#the tallest building in the world is the band

[d3ad-on-arriva1]

blog title ideas

[ashensgrotto]

A Merfolk's Melody (Part 3)

Characters: Yan!Floyd x Reader, Yan!Jade x Reader, Yan!Azul x Reader

Word Count: 13.5k

Intro   Floyd Leech Jade Leech (You Are Here)  Azul Ashengrotto Epilogue

Synopsis: The sea always calls to those who feel lost and alone, wanting to fill the empty part of their soul until they are loved and full… and as such, it’s only fair that the strange creatures that live beneath its depths would want the same as well…

Author’s Note: Another 4-part fanfiction courtesy of @merakiui ‘s headcanon of the reader being stuck in a room/wall (I’m sorry, but I just enjoy your headcanons and they always give me these ideas) -> https://www.tumblr.com/merakiui/722393818829373440/in-addition-to-being-stuck-in-a-locked-room?source=share & https://www.tumblr.com/merakiui/722677892623056896/about-the-stuck-in-a-wall-trope-in-the-oceani?source=share

Here’s how it’s going to work: each character is going to get their own part following the intro. It is going to focus on the Octrio again (bc it’s my current liking, sorry guys). If you want to read a certain character’s part, feel free to jump around and select the one you’re most interested in. 

Again, as stated before, this is a work of fiction; I disagree with any and all behaviors that are represented in this story.

****

During your earlier days in college, you and another of your close friends had once discussed the difference between coral and mushrooms - as there were some fungi corals that lived in the coral reefs, even though they were not classified in the fungi family. You both agreed that fungi and coral played huge parts in their own ecosystems, providing both nutrition and hiding areas for the wildlife that inhabited the area around them. Both were made up of microscopic organisms - as most plants and other wildlife are - but while one shot spores, the other grew polyps on top of each other over time. 

Your friend had asked if you knew if there was a coral reef back in your childhood home - to which you responded that you weren’t sure. You had been told by someone once long ago that beyond the crashing waves of the sea outside of your family’s cabin that there were coral structures the size of Burj Khalifa - the world’s tallest building - and a few that were wider than the Aerium - the world’s widest building. Imagining the depth and how big the ocean was already a monstrous task as it is, but the knowledge that some coral was as large and as wide as two of the world’s biggest buildings was mind-blowing.

Now, a few years later as you dipped beneath the surface as the waves pulled you further into its depths, an amazing sight greeted you.

Colorful coral of all shapes, sizes, and types spread before you - elkhorn coral, fungia and pocillopora corals spread along the ocean floor as pillar and staghorn coral reached for the sky. Sun coral and sea anemones waved with the current of the tide while bubble corals and zoanthids peered out from dark crevices. The colors of neon in pink, green, teal, orange, and yellow shifted together with the darkness of the water here and there, making everything seem like a blacklight room from one of the city’s downtown clubs.

But the coral and plants weren't the only thing colorful within the dark waters.

Bright colorful fish of all shapes and sizes surrounded you from all angles - clownfish peered out from behind the sea anemone as the occasional blue or yellow tang fish passed between the coral walls alongside lionfish and butterfly fish while nudibranch slugs crept along the edges with starfish as seahorses perched among the organ pipe corals and the carnation corals. You saw banded pipefish hidden in the crevices between rock and coral while moon jelly swam out to deeper waters, their nearly opaque bodies hiding their forms in the shifting waters that crashed against the waves. Manta rays swam close to the bottom of the hidden paradise, one occasionally coming up to you and brushing along the side as your light-weight tank top fluttered in the water around you, the feeling of soft smooth skin coated in a slick film surprisingly pleasant.

The colors of the deep dazzled you - pulling you into deeper waters as you held your breath for as long as you could before your lungs would force you to the surface, gasping out deep breaths as you floated above the surface world for a few moments before diving back down to stay for as long as you could in the peaceful paradise that existed beneath the waves, amazed by everything that surrounds you. You swam along the coral beds, fingers grazing over the pieces of coral polyps as you passed - as beautiful as the structures were, you could never break a piece off. The same person from your past had warned of doing such things as a child - breaking off pieces of coral can take years to grow back, and if they are broken off consistently, the coral eventually dies. Seeing the bright beautiful healthy green coloring of the coral beneath you reminded you of that memory - a smile tugging on your lips as you dived deeper. 

Lost in thought, you didn’t even realize you had swam as deep as you did until you felt your lungs struggling to hold your breath until your sides ached. You had traveled between some coral beds and were now surrounded completely by it, the coral twisting around you like thorns on a rose bush and every time you would attempt to get through, the coral would dig into your skin - cuts forming along your arms, face, and legs. 

You looked around desperately - but there appeared to be no way out.

“Poor child…” you heard a voice then, something soft and sickly sweet that tickled your eardrum, “Poor sweet child…”

Your head turned in the direction of said voice, seeing nothing in the darkness. Fear ran along your spine as you did your best to keep calm, the anxiety eating away at you as you struggled to think of a way out as well as struggled to keep yourself from falling into exhaustion from losing oxygen.

A shadow shifted then as a pair of heterochromia eyes - one brown, one gold - peered out at you from the darkness beneath you. You watched as a figure appeared before you, their form coming into the light that shone in between the coral that surrounded you.

The figure was that of a very large creature that was half man and half fish - the pale sunlight reflecting off of his pale teal skin that was the color of sea water; his tail was long, making him approximately six or seven feet in length, and swayed with the water as he propelled himself toward you, slowly and filled with caution while his hands - which you thought may have been webbed - clenched at his sides, the claws digging into the flesh of his palms. His facial features appeared strong and sharp, eyes clear and calculating, as his lips spread in what appeared to be a friendly smile that was anything but; his dark hair - nearly the same color of his body - framed the strong features, though one long strand - nearly the color of deep seaweed green - fell over his left eye as the golden hue began to glow the closer he came to you. 

It was then that you realized you were looking at a mer - a moray mer, to be exact.

Moray eels were known to attack when provoked, but the mers were known to hunt anything that trespassed into their territory - watching from the darkness before striking unexpectedly. You had heard stories about them when you were a child - the locals believing that they typically traveled in pairs, meaning that there was likely a secondary one close by and you had to tread carefully now that one of them had found you.

The mer only smiled, teeth sharper than a shark’s gleaming in the darkness as his body began to glow; the large teal stripes that lined his hips, arms, and face began to glow in the darkness, his left gold eye nearly turning yellow as he gazed upon you.

“You seem to have a very serious problem,” the mer spoke, his voice sounding like sweet honey dripping down from a hive on a hot summer day, “... There might be something I can do to help you.”

You were beginning to slowly lose consciousness, the edges of your vision fading into darkness as you struggled to stay awake - to stay aware. The mer seemed to sense this as he drifted even closer, slipping through the water like a water snake as he stopped in front of you, looking down as his smirk grew wider. The moray mer’s features were now mere inches from your face, his webbed hands closing in to cup your face in between his palms before he pulled your face up to look at him, your body slowly becoming numb as your eyes drifted closed - the oxygen nearly out.

Something soft and surprisingly warm pressed against your lips before a sudden rush of air filled your lungs. 

Your chest heaved as your eyes snapped open to see the mer pressing his lips to yours, pulling the water out and breathing for the both of you as the gills behind his finned ears fluttered with the current. You pressed your hands against his chest, trying and failing to push him away before one hand moved to wrap around your waist, pulling you closer to him as his other hand tangled into your hair, keeping your head still as he pressed his lips harder against yours - no longer breathing for you, but kissing you. You felt his long tail curl around your legs, keeping you trapped within his hold.

When he pulled away, his pupils had dilated; hunger reflecting within them.

“I saved your life, little pearl,” he whispered, “and now… I will take something from you as payment.”

You struggled, wanting nothing more to do with the mer that now wrapped completely around you.

However, the moray pulled you down into the depths of the coral enclosure, pressing the front of your against a large stone with one hand on your shoulders and the other holding your hands together above your head. You held your newfound breath between your lips before cool lips pressed against the nape of your neck, drawing the skin into the mer’s mouth as he lapped and sucked on it like a newborn babe. You shuddered with every lap of his tongue and whimpered with every nip that you barely registered his hands releasing you before something dug on either side of your neck, deep enough to draw blood.

