#yesterday we had an assembly at school for the end of the year awards and whatever | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

drgreg · 2 years

Text

Dr Gregory Arther Hough In Port Elizabeth, South Africa

What a superb initiative to lift consciousness of Southern African chook and marine life, the necessity for conservation and restoration of eco systems. Having raised in excess of R3 million in funds and being a world first voyage into this a half of the Southern Ocean makes this a major conservation exercise to be recognized.. The annual Captains Dinner is on Sat 12th August at 6pm, the weekend of the US PGA Champs, and the day of our last Jack Nicklaus Major of the year. The dates have been set for our annual away trip, and this year once more sees us heading all the way down to the Ezulwini Valley for three days of golf and fun on the excellent venue that's the Royal Swazi. After 3 notably hot days of golf just an hour away from us at Pecanwood, our staff triumphed over our Nicklaus cousins to lastly win again The Golden Bear.

Yesterday our Junior pupils came visiting to the “BIG” school to be shown a factor or two about being a scientist by our Senior Pupils. At our finish of time period Assembly yesterday afternoon we handed out our Sports Awards for the second term. Congratulations to all pupils who had been awarded for his or her contributions to our winter sporting programme.

This weekend would have been our Chapel Anniversary Service and we thought it might be becoming to look again at this historical moment in our Kingswood history. For this week’s #ThrowbackThursday we go back 26 years to our centenary 12 months celebration in 1994 when an inventive impression of our college campus was accomplished to commemorate that year. Our #WellnessWednesday blog this week comes from our faculty psychologist Mrs Teresa Yell. Teresa seems at methods in which we can find elements of happiness in our daily lives.

Assemblies similar to these give us the platform to acknowledge the efforts and keenness that our pupils display in the dr greg hough sporting sphere. Stanley Muranganwa receives an Honours Award for Rugby. [newline]Lethu Gwarube receives an Honours Award for Rugby. Tadiwa Chikutiro receives an Honours Award for Rugby.

The end result was an unbelievable trip all spherical – from the fact of being the 1st cruise liner to Marion Island, all the informative talks by specialists, the incredible sightings of seabirds and wonderful experiences I shall treasure for ever. Birdlife South Africa’s Flock To Marion was a completely distinctive and wonderful expertise. It was well planned, highly organized, and provided a once-in-a-lifetime expertise to birders worldwide who are keen about birds and their conservation.

On the 14th and fifteenth of May, ten of our women took part within the Eastern Cape Netball trials that have been held at Hudson Park in East London. Of the ten, 5 ladies have been selected for Eastern Cape groups, and one for the Sarah Baartman district team. On a quiet winter’s evening and within the darkness, a lone bell rang out. Getting louder and louder with each ring, the bell signalled that every one was not nicely. The first subtle odor of smoke grew to become stronger and more powerful with every whiff, because it drifted off throughout the valley and over our town.

For today’s #MusicMonday we would like to share some pictures from our Strings Concert which occurred on Thursday 5 November. This morning, for the first time ever, our little Grade R pupils held a Graduation Ceremony to mark their move from Kingswood Pre-Primary to the Junior School. The Summer Sunset Concert on Lords on Saturday afternoon was by all accounts an excellent dr greg hough success! The individuals, all one hundred ten of them, enjoyed offering the music. The programme included the String Ensemble, First Band, Concert Band, Saxonettes and six Marimba Groups. It was all about giving everybody a possibility to perform after such a very long time.

Shingirai Manyarara receives an Honours Award for Rugby. The Cape Town Medical Research Center is a high notch medical facility that always strives to improve the lives of sufferers taking part in studies. The Research Centre is run by Dr Landi Lombard, Endocrinologist and his team of highly certified personnel. Due diligence is most necessary when conducting medical research and nobody understands this higher than our staff. The utmost care is at all times taken to guard the confidentiality of patients, while additionally taking care of their safety at all times. These guidelines require a team method to the number of suitable surgical candidates, pre-operative preparation, peri-operative care and life-long post-operative follow-up to ensure on-going good health.

1 note · View note

galdra-studios · 2 years

Text

Hi everyone!

First real Devlog on this Tumblr and how very fitting that its April and the anemone flowers are soon to be in full bloom here in Denmark.

Fun Dev fact!

The town of Anemone Valley got its name because our writer Mette’s favorite morning assembly song in school was “The Anemone Song” from Ronia: The Robber's Daughter. There’s just something really magical about a spring flower that blankets the forest even while the trees still stand tall and naked from Winter. Did not expect the name to be such a mouthful to native English speakers, however ^^0 Sorry to everyone who’s had to do a tongue twister on stream xD

The story of Arcadia Fallen has concluded for now, however, we’re still gonna improve a few things and add some features we’ll be using in other games as well, so let’s just run through them!

Text log!

Accidentally skipped some dialogue and now you can’t go back? Then we have the solution with a nifty new text log that’ll let you see what has been said so far! Honestly, this was always gonna be in the game, but we had to cut some things to make the release date, so we’re adding it later and making it good so it will work in future projects as well ^^

Sleeves!

We got feedback that people really wanting to be able to change the sleeve colour of, in particular, the female body type. So that’s something we’re gonna add.

Localisation!

We’re getting a Japanese localisation for the game! This is a big deal for us since localising a game like this is pricey – Like brand new car pricey – so it’s a gamble on our end whether it will be worth it, but we’re excited to try it out!

* We know that there are a bunch of lovely people who have been offering to help with translating for cheap and sometimes for free, and while we are grateful, we’ve made a commitment as a team that; If we can’t afford it, it doesn’t go in the game. Creative work is often undervalued enough as is and we wanna try not to contribute to that trend ^^

We don’t have a set date for when any of these features will be live in the game, but now you all know what we’re working on! ^^

We’ve been very fortunate with the positive reception Arcadia Fallen has gotten so far and then just yesterday we got nominated for a Webby Award in the Independent Creator category!

Our heads are still reeling, just look at the people who we’re up with?! Major starstruck energy from us. You can vote for your favourite here so be sure to check everyone out!

While all of this is happening, work continues on the sequel to Arcadia Fallen and we got a little sketch sneak peak of what we’ve been working on, so please enjoy! ^^

Seven years after the events in Anemone Valley the political situation surrounding magic is reaching a boiling point within the Empire. However, at the Seven Winds Academy life goes on undisturbed by outside influences. Here the students’ biggest worries are exams, job prospects and who might be taking who to the New Year’s Gala, but when a curious group of graduates stumble upon a secret, hidden within the castle, their priorities for the year might change drastically...

Thank you so much for following along our journey! And we’ll see you in March for another DevLog!

Cheers!

— The Galdra Team

#galdra studios #arcadia fallen #visual novel #indiedev #indiegame #vndev

31 notes · View notes

doughyinwonderland · 3 years

Text

Deuce Spade SR Ceremonial Robes Personal Story: These are fine.

▼ Translations under the cut

Chapter 1

Heartslabyul Dorm - Ace's Room

Deuce: Ace, wake up. We'll be late for the school assembly this morning.

Ace: Hmmnnn, good morn'... Wait a minute, Deuce. Why are you wearing the ceremonial robes now?

Deuce: There will be an awarding ceremony for the track and field competition from a while ago after the school assembly. Did you not listen to what Mr. Crewel announced yesterday?

Ace: Huh~ That's new to me. But if you're all dressed up now, that means that...

Deuce: Yeah, I'm going to be commended together with Jack. Apparently It's rare to have newcomers getting commended, much more with 2 at once.

Ace: Oh really~ Just don't freak out and embarrass yourself ok?

Deuce: S-Shut up! M-Mind you own business!

Exterior Hallway

Deuce: Are you ready, Jack? It's almost time for you to be called on stage.

Jack: Sorry for the wait. Putting my ears through the robes was a pain so it took a while. I know I have to wear it properly as the school's representative but... I still feel like the uniform suits me better.

Deuce: Could it be that ceremonial robes are unpopular...? I quite like them since it's traditional.

Jack: I didn't take you as someone who would like refined clothing that flaps around like this.

Deuce: I mean, doesn't it take you back you to the time when we are filled with excitement during the school entrance ceremony

Jack: Now that you mentioned it, didn't you say that it was your dream to enter this school?

Deuce: Yeah. I was super happy when the black carriage came to pick me up and get put on the robes for the first time.

Jack: Well... It's not like I don't feel the same...

Deuce: Right?

Jack: But isn't it less troublesome for us if the commendation isn't so grandiose this time?

Deuce: Huh, what do you mean by that?

Crowley: The two of you, it's time to move to the backstage.

Crowley: Once I call out your names, please come forward one by one to accept the certificates, alright?

Jack/Deuce: Yes!

Mirror Chamber

Crowley: Well then-- Congratulations to Jack Howl.

Jack: Thank you very much.

Crowley: Next is, Deuce Spade.

Deuce: Yes!

Crowley: We commend you for your achievements in the National High School Track and Field Competition. Please continue to strive in your club activities from here onwards.

Deuce: Yes, thank you very much! MC (choice dialogue): It's amazing that they got commended. / They look very happy.

Grim: Heck... How dare someone like Deuce dares to outshine me!

Ace: *yawns*

*chatter*

Grim: Huh?

Savanaclaw Student A: They're just a bunch of first years... How impudent...

Savanaclaw Student B: Especially that kid, Deuce... Just because he's a little fast on his feet....

Grim: Huh? Are they talking about Deuce?

MC (choice dialogue): Look like things are going to go downhill from here. / Should we report it to the teachers?

Ace: Leave them be. Anyways, wake me up after the headmaster finishes his speech. *yawns* I had a phone call with my brother until way too late... So sleepy... ...

Grim: He really fell asleep! Well then, I too shall...

Crowley: Now then, the awarding ceremony has ended. Please give another round of applause for these two!

*clap clap*

Grim: Funa-?!

MC (choice dialogue): Guys, wake up now. / The speech has ended.

Ace: Tsk. I thought this will go on for longer...

Chapter 2

Mirror Chamber

Jack: Hah... It finally ended.

Deuce: Mr Deuce Spade, huh...

Jack: You're really satisfied with the certificate of merit huh?

Deuce: Yeah! It's really my first to be commended in front of a large audience.

Jack: Hmmm, that's unexpected.

Deuce: I-is that so?!

Jack: I mean, you can excel in any sports department since you have really good reflexes, isn't it?

Deuce: That's because I was never serious in participating any club activities. Anyways, it's my first time today!

Jack: What's wrong with you since just now... What an odd guy. I'm going now. I want to change out asap.

Deuce: Ok. I'll stop by the purchasing department before going back to my dorm.

Jack: In your ceremonial robes?

Deuce: Is it that weird...?

Jack: Nah... But there are nasty people everywhere. Be careful not to get involved/entangled in anything.

Deuce: ?? Alright.

Interior Hallway

Deuce: The purchasing department should have large envelops right...? Mum would be delighted if I send my certificate back to her.

Savanaclaw Student A: Oi, Deuce. Where are ya going?

Deuce: Hello seniors. I'm going to the purchasing department and then to my class...

Savanaclaw Student B: Hmmm~ I don't think there's much time left before classes start.

Savanaclaw Student A: I guess you don't feel much about it since you have some fast legs huh?

Deuce: It's not really like that... It won't be long.

