#*rory durham

[ophernelia]

@imogencrnza: it was hard getting them all to behave for a picture.

[blackswaneuroparedux]

The road to the next duty is the only straight one.

- George MacDonald

General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith was the youngest Head of the British Army in over a century, the longest serving Chief of the General Staff since the Second World War and the most senior Special Forces officer in Defence.

The son of a major-general, Carleton-Smith went to Eton and later Durham University to read history. He joined the Army 40 years ago in 1982 on a university scholarship and graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as an Infantry officer in the Irish Guards. 

He passed the SAS Selection Course in 1990 and served around the world with the SAS for most of the following 15 years in the Gulf, South America, Africa and the Balkans. Carleton-Smith was Commanding Officer of 22 SAS Regiment after 9/11 and commanded all Special Forces operations in Iraq, Yemen and Afghanistan.

He subsequently assumed command of 16 Air Assault Brigade, the Army’s high readiness parachute intervention force which culminated in his command of all British Forces in Afghanistan during one of the war’s most intense periods.

Promoted to Major General as Director of Special Forces, he commanded all the United Kingdom’s Special Forces for 3 years which included implementing the strategy to defeat ISIS in Syria and Iraq. 

Prior to taking up the post of Chief of the General Staff, the professional Head of the British Army in 2018, he was Defence’s Director of Military Strategy and Operations which included directing the UK response to Russia’s invasion of Crimea and military support to Ukraine. 

General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith has also been Honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards and of Oxford University OTC and also been a member of the England Rugby mentoring team preparing the squad for the 2023 World Cup and Colonel Commandant of the SAS.

Photo: General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith, KCB, CBE (As Colonel Irish Guards) Portrait Sitting London. (Rory Lewis Photographer) London 2023.

[castoflykaia]

RORY DURHAM, The Wolf ➻ AGE: 26 ➻ BIRTHDAY: 04/01 ➻ SPECIES: LYCAN ➻ CURRENT STATUS: ALIVE ➻ ETHNICITY: POLYNESIAN/MELANESIAN ➻ PARTNER(S): CERES DURHAM, KAILA BRICE

[random-movie-ideas]

DC Cinematic Universe, Phase One Plan

Doing some research ahead of where I'm at with the villain blogs, here is my expected plan for Phase One of this theoretical cinematic universe:

THE FLASH - During a freak lightning storm, police scientist Barry Allen and his girlfriend's little brother Wally both end up developing super speed. As a result, a local gang breaks into a research lab and steals a number of high-tech weapons to be able to fight back.

Starring: Barry Allen/Flash, Wally West/Kid Flash, Iris West, Joe West, Ralph Dibny, Sue Dibny, Len Snart/Captain Cold, Digger Harkness/Captain Boomerang, Mick Rory/Heat Wave, Mark Mardon/Weather Wizard, James Jesse/Trickster, Hartley Rathaway/Pied Piper.

MARTIAN MANHUNTER - A Martian warrior finds himself stranded on Earth after being teleported there by an old scientist. Now hunted by intergalactic "peacekeepers" called the Manhunters, the Martian befriends a former marine named John Stewart, who helps him find his way home again.

Starring: J'onn J'onzz/Martian Manhunter, John Stewart, Katma Tui, Scar, the Manhunters, Dr. Simon Erdel, likely some government people like Amanda Waller.

GREEN LANTERN - A team of Green Lanterns chase the war criminal Atrocitus to Earth after he perfects a red ring to fight back against them. When one Lantern is killed, his ring ends up in the hands of Hal Jordan, who must now be trained in its use to save his world and the entire galaxy. But the more he learns, the more he discovers about the Lantern leader's hand in Atrocitus's origin.

Starring: Hal Jordan/Green Lantern, Thaal Sinestro, Arisia, Ch'p, Salaak, Kilowog, Atrocitus/Red Lantern, Dex-Starr, Abin Sur, Carol Ferris, Thomas Kalmaku, Hector Hammond, likely some other supporting Lanterns.

WONDER WOMAN - While pursuing the dangerous terrorist Baroness Paula von Gunther, military operative Steve Trevor and his team stumble upon a lost island in the Mediterranean. The island's princess, Diana, works with them to stop the Baroness from endangering the island and the entire world.

Starring: Diana/Wonder Woman, Steve Trevor, Etta Candy, Barbara Ann Minerva, Baroness Paula von Gunther, Doctor Poison, Queen Hippolyta, Donna Troy, Nubia, and many other Amazons.

