#then Colin goes into attack mode

[incorrect-bridgerton-family]

Penelope: Hello mother, Colin and I are engaged now.

Colin: Hello, it’s nice to see you again.

Lady Featherington: You couldn’t find anyone better?

Penelope: Don’t say that, I love him!

Lady Featherington: I was talking to Colin.

[kat-rose-griffith]

One way that they could’ve approached the Whistledown reveal to Colin that I think would’ve been really interesting is by having him secretly investigate whistledown himself and then accidentally find out it’s Penelope along the way. I think it would’ve been more compelling for his character to see him take a more active and protective role like that in the narrative. So how I see it is when the queen issues her challenge at first, like in the show, he is intrigued but does not care. He is in his love bubble and Penelope asked him not to so he won’t.

The moment he starts investigating it himself is when he notices that it’s all causing Penelope and Eloise stress, even though he doesn’t know the full root of the stress. At first it’s a mild “I want to feel useful and help” kind of interest, but then he really starts to investigate deeper and more urgently when Cressida claims to be whistledown and he can visibly see Penelope and Eloise distressed by it. I would like it if he didn’t really think Cressida was whistledown and continued his investigation to end the charade and/or prevent her from doing harm to his loved ones, but it can happen with or without that. In his investigation he figures that whistledown must have attacked Eloise last season because she was getting close, so he picks up her research where she left off and begins investigating printing shops. He’s closer than ever but he hasn’t let Eloise or Penelope know yet.

Then at the Mondrich’s ball when Cressida releases her announcement cards he overhears her talking to the queen about releasing a real issue tomorrow. He sees Penelope and Eloise run off in a panic, but he thinks that they’re just freaking out about Cressida so he goes into protective mode. He leaves immediately to keep checking printing shops because he figures the right shop will be working on Cressida’s issue right now and the real lady whistledown will know about this announcement and want to get an issue out immediately to protect her name too. We follow him going to the printing shops, he’s narrowed it down to a handful, and we’re getting more and more nervous with each one that he checks. We know what’s coming and we can’t stop it.

He gets to his last stop and he’s kind of down because they’ve all been duds so maybe this was a dead end. He’s walking down that street tunnel and he sees a carriage at the end. It’s too dark to tell much more about it than that it’s just some carriage, but he knows he’s hit something. He walks down the street excited to unmask her and save the day. He hears an Irish accent and sees a hooded figure talking to the printer. He hears the printer say “anything for lady whistledown” and he knows he’s got her. Then she turns around… and it’s Penelope, Pen, his best friend, his future wife. The person he was trying to protect is the person he was trying to protect all of his loved ones from. The realization drops to his stomach and in comes the hurt. Then they have the confrontation fight and everything and the story goes on as it did from there.

I think this would’ve given the tension that the moment was missing for me and it would’ve given Colin a more active role in the story, which I was also craving to get from him. I think it could’ve also added another layer to him feeling embarrassed and insecure when he finds out that it was Penelope, because here he was running around thinking himself such a smart manly man trying to protect her and the entire time it was her he was chasing.

[gleefullypolin]

I’m new to the fandom, and I’ve just finished episode 3x07. I’m about to watch the final episode, but I have a genuine question that’s been nagging at me. Why was Colin so adamant about protecting Penelope? I understand that part of it stems from his love for her, but it seemed to go beyond that—he was almost obsessed with playing the role of her hero. When she told him she didn’t need his protection, he was visibly offended. Is that reaction rooted in his belief that, as a man, he has a duty to protect her simply because she’s a woman?

I’ve seen on Twitter that Colin is often praised in the fandom as a feminist of sorts—respectful of women in an era when men were often hostile and dismissive. But doesn’t his insistence on being Penelope’s protector, especially as her soon-to-be husband, feel just a little...misogynistic? I’m not attacking Colin—I really do like the character. But I find myself a bit conflicted about the underlying assumptions about gender and power in that dynamic. Could he be unintentionally reinforcing the very norms he’s supposed to be above?

Every since Season 1 Colin had a bit of a hero complex, but I always felt that it went beyond that. Colin was always searching for his purpose and not having one meant that he was searching for it in everything he did, even in his ability to be useful and help others.

The first time we see him really interact with Pen he is rescuing her from Cressida and the Lemonade attack. His first hero rescue.

Colin was drawn to Marina, not only as a pretty face, but also as a girl who was being helplessly thrown into a sea of old men, rescuing her even from there.

In Season 2 we see it in his arc with Jack Featherington, he wants to first find purpose in investing in the mines but when he starts to suspect that the man is not who he says he is his arc goes into hero mode. He rescues the Featherington's from his schemes, protecting not only Pen, but also believing himself to be protecting Portia and her sisters as well. He also then brings the men to Mondrich's bar, helping his friend's ailing business. Hero rescue 1&2 in the same scenario.

Colin then in Season 3, hasn't found his purpose yet, Pen has. He is still feeling a bit lost, he thinks he has now found it in love. Pen becomes his entire purpose and then she starts to push him into writing. Everything in his life is wrapped up in her, her love and her feelings toward him being a writer. He steps up into this hero role once again to do what he feels he is finally needed to be....her protector.

Of course, Pen shuts that down and tells him she doesnt need that to which he is not understanding, because he has found his purpose, he is meant to protect her so if that's not what his role is, then what is he meant to do. Colin as a character very much struggles with who he is as a person and being the hero is what he tries so very hard to do.

I don't think its a flaw or done because he doesnt think Pen, as a woman, can't do, its more that he feels he must do it to feel that he is satisfying his role, otherwise he feels useless and sort of not necessary to her or anyone for that matter.

Does that make sense?

[inkbillyfernado]

Here’s horror mode Rusty

Tw for needles and rabies

In horror mode, Rusty goes insane and attempts to attack his friend(Colin) but due to Colin’s thick wool, he didn’t actually hurt him, thus giving Colin the chance to escape

Rusty now runs around in horror mode, searching for Colin so he can “do his business”. Rusty is a survivor

[hopepaigeturner]

Since I loved your hot take on Hyacinth joining the Jail scene, I wanted to ask you, how would Hyacinth add to the chaos of the Bridgerton Brothers storming Romney Hall?

Imagine her reaction to Gregory being called an infant!

Hmm...interesting...

In my head, if they finally get to this part of the show, I would love Sophie to be present in this scene. But this post is about Hycainth so...off we go.

Now her brothers might be there to 'protect Eloise's honour', but for Hyacinth...she wants to see her sister schooled.

So Hyacinth is delighted that she gets front seat view to the chaos of Eloise attacking Benedict and Anthoyn choking a man--none of this ever happens in London. Gosh, the country is far more exciting.

I picture Hyacinth cheerleading her brothers from the sidellines becoming a full on commentator of the action.

And then she notices Eloise's bruised eye.

Tunnel vision.

No one messes with her sister.

Hence, Colin spends the next five minutes desperately trying to wrestle Hycainth back from lashing out at Phillip Crane.

So now you have Anthony choking the life out of Phillip Crane. Eloise attacking Benedict. Gregory trying tp muscle in unsuccessfully. And Colin grappling with a writhing Hyacinth.

Bonus

Hycainth whenever she goes into rage mode around her brothers:

[secondgenerationnerd]

Could you do a short fic of lian having a panic attack at the tower because of her ptsd and nobody (except the people who know why she has ptsd( because she doesn't like to talk about it) knows why she's having a panic attack

…literally been thinking about this one for a few days. Enjoy!

(And there was no way it was gonna be short 😅😅)

———

Since the two teams had met, YJL and Omega have found reasons for the other to be in their universe. Strategic planning, information swap, various tests and experiments—you name it they’ve done it. So when Jai and Irey reached out regarding ‘simulation testing’, the other team showed up ready for chaos.

Zachary and Damian bicker in the corner. Connor watches, occasionally adding to the fire with a pun or stupid question. Ceridian explains his tattoos with Jon and Colin. Lucy and Milagro discuss new roller skates for Lucy, going over ball bearings and arch support. The Graysons, Mar’i and Luca, are either hacking into the NSA again or trying to figure out an aerial silk routine.

On the platform, the four Wests are deep in science mode. Irey goes over the system with Matty and Jania, explaining the different scenarios they train for the most. Lian sits on a stool, half listening to Irey. Really she’s watching her boyfriend as he pulls up her profile, reads through her old stats. Once he’s satisfied, he pulls out a sheet of wireless electrodes.

“We track her vitals using these, ” Jai takes over the explanation from his sister, placing a pad over Lian’s heart. She smiles to herself, even if his hands don’t linger. It’s nothing personal and she knows it. Those gorgeous golden eyes dart around, going deep into ‘science space’, “We’re also attaching one on each temple today.”

Matty nods, reading through data on the computer screen, “Watching for spikes in the amygdala and hypothalamus?”

“Naturally.” Jai presses the final electrode to her temple. “We do base level readings the night before and morning of for everyone.”

“Interesting. Seems better than Aunt M’gann using her powers.” The other Wests shiver.

“You’re done, Lian.” Jai says, absentmindedly. Nodding, she gets up and kisses his cheek. Oh, so worth it to see his brain process that. Heading to the door, Lian grabs her bow and the simulation arrows. They’ll feel like the ones she uses in the field, just won’t break the simulator.

“You got this, Li?” Mar’i asks. The archer shoots her a cocky grin.

“Course I do. I’m a badass.” She swears she hears the princess call her unbelievable, but the door shuts behind her. The simulator room, with its silver floors and walls, once intimidated her. Now Lian knows that the floors and walls move and change, keeping them from running into one. The speaker crackles to life above her, Irey going over the simulation parameters again.

Goal: free the hostage without being killed or captured.

Around her, the room flickers to life. Scene shifting to whatever location the twins choose today. Closing her eyes, Lian takes a breath. Then another. And a third. Then—

“Begin.”