Savanaclaw Student A: I don't think we can make it with our speed~ Our outstanding first year kid here can even make it if he went to change out~

Savanaclaw Student B: Don't you think this kid is going to wear his ceremonial robes the whole day to brag about his commendation?

Deuce: I'll properly change out, you know... Can you please move aside now? I'm really going to be late for my class.

Savanaclaw Student A: Don't be a bummer, let's hang out a bit more.... Right, how about you show us your certificate!

Deuce: Hey! Can you please not handle it so roughly?! It'll tear!

Savanaclaw Student B: Haha, don't get all pissy. It's just a piece of paper.

Deuce: ... Stop it.

Savanaclaw Student A: Eek...?!

Deuce: I have no choice but to do this.

Savanaclaw Student A: I can't move my arm... What's with this monstrous strength...!

Deuce: My cert... Give it back.

Savanaclaw Student B: *clench* H-Here!

*patter*patter

Deuce: Hah.... Thank goodness the certificate isn't torn...

Grim: Ah! So you're here, Deuce!

Deuce: Grim and prefect! And also... Why are you all here?

Ace: What do you mean "why"... Class is about to start and we didn't see you anywhere, so the prefect started to look all over for you!

Deuce: Yuu did...?

MC (choice dialogue): Did anything happen? / Class is about to start.

Deuce: Ah, I'm sorry I caused all of you to worry.

Ace: See~ He's fine even if we leave him be. Come on, let's go back to class now.

Grim: Deuce, are you going to class in this outfit?

Deuce: No way... I'm going to change it out somehow.

Grim: Funa~~~! The ceremonial robes are so cool and stands out too! It's not fair~~!

Deuce: Eh?

MC (choice dialogue): You look great in it. / It gives off a vibe of an excellent magic user.

Grim: The great me would also like to have a stylish ribbon!

Ace: Sure, sure. Hey Deuce, can you go change asap? Although I bet you're gonna be late after it.

Deuce: You know what? I think I'll just go with this on... These are fine.

#kztls #deuce spade #deuce personal story #twisted wonderland #twisted wonderland translations #ceremonial robes

30 notes · View notes

ill-will-editions · 4 years

Photo

WHAT THE VIRUS SAID

First published in Lundimatin, March 16, 2020

Translated by Robert Hurley

“I’ve come to shut down the machine whose emergency brake you couldn’t find.”

You’d do well, dear humans, to stop your ridiculous calls for war. Lower the vengeful looks you’re aiming at me. Extinguish the halo of terror in which you’ve enveloped my name. Since the bacterial genesis of the world, we viruses are the true continuum of life on Earth. Without us, you would never have seen the light of day, any more than the first cell would have come to exist.

We are your ancestors, just like the rocks and the seaweed, and much more than the apes. We are wherever you are and also where you aren’t. Too bad for you if you only see in the universe what is to your liking! But above all, quit saying that it is I who am killing you. You will not die from my action upon your tissues but from the lack of care of your fellow humans. If you had not been just as rapacious amongst yourselves as you were with all that lives on this planet, you would still have enough beds, nurses, and respirators to survive the damage I do in your lungs. If you didn’t pack your old people into nursing homes and your able-bodied into concrete hutches, you wouldn’t be in this predicament. If you hadn’t changed the whole expanse of the world, or worlds rather, that just yesterday were still luxuriant, chaotic, infinitely inhabited, into a vast desert for the monoculture of the Same and the More, I wouldn’t have been able to launch myself into the global conquest of your throats. If nearly all of you had not become, over the last century, redundant copies of a single, untenable form of life, you would not be preparing to die like flies abandoned in the water of your sugary civilization. If you had not made your environments so empty, so transparent, so abstract, you can be sure that I wouldn’t be moving at the speed of an aircraft. I only come to carry out the punishment that you have long pronounced against yourselves. Forgive me, but it’s you, after all, who invented the name “Anthropocene”. You have awarded yourselves the whole honor of the disaster; now that it is unfolding, it’s too late to decline it. The most honest among you know this very well: I have no other accomplice than your social organization, your folly of the “grand scale” and its economy, your fanatical belief in systems. Only systems are “vulnerable”. Everything else lives and dies. There’s no “vulnerability” except for what aims at control, at its extension and its improvement. Look at me closely: I am just the flip side of the prevailing Death.

So stop blaming me, accusing me, stalking me. Working yourselves into an anti-viral paralysis. All of that is childish. Let me propose a different perspective: there is an intelligence that is immanent to life. One doesn’t need to be a subject to make use of a memory and a strategy. One doesn’t have to be a sovereign to decide. Bacteria and viruses can also call the shots. See me, therefore, as your savior instead of your gravedigger. You’re free not to believe me, but I have come to shut down the machine whose emergency brake you couldn’t find. I have come in order to suspend the operation that held you hostage. I have come in order to demonstrate the aberration that “normality” constitutes. “Delegating to others our nutrition, our protection, our ability to care for our way of life was a madness”…“There is no budgetary limit, health has no price” : see how I redirect the language and spirit of your governing authorities! See how I bring them down for you to their real standing as miserable racketeers, and arrogant to boot! See how they suddenly denounce themselves not just as being superfluous, but as being harmful! For them you’re nothing but supports for the reproduction of their system – that is, less than slaves. Even the plankton are treated better than you.

But don’t waste your time reproaching them, pointing out their deficiencies. Accusing them of negligence is still to give them more credit than they deserve. Ask yourselves rather how you could find it so comfortable to let yourselves be governed. Praising the merits of the Chinese option compared to the British option, of the imperial-legist solution as against the Darwinist-liberal method is to understand nothing about the one or the other, the horror of one and the horror of the other. Since Quesnay, the “liberals” have always looked with envy at the Chinese empire ; and they still do. They are Siamese twins. The fact that one of them confines you in its interest and the other in the interest of “society” always amounts to suppressing the only non-nihilist conduct : taking care of oneself, of those one loves and of what one loves in those one doesn’t know. Don’t let those who’ve led you to the abyss claim to be saving you from it: they will prepare for you a more perfect hell, an even deeper grave. Someday when they’ll able, they’ll send the army to patrol the afterlife.

You ought to thank me, rather. Without me, for how much longer would those unquestionable things that are suddenly suspended have gone on being presented as necessary? Globalization, competitive exams, air traffic, budgetary limits, elections, sports spectacles, Disneyland, fitness gyms, most businesses, the National Assembly, school barracking, mass gatherings, most office jobs, all that automatic sociability that is nothing but the reverse of the anxious solitude of the metropolitan monads : all of that was rendered unnecessary, once the state of necessity asserted its presence. Thank me for the truth test of the coming weeks; you’re finally going to inhabit your own life, without the thousand escapes that, good year bad year, hold the untenable together. Without your realizing it, you had never taken up residence in your own existence. You were there among your boxes, and you didn’t know it. Now you will live with your kindreds. You will be at home. You will cease to be in transit towards death. Perhaps you will hate your husband. Maybe your children won’t be able to stand you. Maybe you will feel like blowing up the décor of your everyday life. The truth is that you were no longer in the world, in those metropolises of separation. Your world was no longer livable in any of its guises unless you were constantly fleeing. One had to make do with movement and distractions in the face of the hideousness that had taken hold. And the spectral that reigned between beings. Everything had become so efficient that nothing made any sense any longer. Thank me for all that, and welcome back to earth!

Thanks to me, for an indefinite time you will no longer work, your kids won’t go to school, and yet it will be the opposite of a vacation. Vacations are that space that must be filled up at all costs while waiting for the obligatory return to work. But now what is opening up in front of you, thanks to me, is not a delimited space but a gaping emptiness. I render you idle. There’s no guarantee that yesterday’s non-world will reappear. All of that profitable absurdity may cease. Not being paid oneself, what would be more natural than to stop paying one’s rent? Why would a person unable to work go on depositing their mortgage payments at the bank? Isn’t it suicidal, when you come down to it, to live where you can’t even cultivate a garden? Someone who doesn’t have any money left doesn’t stop eating as a consequence, and who has the iron has the bread. Thank me: I place you in front of the bifurcation that was tacitly structuring your existences: the economy or life. It’s your move, your turn to play. The stakes are historical. Either the governing authorities impose their state of exception on you, or you invent your own. Either you go with the truths that are coming to light, or you put your head on the chopping block. Either you use the time I’m giving you to envision the world of the aftermath in light of what you’ve learned from the collapse that’s underway, or the latter will go extreme. The disaster ends when the economy ends. The economy is the devastation. That was a theory before last month. Now it is a fact. No one can fail to sense what it will take in the way of police, propaganda, surveillance, logistics, and remote working to keep that fact under control.

As you deal with me, don’t succumb to panic or denial. Don’t give in to the biopolitical hysterias. The coming weeks will be terrible, oppressive, cruel. The gates of death will be wide open. I am the most devastating production of the devastation of production. I come to reduce the nihilists to nothingness. The injustice of this world will never be more outrageous. It’s a civilization, not you, that I come to bury. Those who desire to live will have to construct new habits, ones that are suitable for them. Avoiding me will be the occasion for this reinvention, this new art of distances. The art of greeting one another, which some were short-sighted enough to see as the very form of the institution, will soon not obey any etiquette. It will sign beings. Don’t do it “for the others”, for “the population” or for “society”, do it for your people. Take care of your friends and those you love. Rethink along with them, decisively, what a just form of life would be. Organize clusters of right living, expand them, and I won’t be able to do anything against you. I am calling for a massive return, not of discipline, but of attention. Not for the end of insouciance, but the end of all carelessness. What other way remained for me to remind you that salvation is in each gesture? That everything is in the tiniest thing.

I’ve had to face the facts: humanity only asks itself the questions it can no longer keep from asking.

#coronavirus

65 notes · View notes

visionsofus · 5 years

Text

Unexpected Guests

Thanks for requesting this @geekofmanythings16 and I am so so sorry this is so incredibly late! Post-endgame so it is a little sad but I hope you enjoy it anyway!

Prompt 8: Peter’s graduation except most of the Avengers show up to the ceremony and no one can work out why they are there.

Send me an ask with a prompt from this list

Rating: all ages, a little angsty at times

Word count: 3068

Ao3 link: on the way...

Peter's eyes were locked on the table at the front of the hall, upon which sat roughly a hundred and fifty scrolls of paper, tied tightly with blue and yellow ribbons. Somewhere amongst them was one with Peter's name printed in curly letters announcing that he had graduated from Midtown School of Science and Technology. It was Peter's ticket to the future.

"-and heck, if we could all make it through dying and being brought back to life and stillgraduate after that, I cannot wait to see what we go onto do in the next 5, 10, 20 or even 100 years. Thank you for having me as your valedictorian." MJ said ending her speech a little more formally than Peter knew she would have liked. He'd spent the last two weeks listening to MJ repeat and edit the speech and, in the process, had suggested she remove some of the more… questionable jokes that she had tried to include. The ones about the principal's wig and the inability of the school system to actually teach students to learn had definitely not made it into the final speech.

As Michelle stepped down from the podium the graduating class broke out into reverent applause and Peter joined in, clapping his hands loudly as he watched his sort of girlfriend leave the stage. Peter wasn't sure if he was supposed to be calling MJ that yet… things were still a little bit unsure but that didn't stop Peter's heart swelling with pride as the applause continued long after MJ had left the stage. He knew she had been nervous going up there, though she had done her best not to show it.

