#win merlin annual pass

[news-buzz]

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[queer-ragnelle]

So who among the Arthurian characters is into cottagecore? Morgan has to be right?

hi!

you know what i'm gonna have to disagree. i don't think morgan's affiliation to magic and nickname "le fay" are enough, especially bc she prides herself on a lofty status that elevates her above the humble rural living that cottagecore romanticizes. i mean here she is in the vulgate proclaiming herself a king's daughter (isn't she the daughter of duke gorlois?) while she prepares to kill her husband and get away with it.

queen shit. here are some characters i think would be into cottagecore.

arthur: when thomas berger wrote him as loving his simple life in wales with his family and sleeping out with the dogs and genuinely relishing his modest upbringing with his foster brother? i felt that.

blanchefleur: she definitely named herself "white flower" after her own garden's award winning blossoms at the county fair. she bottles it for perfume too, if you're interested. perceval always keeps a little vial around his neck so he can smell it and think of her while on quest or when he gets lost on his way to take out the trash. thanks wifey.

brangaine and palamedes: whether or not she can actually achieve this lifestyle whilst in the service of isolde, she definitely dreams of fleeing to the countryside with palamedes. it also makes his commute shorter (cottage is on the edge of the enchanted woods in which the questing beast roams).

culhwch and olwen: after the nightmarish tasks they underwent just to get married they absolutely retired far away from court life where those shenanigans wouldn't reach their children.

dindrane: she's the quintessential nun, one who didn't learn necromancy. she enjoys all the typical stuff expected in a remote hermitage; gardening, baking, making wine, going on an adventure bilbo style complete with chaotic means and tragic ends, bird watching.

fisher king and elaine: since the queen passed away they just want more father and daughter bonding time out on the boat to fish. they catch dinner in their little pond and take it home to cook and go to sleep happy. they do the same thing again the next day without any obligations besides living. nothing bad happens.

green knight and wife: pretty sure they invented cottagecore or at least introduced the concept into the realm. they have their own line of cottagecore starter kits with little seeds to grow personalized mini gardens for a country oasis even in the discomfort of your monarch-sanctioned barracks. so what if the plants they sell are annuals and you have to buy a new one every year. aren't you committed to the aesthetic?

isolde and tristan: did they or did they not smash in that grotto like their lives depended on it? i rest my case.

merlin: have you read mary stewart's merlin trilogy? my guy wanted the quiet life so bad it made him look stupid. he died as he lived, in the middle of fucking nowhere. say what we will he committed to the bit to the very end.

tor: he is literally a cowboy farmer kid turned knight. actually forget the whole list he's the only one.

thanks for the ask!

[acciomente]

happy christmas

Everyone here was drunk beyond recovery. It was December 24th, the night of the annual Christmas party at Harry’s office. Usually, work events aren’t so enjoyable, but these Aurors had a special bond. Shared trauma can do that to a group of people. 

Ron had suggested a game of truth or dare, but someone had quickly pulled out a couple vials of Veritaserum and pushed everyone to play truth or truth instead - making it impossible to lie. Everyone (very drunkenly) obliged. After a few rounds, Harry knew he was going to be sick. Unsurprisingly, he didn’t even make it to the bathroom before throwing up. He wouldn’t have been able to find it anyway. His sense of direction was horribly askew. He turned around, ready to return to his friends, but found himself in one of the many corridors in the building, each of which were practically identical to the other. Great. He staggered down the hallway, sloppily checking in each room as he passed, not really sure what for.

When he opened the fourth (Or fifth? He had lost count by now) door, he was surprised to find the room glowing and warm, a certain contrast from the vacant rooms that lied on either side of this one. Harry stumbled into the office, not really thinking through what he was doing. 

“Harry?” A soft voice spoke from across the room. Harry wasn’t sure why this surprised him. He knew the room was occupied, but he definitely didn’t think it would be Draco’s office. He knew for a fact that this was Draco’s office. Or at least that was his voice. He could recognize that velvety tone from anywhere, spilling out of Draco’s mouth like smooth caramel. 

Shit, he thought, the Veritaserum. There was no way he could stay here. On a normal day, Harry was able to resist Veritaserum. But he had had one too many drinks that night and was in no state of mind to even try. And if the truth got out… he didn’t even want to think of what would happen.

“Harry, what are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be at the party?” Draco pushed his hair back and ran his hands anxiously down his robes, as if trying to rid them of sweat. It was painfully obvious that Draco was not expecting company tonight, but he managed to keep his voice steady.