You cried out, bubbles escaping from your lips before the mer pressed his lips against yours again, breathing for you as he turned you to face him - webbed hands and claws creating small cuts in the fabric of your cotton capris before the fabric was removed along with your bottoms. You threw your head back as one thumb rubbed circles against your entrance - a musty-sweet odor slipping into the salty waters around you before something fleshy and hot pressed against it. You mewled as the mer flicked over your entrance, slipping one, then two fingers within - thrusting them in and out at a leisurely pace as the glowing on his body increased, his eyes never leaving yours. You whimpered softly, one hand reaching out and clasping onto his dark hair, his eyes closing and humming against you as a fire began to build in your thighs and lower belly - threatening to consume you as your body twitched with want.

As he worked you over and over, you shuddered and groaned, arching your back away from the stone as your muscles clenched. He pulled away after a few moments, the loss of contact making your body grasp at nothing. You whimpered in need before something long, thick, and rigid rub between your legs.

“Ah… mine,” the moray mer sighed as he bared his teeth at you in a mocking grin, grabbing a hold of your ankles and pushing them into your chest as he leaned against you, moving his hips and rubbing himself against you, “Mine… my precious little pearl… Do you know what you’ve done to me?”

You can only quiver in response as he leans close, his nose nearly touching yours as his length continues to tease you, making your insides squirm with anticipation.

“How long I’ve waited for you, little pearl,” he brushes his nose against yours, his voice soft and sugary-sweet, “I’ve waited over six years… six years for you to come back to me. And now that you’re here… I can never let you go.”

Then, you feel him thrust hard and fast inside you, pushing your stomach into your throat as a silent cry leaves your mouth. The mer is merciless against you, pressing you hard into the stone beneath you and keeping a firm grip on your ankles as he pounds into you, each thrust making the precious air that still exists within you leave in the form of tiny bubbles from your mouth and nose. 

He presses his lips to yours again as his eyes close, breathing for the both of you again before pulling away to lavish at your neck, his tongue flicking over the scratches he made as you feel something rise up and down from your skin. Both of your chests heave together, the pounding of your hearts argue in your rib cages as he presses his lips against yours, no longer breathing as his thrusts become more urgent. He releases his grip on your ankles and hauls you up by your waist, moving your position around so you may settle onto his lap, your thighs resting on either side of his hips as he presses deeper into your core.

The change caused you to gasp again, feeling him practically nudge into your stomach. The mer slows, allowing to adjust to this new position as he kisses your features - your forehead, your nose, eyelids, brows, cheeks, and lips - as if he is completely worshiping you.

“Sweet, precious little pearl…” he whispers, snapping his hips in urgency against you after a few moments, “Let me lay you… keep them safe for me, for us…”

You whimper softly, a name long forgotten now bubbling forward, “J-Jade…”

Jade lets out a low growl in response, thrusting hard and fast against you, “That’s r-right, little pearl… my precious (Y/N)...”

You let out a cry as your entrance grips onto Jade’s member, the muscles in your lower body spamming wildly as something thick and heavy slips between your legs.

Jade presses his forehead in the juncture between your neck and shoulder, his breath caressing your skin, billowing the tank top you’re still wearing, gasping, “...not enough, little pearl. Not enough, yet…”

***

Jade has carried you to his corner of the shadows, curled beside you as you laid on his bed of seaweed surrounded by coral. His hand cups your cheek and follows the curve of your cheekbones before pressing another kiss to your lips and resting his forehead against yours. 

It had been years since he had last seen you - the two of you plus his twin had been thick as thieves, frolicing along the shore lines and had taught you to swim. He had gathered many pieces of coral during that time and presented them to you when you all met up each and every day - the giggles that slipped past your lips making him smile with pride and puffed out his chest like a seagull. Eventually though, those days of spending time with one another along the shores became fewer and fewer. 

Floyd had moved on, now more interested in antagonizing Azul verses waiting on the rocky shoreline for you to come out to play - but Jade was more patient than his twin, his tail swaying with anticipation along with the tide as he watched from his spot on the rocks, his heterochromia eyes never straying from the shoreline. Eventually, his patience thinned to the thickness of a thread, going to Azul to test out his latest potion that would allow him to take on the form of a human for an hour. He headed into the village, searching high and low for your family. One of the village members had been kind enough to explain that your family had moved to the nearest city where you had been accepted into college.

Jade felt his heart break. There was no way he could follow you - and even if he did, how would he find you?

Azul noticed his sour mood upon his return, the typical Jade he knew would never lounge on the rocks among the coral like his brother did unless something happened. Jade had stayed silent about what he had heard on the surface above - merely going through his life day by day as the heartache festered and grew within, making him irritable - once snapping at Floyd which made the younger of the two surprised. It didn’t take long after that incident that Jade decided to move away to another part of the coral city, hiding within the darkness of the crevices as thoughts of you consumed him day and night.

He was about ready to give up on himself when you came swimming back into his life - quite literally. 

Jade tucked his head under your chin, arms wrapping around your waist as he hummed. Tomorrow, he would go to Azul to find a potion to make you more like him… even threaten the octomer with becoming fish bait if he refused.

But, for now… Jade was content to have you in his arms, back in his life. His precious little pearl…

[chaoticallyfragmentary]

Kuroo Tetsurou x Reader

This is a bit of childhood friends to lovers, lots of pining and just Kuroo being a dork and Kenma, a sneaky little shit. Includes some fluff and initial hurt to comfort. 

You freeze, teetering between steps when Tetsu—Kuroo accosts you at your door. You are tired, a bone deep exhaustion clinging to your bones, a little aching and caught off guard by his presence. He sniffles, nose pink from the biting cold or from his tears, the quiet ones that he’s crying.

You withhold a sigh, a scream for help because it is Kuroo, the boy who put band aids on your knees and held your hand through the first day of school, because snow clings to his hair, a snowstorm incoming and he is here, at your doorstep with tear tracks on his cheeks and fury in his eyes, earbuds dangling uselessly from the ipod, where you are sure, he was listening to the playlist you made for him, holding up a letter in your writing, long since opened. 

Shit, you thought you’d be gone by then.

You poured so much of yourself onto those pages, long muffled secrets and wistful sighs, long harbored feelings, a final concession before trying to forget, leaving for good.

“Hi love,” he says and you are ten again, a bit broken and battered, moving halfway across the world with your grandparents, an outstretched hand of a boy your age, both of you crying as he chased your bullies away, lips wobbling as he tries so hard to be brave.

“Kuroo?” you clear your throat, suppressing an urge to flee, mouth twisting to a sad shape.

 “Does this mean what I think it means?” he asks, pleads really.

You are seventeen again, listening to Kuroo laugh, a wonky little thing, a bit like a dying goat but you would bottle it up if you could, but then your eyes land on the girl on Kuroo’s arm and something in your chest aches.

“What do you think it means?” you ask instead, a watery laugh bubbling from your throat. 

He smiles, a tiny little thing, reminded of nights like these, when neither of you could sleep, questions were answered with more questions, sneaking into each other’s bedrooms, the pebbles thrown at windows, the chemistry study sessions, the lazy cuddle nights with Kenma, the midnight train rides and the warmth of terrible decisions.

He is fifteen again, realizing that his best friend had gotten pretty. Sixteen, realizing that he wanted to kiss the said best friend, wanting to throw himself off the tallest building he could find. It was as if he’d never had a crush before, Kenma snickering under his breath about how he was so very fucked.

“It’s not my job to say it chibi,” he says and he is twenty two again, eyes looking for you at the party.

“Kuroo!” your yell pierces the air, hands perched on your hips in the most accusatory kind of way as you stare Kuroo down.

“I’ve just been busy chibi, organizer of the party and all that”

“You haven’t looked at me, Kuroo”

Oh, but he has, and you look so beautiful, black gown that hugged all your curves and revealed unknown stretches of skin and he wanted nothing more than to sink his teeth into it. You looked like his, but on Iwaizumi’s arm and fuck it all if he didn’t feel like his heart was a desiccated, dying thing performing the actions of something living.

(Met abroad, studied at the same university, blah blah, bleh. Anyone who tells you he’s been giving Iwaizumi the stink eye throughout the party is nothing but a filthy liar) 

“Do you want to dance chibi?” he asks, one tiny want seeping out from the aching places inside his chest.

Your head tilts a fraction, eyes teetering between cautious hope and blinding joy. You let yourself take his hand and learn, for the span of a single evening, what holding Kuroo Tetsurou in your arms felt like.

You wilt, what option did you have but honesty?