Peter wasn't sure if it was the stuffy air in the gymnasium making him sweat or if he was just that nervous. He tugged at his academic robe, pulling it back onto his shoulder and in the process almost elbowing the person next to him. Midtown's Principal and Vice Principal stepped up to the podium and began reading out the list of names. Peter watched, as one by one his fellow graduates stepped up onto the stage, shook hands and took their diplomas.

Peter clap dutifully alongside the rest of the students as he watched his friends and classmates graduate, waiting patiently for his name to be called.

Peter had always felt a little out of place at these high school events. As a kid, whenever he had received academic awards at assemblies, he'd felt embarrassed as everyone else had their families stand up in the audience and applaud their achievements and he'd only had Uncle Ben and Aunt May… and eventually it had just been May. That feeling had been lost over time and now he had a new appreciation for the enthusiasm with which May had applauded and cheered for him all those years ago.

Seeing everyone's families getting ready to go into the Hall with their kids hadtugged at Peter's heart a little as he thought of all the people that he had lost on the way to this moment. His parents… what would they have thought if they saw him now? Saw the person he had become? What would they think of him being Spider-Man? What about Uncle Ben? He'd always had such high hopes for Peter, had dreamt of Peter following in his father's footsteps and going to MIT.

Then there was Tony Stark. It had been a year since Peter had watched Tony die in the wreckage of the Avengers Compound, but the pain was still as fresh as yesterday. As fresh as the paint that MJ had helped Peter hurriedly put on his graduation cap earlier that morning in the shape of an arc reactor. What would Tony think of Peter now? Of where he was going? Would he regret making Peter an Avenger? Or would he be proud?

Peter sighed and turned his attention back to the stage, watching as the students seemed to fly past. Before he knew it, his best friend was stepping up to the podium, shaking hands with the Principal and turning to the crowd to grin at Peter.

Peter grinned and clapped as Ned left the stage looking immensely proud with the paper in his hands, as he should’ve been. Peter couldn’t forget that Ned, like half the students in the hall, had been through a lot to get to this point. Peter raised his hands to his mouth to cheer as the clapping died out and grinned as Ned gave him a wave as he returned to his seat.

Peter slipped his cellphone out of his pocket and swiped it open, trying to be surreptitious as students continued being called to the front. He glanced down at his conversation with May, dismayed by her reply.

Peter: Any sign of Pepper and Morgan?

May: not yet, I saved them seats though. And happy is here! He says hello.

Peter: Hi happy!

Peter: how about now

May: Still not here, I’m sorry Peter but you know how busy things have been at Stark Industries this last month. Will text if she arrives. Xx

Peter shut his phone off and tried not to sigh as he put it back in his pocket. He sat back in his chair. Peter had cautiously asked Pepper if she might come to his graduation a few weeks ago and at the time she had seemed more than enthusiastic and certain that she would be in attendance. Having been working with SI for the last year as a sort of intern/ part timer Peter knew how busy the company could get, especially considering the financial year was coming to a close.

Peter heard the gymnasium doors open behind them and watched as the Principal momentarily stopped what he was saying, stuttering slightly before continuing with the name he had been reading out. The principal got back on track before the students could look around and wonder what had made him stop his speech so suddenly.

Peter breathed deeply as the Principal worked his way down Peter’s row, eventually arriving at the P’s, of which Peter was first.

“Who’s that?” Someone whispered near Peter and he saw heads craned around to look at the back of the gymnasium.

“What are they doing here?” Said another excited quiet voice but Peter could barely hear the whispers he was so nervous.

“Peter Parker.”

Peter took a last breath of air and pushed himself from his chair to his feet, ensuring that he didn’t trip on his academic gown as he stood up. Peter stepped out of the rows of chairs and walked swiftly down the aisle that lead to the stage. He looked at the principal who was smiling warmly at him, diploma ready in hand.

“Congratulations.”

Peter grinned as he shook the principal’s hand and looked out to the crowd of students and parents before him, eyes searching for May. He found her quickly, Happy sat next to her but the two seats beside them still vacant. May was smiling brightly, her gaze proud.

Peter took his diploma and was met with applause and jerked his head up in surprise when he realized how loud it was. At first, he wondered whether it was his Spider senses that were making the applause sound so disproportionately loud but then he looked out to the back of the gymnasium and his jaw dropped. Students and parents alike had twisted around in their seats to try and figure out why Peter was getting an unnaturally loud applause compared to the other students.

At the back of the hall, standing behind the seats looking like the most out of place group of people he had ever seen, were the Avengers. Or what was left of them.

Thor, dressed smartly in dress pants and a white shirt, was clapping his hands and Peter had to wonder if he was adding a little bit of thunder to make it seem louder. Next to him, and about two heads higher was Dr Bruce Banner still as green and large as ever. Beside him was Bucky Barnes, stoic as usual but Peter felt he could detect faint appreciation in his eyes. Beside Bucky was Sam Wilson who was smiling widely and clapping enthusiastically, though their relationship had started off on rocky ground, Peter was pretty sure they were friends… like at least 68 percent sure. Wanda Maximoff was there too, clapping beside the newly resurrected Vision.

As Peter’s eyes shifted to the last person in the group, Pepper Potts, he was distracted by the voices which had quickly filled the gymnasium, that he hadn’t properly registered before.

“Why are the Avengers here?”

“Are they clapping for Peter? Surely not!”

These voices where interrupted by the sound of little shoes slapping against the gymnasium floor.

Peter stepped to the side a bit, just in time to see Morgan Stark running down the aisle, the back of her blue coat streaming out behind her. Peter’s face broke into a grin. He’d completely forgotten what was happening on stage, he wasn’t sure if the ceremony was still proceeding or if he, or rather the arrival of the Avengers, had put a bit of a pin in the cogs for the time being. It certainly seemed that no one in the audience was paying any attention, too preoccupied with craning their heads around to try and get a good look at the group of superheroes at the back of the room. Peter left the stage.

“Peter.” Morgan said as she flew into his arms, Peter picked her up as he hugged her.

“Hey Morgan, how you doing?”

“Good.” Morgan said sweetly and then tugged at the tassel of his graduation cap. “Mommy said I could come see you.”

Peter looked up, casting his eyes to Pepper at the back of the hall. She mouthed a sorry, shaking her head slightly. Peter understood, Morgan was so stubborn that he doubted anyone would have tried to stop her once she put her mind to it.

“Ok, well we better head back now, we’re holding things up here.” Peter said, setting Morgan on the ground. She took his hand tightly in her own. He looked around at the Principal, who like most of the audience, was still distracted by the Avengers in his gymnasium. The VP stepped up behind him to remind him to continue with the procession.

“Right!” The Principal said straightening and watching as Peter began to return to his seat. “Where was I…”

“Can I stay with you?” Morgan asked as Peter maid to take her back to Pepper.

“Uhm…” Peter said looking down at Morgan and the puppy eyes she had just pulled out. They were lethal. “Of course you can.”

“Yay.” Morgan said quietly as silence fell throughout the hall again and Peter led Morgan back to his seat.

Once they were back at his seat, Peter sat down and pulled Morgan onto his knees so that she could see the stage.

“What’s this?” Morgan said, turning around to tug at the tassel on his graduation cap again.

“Here you can have a look if you like.” Peter said quietly, pulling the cap off and handing it to Morgan. He paid half attention to what was happening on stage while also keeping an eye on Morgan as she ran her fingers in circular motions over the arc reactor Peter had painted there.

“You ok?” Peter asked, rubbing Morgan’s arm fondly. Flash’s name was called, and he approached the stage.

“Yeah.” Morgan said quietly, moving to put the cap back on Peter’s head. With some difficult they managed to get it sitting straight. Morgan then turned away, casting her attention to the stage as she swung her legs back and forth from where she sat.

The rest of the ceremony proceeded normally and while everyone seemed quite distracted, the attention was directed more or less back to the students. Once the last student had been called and accepted his diploma the procession rose and began to file out onto the lawns outside the gymnasium. Morgan slipped away to the back of the hall and Peter watched her go, rising to join the rest of the students as they left to the applause of onlookers. May was on her feet, Happy beside her, both clapping enthusiastically but when Peter reached the back of the gymnasium and went outside, he found that the Avengers were nowhere to be seen.

Peter was crestfallen as he left, disappointed that the Avengers hadn’t even stuck around to say hello. Though he supposed he should feel somewhat honored that they came along at all.

“Congratulations Peter.” May said grabbing Peter’s shoulders from behind and turning him around to give him a tight hug. “Your parents, uncle Ben they all would have been so proud – I am so proud.”

When she withdrew Happy clapped him on the shoulder, “Good job kid, Tony would have been proud.”

Peter tried to smile but it must have fallen short and not reached his eyes so May quickly jumped in before the mood soured.

“Look who showed up though!” She said indicating somewhere behind Peter’s head.

Peter turned and sure enough standing on the far side of the oval, away from all the people, were the Avengers. His mouth dropped open slightly and May flicked his chin lightly, encouraging him to close it.

“Come on.” She said pushing him towards them and Peter found his feet taking one step after the other as he walked over. Somehow this was making him more nervous than when he had gone up to accept his diploma which he was still clutching in his hands. It was silly really, he had been on quite a few missions with the other Avengers in the last year, he had no reason to be worried.

Sam was the first to step forward as Peter reached the imposing group. “Congrats kid! I was beginning to think they wouldn’t read your name out, you were pretty far to the end though – didn’t get the grades you wanted?” Sam said jokingly, throwing an arm around Peter’s shoulder and ruffling his hair before withdrawing.

“It was alphabetical order.” Bucky said quietly.

“I know I was making a joke Barnes.” Sam chided, smiling regardless.

“Congratulations Peter, we’ve got big expectations for what happens next.”

“Thanks, Mr Barnes.” Peter grinned, shaking Bucky’s extended hand.

“Good job Peter, we always knew you had it in you.” Wanda said stepping forward to embrace him in a quick hug.

Like Bucky, Vision held his hand out and Peter shook it eagerly, marveling at the fascinating texture as he did. “I anticipate great things.”

Peter swallowed nervously but tried to nod anyway. Bruce came at Peter with a bone crushing hug and seemed to have teared up a little. “So proud.” He sniffed.

“Congratulations Peter, we’re so proud of you! Everyone at Stark Industries has been asking how it went.” Pepper said hugging Peter tightly. “Tony would have loved to have been here.” She said quietly so that only he heard and withdrew.

Morgan was last and Peter knelt to give her a tight hug.

“Thank you all so much for coming.” Peter said grinning.

“Ah what are you talking about,” Sam said waving a nonchalant hand, “it’s not like we had anything else to do on a Friday afternoon.”

“For god’s sake someone touch wood.” Bucky whispered and everyone laughed.

“Peter honey, they’re expecting you back there.” May said jerking her finger over her shoulder. Peter followed her gesture and saw that the rest of the graduating class were gathered together, photographer ready.

“Crap.” Peter muttered and, holding onto his cap as he did, rushed over to the group. He was met with a few scowls at having kept them all waiting but mostly everyone was gaping at him and trying to figure out why Peter of all people had been talking to the Avengers. Peter grinned as he joined Ned who fist bumped him enthusiastically.