AQUALAD - Jackson Hyde is the son of underwater treasure hunter David Hyde AKA the Black Manta, scouring the world for the lost Trident of the Dead King, a weapon used to sink Atlantis. When Jackson meets an Atlantean named Garth, he learns there is some truth to his father's tales and must work together with Garth to stop him from getting his hands on it.

Starring: Jackson Hyde/Aqualad, Garth/Tempest, David Hyde/Black Manta, Black Jack, Eel, Charybdis, Scylla, Scavenger, Cal Durham, Atlan/Dead King.

GREEN ARROW - Rogue vigilante Oliver Queen finds himself captured by the government and forced into Amanda Waller's Suicide Squad, including such members as Dinah Lance, Roy Harper, and Slade Wilson. They are sent after foreign noble Count Vertigo, who poses a threat to the United States. After the job is done, Oliver betrays Waller and puts his life on the line to get himself, Dinah, and Roy out of the squad.

Starring: Oliver Queen/Green Arrow, Dinah Lance/Black Canary, Roy Harper/Speedy, Amanda Waller, Slade Wilson/Deathstroke, Count Vertigo, likely other members of the Suicide Squad.

JUSTICE LEAGUE - Earth finds itself attacked by a race of aliens called Kryptonians, endowed with powers beyond any human. Bruce Wayne (who has been acting as a Nick Fury figure throughout the previous movies) brings together Princess Diana, J'onn J'onzz, Barry Allen, and Hal Jordan to help fight against them. Arthur Curry also joins, having been caught up in the initial attack alongside Diana as they both fought the villainous Atlantean, Queen Clea. Oliver Queen receives an invitation as well, but turns it down before ultimately helping in the end. Other characters like John Stewart also pitch in, resulting in John receiving a Green Lantern ring in the end. As the battle rages, Bruce investigates a twenty+ year old report of a Kryptonian ship crash-landing in Kansas, leading him to Clark Kent.

Starring: Clark Kent/Superman, Bruce Wayne/Batman, Princess Diana/Wonder Woman, Hal Jordan/Green Lantern, Barry Allen/Flash, Arthur Curry/Aquaman, J'onn J'onzz/Martian Manhunter, General Zod, Faora-Ul, Ursa, Non, Jax-Ur, Oliver Queen/Green Arrow, John Stewart, Lois Lane, Martha Kent, Jonathan Kent, various other supporting cast, and Queen Clea.

TEEN TITANS - After witnessing an alien girl taken captive, Bruce Wayne's former protegee Dick Grayson begins investigating HIVE, a special "academy" where superpowered teens are taken by the government and trained to work for them. Wally West, Jackson Hyde, and Roy Harper likewise start investigating for similar reasons. Among the students they rescue are the alien girl Starfire, Cyborg, Beast Boy, and Raven.

Starring: Dick Grayson/Nightwing, Roy Harper/Speedy, Wally West/Kid Flash, Jackson Harper/Aqualad, Koriandr/Starfire, Victor Stone/Cyborg, Garfield Logan/Beast Boy, Rachel Roth/Raven, Slade Wilson/Deathstroke, Amanda Waller, HIVE staff.

And that's it. The ordering of the first six can be subject to change, but the two big crossovers remain the same. What do you think? Would you watch this as a series?

[academia-characters-poll]

So far, we have 25 submissions. Here's a list of characters I've received:

BOOK CHARACTERS

Robin Swift from Babel by R. F. Kuang

Horatio from Hamlet by William Shakespeare

Enola Holmes from The Enola Holmes Mysteries by Nancy Springer

Henry Winter from The Secret History by Donna Tartt

Victor Frankenstein from Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Edmund Pevensie from The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis

James Farrow from If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio

Sherlock Holmes from the book series by Arthur Conan Doyle

2. MOVIE CHARACTERS

Neil Perry (Dead Poets Society 1989)

Todd Anderson (Dead Poets Society 1989)

Steven Meeks (Dead Poets Society 1989)

Charlie Dalton (Dead Poets Society 1989)

Clive Durham (Maurice 1987)

Laurie Lawrence (Little Women 2019)

Nina Seyers (Black Swan 2010)

Matilda Wormwood (Matilda 1996)

Bulbbul Chaudhury (Bulbbul 2020)