Her eyes fly open, hand going back to her quiver. The arrow flies before the others can register her knocking it, hitting the masked man running toward her in the shoulder. Details about her surroundings neatly file themselves away. Residential home. Two stories. Open landing just above her. Target just beyond that in the shadows.

In the other room, YJL watches with awe; Omega with pride. While she calls herself their ‘eye in the sky’, it’s moments like this she shines. Because in the middle of a fight, they see what parts of her fighting style came from others.

Using her bow like a bat, momentum and power building up to knock a grown man out. Jason will be proud, especially when she gets a two for one. Grappling arrow she fires into a table, yanking it into the three men running at her, like Aunt Donna taught her. She moves quickly through the growing pile of bodies, turning and bending to dodge a hit. Growing up with speedsters and acrobats has perks.

With every arrow she fires, every one that lands their mark, Lian has a wicked smile on her face. No, not wicked. A Chesire cat smile—pure joy in the chaos. She fires another grappling arrow into the ceiling. Pulling herself up just as two masked people run into each other. Head cocking to the side, she listens for--there it is. A muffled scuffle from the room down the hall. Before she can move, the speaker crackles to life.

Inclement Weather activated.

Frowning, Lian pauses. Inclement weather? That wasn’t a part of the simulation for today. Then the ground begins to shake beneath her feet.

No. 

No, no, no, no, no, not again. Eyes widening, Lian runs towards the stairs, bow clattering to the ground. Forgetting the goal. Forgetting she’s in a simulator. Because she’s not. She’s alone in her house and she’s too little to be alone, but Nonna said she’d be back soon.

“HELP!” A crack runs up the wall, part of the roof falling to clip her shoulder, “DADDY! HELP!”

“What’s happening?!” Damian asks. YJL has never heard that edge in his voice before.

“We don’t know!” Irey snaps, her and Jai’s hands flying over their keyboards.

“Sissy, we have to get her out—!” Jai flinches at Lian’s next scream.

“MOMMY! DADDY! HELP! HELP ME!”

“Something’s in the last update—those motherfuckers!” Irey snarls. “I found a virus from one of the other teams! Probably thought it would be funny—!”

“We need to get her out of there now!” Jai watches Lian’s vitals sky rocket.

“I need a few minutes—”

Lian won’t make it. She’s too little. But Mommy and Daddy swore she’d be safe at home! It’s why Mommy leaves so much! She trips over a fallen beam, pain shooting up her leg. The house falls down around her, dust filling her lungs as she tries to claw her way to the door. “DADDY! HELP!”

“MAR’I! DOOR!” Jai’s voice breaks, still frantically trying to shut off the simulator. In an instant, Mar’i’s at the door, digging her fingers into the metal and ripping it from the hinges. She throws it behind her. The simulation inside flickers away, leaving Lian curled into a ball on the ground. Arms covering her head as her body shakes. Mar’i flies over to her, kneeing down.

“Lian?” She starts to touch her, but hesitates, “Li?”

“Where’s Daddy? I need Daddy,” Lian doesn’t look up.

“He’s coming.” Mar’i promises, a quick glance to Damian. Thank god her uncle understands. “Lian, how old are you?”

“4.” Lian curls up tighter, voice breaking.

“Are you sure you’re 4?”

“…I-I was 4. When it h-happened.”

“You were so little. That must have been scary, Lian.”

“Nonna left. She said she’d be right back. But I’m alone. I die alone.”

“No, Lian. I’m right here with you.” Mar’i’s soft voice eases some tension in the others watching.

“You’re not real.” Lian sobs, “I keep screaming for Daddy, why isn’t he saving me?! I’m all alone again.”

Mar’i gently touches her friend’s shoulder, “He tried. I promise you you’re not alone right now. I’m right here. Do you remember my name?”

“…Mar’i…but I call you Ri sometimes.”

“That’s right.” The princess nods, rubbing small circles on her back, “Remember when we met? You dropped your toolkit behind the piano?”

“You lifted it up.” The panic begins to leave her voice. Mari continues talking with Lian, bringing her back to reality, while the twins shut down the system. Irey’s eyes burn with anger, Jai’s with worry.

Slowly, Lian sits up, tears rolling down her face. She turns to the princess. A simple, soft smile. That’s all Mar’i offers her friend. No judgement or fear or panic anywhere on her face. Face crumpling, Lian throws her arms around her friend. Twin cracks of lighting fill the room, two more pairs of arms wrapping around Lian.

Jai, Irey, and Mar’i hold her tight, letting their pressure and body heat help to ground her back into reality. She is Lian Alice Nguyen Harper. She’s almost 17. She died, but that was a long time ago. She’s safe now. Three voices overlap, each reminding her of that point. Three pairs of arms hold her tight as she cries. Not alone. Never alone with them. Soon, the sobs fade to manageable whimpers, the trio letting go as she moves back. Lian can’t look behind her, to the others watching in concern. Thankfully, the others understand.

“C’mere, baby.” Jai murmurs, kissing her temple. He picks her up bridal-style, letting her wrap her arms around his neck and hide her face, “I got you, Lian. Let’s get you taken care of, okay?”

“They’re gonna ask.” She whimpers. His shirt bunches under her grip.

“They don’t have to kn—”

“Tell them.” This time it’s said to Mar’i. The princess and twins share an uneasy look.

“Baby, are you sure?” She just nods quickly, refusing to look at anyone. Another silent conversation before they leave the simulator.

Jai doesn’t look at the other team as he carries Lian away. YJL swears they can hear him humming, but they instead turn to Mar’i and Irey. The two young women are having a quick conversation. When they finally look at the others, something burns in their eyes. Worry, pain, and a clear deep love for their friend.

“Sit.” Mar’i doesn’t use her ‘Princess Voice’, but none of them argue. Once everyone has a spot, she takes a breath, “Lian hates this story. She didn’t know about it until recently. She hates telling it, but wants you to know.”

“How bad is it?” Connor asks. Mar’i gives the other team a look that sends shivers down their spines. They’ve never been happier to be on her good side than at this moment.

“Bad enough that if it is told without her permission…” She lets the threat linger in the air for a moment. Then takes a breath, softening a little, “It happened when she was 4.”

[chllandfangs]

welcome to forks, brady fuller. the population just gained another shapeshifter. I suppose a lot of us will know you as the day dreamer, your vibe is all about chick flicks with barbecue potatoes chips, five mile “fun“ runs in the rain, and stolen smores at bonfires. I heard you have no ability … interesting. When you’re not being a student, you’ll always be found at movie manner. I’m sure the uley pack will be pleased to know you’ve been here for eighteen years, as we all are !!

born on 3 october 2002 to loving, nurturing (and liberal) parents, brady grew up unashamed of his own emotions and was nicknamed by his family as the cry baby. he loved disney movies and chick flicks and often cried to them. his excessive crying bothered his father a bit, but he didn’t take offense to it until he tried to take his legally blonde dvd away from him.

(he had a thing for the strong blonde woman who shut down another with hair products information lol)

for the longest time, brady was a pacifist and refused to fight unless he needed to. he had fought before he shifted a total of maybe ~ nine fights. he won half of those, lost the half of the others (granted his cousins beat their asses for beating brady’s ass)

you can call him a bit of a slacker and “not there”. often he wouldn’t do his homework in school and spend most class periods staring out the window or on his phone. it took him years later to realised his love for writing and movies and replaced staring out the window to writing stories and watching movie clips in class.

often he would get in trouble, and almost always he never failed to tear up as he got yelled at.

when brady is stressed, he likes to go running in the rain. the droplets of water always felt nice, and the harder the rain, the longer he chose to run. his last human run was of course scary for the boy and he ran in circles trying to figure out:

why he was a wolf

why he couldn’t walk on his back legs &

why he was hearing voices in his head.

it wasn’t long for sam to find him, but it also didn’t take long for sam to be annoyed by brady. essentially the alpha had to deal and teach this pacifist kid how to be a wolf of la push.

at first, brady refused to be part of the pack and even tried to tell his parents about it. when his parents didn’t believe him and his wolf kept coming out, he ended up going back to the uley household. 

he grew close to colin, the other new shifter that he trained with, but maintained a distance from the rest of the pack until he first handed saw what the vampires could do. by that point, brady started to really listen to his pack about the vampires leeches and their ideas started to became his own as well.

brady has a bias against vampires and doesn’t like them. he has a stress ball made from really thick ingredients to play with when he’s in school and around them

he is bothered by how much he enjoys killing vampires, granted the vampires he’s killed were murderers, he still doesn’t like violence.

he goes to fork university as undeclared. he is in between film and english and taking classes within both majors to flesh out whichone is his forte.

he chose to stay with uley’s pack ‘cause he doesn’t know how he feels about working with the cullens and like the rest of the pack, he’d just rather not.

pack dynamics: brady is the pup in the pack that sings tiktok songs in their telepathic connection and tries to get the pack to do tiktoks with him in the woods during patrol times.

“come on! sam won’t notice silence for a minute. it’s a simple dance! -- or you can stay in wolf mode and pretend to attack me!”

yo imagine if brady got gay thoughts and his pack had to see it LOL

he is still a pain in the ass to uley pack probably cause he has selective hearing and will go off on storyline ideas in his head when they’re talking to him. he gets yelled often to stop day dreaming while on patrol.

i wrote brady as homosexual on my page, but i’m gonna make him homoflexible.

oh also, brady loves junk food that’s all he eats. aha.

[fang-emblem]

Things to remember in Fire Emblem Awakening

I'll try not to spoil the story!

-----------

1. Game mode-

When you start up a new file, you'll be asked to choose your game type. Normal, hard or lunatic, if this is your first time playing Awakening or a main line FE title, choose normal.

After that, you can choose between casual or classic. Again, you should probably play casual if you don't understand.

In casual, your units merely retreat when they lose all their HP. In classic, they're dead.

Chrom and the avatar are exceptions, if they die, its game over even if your other units are fine.

