ANCIENT EGYPT BY TRAIN (2023) — 1.01 Alexandria Site Director Mahmoud Abd El Rahman explains the preservation of the mosaics in the Villa of the Birds, Kom El Deka, Alexandria.

Back to the Future: The Animated Series, s01ep04 "Witchcraft"

Previous episodes linked HERE.

I'm really getting into a groove with watching and posting about these episodes. My brain hardly ever hurts anymore. I am becoming desensitized to the nonsense.

In this episode: an extremely out of character Marty proves why he shouldn't be left without adult supervision ever.

First things first: Some quality time with Real Doc. He's talking about the Salem witch trials and how a lot of scientific principles back then were seen as magic. As he's passionately teaching about the topic, he accidentally puts his fingers into a mysterious, burning hot beaker of liquid.

I like that Doc is such a brilliant man, yet at the same time, he is. Like this. <3

As he continues his story, he says that he and Marty learned about the witch trials the hard way. (Yay, we get to see Marty! We haven't spent longer than 10 seconds with him in the last 2 episodes.)

We begin with Marty walking through town with a friend named Liz. He's super bummed because he got a C- on a music appreciation test. He crushes up the test into a little ball and throws it away, then catches sight of Jennifer talking to a popular jock and is told by Liz that Jen and Kelp (the jock) are going on a date Saturday night. Marty loses his mind. Here he is confronting a guy who could pick him up and throw him halfway across the country with little to no effort.

Marty yells at the guy to leave Jennifer alone, "or else I'll cut ya down to size."

"Whose size, McFly? Yours or a normal person's?" replies Kelp. Oooohhh, burn.

Fun fact: this episode gives us the first-ever mention of Marty's middle name! (because Jennifer angrily says his full name after he interrupts her conversation with Kelp) Prior to this, the only mention of a middle name for him is in the original draft for BTTF part II, where it's revealed to be "Hopkins"—after the Mark Hopkins hotel where he was conceived.

I'm quite glad we ended up with Martin Seamus instead. I know that Hopkins is a real name and all, but I just cannot read it without picturing a bunny rabbit. It's the "Hop" part, for sure. I can't help it.

Marty accuses Jennifer of cheating on him and forbids her to talk to him, not even allowing her to explain her side of the story. And this is where Marty's cartoon character takes his first step away from what I'd consider to be "our" Marty's characterization. I know he's impulsive and hot-headed, but I don't think that movie Marty would be as quick to jump to the conclusion that Jennifer is cheating on him.

Jennifer is not happy, and she pushes him into a nearby fountain.

Real Doc then momentarily interrupts the scene to mention what was going on with him, Clara, and the boys while Marty was busy being weird. We go back to the cartoon and find ourselves in ancient Egypt, where the family is attempting a hasty escape after Verne angered the locals by placing a giant pair of Groucho Marx glasses on the Sphinx. Just as they're about to take off, a spear is thrown at the train, damaging the flux capacitor. As the smoke from the explosion clears, we get another surprise visit from Real Doc! He should interject in these stories more often. I'll include a gif because I love how wild and prone to flailing he is in these live-action segments. He's unhinged. It's delightful.

Meanwhile, Marty is sullenly riding his hoverboard around Hill Valley, lamenting the tragic state of his life. He's just. On the hoverboard in broad daylight. He is not making good choices today.

As he rides, he also whips out a harmonica to play some blues tunes. And while I disapprove of the dangerous hoverboard usage, I DO approve of Marty knowing how to play the harmonica. I especially approve of him playing it when he's sad and have now crafted a headcanon where our "real" Marty plays it while he skateboards around town sometimes, prompting very bewildered stares from the townfolk and comments of, "Was that kid who just whizzed by playing the blues on a harmonica?"

Anyway, as much as Marty's interaction with Jen falls into the "Not Marty Behavior" category, what happens to him next is firmly in the "Very Marty Behavior" one. In his highly distracted and agitated state, he flies the hoverboard straight into a tree branch, gets spun around said branch like a hundred times, then gets catapulted through the air, across the entire Brown house property, and into Doc's garage.

LEFT: That unidentifiable circular blur is none other than our dear Marty. He is being whirled around the branch at an alarmingly high rate of speed. RIGHT: Marty sailing headfirst through the wooden door of Doc's garage.

After somewhat composing himself, a tiny mail truck-looking vehicle appears in the garage and delivers a letter to Marty. The letter contains a "scratch and listen" postcard, in which Doc informs Marty via a pre-recorded message that the malfunction with the flux capacitor has landed him and the family in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. He asks Marty to bring the DeLorean and a spare flux capacitor over to the designated time to help him at once. There's a funny moment here where Marty says to Einstein, "Okay, Einie, we'll take off right after I comb my hair," to which Postcard Message Doc yells, "I SAID AT ONCE!" (recorded messages, tv shows, radio stations, etc "replying" back to something someone has said is one of those tropes that always gets me lol)

Marty and Einie leave immediately for Salem, and upon arriving, Marty is too busy looking at a map to see where he's driving, and the DeLorean crashes straight into a lake and sinks. As Marty is flipping out, preparing for their inevitable demise, Einstein activates the car's floatation device and saves them. Good boy, Einstein. Marty meets up with Doc, and they stop to hear someone giving a speech about being able to detect witches by their "speaking in strange tongues, " having "convulsive fits," and "making devil's music." Remember this for a little later on.

I like how Einstein is wearing a hat, too.

We meet one of Biff's relatives, Goodman Tannen, and learn that Doc and the fam have been living there for a month. (It took that time for him to analyze the damaged train and build the time-traveling mail truck) Later in the evening, Clara, Marty, Einie, and the boys attend the town social while Doc stays back to work on the train repairs.

While there, Marty wanders away from Clara and is left unsupervised (never a good thing) and gets himself into trouble. He's approached by a flirtatious girl named Mercy, at which point Marty just. Goes absolutely off the rails. He starts moonwalking and twirling around and howling and calling to her and cannot control himself.

*slaps this in the NOT MARTY BEHAVIOR column*

What is happening here?

Naturally, Marty is assumed to be experiencing convulsive fits. And, I mean...yeah. Understandable. Mercy then asks Marty to take a walk with her, but he soon discovers that Mercy is Goodman Tannen's daughter, so he turns her down. Mercy is not happy at being told no. She tells her father that Marty made inappropriate advances toward her and spoke in tongues. Goodman is outraged.

Outside, Marty is playing his harmonica, which only makes things worse for him, as the music is considered by the citizens to be the result of dark influences. Marty is accused of being a witch and promptly dragged away by an angry mob. He's put on trial the next day, unanimously declared to be guilty, and sentenced to the water test.

Thankfully, Doc and the gang come up with a plan, using the DeLorean's underwater feature. After Marty is thrown into the lake, Doc rescues him in the car without any of the town's people seeing. They assume that Marty has drowned—thus, making him innocent. They're saddened at having condemned an innocent boy (except for Goodman, of course).

After arriving safely back in the present, Marty goes to apologize to Jennifer. Being wrongly accused of witchcraft has taught him the very valuable lesson of not jumping to conclusions. It turns out Jennifer wasn't going on a date with Kelp; she was just tutoring him. They hug and make up.

Back at Real Doc's lab, we learn a bit about water pressure and how it increases with depth. Doc delights us with a demonstration during which he makes some great faces.

And that's the end of our episode! I hope Marty is more Marty-like next time. I never want to see him howling at a woman again, thanks. But I did like the scene where he got spun around the tree. Also a good amount of Real Doc content in this one! He's fun. He's a fun guy. Good ol' zany Doctor Brown.

Join me next time to see Doc get thrown to the lions in ancient Rome.

Reunion- A Punch Out!! Fic || Chapter 3

Finally finished this chapter. This took way too long lmao. But I hope it's worth it. Without further ado, here ya go!

⚠️ Trigger Warning for Implied Death, Strangulation, Suffocation, Headaches, and Hallucinations. ⚠️

Chapter 3 • You can't fix everything

The clock on the wall slowly ticked away as the students scribbled down sentences as their teacher, Mr. Peregrine, or as Mac called him, The Falcon, explained the history behind the Egyptian empire. Mac continued to scribble down the teacher's ramblings down on his pad. The talk however began to slowly fade into the background as Mac's mind traveled elsewhere. His pen stopped and he stared at his page of words with blank, glazed over eyes.

His head was devoid of anything coherent but the imagined screams of Kid Quick as he cried for help. His view slowly came back to focus on his written words, and each letter, syllable, and small punctuation mark on the page began to move and change to form a very scribble image of Quick in the ropes, dangling and suffocating as they tightened their grip around him. Mac moaned in frustration as he grabbed his head and gripped at his own hair, trying to make the image disappear. "I…c..n't…br..eath..e" he mumbled. 

"I…I can't…b-breathe…" He said a little louder this time.

His mind began to race and soon everything started to slowly go dark. Mac felt like his body grew weak and felt he was going to collapse. He brought his head closer to his desk and leant it against his forearms. He stayed that way for a few minutes until he heard a tap on his desk. Looking up, he saw The Falcon leaning above him with a worried look. "Jay, you alright?" Mr Peregrine asked, kneeling down to meet the boy's eye level, Mac took a look around to see some of the class's attention had turned to him. "I…uh" Mac began, twiddling his fingers around, "...Y-yeah I'm alright…I just….why do you ask?"

"You were saying earlier that you couldn't breathe…what's going on?"

"Oh…I was…thinking about something Doc told me"

The Teacher gave a nod and slipped Mac a paper before returning to the front of the class and writing on the board. The boy grabbed it and flipped it over to see it read: "Stay behind after class" 

Damnit

Mac sighed as he continued writing the teacher's ramblings once again. A few minutes passed before the bell rang and Mr Peregrine set his chalk down on his desk. "...And that's a wrap on Ancient Egypt,'' The Teacher said, "Tomorrow we move onto the French Empire" The whole class quietly groaned in unison as they stood up and slipped their books and pencils into their bags, then proceeded to make their way to the classroom door. Each said their goodbyes and some even high fived the teacher in their own unique ways. Only one student remained in the class, and that was Mac. Per the teacher's request of course. His bag was packed and slung over his back and he sat on his desk, as Mr Peregrine came over. "Okay what's up?" He asked, "Well…" Mac began, "...a lot has been happening, see I got my training for my fight coming up against Bull, yeah?"

"Yeah?"

"Right, and I was tryna invite my friends to come watch! V.I.P tickets!"

"Okay?"

"But one of them says he can't go, because he has uncomfortable memories. And that's understandable but he won't ever elaborate beyond that!" 

"I see, go on"

"Yeah and then, I tell Aran and then I accidentally knock him into the ropes and then EVERYONE gets on my case about it! And then when I ask why I get told that apparently someone DIED that way!"

"Kid Quick?"

"You heard about it too?"

"Was an old friend of mine…anyways go on"

Mac sighed as he gripped his head, "And it's understandable, I get that it's sad but no one ever elaborates! No one ever goes beyond the whole "IT JUST HURTS MAC" and it's pissing me off!"

The teen took a deep breath and sighed, looking at his hands and holding his elbows tightly. "I just want them to be honest with me…It's all I've been thinking about since yesterday and I can't stop…" He explained. Mr Peregrine nodded , “I understand Mac, you want to have all the answers” he said, quietly, “You want to know what’s the right thing, how to help, because everyone around you is hurt…but you need to understand that some things take time to fix…some answers may not come to you all at once..”, “But why?” Mac asked, desperately.

Mr Peregrine sighed, “...That’s just how life works sometimes, we can’t control everything, we can’t fix everything…we can only wait…and pray…and hope”

Not exactly the answer Mac was wanting to hear, but hell was it better than what he had gotten before. “Okay then…” Mac said, standing up off the desk and slowly making his way to the door, “Well…thanks, Teach…you’ve…you’ve eased my mind for now”, “Well, I can’t let you just collapse in class now can I?” Mr Peregrine joked, “Take care of yourself Mac, and say Hi to Doc for me”

“Will do, later Teach” Mac said as he made his way out the door, only to be met with Jared and Li Mei standing outside it. “What kept you, bruh?” Jared asked, already sounding igh off his ass, “We were worried, why were you talking to Mr Peregrine? You get caught cheating on a test again?” Li Mei piped up. Mac shook his head, “Nah just…” he trailed off before shaking his head again, “...Nevermind, it ain’t important” he said as he walked towards the School’s exit, “Come on, let’s go” 

Li and Jared shared a concerned look between each other before shrugging and following suit. 

