley):

TLDR: Mirrorless is the future of working pros in the documentary/journalism/travel realm. It may take another generation or two to fully compete with DSLRs, but it’s coming. The Z7 will not replace my D850 but rather complement it for the many situations where weight and size trump ease of use and AF speed/reliability in the near term. As the Z mount lens system grows I can start divesting myself of F mount glass when a Z mount equivalent comes into production. This is written from the perspective of someone who makes the majority of their income as a photographer and creative professional.

For years many great companies have manufactured excellent mirrorless cameras already in use by working pros and enthusiasts alike. Fuji, Olympus, Sony, etc, all make awesome cameras (I’ve used many, the X100, X Pro 1, GFX, OM-D series, etc). The big news here is the FTZ adapter with solid AF/VR compatibility with my existing dozen Nikon lenses, similar button layout for fast workflow adoption, and smaller and lighter baggage.*

That means I can integrate the Z7 into my workflow with minimal fuss and rock the Z mount 24-70 f4 or 35mm 1.8 when I want to go fast and light. A metadata analysis of my images from wildfires shows 60-80% of my images shot in the 24-70mm focal length.

The other two lenses I use the most are the 70-200mm 2.8 VRII, 200-400 VRI, and Sigma 14mm 1.8, which all work great with the FTZ adapter.

Sigma 14mm 1.8 with FTZ adapter

With the Z mount 24-70 f4 I lose a stop of speed and the durability of the 24-70 f2.8 VR AF-S, (which is the best/most versatile Nikon midrange zoom I’ve used) but the lens is about 1/3 the overall mass and a fraction of the weight of the F mount big brother.

The FTZ adapter is well designed and does what it’s supposed to do, allowing me to use F mount lenses, now with the built in VR of the Z7. My chief criticism is that AF is not so great, in the case of using my 200-400 AF-S VR I for photographing Lenticular clouds over the Cleveland National Forest, it hunted for AF at sunset. I initially thought this an issue with the F4 aperture or lack of contrast in the tones of dusk, but even on contrasty and clear points on the horizon that my D850 and same lens combo would’ve likely focused on without issue, the FTZ adapter left me wanting a little more accuracy with it’s hunting and focus racking. I’m going off my own real-world experience here, lab tests and more technical analysis from might yield different results.

FTZ Adapter and 200-400 VR I, panorama stitched from two images

On the Z7 body itself, the buttons are laid out similar to other Nikon DSLRs and as a result I found the camera easy to pick up and start shooting with. The viewfinder is incredible, sharp, bright, and clear. Coming from using an original Fuji X100 or an earlier micro 4/3 camera you see the progress that electronic viewfinders have made in the last 5 years.

Another advantage of the Z7 is the reduced size and weight. Size wise, it’s mainly the bulk that is reduced in all dimensions. After using the Z7 for an afternoon and placing it on the counter next to my battle worn D810 with a vertical grip, the D810 looked like a pig and felt like a lead weight. This is a little hyperbolic but it’s liberating to not have a boat anchor hanging off your neck. Heavy cameras are terrible for your back ligaments, muscles, and spinal column, so any reduced size and weight is a welcome improvement when these are tools you use to make a living with day in and day out.

This past weekend I did a 4-mile hike and brought the Z7 along with my trusty 105mm f2.8 AF-D Macro lens. It manual focus only with the FTZ adapter, but having stabilization on a macro lens was great and I had a good time playing around with the forms of cactus spines along the trail. I wouldn’t have brought my D850 with a grip, that’s for sure.

FTZ adapter and 105mm 2.8 AF-D Macro (manual focus)

Virtually a 100% crop from the Z7, FTZ adapter and 105mm 2.8 AF-D Macro

FTZ adapter and 105mm 2.8 AF-D Macro (manual focus)

The lenses still retain a similar size to DSLR lenses, but with the shorter flange to sensor distance, optical designs can be optimized to make lenses slightly more compact. Additionally, the wider diameter of the Z mount will allow lens designers to take more engineering liberties when designing new lenses, meaning better performance, even more extreme focal lengths, and apertures too. Case in point, the 50mm-ish f0.95 lens Nikon has announced is a show lens to demonstrate the Z mount flexibility. Personally, the lens is useless to me since it lacks autofocus, and the sway of your body while breathing will put your subject out of focus at f0.95 handheld with manual focus. Try focusing an f1.4 lens in the dark and tell me it’s easy!

Every camera is only as good as the system around it and the company making it, so I look forward to Nikon fleshing out the Z lineup of lenses. The 35mm 1.8 is sharp from corner to corner, and the 24-70mm f4 is a versatile lens, but needs to be “unlocked” and expanded from its compact stowage position. As an NPS member I received priority delivery on the camera, and despite my concerns about Nikon’s repair logistics and inability to keep important parts in stock (Ask about my months long parts hold repair on a 70-200 VRII in 2015) rest assured Nikon will fix the camera should anything happen under warranty, and afterwards for a fixed fee. Cameras have always come back fixed right and with firmware upgrades, a sensor cleaning, etc from the repair center in Los Angeles.