 “I-I-I,” new tears spring from your eyes at your inability to articulate even the barest of words but you plough through. “I love you— I-I d-don’t know since when, o-or for h-how l-l-long. I’ve done a piss poor job of n-not falling for my best friend b-but it’s always been you, me and you, you and me. W-We have always been an ‘us.’ S-Sorry” the confession slips out of your mouth before you can yank it back and shove it down your throat.

“I am so fucking furious, chibi”

He’s breathing heavily, emotion pouring out from him and your throat feels like it might swell shut.

“I’m so sorry but please don’t cry.” You hear the strain in your voice, self control rapidly dwindling as you barely resist the incessant throb behind your ribs, to just reach out and hold him close, wrap him in a blanket burrito, get him some hot chocolate and beat up anyone who dared to make him cry.

“I’d stop if I could,” he snaps, wiping another stray tear, furious at himself for crying.

“You mean to tell me,” he takes in a measured breath, like a man on the verge of starvation, fighting every impulse to reach for a feast in front of him.

“You mean to tell me that all this time the two of us wasted on pining away after each another, we could’ve been making out?” he shouts.

You bluescreen, a blink and a breath.

Once your brain processes the words, you release the deluge, laughter spilling over as your resistance buckles, pulling his bottom lip between your teeth after so many years of fantasizing the same.

When Kenma takes all the money from the bet your friends seem to have made, Kuroo calling him scheming filthy liar, you laugh coasting over Kuroo’s outraged noises about how could Kenma bet against him, how he’d known you would confess first… Kenma winking at you, mouthing fucking finally, as happiness tints your vision golden.

[eepuniverse]

Hexel's World Tour Week 6 – Seoul

Everyone, I'm home. I know it sounds so cliche, but the moment I got off the plane in Seoul, I felt like I was coming home🇰🇷❤️. I already knew I could speak Korean, so getting through the airport and to the main city was a breeze (but can we talk about Incheon airport? It is so cool. I could literally spend a whole day at just the airport). I quickly got to my hotel in the middle of Seoul and it is way too nice. I feel like an imposter staying here hahaha.

There are some parts of the city that feel so familiar to me, even though I can't fully remember them. One day, I ended up just walking instinctively to this hole-in-the-wall kalgooksu restaurant and had the best noodle soup ever! 🍜(or I think it's the best I've ever had. It also felt so familiar!) Another place that felt super familiar was Dongdaemun and the Design Plaza. It kind of looks like a spaceship, but I knew exactly where to exit the subway station to get there. It was like instinct. The markets in Dongdaemun are so nice! They have so much fashion and accessories 👗 it was all so overwhelming. But I was able to buy gifts for Georgia while I was there

Talking about cool shops, I just wandered around Insadong for like half a day. There are so many side streets with cafes and small shops that you wouldn't even know were there unless you went to explore. From Insadong, I ended up walking to Bukchon traditional village. Both Insadong and Bukchon are known for their traditional hanok houses. And you all, I could LIVE in one of these. They're so beautiful and smell amazing like wood and paper! I found a place in one of these hanok houses called Aromind which lets you design your own perfume scent! It was so cool and I made one for Krista (hope she likes it!) 🎁

I also wrote down all the food places I loved to go with Dustin if we ever come to Seoul together, including this place that does bbq ribs DIPPED 🍖🧀 in melted cheese and a jjajangmyeon place that handrolls their noodles! I wanted to get Dustin a whole package of Hanwoo--prime Korean BBQ beef (did you know you could buy those?!)--but I was worried about getting it through customs, also, it was a lot to ship back to the US. So I got Dustin some green tea from Ossulloc 🍵, I know it's not technically food, but it's food adjacent! And their tea house in Gwanhun-Dong was so gorgeous with all the traditional ceramics and the little displays about how the teas are roasted! Plus, they're right by Jogyesa Buddhist Temple. They told me Jogyesa is the chief temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. The building dates back to the late 14th century! And you can write your wish on a piece of paper and hang it like a little flag. All the wishes fluttering in the air were so beautiful!

I didn't mean to organize my tour around Seoul based on buying the perfect gifts for my friends, but it turned out that way. So I knew I had to find something amazing for Mac, and I did in Gangnam! That neighborhood kind of reminds me of midtown New York with all the skyscrapers and the fancy hotels and buildings. They have the flagship store to this amazing sunglasses store called Gentle Monster. But they don't just sell sunglasses, they also have amazing art displays that the store clerk told me rotates regularly! In fact, lots of the cool high fashion stores do fun artsy displays in Seoul! From there, I just popped over to Lotte World Tower and bought ALL the duty free skincare! I can't wait to try all my facemasks with the band! Apparently Lotte World Tower is the tallest building in South Korea. And they even have an aquarium in there!

[luka-couffaine-ship-tournament]

Round 1 Side B - Pair 8

Luka Couffaine/Ivan Bruel

Okay, so this is going to sound crazy at first, but listen. They both play in the same band and are passionate about rock music. They both look after their friends and band mates, are very sensitive guys. Ivan is really good at poetry and songwriting but isn't a singer, but Luka wouldn't be intimidated by Ivan or his yelling when he's trying to show off one of his songs. Luka is also one of the tallest guys other than Ivan, so the poor giant won't have to stoop that low to kiss him. Perfect kissing height for both of them, honestly. Plus Luka is constantly looking out for other people and defending them, but rarely is there someone defending him instead. Big brooding looking Ivan would instantly stand up for Luka and scare any trouble makers away. Please understand my vision-

Luka Couffaine/XY

Listen, he is going off the few people in this world that Luka hates. In the view of an enemies-to-lovers girlie, I think that this makes the potential so good. Imagine this, they would probably be forced to collaborate at some point and the tension would be real. XY as the self-absorbed prick that he is wouldn’t realize that the tension and hate are there and would never keep his distance from our beloved Luka. And, Luka’s tension would keep building up and up, and I think that he would end up exploding. In this case, he can't punch him, so he just kisses him, hard. They start making out and this would change his view of the boy 180º degrees. He would look at him in a different light and try to impress him. Even as dumb as he is, he would see that Luka just wants him to be a better person. Luka would realize his efforts and fall for the boy too, as the cinnamon roll that he is. Could this be the plot of some fanfic for these two? Maybe. BUT the truth is that XY it’s just dumb and misguided by his dad, so Luka could be a good influence on him. Luka, being the softie that he is, would end up treating him better and try to understand him and see that he is just freaking dumb but has a good heart.

TAG:

Luka/XY - @lllluka

Luka /Ivan - @lllluka

@lukacouffaineappreciation

[scotianostra]

Happy Birthday another quality Scottish Actor, James McAvoy.

Born April 21st 1979 in Glasgow, McAvoy is currently one of the hottest properties in Hollywood, the charismatic Glaswegian had actually intended joining the navy or the priesthood before he stumbled upon acting as a career. James was 16 when the actor and director David Hayman visited St Thomas Aquinas school in Drumchapel to give a talk on Shakespeare and ended up being heckled by some class troublemakers. "I felt bad for him," recalls James. "So I went up at the end and said, 'Thanks very much. That was very interesting,' and asked him if I could make the tea, do some work experience, if he was ever doing another film." McAvoy was taken by surprise when Hayman called back four months later asking him to audition. He tried out and won a role in the feature film The Near Room.

McAvoy hadn't planned on becoming an actor, even when he got the part in the movie, but admitted later he changed his mind when he got a crush on co-star Alana Brady. A small role in the TV movie An Angel Passes By followed, and soon after, McAvoy decided to train at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. To pay his way, for two years he did the early shift at a bakery as a trainee confectioner before heading off to school each morning. In 2000, at the age of 20, he moved to London and soon after, landed a plum role in Steven Spielberg's acclaimed mini-series, Band of Brothers.

Since then he has appeared in the brilliant Shameless which he starred opposite Anne-Marie Duff, whom he later married, the couple divorced in 2016.

Other roles, before and after Shameless include, Foyle's War, Frank Herbert's Children of Dune, State of Play and Shakespea Re-Told.

On the big screen he was excellent dodgy cop, Bruce Robertson in Irvine Welsh's Filth, which I watched again the other night night, before that he was in The Last King of Scotland as Dr. Nicholas Garrigan, over the pond is more well known as the young Charles Xavier / Professor X in several X-Men flicks.