------------------------

'Good Afternoon, New York City! My names Kenzie Lockhart and you're listening to Sports on The Go! Giving you the latest in sporting news!' The voice on the radio called. Disco chuckled as he continued to drive. He always had the radio going when he was on the road, it kept him company during the mind-numbing drive. 'Hope you boxing fans got your tickets because they're going fast! 4 more days till the big boxing bash of the week! Fridays BOXING BRAWL!!'

"Woo-woo!!" Disco hollered to himself. He always loved hearing stuff about the WVBA in other media. Even if he heard it in person almost every day, it still delighted him hearing it being stated on the radios. The voice from the radio continued to ramble about sporting events that were coming up in the week. Though they had nothing to do with Boxing so he very quickly lost interest in it. Instead he became lost in thought about yesterday. As soon as Doc left and Aran was freed, all he heard from the guys was talk of someone named Jordan. It was a name that was mostly tossed around by the older folks and occasionally Sandy and Macho. Though when Kaiser started talking about it Macho immediately dipped. No clue why. Very few times did he hear the name thrown around by Don or Aran, and if it was it was primarily the former who spoke of him.

Don did have prior connections to the WVBA through his Abuelo, but that didn't really answer who the hell Jordan was. It didn't bother him yesterday, so why was it such a big deal now? Why was it eating at him today? Ah well, can't be helped sometimes. A sigh of content escaped him as the radio voice chimed back into something he cared about. MUSIC.

'And now! Have a listen to one of our favorite hits! A tune to surely get you grooving! It's California Lo~ove!'

"YEAH! 2-PAC!!" Disco cheered as the music began, with its signature 'California Lo~ove' that he knew and loved. Disco continued to drive for a while before he indicated to the right and turned onto the road that led to the WVBA's massive Car Park. It took up most of the land that the facility occupied, which made sense given how large the building itself was. It housed a huge training facility, cafeteria, and of course the World Circuit Venue. Other circuits often had their matches in separate venues in New York but majority of the time, for training, meetings or catch ups they met here. Minor Circuits venue wasn't anywhere near as big, or fancy, so Disco didn't really mind coming somewhere fancier. He navigated his little car into a park and flicked it off in its place. As he grabbed his bag from the passenger seat beside him, he saw the disgruntled form of Glass Joe pacing in the car park in his rear view mirrors.

He was muttering something to himself, it wasn't very loud so Disco couldn't hear much, but he could make out the words: "s'il te plaît", which, to his knowledge, meant please. Disco hastily hopped out of his car and made his way over to the man.

Joe's pacing was becoming a nuisance at this point, but nothing was working to take the stress off of his mind. He was becoming overwhelmed and flustered, for no real apparent reason, but every so often he muttered something in French, and the name Jordan always slipped out. He gripped his sides and trembled as his pacing began to speed up. Suddenly, a firm hand was placed on his shoulder and he turned to see Disco Kid staring at him with worried eyes. "Joey, what's wrong man?" He asked, calmly, "You seem REALLY tense", "Oh! Mon dieu, Devon you scared me" Joe replied as he grabbed at his heart, "Sorry, I-I was just…uhhh thinking"

"About?"

"Oh…um…yesterday, mais ça n'a plus d'importance maintenant" Joe said, flicking the younger man's hand away, brushing himself off and making his way back inside. Disco stared for a bit in mild disbelief before shaking his head and following, "Nah, nah nah! Hold on!" Disco called as he ran to catch up to the Frenchman, "You were just pacing up and down like you were on fire and you gon' walk away and say it was nothing?", "Oui" Joe said bluntly.

"Why? Whats up?" 

"Devon, please not now, yesterday was hard enough as it is"

"How come? Why were you all so riled up about it?" Disco asked, as he and Joey made their way through the entrance. Joe only shook his head, "I'd just prefer to not talk about it"

"Come on, Joey"

"Devon, please"

"No, come on! You're hiding something from me!"

"Devon, stop I do not wish to talk about it any longer" 

"Joey, please! Just tell me-"

"There problem here?" Another voice called. Low and behold, Soda Popinsky was seen making his way over to the duo. “Nikolai…um” Joey began, he and Disco giving each other a look before the latter pushed past and held a finger up to the giant Russian man. A move he wouldn't have made before but for some reason he was beginning to become frustrated by everything so he needed to lose some steam. "Joey is hiding something from me!" He yelled, "I know it has something to do with yesterday so SOMEONE better start talking and fill me in!", "OK! Calm down, Иисус Христос" Soda said, grabbing the young boys finger and pulling gently aside. To no real avail, as Disco put it right back up again, continuing his rant.

"I will NOT calm down! Y'all were REAL talkative when it was Macky on the hot plate but now that it's you, y'all suddenly all hush mouth!" Disco yelled, catching the attention of several other people in the workplace. More importantly, catching the attention of three other boxers just off to the far right. Tiger and Hugger couldn't have looked less interested, but Bull had eyes of fury glaring right towards Disco. "Okan," Tiger said quietly, as he saw the older man grip at his arm and clenched his fists tightly. Hugger merely looked away and closed his eyes, knowing what was going to result. "Okan, do NOT" Tiger said firmly, looking at the man, but to no avail as Bull began to stomp his way over to the impending situation. Tiger looked to see a very uncomfortable Soda and a distressed Joey being yelled at by the younger man, with Bull thundering towards them. As much as he wanted to stay out of it, he knew he needed to intervene if Disco wanted to keep those sparkling jewels of his. Tiger gently grabbed Hugger by the wrist and gestured his head towards the group. Reluctantly, Hugger got up and the two followed Bull hastily to ‘hopefully’ prevent any broken bones. 

After a full 1 minute of ranting, Disco FINALLY managed to calm himself down and get a hold of his behavior. Though whether or not that's because he saw Bull approaching was up in the air in his mind. “Look, I’m sorry” Disco said, in a much lower tone, “but I’m getting tired of people keeping secrets…it’s not fair for us younger guys who might want to know”, “Is not your business to knowing!” Bull said sternly. 

“BUT WHY!?” Disco asked, “What is it you’re so afraid of us knowing about Jordan!?” 

As soon as those words left his mouth, the older boxers all stood frozen in place. Faces frozen in shock and horror, like they witnessed Disco murder a man. Tiger's face however didn't seem to have the same level of shock and more of a curious gaze as he shook himself and gave a small smirk. “Oh, is that it?” he asked, almost unamused, “Honestly, you should’ve just asked earlier, I would’ve told you”, “Tiger, NO!” Bull yelled, grabbing at the younger man's hand, “We not mean to speak of him!” But Tiger simply pulled his hand free and continued on, gesturing for Disco to follow him.

“Finally” Disco said to himself, as he followed the man. The other four boxers shared a concerned look as they followed the two off to a small alcove. There were several pictures of old boxers, obviously these were boxers who were long gone. 

“You see, Devon, Jordan was one of the most well known boxers of our time” Tiger began, “Beloved by many, a friend, a father, a brother, a son…an idol! But alas, much like many other legends, his time would end much sooner than any of us could’ve foreseen”

Disco continued to stare in intrigue as Tiger floated towards a photo frame of a man with dark skin, stubble, bushy hair and a smile similar to his own. In fact, his whole face was similar to his own. “What happened to him? He die or somethin’?” Disco asked, Tiger nodded in response. I didn’t mean it “It was a very tragic death…one straight out of a movie yet…it felt so real…” he said, unaware of the tension and unease he was bringing to his friends just behind the younger man. “You see, it was on July 2nd, 10 years ago…” Tiger explained, “A rookie fighter was working his way up through the ranks, and he had quite a lot of potential too! Would’ve become the champion if not for that night”

“Why? What happened that night?”

“Well, you see the rookie had challenged Quickie to a match that night, but the ring was still undergoing heavy repair after the rookie's bout with Soda the previous night, so Quickie declined.” Tiger said, “That’s enough, Vihaan” Hugger said quietly, Disco turned, only now noticing the crowd behind him. Tiger however didn’t listen, and continued his story.

“However, Doc Louis was a very persuasive bloke, he convinced Quickie to give the match a chance, even in the broken ring! And of course WVBA officials back then wouldn’t care about the conditions, if both parties wanted a match then they would get a match”

“Vihaan, cut it out”

“Quiet, Elliot,” Tiger said, as he slowly started getting closer to Disco’s face, “Anyways, Quickie of course accepted and the fight went on. It was a very impressive bout, heading all the way into the 3rd Round. It was the last minute on the clock and Quickie was going to land his signature move! Flash Dynamite!”

“Vihaan, STOP IT”

“But he got his leg caught in the ropes of the ring, due to the ring's poor condition. But No one knew, not the ref, not the opponent, not even the crowd! It wasn’t until the Rookie took the final blow that shit started hitting the ceiling”

“VIHAAN!” 

“BAM! He was tossed into the ropes, his body mangled and strewn about like a ragdoll, his screams echoed throughout the auditorium! We all dashed from the locker room to go and help him but by the time we got there-”

“VIHAAN CUT IT OUT I SWEAR-”

“HE. WAS. DEAD”

Those words echoed through the little alcove. Silence lingered until the two looked behind them to see the 4 boxers all with panicked and distressed faces. Soda looked lost, Hugger was tense and shaking, Bull had his hands over his ears and his head turned down, and Joey was hyperventilating big time. His eyes were glazed over as if he wasn't there and stinging of tears but nothing came out. It was then Tiger realized he had made a mistake. He held his hand over his mouth and quickly ran to the side of his friends, gently holding Hugger’s hand. “I’m sorry I-”, “I told you to cut it out” Hugger replied through gritted teeth. The younger man pulled his large friend into a light embrace as Hugger wiped away a few stray tears, nuzzling his face into his friend's shoulder. It was clear that Jordan had made a very big impact on the lives of his friends. His death hit him harder than he believed. Yes, he was long gone and sure he never knew him, but that didn't take away from the fact that he had friends here who missed him. Friends who were probably traumatized by the event. Seeing him there. Just dangling. Dead. Something that Disco overlooked in his anger. Something that Tiger REALLY forgot in his explanation, oddly. It was a lot to take in but as much as it answered all those questions, it also gave him plenty more to ask. What did he mean? Why did the Rookie do what he did? What happened to the rookie? To the ref? Everything piled up at once and Disco really wanted to pry, but he knew that in doing so, he could open up more cans of worms than he would've liked to deal with. 

So instead, Disco only stared in disbelief, “Jeez man, and you all had to see that?” he asked quietly, scanning the faces of the five in front of him. All five boxers nodded or gave some form of ‘yes’ through a hum or grunt. The younger man sighed, turning to face the portrait again, he shook his head, “I’m sorry…ya’ll didn’t deserve that…" He spoke, coming up to them and putting his hands inside his jacket pocket in embarrassment, "...but why hide it from us?” he asked, being careful with his words.

“Because it…it hurts to talk about” Joey said shakily, wiping at his eye.  “That night was the last that we had ever seen of him” Tiger said, quietly, “It was horrible, but such is the life…we lost…so much…a friend…a brother…a father-", "Father?" Disco asked as he looked back to the picture, "He had a kid? What happened to 'em?"

Another very poor choice of words as a choking sound was heard. The young man turned his head to see Joe finally let loose a steady stream of tears. Disco held a hand to his mouth as he held the older man's shoulders. Joey's weight collapsed in Disco’s arms as he wept. His cries are loud and painful. This was the aforementioned can of worms he was trying not to open. Fucking lotta good that was doing him. He let the frenchman nuzzle his face into his shoulder as he gently embraced him, before turning his gaze to the other boxers. None of them dared to look at the younger man. Aw fuck, Now I've done it.