“Everyone is gonna think crazy things now.” MJ said in his ear and Peter jumped, somehow, he hadn’t felt her arrive by his side.

Peter beamed and put his arm around her shoulders, a little more smoothly than he might have normally done given how on top of the world he was feeling in that moment. She smiled back and threw an arm around his shoulders and squeezed back.

“Who knows what they’re thinking, heck they might even think I am Spider-Man.” Peter said quietly, and MJ snorted.

“No one would ever think that, don’t worry.” She said looking into his eyes knowingly.

“To the graduating class of 2024!” The principal said from behind the photographer and with a cry and thunderous applause and cheers from around them the students took their caps from their heads and turned their faces to the sky.

Peter bent his knees slightly and launched his cap up into the air with a little more force than was necessary. He stood there face upturned, one arm around MJ and one extended around Ned, his eyes peeled open as he took a mental image ensuring that he would never ever forget that moment. As the caps sailed down around them Peter was reminded of everything that had happened to him since he was bitten by a radioactive spider all those years ago. The choices he had made, the battles he had one and the ones he had lost. It was all in the past now, but each experience served as a lesson to be learnt, a story to be told and something to be remembered.

He watched the black caps floating down as though they were in slow motion and his thoughts turned to Tony and in that moment caught a glimpse of his own cap sinking down towards him. The arc reactor spinning as the cap spun in midair and in that moment, it seemed to glow with recognition. Tony was still there, no matter where Peter went or what he did, a part of Tony would always be with him as it was with Pepper and Morgan and Happy and Rhodey and every other person whose life had been touched by Tony Stark and who had felt the imprint of his absence. Tony had given Peter another chance and he sure as hell wasn’t about to waste it.

#spiderman #peter parker #michelle jones #peter x mj #tony stark #irondad #spiderson #ned leeds #Peter Parker fan fiction #spiderman fanfiction #fanfiction #marvel fanfiction #visionsofusworks #I tried to make it a little cute #don't know how it turned out tho #short Drabble so don't read too much into it

2 notes · View notes

bountyofbeads · 5 years

Text

Jeffrey Epstein's death is a perfect storm for conspiracy theories

https://news.yahoo.com/jeffrey-epstein-death-conspiracy-theories-163046929.html

Jeffrey Epstein’s Death Is The Perfect Storm for Conspiracy Theories

By Christopher Wilson | Published August 10, 2019 12:30 PM ET | Yahoo News | Posted August 10, 2019 4:34 PM ET |

The death Saturday morning of financier Jeffrey Epstein, an accused sex trafficker with connections to some of the most powerful people in the world, represents a perfect storm in the world of conspiracy theories.

Epstein was found unconscious in his cell in the Metropolitan Correctional Center — the federal jail in downtown Manhattan — and pronounced dead at a nearby hospital, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

The MCC is one of the most secure jails in the country, and Epstein, following an earlier suicide attempt, was being held in the Special Housing Unit, where inmates are under heightened protection, although NBC News reported he was not on suicide watch. He had been in the MCC since July 6, after FBI agents arrested him when he returned to the U.S. from France on his private jet.

Epstein’s death immediately set off speculation that he had been killed, or that someone who should have been watching him was looking the other way when it happened. With confirmed ties to political figures up to and including presidents of both parties, European royalty and headline names in business, finance and academia, Epstein was a lightning rod for conspiracy theories even before his death. Women who have accused him of forcing them into having sex when they were underage have also said he pimped them out to some of his powerful friends. His trial, more than a year away, could have proved embarrassing — or worse — to people who were part of his large social circle.

Attorney General William Barr put out a statement saying: “I was appalled to learn that Jeffrey Epstein was found dead early this morning from an apparent suicide while in federal custody. Mr. Epstein’s death raises serious questions that must be answered. In addition to the FBI’s investigation, I have consulted with the Inspector General who is opening an investigation into the circumstances of Mr. Epstein’s death.”

“If we were living in a paranoid fantasy universe, I would be very suspicious about the Epstein suicide, even about whether it was really suicide,” wrote New York Times columnist Paul Krugman. “And you know what? The Epstein case itself shows that we *are* kind of living in a paranoid fantasy universe.”

Joe Scarborough tweeted, “A guy who had information that would have destroyed rich and powerful men’s lives ends up dead in his jail cell. How predictably...Russian.”

On the fringes of the political spectrum, Ann Coulter tweeted, “I knew this would happen! I warned you, [Bureau of Prisons].”

Later she managed to wrap in a whole documentary’s worth of conspiracy theorizing in a single tweet: “This ends the only plausible Epstein theory OTHER THAN a foreign country’s pedophile/blackmail operation. (That he was laundering Robert Maxwell’s hidden loot.)”

Epstein was close friends for years with Ghislaine Maxwell, the daughter of British publishing magnate Robert Maxwell, who drowned under suspicious circumstances in 1991. At least one of Epstein’s alleged victims has said Ghislaine participated in Epstein’s recruitment of young teenage girls for sex; she has denied any involvement.

Other tweets hinted at a conspiracy by the British royal family, and the hashtag #ClintonBodyCount exploded on social media, the subject of 13,300 tweets within the first hour. Lynne Patton, a Trump appointee in the Department of Housing and Urban Development, wrote on Instagram that Epstein was “Hillary’d.”

Epstein’s waterfront mansion in Palm Beach, Fla., where the alleged sex acts occurred, is less than a mile from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club. Records show that Trump flew on Epstein’s private jet on occasion, and they had been photographed together at social events.

“I’ve known Jeff for fifteen years. Terrific guy,” said Trump in a 2002 New York magazine profile of Epstein. “He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it — Jeffrey enjoys his social life.”

Former President Bill Clinton flew on Epstein’s private plane multiple times and visited his island. Prince Andrew of Britain also has ties to the hedge fund magnate but has denied any involvement in sex trafficking.

Documents implicating other powerful figures began to be released yesterday, starting with sealed records related to a defamation lawsuit that Epstein’s self-described “sex slave” Virginia Roberts Giuffre filed against Ghislaine Maxwell. Giuffre alleges that Epstein told her to have sex with hedge fund billionaire Glenn Dubin, former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and former Democratic Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell.

The men have all denied the allegations.

The New York Times reported last month that Epstein used his ties to Les Wexner, CEO of the L Brands corporation, which owns Victoria’s Secret, for access to both models and money. Wexner accused Epstein this week of misappropriating “vast sums of money.”

Epstein, early in his career, was a protégé of Donald Barr, the father of Attorney General Barr, who hired him to teach at New York’s prestigious Dalton School despite his lack of a college degree.

The amount and source of Epstein’s wealth, apart from his association with Wexner, has been a mystery. His Manhattan mansion has been described as having a “creepy décor,” while his private island has a gold-domed temple-like structure. When Epstein’s home was raided, investigators found a cache of videos in a safe that were described as potentially containing compromising images of third parties. The New York Times reported last month that Epstein had plans to “seed human race with his DNA” at his New Mexico ranch.

The latest round of charges were not the first faced by Epstein. He was charged by federal prosecutors in Florida in 2007 for, as the Miami Herald put it in its award-winning reporting on the case, “assembling a large, cult-like network of underage girls — with the help of young female recruiters — to coerce into having sex acts behind the walls of his opulent waterfront mansion as often as three times a day.” Epstein received what observers consider unusually lenient treatment by the U.S. attorney in Miami at the time, Alex Acosta. Acosta served as Trump’s secretary of labor but stepped down amid a slew of calls for his resignation after Epstein’s arrest earlier this summer. In that case, Epstein was defended by Harvard professor Alan Dershowitz and former special counsel Ken Starr.

Epstein’s trial was not set to begin until June 2020 at the earliest. He had been denied bail due to his access to private jets, private islands and multiple passports. Civil cases against Epstein’s estate will continue despite his death.

According to Courthouse News reporter Adam Klasfeld, a former prosecutor said that after Epstein’s death “no one else will have standing to challenge the search warrant on his house. Everything will be admissible against any other defendant without possibility of a motion to suppress.”

In the wake of Epstein’s death, many were quick to point out that hundreds of people kill themselves in jail every year and experts say most deaths are preventable with proper mental health care and monitoring.

However, the fact that he was able to hang himself less than a month after a previous suicide attempt — particularly one in which a former cop charged with four murders being jailed near Epstein was questioned over his potential involvement — raised questions from those far from the conspiratorial fringes of the internet.

“I am not into conspiracy theories,” said Brooklyn-based public defender Scott Hechinger. “But Epstein had destructive information on an extraordinary number of extraordinarily powerful people. It is not easy to commit suicide in prison. Especially after being placed on suicide watch. Especially after already allegedly trying.”

“The Bureau of Prisons is part of DOJ,” said Michael Bromwich, who previously served as the Justice Department’s inspector general. “This should prompt an immediate and comprehensive DOJ Inspector General investigation to determine who is responsible.”

“We need answers,” said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., linking to a story about Epstein’s death. “Lots of them.”

Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla., has already called on the House Oversight Committee to investigate Epstein’s death, saying in a statement that it “does not end the need for justice for his victims or the right of the public to know why a prolific child molester got a slap on the wrist instead of a long prison sentence.”

Additional reporting by Melissa Rossi

1 note · View note

erhiem · 3 years

Link

Hey Millennials: This Year Was Started no statement made Reboot makes you feel old? Maybe it feels like only yesterday that you were hooked up with Nickelodeon Drake and Josho; Today, Drake Bell Making headlines for allegations of endangering children. Or maybe it’s hard to believe Jamie Lynn Spears– known as high schooler Zoey Brooks – is the mother of two children.

Which is to say, we can’t believe how much time has passed since we first met these child stars. And it’s equally unbelievable that after all these years, they continue to make headlines (some for better reasons than others.) Take a trip down memory lane and find out where all your favorite exes are. Nickelodeon Stars are now.

Victoria Justice

(s_bukley/Shutterstock.com, Ron Adar, Shutterstock.com)

what are they most famous for

Victoria Justice made her TV debut in a 2003 episode Gilmore Girls, but children’s channels are where he got fame. after three seasons Zoey 101 and appearances on shows like Zack & Cody’s Suite Life And no statement made, Justice earned top billing in sitcoms victorious. For four seasons, she won over millions of teens with her role as aspiring singer Tori Vega. The series earned two consecutive Kids’ Choice Awards (2012 and 2013) for Favorite TV Show.

what are they doing now

Now 28, Justice is an all-around entertainer who divides her time between singing and acting. One of her major projects included starring alongside Laverne Cox in 2016 The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let’s Do the Time Warp Again. She also self-released two singles this year: “Stay” and “To F-Kin’ Nice.”

She has not forgotten her roots either. In 2020, he hosted a virtual edition of the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards.

Drake Bell

(Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com, David Livingston / Getty Images)

what are they most famous for

Drake Bell was 13 when he first appeared on Nickelodeon amanda show; Five years later, he and co-star Josh Peck earned their own spin-off. Drake and Josho. NS odd Couple-esque sitcom ran for four seasons between 2004 and 2007 and spawned three full-length TV movies. Bell also found success as a musician, writing and performing the series’ theme song, “I Found a Way”. His role helped him win several Kids’ Choice Awards for Favorite TV Actor and Favorite TV Show.

what are they doing now

Bell had a successful career following Nick, voicing Spider-Man in various TV series: Avengers Assemblehandjob Hulk and SMASH . agent of, And ultimate Spider Man. They have also released a total of five studio albums, including one in the U.S. Board 200.