3. TV CHARACTERS

Violet Baudelaire [ASOUE]

Klaus Baudelaire [ASOUE]

Duncan Quagmire [ASOUE]

Lemony Snicket [ASOUE]

Beelzebub [Good Omens]

Rory Gilmore [Gilmore Girls]

Muriel Stacy [Anne With an E]

Cole McKenzie [Anne With an E]

Deadline for submission: 30th April

[rorysynoground]

This month's Issue of "Your Voice of Freedom" Articles by Pastor Rory Synoground, Dr. Larry Ollison. Rev. Judy Osmundson, and an "Expressions of Faith" by Charles Durham Be Blessed

[trashboystudios-rookietherapist]

Congratulations! You win!

Thanks for playing!

This game was made for Global Game Jam 2023 as part of the Boston site. Check out our jam page here →

Check out Trash Boy Studios' other 2023 GGJ Game, Puttin' Down Roots, here →

Check out Trash Boy Studios' 2022 GGJ game, Critter Camp, here →

DIRECTED BY

Lou Whiting & Ailish Shea

GAME DESIGN

Lou Whiting

WRITING

Lou Whiting & Ailish Shea

VIDEOGRAPHY

Sawyer Jones

VIDEO EDITING

Sawyer Jones & Ailish Shea

CAST (in order of appearance)

Head Therapist: Leo Durham

Patient: Ailish Shea

Chicago Cubs Fun Facts (voice): Lou Whiting

Reporter: Anna Rodman

Hitman: Cole Thompson

Trash Boy 2: Rory Whiting

Many thanks to Clickhole, Brian David Gilbert, James Cameron's Avatar (2011), Phasmagoria, and all of our friends and loved ones for supporting us through this jam.

Did you find all 5 endings? > Play Again! →

[trasyboystudios-testblog]

Congratulations! You win!

Thanks for playing!

This game was made for Global Game Jam 2023 as part of the Boston site <3 Check out our jam page here →

Check out Trash Boy Studios' other 2023 GGJ Game, Puttin' Down Roots, here →

Check out Trash Boy Studios' 2022 GGJ game, Critter Camp, here →

DIRECTED BY

Lou Whiting & Ailish Shea

GAME DESIGN

Lou Whiting

WRITING

Lou Whiting & Ailish Shea

VIDEOGRAPHY

Sawyer Jones

VIDEO EDITING

Sawyer Jones & Ailish Shea

CAST (in order of appearance)

Head Therapist: Leo Durham

Patient: Ailish Shea

Chicago Cubs Fun Facts (voice): Lou Whiting

Reporter: Anna Rodman

Hitman: Cole Thompson

Trash Boy 2: Rory Whiting

Many thanks to Clickhole, Brian David Gilbert, James Cameron's Avatar (2011), Phasmagoria, and all of our friends and loved ones for supporting us through this jam.

> Play Again? →

[truthshield]

Standing Ready: Examine the past present and future of VA innovation

Welcome to the Standing Ready podcast. Season 2 explores the history behind VA medical devices, the Million Veteran Program, cardiology, cancer care, medical research and VA’s medical training program. Standing Ready elevates and highlights the significant contributions – past, present and future – of the nation’s largest health care system through a historical lens. Join Veterans Health historian Katie Delacenserie and producer Shawn Spitler as they delve into VA’s fascinating medical past. They speak with several VHA innovators and pioneers, including: Dr. Rory Cooper – helping paralyzed Veterans Cooper is a senior research career scientist at the VA Human Engineering Research Laboratories. As a paralyzed Veteran himself, Cooper has dedicated his career to improving the lives of paralyzed Veterans. He holds 25 patents in wheelchair technology and is the inventor of many advanced mobility devices and assistive technologies. Dr. Michael Kelly – cancer care leader As national program director for oncology for VA, Kelley directs policy and program development that affect the more than 50,000 Veterans diagnosed with cancer each year. He is also chief of hematology and oncology at the Durham VA. Dr. Khalil Ahmed – improving cancer treatment Ahmed is a senior research scientist at the Minneapolis VA. For over 40 years, his interest has been in the protein CK2 and its role in cancer therapy. His work has set the stage for potential ground-breaking new therapies. Dr. Sumitra Muralidhar – Million Veteran Program Muralidhar is the program director for VA’s Million Veteran Program, a national research program to learn how genes, lifestyle and military exposures affect health and illness. Since the program launched in 2011, more than 870,000 Veteran partners have joined. Dr. Joseph Stehilik – Veteran heart care Stehilik is with the Salt Lake City VA. His research in heart failure, heart transplantation and mechanical blood circulation have led the way in Veteran care. Episodes will be released every two weeks and are available on major streaming platforms. To listen to previous Standing Ready podcasts, click here. https://ift.tt/Ccra7b2 https://ift.tt/XPGxRUJ