Disco gulped as he eyed the older men. Silence lingered for a while until Bald Bull finally spoke up. "We…we don't…" He began, before pausing to look at the younger man furrowing his brow in frustration. He wasn't going to be satisfied with the same answer he had been getting all morning before this point. After all they had practically spelled it out for him already…or rather Tiger had, so really, what damage was being done by spilling a bit more? The man sighed and shook his head before giving a stern look at the boy, "We don't LIKE to speak about him…His son…but we know that he go back to Lansing…where he belong", "Lansing? Michigan?" Disco exclaimed, "That boy is all the way in MICHIGAN without his dad?"

"I…would hope" Bull said bluntly, leading Tiger to speak up once again, "His mother is still in Michigan so he's not without family but…" He trailed off, looking back at his friends, Joey still shedding tears like no tomorrow, "...well we do miss him…haven't heard from him in a long time." Disco gave a small nod as he felt Joey finally pull away from him. The Frenchman gave one last sniffle before he shot the younger boy a disapproving look. Usually he'd shrug that off, but getting it from GLASS JOE of all people was another kind of hurt. Disco sighed and gave an apologetic look in return. "I'm…sorry I pushed" Disco said, "I was just overwhelmed by all of this…" He threw his hands about in a notion to gesture to….something, but nothing really came to mind. The word he was looking for…he couldn't find. So he continued, "...just this…it was annoying being left out cause it seemed EVERYONE knew about it except ME!" He said, quite loudly. He took a step back and took a few deep breaths to regain himself, "...Look I promise I won't ever bring this up again…but please…no more secrets", "We can't….really promise much" Soda explained, "Something like this? Confidential. You NEVER meant to know…most other stuff about WVBA is same", "But we'll try ya hoser" Hugger added.

All five older men shared a look between each other before nodding and turning back towards Disco. "You have our word" Joey said quietly, "No more secrets", “...Thank you” Disco said, smiling. Just then, the front entrance to the building slammed open, the group turned to see Mac coming through the door, panting and exhausted. “Must’ve run here” Tiger jokes, causing a small chorus of laughs from the others. “Come on let's go'' Joe spoke, leading everyone out of the little alcove. Disco went to follow suit, until another question arose, “Hey, Vi?” he asked. Tiger turned around, “Yes?”, “Sorry I know I said I wouldn’t bring this up again but I need to ask…what was his son’s name?” Disco asked. Tiger sighed, and nodded, “It’s fine…his name was…Dean…” he explained.

“Dean?...hm, Kinda queer”

“Pfft, you’re one to talk” 

The two younger champions laughed, Disco nudging Tiger playfully as they followed the others. As they began to exit however, Disco noticed Kid Quick’s portrait was slightly tilted. “Oops!” he said, chuckling, “Can’t have that”, he moved back towards the portrait and adjusted it until it sat straight once again. Nodding at this job, Disco turned to walk away, but saw something sticking out from under the frame. Carefully he pulled it out and examined it. It appeared to be an old crumpled photo. A VERY old crumpled photo, by the feel of it, but he couldn’t see the image very clearly due to the dim light of the room. He saw on the back, written in faded ink, the words: Denise, I’m sorry. 

Intrigued by the mysterious picture, Disco takes it, folds it neatly and places it into his shirt pocket before following the others out to the lobby. 

--------------

The day had continued as usual from then on. The boys all gathered to train and Mac made sure not to knock anyone else into the ropes lest he want to lose his boxing privileges again. Mac looked over to the older crowd of boxers and gave them a worried wave, though it seemed only Tiger noticed as he was the only one to wave back. Typical. Mac continued on with his workout, intense skipping, bag work and core workout. Overall he was getting exhausted, especially considering the shit day he had today, this wasn’t as pleasant a thing to come back to. Nonetheless, he still puts on a smile when going to greet his Irish friend. Aran was certainly looking in better shape now that he wasn’t caught inside the ropes. Guffawing away at his own joke while Don continuously fixed his toupee. “Hey, Ryan” Mac greets, “Your neck ok?” he asked, the Irishman eagerly nodded, “Yeah! A wee bit itchy but otherwise I’m all Rainbows Boyo!” he exclaimed. Don rolled his eyes with a smile at his friend before turning his attention to Mac, “Are you ok, niño?” he asked. Mac gave a small smile and shrug of his shoulders, “Eh, I’ll get there” he admitted, before noticing Macho Man coming out of the bathroom, grabbing at his eyes. The teen cocked his head in confusion before shrugging it off and wiping his brow from the sweat.  “I’m gonna go grab a drink, you guys wanna come with?” Mac asked, “Nah, I’m alright Macky,” Aran said, Don shook his head, “Lo Siento, I’ve got to get onto the Hologram and practice”

“Alright then, see ya in a bit” Mac said, as he walked towards the exit. Just by the exit of the gym was a water fountain. Most of the time Mac didn’t need to use it, but today he had forgotten to bring his drink bottle from home, and couldn’t be bothered going back to get it. So the water fountain would have to do. He opened his mouth and allowed the water from the tap to pour, the stream wasn’t very big so he had to maneuver his mouth a bit to get the water in (Shut up and stop being dirty minded lmao).

Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a lanky, hooded figure standing out in the lobby, walking around. He didn’t question it at first…until he saw Giovanni walking right next to him. “No…” Mac said to himself, “...No he…he didn’t”, he said astonished, a smile slowly forming on his lips. He looked back to make sure no one was watching, most of all Doc. When he saw he was in the clear, he sneakily pushed open the door and made his way out to the lobby. 

The Ancient African origins of the word “Witch”

By Queen Mother Imakhu

“Witches and witch doctors were once highly revered. Now they are considered community threats. Until the recent turn of the tide, if a child exhibited special gifts he/she was given to the tribal shaman for training to step into their honorable destiny as healer. Christian colonialism has reinforced that the only true witch doctor is Jesus. This all smacks of Salem, the Crusades...

It is time for people of African descent to reclaim and understand our historical link to the witches. The terms "witch" and "wise woman" actually had their origins in ancient Kemet (Egypt's true name, meaning Land of the Blacks). Wadj (or Uadj) is a Kemetic word meaning"power, health, green, water." A wadj scepter represents a tied bundle of herbs for health andprosperity. A variant of the word is Udja (pronounced WOO-jah), where the term Ouija board isalso derived from. The Mdw Ntr (hieroglyphic symbol) is believed by many to actually represent a mortar and pestle. Another variant is Ujdat (WOO-chaht), the name for theprotective amulet representing the Eye of Heru, which is comprised of the protective psychic/magickal energies of Wadjet and her sister Nekehebet (who are actually Ast/Isis and her sister Neb-t Het). Wadjet (Uadjet, Uachet) is a term for a strong magickal woman who can suddenly bend energy for healing.

Much of the Yoruba language and traditions can be traced directly to Kemet. Aje (ah-JZAY) is a Yoruba term meaning witch. The Aje is an energy like Wadjet. The Aje are symbolized asbirds, who lovingly, fiercely protect their witch queen Oshun. Anyone who offends Oshun must answer to the Aje, or witches. A little known Yoruba prophecy says that balance will not be resrored on the planet until the Aje have risen to their rightful places once more. Anglo-Saxons claim the word witch came from wicca. However, an early, older variant of the word in their language was wicce, pronounced "weecha." Wicce meant a wise woman/wiseman healer.

Wadjet. Weecha. Witch.

Also for the record, the Kemetic term for wise woman, "Rekhut, Rekhuit, Rekhit, Rekhat,"means "skilled in words, knowledge, and craft." The Rekhut was believed to have mastery of and work with the Uadjenergy. Rekhut was also a name for Ast (Isis), recognized and honored today as a witch because she represents the ultimate female magickal healer.

With this rich history and prophecy of hope based on the strength of witches, it is sorrowful that people have fearfully turned against the power source that will heal humanity. Stand strong in our proud tradition.

We are the witches. We have returned.

Learn About Ancient Wisdom And Egypt History

The ancient wisdom was first published by Annie Besant in 1897. It gives readers sensible recommendation for living a wholesome lifestyle and helping their children to develop good character. It is a wonderful book that may inspire you to live a healthier life. Read it to learn about the knowledge of our ancestors and how you can start living a extra acutely aware life. It's a must-learn for anybody all in favour of holistic well being. But how have you learnt what it means?

The primary precept of ancient wisdom is that every part is made up of two important features. The first is life and vitality, whereas the second is the automobile by which those elements could be expressed. In other words, all the things is composed of each vitality and matter, and all colleges need a automobile so as to precise themselves. In nature, there are polarities which can be seen as male and female, positive and negative, and male and female. The third side is Unity.

It is also essential to remember that there are many ways to live a fulfilling and happy life. The Egyptian Mystery Tradition calendar lists the names of the gods on every day of the yr, and contains spells and practices that needs to be practiced on those 'unlucky' days. The phrase "maat" itself is definitely the plural of the Greek phrase maat, which suggests truth. It embodies the thought of truth.

In English-speaking countries, there are two primary faculties of ancient wisdom . The Rosicrucians and the Theosophists claim to have derived their data from Christian Rosencreutz, who had carried out intensive analysis within the Near East. Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, the primary Theosophist to talk with masters, claimed to have recovered an historical doc known as the Stanzas of Dyzan.

These ancient wisdom groups are modeled after the historic gnostic schools of ancient Egypt. The purpose of these groups is to supply instruction in occult reality via correspondence programs or lessons. Some train sure levels of labor, and others don't, so it is very important hunt down the one which greatest fits your life-style and objectives. Ultimately, the goal is to dwell a more meaningful life on earth than the afterlife. So, do not delay!

Among the various ancient wisdom teams, the Rosicrucians are the oldest. They grew out of a story in the 17th century printed in Germany. The group's members are nonetheless energetic today. Within the United States, they're among the commonest forms of ancient wisdom. They imagine that there isn't a motive to observe any ancient wisdom tradition. But for some people, these beliefs may not be incompatible with their current lives. They might find this information useful.

Fortunately, there are several books accessible that assist readers obtain this aim. The Happiness Hypothesis is one of those books. It's written by a psychologist who has studied ancient wisdom for years and may provide recommendation on the topic. It would aid you develop into a greater particular person, a happier particular person, and a more successful citizen. So learn this book and study extra about the benefits of integrating ancient wisdom into your everyday life. There is no such thing as a reason to cease reading.

travel firm in india

Travel firm in india: Best indian Travel

The mystery magic and luxurious diversity - Unimaginable India the well-known vacation locations provides a unique tradition, ancient heritage, pristine backwaters, wealthy wildlife and exotic cuisines with a historic backdrop of 5,000 years. Select any tour to India with Providers Worldwide Ltd, India's main tour operator and journey agent promises to ship a memorable India tour and travel. To drive a private automobile in any a part of India the next paperwork are required- a valid driver's license for the motive force (International driving permit for a foreigner), car registration certificates, automobile insurance coverage certificate and emission certificates if the car is more than one yr previous (referred travel sites in india  to as air pollution underneath management certificates in India). No different doc is required for driving a non-public car in any a part of India except some restricted areas. If a policeman is asking for some other document like No Objection Certificate and so on, most certainly he is hinting at a bribe. India can trace kissing back thousands of years in its literature. Certainly, the well-identified Kama Sutra has a whole chapter dedicated to kissing. Nevertheless, in most cultures of the subcontinent, kissing has traditionally been seen as a part of intercourse, and lately many have unknowingly gotten into critical bother for kissing, regardless of relationship or marriage or nationality. Kissing can result in fines — an Israeli couple was fined USD22 for kissing at their very own marriage ceremony — and even arrest. This isn't a universal opinion, as many Indians discover kissing acceptable, but frequent sufficient that avoiding kissing in public is a good idea whereas in India. The posh journey will take in all of UNESCO's spectacular 962 World Heritage Websites, together with the Taj Mahal in India, the pyramids in Egypt and the Forbidden Metropolis in China as well as much less internationally identified sights such because the painted timber houses in Halsingland, Sweden and Cahokia Mounds State Historic Website in the US state of Illinois. All the websites listed have been designated as having excellent common cultural and natural worth by the UN body. The positioning specifies that solely protected destinations might be visited. They cost an overall AUD 40 (£19, $29) charge per reserving on high of what their Indian contact charges them, which in flip includes a mark-up over the fundamental Indian Railways price - mainly, you are paying to have your reserving dealt with by each an Indian firm and a western one, but it surely does take the effort out of prepare reserving and it will nonetheless be low-cost by western requirements! Going to India, you need to adapt to a brand new local weather, new meals and therefore Some travellers to India might become barely ill during their stay there. Even Indians coming back from overseas can at instances change into ill as their our bodies readjust to the food, climate and sanitation situations. However, with precautions the chance and severity of any illness may tourism in india be minimized. Don't stress yourself an excessive amount of initially of your journey so as to allow your physique to acclimatize to the country. For example, take a day of relaxation upon arrival, at least in your first visit. Many travellers get in poor health for desirous to do an excessive amount of in too little time. Be careful with spicy food if it is not your daily weight loss program. Should I am going forward & purchase a WL ticket? How seemingly is it that a given WL ticket might be confirmed? There are actually several web sites that claim to predict how possible it's that a given WL ticket will certainly be confirmed and allow you on the train, based mostly on historical information. Try entering your PNR into , or use it to see what the current availability of a given practice is, and the way seemingly it is that in the event you bought WL tickets they'd be confirmed by departure.