James voiced Hazel a new TV series adaptation of Watership down in 2018, He also appeared in Glass, the third in a series of films, the others being, Unbreakable and Split. He ended 2018 on the small screen featuring in His Dark Materials as well as finding time to star in National Theatre Live: Cyrano de Bergerac in the title role.

Fans of James will be happy to see him back on the silver screen later this year in his latest movie, The Book of Clarence. Inspired by classic Hollywood epics set in biblical times, Legendary’s The Book of Clarence tells the tale of Clarence played by LaKeith Stanfield, a down-on-his-luck denizen of Jerusalem embarking on a misguided attempt to capitalize on the rise of celebrity and influence of the Messiah for his own personal gain. The popular Benedict Cumberbatch, also appears in the film.

James McAvoy has always had a generous side, he once did a "terrifying" BASE jump from the world's tallest hospital building in a bid to help raise money for Ugandan children's charity Retrak, an organisation which assists children on the streets. Additionally, he is a celebrity supporter of the British Red Cross with whom he travelled to Uganda to raise awareness of the projects there. He had become involved with the charity after shooting The Last King of Scotland there for several months and was shocked by what he saw. In February 2007, he visited northern Uganda and spent four days seeing projects supported by the British Red Cross.

In 2015, McAvoy pledged £125,000 to a 10-year scholarship programme at his former drama school, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, formerly the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. McAvoy has also supported several other charities both at home and abroad.

[thebibliomancer]

Essential Avengers: Avengers #302: EARTH ROCKS!

April, 1989

-- It's QUASAR -- and the West Coast Avengers to EARTH'S RESCUE!

Cool!

Who the fuck is Quasar?

(I mean, I know who he is because I've been reading his book on Unlimited. But to ye back in the day Avengers reader, who the fuck is Quasar?)

But I guess this is what happens when the entire East Coast team explodes. We get Quasar and the West Coast Avengers stepping up.

Gilgamesh, I'm glad you're dead. You continue to let the team down with your Prince Valiant haircut in the roster box.

Anyway, let's get into it.

Last times on Avengers: after various nonsense, the Avengers fell apart as a team. Captain America convinced Mr Fantastic and Invisible Woman to join the Avengers, alongside Thor and Gilgamesh. The team had its probably first mission, to go investigate Super-Nova, the last survivor of the Xandarian Novas. The guy is coming to Earth to smash shit up because he's mad at Nebula for destroying Xandar and he somehow heard that Nebula is an Avenger so he's VERY MAD that the Avengers are hiding her instead of turning her over to face justice. Or in other words, Avengers tell giant alien that they don't actually have the fugitive he's looking for and he gets so mad he blows up his entire ship, with the Avengers inside.

Someone get this man some vengeance.

Super-Nova human rockets to Earth determined to smash things up until someone produces Nebula.

Usually aliens coming and going is pretty casual but Super-Nova detonated an enormous spaceship fairly close to Earth, astronomically speaking.

So the big explosion is noticed by a lot of people. Especially Cold War people who are nervous that it could mean escalation when we're all trying to enjoy some Glasnost around here.

In New York, Wendell Vaughn is enjoying his new security consultancy business, located at scenic Four Freedoms Plaza.

His solo series hasn't started yet but a caption helpfully suggests everyone read it whenever it comes out.

Wendell was a SHIELD operative who touched some bracelets he shouldn't have touched but in this case it was a good thing. He became one of SHIELD's super-agents! Then he became the head of security at Project Pegasus! Then he got depressed and decided to fly to Uranus to see if he could find the secrets of the Quantum Bands. Where he met cosmic bigwig Eon who told him his job was to safeguard the universe, mostly by hanging around on Earth and waiting for a cosmic assassin to cosmically assassinate Eon.

So Wendell figured a good way to safeguard the universe by which we mean Earth would be to start a security company. And to keep Eon in a closet in his office.

So he's doing pretty well for himself.

His cosmically cool bracelets alert him that there's weird space shit happening on Earth so Quasar flies off to investigate.

Super-Nova lands in Chicago. Apparently he chose it because it contained the world's tallest building at the time (the Sears' Trade Tower) and he wants to fuck it up to prove he means business.

So he blasts a chunk out of the building with a SKREESH and summons the words SURRENDER NEBULA OR PERISH to float around so people will know what he's about.

Quasar shows up and demands the dude identify himself and not make any more hostile gestures.

Super-Nova: "I am Super-Nova, only survivor of the planet Xandar! Do you know of the woman Nebula?" Quasar: "Nebula? Why, no." Super-Nova: "A pity."

And then he blasts (at) Quasar.

So, before, when he went to Earth to smash shit up it was under the assumption that the Avengers were hiding Nebula from him. A dick move but you can see where he's coming from, kinda. Even if it makes no sense that he knows what he knows and still is so misinformed.

But some dude just came up to him that has no idea what's going on and Super-Nova tried to kill him.

You're a dick, Super-Nova.

With hostilities started, Quasar decides he gotta subdue this guy. He's powerful enough to wreck the entire city if he sets his mind to it.

Since the Quantum Bands are basically a Green Lantern ring, Quasar uses them to form manacles around Super-Nova's wrists.

Which the giant guy finds hilarious.

He starts building pink energy in his hands and as we all know by now, too much pink energy is dangerous.

Quasar attempts to hold the manacles against the build-up but Super-Nova pushes past Quasar's limits and explodes the manacles.

The explosion hurls Quasar away and he thinks how he totally would have died just then if the Quantum Bands didn't have an energy shield around him.

That yellow aura around him, basically. Protects him from dying. Very handy.

The energy blast also broke the rotors on a news copter so Quasar disengages to catch the crashing copter and settle it gently on a roof.

For which he is rewarded with the journalists mistaking him for Thor.

I mean. Blond and a cape. Seems cut and dry.

Meanwhile, Super-Nova is even more pissed off than before. The energy blast also disrupted that surrender Nebula message. So for the minor inconvenience of making Super-Nova have to put up a new message, Super-Nova tries to blast Quasar out of existence.

Quasar manages to strengthen his shield but gets blasted right out of the plot. I just don't see him in the rest of the issue.

Over at the West Coast Avengers Compound, the West Coast Avengers are playing cards because I guess things are just really slow over on the West Coast.

Also, this is set sometime between issues 41 and 42. Probably.

Tigra and Hank Pym have rejoined the team. But Scarlet Witch and Vision aren't around. And neither is the Wasp. But for reasons, this has to happen before the VisionQuest story concludes.

Anyway, West Coast Avengers support staff guy Juan Mercado interrupts the poker game to advise Hawkeye that there's a big dude smashing up Chicago and they should probably do something about it.

Hawkeye goes okay lets see if the East Coast team already called dibs.

The jurisdiction agreement between the West Coast and East Coast Avengers gets kinda weird in the middle of the country. Since Chicago is in the Midwest (although on the East side of the Midwest), Hawkeye contacts Avengers Island to see if they have dibs.

East Coast Avengers Communications Officer Peggy Carter answers the call.

Wow. Cap gave his old girlfriend a job. You hates to see cronyism from Captain America.

Anyway, she confirms that the East Coast Avengers haven't responded to the Chicago thing because they're off doing space stuff.

In that case, Hawkeye calls dibs.

The team looks anemic with half of the members missing.

But they are guest starring in the East Coast Avengers' book and we already have Quasar guest starring as well. So maybe its for the best that Vision, Scarlet Witch, and Wasp are using PTO.

Meanwhile, SPACE.

Where the Avengers didn't actually blow up.

Obviously, Invisible Woman saved them by putting an invisible bubble around them.

That's her thing. Saving people from explosions with last minute bubbles and also putting bubbles in people's brains. She contains multitudes, bubble-wise.

Reed tries explaining to her what she just did but she's like dude I was there, I did it.

Holding the bubble as its flung from the explosion is doing Sue a strain so Thor asks that she make an invisible airlock so he can go outside and redirect their trajectory to Earth.

He gives Sue a thumbs up to let her know hes ready for the airlock to be disappeared. And I adore Thor doing a thumbs up. He has learned well of our Midgardian ways.

Thor first needs to slow the bubble down, since it was hurled by the explosion. So he throws Mjolnir and catches it over and over, shifting his position to steer towards Earth.

Simple physics, probably.

Gilgamesh comments that Thor is smarter than he expected from such a strong guy. Which is a rude compliment.

Anyway.

Over in Chicago, the West Coast Avengers arrive in QUINJET and spot Super-Nova.