[enfotimes]

County Championship: Sir Alastair Cook makes another century; Rory Burns and Dom Sibley in the race

County Championship: Sir Alastair Cook makes another century; Rory Burns and Dom Sibley in the race

Alastair Cook acknowledges the applause after his century for Essex against Yorkshire Sir Alastair Cook made his first-class 71st century for Essex against Yorkshire on a day when New England captain Ben Stokes was in the Durham line-up at Worcestershire. Cook stubbornly held the crease for his 107 from 268 balls, his third wicket partnership of 174 with fellow southpaw Paul Walter guiding Essex…

[ophernelia]

it's a battle of the face cards between this group.

[hotforhandman]

Jay, your activity levels put me to shame, but do you actually get any studying done? -your concerned Durham friend Rory

Listen. I’m in my third year of an MBiol which means I have fuck all to do this term except for my lit review. I can afford to spend some time responding to thirst asks on tumblr x

[castoflykaia]

CERES DURHAM, The Wolf ➻ AGE: 27 ➻ BIRTHDAY: 05/26 ➻ SPECIES: LYCAN ➻ CURRENT STATUS: ALIVE ➻ ETHNICITY: AFRICAN AMERICAN ➻ PARTNER(S): RORY DURHAM, KAILA BRICE

[janfraiser]

Shules + cuddling reluctantly

okay this is really long and the cuddling isn’t until the end but i had an Idea

Shawn arrives home, late at night, to find his wife sitting at the breakfast bar, studying case reports.

This is a problem.

This is a problem because the reason he’s home so late is that he’s been tracking lead after lead on the Drew case, talking to coworkers and then neighbors and then relatives. He’d looked for four different people, all of whom had worked for Drew, before giving up. All four had lead to dead ends.

It’s not like he’s never worked late before, but... the chief had declined his assistance on the case, in a firmer manner than usual. Lassiter had growled insults at him until he’d left the station, and Jules hadn’t stopped him. Juliet herself had taken him aside and asked him to stay out of it. Her voice had been quiet and serious with a hint of desperation.

But people were disappearing, and nobody was asking questions because anyone who did got a sizeable check and a nondisclosure contract from the office of Norbert Drew. Even the cops were having a hard time getting anywhere. It was right up his and Gus’ alley, but they hadn’t been hired... at least, not by the department.

At any rate, Shawn is more than slightly nervous at the sight of Juliet, especially since she should have gone to bed ages ago. He tries to shut the door quietly behind him, but at the click of it shutting, she turns around and spots him.

Now he can see what he hadn’t from behind- namely, the gun tucked into the waistband of her pajama pants. That only happens when she’s truly concerned for their safety, despite being in her own home. Shawn doesn’t blame her- he knows Drew had bugged the homes of at least three of the four guys he’d gone looking for. Doesn’t Juliet see that this is all the more reason for him to work the case, to help them solve it quickly?

“Shawn, where the hell have you been?”

Shawn lies reflexively, but just because he can do it quickly doesn’t mean he can do it well. “Um. I’m having an affair.”

Juliet rolls her eyes and folds her arms over her chest. “I can’t believe this, Shawn. You went looking for Edward Harris, didn’t you?”

Edward Harris, Thomas Mannion, Sheila Rogers, and Luke Durham. But she doesn’t need to know all of that.

“...Maybe?”

Clearly pissed, she turns away from him once more, tidying up her papers that are strewn over the counter. “You need to get your priorities straight, Mister Spencer. Do you know how many times Zoe asked me when you would read her a bedtime story before I finally got her to bed?”

Shawn winces. “Low blow, Jules.”

She whips around, her gaze icy, but Shawn is saved from imminent death by a stampede of tiny footsteps down the stairs. Zoe, Leo, and jake- who has Rory on his back- rush into the kitchen and attack him with hugs.

“Daddy!!!”

“You’re home!!”

“Where’d you go, Dad?’

“Daddy!!!”