In case of an accident, it isn't unparalleled for the crowd to assault the motive force of tourist places in india concerned. So in case of hitting a pedestrian or a automobile smaller than your own car, even if not your fault, it is higher to right away leave the scene and be present on the nearest police station. Even if you're not driving the vehicle, it's higher to immediately depart the scene and inform the police. Do not get a tattoo while in India! All tattoo parlours in India are unlicensed, so there's a danger of the tattoo artist not altering needles and thus placing you prone to contracting HIV. Lastly, there are a couple of travel clinics in India, that may be checked out by visiting the ISTM web site 60 in the larger cities. Most CDC advisable vaccinations are available in lots of of these clinics in larger cities sixty one Giant corporate hospital chains like Fortis, Max, Apollo and comparable places are your greatest bet for emergency medical care in larger cities, they usually have better hygiene and usually well skilled medical doctors, many from even US & UK establishments.   Read the full article

The WUBRG Superheroes!

So! It’s been awhile, but I’m coming back with a new big one! A few (several) weeks ago, @gigaguessmtg sent me the following ask: “Here’s one for you…you have a modern superhero team, five heroes, one for each color. How would you describe them, both as a person, and their role in the team? And what would their power be?”

Wow, this ask got me thinking a lot! I contacted gigaguess after a while to explain that it would take me some time to come up with an answer because I wanted to make a team that I could call mine while still fitting within the colors (aka I didn’t want Blue to be a tactician with water powers, Red a hothead with fire powers etc). So, just to clarify: this is not an archetypal, absolute “what if the colors were manifested in superheroes.” This is one of the near-infinite possible answers to that question.

Anyways, I created a Google Doc and started spitballing ideas. After quite a few days (due to family obligations) of fleshing out these characters, I give you: The Woobergs!

The Vanir Files

Entry #56

As predicted, the rambunctious group of kids known as Ma’at (funny, the presumption that oozes from them) has continued to intervene wherever they see fit, with mixed results: often times their work is of no concern to us, however, there have been times when they have interfered directly with our desires. Because of this, and because of their potential to be a significant obstacle in the future, we have previously concluded, as you all know, to gather intel on them. Since that decision, agents have been positioned all over the world in order to maximize our chances of studying the five from an adequate position.

I am thrilled to report that there have been several encounters. Some have been fortuitous, but there have been some occasions– four, to be precise– where it was decided that the best course of action was to draw them out ourselves.

That said, allow me to enclose all the information we currently possess about this group. I hope that it will continue to grow as we discover more about them– or that its development is cut short by their demise, that I would also find most acceptable.

-Freyr

Ma’at: a group of self-proclaimed “superheroes”, whose goal is to preserve and advance “peace” and “happiness” in the world via direct (and usually illegal) intervention, facilitated by the superhuman powers that characterize each member. They appear in extravagant, black suits dashed by their individual color (Black’s suit is fully black), and wear masks to conceal their identity; nomenclature inspired by the Ancient Egyptian Goddess of Balance (possible ties to Egypt of one or more members)

Current Members:

White: Male, tall, athletic but relatively skinny, of African descent (accent, however, is Greek. Efforts to identify White’s identity via this narrow demographic are ongoing). White is the latest member of the group, having joined them five months ago. His powers reside somewhere in the sphere of sound and, more specifically, music. Never seen without an instrument (most commonly: flutes or stringed instruments. Often seen with a Xalam) as his powers would seem to require one to be executed properly.

Powers: Is capable of using tunes to bolster the physical and mental capabilities of his allies, or to do the opposite to his enemies. Also capable of emitting focused shockwaves and/or shattering objects at a distance.

Role: White does not seem to have much of a say in the decision-making of a fight, at least not while it is progressing. However, he has been seen advising his teammates after several encounters. During the fight, he tends to stay somewhere in the middle of his allies, not quite in the back but far away from the frontline enough to have a clear vision of the field.

Personality: White appears to be a level-headed, calm figure even in drastic situations, and to understand the tactical potential and flaws of his companions quite well. From a few overheard conversations, it is clear that the relationship between him and the other four could be described as “fatherly”, although there is some tension between him and Black (further investigation required). Albeit a jolly person, his power is not to be underestimated.

Blue: Male, average height, very physically fit (more than any of his companions), of Asian (potentially Japanese?) descent. Blue is one of the first supers to have appeared (together with Red). His mobility powers make him an invaluable asset to the group (and therefore the most important target to hit if we choose to cripple their efficiency). Often seen with a nondescript, sharp knife.

Powers: Simply put, Blue’s powers reside in teleportation. He is capable of disappearing and reappearing in a different location in a matter of instants. He is also capable of taking other people with him. The more people he is accompanying and the farther he is teleporting, however, the more effort and time it takes him. (Overheard in a conversation between Blue and Green:) Blue can only teleport to places whose spatial coordinates are known to him or to one of the people he is taking with him: this means that he either needs to have a clear vision on the spot (dubbed short-range teleportation) or needs to have been there, physically, before (dubbed long-range teleportation).

Role: Blue’s main role in confrontations is rapidly taking out single targets, teleporting back and forth too quickly to be countered. He is also clear-minded enough to keep an eye on his allies, in case any of them need to be taken out of an unfortunate situation.

Personality: Despite his rapid movements across the battlefield, Blue has proven to be quite the level-headed thinker. He always takes the time to ascertain the enemy forces and the field before diving in. He also is quick to draft up a battle plan, although calling him the strategist of the team would be incorrect (as observed, the planning tends to go as such: Blue provides the basic info on the situation and a few suggestions and White fleshes out the plan, though the other members will add to it or modify it). He is not very vocal within group conversations but seems to get along well with the others (unfortunately).

Black: female, short, slim. Referred to as “Inola” once by Red (either a nickname or her actual name– if the latter, she’s most likely a Cherokee Native American. Efforts to reveal her identity are ongoing). The fourth member to sign onto the group, Black’s powers are something previously unheard of and require further investigation to ascertain its limits, but they have proven to be quite the lifesaver for her allies. Always carries two handguns with her.

Powers: Black’s ability allows her to manipulate the probability of events. They seem to encompass any field of events, but there is a limit to her powers; simply put, the more unlikely an event, the more it drains her to make it happen (it is unclear what would happen if she attempted to realize a near-impossible event or any one out of her “range”).

Role: Black is very adept at using her powers, as she is capable of stacking the odds in favor of all her allies at the same time; it is no coincidence that we’ve yet to see one of the Ma’at get hit by a bullet, while most of their attacks land. In addition, Black, who reportedly (as stated by Green) has never received any military or gun training in her life, wields her two guns with ease, shooting in the enemy’s general direction and “guiding” her bullets to their intended destination.

Personality: Black is smug and brash, but beloved by her teammates. She is never reluctant to take action or put herself on the front lines, and is the Ma’at member with the most blood on her hands, never hesitating to kill (unless faced with surrender, in which case she does spare lives). This ruthlessness is thought to derive from past traumas; the group once targeted the headquarters of a large human trafficking operation and, after slaughtering most of the offenders, Black reportedly broke down when she came into contact with the victims.

Red: Tall and lanky male, of Italian descent. One of the two “founders” of the group, Red is the de-facto heart of Ma’at, as he has a solid rapport with each other member, built on mutual trust and respect (which can not be said of anyone else). He is also in charge when it comes to improvising or modifying a plan due to necessity, as he is capable of quick decision-making and good communication. Always carries a handful of pebbles (to use as projectiles).

Powers: Red’s powers lie in the manipulation of any given object’s kinetic energy. He can slow, accelerate or stop an object’s motion from a considerable distance. He “stows” energy (though he cannot contain more than a certain amount) and releases it via his ability. If he loses focus, the energy he has stored will be released in unpredictable ways (as stated in a conversation with Blue, where Red notes that once he fell asleep with some residual energy and a lamp smashed into a wall), making his reserve volatile and usually generated at the moment of or just before a confrontation.

Role: Red focuses on disruption, sowing chaos in enemy lines by sending heavy objects and/or people flying. The few cases where a potential harm makes it through Black’s safeguarding, it is usually one so big that Red is capable of identifying and eliminating it on short notice (two weeks ago, an armored truck barreled down on them, only to be slammed into a building by Red’s power).

Personality: Red is upbeat and energetic, often motivating the rest of Ma’at during or after an attack. He also appears to be relatively clumsy and airheaded due to his habit of thinking about at least four or five different things at once. In battle, however, he is focused and purposeful.

Green: Very tall, athletic female. Most likely French (if not, of French descent). The third member to join Ma’at (and currently its oldest), Green is the group’s heaviest hitter, despite her kind and sometimes fragile demeanor. Always carries a bag with first aid kit (for everyone) and caloric snacks (for herself, as her ability can make her quite hungry).

Powers: Green has complete control over her hair. As opposed to the other members, who have developed their powers at some point in their lifetime, Green was born with this capability (as stated by Red; efforts to identify her via early manifestations of this ability are ongoing). She can modify its length, color, density and consistency with ease, and controls it as if it were another limb. She cannot expand it infinitely but is capable of reaching at least 200 feet in length.

Role: Green is a force to be reckoned with; her hair can lift people off the ground, shield her from most attacks, and even break through walls. In battle, she maneuvers her tentacle-like mane to hit hard and hit fast and has notable multitasking abilities (the most “appendages” she’s controlled simultaneously in a fight so far is 9). In addition, her hair provides her (and her allies if necessary) excellent mobility, as she uses it to propel her body around the field (most notable is her tendency to keep herself aloft with one or two strands and strike with the others; this tactic has been dubbed “the spider” by Black).

Personality: Green is a calm but strong presence in the group, one that does not usually pitch in the plan of action but whose words everyone pays attention to. She treats her allies gently and cares for them deeply (often checking on their condition after a fight), but at the same time terrifies them (As stated by Blue and agreed upon by White and Red) due to her strength.

Thank you all for bearing with me! I hope this post has been of some interest to you, I am at least glad it got me thinking so much about Color Pie Superheroes! Thanks again to Giga Guess for the ask and apologies for my lateness.

If anyone has any questions or comments or anything in regards to all this, feel free to reblog or send me an ask! I’m more than willing to chat about alllll this oc-ness I just spent weeks cookin’!