“What are you doing?” Harry uttered, his words slurring together. “Shouldn’t you be at the party?”

“I had some paperwork to catch up on. I figured I would come out when I was done.” Draco took in a deep breath, more calm now. “I only have a few things left, actually.”

“Oh.” The room was silent for a few seconds before Draco spoke. “Was there something you needed?”

“I have something to tell you” The words flowed out of Harry’s mouth without his approval. He was not looking forward to what came next.

“Oooh~ Are you about to profess your undying love for me?” The sheer lack of sincerity in Draco’s voice made Harry’s heart sink. He knew what was coming. It wasn’t worth fighting. He wouldn’t win. He shut his eyes as his lips moved without his control.

“Yes, I am.” And it was as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He didn’t open his eyes, savoring this blissful moment of silence where everything was okay. This split second of pure tranquility that lasted decades, allowing Harry to notice the warmth that was drifting from the fire, the soft crackling of tender that filled the absence of noise that would have otherwise overtaken the room, and the scent. Merlin, his scent. The distinct, cool aroma of mint combating the sweet smell of citrus. He observed this all in an instant before his tumbling reality came flooding back to him.

“...What?” And with that Harry was crestfallen. He knew there was no reason to be hopeful, but it was still devastating to hear the lack of reciprocation from Draco. His voice was full of shock and confusion. “Harry… You can’t be serious.” He was stern but kind, something Harry admired about him. “You’re drunk.” Draco muttered this to himself a few more times, like he was trying to convince himself, though it was obvious to anyone with more than two brain cells that Harry was intoxicated. Very intoxicated.

Draco filled a glass with water and handed it to Harry. The silence between them lingered for minutes, though the tension made it seem like hours before Harry finally spoke. “We uh… At the party... We played truth or truth.” The next words came out much fainter than the previous ones. “...with Veritaserum.”

“And it’s still in your system? I thought you could fight it.” Draco’s words seemed to be spoken out of curiosity rather than judgment. That seemed to help calm Harry’s nerves. When he spoke, his voice was steady. “I’m a little under the influence, if you couldn’t tell. And yes, it’s still in my system.”

“Hold on. I think I might actually have some antidote in my drawer.” Harry sat there, sipping water from the glass Draco had handed him, wondering how the blonde man had stayed so calm. He returned from his desk with a small vial full of transparent liquid, supposedly the antidote. Harry drank it like a shot, the ice-cold liquid burning his throat as he swallowed it. Although the antidote seemed to have worked, Harry was still highly inebriated. He wasn’t even sure if he would remember this tomorrow morning. And as if on cue, Harry felt himself slide down onto the couch as the lights faded away.

[contestshubs]

MamaMag Merlin Entertainments Competition

MamaMag Merlin Entertainments Competition is giving to chance to win a Family Platinum Merlin Annual Passes. to enter the Sweepstakes.

[junker-town]

Herm Edwards’ first season at Arizona State was incredibly ... normal. Boooooooooo.

The strangest hire of the 2017-18 coaching carousel has started out in the most average possible way. This is not what we signed up for.

Bill C’s annual preview series of every FBS team in college football continues. Catch up here!

Once the smoke had cleared and the gross MBA jargon had been fumigated from the premises, Herm Edwards’ first season at Arizona State was startlingly normal.

Edwards inherited a team with a third-year starting quarterback (Manny Wilkins), a potential first-round draft pick at receiver (N’Keal Harry), and a reasonably experienced defense. The QB almost perfectly matched his 2017 numbers (3,270 yards and a 142.6 passer rating in 2017, 3,025 yards and a 141.2 in 2018), the potential first-rounder became an actual first-rounder, and the defense improved a bit, as one might expect.

ASU was projected 52nd in S&P+ ... and finished 52nd. The Sun Devils finished 35th in Off. S&P+ in 2017 ... and finished 35th in 2018.

ASU had averaged 6.7 wins per year over the previous decade and won seven games in 2018.

Per the 247Sports Composite, the Sun Devils’ last seven signing classes had averaged a ranking of 30th. Their 2019 class ranked 31st.

Firing Todd Graham (who averaged 7.7 wins per year) was a bit odd, and replacing him with Edwards — a 63-year-old television personality who hadn’t coached in a decade and hadn’t coached at the college level in nearly three — was odder.

First came athletic director Ray Anderson’s odd proclamation that he would look for a coach who would keep Graham’s coordinators, Billy Napier and Phil Bennett. Graham hired those coordinators. And one could ask ... if they’re so good, why not hire one of them as head coach?