Shawn takes Rory from Jake and holds him close to his chest. The three-year-old immediately lays his head on Shawn’s shoulder. “Hey, kiddos. It’s kinda late for you all to be up.”

Juliet’s glare softens to a displeased frown as she runs a hand through Jake’s curls. “All of you are supposed to be in bed.”

Zoe pouts, and Shawn doesn’t know how Jules can resist it, because he certainly can’t. “I can’t go to bed without Daddy reading me a story.”

Shawn lifts Zoe into his other arm, and she wraps her arms around his neck. “How about this, little lady- I’ll tell you a bedtime story for as long as it takes us to get from here up to your bed.”

She yawns. “Okay.”

Shawn and Juliet successfully coax all four children to bed, and then head to their own. He notices that his wife’s gun goes under her pillow instead of in the drawer.

“Jules.”

She gives him a tired look. “Shawn... I’m very upset with you.”

He reaches for her, but she tugs a pillow onto her lap and ignores him.

“Jules, come on... this happens all the time. You and Lassie tell me not to work a case, I work the case, we solve it, no big deal.”

“But this is a big deal, Shawn. And in case you hadn’t noticed, there are more important things to life than catching bad guys.”

Shawn opens his mouth to retort, but closes it when he realizes she’s right.

He thinks about their tiny, tired stampede, all just waiting for a goodnight kiss.

He thinks about when he was Jake’s age, creeping down the hallway when he heard his dad get home. How he never got the bedtime story he wanted, becaused raised voices and angry tones scared him back to his room.

Shawn flops back on the bed, rubbing a hand over his face. “God... fuck.”

Jules raises an eyebrow at him.”What neurons just fired in that ridiculous brain of yours?”

“I’m turning into my dad, Jules. And not the version of him that buys a trampoline for his grandkids because they gave him puppy dog eyes.”

A small nod. Go on.

“God, Jules, I don’t want to turn out like my dad. I don’t want us to be my parents.”

“Do you get it now, Shawn?” she asks softly.

“Yeah, Jules... yeah, I think I do.”

Her expression is still stern, but she lies down next to him on her stomach, her chin in her hands. “Shawn, I love that we work together. I don’t want to stop you from doing what you do best. But every once in a while, when we get something like this, with sociopaths and cold-blooded murders and people who just vanish without a trace... well, someone needs to be with our kids, Shawn, should- should the worst happen. Someone needs to stay safe, and keep them safe. But I swore an oath.” She swallows. “It can’t be me.”

Shawn nods slowly. “Jules?”

“Mhm?”

“I’m sorry.”

“I know.”

“I love you.”

“I know.” She sighs. “Goodnight, Shawn.”

She turns off the light, and then curls in on herself, moving to the edge of her side of the bed. Shawn isn’t having that.

“C’mere, baby,” he whispers.

“I’m still not happy with you.”

“But cuddling will make it better.”

“Shawn-”

He pulls her into his arms. “Shh, Jules. It’s late. Go to sleep.”

She sighs and twines her arms around his neck. He grins into the dark.

“Goodnight, Jules.”

[battingonjakku]

A guide to the 18 counties and why you should/shouldn’t support each one (version 2.0)

Hello! It’s been a couple of years since I did this original guide, so I thought it was time for an updated version as after all, a lot has happened since then. 

All the confirmed overseas players I’ve found have been included, the most significant Kolpaks (not all though, because there are many), and the most recent England/Ireland/Scotland players as well…and then some just to look out for.

Without further ado then, here is a relatively comprehensive guide to choosing your county for the year ahead…

Derbyshire

Overseas & Kolpak: Logan van Beek, Kane Richardson (T20), Ravi Rampaul

England/Ireland/Scotland: Mark Watt

England prospects: Matt Critchley, Hamidullah Qadri

Why you should support them: Who doesn’t love an underdog? Quite a bit of young talent around, including in Hamidullah Qadri the first county cricketer born in the 21st century (welp)

Why you shouldn’t support them: They always seem to fly under the radar, and I still haven’t met a Derbyshire supporter (please reveal yourselves if you are out there!)

Durham

Overseas & Kolpak: Cameron Bancroft, D’Arcy Short (T20)

England/Ireland/Scotland: Ben Stokes, Mark Wood, Stuart Poynter

England prospects: Josh Coughlin, Matty Potts

Why you should support them: One of the leading producers of England players over the years, and who have suffered a lot at the hands of the ECB. Who doesn’t have a soft spot for Durham?