Tagged by @joyedtobeforlorn amd doin this here bc i feel like i’ve done it on my main blog ages ago

RULES : ANSWER all questions, ADD one question of your own and then TAG as many people as there are questions  invite anyone who wants to do it to tag me

coke or pepsi?  IRN BRU MOTHERFUCKERS

disney or dreamworks? Probably dreamworks?

coffee or tea? ew neither (i sometimes like hot chocolate but generally hate hot drinks)

books or movies? Sady I rarely have the attention span for books anymore

windows or mac? ive only ever used windows

dc or marvel? im not big on either but Marvel wins by merit of Deadpool and also having more than one interesting hero

xbox or playstation? Playstation 2 lmao

night owl or early riser? it is currently 1am take a wild fuckin guess

cards or chess? *shuffles yugioh cards like a fucking caveman*

chocolate or vanilla? def vanilla

vans or converse? i have legit no idea what vans are but i used to wear converse? Buuut i now exclusively wear docs

star wars or star trek?  TOS (but Babylon 5 is better)

one episode per week or marathoning? marathoning why the fuck woukd you wait if you had the option

gandalf or obi-wan? I mean?? As mentors they’re both pretty shitty

heroes or villains? villaims are usually cooler

john williams or hans zimmer? I….dont know who Hans Zimmer is off hand and cba googling

disneyland/disney world or six flags? i’ve only ever been to disneyland. Alton Towers was better though

forest or sea?…forest, by the sea??? I need trees and either rain or moving water in my life

flying or reading minds? mind reading MIND READING GIVE

twin peaks or northern exposure? I knoe what TP is but havent seen it

harry potter or lord of the rings? Im not a huge fan of either but gotta be lotr just for birthing the entire fantasy genre as we know it

cake or pie? Not a big fan of either?? Im not a huge fan of sweet things usually

you are banished to a desert island, which benedict cumberbatch character would you choose to take with you? Who the fuck wrote this. I choose none i will take the real fuckin deal with me so i can tie him to a tree and watch him suffer

train or cruise ship? I’ve only been in ferries a couple of times and i hate trains so. Boats i guess??

brian cox or neil degrasse-tyson? Neil obvs Brian would agree

fanfiction or fanart? B O T H

the hunger games - books or movies? The books but with every hint of the fucking love triangle expunged

be able to see the future or travel into the past? Neither. The future is uncertain and yku dONT FUCK WITH TIME.

han solo or luke skywalker? Ashlin what the fuck Han is infinitely superior to Luke you dont have to particularly like him to acknowledge that

lilacs or sunflowers? uhm? Theyre. Both flowers?? Iguess?

spring or autumn? I like both but probably autumn

campfire or fireplace? campfire

french fries or onion rings? fries

truth or dare? im not playing this game

winter or summer? Winter

vampires or werewolves? Rainbow Drinkers

red or blue? blue but only certain shades

eyes or lips? eyes>

burgers or sandwiches? burgers

friends-to-lovers or enemies-to-lovers trope? Eh.

pizza or pasta? B O T H

ancient rome or ancient greece? both are rly cool but i preffer Egypt

foxes or wolves? Wolves! (I see enough foxes fucking outside my house)

mermaids or dragons? dragons

high fantasy or science fiction? def scifi

sun or moon? Moon

My question: perching on or sitting under things?

USA, CA: Ancient Future at Watermelon Music, Davis, April 28, 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                    3/8/2018Contact: Ancient-Future.Com Records1-415-459-1892 • [email protected] Press Release Online with Photos and Video: http://www.ancient-future.com/pr_4_28_18.htmlAncient Future Duet at Watermelon Music in DavisHi-Res Photo (300 dpi, 8.75 x 3) of Matthew Montfort and Abbos Kosimov:http://www.ancient-future.com/images/abbos_matt300dpi5.4x2.3.jpgFeaturing World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort with Uzbek Percussion Virtuoso Abbos KosimovOne of the variations of the trailblazing world fusion music ensemble, Ancient Future, this duet features world guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort accompanied by Uzbek percussion virtuoso Abbos Kosimov. This improvisatory program focuses on the world music traditions of Central Asia, India, and Europe, renditions of music from Ancient Future's ground breaking world music recordings, and new unreleased works!Saturday, April 28, 8 PMAncient Future DuetFeaturing Matthew Montfort (Scalloped Fretboard Guitar) and Abbos Kosimov (Uzbek Percussion)Watermelon Music1970 Lake Blvd, Suite #1Davis CA 95616Adm: $15. Tix at watermelonmusic.com.Tix URL: http://www.watermelonmusic.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=042818ticket&GeneralSearch=1&search=Info: Call 530-758-4010 or email [email protected]. Doors open at 7:30 PM.Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/147475075919820/Poster: http://www.ancient-future.com/pdf/4_28_18_davis.pdfMatthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard and fretless guitars)Hi-Res Photo (300 dpi, 5 x 3) by Michael Braden of Matthew Montfort Recording A.F.A.R.: http://www.ancient-future.com/images/yearningmatt300dpi5x3.jpg

The leader of the world music group Ancient Future, Matthew Montfort, released his first solo recording, Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar, in 2009. He is a pioneer among guitarists who have had their fretboards scalloped in order to play various forms of world music that require intricate note-bending ornaments while still being able to play chords. Montfort immersed himself in an intensive study with vina master K.S. Subramanian in order to fully apply the South Indian gamaka (note-bending) techniques to the guitar. He is recognized as one of the world's 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists by DigitalDreamDoor.com, a curated "best of" site, along with such luminaries as Michael Hedges, Leo Kottke, Chet Atkins, John Fahey, Merle Travis, John Renbourn, Tommy Emmanuel, Doc Watson, Pierre Bensusan, Alex De Grassi, and Peppino D'Agostino. The December 2009 Les Paul issue of Guitar Player Magazine includes a full page feature on Matthew Montfort with a corresponding GuitarPlayer.Com video and lesson entitled “The Music of Jimi Hendrix Applied to Indian Raga.” He has performed concerts worldwide, from the Festival Internacional de la Guitarra on the golden coast of Spain to the Festival of India in Mumbai. He has performed live on national radio and TV shows such as the Echoes Living Room Concerts on Public Radio International, and the Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC. He has worked with many world music legends, including tabla phenomenon Zakir Hussain and Chinese zither master Zhao Hui. Montfort wrote the book Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India, which has been used by many musicians to improve their rhythm skills.Abbos Kosimov (Uzbek percussion)Hi-Res Photo (300 dpi, 6.2 x 10) of Abbos Kosimov: http://www.ancient-future.com/images/abbos300dpi6.2x10.jpgInternational phenomenon Abbos Kosimov is a master of the doyra (a frame drum with metal rings) and an ambassador of Uzbek culture. Abbos is known for taking the doyra to unprecedented new heights. He developed finger tapping techniques inspired by North Indian tabla masters, adding new dimensions to the instrument's sonic capabilities. Abbos also plays qayroqs, darbuka, dof, and riqq.Abbos was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, to a highly musical family. His father played santoor (hammered dulcimer) and his brother played ney (flute). He began studying doyra at age ten, beginning with his brother Umar Kosimov and father Rakhmat Kosimov. His brother soon introduced him to the honored Uzbek doyra artist Tuychi Inogomov. He also attended the doyra school of the famous doyra musicians Brothers Islamovs. In 1988, Abbos graduated from the College of Culture and Music under dorya master Mamurjon Vahbov. Following graduation, Abbos completed his higher education at the Tashkent State Institute of Culture in 1994, and established his own Abbos school where he taught the most talented youth of his country to play doyra. In honor of the 10th anniversary of Uzbekistan’s Independence, Abbos was awarded with a medal and given the illustrious title of Honored artists of Uzbekistan by the president Uzbekistan in 2001.From 2001 to 2005, Abbos participated in numerous international festivals, concerts and university workshops in the United States, Canada, England, Jordan, Syria, Egypt, The United Emirates, Austria, Italy, Japan, Germany, France, Belgium, Luxemburg, Greece, Bangkok, Taiwan, Australia, India, Malaysia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. In 2005, Abbos moved to the United States, leading to performances with artists such as Randy Gloss, Austin Wrinkle, Houman Pourmehdi, Andrew Grueschow, Adam Rudolph, Zakir Hussain, Giovanni Hidalgo, Terry Bozzio, Swapan Chaudhuri, Alim Qasimov, Kronos Quartet, Homayun Sakhi Trio, Voices of Afghanistan, and Omar Sosa. He recorded with R&B singer Steve Wonder for his 2006 CD Time to Love. In 2008, Abbos was a guest performer on one of Ustad Zakir Hussain’s Masters of Percussion tours in the US, later becoming a full member of the project.Abbos released his solo album, Infinite Rhythm, in July 2012. That same year, Abbos met Ancient Future leader Matthew Montfort when they were both hired to perform with renowned Indian singer Pandit Binay Pathak. Abbos has since recorded tracks for Ancient Future's fan funded recording project, The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings.VideoYearning for the Wind from A.F.A.R.Yearning for the Wind YouTube Video URL: http://youtu.be/zurMLOP68K0Recorded in December 2013, this evocative piece was produced for The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings, Ancient Future's ambitious ongoing recording project featuring the many master musicians from around the world who perform with the band. To finance A.F.A.R., Ancient-Future.Com Records provides financial supporters access to select files from Ancient Future's recording archives and new studio recordings as they are created. On February 11, 2014, the exact 35th anniversary of the first Ancient Future concert, Yearning for the Wind became the 10th track added to the archive. To promote The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings, Earth Day of Ancient Future's 35th year performing was chosen for the digital preview release of Yearning for the Wind through iTunes and other digital retailers. The enhanced CD version, an audio CD with a CD-ROM session for computers with liner notes and an HD video with 96/24 audio, will be released at fine stores such as Ancient-Future.Com and Amazon.com starting July 22, 2014.Within a week of its digital preview release, Yearning for the Wind rose to the top of the Ethnocloud World Music Charts, earning #1 spots in both the video and audio track categories, and propelling Ancient Future to the #1 rated artist spot in June, 2014.A.F.A.R. Behind the ScenesRecording A.F.A.R. YouTube Video URL: http://youtu.be/J5ZzrVzrXWIUpon his return from a concert tour of India with Zakir Hussain, Uzbeki master percussionist Abbos Kosimov absolutely rocked this March 7, 2013, overdub session. The video above is a quick little snippet of the unprocessed camera audio recorded from the back of the overdub room during a sound test. Supporters of The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings get access to more exclusive behind the scenes content covering the making of A.F.A.R.!Drums in the Air!Drums in the Air YouTube Video URL: https://youtu.be/Yp3SUZgWhwQEveryone was brought to their feet for a standing ovation following this solo performance by Abbos Kosimov climaxing with his drums flying in the air.Relevant Recordings on Ancient-Future.Com RecordsThe Archive of Future Ancient Recordings by Ancient FutureHi-Res Cover Art (300 dpi, 5 x 5): http://www.ancient-future.com/images/30CDafar1500sq.jpgThe Archive of Future Ancient Recordings by Ancient Future. (Ancient-Future.Com AF-2030). Recording Newsletter Package (128 kbps MP3): $15. Download Supporter Package (320 kbps MP3): $25. Limited Edition CD Sponsor Package (CD quality .wav): $50. Honorary A & R Representative Package (Hi-res 24 bit .wav): $75. Become a Supporter: http://www.ancient-future.com/afar.htmlDuring Ancient Future's 30th anniversary year, work started on the next project of the band: The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings (A.F.A.R.). To finance the project, a subscription system model is being employed to fund the recording through fans of world fusion music. There are already eight tracks in the archive available right now to subscribers, with more coming as money is raised for production.Yearning for the Wind by Ancient FutureHi-Res Cover Art (300 dpi, 5 x 5): http://www.ancient-future.com/images/yearningcover1500sq.jpgYearning for the Wind by Ancient Future. Signed Audio/Video E-CD-R. List $17.98: http://www.ancient-future.com/yearning.html"Matthew Montfort has been sending us wonderful music for many years now… this newest EP is (without question) the best music I've ever heard him play! The 9:37'Yearning For The Wind' is 'the' piece… Matthew is joined by Vishal Nagar on tabla, and they clearly show (sonically) the joy than can be achieved by well-placed and strictly focused music. The tabla percussion makes it far more than 'just another raga'… I'm very strongly impressed and moved by this single piece of music…. you'll find yourself spinning it over and over again." — Dick Metcalf, ZZAJ PRODUCTIONSPlanet Passion by Ancient FutureHi-Res Cover Art (300 dpi, 5 x 5): http://www.ancient-future.com/images/planetpassioncvr1500sq.jpgPlanet Passion by Ancient Future (Ancient-Future.Com AF 2010) $17.98: http://www.ancient-future.com/planetpassion.html"If the members of the United Nations formed a world-fusion band, it might look and sound a little something like Ancient Future's re-issue of their seventh recording. Featuring instrumentation from Africa, Asia, South America and the Middle East, Planet Passion is a mythical story of love, flirtation, seduction, courtship, marriage and longing. Manose Singh's bansuri flute and Matthew Montfort's scalloped fretboard work stand out in this eclectic, visionary global village, where each track features its own unique set of players. At its best, Planet Passion strives to preserve the world's vast musical heritage via international collaboration: the idea that one protects the old by creating something new. This is at the heart of fusion music and the heart of Ancient Future's global aesthetics, too: a diverse, unified world without borders, a multicultural community, a new, reconstituted sonic reality." — Ryan Allen, LEO WEEKLY, Louisville, KentuckySeven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar by Matthew MontfortHi-Res Cover Art (300 dpi, 5 x 5): http://www.ancient-future.com/images/serenade300dpi.jpgSeven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar by Matthew Montfort. (Ancient-Future.Com AF 2008). $17.98: http://www.ancient-future.com/serenade.html"Because Montfort's guitar has a scalloped fretboard, his fingers touch only the strings, enabling him to produce ornaments more characteristic of the sitar. This album reveals a thorough knowledge of Hindustani microtonal ornaments, transferred in ways that create one of the most distinctive guitar sounds in contemporary music. However, it also reveals a lifetime of exploration in world music, which can be immediately summoned in a flash of inspiration. When this level of mastery is reached, there is no need to rewrite. The first improvisation has the depth of a reworked composition." — Teed Rockwell, INDIA CURRENTS, March 200969 Word Radio Announcement forAncient Future at Watermelon Music in DavisThe trailblazing world music group Ancient Future will perform as a duet featuring scalloped fretboard guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort and Uzbek percussion master Abbos Kosimov on Saturday, April 28, at 8 PM, at Watermelon Music, located at 1970 Lake Blvd, Suite #1, in Davis, California. Doors open at 7:30 PM. Admission is $15. Tickets are available at Watermelon Music. For more information, visit watermelonmusic.com, call 530-758-4010, or email [email protected].