A Storm is Coming

Randy’s Donuts, Los Angeles. Z7 and 24-70mm AF-S, ISO 140, 1/25 sec, Auto ISO. In body stabilization allowed me to shoot from the passenger seat of a car, at a stoplight, with a much lower shutter speed than I would usually select. Accordingly I was able to shoot at a lower ISO.

Another advantage of a smaller system is that everything gets smaller. The bags, tripods, tripod heads, filters, etc. needed to support the Z7 all shrink. Things get smaller and lighter, requiring less energy to cart around, which equates to more focus on shooting and creating pictures and telling a story, the whole reason I’m here in the first place. Everything about the equipment is in the service of creating the image. Instead of a Think Tank Retrospective 30 for my fast and light kit, I can get the Z7, 24-70 f4, 35 f1.8, and my ancient Nikon 70-210 AF push pull zoom (which I got for $60 :-p) with the FTZ adapter into a smaller Retrospective 7. I have space for spare cards, batteries, filters, and the charger.

Think Tank Retrospective in Pinestone with Z7, 24-70mm f4, 35mm 1.8, 70-210 (works in MF only with FTZ adapter, replacing with a 70-200mm f4 AF-SVR). GoPro Hero 4, spare batteries.

A Z7 and two lenses will now fit into the pack I carry around at wildfires that includes mandatory safety gear like a fire shelter and radio. That weight quickly adds up and adding a camera swinging off your neck with a strap isn’t ideal. Being able to stow the camera and it’s accompanying weight into my actual pack where the load bearing harnesses can support the load is a godsend for longer hikes. Sometimes I have to go hunt down fire crews in the bush and having a camera swinging off your body isn’t ideal. I was hiking at the Ferguson Fire in Yosemite National Park on assignment for the US Forest Service when my 24-70 decided to detach itself from my D850, and a lucky fall onto dirt with the lens hood saved it from damage.

This issue illustrates the two ways I usually shoot in the field. The first is up close, where the heaviest fire activity is present and I’m hiking around and moving a lot, getting in and out of a pickup truck, going up hills in smoke and ash. The smaller Z7 in good to decent lighting conditions is ideal for this. The jury is still out on how much I can push it in low light with the contrast detect AF. In darkness or low light, I would still be partial to a D850 and 24-70.

On a tripod with more relaxed conditions, perhaps photographing the fire from afar or just general nightscape photography, the Z7 perfect. I have three tripods, a large and medium Really Right Stuff carbon fiber tripod that is perfect for DSLRs and long lenses, and a tiny travel tripod. The medium tripod is perfect for a Z7 and a wide lens with FTZ adapter, and I could probably get away with one of their compact tripods in the future or my tiny travel tripod.

I disagree with Nikon’s decision to fit just one XQD slot in the camera. While memory cards are much more reliable than they were a decade ago, I still don’t fully trust them. My D850 is still coming out for when I need extra peace of mind. I hope that Nikon puts in a second SD slot, double XQD, or double SD in future versions. I would prefer a slightly larger camera with dual slot security. For me it’s just an extra short-term backup during shoots. Everything immediately goes onto a solid state RAID array when images are uploaded to my laptop, but once I click the shutter on the Z7, a potential card failing means it’s 2005 all over again. As I use the Z7 more I suppose I’ll grow to trust single slot XQD, but the jury is still out along with low light AF (which I’m finding is wholly satisfactory the more I use it). Buy good cards and format early and often.

Watch and Wallet: Z7 at ISO 11,400, 1/125 sec, f5: Nikon 105mm f2.8 AF-D with FTZ adapter in manual focus. This shot would not be possible without VR, at least handheld.

In conclusion this trend toward smaller and lighter with similar image quality to pro DSLR’s has long been in practice. Sony did it with the A7 series, their compact cameras with full frame sensors, etc. Now that the big two, Nikon and Canon have jumped on board, we have a real integration of mirrorless into pro workflows, We still have ground to cover when it comes to AF and lens selection, but the future is here, and the same way that the 4×5 Speed Graphic gave way to the 35mm SLR slowly over the years, so will the DSLR give way to mirrorless. Onward.

Stuart Palley is a Southern California based photographer who recently published his first photography book, Terra Flamma: Wildfires at Night, (Schiffer Publishers, 2018) photographing wildfires in California via long exposure over the last five years.

His work on climate change and the environment has been featured in National Geographic Magazine and has been recognized in Pictures of the Year International. He is a contractor for the US Forest Service and works commercially with various Fortune 500 clients in addition to select editorial publications internationally.

www.stuartpalley.com

www.terraflamma.org

Instagram @stuartpalley

*** Every camera on the market makes great images, it’s all about ease of use, ergonomics, lens options, price, etc. There are no bad cameras in 2018, just photographers that should focus on the art of making pictures rather than the gear. No camera manufacturer sponsors me or gives me anything for free, these views here are entirely my own and based off my experience as a working professional.

If you have an interesting idea for a guest post, you can contact me here.

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Source from nikonrumors