Why you shouldn’t support them: It’s been a tough few years due to off-field circumstances, and a lot of their top players have left in the process. Likely to struggle again.

Essex

Overseas & Kolpak: Peter Siddle, Adam Zampa (T20), Mohammad Amir (T20), Simon Harmer, Cameron Delport, Matt Quinn

England/Ireland/Scotland: Alastair Cook, Tom Westley, Ravi Bopara

England prospects: Jamie Porter, Daniel Lawrence, Nick Browne, Sam Cook

Why you should support them:  The place to get your Alastair Cook fix post-England retirement. They’re also a lovely bunch of lads, and with their unexpected 2017 CC win have become one of the division’s leading teams.

Why you shouldn’t support them: Have a notable Kolpak contingent, and are just one of those teams for whom when things go wrong, it happens spectacularly.

Glamorgan

Overseas & Kolpak: Shaun Marsh, Marnus Labuschagne, Colin Ingram, Marchant de Lange

England/Ireland/Scotland: Ruaidhri Smith, Timm van der Gugten (well, Netherlands)

England prospects: Prem Sisodiya

Why you should support them: Flying the flag for Wales as the only county not based in England, and another underdog to root for as well. A decent pace bowling attack that should see them improve on last year.

Why you shouldn’t support them: Continually struggling, last year coming bottom of the County Championship and with no trophies in a long time.

Gloucestershire

Overseas & Kolpak: Michael Klinger (T20), Dan Worrall  

England/Ireland/Scotland:  Adrian Neill

England prospects: Ryan Higgins, Ben Charlesworth

Why you should support them: A team with an exceptional history in short-form cricket, and though they tend to be underdogs nowadays, can still prove themselves worth more than the sum of their parts.

Why you shouldn’t support them: Have tended to stay mid-table in Division Two over the past few years without making huge strides forward. Though known for limited overs success, form can be variable.     

Hampshire

Overseas & Kolpak: Aiden Markram, Kyle Abbott, Fidel Edwards, Rilee Rossouw

England/Ireland/Scotland: Liam Dawson, Mason Crane, James Vince

England prospects: Sam Northeast, James Fuller, Aneurin Donald

Why you should support them: Often strong performers in the shortest forms, winning the one day cup last year and having been regulars at T20 finals day in the last decade.

Why you shouldn’t support them:  Tend to scrape their Division One safety in the CC every year, so prepare for the stress. Also one of the counties people love to hate, thanks in part to high profile Kolpak signings and the attitude of their chairman.

Kent

Overseas & Kolpak: Matt Renshaw, Adam Milne (T20), Mohammed Nabi (T20), Heino Kuhn

England/Ireland/Scotland: Joe Denly, Sam Billings

England prospects: Daniel Bell-Drummond, Zak Crawley  

Why you should support them: A steadily improving county in all formats, reaching the one day final and being promoted from the CC last year. Soon to be 43, the evergreen Darren Stevens is also worthy of a mention here too.

Why you shouldn’t support them: Another team with a notable Kolpak contingent in addition to those above. A team with little experience of the first division as well, so who will be facing a challenge.

Lancashire

Overseas & Kolpak: Joe Burns, Glenn Maxwell, James Faulkner (T20), Dane Vilas

England/Ireland/Scotland: James Anderson, Jos Buttler, Haseeb Hameed, Keaton Jennings, Liam Livingstone

England prospects: Saqib Mahmood, Alex Davies, Matthew Parkinson

Why you should support them:  With a strong squad it would be a surprise not to see them promoted this year, especially with the bowling attack that managed to pick up the most bonus points last year. It also looks like they’ve final gotten rid of that god-awful green kit, too.

Why you shouldn’t support them: It’s Lancashire, what more is there to say? (I had to get a dig in here somewhere, didn’t I?)

Leicestershire:

Overseas & Kolpak: Mohammed Abbas, Colin Ackermann, Mark Cosgrove

England prospects: Will Davis

Why you should support them:  Just lovely, and definitely improving as a team after many years at the bottom of the pack. Always developing young, talented players. The only ground I’ve been to where I’ve been offered a bag of Sweets Or Weed. 

Why you shouldn’t support them: Well known for their top players leaving, and another big exodus took place at the end of the season. Supporting them can be painful, too.