2. Avatar creation-

At the beginning of the game, you have a choice to create your avatar. You can choose between male/masculine or female/feminine. You can customize their height, hair, face, hair colour, and voice. You can give them a name and a birthday.

Asset and flaw affects their stats growths, Luck is an okay flaw to have. Depending on things like what classes you want or who your spouse/kids(s) might be, this can change your thinking a lot. You should probably go for something like HP as your asset.

3. Options-

After you start, you can press A on an empty tile to bring up the menu, you can choose options like the music volume or how fast the gameplay goes. You can also access the in game guide from the menu.

4. Characters-

You'll start off the first couple of chapters with- Chrom, Lissa, Frederick and your avatar. Slowly, more people will join your army as you progress through the main story or play paralouges.

Some child characters are connected to their parent.

Chrom -> Lucina

Robin/Avatar -> Morgan

Lissa -> Owain

Sully -> Kjelle

Miriel -> Laurent

Sumia -> Cynthia

Maribelle -> Brady

Panne -> Yarne

Cordelia -> Severa

Nowi -> Nah

Tharja -> Noire

Olivia -> Inigo

Cherche -> Gerome

5. Recruitment- These units will not join you unless they are recruited!

Other characters will join automatically.

First generation:

•Have Chrom talk to Kellam.

•Have Chrom talk to Gaius.

•Have Chrom talk to Tharja.

•Have Chrom talk to Libra.

•Donnel has to level up at least once in order to join. Make him kill low HP enemies, and have him pair up with another unit, like Chrom, to gain a stat boost.

•Have Chrom talk to Anna, keep in mind this Anna is in the paralouge that appears when chapter 9 does.

Second generation:

•Lucina automatically joins your army after Chapter 13.

•Have the avatar/Chrom talk to Morgan.

•Have Chrom/Lissa talk to Owain.

•Have Chrom/Sully talk to Kjelle.

•Have Chrom/Miriel enter the village on the left.

•Have Chrom/Sumia talk to Cynthia.

•Have Chrom/Maribelle talk to Brady.

•Have Chrom/Panne talk to Yarne.

•Have Chrom/Cordelia talk to Severa, then assist her in making her way to Colin.

•Have Chrom/Nowi talk to Nah.

•Noire automatically joins on turn 2.

•Have Chrom/Olivia talk to Inigo.

•Have Chrom/Cherche talk to Gerome.

There are special streetpass characters you can get by going to Wireless -> Bonus Box -> Bonus Maps. But you can't play them until the endgame...

6. Classes-

The avatar can access basically any class, barring gender specific ones. F avatar can change into a pegasus knight, which M avatar cannot.

Your units start off with their base class, and a couple of reclass options.

You can advance their class by using a Master Seal, or change their class by using a Second Seal. They can be found in chests, dropped by certain enemies or bought on the world map.

Units learn one skill are level one, and then another at level 10. When at an advanced class, they learn a skill at level 5, and level 15.

There are special classes that can't be accessed by other characters. Only Chrom and Lucina can be lords, only Olivia can be a dancer.

7. Inheritance-

The children that came from the future to save the past from the clutches of Grima.

Technically, Lucina is the only child unit you have to recruit. But who wants that?

Your child units base stats, and stat growths depend on some crazy math shit that I dont understand. Some characters base classes depend on magic, like Nah. While others depend on physical attack, like Yarne. But most of this stuff is up to preference! Any character can be great. (Their hair colour also depends on the father. Not Lucina though)

Your children will always inherit the last active skill in their parents skill slots.

The very bottom skill (left), would correspond to the middle skill (right), if it was filled.

Chrom is a special case, his daughters will always inherit Aether from him, while his sons will always inherit Rightful King from him. Even if he doesn't have those skills yet.

His grandchild, Morgan, if the avatar marries one of his kids, will also get those skills passed down from the sons/daughters.

8. Supports-

After like, chapter 3 or 4, you can see support conversations. Some characters can only reach A with each other, but others reach S. S rank is the marriage support, characters will confess their undying love.

Some supports will grow faster than others, like Mirel and Stahl is a very fast support! To even grow your level, have them stand beside each other in battle, or pair them up.

Chrom and Sumia are picky about their romantic partners, supposedly it's the canon pairing but it doesn't have to be that way. If you wanted to pair up Chrom with Olivia, for example, you'd have to keep him away from his other potential wives. (Try not to get at least C support, it makes things easier)

-----------

This is only a really basic guide, if you have questions, I'll do my best to help out!

[breetannerprotectionsquad]

Wolfpack Transformation Headcanons Pt.2

While helping Paul and Jared process their newfound lives, Sam breaks up with Leah. He can’t balance both - training and guiding Paul and Jared, and the effort of a relationship. It’s one of the hardest things he has to do, but it wasn’t fair to her. Leah begrudgingly accepts it and moves back into her parent’s house. Sam moves Jared and Paul in. His house is big and it’s so, so empty without Leah.

He finally relents, and tells Quil III to warn the other families. He does so immediately, and it brings a variety of reactions. Henry Clearwater brushes it off. “Only men turn, and neither Leah or Seth are men. By the time Seth gets old enough, the Cullens will be gone. Everything’s fine”. Sue is a bit more worried, but she keeps it to herself. The Fuller’s and Littlesea’s panic. They don’t let Brady or Collin off the reservation, hoping the distance between the Cullens and them will stop the transformation. Billy looks sick at the thought. He already lost his wife to a car crash, his daughters to college. He can’t lose Jacob as well, though it seems so inevitable. Quil III doesn’t tell his grandson, but he lets his daughter know what to expect. She just groans and pulls out a bottle of whiskey. “I was hoping your stories would remain stories, but it’s better than him bringing home a baby, I guess.”

Sam prays nightly Embry doesn’t turn. A lot of good that does. Sam goes into denial as Embry begins to grow - he’s still young. Growth spurts are natural. When his body becomes a bit more defined, Sam brushes it off. Embry takes weight training at school. Maybe he’s putting a bit more effort in now. He becomes a bit more snappish, a bit more possessive over Quil. He cries easily, in a way he grew out of when he hit high school. Sam hopes, darkly, that maybe he’s just going through a rought time It only takes a few months before that familiar tug returns. He finds Embry in his backyard, whimpering. His fur is gray with black spots, and he’s smaller than the rest of them but holy shit is he fast. 

The Cullens move away, and it slows the transformations for a bit. It takes Jacob months, longer than any other gap of time, to transform. His changes are so gradual not even his dad notices right away. When he does, Sam offers up the place as alpha, which Jacob rejects. He can barely process the fact that he can turn into a wolf now, let alone have the weight of everyone else resting on his shoulders.

One weekend, Quil cancels all his plans with Embry and Jacob. His mom won’t let him out the house. Apparently he’s running a fever. Embry paces around the house, snapping at everyone. He was like this even before he changed, so everyone shrugs it off. He comes home that Monday in full panic mode. Quil was several inches taller, his once loose shirts tight against his muscles. It only takes a few more days before he shifts.

He is extremely excited about the shift. According to him, he finally joined the “cool kids club”. Embry, despite not wanting him to turn in the first place, can’t hide the fact that he’s pleased about being to spend even more time with his boyfriend.

Leah’s transformation is shocking, to say the least. When the familiar tug led them to the Clearwater house, they expected to find Seth. You could imagine their surprise when they found Seth, fully human, trying to calm a giant wolf form Leah. They rushed her transformation back. An ambulance was on its way. Leah’s sudden transformation had caused her father to have a heart attack. There was a lot of panic, confusion, and fear. 

Her transformation caused a lot of friction. Her guilt over causing her father’s heart attack - even if he survived - weighed the entire pack down. Her anger at Sam for dating Emily, already obvious, only increased tenfold, causin. Her confusion about her sexuality was pushed into everyone’s mind. She was humiliated, refusing to shift for a while. Embry and Quil made their support of her clear. Sam, at first, was angry. He assumed that her questioning her sexuality meant that relationship meant nothing to her. Embry told Leah this, and she tried to explain that her liking girls took away from their past relationship, or how much Sam meant/means to her. This led to an even deeper heart to heart, where they went into detail about their deep dark secrets and feelings. It helped them start onto a path of friendship and process things they felt like they couldn’t before. Before they had ever dated, they had been best friends. They both missed that more than they knew how to describe.

The transformation of Seth lifted the morale of the entire pack. Despite their fret over his age, his happy go lucky, kind thoughts were a comfort to everyone. His transformation had a few hiccups - his superior hearing caused him to suffer from bouts of sensory overload - but emotionally, it came easy for him. Leah recognized the signs, and immediately everyone began to prepare him for it. When the time came, he knew exactly what to do.

Brady is next. They find him nosing at his sobbing mother, trying to calm her even in wolf form. They gently guide him back to his human state. His mother begs them not to let him join their pack, but it’s out of their hands. He’ll shift regardless. At the very least they can help him through it, provide him comfort and kinship. She reluctantly allows it, only because she knows its better than having her baby deal with it alone.

They hang around the Littlesea’s house for a few weeks. Brady informs Colin’s parents that he’s changed, and that Colin may soon follow. It takes him only a few weeks. He’s relieved when it happens - the wait had made him anxious. He clings to Brady, who clings to Seth, who follows Jacob around like he’s the reason the sun rises. The pack is overprotective of the three “pups” as they call them. Sam decides early on that there will be no fighting vampires for them. Not if he can help it.

The transformations stop after that, thankfully. They all hang out at Sam’s house, eating up all his food, hogging the T.V., and slowing down the internet. Sam wouldn’t have it any other way, though.

Related headcanons:

Click here for part one

Sam and Embry growing up as brothers

[starlingsrps]

theo talbot-mulligan char. dev.

BASIC INFORMATION

FULL NAME: theodore eamon talbot-mulligan

REASONING: nah but leonie always pronounces theo in the french way so he answers to his name both way.