It just kept getting stranger.

Anderson, a former agent, quickly pursued Herm Edwards, a former client of his. Edwards hasn’t coached a team since 2008, when he was fired as head coach by the Kansas City Chiefs. He was 20 games under .500 as an NFL coach and hasn’t coached in college since a three-year stint as San Jose State defensive backs coach ended in 1989. He has spent most of the last decade as a yeller on ESPN.

There was no market for Edwards as a coach, so Anderson’s wooing ended successfully. Edwards was announced as ASU’s head coach on Sunday.

This coaching hire was a whirlwind of weird. And in the short term, it produced maybe the single most average, normal Arizona State season ever.

I think I want my money back. I wanted either a flaming success or spectacular failure.

While there’s still time for both, Edwards has quickly rounded into form as a perfectly average college coach. Granted, he’s a little more rigid than others about what happens when you enter the transfer portal, and that could create some depth problems down the line, but a year and a half into his tenure, he’s blending in.

If nothing else, that allows us to treat his 2019 ASU squad as a normal college football team, affected by normal things like returning production. To that end, the offense could struggle to match last year’s stats, while the offense could improve again.

ASU’s offense was a hair disappointing last year, remaining at the same level despite not only the Wilkins-Harry connection but also 1,600-yard rusher Eno Benjamin. It now has to replace both Wilkins and Harry, plus a pair of honorable-mention all-conference linemen, and is projected to slip a bit to 43rd.

The defense improved, albeit only from 99th to 86th in Def. S&P+, but with last year’s top seven creators of havoc plays (tackles for loss, passes defensed, forced fumbles) returning, it is projected to improve to 60th.

That results in slight projected improvement, to 49th overall with an average projected win total of, you guessed it, seven. They are healthy projected favorites in three games and multi-score underdogs in two, with seven relative tossups.

If last season was any indication, you can take this projection to the bank.

Offense

Anderson made a show of wanting to keep both coordinators upon firing Graham and of course retained neither. Offensive coordinator Billy Napier left to become UL-Lafayette’s head coach (he’s doing quite well, it appears), and defensive coordinator Phil Bennett stepped away from the sport for a bit.

In Napier’s absence, Edwards handed the reins of the offense to line coach Rob Likens.

Likens has quite a bit of Air Raid in his coaching DNA, having worked for former Cal head coach (and current SMU head man) Sonny Dykes at both Louisiana Tech and Cal. But Edwards has always been a run-first guy, and their philosophies apparently met halfway. ASU ran 61 percent of the time on standard downs (one percentage above the national average) and 34 percent on passing downs (one percentage point below); the Sun Devils were extremely balanced despite having Terry in the receiving corps.

Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Eno Benjamin (3) and Frank Darby (84)

That approach made sense considering how effective Eno Benjamin was. Wilkins carried about 7.4 times per game (not including sacks) and picked and chose his spots effectively, but Benjamin took on a heavy load and responded well.

A former blue-chipper, Benjamin was one of only three FBS backs to carry at least 300 times (the other two: Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor and Boise State’s Alexander Mattison), and he was up for the challenge: he averaged 5.3 yards per carry in November and beyond. For the season, ASU graded out better in the run (19th in Rushing S&P+) than in the pass (50th in Passing S&P+).

It probably goes without saying that, without Wilkins and Harry, ASU probably isn’t going to start passing more.

It wouldn’t hurt, though, if some of Benjamin’s backups prove capable of taking on a heavier load so he didn’t have to. Isaiah Floyd was second among ASU backs in carries (45) and yards (209), but that’s not many carries or yards. Floyd was also far less efficient than Benjamin.

The line should still be solid, at least. Two longtime starters (guard Casey Tucker and tackle Quinn Bailey) are gone, but four returnees — all seniors — boast at least 10 career starts, and center Cohl Cabral is maybe the best in the conference.

Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Kyle Williams

Whoever wins the starting quarterback job will likely contribute to the rushing totals, too. Junior Dillon Sterling-Cole has dropped 25 pounds in the last year or so — he’s now listed at 6’3, 215 — in attempt to maximize his athleticism, and Edwards signed a trio of freshmen to push him, including four-star Joey Yellen and Jayden Daniels, the anchor of the 2019 class and a top-40 overall prospect.

Daniels is a spectacular athlete, but he’s also a freshman. Odds are good that both he and Sterling-Cole have seen time with the first string by the end of 2019. We’ll see who makes the most of it.

