#Colonel Dyson

[halobirthdays]

Happy birthday to Spartan Kurt Ambrose!

Today is his -488th birthday!

Kurt Ambrose was born Kurt Trevelyan on Circumstance. Like all SPARTAN-II candidates, he was identified as exceptional by Dr. Catherine Halsey, kidnapped, and replaced with a flash clone. Kurt was one of the top candidates of the program, with Franklin Mendez believing that he would lead the Spartans. Like all Spartans, he possessed physical and mental prowess, but he also displayed a sociable nature that was unusual for the Spartans. Like John-117, his closest competitor, he had strong instincts and a tendency for luck to fall in his favor of his intuition.

Kurt became the leader of Green Team. Like all Spartan-IIs, his intital deployments were against Insurrectionist groups. However, after the Human-Covenant war began, his training was accelerated and he was sent to combat the Covenant.

After the death of Samuel-034, Kurt was assigned to Blue Team. While uneasy with the replacement of their friend, he was welcomed into the team. During one of their missions, Kurt's armor malfunctioned, sending him into space, where he was marked as MIA and presumed dead. However, the suit malfunction was actually orchestrated by ONI under the orders of Colonel Ackerson, who wanted to use Kurt for his secret project: training the next generation of Spartans. Ackerson knew Halsey would attempt to stop him, so he had Kurt and the new recruits sent to the secret shield world Onyx to be trained. He gave Kurt the surname Ambrose, which he would need for his officer's commission, as Kurt's indoctrination was so complete that he forgot the name he was born with.

Kurt would begin training the new conscripts alongside Mendez, the same person who had trained Kurt and his peers. Kurt cared deeply for the trainees and was devastated when he lost Alpha and Beta company, blaming himself despite the fact that SPARTAN-IIIs were intentionally treated as more disposable than their previous generation. Shaken by his losses, he had Gamma company enhanced with illegal augmentations, which were risky but increased their odds of survival.

In 2552, there was an outbreak on conflict on Onyx. During this conflict, he discovered that Catherine Halsey and Kelly-087 made their way to Onyx after fleeing the Covenant invasion of Reach. Halsey was furious to discover the SPARTAN-III program, but happy to see Kurt alive. They were joined by Blue Team, minus John, who were there to assist in finding Forerunner technology that Halsey believed was located within Onyx. This was a lie, as Halsey actually intended to activate the planet's defenses and protect herself and her Spartans after the UNSC lost the war.

As all this was happening, the Great Schism had just begun in the Covenant. Fleetmaster Voro Nar 'Mantakree joined a group of Sangheili shipmasters who defected from the Covenant but maintained their faith and hatred of Humanity. 'Mantakree discovered the operations on Onyx, and took his feet to attack the shield world.

The subsequent battle left Kurt mortally wounded, and, at the protest of those under his command, he insisted on being left behind. However, before his death, he primed multiple nuclear warheads, and used himself as bait to lure 'Mantakree's forces to him. Once they were in range, he activated them, killing 'Mantakree and his entire fleet and saving the survivors.

Kurt's armor transponder continued to emit a signal that was detected by the UNSC, leading to the survivors' rescue. With the outer "shield" of Onyx destroyed, the remaining Dyson sphere was officially dubbed "ONI Research Facility Trevelyan", named in Kurt's honor using his real surname at Halsey's behest.

[scotianostra]

The 16th of February 1746 in what became known as the Rout of Moy,  Government forces under Lord Louden attempt to capture Prince Charles Edward Stewart at Moy Hall.

Around midnight on 16th/17th February 1746, Lord Loudon, the Commander of the Hanoverian forces in the north, mustered 1500 troops from the Inverness Garrison and set off on the twelve mile march south along General Wade’s Road to Moy in a bid to capture Prince Charles Edward Stuart. The prince, a guest of Lady Anne Mackintosh (Colonel Anne) at Moy Hall, had arrived with a small guard of 50 men, some distance ahead of his retreating Highland Army.

Pitch darkness interspersed with flashing lightning slowed and unsettled the marching men.

Watching the road here, 3 miles from Moy Hall, was an ‘outer guard’ of just five Jacobites led by Donald Fraser, the Moy Blacksmith. He had chosen a spot where he could observe movement on the skyline to the north in darkness, and where he had cover to the south in daylight. Nearby to the east, peat stacks remained out on the moor. Here he planned to harass, and perhaps deceive, the enemy.

As the Hanoverian Column, spearheaded by the Laird of MacLeod and his men approached in the darkness, they were surprised by sudden musket fire and loud war cries urging clansmen to battle. Even the peat stacks threatened in the flashing lightning. Convinced that the whole Highland Army was at hand, Loudon’s men turned in panic and fled back to Inverness, somehow carrying off the body of Donald Ban MacCrimmon, Piper to MacLead and the only fatality of the night. A premonition of his imminent death had been realised.

This skirmish took place two months prior to the Battle of Culloden. Donald Fraser died in 1804 and lies buried in Moy Churchyard.

The above information is displayed at the Cairn.

On the cold, dull but dry afternoon of Saturday l6th April, a sizeable crowd of over 200 people attended the unveiling of a new cairn making the site of the skirmish known as “The Rout of Moy”.

This event was organised mainly by Donald MacAskill of Tomatin, James Ingram of Aberdeen, and James and Elma Singer of Ellon, with valuable assistance from Brian Duff of Forest Enterprise. Building work was carried out by Murdo MacAskill, Fred Jamison and Willie MacAskill, all of Inverness.

The unveiling ceremony was preceded by a stirring demonstration of drumming skills by the Clann an Drumma (4 drummers and a piper) from Glasgow.

During the ceremony wreaths were laid in memory of Donald Ban MacCrimmon, and a one minute silence was observed.

After the ceremony Donald MacAskill thanked the following people for their participation:-

HRH Prince Michael of Albany for unveiling the cairn. Dr Seamus H Grant of Rothiernurchus for his address in Gaelic. Hector MacKenzie of Skye for his prayers. Judith Dyson of Kingussie for playing the lament. Kenneth Borthwick of Dundee for the musket salute.

Afterwards an appreciative large crowd enjoyed the hospitality of the Coleman family at the Tomatin Inn who provided welcoming plates of soup and stovies. Music was provided by Clann an Drumma, Judith Dyson, James Home, Fred Jamison and Andy Shaw. It was a most enjoyable day which will long be remembered by those present.

[hishgraphics]

Star Wars RPG: Dawn of the Rangers

S01E17 "Rangers Refreshed"

Location: New Republic Rangers HQ, Coruscant

After two days of rest, Captain Zor Draco (Martín), Gev Dyson (Edward), Olem (Eric) are summoned by Colonel Tyria Sarkin to the HQ's conference room on Level 3 of the Generis Arcology.

Sarkin introduces them to a new recruit, an Iotran New Republic Security Force officer named Kirino Mak (Carlos). She has been assigned to the team as a law enforcement agent.

The briefing begins. Sarkin recounts the team's experiences. They had been working for Agent Tailgunner at the Rangers branch at Karkbreath Peak on Vandor. The team was collecting (stealing?) materiel for Tailgunner. A Gozanti-class cruiser here. A flight of X-wings there.

Then their informant, old Mrs Stassie McPing, was assassinated by Tora Nuam for passing on an encrypted datacard with a warning about who they were working for. Nuam is their teammate Ordan Vallas' former flame. When they finally decrypted the datacard, via Zor's cousin Tarn Draco on Kitel Phard, they discovered that Tailgunner is one Beru Treedancer, working for the isolationist Imperial enclave known as the Pentastar Alignment of Powers.

Meanwhile, Republic Intelligence have no news of their vanished teammates Ordan Vallas, Pac Vesme and Captain Kin Asa Goddard. This sounds grim for the team.

According to Sarkin, the Pentastar Alignment is led by Moff Ardus Kaine who replaced Moff Tarkin as Oversector Outer Moff after the Battle of Yavin. A year ago, he gathered Imperial and corporate loyalists to unite on Entralla to form the PA. Information about them has been sparse since.

Gev proposed a straight up attack, but Sarkin tells him they don't have the resources and the New Republic takes ponderously long to decide.

Zor's proposed move is to scout for intel on Vandor. He refers to the Republic Sienar Systems star courier they found in a buried Sith Temple (under the old Jedi Temple) during the previous mission to repower Olem's lightsaber with a kyber crystal. That ship could have a cloaking shield they could use for effective intelligence gathering.

Sarkin tells them a 6-personnel tech team has been dispatched. One has been reportedly killed by a Sith War Droid. Another disappeared into a door in the Temple that itself disappeared. The remaining four are huddled together fearfully in the star courier cabin performing their analysis.

The Rangers' mission now is to go to the Sith Temple and protect the tech team long enough for them to assess the courier. But in the meantime, the team has been assigned a new ship down in the Hangar Bay in Level 10.

Before going there, Zor changes into his field uniform. They all meet the Quartermaster droid EV-44L4 for more gear. Kirino asks for a bomb defusing kit. Eve-Four is reluctant to release it, but she persuades the droid effectively.

They reach the Hangar Bay where two ships await in launch position. One is Kirino's Y-Wing fighter Blue One being tended to by R2-BA, her astromech droid.

The other is a dark grey Omicron-class attack shuttle with turquoise stripes across her three S-foils. They name her the Spotchka Starstreak. Everyone boards their crafts and prepares for launch. Gev wonders if the new team member will cut it. Zor replies, this is a good mission to test her skills.

When the Nikto crew chief signals them, they both take off. The two ships fly to their dark destination in formation.

TO BE CONTINUED

[johnrgordon]

LONGLISTED FOR THE POLARI PRIZE

FROM THE WINNER OF THE FERRO-GRUMLEY FICTION AWARD

A BOOK FOR KEEPS - Book of the Year 2020

The night the statue of a Confederate colonel is torn down in the center of a dying, opioid-scarred and racially divided Southern town is the night two wild teenagers meet and start to fall in love. White working class Cleve is broke and drifting into criminality; black, bourgeois Roe is alienated and rebellious. They say opposites attract, and who could be more opposite than Cleve and Roe?

When Cleve finds himself, at age 17, home alone for the first time in his life, he summons the courage to invite Roe to stay over. The young men’s relationship looks set to move to another level when they are interrupted by Hark, a mysterious black vagrant who seems to possess supernatural powers, and takes them on a strange and troubling journey into the past.

Hark is a touching, vividly contemporary coming of age story; a compelling, fast-paced and ultimately hopeful tale of gay interracial love; and shows us how necessary it is to confront the evils of our shared history, however painful it may be to do so.

JOHN R GORDON is the author of eight novels, including the black gay antebellum epic Drapetomania. Hailed as “an all-out masterpiece” by PATRIK IAN-POLK (Noah’s Arc, Blackbird, The Skinny) and “a dazzling work of imagination” by MICHAEL ERIC DYSON (Tears We Cannot Stop: Sermon to White America) it won the prestigious 2019 Ferro-Grumley Award for best LGBTQ fiction.

Read a moving review by, and fascinating interview with, author and critic Rue Sparks.

'A master novelist' - Huffington Post

'A novelist at the height of his powers' - DIRIYE OSMAN, The Financial Times

'Audaciously provocative, sexy and spooky all at once. And very much of the zeitgeist!' - CRAIG LAURANCE GIDNEY, A Spectral Hue

'It shouldn't work but it does... A welcome addition to the tradition.' - LARRY DUPLECHAN, Blackbird

'Profound and vibrant... one of the most profound endings of any book I have read. Not just this year—ever. I am still reeling over how perfect and deeply important the events are, and how much they mean regarding our shared histories... a book that unilaterally needs to be read. Not only do I think most of us should read this, I think a lot of us need to read this book.' - RUE SPARKS

You can buy this text via the following outlets:

UK: Waterstones / Amazon

US: Barnes & Noble / Amazon

[winari2]

DERNIÈRE HEURE; MEGASTRUCTURE DE DYSON DÉCOUVERTES ET UN COLONEL CONFIRM...

[mrm101]

After last Thursdays (21 Mar) automatic abort at T-20 seconds Soyuz MS-25/71S will be trying again today (23 Mar). Onboard is visiting crew of Soyuz Commander Lieutenant Colonel Oleg Novitsky of the Russian AF, a veteran of three Expeditions to the station. NASA astronaut Tracy Caldwell-Dyson (left) will be staying onboard the station replacing her colleague Loral O'Hara. Marina Vasilevskaya is the first female astronaut from Belarus, the is an air hostess, I think they held some kind of competition. Novitsky, Vasilevskaya and O'Hara will return in about 12 days. They will return on Soyuz MS-24-70S (leaving a fresh Soyuz for the long stay crew). The problem on Thursday that caused the abort was the detection of low voltage in the electrical systems of the Soyuz 2.1a rocket (they are both called Soyuz confusingly). This time they won't be able to do the two hour trajectory to the ISS and instead it will take until Monday. To do the quick approach you need the ISS to fly directly overhead at launch and that won't happen again for a while. Pic: NASA/Roscosmos

• Thursday 23 March 2024: Launch

GMT (EDT)

12:00 (08:00) LAUNCH COVERAGE

12:36 (08:36) launch

• Monday 25 March 2024: Docking

13:15 (10:15) rendezvous & approach

14:09 (11:09) docking (Prichal nadir)

16:15 (13:15) EMBARKATION COVERAGE

~16:40(13:40) hatch opening

[ask-marcus-cally-and-ari]

Only Human

Chapter 15: Ride or Die

The trio had been allowed to wander while the Freaks discussed their next plan. Marcus, for his part, went looking for a cot or a bed. “I’m so f*cking tired.”