NICKNAME(S): theo

PREFERRED NAME(S): theo

BIRTH DATE: september 20

AGE: twenty six

ZODIAC: virgo

GENDER: cis male

PRONOUNS: he/him

ROMANTIC ORIENTATION: heteromantic

SEXUAL ORIENTATION: heterosexual

NATIONALITY: american

ETHNICITY: american (irish, french, english descent)

CURRENT LOCATION: los angeles, ca

LIVING CONDITIONS: aight. cramped af with a great view of the pizza place next door.

BACKGROUND

BIRTH PLACE: new york city

HOMETOWN: same

SOCIAL CLASS: middle

EDUCATION LEVEL: ba in communications from cuny

FATHER: cian mulligan

MOTHER: leonie talbot-mulligan

SIBLING(S): alice, 23; rebecca, 18; colin, 16

BIRTH ORDER: oldest

CHILDREN: jesus christ no

PET(S): he has a studio. he has a cactus.

OTHER IMPORTANT RELATIVES: brianna mulligan

PREVIOUS RELATIONSHIPS: a lot of almosts but not a whole lot of actuals.

CURRENT RELATIONSHIP: it's a thing with maggie williams 

ARRESTS?: nah

PRISON TIME?: nah

OCCUPATION & INCOME

PRIMARY SOURCE OF INCOME: personal assistant to maggie's agent

CONTENT WITH THEIR JOB (OR LACK THERE OF)?: it's a living but he wishes he could turn his phone off without having an anxiety attack.

PAST JOB(S): bartender

SPENDING HABITS: pretty responsible 

MOST VALUABLE POSSESSION: uh...his cactus?

SKILLS & ABILITIES

PHYSICAL STRENGTH: he's good - works out daily and suchnot

SPEED: also good

INTELLIGENCE: he's a clever cat

ACCURACY: good

AGILITY: good

STAMINA: good

TEAMWORK: he's a sturdy second in command

TALENTS: 

SHORTCOMINGS: 

LANGUAGE(S) SPOKEN: english, french

DRIVE?: yes but he's only learned to drive since moving to LA and well...it shows.

JUMP-STAR A CAR?: yeah sure?

CHANGE A FLAT TIRE?: see above.

RIDE A BICYCLE?: yes

SWIM?: yes

PLAY AN INSTRUMENT?: he learned guitar from his father and his mother tried violin very hard but it didn't take.

PLAY CHESS?: no

BRAID HAIR?: no

TIE A TIE?: yes

PICK A LOCK?: no

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE & CHARACTERISTICS

FACE CLAIM: jack lowden

EYE COLOR: blue

HAIR COLOR: blonde

HAIR TYPE/STYLE: short, varying degrees of touseled depending on how his day is going

GLASSES/CONTACTS?: reading glasses

DOMINANT HAND: right

HEIGHT: 6'0

BUILD: athletic

EXERCISE HABITS: daily. he has a lot of energy and it tires him out if he goes late at night. also no one is there to make fun of how he runs.

SKIN TONE: fair

TATTOOS: nah

PIERCINGS: nah

MARKS/SCARS: nah

NOTABLE FEATURES: short beard and mustache

USUAL EXPRESSION: poker face

CLOTHING STYLE: casual, grungey side of preppy.

JEWELRY: nah

ALLERGIES: peanuts

DIET: fucking garbage disposal. he will eat anything. he cannot be stopped. he has a full pizza on hand at all times.

PHYSICAL AILMENTS: no seriously a peanut will kill him

PSYCHOLOGY

ENNEAGRAM TYPE: 6 - the loyalist

MORAL ALIGNMENT: neutral good

TEMPERAMENT: sanguine

ELEMENT: air

MBTI TYPE: ENFP

MENTAL CONDITIONS/DISORDERS: he inherited his mother's depression and anxiety but it's not nearly as severe.

SOCIABILITY: good with limits

EMOTIONAL STABILITY: prone to bad moods and mood swings but keeps them to himself for the most part.

OBSESSION(S): nah

COMPULSION(S): nah

PHOBIA(S): anything happening to his family before he can get to new york, alice.

ADDICTION(S): nah

DRUG USE: nothing that's not prescription

ALCOHOL USE: beer man

PRONE TO VIOLENCE?: nope

MANNERISMS

SPEECH STYLE: clear and generally pretty dry

ACCENT: nah

QUIRKS: he has a full pizza on hand at all times. seriously.

HOBBIES: music, going to the beach, maggie.

HABITS: fiddling with his glasses when he's wearing them

NERVOUS TICKS: stroking his beard

DRIVES/MOTIVATIONS: personal well-being

POSITIVE TRAITS: loyal, kind, hardworking, practical

NEGATIVE TRAITS: worry-wart

SENSE OF HUMOR: pretty dry unless it's maggie

DO THEY CURSE OFTEN?: when not at work, sure.

CATCHPHRASE(S): "actually..."

FAVORITES

ACTIVITY: hanging out with maggie

ANIMAL: sharks

BEVERAGE: coffee

BOOK: too damn many

COLOR: black

DESIGNER: target?

FOOD: pizza. he will never tire of pizza.

FLOWER: uh?

GEM: see above.

HOLIDAY: fourth of july

MODE OF TRANSPORTATION: drive

MOVIE: zodiac

SONG: "the chain" by fleetwood mac

SCENERY: he really can't get over the ocean

SCENT: pizza and maggie

SPORT: baseball forever and always

SPORTS TEAM: dodgers

TELEVISION SHOW: not really? he'd rather watch a movie if a game isn't on

WEATHER: dry heat - he's a lizard.

VACATION DESTINATION: p much anywhere. he's always wanted to go to ireland though.

ATTITUDES

GREATEST DREAM: he tries to not get too far ahead of himself but having his own agency would be great. family, stability, all that.

GREATEST FEAR: eating a peanut

MOST AT EASE WHEN: with maggie

LEAST AT EASE WHEN: things are not going according to plan

WORST POSSIBLE THING THAT COULD HAPPEN: honestly, eating a peanut.

BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT: getting the job in LA. it was a major life upheaval and he misses new york but it's going to be worth it. someday.

BIGGEST REGRET: that time he got drunk and lost an entire pizza.

BIGGEST SECRET: he's the one that broke the hallway mirror not alice.

TOP PRIORITIES: security, happiness.

[wowza48]

Batfam Content War: Halloween week edition: Fifth Prompt Haunting/Spooky/(Jack Fenton voice)GHOST!!

When there’s something something... insert parody of ghostbusters theme here... who you gonna call? GHOST DAMI! *budadadadat* Yeah okay another S/I Dami story, but with a twist~. Two takes, one male, who will appear again in tomorrow’s death prompt (which will be a prequel to his part in this one), and one female, who already appeared the the celebration prompt day 2. Unimportant, but they reincarnated from the same person, but were raised/treated/acted differently, hence similar ideas here or there, but somewhat different personalities/outlooks.

Further information- Those who already read that prompt know fem!s/i!Dami has psychic powers, the male!s/i!Dami does not. He did, however get a healing factor- I’m not saying how, it will be revealed in tomorrow’s story. Both timelines mix multiple continuities, so Steph (as Spoiler) and Cass (as Black Bat) are both... somewhere. Not near the building. Fighting... ninjas. Yes. That’s why they aren’t there to stop Damian from dying. Because ninjas.

Also, to answer the question of- since the other two Batgirl’s are no longer Batgirls, does this mean Barbra Gordon is Batgirl or Oracle. The answer is- Yes. As in- she’s both Oracle AND Batgirl, although she created an Oracle AI to assist her when she went back to being Batgirl, but she NEVER stopped being Oracle either because she’s awesome like that. She’s also no where near the building because of ninjas. I’m not sure if you are aware of this, but there are a LOT of ninjas. Like, way too many for it to show realistic statistics.

Lastly, if someone wants to write from another character’s point of view for either of these, as long as you link it to this story, either the tumblr link or Fanfiction one once I submit it there, and then tell me about it so I can read it, you have my permission. To be fair, if I even make one or both of these into full multi chapter stories I’d probably include my own take on other peoples reactions, plus the lectures/yelling at Ghost!Dami for being a dummy head, but I wouldn’t mind seeing someone else’s belief on what would go through the minds of the characters.

Anyway, information done, now get ready for.... GHOST DAMI!

-------

“So... I’m a ghost now... does this mean I still have to go to school even though I’m dead?” I ask, raising an eyebrow as my botched up, age accelerated clone with a by FAR inferior healing factor tries to stab my ethereal form. I make a motion of brushing dust off my black and grey outfit- nope, not out as Robin. Nor Redbird- though I have been both of those too. This outfit’s called Mocking Bird “And could you quit that? You already toyed with my physical body, longer than you thought due to my gaining a healing factor, there’s no need to attack my ghost on top of that- I’m actually somewhat impressed you managed to kill me despite my healing factor, by the way, I mean I was in too much pain to be impressed at the time, but now I’m without that pain it’s actually quite a feat if I do say so myself.”

I turn towards Bru-Da-Fath-Batman, no even thinking that they are the same person when in public, being dead shouldn’t change that rule, who is staring at me strangely. “You still haven’t answered my previous question. Do you think the school would still require my attendance despite my no longer being alive, and do you think Father would let me?” I ask, pretending I’m merely talking to a vigilante under Father’s payroll and not Father himself.