The receiving corps is in decent shape despite losing Harry. Slot man Kyle Williams will be a lovely security blanket for whichever first-time starter wins the job, and while depth appears to level off pretty quickly, in Frank Darby and Brandon Aiyuk ASU boasts a couple of fun, all-or-nothing threats. Aiyuk is particularly intriguing: he came on strong late in 2018, making 22 of his 33 catches in the last five games.

Defense

I really liked Edwards’ hire of Danny Gonzales to replace Bennett as defensive coordinator. A longtime Rocky Long assistant at San Diego State, Gonzales was well-versed in Long’s tricky 3-3-5 defense, and his first ASU defense had a lot of the same DNA. While the amount of down linemen and linebackers varied, you could count on five DBs being on the field at all times.

Of course, that’s about where the similarities end. ASU’s defense wasn’t very good — the Sun Devils did improve but were after all still just 86th in Def. S&P+.

They were strong in big-play prevention. Opponents managed only 22 gains of 30-plus yards (34th in FBS) and only three of 50-plus (ninth), but they didn’t produce third-and-longs, they didn’t capitalize on the ones they had, and they were only marginally disruptive (46th in havoc rate).

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Chase Lucas

Most of last year’s best disruptors are back, led by sophomore linebacker Merlin Robertson (8.5 TFLs, five sacks), safety Aashari Crosswell (13 passes defensed), and cornerbacks Chase Lucas (combined: 8.5 TFLs, 17 passes defensed). But leading safeties Jalen Harvey and Demonte King are gone, which, considering how important big-play prevention was to the Sun Devils, has to be a little disconcerting.

Still, while there were veterans up front and in the safety corps, ASU improved overall while still fielding quite a few freshmen and sophomores. The linebacking corps was crazy young, led not only by Robertson but also fellow freshmen Darien Butler and Tyler Johnson (a part-OLB, part-end).

Plus, in the back, Crosswell was a freshman, and Lucas was a sophomore, as were backups Evan Fields and Terin Adams, who combined for six TFLs. They’re all more experienced, and there could be another high-upside sophomore in Baylor cornerback transfer Timarcus Davis.

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Merlin Robertson (8)

There are concerns up front. ASU allowed opponents to gain at least four yards on 54 percent of non-sack carries (123rd) and ranked 105th in Rushing S&P+, and that was WITH tackle Renell Wren and end Jalen Bates (combined: 10.5 TFLs, 15 run stuffs) up front.

It could be sophomores to the rescue once more. Jermaine Lole emerged as a play-maker late in the year (he had four TFLs and four breakups in the last five games), and big D.J. Davidson (6’4, 325) showed some upside before injuring his ankle. Edwards added Rice grad transfer Roe Wilkins (4.5 TFLs, 8.5 run stuffs), but this is a pretty thin group, and Lole and Davidson pretty much have to emerge as stars if the run front is to improve.

Special Teams

Edwards’ first year might have been average in most ways, but ASU made definitive improvement in special teams, at least, rising from 60th to 14th in Special Teams S&P+. They didn’t rank in the top 25 in any category, but they were between decent and good throughout and should remain so.

Kicker Brandon Ruiz (35th in field goal efficiency, 26th in kickoffs efficiency) is a keeper, Brandon Aiyuk is a steady return man, and while punter Michael Sleep-Dalton transferred to Iowa, Edwards brought in Lafayette’s Michael Turk, who had a better net average than Sleep-Dalton, at least.

2019 outlook

2019 Schedule & Projection Factors

Date Opponent Proj. S&P+ Rk Proj. Margin Win Probability 29-Aug Kent State 111 22.1 90% 6-Sep Sacramento State NR 38.2 99% 14-Sep at Michigan State 23 -9.2 30% 21-Sep Colorado 68 6.7 65% 27-Sep at California 60 0.0 50% 12-Oct Washington State 36 -0.5 49% 19-Oct at Utah 17 -12.0 24% 26-Oct at UCLA 63 0.3 51% 9-Nov USC 29 -2.3 45% 16-Nov at Oregon State 105 12.8 77% 23-Nov Oregon 20 -5.4 38% 29-Nov Arizona 52 3.0 57%

Projected S&P+ Rk 49 Proj. Off. / Def. Rk 43 / 60 Projected wins 6.7 Five-Year S&P+ Rk 5.4 (50) 2- and 5-Year Recruiting Rk 31 2018 TO Margin / Adj. TO Margin* 10 / 0.4 2018 TO Luck/Game +3.7 Returning Production (Off. / Def.) 66% (52%, 81%) 2018 Second-order wins (difference) 6.3 (0.7)