“We have a few spare beds in the medical ward,” a nearby intern piped up, looking up as Marcus passed her desk.

“Thanks.”

“My nephew talks about you a lot,” the intern added. “Jackie Ruez?”

“Our small forward. Nice guy,” Marcus smiled, sitting down. “I remember he didn’t know much English when he first started.”

“You and your friends tutored him, right?”

“That was all Cal. I just taught him basketball and Ari taught him how to paint.”

“He’s been painting a lot these days. “He went through 10 packs of watercolors in just three months.”

Marcus chuckled. “I remember swapping his acrylics with finger paint as a joke. He chased me all through school that day. I probably deserved it.”

“So that’s why he came home with paint all over his hands.”

“I had to wash my hair for an hour to get it all out.” Marcus smiled, and then sighed, a look of tiredness no teenager should have had on his face.. “...look, can you just... just tell him I’m okay?”

“Of course.”

“The last time I got in trouble, it was some kids from a nearby school who jumped me. My teammates tracked down each one, took some bats and metal pipes, and put them all in the hospital. In one night. I don’t want them doing anything like that now. They could get hurt, and on my mama, I bet those *ssholes would turn them just to f*ck with me.”

“You know, if you wanted you could ask Colonel Dyson to put them under HECU Protection. It’s like Witness Protection, just with a lot more security.”

“Yeah, I’d like that.”

The intern nodded and picked up the nearby phone. “Do you want to call him yourself or do you want me to put in the request?”

“I’d like you to do it. I want to call my team.”

“There’s a phone in the break room over there.” The intern gestured down the hall to Marcus’ right.

“Thanks.”

---

“Man, this sucks! Marcus is who-knows-where being hunted and we can’t do sh*t to help!”

A young teen, no more than 14, grumbled sourly to himself while kicking over a box of wood chips in an abandoned warehouse. Another kid, a few years older than him, looked up from their phone.

“I got a lead a few hours ago. From what I can gather, it looks like he was heading to HECU Headquarters. I don’t know if they’ve made it there yet, though.”

“What can we do? These are, like, supervillains! And we’re just teenagers!”

“We could track them. Cally has a bunch of brainiac friends. Get them together and have them start looking for those *ssholes,” a tall boy, likely 17, suggested.

“Maybe we should get some of Ari’s friends, too,” another kid added.

“Yeah. The more, the better.”

The kid with the phone sat up and started briskly typing away. “Guys, you’re not gonna believe this, but it looks like Marcus has some Freaks of his own. You guys know Spyper and Intelligent Heavy, right?”

“I think so. Didn’t Spyper get his head chopped off and put on someone else’s body?”

“Yeah, he got his body swapped around with Sny.”

“Hey, Wilson. Start finding more good Freaks. The more join up, the more chance Marcus has of getting through this. Have the brainiacs help.”

“I think Marcus is way ahead of us. I found some security footage of the road outside HECU Headquarters and just take a look at who’s with him.” Wilson showed the other kids the footage, where a handful of Freaks accompanied the Trio inside, including Count Jester.

“He got the clown with him?” a younger kid piped up.

“Apparently. Now all he needs is us-” 

Ring! Ring!

“Huh? My phone!”

“Who is it, Jackie?”

“Unknown Number. Should I answer it?”

“Answer it, but don’t say anything. If it’s spam, they’ll hang up if they don’t hear anything.”

Jackie did. “Hello?”

“Jackie? It’s Marcus. Are you okay?”

“Marcus!” Jackie gasped. “Are you in HECU? We’ve been looking all over for you!”

“Yeah, I’m at HECU. Your aunt says hi.”

“Aw. How long have you been at HECU?”

“Jester teleported us here about an hour ago. Apparently they were tricked into holding us for the guy who wants to kill us, but that’s been sorted out, and they gave me a pet, so we’re cool now.”

“...I’m sorry, what?” 

“Yeah, everyone trying to kill us is working for one dude.”

“Yeah that doesn’t sound bad at all,” Jackie winced.

“Tell me about it. Anyway. I’m calling to ask you not to do something stupid.”

“Whaaaat? Psh, nah, we’re not gonna do anything stupid. Right, guys?” Jackie said with a snide grin, winking at the rest of his team.

“You worry too much, Quinn. Chill.”

“Yeah. Rest easy, we’re not gonna pull some sh*t.”

“Alright. Stay safe out there. And don’t go near any emo Snipers you see.”

“Sure thing, man.”

Jackie hung up, still grinning. “So. Who’s ready to hunt an emo Sniper?’

“I’ll get the others. Viktor. Does your family still have all those weapons?”

“Yeah. Which ones do we need?”

“As many as you can get. Especially long-range. We did tell Marcus that we wouldn’t approach the f*cker, so sniping is the way to go.”

“There’s nothing quite like exploiting a loophole,” Viktor grinned, heading out of the warehouse.

The other boy nodded and dialed a number. “Hey, Olga? Gather the brainiacs. We know where Marcus, Cally, and Ari are.”

“Wait, really!?”

“Yeah. A buncha Freaks are trying to kill them.”

“WHAT!?”

“Yeah. Apparently”

“Holy sh*t... Alright, what do you need help with?”

“Hacking. We need you to track down as many Freaks as you can.”

“On it.”

“And get Ari’s friends. We need numbers.”

“Gotcha.”

Hanging up that call felt heavy, like the life-changing moment it would be for everyone involved.

“Should we have anyone over at HECU to keep an eye on Marcus?”

“No. Then they’d know what we’re doing and try to stop us. We gotta stay off the radar. Wear masks. Disguise our voices. Make sure nobody can identify us.”

“I had a feeling we’d need these!” another kid shouted from the bottom of the warehouse, pulling along a rack of all black disguises.

“Hey, you’re the theater kid, right? I knew you were useful for something.”

“Yep! I had these costumes ready for awhile but we never needed them. UNTIL NOW!”

“Awesome. Guys, get home. We’ll meet back here tonight.”

“Alright. Nobody die overnight!”

“Don’t jinx it.”

The theater kid knocked on the side of the warehouse on their way out.

---

“Thank you all for coming. As you know, a bunch of superpowered *ssholes have decided to kill our friends, and we, the students of Dade City High, cannot allow this to happen.”

As the student body president spoke, Viktor handed weapons to everyone in attendance. 

“You are being given weapons now. If you do not know how to use them, Viktor will teach you on the way.”

“What’s the current plan of attack?” A younger student piped up among the crowd.

“We go to HECU. Its location is confidential, but our hackers have found it. We also have a van we stole from a junkyard and fixed to be our ride. You know, to make it harder to track.”

“How are we all gonna fit in one van?” Another student called from the back of the crowd.

“Like sardines.” 

“Also, I have a trailer. We can use that for training and extra space,” added a rich kid.

“Couldn’t we just use an old school bus?” One of the engineering students pondered. “Wouldn’t take much to jumpstart it, and nobody would be suspicious of a school bus going through Evo City.”

“From Dade City? That’s two states away,” put in a chess club student.

“What about an activity bus? It’s not uncommon for students to go on field trips that take them across state lines,” another engineering student added.

“That works. You two go steal it. We can take both.”

The engineering students nodded and gathered up their bags before leaving for the school’s parking lot, their bags clinking with metal on the way out.

“Did everyone pack some clothes and supplies?”

“Yeah, but why not electronics?”

The rich kid spoke up again. “I got a cheap phone plan. Everyone gets a phone. This way our parents can’t track us.”

“And they can’t be tracked by anyone else, can they?” a skeptical student inqueried, looking their phone over.

“I was kinda hoping you tech whiz guys could take care of that,” the rich kid replied sheepishly.

The small group of tech students all glanced at each other before sharing a collective nod. “Give us 10 minutes.”

“Good.”

“What do we do once at HECU?”

“Find out where our friends are. By force if necessary.”

“And if any hostile Freaks show up while we’re doing that?”

“Why do you think I’m giving you weapons?” Viktor deadpanned, holding up his own gun.

“Ask a stupid question,” the class clown teased.

“I mean like, one of the really bad ones. Like Painis. I don’t even think our weapons would work against him.”

“Probably run. Or run him over.”

“Let’s pray that Freaks like Nightmare Medic or HOOVYDUNDY aren’t part of this whole thing.”

“Hmm... hey, I just remembered. I have an aunt that works at HECU.”

“Uh... who are you?” the student body president asked.

“Melissa James.”

“Oh no,” the student body gasped in unison.

“...is that bad?”

“Are... are you related to Anita James, by any chance?”

“Yeah! That’s my aunt! She taught me how to build bombs. And tasers.”

“Holy sh*t! You’re related to a mad scientist! THE mad scientist!”

“Yeah, she’s a bit... eccentric. But the point is, she could be our in. And get us better weapons when we get there.”

“Isn’t she under constant surveillance though? I heard she blew up HECU twice in the last three months. That’s not something you just leave unmonitored.”

“In the same three months, she built a weapon that can level cities, a teleportation device, an army of attack microbots, and a shield generator. We could use those against stronger Freaks.”

“Would she even let us use them?”

“She’s a mad scientist who needs her weapons tested, and I hear her boss won’t let her give them to HECU soldiers. I’m not worried.”

“Well…”

“What choice do we have, Todd? Do you want them to kill Ari? Or Marcus? Or Cally? We’re desperate, and beggars can’t be choosers.”

The student sighed. “Alright. Give her a call.”

---

RING! RING!

“Hello?”

“Hey, Aunt Anita.”

“Oh! Hi, Melissa! How are you?”

“Not good. My friends are in danger. I think you may have seen them. Marcus, Cally, and Ari?”

Anita paused, lifting her pen off her notepad. “...yes, they just came in earlier today.”

“Some friends and I are coming to help him out, and we were wondering about using your weapons to do it.”

“Hmm... Come around the back of HECU. I’ll keep the door unlocked for you.”

“Heh... thanks, Aunt Anita. Also, could you maybe not tell those three about this? We told Marcus we wouldn’t do anything crazy, and if he finds out we’re doing this, we’re gonna get our *sses kicked.”

“My lips are sealed.”

“Thanks.”

There was a nod, and Anita, the mad doctor who sent people running with a smile and a wave, hung up.