But recent legal troubles have put his career and reputation at risk. In early July, Bell pleaded guilty to charges of attempt to endanger a child in relation to an incident involving a 15-year-old girl. He was sentenced to two years’ probation and 200 hours of community service.

Jennette mccurdy

(Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com, Janet McCurdy / YouTube)

what are they most famous for

Janet McCurdy is best known for playing Sam Puckett no statement made. After running for five years, she starred in two seasons of the spin-off Sam and Cato. He also showed promise as a musician, landing on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the 2012 single “Generation Love”.

what are they doing now

But McCurdy didn’t capitalize on his teenage fame the way his fellow Nickelodeon peers did. He eventually quit acting and also recently declined the opportunity to appear in no statement made reboot.

Earlier this year she said, “I’m annoyed with my career in many ways.” “I feel so unfulfilled by the roles I played and realized it was the sweetest, most embarrassing.”

McCurdy revealed that his acting years had hidden personal traumas, including a history of eating disorders and a toxic relationship with his mother. Today, she has changed her life and focuses on work behind the camera. She has written and directed three short films since 2018 and currently hosts the podcast empty inside.

Keke Palmer

(Jaguar PS/Shutterstock.com, Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

what are they most famous for

Keke Palmer was a promising star with an impressive resume (akila and beehandjob Tyler Perry House of Payne) long ago Nickelodeon scooped her up to play the lead True Jackson, VP. Palmer’s role on the sitcom made her the fourth highest-paid child star of 2010; She also linked her success to a fashion line she runs at Walmart.

what are they doing now

True Jackson, VP lasted three seasons and ended in 2011, but Palmer continued to work on other projects for Nickelodeon, including voiceover work. Winx Club and a starring role in the film rags. However, she didn’t trust the teen demographic forever. In 2019, he co-hosted the daytime news program GMA3 (Or Strahan, Sara, and Keke) with Sarah Haines and Michael Strahan. She also had a role in Lorraine Scarafia hustler.

Palmer, who has one studio album and four EPs, has also continued to pursue music. (The Twitter controversy doesn’t seem to have affected his career.) In 2020, he hosted the MTV Video Music Awards, where he performed the single “Snack”.

Jamie Lynn Spears

(s_bukley/Shutterstock.com, ViacomCBS)

what are they most famous for

Jamie Lynn Spears was not one to live in the shadow of her older sister, Britney. From 2002–2004, he starred in episodes of the sketch comedy show all that. The following year, she created her own show, Zoey 101. The series ran for three years and was one of Nickelodeon’s highest-rated shows of the 2000s. In 2006, Spears won the Kids’ Choice Award for Favorite TV Actress.

what are they doing now

Spears became pregnant during the final season of Zoey 101 And is currently the mother of two children, Maddie Brian Aldridge and Ivy Joan Watson. She dropped out of the limelight for a few years to focus on motherhood, but in 2019 she was cast in the Netflix series sweet magnolias. The following year, he confirmed that a Zoey 101 Reboot in progress after cast reunion all that.

All eyes are currently on Spears as her older sister is fighting for her independence. Perhaps she will provide more details in her memoir, which is set to be released in January 2022.

Amanda Bynes

(Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com, Instagram)

what are they most famous for

Amanda Bynes was Nickelodeon’s golden child in the 1990s. His natural comedic talent in sketch shows all that Make your own popular variety led series amanda show. From there, he spent four years starring in the WB comedy what I like About You While working on his budding film career. with positive reviews for she’s the Man And spray, fans and critics see a promising future for Bynes.

what are they doing now

In 2010, Bynes announced his retirement from acting after filming his final film, easy a. After a string of disturbing and controversial behavior, in 2013 her parents for stereotyping. She turned a new leaf as a student at the Los Angeles Fashion School, graduating in 2019. Bynes continues to struggle to restart a stalled career, but worried fans on social media are in favor of a comeback.

Miranda Cosgrove

(Everett Collection/Shutterstock.com, Paramount+)

what are they most famous for

Miranda Cosgrove Showed Promise Ever Since She Played Sassy Little Schoolgirl Summer Hathaway school of Rock. But it was his lead role on Nickelodeon no statement made Which made him a household name. In addition to starring in six seasons of the teen sitcom, she also starred in other shows for several channels (Drake and Joshohandjob Zoey 101handjob all that) and had a starring voice role in despicable Me film series.

what are they doing now

Cosgrove releases studio album Sparks fly in 2010, but it seems she prefers acting over music. Most recently, he received two Daytime Emmy nominations for his CBS series Mission Invincible with Miranda Cosgrove. And earlier this year, he starred in the reboot of iCarly on Paramount Plus. Cosgrove also served as an executive producer on the series—a reminder that she’s come a long way from being a beloved child star.

josh peck

(Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock.com, Matt Winkelmayer/Getty Images)

what are they most famous for

Like Drake Bell, Josh Peck Got His Start amanda show Before transitioning to my own sitcom Drake and Josho. Since then, his varied career has included indie films, voice roles for the Ice Age animated film series, and primetime network series. His role on the short-lived Fox comedy grandfathered He even received a 2016 People’s Choice Award nomination for Favorite Actor in a New TV Series.

what are they doing now

In 2017, Peck made an unusual transition from acting to vlogging. He started out as a regular member of David Dobrik’s vlog squad and then set up his own YouTube channel.

But he has not stopped acting completely. In July, he returned to the screen as the star of turner and hooch on Disney+. He is also currently filming 13: musical, co-starring Peter Hermann (Small, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit) and Rhea Perlman.

Devon Workheiser

(s_bukley / Shutterstock.com, @devonwerkheiser / TikTok)

what are they most famous for

Devon Verkheiser came to the senses of children after playing Ned Bigby in the popular Nickelodeon sitcom neds declassified school survival guide. The series ran for three seasons between 2004 and 2006, after which the young actor started working in musicals. Between one-time spots on various TV shows (2 Broke Girlshandjob Greekhandjob criminal mind), they released their 2016 studio album Proposal and three EPs.

what are they doing now

In 2019, Werkheiser appeared in the film crown vic, starring Bridget Moynahan and David Krumholtz. The following year, he starred in 10 episodes of the Twitch original series. Synthetic. He keeps his fans busy these days on TikTok, where he has 1 million followers.

Source

The post What These Former Nickelodeon Stars Are Up To Now In 2021 appeared first on Spicy Celebrity News.

#IFTTT #WordPress

1 note · View note

mastcomm · 4 years

Text

Democrats, Coronavirus, the Oscars: Your Friday Briefing

(Want to get this briefing by email? Here’s the sign-up.)

Good morning.

We’re covering the latest developments in the Democratic presidential race and the death of the Chinese doctor who provided an early warning about the coronavirus. It’s also Friday, so there’s a new news quiz.

Democrats turn to New Hampshire

With near-final results showing Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg in a dead heat for the lead in Iowa’s troubled caucuses, seven presidential candidates are set to debate tonight in Manchester, N.H. Here’s what to watch for when the event begins at 8 p.m. Eastern.

The debate follows another turbulent day in Iowa. After initially demanding a recanvass of results in the entire state, the head of the Democratic National Committee, Tom Perez, backtracked and said that only precincts with reported problems needed to be re-examined. Here’s a county-by-county map of results.

My colleague Maggie Astor reports: “It is very easy, at this point, to imagine a situation in which we know who won New Hampshire — which holds its primary on Tuesday — before we know who won Iowa.”

Closer look: A Times analysis found that the results released by the Iowa Democratic Party were riddled with errors.

Another angle: We asked the candidates about foreign policy and national security. Our survey found a party only partially committed to the Obama era, and unified by very few issues: most prominently the containment of Russia.

Coronavirus whistle-blower succumbs to it

The Chinese doctor who was reprimanded after warning in December about the then-unidentified virus died of it today.

Li Wenliang, a 34-year-old ophthalmologist in Wuhan, warned medical school classmates about evidence of a new virus in an online forum on Dec. 30, and the authorities later forced him to declare that he had spread an unfounded rumor. His death has prompted a rare online revolt in China.

Quotable: Dr. Li spoke to The Times for an article published last week: “If the officials had disclosed information about the epidemic earlier,” he said, “I think it would have been a lot better. There should be more openness and transparency.”

Catch up: Japanese officials said today that 61 people had tested positive for the coronavirus on a quarantined cruise ship in Yokohama. Here are the latest updates.

The Times is also tracking these global developments:

The authorities in Wuhan, where the virus originated, have escalated their lockdown, ordering house-to-house searches and placing the sick in enormous quarantine centers.

There are no confirmed cases of the virus in Africa yet, but with steady traffic to and from China, experts worry that the outbreak could overrun already-strained health systems.

How Mitch McConnell delivered an acquittal

From the moment Democrats assumed power in the House in January 2018, the Senate’s Republican majority leader began preparing for President Trump’s impeachment trial.

He spoke to The Times about those preparations, which ended this week with all but one Republican senator voting to acquit.

Quotable: “If this was all about politics, and it was, at least at the moment I think it is fair to conclude that we won and they lost,” Mr. McConnell said.

Yesterday: Mr. Trump celebrated his acquittal with an hourlong address at the White House, denouncing “evil” and “crooked” lawmakers and the “top scum” at the F.B.I. for trying to take him down. Watch excerpts here.

Another angle: Bidding for a copy of the impeachment report that an auction site says was signed by Mr. Trump reached $17,000 this week. The Trump campaign is skeptical that it’s his signature, but authenticators disagree.

If you have 7 minutes, this is worth it

The Oscars tell a story of their own

“Couldn’t these nine movies just be evidence of taste? Good taste? They certainly could. They are.” But after years of threatened boycotts and diversification campaigns, he writes, “the assembly of these movies feels like a body’s allergic reaction to its own efforts at rehabilitation.”

Here’s what else is happening

Harvey Weinstein trial: The prosecution rested its case against the former Hollywood producer after graphic, first-person testimony from six women who said he had sexually assaulted them.

Utah land protection ends: The Trump administration finalized plans to allow mining and energy drilling on nearly a million acres in southern Utah that were once part of a national monument.

No help in Dutch crash inquiry: Boeing and American safety officials refused to cooperate with a new investigation of a deadly 2009 crash that had similarities to recent accidents involving the 737 Max.

Snapshot: Above, the newly crowned Miss Independence, Rosemary Anieze, in Lagos, Nigeria, in 1960. Seventeen countries in Africa declared their independence that year, which we’ve revisited with the help of The Times’s photo archive and others.

News quiz: Did you follow the headlines this week? Test yourself.

Modern Love: In this week’s column, a young woman struggling with an eating disorder tries to shift from self-loathing to self-loving.

Late-night comedy: President Trump started his political attacks on Thursday at the National Prayer Breakfast. Jimmy Kimmel said, “This is a prayer breakfast at which he’s naming people he doesn’t like. Nancy Pelosi was so upset she ripped her pancakes in half.”

What we’re reading: This deep dive by The Atlantic into disinformation and the 2020 election. “Dark,” tweeted our White House correspondent Katie Rogers.