In last year’s ASU preview, I listed out three ways for Edwards to begin proving skeptics wrong in his first 12 months on the job:

Prove his recruiting bona fides in finishing up the 2018 class

Overachieve ASU’s S&P+ projections

Place his first full recruiting class in the top 20

He went 1-for-3, but ... it was a decent 1-for-3? He achieved ASU’s S&P+ projections on the nose, at least, and his first class was an at least decent 31st. His athletic director built him up to be capable of signing better than just the typical ASU class, but in Jayden Daniels, he might have nabbed his QB of the future, and he addressed soon-to-be needs by loading up on WRs and OLs (the Sun Devils are about to lose a lot of those).

He didn’t bomb, in other words, even if he didn’t exactly succeed either.

Edwards’ second team should improve further on defense, even if the run front is still iffy, and with Benjamin and quite a few veterans both in the receiving corps and on the offensive line, the new starting QB — be it Daniels, Sterling-Cole, Yellen, or whoever — will have a solid supporting cast. Then ASU could use QB continuity in 2020 to survive big turnover elsewhere on offense.

There are plenty of potential wins on the table, and it seems safe to assume ASU will snare about seven of them. We don’t know if Edwards is capable of more than that, but he’s at least capable of that.

Team preview stats

All 2019 preview data to date.

[crimsonrevolt]

Congratulations Orlik you’ve been accepted to Crimson Revolt as Dolores Umbridge!

↳ please refer to our character checklist

Dolores is such a tricky character to write -- but we thought that you really captured her sickly sweetness -- and the ambition she holds underneath it all. It makes her a fascinating character to see -- and we’re excited for your portrayal. Especially since we can already see the glimpses of the woman who was so cruel in the books and we know we’ll be really intrigued by how you develop her further in the roleplay!

application beneath the cut

OUT OF CHARACTER

INTRODUCTION Hello, My name is Orlik, I am 28 years old and my timezone is EST. I live in the US, resident of NYC.

ACTIVITY My work schedule is all over the place but I am always online be it at home on my laptop or on my phone. My activity level between 1- 10 would be a solid 8. And if I am really needed I always make the effort to come online and oblige.

TRIGGERS *removed for privacy

HOW DID YOU FIND US?

My best friend Brooke just applied here and once she was done she texted me and said “Girl there is this new HP RP i found, and i think you are gonna love it, go and apply now!” so here I am. lol

WHAT HARRY POTTER CHARACTER DO YOU IDENTIFY WITH MOST?

As Cliche as this sounds, Albus Dumbledore. I always get attached to the one with wisdom and pure goodness. Honestly he reminded me of my professor in college, How he always pushed me to do better and to find my strengths, I was basically the HP to his AD lol.

But besides the reminder of such a great professor, Dumbledore was the rock of hogwarts, he was the rock to the wizarding world, and it’s nice to see that a man with wide spread wisdom and knowledge has such power. And that makes me believe, as a mere mortal that I can have that kind of power just for helping others, spreading my wisdom, and just being good.

ANYTHING ELSE?

I am an actress in RL, and i love doing RPs because it helps me release and relax. So i am so excited that my friend texted me and let me know about Crimson Revolt.

IN CHARACTER

DESIRED CHARACTER

Dolores ‘Lynda’ Umbridge

I added the Middle name Lynda (Linda-Original Spelling) because I wanted to add the sheep the wolve’s clothing in her name. I know in the books she already has the middle name Jane, which just means “A woman” and really does not have a significance to the name other than a gender. Dolores or Dolor in spanish means Pain, Hurt, Sorrow. In some spanish cultures the Virgin Mary is called Maria de los Dolores “Mary of sorrows”

Umbridge which i assume comes from the word Umbrage mean angry, annoyed, disgruntled or it can be archaic which is shade or shadow. So by adding the middle name Lynda (Linda) gives her name a little light. Linda means beatiful, Pretty, Soft, Tender. It casts light on her outer image, like her other names casts light on her inner image.

FACE CLAIM

Natalie Dormer is perfect!

REASON FOR CHOSEN CHARACTER

Hem, hem.