[skgway]

1823 July, Wed. 9

7

12 1/2

In the stable 3/4 hour levelling the new setting of the stalls etc. etc. It rose near 2 inches a yard, and in consequence of the hanging level of the ground 1 side of the Mare’s stall 3 inches higher than the other – Ordered it all to be pulled up again – The stalls to be quite level across and to fall not more than an inch a yard towards the channel – Ordered a small window to be thrown out at the North West corner, and the stall-division posts to be charred and set in the ground as I originally intended them before my uncle’s objection –

Came upstairs immediately after breakfast – Copied the whole of my letter to HMC [Henrietta Matilda Crompton] – In the gig to set off to Haugh end at 11 50/60 – The mare behaved ill at starting we could not get her to go – She would back, or at best stand still choosing to go along the hall-green, rather than pull us up the lane – My aunt walked up –

Drove my aunt to H–x [Halifax] – Then took up George and put into the post-office my letter to “Miss H[enrietta] M[atilda] Crompto]n, Esholt hall, Bradford (vide the last page) – The mare behaved ill again at Bull-green – At last got her to Haugh end – Then, Mrs. H[enry] P[riestley] and her sister lady Astley, Sir John, their son and daughter and Major P– [Pickford] being all gone to call at Thorpe, I drove after them, sent George back (to Haugh end) with the gig, and walked back myself with the party –

On our return we found Mrs. Dyson of Willow-field just stopping at the door to call – All went into the breakfast room to luncheon – Sir John and I seemed to talk for them all – He acknowledged to keeping a journal – So did I, and we promised not to note down anything against each other – Made bleeding and blistering an excuse for only taking a morning dress –

Sat down to dinner at 6 instead of 5 1/2 – George waited in his new livery that came home on Saturday – There was a long table, and four spare knives and forks – Miss (Delia) Edwards and Mr. Marshall the barrister lately settled at H–x [Halifax], a friend of the Belcombes’, expected, but could not come – Coffee about or a little after 8 –

Came away at 9 1/4, and got home at 10 20/60 – Sat up talking to my uncle and aunt till 11 50/60 then came upstairs. Put my hair in a few papers. Fine day –

Sir John A– [Astley] is a large, good-tempered, good-countenanced, talkative man, rather apeing humour, gentlemanly enough, but nothing particular, likes to talk of his contested election for the county of Wiltshire, and of his seat in parliament, and of the house of commons in general; said he liked everybody and everything he saw here, admired Pyenest as a pretty “gentlemanlike place”, and, to use Mrs. H[enry] P[riestley]’s expression to me, laid aside all his hauteur here – 

He quizzed or teazed his daughter a little too much about putting an oyster shell down her back – and played upon the word sauce she made use of at dinner saying he had too much of her sauce, he had too much of it already – We had just been talking of Paris and French cookery; and I could not help observing –  “that, Sir John, is piquante: ‘Tis French sauce, not English” – I think he made no attempt at wit of this sort afterwards –

He had been very civil to me in the morning about franks – Gave me 3 (all of them whole sheets), one for M– [Mariana] tomorrow, and one for Mrs. James Dalton and another for Miss Maclean on Friday – Lady A– [Astley]’s style of figure, more particularly in her low evening dress, reminded me little of Mrs. H[enry] S[teph] B[elcombe] – So did her style of face tho’ perhaps more slightly – she is like Mrs. H[enr]y P– [Priestley] but prettier – 

Would certainly be called a pretty woman, but she has rarely animation or intelligence enough of countenance for me – She struck me as being very insignificant this morning at Thorpe, and Mrs. John Priestley might have been a little astounded at the yesterday baronetage of her visitors who do not I should fancy, under value it themselves – Lady A– [Astley] is quiet, and by this means escapes vulgarity – She told me of my being “so clever” –

The knight-of-the-shireship has evidently not brought them into society in London as yet – She told me all the gents of the house of commons knew each other quite well, but this did not at all apply to their wishes – She thought it ought – Sir John was present – I talked of the Caprices of society – Admitting some and not others – All depended on our debut – Whether we happened to take with them, etc. etc. – He agreed, and seemed to speak from some home-felt experience – I do not think his wife and daughter will ever shine much –

Lady A– [Astley] told me that the honourable Mrs. Wandsford wife to the Count Colonel commanding the Wiltshire militia (the regiment in which Sir John was Captain, and is still Major) was a great disadvantage to them – Jealous because they could not return civilities, and she could not – Prevented people calling on them – Said they were shy, and did not wish for company etc. etc. –

I smiled in my sleeve to hear Sir John tell major P– [Priestley] he would not like to leave his regiment (the 2nd West York) even if it was called out again into action – He “would not like to lose his rank” – Militia rank! Young Astley, Frank (Francis) ætatis 17 6 foot one inch, is a fine looking gentlemanly young man, far the best of the best of the party but lady A– [Astley] regretted that he had been unlucky in his schools – Told me a long history about them – He had laid aside Greek, and knew little of Latin, but he has a private tutor and is going to Xst [Christ] Church Oxford –

Miss Astley, older than her brother (say 18) seems a good-humoured girl, rather littleish and not thin – Neither pretty nor much like a gentlewoman – Says Ma’am almost every time she answers a lady – Her face a little broke out – The A– [Astley]’s were in mourning – Perhaps they looked the better for it – Young A– [Astley] is fond of botany, and horses, and hunting and coursing –

Asked Miss A– [Astley] if her father ever meant to speak in parliament –  “No!” but she was sure he could speak very well – They sometimes got up in the house by a dozen at a time to speak – Mr. Marsh was a warm electioneering opponent of Sir John’s – The lady of Sir Charles Mallet was a warm advocate and wrote him 2 letters of good wishes, etc.  – What a dose of the Astleys! Rien de trop – Ne quid nimis –

E [three dots, treating venereal complaint] O [three dots, signifying much discharge] Very much indeed. I know not when such large flakes of very yellow discharge. Surely the not wash before dinner could not make so much difference. There is more discharge since I was bled and blistered –

[nasa]

Celebrating Women’s History Month: Most Recent Female Astronauts

For Women’s History Month, NASA and the International Space Station celebrate the women who conduct science aboard the orbiting lab. As of March 2019, 63 women have flown in space, including cosmonauts, astronauts, payload specialists, and space station participants. The first woman in space was Russian cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova who flew on Vostok 6 on June 16, 1963. The first American woman in space, Sally Ride, flew aboard the Space Shuttle STS-7 in June of 1983.

If conducted as planned, the upcoming March 29 spacewalk with Anne McClain and Christina Koch would be the first all-female spacewalk. Women have participated in science on the space station since 2001; here are the most recent and some highlights from their scientific work:

Christina Koch, Expedition 59

Christina Koch (pictured on the right) becomes the most recent woman in space, launching to the space station in mid-March to take part in some 250 research investigations and technology demonstrations. Koch served as station chief of the American Samoa Observatory and has contributed to the development of instruments used to study radiation particles for the Juno mission and the Van Allen Probe.

Anne McClain, Expedition 57/58, 59

Flight Engineer Anne McClain collects samples for Marrow, a long-term investigation into the negative effects of microgravity on the bone marrow and blood cells it produces. The investigation may lead to development of strategies to help prevent these effects in future space explorers, as well as people on Earth who experience prolonged bed rest. McClain holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel as an Army Aviator, with more than 2,000 flight hours in 20 different aircraft.

Serena M. Auñón-Chancellor, Expedition 56/57

Serena Auñón-Chancellor conducts research operations for the AngieX Cancer Therapy inside the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG). This research may facilitate a cost-effective drug testing method and help develop safer and more effective vascular-targeted treatments. As a NASA Flight Surgeon, Auñón-Chancellor spent more than nine months in Russia supporting medical operations for International Space Station crew members. 

Peggy Whitson, Expeditions 5, 16, 50, 51/52

Astronaut Peggy Whitson holds numerous spaceflight records, including the U.S. record for cumulative time in space – 665 days – and the longest time for a woman in space during a single mission, 289 days. She has tied the record for the most spacewalks for any U.S. astronaut and holds the record for the most spacewalk time for female space travelers. She also served as the first science officer aboard the space station and the first woman to be station commander on two different missions. During her time on Earth, she also is the only woman to serve as chief of the astronaut office. Here she works on the Genes in Space-3 experiment, which completed the first-ever sample-to-sequence process entirely aboard the International Space Station. This innovation makes it possible to identify microbes in real time without having to send samples back to Earth, a revolutionary step for microbiology and space exploration.  

Kate Rubins, Expedition 48/49

The Heart Cells investigation studies the human heart, specifically how heart muscle tissue contracts, grows and changes its gene expression in microgravity and how those changes vary between subjects. In this image, NASA astronaut Kate Rubins conducts experiment operations in the U.S. National Laboratory. Rubins also successfully sequenced DNA in microgravity for the first time as part of the Biomolecule Sequencer experiment.

Samantha Cristoforetti, Expedition 42/43

The first Italian woman in space, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti conducts the SPHERES-Vertigo investigation in the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM). The investigation uses free-flying satellites to demonstrate and test technologies for visual inspection and navigation in a complex environment.

Elena Serova, Expedition 41/42

Cosmonaut Elena Serova, the first Russian woman to visit the space station, works with the bioscience experiment ASEPTIC in the Russian Glavboks (Glovebox). The investigation assessed the reliability and efficiency of methods and equipment for assuring aseptic or sterile conditions for biological investigations performed on the space station. 

Karen Nyberg, Expedition 36/37

NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg sets up the Multi-Purpose Small Payload Rack (MSPR) fluorescence microscope in the space station’s Kibo laboratory. The MSPR has two workspaces and a table used for a wide variety of microgravity science investigations and educational activities.

Sunita Williams, Expeditions 32/33, 14/15

This spacewalk by NASA astronaut Sunita Williams and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Aki Hoshide, reflected in Williams’ helmet visor, lasted six hours and 28 minutes. They completed installation of a main bus switching unit (MBSU) and installed a camera on the International Space Station’s robotic Canadarm2. Williams participated in seven spacewalks and was the second woman ever to be commander of the space station. She also is the only person ever to have run a marathon while in space. She flew in both the space shuttle and Soyuz, and her next assignment is to fly a new spacecraft: the Boeing CST-100 Starliner during its first operational mission for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. 

Cady Coleman, Expeditions 26/27

Working on the Capillary Flow Experiment (CFE), NASA astronaut Catherine (Cady) Coleman performs a Corner Flow 2 (ICF-2) test. CFE observes the flow of fluid in microgravity, in particular capillary or wicking behavior. As a participant in physiological and equipment studies for the Armstrong Aeromedical Laboratory, she set several endurance and tolerance records. Coleman logged more than 4,330 total hours in space aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia and the space station.

Tracy Caldwell Dyson, Expedition 24

A system to purify water for use in intravenous administration of saline would make it possible to better treat ill or injured crew members on future long-duration space missions. The IVGEN investigation demonstrates hardware to provide that capability. Tracy Caldwell Dyson sets up the experiment hardware in the station’s Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG). As noted above, she and Shannon Walker were part of the first space station crew with more than one woman. 

Shannon Walker, Expedition 24/25

Astronaut Shannon Walker flew on Expedition 24/25, a long-duration mission that lasted 163 days. Here she works at the Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF), an incubator with an artificial gravity generator used in various life science experiments, such as cultivating cells and plants on the space station.  She began working in the space station program in the area of robotics integration, worked on avionics integration and on-orbit integrated problem-solving for the space station in Russia, and served as deputy and then acting manager of the On-Orbit Engineering Office at NASA prior to selection as an astronaut candidate.

Stephanie Wilson, STS-120, STS-121, STS-131

Astronaut Stephanie Wilson unpacks a Microgravity Experiment Research Locker Incubator II (MERLIN) in the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM). Part of the Cold Stowage Fleet of hardware, MERLIN provides a thermally controlled environment for scientific experiments and cold stowage for transporting samples to and from the space station. Currently serving as branch chief for crew mission support in the Astronaut Office, Wilson logged more than 42 days in space on three missions on the space shuttle, part of the Space Transportation System (STS). 

Other notable firsts:

• Roscosmos cosmonaut Svetlana Savitskaya, the first woman to participate in an extra-vehicular activity (EVA), or spacewalk, on July 25, 1984

• NASA astronaut Susan Helms, the first female crew member aboard the space station, a member of Expedition 2 from March to August 2001

• NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, the first female ISS Commander, April 2008, during a six-month tour of duty on Expedition 16

• The most women in space at one time (four) happened in 2010, when space shuttle Discovery visited the space station for the STS-131 mission. Discovery’s crew of seven included NASA astronauts Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger and Stephanie Wilson and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Naoko Yamazaki. The space station crew of six included NASA astronaut Tracy Caldwell Dyson.

• Susan Helms shares the record for longest single spacewalk, totaling 8 hours 56 minutes with fellow NASA astronaut Jim Voss. 

• Expedition 24 marked the first with two women, NASA astronauts Shannon Walker and Tracy Caldwell Dyson, assigned to a space station mission from April to September, 2010

• The 2013 astronaut class is the first with equal numbers of women and men. 

• NASA astronaut Anne McClain became the first woman to live aboard the space station as part of two different crews with other women: Serena Auñón-Chancellor in December 2018 and currently in orbit with Christina Koch.

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com

[incarnationsf]

George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion

An abridged version of George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion.

Date & Time: Wednesday February 10, 4 p.m. PST Free admission. Donations gratefully accepted. Click here for details. Click here to register for Zoom call

Pygmalion, is a romantic play in five acts by George Bernard Shaw.

Henry Higgins, a phonetician, accepts a bet that simply by changing the speech of a Cockney flower seller he will be able, in six months, to pass her off as a duchess. Eliza undergoes grueling training. When she successfully “passes” in high society—having in the process become a lovely young woman of sensitivity and taste—Higgins dismisses her abruptly as a successfully completed experiment. Eliza, who now belongs neither to the upper class, whose mannerisms and speech she has learned, nor to the lower class, from which she came, rejects his dehumanizing attitude.

The play became famous as a motion picture in 1938 and later as the stage musical My Fair Lady (1956), with a musical score by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe. A 1964 film version of the musical featured Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn.