Hawkeye recognizes the costume as being similar to some Nova dude who operated a few years back. That's right, the one and only Richard Rider in his original series that last 25 issues.

For some reason, I always think of Richard Rider Nova being a later character. Because I more associate him with New Warriors.

Anyway, that's what Super-Nova reminds Hawkeye of. Non-Super-Nova. (Although, Nova Richard Rider would become like Super-Nova in having all of the Nova Force in his one singular body but instead of becoming a giant, he did not. Got a cooler uniform though.)

The West Coast Avengers assume Super-Nova is up to no good, despite other Nova being a hero, because a police barricade is shooting at him.

Not a safe assumption.

Wonder Man volunteers to take the first crack at Super-Nova and teamwork is dumb so he wants to take the first crack alone.

The Quinjet swoops by to drop off Wonder Man and Super-Nova contemplates grabbing and squishing it right before Wonder Man punches him right in his giant face.

And then gets grabbed.

Wonder Man: "You could have at least *aach* fallen on a few buildings to make it *uugh* look good!"

... Do you WANT collateral damage, Wonder Man??

Super-Nova asks Wonder Man where is Nebula and instead of just saying he doesn't know (which probably wouldn't help anyway) Wonder Man says he doesn't snitch.

So Super-Nova craters him into the pavement.

Former Giant Guys Hank Pym and Hawkeye are agog because when they were giant guys, they couldn't have hit Wonder Man that hard!

They're kinda making it about them.

Wonder what their next move is going to be because none of the three remaining West Coast Avengers have nearly the oomph that Wonder Man does.

Of course, Hank could maybe shrink Super-Nova. I wonder if he'll even try.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere.

The Invisible Woman's Invisible Bubble is re-entering it.

Which presents a new problem.

One: Sue is starting to get faint from overexerting her powers and the fact that the oxygen in the bubble is getting thin. It was finite after all.

Two: re-entry is going to heat up the air around the bubble. Sue can keep the heat from transferring inside, apparently. But the more the bubble heats up, the more pressure will be on the bubble. If Sue falters even for a split second, the heat will burn them all up.

Well, except for Firelord. He's a fire guy.

Also, he just woke up and has offered his fire-based help.

He has Sue make another airlock so he can climb outside with his fire stick and use his cosmic fire powers to redirect heat away from the bubble so that if Sue's concentration drops, they don't all fry.

Well, except Gilgamesh, Thor, and Firelord who could probably all walk it off.

When Invisible Woman's concentration finally slips, Mr Fantastic grabs her and stretches his body into a parachute.

Thor grabs Captain America and the two have a moment, of some kind.

Thor: "I have thee, Captain. The true heart of the Avengers shall suffer no injury while Thor lives to prevent it!" Captain America: "You get my vote, partner."

(Its a nice moment, of some kind. But c'mon with the character shilling, Thor! The true heart?? The true heart of the Avengers is the nebulous concept of heroes banding together to face larger threats on Tony Stark's dime. Cap is important but there have been real, legitimate Avengerses without him.)

Firelord offers to carry Gilgamesh but Gilgamesh goes no thanks, I can fly by myself.

So given that you have two fliers with their hands free, they should probably carry Reed and Sue. It'd probably be faster than the two moving at parachute speed.

No? We're just going to stick with that? Okay.

Anyway, matching pace with Mr Fantastic and Invisible Woman going at parachute speed, the Avengers and guests angle their descent to try to land near the West Coast Avengers Compound.

Speaking of that team, back at the fight, they land the Quinjet to the bemusement of a cop police who compares the Quinjet to the Millennium Falcon.

Get your eyes checked, guy.

Quinjets are cool but they don't look a star war.

They've landed near Wonder Man's crater and see that he's okay. Even recovered enough that he's started climbing out by himself.

A random General Akord on site exposits to Hawkeye about Super-Nova arriving and fighting Quasar.

Tigra catches a radio communication from the East Coast Avengers that they're going to borrow a Quinjet from the West Coast Avengers Compound and join them in Chicago.

You think this would be good news except Hawkeye is an idiot who engages in dick waving contests almost as often as he shoots arrows.

Hawkeye: "Just great. That means Cap and the boys'll be here to grab all the glory and we'll come off looking like blasted also-rans."

Here's a suggestion for if you wanted to wrap this up before another team had to come and bail you out.

Bring the full team next time, idiot. Scarlet Witch is your win button for this kinda nonsense.

Since Hawkeye is now itching to try to resolve this before Cap and crew show up, he decides to do something reckless.

Reckless like not suggesting Hank Pym shrink the guy, which he is probably capable of doing.

He tells Tigra and Hank to cover him while he shoots a flare arrow to get Super-Nova's attention... and then he definitely has a plan for what happens next! Definitely!

Hawkeye shoots a flare arrow (flarrow?) at Super-Nova right when he's building a new "bring me Nebula" message out of train tracks.

I honestly kind of admire the pointless resourcefulness of this Super-Nova dude.

I also love Hank and Tigra sighing about having to bail Hawkeye out of this impending error in judgement.

Anyway, Super-Nova picks up Hawkeye and goes hey why are you saying you're the Avengers leader when I already met them in space and you weren't there?

Hawkeye offers to explain the whole two teams thing but Super-Nova really could not care less.

Super-Nova: "Human -- my patience is exhausted! Do not blather! Where is the woman called Nebula? Where is she who destroyed my world Xandar and then fled here to hide among the Avengers?"

All helpful exposition for Hawkeye, who apparently did not pay any attention to the "bring me Nebula" train track sign from earlier.

Hawkeye finds himself explaining the two teams thing anyway. Because this guy says that Nebula was hiding among the Avengers? Well, okay. But which team though? We need to narrow it down.

So Hawkeye asks what Nebula is like so Hawkeye can figure out which team she's hiding with.

And now Super-Nova is so agitated with Hawkeye that he's contemplating clenching his hand.

The hand that Hawkeye is in.

Hawkeye: His upper lip's quivering, his eyes are narrowing, and his grip's tightening. Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea if Cap showed up about now. Since I haven't the faintest idea where that Nebula babe is, I may have just bought the farm!

Good job, Hawkeye!

Follow @essential-avengers because I cover not only Avengers and West Coast Avengers but West Coast Avengers in Avengers. Like, reblog, and comment. I appreciate it!

[amielbjacobs]

Progress on 'A Traitor in Love'

It was late at night on the Moscow Metro, full of tired men and women waiting for their stops. A middle-aged woman in the corner seat was asleep next to her daughter, who gazed with weary eyes at the newspaper in her hands. A group of men, lightly drunk, was laughing and talking a little too loudly as they clung to the subway bars. 

A slim Central Asian man with a worn round face stood by the doors, gazing out the windows at the tunnel walls flashing by in a hypnotic blur of concrete. His name was Oktyabr Kerimuly Ismailov. 

Moscow had never felt quite real to him. He had come here a decade ago to live with his cousin after being released from prison; before that, he had lived in the middle of nowhere. Moscow felt as unreal as the Gulag, two dream-places that could not possibly coexist in the same world. Moscow was a flood of life, where people ate and fucked and argued about petty things, where people went where they wished in big flocks or on their own, where you could fly on a train from one side of the vast city to the other in under an hour. And yet Ismailov had come here from the Gulag, and so had others.The Metro, too, had been built by Gulag laborers. This world could not exist without that one. 

He pulled back the sleeve of his jacket, surreptitiously, to check his watch. It was an expensive, foreign piece, with a big shiny band of metal links and an English brand name written on the face. It wasn’t the kind of thing it was wise to wear out and about on the Metro, but it was a gift from his lover Winston, who did not understand such things. 

10 PM. Perhaps Winston would still be awake when Ismailov got back; reading, if it had been a good day, or drinking, if not. Ismailov always worried when he left Winston alone. He had been doing better, these last few months - drinking less, smiling more. But it was hard to believe in Winston’s stability; there was a fragility to the man, like a British flower that could not survive the harsh Russian winters. 

The Metro car came to the Dzerzhinskaya stop. Ismailov climbed out of the depths of the earth. As he walked, he glanced up at the squat shadow of the KGB headquarters - the Lubyanka, with its split gray-and-gold facade. The joke went that it was the tallest city in Moscow - because you could see Siberia from its basement. Winston regarded it as his place of work, although he was only occasionally to be found there. 