Now, a break from the news

Cook: You need only one pan for roast chicken and mustard-glazed cabbage.

Read: “Saltwater,” a novel about a young Englishwoman questioning her place in the world, is among 10 books we recommend this week.

Watch: The final season of “Homeland” premieres on Showtime on Sunday. Its stars, Claire Danes and Mandy Patinkin, spoke to The Times about how the espionage drama has evolved.

Smarter Living: Our advice column Culture Therapist suggests ways to solve your problems using art. Today’s question is about opening oneself to romance.

And now for the Back Story on …

Covering the Oscars

The Oscars are on Sunday, so it’s crunchtime for Kyle Buchanan, The Times’s Carpetbagger columnist. He spoke to Sara Aridi of the Culture desk about what it’s like to cover the awards.

What stands out about this year’s season?

After last year, when Netflix was so ascendant, people are very excited about movies in the theater. “1917” is one of those movies that you need to see in a theater, and “Parasite” became such a huge word-of-mouth hit in the theater. Those movies provide that encapsulation of what we go to the movies for.

We go to see something on a gigantic screen that moves us in a gigantic way. We go to be transported into an experience that startles and shocks us. Streaming has its virtues and its pleasure, but I think those are testimonials to what the theatrical experience can be.

Do the Oscars still carry weight in pop culture?

Absolutely. If the Oscars reflect Hollywood in 2020, it says that we’re still going through growing pains about the streaming era and that we still have a lot of ground to make up when it comes to representation and whose stories we take seriously.

How have you been preparing for the big night?

I’m trying to get a full night’s sleep. In the campaigning phase, from November to the Oscar nominations, you can go to a brunch for a certain star, and then to a lunchtime screening with a Q. and A., and then to an afternoon performance of a song contender, and then a premiere and then an after-party.

What else have you seen that readers might not know?

Joaquin Phoenix, who’s up for best actor for “Joker,” has been a fascinating figure on this circuit. He’s trying to both play the game and stay out of it. All these awards shows have bent over backward to attract him.

I never would have thought I would miss the boiled chicken breast I usually got at these shows, but they have converted to a plant-based menu in the hopes that Joaquin will attend.

Here are Mr. Buchanan’s Oscar predictions.

That’s it for this briefing. See you next time.

— Chris

Thank you Mark Josephson and Eleanor Stanford provided the break from the news. You can reach the team at [email protected].

P.S. • We’re listening to “The Daily.” Today’s episode is about Harvey Weinstein’s trial. • Here’s today’s Mini Crossword, and a clue: Bird on a dollar bill (five letters). You can find all our puzzles here. • The 1619 Project is the centerpiece of a new wave of ads from “The Truth Is Worth It,” a Times campaign. Preview our latest TV commercial, which will air during the Oscars, featuring the singer, actor and producer Janelle Monáe.

from WordPress https://mastcomm.com/democrats-coronavirus-the-oscars-your-friday-briefing/

#Event

0 notes

mysteryshelf · 7 years

Text

BLOG TOUR - Executive Actions

Welcome to

THE PULP AND MYSTERY SHELF Seeking Summer Reads Week!

DISCLAIMER: This content has been provided to THE PULP AND MYSTERY SHELF by Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours. No compensation was received. This information required by the Federal Trade Commission.

Executive Actions

by Gary Grossman

on Tour June 1 – July 31, 2017

Synopsis:

In the midst of a heated presidential campaign, Secret Service Agent Scott Roarke gets an assignment that turns his world upside down. His investigation uncovers a plot so monstrous it can change the course of America’s future and world politics. Roarke discovers that presidency is about to fall into the hands of a hostile foreign power. The power play is so well-conceived that even the U.S. Constitution itself is a tool designed to guarantee the plot’s success. With the election clock ticking, Roarke and Boston attorney Katie Kessler race at breakneck speed to prevent the unthinkable. But they also know that it will take a miracle to stop the takeover from happening.

Praise for the Executive Series:

“Executive Actions is the best political thriller I have read in a long, long time. Right up there with the very best of David Baldacci. [A] masterpiece of suspense; powerfully written and filled with wildly imaginative twists. Get ready to lose yourself in a hell of a story.” Michael Palmer, New York Times bestselling author

“Break out the flashlight, and prepare to stay up all night … Once you start reading Executive Actions you won’t be able to put it down.” Bruce Feirstein, James Bond screenwriter, and Vanity Fair Contributing Editor

“Executive Command mixes terrorists, politics, drug gangs and technology in nonstop action! Gary Grossman creates a … horribly plausible plot to attack the United States. So real it’s scary!” Larry Bond, New York Times bestselling author of Exit Plan, Cold Choices, Red Dragon Rising

“Moving at break-neck speed, Executive Command is nothing short of sensational … Executive Command is not just a great book, it’s a riveting experience.” W.G. Griffiths, award-winning, bestselling author of Methuselah’s Pillar, Malchus

“Executive Command ramps up the excitement … A truly bravura performance from a master of the political thriller!” Dwight Jon Zimmerman, New York Times bestselling co-author of Lincoln’s Last Days, Uncommon Valor

“Intricate, taut, and completely mesmerizing. Grossman expertly blends together globe-spanning locations, well-researched technology, finely crafted narrative, and intriguing characters to create a virtuoso tale. Highly recommended.” Dale Brown, New York Times bestselling author

“Executive Treason is more chilling than science fiction … You’ll never listen to talk radio again without a shiver going down your spine.” Gary Goldman, Executive Producer, Minority Report; Screenwriter, Navy SEALs & Total Recall

Book Details:

Genre: Political Thriller, Mystery Published by: Diversion Books Publication Date: January 13th 2012 Number of Pages: 556 ISBN: 1626811059 (ISBN13: 9781626811058) Series: Executive #1 Purchase Links: Amazon 🔗 | Barnes & Noble 🔗 | Goodreads 🔗

Read an excerpt:

EXECUTIVE ACTIONS by Gary Grossman

CHAPTER 1 Washington, D.C. Sunday 22 June

“Topic one. Theodore Wilson Lodge. Presidential material?” bellowed the host at the top of his Sunday morning television show. He directed his question to the political pundit to his left. “Victor Monihan, syndicated columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer, is Teddy ready, yes or no?”

“Yes,” Monihan shot back. You had to speak up quickly on the lively program. There was no air between questions and answers. “If the cameras could vote, he’d be a shoo-in.”

“But they don’t. So again, will it be Mr. Lodge goes to Washington?” quizzed the host of the revamped McLaughlin Group. The reference to the Frank Capra movie was lost on most of the audience. Even AMC and Turner Classics weren’t running very many black and white movies anymore.

“Absolutely.” Monihan didn’t take a breath between thoughts. The host hated dead air. Pause and you’re dead. Someone else will jump in. “He’s totally informed, he’s had great committee assignments and he can do the job. Congressman Lodge comes off as a highly capable leader. Trustworthy. The all-American boy grown up. And he positively looks like a president should look … presidential.”

“So a tan and a good build gets you to the White House?” the host argued.

“It means I don’t have to worry about him taking my job.” The overweight columnist laughed, which made his belly spread his shirt to a point just shy of popping the buttons. The joke was good, but he lost his platform with it.

“Roger Deutsch, freelance writer for Vanity Fair, right now Lodge is trailing Governor Lamden. Can Teddy make it up?”

“No. With only two days before the New York primary, there’s no way Lodge can do it. He doesn’t have the votes. And there’s not enough time to get them. Henry Lamden will be addressing the Democratic Party at the August convention in Denver. But even when he gets the nomination, he’ll have a hard time against Taylor.”

The discussion expanded to include the other members of the panel. They talked about Montana Governor Henry Lamden’s qualities. About President Morgan Taylor’s rigid persona. About the voters’ appetite. And back again to the possibilities. “Is there any way Lodge can do what fellow Vermont favorite son Calvin Coolidge did: go all the way to the White House?” the venerable host rhetorically asked. The panel knew this was not the time to reply. Turning to the camera the host said, “Not according to my watch.”

This was the throw to the video package from the campaign trail.

Teddy Lodge smiled as he sat on the edge of his hotel bed to get closer to the TV set. He was half-packed. The rest would wait until the videotape report concluded. Lodge pressed the volume louder on his remote.

“It’s on,” he called to his wife, Jenny.

“Be right out,” she answered from the bathroom. Lodge tightened the knot on the hand-painted tie he’d been given the day before. The gift, from a home crafter in Albany, would go into his collection and eventually into his Presidential Library. But first he’d wear it for the cameras. She’d see it and tell everyone she knew. More votes.

Mrs. Lodge leaned over her husband and hugged him as he watched himself on TV. “You look great, sweetheart.” He agreed. The footage was perfect: Lodge in the thick of an adoring Manhattan crowd, the wind playing with his wavy brown hair, his Armani suit jacket draped over his arm. He came off relaxed and in charge; less like a politician than an everyday guy. An everyday guy who saw himself as President of the United States. And at 6’2” he stood above most of the crowd.

Lodge knew the unusual statistical edge his height provided. Historically, the taller of the two major presidential candidates almost always wins the election. And he was considerably taller than President Morgan Taylor.

The host obviously wasn’t a supporter. But the coverage counted. He hit the bullet points of Lodge’s career.

“Teddy’s been fast-tracking since college. He graduated Yale Law School and has a graduate degree in Physics at Stanford. The man speaks three languages. He worked on various government contracts until he decided to return to his country home in Burlington, Vermont, and run for State Assembly. Two years later, so long Burlington, hello Washington. Mr. Lodge went to Capitol Hill as a young, energetic first-term congressman. He distinguished himself in international politics and now serves as Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security. He’s as close to a rocket scientist as they come in Washington. He heads the House Committee on Energy and understands the complexities of the issues. But is he going to the White House?” the moderator asked in his feature videotape. “New Yorkers will decide Tuesday.”

And with that set up came the obligatory sound bite. It couldn’t have been better if Teddy Lodge had picked it himself. It was declarative and persuasive. The producer of the video package must have been in his camp.

“Tomorrow the world will be different. More dangerous. More hateful. Different times need different leaders. Make no mistake, there are no more safe harbors or promised lands. Unless … unless we make better choices today than yesterday. Better friends tomorrow than today.”

As he watched, Lodge remembered the clincher was yet to come. Things like that just didn’t get cut. He was right.

“So come with me and discover a new America. Come with me and discover a new world.”

Thunderous applause followed; applause from the audience at a Madison Square Garden rally.

Eighteen seconds total screen time. Unbelievable on McLaughlin. But Lodge was not an easy edit. He’d learned to break the sound bite barrier by constantly modulating his voice for impact, issuing phrases in related couplets and triplets, and punching them with an almost religious zeal.

Like everything else in his life, he worked hard at communicating effectively. He punctuated every word with a moderately-affected New England accent. Whether or not they agreed with his politics, columnists called him the best orator in years. Increasing numbers of them bestowed almost Kennedy like reverence. And through the camera lens, baby boomers saw an old friend while younger voters found a new voice.

The video story ended and the host brought the debate back to his panel. “Peter Weisel, Washington Bureau Chief of The Chicago Tribune, What sayest thou? Can Teddy un-lodge Lamden?”