Cast

Jere Torkelsen – Professor Higgins

Sally Munro – Eliza

Margaret Genovese – Mrs. Eynsford Hill

Claudia Siefer – Mrs. Higgins, Mrs. Pearce

George Lister – Freddy Hill

The Rev. Christopher Webber – Colonel Pickering

Leslie Moore – Mr. Doolittle

Michael May – Butler, Bystander

Tamara Poole – Miss. Eynsford Hill

Mathew Chacko – Narrator

Jere Torkelsen has been a member of the San Francisco Opera chorus since 1987. During his tenure he has performed many roles including, Gen. John Rawlins in Philip Glasses Appomattox, Melisso in Handel’s Alcina, The Imperial Commissioner in Madama Butteryfly, and The Journalist in Berg’s Lulu, among others. He is also active in musical theater. Recent performances include Tony in ‘The Most Happy Fella’ and Fred in ‘Kiss Me Kate.’ He sang Firman and Bouquet in Weber’s ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ while on the national tour.

Margaret Genovese is originally from the Washington D.C. area. She received a Bachelor degree and Artist Diploma from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University where she was a two-time winner of the Liberace Foundation Scholarship. She was a finalist in the Metropolitan Opera Pacific Regional Auditions and first place winner of the National Symphony Orchestra’s Young Soloist Competition. Ms. Genovese made her first professional operatic debut in Mozart’s The Magic Flute, appearing as Papagena with the Baltimore Opera Company. She also performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as a soloist and toured Sydney Australia as Christine in an adaptation of Phantom of the Opera.

Sally Porter Munro is a native of London, England and a graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, England. While living in England she sang with the English National Opera, Royal Opera de la Monnaie in Brussels, and as an oratorio soloist in Europe. She also performed with the BBC Singers on radio and television. She relocated to New York City to continue her studies. She is a full-time member of The San Francisco Opera Chorus and has covered and sung a number of small roles. She enjoys collaborating with contemporary composers and has performed premiers by Thomas Ades, Ian Venables, Allen Shearer, David Irving, Marge Wheeler, and Peter Dyson.

A San Francisco native, Claudia Siefer has actively performed as an opera and concert soloist throughout the Bay Area. In 1980 she participated in the Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Program. San Francisco Opera soloist highlights include Slave (Salome), Assistant to Chairman Mao (Nixon in China), Maria (La Forza del Destino), Fourth Maidservant and The Overseer (Elektra), and a Woman (Katya Kabanova). Ms. Siefer performed The Witch (Hansel and Gretel) and Santuzza (Cavalleria Rusticana) with Marin Opera Company, and the title role of Madama Butterfly), Mimì (La Bohème), and The Countess (Le Nozze di Figaro) with SF Opera’s own Brown Bag Opera.

[thehomemadehooligan]

10-64K Jenkins - Cody Saintgnue

Aashi Stone - Naomi Scott

Aayan Shaw - Jackson Rathbone

Abilene Wagner - Natalie Portman

Ace Chase - Sebastian Stan

Ace Spade - Taron Egerton

Adam Elliot - Leland Chapman

Addi Valiant - Allison Scagliotti

Addie Brewster - Idda Van Munster

Ae Chihu - Wooshin

Agent London Clark - Chris Evans

Agent Peter Burke - Tim DeKay

Agron - Dan Feuerriegel

Aiden Wright - Dean O’Gorman

Akkeri kom Podakru - Alex Høgh Andersen

Alana Meridian - Ksenia Solo

Alaric Saltzman - Matthew Davis

Alastair York - Jai Courtney

Alec Lightwood - Matt Daddario

Alec MacDowell - Jensen Ackles

Aleda Kingsleigh - Dove Cameron

Aleks Lubomirski - Bartosz Gelner

Alex Avanyu - Avan Jogia

Alex Fierro - Avan Jogia

Alex Rider - Alexander Ludwig

Alex Taylor - Richard Harmon

Alex Wright - Richard Harmon

Alf Tungri - Will Peltz

Alfred Pennyworth - Sean Pertwee

Alice Rula - Madeline Brewer

Aline Penhallow - Arden Cho

Alix Kirkland - Daniel Sharman

Allanon - Manu Bennett

Amber Amberjack - Dom Sherwood

Ambrose Spellman - Chance Perdommo

Amity - Elizabeth Gillies

Anand Morrígu - Sean Maguire

Anastasia Cloe - Eiza Gonzalez

Anders Johnson - Dean O'Gorman

Andreas Vasilescu - Luke Camilleri

Angel Eyes - DJ Cotrona

Angie Landers - Tatiana Maslany

Anjisnu - Kim Coates

Anya Price - Gina Rodriguez

April Hare - Theo James

Arawen Annwn - Stuart Reardon

Archie Andrews - Kat McNamara

Archie Andrews - KJ Apa

Ardal Cody - Kendall Schmidt

Arika Longan - Harry Shum Jr

Arrow kom Boudalankru - Tatiana Maslany

Arsena Larken - Zendaya Coleman

Art Gremellion - Daniel Gillies

Arthur - Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Ash Houndsworth - Sean Teale