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ANCIENT EGYPT BY TRAIN (2023) — 1.01 Alexandria

The Luxury Destinations Making a Big Impact in 2018

The Kempinski Hotel Muscat. Oman has a number of luxury openings scheduled for 2018. Kempinski

Skift Take: We've made a list, and checked it twice, specifically looking at places where purveyors of luxury travel are setting up shop this year.

— Laura Powell

What’s the best way of predicting the up-and-coming luxury destinations of 2018?

At Skift, we like to look at where new products are coming online, as well as chatting with travel agents and tour operators working exclusively with the affluent.

Based on these criteria, there are four markets we are keeping an eye on this year.

Japan: Tourism Rising

While Tokyo and Kyoto have long been favorite destinations for luxury travelers, the hinterlands of Japan are now getting their turn in the sun. Virtuoso, a network of luxury travel agents, named Japan as one of its top five international destinations for 2018, largely because of new tourism developments outside of the country’s major cities.

“Travelers are now exploring beyond Tokyo, finding value in Japan’s time-honored traditions and rural areas that offer traditional slices of Japanese life,” says Keiko Matsuura, a spokesperson for the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO).

To spread high-end tourism around the country, two luxury cruise trains were introduced in Japan in 2017. The Mizukaze Express, launched in June, runs through western Japan, past the scenic Sea of Japan, Mount Daisen and the Seto Inland Sea islands. The Train Suite Shikishima, which hit the tracks in May, goes through the northern regions of the country. According to Matsuura, “These luxury trains were launched this year in response to the demand of the American traveler wanting to explore beyond Tokyo.”

Beyond the rails, Matsuura says Japan is targeting high-end travelers through their stomachs, “Food serves as a gateway to the country’s culture and is a common language we can use to promote Japan.” JNTO is raising recognition of lesser-known places through collaborations with top chefs like Eric Ripert and Dale Talde.

In another effort to beef up Japan’s luxury street cred, five areas sporting high-quality tourism infrastructure formed the Japan Luxury Travel Alliance in 2016. The members are Kyoto, Sapporo, Ishikawa Prefecture, Wakayama and Nara.

The idea is to join together to strategically attract international luxury travelers to outlying areas beyond Tokyo.

What’s Up in Europe

Virtuoso has also named Portugal to its list of international hotspots. The southern European country has emerged from Spain’s shadow in the past couple of years, having shown up on several 2017 hot lists.

But 2018 will see Portugal’s arrival as a luxury destination beyond Lisbon, due to its burgeoning food scene, the international recognition of Douro DOC wines, and a spurt of luxury hotels opening in the countryside and on the coast. In fact, several well-known international luxury brands are using Portugal as a launchpad into the European market.

Six Senses opened its first European property in the Douro Valley in 2015, and in the spring of 2017, Anantara debuted its first branded resort on the continent in the Algarve. The coastal resort town of Cascais, often called Portugal’s Riviera, is also booming as it attracts high-end travelers in search of a second or third or fourth home.

Oman Openings

According to upscale experiential travel veteran Richard Bangs, Oman seems to be the new smart destination among those who have experienced the world.

“Part of its appeal,” says the founder of Mountain Travel Sobek, “is that it is an island of peace in an unsettled sea, as it borders Yemen, Saudi Arabia and is just a skip across the Persian Gulf (or Arabian Gulf, depending upon whose map you reference) from Iran. I think we all quest for understanding… and this is one place where we can safely venture to get a bead on the swirling currents and the cultures, and experience the beauty and traditions of a world apart.”

Oman has seen a year-over-year 22.1 percent in visitors in 2017, according to statistics from the country’s National Centre for Statistics and Information. The 2018 reintroduction of a classic Ritz-Carlton property, along with the Omani debut of the W and Kempinski brands, will likely lead to more increases.

The Kempinski Muscat is slated to open in the first quarter of 2018. Although in the city, it will very much have the feel of a resort, with more than a mile of white sandy beaches, a Greg Norman-designed golf course, and multiple food and beverage outlets. The W Muscat will open in the fourth quarter of 2018 and will focus on design, fashion and music, bringing a new vibe to the hotel landscape in Oman.

Meantime, Al Bustan Palace, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel is undergoing an extensive restoration process, which is expected to be finished by April 2018.

Owned by The Ministry of Tourism, Al Bustan Palace is one of Muscat’s most prominent landmarks and a symbol of the nation’s emergence as a destination for global travelers since it was built in 1985. The renovation builds on the luxury resort’s positioning as the premier destination for affluent travelers, including royalty and heads of state in Muscat. The property also houses a Six Senses Spa. Six Senses also runs a resort and spa on  Oman’s northern Musandam Peninsula, which is celebrating ten years in business in 2018.

One More to Watch

Is this the year Tunisia makes a comeback? According to the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, tourism growth in 2017 (through October) has been particularly high in North Africa, led by rebounding numbers in Egypt and Tunisia.

Those numbers may get a boost in 2018 thanks to a trio of new luxury hotels. Four Seasons Hotel Tunis opened in December. The location in the affluent Gammarth neighborhood provides privacy and exclusivity, yet is close to the central business district. Most of the 203 rooms and suites have views of the sea. Ritz Carlton will be opening in the same general area at some point (yet to be announced) in 2018. Also on the grand opening calendar is a new Anantara.

According to Dillip Rajakarier, the chief executive of parent company Minor Hotels, “Capitalizing on Tunisia’s renaissance as a hot travel destination, Anantara Tozeur Resort will open in mid-2018, offering a rich gateway to the southwest area of Tozeur.” The region is a hub for Saharan adventures, renowned for its ancient history and otherworldly landscape.

Reunion-A Punch Out Fanfic | Chapter 3

I legit thought I posted this but I don't think I ever did, I apologize. So you guys are getting a double dose of chapters because I feel bad.

Anyways, here's Chapter 3

Chapter 3: You can't fix everything

The clock on the wall slowly ticked away as the students scribbled down sentences as their teacher, Mr. Peregrine, or as Mac called him, The Falcon, explained the history behind the Egyptian empire. Mac continued to scribble down the teacher's ramblings down on his pad. The talk however began to slowly fade into the background as Mac's mind traveled elsewhere. His pen stopped and he stared at his page of words with blank, glazed over eyes. His head was devoid of anything coherent but the imagined screams of Kid Quick as he cried for help.

His view slowly came back to focus on his written words, and each letter, syllable, and small punctuation mark on the page began to move and change to form a very scribble image of Quick in the ropes, dangling and suffocating as they tightened their grip around him. Mac moaned in frustration as he grabbed his head and gripped at his own hair, trying to make the image disappear. "I…c..n't…br..eath..e" he mumbled. 

"I…I can't…b-breathe…" He said a little louder this time.

His mind began to race and soon everything started to slowly go dark. Mac felt like his body grew weak and felt he was going to collapse. He brought his head closer to his desk and leant it against his forearms. He stayed that way for a few minutes until he heard a tap on his desk. Looking up, he saw The Falcon leaning above him with a worried look. "Jay, you alright?" Mr Peregrine asked, kneeling down to meet the boy's eye level, Mac took a look around to see some of the class's attention had turned to him. "I…uh" Mac began, twiddling his fingers around, "...Y-yeah I'm alright…I just….why do you ask?"

"You were saying earlier that you couldn't breathe…what's going on?"

"Oh…I was…thinking about something Doc told me"

The Teacher gave a nod and slipped Mac a paper before returning to the front of the class and writing on the board. The boy grabbed it and flipped it over to see it read: "Stay behind after class" 

Damnit

Mac sighed as he continued writing the teacher's ramblings once again. A few minutes passed before the bell rang and Mr Peregrine set his chalk down on his desk. "...And that's a wrap on Ancient Egypt,'' The Teacher said, "Tomorrow we move onto the French Empire" The whole class quietly groaned in unison as they stood up and slipped their books and pencils into their bags, then proceeded to make their way to the classroom door. Each said their goodbyes and some even high fived the teacher in their own unique ways. Only one student remained in the class, and that was Mac. Per the teacher's request of course. His bag was packed and slung over his back and he sat on his desk, as Mr Peregrine came over. "Okay what's up?" He asked, "Well…" Mac began, "...a lot has been happening, see I got my training for my fight coming up against Bull, yeah?"

"Yeah?"

"Right, and I was tryna invite my friends to come watch! V.I.P tickets!"

"Okay?"

"But one of them says he can't go, because he has uncomfortable memories. And that's understandable but he won't ever elaborate beyond that!" 

"I see, go on"

"Yeah and then, I tell Aran and then I accidentally knock him into the ropes and then EVERYONE gets on my case about it! And then when I ask why I get told that apparently someone DIED that way!"

"Kid Quick?"

"You heard about it too?"

"Was an old friend of mine…anyways go on"

Mac sighed as he gripped his head, "And it's understandable, I get that it's sad but no one ever elaborates! No one ever goes beyond the whole "IT JUST HURTS MAC" and it's pissing me off!"

The teen took a deep breath and sighed, looking at his hands and holding his elbows tightly. "I just want them to be honest with me…It's all I've been thinking about since yesterday and I can't stop…" He explained. Mr Peregrine nodded , “I understand Mac, you want to have all the answers” he said, quietly, “You want to know what’s the right thing, how to help, because everyone around you is hurt…but you need to understand that some things take time to fix…some answers may not come to you all at once..”, “But why?” Mac asked, desperately.

Mr Peregrine sighed, “...That’s just how life works sometimes, we can’t control everything, we can’t fix everything…we can only wait…and pray…and hope”

Not exactly the answer Mac was wanting to hear, but hell was it better than what he had gotten before. “Okay then…” Mac said, standing up off the desk and slowly making his way to the door, “Well…thanks, Teach…you’ve…you’ve eased my mind for now”, “Well, I can’t let you just collapse in class now can I?” Mr Peregrine joked, “Take care of yourself Mac, and say Hi to Doc for me”

“Will do, later Teach” Mac said as he made his way out the door, only to be met with Jared and Li Mei standing outside it. “What kept you, bruh?” Jared asked, already sounding igh off his ass, “We were worried, why were you talking to Mr Peregrine? You get caught cheating on a test again?” Li Mei piped up. Mac shook his head, “Nah just…” he trailed off before shaking his head again, “...Nevermind, it ain’t important” he said as he walked towards the School’s exit, “Come on, let’s go” 

Li and Jared shared a concerned look between each other before shrugging and following suit. 