Forgot to mention- I kinda hooked up a bunch of cameras and microphones weeks beforehand, and then today I hacked mother’s broadcast and connected the audio and video of my fight with Heretic -and I didn’t turn on the stream until I was about to start that fight, in order to keep my siblings’ and father’s identities secret at least-, plus streamed it online, linking the stream to multiple major news outlets prior to arriving at my place of death. It appears to still be running, since it’s being show on the screen is shared with mother, actually. I... did remember to have the stream linked to Gordon and the Batcave so they could shut it off when necessary? Ah, they should know about it by now, plus Richard and Tim aren’t dumb enough to miss their being filmed live so as to not mess up their secret ID’s, even though I did that to myself. To be fair, though, I thought I’d be at least badly injured, if not killed- which did happen- but I didn’t count on becoming a ghost. Speaking of-

Heretic is still swinging his sword through me. “I’m a ghost. That’s not going to work. Stop doing that.” Batman seems to regained enough sense that he knocks the sword from his distracted opponent, who- is still trying to hit me even though I’m lacking a corporal body now. Well, at least Batman is under control of himself. Ah, Richar- I mean Nightwing is waking up. I’ll go bother him next, while also pointing out we’re being filmed.

It took me a week to get an answer to my question though- the answer was yes, as I was a ghost, I still did have to go to school despite being dead. Just like when Luthor stole those 40 cakes- it was just terrible.

Oh, and Colin, Jon, Maya and Suren all ganged up to yell at me. So did Maps and her little club... and Supergirl... and Huntress... Okay, basically everyone I knew yelled at me for getting myself killed. But hey, I’m a ghost. And that’s pretty cool- and Grandfather’s trying to kidnap my corpse, DANG IT!

-------

(Meanwhile, in the timeline where the celebrations prompt took place)

So first thing I noticed when the pain stopped was that I can still read minds. Second thing I noticed was that- nope, being able to read minds does not mean I’m still alive, in fact I’m deader than zombie- which is pretty dead. So... if I’m dead, how am I- ooooh, I’m a ghoooost, silly me. I psychically shut off the cameras I had previously set up, and the screen went back to showing just mother. And now that I wasn’t distracted by arrows sticking out of me-

**FWOOOSH** “STRIKE! Into the wall with you, Heretic! Don’t you know it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird?” I grin cheekily, pointing him as my grey cloak goes SWOOSH as it flaps behind me- even though there’s no reason for it to as the wind shouldn’t be affecting me as I’m a ghost.

“*Ahem*” I freeze at that. Forgot Batman showed up shortly after I died. Keeping in mind that there were, in fact, people not in the know within seeing and possibly hearing distance, even if they aren’t exactly conscious right now- actually one of them is, but whatever- I remind myself that Batman is OBVIOUSLY not my father, and just an offshoot of multiple personality that takes over father’s body from time to time, and as such a completely different person.

“Hiya Batman. Kinda.... ruined my secret identity right before I died, ah well. Never good at keeping that thing anyway. Well, either of those things.” I pause and strike a thinker pose- you know, those ones where you tilt your head slightly one way, and poke your chin with your index finger, pouting slightly? That one. “You know, I wonder how Ivy and Harley will react to this. they didn’t exactly like mother anyway, especially after I told them about how I grew up. Plus Croc liked my cheesecake. I actually made one to give to him later this week- not possible now, I guess...” He is sorta batglaring at me, sorta not. Probably because Father’s upset that “Daddy’s little girl” is dead, but also annoyed that I put myself in so much danger, and the fact that my being a ghost means he can lecture me about it. Which I SO do not want to deal with. “... soooo, uh... I’m gonna just... head home if that’s okay with you?” And that’s when Richard started to wake up.

I did end up getting lectured, not just by Father in Batman Mode™, Alfred, my siblings, my psudo siblings (Maya, Steph and Colin), my friends who didn’t count as psudo siblings, my civilian teachers from my attending school in my civilian persona, my few mentors from when I was growing up that AREN’T dead, everyone I worked with or got taught by as Robin or Redbird or Mockingbird that do not fit into the above categories, even Grandfather when he showed up to steal my corpse- and an additional one when I decided to blow up said corpse with my still working psychic powers. Hell, BATCOW got into the lecturing too, taking advantage of the fact my powers allow me to understand other languages, even animal ones- do NOT CALL ME A DISNEY PRINCESS I WILL FITE!- so basically I got lectured by everyone I knew.

Oooo, did you know ghosts could change their outfits with their minds? I found that out, so now I can wear anything I want, even if it doesn’t actually exist in the living world. Meaning FREE COSPLAY, without the hassle of putting the stuff on, or letting Steph (and sometimes Cass) use me as a doll.

Another good thing about being a ghost? Can’t fall asleep, nor do I need to, meaning no nightmares- which is good because I got brutally murdered. If I was brought back to the physical plain, I’d totally have nightmares, and that would ruin my mood, by, a lot. Enough so that I could miss the Halloween Ball! I was looking forward to that... I convinced Jon to be my “date” for the night and everything... Ah well, no reason I can’t go as a ghost. I mean, it’s not like I’ll be brought back to life, thus leading to traumatizing nightmares that would prevent me from wanting to leave the house, possibly even my room, now my body’s been turned to mush, right? .... Right? Why are you looking at me like that, reader? Like you know something I don’t? Tell me! Please! Get back here and.... tell... me why....

... p...l....e...a...s...e....?

-------

nuuu Dami don’t cry! Nuuuuu I made her cry I’m a terrible person! TT^TT Especially since I wrote the celebrations one before this, but it takes place AFTER and she was so scared and confused and whyyyyyyyyy

[gamingnewskotaku]

The 10 best classic car racing games

It is true that in recent years there are fewer video games of speed than we would like to us, lovers of adrenaline on four wheels. However, it is easy to see in the current driving games the long shadow of great classics that you will find here and some that, in fact, have not yet been overcome. Fasten your belt and press the Start button. We start! The genre of speed is one of those that has evolved least with the passage of time. After all, driving a car has been basically the same thing since the beginning of time: reaching the finish line before the others. However, there have been different proposals that have been incorporating concepts or ideas that have opened the way for others. Now there are big names of the simulation like Project CARS, Forza Motorsport or Gran Turismo that either appear in this special with their first deliveries, or they owe a lot to some works that you will find in this article. On the other hand, the same goes for memorable arcades such as Forza Horizon or Burnout. In this text, we are going to collect some video games that were pioneers when it comes to bringing novelties to driving games; but also others who, simply, were the best of their time. Releases that have been able to age one better than others, and that visually maintain the type in some cases or that show a charming lack of means in others, but that all of them are still fantastic today. Arcade speed? Piloting of fireballs more than the simulation style? Do not worry. Here all fit ... these are the 10 best classic car games. Burnout 3 Takedown Criterion (2004). PS2, Xbox

"Transform every shock into a work of art". That seemed the motto of Criterion Games when it launched a Burnout 3 Takedown that is remembered by a plethora of players as the best installment of a saga that has jewels. Before the simulation became so fashionable that it engulfed the speed genre almost completely, arcade classics like these attracted fans by the legion and sold millions of copies. Takedown agreed with critics and fans that it was a work that could hardly be improved. A furious car game, with a technology for chilling collisions that, in addition, managed to be spectacular graphically and able to reach a devilishly fun playable speed. Crazy Taxi SEGA (1999). Arcade, Dreamcast, PC, PS2, X360, GameCube ...

Crazy Taxi marked, with its impossible maneuvers and its spectacular tests against the clock, a whole generation. Your password? Being one of the first launches to give the start signal to the all-in-one in the driving genre. The only goal was to take the passengers from point A to point B, and for that, any imaginable traffic regulations could be violated. On the way, yes, we had to carry out all kinds of incredible pirouettes to earn a few extra dollars and prove to whoever was watching us who is really the king of the "yellow cabs". An arcade with all the lyrics and one of the best and most addictive car releases of the 90s. Daytona USA SEGA (1993). Recreational, Saturn, PC ...

In that distant moment when everything that SEGA played turned it into gold, the amazing Daytona USA came into play to turn everything we knew about video games into recreational driving. Built on the Model 2 engine, which allowed a very light 60FPS, in 1993 the departure signal was given for one of the most credible and surprisingly realistic experiences of the moment. It did not take long to become a real phenomenon and the recreational one that raised more money within the speed genre. The keys? His impressive graphics, his attractive soundtrack and the impeccable sense of accomplishment when we overtook our rivals, whether they were led by the AI or humans in their formidable competitive experience with eight games connected to each other Gran Turismo 2 Polyphony Digital (1999). Play Station

With a truly obscene number of vehicles, the second installment of the Gran Turismo saga further enriched Polyphony Digital in general and the ideologist Kazunori Yamauchi in particular. The motives? Although from a distance, the sequel could be considered somewhat conservative in terms of playable novelties, if we are completely honest there was an important visual advance and enough "signings" to improve their driving. For example, it was a before and after everything related to braking and, as if that were not enough, it greatly increased the number of cars we could drive. In addition, and something deeply appreciated by fans, it was also a much more comfortable and versatile work to be enjoyed without all the constraints of the original delivery and had some extra modes of the most succulent. Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit EA (1998). PC, PS2

The Need for Speed brand has been one of the great references of the arcade genre all of life, and with Hot Pursuit we lived one of its most brilliant episodes at the end of the last century. The name ended up generating a complete saga within the IP, which gives us an idea of its importance and made reference to the police persecutions that became the watchword of some of the best episodes of the NFS. An impressive graphics section for its moment, a sense of speed and fantastic control and only nine tracks, but of a very respectable size, were some of the keys of one of the peaks of a brand that has such amazing highlights as Underground or Most Wanted. Outrun SEGA (1986). Recreational, Master System, Genesis, Xbox, PS2 ...

It is an authentic legend, and one of those video games whose mere mention bristles the hair of any veteran fan. Its imposing recreational (with seat and movement) is a true symbol of the 80s, and its arcade design is relentless and able to sustain the passage of time even more than 30 years after its arrival in the salons. A Ferrari Testarossa of careful mobility, a beautiful companion, and a legendary soundtrack are some of the key elements that served for several generations have spent hours and hours traveling through its endless tropical roads at full speed. A legendary classic, one of the best driving releases of all time and an unbeatable example that in video games many times less is more. Pole Position Namco (1982). Recreational, Spectrum, Amstrad, Atari, PC ...