Ismailov stopped at the white-and-brown pre-revolutionary building that housed Glasby’s flat and pulled out his keys. There was a light on in the living room, and Ismailov smiled to himself. Perhaps Winston had waited up for him. 

He turned the key, pushed the door open - and started screaming.

[thelorehold]

Lyra Silverleaf

Class: Ranger / Shadowdancer

Description:

Stature: Lyra is of average height with a lean, agile build honed from years of navigating forests and scaling walls. Her eyes are a deep emerald green, often filled with a mix of mischief and intensity.

Style: She favors dark, form-fitting clothing that allows for stealthy movement. Her armor is minimal, consisting of leather bracers and a light chain shirt beneath her tunic. A silver leaf-shaped pendant dangles from a thin chain around her neck.

History:

Lyra grew up as an orphan in the bustling city of Evergleam, surviving by her wits and nimble fingers. She was a master pickpocket and climber, often scaling the city's tallest structures to evade the authorities. However, when a heist went wrong, Lyra was forced to flee the city. She sought refuge in the Whispering Woods, where she was taken in by a reclusive band of rangers. They taught her the ways of the forest, the art of tracking, and the deadly skills of a shadowdancer.

Personality:

Lyra is a cunning and resourceful woman with a penchant for danger and excitement. She is fiercely independent, preferring to rely on her own skills rather than trusting others. Beneath her tough exterior, Lyra possesses a deep empathy for the downtrodden and a strong sense of justice. She has a sharp wit and a playful nature, often using humor to disarm those around her.

Voice & Mannerisms:

Lyra's voice is soft and melodious, yet carries a hint of an underlying confidence. She speaks with a quick wit and a playful tone, often peppering her conversations with jokes and sly remarks. Lyra moves with the grace and agility of a cat, her footsteps barely making a sound. She has a habit of twirling a lock of her hair when deep in thought.

Motives & Goals:

Lyra is driven by a desire for freedom and adventure. She seeks to explore the world, uncover its secrets, and right its wrongs. Lyra yearns to use her unique skills to help those in need and leave her mark on the world.

Beliefs & Values:

Lyra believes in personal freedom, self-reliance, and the importance of helping others. She values loyalty, cunning, and the ability to adapt to any situation. Lyra holds a deep reverence for nature and its creatures, seeing herself as a protector of the wild.

Reputation:

Lyra is known as the "Silver Shadow," a mysterious figure rumored to be a master thief and skilled ranger. She is both admired for her daring exploits and feared for her elusive nature. Some see her as a champion of the oppressed, while others view her as a dangerous outlaw.

Quirks & Flaws:

Lyra can be overly impulsive and reckless, often jumping into dangerous situations without fully considering the consequences. She struggles to trust others and can be quite secretive, pushing away those who try to get close to her. Lyra also has a weakness for shiny trinkets and a tendency to gamble.

Secret:

Lyra is haunted by the memory of a young boy who was killed during the botched heist in Evergleam. She blames herself for his death and has vowed to never let anyone else get hurt because of her actions.

Allies & Contacts:

A wise old ranger who taught Lyra the ways of the forest and the art of shadowdancing.

A network of informants and fellow thieves from her days in Evergleam.

A druid who shares Lyra's love of nature and helps her harness her connection to the wild.

What's in their pockets?:

A set of lockpicks and a small mirror for scouting around corners.

A silver coin from her first successful heist, kept as a reminder of her past.

A dried flower given to her by the druid as a token of friendship.

Character Synopsis:

Lyra Silverleaf is a captivating blend of rogue and hero, a skilled ranger and shadowdancer with a troubled past and a thirst for adventure. Her cunning, resourcefulness, and unwavering determination make her a valuable asset to any party. Lyra's complex personality, hidden vulnerabilities, and secret guilt add depth and intrigue to her character, making her a compelling addition to any high fantasy campaign.

[uaegraphics]

Celebrating UAE National Day: A Tribute to Unity and Progress

UAE National Day, celebrated on December 2nd, marks the unification of the seven emirates and the founding of the United Arab Emirates in 1971. It is a day of great national pride, commemorating the country's remarkable journey from a collection of small, disparate states to a unified, modern nation. This guide delves into the history, significance, and various ways UAE National Day is celebrated, highlighting the spirit of unity and progress that defines the UAE.

The Historical Context

The Birth of a Nation

The UAE was established on December 2, 1971, when six emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain, and Fujairah- united. Ras Al Khaimah joined the federation on February 10, 1972. The unification was spearheaded by the visionary leaders Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father and first President of the UAE, and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum.

The Treaty of Friendship

Prior to unification, the Trucial States, as the emirates were known, had signed a treaty of friendship with the United Kingdom. This treaty paved the way for the formation of an independent nation, free from British protection, which officially ended on December 1, 1971.

Significance of UAE National Day

A Celebration of Unity

UAE National Day symbolizes the unity and cohesion of the seven emirates. It is a day to remember the efforts and vision of the founding leaders, whose dedication and foresight created a stable and prosperous nation.

Economic and Social Progress

The day also highlights the incredible economic and social progress the UAE has made in a relatively short period. From a primarily oil-based economy, the UAE has diversified into sectors such as tourism, finance, and technology, becoming a global hub for business and innovation.

Cultural Heritage

National Day is an occasion to celebrate the UAE's rich cultural heritage. Traditional music, dance, and art are showcased, reminding citizens and residents of the country's deep-rooted customs and values.

National Day Celebrations

Official Ceremonies

Parades and Fireworks

Every year, grand parades and fireworks displays are organized in major cities like Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah. These events feature military bands, cultural performances, and impressive pyrotechnic shows that light up the night sky.

Presidential Address

The President of the UAE delivers a speech to the nation, reflecting on the country’s achievements and future aspirations. This address is broadcast across all media platforms, reinforcing the spirit of unity and national pride.

Cultural Festivities

Traditional Performances

Cultural performances, including Al Ayala (a traditional dance), poetry recitations, and folk music, are an integral part of the celebrations. These performances connect the younger generation with their heritage.

Art and Exhibitions

Art exhibitions showcasing Emirati artists and historical artifacts are held across the country. These exhibitions celebrate the UAE’s artistic heritage and contemporary art scene.

Community Engagement

Public Events and Activities

Public parks and community centers host various events such as family-friendly activities, games, and cultural shows. These events foster community spirit and allow residents and citizens to celebrate together.

Educational Programs

Schools and universities participate in the celebrations by organizing special programs that educate students about the UAE's history and cultural heritage. These programs include essay competitions, art contests, and history projects.

Decorations and Symbols

National Colors and Flags

Buildings, streets, and homes are adorned with the national colors — red, green, white, and black — and the UAE flag. These decorations symbolize national pride and unity.

Light Displays

Iconic buildings and landmarks are illuminated with the national colors. The Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, often features a spectacular light show that pays tribute to the nation’s achievements.

UAE National Day and National Identity

Fostering Patriotism

National Day celebrations play a crucial role in fostering a sense of patriotism and national identity. The events and activities remind citizens and residents of the shared values and vision that bind them together.

Reflection on Achievements

The day serves as a time to reflect on the UAE's achievements in various fields such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and technology. It highlights the country's progress and its commitment to continuous development.

Vision for the Future

National Day is not only about celebrating the past but also about looking forward to the future. It underscores the UAE’s vision for innovation, sustainability, and global leadership.

The Role of Leadership

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan

Sheikh Zayed, known as the Father of the Nation, played a pivotal role in the formation and development of the UAE. His leadership, vision, and dedication to the welfare of his people laid the foundation for the country’s success.

Successive Leadership

The successive leaders of the UAE have continued Sheikh Zayed’s legacy, focusing on modernization, diversification, and global integration. Their strategic vision has propelled the UAE to new heights on the international stage.

National Day and Social Cohesion

Inclusivity and Diversity

The UAE is home to a diverse population of expatriates from all over the world. National Day celebrations emphasize inclusivity and the harmonious coexistence of different cultures and communities.

Social Initiatives

Various social initiatives are launched on National Day, promoting welfare and community development. These initiatives reflect the UAE’s commitment to social responsibility and humanitarian values.

Conclusion

UAE National Day is a celebration of the nation’s unity, progress, and cultural heritage. It is a day to honor the visionary leaders who laid the foundation for a prosperous and modern UAE and to reflect on the achievements that have transformed the country into a global powerhouse. Through grand celebrations, cultural festivities, and community engagement, UAE National Day fosters a deep sense of national pride and unity among citizens and residents alike. As the UAE continues its journey towards a bright and innovative future, National Day remains a pivotal occasion to celebrate the nation's past, present, and future.