Dolores is a character of extreme opposites all rolled up in one person. Sugary sweet on the outside, enough to make you sick and rot your teeth, and utter evil on the outside. Her name mirrors that perfectly as I’ve explained above. She is so grotesque in her evil and I think that will be so fun to explore. Who is she under it all? I hope to learn that through developing her character. I think, too, her aesthetic of pink and white china and fluffy kitties is just so hilarious! She is a character I think I will really love to portray and that the other players will love to hate her in rp. PREFERRED SHIPS // CHARACTER SEXUALITY // GENDER & PRONOUNS Dolores is the perfect woman…at least in her eyes. She attempts to infiltrate this high society of pure bloods that she doesn’t exactly fit in. Her only true connection to the society she idolizes is her ignorance and hate of those she views as lesser and dirty. Cleanliness and purity surround her in all manners of her life, which is why she is such a hypocrite for she is not all love and innocence as she outwardly shows.

She is a hopeless flirt and loves all the handsome pure blood men. I imagine she is looking to snag herself one of them, married or no, which is just another example of how she does not fit the “ladylike” imagine of the women in the noble and ancient Houses.

I see her as latching on to one or more high ranking members of the Death Eaters and all but demanding affection or mentoring from them. CREATE ONE (OR MORE!) OF THE FOLLOWING FOR YOUR CHARACTER: -A MOODBOARD http://www.gomoodboard.com/boards/sTFO12b4/share IN CHARACTER QUESTIONNAIRE The following section should be looked at like a survey for your character. Answer them in character and feel free to use gifs. Or, if you’d rather, answer them in third person or OOC without gifs. Answers do not have to be extremely lengthy. ♔ If you were able to invent one spell, potion, or charm, what would it do, what would you use it for or how would you use it? Feel free to name it:

Oh my it would certainly have to be a charm of course. Aren’t they all so terribly useful? I know I use many of them a day. There is the cleaning spell, so important you know! Scourgify is fine for your average little messes, but I find it just doesn’t do the job well enough for me. Even Tergeo is all well and good, but still. The filth lingers. Goodness me, I have gotten so off track. My spell would clean the filth of the world with a simple wave of one’s wand. All the nasty creatures- insects, amphibians, mud bloods- why they’d simply vanish in a puff of freshly scented smoke! Ahh, so lovely. ♔ You have to venture deep into the Forbidden Forest one night. Pick one other character and one object (muggle or magical), besides your wand, that you’d want with you:

Oh no, I’m so terribly sorry. I could not possibly venture into that forest. The mud and beasts rumored to be in there…horrible! I’d certainly have to find someone else up to the task. A lady does not do to wander in dark forests alone. Imagine I run into some horrid creature! Oh, I’d simply be so upset. I’d likely cast some terrible curses and completely obliterate the monster into teeny tiny little pieces. Such a mess! I imagine I’d simply fall into a laughing fit at the stress. Seeing the gore and the grime. The blood oozing from the severed limbs and the choking gasps as they draw their last painful breath and…hem, hem…I mean it would just be so very sad. Don’t you agree?

♔ What kinds of decisions are the most difficult for you to make?

Decisions, dear? I suppose the ones involving myself and something unpleasant. I hate to over exert myself, you know. ♔ What is one thing you would never want said about you?

That I am not the very image of a perfect and elegant woman. From the tip of my finely coiffed head to the bottom of my neat little heels, I am the very picture of a lady. I can walk with several books upon my head, and I learned it all without the need of some silly nanny or governess like some women need. I do feel so sorry for them. Yet, I do wonder how it is those lesser women snatch up the finest men in their bitter little claws. I often imagine using my perfectly manicured nails to scratch their beady little eyes out. Let’s see those bachelors declare their love for them when they are wailing in agony without their precious eyes. Oh and I’d never want someone to say that I neglect all my sweet, precious little fur babies. My little darlings are simply the apples of their mommy’s eyes! WRITING SAMPLE The annual Ministry spring ball had arrived and with it came all the dazzling upper class in their finery. All were ready to mingle and sway gracefully to the tunes of the orchestra. The hall was enchanted to seem as though it was an Ancient Roman pleasure garden. All around were stationed men dressed as Roman militia and women as stunning courtesans. The wine flowed as a fountain over hundreds of glasses and when one was removed it was enchanted to immediately replace it so as not to all come crashing down. All around couples mingled and flirted in between dances.

The ladies and their groups of friends giggled in small groups around the dance floor as men approached. One by one those groups  grew smaller and smaller as young men slipped them off their feet and onto the crush of the dance floor. In the corner, alone, Dolores stood. She, with face painted with practiced skill, observed the crowd. To an untrained eye, she might appear the simpering wallflower that many a man wished to tempt. To a more precise one, she was nearly green with envy.