Atticus Bane - Will Tudor

Atticus Philo - Grey Damon

Austin DeSantos - Ludi Lin

Avery Durin - Aaron Paul

Axe kom Boudalankru - Aiden Turner

Azmodeus - Landon Liboiron

Baby Collins - Ansel Egort

Baby Driver - Ansel Elgort

Baby Grant - Garrett Hedlund

Balance Grant - Charlie Hunnam

Bane - Tom Hardy

Barclay Kirby - Zane Holtz

Bard Sinclair - Cameron Monaghan

Barnabé Klausen - Bradley Soileau

Baron Remi Goldwyn-Mayer - Michael Fassbender

Barren Guilderson - Iwan Rheon

Bart Putnam - Aaron Taylor Johnson

Bas Norsewood - Sam Steele

Bash de Poitiers - Torrance Coombs

Bax Adamson - Finn Roberts

Bea Cres - Bill Skarsgard

Bea Porter - Rachel Skarsten

Bela Talbot - Lauren Cohen

Bellami Blake - Shay Mitchell

Bellamy Blake - Bob Morley

Belle Amanita - Freeman Agyeman

Ben Bartlett - Jensen Ackles

Ben Fringe - Matt Daddario

Ben Hargeeves - Justin H Min

Ben Kilmartin - Jacob Elordi

Benjamin Heritage - Kellan Lutz

Bent Williams - Tom Payne

Bertie Cooper - Will Tudor

Berto Vega - Jai Courtney

Betsy Shrivatsa - Dichen Lachman

Betty Cooper - Lili Reinhart

Big Grant - Travis Fimmel

Bika kom Azgeda - Michael Eklund

Billy Barton - Brandon Flynn

Billy de Lauro - Cody Christian

Billy Hargrove - Dacre Montgomery

Billy-Ray Sanguine - Michael Fassbender

Bishop Smith - Jack Falahee

Black Hat - Karl Urban

Blade Hood - Grace Phipps

Blaise Caelia - Joe Manganiello

Bliss - Matt Daddario

Bo - Henry Cavill

Bo Grimm - DJ Cotrona

Bobby Mercer - Mark Wahlberg

Bobo Del Rey - Michael Eklund

Bod Chayton - Booboo Stewart

Bosse Ljung - Anson Mount

Bothain Gladstone - Skeet Ulrich

Bowyn Coke - Ian Bohen

Brad Coleman - Jaren Brandt Bartlett

Brennan Mulwray - Victor Webster

Brian O'Connor - Paul Walker

Briar Eglantine - Evan Ross

Briar Jones - India Eisley

Bridget Barker - Natalie Dormer

Brigid Nic Dagda - Kaya Scodelario

Brodie Reston - Jordan Connor

Bunnymund - Norman Reedus, Shawn Mendes

Burke - Michael Fassbender

Burn Milburn - Chris Wood

CA Cupid - Dove Cameron

Caden Lovell - Keiynan Lonsdale

Cai Ryers - Cody Saintgnue

Caine Dunbar - Jonathan Rhys Meyers

Cairns West - Alexander Skarsgard

Cal August - Aaron Jakubenko

Caleb Danvers - Steven Strait

Calleigh Rousseau - Sammi Hanratty

Cam Thompson - Max Thieriot

Capp Hertz - Mchine Gun Kelly

Captain Barbie Barbara - Mike Vogel

Captain Dutch Deadwood - Anson Mount

Captain Harriet Hook - Emeraude Toubia

Captain Jack Sparrow - Johnny Depp

Captain Jim Kirk - Chris Pine

Captain Mal Reynolds - Nathan Fillion

Captain Steve Rogers - Chris Evans

Cara - Allison Scagliotti

Carl Gallagher - Ethan Cutkosky

Carlos DeVil - Cameron Boyce

Carny South - Finn Jones

Carol Danvers - Brie Larson

Casi Riqui - David Castaneda

Cassidy - Joe Gilgun

Cassie Diaval - Lindy Booth

Castle Baxter - Jon Bernthal

CC Clair - Claudia Lee

Cerise Hood - Marie Avgeropoulos

Champion Barrow - Tyler Posey

Charlie Bradbury - Felicia Day

Charlie Stephenson - Willa Holland

Chase Collins - Sebastian Stan

Chase Stein - Dom Sherwood

Chef Daniel Addams - Christian Kane

Cheka kom Trikru - Blair Redford

Chelle Reilly - Sonequa Martin-Green

Cherry Cash - Colin O'Donaghue

Cheryl Blossom - Madelaine Petsch

Cheshire Liddell - Sebastian Stan

Chess Cat - Harry Shum Jr

Chev Arthur - Jason Statham

Chibs Telford - Tommy Flanagan

Chic Smith - Hart Denton

Chief Osprey - Tyler Posey

Choi Trio - Jeonghan

Chris Argent - JR Bourne

Chryso Brach - Hart Denton

Chuck Hansen - Rob Kazinsky

Chul Bora - T.O.P

Ciaran Byrne - Skeet Ulrich

Ciel Quinn - Hale Appleman

Cinda Wocky - Lucy Hale

CJ Hook - Kat McNamara

Clark Griffin - Austin Butler

Clarke Griffin - Eliza Taylor

Clary Helstrom - Tyler Blackburn

Clint Barton - Jeremy Renner, Luke Mitchell

Clove Sageseed - Jonathan Whitesell

Coco Cash - Dave Franco

Cody Pine - Logan Lerman

Col. Basher Moran - Michael Fassbender

Cole Higgins - Monty Geer

Colonel Jack O'Neill - Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Welch

Colonel John Sheppard - Joe Flanagan

Colossus - Danila Kozlovsky

Connor Angel - Vincent Kartheiser, Chandler Riggs

Connor Kent - Robbie Amell

Connor MacManus - Sean Patrick Flanery

Conrí Faolán - Cole Sprouse

Coop Lachlan - Dacre Montgomery

Cooper Rose - Konstantinos Laios

Copper kom Yujleda - Kristin Stewart

Corbin kom Ingranronakru - Shane West

Costin Comescu - Scott Eastwood

Cotton Thistle - Hansol Vernon Chwe

Countess Marishka Tepes - Kiara Glasco

Court Silver - Richard Harmon

Crawford Leather - Charlie Weber

Crina Demetra - Lyndsy Fonesca

Cyneric Ashworth - Nick Bateman

Daci Larken - Tammin Sursok

Dag Ryden - Daniel Di Tomasso

Daisy Diaz - David Castro

Dalia kom Azgeda - Sophie Turner

Damon Salvatore - Ian Somerhalder

Daniel Hale - Tyler Hoechlin

Danihel Ranger - Alexander Calvert

Dante Fischer - Dylan O'Brien

Daria Sabriel - Jaimie Alexander

Darien Hale - Tyler Hoechlin

Darius Sabriel - Samuel Larsen

Darko Pover - Dom Sherwood

Darling Charming - Eliza Taylor

Darya Ryden - Meghan Ory

Daryl Dixon - Norman Reedus

Daya Kitchell - Zendaya Coleman

Deadpool - Ryan Reynolds

Dean Winchester - Jensen Ackles

Death of the Endless - Summer Glau

Deck Chelios - Joe Manganiello

Declan Hale - Tyler Hoechlin

Declan Harp - Jason Momoa

Del Clover - Jordan Connor

Delia Midford - Allison Scagliotti

Delirium of the Endless - Hayley Williams

Delta - Clive Standen

Denny Toombs - Greyston Holt

Deputy Avi Callahan-Constantine

Derek Hale - Tyler Hoechlin

Des Carter - Frank Grillo

Desire of the Endless - Ruby Rose

Det. Kee Cavanagh - Tom Hardy

Detective Ainsley Mansfield - Christian Kane

Detective Danno Williams - Scott Caan

Detective Danny Messer - Carmine Giovinazzo

Detective Dyson Thornwood - Kris Holden-Reid

Detective Javan Bengal - Michael Fassbender

Detective Konstantinos Cruz - Colton Haynes

Dew DeWitt - Francois Arnaud

Diana Derrick - Brooke Williams

Diana Prince - Gal Gadot

Diego Hargreeves - David Castañeda

Dirk Gently - Samuel Barnett

Dmitry Kelso - Jay Ryan

Doc Holliday - Tim Rozon

Doc Holliday Jr - Matt Daddario

Domino - Keira Knightley

Dot Baum - Becky G

Doug Reston - Joe Manganiello

Dr Bones McCoy - Karl Urban

Dr Gryphon Trent - Chris Hemsworth

Dr Hank McCoy - Nicholas Hoult

Dr Harley Quinn - Hart Denton

Dr Hart Hansen - Tom Mison

Dr House - Hugh Laurie

Dr Jake Stone - Christian Kane

Dr Jill Holtzmann - Kate McKinnon

Dr Johann Stein - Richard Harmon

Dr Juneau Moone - Dane Dehaan

Dr Lane Reston - Skeet Ulrich

Dr Paddy Doyle - Andrew Scott

Dr Palmer Isley - KJ Apa

Dr Pamela Isley - Natalie Dormer

Dr Sindri Vidarr - Dane Dehaan

Dr Trick Grimsby - Ian Bohen

Draco Malfoy - Tom Felton, Miles Heizer

Drak kom Trishanakru - Alexander Dreymon

Draki Astarot - Troye Sivan

Dru Vritra - Santiago Segura

Dsimu Runihura - Michael Fassbender

Durant Fischer - Dylan O'Brien

Dusty Djura - Kat Dennings

Dwalin, Son of Fundin - Graham Mac Tavish

Eames - Tom Hardy

Eddie Brock - Tom Hardy

Eddy Williams - Adam G Sevani

Edric Lange - Anthony Mackie

Eggsy Unwin - Taron Egerton

Eight - Bob Morley

Eira Candace - Alycia Debnam-Carey

Eirlys kom Azgeda - Kit Harington

Eli Barros - David Castaneda

Elijah Mikaelson - Daniel Gillies

Eliot Spencer - Christian Kane

Eliot Waugh - Hale Appleman

Elise Gerard - Troian Bellisario

Elodie Kerstoph - Abbey Lee

Emerson Topper - Zach McGowan

Emery - Miss Psycho Cat/Minja Cvetković

Emma Austin - Scout Taylor Compton

Enzo Ferris - Brock O’Hurn

Enzo St John - Michael Malarky

Erik Lehnsherr - Michael Fassbender

Erin Strife - Ash Stymest, Cher Lloyd

Ethan Connors - Derek Theler

Evan Bilingham - Daniel Gillies

Evan Williams - Dan Stevens

Evgeni Shankarov - Paul Wesley

Evie Weiss - Max Schneider

Exy Enger - Caitlin Stasey

Eyes Auriemma - Rob Raco

Fabien Mariani - Bob Morley

Faith Firenze - Zoey Deutch

Faith Zora - Arielle Kebel

Falco LaPointe - Francois Arnaud

Fangs Fogarty - Drew Ray Tanner

Faolan Finn - Shawn Mendes

Faraday Jones - Chris Pratt

Farmer Quentin - Vin Diesel

Father Daine - JR Bourne

Father Gothel - Kim Coates

Father Robert King - Gabriel Macht

Felix Mosley - Jade Hassouné

Fergus Carter - Cole Sprouse

Fey Sprite - Natalia Dyer

Fi Kapua - Jungkook

Filarion Gaelin - Chanyeol

Fili, Son of Dis - Dea O'Gorman

Finn Collins - Thomas McDonell

Finn Liebrecht - Charlie Carver

Finnlee Camdyn - Hart Denton

Fionn Collins - Nina Dobrev

Fitz Luck - Lucas Till

Five Hargreeves - Aiden Gallagher

Five Voelkel - Dan Feuerriegel

Fletcher Herangi/Searanke - KJ Apa

Flick Fawkes - Lindsey Morgan

Flint Gladstone - Rob Raco

Flynn Addams - Norman Reedus

Flynn Rider - Jared Padalecki

Foma Comescu - Armie Hammer

Ford Waters - Jon Bernthal

Foster - Jade Hassouné

Fox Asterphilos - Michael Fassbender

Fox Tempest - Harry Shum Jr

Frank Castle - Jon Bernthal

Frank Martin - Jason Statham

Frazer Parkes - Zane Holtz

Fred Walter - Ellen Page

Freddie McClair - Luke Pasqualino

Freya Mikaelson - Riley Voelkel

Friday Ginger - Bradley Cooper

Garnet Porter - Danielle Harris

Garrett Burroughs - Amadeus Serafini

Gem Topaz - Jade Thirlwell

Geniy Kirova - Danila Kozlovsky

Geo kom Ingranronakru - Christian Kane

Geo Tyson - Christian Navarro

Gideon Kirkland - Nate Buzolic

Gil LeGume - Dylan Playfair

Ginger Breadhouse - Vanessa Morgan

Gladys Jones - Morena Baccarin

Gleb Mychajlovich - Luke Guldan

Glenn Dixon - Robert Buckley

Grace Zora - Claire Holt

Griffin - Jamie Bell

Gus Speedle - Jesse Metcalfe

Gwaine the Younger - Will Tudor

Ha Minsu - Yongguk

Haf kom Podakru - Clive Standen

Haihefa Roan kom Azgeda - Zach McGowan

Haiplana Rowan kom Azgeda - Olga Kurylenko

Han Seong-Jin - Seo In Guk

Han Seoul-Oh - Sung Kang, Jung Ji Hoon

Handsome Rob - Jason Statham

Hannibal King - Ryan Reynolds

Harley Keener - Ty Simpkins

Harp Wilson - Ashley Rickards

Harper - Gordon Michael Woolvett

Harry Addams - Sharlto Copley

Harry Hook - Thomas Doherty

Harry Osborn - Alex Høgh Andersen

Harvey Kinkle - Ross Lynch

Hayley Gold - Alberto Rosende

Hazel Haven - Kyle Gallner

Heave - Brock O’Hurn

Heda Lex kom Trikru - Greyston Holt

Heda Lexa kom Trikru - Alycia Debnam-Carey

Hendrix Mars - Odiseas Georgiadis

Henry Greyson - Brenton Thwaites

Henry Mikaelson - Richard Harmon

Herc Hansen - Max Martini

HG Graham - Jaime Murray

Hiram Lodge - Mark Consuelas

Hope Zora - Penelope Mitchell

Hush kom Azgeda - Tasya Teles

Hyde Jackson - Lucas Till

Ian Gallagher - Cameron Monaghan

Ianto Mumbles - Idris Elba

Iefan Mumbles - Idris Elba

Illyiad Barakan - Johnny Strong

Indigo Basile - Will Tudor

InDo Montoya - Cole Sprouse

Ink Marburg - Stephen James

Isaac Lahey - Daniel Sharman

Isias Apgar - Kim Coates

Issac Lawson - Luke Evans

Iva Malone - Stephanie Bennett

Ivo Ramsey - Keegan Allen

Izzy Swango - Matt Ryan

Jace Lightwood - Dom Sherwood

Jack Frost - Troye Sivan, Sean Patrick Flanery

Jack Morton - Jake Manley

Jacob Finnegan - Ian Bohen

Jade Jordan - Hailee Steinfeld

James Moriarty - Andrew Scott

Janet McCullogh - Emma Roberts

Jannick Boden - Robert Sheehan

Jareth the Goblin King - Brett Dalton, David Bowie

Jarvis Huish - Jake Abel

Jason Schuchard - Logan Henderson

Jason Todd - Bob Morley

Jasper Jordan - Devon Bostick

Jax Harley - Ricky Whittle

Jax Lewis - Noel Fisher

Jay Abanazar - Booboo Stewart

Jazz Hills - Nick Jonas

Jean Morau - Eliza Dushku

Jefferson - Sebastian Stan

Jem Fenrirson - Michael Fassbender

Jensen Ames - Jason Statham

Jensen Slick - Stephen Dorff

Jeremy Gilbert - Steven R McQueen

Jerry Lucas - Sam Heughan

Jess Gambino - China Anne McClain

Jett McCreighton-Hill - Cole Sprouse

Jia Nix - Justin H Min

Jim Moriarty - Andrew Scott

Jimmy Malone - Landon Liboiron/Tom Sturridge

JJ Jenkins - Megan Fox

Joaquin DeSantos - Rob Raco

Joe Addams - Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Joe McAlister - Colin Ford

Joel Bissainthe - Andy Biersack

Joel Gregory - Benedict Cumberbatch

Joel Shmishlyaev - Ash Stymest

John Avanyu - Karl Urban

John Constantine - Matt Ryan

John Mbege - Keiynan Lonsdale

John Murphy - Richard Harmon

John Silvini - Ryan Reynolds

John Vaako Grimm - Karl Urban

Johnnie Cooper - Tom Ellis

Johnny Jaqobis - Aaron Ashmore

Johnny Law - Vincent Ventresca

Jojo Cash - Chris Pine

Jon Byers - Charlie Heaton

Jon Snow - Kit Harington

Jonah Howard - Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Jones Templeton - Brock Kelly

Jordan Howard - Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Jory Kulkarni - Tyler Hoechlin

Jostus kom Sankru - Brock O’Hurn

JR Murphy - Richard Harmon

JT Jones - Bill Skarsgard

Jughead Jones - Cole Sprouse

Juice Ortiz - Theo Rossi

Jukebox Jones - Hannah Marks

Julio Richter - Diego Boneta

Jumpcut Jones - Dylan Sprouse

Kacey Patton - Dylan Sprouse

Kade Arcino - Zachary Quinto

Kaede Oshiro - Sehun

Kai Anderson - Evan Peters

Kai Parker - Chris Wood

Kaios Godfrey -Bill Skarsgard

Kaleb Westphall - Daniel Sharman

Kara Kaa - Eiza Gonzalez

Karolina Dean - Virginia Gardener

Kaya Carter-Reston - Dove Cameron

Kayla Doll - Emily Browning

Kaylee Sanderson - Gal Gadot

Kelly Benton - Darya Goncharova

Kelly Pryor - Brandon Larracuente

Kensington Banning - Will Tudor

Kenzo Malikov - Kim Heechul

Keri Graves - Marie Avgeropoulos

Kerry Holt - Richard Armitage

Kesa Brandt - Tom Hardy

Kevin Keller - Casey Cott

Ki Tilo - KJ Apa

Kid Loki - Cole Sprouse

Kili, Son of Dis - Aiden Turner

Killian Salvatore - Scott Caan

Kim Hart - Naomi Scott

Kincaid Jericko - Victor Webster

King Aim Dagonet - Jordan Connor

King Asnee Ambrocio - Choi Min Ki

King Beem - Jordan Connor

King Ben French - Mitchell Hope

King Christoph Henderson - Henry Cavill

King Lionel Reginus - Jason Momoa

King Papi Palma-Picarzo - Rob Raco

King Ragnar Lothbrok - Travis Fimmel

King Rey Bolivar - David Castro

King Rí - Joseph Morgan

King Rook Smith - Thomas Doherty

King Rory Reagan - Richard Madden

King Sigourney Algernon - Francois Arnaud

King Tru I Tania - Clive STanden

King Vlad Tepes III - Luke Evans

Kingsley Hopkirk - Kris Holden-Ried

Kintsu Kuroi - Jhope

Kisa - Eiza Gonzalez

Kit Barton - Luke Mitchell

Kit Corwin - Rob Raco

Kit Pryde - Dylan Sprayberry

Kit Rook - Colin Ford

Kito Jewel - Kit Harrington

Kitt Banning - Dom Sherwood

Kitten Byrne - Kit Harington

Kitten Kirk - Chloe Grace Moretz

Kitty Cheshire - Alyssa Claire Joynson

Kitty Kole - Kay Victoria

Klaus Mikaelson - Joseph Morgan

Knight Jack Knave - Dom Sherwood

Kol Mikaelson - Nate Buzolic

Kona Leilani - Dacre Montgomery

Kostia kom Trikru - Adelaide Kane, Emilia Clarke, Nyane Lebajoa, Hannah John Kamen