The oldest driving video game of those included in this special is also one of the most influential. It was not the first launch to opt for the camera behind the vehicle, but it was the one that popularized this perspective to unsuspected extremes. The inspiration of his circuit is based on the one of Fuji of Japan, that was the path chosen by Toru Iwatani (creator of Pac-Man) to reproduce in a title that would bring an infinity of successors that looked for to reproduce their success. Not coincidentally, it was recreative that collected the most in 1983 in America, becoming a phenomenon. Asking the accuracy and precision of the current simulation would be insane, however taking into account that the decade of the 80 was the dawn of the game, Pole Position has a truth certainly admirable. Project Gotham Racing 2 Bizarre Creations (2003). Xbox

Microsoft needed many great brands with which to attract fans to the Xbox brand since it was the first video game console of the Redmond. They managed to capture all our attention from Bizarre Creations in 2001 with the start of Project Gotham Racing, but they definitely blew us away with their amazing sequel put on sale just two years later. A light but precise and addictive driving, a selection of cars of the most exotic and unusual, tracks in the most varied places that we could imagine and the always attractive support of an Xbox Live that already demonstrated its worth were key elements to consider it one of the best car games of its time. Sega Rally SEGA (1994). Recreational, SEGA Saturn, Dreamcast ... Until the last hour, we have racked our brains to decide between SEGA Rally and Colin McRae Rally, and both had the curious coincidence of belonging to the same subgenre of driving. Finally, we have decided on the SEGA video game not only for being the first great representative in popularizing this type of launches but also for its indisputable quality. His interest in taking care of elements such as the different types of surfaces that we were going to cover with our car made us forget that, in reality, it was not a game that was not generous in terms of the number of tracks or vehicles. Otherwise? An amazing speed production. Super Mario Kart Nintendo (1992). SuperNES ... In the decade of the 90 abounded the video juegos of pure and hard speed without more complications than the one to arrive at the goal before the rivals. It was already tremendously fun in the not too numerous titles that allowed a local game at that time, but if we added the possibility of attacking each other ... Winning formula! Super Mario Kart was not the first work to introduce all these elements separately, but it was the first to bring them together at the same time and refine their structure with the iron hand of a Nintendo that possibly was never as fit as in the time of Super NES. The charisma of the most emblematic characters of the Japanese company.

Follow here, in Gaming News 24.

[vanityvague]

We thank Gretzky for the great show and all guest´s for dancing! playlist:

1)ZEUS B.HELD”Transportable Music”(LP/”Attack Time”/1981/Aladin) 2)FREUR”Doot Doot”(The Hair On The Back Of Your Neck Mix) 3)FASHION”Dreaming”(12”/Ext.Mix Version/1984) 4)CULT CLUB”Never Enough”(2015) 5)THE TECHNO ORCHESTRA”Observation”(1982) 6)BONJOUR TRISTESSE”Transition”(LP/”On Not Knowing Who We Are”/LaFormeLente) 7)PETER BROWN”They Only Came Out At Night”(GlennRiveraRestructureMix) 8)EURYTHMICS”I´ve Got An Angel”(LP/”Sweet Dreams”/1983) 9)SECOND DECAY”I´m Leaving”(Dark Side Re-Edited Version) 10)CABARET VOLTAIRE”Sensoria”(LP/”Micro-Phonies”/1984) 11)BOMBERS II(Megamix) 12)THE BRAINMACHINE”On A Gap”(1979) 13)MIDGE URE”The Man Who Sold The World”(12”/Long Version/1985) 14)BOYTRONIC”Man In A Uniform”(12”/Continental Mix/1984) 15)BRUIT FANTOME”Le Breaking”(EP/”Kosmos”/2010) 16)GINA X”Thanatos tanzt”(LP+Bonus/”Yinglish”/1984/Statik) 17)ESAVU”Sia Siou(Breakin´Up)”(Long Version) 18)FAD GADGET”Stand Up”(LP/”Gag”/1984/Mute) 19)MODURETIK”Realm Of Fancies”(LP/”Retrospektiva”/Syncronica/GreyVinyl) 20)KOTO”Visitors”(Different Version) 21)INTERFACE”Plastic Age”(12”/Disco Dub Mix/1987/ZYX) 22)THE EGYPTIAN LOVER”Soiree At The Shindig”(2xLP/”Platinum Pyramids”) 23)TOYAH”Voodoo Doll”(12”/1981/Safari) 24)WALL OF VOODOO”Crack The Bell”(LP/”Dark Continent”/1981/IRS) 25)THE HUMAN LEAGUE”Do Or Die”(Split-12”/Disco DJ Edits) 26)THE WARNING”Why Can The Bodies Fly”(LP/Long Version/1982) 27)VISAGE”Only The Good Die Young”(LP/”Beat Boy”/1984) 28)PROPAGANDA”Dr. Mabuse”(Outtake 240485) 29)IV/AN”Zlatni Rez”(7”/2017/Fettkakao) 30)FOTOSTAT(1983) 31)MIKO MISSION”How Old Are You?”(3xLP/”The Best Of Italo-Disco Vol.2”/Vocal Version/ZYX) 32)SELOFAN”The One You Wanted”(Official Video Version/2017) 33)DEPRO ART”Ghetto Life”(12”/Long Version/1985) 34)PETE SHELLEY”Telephone Operator”(Ext.Version) 35)FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD”Welcome To The Pleasuredome”(12”/Real Altered/1984/ZTT) 36)DEPECHE MODE”Just Can´t Get Enough”(12”/VA/Ext. Disconet Remix By Joe Hickman) 37)VISAGE Vs.ALAN PARSONS PROJECT”Fade To Sirius”(MashUpMix) 38)EINSTÜRZENDE NEUBAUTEN”Hirnlego”(LP/”Haus der Lüge”/1989) 39)LENE LOVICH”What Will I Do Without You”(7”-EP/Different Version/1980/Stiff) 40)IV/AN”Keep It Confidential”(Promo 2017) 41)FEHLFARBEN”14 Tage”(12”-EP/Long Version/1982/Welt-Rekord) 42)CAPRICORN”I Need Love”(GR) 43)BLACK DEVIL DISCO CLUB”Timing Forget The Timing”(12”/Kerrier District Remix/Rephlex) 44)GRAUZONE”Eisbär”(Hilton Channels Remix) 45)THE HUMAN LEAGUE”The Sound Of The Crowd”(12”/Complete Version/1981) 46)KEN LASZLO”Hey Hey Guy”(12”-Version) 47)SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES”Arabian Knights”(LP/”Ju-Ju”/1981) 48)DAVID BOWIE”Ashes To Ashes”(Ultra Ext.Mix) 49)ALPHAVILLE”Sounds Like A Melody”(12”/Spec.Long Version/1984) 50)ROXY MUSIC”Angel Eyes”(2x12”/Edited By Martin McSweeney/AMusicFactoryMasterMix) 51)LAURA BRANIGAN”Self Control”(Longer Traxx Mix) 52)GINA X PERFORMANCE”Be A Boy”(LP/”Nice Mover”/1978) 53)DEPECHE MODE”Shake The Disease”(Colin Peters Rmx) 54)NIGHT MOVES”Transdance”(12”/UK Club Mix/CoPilot) 55)TALK TALK”It´s My Life”(Rhythm Stick Version) 56)KOOL DJ DUST”Take It To Jesus”(12”/Dancing Suite/BasicFingers) 57)VISAGE”The Anvil”(Ext.Version/2016) 58)TO FEED A NEON FOREST”Moments I´ll Treasure”(LP/VA/”Romance Moderne 2”/2014) 59)TRÄNENINVASION”Herzmuskel”(1980) 50)ABC”Tears Are Not Enough”(12”-Version/1981) 51)LE JETE”La Cage Aux Folles”(GR) 52)GRACE JONES”A Musclemix”(12”/A Mega-Mix Cut Up/1986) 53)JAPAN”Life In Tokyo”(12”/VA/Remixe By Sanny X/DMC) 54)JOY DIVISION”Transmission”(Permanent Post Punk Remix) 55)WOW”Bring On The Men”(12”/Long Version/1984/BMC) 56)SANDY MARTON”OK Run”(7”/Cut Version/1983/Mirto) 57)YELLO”No More Roger”(LP/”Claro Que Si”/1981/Ralph) 58)DURAN DURAN”Hungry Like A Wolf”(Rough Single Mix) 59)SPANDAU BALLET”Reformation”(LP/”Journeys To Glory”/1981) 60)KLAUS NOMI”Total Eclipse”(LP/”In Concert”/1979) 61)JOHNNY LOVESIN”(I Need A)Working Girl”(12”/Special Remix/1983/A&M) 62)POLYROCK”Romantic Me”(7”/1980) 63)LAURIE ANDERSON”Oh Superman”(M.Giordani Speaker Mix) 64)KRAFTWERK”Tour De France”(Classic Wicked Mix) 65)MARC ALMOND”Ruby Red”(EP/”Stained”/1986/SomeBizzare) 66)ANDI ARROGANTI”Krank und pervers” 67)YELLOW MAGIC ORCHESTRA”Behind The Mask”(LP/”Multiplies X00”/1980/A&M) 68)TUBEWAY ARMY”Everyday I Die”(LP/1978/BeggarsBanquet)

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Words: Omar E. #550 Points: Naresh D. #27 Photos: Richard D. #30 & Naresh D. #27

.xls – Final 2017 Autocross Championship Points

As another autocross season wraps up, we sit and reflect on what is … or what could have been. History becomes etched into stone, as the top drivers reap the fruits of their accomplishments. Sponsorship deals and fancy stickers aside, the progression as drivers is what keeps us coming back for more. Victory…an intoxicant that arouses the mind with new possibilities, new limits, new direction and new bank accounts. Let us begin.