“Unlikely.” Weisel, a young, black reporter, was the outspoken liberal of the panel and a realist. “But he’ll help the ticket. He’s a strong Number Two. A junior pairing with Governor Lamden can work. The flip side of Kennedy-Johnson. Let the Democrats make him VP. Besides, his good looks won’t go away in four or eight years. TV will still like him.”

Theodore Wilson Lodge, 46 years old and strikingly handsome, definitely could pull in the camera lens. He had the same effect on women and they held far more votes in America than men. The fact was not lost on the show’s only female contributor of the week. “Debra Redding of The Boston Globe, is Lodge your man?”

Without missing a beat she volunteered, “There are only two problems that I see. One, I’m married. The other – so is he.”

What a wonderful way to start the morning, the congressman said to himself.

***

Author Bio:

Gary Grossman is a multiple Emmy Award-winning network television producer, a print and television journalist, and novelist. He has produced more than 10,000 television shows for 40 broadcast and cable networks including primetime specials, reality and competition series, and live event telecasts.

Grossman has worked for NBC, written for the Boston Globe, Boston Herald American, and the New York Times. He is the author of four bestselling international award-winning thrillers available in print, eBooks, and Audible editions: EXECUTIVE ACTIONS, EXECUTIVE TREASON, EXECUTIVE COMMAND and OLD EARTH. (Diversion Books, NYC) and two acclaimed non-fiction books covering pop culture and television history – SUPERMAN: SERIAL TO CEREAL and SATURDAY MORNING TV.

Grossman taught journalism, film and television at Emerson College, Boston University, and USC and has guest lectured at colleges and universities around the United States. He currently serves as an Adjunct Professor of Film and Television at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. He is a member of the Board of Trustees at Emerson College in Boston and he serves on the Boston University Metropolitan College Advisory Board. He is a member of the International Thriller Writers Association and The Military Writers Society of America.

Catch Up With Gary Grossman On: Website 🔗, Goodreads 🔗, Twitter 🔗, & Facebook 🔗!

Tour Participants:

Giveaway:

This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for Gary Grossman. There will be 1 winner of one (1) $15 Amazon.com Gift Card AND the opportunity to Suggest a Character Name for the Next Book in the Executive Series! The giveaway begins on June 1 and runs through August 3, 2017.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours

BLOG TOUR – Executive Actions was originally published on the Wordpress version of The Pulp and Mystery Shelf

#shannon muir #pulp and mystery shelf

0 notes

ruthlessbookfish · 7 years

Text

Release Boost for The Executioner by Shauna Allen

Title: The Executioner

Author: Shauna Allen

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: May 11, 2017

Blurb

~ Five brothers, one family tragedy, untold heartache. ~

A stray bullet ended my Army career, forcing me to follow in my father’s prison guard footsteps.

My sister’s disappearance ten years ago annihilated my family, forcing each of us to find a way to cope.

But I’ve survived. Adapted.

At least until Genevieve Stone showed up, digging into the truth in the name of journalism and finding her way deep under my skin. I’m determined to do whatever it takes to find my sister, but when the case is blown wide open by the sexy reporter, I’m left with the ultimate question . . . can I trust her?

I’m a soldier, heart and soul.

I don’t do love.

War and death and pain are my church.

My name is Asher Creed.

I am the Executioner.

***Reader note: This is the first of a 6-part emotional family saga series. Each story is 100% male first-person point-of-view, and while each full-length novel is guaranteed to have a complete HEA romance, their family mystery remains unsolved until the end of the series.

***Due to profanity, mild violence and very strong sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18. Also, please note the title. The hero is, in fact, an executioner on death row. While there is no intent to make any social or political statements, please do not read if this will be offensive to you.

ADD TO GOODREADS

Purchase Links

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS GOOGLE PLAY

Excerpt

“Are you part of the execution team?”

I swallowed, the thought of lying to her heavy in my throat. There was a reason we never divulged who was on the team. The stigma and attacks on our humanity would come from all angles, and in the end, it would change nothing. I am an executioner. It’s a job. Someone has to step up and do it. I was simply one of the few who were willing to swallow the emotional baggage that comes with putting another human being to death. I’m willing because maybe, just maybe, I’ll finally be able to bury the beast in me that snarls and snaps, thrashes and rages, thirsty for vengeance against the unknown monster that took my sister away.

“You know I can’t talk about that, Genevieve. I’m sorry.”

Her gold-green eyes sparked. “I thought so.”

I frowned, not answering.

“Okay. Let’s try this . . . hypothetically speaking, if someone were a part of the execution team at the prison, would they take part in every execution?”

“Theoretically, barring some certain circumstances, yes. Most likely. The warden has assembled a team he trusts and that rarely changes.”

She nodded and forked up a bite of meat. “How do you think those people feel? About killing another human being?” Her gaze was direct and unwavering.

I set my fork down and thought carefully about my reply. “I think they don’t think about it like that.”

“Does it make you sad?”

A beat passed heavily between us. Two. “No.”

She said nothing, returning to her meal, and I followed suit. Eventually, the cloud that filled the room seemed to dissipate as she digested my answers. “Tell me about your brothers. I’m dying to know about them.”

“Why?”

She shrugged one shoulder and sipped her wine. “I just am. Are they like you? Big and sexy and moody?”

“I’m not moody.”

She laughed. “Not denying the big and sexy, huh?”

I fought the grin that wanted to bust loose and forked my salad. “We’re all big and sexy, I won’t lie.”

“I’m sure. What else?”

I thought of my brothers and our time together yesterday. Even as distant and strained as we’d become, I knew we all still loved each other fiercely. “Well, I’m the oldest. Levi is next. He’s a businessman in Austin, divorced, no kids. Jamison is a SWAT sniper in Dallas, goofy and single. Joshua works as a criminal profiler for the FBI in Virginia. He’s brainy and quiet and single, as far as I know anyway. And the baby is Silas. He’s an up and coming MMA fighter and he lives in Houston.”

“So none of you have girlfriends or wives? Really?”

I shrugged. It sounded weird when you put it that way. “Other than Levi, we’ve all managed to avoid it.”

One brow lifted in challenge. “Avoid it?”

“Yeah.” I scooped up the last of my food.

“Are any of you gay?”

I nearly choked. “No.” I grabbed my water and sipped. “Why would you ask that?”

“Well, no women. Maybe there are men.”

“No. Only careers.” And grief, but I didn’t admit that out loud.

Her foot suddenly found my leg under the table. “I’m glad to hear it.”

I ran a hand under her jeans and up her calf. “Interested in my brothers?”

“No.”

“Glad to hear it.” I caressed down her leg and massaged her instep.

Her eyes fluttered closed as I continued rubbing her foot. Suddenly, I was overwhelmed by the need to taste her again. “Are we done here?” My voice was gruff, even to my own ears.

Her eyes slid open and met mine. “I’m not sure.”

“I am.” Keeping our gazes locked, I stood and rounded the table to stand beside her. “Get up.”

Her eyes flared, but she did as she was told. I felt her heated focus on me as I shoved our dinner dishes to the side of the table, making room in front of us. “Sit.” I indicated the spot where her plate had just been.

She only hesitated a moment, the air becoming thick between us. The blood was rushing through my veins like fire and I desperately needed to quench it. My erection strained behind my jeans and it was all I could do to control myself when she looked at me like she was getting off on my dominance. I wasn’t a kinky man, but I definitely liked to be in charge, in the bedroom and out. Call it the Ranger mentality.

Author Bio

Shauna grew up an only child with two open and loving parents in Central Texas. She’s married to her high school sweetheart and is the mother to three awesome kids, including one in the United States Air Force. She is the award-winning author of the Jack ‘Em Up series and the upcoming Family Creed series. Shauna also writes emotional Contemporary YA novels as SC Montgomery and works as a freelance editor. She loves all things sexy, sassy, and Gerard Butler.

Author Links

WEBSITE FACEBOOK TWITTER INSTAGRAM GOODREADS SHAUNA'S YA ALTER EGO AMAZON BOOKBUB FACEBOOK GROUP

Giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway

0 notes

stephaniefchase · 7 years

Text

Bajan Newscap 8/29/2017

Good Morning #realdreamchasers. Here is your daily news cap for Tuesday, August 29th, 2017. There is a lot to read and digest so take your time. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today (BT), or by purchasing a Daily Nation Newspaper (DN).

UPP CHARGES THAT POLITICIANS PROTECTING CRIMINALS - United Progressive Party (UPP) leader Lynette Eastmond has charged that some politicians are protecting people involved in crime, making them untouchable. And she has called on Barbadians to reject that kind of behaviour and to take a stand against the criminal elements in society.While not pointing fingers in any specific direction, the UPP leader, who served as Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs in former Prime Minister Owen Arthur’s Barbados Labour Party (BLP) administration, suggested that corruption was common even during the BLP reign. She further suggested that Customs officers were also prevented from doing their jobs properly as she contended that “there are people in Barbados trying to do their job, ready to burst open a container and someone calls and says, ‘do not touch it’.She charged that the crime situation in the country was such that innocent people who were not involved in crime could easily lose their lives. The UPP leader pointed to the shooting death of 58-year-old Colleen Beresdean Payne as she used an automated banking machine in Black Rock, St Michael last month, as an example. She charged that every Barbadian had to take responsibility for Payne’s death.She told the small audience that with general elections around the corner, voters would have an opportunity to tell candidates they would not get their vote unless they were committed to changing the current situation. (BT)

Bees targeting four DLP seats - ONE OF THE high-ranking members of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) has given the green light to a proposed general election strategy targeting four constituencies, including the ones held by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance. Chairman George Payne said he was all for the plan to pump more funds and other resources into St Michael South held by Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, St Michael North West represented by Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler, St Lucy which has been long held by Minister of Housing Denis Kellman, and St John held by Mara Thompson. He revealed the plan at a BLP Christ Church East meeting Sunday night at St Christopher’s Primary School where 21 people were awarded for their contribution to the community. Payne was clear that the BLP wanted to win all 30 seats in the House of Assembly, but said they needed to specifically ensure the removal of the four Democratic Labour Party members. (DN)

NOT ME - MINISTER OF COMMERCE Donville Inniss will not be taking part in any boycott of Cost-U-Less. Instead, the outspoken Inniss has determined he will wait to hear all sides of the matter before involving himself. He spoke to the DAILY NATION yesterday, days after Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) president Toni Moore called for a boycott of the retail giant, which is located in Welches, St Thomas. Her bone of contention surrounded “union-busting tactics”, which she said were being used by Cost-U-Less. These “tactics” included victimising workers for joining the union and even calling the police for union officers who went to the business to represent workers. (DN)

HIGH PRICED DWELLINGS - (BT) The much talked about housing solutions are coming to Barbadians at a hefty cost, with a recent study showing that Barbados is the second most unaffordable place to buy a house when house prices are measured against average income ratio. The findings place Barbados ahead of countries like the Maldives and Venezuela as countries with the least affordable housing. However, one local policymaker says he is not entire sold on those findings, instead insisting that there was a housing price to suit various income levels, while one private sector official is predicting that prices could fall in coming years. According to the Australian-based moving company Assured Removalists, Barbados was the second least affordable place to live with a house price to income ratio of 133.77. This means that the average house price is just over 133 times the average wage in Barbados. Papua New Guinea takes the number one spot of being the least affordable place to buy a house, with a house price to income ratio of 181.6. According to the findings people were paying more for housing around the world, with average house prices up 6.5 per cent in the last 12 months. The company did not say when the study was carried out, but said it combined data on average annual salary, income tax and house prices to produce a ratio that shows the measures of housing affordability around the world.Solomon Islands, Maldives, Bhutan, Vietnam, China, El Salvador, Venezuela and Tajikistan rounded off the top ten. Conversely, the Bahamas was identified as the fourth most affordable place to buy a house with a ratio of 3.42, while Jamaica placed eighth with a house price to income ratio of 5.03. (BT)