[travellogfinalproject]

The Amiens Cathedral:

The Amiens Cathedral was built in the city of Amiens, France. The Cathedral began construction in 1220 and was completed around 1228 (Cataldo, 2021). To this day the Amiens Cathedral is one of the tallest structures in the city, benign over 400 feet tall (Cataldo, 2021). The cathedral features flying buttresses and stained glass which were key features of the gothic style of architecture. The cathedral is very clearly built in a gothic style. The Amiens Cathedral is built of three half dome like structures and two towers with pointed arches. Within the half dome shapes are sculptures of symbols of the christian church (Cataldo, 2021). The domes include images of the Virgin Mary, The first bishop of Amiens, and images of various Saints such as Saint Firmin (Cataldo, 2021). In the center of the middle dome is a sculpture of Christ. There are also two other sculptures of Christ within the structure. One being found kneeling between the Virgin Mary and St. John which was described in the new testament (Cataldo, 2021). The other depicts Christ with two swords protruding from his mouth while people awaken from their graves as described in the book of revelation (Cataldo, 2021). Virtues and vices are shown in pairs within these sculptures as well. Pairs such as patience/anger and courage/cowardice are included (Cataldo, 2021). Cataldo suggests that these images give the viewer a chance to choose between a life of virtue over a life of vice (Cataldo, 2021). The interior of the building included tall spacious rooms. There are three levels to the cathedral. The Amien contains a sculpted foliate band unlike any other. It is made up of any individual sculpted pieces that are made to fit together to form one big detailed piece (Cataldo, 2021). Unfortunately, the original stained glass windows of the cathedral have been replaced for the most part by regular glass, but there are still some pieces that remain (Cataldo, 2021). The reason for the removal of the colorful stained glass was due to World War I. The stained glass was taken down and put into storage as a precaution preceding the war, but a fire ended up destroying the stained glass while in storage (Cataldo, 2021). The floors are decorated in the center with images of four men: The bishop in charge during the initial construction of the cathedral, along with three architects (Cataldo, 2021). Some areas of the cathedral are no longer structurally sound due to changes following the initial construction. Around 1500 there was a partial collapse which resulted in an additional flying buttress being added (Cataldo, 2021). People today are still able to visit and tour the cathedral although some unstable areas are blocked off from view.

[birdmankickedmyass]

distant memory of the old gym that i never fully explored and people would talk about the ghosts in the storage closets under the bleachers and up in the scary gymnastics enclosure and how i was always terrified of the massive wood framing of the lights on the ceiling and would sit accordingly so it wouldnt all fall down and crush me in some freak accident. tallest building in the world to me. also how the lights would turn on slowly from nothing to green to yellow to white and i could feel every tick and it gave me this horrible pit in my stomach every time. remembering how it was common knowledge that it used to be a barn and if you put your ear to the floor you could hear the farm how it used to be .

and then years after they tore it down but the directly adjacent building remained which was the old cafeteria and the auditorium on the second floor (which is still very much in use) we were between a band concert and hanging out on the lower floor and i looked out to where the doorway to the gym used to be and how that doorway that gave me that much dread and beyond it was just flat and fields...strange feeling

[nursedrei]

I have just noticed that many tourists who come to Birmingham do not make any research about the different places they can visit here. Birmingham is not just about the City Centre. Try to go outside the city Centre and explore the whole west Midlands and you will see the real beauty of this place.

For First Timers, I'll try my best to give tips for anyone:

If you are using the train to come here, I advice that you get a Day Trip Pass Ticket which usually costs around 7 to 8£. You can use this to visit the different towns west midlands via TRAIN and BUS. (Trams are not Included)

The City Centre:

First have a walk along the New Street once you got outside of the Train Station, or Corporation Street( Which is around the corner if New Street). From there, you can walk to the Victoria Square where the Birmingham Museum is located at. You can also walk through the Chamberlain Square and take some

photos of the fountain.

From there, walk further and turn left, you can see the Largest Public Library in Europe. The Birmingham Library. You can go there inside free of charge, go to the top which will give you access to the Rooftop Lounge.

After visiting The Birmingham Library, Walk to Broad Street, and there you will see the commemoration photo or chair for Black Sabbath (Metal Rock Band). If go downstairs, it will lead you to a canal. Birmingham has the largest connection of Canals in Whole Europe, Larger than in Venice, Italy. There are many independent Indie pubs, restaurants along the canal. At the end of the canal, it will lead you to Either The Mail Box Mall or the Utilita Arena (Major concert Stadium) in Birmingham. There's also a Sea Life Aquarium Nearby if you are into those things.

From the Mailbox, you can continue walking until the end exit of the building. It will lead you to the Birmingham China Town. If you like Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, Malay and Thai food, There's a food Court that I can recommend called "Asia-Asia".

Chinatown is also near the gay village, if you are into those kind of things, then China Town is the best place for you.

Now, let's proceed to a different place called Digbeth, where all the underground clubs and pubs are located at. It's the "Hood" as what they may call it. Digbeth is home of the different Street /Wall Arts in Birmingham. So many nice shops and small restaurants are located there.

Other Place I recommend is the Jewellery Quarter, It's home of the famous Jewellery Factories which account 40 percent of the Jewellery production in the UK. They also have a museum there for jewellery enthusiasts.

Now a little far a way from the City Centre, Let's visit the University of Birmingham. One of the kost Prestigious Universities in UK. The campus is soooo huge and the buildings are scattered around the forest. You can take a train from Birmingham New Street and drop off at the "University Station". From there you can Visit the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (Top 4 best hospital in UK) and the University of Birmingham. The Admin Campus is home of the Tallest Independent Clock Tower in the world. "The Old Joe". If you are familiar with Lord of the rings and the Monster INC Animated film, both towers on the movies are inspired from the OLD JOE.

If you have time, I also recommend visiting the Aston Hall (One of the most important palaces in Birmingham). They have a very good garden outside and the entrance fee was around 11 to 13£ If I can still remember it right. The Last Entry for the Aston Hall Museum is at 15:00H. The Aston Villa Football Stadium is just located beside the Aston Hall.

Another Place to visit is the Cadbury Factory Museum (Good for kids). Birmingham is the origin if Cadbury Chocolates. There are many nice small villages and shops outside the cadbury museum. Just walk further and you can visit the Selly Manor Museum along the Sycamore Road.

on the other side of Birmingham, try taking a bus going to Canon Hill Park and enjoy the nature. You can also visit the Birmingham Bitanical Garden which is just located nearby. Outside the park, you can find the famous Edgbaston Stadium. (Home of the best Cricket players in the UK).

If you like going to zoos, castles and a fan of peaky blinders, you have to visit the town of Dudley. There is also what we called the "Black Country Museum". It is an open museum which depicts the life of the British people during the Industrial Revolution. Some of the settings of Peaky Blinders were taken here.

Another beautiful town I recommend is the Warwick. They have a very nice park and Castle. You can see the old buildings and houses that were built during 1500's. I love this place so much.

If you are a fan of "Romeo and Juliet" written by William Shakespear, you have to visit the town of "Stratford Upon Avon". There you can see his birthplace and the preserved house he used to live in.

Another City I recommend is Coventry. Coventry has many Museums, Home of the Coventry Cathedral which was bombed during the World War and many Asian Restaurants. There are many Korean and Chinese Restaurants to eat in.

Facts:

1. Birmingham is the Second Largest City or Metropolitan Borough in the whole UK, Next after London.

2. During the World War, 90 percent of all the beautiful Establishents were destroyed. They had no choice but to rebuild the whole city again from scratch.

3. Birmingham is home of the Industrial Revolution in The UK with great contributions around the world.

4. The Old Joe is the tallest free Standing Clock Tower in the world (Located at UOB).

5. Birmingham has the highest number of younger youth in whole Europe.

6. The city is home of the largest Canal connections in whole Europe.

7. Birmingham is home of the Metal Rock Genre. Many famous Singers and Bands came from Birmingham.

8. It is home of the Cadbury Chocolate.

There are many inventions made in Birmingham and they are too many to mention. You can google it. Thanks.

I hope this may help!