Kostin kom Trikru - Kit Harington, Lucky Blue Smith, Jordan Calloway

Kozik - Kenny Johnson

Kristoff of Arendelle - Chris Hemsworth

Ku Yejun - Jaejoong

Kuba Kowalski - Antoni Porowski

Kurgan Reina - Daniel Gillies

Kyda kom Trishanakru - Josefin Asplund

Kyle Bathory - Jake Manley

Kyra Badd - Alexa Davalos

L Lawliet - Ken'ichi Matsuyama

Lace Rainer - Jason Ralph

Lachlan Camdyn - Reilly Dolman

Lady/Lord Lara Croft - Alicia Vikander, Tom Hardy

Lán Sé Límíng - G-Dragon

Lanta kom Trishanakru - Harry Shum Jr

Lara Montgomery - Shelley Hennig

Lark Malone - Chloe Bennet

Laveau McQueen - Richard Harmon

Lavrenty Comescu - Mike Vogel

Lee Christmas - Jason Statham

Lee Druitt - Brett Dalton

Leigh Trace - Christian Slater

Leith Camdyn - Will Tudor

Lena Crighton - Hannah John-Kamen

Leon Strong - Johnny Strong

Leonard Snart - Wentworth Miller

Leone O'Ray - Dylan Sprouse

Levi Livingston - Jackson Rathbone

Lexington Wallander III - Travis Fimmel

Lia Santiago - Eiza Gonzalez

Liam Dunbar - Dylan Sprayberry

Liander Tybalt - Harry Shum Jr

Libby Tazzno - Mollee Gray

Light Yagami - Tatsuya Fujiwara

Lightfingers Bourne - Colin Ford

Lilah Sanderson - Danielle Campbell

Lily Highsmith - Crystal Reed

Link Fawkes - Thomas McDonell

Link, Last of the Hylians - Austin Butler

Lip - Jared Padalecki

Lip Trembuey - Reilly Dolman

Lissa Anderson - Jessica Lu

Logan - Hugh Jackman

Logan Cale - Michael Weatherly

Lola Locorant - Eiza Gonzalez

Lolli Baxter - Vanessa Morgan

Lonnie Li - Dianne Doan

Lord Albrecht Holmes - Tom Hiddleston

Lord Marshall Richard B Riddick - Vin Diesel

Lorelai Vierra - Lana Parilla

Loren Knowles - Shannon Kook

Lorna Lexington - Emma Dumont

Lou LaBelle-Ferretti - Tasya Teles

Louisa Giroux - Danielle Campbell

Loullabelle Jones - Allison Scagliotti

Lt. Col Switch McKenna - Alex O’Loughlin/Brock Kelly

Lt. Col. Anders Fontaine - Chris O'Donnell

Lt. Faceman Peck - Bradley Cooper

Lucien Judith - Michael Johnston

Lucifer Morningstar - Tom Ellis

Lucilla Nike - Charlize Theron

Lucius Philo - Kellan Lutz

Luke Castellan - Jake Abel

Luke Collins - Zak Henri

Luke Dusk - Mark Pellegrino

Lupe Lito - Miguel Ángel Silvestre

M’Ari Walker - Ksenia Solo

Macallan - Shawn Mendes

Mack Wilson - David Guintoli

Maddie Moreau - Sarah Hyland

Maddy Trevor - Bella Thorne

Madrigan Hatter - Landon Liboiron

Mae Coombs - Lili Reinhart

Maeve Aella - Phoebe Tonkin

Magnus Bane - Harry Shum Jr

Magpie TwoSpirit - Ruby Rose

Magret Spector - Vanessa Morgan

Maj. Ty Fontaine - Stephen Amell

Mak Timoti - Wentworth Miller

Makena Kysely - Colton Haynes

Malachai - Nicholas Hoult

Mangjol Ji-Tae - Minhyuk btob

Marc Wilder - Avan Jogia

Marcus Addams - Kim Coates

Marcus Berry - Godfrey Gao

Margo kom Sankru - Natalie Dormer

Marie Thompson - Meryl Streep

Mark Hobb - Jensen Ackles

Marley McCaffrey - Skeet Ulrich

Martin Rowdy - Michael Eklund

Mary Qazi - Sofia Boutella

Marzio Altamura - Jimmy Quaintance

Mathew Paterson - Tom Holland

Matilda Zolnerowich - Sygin

Matt Jeevas - Luhan

Matt Murdock - Charlie Cox

Mattie Brightley - Asa Butterfield, Cillian Murphy

Maven King - Diego Barrueco

Maz Lorne - Charlotte Best

McCorrigan Holmes - Tilda Swinton

Mekhi Kennedy - Bill Skarsgard

Mel Putnam - Jackson Rathbone

Meliorn - Jade Hassouné

Merlin Emrys - Colin Morgan

Merrick Finn - Dylan O'Brien

Mi Se-Yeon - Jimin

Mick Sweeney - Pablo Schreiber

Mickey Finn - Callum Blue

Mickey Milkovich - Noel Fisher

Midge Conlon - Colin Ford

Midge Klump - Nick Robinson

Mikael Whistler - Wentworth Miller

Mike Plisskin - Colin Ford

Miles O’Shaughnessy - Robert Sheehan

Miller Petroff - Mike Vogel

Million Pearce - David Castro

Milos Toplaski - Tommy Flanagan

Mim Fayette - Katie McGrath

Minka Vodnik - Olivia Wilde

Mira Bellami - Victoria Justice

Misty Lombardo - Adelaide Kane

Mitchell - Aiden Turner

Monroe Lorenzo - Michael Malarky

Moose Mason - Cody Kiersley

Morbid Kitchell - Machine Gun Kelly

Morgan Julius - Landon Liboiron

Morrigan Wallace - Lena Headey

Morrison Wallace - Tommy Flanagan

Ms. America - Gina Rodriguez

Murphy MacManus - Norman Reedus

Murtagh Reston - Thomas Doherty

Natalia Miller - Ashleigh Murray

Nate Spooner - Toby Hemmingway

Nathan Miller - Jarod Joseph

Nathaniel Barton - Grant Gustin

Natshana kom Trishanakru - Chai Hansen

Nell Reba-Barnes - Steve Howey

Neptune Hollins - Noah Centineo

Nia Bradbury - Andy Biersack

Nic Janson - Troye Sivan

Nick Agave - Dom Sherwood

Nick Scratch - Gavin Leatherwood

Nick St North - Kris Kristofferson

Nico DiAngelo - David Mazouz

Nico Minoru - Lyrica Okano

Nico Prentís - Cody Saintgnue

Nicolai Duchamps - Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Nik Ellis - KJ Apa

Nile Gwynnne - Nate Buzolic

Nix Arthur - Charlie Hunnam

No Preston - Max Riemelt

Noah Johnson - Mitchell Hope

Nolan James - Norman Reedus

Nonna Narrington - Caleb Landry Jones

Note Scofield - Cameron Boyce

Nova - Adam Lambert

Nysse Hamilton - Dayana Melgares

Nyx Greymark - Nyané Lebajoa

Oaklee Zaharis - Marie Avgeropoulos

Oddmund Bodilson - Brett Dalton

Oli Delfino - KJ Apa

Ong Minjae - Sehun

Onyx Frost-Haddock - Cole Sprouse

Opie Winston - Ryan Hurst

Orin Suelita - DJ Cotrona

Orion Hunter - Jai Courtney

Os Avanyu - Oscar Jaenada

Owen Anton - Devon Sawa

Owen Grady - Chris Pratt

Owen Palomino - Sean Patrick Flanery

Oz Keen - Cody Christian

Patricia Llewelyn - Scout Taylor-Compton

Paul Rumancek - Landon Liboiron

Paul Tristan - Nick Jonas

Paul Trubel - Miles Heizer

Paw Cavanaugh - Alisha Wainwright

Peg Simon - Joe Manganiello

Peilani Salvatore - Jason Momoa

Pen Carpenter - Hale Appleman

Percy Jackson - Cole Sprouse

Pern Sorrows - Colin Morgan

Perry Avanyu - Drew Fuller

Peter Hale - Ian Bohen

Peter Parker - Tom Holland

Peter Quill - Chris Pratt

Peter Rumancek - Landon Liboiron

Peyton Bennett - Dove Cameron

Philip Pearson - Reilly Dolman

Pike - Milo Ventimiglia

Pitch Black - Jude Law

Pixie Trix - Lena Scissorhands

Poe McCreary - Ruby Rose

Prali Kus - Sendhil Ramamurthy

Prince Alby Escamillia - Bob Morley

Prince Ali Ababwa - Avan Jogia

Prince Arthur Pendragon - Bradley James, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau

Prince Babylas French - Tom Holland

Prince Dubh of Dunbroch - Matt Daddario

Prince Fin Bratomil Leonidus - Jamie Campbell Bower

Prince Fionn of Dunbroch - Matt Daddario

Prince Greyson Rutherford - Robbie Kay

Prince Hans of the Southern Isles - Max Martini

Prince Hung Tae-Hee - TOP

Prince Kieran of the Wild Hunt - Nils Kuiper

Prince Kory Westergaard - Eddie Redmayne

Prince Mee-Dee Pendragon - Dom Sherwood

Prince Rapunzel - Jensen Ackles

Prince Tobias Morei - Pedro Aurelian

Princess Amberle Elessedil - Poppy Drayton

Princess Anna of Arendelle - Karen Gillan, Molly C Quinn, Miranda Otto

Princess Beth of Crims - Adelaide Kane

Princess Evie Grimhilde - Sofia Carson

Princess Merida of DunBroch - Rachelle LeFevre, Kat McNamara, Sadie Sink

Princess Ruby Henderson - Adelaide Kane

Princess Shuri of Wakanda - Letitia Wright

Professor Charles Xavier - James McAvoy

Professor Chuck Marks - Joe Manganiello

Professor Dai Ignotus - Frank Grillo

Professor Hartley Badeau - JR Bourne

Prudence Night Blackwood - Tati Gabrielle

Pubert Addams - David Mazouz

Pugsley Addams - Cole Sprouse

Q-ee Quire - Aaron Yoo

Quade Reeves - Froy Gutierrez

Queen Becci Doherty - Lucy Hale

Queen Elsa of Arendelle - Kathryn Winnick, Dove Cameron

Queen Juno Smith - Ariana Grande

Queen Lyria of Leah - Vanessa Morgan

Queen Rosalee Lette - Taylor Momsen

Queenie Scarlett - Bailey Jay

Quentin Coldwater - Jason Ralph

Quentin Cruikshanks - Zane Holtz

Quentin Quire - Machine Gun Kelly

Quinlan Cruikshanks - Zane Holtz

Quinn Dolan - Richard Harmon

Race Tabytha - Christopher Gorham

Rachel Summers - KJ Apa

Radley Finch - Stephen James

Radovan Zivkovic - Tom Hardy

Rainy Bright - Osric Chau

Raiven Reyes - Avan Jogia

Raleigh Beckett - Charlie Hunnam

Ran-Mao - Brianna Hildebrand

Randall Carpio - Adam DiMarco

Raphael Santiago - David Castro

Ratchet Rosston - Cher Lloyd

Raven Reyes - Lindsey Morgan

Ravi Enrico - Robert Sheehan

Ray Mantle - Ross Butler

Rayner Pope - Seth Gabel

Reggie Mantle - Charles Melton

Rei Kawahara - Dichen Lachman

Reid Garwin - Toby Hemmingway

Rell Hartfield - Chloe Bennet

Remus Godfrey - Bill Skarsgard

Rev. Jesse Custer - Dominic Cooper

Revolver - Lucas Till

Rex Rexford - Daniel Sharman

Ric Road - Gustaf Skarsgard

Richard Amore - Adam Levine

Richie Brooks - Andrew Scott

Richie Gecko - Zane Holtz

Rick Hobb - DJ Cotrona

Riko Velli - Niko Pepaj

Riley Barrick - Luke Bilyk

Rina Dust - Kat McNamara

Rip Finley - Arthur Darvill

River Green - Ezra Miller

Robert Lockshood - Taron Egerton

Robin Downes - Cole Sprouse

Robin Locksley - Colin Ford

Rocket Jameson - Alberto Rosende

Rogue - Jacob Elordi

Rogue - Victor Webster

Roman Godfrey - Bill Skarsgard

Roman Mercer - Avan Jogia

Roo Carter - Luanna Perez

Rory Harker - Cole Sprouse

Ros Carman - Emeraude Toubia

Rosco Domitan - Tommy Flanagan

Rose Parker - Sasha Lane

Rosie Dainty - Sarah Hyland

Ruairí Gunnrarr - Sean Patrick Flanery

Rune kom Azgeda - Jason Momoa

Rusty Ryan - Brad Pitt

Ryl Lytvynenko - Jamie Campbell-Bower

Ryl/Lyra Connors - Caleb Landry Jones, Holland Roden

Sadie Rosati - Jon Kortajarena

Saiya Erembour - Kiernan Shipka

Sam Lee Fisher - Kiersey Clemons

Sam Shankerov - Joel Kinnaman

Samael Abigor - Tom Hardy

Sameen Shaw - Sarah Shahi

Samira Avanyu - Rihanna

Samoset Ramirez Avanyu - Theo Rossi

Santa Muerte - Riae Suicide

Sassy Caitsidhe - Asa Butterfield

Schrödinger Cat - Godfrey Gao

Scorpius Malfoy - Troye Sivan

Scott Canterbury - Nate Buzolic

Scott McCall - Tyler Posey

Scott Summers - Tye Sheridan

Scout - Richard Harmon

Scud Buchanen - Norman Reedus

Sean Gallagher - Dane Dehaan

Seb Reid - Toby Hemmingway

Seb Shankerov - Joel Kinnaman

Sebastian Michaelis - Jared Leto

Sebastian Morgenstern - Will Tudor

Sébastienne Morgenstern - Dove Cameron

Seth Gecko - DJ Cotrona

Severin Moran - Michael Fassbender

SFC Bob Brown - Scott Foley

Sgt. Axel Miller - Jonathan Scarfe

Sgt. Bucky Barnes - Sebastian Stan

Sgt. Cougar Alvarez - Oscar Jaenada

Shalimar Fox - Victoria Pratt

Shalimar Rose - Emeraude Toubia

Shane Kilmartin - Noah Centineo

Shelby Kiyaya - Jason Momoa

Sheriff FP Jones - Skeet Ulrich/Cole Sprouse

Sherlock Holmes - Benedict Cumberbatch

Sherry Holmes - Benedict Cumberbatch

Sicario Montoya - David Castaneda

Sigla kom Podakru - Katheryn Winnick

Silas Kyle - Charles Melton

Silas Prince - Avan Jogia

Sim Chunho - Kiseop

Simon Bellamy - Iwan Rheon

Simon Cooper - Grant Gustin

Simon Jogia - Rami Malek

Simon Lewis - Alberto Rosende

Sinclair Lorentz - Aidan Turner

Siobhan Mbege - China Anne McClain

Siobhan Murphy - Lyndsy Fonesca

Sion Brass - Wentworth Miller

Sir Percival of Albion - Tom Hopper

Sky Vance - Dylan O'Brien

Sol Whitecrest - Nadia Hilker

Song Xieren - Xiao Meng

Sonnie Smythe - Dane Dehaan

Sophie Brightborn - Kat McNamara

Soubi Agatsuma - T.O.P

Sparkle Soleil - Virginia Gardener

Spot Conlon - Bill Skarsgard

Spring Heeled Jack - Jordan Connor

St.John Allerdyce - Aaron Stanford

Staff sergeant Jake Stingman

Stan Rotor - Machine Gun Kelly

Steffen Dumah Vigo - Aaron Stanford

Steve Harrington - Joe Keery

Steve Hopper - Tyler Hoechlin

Steve McGarrett - Alex O’Loughlin

Stiles Stilinski - Dylan O'Brien

Stirling Argent - Joel Kinnaman

Stuart Twombly-Stilinski - Dylan O'Brien

Sue Cash - Jeremy Renner

Suk Hyun-Woo - Jin Young

Suk Jung-Hee - Kim Jaejoong

Suk Pyong-Ho - Hong Bin

Sully Harper - Norman Reedus

Sunny Magnum - Ash Stymest

Sweet Pea - Jordan Connor

Syl Maier - Alex Watson

T-Bag - Robert Knepper

Takeshi Kovacs - Joel Kinnaman, Will Yun Lee

Takuya Rain - Jung Ji Hoon

Tali Bell - Stirling Knight

Talia Trent - Arden Cho

Tara Blackfeather - Taylor Momsen

Tara Orlov - Ksenia Solo

Teasaidh Addams - Aidan Turner

Teddy Altman - Alexander Ludwig

Teddy Lupin - Noah Centineo

Terry Jasper - Dwayne Johnson

Tex Malcolm - Dave Franco

Theo Abbott - Evan Crooks

Theo Crain - Kate Siegel

Theo Putnam - Lachlan Watson

Theo Raeken - Cody Christian

Thomas Addams - Jensen Ackles

Thomas Teller - Travis Fimmel

Thor Odinson - Chris Hemsworth

Tig Trager - Kim Coates

Tiger O’Hanigan - Sebastian Stan

Tihomir Bosko - James Marsters

Tim Blaise - Ben Barnes

Tim Drake - Cole Sprouse

Time Thorin - Brock O'Hurn

Tinkerbell - Dove Cameron

TK Bell - Emilia Clarke

Toby Cavanaugh - Keegan Allen

Todd Brotzman - Elijah Wood

Tokala Ramirez - Raphael Alejandro

Tolly Nichols-Dix - David Castro

Toly Sorrows - Cam Gigandet

Tommy Conway - Jensen Ackles

Toni Topaz - Vanessa Morgan

Tonio Oliver - Luke Pasqualino

Tony Parker - Dom Sherwood

Tony Stark - Robert Downey Jr

Tony Stonem - Nicholas Hoult

Tony Topaz - Keiynan Lonsdale

Tori Markham - Maggie Q

Torrance Green - Parker Hurley

Trace Georgia - Shiloh Fernandez

Tracy Rose - David Gandy

Travis Buchanen - Norman Reedus

Trevor Holden - Jared Abrahamson

Treyu kom Sankru - Charlie Hunnam

Tribute Jones - Thomas Doherty

Tristan Gaheris - Bradley James

Tulip O'Hare - Ruth Negga

Uma Scylla - China Anne McClain

Unity Candor - Dom Sherwood

Urban Candor - Theo James

Uriah Reyes - Peter Gadiot

Urumi Bello - Ben Barnes

Valentine Morgenstern - Nikolai Coster-Waldau, Ryan Kwanten

Van Torrence - Max Martini

Vanya Hargreeves - Ellen Page

Vanya Kalantarova - Theo Rossi

Vasily Kalanatrova - Ksenia Solo

Vel Grant - Garrett Hedlund

Ven Kuznetsov - Zane Holtz

Venus Van Dam - Walton Goggins

Verity - Ekilateral

Verity James - Cole Sprouse

Verna Piette - Victoria Campbell

Verona Lodge - Michael Trevino

Veronica Lodge - Camilla Mendes

Vex - Paul Amos

Victor Mancha - Alberto Rosende

Viktoriya Nadedja - Ivanna Anatoliyivna Sakhno

Vilko Rosenfeld - Tyler Hoechlin

Vivien Tancredi - Taissa Farmiga

Vogel Rowdy - Osric Chau

Vu Inlustris - Matt Lanter

Walden Sommers - Dylan Sprayberry

Walker Simon - Adam Levine

Warren Avanyu - Steven Strait

Warren Fafner - David Gandy

Warren Peace - Steven Strait

Wart Addams - Evwan McGregor

Waverly Earp - Dominique Provost-Chalkley

Wednesday Addams - Camila Mendes

Weiryn Cernonnus - Adam Copeland

Wes March - Avan Jogia

Will Herondale - Andy Biersack

Willow Queen - Katie McGrath

Win Palencia - Frank Grillo

Witchita Nichols-Dix - Jared Padalecki

Woda kom Floukru - Joe Manganiello

Wolfgang Bogdanow - Max Riemelt

Wood Woodley - DJ Cotrona

Wyatt Halliwell - Wes Ramsey

Wysteria - Aaron Stanford

Xander Harris - Nicholas Brendan

Xav Tanner - Richard Harmon

Xavier Nichols-Dix - Bill Skarsgard

Ya Min-Ki - Kan F.Cuz

Yara Preston - Armie Hammer

Ygraine Artio - Depika Padukone

Young Fred Andrews - KJ Apa

Yuki Musume - Freya Tingley

Yukio Hamada - Shiori Kutsuna

Zac Nicwood - Joseph Morgan

Zana Trembuey - Carlson Young

Zane Gallo - Andrew Lee Potts

Zarina Dust - Clara Paget

Zarina Tintagel - Holliday Grainger

Zeb Avenue - Chris Hemsworth

Zef Doe - Evan Peters

Zeke Benton - Manu Bennet

Zhu Bái - Park Soo Young

Zhu Jiāháo - Leo

Zhu Zhēn - Niel

Zin Kuznetsova - Dove Cameron

Zo Cezoram - Hale Appleman

Zuck Florentine - Luke Evans

[hishgraphics]

S01E16 "A Red Evening, A Silver Dawn"

Location: Coruscant Underworld

All freshly geared up, Captain Zor Draco (Martin), Gev Dyson (Eddie), Olem (Eric) ride their Ranger-issued Bloodfin speeder bikes towards the designated Area of Interest to grab one Artifact 49 as stated in their mission brief datapad.

En route, they are followed by an A-A4B truckspeeder but they lose it fast with Zor's pilot skills. Soon they are at their waypoint, which Olem recalls as a sub-basement entry structure that leads to the Jedi Temple. In the parking bay, they see a derelict A6 Juggernaut & a DC0052 speeder.

Unable to activate lift 7, Zor hotwires the lift controls using the DC0052 speeder. Also in the lift is a fallen, depowered Imperial KX security droid. They try their best not to disturb it.

The lift whooshes towards their destination, a room at a corridor behind a door marked "ONDERON 202." The lift shudders upon arrival, pushing Zor & Gev into Olem. The KX droid activates! Thankfully the lift door closes & whisks the droid away before it could pick itself up and attack them.

Though Olem feels the dread of the Dark Side everywhere, they open the door. Inside is a trove of ancient artifacts. But they are attacked by a Sith War Droid hiding in the shadows!

Its initial cannon barrage injures Olem with shrapnel, but before it could attack others, Gev lets loose with his Riot Gun, badly damaging it. Then Zor's EMP grenade explodes with a miasma of electrical arcs. It falls, cracks open & a human brain spills out. Weird. Also, ew.

They find Artifact 49 in a wooden box & return to the bloodfins. No sign of the KX droid.

They ride back to the Rangers HQ at Generis Arcology. Olem peeks in the box and sees a crystal that overwhelms him with the Force. Colonel Sarkin congratulates them at her office where Tarn Draco who fled Kitel Phard is also waiting for them. Zor hugs his cousin.

Also they learn Gev has a new bounty on him (the A-A4B attack) for the murder of the Benelex Hunting Guild chairperson.

Olem is expecting to meet Master Skywalker. But instead he is met by the droid Professor Huyang, who uses the silver crystal in the Artifact 49 box to repair Olem's lightsaber. He mentions that the artifact was in the ancient Sith Temple deep under the former Jedi Temple.

Zor: "The what Temple?"

When Huyang ignites the silver blade, everyone realises Olem is a Jedi. He gives the refurbished lightsaber to Olem, saying Master Skywalker foresees great things in store for him ahead.

TO BE CONTINUED

[amongthemoonandstars]

Never ever give up

Successful People Who Failed At First

1. Winston Churchill failed the sixth grade. He was defeated in every public office role he ran for. Then he became the British prime minister at the age of 62.

2. Thomas Edison’s teachers told him he was “too stupid to learn anything." Edison also famously invented 1,000 light bulbs before creating one that worked.

3.Harland David Sanders, the famous KFC "Colonel,” couldn’t sell his chicken. More than 1,000 restaurants rejected him. But then one did, and today there are KFC restaurants bearing his image all over the world.

4. R.H. Macy had a history failing businesses, including a dud Macy’s in NYC.But Macy kept up the hard work and ended up with the biggest department store in the world.

5. Steven Spielberg was rejected from his dream school, the University of Southern California, three times. He sought out an education somewhere else and dropped out to be a director.

6. Charlie Chaplin’s act was rejected by executives because they thought it was too obscure for people to understand. But then they took a chance on Chaplin, who went on to become America’s first bona fide movie star.

7. Marilyn Monroe’s first contract with Columbia Pictures expired because they told her she wasn’t pretty or talented enough to be an actress.

8. Soichiro Honda was passed over for an engineering job at Toyota and left unemployed. But then he began making motorcycles, started a business and became a billionaire.

9. Vera Wang failed to make the U.S. Olympic figure-skating team. Then she became an editor at Vogue and was passed over for the editor-in-chief position. She began designing wedding gowns at 40 and today is the premier designer in the business, with a multi-billion dollar industry.

10. Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor because he “lacked imagination and had no good ideas." Several more of his businesses failed before the premiere of his movie Snow White. Today, most childhoods wouldn’t be the same without his ideas.

11. Albert Einstein didn’t speak until age four and didn’t read until age seven. His teachers labeled him "slow” and “mentally handicapped." But Einstein just had a different way of thinking. He later won the Nobel prize in physics.

12. Charles Darwin was considered an average student. He gave up on a career in medicine and was going to school to become a parson. But as Darwin studied nature, he found his calling.

13. Sir Isaac Newton was tasked with running the family farm but was a miserable failure. Newton was sent off to Cambridge University and became a physics scholar.

14. Dick Cheney flunked out of Yale twice. George W. Bush once joked: ”So now we know –if you graduate from Yale, you become president. If you drop out, you get to be vice president.“

15. The first time Jerry Seinfeld went onstage, he was booed away by the jeering crowd. Eventually, he became a famous comic with one of the most-loved sitcoms ever.

16. In Fred Astaire’s first screen test, the judges wrote: "Can’t act. Can’t sing. Slightly bald. Can dance a little." Astaire went on to be the most famous dancer of all time and won the hearts of American women forever.

17. After Sidney Poitier’s first audition, the casting director instructed him to just stop wasting everyone’s time and "go be a dishwasher or something." He went on to win an Academy Award and is admired by actors everywhere.