PLAN FOR HUMAN MILK BANK - OFFICIALS OF THE Ministry of Health are exploring options for women who are unable to breastfeed naturally. They are participating in a week-long workshop exploring the benefits of creating a Human Milk Bank. This could see lactating mothers supply breast milk, which would be stored for babies. “This discussion beginning here today will see us moving away from formula feeds and non-breast milk products to more human milk formula. It will serve the country better if we see an uptake in human milk,” said director of nursing services at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Henderson Pinder. He spoke to the media on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of the Brazilian Association of Cooperation-led workshop on Human Milk Banks for CARICOM under the theme, The Right To Human Milk As A Life Safeguard: A Fundamental Right. It was held at the Brazilian Embassy in Hastings, Christ Church.(DN)

Burst main in The City - On SUNDAY, a Barbados Water Authority (BWA) crew assigned to clean one of the sewage mains in The City discovered a burst main by accident. The main, just outside City Centre Mall, had been leaking for an unknown period. “One of the jetting trucks was clearing this sewer [Sunday] morning and the road under the truck just gave way,” said one of the workers at the site. “So when the truck dropped in, we had to get a crane to lift out the truck.” BWA workers then had to dig close about 15 feet deep and 12 feet wide to find the burst main. “So from that time till now we were trying to fix the problem, so hopefully by this (Monday) evening we will get it finished,” the worker said. (DN)

TWIN SURPRISE - PAUL “IWAH” LEACOCK was on his land picking breadfruits one day recently when he got a twin surprise. “I mostly sell breadfruits and whatever is in season. I was picking breadfruits with a stick and all of a sudden it drop and I see it was a twin, so I brought it here [to the NATION],” said the farmer who sells in Lower Green, Bridgetown. “I had a twin before but it was green, but now I have another, a full one. This is very unusual, the first time I’ve seen a twin full one,” he added. Leacock said the discovery was a “pleasant uncertainty”, as he did not know whether it was a good or bad omen. Nevertheless, he said if he could not get it sold, it would end up in his oven. (DN)

CRIME WILL WORSEN - A former Barbados Government criminologist is predicting that the crime situation will get worse if the authorities fail to adopt a different approach to crime fighting. Declaring that she was not surprised at the worrying level of gun violence in the country, Yolande Forde today said the continued reliance on jailing young people was not the answer to the crime problems. In fact, the 24-year veteran who has worked as a consultant to the World Bank, the Cayman Islands government, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), said Barbados was now reaping the results of failing to introduce proper early intervention strategies. Forde, who in 1997 produced a report entitled Criminal Risk Factors containing 20 recommendations which she submitted to Government, said this afternoon in an extensive interview with Barbados TODAY that those involved in the gun crimes and other acts of lawlessness did not wake up one morning and decide to do so. “You asked if it [the report] is still relevant. To a large measure it is and in large measure a lot of the recommendations there seem not be have been implemented because I would see other areas of the press calling for the same things that I called for 20 years ago. If your priority recommendations have not been addressed then why are we expecting a different result?” Forde said. The noted criminologist said the report dealt with what the inmates told her during indepth interviews about their community life, their moral and spiritual exposure, educational and school experiences, their criminal profile dating back to juvenile delinquency and family life. Contending that crime was first and foremost a behavioural problem, she warned that crime would only be reduced by addressing all of the components essential for an effective crime reduction strategy. (BT)

GIVE CRIMINALS THE MAXIMUM - BARBADOS’ JUSTICE SYSTEM must send a message to criminals that they will not get a free ride after committing heinous crimes. Anglican priest Canon Wayne Isaacs made the call from the pulpit on Sunday, insisting the punishment meted out to perpetrators of the violence which Barbados had been witnessing in recent weeks must be such that criminals understood their behaviour would not be tolerated. “Justice demands that those who are involved in these heinous crimes; the perpetrators of violence; those who bring guns into our country illegally; those who rent guns; those who employ persons to hit persons, [be made to understand] that they cannot flourish in our land,” Isaacs declared. “Justice demands that they be given the maximum sentence.” In his sermon at St Paul’s Anglican Church, the cleric described much of the current violence as “the work of criminal-minded persons who have no respect for people’s lives or property”. (DN)

SAMAUNG LEADER JAY Y. LEE GIVEN 5 YEAR JAIL SENTENCE FOR BRIBERY - The billionaire head of South Korea’s Samsung Group, Jay Y. Lee, was sentenced to five years in jail for bribery on Friday in a watershed for the country’s decades-long economic order dominated by powerful, family-run conglomerates. After a six-month trial over a scandal that brought down the then president, Park Geun-hye, a court ruled that Lee had paid bribes in anticipation of favours from Park. The court also found Lee guilty of hiding assets abroad, embezzlement and perjury. Lee, the 49-year-old heir to one of the world’s biggest corporate empires, has been held since February on charges that he bribed Park to help secure control of a conglomerate that owns Samsung Electronics, the world’s leading smartphone and chip maker, and has interests ranging from drugs and home appliances to insurance and hotels. (DN)

THREE ACCUSED OF ASSAULTING POLICE - Several accused men, including three charged with committing offences against police officers, were granted bail when they appeared in a Bridgetown Court over the weekend facing separate offences. Among them was 30-year-old labourer Jerome Renaldo Small of Edey Village, Christ Church who was accused of having 11 grammes of cannabis in his possession on August 25. He was not required to plea to the charge as it allegedly occurred in the District ‘B’ jurisdiction. As such, the case against Small, who was granted $1,500 bail, will be heard in the Oistins Magistrates’ Court on September 1. Also appearing in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Douglas Frederick was Corey Jamal Omar Bayley of #15 St Barnabas, New Development, St Michael. The 31-year-old labourer is charged with assaulting Police Constable Jabarie Roach and resisting Police Constable Stephen Ross in the execution of their duties on August 25. Bayley, who was represented by attorney Naomi Lynton, denied the charge as well as that of damaging a motor van, property of the Crown, on the same day. He was released on $2,500 bail and ordered to return to court on a December 7. Shawn Mario Gill of Hampton Court, Tweedside Road, Carrington Village, St Michael is also alleged to have assaulted and obstructed a police officer – in this case, Police Constable Renaldo Downes – in the execution of his duties on August 26. However, the 38-year-old security officer told the magistrate he was not guilty of the allegation leveled against him. He was granted $2,500 bail and told to return to court on December 7. Also expected to reappear in court on that date is Rodney Ricardo Toppin who is alleged to have assaulted and resisted Constable Downes in the execution of his duties. Toppin, a 36-year-old bartender who resides at Block 6C Bonnets, Brittons Hill, St Michael, admitted to the resisting charge but said he was not guilty of assaulting the officer. He was granted $2,000 bail after there were no objections to bail from the police prosecutor. Dario Kamalh Gill of Ginger Works, St Joseph is also expected to reappear before Magistrate Frederick on the same date on a charge that he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Romario Hall on July 22. The unemployed 26-year-old, who has Dr Waldo Ramsey as his legal counsel, pleaded not guilty to the charge and was released on $3,000 bail. (BT)

TEEN ON AMMO CHARGE - Eighteen-year-old Shakeem Ryan Dawson will on Friday appear before the District ‘F’ Magistrates’ Court on an ammunition charge. The unemployed teen from Branchbury#1, St Joseph is currently on remand at HMP Dodds accused of possession of five rounds of ammunition on August 25. He was not required to plead to the indictable charge when he appeared before Magistrate Douglas Frederick in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court over the weekend. Magistrate Frederick transferred the case to District ‘F’ Court as it was outside his jurisdiction, but ordered a presentencing report into Dawson’s life after he pleaded guilty to assaulting Ashley Herbert. According to the prosecutor, Herbert was walking through Hardwood Alley, The City, with her boyfriend on July 22 when Dawson and another man squeezed between the two of them. The move led to a verbal altercation between Dawson and Herbert’s boyfriend and that turned physical. The woman intervened in a bid to stop the attack on her partner but Dawson held her from behind and pushed her against a door frame, hitting her face. He was later arrested and charge. Magistrate Frederick ordered the report on Dawson after having a conversation with the young man who is not known to the criminal justice system. He returns to the No. 1 District ‘A’ Court on September 22. (BT)

LETTING IT SLIP - Bowling coach Roddy Estwick conceded yesterday that West Indies had failed to properly negotiate the big moments on the penultimate day of the second Test but warned pundits not to write off the Caribbean side ahead of what could be a tense final day today. West Indies entered the day in a strong position with England on 171 for three – only two runs ahead – but let the advantage slip, allowing the hosts to pile up 490 for eight declared in their second innings at Headingley. Set a challenging 322 for victory, the Windies finished the day on five without loss. “We didn’t play the big moments well at all today [yesterday]. When the captain Joe Root got out they were 40-odd for four [overall] and we then dropped a catch soon after, so the big moments we didn’t play well at all,” Estwick told reporters. (DN)

WINDIES LOSE GRIP - A day which began with much hope for West Indies ended in frustration as the tourists were left facing a massive task to win the second cricket Test after England seized the ascendancy with a dominant batting display at Headingley yesterday. At the close of the penultimate day, West Indies were five without loss in their second innings, requiring a further 317 runs on today’s last day to win a Test in England for the first time in 17 years. England had earlier converted their overnight 171 for three into 490 for eight declared in their second innings, putting the Caribbean side under pressure for the first time in the match. Moeen Ali top-scored with 84, leading five players with half-centuries, as captain Joe Root (72), Chris Woakes (61 not out), Dawid Malan (61) and Ben Stokes (58) all got stuck into the Windies attack in conditions that offered little to the bowlers. (DN)

ROCKING SIGN OFF - The CARIFESTA XIII planning committee seemed to have pulled out all stops to ensure the closing ceremony ended in grand style on Sunday night. And it certainly paid off, because the event did not lack style or flair. The curtain came down on the festival just after 11 p.m. as thousands watched the fantastic performances by Barbadian cultural ambassadors Alison Hinds and Red Plastic Bag (RPB). Both Hinds and RPB were backed by the ZigE Wallcott-led Azucar band, who helped to make great performances excellent.(DN)

TIME TO CELEBRATE - It wAS A CELEBRATION of seven. The Mount Pisgah Spiritual Baptists’ “pilgrimage” (excursion) to Foul Bay, St Philip, on Sunday, marking the Roebuck Street, Bridgetown church’s seventh year of existence, saw more than 200 people dancing to the beat of the drums, chanting hymns and choruses, and presenting offerings of fruit, vegetables and herbs. The colourful and highly spirited ceremony caught the attention of many curious onlookers at the St Philip beach. (DN)

That’s all for today folks there are 130 days left in the year Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newsca psbystephaniefchase

0 notes