Women’s Cup

MCO autocross was blessed to have many more women lace up the race boots in pursuit of the women’s cup title.   Leading the way was the pride of Derbyshire, Kathleen I. displaying her fighting irish roots.  The soft-spoken doctor used some Italian spice in her recipe for victory taking top spot honours amongst the ladies, not to mention her class. 

Women’s Champion – Kathleen I.

It all came together for Natalie “dry beard? coconut oil will gitter’ done” F. piloting the “Green Mile” miata.  Improving step by step was the order of the day for this future Hollywood stylist.  Ms. Facette locked up second place gathering a whopping 6380.92 points…excellent work!

Women’s Cup – 2nd Place – Natalie F.

The final podium position went to Eva “I can’t believe this is legal!” G.  In her second season of competition, Eva kept it together taking in as much experience as possible from every event.  Well it paid off! Eva takes third place amongst the ladies with a points total of 6235.46.

Women’s Cup – 3rd Place – Eva G.

Sidenote: This year, MCO made a concerted effort to  attract more women to our sport and our community, including a Women’s Track Day and a presence at the Women’s Show this past spring. We were ecstatic to have even more female participation than we did during last season’s high-water mark. If you know a woman who loves being behind the wheel, you owe it to her to get her out to Lot 9. 

Rookie Cup

An injection of new drivers is important for the future of autocross. We have been fortunate to have many rookies make an impact quickly as they develop their driving skills and contribute to the success of the series. For this year, top spot amongst the rookies goes to none other than Gerard B.! The Focus ST driver almost won his class but came up a tad short. Despite that, Gerard still walks away with the Rookie of the year title.

Runners up, and husband and wife duo, Scott and Heather M., put down some very respectable times. Scott in the Mini Countrymen managed to amass 6552.55 points while Heather in the Mini Cooper S managed 5075.38 points at the season’s end.

Rookie Cup – 2nd Place – Scott M.

Rookie Cup – 3rd Place – Heather M.

Class Champions

A Class

A class saw a new champ take over as the battle in the “souped up” segment heated up at the end of season.   As has always been the case, the amazing Kevin S. was dominant all year long utilizing all the Fong S2300 had to offer.  The humble Swiss native didn’t really concern himself with podiums and accolades.  It’s all about the driving!  And drive he did!!  MCO’s Stig completed the season with 6840.79 points to take first overall in the class. 

A Class – 1st Place – Kevin S.

Next up was the S2300’s pimp, Steven F.  Also in the S2300, Mr. Fong locked up second accumulating 6689.31 points.  When Mr. Fong was asked about the secret to his success he simply said “I just do whatever…”  Well that is some superb feedback, I’ll wait for the e-book.  Rounding out the top three was Naresh Dibs and Ginger for the most part. 

A Class – 2nd Place – Steve F.

Naresh really only shows up to autocross to sing karaoke…maybe do some driving.  Now in retirement mode, the prolific autocross manager pumped out 6637.18 points all while managing an autocross series…this is a testament to Naresh’s commitment to the series and it’s participants.  Awesome work my friend!

A Class – 3rd Place – Naresh D.

B Class

It was a season long war between Aaron Z and the Wolf.  Both competitors utilizing different styles of the same weaponry and sometimes at the request of fans, they would exchanges weapons between themselves and try them out against each other.   Such is the nature of autocross.  At curtain close it was Aaron Z who held off a menacing attack by the Wolfpack managing 6981.28 points.  That’s good for top spot and class champ bragging rights!!

B Class – 1st Place – Aaron Z.

Not the slightest bit concerned with where he finished, the Wolf takes second with 6970.33 points.  Colin was the only podium winner who competed in every event…He is…the autocross ironman!  Well, Well, Ralf was right…new tires change the game. 

B Class – 2nd Place – Colin W.

Taking third place was your write up guy, Omar “Don’t be an angry Arab and smile already!” E. in his esteemed Omaro.  This culturally dynamic mismatch shows what can be done when differences are put aside grudgingly.  When approached for an interview, representatives from Team Omaro declined to comment and gave me a look that suggested that I was invading their intimate space.  Tallied points for Team Omaro totalled 6541.38. Hurray.

B Class – 3rd Place – Omar E.

C Class

Mr. Kevin S. shows up for a second tour of accolades this time in C class.  On his crusade to dominance, the quiet Kanata resident selected Goldie as the tool of choice as he decimated the competition by obtaining the maximum number of points possible, a whopping 7000!

C Class – 1st Place – Kevin S.

Cameron W. in the “Chariot of Fire” took away second place from course design connaisseur, Mike S..  For the Brockville resident, wearing matching socks had everything to do with his 6831.52 points tally.  Looks like the new suspension setup did its job for Team Cameroooon!

C Class – 2nd Place – Cameron W.

Everything came together at the last event for Mike S. driving the “Green Mile” miata where he was able to lock down top spot.   Suffering from an autocross obsession like many of us, Mike spent hours, if not days designing and mapping course layout after course layout all season long.  The contemporary solo 2 course design artist rounds out the top three for the season with a points total of 6814.51.

C Class – 3rd Place – Mike S.

D Class

Mr. Slow played his underdog card all season long.  Silently counting his first place stickers in the dark, the questionably certified bean counter needed a general ledger to keep track of his victories.  Michael Carroll Shelby, also known to the autocross secret service as the “silver fox” made it rain with the help of his most trusted ally, the silver bullet.   Together, they utilized the power of perception to sway the public into thinking they were nothing to worry about…”I’m just a frail old man driving puny insignificant powerless girly car…what impact could I possibly have” he would exclaim.  So one by one, they brushed him off buying into the image and feeling relatively optimistic about their chances.  But the wise fox knew the truth…and with a simple “click” of the bullet’s seat belt buckle triggered the rise of the autocross Goliath from within…”Say hello to my leettle friend…RE71 ARRRRRRRRRR…”.  The poor dejected competitors never saw it coming resulting in their…decimation.  Hitting less than a handful of cones throughout the season, the silver fox asserted his dominance racking up 6977.20 taking top spot in class.    

D Class – 1st Place – Michael C.

Well played Michael, …well played!  Known to many as the “suspension fiddler”, Mr. Brodey “Michelle, It’s damping, not dampening” D. certainly made his case in the Italian stallion.  Constantly adjusting the Abarth to the point where it will have an identity crisis, Brodey was persistent in his search for that extra tenth.  His work has paid off as he gobbles up second place overall with a points total of 6906.89.

D Class – 2nd Place – Brodey D.

Third place overall went to Colin F. in the FRS.  The silent semi-pro course chalker is becoming somewhat of a legend with his consistent driving.  Colin and Co. continued on their winning trajectory gathering a stellar 6846.66 points.

D Class – 3rd Place – Colin F.

E Class

A first-time class champion has risen from the ranks.  Mademoiselle Kathleen I. in her Abarth was dominant early on and kept it that way until her last event.  Confident she had won her class, the good doctor decided to go on holidays missing that last few events.  It didn’t matter, as “the medicine woman” found a way to victory amassing 6959.72 points. 

E Class – 1st Place – Kathleen I.

Hot on her heels though was the “newb” Gerard B. in the Focus ST.  Mr. Butler sure made things interesting finishing in first place in the last four events.  Sadly for Gerard, that would not be enough as he settles for second place overall managing 6908.15 points.  This will make for an interesting battle in the upcoming autocross season. 

E Class – 2nd Place – Gerard B.

Another new guy managed his way onto the podium showing us that half the battle is showing up!  John “H2O” W. in the Volvo machine was a pillar of driving consistency.  Running what he brung, the S60 held it down long enough for this tandem to take third place collecting 6319.35 points.

E Class – 3rd Place – John W.

Overall Champion

This year’s overall autocross season champion is…Kevin “I’ve run out of things to say about you” S.  Kevin competed in two classes and managed to win both of them.  On a couple of occasions Kevin came close to beating a formula car using a street legal car.  Impressive stuff! Congrats Kevin!

Before we leave you, we’d like to thank our amazing 2017 sponsors who have made this past season truly memorable. Please consider supporting these fantastic local businesses. After all, they support you and your passion:

Title Sponsor

Platinum Sponsor

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsor

  2017 Autocross Championship Results Words: Omar E. #550 Points: Naresh D. #27 Photos: Richard D. #30 & Naresh D. #27…

[silviajburke]

Trump Will Soon End the Korean War

This post Trump Will Soon End the Korean War appeared first on Daily Reckoning.

[Ed. Note: Jim Rickards’ latest New York Times bestseller, The Road to Ruin: The Global Elites’ Secret Plan for the Next Financial Crisis, is out now. Learn how to get your free copy – HERE. This vital book transcends rhetoric from the next phase of the Korean War to prepare you for what you should be watching now.]

The potential for war over the Korean Peninsula is as great as ever. The news cycle we live in is a world of 24-hour updates.  With what seems more like 24-minutes between when stories come and go it is easy to lose focus on the major stories.

The situation in North Korea is absolutely not going away. That’s really important for investors to recognize because this is going to come back again and again.

“Buying the dip” is a successful strategy — until it isn’t. Now that we have entered the escalatory phase in rhetoric and military preparation, markets have still not come to terms with reality.

In March of 2003 when the United States invaded Iraq, we could see that coming. The CIA Director, George Tenet was sending warnings, Secretary of State, Colin Powell was speaking at the United Nations and then President Bush declared Saddam Hussein a global threat.

While the CIA bungled the pre-war intelligence, the point is that the orders to invade Iraq were given a year before. The same story is playing out now.

While the President can always call off military action, the planning phases for an attack on North Korea are going on now. Orders have been given. Preparations have been made. It is fair to say that contingency plans have been in place since the late 1990s.

The North Korean issue was dumped in Donald Trump’s lap.  It is largely attributed to bad diplomacy and faulty leadership through the Clinton, Bush, and Obama administrations. There have been deals with North Korea put in place throughout the years that put hard sanctions on the regime.