------------------------

'Good Afternoon, New York City! My names Kenzie Lockhart and you're listening to Sports on The Go! Giving you the latest in sporting news!' The voice on the radio called. Disco chuckled as he continued to drive. He always had the radio going when he was on the road, it kept him company during the mind-numbing drive. 'Hope you boxing fans got your tickets because they're going fast! 4 more days till the big boxing bash of the week! Fridays BOXING BRAWL!!'

"Woo-woo!!" Disco hollered to himself. He always loved hearing stuff about the WVBA in other media. Even if he heard it in person almost every day, it still delighted him hearing it being stated on the radios. The voice from the radio continued to ramble about sporting events that were coming up in the week. Though they had nothing to do with Boxing so he very quickly lost interest in it. Instead he became lost in thought about yesterday. As soon as Doc left and Aran was freed, all he heard from the guys was talk of someone named Jordan. It was a name that was mostly tossed around by the older folks and occasionally Sandy and Macho. Though when Kaiser started talking about it Macho immediately dipped. No clue why. Very few times did he hear the name thrown around by Don or Aran, and if it was it was primarily the former who spoke of him.

Don did have prior connections to the WVBA through his Abuelo, but that didn't really answer who the hell Jordan was. It didn't bother him yesterday, so why was it such a big deal now? Why was it eating at him today? Ah well, can't be helped sometimes. A sigh of content escaped him as the radio voice chimed back into something he cared about. MUSIC.

'And now! Have a listen to one of our favorite hits! A tune to surely get you grooving! It's California Lo~ove!'

"YEAH! 2-PAC!!" Disco cheered as the music began, with its signature 'California Lo~ove' that he knew and loved. Disco continued to drive for a while before he indicated to the right and turned onto the road that led to the WVBA's massive Car Park. It took up most of the land that the facility occupied, which made sense given how large the building itself was. It housed a huge training facility, cafeteria, and of course the World Circuit Venue. Other circuits often had their matches in separate venues in New York but majority of the time, for training, meetings or catch ups they met here. Minor Circuits venue wasn't anywhere near as big, or fancy, so Disco didn't really mind coming somewhere fancier. He navigated his little car into a park and flicked it off in its place. As he grabbed his bag from the passenger seat beside him, he saw the disgruntled form of Glass Joe pacing in the car park in his rear view mirrors.

He was muttering something to himself, it wasn't very loud so Disco couldn't hear much, but he could make out the words: "s'il te plaît", which, to his knowledge, meant please. Disco hastily hopped out of his car and made his way over to the man.

Joe's pacing was becoming a nuisance at this point, but nothing was working to take the stress off of his mind. He was becoming overwhelmed and flustered, for no real apparent reason, but every so often he muttered something in French, and the name Jordan always slipped out. He gripped his sides and trembled as his pacing began to speed up. Suddenly, a firm hand was placed on his shoulder and he turned to see Disco Kid staring at him with worried eyes. "Joey, what's wrong man?" He asked, calmly, "You seem REALLY tense", "Oh! Mon dieu, Devon you scared me" Joe replied as he grabbed at his heart, "Sorry, I-I was just…uhhh thinking"

"About?"

"Oh…um…yesterday, mais ça n'a plus d'importance maintenant" Joe said, flicking the younger man's hand away, brushing himself off and making his way back inside. Disco stared for a bit in mild disbelief before shaking his head and following, "Nah, nah nah! Hold on!" Disco called as he ran to catch up to the Frenchman, "You were just pacing up and down like you were on fire and you gon' walk away and say it was nothing?", "Oui" Joe said bluntly.

"Why? Whats up?" 

"Devon, please not now, yesterday was hard enough as it is"

"How come? Why were you all so riled up about it?" Disco asked, as he and Joey made their way through the entrance. Joe only shook his head, "I'd just prefer to not talk about it"

"Come on, Joey"

"Devon, please"

"No, come on! You're hiding something from me!"

"Devon, stop I do not wish to talk about it any longer" 

"Joey, please! Just tell me-"

"There problem here?" Another voice called. Low and behold, Soda Popinsky was seen making his way over to the duo. “Nikolai…um” Joey began, he and Disco giving each other a look before the latter pushed past and held a finger up to the giant Russian man. A move he wouldn't have made before but for some reason he was beginning to become frustrated by everything so he needed to lose some steam. "Joey is hiding something from me!" He yelled, "I know it has something to do with yesterday so SOMEONE better start talking and fill me in!", "OK! Calm down, Иисус Христос" Soda said, grabbing the young boys finger and pulling gently aside. To no real avail, as Disco put it right back up again, continuing his rant.

"I will NOT calm down! Y'all were REAL talkative when it was Macky on the hot plate but now that it's you, y'all suddenly all hush mouth!" Disco yelled, catching the attention of several other people in the workplace. More importantly, catching the attention of three other boxers just off to the far right. Tiger and Hugger couldn't have looked less interested, but Bull had eyes of fury glaring right towards Disco. "Okan," Tiger said quietly, as he saw the older man grip at his arm and clenched his fists tightly. Hugger merely looked away and closed his eyes, knowing what was going to result. "Okan, do NOT" Tiger said firmly, looking at the man, but to no avail as Bull began to stomp his way over to the impending situation. Tiger looked to see a very uncomfortable Soda and a distressed Joey being yelled at by the younger man, with Bull thundering towards them. As much as he wanted to stay out of it, he knew he needed to intervene if Disco wanted to keep those sparkling jewels of his. Tiger gently grabbed Hugger by the wrist and gestured his head towards the group. Reluctantly, Hugger got up and the two followed Bull hastily to ‘hopefully’ prevent any broken bones. 

After a full 1 minute of ranting, Disco FINALLY managed to calm himself down and get a hold of his behavior. Though whether or not that's because he saw Bull approaching was up in the air in his mind. “Look, I’m sorry” Disco said, in a much lower tone, “but I’m getting tired of people keeping secrets…it’s not fair for us younger guys who might want to know”, “Is not your business to knowing!” Bull said sternly. 

“BUT WHY!?” Disco asked, “What is it you’re so afraid of us knowing about Jordan!?” 

As soon as those words left his mouth, the older boxers all stood frozen in place. Faces frozen in shock and horror, like they witnessed Disco murder a man. Tiger's face however didn't seem to have the same level of shock and more of a curious gaze as he shook himself and gave a small smirk. “Oh, is that it?” he asked, almost unamused, “Honestly, you should’ve just asked earlier, I would’ve told you”, “Tiger, NO!” Bull yelled, grabbing at the younger man's hand, “We not mean to speak of him!” But Tiger simply pulled his hand free and continued on, gesturing for Disco to follow him.

“Finally” Disco said to himself, as he followed the man. The other four boxers shared a concerned look as they followed the two off to a small alcove. There were several pictures of old boxers, obviously these were boxers who were long gone. 

“You see, Devon, Jordan was one of the most well known boxers of our time” Tiger began, “Beloved by many, a friend, a father, a brother, a son…an idol! But alas, much like many other legends, his time would end much sooner than any of us could’ve foreseen”

Disco continued to stare in intrigue as Tiger floated towards a photo frame of a man with dark skin, stubble, bushy hair and a smile similar to his own. In fact, his whole face was similar to his own. “What happened to him? He die or somethin’?” Disco asked, Tiger nodded in response. I didn’t mean it “It was a very tragic death…one straight out of a movie yet…it felt so real…” he said, unaware of the tension and unease he was bringing to his friends just behind the younger man. “You see, it was on July 2nd, 10 years ago…” Tiger explained, “A rookie fighter was working his way up through the ranks, and he had quite a lot of potential too! Would’ve become the champion if not for that night”

“Why? What happened that night?”

“Well, you see the rookie had challenged Quickie to a match that night, but the ring was still undergoing heavy repair after the rookie's bout with Soda the previous night, so Quickie declined.” Tiger said, “That’s enough, Vihaan” Hugger said quietly, Disco turned, only now noticing the crowd behind him. Tiger however didn’t listen, and continued his story.

“However, Doc Louis was a very persuasive bloke, he convinced Quickie to give the match a chance, even in the broken ring! And of course WVBA officials back then wouldn’t care about the conditions, if both parties wanted a match then they would get a match”

“Vihaan, cut it out”

“Quiet, Elliot,” Tiger said, as he slowly started getting closer to Disco’s face, “Anyways, Quickie of course accepted and the fight went on. It was a very impressive bout, heading all the way into the 3rd Round. It was the last minute on the clock and Quickie was going to land his signature move! Flash Dynamite!”

“Vihaan, STOP IT”

“But he got his leg caught in the ropes of the ring, due to the ring's poor condition. But No one knew, not the ref, not the opponent, not even the crowd! It wasn’t until the Rookie took the final blow that shit started hitting the ceiling”

“VIHAAN!” 

“BAM! He was tossed into the ropes, his body mangled and strewn about like a ragdoll, his screams echoed throughout the auditorium! We all dashed from the locker room to go and help him but by the time we got there-”

“VIHAAN CUT IT OUT I SWEAR-”

“HE. WAS. DEAD”

Those words echoed through the little alcove. Silence lingered until the two looked behind them to see the 4 boxers all with panicked and distressed faces. Soda looked lost, Hugger was tense and shaking, Bull had his hands over his ears and his head turned down, and Joey was hyperventilating big time. His eyes were glazed over as if he wasn't there and stinging of tears but nothing came out. It was then Tiger realized he had made a mistake. He held his hand over his mouth and quickly ran to the side of his friends, gently holding Hugger’s hand. “I’m sorry I-”, “I told you to cut it out” Hugger replied through gritted teeth. The younger man pulled his large friend into a light embrace as Hugger wiped away a few stray tears, nuzzling his face into his friend's shoulder. It was clear that Jordan had made a very big impact on the lives of his friends. His death hit him harder than he believed. Yes, he was long gone and sure he never knew him, but that didn't take away from the fact that he had friends here who missed him. Friends who were probably traumatized by the event. Seeing him there. Just dangling. Dead. Something that Disco overlooked in his anger. Something that Tiger REALLY forgot in his explanation, oddly. It was a lot to take in but as much as it answered all those questions, it also gave him plenty more to ask. What did he mean? Why did the Rookie do what he did? What happened to the rookie? To the ref? Everything piled up at once and Disco really wanted to pry, but he knew that in doing so, he could open up more cans of worms than he would've liked to deal with. 

So instead, Disco only stared in disbelief, “Jeez man, and you all had to see that?” he asked quietly, scanning the faces of the five in front of him. All five boxers nodded or gave some form of ‘yes’ through a hum or grunt. The younger man sighed, turning to face the portrait again, he shook his head, “I’m sorry…ya’ll didn’t deserve that…" He spoke, coming up to them and putting his hands inside his jacket pocket in embarrassment, "...but why hide it from us?” he asked, being careful with his words.

“Because it…it hurts to talk about” Joey said shakily, wiping at his eye.  “That night was the last that we had ever seen of him” Tiger said, quietly, “It was horrible, but such is the life…we lost…so much…a friend…a brother…a father-", "Father?" Disco asked as he looked back to the picture, "He had a kid? What happened to 'em?"

Another very poor choice of words as a choking sound was heard. The young man turned his head to see Joe finally let loose a steady stream of tears. Disco held a hand to his mouth as he held the older man's shoulders. Joey's weight collapsed in Disco’s arms as he wept. His cries are loud and painful. This was the aforementioned can of worms he was trying not to open. Fucking lotta good that was doing him. He let the frenchman nuzzle his face into his shoulder as he gently embraced him, before turning his gaze to the other boxers. None of them dared to look at the younger man. Aw fuck, Now I've done it.

Disco gulped as he eyed the older men. Silence lingered for a while until Bald Bull finally spoke up. "We…we don't…" He began, before pausing to look at the younger man furrowing his brow in frustration. He wasn't going to be satisfied with the same answer he had been getting all morning before this point. After all they had practically spelled it out for him already…or rather Tiger had, so really, what damage was being done by spilling a bit more? The man sighed and shook his head before giving a stern look at the boy, "We don't LIKE to speak about him…His son…but we know that he go back to Lansing…where he belong", "Lansing? Michigan?" Disco exclaimed, "That boy is all the way in MICHIGAN without his dad?"