“What do they have that I do not!” She hissed under her breath, glaring in her way at a couple that shifted near her. With a glance at her, the couple swiftly merged back into the crowd. She tossed back another large swallow of win and slammed it down on the tray of a passing waiter. The man scrambled to even his tray so as to not drop the full try with an embarrassing clatter. “Merlin do you even see how that one is dressed? How was she even allowed in? She looks positively ill in yellow!” She grumbled to no one. She’d fought for months to be allowed to attend the ball, begging and bribing and finally threatening bodily harm for an invitation.

At the sound of footsteps behind her, Dolores turned, the silk of her bright pink silk rustling in her movement. Her bitterness was quickly replaced with a look of sweetness and merriment. Why, even her cheeks seemed flushed with pleasure, not rage! “Oh, goodness me! You very nearly trod upon me!” She offered, a gentle hand rising to her breast, slipping the top down slightly, so as to show off her assets. “Are you having the most wonderful time like I am?”

[mccullytech]

Uxbridge ball-pit entrants win annual Merlin pass

HUNDREDS of happy shoppers dived into a giant ball pit at intu Uxbridge shopping centre during half-term, in search of prize-winning golden balls. from This Is Local London | News https://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/17474934.uxbridge-ball-pit-entrants-win-annual-merlin-pass/?ref=rss

[bespokekitchesldn]

Uxbridge ball-pit entrants win annual Merlin pass

HUNDREDS of happy shoppers dived into a giant ball pit at intu Uxbridge shopping centre during half-term, in search of prize-winning golden balls. from This Is Local London | News https://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/17474934.uxbridge-ball-pit-entrants-win-annual-merlin-pass/?ref=rss

[itsworn]

Homebuilt Insanely Fast Small Tire Cars from the 2017 Car Craft Midnight Drags

Just when we thought we had slowed down the competition using a tire restriction, Mike Goodman showed up with his show-car quality 1969 Nova SS and flattened the field with an 8.01 at 163 mph on a “small tire” ET Drag Radial Pro.

Midnight Drags Presented by Gear Vendors Under/Overdrives is our annual grudge-style, minimal rules drag race, held in conjunction with the Chevrolet Performance Car Craft Summer Nationals Presented by Holley and MSD, and the car counts continue to rise as the racing on track gets closer every year.

After Bryant Goldstone ran deep into the 7s last year at the 2016 Car Craft Midnight Drags in his 200mph DragWeek Javelin, race master Lonnie Grim backed off the tire size to a maximum of 315 or 11.5 inches to generally line up with current small-tire rules and keep the event competitive for the guys driving homebuilt street cars with mini-tubs and backseats. Goldstone showed up this year in his twin-turbo 1970 Chevelle on a Mickey Thompson 315 Radial Pro but was put down when the car began to wheelie and Goldstone wisely lifted to stay off the rear bumper. Former champion Chris Bishir hurt the engine in his 8-second S10 and didn’t make the show.

This year, the final round had two turbo and two nitrous combinations all running between 8.00 and 9.00-second e.t.s. The guys from Team 260 Motorsports helped Adam Hodson and his 1973 Camaro into the final four using a stock 5.3L LS bottom end, an 84mm turbo, and a factory 10-bolt. The car is good for 8.80s at almost 160 mph. Hodson managed to get in the semis with a string of low 9 second passes then wicked it up and lost with an 8.98 against Doug Flynn’s 8.50.

Runner-up Doug Flynn’s combo was another legit street car. The 1972 Nova has a high-compression 582-inch big block Chevy running nitrous and EFI. It was in the mid-8s all night with a losing 8.56, posting a chute-stretching 160-mph trap speed in the final round.

There were two other Novas in the final four that were not only fast, but had show-car money in them. Mike Hadley’s 1968 Nova ran 8.37 at 156 mph that was, unbelievably, not enough to beat Mike Goodman in his 1969 Nova. Goodman bought his Nova for $200, more than 25 years ago and has been working on it ever since. The combo is a 557-inch Chevy engine with a Merlin block, 14.0:1 compression, and a pair of Dart Pro 1 345cc cylinder heads. On top of the Edelbrock Super Victor is a Monte Smith nitrous plate and a 1400-cfm Dominator carburetor. Backed by a Coan TH400 and a Dana 60 with 4.56:1 gears, the Nova has run as fast as 7.80 at 176 and 5.01 at 141 in the eighth mile.