18. Oprah Winfrey was fired from her television reporting job because they told her she wasn’t fit to be on screen. But Winfrey rebounded and became the undisputed queen of television talk shows. She’s also a billionaire.

19. Lucille Ball spent many years on the B-list and her agent told her to pursue a new career. Then she got her big break on I Love Lucy.

20. After his first film, Harrison Ford underwhelmed the producer and was told he would probably never succeed. But today Ford is the third highest-grossing actor of all time.

21. Vincent Van Gogh only sold one painting in his entire life, to a friend. He sometimes starved in order to create the 800 paintings he’d eventually do. Today, his works are priceless.

22. Dr. Seuss’ first book was rejected by 27 different publishers. He’s now the most popular children’s book author ever.

23. Henry Ford’s first auto company went out of business. He abandoned a second because of a fight and a third went downhill because of declining sales. He went on to become one of the greatest American entrepreneurs ever.

24. While developing his vacuum, Sir James Dyson went through 5,126 failed prototypes and his savings over 15 years. But the 5,127th prototype worked and now the Dyson brand is the best-selling vacuum cleaner in the United States.

25. J.K. Rowling was unemployed, divorced and raising a daughter on social security while writing the first Harry Potter novel. J.K. Rowling is now internationally renowned for her 7 book Harry Potter series and is the first person to become a billionaire from writing.

26. Stephen King was initially so frustrated with his first novel, Carrie, that he threw it in the trash. King’s wife found the manuscript in the trash and took it out. To date his 49 novels have sold 350 million copies.

27. Will Smith's life got flip turned upside down when he owed the IRS $2.8 million in taxes in 1989.  In 1990, he signed with NBC and created The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

28. Lady Gaga got dropped by a major record label after only three months. As of 2013, she's sold about 125 million singles.

29. Sidney Poitier was brutally rejected by the American Negro Theater for his Bahamian accent and difficulty reading. He became a dishwasher as he practiced his accent and reading. Six months later, he was accepted by the theater and went on to be the first black man to win an Oscar. 

30. Michelle Yeoh's dreams of being a ballerina were crushed by a spinal injury. She went on to play the most BADASS Bond girl in Tomorrow Never Dies and was nominated for a BAFTA for her role in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

31. In her lifetime, Emily Dickinson published fewer than a dozen of her 1,800 poems. Allegedly agoraphobic, she was a shut-in for most of her adult life. Her complete works were published posthumously. A feminist icon, she has inspired millions of teenagers to write angsty poetry.

32. As a sophomore, Michael Jordan was rejected from his high school's varsity basketball team for lack of talent. But now, he is literally the most famous basketball player of all time. 

33. Lisa Kudrow was cast as the original Roz in Frasier, but cut shortly after. Kudrow rebounded with Friends a year later, which just wouldn't have been the same without Phoebe's rendition of "Smelly Cat." 

34. Ang Lee failed Taiwan's college entrance exam twice. He enrolled in a three-year art college instead, and became a director. In fact, to date, Lee has won three Academy Awards, three BAFTA awards, three Golden Globes, and more.

35. Allegedly, Bruno Mars was passed over by a music industry exec because he wasn't white. According to Bruno Mars, the executive wanted Mars' song "Nothin' On You" for a white singer. Mars performed at this year's Super Bowl. The industry exec probably feels real dumb now. 

36. Winston Churchill lost his first campaign for Parliament. Nicknamed "The British Bulldog," as prime minister he helped orchestrate the Allies' victory of WWII.

37. Arianna Huffington’s second book was rejected by 36 publishers. And when she ran for governor of California in 2003, she received just 0.55 percent of the vote. It’s pretty clear now that Huffington learned from her failures. In a 2010 interview with Success magazine, she said raising campaign funds showed her “the power of the internet.”The incredible success of The Huffington Post is proof of that. Oh, and she’s now published 13 books.

38. Beethoven's musical teacher told him he didn't have any talent. Even more so, he told him he was a hopeless disaster at composing music. Beethoven decided he couldn't hear him (I'm sorry, couldn’t help myself... XD)

39. Fred Smith wrote during his time at Yale a paper about his big life-changing idea about a nightly delivery service. He got a C. Despite this, he decided to establish FedEx...

[jeramymobley]

The Challenging Combination Of Brand And Founder

We live in a hyper 24-hour news cycle and social media feed of opinion, reaction, ratings, retribution and results. And unless your brand is intentionally a “hostile brand”, you must beware of the swift and awesome backlash that comes with negative publicity.

Sometimes these scandals surround the brand’s founder and often involve claims of sexual harassment, impropriety or racism. In many of these cases, the founder’s identity and the brand’s identity are essentially one in the same.

As Mark Ritson observed earlier on Branding Strategy Insider,“Founders are inseparable from the brands they create.” This continues to ring true. Marketing history is filled with high profile examples such as Walt Disney for Walt Disney Studios, Colonel Harlan Sanders for KFC, Dave Thomas for Wendy’s, James Dyson for Dyson Vacuums, Sara Blakely for Spanx, Steve Jobs for Apple, Bernie Marcus for Home Depot, Jeff Bezos for Amazon, Howard Schultz for Starbucks and so on. Some have played a major role in their brand’s advertising while others have championed causes behind the scenes that align with their personal convictions or those they envision for the brand they founded.

On the plus side, the founder (as the brand’s creator and original innovator) can often present a compelling and convincing case for his/her brand to the customer. For example, Dave Thomas was a high school dropout who went on to found one of the great fast food empires with the promise of “hot and juicy” square-shaped hamburgers. Thomas became a beloved pitchman to millions for the chain in the early 1990’s.

Conversely on the negative side, the founder can also make mistakes and generate bad press that is heaped upon themselves and their brands. Harvey Weinstein of Miramax, Steve Wynn of Wynn Resorts or John Schnatter of Papa John’s Pizza are recent examples. In each of these cases, the persona of the founder is “hardwired” to the brand, making their personal troubles especially problematic for the brand they built and the thousands of employees and stockholders those brands represent. That’s why when allegations of sexual misconduct made the news, there was concern about leaving the gigantic Wynn signature atop his hotel in Las Vegas. In Papa John’s case, the immediate observation turned to the millions of pizza boxes bearing the likeness of John Schnatter.

As consumers, we intuitively make the connection, for better or for worse, between the brand and its founder. When Howard Schultz takes a position on a social issue or when Bernie Marcus supports a political candidate, these actions may give pause to some who disagree with them, but the damage to the brand is slight or temporary. But when the name and likeness of the founder literally becomes part of the brand identity, as in the case of Wynn or Papa John’s, the stakes, along with the risks increase exponentially.

You can never be too careful. It’s been said that when the Evangelist Dr. Billy Graham would travel, members of his team would enter a hotel room first for the purpose of making certain a photographer was not there to ambush him with a woman planted there to compromise his worldwide ministry. Dr. Graham knew that even the slightest hint of impropriety would have serious repercussions for himself and his organization.

A passionate, personable and articulate founder can be a tremendous asset in building a brand and helping to differentiate it in a highly competitive environment. Marketers agree that the founder can speak with absolute authority (ex. James Dyson for Dyson Vacuums) and create tremendous brand trust and believability. But as a practical matter, this should be an evolving role as the brand matures.

In the New York Times article “Warts and All? That’s the Risk When a Founder Is the Face of the Company,” editor Joanne Kaufman’s interview with Michael Dubin of Dollar Shave Club, is especially enlightening on how best to view the role of the founder. In the article, Dubin observes, “There is some brand recognition that comes with putting me in the ads, but at the same time it’s important to create a brand that exists outside the founder’s identity.”

Dubin recognizes that his brand should be bigger than himself and should, and for the sake of the company and his customers, outlive him.

In today’s media saturated world, founders with established brands would do well to follow Dubin’s example by playing no more than a supporting role over time to the brands they create. While founders should be heralded for their vision and entrepreneurship, they are nevertheless human beings. As such, they run the risk of an unforced error that could cripple the brand they worked so hard to create.

If you are the brand founder, here are your challenges …

Are you on track to “work your way out of the job” of being your brand’s brand?

Are you limiting and carefully managing your exposure to downplay your personal brand in order give your company’s brand room to grow?

Are you considering what policies, causes, parties or charities you are supporting or aligning with through the lens of your company’s brand?

The Blake Project Can Help: Accelerate Brand Growth Through Powerful Emotional Connections

Branding Strategy Insider is a service of The Blake Project: A strategic brand consultancy specializing in Brand Research, Brand Strategy, Brand Licensing and Brand Education

FREE Publications And Resources For Marketers

[jenniferdiazisatransgirl]

Out of Season Content - The Time and Space Union Introduction

Okay, so this is another of my Out of Season contents which is a sci-fi story of my own creation set in the military dictatorship known as the Time and Space Union in the 2090s.

Now I have two stories set in this universe. One looks at the government and the other is from the perspective of a civilian; a trans girl who is just starting university. I am going to tell the latter story.

Anyway, before I post any of it here is an introduction;

2030s - The Earth has become increasingly divided and the nations are on the brink of their Third World War as institutions such as the United Nations become increasingly unstable. Taking advantage of the political situation an arms dealer, Carl Richman, CEO of Richman Corporation unites the forces of the Commonwealth of Nations and Japan in an alliance that would later be known as the Commonwealth-Japanese Coalition Empire. In the year 2034 the Empire makes its first aggressive move on an Earth nation when it begins its invasion of Egypt. This being the start of WWIII. Prior to the war Carl had made a deal with China, that China would remain neutral in any upcoming conflict and allow the Commonwealth-Japanese Coalition Empire to use Hong Kong as a capital, in exchange the Empire would not mobilise its forces on China. By 2036 the resources of the remaining powers were wearing thin and the final strike in the war was when the Empire mobilises its forces in Canada and Mexico upon the United States who’s military had been spread thin fighting other conflicts throughout the world.

2036 to 2063 - Earth now united under the rule of the Commonwealth-Japanese Coalition Empire focuses its attention on the stars. Colonising Mars, mining on Pluto and Titan. The people of Earth soon became aware of an alien race from a nearby star system, the Zangdorians, a technologically advanced race who were more than happy to share their technology and enter an alliance with the Empire. What followed was a period referred to by TU historians as the Rapid Expansion. A period of unprecedentedly fast military, technological and territorial expansion. Time travel, faster than light capable ships, dyson spheres (not actually but the equivalent), artificial wormholes, the weaponisation of prehistoric animals and humanity laying claim to every corner of the known universe. But a threat lurks, the Cargarian race. A species from a second universe, 4 quadrillion years old and which lies across an utter void absent of space-time known as the New Atlantic. Extremely hard to kill, can naturally live in the vacuum of space in the stasis and kill all life in their path.

2064 - The Rapid Expansion lead to a military that was spread extremely thin and was ill equipped to maintain control, meanwhile the Commonwealth-Japanese Coalition Empire was an absolute dictatorship struggling to maintain its authority throughout the cosmos. The same year Arrh Orr, a genetically modified velociraptor takes the Presidency of the United States threatening war on Hong Kong if the situation isn’t changed. A new system is born; the Time and Space Union of the Commonwealth of Nations and the Empire of Japan. A democratic-dictatorship that is still under the absolute rule of Carl Richman but with a democratic government below focused on civilian legislation and a territorial segregation of the TU allowing for more localised rule, along with legislation ensuring the absolute freedoms of the TU people.

2071 to 2091 - Political instabilities with the Veloco United States Empire (one of the larger segregations of the TU) caused by Americans demanding President Arrh Orr push for independence from the TU sparks a civil war in the region triggering the First War of All Times. Taking 20 years to resolve and costing literally countless lives the war leaves a severe scar in the memories of the Union people.

2091 - The Cargarian War is finally brought to an end and with the VUS now able to target its full military attention on gaining independence from the Time and Space Union, Carl Richman caves and grants the Veloco United States independence; the nation of the Veloco United States and Galaxies of the American People is born under the rule of its first female President Elizabeth Lawson.

2092 - Tensions between the newly independent VUS and the TU develop due to their conflicting ideologies. The TU founded upon military rule and imperialism as opposed to the VUS founded upon freedom and democracy, while people such as Colonel Craig Herrington of the United States Marine Corps Cargarian Annihilation Unit try and maintain the peace.

And that is a very brief introduction to my story.

[gencottraux]

Grumpy Old Men (or, A Man Called Ove, or Get Off My Lawn!)

Grumpy Old Men (or, A Man Called Ove, or Get Off My Lawn!)

Okay, maybe this image of Clint Eastwood as Walt Kowalski from the movie Gran Torino (2008) is a little extreme. But we almost all of us know the “get off my lawn guy”. Heck, sometimes these days I am the get off my lawn guy! Maybe Homer Simpson is a better example, although I am sure there are Walt Kowalskis in the world.   When I…