Middlesex

Overseas & Kolpak: Mujeeb Ur Rahman (T20), AB de Villiers (T20), Ross Taylor

England/Ireland/Scotland: Eoin Morgan, Steven Finn, Toby Roland-Jones, Tim Murtagh, Paul Stirling, Sam Robson

England prospects: Nick Gubbins, Ethan Bamber, Tom Barber, Tom Helm, Max Holden

Why you should support them: A squad with a lot of English and Irish talent and hot prospects who will be striving for promotion this year. And there’s the Lord’s factor, because where better to watch cricket?

Why you shouldn’t support them: Have underperformed in the two years following their CC win, and it’s best not to even mention the shorter forms. 

Northamptonshire

Overseas & Kolpak: Temba Bavuma, Faheem Ashraf (T20), Jason Holder, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Levi

England/Ireland/Scotland: Kyle Coetzer

England prospects: Ben Curran

Why you should support them: A team without big resources who have become one of the more successful T20 teams in the country. Also, I love Temba Bavuma in general and just want that stated here.

Why you shouldn’t support them: That T20 success that made them famous went spectacularly downhill last year, finishing well adrift at the bottom of the group. Have lost important players since, too.

Nottinghamshire

Overseas & Kolpak: Dan Christian (T20), James Pattinson

England/Ireland/Scotland: Stuart Broad, Jake Ball, Alex Hales, Ben Duckett

England prospects: Joe Clarke, Zak Chappell, Matthew Carter, Tom Moores, Ben Slater

Why you should support them: A team with a lot of England talent from the past, present, and likely the future. Have strengthened their squad a lot over the winter and will be looking to challenge on all fronts.

Why you shouldn’t support them: Not too popular for buying a lot of their talent, particularly with their winter recruitment. Have also underperformed in the longer format despite a strong squad.

Somerset

Overseas & Kolpak: Azhar Ali, Jerome Taylor (T20)

England/Ireland/Scotland: Jack Leach, Dom Bess, Craig Overton, Josh Davey

England prospects: Jamie Overton, George Bartlett

Why you should support them: A well-liked county, by everyone really apart from the ECB. Also the home of Marcus Trescothick, making centuries into his forties, and probably the best place in the country for spin bowling.

Why you shouldn’t support them: It always ends in pain, doesn’t it? A great track record for finishing high among the runners up, but not getting over the line, which has also returned among the last couple of seasons.

Surrey

Overseas & Kolpak: Aaron Finch, Dean Elgar, Morne Morkel

England/Ireland/Scotland: Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Ollie Pope, Rory Burns, Liam Plunkett, Ben Foakes, Jason Roy, Mark Stoneman 

England prospects: Amar Virdi, Will Jacks, Conor McKerr

Why you should support them: England players a plenty, with many coming through the academy system at the moment. The reigning champions of the CC and the favourites to win again, and should compete in the other formats.

Why you shouldn’t support them: One of the definitive love-to-hate counties among the 18, and another who like Notts are regularly called out on their spending.

Sussex

Overseas & Kolpak: Rashid Khan (T20), Mir Hamza, David Wiese, Stiaan van Zyl

England/Ireland/Scotland: Chris Jordan, Tymal Mills

England prospects: Jofra Archer, George Garton, Delray Rawlins

Why you should support them: An up-and-coming team, coached by the wonderful Jason Gillespie. Particularly exciting fast-bowling stocks, and last year’s T20 runners up who will want to go one better. Also, Luke Wright.  

Why you shouldn’t support them: For whatever reason, they tend to be bad at 50 over cricket, so probably not the team to root for if you’re after that Lord’s final.

Warwickshire

Overseas & Kolpak: Jeetan Patel, Ashton Agar (T20)

England/Ireland/Scotland: Chris Woakes, Olly Stone, Ian Bell

England prospects: Will Rhodes, Ed Pollock, Sam Hain, Henry Brookes, Dom Sibley     

Why you should support them: A likeable team, as they would be with Chris Woakes and Ian Bell. After a few years with an aging squad, now have quite a few young players who have either come through or been given a second chance from elsewhere.

Why you shouldn’t support them: Though they’ve bounced straight back from division two, they really crashed out during their relegation season so their return to the top flight might be a learning curve.

Worcestershire

Overseas & Kolpak: Callum Ferguson, Martin Guptil (T20), Wayne Parnell

England/Ireland/Scotland: Moeen Ali

England prospects: Pat Brown, Josh Tongue, Dillon Pennington

Why you should support them: A team with a lot of strong homegrown young talent, who won the nation’s hearts on their way to their T20 Blast win in 2018. Led by Moeen Ali, and if you don’t appreciate them for that then what’s up with you mate?