Don’t think you can compete? With $50 and a 9-second car, you can be right in the mix with these guys fighting for the Car Craft winner’s jacket, the $1,000, and the glory. Look for us next year at the 2018 Car Craft Midnight Drags presented by Gear Vendors Under/Overdrive and maybe you can be next.

This is what it takes to win the Midnight Drags in front of thousands of screaming fans. Mike Goodman’s combo is a simple, high-compression big block with a big shot of nitrous oxide.

Goodman’s Nova looks better in person than any photo can reproduce. And it’s fast.

Mike Hadley snuck into the game at the last minute and failed to divulge his combo. Typical for small-tire guy in a fast street car.

You might recognize Adam Hodson’s 1973 Camaro from previous events. Each year it gets a little bit faster.

The power plant in Hodson’s Camaro is a stock 5.3L LS with an 84mm Borg Warner turbo. He added a Brian Tooley cam and Holley’s High Ram intake and EFI. The Camaro has run 8.80 at 157. It’s simple and fast.

Doug Flynn brought his trusty 1972 Nova jetted out of its mind on nitrous. With bottles and warmers spread all over the grass, Flynn and his son Bobby went round-by-round to the top, operating our of a basic open trailer and pickup truck.

Flynn’s combo is a 582-inch Chevy with a Dart Big M block, Dart Pro1 440cc 20-degree heads, and an unconventional Holley High Ram lid on an Edelbrock EFI base. The drive-by-wire throttle bodies are mounted vertically on the lid. This car is a different kind of sleeper.

The Midnight Drags is a random pairing heads-up shootout. If you qualify for the fast 16, your name is drawn from a hat each round and you race. Want lane choice? You make a deal or flip a coin. There is no time for crying. The winner gets a grand, a jacket, and a nice photo in Car Craft.

Left to right: Car Craft General Manager John Viscardo, winner Mike Goodman, Rick Johnson, owner of Gear Vendors Under/Overdrive, and Car Craft Editor, John McGann.

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[onthegoinmco]

As fans throughout the galaxy celebrate the Star Wars saga today, LEGOLAND Florida Resort is announcing an exciting new addition coming to its LEGO Star Wars MINILAND area in 2018 – an all-new LEGO display inspired by the worldwide blockbuster “Star Wars – Episode VII: The Force Awakens.”

LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens MINILAND Model Display will feature several scenes re-created with thousands of LEGO bricks, including memorable movie moments with Rey, Finn, Poe, Kylo Ren and BB-8, enhanced with lights, sound effects and animation. More details about this 2018 expansion project will be shared in the coming months.

LEGO Star Wars Days Return This Weekend to LEGOLAND Florida for Double the Fun in 2017

Meanwhile, LEGO Star Wars Days returns for four days of fun at LEGOLAND Florida Resort starting this weekend! Authorized by Lucasfilm, the 2017 event doubles the fun on two weekends this year:

Saturday, May 6 and Sunday, May 7, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Saturday, May 13 and Sunday, May 14, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

It’s the only LEGO Star Wars theme park event in Central Florida!

Photo/Chip Litherland for Merlin Entertainments Group/LEGOLAND Florida Resort

In MINILAND USA, kids can explore some of the most famous scenes from the Star Wars saga made out of 1.5 million LEGO bricks, including detailed displays inspired by the first six blockbuster films, plus life-size LEGO models of Darth Vader, Darth Maul and R2-D2.

Kids also can:

Create a giant LEGO Star Wars mural, brick by brick

Build their own LEGO Star Wars model

Search for LEGO droids throughout MINILAND USA

Learn tips and tricks from our LEGO Master Model Builders

Build the world’s largest LEGO Yoda model

Meet LEGO Darth Vader

Dress up as their favorite LEGO Star Wars character and participate in our intergalactic costume parade (ages 12 and under)

…and much, much more, including giveaways, fun photo ops, opportunities to win LEGO Star Wars prizes and exclusive retail offers.

New this year: Are you more rookie or Wookiee? Test your family’s Star Wars knowledge and LEGO building skills against other families during a just-for-fun competition!

All activities will take place both weekends and are included with all forms of park admission. No extra ticket or Jedi mind tricks required!

For more information, including savings on advance purchase of admission tickets, on-site accommodations, multi-tier annual passes, special events, educational programs, services for guests with disabilities, VIP experiences, military discounts and much more, visit http://ift.tt/2e3LVPd, or call (877) 350-5346.

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