[gaybd1]

idk if u all realize this but the big attraction for New Year’s Eve in Taiwan is to see fireworks launched off one of the tallest buildings in the world and it ROCKS

Yes I WILL be standing in the crowd of 500,000 people to see this near the base and yes my favorite band WILL be performing at midnight too

[xtruss]

Photograph Courtesy the Author

At Least We Can Give Thanks For a Tree! Visiting The Largest Known White Pine.

— By Bill McKibben | Thursday November 23, 2023 (Thanksgiving Day)

As far as the climate (and, truthfully, much else) is concerned, 2023 has felt like one nasty jack-in-the-box moment after another; there have been a record number of billion-dollar natural disasters in the United States and much worse in the rest of the world. That may explain why I was so pleased a few months ago to read a short article in a Syracuse newspaper about something both unexpected and quite unreservedly lovely: this past July, in the remote Moose River Plains Wild Forest, in the Adirondacks, a young botanist named Erik Danielson found the largest Eastern white pine known to exist. Indeed, it is the largest tree of any kind known in that great wilderness, and ever since I read about it I’d been hoping he might be persuaded to take me for a look. Earlier this month, with a dusting of snow on the ground, he led a small group of enthusiasts on a two-hour bushwhack into the forest.

Danielson, aged thirty-three, is a self-taught botanist who works for the Western New York Land Conservancy, helping to, among other things, identify rare and endangered plant communities. “I’m particularly interested in mosses and liverworts,” he said, and, indeed, we’d barely left the dirt road between Indian Lake and Inlet, New York, before he was bent over a carpet of green. But, in his spare time, Danielson is a big-tree hunter, at work for the Gathering Growth Foundation, on a book about the big trees of New York. He’s part of a small band that has systematically sought out the patches of old-growth forest that were left across the East after the rapacious logging of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and early twentieth centuries. I’ve known some of these sleuths for years—I spent a pleasant day a quarter century ago with one of Danielson’s mentors, another autodidact tree-lover named Bob Leverett, measuring white pines in a state park in the Berkshires. I’ve visited forest patches in the Carolinas, Vermont, and New Hampshire, but much of the remaining Eastern old growth is confined to the Adirondacks, the vast and sparsely populated quarter of New York that rises north of Saratoga, south of Quebec, and between the Mohawk and St. Lawrence Rivers, Lake Champlain, and Lake Ontario. Though the region is high and cold, with a short growing season, it’s also protected and empty, as long as you stay away from the scenic High Peaks around Lake Placid. I’ve often wandered there for days on end seeing no one.

Danielson was alerted to this particular corner of the Adirondacks by a hunter, Matt Kane, who posted a picture of a giant white pine on a Facebook group this year. Kane had been researching the logging history of the area, which came into state hands in the last decades of the nineteenth century, when it was still largely virgin forest. In 1950, a huge storm—still known as “the big blowdown”—toppled most of the trees there, and though the area was officially protected wilderness, the state allowed a controversial “salvage logging” of downed trees. For the first half of the hike, we followed, in places, an overgrown former logging road. Danielson has tools that his predecessors lacked, most notably lidar scans—basically, a Light Detection and Ranging aircraft pulses a laser down at the earth, measuring distances so accurately that it can build a 3-D picture of any area. “I was processing the canopy height model, and you could see that there had to be trees that were a hundred and forty to a hundred and sixty feet tall,” Danielson said. “In the Adirondacks, that’s very tall. And what made it really exciting was that it was a large area—it looked like five hundred or five hundred and fifty acres. Usually what you find are very small clusters”— such as the eight-acre Elder’s Grove, near Paul Smith’s College, where the state’s onetime tallest pine, Tree 103, fell in 2021.

Sometimes, as with the Elder’s Grove pine, these giant trees are situated conveniently near a road. Not in this case. We clambered along the remains of the logging road until we came to a sizable brook; you could plot a theoretical course across the rocks, but, as is often the case, theory succumbed to practice, and I slipped and got my boots wet (thank science for Gore-Tex). Across the brook, the forest began to deepen, and so did Danielson’s story (though it gave way at regular intervals to short seminars on bronze grape fern, which comes in two forms, and Northeastern sedge, “which looks a lot like yellow sedge except for some details”). He was describing his July expedition to us. On the first day, he found a very big white pine, but barely had time to catalogue it. “It felt so remote,” he said. “Usually, there are some signs of hunters, but here I didn’t even see a beer can.” He hit on a small brook, and followed it up through a quiet forest, scrambling across giant deadfalls—“nurse logs” sprouting hundreds of seedlings. “I was in a kind of ecstatic state, especially after I saw that waterfall over there,” he said. “Then I glimpsed an extra-large trunk through the trees and, as I got closer, it wasn’t getting any smaller.” Foresters, charmingly, measure the size of trees by D.B.H., or diameter at breast height, which is calculated from the circumference. He added, “When I wrapped my tape around it, it was 16.39 feet”—one of the largest ever measured for a white pine. (This tree’s D.B.H. is more than five feet.) But base circumference does not make a big tree—indeed, most really wide white pines are comparatively squat. “Looking up at this one, though, I could tell it was tall,” Danielson said. He crossed a gully to a small glade where he could get a clear view of the crown and, using a hypsometer, measured the tree’s height at a hundred and fifty-one feet and six inches.

That’s not the tallest pine we know about—last year, Danielson, not surprisingly, had measured the post-Tree 103 New York State height champion, on the other side of the Adirondacks, near Lake George, at a hundred and seventy-four feet. But many tall trees, including that one, are relatively skinny. This Moose River Plains pine, which he named Bigfoot, is a solid pole heading up into the sky. He could tell that, even at eighty feet, it was still forty inches in diameter, and he was able to conservatively estimate its volume (of the trunk and the main branches) at fourteen hundred and fifty cubic feet—reportedly, a record for the species. Indeed, Danielson says there are fewer than a dozen known, living, and verifiable specimens of white pine larger than a thousand cubic feet.

There’s enormous practical value in a big tree—new research makes it clear that they sequester vast amounts of carbon, and that letting big old trees grow is an even more effective way to draw down greenhouse gases than planting new ones. But the impractical value is likely larger; to be in the presence of a giant is for some reason calming—the air felt tranquil here, the sunlight scattered, the wind stilled. And it was somehow hopeful to think of what the tree had lived through in what Danielson says must be at least three centuries of life (it hasn’t been cored yet, and probably won’t be) and of what it might yet witness. Among many other things, that tally includes the Civil War, a trauma that exceeds even our current discontents. As it happens, one of the people on the hike was an old friend, Aaron Mair, who was the first African American president of the Sierra Club and now works with the Adirondack Council, the region’s premier conservation group. This past summer, Mair oversaw the first rendition of the Timbuctoo Institute—which draws its name from the settlement established for free Black men and their families outside Lake Placid, near John Brown’s homestead—bringing students of color from New York City to the Adirondacks to work with botanists, wildlife experts, and other conservation professionals. “It was a huge success,” Mair said. “I’ve got hundreds of kids who want to come next year, and they are going to be rangers, biologists, you name it.” Often, even amid the traumas of the moment, the seeds of what comes next are growing; sometimes they grow into something very mighty indeed. ♦

[voidingintotheshout]

Lol, I can’t even be mad, it does totally look like the eye of Sauron. The Saudi government makes me as a Muslim so sad they have destroyed so many historic religious structures to make way for tourism crap. The Saudi government are just a bunch of anti-intellectual buffoons. The house of the Prophet Muhammad’s first wife Khadija bint Khuwaylid was actually preserved until the early 20th century when the spot was ordered to be bulldozed by the Saudi government (an untrue rumor says that some public toilets were built on the spot, but this is not true) some people wanted to preserve it, but the government was worried that this would become a “place of pilgrimage“ and they couldn’t have this so the entire site was leveled, and a school was built on top of it. They can’t have anything be important that isn’t about their control over the space. That clock tower I’m pretty sure is one of the top 20 tallest buildings in the world. I’m pretty sure it was only built so that they could one up Dubai and the Burj Khalifa tower. It is wild to build a tourist attraction in a city where non-Muslims aren’t allowed to be. ���

In fact, I’m pretty sure it’s that clock tower which my favorite Muslim punk band The Kominas was singing about in their song “Wal-Qaeda Superstore”

“Muhammad’s home ain’t half as fun

as some ten-story Hilton with a killer view.

Stand at the top you’ll see the Kabba’s

become a Gap Kids and lines of Starbucks

to help make the Hajj a lucrative venture too!”

I love this album.