"I…would hope" Bull said bluntly, leading Tiger to speak up once again, "His mother is still in Michigan so he's not without family but…" He trailed off, looking back at his friends, Joey still shedding tears like no tomorrow, "...well we do miss him…haven't heard from him in a long time." Disco gave a small nod as he felt Joey finally pull away from him. The Frenchman gave one last sniffle before he shot the younger boy a disapproving look. Usually he'd shrug that off, but getting it from GLASS JOE of all people was another kind of hurt. Disco sighed and gave an apologetic look in return. "I'm…sorry I pushed" Disco said, "I was just overwhelmed by all of this…" He threw his hands about in a notion to gesture to….something, but nothing really came to mind. The word he was looking for…he couldn't find. So he continued, "...just this…it was annoying being left out cause it seemed EVERYONE knew about it except ME!" He said, quite loudly. He took a step back and took a few deep breaths to regain himself, "...Look I promise I won't ever bring this up again…but please…no more secrets", "We can't….really promise much" Soda explained, "Something like this? Confidential. You NEVER meant to know…most other stuff about WVBA is same", "But we'll try ya hoser" Hugger added.

All five older men shared a look between each other before nodding and turning back towards Disco. "You have our word" Joey said quietly, "No more secrets", “...Thank you” Disco said, smiling. Just then, the front entrance to the building slammed open, the group turned to see Mac coming through the door, panting and exhausted. “Must’ve run here” Tiger jokes, causing a small chorus of laughs from the others. “Come on let's go'' Joe spoke, leading everyone out of the little alcove. Disco went to follow suit, until another question arose, “Hey, Vi?” he asked. Tiger turned around, “Yes?”, “Sorry I know I said I wouldn’t bring this up again but I need to ask…what was his son’s name?” Disco asked. Tiger sighed, and nodded, “It’s fine…his name was…Dean…” he explained.

“Dean?...hm, Kinda queer”

“Pfft, you’re one to talk” 

The two younger champions laughed, Disco nudging Tiger playfully as they followed the others. As they began to exit however, Disco noticed Kid Quick’s portrait was slightly tilted. “Oops!” he said, chuckling, “Can’t have that”, he moved back towards the portrait and adjusted it until it sat straight once again. Nodding at this job, Disco turned to walk away, but saw something sticking out from under the frame. Carefully he pulled it out and examined it. It appeared to be an old crumpled photo. A VERY old crumpled photo, by the feel of it, but he couldn’t see the image very clearly due to the dim light of the room. He saw on the back, written in faded ink, the words: Denise, I’m sorry. 

Intrigued by the mysterious picture, Disco takes it, folds it neatly and places it into his shirt pocket before following the others out to the lobby. 

--------------

The day had continued as usual from then on. The boys all gathered to train and Mac made sure not to knock anyone else into the ropes lest he want to lose his boxing privileges again. Mac looked over to the older crowd of boxers and gave them a worried wave, though it seemed only Tiger noticed as he was the only one to wave back. Typical. Mac continued on with his workout, intense skipping, bag work and core workout. Overall he was getting exhausted, especially considering the shit day he had today, this wasn’t as pleasant a thing to come back to. Nonetheless, he still puts on a smile when going to greet his Irish friend. Aran was certainly looking in better shape now that he wasn’t caught inside the ropes. Guffawing away at his own joke while Don continuously fixed his toupee. “Hey, Ryan” Mac greets, “Your neck ok?” he asked, the Irishman eagerly nodded, “Yeah! A wee bit itchy but otherwise I’m all Rainbows Boyo!” he exclaimed. Don rolled his eyes with a smile at his friend before turning his attention to Mac, “Are you ok, niño?” he asked. Mac gave a small smile and shrug of his shoulders, “Eh, I’ll get there” he admitted, before noticing Macho Man coming out of the bathroom, grabbing at his eyes. The teen cocked his head in confusion before shrugging it off and wiping his brow from the sweat.  “I’m gonna go grab a drink, you guys wanna come with?” Mac asked, “Nah, I’m alright Macky,” Aran said, Don shook his head, “Lo Siento, I’ve got to get onto the Hologram and practice”

“Alright then, see ya in a bit” Mac said, as he walked towards the exit. Just by the exit of the gym was a water fountain. Most of the time Mac didn’t need to use it, but today he had forgotten to bring his drink bottle from home, and couldn’t be bothered going back to get it. So the water fountain would have to do. He opened his mouth and allowed the water from the tap to pour, the stream wasn’t very big so he had to maneuver his mouth a bit to get the water in (Shut up and stop being dirty minded lmao).

Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a lanky, hooded figure standing out in the lobby, walking around. He didn’t question it at first…until he saw Giovanni walking right next to him. “No…” Mac said to himself, “...No he…he didn’t”, he said astonished, a smile slowly forming on his lips. He looked back to make sure no one was watching, most of all Doc. When he saw he was in the clear, he sneakily pushed open the door and made his way out to the lobby. 

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Wings for Life World Run joy as records broken

Participation is what topics inside the Wings for Life World Run – and no greater become that true than in its fourth year on Sunday. The unheard of general of one hundred fifty-five,288 people, from everyday heroes to elite strolling champions, registered for Sunday’s worldwide occasion across 111 places. The motion commenced at 11 am UTC, while participants simultaneously crossed begin lines in 58 nations – in a selection of situations including day, night time, warmness, cold… And even a hailstorm in Slovenia! Many people ran facet by way of aspect at event locations and massive numbers of registered App Runners also took part worldwide, growing their personal routes.

Congratulations to all of us, everywhere, who participated, donated or volunteered,”

stated Wings for Life CEO Anita Gerhardt. “By taking on this single assignment today, you’ve given a wish to individuals who face limitless demanding situations every day. The budget you’ve raised will permit top researchers to push forward with locating a therapy to spinal twine harm.” Part of the amusing changed into the shared revel in of being chased through a shifting end line, the Catcher Car, which became driven via famous names like Formula One’s

What the members achieved collectively is even more than the mixed 1,431,183km that they blanketed (any other file, surpassing closing yr’s mark with the aid of more than 176,000km), due to the fact a hundred percentage of access expenses and donations go without delay to investment urgently wished spinal twine harm research.

Literary Analysis – A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings

  In “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” creator Gabriel Garcia Marquez weaves the natural with the supernatural in an unexpected but stimulating way. It leaves the reader with the question, “What might I do if I became confronted with something supernatural proper outside my door?” By mixing the maximum mundane and ugly components of existence – from wet days to egocentric crowds – with the impressive, Marquez effectively uses an innovative tone and a unique fashion to create a story that consists of factors of everyday life yet supersedes it. His story invites the reader to appearance nearer at daily events and decides one’s response to the normal and now not-quite-regular events that have the power to exchange lifestyles.

The tone of the story is set at the beginning, with the maximum natural and unwelcome of occurrences: a unwell baby within the midst of poor climate. In the first few sentences, Marquez’ writing style right now grabs the imagination as he writes, “The world have been sad when you consider that Tuesday,” describing the drab and inclement weather in the element. In the first paragraph, he brings in magical factors by introducing the surreal individual of a vintage man with enormous wings. Marquez without delay shatters any mindsets the reader has of effective and holy angels with the aid of placing him face down in the dust and unable to extricate himself, “impeded by means of his sizable wings.”

With a hint of irony, the very objects that ought to have empowered this man to fly above earth’s elements

His wings – hindered him and brought him unwanted interest. The irony is a part of the tone weaved in the course of the tale. It is seen within the “clever vintage woman” who determined that the antique man with wings become an angel… After which recommended clubbing him to demise. It is noticed in the wording that Marquez selected when he stated that the husband and wife “felt magnanimous” when they opted to set the angel afloat on a raft with sufficient food to last him a few days “and leave him to his fate on the high seas.”

In parts of the tale, the writer’s tone appears to carry an experience of regret that humanity

As a whole regularly fails to appreciate the “magic” this is a part of life. Instead of appreciating a revel in and residing fully in the moment, such a lot of ask, “What’s in it for me?” When the husband and spouse, Pelayo and Elisenda, decide to exploit the angel through having the onlookers pay to peer him, this feel of selfishness and greed is obvious. Here, again, the reader has the possibility to assume what their preference could be if faced with a similar scenario. Of path, no angel is going to fall from the skies on an unhappy and stormy day, but within the everyday run of factors, how does one use the possibilities supplied? Gabriel Garcia Marquez invites the reader to invite questions which include those now not through a sermon however inside the shape of a tale.

A Tour of the Grandest Museums Around the World

If a person had been to invite me what the most important places in the world are, my answer could be simple. The global’s maximum crucial locations are the museums because that is where we hold our records. This is in which we study from the beyond, well known the respect of our ancestors and their lifestyle and make plans for the future at the equal time. Museums can train us so much, even about the present most effective if we appearance hard enough. This article is for everybody who believes that museums can come up with thought to stay and for everybody who would not as well. Here is a listing of the sector’s largest museums which have the most important series of ancient artifacts underneath one roof. And in case you’re a person who does no longer have a lot of travel enjoy, have a have a look at a few smooth approaches to shop for airline tickets

1. The Louvre, Paris

This monument of Paris is the holder of the title for the World’s Largest Museum. This is located on the Right Bank of the Seine of Paris. This museum houses a total of 35,000 objects and includes gadgets which have been dated as prehistoric alongside items part of the contemporary day 21t century history. This vicinity is the second most popular area for tourists to visit in Paris (the primary one being the Eiffel Tower). This museum is also the home of Leonardo Da Vinci’s most well-known portray to date – The Mona Lisa. Definitely well worth seeing even in case you’re not a fan of records.

2. Metropolitan Museum of Art

The second largest museum of the sector and the most important one inside the United States of America, this museum is located in New York. The collection here includes approximately 2 million works and the museum has seventeen subdivided departments that control them. The building for this museum is close to the Central Park. Going here, you get to stare upon works with diverse backgrounds (from painting and sculptures from Europe to antiques from the corners of Egypt). This museum literally has all of it.

Three. The State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg

This museum houses portions of art and culture in St. Petersburg Russia. It was opened via for the general public in 1852 and turned into created by Catherine the Great in 1754. The collection right here includes three million pieces. This series additionally consists of the biggest mixture of gathered artwork this world has ever visible. So in case, you’re partial to art, this area is a need to visit. This museum has been divided into six smaller complexes out of which only five are open to the general public.

Electronic Medical Records – Do They Help You?

There became a massive push to go along with electronic medical records. Our authorities placed closing dates on docs and hospitals as to when this must be in place. They even presented incentive money to get this done. It all sounded exact, docs and hospitals could be able to see your scientific data, with this fact they would be able to deal with your condition better.

Well like maximum matters that the authorities forced upon us

Irrespective of how well intentioned, it became no longer thought out thoroughly. I will use myself for instance, over the past few years I even have long gone to three docs and to some hospitals for special checks. During the take a look at in or check out the system I became asked if I want to get login facts to view my statistics. On all events I said sure. I then logged in, created an account and positive sufficient my facts for that visit were there. One issue that I did note, the medical file records was now not accurate, it had to get corrected and wiped clean up.

The problem is that it appeared that every health practitioner and medical institution had distinct clinical software program. So I actually have about 3 or 4 one of a kind logins to exclusive medical portals. Yes, I became able to see my statistics from that precise clinical company, but NO they were now not connected. So if I logged into medical doctor And I could see those data, however, I may want to see no information from doctor B.

So the failure, because it now stands, is the capacity of the one

The of-a-kind medical software’s to speak with every other. While most scientific companies are the usage of electronic scientific statistics it seems that nothing an awful lot has changed, besides the alternate from paper to digital facts. Going to digital facts will be the start of a great thing. It could facilitate integrating all the specific scientific software later. The government has to cross lower back and set a date that everyone clinical software program should be integrated, then go into reverse and let commercial enterprise take care of it.

Originally posted 2016-08-27 05:28:09.

ANCIENT EGYPT BY TRAIN (2023) — 1.01 Alexandria "The Roman Amphitheatre in Alexandria in Egypt is a large circular Roman theatre, and the only one of its kind to be found in the country. Though often referred to as an amphitheatre, the site is actually that of a small Roman theatre rather than a larger sporting arena." [x]

ANCIENT EGYPT BY TRAIN (2023) — 1.01 Alexandria

ANCIENT EGYPT BY TRAIN (2023) — 1.01 Alexandria