We’ve been down this road before. Every time North Korea engages in dangerous behavior, the international community and the United States places pressure on them. It has worked where both sides have agreed to terms, but the North Koreans continuously break their promises and escalate programs.

For the eight years under the Obama administration nearly nothing was done and the issue was largely ignored.  It’s hard to point blame at Trump, and while he has dialed up the rhetoric, this has been going on for decades.

North Korea: The Logic of War

As tensions increase, there’s going to be rising stock market volatility. This is where the logic of war comes in. The French call it, La Logique de la Guerre. The logic of war is different than the logic of diplomacy. It refers to the dynamic of how wars begin despite the fact that the war itself will be horrendous, counterproductive, and possibly end in complete defeat.

Under the logic of war, there’s an escalatory logic that leads to war even when no one thinks it’s a good idea.

There is a theory that Kim Jong-Un is mentally unstable, but in many ways the situation is even more complex because he is extremely isolated and exists in his own dangerous bubble.

There are very few that have told the North Korean leader that he is going down the wrong path. Even if there are talks going on currently behind the scenes with the Russians and Chinese, he’s not someone who is getting much independent advice.

The United States has to come to a decision on whether it can live in that world where it can be threatened by North Korean nuclear weapons and missile programs.

If the US were to attack, it would not just hit weapon systems. The aim would be to have regime change and greater stability that replaces it.

For Kim Jong-Un looking at that outcome, it appears that he believes the United States is bluffing. North Korea is looking at the case in Syria a few years ago where a “red line” was given but no action was taken.

That’s why the logic of war is important. Kim Jong-Un is able to operate with a logic of his own. His logic pushes him away from verifiable cessation of the arms testing and into some version of normalization with relief of sanctions. It moves him away from diplomatic channels and in the direction of pushing his missile programs as far as he can.

That’s where a breakout happens. It is a dash for the finish line where a country aims for an objective without even pretending it is operating with peaceful purposes. Actions are taken regardless of negotiations or critical pressure.

War, Nuclear Weapons and Break Out Escalation

In a breakout, there is an increase in the probability of attack but it drastically decreases the decision-making time and the window in which your enemy, in Kim Jong-Un’s perspective the United States, can actually attack you. That’s where the US is right now. He is in breakout mode. He’s testing his missiles at rapid pace. He’s testing his weapons and putting all the pieces together.

This decision has forced the United States to think hard about war and is providing very little time to act. It could be a matter of months before North Korea has this capability.

The North Korean regime is also aiming to launch a missile from a submarine. The capacity that they have is nothing like the U.S Trident submarines, or a more sophisticated system, but they do have a submarine. The action is going to be a shock to the stock market. It’s going to be a huge wake up call.

The worst case scenario is facing a submarine that can be maneuvered in the Pacific Ocean. While it might be able to be tracked, it allows for a threat to be closer to US territory and the missile range to be greatly diminished.

When that happens, that’s going to change the equation enormously. That’s going to be another shock to the stock market and add to more vulnerability there.

The United States then has two choices. It can acquiesce, allowing a nuclear armed North Korea to exist.

That would cause Japan and South Korea to weaponize nuclear technology which is unstable in itself and will increase the probabilities of war.

The second option is that the US will not acquiesce in this, and will go to war to put a stop it. The first Korean War fighting began in June 1950 and lasted until July 1953. There was no peace treaty but an agreement in an armistice where shooting stopped. The war was never technically over. It is a fight that could restart at any time.

The Next Phase of the Korean War — Who Wins?

My expectation is that it will restart but this will be the end of the first Korean War.

Before and after any conflict there would, in theory, be a lot of communication with China and Russia because they share borders with North Korea. China’s interests are involved and any action with North Korea has the potential for a wider war. The actors involved could include Japan, South Korea. China, North Korea, Russia and the United States.

It is also worth recalling that Russia borders North Korea and has connected railroads and roadways to the region. What that means is that even if China were to cut off North Korea completely, they could still have weapons access from Russia.

In the best case scenario for the war there would be regime change and China would be given assurances that fighting would not be within range of the border at the Yalu River. Under a new regime any leader would have to be more stable than Kim Jong-un and acceptable to China.

The big winner in a regional conflict is Russia. In different ways the US, China, North Korea, and South Korea all lose. Russia is well positioned to sit on the sidelines during of destabilization of East Asia, while the U.S goes deeper in debt.

All of this will happen in stages but the stock market will eventually get a wakeup call that we are headed for war.

Investors looking to take action can make sure they have allocations of both cash and gold. One of the best solutions to this threat is to allocate 10% of your investable assets into physical gold or silver.

That will be your insurance when the time comes and allow you to gradually lighten up on stocks because they’re in for a rocky ride.

Regards, Jim Rickards for The Daily Reckoning

The post Trump Will Soon End the Korean War appeared first on Daily Reckoning.

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Russia-Baiting Pushed Trump To Attack Syria -- And Increases The Risk Of Nuclear Annihilation

Vast efforts to portray Donald Trump as Vladimir Putin’s flunky have given Trump huge incentives to prove otherwise. Last Thursday, he began the process in a big way by ordering a missile attack on Russia’s close ally Syria. In the aftermath of the attack, the cheerleading from U.S. mass media was close to unanimous, and the assault won lots of praise on Capitol Hill. Finally, the protracted and fervent depictions of Trump as a Kremlin tool were getting some tangible results.

At this point, the anti-Russia bandwagon has gained so much momentum that a national frenzy is boosting the odds of unfathomable catastrophe. The world’s two nuclear superpowers are in confrontation mode.

It’s urgent to tell ourselves and each other: Wake up!

The dangers of a direct U.S.-Russian military conflict are spiking upward. After the missile attack, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced that it was suspending a memorandum of understanding with the United States to prevent mid-air collisions over Syria. And Russia’s prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, issued a statement referring to “our now completely ruined relations” and declaring that the United States was “on the verge of a military clash with Russia.”

These ominous developments are a longtime dream come true for ultra-hawks like Republican Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham, who’ve gained leverage in an alliance with numerous congressional Democrats. The neocons and the “liberal interventionists” really have something going now, after propagating the meme that Trump is a Putin puppet.

At this perilous moment in human history, the quality of the Democratic Party leadership was embodied in a tweet last month from the Democratic National Committee’s new chair, Tom Perez, who sent out this message about a weekly address by President Trump: “Translated from the original Russian and everything.”

Such tactics aren’t just McCarthyite. They are baiting, goading and pressurizing Trump to prove that he’s willing to clash with Russia after all.

Those tactics are a far cry from what’s actually needed ― truly independent investigations ― in order to address the charges that Russia interfered with the U.S. election last year. We most definitely do not need the kind of baiting and goading that creates enormous pressure on Trump to show he’s willing and able to go to the brink of war with Russia.

Make no mistake. With 90 percent of the world’s nuclear weapons at the ready in the United States and Russia, pushing to heighten tensions between the two countries is playing with thermonuclear fire.

Early this year, citing the escalation of those tensions, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moved its “Doomsday Clock” even closer to midnight. “In 2017, we find the danger to be even greater, the need for action more urgent,” the Bulletin declared. “It is two and a half minutes to midnight, the Clock is ticking, global danger looms. Wise public officials should act immediately, guiding humanity away from the brink. If they do not, wise citizens must step forward and lead the way. “

People at the grassroots must lead, pushing and pulling the official leaders to follow. To stop the current war train ― and to quite possibly rescue the fate of the earth ― we must get a grip. If we depend on the “leadership” in Congress, all that we hold dear will drift into still-greater jeopardy.

With Congress now in recess, most legislators are back home ― and they should hear from us. Pick up the phone, make an appointment to visit their district offices, or show up without an appointment.

Right now, in one minute, you can send an email to your senators and representative with your own message or with this one: “As a constituent, I urge you to make a public statement that you support a complete cutoff of funds for U.S. military actions in Syria. This step is vital to prevent our country from adding to the deadly violence in Syria ― and to halt the momentum toward a military confrontation with Russia that could end with escalation into a horrific nuclear exchange.”

Detente between the United States and Russia will be necessary for bringing peace to Syria. The same goes for reducing ― instead of increasing ― the chances that nuclear weapons will destroy us all.

What passes for leadership on these matters in Congress will not save us. On the contrary, right now the congressional leaders are serving as enablers for what Martin Luther King Jr. called “the madness of militarism.”

Even the better statements from Capitol Hill about the April 6 missile attack have been grimly inadequate. So, Senator Chris Murphy warned of “the potential quagmire of Syria,” while Senator Bernie Sanders said: “I’m deeply concerned that these strikes could lead to the United States once again being dragged back into the quagmire of long-term military engagement in the Middle East.”

Expressing concern about a “quagmire” is all well and good, but falls far short of acknowledging what’s at stake.

On Sunday, the Washington Post published a sobering ― and frightening ― article by the person who was the national security adviser for Joe Biden during his last two years as vice president. “If the Trump administration and the Kremlin are not able to come to a meeting of the minds on Syria,” wrote Colin Kahl, “it could set the two nuclear powers on a dangerous collision course.”

Kahl, now an associate professor in security studies at Georgetown University, sketched out a plausible scenario: “The Syrian dictator (perhaps prodded by Russia or Iran) may attempt to test Trump again, hoping to prove the president is a ‘paper tiger.’ And Trump, having invested his personal credibility in standing firm, may find himself psychologically or politically compelled to respond, despite the very real risks that it could result in a direct military clash with Russia.”

And, Kahl added, “Given Russia’s vital interests in Syria, Moscow is not likely to respond positively to U.S. ultimatums and maximalist positions. If the administration does not find a way to give the Kremlin a face-saving way out, conflict is much more likely than accommodation.”

Kahl’s article concluded: “Sinking into a Syrian quagmire would be bad enough. World War III would be far worse.”

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