Why you shouldn’t support them: The ultimate yo-yo team, constantly being promoted or relegated whilst rarely staying in one place, so not one to support if you don’t want the sadness every other year.

Yorkshire

Overseas & Kolpak: Duanne Olivier

England/Ireland/Scotland: Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Adil Rashid, David Willey, Gary Ballance

England prospects: Ben Coad, Matthew Fisher, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Harry Brook

Why you should support them: They’re my team and I would die for them, the best team you can support. In seriousness though, they feature a lot of England players from past and present and tend to challenge across all competitions in some degree. Look strongest in the shorter forms.

Why you shouldn’t support them: Another love-to-hate county, as us Yorkshire fans do tend to go on about our successes. It has been a tricky couple of years as well, with a struggling batting line-up and no major reinforcements on that front.

[webart-studio]

Passenger chaos after Flybmi ceases flight operations

Passengers stranded throughout Europe have instructed of their frustration after the UK regional airline Flybmi collapsed, cancelling all its flights.

The corporate stated uncertainty over Brexit and rises in gasoline and carbon prices led it to enter administration.

One Briton caught in Belgium stated the airline wouldn’t refund her fare and he or she couldn’t afford an alternate.

Flybmi made its announcement on Saturday afternoon, leaving 376 workers susceptible to redundancy.

The airline has instructed affected travellers to contact their insurance coverage and bank card corporations.

Flybmi, which is predicated close to East Midlands Airport, operated 17 plane and flew to 25 European cities.

Durham College pupil Mary Ward found her flight could possibly be affected when her mom confirmed her a information report.

She then obtained a textual content from the airline that stated: “URGENT: Vital message for Flybmi prospects. All flights are cancelled. Please go to www.flybmi.com for additional particulars. Thanks.”

Ms Ward had been set to fly from Brussels to Newcastle however is uncertain how she is going to return to the UK.

“I paid £130 for my flight which it doesn’t appear I’m going to get again – I don’t understand how I’m going to get again to Durham,” she stated.

“I can’t afford any of the flights or the Eurostar.”

‘Not assured’

Richard Edwards, from West Sussex, stated he and his household skilled issues with a scheduled flight to Munich when travelling to Austria for a snowboarding vacation.

“We had gone via safety at Bristol Airport when there was an announcement saying our flight had been cancelled,” he stated.

“They laid on taxis to Heathrow and booked us on a Lufthansa flight to Munich.

“I don’t understand how we are going to get again but. I’m not assured Flybmi will have the ability to type it.”

Rory Boland, journey editor for shopper physique Which?, stated some prospects had claimed tickets had been being offered within the hours earlier than the airline filed for administration, “understanding full nicely these tickets would by no means be honoured”.

“Passengers will rightly be outraged if that is proved to be the case,” he added.

@flybmi so myself and my dad are presently caught in karlstad due to your administration, any probability you may get us house? x

— Pebbles (@pebblystoner) February 16, 2019

Flybmi issued the next recommendation to these with flights booked:

Individuals who booked straight with Flybmi ought to contact their card issuer to hunt a refund

Passengers who booked through a journey agent or one in every of Flybmi’s associate airways ought to contact them to ask about their choices

These with journey insurance coverage ought to see if they’re eligible to say for cancelled flights

The Civil Aviation Authority additionally revealed recommendation for travellers.

A spokesman for the Flybmi stated: “It’s with a heavy coronary heart that we have now made this unavoidable announcement.

“The airline has confronted a number of difficulties, together with current spikes in gasoline and carbon prices, the latter arising from the EU’s current resolution to exclude UK airways from full participation within the Emissions Buying and selling Scheme.

“Present buying and selling and future prospects have additionally been critically affected by the uncertainty created by the Brexit course of, which has led to our incapacity to safe worthwhile flying contracts in Europe.”

One in all Flybmi’s routes, which related Stansted and Londonderry, was subsidised by the federal government to spice up commerce and journey between Northern Eire and the remainder of the UK.

A number of folks use the flights for work and Derry Strabane Council stated it was in emergency talks with the Division of Transport to hunt a substitute airline for the route.

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source https://webart-studio.com/passenger-chaos-after-flybmi-ceases-flight-operations/